Chapter 24 Whirl Islands.

Riding on Wallace's boat, the Chosens has left the Miara Town and they are now sailing on the Stormy Seas. The area they are in has a lot of waves that make the boat shaking really wild.

"The storm looks really weird..." Wallace says after looking outside the boat. "Everyone, please hold on tight."

"This is really bad...I am about to vomit..." Lillie says with swirls on her eyes.

"Damn it...we really come in a bad time..." Ash says, and then they are being washed to an Island since the boat starts to have a hole in its deck and water is pouring in.

"Great...now our boat just sank, what should we do?" Emily asks.

"We can surf with our Pokemon, but we don't know any direction..." Alice says.

Gladion asks, "How about we ask that Pokemon?" They see a Dunsparce looking Pokemon by the beach, Ash says, "A Delta Dunsparce? We might as well try it. Go! Feraligatr!"

Ash sends out his dancing Pokemon and then they battle the Dunsparce, it is shock to them that it can use String Shot, but in the end, Ash manages to capture it.

"Dunsparce, we need to find the Whirl Islands, can you lead the way?"

The Pokemon nods as he starts to surf, as for the others, they are preparing their Pokemon to surf on the waters.

Delta Dunsparce: The Water Bug Pokemon: Bug and Water Type. Despite having a menacing appearance, it is quite friendly and skates across ponds' surfaces.


With Dunsparce's help, they finally reach the Whirl Islands. There are several entrances inside and they enter difference caves in order to find out where Audrey is. In the caves, they can see a lot of Abyssal Cultists waiting for their arrival, so they are forced to battle them in order to move forwards.

"Ash, look what I found!" Lillie yells as they rush towards where she is and find a pedestal with the puzzle of it. Meloetta appears and nods to Ash.

"This is the third puzzle of Meloetta..." Ash says as he starts to move the puzzle.

Wallace asks, "Can you explain what is going on?"

"You see, there are a total of 8 puzzles in the Torren Region, and we have to get 8 scrolls in order to fully activate Meloetta's singing ability." Nora says.

"I see." Wallace says. "I almost forgot that your mother was the Chosen for Meloetta, right?"

Lillie says, "She is, which is why when she is missing, Ash wants to solve all the puzzle for her sake."

Then after Ash finishes the puzzle, the song is heard and then the puzzle goes down and a scroll appears. Ash says, "Five more to go, now we should go fight Audrey."

The others nod as they rush towards the place where Audrey is standing, she just smirks at them and says, "I was getting worried you wouldn't show up. After all, we wouldn't want to start without our special snowflake heroes, would we?"

"Your grunts are giving us some hard time to get here after all." Wallace says, "You have better explain what you are doing here, Audrey."

"The Whirl Islands are home to one of the oldest living creatures. Lugia, the guardian of the sea, the Stormslinger. It hasn't graced us with its presence since the days with Shamoutti, and that hero was you, right?"

Ash flinches and he asks, "How do you know it was me?"

"Ash, what's going on?" Emily asks.

"Simple, he was the one who works with Lugia to save the world from Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres." Audrey says. "As a chosen of Articuno, Alice. I don't think that you don't know a thing, right?"

Alice grits a little and nods, "So what if I do? What does it matter to this?"

Audrey says, "But now, the Whirl Islands- it's home- has returned. The domain of a legendary Pokemon isn't an ordinary place... It's connected to that Pokemon's artifact. It's why the Hall of Origin only appeared when you brandished the Azure Flute. And now, I have the Bell, so Lugia would bend to my will."

Arceus curses himself and mutters, "Why did I create those items to control them in the first place? Just great...I screw up big time..."

"Now, emerge, Lugia! You will be mine! You will become my pawn...and soon, the world will tremble in fear!" Audrey yells as the ritual begins, and then the waterfall in front of them shakes and then Lugia appears out of it.

"Welcome Stormslinger. My name is Audrey. I am the leader of the Abyssal Cult. With your strength and my leadership, this planet could be ours. We have great plans for the world, Lugia, but we need your help to pull them off. What do you say? Will you join us? Will you work under me?" Audrey asks.

Lugia tries to resist the bell, but the bell's power is so strong as eventually, it is under control, much to everyone's dismay. Audrey gives out a laugh and says, "Ash Ketchum...the son of the Augur. Are you satisfied? Did you see what you came to see?"

"How will I be satisfied if you have one of the Legendary Pokemon under your control?" Ash says with a cold voice.

"Of course you aren't. You'll want to battle. But here is the thing... Even if you win, it's not like I'll release Lugia and leave. Why would I? Beating me won't change a thing. You walked right into a trap."

Just then, they are surrounded by the Abyssal Cultists, Nora groans, "You..."

"You win, you get nothing, but if I win, you lose everything. Your friends, your life...and your chance at saving the region." Audrey says with a smirk. "Now a full six on six battle, I'll give you a chance to struggle."

She sends out a Shiny Lanturn as her first Pokemon, Ash says, "Lanturn might have Water Absorb or Volt Absorb...if that's the case...Meganium, I choose you!"

As the Pokemon appears, Ash tells her that the battle is for their lives, so she decides to hug him later.

"Meganium, use Energy Ball!" The dinosaur Pokemon shoots out a green ball at the Lanturn.

