Chapter 78 Gathering the Plates
A day has passed after Ash and Serena capture Dialga and Palkia to save the whole world, they know for sure that the Pokedex has not completed yet, and they haven't gathered every plate as they miss the Fist Plate, Stone Plate, Spooky Plate, Iron Plate, Draco Plate, Dread Plate, and Pixie Plate. Delia also decides to stay at Ash and Serena's quarters, as they really need some support from her.
Ash and Serena, as the nine star-rank members, as they are heading outside from their quarters. Akari greets them and she says, "Good morning, Ash and Serena. It looks like the space-time rift has vanished...The sky's gone back to normal again. Which I suppose means we'd better get back to our original mission: completing the Pokedex."
"You're right about that." Ash says.
"We're going to meet in the Survey Corps office to discuss our next steps. See you there soon, Ash, Serena." Akari says as she rushes to the Galaxy Hall.
Serena says, "Well, should we tell her that we already have all the normal Pokemon in the Pokedex?"
"Might as well, since we only need Legendary and Mythical Pokemon." Ash nods.
In the Galaxy Hall, Cyllene asks the two. "So. I trust you enjoyed yourself at the festival."
"We did enjoy it a lot." Ash says.
"Indeed. That only seems natural, given the crowd." Cyllene says.
"I believe last night was the first time I've caught a glimpse of you making merry, Captain!" Laventon comes and teases the captain.
"I believe you must be imagining things. Now, Professor Laventon, to business. What is the current state of progress on the Pokedex?" Cyllene asks.
"I daresay we've made quite significant progress, all in all. Though we could afford to put a little more effort into our research tasks... And of course it is hard to know how far to go in pursuit of some reports. Certain Pokemon have only been mentioned in Hisui's legends, after all. Who knows if they are even real!"
"With how little we know about Hisui's history and legends, it seems a tall order for us to tackle..." Akari adds.
"Pardon! Couldn't help but overhear!" Just then, Volo goes into the hall. "If it's Hisuian history and legends you want, then I'm your man!"
"Volo?" Ash and Serena are surprised to see him.
"Why, I've spent plenty of time studying such things instead of - Ahem. I mean while also tirelessly doing my work for the Ginkgo Guild. And I've visited many of the ruins and whatnot here in the Hisui region already! I imagine I could teach you a thing or two about any Pokemon of legend in these parts!"
"Oho! Music to my ears, my good fellow." Laventon nods.
"Listen well, Ash and Serena. You are to learn all you can from the merchant Volo and work together as needed. For the sake of the Pokedex. We, meanwhile, will also continue to gather intelligence on Pokemon by other means." Cyllene says.
"Understood! I'll set up at the Heights Camp, then. Ash and Serena, I'll be expecting you! Besides, I've something I'd like to discuss with you too, so I hope you won't keep me waiting!" Volo says as he leaves.
Before leaving, they find a Lucario in the hall. When he growls at them, they hear a voice, "Something the matter, Lucario?"
And then they notice a person who looks much like Riley walking into the hall, Ash gasps as he knows that Riley is one of his cousins. He says, "I'm Rye. You must be Ash and Serena that my mother spoke highly about. Nice to meet you."
"Okay...do we know your mother in some way?" Serena asks.
"Oh, that's not something you should worry about, my mother usually lives in solitude, it was the first time I saw her among the crowd at the festival, and that's when she told me about you two. The ones who passed the trials to get the Red Chain." Rye says.
Ash and Serena realize that the mother means Cogita, he is Cogita's son, and his Lucario turns to Rye and he asks, "What is it, Lucario?"
Lucario turns to Ash and Serena as he growls again. "It seems Lucario sensed your strong aura, too. If you're willing to battle us, could you come to the training grounds?"
"Sure." Ash and Serena nod as they go to the Training grounds, Rye stands in front of Ash and asks, "I take it you're ready for our battle?"
"You bet." Ash says.
"Now then, let's forgo the small talk and proceed right to battle. That's our style!" Then they decide to have a Lucario versus Lucario battle. Ash's Lucario also senses a familiar aura in front of him, and their powers are also equal.
Serena says, "This battle sure is tough. Maybe that's why he is also Ash's ancestor..."
But in the end, Rye's Lucario gets defeated with Ash's reckless style of battling by charging with Close Combat on the opposing Lucario. Rye rushes towards Lucario and says, "That was a wonderful battle! Seems we need to redo our training, Lucario."
Lucario nods, and Rye turns to Ash, "Thank you for the experience. I can tell you've met many Pokemon, and that helped make you stronger. I think we'll test our skills in other places from now on. Let's meet again!"
After that, he gives them a Grit Rock before leaving. Ash says, "His aura...it was the same as Sir Aaron and I...Lucario also senses it."
"Well, he did mention that you might be his descendant." Serena shrugs, "But remember, we have a merchant to meet at Obsidian Fieldlands."
