Chapter 18

With the safety of Growlithe in our minds, Alice, Rei, and I decide not to capture any Pokemon while riding on Basculegion. "Alice, how are you feeling riding Basculegion with me?" I ask.

"I can feel the breeze, it is amazing," Alice says. "But I still can't believe that Basculin will evolve into a Ghost-type like Jellicent."

"Me neither. Only Basculin with white-striped form can evolve into Basculegion, not to mention that its evolution is as annoying as Wyrdeer and Overqwil," Rei remarks.

"But now it is not the time to capture the Basculin," I affirm.

Once we arrive at Firespit Island, Iscan also arrives at the same time. "Whew...Firespit Island...It's certainly hot enough to feel like a sweat bath, isn't it?" Iscan asks. "And now we've got a ghost and bandits to deal with on top of the heat..."

"But we have to go! " Rei says. "We are here to save the Growlithe."

"I'm very sorry, but... do you think you could lead the way? That poor Growlithe...I don't dare imagine what those bandits are doing to him now..." Iscan says.

"Maybe they are much like Team Rocket, just put them inside some sort of bindings and then celebrate on their own," I mutter to myself.

After walking up the volcano, we find a lot of Fire-type Pokemon around there like Magmar, but we decide to ignore them for now as we have a mission to do. Once we reach the lava arena, we see that Gengar is hurting Growlithe, who is still struggling.

"Come on - evolve already!" Charm says.

"We've done our homework! Any Pokemon gutsy enough to come to this lava trap is s'posed to evolve - so get on with it already!" Clover adds.

"You WILL become stronger. Like it or not," Coin says.

"You guys better let that Growlithe go!" I shout as the three bandits notice we are here.

"Oh, look. The pests again," Charm mutters.

"Stand back, sisters - I'll take care of him. Go, Abomasnow! Smash this fool to pieces!" Clover says as she sends out the Pokemon.

Great, she's using the same Pokemon as Candice, I say, "I'll battle you if you want. Go! Quilava! Use Flamethrower!"

I send out the Pokemon and go with the attack because the Fire-type is 4 times super effective towards Grass- and Ice-type. Abomasnow is defeated with ease. At the same time, Quilava evolves and becomes a Typhlosion, but something is not right.

"What the...This isn't the Typhlosion we know," I notice.

"It's a Hisuian Form!" Alice gasps.

Typhlosion (Hisuian Form): The Ghost Flame Pokémon: Fire and Ghost Type. Evolved from Quilava at LV:36. Said to purify lost, forsaken souls with its flames and guide them to the afterlife. I believe its form has been influenced by the energy of the sacred mountain towering at Hisui's center.

"I don't get it! How'd I lose?!" Clover yells as she recalls Abomasnow. "Y'know Abomasnow can't fight at full power in crazy heat like this! It wasn't a fair battle...We were basically goin' easy on you! In fact, how dare you make poor Abomasnow battle in such a stupidly hot place!"

"Excuse me? You're the ones that bring us here," Rei says with annoyance.

"He's right, you're the one who sent out Abomasnow, sister," Coin adds. "Go on, then, Toxicroak. Pour out some poison for our unwelcome guest."

Alice says, "Then I'll battle you with Dartrix!"

After sending out the Pokemon, Alice has Dartrix go for Pluck and defeat Toxicroak with ease. But Toxicroak manages to use Poison Jab to deal super effective damage. After the battle, Dartrix also evolves and it also looks different from the Decudieye we know.

Decidueye (Hisuian Form): The Arrow Quill Pokémon: Grass- and Fighting-type. Evolved from Dartrix at LV:36. The air stored inside the rachises of Decidueye's feathers insulates the Pokémon against Hisui's extreme cold. This is firm proof that evolution can be influenced by the environment.

"So not only Typhlosion, but Decidueye has a new form..." I gasp in surprise.

"That means maybe Samurott might have a new form as well. And we still have one more sister," Alice says.

