Deep in a forest known simply as Okoya, stormy weather was brewing as the rain poured down. Several Pokemon were flying or running around trying to find shelter from the storm beating down on their jungle/forest home but amongst all of them, there was a tribe of Pokemon that were of the same species that the Postwick Trio had given to Princess Sarah as a farewell gift during her last trip to Galar. It was a tribe of Zarude, the Mythical Rogue Monkey Pokemon.
Sing now Zaurde~
We are the strongest~
We have no fear~
Some of the Pokemon native to Okoya Forest, consisting of many Bug, Grass, and Ground Types from all regions around the world including Galar, were feasting whatever berries they could harvest in pace. But, when they caught sight of the Zarude Tribe, they immediately panicked and tried to run or managed to retreat underground.
Za-za-Zaurde~
We are the voice of the jungle~
The Zarude Tribe then began to further scare them away from their eating grounds while taking the berries for themselves, acting completely different from the princess' more humble and noble Zarude from the Isle of Armor.
Lift up your voices~
We are the voice of the jungle~
Lift up your voices~
The ground catches the water~
The water nurtures the trees~
The sun shines down the forest~
The trees become the jungle~
Woo, can you hear it~
We are the voice of the jungle~
Lift up your voices~
Under the Heart Tree~
With one final roar, the Zaurde scared the native forest Pokemon away as they fled all in panic.
It seemed as though things had been wild for the native Pokemon of Okoya Forest with the arrival of the Zarude Tribe but soon after they left, the final Zarude that frightened them away heard a noise from another part of the forest. He then saw what looked to be a small flock of five Spearow fleeing the area. The rest of the tribe thought nothing of it as they made their way out while the curious Zarude just stayed where he is.
"Hey, let's go!" called one of the other Zarude (distinguished by his vine-like vest and thicker bands).
"Right," nodded the curious Zarude.
But, the Zarude hadn't gotten far before he felt strange and heard something in the distance, like a voice that seemed to be calling out to him somehow. Unwilling to push the disturbance he felt at the back of his mind now, the wild Zarude turned and made his way towards whatever he heard. The storm had begun to die down and the sun finally shone as he went along but then, he heard the sound growing louder and sound like a child wailing. A pollen-like substance attracted his attention and along with the wailing sound and he quickly followed them, getting closer to the source of the wailing until he arrived at a small waterfall and lagoon.
The strange thing about it was that there looked to be some sort of large capsule on the ground in front of him. Zarude went closer and looked inside to see what it held and much to his surprise, there was a baby inside! A human baby boy in a tiny baby-yellow onesie no more than a few weeks old and crying loudly after he was jostled about in the capsule before it opened somehow.
To Zarude, he had never seen anything like the boy as he looked at him, wide-eyed and managing to stop crying as his curiosity and sense of awe took him over. As he sniffed him, the baby boy started to giggle and babel happily as he tried to reach him, startling the Grass/Dark Type as he backed away as he crawled to him, losing the capsule in the process.
Had the wild Rogue Monkey Pokemon knew how deeply he was to be involved with the boy, he would've obeyed his first impulse and walked away. But, he didn't as the boy continued to giggle and babel, trying to imitate him as he tried and failed to stand on his tiny legs.
All the while, Zarude continued to observe, trying and failing each time to touch him without flinching before he decided to leave, only for the baby to quickly follow, wanting to play with him.
The baby had crawled onto his head and pulled on his head hair tuffs as he kept on laughing, taking the poor wild Mythical Pokemon by surprise as he tried to yank him off. But, the boy was surprisingly strong as he held onto him and continued to laugh, having fun with who or what was his new parent figure.
Of course, Zarude did finally manage to get the baby boy off of him but when he did and looked around for him, he screamed in panic as he saw him flying in the air without a care in the world and having fun with him. This frightened the wild Grass/Dark Type as he darted quickly forward to catch him and managing to do so while crashing into a tree as he didn't watch where he was going. But, the boy wasn't afraid of the fall he went through as he laughed and laughed before sliding down butt first into his snout, Zarude flinching and spazzing before he soon passed out, much to the boy's surprise.
Finally, Zarude gave up and decided to take the boy with him to a place in Okoya Forest where he knew someone would give him the answers he needed as to what happened to the baby boy and what was to become of him.
Using Vine Whip, he swung his way to what looked like a giant tree in what looked to be the heart of Okoya Forest, the place that the Zarude Tribe lived in and called - the Heart Tree.
When Zarude arrived and looked at the tree, carrying the tired baby in his hands, he hoped that whoever's in his tribe's home would give him the answers he wanted and help him decided what to do with the boy. If not, it can't be said that he didn't try and he'll have to take matters into his own hands should the need arise.
By the time he entered and met up with his tribe, they were already in the midst of a duel between two other tribe members. Upon his return, all of his fellow Zarude took notice and they all looked on in surprise at the baby boy he has with him. The older Zarude that called for him earlier, intercepted, disgusted by what they had seen from their tribe member.
"Hey! What's that?" he demanded, pointing at the human baby.
"I've come to speak with the Elder about it," replied Zarude, just as another older Zarude (having vines wrapped around his head and neck) dropped in and seethed at him and the baby.
"Have you forgotten that no one is allowed inside our territory, have you?!" the third Rogue Monkey Pokemon snarled, prompting Zarude to snarl back defensively.
"Now, now," soothed an elderly man's voice, revealing itself to be the Elder of the Zarude Tribe (distinguished by his elderly appearance by his dark green vines, his slightly droopy and longer facial fur, his hunched back, and a cane on him) as the tribe bowed to him. "It appears that you have brought something unusual to us."
"Elder," acknowledged the older Zarude, the three that squabbled bowing to the elder as well.
"It appears to be human, correct? And, a child, too..."
"Human, that?"
The baby boy sneezed as he continued to sleep peacefully in Zarude's hand but even the sight of the harmless human child was enough to make the entire tribe gasp in total shock. Zarude didn't take the reaction from his tribe lightly as he was prepared to defend the baby as best he could as he growled, even if it meant getting on the wrong side with them. This was emphasized by the head-vined Zarude's sniffing the baby as best he could and reeling back as he held his snout.
"Pee-yew, it stinks! It smells like a Stunky's rear end!" he yelped.
"So, tell me, what do you plan to do with it?" the Elder questioned Zarude as he looked at the baby again.
"I don't know... But, everybody heard it, right? That sound! If I leave it be, it might not survive..."
"That's not our concern! Nobody can break our laws!" snapped his tribal brother angrily and defiantly.
"Grrr... I'll get rid of it!" the older Zarude snarled, butting heads with Zarude as the rest of the tribe also demanded action be taken against the baby, further seething the Rogue Monkey Pokemon that held him.
"Water raises the trees; the light shines down and turns the trees into jungle. This revered water raises the Zarude and gives us our rich bounty. Allowing others into our land means we will wither and vanish! That is the Law of the Zarude!"
"...Quit your complaining, I know that," grumbled Zarude, contemplating his fate with the baby boy still as his tribe voiced their agreement.
"Then, hurry up and-!" continued his brother-in-arms until, at last, he made his choice as he cut him off, "...I'm going to find and return it to its parents! I will withdraw from the troop."
"What?!/DAGH!" the two opposing Zarude gawked in shock.
The rest of the tribe was also bewildered and shocked by Zarude's final choice and what he was risking for the baby's sake but the Elder held his head up high in respect, agreeing to the arrangements and knowing that this was the decision he was willing to make. He knew Zarude was forsaking his own tribe for the baby but he knew it had to be done as it was the right thing to do.
"Do you know what you're saying?!" snapped the tradition-bound Zarude again, angrily stalking closer as he didn't want him to go through with his choice.
"The law won't apply to me, anymore..."
"You'll never return again if you leave! You'll lose all of your friends!"
"...It can't be helped," replied the Elder, at last, making the argument moot in favor of Zardue much to the shock, anger, horror, and disbelief of the entire tribe as he began to leave with the baby at hand.
"What a piece of work!" spat the older Zarude.
"I can't believe it! I thought I could trust you... YOU TRAITOR!" the tradition-bound Zarude snarled, feeling betrayed.
"I'm sorry..." Zarude apologized gently as he finally left.
Just like that, it was over for Zarude as his former brother-in-arms snarled and punched the ground in frustration. His time in his old tribe is over and in the old Zarude's place, there would be the father of the human baby boy: DaDa Zarude.
The years passed since DaDa Zarude left his tribe to nurture and care for the baby boy while searching for his parents and in the beginning, it was a bit of a hard knock life for him as a single parent and no longer being bound by the Law of the Zarude.
The poor Rogue Monkey Pokemon of a lone wolf, with only his human baby (whom he decided to name KoKo), had to juggle building their new home while keeping Koko out of trouble as he would often get distracted by his curiosity. He often cried at night with DaDa struggling in vain to find out how to get him to go to sleep until he managed to rock him on a makeshift cradle. In between such times, he would look for Koko's human parents in the nearby town bordering Okoya Forest but his searches bore no fruit.
As Koko started to grow older, DaDa began to teach him the ways of the Okoya Forest Pokemon like how to be frightful, the first few times being hectic for him as he wound up frightening him with some "help" from some of the wild Pokemon including an incredulous Wooper and a Salandit that he accidentally set fire to their nest. He even gained his first Pokemon friend/brother in a wild Skwovet who become his partner Pokemon.
On another search for his parents, DaDa had Koko wait in an alleyway while he looked for them. But, once again, his cat's curiosity got the better for him and he ended up wandering out of the alleyway and onto the street, nearly being run over by an oncoming car before he was saved by his Pokemon father.
Zarude was annoyed that KoKo would put himself in danger whenever his back is turned but they soon took notice of some nearby fireworks being set off and lighting up the sky above the town. The sight of the town being so colorful under the light of the fireworks left quite an impression on them both as they shared loving smiles, having a special moment shared between them, their lives being all the more special now that they have Skwovet to share in them as KoKo's honorary little brother.
Days later, DaDa went and found a nearby laboratory complex that looked ransacked and abandoned with a series of plants on shelves that had been untouched and tons of research papers, bottles, records, boxes, all the fixings of a lab strewn across the floor as if something or someone had unleashed a typhoon in the complex.
DaDa soon came across a flipped picture frame and when he turned it around and saw who was on it, he gasped in surprise. He then imagined the complex still full of life, filled with researchers as they worked on whatever it is they're studying. And, amongst the scientists in his mind, was KoKo when he was still a tiny baby as his supposed parents looked on joyfully at him as he cooed happily.
The lone Rogue Monkey Pokemon then found the toddler in question as he came across a big pink blanket and snuggled with it happily, having a feeling that it seemed familiar to him somehow. He tried to get KoKo to let go of the blanket but he wouldn't budge as he kept hanging onto it and pouted, forcing him to sigh heavily and relented to take it with them, wrapping it around his neck and making it into a cape.
Ten or so times the rains/years had come and gone and during his new life with the Okoya Forest Pokemon, as he eventually grew into a young boy of 10+, KoKo had not only become taller but stronger for a boy of his age. He also had a larger loincloth wrapped around him from his waist to his kneecaps like some makeshift shorts that looked like a skirt, leather bands that resembled DaDa's vine bands, and his upper body and face had white markings that basically made him a human version of a Zarude. Growing up in Okoya Forest with only DaDa and the native Pokemon for company, he thought that he was a Pokemon. No cub was ever happier and he thought his new life couldn't get any better and yet, what DaDa knew is that someday, KoKo would have to eventually come to terms with who and what he really is and on whatever he found out about his past.
(Pokémon: Secrets of the Jungle!)
Picking up where the last part of their adventure to find King Doug and Queen Delilah left off, Sarah, her family, and her friends all arrived at the small provincial town of Milyfa, the town that DaDa Zarude was scouring for the last 10+ years for KoKo's human parents. They had all arrived there on account of Magearna following the light trail from her Soul Heart leading to whoever would know the whereabouts of her real parents and they also decided to stop there to restock on any supplies they could be running low on, just in case they lose anything along the way. But, they had no idea that they would be dragged or diving headfirst into another adventure similar to the one Sarah and her family went on in Equestria but one that could change everything for one particular Pokemon with them all.
"This is Milyfa Town, small and surrounded by jungle. Continuing on their journey to find Sarah's real parents, Doug and Delilah Tomoe, Magearna has now lead everybody to this small but quaint provincial town where Sarah and the others plan to enter the Forest of Okoya, looking for adventure. Little do they know, however, that it will lead to a life-changing experience for one of their Pokemon."
Right now, everybody had spent a whole day resting up in a sliver of civilization inside the Pokemon Center after camping out since starting the trip and were up bright and early, deciding to see if her parents are inside the Forest of Oyoka a little ways away from the town, see what kinds of Pokemon or what the forest is really like, or if there's anybody else who might know anything about Doug and Delilah.
"Alright, gang, are we all set?" asked Ash, coming in with his stuff ready.
"Yep, everything's ready. I can't wait to see what the Forest of Okoya is like."
"This will be great!"
"I can imagine how beautiful it'll be once we get there."
"I can hardly wait!" Kiawe, Lana, Mallow, and Lillie chirped excitedly, wanting to see the forest.
"I can only imagine what kind of Pokemon we're going to see, I heard that there's a lot of Pokemon that have made their home here and had their lands untouched by human civilization," Sophocles pondered curiously.
"All the better a reason for me to collect more data!" noted Rotom-Dex eagerly. "The Forest of Okoya is never usually explored by any humans and is home to a number of Pokemon that wouldn't normally be found in a forest! A huge variety of them for me to research and collect more data on!"
"It does sound like an interesting place," Race admitted, smiling over the prospect of entering the Forest of Okoya. "I can hardly wait to explore there myself since it's never shown on any normal regional map."
"You think we'll find Queen Delilah and King Doug around this place or somewhere we'll go after finding no trace of them here, Magearna?" pondered Nikki.
"The light from my Soul Heart definitely led us to this place and it went even beyond this town and the Forest of Okoya," Magearna replied. "But, as for if they even went to the Forest of Okoya itself one time during their rule, I'm not sure. We knew nothing about it back then and it was hidden from the world for many years."
"Well, it won't hurt for us to figure out if they really did come here at some point during their rule," put in James with an accepting nod. "But, at the very least, if there's trouble like with what happened in Equestria, we should figure out what we can do to help."
"That's the very least we can do before we move on," nodded Tsukumaro in agreement. "But, all the same, I do wish we could stay in this town a few days longer. It seems pretty tranquil for its current setting along with the Forest of Okoya."
"So, what are you and your family gonna be doing, Sarah?" quizzed Ash, looking at the princess.
"Actually... I don't know, there aren't any plans I have in mind for while we're here," she admitted.
"Why not go and find more Pokemon for you to catch?" Rotom-Dex requested.
"Wait a minute, Rotom. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, I already have more than enough Pokemon on me and my family to last me a lifetime. I do NOT need any more mouths to feed and that's on top of having a little over sixty dragons to look after."
"But, this is a big breakthrough for us since there could be some Pokemon we haven't even seen before! This forest is known for having Pokemon that are not native in a forest setting and there are tons of Galarian Pokemon in it to boot along with some Pokemon from the other regions including Alola! Besides, the only ones you've met and have from Galar are Ponyta, Rapidash, Zarude, Kaji (from a technical standpoint), Ching Wan, Hashimoto, Yamper, Wooloo, Scorch, Cinderace, Eternatus, Glastrier, and Spectrier! This could be very useful for my Galarian Pokedex subsection, especially when we go back to Galar to see how Prof. Magnolia, Sofia, Leon, and the others are all doing since we've once saved the region and the world from Eternatus and Rose!"
"I'm standing right here, buzzbox," boomed Eternatus incredulously from outside the Pokemon Center.
"That's the point! Fourteen Galar Pokemon in total, that's more than enough for me to handle!" argued Sarah. "Besides, what other Pokemon do I possibly need right now? I can only imagine how my real parents would react if they found out I have over 100 on me once we do find them! They'll freak!"
"Oh, come on, Sarah. It's not uncommon for more experienced trainers such as yourself to usually capture 20-30+ Pokemon at a time," Kiawe stated, giving her a reassuring smile. "I mean, Ash almost had about 100 Pokemon as well with the traveling he's been doing with all the friends he made before and after joining us and he gets on alright. Besides, you never know who or what you might encounter in the forest."
"And, don't forget, Island Girl, you've become a Pokemon magnet. Virtually almost every Pokemon seems to like you one way or another," Race smirked, nudging his girlfriend.
"Oh, come on! Why does everybody always keep telling me that?!" Sarah snapped, embarrassed by what her boyfriend keeps telling her and everyone else knows.
Everybody laughed at Sarah as she pouted and blushed but while they were having a bit of fun before they would begin to check out the Forest of Okoya, Sarah's Zarude looked on silently before he decided to walk out of the Pokemon Center for a short moment before he rejoins them for his family's outing.
Ever since they arrived in Milyfa Town and saw the Forest of Okoya on the path leading to it from the provincial town they're staying at, he had been feeling strange and usually quiet ever since they passed by it and it had been on his mind throughout their time in the town.
"The Forest of Okoya, what kind of place is it? Ever since we've arrived and stayed at Milyfa Town for a short time after arriving to restock on our supples, I suddenly felt strange," the noble Rogue Monkey Pokemon thought as he looked at the Forest of Okoya ahead of him. "But, why? Why does it feel so familiar to me? Before meeting Sarah and her friends, I've lived on the Isle of Armor throughout my whole life... Why do I feel like I know that place when I haven't been there before...?"
He then looked down at Milyfa Town and saw how peaceful everything is, his mind elsewhere on the subject of the Forest of Okoya and what he and his family will expect upon arriving there. What would he expect upon reaching the forest, what sort of feeling that he'll remember or so upon arriving, what is lying just around the bend ahead of him on this latest adventure for him and his family?
"Zarude!" called Sarah from inside, getting her Rogue Monkey Pokemon's attention as he turned to the princess coming to get him. "Come on, buddy! We're going into the forest!"
Meanwhile, in the Forest of Okoya, Koko and DaDa Zarude were swinging through the trees to find and eat some berries with his friends.
"Hurry up, DaDa!" Koko called, rushing ahead.
"Slow down, KoKo!" DaDa replied, trying to keep up with his surrogate son.
"The berries were almost ripe last time!"
"You don't have to rush, the berries will wait!"
"You never know!" finished Koko, swinging and dropping down to the normal eating grounds.
Upon arriving at the eating grounds after swinging through the trees together as they've always done, they came across some of KoKo's wild Pokemon friends that included a Roggenrola, a Stunky, some Cottonee, a Mawile, a Whimsicott, a Gigalith, a Foongus, a Cherubi, a Cherrim (Sunshine Mode), and an Amoongus. All of them were having a group meeting, sounding agitated and miffed and he was curious to find out what they were discussing that made them sound so angry.
"What's wrong, everyone?" he asked as he approached his friends, all of them trying to talk to him and get his attention at once. "Calm down, I can't understand you if you're all talking at once."
"It's terrible, KoKo! Those bullies have taken all of our berries and eaten every last one of them without our consent!" Amoongus grumbled as he huffed and folded his arms with a pout, surprising the human Pokemon just as DaDa finally arrived.
"What's wrong, KoKo?" he asked.
"They're mad," he told his father.
DaDa gasped before he sniffed and recognized who was responsible for what happened to his son's friends' berries. "So, that's what it is!"
Quickly and knowing what it meant for everyone in the forest, he rushed over to the scene of the crime with KoKo following. But, when he finally arrived, he was overcome with shock and disbelief at the sight before him just as his human son caught up with him.
"Hey, DaDa!" KoKo said, also gasping in disbelief as he saw the crime scene before them.
There were several berries that looked as though they had been eaten and were strewn across the field, much of them having been ruined as they were eaten halfway, leaving some seeds that were discarded.
"Is that...?" the human Pokemon breathed.
DaDa took one of the berries, sniffing it as he inspected the damage and then, got a grim feeling as to who exactly is responsible for stealing the berries and greedily eating them without his son's friends' consent as well as their own. He knew that it had to be his former tribe, knowing that they're still up to no good, even after he cut his ties with his former brothers-in-arms and friends.
"They're coming all the way out here," he remarked grimly. "And, I'm afraid that even the Okoya Jungle Guard had heard about this and were already on the hunt after them, they won't be able to stop them in time before long..."
The news didn't sit well with KoKo's friends as they also appeared, upset about the loss of their berries and immediately blaming him for the mess that had been made. Given his previous ties to his former tribe, they all just assumed that he had something to do with it.
"Calm down, quiet! I had nothing to do with this!" DaDa replied, losing patience with his son's friends' accusations before he snapped as they became too much for him to ignore. "I was looking forward to having some berries with my son, too!"
Having just snapped and unable to take their immediate blame games on him for something that he had no part in playing in since taking in KoKo as his own son and leaving the Zarude tribe, he roared furiously in their faces, wanting them to take back their accusations. This frightened KoKo's friends as they realized that they had crossed a line too far with him and they scrambled off in utter fear, Stunky also making a break for it as he passed gas, leaving poor DaDa miffed and his human son feeling worried and hungry.
"Hey, DaDa?" Koko asked before his stomach growled and he moaned in embarrassment and hunger. "I'm so hungry..."
But then, as he took a look at a seed inside one of the eaten berries, he suddenly brightened up as he got a brilliant idea for everyone's berry problems. "Hey, I think I got a good idea," he quickly noted.
DaDa looked on in surprise as he continued and threw the eaten berry with the seed still inside to him, "It's not just good, it's a great idea! We'll make one for ourselves, a place where berries grow!"
Of course, his father was still stumped until KoKo pointed at his bands, suggesting that they can use what he taught him to grow their own berry orchard where the Zarude Tribe can never trespass upon them and his their friends and they can have and eat all the berries they want without fear of losing them. DaDa was surprised that the idea of having their own private berry orchard in the jungle for them and their friends never crossed his mind once.
"Hmm, you know... Say, that makes sense. I never thought of that, let's do it! Great idea!" he agreed, eager to go with his son's idea.
"Really?" chirped KoKo excitedly. "There are still seeds inside this thing, right?"
"Let's put it close to home. They won't bother us and once we got lots and lots of berries, we can share them with everyone!"
"Only my son would think of that! Right, it's all decided!"
"Then, let's gather what we can and go home! And, if the Jungle Guard is around, we can tell them all about it!"
After agreeing to the idea of having their own private berry orchard to share with their friends and the rest of the native jungle/forest Pokemon, KoKo and DaDa set to work in gathering whatever berries have seeds in them before setting off for home.
Meanwhile, after parting ways with the gang as they went and did their own things upon entering the Forest of Okoya, Sarah and her family were walking through the forest together, wanting to see and discover any of the Pokemon living in the secluded area. But, for some reason, everywhere they go in the forest, the Pokemon native to the entire forest are either afraid of them and went for a place to hide or became stiff with fear as they looked over from their original spots.
"That's weird, I wonder what's gotten to all of the Pokemon here," Race pondered.
"Oh, the poor darlings. It looks as though something badly scared them and left them with a terrible impression on humans and other Pokemon," Nikki sympathized, seeing how terrified the Pokemon were being.
"What could've caused them to become so scared that they'll do anything to hide from anybody that seemed threatening to them?"
"Nothing good, I bet. Something really spooked them if they're acting like this," James and Sarah replied.
"But, there has to be something that is causing the Pokemon to be so frightened," Tsukumaro pointed out. "They can't be afraid of us or any other Pokemon for no reason and they looked as though they've never seen a dragon before."
"Ur-r-r-r-rgh, I don't like this place, it gives me the creeps with all of those Pokemon running away like babies," Charger remarked.
"And, why does it feel like we're being watched ever since we got here?" Shaymin added (currently in his Sky Forme after finding some stray Gracidea Flowers to change forms).
"There might be some people wanting to do this place harm or some other Pokemon that's giving them no end of grief for them to be like this," pondered Shadow thoughtfully. "I hope we can discover what's making them all so jumpy."
"We better find out what or who's responsible for all of this and fast," Rosa suggested.
"Then, let's keep our eyes and ears open for any sign of trouble," agreed Sarah.
"Mom! Come over here, quick!" Star called, getting everyone's attention as they rushed over to the Shiny Lucario who found some injured baby Pokemon in the form of a baby Fennekin, Swablu, Phanpy, and Cyndaquil. "They all look badly hurt..."
Sarah looked over the baby Pokemon as they groaned in pain, having some scrapes and small bruises on them. She felt their pain as she gently touched a bruise on the baby Fennekin and it whimpered from her touch on its bruise.
"Oh, no..."
"What happened to them?" breathed James and Nikki, looking at the wounded Pokemon in shock.
"Those wounds look bad for them but they're not life-threatening, thankfully," Tsukumaro pondered, looking closer at the baby Pokemon's injuries. "I think were some other Pokemon fighting each other around here and they got caught in the crossfire by mistake."
"We better help them or else their wounds would get worse," Sarah decided, pulling out her medical bag from his satchel and getting closer to the baby Pokemon, all four of them whimpering as she approached them. "It's okay, I only want to help you. If I don't treat your wounds quickly, you won't get better any time soon."
"Just be careful you don't spook them, Island Girl," warned Race as he, Bella, and Robbie watched on.
The baby Pokemon weren't convinced despite how kindhearted Sarah is as she began to treat them, giving off small yelps and more quiet, pained whimpers but Wooloo and Ponyta stepped forward to help them see sense and get them to trust their foster mother/human aunt.
"It's okay, guys. You can trust Auntie Sarah, your lives can be in danger if you don't allow her to help you."
"She's a great doctor and she can give you the help you needed," they gently cooed.
They looked Wooloo and Ponyta in the eyes and saw that they genuinely meant what they said. Then, they turned their attention to Sarah as she gave them a gentle nod and smile. This got Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, and Swablu to trust them as she continued to heal their wounds until, at last, they were patched up. Thankfully, there were no broken bones but whatever/whoever attacked them left them very shaken up.
"That's it, there you go... You should be fine now," Sarah smiled, gently rubbing Fennekin's head.
"...T-T-Thank you," the baby Fennekin cooed back, surprisingly without Telepathy.
"Yeah... T-Thanks," Phanpy agreed, gratefully nuzzling her.
"I'm just glad I-LOOK OUT!" Sarah grinned before she saw an Aura Sphere, Thunderbolt, and Flamethrower coming out of nowhere as she quickly shielded the babies.
Seeing the three attacks coming at their rider and the baby Pokemon, Winter and Shadow darted forward and shielded them with their wings just in time. They then turned and growled at the intruders that dared to attack her, seeing a regular Lucario, a Shiny female Charizard, and a Shiny Zeraora, the three of them joined by a total of ten Eeveelutions (four of which being a Helioseon, a Seleneon, a Freezeon, and a Thundereon).
Of course, not knowing that the Helioseon, Seleneon, Freezeon, and Thundereon standing before them and their family are all different from the Pokemon partners belonging to Ryu, Tamu, Sefu, and Drake, Shadow and Winter were thrown for a loop when their eyes landed on them.
"W-What the-?! I-It can't... Are those-?!" began Shadow, seeing the Helioseon, Seleneon, Freezeon, and Thundereon with their attackers.
"No! Are those Helioseon, Seleneon, Freezeon, and Thundereon?" Winter gawked.
"What's the big idea? You nearly hurt these babies with those moves and I just healed them, too!" Sarah snapped at the Pokemon squad attacking her and the baby Pokemon.
"Stand away from those little ones, Human! Nobody, not even a Zarude from the Zarude Tribe, is going to hurt them on our watch!" demanded the male Lucario, also speaking English without Telepathy.
This suddenly got everyone's attention (sans the Pokemon squad) as they saw and heard the male Lucario's mouth move and words coming out of it. Then, Sarah blinked as she remembered what she spoke to the baby Fennekin and Phanpy before she and Race looked at each other before their jaws dropped and they pointed to each other and then, pointed towards the wild Lucario.
"YOU TALKED?!" they gawked, voicing their giant party's thoughts as they finally got their bearings and realized what they're all thinking.
"But, how?! How can you actually talk while most of my family were only able to do so while using Telepathy or with Sarah using her amulet?" spluttered Sarah's Zarude, coming forward.
"That's none of your business, Monkey Boy! But, if you want to know before you die, it runs with all Pokemon in our Dynasty," spat the Shiny Charizard, snarling as she bared her teeth and pointed at her group's supposed enemies. "Bastards such as you and that human girl have no place in our jungle home if you're here to cause trouble, now get out before you even think about destroying the Forest of Okoya!"
"No, wait! Please! You guys got it all wrong! My family and I didn't come here to cause any trouble!" gasped Star to her male counterpart, getting between the two parties as she spread her arms out. "Mom was trying to help these baby Pokemon, they were badly hurt before we even came into this forest! There's no way she would hurt anybody let alone these guys!"
"And, why should we believe you when you have the prime suspect responsible for giving them grief and hurting them like that?" scoffed the wild male Lucario, pointing at Zarude.
"You got some nerve bringing that Rogue Monkey Pokemon here to this forest, especially since the Zarude Tribe has been giving everybody nothing but trouble just to satisfy their own miserable selves!" Charizard spat as the Shiny Zeraora nodded with a firm glare. "We've been hunting them down and stopping their crimes for the past ten years or so but more often than not, they always found a way to give us the slip before we could make them answer for their sins!"
"But, there's no way Uncle Zarude could hurt them! He's never even been here before!" begged Tifu, wanting her family's attackers to see reason.
"He's been nothing but kind ever since he was given to Auntie Sarah by three friends of hers from the Galar Region," added Eevee in agreement. "He was living in the Isle of Armor before he joined us and he's never heard of this place!"
"Okay, okay, time out! Let's take a breather here," Sarah intervened as she looked at them suspiciously. "Who are you and why would you think my Zarude would even hurt them?"
"My name is Cobalt."
"Amber."
"I'm known to the forest as Tai Lung," the male Lucario, Shiny Charizard, and Shiny Zeraora greeted, keeping their guards up.
The Eeveelution, looking like it was made of armor, stepped forward as he greeted Sarah, her family, Race, and his partners as well along with the other Eevelutions alongside the quartet.
"I am Guardian. My sons - Spookeon, Veneon, Breezeon, Craggeon, Manteon, Brawleon, and Helioseon. My daughters - Thundereon, Seleneon, and Freezeon. Apart from Cobalt and Amber, we and Tai Lung are the Okoya Jungle Guard, we're responsible for overseeing the safety of the Forest of Okoya and protecting in and its Pokemon from any and all intruders willing to do harm to us all," the armored Eeveelution, Guardeon, greeted.
Guardeon (the oldest and the Jungle Guard's veteran soldier) looked like a Pokemon royal guard as his face was mostly covered by a silver helmet and a shield-like chest plate housing three diamonds on it. His back had three turquoise scales on it which made his body darker and his feet looked to be covered by silver "boots" while his tail looked like a finely polished and sharpened sword.
Spookeon had a more spooky appearance with a dark and regular purple coloration on his body with a bit of lavender mixed in for his lower legs and paws along with his transparent tail and ears (looking almost like smoke). He had three curved bones on his back and a skull mounted on the center of his forehead with two curved horns on either side of his face.
Veneon looked as though he's dripping with poison, his pink body having dark red-violet stripes, forelegs, and paws coupled with a cream underbelly. His ears are droopy in appearance and looked as if they're dripping with poison, two streams running down from each inner ear and his oddly-shaped tail as it resembled long drops turning upward.
Breezeon's body looked as though it had been built for flying as he was bright blue all over with his waist, front legs, and chest are covered in blue-white feathers with the feathers acting like boots for his paws. His ears are shaped like wings in appearance and he had a light purple or lavender underbelly and tail.
Craggeon is more of a mountain-savvy Pokemon with his tan-like body and a dark brown diamond pattern dotting it. His tail end was shaped like a small mace and his chest was covered in a thick coat of brown fur as two canine teeth hung down from his mouth and his ear tips were dotted with rocks.
Manteon looked like a walking, four-legged praying mantis, being a slightly dark yellow on his body and green on his ears, front forelegs, and hind legs coupled with a light yellow underbelly. His ears were bent like an ant's antenna, his tail looked like an ant's abdomen, and he had two mandibles over his eyes.
And finally, for Brawleon, he looked to be a walking Pokemon brawler with his unique boxer-like appearance, his ear tips being bent and his paws looking as though they have gloves on. His large tail was curled and he had beige-colored chest fur with his underbelly and back having the same coloration.
"The Okoya Jungle Guard/The Okoya Jungle Guard/The Okoya Jungle Guard?" Sarah, her family, Race, Bella, and Robbie chorused in surprise and confusion.
Manteon nodded as he explained what they were doing, "We've been given several ongoing reports of the Zarude Tribe causing trouble; stealing berries and eating them, frightening the locals, disturbing the peace for their own prosperity, you name it, the whole kit and kaboodle. So, we've been asked to track down the fiends and see what we can do to stop them before they do any more damage to this forest and everyone that they've managed to plunder."
"Wait, there's an actual tribe of Zarude like me in this forest?" Zarude blinked in surprise.
"I didn't know that," Sarah admitted in bewilderment.
"There is. Unfortunately, they're never the nicest Pokemon for you to be around with. They've terrorized the Jungle Pokemon living in this area and they take what they want when they want," nodded Tai Lung grimly, his disdain for the Zarude Tribe clear for them to see. "My friends and I were unable to watch their madness continue ever since they showed up and started everything so we forced the Okoya Jungle Guard to protect everyone and bring those wild monkeys to justice but to no avail."
"Hmm, sounds to me like those barbaric stooges terrorizing this forest have no understanding of nature and a distinctly clear lack of respect for it," Race mused darkly, already fostering hatred for the Zarude Tribe.
"That's terrible," Curly replied sadly.
"Those apes sound totally barbaric over how they've treated the Jungle Pokemon here," agreed Bella solemnly.
Zarude sighed sadly, he now understood why the Jungle Guard was so mistrusting of him earlier when they accused him of hurting the baby Pokemon he and his family found minutes ago. "I see, that explains why you thought I was responsible for what happened to those babies," he frowned.
"I can't believe them!"
"Somebody ought to teach them manners!" snapped Wooloo and Ponyta angrily.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" barked Yamper in agreement.
"Sounds to me like you're all having your work cut out with those guys," Hurricane remarked.
"They definitely sound like trouble," Puff noted.
"You're not kidding," nodded Big Puff.
"Well, what can we do about them? Or better yet, why would they even do such crazy things like that?" Shaymin questioned, feeling their contempt towards the Zarude Tribe as well.
"Don't know, exactly. They said that it was all according to what they called the Law of the Zarude which says they must take from the weak. If they allow outsiders to trespass upon their domain and plunder their own spoils, they'll wither and become weaker as a result," Tai Lung answered.
"I don't get it. Just because you're strong and it's survival of the fittest, it doesn't give that tribe the right to bully others and put them down just by being weaker compared to them," Keldeo stated in disgust. "All those Zarude terrorizing the Pokemon in this forest looked down on them while treating them like cattle!"
"It's the unfortunate weakness in everyone's hearts, Keldeo. And, terrorizing everybody in the forest just to ensure of their own survival is a grave weakness that the Zarude Tribe couldn't overcome by the sound of it," replied Virizion knowingly.
"This jungle is for everyone!" Cufant nodded with an angry look on his face.
"Those fools just don't understand that what they're doing is wrong and nothing like a true Jungle Pokemon," Silver agreed.
"If we ever cross paths with them, I'll be sure to give them the old Rumblehorn One-Two Charge!" Charger exclaimed, wanting to avenge the Jungle Pokemon the Zarude Tribe had oppressed for so long.
"Hmph, good luck trying if you do. They're a stubborn but powerful lot, you'd be lucky to get away from them if you lose one battle," Guardeon snorted in response.
"They've made their own contempt for everyone else clear," added Cobalt grimly. "They wanted nothing to do with KoKo when he was first brought to the tribe."
"If they catch you and your family, who knows what'll happen if you cross paths with them, bzz?" Manteon added, concerned.
"KoKo/KoKo/KoKo?" the giant party echoed again.
"Who's KoKo?" Winter asked.
"He's a human boy who was discovered and adopted by one of the Zarude a little over ten years ago when he was a baby. He's also a great friend of ours even though we held a tiny sliver of discontent for his father, which he understood when we first met them," explained Seleneon.
"His former brothers didn't take kindly to him being with them and they still aren't today," continued Craggeon. "Earlier, we found that they ate their berries without their consent."
"A Zarude, raising a human baby?!"
"Amazing! But, I thought you all said that the entire tribe was ruthless and they've made their own contempt for everyone else in the jungle clear!" Tsukumaro and Zarude gawked in shock, their shock also mirrored by everyone else in their family as they were stunned into silence.
"You mean to tell us that the Zarude you mentioned broke away from his tribe to raise this KoKo guy?!" Skylar gasped in bewilderment as she heard Craggeon and Seleneon loud and clear.
"The Zarude with him is actually a father?" added Dart, startled along with her brothers. "Hey, doesn't that sound familiar somehow, like those guys who are ape-men raised in the jungle according to two Disney movies we were having movie nights on back home at some point?" Silvally quizzed.
"You mean like Tarzan and George of the Jungle?" pondered Slurpuff in response, literally tilting herself at him. "Those are the ones."
"But, one of them is a total klutz while Tarzan is more mature, bigger, and buffer, and curious about humans when he first comes into contact with the girl named Jane," Mienshao put in.
"I'd say this leans more into the Tarzan side of things," quipped Zorua.
"Hmm... Guardeon, Tai Lung, Amber, Cobalt, you guys know where the Zarude Tribe is living right now?" Sarah asked. "There is one place that they call home and would do anything to protect, the Heart Tree at the edge of the jungle. Why do you ask?" Amber questioned.
"...I'm going to meet with the Zarude Tribe myself and speak with them."
Her declaration left her family extremely surprised but to the Okoya Jungle Guard, they were filled with nothing but horror and mindblowing shock. They realized that by trying to settle things diplomatically with the Zarude Tribe and figuring out why they would go so far as to terrorize the Jungle Pokemon and pillage whatever isn't theirs for their own survival, she would be signing her own death warrant on their grounds.
"Are you crazy, girl?!"
"You do NOT want to get onto the wrong side of all those nasty Zarude!"
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into if you tangle with them! They'll eat you up like gum, spit you out…... And then, they'll all brag about how far they spit you!" Veneom, Breezeon, and Spookeon begged, worried for her safety.
Sarah shook her head, still firm in her decision as she told them, "That's exactly why I want to help. What those Zarude are doing to you all is an act of terrorism and if I don't stand up for you and everyone else in this jungle, how can I live with myself? As Princess of Alola, it's always been my job to keep the peace between humans and Pokemon alike wherever I go. If anybody's going to try to reason with those guys and see what their actions are doing to the Jungle Pokemon, it's me."
Of course, the Jungle Guard had no idea that they had attacked a princess from another region when they saw her with the baby Pokemon. And, once that bombshell dropped, they were shocked and utterly floored when they caught onto the fact that they were speaking in the presence of a royal and attacked her without warning.
"...PRINCESS!?" the entire guard screamed in shock.
"That's me, Princess Sarah Tomoe, at your service," nodded the girl in question, soon balking as she saw them quickly bow to her.
"It's her! The Sun Princess of Alola the whole world was talking about!" Brawleon cried, ashamed as he bowed.
"We just attacked a princess for an act of kindness she was giving to those Pokemon, Leader!" Freezeon added to Tai Lung, feeling the same.
"We're sorry!" apologized Manteon, Thundereon, and Spookeon.
"We thought you were with the Zarude Tribe or just some Pokemon Poachers!" said a shamed-faced Amber.
"Oh, please forgive us, Princess! We didn't realize you were actually the one, we don't know how to apologize for attacking you earlier!" Cobalt begged.
"Oh no, there's no need to apologize," Sarah replied, surprised.
"It's okay, you just assumed the worst because of what the Zarude Tribe has done to you and your fellow Jungle Pokemon," reassured Magearna, coming up alongside her charge.
"It's only natural you'd feel that way, really. We would've done the same if those horrible Pokemon had also given us as much grief as they had with you. But, this time, you don't have to deal with them alone. You have the assistance of King Doug and Queen Delilah Tomoe's only daughter and her family, all of us, to help. And, my princess is no pushover when it comes to seeking justice and righting all wrongs."
"And, that's why I'm going to find the Heart Tree and speak with the Zarude Tribe about stopping their crimes, for good," Sarah vowed as she prepared to leave, prompting the baby Pokemon to rush over to her.
"NO!" they cried, nuzzling and hugging her tightly while Swablu flew onto her shoulder.
"Don't go!"
"Those mean Zarude will hurt you!"
"What if you get hurt and don't come back?!"
"You can't do that!" Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, and Swablu pleaded, all of them pulling off the sad puppy face.
