Chapter 27: Michina Ruins

The following morning, Tyson joined Leo and Alise in front of the Pokémon Center. "Morning, Tyson," greeted Alise with a bright smile, to which Tyson responded, "Morning, hope I'm not late." "No, you're right on time, which is great because we won't make it to the ruins until the afternoon," Leo added. "In that case, let's get going. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll get to the ruins," Tyson suggested, and with a nod from Leo, the trio set off on their journey.

- Route 239

The trio navigated the designated path to sidestep any unforeseen encounters with local Pokémon. As they journeyed, Tyson discovered Alise's inquisitive nature through her frequent inquiries about his history. Reluctant to share personal details with acquaintances made just a day prior, Tyson cautiously revealed his intent to participate in the Breeder Exams at Hearthome City, a disclosure that astonished both companions, given the extensive effort typically required to become a breeder. Breeders are generally expected to be knowledgeable in Pokémon Biology, Medicine, and Nutrition, which are merely the foundational skills for a Novice Breeder. "You're a breeder?" Alise asked excitedly to which Tyson responded, "An aspiring breeder."

"I have some friends who studied for the breeder exam, but I'm not sure how they fared," Alice said. Nearby, Leo listened, pondering, 'A breeder, huh? His Pokémon shouldn't be fit for battle. So why did he accept a search mission from the board?' The answer to his question soon followed as Alice bombarded with inquiries. "If you're planning to participate in the breeder exams, why are you heading to Michina Ruins?" she asked. Tyson glanced at Gligar on his shoulder and responded, "Gligar here once lived in Michina Ruins, but she was separated from her family a year ago. I'm just taking her back home to reunite with her family."

Upon hearing this, the two youths were taken aback, their eyes landing on Gligar, who offered them a toothy grin. 'So that's why he came here; it makes sense if it was for his Pokémon,' Leo thought. "That's so sad. Hopefully, you two find them... No, we'll help you find them!" Alice exclaimed, prompting both boys to look at her, bewildered, as they both mouthed "Huh?" in unison.

"Why wouldn't you want to help Tyson and Gligar find the Gliscor herd and reunite Gligar with her family? It would be so heartwarming!" Alice exclaimed as she stared at Leo, prompting Leo to sigh as he thought, 'And there she goes again, getting swept up in the troubles of others and volunteering us for a task we didn't need to take on.' Turning to Alice, Tyson said, "You don't need to help; Gligar and I planned to stay at the ruins for a few days to find the Gliscor herd. Besides, we've just met—why offer your help so suddenly?" Tyson couldn't hide his suspicion any longer. In his previous world, while some offered help out of genuine kindness, the majority did so with an expectation of a return favor.

As Tyson spoke, Alice tilted her head, puzzled, and replied, "Do you need a reason to help someone?" This brought a smile to Leo's face. To dispel the confusion, Leo added, "Alice has always been this way," prompting Tyson to muse, 'Always like this?' He paused, then chuckled to himself, thinking, 'This world might be more dangerous than the one I left, but being overly suspicious won't be beneficial in the long run.' Acknowledging the need for caution, Tyson realized he had been too wary of the young pair. Gligar, perched on his shoulder, chirped "Gli, Gli," [The company would be nice], which made Tyson smile. He said, "Sorry about that. It seems Gligar is fine with you two joining us, so I am too."

The trio continued their journey until noon, when they stopped to rest beside a lake. Tyson took out some Pokémon food and fed Gligar, who eagerly ate the treats. "Is that custom Pokémon food?" asked Alice. "Yes, I made it yesterday for our trip. It's specially prepared for Gligar, who prefers sweet foods, though I have different mixes for my other Pokémon," Tyson explained. During his time with Shane, he had learned how to make his own Pokemon food and gained basic knowledge on how to customize it for his Pokémon's needs. Alice, intrigued, asked if Prinplup could try some, noting his fondness for sweets. Tyson cautioned, "It's not advisable, as this mix contains ground Pidgey to aid Gligar's development. For a larger Pokémon like Prinplup, I would recommend this," he said, pulling out another bag from his backpack. "It's for my Trapinch, who also enjoys sweets, but requires more protein due to his bigger appetite. Prinplup can try this one instead."

