Chapter 54 Sailport Town

As the group makes their way toward Rassic City, they spot Rick standing in front of the Pokémon Center.

"You again?" Ash groans, frustration evident in his voice. He can hardly believe he's running into Rick again, especially so soon after their last encounter in Coralite Town.

Rick smirks, clearly relishing the opportunity to antagonize Ash. "Ah, it's you, wimp. Long time no see... So, you're heading to Rassic City? I told you it's my hometown. It's not a place for a weakling like you."

Ash meets Rick's gaze with a cold stare. "You know what? The only weakling I see here is you," he retorts. "After all, do you even keep track of how many times I've beaten you?"

Rick's smirk falters, and he grits his teeth, his temper flaring as Ash's words hit home. "Fine," he snaps. "I'm heading there too, and I'm going to battle Rex! He's one of the Elite Four! If I can beat him, I'll be one of the best trainers in Rikoto. But first, how about we battle? I want to test out my new Pokémon."

Without waiting for a reply, Rick sends out his Frogoo. Ash counters with his Flearoe, swiftly defeating Frogoo. One by one, Rick's other five Pokémon fall to Ash's team—Pikachu, Orcail, Phoxiven, Aeroma, and Greninja each taking down an opponent with ease.

"Drat!" Rick mutters through clenched teeth as he watches his team lose yet again. "I guess these new Pokémon need more training..." His frustration turns to defiance as he adds, "I'll find stronger Pokémon in Ancient Pass. You have to go through there to reach Rassic City. But honestly, you shouldn't bother—Rassic City's too much for a weakling like you. Haha."

Pikachu, fed up with Rick's constant insults toward Ash, doesn't hesitate. With a sudden burst of electricity, he unleashes a Thunderbolt, shocking the smug trainer. Rick yelps in pain as he's knocked to the ground.

Ash sighs, a mix of exasperation and amusement crossing his face. He hadn't expected Pikachu to attack a trainer, but seeing Rick sprawled out on the ground is undeniably satisfying. With a mocking tone, Ash comments, "How strange... A weak Pikachu shouldn't have made you fall like that. Don't you think?"

"You..." Rick seethes as he struggles back to his feet, his fury boiling over. Without another word, he turns and storms off, his pride bruised.

Delia, having watched the exchange, steps forward. "Ash, that wasn't very nice," she gently scolds. "Even if the trainer keeps insulting you, you shouldn't have done that."

"I know, Mother," Ash replies, nodding. He turns to Pikachu, his expression softening. "Pikachu, I appreciate you standing up for me, but attacking others like that isn't right. Please, don't do it again."

Pikachu lowers his head in shame, clearly regretting his impulsive action. Just then, Rodney's voice cuts through the air as he approaches the group. "That was... unexpected," he remarks, a mix of surprise and amusement in his tone. "I didn't think you'd get so mad that you'd zap him like that. But honestly, I think he had it coming."

Ash and Alice greet Rodney warmly, shaking hands and sharing a quick hug. With a smile, Alice asks, "Rodney! Good to see you again. What brings you here?"

Rodney returns the smile before explaining, "Professor Pinewood called and asked me to find you. He said he's waiting for us at the Pokémon Center here in Sailport Town. Keira will be there too."

Delia, seeming to have an idea of what this might be about, nods thoughtfully. "I see... So it's time, huh?"

"Time for what?" Ash asks, his curiosity piqued. He turns to his mother, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Mom? Are you hiding something from me again?"

Delia smiles, but before she can respond, Red chimes in, "I know you're curious, Ash. But you'll just have to wait and see."

Ash can only groan in frustration, realizing his father is siding with his mother in keeping whatever secret they're hiding.

Rodney, sensing the tension, continues, "The Professor seemed really anxious. I think he's going to give us some new information about Team Solar and Team Lunar."

"Team Solar and Team Lunar..." Alice mutters under her breath, her expression turning serious. With that, the group decides to follow Rodney as they head towards the Pokémon Center.

