The pair of Trainers enjoyed a sightseeing trip on top of the reopened Mt. Chimney. But the detour was interrupted by Summer's friend, Magma, who was spying on the villainous Team Magma. Thanks to the conversations with her Legendary Pokémon, Summer was able to give the undercover agent some clues about his investigation. Weldon, who was initially suspicious of the events, cautioned Summer to be more careful. With the excursion over, they finally reach Lavaridge Town for Summer's next Gym battle. Summer reunites with another friend and tries to enjoy the famous hot springs. But a melancholy Trainer catches her eye. Who is it, and what can Summer do to help?
Chapter 31- Soaking Away Stress
After our excursion on Mt. Chimney, we hiked down the volcano via Jagged Pass. Not only was it a popular hiking and picnicking spot, it was also one of the main entry points into Lavaridge Town.
Weldon wiped his brow. "I can't believe this is one of the ways to get to the town. Why does it have to be so close to a volcano?"
"Well, I've learned that any eruptions in the past flowed away from that area, so it's pretty well protected," I explained. "Plus, the town is known for its natural hot springs, which are heated by the magma underground."
Weldon stretched his shoulders. "A soak in a hot spring sounds nice. I wonder if there's any we can go to."
I stroked my chin. "Oh, I remember Sip telling me his family runs the hot springs at the Pokémon Center. It's open to any Trainers staying there."
"Sip… He's one of the friends you met in Johto, right?"
"Yeah, and his friends, Lows and Lisa. It's been a long time since I've seen him. I did let him know we were coming soon, so we'll meet up at the Pokémon Center."
"Sounds good."he trees began to clear, and the path became flatter. We reached the main road of Route 112 and entered the quaint town nestled along Mt. Chimney.
The buildings were well constructed to withstand not only the heat from the volcano, but also the steam coming from the nearby hot springs. Seeing Weldon and Lightning were drenched in sweat, we headed straight for the Pokémon Center. It was much cooler than the outside, and several doors led to the building's hot springs.
We approached the reception counter, where a teenage boy in a white tank top and red shorts was talking with an elderly nurse with gray hair and a gold Numel pin on her hat.
"Sip!" I greeted.
He turned around and smiled. "Summer! It's good to see you again. How was the trip here?"
"It was good, we just came from Mt. Chimney."
"Oh yeah. I heard it reopened after that Team Magma incident." Sip then noticed my travel companion and gasped. "Y-You're Weldon Leland, aren't you? I'm Sip Anders. I-I wanted to meet you at the Silver League, but I learned you were having a rough time."
Weldon chuckled. "Thanks, Sip. I wanted to meet you too, and maybe sneak in a quick battle with you."
"Wow, a regional league winner wanting to battle me? What an honor."
The nurse giggled and said in a warbly tone, "Oh, Sip. I'm sure they'd like to freshen up and enjoy the baths first before doing any battling."
"Oh right, Nurse Fushoku." Sip then said, "After you check in, let's meet at the waiting area for the baths. I can help you get acquainted with our facilities."
I nodded. "Sure, thanks, Sip."
After he left, the nurse scanned the computer with her amber eyes. "Due to our layout here, the two floors are separated by men and women. Is that alright with you?"
With Weldon's nod of approval, I replied, "That's fine, Nurse Fushoku."
"Okay." After typing very slowly, she handed us two brass keys. "Summer, your room number is 214, and Weldon, your room number is 108. You will find the supplies you will need for the baths as well as the guide to the Lavaridge Town restaurants and shops in your rooms."
"Thanks."
We took our keys and separated. Lightning and I climbed upstairs and entered our room. Though the furniture was more traditional, it still felt as quaint as the rooms at the other modern Pokémon Centers. On the oak chair was a sturdy wooden bucket containing two fluffy white towels, a lightweight T-shirt and shorts, and an instructional guide on the bath facilities.
