Chapter 60 Snowpoint Temple
Ash, Serena, Adaman, and Irida are chasing after Sabi, as they arrive at Icebound Falls, but just as they arrive at the place, Ash is tackled to the ground by a familiar Pokemon.
"A Lucario?" Serena asks. "I never knew Riolu and Lucario exist in this place..."
And the one tackling Ash is no other than his own Lucario, he hugs the Pokemon and says, "I'm sorry, Lucario. I should have known you're here alone...I promise I won't leave you."
"So let me guess, Lucario is also your Pokemon?" Irida asks.
"Yeah, he was a recent capture before coming from the sky." Ash says. "I hatched it from an egg and then trained him to become a strong member."
After that, they manage to recall Lucario into the Pokeball and also do some requests with Riolu and Lucario.
Riolu's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,2,4,10,15 Number of you've defeated with Flying-type moves:1,2,4,6,10 Times you have seen it use Rock Smash:1,3,6,12,25 Times you've given it food:1,2,3,4,5 Times you've stunned it by using items:1,3,5,7,10 Number you've evolved:1
Hisui Dex Entry No.223 Riolu: The Emanation Pokémon: Fighting-type. Though infantile in appearance, it has the mysterious ability to read the minds of humans. The pure of heart are met with Riolu's approval, while those of ill-nature earn only its loathing.
Lucario's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,2,4,10,15 Number of alpha specimens caught:1 Number defeated:1,2,4,10,15 Number of you've defeated with Fire-type moves:1,2,4,6,10 Times you have seen it use Aura Sphere:1,3,10,30,70 Times you have seen it use Close Combat:1,3,8,20,40 Times you've seen it use an agile style move:1,3,10,30,70 Times you've stunned it by using items:1,5,10,15,20
Hisui Dex Entry No.224 Lucario: The Aura Pokemon: Fighting- and Steel-type. Evolve from Riolu with high friendship during daytime. A most gallant-looking creature. It emits energy waves and controls them with precision, using them to sense even faraway beings. I have given the name "aura" to this power.
A text massage appears on Ash's phone, and he reads it and says, "Congratulations on finding all your Pokemon that are scattered around Hisui...So Lucario is the final one to find. That's nice."
"I know what you mean." Serena says. "But now, we should try to find Sabi."
After climbing the cliff to the top, they find Sabi standing there waiting for them. Sabi says, "Ash and Serena! You made it all the way up here in this cold! But my question is...did you catch me? Or did I let myself get caught? Hmmm?"
Ash and Serena don't know how to respond, and then Sabi continues, "Oooh, and one more thing: Am I even really clairvoyant?"
"You might be?" Serena decides to answer, and she says, "Hmm. No one but me could really know, right? Anyway, the challenge continues. The next stop of our merry chase is Snowpoint Temple! But the real question here is...am I really having fun playing with you? Or am I bored? Hmmm?"
Then she starts to fly away with Braviary again, much to their annoyance. "We just climbed all the way up here and now she just flew away...like that..." Ash mutters.
"That's Sabi for you, but she did tell you to find her in Snowpoint Temple." Adaman says.
"Snowpoint Temple is just above the cliff if you go to the Pearl Settlement." Irida says. "It is close to Lake Acuity."
"Lake Acuity, huh..." Ash mutters as they all go there. Serena asks, "Ash? You didn't seem to be excited to go to Lake Acuity..."
"Well, I'm excited, it is just...what happened to Lake Acuity when I traveled there with Dawn and Brock..." Ash says, "I had a full 6 on 6 battle with my rival who thought that power is everything with Pokemon. And...I lost badly..."
Serena gasps in surprise, she has never heard Ash talk about his past battles. Ash sighs and says, "But don't worry, I managed to beat him using the same team in the Pokemon League...but his team was different then, so it was never truly avenged..."
"I see." Serena says.
