After a short trip back to Jubilife Village with the Security Corps escort, Ash and Akari headed inside the Galaxy Team headquarters and made their way up to the Commander's office. Upon seeing the two young recruits, Commander Kamado faced them and acknowledged their presence.
"I see you two are back from your mission. What do you have to report?"
"It was a complete success, sir." Akari answered.
"You managed to quell Kleavor's frenzy?" the Commander tried to confirm.
"We sure did. Lord Kleavor will be just fine." Ash assured him.
"Very impressive. I commend you both for your hard work." Kamado nodded.
"Thank you, Commander." Both young adults replied simultaneously.
"You both enjoy the night off." He granted them.
"Sounds good." Ash smiled.
"Thank you, sir." Akari echoed the sentiment. With the Commander's blessing, Ash and Akari headed back down the stairs and out into the village, both eager to enjoy a well-earned delicious dinner. Pikachu however noticed something was still bugging Ash, so he nudged his friend to silently ask if he was ok.
"I'm alright Pikachu…" he whispered. "It's just…there's still no sign of May..."
The next morning was another bright and sunny one. As usual, Ash yawned as he slowly woke up and got out of bed. His best friend was still sleeping in the bed, making Ash chuckle. He then scratched the Electric type's head gently, earning a purr as Pikachu roused from his sleep and slowly opened his eyes.
"Morning buddy." Ash smiled at him.
"Morning." Pikachu yawned as he stretched and shook out his fur. The two of them started cleaning up and getting ready for the day when they suddenly heard a knock at the front door, drawing their attention.
"Who is it?" Ash called out curiously.
"Morning Ash!" a familiar voice answered him from outside.
"Oh!" Ash smiled as he ran over and opened the door to more properly greet the traveling merchant. "Morning Volo!"
"I heard you took on Kleavor yesterday." The blonde man commented.
"I sure did. Together with Akari, we were able to calm him down and quell his frenzy." Ash explained as Pikachu hopped back onto his shoulder.
"That's simply incredible. To not only take on a Pokémon blessed with Almighty Sinnoh's protection, but to also defeat him without causing him harm. It's truly impressive. You really are something special." Volo praised him.
"Well, It wasn't just me who defeated him." Ash reminded him with a slightly embarrassed blush. "It was Akari who made the balms and helped battle Kleavor..."
"Yes, but if the rumors are true, you were the one who received something from both Noble Wydreer and Lord Kleavor." Volo countered, surprising Ash with how much he knew about the situation.
"Uh yes...?"
"I'm just dying of curiosity. Tell me, what did they give you?"
"Uh…these I guess." Ash answered as he took out the two plates from his satchel and showed them to Volo. The merchant's eyes widened in surprise as he studied the two small items.
"Amazing...what are they?" he wondered.
"No idea..." Ash lied again.
"Perhaps like the Nobles and Lords, they too have a connection to Almighty Sinnoh." Volo suggested.
"I don't know... I suppose it's possible..." Ash cautiously admitted.
"Perhaps there are even more out there to discover." He smiled. "I do love a good ancient mystery."
"Heh…right." Ash agreed awkwardly.
"Oh wow! This haircut shop is the best!" a new voice suddenly cheered from the street. Volo and Ash turned towards the street and saw a red-headed woman in a Diamond Clan outfit standing just outside the haircut shop across the street. Ash's eyes widen in shock at the resemblance of the woman to an old adversary of his. The woman seemed to notice them looking and turned around herself. "Oh hello. Aren't the haircuts they give you here just the greatest?"
"I've never had one...but I'm sure they do good work…" Ash sweatdropped.
"You're Arezu aren't you? A Warden of the Diamond Clan?" Volo inquired.
"Guilty." She smiled with a playful smirk.
"She looks a lot like Mars..." Ash commented to himself.
"Toodles you guys." She winked before heading off toward the Galaxy Team Headquarters.
"I've heard she's a strange one. I guess it's true." Volo remarked.
"Strange is right..." Ash agreed.
"Well anyway, I'd better be off. Thank you for letting me see what you found. I hope you'll keep me apprised of any future mysteries you uncover." He said with a wave before heading off on his way. Soon after he had vacated the area, Akari walked out of her barracks and caught up with Ash.
"Morning." She greeted him.
"Good morning." He replied.
"You're up early." She pointed out.
"A little. Volo paid me a visit just now. Apparently, he heard about me getting those plate things from Wydeer and Kleavor." He explained.
