The rugged terrain of the mountainous landscape echoed with the heavy silence between Ash and Brock. The air was thick with an unspoken sorrow that hung between them like a heavy cloud.
"Ash," Brock began, his voice laden with an indescribable weight, "I'm sorry about May... we'll get her back." Brock's words lingered in the stillness, met only with a profound silence from Brock. The gravity of the situation weighed on both trainers, even amidst Brock's attempt to comfort his friend. "I've seen the way you've been looking at her, Ash... I know," Brock finally spoke, breaking the oppressive quiet. His gaze held a mix of understanding and concern.
"You do…? You know that she and I…?" Ash's response was a stunned one, a storm of emotions brewing within him. Brock persisted, a knowing nod emphasizing the depth of his perception.
"The way you looked at each other back in Mosdeep City... and the terrified look you have now that she's gone... I can tell." the budding Pokemon Doctor confirmed.
"You should have seen how he was when that lady threatened to kill May..." Pikachu contributed to the conversation. "I've never seen him hate anybody that much before."
"I can only imagine…" Brock's eyes flickered with a subtle understanding. "How long have you been together?"
"Several months now… we promised not to tell anyone about our relationship yet," Ash admitted, the words carrying a mix of vulnerability and secrecy.
"I understand. Her new fame is a lot to deal with, I imagine." Brock nodded, acknowledging the complexity of their situation.
"Yeah..." Ash sighed, his gaze reflecting the weight of the challenges they faced. "We just wanted a chance to enjoy being together before going public…she didn't want me to have to deal with fans following me on my journey…and to be honest I didn't want to make the media storm around her any worse…"
"Then it sounds like the right call for you both." Brock processed the information, absorbing the intricacies of their hidden relationship. "Just one last question, Ash."
"What is it?" Ash looked at Brock, awaiting the query.
"Do you love her?" Brock asked, the sincerity in his voice cutting through the tension.
"I do, Brock…I love her with my whole heart," Ash affirmed, the genuine emotion evident in his response.
"Then let me say for the record, congratulations. I'm happy for you both." Brock smiled softly, a genuine expression of support.
"Thanks, Brock. I do wish you luck on finding Ms. Right for you. No matter how many times you will fail when finding her," Ash teased, a small smile breaking through the somber atmosphere.
"Thanks." Brock chuckled appreciatively.
"Well, since we're getting everything out in the open here, I'll let you know that Pikachu here is going out with May's Glaceon." Ash's smile widened a little, feeling a bit of weight ease off him now that he had Brock's support.
"Then congratulations to you as well, Pikachu." Brock's congratulations extended to Pikachu. With the camaraderie intact, the trio committed to the mission ahead. "Don't either of you worry. We'll do everything we can to bring her and all her Pokemon home safe," Brock declared.
"That's all I want," Ash added, a silent promise etched in his determined gaze. Brock nodded, and together, they descended the mountain until they reached a small cave opening near the base of the North side.
"That must be it," Brock observed.
"It sure looks like it," Ash agreed.
"Let's head inside and have a look around," Brock suggested, taking the lead.
"Right," Ash replied, following him into the dimly lit cavern, their shared purpose driving them forward into the unknown. Brock carefully surveyed the cavern's surroundings, his eyes scanning every detail as he and Ash did the same, also praying that he would spot anything that would lead him to his girlfriend.
"Hey look," Brock pointed out, drawing their attention to an older woman near one of the pools of water. She wore a cloak similar to the one the other woman had worn. Ash took a step forward, trying to be as ready as he could if the woman showed the same hostility as the first one had.
"Hello?"
"Yes?" The woman glanced over.
"Are you a member of the Draconid tribe?" Ash inquired.
"I am. My name is Ayane, the tribal elder." Ayane nodded solemnly.
"I see. Do you happen to know about a lady with a Salamence and a Whismur she calls Aster?" Ash asked, desperation lacing his voice. Ayane sighed, revealing a deep understanding of the situation.
"Oh dear. What has Zinnia done now?"
"Zinnia?" Brock wondered.
"If that's her name then please help us find her. She's been causing trouble and attacking people all over Hoenn. She even kidnapped my girlfriend! I have to know where she is!" Ash insisted.
"I see…" Ayane nodded again. "I apologize on behalf of my people for my granddaughter."
"Granddaughter?!" Ash exclaimed, his surprise evident. Ayane affirmed with a nod, setting the stage for a revelation that would shed light on the unfolding events. Brock and Ash exchanged puzzled glances as Brock spoke up again.
