Cerise: an investigation?
Goh: right! This guy we know, Hodge, contacted us. He's from a place in the Hoenn region.
Ash: we became friends during the battle frontier flute cup.
Cerise: what's the investigation?
(Y/N): something to do with an absol or something?
Goh: his uncle owns a hot spring resort, the hot water suddenly just went away.
Ash: you see here it is. (Shows picture of it)
Cerise: it just stopped?
Goh: yup and about the same time someone apparently saw absol.
(Ren and Chrysa quickly turn around)
Chrysa: are you serious!
Goh: supposedly absol made the springs dry up, at least that's what the rumour is.
Rotom phone: absol, the disaster Pokemon, a dark type. Absol appears when it senses a disaster is about to happen. As a result people mistake it for a catastrophic omen.
Ash: so they want us to investigate absol!
(Y/N): it's been a long time since I've seen an absol (remembers his own absol)
Goh: they use to call absol the Pokemon that brings disaster. It seems there are people who still believe it, it's a superstition.
Ash: so I was thinking we go and see what's up, right.
(Goh nods)
(Y/N): justice for absol!... Unless it's directly causing the problem and not by the superstition shenanigans.
Cerise: sounds exciting. Then I think you three should go out and help your friend Hodge.
(Y/N): I know who I'm bringing today.
(Timeskip: Lavaridge town in Hoenn where they meet up with Hodge who's on Hariyama)
Hodge: hey!
Ash: it's Hodge!
Goh: long time no see.
(Y/N): good to see you still in good spirits.
Hodge: good to see you guys, Goh you've brought along quite a Pokémon.
Goh: say hi to Grookey.
(Y/N): say hi to my Pokémon too! (We see him send out marshtomp, Tropius, zigzagoon, pupitar and nincada)
(A/N): I know pupitar isn't from gen 3 but from gen 2 but I really wanted to bring it since it's been awhile
Hodge: hello marshtomp. Tropius. Zigzagoon. Nincada. grookey nice to meet ya too. (Bends down to offer a handshake to grookey as he tries leaning over more as grookey takes his hand as he falls off)
Hodge: that didn't hurt (combs his hair) I didn't feel a thing.
Ash: I'm so glad you and hariyama are doing great
(Y/N): how's mightyena?
(We cut away to them inspecting the town as (Y/N) has returned them all except for marshtomp)
Ash: everything's all closed up, huh.
Hodge: it's awful right, nobody can use the hot springs which means no more tourists.
Goh: well that can't be good for a tourist spot.
Hodge: the whole team, including is blaming this hot spring mess on absol and boy are they angry.
Goh: isn't that superstition.
Hodge: I'll show you, come on.
(They arrive to this monument)
Ash: what's this?
Hodge: according to my uncle it's a monument that's been here since ancient times.
ash: that's absol?
Hodge: starting long ago, whenever every time absol would appear the then would experience disaster. They say this monument was put here as a warning for future generations. (Sees another part of the monument) Just take a look over there, it looks like absol appeared when the hot springs dried up back then.
Ash: so that's why they're convinced absol caused it?
Hodge: I don't really get it but my uncle and the towns people are mad. I thought if I talked to you we could somehow figure it all out.
Goh: you know Hodge, you're a good guy.
Hodge: (blushing) keep it to yourself.
(They walk to a building)
Hodge: here's the inn my uncle runs.
(Hodge, Ash and Pikachu, Goh and Grookey and (Y/N) and marshtomp open the door to see people with brooms and nets)
Hodge: uncle what are you doing!
Hodge's uncle: if it isn't Hodge. We're taking acre of this absol problem once and for all. Come along.
Hodge: once and for all!
Old man: we can't take it anymore!
Hodge's uncle: we'll make sure absol doesn't mess with the town's peace ever again!
(He rides his fist into the air as the other townsfolk join him)
Ash: hey wait a second!
(Y/N): Hodge, your uncle is so not cool.
Hodge's uncle: who are these guys?
Hodge: Ash, (Y/N) and Goh are friends of mine. Grookey, marshtomp and Pikachu too. I asked them to help investigate.
Hodge's uncle: really (approaches closer) ha! These kids don't look like they'd be any help at all.
Goh: what!
Hodge's uncle: but sure it never hits to have more people around, come along with us.
Goh: it's possible absol appeared to warn you something bad was gonna happen. Messing with it will be a gigantic mistake!
(Y/N): he's right! I'd know because I have an absol as a friend that I caught!
