Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 57: Iron Defense

The news about the next Contest reached us before Byron returned to Canalave Gym.

Chocovine Town would be holding the next Contest, and Dawn tried to smile like that did not add pressure after Celestic. Piplup noticed anyway, because he stood on a bench beside her ribbon case with both flippers lifted like he was already performing for the judges.

Piplup's meaning came bright and stubborn. "Next stage waits. We must arrive shining."

Dawn smiled at him, then looked at Piloswine, who had found a bag of Poffins and was ignoring every command except the ones that sounded like food.

"Piloswine, please come over here," Dawn called.

Piloswine kept eating as if nothing had changed.

Tox watched from beside the training field. "Motivation is currently food-locked. She hears you, but the reward system is overpowering the command."

Dawn groaned softly. "That does not make me feel better."

I sent out my own Piloswine. He landed heavily on the grass, sniffed the Poffins once, then looked at Dawn's Piloswine with patient understanding.

Piloswine's meaning rumbled warmly. "Food is good. Road is bigger than food."

Dawn's Piloswine blinked, then tried to steal another Poffin anyway.

We started with simple movement drills. My Piloswine showed how to stop after a charge, how to turn before hitting the fence, and how to listen for Dawn's voice even when food was nearby. Dawn's Piloswine copied him for three whole commands before charging after the empty Poffin bag.

Dawn clenched her fists, but she did not yell. That mattered. Piloswine was frustrating her, and everyone could tell, but she was trying not to turn that frustration into fear or embarrassment.

Lillie stood beside Dawn and spoke gently. "She is not ignoring you because she dislikes you. She just does not understand the difference between desire and direction yet."

Dawn nodded, though her eyes stayed on Piloswine. "Then I have to teach her without making her feel like I only care when she behaves."

That sounded like a Coordinator lesson and a Trainer lesson at the same time.

Team Rocket chose that exact moment to attack with a mecha shaped like a giant lunch box.

Jessie pointed dramatically from the lid. "If Piloswine loves Poffins, then Piloswine will love us!"

James held up a fake tray. "Our cuisine comes with captivity!"

Meowth pressed the wrong button, and the mecha started vacuuming up Poffins, Pokémon, and half the training mats. Dawn's Piloswine charged after the food and nearly got pulled inside.

My Piloswine stepped in front of her. Ancient energy gathered around him, bright and old, like stones remembering the world before roads and cities. He released Ancient Power, shattering the vacuum pipe and stopping Dawn's Piloswine from being dragged in.

Light wrapped around him in a sudden flash.

When it faded, Mamoswine stood in front of us, huge and steady, tusks shining like ice.

Pokédex Entry Updated — Ash and Lillie's Shared Sinnoh Record

Mamoswine, the Twin Tusk Pokémon. Ice and Ground Type. Its impressive tusks are made of ice, and its population thinned when the climate grew warmer after the ice age.

Mamoswine's meaning came deep and protective. "Bigger body. Older strength. Still follow the small voice."

Dawn's Piloswine stared up at him. Team Rocket tried to restart the vacuum, but she planted her feet, copied the Ancient Power she had just seen, and sent the mecha rolling backward. Light surrounded her too, and Dawn gasped as her Piloswine evolved into Mamoswine.