Foggy Pokémon Orienteering
Alec's POV
Alec was pretty quiet as he ate his meal while Bonnie seemed intent on doing a play by play on today's activity. Team Froakie didn't place, but Team Squirtle managed to get second, which ended up tying the two teams. Then Professor Sycamore took the stage. "Good evening! Is everyone having a good time at camp?" he asked. Everyone else gave words along the lines of "yes", but Alec remained silent. "That is marvelous to hear, thanks. And I just happen to have an event tomorrow that's even more marvelous. So get ready for a favorite tradition at summer camp: Pokémon Orienteering!" Sycamore announced.
"Pokémon Orienteering?" Serena asked.
"You see the object of the race is for all teams to get their cards stamped at every checkpoint as they quickly make their way toward the finish line," Sycamore explained. "Teams Froakie and Squirtle are tied at 17 points, but all teams still have a chance to win. So do your best and above all, have lots of fun."
"Alright, Team Squirtle already clams those 10 points," Tierno boasted.
"Oh yeah? Those points are going to go to Team Froakie," Ash countered.
"Hey Ash, how's your foot?" Serena asked.
"Good as new," Ash answered as he tapped it on the floor.
"If we win, we'll be in the lead with 27 points," Shauna told her team.
"Well, you're going to have to beat us to do it," Serena countered confidently.
"Looking at the facts with a cool head, there's no way we're going to lose this," Trevor added.
"My analysis of facts tells me we're going to win," Clemont countered.
"Facts don't tell the whole story. A little luck can go a long way," Alec told them, but they didn't seem to hear him.
The Next Day
The teams were now at the starting line and were currently reviewing the map as Sycamore made a quick announcement. "Good morning to you every one. It's time to begin Day 5 with some Pokémon Orienteering. A chance to combine your best efforts with team cooperation."
"We're going to win those 10 points for sure!" Ash said confidently.
"No doubt," Serena added.
"Let's go. All for one and one for all," Ash stated. The five then put their fists together and threw them into the air.
"Alright. On your mark. Get set. And go!" Sycamore shouted. The teams then started heading toward the first checkpoint and, even with Clemont slowing them down a bit, they reached the first checkpoint first with Team Squirtle right behind them.
"Huh, according to the map the checkpoint is supposed to be right around here, but I don't see anything," Ash noted.
"I sure don't see any stamp booth," Trever added.
[Up there!] Pikachu shouted. The two teams saw Sophie, one of Sycamore's assistants, on the top of the cliff beside them.
"Please send one team member along with their Pokémon to get the stamp!" Sophie shouted through her blow horn.
"We have to climb all the way up there?" Clemont asked nervously.
"That's a bit extreme," Serena commented.
"Well, the way Squirtle moves and groves this cliff is nothing. Kay Squirtle, ready to climb together?" Tierno asked his partner. Squirtle nodded and the two started using their dance moves to get themselves up.
"They're good alright, but we'll have no problem getting up," Ash said as he pulled out a Poké Ball and threw out Froakie. "Are you ready to go up with me?" Ash asked. Froakie nodded and the two started to climb up after Tierno, who was about halfway up already. Squirtle jumped to the next segment and the cliff fell under Squirtle's feet, causing him to fall down. Tierno caught him but the force sent him off as well. "Quick Froakie, use your frubbles, now!" Ash commanded. Froakie then used his frubbles to make a soft landing for Tierno and he landed safely.
"You okay?" Ash asked Tierno.
"Yeah, looks like I own you one," Tierno answered.
Ash, now ahead, soon got to the stamp and was on his way down. It hardly mattered anyway as Team Squirtle managed to pull ahead before they got to the second checkpoint with Shauna using Bulbasur's vines to keep herself stable with Serena crawling across with Fennekin over the swaying bridge.
Once Serena was back, the team was able to get past Team Squirtle and to the third checkpoint which was a cave maze. Clemont entered with Trevor right behind him. Clemont managed to get the stamp first and headed to the next checkpoint.
