1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 15: Cave Echo

Union Cave waited at the end of Route 32 like a dark mouth in the hillside. Cool air drifted from the entrance, carrying wet stone and underground water.

Solar Town's sunlight still filled the road behind us. Reisa's Ribbon rested safely in her bag, Hoppip drifted above me, and Wooper wandered toward every puddle until Lillie steered him back.

Ethan shifted the Egg case against his chest and stared into the darkness. "So this is Union Cave."

Kris checked her map while Megaree, who had stayed outside since yesterday's search, stood beside her. "The main route reaches Route 33. The lower passages connect to water chambers, but we don't need them."

East studied the entrance with Noctowl beside him. "Noctowl can help in the larger chambers. Zubat will be better in the narrow tunnels."

He released Zubat and his Mareep. Zubat immediately fluttered toward the entrance while Mareep's tail orb glowed faintly against the rock.

Zubat tilted from side to side, listening. "The tunnel opens wider beyond the first bend."

East watched the direction of Zubat's flight. "You already found open space. Good."

I recalled Hoppip and my Mareep before we entered. The cave looked too cramped for Hoppip's drifting, and East's Mareep already gave us a steady light. Wooper stayed outside with Chikorita, Pikachu, and Togepi.

Sentret's Poké Ball shifted at my belt, then opened before I reached for it. Sentret appeared beside my feet, sniffed the cave floor, and raised her tail.

"Narrow paths hide under the big ones. I want to check them," Sentret said.

I crouched beside her. "Then stay where we can see you and warn us before anyone steps somewhere unsafe."

Pikachu leaned down from my shoulder. "You notice things before the rest of us. Keep doing that."

Sentret straightened until her tail stood almost vertical.

Chikorita moved closer to Lillie and looked into the darkness. "Stay where I can find both of you."

"We will stay close," I promised.

Then we stepped into Union Cave together.

The temperature dropped immediately. Wooper tried to splash through a shallow runnel until Chikorita hooked one vine gently around him and pulled him back beside Lillie.

Wooper blinked at her. "The cave has water everywhere. Why should I ignore the best part?"

Chikorita kept hold of him until the path widened. "Because Ash said we are crossing the cave, not moving into every puddle."

Lillie hid a smile and carried Togepi a little higher. "At least nobody is bored yet."

The walls answered our footsteps with overlapping echoes. Sometimes Pikachu's ears turned toward a sound before I heard it, and sometimes Zubat changed direction before any of us saw the bend ahead.

The first tunnel sloped downward gently, and daylight faded behind us one step at a time. East's Mareep walked near the front, its tail casting a soft glow over wet walls without flooding the tunnel with light.

Zubat flew ahead in short scouting loops. Sentret stayed near the ground, stopping whenever the stone sounded hollow beneath her paws. Noctowl remained beside East until the tunnel widened enough for him to spread his wings safely.

East rested one hand against the wall. "The left side closes in. The right side has moving air."

Kris checked her map. "The right branch should stay closer to the main route."