Sarah frowned understandably as she lined them up in front of her and began to speak with them. "Fennekin, Phanpy, Swablu, Cyndaquil, if I don't go to the Heart Tree and speak with the tribe about leaving you, KoKo, and his father alone and if I allow this to go on, there's no way you and every last one of the Jungle Pokemon would be able to live peacefully again," she reassured gently.
"I have a duty to fulfill to you and all humans and Pokemon wanting to live in this world peacefully, being the Sun Princess. What happened to you all and the Jungle Guard with all the Zarude terrorizing you and stealing anything and everything just for their own survival, I can't let this whole nonsense about Survival of the Fittest continue. You've suffered more than enough for so long, I have to do something. It doesn't hurt to try. Besides, if they won't listen, can't say that I didn't try, right?"
The baby Pokemon continued to cry over the prospect of their savior getting killed by the Zarude Tribe despite her wishes for peace to their people in the Forest of Okoya but they knew that it was the right thing for her to do as they nuzzled here again. The Jungle Guard could now see that Sarah had no intentions of hurting their fellow Jungle Pokemon and only wanted to help them after they spoke out about the Zarude Tribe.
They may have only just met her and her family for a few minutes but after going through the sheer number of Pokemon on her including Legendaries and Mythicals on her along with her normal ones, they could tell that she was no ordinary human. They were even more surprised that she had actual dragons on her even though they were not Pokemon in the slightest. And, after hearing that she's the Sun Princess and a mental debate together, they concluded that she and her family can be trusted with helping them with their problems with the Zarude Tribe.
"Princess, you've proven that you're completely different to the other humans we've seen coming through here," began Guardeon, stepping forward again as he looked at the little princess. "Therefore, I think it would be best if you and your family come with us. If we don't hurry, then through any evil human activity and the Zarude Tribe, our jungle home is doomed along with our friends."
"But, why would-?"
"Don't ask, you shall know soon enough. Come!" Guardeon finished, cutting her off as she and the Jungle Guard left.
Sarah and her family were confused along with Race and his partners over why Guardeon and the Okoya Jungle Guard wanted them to come along as they watched the baby Pokemon she saved followed the Guard. But, they knew it wouldn't do them good to keep questioning why so they quickly went after them.
Meanwhile, Ash and the others were by the river, having found a blue stork-like Pokemon hunting for fish after some time exploring the Forest of Okoya to find any Jungle Pokemon about.
"Wow, look at that, guys. Do you see it? I've never seen a Pokemon or a move like that before," noted Ash, intrigued.
"Good thing I had my databanks updated for scanning and finding new Pokemon that'll be indigenous to this part of the world," Rotom-Dex stated as he pulled up a new file relating to the new Pokemon.
"Cramorant, the Gulp Pokemon. A Water and Flying Type, Cramorant's gluttony led it to try to swallow an Arrokuda whole which in turn led to Cramorant getting an Arrokuda stuck in its throat. When it gets a Pikachu in its mouth, it's called the Gorging Form."
Pikachu paled once he heard that coming from Rotom-Dex. "G-G-G-Gorging Form?!" he squeaked quietly in fear.
"That...Sounds, creepy," Kiawe gulped worriedly.
"Oh, come on, guys. At least, it's harmless," Lana smiled, seeing the Water Type continuing to hunt as it found and ate an Arrokuda until Pikachu accidentally stepped on a branch as he tried to get a closer look, alerting Cramorant as it fired the Arrokuda at them.
"AHHHH!" the gang screamed as they all dodged.
"You were saying?" asked Sophocles, looking incredulously at his fellow student.
"What was that?!" Lillie gawked.
"Oh, man! What power, it just used its Gulp Missile Ability after it spotted us! Crazy!" Rotom-Dex answered, flabbergasted.
"Great! Let's battle and catch it! Pikachu, quick attack!" Ash smirked, seeing an opportunity for a new Pokemon catch.
"Got it, Partner!" chirped Pikachu as he charged forward until the Gulp Pokemon caught him in his mouth, changing to Gorging Form as everyone looked grossed out by this. "GAH, hey! I'm stuck! HELP!"
"EWW/EWW!" the Pokemon School gang and their other partners all cringed.
"Ash! Didn't you hear what I said earlier?!" Rotom-Dex snapped. "You just had Cramorant change into Gorging Form!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" the Kanto Trainer shouted, Pikachu using its attack on Cramorant before it spits him out, causing him to crash into Ash before it flew off.
"Aww... It got away but still, it was a funny Pokemon," Ash admitted, disappointed by his and Pikachu's loss of a new Pokemon friend but finding some humor in it.
"That's too bad although it would make for a good stand-up comedian in a comedy show," replied Kiawe.
Then, Mallow saw another Galarian Pokemon that looked more like a small dragon in an apple. "Wow... Hey, Rotom, what kind of Pokemon is that?" she questioned the living Pokedex as she, the female Shaymin, and Tsareena watched it bounce by.
"Curious, I've never seen a Pokemon that looked like an apple from an apple tree before," the Fruit Pokemon admitted in surprise.
"It looks kinda cute but not as cute as me," the female Gratitude Pokemon noted.
"Now, this is quite a find, too! A much more curious one, at that; Flappe, the Apple Wing Pokemon. A Grass and Dragon Type and one of two evolved forms of Applin, it ate a sour apple which induced its evolution. In its cheeks, it stores an acid capable of causing chemical burns," Rotom-Dex informed, scanning the Pokemon, Flappe.
The wild Flappe turned as soon as it heard Rotom-Dex explain to the group about it and, like the other Jungle Pokemon that fled or hid away after seeing Sarah and her family, it panicked and fluttered away which prompted Ash and Pikachu to immediately chase after it. Of course, this also prompted the others and their partners to run after them just so they could keep up and thus, keep them out of trouble.
"Hey, wait! Come back! Man, this one's fast but I'll catch one of those Pokemon here, for su-WAH!" the Kanto Trainer shouted before he suddenly tripped along with Pikachu and they faceplanted together.
"Ash! Are you alright?" gasped Lillie, the others coming to a stop by them.
"That was quite a hard fall you took. Are you hurt?" asked a kind voice as everyone turned to see a young women scientist with blue hair and wearing a lab coat.
"No, we're fine, see?" Ash answered.
"Are you all Pokemon Trainers by chance?"
"Yep. My name's Ash and I'm from Pallet Town, And, with me is my pal, Pikachu."
"Hello, there!" Ash and Pikachu said, beginning the group's introductions.
"I'm Kiawe and I come from Akala Island in the Alola Region along with my partners, Turtonator and Pyroar."
"Hello/Greetings," replied Kiawe, Turtonator, and Pyroar.
"My name's Mallow and these are Tsareena and Shaymin."
"Hi!/How do you do?" greeted Mallow and her Grass Type partners.
"My name's Sophocles and this here is Togedemaru and Vikavolt."
"Hi, hi, hi!/Pleased to meet you," added Sophocles, Togedemaru, and Vikavolt.
"Hi, I'm Lana. And, these two here are Brionne and Sandy."
"Hi, nice to meet you!/What's shakin', baby?" Lana and her partners nodded in greeting.
"Hello, my name's Lillie and this is Snowy. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Nice to meet you," finished Lillie and Snowy, bowing to the scientist.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you and make your acquaintance, too. I'm Sharron, a Biotope Company researcher," smiled the scientist, Sharron, as she bowed in greeting as well.
"A researcher?"
"What are you researching here in this jungle, Sharron?" asked Lillie and Mallow curiously.
"You see, my fellow researchers and I are collecting samples to see what components the water contains," Sharron replied, directing everyone to her small team collecting water samples from the jungle river.
"Cool!"
"Wow, components are so cool!" Sophocles and Ash grinned in excitement.
But, while the gang was learning from Sharron about what she and her team are doing, they had no idea that along with them, Race, Sarah, and her family were being followed. Wolf, Mousey, and Hakins, now in the know along with Team Eclipse about Doug and Delilah's survival, were stalking them as they eavesdropped on them from the bushes. They were hoping to intercept Sarah and the entire group before they could know of their whereabouts and were willing to go to any lengths in order to do so.
"Alright, Wolf, we're here in this Forest of Okoya joint and we've come across the princess' dense bunch for bodyguards," Mousey said, looking through openings in the brush they're hiding inside while Wolf looked up what Sharron's company is doing via an iPad he has on him. "Why are we also eavesdropping on that scientist and her team when we're supposed to keep an eye on the princess before we call the boss after she found them?"
"Or better yet, what are they even doing with all that water?" Hakins added, looking towards their leader.
"Hold on a minute, you lunkheads. Ironing out this data and piecing it together after finding it takes time and I need to concentrate," replied Wolf as he finally found what he was looking for. "Aha! Here's what it says, 'We, of the Biotope Company, use cutting edge technology to discover and implement developments that lead to peace and harmony for both people and Pokemon. Our team leader, Dr. Zed, is spearheading the search and investigation of a spring that has healing powers'."
"A Healing Spring?"
"Do those things even exist?" his fellow Sins inquired.
"Think about it, flat tops, that Tsukumaro Wong has magic on him since he probably went to a magic school of some sort before meeting with the Last King and Queen and becoming their advisor. It isn't a stretch to assume that this spring they're looking for has the power to heal Pokemon that soak themselves in it when they were injured, almost like a medical pool of sorts. Besides, if it has any clues to those missing royals' whereabouts, the princess and her entourage will be looking for them already."
"Well, now that we know why they're here besides exploring this jungle dump, what'll we do now?" Hakins asked, wondering what their next stop is.
"Simple, we'll carry out our reconnaissance and relay anything of importance to the boss. And, that starts by infiltrating this Biotope company's ranks and learning their secrets," Wolf briefed, getting nods from his fellow Sins.
As Wolf, Hakins, and Mousey begin to carry out their new plan of action, as they went deeper into the jungle, the Okoya Jungle Guard continued to lead Sarah, her family, and Race to what is their forest abode as they came across a section filled with thick vines hanging down from the trees above them.
"What's this?" asked Race curiously.
"It's all covered in thick vines," Robbie added.
"What's behind them, Mr. Tai Lung?" questioned Bella to Tai Lung.
"My friends, that is the gateway to our home. This is where we live along with the rest of our PokeDynasty away from the Zarude Tribe's tyranny," the Shiny Zeraora answered them.
"PokeDynasty/PokeDynasty/PokeDynasty?" everybody besides the guard questioned.
Tai Lung just nodded as he pulled back the vines and walked through them along with the rest of the guard, Cobalt, and Amber. Not wanting to be left behind, the rest of their party quickly went after them as they were led into a part of the forest that is unknown or off-limits to even the Jungle Pokemon themselves. It was a beautiful, large glen that housed a number of wild Pokemon from all over the world. From Kanto to Galar, the PokeDynasty Glen had them all as far as their eyes can see.
"No way..."
"Magnificient..."
"It's beautiful..."
"We never knew this was here..."
"Now, this is what these Pokemon call 'living in jungle style'," remarked the five humans in awe as they looked around and took in the glen.
Even Sarah's entire family and Race's partners couldn't help but be in stunned silence as they soaked in the glen's natural beauty. When they arrived at the heart of the glen, all of the Pokemon living in it greeted the Okoya Jungle Guard and welcomed them back with open arms. But, the reception they gave to their visitors to their home wasn't so warm.
"What are-?!"
"Look!"
"Are those dragons?!"
"What's with those Pokemon?!"
"Zoinks, look who's with them!"
"AH! A Zarude, HUMANS!"
"GET OUT!" they shouted.
"Y-You speak like Auntie!" gasped Aurorus in shock, seeing them all speak like humans.
"At ease, everyone. There's no cause for alarm, this human and her family with her are no threat to us," Guardeon replied, raising a paw for silence.
"Guardeon is right, please don't panic," agreed Amber, looking around to the Guard's PokeDynasty. "We have brought them here for a reason and that's to deal with the Zarude Tribe."
"Don't panic, DON'T PANIC?!" barked a wild Luxio at Guardeon in disbelief. "You know that no humans were ever allowed to trespass upon our glen! And, what about that Zarude, what if he's part of the tribe that's been terrorizing everybody?!"
"How can we be so sure that these 'humans' can be trusted?" a wild male Noivern quizzed suspiciously, giving Sarah and Zarude the stink eye as he hovered to the two as well as the rest of their family and Race. "For all we know, this giant monkey and these creeps could be part of some big-name syndicate that'll want to capture us or the Zarude Tribe are trying to plot a front by fooling some of the Jungle Pokemon and roping them into their scheme..."
"Have you not heard of the old human saying of don't judge a book by its cover, Young Noivern?" retorted Reshiram, startling the Noivern as he saw the Vast White Pokemon with Sarah and her family. The wild Pokemon all gasped in shock as they heard Reshiram and turned to him, gobsmacked to see a Legendary Pokemon in their ranks. It was then that they did a double take and noticed some other Legendaries and Mythicals amongst Sarah's Pokemon.
"Reshiram?!"
"The Dragon of Truth is amongst us!"
"And, look there! That girl's got the Legendary Beasts from Johto!"
"Oh man, she's even got the Swords of Justice!"
"Huh?! Latios, Latias, Shaymin, and Cresselia, too!"
"She's got Solgaleo and Lunala!"
"Zeraora?!"
"Is that Eternatus, the former Darkest Day?!"
"And, that's the King of Bountiful Harvests and his sons!" the wild Pokemon chatted to each other in awe.
"Hmm, sounds like you guys got yourselves another fan club, big guy," remarked Race to Eternatus, amused by him having more Pokemon respecting him despite knowing his past self.
"Ugh! Why me...?" grumbled Eternatus, not fond of having more "fans".
"Hmm... Masssster Guardeon, are you and the Jungle Guard ssssssure that we can trusssssst thesssssse humansssss with anything?" a wild Sandaconda quizzed, slithering over to the group while giving Sarah and her family a suspicious look.
"Yes, they've shown us that they can be trusted with helping us deal with the Zarude Tribe. The girl has also given us a greater reason to trust them, as far as we're concerned," nodded Thundereon as she approached the Ground Type and gestured to the baby Pokemon with the princess (Phanpy walking beside her, Swablu back on her left shoulder, Fennekin on her right shoulder, and Cyndaquil in her arms).
"She has healed Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, and Swablu of the wounds those fools had given them and there is something else you should know about her. Have you all heard of the Ultra Beast War and how it said that amongst the survivors of that horrible event years ago, the only daughter of King Doug and Queen Delilah, survived by being sent into the future?"
"The Ultra Beast War?! But, the Alolan Monarchy fell after that!" a wild Gogoat gawked in shock as it then looked at Sarah and realized who she was. "Are you saying... She's the Lost Princess?!"
"You all knew?" gasped Tsukumaro in surprise.
"It's a legend that's been passed down for many years and told to countless people ever since it was first written," Veneon replied with a knowing nod. "Very famous tale, at that, and one that demanded our PokeDynasty's attention ever since we first heard about it."
"...I didn't know it would be passed down through generations let alone what my parents did," Sarah admitted, taken aback.
"Sarah, how exactly did you come to acquire a Zarude in your ranks?" a wild Grapploct asked.
"Sarah, if you'll allow me to speak," Zarude recommended to the princess, getting her approval as she nodded before he spoke up.
"I may be a Zarude but I'm nothing like the tribe that you've mentioned and that demonized you all. I was actually born on the Isle of Armor east of the Galar Region's mainland and lived there for as long as I can remember until I was found and given to Sarah as a gift from a few friends of hers from a little town called Postwick during her class' first visit to the region."
"The Isle of Armor?" blinked a wild Galarian Zigzaggoon.
"Galar Region?" echoed a curious female Chewtle.
"Isn't that the once-deserted island where a great Fighting Type Pokemon Master was said to have trained up and coming Pokemon trainers to become Pokemon masters through Kung Fu along with their partners?" replied a male Reuniclus before he noticed Hashimoto and Ching Wan and pointed to them in surprise. "Hey! Then, that means you two must be the supposed 'Secret Armor' of the world-famous Master Dojo!"
"That's right, my Ani-Chan and I are the Secret Armor of the Master Dojo," replied Hashimoto, puffing his chest up proudly as Ching Wan nodded in greeting. "He's Ching Wan and I'm Hashimoto, we're known as the Wushu Brothers."
"We were given to Master Sarah as a gift when she passed Shi-Fu's trials and I evolved into a Single-Style Urshifu when I climbed up the Tower of Darkness," added the older Wushu Pokemon. "Hashi will be deciding to go through the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Waters when we get back to finish his training."
"That explains it. And, that Zarude, he's definitely a far cry from the entire tribe," nodded a female Roselia, taking a hard look at Zarude.
"Yeah! Very, very, very different!" added a curious female Deerling as she looked at Sarah's Rogue Monkey Pokemon.
"I can assure you when I say I've never heard about the Zarude Tribe nor have I've ever been to the Forest of Okoya before," Zarude answered, to the PokeDynasty's surprise.
"You...haven't?" the male Grapploct echoed, surprised.
"No, ever since we arrived, he's been acting strange and he's really worrying me," Sarah answered, seeing Zarude now looking around the glen as if he had been to the jungle they're in before but couldn't remember. "He's never told me why he was acting this way and I can't understand why..."
"He certainly is an odd one, that," a female Swanna noted, seeing how confused and lost the princess' Galar Mythical Pokemon is as he continued to observe the glen thoughtfully.
"I see. But, why did the Jungle Guard bring you and your family here, Young Sarah?" quizzed a male Crustle.
"The Jungle Guard told us about what happened to you because of the Zarude Tribe committing acts of terrorism in the area and I wanted to do something to help you all. That's why I'm going to find the Heart Tree and talk with the tribe myself to get them to stop this madness and leave you, KoKo, and his father alone."
Her declaration to help the PokeDynasty and the Jungle Guard deal with their Zarude Tribe predicament caused said former group to gasp in shock, disbelief, and horror at the little princess. Their reactions were exactly the same as the Guard's when she made her choice for them and they were also not taking it lightly.
"Princess!"
"You can't!"
"You're crazy! You know that?!"
"Are you nuts?!"
"Say, what?"
"Did you not see what the Zarude did to those babies when you found them?"
"You can't talk with them! They'll never listen!"
"They'll eat you up if you enter their home!" a few of the PokeDynasty objected.
"You're bonkers if you're thinking of going to the Heart Tree!" snorted a male Dragapult in disbelief.
"I may be a woman but I'm nothing like a soft oatmeal cookie for them. Nobody in this jungle's able to stand up to them so what's the harm in me trying? If they don't want to work out a peaceful alternative, then I'll make them listen if they do resort to violence. I'm not to be underestimated, you know."
"And, you're the one wearing the royal crown," remarked a male Piloswine, getting a glare from Sarah.
"You wouldn't want to make Mother mad with anything like that, hairball," Silvally retorted, frowning at the Ice Type that spoke. "Out of all the trainers in her home region and our circle of friends, she's the strongest for a load of reasons when it comes to fighting."
"Well, if she's really going to the Heart Tree and if they pounce on her for objecting their Law of the Zarude, then she must be ready to fight her way out by whatever means necessary or she'll be at their mercy along with KoKo and his father and friends along with all of us."
"Those bastards literally pack a punch and if any of us try to fight them to take back what's ours, apart from the Okoya Jungle Guard, they'll knock us down without even trying," a male Infernape added, rubbing one of his shoulders.
"That's how it goes for all of us to this day ever since the Jungle Guard was first formed and they started plundering our home and its riches," Craggeon nodded knowingly before he smiled at Sarah and suggested, "But, enough about that. Why don't we show you around before you meet up with your friends and return to Milyfa Town tonight?"
Sarah and her family smiled warmly at the offer and eagerly accepted as they all nodded, wanting to see more of their home before they would begin to tackle how to have the princess speak with the Zarude Tribe diplomatically. But, her Zarude was a little slow to follow them as he continued to look around the glen before Sarah turned and realized that he didn't come along.
"Zarude!" she shouted, getting his attention as he looked away from a tiny lagoon and waterfall he was in front of. "Come on, we're going to see the rest of the glen!"
"C-Coming!" he nodded, hurrying along.
With KoKo and DaDa, they were planting all the seeds from the eaten plants they could find near their home. "There, that should do it," KoKo noted, planting the last seed they have.
Seeing that their work was done, having found and planted all of the seeds they managed to scavenge from the tribe's wreckage, DaDa then took a small sliver of his vines and then crushed it, spreading golden leaves on the spot where KoKo planted the last berry seed. And, from the small patch where the seed was planted, a sprout of a berry plan popped out which got satisfied smiles from the two of them.
"Wow, it's looking pretty good," KoKo noted, satisfied.
"True, but there won't be anything to eat for quite a while now," nodded DaDa in agreement as KoKo looked at his vine bands on his arms.
"I wonder when my vines will finally grow in."
"You'll do fine without them."
"KOKO, KOKO!" a panicked voice cried, belonging to a Hoot-Hoot frantically calling for his human friend. "It's terrible, terrible! Pangoro and Flygon, they're both at it again! It's the third fight they've had this week!"
"AH! DaDa, I'll be right back!" cried KoKo, immediately following Hoot-Hoot. "Show me where!"
"Huh, hey! Where are you going?" asked DaDa in surprise, eventually sighing as he looked back towards the new berry plant. "I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised."
Returning to Sarah and her family, they soon got to know the Jungle Guard's PokeDynasty in their Dynasty Glen. There were many different groups of Pokemon that lived in it peacefully including packs of Yamper, Boltund, Purrloin, Liepard, a flock of Wooloo led by a wise Dubwool (the evolved form of Wooloo), a group comprised of a mix of both Alolan and Kantonian Vulpix and Ninetales, and even giant family of Eeveelutions.
It was like a whole Pokemon kingdom within an already huge Pokemon kingdom.
The Jungle Guard was also shown to be extensive as it had a team of commanders such as Cobalt, Amber, a wise Greninja - Xena, Medusa - the female Sandaconda, the male Dragapult - Ghost, and Tyson - the male Infernape. All of them were Second-In-Command behind Tai Lung and Guardeon and some of its top soldiers.
As Race watched in amusement at her, Sarah found herself being the center of attention as she clicked with the PokeDynasty's baby Pokemon, hearing about Fennekin, Swablu, Cyndaquil, and Phanpy's rescue by her, especially in their friends; Appletun, Snom, Skiddo and a Shiny Buneary.
Her boyfriend in question actually became popular with the local Lycanroc alongside Luna, Dawn (Midday Lycanroc), and Dusk (his unusual size and green leg bands being eye-catchers for some of the female Lycanroc), and even their parents when Nikki and James brought them out. One of the female Midday Form Lycanroc, however, known as Misa, was interested in Dawn for he had never met another Lycanroc before besides Dusk and Luna after coming to Sarah's world. Of course, the Lycanroc Brothers urged him to go with her, feeling glad to see that he was able to feel love since leaving Dia's world.
With her adopted parents and Tsukumaro, they were mingling happily with the other Pokemon as they attracted the attention of a Lucario pack and a group of Dragonite with even the baby Riolu and Dratinis nuzzling their evolved forms (Nikki and James' partners) happily. They were all quite amused to hear how they got their trainers married in a haphazard 101 Dalmatians-inspired way as they told the wild Pokemon of how their life together got started.
A female baby Togepi caught the attention of Tsukumaro, Absol, Natu, and Deerling as she waddled up to them and reached her tiny arms out to the old advisor, wanting a hug. He was only too happy to oblige as he found her to be the cutest Pokemon he's seen, her affection catching the attention of her adopted mother, a female Whimsicott.
The Dragons of Berk also gained celebrity status as some of the Pokemon were intrigued to hear their story, the females were spoiled, and some of the males acknowledged their new friendship with them through strength contests.
The sight of her family mingling with the wild Pokemon brought a bittersweet smile to Poipole's face, as she hoped they're still time to save her kingdom and mother.
But, while everybody in Sarah's family along with Race, Robbie, and Bella (along with his current team of Rama, Raksha, Calculator, and a Blaziken called Blaze) got along happily with the PokeDynasty Pokemon, Zarude was continuing to look around the glen. He still felt strange as if he had been to the Forest of Okoya before but he didn't know if he really did come from the forest since he had been living in the Isle of Armor for his entire life as far as he could remember. He then noticed a nearby Gracidea Flower at a nearby fallen log overtaken by nature and looked at it softly, gently feeling its petals on his right hand as he caressed it.
"Geez, Tai Lung, you guys have got yourself quite a kingdom with all of the Pokemon you have to keep watch over," Sarah admitted, looking around as she joined the Jungle Guard.
"Thanks, Princess, this means a lot from us coming from you. We've been doing all that we can to make sure the Zarude didn't trespass upon it or transgress against our family," Tai Lung smiled as they watched her family and the other wild Pokemon continuing to mingle. "I only wish they would forget about imposing their foolish Law of the Zarude and realize that they're not the only ones who are living in this jungle, this paradise is for everyone to live in and share..."
Everyone continued to be happy as they got to know one another from Sarah's family but the peace was suddenly shattered again when a wild female Grookey frantically came into the glen and went over to the Okoya Jungle Guard.
"Jungle Guard, Jungle Guard!" she cried, rushing over to Tai Lung and his fellow guardians. "We got trouble, in the berry clearing! I don't know how they did it but Pangoro and Flygon are butting heads again!"
"What, again? Those buffoons, they never learn!" groaned Tai Lung, exasperated. "That's the third fight they had this week! I guess this was to be expected given how headstrong they both are, anyway."
"They must be crazy!" Spookeon grumbled.
"Guess we better get to work, then. I'm ready to screw in their loose heads, anyway," remarked Brawleon, eager to teach the two fighting Pokemon a lesson.
"Not this time, you guys. You've already done enough right now," Sarah objected, surprising the guard as they looked at her. "I'll see what they've been up to and see what I can do to make them stop fighting. Grookey, can you show me where Pangoro and Flygon are fighting?"
"Ugh, alright. But, please, don't get yourself hurt if you somehow run into the Zarude Tribe, Princess," Grookey nodded reluctantly.
"Rapidash!" called Sarah, getting her larger Unique Horn Pokemon's attention before she saddled up on her, took the wild Chimp Pokemon with her, and then they immediately left.
"Island Girl!"
"Pipsqueak!"
"Honey/Ponchita!"
"Princess!" gasped Race, Eternatus, James, Nikki, and Tsukumaro as they and the rest of her family followed Sarah and Rapidash.
"Sarah, wait!" Breezeon called, being too late as they followed Sarah, Rapidash, and Grookey to where the Pangoro and Flygon are fighting.
"Do you think they're heading for trouble if she's going to solve this problem herself?" pondered Helioseon worriedly while everyone else muttered with great concern.
"If that's so, we better follow them. If they meet KoKo and he gets involved... Oh, I hate to think what would happen if they come across the Zarude Tribe," Tai Lung winced as he and the rest of the Jungle Guard went after Sarah and her family.
Tai Lung was right to be worried; KoKo cared extremely deeply for the Jungle Pokemon given the reports they've been hearing about the Zarude Tribe continuing to plunder and steal the berries from him, DaDa, and their friends out of their continued spite for the two of them. He and the Guard knew there would be trouble should he end up taking one of the Pokemon to the Heart Tree's Healing Spring and unknowingly drag Sarah and her family into it should they meet and then help him, which would end badly for them all.
As they ran, Zarude was still feeling troubled as he continued to look around the Forest of Okoya. He was sure he had some feeling of being in it before but he still couldn't tell if he even had memories of a previous life he once had in it. The princess' Rogue Monkey Pokemon still couldn't figure out what made him so connected to the jungle but he didn't have time to dwell on it now, he and his family have a catfight to break up and fast.
"This is strange, why do I feel so uneasy?" he pondered, concerned as he did his best to keep up. "Why do I get the feeling that I know this place still?"
In the brawl between a wild Flygon and a wild Pangoro, the two of them were continuing to fight as the other frightened native Pokemon did their best to keep away from them as they duked it out. KoKo and Hoot-Hoot quickly arrived at the scene as he got between them, hoping to make them stop and end their fight peacefully.
"Hey, stop! Take a breath and calm down! Ugh, break it up!" he demanded.
"Stay out of this, KoKo! I have some unfinished business with this bozo, move aside!" Flygon snapped, tossing him to the side until he came across his Pokemon brother, Skwovet.
"Skwovet, look, you're here," he said to him as he snacked on berries. "You should've stopped them."
"What, me? Stop their fighting, not happening, Bro," Skwovet replied nonchalantly. "In case you've forgotten, I'm a Squirrel Pokemon, and squirrels never get involved in catfights between big dorks like them."
"Oh, for crying out loud. We've got to break this up and treat Flygon's wounds or else he won't fly again!" KoKo retorted, seeing the wild Flygon's injured left wing.
"What do you idiots think you're doing?!" snapped an unfamiliar voice, catching KoKo, Skovert, and the other native Pokemon (barring the wild Pangoro and Flygon) by surprise as they saw Sarah coming in with her family, the princess jumping over the two brothers and getting between the fighting wild Pokemon.
The two wild Pokemon gasped in shock as they soon growled, preparing to harm her until Kaji and Sarah's own Flygon intervened, immediately pushing them from one another.
"What is wrong with you two?! You both know better than to fight with so many Pokemon around you!" snapped Sarah as she glared at Pangoro and the wild Flygon angrily. "Can't you see what you're doing is scaring them? You're no better than the Zarude Tribe if you go at each other's throats!"
"Oh, yeah? How would you know, that big black and white teddy bear thinks he's sooooooo tough, thinking he can take me down easily!" scoffed the wild Flygon tauntingly. "I bet he's all talk no action since he can't even beat me!"
"I AM tough, you little dragonfly!" snapped Pangoro, giving his wild rival a death glare. "And, what can you do with that wing? If you keep going at me, I bet you'll become a cripple for the rest of your miserable life!"
"Even if I must give up my wing after that hard punch you gave it, I'll make sure you eat your own words and go out with a bang!" the wild Mystic Pokemon roared back defiantly before Sarah's Flygon held him back.
"Stop it, Kid! You won't beat him if you don't get that wing treated now!" he argued to his fellow Ground/Dragon Type. "A downed Flygon is a dead Flygon and you'll be dead if you lose your ability to fly! Do you really want to lose it over winning some petty catfight?"
The wild Flygon snarled as he glared at Sarah's Flygon but then, he noticed his bruised wing and he finally gave up, knowing he was right. He didn't want to lose against a Pokemon rival but his victory wouldn't matter if he can't fly.
"No..." he sighed as common sense took over, getting an approving smile from Sarah's Flygon.
KoKo and Skovert were baffled by this; they've never made contact with any other human let alone four and she managed to stop Flygon and Pangoro from fighting, along with having tons of Pokemon on her along with some dragons that are clearly not Pokemon.
Sarah glared at Pangoro to force him to stop fighting with the wild Flygon, the larger Fighting Type trying to look intimidating but failing as he slowly backed down and decided not to oppose her. Seeing that Pangoro and the wild Flygon finally stopped fighting, she quickly went up to her Flygon's wild counterpart as she looked at his bruised wing.
"It's not too bad but it'll cause more problems for you in the long run if left untreated," she stated, seeing it not life-threatening.
"I don't think we'll be able to get to the Pokemon Center back at Milyfa town at this rate, Ponchita," remarked James.
"And, we can only do so much with whatever medical supplies we have should it be worse than we imagined," added Nikki.
"We must find a place where we can heal his wounds immediately, Princess," informed Tsukumaro, his calling his goddaughter by his title garnering surprised looks from the native Pokemon as they looked at Sarah.
"I know a place where we can do that for Flygon," KoKo spoke up, getting Sarah's attention as she and the wild Mystic Pokemon turned to him and Skwovet.
"You must be KoKo the Jungle Pokemon keep referring to, right?" Sarah asked the Poke-Tarzan boy, getting a curious nod from him. "I'm Sarah, Sarah Tomoe, nice to meet you. Do you know what this place is?"
"Yeah! It's right near the Heart Tree! Come on," KoKo smiled, seeing that Sarah could be trusted as he and his brother led the way with Sarah's Flygon carrying his wild male counterpart.
KoKo proved to be fast after all the training he had been given by DaDa while he grew up in the Forest of Okoya so it proved a little challenging for Sarah and her family to keep up. Soon, they arrived at the Healing Spring close to the Heart Tree, the princess being surprised that KoKo had led her and her family to her intended destination easily. Making sure the Zarude Tribe wasn't around, Sarah's Flygon gently lowered the wounded Flygon inside the Spring as everyone else watched while his wing healed.
The wound on the wild Flygon's wing glowed and then, in just a few seconds, it disappeared and he was able to fly again as he took off to the sky.
"Wow, alright! I can fly alright again! Thank you!" called the wild Flygon as he hollered happily.
Sarah just smiled as she emerged from the Spring while her family watched on with happy and relieved smiles but KoKo started to get worried as he tried to shush him before they would all be found out and Sarah's mission would be compromised.
"Shhhh, be quiet," he whispered.
But, his warning fell on deaf ears and it was too late to get him to stop because before everybody knew it, a Vine Whip emerged and wrapped up Sarah before she was pulled up and she screamed. Her scream caught everyone's attention to find her in the clutches of the older Zarude who still felt the sting of DaDa's betray to his own tribe for KoKo. The boy in question gasped as he recognized who the Zarude was - Alpha, the leader of the Zarude Tribe.
"Well, KoKo," Alpha sneered, holding the princess in his grasp and eying her family along with Skovert and the wild Flygon. "Who are 'they' supposed to be?"
"Mother!"
"Mama, no!"
"Auntie!"
"Princess!" Tsukumaro, Silvally, the Night Lights, and Nebby cried in horror.
"Uh-Oh! Flygon, move!" KoKo shouted to the wild Flygon, who quickly made a break for it while Alpha ran off with Sarah in his vines.
"Come back here, you coward!" screeched Kaji furiously, the Flame Pokemon taking off after him to retrieve his trainer.
"After him!" Tsukumaro shouted, he and the rest of his family rushing after him along with KoKo (Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro riding aboard Virizion, Cobalion, and Terrakion in the process).
"Let her go, Alpha! All we did was borrow the Spring!" KoKo demanded.
"The Spring is our territory! Not yours or the girl's!"
"How pathetic, coming from you cowards after you raided KoKo and his father's berry supply when you trespassed upon their home!" Kaji snapped at Alpha.
"It's only natural for the strong to steal from the weak! Survival of the Fittest is the only rule we follow in our tribe, everything in nature is part of our law!"
"You singing that same song again?!" snapped KoKo as he and Sarah's family continued to follow them.
Alpha's stubbornness and idealism only incensed Kaji as he roared with fury and slammed himself into Alpha, the two of them crashing onto one of the large roots surrounding them. The chase after him and Sarah had taken everyone directly into the Heart Tree, the struggle immediately getting the attention of the other Zarude including the Elder as they all emerged to see the chaos going on as KoKo and the princess' family all caught up to the trio.
"That little creep...!" snarled the Sub-Alpha, Vice, seeing KoKo amongst Sarah's rescue party as he prepared a meteor hammer whip from his vine bands while Sarah did her best to break free from the vines Alpha trapped her in.
"Don't bother trying to escape, human! You have no idea of who or what you're up against!" Alpha spat at the princess as he tightened his vines to squeeze her to death, horrifying her family and angering KoKo as he prepared to fight.
"Island Girl!"
"Mama!"
"Auntie!"
"You monster!"
"Stop it!"
"That's our Ponchita!"
"Unhand the princess, fiend!"
"Let her go!" snapped Kaji again, immediately coming forward and getting into a battle stance, getting an amused snort from Alpha.
"You, along with KoKo, have the gall to think you can beat me?" he smirked before launching Vine Whip.
But, Kaji (thanks to his training at the Isle of Armor) was faster and just as strong as he grapped Alpha's vine before he yanked it hard and pulled Alpha closer to him. Then, when he was close enough and Blitz and Curly saw their chance, Kaji used Metal Claw to slash him before the Pikachu couple grabbed the vines binding Sarah and chewed on them, setting her free.
"DAMN IT! You'll pay for that!" Alpha snarled before he was interrupted by...
"STOP!" shouted Tai Lung as he, Cobalt, Amber, and the rest of the Jungle Guard (along with the baby Pokemon Sarah healed) appeared along with DaDa.
"You, so you-NO! The Jungle Guard, too?!" breathed Alpha in shock as the Guard got into battle stances and DaDa stood protectively over his son.
"DaDa, it's you," gasped KoKo.
"I told you to stay away, KoKo!" DaDa scolded, sounding disappointed in him.
"But, I-"
"No excuses!"
"You think you can trespass on sacred ground and not be punished?!" shouted Vice angrily as he charged at Sarah and KoKo before DaDa knocked him down and Solar fired a fireball at him, blasting him as he skidded on his back across one of the roots they were on.
"What do you want now, Tai Lung?" sniffed Alpha to the Shiny Zeraora.
"You know the reason why we're here, Alpha! You and your entire Zarude Tribe have caused nothing but grief for everybody still!" Tai Lung snarled, glaring hard at the tribe leader. "Your acts of terrorism have gone too far! Stop this madness before you throw the entire jungle into disarray and destruction, at once!"
"Ha! Terrorism, you say? We were just having a bit of fun with everybody!" smirked another Zarude as the rest of the tribe laughed.
Sarah was shocked before she growled at the tribe and even her Zarude was disgusted by what he had heard. "Shut up! Do you seriously think that terrorizing the native Pokemon, KoKo and his father, stealing their food, and forcing them to live in fear is fun? Is this all just some sort of game to you?! You're committing treason against the Circle of Life and you should know better than to discriminate and look down on those Pokemon, treating them like cattle!" she seethed furiously.
"Circle of Life? Grrrr, HA! Don't make me laugh, human! You obviously don't know how much we depend on the Spring and nature to sustain us! We play by our own rules and we taught everyone the most important rule of all; never ever challenge or underestimate the Zarude Tribe!" Alpha spat back.
Alpha and Vice then proceeded to make a point as they charged at the Jungle Guard to kill them but Sarah went one step ahead of them as her body was coated in a golden yellow aura, her righteous fury taking her over as she then shouted while getting into a battle stance, "Not if I can help it! I call to the beast from within me, unleash the lion, NOW!"
Thrusting her hands forward in a tiger wheel two-fist punch, a huge spirit of an American Lion (akin to Mufasa) emerged from her and it clawed Alpha and Vice to the ground before it gave a loud roar and returned to its summoner. The sight of the powerful lion spirit shocked the entire Zarude Tribe, the Jungle Guard and its commanders, and the baby Pokemon as they've never seen anything like it. Even KoKo and DaDa were thunderstruck by what they saw out of the little princess as she glared at Vice and Alpha.
"You will not touch the Okoya Jungle Guard, my family, or KoKo and his father with even one inch of your dirty claws! If you want an opponent, I will fight you! If you want to taste the ground, feel free to attack me!"
"Oh, really? How and why would we ever fight you, human?" smirked Alpha, not expecting much from her.
"THIS!" snapped Sarah, turning away and unleashing the Roar of the Elders with a loud scream (akin to Sailor Jupiter's before her initial death near the end of Season 1 of Sailor Moon (VIZ dub)).
The empty grove of trees she was aiming at had its trees blown of all its leaves, showing the power she has on her if anybody made her angry enough. The Zarude Tribe along with Vice and Alpha, the Jungle Guard and all its commanders, and the baby Jungle Pokemon looked on in jaw-dropped awe but unlike his tribe, the Elder looked intrigued after he witnessed Sarah using the Roar of the Elders.
This was enough for DaDa to go on, saying to his former tribe and the Elder, "I know it was wrong, I'm going to take my son and leave. Ah, Elder, my apologies! I will make sure this will never happen again! Please!"
As much as the Elder took pity on DaDa and despite knowing that he meant no harm still given how much he loved KoKo, especially given his determination to find his parents long before he discovered what had happened to them after he broke off from his old tribe, he knew that DaDa still betrayed them for his son regardless of his intentions. Even he knew that it was futile given all that had happened and he made his choice which left him as an outcast.
"The law is the law. It's too late for all of that once it's been broken, now leave at once," he sighed.
"Come on, KoKo."
"The Elder's always been soft on you," Alpha sneered, prompting an angry KoKo to snarl at him in disgust as he and DaDa went to leave.
"Hold it!" Sarah demanded, holding out a hand to silence the tribe after they voiced their contempt for DaDa as she turned to him. "Nobody's going anywhere and you both have just as much of a right to be accepted here as they are."
"Watch your tongue, human! The Law of the Zarude dictates that only the strong survive and that the weak must be cast out!" spat Alpha in disdain. "If we share our land with others, our home will expire! Then, we won't be able to stop ourselves from being weak and dying if we give it away willy-nilly! We Zarude will continue to steal from the weak to nurture ourselves so our survival for the future will be ensured!"
"You're saying you'd rather commit terrorism just for your own survival and see everyone else including KoKo and his father as sentimental and weak?!"
