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

Chapter 76: Prayer Flame

The water pulled us into Dragon's Den before Blackthorn could disappear behind the cliffs.

Moonlight faded at the cave mouth, replaced by dark water, wet stone, and faint crystals buried in the walls. Lapras carried Lillie and me steadily through the current, while Pikachu crouched low against her neck.

Ahead of us, Team Rocket's damaged balloon scraped through the tunnel with the Dragon Fang still in Meowth's paws. Clair and Kaburagi flew above the water on Dragonair, trying to close the distance without striking the Fang by mistake.

"They're going straight into Dragon's Den!" Kaburagi shouted, horror echoing from the walls.

Clair's voice came back sharp and controlled. "Then we cannot let them choose the path."

The tunnel split into several passages almost immediately. Team Rocket's balloon slammed against the left wall, bounced into the middle path, then vanished around a bend. Dragonair followed, and Lapras surged after them with the rest of our Water Pokémon close behind.

Kris gripped the side of her partner and looked at the tunnel marks. "These passages are not natural erosion only."

Clair glanced back without slowing. "This den is complex. Many tunnels were shaped by Dragon Pokémon long ago. If we get through them, we can reach the Dragon Holy Land, where Lance, Pauline, and I trained."

Ethan leaned forward from behind us. "So Team Rocket is running into the most sacred part by accident?"

East's answer was grim. "Worse. They are being chased there by bad navigation."

The current turned rougher as the passage narrowed. Stone arches rose and fell above us like ribs. Every few moments, I saw claw marks cut deep into the walls, some old and smoothed by water, others sharp enough to look recent.

Pikachu's meaning came through quietly: "Dragons made roads by moving forward."

"I can see that," I murmured.

The cave opened suddenly into a wide underground lake. The far shore rose into a hidden valley beneath the mountain, lit by blue crystals, small fires, and moonlight spilling through cracks high overhead. The air smelled of wet rock, old smoke, and living trees.

We had reached Dragon Holy Land.

For a moment, even Team Rocket's stolen balloon felt small against the hidden valley. The place did not need walls to feel forbidden. Every pool, stone marker, and carved post seemed to say that entering was not the same as being welcomed.

The hidden valley seemed impossible under the mountain. Waterfalls poured from cracks in the stone, feeding pools where shadows moved beneath the surface. Old training posts stood beside mossy paths, and several stone markers carried claw-shaped carvings instead of written names.

Team Rocket's balloon drifted over the shore, but before we could catch them, a Hyper Beam tore across the clearing. The golden blast struck the water in front of us and exploded into steam, forcing Lapras and the others to stop.

A Dragonite landed between us and the shore.

Its eyes were hard, but not empty. The Dragonite's wings spread wide, and its body shook with warning power. Jessie, James, and Meowth stood behind it near the broken balloon, looking terrified and proud at the same time.

Jessie pointed at us from behind Dragonite's shoulder. "Yes, mighty Dragonite, keep them away from your sacred whatever-it-is!"

James whispered loudly, "Are we sure it is listening to us?"

Meowth hugged the Dragon Fang. "It's angry at everybody, so just stand behind it and look official!"

"What's going on with that Dragonite?" I asked.