It was the day after tomorrow of the gang's Galar Region trip. Today, Sarah and her class were in a train, heading for the Crown Tundra with Victor, Gloria and Hop. "Alright class, today we're heading to the Crown Tundra, a very vast area home to many wild pokemon, especially Ice type pokemon."
"Alright!" Ash smiled.
"Pika!" Pikachu cheered as well.
"Can't wait!" Kiawe added.
"Wonder what kind of Galarian Ice type pokemon we'll see." Sophocles wondered.
"That assignment Professor Kukui gave us sure seems pretty interesting," Lillie put in, excited. "Just imagine, Galar Pokemon unique only to the Crown Tundra and all for us to see with our own eyes!"
"I can't wait to see how one of us would do with the Dynamax Band Professor Magnolia gave us to test," chirped Mallow, looking at a small band that had been on the girls' table as the gang poured their attention over it. "Can this thing combined with a Wishing Star really control a Pokemon's Dynamax transformation to the fullest?"
"She said that it could during the Dynamax lecture she gave us yesterday," Lana nodded.
"But, who's gonna be the lucky guy or girl to try Dynamaxing out?"
"I'll do it, I wanna see how strong Pikachu gets when he's become giant-sized!" Sophocles and Ash said.
Before they left for the Crown Tundra, Professor Kukui briefed the group that they'll be assigned three clues about the snow-swept realm which they must choose and complete in three groups with Victor, Hop, and Gloria as they will be separated to join their chosen groups to help them figure out the mysteries surrounding the clues given to them. This got the gang excited and they were more ecstatic about what they'll find in the Crown Tundra when they were requested to pass through the Max Lair to do a Dynamax battle before doing so.
As for Sarah, she was still twiddling her hands as she looked at them, trying to get her head around what she was told by the dragons and her first-ever meeting with the Heroes of Many Battles. The little princess was still reeling from the bombshell about Zacian and Zamazenta and realized that she and the dragons knew the answers to the mysteries about Galar's true history and the real heroes responsible for saving the Galar Region from the Darkest Day.
She was worried about how the others, Hop, Gloria, and Victor as well as Sonia, Professor Kukui, and Professor Magnolia would react if she did decide to tell them if she plucked up the courage to do so.
"Pika...?" asked Blitz, concerned for Sarah.
The princess turned to her Mouse Pokemon, seeing how worried he is for her along with Riolu from her spot on her lap. The others didn't seem to notice how troubled she was from seeing Zacian and Zamazenta and hearing the truth about them as well as the strange shield with the sources of their lost powers.
"You okay...?" put in Tsukumaro, worried for his goddaughter as he looked up from a book about the Crown Tundra he was reading.
Sarah just nodded; the old advisor could tell she was still trying to wrap her head around what she had been through and heard about Galar's two Legendaries and the circular shield they told her dragons about.
"..."
"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough if we do see them. For now, let's concentrate on the task at hand given to us by Sir Kukui and keep those two on the back of our minds until then. Today's the day we'll all be going to the Crown Tundra and there will be several Pokemon for us to learn about and see. We'll have to choose a clue from the three given to us if you're going to keep your grades up."
"Right..."
Tsukumaro wasn't lying; he and Sarah had obviously been paired together as one team since Kukui thought it would be perfect for them to spend more family time together to continue making up for their years apart. While it had been arranged, once again, the others have been split into their respective teams with the boys in one group and the girls in the other. That only left Hop, Gloria, and Victor, who would have to choose which teams they'll need to be in for the lesson since they've yet to see the Crown Tundra as well.
No sooner had she been reassured by her godfather than something that looked like a scroll fell out of Sarah's satchel and fell on her head before landing on her lap but not before falling on Riolu and Blitz's heads as well.
"Ow!"
"Pika!"
"Aie!"
"Huh, what happened?" gasped Tsukumaro, startled by the small object that fell on them.
"Something bonked us and-Huh?" ranted Sarah before she noticed the scroll on her lap and picked it up. "Hey, what is this?"
"Pi, Pika?" Blitz pondered, tilting his head at the scroll.
"What's that?" questioned Riolu as she poked it.
"It looks like some kind of scroll," observed Tsukumaro, confused. "But, I don't remember you packing something like that, Princess."
"I don't even remember having this thing, at all! This wasn't in my satchel the last time I checked before we got on the train and Prof. Kukui gave us our passes."
The princess looked the scroll over until she came across a small patch on it that said "Please open me". Curious as to what it meant, she carefully opened the scroll and saw what looked like a message meant only for her. She looked at the others at their own tables to see if they heard her but she sighed in relief, seeing them too engrossed in their own excitement to hear what had happened.
Then, she began to read the message in it which said:
"To the Sun Princess of Alola, I am honored to know that you, your family, and your friends are here in the Galar Region. If you should get this message, it would mean that you're already on your way to my domain, my realm, the Crown Tundra. Princess, I've written to you in the hopes that you can help me with a problem I'm having. This has become too big of a task for me to handle and I'm deeply worried that I've become nothing more than a passing glance or afterthought to all of Galar due to the tedious march of time. If you receive this message, come to the town of Freezington outside of the Max Lair. I'll await your arrival when you do."
Now, Sarah and Tsukumaro are confused as they looked through the message; who would've written to her and wanted their help for something as strange and unorthodox as this?
"Mommy, who wrote this thing?" quizzed Riolu, also stumped over the strange message.
"I don't know, Riolu... But, whoever wrote it sounded as though they need my help."
"That, however, leaves us with one problem; someone wrote that knowing exactly who you really are," Tsukumaro interjected suspiciously. "Who would know about you and why would they want you to help them?"
The message continued to ring in Tsukumaro and Sarah's minds as the train continued on its way to the Crown Tundra and the snow-capped outskirts surrounding the snow-barren realm.
Meanwhile, Victor, Hop, and Gloria poured over the clues given to them and the others by Kukui and Magnolia. They've all been told they'll spend two days at the Crown Tundra to figure out the mysteries surrounding what's on the clues and take notes on what they find to see if anything about them rang true or if they're purely myths and legends.
"These clues really don't seem to tell much about these Pokemon listed here," said Hop, scratching his head.
"But, they are all we got to try and figure out what these Pokemon are and what is known about them in the Crown Tundra," replied Gloria thoughtfully.
"Well, whatever they are, we'd do our best to keep our eyes and ears open as we figure out what is known and not known about them," concluded Victor.
Gloria and Hop nodded; they knew they'll have to do a lot of digging with their Alola friends to solve the mysteries behind the Pokemon written in the clues are and what parts of them ring true or false. This was no doubt a learning experience they'll have to be exceptionally prepared for if the Alola gang were to exceed expectations for their class.
Finally, the train arrived in the outskirts of the Crown Tundra and with their winter gear on, everyone entered the path leading to the Crown Tundra and the Max Lair before the realm. It was freezing given what they had to go through on the trek to their destination but they were too excited by what they'll eventually learn and see to care.
Sarah, on the other hand, kept on reading the message sent to her, her thoughts mainly over who would know her besides her family and her friends.
Soon, they came to the Max Lair where they found two paths leading to the lair itself and the other leading travelers straight to the Crown Tundra. Since Victor, Gloria, and Hop didn't want the gang to go through the trouble of taking part in a Dynamax Adventure with strong and/or special Pokemon right off the bat and not keen on having them use Rental Pokemon for a Dynamax Adventure, they decided to bring the group directly to the Crown Tundra.
"There are some Power Spots in the Crown Tundra where you can use your Pokemon against a Dynamax Pokemon," Gloria told the Alola kids as they traveled on the direct path to the Crown Tundra. "Wouldn't want you to go through Rental Pokemon business except for the more daring who'd brave what's in there."
"You'll need an easy introduction to Dynamax when we get there," added Hop. "With each of us, we'll give you guys a crash course on Dynamax "
"Did you guys choose which clues you're going to take?" Victor reminded as he held the clue cards for the gang. "You'll need one of each if we're going to complete this assignment of yours from Prof. Kukui and-"
"I'll take the King of Bountiful Harvests!" declared Sarah, immediately taking the clue card from him.
This got everyone barring Tsukumaro, Riolu, Absol, and Blitz baffled as they stopped in their tracks and noticed something different about their fellow trainer and friend, like as if she grew two heads after hearing Victor tell the gang about the clues.
"Huh?!" they all gasped in surprise.
(Galar Special Theme Song)
[Hikari Sentai Maskman: "Do-Re-Mi Fight! Fight Maskman!" – Pokémon Version]
(From a bird's eye view, while the clouds in the heavens part on a sunny day in the World of Pokémon, a beautiful and majestic view of the Galar Region, along with the Isle of Armor and the Crown Tundra, is shown as Flying Type Pokémon including Corviknight, Fletchling, Pikapek, Pidgey, Pidgeot, Staraptor, and Dragon Type Pokémon that can fly such as Dragonair, Salamence, and Flygon, soar peacefully through the clear blue skies)
The Galar Region – the most beautiful and mysterious of all regions in the World of Pokémon. It is a region full of tradition, royal fascination, and revealing surprises unlike any other in the eyes of both humans and Pokémon.
(The Sun Princess of Alola and the daughter of King Doug and Queen Delilah, Sarah Tomoe, is seen walking through a mythical dwelling known to all in Galar as the Slumbering Weald, as several images of Galar's Pokémon including the Galar Starters and their evolutions, a Shiny Zeraora, Sir Farfetch'd, Yamper, Galarian Slowpoke and Slowbro, Kubfu and Urshifu (both Single and Rapid Strike styles), Zarude the Rogue Monkey Pokémon and a young boy with him, and the King of Bountiful Harvests, Calyrex and his loyal steeds, Spectrier and Glastrier before being shown face to face with Galar's main Legendaries, Zacian and Zamazenta)
What wonderful and exotic mysteries will elude and await the Lost Sun Princess as she treks through areas of phenomenal mystique and wonder from the royal defenders of Galar's Sword and Shield to the Snowy dynamics of the Crown Tundra?
(The main titles are revealed after a bright light shines between them as it reveals the word, Pokémon, in the midst of the Slumbering Weald in the background before it whooshes out and a bright light flashed in the foreground to reveal the main Galar Special titles in their full glory via rising from the ground in stone before they glowed and become fully colored in the clear Galar sky as the clouds roll by)
Sarah: Pokémon Special!
Ash, Lana, Mallow, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Lillie: To Galar and Beyond!
(As the opening plays to the Hikari Sentai Maskman Movie Opening Song, "Do-Re-Mi Fight! Fight Maskman", Sarah and her friends are seen doing a Para-Para dance and doing specific poses in the opening instrumental on several beats on the rooftops of a few buildings at the city of Wyndon before they're seen jumping down to the ground through flips and fancy poses thanks to their Power Rangers/Ultra Guardians training, Sarah going first, then Ash and Lillie as a pair, Mallow and Lana, and ending with Kiawe and Sophocles)
Do-Re-Mi, Fight! Fight, Pokémon~!
Fa-Mi-Re, Doki! Doki! That/So-La Heartbeat Kick~!
(They resumed their dance with their Pokémon partners by their side as the citizens of Wyndon and their Pokémon including game trainers Gloria, Victor, and their best friend and rival, Hop, with their fully-evolved Galar Starters watched on in excitement with some of them dancing in the audience)
Do-Re-Mi, Fight! Fight, Pokémon~!
Fa-Mi-Re, Doki! Doki! That/So-La Heartbeat Kick~!
(Our heroes were soon quickly introduced beginning with Sarah joined by Blitz and Silvally, Ash dancing with Pikachu, Mallow getting in the grove with Tsareena, Sophocles having fun with Togedemaru, Kiawe rocking off with Turtonator and Pyroar, and Lillie enjoying the music with Snowy)
We are Ultra Guardians, we have Seven Fresh Hearts~!
Our Special Companions are our Pokémon~!
Let's Go and Ca-atch Them All~!
(Two Kubfu are training with a man and Martial Arts Master named Mustard on the Isle of Armor before they evolve into both the Rapid Strike and Single Strike styles of Urshifu. The Galar Legendaries, Zacian and Zamazenta, are then shown overlooking the Slumbering Weald before they are shown with their lost powers as they begin to fight whatever evil is approaching them)
The more we all Learn and Train, nobody will match our Power~!
If we make Friends with all Pokémon, our Bonds with them grow Infinitely~!
(Sarah and her friends continued to dance away as the Wyndon citizens, their Pokémon, Victor, Gloria, Hop, and their Galar Starters cheered for the Alola and Kanto newcomers. The Rogue Monkey Pokémon, Zarude, wearing a large pink cape, is seeing swinging and running through the trees and above the forest homes of Ballonlea with a boy looking similar to him apart from his pale skin, crimson hair, and wearing only a loincloth, unknown to the citizens themselves and only known in the world's legends about them before they looked towards the viewers/readers and gave them a nod)
Hundred Punches, a Thousand Punches, All Perfectly Concentrated~!
Hey, hey, hey~!
(With their backs turned and still to the beat of the song, Sarah and her friends, in the same order of their introductions, make different poses as they do an About-Face to the audience one-by-one with their Pokémon making different ones after them in reverse before they both cheered)
Hundred Punches, a Thousand Punches, All Perfectly Concentrated~!
Hey, hey, hey~!
Fire, Ultra Bomber~!
(Shots of the gang doing different Z-Moves are quickly shown in the same order before cutting to several Pokémon being affected by Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing and battling throughout the Galar battle phenomenon. The gang poses with their Pokémon again as they danced before Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, is shown riding through the Crown Tundra on Spectrier with Glastrier not far behind them before they came across a giant tree where the Galar Legendary Birds lived and the two groups faced each other)
Do-Re-Mi, Fight! Fight, Pokémon! Fa-Mi-Re, Doki! Doki! That/So-La Heartbeat Kick~!
Do-Re-Mi, Fight! Fight, Pokémon! Fa-Mi-Re, Doki! Doki! That/So-La Heartbeat Kick~!
(Amidst the final chorus, the two groups of Legendaries eyed each other as the opening rounds out with the gang and their Pokémon along with the dragons and Solar dancing their hearts out to the audience, Hop, Gloria, and Victor, and their own Pokémon before ending with a group pose to the audience's applause)
Pokémon Alola Journey Special – To Galar and Beyond
After Sarah made her choice and told everyone what she wanted to do with the Pokemon from the first clue (without ever mentioning the strange scroll with the message meant for her, thankfully), the others agreed and her friends took the other two cards with one about a large tree and the Galar Legendary Birds for the girls and temple with strange beings lurking in it for the boys.
"Well, that takes care of that," put in Hop after the clue cards were given.
"As we've arranged with Kukui, we'll all be split into three groups for the lesson while we stay in Freezington for the next two days from today," Gloria added. "We'll be sure to give you guys crash courses in Dynamax battles during this time before we leave as we do our clue adventures."
"And, remember, with everything we do, we must record and write down everything we find out and see," finished Victor. "Prof. Kukui, Principal Oak, and Prof. Magnolia would want a few reports on each of the Legendary Pokemon from the clue cards on what is true about them and our experiences with them. Hop, Gloria, and I will join you in your groups and we'll help you out whenever we can and if you need it."
"Right!" replied the Alola gang.
"Well, guys, you ready to start exploring the Crown Tundra?"
"Yes!"
"Well then, let's go!"
By Victor's call, the gang went off in their assigned groups to explore the Crown Tundra and begin their short stay in the Crown Tundra for their given assignment. Hop lead the boys to where he feels the temple containing the Legendary Pokemon from the second clue card is at while Gloria and the girls set off to find the tree and the Galar Legendary Birds are.
Victor, Sarah, and Tsukumaro, joined by Cinderace, Absol, Blitz, and Riolu, made their way to Freezington to begin figuring out the mystery behind the King of Bountiful Harvests. She returned her gaze to the scroll, continuing to think about the message written for her with its owner begging for her help on whatever problem it might be having.
She couldn't figure out why it would single out her and would want her help given that there are several other people who would assist it, especially when the message's owner had known about her royal identity off the get-go compared to the rest of the world (had the other regions found out).
"Hey, Sarah, what made you decide to go for the clue involving the King of Bountiful Harvests?" Victor asked on the way to Freezington, getting her attention.
"Umm... Well, you see, uh..." she began as she quickly hid the scroll behind her back.
"You were awfully interested, no, very keen to solve the mystery behind the strange Pokemon. It's like you know a little bit about it but you didn't fill us in on everything."
"I'm as clueless about the Pokemon as you are but you didn't even read it when you took it from my hand. What made you so eager to find out about it more than the other Pokemon the others are going to look for?"
"It's just that interesting to me, more so than the other Pokemon that we'll find. There's something about it that I need to figure out," she told him before she looked at the card and read the description on it.
"There's a fairy tale in Freezington about the Legendary Pokemon known as the King of Bountiful Harvests. In the legends, the King is said to wear a massive crown on its head but the wooden statue near the fields in the middle of the village shows no sign of a crown."
"It's been said that the Pokemon in this clue card's a king in these parts but it sounds like it's become a story after such a long time. Did you hear anything about this?"
"No, I haven't heard much of about it since I've never been to the Crown Tundra and neither have Gloria and Hop since we didn't have Crown Passes to go by before you all arrived. But, we did hear stories about it one time from passing travelers that had been there, mainly tourists and scientists who are famous scholars looking up Galar's history and researching the Pokemon there and their unique habitat like Sonia."
Sarah just nodded. Once again, she made no mention of the scroll since she was still worried about how Victor would react if he found out about the message sent to her.
Finally, after much walking, the three humans and their Pokemon arrived at Freezington. With a population of only 9 people and a lack of its own amenities, similar to the case of Postwick, the secluded snow-barren town looked relatively peaceful for its size.
Several small houses and medium-sized buildings dotted the place including what looked to be a small inn a little further on the field and surrounding a large garden at the center of town. Much of the village's tiny population was already out and about, none of them ever minding the cold as they looked warm and toasted with their own winter gear on, including the town merchant selling the basic necessities of the locals and passing trainers alike.
At the center of Freezington, Sarah noticed a statue that looked like the Pokemon present on her clue card. But, when she looked closer at it and back at the picture on the clue card, she was surprised to find that it lacked something on its head.
It all looked beautiful, almost like a small mountain village that would come straight out of a Christmas-themed movie or TV episode come to life.
"Incredible..." gasped Tsukumaro, completely breathless. "It's nothing like I've ever seen out of Alola, so peaceful and yet, quiet and basically sustainable like in my time..."
"Yeah, it's the second smallest village in the entire world and all of Galar," Victor nodded, chuckling. "The total population of the place is only 9 and that's saying a lot since there aren't many of us in Postwick."
"Hello, hello! What have we here, a few more visitors?" chuckled a voice, making the group whirl around to the owner.
The voice belonged to an old man who had been watching over the garden in the center of the village wearing a grey turtleneck sweater under a dark green Pokemon-League-like jacket, dark green boots, grey-golden sweatpants, and a snow cap. He also looked like he had years of wisdom under his belt about the village and the Crown Tundra and its Pokemon with the way he was looking at them intensely despite his kind-hearted nature as he greeted them.
"I am the mayor of this fair town of Freezington. I must say, it's a surprise to have visitors arriving in our out-of-the-way town one after another," said the mayor.
"Yeah, we just arrived today," replied Sarah. "My friend, my godfather, and I are here on a school field trip assignment by my teacher, Professor Kukui. We're here in the Crown Tundra to learn about a mysterious Pokemon native around these parts."
"That's right, mate," nodded Victor in agreement. "Not only that but our other friends have all gone out to find out more about other legends that are told in the Crown Tundra to see if there's any truth to them for our essay reports."
The mayor smiled, intrigued by their curiosity and seemingly knowing which Pokemon Sarah could be talking about.
"Ah, yes. I see... You all must be very curious to know about the Pokemon that lived alongside us in these parts and those told in the legends passed down throughout the years. Might you be here to learn about the legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests as well?"
Sarah gasped in surprise, "H-how did you know why we're here?"
Victor and Tsukumaro blinked in surprise as well but the mayor sighed quietly as he shook his head, his smile becoming smaller with sadness.
"Ah, never mind, it's hardly worth bearing to ask," he replied. "After all, there has been very little going on around here to attract many visitors to our sleepy corner of the region such as you. Which is a bit of a shame, really... People come all this way to investigate and learn about what is just a mere fairy tale."
He then perked up again as he looked to Sarah, seeing how the three of them and the rest of their crew having made the journey to the Crown Tundra to find out about the King of Bountiful Harvests despite his own reservations on the subject.
"But, since you, your friends, and your godfather have all made the journey to come here while on a school assignment, young lady, I must offer you this Freezingtown specialty as a memento!"
And, he presented Sarah with a boatneck sweatshirt known as Freezington's Fame which caused Sarah to gasp in surprise again by the unexpected gift given to her.
"Mr. Mayor, what did you just give to my goddaughter?" questioned Tsukumaro.
"It's a sweatshirt emblazoned with the likeness of the King of Bountiful Harvests. I'm afraid it hasn't sold quite as we hoped when my people and I made it. We've got a fair couple of them left now... The illustration on the front's based on extremely ancient accounts of the king's appearance, hence the unusually sized head. But, we thought it might make the design a touch more 'hip', as they say."
Sarah looked over the sweatshirt she was given and saw the illustration sewn on the front; it looked exactly like the Legendary Pokemon itself depicted from the photo on her clue card as well but with the added bit which is part of its head.
"If you all would like to see what the king really looked like, I suggest you take a look by the statue by the fields in the center of our village," continued the mayor, pointing towards the wooden statue before he turned back to his town's visitors. "By the way, as long as you're all here, why not leave your Pokemon outside for a stroll around the town? And, you can stay at our Freeze Inn, we've got plenty of room for you all during your short stay if you want to take a little break from your adventures. Farewell for now, then."
With that, the mayor left to continue his business, thus leaving the small group to their own devices. With what they've been told, the three humans and their Pokemon with them decided to get settled in for their brief stay before they begin their assignment together.
As they walked to the Freeze Inn, Sarah stopped by the statue the mayor mentioned but she couldn't help but find something off about it as she looked at it and the Pokemon. Her suspicions about it were correct; it was like the Pokemon depicted on her clue card but part of its head, the crown, was missing.
"Mommy?"
"Pika?" Blitz and Riolu chirped.
While Victor and Tsukumaro went into the Freeze Inn, the two Pokemon noticed her looking at the statue.
Sarah stared intensely at the statue as if the Pokemon carved and depicted looked as though it was staring at her in the eye despite being made of wood. She didn't seem to hear her two Pokemon as she continued to look all over it and took note of its head before referencing the sweatshirt design of it.
"This doesn't make sense... If this statue is of the King of Bountiful Harvests as the mayor said, why doesn't it have its crown?" she questioned herself quietly, looking back and forth between the statue and the picture of it on the clue card and the sweatshirt design. "It's gotta be more than just a fairy tale, that message sent to me is proof that somebody like that Pokemon needs my help... Why wouldn't I have come to the Crown Tundra in the first place?"
Then, she felt an idea coming to her. "...Maybe, but..."
Slowly gathering her thoughts and seeing what she needs to do to fix it, she quickly put the sweatshirt in her backpack and started looking around the town for the missing part of the statue, much to Blitz and Riolu's confusion.
"Pika?" questioned Blitz again.
"Mommy, can't we look around for something later after we warm up first?" asked Riolu, shivering a little.
"No, guys, there has to be something to fix the statue! You noticed something was off about it, right? Part of its head is missing so it must've somehow fallen off before we got here years ago, that piece must be the giant crown on its head! If we find the crown, we can put it back together and maybe, we'll get the answers we need as to this King of Bountiful Harvests! Well, come on, don't just stand there! Help me look!"
"Princess!" shouted Tsukumaro, coming out of the Freeze Inn and calling for his goddaughter, forcing her to stop searching and look to him. "Come inside, Victor and I have someone we want you to meet!"
"Okay, I'll be right there! Come on, guys, let's go."
Quickly, the trio hurried into the Freeze Inn to see who Victor and Tsukumaro just met.
In the Freeze Inn, which is not much different from a modest yet humble ski lodge with several rooms on both floors of the building coupled with a modest kitchen, living room, and such, Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu found Victor, Tsukumaro, Cinderace, and Absol talking with a man dressed in snow exploration gear coupled with a large backpack and a black cap on him.
"Ah, child, there you are. Allow me to introduce to you the man we met upon entering the Inn," Tsukumaro began, gesturing to the man. "This here is Peony, he's a former Steel Type gym leader who's also a former champion before his brother, Chairman Rose, became the leader of his company, Marco Cosmos."
The man, Peony, looked at Sarah and smiled boisterously, "Why, hello there, little lady! Betcha here for a bit of exploration on the Crown Tundra, am I right?"
Sarah was taken aback by his energetic and boisterous personality but she nodded, not knowing what to say to him. Not even Blitz and Riolu could make out his excitement since he took them by surprise as well.
"Judging by that clue card in your hand and hearing of your immense sense of curiosity from that little noggin of yours, I'd say you've got the makings of a master explorer in ya. And, ya picked the right place for your lodgings but in your case, since I'm told you'll be staying here for a few days for something important, it'll also serve as your base camp!"
