Chapter 73 Beni's Ninja Battle
Ash and Serena are now in the Galaxy Hall with Cyllene, Laventon, and Akari. Cyllene says, "So you two managed not to die. Just as I ordered. Well done."
"Thanks to you, Captain." Ash says, referring to her lending her Abra so that they can switch out their Pokemon from the pastures.
"I have no idea what you're implying. All I know is Abra vanished of its own accord - inconveniencing me greatly." Cyllene says."Before moving forward, I must ask...I assume that you are here again because you've managed to learn something of use?"
Serena holds the Red Chain and says, "We have this, the Red Chain."
"Go on." Cyllene says as both Ash and Serena tell them the story of how they visit the three lakes.
"A legendary tool said to bind the very world...Commander Kamado is no longer here in Jubilife Village. The Security Corps had been scouting the area near the space-time rift...and they reported sightings of something on the other side of it. Something that resembled a Pokemon. The commander made the decision to take the Security Corps to the mountain so as to prepare to fend off any possible threat. They were to make for the temple at the peak."
Akari says, "However strong the commander himself may be, he should've gotten Ash and Serena to help..."
"As the captain of the Survey Corps, I hereby order you to proceed as follows. Ash and Serena. Take that Red Chain to Mount Coronet, make your way to the peak, and put a end to all this. Not only you're officially reinstated at your former rank, but you also have my permission to get another star in your rank."
Ash and Serena widen their eyes, now they are officially Nine-rank members. They also get 10 Rare Candies and 20 Grit Pebbles from the captain. "Continue to dedicate yourself to completing the Pokédex if you hope to rise higher in the ranks."
Akari has her concerns as she asks, "Are you certain you can do that with the commander away, Captain?"
Cyllene closes her eyes with a sigh and then opens them with determination. "If he didn't wish me to decide things in his place, then he should not have left me in charge here!"
Laventon says, "Then I'll go as well! We're all in this together, we members of the Survey Corps!"
"Naturally. No one suggested you should not." Cyllene nods.
Just as they get outside of the Galaxy Hall, they find Irida at the gateway waiting for them.
"Did you find the commander, Ash and Serena?" Irida asks.
"No, the Commander is already at Mount Coronet." Cyllene replies in Ash and Serena's place.
"Already?! How could a grown man like Commander Kamado be so reckless?" Irida yells. "First expelling you, Ash and Serena, and now this! I think he needs a stern talking to! As the leader of the Pearl Clan, loyal to almighty Sinnoh who reigns over all space...I can go anywhere in vast Hisui that I please - and now I am going to go stop the commander!"
Then she quickly rushes off to take a carriage, Cyllene sighs and says, "Hm...who is the reckless one?"
Just then, a boy and a girl walk towards Ash and Serena, the boy says, "Hey, you got run out of the village, right? But you...still tried to find a way to help us all?"
Ash and Serena nod at them and Akari says, "That's right! Ash and Serena worked hard to get that Red Chain to help us."
"Top right - and a fine job he did, too!" Laventon adds. "The Survey Corps is always hard at work for the sake of everyone here in the village - as well as for the sake of our relations with Pokemon!"
The girl steps forward and says, "Thanks! Here, take this!" She gives them a Max Revive, and Ash smiles, "Thank you."
Then both the boy and the girl run off, Cyllene says, "Your orders are three. One: Make for the Summit Camp and, from there, the Temple of Sinnoh. Two: Use the Red Chain to resolve this mess. And three: Return here...alive!"
"Yes, ma'am." Ash and Serena say in unison as they quickly get their carriage to the Coronet Highlands, but as they are on the carriage, they get a call from Lillie through the Arc Phone.
"Ash! Serena! We have serious trouble! The whole world is in a mess!" Lillie says.
Lillie explains to them how the sky is red and the time is moving backward, Ash says, "Don't tell me that what we are doing here also affects the future..."
"Then we have no time to waste." Serena says. "Lillie, we have the help of Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf to create this Red Chain, and we are going to use it to save the whole world. Perhaps if we succeed, maybe the world will be returned to normal."
"I wish if what you said is true. The only place isn't affected is the Aether Foundation, since we were basically in the gap between both worlds with the power of the Hall of Origin." Lillie says. "We're counting on you guys."
Ash and Serena nod as they quickly end the call since they finally arrive at the Summit Camp, which is close to the place where they fought against the Noble Hisuian Electrode.
Volo also arrives and he says, "I've heard the latest. So you've been accepted back into the Galaxy Team, have you? I suppose congratulations are in order! Here, some Max Potions from me to celebrate!"