It was located on a small rock in the middle of the river with stones to hop across, but Alec could bypass it easily. "I got this one," Alec told the group. "Ethan, Psychic." Ethan hoped onto Alec's shoulder and hovered them both to the stamp station. After two more checkpoints, teams Froakie and Squirtle were neck and neck as they made their way to the finish line. But it was starting to get foggy and Alec was pretty sure they had gotten lost.
"Clemont!" Alec heard a voice shout and he thought he recognized Bonnie's voice. Running towards it he found Bonnie separated from the rest of the group and Alec couldn't find them either.
"Bonnie, you alright?" Alec asked.
"I'm fine, but where is everyone?" Bonnie asked nervously.
[This is kind of scary,] Dedenne added.
"I don't know, but this fog feels really unnatural," Alec answered. That's when a large figure ran past the two of them and stopped at what looked like a lake. It looked like a bigger and skinnier version of a Sawsbuck, but the horns were glowing.
"Alec, what's going on with these flowers?" Bonnie asked and Alec looked to see them blooming. Alec then saw a small glow from his pocket and Alec pulled out his keystone, which he'd yet to get another string for it to go around his neck.
"Could it be…" Alec started and he took a closer look at the Pokémon. "I think that's Xerneas," Alec theorized.
"'Xerneas'? The legendary Pokémon?" Bonnie asked.
"I've only heard stories about it. Never thought I would see it with my own eyes," Alec said not really answering Bonnie's question. Xerneas then leaped away and disappeared into the fog.
"Don't go," Bonnie called out and followed Xerneas and Alec ran after her.
"Bonnie, we should be heading back," Alec told her when he caught up.
"Oh come on. You telling me you don't want to see Xerneas?" Bonnie asked.
"Fine, but stay close to me," Alec said and the two started to head off. "Ethan, think you can clear the fog a bit?" Alec asked. Ethan nodded and let all of his rings surround them with a blue light. However, the fog was barely affected by it.
[Seems like this fog doesn't act like normal fog,] Ethan noted.
"We'll do it the old fashion way then," Alec added and the four continued to follow Xerneas. That's when a Beedril appeared behind then and started to attack. Ethan reacted quickly and slammed an Iron Tail right onto Beedril's head and he ran off.
"That was close," Bonnie commented as she went to sit down but Alec noticed she was about to sit on an Amoonguss.
"Bonnie look out!" Alec shouted, but the Amoonguss already released Spore and Alec got a bit of it while he pulled Bonnie away from the Amoonguss. After a bit of running, Alec was starting to feel drowsy. "Bonnie, did you breathe in any of that?" Alec asked her.
"I don't think so," Bonnie answered, but her voice sounded tired that Alec took that as a yes. The sleep then finally caught up with him as he fell on to the grass.
Ash's POV
Ash, Serena, and Clemont were looking for Alec, Bonnie, and Ethan and they were thankfully joined by Team Squirtle. They were now following some tracks Trevor found while his Charmander's flame cleared the fog a bit. Ash had already sent Fletchinder to search for their missing friends but he hadn't come back yet. Trevor and Charmander suddenly stopped.
"What is it?" Clemont asked.
"We've lost the trail," Trevor told them.
"Bonnie, Alec, Ethan," Ash called out when he heard Fletchinder and saw him circling overhead. "Maybe Fletchinder found them," Ash guessed.
"Let's go see," Shauna said. As the group hoped over a fallen tree an Amoonguss let out Spore, forcing the group to cover their mouths.
"Water! Spray it with water!" Trevor told them.
"Squirtle, Water Gun!" Tierno commanded. Once Water Gun was used, the Spore's started to clear.
"Good idea," Ash commented as he grabbed Froakie's Ball. "Clemont, quick, bring out Chespin," Ash told him. The two then threw out their Pokémon.
"Use Water Pulse!" Ash shouted.
"Use Pin Missile!" Clemont added.
The Water Pulse flew over the Spore and Chespin's Pin Missile hit the Water Pulse popping it like a balloon sending the water over the remaining Spores.
"Everything is clearing up," Shauna noted.
"Sorry about that Amoonguss," Ash apologized. Amoonguss glared at the group, but it didn't attack as it left. Fletchinder then landed on a tree.
"Fletch. Fletchinder," Fletchinder said, pointing in a direction. The group headed that way and they found a cliff as the fog started clearing.
