Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 73: Guardian Current

The moment we stepped outside Humilau Gym, the sunlight felt different.

The Wave Badge was warm in my hand. Eight badges should have made the world feel wider, like the League road had finally opened all the way. Instead, the first thing I saw was Hugh waiting near the walkway with his fists clenched.

Hugh looked at the badge, and some pressure in his eyes eased. "You got all of the Badges! You're really something!"

I smiled, but the smile could not stay light for long. "Thanks, Hugh."

His face hardened again. "Usually, you'd go to the Pokémon League now, but dealing with Team Plasma comes first!"

The words hit exactly where my thoughts already were. Opelucid City was still frozen, and the DNA Splicers were still in the Shadow Triad's hands. The Wave Badge was not the end of the road. It was permission to keep chasing without anyone blocking us.

Marlon climbed out of the Gym pool behind us and shook water from his hair like everything in the world was still simple. "Sup yo! What's this Team Plasma you're talking about do?"

Iris stared at him like he had asked what water was. "You don't know? They made a big mess two years ago!"

Hugh stepped forward, anger flashing. "Team Plasma does things like steal my sister's... I mean people's Pokémon. They plan on conquering Unova by using Pokémon to freeze it solid! They're really evil! Haven't you heard about them, Marlon?"

Marlon blinked, then looked toward the sea. "Nope! When the ocean's your home, you don't worry about things like that. 'Cause the ocean accepts all rivers!"

Golly's expression went dangerously flat. "The ocean accepting rivers does not excuse ignoring organized harm."

Marlon looked back at her, not offended, only thoughtful in his strange way. "So you think Team Plasma's bad, then?"

"Well, most of the members are bad," I said slowly. "Some were lied to, and some changed. But the ones freezing cities and stealing Pokémon are the ones we have to stop."

Marlon nodded like he had been waiting for me to say it that way. "I get it. They're bad, so you fight 'em. But first, you gotta say that in your own words. When you do, you'll understand better what you want to do and what you're hopin' for!"

For a moment, nobody spoke.

I looked down at the Wave Badge and thought about all the different reasons someone could fight. Revenge. Fear. Anger. Pride. Duty. I had carried all of those at different times, especially after thinking my mom was dead.

Pikachu's meaning came beside my heart. "Say the road. Then walk it."

I looked at Marlon, then Hugh. "I want to stop Team Plasma because Pokémon are not tools, cities are not weapons, and nobody gets to freeze Unova to prove they deserve control."

Alice's hand brushed mine, steady and warm. "And we are not letting them decide who gets used."

Eve looked at Alice, then at Team Plasma's direction with her jaw tight. "Not people. Not Pokémon. Not anyone."

Marlon smiled faintly, as if the tide had finally reached the place he expected. "Well then... sounds like you know."

He turned and walked toward the water again, leaving Hugh staring after him.

Hugh's shoulders tightened. "Man, I don't know if that guy is laid back or just irresponsible. That kinda got me down, but our opponent is Team Plasma! We have to focus!"

Hilbert nodded. "Then focus on the next lead."

Hugh snapped his attention back to us. "Before anything else, we have to find where they are. OK! We'll split up. You check Route 22! Got it?"