Chapter 46: Starry Moonlit Night

After exchanging names, addresses, identities, and contact information with the Fossil Maniac, Hu Yang left Autumn Leaf Town.

Of course, the contact information was only one-way. He hadn’t bought a cell phone yet, so if he wanted to make a call, he’d have to be like Ash in the anime and use the video phones at the Pokémon Center. At this point in time, Pokédexes issued to trainers didn’t have real-time communication features yet.

The Fossil Maniac seemed to trust him completely, having already paid the deposit—the Key Stone—without any fear that he might abscond with the money. Hu Yang couldn’t help but grumble internally. Perhaps the man simply thought the Key Stone wasn’t worth much.

But Hu Yang had no intention of running off with the money. For the sake of that large Key Stone, the Phantom Tower was worth a trip. Besides the Fossil Maniac’s commission, he also had to resolve the matter concerning Gengar.

Seated on the bus to the Cable Car Station at Chimney Mountain, Hu Yang glanced at the jumble of items in his backpack: the orb sealing Gengar, a feather from Ho-Oh, a Gardevoirite, and a rough, unpolished Key Stone.

He had no intention of tackling the Fossil Maniac’s commission immediately, not until at least a year had passed, when Rose and Axew would have developed some fighting capability. Right now, Trumbeak was simply too unreliable.

Moreover, the Phantom Tower was located in a harsh desert environment. Trumbeak was powerful, but communication with it was impossible—without communication, there could be no adaptability. If he were captured by wild Pokémon, would Trumbeak attack or not? If it attacked, he’d be doomed alongside the wild Pokémon. If not, he’d be done in by the wild Pokémon.

Thinking of this, Hu Yang turned to Gengar sitting beside him and asked, “You still haven’t told me what dangers are in that ruin you mentioned.”

After months together, they were quite familiar now; Gengar had no need to keep secrets.

Gengar thought for a moment, then shook its head, “I don’t know. But my instincts tell me it’s very dangerous.”

Hu Yang was silent for a moment.

“Let me ask another way: Do you know what exactly is drawing you there?”

Gengar concentrated, trying to recall, but soon looked utterly confused.

Hu Yang sighed helplessly, “Alright, say no more, I get it. One last question: Do you know any way for you to come back to life?”

He couldn’t expect Gengar to remain in this state forever, could he?

Gengar was taken aback. “You want to revive me?”

Most people would wish it would disappear forever…

Hu Yang nodded sincerely. “Yes, I do.”

“Why? Do you want to catch me?” Gengar asked.

“Would you be willing to be caught by me?” Hu Yang replied.

“I…” Gengar’s mood grew gloomy. “I don’t think there’s a way for me to come back.”

So even Gengar didn’t know how to revive itself. Hu Yang pondered, then said, “Don’t be so pessimistic. We’ll find a way.”

First, he needed to figure out Gengar’s current situation—what exactly was going on.

As for humans in this world who understood Ghost-type Pokémon… images of the Ghost-type Elite Four Phoebe and the dominant Gengar in Orangewood Forest flashed through Hu Yang’s mind.

Maybe he could get some information from them.

As they talked, the bus arrived at the Chimney Mountain Cable Car Station. Hu Yang slung his backpack over his shoulder and took a deep breath before getting off.

The moment the doors opened, a biting cold wind whipped through.

Damn, it was freezing!

At that moment, Hu Yang desperately wished he had a small Fire-type Pokémon he could cuddle as a hand warmer.

This was the last bus from Autumn Leaf Town to Chimney Mountain.

The doors hadn’t yet closed when Hu Yang glanced back at the digital clock—it was already 7:30 PM.

Night had fallen, and as the bus rumbled off on its return journey, Hu Yang found himself alone.

Not far away, the cable car station glowed with a soft orange light in the darkness.

“Surely it doesn’t close at midnight,” he muttered to himself.

When he reached the station, the attendant was warming her hands around a steaming cup of tea, looking bored.

Few people came to take the cable car this late at night.

Seeing this, Hu Yang was relieved. He rummaged through his backpack for some cash and said, “One ticket, please!”

The woman in the blue uniform set her tea aside, accepted his money, and started up the cable car. “Are you a traveling trainer?” she asked as she worked.

Hu Yang nodded. “Something like that.”

“Here you go, hop in!” She opened the cable car door and smiled. “Good luck, Trainer. I hope to see you at the Evernight Conference someday.”

Trainers were highly admired in this world.

Hu Yang smiled back, “I will.”

The cable car doors slid shut, and the car glided along the ridge of Chimney Mountain toward the base on the other side.

Axew, Budew, and Trumbeak were all sleeping soundly in their Poké Balls, so Hu Yang didn’t let them out. Instead, he sat with Gengar, who was unaffected by the weather, gazing at the majestic Chimney Mountain outside the window.

Tonight was a rare clear night; not a cloud in the sky, only countless stars shimmering faintly above.

Under the starlit sky, Chimney Mountain seemed even more mysterious and imposing.

“It’s beautiful,” Hu Yang said.

“It is,” Gengar agreed.

Looking at Chimney Mountain, Hu Yang couldn’t help thinking of Groudon. He wondered whether the events involving Hoopa would occur in this world. If they did, he could secretly follow Groudon around and see how long it took to walk back to Hoenn.

Soon, the cable car arrived at the mountain’s base.

Twenty minutes later, he was at Magma Spring.

“Ah, this feels amazing!”

Warm steam billowed endlessly from the hot spring.

Hu Yang closed his eyes contentedly.

Trumbeak and Roselia were both unafraid of water, quickly adapting to the hot spring’s environment. But as soon as Axew, a land-dwelling dragon, touched the water, it reacted as if it had seen a ghost—its expression changed dramatically, and it thrashed about in panic.

Hu Yang was speechless.

He remembered that Dragon types weren’t supposed to be weak to water. Besides, the temperature wasn’t even that high.

Once back on land, he could see the relief on Axew’s face.

“Are you that scared?” Hu Yang asked curiously.

Axew nodded its small head, staring at the water with deep fear.

Hu Yang could see its terror was genuine. It wasn’t about type advantages, but a psychological fear.

He checked Axew’s information again.

[Species: Axew ♂]
Type: Dragon
Ability: Rivalry
Base stats: 320 (HP: 46, Attack: 87, Defense: 60, Special Attack: 30, Special Defense: 40, Speed: 57)
Known moves: Scratch, Leer, Bite, Dragon Rage, Double Chop
Current mood: Afraid (Axew nearly drowned as a hatchling; the terror of approaching death left an indelible mark on its heart)
Physical state: Perfect
Friendship: 30 (This young little dragon is slowly beginning to accept you)