Chapter 52 Noble Electrode Battle
Ash and Serena walk into the Moonview Arena, as they look around to see that there is nothing but a big tree. Just then, several Voltorb falls off the trees and they turn around to look at them, before another giant ball falls off the tree and creates the shockwave to send Voltorbs flying.
"So that's the Electrode..." Ash says. "Lord of the Hollow..."
Electrode growls and then it starts to glow white, meaning that it becomes frenzied. It starts to shoot out an Electro Ball, and Ash and Serena dodge the attack. But then, the attack also takes a spin and charges at them.
"What? Is that Electro Ball? Why is it chasing us?" Serena asks.
"I don't know...perhaps this field is magnetic!" Ash says.
And while throwing the balms, they also notice the Voltorb from before are going for Self Destruct, and they manage to take some hits by dodging those things.
"Are you crazy right now? Self-Exploding Voltorbs and Electro Balls that are chasing after us?" Ash asks while seeing some bruises on both his and Serena's skin.
"Melli wasn't kidding that this battle might kill us..." Serena says.
And then they also notice that the Electrode is shaking, meaning it is going for Explosion. Ash says, "Oh no...the big one is going to explode!"
"We have to get as far away as we could!" Serena says.
But much to their horror, Electrode is trying to chase after them. It is until that it explodes that he stops, and Ash and Serena manage to dodge out of the way. Seeing Electrode being confused, Ash says, "Now it is our chance! Garchomp! I choose you!"
Garchomp roars and it goes for Flamethrower on Electrode, which is super effective. Serena says, "It is a good thing that Garchomp is a Dragon-type. Or else that Grass Type advantage..."
Electrode uses a move that they haven't seen before, and Adaman says, "That's Chloroblast..."
"This battle sure is amusing." Melli says. "They won't stand a chance against the lord, though."
"If there is something happening to my sworn brother, I'll let you pay for it. Melli." Adaman threatens, which causes Melli to stop snickering.
"The same with my sworn sister." Irida also adds.
After defeating the Electrode, they use the chance to throw the balms at it, but much to their surprise, when Electrode gets back up, so does the fainted Voltorbs, and they are going for the Electro Balls with Self-Destruct. And much to their horror, Serena gets hit by the Electro Ball as she falls to the ground.
"Serena! Are you alright?" Ash says.
"It is a good thing that our clothes are electrical-proof..." Serena says, "But I think I'm a little paralyzed..."
"This is not good." Ash says as he takes out a Poke Ball. "Magnezone, please help Serena."
Magnezone nods as he uses the magnetic field to take Serena into the air, and Serena also uses the chance to throw some balms at the Magnezone.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Melli yells, but Adaman says, "Shut up, Melli. She is paralyzed!"
As for Ash, he is dodging the Electro Balls and the Self-Destruct, he also notices that the green ones go faster than the normal yellow ones. After dodging a while, they continue to attack Electrode until the last balm is thrown.
"Let's go!" Ash throws the balm and Electrode's glow starts to fade, Electrode returns back to normal, and he rolls at them and asks Ash to take something on top of him.
"Is this...the Zap Plate!" Ash says and Pikachu repeats it again. "A stone tablet imbued with the essence of electricity."
But as he reads the words, he says, "The third being raged, raining down bolts of anger." This causes him to wonder, "Third? Did this mean Giratina?"
Serena also floats back down as Ash has to help her stand. He asks, "Serena, can you move?"
"A little, the paralysis is about to get over thanks to these Cheri Berries." Serena says.
After Electrode rolls away, Melli frowns, "Oh, for shame! What utter calamity..."
They turn to see him kneel and he mutters, "I agreed to make those accursed balms, yes...But now that almighty Sinnoh's precious blessing has vanished forever...it's just so unbearably sad!"
"Is that how you see it? Electrode looks relieved to me. Glad its suffering's ended, probably." Adaman says.
"Oh, come on, Adaman! Seriously? That's just your wishful thinking, nothing more." Melli says. "All your preaching doesn't ruffle me one bit, but if almighty Sinnoh grows angry with me because of this...I don't know what I'll do!"
"Looks like I arrive, right on schedule!" Just then, Ingo comes, and Irida asks, "Ingo? What are you doing here?"
"Yeah? Now what did YOU bother coming back for?" Melli says with a rude tone, only to be elbow smacked by Adaman.
"Only to say that I recalled some things after Ash and Serena did me the honor of traveling with me." Ingo says. "Things to do with a world where I believed I lived before my memories were lost. Most people there caught Pokemon, lived with them, formed supportive partnerships with them...And then there were the Pokemon Trainers...The ones we called Pokemon Trainers were truly devoted to their craft. They always looked toward the next challenge and had Pokemon battles every chance they got, all to help themselves and their Pokemon grow. Through battle, Trainers forged bonds of understanding with their Pokemon, and with their opponents and their Pokemon, too. With everything, I suppose. Am I right? Ash and Serena?"
"That's true." Ash says. "Glad to see you still remember everything."