"Why is she doing this? What's going on?"
"Zinnia is what our tribe refers to as a Lorekeeper," Ayane elaborated. "Since ancient times, our tribe has worshiped and honored the Legendary Pokémon Rayquaza. Each generation has its own Lorekeeper, the person who holds our entire tribe's history and will be able to commune directly with the Dragon Lord himself. Zinnia is the Lorekeeper of this newest generation."
"She can really talk with Rayquaza…?" Ash questioned the old woman, struggling to grasp the significance of the revelation.
"Yes." Ayane nodded again. "We do not condone her actions. Whatever she has been doing, she's been doing without the tribe's approval."
"You mean you all didn't tell her to steal Key Stones?" Brock wondered.
"Certainly not. We told her that this plan of her's wouldn't work. But she was insistent that she could do this on her own. We haven't seen her in weeks." Ayane assured the young men.
"Then why didn't you try to stop her?!" Ash demanded angrily.
"She is horribly misguided, but underneath it all she is trying to help all of Hoenn." the woman explained.
"How does any of what she's doing help Hoenn?!" Ash growled, growing more frustrated.
"Zinnia is attempting to stop the meteor that threatens us all," Ayane explained, stunning both Ash and Brock.
"You know about the meteor?!" Ash, still reeling from the recent revelations, expressed his disbelief.
"We've known it was coming for centuries," Ayane confirmed.
"Even if that's true, it still doesn't explain her plan. How does any of that help stop the meteor?" Brock asked.
"The reason she's collecting Key Stones is because she wants to use them as an offering to the Dragon Lord. To give him enough power to Mega Evolve and destroy the meteor," Ayane disclosed, her tone carrying a sense of urgency.
"What?! Rayquaza can Mega Evolve?!" Ash exclaimed, surprised by the revelation.
"Would that even work when the 'offerings' were stolen from others?" Brock continued, with a hint of skepticism.
"A valid argument we made to her many times" Ayane acknowledged the skepticism with a nod. "Zinnia is desperate to prove herself worthy in the eyes of our Dragon Lord. And with the meteor approaching as fast as it is, she doesn't have a lot of time. She's become very aggressive and determined not to let anyone stand in her way."
"Well, I don't care what she thinks she's doing! Hurting May and stealing from others isn't going to work!" Ash retorted, frustration evident in his voice.
"Perhaps not. But I'm afraid the only one who will probably get through to her may be the Dragon Lord himself." Ayane replied.
"Meaning he might not appear to her when she presents the offering…" Brock speculated.
"I don't know what he'll do." Ayane sighed, acknowledging the uncertainty.
"Either way, we can't let her give those Key Stones to him if he does accept them. They are like a part of their owners, a way for them to connect to their Pokémon." Brock, recognizing the urgency of the situation, interjected.
"There's only one place she would have gone now that she's gathered the Key Stones," Ayane revealed.
"Where?" Ash inquired.
"The Lair of the Dragon Lord. Sky Pillar," Ayane disclosed, providing a crucial piece of information.
"Sky Pillar?" Ash echoed, seeking to comprehend the significance of the location.
"It was built by our tribe to thank the Dragon Lord for everything he's given us. Its peak is where the Dragon Lord has always met with the Lorekeeper. You know of Pacifidlog Town?" Ayane asked.
"Of course, we do. We were there for a Contest years ago," Ash replied.
"The Sky Pillar is just North of there. Hidden amongst the Sea," Ayane explained.
"I see," Ash acknowledged, absorbing the information.
"But to get there without a Dragon, you'll have to get past the Seal on the door," Ayane cautioned.
"A seal?" Brock inquired.
"Added in to protect the Dragon Lord and the Sky Pillar itself from any that might be coming there with ill intentions. Normally, it can only be opened by a member of our tribe, but with the help of a Sootopolitan, you could possibly get in," Ayane clarified.
"So someone from Sootopolis City then..." Ash deduced.
"Correct. As protectors of the Cave of Origin, they're allowed to enter as well," Ayane confirmed.
"So, we need to talk to one of them to let us into the Sky Pillar then," Ash concluded.
"Steven can probably get someone to help us," Brock suggested.
"Then let's get back to the Pokémon Center. Fast," Ash decided.
"Right. We have to check on Bonnie and the others anyway," Brock added.
"Alright then," Ash agreed.
