Part CXLII: Mamoswine to the Rescue
"Well, that's what we've got to get over." May said as they all looked up at the tall, snowcapped, mountain and a few smaller one's in the ridge next to it that dominated the view before them. "Anistar City is on the other side and about a 2 day walk or so once we get over the mountains."
"Woah how do we manage that?" Ash asked. "Looks hard to get across."
"It's not as bad as you'd think." Serena said. "Only a day to traverse it with the right mount but there's a reason why we're up early. We need to stop and rent some Pokémon to ride over the mountains."
It was a few days after Misty had won the Dendemille Showcase and they were finally on their way to Anistar City for the next Showcase that was there, as well as another Contest that May and Misty would judge, and finally Ash's gym battle against Olympia to end their trip. They'd been held up a few extra days with the Dendemille Contest but now they were finally on their way but after a couple of days travel they'd reached their latest challenge, a tall, snowy mountain range.
The Dendemille Contest that had delayed them had been interesting though. Misty and May had judged it with May as the senior judge who presented the ribbon to the winner with Misty making her judging debut. She'd read up on how to do it and May had spent the entire time between the Showcase and the Contest hammering it into Misty to perfect it, so she was ready and able to do it when the time came.
Of course, the moment it came, and the judges were announced, sitting where the judges for the Theme Round of the Showcase had been, it became apparent to all that the emerging performer who'd just won the Dendemille Showcase with an eerie and graceful dance was one of the 5 Top Coordinators in Kalos that year. That had caused a bit of a stir when Misty was introduced as the 5th one in her judging debut and the one who'd won a Grand Festival the year prior hence why she was unknown until then. The fact that she was performing as well was immaterial to her.
Some wouldn't see it that way, but Misty didn't care and neither did the Contest Committee or even Pierre. To them it was just another way to increase advertising for both. Here was a Top Performer, and one with a rather noted history and the moniker The Prodigy of Sinnoh, who was showing that even a Top Coordinator could make the transition and both struggle and succeed in a Showcase. While no former Kalos Queen had yet opted to enter the Contest Circuit this year it was hoped that one would in years to come to do the reverse.
Once that was calmed down, the Contest went ahead as scheduled, and it was certainly a wide open one. It was one of the many that year that wouldn't feature either one of the Big 3, all of whom had 4 ribbons and publicly stated they were going for their 5th at the Wallace Cup thus making it even more interesting as it would be the only Contest all 3 were in together before the Grand Festival, nor did it feature any of the dark horses.
The main reason for that though was that the dark horses that year, mostly Kalos natives, were Serena, Miette, Shauna, Khoury, and some dude called Tierno that Misty didn't know but who May did as he was good friends with Shauna and Trevor. All couldn't compete in a tournament that May was judging and only Tierno in one that Misty was due to conflict-of-interest rules.
The only one that actually applied to in Dendemille though was Serena as the others weren't present to make it. Most coordinators who were in it were from the area or who'd been lucky enough to be traveling through when the surprise Contest was announced and decided to try their hand at it. It was wide open with only 4 already having a ribbon but the eventual winner, a guy from Johto who had two back in his home region, hadn't won one that year in Kalos and it was a good final against the only one present with 2 ribbons.
Misty had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and couldn't wait for the next one, which was going to be a lot sooner than expected as they were well on track to reach Anistar City well in time for the Showcase there so there'd be a Contest as well right after it. First though they had to get there hence the little obstacle that was currently in their way.
They'd noticed it the afternoon before when they got into the town at the base of the mountain and had gone to the Pokémon Center for the night. Misty had seen the obstacle and made a few calls to sort something out for it just in case she needed it as it looked like the terrain would require something specific to aid them.
While she was doing this the others sorted out renting the necessary snow gear they'd need to wear and enjoyed the evening relaxing together. That was cut short though because May and Serena had told them to turn in early as they had to be up early, and the pair agreed so they went to bed early to be up early for the trek over the mountains.
