Chapter 24 Miss Fortune Sisters
Croagunk's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,2,4,10,15 Number defeated:1,3,8,20,40 Number of you've defeated with Psychic-type moves:1,2,5,10,20 Times you have seen it use Mud Bomb:1,3,6,12,25 Times you've scared it off with a Scatter Bang:1,2,3,4,5 Number of different forms you've obtained:2 Number you've evolved:1 Investigated Croagunk poison's medicinal properties:1
Hisui Dex Entry No.99 Croagunk: The Toxic Mouth Pokemon: Poison- and Fighting-type. A poison wielder with a dastardly personality. Despite such qualities, this species is afforded a measure of popularity due to its peculiar cry and comical features.
"And there is also a Ralts." Serena points at the Pokemon who is teleporting around.
"Ralts have two final evolution, one is Gardevoir, and the other one is Gallade. Both of them are very strong." Ash says.
"Reminds me of Diantha and her Mega Gardevoir." Serena says.
They find a small Ralts and give it food, so they can capture it without being caught.
Ralts' Research Tasks: Number caught:1,3,6,12,25 Number of small specimens caught:1,2,5,7,10 Number you've caught without being spotted:1,2,5,10,20 Number defeated:1,2,4,10,15 Times you have seen it use Hypnosis:1,3,6,12,25 Times you've given it food:1,2,3,4,5 Number you've evolved:1,2,3
Hisui Dex Entry No.101 Ralts: The Feeling Pokemon: Psychic- and Fairy-type. Tends to prefer people with a chipper disposition to those who are gloomy, but it has shown no discrimination with regard to age or gender. Needs more research.
The final Pokemon they find in the Pokedex is Yanma, as they are flying around. They have to capture it without being spotted in the evening , which is right now, and then defeat it with a Rock move.
Yanma's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,3,6,12,25 Number you've caught without being spotted:1,2,4,6,10 Number caught in the evening:1,2,5,10,20 Number defeated:1,2,4,10,15 Number of you've defeated with Rock-type moves:1,2,4,6,10 Times you have seen it use Ancient Power:1,3,8,20,40 Number you've evolved:1
Hisui Dex Entry No.105 Yanma: The Clear Wing Pokémon: Bug- and Flying-type. Its frail wings are so thin that one can see clear through them. However, during flight, these wings exhibit the power to churn air with force enough to launch a house skyward.
"Now I think we have already recorded a lot of data right now, how about we do what Commander Kamado asks us to?" Ash asks.
"Good idea." Serena replies as they walk towards the Solaceon Ruins. After heading inside, they find an old lady with a Bibarel. She notices Serena and asks, "Irida? What are you doing wearing those Galaxy people's clothes?"
"You got it wrong, I'm not Irida." Serena says, "My name is Serena and this is Ash. Are you perhaps Calaba of the Pearl Clan?"
"It's warden Calaba to you." Calaba says as she notices the flute, "Ho? Now would you look at that...You have a Celestica Flute. You two must be the ones they say fell out of the space-time rift."
"You're right about that." Ash says.
"I see, I see. I've already heard about you two. That you quelled Kleavor in his frenzy. I'm sure many people were saved by your actions, but I wonder if there wasn't some other way to handle the situation...What you two did is hardly different from bullying a Pokemon into submission, after all." Calaba says.
"Excuse us? We are just wanting to help." Ash says.
"And you run about catching Pokemon up in those little balls you carry...I don't need any help from you sort. Or the Diamond Clan, for that matter. The young lady, Arezu, offered to help, but associating with the Diamond Clan...It just won't do. Be on your way. There is much I must do, and I'd prefer not to be distracted any further."
After seeing her leave, Ash frowns, "She sure is hard to convince..."
"I know...harder than Lian." Serena says.
"Ah, Ash and Serena! How about you show me the strength that could quell even a frenzied lord?" Just then, they turn around and see Volo walking towards them. Ash says, "Sure, but why?"
"A battle with you two might let me experience even a fraction of the power the nobles wield!" Volo smiles.
She goes with a Togepi and a Gible, and Ash goes with Floatzel and Serena goes with Croagunk to battle. Both of them manage to defeat his Pokemon with ease, much to their amusement.
"Oh my! You're quite adept at instructing your Pokemon in battle. My goodness, that was fun!" Volo says. "Such prodigious strength! Now, let me just heal up your Pokemon..."
After healing their Pokemon, he says, "Well now! I think that settles it. I must ask your help in retrieving the stolen Wall Fragment. With your skill, it should be a cinch!"
"Stolen Wall Fragment?" Serena asks as they notice one of the pieces of the wall is missing.
"Some bandits pillaged the Solaceon Ruins and made off with a fragment of the wall engravings! Have you not heard of the notorious Miss Fortunes?" Volo asks. "They're a trio of bandits that have even hit us Ginkgo Guil merchants more than a few times! Not the kind of regulars I like to have, let me tell you!"
"So they are much like Team Rocket..." Serena mutters.
"Mistress Calaba is doing everything she can to regain the fragment, but at 99 years old...It's a bit hard for her to chase leads all over the place. So what do you say, kind sir and ma'am? Why not help find the fragment for the warden?" Volo asks.
"What about you then?" Ash asks.
"Oh - naturally I'll be happy to lend you a hand! Those sisters swiped my wares, too, and I'm no Ginkgo Guild merchant if I take that lying down! And far be it from me to let them just get away with vandalizing the precious ruins of this region!" Volo says.
"Do you have any clue where they might be right now?" Serena asks.
