Chapter 74 Mountain Chase

Ash, Shelly, Pikachu, and Greninja are in Blake's apartment, they are trying to find the secret passage. Shelly manages to find out the second passcode is 0, and Ash also finds the first passcode 5 between the books, the bottom half of the key in the drawer, and the upper half in the trash can. Greninja finds the third number 8 in a book, finds a note in a book that says 4~7: SW, NE, SE, NW, and he checked the trees, he also finds four numbers: 3, 1, 6, and 4. Pikachu finds a disc inside the game console and the power cable that is locked inside the cabinet. After using the key to get the cable, they use it on the computer with the disc input. And they type in the passcode: 5083164. Then Ash, Pikachu, and Greninja hear something shaking.

Shelly: Huh?! It- it moved!

Ash rushes towards Shelly and he also finds a secret passage.

Shelly: I feel like we should've been looking for a door with the number '9' on it or something. Anyway, let's go! Heather's waiting for us!

When they continue to climb up the mountain, they find a locked cabin.

Ash: Heather! Can you hear me? Would you respond even if you could?

There is no reply, but Shelly also seems determined.

Shelly: No, never mind. It doesn't matter! We have to get this door open! But it's locked... D-did we really come all the way up here just for nothing?

Ash: We have to have faith in her... Heather! Heather, can you hear me?!


Inside the cabin, Heather is sitting on the crates with the food.

Heather: Stupid Blake. Stupid Dad... Stupid Mom...Why did you have to leave me alone? (Frowns) I'm so sick of this... I'm always alone. If it's not one thing, it's another. Stupid Blake with his lies! "Oh sure, Heather! I'll look after you. You can crash with me and we don't even have to have any rules at all! You can do whatever you want!" Yeah, and I'll be locked up in a cage, LIAR! The only crashing we'll do is when I crash your face into the ground... Stupid jerk. "This is the crag of life, Heather. All will break themselves on it, in time." Is that why you joined Team Meteor?! To betray me and break me faster?! "You should have known better than to expect anything else from this cold reality." Ugh! (Hits his head on the wall) Owww...I hate this... I hate Dad and I hate Blake and I hate being alone... (Yells and bangs on the wall) I hate it! I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I HATE IT! (Kneels down and cries) But- It's... my fault. Isn't it? I did this... I ran away. I blocked everyone out. I- ...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

Ash: (Faint sound) Heather!

Heather: (Looks up with confusion) Huh?

Ash: (Louder) Heather!

Shelly: Can you hear us?! Are you in there?!

Heather: (Rushes towards the door) Ash! Shelly!

Shelly: She's there! Ash, she's there!

Heather: What in the world are you doing here?

Shelly: We came to rescue you! Is there any way you can get the door open?

Heather: If there was, I wouldn't still be in here.

Shelly: O-oh, right... Sorry...

Heather: No- I'M sorry. Can we try to break it down? I tried before and couldn't, but maybe together-

Ash: I'll do it with you. Greninja, I need your help.

Shelly: Me too. Heather! Come on out! (Sends out her Yanmega)

Heather: (Confused) Um, hello? I can't. The door's still there.

Shelly: N-not you, Heather! Sorry!

Ash: She nicknamed her Yanmega after you, Heather. Greninja, use Water Shuriken!

Shelly: Heather, use Ancient Power. Tear that door off!

Heather also has Salamence ready in the room, and the three Pokemon attack the door, and it causes the door to break open.

Shelly: We did it!

Heather: (Walks out of the cabin) Salamence, return. (Recalls Pokemon)

Shelly: Heather, return! (Recalls Pokemon)

Heather: Thanks for coming for me.

Shelly: Of course! That's what friends and families do, right?

Heather: (Lowers her head) Yeah. I never was much of a friend or a family though.

Ash: You were to us, Heather. Don't say anything like that.

Heather: Ash, Shelly, I'm sorry-

Shelly: It's okay! Don't worry. Someone just told me that everyone makes mistakes. Nothing can change the past, but we can always fix the future. So, we forgive you. I'd forgive him, too.

Heather: Right... Thanks. You too, Ash. I haven't been very nice, but you've done a lot for me.

Ash: Listen, Heather. Blake got your mother's Ruby Ring.

Heather: Mom's ring? He has it?

Shelly: Yeah! And he's trying to turn it over to Team Meteor. They're sending an air unit up here now to retrieve it, so we need to stop him!

Heather: Duh, we do! What are we waiting for? I'm gonna knock his head off after everything he did!

Shelly: For locking you up?

Heather: Ugh, who cares about that?! For trying to starve an entire city! I tried to feed them secretly, cuz that's what anyone would do, right? If they found where he was hiding the food. But then he caught me and here we are. So I owe him big time!

Shelly: Speaking of time, Cal thinks we don't have much of it. Ash, could you go help him out?

Ash: You can count on me, we have to stop him as soon as possible.