"Huh?"
"Pi?"
"Wha-?" stuttered Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu.
Peony just laughed as he saw their faces. "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! I know, I know, not much of a base camp for your tastes, right? Still, we've got to give it some air of importance for your little job, right?"
"You see, Miss, I'm in charge of what is called the Peony Exploration Squad and 'round here, there have been a fair bit of strange and mysterious legends going on. Legends I'm sure your pal and godfather chirped to me that your friends are already on the move for, right?"
"Uh, yeah, our school assignment, really..."
"Right, and I'm sure you know, for example," continued Peony, emphasizing the legends through exaggerated body language. "1. a huge-headed Pokemon known as the King of Bountiful Harvests, 2. a massive tree where legendary flyin' Pokemon gather, and 3. these great, hulkin' dot-faced giants that sleep in some ruins or somethin'!"
Victor, Absol, Cinderace, and Tsukumaro grew surprised by the mention of the legends and the explorer's body language to depict them but Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu gawked in shock from the mention of the first legend.
"The King of Bountiful Harvests!?"
"PIKA?!"
"That's the legend Mommy's working on!"
"HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! I see, looks like while the others have gotten the legends about the tree and those giants, you've got the one mentioning the King of Bountiful Harvests, huh? The Crown Tundra is one of those places in our region bursting with legends that none of the other regions can even begin to compare with regarding their own legends and my team, scattered across Galar in several fractions and working 'round the clock, won't stop until we've found just how much juicy truth they have in them including the legend you're on now."
He sighed as he grew a little sad, fanning his face with his cap as he thought about something which drew Sarah, Riolu, and Victor's concern.
"'Course, if I had my way, I'd be doing this fun stuff with my darlin' Nia," he sighed.
"Nia...?" quizzed Sarah, tilting her head.
"My lovely daughter, she didn't think it would be feasible to spend some time with her father. Always going off to do things her way and being so daring in her own right without taking time off for some family 1-0-1..."
He sighed again as he replaced his cap and turned to her. "But, who knows? they say even Chansey meetings can lead to Blissy-ful friendships! So, here's to a grand expedition on you and your friend's end, Expedition Chief Sarah!"
"Huh?!" gawked Sarah.
"Pi, Pika, Pika," groaned Blitz, hearing the Pokemon pun.
"Obviously!" smirked Peony before he became thoughtful over his daughter. "Listen, what do you think would happen when the four of us would go galivantin' off together?"
"My dear Nia could come along when she's done with her own adventures in the Max Lair before here for a grand emotional reunion... And then, find this place empty! Just the thought of it, my own darling daughter, sitting alone in this building, pinin"' for her papa... Gaaaah! Nope, not on my watch! I'd never let that happen!"
"Now, now, Sir Peony, please take it easy! No need to get riled up like that!"
"He's right, mate, she'll come around! You just gotta give her time to do her own stuff before she can join you!" begged Victor and Tsukumaro, startled by Peony's sudden mood swing.
"Phew, you're friend, my friends. That's why I'll be the hold-down-the-fort chief! Which means, little lady, *you* will have the honor of being the Expedition Chief, GHA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! And, that brings me to this, here you are!"
Peony then pulled out an expedition uniform like his own but one that'll fit either Sarah or Victor, which the former was given, coupled with an expedition backpack to boot. Startled by the newfound gift given to her, she then went into the bathroom to see how it would fit her as she put on the Freezington's Fame sweatshirt and the uniform after, switching her satchel with her new backpack.
When she finally came out of the bathroom and showed herself in her new look, the three of them looked impressed as they looked her all over.
"Um... How do I look?" she asked awkwardly.
"HA-HA-HA-HA! Look at that, you look smashin'! Fits ya like a glove," laughed Peony, approving of her fitting it.
"Looks as though it was made for you," nodded Victor in agreement.
"A fine piece of winter clothing fit for a young lady such as you, Princess," Tsukumaro agreed.
"I've brought along spare uniforms in case my dear Nia would join us later so there's enough for you and your friend here."
"Friend?" puzzled Sarah.
Victor gulped, "I think he means me..."
"Righty-o, ha-ha! Go ahead, young man, why don't you try one on for yourself? You'll be working with her as her fellow chief!" said Peony as he gave him another uniform.
"W-wait! I didn't ask to be part of this thing, I'm helping with her school assignment!" spluttered Victor, flabbergasted.
"Don't be shy, chap! Give it a try, you'll be glad that you'll be working with her since she's your partner for her school project!" laughed Peony as he shoved him into the bathroom to change.
Sarah giggled sheepishly along with Tsukumaro from Victor's awkward predicament while their Pokemon sniggered at his misfortune but the little princess' attention turned back to the wooden crown on the table as she walked over to it.
"Hey, Little Lady, my pillow's caught your eye, eh?" Peony asked.
Sarah and Tsukumaro looked at him incredulously and even the Pokemon couldn't help but raise incredulous eyebrows at him. Obviously, by the looks of the crown and since it was made of wood, it doesn't even remotely feel or look like a pillow.
"Huh, your... Pillow?" Sarah quizzed awkwardly.
"Sir Peony, I beg your pardon, that thing does not look like a conventional pillow like the ones on the beds and the couches in this place," agreed Tsukumaro.
"Oi, listen here, you two. I've got some wisdom to depart... If you can put your head on it and have a kip, then it's a pillow!"
Blitz's left eye twitched as he stared blankly at Peony before he facepalmed in annoyance at him and Cinderace did the same as he shook his head in exasperation. Absol sighed incredulously while Riolu tilted her head curiously at him.
"You think it's a pillow, Mr. Peony, Sir? she asked, stumped.
"Indeed, it is! Unfortunately, after my darling Nia and I packed up and left for this place, I wound up leaving my favorite pillow back home. So, I hunkered around two to find something to rest my head on and found this out back behind the inn!"
Sarah nodded before she looked back at the crown and observed the picture of the statue of the King of Bountiful Harvests and his steeds. Earlier, when she and her Pokemon saw the real statue in the square field, she noticed that it was missing one thing right off the bat and that was the King's crown. She had a feeling that the so-called makeshift "pillow" Peony had found was the same crown that was missing from the statue's head so she knew she had to get it.
"...Can I have that for a while?" she asked finally.
Peony was shocked over her request as he reeled back just as Victor had changed into the spare outfit given to him, feeling surprisingly cool and comfortable in it. "C-come off it, Little Lady! You think I'm going to hand you my ultra-mega-comfy pillow, just like that?! I'm telling ya, that's a lot coming from you!" he gawked.
The Pokemon gathered, Victor, and Tsukumaro all just sweatdropped, seeing how defiant Peony was becoming to keep his "pillow" for the little expedition.
Sarah, on the other hand, stood firm and nodded without hesitation, "...I am. That 'pillow' of yours is actually a clue, it could be connected to the Legendary Pokemon I'm looking for."
"Hm, what's that...?" quizzed Peony, his intrigue now drawn and his shock forgotten. "You think my pillow has something to do with and is connected to a Legendary Pokemon?"
He was silent for a moment and then, he gawked again. "GAAAHH! Ultra-mega-seriously, this looks like just some old wooden thing that I found!"
"But, if you think it is connected to that Pokemon you're finding and if you would like to have it then, Missy, who am I to refuse...?" he continued before his demeanor changed and he became eager. "All right, right, righty-then! Go on and have it but make sure you track that Legendary down if it really is connected to my pillow!"
Sarah stared before she nodded and took the wooden crown while she made her way back to the statue with Blitz and Riolu following.
Wondering why she would want a crown like that so badly, Victor, Tsukumaro, Absol, and Cinderace followed as they watched her from a distance what she was going to do. They knew they should be close with her but they wanted to see for themselves what she was on about regarding the crown and the statue.
"Pika, Pi, Pika, Pikachu?" asked Blitz as Sarah observed the statue.
His trainer ignored him and kept looking over the statue for a place where she feels the crown would fit. She then brushed off a bit of snow from the figure's head and she suddenly noticed a small hole in the middle of a spot on its head for the wooden crown. Sarah gasped quietly, realizing that it was where the crown should go on.
"This is it," she breathed quietly before she spoke up. "This is it, guys! I think this is the spot where the crown should go, it looks like it fits the poor guy."
"Well, if you think so, go at it," encouraged Riolu as Sarah turned to her Emanation Pokemon. "Mommy, go and put the crown on its head."
The princess nodded as she carefully fitted the crown on the statue's head but as she did so, she didn't hear a faint rustle coming from behind the statue and within the bushes that Blitz picked up as his ears twitched and he looked around.
"There we go, good as new," smiled Sarah, seeing the statue complete with its crown.
Now, she was sure that the statue is exactly how it is from the picture on her clue card and she was right. The statue looked impeccable and she was sure that the King of Bountiful Harvests would've looked like as it is from the design on her new sweatshirt she was wearing underneath her uniform. Even Riolu loved how it looked now as she cooed at it.
Victor and Tsukumaro were surprised yet amazed; the "pillow" that Peony had found at the back of the inn really was a crown, after all! But, just after Sarah's good deed was carried out...
"Crow Own..." crowed a voice, spooking them and Sarah as they and their Pokemon all looked around.
Blitz whipped around with his family until he gasped in shock. "Pika!" he shouted, pointing a shocked finger to a figure that looked like a Pokemon he saw floating a tiny distance from them and behind the statue. And, he was right; somebody was indeed watching them from afar.
The strange Pokemon eyed them before it turned and floated to a tiny and secluded grotto, confusing Sarah and her Pokemon but giving them the impression that they should follow it, which they did. Intrigued after they also gawked at the Pokemon, Tsukumaro, Victor, Absol, and Cinderace carefully followed Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu as the three of them chased after the Pokemon before they came face to face with it.
The Pokemon, as it turned to them, was a bipedal figure with thin legs that are twice as long as its torso. Four small prongs were shown growing from its small head that supported a giant-for its size-green bud that looked like a crown. A ring of green spheres adorned its neck which was marked with an inlaid series of blue and white triangles, six of them which surrounded the tiny middle triangle in threes resembling the Tri-Force from the Legend of Zelda.
It looked unbelievably majestic as Sarah, Riolu, and Blitz couldn't take their eyes off of it and neither could their stalkers as they didn't know what to say about it, either.
"Craaaa... Crawwwwn," the Pokemon cooed again, whipping its right paw and arm with a determined and yet intrigued look in its eyes.
"Mommy, he wants to know how strong we are," Riolu translated, eying the Pokemon carefully.
Sarah was puzzled; the Pokemon wants to know how strong she, Blitz, and Riolu are? She's getting the feeling that it wants to test their strength before they can start talking.
"I see... Well, are you ready?" she asked the Pokemon cautiously.
The majestic Pokemon nodded as it prepared itself to fight its honorary new opponents. "Cra! Rowcrown!" it commanded, wanting Sarah and her Pokemon to fight and not hold back on it.
"All right, I hope you're ready 'cause you're about to see what we're really made of!" warned Sarah. "Riolu, you're up!"
"Right!" nodded the Emanation Pokemon as she stepped forward.
Sensing that it would have a worthy opponent to fight, the Pokemon charged what looked to be its Grass Type energy before it shot a Magical Leaf attack, ultimately making the first move.
"Riolu! Fire Punch then Aura Sphere, go!"
Seeing the glowing leaves coming at her, Riolu quickly used Fire Punch to try and counter each leaf coming her way while kicking a few leaves right back at her royal opponent. She took a few of them on which gave her bruises but with all the training she's put in, she was able to withstand them with little-to-no problem before she charged up Aura Sphere and shot it.
The Pokemon, however, dodged the few remaining leaves sent its way before it used Psychic to cancel Aura Sphere and grab Riolu in a mental grip before it threw her into a tree.
"AIE!" she yelped in pain, snow falling from the tree and piling on her.
"No, it can't be!" gawked Sarah, flabbergasted and shocked over the Pokemon's power.
Sensing her human mother's shock and distress, Riolu steeled herself as she got up and shot out of the little snowdrift she was in to continue fighting. "I'm not finished yet!" she snapped, getting back into her battle stance.
"Crooooowwnn...!" replied the Pokemon, looking like it was chuckling in amusement from Riolu's fighting spirit while it got into its own battle stance to continue fighting as well.
"Psychic and Magical Leaf, does that mean...?" whispered Victor as he, Tsukumaro, and their partners watched from the bushes nearby.
"I don't want to speculate or jump to conclusions but yes... That Pokemon is a dual Psychic/Grass Type," the old advisor nodded seriously. "This could present a problem for the princess if she and Riolu are not careful..."
The Pokemon narrowed its eyes before it concentrated as much sunlight onto itself as much as it can gather before it concentrated into a fine beam of light, which it was careful enough to fire without causing any damage to any part of Freezington.
"Pika-Pi!" shrieked Blitz, recognizing the move as Solar Beam.
"Look out, Riolu!" screamed Sarah in a panic.
Seeing the Grass Type attack coming at her and while the Pokemon was charging it, Riolu yelped and immediately took cover underground, immediately using a new move she had learned prior to entering Galar. Victor was bewildered when he saw Riolu use Dig for the first time as his eyes literally bugged out and so did Tsukumaro's, the old advisor taken aback from the attack used by the Emanation Pokemon since he didn't recall her using Dig in her family's training with him.
"Her Riolu knows Dig?!" hissed Victor in shock.
"But-b-But, that's not possible!" agreed a thunderstruck Tsukumaro.
"Croooo..." cooed the mysterious Pokemon as it looked around for Riolu and tried to feel her presence.
But then, Riolu popped up from behind it as she emerged from the ground and out of the bushes, catching its attention before she quickly summoned a sphere of wind and air and shot it as a beam. The wind beam immediately struck the Pokemon on the back, making it slam into the snow.
"That's Vacuum Wave?!" the Galar trainer and advisor gawked again.
Despite the beating it took from the Vacuum Wave, the royalty-like Pokemon smirked as it got out of the snow and used Swords Dance and Agility in a speed and attack boost combo before zipping to the Emanation Pokemon before punching at Riolu's face on her right cheek with a hard Pound attack without giving her a chance to counter let alone react to its recovery.
"OW! That hurt!" screeched Riolu, now mad as she rubbed her sore right cheek.
"...Pi," winced Blitz, cringing from the sight of Riolu's swollen cheek.
"Hey, that Pokemon used a Pound attack," gasped Sarah quietly.
"Cra, Craw, Crooooown!" the Pokemon demanded, preparing one final attack to end the battle.
"You want my all? I'll give you my all!" replied Riolu, preparing to use an attack combo as her paws burned and crackled with fire and electricity.
As far as she was concerned, after the royal-like Pokemon one-uped her using Pound after the beating it got from Vacuum Wave and a bit of the recoiled Magical Leaf attack, all bets are off in her case.
Charging up one final Solar Beam, the strange Pokemon waited to attack as Riolu charged forward, preparing to use Fire Punch and Thunder Punch in a combo. But, when she did and jumped towards her majestic opponent, the Pokemon faked her out and fired Magical Leaf in Solar Beam's place, taking her by surprise before she was forced to take the blows from the undisturbed Grass Type attack this time.
"Pi-Pi!" cried Blitz worriedly.
"Hang in there, Riolu! We only got one shot!" encouraged Sarah. "Go forward and use Shadow Claw!"
"SHADOW CLAW?!"
"CIND?!"
"SOL?! "balked Victor and Tsukumaro and their partners, their eyes completely bugging out in shock.
Even the Pokemon was taken aback as it halted its Magical Leaf and gasped in bewilderment before it saw Riolu cancel her prior combo and immediately channeling Dark Type energy into her right paw as a dark claw crackled with purple electricity was formed. With her new attack, the Shiny Emanation Pokemon broke through the remnants of Magical Leaf and charged again towards the shocked Pokemon, readying her Shadow Claw.
"Beat this, you brainiac!" taunted Riolu as she finally slammed her Dark Type attack down on the Pokemon and clawed at it.
This time, the tables were turned as the Dark Type attack made its mark, making the Pokemon screech in pain as it floated back and slammed into the bushes. Her Shadow Claw did the trick as it proved to be powerful against the Psychic/Grass Type she had finally beaten. The Pokemon recovered as it floated out and nodded with a smile at Riolu.
"Cracrown, crow. Roooooooowwwnn, rown, crown," cooed the royal-like Pokemon.
"Uh... You okay?" Sarah asked, concerned for the Pokemon.
The Pokemon cooed again, smiling as it shook its head to assure Sarah and Riolu that it wasn't too badly hurt and it had fun battling with them.
"You had fun while battling...?" puzzled Riolu, tilting her head at it in confusion.
"Rown riiown, crowiown. Rararown, cacarown," nodded the Pokemon in gleeful confirmation before it became serious. "Ricown Cocrocrown, croooooooown recrown."
"Um... Thank you, Mister, I have Mommy to thank for training me," replied Riolu bashfully.
"What's it saying to them?" whispered Victor to Tsukumaro.
"Cind, Cinder," nodded Cinderace in agreement.
"I don't know but it looks as though it was impressed to see the princess and Riolu having proven themselves worthy in their battle with it," theorized Tsukumaro. "By the sound of it, it looked as though it had fun while battling, almost like it hasn't tested its own strength in a long time."
"Oi, oi! Little Lady, what's up?!" shouted a familiar man running from the Freeze Inn.
Tsukumaro, Absol, Cinderace, and Victor yelped, jumping from their hiding spot and made themselves known to Sarah, Riolu, Blitz, and the Pokemon as they looked towards the unexpected intruders. With them was a startled and concerned Peony, who had heard the Pokemon and Sarah and Riolu's battle and came out to see what was going on.
"...Oops," squeaked Riolu, embarrassed.
"I hope nobody else heard our fight," agreed Sarah, blushing.
"Don't do that, you fool!" screamed Tsukumaro at Peony, aggravated.
"Where the bloody hell did you come from?!" asked an annoyed Victor.
"What's going on, mates? I heard some sort of racket from the inn and came to see what was up! What's this then, Little Lady? Ya having a Pokemon battle earlier-huh?!"
Peony grew excited from a Pokemon battle that he had missed when he finally noticed the Pokemon with Sarah.
"Wh-wha...WHAT A MASSIVE NOGGIN!?" he gawked in shock.
"Hrm, Ruumm crorown. Cracrown," said the Pokemon as it floated to Peony and faced him.
"Wh-what's this-!?" Peony began before it used Psychic on him and held him while taking off his cap. "EAGHH-Mlerrrgh..."
"PEONY!" shouted Victor.
"What are you doing, you beast?! Let go of him!" demanded Tsukumaro.
But before anybody could make a move against the Pokemon, they were suddenly all taken aback over what happened next. While Peony was in the Pokemon's mental grasp, a soft yet powerful voice that sounded like Dan Green from the American Dub of Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters ass Yami Yugi/Pharoah Atem and the complete opposite of the Expedition Chief came out from him.
"Ah, yes... Indeed, a sturdy body, just as I expected," the Pokemon spoke, using Telepathy through Peony before it turned to the now shocked group before it. "I hope this fine gentleman doesn't mind if I make use of it for the time being."
Sarah, Victor, Tsukumaro, and their Pokemon were completely gobsmacked after hearing the voice. They couldn't tell right away if it was coming from the royal-like Pokemon or from Peony himself.
"C-c-c-c-chief, mate, is that you...?" started Victor, stuttering in shock and awe.
"An understandable question, but my answer is no," replied "Peony".
"What-I mean, who are you?" Tsukumaro asked, still taken aback.
Sarah looked closely at Peony along with the Pokemon who had him in its mental grip along with Blitz and Riolu. She knew it was using Psychic and Telepathy to speak to them, Victor, Tsukumaro, and their partners through Chief Peony and had a feeling that it wanted to speak to them all through easier means than by talking to them personally or having another Pokemon like Riolu do all the translating work for it.
"Wait, you look familiar," she began as she took out the clue card and looked at the picture of the complete statue before looking at the Pokemon again. "Are you the Pokemon that I'm looking for?"
"...Oh? I see you've already grasped the situation, Princess. Very astute of you, I didn't expect less from Lady Delilah and Lord Doug's only child," the Pokemon spoke again, amused. "My name is Calyrex. I am the one known to all of Galar and in these parts as the King of Bountiful Harvests. I've borrowed this man's body in order to thank you in person and to speak with you, so to speak."
"Indeed, there are no words at my disposal to adequately thank you for heeding my call for help and express my gratitude for your restoring my statue in the town square."
"Your statue, your call for help...? You mean, that wooden sculpture in the center of town was the statue of you?! No... No, that message in my satchel, you're the one who called out to me while we were heading for the Crown Tundra!"
"PIKA?!"
"NO WAY!" balked Riolu and Blitz.
"...Yes, dear child. It was I who summoned you to Freezington, I was hoping you could help me with a problem that has been the bane of my existence during this time. In days long past, I reigned over this peaceful land in the south of Galar as its king. The humans and their Pokemon offered my loyalty and respect as I was able to bring lush vegetation to the land and give them plentiful harvests year after year. However, as time went on, while the years passed, the people of this land had eventually forgotten about me and that I ever even existed. They used to make offerings for me when I was known throughout the land but even that ancient tradition has since been lost to the ravages of the steady march of time. You see, it is the belief and faith of the people in me that grants me my strength but now, I've only but a fraction of my power left as I've lost the rest of it over time as well. Even my loyal and beloved steeds, Spectrier and Glastrier, have both abandoned me..."
As he told his tale, Calyrex grew more and more melancholy and sorrowful as he recounted his gradual descent into legend and folklore.
It didn't take long for Sarah, Tsukumaro, Victor, and their Pokemon to grow sympathetic for the weakened King of Bountiful Harvests as they heard his story. He really was used to be a well-loved and respected king in his day by the few people living in the Crown Tundra but over time, the people started to lose interest, faith, and belief in him as they moved on to other things and left it all including the offerings tradition lost to the annuals of time and legend.
"I was in so much sorrow and was drowning in my growing loneliness, I had to reach out to someone for help. That's when I heard that you and your menagerie had arrived in Galar for a school field trip days ago," continued Calyrex. "The rumors about your presence have spread throughout the region and I realized that if anybody can help me with my predicament, it had to be you and you alone."
Sarah was startled. "...Me?"
"Yes. That kindness of yours was evident when you managed to restore my statue. Your valiant act along with that battle with your Riolu has allowed me to regain part of my strength, at least enough to fully speak to you by borrowing the body of another. Now, kindhearted Princess of Alola, I have a favor to ask of you and your small clan."
He floated over to Sarah, Riolu, and Blitz while the others watched on in awe and fascination. "I need to know if the people of this land have truly forgotten about me, once and for all. I wish for you and your crew to ask the villagers and see if they remember the King of Bountiful Harvests. I've tried asking them myself, you understand, but they've all treated me like some sort of fairy tale creature or flew into a mild panic just by the sheer sight of me."
He bowed kindly to them, hoping they would accept his plea. "Please, Little Princess, I beg you to help me," he begged.
Sarah could see how much it was affecting Calyrex; if Freezington's villagers really had lost their faith and belief in him, he'll continue to suffer as she did before.
"...Uh... All right, you wait here, Calyrex. I'll see if they can remember," she decided after a while. "Blitz, Riolu, come with me. We're going to play 20 Questions with the villagers and the mayor about our new friend."
They quickly rushed off to see the villagers and ask them about Calyrex but not before she left Victor and Tsukumaro with the clue card and a note pad and pencil and pen on them.
"Princess?!" cried Tsukumaro.
"'Oi, Sarah! What are we supposed to do in the meantime?" called Victor.
"Update the clue and talk with Calyrex while you're at it!" she shouted back, returning to the village.
"He won't bite!" added Riolu as they left.
Absol and Cinderace looked to their human partners and shrugged, knowing that they have nothing better to do while Sarah helps the King of Bountiful Harvests. Knowing what they're thinking, Victor updates the clue card and writes down what the trio had discovered in their notebook.
"Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, appeared after Sarah had replaced the wooden crown on his statue. Apparently, he can speak to other people through Telepathy and the use of another person's body-Chief Peony's, in this case. Now, we need to gather as much information we can about the King of Bountiful Harvests!" he wrote.
While the two males started to think things over and begin discussing things with Calyrex, Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu sought to ask the townsfolk about him. But, no matter who they asked, they would just think about something else or really think about him but no longer in a positive light while others are confused as to what Pokemon she was telling them about.
"Oh! Excuse me, dearie, I'm sorry. I was too busy thinking about something else," replied an old lady with a Spheal by her side.
"The King of Bountiful Harvests? Well, if it exists, why doesn't it heal the land around here so we can grow crops for a change?" asked an old man, which made Sarah snarl at him for his disrespect to him before she left.
The man didn't know what to say as he was taken aback and even more so when Blitz turned his nose up at him and Riolu just gave him a raspberry before following her family. "Wh-what did I say? What did I even say to you?! I was just saying-D'OH!" he gawked in shock but to no avail as he groaned.
