The Storm Approaches, First Encounter with Ash and His Group

Chapter 68 The Storm Approaches, First Encounter with Ash and His Friends

Riding Arcanine, we left Cinnabar Town and arrived at Cinnabar City in no time.

As an extremely fierce wind swept in, the already overcast sky was now filled with lightning and thunder, and a torrential downpour began.

Along the way, many pedestrians were seen running frantically in the rain because they hadn't brought umbrellas, searching for places to shelter from the wind and rain.

The Growlithe didn't stop, continuing to carry Natsuki and Sonia forward.

Rainy days do bring many problems, but Arcanine withstood them all.

It protected Xia Mu and Sonia with its body hair and used the heat emanating from its body to keep them as dry as possible.

It wasn't until they arrived at the passenger terminal at Crimson Lotus Island Port that Natsuki and Sonia quickly got off the Growlithe.

At this point, both of their clothes were somewhat wet, especially Sonia's long hair, which was sticking wetly to her face.

"Thank you, Arcanine." Having arrived at her destination safely, Sonia, disregarding her own condition, first expressed her gratitude to Arcanine for its protection.

At first, she thought Xia Mu was intentionally trying to take advantage of her.

It wasn't until the Growlithe started running that she realized she had misunderstood Natsuki and had been overthinking things.

"Woof!" Arcanine barked, indicating that you're welcome.

Xia Mu watched as Arcanine used its fire-type energy to dry its wet fur, and suddenly had an idea. He took the initiative to use the heat to dry his own hair and clothes.

After confirming that it was feasible, he looked at Sonia and asked her to dry her hair and clothes as well.

Otherwise, it would be bad if you caught a cold.

Arcanine was very cooperative, and this discovery opened up a whole new world for Natsuki. He couldn't help but think about how Arcanine could solve many small problems in his life when he went on trips and went on wilderness adventures.

"Phew~ That feels so much better. Arcanine is amazing." With the wet feeling gone, Sonia showered Arcanine with praise, making it bark with joy.

Xia Mu didn't say anything and was about to recall Arcanine when he saw four figures running quickly through the wind and rain.

Upon closer inspection, one cannot help but be drawn to it.

The people who arrived were Xiaozhi, Xiaogang, and Xiaoxia.

The reason there are four figures is that one of them is Pikachu.

The three of them breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the rooftop that provided shelter from the wind and rain.

Every now and then, a few complaints could be heard, undoubtedly about how quickly the weather was changing and how there wasn't enough time to find shelter from the rain.

Luckily, they weren't too far away, or they would have been soaked to the bone.

Natsuki never expected to meet Ash and his friends by such a coincidence.

Sometimes, fate is just that wonderful.

"Wow~ What a huge Arcanine, and what a handsome guy!" Suddenly, Misty's words drew everyone's attention to Arcanine and Natsuki.

This made Xia Mu a little embarrassed, but considering the other person's age, he readily accepted.

After all, judging from her appearance, she looks to be only twelve years old. According to the information in the original work, Xiaoxia seems to be only 10 years old, the same as Xiaozhi.

Xiao Gang, on the other hand, is more mature, but although he looks like an adult, he is actually only about fifteen years old.

"That little girl is calling you handsome, handsome." Sonia seemed to notice Xia Mu's embarrassment, nudged his arm with her elbow, and teased him.

Natsuki broke out in a cold sweat; Sonia's ability to cause trouble was truly unexpected.

Before he could answer, Xiao Gang suddenly rushed over and grabbed Sonia's hand. A classic scene from the original animation was playing out in front of Xia Mu. Xia Mu didn't know where Xiao Gang got the courage. He knew he would never do it; it would be too embarrassing.

"Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of meeting you? My name is Xiaogang, and my dream is to become the world's best Pokémon breeder. Currently... Ahhh! Ouch! Ouch! Let go..."

Xiaoxia grabbed Xiaogang's ear and pulled it away.

The scene was so dramatic that Natsuki would wonder how such a thing could happen if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

In short, it's all about letting things take their natural course.

It made Xia Mu feel like he had become a supporting character, and now he, Sonia, Arcanine, and Ash's group were all appearing on screen together.

"I'm really sorry, but my friend has a strange habit. Hello, my name is Ash, and I dream of becoming the world's number one Pokémon Master. This is my partner, Pikachu." Ash showed a maturity that Natsuki hadn't expected.

"Pikachu~!" The Pikachu beside him let out a familiar cry.

A flood of memories came over me.

Pikachu!

"It's okay, it's okay. My name is Sonia, nice to meet you," Sonia said with an awkward laugh.

Xia Mu then introduced himself: "My name is Xia Mu."

After some introductions, they had a basic understanding of each other.

Since Natsuki knew the original plot, he wasn't surprised by Ash and his friends' purpose. However, Sonia became even more excited after hearing it.

The group then walked together into the pier passenger terminal.

Of course, Arcanine was put into a Great Ball.

