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he knowes pokemon more than i know _Chapter_1045_en
Chapter 149
Chapter 1035: The Dragon Scale and Meteor Falls
Mr. Moore, the former Fire-type Elite Four member, had diligently guarded the Lavaridge Gym for the first half of his life. In the second half, he served the Hoenn League as an Elite Four member. You could say he spent his entire life working for the officials.
Now retired, Mr. Moore had no desire to ever touch a Pokémon battle again.
If he weren't worried about his granddaughter's ability to manage the gym, Mr. Moore would have already joined the other elders of the town for a spontaneous road trip.
"Flannery, this gym is all yours now."
Mr. Moore patted his granddaughter's shoulder. As he said this, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted, a sense of relief and ease washing over him.
*Hmm, her skill is still a little lacking... But Flannery is still young; her strength will gradually increase over time.*
While she might not become an Elite Four member like him in the future, becoming a powerful Gym Leader shouldn't be a problem.
"As for your challenge, young man, I cannot accept it."
Mr. Moore turned to look at Ash.
All the Pokémon he had with him were retired; he only carried a Typhlosion for emergencies.
These words made Ash frown deeply.
However, Mr. Moore quickly shifted his gaze to the Torkoal beside him.
*One with the same Drought ability as Groudon... It has great potential.*
As he spoke, Mr. Moore took out a fiery red rock from his pocket and embedded it in a hollow space on the Torkoal's shell.
"Then, take this Heat Rock as a gift."
This was a special rock that Mr. Moore had found on Mt. Chimney. When a Pokémon holding this item uses either the Drought ability or the Sunny Day move, the number of turns the weather lasts is significantly increased.
Hearing this, Ash quickly forgot his disappointment about not being able to battle, his expression joyful as he patted Torkoal's shell.
"Wow! From now on, you can just come out, use Sunny Day, and then go right back!"
He finally understood why the Pokédex had said Torkoal was also called "Little Groudon"—it was referring to its Drought ability.
"Hmph! As long as we keep getting stronger, in the future, Groudon will be the one called 'Little Torkoal'!"
Ash declared loudly and arrogantly.
"Wooo?"
But Torkoal just tilted its head, looking as if it were about to cry.
*Does this mean he's just going to use me as a Sunny Day tool?*
"Hehe..."
However, Mr. Moore, who was standing nearby, quickly calmed Ash's excitement.
"After all, this is the Hoenn Region. To say that Groudon is a 'Little Torkoal' is the greatest insult to the God of the Land."
Who knew what might happen? The moment Ash walked by Mt. Chimney, the volcano might erupt out of the earth's resentment, and he could faint on the spot...
The next day, after a good rest in Lavaridge Town, Ash's group of three set out again.
They returned to the spot where they had first entered the town. Since Lavaridge Town was a dead end on three sides, they had to go back the way they came.
Flannery was seeing them off, following them for a bit.
The strong dissatisfaction on her face over Ash's one-sided sweep of her gym was still plain to see.
"Hmph~"
Ash simply turned his head away, pretending not to notice.
It wasn't until they reached the entrance to the Fiery Path that Flannery spoke again:
"You have four badges now, right? Your next gym should be the Petalburg Gym in Petalburg City."
"That gym is the only one in the entire Hoenn Region with a special requirement for challengers—a trainer must have at least four badges to be qualified to challenge it."
"Although the Hoenn Region doesn't have a clear east-west division, it's actually separated by the ocean. The remaining three gyms are all in the eastern region, across the water."
"So, you should head back to Mauville City, then go west to Verdanturf Town. The Rusturf Tunnel there has been cleared, so you can take a shortcut back to Petalburg City."
Flannery repaid his cold shoulder with kindness, helpfully giving the three of them directions.
Hearing this, Ash's gaze sharpened, and he was about to head back through the Fiery Path.
*BZZZ!*
But just then, Ash's backpack suddenly began to vibrate inexplicably.
Ash: "?"
*I don't have a Pokémon egg or anything like that in my bag, do I?*
Ash quickly opened his backpack and dumped everything out.
Everyone gathered around, full of curiosity. Even Flannery, sensing something unusual was happening, drew closer.
Among the various gadgets and items, the source of the vibration was revealed to be a conical, orange-yellow scale.
It looked more like a complete, circular scale that had been shattered, broken into cone-shaped fragments with sharp tips.
"I remember this... isn't this the Dragon Scale that Drake (Elite Four) gave me?"
Ash put his things back in his bag, then picked up the fragmented Dragon Scale and held it in his hand. A faint vibration pulsed in his palm.
