Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 97: Stark Mountain

The Survival Area felt rough even in the morning.

The Pokémon Center was already full of trainers comparing bruises, shards, and stories from the routes ahead. After Flint's battle, the Fight Area had felt hot because of fire and excitement. The Survival Area felt hot because everyone there expected the land itself to test them.

I stood outside with Lillie while Pikachu stretched on my shoulder. Dawn was checking her new Super Rod again, and Barry was somehow already arguing with Crasher Wake near the road.

"That has to be him," Lillie said.

Barry waved both arms at us. "Ash! Lillie! You are late again! I am fining you before you even know what the fine is!"

Crasher Wake laughed loudly enough to make nearby trainers look over. "Oh, if it is not you kids! It has been a while!"

"It has," I said. "Are you training out here too?"

Wake folded his arms proudly. "Everyone keeps getting tougher and tougher. In doing that, they develop closer bonds with their Pokémon."

Barry pointed at him like he had just heard a secret law. "That is my master! Those are words of wisdom!"

Wake looked down at Barry. "What? I do not recall accepting you as an apprentice. If you want wrestling moves, I can show you all you like, but that is different."

Barry did not seem discouraged. "Come on, master! You have to get me into that club in the Survival Area!"

Wake sighed like this had been happening all morning. "How did I get involved in this?"

Dawn smiled behind one hand. "Barry found a new way to be Barry."

Wake looked toward the road beyond the Survival Area. "Anyway, you are going to Stark Mountain, are you not? Even the wild Pokémon there are very tough. If your Pokémon are not well trained, they will have a miserable time."

Tox nodded. "Volcanic terrain adds heat stress, unstable footing, ash inhalation, and burn risk."

Wake grinned. "Exactly! That kind of challenge can be exciting, but you had better be fully prepared."

Gladion looked toward the distant red shape of the mountain. "That sounds like a warning."

"It is," Wake said. "I have to prepare for another tournament. Farewell!"

Wake strode off with his cape moving dramatically behind him. Barry watched him go, then leaned toward us like he had something important to say.

"For someone born overseas, that tough dude does not have an accent or anything," Barry said.

Daniel blinked slowly. "That is what you chose to observe?"

Barry ignored him. "There is a volcano ahead called Stark Mountain. That blowhard Buck is on his way there too."

"Then we will go carefully," Lillie said.

Pikachu's meaning came with bright caution. "Hot ground hides bad footing."

"Right," I said. "We watch every step."

Route 227 made Wake's warning feel real almost immediately.

The path rose through harsh ground, and warm wind carried flecks of ash against our clothes. Some parts of the route felt dry and open, while others narrowed between rocks that seemed to hold heat inside them.

Dawn kept Piplup close because the ash made him sneeze. Gladion's Crobat flew low, watching ahead, while Daniel studied the way wild Pokémon avoided certain vents in the rock.