Ash the Iron Trainer

by Mar 'Darry' Darren

It was a freak storm. One that separated Ash from Misty and Brock but not with Pikachu. And yet Ash was able to find an entire new region and be reunited with a friend that he never thought he will see again. With four young Pokémon found in a crate as eggs, Ash will take this new region and in the future, Kanto with skill and Mega Evolution!

18. A Flared Conflict In An Icy Cavern

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.

"Pokémon" – Normal Speech

'Pokémon' – Thoughts

Pokémon – Flashback

Pokémon – Move Names and Pokémon Abilities

{Pokémon} – Pokédex

Ash, the Iron Trainer

A Flared Conflict In An Icy Cavern

Previously on Ash, the Iron Trainer;

"Attention everyone!" Route 16's Battle Chateau's Turner announced and soon got the attention of all the trainers in the main lobby. "As most of you are aware, one of our uprising trainers has attended the next rank!" Cheers soon were heard but Turner was not finished. "But this day has another surprise. One of our Viscountness had actually been promoted not one, but twice today!" The crowd muttered awes and gasps to hear that. "Let's give them a warm welcome! Trainers, Marquis Ash and Marchioness Serena!"

The crowds were so ear-deafening, that no one could hear themselves scream. But Ash and Serena didn't care. They had done it. They've proven themselves and their Pokémon to be strong. Serena feels more and more like a trainer and like Ash while the raven haired trainer feels more confident about the upcoming Gym battles.

With that great day about to end, Ash finally agreed to trek back and use the tunnel that bonds Route 15 with Dendemille Town. And with the heat of the battles, it was refreshing to see snowfall once they entered Dendemille.

"Isn't it lovely? Serena asked as she gazed upon the ever-falling snow of Dendemille Town. She was even pressing her face and hands into a sheet of glass like the ten-year-old she is. And that sheet of glass happened to be the large window of the Dendemille Pokémon Center.

"I am sure. Now are you in your winter clothes yet?" Ash said, coming out of the dressing rooms that were located in every Pokémon Center. He was in a new attire to better fit the cold weather of Dendemille or the two locations north and south of the town; Frost Cavern and Route 17 respectably.

The locals said that the cold air was the drafts coming from the blizzards around Frost Caverns that is filled with snow, icy floors and large icicles. And Route 17 was just covered in snow. So much that it was impossible for traveling trainers to pass on foot. Too bad that the only way to the Anistar City, where the next Pokémon Gym can be located, was closed until further notice. Ash asked to change in more suited clothes for the frigid temperatures because the Frost Caverns was not closed.

"Yes Ash! I will!" Serena said, not exactly meaning it. Even a child can tell that by how she didn't even budge her gaze from the window. But then she was pulled off like a suction cup from sticking to a slick wall. Before Serena could complain, her head was covered in woolly women's clothes.

"You will, now!" Ash said with an edge in his tone. Serena just teased him by sticking her tongue out, before going into the changing room. "What is with that girl?"

Later, Serena came out with her clothes that were somewhat like he usual attire but more of a winter-style theme. "Okay! I'm ready to head out!" Ash turned for a moment and smiled for that brief second to see that Serena goes well with pretty much any type of fashion. "Why are we in such a hurry?'

"You forgot about the blizzard coming. We can either stay the night here if you delay or at least see the inside of the Frost Cavern and make it back to a good couple of rooms to sleep out the blizzard." Ash said and Serena playfully glared at him. Does she delay long enough to be beaten by a blizzard coming that late afternoon?

XXXXX

The trip towards the Frost Cavern was a chilly one but the snowfall was pretty enough. Then there was the Mamoswine that seemed to be a little troubled.

"Is that your Pokémon?" That was what Ash asked the trainer near where the Mamoswine was positioned, acting as if a friend of it was in pain and it didn't know what to do about it. Meanwhile, Serena took this chance to scan the Pokémon.