"That is what led the traitor before us to abandon us and take care of KoKo over ten years ago, throwing away his own tribe and old life just to raise a human child who's nothing but dust in the wind along with the Jungle Pokemon beyond our borders! He has forsaken us and now, this is the price he paid for his sentimentality!"
"You don't know what you're talking about, you fool!" snapped Sarah, causing the entire tribe to gasp in shock at her defiance against the Alpha.
"What would you know about that?!" Vice shouted in disgust as the other Zarude started to growl threateningly.
"I've been in the same position as a few friends of mine once were since my family and I helped them end a war that has been going on for 300 years and they've been ostracized by their own people for as long as they can remember with their rough childhoods. Accepting help from others may be a weakness to some, sure, but it allows you to become stronger. Overstepping your limits to show your superiority won't solve anything! Demonizing your fellow Pokemon never solves anything..."
"How would you know? Why do you care for the human he could've ended as a baby?" Alpha snorted.
"...More than you'll ever know. My fallen uncle, the one they called Lothor, first attempted to sell me off and have me killed when I was two weeks old all those years ago and after being kicked out, he came back and tried to kill both me and my parents. They were forced to sacrifice themselves for me and our home because they loved me more than anything. Sure, you may think they've thrown me away but that's because they wanted to protect me! I hate the thought of being rejected but if my parents are willing to do just that in order to protect me from him again... I would gladly accept knowing they'd still love me, regardless..."
The entire tribe gasped again in total shock and even the Elder, Vice, and Alpha couldn't hold back their own shock. Sarah, a human standing on the edge of death's door with the Zarude Tribe, knew what it was like for someone like her to be rejected. But, unlike them in the case of DaDa and KoKo (who were also baffled by what they heard), she took it in stride because of their love for her and had it motivate her and her family and friends to find and reunite with them before her uncle and Team Eclipse could get to them.
"You're wrong, about it all... Being weak by sharing what you have with others and accepting their help, their love, their potential friendships is not a crime, it's only natural since it's a matter of personal pride. What would be the point of having all of this if you don't let others in and just push them away? I'm the person you see before you because I was able to accept help from others and draw from their friendships with and their love for me. I've been able to understand what my family wanted after accepting each of them as part of my family because I want them to decide for themselves as well as what I wanted for them and never abandon them whenever they needed help. That's how I acted as a real parental figure and as far as I'm concerned, I'm surrounded by a bunch of cowardly monkeys who don't know anything about friendship, loyalty, love, or real happiness! You're all no better than my own uncle!"
Frustrated that the Zarude Tribe wouldn't listen to reason despite the Elder thinking otherwise, Sarah had to give up and leave to cool off and think of a new plan. Her anger taking her over, she transformed into a lioness cub again and ran off.
"Sarah!" gasped KoKo, reaching out to her but being too late.
"Come on, KoKo, we're leaving," DaDa sighed, taking his son and leaving the Heart Tree to have a talk with him as they headed for home.
"Thanks a lot, you spineless chimpanzees. I guess being stupid AND weak does run in the family with you all," snorted Eternatus, unimpressed and disgusted by everything he and his family had seen from the Zarude Tribe.
"You're one to talk, Eternatus! We all heard how you nearly killed all of humanity and Pokemon in the Galar Region last year!" Vice sniffed haughtily.
"You try being denied a home and real friends along with compassion and love for 3000 years being on the short end of the stick with humanity until my pipsqueak came along and gave me something I've finally yearned for and you'll see how I feel!"
The Zarude Tribe snarled at the former Darkest Day for his own insolence but then, they gasped in surprise as they turned their attention to the princess' Zarude, who was conflicted and quiet throughout the entire exchange. Now, they were curious about why the Zarude before them along with DaDa was with Sarah and living amongst other Pokemon and humans.
"Hey, you!" Vice called, getting his attention. "Haven't we seen you before? You look awfully familiar."
"What, no! I've never even met you before, I've never even been here my whole life," Zarude replied, not understanding what Vice told him. "I don't know any of you and I've lived in the Isle of Armor for as long as I can remember. And yet, I can't help but wonder why this place, this forest, all of it seemed familiar to me but I don't remember being here."
"Wait, you don't remember your own tribe? You're a Zarude, right?" Alpha questioned as he blinked, surprised and confused at the Rogue Monkey Pokemon with Sarah's family before he became disgusted again. "Or better yet, why do you associate yourself with these weaklings and those insufferable humans? You know that we Zarude are the superior beings in this entire jungle and you dare to come here with these fools and show that you're no different than KoKo and that traitor!"
"What are you talking about? They're my family when I was given to Sarah by her friends! How could you look down upon me and us for that?"
"Any Zarude who dares to show sentimentality to others and forsakes its own tribe will be shown no mercy and if I can't make an example out of KoKo's 'father', I'll just have to do so with you instead-!"
"ALPHA!" bellowed the Elder finally to Alpha, stopping him as he finally spoke and looked down at Zarude. "Hmm... Of course, I finally remember, to think you were being raised and loved by a human child all this time..."
"W-What are you...?" Zarude gasped, looking at the Elder. "Who am I, what are you saying? What do you know? Tell me!"
The Elder sighed solemnly before he gave a soft look towards Zarude and then, dropped the bombshell on him and everyone else, "Dear child, you used to live among us when you were just a baby..."
Everyone gasped or screamed in utter shock, turning to the Elder as he nodded to Zarude. Zarude, on the other hand, was left speechless as he felt himself becoming weaker and was looking pale, holding his head with his right hand and trying to hold himself while he got down on his knees before he groaned and grunted. It felt as if he was suddenly starting to have memories coming back to him that he either supposedly lost or had them unknowingly suppressed for some reason. The princess' Dark/Grass Type could comprehend what he was being told, prompting the Elder to continue and lay down his origins as gently as he could.
"No, no... That can't be, it's impossible, I can't be from this place!" he grunted, trying to remember but at the same time, fearing what he might know and remember from his memories. "That's a lie! My home was the Isle of Armor, I don't remember being here, at all! What are you saying?! What are you trying to tell me!?"
"I'm not surprised but I was also afraid you wouldn't remember. Some time ago, you were an only child to two older Zarude who were both your late mother and father, they felt very proud to have you as you were their pride and joy. But, the happiness they felt wasn't to last for a few weeks after you were born, humans have entered the jungle and started causing total havoc that started a devastating fire that consumed much of the forest. Many Pokemon suffered...numerous casualties, your parents included. But, before they died, they had a wild Corviknight fly you away and out of the forest in order to protect you from them. You don't remember because the shock from losing them caused you to lose your memories of your past life in the process. After that, you've must've ended up in the Galar Region and lived there ever since..."
"But, who am I? All I know is that I'm a Zarude but if I lived here with my mother and father, what did they name me?! Who am I to them besides their son?!"
The Elder continued to look on solemnly as he then revealed, "Your name your mother and father had given to you, out of the love in their hearts: Nyasi."
"Hey, wait! If Island Girl's Zarude actually lived here and is named Nyasi by his parents, who were the ones who caused the fire that killed them?" inquired Race.
"...I believe it was none other than, the princess' fallen uncle himself and his syndicate in their pursuit to find and kill her upon their return," the Elder finished grimly, horrifying Sarah's entire family.
Sarah's Zarude, now formerly known as Nyasi, was shellshocked along with the rest of the Zarude Tribe as they finally remembered the baby Zarude that was lost to them. He felt like crying and screaming as he held his head, finally remembering the fateful day when his parents were forced to send him away with a wild Corviknight for his own safety. And now, with the bigger revelation that Team Eclipse and Lothor were both responsible for the deaths of both his mother and father, he was at a loss and he'll never get to see or know them again.
Finally, it became too much for him as he let out an anguished scream and slammed his fists down; he simply couldn't take it anymore as much of the tribe looked at him solemnly along with his family. Even Alpha and Vice were left speechless as he sobbed and tried to deny everything he was told and he finally remembered, only to come back in a full mental circle in realizing that it was all true.
"My mother and father died protecting me just weeks after I was born, and like Sarah, Lothor and Team Eclipse destroyed my life and killed them!" he seethed in furious agony as he swiftly turned to the Elder and quickly left. "I can't believe it... I WON'T BELIEVE IT!"
"Zarude, wait!" Mai shouted as everyone looked shocked and worried for Nyasi.
Meanwhile, KoKo and DaDa were on their way home after their tussle with the Zarude Tribe but the latter was still furious about his son trespassing upon his former tribe's grounds and dragging his new friends into his mess.
"I can't believe you! What were you thinking and why would you drag your new friends into this?" he scolded.
"They're the ones that are hoarding everything and Alpha kidnapped her while we were trying to save her from being tried and killed!" KoKo argued.
"Zarude will always have the Zarude Law, the law allows them to live. Even if Sarah were to assert her authority to help you all, she's currently powerless against my old tribe and she has no jurisdiction in the Forest of Okoya!"
"Then, who will help the Jungle Guard look after the other Jungle Pokemon?" KoKo continued, trying to remain optimistic about what could be possible for everyone in the Forest of Okoya. "Jungle Pokemon are great, nobody knows it; Flygon picks fights but he's just so strong and Ninjask is super, super fast! Cottonee stick together and don't let go!"
"I'm aware, come down."
"Fine... Is it really that bad?"
"It is to the Zarude."
"...Then, I guess I'm not a Zarude," sulked KoKo.
It has always been a problem for him that he wasn't considered a Pokemon despite being raised by his DaDa and living amongst them. Every time he clashed with the Zarude Tribe whenever he would come to the Healing Spring to help Pokemon or in helping the Jungle Guard stop them whenever they would cause trouble, he always ended up getting the short end of the stick for being human and not an actual Pokemon. Aside from his human skin and his body structure, he couldn't perform a single Pokemon move for as long as he can remember. And, that is what irked him the most; even if he does consider himself a Pokemon, the Zarude Tribe knows otherwise.
"That's why I don't understand the law; my hands aren't like theirs, or my skin!"
"You're wrong! You ARE a Zarude!" DaDa reassured firmly.
"Then, why can't I perform just one single move?!" KoKo snapped, frustrated. "Just what am I?!"
DaDa didn't know what to say to that; he knew that KoKo wasn't able to perform a Pokemon move given that he's a human and he has no special powers or anything and he wasn't sure how to break it to him. What's more, this forced him to remember that he had taken it upon himself to raise KoKo as his own after discovering what happened to his parents years ago and he had become so precious to him, he didn't know what he would do without him.
"What you are..." he began gently, only for KoKo to feel betrayed and now feel unsure about his place in the only home he's ever known before he ran off. "KoKo!"
DaDa sighed remorsefully as he held his cape and recalled how passionate he is about helping his Pokemon friends whenever they're in trouble and in need of anyone's help including their own. KoKo loved his Pokemon friends more than anything and he's been loved by his own Pokemon father so much that he considers himself to be one of them despite the Zarude Tribe's contempt and misgivings. He didn't know what to think now and he knew he should've gone through the subject of him not really being a Pokemon differently so he decided to give his son some time alone until they would be on better terms on it again.
"Whenever it comes to Pokemon, he always ignores everything else," he mused sadly, recalling a peculiar situation during their life together when this happened when he came across a wounded Rufflet and showed it to him.
In another part of the forest, KoKo tried to think of who and what kind of something he is. Is he really a Pokemon or something else altogether, something or someone he never knew he really was before? He was snapped out of his solemn trance when Skwovet came after he finally caught up with him.
"What's up, Bro?" the Squirrel Pokemon asked.
"Hey, Skwovet, what do I look like to you?" KoKo quizzed.
"My big bro, what else?"
"That's not what I meant."
KoKo hummed quietly before he decided; remembering Sarah and how she ran off and transformed into a lioness cub and seeing how much he looked like her and her adopted parents, Tsukumaro, and Race, he might as well find and be with them so they can help him figure out who and what he's meant to be.
"You know, I looked more like Sarah and her family since my skin and hands are like theirs... I've never seen another human aside from them in my life maybe they can, well, help me figure out who or what I am... If I find them."
"Are you sure, Bro?" asked Skwovet worriedly.
KoKo just nodded he proceeded to find Sarah to speak to her and her family about his place in the world and who and what he's meant to be, stewing himself in his frustration over the harsh truth that he's more of something else, a human, than a Pokemon (even if he didn't know the full details of his past yet).
"If I'm not a Zarude, then what in the world am I? Just who am I supposed to be?!"
But, as he swung through the trees while trying to find the princess and her family and continued to stew himself in his anger, he suddenly yelped as he came across what looked like a large metal pipe in front of him. He managed to dodge it easily as he looked on in surprise but he wasn't able to avoid a second pipe coming at him, hearing Skwovet's warning too late before he crashed into it and was knocked out. Then, after becoming unconscious, he fell into the river and drifted towards a waterfall, leaving his little brother to run off and go for help as he went over.
It seemed as though KoKo was a goner and he could drown but as luck would have it, Ash and the others were exploring nearby after meeting with Sharron when they heard him splashing into the lagoon after going over the waterfall nearby. Lana and Brionne, being the first ones to see him, managed to dive in and help him out as the others quickly came over and helped bring him up and over to the shore.
"Hey, are you alright?" asked Ash.
"Is he alright?" asked Mallow worriedly, seeing KoKo completely unconscious.
"Who is he?" asked Lillie.
"I've never seen anybody like him before," Kiawe blinked in surprise as KoKo soon coughed, bringing relief to everyone.
"He's alive!" Sophocles smiled as Togedemaru cheered.
"Thank goodness!" added Lana as Brionne clapped her flippers happily while Rotom-Dex checked his condition.
"Doesn't look too bad but he's got a really nasty knock on the head, we better get him some help before it gets worse," he suggested.
"Right," Kiawe nodded as he helped sling KoKo up on his right side. "Ash, you better call Sarah and let her know about this."
"Okay," Ash nodded as he made the all.
Back to Sarah and her family, Sarah's Zarude, Nyasi, was back in the PokeDynasty Glen, sobbing he was gently comforted by a baby Appletun, Skiddo and Shiny Buneary, who are three friends of Fennekin, Cyndaquil, Swablu, and Phanpy.
Just now, he had finally discovered his tragic origins and how he came to be in the Isle of Armor as well as finding out he was once a part of the Zarude Tribe. He was also rocked hard by the fact that Team Eclipse and Lothor, following their return and during their search for Sarah, had trespassed upon the Forest of Okoya and set fire to it, killing his parents in the progress amongst of other casualties suffered. He didn't want to believe that he was actually an orphan until Sarah came and took him in without knowing of his lost past but ultimately, he didn't bother to deny it anymore; he was indeed an orphan and he was actually adopted when he was given to Sarah after her first Galar escapades.
When Sarah was finally found and told everything, she was shocked that she had raised and cared for an orphaned Mythical Pokemon long after he came to the Isle of Armor, left all alone no thanks to her fallen uncle and Team Syndicate. She could see his despair clearly when she, her family, and the Jungle Guard returned and found him sobbing near the biggest lagoon.
Sarah was about to approach the grief-stricken Nyasi when Race quickly grabbed her shoulder and she turned to see him giving her a gentle look, her boyfriend mentally warning her that he's still emotionally broken and she should tread as carefully as she could when comforting him.
The princess nodded before she finally walked up to her sobbing Rogue Monkey Pokemon as Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, and Swablu joined their friends to help comfort him. Once she was sure she was safely within reach as she sat down next to him with the lagoon in front of them, she gently reached out a hand and rubbed his head to soothe him in his fragile state.
"Zar-Mmm... Nyasi," Sarah began, nearly forgetting about her Zarude's real name as she got his attention, her heart now breaking to see his tear-derived face. "You okay...?"
Nyasi looked down and shook his head, still preferring to sob on his stomach as he continued to wrap his head around his tragic past and everything that the Elder told him. The little princess continued to frown before she did her best to put up a smile, already liking his birth name as she tried to integrate it into her mind from now on given what she had heard.
"Nyasi... That's a nice name, your mom probably thought of that before Lothor came years ago. I'm sorry... It was my fault Lothor entered your old home and took your family away from you..."
"...If-I-If only I'd been able to see her and Father again, I would be happy... I don't blame you, Sarah... You never knew about this forest nor about your uncle's return after he and Team Eclipse broke free of your parents' prison seal... The Elder won't hold it against you and neither would that tribe, hopefully..."
"I just wish I could've found out about you along with my adopted parents. You and I, we're not all that different given what Lothor did to us. I was sent to this time in the future while you were forced to move to the Isle of Armor without knowing."
"Y-You didn't know about me and this forest until now and recently, I know you too well to be mad at you regarding your uncle and what happened to me, Mother, and Father," sniffed Nyasi reassuringly before he sat up beside her and held his head while the baby Pokemon crowded his lap and cooed sadly. "But still, t-to think that I was born in this very f-forest... I wanted to believe that it was all a lie but the more I thought about it and when the memories finally came back... I don't know w-what to b-believe..."
"Y-Yeah, but really, I don't blame you for breaking bad like that, dude," Tyson admitted as he squirmed, holding and rubbing his tail awkwardly.
Tai Lung gave an awkward, agreeing nod as he rubbed the back of his head, "I never thought being sent to the Isle of Armor for your own protection by your parents without your knowledge when Lothor and his forces first invaded would change you like that. You're definitely not one of them, that's for sure."
"Heavy lies the head that bears the truth, Young Nyasi," added Xena sagely with a knowing, sorrowful nod. "What happened to you and your mother and father back then was most tragic but you were still a baby and they were worried for your wellbeing so it couldn't be helped."
"Not only that, but you would've been dead long ago had Lothor and his forces spotted and killed you and that Corviknight who helped save you and had you not met us years later," Shadow reassured soothingly. "Your parents did the right thing before they died by giving you to that wild Corviknight all those years ago."
"But still, they should've come with me to the Galar Region! I survived because of them but I've had to live alone because they didn't want to burden me with having them along if they were hurt while helping to fight off Lothor and Team Eclipse! I lost their warmth, their comfort, I've had to rely on my own strength to live on without them helping me! Do you really think they'd do that for my sake?"
"If they really loved you more than anything and if you traveled back in time and relieved those horrifying memories in person, even if you have the chance to save them, I doubt they want you to put yourself in danger to save them when you're their greatest treasure and the one thing they feared losing the most," noted Azelf.
"Our opinions may not matter much because most of us didn't lose anybody we loved to monsters such as Lothor but we know that if any of us were to do anything and everything we can to save each other and ensure that even only one of us survives in our family, then that's what we're going to do," added Hashimoto.
"And, if you think the life you lived no longer has any meaning because of the harsh truth you were told by the Elder from the Zarude Tribe, you'd be shaming your own parents if you don't continue to live on for them," Camo pointed out.
"Camo and Hashimoto are right, Nyasi. Right now, since you know what happened to your mother and father, that gives us more reasons to carry on the good fight against Lothor and Team Eclipse," nodded Reshiram in agreement.
"You can mourn for them at any time but you must promise them as well as us that you need to live on for them in their memory. If you shut yourself from the rest of the world because you can't get over losing the one thing you treasured most of all back when you were a tiny Pokemon, then you'll sink into a wormhole of eternal despair and hopelessness for yourself as well as others. It'll be something Lothor and his minions will be willing to exploit should we run into them at some point and they remember what they've done to the Forest of Okoya as well as your parents. Didn't you tell your family at some point long before we left for this journey that you're not going to hesitate for anything after you were told about Team Eclipse?"
"Are you going to quit on us after finding out that your parents also died protecting you?" questioned Azula as he and Azul looked on.
Nyasi didn't know what to say; he did once make a promise like that back then long before everyone started the search for Queen Delilah and King Doug when he first started living with his new family and he did promise to never hesitate on anything ever since he first heard about Team Eclipse. He was also understandable rattled that his parents died by Lothor and Team Eclipse's hands just to save him out of their undying love for him and is now unsure of his place in the world despite finding on in Sarah and her family. What should he do now? What's next for him now that he's found out about his origins and his real name; should he return to the Zarude Tribe and abide by their Law of the Zarude or leave them behind and continue living with Sarah and his new family?
But, he couldn't dwell on it any further as everyone heard Sarah's Wrist Com go off, the Power Rangers jingle causing the Jungle Guard and the baby Pokemon with them to jump in surprise and bewilderment.
"What was that?!" spluttered Amber.
"Where'd it come from-bzzt?!"
"Who's out there?" cried Maneton and Freezeon.
"Easy, guys, that's just my Wrist Com. My friends must've found something and they want to speak to me about it," Sarah reassured before she activated her Wrist Com and heard Ash calling her.
"Hey, Sarah! Where are you, we found someone somewhere in the jungle and we thought this might interest you," he said.
"Why, what's up? Is it a Pokemon or two you guys managed to find and capture for your teams?"
"Nope, Lana and Brionne found some weird-looking kid from the river. He's got some weird-looking hair and what looked to be white paint on his face and chest along with a brown loincloth and brown armbands. He nearly drowned when we saw him go over the waterfall at the river next to us but he's safe now."
Sarah suddenly gasped as she knew who it was Ash and Kiawe were talking about, "KoKo!"
"Huh?" her friends asked, confused.
"I'll explain later, we'll be back soon!"
"Wait, KoKo, what happened? Is he okay?" asked Guardeon, now worried for DaDa's son.
The princess ended the call before he turned to everyone else in her family, telling them, "Guys, Mom, Dad, Tsukumaro, it's KoKo. Ash and the others found him by the river, I think he ended up in trouble somehow to make him end up with them."
"But, that's impossible! I thought he would stay with his father after they left the Heart Tree and were safely away from the Zarude Tribe!" Cobalt gasped.
"Do you think your friends found him and he somehow ended up in the Pokemon Center with them?" Breezeon pondered, concerned for KoKo's wellbeing.
"We better see if he's okay," Tai Lung suggested, hinting that they should head for the Pokemon Center as everyone nodded and they headed off.
Sarah stayed for a bit with Nyasi as she turned to her grief-stricken Zarude and held his face, looking softly at him once he had finally stopped crying. She could tell he was still reeling from the Elder's previous bombshell and he was still wondering what to do now that he doesn't know his place in the world, being stuck between his old life that he could've lived and his new one with Sarah and his new family.
"Will you be alright?" she asked gently, not wanting him to think too hard and be ready for anything should he decide what to do.
"...Yeah, I will be," he answered after a moment of silence.
Nodding back and holding onto each other tightly along with the baby Pokemon, Nyasi used Vine Whip to follow their family and the Jungle Guard and swing their way out of the glen and the Forest of Okoya and back to Milyfa Town. Ash's mentioning of KoKo really took the princess by surprise and she can only hope that he didn't get into any more trouble than he did prior with the Zarude Tribe back at the Heart Tree.
By the time they arrived at the Pokemon Center, Nurse Joy directed them to KoKo's room where they all found him resting peacefully with the Pokemon School gang watching over the boy.
Sarah carefully entered the room while she was joined by the baby Pokemon, the Jungle Guard, Tsukumaro, her adopted parents, Blitz, Curly, and Nyasi, "How is he?"
"He's sound asleep after we brought him over to Nurse Joy," Mallow answered.
"Oh, I'm just glad Lana and Brionne were able to rescue the poor dear when he started drowning," Tsareena replied in relief.
"We were so worried," nodded Mallow's Shaymin.
"He wasn't too badly hurt when we found him. Somehow, he got a nasty shock and a heavy bump when he crashed into something," Kiawe added. "But, for the most part, he's doing okay."
"That's good, I honestly don't know what's gotten into that boy but at least he's in one piece," Guardeon spoke up as he and the rest of the Okoya Jungle Guard came up to the sleeping KoKo with Seleneon and Helioseon jumping onto his bed to look him over closely.
"WHOA! Hey, Sarah, what's with these guys?!" balked Ash, shocked from seeing the Jungle Guard and the baby Pokemon, the latter group having to be lifted up by Amber, Tai Lung, Sarah, and Cobalt to see him as well.
"Yeah, how'd you meet them?"
"And, where did they come from?" asked a surprised Sophocles and Lillie as their partners also looked baffled at them.
"Guys, meet Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, Swablu, Appletun, Skiddo, Buneary, and the Okoya Jungle Guard," replied Sarah, introducing her family's new friends and allies to the Pokemon School gang.
Then, she introduced her friends to the Jungle Guard as well as the babies, "Tai Lung, Cobalt, Amber, Guardeon, guys, these are my friends and my bodyguards: Ash, Kiawe, Sophocles, Lana, Mallow, and Lillie. They're also my classmates from the Pokemon School on Melemele Island in Alola."
The others were surprised when Sarah soon explained about the Jungle Guard and how she came to meet them and the baby Pokemon that tagged along with her and the rest of her family. The girls gushed over the baby Pokemon while the boys were in awe of the Jungle Guard.
"Data update - Okoya Jungle Guard entries complete!" Rotom-Dex buzzed excitedly (after introducing himself to the Jungle Guard) before he turned to Sarah curiously. "Hey, Sarah, who's the kid we found in the river? You said earlier that his name was KoKo when Ash told you about him when we finally brought him to the Pokemon Center."
"Did you and your family happen to meet him along with the Jungle Guard earlier today?" Mallow questioned.
"...I think I better tell you guys something," Sarah replied, going to the door and closing it but not before nodding to the rest of her family that she was going to tell the others about KoKo.
Nikki, James, Solar, Shadow, Winter, and Tsukumaro nodded knowingly before they urged the rest of their family to wait in the lobby or in their family's rooms to give the others and KoKo some privacy.
Now that they're alone along with Ash and the others, Sarah recalled everything she heard from the Jungle Guard about KoKo, DaDa, and the Jungle Pokemon's beef with the Zarude Tribe and their lifestyle of Survival of the Fittest as well as their contempt for others who they feel are inferior to them with most of it directed at DaDa and KoKo the former's adoption of him. She told her friends and Rotom-Dex everything she and her family had known regarding KoKo's predicament and what the tribe was doing to the Jungle Pokemon and what spurred Tai Lung, Cobalt, Amber, their fellow commanders, and Guardeon and his family to create the Okoya Jungle Guard.
When she had finished recounting everything with Blitz, Curly, and the Jungle Guard's help, both the gang and their partners were left in total shock and outrage over what they heard and they even had sympathy for KoKo and DaDa.
"You mean, the Zarude Tribe actually discriminated against KoKo for being a human even though he thought he was a Pokemon?!"
"And, they bullied the native Pokemon in the jungle just so they can ensure their own survival?" spluttered a stunned Ash and Kiawe.
"That's terrible!"
"Did they really do that to those poor Pokemon, DaDa, and KoKo?"
"And, they've turned their backs on DaDa when they wouldn't help him find his parents before he decided to adopt and raise him as his own?"
"How horrible and thick-headed can a human or Pokemon get?" Lana, Sophocles, Mallow, and Lillie added in shock and horror.
"That's not fair!"
"Oh, those Zarude are total ruffians unlike yours, Sarah!"
"Big meanies!"
"And, the Zarude that attacked you guys sounds pretty bad."
"Totally uncool!" Pikachu, Tsareena, Shaymin, Turtonator, and Sandy reacted angrily over the Jungle Pokemon's current predicament as Sarah nodded.
"I know, it's that bad and they didn't stop ever since they got started. That's why Tai Lung and his friends decided to band together and form the Okoya Jungle Guard to fight back at them and protect the Jungle Pokemon including their PokeDynasty but their crimes against them only got worse as the years went on. It didn't help that their mission was also compounded by their contempt for KoKo and DaDa given that his father betrayed his own tribe in order to look for his parents and later, raise him when he didn't find them, from what they heard back when he was a toddler."
"Did you try to talk to them when you found out about their crimes?" Kiawe inquired.
"I tried to but they're just too stubborn and set in their ways and they forced my hand when they tried to attack our new friends. There's just no convincing them, the Law of the Zarude is what allows them to live and there's nothing I can do to change that."
"And, there's... Something you kids should know about Sarah's Zarude," Breezeon replied, throwing a sympathetic look to Nyasi along with Sarah and the rest of the Jungle Guard, the Zarude just giving them a slow, solemn nod to allow them to speak the truth.
"What'd you mean?" Ash asked.
"Ash, my Zarude, is... Not, from the Isle of Armor, he was born in Okoya Forest," Sarah answered.
"Oh! Really?"
"That's great, Zarude!" Lillie and Lana cheered, only to see how broken and emotionally drained Nyasi is as he turned his back towards the gang and the awkward yet grim looks from Sarah and the Jungle Guard.
"Zarude...?" asked Kiawe worriedly.
The Jungle Guard and Sarah then told them everything the Elder Zarude dropped on Nyasi regarding his origins and how Team Eclipse and Lothor were both responsible for the deaths of his parents and how he came to be on the Isle of Armor in the first place.
"Lothor and Team Eclipse killed his parents after causing a fire that also killed dozens of Pokemon there years ago?!"
"And, a wild Corviknight took him to the Galar Region so he can be safe from them?"
"Oh, man..." the boys reacted, speechless.
"So... Your real name is actually Nyasi?" Pyroar asked gently, only to get another solemn nod from the former Zarude orphan.
"But, if your name is really Nyasi, why didn't you tell us?" Snowy begged for an answer.
"You didn't ask and you didn't know, let alone me... I only just found out when the Elder recognized me and told me everything about my origins," Nyasi replied, still emotionally drained and exhausted from letting his emotions out previously.
"Oh, Nyasi..."
"That's horrible, no Pokemon like should have to go through what Sarah went did!"
"That's totally wrong!" the girls also balked.
"Then, I guess we've got another reason to crush Team Eclipse after we find the Last King and Queen, once and for all," Turtonator said, stewing in his anger at Lothor and his group.
"So, Princessssssss, thesssssse humanssssss are sssssuposed to be your own bodyguardsssssss?" Medusa quipped, scrutinizing her friends and their partners. "Hmm... Not bad, I've sssssseen worssssse."
"Hmm... You think they're the right fit to be your personal bodyguards protecting you from Lothor?" Tai Lung questioned.
"I'm sure of it, they're much stronger than you think," Sarah reassured.
Then, as they were talking, KoKo finally came to after his nasty crash into the pipe which got everyone else's attention, Ash and Pikachu being the first ones to see him as he woke up.
"You're awake!"
"That's great!" they chirped happily.
"How do you feel?"
It took a few seconds for KoKo to realize where he was and what had happened to him but upon seeing an unfamiliar face or two in Ash and Pikachu and then the rest of the Pokemon School gang, he yelped in panic and tried to escape, shoving his covers onto Ash to blind him and grabbing one of the lights like it was a vine but only breaking it. The others were startled by this and Sarah and the Jungle Guard could see that KoKo was understandably scared and unsure of what to do now that he's far from his jungle home.
"Hey, chill out!" cried Ash as everyone looked at the startled Zarude boy.
"KoKo, please!" gasped Sarah, seeing how he's reacting to too many new people and Pokemon with him at one time as he crouched off from them. "Are you okay?"
KoKo just snarled warningly; he was surprised to see the Jungle Guard and the baby Pokemon along with Sarah, Nyasi, Curly, and Blitz with him after trying to find them and the rest of their family. But, he knew nothing about the Pokemon School gang and he felt threatened after seeing them for the first time. Things were about to get crazier for him, though, as Nurse Joy's partner and assistant nurse, Chansey, came in to see what the racket was all about.
"Excuse me, but is everything alright?" she asked as she entered.
But, KoKo didn't care; as soon as he saw the door open, he quickly bounced from the chair next to him and swung off the door frame, trying to continue his escape.
"Wh-hey, hey!" Ash cried.
"KoKo!" gasped Lillie, seeing him stop in surprise.
Now, KoKo's arrival and panicked awakening caused a stir after he exited his room and when he saw Nurse Joy, a few other trainers, and their Pokemon looking at him after he was now up, he was speechless.
"So, are you feeling any better, now?" smiled Nurse Joy.
"KoKo! Are you ok-KoKo!" Guardeon began as he, Tai Lung, and Sarah tried to meet up with him before the Zarude Boy running to get more distance from his unusual surroundings and the unfamiliar faces staring at him.
"You're awesome!" Ash commended as he stepped forward until Sarah pushed him back and shook her head at him, mentally telling her friend not to spook him any further just as the rest of her family came over and saw KoKo wide awake.
"KoKo, please... It's okay, just calm down and let us explain," Sarah began as carefully as she could.
But, KoKo was still in a state of panic after he was overwhelmed by being in Milyfa Town; continuing to act like a Zarude, he just darted out of the Pokemon Center until he was soon greeted by the town itself. It was nothing like his jungle home he knew so well as he was surrounded by people and Pokemon living together and seeing the exterior of the Pokemon Center itself. He was experiencing firsthand a serving of culture shock, having no memories of the town and seeing Eternatus and Reshiram again, much to his surprise as they soon gasped in shock to see a van running along his path on the road.
As KoKo tried to get his bearings and find out where he is, he wasn't watching where he was going as the van was coming his way, akin to his initial experience of unknowingly being run over by another car. But, this time, instead of DaDa saving him again, Sarah rushed over and managed to grab his hand in time to pull him away from being run over in a hit-and-run.
"LOOK OUT!" she shouted as she pulled him, the touch of her hand unknowingly making its presence to him.
While the princess did manage to save him as the others managed to join them, the van managed to stop as it nearly hit another nearby trainer but spooked his Drednaw into running off.
"Huh?! No, Drednaw!" the trainer cried to his Pokemon.
"Oh no, that Drednaw!" gasped Amber as she saw Drednaw running.
"I gotta go after him before he ends up hurting somebody!" Sarah decided, quickly running after Drednaw with her family following after her as KoKo watched.
"Drednaw, wait!" Sarah cried.
"It's okay, the car stopped!" begged Blitz.
"Mom, I don't think he's going to listen!" replied Star, trying to keep up with Drednaw as well. "That car spooked him badly when it stopped in front of him and his trainer after you pulled KoKo out of its way!"
"We gotta do something!" Sunset pointed out.
"If Drednaw keeps going crazy after flying into a panic when he and his trainer were nearly hit by that car, he'll run over somebody himself!" Flora added.
"But, what can we do?" quizzed Mai frantically, all of them still running or flying after the frightened Drednaw with KoKo and the Jungle Guard following them and the Pokemon School gang trailing behind.
"Everyone, look out!" shouted James to the citizens and their partners, all of them getting out of the way in time before they were hit.
"Out of the way!" Boltund barked.
"AH! Sarah, look, up ahead!" Totem Luxray gasped in horror, seeing a young girl and her Morpeko in front of them being too frightened to move.
Sarah tried to run over to them as best they could but to her surprise, KoKo and the Jungle Guard were already ahead of her, her family, and her friends. They jumped and swung from whatever vines they could find among the trees or flew to the girl, her partner, and Drednaw as KoKo halted the scared Bite Pokemon and Amber quickly shielded its soon-to-be victims while the rest of the Jungle Guard surrounded them. Once the danger was over, KoKo gently scratch the Water/Rock Type's neck as he growled happily and started to relax from his near-miss.
"Wow, KoKo! That was great," Sarah admitted in surprise as she, Blitz, Curly, and Nyasi joined him. "Thanks, you and the Jungle Guard were incredible."
"Huh, you..." KoKo gasped before they saw the gang and Drednaw's trainer finally arriving.
"Drednaw! Oh, thank goodness," the Drednaw's trainer smiled, relieved to see his partner okay and impressed to see KoKo managing to ease him. "Well, what do you know? Drednaw doesn't normally take to strangers like that."
But, his compliment had also set KoKo off as the sight of yet another human stirred him up as did the girl he and the Jungle Guard managed to save along with her Morpeko that thanked him. This prompted him to run away again to get away from the humans in the town and find his way back to the jungle, surprising the two townsfolk and their partners while Sarah and her family and friends were forced to chase after him along with the Jungle Guard.
"KoKo, KoKo! Come back!" Sarah shouted as Ash and Pikachu managed to catch up with her and the Jungle Guard.
"Hey! How did you do that back there, the thing with Drednaw?" Ash asked, spooking him again as he ran off. "Why are you running away?"
"Ash, you idiot! Don't spook him! He's already experiencing a heavy dose of culture shock, he doesn't know everything that's going on in this town and he won't tell us anything if you guys keep giving him reasons to run!"
"KoKo, it's alright! Nobody's going to hurt you, we want to help you get home!" Tai Lung cried to the Zarude Boy as he and the Jungle Guard managed to overtake Sarah and Ash as the head of the pack and catch up with him.
KoKo was still in his culture shock trance as he continued to run off, running on his arms and legs like a Zarude just as he was raised to by DaDa. He only managed to stop when he saw Amber, Nyasi, and Xena landing down in front of him and another trainer returning his own Boltund to his Pokeball, startling him as he jumped back and watched him take his leave to another part of Milyfa Town.
"KoKo, it's alright, just calm down. We're here with you," Amber reassured as KoKo then noticed two more trainers returning a Galarian Stunfisk and a Rookidee to their Pokeballs.
"Za, Za?" KoKo questioned in Zarudian about the Pokeballs.
"Oh, that? You haven't seen a Pokeball yet?" Ash questioned, taking one of his balls out and showing it to him. "See, I got one of them, too. All of my friends have one."
KoKo looked at the Pokeball curiously but he soon sniffed it and grabbed the ball, licking like it was some kind of berry. His curious observation startled Ash and the others as he tried to wrench it out of the Kanto Trainer's hands to examine it further, making the Jungle Guard sigh at him in exasperation as he and Ash got into a tug-of-war for the ball when it was clearly not a berry.
"Hey! What are you doing?! AH! Come on, let go!" Ash cried in surprise. "Pikachu, you gotta help me out here!"
Pikachu tried to stop them by unleashing a Thunderbolt but he was caught by Medusa as she wrapped him in her coils and canceled his attack, causing him to choke and gasp in surprise as he squeaked fearfully at her. The Jungle Guard's female section commander Sand Snake Pokemon gave him a warning glare, being protective of KoKo just as DaDa was to him.
"You will not ssssssshock DaDa'ssssss baby boy, young man!" she hissed warningly. "If you do, I'll make sssssure you'll live to regret hurting him or coming to our jungle home! Do I make myssssself clear?"
"G-G-G-G-G-G-G-Got it," Pikachu whimpered, giving a thumbs-up to her and she released him.
Sarah, sighing over KoKo's cat's curiosity about the Pokeball as he continued to try to wrench it out of Ash's hands, just went over to the Zarude Boy as she gently came up from behind him and rubbed his shoulders and upper arms.
"Now, now, KoKo... It's okay but that Pokeball you were about to yank out of Ash's hands is not a berry or food," she soothed him carefully. "You don't eat Pokeballs as you can with berries, they're part of some equipment for Pokemon Trainers and they're made of metal."
KoKo heard Sarah and suddenly, relaxing as he allowed her words to sink in, he finally let go of the Pokeball and stood back with her as the others watched.
"Well, that's one way to get him to stop from trying to eat something as weird as that," Thundereon remarked.
"At least, he didn't get fried to a crisp from that knucklehead's Thunderbolt, thank Arceus" added Brawleon as he stomped his front right paw readily. "I would've loved to give that mouse the old Brawler One-Two if he did shock him."
"Wait a minute! I just realized something, is this the first time you've seen a Pokeball?" asked Lillie, surprised and in realization from seeing how KoKo reacted to the Pokeballs and some Pokemon being returned in it.
"Za, Za, Zarude," answered KoKo in Zarudian, the Pokemon, dragons, and Jungle Guard being the only ones who can understand him with his current language.
"No way!"
"How can somebody like you know nothing about Pokeballs?" Pikachu and Togedemaru added in bewilderment until...
"YOU TALK LIKE US?!" they gasped in total surprise.
"Pikachu, what is it?"
"Is something the matter, Togedemaru?" Ash and Sophocles quizzed their partners.
"Can you really speak with us Pokemon?" Pikachu continued to KoKo.
"Zarude, Zarude, Za," KoKo confirmed, nudging to himself.
"That's weird."
"He's talking like he's a Zarude," Lana and Mallow blinked.
"Of course, he can speak Zarudian, you ruffian youngsters. Didn't you hear what Sarah was telling you all earlier, he was raised by his DaDa ever since he was a baby so he's become accustomed to the ways of the Pokemon and he speaks as they do so he understands them much better than most along with her. In fact, he only knows Sarah and her fellow humans with her since they were the first to meet him when they were still in the jungle," Guardeon retorted to them matter-of-factly.
"So, that means he doesn't speak our language even though he looks human and we can talk to him," Kiawe added, looking at KoKo.
"Hold on, you can talk to Pikachu?"
"That's so cool!" Ash and Pikachu blinked before they smiled at the Zarude Boy.
"Awesome! So, my name's Ash and you already know Sarah, her parents, and Tsukumaro. And, these are our friends - Mallow, Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Lillie."
"Yeah! You already know Sarah and her family but this here is my buddy, Ash, and their friends: Mallow, Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Lillie. And, I'm Pikachu!"