Now they were leaving the Pokémon Center and heading east by southeast along route 17 towards Anistar but they had to stop by a large stable that was on the way and the last building before they reach the snow-covered mountain road. That was where they'd get what they needed to cross the mountain.
"Rent Pokémon?" Ash asked. "That sounds cool. What Pokémon?"
"Mamoswine." Serena said and Misty had to repress a grin at hearing that. "They have several there that you can choose from just for crossing the mountain. There's another branch on the other side where we drop off the Mamoswine and go onto Anistar. We should be there in a couple of days baring any distractions along the way."
"Works for me, I can't wait to face Olympia." Ash said clearly clueless to something. "Let's go."
Misty just rolled her eyes as they made their way to the stables and office that had the Mamoswine bundled up in their winter gear. It was cold this close to the mountain, and it would certainly get a lot colder once they began to traverse the mountain.
"Hello, how can we be of service?" A woman in an orange winter jacket, blue neck warmer, pants, boots and a hat with auburn hair done in pigtails said as they reached the stables where she recognized May and Serena. "Ah I remember two of you, you were here last year, right?"
"Yup." May said with a nod. "We're here again because we need to get to Anistar over the mountains once again so we're looking to rent some Mamoswine."
"Well, you're at the right place, this way." The woman said with a smile leading them into the stables next to it where several Mamoswine were in pens while a few exercised outside. "We have plenty available so find the ones that work best with you and make your choice. Once you reach the other side please return them to a member of staff at our location just beyond the end of the mountain pass."
"How many can ride on one?" Misty asked.
"Two maximum." The woman replied. "A driver and a passenger. A Mamoswine, as strong as they are, can't take more than that and the gear needed to ride one."
"Serena and I will take one." May said. "She'll also drive, she did it last time and is better than me thanks to her Rhyhorn racing background, while you two take the other."
"I'll drive." Misty said bluntly before Ash could say anything as she knew he'd want to but there was a reason why she had to be the one to drive and she turned to the woman to explain that. "But we only need one Mamoswine, just two sets of equipment if that's possible."
"It is but why?" The woman asked confused by the request.
"Because I thought ahead when I saw the mountain." Misty said walking to the outside part of the facility where there was a pen that wouldn't actually hold Mamoswine but was a nice place for them to stretch their legs, pulling out a Poke Ball as she did. "Figured with that kinda terrain up ahead that we'd need the best Pokémon for it and, well, it's annoying that you lot seem to have forgotten that I do have the best for it. I know I have some surprises, but this guy is one of my oldest."
With that Misty tossed her ball high and far into the air. A moment later it broke and in a flash of light her own Mamoswine appeared and landed on the ground with a thud.
"Mamo!" Misty's Mamoswine said happily as he proceeded to leap on Misty before she could react or tell him no.
"Piplup!" Piplup wailed as he turned and leapt off Misty's head, wings flapping but to no avail as Mamoswine's head hit his backside as he flattened Misty in his version of a hug before she could react and Piplup was blasted into a wall to fall to the ground dazed and vowing revenge. "Pip, Piplup."
"Oh, yeah that will explain it." The woman said a bit surprised by everything as she'd never actually seen a Mamoswine that wasn't part of their company. "We can rent you the gear and explain how it works but it will be up to your Mamoswine to accept it. I'll call my colleague on the other side to let him know the situation once you leave. I'll admit, that's the first time we've ever seen a trainer appear with her own Mamoswine and she wasn't the one of you that I'd have pictured owning one."
"Mamoswine is just the tip of the iceberg of the Pokémon that Misty has that you wouldn't expect, you just haven't seen her ghost types yet." May said as a slightly flattened Misty extricated herself from under Mamoswine to hug him back. "We should have remembered it though."
"Yeah it was in the semifinals in the Grand Festival wasn't it." Serena said remembering where she'd seen Misty's Mamoswine before. "She just couldn't keep it here because of its size so she must have gotten it sent in from Kanto last night. That does explain the call she said she had to make while we sorted out the snow gear."