In the Quest Area of the Pokémon Center, Keira and Professor Pinewood are seated, engaged in a quiet conversation. As Ash and the group enter, Professor Pinewood looks up and his eyes widen in shock. "Red? Is that really you?" he exclaims, disbelief and joy evident in his voice.

Red smiles warmly as he approaches, and the two men embrace. "Good to see you again, Pinewood," Red says, clapping the professor on the back.

"I thought you were dead all this time," Pinewood admits, his voice thick with emotion. "But I'm so glad to see you're still alive."

"I know," Red replies, his tone carrying the weight of past secrets.

Keira, watching the interaction with a puzzled expression, turns to Ash. "So, Professor Pinewood and the king are friends? I never knew that."

Ash shrugs casually. "Yeah, they traveled together in the Rikoto Region when they were younger. In fact, the Elite Four of this region are also some of their best friends."

Delia, sensing that the conversation is drifting from the main topic, gently steers it back. "Professor, what's the news?" she asks, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Professor Pinewood takes a deep breath, his expression growing serious. "I've uncovered new information about these two organizations, Team Solar and Team Lunar," he begins. "As I mentioned before, they're both searching for the Elemental Stones—the five stones belonging to the Elemental Pokémon of Rikoto. According to legend, these stones were used to trap Solaran, the Pokémon of Order, and Lunaro, the Pokémon of Chaos, in another dimension to prevent them from fighting."

Keira nods, recalling the tale. "Yeah, I remember that story. My dad told it to me when I was little. He said that if all five stones are brought together, they would open a portal to that dimension and release Solaran and Lunaro back into our world!"

"That's correct," Delia affirms, her tone grave. "If Team Solar and Team Lunar succeed in their mission, they'll release Solaran and Lunaro. If that happens, the two Pokémon will resume their battle, destroying everything in their path."

"We can't let that happen," Ash says firmly, determination burning in his eyes. "We have to stop them."

"Well, I didn't want any of you to get involved with this," Professor Pinewood says, his voice tinged with concern. "But it seems you already are. You must keep that Core Stone safe and away from them at all costs."

"Professor, to tell you the truth, I have two stones," Ash reveals, pulling out the Sea Stone. "My brother Wade found this one before Team Solar did, and they have no idea that I possess it."

Pinewood's eyes widen. "If that's the case... Team Lunar already has the Earth Stone, and Team Solar has the Volt Stone. That leaves the Wind Stone still out there..."

"Do you know where it is, Professor?" Keira asks eagerly. "Maybe we can get to it before they do."

"My research points to the Whisper Tunnel," Pinewood explains. "There must be a hidden temple somewhere in that area."

"Then we should go there and secure the stone before Team Solar and Team Lunar can get their hands on it!" Rodney declares.

"That's the plan, Rodney," Pinewood agrees, but he adds with a note of caution, "but you all need to stay safe. I've received reports that both teams have been spotted near Rassic City. They must be after something there. I need you to head over to Rassic City and find out what they're up to. There's an Ancient Artifact Museum in the city—perhaps they're searching for something there..."

"The Crystals..." Ash gasps, a sudden realization hitting him. "What if the Order Crystal and Chaos Crystal are there? The crystals that summon Solaran and Lunaro?"

"That would be disastrous," Keira says, her voice firm. "But don't worry, Professor. We'll stop them."

The Professor nods in gratitude, and Delia steps forward, her expression serious. "Given the gravity of this situation, I have something that might help you," she says, reaching into her bag and pulling out five stones. Two of the stones are green and brown, two are blue and purple, and the final one is red and light brown. Ash's eyes widen in recognition.

"Mega Stones?" Ash breathes, astonished. "There's Mega Evolution in this region as well?"

"Mega Stones?" Keira echoes, confused. "What are those?"

Professor Pinewood steps in to explain. "It seems that these stones react in some way when they're near specific Pokémon. That's another reason you need to head to Rassic City. There's a specialist in Mega Stones there named Lizzy. You should show her these stones. She can help you understand how they interact with your Pokémon."

