Pokémon Soul Generations – Johto Saga

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Chapter 22: Resuming The Journey! Traversing The Ice Path!

Upon reaching the Pokémon Center, the party split off from here for the time being, with half going to the Department Store to restock supplies, and the other half going around town to make sure the citizens were ok. After the supplies were double checked, the party made their way back to Mahogany Town. While stopping in Ecruteak City, Michael took out the box.

Twilight - "So what's in the box Michael?"

Michael silently turned the box to show the girls.

Ruby - "A pair of wings?"

Calli then suddenly rushed forward to look at the wings.

Calli - "That's the Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing!"

Michael - "So you know of the legend surrounding these wings then Calli?"

Calli - "I do."

Michael - "Then you have the honor of explaining the legend."

Calli - "Well according to said legend, only those deemed truly worthy are given either one of these two wings."

Rarity - "And what about the wings themselves?"

Michael - "May I?"

Calli - "Sure."

Michael - "To answer your question, Rarity. These wings are also part of the key of being able to see either of Johto's main legendary duo, Lady Lugia or Lady Ho-Oh."

Weiss - "Are these the same Legendary Pokémon the Kimono Girl in the underground tunnel almost let slip about?"

Michael - "Yes. There's also the legend of the Burned Tower."

Pinkie - "Legend?"

Calli - "Many years ago, the now Burned Tower was the Bell Tower that stood before the current one. One night, it suddenly caught fire and burned alive three unknown Pokémon that had gotten trapped inside. After a sudden rain shower that came along and put out the fire, Lady Ho-Oh appeared and used her powers to revive the trio, turning them into the Legendary Beast Trio we know of today."

Blake - "And what about Lady Lugia?"

Michael - "It's been rumored that Lady Lugia has the power to make it endlessly storm for 40 days and nights. Along with the fact she's in charge of Kanto's Bird trio to mirror Lady Ho-Oh overseeing Johto's Beast trio."

Clair - "You said the wings are part of the key to encountering them. So what's the other part needed then?"

Michael - "For Lady Ho-Oh, you need the Rainbow Wing and Clear Bell. While for Lady Lugia, it's the Silver Wing and Tidal Bell. Without either item, encountering either Legendary Pokémon is next to impossible."

Applejack - "And who do ya say has the bells."

Michael - "Simple. Our fellow Kimono Girls have them."

Twilight - "That would explain it. As well as tie into what we were talking about before involving them."

Michael - "Very true. However. We have yet to encounter the fifth, and final, Kimono Girl. But I have a gut feeling that'll change somewhere between here and Blackthorn City. Now then. Let's get moving ladies!"

Girls - "Right!"

They paid for their lunch, then quickly returned to Mahogany Town. The group were together at the town's eastern gate.

Michael - "Ok everyone. From this point forward, nothing but new encounters for most of the trip between here and the Indigo Plateau. Ready?"

Girls - "Ready!"

Michael - "Then let's go!"

The party then finally entered Route 44. Upon finding a good-sized lake, the party decided to take a break. Michael decided to do some fishing, and he in turn caught a Remaroid.

Michael - "Alright! Finally caught a Remaroid!"

Twilight - "Congrats Michael! And that means you now have a Mantine too."

Pinke - "Man. Wish I caught a Mantine now."

Rainbow - "Same here."

Ruby - "Why do you both say that?"

Gura then spoke up and explained to the others about Mantine Surfing, a major sporting event in her home region of Alola.

Michael - "That actually sounds like a lot of fun. Perhaps we should make it a thing on Pokémon Island."

Pinkie - "Yeah! And you, Rainbow, and I can set some personal scores to beat as a challenge."

Rainbow - "I'm down for that! But you and I need a Mantine first..."

Michael - "Well we DO have to return to the Whirl Islands for Lady Lugia. So it's not all doom and gloom for you both."

Pinkie/Rainbow - "Alright!"

Michael - "By the way. You girls sorted out who's getting which Pokémon?"

Twilight - "As far as all of Hoenn, we are."

Clair - "What are you guys talking about?

Michael - "Oh right. That's the one thing I have never explained to you yet. You remember how I told you about the Pokémon League dream the girls and I have, don't you?"

Clair - "Of course. I've known about it since the day I joined you all back in Kanto."

Michael - "Well that's part of the reason the girls travel the region with me. Not just to see what the regions have to offer, but to also make their own teams which they'll base their gym teams on."

Whitney - "So how do you guys work this out?"

