The twins were finally able to travel east after spending the past few days at the pokemon lodge. Jason was able to make a full recovery, and he felt perfect for the first time since coming down with the flu. He was eager to continue his journey as a pokemon trainer, as was Kristine.
After their morning training routine, they traveled along a passageway in between jagged cliffs. Kristine pulled out her handbook to see what was in store for them.
"Outpost Echo is roughly a week away," she noted. "Between here and there are some great sights. We'll be taken back up the mountains like with Charlie and Delta."
"A good way to start The Longest Trek," Jason replied.
"The Longest Trek?" Kristine turned to her brother.
Jason replied with confidence. "It needs a name."
"I see. I think I like that name."
After making it through the pass, the twins were taken up a ridge, as the path made multiple passes leading up the ridge. Once they made it up top, the twins took a moment to look back.
"Wow…" Kristine was in awe. "You can see the pokemon lodge from here."
The twins could see the lodge nestled deep in the mountains, surrounded by massive cliffs.
"Well," Kristine spoke. "Shall we continue The Longest Trek?"
"You bet," Jason smirked.
The twins continued onward. They ventured through more passages during the day and made camp at a flat area near the path by night. The next day, they trained some more at a nearby stream so that Magikarp could join in.
They continued the same routine day after day, passing by narrow passages and gazing into the endless range of mountains and valleys when they had the chance. On the fourth day of traveling, there was snowfall. Instead of bracing through the snow, the twins spent most of the day riding it out beneath their tent. Kristine took note of how beautiful the scenery was as white snow covered the mountainous landscape all around them.
The next day, the sun dominated the sky as the snow quickly melted away. Jason and Kristine were able to move onward, navigating through more cliffs and passages. They even navigated through a lightly covered forest inhabited by several kinds of flying-type pokemon.
"Spearow, swablu, taillow," Jason observed.
The avian pokemon all chirped and chanted away as the twins made it through the forest. Upon their exit, the twins encountered a pass with needled cliffs dotting the landscape.
"The Hundred Needles Pass," Kristine read the handbook. "This used to be a raikou nest once upon a time."
"Raikou…" Jason muttered. "I wonder how many legendary pokemon live in the Mountains or have lived here?"
"A lot," Kristine replied. "I mean, the Nappalchan Mountains are so big and wide, and some areas are inaccessible by foot. There has to be quite a few, at the very least."
Jason and Kristine navigated through the pass, looking left and right at the needled towers and cliffs.
"This is really awesome," Jason remarked.
"Mmhmm," Kristine agreed.
They were taken uphill after traversing through the pass. They were able to look back at the Hundred Needles Pass.
"How many more awesome places do we get to see here?" Jason asked.
"A lot more," Kristine replied.
Two days later, the twins climbed up the spiral staircase that led into Outpost Echo. Although tired after a long day of traveling, they never felt stressed, nor did they feel the pressure of continuing. They spent the night at the small post operated by a single pokemon ranger before moving onward.
Both Jason and Kristine both sensed a certain feeling they were having for the first time in weeks. They were actually having fun traveling. It wasn't just the same old boring routine. They got to spend time with their pokemon every day, playing and training with them. Then, they got to see the most beautiful locations of the Nappalchan Mountains and all of Inventum and even the world. They remembered what being a trainer was all about; the adventure, the friendships, and the challenges. And they knew the most important thing was to enjoy all of that.
In the afternoon following their departure from Outpost Echo, the twins came across a wooden suspended bridge hanging roughly two hundred feet over nothing but jagged terrain below. They were sandwiched in between mountains.
Jason went in first, slowly balancing his way through the bridge as Kristine followed him. They both managed to make it through safely without incident. Afterward, they continued through a pass that took them across the two mountains. They were rewarded with another sightseeing moment, as they were able to gaze endlessly upon the Nappalchan Mountains, pointing out the mountains, lakes, rivers, and cliffs that resided before them.
Two days later, the path took Jason and Kristine right into a tunnel cutting through a mountain. Once they emerged, they traversed across a well-structured wooden bridge that took them over a massive river.
"The Mison River," Kristine noted. "This cuts Inventum into two. We'll be crossing it again."
