Although Kellyn understood why Wendy was worried about Sven, he was Sven—a Rank 9 Top Pokémon Ranger—so there was no doubt he could handle himself; however, with J out there, it wasn't safe for anyone to leave the team.
So, keeping that in mind, Kellyn and the others thoroughly explored Hia Valley.
Ash drew a pokéball and threw it into the cold, sunny morning, commanding, "Staravia, I choose you!"
Staravia, the pre-evolution of Staraptor, but the evolution of Starly appeared, announcing, "Staravia!" It was a little bigger than Blu, but still not the largest Bird Pokémon.
Ash approached Staravia and said, "Staravia, fly out there and see if you can find Sven."
"Staravia!" Staravia flapped its wings, turned, and headed toward a few snow-covered trees in the distance.
Below, Kellyn and the others dug through mounds just in case, but they didn't yell Sven's name for safety reasons.
It felt strange to Kellyn to work as a team, but it distracted him from telling the Sinnoh trio and helped him focus on the mission. There was no way J would make things easy, so he remained vigilant. It was the only thing he could do. He thought about that as they searched.
A little later, Kellyn and the others heard, "Staravia!" Staravia appeared and hovered before Ash.
"Staravia!" he said. "Did you find him?"
Staravia nodded—"Star!"—and led the way to a large lake farther north. Lines of ice blocks—not icebergs—floated in it, and Kellyn remembered the occasional whirlpools in the water.
At the other end of the lake was another snowy field, followed by a shadowy form hidden among a few snow clouds: Almia Castle.
"Whoa!" Ash exclaimed, admiring the scenery. "What is this place?"
"Ice Lake," Kellyn answered. "Almia Castle is on the other end of it…" He moved his index finger and pointed at the shadowy figure. "There."
"Wow, so beautiful!" Dawn said. "How do we get there?" She examined the ice blocks and whirlpools.
"Piplup! Piplup!" Her Piplup squirmed and jumped out of Dawn's arms, running to the left.
"Piplup!" Dawn called.
Pikachu hopped down from Ash's shoulder and chased after Piplup. "Pika!"
Ash raised his hand. "Pikachu."
But Pikachu kept moving.
Working together, the Pokémon led the team to a snowbank near the beach. Sven's Luxray and an Empoleon, the final stage of Piplup, hovered over a motionless body in the snow.
Wendy gasped and yelled, "Sven!" sprinting.
Oh, no. What had Sven done now? He really was out of it, trying to protect Wendy and forgetting that he wasn't invincible.
"Luxray!" Sven's Partner settled down beside him and pressed his furry body against him.
Pikachu approached him, and the two began communicating with each other.
Dawn's Piplup paused before the Empoleon and tried to stand tall. It was incredible how such a small Pokémon could become so huge.
Pikachu soon approached Ash, who kneeled to him and asked, "What is it, Pikachu?"
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu explained, shuddering.
"Mm-hmm." Ash shifted his focus between Pikachu and Empoleon, then back to Pikachu.
Wendy kneeled and clutched Sven's arm. "We-Well?"
"I think I've got it," Ash said, looking at her. "Pikachu says that Sven was trying to reach Ms. Winter's cabin when he collapsed."
Brock approached Sven next and removed his knapsack.
"Is he sick, Brock?" Wendy's voice quivered. "He's pale."
"Hm. Pikachu," Brock ordered, "could you ask Luxray how long Sven was exposed to the cold when he fell yesterday?"
"Pika." Pikachu faced Luxray. "Pika, Pikachu?"
"Lux, Lux," Luxray replied.
It was incredible how Ash understood Pikachu when he talked to him. That was helpful; if only Sven were awake to see it.
Ash told Brock, "Pikachu says it was between fifteen and thirty minutes, but Luxray isn't 100% sure because he came and got us."
"Yeah," Brock said, pulling a blanket from his knapsack and draping it over Sven. "It's hypothermia—a mild case, but still one."