He gives them three Max Potions, and Volo adds, "It looks like the big moment is upon us at last. But no doubt it'll be fine! After all, you worked so hard to earn that Red Chain. Both Adaman and Irida have headed to the peak as well. My good friends Ash and Sereena. I wish you great fortune in the battles to come. I would truly regret losing one of our most beloved and loyal customers. It seems Kamado intends to use the Summit Camp as a base of operations for this undertaking. As for me, I think I will set up a shop closer to the temple itself."
After that, he leaves while heading up to the summit. Before Ash and Serena can leave, they are stopped by Melli, a person from the Diamond Clan that both Ash and Serena hate the most.
"Things certainly seem to have gotten out of hand. Well, if anything goes wrong, the great Melli will be here...for moral support, at least." Melli says.
"Well, thanks." Ash and Serena smile a little before rushing towards the peak.
Once they go past the guard guarding the path to the Temple of Sinnoh, they stopped as they see Beni, the Potato Mochi maker at Wallflower, standing in front of them.
"Oho. Still alive and kicking?" Beni asks. "Sorry about having to shutter the Wallflower. I'd much rather be there now, serving up some freshly grilled potato mochi. But that taskmaster Kamado's gone and left me to oversee our food supply. He always finds a way to put even these old bones to work..."
"It must be hard for you..." Serena says.
"No need to worry. While I'm handling that, I suppose I'll handle you as well. Time we got rid of you once and for all." Beni suddenly turns serious, and Ash and Serena are surprised by it.
"What do you mean get rid of us?" Ash says with horror.
"I'll make myself plain. As Kamado's right hand, I'm charged with executing all the gritty deeds Kamado can't or won't do himself. I gave him my word I'd get rid of any fools that might dream of getting in the way of his plans." Beni says.
"We're not getting in the way of his plans! We just want to help!" Serena says.
"And besides, it's not just Kamado who longs to live in a new home free of fear or strife. His dream is mine now, too." Beni says. "You've seen my Smoke Bombs before, right? Well, this is how you're meant to use them!"
He throws one Smoke Bomb to blind Ash and Serena for a moment, and when they open their eyes again, Beni has become a white-colored ninja, much to their surprise.
"When I heard you managed to quell those nobles one after another, oh, did it ever make my blood run hot and my heart pound...At last...at last...One final opponent worthy of my great ninja techniques that have been left to molder all these long years!"
Ash and Serena groan a little as they are facing against a ninja, and Beni sends out a Mismagius to battle. Serena says, "I'll do the battle, Ash. Zoroark! I need your assistance!"
Serena sends out the alpha Zoroark, which manages to block the Shadow Ball attack, and it goes for Bitten Malice, freezing the Mismagius. Mismagius goes for Power Gem, only for Zoroark to dodge every one of them with ease and Zoroark finishes with Hex.
The second Pokemon for Beni is Sneasler, Serena switches into Gardevoir for this battle, but Gardevoir takes a lot of damage by the Dire Claw, also causing it to get paralyzed. But Gardevior manages to stay on the field as it finishes Sneasler with the Psychic attack.
The third Pokemon is Beni's own Gardevoir, which knocks out Serena's with a Shadow Ball, so Serena changes to Goodra to battle, using Shelter to raise the defense and evasiveness, it lands an Iron Tail to knock the Gardevoir out.
The final Pokemon is Gallade, and it goes for Close Combat to defeat Goodra. Since Gallade's defense drops a lot, Serena goes for Staraptor and has it use Brave Bird to knock it out.
"It seems my ninja techniques will soon be consigned to history..." Beni frowns after his final Pokemon is down. "Very good, young one. Very good indeed. It's only a foolish ninja who tries to keep after a target they know they cannot beat...And to be honest, I don't hate you. Might actually like you, after a fashion. At least for the skills you show in battle."
"Glad to know that." Ash says.
"But listen well, Ash and Serena: Pokemon are truly terrifying creatures. Kamado and I saw our hometown burned to the ground by maddened Pokemon running amok - we lost plenty of friends and comrades that day. That's why Kamado came here to Hisui to try to build a new home where people could live free from fear." Beni says.
"We heard the whole thing from Commander Kamado." Ash nods.
"But to achieve something truly great, you sometimes have to take extreme actions. If - hypothetical as it may be - a Pokemon were to appear from within that space-time rift...Kamado might lose hold of hie reason. Save Kamado from himself. By force, if you must. Do that, and I'll stuff you full of more delicious potato mochi than a human stomach can handle." Beni says as he steps aside to let them through.
"Don't worry, Beni. We have already promised that we are going to save the whole world from whoever is inside the rift, and we will also save Commander Kamado as well." Ash says as they quickly rush to the exit of the cave.
I'll end the chapter here, sorry for the short battle, but we are going to reach the top of the Temple of Sinnoh, and both Ash and Serena are going to stop Kamado for doing reckless things and also use the Red Chain to save the worlds, both past and future. I hope you like this chapter.