Chapter 55 Ancient Pass
Now on Route 13, Ash and his Pokémon are hard at work training on the boat. As they battle swimmers and fishermen, some of his Pokémon begin to evolve, adding to the excitement—and chaos—onboard.
First to evolve are the two Fossil Pokémon, who have been causing quite a commotion on the ship.
Tarexite: The T-Rex Pokemon: Rock and Fire Type. Evolved from Rexite at LV:37. Long ago, Tarexite were the apex predators of prehistoric Rikoto. Records show that they were able to hunt even in midst of a volcano eruption.
Stegasteel: The Stegosaurus Pokemon: Rock and Steel Type. Evolved from Stegron at LV:37. The plates on Stegajolt fossils, still preserving their charges, have been used as batteries on mountain areas where power supply isn't easy to come by.
As the two newly evolved Pokémon create even more havoc, Ash struggles to keep them under control. But the chaos doesn't end there—his Sharko also evolves.
Markrush: The Blitz Pokemon: Water and Electric Type. Evolved from Sharko at LV:37. Markrush are constantly swimming at high speeds through the ocean's depths, even while sleeping. This behavior keeps their gills oxygenated.
Markrush's fierce appearance and energy only add to the disorder on the boat, and Ash finds himself bitten multiple times as he tries to restore order. Alice, seeing Ash struggling, rushes to help him, her concern for his well-being evident.
To top it all off, Ash's Yayak also evolve—every single one of them.
Yakkle: The Yak Pokemon: Normal and Water Type. Evolved from Yayak at LV:37. Yakkle can tread through fast river currents, their hooves rooting in the riverbed anchoring them. They carry young Yayaks on their backs when crossing rivers.
Gina, watching the spectacle, can't help but be amazed. "I might have been used to evolving one Yayak, but to evolve all 30 of them at the same time? Just how long did they work together in the Safari Zone?"
Ash sighs, wiping sweat from his brow. "I don't know, but at least they can swim alongside the ship, so we won't have to worry about them destroying it."
After safely arriving at Ancient Pass, Ash and his group spot Rick already at the cave entrance. Rick notices them and immediately starts with his usual attitude. "Oh, it's you... What are you doing here?"
Ash, not in the mood for Rick's antics, replies coolly, "What we're doing doesn't concern you."
Rick huffs dismissively. "Never mind that. This is the Ancient Pass—you gotta get through here to reach Rassic City! It's a breeze for me. I used to play here when I was a kid, and I can get through it with ease! I'm going to find Rex and beat him! I'll prove that I have what it takes to be the best! Catch—"
Ash cuts him off sharply, "Say that again, and Pikachu's Thunderbolt won't be so easy on you."
Rick glares at Ash but decides to back off. "Fine. Catch you later," he mutters before leaving.
Alice giggles softly, watching Rick retreat. "I think he was afraid of Pikachu's electricity."
Gina, ever practical, adds, "Regardless, we should move forward."
As Ash and his group continue their journey through the Ancient Pass, they take every opportunity to train their Pokémon. Along the way, several of Ash's Pokémon undergo significant evolutions.
First, while navigating the cave with Bouldox, the Pokémon evolves into a new form.
Crystox: The Toxic Stone Pokemon: Rock and Poison Type. Evolved from Bouldox at LV:38. Despite their appearance, Crystox are entirely organic Pokémon. Their "crystals" are actually crystallized poison, and their toxicity is not weakened in this state.
Encouraged by this progress, Ash presses on. During a battle with wild Pokémon, Oriture also evolves.
Natoron: The Tectonic Pokemon: Ground Type. Evolved from Oriture at LV:38. Natoron creates earthquakes to scare away any Pokémon intruding on its territory. Trainers are advised to only approach them with a solid footing.
As they advance, Ash encounters a Pokémon resembling a meteor. Using his Weakid to battle it, Weakid gains enough experience to evolve, Ash then captures the meteor-like Pokémon.
Bulker: The Incredible Pokemon: Fighting Type. Evolved from Weakid at LV:38. Hulking powerhouses among Pokémon, Bulker are capable of shrugging off most physical attacks and retaliating tenfold. However, they are quite dimwitted and easily tricked.
