Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 15: Windworks Friday

The road from Floaroma toward Route 205 should have felt like a victory walk for Dawn.

She had her first Ribbon now, and the Floaroma Ribbon case never seemed far from her hands. Pachirisu kept trying to look inside it, Piplup kept trying to stand beside it like he had personally earned the entire thing, and Buneary kept nudging Dawn whenever her smile faded into disbelief.

Ponyta walked close to her too, warm and quiet. Dawn had not suddenly become fearless because she won one Contest, but she walked like the win had given her proof she could hold. After Jubilife and Zoey, that proof mattered.

Tox walked behind her with Budew perched carefully near his shoulder. Croagunk kept giving Budew sideways looks, as if judging whether the little Grass and Poison type understood travel rules. Budew only watched every flower along the route with bright curiosity.

Budew's meaning came softly. "New road. New smells. Bitter leaves may grow here too."

Tox smiled. "We will look, but we are not stopping at every plant."

Croagunk croaked with obvious agreement.

Croagunk's meaning came dry and immediate. "He will stop at many plants."

I laughed before Tox could deny it.

The laugh did not last long, because a little girl ran toward us from the path ahead with tears on her face.

"Help!" she cried. "Help, Trainers! Please, can you get my papa for me? He works at the Valley Windworks. But the people dressed like space aliens are mean and won't let me in."

Dawn's hand tightened around her Ribbon case. "Space aliens?"

"Team Galactic," I said, already moving.

Gladion's eyes went cold. "Not those guys again."

The little girl pointed down the road, and we followed the direction toward a large building surrounded by wind turbines. The blades turned steadily above the grass, but the building did not feel peaceful.

The little girl tried to follow us, but Nurse Joy from town caught up and gently guided her back. "Let the Trainers check first," Nurse Joy said. "Your papa would want you away from danger."

The girl nodded, but she kept looking at the Windworks. I remembered that look from other towns and other crises. It was the look of someone too young to fight and too scared to wait. That made the building ahead feel heavier than any Gym.

Lillie noticed too. "We should finish this quickly."

"Quickly and carefully," Gladion said. "If Galactic is using a power plant, the building itself can become the hostage."

That was the kind of sentence only Gladion could say without sounding dramatic, and unfortunately he was right.

A Team Galactic grunt stood in front of the door with his arms crossed.

"Don't you dare go into the Valley Windworks," he said. "I have orders to keep everyone out if they are not part of Team Galactic."

Lillie's voice sharpened. "You are keeping a child from her father."

The grunt shifted, uncomfortable for half a second before pride covered it. "Orders are orders."

"As if we are letting you get away with this," I said.

He grabbed a Poké Ball. "Then you will have to battle me for it."

His Glameow appeared with a sharp yowl, claws flashing. I sent out Rhydon, and the weight of his landing made the grunt flinch.