As I read the laminated paper, Lightning tested the mattress before stretching.
"What does it say about the hot springs, Summer?"
"It looks like the Pokémon Center has three types of baths: the traditional hot spring baths, sand baths, and hot pool baths for feet called ashiyu. The hot springs and sand baths are separated by gender, but the ashiyu can either be gender separated or mixed. One Pokémon can accompany their Trainer if they meet the height and weight requirements." Seeing her pout, I chuckled. "Don't worry, you meet them, Lightning."
"Yay! But what are the clothes for?"
I looked at the guide again. "They're for people who prefer to wear swimsuits. The clothes allow the water and sand to penetrate without damaging the swimsuit material."
"Oohh…how interesting… When can we go to the baths?"
"We can head over there after I get changed."
After glancing through the restaurant and shop guide, I changed into my swimsuit, put on the white clothes and my sandals, and headed downstairs to the bath waiting area with the bucket. The Electric type followed behind, carrying the towels.
The bath waiting area was lined with wooden cubicles to store the occupants' baskets and other loose items. Pitchers filled with Pecha cucumber water were neatly arranged with recyclable cups on sturdy tables by three doors leading further inside. Seeing the cubby with my room number, I put my Pokégear, Poké Balls, and other important items in the basket and placed them inside. The opening immediately sealed shut, revealing its security measures. From what I remembered on the paper, the door would open when I placed my fingerprint on the scanner.
Shortly after, Sip and Weldon arrived, also dressed in their swimsuits and white bath garments.
"Sorry we're late, Summer," Sip said.
"Don't worry, we just got here. Are you bringing a Pokémon to the baths?"
"Nah, they've all been recently."
Weldon let out Electabuzz, which surprised yet pleased me, before he put his things away. As Lightning and Electabuzz talked amongst themselves, Sip pointed us to a map posted by the three doors.
"The baths are broken up into three main rooms with the spring baths on the right, the ashiyu in the center, and the sand baths on the left. I recommend doing the ashiyu first since we'll have to separate if we do the baths. That way we can talk before doing our separate things."
I nodded. "That sounds good to me."
Sip held the middle door and we entered into a slightly humid room filled with eight ashiyu that could fit up to six people each. Narrow artificial streams that fed the ashiyu carried the spring water from rock waterfalls positioned at the west and east sides. With the bamboo, orchids, and other native plants, it made me forget we were next to a volcano.
Weldon found an open ashiyu and we sat down, submerging our feet in the tepid flowing water.
I sighed happily. "This feels really good. I haven't had a foot soak in such a long time."
The Lavaridge Town native chuckled. "I'm glad. Especially since I was the one who cleaned the ashiyu room today."
Weldon let the water flow through his fingers. "How long has your family owned the hot springs here, Sip?"
"Maybe over seventy years now? It's been in my family for a long time. I love being here, so I'm happy to help whenever I can when I come back from my travels."
"Are you planning to travel to another region soon?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Not yet. I'm planning to help with the hot springs for now. Plus, it's nice to take a break from the non-stop traveling I did around Hoenn and Johto."
Weldon nodded. "I agree, though on a different tangent." He smacked his lips. "I should get some water. I'll be right back. Electabuzz, you can stay here."
The Electric Pokémon continued to soak his feet as his Trainer went back to the waiting area.
Sip then turned to me with a serious look. "Summer, I know this sounds sudden, but have you heard from Lows lately?"
Startled, I replied, "I did leave him a voicemail maybe over a month ago, but haven't heard back from him yet."
He exhaled sharply and stared at the ceiling. "Guess you didn't have any luck either. I tried to call him last week , but it went to voicemail as well. Do you know what happened?"
I rubbed the back of my head. "I talked to Charmaine, Lows' sister, when I was in Slateport City. She told me their dad passed away."
Sip gasped. "Oh no, that's horrible!" He gritted his teeth. "Maybe I should go visit Pallet Town and check up on him."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Weldon cautioned as he rejoined us in the ashiyu.