{Mamoswine, the Twin Tusk Pokémon. As the temperature got hotter after the ice age, it is said many Mamoswine disappeared.}

Mamoswine resembles a wooly mammoth crossed with a boar. Its brown fur is very thick to endure harsh cold and protect from snow and ice. Its tusks, which are smaller on a female Mamoswine than on a male, are made of pure, solid ice. Mamoswine has a blue mask-like pattern with a white rim around its face. The fur on its muzzle is tan and shaggy, and its nose resembles that of a pig. Mamoswine's feet are black with three thick toes, and its tail is small. It can endure harsh cold and hunger for an almost indefinite amount of time, as indicated by a ten-thousand-year-old specimen reviving. Mamoswine lived all around the world during the last ice age, but its population thinned when the climate grew warmer.

"No, I just take care of him." The trainer said. "This is just the Mamoswine that often carries trainers through Route 17. All the other Mamoswine had retired once they reached the age they couldn't even carry a baby across."

"So what happened?" Ash asked, feeling a little worried for this Mamoswine. The expression on its face was undeniable and unmistaken to be of great concern. "This Mamoswine looks like he saw a disaster happen in front of his eyes."

"I had no idea to be honest. But often, this Mamoswine takes a break from Route 17 and goes to the Frost Cavern for some reason." The trainer answered. "But he always went inside the caves and then comes out the next day. This time, Mamoswine has been doing this for a week now. What's more, he doesn't even want to go into the caves; that seems to be worrying him."

"Well I wish that I can help but we do want to see the inside of the Frost Caverns before the blizzard comes." Ash said to be regretfully honest. The trainer didn't seem to be offended however.

"That is fine. I helped keep Mamoswine company and he helps me stay warm, even in the worst weather that comes around here. We will be just fine." The trainer replied and for a short moment, Mamoswine looked grateful towards the trainer before panicking in one place again. "But I will hurry myself, I know about the blizzard. It is coming a little early then predicted."

"Okay then." Ash said and grabbed Serena by the hand, ignoring the blush on her face. "Thank you and good luck with Mamoswine." Ash then got a little gentler with Serena and her hand, all towards the entrance of the cavern.

Once they got inside, it was like a free lunch of wild encounters. In fact, every single Pokémon inside the Frost Cavern cannot be encountered in the wild anywhere else in Kalos.

{Jynx, the Human Shape Pokémon. Jynx is known for expressing its many and varied feelings by dancing around in graceful and rhythmical motions.}

{Piloswine, the Swine Pokémon and the pre-evolved form of Mamoswine. Piloswine's entire body is covered with fur, which makes it hard to see, so it uses its nose to sense its environment instead.}

{Beartic, the Freezing Pokémon. Beartic's frozen breath can create fangs and claws made of ice. It lives in frigid northern areas.}

{Cryogonal, the Crystallizing Pokémon. Created in snow clouds, Cryogonal make ice crystal chains and use them to capture prey.}

{Bergmite, the Ice Chunk Pokémon. Bergmite's body is covered with ice, which is used to protect against opponents. Its cracks are fixed with cold air.}

And then there was the horde encounters,

{Smoochum, the Kiss Pokémon. Smoochum's lips are quite sensitive, so it uses them first to investigate objects.}

{Vanillite, the Fresh Snow Pokémon. Vanillite is created from ice crystals that are illuminated by the morning sun. Its breath is 58 degrees below zero.}

{Cubchoo, the Chill Pokémon. Cubchoo evolves into Beartic. Its constantly runny nose is the source of its energy and its sniffles power its moves.}

They were actually having fun with the last three. For being so young and weaker compared to the other wild Pokémon, these were more like little children looking for a 'big brother' and a 'big sister' to play with.

And for the long while, Ash and Serena had enough fun to fill a barrel. No, make that a dozen. Anyways, they were so much that they lost track of time. And when Ash felt a breeze up his spine, coming from the outside… "Oh no! The blizzard is here!"

Serena gasped in shock from hearing that. Now they can't hope to leave the cavern until the blizzard passes over. And that was reported to end sometime tomorrow afternoon!

XXXXX

"Ash! I thought that all we were going to do is take a good look in the Frost Cavern!" Ash sighed to hear the caves echo with Serena yelling out her voice box. He was also looking forward to a comfortable room to wait out the blizzard.