"Which means she has the Key Stones," Alice adds, as everyone nods in agreement. "Greenpine City is in the opposite direction, but if we're going to stop Team Solar and Team Lunar from getting those crystals—and obtain the Key Stones—we really need to go to Rassic City."

"Exactly," Rodney agrees. "Looks like we're headed to Rassic City first."

"You're right about that," Keira says, examining the Mega Stone she's been handed. Delia steps forward and explains, "These stones are primarily for your starter Pokémon. The green one is for Mountree, the red one is for Flearoe, and the blue one is for Salaslam."

Rodney steps forward and picks up the blue stone. "I'll take this one," he says with a grin.

"And I'll take the green one," Keira says, claiming her stone. She then turns to Ash, "And Ash, you're going to take all three of them, right?"

Ash smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "That's right."

Ash carefully takes out the three Mega Stones, holding them up as he calls out, "Mountree, Flearoe, Salaslam. I have a special present for you."

The three Pokémon look at the stones with puzzled expressions, clearly unsure of what to make of them. They can only stare curiously at the shimmering stones in Ash's hands until Delia steps forward with a reassuring smile. "Since your Pokémon seem a bit confused, how about I show you all how it works?"

Ash is taken aback, not realizing that his mother is capable of performing Mega Evolution. Intrigued, the group heads outside to witness the demonstration. Delia releases her Charizard and shows them the Key Stone embedded in her necklace. With a practiced hand, she presses the Key Stone, and Charizard begins to transform. Its body darkens, and the flames on its tail and wings turn into fierce blue flames, marking its evolution into Mega Charizard X.

"So that's how Mega Evolution works... That's so cool," Keira says, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Exactly," Professor Pinewood nods approvingly. "I'm sure you all will be able to master it in the future."

The sight of Mega Charizard X excites Ash's Pokémon, who cheer enthusiastically, eager for the day they can undergo such a powerful transformation. After the demonstration, Rodney and Keira decide it's time to head to Rassic City, bidding farewell to the group with promises to meet up later.

Ash turns to the professor. "What about you, Professor? What's your next move?"

"I'll be heading back to the lab," Pinewood replies. "There's still much to investigate about Team Solar and Team Lunar. I'll keep digging for more information."

"Alright, see you later, Professor," Red says, and the two share a warm bro hug before the Professor departs.

After completing their tasks in the city, Ash and his group encounter a sailor who approaches them with a hopeful expression. "Ah, someone who can satisfy my greatest wish..." he begins, his voice filled with anticipation. "Somebody told me about a Water Pokémon that has different colors depending on its gender. The male one is blue, and the female one is pink... Do you know which Pokémon I mean? Can you show me both of them?"

Ash immediately recognizes the Pokémon the sailor is referring to: Merkid. Fortunately, he has both a male and a female Merkid in his team, so he eagerly shows them to the sailor.

"WOW! You really caught both versions!" the sailor exclaims, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Great job! Now my dream has come true—I've finally seen both versions of the Pokémon I've searched so long for! Here, take this as a reward for your effort!"

The sailor hands Ash two Shiny Stones, which Ash accepts with enthusiasm, knowing he can use them to evolve his Merkids. Without hesitation, he uses the stones, and the Merkids begin to glow as they evolve.

Mermarine: The Mermaid Pokemon: Water and Fairy Type. Evolved from a female Merkid with Shiny Stone. Mermarine's voice can capture the mind of even the most focused sailor. In the past, ships have to plan their route to avoid Mermarine habitats

Mersidon: The Merman Pokemon: Water and Electric Type. Evolved from a male Merkid with Shiny Stone. Mersidon's tridents on their tails act as a lightning rod, directing thunderbolts from the sky to either strike down their foes or power their own attacks.

Ash marvels at the newly evolved Pokémon, feeling a surge of pride at their transformation.