Handing a few pieces of Pokemon Food to Alice Tyson watched as the proud penguin sniffed the food before placing one in its mouth. Soon its eyes widened as it let out a happy "Prinplup!" [Delicious, servant you shall be my royal cook!] which made Gligar chuckle. "Seems like Prinplup likes it, here have another one" Alice spoke as she continued feeding her partner. Look to Leo Tyson thinking 'He hasn't released any Pokemon, I wonder what kind of Pokemon he trains'. Noticing the gaze Leo looked over and asked "What? something on my face?" as he continued eat a snack bar he had pulled from his bag.

"No, no, I was just curious why you two are traveling together. Are you friends, or did you meet on the road?" Tyson asked, prompting a smile from Alice. "Well, Leo has been my friend since trainer school. We hail from Sandgem Town, where we received our starter Pokémon from Professor Rowan last year, embarking on our journey ever since. We're planning to collect all eight badges and participate in the Lilly of the Valley Conference this year," Alice explained. 'That makes sense; it's mid-year, and the conference is in November,' Tyson thought, then continued his questioning, "So, how many badges have you both collected?" This led to a swift reply from Alice, "I've got three, and Leo has five. We've challenged the Oreburgh, Eterna, Pastoria, Veilstone, and Hearthome Gyms. However, I've only managed to defeat Oreburgh, Eterna, and Veilstone... the leaders are tough."

Joining the conversation, Leo added, "That's true, I barely managed to win the last two badges. However, we're low on funds for travel, and we plan to participate in the local tournament held in Hearthome City to build our fame and trainer points." Hearing their story, Tyson thought, 'Makes sense, from what I remember of the anime, all Gym Leaders are tough challenges. I wonder how we would fare against them.' "Well, I wish you both luck with your gym challenge. Though, Alice, with only five months left, will you be able to gain the remaining five badges?" Tyson asked, concerned. Considering the amount of ground, they had to cover to challenge the gyms and the time remaining, it seemed unlikely that Alice would collect all eight badges within five months. Tyson's question made Alice sigh as she replied, "No, I probably won't be able to take part at this rate, but I won't give up. If we hurry, I'm sure I can participate in the conference. Besides, I only need two mid-rank badges to catch up."

(Badge Ranks: The Pokemon League Headquarters has introduced a badge ranking system to enable more participants to join the annual conferences. This system allows certain badges to substitute for multiple badges in the required count for entry. Badges are categorized as Entry, Intermediate, and Expert, each with a different value. Entry badges count as one, while Intermediate and Expert badges are equivalent to two and three badges, respectively. This adjustment has not only expanded participant numbers but also highlighted the varying levels of competitor talent.)

Tyson was surprised by Alice's reaction, given that earning an intermediate badge was considerably more difficult than an entry-level badge. For the entry badge, Gym Leaders are usually restricted from switching Pokémon or using items. However, for the intermediate challenge, these limitations are removed, and the Gym Leader's Pokémon team is on par with a rank four trainer. Regarding the expert challenge, it is often deemed an insurmountable task since both contenders must use six Pokémon, and the Gym Leader's team is at a total trainer rank of six or above.

"That's going to be a tough challenge. With three badges, you're currently rank three, right?" Tyson asked, and Alice nodded in confirmation. "Usually, the Gym leader will use Pokémon of rank four or five during an intermediate challenge. Make sure you have a thorough plan before attempting it," Tyson advised. Living with his grandparents, Tyson frequently visited forums for information and watched uploaded gym battles, which helped him accumulate substantial knowledge for future battles and understand how intermediate matches were conducted. "Don't worry, I have a plan, or I wouldn't even consider an intermediate challenge, let alone two," Alice responded, her confidence swelling, mirrored by her Prinplup.

As their journey progressed, the trio's conversation deepened, and Tyson gradually became more acquainted with the two young travelers. In turn, they realized how inexperienced Tyson was with regional travel and offered him advice on potential pitfalls. Although Shane had coached Tyson in survival techniques and Bertha in combat, they had overlooked imparting the street smarts necessary to sidestep legal troubles. While the trainer school provided a foundational education, it was the personal experiences that truly resonated beyond textbook knowledge.