Hodge's uncle: some nerve you've got.
Old man: you have no idea!
Other old person: if you've got proof! Bring it on!
(Y/N): here! (Shows him the phone where it has pictures of him and his absol)
Other old person: not proof for that! For if absol was coming to warn us!
(Y/N):...
Other old person:...
(Y/N): (nodding his head) makes sense.
Hodge's uncle: are you kids trying to throw a wrench in what we're trying to do!
Goh: we're asking for time! We're here to investigate and find out the real reason.
Ash: what if you're wrong and absol is innocent.
(Y/N): old people with their stupid superstitions from ancient times.
Hodge: so come on give them a chance, these three are really smart when it comes to knowing about Pokémon
Hodge's uncle: (stares at them before looking away) you've got 2 hours, if you can't figure it out by then, that's it.
(The three of Ash, Goh and (Y/N) nod to each other)
(They check the dried up hot spring)
Ash: not a drop of water
Goh: so Hodge when did the hot springs start to dry up.
Hodge: probably around two weeks ago or so. My uncle saw absol in the mountains just as the water suddenly started cooling off and before long, the water stopped completely)
Goh: (checks his phone) so the water in lavaridge town comes from a spring in mt. Chimney
Hodge: that's right, it's coming from a spot in the mountains and is brought here by some sort of pipe. All the towns people are scared of absol so they haven't gone anywhere near the water source.
Goh: the fact that it went lukewarm first makes me wonder... Ash, (Y/N) why don't we go see for ourselves if we can discover any other clues.
Ash: okay.
(Y/N): obviously I won't allow absol to get framed like this.
Hodge: in the meantime I'll try to get my uncle to listen to reason (combing his hair) I'll let him know there is better things to do with his time.
Ash: sounds like a good idea.
Hodge: don't worry, I've got this.
(A/N): I really like Hodge, especially lately, I'm glad we got to see him again and I'm kinda hoping we see him even more.
Goh: (looking at a map) with only a single path leading up to mt. Chimney there's no way we're ever going to get lost
(Y/N): you say that but I know a guy named Zoro, who had a kabutops as his partner and if you gave him even a map with a destination where he only has to go straight even if it's a couple of minutes he'll somehow get off the path and get lost but with us that shouldn't happen.
(They are on the path)
Ash, this is getting kinda fun.
(We see grookey swinging from tree to tree and we see marshtomp has been swapped for zigzagoon as they travel more up the path Pikachu and grookey mess about as does zigzagoon but it's also sneakily eating berries from nearby bushes it goes past as well)
Ash: this is pretty steep.
Goh: sure is.
(Y/N): it's good we don't have it easy though we can challenge and better ourselves.
(They reach a certain point up ahead)
Goh: finally, it looks like we're almost up there.
(Suddenly a white blur goes by grookey as standing there is absol)
Ash: it's absol.
(Y/N): careful, we need to see it's intentions first.
(We see absol jumps in the air and it's horn glows and fires an attack, this being razor wind)
(Y/N): watch out!
(Grookey is hit and sent back)
Goh: are you alright! (Picks grookey up) what did you do that for.
(Y/N): (talking to himself) we're doing something wrong but what? What's it protecting and stopping us?
(Absol fires more razor winds as they dodge as branches are cut up and they're narrowly missing grookey as trees are cut from their places as grookey is clung to one of those said trees and is unable to battle)
Goh: grookey! Are you alright. (Picks up the unconscious monkey and returns it to it's pokeball) take a rest for awhile.
(Y/N): zigzaoon use tackle!
(Zigzagoon uses tackle as absol dodges and dodges again as zigzagoon rebounds of a tree)
(Y/N): pin missile!
(Zigzagoon uses pin missile as absol dodges them too and fires a razor wind that cuts through any pin missiles it touches and hits zigzagoon causing it to be unable to battle)
(Y/N): damn, it's strong too. Zigzagoon return! (Returns zigzaoon) you did good for someone who mainly eats and for a 2nd ever battle,
(Absol flees)
Ash: so absol got away. Oh man.
Goh: what would make absol suddenly attack us out of nowhere like that, any ideas (Y/N)?
(Y/N): I've got three theories based on absol's reaction. 1. It's trying to drive us away to protect us, 2. It's protecting something important to it or 3. Which is very unlikely based on the reactions absol gave but that's it has a grudge against humans. We'll have to find out more if we ant to figure it out.
