"Ash, you need to relax for just a minute." Molly said, calming him down.
"But everything the Unown said, I need to find the whatever beings are trapped there." Ash said.
"And what's your plan, even with the map, with that storm you'd never find your way to Ekruteak, you'd be just as likely to end up back here or in Goldenrod or Violet City." Casey pointed out.
"So what can we even do while we're stuck here?" Ash asked, seeing the rain pouring outside the cave they were taking shelter in.
"Ash, sometimes there's nothing you can do, if what you said is true, you will eventually go to save them and stop the Masked Man." Molly said.
"But I can still do some work, come on Pikachu!" Ash said.
"Pi!" Pikachu exclaimed, following his trainer right out into the storm.
"They're going to get killed out there one of these days." Casey pointed out.
Out in the storm
"Okay, I'm never telling Casey that she was right." Ash groaned, getting turned around quickly. "Let's just try to figure out which way we need to go."
"Pi!" Pikachu cheered.
"What in the?" Ash asked, seeing a blue glow nearby. "It's you again." Ash said, seeing the strange blue creature.
The creature nodded, looking into the distance, the ribbons on their back waving in the wind.
"What's out there?" Ash asked, looking in the same distance, to see two towers high into the sky, one more desolate than the other.
"They're incredible, aren't they." A person said, walking up to Ash and Pikachu in the rain.
Ash turned to see the creature gone, but someone in a cloak walking up to them.
"Uhh, yeah I guess so, what are they?" Ash asked.
"The twin towers of Ekruteak City. The Burned and Tin tower." The person said.
"Sorry, I'm a traveler, not really from around here, why are they important?" Ash asked.
"The Burned Tower is the original home of the legendary Pokemon Ho-oh, one day it was struck by lightning and engulfed in flames, only the rain of the storm was able to quench the flames, however as a result Ho-oh three friends were trapped and did not make it out of the tower, only through his light were they brought back." The person said.
"So does that make the Tin Tower Ho-oh's current home?" Ash asked curiously.
"In a way yes, but it isn't always viewed that way, Ho-oh doesn't truly have a home." The person said. "However local legends believe that his three loyal friends are still deep in the Burned Tower, waiting one day to be awoken and freed."
"You don't say." Ash said realizing he might have a lead.
"Wait, where are my manners, my name is Eusine." The person said, extending their hand. "Sorry if I had bored you, I have a great interest in these legends and towers."
"I'm Ash and this is Pikachu." Ash said, shaking their hand. "And it's fine, I think there might be something I need to find in the Burned Tower thanks to what you said."
"You don't say! It seems we have a common goal then, does this make us rivals or allies though?" Eusine said.
Ash thought back to what the Unown had said about another person would be the key to stopping the Masked Man, maybe this was him.
"Allies, we'll work together to uncover the secrets in that tower." Ash said supportively.
"I like that idea Ash, however I must ask for something to see if you are worthy of working as allies." Eusine said, brandishing a pokeball.
"Now you're talking!" Ash said excitedly.
"Drowzee come on out!"
"Pikachu let's do this!" Ash said.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, sparks coming from his cheek.
"Drowzee use Confusion!"
"Pikachu use Quick Attack!"
A blast came through the rain, as Pikachu leapt out of the way before slamming into Drowzee.
"Drowzee use Disable!"
"Pikachu dodge it with Agility!"
Pikachu moved out of the way in a split second before Drowzee could touch him.
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
"Drowzee use Hypnosis!"
Pikachu sent out a bolt of electricity at the psychic type before falling asleep in the storm.
"Drowzee use Dream Eater!"
"Pikachu wake up!" Ash called out.
Drowzee uncurled his nose, snuffling up energy from the sleeping electric type.
"Drowzee keep using Dream Eater!"
"Pikachu, Thunder Punch!"
Pikachu came to, seeing Drowzee right above him, slamming an electrical packed punch into the psychic types nose, knocking it backwards.
"Pikachu use Agility!"
"Drowzee use Disable!"
Pikachu picked up more speed, easily avoiding Drowzee's attack.
"Drowzee use Confusion!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu leapt into the air, sending a bolt of electricity right down at Drowzee, knocking the psychic type out.
"So what did you think Eusine?" Ash asked.
"I have to admit, someone like you by my side in finding the legendary Suicune, would be a great help. So shall we get going?" Eusine asked.
"I'm actually traveling with some friends, but you know if we see you in Ekruteak City, I'll be sure to help you out." Ash responded happily.
"Well then Ash and Pikachu of Pallet, until then au revoir." Eusine said with a flick of his cape.
Authors Notes/Character of the day
Been a while since I've gone over a character specifically in one of these but Eusine. They are a character introduced back in Pokemon Crystal and throughout all of their appearances their one goal is to find and capture Suicune. As for why I used they/them pronouns for Eusine is because in Pokemon Crystals code they don't have a gender, it's weird the game gives random dialogue based on wether the character is male or female but Eusine is coded as neither, could it be an oversight when they made the character for the third version, possibly, I'm not certain. Maybe Nintendo and Game Freak were just trying to be progressive?