"Drake (Elite Four)?"
Flannery, standing beside him, was stunned. *How does this guy know another Elite Four member?*
Her grandfather and Genji were from the same generation of the Elite Four. Flannery had met the latter once before; he was a tough captain, and he seemed much more imposing than her own grandfather.
"I think Mr. Genji also said it was a token for Meteor Falls...?"
Brock also recalled something, musing aloud.
*It seems we're getting close to Meteor Falls, so the Dragon Scale token is reacting?*
*Is it really that supernatural?*
Flannery didn't know anything about a token, but she certainly knew of Meteor Falls.
"Meteor Falls? In that case, you'll have to head north, go around Mt. Chimney, and look for a huge cave to the west."
"That means you can't go through the Fiery Path inside the mountain; you'll have to walk across the surface of Mt. Chimney."
"Although, come to think of it, that route can also lead to Petalburg City. One is a small detour, the other is a big one."
"Alright! In that case, let's head to Meteor Falls!"
Ash's gaze became determined. He clenched the Dragon Scale tightly in his hand and immediately changed his route.
He remembered Drake (Elite Four) mentioning that many powerful Dragon-type Pokémon lived in the depths of Meteor Falls—a perfect opportunity for him to capture one!
And so, the trio bid farewell to Flannery. Instead of entering the Fiery Path's cave entrance, they headed toward a stone staircase next to it that extended north.
It seemed this path would take them directly over more than half of Mt. Chimney.
Midway up Mt. Chimney.
The trio's climbing speed wasn't particularly fast, but the path had man-made stairs the whole way, so they didn't actually have to climb by hand.
"Ugh, we should've just taken the cable car!"
Blue couldn't help but exclaim.
The cable cars that occasionally passed over their heads made the group quite envious.
The cable car track seemed to connect only the foot and the summit of the mountain, with no stops in between. Its starting point was at the other end of the Fiery Path, so all they could do now was watch wistfully.
"But the temperature here is really strange..."
Brock remarked, stroking his chin.
The temperature on the surface of Mt. Chimney was actually much lower than the surrounding area, merely at a level of "normal heat."
*Hmm, it seems that because Groudon has been gone for so long, the temperature around this volcano is in complete disarray, with no pattern at all.*
(end of chapter)
Mr. Moore, the former Fire-type Elite Four member, had diligently guarded the Lavaridge Gym for the first half of his life. In the second half, he served the Hoenn League as an Elite Four member. You could say he spent his entire life working for the officials.
Now retired, Mr. Moore had no desire to ever touch a Pokémon battle again.
If he weren't worried about his granddaughter's ability to manage the gym, Mr. Moore would have already joined the other elders of the town for a spontaneous road trip.
"Flannery, this gym is all yours now."
Mr. Moore patted his granddaughter's shoulder. As he said this, he felt as if a great weight had been lifted, a sense of relief and ease washing over him.
*Hmm, her skill is still a little lacking... But Flannery is still young; her strength will gradually increase over time.*
While she might not become an Elite Four member like him in the future, becoming a powerful Gym Leader shouldn't be a problem.
"As for your challenge, young man, I cannot accept it."
Mr. Moore turned to look at Ash.
All the Pokémon he had with him were retired; he only carried a Typhlosion for emergencies.
These words made Ash frown deeply.
However, Mr. Moore quickly shifted his gaze to the Torkoal beside him.
*One with the same Drought ability as Groudon... It has great potential.*
As he spoke, Mr. Moore took out a fiery red rock from his pocket and embedded it in a hollow space on the Torkoal's shell.
"Then, take this Heat Rock as a gift."
This was a special rock that Mr. Moore had found on Mt. Chimney. When a Pokémon holding this item uses either the Drought ability or the Sunny Day move, the number of turns the weather lasts is significantly increased.
Hearing this, Ash quickly forgot his disappointment about not being able to battle, his expression joyful as he patted Torkoal's shell.
"Wow! From now on, you can just come out, use Sunny Day, and then go right back!"
He finally understood why the Pokédex had said Torkoal was also called "Little Groudon"—it was referring to its Drought ability.
"Hmph! As long as we keep getting stronger, in the future, Groudon will be the one called 'Little Torkoal'!"
Ash declared loudly and arrogantly.
"Wooo?"
But Torkoal just tilted its head, looking as if it were about to cry.
*Does this mean he's just going to use me as a Sunny Day tool?*
"Hehe..."
