Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 62: Ring Through the Wind

Squallville appeared through the snow like a town built inside a gust of wind. Its rooftops were sharp, its flags snapped hard against their poles, and every hanging sign swung as if the whole town had learned to lean instead of fall.

After Route 216, I thought any place with buildings would feel calm. Squallville proved me wrong before we even reached the first street. The wind rushed between houses, picked up loose snow, and threw it into shining spirals above the road.

Dawn pulled her scarf higher over her mouth. "Does northern Sinnoh ever stop trying to freeze us?"

Tox glanced at the color in her face before answering. "You are cold, not frostbitten. Keep moving your fingers. Complaining is acceptable if breathing stays steady."

Dawn blinked at him. "That was almost comforting."

"Then I will revise it later," Tox said.

Lillie laughed softly, and Pikachu's tail brushed my neck from my shoulder. After the Froslass rescue, even a hard wind felt easier when it was not hiding a cage or a poacher.

Then we heard cheering from beyond the nearest row of houses.

The sound came from an open field on the far side of town. A tall goalpost stood there with a circular hoop at the top, and two flying Pokémon raced toward a ring swinging beneath a balloon. One was a Wingull, cutting through the wind with white wings. The other was a Yanmega, buzzing with blurring speed.

"Wow," I said, stopping at the fence. "It's the PokéRinger."

Dawn looked from the ring to the goal. "What's PokéRinger?"

"I participated in one back in the Hoenn region," I said. "That was when my Taillow evolved into Swellow."

Pikachu's meaning sparked with warm memory. "The wind was loud there too, but our hearts were louder."

I smiled at him. "Yeah, buddy. That sounds about right."

I explained the basics while Yanmega slipped under Wingull, grabbed the ring, and banked hard around a gust that would have shoved most Pokémon sideways. Wingull tried to cut it off, but Yanmega rose above the goal and dropped the ring cleanly onto the hook.

A referee blew a whistle, and the small crowd cheered.

Yanmega's Trainer lifted his chin and gave his practice partner a dramatic wave. For one second, the pose was just strange. Then the angle of his face, the sweep of his hair, and the way Yanmega returned to him made my stomach tighten with recognition.

"James?" I muttered before I could stop myself.

The man stiffened so sharply that his disguise almost failed by itself. Then he turned with a smile too polished to be normal.

"I have no idea who this James fellow might be," he said. "I am merely a passionate aerial sportsman drawn to the noble winds of Squallville."

Gladion stared at him. "That made it worse."

James coughed into one gloved hand. "In any case, the town's annual PokéRinger competition begins soon. Any Trainer with a flying partner and a fearless spirit may enter."

Dawn's eyes brightened, then dimmed almost at once. "I want to take part in it, but I don't have any Flying-type Pokémon."

"The same here," Gladion said. "Ash and Lillie's team has the real Flying-types for this."

Lillie looked at the field, then at me. The wind lifted her hair around her face, but her eyes stayed clear and steady.

"I want to try," she said. "Ash, may I use Staravia for this one?"