Upon entering the waiting hall of the passenger terminal, the vast space was filled with trainers, each accompanied by one or two Pokémon, though none of them were large; most were small and cute.

"It's really spectacular. It's like some kind of league tournament is being held here, and all the trainers here are here to become the strongest Pokémon trainer on the new island," Sonia exclaimed in astonishment.

"Many of them have challenged the gym before. Although it was just a brief encounter, I remember that some of them are quite strong and have obtained more than eight badges," Xia Mu said, looking around.

His words immediately surprised Xiao Zhi and his two companions.

"Is Natsuki also a Gym Leader?" Ash asked.

It seems that he gets excited when he encounters a powerful trainer and wants to battle and compete.

Xia Mu nodded slightly: "Yes, due to some special reasons, I've been acting as the Crimson Lotus Gym Leader for the past two days."

"Cinnabar City Gym, huh? I remember the original gym leader was Mr. Blaine. I beat him a while ago and got the Crimson Badge. Has he retired?" Ash had challenged the Cinnabar City Gym not long ago, hence the question.

Xia Mu couldn't very well not answer: "No, it's just that Grandpa is getting old, and there have been a lot of challengers lately, so I became his agent..."

During the exchange, it was clear that his presence had also attracted the attention of some trainers.

Because many trainers challenged the Cinnabar Gym in the past two days, they knew Natsuki's identity and recognized his strength even more.

The bolder people would come over and greet them directly, while the vast majority of people would simply smile and nod in response.

Xia Mu didn't care.

If others respect him, he will naturally reciprocate that respect.

Xia Mu also met Xiao Tian and Ali, as well as some Pokémon trainers from Round Island.

These people all knew Xia Mu. After a brief chat, the port manager, Boyijia, took the initiative to bring people over.

Xia Mu, along with Sonia, Boydja, and Officer Jenny, entered the conference room.

The conference room was now packed with people, including many high-ranking officials from Crimson Lotus Island, port administrators, special envoys from the Alliance, and even the old captain Nott.

Xia Mu and Sonia arrived and were immediately treated with great care.

After all, Xia Mu's status is what it is. Sonia came with Xia Mu, and as a researcher from the Galar region, she naturally has a certain status and position.

"Gentlemen, the situation is extremely urgent. If it weren't for this storm, we wouldn't have been able to stop these Pokémon trainers from taking the risk. But now it's different. If we go out to sea in this stormy weather, no one can guarantee that everything will go smoothly. Even Captain Nott said it would be best to stop the ferry. So I implore you all to put aside all interests and agree with my proposal. After all, if an accident happens, it could mean hundreds or thousands of lives, and no one can be held responsible..." As Boija explained, everyone's expressions turned serious.

Boija is the port's highest-ranking administrator, and this matter is of great importance, so she dares not be careless in the slightest.

Now that everyone is here, she is announcing that this matter must come to an end and that all ships must cease sailing.

"But if we stop the ferry, what will happen to the trainers outside? These people probably won't leave easily; they might even cause trouble."

"In my opinion, we should wait and see how things go before making a decision, since storms sometimes come and go quickly."

"With so many tickets already sold, refunding them all would be a hassle. We need to recalculate and consider this carefully."

"I don't think there's any need for careful consideration. Life is more important than anything else. As the Alliance's official envoy stationed on Crimson Lotus Island, I support Miss Boya's proposal."

"I also support Boija on behalf of the Union Police. Stopping the ferry service and allowing boats to go out to sea again after the storm is the best course of action."

"Since both Commissioner A-Lian and Miss Officer Jenny have said so, then we..."

……

As the meeting progressed, various issues came to the forefront.

Ultimately, the final solution was determined under the advocacy of the league officials.

As for the possibility of uncontrollable situations arising later, it will require the cooperation of the police and local gym leaders to suppress them.

As the acting gym leader, this task fell to Xia Mu.

Xia Mu was still feeling a bit overwhelmed when he left the meeting room.

Sonia stayed by Xia Mu's side and understood what pained him.

"Do you think we can control these trainers?" Sonia leaned against the second-floor railing, looking down at the trainers in the hall.

Xia Mu shook his head: "Those who are weaker and less courageous are easier to fool, but those who are strong and have a strong desire to explore are unstoppable. At least if it were me, no one could stop me."

"Then what do we do? Go to the new island again?" Sonia blinked her big, bright eyes and asked again.

Xia Mu pretended to think for a moment before speaking, "Let's wait and see. If things get out of control, then we'll have to go."

Sonia glanced at Xia Mu's handsome face. "But how are we going to get there without a boat?"

"Of course, we'll use Water-type Pokémon. I've observed that many trainers here have Water-type and Flying-type Pokémon that can carry people," Xia Mu said with a smile.

This can be considered as telling Sonia in advance what will happen later in the story.

……

More than half an hour had passed, and the storm outside had not only not subsided, but had become even more terrifying.

The weather warning center also sent the latest report, forcibly requiring the port to prevent any ships from going out to sea.