-Michina Town Outskirts

As evening fell, the trio arrived at a clearing overlooking a cliff. Tyson gazed ahead at the vast mountainous terrain, at the base of which lay a town. A long stream snaked through the clear plains, with several farmlands dotting the area. "So, this is Michina Town," Alice remarked, drawing Tyson's attention. He inquired, "Is this your first time here?" Alice responded, "Yep, Leo and I have traveled to many places around Sinnoh, but this is my first time witnessing such a large and open plain. You can even see the farms and farmhands from up here."

"Michina Town is a major agricultural hub in Sinnoh, with extensive lands dedicated to farming," Leo interjected. He then urged, "Come on, we should be able to reach the town by nightfall," as he gestured towards a path that descended the cliff and led towards the town. With night falling over Michina Town the trio soon made their way to its local Pokemon Center. Approaching the counter Tyson and the group booked their rooms for the night before separating to their individual rooms. 

The following morning, the group convened in the lobby of the Michina Town Pokémon Center to plan their next steps. "We'll be entering the ruins today, so be ready," Leo declared, as Tyson and Alice nodded in agreement. As the highest-ranked trainer, Leo was the appointed leader of their team. Exiting the Pokémon Center behind Leo and Alice, Tyson observed the town's architecture, noting that many buildings were integrated into the mountain, and the residents were quite animated. Traversing the town center, the trio approached a large cave at the town's edge. This entrance was commonly used by locals and travelers to access the ruins, which featured numerous branching paths marked with green, orange, and red signs to indicate the level of danger.

-Michina Ruins

As they approached the orange path, Leo cautioned, "Stay alert when we enter. There's a map for the ruins, but many paths remain unexplored, and after last year's events, the wild Pokémon are particularly wary of humans." Taking Leo's advice to heart, Tyson followed with Gligar on his shoulder, and the trio set off down the orange path. While traveling, Tyson inquired, "Do you guys often explore caves on your journey?" Alice promptly replied, "Yeah, Leo and I frequently traverse Mount Coronet en route to certain towns. It's quicker as long as you stick to the green path, but there have been times when Pokémon suddenly attack us for invading their territory."

"Some Pokémon can be quite territorial, but as long as we don't provoke the locals, we should be okay," Leo remarked. "So, whose mission should we tackle first?" Alice inquired, as the trio stopped to make a decision. "Well, you guys have a simple patrol job from the ranger base. Did the map they gave you include a patrol route?" Tyson inquired to which Leo nodded and spoke "Yes, it takes us in a complete circle around the first mountain, after that our job is done"

The Michina Ruins were a vast mountain range encompassing twelve mountains of varying heights. "Consider this," Tyson suggested, "since you only need to patrol this mountain, let's finish your job before exploring the nearby ones. I accepted the quest as a bonus; my real aim is to find the local Gliscor herd, which usually inhabits highlands or cliffs." Turning to Gligar, Tyson inquired, "Do you have any idea where your family might be?" Gligar paused, deep in thought, then responded, "Gli, Gli" [I have an idea]. Noting Gligar's reply, Leo said, "It seems she has a clue, so our first task is a quick survey of the mountain. Meanwhile, we can search for Gligar's family and the ranger's ring," and with that, the trio set off along the marked trail.

Team Rank: 3

Pupitar

Gender: Male

Type: Rock/Ground

Abilities: Shed Skin

Held Item: None

Moves: Rock Throw, Bite, Payback, Leer, Scary Face, Dragon Dance [Inherited], Ancient Power [Inherited], Stomping Tantrum, Sandstorm, Iron Defense, Outrage, Rock Slide

Custom Moves: Sand Shield

Moves Learnt:

Gligar

Gender: Female

Type: Ground/Flying

Abilities: Hyper Cutter, Sand Veil, Immunity [Undeveloped]

Held Items: None

Moves: Thief, Knock Off, Poison Tail, Quick Attack, Wing Attack [Inherited], Toxic, Spikes, Toxic, Rock Slide, Stealth Rock Spikes, Venoshock

Custom Moves:

Moves Learnt:

Trapinch

Gender: Male

Type: Ground

Abilities: Hyper Cutter, Sand Trap [Undeveloped] Sheer Force

Held Items: None

Moves: Astonish, Mud Slap, Sand Attack, Bite, Crunch, Bulldoze, Dig, Sand Tomb, Bug Bite [Inherited], Rock Slide

Moves Learnt:

Custom Moves: Sand Trap