However, Mr. Moore, who was standing nearby, quickly calmed Ash's excitement.
"After all, this is the Hoenn Region. To say that Groudon is a 'Little Torkoal' is the greatest insult to the God of the Land."
Who knew what might happen? The moment Ash walked by Mt. Chimney, the volcano might erupt out of the earth's resentment, and he could faint on the spot...
The next day, after a good rest in Lavaridge Town, Ash's group of three set out again.
They returned to the spot where they had first entered the town. Since Lavaridge Town was a dead end on three sides, they had to go back the way they came.
Flannery was seeing them off, following them for a bit.
The strong dissatisfaction on her face over Ash's one-sided sweep of her gym was still plain to see.
"Hmph~"
Ash simply turned his head away, pretending not to notice.
It wasn't until they reached the entrance to the Fiery Path that Flannery spoke again:
"You have four badges now, right? Your next gym should be the Petalburg Gym in Petalburg City."
"That gym is the only one in the entire Hoenn Region with a special requirement for challengers—a trainer must have at least four badges to be qualified to challenge it."
"Although the Hoenn Region doesn't have a clear east-west division, it's actually separated by the ocean. The remaining three gyms are all in the eastern region, across the water."
"So, you should head back to Mauville City, then go west to Verdanturf Town. The Rusturf Tunnel there has been cleared, so you can take a shortcut back to Petalburg City."
Flannery repaid his cold shoulder with kindness, helpfully giving the three of them directions.
Hearing this, Ash's gaze sharpened, and he was about to head back through the Fiery Path.
*BZZZ!*
But just then, Ash's backpack suddenly began to vibrate inexplicably.
Ash: "?"
*I don't have a Pokémon egg or anything like that in my bag, do I?*
Ash quickly opened his backpack and dumped everything out.
Everyone gathered around, full of curiosity. Even Flannery, sensing something unusual was happening, drew closer.
Among the various gadgets and items, the source of the vibration was revealed to be a conical, orange-yellow scale.
It looked more like a complete, circular scale that had been shattered, broken into cone-shaped fragments with sharp tips.
"I remember this... isn't this the Dragon Scale that Drake (Elite Four) gave me?"
Ash put his things back in his bag, then picked up the fragmented Dragon Scale and held it in his hand. A faint vibration pulsed in his palm.
"Drake (Elite Four)?"
Flannery, standing beside him, was stunned. *How does this guy know another Elite Four member?*
Her grandfather and Genji were from the same generation of the Elite Four. Flannery had met the latter once before; he was a tough captain, and he seemed much more imposing than her own grandfather.
"I think Mr. Genji also said it was a token for Meteor Falls...?"
Brock also recalled something, musing aloud.
*It seems we're getting close to Meteor Falls, so the Dragon Scale token is reacting?*
*Is it really that supernatural?*
Flannery didn't know anything about a token, but she certainly knew of Meteor Falls.
"Meteor Falls? In that case, you'll have to head north, go around Mt. Chimney, and look for a huge cave to the west."
"That means you can't go through the Fiery Path inside the mountain; you'll have to walk across the surface of Mt. Chimney."
"Although, come to think of it, that route can also lead to Petalburg City. One is a small detour, the other is a big one."
"Alright! In that case, let's head to Meteor Falls!"
Ash's gaze became determined. He clenched the Dragon Scale tightly in his hand and immediately changed his route.
He remembered Drake (Elite Four) mentioning that many powerful Dragon-type Pokémon lived in the depths of Meteor Falls—a perfect opportunity for him to capture one!
And so, the trio bid farewell to Flannery. Instead of entering the Fiery Path's cave entrance, they headed toward a stone staircase next to it that extended north.
It seemed this path would take them directly over more than half of Mt. Chimney.
Midway up Mt. Chimney.
The trio's climbing speed wasn't particularly fast, but the path had man-made stairs the whole way, so they didn't actually have to climb by hand.
"Ugh, we should've just taken the cable car!"
Blue couldn't help but exclaim.
The cable cars that occasionally passed over their heads made the group quite envious.
The cable car track seemed to connect only the foot and the summit of the mountain, with no stops in between. Its starting point was at the other end of the Fiery Path, so all they could do now was watch wistfully.
"But the temperature here is really strange..."
Brock remarked, stroking his chin.
The temperature on the surface of Mt. Chimney was actually much lower than the surrounding area, merely at a level of "normal heat."
*Hmm, it seems that because Groudon has been gone for so long, the temperature around this volcano is in complete disarray, with no pattern at all.*
(end of chapter)