The river had to be at least several hundred feet wide. The current was calm and peaceful as the twins made it to a small island in the middle before joining another bridge that took them to the other side.
Once they made it through, the twins continued along a densely forested area. They made camp inside the forest that night and ventured past it the next morning. After traversing through more rugged passes, they climbed up another steep hill.
Three more days passed. Jason and Kristine had reached Outpost Foxtrot, making great time. They were greeted warmly by the ranger couple who were assigned to the outpost. They were also reminded that they were no longer in the 'center of the Mountains' and were in the home stretch.
The 'home stretch,' however, could span for at least one month. The last two remaining ranger outposts were stretched further apart than the rest. Jason and Kristine didn't really think about that. They focused on getting towards the end, on getting through The Longest Trek. And they had no timetable for accomplishing the task; they just knew they were going to do so.
The weather warmed up to the point Kristine tied her sweatshirt around her waist one day, sporting a white tank top. Jason also tied his jacket around his waist, keeping his black t-shirt.
They ventured into a wilderness hosted by many types of pokemon. The twins contemplated adding a sixth pokemon to their teams, from the poliwag swimming across the streams to the beedrill and butterfree flying about and from the roaming stantler to the wandering teddiursa. They knew they had to at some point, especially when the Inventum Cup required a registered team of six pokemon, not to mention that some other tournaments and even gym leaders may require six Pokemon.
Nonetheless, the twins decided now was not the time to add a new pokemon to their teams. They didn't feel like the opportunity had risen, though they were well aware that their captures never went according to plan.
It took a few days to get through the wilderness. Once they did, the twins traversed through another mountainous pass. One day, the weather picked up as clouds quickly covered the sky. It began to rain, and soon thunder was heard from a distance. Jason and Kristine sought cover underneath a cliff that extended far enough to shelter them. Then, they simply waited out the storm.
The storm came down hard, much like the day Jason acquired Riolu, where the storm raged on, and Riolu endured it. At one point, the wind blew so hard that the rain swept in and blanketed both Jason and Kristine. Kristine laughed at the ordeal as Jason joined in. They were soaked, but they enjoyed the moment.
After the storm passed, they made camp and changed into warm clothes while drying out their soaked ones. They eventually continued onward, traversing through more jagged passages.
They trained their pokemon and traveled bit by bit every day. Their pokemon got stronger in the process, and they became more capable trainers because of it. Both Jason and Kristine knew the constant routine, and traveling across the Nappalchan Mountains would condition them to take on just about anything.
They both imagined that the Nappalchan Mountains was a form of boot camp, a training ground that would bolster them as individuals and make them better leaders to their pokemon. Then, they would be unleashed upon the east coast of Inventum. They remembered what Diego told them about the Power Duo tournaments in Richland Port. They were definitely interested in this, and because of that, they began training for tag battles.
They thought of utilizing synergy with their pokemon and abilities to their full potential, experimenting with different pairs. The same-type pairings were often the most successful as they were the easiest to synergize with. Swellow and Fletchling displayed unmatched speed through synchronized flying attacks, while Riolu and Machop looked like they could take on the entire world just by themselves. Jolteon and Pikachu proved they are a good team by sealing the Tranquility Badge for the twins. Jason and Kristine knew Jolteon's ability to be healed by electric attacks would throw opponents off.
Espeon and Kirlia also shared synergy, utilizing their psychic abilities to coordinate their attacks into devastating combos. When Jason realized that his visions from Kirlia while he was sick were no mere coincidence. Kirlia learned the move Future Sight when she evolved. Not only did she have the ability to grant Jason glimpses of the future at will, but Future Sight can also be used as a devastating attack in battle, using psychic energy to blast an opponent well in advance.
Jason and Kristine also worked with other pairs, including Kirlia and Machop, Snorunt and Swellow, and of course, Jolteon and Espeon. Jason even made sure to never leave Magikarp out of anything and paired him up with Kirlia. Kirlia would move small objects such as rocks or branches using telekinesis, while Magikarp would knock them out of the air using Tackle.