"Pikachu, Pikapi," echoed KoKo curiously, pointing between Ash and Pikachu themselves before he then pointed to the Pokemon School gang and spoke their names in Pikachu's words one by one. "Pika, Pika, Pichu, Pikachu, Pi-Pika...Sarah."
Sarah had to chuckle as she knelt down to KoKo and said, "Right, that's how Pikachu would call them and himself but my human friends' names are Ash, Mallow, Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, Lillie, and my parents and godfather: James, Nikki, and Tsukumaro."
KoKo looked at Sarah and then smiled, starting to get their names right in his mind as he took them in. "...Names are Ash, Mallow, Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, Lillie, James, Nikki, and Tsukumaro," he echoed again.
"Yep," she smiled again with a nod, causing KoKo to chatter and dance excitedly before he got up onto a nearby tree base.
"Now, that you know our names, why don't you formally introduce yourself? Tell them your name."
"KoKo," KoKo smiled to the group before him, getting warm smiles from her family and the Jungle Guard as they and the excited baby Pokemon watched.
"So, your name's KoKo as we've been told, huh? Nice to meet you," replied Ash, lifting a hand for a handshake as Sarah faced him.
KoKo saw Ash's hand as well as Sarah's right hand as it hung by her right side, leaning slightly towards Ash's hand first before he touched it and held his hand as open palms. Then, he did the same with the princess' hand, recognizing the warmth that held him after she saved him from being run over. Sarah and the others were surprised as their hands met and he felt them responding to his own; his hand, hers, and Ash's as well as the rest of the gang's hands are like his.
"Za!" he chirped ecstatically, not realizing that even though he's a Pokemon at heart, he's actually a human at that very moment.
"Whoa, did you see that?!" gasped Mallow in amazement.
"His hands, they're human!" Lana added in awe.
"That means although he thinks of himself as a Pokemon through and through, he actually looked more like a human!" added a surprised Kiawe.
"So, now what? We know that he's a human now but in the end, his home is still the Forest of Okoya and he already had a father and Pokemon friends there," noted Sophocles, seeing everyone's current predicament. "Do we just take him back to the jungle or what?"
"...I know! Why don't we show him around town and help him act more like a human?" suggested Mallow brightly. "We can help him get accustomed to his new surroundings until we can figure out what to do with him and the Zarude Tribe when we return to the jungle!"
"Yeah!"
"Good idea!" Lana and Lillie agreed eagerly.
"Yeah, I like that! Let's show him how we humans can do things!" Ash added, also eager to the idea.
"Whoa, whoa! Where's the fire, girls, Ash? Unless you've forgotten, KoKo just dealt with a bit of culture shock just by being here," James warned as he, Nikki, Tsukumaro, and the Jungle Guard approached the gang and KoKo. "He's probably never known another human in his life before our family first met him when we helped stop a wild Pangoro and Flygon from having a catfight."
"And, he doesn't know how we humans live out our lives so it'll be difficult for him to get accustomed to Milyfa Town and such," nodded Nikki in agreement.
"He's been a Pokemon for his whole life, I doubt he'll adapt easily to the ways of humanity as far as I can tell," Seleneon replied.
"Do you really think he can do it?" Tyson added skeptically.
"You guys know how he was to being here earlier, Ash. Who knows how he'll react to seeing other creatures like him?" Sarah noted.
"You said he's lived with Pokemon his whole life, maybe this'll help him!"
"Besides, it'll only be for today, Sarah. I'm sure DaDa won't mind him looking around the place and learning more about humans," Kiawe added, wanting to give KoKo a chance to see how humans live their lives with Pokemon and what they do. "You also have some new friends in those baby Pokemon and the Jungle Guard, perhaps it'll be a good thing that can help them in the long run when they go home. You never know."
"Yeah, and once he's got the know-how to how we live, we'll bring him back before he even knows he's gone," finished Sophocles, also agreeing to the idea. "What could possibly go wrong."
Sarah was once again conflicted as she didn't want KoKo to be overwhelmed again by his culture shock and the ways that humans live, especially since DaDa might be worried sick for him should she realize how things went down between them during their last conversation together. To her, anything can go wrong, especially with how the Zarude Tribe had been behaving. But, he knew that her friends were right and the experience might be beneficial to KoKo as it could help him to decide who and what he really is to himself and the other Jungle Pokemon. It still didn't help that the baby Pokemon were also pulling off the sad puppy face again just as Fennekin, Phanpy, Swablu, and Cyndaquil had done when they begged her not to meet with the Zarude Tribe.
"...Oh, alright," she finally sighed in defeat.
"YAAAAAAAY!" cheered the baby Pokemon, tackling her to the ground happily.
And so, began KoKo, the Jungle Guard, and the baby Jungle Pokemon's day in Milyfa Town, a world far apart from the jungle lives in the Forest of Okoya that they've known so well. The first thing everyone did was to buy KoKo some human clothes comprised of an orange vest over an indigo t-shirt and light blue shorts so that he wouldn't draw attention to himself as before. He then followed everyone on all fours as they went to explore the rest of the town until Sarah coaxed him to walk on two legs.
Amazingly, despite the hectic and crazy process DaDa had to go through in teaching him the ways of the Pokemon, KoKo was a fast learner and he was able to walk like a human in no time. Then, he took notice of a woman having some ice cream and he became curious as to how something so cold and creamy tastes like, even the baby Pokemon were in awe of the cold treat they saw her holding in her hand. So, Ash took everyone to a nearby ice cream shop to have a snack. KoKo was in awe as he saw the numerous flavors that were being served at the shop and the baby Pokemon's all lit up as they begged Sarah to buy them some to eat, which she relented in amusement.
With their ice cream cones at hand, KoKo, the Jungle Guard and their commanders, and the baby Jungle Pokemon joined their new friends as the Pokemon School gang, Sarah, James, Nikki, and Tsukumaro each got their own flavors as they sat down together. The city-ways newbies stared at their ice cream before Sarah demonstrated how to eat them and explained what they have to do and following her example, they licked them and soon, they enjoyed the taste of their treats.
Afterwards, they soon went to the local park where they saw a small concert event taking place and a human/Pokemon band played together with all of the guests gathered for the event and their Pokemon danced, sang, and played along. It was a totally wild experience but an incredibly intriguing one to KoKo, the baby Jungle Pokemon and the entire Jungle Guard as they watched; growing up and living together in the Forest of Okoya with only each other, the PokeDynasty, and DaDa and Skwovet along with the other Jungle Pokemon for company, they were all isolated from the outside world and all of its wonders along with humanity, both good and evil.
And now, here they are, seeing firsthand how humans and Pokemon can coexist together in cooperation and harmony, being loyal and happy friends and family to their giant community. For them, it was a sight to behold.
The entire Pokemon School gang and Sarah couldn't help but smile at their fascination and awe even though they've yet to experience whatever bad can come from humanity alone along with the Zarude Tribe. Thus, they even urged the group to join in on the fun as they all danced away until they got tired and decided to move on.
After their experience at the concert event, Sarah was challenged by another training using a Ferrothorn and a Skarmory while she decided to have Cinderace and Kaji duke it off against them in a classic match between fire and steel. Ferrothorn and Skarmory made the first moves as they used Power Whip and Peck but the Fire Type pair team countered either by dodging or blocking both attacks.
"Use Acrobatics Rush!" Sarah commanded.
Nodding in reply, Kaji and Cinderace combined Dragon Rush and Acrobatics for their combo attack, eventually slamming into the two Steel Types and winning by a double knockout as everyone cheered. KoKo, the Jungle Guard, and the baby Jungle Pokemon with them and their new friends all gasped in shock at seeing Sarah and her Pokemon unleash a combo attack against their opponents as they never thought of ever doing one before. They were even more astonished to see how strong the bond between her and her family really is when they battled and won easily. Her love and friendship with her Pokemon as well as her dragons are on a whole other level that they never thought of before.
Finally, dusk started to fall on the town and before long, KoKo, the Jungle Guard, and the baby Jungle Pokemon's day in Milyfa Town and their learning of city ways was almost over as everyone watched the sunset. They were reflecting on everything that they've seen and learned throughout their time with their new friends until KoKo's Pokemon senses picked up something from nearby and even the entire Jungle Guard felt that something's off from somewhere.
"Za?" KoKo perked.
"What's wrong?" Ash asked, seeing KoKo quickly run off.
"KoKo!" Sarah cried.
"Do you think someone's in trouble by the sound of that screaming?" Ghost pondered, hearing what sounded like cries as well.
"It must be, we better see what the commotion is about," replied Amber.
"You're right, let's go!" Veneon nodded before the Jungle Guard all left to follow KoKo along with everyone else.
They hurried to wherever the source of the cries are as KoKo and the Jungle Pokemon led the way. As they passed a crowd of the townsfolk and any visitors coming to the town waiting on what was supposed to be a fireworks display that was set in place for the night, they could hear a few of them mumbling worriedly as they saw who was/were responsible for the delay in the fireworks.
"Are the fireworks cancelled?" asked a woman to a nearby man.
"Those Pokemon down below are getting in the way," replied the man.
The perpetrators responsible looked to be a group of bug-like Pokemon that looked like miniature balled knights that are forcing the humans nearby to back off as if something about the fireworks set-up had annoyed them or if they were agitated over something that struck them personally on some level.
"Will you all just shape up?!" snapped another man who was the foreman in charge of the display but the bug-like Pokemon knights refused to back down as Sarah and her giant party came over. "Come on, what in the world is with them?"
"Is something wrong with these Pokemon or the fireworks, Sir?" asked Sarah, turning to the foreman.
"Oh, not much. We're trying to get everything ready for the fireworks tonight but these angry Falinks keep getting in our way."
"Falinks?" Sarah echoed as Rotom-Dex floated by and scanned them.
"Hmm, interesting. Bug-like knights," Rotom-Dex quipped before he pulled up the file on Falinks. "Falinks, the Formation Pokemon. A Fighting Type, teamwork is main their battle strategy and they constantly change their formation as they fight as one Pokemon, the brass leader's orders being absolute for the five troopers."
"I wonder why that is...?" Ash pondered.
"Do you have any idea why they would be so mad, Mister?" Lillie questioned.
"If we knew that, we'd fix it. I guess we're going to miss our time for tonight's fireworks this time."
"Hey, wait. Rotom, did you say that there's supposed to be a Brass Falinks?" Sarah asked, seeing only the five Falinks Troopers.
"Hey, you're right! The Brass is missing and the Troopers are getting worried for him, I wonder where he could've gone," Rotom-Dex realized, seeing the Falinks demanding that nobody was to use the fireworks until the Brass is found which prompted Sarah to turn to the foreman/fireworks director.
"Sir, by any chance, did you happen to notice that there were only the five Falinks Troopers when you and your team saw them?" the princess questioned as KoKo blinked in surprise and came up alongside her. "What happened to the Brass?"
The director was surprised, "The what?"
"The Brass, he's not with his Troopers. There's supposed to be six of them in their formation and the Troopers' leader somehow went missing."
"Miss, Young Man! Please, help! Trooper Two and I know where our leader is!" cried one of the Falinks as it and another Trooper came to them.
"Za, Zar, Zarude?" KoKo asked.
"Where is he?" asked Sarah to the two Troopers.
"H-He's got himself stuck inside the first fireworks tube by mistake and he'll be blown up if the director goes through with the fireworks! Please, you've got to help him!" Trooper Three begged.
"I see... Alright, I'll see what-KoKo! Hang on, buddy, you need help!" Sarah replied before she noticed KoKo already moving ahead and hurrying to join him.
"Hey, that's dangerous! Get away from there, both of you!" the fireworks director called, only for KoKo and Sarah to ignore him as they continued to search for the Brass Falinks.
"Sir, please, hold on a second! Let them do it," Kiawe requested, blocked the foreman's path. "Those two can both understand what the Pokemon are saying."
"Uh... Sure, they can, Kid," the director replied, being skeptical.
"No, it's the truth! I think they've figured something out," replied Ash, seeing KoKo check the smaller tubes while Sarah decided to check the first tube.
"I won't be able to climb that thing with how smooth it is, I'll need some claws and a hook," she thought, bringing out her Dragon Armor Morpher and Key. "Here goes, Dragon Armor, activate - Night Light Mode!"
She then summoned her Night Light Dragon Armor as it covered her from head to toe, leaving the townsfolk of Milyfa Town, KoKo (who stopped for a brief moment after seeing her armor), and the Jungle Pokemon with her and her family and friends in shock as they gasped. This threw them for a loop as they soon discovered that Sarah was not an ordinary girl or Pokemon Trainer and this further got the Jungle Guard and the baby Pokemon to realize once again that everything they and their fellow Jungle Pokemon about her was spot on and not a lie.
"Kaji, mind giving me a lift?" she called to her Charizard.
"Coming right up!" her Flame Pokemon saluted.
Once Kaji was ready and waiting as he took to the air and hovered above his trainer, the princess fired a grappling hook from out of the hookshot on her right sleeve and it wrapped around his midsection, allowing him to fly her to the top of the first tube and see the Brass leader stuck inside after removing the cover on it.
"Hello down there!" she called to the Brass Falinks, getting his attention as he looked up and saw her, looking frightened but relieved as she then turned to KoKo to inform him. "KoKo, look here, I found him!"
"P-P-P-Please, help me..." he replied quietly to them as KoKo saw the Brass leader.
"Zarude, Zar, Zar, Zar!" KoKo called to the Troopers, to their relief and happiness.
"Guys, we found the Brass! He really is stuck inside the first tube and if we don't get him out, he'll soon be part of tonight's display! KoKo, move back, I'm gonna grapple him out!"
"AH! Shut down the power, now!" gasped the fireworks director to one of his technicians.
Everyone gasped in surprise by what Sarah had found as KoKo nodded and he quickly climbed down to rejoin their friends, the Troopers, and her family. With everyone safely backed off and her grappling hook still attached to Kaji, she carefully lowered herself down as she fell forward and faced the amazed Brass Falinks, his eyes widened in awe at his rescuer.
"You'll be alright now, we're getting you back to your Troopers," she smiled softly, gently grabbing him.
"T-Thank you, Miss," sighed the Brass Falinks again, feeling a little tired and cold as he rested in her hands.
"Mmm... Okay, Kaji, don't move until we're both out of the tube, then, lower us back down to the Troopers! Grappling Hook, retract now!"
Her line retracted upon her voice command and once both her and the Brass Falinks are both out of danger of being blasted along with the fireworks, Kaji carefully lowered the two back to the ground. The Troopers were all very relieved to see their Brass leader in one piece as they cheered happily while the fireworks director looked sheepish as he finally realized what might've happened if he wasn't saved and why his Troopers look so agitated.
"Oh dear... So, the Brass was stuck inside the fireworks tube," he realized.
"So, that's why you didn't want them to go ahead with the fireworks, knowing that your leader could be hurt. Right, guys?" smiled Mallow.
"That was stubborn of you but brave," nodded Tsareena.
"Good job," Shaymin added.
"Good thing they were able to stop it from going along."
"If they did continue with the display, the Brass would've been blasted and be badly burnt by a rocket."
"Which would've ended badly and he would've been in critical condition," noted James, Nikki, and Tsukumaro with a smile, seeing the reason behind the Falinks stopping the display as Kaji and Sarah brought the Brass safely back to his relieved Troopers.
"Leader/You're okay/Thank Arceus/Yeah/Don't ever scare us like that again!" the Troopers cried in happiness and joy to their leader as they joined him, Kaji, and Sarah (deactivated her armor and retracted her grappling hook).
"Now, now, young ones. I'm alright now, thanks to this young lady and her friend," the Brass smiled, looking at KoKo and Sarah as they smiled back and chuckled to each other, but not before the Troopers tackled her in thanks and tickled her, making her laugh.
"I had no idea he even got stuck there in the first place somehow. I guess I must've been pretty harsh back there. Please forgive me, Young Miss," the director apologized to Sarah.
"Nah, I'm just glad they were able to stop you and helped KoKo and I realize what happened and find him before he was blasted off and burned!" Sarah called through her laughter as KoKo watched on with a soft smile.
Sure enough, after the Brass Falinks was saved and night had finally fallen, it was now time for the fireworks display to begin. Along with the townspeople, Sarah, her family, her friends, KoKo, and Jungle Guard, the baby Jungle Pokemon, and the Falinks (now all back together again) took their places as the first fireworks rocket was launched. When it exploded to reveal a yellow covered spark and the other rockets followed, the explosion startled the Zarude Boy, the Jungle Guard, and the babies as they either got into battle stances and looked around for an enemy to fight or hid behind Sarah and her family out of surprise and fright.
"Your friends sure are a bunch of odd ones, aren't they?" the director quipped to Sarah as he looked at KoKo hiding behind her.
"It's alright, KoKo, guys. That's just some nighttime entertainment used in places like amusement parks and theme parks to end a fun day for everyone," she replied to KoKo, the baby Pokemon (who are being soothed by Nyasi and some of the other larger/older Pokemon), and the Jungle Guard. "Those things you're seeing are fireworks."
"You think?" Freezeon replied.
"That's what those things are called up there?" Cobalt questioned.
"I think my heart just stopped for a moment when the first rocket went off-bzzt!" Maneton whined as he sat down and held his chest, trying to breathe normally.
"Mine, too!" agreed Tyson, feeling the same way.
Nyasi chuckled as he turned to the Jungle Guard and the baby Pokemon, "Well, that's how it is and we've had something like that but much bigger and more elaborate back at home on Melemele Island on most nights. I guess this is one way to end your first and only day out at Milyfa Town and hopefully when you get back, the Zarude Tribe won't be going bonkers with that law of theirs."
"Just fireworks..." KoKo echoed before a Wooloo came in and licked his cheek, surprising him as he snarled before the director and his team saw an elderly man with a Dubwool coming towards the giant-sized group.
"Mr. Mayor!" the director said to the elderly man, the Mayor of Milyfa Town.
"You seem to have put on quite a show again this year," the Mayor praised him.
"Thank you, Sir. But, really, we owe this one a lot to these two," smiled the director, gesturing to Sarah and KoKo. "They were the ones who found out about everything and saved Falinks."
"Well, then, I shall let you know my gratitude knows no bounds. Thank you," the mayor kindly told the pair, tipping his hat as his Wooloo also gave agreeing, thankful baas. "And, because of your heroic actions, we've successfully launched the fireworks for tonight's display to make our wish to Celebi."
"Celebi/Celebi/Celebi?" blinked Sarah's family and friends in surprise.
"Celebi, Sir? You mean the Pokemon that's been known to many people and Pokemon far and wide as the Voice of the Forest?" asked Nyasi in bewilderment.
"What's the big deal? Is this so-called Voice of the Forest is supposed to be important or something?" Eternatus quipped, confused.
"You mean that Celebi, Mr. Mayor?" added Sarah, also taken aback.
"Right. Celebi is actually also known to be our Jungle Guardian," the director answered on the mayor's behalf.
"Your Jungle Guardian?"
"Celebi?!" gasped the Pokemon School gang in amazement and delight.
"And, can we see Celebi?" pleaded Ash.
The mayor shook his head as he continued to watch over the fireworks display while KoKo, the Jungle Guard, and the baby Jungle Pokemon along with the Falinks and Sarah's family mingled with the mayor's Sheep Pokemon partners. In truth, there was something that the people of Milyfa Town had known about Celebi since they've been making their wishes to the Voice of the Forest with the fireworks for a long time.
"No, unfortunately, it's been a long time since Celebi first appeared to us. Too long, I'd reckon, but that's about to be as expected regarding her."
"How come?" Ash pondered.
"Mayor, is there a reason as to why Celebi didn't appear to you and the Jungle Pokemon at the Forest of Okoya?" Sarah inquired.
"Hmm, you're a curious one, aren't you, young lady? You see, being the Voice of the Forest, they say that Celebi only appears in times and areas of great peace, being seen as a symbol of a bright and prosperous future still possible to obtain in our world. Our Jungle Guardian is no exception so when she doesn't show herself, it could mean that there is still something bad and evil going on in the jungle."
"I see," Sarah nodded understandably as her friends groaned.
"I'm not surprised if that was the case," Tsukumaro put in as James and Nikki nodded with agreeing hums.
"But, they also tell another story, about it being the Guardian of Time," the Mayor continued. "When Celebi disappears somewhere deep within the jungle, it's said an egg was left behind. It is also said that Celebi brought the egg here from the future."
"You really think so, Mayor?"
"Hmm-hmm-hmm. Remember, lass, it's just a story. It's just that I like Celebi to return to our jungle and for all these people and Pokemon to have a bright future."
"Sounds like a noble wish you and your people are having," Nyasi replied, smiling at the mayor.
The mayor chuckled to him with a nod, "Why, thank you. And, it's always been our wish to have our Jungle Guardian return as we do whatever we can to ensure that our bright future will be captured and for everyone to share. It's because of that wish that our magnificent fireworks display takes place each year."
As the mayor explained to Sarah, her family, and her friends as well as the awestruck Jungle Pokemon babies and Jungle Guard about his people's wish for a bright future for them and their Pokemon for a bright future and his hope for Celebi's return, KoKo looked at the fireworks as he thought about everything they've all been through all day. He had been wrestling with his identity crisis as to whether or not he's something else (now knowing himself to be a human) or a Zarude as DaDa had always proclaimed him to be despite not knowing a single Pokemon move. Even the Jungle Guard occasionally pondered that fact with it being the million-dollar question when they heard about him and how DaDa exiled himself from his own tribe to raise him as his own son (since he found out what became of his real parents over a decade ago). Now, they know for sure that he's more human than any of the Jungle Pokemon, even they and KoKo themselves would want to admit.
Of course, that meant breaking the harsh truth to DaDa the moment they return to the jungle and meet up with and their PokeDynasty back at their glen. They could only hope that despite whatever bad blood is caused between the two, nothing can break their bond.
At the same time, Skwovet managed to make it back to his and KoKo's nest and he found DaDa resting inside, having been worried sick upon realizing that he was gone longer than he had anticipated and didn't return after cooling off from their last exchange. He was left wondering what could've happened to him until Skwovet came to explain what happened to his son.
"KoKo! Oh, it's just you," DaDa jumped, having seen Skwovet, not KoKo, coming home.
"Pops! We've got a problem! Big Bro and I were just swinging through the trees earlier today but then, this big metal thing came by and it hit him really hard!" Skwovet began frantically. "He fell into the river and I saw him about to go over the waterfall but when he did and I found him again, he was pulled out by some humans and I haven't seen him since! Something's wrong and I'm worried, man!"
"Uh... Huh?" DaDa was confused as he tried to make sense until he had an idea of what could've happened to his son.
After the fireworks display had ended and with the people of Milyfa Town's wish made to Celebi, everybody decided to return to the Pokemon Center to rest up and be ready to explore the Forest of Okoya again. Koko was still looking around the town with them on the way back excitedly but the Jungle Guard knew that it was way past his and the baby Pokemon's bedtime and they knew that it was time to go home.
"Now, KoKo, I know you're excited but it's time for us to go home," Brawleon replied.
"Yeah, bzzt. It's really late tonight and he's already worried sick for you and us not returning, you know how he's gonna freak should your brother tell him when he finally reaches your home, bzzt," added Manteon in agreement.
"Za? Zaru Ru?" KoKo asked, pointing towards a father and son returning home and seeing himself and DaDa over them.
"Oh, that family?"
"What'd you find interesting about them?" Sophocles and Lillie questioned.
"Family..." KoKo muttered, remembering Skwovet and DaDa along with all of his Pokemon friends back home.
After sniffing and searching for his father's scent, he then decided that it was time for him to head back and see him as he reunited with the group and the Jungle Guard while they watched.
"Sarah! Friends, Zarude, Za, Za!" KoKo replied to the group, pointing them in the direction of the path back to the Forest of Okoya and leaving.
"Huh, what was that?" asked Ash as they quickly went after the Zarude Boy.
"He wants us to follow him back to the jungle, I hope his DaDa isn't too mad about him spending the day with us after you guys found and brought him here!" Sarah replied as they ran back to Okoya Forest.
Leaving the bright lights and comforts of Milyfa Town and entering the Forest of Okoya once again, everybody found it to be much different than how it was during the day. It seemed more ominous and spooky-looking with the sun having gone down and with their only light source being the moon to shine the way forward for them as they followed KoKo deeper into the jungle. Only the nocturnal Pokemon were out and about with their own daily business and luckily for everyone, the Zarude Tribe would already be fast asleep by now so they were in the clear.
"KoKo, do you know where we're going? I mean, we're much deeper in this part of the jungle and we don't know who or what might appear before us," Sarah asked.
"Yeah, KoKo, how far are we even going?" added Mallow worriedly.
"Zaru-zaruza," explained the Zarude Boy.
"Not far from what you call home, huh?" deducted the princess.
"Big Bro!" called Skwovet as he reappeared in relief, just as an older Piplup appeared along with a wild Snom and Skiddo (both of them a little younger than the Sinnoh Water Starter) and saw the baby Pokemon with Sarah, the Jungle Guard, and her family and friends.
"Fennekin, Phanpy, Swablu, KoKo, Buneary, Appletun, Cyndaquil! There you are," Piplup called to them, frowning at them with a warning glare.
"Oh, thank Arceus you're all right!" added a relieved Snom.
"What happened to all of you?" added Skiddo.
"B-B-Big Brother Piplup!"
"S-Skiddy!"
"Uh, Snom-Snom!" Fennekin, Cyndaquil, and Buneary stammered as the baby Pokemon squirmed.
"I was really worried when you didn't come home tonight!" Piplup spat.
"We all are!" added Snom.
"You just up and went after we came back to the glen to see you," Skiddo replied.
"Sorry..." the baby Pokemon apologized, ashamed.
"You should be, you didn't even let us know what was going on with you all! And, everybody was frantically looking for you after you and the princess left along with her family!" Piplup continued, his flippers on his waist before he relaxed and gave a relieved smile of his own. "But, at least, you're all safe with the Jungle Guard and our new friends that helped to heal you. That's all that matters now."
"Just don't disappear on us again, will ya?" Snom added as he hugged Cyndaquil and Swablu tightly.
"Yeah, your disappearance is just too much for us," Skiddo nodded as he nuzzled Phanpy and Appletun.
"Piplup, Skiddo, Snom, good to see you again. Please don't take it personally," Tai Lung pacified with a soft smile. "We just got back from exploring Milyfa Town on the other side and we can safely say that nothing bad ever happened to the babies."
"And, boy, howdy! Man, did we have quite a day there!" added Spookeon excitedly.
"There's so much that we didn't know about the world we all live in after spending our entire lives in the jungle! We didn't know anything about what wonders it could possibly hold compared to what the Forest of Okoya has given us over the years! It's been so fun with everything we did; seeing how humans dress themselves up in those funny and weird clothes, how they walk on two legs rather than all fours all the time, what human food tasted like, the music and games they played, how the Pokemon living with humans can become so strong along with their trainers, how most people are so nice despite there being bad humans... I'm so glad that we got to share all of that fun with the princess, her family, and her friends!"
"What?! You were lucky to be alive! I went for help to tell Dad what happened to you, Big Bro, and he was really worried!" Skwovet fretted. "In fact, he should be looking for you r-DAH! TOO LATE, HE'S HERE! HE ALREADY KNOWS!"
"That one's a cutie," chuckled Ash.
But then, to everyone's surprise, a few vines appeared from above the group and snagged Ash, Mallow, Lana, Lillie, Turtonator, and Sophocles along with their partners, pulling them up to a tree branch above them. KoKo, Sarah, her family, the baby Pokemon, their big brothers, and the Jungle Guard all gasped in shock as they saw them hanging by their ankles and midsections and screaming in panicked shock.
"Sir, Ash, Ms. Mallow!"
"Kiawe!"
"Sophocles, Lana!"
"Lillie, no!" cried Tsukumaro, James, Nikki, and Sarah, looking at the trapped Pokemon School gang and Kanto Trainer along with their startled Partner Pokemon.
"Sarah, help!"
"It's a trap!"
"Hey, what's going on?"
"We didn't do anything!"
"You just had to jinx us, didn't you, Ash?"
"I didn't mean to, honest!" Ash and the Pokemon School gang shouted, looking helpless.
"Ash, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Lillie, Sophocles!" gasped KoKo, before an angry DaDa suddenly appeared and faced his son.
"KoKo! There you all are!" he snapped, jumping down to meet the group before him while the trapped gang watched and as KoKo tried to convince him that his new friends meant no harm.
"Hey, wait a minute! Your family is a Pokemon?" gawked Ash as he and the others looked on in surprise.
"Didn't I just tell you that earlier today when you brought him to the Pokemon Center, you nitwit?" groaned Sarah, facepalming at Ash.
"Did you use human language? First, you, the Jungle Pokemon babies from the PokeDynasty Glen and the Okoya Jungle Guard just vanish without a trace. Now, you all brought along a bunch of humans besides the princess and her family?" DaDa continued to scold furiously, irking KoKo as he stewed in the revelation that he's a human through his overall looks.
"...You knew all along. I'm a human, aren't I?" KoKo snapped, getting to the point as DaDa gasped and grimaced. "Come on, DaDa! Tell me the truth! I'm human just like Sarah, her parents, Tsukumaro, and her friends! I'm not a Zarude at all, am I, huh?"
"Wrong! You're a Zarude!" denied DaDa, not wanting to admit the truth.
"DON'T LIE TO ME!"
DaDa gasped again as he grimaced harder; he was afraid that this would happen and now that KoKo finally learned that he's really a human being, one that's unusually strong and more agile compared to most humans with his jungle lifestyle, there was no way he could deny it anymore nor run away from the harsh truth he wanted to avoid telling him regarding his past and what happened to his previous family.
Sarah and her family along with the Jungle Pokemon babies, Piplup, Skiddo, Snom, and the Jungle Guard all looked on worriedly, Nyasi more so as he watched his fellow Zarude and his human son start falling out over his origins and who and what he really is. The Pokemon School gang, in the meantime, managed to cut themselves loose along with their partners as they all watched the heated conversation between KoKo and DaDa from their position.
"Hey, look," whispered Lana, pointing them to KoKo and Dada arguing.
"What do you think's going on?" asked Ash.
"Wow... They really do look like a family even though they're from two different worlds," Kiawe breathed.
"I brought all of Sarah's friends with her and her family so you can see that just as the Jungle Guard and the babies have!" KoKo continued angrily, showing his hand for emphasis. "And, there are a lot more people like this back there! They launched something into the sky that sparkled; humans and Pokemon watched it together, smiled together!"
"That's my Big Bro, always so sentiment-D'OH!" sighed Skwovet with a complacent smile as he joined the Pokemon School gang and Ash and simply shrugged before an unimpressed Guardeon came over and slapped him hard, making him face plant.
"The Zarude can't do that, you taught me everything! You showed me how to get food. How to run, how to swing on vines, all of it. So why... Why didn't you tell me about humans before Sarah and her family and friends came into our lives?!"
"...I-I didn't want to make you sad," DaDa tried to explain as he reached for him, only to have his son shove him away in heartbreak for being lied to.
"Don't give me that!" he snapped again.
"Oh, KoKo," Piplup frowned sadly as he, Skiddo, and Snom started to cry for him along with the baby Pokemon.
"KoKo, for once, please listen to your father," Amber replied worriedly as she joined them and held KoKo as she faced him. "He only did what he felt was right when he discovered you and adopted you a little while after he found you and left his tribe."
"But, why... Why, Amber? Why didn't he tell me, or us and the entire Jungle Guard if any of you didn't know, there were more creatures like me in this world? I still should've known, no matter what if anybody else knew! Even the Zarude Tribe themselves! I thought I was weird for making friends with all the Pokemon but that wasn't it, not it, at all... It's because I'm a human. I'm just like Sarah, her friends, her parents, even her godfather! If it means that I can be friends with Pokemon, I'd rather be human!"
"...KoKo," frowned Seleneon as she joined and nuzzled him.
The Jungle Guard all grimaced and frowned sympathetically and remorsefully as they all looked to DaDa and gave him solemn nods. Since he probably confided the truth about what had become of his real parents in the Jungle Guard and their entire PokeDynasty as he and KoKo once came across them while he was growing up, they knew that the truth would be inevitable for the Zarude Boy to hear. Nyasi, seeing how terribly conflicted DaDa is, gently walked over and held his left shoulder with an understanding frown.
"My friend, perhaps... It's time that you told him the truth, it does you both no good for you to keep it in you," he told his fellow Zarude, looking at him sympathetically as he nodded. "It's best to let it all out and tell him because, as I've learned recently, the truth will set you free and will help you going forward..."
DaDa sighed as he looked to Nyasi and slowly nodded before he looked to KoKo and turned away, deciding that now is finally the time for him to reveal the truth and have his son make his own choice about what he wants to do now.
"I knew that this would happen sooner or later... You're exactly right," he began remorsefully, KoKo gasping in surprise as he heard him confess. "You're really a human and I am not your real DaDa. Now, you know, just as our new friends know."
"Then, tell me who I am!"
Silence fell upon them as everyone watched what DaDa was going to do to tell KoKo who he really is and the horrible truth he discovered about his real parents' fate years ago. With no further reason to keep it hidden anymore and with his son in the know about what he really is, he swung over to a nearby tree, ready to show them the sight where he found the abandoned lab where he found out about them and their fellow humans who worked with them.
"Follow me, then," he announced, leading the way to the old lab as everyone else followed.
While DaDa was leading his son and their new friends as well as the Pokemon School gang to the old lab, on their end, Mousey, Wolf, and Hakins were busy digging out some truths of their own. They had managed to worm their way into Biotope's ranks as assistant scientists and even got some insight into the operations that were spearheaded by the leader of Biotope himself, Dr. Zed. The three of them also heard that Zed's personal office was strictly off-limits to all personal but him as they discovered that he has something to hide that could potentially jeopardize the company and its future. Taking this chance to uncover what skeletons he has regarding its operations after everyone went home for the night, they snuck into his office and began their search.
"Hmm, interesting. It appears that over a decade ago, the team in charge of the project stopped doing their research," Wolf stated, as they went through some of the files they found.
"Stopped it? But, why?" Mousey pondered, going through another file he discovered while Hakins searched the lab for anything suspicious Zed might've had locked away from prying eyes as well. "Why would they put a halt to this stuff ten years ago when they've already made considerable progress?"
"Apparently, there was some kind of car accident that took place in this jungle. There were no survivors as far as the reports could tell but if there were any witnesses at that time, they would've confirmed the inner details."
"And, that means the big cheese doc has something to hide from that time that he was personally involved in," Hakins interjected in realization. "He's not telling us and his staff something so that means we'll have to find out for ourselves."
Wolf nodded as he continued to look through the files on Zed's computer before he came across a security alarm on screen, which he quickly silenced. "Hmph, the so-called good doc is smarter than I thought. He must've blocked it with its pc encryption; typical firewalls and hack protections he's set up, I see. Oh, well, nothing I can't break given my time of hacking computers recently," Wolf snorted, smirking as he began to crack its defenses.
Meanwhile, everybody had finally reached the abandoned lab facility where DaDa found the cape that KoKo was snuggling on and where he discovered what happened to his real parents. It was just the same as he had first found during his search for them in order to return the boy; moss growing in several places, lab and office supplies strewn around and broken, old books filled with immense notes and research, it was as if time stood still and nothing had changed since then.
"When I found you, it was raining. You were alone, lying in some kind of strange-looking box and there were no humans around," he recalled, pulling out the necklace he saw him wearing when he was only a baby and tossing it to his son who caught it in his hands. "You were wearing this when I found you."
"Why did you take me with you?" KoKo questioned as everyone else looked at his necklace.
DaDa once again grew silent before he confessed, "...I honestly don't know. I never knew my own family and as we've been told on the way, Nyasi didn't remember his own after he was sent to Galar for his own safety and the shock of losing them and carried away by that Corviknight that helped save him made him forget. I never really knew where I came from. You reminded me of me, I just couldn't leave you there."
Finding the old family photo he had found of KoKo and his parents, he slid it over to him as the human Zarude wiped off the grime and dust on it to see himself as a baby and the larger humans that are his real parents, a woman and husband research pair team that was both young and obviously recently married at the time. Sarah took a look at the photo as she came up alongside him and gasped as she saw her new friend with his real parents in the picture.
"KoKo... DaDa, are those two humans in the photo with him really...?" Sarah began, knowing who they were as the kind-hearted and loving Zarude nodded in confirmation.
"The baby in that picture I found ten years ago was KoKo himself, Princess. And, the two larger humans with him are probably his real parents," he said.
"No way..."
"Wow, they looked just like you," Ash and Pikachu breathed as the gang looked at the photo, too.
"You really do look alike," frowned Kiawe sadly, having a feeling about what might've happened to his birth parents.
"Yeah, it looks like you have your dad's looks and your mother's eyes," Lillie added sympathetically.
"Then, does that mean they somehow...?"
"...Died?" Turtonator and Snowy realized remorsefully.
"I looked everywhere in the jungle, trying to give you back to your family and that's how I found this place. I think this was probably your parents' next. But, by the time I found it, it had already looked like this. It was then that I realized that I would be raising you myself. Looking back, I see now that that decision was a mistake. In the end, I still made you sad..." DaDa finished.
Speechless and now understanding why his adopted father did what he did, KoKo shook his head to him, not wanting him to now see his decision to adopt and raise him as his own child for his real parents as a mistake. Even though he was still sore about being lied to, after hearing everything and seeing from DaDa's perspective, he now appreciated him more than ever because he was able to survive whatever tragic event that left him as an orphan years ago.
"So, that's all. I've told you everything."
"Uh, actually... DaDa, you've left out the part where you heard a noise right before you found him," Spookeon noted, making him turn to him in surprise as he blinked. "You told your old tribe that when you brought him to see the Elder, right?"
"Wait, Spookeon, how'd you know?" he gasped as Spookeon deadpanned.
"Hello, Ghost Type Pokemon, isn't that why I was? I'm the stealthiest between my brothers and sisters; I can turn myself invisible so I can do reconnaissance for my family and the Jungle Guard. I've been spying on you during your last raid with your tribe and when I followed you to the waterfall where you found KoKo, I realized that you're not like the other Zarude that thought you betrayed them when you withdrew from them."
DaDa just rolled his eyes as he softly grunted, "Right..."
"A Noise?" Keldeo quizzed.
"What kind of noise did you hear?" Solar inquired.
"No idea but it did spook a couple of Spearow in the area. Even to this day, I still wonder what it was," he replied before looking at KoKo. "Now, you must decide. Do what you want with this place."
With nothing better to do as they were still floored by everything they heard, everyone else started looking around for any clues as to how KoKo's parents might've died and what else they were doing with their research on whatever it is they were doing years ago. KoKo, on the other hand, looked at the photo of him and his parents as well as the necklace as he continued to try to make sense of what he was told despite everything being crystal clear to him and the small lead that Spookeon revealed.
"...You okay?" Sarah asked the Zarude Boy as he gave her a slow nod.
"It must be hard for you but I'm sure DaDa didn't mean to hurt your feelings since he did the right thing for you," Mallow reassured.
"You will be okay, right?" questioned Lana worriedly.
"You know... Looking at the two of you, I started thinking about my own dad," Ash finally stated, surprising everyone.
"You have a dad?!" the Pokemon School gang gawked in shock and surprise.
"You actually have a father and we never even knew about it?" Solar stuttered.
"Ash, you never told us you had a father and that your mother was once married!" Sarah balked in total shock as her family, the Jungle Guard, the baby Pokemon, and their big brothers were left speechless.
"You never asked and it was a long time ago, really. When I was little, I told some other kids about my goal and they all laughed at me. I was really upset and I felt like giving up. But, my dad told me something that I never forgot, 'The map to your goal is inside yourself. If you give up, your dream's never gonna come true'. Now, being on my journey with Pikachu and all of you as well as many of my old friends, I'm starting to get what he meant."
He turned to KoKo as he told the boy, who was listening intentively to him, "Don't let it get to you, you're family. Sure, you can argue at times but then, everything will go back to normal in no time and your bond will be much stronger. I'll tell you, families sure can be a mystery, huh?"
KoKo took Ash's words to heart as he looked at the family picture and necklace in his hands again. Now, having a new understanding of why DaDa took him in as his own and with everything he learned, his mind and resolve were made clear. He started to look around as the others watched on, wanting to find any traces of what happened to his real family.
"KoKo, what's wrong?" asked Sarah, joining him as he jumped onto one of the shelves and continued looking. "Is there something here you want to... Oh..."
"Really weird..."
"How very odd," Skwovet and Pyroar admitted.
"What's he doing?"
"Zaru, Zazaru, Zaura!" KoKo spoke to everyone as Sarah immediately got what he meant and started helping.
"Sarah, I don't think you'll find any food for our Pokemon here let alone a midnight snack for them," Sophocles puzzled.
"No, Sophocles, what we need is evidence!" Sarah argued as she continued to help KoKo look around as her family, the Jungle Guard, the baby Pokemon, and their big brothers joined in, getting what KoKo's saying. "There has to be something here or anything at all that can help us figure out what happened to his real parents! Well, come on, don't just stand there! Help us look around!"