"How did she get one?" The woman asked. "They're really rare, we have to specially breed them here and raise them up from a Swinub. Only when the Piloswine are deemed strong enough do we teach them the move needed to evolve."
"Misty's is a bit of a special case." Ash said recalling it. "She found it as a wild Swinub much further south than expected. It loved her poffins when we were in Sinnoh where she's from. There was an incident with some Pokémon thieves called Team Rocket and she and the Swinub bonded so she caught it when the incident ended. It evolved against the same thieves some time later but then stopped listening to her as a Piloswine and revealed it knew the move needed to evolve within a week so its evolution to Mamoswine was rapid. Took a while for it to warm up to her but now they're really close. We all should have remembered it."
"Interesting well I'll get the gear and instruct you on how to use it." The woman said as she went into the office still amazed she'd met a trainer who already had a Mamoswine.
As they waited May and Serena selected their own Mamoswine and soon they were all outside and the woman was explaining how it worked. Misty had to coax Mamoswine into it but when she said she needed him to get her over the mountains and this was how it was done he did so. He was going to help his human of course, and her mate apparently but he and Pikachu were friends so that was fine with him, and he wasn't going to be shown up by one of his brethren who only did this, he was going to show that he was more than just a mount for his human.
Soon they were all sorted with the Mamoswine wearing bridles of sorts, with a special contraption for the driver and a seat on the back for the passenger. Misty had to drive because there was no way her Mamoswine would let anyone else do it while Serena was indeed the better one for hers as she understood how to ride a Pokémon.
It took a moment to get onto the Mamoswine but soon they were on them and the Mamoswine rose and set off. Serena and May took the lead as their Mamoswine knew the way with Misty and Ash just behind them as they left the facility and set off down the path to the mountain pass before them.
Almost as soon as they reached the snow-covered path it became clear why Mamoswine were the best way over to get over the mountains. The snow was think and soft while the air cold even in their winter gear but none of this bothered the Mamoswine as they made their way through it. It didn't bother Piplup either as he sat on his friend enjoying the weather and chatting as they made their way up and along the path that winded through the mountains.
Everything seemed like it was smooth sailing for them. There were of course a few obstacles in their path like boulders, but the Mamoswine just charged them and broke them apart as if they were nothing again showing why they were useful. The one they'd rented was showing it because of training while Misty's was doing it for her and to not to be showed up.
There were also some steep spots that were hard but with some gently touches from Serena and Misty and the occasional pull they managed it without too much problem. Lastly there was the odd rope and wood bridge over canyons that were nerve wracking but surprisingly sturdy, so they got over them with ease and care by going single file over them.
Yes, things were going well with nothing eventful happening, which was of course the moment that things didn't. They were on the path with a drop to the side and the mountain to the right when it happened. On their left was a rock bridge that connected their path to another area of the mountain range and as they reached it Misty's Mamoswine stopped having sensed it coming from their left.
Both Pikachu and Piplup did as well and agreed with Mamoswine on what they were sensing. A second later the rented Mamoswine also noticed and chatted with the other Pokémon about it. Then before the humans could react the Mamoswine turned and walked single file over the stone bridge not listening to instructions.
That was because they had sensed that a Pokémon was in trouble over there and were going to help it regardless of what the humans said. This Pokémon needed it and it had another protecting it just in case, but it clearly didn't know what to do for its sick friend as it was a sickness only a human could help with. Thankfully Misty's Mamoswine knew that she could help and was bringing her to it whether she liked it or not and the others were along for the ride.
"Where are we going?" May asked. "This isn't the way, and we don't want to get lost up here."
"No idea but Mamoswine senses something, I'm sure of it." Misty said. "So, let's go with it. I think he wants us to help whatever it is he senses."
"Mamo." Mamoswine said in confirmation and Piplup nodded at this as they made their way off the path and into a dead-end valley in the mountains so at least they wouldn't get lost.