"I guess I lose the coin toss sometimes..." Coin sighs as she recalls her Pokemon.

"I did warn you, didn't I - that I had a score to settle with the Galaxy Team? All the pain and suffering I experienced after coming up here from the Kanto region to work - I'm going to make you pay for every last slight!" Charm yells as Gengar floats in front of us, she also sends out a Rhydon. Both of us use Decidueye and Dewott to battle. But much to our surprise, Decidueye uses some kind of arrow-shooting move that causes Rhydon to faint.

"What was that?" Alice asks.

"If I remember correctly, that move is called Tripple Arrows, it is a Fighting-type move. That explains why it is super-effective..." Rei says.

Much to our surprise, Dewott also evolves into a Samurott, but this one is also looking darker, and it goes with the move that is similar to Razor Shell, but the attack is darker and it just slams into the Gengar to knock it out.

"And that move is Ceaseless Edge, it is a Dark-type move," Rei adds.

"Wow..." I say in awe.

Samurott (Hisuian Form): The Formidible Pokemon: Water and Dark Type. Evolved from Dewott at LV:36. Hard of heart and deft of blade, this rare form of Samurott is a product of the Pokémon's evolution in the region of Hisui. Its turbulent blows crash into foes like ceaseless pounding waves.

"H-how could all of us have been -?!" Charm gasps.

"Hey, Charm! I healed up Abomasnow and Coin's Toxicroak, good as new! Now we can keep battling until we run out of Potions!" Clover says.

"Just keep going, no matter how many times you try, you'll always lose," I say, and Alice nods as both Starters just roar at them.

Just then, a Growlithe arrives and it starts to bark at them. Clover says, "Wha-? Hey! No one invited you, tiny!"

"You're really going to insist on getting in the way, you little runt?" Charm asks.

"Take him down, Toxicroak!" Coin yells as the Pokemon starts to charge the attack.

"I know it's hot, but hang in there, Abomasnow! Smash that runt!" Clover adds as Abomasnow also tries to attack. But Growlithe manages to dodge both of them but tripped on a small rock.

"Growlithe! Please, stop! You cannot beat such foes!" Palina also arrives, and Iscan asks, "P-Palina?! What are you doing here? I thought you were waiting with little Growlithe..."

"I was! But then he jumped into the ocean without warning and swam all the way here..." Palina says.

"Into the ocean?! But he was terrified of the ocean after it swallowed up the former lord-" Iscan gasps. "his own father!"

But Growlithe manages to stand back up and it roars, much to their surprise, its roar gets its response, and suddenly, a Fire Stone drops from the air and gets in contact with Growlithe, causing it to glow.

"Where did that Fire Stone come from?" Alice gasps.

"I have no idea, but Growlithe is evolving..." Rei says.

And then, an Arcanine with some Rock body stands in front of them, Iscan adds, "Looks like he finally found his courage..."

"The late lord's child...He's evolved!" Palina adds. "His true bravery lay not in crossing the seas, but in finding the strength to face hardship head-on."

"You gotta be joking me! Why'd the puny one evolve?!" Clover yells.

Coin looks up to the sky and says, "Uh...Sisters? Something's not right..."

A bolt of lightning strikes down from above and hits the Arcanine, causing it to roar and glow yellow. "You've gotta be kidding...it's becoming Frenzied...now..." I mutter.

"Palina, stay back!" Iscan says.

It starts to use Raging Fury at us, and all of us manage to dodge in the nick of time without touching the lava on the ground.

"Wh-what's happened to him?" Palina asks.

"That strange lightning hit him...He's become frenzied, just like the other nobles! Oooh, th-this is exactly why I didn't want to come to this island..."

Charm grits her teeth and says, "Ugh. Everything was going just as we'd wanted before that awful mutt ruined everything. Enough of this, sisters. We leave this place. We won't be making any living without our lives."

As they start to run away, I yell, "Come back here! This is all your fault!"

