Beyond the Adventure - A Pokémon Story

Chapter 10: Dangerous Territory pt4

                We pack up and head out the door.  As late as it is, I doubt I would have slept well anyway, given how much I am worried about Mother and Liz.  However, relief came with a mission: head off Charon and stop him from entering the Ruins of Alph.  What he wants with the ruins, I am not sure.  Last time I was there, I learned of the Unown, but there was still a lot left unexplored.  Who knows how many more secrets that place holds?  Whatever it is, Charon clearly knows something and he must be stopped.

                We head outside and prepare to take off.  Jess estimates it will take a few hours to get to Johto from here and recommends Jaws sit inside his ball.  I ask Jaws if he wants to.  He yawns and nods.  Poor guy looks pretty tired, so I take out the Luxury Ball and hold it out for him.  He taps the button and goes inside.  I then jump on Articuno with Jess and we all take off.

                The evening is cool and the sky has only a few scattered clouds.  The moon is full, lighting the land beneath us.  I remind myself again to find a nice bird Pokémon so I do not have to keep hitching a ride with Jess.  We fly mostly in silence, with the exception of Jess suggesting we stop at Viridian City to rest the birds at the Pokémon Center before flying over the mountains.  The winds around Mount Silver can sometimes be harsh and the birds will need to be at their best if they are to make it over.  The flight to Viridian takes about an hour and we land in front of the Pokémon Center.  Darius and Jess hand off their birds to the nurse and after a few minutes, they are good as new.  We thank the nurse, leave the center, and take off.

                As we fly toward Mount Silver, the clouds in the sky begin to thicken and grow darker.  Visibility lessens as snow begins to fall.  I hold my hand out and catch a few flakes.  Snow falls harder and soon, a flurry whips up around up.  Mount Silver looms before us, growing larger as we fly closer.  The winds beat against Articuno’s body.  I bet this snow does not bother Articuno, given her Ice-type, but I wonder if Jess is cold.  I offer my jacket, but she refuses, remaining focused on the flight.  I look at Darius, wondering if Talonflame can withstand the harsh ice storm, but Darius looks quite comfortable.  The snow seems to not affect Talonflame, and I can see why.  Talonflame appears to be giving off enough heat to keep Darius and herself warm and the ice off their bodies.  The wind, however, seem to be beating her back as she struggles to stay in the air.

                The mountain grows larger and the wind grows stronger.  Articuno dives, flying lower to avoid large gusts.  Talonflame seems to be holding her own, taking her own path to avoid the gusts.  Articuno swoops around a mountain peak, and on the other side, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a Pokémon battle!  Two trainers face off each other, one in red and one in gold, as a Snorlax and a red Gyarados clash.  I have never seen a red Gyarados before and wonder where it came from.  The view is brief, however, and they quickly disappear within the flurry.  I think they are crazy for battling in such harsh conditions in a location such as a mountain peak!

                We reach the other side of Mount Silver and the wind begins to let up.  The snow lessens and the birds have an easier time flying.  The two birds appear tired, but carry on.  Jess suggests a brief rest in Violet City before moving to the ruins.  We lower our altitude and fly above the trees.  Behind us, a few Skarmory tail us.  They glide around us, darting over and under us, and Talonflame squawks at them, annoyed.  Most scatter off, but a couple linger with us.  One catches up to Articuno, who sings beautifully at it.  Skarmory squawks happily and flies right beside it.  I watch, never having seen one so up close before.  I reach into my bag, grab a handful of Sitrus berries, and start tossing them, one at a time, at the Skarmory.  It catches them with its sharp beak and eats them merrily.  It moves closer, just above me.  I reach out and gently stroke its neck.  Its hide is cool and smooth to the touch.  Skarmory squawks.  I hold out a Sitrus berry and Skarmory eats it from my hand.  I smile as I watch it eat the berry.  Skarmory squawks again and flies off.  It dives toward the ground and into the trees.