"If Pokemon and people work together, we can forge new paths forward." Serena adds. "We'll be lost to history if we go on believing only Pokemon can be strong - or if we go on fearing them instead of understanding them."
"Interesting..." Adaman says. "I'd never have thought such a world could exist."
Melli says, "Oh! Once again, the brilliant Warden Melli has realized something rather clever! It's not just my Pokemon that need to be strong - it's me as well! The greater my valor and might, the more my Pokemon can reach their potential! I wonder if almighty Sinnoh will be pleased once I've achieved exactly that?"
"Maybe." Ash says.
"Hey, Adaman! Share with me again the wisdom of almighty Sinnoh passed down among our clan!" Melli says.
"All right, all right! Open your ears, shut that big mouth, and listen well, my friend!" Adaman says. "Give not into sorrow. Give not into anger. Offer only friendship to those around you. Give not into sorrow. Give not into anger. Bring not almighty Sinnoh to sorrow. For that is when time's flow will cease. And there you have it."
Irida says, "That's excellent."
"Bravo! Please, all of you, do your best and run toward the destination - an even higher state!" Ingo adds. "Of course, your "higher state" is clear, Ash and Serena. It surely lies with the next lord! Now, this time I really will make the complete return trip to Jubilife Village. Perhaps with someone like Ash and Serena to show that Pokemon need not be feared, the people of Hisui will find new tracks forward. Now begging your pardon, I owe Commander Kamado my report. Until next time, Ash and Serena."
After that, he leaves them alone. Adaman says, "Can we find a way to honor our past while also forging a better future? Maybe that's what almighty Sinnoh really wants from us. After all, it rules over all time...and it created everything there is."
"Be ready to shield your eyes, Galaxy grunts!" Melli says. "I'm going to polish up both myself and Electrode until our strength and brilliance are blinding!"
After heading back to the Highlands Camp, they meet Professor Laventon and he says, "Oh? You quelled Lord Electrode? Splendid job as always! Let's be off to the village, then. Time to report to Commander Kamado!"
After getting back to Jubilife Village, they go to the Galaxy Hall to find Kamado. He says, "Hrrrm...So Warden Melli believes that the frenzies of these Pokemon are some sort of trial set by almighty Sinnoh...We cannot know if that is the case or not, but it does beg the question: Whyever would this "almighty Sinnoh" drive the nobles to frenzy? Is it angered by something? Or does it seek to drive a wedge between people and Pokemon? Well, far be it from us humans to fathom the thoughts of Pokemon...And what is that space-time rift, anyway? What caused it to open...?"
Ash and Serena have no idea about that, and Kamado says, "Hrrrm. But you must be tired. Go on, then - to the Wallflower. Get some rest while you can. I've instructed Beni to prepare you his finest potato mochi."
"Will do, sir." Ash and Serena say in unison.
And they also notice that Laventon and Akari are waiting for them, so they decide to eat together as Beni brings a lot of potato mochi. "Dinner's on Kamado tonight. Eat your fill!"
After putting the plate and leaves, Laventon smells and says, "Wh-what an enticing aroma! My appetite just went through the roof!"
"Quite a change from the commander's usual preaching about tightening our belts until things grow more stable." Akari says.
"Well, I've heard talk that our progress surveying Pokemon has made gathering ingredients a less onerous - or at least less dangerous - task." Laventon says.
"It's almost like a fairy tale, isn't it - how you've fallen to us from the sky and gone on to help the people of Hisui so much?" Akari asks.
"Indeed! Taking on such perilous duties has earned you a great deal of trust, Ash and Serena." Laventon says. "It's like I always say: "Behavior is a mirror that reflects one's true nature." You let your actions do the speaking for you, Ash and Serena, and the message is clear as day! It doesn't matter one whit where you came from. You're part of the Survey Corps and Jubilife Village now!"
"Thanks." Ash and Serena say as they continue to talk a while about Pokemon. After that's over, they head back into their quarters to take their rest.
Back at the Aether Foundation, everyone is already in Lusamine's office as they are going to talk about the murderers on the run. Lusamine says, "It has been several months since Ash and Serena were killed and they were sent to the past by Arceus. And yet we still don't have a clue of where those murderers are."
"And since you guys are proved innocent, which we didn't spread the news wide enough for the world to know. We need to intact another plan to lure them out from hiding." Delia adds.
"What do you suggest?" Professor Oak asks.
"We're going to draw them out of the hiding spot, by spreading the news of Ash and Serena being alive." Delia says.
"But how are we going to prove that they're still alive?" Goh asks. "He's in a lot of years since now."
"But we are able to contact them through these Arc Phones. Arceus is going to help us out in this as well." Lillie says. "We won't let them escape."
Everyone nods as Lusamine and Delia start to form a plan for them.
I'll end the chapter right here, and in the next chapter, we're going to the Post-Coronet Highlands, with only fewer side requests to do and some other things to get. I hope you like this chapter and let's see if the plans that they intact will succeed.