Cosmet: The Meteorite Pokemon: Electric and Rock Type. Cosmet may sometimes land on the ground from a lack of energy. They would wait for thunder to strike down on them, then take off into the sky once more.
The next Pokémon to evolve is Trollow, who after making a mess during lunch, suddenly glows and transforms:
Trollerk: The Troll Pokemon: Dark and Fairy Type. Evolved from Trollow at LV:38. Trollerk carries out pranks just like their pre-evolutions, but when they are caught in the act they become enraged and attack everything in the vicinity.
As Trollerk continues to cause trouble, Ash suddenly realizes something. "I think this is the Pokémon for the quest in Coralite Town!" he exclaims. Without hesitation, the group immediately flies back to Coralite Town.
Upon arrival, the quest giver's eyes light up as they approach. "Ah, this is Trollerk, the Pokémon I've been searching for! And it even has the ability Scrappy! Thank you for showing it to me. Here, take this—it will help you evolve your Trollerk."
The quest giver hands Ash a Mystic Stone. Hoping the evolution will calm Trollerk down, Ash uses the Mystic Stone, and Trollerk evolves. However, despite its new form, the Pokémon's personality remains as challenging as ever.
To calm Trollerk down, Ash offers it a Mystic Stone, hoping the evolution will help. While it does evolve, the Pokémon's personality remains challenging:
Trollger: The Troll Pokemon: Dark and Fairy Type. Evolved from Trollerk with Mystic Stone. Known as the 'Enforcers of Nature', they have a terrible temper and little patience for those who would dare harm the environment.
"Finally, he's calmed down," Alice sighs in relief as Trollger settles.
Back to the Ancient Pass, the last Pokémon to evolve is Hippond, who, despite evolving, retains its lazy demeanor:
Hippotone: The Hippo Pokemon: Water and Ground Type. Evolved from Hippond at LV:38. Hippotone possess jaws strong enough to crush rocks without trouble. However, they are terrible at detecting predators, making them easy to prey on despite their strength.
With their Pokémon now stronger, the group continues their journey through the Ancient Pass, ready for whatever challenges lie ahead.
As they move further into the pass, Ash and his group come across Keira and Rodney.
"No sign of Team Solar or Team Lunar..." Keira reports, scanning the area.
"Maybe they're not here but in Rassic City like the Professor mentioned," Rodney suggests. Just then, they notice Ash and the others approaching.
Keira smiles, "You guys have come."
Rodney, looking around, asks, "Have you seen anyone from those weird teams?"
Ash shakes his head. "No, we haven't seen anyone."
Suddenly, they see a man rushing by, moving quickly through the pass. Delia's eyes widen in recognition. "Rex?"
The man, hearing his name, glances over but doesn't stop. "Oh, Delia, sorry, I have to get through," Rex says hurriedly before continuing on his way.
Before they can react, Rick appears, looking frustrated. "Ah, you guys again? Did you see a guy with spiky hair run through here just now?"
"Um... yeah..." Keira replies, pointing in the direction Rex had gone. "He went running that way..."
"Move out of the way!" Rick snaps, pushing past them as he rushes off to chase Rex.
Rodney watches Rick run off, puzzled. "What was that about? Maybe Rick needs help? I hate to say it, but we should probably follow him."
Keira, still processing what just happened, asks, "So that was Rex, the Elite Four member?"
Red nods, a hint of pride in his voice. "Yeah, he's our friend as well."
As they chase after the two figures, Ash and his group eventually catch up to see Rick confronting Rex.
"Hey! Rex! I'm Rick, the brother of Rassic City's Dragon Master, Lizzy! I challenge you to a battle!" Rick declares, his voice full of determination.
Rex pauses, looking Rick over. "Lizzy's little brother? Ahh, yes, Rich, wasn't it?"
This causes everyone to struggle not to laugh, and Rick, looking annoyed, quickly corrects him. "No, it's Rick!"
Rex blinks and then apologizes. "Oh, sorry, but I'm in a hurry. I don't have time to talk."