At the end of the valley was a cave in the side of the mountain. That was where the Pokémon had sensed the issue, and they approached. However, as they neared it a large bipedal Pokémon standing a little over 2 meters tall and all white but for the end of its arms, feet and a bit above it's feet which were forest green stepped out to block the entrance. It was clearly angry, and it showed that in its pink eyes.
"What is that?" Serena asked.
"It's an Abomasnow." Ash said recognizing it. "I faced one in Sinnoh against Candice when I challenged the Snowpoint Gym there. It's an ice and grass type if I recall."
"Yeah I think that Wulfric has one." May said. "At least he had something that kinda looked like that in the big confrontation last year, but I've never met him, and I only got a glimpse of him during that event so I can't really say."
"Wulfric?" Ash asked feeling like he should know the name.
"Snowbelle Gym Leader and ice specialist." May said. "He's the last gym you'll face and it's where the Wallace Cup will be held."
"Well let's see what this Pokémon is about, it might explain why the Mamoswine took us here." Serena said pulling out her Pokedex to scan it.
"Abomasnow, the Frost Tree Pokémon." The device chimed when it identified it. "It blankets wide areas in snow by whipping up blizzards. It is also known as "The Ice Monster.""
"That doesn't sound too good." May said. "So why are we here?"
The Mamoswine had sensed what was behind the Abomasnow and pressed forward towards it to try and get the humans there but clearly the Abomasnow had had a bad experience with humans, recently in fact, and blasted a Blizzard attack at them. The distance was such that it was more a nuisance than anything else and none of the Pokémon were weak to it, Piplup was actually resistant to it, but it was still annoying.
"What's going on?" Ash asked.
"Pika pi." Pikachu said seeing the issue that was just in the cave behind the Abomasnow and pointing it out to Ash. "Pi, Pikachu."
Narrowing his eyes through the Blizzard attack, Ash looked where Pikachu was pointing and saw it. In the cave behind the Abomasnow was a smaller Pokémon with a brown lower half, white upper half and green on the base of its arms. It was a Snover, Abomasnow's pre-evolved form and it didn't look well. It was leaning against the wall, it's eyes closed, it's breathing shallow and rapid, and what looked like a red line under its eyes.
"There's a Snover there behind the Abomasnow." Ash called out through the Blizzard as he pulled out his Pokedex to confirm it. "And it doesn't look right."
"Snover, the Frost Tree Pokémon and the pre-evolved form of Abomasnow." The Pokedex chimed. "During cold seasons, it migrates to the mountain's lower reaches. It returns to the snow-covered summit in the spring."
"Isn't that how we met one in Sinnoh." Misty called out.
"I think so but this one looks sick." Ash said before doing something that was classically Ash and as expected rather stupid by leaping off Mamoswine, face planting in the snow but this was Ash, he was undeterred as he got up to walk through the attack towards Abomasnow. "Abomasnow, we aren't here to hurt you or catch you or anything. We're just trying to get through the mountains to Anistar City when the Pokémon realized you needed help. Please let us help your friend, we can do it."
"Mamo." Misty's Mamoswine said backing up his human's skills as she too got off to brave the Blizzard and approach the Abomasnow. "Mamoswine."
"Abomasnow?" Abomasnow asked seeking confirmation though he didn't end the Blizzard just yet.
"Pi, Pikachu." Pikachu said with a nod.
"Pip, Piplup." Piplup added helpfully.
"Abomasnow." Abomasnow said relenting at the trust the Pokémon showed for these humans, so he ended his Blizzard and stepped back to allow them to help his friend but watched them warily.
Right away Serena and May dismounted as they all joined Ash and Misty to look at the Snover. Misty went right to the Snover and deduced right away that it had a fever while Ash spoke with Abomasnow noting how worried it was and how much it cared, promising to show the same level of care for Snover that Abomasnow had.
"One sec, I'll message Zoey." Misty said as she pulled out her device and sent a quick message to her friend regarding how to treat a sickly Snover. "She might know because of Candice and growing up in Snowpoint. This species is native to Sinnoh so that's the best place to learn about them."
