Route 216

I fly as far north as Marcus will carry me. I’m dropped off just outside of Mt. Coronet. I’m afraid I can’t fly any further as it’s too cold for Marcus.

Running along the route becomes quite difficult in places as the snow is quite deep. I think I stepped on a pokemon hiding under the snow. Yep, it’s a snover. Pokeball go!

Snover: It’s… a frozen tree stump… with arms?

- Welcome to the bench, Ko'Dath!

Ko'Dath ♀ Lv. 32

Route 217

Travelling further north, the snow intensifies. It’s practically a blizzard by the time I reach a large snowfield. I trip over something that turns out to be an annoyed snorunt. Pokeball go!

Snorunt: Did someone shove an ice cream cone onto an oddish?

- Welcome to the bench, Draal!

Draal ♂ Lv. 33

Snowpoint City

- Uh… wasn’t there supposed to be a lake around here?

Maybe you took a wrong turn?

I decide to ask for directions in the nearest building I find. I quickly discover I walked into the gym.

Hello! I’m Candice, are you here to challenge me?

- Well… I kinda just want directions to the lake right now, please.

Hmm, I tell you what. I’ll give you directions to the lake if you beat me first!

- … Fine…

Let’s go!

Go Sneasel!

- Go Lennier!

- Drain punch!

Aerial ace!

Sneasel leaps at Lennier from above and brings it’s claws down on him, Lennier jabs sneasel in the face and drains life from it on contact.

Go Froslass!

- Psycho cut!

Double team!

Froslass generates illusions of itself, Lennier’s arm blade glows and he slashes at froslass.

- Aerial ace!

Shadow ball!

Froslass conjures a dark orb and flings it at Lennier. Lennier leaps up and darts at froslass, striking it with his arm blades. Froslass nibbles at a sitrus berry it had stashed away.

- Lennier return! Go Grace!

Psychic!

As Grace leaves her pokeball, she’s lifted into the air and flung into the arena wall behind me.

- Surf!

Double team!

Froslass makes more illusions of itself and Grace summons a tidal wave that sweeps across the arena and crashes down upon froslass.

Go Abomasnow!

As abomasnow enters the arena, hail begins to fall.

- Ice beam!

Wood hammer!

Grace fires a blue-white beam that strikes abomasnow. Abomasnow shakes it off and slams Grace on the head with it’s giant fist. It hits so hard it hurts them both.

Oops!

- Graaaaaace!!

- Go Sheridan!

- Dragon claw!

Avalanche!

- Sheridan strikes abomasnow across the face with his claws. Abomasnow summons an avalanche of snow that buries Sheridan and crushes him.

- NOO!

Dude, what the hell are you doing?!

- Marcus!

- Aerial ace!

Candice sprays a full restore on abomasnow and Marcus slams into it at high speed from above. Marcus is struck by falling hail.

- Aerial ace!

Avalanche!

Marcus flys around for another pass, slamming into abomasnow from above again. More hail hurts Marcus.

Go Piloswine!

- Close combat!

Stone edge!

Marcus pecks, scratches and claws at piloswine furiously. Piloswine summons a razor sharp rock from underground, it bursts through the floor and pins Marcus to the ceiling,

- NO NO NO!

Ouch, nasty…

- Lennier, finish this!

- Drain punch!

Earthquake!

Lennier punches piloswine in the snout and drains the last of it’s life.

Congratulations, I award you the Icicle Badge!

Thanks to the experience share, Cern is now evolving.

Cern Lv. 30

As for the directions: it’s just outside town. You’ll need to climb the ridge as there’s no path right now.

Lake Acuity

I waste no time and head directly for the lake, stumbling as I go from the pain. Eventually I reach the lake itself and find Barry half buried in snow.

C-C-Caldar… I w-w-wasn’t strong… enough…

I dig him out of the snow.

- What happened?

Th-they took the g-g-guardian…

I carry Barry back to the pokemon centre in Snowpoint and leave Kosh with him to warm him up.

- Where did they take the guardian?

Veilstone…

I take out some team memebers from the box and head to Mt. Coronet to train them up.

After a long training session I feel we’re strong enough to take on the galaxy group’s HQ.

Cern Lv. 40

Ko'Dath ♀ Lv. 40

Na'Toth ♀ Lv. 40

Refa ♂ Lv. 40

Lennier ♂ Lv. 41

Talia ♀ Lv. 40

Veilstone City

So you think you’ve won? You’ve demolished my headquarters, but no matter. I now have the tools to create my new universe!

- Those fancy glowstick chains you have there?

Get out of my way!

- Make me!

Get him, Sneasel!

- Talia, go!

- Flamethrower!

Screech!

Sneasel makes a loud screeching noise while Talia incinerates sneasel with her flamethrower.

Go Honchkrow!

- Talia return! Go Cern!

Drill peck!

Honchkrow bounces off of Cern as he leaves his pokeball.

- Thunderbolt!

Night shade!

Honchkrow hits Cern with a dark ray and Cern strikes honchkrow with a lightning bolt.

Go Crobat!

- Thunderbolt!

Bite!

Crobat breaks it’s teeth on Cern’s armour and Cern electrocutes crobat.

- Give it up!

Hey! Look there, behind you!

- Hm?

When I turn back to face Cyrus, he’s not there.

- I don’t see– oh…

I can’t believe you fell for that…