"We should get out of here, too. Otherwise, we're fair game for Arcanine! Come on, guys - we should hurry!" Iscan says as we decide to retreat to the altar. Once we are done, Irida rushes towards us. She asks, "Lina, what are you going to do about Growlithe - I mean, Arcanine?"

"That dear little Pokemon is my responsibility! As his warden, it is my duty to protect him with everything I have!" Palina says. "Guys, what must we do to quell his frenzy? Please tell us what we need!"

"We'll need to make some balms!" Irida yells.

"Balms...? Irida, what are you talking about?" Palina asks.

"I'm the leader of our clan! Is it so surprising that I know a little more of these things than you, Lina?" Irida asks.

Palina starts to get annoyed and she says, "I held my tongue the first time, but now I must insist! Stop calling me Lina in front of everyone! And yes, I'm well aware you're our leader, Irida. How could I forget that you were the one chosen? You, who can use your Celestica Flute to summon Pokemon and have them carry you to even the farthest reaches of vast Hisui..."

Irida says, "I've learned a little about these frenzies as well. There's a special method for dealing with them. We can make balms - pouches containing a mix of the lord's favorite foods - and throw them from a safe distance. Isn't that right, Ash, Alice, and Rei?"

"Yeah, that's right." I say, "Looks like we are going to do this the third time."

"Well, uh...in that case, I do always carry some of Growlithe's favorite foods with me...so I can thank him when he uses his flames to help prepare Basculegion's favorite meal..."

"Why, Iscan, once again your thoughtfulness saves the day! Now we can make those balms right away!" Palina says.

"Yes! Let's get right to work." Iscan nods.

After making enough balms with the help of both the Diamond Clan and the Pearl Clan, Iscan says, "They're ready! Here are the balms we need."

"Yeah, we can use them to calm Arcanine." Alice says as we take balms and head over to Arcanine, with the other four watching me and Alice leave. Palina stops us and says, "Wait, Ash and Alice. I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" I ask.

"Please do your utmost to save my dear Arcanine. He may have finally become a lord, but it is clear this frenzy is causing him to suffer greatly..." Palina says.

"Be on your guard - the late Lord Arcanine would launch devastating attacks after standing still and gathering light around himself!" Irida says. "Remember that while you're dodging, moves will slip right by you. Good luck!" We nod and go towards Arcanine, now Lord of the Isles.

We are now going to battle Arcanine with our own hands, as we start to throw some balms at the Pokemon. We notice that Arcanine glows and it goes for a Wild Charge. we dodge in the nick of time before getting hit by the attack.

"We have to be careful not to touch the lava," I say. "But there is not much space for us to dodge the attacks as well."

Alice says, "We can't give up, right now it is still charging, this is a good chance to throw balms."

After throwing some balms, we notice that Arcanine is growling and five fireballs form on top of it. "Watch out! It is going for Raging Fury!" Irida yells.

Alice and I quickly use the chance to throw a balm, causing one of the fireballs to disappear. "We need to throw four more!"

"Got it," Alice says as we continue to throw some balms until it is getting tired. "Now it is our chance."

I go with Samurott to battle the Pokemon, and Samurott goes with Razor Shell, which is super effective. But Arcanine also deals a lot of damage by using Wild Charge.

"Samurott! Aqua Tail!" I command, and then Samurott defeats the Arcanine, giving us the chance to throw some balms. But after throwing more, Arcanine manages to get back up and jumps into the air, it lands on the ground causing fire tornados to surround the middle area.

"Crap! We're now stuck on the alone tile!" I say as Alice is also horrified at the sight of the wildfire in front of us. And Arcanine still tries to use Wild Charge at us. We can only wait until Arcanine is getting close before hitting it with the balms.

"Crap...we're stuck at the corner..." I say as we notice the Arcanine is facing us in the same tile as it prepares for the Wild Charge, we try to dodge, but I get hit by the arm and I groan in pain.

