They're at the bottom of the Firespit, as close to the edge of the water as they can get without getting pulled into the ocean. Izuku is kinda panicking because Palina is panicking which is causing Iscan to panic. Taking a deep breath Izuku harshly breathes out, he needs to keep a level head.
"Palina!"
"Y-Yes?!" she turns to Izuku, anxiety in her tone.
"We need to make some balms!"
"What are balms?"
"They're little wrapped balls of the Lord's favourite foods stuffed together."
"Is that how you Quelled the other frenzied Lords?"
"Yes! But I need you to go gather the supplies… me and Iscan need to stay here and make sure Lord Arcanine doesn't leave, or the other Pokemon that get upset by this either."
"A-Alright… Do you agree with this Iscan?"
Iscan looks at the two of them before nodding, "I do… B-But we should head to one of the N-Neighbouring Islands."
"Right."
So with that plotted out, Iscan calls Basculegion and they head to a smaller Island, and after getting dropped off the sea Lord takes Palina and Growlithe back to the mainland, hopefully they won't take long.
Iscan did mention that they only had to get a few ingredients, and the cloth to wrap around the balm, as he always carries some of Arcanines favourite snacks to reward the Pokemon for helping him.
Izuku spends the rest of the time getting his team sorted and healed, also helping Iscan get used to battling with his partner Pokemon as he's never battled before as a team. He also thinks about strategies on how to quell Lord Arcanine, there isn't a lot of room up there, especially with Arcanine prowling.
Iscan shares some of his pemmican (dried meat and berries clumped together) for a snack before continuing training. Izuku at some point brings out his notebook to mark down some more notes on his team.
It's evening by the time Palina returns, with Irida in tow.
"I came over as soon as I saw the lightning and ran into 'Lina, what can I do to help?"
"We need to make Balms, then take shifts sleeping tonight to make sure Lord Arcanine stays on his s-seat, and the other wild Pokemon don't get too unruly near us."
The others nod and get to work, asking for help when they need it, Izuku takes the first shift for lookout, with his team also taking shifts.
...
It takes til mid-morning for them to come up with a plan, a stupid plan considering they are a team of a not quite teen, a teen, and two emotionally compromised adults. Izuku thinks it's an alright plan, as he doesn't feel particularly happy to have to fight a Frenzied Lord on top of a volcano.
So he's happy he's going to have some help, even if it's not much.
As they climb back up Firespit, Izuku thinks about backup plans in case this one doesn't work, because like he's said before, it's stupid but in a 'it will probably work out' kind of stupid.
They stop as they reach the top, hiding just out of range from the new lord. They had a sort-of-plan, Izuku was going to act as a distraction with a satchel of palms while the others hid and sprinkled Arcanine when he wasn't looking.
He wasn't particularly happy with this arrangement, but they don't have time for Izuku to go and catch a stronger Water-type, and honestly, he doesn't think they have much time before Arcanine decides to start patrolling his new territory and harming the land.
Izuku jolts a bit as a hand lands on his shoulder, he glances back to see Irida smiling softly at him.
"Are you ready, Izuku?"
He nods, "Y-yeah, let's do this.."
...
Izuku wanted to reiterate how much he despised this plan.
He really, really, really didn't like this plan, he can say that right? He hopes he can because, by Arceus, he hates it.
He yelps when a ball of fire is launched at him, barely missing, adding a few extra minor burns to his arms, the sleeves of his undershirt were ruined since the first attack, it was to be expected but he would have appreciated some protection from the almost molten hot stone.
Arcanine stops in the middle of the volcano, five large fire balls grow above him, Izuku whistles sharply, and throws a balm. Water sprinkles harshly from above, trying to soak the lord, and three more balms chase after the one he threw, Arcanine staggers.
Izuku's going to take a chance, he hopes it's not a bad one. But with the rock like armour on Arcanine…
"Bell use Bulldoze!"
The tiny bear Pokemon digs her paws into the ground before shooting forward, her skull becoming as hard as stone as she jumps up and bashes her head into the side of Arcanine's head.
