While Ash and Adaman are doing the research of Duskull and Dusclops, Irida asks, "I want to know, a lot of people are saying that we share the same face, and I admit that we really look alike. But I want to know why."
"You mean why we look alike?" Serena sighs. "I don't know about that. But is that a problem?"
Irida shakes her head and says, "Even though I have a lot of friends, like Palina and Lian, I never had a sister before and I don't know what it feels like to have one."
"I see..." Serena says. "I didn't have any siblings as well. So I know how you feel."
"So about you and Ash, is it true that you two are a couple of some sort?" Irida asks, and Serena blushes a little, "Well, we are dating after all. I mean, I love him and he loves me. I know for sure."
"I see." Irida says with a sigh. Serena decides to ask, "What about you and Adaman? Are you really hating each other just because you're from different clans?"
Irida says, "To be honest, I don't hate him, it is just the fact that he is rash all this time making me worry. He always talks about not wasting time and other stuff...you know how it feels, right?"
Serena says, "I think I know a little about how you feel, after traveling with him through the Crimson Mirelands. But then again, that is what makes him special, don't you think?"
Irida thinks of Serena's words and then says, "I guess you might be right about that."
Then Irida has an idea and she says, "Since we look alike, how about we become sisters? Not blood-related of course, but sworn ones?"
"Are you sure about that?" Serena asks. "I mean...I have never done that before..."
"It will be fine." Irida smiles. "It will make things easier."
"What I mean is that, I have the same last name as Adaman, won't you clan think bad of you?" Serena asks.
"If we don't tell one another, they don't know about the truth." Irida says. "Sometimes taking risks are exciting as well."
"If you say so. Sis." Serena says, and then the two girls start to chuckle. After hours of waiting, they fall asleep at the rock until Ash and Adaman manage to wake them up.
"Sorry for keeping you guys waiting." Ash says, "Those Ghost-type Pokemon are hard to defeat." Then he notices how close Serena is to Irida, and he asks, "Do we miss something?"
Serena says, "Well, Irida and I are going to become sworn sisters. Don't you think it is cool?"
"Really?" Adaman asks. "Looks like you got first, Irida...I was just about to ask Serena to become my sworn sister because of our same last names..."
"Looks like I beat you." Irida smirks.
"But still, I can have a sworn brother, right, Ash?" Adaman asks.
"Eh? I don't mind about that." Ash says.
"Hey! How dare you try to copy me?" Irida yells.
"Just trying to be equal. By the way, we must find Iscan right now for the progress." Adaman says.
After arriving at Iscan's hut, they knock on the door and he comes out. He asks, "D-did you bring it? You know...The Pokemon with a name that sounds like, um, d-dust bops..."
"Ash and I already found a bunch of them." Adaman says, "Show him, little bro."
"N-no! Don't bring it out!" Iscan says as he takes a breath, "R-right...I guess...I guess I've got to do my part, seeing how, um, determined you are...to go to that island...with Basculegion... Usually, I, um, ask Palina if the Growlithe she takes care of can help me with this bit. But this time, you need to help since...Well, since we're making this snack so that you'll be accepted by Basculegion."
"So you and Palina?" Irida asks, causing Iscan to get nervous again. Adaman says, "We can talk about this later, Irida. Right now we have important business to do."
"O-once I give the signal, you...have that "dust bops" of yours use its Dark Pulse..." Iscan says.
Ash nods as they start to make the food, and Ash has Dusclops out. Iscan looks at it and says, "Waugh! No! It's too frightening!"
"Iscan, you need to get ahold of yourself." Adaman says.
"Right...S-so counting down to it just makes the anticipation and terror worse...Let's simply have you do it when I say go..." Iscan takes a breathe and says, "And...go!"
"Dusclops! Dark Pulse!" Ash commands, and the Pokemon fires the attack into the pot with the food, once it stops, they can smell a delicious aroma.
"I think the snack is ready." Adaman says as he looks into the pot.
"Both the aroma and the shape are...perfect! It's the perfect ball of Basculegion Food!" Iscan says. "Then let us make for Ginkgo Landing. We can summon Basculegion there..."
After getting to the beach, they also find Palina there waiting for them. "Hello, Iscan." Palina greets the man.
"Lina?" Irida asks. "What are you doing here?"
"O-oh, Palina! I...I thought you said we shouldn't be seen together?" Iscan says, then realizes that he just spills the beans as he quickly covers his mouth.
"Don't worry, I'm sure that they can keep a secret." Palina says. "Besides, both I and the Growlithe pups were eager to meet with the great Basculegion again."
"What kind of secret?" Irida asks, "Are you two hiding something from us?"
Adaman sighs, "Irida, now it's not the time."
"No, I want some answers right now." Irida says, Serena sighs as she says, "Sorry big sis, Adaman is right, we really need to summon Basculegion right now. Once it is over, you can ask anytime you want."
Before Irida can say anything, Iscan starts to blow the Celstica Flute, and they can see some bubbles in the water, until a giant fish that looks similar to Basculin appears in front of them.
"Go on, Ash and Serena. You can give the food to Basculegion now." Iscan says.