Ash: what do we do?
Goh: we have no choice. We have to find another route.
(They are climbing up a steep part)
Ash: hang on a second.
(They slide down somehwre and make a discovery)
Ash: it's the pipe!
Goh: we just need to follow it and it'll lead us right to the spring!
(They make it to a more snowy part)
Goh: there it is!
Ash: thank goodness, what a hike,
(They check that it's all frozen)
Ash: woah it's frozen solid
Goh: this must be the reason the water stopped flowing.
Ash: but why would the water freeze over?
Goh: well no matter the weather hot spring water won't freeze, that's because it's heated and pushed to the surface by underground magma.
Ash: so that must mean something happened underground. Hm? But how are we going to get down there to investigate it.
(Y/N): got ya covered.
Goh: thought this might happen.
Goh/(Y/N): quick let's go!
(Go sends out trapinch and (Y/N) sends out nincada)
(Y/N): looks like the work of an ice type of two or just really bad snowy, cold weather.
Goh: now trapinch time to use dig!
(Y/N): you help out by burrowing into the ground nincada
(Both Pokémon dig down)
Goh: nice digging.
(Y/N): you too nincada.
(It suddenly stops)
Goh: trapinch? Hey! What's going on down there!
(We see nincada leap up into (Y/N) clinging onto him shivering as trapinch climbs up shivering too)
Goh: sorry trapinch, must have been really cold (returns it)
(Y/N): take a nice warm rest (returns nincada)
(Goh picks up a piece of the soil)
Goh: it's frozen, something is really weird here.
(The cold picks up as they feel it)
Ash: so cold!
Goh: I don't think I've ever been this cold!
(Y/N): me either!
(It stops as we see a glalie come out a nearby hole)
Goh: what is that!
Ash: is that a glalie?
(Y/N): how come I can only ever see glalie in Hoenn, not even a trainer who I meet outside of Hoenn has one.
(Glalie looks angry)
Rotom phone: glalie, the face Pokémon, an ice type. Glalie's body is made of ice so hard even fire won't melt it. It can instantly freeze the humidity of the air
(It fires ice shards at them)
Ash: Pikachu use electroweb.
(Y/N): come on out my friend and use stone edge!
(Pikachu uses electroweb as pupitar is sent out and uses stone edge as electroweb blocks the ice shards and the stone edge hits the glalie but then it uses blizzard as we see them retreating with (Y/N) carrying pupitar as they shelter by some rocks)
Ash: that's freezing. Okay Pikachu this time-
Goh: wait a minute.
Ash: how come?
Goh: do you think it's glalie responsible for all the ice?
(Y/N): not on it's own, I don't even think Glacia's glalie could do that and she probably has one of, if not, the strongest non mega glalie out of any trainer. I'd know because when I battled her to test my strength her glalie destroyed my team.
Goh: It might have friends nearby, let's lay low and follow it.
(Glalie looks around but it can't see them as it goes back and they sneak up slowly as they watch the glalie enter and shout out as two more glalie appear and a snorunt)
Ash: hey it's a snorunt.
Goh: so it did have friends nearby.
Rotom phone: snorunt, the snow hat Pokémon, an ice type. Snorunt can only live in frozen conditions, it survives by eating ice.
(We see the snorunt and the glalie happy together)
Ash: hey maybe snorunt got lost and wound up here.
(Y/N): (to Goh) that explains the ice.
Goh: yeah. This mountain is way too warm for snorunt to stay, that must be why they froze everything so snorunt could live there.
Ash: so if we do something about the glalie the hot springs will warm up.
Goh: and in that case it means catching Pokémon.
(Y/N): I really want a snorunt now.
(Absol appears and blocks them)
Goh: it's absol.
(Y/N): I see. (Puts pokeball away) there I won't catch them.
(We see the glalie and snorunt disappear inside the cave as absol tries to slash at them but they dodge)
Goh: what are you getting in the way for absol! We finally understand what happened here!
(Absol is stationary and looks at them, standing it's ground as it runs away)
Goh: I wonder why absol keeps attacking us?
Ash: it probably has a reason.
Goh: you know Ash, I wanna believe in absol. I feel just like you two do but I...
Ash: the look in absol's eyes.
(Y/N): (grins) I know one thing, it doesn't have a grudge against humans I can tell that leaving option 1 or 2.
Ash: (gasps) I wonder if absol has come out all the way out here to try and warn us about something.
