Chapter 6:

The Birthplace of Legends

Phillip looked up an ominous mountain ridge east of Violet City. He looked over to Tyrogue.

"I know you like to work out Tyrogue… you ready for this?"

With his shoulders hunched he looked over to Phillip slowly rocking side to side. Phillip smiled at him.

"There's no need to be afraid. I'll be right here with you, and we will go slowly. Besides… there are few better workouts than climbing."

Inspired by Phillip's confidence and courage Tyrogue jumped on the mountain. Phillip followed after him, making sure he was safe the entire way up. As promised, they moved up the mountain ridge carefully and slowly. Phillip took extra care of Tyrogue and protected him throughout the strenuous trip up the ridge, taking breaks often.

Hours later they pulled themselves to the top of the mountain with a large wood in front of them.

"They call this the Flying Woods. It is said that the Pokemon that grow up here, no matter how common or weak they may appear to be, their strength is exponentially greater than the average Pokemon of the same breed."

Tyrogue smiled. He could sense his master's excitement and couldn't help but share in it.

"There are few who make the trek up here. I bet there are endless mysteries up here. Let's do some air training!"

Phillip called out Mareep and Wooper, and then looked at the Pokeballs containing Magikarp and Horsea.

"Sorry guys. As soon as we find some water up here, I'll focus on you."

Phillip had the three Pokemon take turns battling each other, pushing them to their limits. The thin air up on the mountain caused them to fatigue more quickly than usual, but through Phillip's passion and enthusiasm they pushed through. Once Phillip felt they had trained enough he began to teach each of them some new moves. The sun began to set and the stomachs of Phillip and his Pokemon roared uncontrollably. They scoured the area and found some extremely rare berries.

"These berries are full of protein and all the vitamins you need. They are extremely rare. Make sure we get a lot."

The Pokemon nodded in agreement and ran back out to get more. When they all had more than they could carry Phillip made a great fire. As he cooked up the berries Pokemon from all over the area began to crowd around. While Phillip sat with his Pokemon, a Caterpie, a Spearow, a Rattata, a Sentret, a Hoothoot, a Ledyba, a Sunkern and a Yanma joined them. Phillip shared his berry meal with all of them.

He heard some rustling in the trees above. In a flash a mysterious man with blue eyes, blue hair and blue clothes jumped out of the tree. All the wild Pokemon scattered, but Phillip didn't flinch.

"I was wondering when you would come down from up there. Would you like some?"

The mysterious man gasped with eyes wide open. He regained his composure and then spoke.

"Why is it that you didn't attempt to catch these Pokemon? There were several great Pokemon crowded around here. You… seem tricky."

"None of them were the Pokemon I was looking for."

"And what Pokemon are you looking for?"

"That's my business. I only train my favorites."

"This seems like a trap, berry man."

Phillip laughed. The two stared into each other's eyes. The blue man crossed his arms.

"You have your father's passion, I can see it in your eyes."

Phillip put his hands in his pockets and glared at him.

"I wouldn't know. Why are you out here anyway Falkner? My friend was hoping to challenge you for a Zephyr badge."

Falkner jumped back with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

"Well, if he can beat Kato, my second who is running the gym while I am away, he will earn himself a Zephyr badge."

"That's good to know…" Phillip crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "…You still never answered my question. Why are you here?"

Falkner crossed his arms as well and gave Phillip the same look.

"I could ask you that as well."

Phillip uncrossed his arms and tilted his head a little in frustration.

"Fine. I'll start. I heard that there are extremely rare and extraordinarily powerful Pokemon bred up here. I'm hoping to catch a Pidgey from up here."

"A Pidgey?" he said raising an eyebrow. "I love birds, you know this, but why not try to catch a Pidgeotto? They are just as common up here as Pidgey."

"Because I find joy in raising Pokemon up from their infant stages and making them as strong as they can be. Pidgeot is one of my favorites and I intend to raise a Pidgey into a Pidgeot."

"You are a powerful trainer, you should have powerful Pokemon."

"How can you say I'm a powerful trainer? You've never seen me train, and you've never seen me battle."

"I just…"

"…you just assumed because of who my father is. I'm not my father. I'm nothing like my father."

"You should honor your father Phillip."

"Don't analyze me Falkner. Now, why are you here?"

"How much do you know about the legendary birds of Johto?"