Ash decides to feed the Pokemon with the balm that he made, and Basculegion just eats it and smiles.
"The great Basculegion..." Palina mutters.
"O-oh...Thank goodness...I was a little worried about whether Basculegion would accept this favor...So, uh, Serena...You should let Basculegion hear your playing." Iscan says.
Serena nods as she starts to play the flute with the third melody, different from Ursaluna and Wyrdeer. After that's done, Basculegion just takes out a blue plate and gives it to Ash.
"The Splash Plate! A stone tablet imbued with the essence of water." Ash takes it and reads the words on it. "The rightful bearer of a Plate draws from the Plate it holds."
"Now you can ride Basculegion across Tranquility Cove and head to Firespit Island." Iscan says.
"My congratulations to you, Ash and Serena." Palina adds.
"Now that's done, Lina, I want some answers." Irida says.
Iscan sighs and turns to Palina, "Do you want to tell them?"
Palina nods and says, "I mentioned to you before how the previous lord rescued his Growlithe pup. During that incident, Iscan and Basculegion saved my life as well. Since then, I've felt a great deal of affection for Iscan here. I truly adore him...But I know there are those who speak ill of me behind my back...So I try to meet with Iscan where there are no prying eyes, to preserve his reputation."
"W-well, I was just doing what any decent person would do when I saved you..." Iscan says.
Adaman and Irida then realize how the two of them really express their love to each other even though they are in different clans.
"Perhaps...but nonetheless. After that day, I found the strength to accept Growlithe as he is and not force him to become the next lord. And it was all thanks to the courage you showed me, Iscan." Palina says.
"Ah...Perhaps we should save this discussion for another time, after all." Iscan says.
Just then, they hear a voice, "I bring good luck to my sisters wherever I go - and ill luck to anyone who crosses our paths. I'm the eldest, and I'll be your unlucky Charm!"
"Thought you spotted a four-leaf clover? Well, I'll soon have you seeing double! I'm the middle sister, and I'm one Clover you can't pick!"
"Heads, I win, and tails, you lose - you've got no chance in this game of fortunes. I'm the youngest, Coin, but I'm definitely not your good-luck piece."
"We are the Miss Fortune sisters, known across the frigid land of Hisui - and your luck's just run out!" The three people step in front of them.
Adaman and Irida are the ones who are shocked, and Adaman asks, "Clover?! We haven't seen you since you walked out on the clan! Where've you been all this time?!"
"You know her? Adaman bro?" Ash asks.
"Hmph. I don't have to tell you nothin'." Clover says.
"And why are you with them, Coin?" Irida asks.
"Like what Clover said, I have no intentions to tell you, now get ready to hand over that Growlithe!" Coin replies.
"You want to take...my partner?" Palina asks in shock. "If your aim is to pester us with bad jokes, those ridiculous introductions of yours were more than enough!"
"Y-yes! Exactly what she said!" Iscan says.
"Well, I think that they're better than Team Rocket ones..." Ash mutters.
"Agreed." Serena replies.
"Now, Gengar!" Charm commands and the Genar appears from the shadows and snatches the big Growlithe.
"Oh no! Growlithe!" Palina yells.
"Thanks for the Growlithe, fools!" Clover taunts.
"We three can't live the kind of lives we want because of narrow-minded groups like the Diamond Clan and the Pearl Clan. If we want to live freely in the great land of Hisui, we need to have powerful Pokemon on our side." Charm says.
"Don't worry - we'll make sure this pup grows up nice 'n' strong. We'll even make him a lord for ya!" Clover says.
"Let's take the mutt to our camp and get to work. No one will bother us in a place so miserably hot." Coin adds Gengar uses Confuse Ray to get them escape.
After seeing them gone, Adaman says, "Just why..."
"Now I can't forgive Coin...she is so dead when I meet her again." Irida says.
"What should we do, Ash and Serena? This is an emergency! R-right?" Iscan asks. "B-but, uh, you see...I've never...I've never actually had my partner battle before..."
Palina says, "Please, Ash and Serena...I beg you: help us. That Growlithe is a very, very dear Pokemon to me. Please save him..."
"We will definitely save them, but the thing is, where are they going." Ash asks.
"They said they were going to a place where nobody would bother them...The only place around the Cobalt Coastlands that seems suitable...is Firespit Island." Iscan says. "Oh! Now that you have Basculegion to help you cross the water, you can reach that island, too! Please. Could you find it in you to help Palina?"
"Of course." Ash and Serena nod. Palina says, "We'll also make our way to the Firespit Island as well."
"No, Palina...You should wait here and keep little Growlithe safe." Iscan says. "I'm sure he needs you right now. Though...I'm not sure if I want to go to an island with l-lightning and bandits and...No! Come, Ash and Serena! No time to think! We must go now!"
Then they've decided to go to Firespit Island, Irida stops and turns to Palina, "Lina...I..."
"Don't call me Lina." Palina says as she leaves with Growlithe, and Iscan tries to chase after her. Irida sighs as she can only catch up to Ash, Serena, and Adaman.
I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, the Miss Fortunes are here again and they just steal Growlithe. Will they get the Pokemon back? The next chapter will be at the Firespit Island for the Noble battle.