1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 16: Fire Mouse

The rain started before we were fully away from Union Cave. It covered Route 33 in a steady gray curtain, darkening the grass and making the rocks shine. Water slipped down the slope, gathered near Wooper's feet, and dripped from the leaves.

Wooper looked delighted, while Pikachu clearly hated the weather. He sat on my shoulder with his ears lowered, keeping his tail above wet grass. Furret picked along the higher edge of the road, avoiding the deepest puddles.

Hoppip floated low because the rain weighed down its leaves. East's Golbat flew beneath the dripping branches while Mareep's wool puffed into damp clumps, and Chikorita stayed near Lillie as Togepi peered from beneath her rain cover.

"This route is short on the map," Kris said, holding her notebook under her jacket, "but the weather makes it slower."

Noctowl tucked close beneath a branch and watched the muddy slope. "The edge is sliding. Everyone should stay away from the drop."

I glanced toward East. "Noctowl says the steep side is getting slippery."

East studied it and nodded. "Mareep, stay toward the inside."

Ethan adjusted the Egg case beneath his coat. "The Egg is dry." Lillie nodded. "Good. Now make sure you stay dry too." Ethan looked up at the clouds. "I am trying. The sky is not cooperating."

Reisa's Croconaw loved the rain almost as much as Wooper. He stomped through a puddle deep enough to cover his ankles, and Marill copied him, splashing water across Reisa's boots.

Reisa sighed. "I am glad you two are enjoying this." Croconaw slapped the water with one foot. "You should try it before complaining." I laughed. "Croconaw thinks you should join them." Reisa pointed at her muddy trousers. "Tell him I already did."

Chikorita seemed calmer than she had been before Solar Town. Every few steps, though, she looked back at me, Pikachu, Lillie, and Togepi as if checking that nobody had disappeared behind the rain.

Pikachu lowered his nose toward the mud. "Rain makes tracks easier to smell. If somebody leaves the road, we will know." I murmured, "That is comforting in a very Pikachu way."

Lillie smiled because she knew I had heard something. Togepi reached toward Pikachu, and he leaned down just far enough to touch the top of Togepi's shell with one paw.

A Hiker waited beneath a broad tree with a Geodude beside him. He raised one hand. "Careful through here. Name's Anthony. Route 33 looks small, but rain makes fools out of people who think short roads are easy."

"That sounds like advice from experience," Kris said. Anthony laughed. "More than once. Geodude does not like wet footing, Machop slips if it charges too hard, and Fire-types get miserable if they cannot keep their flames steady."

At the word Fire, I looked toward the damp grass. Anthony noticed. "Looking for something?" I answered, "Maybe a Cyndaquil."

His eyebrows rose. "Then go slow. There are rumors of one near the side caves, but it bolts from loud Trainers. A purple-haired boy came through yelling about catching it. That will make a shy Pokémon hide deeper."

Lillie gave me a pointed look. "That means we should not rush." I said, "I heard him." Pikachu leaned toward my ear. "You heard him. I am waiting to see whether you listened."

Anthony also pointed toward two Apricorn trees beside the path. "Black Apricorn and Pink Apricorn there. If you are heading to Azalea, Kurt can make use of them."

Kris collected one from each tree and marked them in her notes. "That fits the direction toward Azalea." Ethan patted the Egg case. "Good. A peaceful route task."