Michael - "Simple. Each of the girls specializes in a Pokémon Type, with seven of them using AT LEAST two types. Ruby, Weiss, and Yang follow what you four do and specialize in a single Type, with their respective types being Steel, Ice, and Dragon. As for the rest of the girls, they all use two Types. Blake uses Dark & Ghost, Twilight uses Psychic & Fairy, Pinkie uses Normal & Water, Rainbow uses Electric & Flying, Applejack uses Fire & Fighting, and Rarity uses Rock & Ground. Finally, there's Fluttershy here who uses three Types in Grass, Bug, & Poison. Now for most Pure-Type Pokémon, there aren't any problems."

Bea - "But there are with Dual-Type Pokémon."

Michael - "That's correct. Especially when the Pokémon Types cross between two of the girls."

Iono - "So how do you guys normally figure it out?"

Weiss - "We just talk it out and decide which of us the Pokémon would work better with. Times we'll both take a Pokémon, like with Pinkie and Rainbow both agreeing to get a Mantine earlier."

Ruby - "Or if there's multiple Pokémon of the same Dual Typing, one of us will take one Pokémon, while the other chooses another one. Rainbow and I did such a scenario where I decided to take Corviknight, while she gets Skarmory."

Clair - "So who's getting what between now and my hometown of Blackthorn City?"

Twilight - "Neither Weiss nor I will get a Smoochum or Jynx."

Weiss - "And I've told Rarity she can catch a Swinub. That should give her a way to counter any Grass-Types."

Whitney - "And after Blackthorn City?"

Rainbow - "You already know I'm getting Skarmory. Think I'll grab Gligar too. If you don't mind Rarity."

Rarity - "Not at all Rainbow darling. You need a Ground-Type to help you deal with other Electric-Types after all. I'm also getting a Phanpy."

Pinkie - "I'm getting Teddiursa!"

Ruby - "Are we missing any Michael?"

Michael - "Not as far as I know of."

After resting a bit longer, the party packed up and continued their way, eventually making it to the western entrance of the Ice Path.

Michael - "Let's bundle up girls. Arceus knows how cold it'll be inside."

Once they were wearing their thick coats, the party entered the Ice Path. Upon entering the Ice Path, Michael and Rarity quickly caught a Swinub.

Rarity - "Yay! That's my team's Grass-Type weakness covered."

Michael - "Congrats Rarity. And don't forget that once Swinub evolves into Piloswine, it needs to know Ancient Power to evolve into Mamoswine."

Rarity - "Of course Michael. Thanks for the tip!"

Weiss - "Michael! Come see this!"

Michael walked over to where Weiss was with Ruby. There, the trio found a pair of Alolan Vulpix and Alolan Sandshrew.

Ruby - "Wow! To think we found them already."

Weiss - "I'll say."

Both girls then saw that Michael was kneeling in front of the four Pokémon.

Michael - "You girls can come out here. These guys are super friendly."

Ruby and Weiss came out from their hiding spot and joined Michael and the four Ice-types. Ruby caught her Alolan Sandshrew, while Weiss caught her Alolan Vulpix. Both girls then had a short conversation with their new catches, shortly followed by using an Ice Stone to evolve Alolan Sandshrew into Alolan Sandslash and Alolan Vulpix into Alolan Ninetales. Both girls then looked over to see Michael catching both Alolan forms.

Michael - "Man talk about sheer coincidence."

Ruby - "What is it Michael?"

Michael - "Not only are both of the Alolan forms I caught female like their Kantonian counterparts, but my Alolan Vulpix is shiny too. Just like how my Kantonian Ninetales was back when I caught her as a Vulpix."

Weiss - "Man that truly is insane luck."

Michael then brought the duo out.

Michael - "Now like my girlfriends Ruby and Weiss asked your friends, do the both of you want to evolve?"

A. Vulpix/A. Sandshrew - "Yes!"

Michael - "Are you both sure about this?"

A. Sandshrew - "Of course! We do want to get stronger!"

A. Vulpix - "And travel the world with you too."

Michael - "Well that's good enough for me then."

Michael then pulled out a pair of Ice Stones and used them to get his own Alola Sandslash and Alolan Ninetales, the latter of which is shiny. He then called up Akira.

Akira - "Hey big bro. You need something?"

Michael - "Yes I do. Get Sandslash and both Marowak's for me please."

Akira - "Right away!"

A. Ninetales - "Who's that?"

Michael - "Akira. She's my younger twin sister. And she, along with the rest of our sisters, are the caretakers of any of my Pokémon that I send home to them."

A. Sandslash - "Guess that's where I'm going then..."

Michael - "Don't worry ok. You'll have a lot more open space to have fun and train. And make a lot of new friends too."

