Meeting Harrison

fter reuniting Larvitar with her mother, the gang was now heading to Silver Town. Along the way, they noticed a crowd of people outside a very large gate. Ash asked someone in the crowd what was going on and the person explained that everyone was waiting for the torch of the Silver Conference. Another person explained that they were at the Ho-Oh shrine and the running of the torch started here. Those words caused the gang to become excited.

"Can we see the torch too?" Tomo asked.

"Of course we can." Ash replied. "There's no way I would miss the running of the Johto League torch; especially since we ran carrying the flame for the Indigo League remember?"

Tomo, Misty and Brock did remember that and so they all agreed to watch the running of the flame.

Everyone waited and waited for the torch running to start, but so far nothing was happening.

"I hope the runner is okay." Ash said. "I don't think it would take this long for them to start the run."

Just then a man came out of the gates.

"I'm very sorry everyone." The man apologized. "But due to unforeseen circumstances the torch will take a bit longer to start."

The crowd started to groan because they didn't like waiting.

"Something must be wrong if we're being asked to wait a little bit longer." Brock said.

"Let's find out what's wrong." Ash told the others.

The gang asked the guard of the shrine what was going on and he led them into the shrine. The guard explained there was a issue at the shrine.

"If there's a problem, I can help." A voice said.

The voice came from a trainer around Brock's age with a Houndoom by his side. The trainer said his name was Harrison and he was from Littleroot Town in the Hoenn Region. The gang introduced themselves to Harrison and also told him that they were from Kanto.

The gang explained that the torch and runners were ready, but the flame from the torch wasn't ready.

"The truth is, our flame is actually from the legendary Ho-Oh." The guard said. "And there's a legend about it too."

The legend was that a long time ago there was a terrible war in the area and both Pokemon and humans were injured in the war. After the war was over the land became a wasteland because of all the fighting and then Ho-Oh appeared. Ho-Oh blew it's flame at all the human's weapons ending the war. After that the land was lifeless, but because of Ho-Oh's ashes the land started to come back to life and soon the land was back to what it was before as peace reigned. But one flame of Ho-Oh remained on a tree and the people called it the sacred flame.

"They built this shrine to worship Ho-Oh, which is why it is called the Ho-Oh Shrine. And the sacred flame has stayed in the shrine ever since."

"Wow, what a story." Ash said. "And I thought it was only the Tin Tower and Burned Tower in Ecruteak City that were places to worship Ho-Oh."

"We learn new stories about the Johto Region's legendary Pokemon all the time." Brock commented.

The guard showed Harrison and the gang the staircase that led to the shrine where the sacred flame was kept.

"We can't seem to get the flame because a wild Sneasel is guarding the shrine." The guard explained.

Ash looked Sneasel up on the Pokedex.

"Sneasel, the Sharp Claw Pokemon. It's paws conceal sharp claws. If attacked, it suddenly extends the claws and startles it's enemy."

"Excellent." Harrison said. "I want to capture a Sneasel and this is my chance."

The guard explained that Sneasel attacks everyone who gets close to the shrine, because it made the place it's territory. And to make matters worse Sneasel had a Machop and Machoke with it.

"If we don't get that flame soon, we will never be able to start the Silver Conference." The guard said.

"I'll help get that flame." Ash said.

Ash had no intention of letting anything ruin the competition, especially since he and his Pokemon had worked too hard to enter it. Tomo, Misty and Brock offered to help too as did Harrison; he wished to capture the Sneasel.

Harrison and the gang went to the stairs leading to the shrine. As soon as they reached the top, they met up with Machop and Machamp. Tomo sent his Smoochum out to battle; he knew Smoochum was also a psychic type Pokemon and she had learned some psychic type moves.

"Use Psychic on Machop." He ordered.

Smoochum's eyes glowed blue and then she fired a psychic blast of energy from her hands at Machop and it was badly injured. Harrison told his Houndoom to use Flamethrower on Machamp.

While Machop and Machamp were distracted, Ash made his way to the shrine to grab the sacred flame. But then he was nearly scratched by Sneasel.

"So you're the troublesome Sneasel huh?" He said. "Well, you're not getting in my way of reclaiming the sacred flame."

He sent Typhlosion out to battle.

"Typhlosion use Flamethrower." Typhlosion released a stream of fire at Sneasel, but it dodged the attack and then scratched Typhlosion with Slash.

"Man that Sneasel is fast." Ash said.

Harrison, Tomo, Misty and Brock showed up; they had defeated Machop and Machamp.

"You okay Ash?" Harrison asked.

"Yes, but this Sneasel is trickier than we thought." Ash replied.

"All right, leave the rest to me Ash." Harrison said.

He told Sneasel that he was going to capture it, and then he released a red, yellow and white Pokemon from it's Poke Ball. Harrison informed them it was a Blaziken and it was his starter Pokemon.

"That Pokemon is probably from the Hoenn Region." Brock deduced.

Ash was excited to see another Pokemon from the Hoenn Region. Harrison ordered his Blaziken to use Quick Attack and Blaziken tackled Sneasel really hard. Sneasel fought back with Shadow Ball, but Blaziken dodged it.

"Okay Blaziken, Flamethrower." Harrison said.

Blaziken produced a stream of fire from his mouth that hit Sneasel and did serious damage to it since it's part ice type.

"Finish it off with Fire Punch." Harrison instructed.

Blaziken punched Sneasel really hard while it's hand was covered in fire and Sneasel fainted after being hit by the attack. Harrison tossed a Poke Ball at Sneasel and captured it.

Ash congratulated Harrison for his capture and then went to the shrine to get the sacred flame. Inside was a stone statue of Ho-Oh and the flame was resting in a bowl on top of the head.

So now the runner of the torch had the sacred flame of Ho-Oh at last and he got ready to run with the torch. The guard was grateful and thanked Harrison and the gang. He also that Machop and Machamp were going to stay at the Ho-Oh shrine and become it's guardians. The gang was happy for the Pokemon. Then the runner started running with the torch and the crowd started cheering.

"Now the Silver Conference is finally going to start." Ash said, excited.

Harrison revealed to the gang that he was going to enter the Silver Conference too and then he started to walk to Silver Town.

"I bet there's going to be a lot of cool trainers and Pokemon at the Silver Conference." Misty said.

"I agree." Ash added. "But that's not going to stop me from trying to win this tournament."

The gang started to head to Silver Town and Ash couldn't wait to participate in the Silver Conference.