"RAH!"
Bella quickly backs off as the lord takes a swing at her, barely missing and singing some of her fur, Izuku keeps him from charging his teammate by throwing more balms at him. They keep going at that rate, because it's working and Izuku doesn't feel like risking his life over bubbling magma.
They go for a couple more rounds that way, until finally-
Shhhnnnn
-The glow breaks off of Arcanine, causing the large Pokemon to stagger and fall to the ground.
"Arcanine!" Palina and Irida run forward (their Pokemon following), Iscan scurrying after with his Pokemon carried on his back.
As much as Izuku wants to help them check on Arcanine, he has to make sure Bell is okay first, he'll probably have to give her a good wash, after patting her fur down and picking her up he walks over to the others.
"H-How is Arcanine doing?"
"He's doing about as well as he can.." Palina answered, gently petting Arcanine on the muzzle.
"That's good. Bell is alright as well, just some singed fur."
Some sigh of relief as they watch the rest of the golden light enter the Space-Time rift, Izuku has a feeling he's going to do this at least a few more times… he looks at his arms and the slight burns, at least he didn't get too injured.
There's a scuffle and crack of earth, when they look back to Arcanine he's standing up from a small divot he made in the ground, a familiar object in his maw, he lumbers to Izuku, who holds a hand out, and drops the plate in his hands.
There's an internal heat that warms his hands and soothes his external injuries in a homely warmth. The other plates and flute in his collection resonate with the warmth, releasing their own beats in a quiet song.
"Thank you Arcanine." he slots the plate in with the others.
Izuku turned to speak with Irida but jolted when a loud howl echoed around the volcano.
AROOOOOO-!
"What-?!" Iscan yelled in fright, clinging to his Pokemon- A East variant Gastrodon named Squid.
Izuku looks around, barely spotting a large shadow from the corner of his eye, when he turns to look, there's nothing there.
"Palina… do you think?" Irida questions.
"Yes.." she wipes some tears from her eye, "That must have been him."
Arcanine whines, pushing into Palina until she holds him.
"I know, hush, its alright.."
Izuku turns to look at Irida, giving the two of them at least the illusion of privacy.
"Who?"
"The fallen Lord Arcanine, he must have stayed around, if only in spirit, to look out for his son." her eyes are a little foggy, tears building up in them.
"Oh… w-well I'm glad Lord Arcanine's father got to see his son grow up."
"I am too."
...
Palina and Iscan stayed at the volcano while Irida joined Izuku with Basculegion back to the mainland.
"Izuku…"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Thank you for letting me help… I just… I feel like I haven't been a good leader for the Pearl Clan lately."
"It's no problem Irida.. You actually helped a lot, that wouldn't have been solved nearly as fast if you didn't help Palina gather ingredients. Or help with planning!"
Irida chuckles self-deprecatingly, "I'm glad I could help… You know, the last time I talked to Palina about her raising Lord Arcanine.. She snapped at me, telling me that she couldn't force that kind of pressure on the young lord who just watched his father die, that she wouldn't do that, even if her status as a Warden was revoked. And I just… I couldn't argue, I didn't want to lose a friend, so I told her to stay here.. And I lied to the Clan that she was training him."
"Irida… I think that you're a great friend, and you're still learning to be a leader. I think after all this has been solved, you and Adaman should talk about how you both lead your clans. He's been leading longer right?"
She hums in agreement.
"Right, so if you want to share the land that you live on, you need to talk to who you share it with. And I know the Galaxy Team is barging in, but it would be good to talk to them too."
"Alright… Thank you, again."
Izuku smiles, "No problem."
...
Izuku spends the rest of his time in the Coastlands filling both the Professor's Pokedex, and his personal Pokedex, he also makes sure to take pictures, and he makes plans to learn how to use the Professors camera and ask for one.