Shelly: We'll be right behind you! I just wanna talk to Heather for a little bit. Sorry...

Heather: Yeah, for sure. Let's go smack a few of them out of the sky! Salamence can carry you!

Then Shelly and Heather decide to meet them on the peak while Ash rushes to help Cal, and they eventually find him facing Blake.

Blake: Enough, enough already! Geez bro, I thought you used to be whiny, but please, miss me with that hippie Apophyll zen shit!

Cal: Nothing I'm saying is for your benefit. You asked me a question, and I answered.

Blake: Damn, lesson learned. Spare me the sermon. Look, tell you what, you can talk to that tree behind you. I promise you, it cares almost as much as I do. I, however, am a little bit busy, so peace.

As two Meteor grunts appear, Cal stops Blake again.

Cal: Wait!

Blake: You know, I don't think I'll be doing that. But whatever other concerns or tragic life stories you have, I'm sure those two will be happy to indulge you. I'm outtie.

Then Ash and Cal team up to fight the two Meteor Grunts, and they aren't much of trouble after Ash and Cal beat them.

Cal: Get out of here already, chumps. I've put you behind me.

Grunt: So we've heard. Do you really think you'll get away with it?

Cal: Don't act like that matters to you. Go on.

Grunt: As you wish. Until next time~ (Leaves)

Cal: (Turns to Ash) Thanks for your help, Ash. But it looks like we have a chase ahead of us. Blake's heading to the peak to rendezvous. There's no way I'm letting him get there!

Ash nods as they continue to chase after Blake, and they stop as they see Blake having two more grunts blocking them.

Cal: Stop already!

Blake: Yeah, okay, I'll just do that. You know, these guys are gonna keep on coming. Save yourself time and give up already, bro! Ta-ta for now. (Leaves)

Cal: Arrogant as always. Let's do this fast.

They battle two more grunts with ease, and the two grunts are surprised to lose to them.

Grunt: Think that's good enough for them? It'll have to be. Let's get out of here, I'm freezing!

When the grunts retreat, Heather also comes toward them.

Cal: You must be Heather.

Heather: Yeah. Cal, right? Shelly told me about you. Look, there's a lot more of them in the air unit than I expected! I'm not sure which the main helicopter is, but one of them has their leader!

Cal: Yeah? Well, we'll just have to shoot them all down until we find him. That sounds like something I'm game for. (Sends out Charizard) Charizard, get ready! (Jumps onto it) Solaris, I'm coming for you.

Heather: I'm gonna go help! I dropped Shelly off a little further up, so meet up with her, all right, Ash? Good luck! Let's kick some butt!

Ash nods as he continues to head further, and he meets up with Shelly.

Shelly: There you are! It seems like Heather's doing a lot better. Thank you for helping me with her! Anyway, she's trusting us to catch Blake, so let's get to it, okay?

Ash: But we have company already. (Notices the two grunts)

Shelly: Eep! Where'd you guys come from!? Ah, no! I won't be scared anymore!

When Ash and Shelly are fighting, Ash notices that she nicknamed her Vivillon Noel, Scolipede Cain, and Ribombee Anna. He smiles as they both defeat the grunts with ease.

Shelly: There! We did it!

Grunts: Hm! No difference to us at this point. Ta-ta! (Leaves)

Shelly: Anyway, as I was saying, we should hurry! Blake could be getting close to the top at any time! C'mon!

Ash nods as they continue to chase after Blake, and he is now standing in front of the cave.

Blake: (Groans) Bruh, you really don't know when to quit, do you?

Ash: We'll quit when you give us back the Ring!

Blake: What a fascinating declaration! What do you think, Mr. Grunt? (Two grunts jump down beside him)

Grunt: I think she needs some manners. We can teach them to her. You go on ahead, agent. Solaris has almost arrived.

Blake: GG, easy. Stay frosty! (Leaves)

Ash and Shelly continue to battle the grunts, and their battle is also noticed by a Pokemon who is watching, and the grunts don't seem to be sad that they lost as well.

Grunt: Even if you win, it's gonna be too late. So sorry. (Leaves)

Shelly: All right, I'm going! For Heather, Cal, and- everyone! (Charges into the cave)

Ash also tries to get into the cave, but the roar causes him to stop. He follows the voice to find a Lucario with an egg. Lucario looks at Ash and gives him the egg, much to his surprise.

Ash: Is this for me?

Lucario nods before leaving, and Ash also notices that the egg is actually a Riolu egg. It has a similar aura to him and he understands why Lucario is giving him the egg.

Ash: Now I can't waste any more time. I have to stop Blake and maybe Solaris as well...

Ash then leaves the cave from the sides and rushes towards the cave where Shelly and Blake rush in.


And here is the new chapter, as you can see, Ash teams up with Shelly, Cal, and Heather as they are trying to stop Blake from reaching the top and met Solaris. Will they succeed or will they fail? And what obstacles are waiting for them on top of the mountain? I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the conclusion of the chase.