"Thank you for all your help, Miss Ayane. We really appreciate it," Brock expressed gratitude to Ayane.
"I wish you luck." Ayane nodded.
"Thanks," Ash replied.
Back in Lavaridge Town, the atmosphere was a mix of relief and concern. Bonnie, having received the treatment she needed, found herself gently helped into a sitting position by Serena.
"Bonnie?" Serena called out with worry. Bonnie softly groaned, her hand reaching to her head.
"I'm fine... just feeling sore all over..."
"Nurse Joy says you're going to be fine," Serena reassured her.
"What about the others...?" Bonnie inquired about the others, her concern evident.
"It's... a long story. Ash is still out searching, and Clemont is still in Mossdeep City," Serena explained. Bonnie sighed in understanding, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. Max entered the room, his cheerful demeanor contrasting with the tension in the air.
"Hey. Glad to see you're up," Max greeted with a warm smile. Bonnie managed a small smile and blushed slightly.
"Thanks." Serena raised an eyebrow at the exchange between Bonnie and Max, sensing a subtle shift in dynamics. Max inquired about Bonnie's well-being.
"How are you feeling?" Max asked.
"Just sore in the leg, but I'll be fine," Bonnie replied with a smile.
"That's good." Max nodded, expressing his relief. Bonnie continued to smile, and Serena couldn't help but notice the exchange between them, giving a small smile of her own as she recognized the tell-tell signs of a crush. It was then that Brock knocked on the door and walked in with Ash.
"Hey, there you guys are," Brock greeted.
"Hey, how'd it go at Meteor Falls? Did you find my sister?" Max turned his attention to Ash.
"Not yet. We talked to her kidnapper's grandmother who told us where they are and why she did what she did." Ash shared the information solemnly.
"But May wasn't there...?" Max grew concerned.
"She wasn't. She's at Sky Pillar. The crazy lady, Zinnia, was only stealing Key Stones to use as offerings to Rayquaza." Ash explained.
"The Legendary Pokémon?" Max questioned.
"Yeah. Turns out her entire tribe is even against her actions and doesn't believe she's up to the task of asking Rayquaza for help." Brock revealed.
"Explains her aggressive behavior," Max noted.
"Right," Brock confirmed
"I certainly understand being backed into a corner for what you want..." Serena muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" Ash asked, barley catching her soft voice.
"It's nothing..." Serena quickly dismissed it. Bonnie looked at Serena with sadness in her eyes, sensing something beneath the surface.
"For now, our next step is to get to Pacifidlog Town as soon as we can and go to Sky Pillar from there." Brock continued their story, pulling focus back to the tasks at hand.
"We also need to call Steven to ask him for someone from Sootopolis City to help us with dealing with the seal on the door," Ash added.
"Then let's give him a call," Max suggested.
"Will do." Ash agreed. "Besides, I also need to make another call before we go to Sky Pillar. I'm not taking any chances this time."
"What do you mean Ash?" Bonnie wondered.
"I can't take the chance that Zinnia will beat me in a fight. Not with May's life on the line. I have to go in with the best of the best." Ash revealed, stunning all his friends.
"You're calling Professor Oak?" Max guessed.
"I am," Ash confirmed. "I need my strongest Pokémon if we're going to beat her. And I can tell she won't go down without a fight."
"I understand," Brock added, understanding the gravity of the situation better than anyone else as he gave Ash a look that conveyed the urgency of May's life being on the line. "Then let's get to it,"
"Right," Ash agreed, determination in his eyes. The group prepared to face the challenges ahead, united in their resolve to rescue May from the clutches of Zinnia and confront the looming threat of the meteor
Soon, after some time to recover, Ash dialed Steven's number, a sense of urgency in his voice as the call connected.
"Hello?" Steven's voice came through.
"Steven. It's Ash," he greeted.
"Good to hear from you, Ash. What can you report?" Steven inquired.
"Well, for starters, we learned that the woman that kidnapped May is named Zinnia and she's a Lorekeeper of the Draconid Tribe for her generation." Ash began to relay the information.
"I see," Steven acknowledged.
"She's been taking the Key Stones to give to Rayquaza so he has enough power to stop the meteor. But the rest of her tribe told her that her plan won't work. But she hasn't listened to them." Ash continued.
"Well then, at least then we know she doesn't have backup," Steven deduced.
"No, she's on her own. With the meteor almost here and desperately wanting to prove herself of being worthy to Rayquaza, she's been acting aggressively and is determined not to let anyone stand in her way." Ash explained with a hint of frustration.