Upon receiving the message, Officer Jenny led the police to relay it to all trainers in the area, ensuring that everyone was informed that the authorities were forcing them to stay away from the sea.

However, despite this, there will still be troublemakers who stand up, especially trainers with great strength.

Xiaotian and Ali were among them, and Xia Mu even saw Kong Nan and Hai Nan, who had successfully landed on the island in the original work.

"Huh? The ferry has stopped? Why?"

"So we can't go to New Island?"

"Are you kidding me? How are we supposed to get across?"

"So, what do we do now?"

……

For a time, there was a constant noise and commotion.

With so many Pokémon trainers gathered together, even if they speak in hushed tones, each person's single sentence would create a chaotic wave of sound.

"Please be quiet, everyone. This is the port manager. She will explain the situation to you." Officer Jenny said, trying to calm the trainers down.

At the same time, introduce Boija, who is coming from behind, to all the trainers.

"I am Boija. If you want to know about the sea, go ask the gulls in the harbor! But there's probably no need for that. Just listen to the wind and you'll know how dangerous the sea is. Even I have never seen such a terrible storm in my life." As Boija spoke, all the trainers were startled.

Even the police officers couldn't help but look out through the transparent glass.

The scene at sea was terrifying; lightning struck from time to time, and if you were struck, you would surely die.

"Even I, who grew up in the port, have never experienced a storm like this. And it's not just what you see on the surface; this storm is looming over the new island, where the situation is only going to be worse."

"My conscience won't allow me to let you all take risks, so I urge you not to act recklessly. It is my duty to protect the port and your safety."

As Boyd finished speaking, Officer Jenny chimed in, "So all the ferries today have been cancelled to ensure everyone's safety. We understand your feelings, so if anyone still wants to go to the new island afterward, the port will arrange boats to take you there free of charge. For tickets already purchased, in addition to a full refund, you will also receive some compensation."

The crowd was in an uproar, but most of the trainers were simply there for the spectacle, lacking real skill.

Upon hearing that there would be compensation, they immediately quieted down.

However, this does not represent all people.

"It's alright, my Pokémon can carry me through the storm. No matter what, I'm going to the new island," said the slightly chubby Seaman.

"Absolutely not! Even large ships can't cross the sea, so no matter how good your Pokémon is at swimming, it won't make it across." Upon hearing this, Boijia immediately waved her hand to stop her.

Officer Jenny quickly chimed in, "Furthermore, if your Pokémon get injured during an adventure, they won't be able to receive treatment at the Pokémon Center in Cinnabar City for the time being."

"What does this mean?" Xiao Zhi asked, having somehow squeezed to the front of the crowd.

"That's because Nurse Joy from the Pokémon Center went missing not long ago. Without Nurse Joy, Pokémon can't be healed. Actually, there are missing person notices posted over there." Officer Jenny said, pointing to the area with the missing person notices.

Upon hearing this, some people were still in a daze, while others already knew the general situation.

The situation has been brought under control for the time being.

However, this is only temporary.

Most people are afraid and therefore won't take the risk, but a small number of people still can't resist taking the risk.

Just like the original story says, if someone doesn't take risks, is he still a Pokémon Trainer?

Because of the police presence, no one could leave and they had to stay and wait for an opportunity.

From the second floor, Xia Mu witnessed everything that was happening.

It's fair to say that adults can effectively coax and intimidate a group of children.

"Why do I see such a malicious look on your face?" Sonia asked curiously.

"Is it that obvious?" Xia Mu was a little embarrassed and touched his chin.

"What do you think? You're so calm, anyone would be suspicious, okay? You didn't do anything when the riot broke out down there, as if you had already guessed it. Why do I feel like you've been scheming all along? Tell me, did you foresee these things happening all along?" Sonia's analysis impressed Xia Mu. She was indeed a smart woman.

"It's actually very simple. The trainers here are all quite young. The younger kids will be intimidated with just a little intimidation and won't dare to do anything reckless," Xia Mu said.

Upon hearing this, Sonia nodded as if she understood: "So you're sure the riots won't last and will subside quickly?"

Xia Mu nodded: "That's true for now, but unexpected things will happen. As I said before, those trainers who have been traveling for many years and are a bit older believe they have Pokémon that can cross the sea, so they will act soon."

"For example, the chubby boy who spoke the loudest just now, and the few people next to him," Xia Mu said, pointing to the special few people.

This also includes Xiaotian.

Sweetie, who exudes an adventurous spirit, is clearly acquainted with both Sora and Umi.

So, since both Sora and Umi went, she definitely didn't want to fall behind. That's how she was in the original work, becoming the first super strong woman in the original anime.

"Shouldn't we stop them?" Sonia looked at Xia Mu, suddenly finding her plans somewhat incomprehensible.

Knowing full well that the other party is about to do something reckless, yet doing nothing to stop them, isn't that just waiting for them to make their move?

……

(End of this chapter)