Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 46: Running Messages

The morning after the Fen Badge felt lighter. Pastoria's streets were still damp, Floatzel was still proudly testing his new body in every puddle we passed, and Lillie kept glancing at her badge case like the fourth badge might vanish if she ignored it too long.

The Gym win had given us a clean victory, but Pastoria itself still felt full of unfinished things. The Great Marsh waited behind us with its poison lesson, Lake Valor waited somewhere ahead with its silence, and Route 210 still had Psyduck blocking the northern path. It felt like every road was trying to speak at once.

Floatzel slid across a puddle and stopped with perfect control, then looked back to see if Pikachu had noticed. Pikachu noticed and gave a small approving nod. The two of them had been quieter since the Gym battle, not distant anymore, but thoughtful in the way partners become after a difficult fight.

Lopunny walked near the back of the group with Dawn's Lopunny for company. Our Buneary had not evolved yet, but she kept watching Dawn's Lopunny with interest. I could tell she was studying the way a taller body balanced jumps, turns, and landings.

We were heading out of the Pokémon Center when a Team Galactic grunt stood near the road, laughing loudly to nobody. He had a silver package tucked under one arm and looked much too pleased with himself.

"Hahaha! The package finally came from the Veilstone warehouse!" the grunt said, practically shouting to the street. "Now it is my job to deliver this to the lake. Important mission. No failure allowed. No making mistakes like wandering off into the Great Marsh."

I stopped so suddenly that Pikachu nearly slid off my shoulder.

"What did you say?" I asked.

The grunt spun around, eyes wide.

"You were eavesdropping!" he shouted. "I was just talking loudly to myself!"

"What an idiot," Gladion muttered.

"If I was not in a hurry, I would pulverize you with my Pokémon!" the grunt yelled. "But I have to get to the lake right away. Do not follow me!"

He bolted toward the gate before any of us could grab him.

Lillie had already started running.

"He said lake," Lillie said sharply. "After what we saw at Verity and Valor, we cannot ignore that."

Floatzel launched himself beside us through the wet street, moving faster than Buizel ever could have. His new stride looked excited, but his eyes stayed serious. Team Galactic had stolen electricity from Valley Windworks before. A mysterious package from Veilstone meant nothing good.

The grunt reached the Route 213 gate and looked back, panting.

"Gweh! Persistent pests!" he shouted. "If our plan works, our boss's dream comes closer to fruition. His ideal world will be created!"

Daniel's face tightened as he listened to those words.

"That is not normal criminal language," Daniel said. "That is ideology."

The grunt pointed dramatically at us.

"I am not wasting time on nobodies like you!" he yelled. "Do not chase me!"

He ran again, and we moved after him.

Then a blur crashed into us from the side.

"Whoops!" Barry shouted, stumbling back with his usual grin. "I did not plow into you this time! Mostly. How's it going? Buffing up your Pokémon?"

"Not now, Barry," I said, trying to step around him.

Barry was already holding a Poké Ball.

"I'll test you and your Pokémon to see how buff and tough you are!" Barry cried.