"You're right, let's go." Ash says as they head to the Highlands Camp.
Once arriving there, Ash and Serena find Volo in front of the rock where Wyrdeer was standing when they first met, and he says, "Ash and Serena! There you are! Have a look here, if you will. A good, long, close look, please!"
Ash and Serena notice the words on the rock, it was the same as the words they found in Cobalt Coastlands when they tried to find Manaphy.
"See these patterns modeled after Pokemon? I've come to think that they might be letters - rather like hieroglyphs, if you will. I've inspected ruins across the region and have concluded that they all seem to tell the same tale. The tale of a brave soul who, together with the Pokemon at his side, went on a journey to search for the fragments of an all-encompassing deity."
"Damos..." Ash remembers that he knew the story, he heard the same story when he was at Michina once. The brave soul must be Damos, and they went on the journey because they want to find Arceus' plates to save him.
"Yes. An all-encompassing deity - the creator of this very universe. And its name is...Arceus. Perhaps you've already heard this name?" Volo asks.
Ash and Serena know what he is talking about, but for some reason, they don't want to tell everything to Volo as Serena says, "It does sound familiar."
"Of course! What else could I have expected from the heroes who saved the Hisui region! But now, let us discuss the fragments. They must surely be the plates!"
"The plates?" Serena asks.
"Yes, the very plates you collected as you went about quelling all the frenzied nobles. Haven't you noticed that they all have words carved on their backs? Go on - give them a read."
"We've already read them before." Ash says. "From the Mind Plate, it says the original one breathed alone before the universe came."
"This "Original One" is none other than the Pokemon known as Arceus. So, what do you say, Ash and Serena? I think we should try to gather all the plates! And I've got just the idea where to start our search. Join me in the heart of Grueling Grove!"
When they arrive at the Grueling Grove, Volo says, "According to my own investigations..."
Before saying anything, they hear a growling as they see an Alpha Vespiquen approaching them. "An Alpha Vespiquen?" Serena gasps.
"Terribly sorry, but...do you think you could handle it?" Volo asks.
Ash nods as he goes with Rampardos to battle the alpha Pokemon, after several Head Smashes and Rock Slide, they manage to knock out Vespiquen and causing it to drop something and fly away. Ash picks up the thing on the ground and he is surprised, it is a Stone Plate, with the words, "It gathers power from the Plates, listening for the flute's song."
"That's a Stone Plate..." Serena says.
"Why did that alpha Pokemon have the plate we were looking for? Maybe it just happened to find the plate lying around...In any case, that's the only other plate that I had any information about, so...that's that! And yet nothing seems to be happening. Which makes me suspect there must still be more plates left out there for us to find."
"Indeed. There might be six more for us to find." Ash says.
"Not to worry though! I know the perfect person to ask - she's bound to know all about the plates!" Volo says.
"Are you talking about Miss Cogita?" Ash asks.
"The one and only, yes. You haven't had the chance to properly thank her for her help in obtaining the Red Chain, am I right? All the more reason to pay her a visit. So, onward to the Ancient Retreat!"
After getting there, they find Cogita sitting on her bed in the house, and she asks, "Oh, lost ones...It's miraculous what you've done! It seems the Red Chain served its purpose well. And you carried out your duty, as you were bid. But what brings you here? Have you yet need of me?"
"It's about Arceus. We want to know about the plates." Ash says.
"Ah, yes. A tale whose origins lie a millennium or two ago...Those were the days of the ancient Sinnoh people, from whom I am descended across many generations. These forbears of mine worshiped Arceus as the Pokemon that created the Hisui region. And I have heard of certain fragments - plates, as they are called - that were given to the ancestors of Pokemon such as Kleavor and Wyrdeer."
"Is that all? I thought that surely you could tell us more about Arceus and the plates..." Volo asks.
"I'm afraid I've nothing new to tell you." Cogita shakes her head. "Why, the Diamond and Pearl Clans would never have confused Dialga and Palkia with the creator, Arceus, had anything concrete been passed down."
"If only we had more to go on. The answers to these mysteries may even shed light on why Ash and Serena here fell from the sky." Volo pleads.
"Aha. I see what you intend. Very well - I'll help as best as I can." Cogita sighs. "There are still other tremendous Pokemon in Hisui - other mysteries to be solved. Whether they are connected to Arceus, I cannot say for certain. But in searching them out, perhaps you'll stumble upon the path you seek. These are the Pokemon of the lakes, of course. And the temple giant. The crescent moon, the volcano...And perhaps you might even return to the very beginning..."
Ash widens his eyes and he realizes that he is talking about the Lake Guardians, Heatran, Regigigas, and Cresselia. But for the last one, they are not sure what she is talking about.
I'll end the chapter right here, the next chapter will begin the quests to fill the Pokedex and also trying to find the other plates that are missing. Starting with asking Cogita questions about each meanings.