"I'll ask Clemont." Serena said. "He's good with Pokémon first aid."
"And Brock's always a good bet." May said as she joined the girls in asking their various friends and was the first to get a response from the Pokémon Doctor in training. "He says for a Snover with a fever, the best thing is spring moss and mountain marigold that is mixed into a paste and drunk. At least given what is available in this area."
"Clemont says the same." Serena said as she began checking for what the items looked like and where to find them.
"Zoey's relayed that Georgia has confirmed that as well, she knows it from Candice." Misty said before going a little red. "And that I may have just gotten them at a rather private moment and ruined something for them."
"Huh?" Serena asked.
"Zoey's Misty's best friend and contest rival from Sinnoh who she lost to in Grand Festival final there, but she also fell in love with Misty." May explained. "And now she's dating Georgia, a girl Ash knows from Unova who hates Iris for other reasons to us, she's an ice specialist who hates dragon types. Misty met Georgia once in Unova and I've met her a few times since then. She studied under Candice, the ice type Snowpoint Gym Leader, and has spent time in the ice areas of Hoenn as well. She and Zoey started dating around the time of the Hoenn Grand Festival last year."
"Confusing." Serena said. "But I think you've mentioned Zoey before a while back."
"Probably but that's neither here nor there right now." Misty said reminding them of the task at hand. "Any idea where we can find spring moss and mountain marigold?"
"One sec, I've got their info here." Serena said looking down at her device again. "Let's see, spring moss is a plant that grows around hot springs so there should be some deeper in this cave."
"I'll get it." Ash said looking into the cave and seeing it begin to branch off just were the light couldn't quite reach. "I still have Noibat on me, his sonic waves will find it and ensure we don't get lost in there."
"Wait." Serena said as Ash got up but before he could run off as she pulled out a Poke Ball and opened it so that Delphox appeared with them. "Take Delphox with you, she can light the way should you need it. Delphox, go with Ash and Noibat to help them out. We need medicine for this sick Snover."
"Delphox." Delphox said with a nod igniting her stick as Ash got out Noibat before they, along with Pikachu and Delphox, went into the cave after making sure to memorize the picture of spring moss so that they knew what to look for.
"May and I will get the mountain marigold." Serena said looking at it again to make sure she knew what to look for. "It blooms wherever there is snow according to this, so it won't be too hard to find in this area. May, get Slurpuff out. Her sense of smell could come in handy in finding flowers around here."
"Right and with the Mamoswine we can get to it easily." May said as she let out her Slurpuff. "While Misty stays here with her Mamoswine to keep an eye on Snover and gets ready to use these things to make it better."
"Right, that's where annoying Brock comes into play." Misty said as the girls set off to find the mountain marigold, Serena's device helping them find what they needed as it had all the stats on it, so Slurpuff knew what to smell for.
As they left, Misty got out all her remaining Pokémon and gave them instructions for how they could help. She sent Malamar and Machamp out to get snow to keep Snover cool and because they were too big for the cave with Abomasnow around as well. Meanwhile Ninetales was on guard duty just in case, his fire type not great around the ice and grass type Snover and Abomasnow, while Piplup and the now back for more training Helioptile took charge bringing the small snowballs in and using them to keep Snover cool as it was hot enough to melt them.
While this was going on, Misty fished out the pestle and mortar she usually used for grinding up poffin or Poke Puff ingredients and set it to the side. Brock's advice was to mix the spring moss and mountain marigold together into a paste like substance and have Snover drink it, so she'd use them for that once the others returned with the plants.
So far things were looking good and going well. Naturally that was the moment Ninetales barked to alert the problem just as a net was fired into the cave and caught the Abomasnow, dragging it out and into the air with a wail.
"What the hell?" Misty asked as she ran out and shielded her eyes as she was hit by a Blizzard that was there that had to be the attack as it wasn't natural. "Piplup, Helioptile keep the work up, Ninetales, guard them. I'm going to see what is going on."
