Chapter 15: The Legend of the Crystal Onix

"I'm very sorry that my sister has caused you trouble," said Mateo, Marissa's older brother, bowing deeply to Ash, Misty, and Tracey. His tone carried both gratitude and apology as he introduced himself.

Mateo clearly understood the situation. The owner of the neighbouring store had been eyeing their shop for a long time, hoping to take it over.

"It's really no trouble at all," Misty said, waving her hands dismissively. She glanced at Marissa, giving her an encouraging smile.

"That's right," Ash added, nodding. Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, chirped in agreement, while Tracey echoed their sentiment.

Tracey's gaze shifted around the workshop. His eyes landed on a workbench covered in Pokémon-shaped glass products, and he couldn't hide his curiosity. 

Squatting down, he examined the glass figures carefully—Pidgey, Geodude, Poliwhirl, and Dugtrio.

"These are incredible," he muttered, impressed by the craftsmanship. Yet, as he scrutinized them, something felt off. Tracey furrowed his brows, trying to pinpoint what was missing.

Ash and Misty, intrigued by Tracey's focus, joined him at the table. They, too, marveled at the beauty of the glasswork, finding it even more exquisite than anything displayed in the local shops.

"You've noticed it, haven't you?" Mateo's voice broke through their thoughts. He and Marissa had walked over, a bitter smile on Mateo's face.

"Noticed what?" Misty asked, confused. She and Ash examined the glassworks more closely, sensing something strange. The pieces were flawless in their design, yet something intangible seemed to be missing.

Ali sighed heavily. "When our grandfather ran this shop, it thrived. He was a master craftsman who made glass Pokémon every day," he explained, his voice filled with sorrow.

"But he passed away last year, and I took over. I haven't been able to create anything worthy of display outside," Mateo admitted, clenching his fists. Marissa, holding Togepi in one hand, placed her free hand over Mateo's, trying to calm him.

Feeling his sister's touch, Ali forced a small smile, though pain still lingered in his expression.

"But these pieces are incredible! They're far better than anything we've seen in the other shops," Misty said, genuinely impressed.

Ali shook his head vehemently. "No. Compared to Grandpa's work, this is just garbage!" he exclaimed, picking up the glass Poliwhirl. Gritting his teeth, he hurled it to the floor, shattering it into pieces.

The sound startled Ash and the others. Misty winced, looking at the broken shards with regret.

"Why would you do that? It was so well-made!" she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Tracey, still deep in thought, turned to Ali. "What's wrong with them? I can't figure it out," he admitted.

Ali sighed again, staring at the remaining glass figures. "They're missing their soul," he said quietly. "Don't they seem lifeless to you? They're just glass—they don't feel like real Pokémon."

"Soul..." Tracey murmured, the word resonating with him. "You're right. The craftsmanship is excellent, but there's something missing. Giving an inanimate object a sense of life... that's not easy," he admitted, shaking his head.

Despite their flaws, Tracey knew the glassworks were far superior to anything sold outside. 

Many people would happily buy them, but Mateo refused to tarnish his grandfather's legacy by selling what he considered incomplete work.

"By the way, Mateo," Ash said, remembering something. "Marissa mentioned the legend of the Crystal Onix. What's that about?"

Ali's expression softened slightly. "The Crystal Onix... I've never seen it myself. I only know about it from my grandfather," he explained. "He used to say that if I could find it, I'd understand what I'm missing."

"Understand? How?" Misty asked, curious.

Ali nodded solemnly. "Grandpa told me that, when he was young, he encountered the Crystal Onix. Its body was made of pure crystal—it was like a perfect work of art," he said.

"That encounter inspired Grandpa to create his best glassworks. He believed the Crystal Onix held the secret to true artistry," Ali continued. "If I could find it too, I think I'd finally understand how to make glass that truly comes alive."

"So, your grandfather—did he ever say where he found the Crystal Onix?" Tracey asked eagerly.

Ali nodded. "He said it was here on Sunburst Island," he replied. His expression darkened as he added, "But I've searched every inch of this island and found nothing. If it's real, it might have been taken away long ago."

The thought clearly weighed heavily on him, but Ali couldn't deny the possibility.

"What about the island next to this one?" Ash suggested suddenly, breaking the gloomy silence.

"The island next to it?" Mateo repeated, startled. The others turned to look at Ash, their curiosity piqued.

"There's an uninhabited island near Sunburst Island, right? Maybe it's there," Ash said thoughtfully.

Ali's eyes widened with hope. "You're right... it might be there! It has to be!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement.

Though there was no guarantee the Crystal Onix existed on the neighbouring island, Mateo clung to the possibility. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope.

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