Trainers, what is the purpose of the lake encountered in Mt Coronet?
a) Decoration
b) To get Feebas
c) To find Cyrus' weakness
Lucas and Dawn decided to travel through Mt. Coronet to get to Acuity. Preliminary scouting by Alfa stated that Lake Acuity was covered in a perpetual blizzard, making flying there difficult without first knowing the lay of the land.
"We don't want to land in the lake, you know."
And this is how Dawn came to find the lake of Mount Coronet.
A giant lake. There was no indication there was anything special, and it was out of the path to get to Acuity. However, as Altaria said: "If it doesn't work, you don't know how to use it." Dawn pulled a Fishing Rod out, and cast it.
"Dawn, we have to hurry."
"I know, but we don't even have a swimmer. Suppose this was a required path?"
"…Proceed." Dawn reeled in her line. At the end of it was…
A wild FEEBAS appeared!
Dawn threw out a Poké Ball, hoping she didn't have to worry about standard catch procedure.
… … … …Gotcha! FEEBAS was caught!
"So you caught a fish. You could've done that at any other lake." Dawn looked out on the shore again.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I'm overthinking this. Let's just hope Cyrus' weakness wasn't here. Or something of that sort."
The snowstorm hit Lucas and Dawn badly. The pelting snowflakes, which were going so fast they felt like hailstones, struck nearly every nerve that they could reach on the pair of them. Dawn closed her eyes, and sent out Yuki. A tuft of energy emitted from him, and he became almost invisible.
"Snow Cloak… darn… I think we just lost Yuki!" Dawn panicked.
"Relax, Dawn. Keep your eyes closed, it will help. Lucas, grab something of Dawn's."
"Lucas, find my coat-tails!"
"I can't see a thing!"
"JUST FOLLOW MY VOICE!"
Lucas jumped, and managed to grab something of Dawn's. He couldn't tell if it was the allocated coat-tails, but it was something nonetheless.
"Now, Dawn! Follow my voice! Ignore everything else… the howling wind… the falling snow… just listen to me. That's right… you're doing great. Just follow me, and I'll do the navigating… ooh, watch it!"
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"We have to get to Lake Acuity. Or a town. Or someplace with people."
"Underst- ah! *Cough*!"
"Maybe we should wait for the storm to blow over?" Yuki asked. Dawn nodded, and fell into the snow. She couldn't tell for certain, but she thought she saw a figure bound away. She made to call out, but the wind defeated her.
"Yuki, you did the right thing in coming here. The blizzards that strike Route 217 are brutal this time of year. If it weren't for the emergency, I would call you out for even attempting the crossing."
"Urgh… where am I?"
"Snowpoint Gym, of course!" Candice cheered out. Dawn's eyes opened rapidly, and she sat up, looking around.
"Of course… Ice… Candice, how did you find us?"
"Your Glaceon is a truly magnificent creature. I made the right decision giving you the Ice Rock."
"Can we battle?"
"Not yet. I know you're desperate to get back on Galactic's trail, but it'll have to wait. Lucas has hypothermia, for certain, and the blizzards are keeping us from getting back to see a good doctor."
"Why can't I fight you alone?"
"…Oh yeah! I forgot about that! I got confused with letting you guys fight Team Galactic."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
Dawn is challenged by Leader Candice!
Leader Candice sent out SNEASEL!
Go! INFERNAPE!
Infernape was swift and ready to go. With one swift Close Combat, Infernape had defeated the Sneasel. He was also well served defeating the following Abomasnow, despite it getting off a Snow Warning blizzard.
Leader Candice sent out PILOSWINE!
Piloswine stepped on the floor, delivering a powerful Earthquake. Infernape leaped into the air, launching a Flamethrower from his position. He jumped back on to the floor, but horribly misjudged Piloswine's Earthquakes.
Go! TOGETIC!
Togetic finished Infernape's job with a Magical Leaf.
Leader Candice sent out FROSLASS!
What? TOGETIC is evolving!
Time stood still, as the crystals that covered Froslass shone in the hail. The purity of the shine touched Togetic's skin, increasing the size of her body dramatically. Her long neck shrunk into her feathers, as did her limbs. All that remained were two feet. However, she did have a heavy coat of feathers, and giant wings.
Congratulations! Your TOGETIC evolved into TOGEKISS!
Togekiss let out a single pure note. It's beauty mesmerised Froslass, as Togekiss let forward a Shadow Ball. The ball dealt massive damage, and lowered Froslass' guard. Togekiss leaned back, and used an Air Slash. Pure air was sliced through, and Froslass flinched at the feeling.