A. Sandslash - "Ok then."

Michael brought out Kantonian Ninetales as Akira returned with Kantonian Sandslash and both regional forms of Marowak.

Akira - "Here they are Michael."

Michael - "Thanks Akira."

K. Sandslash - "Hey you got mine and Ninetales Alolan forms."

Michael - "That's right. I WILL be sending Alolan Sandslash over to you guys. But before that, I want to give the six of you nicknames to make it easier for the rest of us to tell you all apart."

A. Ninetales - "I don't mind that."

K. Ninetales - "Me either."

Akira - "So what are the nicknames then?"

Michael - "For both Ninetales, Kanto Ninetales will be called Blaze, while Alolan Ninetales will be called Tundra. For both Sandslash, Kanto Sandslash will be called Sandy, and Alolan Sandslash will be called Blizza. And finally, for both Marowak, Kanto Marowak will be called Terrador, while Alolan Marowak will be called Spectre."

Blaze - "That's fine with me."

Tundra - "Same here."

The rest of the regional forms voiced their approval as well. Then Michael suddenly spun around and threw an Ultra Ball, catching an unaware Smoochum.

Michael - "And now that's three to send home to you."

Michael returned Blizza and sent her, Swinub, and Smoochum to Akira.

Akira - "Ok I got them. See you all in Blackthorn City!"

Michael - "Bye sis!"

The call ended. Then just as Michael was about to lead Ruby and Weiss away, he suddenly stopped.

Ruby - "What's wrong Michael?"

Michael - "There's one more."

Michael mouthed 'stay put' to the girls. He then slowly turned towards where the source of the sound came from. Slowly walking over, he peeked around the corner, then relaxed upon seeing what Pokémon was being a 'threat'.

Michael - "Come on out, little one. My friends and I won't hurt you."

Michael slowly stood up, letting the girls see what he found.

Weiss - "Is that...?"

Michael - "That's right Weiss. This is a Snom. Normally they're found in the northeastern part of Galar. Surprised to find one here though."

Michael looked down at Snom, who looked back at him, and smiled kindly. He then gently places her on the ground.

Michael - "How about it Snom. Wanna join me and my friends on our journey?"

Snom - "Yes please!"

Michael - "Yay! Then welcome aboard!"

Michael took an Ultra Ball out of his backpack and placed it in front of Snom. Snom then slowly crawled over and tapped the button, getting sucked into the Ultra Ball. After three shakes and a click, Snom was caught.

Michael - "Alright! I just caught a Snom!"

Ruby - "Congrats Michael. And that's also half of your All-Bug Team completed."

Michael - "I know. Now to see who's next."

Michael then brought out Snom, along with Ariados and Araquanid. Along with making sure they stayed warm, he also made sure to put a Soothe Bell on Snom as he let the three Bug-Types get to know each other. They then returned to the rest of the party.

Michael - "We're back!"

Twilight - "Welcome back you three."

The others were then introduced to Tundra and Snom, the latter of which the girls were cooing over.

Ruby - "Hey Fluttershy."

Fluttershy - "Yes Ruby?"

Ruby - "Michael put a Soothe Bell on Snom. Does that mean Snom's the only Bug-Type to NOT evolve by leveling up?"

Fluttershy - "Snom is one of a few Bug-Types that don't evolve by leveling up. Another example is Charjabug evolving into Vikavolt by a Thunder Stone. And you also have Karrablast and Shelmet evolving when they're traded with each other. Besides those ones, I can't think of any others right now. But I'll let you know when I do."

Ruby - "Thanks."

The party then continued through the Ice Path, solving all the sliding ice puzzles in their way. Upon reaching the final sliding ice puzzle, which would also take them out of the Ice Path and into Blackthorn City, they came across the fifth, and final, Kimono Girl stuck on the ice. Michael went first and made his way over to the Kimono Girl.

Kimono Girl - "Me oh my... Is that you, Michael? Fancy meeting you here!"

Michael - "Are you ok miss?"

Kimono Girl - "To tell the truth...my sandals are frozen to the ice, and I am stuck here. In other words, my flip-flops were quickly frozen on the ground. Tee hee. Well, it's no laughing matter. Would you push my back?"

Michael - "Sure thing."

Michael pushed the Kimono Girl with enough force to free her sandals out of the ice. After clearing the ice puzzle, the Kimono Girl turned back to face Michael.

Kimono Girl - "You really are kind. Thank you so much!"

The Kimono Girl then turned around again and exited the Ice Path. Soon Michael and the girls did the same and exited the Ice Path as well.

Michael - "Welcome to Blackthorn City girls."