Chapter 100 Route 4

While Ash is going to Route 4 and find Hardy, Serena and Lillie are now back in Grand Hall, using Ash's 80000$, they manage to fund the Azurine Nature Center. They also search far and wide to send some Pokemon to Ash's care, they find a Larvitar in the Tanzan Depths, after solving a puzzle. A Deino in Subseven Sanctum, with Ash providing them the 3 Dark Matters and Soul Candles to summon it. And then they try to go to Ametrine Mountain to fish out a Dratini. Then they get to the Teknite Ridge and find a Jangmo-o Egg and a Larvesta for Ash, also giving him the Catching Charm Ruby.

Ash's New Capture in Tanzan Depths: Larvitar (Event)

Ash's New Capture in Subseven Sanctum: Deino (Event)

Ash's New Capture in Ametrine Mountain: Dratini (Event)

Ash's New Capture in Teknite Ridge: Larvesta (Event)

After everything they can do for Ash, Serena and Lillie can only hope that Ash can go through whatever is going to happen to him.

As for Ash, he rushes towards the gate to find Charlotte and a fainted Saphira.

Charlotte: 'Sup, Ash? You're probably wondering what happened to Saphira here. The truth is... I finally set her on fire too.

Ash: (Shocked) What?

Charlotte: Hah! Just kidding. Did you believe me?

Ash: What if I do?

Charlotte: Really? Geez. I would never do anything to harm my sisters. I would never do anything to harm my sisters. And if anyone else tried, I'd burn them instead.

Ash: Okay, so what happened to her?

Charlotte: I found her like this in the Control Center under Calcenon. She said she was going there, but she was taking way too long, so I went to go get her. With everyone disappearing or whatever, obviously, that's not the smartest move. It's like a horror movie or whatever, right? Just don't split up. Duh. Like you are now, huh? But if anything did happen to her, I wouldn't really care what happened to me. There wouldn't be a point. So I went for it. Found her like this. Hauled her here. Was just taking a break in here- turns out, carrying someone like her isn't the easiest thing. She's in rough shape, but alive. That's what matters. And believe me, if I thought Team Meteor was responsible for this, Labradorra City would already be torched. But judging by the damage down there, she probably did this to herself. Went on a rampage. Took it out on some defenseless machine. Probably shocked herself in the process. And take a look at her hand. That's a lock of Laura's hair, impressively still clenched in her fist. Looks like a clean-cut to me. Team Meteor probably took it from her and left it down there as bait. It's just a guess, but I'm assuming Saphira saw it and went into a frenzy. Wouldn't be the first time. So they have Laura too, and they want us. All of us, probably. You're gonna do something about it?

Ash: Of course, I'm going to do something about it.

Charlotte: That's right, wrecking ball, take the bait so we don't have to. Make that horror movie dream come true. As much as I also want to go look for Laura, I'm not leaving Saphira alone like this. So whatever you're doing, good luck.

After getting to Route 4, Ash gets to the waterfall and finds Absol again, but this time, Absol is signaling Ash to capture him. Ash is confused at first, but he decides to capture it in the end. After that's done, they find Hardy at the Rock Climb spot.

Ash: Sorry to be late, I just talked with Charlotte first, she's with Saphira at the gateway.

Hardy: Huh, you ran into Charlotte and Saphira on the way here? I didn't see 'em at all... Maybe we just missed each other. So they were all right after all. Sweet. Good to know that's two less we gotta worry about! So, according to Rini, the source of the sleeping effect should be somewhere east of here. You beat Amy, right, mate?

Ash: Yeah, almost drowned to knock her into some senses.

Hardy: I don't think I want the details. But take this.

Ash is given the last TMX, which is TMX09 for Rock Climb.

Hardy: I've been hangin' onto that for you for a while. Wouldn't have done much good before, but now you can use that to scale steep walls like these! Well, you probably already knew that. No time to waste, then! Let's take back Agate City! And eventually... Aya too.

Ash: Also Cain, Shelly, and my siblings.

Then they rush to Route 4 and find their way to the place where the sleeping signals are from, and Ash also captures some Pokemon along the way. There is a haunted factory with a Gastly trying to possess a mechanical Breloom, and a Bagon that tries to learn how to fly.

Ash's New Capture in Route 4: Shroomish (Grass) Absol, Bagon, Gastly (Event)

After arriving at some sort of station, Ash and Hardy can see some glasses under them.

Hardy: So there's definitely something weird here. You feel this glass? If it's warm enough to melt the snow, there's gotta be somethin' down there. Still, I can't quite make out whatever's goin' on. I remember some kind of rumor about an old glass factory north of Agate, but I didn't think much of it. But that thing was supposed to have shut down ages ago. So that makes this capital shady. I'd wager some solid coin that that building's gotta have a way down. How 'bout you? 2k says there's an entrance in there; you gonna say there ain't?

Ash: I'm not going to say that. It might be an entrance in here.

Hardy: Let's check it out.

After getting inside the place, all they can see is just a studio, like Eve and Lumi's house.

Hardy: Well, lotta nothin' at first glance. Let's poke around. Something's bound to turn up.

