Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 79: Rescue Road

Route 23 began where the cold of Giant Chasm finally loosened its grip.

The path ahead climbed through cliffs, ponds, raised ledges, and narrow stretches of grass that looked peaceful only until the wind changed. Behind us, Team Plasma's nightmare was over. Ahead of us, Victory Road waited somewhere beyond the mountains.

Hugh had already left with Liepard's Poké Ball held close, promising to return it to his sister before meeting us at the League. Hilbert and Hilda had stayed behind with Rood a little longer. That left our traveling group moving forward together again: me, Alice, Golly, Eve, Iris, Cilan, and Reisa.

Hugh's absence left a different kind of quiet than Ash's separation had left earlier. He was not gone from the story, only following the wound Team Plasma gave his family. I hoped his sister would see Liepard and feel more than loss first.

Alice walked quietly for several steps, and I could tell she was thinking about that same thing. Getting someone back did not erase the years between losing and finding. It only gave the future a chance to stop bleeding.

The silence after the Team Plasma finale felt strange. For so long, every road had carried a question about Ghetsis, Kyurem, the DNA Splicers, or the frozen city. Now Route 23 carried the sound of wind, water, and distant wild Pokémon instead.

I touched the badge case at my side, then looked at Pikachu on my shoulder. "The League road is really open now."

Pikachu's meaning came bright and steady. "The road opened because everyone stayed."

I nodded, thinking of Reshiram, Kyurem, Keldeo, and the Pokémon we had just saved. "Then we do not waste it."

Alice walked beside me, her hand near Absol's head as he watched the cliffs. She looked relieved, but not relaxed. None of us had learned how to relax that quickly after a crisis.

Cilan studied the cliffs with a thoughtful look. "Route 23 has the flavor of a final approach. Difficult terrain, hidden paths, and enough tension to season every step."

Iris grinned. "Or it is just a dangerous mountain road."

Golly checked the ledges ahead and pointed to the path between two tall patches of grass. "Both descriptions can be true. Stay alert."

The warning came too late.

A thunder of hooves shook the grass, and a herd of Bouffalant charged straight at us. Their huge afros bounced as they lowered their heads, and the entire route seemed to become horns and dust.

"Scatter!" I shouted as the herd thundered closer.

We ran for the rocks. Alice grabbed Eve's wrist, Iris pulled Cilan out of the way, and Reisa sent Milotic forward to slow the dust with a water curtain. Pikachu fired a quick Thunderbolt near the ground, not to hurt them, but to break the charge line.

The herd only snorted and charged harder.

One Bouffalant slammed into a boulder and cracked it with pure force. I stared at the mark it left behind while the herd circled back like it owned the entire route.

"That is not a normal warning charge," Alice said.

Cilan's eyes widened. "That was a territorial declaration with an extremely aggressive aftertaste."

We retreated until a small route rest house came into view. Nurse Joy stepped outside just as we reached it, Chansey beside her with a worried expression and a first-aid bag already open.

"Oh my," Nurse Joy said. "You entered Bouffalant territory without afro wigs, didn't you?"

I blinked at her in complete confusion. "Without what?"