The other villagers got similar reactions out of the three, making them realize that some of them had forgotten about Calyrex or didn't have the same respect for him as they once did. Some of the answers left them sulking at the villagers or aggravated which bewildered several of them, the trio knowing that Calyrex is kindhearted and he was only looking for help. On the other hand, when they went to question the mayor, who's the last of the villagers for them to question, he had something else to say.
"The King of Bountiful Harvests, do I remember it? Why, of course, I do!" he chuckled. "It's only the main tourist attraction of our lovely Freezington, after all! I'd imagine more visitors coming to see us and our fair town if only the King himself was real..."
This surprised Sarah and her two Pokemon as they looked at each other in bewilderment; was the mayor really that much of a believer in the King of Bountiful Harvests himself and why would he think of him as a tourist attraction when he was a living, breathing Pokemon they met?
"Uh... Yeah, a tourist attraction, right..." said Sarah awkwardly. "Well, thanks for your input, Mr. Mayor. If we find out anything about him, we'll tell you."
"My pleasure, young lady. Feel free to pop by anytime if you have any questions or want my help with anything."
When they left the mayor to his own business once again, the three of them sighed. The situation was worse than they could possibly imagine with the people's various reactions or things to say about Calyrex or nothing about him, in particular.
"Now, what'll we do?" groaned Riolu.
"Pika, Pi, Pikachu, Pi, Pikachu, Pi-Pi-Pi, Pika," replied Blitz to her and Sarah.
"You're right, I guess we better tell Calyrex everything. He's not gonna be happy 'bout that," admitted Sarah, feeling defeated before they returned to the grotto.
When they arrived back, they saw Tsukumaro, Absol, Victor, and Cinderace peacefully mingling with the King of Bountiful Harvests as he started to trust them outside of his personal saviors.
"Princess!" Tsukumaro cried, noticing his goddaughter.
"How'd it go?" asked Victor, concerned about her task.
"Little Princess, I trust that you spoke with the villagers, I presume?" asked Calyrex, still using Peony as his host. "So, how was it, then? Did any of the villagers have anything to say about me?"
Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu squirmed awkwardly; they didn't want to put Calyrex's spirits down by telling them about the people's various reactions towards him but they knew they had no choice and he deserves to know if they were to continue helping him. Carefully, they told the downhearted king that they all did say some things about him but most gave him the cold shoulder or had no idea he even existed and were afraid to believe so.
"But, the nice mayor did say something about you being a tourist thing... Whatever that is, but he did remember you. Sorry..." finished Riolu.
Calyrex sighed sadly but understandably as he lowered his head. "Hmm... As I expected, nobody truly believes that I am real as you and your family and friends found out. It seems the people of this land have indeed forgotten about the bond of friendship and love they once shared with me..." he said, a stray tear falling from his left eye.
"...Are you crying, Your Highness?" asked Riolu, concerned.
"Hm? Oh! Oh, no, of course, I am not grieving, child!" denied Calyrex, fighting his sorrow as he wiped his tear away. "I am the King of Bountiful Harvests, after all! I know better than to count on humans to remember me. This proves beyond doubt that I cannot simply rely on human faith if I want my powers to return."
He sounded rather cocky and arrogant as he spoke but Sarah and the others could all see that he was trying to fight his denial and sorrow as he couldn't stop the slight shaking in his voice. Calyrex's faith and trust in the people who once believed in him had shattered and he was starting to crack under the pressure, but he held firm and continued on despite his growing angst.
"If only my loyal steeds, my two best friends, my brothers, my sons through thick and thin, were to return to me, I would regain something of what I've lost to time..."
"Pi, Pi, Pikachu?" asked Blitz, puzzled by his mention of "loyal steeds".
"Yes, the two four-legged Pokemon that I used to ride across the land before I was stripped of my power. The very same Pokemon that my statue in the village showed that I'm riding, which I used to from time to time. Alas, through ancient times before modern society took over, we would all spend many days together, dashing through valleys and over the mountains of this land. We were quite a trio during those times and my boys would sometimes bicker over who would want to take me for a ride day in and day out, they loved me as I would love them. But, now, my power unfortunately waned and I was forced to part ways with them. Now, I know not where they might be after all this time. Even if we should succeed in locating both of my steeds, I have my doubts as to whether they would or have remained...well, loyal..."
"I see..." Sarah eventually squeaked sympathetically.
"...I've lost so much power. Hence why I've called you here, Princess. I believe that you may find the answers and see if the villagers would know something about my...Currently-not-so-loyal steeds. I have a feeling that you would be the one to reunite us once more and help me reclaim what I've lost. I'd humbly be in your debt if you and your family and friends could speak to the head of the village on my behalf."
"You mean, the mayor knows something about them?"
Calyrex nodded, "If you were to question him and find any information about them, at all, I ask that you let me know. Until then, I'll leave the rest to you."
With that, he disappeared until he would be needed to speak with them again, letting go of Peony as he left.
"Wait!" cried Riolu, reaching out a paw to him.
But, it was too late; Calyrex had already vanished from sight, leaving the group to their own devices in their and Sarah's mission to help him and Peony back to normal as he suddenly gathered himself and turned to his group.
"...Gah! Wha... Little Lady, what a massive noggin! Oh, wait, uh... It's normal," Peony spluttered.
"Sir Peony, are you all right?" asked Tsukumaro.
"You look like you've got on a right start from the wrong side of a Mantine's back," remarked Victor.
"Are you dreaming in your sleep?" put in Sarah.
Seeing as how Peony didn't have any clue about Calyrex before he was used as the King's host to speak with them, and on the likelihood that he won't recall a thing after he was released, Sarah, Victor, and Tsukumaro looked at each other quickly. They thought it best to keep their meeting with Calyrex under wraps until the little princess would make the call to reveal him once he's reunited with his steeds and regained his lost power.
"Man, I've must've fallen asleep somehow as I stood. Sorry 'bout that, mates," apologized Peony but then became thoughtful as he returned to the Freeze Inn. "Still, it felt weird, like my body's not quite my own. Guess I need to head back to base and get some rest. Besides, it's freezing out here!"
The three humans and their Pokemon sighed as he left and became out of earshot, their secret's safe, for now.
"Cind, Cinderace," sighed Cinderace in relief.
"Sol, Absol," nodded Absol.
"At least, we're the only ones who really knew about Calyrex," replied Sarah. "Right now, we have a problem with those stupid villagers."
"What about the nice mayor, Mommy?"
"He's a different story, Riolu."
"What did Calyrex tell you to do next, anyway?" Victor asked, turning their attention to him. "If we're gonna give him a hand and if the people are skeptical of him, where do we go from here?"
"I think the King mentioned that we should go to the mayor and ask about those steeds he mentioned on his behalf. Since he can't get answers from him or the villagers himself, we'll have to ask him if he knows anything about them."
"That's the most logical step forward we have at the moment, Princess," nodded Tsukumaro thoughtfully. "He does seem to have some knowledge about the poor lad than many others in the town do."
"Pi, Pika, Pi, Pi," decided Blitz, wanting to go and question the mayor about Calyrex's steeds.
"That is our only option right now, let's go," agreed Sarah, the entire group heading to the mayor's house to see the mayor himself again.
"Mr. Mayor, are you home? We need to talk to you!"
"Yeah, mate, we have to ask you again about the King of Bountiful Harvests!" the two kids shouted as they knocked on the door.
However, when they did knock on the door upon arriving, the mayor didn't come. The three humans were confused as they looked at each other before the little princess knocked on the door again.
"Mayor, this isn't funny! We have something to ask you about Calyrex!" she demanded.
"Excuse me, dear!" called one of the townsfolk in conversation with a fellow resident. "I'm sorry, dearies, but the mayor's not home at the moment. You just missed him, he went out to have a look at the fields in the Giant's Bed. You all can go look for him there if you're in a hurry to talk to him."
"Where can we find these fields and this Giant's Bed, M'dears?" asked Tsukumaro to the ladies.
"Oh, they're not far from where we are," replied the old woman behind the one that spoke before she pointed the way. "The fields in the Giant's Bed are to the southeastern side of the village. Just go through Frostpoint Field and keep going to the left, you'll all find him there."
"Okay, thanks!" thanked Sarah as they left to find the mayor.
But, just as soon as they left the women and went off to find the mayor, "...WAIT!" screamed Victor, startling everybody.
"What?" cried Sarah, turning back toward Victor.
"This is literally our first time anywhere in the Crown Tundra. None of us have any idea how to get through the place, let alone walk anywhere in Frostpoint Field. How would we know where to go if the mayor could be there?"
"Oh, yeah..." gawked Tsukumaro, feeling embarrassed as he facepalmed.
"Right... I know!" Quickly, Sarah took out a Pokeball she brought with her and summoned her Rapidash, who neighed happily from being let out of her ball.
Victor and Cinderace were awestruck by the evolved Unique Horn Pokemon's beauty and they felt as though they would have a more pleasant time with her in Sarah's care more so than another person and her pre-evolved form in their lives together whom they spent battling with before their, Hop, and Gloria's current escapades with Sarah and her gang.
"Okay, girl, listen up. We need to find the mayor of Freezington and two old ladies told us he'd be somewhere around the fields at a place called the Giant's Bed ahead of us in Frostpoint Field. You think you can help us pinpoint him?"
Rapidash nodded as Sarah got on her back saddle as she took the lead, carefully sniffing out the mayor's smell and scanning Frostpoint Field for the mayor if he's anywhere around the area. As they entered Frostpoint Field and turned left as the ladies directed, they saw what looked like a giant tree behind the heavy patch of fog that started to build up.
"'Ey, wait a second!" called Victor, pointing at the tree. "Isn't that the tree Gloria and the girls are looking for?"
"You're right! That's the big tree the girls are looking for on the second clue card they have," Sarah nodded in disbelief.
"Blast, it towers over the Crown Tundra and you can see it without a flying beast!" Tsukumaro gawked.
"I wonder how Miss Gloria, Auntie Lillie, Auntie, Mallow, and Auntie Lana are doing with their own Legendary Pokemon game," Riolu pondered as she and Blitz rode with Sarah on Rapidash's back.
The three humans thought for a moment, picturing Gloria and the Alola girls being successful in their quest involving the three and the Pokemon living there but in a real pickle involving them after the former's Rotom Phone went off, alerting the Galar Legendary Birds to their presence before they were forced to fight and run for their lives while screaming.
"...I think they got it covered," put in Victor. "Besides, we still got to find the mayor and ask him about Calyrex's loyal steeds."
"The ladies did say the mayor's checking the fields in the Giant's Bed left of where we are now," said Tsukumaro.
"Let's go see!"
Going back to their original objective before being distracted by the giant tree in the distance, they quickly went to the left and finally found the mayor as he gazed sadly at the withering fields before them. He sighed heavily with a sorrowful tone in his voice as he looked over the fields lined with several plants that have stopped growing or are slowly dying.
"...Alas, this field is no good, either. None of the fields are bursting with crops for us for so long," lamented the mayor solemnly. "The soil is barren, only weeds stem them here now. No crop could possibly grow here now, perhaps the lands of the Crown Tundra truly are beyond all hope..."
The small audience watching the mayor lament over the lands in the Crown Tundra after seeing the hopeless state of the fields was now filled with sorrow and sympathy for him and his people as well as Calyrex. If he was taking that tone of voice after seeing no crops growing in the fields he was watching, the Crown Tundra and the King of Bountiful Harvests truly are in dire need of their help.
Then, he noticed that he wasn't alone and turned to find his town's visitors watching him earnestly.
"What's this? Oh, yes, our town's lovely visitors!" he smiled. "What brings you to this neck of the woods, how are things going with you during your stay?"
"All very well and good, mate. But, we came here to find you since we have something to ask you," replied Victor, getting straight to the point.
"You wouldn't by any chance, good sir, happen to have any information regarding the loyal steeds belonging to Calyrex?" questioned Tsukumaro to the mayor's surprise.
"Oh...? Hmm... So, you all want to know about the two loyal steeds belonging to the King of Bountiful Harvests?" inquired the mayor, now intrigued. "Well, I'd love to tell you all right now but this is hardly the place for storytelling. Come along to my house back at Freezington, it's better to have a nice chat in the warmth, after all."
Departing the fields at the Giant's Bed and following the mayor to his house to discuss Calyrex's steeds, the small gang heard the town's citizens talking about Calyrex again but this time, they finally took notice of the fixed statue when they noticed the wooden crown on its head.
"By the way, have you heard about or seen our statue of the King of Bountiful Harvests earlier? Its head is absolutely massive and-!"
"Mayor, I hate to rain on your parade but... That's how he's supposed to look, that thing on the statue's head's not just part of it. It's a crown," interrupted Sarah, catching the mayor off guard as they arrived at his house.
"Hmm?! You're saying that that's how the King is supposed to look?" gasped the mayor, taken aback from what he's told.
Then, the mayor started to gather his thoughts as he seemed to think back on the designs of Calyrex that were on his town's sweatshirts. He started to feel like there could be a small grain of truth to what Sarah told him.
"Now that you mention it, it did look similar to the designs on our town's souvenir sweatshirts... But, you fellas looked as if you've really seen the King with your own eyes!"
The mayor continued, pondering about what could be the truth about Calyrex despite what he's been told. "That statue's been broken ever since I was a child. I didn't know what caused it to break but I had no idea it was meant to have a crown such as that..."
"...Well, I'm sure we'll tell you about him later once we have all the facts but I believe we have a more pressing matter to attend to," Tsukumaro replied.
"Huh...? Oh, yes, of course! You all wanted to know about the King's loyal steeds! Well, now, I've no clue as to why you'd all be so interested in such things but I'll tell you as much as I can. Come along inside, I'll even pop you all and your Pokemon a bit of tea, hot chocolate, and cakes as I tell you."
With that, the mayor took his town's visitors inside his house and had them around the table as he served hot chocolate for Riolu, Blitz, Cinderace, Rapidash, Victor, Absol, and Sarah and tea for himself and Tsukumaro with some cakes and cookies and started to tell them about Calyrex's steeds.
"An old book I've been keeping among my collection that I've read a long time ago told me that the King had possession of two particular horse-like Pokemon that he's very fond of and had been by his side ever since he found them as colts and raised them as his own. While he was raising them, the King noticed that his loyal steeds were both particularly fond of a certain pair of special vegetables they loved most of all. But, my memory isn't what it used to be, I can't even recall what exactly the two steeds desired so much! But, I still have the book with me and I think that if you were to take a read in it and the other records involving the King on my bookshelf, you might find out more information over your curiosity for him."
This immediately prompted Sarah, Blitz, and Riolu to head on over to the mayor's bookshelf and take a peek at the books he had on his bookshelf after they finished their hot chocolate; this was what they wanted.
"These books have all sorts of information about the Crown Tundra!" perked Riolu as she looked at the books from Sarah's right shoulder. "How do we know which ones are the right ones to read about Mr. Calyrex and his steeds?"
"Pi, Pika, Pi?" noted Blitz, pointing at three books titled The Reins of Unity, The King of Bountiful Harvests, and the King's Proud Steeds.
Sarah immediately pulled out the books her partner singled out and knew that she had everything she needed to know and learn more about Calyrex to help him regain his power and complete her essay project. "Blitz, I think you struck gold. These must be the clues to helping Calyrex regain his lost powers," she told her Mouse Pokemon.
"Pi, Pikachu, Pika!" urged Blitz, encouraging Sarah to read.
Nodding to her partner, Sarah picked up The King of Bountiful Harvests and began to read, wondering if it has any more information on their group's new friend.
The book read, "The King was a great and noble Pokemon that brought abundance and peace to our cold land. With a sweep of his right hand, the lands would be blanketed in verdant grasses and blooms. With a sweep of his left hand, the fruit and vegetables of the fields would ripen and grow heavy. His great and majestic crown of green gleaming in the peaking pockets of sunshine, the King would gallop across the land astride his proud and loyal steeds. And, in their footsteps, buds would burst from the soil, and rich life would be born across the region. And so, we worshiped the Pokemon and paid it all due tribute as king."
"So, that's how the people first knew about Calyrex..."
"What does the second book say, Mommy?"
Picking up and opening the second book, The King's Proud Steeds, she read, "The horse Pokemon that were found by the King as colts gave over their power to serve and live with him to carry him hither and thither. The two each became one with him for many a time, combining their strengths to create the forest in a single night."
As Sarah read and started to become fascinated with what has been recorded and known in the mayor's books, Victor quickly wrote everything down in the notebook he was given while Rapidash, Cinderace, Absol, Tsukumaro, and the mayor listened with interest in the little princess' growing excitement and curiosity.
"These two proud steeds, before becoming one with him, were once wild things in their younger days, ravaging the village crops and destroying them, causing us much woe and sorrow. But the King, in all his greatness, forced the horse Pokemon to heel and secured their loyalty and love for him. And, for each among us who claimed one of the steeds' hide was black as the midnight gloom in which ghosts appear, there is another who claims that the other was as white as a solid block of ice. None alive, who had ever crossed paths with them, could say whether or not which is or if both are the truth."
"Pi, Ka, Pi, Pikachu, Pikachu..." quivered Blitz, shivering from the ambiguous and dark end to the second book.
"What about the third book?" asked Riolu, as Sarah picked up the third book.
But, as she started to read the third book involving the Reins of Unity, Cinderace thought back to the information he and his group learned about Calyrex and his steeds. So far, none of the mayor's books she read had anything to do involving whatever crops the steeds loved to eat. He felt like they were all forgetting something until he noticed the fourth book following the first three, Hardy Crops of the Tundra, that he walked over to them and looked through the pages out of his own curiosity.
All the while, Sarah read, "Through these reins did the King send his power, in order to tame and control his powerful steeds. The reins, in fact, were made and brought to it by the hands of the people, in thanks for crops plenty brought to them by the King. These reins not only bound the horses and the king to one another, they also bound the people to the King as well..."
She reached the end of the book, a little surprised by the last passage she was now going over which seemed to be a vow related to Calyrex and the Reins of Unity.
"At the dawning of each year, we must never forget to gift the King with this offering and more. Let the radiant flower and the mane of the steeds be woven together to bind us all in faith. Let the secrets of this sacred art be passed down from parent to child to grandchild and never be forgotten..." she finished.
"Pi, Pika..." nodded Blitz thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.
"...Guess they all forgot about this tradition thing and made Mr. Calyrex sad by not doing it anymore," remarked Riolu sadly for Calyrex and disappointingly for the people of Freezington. "That's not very nice..."
"They probably had forgotten to do it and had other things to worry about," reasoned Sarah. "We can't just go pinning the blame on everybody in Freezington right off the bat for forgetting to pay their respect and dues to him."
"But, it's not fair! Those bad people no longer cared about Mr. Calyrex and don't see him for what he really is! He's not a fairy tale, he's really real! We saw him-!"
"Riolu, shh!" cried Sarah in a panicked hush, muffling her mouth with Blitz's help as he grabbed her.
The princess quickly turned to the mayor but then she sighed, feeling glad as he was now in conversation with Tsukumaro about his time in Alola and what he did as well his family's history. She hoped that what Riolu nearly spilled wouldn't reach the mayor's ears since she wanted to keep Calyrex's existence a secret for the time being.
"Don't say that around the mayor! We were this close to spilling the beans like that," she chastised with a whisper as Blitz nodded frantically, making Riolu realize what she did as she let out a panicked squeak. "If anybody else besides us finds out that he's real, right off the bat, we'll never know what they might do to him once they find him!"
"...I'm sorry..."
"I'm just glad we stopped you. But, now we got another problem; we have more information on Calyrex and his steeds and the reins he used on them but there's nothing in them that mentioned anything that they liked. No crops, no food, nothing! We've gone through all this trouble to salvage the bare necessities for him and nothing else!"
As Riolu and Sarah argued, Cinderace continued to look through the book he found and flip through the pages for anything involving some crops that Calyrex's steeds dearly liked. Then, just when he was about to grow bored and end up with nothing, he flipped to a page in the middle of the book that detailed two specific crops that are unique and grown only for them.
The pages detailing the crops for the steeds read, "While carrots can still be grown in the Crown Tundra, compared to normal carrots grown in warmer climates, these have unusual growth habits. When carrots are grown beneath the heaped snow, their hearty roots would develop into what are known as Iceroot Carrots. When grown in tracts close to where many souls are laid to rest, Shaderoot Carrots will be your chosen crop. Shaderoot Carrots are a particular favorite crop for Ghost Pokemon but Ice Pokemon take a delight in eating Iceroot Carrots. According to records before and of this time, the steeds that the King of Bountiful Harvests cared for and rode on loved both crop variants-or one or the other. Records detailed seem to contradict one another with some stories speaking about a white steed delighting in eating Iceroot Carrots while others detail of a black steed devouring Shaderoot Carrots."
"Cinder..." gasped Cinderace, his eyes widening in fascination and realization.
This was it; this was the answer they were looking for! The keys to helping Calyrex find and retrieve his loyal steeds are Iceroot and Shaderoot Carrots!
With this knowledge at hand, Cinderace slammed the book down in front of Sarah and her Pokemon and pointed to the passage about the carrots.
"Cinder! Cind, Cinderace, Cinder, Cinder!" he chirped excitedly, pointing at the passage again.
"H-huh? What'd you find, Cinderace?" stuttered Sarah, starting to read the passage before gasping in shock.
"That's it!" she shouted in delight, slamming her hands on the table she's on in realization and startling everyone. "Victor, Cinderace found the answer! We now know the next clue to solve the mystery behind Calyrex!"
"Really?!" he gasped.
"Princess! Are you sure?" gawked Tsukumaro, getting the picture.
"Whoa, slow down there, Miss! Did you find anything about the King's steeds that interested you?" asked the bewildered mayor.
"Better yet, we know something about them that can help us! Come on, we gotta get out, now! Thanks for the hot chocolate, mayor!"
And, she and her Pokemon quickly dashed out of the mayor's house to find Calyrex and tell him the good news with Rapidash following from behind while Victor, Absol, Cinderace, and Tsukumaro hurrying to catch up to them.
"Oh, dear! I most humbly apologize for our late departure, Mr. Mayor! But, thanks for your kindness and hospitality! Got to go! Bye, now!" called Tsukumaro, taking the rear as he left the house.
"Of course, my friends, don't get too crazy out there! It's a wild world and I hope you do solve the mystery behind Calyrex!" called the mayor as he chuckled with an amused smile. "Oh, you little lass, you sure got an eye for knowledge and a heart of gold for the King, that you do. He-he-he..."
After leaving the mayor and his house, Sarah looked around for Calyrex while her Pokemon kept up until she felt his presence and found him waiting for her again at the little grotto before turning to speak with her privately. Not wasting any time, the little princess rushed over to the grotto to meet with the King of Bountiful Harvests again with her family and friends not too far behind.
"Cro Crown. Crooooo Craw..." replied Calyrex, despite knowing he can't be understood without a host again.
But then, who should come running towards the group from the Freeze Inn, but Peony as he got between them and Calyrex.
"Hey, Little Lady! There you are, I thought I heard someone calling out to me! Was it you or your friends?" panted the exploration chief before he turned to Calyrex. "Huh? Mlerrgh..."
He was then put in another trance as Calyrex used Psychic on him to regain control of him as his host to talk with the group about what they've learned from the mayor and his records.
"Little Princess, I heard you scream inside the mayor's house! Were you and your family and friends able to find out anything, anything from the mayor about my loyal steeds?" asked the King Pokemon.
"Even better!" replied Sarah excitedly. "We not only found out more information about you and them; we found out there was something that the townspeople make from their farming that they can't ignore!"
Calyrex gasped in shock and surprise from this, "You-you say you found out about something that my loyal steeds could not resist?!"
"Oh... It has been so long since we last rode together as a family that I've completely forgotten, how embarrassing of me... But, enough about that; with the new information you've uncovered, we'll be able to lure out my sons yet! So, tell me, quickly-what are these things that you say my loyal steeds would find to be so irresistible to them?
"You can thank my buddy for that one, mate," put in Victor as Cinderace nodded proudly. "He looked at one of the mayor's records and found out that your horses liked carrots. Two variants, to be exact: Shaderoot Carrots and Iceroot Carrots!"
"Oho-ho! Carrots, you say, Young Victor! Yes, yes, I remember now... I've had many fond memories of all those times when they got so hungry and wanted those crops; even back when we were all together, they would both leap at the chance to eat some kind of crop including those carrots. It took everything I had to restrain them from their excitement for them!"
"They really gave you a hard time with them being hungry for food?"
"Of course, my boys are understandably bottomless pits and they loved to have any food including the carrots your friend mentioned. Looking back, the crop of their choice must've been carrots!" nodded Calyrex before he turned to Victor. "Fire Rabbit, I am in your debt as well as your partner and the princess'!"
"Cind, Ace, Cind Cinderace," chuckled Cinderace with a cocky smirk and his hands on his hips.
"But, time is of the essence. What we must do now is clear; if we are able to find any Shaderoot or Iceroot Carrots anywhere, it should be but a trifle to lure my sons, my loyal steeds, back to me! I wonder, do the villagers grow any of these carrots? Still, if we could even obtain a single seed for each carrot, I should be able to grow a carrot or two for myself..."
