Lost Piloswine

After the issue at the Lake of Rage had been resolved, the gang had arrived at Mahogany Town. They spent the night at the Pokemon Center and had all of their Pokemon healed. Ash was currently looking up the Mahogany Gym in the guidebook.

"What does it say Ash?" Misty asked.

"Well according to the book, the gym leader is a man named Pryce." Ash said. "And that he uses ice type Pokemon. It also says that Pryce is as cold as ice."

"What does that mean?" Tomo asked.

Brock explained that it was a saying to say that Pryce had a cold personality.

"I hope that Pryce will be nice enough to let me battle him." Ash said.

"Who will you be using?" Misty asked.

"Quilava, Scizor and Hitmontop because fire, steel and fighting type Pokemon are strong against ice type Pokemon." Ash explained.

"Knowing what to do as usual." Misty smiled.

When everything was ready, the gang headed to the Mahogany Gym. The Mahogany Gym looked like one of those ice skating rink buildings. When the gang got there, they realized that the gym leader wasn't there. An elderly woman came up to the gang.

"Hello there." The woman said. "I'm Sheila, Pryce's wife. Are you here for a gym battle?"

"Yes ma'am we are." Ash said. "Do you know where Pryce is?"

"Pryce will be up in the mountains, mediating under a waterfall." Sheila said. "He does that every morning."

"Oh really?" Ash asked. "Do you think you can lead us to him please? I wish to challenge him to a gym battle."

"Certainly." Sheila said.

So Sheila showed the gang where Pryce was. Apparently, Sheila was very full of energy and athletic for an elderly woman. She had no trouble at all walking up the mountain and climbing over rocks.

They soon found an old man meditating under a waterfall; he was Pryce.

"Hey Pryce, you have a challenger." Sheila said.

Ash introduced himself to Pryce and asked him for a gym battle. Pryce stopped meditating and noticed Growlithe next to Tomo.

"Why is that Pokemon not in it's Poke Ball?" Pryce asked sternly.

"Growlithe is Tomo's partner. And he's also his best friend."

"Humph, having a battle with you will be pointless." Pryce said.

"What? Why?" Ash asked in disbelief with what Pryce just said.

"Humans and Pokemon being best friends is ridiculous." Pryce said coldly. "Being all emotional with your Pokemon is not going to make you a great Pokemon trainer."

Ash thought that Pryce was rude and was about to speak up. But Tomo spoke up first.

"The one who's ridiculous here is you." He told Pryce. "Growlithe and I have been friends for a few years and we have grown strong together because of our friendship."

Growlithe barked in agreement. Pryce stared at Tomo and Growlithe.

"You young ones don't know the true meaning of Pokemon training." He said. "My son and daughter never understood the true meaning of Pokemon training. It's discipline on your Pokemon and showing them who's boss is what I have done for the last forty years of my life."

Pryce's words were clear to Ash that he is cold to his Pokemon and trains them with very strict discipline.

"Listen here Pryce." Ash said. "I don't know what on earth happened to you or your Pokemon forty years ago, but friendship between humans and Pokemon always prevails no matter what the situation is. And I know that because my Pokemon and I go through everything together because we are friends."

Pryce huffed.

"I challenge you to a mock battle here and now." Pryce said. "And then we will see if you are capable of battling me at the gym."

"Very well, I accept." Ash said.

He accepted it because he figured it was the only way to convince Pryce to battle him.

Ash and Pryce took their place to battle, somewhere away from the waterfall and near a cliff. Pryce sent out Dewgong to battle and Ash sent out Pikachu from his Poke Ball. Pikachu had been brought over from Prof. Oak's lab.

"Using Pikachu is a smart choice because Dewgong is a water/ice type Pokemon." Brock said.

"Yes, but Ash will still have to watch out for Dewgong's ice type attacks." Misty pointed out.

Misty knew Dewgong pretty well since she was a water type Pokemon trainer.

"Ice Beam Dewgong." Pryce said.

Dewgong fired a icy beam from it's horn.

Ash ordered Pikachu to dodge it and he did so with little difficulty.

"All right Pikachu use Focus Punch." Ash said.

Pikachu ran up to Dewgong with it's right paw glowing white and then he punched Dewgong really hard.

"Sorry Pryce." Ash smiled. "But I know for a fact that ice type Pokemon are weak to fighting type moves."

"Humph not bad kid." Pryce snorted. "Let's use Headbutt Dewgong."

Dewgong charged at Pikachu, getting ready to headbutt him with it's horn. Ash remained calm.

"Pikachu time to show it your egg move." He said.

Pikachu ran over to Dewgong with his body becoming surrounded by electricity and then it tackled Dewgong really hard.

"Wow what was that?" Misty gasped.

"Volt Tackle." Brock said. "It's a very powerful electric type move that only Pichu and it's evolved forms can learn through breeding."

"So that means no other electric type Pokemon can learn it?" Tomo asked.

"That's correct." Brock nodded.

Misty and Tomo were amazed.

Dewgong fainted from the attack, earning Ash the victory. Ash and Pikachu were happy and bumped fists with each other.

"That Ash is some trainer." Sheila said.

"So Pryce, will you now accept my gym battle?" Ash asked.

Pryce returned his Dewgong in a huff.

"Just because you won doesn't mean I agree to have a gym battle with you." He said.

"What?" Ash blinked.

He was not happy to hear this.

Sheila wasn't happy with Pryce either.

"Pryce, you are a gym leader and since Ash wishes to battle your gym you should accept his challenge." She said.

Pryce stared at Sheila and Ash.

"Walk with me Ash." Pryce said. He started to walk through the mountain area.