"I wasn't the one that wanted to play with the little Pokémon. For the hundred time, Serena…" Ash spoke to face his traveling companion. "They came to us to play. How could you blame me for not wanting to leave you in the caves during the blizzard?"

Serena didn't say another word and just grumbled. And with the blizzard outside making it nigh impossible to get back to Dendemille Town, there was only one thing to do in the Frost Cavern. That was to explore most of the cavern before they freeze to death.

At least they had fun with the rooms that had floors covered in ice, icicles and stalagmites. That meant the two Trainers had to maneuver on the ice and around the obstacles in order to move forward through the Frost Cavern, right to the very core of it. That seemed to be where the cold, frigid winds seemed to be coming from.

And just when Ash and Serena had finally figured out the biggest room and thus the biggest ice puzzle, "Hold still! You beast!" The two trainers and Pikachu heard the sound of what can only be a trainer of malicious intent; by no regular trainer either. They hurried through the tunnel that was echoing off the walls and shaking the entire cavern.

Once they got into another room, it was a medium sized one compared to all the other rooms; bigger than most and smaller than the others. And in this room was a woman dressed in clothes that were similar to the Team Flare Scientists from the Kalos Power Plant and the Pokéball Factory. To confirm this, she had a Team Flare grunt on both sides.

And then there was the 'beast' in front of them. Ash had his Pokédex on silent mode, so that it will show the entire on just words instead of its voice. And it read,

{Abomasnow, the Frost Tree Pokémon. Abomasnow live quietly on mountains where it always snows. They make blizzards for camouflage.}

The Abomasnow is a large, bipedal creature covered in shaggy, white fur. It has pale purple eyes with bushy eyebrows and long strands of fur covering its mouth. Its hands, feet, and tail are dark green and spiky, similar to the foliage of an evergreen tree. On its back are four green spikes that resemble pinecones. Abomasnow lives in snowy mountains and appears only when snow flowers bloom. Once the flowers die, it retreats to isolated areas. It is able to create blizzards to hide itself.

"Hold still! We need you and that treasure you have for our cause!" She shouted off to the mighty Ice and Grass Type. "Stupid monster, why can't you understand what we have to do for Kalos and the whole world!?" What she sure didn't expect was for someone to actually answer her.

"The same reason I don't." The Team Flare Scientist turned around with her grunts copying her in shock. The Abomasnow was wondering why there were more humans and a single Pokémon sneaking up to his harassers. "Now I don't believe we met. None of your sisters had that hair of a choking person with matching ugly goggles and bowtie."

"WHATT!?" She yelled, shaking the cavern again. "My hair isn't ugly and I am not wearing a bowtie! It is an ascot, you stupid boy!" She yelled and yet these two trainers were not to be stirred.

"You are the one that is stupid to think that threatening the Abomasnow is going to get you anywhere with whatever stupid plan you had cooked up. Let me guess, you were bored during lunch or something." Ash spoke in a mocking tone, smirking to see that the Scientist growl loudly and looked like she was boiling all over.

"The name is Mable and this is the honorable plan of our boss! Don't you dare mock it!" She finally said her name, when nobody asked for it. Maybe that was why everyone in the room just raised their eyebrow.

"I didn't ask for a name, although I would like your boss's…" "NO WAY!" Mable shouted out louder than a banshee and a boiling kettle on a portable burner. "Anyways, if you don't leave Abomasnow, we will have to force you out of his home."

"You and what army!?" Mable actually smirked through her heated face and the steam off the boiling drops of sweat. But instead of the answer she was expecting, Ash just said.

"You stole my line." Mable had no idea what was wrong with this trainer until Ash pointed behind her. "Just look." Mable turned around for a second to see that the Abomasnow had caught her guards into its large and massive grasp. She was shocked; Mable had let her guard down and her bodyguards were easily taken out.

"You just annoying me today brat. If you want to fight, then so be it!" Mable then went for her Pokéball and released a Houndoom like the many before. Ash nodded,

"If I win then you will have to leave this cavern, after you answer to the Abomasnow." Ash said when he took out his own Pokéball. "Go, Pawniard!" That was a risky choice, sending out a Steel type against a Fire type Pokémon.