"Wow. Well, I guess he does get around." She shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess. I actually saw a Warden of the Diamond Clan come by earlier. Arezu I think we her name." he added.
"Oh, I thought that sounded like her voice. Where was she off to?"
"Headquarters actually."
"Ah. Well should we go too and see what all the fuss is about?" she suggested.
"Sounds good." He nodded. With that decided, Akari and Ash headed toward their headquarters and were soon in the lobby. There didn't seem to be any sign of Arezu on that floor as they took a quick glance around.
"She must've gone to see the Commander." Akari realized.
"Good call." Ash agreed. The two of them headed up to the third floor and just as they predicted, they found Commander Kamado and Arezu talking. Upon their arrival, the Commander turned towards them and nodded in approval.
"Good, you're both here. Arezu has just informed me that Noble Ursaluna in the Crimson Mirelands has also been thrown into a frenzy." He explained.
"Ursaluna too?!" Akari gasped.
"Is this Ursaluna a Lord like Kleavor?" Ash asked.
"Not in the same way. He's more like Noble Wyrdeer. A powerful Pokemon said to be blessed with the protection of Almighty Sinnoh, just as Kleavor is, and has a Warden attending to his needs, but Ursaluna is only a Noble, not a Lord." Kamado clarified as best he could.
"If Ursaluna has been frenzied it means that not even normal Pokémon are safe from becoming this way..." Akari added.
"I'd like you two to go to the Crimson Mirelands and find Ursaluna's Warden, Miss Calaba. Have her take you to Ursaluna and find out what's going on." He instructed them.
"Affirmative Commander." Ash nodded.
"Yes sir." Akari agreed.
"Good. Dismissed." He excused them. The two trainers nodded and walked off, heading back outside and towards the gate out of town.
"So, I take it you don't know anything about the Crimson Mirelands?" Akari guessed.
"Nope." He chuckled.
"Well I've only been there a few times, but I'll tell you it's pretty muddy and swampy. A lot of Ground and Grass Type Pokémon. Like the other areas, it has two Noble Pokémon. Ursaluna and Lilligant that are watched over by the Pearl and Diamond Clans respectively. And the Diamond Clan even has their village there." She explained. Though her last comment suddenly piqued Ash's interest.
"There's a village there?" he asked.
"Sure is. It's grown from where they first settled." She confirmed.
"I see. Well while we're there, could we check the Diamond Clan's village?" he suggested.
"I guess so. But why?" she wondered.
"Well my girlfriend isn't anywhere in this village so…maybe…" his voice trailed off, but the message still got across to his partner.
"Oh…right of course. Yeah, we'll look for her." She nodded, ignoring the hurt that the idea caused her. A hopeful smile lit up Ash's face as they joined up with their Security Corps escort.
After a sizable walk, the duo arrived with their escort at the Crimson Mirelands base camp. The base camp was on a slight hill, giving Ash a chance to view the sweeping landscape in front of him. He had seen the swamps around Pastoria City in his time, but he had no idea they used to be this massive. It was truly a sight for him.
"Whoa..." he whispered as Akari walked to his side.
"I guess our first step would be to find Miss Calaba." She suggested.
"But where to find her in a massive area like this...?" he questioned her.
"Well, I suppose she's probably either at the Solaceon Ruins or with Ursaluna at Ursa's Ring." She replied.
"The Solaceon Ruins?" he asked, recognizing the familiar name. His partner nodded and pointed to a large building just across the river.
"She's often there to help protect the relics inside."
"Alright. Then how about we check there first? It is right here."
"Right. If I remember correctly there's some kind of log bridge we can use to cross the river." Ash nodded and started heading towards the river with Akari following behind. The two of them were careful to avoid any Pokemon as they moved quietly through a patch of tall grass. It looked like they were about to get through unscathed when suddenly Akari heard a small cry in the grass. "Huh?"
"What?" Ash asked as he looked over. All of a sudden, a Petelil jumped out of the grass and into Akari's arms, trembling with fright at something.
"Whoa!" she yelped as she barely managed to catch the little Pokemon. "A-A Petelil?"
"She seems scared. What would she be running fr-" Ash's question was interrupted as a Carnivine leaped out of the grass and lunged right towards the Petelil in Akari's arms.
"Ah!" Akari screamed.