The next person Ash encounters is a young girl who excitedly approaches him. "Hey, you're a Trainer, aren't you?" she asks with a hopeful grin. "I'm searching for a Trainer who can show me the three emotion Pokémon: Pupetal, Pupyro, and Puplash... Do you want to try this challenge?"

Ash smiles confidently, already knowing that he has all three Pokémon in his team. Without hesitation, he sends them out one by one. The girl's eyes light up as she sees them.

"Yes, this is Pupetal," she says, noticing the Pokémon's cheerful demeanor. "Look, it seems to be really happy! And this is Pupyro—wow, it's so angry! And here's Puplash... it looks so sad! You really have all three of them! That's amazing!"

She then leans in, her voice lowering as if she's sharing a secret. "Let me tell you something about another emotion Pokémon. It's called Felove, and you need the other three to catch it! You have to bring them all to the statue in Lake Bliss, but I'm not exactly sure what you need to do there..."

Alice, standing beside Ash, smiles brightly. "It's a good thing we already have that Pokémon, right?" she says as Ash reveals Felove.

The girl's jaw drops in awe. "Wow! You actually caught Felove! That's incredible! Here, take this as a reward for your effort."

She hands Ash a Fairy Egg, an item known for boosting Fairy-type moves. As they head to the beach, Ash and his group spot a boy who looks familiar. He seems to be the son of the farmer they met in Coralite Town. The boy notices them approaching and calls out, "Huh? What's the matter? I'm just here to train for my very own Pokémon journey!"

"We're here because your dad asked us to talk to you about your journey," Ash explains.

The boy crosses his arms defiantly. "There's no way I'm giving up my dream of starting my own adventure to take over the farm! But here's the deal—I'll show you just how talented I am! But if you win, I'll go back and talk to my father."

With that challenge laid down, the boy sends out his Bullson and Pooldog. Ash responds with Dinopion and Pikachu, who swiftly take down the boy's Pokémon with ease.

"This... This can't be true!" the boy gasps in shock, staring at his defeated Pokémon. "I can't believe I couldn't win against you... Maybe my father is right. Maybe I'm not as talented as I thought... I should head back and talk to him about the farm..."

Feeling a bit sorry for the boy, Ash and his group decide to follow him back to Coralite Town. When they arrive, the farmer greets them with a hearty laugh. "Thanks for teaching my son a lesson in Pokémon battles, haha! For your effort, please take this."

He hands Ash a TM for Snarl, which Ash accepts gratefully. With their task complete, they bid farewell to the farmer and his son before heading back to Sailport Town.

After returning to Sailport Town, Ash stumbles upon a Dawn Stone and eagerly uses it to evolve his Parafox.

Spirix: The Ethereal Pokemon: Normal and Ghost Type. Evolved from Parafox with a Dawn Stone. Spirix can discern a person's motives from simply observing them. When faced with evil, they will vanish away from the person's sight.

Satisfied with the evolution, he turns to the group and says, "Good, now we're ready. Let's head to the Ancient Pass."

As they make their way to the beach, Alice voices her preference. "Can we take a boat this time? I don't really want to surf again, especially after we just did that."

Gina smiles and reassures her, "It's a good thing we managed to rent a boat. We can sail there instead."

Ash and Alice both sigh in relief at the thought of a more relaxed journey. With their plan settled, the group heads to the rented boat, ready to sail off towards their next adventure.

Now Ash and the group know about the location of the Wind Stone, will they be able to get it before either team does? And can they stop them from getting near the crystals?

New Pokemon/Evolution: Mermarine, Mersidon, Spirix

Sailport Town:

Rock Smash: Crablue:60% (LV:31~33), Kinip:30% (LV:34~36), Rockster:10% (LV:34~36)

Surfing: Squidart:60% (LV:35~37), Whaley:30% (LV:34~36), Hamawl:5% (LV:34~36), Nawale:5% (LV:34~36)

Old Rod: Porfin:70% (LV:5~15), Hamawl:30% (LV:5~15)

Good Rod: Hamawl:60% (LV:30~35), Jellitot:40% (LV:30~35)