He stays there for another two days, researching nighttime Pokemon (managing to find some of those glowing, what he's beginning to think are souls, around), also making sure to mark down Alpha activity on his map. During his last day he spends time out on the ocean with Basculegion documenting water types and trying to avoid the rages of Gyrados and Magicarp. There were a lot of Gyrados.
He also found a cove with a small mountain in the middle, Izuku decides he'll check that out later.
It was decided as a team that after they get back to the village that they'd take a day off or just help around again, Izuku was planning to pamper his team a bit, maybe figure out how to make those small cakes he's seen.
Before leaving he says goodbye to Palina and Iscan, and the Lords.
Summoning Wyrdeer he climbs up, with Drake sitting in his lap for the beginning of the ride. About halfway to the Crimson Mirelands, Izuku's scarf almost tugs him off Wyrdeer.
Wyrdeer stops as Izuku yelps, he scrambles down and tears his scarf off.
"Why-?"
Ooooooownn
There's three Unknown basically glued to his scarf, how- how did they get there. Actually, no, he doesn't want to know.
"I… I guess you can follow, but you have to follow some rules."
He gets a feeling they are very happy to just be following him, gently putting his scarf back on.
Izuku sighs before climbing back up onto Wyrdeer, explaining the same rules that he told the others. He somehow managed to collect an I, S, and A.
They stopped at the Mirelands because Izuku wanted to see how the other lords/ ladies and their wardens were. Warden Calaba and Ursaluna were well, and just getting ready for a patrol around Ursaluna's territory for the next week, Arezu and Lilligant were stretching getting ready for some dance practice.
Izuku ended up asking about some of their stretches and writing them down, in the conversation Arezu mentioned that she would be an apprentice under Edith in Jubilife for a while, and was hoping Izuku could help her with inspiration, Izuku agreed to help.
Mai was also around at the Diamond Clans main camp, so they had a good talk while they worked on cleaning Wyrdeers longer furs of dirt.
When they finally get back to Jubilife, Miss Cyllene was in a meeting with Kamado, so Izuku went to show all his notes to Professor Laventon, he was very excited to see that Cinnamon evolved, he was even happier to see how Cinnamon looks different to other Typhlosion's.
Eventually Izuku retires for the night, with some potato mochi to go, some jerky, and oran berries they had a pretty good supper that night.
...
Izuku meets with Cyllene before he heads up to Kamado to get his fourth star, he heads upstairs after getting a shoulder pat and a "good job kid" which almost has him in tears.
After giving a report of what happened Kamado closes his eyes and nods.
"You did well on your mission to the Cobalt Coastlands, your efforts aided not only the Galaxy Team but also the Pearl Clan as well." he looks at Izuku, ".. I do hope your efforts will have an effect on the space-time rift, somehow. If we are able to get rid of that rift, it should clear any lingering doubts about your origins. Though how we might actually close the rift, I haven't the slightest idea. Remain true to the mission."
Izuku has a very foreboding feeling about that but he nods.
After that Izuku is dismissed, leaving headquarters he gets ambushed by Akari who drags him to the Wallflower talking about what she's been doing the last few days both with the professor and on her own.
After they all sat down, Laventon having joined them, Beni commented on how if the mochi tastes any different it was because he used a Pokemon's flame to help cook it.
"The birth of a new lord Pokemon… What a sight that must have been! If only I had journeyed to Firespit Island to see the event myself." Laventon sighs.
Akari raises an eyebrow, "I have a hard time imagining you making that trip on Basculegion's back, Professor…"
He waves her off, "Come now, you know my coordination is so poor I couldn't even hit my own foot with a Poke-ball! And I can't dodge attacks to quite literally save my own skin! Of course I can't possibly ride atop a fearsome beast like Basculegion!" He smiles, "That being said… We'd all do well to remember these wise words: "The ever striving soul is rewarded in the end.", and strive I shall! For the sake of my research, I will surely ride a Pokemon one day and record the experience in our Pokedex for all posterity! Just you watch!"
They continue talking about inane things or what they are planning to do, while they do that, Izuku thinks about the Ponyta he caught, maybe if the villager who asked about it doesnt want to keep her, he can talk to the Professor about her.