(Goh begins to use his phone)
Hodge: hey there Goh, it hasn't been easy here. Have you figured anything out yet?
Goh: yeah, the reason the hot spring stopped is several glalie are living here and froze the hot water solid.
Hodge: that's unbelievable. So it wasn't absol after all
Goh: about that. There's something I'd like to ask you, okay?
Hodge: no prob. What's up?
Goh: I want you to check if the same thing happening now is drawn on that stone monument we saw earlier.
Hodge: I'll get right on it right away. (Hangs up) sorry uncle, I'll talk to ya later. (Heads off) I've gotta do something.
Hodge's uncle: hm.
(With the trio)
Ash: what's up Goh? Why did you ask Hodge to do that?
(Y/N): yeah, how come?
Goh: I think there are several disasters absol was warning us about that are carved into that monument and if one of them happens to match the situation we're investigating now.
Ash: maybe that'll help us understand what absol has been trying to tell us all along, you know.
Goh: that's right.
(Y/N): not a bad idea, I must say Goh.
(Goh's phone rings)
Goh: hello?
Hodge: Goh, bingo. There's a picture of the source of the hot spring freezing over. Hm?
Goh: what's up?
Hodge: I don't really get it, it's next to a carving of the mountain erupting, do you think it happened at the same time?
Goh: thank you so much Hodge!
Ash: what was that about?
Goh: I'm pretty sure what absol was trying to tell us is this (flicks through his phone and brings up an article)
Ash: an eruption!
(Y/N): that's not good.
Goh: 300 years ago some glalie got lost and they frozen over the hot springs then when the ice heated back up it let off a ton of steam which then erupted. When there's a whole lot of steam underground the pressure can really build up, ya know. Think of it like when you shake up a carbonated drink and the gas expands until...
(Y/N): it bursts open and shoots off like a geyser.
Ash: woah that's really bad!
Goh: as soon as the ice melts the very same thing could happen again
Ash: and that's why absol got in the way when you tried to catch the glalie!
(Y/N): so absol was protecting everyone! Us, the townspeople and the Pokémon. This absol is so cool! And a lot like mine actually.
Goh: yeah. We've still got time!
Ash: what was that!
(We see steam erupting from the side of the mountain)
Goh: a burst of steam! The beginning of the eruption!
(Y/N): we need to go now! (Sends out Tropius and hops on as it begins to fly)
(They rush over)
(Timeskip: they make it as they see (Y/N) and Tropius just landing down best to them)
(Y/N): that was a lot harder ot see up there than I thought.
Ash: hey Goh, you said we'd stop the eruption but how can we do it?
Goh: we break up the rocks and let the steam escape
Ash: right, got it!
Goh: cinderace go!
(Y/N): you two aswell marshtomp and nincada! (Sends the two out)
Goh: pyro ball let's go!
(Cinderace fires a pyro ball test hits the rock but it does nothing)
(Y/N): nincada scratch! Tropius leaf storm! Marshtomp rock smash!
(We see the attacks hit as the scratch does nothing and rock smash and leaf storm hit it and damage it slightly but no major damage)
Ash: Pikachu use thunderbolt!
(Thunderbolt does nothing)
Ash: those rocks are really tough!
Goh: try again!
(Y/N): on it!
Ash: Pikachu use thunderbolt!
Goh: cinderace use pyro ball!
(Y/N): marshtomp rock smash! Tropius headbutt! Nincada false swipe!
(We see the thunderbolt and pyro ball connect and then the three other Pokémon hit their attacks but the rock still stands)
Ash: it didn't work.
(Y/N): we need a Pokémon who's got really good cutting capabilities.
(They near absol)
(Y/N): perfect timing absol!
Goh: it's absol!
(Absol uses razor wind as it goes for them but redirects to the rock as it does it more)
Ash: you wanna help too?
Goh: yeah.
(Y/N): now, now Goh we all know rhetorical questions don't need answering.
Ash: alright Pikachu use thunderbolt!
Goh: cinderace use pyro ball!
(Y/N): use leaf storm Tropius! Marshtomp rock smash! Nincada use false swipe full power!
(They all go in to attack the rock over and over as absol finishes it with a big razor wind as the rock cracks)
Ash: yes!
Goh: that's not working fast enough.
(More stew, begins emitting as absol is tired out but leaps down and charges at the rock)
Ash: Absol!
Goh: Now what?
(Y/N): (grins) let us help him Tropius headbutt, marshtomp rock smash again, nincada use false swipe!