"What do you mean, Weldon?"
The Kantonian grasped the edge of the bath. "I went through a similar thing myself after the Silver League; hiding from the world, avoiding people outside my mom. I'm sure Lows is having those same feelings. But you shouldn't force him if he's not ready. It could make him regress and seclude himself further."
Weldon…
"I know you're right, Weldon," Sip acknowledged. "I'll do my best to let Lows have his space. I should let Lisa know about this too. Anyway, I think we should split up now so you two can enjoy the sand and spring baths before it gets too late."
"Okay." I dried my feet and stood up. As I helped Lightning, I said, "We'll head to the sand baths then. Do you want to join us for dinner, Sip?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I have to sleep early tonight. I have to go to Rustboro to get some decorative stones for the sand baths. But I do want to see your Gym battle, if that's okay."
"Sure, that's fine with me. I'll let you know when that is."
"Great. Enjoy the rest of the baths."
"Thanks." I turned to Weldon. "See you later for dinner."
Lightning and I then enjoyed the sand baths, a room that looked like a desert but not as scorching, and the hot spring, a large rock-lined circular pool with a waterfall. As we buried ourselves in sand and eventually hot water, I couldn't help but think about Lows and Weldon. They were suffering their own personal battles, just like I did several times. Are these conflicts just a coincidence? Or are they because of fate?
My thoughts were interrupted by a teenager entering the hot springs. She was a fair skinned girl with red hair and red eyes. The hair style from her ponytail was very noticeable, as the hair was spread out like a burst of fire.
Though her face was calm, I could tell she was struggling with something. I was tempted to approach her, but then she was surrounded by other girls her age. With the pool now crowded, we headed back to my room.
A few hours later…
Lightning and I were waiting in the lobby for Weldon so we could go to dinner. Though my body felt more relaxed, I kept thinking about the sad girl from the baths.
I really wonder what's bothering her. She felt…so alone and helpless.
I looked at the reception desk and saw two men talking with Nurse Fushoku. One was in his seventies while the other was in his mid-forties. The elderly tan-skinned man had curly gray hair and gray eyes. He wore a traditional Tuscan red shirt and matching pants covered by a brown vest with black string cords. The younger man with dark hair and matching colored eyes wore an unusual outfit consisting of a red soccer jersey and white shorts with a red stripe along the left leg. A white towel was draped around his neck.
Their discussion seemed ordinary until I heard the curly-haired man say, "I don't know what to do with my granddaughter, Fushoku. After that Gym battle, she ran off and came to the hot springs to sulk."
"Oh, Enki. You need to let her think about these kinds of things on her own. After all, you can't be around to help her forever."
Granddaughter? Hot springs? Was that the girl I saw the Lavaridge Town Gym Leader?
Enki sighed. "I wish there was a challenger who could help Flannery regain her confidence."
His friend noticed me watching them, and I tried to glance away.
"Master Enki. She looks like a good candidate."
I froze as the men approached me. When they got close, I gave a sheepish look and stuttered, "S-Sorry. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."
The elderly man chuckled. "I appreciate your honesty, young lady. I'm Enki Moore, grandfather to the current Lavaridge Town Gym Leader, Flannery. This is one of my longtime students, Kabu."
The other man bowed. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
I nodded. "You too, Kabu. I'm Summer Scorcher, and I'm planning to challenge the Gym soon."
Enki crossed his arms. "I see. It makes sense why you would be interested. I assume you saw my granddaughter at the hot springs?"
"Yes, I did. She looked really down. What happened to her, if you don't mind me asking?"
Flannery's grandfather sighed. "Well. She just had a battle against that Trainer, the one doing that…challenge… What was it again, Kabu?"
"It was the Nuzlocke challenge, Master Enki."