After getting to the Pearl Settlement, they are greeted by a lot of Pearl Clan members, like Diamond Clan members, they have some doubts about them being the leader of Diamond Clan and the two members of the Galaxy Team, but in the end, Irida manages to let them open their heart towards them. After that's done, they climb the cliff to reach the Snowpoint Temple. And just by outside the temple they can find a lot of Rufflet flying around.
"I guess those are normal Rufflets..." Ash says as they research them.
Rufflet's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,3,6,12,25 Number of light specimens caught:1,2,5,7,10 Number defeated:1,2,4,10,15 Number of you've defeated with Electric-type moves:1,2,4,6,10 Times you have seen it use Air Slash:1,3,6,12,25 Times you have seen it use Roost:1,2,4,10,15 Number you've evolved:1
Hisui Dex Entry No.221 Rufflet: The Eaglet Pokémon: Normal- and Flying-type. Its chick-like looks belie its hotheadedness. It challenges its parents at every opportunity, desperate to prove its strength.
When they finally arrive at the gate of Snowpoint Temple, Sabi is at the entrance and she says, "Hi, again. Ash and Serena! It's nice having someone new out here to play with. Safety in numbers or something like that! Anyway, here's Snowpoint Temple! I've opened the front door for you. Just a little more chasing left for you to do! But the real question here is...am I really having fun playing with you? Or am I bored? Hmmm?"
"That was just what you've asked back at the Icebound Falls..." Ash mutters as they see her into the temple.
"I heard what Warden Sabi said. If you have Warden Sabi's approval to enter, then, by all means, do so." The Pearl Clan member who guards the door says.
"Even if they don't have her permission, they can have mine as well." Irida says as the guard bows to Irida. Then Irida says, "But there is something you should be warned about. Those who cannot solve the temple's puzzles won't get very far within."
"So how are we going to solve it?" Serena asks.
"I've heard that the trick is to pay attention to which way the stone statues are looking. Come to think of it, I believe the statues have some sort of patterns on their chests, too."
Ash and Serena nod as the four of them enter the temple. After dodging some Bronzongs on the way, they get to the second floor and see the statues. Some of them have the Rock-type symbol, the Ice-type symbol, and the Steel-type Symbol. Ash says, "It sure is referring to Regirock, Regice, and Registeel...but I don't think Regieleki or Regidraco are here."
"I heard about Snowpoint Temple is the place where Regigigas was sleeping though." Serena says.
As they are blocked by the wall, they find three panels fitted into the door. They find some words on the door and it says, "Whither the statues gaze..."
The puzzles are easy for Ash and Serena as they manage to get through each and every one of them, with the first one being "Rock, Steel, and Ice." The second one is trickier, as they have to find more statues and the final answer is: "Ice, Rock, Steel, Rock, Ice." And the final one is also harder as the final answer is "Steel, Ice, Rock, Ice, Steel, Rock."
"I wonder what will happen if we get all of them wrong?" Serena asks.
"Probably some traps." Ash says. "I don't want to think about it."
They are a little confused as they haven't seen Regigigas in the whole temple, instead, they see an Alpha Gallade who tries to attack them. Ash and Serena quickly capture it with the use of Ultra Balls, and they manage to do it in the end.
Gallade's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,2,4,6,10 Number of alpha specimens caught:1,2,3 Number defeated:1,2,3,4,5 Number of you've defeated with Ghost-type moves:1,2,3,4,5 Times you have seen it use Swords Dance:1,3,6,12,25 Times you have seen it use Close Combat:1,3,8,20,40 Times you've seen it use an agile style move:1,3,10,30,70 Times you've stunned it by using items:1,2,3,4,5
Hisui Dex Entry No.104 Gallade: The Blade Pokemon: Psychic- and Fighting-type. Evolve from male Kirlia with Dawn Stone. The blades extending from its elbows are sharper than the finest swords. Its swordsmanship, albeit self-taught, is astonishingly impressive.
And after getting to the final floor, Sabi is waiting for them and she says, "I guess I've been caught, so we're nearly done...That's no fun."
"All funs should come to an end." Ash sighs.