"Oh yeah, you wanna find your family!" Ash realized along with the others before they looked around, too. "I'll help you look!"
"Me, too!"
"Same here!" Mallow and Kiawe agreed as they, Lana, Sophocles, Lillie, their partners, Pikachu, and Skwovet helped in the search until the Squirrel Pokemon found a symbol of some sort.
"Hey, guys! Big Bro, check this out!" he called, holding up the symbol as Ash caught it when he dropped it to him.
"Hey, guys! I think we've seen this somewhere before!" the Kanto Trainer replied, showing the Pokemon School gang the symbol Skwovet had given him.
"You're right!"
"Sharron was wearing that on her lab coat when we met her!" Lillie and Lana gasped in surprise.
"Who?" asked Sarah.
"Who's this Sharron?" Guardeon inquired.
Lillie gasped, realizing that Sarah wasn't in the know about Sharon and Biotope. "Oh, that's right. We never told you; We met some scientists earlier today from the Biotope Research Company and Sharon is one of them while we were chasing a wild Flappe. She told us they were researching whatever components are in the jungle's water," she explained.
"I bet she knows something about your parents, KoKo," Ash nodded before he asked the Zarude Boy, pointing to the symbol, "KoKo... Go?"
KoKo looked at the symbol and pointed to it as well, eventually making his decision, "KoKo, go."
Ash and the others along with their partners smiled at this but Sarah and Tsukumaro started to get a grim feeling in their stomachs, remembering what had happened with Nyasi when he was a baby with Lothor and Team Eclipse's first intrusion into the Forest of Okoya and remembering what Snowy and Turtonator said regarding KoKo's real parents.
Tai Lung was the first to realize this as he turned to the princess and noticed her and her godfather frowning. "Sarah...?" he asked worriedly.
Sarah looked at Tai Lung and the rest of the Jungle Guard before they saw how happy the others and KoKo were on discovering the truth about what happened to his parents. Not wanting KoKo to hear what she was about to say, at least for now, she quietly led her family and her new friends along with the Jungle Pokemon babies, Piplup, Skiddo, and Snom away from the old lab to speak with them privately on what she and Tsukumaro were worried about.
"Guys, something tells me that KoKo might not like what he'll want to hear from Sharon and the Biotope company," she began once they were a short distance from the lab.
"Why not?" questioned Guardeon, confused.
"This could be the one thing KoKo needs right now," Freezeon said.
"You know as well as we do that KoKo is a human despite being a Pokemon at heart and if he needs to find out what happened to his parents, what could go wrong?" added Tyson, eying Sarah.
"Sir Tyson, we're happy to hear him make his choice as well but we're worried for Koko. Sir Spookeon, didn't you hear DaDa tell his tribe about that strange noise he heard before he found KoKo in his box moments later at the river?" Tsukumaro inquired to Spookeon.
"Yes, but aside from the Elder, they nor Vice and Alpha didn't care about it since all they were concerned about is their own survival and yet-wait. Are you and the princess suggesting-?" Spookeon began before he cut himself off and realized what the old advisor was inquiring to.
"Hold on, are you really thinking they're-?" Race gasped before he looked at the lab and thought about KoKo.
"We can't say for sure after what I've heard from Turtonator and Snowy but it's just a hunch and we've only that to go around with," Sarah admitted with a frown. "I don't know what this Biotope Research Company knows about what happened to KoKo's real parents but I think it's time that we all paid it and this Sharron a visit."
"I see, you want to make some inquiries about KoKo and his real parents?" Nikki asked her daughter, getting a nod from her.
"If that's the case, what'll we do in the meantime?" put in James.
"Just to be on the safe side and until we uncover the truth from the staff themselves and Sharron, we'll take a tour with the others and KoKo and see what we can find out. But, I don't want them to be suspicious of why we're here in the first place."
She turned to Nebby and Winter, "Nebby, Winter, you and everyone else return to the PokeDynasty's glen and stay there so you don't draw any unnecessary attention to yourselves while we take a tour of Biotope and make inquiries. I'm not sure if they heard of you or any of the other Pokemon and dragons on me but it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Okay, Mama," nodded Nebby.
"Just promise us you'll be safe," added Winter, concerned. "But, if there's any sign of danger tomorrow, we-"
"I know, you'll all be there to bail us out," Sarah nodded reassuringly.
Sarah then turned to her boyfriend, "Race, I want your Pokemon to stay with them, too. I don't want them getting dragged into this mess we're about to jump into."
"Okay, they'll be with you as long as needed unless we're all in trouble if they get too suspicious of us," the Battle Frontier Champion nodded.
"Ssssso, I guessssss you'll all be heading to the Biotope Ressssssearch Company to ssssssseee what you can find on KoKo's parents and why they were gone," Medusa questioned knowingly.
"Yeah, for now, that's just about the best we can do."
"Do you have to go, Sarah?"
"What if they're meanies and they really have something to hide from you all about them?"
"We don't want you to get hurt for KoKo's sake and ours!"
"Please, don't leave us!" cooed Fennekin, Cyndaquil, Phanpy, and Swablu beggingly as they did the sad puppy face again.
Sarah sighed as she frowned sadly at the baby Pokemon and rubbed each of them gently. "Guys, I'll be fine and so will my family and our friends. Don't worry, but right now, Biotope won't be a safe place for you to be with us. You stay with my family, your brothers, Appletun, Buneary, your Snom and Skiddo friend, and the Jungle Guard. And, whatever you do, don't come out until we get back and it's safe, okay?" she soothed.
"But, we wanna come with you, too!"
"Yeah, we only just want to keep you safe if they hurt you!"
"Just this once, let us help you guys!"
"Please?" the four baby Pokemon begged to their savior again, still doing the sad puppy face.
Sarah sighed as she looked at their faces; they weren't going to take "no" for an answer if she was going to put herself on the line for KoKo's sake should the truth about what happened to his real parents be revealed. Nyasi could see how much she was struggling to convince them to return and knew what the four babies all wanted since they've become attached to her throughout their time together. So, he joined Sarah and placed a gentle hand on her head, nodding to her as she turned to him.
"Sarah, let them," he then said knowingly and with a reassuring yet soft and sheepish smile.
Sarah sighed again before she looked at the Jungle Guard and the babies' brothers and sisters. "Well, guys, what do you think?" she asked, wanting to know what they think of their decision.
The Jungle Guard and Jungle Pokemon in question all debated as they huddled and exchanged their thoughts with one another about the baby Pokemon's decision to come with Sarah and protect her as best they can. They were against their wishes, as expected, but they knew that she and KoKo along with whatever family is with her and her friends need all the help they can get since the truth about the fate of the Zarude Boy's real parents should be as Sarah and Tsukumaro feared.
Finally, when they were all unanimous in their final decision, they turned to the four babies as Piplup first stated, "If you promise to report back at the first sign of trouble in a way. Since they were with you the whole time, I guess it'll be alright."
"We'll tell everybody where you've been today and what you're doing tomorrow but don't stray too far away from the princess," Skiddo added firmly.
"Yeah, you can go as long as you behave and keep her company," agreed Snom reluctantly.
"Just be careful and stay with her at all times, okay?" Appletun said to them.
The Jungle Guard nodded their approval as Tai Lung then told the babies, "Alright, as long as you don't cause any trouble and give her headaches. And, most importantly, don't attract any unwanted attention from the company's staff with your snooping around and you'll do fine with her, you understand?"
"Yeah!" the four babies cheered.
After telling KoKo the truth about his origins, DaDa returned to the Heart Tree and sitting alone around the other trees bordering it. He was still wondering if he had made the right choice all those years ago despite him thinking it was a mistake for him to raise him on the prospect that he's a Zarude and not a human.
He dwelled on his thoughts for a while until he sensed a familiar presence coming from behind him and found the Elder joining him. "Elder! Is that you? This is, this is rare," he admitted.
"So, you told him the truth, then?" the Elder guessed kindly.
"Mmm, I should've done that from the start when he was of age and after I found his parents' old nest."
"...Are you sure?"
"How could I know anything about being a DaDa? I never had one so I never became one..."
"We haven't seen Celebi in a long time, have we?" the Elder decided to speak after a moment of silence.
"Celebi?" DaDa asked, curious.
"The last time I saw her was... Ah, yes, it was just a little bit before you first appeared to me."
DaDa was hurt as he turned to the Elder and demanded, "Are you saying this is my fault?!"
"Wait 'til I'm done talking please," replied the Elder patiently as he swung over to join him on the root he's on.
"First, Celebi vanishes, then you appear. And then, you decided to raise KoKo yourself after you found him at the waterfall. Don't you think there might be a reason for these events happening? Remember what the young girl said to us earlier today about our ways and on you giving KoKo a chance to live rather than siding with everyone else in our tribe?"
"Ah, yes, Sarah... I heard her say that and something else about ending a war that went on for 300 years from somewhere as well as how her uncle nearly killed her by smuggling her before she was forced to be sent here by her parents. But, I don't understand, I didn't think much of it while I was caring for KoKo..."
"That girl we've met... She is actually the Lost Princess from the last of the Alola Monarchy, Princess Sarah Tomoe..."
DaDa was shocked as his eyes widened, "That Sarah's the Lost Princess, the Lost Princess?! But, how? I thought the Alola Monarchy was abolished all those years ago soon after the Ultra Beast War took place! It's impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible," the Elder replied simply before he continued.
"Your fellow Zarude and I once thought the same but seeing the heirlooms on her body including that Magearna beside her and the feelings of love she possessed that resonated strongly within her when she scolded us for our ways helped me come to that conclusion. Legend has it that her parents sent her away for her own safety when Lothor, the fallen brother of King Doug Tomoe, attacked after along with Team Eclipse returning from exile before they sacrificed themselves to save her and their kingdom from destruction. She also never knew who her real mother and father were just as you didn't know what your family was like. Her adopted parents may have the same story to tell as yours. They may or may not have had another child before she came into their lives but even though they're not family by blood, they still took her in and raised her as their own. Just as you did with KoKo over ten years ago."
The Elder sighed again thoughtfully as he recalled, "...I can tell since her father gave her a nickname, 'Ponchita', which means 'sweet girl' in Spanish. And, when I took a closer look at all of the Pokemon she has along with those strange creatures humans called dragons, each of them with their own backstories and pasts to tell, I realized that she was indeed someone special. She doesn't see them as family through blood only, she sees them as family with love, trust, and the friendships she cherished between them and her."
"The more you add, the stronger that love for them and each other grows until it becomes something almost unimaginable. That could be related to her Lion Spirit with her noble and true heart and her possession of the Roar of the Elders, two powerful and magnificent gifts of nature that very few could ever obtain," he concluded on his view of Sarah.
"And, what about that Zarude with her, what do you know about him?" DaDa then asked, wanting to know about Nyasi.
"...He went through the same thing as the princess had been; he was sent away for his own safety but that's all that I've known about him, regretfully. The trauma of that tragic day made Nyasi lose his memories of his past life in his subconscious but I realized that he was much happier with Sarah since he gained a new family in her and her Pokemon and dragons. He may have lost his own back then when Lothor and Team Eclipse first came to the jungle in search of her but he gained another one just as much as his original parents had, maybe even more."
DaDa thought about everything he was told; like him and KoKo, Sarah and Nyasi went through the same pain they went through as well as asked the same questions they've been asking about their places in the world in their own ways. The Elder may have had a point; Sarah and her family, in a way, are just like them.
The Elder turned to DaDa again as he gave him the only thing he knows about regarding what could be the truth and the answer to everything that's happened, "I know the rest of the tribe doesn't really accept him given that he's no longer the Zarude they once thought him to be back then but I believe that Nyasi, the princess, and KoKo all may be the keys to Celebi's return. In the meantime, you possess your own destiny; the answer you seek is only known in the life-giving waters."
That night, after everything had been decided between them on their own ends, everybody went to the Jungle Guard's PokeDynasty's glen to rest up and prepare for the long day ahead with the Biotope Research Company. Naturally, since it was their first-ever time being in the peaceful glen, Ash and the Pokemon School gang were awestruck by how extensive and beautiful it was, only being forced by the Jungle Guard to promise that they'll never reveal its location to anybody else. Not even the Zarude Tribe nor the Biotope Research Company was allowed to know of its current spot, which they wisely vowed and agreed to.
After pitching up her enchanted tent (the interior startling KoKo as he'd never experienced any form of magic in his life, as expected given his jungle life), everyone was fast asleep with some of the Pokemon sleeping with them inside and the rest decided to remain out.
But, KoKo was the only one wide awake; he was still thinking about everything that he had learned about his past and continuing to wrap his head on why DaDa was able to raise him and keep his human self hidden.
Even DaDa, observing the berry field close to their jungle home (the berry trees they had planted starting to grow ever since their time apart following the prior incident with the Zarude Tribe), thought about what he should do now regarding his own destiny. He held his hand under two berry flowers that were budding as the plant in front of him grew. He could remember well what happened involving a little baby Rufflet that was wounded from a nasty fall that KoKo found before meeting Sarah and the others.
(Flashback)
"The spring, let's take him to the spring!" he suggested before DaDa got in his way, immediately opposing the idea.
"No, we can't! It's too dangerous, how could I ever allow that?" he questioned.
"But, I'm holding a wounded Pokemon who desperately needs our help now! I just gotta do something!"
DaDa could see how passionate his son is about helping Pokemon in need and his wish to help the wounded Rufflet was no exception to what he truly wanted. So, he relented as he wiped his tears and prepared to heal him the only way he knows how.
"Alright, let me have him. There is another way that we can help cure him," he replied, holding out his hand.
"Really?" KoKo quizzed.
"It's true, now stand back."
Keeping away from his father and trusting Rufflet to him, DaDa concentrated as he shot four vines into some trees and held on tight. Then, he roared as he glowed, the energy he produced from nature seeping into Rufflet, leaving KoKo in utter surprise before he finished, exhausted.
KoKo didn't realize it at the time but DaDa had just performed a move that is known to only a select few of the Zarude Tribe including him and Nyasi: Jungle Healing.
"DaDa! You alright?" KoKo gasped to his worn-out Pokemon father.
"I'm fine; that move really takes it out of you," he panted, just as they saw the baby Rufflet wake up and examine himself before he cheered and ran around happily, free of his wounds.
"Wow, you're all better now, aren't you?" KoKo smiled before he turned to DaDa again. "That was amazing! Tell me DaDa, how did you do that?"
"Jungle Healing; it's quite an amazing move that only certain Zarude are able to use. Ask the jungle for help and it lends you its power. But, Son, I should warn you; if you use too much of it, it could drain away at your life force. So, don't use it unless you absolutely need to."
"Mmm! Thanks so much, DaDa!" smiled KoKo.
(Flashback ends)
DaDa gasped as he remembered showing Jungle Healing to KoKo but he just sighed as he took off his cape; if something bad were to happen that would require him to use it in the most extreme and dire of circumstances, he would be ready to seize that opportunity and protect his son by whatever means necessary. Even if, for him, it means dying to save his life.
The next morning, Sarah and the others got up bright and early and with only the gang's Pokemon partners, Skwovet, Solar, and Sarah's baby Pokemon friends tagging along while the rest of her family and Race's team waited at the PokeDynasty's glen along with the Jungle Guard for their own safety, they went on their way to find the Biotope Research Company. Everywhere they went, with Ash and the others along with KoKo leading the way, they asked and inquired about the company, going so far as to show the native Pokemon its symbol to give them some idea as to where it is. Much of the native Jungle Pokemon, having not seeing the Biotope company, said no and shook their heads which prompted them to find the company themselves.
The journey was tricky and it wasn't as smooth sailing as they hoped as they went through the winding shrubs and trees that dotted the entire area but finally, after several minutes of walking and searching, they came across a domed research facility that had the Biotope emblem on it. This was the Biotope Research Company that Sharon is a researcher of.
Of course, having never seen a research facility before, Fennekin, Swablu, Phanpy, and Cyndaquil were awestruck by what they're seeing. Even Skwovet looked highly curious of it as he wondered what the building could hold in it regarding his big brother's origins and what became of his real human parents from over ten years ago.
After asking two nearby scientists about Sharon and if they would like a tour of the facility with her, they met up with her and the gang introduced her to Sarah, Nikki, James, Tsukumaro, and KoKo, the researcher glad to see their other friends. KoKo looked around curiously as he tried to keep up with the others and Skwovet was also in amazement as he looked from his brother's shoulder with the old advisor making sure that he doesn't get into any trouble should he touch anything by accident. This was something that the baby Pokemon knew all too well after they were warned not to get into trouble and stick with Sarah at all times the previous night.
"Right this way, please" Sharon directed.
"Wow, Sharon, this place is really... It's, uh, it's really something," Sarah admitted also in awe as everybody else joined her.
While the tour was going on, Wolf, Hakins, and Mousey found out about the princess and looked around a corner in surprise.
"Hey, Wolf, check it out! We got company at three o'clock!" Mousey whispered.
"I can't believe it, birdbrain! That royal brat and her friends found out about this company just as we had," Wolf grumbled.
"What do you suppose they're here for?" Hakins quizzed.
"Don't know, maybe that boy or the spring. Let's stay close and keep an eye on them, got it?"
As they waited for the person that could be the head of the Biotope Research Company to meet them, KoKo was inspecting one of the chairs as everyone else sat on them while the Pokemon with them either joined them on the table or stood by from them.
"That's a chair, KoKo. You sit on one of those, like so," chuckled Sarah, showing KoKo how to sit on a chair.
Seeing Sarah sit in her chair along with everyone else in their party as they looked at him and Skwovet,
"Sorry for the wait," replied a male voice, its owner to be a male scientist in a golden-brown uniform over a mahogany shirt and green tie and having grey hair in a ponytail and a beard of the same color walking to the group. This was the head of Biotope, Dr. Zed. "I am the head of this laboritory you see before you. My name is Zed, do you have a question for me?"
"Uh-huh. My name is Ash and this my partner Pikachu. And, these are my friends; Lana, Lillie, Mallow, Kiawe, and Sophocles," Ash introduced.
"My name's Race, Race Konami from Littleroot Town," Race introduced himself.
"I'm Sarah Tomoe, and these are my parents, Nikki and James, and my godfather, Tsukumaro," Sarah began, introducing herself and her parents before she turned to the baby Pokemon with her on the table and on her left shoulder along with KoKo. "And, these four are Fennekin, Cyndaquil, Phanpy, and Swablu. And, the boy with us here is KoKo."
Dr. Zed looked around to the group but when his eyes landed on KoKo, he saw the necklace he was wearing that DaDa gave to him, causing him to gasp slightly in surprise as if he knew what it was.
"Zed, do you know anything about these people in this photo we're looking for?" Sarah asked, taking the picture of KoKo and his real parents from Ash and showing it to Zed, who gasped in surprise again as he took it. "We have a feeling that they might've worked in this company and if any of your staff are friends or acquaintances to them. What could you tell us about them and regarding KoKo?"
"Where did you all get this?" Zed questioned earnestly.
"Huh?" Ash puzzled.
But, Zed soon sighed before he confirmed as he looked at the baby KoKo in the photo, "Then, this is Al."
"Al?"
"Then, does that mean KoKo's human name is, Al...?" Lillie and Kiawe quizzed in surprise as the scientists gasped in surprise.
"The two adults you see in the photo are his parents and two of our closest friends, Mr. and Mrs. Molybedenum. They used to run this lab," Zed answered as he brought up some photos of their research team including KoKo's parents, the Zarude Boy himself yelping in surprise before he jumped below the table while Skwovet fell onto it. "And, the child they're holding is Al, their son. Those two were actually the leaders of our group stationed here known to us in our company as the Healing Spring Research Team."
"Healing Spring Research Team?" Tsukumaro echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"You see, the Healing Spring was once considered a legend, folklore in its own right. Although a large number of research labs and teams from them pursued it, they've never actually found it and it remained elusive even to us for years. However, these two were able to discover it in this very jungle and they've even obtained a water sample, a historic breakthrough."
He then looked to KoKo before Sharon came over, also floored by the revelation. "Is that really true?" she questioned.
"Correct, that pendant and necklace definitely belonged to the Molybdenums," Zed confirmed as he then walked over to KoKo himself. "Sharon, scanner, please."
Sharon nodded to him as she went to retrieve a scanner, "Yes, Sir."
"Al, would you mind?" Zed asked KoKo, only for the Zarude Boy to get scared and hide behind a chair. "Huh, what's the problem?"
"That's the thing; when KoKo was first found over ten years ago, he had spent his entire life since then living amongst the Pokemon," James answered. "A Zaurde found him in the river and he's never had much contact with humans before we met him."
Zed was flabbergasted as he took in what he heard, "Al was raised...By a Pokemon?!"
"Yeah, but that means he's able to understand and talk to Pokemon easily like our friend Sarah was able to," Mallow confirmed.
"Unbelievable..."
"Here you go, Doctor," Sharon replied, returning with a hand scanner that looked a little bit like a magnifying glass.
"Thank you," Zed nodded as he took the scanner and knelt down to the Zarude Boy's current height on all fours.
"Zar?" KoKo questioned suspiciously.
"I would like to know if you're truly Al. Relax, don't worry, it won't hurt. A scan of that pendant around you will help let us know if you're really him."
Dr. Zed then held the scanner close to his pendant to do what he intended and when he did, both the scanner and the pendant turned blue. This confirmed to him and Sharon that the pendant really did belong to KoKo's human pendants but KoKo immediately backed off as he held it close to him.
"Don't worry, I won't take it," Zed reassured before he handed the scanner back to Sharon as she got a tablet on her. "Please, Sharon."
Sharon looked over the results found on the scanner and to her growing surprise and solemn realization, she was astounded by what she found, "Biometrics are confirmed, Dr. Zed."
"Well, what do you know? Then, that means there's something that I must tell to the child."
Everyone looked on in worried anticipation as they began to hear what Zed wanted to tell KoKo/Al but Sarah, Race, Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro looked at each other along with the baby Pokemon. All of them knew that this was about to come sooner or later and what was worse, it was bound to be a truth that won't end well for the Zarude Boy if their suspicions from the previous night would indeed be proven true.
"Oh no..." Sarah breathed quietly, looking on worriedly at KoKo.
"Mr. and Mrs. Molybdenum, Al, are not here at this lab. Ten years ago, they passed away."
This got shocked and horrified gasps from the Pokemon School gang and Ash as Sarah, Race, her adopted parents, and her godfather all gulped worriedly and even the baby Pokemon whimpered as they heard what Zed was telling everybody.
"You're kidding," Ash begged, not wanting it to be true.
"Are you sure?"
"Did they really die ten years ago?" Sophocles and Kiawe breathed in horror as Sarah came over to hug him gently as she held him.
"Unfortunately, yes and no; I'm not kidding about them dying and they really did ten years ago. It was a car accident at that time; the couple was lost along with their research and Al went missing in the process soon after they died. We assumed that he perished as well in the crash. But, here you are before us again, alive and living amongst the Jungle Pokemon - nothing short of miraculous."
"KoKo, Dr. Zed told us... Your parents are gone, they're no longer amongst us in this world," Sarah began carefully, handing him the only family photo he has of him while she continued to hug him lovingly.
Then, she gave a wary glare at Dr. Zed and even Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro couldn't help but be suspicious of the Biotope Research Company Head Director as they couldn't help but feel that something was off about him when he told them about how his parents died and only he survived.
"Mmm..." KoKo nodded simply, looking downcast and quiet just as another assistant came over to Sharon.
"Sharon, the data is up," she told her.
"Thanks. Doctor?" Sharon inquired, showing him what was found from KoKo's pendant.
"Alright, put it on the screen," nodded Zed, Sharon quickly bringing up what she and her fellow researchers found.
"Hold it, what's the meaning of this, Zed? What's going on?" Sarah asked suspiciously.
"It seems that the data we all thought was lost ten years ago was stored inside Al's pendant. Nearly all of it's corrupted, except for-"
"On screen," Sharron alerted, bringing up a picture of a familiar tree that brought shock and awe to the Pokemon School gang and horror to Sarah, her family, the baby Pokemon, and KoKo along with getting Mousey, Wolf, and Hakins' attention.
"Can it be?" Zed gasped in awe, seeing the Heart Tree. "The Healing Spring..."
"Is that the Healing Spring?" asked Lillie.
"So beautiful," breathed an awestruck Lana.
"Sir, I don't know what to say... But, what does that tree have anything to do with the Healing Spring you're looking for?" Kiawe questioned, sensing Zed's eagerness for the Heart Tree's Healing Spring and as KoKo looked up at the photo of the tree itself.
"What is it, KoKo?" asked Lillie, concerned for her party's jungle friend.
"Could he have a clue as to its location?" Zed questioned.
"Of course, the jungle is KoKo's home," Ash replied in surprise and realization.
"Al, if there's anything that you know about the Healing Spring, you must tell me so that we can continue where your parents left off. Do it for your parents' dream, do it for them!"
"Zed! Have you gone mad, that's not what KoKo was thinking right now!" Sarah argued, angered by Zed implying what he wanted KoKo to do. "Do you have any idea what could happen to the jungle if you try to pursue whatever dream you personally wanted?"
This was too much for KoKo as his mind was racing and no longer having any clue on what he should do in the end and realizing that there was something totally wrong with what Zed was asking of him, he immediately left.
"KoKo!" Sarah gasped, running after him along with her surprised family and the baby Pokemon.
"Oh, no!" the gang cried as they also went after him.
"We're sorry, gotta go!" apologized Ash as he and Pikachu left before they all caught up with the distraught Zarude Boy. KoKo just ran off into the forest as Skwovet followed him until Sarah cuts off her friends as she quickly got in front of them before they could run after him. "Sarah!"
"Ash, please! I must help him, let me do this!" Sarah begged as Solar (who'd been waiting outside for his family and saw KoKo running off in distress) got alongside her. "I know what KoKo is feeling right now and he still doesn't know why he was left in the jungle, he needs me as well as DaDa! Solar, let's go!"
"Right, hop on!" the lion Beast Bot nodded as he transformed into the Beast-X Solar Rider and with the baby Pokemon on her, she quickly went off.
"Sarah!" Ash shouted again as she left and he tried to go after her.
"Ash!" Tsukumaro shouted, stopping him in his tracks as he, Nikki, Race, and James nodded firmly to him and the others, wanting to go after her.
The others and the Kanto Trainer looked on worriedly for Sarah and KoKo but they finally looked to them and nodded in agreement, allowing them to run after their adopted daughter/goddaughter/girlfriend, hoping they're not too late to help him and figure out what Zed was planning and stop him if their suspicions were once again proven correct.
Meanwhile, KoKo was continuing to run to the Heart Tree and was getting close to it just as a storm was about to break out above him. Skwovet did his best to keep up with him and tried to talk him out of going there but still trapped in his distraught over finding out that his real parents died in a car crash, he ignored him as he went forward and left him behind.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Big Bro, why do you always have to be so thickheaded, man?!" ranted Skwovet, deeply worried for his brother as he was left behind again.
Finally, after much running, he arrived at the border surrounding the Heart Tree and saw the tree itself, knowing that it was still the place where the Healing Spring could be. Now alone and thinking about his DaDa along with his deceased parents, KoKo tried to make sense of everything he was told again and what Zed wanted him to do regarding the Spring itself before he looked at the family photo of him and his real mother and father.
While he was deep in his already-scrambled thoughts yet again, Sarah, Solar, and the baby Pokemon with her are continuing to search for KoKo. But, since the Zarude Boy had gotten a good head start as he ran back into the jungle, it was hard for them to find out where he had gone given his affinity with the trees and everything DaDa told him. But, they knew more than enough that he would return to the Heart Tree to gather his thoughts.
"Solar, are you sure we're on the right path towards the Heart Tree?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, KoKo must already be far ahead and at the tree by now!" added Fennekin, she, Cyndaquil, Phanpy, and Swablu holding on tight before they came to a stop.
"Can't you go any faster?" begged Phanpy.
"Sorry, guys, but with all of this shrubbery and the trees all around us, I can't see anything ahead even with my lights," sighed Solar as they paused to catch themselves. "But, I don't also know which way's the right way for us to make it there in time before that crazy doctor you told me about could get there."
"What are we gonna do?" Swablu whimpered worriedly.
"Yeah. First, we find out that KoKo's human parents really did die yet we don't know how they died. And now, we've no idea what that meanie's about to do when he asked him about the Healing Spring!" fretted Cyndaquil.
"Island Girl!" shouted Race as they turned and saw him, Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro running to them after they stopped.
"Did you find KoKo, Ponchita?" James asked.
"No, he's heading for the Heart Tree but I don't know which direction he went to get there."
"Oh, poor KoKo, he must be devastated to know that his parents are no longer of this world with us," mourned Nikki, feeling even more sorry for KoKo.
"We'll help him cope later. Right now, I'm worried about that Dr. Zed character," Tsukumaro replied, his worries about Dr. Zed growing. "I don't like this, everyone. There's something about him that doesn't feel right earlier and I have a feeling he's hiding something."
"But, if we're going to stop that big meanie, we have to find KoKo first!" reminded Cyndaquil.
"Oh, if only somebody knows or remembers the way to the Heart Tree so we can warn him about that Dr. Zed creepie!" Swablu whimpered just as Skwovet appeared from the trees above them and saw the group.
"FRIENDS! PRINCESS!" he hollered in relief, his mouth stuffed with nuts and berries as he had been snacking earlier to calm his nerves and jumped onto Tsukumaro's face, surprising him as he got him off.
"Skwovet!" gasped the baby Pokemon.
"Skwovet! What happened, where's KoKo?" Sarah asked Skwovet.
"Princess, it was awful! Big Bro was on his way back to the Heart Tree, I tried to get him to stop to think things through but he just ignored me and went on his way! He must be already at the tree right now as we speak! Oh, why does he always have to step up and be the hero?"
Before Skwovet could explain further, everybody heard a large explosion coming from nearby and saw a cloud of smoke billowing ahead of them in the distance.
"Oh no... Is that what I think it is?" Solar gasped, horrified.
"KoKo, he's in trouble along with the Heart Tree and its Healing Spring!" Tsukumaro replied, growing pale.
"We've got to help him!" Nikki cried.
"Fennekin, Phanpy, Swablu, Cyndaquil, Solar, stay here!" Sarah ordered before she, Race, her adopted parents, and Tsukumaro along with Skwovet all rushed towards the smoke as they shouted for KoKo, hoping they can help him before it is too late.
At the same time, while KoKo was contemplating on why he lost his parents and how they could've died, he felt something attached to his left shoulder and found a small glowing and round device on him. He wondered where it came from and what it is but he soon got his answer as he heard the loud booming sound and saw who was responsible for it. The perpetrator was Zed along with his crew as they arrived with several trucks and machinery that cut down the trees around them.
"AH! It really is here!"
"Oh, wow, Doctor!"
"Excellent!"
"We found it!" Sharron and some of the other researchers cheered as Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf joined them with stoic faces, the three remembering their goal to monitor and capture Sarah above all else.
"There's no doubt. It's the Healing Spring and this is its source, the Heart Tree," Zed noted with a devilish glee.
"Is that what we found amongst some of the other files that he's been hiding, Wolf?" whispered Hakins to Wolf.
"Yes, the Heart Tree, it's said to be the home of a group of Pokemon known as the Zarude Tribe," Wolf nodded.
"And, if the princess is true to her nature, she should come crawling to it to protect them even if they're known to be the local brutes and bullies of this peculiar jungle," added Mousey. "What's more, that Zarude Boy should already be there right now."
True to form and confirming Mousey's thoughts, KoKo realized the danger the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring are in along with the rest of the Forest of Okoya and came down from his current spot to confront them. He now realized that the people that followed him had evil intentions and he wasn't going to let them do as they please with the Heart Tree and its Healing Spring despite his previous misgivings to the other Zarude.
"Zaru, Zaru Zaruda!" he demanded to Zed.
"Al, you're here! Thanks to you, our dream of finding the Healing Spring was made possible. Hey, uh, no hard feelings," he smirked evilly, gesturing to the tracker that he attached to him, much to the Zarude Boy's shock. "You wouldn't understand."
"Please forgive us, we really didn't wanna have to do this! We're sorry, we mean no harm," begged Sharron remorsefully.
KoKo wasn't having any of it; feeling betrayed and realizing that he can't trust humans like Zed and Sharon (despite the latter's unwillingness to do what she felt is a terrible thing for her and her team to do), he roared angrily as he charged forward to attack Zed until he was soon captured.
"What do we do with him, Doctor?" asked the pilot operating what is a giant mechanical caterpillar that caught KoKo.
"We have no choice, he'll have to come back with us. We wouldn't want him to attack us again despite our 'good-minded' intentions. Sorry about this, Al, but this is for your own good."
With that said, Zed and his team proceeded to make their way to the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring, destroying much of the forest in their path and terrorizing the Pokemon just as the Zarude Tribe once did. KoKo was horrified as he saw what was happening to his home; Zed and his crew had managed to find the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring and are destroying his jungle paradise to reach it and it was all his fault.
But then, he was saved by a Power Bolt, a Bomb Arrow and Thunder Arrow, and a blast of magic that knocked the machine back and forced the pilot to let go of him
"What happened?!" Zed demanded.
"I knew you couldn't be trusted, Zed! You just proved to us and KoKo you're nothing but a heartless monster who doesn't give a damn about him or the Pokemon!" a familiar voice roared, the Biotope Head Director and KoKo turning in shock to find Sarah, Race, Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro, all of them glaring furiously at the Biotope team.
Sarah had already summoned her Beast-X King Ultra Bow and had given it to Race to use against Zed and his crew while Sarah brought out her Moon Shield and pointed it with another Thunder Arrow ready (retrieving the arrows she fired after summoning her quiver), and Tsukumaro had his sword out since he cast the magic blast that helped save KoKo.
"Zed! What is the meaning of this?!" James snapped furiously.
"What have you done?!" Nikki demanded.
"Have you no heart, no shame in your actions, you bastard? Are you really willing to go this far just to get to the Heart Tree and take the Healing Spring for yourselves when it rightfully belongs to the Pokemon?" Tsukumaro snarled, angered by Zed and his team's betrayal.
"Forgive us, Sarah, Nikki, James, Race, Tsukumaro. But, the truth is, we decided to use you and KoKo in order to find the Healing Spring; Al had the proof in that pendant and because of it, we found the Heart Tree and our prize for the future of everyone is within our reach. How could we not when we've found what we've been searching for?" Zed replied as KoKo reunited with his first human friends.
"Don't get smart with us, Zed! You're already in a lot of trouble but why would you use us after we just met you and you found out about the Heart Tree?" James questioned angrily. "I bet you wanted us to get to the Healing Spring at the Heart Tree and kill or drive away the Zarude Tribe since you're so desperate to find it!"
"If that's so, it's no wonder I smelled a rat when he told us that KoKo's parents died in that car crash ten years ago! I suppose you had something to do with it even though it's just a hunch!" Nikki spat.
"I can't believe you would do such a horrible thing and betray KoKo just for your own cause!" Tsukumaro snapped, angered by what the Biotope team has done.
"The Healing Spring is strictly for the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude Tribe!" Sarah shouted, still furious at Zed. "You and your crew don't know how vital it really is to their survival as well as the prosperity of this jungle! If you destroy it, then everyone will wither away and die by your filthy hands!"
"This is no place for humans such as you all and we won't allow you to defile it anymore! Leave at once!" Race finished, pointing the Beast-X King Ultra Bow at Zed.
"Sarah, why...? You shouldn't have come," KoKo replied, worried that Sarah and her family would find themselves in trouble as well until he saw Skwovet with the quintet, having a feeling that he brought them along. "Za, Zaruza?"
"You betcha! And now, they're here to help bail you out!" replied Skwovet to his brother proudly.
"KoKo, I don't care what happens to us. You want to know why we saved you?" Sarah asked KoKo.
"We're friends and we're a family," Race added. "You might not believe it but in a way, just as you, Skwovet, and DaDa are already a family, you've become part of our family, too."
"We helped you because that's what family and friends do," nodded Nikki in agreement.
"As your honorary friends and family, we have a duty to protect and look after you," James continued warmly. "You may have unintentionally led Zed and his team to the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring but we're all going to help you do something about it to make up for your mistake."
"It's because we're all part of one world, one family," finished Tsukumaro smiling warmly. "You may be a human on the outside and a Pokemon at heart but like my goddaughter, you're someone special. You're the between two worlds, bringing together one family."
"Two worlds, one family..." KoKo echoed as he then smiled, feeling glad to have friends and honorary family like Sarah and her own family.
Sarah and her family smiled back until they sensed being ambushed and fought back as best they could against the other scientists with their own Pokemon before one of the researchers' partners, an Ariados, trapped the group with String Shot, binding them and making Race, Sarah, and Tsukumaro lose their weapons.
"Urgh! I guess a thug such as you can't think of anything pleasant to ruin this moment!" snarled Sarah, glaring daggers at Zed and his team, Sharron flinching in horror as she realized that Zed is willing to sink so low along with the rest of her team and they had forgotten what they're striving for.
"I beg your forgiveness. I know you meant well but you should've known better than to interfere," seethed Dr. Zed as they were all taken to one of the holding trucks.
"We'll take them off your hands now, Doctor," Wolf requested, he, Mousey, and Hakins and their partners ready.
"Good, I'm relying on you watch the girl, her family, Al, and the Battle Frontier Champion then," nodded Zed as he and his team then drive off.
However, little did Zed and his crew know that they were eavesdropped by a horrified Solar and the baby Pokemon were shocked beyond belief, witnessing Skwovet, KoKo, Sarah, and her family and Race all being captured and taken prisoner while they left for the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring. As Wolf, Mousey, Hakins decided to plan out what they'll be doing with their prisoners after tossing them inside their truck and confiscating their current weapons at hand, Fennekin, Solar, Phanpy, Swablu, and Cyndaquil were left scrambling on what to do.
"They've got them!" squeaked Cyndaquil, horrified as they watched from their hiding spot.
"Oh, no! They're going to take the Healing Spring and kill everybody! We gotta-!" Phanpy stammered in horror as the four baby Pokemon tried to run but collided together as they ran into each other.
"Now, now, now, now, now, calm down, Kids. We've gotta make it back to the glen, this is serious and we'll need the help of everyone in the Jungle Guard. Hop aboard and hang on!" Solar reassured, urging the baby Pokemon to climb onboard him as he ran for the glen as fast as he could.
"This sucks, this really sucks!" Race groaned, trying to break free from the String Shot binding him but failing as Sarah, her adopted parents, and Tsukumaro tried to think of a way out.
"I can't believe those fools would do something like this, they've shown great dishonor and shame towards the Jungle Pokemon and to the Forest of Okoya itself!" snapped Tsukumaro, already planning to give the Biotope scientists a piece of his mind. "Do they have any idea of the consequences that could follow if they reach the Heart Tree and take the Healing Spring for themselves?"
"I think the balance of nature is lost to them on that front, old man," grumbled James as he and Nikki strained to get rid of their binds.
"We can't just do nothing! We have to get out of here and fight them!" Sarah replied. "I should've known those three stooges would be following us on our journey!"
KoKo was devastated and he was on the verge of breaking down because of his own mistake and failing to realize what Zed's true intentions were. This was all too much for him to bear and it hurt even more than DaDa's intentional lying just to make him happy back then. Finally, he let out a panicked and agonizing scream, a scream that reached the ears of DaDa (but without his cape as he tried to settle into his life moving forward without him).
"Huh?" he gasped in shock, looking out to the jungle as he heard Zed's machinery's footsteps and KoKo's scream.
Over at the glen, the Jungle Guard, their commanders, and Sarah's family along with the entire PokeDynasty all waited and grew worried for KoKo, wondering if he'll be alright along with Sarah, her human family, Race, her friends, Solar, and the baby Pokemon with them. They could only hope that they don't get into trouble or worse, trouble doesn't find them. However, it looked as though the latter would be the case as they heard a series of panicked cries coming towards them from the glen entrance.
"Jungle Guard! MIINA!" screamed Solar, he and the baby Pokemon crying in panic as they entered.
"Solar!" gasped Shadow as everyone came up to them.
"Little ones!" Xena blinked.
"Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, Swablu!"
"What happened?!"
"Are you guys okay?"
"Where's Sarah and her family with her?"
"And, what about KoKo and his friends?" Piplup, Skiddo, Snom, Buneary, Appletun, and Mai worriedly.
"Mad doctor and his team, Sarah and KoKo along with her family, captured! Taken prisoner! Jungle in trouble, big!"
"They're heading for the Heart Tree!"
"They're going to steal the Healing Spring!"
"We got to save them! They're in danger if we don't hurry!" the baby Pokemon panicked, all of them talking at once as Tai Lung approached them.