"You think the villagers would know anything about those carrots and if they have any seeds for them?" Tsukumaro pondered thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have any given what we've gotten out of them so far," replied Victor skeptically.
"We still gotta try, maybe the mayor would know something about them if he's looking at the fields in the square again," reassured Sarah.
"It won't hurt to try but what about the man standing by the fields watching over the crops?" Victor put in. "He might know something, he'll probably have seeds for both carrots for us to borrow."
"Then, let's go ask him!" chirped Riolu.
"Absol," nodded Absol.
"Wait here, I'll go get the seeds!" Sarah finished as she ran to the man standing by the fields.
"Some guys and girls have all the fun," Victor remarked.
"Your goddaughter, Master Wong... She's something beyond any normal child just from her kindness to do anything for those in need," said Calyrex to Tsukumaro.
"That's her, always feeling empathy for those who need help the most," agreed Tsukumaro. "My Lord and Lady would be most proud of her if they're here right now."
Leaving her party to keep an eye on Calyrex and keep anyone from entering the grotto, Sarah quickly ran over to the man watching over the crop fields in front of the statue. She only hoped that he would have a bag of seeds for the carrots they needed for Calyrex's steeds and soon.
"Excuse me, do you happen to have a bag of seeds for Shaderoot and Iceroot carrots or the carrots themselves?" she asked the man.
"Oh, you're looking for carrots, Miss? Well, unfortunately, you won't find them at this time of year," replied the man as he showed her the seed bag. "But, we do have seeds here in this bag if you're wondering. Need this stuff for your homework or garden, do you?"
"Uh... Yeah, that's right... Homework, for Professor Kukui, who's here for the week."
"I see. Well, I accept your offer but on one condition. This won't come cheap and we'll need something from you that can help us with our crops. The seeds will cost you about eight pieces of Dynite Ore we'll need for the crop fields."
Sarah's eyes dilated in horror; she didn't think she would have to pay the man for the seeds for something they'll need to restore and nurture their fields. In her haste to find the man and take the seeds, she had forgotten that she doesn't have anything of value including this Dynite Ore that he wanted for the town's fields. She was now stuck between a rock and a hard place but someone immediately came to her rescue.
"We'll take it," replied Victor, who came from behind her with the ore asked of them, handing out eight glowing fragments to the man.
The man was delighted as he collected the ore, "Oh, wonderful work, young man! This amount of ore is plentiful, now we can bury the ore we have in our fields and make our crops huge! And, here are the seeds, as promised. But, don't go planting the seeds I gave you willy-nilly in our town's fields, though; they're specifically meant for our own crops. If you want, you can use the fields outside of town if you look for them."
"Thank you," replied Victor.
Sarah was baffled when she saw him coming. "Victor, what are you doing here?" she asked as they collected the seed bag.
"Just realized that you probably didn't have any money or items worth trading for them after you left. So, I had to save you the trouble of giving the man the things he and the town needed in exchange. Otherwise, he wouldn't let you touch the seeds no matter what you do."
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver."
"Yeah, how else am I gonna bail you out? Come on, let's show these to Calyrex!"
With their newly-obtained bag of seeds at hand, the two kids made their way back to the grotto and showed the seeds in the bag to the King of Bountiful Harvests. The King was shocked and amazed to see all the seeds they all got their hands on for the carrots they needed.
"By the stars! You kids are telling me that you have carrot seeds, that this strange bag contains the seeds of Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots?!" he gawked before he chuckled in amusement. "You humans never stop adapting and evolving with everything you do and the things you make! I am constantly amazed by your ingenuity."
"Yeah, the only problem is we can't borrow the village's fields," put in Sarah. "We don't want to risk letting everybody see you if that thing of them going crazy and running away after seeing you is true."
"You're right, the fields around here just simply won't do... They're not suited for growing carrots even if we do it at a time when the villagers would be away for something else requiring their attention. If we could find rich soil anywhere, I can use my power to grow the crops we need!"
"But, you said you're not at your full strength yet! You won't have enough power to grow them even if you try!"
"That's not stopping me from doing what I must to bring back my steeds with your help and kindness, Princess! We've already gotten this far and I'm not going to quit now, we must do everything we can to make sure I'm at full power once again!"
"...All right, if that's how it's supposed to be. I won't stop you..."
"I thank you, Princess, for trusting me. Now, let's see... Where might we find soil suited for growing these crops in this tundra of mine?"
Calyrex closed his eyes as he thought hard to remember the places where they could be used as their fields of choice for growing Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots in the Crown Tundra in place of the village's fields. Finally, two places came to his mind as he saw and envisioned a snow-capped field covered with snow and the other being part of a small gravesite.
"Ah, yes... I see two spots that might suit our needs regarding my steeds' favorite crops: one is a field covered in pristine snow and the other is a field by gravestones, where those moved on were laid to rest. Both of these locations should allow me to use my powers and grow the crops we need. The best thing about that is that they're next to each other at the border separating the Giant's Bed from Snowpoint Slope! I ask you, my friends, let's head for those fields and plant the seeds we need! Meet me at both fields whenever you're ready!"
With approving nods from the group, Calyrex took his leave and released his hold on Peony who groaned after he was freed from the King's Psychic attack but feeling a little more distorted from the attack's effects after he found himself in the grotto again.
"Ugh, man... Wh-what the-!? I must be getting the habit of falling asleep outside without even noticin'!" he gasped before laughing randomly. "Ga-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I guess it goes to show that holdin' down the fort isn't gonna be all that easy! But, you seem to be doin' well with yourself and your team, Little Lady! You take care of yourself now and don't overdo it!"
With that, he returned to the Freeze Inn while the others were left on their own again. Before preparing to leave for the fields, Victor immediately started to write down the current status on their notebook and clue card.
Following the last entires, the clue and the book now read, "In order to find the King's beloved steeds, we needed to get our hands on their favorite food-carrots. Upon meeting a man in the village fields and after seeing that we managed to get some carrot seeds, Calyrex told us that there are two places we have to go to grow Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots: the fields at the Giant's Bed and Snowpoint Slope at the border on Frostpoint Field. We must meet him at both fields and start planting the seeds right away!"
Nodding to each other on their next task, the group headed out of the grotto to meet with Calyrex at the first field of their choice, which was the field at Snowpoint Slope, they were suddenly interrupted by a child wearing an Eevee onesie running up to one of the elderly women and laughing happily.
"Nan, Nanny!" the child cried.
"Why, hello there, child. What are you here for?" asked the elderly lady.
"Can you seeing me that song about the King's noble steeds?" asked the girl.
"What, again?" chuckled the elderly lady. "That'll be the fourth time you'll have it in your head this week, ha-ha-ha."
"Please...?"
"Oh, all right, dearie. I'd love to, just for you."
Take a deep breath and without knowing she and the excited girl are having a small audience from afar, the old lady began to sing a song about Calyrex's steeds first,
"Iceroot Carrots, cold as ice. Munched up all by the bully in white~
Shaderoot Carrots, dark as gloom. Crunched by the bully with a ghostly gloom~"
"Now, child, you better make sure you eat your veggies just like the Pokemon did in the song."
"Thanks, Nanny. Oh, can you tell me the story about the Darkest Day again, too?"
The elderly lady laughed again, "Again, at a time like this?"
"Please, can you?"
"Hm-hmm, very well, then."
Sarah, Victor, Tsukumaro, and their Pokemon gasped in surprise; could this story have any relation to what Sonia is doing her research on as well as the legend about Zacian and Zamazenta?
"3,000 years ago, everything in the Galar Region was peaceful and we humans the Pokemon living with us lived in cooperation and harmony; everyone was feeling happy during that time. Then, the Gigantic Pokemon, Eternatus came to Galar on the brink of its own destruction, absorbing the region's energy but also creating a red light in the process while every fragment of life in the region and the earth began to crumble as more and more energy was sucked by it. The light also gave birth to the Dynamax Phenomenon, allowing Pokemon to Dynamax and/or Gigantiamax with new forms and terrifying new power, and the black storm that followed came into being after they all went berserk in the process. But, Eternatus was eventually stopped and sealed away by two figures who fought with it to save the region and prevent the Darkest Day from occurring again..."
The others watching from afar listened carefully; for Victor, this was all similar to how the legends about the Darkest Day were supposedly told in Galar's history until Sonia started doing her research on the tragic event and Galar's history to uncover the truth about Galar's saviors.
But, for Tsukumaro and Sarah, the bombshell from the elderly lady's story came when she spoke to the girl, "...In the form of two Pokemon wielding a sturdy shield and a mighty sword."
"Wow...!" breathed the girl in awe, while making their small audience gasp in shock.
"The two Pokemon fought bravely against Eternatus and after a long battle, they finally succeeded in sealing the monster away but not without valiantly sacrificing themselves to ensure that the incident won't happen again. With their courageous act, the region flourished and was rebuilt in a new era of peace for the next 3,000 years; it's the world we live in now," continued the old lady. "But, over time, the Pokemon faded into legend and vanished without a trace. That's why many people speculated its history, undecided on the truth behind our salvation from Eternatus' wrath."
The little girl was in awe still over what her nanny said to her about the Darkest Day and the aftermath following it as she listened intensely as the elder finished her tale.
"But someday, a door or window of opportunity will open for those valiant Pokemon to return from their slumber and reveal themselves to protect us all once again as they had all those years ago. However, they will only come to us if we believe in ourselves to do the right thing in times of darkness and in the Pokemon that fought to protect us all from doom. So, listen closely, child; even in the deepest darkness like that of the Darkest Day, there will always be a ray of light to guide you to safety. Believe in the two Pokemon and they will always be here to protect you. Your heart and kindness to them will shine it its fullest and push Eternatus' darkness away."
The child nodded as they continued to spend time together while Sarah, Tsukumaro, Victor, and their Pokemon gawked in absolute awe and amazement from the story they heard the old lady telling.
"So, that's how the accursed event known as the Darkest Day came to be in this region and the world," Tsukumaro pondered.
"I never knew this Eternatus creep could've done such a thing even if it was just to survive no matter how crazy it became while doing so," nodded Sarah in agreement.
"It must've had something to do with whatever Sonia's found in her research about Galar's history and that day," Victor noted. "But, what I don't get is why that lady mentioned something about two Pokemon with a shield and a sword that saved the region. The tapestry at the Hammerlocke vault she mentioned featured two humans that saved Galar but why two Pokemon from the old lady's story?"
Tsukumaro and Sarah looked at each other, remembering what the dragons told them and the rest of their family about Zacian and Zamazenta as well as the strange shield that was with the sources of their lost powers. The old lady's story clearly pointed to them, in fact.
"...Well, I'm more worried about that song the old lady sang earlier," replied Sarah, deciding to change the subject. "The way she sang it, it's like the town's treating Calyrex's steeds like pariahs if they did any harm to them. What did they do to make the townspeople hate them, anyway?"
"Fear can be a powerful force, Princess," reminded Tsukumaro. "Most people are usually afraid of things they don't understand and I don't understand what they're all so jumpy for over the King's steeds."
"That said, we should get going and figure it out later. Calyrex would be waiting for us at the field on Snowpoint Slope for the first carrot he needs," said Victor.
"Right," agreed Sarah and Tsukumaro.
Deciding they need to ride out to both fields to cut down on running time, Sarah summoned Mudsdale for Tsukumaro and Victor to ride on with Absol and Cinderace riding along with them while Sarah, Riolu, and Blitz mounted Rapidash.
"Rapidash, Calyrex will be meeting us at the fields over at Snowpoint Slope and a graveyard at the Giant's Bed. We need you and Mudsdale to take us to both of them and keep your eyes out for him," she told her evolved Unique Horn Pokemon.
Rapidash agreed and neighing loudly as she bucked with her front legs, the Galar Unicorn took off for Snowpoint Slope with Mudsdale following behind them as Tsukumaro took the reins and Cinderace and Absol followed at the rear.
Keeping to a snowy path on the border along Frostpoint Field called the Slippery Slope, the small group made their way to the first field that Calyrex saw in his visions at Snowpoint Slope along the top despite having a little trouble trying to grip the slope as they slipped along it occasionally.
"Ugh, damn... Even when using what you call 'Ride Pokemon' or a Rapidash or Musdale, traversing these slopes is hard!" grumbled Victor.
"You're telling me, Rapidash can barely keep her hooves on the snow while she's slipping!" retorted Sarah as Rapidash and Mudsdale grumbled in agreement.
"But, at least we made it to the top. Look there, that's the field we're looking for here," replied Tsukumaro, pointing towards the field Calyrex found.
"Yeah, this is it. Time for Seed and Carrot Number One," replied Sarah as she, Blitz, and Riolu prepared to plant a seed for an Iceroot Carrot.
"Ah, there you all are. I see you found the first field," said Calyrex as he appeared, once again using Peony as his host. "If the legends are true, that if you plant seeds in this field on Snowpoint Slope, Iceroot Carrots will grow."
He sighed, reminiscing on memories of him and his steeds of old, "It's been so long and my memory has since been hazy but I recall that one of my loyal steeds would partake in this particular vegetable and the other for a Shaderoot Carrot. If Iceroot Carrots are what one of my loyal steeds preferred, then one of them must be an Ice Type just as my second steed would be a Ghost Type if it prefers Shaderoot Carrots, mustn't they? It's most vexing that I can't recall easily but I suppose we'll see... Shall we? Are you and your young ones ready to plant the first seeds, Princess?"
Sarah, Riolu, and Blitz looked at each other in mental conversation before they turned back to the field and nodded towards Calyrex.
Calyrex nodded back in agreement, "Very well, then I ask that you plant the first seeds."
He then watched as Sarah and her two Pokemon work their hands in planting the carrot seeds they needed for the group's Iceroot Carrot(s) for him. The King Pokemon was very impressed by how tender the little princess was with gardening as she, Riolu, and Blitz finished planting the seeds.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha! Very good, very good. It looks like you have developed quite a hand for handling soil," he chuckled as he floated forward. "Now then, it is time for me to do my part. Let me show you what I can do with my powers!"
Then, doing a little gig resembling an Irish tap dance, Calyrex used his power to try and grow an Iceroot Carrot from the soil.
The results of their first efforts resulted in one carrot from the several first seeds that were planted, much to Calyrex's dismay as he turned to the group in sorrow.
"You've planted so many seeds, Princess, and yet I was only able to bring about one carrot out of the lot," he panted with sadness lacing his voice. "To think I've fallen so low after all this time, it truly breaks my heart to see what I've become... But, it'll soon be time to bid my sorrow farewell for we're halfway through with our plan! Now, my friends, I must ask you all to pull the Iceroot Carrot out of the field with all your might!"
Quickly forming a chain, Sarah, Tsukumaro, Victor, Cinderace, Blitz, and Riolu tugged as hard as they could to pull the Iceroot Carrot free while Mudsdale, Rapidash, Absol, and Calyrex watched on, hoping that there wouldn't be any damage to the carrot.
Finally, after much pulling and groaning, the group finally pulled the Iceroot Carrot free but not without accidentally dogpiling on each other upon their backs with surprised squeals from all of them.
This got amused chuckles from Mudsdale, Rapidash, and Absol, and even Calyrex couldn't help but stifle a chuckle over how ridiculous they looked in a pile.
"Cind, Cinderace," asked Cinderace, his voice muffled from being at the bottom of the dogpile.
"Yeah, partner?" groaned Victor.
"Cind, Cinder, Cinderace, Cind, Cinderace, Cinder... CIND-CINDER CINDERACE, CIND, CIND, CINDER, CIND?!"
They all quickly got up and brushed themselves off, Cinderace breathing in relief as he shook his body after he'd gotten himself crushed from being at the tail end of the Pokemon and human chain in pulling out the Iceroot Carrot, which Sarah thankfully had and was undamaged.
"Wow..."
"Pika..."
"What a big carrot!" gawked the princess and her younger Pokemon in awe.
"Fascinating!" breathed Tsukumaro in amazement. "I've never seen a carrot so large and one that's unique for only one of your steeds, Your Honor."
"I know, it is most impressive. Excellent work, my friends, now we must make haste for the Giant's Bed and-!"
"Brrrrriiiicce...!"
Suddenly, a powerful yet chilling neigh rang around them from the area, shocking everybody as they jumped and looked around for the source of the neigh.
"Blimey! What was that?!" shrieked Victor.
"That neigh, it's coming from nearby! But, where is it?" put in Tsukumaro.
"Well, it couldn't have been Mudsdale or Rapidash," Sarah retorted, turning to her horse Pokemon. "They were with us the whole time!"
"No, that's not them, at all! I know that sound, it's got to be-!" started Calyrex before the sound of galloping hooves on snow caught their attention.
They turned to the path leading back to the village and Frostpoint Field and to their shock and awe, they saw a large white unicorn-like horse Pokemon galloping past them and their current spot without their knowledge.
The Pokémon looked as though it had ice-like armor on its face and hooves. It was 7'03" coupled with a bulky white, horse-like body and the tail being light blue while looking like it was made of diamonds with four spikes. Its hooves are mainly covered with blue spiked ice with three white triangles and two white stripes on their two front hooves. Its mane is shaped like three light blue and white spikes and on its forehead is a single light blue horn. Both of its ears are covered in light blue ice as well along with the left side of its face leaving the right side bare but the left eye is white with no visible pupil on sight.
Calyrex was gobsmacked as he watched what looked to be one of his old steeds tried to call out to it, "What?! Glastrier, my loyal steed, my boy! Is it really you, after all these years?!"
He was still in shock as he recognized it from mane to tail. "That glistening white pelt of his... The rough and violent gallop he makes... He's not changed much since the day we met! Oh, how this brings back wonderful memories!" he cried with delight.
"Brrrhm... Brrrferrm..." neighed Glastrier as he disappeared in the distance.
"Magnificent! He's such a marvelous creature, a horse only fit for a king such as you, Your Majesty!" shouted Tsukumaro in fascination.
"He's gone!"
"Where'd he go?" gasped Victor and Sarah.
"Absol, Sol, Absol!" called Absol.
"He disappeared into the trees!" said Riolu.
"Pika, Pikachu, Pi, Pika?" asked Blitz to Calyrex, wondering why Glastrier didn't notice them let alone the Iceroot Carrot.
"...It is my belief that while my boy picked up the scent of his most favorite carrot after I grew it, he couldn't determine where the scent of it was coming from. Judging from the direction he ran off to, it looked like he was heading for the village, in an attempt to pillage carrots there in search of it!" Calyrex theorized, his horror over the situation growing before he turned to the group.
"That must mean that Freezington and the villagers will be in danger! Princess, come with me, we must make haste with the second part of our plan! If Glastrier is here for the Iceroot Carrot, then that must mean with the Shaderoot Carrot, my second steed and Glastrier's elder brother, must not be too far behind!"
"But, if Glastrier does make it to Freezington, who's gonna be there to protect the villagers if they go into a panic again?" Sarah asked worriedly.
"Can't we all stop him at once?" pitched Riolu.
"Pika!" denied Blitz, shooting her idea down.
"You guys get to the field at the Giant's Bed and get the Shaderoot Carrot! We'll deal with Glastrier until you get here!" Victor volunteered as he and Tsukumaro got back on Mudsdale.
"Wait! What are you even trying to do?!" asked Sarah, startled from her Galar friend and godfather's risk choice.
"Trust us, Princess, we have a plan!" reassured Tsukumaro as he took the reins again. "Come on, Mudsdale, follow Glastrier and stop him!"
"Mu-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-uds!" neighed Mudsdale in agreement as he galloped towards Freezington.
Absol and Cinderace ran with them, knowing that their partners will need all the help they can get with Sarah, Calyrex, Riolu, Blitz, and Rapidash being the only ones left to carry on with the plan involving both steeds.
"Come, Princess, we must make haste for the Giant's Bed immediately! Time is running out for Freezington!" warned Calyrex as he dashed forward to the field he found.
Sarah nodded as she got on Rapidash with Riolu and Blitz taking their usual places on her and together, they galloped after the King Pokemon. With time running out for the little village and with Glastrier likely to pillage the villagers of their crops looking for the Iceroot Carrot, they can only hope Victor and Tsukumaro will stop him and things won't get any worse than they are now.
While Tsukumaro, Victor, their partners, and Mudsdale returned to Freezington, Victor hurriedly updated the clue card and his group's notes, making sure that every little detail is still recorded for Sarah's project and on their records on their time in the Crown Tundra.
Now, the clue card and notebook notes read, "With the use of the seeds we were given and Calyrex's help, we were all able to grow an Iceroot Carrot for Glastrier. The scent of it managed to lure the Ice Type Wild Horse Pokemon out but our plan worked too well and he's now heading for Freezington!"
"I didn't think Glastrier would be that much of a pain for the villagers if it was capable of eating away the crops on the fields surrounding the place including the main ones back in the village just to find an Iceroot Carrot!" called Victor.
"Neither did I, Young Victor! But, it looks like we are about to have what you youngsters these days call 'our work cut out for us' protecting the village and its crops from that magnificent yet horrific wild Pokemon!" added Tsukumaro.
When they arrived back at the village, they saw the townsfolk already in a panic seeing Glastrier immediately sniffing around the fields for the Iceroot Carrot.
"NO!"
"Our crops will be destroyed!"
"Why has the devil himself come back to haunt us!?"
"After all these years, the Bully in White has come back to pillage our crops!" screamed the villagers, still in a horrified panic.
Seeing how bad things would escalate if they don't do something to stop Glastrier and pacify him, Victor and Tsukumaro dismounted Mudsdale and they ran into the fields to confront the Wild House Ice Pokemon.
"Stand back, all of you!"
"Don't any of you touch him, he's ours!" shouted Victor and Tsukumaro as they entered the field, much to the villagers' shock.
"Halt! Leave peacefully and we'll give you what you have!" called the old advisor to Glastrier.
The large Ice Type heard his call and turned to the two humans as Absol and Cinderace prepared to fight, knowing that they'll need to work fast if they were to save the crops and the villagers from Glastrier's hunger stampede.
"Brrriiiiiiiiice!" neighed Glastrier as he charged forward and prepared to fight.
Meanwhile, Sarah, her Pokemon, and Calyrex worked as fast as they could to plant and grow some Shaderoot Carrots and bring out his other steed. They heard the loud neighs from Glastrier at Freezington, filling them with worry and fear for the villagers, Tsukumaro, and Victor as they could only wonder how the two were doing to stall the Ice Type.
"I'm worried about them, Calyrex. Can't we do something to help them faster?" she fretted as she finished with the seeds for the Shaderoot Carrots.
"This is the only way even though we'll bring more harm to the villagers while doing so," replied Calyrex, understanding her pain. "If we can bring forth Glastrier's eldest brother, through the use of the Shaderoot Carrot, we should be able to assist them soon if we can cut him off!"
"Hurry!" nodded Sarah as she stood back.
"Okay, here I go! Witness my power as I bring forth my Spectrier's favorite crop!" declared Calyrex as he performed the same ritual but sadly, grew only one Shaderoot Carrot.
Calyrex was disappointed as he panted heavily but he knew it was the best he could do as he started to descend, causing Sarah to catch him and hold him gently.
"Calyrex!" she cried. "Are you okay?"
"...I am, Princess," he sighed as he panted. "I've used up more of my power in my haste to grow this one Shaderoot Carrot. But, this is the best we can do. Pull it out, quickly!"
Without wasting another second, Sarah and her Pokemon all managed to pull out the Shaderoot Carrot, which was much slimmer and longer compared to the Iceroot Carrot.
"Well done, Princess, those carrots you now have will be the keys to luring my royal steeds back to me! Now, the only things I need are the Reins of Unity. They will amplify my power, letting me ride both of my steeds again with ease. With them, I'll be able to ride them once more after I've proven myself worthy of them again. But, I doubt I'll get another set, let alone two, from the people in the village and-"
But, before Calyrex could finish, everyone heard a majestic yet deeply haunting neigh echoing around them.
"GHOST!" shrieked Riolu as she jumped into Blitz's arms and shivered with fright.
"Sheeeeighhhhd...!"
The neigh rang up again, making everybody gathered feel even more uneasy. Suddenly, from the sound of light hooves pounding the ground with an airy feel and a spooky clopping sound to them coupled with another neigh, they all saw what looked to be another Pokemon, not unlike Glastrier, swiftly and smoothly dashing across the path from where they are.
The Pokemon was 6'07" with it had a slim, black, horse-like body with purple legs and a flowing bright lavender tail. Its hooves, having flowing purple back tuffs, floated below the legs and the pattern of them looked to be invisible. The mane consists of a large purple mane with lavender tips on both sides of its head with the amnesias also connected to its black and purple ears on top and had three lavender eyelashes on both sides of its head from the eyes.
Calyrex was in shock again as he watched the Ghost Type Wild Horse Pokemon fly by; there was no denying it in his eyes, it really was his second steed and Glastrier's older brother: Spectrier.
"Spectrier, it is you! My boy, my son! Could it really be you?" he gasped as they watched him disappear. "That violent and rough gallop he shared with his little brother, that soft, glossy black pelt... He has also not changed from the day I first met him and his kin, how relieved I am to see him in his majestic glory still!
