Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 2: Searching Under New Skies

Ash's POV

The trees around Lake Verity looked peaceful, but I could not feel any peace while Pikachu was missing somewhere ahead of us.

Togetic, Butterfree, Pink Butterfree, Murkrow, and Yanma searched above the branches, spreading out just far enough to watch the sky without losing sight of us.

Aipom crouched high on a tree limb with her tail hand wrapped around the bark. She kept turning her head, checking every rustle like Pikachu might appear between the leaves.

Lillie walked beside me with Absol close to her left side. Gladion kept to her right, and Umbreon moved through the grass near his boots without making a sound.

Umbreon had joined us as soon as we left the harbor road. Gladion had not made a big announcement, but the way Umbreon watched Lillie told me they trusted each other completely.

"Hey, Aipom!" I called, trying to keep my voice steady. "Did you see any sign of Team Rocket or Pikachu anywhere?"

Aipom swung down from the tree and landed in front of me. Her meaning came fast and frustrated. "No balloon. No yellow friend. Only strange lake wind."

I frowned and looked across the water. "Man, I want to find those guys, and they all disappear."

"Pikachu is strong," Lillie said softly. "But I still hate not knowing where he is."

"According to the map, we are at Lake Verity," Gladion said, glancing at his Rotom Phone. "If Team Rocket crashed nearby, someone might have seen smoke."

Umbreon's rings glowed faintly as he looked toward the water. His meaning came low and cautious. "Something watches from quiet light."

Before I could ask what he meant, the lake rippled.

The surface shimmered without wind. A small mysterious figure rose from the shining water, too bright and distant to see clearly, yet close enough to make every Pokémon freeze.

"What the heck was that?" I whispered.

The figure vanished before I could move. The ripples faded, and Lake Verity looked normal again, but my chest still felt like something had touched it.

Togetic drifted lower, her meaning gentle and uneasy. "Lonely heart. Very old. Very near."

Lillie held one hand against her chest. "Did you feel that too?"

For a heartbeat, I thought of the strange way Pikachu sometimes knew I was scared before I said anything. Whatever had appeared over the lake felt nothing like Team Rocket trouble, but it felt important.

Absol's fur rose along her back, and she stepped closer to Lillie. Her meaning came like a warning under moonlight. "Not enemy. Not safe. Not understood."

Gladion narrowed his eyes. "We should not stay exposed."

A voice called from the path behind us. "Hey! Is everything all right over there?"

We turned and saw Officer Jenny approaching with her motorcycle nearby. Her Growlithe watched the trees while she studied our group.

I stepped forward quickly. "Officer Jenny, we need help. Team Rocket stole my Pikachu after we arrived in Sinnoh."

Officer Jenny's expression sharpened. "Team Rocket is in Sinnoh?"

"Yeah," I said. "They used a machine and took Pikachu from the ship. We blasted them off, but Pikachu fell somewhere inland."

Lillie nodded. "We have our Pokémon searching, but Sinnoh is too wide if we guess blindly."

Officer Jenny looked toward the lake, then back to us. "Instead of running around without a lead, come with me to Professor Rowan's lab. If anyone near Sandgem reported an unusual Pikachu, the professor may know."