Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 4: A Fire Left Behind

Accumula Town rose ahead of us with bright roofs, clean streets, and the kind of calm that made yesterday's geysers feel like something from another region. After the sand resort, I should have been grateful for stone paths and buildings that did not hide boiling water underneath them.

Oshawott walked proudly in front of us for almost ten steps before remembering he was supposed to stay near me. Then he hurried back, pretending the whole thing had been part of his plan.

Pikachu watched him from my shoulder with patient amusement. Patrat kept glancing at alleyways and rooftops, already acting like Accumula Town had become another route to guard. Pidove circled overhead before landing on a streetlamp and looking down at us.

Alice walked beside me with Absol at her side. She looked calmer than she had at the port, but I could still see her checking the space around me whenever a stranger passed too close.

Golly reviewed the town map on her device while Zorua padded in her shadow. Eve and Purrloin stayed near Alice, and Iris wandered ahead with Axew in her hair, moving like she had never considered getting lost a real problem.

Iris spun around suddenly and pointed toward a large green building. "That is the Pokémon Battle Club. Trainers come here to battle, train, and compare Pokémon."

Oshawott raised his scalchop like he had found a stage. His meaning came bright and immediate. "A battle building needs a heroic Water type."

Golly did not look up from the map. "It needs registration, supervision, and a safe battlefield."

Iris gave her a look of disbelief. "Do you ever hear the word battle and think fun first?"

"No," Golly said. "That would be irresponsible."

Eve leaned toward Alice with a sigh. "Those two are becoming a regular weather pattern."

Alice smiled faintly. "At least this one does not involve Zekrom."

The name made my fingers brush the customized Poké Ball at my belt. The weight of it reminded me that Unova had already pulled old legends into our new journey. It also reminded me that calm streets could still be hiding storms.

We entered the Battle Club, and a cheerful man with a thick mustache welcomed us before Iris could explain anything else. The inside smelled like polished floors, training equipment, and Pokémon food from somewhere deeper in the building.

"Welcome to the Pokémon Battle Club!" the man said warmly. "I am Don George, the manager here. We support Trainers, battles, training records, and league preparation."

Iris put her hands on her hips. "See? Useful place."

Golly looked around with professional interest. "Do you keep trainer incident logs?"

Don George blinked. "We keep battle records."

"Close enough for a first question," Golly said.

A few trainers noticed Pikachu, Absol, and Oshawott almost immediately. Their eyes widened the way Unova trainers often did when they saw Pokémon from other regions, especially one standing next to a new Unova starter.

One boy pointed at Pikachu. "Is that really a Pikachu?"

Another trainer stared at Absol. "And an Absol too?"

Alice stepped closer to Absol before anyone could crowd him. "Please ask before approaching."

Absol's meaning brushed the edge of my mind through Alice, quiet but firm. "Hands that ask may pass. Hands that grab meet disaster."

I did not blame him. Team Rocket had been using cages too often for any of us to accept careless hands.

Don George noticed the tension and clapped once. "Everyone give our guests room. A good battle starts with respect before it starts with attacks."