"Shhrrrrerrrm... Shrrrrerrrrrrm..." neighed Spectrier again as he vanished while Sarah puts the carrot in her backpack.
"He's heading for the village!" cried Riolu, horrified.
"Indeed. It's the exact same predicament as with Glastrier; when he picked up the scent of the Shaderoot Carrot, he couldn't determine where it was coming from. And now, he'll be with his brother and also pillage for carrots in search of it! Princess, now we must return to Freezington and stop them! Hurry, we're running out of time!"
Nodding quickly, Sarah mounted Rapidash with Blitz and Riolu rejoining them and they all hurried off back to Freezington with Calyrex joining them, hoping they wouldn't be too late to stop Spectrier and Glastrier from causing more trouble in their hunger.
Meanwhile, back at Freezington, Victor, Tsukumaro, and their partners were doing everything they can to stop Glastrier but the Ice Type Wild Horse Pokemon was already proving himself to be a powerful adversary and a loose cannon as he headbutted Cinderace, causing him to crash into Absol after they attacked him with Pyro Ball and Razor Wind.
"We're not doing as well as we thought against Glastrier, Mr. Wong. Any suggestions?" asked Victor, not having any ideas left.
"We're not running," Tsukumaro replied firmly. "If we run like cowards, who would protect the villagers and their crops? We must stop him now if we're going to get him and the others steed back to Calyrex safely!"
But, their problems had just gotten worse as everyone heard the haunting and majestic neigh of Spectrier as he saw his brother and dashed towards the battle taking place, frightening the villagers again as they were horrified to see both Wild horse Pokemon together instead of individually. Mudsale, who was watching with the villagers to protect them, also neighed in shock from seeing both of Calyrex's steeds at the same time.
Victor and Tsukumaro gawked as they finally got a look at Spectrier coming towards them and his brother.
"What is that thing?!"
"It-It can't be! It's Calyrex's second steed! This isn't good, we won't stand a chance against them both!" they cried in shock.
"Spectrier, stop!" shouted Sarah as she, Rapidash, Riolu, and Blitz came into view and they joined Victor, Tsukumaro, and their partners to stop Spectrier.
"Princess, what in the name of Mew and Mewtwo did you bring to this village?! You know that's Calyrex's second steed, right?!" snapped Tsukumaro in a fit.
"I know that but he picked up the scent of the Shaderoot Carrot after we managed to plant and grow it!" Sarah countered. "That's Spectrier, Glastrier's older brother and Calyrex's first son! If we don't do something soon, they're bound to destroy the crops looking for both carrots!"
"...You got both carrots with you?! You managed to get both carrots together at once?" asked Victor in surprise.
"I did but right now, we got a few horses to tame... Like, right now!" replied Sarah as she pointed to Glastrier and Spectrier charging at them together after a brief bonding moment.
"They're after the carrots, watch out!" warned Tsukumaro.
But then, one of Sarah's Pokeballs that had been stuffed inside of her temporary backpack, opened and out came Silvally who used Dragon Claw and Crush Claw in a combo attack at Calyrex's steeds.
"Yo, you wise guys!" he roared at them. "Lesson Number One: nobody, and I mean, NOBODY, lays one stupid hand, hoof, or claw on my mother, but me!"
"Silvally!"
"Pikachu!"
"Big Brother!" cried Riolu, Blitz, and Sarah in surprise.
"I knew it, I knew it! You guys just couldn't go for twenty-or-so minutes without me having to bail you all out of trouble, can you?" smirked the Synthetic Pokemon.
"I didn't go looking for trouble! We were just fine until we had to deal with these bucking broncos of Calyrex's!" retorted the princess.
Silvally just raised an eyebrow, "...What the hell's a Calyrex?"
Their short spat was once again cut short as Glastrier and Spectrier both neighed loudly at their opponents, the former's neigh being more powerful and booming compared to that of his elder brother after they finally caught the scents of their favorite carrots. Their wild demeanor forced Rapidash to join Silvally in order to help the group stop the two Wild Horse Pokemon from harming her children's foster mother and human sister figure.
"They're after the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots!" Tsukumaro bellowed.
"I guess taking them with me wasn't the smartest idea..." gulped Sarah.
"Oh, I see... So, you bozos want a war just because you're hungry and want a snack or two, huh?" taunted Sivally with a smirk, irking the King Pokemon's steeds and making them throw challenging neighs at him and his group, which he accepted. "BRING IT ON!"
"Shhheeeiiiiddddd!" cried Spectrier, charging up and sending a powerful Shadow Ball at Silvally before Glastrier charged forward.
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu!" warned Blitz, seeing the Shadow Ball.
"HAH!" shouted Silvally, using Dragon Claw to cut the Dark Type attack in half before Glastrier charged at him with a Headbutt and knocked him back.
Rapidash gasped and glared at Spectrier, seeing the two Wild Horse Brothers working in tangent and realizing that the Shadow Ball was a cover for Glastrier's Headbutt assault.
"Neigh...!" she shouted, challenging Spectrier to a duel between horses. Spectrier gave an amused snort from this and agreed as they soon faced each other.
This left Glastrier to face Silvally alone as the Synthetic Pokemon composed himself from the blow he had taken and smirked, finding a worthy rival in the Ice Type.
"Lucky shot," he gasped, chuckling despite the pain. "But, can you top this? Mother, Memory Time!"
"I know, I'm on it! Mighty Synthetic Beast, Silvally, take this Fire Type Memory and become a fiery demon from the burning bowels of Hell!" she nodded, taking out Silvally's Fire Type Memory and sending it to him through his RKS System.
The villagers watching their saviors duke it out against Spectrier and Glastrier gasped in shock and bewilderment as they saw Silvally's tail fin, eyes, and head scales once again change to a bright red as he became a Fire Type.
"Okay, I think that guy's apeing off of your style now, buddy," joked Victor, his Rabbit Pokemon crossing his arms indignantly after seeing Silvally become a Fire Type.
Glastrier just neighed again as he used High Horsepower to try and break his Synthetic opponent, determined to get the Iceroot Carrot no matter what it took to satisfy his hunger.
"Use Multi Attack!" bellowed Sarah, allowing Silvally to coat himself in a transparent red aura and charged back at Glastrier, the two clashing in a fascinating and terrifying show of strength.
"Brrrriiiiiiiiiice!" taunted Glastrier to Silvally.
Silvally just smirked; his long and arduous training alongside his family had paid off and he was about to show the giant Ice Type why he's not to be trifled with when involving hurting Sarah and his little brother and sister.
"You may think you're good just because you have more power... But, I'm BETTER!" he bellowed, clawing at his Ice Pokemon opponent and sending him back, hard.
Glastrier landed on his left side after the Super Effective power from the Fire Type Multi Attack from Silvally and growled from his humiliation but he heard the neighs of his brother and found him struggling against Rapidash in a clash of Psycho Cut and Dark Pulse.
By the looks of it, both of them had taken their own fair share of beatings during their own duel but Rapidash looked to be gaining the upper hand as she smirked from seeing the Ghost Type Wild Horse Pokemon starting to buckle under the pressure she was putting him in.
Just when it looked like Spectrier was about to admit defeat, Glastrier immediately ganged up on Rapidash with High Horsepower, forcing her to stop her Psycho Cut and meet with her own High Horsepower attack. The two clashed and tried to overthrow the other but because his power was in a different class compared to Rapidash's and with his larger and bulkier physical condition, he quickly overpowered her and then used Thrash, making her neigh loudly in pain before she was bashed aside.
"Rapidash!" cried Sarah in horror, seeing how badly the older Unique Horn Pokemon was being beaten.
"No way, that Trash attack nearly did her in!" gasped Victor.
"I don't think she can take another beating like that for much longer!" agreed Tsukumaro, now worried they won't save the town's crops in time from Glastrier and Spectrier.
Silvally, however, was furious when he saw the two Pokemon beginning to gang up Rapidash after the Ice Type decided to ignore him for his brother. "Oh, so you wanna help your big bro and roughhouse on your four-legged playmate and leave me in the dust, huh? Well, then... Two can play at that game, you coward! AIR SLASH!" he shouted.
Using his Flying Type attack, Silvally went all out as he unleashed his power on Spectrier as his and Glastrier's attention was now fully on Rapidash. The Air Slash attack finally came into contact with the elder Ghost Type, making him neigh in pain as he took the brutal ambush from Silvally. This caused his younger brother to turn to him in horror and shock as he averted his gaze to Spectrier and allow Rapidash to make the final blow against Glastrier by using Mystical Fire.
"Shhhiiiiieeeedddd!"
"Brrrriiiiiiccceeee!" they neighed in defeat.
The two Wild Horse Pokemon knelt down to the ground in defeat as they tried to take in the fact that they lost and were panting heavily, having used much of their power during the duration of the battle.
"Brrrm... Brm..." they grunted.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! You better believe it, fellas, you lost!" snarked Silvally with a chuckle. Rapidash just nodded in agreement as she got up and steeled herself as she looked at them.
"Cinder, Cinder, Cinderace!" chanted Cinderace as he did a little victory jig.
"You didn't beat them, Mr. Cinderace. Big Brother Silvally and Ms. Rapidash won," objected Riolu, making him groan and slouch.
"Cinder, Cind, Cinderace, Ace, Cinderace Cincer?" he moaned at her.
The two steeds of Calyrex eyed their Pokemon and human opponents just as said King Pokemon finally arrived to see that his saviors managed to stop them and save the villagers from their hunger-fueled tirade for the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots.
But, as soon as he appeared and sighed in relief that the danger was supposedly over, Glastrier and Spectrier neighed again as they turned and bolted away from the group but running straight towards one of the elderly women that had been chatting.
"EEEEEKKKKK!" shrieked the old lady, terrified.
"No, that lady!"
"She'll be trampled!"
"Miss, move now! They're faster than they look!" warned Victor, Sarah, and Tsukumaro in horror.
The old lady and the villagers nearby were all stricken with panic and paralyzed with fear to even escape but just as the two Wild Horse Pokemon were able to run over her, Calyrex came to the rescue as he used what little power he had left to stop his steeds and connect with them for a brief moment.
"Cra-crown!" he bellowed, stopping them at about two feet from the old lady.
"Brrr?! Shheeeiiiiiddddd!"
"Brr?! Brrrriiiiiice!" the two steeds bellowed before they turned to the path towards Frostpoint Field and galloped out of sight into the mountains, much to the relief of the villagers.
The man that had been watching over the fields and gave the group the carrot seeds they needed hurriedly rushed over to the old lady that the steeds nearly ran over along with her neighbor. "Are you all right, Bathilda?" asked the man.
The old lady, Bathilda, nodded with a heavy sigh of relief. "I... I think so. I don't know what happened but just when I was about to be crushed, something called out to them and made them stop. I feel as if something nearby managed to save me..." she panted.
Sarah and her group looked to the spot where they heard Calyrex and he appeared but they saw that he vanished out of sight after saving Bathilda from his steeds so the townspeople won't notice him.
Sarah had to smile; even if Spectrier and Glastrier did cause some amount of trouble for him and everyone in the village, Calyrex still cared for his boys like they were his own children and his trust in the people started to rekindle because of her and her family and friends.
Then, a few small glistens of light in the middle of the field caught their attention. Curiously, they went over to what was dropped by the steeds and they found two tuffs of horsehair, one of them from a black mane and the other from a white mane.
"What are those things?" asked Victor.
"I think these are horsehair tuffs and they came from Spectrier and Glastrier," deducted Sarah. "But, how did they managed to lose these after they left?"
"I bet you Silvally managed to slice a portion of their manes off when Silvally used Air Slash and Multi Attack on them," theorized Tsukumaro. "Then, when they left, they must've fallen off."
Sarah nodded, now having a feeling that the horsehair tuffs could be important. "I think we better hang on to these, just in case," she said, stuffing them in her right jacket pocket.
She then turned to her battle-weary Rapidash as she came to her trainer and licked her. "You were great, Rapidash. You get some rest, now," she told her, returning her to her Pokeball.
"Would somebody please tell me what the damn Arceus is going on?" Silvally barked, annoyed. "I'm already lost enough as it is. And, what's the big deal with those rogue horses that terrorized these big babies around here, huh?"
Before Sarah could answer her Synthetic Pokemon, the mayor came rushing down towards the group, having seen everything and looking just as relieved as the villagers.
"Oh, kind visitors! You saved Freezington and our crops, how can I ever thank you all for protecting my people?" he asked, elated before he became thoughtful.
"You know, in all my years, I had no idea that vicious Pokemon such as those two even existed in the Crown Tundra. Why, those two reminded me of those Pokemon my people and I have been told about in the old fairy tales... The loyal steeds of the King... Ah, well, it looks as though I'm overthinking things again."
"You don't need to thank us, Mayor. But, I'm wondering if you know anything about these," replied Sarah, showing the mayor the white mane and black mane horsehair tuffs she got from Spectrier and Glastrier.
"'Eh, what's that you got there, Missy? By George, are those tuffs of black mane hair and white mane hair you got there?!" gasped the mayor in surprise and amazement. "Well, don't that beat all! In the fairy tales, it has been said that by weaving together the hairs of the loyal steeds with a Radiant Blossom grown only by the King, it is possible to create the Reins of Unity! The links between the King and his loyal steeds!"
"So, you know anything about these Reins, Sir Mayor?" puzzled Tsukumaro.
"Oh, yes! In fact, it was actually my own ancestors-some of the first settlers in the land many years ago-that used to weave the Reins of Unity, following an ancient tradition that had been passed down for centuries. Of course, I myself had never seen any kind of Radiant Flower and the making of the Reins have also sadly been lost to time..."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Mayor..." apologized Sarah.
The mayor sighed, "Thank you, Missy, I appreciate your concern..."
Then, his spirits brightened as he perked up, forgetting his original melancholy. "But, in any case, we can't just stand around all day musing and moping about fairy tales! I must go and make preparations! Besides, I'd wager those Pokemon might very well pay us another visit, if possible, after all!" he replied.
"Thanks for all your help and your kindness, my friends! Feel free to pop by for tea again anytime if you have any more questions, I'll be waiting." And, he quickly left to prepare for another unexpected return from the Wild Horse Brothers should they return for the village crops.
Sarah and the others all breathed a sigh of relief and joy; the mayor didn't suspect that they were indirectly responsible for Glastrier and Spectrier's coming to the village and he gave them more information about another key detail to helping Calyrex regain his power and steeds.
They were also lucky to have found one of the essential materials used for making the Reins of Unity. Speaking of Calyrex, the King Pokemon appeared when the villagers returned to their normal things and smiled at them when they turned to him before they joined him at the grotto again.
"Princess, my friends, you all have my deepest thanks and gratitude for saving the villagers and protecting Freezington," praised Calyrex before giving off a sad sigh. "A pity, really; If I'm at full power as I once was, I should've been able to tame my sons and regained their loyalty... But, alas, as weak as I am now, the best that I could do was influence their wills and make them depart without invoking further conflict..."
Another stray tear came from one of his eyes as he stewed in his sorrow and loneliness as well as his own self-loathing, which didn't go unnoticed by Sarah as she gently wiped it off and held his face as he moaned.
"If I only had the Reins of Unity, then I would've been able to tame them in such short order...!"
As Calyrex talked to the group and vented his sadness and frustration over his current state, Silvally gawked in shocked silence as he listened in, not wanting to make any snide remarks for fear of being pummeled by a king as he had a feeling his human mother did much for him to gain his respect and happiness. He didn't think it would be appropriate for a time such as this.
"We can still make them, Calyrex! Sarah read the book about them from the mayor's records and we know two things we can use to create them: horsehair tuffs and a flower you can grow!" Victor reassured.
Calyrex balked as his draw dropped from this. "What's that?! We can still make two sets of the reins, using main hair from both of my steeds... And, a flower only I can grow?!" he asked, flabbergasted.
Sarah nodded as she showed Calyrex the horsehair tuffs from his steeds. "We found these from your steeds after Silvally and I used Multi Attack and Air Slash on them and the mayor told us we can weave them together with what's called a Radiant Blossom if you can grow one," she confirmed.
"A flower, a flower... Radiant Blossom, that's its name... But, yes, of course! I had assumed that the people of this village ultimately stopped making the Reins of Unity because they had lost their faith in me... But, it's not really that; it's because I lost the power to grow the material that they needed along with those horsehair tuffs! Oh, dear, I've spent far too long holding on to my misguided assumptions and prejudice against them, I suppose..."
He looked out to the villagers and contemplated on what had transpired and what he had learned and remembered. "It has been many centuries since I was able to grow a Radiant Blossom with ease. Just the act of doing so drains me of much of my power. But, for whatever reason, a few small fractions of my power seemed to be coming back to me now..."
He turned to the group and firmly nodded, "Then, there's only one thing for me to do..."
"...And, what the hell's that?" remarked Silvally, finally deciding to speak.
Calyrex smirked towards Silvally before he concentrated his energy and bellowed, "Let the Radiant Blossom bloom!"
Focusing his energies but taking care as to not exert too much of himself as he nearly did with growing the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots, Calyrex managed to make a Radiant Blossom appear but he only brought about two petals. But, he was satisfied with what he got given what he had learned and remembered throughout his short time with his new friends.
"Damn, what's with the light show?!" spluttered Silvally, trying to blink his eyes from the bright light dancing in his eyes.
"Take these, Princess. These are Radiant Petals from the Radiant Blossom, I believe we'll make do with these," said the King Pokemon, handing the petals to Sarah before he gasped and fell into Sarah's arms again.
"Calyrex!" she cried, catching him as he panted.
"It shames me to admit it, Princess... But, as I am right now, a whole flower is beyond me. As I said, we'll make do with those petals. I do not know, for sure, if the petals would be enough. But, I still ask that you use them to try and create the Reins of Unity. The descendants of the family who once made the Reins for me should still live in the village. My hopes for them being made rest with you, child..."
Nodding to Calyrex as he regained his strength to continue floating to them and remembering the mayor mentioning his ancestors being the ones to make the Reins for him, Sarah and the others left him and Peony in the grotto before they went to the mayor's house to ask him for his help.
"No joke, what the hell's going on? I get that guy back there's a king and what not but what are you even doing?" Silvally put in.
"I'll tell ya later. Right now, we need to speak with the mayor about his Reins," Sarah told him upon arriving.
"You think he'll somehow remember how to even weave and make the Reins of Unity?" asked Victor.
"He mentioned that his family's ancestors were the ones responsible for making them. He just tipped to us that he's the living descendant of the family we're looking for."
While Mudsdale waited outside to keep watch over the town in case Spectrier and Glastrier would somehow reappear again for the carrots his trainer is holding, Sarah, Tsukumaro, Victor, and their Pokemon entered the mayor's house to speak with them about the Reins of Unity.
"Ah, hello again, saviors of our village! Nice of you to drop by again, have you come back to do a little more reading?" greeted the mayor kindly.
"Sorta, but we're here with a little favor," replied Sarah, showing him the horsehair tuffs. "We were wondering if you could help us with making two sets of the Reins of Unity for a friend of ours."
"Wha-HUH?! I beg your pardon, you want me to help you make two sets of the Reins of Unity?!" gawked the mayor before he sighed thoughtfully with a twinge of sadness in his voice. "Oh dear, I'm afraid this presents me with a problem... If my dear great-granddad were still around, he'd gladly be able to help you make a few sets of them. Unfortunately..."
"What's wrong, Mr. Mayor?" asked Riolu, concerned.
"Pika?" asked Blitz.
"We've no one left in the village who knows or remembers the traditional ways at this point... What's more, I doubt if you'd ever have the flower needed to forge the sets you needed for your friend."
"You're wrong, Sir Mayor, we have the flower you're looking for..." replied Tsukumaro as Sarah showed him the Radiant Petals. "My goddaughter has them right here. They're petals but they're the best we got for the Reins."
The mayor turned and he gawked in bewilderment again after seeing the Radiant Blossom petals. "Are those petals from the Radiant Blossom?!" he gasped.
Sarah nodded firmly; she and the others knew that Calyrex gave them the petals and what she held was the proof needed to make the Reins of Unity for him, Spectrier, and Glastrier.
The mayor then grew thoughtful again. "If that's so and you have them... Would that not mean that the King of Bountiful Harvests has truly...?" But, he shook his head, not wanting to get his hopes up too high on Calyrex being really real.
"No, no! I dare not hope... Anyway, if I recall, my ancestors made the Reins of Unity by following the ways of sewing them passed down in fairy tales about the King and his steeds; there were two key materials that they had: a Radiant Blossom and hairs from a Pokemon. But, I'm afraid that these ancient traditions have long since faded from memory..."
The Pokemon slightly deflated barring a still-stumped Silvally; it did present something of a major problem for them and the mayor. If the village's old traditions had indeed faded from the memories of him and his people, they'll have no way to make the Reins of Unity.
"...Still, how could I refuse an offer from such a bunch of kind and helpful guests such as you all?" smiled the mayor. "The materials, if you please."
Sarah handed the horsehair tuffs and the Radiant Petals to the mayor, her hopes now soaring high as she knew they're nearly at the final completed stage of Calyrex's return to power, glory, and relevance. Even the others couldn't help but gain smiles on their faces, knowing that they're nearing the end of their goal.
With the Radiant Petals and Spectrier and Glastrier's horsehair tuffs at hand, he took out a basket of sewing materials they'll be using to make the Reins of Unity as best they can.
"I can't promise that the Reins we make would be as good as the ones my great-granddad used to make in the day, but..." he warned before he smiled again but with determination. "Time to bring life back into my family and people's traditions of our village!"
He quickly got to work on snipping and working through the steps to create the Reins although he soon grunted, having reached a small snag that he might've accidentally overlooked in his haste.
"Well, it didn't turn out as well as I've hoped, my friends," he told them sadly. "I'd fancy myself a good and crafty enough sort but I suppose it'll take a craftsman of truly delicate technique to create Reins such as the one my great-grandpappy would've made."
Sarah groaned miserably; this was the last thing she wanted to hear and it looked as though she won't fulfill her promise to help Calyrex return to power.
"Oh, don't look so sad, dearie. I'm sorry, really, I am..." soothed the mayor.
Tsukumaro, Victor, and the Pokemon nodded in solemn agreement, knowing that they and Sarah all did their best to get far in helping the King of Bountiful Harvests regain his power. But, they also knew that regarding the creation of the Reins of Unity, they're stuck and have no idea as to who would make the Reins as the mayor's great-grandfather had.
But then, hope sprang eternal for them when Peony came into the house, wanting to speak to the mayor about a problem he's having at the Freeze Inn.
"Oi, Mr. Mayor, I got a problem!" he called, startling everybody as he entered. "The hot water in my shower seems to have gone on holiday!"
The mayor gasped as he realized that there may have been a plumbing problem at the Freeze Inn. "Ah, yes, terribly sorry, Mr. Peony. I'll have a look at it as soon as I can but I'm afraid I've got my hands tied up with a little favor I'm helping your friends with," he replied.
"Mr. Peony?" asked Riolu, surprised to see him.
"Oh, you're here too, Little Lady? What's up, pals, are you all workin' on something? You're lookin' awful gloomy from what I can gather, not like you to be so down in the dumps like this."
"...Yeah, we tried to make two sets of reins for a couple of horses but we had a little trouble getting them to work out," Sarah nodded, telling Peony what's going on.
"GA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! So, that's it, eh? You wanted to use the stuff you have to make some sort of nice little cords?" he laughed, getting nods from everyone.
"Well, no problamo, Little Lady! I used to be a fine seamstress for my wife during our time together and I still take time to make stuff such as that," continued Peony. "Pass me the materials you got for a mo."
The mayor, grateful for the help and the last-minute they were all getting, gladly gave the Radiant Petals and the horsehair tuffs to Peony. Sarah the others just smiled; maybe they'll have a chance of making the Reins of Unity, after all.
"Okay, I got my hair and my petal, Mayor. What is it that you want me to do now?"
The mayor nodded, having one idea of how to help him get started on making the Reins of Unity. "If I may be so bold, allow me to share a song with you all that survived from the legends," he suggested, clearing his throat before he sang.
"Blossom woven round and rooound, a royal gift in mane's hair booound~"
"Whoa, whoa! Steady on, Old Bloke, the singing's bit much!" stopped Peony, halting the mayor's song but shrugging. "Oh well, that'll do for an answer."
"Actually, if I may, Sir Mayor," interjected Tsukumaro, getting an idea. "I may have a way to integrate your singing into the process for Sir Peony."
"Oh, and what do you have in mind?" asked the mayor, intrigued.
Tsukumaro took off his backpack and searched through it as he explained, "I have a feeling the song that you just sang could complement what I have with me to help Sir Peony make the Reins of Unity."
He took out what looked to be a flute case and opened it to reveal a beautiful 34-inch Chinese Xiao flute in two 22-inch parts before he put them together and started playing a soothing tune to them in C Major (inspired by Oracion from Pokemon: The Rise of Darkrai), much to Peony's liking.