"Ha! A brat is always a brat! Houndoom, use Fire Fang!" Houndoom coated its fangs with fire and charged for Pawniard. But like his trainer, Pawniard didn't even budge as Houndoom was approaching it closer and closer.

"Pawniard, use Metal Sound!" Ash called out and Pawniard rubbed his claws to create a terrible sound that rattled Houndoom very violently. And Houndoom couldn't make another step towards Pawniard as a result of the horrible sound echoing on the icy walls. "Now use your new Dark Pulse!"

The effect of Metal Sound is to make the target weaker to special moves like Dark Pulse. And that status move had done the trick as Houndoom was hit with a move that matched its typing, one of the few that resists itself. That was why Dark Pulse actually did some damage to a Fire and Dark type Pokémon.

"Arrgh! Use Fire Fang and hit that Pawniard this time!" Mable shouted cruelly to her own Pokémon that struggled to get up from the effects of the Metal Sound and the Dark Pulse attack. And this time, Houndoom stopped dragging its feet and actually hit Pawniard this time.

"Shake off with Power-Up Punch!" Ash called out and Pawniard used the claw closest to the Houndoom and struck hard on the Dark Pokémon. "Again!" Ash shouted when he saw that this Houndoom was actually well-trained and didn't take much damage from a super-effective hit. And Pawniard kept up using Power-Up Punch until the Sharp Blade Pokémon was able to send Houndoom flying off his shoulder.

With the Fire Fang biting into his shoulder, Pawniard felt a little weak. But he held in since Ash is counting on Pawniard to win this match. And on the upside, after using Power-Up Punch about six times, Pawniard's Attack power is as strong as it can be within a battle. "Now use Night Slash!"

Pawniard was going to use a physical attack but actually surprised all in the room when that Night Slash move was more of a special move with a long range distance. But that feat had become necessary when Maple then ordered her Houndoom to use,

"Foul Play!" That was now a dangerous move for Pawniard. Foul Play may be a Dark type move and ineffective against a Dark and Steel type like Pawniard but it uses the attack power of the target to determine its own strength. That means Houndoom's Foul Play attack will use Pawnaird's maxed out Attack power against the Sharp Blade Pokémon.

"Double Team!" Ash called out when he realized what danger Pawniard will be in if his Sharp Blade Pokémon is hit by Houndoom's Foul Play. Thankfully the Double Team had confused Houndoom and caused it to crash instead.

"Brat!" Maple was not liking how Ash was humiliating her in front of every set of watching eyes in the room. "Houndoom, use Flamethrower on all those copies!" Houndoom quickly recovered used its Flamethrower attack like a vacuum cleaner to flush out the illusions one by one.

"Go in for an Iron Head!" Everyone gasped to see that Ash suddenly changed tactic and finally went in for a direct assault. And Pawniard didn't even hesitate before charging in with his helmet shaped head hardened to the likeliness of actual steel.

And when Houndoom was hit, Maple then went for a very cruel command. "Foul Play, full power!" She cheered when Houndoom used Pawniard's maxed out Attack power to fuel Foul Play and did a lot of damage to Pawniard, so much that the Sharp Blade Pokémon was sent past Ash and everyone behind him, right into a wall. And while everyone was in suspense while Pawniard was still in the wall and covered by clouds of shattered ice.

But hope came when a bright light emerged from the cloud of icy dust. The light that Pokémon secrete when they evolve like sweat on a hot day. And Pawniard sure have evolved, with twice the height and sized half bigger. Ash scanned it during the process.

