Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 11: Venipede Stampede

Castelia City rose out of the end of Skyarrow Bridge like a wall made of glass, steel, and noise.

After the quiet grief of the bridge and Gothitelle's fading memory, the city felt almost too alive. Cars moved between towers, people crossed wide streets in waves, and signs flashed high above us as if nothing in the world had changed. I kept walking anyway, because stopping made every thought louder.

Pikachu sat on my shoulder with his ears low. His meaning brushed my heart carefully. "Too many sounds. Stay with us, Ash."

"I am here," I whispered, though I was not sure whether I meant the city or myself.

Alice walked close enough that her sleeve brushed mine whenever the crowd shifted. She did not grab my hand in front of everyone, but she watched the crossings, the alleys, and every uniform that moved too suddenly. Since Mom was gone, Alice had started seeing danger before I saw anything else.

Golly noticed too. She kept one hand near Zorua's Poké Ball and the other near her phone, already preparing to record anything that could become evidence later. Eve stayed on Alice's other side, not blocking her, just making sure no one else tried to decide what Alice needed.

Iris spun once in the middle of the sidewalk and looked up at the towers. "This place is huge! Axew, look at all those buildings!"

Axew peeked out of her hair and squeaked in awe. Cilan smiled beside her, carrying himself like the city had become a stage and every street had a flavor he wanted to describe.

"Castelia City," Cilan said warmly. "A bold blend of business, art, ocean air, and restless ambition. It has quite the taste."

"It also has too many places for Team Rocket to hide," I muttered.

Alice heard me, because of course she did. "Ash."

"I know," I said before she had to say more.

I did know. I knew Golly needed proof. I knew suspicion was not the same thing as a completed case. I knew charging at every shadow with Team Rocket's name burned into my head would only make things worse for the people beside me. Knowing all of that did not make the anger quieter.

We reached Central Plaza, where the open space should have made breathing easier. Instead, Burgh stood in front of a tree with both hands tucked against his chest, staring at the leaves like they were speaking in a language no one else could hear.

"Burgh?" I asked. "What are you doing here?"

Burgh turned, and the usual brightness in his eyes looked strained. "Ah, Ash, Alice, everyone. You finally reached Castelia, but I am afraid my heart is not in any proper shape for a Gym battle today."

Iris tilted her head. "You're staring at a tree instead."

"A tree can tell you a great deal when the Bug-type Pokémon are whispering through it," Burgh said softly. "Something frightened them last night. The small ones have been restless, the fliers keep changing direction, and even Leavanny refused to sleep."

Cilan's smile faded into something more thoughtful. "A dish with that much unease must have a hidden ingredient."

A rattling sound came from below the street grates. It was not loud at first, but it carried through the plaza in a way that made Pikachu's tail stiffen.

I crouched beside one of the grates and listened. Something scraped beneath us again, followed by a sharp, pained cry.

"Maybe it is coming from the sewers," I said.

Golly's eyes narrowed. "City infrastructure plus frightened Pokémon plus unknown energy is not a casual investigation."

Burgh nodded at once. "Then we investigate carefully. Castelia's sewers connect more of the city than people like to remember."