Misty got outside and groaned at the sight that she should have known the moment the net arrived. Team Rocket were for whatever annoying reason here and had used a net gun to catch not just Abomasnow but Misty's Malamar and Machamp in sturdy looking nets that held them suspended in the air with the latter struggling and the former looking pissed and glaring at Misty. The only one missing was Mamoswine who was nowhere to be seen in the unnatural blizzard raging around them.
Team Rocket were above it however in one of their ubiquitous Meowth balloons they always seemed to have. Misty didn't know that they'd been ahead of them as they made their own way to Anistar through the mountains for the Showcase there where Jessilee was going to win her 3rd and final Princess Key.
However, they'd stumbled upon the Abomasnow and Snover and tried to take them but were sent flying by Abomasnow hence his hesitation when they'd arrived. Now they were back to take them and had gotten some bonus Pokémon for the boss in the bundle with the Malamar and Machamp they'd found outside the cave, but the blizzard whipped up before they could try for the Mamoswine they'd briefly seen.
"Well, this is an annoying surprise." Jessie said glaring down at Misty. "I should have known with these two Pokémon that the Sinnoh twerpette was around. No matter, we have them now so time to fly off."
"Yes no dallying this time." James said grinning. "A quick snatch and grab before this cold gives us a cough."
"Prepare for trouble!" Jessie said as she struck her pose.
"And make it double!" James added taking his one next to her.
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above!"
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth that's right!" Meowth leaping up onto the edge of the balloon's basket.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet added bursting out of his ball to stand next to Jessie.
"Mime, mime." Mime Jr. said doing the same thing to land on James's shoulder.
"Mamoswine." Mamoswine called from the Blizzard he'd created to hide himself and Misty peered into it, grinning as she barley saw him.
"This happened before." Misty said recalling when Mamoswine had basically hidden in a Blizzard in the Kanto Grand Festival semifinals and it finally clicked for Misty as it was similar to what Paul's Froslass had used against Ash in the Lily of the Valley Conference quarterfinals. "Snow Cloak, that's got to be you're ability. You're a genius Mamoswine. Aim for the basket, rope and balloon with Ice Shard."
"What?" Jessie asked confused as she looked down at the snowy ground, there was no Pokémon there that she could see. "What's that twerpette doing?"
Thanks to Mamoswine's quick thinking he'd used Blizzard the moment his teammates were taken by the bad humans and thus activated his Snow Cloak ability. Misty had understood the moment she'd realized, and she'd given him the best order to deal with it. For once, Team Rocket wouldn't even be able to get a Pokémon out before they were beaten.
That was because as they looked down, several shards of ice shot out of the Blizzard to their surprise and struck them. One severed the rope dropping and freeing the Pokémon the villains were trying to steal, another struck Meowth in the charm on his head and downed him while a second hit Jessie right under her bust. That sent her back a few paces for more to pepper the balloon and the gas canister which subsequently exploded and sent Team Rocket off in a smokey explosion.
"Team Rocket is blasting off again." They wailed as they became a dot in the horizon though at least they were heading towards Anistar City.
"Wobbuffet." Was the last thing that carried back to Misty as the Blizzard died down to reveal Mamoswine there looking up with the three freed Pokémon already on their feet or whatever Malamar called the tentacle things she stood on.
"Alright we did it." Misty said as she leapt up to run to Mamoswine while Abomasnow headed back to make sure that Snover was ok. "You were ama…"
Misty didn't finished or reach Mamoswine before a tentacle came out of nowhere and slapped her across the cheek hard enough to spin her around and out her on her back, the cold making it sting more than usual. She lay in the snow slightly dazed as Machamp tackled Malamar. Mamoswine just came over to her and looked down in confusion at his human that was now lying in the snow as he breathed down on her.
"Sorry, she's the new group mother." Misty said looking up at Mamoswine. "And she prefers the tough love approach to Togekiss's more nurturing style. Well tough love with me, she's great and caring with Piplup."