"Hypo…" Wendy's voice trailed. "But that was yesterday, Brock."
"Symptoms can show up a little later," Brock explained. "The most important thing is that we get to Ms. Winter's before he gets worse."
Ash, looking a bit guilty, explained, "Dawn gave him a blanket when we got him yesterday, Brock, but I guess it wasn't enough."
"Wait…" A scared look crossed Dawn's face. "Is this my fault?"
"No," Wendy quickly replied. "Sven's just reckless, Dawn." She and Brock helped him onto her Staraptor's back.
Brock giggled and glanced at Ash. "Reminds me of somebody."
Ash blushed and scratched the back of his head.
Brock then said to the Empoleon, "Thank you, Empoleon, for looking out for him until we got here."
"Empol!" The Steel/Water Pokémon saluted with its wing.
"We'll be back," Kellyn explained. "We need to get to Almia Castle."
"Empol!" Empoleon said again. It dove into Ice Lake and swam toward one of the ice blocks.
Everyone watched as it charged at full speed and shattered the ice, pieces scattering like glass. It then dipped back underwater.
The memories of Almia Castle from Kellyn's first visit returned, and he told Ash, Brock, and Dawn, "That's how we're going to get to the Castle—once we help Sven."
"By smashing ice?" Ash inquired, and Kellyn bobbed his head.
"While riding on the back of Empoleon." With those words, Kellyn passed the Sinnoh trio and headed toward a forest beyond the lake's snowbanks. "Follow me. Ms. Winter's cabin is just up ahead." Sven nearly made it, but not quite. However, hopefully, he had learned Darkrai's lesson. Kellyn still wasn't sure if he had learned his, but that could wait.
Ms. Winter lived on a small hill in the forest at the foot of Ice Lake. Kellyn recognized her one-story log cabin through the frozen trees and signaled toward it. "There it is." It had been a while since he saw Ms. Winter, so he wondered if she would recognize him. Even if she didn't, surely, she would help Sven.
The group passed a few Wild Pokémon, who watched as they reached Ms. Winter's cabin.
Kellyn inhaled and raised his fist, knocking on the door. Just as he did, a cold gust of wind swept through Hia Valley, and he and his team shivered.
The door opened after thirty seconds, revealing an older woman with long, white hair tied back in a bun, dressed in a warm, puffy-sleeved dress with a sweater over it. Ms. Winter's baby blue eyes fixed on Kellyn, who bowed.
"Sorry for disturbing you, Ms. Winter, but I'm Kellyn. I met you last year."
"Kellyn!" Ms. Winter tossed her wooden cane aside and hugged him. "It's good to see you again, dear!"
Okay, whew. Kellyn's shoulders relaxed.
Releasing him, Ms. Winter looked at the others behind him. "Oh, you brought me a new husband?" she asked, waving her hand. "You shouldn't have!" Ms. Winter chuckled at her joke.
Kellyn weakly smiled. "Not exactly. This is Ash, Brock, and Dawn. I met them in Sinnoh."
"Hi," Ash said. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Winter." He and Brock were the only ones who smiled; Dawn still looked guilty.
Kellyn gestured at Wendy and Sven next. "That's Wendy and Sven from the Union. We're here because we were headed to Almia Castle, but Sven needs help."
"Uh-oh," Ms. Winter playfully said. "Another young one who thought they could brave Hia Valley on their own?"
Wendy pointed at herself. "He was actually looking for me."
"Oh!" Ms. Winter grinned. "A lovestruck one—even better!" She laughed when Brock blushed and stepped aside. "Come in, come in, and bring your Pokémon. I've got cookies and tea, and we'll get him warmed right up."
"Thank you." Kellyn entered first, followed by Wendy, who released her remaining Staraptor.
Ash returned Staravia and said, "Great job, Staravia. Now, take a good rest." He was the last one to enter the cabin.