(Absol runs at it and headbutts it with its head, not using a move as (Y/N)'s Pokémon back it up with their attacks as the rock cracks more and breaks)
Ash: they did it!
(Y/N): no. That was mainly absol who did the most damage there. Sure we put dents in but the big crack formed and the way it broke came from the spot absol headbutted.
(Splashes of hot steam come out until we see a hole where the steam shoots out like a geyser heading straight for absol and the Pokemon)
(Y/N): return quick! (Quickly returns all his Pokémon back into their pokeballs)
Goh: absol! (Throws a pokeball at absol who's about to covered in boiling dangerously hot steam as the pokeball hits and absol enters inside the pokeball as we see a bright red Pokeball that is steaming hot land andshake three times and ping meaning absol is caught)
Rotom phone: absol has been registered to your Pokédex.
(Cinderace kicks the pokeball over to Goh who catches it in his hands and sends absol out)
Goh: absol I'm so glad you're okay. The steam has been let off safely and things are calming down
Ash: so no eruption
Goh: this should make things normal again. (Looks at absol) thanks so much for warning us about the danger absol, I'm sure you've got to go.
(Absol looks at Goh)
Goh: wha-what's going on? You don't mean... there's another disaster!
(Y/N): (laughs) absol respects you, ya dingus.
(Absol puts its head down and knocks Goh's pokeball out his hand and onto the ground where it presses it and goes inside the pokeball)
Ash: absol is just letting you know it's glad you caught it.
(Y/N): that act of bravery to protect it really connected with absol, so it wants to be your friend.
(Goh bends down and picks up the pokeball)
Goh: you mean you'll come with me?
(The ball glistens)
Ash: Goh that's amazing.
(Y/N): another good and strong friend you've made today.
Goh: absol let's be good friends
(Timeskip: in the hot springs where we see Ash, Pikachu, grookey, cinderace, Goh, marshtomp, zigzaoon, Tropius and (Y/N) as we see nincada on the land next to (Y/N))
Goh: man the hot water feels so good.
Ash: man it doesn't get any better than this.
Goh: the water temperature is perfect.
(Y/N): so pristine and divine, what you'd expect from Lavaridge town spring water
(We see grookey enjoying it and splashing about)
Goh: you know grookey I'm so glad you're feeling better.
Hodge: thanks alot guys. Cos of your help the hot springs are back to normal, soon we'll take the glalie and snorunt to a much colder place, I'm sure mt. Chimney is not ideal for them at all.
(We see the glalie and snorunt chilling in a hot spring that's completely frozen over)
Goh: that's the right thing to do.
(Y/N): I like to hear that.
Ash: so how'd the talk with your uncle go? They're done blaming absol right?
Hodge: it's kinda funny you should bring that up. My uncle always has a way of uh...
(We see his uncle crouched down)
Hodge's uncle: I have to apologise.
Goh: with...
Ash: cold water.
(Y/N): talk about an ice bucket challenge, that's ice made by the glalie.
Hodge: the thing is since the glalie went through all of that he wants to freeze himself too.
Goh: but... why?
Hodge's uncle: I didn't understand what you and absol were trying to do. Since you did everything you could to save our town if I don't apologise it'll haunt me forever. Would you please forgive me! (Splashes himself) we made such a mistake! Thank you for everything!
(We see he's now shivering and cold)
Goh: you can stop now! We totally understand how you feel!
Ash: please get into the hot spring.
(Y/N): if you want our forgiveness all we ask is to not believe every superstition as some can be misleading, I guess you're kinda cool after all but not as cool as Hodge.
Hodge: (blushing) hey stop it.
(We see them all in the hot spring)
Hodge: you feeling better now?
Hodge's uncle: oh yeah does heart good to know it's all hot water under the bridge if you catch my drift
Ash/Goh: huh?
(Y/N): that's a good one.
Hodge: (sweatdrops) my uncle likes to tell a lot of dad jokes, so humour him okay.
(Y/N): (gives thumbs up and grinning) even the driest and most basic of humour can be effective
Goh: I get it! Water under the bridge!
Ash: huh? Wish I did.
(Y/N): (chuckling) so naive.
(They all laugh as hariyama thrusts it's hand forwards hitting Hodge's uncle in the back of the head)
Hodge's uncle: hey that hurt! Not really (laughs as they all continue laughing and having fun as the people of Lavaridge town and Hodge and his uncle wave goodbye to the trio as they leave)