Pokemon: This Ash Is Too Versatile

But Ash proved with his own actions that the ideas she clung to weren't necessarily correct.

Now even this ancient stone tablet connected to the Venerable Sinnoh was telling her that lives ought to help one another.

The series of events that had unfolded finally made Xipu aware of her own problems.

She had lived ninety-nine years, possessed extensive knowledge of medicine, and had taken care of Ursaluna for many years.

But age and experience didn't mean the decisions she made would always be right; if she kept stubbornly clinging to them, Ursaluna would only suffer more pain.

Xipu put away the self-mockery on her face and turned to look at Ash and Cynthia.

In those eyes that had always carried vigilance, a clear plea appeared for the first time.

"I beg you, please help me return Ursaluna to normal."

This proud and stubborn old woman finally set aside her hostility toward Team Galactic and outsiders.

"Isn't that a given?" Ash grinned and gave Xipu a thumbs-up. "We came to the Crimson Mirelands precisely to help Ursaluna."

Cynthia also nodded lightly.

"Warden Calaba, you can tell us where Ursaluna is now, right?"

"Ursaluna usually lives in the Sludge Mound."

Xipu took out a simple map of the Crimson Mirelands and pointed to a stretch of expansive wetland on it.

"You can ride Wyrdeer over first. This old body will prepare some things and then hurry over after you."

At this point, Xipu's expression turned serious again.

"But there's one thing I need to tell you in advance."

"Ursaluna's abnormality is completely different from Kleavor's."

"There's no trace of that golden light on His body, nor was He directly struck by the Golden Thunderbolt."

"He only suddenly became violent after coming into contact with some strange powder."

Ash frowned at that.

"Strange powder?"

"I can't yet determine exactly what it is either," Xipu sighed. "That young warden from the Diamond Clan, Arezu, seems to know a bit about it."

"But before, I thought she was too young and didn't truly listen to her explanation at all."

"Thinking back now, I really was far too arrogant."

Aside from her age and pharmacological knowledge, she had nothing that made her superior to others; yet she had relied on her own experience to casually dismiss other people's judgment.

If she had listened to Arezu earlier, perhaps Ursaluna wouldn't have stayed violent for so long.

"We'll ask her again once we meet her," Cynthia folded up the map. "For now, we'll head to the Sludge Mound and wait for you there."

"Warden Calaba, will you be all right going on your own?"

"Don't worry." Xipu gave a soft snort. "This old body isn't so weak that I can't even walk."

"Besides, I have a partner specifically for traveling."

Xipu paused for a moment, then reminded them again, "After you find Ursaluna, don't approach Him right away."

"Ursaluna is usually very gentle, but once He goes berserk, He'll attack any living thing that enters His line of sight."

Ash and Cynthia agreed, then followed the passage out of the ruins.

When they stepped out of the Solaceon Ruins, Volo was still waiting near the entrance.

"Judging from your expressions, I'd say things are resolved, yes?"

"Warden Calaba is now willing to let us handle Ursaluna's abnormal state. We're heading to the Sludge Mound," Cynthia briefly explained the outcome.

"Then allow me to congratulate you both."

A gentle smile appeared on Volo's face.

"I still need to send news of the Miss Fortunes back to the Ginkgo Guild, so I won't keep bothering you."

Volo offered them a polite bow, then left along another path.

Ash watched his retreating back; at this moment, Volo's Aura was still remarkably calm, showing no sign of anything unusual.

Yet precisely because of that, Ash's suspicion only grew stronger.

The trace of Giratina's presence he'd sensed last time couldn't possibly have been a mere illusion.

But since Volo hadn't done anything harmful to them for now, Ash could only keep observing.

The two blew the Celestica Flute and rode Wyrdeer swiftly toward the Sludge Mound.

The Sludge Mound was clearly different from the outer edges of the Crimson Mirelands: vast stretches of dark soil connected together, slowly sinking underfoot whenever you stepped on them.

On the surface of some mud pools, rotting leaves floated; a moment's carelessness could have you sinking right in.

With Wyrdeer's help, Ash and Cynthia reached the center of the mound, yet they still didn't see any sign of Ursaluna.

"Isn't Ursaluna currently on a rampage?" Ash sat on Wyrdeer's back, surveying the surroundings. "Logically, He should be making quite a scene around here, right?"