"Wow, we would have gone right off that cliff if we'd kept going," Serena noted nervously. The group then heard what sounded like a groan and Ash turned to see Alec on the ground sleeping with Ethan right next to him.
"Alec and Ethan!" Ash shouted as he, Pikachu, Serena, and Clemont ran up to the two.
"They're both asleep. You think they were hit by Amoonguss's Spores?" Serena wondered.
"Could be. And that means Bonnie could have as well," Clemont added.
"Fletchinder! Fletch, fletch!" Fletchinder shouted, circling something on the other side of the cliff. Trevor pulled out his camera and looked at something on the other side.
"Uh oh, could that be…" Trevor started.
"Trevor, may I look?" Clemont asked and Trevor showed him. "There's no doubt about it! That's Bonnie!" Clemont shouted.
"But how did she end up over there?" Serena asked.
"I don't know, but we've got to get over there too," Tierno responded.
"But how do we get across this ravine?" Shauna asked before she turned to Clemont. "Clemont, why don't you use your Aipom arm."
"Too short. It won't reach," Clemont told them.
"So now what are we going to do?" Serena asked.
"There has just got to be a way," Shauna said.
"Look at this," Trevor said, showing everyone a photo on his camera. They saw a bunch of Drifloon and Drifblim at the bottom. "Maybe there's a way to get them to help us out."
"Maybe if we startle them, maybe they'll fly up to us," Clemont suggested.
"Then what?" Ash asked.
"I see! When they fly up, they'll fill in the ravine," Trevor realized.
"We'll use them as a bridge! The future is now thanks to science!" Clemont shouted. Ash didn't get it.
"We'll use them as a bridge. Hop across them while they're still in the ravine and rescue Bonnie," Trevor explained.
"I'll handle this: she's my sister," Clemont said as he started to take off his bag.
"Hold on a minute. I'm better at this kind of stuff, let me take care of it," Ash told him.
"But Ash, are you sure?" Clemont asked.
"Just get them to fly up. I'll be over there in no time," Ash told him. A few moments later a series of attacks got the Drifloon and Drifblim to float up to the top of the ravine. "Pikachu, Froakie, make sure Alec and Ethan remain safe," Ash told his Pokémon, who nodded in response. Ash crossed the Drifblim bridge easily and ran up to Bonnie, who was asleep. Ash put Bonnie on his shoulders and started to cross back, but a sudden wind gust upset his balance. He heard his Pokémon shout out in concern. Ash didn't focus on that though, as he was in the center of the ravine and there were no more Driflim to jump on. "All or nothing," Ash said to himself before he jumped with all his might, stretching his hand out to catch the ledge. His hand missed and he started to fall.
"Sandtrap, catch them!" Ash heard Alec shout as the Flygon flew down beneath Ash and Bonnie and the two landed on his back. Sandtrap then flew back up to the top of the cliff and Ash saw Alec and Ethan both regained consciousness. "I fall asleep for a few moments and you're already jumping down a cliff. What would you do without me?" Alec joked.
Once the rest of the group had gathered, Alec and Bonnie explained what they saw. "You think you saw Xerneas?!" Serena asked in shock.
"Well, it looked like a Sawsbuck, flowers bloomed, and my keystone glowed in its presence. I spent the better part of a year looking for it, but no luck," Alec explained.
"There it is," Bonnie suddenly said, pointing across the ravine. The group turned and Ash saw it. Its horns glowing brightly through the fog. "I'll check the Pokédex," Ash said and started to reach for it when Xerneas jumped out of sight.
"Oh no, I forgot to take a picture!" Trevor suddenly shouted.
Now able to see where they were going, the two teams got back to camp and clapped with everyone else to the winners. "Oh well. No points for us," Ash said.
"Sorry about that everyone," Alec apologized.
"I'm sorry too," Bonnie added.
"Don't worry about it," Tierno said.
"Yeah, we never would have seen Xerneas if you hadn't," Shauna added.
"True, it was cool to finally see it. Even for a moment," Alec said.
"And next time, I'll remember to take a picture," Trevor added.
"I can't believe we saw Xerneas," Serena said.
"I hope we see it again," Ash added.