Chapter 71 Lake Acuity
Ash, Serena, Volo, and Irida arrive at Alabaster Icelands, and they are climbing their way up to Lake Acuity. Serena says, "I wonder why is Lake Acuity is so high above the ground..."
"Yeah, it took us a while to get here..." Ash mutters. "Not to mention that looking up at the sky while climbing is making me dizzy..."
Volo smiles, "But here we are: Lake Acuity! You know, I've been told it actually contains seawater as well. Nobody knows why, though - it could be a fluke of geography, or perhaps it's connected to a Pokemon somehow."
"Lake Acuity is protected by the Pokemon Uxie." Ash says. "When Uxie took flight, the knowledge to solve problems was born in people's minds. That's what the stories say, anyway."
And this time, Serena's Arc Phone beeps and glows, just like what happened in Lake Verity. And the glow causes the entrance to appear, just like last time.
Volo says, "A tool that can make caves simply appear from nowhere is quite a handy one to have!"
"I wonder what waits inside..." Irida mutters.
"I imagine there may be POkemon in there, protecting the lake's guardian. Take care." Volo says as he continues to stand guard for the three of them.
As they enter the cave, Irida shivers a little and says, "I sense a chill in the air...What is this?"
"Really? Even the cold-unaffected Irida feels the chill...that means this is not good..." Ash mutters.
"For some reason, you're starting to act like Adaman..." Irida mutters.
This time, the attack is a Shadow Ball and it is from no other than an Alpha Hisuian Zoroark. Just like the Goodra from before, it is trying to attack them.
"Could...could that be the dreaded Baneful Fox?" Irida asks.
"I'm not sure..." Serena says as she decides to go with Samurott to battle. Zoroark goes for an attack and Ash yells, "Watch out, Serena! It's going for Bitter Malice!"
"I know, I'm not going to let it freeze Samurott though. Cut it with Ceaseless Edge!" Serena yells.
Samurott manages to cut through the attack, and it goes for a Night Slash to deal a lot of damage. Ash says, "It is a good thing that Samurott has become the same typing as Greninja."
"If you think of it, I wonder why Typhlosion is not the same type as Delphox while the other two are the same as Chesnaught and Greninja..." Serena mutters as she throws the Pokeball, capturing the Baneful Pokemon in the end.
"The Baneful Fox...even though I have already told you guys once back at the caverns, but still, it is a Pokemon said to be filled with malice. We were told stories about it as children." Irida says.
"Yeah, you did mention about that." Serena says as they see Uxie pops in front of them.
"Hello, Ash. You are very wise to forgive your good old pal Brock, after all, it is questionable to judge him for murdering you while he didn't do anything." Uxie says.
"Right..." Ash mutters. "Enough of this killing nonsense right now."
"Come. I will test your knowledge." Uxie says. "Combee. Zubat. Unown. Magneton. Dusclops. How many are their eyes? Tell me each, one by one yet all at once. Answer me."
Ash and Serena look at each other with surprise, as they aren't expecting to be asked this kind of question. Ash says, "Well, Combee is a Pokemon made with three faces, right? So that means there are 6 eyes on them."
Serena says, "For Zubat...didn't we do a request from a person from the Security Corps about how Zubat can navigate through the dark by using soundwaves, and we did find out that Zubat doesn't have any eyes."
Ash says, "Unown is the easy one, considering we have searched every corner of Hisui for all 28 of them. They only have 1 eye each."
Serena says, "Magneton is also an easy one, it consists of 3 Magnemites, and each of them only has one eye, so that is 3 eyes."
Ash says, "And for Dusclops, we did try to find one for Iscan's request for the Dark Pulse, all that was for making the Noble Basculegion's favorite food. It only has one eye."
"The answer is 60131." Serena says to Uxie.
"You are correct, then again, you have been doing father's orders to seek out all Pokemon. Take this piece of the spirit to bind the world once more." Uxie says as he hands over a claw.
"We'll be seeing sooner. Say hi to Azelf for me." Uxie then teleports away, much to their surprise.
Irida asks, "So what were you guys discussing? And what did Uxie ask?"
Then Ash and Serena explain Uxie's question, and Irida also finds it very hard to answer all of them at once. So Ash and Serena decide to reveal the answer for her. She says, "Goodness, that was tricky! But only one more to go now."
Once they get out of the cave, Volo says, "I assume all went well, Ash and Serena! Still, I must wonder...Why don't they just give us the Red Chain? Why all this running about?"
"Perhaps they mean to test whether whoever seeks it is worthy?" Irida suggests.
"Perhaps you are right...Who knows what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands, after all." Volo says. "Though on the other hand...What use would those wrong hands have for it? Who can say for sure? Maybe the Red Chain has some other use besides mending the world."
"Trying to use it to destroy the world and create a new one." Ash whispers to Serena, causing her to shiver a little.