During the training regimens, the twins became more comfortable in tag battle coordination. They knew that they would have to battle harder than they ever did in any kind of tournament because they were well aware that anyone competing in any tournament in Inventum would have at least one badge. By Inventum League rules, the minimum requirement for any tournament was for participants to have at least one badge. Some tournaments may require more.
Jason and Kristine continued day after day, not losing a single ounce of their spirit. Ten days after reaching Outpost Foxtrot, they finally reached Outpost Gulf. Unlike every other Outpost they came across, this one was tucked within some woodlands. They noticed a shift in the scenery. Not only were they in the eastern section of the Nappalchan Mountains, but they were also heading towards Inventum's east coast. The air was getting warmer, and there was no sight of snow anywhere.
The twins had visual proof that they were making progress and an end to the mountains after all. Since crossing the Mison River, the rugged, barren landscape gave way to lush, more habitable landscapes. Having reached Outpost Gulf, there was only one more to go before reaching the Eastern Pokemon Lodge.
Jason and Kristine called it an early night in an attempt to get a long, peaceful rest before heading out the next morning. Then for the first time since coming down with the flu, Jason started experiencing visions once again.
He stood there at the center of an empty stadium once more, hearing echoes of screaming fans that were not visible to him. As he tried to decipher the meaning behind all of this, his sister appeared before him.
"Well, Jason, this is it," Kristine said.
The stadium's environment vanished all around Jason, and the next thing he knew, he was on top of a canyon overlooking the red and brown valleys below.
"You ready for this?" Kristine said with a smirk on her face. She then approached the edge of the cliff before dashing at it.
"Let's do it!" Jason heard his own voice. To his surprise, Kristine jumped right off the cliff, with no fear and no equipment to slow her fall.
Jason then woke up. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was actually a vision, and he had woken up to reality. He looked over to his right to see his sister sound asleep. He then reached for his nightstand and picked up Kirlia's pokeball. He held it before his eyes, staring right into it.
"Kirlia…" he muttered. "You're trying to show me glimpses of the future, aren't you?"
Jason put the pokeball down and attempted to go back to sleep. He managed to fall back asleep soundly after a while and woke up the next morning after his sister.
"Morning, Jason," Kristine greeted, still in her pajamas. She was sitting on her bed, reading through the field guide.
"Morning, sis," Jason lifted his head. "I had a weird dream. Or vision. Or something."
"Oh?" Kristine seemed interested and put the guide down to look at Jason.
"I was inside an empty stadium," Jason explained. "Then the next thing I saw was you jumping off a cliff over a canyon."
"Was I wearing a parachute?" Kristine asked the first thing that came to her mind.
Jason shook his head. "Not that I saw."
"Hmm," Kristine pondered. "It could be a dream."
"Yet I felt as if Kirlia was trying to show me the future," Jason spoke. "I don't know…it's hard to explain."
"It could be metaphorical," Kristine thought. "Why would I just jump off a cliff?"
Jason rubbed his chin. "Perhaps you're right."
"I've felt as if we've taken a leap of faith since we started becoming trainers," Kristine continued.
Jason got up. "I guess only time will tell what that's supposed to mean."
"Yep," Kristine gave a nod. "We got another day ahead of us. I don't think we're going to be cliff-diving anytime soon."
Jason went into the bathroom to get ready for the day while Kristine got dressed in the bedroom. They both headed onward across the wilderness after their morning routines.
The air was fresh, and there was not a single cloud in the sky. The twins continued, hearing the chants of native pokemon in the wilderness. Towards the afternoon, they came across a lake nested against the mountains on the far side. The lake itself was a clear cascade blue with remarkable beauty to the eyes of both Jason and Kristine.
They both decided to call it an early day and settle beside the lake with their pokemon out. In the evening, they sat at the edge of the lake side by side.
"How long have we been trainers?" Kristine asked Jason.
"It has to be about four months or so, hasn't it?" Jason lightly shrugged. "I kinda lost count of the days since we started going through the Mountains."
Kristine chuckled. "Think about how much we did in those four months. Look at all of our Pokemon."