But after searching everywhere, they find no entrance to the basement.

Hardy: I'm gonna take another check outside, 'case we missed somethin'.

After getting outside, they find a suspicious-looking board, after pulling it out, they find the words DEVON on it.

Hardy: I may not have been there for it all, but even I know that's bad news, mate. Still ain't an entrance though. I was hopin'. Aite, only one thing left to do then. If we can't find an entrance... Well, you know the drill. (Sends out Gigalith) Time to kick some glass! Gigalith, rock their worlds! Earthquake!

After the shake, all the glasses aren't breaking, much to their surprise, but Ash also hears a faint breaking sound from somewhere.

Hardy: Are you kiddin' me? What the heck is this stuff made of? Gigalith ain' no weakling. I expected this whole place to blow right out. Still, I thought I heard something over there. Let's give it a look!

After walking around, they find a glass breaking, and they find a way down.

Hardy: You really are joshin' me right now, huh. Outta this whole big plain of glass, it's this little spot, all the way out here, that gives? And there just happens to be a ladder down, too. Tellin' ya, it's capital shade. And not the Leader, either. Well, we didn't come this far just to stop here. Let's do this.

They then walk downstairs and find themselves on top of the elevator.

Hardy: I s'pose this is some kinda service entrance, huh? Prolly an elevator shaft from the look of it. Let's see if we can't jimmy this bad boy open... (Tries to open the door but locked) No dice, huh? Aite, in that case, we've got a special technique for these kinds of situations. atch closely, mate. I don't show this kind of ability to just anyone.

Hardy stomps on the door more and more until it finally gets opened.

Hardy: See? Works every time. There ain' nothin' a bit of scrap metal can do against the sheer force of the human will. Same goes for just about everything. Now let's get this show on the road!

After getting into the elevator, they find that there are only two floors, and they are trying to press the bottom floor until they hear a sound.

?: And so they come, like moths to the flame...or at least, that's what I would say if that hackneyed phrase weren't so grotesquely misused. Moths are night-loving creatures; there's no reason they should be attracted to light. Indeed, even when they fly near candles, it is not because they desire to be close to the light. On the contrary, the most popular theories suggest that they are, in their own way, fleeing it. All bodies of light have a slight band of darkness around them. Humans can see it too, though we often do not notice. Rather than being drawn to light, the clever beauties try to hide from it in that null band, right under its proverbial nose. It is as ironic as it is tragic that the very act of escaping that which they hate brings them close enough to be destroyed by it. But I suppose that means it suits you perfectly after all,

Ash and Hardy see that the one who walks in is Ash's cousin, Bennett, much to their surprise.

Bennett: Doesn't it, Ash?

Hardy: Oi, I didn't come here for a biology lesson, mate.

Bennett: That would be ethology, "mate". But that's just as well; I suspect such lessons would be lost on you anyhow.

Ash: So you've decided to join Team Meteor? Bennett?

Bennett: Ash, you seem well. I would like to apologize for my temperament when we last met; that was beyond disgraceful. Nevertheless, please be advised that I have made good on my prior promise. You remember, right? What I promised?

Ash: Still trying to win Luna, huh?

Bennett: While it's true that that was my purpose back then, that is not what I promised. She is a closed chapter in my life- and one that should never have been opened. In any case... I see you have the Bracelets, just as Lin said. Impressive.

Hardy: You know this tool, Ash?

Ash: My cousin Bennett...

Bennett: No. Ash does not know me. Not even I knew myself back then. And I would appreciate not being called a tool by someone who has only been able to follow the most predictable set of actions.

Hardy: What's that supposed to mean?

Bennett: What, break the glass to get into a place? Don't make me sick; it's like my mother's Gym all over again. But of course, any dolt with a heavyweight Pokémon is going to try that.

Hardy: Yea, and it worked, didn't it?

Bennett: Did it? You don't think it's odd that your stone-tank Pokémon couldn't even break a few panes of glass? Or is it just that weak?

Hardy: You wanna find out firsthand how weak it is?

Bennett: While intimidating and all, I'm afraid I must decline your typically brutish provocation. Unlike you, I've learned not to pick fights I know I can't win. I may now be a member of the Elite Four, but even I know better than to go one against two, especially when the two are a Rock-type specialist, and the golden child himself. Which brings us back to exactly my point. But I'll connect the dots for you, since you seem to have trouble doing that on your own. That glass was reinforced with gossamer silk from an Ariados' web- not that you could have noticed. With that covering all but a single spot, there's only one entrance an intruding party would use. And with that, we can be sure where any intruders will end up.

Hardy: And so what? Just cuz you know we're here doesn't mean you can stop us!

Bennett: Oh, I'm not here to stop you. I'm just here to make sure you arrived safely, and to tuck you in.

Ash: What's that supposed to mean?

Bennett: Nothing in particular. But it sure is a pity there's no sleep clause for reality. Sweet dreams.

Just then, Bennett locks the elevator door, causing Ash and Hardy to be surprised.


I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, Ash and Hardy arrive at the Glass Work Station, and Bennett is working with Team Meteor. What will happen to them? I hope you like this chapter.