Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 16: River Pride

The road past Valley Windworks followed the water, and I could still hear the turbines behind us when Route 205 opened ahead.

Drifloon's Poké Ball felt new on my belt, lighter than it should have after the storm it had helped us survive. The Windworks was safe now, Paige was safe, and Looker had run toward the Eterna lead with his usual dramatic urgency. That should have made the next stretch feel clean.

Instead, the river beside the path reminded me how fast calm could turn dangerous.

Drifloon drifted out for a short stretch before I recalled it, bobbing near Lillie like it was testing the road's wind. It had already shown us the safe way through a storm, but on a normal route it looked almost shy, tugging gently at the air instead of at anyone's hand.

Drifloon's meaning came breezy and small. "Wind is softer here. Hands do not need saving. I still watch."

That made Lillie smile. "You can watch from your ball too. Rest for now."

The ball clicked shut, and the route felt a little different afterward. Every new partner changed the rhythm of the group, even when they were not outside walking. I had learned that across too many regions to count.

Dawn walked near the water with Pachirisu riding on her shoulder. She still had the glow of her Floaroma Ribbon, but she watched the route carefully too. Every time Pachirisu sparked, Dawn adjusted her grip like she was learning a language that shocked her hair whenever she misunderstood a word.

Pachirisu's meaning came bright and impatient. "New road. New trees. Race?"

Dawn caught his tail before he launched himself at a branch. "No racing near the river."

Pachirisu looked deeply offended by safety.

Tox crouched near a patch of wet grass with Budew and Croagunk beside him. He was trying very hard not to stop at every plant, and failing with dignity. Budew leaned toward the damp soil, fascinated by every bitter smell.

Budew's meaning came softly. "Water changes roots. Bitter leaves grow stronger here."

"One sample," Tox said. "Not the whole route."

Croagunk croaked without looking at him.

Croagunk's meaning came dryly. "He will take three."

Before Tox could defend himself, a flash of pale blue and white shot across the bridge rail ahead. It ran along the wood like a living spark, leapt into a tree, and sent small arcs of electricity snapping across the leaves.

Dawn gasped in obvious surprise. "Pachirisu?"

Her own Pachirisu stood upright on her shoulder, cheeks sparking in immediate challenge.

The wild Pachirisu was shiny, its colors softer and stranger than Dawn's, but its energy felt even bolder. It raced from branch to branch, then dropped into the tall grass and burst out again near the water's edge. Static crackled around it, making the river surface twitch.

"That one is going to shock the water if it keeps this up," Lillie warned.

The shiny Pachirisu spun on a bridge post and squeaked at us like the route belonged to it.

Shiny Pachirisu's meaning came like a wild drumbeat. "Fast feet. High rail. Bigger spark. Catch me if you can."

Dawn looked between her Pachirisu and the shiny one. "They are alike, but that one is rougher. Mine gets distracted by berries. This one wants danger to chase it back."

The bridge was old enough to creak under our steps, and the railings had small gaps where a fast Pokémon could slip through too easily. The shiny Pachirisu treated every gap like a dare. It launched itself across one post, landed upside down on the underside of the rail, and popped back up with sparks bursting from its cheeks.