"No! I want to battle right now! I'll show my family—no, show everyone—that I'm strong enough to beat you!" Rick insists, his voice rising with frustration.
Rex shakes his head. "I really don't have time for a battle. But how about this: you go battle your sister, and if you beat her, I'll happily accept your challenge."
Just then, Delia and the group arrive, catching Rex's attention. "Rex," Delia says as they approach. Rex's eyes widen in recognition. "Delia, and... wait, Red? Is that you?"
Red smiles warmly. "Hello to you, old friend." The two men share a hug, Rex looking amazed.
"No way, you're still alive," Rex says, clearly moved.
"Yeah, thanks to Delia here. She found a way to revive me," Red explains.
Rex, though pleased to see his old friends, quickly remembers his urgent task. "As much as I'd like to chat, I really don't have time. I'm searching for some people in strange uniforms. Have you seen anyone like that around here?"
"You mean Team Solar and Team Lunar?" Keira asks.
Rex looks surprised. "What? These kids have heard of them?"
Delia sighs. "We've encountered them more times than we can count. Professor Pinewood also sent us to look for them."
"I see," Rex says, taking in the information. He then turns to Ash, recognizing him for the first time. "So, you're Delia and Red's son, Ash? It's nice to meet you. Will you and your friends help me find them?"
Before they can answer Rex's request for help, an explosion echoes through the pass, drawing everyone's attention. The group rushes to investigate, arriving at an ancient altar where they see six people standing in two opposing groups, glaring at each other.
The woman leading one group, Starla, speaks first, her voice filled with disdain. "We both have what we want, so how about you and your little minions disappear, Derek?"
Derek, the leader of the opposing group, sneers back. "We may both have the Crystals we need, but you have the Volt Stone, and we need it. Hand it over now!"
Starla laughs mockingly. "Do you really think I'd just hand it over because you asked? And who do you think you're talking to? Do you think I'd be stupid enough to bring it here with us? I thought you were smarter than that, Derek."
Derek growls in frustration but concedes, "Grrr... Never mind, we have what we came for. But be sure of this, Starla: this isn't the last time we meet! We will get that Volt Stone from you!"
Starla dismisses his threat with a wave of her hand. "I highly doubt that. But that's all for now. There's no point in continuing this conversation. Come on, Brite, Gloria, let's go."
As Starla and Derek's groups prepare to leave, Delia steps forward, her voice filled with recognition and disdain. "Starla and Derek... so it was you all this time..."
Both groups finally notice Ash and his companions. Derek smirks. "Delia... what a surprise."
Starla's eyes narrow. "What do you want?"
Scarlett, one of Derek's commanders, sneers. "Oh, they're the meddling brats!"
Brite, from Starla's side, adds with a grin, "This will be easy. There are more of us—let's take them out!"
But Starla and Derek lock eyes with Delia, and for a moment, the tension thickens. Starla then notices Red and arches an eyebrow. "I see that your husband is here as well, Delia. I thought you were dead, Red."
Red steps forward, his gaze sharp. "I never thought I'd see you two involved in something like this," he says, his voice cold. "I don't care what your intentions are—you're going to be stopped here."
Derek smirks. "That is, if you can."
Rex steps up beside Red and Delia. "I guess we should leave the leaders to the King and Queen while we handle the commanders."
The rest of the group nods in agreement, and the battles begin: Ash and Alice engage Gloria in a fierce battle. Rodney and Keira take on Brite. Gina and Rex face off against Scarlett. Rick, in his typical arrogant fashion, decides to battle Marcus alone.
Despite the intense battles, Ash and his friends manage to defeat all of the commanders, securing a hard-earned victory.
"Ugh! You stupid kids really make me mad!" Scarlett exclaims, her frustration evident.
Starla, however, remains calm. "It doesn't matter if we win or lose; we have the Legendary Crystals. That was the only time we helped you, Team Lunar. Now we'll gather all five elemental stones, revive Solaran, and bring our new Order to the region!"
