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

Chapter 49: Lighthouse Promise

Olivine City opened before us with salt in the wind and sunlight flashing over the ocean.

After fields, farms, and Rikishii Town's lanterns, the sea seemed enormous. The Glitter Lighthouse rose over the harbor, and every ship below it looked small beside the water spreading west toward the horizon.

East stopped near the overlook with his Rotom Phone lowered. For once, he was not checking the route immediately. He simply watched the ships moving through the harbor.

"You can see why sailors need the lighthouse here," East said quietly. "There is a lot of open water beyond the breakwater."

Lillie smiled beside him while Granbull stayed near her leg and Jumpluff drifted overhead. "It is beautiful. And look, there is a Contest poster."

Reisa hurried closer so quickly that Azumarill bounced after her. "A Contest? Here?"

"Jasmine is doing an exhibition before the main rounds," Lillie read. "It says she is appearing with Steelix."

Reisa's eyes lit up. "Jasmine? The Steel-type Gym Leader? I want to see that."

"So do I," I said. "Let's see Jasmine's exhibition before we check the Gym."

Pikachu leaned from my shoulder and looked between the Gym symbol on the poster and the Lighthouse outside, "I vote for the place with fewer stairs first."

"Contest Hall it is," I murmured.

At the Contest Hall, polished metal panels caught the ocean light through high windows. The stage reflected bright strips across the floor, and the audience seats curved around it in wide harbor-like tiers.

Reisa slowed near the registration desk. Azumarill bumped her leg with one soft bounce.

"I am not entering this one," Reisa said. "I just won in Rikishii. I want to watch Jasmine and see what she does with Steelix."

Azumarill nodded toward the stage, "Good. I want to see Steelix up close. We can practice afterward."

I laughed and translated for Reisa.

"That sounds exactly like you," Reisa said, scratching Azumarill behind one ear.

Jasmine stepped onto the exhibition stage with Steelix. She greeted the audience softly, then raised her Key Stone as Steelix's Mega Stone answered.

Light wrapped around Steelix. Her body changed inside the glow, crystalline growths forming along her back and around her massive jaws until Mega Steelix towered over the stage.

Reisa clasped her hands. "That is incredible."

Mega Steelix curled around the stage in a broad spiral while her crystals caught the hall lights. Jasmine guided the movement with small signals rather than loud commands. Steelix shifted her enormous weight without scraping the floor, then raised her head so the reflected light swept across the audience.

Jumpluff floated lower beside me and watched the huge Steel-type turn, "She is heavier than Snorlax, but she knows exactly where every part of her body is."

"That is what Raiden was teaching us yesterday too," I said.

Jasmine ended the exhibition with Steelix coiled protectively around her, then let the Mega Evolution fade. The applause filled the hall while Reisa kept watching Steelix's feet instead of the audience.

When registration opened for the regular Contest, I entered with Jumpluff and Quilava.

Lillie raised an eyebrow. "So Reisa is watching, but you are entering."