"You know, I did see the remains of a campfire near the Mirelands Camp. Perhaps worth checking out?" Volo asks.
After heading there, they find a burned-out campfire. Ash says, "So somebody must have been here..."
"Yeah, but where are they..." Serena adds.
"Now who might you be? Not some stray traveler, from the look of you." They turn around to see three girls. And much to their surprise, one looks like Saturn from Team Galactic, one looks like Bertha from the Sinnoh Elite Four, and one looks like Candice, the Ice-type Gym Leader.
"There's only one reason people go poking around out here in the middle of nowhere. You're after us three, aren't you?!" The one looking like Candice says.
"Sisters, we should introduce ourselves properly before we show these poor fools how wrong they were to assume they could ever beat us." The one looking like Saturn says.
"I bring good luck to my sisters wherever I go - and ill luck to anyone who crosses our paths. I'm the eldest, and I'll be your unlucky Charm!" The one looking like Bertha says.
"Thought you spotted a four-leaf clover? Well, I'll soon have you seeing double! I'm the middle sister, and I'm one Clover you can't pick!" The one looking like Candice says.
"Heads, I win, and tails, you lose - you've got no chance in this game of fortunes. I'm the youngest, Coin, but I'm definitely not your good-luck piece." The final member tha looks like Saturn says.
"We are the infamous bandit trio, the Miss Fortune sisters - and your luck's just run out!" They all say together.
"Just great." Ash says, knowing they might be as annoying as Team Rocket.
"Let me handle this, sisters. I'll only hurt them a little." Coin says as she sends out Toxicroak. "Come on, Toxicroak. Let's douse these fools in poison!"
Ash goes with Mr. Mime to battle, and with the help of Light Screen and Reflect, it doesn't take a lot of damage, and with the Psychic attack, Toxicroak is defeated with ease.
"I'm not fond of this outcome, but at least it's still better than plowing fields for the Galaxy Team!" Coin shrugs after losing the battle. "The Galaxy Team continues to spoil things for me, even after I've left. Take the blasted fragment and go. Just leave us alone!"
They drop the Wall Fragment on the ground and Clover says, "The weird writing on it made us think the stupid thing was some kinda treasure. But it turned out to be a worthless slab of junk. Tch! All that effort for nothing!"
"Tell me - why were you even seeking us out? What set you on this path?" Charm asks.
"We just want that wall fragment so we can help Calaba. That's all we need." Serena says.
"Goodness, how selfless of you - to go so far out of your way for the sake of another. Not all of us have the luxury of offering such unthinking kindness to strangers. For some of us, simply surviving another day takes all that we have. And I've got a score to settle with the Galaxy Team...which now includes both of you!"
Before they leave, Charm adds, "Remember what those ancient verses tell us... "Why is it, in days of spring, beneath the soft caress of the sun, the blossoms tremble and fall, spirits lashed by uncertainty?" Your days are also numbered, Galaxy fools."
Then they throw Smoke Bombs and disappear, Ash turns to Serena and says, "I just hope they aren't like Team Rocket. They saw how I defeat them with Pikachu, that's why they settle a goal to take my Pikachu away."
Pikachu nods in agreement, and Serena says, "But somehow this won't be the last time we'll see them."
After getting back to the Ruins, Ash and Serena manage to find Volo who is watching over Calaba, he says, "Good work, very good work indeed. Ash and Serena! You got the fragment back safe and sound! I'm well aware of Calaba's reputation - they say she's stubborn, too old-fashioned, and so on...But she's given the Pearl Clan all she has, ever since she was young. She lived her prime years here in the Hisui region, trusting in the guidance of almighty Sinnoh. I don't think it's that she hates the Diamond Clan or the Galaxy Team - rather, I think she simply loves the Pearl Clan very, very much. Anyway, I do hope you're able to calm Ursaluna's frenzy, Ash and Serena! A raging Pokemon in the area definitely isn't good for business, I assure you."
After walking towards Calaba, she says, "Oh, so you two've come to bother me again? Well, come as often as you'd like, but it won't change my mind."
"We are just here to return the Wall Fragment, that's all." Serena says.
"What? You went and retrieved the fragment from those bandits? Why go out of your way like that for a complete stranger like me? I guess you're that eager to calm Ursaluna, hmm?"
"That's right, we can't bear seeing people or Pokemon struggling without helping out." Ash says.
"I'll admit, I didn't expect anybody else to truly care of Ursaluna...Well then, let's see that Wall Fragment." Serena hands the Wall Fragment to Calaba, and then they put it back to where it belong.
"There you go, it is as good as new." Calaba says. Ash notices that the words are made of Unown, he reads, "All lives touch other lives to create something anew and alive."
"I see you're able to read." Calaba says to Ash. "I suppose it means people helping each other, like how you helped retrieve the fragment. I've read this passage many, many times. But this is the first time I've truly understood what it means. Maybe this is almighty Sinnoh's guidance?"
She turns around and says, "Ash and Serena, those are your names, right? Please lend me your strength, so that we may help Ursaluna. It's true that Ursaluna has become enraged, but he doesn't seem to be in an utter frenzy. I think he will return to his normal state if we can just give him some medicine. I could never bring myself to engage Pokemon in battle...But that's something I can rely on you for, am I right?"
"You can count on us, so where is Ursaluna?" Ash asks.
"Ursaluna prefers to stay on Sludge Moun. Please join me there when you're ready." Calaba says as she leaves with her Bibarel.
I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, Ash and Serena finally meet the Miss Fortune Sisters, and they are very similar to Team Rocket in some way. I hope you like this chapter.