Tia and Aidan had spent the past week poring over eyewitness accounts and environmental reports, and pinpointed the next likely location for Moltres’ nest – Silver Cave.
As they wandered and Surfed through the cave system, Tia looked up in awe at the beautiful waterfalls spread throughout, and listened to the roar of the falls that could almost lull someone to sleep.
They soon entered a dark, quiet chamber deep within the cave, so similar to the area in Victory Road where Moltres’ previous nest was. Tia held her breath, hoping to see the fabled Fire Pokemon.
Instead, they were faced with another abandoned nest.
Tia let out a groan. “Not again!”
“I was hoping Moltres was here,” Aidan said ruefully, “The information’s only about a year old!”
“I guess it can’t be helped,” Tia said, “There were a lot of Trainers around here too, just like in Victory Road, so it’s probably a good thing we didn’t see Moltres today. Our Pokemon are stretched thin!”
“Maybe that’s why Moltres left,” Aidan said, tapping his chin in thought.
“Too many Trainers?” Tia asked.
Aidan nodded. “Articuno’s nesting ground was in a spot where not many people explore nowadays, what with New Cinnabar being built and Blaine moving his Gym away. Zapdos’ nest was in another isolated area, at least until the Power Plant reconstruction started.”
“So Moltres must be somewhere similar,” Tia concluded. “Someplace isolated, and most likely very hot.”
The two of them were silent for a moment, thinking. Suddenly, Tia’s stomach growled. Tia laughed hastily, and Aidan shook his head.
“Let’s get out of here first,” he said, “We can concentrate better with food!”
The two of them sat in the lobby of Professor Elm’s Pokemon Lab, looking at more eyewitness accounts. Kit, one of Elm’s assistants and Tia’s friend, walked over to them, placing a tray of homemade cookies on the table.
“Thanks,” Tia said, nodding at the cookies.
“Any luck?” Kit asked.
“Nope,” Aidan muttered, “All of the accounts point toward Silver Cave as Moltres’ nesting ground, and that Moltres was seen there as late as six months ago.”
“But it isn’t there now,” Tia added, munching on a cookie.
“What other place in Kanto would fit?” Aidan mused, “Someplace isolated, and hot.”
“Cinnabar Island?” Kit asked. Tia looked up in alarm.
Aidan shook his head. “None of the environmental reports state a change in temperature since the volcano erupted. And an area that volatile wouldn’t be ideal for Pokemon to nest in.”
“The area’s been off-limits to people since the eruption,” Tia pointed out, “So even if Moltres were there, we wouldn’t be allowed to go look for it.”
The three of them fell silent, deep in thought.
“Isolated, and hot…” Tia murmured.
“I might have an idea,” another voice spoke up.
The three of them looked up to see another one of Elm’s assistants.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said, “but I couldn’t help but overhear.”
“No problem,” Aidan said, “We could use some more ideas.”
“Well, you see, I’m from the Sevii Islands,” the assistant continued, “One Island, to be exact, and we have a local legend about the nearby volcano, Mt. Ember. They say that every 5-10 years or so, the God of Fire returns to reside on the mountaintop after traveling the world. His presence is marked by large flames visible near the top of the mountain.”
Tia and Aidan looked at each other. “Go on,” Tia said.
“There’s evidence that starting about six months ago, large flames were visible on Mt. Ember’s peak. And many historians believe that the God of Fire is actually a Fire-type Pokemon. And this Pokemon just recently returned to Mt. Ember.”
“We visited the Sevii Islands not too long ago,” Tia spoke up, “But I don’t remember hearing about the legend!”
“I have,” Aidan replied, “But it didn’t occur to me to connect it to Moltres.”
“Could you look into it?” Kit asked.
Tia and Aidan looked at each other and nodded. “It’s worth a shot!” Tia said.