{Bisharp, the Sword Blade Pokémon. This pitiless Pokémon commands a group of Pawniard to hound prey into immobility. It then moves in to finish the prey off.}

Bisharp is a bipedal, humanoid Pokémon. It has a round, red and black head, similar to a war helmet, topped with a golden, double-headed axe blade. Its face is primarily yellow with a black outline. The helmet shrouds most of its yellow-and-black face, although its triangular eyes are visible. Resembling shoulder pads, its red shoulders project slightly over its arms and have a thin yellow line where they meet its black torso. It has white, metallic hands that resemble gloves, with retractable, blades attached. Encircling its torso are two blades, which create the impression of a ribcage. Its thighs are red and become progressively thinner as they connect to the knee. Both of its feet are metallic and split down the middle, resembling cloven hooves. These hooves are also similar to steel war boots or possibly leggings. In the wild, Bisharp rules over a pack of Pawniard, and fights other Bisharp to become the alpha of the pack. The loser of these fights is cast out. When hunting, the Pawniard allow the leader Bisharp to perform the finishing blow.

"Fire Fang!" Maple still called out for her shaken Houndoom to attack this newly evolved Bisharp. But Ash had something in mind for this event.

"Metal Burst!" Bisharp might have allowed Houndoom to land that Fire Fang to land, but that was because an attack beforehand will double the power of Bisharp's Metal Burst. Metal Burst is a low-priory Steel-type move that is doubled in power unless the user to hit by an attack during the same turn.

And this Metal Burst was strong to enough to land that last powerful hit on Houndoom. The bombardment of metal fragments was too much even for the Fire and Dark type Pokémon. Maple was in disbelief to see that she lost to a little brat. But when the Abomasnow loomed over her with his shadow, Maple hurried to return her Houndoom and sprinted out of the Frost Cavern.

Team Flare wasn't going to bother Abomasnow or trespass in the Frost Cavern for a while. And that meant, Ash and company can finally head back to Dendemille Town. Abomasnow somehow told them that and when they were about to leave, he took out a little thank-you present for Ash.

It was a Mega Stone and with a primary-white and secondary-green theme to fit how an Abomasnow was an Ice and Grass type. And its Ice typing is the most showing to explain why his Mega Stone is mostly white with a green coloring at the core. Ash accepted the stone regardless and thanked the Abomasnow for trusting him with such a prize before he finally left the Frost Cavern with Serena and Pikachu, and with a newly evolved Bisharp back in his Pokéball.

XXXXX

After that fiasco in the Frost Cavern, the blizzard had passed. It seemed that the Abomasnow had caused it when Team Flare started to harass and then attack it. And Mamoswine was worried about that wild Abomasnow.

According to the trainer taking care of him had explained at the Abomasnow had lived in the Frost Caverns, overlooking Dendemille Town for ages. And during one terrible blizzard, the Frost Tree Pokémon brought in Mamoswine who was heavily injured from an accident on the mountaintops.

Ever since then, Mamoswine wanted to reply the Abomasnow by becoming friends with it and the town that the latter helped protect. And Mamoswine thus started to carry trainers down the nigh impassible Route 17. And that was what happened with Ash and Serena.

Hearing that Ash and Serena defeated Team Flare and saved his best friend, Mamoswine was more than happy to carry the two trainers through the snow. It was a good returned favor. And the two were able to add a couple more entries to their Pokédexes. Starting with this one,

{Delibird, the Delivery Pokémon. Delibird's most unique attack is giving presents, however, some of these presents have been known to explode. Sometimes, Delibird's presents can actually restore energy to its opponents.}

Then there was the Pokémon that Ash had caught because he was interested in the species and it also tied in Abomasnow's gift; a Snover.

{Snover, the Frost Tree Pokémon. When the weather turns cold, Snover moves to lower elevations. It returns to the mountain's snow-covered summit in spring.}

Snover is a creature with a white upper body and brown lower body that resembles a snow-covered tree. It will be two-thirds brown if male and two-thirds white if female. It has green eyes and three points on top of its head. Its feet and green tail are stubby, and there are two green spikes that resemble pinecones on its back. Five cones form its hand: a large central cone with four smaller cones around it. Edible white berries grow along Snover's midsection. Snover lives on snowy peaks in warm seasons, but migrates lower as the weather cools. A curious Pokémon, it often approaches people and can be found inspecting footprints in the snow.

