Lorelei asked Tetsuya whether he also liked Ice-type Pokémon.
That was a question Tetsuya wasn't quite sure how to answer. More accurately, what he liked were strong and loyal Pokémon.
Tetsuya gave a slight nod.
"Didn't expect us to have the same hobby~ You're my first friend since I left Four Island," Lorelei said.
'…'
Tetsuya kept his focus on Ditto's transformation.
Before long, with Lapras's steady pace, he and Lorelei safely arrived in Mahogany Town.
Lorelei recalled Lapras and asked, "So, what brings you to Mahogany Town?"
"Mahogany Gym," Tetsuya answered.
Lorelei was a bit surprised. "That can't be right. The Gym Leader of Mahogany Gym, Pryce, has already advanced to the Elite Four. What are you going to the Gym for?"
He'd let it slip.
An Elite Four member's whereabouts were supposed to be kept secret, and the more hidden Pryce's location was, the safer Tetsuya would be.
"Oh… I'm not looking for Pryce. I've got something else to take care of," Tetsuya replied casually.
"Hmm, then I guess this is where we part ways…" Lorelei scratched her head, as if something was on her mind.
Tetsuya kept walking in the direction of Mahogany Gym.
Mahogany Town was the northernmost town in the Johto Region, bordered by the Lake of Rage to the south and backed by glacier falls to the north. In the northwest, there was also a bottomless canyon.
When Tetsuya arrived at the door of Mahogany Gym, it was firmly shut.
He knocked.
There was no response for a loooong time.
'Could Pryce not be back yet?' Tetsuya was puzzled. With no other option, he turned to leave.
"Young man over there, are you Tetsuya?"
A woman from the house next door to the Gym called out.
Tetsuya nodded.
"My name is Sheila. Pryce asked me to wait here for you for several days now. Come on in."
Still skeptical, Tetsuya walked over.
Sheila pulled Tetsuya into the yard and led him inside. As they walked, she scolded, "Humph! What's with you young people dragging your feet all the time? There are a lot of people watching Pryce these days."
Inside the room, "What's going on here?" Tetsuya asked.
Sheila explained, "Pryce's an Elite Four now. I can't talk him out of anything with that stubborn personality of his. Who knows how many people he's offended! Now, he's cautious about everything, scared someone might catch him slipping."
"So… where is Elite Four Pryce now?" Tetsuya asked.
"At glacier falls. I'll take you there. The place is backed by mountains and extremely hidden. Most people don't even know it exists. That's also where Pryce trains his Ice-type Pokémon."
With that, Sheila led Tetsuya into the backyard. There was a gate, and behind it were thick trees, with only a single shaded path cutting through.
Following the path deeper in, the air grew increasingly damp, and the sound of water gradually became louder.
Glacier falls was nestled in a mountain hollow, completely devoid of sunlight. Mist and cold air spread through the entire area, giving it a mystical feel.
In front of the waterfall, two figures could be seen. One tall, one short. Sheila quickened her pace, and Tetsuya followed.
"…Tetsuya!?"
A familiar voice reached his ears.
As he got closer, he saw that the person next to Pryce was Lorelei.
Pryce asked curiously, "Hmm? You two know each other?"
"We traveled from the Lake of Rage to Mahogany Town together this morning. On my Lapras!" Lorelei said.
Pryce nodded. "I see."
"What are you doing here?"
Tetsuya asked. In his memory, Lorelei and Pryce weren't particularly connected. But judging from the way they acted now, they seemed quite familiar with each other. And the fact that Lorelei could come alone to glacier falls meant she was very familiar with Mahogany Town.
"My father and Elite Four Pryce are lifelong friends. I used to visit Mahogany Town a lot when I was little. This time, I came specifically to deliver Everfrozen Ice and Never-Melt Ice. The Never-Melt Ice my family mines is the highest quality in the world!" Lorelei said proudly.
Tetsuya gave a polite smile. Indeed, the Never-Melt Ice mined on Four Island came from the south pole, while that from Snowpoint City was sourced in the north pole. The quality between the two was mixed, and it was hard to say which was better.
"If I had known Pryce knew you too, I wouldn't have been so guarded earlier," Lorelei said, shaking her head.
"You should have been," Tetsuya replied.
Just then, Pryce said, "Lorelei, go back with Sheila for now. I have some things to discuss with Tetsuya. I'll return shortly."
Lorelei nodded sensibly and left with Sheila.
Tetsuya first handed over Swinub's Poké Ball to Pryce. If he wanted others to trust him, he had to do things that earned their trust first.
Pryce took the Poké Ball and led Tetsuya toward the waterfall.
"Lapras."
At Pryce's call, a Lapras swam out from behind the waterfall and soon reached them.
"Come on, we're going inside the waterfall." Pryce handed Tetsuya a raincoat.
"No need."
Seeing that Pryce wasn't wearing one either, Tetsuya declined. In truth, training under a waterfall was a great way to strengthen both Trainer and Pokémon's willpower. This glacier falls had clearly played a critical role in Pryce's growth.
"Good, you've got some pride."
Pryce gave a look of approval, and the two sat together on Lapras.
As expected, this glacier falls lived up to its reputation. The water wasn't just fast and forceful, but also freezing, like true ice water. Tetsuya couldn't help shivering, while Pryce remained unfazed.
How was an Elite Four really forged?
Beyond the waterfall was a cave, its walls lined with ice. Various Ice-type Pokémon moved within.
They walked to the deepest part of the cave, where an ice bed made of Never-Melt Ice stood.
"Swinub, come out."
Pryce called. A small brown pig peeked its head out from the ice bed and waddled over to them.
This Swinub was much smaller than Pryce's own.
"Swinub, this person will be your Trainer from now on. Be loyal to him and protect him well."
After Pryce spoke, the little Swinub looked up at Tetsuya…
"From now on, we're partners. I'll be counting on you!"
Tetsuya extended his right hand. Swinub hesitated for two seconds, then licked Tetsuya's palm.
A chill shot through Tetsuya's whole body. In that instant, he finally felt it… a powerful Pokémon had begun walking the path of growth alongside him!
Pryce added, "Here's Swinub's Poké Ball. I haven't started training it yet, so all its current moves are Egg Moves. Your first goal is to get Swinub to master them."
Tetsuya took the Poké Ball and nodded.