Chapter 50 Warden Battles
As they are walking on the road, they notice a shaking ore, after using the Pokemon to break it, they find a Bronzor inside. Ash and Serena decide to use the chance to record them.
Bronzor's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,3,6,12,25 Number of large specimens caught:1,2,3,5,7 Number you've caught without being spotted:1,2,4,6,10 Number defeated:1,2,4,10,15 Number of you've defeated with Fire-type moves:1,2,4,6,10 Times you have seen it use Confusion:1,3,6,12,25 Number you've seen leap out of ore deposits:1,2,4,10,15 Number you've evolved:1
Hisui Dex Entry No.180 Bronzor: The Bronze Pokémon: Steel- and Psychic-type. Floats using a mysterious energy. The pattern engraved upon its back is held as sacred and can sometimes be found in imagery from ancient cemeteries and other such timeworn places.
"And here we are, at the Ancient Quarry." Ingo says, but then they also see Melli standing there.
"What's the big idea, putting back all the torches I spent ages tidying away?" Melli asks with annoyance. "Do you get some sort of amusement stomping around and ruining people's noble deeds?"
"Oh? Rendering a cave impassable to people who venture inside hardly seems noble to me." Ingo replies.
"Hmph. Well, this just goes to show that even we wardens don't always see eye to eye." Melli sighs. "I extinguished those lights for the sake of the Pokemon in that cave who prefer the dark. But now you louts have put my efforts to waste. If you think I'll just let you saunter ahead to meet Lord Electrode, you're sorely mistaken! The only way you're getting past me...is if you defeat my partner Pokemon!"
Irida turns to Ash and Serena, "What will you do? Ash and Serena?"
"I'm going to battle him!" Ash says.
"But Ash..." Serena tries to complain until Adaman says, "Let him do it, Serena. Melli really needs a lesson from this."
"Are you underestimating me? Adaman? My Stuntank can show these louts the true meaning of silent but deadly." Melli says.
Ash goes for Garchomp to battle the Skuntank, and Skuntank goes with the Night Slash, but Garchomp uses Dragon Claw to clash with each other. Ash says, "Since you're now a Garchomp, let's see if you can do this. Draco Meteor!"
Garchomp fires the meteor into the sky and lands on Skuntank, one-shotting it in the end. Ash says, "How is it, huh? Admit defeat?"
"Listen here! Neither I nor Skuntank admit defeat just yet - our challenge to you still stands!" Melli says with malice. "However! I will withdraw to afford Skuntank time to recover. There's no shame in a tactical retreat. It's more of an advance, if you think about it! Keep your guard up - we'll be back!"
After that, Melli walks away, and Ingo comments, "What a lovely character."
"I agree." Irida nods. "I can't fathom Warden Melli's intentions...But for now, let's keep going."
"You're right." As they enter the Ancient Quarry, they find themselves in some sort of temple-like area even though they just entered through a cave. Adaman says, "This is the Ancient Quarry. The stones used to build the temple atop this mountain were all cut from this place... Whether by humans and Pokemon working as one, or by the labor of Pokemon alone, I cannot say."
"The stones that were left behind should serve to cover us from the gazes of wild Pokemon." Ingo says.
"Well, that will be convenient if we want to dodge the attacks before sending out our Pokemon to fight." Serena says.
"Ah! There you are!" They turn around to see Volo again, Ingo asks, "Volo, was it? What is the matter, sir?"
"I wanted to ask about that memory loss of yours. Have you considered that it could have somehow been caused by the space-time rift?"
"I have no cause to think the rift is to blame...but then again, I hardly remember a thing, so it's difficult to say with certainty." Ingo sighs. "I can't remember my own home, nor my family, if I had any...So you might do better to pose your questions to Ash and Serena, I think, if it's to do with that rift."
"Indeed...Well, I do hope your memories return, Warden Ingo." Volo nods. "How about you, then, Ash and Serena? Do you remember what you saw before you fell out of that rift? Was there anything inside?"
Ash and Serena don't know why, but they think it will be better than no one knows what they have seen. Ash says, "There may be something inside."
"Interesting...You see, personally, I suspect that whatever is on the other side of that rift is causing the strange lightning that plagues us." Volo says.
"Wait a second, are you sure about that?" Adaman asks.
"Indeed! I did some digging and found records indicating that this same space-time rift also appeared in Hisui in the distant past." Volo smiles. "That's why we already had a name for it as it appeared, in fact. Now, what kind of world do you suppose stretches out on the other side of the rift?"
"You don't think it might be the almighty Sinnoh's realm?" Irida asks.
"But then that begs the question: Why has the space-time rift reopened when it closed once so long ago? And why would Ash and Serena have fallen through to us?" Volo also asks. "There's just so much we don't know..."
"I fervently hope you unravel this mystery, Volo." Ingo says. "I'm sure it would ease people's fears over the frenzies of our nobles. And while you investigate, sir, I'll continue to prioritize the safety of the people living in this world."