The little guy sure did put up a good fight against Ash's Charmeleon and his Doublade despite the type disadvantages. That had peaked Ash's interest, this was a Pokémon with potential! And that was why Ash felt like he won the lottery when he did catch his new Snover. What's more, it will be soon for Snover to evolve into an Abomasnow like in Frost Caverns.

But while it was short and easy but rewarding for Ash, it wasn't the same for Serena when she came across the right Pokémon for her. This one was notable for being feisty in addition to be an aggressive thief; a Sneasel.

{Sneasel, the Sharp Claw Pokémon. Sneasel can extend or retract its claws instantly during attack.}

Sneasel is a bipedal Pokémon that resembles both cats and weasels. It is primarily bluish black with three bright red feathers for its tail and a single one on its left ear. The other ear is short and pointed, and it has narrow red eyes. On its forehead and chest are yellow, oval markings. It has red eyes with black eyelash-like markings on the edges. It has long limbs with two large, retractable claws on its hands and feet.

Sneasel is a notoriously vicious Pokémon, which is perfectly capable of using its claws to do substantial damage. The claws are also used for climbing trees in its forest home. Sneasel steals eggs from unattended Pidgey nests. Sneasel has been known to form pairs to hunt. One will lure the parents away from the nest, while the other steals the eggs. Its move, Beat Up, allows it to call on its teammates to attack its opponent.

Well, anyways, it was different since Serena actually had to learn something crucial of understanding and bonding with one's Pokémon the hard way. If done wrong, she screws it up and probably will never be able to look at another Pokémon, wild or captured, in the same light. She might have to quit her journey early and leave Ash as well. It all started with this moment after they both encountered this Sneasel and used the Pokédex;

"He sure looks cool…OWW!" Serena shouted when that 'friendly' Sneasel then clawed at her leg. And that Sneasel did this after appearing from the deep snow once Mamoswine took them to the mouth of the exit to the Route 17. It was like, this Sneasel didn't want them to leave just yet; as if this Sneasel was interested somehow about the trainers and wanted to test them about something. Something that Serena sure isn't passing just yet. "What did I do!?"

"Serena!" Ash then cut her off and then glared at her as hard as the Sneasel is. That expression stated something of 'you know what is wrong'. And after a while, Serena took a closer look at the Sneasel; more specifically, the feather above the left ear. "You were right; she sure does."

This time, the Sneasel lost her glare and then hugged Ash's leg with awe and affection in her face. She looked like a little girl who had been reunited with her big brother after a while of being lost. What a way to get the best of a wild Pokémon by getting their gender right. "It's no problem."

Serena, on the other hand, felt her heart hurt as bad as the wound on her leg to see that Ash had gotten Sneasel to warm up to him, despite being an Ice type. She really wanted a Pokémon like that one because that Sneasel was everything that Serena wanted to be. The Sneasel was independent, unafraid to show what was on her mind and can make an atmosphere of self-confidence.

"Serena." The said girl was taken out of her stupor to feel another passionate kiss on the cheek and Ash playfully touching her hair, turning her head downwards. To see Sneasel looking up with a neutral expression. "I knew that you were thinking that I have beaten you to the punch. That Sneasel will rather go to me instead of you. So I asked for a favor of her. Now try again and show us what you learned today about Pokémon like her."

Serena then realized that Ash could have kept Sneasel. Any human being that gets something in a much better way than another will fell the nigh-irresistible urge to keep it. They deserve it and they may never get to do again in their short lifespans. But Ash didn't. He didn't catch Sneasel and kept her. Instead, gave Serena one last chance for not her but Ash to catch this Sneasel.

'Ash…' Serena thought to herself and then turned her attention to the Sneasel. "Hello, Sneasel." She had to start off awkward and yet Sneasel didn't stir a bit. 'Maybe I shouldn't say that I am sorry. She looks like she doesn't want that.' "I do want to apologize for what I said so careless. What can I do?"

Still, Sneasel said nothing. Then she charged and tried to claw at Serena! 'What!?' Serena had no idea what is going on but she was surprising herself by dodging that surprise attack expertly. She had no idea that she had the reflexes or even the speed to compete with the species that was the fastest of all Pokémon that can still evolve.

