Chapter 34 Post Crimson Mirelands Part 6
Using Ursaluna's smell, they find Wanda at the Gapejaw Bog. Ash asks, "Are you Wanda?"
She says, "P-people! Real, live human beings! Oh, thank goodness! I was on my way back to the base camp when I got attacked by some wild Pokemon...I managed to get away from them, but I got completely lost when I was running, and...um...Please! Can you tell me how to get back home?!"
"Sure, the Bogbound Camp is over there, you can see it if you continue to walk that path." Serena shows her the directions.
"I see, thank you so much!" But she starts to walk the other path, and Ash says, "Not that way! This way!"
"Right, of course! I knew you meant this direction!" Wanda says as she walks the right path. Ash and Serena are still concerned as they decide to follow the girl. Once they arrive back at the Bogbound Camp, they see Professor Laventon and he checks their Pokedex, after that, they are sure they can go to the fifth rank once they report to Captain Cyllene.
After getting back to the Galaxy Hall, they find Zeke and Wanda, as Zeke says, "Wanda made it back home safe. Am I ever glad I asked you...You're just as good as everyone says you are! Wanda is still new to the Security Corps, you understand. And she's a bit flighty at the best of times, so I can't help but worry about her. If it's not asking too much, do you think you could continue to keep an eye on her?"
"Oooh, stop it, Zeeky! You're embarrassing me! I just got unlucky this time - that's all it was!" Wanda complains.
"That's what you'd have me believe, but ever since we were kids, the instant I took my eyes off of you, you'd be lost somewhere in the bushes!" Zeke replies.
"Well, anyway, Ash and Serena, I do appreciate all your help. So thank you from me, too!" Wanda sighs as she gives them 3 Stardust. After that, they go into Captain Cyllene's office and report the rank-up.
"Hm. You have made progress. It seems you have earned yourself a star." After giving the stars, she says, "Have this as well. It is a further recipe you'll need for crafting."
They get a recipe for Wing Balls, which are the stronger version of Feather Balls. Adaman says to Ash and Serena, "So you two are fifth-star members. That's a good thing to know."
"Yeah, we'll reach the top and become the very best." Ash says, "Right, Serena?"
"Right." Serena replies.
And they find a woman named Risa in the basement of the Galaxy Hall, she is muttering, "That nostalgic and unmistakable fragrance...If only I could smell it again. I wonder if the herbs from my home region can be found here in Hisui as well..."
She notices Ash and Serena as she says, "Oh, you two are from the Survey Corps, right? Maybe you've seen what I'm looking for - it's an herb that looks like a bluish vine. I've heard it clings to a specific Pokemon. Please let me know if you manage to catch a Pokemon that has herbs that look like blue vines hanging off it!"
"That sounds like a Tangela." Ash says. "We do have one in our party."
After sending it out, she says, "Just look at it! It's a solid lump of vines! And this aroma...This is the scent I remember! Yes! THESE are the herbs from my home! I didn't expect the Pokemon to be so absolutely covered in herbs - I mean, vines. And...are the vines moving? I wonder what the Pokemon itself looks like underneath all those..."
Ash and Serena didn't think of that as well, but Risa just says, "Anyway, thank you for finding it!" She rewards them with 5 Smoke Bombs and 2 Exp. Candies S. "Don't worry, I'm only going to take a little bit of your vines to use as herbs." Then she realizes, "Oh, I have an idea! If I lived with a Pokemon like you, I'd be able to enjoy this aroma every day!"
Before going to the Wallflower for dinner with Akari and Laventon, they find a child named Ceci. "Hey, what's that Pokemon up there? What's its name? What's it do?"
Ash says, "It is a Magikarp, it splashes around a lot!"
"Magikarp? Why is it called Magikarp? Is it a cool Pokemon? Is it strong? Can it fly?" Ceci asks.
"It can bounce, but it can't fly." Adaman replies.
"Why can't it fly? Aren't those flappy things its wings? Tell me, tell me!" Ceci says. Ash, Serena, and Adaman don't know what to say, and Ceci just says, "Tell me more! Please! Pleeeaaase!"
"She was just like Bonnie..." Serena mutters.
"You're gonna go learn about Magikarp, right? Can you tell me when you're all done with its page in your pokey-dex?" Ceci asks.
"We've already done that." Ash says as he shows the little girl. After the girl reads it, she says, "I know all about Magikarp now! I'm a Magikarp professor! Now it's my turn to tell you something! Sanqua told me a secret!"
"What is it?" Ash asks.
"Sanqua said she made those Magikarp statues. But she said she really wanted to make Gyarados statues instead! She said that Gyarados is super strong and cool and can even fly! And that Magikarp can become Gyarados! You'll learn more about Gyarados too, right? Pleeeaaase?"
After showing her the Pokedex, they get a Rare Candy from the child before she runs back home for dinner.
Ash turns to Adaman, "So Adaman, have you tried the potato mochis at the Wallflower before?"
"Once, and I can say Beni's cooking is good." Adaman says, "But you guys are having a meeting while eating, right? Are you sure I can just butt in like this?"
"No problem, you're our friend." Serena smiles.
