Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 68: Legend Trial

The Opelucid Gym doors opened beneath a carved Dragon head that looked large enough to swallow the whole street.

For a moment, I forgot the noise of the city behind us. Inside, the Gym stretched upward in layers of stone, metal, and enormous dragon statues. Their bodies curled around platforms and paths, with glowing panels set into their heads like commands waiting for brave feet.

Pikachu sat on my shoulder, ears high. His meaning came excited and wary. "Dragon stone moves. Battle road climbs."

I looked up toward the top, where Drayden waited somewhere beyond the statues. "Then we climb."

The Gym guide greeted us near the entrance with a proud smile. "Welcome to the Opelucid City Gym! How do you like these dragon statues? This Gym is the only place in Unova with statues this size."

Alice looked up at one stone claw stretching over us. "That is hard to argue with."

The guide continued, "Climb on the dragon's head and aim for the top of the other dragon, where Drayden, the Gym Leader, is waiting. Dragon-type Pokémon are his specialty. Just between you and me, Dragon types are weak to Fairy-type, Ice-type, and Dragon-type moves."

I nodded. "Thanks. I will remember."

Iris crossed her arms with Haxorus standing beside her. "Do not think that makes Dragon-types easy."

"I would never think that," I said.

Haxorus's meaning came proud and amused. "Dragon not easy. Dragon asks truth from bones."

I stepped onto the first dragon head with Pikachu still on my shoulder. A glowing panel showed four directions: left, right, front, and back. The whole mechanism hummed beneath my feet.

A Veteran waited ahead on the first platform.

He said, "Always aim for the top, like a dragon taking flight!"

He sent out Fraxure, and I chose Whimsicott. The little Grass and Fairy Pokémon spun into the field with light feet and a brave smile.

Fraxure charged with sharp tusks, but Whimsicott floated just beyond the first strike.

Whimsicott's meaning came airy and focused. "Sharp tusks cut straight. Moonlight bends."

"Moonblast!" I called with steady force.

The bright Fairy-type attack burst across the platform and knocked Fraxure back. The battle ended quickly, but the Veteran looked pleased instead of disappointed.

"The fierce energy I feel from you," he said, "is just like that of a soaring dragon."

He pointed upward. "Trainers far stronger than I wait for you above. The ones on the right emphasize attack. The ones on the left emphasize defense."

Alice studied the panels. "This is just like Norman's Gym, except with giant dragon statues."

"Yeah," I said. "So how do I reach the next trainers, "is just like that?"

The Veteran answered, "Return to the dragon's head and step on the glowing triangle. Then choose right or left."

I stepped back onto the panel. The dragon statue groaned, lifted its head, and shifted beneath me hard enough that Pikachu dug his paws into my vest.

"Left first," I said after choosing.

The dragon's stone fist rose and slammed forward like it was punching a path through the air. I almost lost my balance, but Pikachu's tail pressed against my neck as he leaned with me.

Pikachu's meaning flashed sharp. "Stone dragon rude."

I laughed once. "A little."

The left platform carried a Veteran named Rhona. She stood with both hands behind her back and a steady gaze.