“Don’t even talk about the consequence.” Ash said.

Peak laughed. They both looked at each other then and had a
moment. It was a good one. After it passed both of them looked at the mountain.
All they had to do was climb to the top the rest would be taken care of they
were told. The rule was they had to do it separately though, Ash on one side
and Peak on the other and they would meet at the top. They knew it was a test.
Whatever it meant hopefully they would pass it Ash thought. He noticed Peak
looking at him and he could tell he was thinking the same thing.

“Well, I’m ready if you are.” Peak said.

“Ditto.” Said Ash.

~

They each went their separate ways then, down paths that
lead to either side of the mountain. After about a half hour Ash made it to his
spot. He looked up the mountain side. They had been told to begin after the
lightning began. Ash noted the clouds over the mountain. They were the darkest
they had ever been since they had first started coming here. Then the first bit
of lightning crackled through the sky lighting it up. Thunder peeled through
the sky and Ash began his ascension up the mountain.

~

Peak saw the lightning and heard the thunder and began
climbing. It was pretty steady and easy going for awhile until the rain began.
It was a downpour that slammed into everything. The rocks were a bit slippery
but, the gloves he wore had special grips on them to help. With all of his
strength he continued his ascension. The lightning and thunder increased in
intensity as he climbed up, so did the rain. Finally, he reached the trail that
was carved into the mountain. Once he was on it he sighed with relief. He was
soaked with all the rain but, it was worth it. He looked up the trail that
wound its way up the mountain and began to follow it. Then the sleet started.

~

Ash was on the trail. He had been working his way up it for
about fifteen minutes now. The sleet was cold and made the trail a bit slippery
but, he was doing just fine. His shoes helped and he was confident he could do
this. A flash of light as lightning struck the side of the mountain knocking
chunks out of it. Ash continued not even phased by it one bit. He knew what he
wanted. He also knew that there was a lot more going on then what he could
completely say. The fact that they were even here doing this seemed to defy all
concepts of reality. He couldn’t forget though and he knew Peak felt the same.
He made it to the halfway point up the mountain and as he did it began to hail.
He saw the cave and took cover. He thought Peak must be doing the same thing
right now. They had been told to wait out the hail, and then the rest of the
way up was up to them.

~

Peak was happy when the hail stopped. After it had ceased it
had started to snow. He had changed his clothes and was all warm now. He left
the cave and began to continue up the mountain. As he climbed he noticed the
snow got heavier and heavier. The wind began to blow and then suddenly it was a
blizzard. Lightning and thunder still worked its way through the sky and a bolt
struck not far from where he was. He laughed in spite of it and continued on.
He could see the top now as the snow began to stop. He thought about what would
be on top of the mountain.

~

Ash was on top of the mountain. He had made it through the
blizzard and what he saw now made him look twice. There was lava, what he
thought was a ring of it surrounding a forest. He saw a rock bridge that went
over it. He walked towards the bridge and stopped in front of it looking
across. He wondered if Peak was on the other side. He crossed the bridge and
then looked back as he heard a crumbling sound. The bridge had crumbled into
the lava. No turning back now he thought. He laughed at that.

~

Peak was in the forest. After the bridge he had crossed had
crumbled into the lava he had entered the forest. After entering it had become
pitch black. He couldn’t see at all. In the darkness he heard things. Strange
noises and voices. He knew what he needed though. He needed it so much. He
walked forward.

~

Ash was in the dark. He couldn’t see at all. It was also quiet.
He couldn’t hear a thing. It was like nothing was alive at all. No one to
answer all the questions that are behind you and I he thought. He stepped
forward and into light.

~

It was a clearing. Peak was standing on one side of it. When
he looked behind him he just saw forest. When he looked into the center of the
clearing he saw a statue. It was big. He approached it and thought about Ash.
He made it to the statue and walked in front of it. That’s when he saw Ash.

Ash was standing in front of the statue. It was he thought
some form of ancient pokemon. He didn’t even know how to describe it really. He
turned and then that’s when he saw Peak.

“We made it!” he said.

“We sure did!” Peak said.

They looked at each other then and had a moment. It was a
good one.

-~-