She also noticed that Ash did nothing about this and just stood in one place, with a stern and stiff expression on his face. Serena could do nothing herself, just dodge and move out of the way of Sneasel's swipes and clawing at her. Just how is that Serena is doing this when Sneasel was able to claw at her leg with ease before?

"Enough!" Serena shouted after getting a little tired of having to do the same thing over and over for seeming no good reason. And Serena realized that words weren't going to get anywhere with this Sneasel so she did something that she might later regret. Serena actually moved behind the Sneasel and pulled the Sharp Claw Pokémon into a bear hug.

Sneasel cried out and begun to fight back like a cornered animal. She clawed and scratched at Serena's arms and hands in order to get lose. But kept getting frustrated when Serena's hold. All the poor trainer could to is ignore the blood and the pain and kept hugging. And then, Sneasel lost her mojo; lost most of her strength from clawing and moving her arms for so long. Pretty soon, Sneasel was too tired to even more her arms.

"It's okay. It's okay." Serena said in a whispering tone that only Sneasel could hear. And as much as she wants to keep at it with Serena's grip, Sneasel was still too tired. "I am sorry. I truly am." Sneasel still was stubborn and tried to get free. "I promise. I promise that I am sorry. I want you Sneasel. You are everything that I want to be as myself."

Sneasel then stopped and was a little shocked. No one ever said such things to her. They all just want the 'cool Sneasel' on their team or just want to show her off as a golden catch. But this trainer wants her for her personality? What kind of a person is Serena?

"If I let you go, what will you do?" Serena then said. "Will you go out there, as tired as you are now? Or will you stay and see the world with us? You have so much potential. We will love to see you taking the world head on and staring at it in the face, telling it to bring it on. That is what you want, I know."

Sneasel then just lost any energy to even budge from her spot in Serena's arms. The blood was starting to bother her nose, it was torture. Then Serena finally moved her arms and Sneasel couldn't stop itself from falling onto the snow below, covered in the trickles of blood from the scratches. Then she started to whimper, unable to do anything in the snow and surrounded by the smell blood invading her nose.

Serena felt as if her heart was shattering to see a very proud and independent Sneasel act like a beaten child, forced to the ground so she can see her favorite stuffed animal teared apart. "I can help you. If I don't then I will learn and not make the same mistake. I will help you Sneasel. I have seen the world. It is beautiful, especially in a lot of places and there are all sorts of others like us and like you to encounter. The world is a fun place and that is why we love it. And you will love it too. I promise."

Serena then kneeled down and held down her hand. And Sneasel stared at it for the entire time. And then cried to see Serena looking down with nothing but sadness and compassion, nothing else. "…Sneasel~~el." She said and used what little strength in her bones to place her hand into Serena's.

End of Chapter 18.

*Thanks for the rave reviews! I guess that I do have too much free time on my hands. My parents can't stand that and I have no idea what to do about it. I study and do my work but when I go down to my basement to take a break and exercise, my folks get on my case. And I am a sensitive fellow, that hurts; hurts really bad. *

Pokémon on Hand;

Ash – Pikachu (Male), Doublade (Male), Bisharp (Male), Mawile (Female), Durant (Female), Greninja (Female), Ivysaur (Female), Charmeleon (Male), Wartortle (Male) and Snover (Male)

Serena – Delphox (Female), Mr. Mime (Female), Cubone (Male), Kangaskhan (Female), Phantump (Female) and Sneasel (Female).

Off Hand;

Ash – Ledian (Female), Kadabra (Female), Snorlax (Male), and Smeargle (Male), Sableye (Male), Quilladin (Male), Lucario (Male), Luvdisc (Male), Talonflame (Male), Gogoat (Male), Lapras (Female), Poliwag (Male), Ferrothorn (Female), Rotom (Female) and Gourgiest (Female).

Serena – Furfrou (Male), Spritize (Male), Swirlix (Female), Audino (Female), Luvdisc (Female), Poliwag (Female), Plusle & Minun (Female) and Gourgiest (Male).