"Hold on-hey! Wait, slow d-all of you, silence!" Tai Lung demanded, getting the babies to calm down. "Now, what's going on, where are Sarah and KoKo?"
"Tai Lung, Sarah and KoKo are in trouble along with Skwovet and her adopted parents and godfather!" Fennekin cried.
"That mean doctor and his team are back and they're already wrecking the whole jungle!" Phanpy added.
"They've planted some kind of thing on KoKo that caused them to come here after following him!" Cyndaquil picked up.
"And now, they know where the Healing Spring is, they're heading for the Heart Tree!" finished Swablu.
"WHAT/WHAT/WHAT?!" all of the Pokemon and dragons exclaimed in shock.
"And, get this, anybody among us in our family remember a weird pack of three stooges amongst Team Eclipse's Seven Sins that has a regular-colored evil Houndoom, a crazy Salazzle, and a hot-headed Camerupt?" added Solar.
"MOUSEY/WOLF/HAKINS!" cried Sarah's entire family, Race's team, and Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro's Pokemon in shock, bewilderment, and horror.
"Team Eclipse is back?!" Amber gawked.
"Not again, and after they caused so much trouble that resulted in so much loss of life and Nyasi losing his old parents!" Cobalt snarled.
"I thought we'd seen the last of them after they were forced out after our people and Zarude Tribe's initial war against them!" Breezeon blinked.
"And now, they have Sarah and KoKo along with her boyfriend, adopted parents, and her real parents' advisor?" gasped Xena.
"This can't be happening!" Freezeon fretted in growing horror.
"Oh no, if those three fiends from Team Eclipse are coming after us on Lothor's behalf, they must be keeping tabs on us as we're looking for King Doug and Queen Delliah!" Magearna said frantically as she paced around. "And, now that Wolf and his ruffians have the princess, those she loved with her, and KoKo, they'll all be helpless as they remain trapped withi-Whoa, whoa, whooooooa, whooooaaahhhh-OOF!"
"Magearna, please, calm down!" Zeraora replied as he and the Night Lights helped her up.
"We gotta get Auntie Sarah back!" Dart replied.
"And, KoKo, too!" nodded Pouncer.
"But, who exactly are Wolf, Mousey, and Hakins if any of us don't know anything about them?" Brawleon reminded.
"They're bad news, you guys. They're amongst the leaders of Team Eclipse along with Lothor known as the Seven Sins," informed Silver. "You're lucky you haven't met them yet and only heard about them, until now."
"I guess that means they'll be on their way to stop us from finding the Last King and Queen as well as keep them from stopping this mad doctor creature and his crew," Terrakion grumbled.
"RRGH! They've been following us all this time and we didn't know about it," Keldeo groaned, stomping his front right hoof in frustration.
"And, if the princess is in trouble along with KoKo, Tsukumaro, and her adopted parents, those three could kill them at any time!" Cobalion grunted, gritting his teeth.
"NO!" the baby Pokemon all cried in horror.
"You're kidding!" Cobalt gasped in shock.
"Are you ssssssssure about thissssss?!" cried Medusa, her jaw immediately dropping in horror at the prospect of Sarah and KoKo dying along with her adopted family and her godfather.
"Have we've ever been wrong when the situation is as dire and life-threatening as this?" Solar rebutted.
"What are we gonna do?" Skylar questioned worriedly as Guardeon and Tai Lung came together, looked out to the glen entrance as they thought about the captured Sarah and KoKo along with Nikki, James, Tsukumaro, and Skwovet, and nodded as they turned to each other and back to everyone else.
"...These are our orders to you as First and Second Supreme Commander of the Okoya Jungle Guard!" began Guardeon, looking to everybody gathered.
"What we're about to experience and take part in will be a fight for the survival of everyone in the entire Forest of Okoya! It will be a magnificent battle and while most of us may die, our sacrifice will be for everyone's sake as well as the princess' and KoKo's! Jungle Guard, all commanders, follow us along with Sarah's family!"
"The rest of you, stay in the glen until you're needed to help us fight! We'll gauge the enemy fire so we can be sure we can fight back against them! We can't risk going out at once, knowing that it could be what this Dr. Zed and Team Eclipse would want us to do until we're sure we can win this war!" finished Tai Lung as the entire PokeDynasty nodded their approval.
"I'll get help, I'll find Ash and the others and we'll hold them and Zed off until you find them!" Keldeo requested, hurrying off to find Ash and the Pokemon School gang for their help.
"Thanks, Keldeo!" Tai Lung thanked before he took a deep breath and shouted while pointing to the glen entrance, "Jungle Guard, MOVE OUT!"
Upon Tai Lung's command, while their entire PokeDynasty waited for the go-ahead to help fight and be safe, the entire Jungle Guard joined by Sarah's entire family of Pokemon and dragons, Race, Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro's teams, and Piplup, Skiddo, Appletun, Buneary, Snom, Togepi, Whimsicott, and Misa rushed out to find and help their captured friends and family members. They could only hope they're not too late as they all let out battle cries, their will to save the entire jungle and their loved ones fueling them as the war for everyone and the Forest of Okoya's survival officially began.
The oncoming war also came knocking on the Zarude Tribe's doorstep back at the Heart Tree as they, Vice, Alpha, and the Elder all heard Dr. Zed and his crew charging their way towards their domain and the Healing Spring.
"What do you suppose that is?" questioned Alpha, having an uneasy feeling brewing in him.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. Would you and Vice go and see, Alpha?" the Elder requested.
"Mmm, got it!"
As Vice and Alpha left to see what was coming towards their tribe's home, the Elder could only rub his beard thoughtfully. There's a storm brewing, both literally and as a calm before the storm which would hit them soon, and he could only wonder what was going to happen then.
Meanwhile, still having their prisoners in their truck, Wolf, Mousey, and Hakins were all driving at full speed (Wolf being at the wheel, in this case), trying to find a way out so they can get to a port on the edge of the sea from somewhere beyond the jungle so they can return to Alola. They also thought of giving KoKo to Lothor as a bonus prize so that they can make use of his ability to talk to Pokemon naturally or something.
"So, Wolf, now that we got who we came for, what do suppose is next for us regarding them?" Mousey quizzed Wolf.
"It's simple, you numbskull. We'll hand them over to the boss and with him as their ringleader, we'll have the princess lead us to her real parents and he'll do away with them all for good!" Wolf answered.
"Well, we better make sure they're kept alive for him and him alone. If there's even one scratch on her or if they somehow die on our watch, he'll have our heads before long if he's angry enough and finds out that we killed them for him somehow," Hakins nodded cautiously.
"You're sick, Hakins, sick!"
The Three Stooges Sins all chuckled together as they thought they had come up with a perfect plan. However, their luck was just about to run out as an unexpected something soon slammed into them and the truck's right-hand side, causing them to suddenly skid from side to side. The resulting bang caused Wolf to panic, losing control of the truck as he desperately tried to gain it back.
"'Ey, what's going on?!" Hakins shouted as the Three Stooges Sins all yelled in shock.
"Wolf, tell us what's going on!" begged Mousey as he tried to hang on. "The truck's skidding like crazy like it's on ice, we're slipping!"
"I'm trying, you dingbots, but this stupid thing isn't gripping the ground!" snapped Wolf frantically, desperately turning the wheel.
Inside the truck's holder, Race, Sarah, Nikki, James, Tsukumaro, KoKo, and Skwovet were being jostled and bounced about roughly as they yelped and grunted in pain as they rocked within their "cell".
"Come on, DaDa, tell me! What do we do?" fretted KoKo within his mind, trying to figure out what his adopted father would do to escape from their big pinch.
The Three Stooges Sins continued to slip and slide thanks to whatever had caused them to rock and roll after slamming into them. Wolf did his best to try and get back in control, even using the brakes to stop their momentum, but it was no good. It only got worse for the three of them they all finally saw a cliff straight ahead and a large gap between it and another cliff on the other side. They also realized that they were going too fast to stop in time before they would go off and either crash or jump to the other side, painfully.
"WOLF!" screamed Hakins and Mousey in fright, holding each other tight before screaming like babies (similar to how Power Rangers' Bulk and Skull screamed from their eventful flight with Kimberly in "Foul Play in the Sky").
"BAIL!" shrieked Wolf as soon as he saw the cliff, also frightened as he and his fellow sins jumped out and left their prisoners trapped inside as they ran.
They even forgot to take the weapons that they confiscated with them in their panic so they were left in the driver's seat. Before long, the driverless truck finally went off the cliff they were on and it crashed into the other side, flipping onto its right side and as rocks from above them soon buried much of it. However, when the truck crashed, the Moon Shield sensed that its owner is in danger as it erected its Force Field at its own will. This softened the impact of the fall that followed the crash but once it deactivated, the rocks it protected the truck from came down and buried it.
Race, Sarah, Nikki, Tsukumaro, James, KoKo, and Skwovet all groaned as they felt the impact of the crash and were in pain.
"Urgh, what the damn hell was that?" groaned Race, trying to get his bearings.
"Oh, stop the ride, I wanna get off..." moaned Skwovet miserably, feeling sick.
"What happened?" asked Nikki.
Sarah got up and hopped over to one of the windows that was left unscathed until she gasped, "I don't know, but... It looks like we're trapped underneath a barrier of rocks now after we crashed. My Mom's Moon Shield must've protected us but it sure didn't make it feel less painful by much."
"Thank the makers of time and space that we survived thanks to your mother's treasure, Princess," sighed Tsukumaro. "I'm just glad we got that Force Field working back then after our first couple of fails from testing it after I forged it."
"Yeah, that's great and all but how do we get out of here?" Race questioned, deadpanning before he saw and smelled what is actually smoke. "Hey, wait? Does anybody here smell smoke?"
"Yes, I do, Race," James nodded.
"I do, too," added Nikki.
"Crap! I know what happened, the engine must've caught fire somehow after it crashed on the cliff face we came into!" grunted Sarah in shock. "We have to get out of here, now!"
"But, how? Your weapons are in the driver's seat and we're wrapped up like a bunch of stuffed Chipotle burritos, Island Girl!"
"We still have a chance! Solar's out there along with Fennekin, Phanpy, Swablu, and Cyndaquil, maybe they're getting everybody else back at the glen to help us! If they're lucky, the smoke will probably grab their attention and they'll find us in no time along with KoKo's DaDa!"
"They better hope to see the smoke and find us," replied Nikki.
"I hope you're right, Ponchita," James hoped.
"Sarah, you...?" breathed KoKo in surprise, seeing Sarah not lose hope.
Sarah turned to the Zarude Boy as she said, "KoKo, there's still a chance we can stop Dr. Zed and put an end to his schemes once and for all. I don't know for sure if he played a part in what happened to your parents a decade ago and if we can catch up but there's no harm in trying! Your home, DaDa, your friends, everyone's in danger here and we've got to save them! We can't give up while there's hope left and neither should you, not now!"
With DaDa, he quickly followed the sound of the mechanical footsteps and saw Dr. Zed and his team continuing to plow their way to the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring, wondering if KoKo is with them and being imprisoned somehow. He was just about to see what he can do to stop them when he saw Alpha, Vice, and a Zarude platoon with them to see their common enemy coming towards their once-shared domain. Their previous grievances no longer mattered, for now; survival against a potential enemy to all is what's demanding their full attention.
"Hey, what is all of this?" asked Alpha, surprised to see his former brother-in-arms.
"That's what I like to know," retorted DaDa.
"They're coming here for one thing and that's the Heart Tree," chuckled Vice with a sneer towards the humans coming towards their home.
"I want you all to report this back to the Elder," Alpha commanded to Vice and their platoon.
"What about you?"
"I'll stop them in their tracks!"
"Great!" With that, Vice and his and Alpha's platoon hurried off to inform the Elder while Alpha and DaDa were left on their own to stop the intruders.
"Now, would you like to go along with me on a little rampage, just for old time's sake?" requested Alpha to DaDa.
"Hmm, good idea. If we don't, then they'll tear our home apart."
In agreement once more, even if it's only temporary and for the greater good, the two Zarude made their move as they prepared to stop their common enemies in their tracks. But, what the two of them don't realize is that in this extensive war, it would take not just them and the Zarude Tribe but the entire jungle and its only fighting force to fight back against Zed and what he and his crew wanted for their own gain (sans a previously worried Sharon).
At the same time, Sarah's family, the Jungle Guard, Race, Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro's teams, and the baby Pokemon and their siblings heard the truck they were after crashing as they came to the cliff and saw the truck buried on the other side.
"There, there! Underneath all that rubble!"
"That's the truck carrying our friends!" Cyndaquil and Swablu cried, pointing and directing everyone to the buried truck and its burning engine.
"Ghost and I will check it out! You guys wait here!" Amber shouted as she and the male Dragapult quickly flew over to the truck and inspected the damage that was done to it.
The large boulders had covered a majority of the truck but the back of it was completely buried but the fire from the engine was getting bigger as it started to spread around. It forced them to back away as it got hotter and the smoke made them cough, the extent of the damage they oversaw becoming clear to them as they were forced to fly back up and report.
"No good, the back of the truck is completely covered from the crash! And, the engine just caught fire!" Amber reported once she and Ghost were able to breathe again. "The smoke from the fire is going crazy and fill up the back, Tai Lung! They won't survive unless we somehow get them out!"
"We gotta do something, Amber!" Mai begged.
"Yeah! If there's a will, there's a way, right? There must be something we can do to free them!" added Hashimoto. "Can't we just go in there and move all those boulders out of the way and break the back doors open?"
"Yeah, or maybe we can blast the rocks out of the way to break them out!" Starfire pleaded.
"No! The fire from the engine's too dangerous and it's starting to spread!" Ghost objected, immediately against both ideas. "The oxygen around us will just make it bigger if we do work fast to shift all of that rock! Our combined wing power from everybody that can fly would only make it worse!"
As everyone pondered and fretted on what to do, Nyasi looked at the wreckage of the truck holding his family and KoKo inside it as well as the spreading fire threatening to consume them if he and everyone else didn't do something to save them in time.
He recalled everything that he went through with Sarah ever since they first met after he was caught by Victor, Gloria, and Hop back at the Galar Region and given to her as a farewell gift after her and her class' first trip to the region and the Isle of Armor that he once called home. Even before she and his family knew nothing about him and his past, they were able to accept him as one of their own and love him as much as his late birth parents once did. He was still traumatized by what had happened to him and his mother and father before and upon finding out the truth the day prior and he wasn't sure if he really belonged with the Zarude Tribe since the tribe clearly hates him for associating with humans and other Pokemon they considered lower than and inferior to them and he had been wrestling with his true identity on the back of his mind ever since he discovered his origins.
His well-being and whatever happiness he had obtained in his new life were all that Sarah was concerned for and they could be the exact same things his real parents would've wanted him to have. That love she had given him, he knew it was something that he wanted to keep and never lose again. He lost his original family to Team Eclipse and he was still a baby so he was weak and couldn't do anything to stop the villains and save his loved ones.
But now, after being accepted as one of the family by Sarah and her own family of Pokemon and dragons alike, he gained a new one. Now, he was on the verge of losing his family twice and he couldn't let that happen as he looked at his hands and clenched them.
It was at that moment that he made up his mind; he was going to stop dwelling in the past and wishing that there was something he could've done to prevent his parents dying by Lothor and Team Eclipse's hands, stop worrying about who or what he was supposed to be, and stop the what-ifs brewing in his mind. He had a family to save this time and he wasn't going to let them down, not this time.
As Tai Lung and Guardeon debated on what everybody should do to save Team Eclipse's captors, Nyasi walked a couple of steps back as he prepared himself to make a big gamble of his own. It was finally his time to do the right thing and nobody who's going to put him and his family and friends down, not even the Zarude Tribe, are going to stop him from rescuing his loved ones.
Letting out a primal scream, fueled by his love for his current family and channeling his hatred towards the ones that killed his original family, he charged forward towards the cliff as everyone watched on in shock at the change in the princess' Rogue Monkey Pokemon and called out to him.
"Nyasi!" Tai Lung boomed in shock as he reached out, knowing what he was about to do.
But, the noble Grass/Dark Mythical Pokemon took the leap of faith, jumping from the cliff below him and diving into the fire, shocking and horrifying his family as they all cried out. Miraculously, he survived as he landed on the spot where the truck was buried. Seeing his chance, he went over and quickly used Vine Whip to move the rocks out of the way before he noticed the roof starting to cave and the fire continued to grow. Looking through the windows, Nyasi saw Sarah and the others all coughing from the smoke as they held their faith that they will be rescued.
"Mother!" he called, tearing open the truck's holder and gently grabbing her, Nikki, James, KoKo, Tsukumaro, Race, and Skwovet before he retrieved their weapons from the driver's seat and ran out of the crash site (which was actually a big cave they crashed into) before returning to his party.
The six humans and Skwovet all coughed as they tried to breathe in the fresh air they're in now, relieved to be out of danger and back in one piece. While they got their bearings and their breath back, a relieved Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, Swablu, Piplup, Snom, Appletun, Skiddo, and Buneary came over and gently used Crush Claw, Scratch, and Peck to free them.
Oshawott, Aqua, Vaporeon, Azul, Azula, Audino, Danny, Danielle, Ponyta, Slurpuff, and Rapidash all used Water Gun, Heal Pulse, and Aromatherapy to soak and heal them after their daunting experience in the truck fire and thankfully, they were all saved. Needless to say, everyone was relieved to see them alright and Nyasi managing to brave the dangers they were facing to save them despite how reckless he was.
"Nyasi, you..." Sarah coughed as Nyasi nuzzled her gently with a loving smile, relieved tears welling up and flowing down his eyes.
"I lost my family once, I'm not going to lose you all again..." he vowed.
"Yay!" Togepi cheered as she and Whimsicott came to the rescued advisor and she hugged him happily. "I missed you!"
"I'm alright, you two. Thank goodness you're safe," Tsukumaro smiled, returning Togepi's hug as Whimsicott smiled at them.
"You okay, KoKo?" asked James as he and Nikki looked KoKo all over.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But, you were right, there is still hope," he smiled knowingly, no longer doubting Sarah's faith and that of her own family, making the two smile.
"Where are Dr. Zed and his crew right now?" asked Sarah.
"He's still after the Healing Spring, he's heading for the Heart Tree right now!" Fennekin answered.
"Oh no! The Zarude Tribe won't stand a chance against him and their machines, we've got to help them and fast!"
"Sarah, why should we help those mean old monkeys?!"
"Did you forget that they've plundered all of our food and left us feeling like dirt underneath their lanky feet ever since they started terrorizing all of us?"
"They wanted to prove themselves to be the dominant Pokemon that rule this jungle and left the rest of us for dead, especially leaving us with nothing to eat since they've taken our berries!"
"And, I don't see nothing good coming out from helping the bad guys!" Fennekin, Phanpy, Swablu, and Cyndaquil argued, still having their misgivings about the Zarude Tribe like the rest of the Jungle Pokemon.
"Well, sometimes a princess has gotta do what a princess has gotta do," replied Sarah, understanding their feelings. "Even if the Zarude Tribe did sorta deserve something of a punishment for their actions, I wouldn't want to wish this kind of thing on anybody."
"But, still-!" Cyndaquil tried to argue before she was gently cut off.
"Cyndaquil, please! Now, hear me out, none of the people of Galar saw anything good coming out of me rehabilitating Eternatus since he nearly wiped out all of humanity in his anger back then."
"I'm standing right here," Eternatus pouted angrily.
"Look, what I'm saying here is you have to put aside your differences and do the right thing if you want to save everyone you love and your home. Eternatus also went through the same thing when Team Eclipse once tussled with us just to get him to join their ranks. As much of a blunt and plain-speaking hothead as he can often be, guys..."
"Hey!"
"...Eternatus was able to stay with me and be the Pokemon that he is now because I gave him a chance. If I go back on my own duty and let the Zarude Tribe die by Zed's hands, I could never look at them and the Elder nor myself or my real parents in the eye again. Besides, Nyasi and I; I mean, we owe him a lot for uncovering the truth about his past and I still want to show him that there's a brighter future for everyone including the Zarude, without the need for them to keep following the code of 'Survival of the Fittest', admittingly. I believe the Zarude Tribe can be able to live peacefully with you all without the need to prove their superiority out of fear for their own destruction but someone has to take the first step. Trust me..."
Returning to Alpha and DaDa, they both charged at Zed and his crew, intent on protecting their and their Tribe's home. They may be enemies at this time but with their home and tribe in danger, things had come back full circle as they were willing to work together again, even if it's for a brief period.
But, the task wasn't easy for them as Zed's mechanical monster was making it hard for them to fight back despite their best efforts and their combined power. To make matters worse for them, Wolf, Hakins, and Mousey reunited with Zed and they were joining in on the fight, making it four against two as the two Zarude were getting rag-dolled but they struggled on regardless.
"What was that?!"
"It's a Pokemon!"
"It's going to attack us!" gasped two of the researchers and Sharon in shock as they saw Alpha when he crashed into their truck.
"You must stay inside!" barked Zed to his crew.
"Why are they attacking?"
"How should I know?"
But, DaDa and Alpha paid Sharon and her fellow researchers no mind as they continued to fight against Zed and his machine's pilot. Despite how futile it seemed to be and the wounds they're getting, they're both continuing to battle for the sake of their home and in DaDa's case, KoKo.
With the Zarude Boy himself, he was running with everything he had after his resolve was renewed upon hearing Sarah's declaration to the baby Pokemon about protecting everyone, even those who are supposedly enemies with others around them. He was so inspired by what he had heard her said and amazed that Nyasi loved her as his human mother, no longer conflicted about his place in the world as he saved him, his brother, her, and her family that he decided to be the one to take the first step. He ditched his extra clothing, stripping back to his loincloth as he ran like a Zarude as he used to, knowing that everyone is in danger and they needed his help regardless of what the rest of the Zarude Tribe may think. The others were behind him as they did their best to keep up, knowing that like him, they have a duty to perform and that's to save everyone in the Forest of Okoya.
"Wait for me and my friends, DaDa, everybody!" he prayed, hoping that he, Sarah, her family, and the entire Jungle Guard along with their tagalongs would save everyone in time.
DaDa and Alpha continued to fight in the meantime as best they can but it was clear that they were struggling to still make a dent on the machine as they were getting pummeled. DaDa was much worse off as he took a hefty blow to the right side of his waist and he was thrown back hard and even Alpha was getting banged up himself.
"You alright?"
"Yeah."
"This is not good!" they bantered, seeing how outmatched they were.
"Doctor?" asked the pilot.
"Please continue regardless! They're simply Pokemon, they'll run when faced with real danger," sneered Zed as Alpha and DaDa braced themselves to be crushed.
But, Zed was stopped dead in his tracks when KoKo appeared and used his whip to tip his hovercycle over and knock him down. Then, it was blown to bits by a laser blast and a Power Bolt as Sarah and Race appeared and pointed the Beast-X King Power Bolt and the Panthera Charge Morpher at the machine and him before they fired at the machine which startled the pilot as he was pushed back from the blasts. The timely arrival of them also gave way to the rest of Sarah's family as Nyasi jumped forward and used Power Whip and Darkest Lariat to give the pilot running the jungle crawler machine a beating before he turned to DaDa and Nyasi after joining them, KoKo, Race, and Sarah.
"You alright?" he asked as he held Alpha before he could strain himself.
"N-Nyasi, why...? I thought you didn't believe that you-!" gasped Alpha.
"I used to... But, not anymore. I now know who I am, I am Nyasi: once a Zarude of the Zarude Tribe and now, a proud son of my human mother, Princess Sarah Tomoe. I have a whole new life ahead of me after she took me in and it took me years to find my place in the world after losing my parents, I'm not losing another family again."
"Don't you lay a finger on my DaDa!" KoKo declared.
"KoKo! Princess!" cried DaDa as he tried to come forward but collapsed from his wounds.
"DaDa!"
"Are you okay, DaDa?" Sarah and KoKo asked as they joined him.
"Why did you all come back?"
"You do nothing but get in the way. And, I thought you were already taken care of, young lady," groaned Zed, not expecting KoKo to return as well seething that Sarah and her family were able to escape as well.
"I can't believe that fire nor the crash didn't kill you!" Wolf snarled at Sarah. "How did you all manage to escape from the truck after we were sure we have finished you off?!"
Sarah smirked as Nyasi came up alongside her, "You three are total stooges to think you can underestimate the mother-son bond I shared with my Zarude, Nyasi, really. In fact, I should thank you for bringing us together along with my Galar friends; if you haven't attacked the Forest of Okoya and made him an orphan, I wouldn't have met him and we'd have the perfect opportunity to avenge all of the Pokemon you and the rest of Team Eclipse, even Lothor, killed back then."
"Sharon, guys... That Pokemon, do you think it-?"
"It must've raised Al!" Sharon and a researcher gasped, seeing DaDa and KoKo together.
"You two and the princess get out of here!" Alpha shouted, moving forward to attack Zed and his pilot again to help give the party time to escape.
"Hold on!" warned DaDa.
But, it was too late; Alpha was already on the move to distract their common enemy until he was knocked back down and was prepared to be bludgeoned to death as he braced himself again. However, in the nick of time, several more laser blasts appeared and hit the pilot's machine and Pikachu and Pyroar, Tsareena, Turtonator, Togedemaru and Vikavolt, Snowy, and Sandy and Brionne arrived before they used Iron Tail, Trop Kick, Dragon Tail, Discharge and Zing Zap, Powder Snowy, and Double Edge and Bubblebeam to hit it as well.
A Focus Blast was also shot as it rocked the pilot's machine, making him yelp as he tried to regain control while Zed gasped in shock to see Ash and the others along with Keldeo (now in Resolute Form) appearing before everyone. DaDa was stunned by what he saw.
"Dr. Zed, your evil ends here!" declared Mallow firmly, pointing her Beast-X Magistaff in Crossbow Mode at Zed.
"Leave them alone, now!" barked Lana angrily, her Beast-X Pirate Blaster also turned in Zed's direction along with the others as they pointed their sidearms warningly at the evil doctor and the Team Eclipse Sins with them (the latter three and their partners inching back in surprise).
"Doctor, think about what you're doing!" demanded Ash, his Beast-X King Blaster at the ready.
"Your mindless assault on this jungle and the Zarude Tribe as well as everyone else is causing nothing but meaningless suffering and terrorism!" Kiawe snapped.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?" Sophocles questioned firmly.
"You're going to kill everyone if you continue to target the Heart Tree and its Healing Spring!" continued Lillie, looking livid at Dr. Zed as the heroes' partners gave angered cries of agreement.
"As a Sword of Justice, Dr. Zed, I command you to stand down and surrender if you know what's good for you and your team! You're under arrest for not only disturbing the peace but also for breaking and entering this jungle and your plans to destroy the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring for your own gain!" ordered Keldeo, glaring at the mad doctor.
"Keldeo, guys!" gasped Sarah.
"Don't worry, Sarah! The calvary's here," smiled Keldeo.
"Well, what took you so long then?"
"Sorry, but we had some catching up to do."
"I am uninterested in your opinions," Zed scoffed, annoyed by the heroes' continued interference.
"You know those humans and their Pokemon?" Alpha asked.
"Not very well," DaDa admitted as Skwovet reunited with his brother.
"They're my friends just as Sarah and her family are part of our family!" KoKo replied, smiling gratefully.
Alpha grunted in acknowledgment and knowing that everyone has to regroup, four of Sarah's dragons (Shadow, Winter, Camo, and Rosethron) fired their attacks to create a plume of smoke for everyone to escape.
"They're gone!" Hakins cried in alarm.
"What'll we do?" pondered Mousey worriedly.
"Let them go, we'll do a little more digging back at the lab before we regroup with Zed or continue our original mission," Wolf replied, surprising his fellow sins as he gestured them to move away from the mad doctor speak privately. "It's clear that madman holds some contempt for the jungle boy and he knows something that none of us don't. The princess has her suspicions but it's best if we do one final snoop to see what other skeletons he has hidden in his closet."
"So, you're saying he's got something bigger to hide and there's a reason for him to take the Healing Spring for himself?"
"Mmm, and if you recalled, one of the researchers informed us that he's extremely skittish about anybody entering his office with or without his consent."
"Does that mean you already have a feeling that he'll be finished in a matter of time once he attacks the Healing Spring and the Heart Tree once he finds what he wants?"
"Exactly, we'll dig around his computer for confirmation of the files we've found after I hacked into his server the other night. Then, we'll come back and deal with the princess and her posse as well as the jungle boy accordingly."
"...Good idea," smirked Hakins and Mousey in agreement after thinking about it and they quickly teleported with their own wrist communicators back to the Biotope lab and out of Zed's sight.
At the Heart Tree, everybody managed to regroup in order to figure out what's next for them to do in order to stop Zed and his crew. The Zarude Tribe was shocked and surprised to see the princess and her family return along with KoKo and the wounded DaDa and Alpha and even her friends were in awe as they marveled and gasped at the sight of the Heart Tree and the Zarude Tribe before them.
"Elder..." Alpha sighed as he flinched from his wounds as he reported to the Elder.
"Hey! Pull yourself together," gasped Vice, immediately going over to him.
"Elder, Team Eclipse has returned and they're helping a bunch of humans to rip up the jungle. My wounds are insignificant although I can't say the same for him," Alpha reported, looking towards DaDa as Audino, Sarah, and Rapidash treated his worst wounds as best they can while KoKo fretted over his condition.
"I don't understand why or how it was possible but these humans and the princess have agreed to fight alongside us, the ones with her KoKo called friends. And, what's more, the Okoya Jungle Guard has arrived to help us stop this new threat that Team Eclipse and the humans they're assisting are posing, even after everything we've done to make life hard for them and the Jungle Pokemon they swore to protect, just for our own survival."
The Elder nodded, knowing the situation to be dire and that there was no time for quarreling amongst one another, "First and foremost, we stop the destruction of the jungle."
"Right," Alpha nodded.
But then, the Night Lights shot up as their ears twitched and giving off surprised chirps with a shared feeling of dread in them, they quickly flew over to where the Healing Spring was. "Dart, Pouncer, Ruffrunner?" Sarah asked, just as Shadow and Winter quickly flew after their children.
"Where are those flying lizards going?" Vice replied, confused.
"Maybe they heard the mad doctor's machine getting close to the Healing Spring," Twilight guessed.
"They're at the Healing Spring?!" gasped Ash and the others.
"O-Oh, no!" cried Uxie in horror.
"Damn it! That monster of a so-called doctor doesn't give up!" snapped Mienshao.
"We've got to stop him and his crew before they destroy the Tree and the Spring!" Nico replied.
"Let's hope your dragons that left can hold them off before they do destroy them both!" Amber hoped.
"In the meantime, let's work out how to stop our enemies before they really do the unthinkable!" suggested Guardeon as they all tried to come up with a plan to stop Team Eclipse and Zed.
Sure enough, as many of the heroes and the Zarude Tribe feared, (despite the disappearance of Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf as they left to snoop around in Zed's office for more evidence), Zed and his crew had arrived at the Heart Tree. While the researchers were in awe and Zed was in glee over what they had found, despite her own awe, Sharon couldn't help but feel worried as if they were actually trespassing on sacred ground and they get the feeling they weren't invited.
"Up close, you can feel its power," she noted regarding the Heart Tree's power.
"Yes... How beautiful it is," Zed stated in awe, seeing the Heart Tree before his eyes.
"Doctor, look, over there! The Pokemon from before!" gasped another researcher, Ally, seeing the Zarude Tribe.
"It must be their home, their nest," Sharon concluded, still feeling uneasy just as two scientists, Ryan and Rob, were testing the water and found the same samples KoKo's late parents had found ten years ago.
"It's a perfect match," Ryan gasped, seeing how identical the samples are.
"Doctor, it's true! It's identical to the sample our leaders once found ten years ago!" Rob added.
"Doctor, we've done it! We have location data," continued a still-concerned Sharon as she showed Zed data on the Great Tree and its layout.
Zed, who seemed too eager to know about this, then ordered, "Please do a scan of the giant tree immediately, Sharon."
"Huh?" she asked, confused.
"Right, now!"
"Sir," she nodded reluctantly.
Using a satellite activated on one of the trucks, Sharon scanned the Heart Tree for wherever the Healing Spring was. In addition, she used a heat scanner and she was astonished to find what looked to be a giant heat mass from inside the tree itself.
"What is this...? We've detected an enormous amount of energy in the tree's center."
"That's the true nature of the Spring's healing power," Zed smirked devilishly as the girls gasped before he turned to the pilot. "I want you to shoot the anchor into the tree."
"What? But, Doc, are you sure-?" the pilot quizzed in surprise.
"Do it, now!"
"Y-Yes, Sir!"
"Wait, please stop!" Sharon begged the pilot as he was forced to shoot some anchors into the Heart Tree until the Night Lights and their parents divebombed them, firing their plasma blasts at the anchors and shocking Zed and his crew.
"What the-?!" Zed spluttered in fury.
The five Striker Class dragon family continued their assault as the pilot frantically shot anchors at them to blast them away while trying to get a hit on the Heart Tree but Dart, her brothers, and their parents were relentless as they kept firing back. However, while they managed to destroy nearly all of the anchors, one of the last ones fired managed to slip past them and hit the Heart Tree, causing them to turn and look back in horror.
"Hahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Zed laughed maniacally as the researchers and the pilot looked on in horror at him and what's happening to the Heart Tree while Shadow, Winter, and their child growled furiously at the researchers and the mad doctor. "It's over, you lizards! THE TREE IS MINE!"
"Doctor! What are you doing, aren't we really here for the Healing Spring? If you keep this up, then all those Pokemon-!" Sharon stated, regretting ever going along with Zed's plan until Zed turned to her, laughing.
"Wrong again, Sharon. My objective isn't the spring and it never was; healing power is nothing more than just mere bits of energy carried by the water rushing through the trees. No, my true objective is the tree itself," Zed confessed, shocking his former crew as they started to doubt him.
"And, to that end...!"
"Right, I couldn't care less what is sacrificed and I won't let anyone get in my way!" Zed confirmed, making the five dragons gasp in horror and then let out furious roars, not willing to let him continue his crimes.
Everyone on the heroes' side soon felt the anchor hitting the tree as they felt the rumbling from it and saw the Heart Tree withering.
"Hey! What-?!" Thundereon gawked, turning to the blast.
"What happened?!" gasped Mallow as Sophocles brought out his Beast-X Navigator and examined what the problem was until he gasped in horror and shock at what he found.
"Oh no, Zed and his team must've fired some sort of anchor that made a direct hit on the Heart Tree's core! All of the energy released is leaving along with the water from the Healing Spring!" he deducted.
"Then, that meanssssss...!" Medusa hissed, aghast.
"The Heart Tree..." gasped Alpha in horror as Vice and the rest of the Zarude Tribe screamed in pain and terror at what's happening to their home and themselves as they also began to wither.
"They're taking this to the extreme!" gasped DaDa, horrified by what had happened along with KoKo.
"Oh no, Dart, Ruffrunner, Pouncer, Shadow, Winter... They're too late to stop nearly all of whatever Zed and his crew shot!" Nikki cried.
"I'll betcha Zed had a little trump card in play regarding that anchor that was just fired to catch them off guard!" seethed James.
"That madman, he'll stop at nothing until he has the Healing Spring for himself and the Heart Tree is on his kill list!" Tsukuamro snarled.
"Are they insane-bzzt?!" fretted Manteon in shock.
"They're history!" Brawleon growled, stomping his front right paw in righteous fury.
"Alpha, I know we've had our differences and we don't often see eye to eye but all of us are in danger now with that madman's assault on the entire jungle including the Heart Tree," Tai Lung replied to Alpha as they looked at each other. "Now, we know who the true enemies are and they're coming our way for the Healing Spring and the Heart Tree themselves. If we don't band together and fight as one, there won't be anything of a jungle for us to go back to!"
"You're right, I suppose this was bound to happen sooner or later," sighed Alpha, quickly agreeing with Tai Lung. "We can't just sit around quietly in defeat! Any of you who can fight, follow us!"
"But, you can't!" DaDa begged, not wanting his tribe to get hurt despite their contempt for him as whatever wounds that were left on him took over. "You can't think let alone hope you can win against that thing... If you fight them head-on, you'll end up getting yourselves killed!"
"But, DaDa!" objected KoKo in shock
"So, you're saying we do nothing?! How will we protect the tree without fighting?" snarled Alpha. "We are Zarude, we are the strong ones! We have no fear! The jungle's lifeblood, lift your voices!"
The Zarude Tribe voiced their agreements, showing that they're ready to die and they're not going down without a fight. Sarah and her friends were shocked by their sheer determination to stop Zed and his crew but they saw that it was fueled by a desire to stop living after losing the very thing they once swore to protect and keep for themselves. Seething from within and angered by their reckless self-righteousness, they all nodded in agreement as to what must be done before the Ultra Rescue Rangers' leader stepped forward to announce what they had in mind for everyone to do.
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!" the princess bellowed at the Zarude Tribe, shocking them and surprising the Jungle Guard and their tagalongs, even KoKo and DaDa, as she and her friends stood together along with their partners and her family, ready to fight in the tribe's place.
"Don't be so self-righteous, all of you! What you're suggesting to do is selfish and wrong despite your noble goals! Do you really think you can protect everyone and even the Heart Tree just by getting yourselves killed trying to protect the one thing you swore to defend for your own selfish needs? There's no point in rushing into battle with no fear if you're just going to charge head-on and fight without having something truly worth living for! You may think you have honor by your side to help you but all you have that you're running on is your selfish pride! You're all nothing but cowards!"
"What was that?!"
"What do you know?"
"Our home is in danger!"
"We're the only ones who can protect it!"
"You humans know nothing about what we had to go through!"
"What do you know about that, Princess? We're not cowards, we're only doing what we must to fight and no matter what happens, we will prove that the Zarude Tribe is supreme and that no human will ever match up to us!" Alpha snapped.
"The true lifeblood of the jungle is in ALL of the Jungle Pokemon, not just you!" Ash barked angrily at Alpha. "We all live in one world and we share it with everybody, humans and Pokemon alike! That's how we're all able to be so strong compared to you!"
"Your pride is the weakness of your hearts, Alpha! You looked down on others while placing yourselves too high, treating everybody else like dirt and making out like you're royalty!" Mallow argued, not liking where the Zarude Tribe is going.
"Don't try to act like you're the only victims here!" Lana agreed to the tribe.
"If we're going to win this fight and stop Zed and his crew from destroying the Heart Tree and the entire jungle, we'll need help from everybody! The Jungle Pokemon can help us win this war against them and Team Eclipse should they come back to finish the job," Kiawe added.
"What's more, if we're going to need their help, you have to gather them all at the spot where we'll be fighting them and fight for the same cause," Sophocles replied firmly. "And, that's not going to be easy for you to do given what you've all did ever since you started terrorizing them and pillaged them for whatever spoils they have just so you can sustain yourselves and your home."
"Shut up! That is what the Law of the Zarude states and Survival of the Fittest for us is absolute!" Alpha argued, trying to counter everything he and the rest of the tribe were told. "No matter what happens, we will protect the Heart Tree and we won't let anybody interfere in our fight for our own survival including all of you!"
"That just goes to show how much you know about really living!" Race scoffed.
"That's right, you only relied on yourselves and your own strength just to make it through without needing or wanting help from anyone else throughout your lives if you've been living for so long," quipped James with a glare. "It's never easy for any of us to ask for help but if we do our best to reach out to others whenever we can if we need their help, we can become stronger."
"It's always been said that pride comes before a fall and looking at you now, I suppose the old saying is true to a tee. People and Pokemon become stronger when they come together, even if they don't do so right away," agreed Nikki, also glaring at the Zarude Tribe but in sheer disgust at the tribe. "Months, years; over time, a strength unlike anything you'll ever obtain on your own can help you become better Pokemon. And, you can find that same strength within your fellow Jungle Pokemon, the true lifeblood of the jungle."
"You must trust them to lend them your strength if you can convince them to forgive you and allow them to fight alongside you as we would if they were here now," Tsukumaro stated knowingly.
"Don't make us laugh," sneered Vice.
"We're serious; if you want to live on and save the Heart Tree, you must open your hearts to the Jungle Pokemon and let them know how you feel along with them ever since Zed and his crew along with Team Eclipse made their mark, the latter back then and the two groups together now."
"Alpha, even if you and the tribe would still be able to fight, there's no point in doing so unless you have something to live and truly fight for. Something much more powerful and more important than just the Heart Tree itself," Sarah finished as she directed her friends to get ready as they prepared to fight for everyone and the entire Forest of Okoya. "Now, we'll deal with Zed and Team Eclipse in your place. Please go with KoKo and DaDa to the Jungle Pokemon while we keep them busy."
"How exactly can you do that?" scoffed Vice doubtfully.
"Just watch," Sarah winked at the tribe with a smirk as she looked at her friends. "Power Rangers, you guys ready?"
Ash, Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, Lillie, and Kiawe all nodded and returned her smirk as they all shouted, "It's Morphin' Time!"