Derek glares at her. "I'll make sure you don't get that far! We'll get the stones, and Lunaro will bring chaos! This isn't the end! Our mission will succeed!" He then turns to Delia and Red. "And I will take your place this time, Delia and Red. There's no stopping us, even if you aren't normal humans."
With that, Starla and Derek use Smokescreen and Flash to make their escape. As the smoke clears, Rex sighs deeply. "Oh, oh, oh... This isn't good..."
"We still beat them! But what are these Crystals they're talking about?" Keira asks, puzzled.
Ash, his expression serious, responds, "We may have won this battle, but we haven't stopped their plans..."
Rex, sensing the urgency, takes out a crystal. "The Crystals... We shouldn't talk here. I'll head back to Rassic City. Meet me at the Ancient Museum, and I'll tell you what I know about them there. But first..." He holds up the Balance Crystal. "They didn't take this crystal. They must not think it's important, but I believe it may be useful to us... There's nothing more you can do here for now."
Meanwhile, Delia and Red remain silent, staring at the spot where Starla and Derek had stood. Ash, concerned, calls out, "Mother? Father?" But they continue to stare, lost in thought, as Rex sighs and turns to the group. "Thank you for all your help. You're all great trainers. Maybe one day we'll be able to battle at the Rikoto League Village."
Rick, still focused on proving himself, cuts in. "A battle, that's what I want! I don't care about the Crystals or these stupid organizations. I will beat you, Rex, and show the world how strong I am! I'll go defeat my sister, and then I'll show you, Rex." He then turns to the group, noticing Pikachu's electricity sparking. With a sigh, he adds, "Catch you later," before walking away.
Rex watches him go and sighs, "He really has a fire in him."
Red finally speaks, "I guess we can't dwell in the past... Rex, let's meet at Rassic City's Ancient Museum. After all, I think it's time we tell what our connection with Starla and Derek is."
"I understand. It must be really hard for you two," Rex says sympathetically as he leaves.
Ash, still curious, turns to his parents. "You know the two leaders in person? Mother? Father?"
Delia sighs heavily. "Ash, there's more to know about them. In fact, once we're at the Ancient Museum, we'll tell you everything."
Ash and the group nod in agreement as Delia and Red leave the pass. Keira, feeling overwhelmed, admits, "This is all getting too deep for me. We should leave this to Rex and the Elite Four, or even anyone stronger than us, like your mom. She is the Champion, after all."
"I think so too, Keira," Rodney agrees. "But what if they need help? We shouldn't run away. Wouldn't it be horrible if we backed down and those evil teams succeeded?"
"You're right, Rodney," Alice says, determined. "We should all step up."
"That's the spirit," Ash adds, his resolve firm. "We will beat them. The world is in our hands."
"Yeah, in our hands," Keira agrees. "But I'm not going to battle Lizzy... I don't really like dragons..."
"Even if it's not a proper Gym, I'll still battle her! How about you, Ash?" Rodney asks.
"I'm going to battle her as well," Ash replies confidently.
With their resolve strengthened, they bid farewell to their rivals. Gina sighs, voicing her concern, "I wonder what's going on with Mom and Dad. They aren't usually this worried."
"I know," Ash says, sharing her unease. "I'm worried about them too. I guess we really need to go to Rassic City for answers." With that, they leave the pass and head towards Rassic City.
So Delia and Red know about the leaders Starla and Derek, but what is their story? Find out in the next chapter. As for the Traitors, they won't appear until the Seventh Gym.
New Pokemon/Evolution: Tarexite, Stegasteel, Markrush, Yakkle, Crystox, Natoron
Route 13:
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)
Ancient Pass:
Land: Cosmet:20% (LV:36~38), Jeweltal:20% (LV:36~38), Golemo:10% (LV:36~38), Trollerk:10% (LV:36~38), Bouldox:10% (LV:36~38), Eclipser:10% (LV:36~38), Mystablet:5% (LV:36~38), Dinopion:5% (LV:36~38), Moostrike:5% (LV:36~38), Wingon:5% (LV:36~38)
Cave: Golemo:40% (LV:36~38), Dracubat:40% (LV:36~38), Gravole:15% (LV:36~38), Mystablet:5% (LV:36~38)