After Akari and Laventon are here, they are surprised to see that Adaman is going to eat with them. So they manage to order some more potato mochi, and Beni brings a giant plate to the table. "There you go. Piping-hot potato mochi, fresh from the stove."
After he leaves, Laventon says, "Now this is the life, eh? Enjoying tasty potato mochi with friends, sharing the latest findings from our Pokemon research, and topping it all off with a good night's sleep...Truly who could ask for anything more!"
Akari says, "I don't disagree...Yet I keep doing the same thing day after day - is it really getting us anywhere? With our research or with carving out a life here?"
"Don't worry, our research is doing great, I mean, we already record over a half Pokemon found in the Hisui Region, and we managed to complete a lot of research tasks as well." Ash says.
"Indeed, I have been watching them and they sure are talented." Adaman says.
"Ah, well. Here's a flashy new recipe to try, Ash and Serena. It's for an item that should help scatter these gloomy thoughts." Akari says as she hands over the recipe for the Scatter Bangs, which needs a Pop Pod and A Caster Fern leaf.
"I was thinking when we're going to get this since some of the research tasks require us to scare Pokemon." Serena says to Ash, who nods. "With this, our missions get easier."
Laventon says to Akari, "Come now - don't worry yourself so, my girl! As a wise man once said, "Trust in yourself, and you will find your way." These words are worth taking to heart! As long as we truly believe in ourselves, I'm sure we'll even complete that Pokedex of ours someday!"
After talking some more, they decide to go back to their quarters to rest, and Adaman says that he already has a staying place in the Jubilife Village provided by Kamado, so he just leaves earlier.
While watching the full moon, Ash has Ursaring hold the Peat Block and let it evolve into an Ursaluna.
Ursaluna's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,2,3,4,5 Times you have seen it use Headlong Rush:1,3,8,20,40 Times you have seen it use Double-Edge:1,3,6,12,25 Times you've seen it use a strong style move:1,3,8,20,40 Times you've seen it use an agile style move:1,3,8,20,40
Hisui Dex Entry No.114 Ursaluna: The Peat Pokemon: Ground-and Normal-type. Evolved from Ursaluna with Peat Block during a full moon. I believe it was Hisui's swampy terrain that gave Ursaluna its burly physique and newfound capacity to manipulate peat at will.
"Now that's done, we should go back to sleep." Ash says as he recalls their own Ursaluna.
"You're right." Serena says as they go back to sleep.
In Cerise Laboratory, Brock is with Goh as he is inspecting his Pokemon. Brock says, "I must say, Goh. You're Pokemon are really healthy."
"Thanks...ever since his death, I realize how important taking care of Pokemon is...it is not just trying to capture them for the Pokedex..." Goh frowns.
Just then, Chloe rushes into the park and she says, "Goh, we have some visitors."
"Really? Who is it?" Goh asks.
"It's Lillie." Chloe says, and this causes Brock to pale a little, she is the one that stands up to those murderers along with Serena, Gladion, and Delia. Goh notices Brock's trembling and he says, "Brock, don't come out of the park, Chloe and I will see what's going on first."
Brock nods as Goh and Chloe go to meet Lillie. Once they are in the living room, Professor Cerise asks, "So what brings you here, Lillie?"
"I was informed by Professor Oak that you guys are trying to find the murderers of Ash and Serena as well, that's why I am here so I want to see how much you've found." Lillie says.
"The truth is, a few of them did come to our lab just right after Ash and Serena were attacked, and we learned their deaths together in the lab." Goh says.
"Then did you arrest them?" Lillie asks, but she gets angry after seeing them shaking their heads. "Why not arrest them?"
"Because they are not the main ones who killed them." Chloe says. "The real murderers are still out there."
"What do you mean main ones and real murderers?" Lillie asks in confusion, and then she hears a voice, "I know you might be too angry to listen to us, but just please hear us out."
Lillie notices that Brock is in front of them, and Goh says, "Brock? Why did you come here? I told you to wait in the park."
"No, this is our mistake and I should be the one explaining myself and some of us." Brock says, "Lillie before you do anything, I want you to hear us out."
"What do you want to talk about?" Lillie asks with a cold voice.
"Some of us don't know that Misty and the others are going to kill Ash, we were as confused as you. But we didn't stand up to Ash and Serena like you guys, we just stand there like cowards...that's why Ash and Serena thought we were siding with them. But trust us, we aren't with them."
"Then why did you act like cowards? Ash would want a lot of help from us!" Lillie says in a cold voice that the whole lab is shivering.
"That's why we have no right to earn Ash's forgiveness...we indirectly killed Ash and Serena because of our neglect." Brock frowns. "That's why we are helping Professor Cerise to find the true murderers."
Lillie sighs as she calls Delia to tell her about the news, after a while, she ends the call and says, "Brock, bring everyone that you think was in the same shoes with you to the Aether Foundation, Professor Cerise, Goh, Chloe, you three should come as well. My family, Ash's family, and Serena's family want to have a meeting with you guys so we can see what the next step is."
The others can only nod as they know for sure things are going to be so complicated.
I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, the post-Crimson Mirelands will be ending here and Ash, Serena, and Adaman are going to the next place in the next chapter. I hope you like it.