The Pokemon School gang brought out their Morphers and Beast-X Pokekeys while Sarah took out her Panthera Charge Morpher and one of her Panthera Chargers. The situation called for it and now, it was time to show the Zarude Tribe and all of the Forest of Okoya what they're truly made of as the most recent team of Power Rangers.
"Link to Morphin Grid, HA!" Ash and the others shouted as they inserted their keys into their morphers.
"Panthera Charger, engage!" Sarah's Panthera Charge Morpher called after she inserted the charger.
"Energize, ha! Unleash the power!" Sarah bellowed, spinning the revolver barrel and pulling her morpher's trigger.
Before the eyes of the Zarude Tribe (including the Elder as he watched in surprised awe), the Jungle Pokemon and Jungle Guard, DaDa, and KoKo, Ash and the others were showered in six streams of Morph-X mixed in with the DNA of their chosen partners while the spiritual head of Sultan appeared and flew around Sarah with a trail of energy following it and encircling the princess before it clamped its huge jaws on her and transformed her into the Dino Charge Mega Lion Ranger.
While their partners and Sarah's family along with Race all smiled brightly at one of the last hopes they needed, KoKo, DaDa, the Jungle Guard, the Jungle Pokemon, and the Zarude Tribe were left in shock while the morphed rangers immediately began their role call (Dino Fury-inspired).
"Pikachu Ranger, Ash!"
"Turtonator Ranger, Kiawe!"
"Tsareena Ranger, Mallow!"
"Togedemaru Ranger, Sophocles!"
"Popplio Ranger, Lana!"
"Vulpix Ranger, Lillie!"
"Mega Lion! Power Ranger, Yellow! Sarah!"
"Rangers forever, defenders together! Power Rangers Ultra Rescue!"
The Jungle Guard gasped along with the Jungle Pokemon that tagged along with them and the others but the Zarude Tribe was thrown for a loop as Ash and the others summoned their Ride Pokemon while Sarah got on board Solar as he changed into his Hovercycle Mode. Their partners also got on board the larger Pokemon on Sarah's family with Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro while Race boarded Kit after he quickly Mega Evolved him.
"KoKo, stay with DaDa and help him while the Zarude Tribe help you bring the Jungle Pokemon together for this fight! We'll hold off Zed and Team Eclipse until you come back with them!" Sarah replied to KoKo. "We'll be back as soon as we can!"
"Sarah..." breathed KoKo, still awestruck at seeing Sarah as a Power Ranger, her motherly-like eyes softening through her visor as she nodded to him.
Then, she and her family left to fight along with their friends upon her command as they gave out battle cries and rushed to meet Zed and Team Eclipse if they were reunited and prepared to battle them as well for the survival of the Forest of Okoya and all of the Jungle Pokemon. All the while, the Zarude Tribe watched on in shock as they saw now saw Sarah and her friends in a league of their own. Even the Jungle Guard was left started from what they've seen out of their new friends as they were left wondering what to do for several minutes before they all made their choice.
"Hey, don't just stand there, you monkeys! We weren't told to let our friends fight alone, right? Unless you are cowards, in which case, stay out of our way!" Brawleon decided, taking the first step as he left followed by Manteon, Freezeon, Thundereon, Spookeon, and even Veneon.
"Hmm, never thought I'd hear my son say that so passionately," chuckled Guardeon nodding to his fellow commanders as he, Xena, Amber, and Cobalt joined in.
"Hey, seriously! Come on, you useless pack of chimpanzees!" screeched Buneary as she, Piplup, Skiddo, Appletun, and Snom got on Medusa and they slithered off.
"They're nuts," groaned Vice as Fennekin, Phampy, Swablu, and Cyndaquil nodded determinedly at each other and they rushed off to help fight.
"Damn it, I never thought we'd be outclassed by those humans who are actually the legendary Power Rangers," mumbled Alpha as he eventually nodded and decided on what he and the Zarude that can still fight must do. "Even the Jungle Guard are remarkable with their fighting spirit... Alright, let's go!"
Letting out battle cries of their own, Alpha, Vice, and the rest of the Zarude that can still battle rushed off to join the others in a fight to the death against Zed and Team Eclipse. Having made up his mind as well to join Sarah and their friends and help fight, KoKo proceeded to make his way to the battlefield.
"DaDa, you just rest here," he told his father before he and Skwovet left, suddenly stopping as he was grabbed by DaDa as he looked to Tai Lung.
"Wait, Tai Lung!" he called to the Shiny Zeraora/Jungle Guard's Second Supreme Commander as he turned to them before he could leave. "You and KoKo, take your PokeDynasty from the glen and run! You can't win this!"
"But, the Jungle Pokemon and Sarah and her family and friends! What happens to them if they end up dying?" KoKo argued.
"I just couldn't bear to lose you!" DaDa pleaded, surprising KoKo as he realized how much he still truly care for him even though he knows running is wrong.
"I know that... That's why I fight!"
His resolve hardened and knowing he's still doing the right thing, to Dada's dismay, KoKo broke off and ran off to join the battle coming at hand as Skwovet followed his big brother. Tai Lung frowned sadly and yet knowingly at DaDa, nodding gently to him to rest up and save his strength before he does himself worse damage before he quickly left to join his Jungle Guard and his new friends along with the still battle-ready Zarude. The Zarude that stayed behind then saw him stewing in his own regrets again, wondering how he can still protect the only family he's ever known.
"How...? I should've known... How can I, how can I protect the Pokemon, protect our home, protect everyone... How can I protect, KoKo?!" he stressed in his self-loathing at being powerless to protect everything and everyone he loved despite the stigma that stuck with him and his tribe.
(Flashback)
He could well remember that time after he rescued the baby Rufflet after he used Jungle Healing and how his Braviary mother saw them and KoKo, thinking that the kind-hearted Rogue Monkey Pokemon father could hurt her baby as she squawked aggressively and pecked him hard.
"D'oh! Ow, oh! What did I ever do to you?" he snapped.
"Stop, Braivary! He just saved Rufflet!" KoKo pleaded, only for Braviary to ignore them and take her surprised baby away from his saviors, leaving them exasperated and unsure of what to think.
"The nerve, not even a thank you."
"They're together again, that's the important thing, really."
"Families are remarkable," DaDa admitted, impressed by how protective Braviary was over her hatchling.
"Huh?" KoKo questioned.
"You saw it, she knew I was a Zarude and yet she still attacked. The only thing on her mind was the wellbeing of her baby. Braviary threw caution to the wind; that Rufflet should be pleased with having family like that."
"But, what about you?"
"Who knows, KoKo? There aren't many around who are stronger than me," DaDa admitted.
"You're right!" KoKo smiled.
"But, if the time were ever to come..."
(Flashback ends)
"If the time were ever to come..." DaDa echoed, finally finding his resolve before he declared, "...All I can do is fight."
Then, he was greeted by a familiar paw as he looked up to the owner of it. It was Nyasi; while he did leave with his family to help fight against Zed and Team Eclipse, he became worried for DaDa and decided to return to him to help him convince the Jungle Pokemon to help fight and put aside their differences to save everyone. He just smiled and nodded, putting his hand forward.
With Zed and his crew, things were increasingly becoming rocky for all of them. With Zed having revealed his true intentions and realizing that what he's doing is not what they, Sharon, and the Biotope Company originally strived for, they started to have doubts about him and wonder if everything he did was for the good of everyone, humans and Pokemon alike. They all did their best to try and talk him out of continuing his mad plans but their pleas only fell on deaf ears as he remained steadfast in his maddening ways.
"Yes, but aren't you taking this too far?" replied a third male scientist, Roger, before Zed shoved him back and became more maniacal as he mumbled to himself while his startled crew watched.
"No, no, this can't be! I've gone through all of this in my mind, over and over... So, why do they do this?!" he grunted, recalling something that KoKo's real father supposedly told him before he and his wife died.
"Humans and Pokemon share the same life force," he told him determinedly in his memory.
"Why, why did they have to do this? Why can't they understand that mine is the correct path?! Why, Chrom, Phossa, why can't you understand...? How could you do this to me?! It's right here, under their noses and our own, the whole time!"
But, despite his breakdown, Sharon, Ally, Roger, Rob, and Ryan looked at him in silence. It was clear that they're now disagreeing with him as they knew what he's going for is not what they wanted and that they've crossed the line, knowing they'll pay dearly for what's happening around them. Zed was dismayed and angered as he realized that just by their silence, they betrayed him.
"You're all the same..." he snarled.
Then, before they can decide on what to do with or without Zed's consent, Sarah and her family along with her friends and their partners and they prepared to fight just as Mousey, Wolf, Hakins, and their partners teleported back after finding what they're looking for about Zed from his office.
"Well, what do you know? Right on time," smirked Wolf as he and his mates then brought out their Aerodactyl, Steelix, and Tyranitar to add to their own firepower as well as Zed's (even if he didn't know of their snooping around his office).
"Dr. Zed, now look at what you've done!" Ash barked angrily as Pikachu prepared himself.
"Zed, you and your crew have gone too far this time!" Kiawe added furiously while Pyroar and Turtonator got into battle stances.
"We don't want to make it harder for any of us as it is!" Mallow added in agreement, wanting to resolve the matter peacefully before they're forced to fight.
"Sharon, you and your fellow researchers and Dr. Zed, please come quietly with us and make sure you never come near the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring again if you know what's good for you and your company," put in Sarah, being lenient with the scientists before her and her fellow rangers just as KoKo and the Jungle Guard along with the Jungle Pokemon babies and their PokeDynasty siblings joined them, surprising the rangers and the rest of the heroes' side.
"Tai Lung, guys!"
"You're all here!"
"But, why?" gasped Lana, Sophocles, and Lillie.
"KoKo, get out of here! What about DaDa?" Sarah asked the Zarude Boy.
"Come on, Sarah, we're your friends. We're together forever and we all share the same world as one family; two worlds, one family, right?" smiled KoKo.
"And, we made a promise to protect you all including the Jungle Pokemon!" added Guardeon with a knowing smile.
"What you did was awesome, Sarah! And, you're right; so much so, we want to help and be part of this fight!" Piplup replied as he, Skiddo, Snom, and the other baby Pokemon prepared to fight themselves. "And, we even brought along some new friends to give us a hand!"
Everyone on the heroes' side was further surprised as they saw Alpha, Vice, and some of the other Zarude that can still fight as they joined forces with the ones they once viewed as inferior to fight to save everyone.
"Zarude, lots of them," Zed explained simply.
"Zarude?" Roger gasped.
"They've come for revenge!" whimpered Ally.
"We've rekindled their rage," gawked Sharon in horror, seeing how angry the Zarude are now.
"Alpha! But, why?!" Sarah gawked in total shock. "I thought I told you all to go get the Jungle Pokemon to help us fight!"
"And, leave you to deal with those humans and Team Eclipse alone? Heh, I should've known you and your friends would be so willing as to shoulder everything for all those you see as friends and family," replied one Zarude, smirking at her from one of the trees. "That was crazy but admirable of you and your friends to stand up to us and fight in our place like that, Princess, really."
"Stubborn and reckless like us is more like it, Your Highness," sneered Vice but in a cheeky manner as he sniggered.
"Stubborn and reckless, yes. But, brave and a mark truly worthy of those who have something truly worth fighting for," nodded Alpha, giving an accepting smile to the princess as she gasped in surprise but nodded back with an accepting smile as well.
"You won't ever have to fight these bastards alone! This jungle is for everyone to share along with the Healing Spring and the Heart Tree and what's more, a few friends of ours are on their way to the Jungle Pokemon now to ask for their help while we hold them off!" added Tyson determinedly.
"We're all one family from two worlds as KoKo said and we're not about to let anybody, not even you humans, destroy our home!" Breezeon declared.
"And, that issssss how itssss going to sssstay!" Medusa finished with a hardened glare.
"Okay, have it your way, you meddling kids... More pain for you all means more fun for us!" Mousey smirked as he, Hakins, and Wolf along with their partners got into battle stances.
"We're sorry, we'll be leaving right away!" begged Sharon, pleading for forgiveness until everyone saw the machine's pilot being thrown off and landing on the ground hard as she helped him up.
"Michael!" gasped Rob, seeing the pilot, Michael, being knocked out by Zed as he took control. "Doctor, what are you doing?!"
"We will not be leaving, I will show you all the true path!" he sneered with disdain at everyone around him. "Do you think a bunch of immature and unworthy kids and a crowd of simple, mindless Pokemon can stop me?!"
"Of course, we can!" spat Ash with disgust at him. "'Cause we're working together to stop your evil plans and what you want to do for your own sick dreams!"
"Hmph, how very quaint of you. The world will soon see that I was right and I will be riding on top," mocked the madman doctor before he sneered to KoKo, "I'm afraid your parents made the wrong choice when they defied my wishes after we were so close back then, Al!"
Everyone gasped as they turned to a surprised KoKo as Zed continued, "And, they paid the ultimate price in the end, for their betrayal."
"Ultimate price... Don't tell us you-!"
"You really did it to them, didn't you?!"
"You truly have no heart nor shame when you've...!" gasped a shocked and angered Nikki, James, and Tsukumaro as they realized the truth about how KoKo's parents had died.
"So, the cat's finally out of the bag, huh, Doc?" Race snorted in disgust as he and his team prepared to fight.
"I knew you had something to hide from us when you recognized KoKo's parents in that family picture, Zed!" Sarah concluded before she turned to KoKo as her family snarled at the mad doctor while everyone else, humans and Pokemon alike, gasped in shock and horror at Zed. "KoKo, it was just a hunch my family and I had last night before we arrived at the laboratory but now that he's revealed the truth, we know for sure now; Dr. Zed is the one who killed your parents in that car crash ten years ago!"
"Zed is really the enemy that started this whole debacle!" Solar confirmed as Mousey, Wolf, and Hakins smirked and winked at each other over what they found out regarding Zed and KoKo's parents.
(Flashback)
According to whatever files and video diaries they found regarding the research that was made by KoKo's real parents, Chrom and Phossa Molybdenum, ten years ago, the two scientists in charge of the Healing Spring Research Team had found something that made them realize that whatever it is they're doing to research the Healing Spring and its waters is wrong. They underwent measures to ensure that they can do their research more respectfully and safely without causing any trouble for the Jungle Pokemon but Zed was outraged when he found out about the arrangements and went to confront them.
"Boss, I think I require an explanation to what it is you're doing," Zed demanded as he entered, seeing Chrom at work and Phossa caring for KoKo.
"Look, Zed. It turns out that the Healing Spring's source is actually a great body of energy hidden deep within the tree," Chrom began.
"But, there is a tribe of these Pokemon specified as the Rogue Monkey Pokemon, Zarude, who live on that giant tree," added Phossa, further enraging Zed as he listened in. "There's no doubt that tree is special and of great importance to the Zarude Tribe."
"I ask you to reconsider! We've been searching for it for so long and now, after all this time, we've found it! Why do you want to pass up on such a tremendous breakthrough when it can do wonders for all of us?!"
"We're suspending operations for the time being until we can, at least, find a way to resolve this for the good of both humans and Pokemon."
"Stopping for a bunch of Pokemon, what is the matter with you?!" Zed screamed, enraged before the undeterred Chrom made his point clear as he repeated the one line he remembered him saying as he broke down.
"Humans and Pokemon share the same life force. We all share the same world despite obviously being two separate species; two worlds, one family," he decided, rejecting Zed's pleas. "I'm making the right decision for everyone, Zed. I know it."
And, that was that; Chrom's decision was thus final.
(Flashback ends)
"Oh, how the mighty would soon fall..." chuckled Wolf mentally as he looked towards Zed with a pitiful yet mocking smirk of his own remembering what he and his mates found while combing through his computer files and his notes.
"Pity, Zed, but it seems as though your ambitions to prove how right you are compared to everyone else ate away at you because you wanted to forsake the Pokemon for your own riches and, in your opinion, to save the pitiful human race. You didn't get your way when Dr. Chrom and Dr. Phossa suspended operations on the project involving the Healing Spring even though you felt it could do wonders to people alone. And, that's what led you to commit manslaughter just for your own deeds..."
He then snorted with a slight head turn as he recalled what else was seen from the video diaries and files he, Mousey, and Hakins found tucked away in his office.
"You're just like the rest of those fools who think you can brute force your way to getting what you wanted for what you believe is the greater good. Mindsets such as that are pathetic..."
(Flashback)
It was the middle of the night shortly after Chrom and Phossa made the decision to suspend operations on their group's Healing Spring project until a way can be found to research it safely and with respect to the Pokemon. The researcher couple in question was making a break for it in their jeep with KoKo at hand as Zed chased after them, the poor soon-to-be-orphan baby crying in panic and fear as he didn't know what was going on.
"Come on, you two! Where is that data?" snarled Zed as Phossa held the pendant holding the data that they'll leave to KoKo.
"We erased it!" Chrom snapped, not tolerating Zed's own betrayal as he tailgated them.
"But, why?!"
"It's to protect them!"
"...UNACCEPTABLE!"
His rage fueling him, Zed then killed his former co-workers as he rammed the family of three off the road and near the river as their car exploded.
Phossa and Chrom were able to survive along with KoKo but the two adults were now on the verge of death and they knew they'll have to leave their son behind to fend for himself somehow. Giving him the pendant containing the data they have on them, they put him into the crib that DaDa would find him in later and sealed both him and the pendant inside. It was heartbreaking for them to part ways with their only son so soon but they knew it was the right thing to do out of the love and goodness of their hearts for his wellbeing. For them, if Al/KoKo would stay alive and keep the data hidden for as long as he can, that was good enough for them.
"Will you please forgive us?" Phossa prayed, she and Chrom sending loving and knowing smiles to him and each other as they pushed their frightened baby into the river before they succumbed to their wounds and died.
Thus, DaDa would find him the following morning when he heard their jeep exploding and spent the rest of the night looking for the disturbance until he would come across KoKo. Zed, unremorseful about his act of manslaughter, then took whatever data they once had on them and left them to die in the following explosion, becoming the sole leader and mad man that he truly is now that he has what he wanted.
(Flashback ends)
"At this moment, my life-long dream has finally come true!" Zed sneered with a vicious smile.
"No..." Lana breathed in horror.
"How could he do that?" Ash breathed in shock.
"How dare you... How dare you hurt KoKo and kill his parents out of cold blood!" Kiawe snapped, angered to no end at Zed.
"You really are a monster and a total weasel!" spat an angered Sophocles.
"What is wrong with people like you?! What happened to the love and respect for Pokemon and the fact that they could live together in cooperation and harmony?" Mallow shrieked furiously. "Your dream is nothing but a lie!"
"If you really believed that, Doctor... Then, you're no better than Team Eclipse!" shouted Lillie.
"It's so cruel!" Ryan gawked in terror at his boss' actions along with the rest of Zed's former crew.
"I never knew any of this..." Sharon breathed, astounded once more but filled with fear over what Zed had become to be the monster that he is.
"Impossible!" Alpha breathed, thunderstruck by what he and the Zarude now found out as Sarah's dragons snarled mercilessly at Zed.
"So, KoKo came to us and his father all because of a mad man who didn't want to let go of his own dream and think of us Pokemon as well?!" Vice balked.
"You're nothing but an animal; you killed your own workers and friends, people whom you've become close to as you worked on that project of yours just for your own twisted dream!" Cobalt barked, outraged.
"You murdered two humans just for doing the right thing after they decided to suspend whatever it is you're doing involving the Healing Spring?" gasped a shocked Tyson.
"That's about as low as humans or Pokemon such as you and Team Eclipse can get!" Amber snapped at the villains.
"...You should've known how much respect KoKo's parents had gained for the Pokemon when they decided to suspend your group's operations until a safer and more respectable way can be achieved to continue your research, and yet, you betrayed them!" snarled Sarah as she stepped forward, some of her Pokemon feeling her emotions and sharing their hatred for Zed as they joined her.
"Princess!" Guardeon cried before Xena stopped him and shook his head, not wanting him to get caught in her rage-filled crossfire while Zed continued to sneer.
"You led your own crew, down a bloody and dangerous path that would've ended in disaster for you all, and you murdered two loving parents and left their son orphaned before DaDa came along and saved him... You truly have no heart nor any respect for the Pokemon we share our world with, at all, Zed. For that and your other crimes, my family, friends, allies, acquaintances, and I will all make sure you see living hell!"
"Al, you were an unfortunate miscalculation on my part, made all the more complicated with your new friends butting in all the time. I will not show any mercy to you all or the Zarude!" Zed finished, closing the machine's hatch as everyone got ready to fight with Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf now summoning PokeMecha clones of Tenga Warriors, Putrids, Triploids, Krybots (Blue and Orange Heads included), Chillers, and Copotros to assist the villains.
"ZEEEEEEEEEED!" screamed Sarah as everyone on the heroes' side prepared to duke it out against the crazed doctor.
Meanwhile, sensing the danger approaching them all, the Jungle Pokemon were all taking shelter in the roots of the Heart Tree when they saw Nyasi and Dada approaching them. Now, the Jungle Pokemon, having heard about his tragic history and how he came to be the Pokemon that he is in Sarah's care (given that they heard his agonizing scream days ago), didn't mind seeing him but they especially took displeasure in seeing DaDa again.
"Hey! Take it easy," Nyasi replied to DaDa, joining him after he rolled down the hill they were on, his leftover wounds kicking in as he placed a caring hand on him. "I knew you should've allowed Mother, Audino, and Rapidash to further heal you back at the Heart Tree."
"I'm alright," DaDa reassured before they saw the Jungle Pokemon in front of them, mumbling in surprise at them. "Well, well, hello."
They all watched DaDa anxiously as he and Nyasi approached them before he fell onto his right side, unable to get any closer but not minding his wounds.
"Everybody, please! Calm down, there's no need to panic," Nyasi began carefully to the Jungle Pokemon. "My friend, KoKo's father, meant no harm as I don't. We just came to ask you for your help."
"Say, what?!" gasped a Shroomish.
"Help, what kind of help?" a wild Nuzleaf asked, still eyeing DaDa suspiciously.
"Are you crazy?!" Stunky barked in shock.
"Do you not remember what his kind did to us, Nyasi?" spluttered Mawile.
"I haven't forgotten! Yes, it's true that they've terrorized you for so long; plundering whatever spoils you have, filling your lives with nothing but fear for them as they tried to prove their superiority, hurting you all just for their own gain... But, that doesn't matter anymore, we have a crisis on our hands and it's a big one that requires all of us to band together and fight to save this jungle!"
"Urgh, he's right... Would you, would you please... Give me a hand?" DaDa continued, doing his best to support himself while accepting Nyasi's help, begging for the Jungle Pokemon's help.
But, the Jungle Pokemon just angrily objected to his pleas, remembering what he and his tribe had done as Nuzleaf went as far as to throw Oran Berries at him until...
"ENOUGH!" bellowed Nyasi, silencing the Jungle Pokemon as they turned in bewilderment and shock at him as he took a deep breath and turned to DaDa again. "Let him finish, please..."
"Mmm... Thank you, Nyasi... Listen, I know you have your misgivings about us Zarude and I humbly apologize for everything we've done to you... But, our lives are all in danger of a familiar group of villains who are out to get the princess and a mad man wanting to destroy the Heart Tree and the Healing Spring and kill your friend, my own son! If this madness continues on, everyone will lose everything."
"The princess and KoKo, in danger...? W-What are you talking about?" the Braviary mother demanded.
"...What is it you're saying?" Pangoro added slowly yet thoughtfully.
"You might remember a group of villains that killed my parents and had me sent to Galar for my own safety with the help of a wild Corviknight? You might remember them by the name of...Team Eclipse."
The Jungle Pokemon gasped in horror and shock as they reeled back, the name of the ones that killed so many Pokemon and burned down their jungle home searching for the princess filling them with terror.
"NO!" they all cried.
"It can't be!"
"They're back?!"
"Impossible!"
"Oh, not again!" wailed Stunky, Mawile, Flygon, and Pangoro in horror.
Nyasi nodded as DaDa continued while he bowed his head in shame for his past crimes and submission to the Jungle Pokemon he lived among, "Please, I know I don't have the right to ask anything of you after what we've done... But, I have to do my best for KoKo to help him. You see, I'm his father and I must do something just as Nyasi would do the same for Sarah since he now sees her as a mother. No matter what happens, we must do what we can to protect KoKo."
He looked around to all of KoKo's friends as he went on, smiling proudly at them. "You are the friends KoKo is so very proud of. Flygon, he said that you picked a lot of fights but that's because you're strong. He even said that Ninjask is known to be the fastest Pokemon in the jungle and he said that Cottonee stick together, and don't let go..." he told each of the Pokemon his son mentioned, leaving said Pokemon astounded.
"We know the Zarude can't win this fight by ourselves and neither would Sarah and her friends as well as her family despite their coming together but that spark they've given has helped me to open my eyes to the truth. If you all can combine your strength with theirs, I think we can save all of them, KoKo, and the jungle."
"Please! I'm asking you to come and fight with us!" he finished with his plea, bowing to all of KoKo's friends as he started to sob. "Please, please... I'm begging you!"
The Jungle Pokemon looked at each other in surprise, wondering if they should accept DaDa's offer until Nyasi sealed the deal with what he was about to tell them next. He didn't know for sure but after hearing Sarah's rage-filled scream and hearing Zed's name while he and DaDa were on their way to find them, he knew what he needed to tell them after taking a good guess as to what might've happened on his human mother's end.
"And, there's something that you must know, about KoKo," added Nyasi, sighing softly with a mournful twinge on him before he looked to KoKo's friends. "Listen, KoKo's real parents, his human ones... This is just a hunch my family had but I felt it in my heart when Mother's pain and anger reached out to me. There's a reason why he was able to live with you and DaDa, another human... He killed his parents, all for his own twisted dream involving the Healing Spring..."
KoKo's friends all went pale upon hearing that; they had no idea that KoKo had also endured such a horrible tragedy of losing his parents to someone whom they considered a friend and betrayed them for his own twisted dream.
"K-K-K-KoKo's human parents are...dead?" squeaked a horrified Pangoro.
Nyasi narrowed his eyes at the Jungle Pokemon as he nodded and pointed at each and every one of them, determined to help DaDa get their full trust and assistance to do whatever they can to save KoKo, his family, their friends, and the jungle.
"Yes, his parents were killed. But, they died for KoKo; they probably died for all of you and the entire jungle, too! They died saving him because they felt he was worth it out of the deep love they have for him, the same love you and DaDa all shared for him on a friendship level and a family level! Because we were all worth it!" he said to them, leaving them even more aghast and astounded as he also started to cry but held firm.
"Until now, before I finally learned about the truth regarding my own origins, after hearing what my old tribe has done to you and how you lived in fear of them, and when you extended your scorn to me, I didn't trust any of you... The Elder, the Jungle Guard and their PokeDynasty, and KoKo and Sarah, especially... They all changed my mind. Those two and I; we're no different from one another. We all lost our own families in one way or another and wanted some sense of comfort in that regard, and now, we do..."
The Jungle Pokemon were speechless as Nyasi continued amidst the tears that started building up in his eyes. His sobs slowing down, DaDa looked on in awe and sympathy for Nyasi as he spoke to the Jungle Pokemon for him.
"We'd be dead without DaDa, her, and each other... I'd especially be dead without my new family; every last one of them... Blitz, Solar, Shadow, Winter, Silvally, Zeraora, the Night Lights, the Swords of Justice, Hydro, every last Pokemon and dragon in my entire current family have has saved my life, over and over again, in some way... It's the same thing when my family saved Sarah when she found out about what happened to her real parents until she recently discovered that they're alive somewhere... It's the exact same thing when DaDa took a gamble to raise KoKo as his own after he found out what happened to them after he discovered him ten years ago..."
"And now, it's our turn to save this jungle and them, all of us! The mad man that killed KoKo's parents, he's joined forces with Team Eclipse and they're to do anything to kill them and completely destroy our home! We may have to do the unthinkable that we couldn't do before, we may have to fight... We can't do this alone. And, if you won't do it for us and the Zarude, then do it for KoKo, for Sarah, for her family and our friends, for our home-this beautiful jungle! KoKo, especially! Appreciate him, love him with all your hearts just as DaDa did along with who he really is, what he did for all of you! And, please... Please... Help us..."
Nyasi was now lost in his own sobs as he bowed to the awestruck and stunned Jungle Pokemon as they tried to say anything but couldn't, all of them floored by his and DaDa's pleas. None of them could breathe a word in response to what they just heard. However, their words did not go unnoticed as a baby Riolu and a male Reuniclus eavesdropped on the entire group as they did some reconnaissance for the PokeDynasty and nodded before they left.
Back with Sarah and the heroes, while DaDa and Nyasi were trying to convince the Jungle Pokemon to help stop their common enemies, the war between them and Zed and Team Eclipse raged on as the Zarude Tribe and the Pokemon School gang's Pokemon attacked both the mad doctor's machine and Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf's six-Pokemon team as they served as a first defense against the entire Pokemon squadron. In the meantime, Sarah and the others were dealing with their reinforcements while Tsukumaro and his team along with Nikki's and James' worked to keep Zed's former crew and Sarah's adopted parents out of danger as the old advisor sliced and diced at some Putrids and Triploids coming at them.
Sarah brought out her Moon Shield and quiver and along with her Panthera Charge Morpher (which she changed to a Panthera Sword (a Mega Lion-inspired Dino Saber but with the blade sporting two edges instead of one)), she cut shot down several Krybots with her Explosive Arrows causing them to explode. And, using her Beast-X King Ultra Bow, Race shot numerous Power Bolts at some Tenga Warriors while his entire team covered him.
With the rest of her family, a majority of them bordered the area in a big circle with Reshiram and Eternatus bearing down on Zed, his machine, and the now-stronger Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf along with their partners (from their own training) to prevent the villains from escaping.
"Phew, is it hot in here or is it just me and you? Close Combat!" Tyson quipped as he roared, lunging forward and throwing punch after punch and kick after kick against some Chillers and Copotros before he moved on to assist his fellow Pokemon with Wolf's Tyranitar and Houndoom.
"Water Shuriken!"
"Skull Bash!"
"Dragon Darts!"
"Plasma Fists!"
"Bone Rush!"
"Steel Wing!"
"Shadow Ball!" Xena, Medusa, Ghost, Tai Lung, Cobalt, Amber and Guardeon and his family boomed, blasting and smacking away at more Tengas and Chillers ambushing them before they started on Mousey's partners.
Misa and Dusk joined forces as they used Stone Edge to skewer some Putrids while Luna fought tooth and nail with Close Combat on some Krybots as well.
"Give it up, you brats! Did you really think you can stop me when I'm on the verge of success and after I finally seeing my dream come true?! Can you all really defeat me?!" Zed mocked.
"You wouldn't understand anything since you've no respect for humans and Pokemon alike, you fool!" Tsukumaro spat at him.
"You're just a sorry old man who's trapped in the past and who can't accept that humans and Pokemon living together is the future of our world!" Azula snarled.
"You've proven to us just how weak and pathetic you really are compared to the Zarude Tribe now!" Ching Wan declared, giving Zed a seething glare. "You're alone in this world, Zed, and that's your greatest weakness! Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf are much more of a challenge since they worked together as well as we did along with their partners."
"And, I can't believe we're saying that to complement the bad guys," remarked Hashimoto with a shrug.
"You're wrong to think you're the only one who's right in anything and everything including what you wanted from your research!" Shadow growled dangerously as he and his family regrouped. "What you're hoping for is nothing but a nightmare that you can't wake up from!"
"You're destroying everything and killing everyone just to fulfill your own desires!" Lana nodded determinedly.
"You couldn't possibly beat us because we become stronger by working together!" Ash added.
"Oh, please! As I told you, the world will see that I'm right! And now, I'm going to finish what the Molybdenums could not!"
"I wouldn't bet on that, Zed! You've only begun to experience our true power and your partners looked like they're in need of a brain blast memory surge!" Sarah yelled defiantly as she prepared and activated her Panthera Super Charge Zord Charger. "Summon, Panthera Super Charge Zord! Come on, Leo, let's roll!"
"Panthera Super Charger, engage!"
Throwing her activated charger, her Mega Lion Fury Zord, Leo, appeared and shrunk back down to his blaster size as the two of them charged towards another group of Copotros and Krybots, kicking, punching, slicing and dicing, blasting, and chomping each one that comes their way before she caught her miniature Zord.
"Good job, Leo! Now, it's time to fight fire with fire! Activate, Panthera Super Charge Morpher!" Sarah continued, first petting Leo before she turned him into Panthera Super Charge Morpher and activating him before donning her Super Charge armor again and attacking. "Ready! Come on!"
While her friends, Race, his team, Tsukumaro, and his Pokemon, and some of her family along with the Jungle Guard continued to deal with the growing numbers of grunts coming at them, Sarah assisted their Pokemon and the Zarude Tribe in dealing with Zed, Mousey, Wolf, and Hakins, the tribe along with Alpha and Vice pausing in brief moments to look in awe at Sarah as she took down any grunt stragglers coming at them and keeping Zed off of them long enough for them to counter.
"WHAT?!" Zed screamed, outraged as he saw Sarah starting to unleash the full extent of her Dino Charge power.
She even duked it out with the Three Stooges Sins' stronger partners for brief moments before she decided to turn up the heat as she activated her Deadly Nadder and Monstrous Nightmare Chargers along with a Mega Lion Charger through her Panthera Super Charge Morpher.
"Now, this is what you can expect from me and my friends! But, if you think that's not good enough for you, try this!" Sarah spat.
"Deadly Nadder Charger, Monstrous Nightmare Charger, Mega Lion Charger, engage!"
"Activate!" Pulling the trigger on her morpher, Skystorm and Sunflare's spiritual heads now appeared and attached themselves to her arms (Skystorm - Right, Sunflare - Left), bringing out a new form just to deal with her current foes. "Panthera Super Charge - Deadly Nightmare Formation, unleashed!"
The result of her new form was a drill power-up fixture similar in function to Shelby's Tricera Drill on her right arm and a Monstrous Nightmare Claw on her left arm similar to Riley's Raptor Claw in its own function.
"So, you still want to play with the big boys, huh, girly?" sneered Wolf as he signaled Tyranitar to attack. "Two, three, or four can play at that game! Tyranitar, use Rock Slide!"
Tyranitar shot several rocks towards Sarah but she was relentless in her own assault against the forces of evil as she activated her Monstrous Nightmare Claw and sent an energy wave towards them. Not only did she bounce the rocks back but she sent them towards Tyranitar as they bonked and battered him while simultaneously sending a wave of fire energy at the evil Armor Pokemon, knocking him to the ground.
"Ah! Damn!" Wolf gasped, stunned by her new power.
"Aerodactyl, Salazzle, take her down!" ordered Mousey, his two partners charging at her with Crunch and Flame Charge.
"Nadler Power Drill plus Nightmare Claw Punch!" the princess countered, drilling the ground with her Power Drill and causing several rocks to appear to disorientate them before punching towards the two Pokemon and an energy blast from the claw crashed into them and exploded.
Then, spreading her arms out, Xena flipped as he jumped off her shoulders and fired a Water Shuriken to add insult to injury, soaking the evil Rock and Fire Types as they screeched in pain.
"Alright, Princess!"
"What power!"
"So, this is the true might of a Power Ranger!"
"Well done!"
"Excccellent!" cheered Ghost, Amber, Tai Lung, Cobalt, and Medusa, fascinated by Sarah's power.
"Zorro, Kurma, use Twin Frenzy Plant on Zed!" Sarah called to her father's first swordsmanship teacher and her old babysitter.
Concentrating their Grass Type power, the Master of Blades and Earth Warrior unleashed giant roots along the ground after slamming their hands and front legs onto the ground to continue giving Zed and his machine a real beating.
Hakins' Camperupt tried to go after Sarah but she drilled the ground and sent another shower of rocks before she assaulted him with a Super Charge Flying Dragon Kick that sent him skidding back on his right side.
"You meddlesome PRINCESS!" Hakins screamed in annoyance.
"URGH! You power pests are really starting to annoy me! How long are you going to continue to defy me unless you can see that I was right in what I feel is best for everyone?!" Zed snarled dangerously, growing increasingly agitated by the renewed assaults on him and Team Eclipse.
"You already have our answer to that question, Doctor: No! HYAH!" Kiawe shouted defiantly as he struck down a Blue Head Krybot with his Beast-X Fire Enforcer.
"UHH! As long as there are people such as you who are willing to hurt both humans and Pokemon for your own selfish desires, we'll never stop! RAGH!" Mallow grunted, blocking some Tenga Warriors with her Beast-X Rose Lance and swinging at them across their chests.
"Hmph! You can't destroy the spirit of the Jungle Pokemon and those who are willing to protect them for the future of both humans and Pokemon!" Sophocles spat as he continued to shoot away at Triploids with his Beast-X Roly Poly Blaster.
"Pikachu! Quick Attack, let's go!" Ash shouted, pointing Pikachu to Zed's machine.
"KoKo, let's get him!"
"Right!" Sarah and KoKo bantered before they joined Pikachu to meet with Zed head-on for another frontal assault.
Together, they all jumped towards the machine to make a combined attack on the mad doctor but he knocked Pikachu back with one claw and he captured KoKo and Sarah in another, clamping on them as they struggled to break out.
"Pikachu! Are you okay?" Ash gasped, coming to his partner.
"I'm fine, Ash! But, that mad man's got KoKo and Sarah!" the Kanto Mouse Pokemon answered.
"Honey!" gasped Nikki.
"Princess!" cried Tsukumaro before he snarled at Zed. "Let her go!"
"A damn weasel such as you really can't think of anything pleasant, Zed!" seethed James.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Where's all that cockiness on you before, kids?" cackled Zed as he held a struggling KoKo and Sarah, the others seething and gasping in shock as they tried to figure out how to free them.
But then, two glowing Vine Whips shot forward and smacked at the machine hard, startling Zed as an emergency alarm blared from his right screen and freeing his two prisoners as the claw broke off.
"What was that?!" Solar gawked from seeing the unnatural glowing Vine Whip attacks.
"Those looked like Vine Whip attacks!" Rose gasped.
"But, where did they come from?" Melody gawked.
"Mother!" a familiar voice bellowed with everyone turning to find the owners of the Vine Whips.
The one that spoke was Nyasi as he and DaDa (once again sporting his pink cape as it flapped in a nonexistent wind) appeared with all of the Jungle Pokemon in the land including the Jungle Guard's PokeDynasty. But, there was something different about the two Zarude that stood before everyone along with KoKo's friends and the Forest of Okoya's Dynasty; both of their vine bands on their legs, arms, and the vines stretching and waving from their backs were glistening and resonating with powerful Grass Type power and they looked to be twice as powerful compared to a normal Zarude.
"It's DaDa..." gasped KoKo, recognizing the pink cape on his father.
"Nyasi!" shouted Sarah in surprise, seeing her Zarude amongst all of the Jungle Pokemon with him and DaDa.
"Amazing!" Lana breathed.
"Now, that's cool!" Sophocles said in amazement.
"They've done it, they've rallied the Jungle Pokemon and our Dynasty together!" Tai Lung gawked in fascination as they saw the Jungle Pokemon and the PokeDynasty standing alongside two Rogue Monkey Pokemon, ready to bring the fight to Zed and Team Eclipse.
Alpha and Vice were in shock as they recalled what they and their tribe once told DaDa, "Water raises the tress..."
"The light shines down and turns the trees into jungle..."
Even the Elder and the Zarude that stayed behind (yet couldn't join DaDa and Nyasi to turn to the Jungle Pokemon for help out of fear of losing their tribe's personal pride and dignity) couldn't help but gasp in wonder as they saw them glowing and preparing to fight. At last, the Elder was able to see what the tribe's mantra truly meant; it wasn't the Zarude themselves that are the real lifeblood of the jungle, it was all of the Jungle Pokemon that they share their home with.
Because KoKo's father and Sarah's Zarude son were able to do the unthinkable to them and turn to the Jungle Pokemon for assistance, going so far as to submit themselves to them and explain everything that happened to KoKo and what the princess did for the younger Mythical Pokemon, they both became the Light of the Jungle (the bridge) between the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude Tribe alongside KoKo and Sarah (who both became the bridge between humans and Pokemon).
"Of course, the trees are the Pokemon and that means, you and Nyasi are the light!" he breathed in awe and realization.
Now, realizing the true meaning behind their own mantra and humbled by what they saw, the wounded and battered members of the Zarude Tribe that are fighting Zed recovered and started to recite and perform it the right way.
"Do you hear it, the sound of stomping feet?" one Zarude recited as the tribe stomped their feet and shook the ground alongside the Jungle Pokemon.
"Do you hear it, the many voices?" Alpha and Vice continued, the entire tribe chanting as everybody took a stand against Zed and Team Eclipse, bringing satisfaction to KoKo as he smiled proudly.