"Hey, hey! Nice playin' there, mate! I guess it'll do for an answer, too!" he chuckled.
"By Thunder! That's brilliant, my friend!" agreed the mayor.
"What are you doing?" Victor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You'll see. Sir Mayor, please sing. Sir Peony, start sewing the Reins of Unity."
Together, with the mayor singing the song about the Reins of Unity he remembered and Tsukumaro playing along on his Xiao flute, Peony worked hard on the Reins as he carefully sews the horsehair tuffs and bounded the Radiant Petals for each set, one for Spectrier and the other for Glastrier. The others were very surprised as they watched the procedure taking place.
Within a few minutes, by the time they were done, the two Reins of Unity sets for Calyrex and his steeds were completed and they came out as the mayor remembered from his great-grandfather's handiwork.
"HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! There you go, kids, all finished! Well, how do they look?" said Peony, presenting everybody with both Reins sets.
They were in awe by how well they were made and how they looked by his hands. These Reins were exactly the ones needed for Calyrex to tame his steeds with no problem at all.
"It's perfect, thank you," replied Sarah, gladly taking the completed Reins.
Even the mayor was delighted when he saw how well the Reins were made by his other visitor's hands. "Well, blow me down to Hammerlock come! You're more capable than what your face lets on, Mr. Peony! These here Reins of Unity are the spitting image of the ones my great-granddaddy used to make and according to my family's tales!" he laughed with a smile.
"Ga-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Well, my wife and I don't sew all our rebellious daughter's clothes for nothin', you know! Even the exploration outfits you kids are wearin' are made by yours truly!"
"Yes, ahem, in any case... Child, it looks like you, your family, and your friends have got the Reins of Unity you needed for your friend. Isn't this just smashing!"
"Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I don't know what we would've done to thank you for taking the time to speak with us about the King and his steeds!" bowed Sarah in gratitude.
"And, let's not forget our Master Seamstress, Peony!" added Victor.
"We'll never be able to thank you enough, gentlemen," nodded Tsukumaro, bowing in thanks.
"Nonsense, it was you and your goddaughter's kindness and resourcefulness that helped us make this possible, good sir," replied the mayor modestly.
"Hey, don't mention it! I do have an eye for detail and as they always say, 'the devil is in the detail!' HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!" bellowed Peony, laughing again.
"Yeah, well, we better get going. Our friend is probably waiting for us right now for the Reins we have for him," Victor replied as they all prepared to leave.
"Good luck, my friends! And, thanks again for helping our fair town!" smiled the mayor, waving goodbye to them.
The gang and Peony left the mayor's house and got around to talking again, the others waiting for Calyrex to return after they finally got their hands on the Reins of Unity for him, Glastrier, and Spectrier while the exploration chief started chatting away again.
"Can you believe that? I've caught myself having fallen asleep outside again," he began. "I was chilled to the bone after that little nap so I thought I'd rest up with a nice, hot shower back at base camp. But, when I turned on the water, it was comin' out ice cold! I was super-ultra-mega surprised by how freezing it was and jumped out without putting on any of my-Mlerrrgh...!"
Peony was once again cut short as Calyrex appeared once more and used Psychic to regain control of him, eager to know if the Reins of Unity had been made.
"Princess! Were you and your family and friends able to make the Reins of Unity out of what we had?" he begged.
"We did, the Reins turned out perfectly!" Sarah nodded, showing him the new Reins Tsukumaro, the mayor, and Peony made. "These came out perfectly and we did it all with Peony's help, even the mayor and my godfather lent a hand!"
"Oh, joy! What glorious news! And, the men you speak of had been so kind, I really wish there was something I could do to repay them... Especially you, Mr. Tsukumaro."
"No, no, Your Highness. It's all right, anything for you, really," replied Tsukumaro modestly.
"Yes, I must be getting ahead of myself, forgive me. But, enough about that; I've got wonderful news of my own! I was able to track down the last known location of my loyal steeds, Glastrier and Spectrier are making their home in the Crown Shrine!"
"Crown Shrine?"
"Pika?"
"Cinder?"
"Crown Shrine?"
"Sol?" asked the human and their Pokemon.
"What the hell is the Crown Shrine?" asked Silvally bluntly, making the group falter from his lack of respect and getting a chuckle out of the King Pokemon.
"Patience, my multi-part friend. The Crown Shrine is a peaceful place high in the mountains above where my beloved steeds, my sons, have spent much time together as a family... I was afraid of setting foot in there again, avoiding so that I wouldn't get trapped in mine own nostalgia... And yet, why have they made their home there? Are they reminiscing on our time together before we parted? No, it can't be..."
"Where could we find the Crown Shrine, Mr. Calyrex?" quizzed Riolu.
"Over there, you'll find it standing majestically atop the mountain to the north," said Calyrex, pointing everyone towards the site of the large tree. "Bring the Reins of Unity and the carrots and meet me there as soon as you can. I shall hasten there now but you all came come up whenever you're ready. Be sure you're prepared for the task ahead before you make your choice. I am counting on you all, Princess..."
With that, Calyrex made his way to the Crown Shrine to prepare himself to take on his own steeds while the others were left behind to prepare for the final step in their plan to help him regain his power before making their way up.
The group made the decision to take some time off to recover for a minute and figure out what to do if the last step of their plan to help Calyrex goes belly-up, wondering how to help him tame both of his steeds at the same time. This time, Sarah took the pen, clue card, and notebook, writing down their growing progress with Calyrex so far.
As she wrote, the clue card and their notes now read, "Using the mane hairs we've obtained from the Pokemon that were once Calyrex's loyal steeds and the Radiant Petals grown by Calyrex himself, we were able to recreate the Reins of Unity! Now, we need to head over to the Crown Shrine on the top of the mountain where the steeds had been living and meet up with Calyrex!"
By now, it was starting to get dark despite the heavy cloud cover as the snow started to fall again from outside. They had been working on the mystery involving Calyrex for a long time and they were glad for the break when they needed it. They were having a quick meal at the Freeze Inn's hotel restaurant as they began to recap and plan for the last part of their eventful journey with the King of Bountiful Harvests as they looked over the clues they noted and the materials that had been gathered.
"Okay, so we're nearly done here... Where are we at with this thing?" asked Victor as he drank a cup of hot chocolate.
"Well, when we first started, we met Peony and found the wooden crown for the statue of Calyrex and met said Pokemon who wanted us to help him with regaining his lost power. Next, we found out that nobody remembers him fondly or has no clue about him so we had to turn to the mayor for help which included finding any information on his steeds," recapped Sarah.
"Then, we found out that they loved carrots so we grew these two right here," added Tsukumaro, directing everyone gathered towards the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots they have in the middle of the table.
"But, we've also inadvertently caused Glastrier and Spectrier to be lured out into the open and gallop into town to find them and we had to fight them. And, finally, we came across several tuffs of horsehair from them along with the Radiant Petals from His Highness. Coupled with the mayor's song, my flute playing, and Sir Peony's sewing, we managed to recreate the Reins of Unity for both steeds."
Everybody just simply nodded.
"So, what you just said is the whole gist of what we're trying to do for this King guy that lives here?" Silvally remarked, getting a confirming nod from his human mother.
"Now, all that's left to do for us is to go to the Crown Shrine in the mountain tops to help him get ready to tame Glastrier and Spectrier," said Victor.
"I didn't know you played the flute, though," remarked Sarah to her godfather.
"Well, once you've studied swordplay along with magic in my time, Princess, you'll end up doing something like that as a hobby and a means of meditation."
"But, what I don't get is how we're going to help him tame both Glastrier and Spectrier now that we have two sets of the Reins of Unity," continued Sarah, looking at the Reins between the carrots.
"I'm sure we'll figure it out sooner or later, Princess. Or better yet, since Calyrex once tamed them himself, we should leave it up to him. He had a thing with them since he raised them as his own."
"Okay, so he's gonna reel in a couple of bucking broncos. Big whoop," replied Silvally. "The only stupid thing we have to deal with is how are we gonna get out big bottoms up there?"
Sarah stopped as they finished their meal before she eventually sighed in realization and faceplanted the table, now knowing they forgot to ask Calyrex for directions to his, Glastrier, and Spectrier's old home.
"...Oh yeah, we don't know exactly where the Crown Shrine is and Calyrex didn't give us specific directions on which path to take to go to it."
"Now, what are we gonna do?" groaned Victor. "We've no clue about the rest of this terrain, we've no pathway to the Crown Shrine, and we're still stuck in town with the biggest nag about how to tame two wild steeds!"
"Fro..." cooed a voice coming from above them.
The group looked up to find what appears to be a small, beautiful white moth-like Pokemon fluttering down to them above their table. "Frost, Frostmoth!" it chirped.
"What the devil...?" gawked Tsukumaro.
"Uh... Victor, what Pokemon would you call that?" asked Sarah, taken aback by the little moth-like Pokemon.
"Like, that's a Frostmoth, it's an Ice and Bug Type Pokemon and it's a female, at that. But, you only find them in snowy fields and mountains such as these in the Crown Tundra."
"Pika, Pikachu, Pi, Pika?" questioned Blitz, wanting to know why Frostmoth would be here.
"Frost, Frostmoth, Moth, Frost, Frost, Moth, Moth, Frost-Frost, Frostmoth!" buzzed Frostmoth, telling Blitz that she had been sent by Calyrex to find them and lead them to the Crown Shrine when they're ready.
"Okay, I might be wrong but it sounds like she's telling us she knows where that shrine place thing is and wants to lead us to it," remarked Silvally.
"Does that mean she knows where it is and we can get up to Mr. Calyrex?" perked Riolu as she finished her own hot chocolate.
"Could be, Glastrier and Spectrier could both be on their way there any minute. Let's go!" replied Sarah.
Quickly leaving their table and taking the keys to Calyrex's return to glory with them, the group followed Frostmoth as she led them to a path traversing through Frostpoint Field and the Giant's Bed before climbing Snowslide Slope once more with Tsukumaro and Victor mounting Mudsdale, Cinderace and Absol running behind them, and Sarah, Riolu, and Blitz now taking a ride on Silvally. Beyond that, she led them up and through a series of tunnels in between snow-capped slopes to the Crown Tundra.
The trek up to the Crown Shrine while following Frostmoth was no easy task as they had to cope with slipping on the snowy slopes a few times, much to the annoyance of Silvally as he tried to keep a good grip when he made contact with small, hidden patches of ice while they also had to avoid or battle several wild Pokemon wanting to pick a fight with them in short bursts to keep to their goal.
"Urgh, whatever this crazy king has planned for those bucking broncos had better be worth it!" snarled Silvally, annoyed.
Sarah couldn't deny it; the trek all the way to the Crown Shrine has been tedious at best given the amount of wild Pokemon they encountered and had to traverse around or fight when they couldn't be ignored as well as the winding path that seemed impractical for many except for the brave and courageous daring to make the climb.
Even Victor and Tsukumaro had to admit that the long climb up to the Crown Shrine was asking a bit much of them and Sarah and they hoped it would be worth it in the end, too.
Finally, when it seemed like an eternity for the group, Frostmoth fled them towards a small flight of stone stairs which motivated Mudsdale and Silvally to gallop and Cinderace and Absol to run faster, the group's spirits lifting higher and higher when they noticed another flight of stairs bordering their final destination.
There, in front of them and to their complete awe and shock, was the Crown Shrine. The building had been standing for who knows how long since it was built and the interior of it was more of a large courtyard for a large pack of horses to live in with the giant tree they saw before standing tall and proud at the farthest end of it. Despite its age, the Shrine showed no signs of wear and tear and gave off a strong vibe of royalty that is the King of Bountiful Harvests and his steeds.
Taken in by the majesty of the shrine, Sarah and the others cautiously entered with Frostmoth until they saw Calyrex, still having Peony as his host, standing in the middle of the shrine. Upon seeing him, they ran over to the King with Frostmoth telling him that she had brought his friends to the Shrine.
"Thank you, Frostmoth, your help is most appreciated," he thanked the Ice/Bug Type as she bowed to him and fluttered off.
Then, he turned to Sarah and the others as they stood at attention, ready and waiting for his orders, "I have been waiting, Princess. I hope you are ready for what will take place soon. The Crown Shrine you see here is a place I once called home."
He looked around the shrine as he continued. "Spectrier and Glastrier must think of me helpless now that I'm not at full strength after losing my power. They taunt me day and night by making this place their own dwelling," he sighed.
"Ah... I see you have brought me the Reins of Unity as I wanted and you have the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots as well. You have my thanks, all of you."
"Calyrex... I'm not sure if they really mean that," Sarah began, having her own thoughts about his steeds making it their home.
"...What do you mean?"
"They wouldn't have made fun of you or made this place their own home out of spite if they didn't think you cared for them as their father after you found them and raised them since they were colts. Maybe they missed you just as you did with them. When you lost your power and you disappeared, they probably went searching for you and decided to stay here just in case you would return and if you didn't forget about them."
Calyrex was surprised by this as he thought over Sarah's words. Then, he took a deep breath and started to feel like she had a point about his steeds.
"...I believe you're right, perhaps I've been a little judgmental towards my steeds lately. I should've known better than to believe they think themselves as superior compared to me on their own. Perhaps they were still loyal to me all this time, the bond that we shared long ago probably saw to that..." he mused.
But, he couldn't dwell on them for long as he'll soon have them back in his custody and they'll all be together again. The King Pokemon looked towards Sarah as he knew what he must do to regain them.
"Now, Princess... The Reins, if you please," he inquired, allowing the little princess to hand them to him.
"Ahhh... The feel of holding the very links to my sons again... The color, the way they glistened in the light... Oh, how it all brings back so many fond memories of an age long since past with us being together..."
"...You really loved them, don't you?"
"Indeed, I do. Spectrier and Glastrier are both proud Pokemon given their temperament as Wild Horse Pokemon, one might even call them arrogant. They will not fully accept me as their master and father until I can prove that my strength is superior to and outweighs theirs. To that end, I will use the Reins of Unity to pour every ounce of power that I have left into the very bodies of my loyal steeds! That should convince them that I still care for and love them and that I'm still worthy of their own love and undying loyalty."
"One problem, Calyrex, you got two Reins of Unity sets and you got two steeds," pitched in Victor, pointing out the main flaw in his plan. "If you're to use the first set on one of them, who's going to help you reel in the other?"
"Yeah, there's no way you can tame both of them at the same time," agreed Riolu, feeling skeptical of the whole thing.
"I'm aware of that, Mr. Victor, Young Riolu. That's why I am entrusting the princess to aid me in dealing with Glastrier and Spectrier."
"Sarah!?"
"My goddaughter, Your Highness?!"
"Pika!"
"Cind!"
"Sol?!"
"Muds!?"
"No!"
"Are you crazy, Pepper Head?!" cried Victor, Tsukumaro, and the Pokemon in shock.
"Me?! I'm no equal to you in taming horses let alone your steeds!" bellowed Sarah, flabbergasted from Calyrex's offer.
"Nonsense, your steeds are obviously loyal to you because you loved them, am I right?"
"Well, yeah... Rapidash and Mudsdale, I trust them a lot given what I've done for them and for her children but they're not Wild Horse Pokemon like your steeds!"
"You've done so much for me along with your family and friends and I could think of no better child to help me with my greatest challenge imaginable. You deserve the honor," he reassured, handing her the second Reins of Unity set. "I shall focus on Glastrier while you tame Spectrier; with your light and my power, together, we shall prove our loyalty to them and theirs to us."
Sarah was worried; she was given her biggest responsibility so far and she was worried that she would come up short to Calyrex and let him down should she let her fears and doubts take hold and cause her to lose Spectrier. The events prior still weighed heavily in her heart along with her fears and she wasn't sure if she would even be up to the challenge before her.
Calyrex sensed her growing anxiety and gave a reassuring smile as he held the Reins for her. "I understand your fears, Princess, but you must know by now that true princesses such as you are made from their truth of heart and the goodness within them and not from lies and fears. Your kindness and empathy for others and your compassion made you into the princess you are now and I know you have what it takes to help me tame Spectrier. Take them," he reassured.
Sarah was still feeling doubtful but she eventually gave a firm nod and took the second set of Reins, ready to do her duty with him.
Nodding in approval, Calyrex turned to a small metal basket where the carrots will be placed. "Now, in order to lure in my beloved steeds back to me, place the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots in the basket next to where they made their beds," he ordered.
Not wasting another second and keeping the second set of Reins with her, Sarah quickly placed the carrots her team grew with Calyrex in the basket, setting the stage for her biggest challenge by far.
"The time has come, Princess! But, you and your family and friends have all successfully defeated my loyal steeds already back at Freezington. Neither of them would willingly approach someone or something that they consider a threat when they're out in the open. We must hide over there and wait for them to appear before we make our move!"
He directed everyone towards some large roots nearby, a short ways away from Spectrier and Glastrier's beds and carrot basket, which are perfect for them to hide behind and make sure the two Wild Horse Pokemon wouldn't see them.
They didn't have long to wait as they anticipated Glastrier and Spectrier's return to the shrine, keeping themselves hidden with only a small gap between the roots for them to see the two steeds without being spotted.
Sarah gulped as she held her own Reins of Unity tightly; she was going to help Calyrex tame his steeds with her light, her heart as well as her kindness, once they saw their chance to take the final necessary step needed to help the King Pokemon regain his power. This was, without a doubt, going to be a challenge for her and it was time for her to steel herself for the brief struggle given that neither steed wouldn't want to approach her given how she and the others stopped them prior.
When the steeds finally arrived, they finally caught the scents of their favorite crops as they looked around and found the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots in their carrot basket near their straw beds. Delighted from finding the two carrots, they proceeded to eat them, making the group excited from the success of their plan but that was only the beginning.
With Spectrier and Glastrier distracted as they ate away at their favorite carrots, Calyrex looked towards Sarah and nodded, signaling her to join him as they ran towards his steeds and proceeded to jump on their backs, attaching the two Reins of Unity sets on them. As planned before, Spectrier was caught by Sarah and Calyrex had taken on Glastrier.
The Wild Horse Pokemon pair neighed loudly in protest at this and aggressively tried to buck them off, with both riders barely managing to hang on as they fought the steeds for control. Victor, Tsukumaro, and the Pokemon gasped from their hiding place and even Peony, who was released from Calyrex's Psychic, woke up from the racket going on and became flabbergasted.
Spectrier and Glastrier continued to buck their riders off as aggressively as they could but despite their bucking about, Sarah and Calyrex held firm as they both held on to the Reins of Unity tightly.
"Hang on, Princess!"
"I'm trying-AHH! YEOW, what'll we do now?!" cried Sarah, still trying to hang despite Spectrier's continued bucking.
"When I count to three, concentrate your power within yourself and pour it through the Reins of Unity!" instructed Calyrex through Glastrier's bucking. "I'll do the same with Glastrier but make sure Spectrier doesn't overpower you when you do so, understand?"
"I got it!"
"All right, ready? One... Two... THREE!"
Upon the King Pokemon's signal, Sarah reeled back Spectrier on his hind legs with Calyrex doing the same with Glastrier, the two royals concentrating their power and light into the Reins of Unity sets as their strengths poured through them to the spots where they held at the corners of their mouths. Their power entered the steeds' bodies in turn and, in two bright balls of light, they've proven their loyalty and superior strength to Spectrier and his younger brother.
When the balls of light faded, they had become one with their riders and felt their father figure's energy through them. Calyrex had also gained a noticeable change that's proof of his restored power; after taming Glastrier, the flappy stubs on his back extended to become something akin to a long white and green cape that now draped his entire body. The King Pokemon had switched forms to become the High King Pokemon, having been reunited with his sons/steeds after many years of loneliness.
Their small audience watching from their hiding place was stunned as they saw the end results of the royals' little rodeo with Sarah and Calyrex now nudging them gently to turn them and allowing them to neigh loudly with pride and dignity, displaying their intense power and showing the rekindled bond between the steeds and their father.
Victor, Tsukumaro, their Pokemon, and Peony rushed over to the quartet and gawked in absolute shock and amazement, unable to fully take in the fact that Calyrex is now at full power and is one with both of his steeds once more.
Sarah looked herself all over as she resonated with Ghost Type energy along with Spectrier, in complete awe of what she managed to do. "Whoa, did I do that?!" she gasped in amazement.
"You did it, Mommy! You did it!" cheered Riolu.
"I knew you were strong, Mother, but I didn't expect you to be as crazy as this!" gawked Silvally.
"Pika, Pika!" nodded Blitz.
"Cinder..." breathed Cinderace, still in shock and awe as he fell on his knees.
"Sol, Sol," reassured Absol, trying to control his shock as well while holding Cinderace upright.
"Bloody Arceus' Light... I've got to sit down," said Tsukumaro, his shock taking him over as he felt like fainting.
"Breath, mate, just breath," replied Victor, trying to control himself and his excitement.
"W-wha... WHAT IN THE WORLD?!" screamed Peony, unable to control his shock and bewilderment. "Such a huge noggin, and it's got a ride?! You too, Little Lady!?"
"I'm just as surprised as you are, Peony! I just had a rodeo with this guy and I won," replied Sarah as she sat atop Spectrier, the Wild Horse Pokemon nodding in agreement. "If I were to tell you how I did it, I'd rather not, in case Calyrex here might have to kill me for spilling the beans!"
"Craw! Rrrownrawn! Rooowwwn crown!" cooed Calyrex to the group.
"WAGH!? And, it can talk?!" screeched Peony, reeling back in bewilderment.
"Calyrex is not a thing, mate... He's the King of Bountiful Harvests," deadpanned Victor.
"Croooown... Crownrown..."
Peony was now starting to get really scared, his shock still having taken him over completely. "Wh-wha, wait! W-What do you w-w-want with m-m-me?" he asked shakily.
"Rowrooowwwn crrrooowwwn..."
"H-huh?! I've got no idea what you're saying! But, somehow, it also makes sense? Wait a minute! What in the world are you, anyw-WAH! Ngh, not again..."
Peony didn't get to finish what he's saying because he was soon under Calyrex's full power as he used Psychic on him again to speak with the group.
Realizing where this was going, Sarah carefully nudged Spectrier forward to face Calyrex and she dismounted the Ghost Type and gently rubbed his muzzle, making him purr from her touch as he nuzzled her just as his father figure spoke.
"Princess! Thanks to your efforts and your boundless kindness, I am finally reunited with my loyal steeds. And now, I am finally at my full power once again! I was convinced that the people no longer believed in me and I've also lost my boys in the process..." he began gratefully.
"I was trapped within the throes of deep loneliness and pain for centuries but you came to my rescue and saved me when you didn't have to. There are no words I can think of with which to truly express my gratitude to you, Child of King Doug and Queen Delilah..."
"I'm just glad you called out to me when you did," replied Sarah modestly. "I couldn't have done it without my family and friends helping me."
The others nodded in agreement, content smiles on their faces and even Silvally had to agree.
"I'm grateful to you all... So, I have a suggestion, Princess; you've proven yourself to be a fine princess despite your troubles. I can sense your discomfort about whatever is plaguing you in your heart. And, when I asked for your aid in helping me tame my beloved steeds, you steeled yourself for the worst possible outcome should our plan fail and you triumphed when you tamed Spectrier. Therefore, it is only fitting that I ask you of this: if you can beat me and capture me even with my powers restored, it will prove your worth beyond any doubt and I will lend you my strength on your journey."
"HUH?!"
"PIKA?!" gawked Sarah and Blitz again.
"Mr. Calyrex, this is your home! You belong here, what about the people of Freezington?!" cried Riolu, begging Calyrex to stay.
Even Victor, Tsukumaro, and the other Pokemon could hardly believe it; Calyrex was willing to leave the Galar Region and join the Sun Princess to become part of her family.
"My time may be over in the Galar Region and this tundra will always be my home and that of my steeds but I'm willing to take the first step and make my new home elsewhere if only to know more about the world we live in as well. Perhaps it is time for my steeds and I to begin the first chapter of our new lives and it all starts with you, Princess."
Sarah pointed to herself in shocked silence, making Calyrex nod at her in confirmation.
"Once you're readied yourself for our duel, come face me. I will permit you to use Spectrier as well as your own Pokemon if you wish and should I and Glastrier fall and be captured, he will join us as well."
Calyrex then turned to Peony as he continued to remain in his grasp through Psychic. "Ah, but first, I must get this man back to where I first found him. It would be no good and a crime of mine to let him freeze out here in this frigid clime," he mused before returning the exploration chief to Freezington.
"But, won't the townspeople need you for their harvests? What if their crops don't survive without you and your steeds to look after them and how can we grow your favorite crops if there are no fields in cold climates like the ones for the Shaderoot and Iceroot Carrots?" asked Riolu again.
"Tarry not, Young Riolu. I shall leave a considerable fraction of my power for the people and Pokemon of this land to maintain their bond with me," reassured Calyrex. "I have a feeling with a small part of me, they'll be able to live on for many a year as long as I'm a part of them."
Everyone nodded; this was the best thing they could do so as to keep the townspeople back at Freezington from declining in crops and their livelihood.