"Oh, I am a mere admirer of ruins and little more! If something needs investigating, then I would entrust that task to Ash and Serena! Until next time, then!" After that, he leaves, and Serena says, "Still, even if that something inside must be the almighty Sinnoh, why would he send us here in Hisui when we could just have stayed at our world?"
"No idea...That's why we came to Hisui to figure it out." Ash says.
"Indeed. We're all in this together, we shouldn't doubt about you two since we choose this path." Irida adds.
Adaman says, "Agreed, maybe time will tell everything." Adaman says.
Ingo looks in front and says, "Once we're through here, it will be just a little further. Let us move with speed...but not haste!"
As they continue further, they also find a Bronzong in the area as they decide to capture it.
Bronzong's Research Tasks: Number caught:1,2,4,10,15 Number of heavy specimens caught:1,2,3,5,7 Number of alpha specimens caught:1 Number defeated:1,3,6,12,25 Number of you've defeated with Ghost-type moves:1,2,6,12,25 Times you have seen it use Flash Cannon:1,3,6,12,25 Times you have seen it use Extrasensory:1,3,6,12,25 Times you've seen it use a strong style move:1,3,8,20,40
Hisui Dex Entry No.181 Bronzong: The Bronze Bell Pokémon: Steel- and Psychic-type. Evolved from Bronzor at LV:33. Some believe that its bell-like cry opens holes to another world. It has been revered as a deity since ancient times.
After getting outside of the Ancient Quarry, they find themselves on Sonorous Path with Teddiursa and Ursaring, they try to dodge them and also capture some of them for the dex, and then they eventually arrive at the Clamberclaw Cliffs.
Ingo says, "You would never expect to be able to climb such sheer cliffs as these, yes?"
"This sure is very huge..." Ash takes a breath after seeing the cliff.
"But with Sneasler as an ally, it becomes the work of a moment." Irida says.
"She is so at home on a cliff face, one might think she knew some secret - some hidden move..." Ingo says, and then he realizes, "What am I saying? Hidden moves? There are no such things in Hisui, surely..."
"But there are in my world, does that mean you remember something?" Serena asks.
"I feel as though I was on the cusp of remembering something just now...Just who was I before I came to Hisui? If you fell from the sky...you come from another world altogether, most likely. Perhaps a Pokemon battle with you would job this memory loose..." Ingo says. "Would you honor me with a battle?"
Serena says, "I'll do it."
"All abroad, then! Machoke, prepare for departure!" Ingo sends out his first Pokemon, which is Machoke, and Serena goes with Sylveon to battle, the battle is easy for Sylveon as it uses Play Rough to defeat Machoke. The next Pokemon is Tangela, and Serena switches into Walrein, using the Blizzard to knock it out cold. And the final Pokemon is Gliscor, which Ash also wonders if he can find his own Gliscor here. And Serena's Walrein also uses Blizzard to defeat it.
"Nice job, Serena." Irida says, "You're also a strong battler as well."
"Just because you see Ash battle a lot of times doesn't mean I'm weak." Serena smiles. "After all, I learned a lot from Ash."
"Bravo! Excellent!" Ingo says. "Your talent has brought you to the destination called Victory! Now, allow me to call Sneasler..."
He takes out the Celestica Flute and blows the melody, and when they look up at the cliff, a tall Pokemon is just standing there looking down on them. Then it jumps and put its claws into the cliff-face and climbs down to their level.
"Allow me to introduce you, Ash and Serena. This keen-clawed Pokemon is Sneasler." Ingo says.
"It sure looks like a Sneasel's evolution..." Serena says.
"Would you be so kind as to play your flute for her to hear?" Ingo asks, and Serena takes out the flute to blow the melody. Sneasler nods and takes out a plate from its fur. Ash says, "That's a Toxic Plate...A stone tablet imbued with the essence of poison."
Ash takes the plate and reads the words, "The rules of time and space change within the opposite world."
"I'm afraid this is my final stop. Please proceed up the cliffs with Sneasler's aid and quell the lord up in the mountains!" Ingo says.
"But what about you?" Irida asks.
"I will return to Jubilife Village. Please convey my well wishes to Warden Melli. Now then - all aboard!" Ingo says as Ash and Serena nod.
But after Ingo leaves, Ash asks, "But that begs the question...how is Sneasler going to carry us to the top? There are four of us..."
"You're right about that question." Irida says. "See the back of this noble Pokemon?"
They notice a small carriage that makes Ash reminded of the Flying Taxi's cabinet behind Sneasler's back. But the problem is that it can only carry one person.
"I guess we will need Sneasler to climb the same cliff four times..." Ash says.
"Inconvenient it seems, but maybe we should see if there's another way to climb up the cliffs." Serena says as the others nod as they continue moving further.
I'll end the chapter right here, and both Ash and Serena got their seventh plate from Sneasler, who will be carrying them up the cliffs of the Mt. Coronet. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be climbing up the mountains while capturing more Pokemon.