Jason looked around to see Pikachu and Snorunt playing, Fletchinder and Swellow flying around, Jolteon and Espeon relaxing nearby, Riolu and Machop skirmishing about, Kirlia practicing dancing routines, and Magikarp swimming across the lake.
"Did you think we'd be in this position when we started?" Kristine continued.
"No," Jason replied. "As a matter of fact, I don't think we knew what we got ourselves into four months ago."
"Just think about it," Kristine smiled, continuing to gaze into the lake. "We're closing in on the east coast. We've done so much, yet we have so much more to do. We only have two badges, and we haven't entered a single tournament, other than the Mystic Showcase if that really counts."
"Richland Port is home to the Power Duo," Jason mentioned. "Do you want to enter it?"
"If we can register in time," Kristine replied. "I think it'll be great for the both of us."
"Yeah," Jason agreed. "But you know who's been dominating it lately, right?"
"The Donnovan Twins?" Kristine recalled. "They've won it like four times in a row, right?"
Jason smirked. "It doesn't matter."
"No, it doesn't," Kristine faced her brother with a determined look. "The Kyar Twins will come straight out of the Mountains and give them a run for their money."
"We won't just give them a run for their money," Jason faced Kristine.
"All the way?" Kristine kept her expression of confidence.
"All the way," Jason grinned.
The twins spent the evening relaxing by the lake before recalling their pokemon and heading into the tent for the night. They began their routines the next morning. While neither of them wanted to leave the lake so soon, they knew they needed to continue. After one last look at the lake, the twins ventured onward deeper into the wilderness.
They both had to navigate through uneven terrain, eventually following the path down the slope of a hill.
"We're beginning to descend towards the sea level," Kristine noted, looking at her field guide.
"That's good, right?" Jason asked.
"Yep," Kristine affirmed. "We have some passages to go through, but we're in the home stretch."
A short while later, Jason and Kristine walked across a wooden bridge lodged between two hills. Upon reaching the other side, they had a nice glimpse of tree-covered hills and mountains before them.
"Legend says that Arceus granted life in the Nappalchan Mountains for people and pokemon alike to thrive in," Kristine mentioned.
"East of the Mison, apparently," Jason added.
"Well, the legend foretells of a nation of tribes in the Mountains," Kristine continued. "Arceus granted life on the condition that this nation of tribes would maintain the land and keep it prosperous for generations to come. The leader of the nation wanted to harness the power of Arceus. This caused a rebellion, which was led by a woman who wanted to work at maintaining the land granted to her people. The nation's leader cracked down on her and her followers, forcing them to swim across the Mison as a form of exile. Those who survived resettled and maintained the lands, while that nation of tribes eventually dwindled and disappeared.
"Some say their worship of Arceus became their downfall because they became too reliant on him. Others who believe the legend say Arceus himself punished those who sought his power."
"Do you believe the legend?" Jason asked. "I mean, when early settlers came here, they found the entire region empty."
Kristine shrugged. "There's a thousand theories and no real explanation. So anything is possible."
The twins proceeded downhill and began to navigate through the hills and mountains before them. Day after day, they progressed through the wilderness. They slept within an empty cave off the path one night due to heavy rain. The next morning, there was not a single cloud in the sky as they continued.
At last, they closed in on the final ranger outpost, Outpost Hotel. They came across the base of a waterfall, roaring fiercely as the twins felt the mist projected from the impact of the waterfall. They looked ahead to see the bridge that would take them over the river and directly to Outpost Hotel.
"So this is Whitewater Falls," Kristine pointed out to Jason. "If we were heading west, this would have been our first landmark."
"But now it's home to our last outpost," Jason spoke with a grin on his face.
The twins crossed the bridge and entered Outpost Hotel.
"Welcome to Outpost Hotel!" the red-haired woman behind the desk greeted. She stood up to observe the twins. "Ah, you're from the other side of the Mison, aren't you?"
"Yep," Kristine nodded.
"Well, you're almost to the end!" the woman smiled. "First room on the right down the hall is yours for the night. You have about ten more days until the Eastern Pokemon Lodge. Then it's an easy Route 109 straight into Richland Port."
"That's good to hear," Jason maintained his grin.