"Right, thank you, Kabu. Anyway, Flannery made a move that angered the Trainer, causing her to lose faith in her abilities as a Gym Leader. She has also been struggling against high-level Trainers as of late. She's still fairly new as a Gym Leader, so I'm hoping to find a Trainer who can help her overcome her doubts."
I stroked my chin. "I can certainly try. But I'm not sure our battle would help her fully recover."
Kabu grasped the ends of his towel. "It will be the first step, Summer-chan. A small, yet important one. Just like what I will be doing soon."
"What will you be doing, Kabu?"
Enki beamed. "Kabu will be leaving Hoenn to join the Fire Gym in the Galar Region. I'm sure he'll be able to bring the facility to new heights, and maybe he'll become the Champion there."
The disciple was a little embarrassed. "Master Enki…I'm not sure if I'll become the Champion so quickly. But I'll do my best to provide the Gym who gave me the most support doing my Galar Gym challenge."
"Well, I wish you luck, Kabu," I said. "And I'll do my best to help Flannery recover."
Both men nodded.
"Thank you, Summer," Enki replied. "We will be watching from the stands, if that is fine with you."
"Of course. I also have other people who're going to watch."
"You'll have quite a large audience then. I look forward to seeing you at the Gym soon."
After the men left, Weldon arrived. "Sorry about that, Summer. I had to take a call from my mom."
"That's okay, Weldon."
"I saw you were talking to some men. What was that about?"
After I explained what happened to my travel companion, he stroked his chin. "I see. So she's struggling too."
"Yeah… But what can I really do to help Flannery? I don't know if it's just me or because we're getting older, but we seem to be having more emotional struggles lately."
He sat next to me, chuckling. "It does seem like that, doesn't it? I can help you figure out ways to let her release her bottled emotions properly."
"How do you go about doing that?"
Weldon smiled. "I can tell you about it tomorrow. Right now, I'm starving."
Understanding his intentions, I laughed. "Then we better get to Plate Sizzler before it gets too crowded."
"Yes, finally!" Lightning cheered. "I want the grilled veggie and Berry plate!"
I petted her hand and stood up. My worries seemed to melt away when I talk to Weldon. It felt strangely comfortable talking to him about these kinds of things.
Summer's Pokémon:
Blaze (Blaziken, male): Brave Nature, Blaze Ability, moves: Fire Punch, Flamethrower, Blaze Kick, Sky Uppercut
Errol (Noctowl, male): Rash Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Psychic, Confusion, Hypnosis, Air Slash
Aurora (Dewgong, female): Calm Nature, Thick Fat Ability, moves: Water Pulse, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Signal Beam
Lightning (Raichu, female): Adamant Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Thunder Punch, Grass Knot
Rocky (Steelix, male): Lonely Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Stone Edge, Crunch, Dragonbreath, Iron Tail
Olive (Grovyle, female): Timid Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Fury Cutter, Screech, Mega Drain, Quick Attack
Weldon's Pokémon:
Venusaur (male): Serious Nature, Overgrow Ability, moves: Solarbeam, Body Slam, Sludge Bomb, Vine Whip
Fearow (male): Adamant Nature, Keen Eye Ability, moves: Drill Peck, Steel Wing, Fury Attack, Aerial Ace
Golem (male): Bold Nature, Rock Head Ability, moves: Rock Slide, Earthquake, Rollout, Double Edge
Gyarados (male): Sassy Nature, Intimidate Ability, moves: Surf, Ice Fang, Payback, Waterfall
Arcanine (male): Naughty Nature, Flash Fire Ability, moves: Hyper Beam, Extremespeed, Flare Blitz, Fire Blast
Electabuzz (male): Rash Nature, Static Ability, moves: Thunder, Mega Kick, Thunder Punch, Shock Wave
Questions for the Chapter:
What did you think of the hot springs?
What did you think of Sip's conversation with Summer and Weldon?
What did you think of Enki and Kabu?
How will Summer do against Flannery?