Mamoswine just snorted at that, and he used his tusks to help Misty up. He'd met some of the new teammates the last time he was here, and he had to admit they were quite the cast of characters. All loved Misty and the team but some, mainly the Malamar, had a rather unique way of showing it. Only Ursaring was taking time to adjust but that was more due to him not being the brightest bulb out there than anything else it seemed, so he'd come around eventually.
"Um what is going on here?" May called out as she and Serena returned on their Mamoswine to see Misty leaning on hers' tusk, Malamar and Machamp rolling in the snow fighting each other, and a net on the ground. "What the hell did we miss while we were gone?"
"Team Rocket showed up, tried to take Abomasnow, Malamar, and Machamp but Mamoswine used his ability to hide himself." Misty said. "Then we took them down and freed the trio at the same time, but Malamar slapped me for whatever reason, likely letting my guard down which led to her getting caught in a net, and now those two are fighting because clearly Machamp didn't think I did anything wrong."
"Huh ok." May said unfazed by it as Misty recalled her two fighting protectors, it was a reasonable explanation for the situation after all. "Well, we got the plant."
"Good I know how to prepare it and have the materials out already." Misty said as they headed in to find that Ash had returned while Piplup and Helioptile hadn't stopped helping Snover this entire time and Ninetales barked in happiness that they were all ok. "Do you have the moss Ash?"
"Yup." Ash said passing over the right moss. "Found the spring with ease thanks to Noibat."
"Noibat, noi." Noibat said with a smile from where he was flapping glad to be of service. "Noi, Noibat."
"Alright good then let's get to work." Misty said as she took some of the moss and one of the flowers and put them into the bowl. "It will just take a moment to sort this out."
Again, Misty was best for it as she was used to crushing berries into paste for her poffins so with an expert motion she ground the ingredients together as quickly but as effectively as possible while the others looked on. Soon it was a goopy, dark green, liquid thing that was just what Brock had said it should look like.
"Ok Snover, drink this." Misty said softly as she helped Snover open its mouth so that she could pour the mix down its throat. "It will work quickly and soon you'll be feeling great again."
Snover swallowed it and they all waited with bated breath as it worked. Snover's breathing was still rapid and shallow, but it slowly calmed down to a regular rate. At the same time the red on it's face seemed to vanish, and Misty placed a hand on its forehead to confirm everything was working.
"It's cooling down." Misty said with a smile as Snover appeared to fall asleep. "That should do it."
"Abomasnow." Abomasnow said as it came over to check and smiled knowing that its friend was safe and better once again thanks to these humans. "Abomasnow."
"Well let's get out of here." Misty said as she used one of the snowballs to clean the pestle and mortar as best she could though she'd have to properly wash it later. "We need to clear the mountains today."
"Yes we should manage that though we've likely added a day to the trip, but we will still reach Anistar with a couple of days to spare and this was a worthwhile distraction." May said. "And tame by Ash's standards."
"Great, it's an interesting city so some time to see and shop will be needed." Serena said as they headed outside to get onto the Mamoswine.
"Sounds good, I need to perfect my routine and find the perfect outfits for it this time so I could use your help Serena." Misty said to Serena as they left, their Pokémon returned. "Ash has already done his part, but I need your knowledge of this region's specific tastes to round it out."
"Of course." Serena said with a nod. "We will have the time and as I can't partake in the Contest I can at least do this."
Misty smiled as they all got onto their Mamoswine and began to set off again. The detour had been unexpected but worth it because they'd helped a Pokémon in need, and stopped Team Rocket, which was what they liked to do even if it added time to their trip. It was as they were leaving that they heard it.
"Abomasnow."
"Snover."
They turned to look up and smiled as they saw Abomasnow now on a ridge above the cave holding the Snover in its arms likely climbing to peak as they waved them off with a wave of thanks. The kids waved back smiling as they turned and continued through the mountains and made their way to Anistar City and all that it held for them as they prepared for the next few parts of their adventures in the Kalos Region.