"I just have to say congratulations," the woman continued. "It's no easy task making it this far."
"Thanks!" Kristine smiled back.
"Yeah, thanks!" Jason added. "But we're not out of the woods yet."
"No pun intended, I'm assuming," Kristine said.
The woman chuckled. "It gets much easier from here."
"I sure hope so," Jason snickered. "I almost died in the middle of the Mountains."
"Oh my gosh," the woman gasped. "I am so sorry."
Kristine put her arm around Jason's back. "This knucklehead here almost worked himself to death. He came down with a bad flu, but you guys helped save him."
"And this one here refuses to take the credit though she kept me alive long enough for help to come," Jason added.
"I think I heard about you two," the woman recalled. "The report went to all of the rangers," she looked at Jason. "I'm glad you're okay."
"Thanks," Jason said.
"Just remember to be mindful of yourself out there," the woman continued. "Sometimes, trainers don't know their own limits. It can be life-threatening."
Kristine let go of Jason. "We've taken it easy since then."
"I've learned my lesson," Jason added with a slight snicker.
After a peaceful night at Outpost Hotel, the twins headed onward the next day. They continued to train all of their pokemon while preparing themselves for the Power Duo. Neither of them knew whether or not they would be able to register for the next tournament at all. But they practiced for it as if they were already registered nonetheless.
"If we don't make the next one, what should we do?" Kristine asked Jason.
"Then we make the one after that," Jason added.
"Even if we have to wait more than an entire month?"
"Even if so. You're right, sis. We have to do this. This is for us and our pokemon. We have to show Inventum who we are. We have already done so much."
"And there's so much more to do," Kristine finished his sentence.
Jason and Kristine continued on the path towards the last pokemon lodge. As the days went by, the terrain became flatter and flatter. This was it, they both thought – the end of the Nappalchan Mountains.
For each day that passed, they became slightly more eager to reach the finish line and complete The Longest Trek. They walked through a densely wooded area and were relieved to see how straight the path actually was. There were no curves, no uneven terrain, no passages or dangerous cliffs, just a simple, straight line.
They couldn't help but anxiously anticipate reaching the end. They were weary, but they knew they became stronger than ever before, not just mentally but physically as well.
Kristine rolled up her right sleeve and flexed her muscles. "Well, at least the Nappalchan Mountains helped give me these bad boys," she said with a smirk on her face.
Jason took off his jacket and flexed his muscles. "Talk about one heck of a workout program."
"Right?" Kristine laughed.
Moments later, they spotted a trainer approaching their way, heading westward into the Nappalchan Mountains. Jason and Kristine both waved at the male trainer, who appeared to be their age.
"Hi!" the boy greeted. "You're heading east. How is it? How's the journey?"
"Well," Kristine tried to formulate a response.
"It's going to be the toughest challenge of your life," Jason replied. "But if you're up to the challenge, you can do it. Just remember not to push yourself beyond your limit when it's not necessary."
"Gotcha," the boy acknowledged. "Looking at the both of you, you've been through a lot."
Kristine smiled. "We have. Remember to be safe out there."
"Will do!" the boy took her advice. "Hey, the east coast is beautiful! Hope you enjoy it!"
"If you like the countryside, I think you'll love the mountain regions of Inventum," Jason added.
"Looking forward to it!" the boy said as he departed. "See ya!"
Jason and Kristine both waved goodbye.
"He seemed happy and confident," Kristine noticed. "I hope he stays that way on the other side."
"If we did it, so can he," Jason replied.
The twins continued, remembering not to push themselves too hard. The end was in reach, but they knew the Pokemon Lodge wasn't going to go anywhere. They continued their morning routines and steady doses of traveling, chipping towards the goal bit by bit.
Then one day, they came across a sign that was visual proof that their goal was within reach.
"Eastern Pokemon Lodge, one mile," Kristine read. "Jason! We're here! We're finally here!"
"Oh, thank goodness," Jason took a breath of relief.
The twins walked one more mile down the road. They kept walking until they saw the three-story lodge before them.
"There it is…." Jason muttered. He couldn't believe that this was the end, that this was actually it.
