Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 17: Castle Valet

Route 205 had already given us more than one normal road should have been allowed to give.

The river still followed us toward Eterna, but now the sound of it carried memories of Buizel's pride, Shellos's mud, and two Pachirisu racing across bridge rails like sparks with legs. Lillie had Buizel's Poké Ball on her belt, and it shook once whenever the river sounded especially strong.

Shiny Pachirisu had been recalled for now after trying to race Dawn's Pachirisu along every branch in sight. Dawn looked relieved, exhausted, and secretly delighted that someone else finally understood how fast a Pachirisu could turn a peaceful route into a warning.

Tox walked behind us with Roselia beside Croagunk. He still looked amazed whenever he glanced at her. Budew had grown into Roselia during real healing work, and that evolution had changed something in him too.

Roselia's meaning came softly with the scent of flowers. "Small roots still remember. Taller flowers can still learn."

Tox smiled in a way he tried to hide. "I know."

The path curved around a hill, and Dawn suddenly pointed upward. "Hey, look! There is a castle!"

I followed her finger and stopped.

A real castle stood on the hill above Route 205, with towers, flags, and polished windows catching the afternoon light. It looked too grand to belong beside the same road where Buizel had stolen fishing rods and Team Rocket had crashed into trees.

Lillie tilted her head. "What is a castle doing here?"

"Maybe we should check it out," Dawn said.

I noticed a familiar black SUV near the front path. Something about it pulled an old memory from Kanto, from facilities, symbols, and a man who somehow appeared wherever strong battling gathered.

Tox saw my face. "Ash, something wrong?"

"I think I know that car," I said.

A butler approached before I could explain. He bowed with perfect control, as if greeting wandering Trainers on a random Sinnoh road was a completely ordinary duty.

"Welcome to the Battle Castle," he said. "Are you challengers?"

"Battle Castle?" Dawn repeated with complete confusion.

Lillie stepped forward politely. "We stumbled across it while traveling. Is the owner here?"

The butler smiled. "Indeed. Since you have come all this way, please enter. I am Darach, Castle Valet of this facility."

The name facility made my suspicion stronger.

We followed Darach inside, past tall doors and polished floors. The entrance hall looked like a mansion and battlefield had agreed to share the same body. A set of banners hung above a wide stairway, and framed battle records lined the walls.

Then I saw the man waiting near the center of the hall.

"Scott?" I said, recognizing him at once.

Scott turned with his usual smile. "Well, look who we have here. Ash Ketchum. It is nice to see you in Sinnoh."

Dawn looked at me. "You know him?"

"Yeah," I said. "This is Scott. He owns the Battle Frontier facilities in Kanto."

Scott chuckled. "And Ash here is the first Trainer to complete all seven Kanto facilities. He was so impressive that I offered him a place as a Frontier Brain."

Dawn's jaw dropped. "You were offered that?"

"I kept traveling," I said, because that was the simplest answer.