Dawn defeated Leader Candice!
"When I first met you, I knew you were promising Trainers. Only the kindest people have defeated my friend Maylene. But now, I can see with crystal clarity… you're incomparable! Maybe you can stop Team Galactic…"
*Knock* *Knock*
"Would you mind?" Candice bellowed at the door. It was thrown open, and Barry dived in, slamming it behind him.
"What happened, Barry?"
"...Jupiter… *pant* Uxie… *pant* Team Galactic!" Barry managed to get out, before collapsing.
"…Alicia! Get another bed for the runner here. Dawn… you should go. Alone. We need Team Galactic defeated!"
Dawn looked up at the Galactic HQ. She had paid the building no mind earlier, but now, when she knew just what was inside it…
She shook her head. Now was not the time for those thoughts. She entered the building, and began her scale.
"Attention, members of Team Galactic!" a voice called over a din. The crowd of Galactic Grunts in Dawn's way ceased their various pursuits and turned to face in one direction. Cyrus, atop a higher ledge, was addressing Team Galactic.
"Our goal is coming to fruition. As I speak, the Red Chains are glowing with power. I estimate that we will begin our next phase of the plan after another half hour."
This speech was met with a tide of approving noises.
"Thank you. But there is still one article that we must address. Or rather… two. That meddling pair, Lucas and Dawn!"
A chorus of snarls emitted from the crowd. Dawn shrunk back.
"They must be exterminated. We are calling a full-scale war on them. There are members among us infiltrating all of the social circles. Lucas and Dawn will be outcasts, captured on sight and brought to us. But I must, again, ask for your co-operation. My plan cannot fail. Repel Lucas and Dawn. Make sure that, if they are brought to us, they have no hope of escape."
A grand roar of triumph sounded, as Team Galactic vanished from the room, no one noticing Dawn.
"We don't have a chance!" she gasped, before taking a deep breath. She thought a little more carefully.
"Lucas is in Snowpoint, on the other side of a solid wall of blizzard. Spies would not have reached there at all. I am charging Team Galactic's headquarters. My kidnapping is next to a given if I fail. But then again, it would have been before this. This news means nothing. But I must get word out…"
"That should be left to me…" a cardboard box whispered, getting up and walking away. Dawn took a second to make sure she was awake, before wondering what on earth the box might have been.
"So… I knew you would arrive at some point," Cyrus said. Dawn took a deep breath, before holding out a Poké Ball.
"Cyrus, you madman. Whatever it is you're doing, reconsider it right now!"
"OK… one sec… OK, reconsidered. I'm still doing it. I'm purging the world of all this strife you call 'spirit'. It is useless to us."
Dawn took a long second to comprehend what Cyrus had said.
"YOU'RE MENTAL!"
"Mental, am I? Well, we'll see who's mental after I'm through with you. You'll wish I got rid of your spirit now…"
Dawn is challenged by Galactic Boss Cyrus!
Galactic Boss Cyrus sent out SNEASEL!
Go! INFERNAPE!
Infernape charged in, and used Close Combat. Sneasel went down.
Galactic Boss Cyrus sent out GOLBAT!
Golbat used an Air Cutter, dazing Infernape. Infernape shook it off, and shot a Flamethrower at the Golbat. It missed, and, chuckling, Golbat appeared behind Infernape, using Air Cutter.
Go! Yuki!
Yuki stood her ground, and sent an Ice Beam to surround the Golbat. Encased entirely in a crystal of ice, Golbat could only watch as the second shot finished him off.
Galactic Boss Cyrus sent out HONCHKROW!
Honchkrow puffed out his already puffed-out belly, and charged. Yuki's Ice Beam didn't distract the bird from Drill Pecking right into Yuki.
Go! FEEBAS!
What? FEEBAS is evolving!
Time stood still, as Dawn's last throw of the dice paid off. The odd-looking fish transformed into an elegant serpent. Red trim adorned the creature, and she had a beautiful tail and crown.
Congratulations! Your FEEBAS evolved into MILOTIC!
Milotic used her Ice Beam, which did manage to finish the job Yuki started.
Dawn defeated Galactic Boss Cyrus!
"You may have defeated me…" Cyrus murmured. Galactic Grunts appeared at the exits to the room.
"But you are mine to command. You'll make an excellent sacrifice, Dawn!"
The correct answer is b) To get Feebas.
Next time, on High Road To Giratina, it's the final showdown with Cyrus.