"Look out!" Ash gasped as he dove at her and tackled her away from Carnivine. The Carnivine missed them and tumbled forward as Akari landed on her back and Ash landed on top of her. A blush lit up Akari's cheeks as Ash quickly got back onto his feet and faced their attacker. Carnivine got back up and turned back toward them, seemingly ready for a fight. Ash grabbed a pokeball from his belt and turned towards Pikachu. "Pikachu protect Akari and Petelil! Rowlet, use Aerial Ace!"
"Row!" Rowlet chirped as he was released from the thrown pokeball. He flew in and used Aerial Ace against Carnivine, hitting the Grass-type and sent him flying backward. Akari sat up on the ground behind Ash and Pikachu as the Petelil in her arms lifted her head a little and looked at Rowlet curiously.
"Lil...?"
"Carni…vine!" Carnivine yelled as he got back up and thrust a Vine Whip at Rowlet to counterattack.
"Dodge it!" Ash called out, prompting Rowlet to fly up and dodge the Vine Whip's grip. However, Carnivine wasn't done yet and floated quickly into the sky and toward Rowlet, even as the owl Pokemon flew higher. Carnivine fired Bullet Seed at Rowlet who was able to dodge, but Carnivine seized on the distraction and grabbed him with Vine Whip. "Oh no! Quick use Razor Leaf and get out of there!"
"Row…ro row…!" Rowlet cried as he struggled to fire Razor Leaf but ultimately failed to land a single leaf. Carnivine reeled Rowlet in towards his mouth as he opened it wide, preparing to finish off his catch.
"Oh no!" Akari gasped.
"Pet petelil!" the Petelil in her arms cried out in fear.
"Rowlet no!" Ash panicked, unsure of how to help in time.
"Petelil use Petal Dance!" Akari suddenly called out on a whim. The Petelil jumped out of her arms and struck Carnivine with Petal Dance causing Carnivine to stumble backward and accidentally release Rowlet all at once.
"Nice work you two! Rowlet finish this with Razor Leaf!" Ash quickly called out. Rowlet flapped his wings with great force and fired Razor Leaf at Carnvine sending him crashing into a tree. After he got back up, it looked like he'd had enough as he growled at them before floating away in defeat, earning a sigh of relief from everyone. Petelil turned back towards them and bounced up to Rowlet with a bright smile on her face.
"Lil pet..." she thanked him as a light blush crossed her cheeks.
"Row!" Rowlet replied happily, earning a chuckle from Pikachu as he saw the mutual crushing the two were starting to have. Akari meanwhile got back up on her feet, blushing a little as she faced Ash in a similar fashion.
"Thanks for the save..." she commented.
"It's no problem Akari. As long as you're ok." He replied, earning another smile and blush from her.
"Well then...shall we continue to the ruins...?" she asked.
"Sure thing." He nodded in agreement. They both turned and looks at Petelil and Rowlet, noticing Petelil nuzzling Rowlet with a blush on her cheeks, which was making Rowlet blush as well.
"I'm sorry Petelil…" Akari called their attention as she walked over to them. "We have to go now. You stay out of trouble ok?"
"Lil?" she said as she looked at Rowlet sadly.
"Row…" Rowlet echoed a similar sentiment, giving Ash an idea.
"Akari, why not bring Petelil with you?" he suggested, gaining her attention.
"You mean catch her?" she asked.
"Pet?" Petelil echoed her confusion.
"Sure why not?" he nodded. "She looks like she doesn't want to be separated from Rowlet. And we could always use more Pokemon on our team."
"Well..." Akari considered as she looked back at the two Pokémon before her. "Would you two like that?"
"Pet!" Petelil smiled.
"Row!" Rowlet nodded.
"Alright..." Akari smiled as she pulled out a pokéball and held it out to the small Grass type. "Can't say I've ever done it this way but let's do it."
"Lil lili pet." Petelil cheered as she tapped the pokéball with her forehead and went inside. Akari set the ball down on the ground as it shook for a moment or two before shooting off a firework into the air.
"Awesome!" Ash cheered.
"Row let let!" Rowlet agreed. Akari smiled softly and picked up the pokéball.
"That was...kinda neat." She admitted.
"It sure was. I always love meeting Pokemon that way." He nodded. "Now, let's get going to the ruins."
"Alright." Akari agreed as she put the pokeball away in her bag. "The log bridge is right over there."
"Sounds good." He agreed as he recalled Rowlet and headed towards the bridge as Akari followed him.
To be Continued...