"I start to wonder if I'm shivering because of your words or because of the cold..." Serena mutters.
"The Red Chain's as mysterious as this entire predicament we're in...But if we continue visiting the lakes, we'll get closer to an answer!" Irida says.
"But right now I just want to leave this place and go back to rest in the Ancient Retreat." Ash mutters.
"Wonderful! Then we can see if Mistress Cogita has any more insights to share with us." Volo says.
They all return to the Ancient Retreat and greet Cogita. She says, "So that's Uxie's Claw... I sense a warmth to it."
"I do have to wonder if anyone else has ever completed the trials of these lake Pokemon..." Irida asks.
"Indeed. Yet we may want to add just a dash more speed. Things in Jubilife Village are...tense." Volo says.
"What makes you say so?" Cogita asks.
"It seems a Pokemon's been glimpsed on the other side of the rift. One of those Gingko Guild merchants informed me that Commander Kamado has raised a force- not to survey the Pokemon but to subdue it, should the need arise."
"One of those Gingko Guild merchants? You make it sound as if you're not one of them." Cogita says.
"Now if - IF - a Pokemon truly were to appear from beyond the rift...What would become of everyone, I wonder?" Volo asks.
"Don't let Hisui's great vastness stop you, Ash and Serena! Let's go get the final item we need!" Irida says.
"That's the spirit! I'll come to watch this historic moment unfold, too." Volo adds.
"Watch? Is that all you really do?" Cogita asks. "Remember: once you've sought the third lake and found what's needed for the Red Chain, make for the Shrouded Ruins."
Ash and Serena nod as they all head to the Crimson Mirelands for the final lake, Lake Valor.
At the same time, Professor Oak leads half of the group upstairs to Ash's room, while the other half are surrounding the doors and windows of the house, preventing them from getting away. When they open the door, Professor Oak says, "You have nowhere to run."
"Like we are going to be captured right now!" Misty says as they all take out their weapons, "All of you stand back, or else we'll hurt you guys for sure."
"If you think those weapons are going to threaten us, think again." Sophocles says as the windows are open, and all their weapons are flying out of the air, attached to a Magnezone.
"A Magnezone?" The traitors are surprised, and Sophocles says, "International Police has special ways to take away harmful weapons. Now they won't be a problem for us."
"We still have Pokemon." Iris says as they try to send out their Pokemon, but Professor Oak takes out an Alakazam and says, "Psychic on those Poke Balls."
Now their Poke Balls are floating in the air, much to their surprise. Professor Oak says, "We have been waiting for this moment for almost a year, do you think we won't be prepared for anything you've thrown upon us?"
One Officer Jenny steps forward and shows the badge, "Now come with us and you have the right to remain silent."
The group of 8 realizes that they have nothing to do as they can only raise their hands to the air as the police officers use handcuffs on them. But just as they get outside, they try to struggle by trying to run away even though they still have their handcuffs, Alakazam's Hypnosis manages to put them into sleep as they can't struggle anymore.
With them out of the way, the reporters start to chase after the police cars for the huge news, leaving Ash's true friends at the house. Lillie smiles, "We've done it! Now they are arrested!"
"Just look at them all..." Gladion sighs. "All because of the greed. Ash becomes the World Champion because he deserves it by beating Leon. What about them? They didn't try to challenge Ash for the title, instead, they try to murder him for the money."
"They are even worse than Team Rocket." Lana finishes.
"But still, even though they manage to arrest them, Ash and Serena won't be back for their trials, considering that they are still in the past." Dawn frowns.
"Even Delia got sent back to the past as well by what? Ash's ancestor?" Brock asks. "But I can't blame the situation since they would really need someone close for encouragement."
Bonnie frowns a little and says, "But still...I just don't feel it right...to get my brother arrested like that..."
"He made his own bed, so he has to lie in it." Goh assures her.
"So now what? Should we tell Ms. Ketchum the news?" Dawn asks.
"We should." Lillie says as she contacts Delia through the Arc Phone. After she answers the call, Lillie tells her everything.
"I'm glad that the videos that we sent really work a lot." Delia smiles.
"So what are we going to do with those traitors?" Lillie asks, "Right now they are arrested, they won't be a problem to anyone."
"It is up to Ash and Serena for their judgment. After all, attempted murder for the second time makes things worse." Delia sighs.
"But we have some problems, that are related to the press." Lillie continues. "The traitors' arrest manages to distract them, but who knows when they will be back as they want to interview Ash and Serena. What are we going to do about that?"
"To tell the truth...I don't know as well..." Delia sighs as the others also feel the same way.
I'll end the chapter here, Ash and Serena finish the second lake, which means only one more to go, and the traitors are finally arrested, but it is up to Ash and Serena to determine their fate. I hope you like this chapter.