"I guess it's time for you to meet my family before we battle and I reveal you to everybody," decided Sarah before she brought out the rest of her Pokemon family to meet their newest additions.
They were all surprised to find them in a freezing environment before they turned to Calyrex and his steeds.
Most of them were surprised to see the High King Pokemon and Glastrier and Spectrier (the latter having reunited with them after Sarah decided to battle them all) facing them, especially since none of them besides Riolu, Blitz, Rapidash, Mudsdale, and Silvally knew about the King of Bountiful Harvests. The dragons resting at the Slumbering Weald had no idea about Calyrex and his steeds but the princess knew they would be in for a shock when they meet with him soon.
"T-t-t-t-tep-p-p-p-p-p-p-i-i-i-i-i-ig," shivered Tepig, not fond of the extreme cold without his scarf as he immediately shivered.
"Sniv, Vy, Snivy, Snivy," retorted Snivy, not bothered by the freezing weather. "Sni, Vy, Snivy, Vy, Vy, Snivy, Vy."
"Laa, Laa, Laa...?" asked Latias, looking around the Crown Shrine while her brother looked at Calyrex, goggle-eyed.
"Laaaa..." cooed Latios, pointing his sister towards the High King Pokemon, making her gasp.
"Mama, why is that guy riding on top of a big horse and who's the black one?" questioned Nebby, unable to make out Calyrex and his steeds in his shock.
"Nebby, guys... Meet Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests and his steeds, Glastrier and Spectrier," introduced Sarah.
"Dou?" quizzed Houndoom.
"Nya, Nya, Nya?" asked Skitty, tilting her head at the High King Pokemon and his steeds.
"Goo, Goodra, Goo, Goo, Goodra-Goodra, Goo?" puzzled Goodra, asking what they're supposed to do with him.
"We're having a battle with him, Goodra, they're willing to join us if we can prove ourselves to them first. We've already done so much for him, now he's returning the favor with this duel."
"Oh, really? Come on, those guys can't be that tough, I'm ready for 'em!" bragged Silvally as he imitated a Pyroar ready to pounce. "Let me at 'em, let me at 'em!"
"Jolteon, Jolteon, Jolteon!" barked Jolteon, eager for a fight with Calyrex and his steeds.
"No, Jolteon, you're sitting this one out," said Sarah, making the Lighting Pokemon pout angrily.
"Silvally, you'll fight first but be ready to switch when necessary," she added, getting Silvally pumped up for another chance to square off against a Legendary Pokemon.
Calyrex saw that his honorary opponent was ready with her first Pokemon and was prepared to go all out on her and her family without holding back. "Are you ready, Princess?" he asked in anticipation.
"Yeah, give us your best shot!" dared the princess as Tsukumaro, Victor, Absol, Cinderace, and the others stepped back with Spectrier joining them on the sidelines.
"Bloody hell, Mr. Wong. Sarah's going up against the King of Bountiful Harvests and Glastrier, do you really think she and her family can beat them?" asked Victor, concerned.
,"...With how much power he displayed now that he's reunited with his steeds and back at full strength, Calyrex will not be an easy target to take down," theorized Tsukumaro as he watched the battle about to take place. "Although, with my goddaughter and her family's increasing power and growing team force with the Pokemon she has under her belt and thumb, she might be able to hold a candle against him should she prove herself to be a worthy opponent for a royal such as him."
"I'll let you make the first move, Princess! Do not hold back no matter what you do!"
"Right! Silvally, attack with Dragon Claw!"
"Boo-yah, baby!" barked Silvally as he charged his Dragon-Type attack and ran at Calyrex, the High King Pokemon preparing to counter.
But, Glastrier was already one step ahead of the Synthetic Pokemon 'cause with his father's strength and his own, he countered with Headbutt, disorientating Silvally as he saw stars and then used Double Kick to force him back. As he was a Normal Type at the moment, the Fighting Type move did a lot of damage to him but he wasn't about to quit as he steeled himself and got back up despite the excessive pain.
"Urgh... Lucky shot for your bronco, Pepper Head!" he taunted through his pain, making Calyrex chuckle in amusement.
"You were reckless, child. Now, experience our might before you, the true power of the revived King of Bountiful Harvests...Glacial Lance!" announced the High King Pokemon.
Preparing for his and Glastrier's signature attack, Calyrex, in his Ice Rider Form, first froze Silvally in a large block of ice, catching him and Sarah off guard as she gasped from the surprise trap. Even Blitz and Riolu gasped as they didn't expect their Synthetic Pokemon brother to be trapped so easily.
Everyone looked on to see Glastrier rearing up on his hind legs before Calyrex then created a large lance similar to the lances used in medieval jousting competitions out of solid, thick ice and they charged at the frozen Silvally, striking him hard and sending him skidding back before he managed to find his footing.
"Silvally!" cried Sarah.
"Pi, Pika?!"
"He's hurt!" fretted Riolu and Blitz.
"How'd he do that?! Sarah and Silvally didn't see it coming until they were hit!" gasped Victor in bewilderment and awe.
"I think I see where here's going with his Glacial Lance attack!" replied Tsukumaro. "He first traps his opponents without warning in a block of ice and then he attacks with a lance made out of ice to pierce at them without breaking his lance. He didn't give the princess enough time to react to save Silvally from falling into his trap and he took a beating from that Double Kick prior."
"Do you see it? This is my true power when I'm with one of my steeds but that is only a sample of what you'll be getting throughout our match," declared Calyrex to the weakened Silvally. "There is no limit to me in my Shadow Rider and Ice Rider Forms when I'm united with my boys. The Glacial Lance is one of the legendary techniques that we've learned through our years together and study from the warrior training of people of this land and Galar. I would've expected much more from the Princess' Pokemon let alone you but something tells me that you're not fighting at your full strength."
This irked Silvally as he glared daggers at Calyrex for his current lack of satisfaction. "Oh yeah, you want a piece of me, Bronco Bones?!" he snapped.
"Come, show me your true strength!"
Sarah knew what Calyrex wanted so she decided to hold no holds barred for him and his steeds. "If that's the way you want it! Silvally, Tri Attack then Air Slash!" she bellowed.
"OH, YEAH! Here's lookin' at you, FRUIT TOP!" bragged Silvally, firing his attacks in a combo.
"Not so fast!" countered Calyrex, activating a clear shield that repelled the combo attack before he noticed Silvally charging and jumping at him with Crush Claw while preparing to fire Tri Attack again.
"Have some Crush Claw and Tri Attack seconds, loser!"
"Glastrier, look out!" cried the High King Pokemon, baffled from what he saw.
But, Glastrier couldn't move fast enough in time for the second combo attack to miss; because he was frame was bulkier compared to Spectrier's, the Ice Type Wild Horse Pokemon isn't as maneuverable and he was forced to take the combo coming at him. Glastrier staggered before he was forced to counter with Headbutt to bash Silvally back but Calyrex was shocked; he actually fell for a feint, one of the oldest tricks in the book.
"He did it!"
"Cinderace!" cheered Victor and Cinderace.
Tsukumaro nodded, relieved and glad that his goddaughter was finally able to land a hit. "Yes, because Glastrier has a bigger framework and endurance from it would come at the cost of restricted and less flexible mobility, the Princess and Silvally were able to make their combo connect and have him and Calyrex falter," he said.
Sarah was also glad to start becoming a challenge for Calyrex and Glastrier but she noticed how weak Silvally had become from using up much of his energy to finally land a hit on the High King Pokemon and after the hit he had taken from Double Kick.
"Silvally, are you okay?" she asked.
"What are you talking about? I'm fine, nothing that a simple-URGH!" groaned Silvally.
The effects of Double Kick were starting to take a toll on him; as he was a Normal Type when he had taken the Fighting Type move from Glastrier, the attack had twice the effect on him which made it Super Effective to him in his current state. This was evident when he got down on his bottom and he started panting heavily which worried the little princess. She was tempted to use the Memory Drives but she didn't want to make it too unfair for her new friend and feel like cheating in his case.
"Silvally, wait! You can't keep fighting, that Double Kick did ya in!"
"Stop...Worrying...Mother! I...I can still fight, give me a Memory Drive!" he protested.
Sarah facepalmed as she groaned from her Pokemon's stubbornness. "Not with that big hit you're not and I'm not planning on cheating! You're being sidelined, I'm having another Pokemon take over for you in this one!" she replied firmly before she turned to her family for her next Pokemon.
Her eyes landed on Salamence as the Dragon Pokemon looked at her with a determined gaze. She didn't want to do this to Silvally but with Calyrex having proven his own worth and power with Glastrier by his side, she had to make a sacrifice if she was to keep fighting.
"Silvally, I order you to tag out! Salamance, get in there!" she reluctantly shouted.
Silvally growled but he saw no point in it as he remembered how badly he had taken several hits from Glastrier with Double Kick having nearly whomped him the worst. He didn't want to bail out but he knew he had no choice since Sarah was looking out for him.
"...All right, fine," he surrendered before stepping back and allowing Samamence to take over. "Give him one from me, Wing Man!"
"Rawr!" nodded Salamence as he took his place.
Calyrex was intrigued; Sarah had decided to swap Pokemon and now, she's a Dragon Type against him and Glastrier. "Hmm... What is she trying to do by switching Pokemon?" he pondered, wondering how the princess would combat against him now.
"Mr. Wong, is she crazy? Salamance is a Dragon and Flying type, both of which are weak Ice Types. What is she even trying?!" cried Victor, wondering what she's planning.
"Pokemon battles are much more than just type match-ups as I'm sure you found out in your own journey, Victor," reassured Tsukumaro, keeping confident. "The princess chose Salamence to fight in Silvally's place for a reason. What it is, though, I have a feeling we'll find out soon."
"Okay, Salamance, just be careful with Calyrex," Sarah warned. "He's a formidable opponent right now so watch your back."
"Raaaaawwwwwr!" roared Salamance, acknowledging Sarah and daring Calyrex to come at him this time.
"As you wish. Feel my Psychic!"
Raising his left hand for the first move against his new opponent, Calyrex held the Dragon Type in a mental grip before he threw him to the side against the wall on his right. The Dragon Pokemon choked as he slammed into the wall before he recovered and prepared to attack without being taken by surprise.
"Salamence, use Incinerate!" cut in Sarah, signaling her Hoenn Dragon to attack.
The Dragon Pokemon roared as he surrounded himself in a flaming sphere of fire before he shot a hot fireball at Calyrex and then launched another five fireballs after, taking Calyrex and Glastrier by surprise when they barely missed the first fireball after the Ice Type turned and the High King Pokemon managed to use Pound to destroy the first fireball. But, that proved to be futile as they couldn't dodge or counter the other two in time and they were forced to tank them, Incinerate proving to be Super Effective since Calyrex was still part Grass Type and Glastrier was purely an Ice Type.
"Shhhheeeeiiiid!" bellowed Spectrier, frightened for his father and brother as they staggered back.
"Yes, that's it... That's your true strength," applauded Calyrex before he got serious again as he and Glastrier glared at them. "But, no more fooling around! Mist, my Glastrier!"
Glastrier neighed as he emitted a heavy mist around the entire shrine, cloaking everything in a white veil and blocking Sarah and Salamence's vision.
Even the others watching can barely make out anything around them from Glastrier's defense. "I can't see a thing! Where's Calyrex?!" cried Victor as if he was blind.
"Glastrier's using Mist to try and ward the princess and Salamence off so he and Calyrex can attack by surprise!" shouted Tsukumaro, knowing what Calyrex's plan is.
"They can't attack when they can't see anything!" Mai replied.
"Now, what'll Mama and Big Brother Salamance do?" fretted Nebby.
"Leaf! Leafe Leafeon?" asked Leafeon worriedly towards Umbreon.
"Bre, Umbreon. Breon, Bre!" said Umbreon, not having any suggestions and praying that Sarah and Salamence would win.
Salamence looked around, the Mist attack having disoriented him for a little bit as he searched for Glastrier and Calyrex. Even Sarah was having a hard time focusing herself as she looked and listened for the High King Pokemon and his Ice Type steed.
"Icicle Crash!" bellowed Calyrex from within the Mist.
No sooner did she hear the High Kine Pokemon than she soon heard what sounded like something falling from above them with a whistle and looked up, only to find several large icicles raining towards her Dragon Type.
"Salamance, watch out! Above you!" she called.
Salamence saw the icicles and immediately flew off, trying his best to weave around the falling icicles threatening to hit and pin him down and using Steel Wing and Dragon Tail to slice and break them into tiny pieces.
"This is crazy, Calyrex has gotten Mist up and he and Glastrier have all the cover they have to attack without being spotted," groaned Sarah. "Meanwhile, Salamence is boxed in by those icicles with no way of escaping or countering. How am I supposed to hit them if I can't see them?"
Then, she remembered what Tsukumaro taught her during her recent training session following her defeat in their mock battle.
"Princess, you can't let your enemies take advantage of you if you start to relax and things go your way. Always think about your next move and be ready to react should your enemy strike again."
At that moment, a few Icicles managed to hit Salamence, grounding him from the air and making him slam back into the ground. At that moment, once he was down, she could finally make out Calyrex and Glastrier's forms as they started galloping towards the downed Dragon Pokemon as they glared at her, preparing to attack. That was when Sarah realized what she must do to stop them in their tracks and beat them as she watched the two.
"When a warrior, a true princess, or a Power Ranger feels satisfied that he or she had truly done their duty to protect the ones they love, that's the moment when he or she dies."
"Son, end this with High Horsepower and my Glacial Lance!" shouted Calyrex to Glastrier as soon as they appeared.
"Brrrrriiiiiiiccccce!" neighed Glastrier, charging towards Salamence at full power.
Sarah's eyes narrowed; Calyrex and Glastrier were planning to end the fight with High Horsepower as a front while using Glacial Lance as the real attack as he prepared to freeze her Dragon Pokemon. Since he was also a Flying Type, Salamence couldn't withstand Ice Type attacks and she knew that if it hits, it'll be an instant KO for him.
Without wasting a second and before, Calyrex could prepare his signature Ice Rider Form attack, Sarah pointed at him and Glastrier. "...NOW!" she screamed.
Salamence heard her and unleashed Incinerate again but this time, at close range. Calyrex's eyes widened as he realized his mistake, Glastrier had run too fast using High Horsepower and because he couldn't free Salamence in time to use Glacial Lance, he left themselves wide open for a full-on assault.
"DAAAAAAHHHHHH!" screamed Calyrex, he and Glastrier now taking the full brunt of Incinerate as several more fireballs were being blasted at them after their little folly.
Sparks went off on them after taking on the full blast of Incinerate but Sarah and Salamence were only just beginning as the Dragon Pokemon fought through the pain from Icicle Crash and ended the battle with Hydro Pump, soaking Glastrier and Calyrex from head to toe and hooves in water as they were slammed into the big tree behind them and hitting them with consecutive Steel Wings.
That final assault did the trick as they finally went down, having been battered, bruised, beaten, humbled by their royal opponent and her sky dragon.
"SHHHHEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIID!" neighed Spectrier in despair, completely devastated to see his little brother and father beaten in their first battle together in centuries.
"She did it!"
"They really did it!" cheered Tsukumaro and Victor.
Sarah's family cheered along with Absol and Cinderace, amazed and grateful to see Sarah and Salamence win after battling and defeating the King of Bountiful Harvests and his Ice Type steed.
"Who's bad, uh-huh! We're bad, that's my man!" cheered Silvally, rubbing his, Sarah, and Salamence's victory in Calyrex and Glastrier's faces.
Sarah nodded from her success as she took out one of two Ultra Balls she had gotten for Calyrex and his steeds from the town peddler before leaving for the Crown Shrine; this was her chance to capture the High King Pokemon before he and Glastrier could have a chance to recover.
"Calyrex, you're mine!" she bellowed, throwing the first Ultra Ball at them.
The Ultra Ball thrown managed to hit Glastrier and open, sucking up the Wild Horse Ice Type and Calyrex inside before it closed and landed on the ground. Everyone watched in anticipation and angst as the Ultra Ball shook and the lock glowed, Calyrex and Glastrier struggling inside to be released before it would click shut. Spectrier neighed worriedly, begging his brother and father to break out and keep fighting.
Moments passed and everyone was on their toes. Sarah anxiously watched, fearing the worst, until...
The Ultra Ball went off with a recognizable CLICK.
Everyone watched in shocked silence, taking in what they've seen; Calyrex and Glastrier were finally beaten and captured. Spectrier was thunderstruck by what he had witnessed and didn't know what to make of his family's ultimate fate.
Sarah gasped, realizing what happened as reality finally caught up to her. She wished it was all a dream but she wasn't sleeping as she looked at the ball and it didn't open for a moment.
"I, I... I did it..." she breathed before she had a big grin on her face and she suddenly exploded with overwhelming joy and ran to the Ultra Ball. "...YES, I DID IT!"
She picked up the Ultra Ball and continued to smile, her greatest capture finally sinking in. "Yeah! I DID IT, CALYREX IS MINE!" she screamed, her happiness overflowing her from within.
The little princess then ran to Salamence as she hugged him and he nuzzled her, sharing her happiness despite the heavy bruises he got.
"WE DID IT, SALAMENCE, WE GOT CALYREX AND GLASTRIER!"
"RAWR!" roared Salamence, unable to contain his joy as well.
"Hey, wait! What am I, chopped Spoink?" asked Silvally incredulously.
"GET IN HERE!" laughed Sarah, knowing that he had a hand in beating Calyrex.
"What, group hug thing? You think I'm gonna-WOAH!" began Silvally before he was shoved forward by the rest of his family as they joined in the group hug, celebrating their foster mother's capture.
"Well, that's that, huh?" smiled Victor as he, Tsukumaro, Absol, Cinderace, and Spectrier watched.
"Yes, she won, thanks to Silvally and Salamence," nodded Tsukumaro proudly.
Their partners agreed with proud smiles but Spectrier looked conflicted; he was glad to see Sarah and her Pokemon of choice beat his family but now, he was downtrodden to having seen them lost despite them fighting at their best.
His worries were put to rest as the Ultra Ball shook and everybody could hear Calyrex groan through Telepathy as he finally came to.
"Princess... No, your name, Sarah... Is it?" asked Calyrex, groaning from the pain he and Glastrier were given but feeling satisfied as he chuckled.
Sarah just nodded as she smiled at the Ultra Ball in her hand, "Mm-hmm."
"You've proven yourself to be an honorable trainer and your Pokemon truly are brave warriors under your love and care," continued the High King Pokemon from within the ball. "My sons and I shall look forward to whatever adventures we will have together going forward. Spectrier, don't mourn for our loss, it was a magnificent battle for us. Be proud and learn from this experience and you'll be a great Pokemon with her to guide us as well..."
Spectrier nodded with a gentle snort; he knew his foster father was right and he was now ready to join Sarah in their new life with her with his own family. With that, Sarah immediately released his battered brother and father as Danielle, Rapidash and Ponyta quickly got to work with Heal Pulse and Danny assisted with Helping Hand. The Ghost Type Wild Horse Pokemon gently came over to his little brother and nuzzled him, both of them knowing that their new life was beginning on a high note for them and Calyrex.
Their happy moment together was briefly interrupted by a ring from Victor's Rotom Phone as they got a call from a familiar exploration chief.
"Hello, that you and your mates, Little Lady? It's me, Peony!" called Peony as the young trainers and Tsukumaro saw him on the phone screen, hiding Calyrex and his sons behind them. "You fellas won't believe what happened! I just had the funniest dream 'bout a bigheaded Pokemon, talkin' on and on in a weird shrine. And, you were all there, it felt so real to me! I got a little worried about you and what you were doin' so I had to call you all in! You and your mates haven't got into any trouble, right? You haven't hurt yourselves, I'm hopin'?"
"No, Peony, we're fine. We just had a little heart-to-heart with the Pokemon," Sarah replied, chuckling.
"Oh, really? Good to hear, guess I got nothin' to worry about with how you're copin'! GA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! The Peony Exploration Team is all about the safety and wellbeing of its teammates, after all! Safety first, as they always say! So, you all be careful now on your way back, ya hear? No expedition is over unless you and the whole team is safely back at home base, GA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!"
With those words of encouragement, Peony ended the call to Victor's Rotom Phone as everybody laughed.
"Sarah..." called Calyrex weakly as Rapidash, Ponyta, Danny, and Danielle continued to heal him and Glastrier.
While Victor got to work on writing down their group's current status about the King of Bountiful Harvests mystery, Sarah went over to the recovering High King Pokemon to talk with him.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I sensed much doubt and fear within your heart throughout our time together. You're honestly worried about whether or not you'll live up to the legacy your parents left behind before the Ultra Beast War came to be as their daughter, the Sun Princess of Alola."
Sarah nodded but then she looked back at him, surprised by his deduction. "H-how did you know?" she quizzed.
Calyrex remained serious as he continued, "Your heart speaks the truth and I can see it in your eyes. Fear, as I'm sure you heard from your godfather, is a very powerful weapon and feeling that all humans possess from the threat of any form of harm. The mental trauma I was told about that you've suffered days ago, your doubts about being unable to protect the ones you love from your fallen uncle and his syndicate, your growing self-deprecation, the pressure being put upon you by your growing and due responsibilities, and so forth; they're weighing you down badly and they're taking a toll on your mental health."
Sarah remained silent, wanting to deny everything Calyrex is telling her. But, she couldn't as she rubbed her left arm sadly, knowing what he's saying about her fears to be true.
"I know you're worried about whether or not you'll live to whatever expectations are placed upon you, child. But, to be honest... I was once in your position as well."
Sarah gasped quietly, surprised to hear such a thing from Calyrex. "...You were?"
Calyrex nodded before he continued again. "I saw much of you in me than you would ever know. Sarah, when I was young and first came to this land as the King of Bountiful Harvests, I had the duty of ensuring that everyone living in this frigid part of Galar remained sustainable to keep them fed and be happy with my powers," he told her before he grew solemn and sad.
"I didn't understand the weight of my own responsibilities then and would often wonder about the world outside, thinking about what lies beyond these snowy mountains and snow-capped fields. The responsibility I had to keep all of those villagers happy despite their daring yet atrocious living conditions was immense; they wanted so much out of me and I didn't know if I could live up to their expectations after all the help I've given them and the happiness and respect I've earned in return. Even after meeting Spectrier and Glastrier when they were colts and raising them as my own, between looking after them and the people for all these years, I had never been the ruler of my own happiness-my own dreams..."
Spectrier sensed his father's sorrow and gently nuzzled him, the High King Pokemon appreciating the comfort.
"But, my boys made me realize something when I tried to run away from my duties and leave everything behind, even them... Instead of trying to run away from it all and leave the Galar Region, I had to learn to embrace it and be proud of it..."
"Be proud of it...?" puzzled Sarah.
"What I'm doing for the people and them is for the greater good. The needs of many outweigh those of an individual; I was doing something worth living for, for the villagers' sake. Because of me, they were able to live and peace and be happy."
Sarah thought about what Calyrex said and realize that she had been running away from her duties, by letting her fear and doubt get the better of her. "But... I'll be a leader with new responsibilities."
"That's something we both have in common now." Calyrex smiled before he and Sarah broke into song together.
(Path of Honor - Lion Guard - Pokemon Version)
(Calyrex)
This life that we lead
(Sarah)
This role of leadership
(Calyrex)
Never said it would be easy
(Sarah)
Sometimes I stumble and trip
(Calyrex)
And yet you get back up
(Sarah)
Get stronger from the fall
(Calyrex)
It's part of our role
(Both)
'Cause in the end of it all
It's the path of honor, those duties we hold
We must face them head on, we must be bold
It's our life's calling to help our friends
It's the path of honor, until our kingdoms' end
(Sarah)
Right now it seems too much
(Calyrex)
You'll handle it all in stride
(Sarah)
I'll have to find it within me
(Calyrex)
It comes from deep inside
(Sarah)
It's more then I expected
(Calyrex)
But still, sometimes it's fun
(Sarah)
I'll try to do my best
(Calyrex)
And I am confident in your rule
(Both)
It's the path of honor, these duties we hold
We must face them head on, we must be bold
It's our life's calling to help our friends
It's the path of honor, until our kingdoms' end
(Sarah)
I never thought I'd be a Princess
(Calyrex)
I had doubts about being a king
(Sarah)
And yet, we must embrace our roles
(Calyrex)
That's part of what we'll bring
(Both)
What we'll bring!
It's the path of honor, these duties we hold
We must face them head on, we must be bold
It's our life's calling to help our friends
It's the path of honor,
It's the path of honor
Until our kingdoms' end
Until our kingdoms' end
"Our duties as royals, you as a princess and I as a king, can allow our lands-our kingdoms-can flourish and be at peace depending on our choices. We could've chosen to throw away our lineages and lived out our lives as a normal Pokemon and human but we're much more than that; we're a human and Pokemon that can do something for everybody no matter what they think. I thought that because everybody believed in me and had faith in me, I had to do what I must but what I've learned from you is that I have to care for others no matter what others think on a matter. Just seeing everybody living their lives happily in the village and seeing you do the same after stopping my boys because you have to if they're to survive along with their crops as well as helping me end my suffering is what sparked that light within me again." Calyrex advised.
