Chapter 175: The Never-Melt Ice Crystal
Author's Note:
BGM Recommendation: "To My Dearest Friend" - Hiromi Iwasaki
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The Snover and Snorunt had left. They really didn't dare to stay with a Regice, afraid it might roll over in its sleep and freeze them solid. Will and Meowscarada, however, remained.
To entertain his two new guests, Regice had even used its power to build a large igloo.
"Regi?" Regice asked, sitting on the hard ice floor and waving its hands.
"It's great. This is fine," Will said, shaking his head. It was just a temporary shelter; it didn't need to be beautiful.
"Meow!" But Meowscarada didn't think so. She was amazed by Regice's power and had it make several ice sculptures for the room.
"Regi~" Regice was very happy. Its power could finally be of some use.
"Alright, that's enough playing, Meowscarada. We still have to go to Snowpoint City to get some supplies," Will said.
"Meow~" she replied.
"Regi?"
"The ice is too hard for us, and it's pretty cold in here. We need to go to a human city to get some warm things. We'll probably be back in a day or two," Will explained.
They were two Grass-type Pokémon. To survive in an igloo for a period of time, they had to make some preparations.
...
"Regi," Regice's lights flickered.
"By the way, this bag... I'll leave it here for now. Remember to watch it for me, okay? It's very important," Will said, putting his backpack on the ground.
"Regi," Regice bobbed its body. I will protect the bag!
"Alright, we're off then. You wait here, don't run around," Will said, giving it a few more instructions. Regice's mental age was not very high; he was a little worried.
"Regi~"
After Will and Meowscarada left, Regice stood at the entrance of the igloo, waving its arms. It looked just like a child who had been left at home.
When they had disappeared into the snowstorm, it returned to the igloo and looked around. Although it was empty, just like its old cave, the feeling was different now. The ice sculptures and the small bag made it feel less lonely. And the fact that Will had entrusted the bag to its care... for the first time, it understood what it felt like to be trusted.
"Regi," Regice clenched its fists and walked back outside. It plopped down, blocking the entrance with its huge body.
...
A day and a half passed. The sky, which hadn't been very bright to begin with, was now completely dark. Regice sat at the entrance, his mind gradually calming.
Suddenly, the earth shook violently. Regice came to its senses and stood up quickly. It looked around, but everything was the same. No creatures were approaching. Was it my imagination?
...
Snowpoint City.
Will and Meowscarada had taken a full day to get here.
"Did you feel that?" Will asked, turning to Meowscarada.
"Meow," she nodded.
That sudden tremor had startled her. It felt like the whole world had shifted for a moment.
"Looks like it was a big earthquake," Will said, looking around. Many of the people on the street had grabbed onto their Pokémon or a lamppost.
"Meow?"
"I don't know. Something special must have happened."
...
"Meow?" Meowscarada tilted her head, wondering if Regice had caused it.
"No. Regice's level isn't high enough. It doesn't have that kind of strength," Will shook his head.
"Meow?"
"Don't worry about the earthquake. Let the humans investigate. We'll get what we need and leave," Will said with a wave of his hand, not paying it much mind.
"Meow," Meowscarada nodded.
After they had taken a few steps, she suddenly turned her head and looked at a high mountain to the south. She twitched her nose, as if she had smelled something strange. And the clouds above that mountain... had they turned gray?
"What's wrong?" Will asked, seeing her stop. He turned and looked in the direction she was staring. "That's Mt. Coronet. Around that peak, it's basically all dormant volcanoes."
"...Meow," Meowscarada stared at the mountain for a few more seconds, then shook her head.
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