Kellyn explored Ms. Winter's cabin, taking in the familiar sights: the living room, TV, and winter-themed carpet. Three doors led off from the den, but he didn't open them.
Kellyn gripped his arm and soon noticed the crisp scent of chocolate chip cookies coming from the kitchen.
Brock, Wendy, and Ms. Winter helped Sven onto the couch by the roaring fire, and Ms. Winter gathered a few blankets. Wendy removed his hat, and Ms. Winter covered him with the blankets.
"There we go." Ms. Winter smacked her hands together. "He should be fine now and come around soon."
"Thank you, Ms. Winter," Wendy said.
It wasn't long before Kellyn noticed Blu was missing, but he reappeared on the couch with Sven. "Thank you, thank you!" he squawked. "Sister in danger."
"Oh, is he the famous Blue-Bird?" Ms. Winter inquired.
"He is," Kellyn replied.
Blu walked in a few circles, then settled by the fire with Sven and folded his wings.
"I've got to hear this. Sit, sit," Ms. Winter told the others. They did, and she went into the kitchen, reappearing soon after with a tray of tea and cookies. She set them on the coffee table between everyone. "Fresh out of the oven, and three different types of tea."
At least she enjoyed the company. Kellyn no longer felt like he was intruding. However, he didn't like that J hadn't ambushed him and the others yet.
He tried to push the thoughts away and listened when Wendy asked, "So, Sven's okay, Ms. Winter?"
"Don't worry," she encouraged. "He's not the first. Young people come out here, thinking they can beat the cold, and boom! Hypothermia. I've made tea and cookies for plenty of people and Pokémon. It adds a little excitement to my day, you know?" Kellyn saw a flash of sadness in Ms. Winter's eyes. "My dear husband would want me to do this."
"We're sorry." Brock poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip.
Ms. Winter smiled again. "Don't be. I love the company. You guys must be trying to save the Gem Guardian if you're heading to Almia Castle."
And she knew how?
Ms. Winter must've read Kellyn's mind because she glanced at him. "The King visited me a few days ago. Said I would have company."
"Darkrai?" Kellyn said aloud, and Ms. Winter nodded.
"Prince of Vatonage, aren't you, Kellyn?"
Oh, gosh. Kellyn nervously giggled. "Oh, I'm not a prince."
"Oh, hush." Ms. Winter handed him a teacup. "The King chose you personally. I'm sure your lovestruck friend's jealous."
Well, true, but Sven wasn't awake to insult Kellyn.
"So, let's see it." Ms. Winter leaned back in her rocking chair and focused on him.
"Huh?" he asked.
"Your power," Ms. Winter continued. "You can use Vatonage, right?"
"Oh, well…" Kellyn gulped. "I'm still learning." Last night's darkness wave proved that.
"Then practice," Ms. Winter said.
Oh, gosh. Well, Kellyn should have expected this from Hia Valley's Elder. He set his cup down and pulled back the sleeve of his coat, resting his hand on his Styler.
"Nah-hah-hah!" Ms. Winter rolled up a newspaper and bopped him on the head. "No cheating. You can't rely on just your Styler with Parity."
How much did Darkrai tell her? Kellyn didn't ask that aloud and shuddered as he removed his Styler. He placed it beside his teacup and flipped his hand so his palm faced up.
The others and the Pokémon observed, curious, but they only made Kellyn uneasy.
"No!" he said, standing up and stepping back. "I can't do this." He bumped into a lamp and gasped, turning around.
Blue-Bird soon appeared beside him and used his powers to prevent the lamp from falling.
"Blu saved the day!" he cheerfully announced, but Kellyn didn't acknowledge him—the darkness.
He clutched his head with his good hand.
Ms. Winter stood and started toward him, still holding her newspaper. Once she reached him, she bopped his head again and said, "And that, young prince, is your problem."
Kellyn was not a prince.
Ms. Winter fell silent, but finally admitted, "You're scared of Vatonage."