Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 62: Dragon's Proof

The lights at Cynthia's villa died during breakfast.

For one breath, everyone froze in the sudden quiet. The refrigerator stopped humming, the hall lamps went dark, and the television in the sitting room clicked off before Cilan could finish adjusting the news volume.

Pikachu's ears lifted against my shoulder. His meaning came sharp and awake. "This is not thunder. Something outside has stopped."

I put my cup down before my hand could tighten hard enough to crack it. After everything with Giovanni, the Reveal Glass, and Mom being alive, even a power outage felt too much like the world testing how fast I could stand again.

Alice stepped closer without grabbing me. Her eyes went to the windows first, then the doors, then back to my face.

Golly was already moving toward the front hall. She said, "No one runs outside alone. We check the source, then we decide."

Eve crossed her arms, but her voice stayed controlled. "If this is Team Rocket trying anything after Giovanni, I want proof before anybody tells us to stay calm."

Cilan opened the curtains and looked toward Undella Town. "A blackout over a resort town has a very bitter flavor. Something has disturbed the whole recipe."

Iris leaned over the balcony railing with Axew clinging to her hair. "It feels wrong. Even the Wingull stopped circling."

The doorbell rang before anyone could answer her.

Officer Jenny stood outside with two other officers behind her. Her uniform was neat, but her expression carried the tight worry of someone who had already lost time.

She said, "I'm sorry to interrupt your stay. Is Champion Cynthia here?"

I shook my head. "She's away right now. What happened?"

Officer Jenny looked past me and saw Iris. Her eyes changed with recognition. "You're Iris from the Village of Dragons, correct?"

Iris blinked. "Yes, but why are you asking me?"

Officer Jenny took a breath before answering. "A Dragonite has attacked the Undella Power Plant. We believe it caused the blackout. I came to ask Champion Cynthia for help capturing it before anyone gets hurt."

Axew squeaked in alarm, and Iris's expression hardened. "Dragonite do not just attack power plants for no reason."

Officer Jenny did not look offended. She looked tired. "That is why I am asking for your help instead of sending a capture squad immediately."

I felt my chest loosen a little at that. Jenny was not pretending the first answer had to be the final one.

Alice looked at me, and I nodded.

"We'll help," I said. "But we are not treating Dragonite like a criminal before we know what happened."

Officer Jenny held my gaze. "Then we need to move quickly."

The Undella Power Plant sat near the coast, where the sea wind hit metal walls and carried the smell of salt over hot machines. Emergency lights blinked red across the entrance while workers waited behind police tape.

A roar shook the building before we reached the main doors.

Iris ran forward before Officer Jenny could stop her. "Dragonite!"

Golly caught my sleeve, not to hold me back, but to make sure I looked before following. "Procedure says we enter with Jenny's permission."

Officer Jenny unlocked the service door and nodded once. "Stay behind me until we know where it is."