Pokemon: Fire and Ice

Chapter 6

Giovanni tapped the ice with the toe of his foot. The ice made a sound in sync with his hits, but that was the only evidence of his touch. The ice did not crack, dent, or even shaved.

"Solid, alright," he grumbled.

Ash was a couple feet away from him, staring at the lake with curiosity and awe. When he registered Giovanni's test, he decided to do his own.

"How bout this?" he suggested, taking a step forward. Giovanni glanced at him as the boy turned to his partner. "Pikachu, use Iron Tail!"

"Pika!" Pikachu replied, loud and harsh with excitement.

The yellow rodent leaped into the air. He made a flip and willed energy to form in his tail. It suddenly began to glow with silver light. When the attack was fully charged, the Mouse Pokémon slammed it onto the ice. The attack bounced off harmlessly.

The group stared at where the attack hit. The ice was perfectly unscathed. Giovanni blinked. That attack was impressive for a small Pikachu. It should have shattered its target, but it didn't do a thing.

"Now that's really weird," Ash commented.

Giovanni nodded with a hum.

"I wonder how thick it is."

"Well obviously it's deep, considering—"

The man couldn't finish as Ash's tiny body suddenly shot past him. The kid leaped onto the ice and raced across it. In seconds he was yards away. Giovanni stared after him in surprise, and when he finally figured out what happened, he threw his hands up and bellowed in rage, "ASH!"

The boy ignored him.

Giovanni snorted. "Fine, drown for all I care," he growled. It wouldn't be the first time he witnessed someone falling through ice.

The ice only made thumping sounds with each of Ash's steps; never cracking under his weight or showing signs of danger. The ice was a little slippery, but he was able to keep his balance. He ran about twenty yards out until finally turning around and headed back towards the bank. He noticed Giovanni watching him with arms crossed.

When Ash finally jumped back onto land, he quickly sensed Giovanni's glare boring into him. Even though it intimidated him, Ash willed himself to turn and face the towering man. Giovanni had a stern expression as he scolded the trainer.

"That was foolish, boy," he hissed, his voice almost menacing.

"I just trying out an idea, that's all," Ash replied innocently. He pointed across the lake. "The ice is the same further out. It didn't feel like I was walking on ice at all." As he stared, he mused, "I wonder how it is in the center."

Giovanni was done fuming when he heard that comment. He snatched the back of Ash's jacket and pulled him several feet away from the lake. The boy whined in protest, but stayed in his new spot, getting the message. Giovanni stared back at the ice, thinking. It was impenetrable. In summer. How was that possible?

He realized nothing could be done and finally took notice of his surroundings. The sun had descended dramatically: lazily hanging over the horizon and coloring the sky with scarlet light. It would set within the hour and he and Ash were in complete darkness.

"Let's find a place to camp," he suggested. "There should be shelter around here somewhere."

"What?" Ash exclaimed. Even though he was curious, the ice-covered lake unnerved him. Something about it... Sleeping so near it almost terrified him. "You're not actually thinking staying near this?"

"It'll take too long to find shelter elsewhere."

"We walked last night!"

"And we walked all day. We need rest."