Ash was puzzled by Pryce's request, but he did as he was asked and followed Pryce.

Pryce led Ash to an area of the mountains where there a few entrances to some caves.

"Let me tell you something Ash." Pryce said. "I was a lot like you when I was younger; loving to go on a Pokemon journey and participate in Pokemon battles. And of course I loved my Pokemon like they were my family. But my feelings changed forty years ago."

"Don't mind my curiosity, but what happened?" Ash asked. "I'd like to know the real reason you dislike humans and Pokemon being friends."

Pryce looked at Ash.

"Since you are so eager to know, I will tell you." He said.

Pryce told Ash that in his youth, his favorite Pokemon and best friend was a Piloswine.

"We fought in many Pokemon battles and tournaments together." Pryce said. "And we were unstoppable together. But one day, everything changed when Piloswine and I faced a opponent with a Magmar."

Pryce explained that his Piloswine was seriously injured by Magmar's fire type attacks as it is a ice type Pokemon. And then Magmar used Fire Blast to finish Piloswine off, then Pryce ran over to protect Piloswine.

In the process both Pryce and Piloswine were injured and burned by the Fire Blast attack.

"While I was recovering from my burns and injuries in a cottage, Piloswine got up and left me. And that's why I don't treat my Pokemon like family anymore, only as business."

Ash felt sorry for Pryce after what happened to him. Then he had a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Pardon me Pryce." He said. "But I don't think Piloswine left you because you lost that battle. I'll admit, I've only been a trainer for three years but I know for a fact a Pokemon wouldn't leave just because you lost a battle. Something else caused Piloswine to disappear."

Pryce just huffed.

Ash then saw something sparkle from inside one of the caves and walked over to it. It was a leg bracelet for a Pokemon. When Pryce saw it, he picked it up.

"I recognize this leg brace." He said. "It belongs to my Piloswine."

Ash was surprised and looked at the cave.

"Pryce, we should probably explore this cave." He said. "Since Piloswine's leg brace is here, I get the feeling we might find a lead on your missing Piloswine."

Pryce was a bit doubtful with Ash's words, but followed him anyway.

Ash and Pryce walked further and further into the cave. Ash was concentrating with his psychic power to see if he could locate anything about Pryce's Piloswine. It didn't sit well with him that Pryce's Piloswine disappeared; he wanted to find out what's really going on. Soon they had reached a cave, with ice all over it.

"Wow what a cave." Ash said.

"It's like a cave of crystals." Pryce said.

Suddenly they saw a big block of ice with something frozen inside it. It was a Piloswine. Pryce looked at the frozen Piloswine.

"It's my Piloswine." He said.

"Are you certain?" Ash asked.

Then he noticed that the Piloswine was carrying some leaves. Pryce explained that the leaves were herbs that were used to heal burns on Pokemon and humans. Then Ash realized exactly what happened.

"Your Piloswine knew these herbs would help you and it came here to retrieve them. But it got into trouble and was frozen in a block of ice all this time. It didn't disappear forty years ago voluntarily."

Pryce realized he was wrong about Piloswine and started to cry.

"I'm sorry Piloswine." He said tearfully.

Ash was happy Pryce knew what really happened and that Piloswine was found.

"Okay Pryce." Ash said. "Now it's time to get Piloswine out of that block of ice."

Fire started to form in his mouth.

"Fire Dragon Roar!" The ice containing Piloswine was melted.

Then Ash released Flaaffy to shock Piloswine awake. Flaffy shocked it twice, but it still didn't wake up from it's frozen state. Things looked hopeless, but then Piloswine woke up. Pryce walked over to Piloswine.

"Piloswine, it's me Pryce." He said. "Do you remember me?"

Piloswine nodded to say yes.

Pryce was happy Piloswine still remembered him and hugged it, crying tears of happiness.

"Real friendship between humans and Pokemon does last forever." He said.

"It seems that you believe what I told you earlier Pryce." Ash replied.

"Yes I do Ash." Pryce smiled.

Ash was relieved to hear that.

But then Piloswine fainted from exhaustion; it was tired and weak after spending the last forty years frozen in ice.

"Use Rest Piloswine." Pryce said.

Piloswine went to sleep and started to glow blue.

"I know that move." Ash said. "Rest allows a Pokemon to fall asleep and regain it's health."

"That's correct Ash." Pryce nodded. "You're a lot smarter than you look."

"Let's take Piloswine to the Pokemon Center." Ash suggested.

Pryce agreed with his suggestion.

When Piloswine had recovered, Ash and Pryce walked out of the cave.

Meanwhile Misty, Tomo and Brock were waiting for Ash and Pryce with Sheila. Sheila had informed them about Pryce's Piloswine and why Pryce acted so cold. Misty, Tomo and Brock felt sorry for Pryce. Just then Ash and Pryce came into view. Pryce revealed his long lost Piloswine. Sheila was surprised to see Piloswine had been found.

"This is a miracle." She said.

Misty, Tomo and Brock were happy for Pryce too.

Pryce turned to Ash.

"Ash thanks for helping me find Piloswine." He said. "And for making me realize I was wrong about the friendship between humans and Pokemon being ridiculous."

"I'm glad you uncovered the real reason for Piloswine's disappearance." Ash said.

"I now agree to challenge you to a gym battle Ash." Pryce said. "But we will do it tomorrow. I need to have my Piloswine healed at the Pokemon Center."

"That's fine." Ash said.

"I also need to call my son and daughter and apologize to them for forcing them to not befriend their Pokemon."

"I'm sure they'll understand after you tell them about Piloswine." Ash said.

And soon Pryce's Piloswine recovered in the Pokemon Center and Ash and the others spent the night in the Pokemon Center.