They finished around the time the sun was setting, just watching the sunset for a bit before they retired for the night.
...
Yota, the man who sent in the request about the unusual Ponyta, was actually surprisingly on board with taking care of the gal with Izuku's help in the pasture; Laventon was also invited to help. The little lady named Peppercorn by Yota, she is very kind, and likes berries. Izuku managed to convince both of them to help clean her pelt. They worried about being burnt but were amazed at how soft it was.
Izuku knew he wouldn't be able to get either of them to ride upon her back yet, but they were getting there.
He spent the next few days alternating between checking the few Pokemon he had in the pasture (either because of injury, or they had eggs and weren't strong enough to protect themselves and the eggs), and pampering his team a bit.
Izuku spends the next week helping out around the village.
A lady needed help moving into her fiance's house, no problem.
Some bidoof's needed to be herded around the village and eventually were recruited into the village guard, same with a . each got a little vest or cloak in the case of with the Security Corps insignia on them.
He helps an old lady realise how much she would miss the sound of the Chimecho that hangs around outside her house and greets her every morning.
Izuku is so happy to be able to help all these people overcome their fears.
...
Cinnamon looked out the window from where they were basking in the sun beams, the last few days have been rather calm and Cinnamon was rather happy about that. They took the time to know more about their new team, and somehow managed to get Izuku to talk about his family.
"Hello."
Cinnamon turned away from the window to look at Bell.
"Hello Bell, what can I do for you?"
"Can you help me mash the berries, Izuku said he found something called sugar and is going to make something called jam and other treats."
"Of course. I hope they are tasty, Izuku has talked about all the treats from where he's from, they all sound very good." Cinnamon mumbled, standing up and walking following Bell to where she had everything set up.
They work together crushing berries, when a bowl is filled, Drake would come by and drag the bowl to Izuku. Cinnamon loved moments like this, just relaxing with everyone or doing something as a team.
Eventually they run out of berries, and shuffle over to watch as Izuku and Lola work on making this 'jam' thing.
'Yes, out of all things,' Cinnamon thinks, 'I want to keep this. I don't care if more come and go, or stay. I just want this to stay.'
...
Bell happily followed Izuku around as he walked around town, Miss Cyllene agreed to allow her and Drake to be out of the house or the Poke-balls as long as they didn't use any attacks. So far she's had three kids ask if they could pet her (she agreed, they were very gentle) and two adults ask about what species she was.
Currently Izuku was walking around the shopping stalls, he was getting supplies for the next time they have to leave Jubilife for longer, Bell looked at the cloth lady wondering if maybe she can convince Izuku to get them capes like the Bidoof trio have. It would be really cool.
Bell looks at Izuku when he calls her, he motions to the big building that Miss Cyllene and the Professor stays in.
*"I need to give the Jam jars to the Professor, and then we can head out to the Fieldlands for some training or check out the Distortions." *
"Okay!"
Bell smiles as they continue, she's glad she stayed with Izuku, she's never seen so many new things.
...
Lola Laughed as she rammed into one of her old littermates, she was bigger now! Now she can pick on him! Now she gets attention and makes her favourite person happy with her strength!
"Hah! I am stronger now! Fear my power!" she crowed in delight, as she knocked out her opponent.
She listened as Izuku and the others cheered for her, she loved being strong, her new family was strong as well and getting stronger everyday. She cheered and jumped onto Izuku, knocking him over with a laugh.
"Come on, come on! One of those funny area's is nearby and I want to fight more!"
She grabs his sleeve tugging him up, "C'mon!"
Izuku laughs as Cinnamon joins in pushing him along, with Bell and Drake running on ahead.
She loves the timey wimey areas, so many strong opponents for her to show her worth against.
One day she'll be the strongest, so strong that she can take down that big Rapidash near the river, and then stronger.
As they enter the funny distortion and her claws clicked on the funny stone that Izuku called 'cement' she smiled.
This was so fun!