Chapter 20 The Grand Stairway
Before leaving the Lapis Ward, Ash notices a purple-haired girl standing in the doorway.
?: Today's your birthday. You can finally escape. Be strong... Vengeance will be ours.
Before leaving, she notices Ash and she sighs.
?: Oh. Excuse me.
Ash notices that he is blocking the path, and he quickly steps aside to let her go. Ash doesn't know what it is about, and he decides to find out about it later.
After coming back home, Delia has already heard the news from Gossip Gardevoir on the screen, and she feels bad for Ash since he was going to the gym and it might be happened after their battle. Ash is also sitting at the sofa with a frown face, so Delia decides to talk to him and cheer him up.
Delia: So Corey's dead...I can't believe that happened...
Ash: It's my fault, if I would just leave him alone, then he wouldn't have to commit suicide...I said that I was going to save the region and everyone here, but I've done more bad than good...
Delia: (Hugs Ash) Ash, you can't blame yourself. You didn't know. Besides, you need to remember that you saved the three wards from Team Meteor.
?: Indeed.
They turn to see Arceus in front of them, and he is looking concerned for him.
Ash: Arceus? What are you doing here?
Arceus: I heard about the recent death that you thought you might have a part of it. I just want to tell you that you need to cheer up because it might be the first, but it won't be the last. In the future, you'll be meeting more of them.
Ash: What do you mean? Arceus?
Arceus: I can't tell you this, however, one of the gym leaders in the Reborn League can. If you're hesitating right now, how is my offspring going to be saved by you from Team Meteor?
Ash: (Nods a little) I guess you're right...
Delia: And you don't need to worry, Ash. Elena's last will is to have me adopt Heather when she loses her parents. And I'll be going to the Great Hall to do some adoption procedures.
Ash: Okay, Mom, Arceus. I'll do what I can to continue saving the Reborn Region.
After leaving the house, Ash decides to gain some Pokemon so that he can try to save Victoria with full power. When he enters the former Beryl Ward Gym, he finds a Silver Ring on the ground that seems to belong to Corey. Ash decides to take it, hoping that he can find Corey's lost Pokemon, and takes care of it on his own.
He goes to Rhodochrine Jungle and finds a Tropius, capturing it, and then he finds Corey's Skrelp in the Underroot, with the help of the ring, Skrelp decides to come with him. He also goes to the Beryl Library and helps a Gothitelle clean the messy place, and he gets a Gothita and a Soul Candle in the unknown to him, he sees a man in one of the library sections, and he seems to be looking into the books. Ash widens his eyes as he looks just like him without the hat.
?: I could have sworn there was one more section... Disappointing. (Turns to see Ash) Ah, excuse me; I must not have heard you come in. Though, since you're here, and bearing in mind that calling this 'a shot in the dark' is still a very generous estimation of the chances here... Have you, perchance, ever heard of "Dreamsickness"?
Ash: I know.
?: Truly? You must tell me wherever from. (Looks closer to Ash and widens, thinks) No, it can't be... (Shakes his head and says) Ah, but I suppose that by its very nature, it is impossible to recall the source of. Like trying to recount a dream that seemed so clear only moments ago, only to be met with complete oblivion upon telling it. But that it even sounds familiar to you is already curious. I suspect we will meet again.
As he leaves, Ash is just staring at the man's back.
Ash: (Thinks) Is he my father? I don't think he recognizes me...I guess in his mind, he still thought that both Mom and I were killed...
And with the Soul Candle, he goes to the graveyard and uses it on a Pumpkin, revealing to be a Pumpkaboo and he captures it.
Ash's New Capture in Rhodochrine Jungle: Tropius (Event)
Ash's New Capture in the Underroot: Skrelp (Event)
Ash's New Capture in Beryl Ward: Gothita, Pumpkaboo (Event)
After getting to the Grand Stairway, the police officers are still trying to block the citizens. As Ash meets Cain, who is blocked off, he decides to show himself to the police, who recognize him as their savior. So they let only Ash pass.
Ash: I guess this is what I can get from saving those officers. Good. Now let's try to find Victoria.
They decide to search through the whole crystal caverns, and he also finds some Pokemon to capture as well as a Field Note for the same theme.
Ash's New Capture in Grand Stairway: Chingling, Diglett, Dunsparce, Graveler, Sandshrew, Unown (Cave)
Field Notes 25 Crystal Caverns:
"The cave is littered with crystals" Rock and Dragon attacks boost x1.5. Ancient Power, Diamond Storm, Judgment, Multi-Attack, Power Gem, Rock Climb, Rock Smash, Rock Tomb, Strength boosts x1.5. Aurora Beam, Dazzling Gleam, Doom Desire, Flash Cannon, Luster Purge, Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom, Mirror Shot, Moongeist Beam, Photon Geyser, Signal Beam, Techno Blast boosts x1.3. Becomes Dark Crystal when Dark Pulse, Dark Void, Light that burns the Sky, and Night Daze are used. Becomes a Cave when Bulldoze, Earthquake, Fissure, Magnitude, and Tectonic Rage are used. Rock Polish boosts Attack and Special Attack. Stealth Rock randomly applies either Fire, Water, Grass, or Psychic type. Enables Aurora Veil. Prism Armor lowers damage x0.5. Nature Power becomes Power Gem. Camouflage may choose one of Fire, Grass, Water, and Psychic types. Secret Power may choose a random status between Burn, Freeze, Sleep or Confusion. The Magical Seed boosts Special Attack and applies Magic Coat to the user.