"Race you there!" Kristine said with a smirk on her face. She then bolted towards the Lodge.
"Hey!" Jason sprinted right behind her.
Kristine ran as fast as she could to the pokemon lodge while Jason tried to catch up. He eventually did, as the twins ran side by side towards the pokemon lodge. They put on their brakes upon reaching the entrance. The glass doors slid open automatically as they completed the long trek of the Nappalchan Mountains.
The twins both had their hands on their knees, gasping for air.
"We did it, Jason," Kristine faced her brother. "Oh my gosh, we did it, bro."
Jason started to become overwhelmed with joy. He fell on his knees, placing his hands on the ground. Kristine knelt to pat him on the back.
"We made it all the way here," Jason spoke. "That was incredible."
Nurse Joy took note of the twins' emotional celebration and approached them. "You came here all the way from Saint Brandon?" she asked.
"Yeah," Kristine looked up at her. "Well, we're from Mountain Spring. We traveled all the way here."
"Well, congratulations on making it here!" Nurse Joy knelt to eye-level with the twins. "I've seen some celebrations during my time here, but this one is pretty emotional. Must've been quite the challenge, huh?"
"Sure has," Kristine replied. "We've been through a lot. My brother has been through a lot. We're just lucky to be here. And alive."
"I see," Nurse Joy observed both Jason and Kristine. "Let's get you settled in. I've got water, cookies, a washer and dryer for your clothes, nice, comfy chairs in the lobby, and a television screen."
Kristine helped Jason up as Nurse Joy led them to a nearby sofa across a massive flat-screen TV. Nurse Joy walked away while Kristine turned on the television using the nearby remote control.
"Richland Port's Power Duo 60 is just ten days away!" The anchorman announced. It was just pure coincidence that Kristine turned on the television at this exact moment. "We have reached the deadline for the registrations. Dominant duo Dan and Dave have once again declared for the tournament, and once again, they are the favorites in winning this championship. Let's go over to reporter Yenela Kreea for analysis on the Power Duo. Yenela, are there any competitors that could stand in the twins' way?"
"The 'twins,'" Kristine muttered.
"Too bad we can't make the next one," Jason added with a slight sigh.
The screen cut to a woman with blonde hair tied in a bun with a massive pokemon stadium behind her. "Well, Tim, Dan and Dave have won the Power Duo four consecutive times, and it seems they just get better and better each tournament. They are the heavy favorites to win for the fifth time in a row, and when I spoke to them, they told me it's essential to win this milestone in the tournament. This is the 60th Power Duo tournament, and what better way is there to win it than right now while going for their fifth consecutive win and their seventh in the past ten tournaments?"
"Are there any newcomers we should look out for?" Tim asked.
"All but two teams have competed before, Tim," Yenela replied. "But as far as surprises are concerned, we will have to wait and see."
"Alright, well, thank you for the report, Yenela," Tim acknowledged.
The screen then cut entirely back to Tim.
"You can watch the Power Duo 60 directly on our website on the extranet. The final round will be televised right here on IPSN, as always. Coming up next, some call him cocky, others call him arrogant, but those who know him call him the smartest, most creative individual alive. IPSN's special report on Spark, the leader of Team Instinct, is coming right after the break."
"Well, there's always Power Duo 61," Kristine remained upbeat.
"It gives us that much more time to prepare," Jason expressed the same attitude.
The twins were relieved to have completed what they would forever dub as the Longest Trek. With just a week to go to get to Richland Port, Jason and Kristine took the rest of the day as an opportunity to settle down and quietly celebrate the huge accomplishment of traversing through the Nappalchan Mountains. With one massive task out of the way, Jason and Kristine can look forward to Richland Port, the Power Badge, and eventually, the Power Duo.
A/N: I tried to balance the pacing of the twins' journey through the Mountains. They've experienced hardships in the first half and learned all they could to coast through the latter half. I tried to detail that as much as I could. As the twins transition to the coastal subregion of Inventum, they seek to make their mark as upcoming formidable trainers. They know what they've been through, and they know how much stronger, both physically and mentally, they have become, but the people on the coast have no idea who they are. So the next few chapters will be fun!