"We don't know enough about Ursaluna. Let's wait until Warden Calaba arrives,"

Cynthia also observed the area around them and ultimately decided to lie low with Ash for now.

They didn't have to wait long before a somewhat short figure appeared in the distance.

Xipu was sitting on the back of a Bibarel, hurrying along the relatively dry patches of mud.

"Bibarel?"

Ash stared at the Bibarel carrying Xipu along the road, clear surprise appearing on his face.

Bibarel's size was far inferior to Wyrdeer's, but since Xipu was short, sitting on Bibarel's back actually suited her very well.

"What? You looking down on this old woman's partner?" Xipu got down from Bibarel's back.

"Of course not." Ash shook his head at once. "It's just the first time I've seen someone riding a Bibarel to travel, but it really does seem to suit you."

Xipu curled her lip and didn't press the issue.

She took a pure white, jade-like flute from the woven basket on her back.

Cynthia recognized the item at a glance.

"The Celestica Flute?"

"You think there's only one of these flutes?" Xipu glanced at the Celestica Flute in Cynthia's hand.

"The five Wardens in charge of taking care of Mount Pokemon each keep a Celestica Flute of their own. The fact that Mai was willing to give you hers means she truly acknowledged you."

"Wyrdeer has indeed helped us a lot lately. When we get the chance, we'll go thank Miss Mai again." Cynthia reached out and stroked the Wyrdeer beside her.

Xipu nodded, then walked toward the center of Sludge Mound.

"The reason Ursaluna hasn't appeared nearby is because he's currently moving underground. Even in a frenzied state, he will still respond to the call of the Celestica Flute."

"But this melody is different from the one used to summon Wyrdeer."

Xipu raised the Celestica Flute to her lips and blew a low and drawn-out melody.

The sound of the flute quickly spread across Sludge Mound. A few seconds later, the calm ground suddenly began to shake.

"Boom!"

Cracks opened one after another in the mud ahead, and the water pooled around them shook violently.

The next moment, a mass of mud suddenly exploded.

A massive brown bear burst out from underground, his four limbs slamming heavily onto Sludge Mound.

His body was far more robust than that of an ordinary Ursaring, his entire form covered in gray and brown fur, his broad back caked with wet mud.

On his forehead was a soil-yellow full-moon pattern, with two deeper rings around it, like a moon half-hidden behind layers of cloud.

Unlike Ursaring, which relies on its hind legs to stand, Ursaluna spent most of his time supported on all fours.

"Roar!"

Ursaluna lifted his head and let out a furious roar toward the three, the intense sound waves rippling outward and making the muddy water around them shudder.

His green eyes were full of agitation, and his breathing had turned abnormally heavy.

"So this is Ursaluna? It really does look totally different from Ursaring!" Ash stared fixedly at the Pokemon he had never seen before.

"He's usually a very gentle child. Ever since coming into contact with that powder, he's become like this."

Xipu looked at Ursaluna's current state, her eyes filled with heartache.

Ursaluna quickly locked onto the few people closest to him. He lowered his forelimbs, then charged at them with his massive body.

"Here he comes!"

"Got it."

Ash and Cynthia simultaneously pulled out their Pokeballs.

"I choose you, Typhlosion!"

"Come out, Samurott!"

Two beams of white light fell onto Sludge Mound.

Typhlosion and Samurott moved together to stand in front of the group.

"Samurott, use Double Razor Shell to block him!"

Cynthia was the first to give a command.

"Dai!"

Samurott drew two flowing water blades from the shells at his sides.

Blue currents surged rapidly along the blades. The two Razor Shells crossed in front of him, meeting Ursaluna's charge head-on.

Bang!

The heavy impact sent a violent tremor through the surrounding air.

The mud under Samurott's feet split backward in an instant, and his body was forced to retreat step after step under Ursaluna's push.

The twin Razor Shells kept slicing the fur around Ursaluna's forehead, Water Attribute Energy spreading outward from every point of contact.

But Ursaluna only let out a pained roar, then used even greater strength to continue ramming forward.

"This power…" Cynthia's expression turned serious.

It seemed that although Ursaluna didn't like to fight, the power he possessed was truly formidable.

This strength… was only just a hair weaker than Kleavor's.