"Ash!" Alice says, "Are you alright?"

"I can feel the pain in my arm," I say as I hold my arm. Alice notices it and says, "This is a first-degree burn, we need to do some icing."

She uses her Ice aura to cool my arm and also makes sure that Arcanine won't be able to hurt me as she continues to throw the balms. But when Alice manages to dodge the attack, it starts to charge up the five fireballs again, she knows that if it unleashes the attack, it will be trouble, and she only has 4 more balms left. Alice takes a breath and says, "I won't give up until it is over. Here we go!"

Alice throws four balms and Samurott helps shoot water to make it hit, and in the end, Arcanine's glow disappears and it returns to normal.

"Oh, look! The strange light has left Arcanine and...is vanishing into the space-time rift...?" Iscan asks.

Alice rushes to me and says, "Are you still hurting from the burn, Ash? Use this."

Alice uses the handkerchief that I tied for her during the battle against noble Lilligant, and the cool water to help cool the burn. I say, "It should be fine...it is a good thing that both of us didn't fall into the lava."

Arcanine walks towards us and gives us a red plate, Alice takes it and says, "The Flame Plate..."

"Now my Fire-type power is also back." I say with a smile, before reading what's written on it. "The power of defeated giants infuses this Plate."

Palina looks into the air and says, "What could possibly lie on the other side of the rift, I wonder..."

"A future where we stayed from," Alice says, still confusing to both Iscan and Palina. Just then, we hear two loud growls.

"What?! Were that two different Arcanine cries just now...?"

We look up at the volcano and see a shadow leaving, Palina smiles and pets the Pokemon. She says, "Oh...Now I understand...My little Growlithe...Ah, no, I misspoke. Lord of the Isles, Arcanine! You and I must now live apart so that we may attend to our separate duties."

Arcanine nods at Palina but is still sad to leave. Palina says, "Now now, all will be well. You're strong. Far stronger than me, in fact. From now on, let us each strive to fulfill our duties as lord and warden! Now go, Lord Arcanine. Your realm awaits."

Arcanine roars and then jumps into the lava and leaves. Iscan asks, "Um...Was I the only one who felt like they heard the cry of the previous Lord Arcanine earlier?"

"Oh? How odd. I certainly didn't," Palina says.

"My neither," Rei says as we just give out small giggles.

"P-please, I do hope you're joking...I'm easily scared as it is. What am I to do if I start hearing the cries of ghosts all the time?" Iscan panics.

"No need to worry, Iscan. I only kid," Palina says. "I also heard the voice of the previous lord calling out to us."

"We all do," I say as the others nod.

"It seems I wasn't the only one watching over his young pup this whole time...Rei, Alice, and I, you have my heartfelt thanks for helping my dear little one, the new Lord Arcanine," Palina says.

Before we can leave, Palina whispers to me, Rei, and Alice, "I'm sorry to ask even more of you, but...please look after Irida as well."

"You bet, we will help her," Alice smiles.

"Now then, Iscan, I believe we'd best be off," Palina says. Iscan nods as they leave the four alone.

Irida frowns, "Ash, Rei, and Alice...I wasn't much use just watching from the side, was I...You know, when Lina wouldn't raise Growlithe to be the new lord and people in our clan were doubting her fitness as a warden...I urged her to put Growlithe through the proper training, but she snapped at me."

"Why would she do that?" Alice asks.

"This poor Pokemon saw his own father die," Palina scolds Irida, who flinches. "Is it a warden's duty to force a child in such pain through that training?"

"Those words left me with...much to consider," Irida frowns. "And even when Arcanine became Lord of the Isles and grew frenzied, all I could do was watch."

"That's not true at all," I say. "Without your help, we wouldn't have been able to make the balms to save Arcanine."