"Toxic." Lanturn poisons the Meganium, causing her to be in pain.

"Hang in there, Meganium. Vine Whip!" Before the vines can hit him, Audrey says, "Volt Switch." The Pokemon throws a ball of Electricity and then goes back into his Pokeball. Then she sends out Ludicolo.

"A Ludicolo...this is really bad..." Ash says. "Meganium, return. Noctowl! I choose you!"

As the ice owl Pokemon appears, Audrey says, "Rain Dance!"

Then the field is covered by Water. "Noctowl! Use Air Slash!" "Ice Beam!" Audrey yells as the two Pokemon clash their attacks. "Use Roost!" Ash yells as the Pokemon recovers. Audrey says, "Giga Drain, make the Roost useless for that Pokemon!"

Once the attack hits, Lillie says, "This is really bad...Audrey is a skilled Trainer..."

"But Ash is battling for us...and it is frustrating that we can't help him..." Nora says in frustration as they are still held hostage by the Cult members.

"Finish it with Hurricane!" Ash yells as the Ludicolo is now trapped inside the cyclone and it faints.

"Return, I think I underestimated you. Lanturn." As the Pokemon returns, it defeats Noctowl with a Thunderbolt.

"Return, Noctowl, Meganium!" Both trainers go to the beginning and then they clash at each other, with the Leech Seed and the Toxic going on, both Pokemon are defeated.

Audrey sends out Kingdra next as Ash sends out Fraxure. Fraxure uses Dragon Pusle while Kingdra does the same, but with the Draco Meteor from Kingdra, Fraxure is on the floor.

"Come on...get up, Fraxure..." Ash says with horror, but thanks to the evolution, it gets back up and defeats Kingdra with a Bullet Punch.

Delta Haxorus: The Anchor Shark Pokemon. Water and Steel Type. Evolved from Fraxure at LV:48. Its dorsal fin fuses with an anchor during evolution. Though it loses its ability to quickly navigate through water, it becomes a very fearsome foe on land.

Once Haxorus is defeated, Audrey sends out Swampert next. "Use Earthquake."

The move is super effective to the now Water and Steel Type Pokemon, and then it faints.

"Greninja, come on out and help me!" Ash says as he sends out his now Grass and Fire Type Pokemon.

"So this is the famous Greninja which can change forms, it is a shame that you turned him into a Delta Pokemon. It lost his Water Type..." Audrey says,.

"Talk if you like, let's go, Greninja." Ash says as they change their forms. Together, Ash's swift moves manages to dodge all the Water attacks and then defeats the Pokemon with Razor Leaf.

"Don't think that you are winning. Come on, Crawdaunt!" As the Pokemon appears, Audrey shows her Mega Bracelet as the group widen their eyes.

"No..." Wallace says.

"Mega Evolve!" As the Pokemon change its form, Ash says, "A Mega Crawdaunt? Are you serious?"

"Night Slash!" Audrey yells as the Pokemon charges, but much to Ash's shock, Crawdaunt's speed is fast enough to hit Greninja. Ash also feels the pain.

"Ash!" Lillie says in worry.

"I will be fine." Ash says as Greninja uses Blaze Kick, it hurts a little, but not enough. Crawdaunt uses Crabhammer, but Greninja manages to hold on with the Cut, then it uses Double Team to make Crawdaunt confused and then defeats it with a Leaf Blade.

"Greninja, return." Ash says as he recalls the Pokemon. Audrey says, "You were just lucky, but Lugia, destroy him."

As the Lugia is her last Pokemon, Ash sends out Gallade. Gallade is being hit by the Pokemon and it couldn't hit the Legendary, much to Ash's frustration.

"Will he be okay?" Alice asks in worry. "I mean, Lugia is a Legendary Pokemon, and Gallade is just a normal Delta Pokemon..."

Lillie says, "We have to help him."

"But how?" Gladion asks. "We are trapped here..."

Lillie sees a glow besides her feet and yells, "Ash! Catch!" She throws the thing really high that the Cultists can't grab it. Ash also misses but Gallade catches it.

"Thanks, Lillie. Mega evolve!" Ash presses his and then Gallade mega evolve. Audrey says, "That won't save you, Aeroblast!"

"Dodge and then use Thunder!" Ash yells.

Much to her surprise, with the Mega Evolution giving the Pokemon power, Lugia is fainted.

"What? How did you..." Audrey shows no expression. "I must say, I am impressed. You defeated both Lugia and my Mega Crawdaunt. Fine, I will let you guys live...for now. But be warned, if you ever cross my path again, or if you mention my dead son in front of me again, I might not be so merciful. It's time to move on to the next phase. Abyssal Cult! Move out!"

And then the cult is gone. Lillie rushes to Ash and asks, "Ash, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

"I am fine, you don't need to worry about me." Ash says with a smile. "But we let them get away...and they still have Lugia as their hostage as well."

Arceus says, "It is my fault, I shouldn't create the Tidal Bell in the first place..."

"You don't know this will happen as well, Arceus, what we need to do is to get the bell and Lugia back. Right now there is no reason to stay here, we must go." Ash says as they leave the cave.


Now Audrey has Lugia and she lost to Ash, but she has retreated and then the cult is gone for now. What should the heroes do next? Find out in the next chapter.