"Lugia is said to be the Lord of the Seas, it can supposedly control the weather in the waters. When the Brass Tower burned it is said that it was Lugia who put out the fires to help Entei, Suicune and Raikou be born. Ho-Oh, the rainbow bird who supposedly resurrected the beasts when the Brass Tower burned down. Their combined powers helped create Entei, Suicune and Raikou. All in Johto know these legends, but what does that have to do with you and being here?"

"Well Phillip, these legends are the reason I chose to become a flying Pokemon trainer. It is said that Ho-Oh will reveal himself to a trainer that is pure in heart. Every year, for the last three years, I take time away from the gym to research the legendary birds, that I may one day behold one of them. I believe there is a place of significance on this mountain forest and that is why the Pokemon grow as strong as they do."

"That's exciting! May I tag along?"

"I suppose. I may need the extra hands for something. I have an idea of the area we need to be in, but I have no idea what we may encounter when we get there."

The two trainers set off deep into the woods, in the direction Falkner had thought they should go. A few hours had passed and the sun was long set. The moon and stars reached their brightest shine, and the night had reached it's coldest point. The two were about to call it a night, when in the distance Phillip saw an eerie blue light.

As they approached it they saw that it was a blue flame, an odd sight that neither of them had ever seen before. They neared it. The light burned inside a cave. They descended into the cave. After making their way through the gauntlet of a cave they reached a fire wall made of blue flames preventing them from going any further.

They looked around the cave hoping for some sort of handle or switch or something. The blue flames were a spectacle, this cave had to be special, neither one of them were willing to turn back. As they looked around, they saw some faded hieroglyphs. It told a story of the ancient people worshipping the elements. As they made their way around the hieroglyphs, they met in the middle with three pedestals that created a sort of clay chalk board.

One pedestal displayed a bird with flames all around it, another a bird with snow and ice all around it, and the final a bird with lightning bolts coming from all around it. The writing above the pedestals was a foreign tongue that Phillip had never heard nor seen before.

"It's a riddle. It's asking what the names of the three birds are, one of fire, one of ice and water, and the final one of electricity. I believe it wants their names in their original tongue." Falkner said.

"I know fire is Moltres, electricity is Zapdos and ice is Articuno, but as for the original tongue… I have no clue. This is the first I'm finding out about this."

Falkner looked up through his blue bangs with a smirk on his face.

"I know it."

Phillip nodded his head with a smile. He was impressed. He motioned to Falkner inviting him to go on. Within a couple of minutes Falkner finished the writing on the clay chalk board. In an instant the burning sound emanating from the blue flames had subsided, they could move forward into the depths of the cave.

After several more minutes there was another blue fire wall blocking their progress. This time the same three pictures were pictured nine times with the same clay chalk board under each image. The three legendary birds were all shown doing various actions. Falkner analyzed the pictures and the writing a bit closer.

"It appears we cannot go any further…"

"Why is that?" Phillip asked.

"…I believe it's asking for the moves on display here, but the three moves are exclusive to only the legendary birds. I have no idea what those are."

Phillip lifted his head up and smiled at Falkner.

"I know them."

Falkner looked at Phillip puzzled. Phillip went to work writing the moves quickly. He couldn't wait to see what was in the depths of the cave. A sound rang through the entire cave. The two trainers dashed as fast as they could into the deepest part of the cave. They came to a large empty room. In it were more hieroglyphs. After looking at the story the images told, Phillip struggled to catch his breath and Falkner's knees buckled as he collapsed to the floor. They were in the nest of the three legendary birds, the very place they were born.

The two of them walked around the open space for some time. Attempting to take it all in. They couldn't believe it. They stood in the center of the birthplace of legends. After a while the two of them slowly made their way out of the cave. With a deep breath of the thin air, Falkner turned around to look at Phillip.

"Phillip, I would like to offer you a Zephyr badge as a thank you for your help back there. I never would have been able to get into the mouth of that cave without you, and my entire break would have been in vain. I also feel as though I need to offer you an apology of some sort since I prevented you from catching the Pidgey you wanted."

Phillip took a step back and crossed his arms.

"I appreciate the gesture Falkner, but I have no desire to compete in the Johto tournament."

"I believe that would be a mistake Phillip."

"Why do you say that?"

Falkner looked at him and crossed his arms.

"You would be robbing the Pokemon world of a great trainer. We need more people that put the Pokemon first and are focused on raising them, and not using them."

Phillip looked into the sky as he put his hands by his side and clinched his fists. Did he really want to do this? He would become the very thing he was trying to avoid if he participated in this tournament. What if he was wrong all along and could make a positive impact on the Pokemon community? Would it be worth it?