"Then, our choice to do what we must to help everybody can create a better world?"
"Yes," Calyrex nodded simply.
"...What should I do?"
"It's really quite simple. Just do what your heart is telling you but keep a leveled head at all times. Never let negative emotions such as fear or anger cloud your judgment, think things through before making your choice. Once your heart is set on its path, follow it and don't lose sight of it with everyone you love by your side, that is all. Let your heart, your strongest weapon, become your guiding key..."
He then reached out to her with his right hand, causing Sarah to take it with her own as a small bright light resonated between them from their joined hands as she felt a sense of relief overflowing within her.
"Thanks, Calyrex, you don't know how happy I am to hear that," she sighed happily. "My real parents, if they were here, would've done the same for me."
"Everybody needs a little help sometimes, even royals like me. You taught me that," smiled the High King Pokemon.
They then came together for a hug, happy to know that their troubles are over in the long run. Sarah knew she still had a long way to go and her own fears would plague her again but she now knows that she can face them head-on as long as she has a little help from her family and friends and it was all thanks to Calyrex for helping her see that.
As they parted, Calyrex couldn't help but ponder the one thing that's now on his mind once his future's been set. "So, what'll we do now?" he wondered.
Sarah smiled, knowing what they must do next. "I thought it would be best to let everyone in Freezington and the entire Galar Region know that Pokemon like you are more than just a fairy tale but I got a better idea to help the villagers restore their faith and belief in you. I know I'll be making a gamble here but I'm only doing it for your sake. I think it's time we taught society a lesson about truths and lies," she told him.
Calyrex knew what she was thinking but he gave a determined smile and nodded to her. "I have decided," he said, getting a determined nod back from her.
The next morning, it was time for everyone to leave the Crown Tundra for Postwick. After everything that happened involving Calyrex, Victor, Tsukumaro, and Sarah knew that it was time for them to regroup with the others and see how they fared with their own mysteries involving the giant tree and the temple housing Legendary Pokemon.
When they had everything ready and the rest of Sarah's family back in their Pokeballs, the trio, Absol, Cinderace, Riolu, and Blitz went down from their rented rooms to the restaurant for breakfast where they found Glora, Hop, Sarah's friends, and their Pokemon partners all enjoying themselves at a large shared table. With them was Peony and Prof. Kukui, who had come to pick them up and hear what they all had discovered while in the Crown Tundra. Right now, he was in discussion with the exploration chief as he told him about his escapades with Sarah and her group.
Upon arriving back at Freezington, Peony wanted to know what had happened up at the Crown Shrine after his little scare involving Calyrex. And, boy, did he get quite the shock of his life when he saw Calyrex and his steeds when they were brought out and shown to him.
He was so taken and in complete awe of the King of Bountiful Harvests, Glastrier, and Spectrier, that he proudly decided to declare the expedition involving him done.
This allowed Victor to reveal to him their final notes on Calyrex and the final status update from the group's clue card, "Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, was able to reconnect with his loyal steeds using the new Reins of Unity, along with a little help in taming Spectrier for Sarah, of course. Calyrex also seemed to have regained his trust in mankind in response to her kindness. As thanks for helping him regain his lost power, he has allowed Sarah to take him with her on her journey."
Satisfied with what he got, he allowed them to turn in for the night just as Hop, Gloria, and their groups made it to the Freeze Inn for a much-needed rest from their own quests, tired but feeling happy and satisfied. After putting their Pokemon partners to bed and deciding to see if the others had any progress, they found them speaking with Peony and telling them about their own adventures involving what they discovered.
Victor, Sarah, and Tsukumaro just chuckled knowingly as they watched Peony excitedly pummeling them with questions and inquiries leaving them baffled; they would surely be in for a surprise when they see them again in the morning.
That's just what was about to happen when they took their places on the table after getting their breakfast plates and joined them in conversation. When they got around to discussing Calyrex after the others told them about the giant tree called the Dyna Tree and the Galar Legendary Birds and the temple housing the Legendary Titans from Sinnoh, the rest of the gang was shocked beyond any doubt.
"WHAAAAAAAT?! You battled Calyrex and won?!" began Ash, breaking the silence. "Ar-Are you serious?!"
"I can't believe it, you guys actually met the rumored King of Bountiful Harvests and captured him?!" Lillie gasped, completely flabbergasted.
"Real, Lillie, he's very real," interjected Sarah. "And, yes, I did. Along with his steeds, after helping him with some favors of his, of course."
"No way..." breathed Lana, still not getting over her shock.
"Something tells me you're becoming a Pokemon magnet, Sarah," Sophocles remarked.
"I don't know what to tell you, Sarah," said Kiawe, just as flabbergasted. "We haven't been in the Crown Tundra for long and you just happened to solve the best mystery out of all of them!"
"We had a rough time with the Galar Legendary Birds at Dyna Tree Hill and we were lucky to find and capture them before we prepared to send them to Professor Magnolia last night," added Mallow.
"Don't forget having to deal with the Legendary Titans and meeting Regieleki and Regidrago at the Split-Decision Ruins when we had to split into two smaller groups to find and beat them," Hop sighed in agreement. "We're telling ya, mates, it wasn't easy nor was it pretty."
"How is it that you got off easy having to help Calyrex?" questioned Gloria, also amazed.
"Well, it wasn't that easy," remarked Sarah, looking towards Calyrex and his steeds as they ate with their Pokemon. "We've hit a few snags along the way but he's quite the gentle giant once you get to know him and help him with a few things."
The High King Pokemon and his steeds, brought out of their balls, were in conversation with the rest of the gang's Pokemon as they all wanted to know everything that happened with them, Cinderace, Absol, Riolu, and Blitz throughout their adventure with the trio.
"I see, so he's decided to join you and become part of your family now?" asked Kukui, amazed by what he had been told. "Quite a gamble on your part there, Sarah, but a gamble well paid off."
Sarah nodded, "I was hoping to show him to the villagers but I had a better way of showing everyone that he's not just a fairy tale but the real deal."
"What do you mean?" asked Hop.
As they were talking, a familiar elderly lady came into the inn's restaurant carry a small basket pram with something wrapped in a blanket and noticed her with the group as well as Calyrex and his steeds. Bathilda was most surprised to find Spectrier and Glastrier as she was the woman they nearly ran over but noticed that they were calmer this time and don't mean any harm.
Regardless, she plucked up her courage and smiled as she came to the group, her gaze still on Sarah.
"Excuse me, young lady?" she called, attracting the little princess' attention, stopping her from telling Hop her plan.
"Yes?" she asked, turning to the lady.
"Pardon me, but are you the one who helped save our town from those two horrible Pokemon with you?"
"Yeah, along with my godfather and Victor, yes. But, don't worry, Glastrier and Spectrier are okay now. They were just hungry for the carrots we grew yesterday but we might've inadvertently caused them to run over here and look for them, sorry..."
Sarah squirmed and so did Victor and Tsukumaro, all of them feeling ashamed and embarrassed over what had happened with them.
The lady narrowed her closed eyes at them but she relaxed and regained her kind smile. "Ah, well, it's all right. I couldn't be mad at you forever; I'd be going mad, too, if I was hungry and looking for something to eat," she said.
"And, I couldn't help but realize that Pokemon riding the white horse was none other than the King of Bountiful Harvests himself, is that really Calyrex?"
"In the flesh, and he's back to his old self thanks to us. Well, mainly me since he wanted my help, really..."
"I see. In that case, I apologize for not believing you when you asked me about him. In fact, I realized I never repaid you for your kindness when you protected our village and its crops."
"Oh, no, no, it's all right, Ms. Bathilda. Whatever it is you have, I'm sure you need-"
"But, I insist, my dear. I've wanted someone to take care of my beloved Fwofy should I leave her one day and I'm not getting any younger nor am I going to be around forever to take care of her. I was hoping you would raise her in my place in a loving home just like mine."
"And... Who's this Fwofy you mentioned?"
Bathilda smiled as she took an empty chair and put the covered basket on it for everyone to see before she took off the blanket to reveal, on a pillow...
"A COSMOG?!" cried everybody in shock, looking, at the sleeping Ultra Beast inside the basket on a pillow.
"That's an Ultra Beast!"
"An Ultra Beast in the Galar Region?!"
"Where did you find it?"
"How did it get here, M'dear?!" cried Ash, Kiawe, Lillie, and Tsukumaro, all of them gobsmacked.
"I don't know how the poor dear got here but all I can remember is that I found her shivering outside of the village in the freezing cold one night while I was out on a night walk. I was surprised to see her and I've never seen anything like her but once I saw her shivering and start to cry, I couldn't stand seeing her all alone and with nobody to care for. So, I took the liberty to take Fwofy home and look after her until I would a wonderful trainer to give her to."
"Wait, you mean you want Sarah to take care of your Fwofy, Bathilda?" asked Victor, still reeling.
"Why, of course, young man. I've been searching for anybody visiting our village willing to take care of her but they all just came to find out and solve the mystery involving Calyrex and the other Legendary Pokemon living here. But, ever since I saw her helping to defend our village from those two horses with you and the Absol trainer by her side, I knew she would be the perfect one to look after her for me."
Sarah was baffled; she already had two Ultra Beast in her care and now, through Bathilda's offer, she was now going to have three in her family.
She looked inside the basket and saw how adorable Fowfy looked as she slept before the little Ultra Beast yawned and woke up from her nap to find the little princess staring at her, cooing as she tilted herself with curious eyes.
"Hi..." Sarah whispered to the female Cosmog.
They stared at each other for a few more seconds before Fwofy squealed happily as she kept on cooing, making everyone fall in love with the female Ultra Beast baby as she floated up and hugged her with her wisps.
"Aww, she's so cute!" Sophocles cooed.
"She's so cool!" Ash cried with Pikachu agreeing with a "Pika!".
Kiawe sighed with a sheepish smile; that meant he and the others are back to babysitting an Ultra Beast again. "Oh, boy. Here we go again," he groaned meekly.
"AHHHHH! YOU HAVE TO KEEP HER!" gushed Lana, Lillie, and Mallow to Sarah, completely taken by her cuteness.
Sarah smiled softly as she held the little Ultra Beast; she felt like there was something special about Fwofy and she can't help but feel warm within herself, feeling a connection to the little Cosmog that she can't figure out yet. That was more than enough for Sarah to make her decision on what she'll have to do with the new baby in her family.
"...I will," she decided, hugging Fwofy as she stroked her gently.
The girls cheered while the boys braced themselves for more Ultra Beast babysitting with smiles on their faces while Tsukumaro and Kukui smiled and nodded in approval, interested to see how Sarah would put everything she learned in taking care of Nebby when he was once a Cosmog into practice again. Even Peony couldn't help but laugh his approval over the matter once he saw how excited her friends were about their fourth latest addition to her Pokemon family.
Bathilda and Sarah then looked at each other with thankful smiles and gave each other reassuring nods, knowing that the princess' choice to take Fwofy in and raise her as her own for the elderly lady was the best thing for the female Cosmog.
Silvally, on the other hand, just groaned. This was probably the last thing he needed in his life since dealing with Nebby when he was a Cosmog was bad enough in his mind. "This is not happening," he moaned angrily.
"Relax, Silvally, she won't be that difficult to take care of," chastised Sarah as she held Fwofy. "Besides, as she is right now, she could make another good pet and another little sister for ya."
"Don't even think about it," he shot back, narrowing his eyes incredulously.
After saying goodbye to the townsfolk and managing to keep Calyrex, Spectrier, and Glastrier a secret for Sarah's big future reveal of them (before they soon rejoined them for the trek back down the path from the tundra to the next train for Wedgehurst), the gang, Tsukumaro, Kukui, the High King Pokemon, and his steeds left Freezington and made their way home.
Although he was glad to be leaving for new adventures, Calyrex was understandably nervous from within his own heart over his biggest leap forward in his and his steeds' new lives away from the Crown Tundra. He knew that the villagers would be all right with the fraction of his power he left with them now that their faith in him and his trust in humanity had been restored, but he was still anxious about what lies ahead of him as he became deep in his own thoughts.
He sighed softly, drawing Sarah's attention as she looked over to him. "You okay?" she asked.
The King of Bountiful Harvests nodded, "Yes... It's just, after all these years... I'm finally leaving my home, my land, my kingdom, for the rest of the world... For new a life waiting for me."
"It feels weird. It's like I feel that everything that happened yesterday all could've been a dream. I thought if I'd wake up one night, I'd be back where I started and I'd be trapped in another nightmare of sorrow and loneliness for the rest of my life. But, when I woke up and you brought us out of our Ultra Balls, I felt alive. It was all real, it all happened..."
"I can assure you, that was no dream. It all happened because we were there, I was there alongside you. You've regained your power and you're the true King of Bountiful Harvests again."
Calyrex smiled again, relieved as he nodded. "You're right, I am my old self again, reunited with my boys and ready to seize my new life and forge the way," he said.
"I still can't believe you got yourself a king for a Pokemon, mate," Hop interjected, trying and failing to get over his excitement over Calyrex and his steeds.
"If any of us would've known you'd eventually have a Pokemon like that, we could've snagged the first clue card ahead of you," added an excited Gloria.
"Well, that was by default for me since he was the one who called out to me first. He wanted my help so it made sense that I was the one to do so."
"More than that, what are you gonna call Fwofy now? You were gonna give her a name earlier, right?" asked Victor, referring to the little Cosmog napping again in the tiny basket she carried.
"Well, I already had my Solgaleo named Nebby when I got him months ago but I think I got the perfect one for her."
"And, pray tell, it's not gonna be something stupid, cheesy, or even damn obvious at that," retorted Silvally.
"It's not that cheesy and it's just perfect for her," Sarah shot back before she turned to the napping Cosmog. "I'll call her...Nebula."
Silvally just groaned while everyone else smiled in satisfaction. "I knew it. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it," moaned the Synthetic Pokemon as he bonked his head on a nearby tree in disgruntlement.
"Makes sense, Princess. She is, essentially, a floating ball of stars. But, just make sure you don't confuse her with Nebby on that front," nodded Tsukumaro.
"I won't, that's why I'm gonna make or get a nametag for her later when we return home."
Everyone nodded before Mallow noticed something off. "Hey, you guys, you know what I just realized? Peony's not here, where did he run off to?" she asked the group.
"You think he might've been after his daughter for some father-daughter time that he desperately craved?" Ash pondered.
"Well, with that mate and how he wanted to be with her from what he told us, who knows?" chuckled Victor.
But, as everybody made their way back to Wedgehurst and speak to Professor Magnolia and Sonia about what they had discovered, they had no idea that they were being watched from the shadows by Zacian and Zamazenta. The Warrior Pokemon both had impressed smiles on their faces, having seen Calyrex and his steeds in the little princess' care.
"Well, well, well. Looks like Little Bird found herself a new friend and ally in Calyrex along with his steeds, Zam. And, to think, she was the one to help him restore his own faith and trust in humans after many long and lonely years in solitude and earned a female Cosmog in the process," mused Zacian.
"If that's so, she's one step closer to obtaining that strange circular shield as her parents did before her, Zash," agreed Zamazenta.
Zacian nodded but then he grew serious as he lost himself in his thoughts. "Still, I'm worried that history involving the Darkest Day will soon repeat itself and Little Bird will be caught in the middle of it," he contemplated, concerned.
Zamazenta, knowing what his brother was thinking, nuzzled him gently. "We know how resourceful she is and Calyrex helped her to grow as a future princess in her own right, I'm sure she'll do fine once she has all the pieces to the puzzle," he reassured. Zacian nodded, hoping that his brother was right.
Meanwhile, following their previous and quick defeat, Katzenberg, Glam, Hammer, Fester, and their Pokemon were all sulking as they picked themselves up on the outskirts of Hammerlock City and its stadium. Needless to say, being humiliated very early on by Galar's true protectors had peeved them by over 9000 and they didn't take their earlier blunder very well.
"I hate that blasted brat so much," snarled Katzenberg, his anger made clear.
"How come she's always one for having help around the corner whenever we had her in our grasp?" grumbled Hammer.
"Dude, there's something off about her," replied Fester. "No way she could've known about those two back at that crazy forest."
"Who cares? I'm so gonna whomp her when we find her!" snapped Glam.
"Enough. It's obvious the princess has had help from the Heroes of Many Battles themselves and if they were at Full Power, we could've been blown out of Galar. That's what got me thinking; I noticed that they weren't at the full strength and they felt like they had lost an important fraction of their power when they defended the princess as they did. Which means we need to level the playing field by being on equal ends with her, but how? She's getting stronger every day despite her growing mental trauma but how do we counter her power if she keeps getting help from all ends?"
"I might be able to help you. And, it involves a prophecy that I'm working towards fulfilling..."
The Team Eclipse members and their partners all turned and found a tall and handsome tan-skinned man with black hair, green eyes, and neatly trimmed facial hair looking at them. Despite his svelte appearance, he also has a round, portly belly, barely visible. Clothing-wise, he also had one ear pierced and usually wears a sharp gray business suit, consisting of a gray vest with numerous black buttons, a gray overcoat with a single gold button, a white shirt, and a red tie. He also wore classy gray pants that match his suit, along with a gold and black belt, pointed red and black shoes, and a gold watch.
"Who the hell are you?" spat Hammer, suspicious of the man.
"I am Chairman Rose and I have something I think you will find interesting..." Chairman Rose said darkly, piquing their interest.
"What's this? Is that the Chairman of Marco Cosmos, Rose, making a proposal to Team Eclipse? Something's up with him but who knows what his sinister plans would be as the journey continues?"
Sarah's Team:
1. Pikachu
Moves - Thundershock, Tackle, Thunderpunch, Double Team, Thunderbolt, Electroweb
2. Lycanroc (Dusk Form)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Rock Slide, Protect, Accelarock, Outrage
3. Lycanroc (Midnight Form)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Protect, Rock Slide, Outrage Counter
4. Silvally
Moves - Crush Claw, Air Slash, Hyper Beam, Swords Dance, Dragon Claw, Multi Attack, Tri Attack
5. Mudsdale
Moves - High Horsepower, Double Kick, Mud Slap, Bulldoze, Iron Head
6. Wooloo
Moves - Wild Charge, Tackle, Electro Ball, Volt Tackle
7. Ponyta (Galar Form)
Moves - Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse, Psybeam
8. Meowth (Alola Form)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Scratch, Iron Tail, Dark Pulse
9. Brionne
Moves - Pound, Water Gun, Icy Wind, Bubblebeam, Aqua Jet
10. Milotic
Moves - Dragon Pulse, Ice Beam, Twister, Mirror Coat
11. Ampharos (Shiny)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Confuse Ray, Power Gem, Signal Beam, Discharge, Iron Tail, Thunderpunch, Dragon Pulse
12. Sylveon
Moves - Tackle, Tail Whip, Copycat, Shadow Ball, Light Screen
13. Goodra
Moves - Water Gun, Protect, Tackle, Dragon Breath, Dragon Pulse, Rain Dance, Aqua Tail
14. Noctowl
Moves - Wing Attack, Foresight, Air Slash, Confusion
15. Meowstic (Male)
Moves - Helping Hand, Psyshock, Light Screen, Future Sight, Dark Pulse
16. Meowstic (Female)
Moves - Heal Pulse, Psyshock, Dark Pulse, Future Sight
17. Snivy
Moves - Vine Whip, Leaf Storm, Twister, Leaf Blade
18. Oshawott
Moves - Water Gun, Razor Shell, Icy Wind, Iron Tail
19. Tepig
Moves - Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Solar Beam, Rock Tomb
20. Vulpix (Alola Form)
Moves - Protect, Powder Snow, Ice Beam, Iron Tail, Aurora Beam
21. Dragonite
Moves - Dragon Rage, Iron Tail, Ice Beam, Hyper Beam, Dragon Rush, Dragon Claw
22. Hydreigon
Moves - Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Wing Attack, Flash Cannon, Dragon Rush, Tri Attack
23. Flygon
Moves - Crunch, Dig, Rock Slide, Steel Wing, Dragon Rush, Dragon Claw
24. Solgaleo (aka Nebby)
Moves - Sunsteel Strike, Focus Blast, Teleport, Flamethrower, Wild Charge, Cosmic Power
25. Riolu (Shiny)
Moves - Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Aura Sphere, Dig, Vacuum Wave, Shadow Claw
26. Poipole
Moves - Venoshock, Fury Attack, Peck
27. Mimikyu
Moves - Shadow Claw, Drain Punch, Wood Hammer, Psychic, Mimic
28. Umbreon (Shiny)
Moves - Dark Pulse, Psychic, Moonlight, Shadow Ball, Iron Tail, Flash
29. Jolteon
Moves - Thunder Fang, Thunderbolt, Double Kick, Shadow Ball, Pin Missile
30. Vaporeon
Moves - Water Gun, Swift, Iron Tail, Shadow Ball, Dive
31. Flareon
Moves - Fire Fang, Flamethrower, Double Edge, Shadow Ball, Ember
32. Espeon
Moves - Psychic, Psybeam, Iron Tail, Shadow Ball, Light Screen
33. Leafeon
Moves - Synthesis, Energy Ball, Solar Blade, Shadow Ball, Leaf Storm
34. Glaceon
Moves - Shadow Ball, Ice Fang, Icy Wind, Ice Shard, Iron Tail
35. Eevee
Moves - Helping Hand, Protect, Dig, Double Edge, Swift, Tail Whip
36. Skitty
Moves - Doubleslap, Ice Beam, Iron Tail, Copycat, Double-Edge, Play Rough
37. Braviary
Moves - Superpower, Sky Attack, Brave Bird, Close Combat, Steel Wing, Aerial Ace
38. Absol (Shiny)
Moves - Night Slash, Psycho Cut, Shadow Claw, Hyper Beam, Flamethrower, Shadow Ball
39. Houndoom (Shiny)
Moves - Thunder Fang, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb, Flamethrower, Crunch, Stone Edge
40. Latias (Shiny)
Moves - Safeguard, Psychic, Mist Ball, Dragon Pulse, Steel Wing, Recover
41. Latios (Shiny)
Moves - Steel Wing, Psychic, Giga Impact, Dragon Pulse, Luster Purge, Charge Beam
42. Salamance (Shiny)
Moves - Incinerate, Hydro Pump, Dragon Tail, Dragon Rush, Protect, Steel Wing
43. Rapidash (Galar Region)
Moves - Psycho Cut, Mystical Fire, Megahorn, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse
44. Yamper
Moves - Wild Charge, Fire Fang, Play Rough, Double Edge, Dig
45. Scorbunny
Moves - Quick Attack, Double Kick, Flame Charge, Ember, Headbutt
46. Stufful
Moves - Force Palm, Ice Punch, Thunderpunch, Focus Punch, Brick Break
47. Calyrex
Moves - Psychic, Magical Leaf, Agility, Pound, Solarbeam
Calyrex (Ice Rider)
Moves - Psychic, Headbutt, Mist, High Horsepower, Icicle Crash, Double Kick, Glacial Lance
Calyrex (Shadow Rider)
Moves - Psychic, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Agility, Phantom Force, Double Kick, Astral Barrage
48. Glastrier
Moves - Headbutt, Thrash, High Horsepower, Mist, Icicle Crash, Double Kick
49. Spectrier
Moves - Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Calm Mind, Agility, Phantom Force, Double Kick
50. Cosmong (aka Nebula)
Moves - Teleport
Sarah's Dragon Companions:
1. Winter - Light Fury (F)
2. Shadow - Night Fury (M)
3. Skystorm - Deadly Nadder (F)
4. Mist and Spark - Titan Wing Hideous Zippleback (M)
5. Inferno - Singetail (M)
6. Sunflare - Monstrous Nightmare (F)
7. Starfire - Stormcutter (F)
8. Silver - Razorwhip (F)
9. Venom - Triple Stryke (M)
10. Camo - Titan Wing Dramillion (M)
11-15. His pack of five - Dramillions (3 F and 2 M)
Yellow Dramillions: Mimic - F, Violet - F, Sunflower - F
Red Dramillions: Ocean - M, Tidal - M
16. Melody - Death Song (M)
17. Echo - Slithersong (F)
18. Twilight - Deathgripper (F)
19. Dawn - Deathgripper (M)
Sarah's Pokemon Gems (Original):
1. Cresselia
Moves - Psychic, Moonlight, Moonblast, Magic Coat, Psycho Cut, Protect
2. Giratina (Origin/Altered Form)
Moves - Shadow Force, Dragon Pulse, Aura Sphere, Will-O-Wisp, Dragon Claw, Iron Tail
3. Rayquaza
Moves - Draco Meteor, Hyper Beam, Dragon Rush, Iron Tail, Dragon Ascent, Twister
Sarah's Pokemon Gems (Non-Original)
1. Dialga
Moves - Roar of Time, Flash Cannon, Draco Meteor, Dragon Claw, Aura Sphere, Protect
2. Palkia
Moves - Spacial Rend, Hyper Beam, Dragon Claw, Fire Blast, Aura Sphere, Protect