"What about Maxie and Archie?" Steven inquired.
"They went to get the orbs from Mt. Pyre," Ash replied. "We haven't heard from them since."
"I see. I assume you plan to head for Sky Pillar?" Steven asked, anticipating their next move.
"Yes, but we need help from someone from Sootopolis City as there's a seal," Ash revealed.
"A Sootopolitan?" Steven questioned.
"Yeah. The Draconids allow Sootopolitans to enter because they are the protectors of the Cave of Origin," Ash clarified.
"Alright, I think I can help with that. If I remember correctly, you're familiar with the current Contest Master, Wallace?" Steven suggested.
"Yeah, we've met him before," Ash confirmed.
"He's a good friend of mine and the current Protector of the entrance to the Cave of Origin. I'll have him meet you at Sky Pillar," Steven arranged.
"Alright then," Ash agreed.
"Just make sure you're being careful. That place hasn't been opened in centuries, so there's no way for us to know what's in there," Steven warned.
"I'm not worried. Zinnia is the one that better be worried when I get there," Ash promised, clenching one of his fists with determination.
"Well, even so, be careful of both," Steven cautioned.
"We will," Ash assured.
"Good. We'll talk again soon," Steven concluded and hung up. Without missing a beat, Ash then dialed Professor Oak's number, and the familiar voice answered.
"Hello? Oak Laboratory," Professor Oak greeted.
"Professor Oak," Ash addressed.
"Ah, Ash my boy. Good to hear from you," Professor Oak responded warmly.
"Good to hear from you as well. Listen, I need you to send over some of my Pokémon to me," Ash requested urgently.
"Huh? Whatever for? You told me you were planning to only use the new Pokémon you've been catching for your Kalos battles," Professor Oak questioned.
"Yeah, but I'm not in Kalos right now. I'm in Hoenn, and a powerful and dangerous trainer has kidnapped May and is holding her hostage," Ash explained.
"Oh my. That's quite a turn of events," Professor Oak remarked.
"She nearly had her Salamence bite May in half just to get her Key Stone," Ash revealed.
"Well, you need to tell me who you want and who you're sending to me," Professor Oak prompted.
"Right. I need Charizard, Sceptile, Infernape, Glalie, and Krookodile. I'll be sending you my Hawlucha, Fletchinder, and Frogadier," Ash specified.
"Very well. Just a minute," Professor Oak said and walked off-screen. Ash prepared his three Pokémon for transport, and Professor Oak returned, ready for the exchange. "Alright, everyone is ready for transport," Professor Oak announced.
"Alright then," Ash agreed. Professor Oak fired up the machine, and the exchange of Poké Balls took place. Ash received his five requested Pokémon, and Professor Oak prepared to take care of the ones Ash sent back. "Thanks, Professor," Ash expressed his gratitude.
"Of course. Just please be careful whatever you're getting into," Professor Oak cautioned.
"I will," Ash assured.
"Alright. Good luck," Professor Oak wished him well, nodding before hanging up.
"All set?" Ash looked over at Brock.
"I am," Ash affirmed.
"Alright. Then we need to decide who's going. Too big of a group will tip her off to our approach," Brock reasoned.
"I'm going," Ash declared.
"Obviously. But you do also need some backup," Brock suggested.
"Right," Ash agreed.
"I'll go…" Serena offered, drawing everyone's attention and surprise. "She never attacked me... she won't know how to counter my Pokémon." Ash hesitated but ultimately agreed.
"Fine then." he nodded.
"Alright. Then the rest of us will meet back up with Steven in Mossdeep City and help plan our final moves." Brock made the final decision.
"Alright then," Ash confirmed.
"Oh and Ash?" Brock spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"Take this with you. Something tells me you're going to need it." The Pokémon doctor added, handing Ash the strange rock he had taken from Team Magma. Ash took the rock and looked at it curiously.
"What is it?" he wondered.
"I don't know. But Team Magma was using it before. It has something to do with all this, so it's best that you take it with you." Brock explained.
"…Ok." Ash nodded, putting the rock in his bag.
"Be careful, you guys. And please bring May back safe." Max added.
"We will, Max," Ash promised. Serena nodded in agreement and with that, Ash headed south, Serena following him, as they prepared to face the impending challenges that awaited them at Sky Pillar. The journey ahead was fraught with danger, but they were determined to rescue May and confront Zinnia before it was too late.
To be Continued...