"Hey, remember my clairvoyance? It showed me something else." Sabi says. "I saw you two flying with Braviary. Do you think that'll come to pass?"
"We can make sure it does." Serena says.
"Well, however the future turns out...flying with Braviary isn't easy! If you really want to be able to fly high in the sky, prove to me your strong enough!" Sabi says as she calls out a Rhyperior, Electivire, and a Magmortar. Ash and Serena gulp as all three of them are pretty strong.
"Gonna take us on?" Sabi asks.
"We're not scared." Ash says as they go with Lucario and Floatzel. Sabi says, "Now get ready, 'cause here come Rhyperior, Magmortar, and Electivire - all three of 'em! Go!"
Then all five of them are having a battle, and every one of them are very strong, but Floatzel's Aqua Jet manages to defeat Rhyperior with ease. Lucario is also struggling as he keeps throwing Aura Spheres at the other two Pokemon.
"Lucario. Remember our aura." Ash says as Lucario nods, then they start to be as one as Ash commands it with Rock Slide, knocking the Magmortar out first, and then it goes for Bulldoze, defeating Electivire.
"Wow, you caught us AND you beat us. You've won all our games so far!" Sabi says. "But Braviary still wants to get to know you even better. Up to the roof, we go!"
As they go to the roof, Braviary is already there waiting for them. Sabi says, "All right, Braviary! Why not test out Ash and Serena's strength for yourself?"
Braviary nods as Ash goes with Glalie to battle. Glalie's Ice Beam deals a lot of damage, but Braviary manages to recover using Roost. Then it goes for a move called Esper Wing, which deals some critical damage.
"So I guess it is a Psychic-type." Ash says. "Glalie, Dark Pulse!"
Glalie goes with the move and finally defeats Braviary. Sabi frowns, "Grr! I can't believe Braviary lost! But that's that. Thanks for playing with me. Guess I'll head home now. Byeee!"
"You're not going anywhere, Sabi." Adaman says. "You still remember what we're here for, right?"
"Okay, I was kidding. Adaman." Sabi says. "Play along with me on your flute!"
Then Serena starts to copy the tune Sabi is playing with the Celestica Flute, and Braviary remembers the melody and gives them a Sky Plate.
"The Sky Plate...The plate with the essence of flight." Ash says. "The being poured the remains of its power into stone and buried it deep...that's what it says."
"Thanks Sabi." Adaman says.
"Sure. Having Ash and Serena to fly around with should be fun for Braviary." Sabi adds.
"Yeah? I'm glad. A world where people and Pokemon live and work together, huh..." Adaman says as he looks at the rift. "Tell me - why do you think the lightning that comes from the rift would cause these frenzies? Do you think this is all almighty Sinnoh's anger? Or do you think this is a trial it's putting to us?"
Irida says, "If it is a trial - if we prove ourselves worthy, and we quell the last noble, calm Avalugg...then the rift really ought to close. Right?"
"Even if the ones who seem to be clearing this trial are newcomers like you, not one of us who've been living here in Hisui for ages now." Adaman mutters.
"How come you're playing all wise? I thought you weren't a big thinker, Adaman." Sabi gasps.
"Hush, Sabi! I can feel history on the move." Adaman says as he turns to Ash and Serena. "As far as I can see, the one ushering in this new era is you. So if I stick with you, someday I might get to meet almighty Sinnoh myself!"
"The question is...does listening to Adaman fascinate you? Or bore you to tears? Hmmm?" Sabi says. "Anyway, Ash and Serena...It's time for you to go soar with Braviary! If you jump from way up here, Braviary can take you gliding just about anywhere!"
"But don't forget to get the Eternal Ice. That's why you needed Braviary in the first place, right?" Irida adds.
Ash and Serena nod as they go to the edge of the temple so that they can prepare gliding.
I'll end the chapter right here. Ash and Serena get their 9th plate and also the 5th riding Pokemon. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be quelling Avalugg's frenzy.