When it comes to mountains, the highest in Orre is undoubtedly Mt. Battle to the north. In fact, it could be called the Mt. Battle Range; its ridgeline stretches for a hundred miles, its dark peaks standing like an impregnable wall of bronze and iron.
Unfortunately, Mt. Battle is an active volcano, and the traces of human modification are far too obvious. It also holds immense strategic and cultural significance for the region. For these reasons, it didn't fit Aggron's specific requirements.
What exactly did Aggron want?
- It must be able to support trees.
- It must contain rich mineral deposits.
- It must have a freshwater spring.
Meeting all three would be the perfect home. If not, two out of three would suffice. Only one? That was a deal-breaker.
In any other region, these conditions would be trivial to meet. In Orre, they were a tall order.
First, any mountain with known ore near Pyrite Town had already been scoured by prospecting syndicates; many were already hollowed out. Second, finding a mountain that could support life was difficult due to Orre's severe soil erosion and desertification. Finally, the spring—this was the easiest to satisfy, provided Aggron let Steelix dig deep enough.
Pyrite Town is closer to the coast than Phenac City, so the probability of hitting an underground river or aquifer is higher. The only question was whether Aggron would let Steelix turn the mountain into a piece of Swiss cheese looking for it.
The realization of its long-held dream was finally within reach. The great beast was so restless with excitement that it looked ready to punch a boulder into dust just to vent its energy.
"You're bending the railings, big guy," Kashiwagi said helplessly from the driver's seat.
He was driving a borrowed hover-truck from Frobo—a heavy-duty four-seater with a large flatbed. It couldn't carry Steelix, but it handled Aggron easily enough. Aggron had refused to stay in its Poké Ball, insisting on riding in the back to oversee the search.
Thankfully, vehicles in the Pokémon world aren't much different from his previous life, save for some control layouts. Combined with the wide-open spaces of Orre and a magnetic suspension system that wouldn't get bogged down in sand, Kashiwagi had regained his driving skills quickly.
"ROAR! ROAR!"
Aggron looked around excitedly, looking very much like an elementary schooler on a field trip.
Mawile sat in the passenger seat, appearing much more composed. Unfortunately, she was a terrible navigator. She often held the digital map upside down, forcing Kashiwagi to take several "scenic detours" despite having a pre-programmed destination.
Deino was the most well-behaved. If Kashiwagi didn't let it sit in his lap, it didn't. If he didn't let it nibble his hand, nibbling the top of his head—like a giant, scaly hat—was an acceptable substitute.
"My Pokémon are truly something else," Kashiwagi sighed, deeply missing the reliable Chansey back at the Pokémon Center.
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Within a hundred-mile radius, there were many landmarks that could be called "mountains," but few that satisfied Aggron. They visited over a dozen, but Aggron rejected them for being too short, too steep, or simply "not right."
Kashiwagi had to admit that Aggron had added a fourth condition on the fly: it had to be large enough and have enough flat areas for a proper garden.
After several rejections, Aggron looked out at the barren mountain range, its eyes momentarily clouding with doubt.
"Don't panic, we'll find it," Kashiwagi comforted the beast. "We have plenty of time. There's no rush."
As the leader of Team Rainbow, he couldn't leave Pyrite Town immediately anyway. He needed to wait for the public mood to stabilize and for the reconstruction to hit its stride. Yamamino estimated it would take about half a month. Having waited nearly half a year already, Kashiwagi didn't mind another two weeks—especially since Aggron deserved a proper home before they left Orre.
"Roar!" Aggron nodded, the fire of anticipation reigniting in its eyes.
The truck continued onward. As they rounded a canyon, Kashiwagi noticed someone waving from the side of the road, looking for a lift.
A traveler lost in Orre? He pulled over, and as he saw the man's face, his mouth twitched. "Steven-san? What are you doing out here?"
"Hahaha! I'm just as surprised. It seems we're destined to cross paths," Steven Stone laughed heartily. He wore a dusty grey cloak to ward off the harsh sun. "I just emerged from a cave and realized my phone is dead. I was about to have Metagross carry me back when I saw your truck."
He glanced at the flatbed. "Your Aggron is quite conspicuous. It carries your style very clearly."
"My style?"
Kashiwagi gave Mawile a look; she puffed out her cheeks but obediently climbed into the back seat, yielding the passenger side to Steven.
"Thank you," Steven said to Mawile. He then looked at Deino, who was still gnawing on Kashiwagi's head. "Steady, calm, considerate of others, yet never losing that drive to advance... You are a very brilliant Trainer."
"Uh, thanks." Kashiwagi rubbed his cheek, a bit taken aback by how blunt Steven was with his praise. He handed over a bottle of water. "Here."
Steven took it with a smile. "To be honest, Trainers like you are rare, even in the major regions. Especially someone who manages to stand out while being stuck in a hellhole like this. Without living in your environment, one can never truly imagine how difficult your journey has been."
He took a sip of water. "The qualities you and your Pokémon display—that inner radiance—is some of the brightest I've seen. You might not realize it yourself, but the second I saw you, I knew the person Yamamino spoke of had to be you."
Kashiwagi glanced at Mawile and Aggron, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "I think Ryuka and the others also..."
"No, it's different," Steven shook his head. "Everyone is unique. But as you well know, you are fundamentally different from them. Their resistance was nurtured by others' teachings; yours was an internal awakening that you carried through to the end."
"..."
"You might not be fully 'mature' yet, but I believe it won't be long before you achieve unprecedented heights," Steven predicted with a smile. "I've actually wanted to chat with you properly for a while now, but never found the right moment. It seems I'm quite lucky today."
Kashiwagi thanked him for the praise. "I'll drop you off back in town first and then head back out."
"That won't be necessary. You can continue with whatever you were doing; I won't disturb you. Unless, of course, it's something private," Steven waved him off.
"It's not private. It's just..." Kashiwagi explained Aggron's search for a mountain.
"I see." Steven nodded, then chuckled. "It seems our luck is even better than I thought. Care to guess why I was in this specific area?"