"But that's something you could have done without me," Irida insists. "Is that so praiseworthy? Do I deserve recognition for such a slight contribution? I took on leadership of the Pearl Clan so young, with no grand vision for what it should be...Still, I tried to respect our old customs and sites, even as some called me old-fashioned for it. But watching you, I finally see. I know what I want to do. I want to protect this vast land of Hisui."

Irida then shows her resolve, "Grant me another battle someday, Ash, Alice, Rei! I want to battle alongside my partners so we can grow strong enough to be of help to all of you...and to broaden the horizons of the world I see!"

"That's for sure," Alice smiles. "I know you can do it."

"Looks like I've got Lina to thank for yet another lesson that I've learned. I should let her know," Irida smiles. "And hear more about her relationship with Warden Iscan, while I'm at it! But right now, I need to get off this oven of an island!"

"You're right, Ash already has a burn and it won't be helping if we continue to stay here," Rei says as we call the carriage to send us back to the Coastlands Camp.

After healing for a while, we decide to surf on the waters of Tranquility Cove. "Look! Basculin! It's getting away!" Alice yells as we try to chase after the Pokémon before it dives underwater. We manage to capture a couple more in the end.

Basculin (White-Striped Form): The Hostile Pokemon: Water Type. Though it differs from other Basculin in several respects, including demeanor—this one is gentle—I have categorized it as a regional form given the vast array of shared qualities.

"So we won't be able to find red and blue striped forms in Hisui," I mention.

"How are we going to evolve this thing?" Alice asks.

"We'll need to let it take 294 recoil damage in total without fainting. Fortunately, there's a move called Wave Crash that can assist us," Rei explains.

"294 recoil damage? Does this Pokémon even have that much health?" Alice questions.

"We have Potions that can help us along the way," I reply.

After several attempts of taking damage, Basculin finally evolves into a Basculegion. Since it's female, its appearance differs from the Noble Pokémon we've been riding.

Basculegion: The Big Fish Pokemon: Water and Ghost Type. Evolved from Basculin by taking 294 recoil damage. Clads itself in the souls of comrades who perished before fulfilling their goals of journeying upstream. No other species throughout all Hisui's rivers is Basculegion's equal.

Then we also arrive at Veilstone Cape, where we find a lot of Hisuian Growlithe. We decide to capture them for our Pokedex and for ourselves.

Growlithe (Hisuian Form): The Scout Pokemon: Fire and Rock Type. They patrol their territory in pairs. I believe the igneous rock components in the fur of this species are the result of volcanic activity in its habitat.

And with the Fire Stones in hand, we also evolve them into Arcanine.

Arcanine (Hisuian Form): The Legendary Pokemon: Fire and Rock Type. Evolved from Growlithe with Fire Stone. Snaps at its foes with fangs cloaked in blazing flame. Despite its bulk, it deftly feints every which way, leading opponents on a deceptively merry chase as it all but dances around them.

Then we head back to Professor Laventon, who says, "Hm? You quelled the new Lord Arcanine? Oho! Let's tell Commander Kamado the good news, then, shall we? Back to Jubilife we go!"

"Yeah, we really need to tell him about this." I say as we all head back to the Galaxy Hall.

Here is a new chapter, and we're done with the Cobalt Coastlands. I hope you like this chapter and we're going back to the Ultra Dimensions in the next one.

Ash and Alice's Pokemon (Hisui):

Pikachu, Arcanine (Hisuian), Quilava, Espeon, Torterra, Infernape, Empoleon, Lucario, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Cresselia, Manaphy, Dewott, Lilliegant (Hisuian), Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, Sliggoo (Hisuian), Dartrix, Wyrdeer, Kleavor, Ursaluna, Basculegion, Overqwil

Ash and Lillie's Pokemon (Ultra Dimensions):

Charizard, Butterfree x2, Lapras, Meganium, Steelix, Mantine, Sceptile, Gardevoir, Milotic, Absol, Glaceon, Gallade, Samurott, Audino, Zoroark, Hydreigon, Meowstic x2, Aegislash, Hawlucha