Phillip stared into the sky for several more seconds, then he looked at Falkner with a steady gaze.

"I'll tell you what Falkner, if I can beat an honorable trainer such as yourself, I will enter the tournament. Should I fail, it's been my pleasure to make this discovery with you, but please keep the badge for a more deserving trainer that desires to compete."

"Deal."

Both trainers' hands went to their side as they readied themselves to choose their Pokemon. Falkner shouted out the rules for the battle.

"The rule is one versus one. The first trainer to call their Pokemon back is the loser. The winner will claim the Zephyr badge."

Falkner threw his Pokeball out.

"I choose you Hoot-Hoot!"

"A Pokemon that can see in the dark. Good choice Falkner. I choose you Mareep!"

Falkner gritted his teeth.

"Of course, you would choose an electric Pokemon. Everyone chooses an electric Pokemon. Just because you choose an electric Pokemon doesn't mean you're going to win."

Phillip looked at him and smirked, ignoring his comment.

"Before he moves Hoot-Hoot, do a foresight attack!"

Mareep landed in a leaping pose.

"Tackle attack!"

Mareep took off in a flash. Falkner was caught off guard. He had seen several Mareep, but none as fast as this one. Hoot-Hoot's foresight attack allowed him to move smoothly around the attack. Just as Hoot-Hoot landed Mareep was flying through the air for a second tackle. Once again Hoot-Hoot weaved around the move.

"Again!" Phillip shouted.

Mareep was relentless, but Hoot-Hoot's foresight kept him a step ahead of Mareep.

"As you land do a peck attack."

Hoot-Hoot soared at Mareep pecking furiously. Mareep was too fast for the attack. Both Pokemon stared at each other as they landed, struggling to catch their breath.

"Oh no. The thin air up here is tiring Mareep out too quickly." Phillip said thinking out loud. "I'm gonna have to conserve his energy for one big attack."

"Quick! Growl attack Hoot-Hoot!"

As the growl reverberated into Mareep Falkner was already ordering the next attack.

"Do a Zen Headbutt Hoot-Hoot!"

Mareep flinched.

"Relentlessly peck Hoot-Hoot!"

Mareep was reeling.

"Stay focused Mareep! You can do this! Continue to bide throughout the assault!"

Mareep continued to focus and absorb the peck attacks, but he was weakening. Hoot-Hoot jumped back. He was struggling to continue on.

"Charge up Mareep!"

"Fire a confusion attack Hoot-Hoot!"

"Now Mareep! Send all the energy you absorbed into a confuse ray!"

Both confusion attacks flew back into Hoot-Hoot. Hoot-Hoot was paralyzed with confusion.

"Electro ball Mareep!"

A large ball of electricity tore through the air paralyzing Hoot-Hoot upon impact.

"Take down attack Mareep!"

Hoot-Hoot flew back. Unable to get up.

"Return Hoot-Hoot." Falkner said hanging his head.

A moment of silence passed between them as Mareep struggled to stand up.

"Great job Mareep. Come back and get some rest. You earned it." Phillip said while calling Mareep back.

"That was a great battle Phillip. I am happy to offer you this badge."

Falkner stuck his left hand out giving Phillip the badge. The two trainers shook hands in an offering of respect and friendship. In an instant a deep roar from high in the sky echoed through the atmosphere. The cliff was high enough to see a light speeding through the sky.

"Is that a meteor?" Falkner asked.

"No! That's a Pokemon!" Phillip shouted.

High in the sky a long greenish looking lizard with spikes all over it soared through the air. Phillip couldn't fully make it out but he saw lines of light following alongside it. As fast as he could Phillip pulled out his Pokedex to capture the image before it got too far away.

"POKEMON IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. THERE ARE MANY POKEMON IN THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE YET TO DISCOVER."

Another moment passed as Falkner and Phillip watched the sight until it faded from their view. Falkner turned to Phillip.

"Thanks for accompanying me Phillip. I couldn't have done it without you. I'm sorry you didn't catch your Pidgey."

Phillip nodded. He wasn't mad at all. He had a once in a lifetime experience, saw a rare Pokemon. He also had some clear direction. He was satisfied. The two bid each other farewell and wished each other luck on their journeys. After a good night's sleep Phillip and Tyrogue headed towards the mountain side they came up at. Just then a large bluish Pidgey jumped out of a tree. Phillip was overjoyed and summoned Tyrogue to engage it.

To be continued…