After making his way down to the B3F, he finds a man with a brown coat staring at what seems to be a door.
Man in brown coat: Greetings, trainer. Tell me something. Did you, as a citizen of this city, have any inkling of this place beneath it?
Ash: No, I just arrived in Reborn a few days ago.
Man in brown coat: After all, most people don't. They are ignorant of the centuries of history right beneath their calloused feet. And do you know, Trainer, what is beyond that gate? I will tell you. It is the very core of Reborn. This is a sacred place. A place from where the world began. (Turns to Ash) So tell me, Trainer. How insolent, how utterly ignorant, must one be to build such a wretched city right over a precious holy land? For THAT is Reborn: The city of insolence. Ironically, they built it from the symbols of that which it occludes. Ruby, the seal of pain. Sapphire, the seal of love. Emerald, the seal of faith. And Amethyst, the seal of the beyond. Each one is a key. When the four are brought together, Reborn's true power- its sacred rite- will be restored. We will be rid of this malignant junkyard and beauty can be restored to the world.
Ash and Pikachu narrow their eyes, so this man seems to be the boss of Team Meteor, and he just reveals his motives just like that. But on the other hand, he thinks that Arceus' offspring is actually behind the door, and they will have to get through Team Meteor first to reach it.
Man in brown coat: You will walk away safely. Your friend, too. She is here, and with Borealis gone, there's little point in keeping her. Do as you will to the fool guards who keep her. I have but one request: When you leave, take this place with you. Share this place with the world. Remind them: This world which they have undone will, itself, be their undoing. (Leaves)
Ash: I guess that's why they want Heather's Ruby Ring. It is one of the keys, but what about the other 3? And if they killed me or my Mom, does that mean Mom once possessed one of them?
As they continue to walk further, they find Aster and Eclipse guarding the door where Victoria is in.
Aster: Hey, what are you doing here?!
Eclipse: Obviously, he followed us...
Victoria: (Stands up) Ash, is it really you?!
Aster: And the boss just walked right past you?!
Eclipse: Told you we shouldn't count on him for anything. So much for the "family"...
Aster: Fine, we'll just have to capture you ourselves!
Victoria: I don't think so!
Eclipse: You stay quiet, missy.
Victoria: Make me!
Ash nods as both he and Victoria decide to team up and fight against Aster and Eclipse. This time they have four Pokemon, Solrock and Lunatone, and their Rockruff all evolve into Lycanroc, with one Midday and one Midnight. Ash decides to go with Crawdaunt while Victoria goes for Kirlia. With their combined attack, they manage to knock out all four Pokemon with ease.
Aster: Uh... what just happened?
Eclipse: Are you kidding me. Seriously, who let her keep her Pokémon?!
Aster: I didn't even think about it...
Victoria: (Smirks) I've had them the whole time! Borealis never took them from me. He told me to keep them and wait for the right moment. I've been training in secret for this moment this whole time!
Eclipse: Ohhh my god. Even after death, the old man is a pain in our necks.
Victoria: (Confused) Even after what?
Eclipse: Forget it, just go. Obviously, it's not like the boss cares either.
Aster: But don't expect us to let you go so easily next time!
Eclipse: We'll be leaving now. But, hey? Just because you beat us, doesn't mean you won. Ta-ta. (Both of them leave)
Victoria: I guess that's that...
Ash: Victoria, did they torture you or do something to you?
Victoria: Don't worry, I'm not hurt or anything. Both of them- Borealis, and their leader- treated me quite humanely. And now Borealis is dead? Wasn't he on their side?
Ash: He was forced to, because of his daughter. And now his daughter doesn't want to do anything to him, that's why he did it.
Victoria: I- I don't understand... All the leader did was talk to me- about that gate up there. And how, in order to start the Reborn League, Ame plastered all over some kind of holy site... It doesn't sound right, but maybe this is just some kind of propaganda? I don't get it. But I'm not just going to stand by and let them do whatever they want. Before anything, let's get out of here. I can probably find the way out myself, but do you want to go together?
Ash: Sure, let's go. You really need to get some air. (Leaves with Victoria)
Here is a new chapter, and Solaris appears in this chapter, as you can see, Victoria was captured in the Obsidia Park, and now she is freed. I changed something since, in the game, Cain will be distracting the police while you quickly go through, but I decide to let Ash go through since he is already an honorary member. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be cleaning up some things before the gym, such as getting new Pokemon or other things.