"Uh, Wolf, I think now would be a good time for us to make a quick getaway, for now," Mousey replied as his, Wolf, and Hakin's wounded partners regrouped with them.
"Yeah, perhaps we should leave this up to Four Eyes here, right?" agreed Hakins with a knowing evil smirk and nod towards the shocked Zed, eluding to what they found out about him before.
"Alright, guess it's time to say so long for now," nodded Wolf, sharing Hakins' smirk before he turned to Sarah. "Well, Princess, we applaud you and your chimp for winning this round. You've won this time and we know when we're beat, we won't come back here again; tell the others we'll call it a draw, for now."
Sarah watched as the Three Stooges Sins returned their Pokemon and then teleported to another location, knowing that she and the others will finish their tussle with them for another time. Even her friends couldn't help but realize that their battle against Team Eclipse's Lower Sins is not over as they also watched them leave and left Zed for him to battle alone without any help.
"Another time, then," the princess replied with an agreeing nod.
"Looks like they got away again," sighed Sophocles.
"We'll get them next time," reassured Lillie knowingly.
"Yeah, I have a feeling this battle is only just the beginning of our latest struggle with them and they're not done by a long shot," agreed Kiawe.
"Right now, let's take down Zed and think about what they'll be doing later!"
"You got it!" Mallow and Lana added as Ash gave an agreeing nod.
"Again?! How can they all stand against me like this?!" gasped Zed, shocked to the core as he saw everybody standing together against him and even his own crew defied their former leader as they glared at him from their spot.
"The jungle's lifeblood, lift up your voices! With the Heart Tree!" boomed DaDa proudly before he nodded to Nyasi to finish up, the younger Zarude nodding as he stepped forward and began his declaration to officially begin everyone's last stand against Zed.
"My brothers, my sisters, my friends, my family, hear me now!" Nyasi declared as the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude all continued to adhere to their mantra.
"Today, on this day where Zarude and Jungle Pokemon will soon begin to live in harmony together, we strike back against the ones that have dared to defile these sacred grounds! Team Eclipse and the man my mother, my family, and our friends called Zed have assaulted them and DaDa's son, KoKo, murdered his and my parents and ransacked our jungle, and now, they've declared war on all of us and the Heart Tree and our Healing Spring! Will we allow it?!"
"NOOOOOO/NOOOOOOO/NOOOOOOO!" the Jungle Pokemon and PokeDynasty screamed aggressively, charging towards Zed with the inspired Jungle Guard joining in the fray with DaDa and Nyasi leading the charge.
"Your time of reckoning has finally come, demon!" Nyasi shouted as he and DaDa attacked first.
"I'll stomp all over you pathetic animals, EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU!" screamed the panicked Zed again as he tried to attack them but failed as they kicked and slapped him with a Vine Whip before Flygon and Amber flew in and fired Flamethrower and Dragon Breath.
The two Zarude returned to Sarah and KoKo as they approached them, KoKo was concerned about his father's wounds and Sarah worried over her son's disappearance from the fight while she and her family and friends were duking it out with their common enemy.
"DaDa, you're wounded! Are you gonna be okay?" KoKo questioned.
"Of course. Remember, it's me," DaDa smirked with a knowing chuckle.
"Nyasi, I'm glad you're safe. What happened, you just disappeared on us while we were trying to stop Zed!" Sarah asked her Zarude son.
"Sorry, Mother, KoKo's DaDa and I had some unfinished business to take care of so I backtracked to help him with getting some reinforcements," he smiled.
"Cool! But, I'm sorry to say that Team Eclipse left. They said they'll finish our battle another time although I suppose they probably knew that they and Zed were going to lose this one."
"Hmm, I see. Don't worry, you and I both know we'll deal with them sooner or later, right?"
Sarah nodded with a knowing smile as the Pokemon School gang and their partners looked on in amazement at what they're seeing out of the Jungle Pokemon, the PokeDynasty, and DaDa and Nyasi. They could hardly believe their eyes as they continued to see them all gathering as one to protect their home from the man who defiled them. They may not have been able to get their revenge on Team Eclipse but their retreat has given them some semblance of hope that they won't disturb the Forest of Okoya again and taking down Zed, because of his prior partnership with them, would be a great consolation prize.
"So strong!"
"They are!" Ash and Pikachu cheered.
"The Pokemon of the jungle have all gathered to protect their home," breathed Sharon in awe as she and her fellow awestruck researchers and Michael saw the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude finally fighting together as one.
One by one, each of the Jungle Pokemon and the Jungle Guard's Dynasty Pokemon engaged Zed in a merciless onslaught against him as payback for what he and Team Eclipse had done to them. From a pack of Cottonee and a powerful Heracross holding him down to a Ninjask and a Nuzleaf performing a speed divebomb on him, the entire jungle was out to finish him off and crush his dream for the safety of everyone gathered along with all humans and Pokemon that would've suffered because of and for his actions. Ash and the others along with Sarah joined in to add to the beefed-up resistance and lend their strength to them in the process.
The Elder and the Zarude staying in the Heart Tree looked on in awe and wonder as they saw the Jungle Pokemon fighting alongside the Jungle Guard, DaDa, Nyasi, the Power Rangers, their partners, and Sarah's family for everything they're truly fighting for.
"All the Jungle Pokemon, they're the roots circulating lifeblood. And, for the first time, the jungle breathes," the Elder mused, deeply moved as he uttered, to the other Zarude's astonishment, "Does this mean we were mistaken?"
"You impudent-!" Zed seethed, gritting his teeth as he fired a Flamethrower from one of his machine's cannons along with throwing one of its arms again for another mechanical punch before Nyasi and Sarah stopped him.
Nyasi blocked the Flamethrower as he used Vine Whip to destroy the cannon and cancel it while Sarah grabbed the arm with her lion strength in order to keep it back, not knowing that her body started to glow as it was coated in an aura of yellow energy. Then, she thrusted the arm away as she somehow let the energy take her over, and by instinct, she placed her right hand (in a fist) next to her left hand (in an open palm) before she clenched her fist, circling her arms before she had them in a claw-like formation.
"Jungle Beast, Spirit Unleash! Free the lions!" the princess bellowed, everyone watching in astonishment as two lion spirits (one akin to Mufasa, the other - a Mega Lion akin to Askari) appeared before they materialized into medium-sized Zords (being the same size as Zed's machine) as they roared and unleashed their power.
"Wow, look at that!"
"Honey, did she...?"
"Bloody hell, she's done it again," breathed James, Nikki, and Tsukumaro in amazement.
"Wow!" gasped the Pokemon School gang.
"Totally awesome!" Ash cheered.
"Wow, look at that! I can't believe we're seeing this right now, ladies and gentlemen!" Rotom-Dex cried in amazement and absolute glee. "This is a real first for us in the Power Rangers Ultra Rescue; Sarah has just unleashed something only akin to the Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger and the Power Rangers Jungle Fury, unleashing two lion spirits from within her!"
"DaDa, go!" shouted Nyasi, signaling DaDa to jump and throw a Vine Whip punch of his own as he held Zed's machine down, causing major damage as he was continuing to lose it.
"Worthless Pokemon and pesky kids such as you will not get in my way!" he roared, throwing one of its arms at KoKo to kill him...Before DaDa and Nyasi took the blow to save him.
KoKo opened his eyes and gasped in shock to see the two Zarude protecting him which allowed a shocked and enraged Sarah to direct her lion spirits to grab the machine's two other pincers and tear them off with little effort.
"DaDa! You-! That's...!" cried KoKo, seeing a fatal wound on the left side of his waist.
"Nyasi!" Sarah shouted as she joined him and saw a heavy wound on his waist as well.
"Mother, are you and KoKo alright...? ...Good," Nyasi smiled in relief, seeing the two of them safe and sound.
"Please, don't worry, as long as you and the princess are okay..." agreed DaDa, smiling at them.
Everyone gasped in shock and surprise as they saw the two Zarude taking one for the team by sacrificing themselves to protect the ones they loved most of all as they grunted and roared as they tore off one of the last pincers and threw it away. DaDa lost his light as his life force started to fade away at a faster rate, possibly dying a slower but heroic death worthy of him being a true father to KoKo. Even Nyasi couldn't hold back the pain he was feeling, a small stream of blood trickled from the wound Zed inflicted on him as Sarah held him, stunned as she shook her head at him.
"Nyasi...! Nyasi, why?!" she begged, wanting to know why he and DaDa did what they had to do to protect them.
Her lion spirit Zords roared to Sarah, trying to get her to control herself along with KoKo and not let his and DaDa's sacrifice be in vain.
"DaDa, no!" KoKo cried, realizing what their wounds could mean.
"Let's get them to the Spring, KoKo, Princess!" the Elder replied as he and the Zarude with him quickly joined the heroes to assist them. "Quickly, give them a hand!"
"You don't know when to quit! Well, I'll take care of th-DAH!" sneered Zed as he prepared to attack again before grunting in shock as Sarah's lion spirit Zords continued their assault to give KoKo and Sarah time to help Nyasi and DaDa get to the Healing Spring.
"KoKo, Princess, now!" Alpha shouted.
"But-!" Sarah began to object as Vice stepped forward.
"They have to survive, especially Nyasi!" he urged the two.
"He's going to pay for this!" Lana snarled, baring her Beast-X Pirate Blaster and Pirate Saber together as the others joined them to fight in Sarah and KoKo's place.
"Dr. Zed, KoKo's DaDa and Nyasi will be the last Pokemon you'll ever hurt or kill!" Kiawe declared angrily, pointing at Zed as he held his Beast-X Fire Enforcer.
"Well, you're going to have to go through us if you want to kill them!" Ash agreed, readying his Beast-X King Smasher as KoKo was forced to join the Elder as two Zarude carried him to the Healing Spring. "Nobody's going to take away KoKo, Nyasi, and Sarah's family twice, not while we're here!"
"That's right!" shouted the gang's Pokemon in agreement, getting into their battle stances again.
"...Alright, I'll go. But, just in case he's still too much for you," Sarah relented before she revealed her Keystone. "Candy, Star, Kaji, Mulan, Houndoom, Latios, Latias, Audino, Salamance, you guys ready?!"
"YEAH!"
Sarah pressed her Key Stone, nine strings of light streaming from the stone as they made contact with nine other strings from her Pokemon's Mega Stones, "May the power of my Key Stone and your Mega Stones protect us, MEGA EVOLVE!"
"DAH!" Zed exclaimed, seeing Sarah's Pokemon equipped with Mega Stones change drastically. "Impossible, how can that stupid girl have the power of Mega Evolution and using it to keep insisting I was wrong when I'm right?!"
Mulan's fur grew longer as the fur at the back of her mane now stood on end, giving the appearance of a pair of wings. The spikes on her heels and elbows grew larger and the fur in these areas were now longer as well. Her sickle-shaped horn widened while a smaller horn appeared on the opposite side of her head, giving an S-like crescent appearance. Her tail now had a more saw-like shape and the oval marking on her forehead is now a rounded triangle.
Zorro's head crests are now more pointed, a round portion missing from the middle. Red markings marked his now-smaller and more narrow eyes while the yellow seeds trailing down his back grew larger and the last pair turned red while the pair above turned orange. Red stripes now encircled the base of his tail and ran across his lower belly while the leaves on his wrists were now more pointed coupled with the upper ones now having red tips and half-circles cut out of the middle. Covering his chest and shoulders now were plates of leaves similar to those that form his tail, now longer with a red stinger developed at the tip.
Salamance's wings melded together into a single crescent-shaped wing that stemmed across his entire body, his face, neck, body, and tail becoming narrower while his tail became noticeably shorter in length. The ridges above his eyes are now far less prominent and he lacked the thick, gray scaling over its lower jaw. Instead, the smooth red flesh underneath is exposed as the upper pair of fins resting on the sides of his head were elongated and tapered while the lower pair didn't change much. However, the middle set now took the form of quarter-arches, spanning towards the bridge of the nose. The remnants of his shelled underbelly, however, have been drastically transformed into a segmented, more aerodynamic, vest-like armored frame.
As Sarah's Pokemon holding Mega Stones all Mega Evolved to level up the playing field and cover for DaDa and Nyasi in what would be their final struggle against the power-crazed, defiant, and maniacal Dr. Zed, Sharon and her fellow researchers looked on in awe along with KoKo and the rest of the Zarude Tribe. They all saw how deeply the bonds between the princess and her Pokemon powering up were and that result led them to use power much of the world haven't yet seen before their eyes. It was proof of what they're all capable of if humans and Pokemon were to trust each other and live in cooperation and harmony.
Houndoom's back ridges thicken and now bone-like rings formed around the base of his tail (which is now split down the middle) with the tails' rings having small spikes on top, resembling a vertebra. The ridge at the base of his neck is now longer and curved forward towards his shoulders and in place of a band with a skull pendant around his neck, there is a large-toothed structure, having two large spikes on either side and three pointed teeth on the bottom. His horns were now pointed straight up with a small, outward curve in the middle. The two bands on his hind legs vanished while the band on his forelegs broke in the front and finally, his claws turned from white to dark red.
Audino became taller with her species' signature patterning on her stomach, now completely cream and covered by what resembled a flared lab coat. After Mega Evolving, most of her body is white with pink tips in four places, one on each ear and near the edges of her "coat". Her eyes turned pink and her ears now stood upright with longer, curlier feelers with two additional, curled feelers extending from under this extra tuft of fur. Her tail becomes larger and a smaller tuft of fur is now centered on her chest and her white fur covered her feet with two small tufts on the heels.
Latias looked identical to Kit's Mega Evolution for and Latios looked almost identical to his younger sister but instead of being the normal white and purple for their Mega Evolved forms, they were both white and green.
Their transformations complete, Candy, Star, Kaji, Mulan, Houndoom, Latios, Latias, Audino, Salamance roared proudly as they threw heated yet determined glares at Zed, ready to avenge their mortally wounded brother/nephew and KoKo's father.
"For the sake of Nyasi and KoKo's DaDa, who mortally wounded themselves to protect him and I, and everyone risking their lives to save the jungle... My Mega Evolved Pokemon, I command you to help them finish off Zed!" Sarah shouted, pointing to Zed.
"Right!" her Mega Evolved Pokemon nodded, baring their teeth at the mad doctor.
"Come, Princess, KoKo! To the Spring!" called the Elder, finally getting Sarah and KoKo to come with them as the Zarude with him, Shaymin (back in Sky form after finding some Gracidea flowers in the PokeDynasty glen prior), Ponyta, Slurpuff, Danny, Danielle, and Hydro quickly joined them to help DaDa and Nyasi retreat to the Healing Spring.
"You just don't learn, do you?" seethed Zed, losing his mind from the resistance he's still facing.
"You're going to learn what happens when you push us too far and try to kill anybody we all know love again as you and Team Eclipse did years ago!" Ash spat as everyone else got ready to continue fighting him.
"And, how!" Pikachu agreed as Sarah's lion spirit Zords roared defiantly in agreement.
"And, we'll see to it that you pay dearly for your crimes, ten-fold!" Race added, activating his Key Stone and allowing Kit to Mega Evolve into Mega Latios again to give them an extra boost in power and morale.
As everyone else continued to duke it out with Zed, with Sarah and Race's Mega Evolved Pokemon providing the strength and power DaDa and Nyasi lost while saving the princess and KoKo, the two Zarude in question were brought to the Healing Spring. Sarah and KoKo watched as they were gently laid down along the tree root they're on but to their surprise, the Healing Spring didn't glow as it used to.
"Is it working, DaDa?" KoKo pondered until he saw the wounds on DaDa and Nyasi not healing, blood still trickling out of the latter's waist wound. "What's wrong?"
Sarah looked around the Spring, remembering when Zed had the last anchor he and his crew had fired past Shadow, Winter, and the Night Lights after hearing the explosion from the Heart Tree's core.
"KoKo... Elder, that explosion earlier, didn't one of Zed's anchors hit the Heart Tree at its core earlier?" Sarah questioned, shocking KoKo and getting a grim nod from the Elder.
"Hmm, earlier, the water inside the Heart Tree was forced out after that human blasted the core and its power may have been weakened as a result," he replied.
"Grrrr, damn that Zed, he forced out much of the Spring's Healing Water," seethed Hydro, wanting to beat the snot out of Zed for what he'd done.
"Oh no... How do I-?" KoKo breathed in horror.
"Hydro, please! Help us, see if your Healing Saliva can help them!" Sarah begged, turning to her Tide Glider and not wanting to lose her son.
"Healing Saliva?" echoed one of the other Zarude with them in confusion.
"Well, it's possible but those wounds look really bad. My Healing Saliva from my water blasts can heal even the biggest wounds," Hydro explained as she joined the quartet in the water. "But, I don't know if it can heal the worst kinds of wounds... Doesn't hurt to try, though, let's see..."
The princess looked to Ponyta, Slurpuff, Danny, Danielle, and Shaymin, remembering their own healing abilities. "Shaymin, Slurpuff, Ponyta, please! All of you, use Aromatherapy and Heal Pulse as best you can, too!" she begged to them.
Her Pokemon all nodded as they quickly got to work with Hydro who immediately fired water blasts containing her Healing Saliva and the princess' five Pokemon in question using Aromatherapy and Heal Pulse together. They did the best that they could with some of their wounds but after a while and while some of the minor wounds were all taken care of, they stopped as they panted heavily, having exerted themselves.
"Wh-What... What happened, why aren't they working on those major wounds?" Sarah fretted, seeing Nyasi continue to groan along with DaDa despite her Pokemon and Hydro's best efforts. "Elder, how are they, are they...?"
The Elder looked on grimly still, now having a good idea as to why they still haven't recovered, "Not good, internal bleeding on both of them which can be cured through the Healing Spring's power but that's no longer possible..."
DaDa groaned as he then told the now-panicked two, "I'll be alright, we both will... Everything will be fine, really... You both don't have to make that face."
"Mother, don't worry... I won't die, I promise you... But, maybe, it's better this way, knowing that I'll finally see my parents again," Nyasi smiled sadly in agreement, fighting the pain as he and DaDa continued to die despite his joking.
"Don't talk like that, your parents won't want you to die... They want you to live on, to be happy! It's the same for KoKo's real parents!" Sarah pleaded, tears starting to well in her eyes. "None of us can go on without you or DaDa! You'll be fine, both of you! DaDa said so, for us! Everything's going to be fine, you'll see..."
While DaDa and Nyasi were trying to make the most out of what could possibly be their final moments with their son and human mother, the others were continuing their assault on Zed as he was getting hammered on all sides with Sarah and Race's Mega Evolved Pokemon and the lion spirit Zords filling in for them brilliantly.
"Everybody, CHARGE!" Skwovet bellowed to his group as they helped two Zarude hold his machine down on one of its legs.
"SEED BOMB!" shouted Nuzleaf, Vileplume, a Kantonian Exeggutor, and Ludicolo as they fired seveal Seed Bombs as they rolled down the hill they're on and exploded when they came in range.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
"Turtonator, Pyraor, use Flamethrower!"
"Togedemaru, Vikavolt, Discharge plus Zing Zap, go!"
"Tsareena, Magical Leaf, let's go!"
"Brionne, use Aqua Jet! Sandy, Take Down!"
"Snowy, Powder Snow, now!" The Pokemon School gang shouted, all of their partners converging their attacks into one blast that hit Zed's machine as Sandy and Brionne returned to Lana's side while they fired their side arms in Blaster and Crossbow Modes.
"How's that?"
"Did we do it?" Ash and Mallow asked.
"No way!" gasped Pikachu in shock, seeing Zed's machine barely unscathed.
Knowing they could die soon, DaDa and Nyasi both held KoKo and Sarah gently as they began saying their final words to them, voicing their final regrets and wishes as they looked them in the eye.
"I'm sorry. I was a failure at being your DaDa. Now, there you go again, making that face," DaDa told the tearful KoKo, the Zarude Boy unwilling to believe that his second father was dying before him.
"Why are you still talking like that?!" he begged, not wanting his death to happen.
"I've wondered for a long time whether I was good enough at being a parent or not, but now..."
"Now, what...?"
"...I-I'm glad...That, you are my son... Very glad," DaDa finished, taking his final breath before he succumbed to his wounds and died.
"DaDa, no!" KoKo begged again but now starting to sob, having lost his father again as he finally let out a pained scream for him, realizing that he lost his family again. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
At the same time, Nyasi was having his final moments with Sarah and a heartbroken Hydro, Danny, Danielle, Ponyta, Slurpuff, and Shaymin as he tried to fight through the pain to say his last words to his family.
"Nyasi, please! You can't die, not after you had the chance to live with a real family again! Please, please, hold on!" Sarah begged, not wanting to lose her son like she once lost her parents.
"Mother, please don't cry... My new life with you may have been short but thanks to you, I was finally happy," smiled Nyasi as tears rolled down his eyes and he groaned before he took one of his final breaths.
"I now understand what family really is because of you and our friends; family is the people and Pokemon who love and cared for others. That's what you, my fellow Pokemon in your care, your dragons, your parents, your boyfriend, your godfather and our friends all are. Throughout my life, I've wondered what my place in the world was; I lived in the Isle of Armor my whole life back then but most of the Pokemon there were afraid of me even if I meant no harm."
"Nyasi, why...?" Sarah began before he continued.
"Every time I looked at you all, ever since I was given to you by your Galar friends, I've always wondered what my real parents were. I never knew anything about them after the trauma I went through of losing them to Team Eclipse caused me to forget. I spent so long trying to live out my own life without someone to love, to care for, to lend a shoulder for me to cry my own fears and worries out... I never wondered what it was like to have any brothers or sisters or to have real friends for so long and as a Zarude, I should've fought through the pain of being lonely. But, still, as opposed to my species, I still felt like crying..."
The princess was shocked as she looked at her son in disbelief and cried, "Nyasi, if you were feeling like this all this time, then why...?! I'm sorry, I failed your parents in the end! I promised your real parents last night that you'll be okay, that I'll protect you as a mother to the very end! I promised myself that I won't let you die as they did but I guess I was wrong...!"
"No, it's okay, Mother. You've done everything you could, you loved me just as much as my parents would... Heh, maybe even more, admittingly... I've never told you this because I thought you would rather know until after this madness ended but now, I finally got the chance to say this: thank you. Because of you, I was able to find the courage to protect the world and the one loving family I finally have again. Because of you and your family, even if I didn't know about my origins here, I was able to find the courage to have fun, have real friends, be loved for who I am and not what I am, to live these several past months to the fullest... Please, all of you, live on for me and my parents..."
"Nyasi!" bellowed Sarah, losing her composure as he kissed her gently.
"I guess, my time has come... Goodbye, Mother," Nyasi finished as he took his final breath and then died alongside DaDa.
"Nyasi... No," Sarah cried, seeing her Pokemon son no longer moving like DaDa as she then released a pained scream along with KoKo for her own loss, "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
The Elder, the other Zarude, Hydro, Ponyta, Danny, Danielle, Slurpuff, and Shaymin all looked on mournfully as they saw DaDa and Nyasi die before their very eyes and in front of KoKo and Sarah.
For KoKo, he was hit hard by the loss of his real parents and now, he was experiencing the same pain he once felt after losing the only father he's ever known after being adopted. But, with Sarah, she sobbed hard as she begged Nyasi to come back and not leave her and her family behind, knowing that she still has a lot to do with him as his human mother, having her first-ever taste of the death of one of her Pokemon children. The two of them continued to sob heavily for their deceased loved ones as they recalled what was said between them at a certain point in both of their lives.
(KoKo's Flashback)
After discussing the subject of family between them and the fiasco with the wounded baby Rufflet, DaDa turned to KoKo with one thing in mind for his son to remember concerning his safety.
"I'll tell you one thing," he began. "If someone I couldn't defeat were to ever really appear, I have to protect you by whatever means necessary."
KoKo chuckled as he made the same vow, "I'll protect you, too, DaDa."
DaDa laughed as he found the idea plausible yet humorous for him to think about, "As if a tiny one like you could do anything."
"Yeah? Don't forget, I'm my DaDa's son!" replied KoKo, getting onto his chest and still smiling knowingly.
This brought joy to DaDa as he hugged him with oeverwhelming joy, feeling grateful to hear that from KoKo. "You'e the best son ever!" he said, as KoKo laughed happily.
(KoKo's Flashback ends)
That was the promise KoKo made with DaDa and now, it looked as though he wasn't able to keep it himself and it was the same for Nyasi regarding his relationship with his mother.
(Sarah's Flashback)
It was the middle of the previous night after everybody returned to the PokeDynasty glen before they would begin the search for the Biotope Company and find out the truth about what happened to KoKo's real parents. But, while the others and the rest of the PokeDynasty, even the Jungle Guard, were fast asleep in the glen and the enchanted tent, aside from KoKo, two more were actually wide awake before they could turn in for the night.
Nyasi and Sarah were taking a walk around the glen as they were still reeling a little from the bombshell about the former's past life and how he was wrenched away from his loved ones by Team Eclipse, being saved when he was sent by his parents to Galar for his own safety.
"You okay?" Sarah began, getting his attention as they later sat down near another large lagoon a few miles from the tent and the others. "...About your origins, your parents?"
"Y-Yeah... Although I still have to take it all in, I don't know who I really am, now..." he replied, feeling unsure about himself. "Am I once part of the Zarude Tribe Team Eclipse took me away from along with my parents or am I your Pokemon when I was found and given to you by your friends, Victor, Gloria, and Hop?"
"What are you talking about? Of course, you're my Pokemon; you're not like the Zarude Tribe, you and DaDa are alike even though he has his son to look out for despite what had happened earlier and you're stuck with me..."
They remained silent for a moment before Nyasi finally spoke up with, "Hey, Sarah... Do you ever feel like you're a mother to our family, like they see you as their real mother who looks out for them despite whatever pasts that caused them to be with you...? Do you, do you see me as...?"
"Hmm?" blinked a surprised Sarah, turning to her Zarude with widened eyes.
He stuttered for a bit before he turned away sheepishly, "Forget it, silly question... Just thinking out loud, really..."
Sarah looked down at her and Nyasi's reflections from their spot on the edge of the lagoon before she sighed and began to confess to him about the million-dollar question about her and her Pokemon and dragons.
"Actually... I've been wondering that for a long time, too," she told him.
"Ever since I've started taking in so many Pokemon that ended up being in Alola or nearby me one way or another, at times, out of my own volition or if they end up finding me, I've always wondered whether I'll be a good mother to them despite being human. It's always something I've had to wrestle with ever since Blitz and I first met up with Dusk and Luna and we, Mudsdale, and my friends had to rescue them and their parents before I decided to adopt them. They were my first taste of what's to come with being a single parent and it's the same story with the rest of my family including the dragons, even if I'm their rider."
"Must've been rough for you with having your hands full with all of them and juggling your personal life."
"It was but I've learned to live with it and with help from my adopted parents and my godfather as well as my friends. Plus, I loved them too much to really think about how crazy and overwhelmed I would be with being a single mother to over 100+ Pokemon and 60+ dragons under my wing, you included... But, when I found out about what happened to my real mother and father, you all filled in a large void that had been left in my heart for the past ten years. All of it starting when Blitz was first given to me as an egg on my fifth birthday, even if I didn't know yet..."
"Sounds like you owed a great deal to all of us just as we did with you... But, with me and my real parents being dead, do you think they'll be happy with me being with you and me thinking of you as my real mother?"
"I don't know, I can't be sure... But, I know that they loved you just as much as I do and I would do anything to protect and love you in their name and memory."
Nyasi hummed thoughtfully as he nodded before he sighed and lied down on his back with his arms spread out; he couldn't deny that and he wouldn't want to hate his late parents for doing what they did to protect him, knowing that they only did it out of their undying love for him.
"But, you know... If anything were to happen to you along with the rest of my family and our friends should our enemies make their move," Sarah continued as she turned to him with a knowing look, "...I have to do whatever it takes to protect you no matter what, just as you'd do the same for me. I can promise you and your real parents that much."
Nyasi was surprised until he gave a laugh as DaDa did with KoKo and his promise, "As if a royal with a heart of gold such as you could do anything for me!"
"Oh, yeah?" Sarah smirked as she got onto his chest and looked at him lovingly and booping his nose. "Don't forget; in their honor and memory, I'm your mother and it's my solemn yet sworn duty to make sure you're happy and live the rest of your new life to the fullest. Together forever, always."
Nyasi was overjoyed to hear Sarah say that as he then gave her a hug. "You're the best ever, Mother!" he laughed again as Sarah laughed with him heartily.
(Sarah's Flashback ends)
It seemed as though all is lost for the quartet with DaDa and Nyasi having died and KoKo and Sarah being left on their own to pick up the pieces but in their moments of death, the two Zarude realized what they've actually accomplished. Even though it didn't seem like it at the time, DaDa had already become a loving father for KoKo and Nyasi had already been a wonderful son to Sarah in his late parents' honor and memory.
"Of course... Nyasi, I think I finally got it figured out..." DaDa thought to Nyasi as their minds bridged one another.
"Yeah, so did I. I can't believe we didn't realize it sooner," agreed Nyasi, feeling the same. "You were already a father to KoKo just as I was already a son to Mother..."
"To be a parent..."
"And, to be a son..."
"Means to have something that's more important than one's own self," they told each other.
At the same time, KoKo and Sarah refused to let DaDa and Nyasi die just as they did, know that there still could be a chance to save them. Looking at each other, they shared tearful yet determined nods as KoKo placed his hands on DaDa's wound and Sarah stood before she reached out her hand, calling her Dragon Heart Scepter to her as it appeared in her hand and pointed it to Nyasi and his wounds.
"KoKo, Princess..." breathed the Elder, realizing what they're about to do.
"No... This isn't over," Sarah growled, not wanting to lose Nyasi just as she lost her parents when she was a baby, praying to her scepter to give her the power she needs to bring him back. "I lost my family once, I'm not gonna lose my family again!"
"That's right, I'm going to use DaDa's move to heal him," agreed KoKo, planning to use Jungle Healing as he saw DaDa did with the baby Rufflet they saved.
"Children, that is impossible... You heard it straight from his mouth, KoKo, you are a human" the Elder pleaded to them. "Even if you both could use Jungle Healing, how could you hope to save them from death?"
"Nuh-uh, I'm a Zarude, and I'm DaDa's son! And, I'm going to save my DaDa!" KoKo declared proudly amidst his tears. "I'm the only one, I'm the only one who can do it! I'm his son! I'm my DaDa's son!"
"I made a promise to his real parents to look after Nyasi and I'm going to keep up no matter what! I failed them once but that won't happen again!" agreed Sarah, not losing her faith in Nyasi. "I already lost my own parents when I was a baby back then before I found out they're alive, Elder... I will not lose my son!"
KoKo and Sarah gave forceful grunts as they continued to put in efforts to use Jungle Healing to bring them back. At first, nothing happened for several moments, but then, before everyone gathered knew it...
They all saw two faint green glows coming from KoKo's hands and the Dragon Heart Scepter (after a stray tear fell onto it and covered the rod in the same green glow). The two friends concentrated themselves and their own power even more and exerted themselves into what looked like Jungle Healing as they were covered in the same green glow and eight streams of green light flowed down to them and covered the Healing Spring.
"...DADA/NYASI!" they finally screamed together, the streams of energy expanding as they stretched to the whole jungle.
The Elder, the Zarude with him, Ponyta, Hydro, Slurpuff, Shaymin, Danny, and Danielle all gasped in awe as they saw what KoKo and Sarah were doing; they were using their own form of Jungle Healing, their love for Nyasi and DaDa allowing the Healing Spring and the Heart Tree along with the Dragon Heart Scepter to hear their calls for them and grant them the power to bring them back and restore the Spring's power. It was surely a most magnificent sight for them all to see as magical green leaves sprouted and rained down everywhere, similar to Shaymin and Slurpuff's Aromatherapy, their healing power stemming across the jungle.
And, they weren't the only ones that noticed the benevolent power that exuded from their Jungle Healing; everyone else that was still fighting against Zed were also feeling their willpower and love for DaDa and Nyasi as the leaves spread to the battlefield. This rejuvenated all of the Pokemon and dragons still squaring off against the mad doctor and allowed them to continue fighting with renewed strength and vigor.
"Hey, look!" James gasped, pointing at the glowing leaves falling down amongst the heroes.
"What is that?" cried Star.
"Beats me, I've never seen it before!" Wyveon admitted in surprise.
"Yeah, anybody mind filling us in on this new power-up?" quizzed Charger.
"My strength is rising!"
"We're stronger than ever!" gasped Curly and Zeraora.
"What's with the jungle light show?" pondered Zorua.
"No idea but whoever did it, they picked a good time to bust it out!" admitted Spectrier as everyone kept on fighting.
"Isn't that his-?" Vice began as Alpha sniffed the aura that came from the leaves.
"The smell is different, two smells..." Alpha answered before they turned to each other and gasped, "KoKo?!"
"Two smells?" Race echoed before he gasped and turned to where Sarah had gone with KoKo, DaDa, and Nyasi. "Island Girl..."
Returning to the revitalized Heart Spring, KoKo and Sarah were yelling and grunting as hard as they can, putting their hearts into their efforts to save DaDa and Nyasi with Jungle Healing as their wounds (both internal and external) were finally beginning to heal. As they continued to heal them, the thunderstruck party with them watched on as new roots sprouted from the Healing Spring and their power, stemming towards the near-bare Heart Tree as new life took place of the old life that Zed killed off.
"Look out!" shouted Dawn as he, Twilight, and some of the other Pokemon with them dodged another attack from Zed.
"Look at them... The Pokemon, those dragons, those two Zords, the Power Rangers, and their allies; they're all fighting as hard as they can and all we could do is watch helplessly," fretted Sharon as she and her fellow researchers and Michael didn't know what to do to help.
"Hold on," gasped Michael. "I think the control system is directly on the machine's back. Smash it, and the machine stops."
"Are you sure, Michael?"
"Yeah!"
"Hmm. Listen, Ash, everyone!" Sharon called determinedly, turning to the rangers.
"We heard it!" Ash nodded with the others, knowing what they must do. "You guys heard it, too, Tsukumaro?"
"We did! Kids, I think I have an idea!" the advisor agreed. "Twilight, Dawn, and their children can all melt the metal of the machine with their acid! Use that and have the Razorwhips help you destroy it with their tails as well!"
"Right!"
"You got it!" nodded Mallow and Lana as they and the others saw the covered control panel on the back of Zed's machine.
"Hey, Ash! Look there, is that the control panel that guy mentioned?" Kiawe asked, seeing the panel.
"Yeah, that's the spot," nodded Ash before he pointed Pikachu to it to help everyone else get the idea. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack! Aim right for that thing's back!"
"Got it!" Pikachu chirped, immediately charging towards Zed again.
"Look out!" cried Alpha, dragging Pikachu back before Zed could land a hit on him.
"I know what you're trying to do!" the murderer sneered.
"Alpha! What are you-?!"
"What are you all planning?"
"I was trying to hit that machine's back, that's where Sharon told us where we need to hit and stop it!"
"Master Alpha, it appears that if we all hit that machine's control panel attached to its back, we can shut it down and finally apprehend the thing responsible for murdering Young KoKo's human parents!" Calyrex informed him.
"We've got to distract him or hold him down so he'll leave its back open for an assault from us, the Deathgrippers, and the Razorwhips!" Candy added, also getting Tsukumaro and Michael's idea and surprising Alpha.
"And, that will take the machine down?"
"All the way down!" Pikachu urged again.
"I get it; if that monster's machine isn't running again, he won't have anything left to fight us with!" Twilight realized.
"So, we'll need to melt the metal covering over the control panel and destroy it using something like Iron Tail and my family's Tail Slice!" Silver noted in agreement.
"Hmm. Alright, follow me!" nodded Alpha, agreeing to the plan.
"Huh?"
"Seriously?" Pikachu and Whiplash asked in surprise.
"You're gonna help us out, Alpha?" Ash quizzed, also taken aback.
Alpha nodded as he roared to all of the Pokemon and Sarah's dragons over what their new plan of attack would be, detailing what they must do to Zed and his machine in his roars.
As Alpha told everyone about what their final attack plan against Zed would be, KoKo and Sarah cancelled Jungle Healing as DaDa and Nyasi's wounds were all finally healed and their strength is restored along with that of the Healing Spring and the Heart Tree. When DaDa and Nyasi finally came to, they opened their eyes to find their son and human mother looking relieved, all four of them back together and never to be separated by anything again.
"DaDa..." KoKo breathed as he and DaDa shared a loving hug.
"...M-M-Mother," breathed Nyasi in awe.
"...Welcome home, Son," Sarah smiled with a tearful nod, both of them sharing and sinking into a mother-son hug as they gently cried.
"Unbelievable..." breathed the fascinated Elder.
"Wow..." Hydro, Ponyta, Slurpuff, Danny, Danielle, and Shaymin gasped in awe.
"...Princess, KoKo, I guess you saved us before we could leave you, didn't you?" DaDa smiled warmly as they held their cherished humans, Sarah and KoKo both nodding tearfully in response.
"Oh, Mother... What would we ever do without you two?" chuckled Nyasi as the four of them continued their embraces.
The plan to crush Zed's so-called dream and end his tyranny was coming into fruition as Alpha, Vice, Pikachu, Silver, Whiplash, Skylar (using her other senses to keep up with her parents), Twilight, Dawn, and their children charged forward first in everyone's final assault to destroy Zed's machine's control panel. After Alpha swung his as best he can and passed him to Vice to carry him over before he was knocked back, Pikachu was dropped onto Flygon's back as he zipped under the machine.
With the Deathgrippers and Razorwhips following them, everyone else provided cover for them to help them get a clear shot while at the same time, keeping Zed's attention on them so he would be too late to react to the ones that would shut him and his plans down.
"GO!" Ash and the others shouted, seeing their plan working perfectly.
Each of the Zarude along with the Jungle Pokemon, the Jungle Guard, and the PokeDynasty (swiftly moving about with complex movements similar to ones used by soldiers using Omni-Directional Mobility Gear from the Attack on Titan anime) tossed Pikachu to one another and provided cover for Twilight, Dawn, and Silver's families as they darted around to keep pace with Pikachu and further distract Zed before he could have a chance to take them down. All the while, everyone else cheered for them as their moment of truth was drawing near.
"Move it or lose it, Four Eyes! We're tired of your shit!" Whiplash snarled at Zed as he and his family managed to dodge Zed's next attack before Ghost and Tyson blocked him.
"Twilight, Dawn, Silver, Whiplash, kids, now!"
"GO!" they shouted before they were pushed back, allowing the Deathgrippers and Razorwhips to move on.
"You can do it, little guys!" Craggeon cheered.
"Go, Yellow One!" roared Alpha as he helped Pikachu get some momentum onto his last Iron Tail against Zed and his machine.
"Hit 'im where it hurts!" Amber shouted.
"Yeah!" Guardeon's daughters and the baby Pokemon and their siblings all cried in agreement.
"Don't ssssssscrew thissssss up!" warned Medusa as Twilight, Dawn, and their kids went first.
"Now, children!"
"Shoot!" signaled Echo and Melody, allowing Twilight, Dawn, Viper, Wyvern, Rhaegal, Kayda, and Edna to fire their acid and melt the cover off, revealing the control panel from underneath.
"AH! N-N-NO!" Zed cried in horror as Pikachu, Silver, Whiplash, and Skylar prepared to finish the job.
He tried to attack again but he was disrupted once again by the Jungle Guard and the lion spirit Zords as they clamped on him and held him down while he was also Karate-chopped by Magearna as she ran forward, jumped as hard as she can while letting out a battle cry of her own, and smacked him hard with her metal feelers.
"Oh no, you don't!" she roared as she did so, rocking Zed as his machine began to malfunction from the damage it took.
"ALRIGHT!" Ash and the others all shouted together.
"You're toast!"
"You're finished, Zed!"
"You have lost!"
"Now... DIE!" Pikachu and the Razorwhips roared, using their Iron Tail and Tail Slice attacks to cut the exposed control panel completely down the middle and make it explode, short-circuiting the machine and shutting it down.
"It's down!"
"We did it!"
"We saved the Heart Tree!"
"And, the Healing Spring, the Jungle Pokemon, and the entire jungle!" smiled Kiawe, Ash, Mallow, and Sophocles as they, Lillie, and Lana along with Race went to the machine as the other researchers sighed in relief and happiness.
"Come on out, Doc!"
"It's all over!" Lana and Lillie called as they went to the driver's seat, only to find nobody in the machine.
"He's gone!" Fennekin gasped as everybody saw Zed gone.
"That snake, he must've escaped right after we destroyed his machine!" Mai screeched in anger.
"As I've suspected, he's one of those types; never one to let go of his foolish pride when it's clear that they're beaten," Sokka scoffed in disgust.
"But, where did he go? There are millions of paths he could take in the jungle to escape," replied Blossom as everybody looked around.
Skystorm sniffed around until she finally picked his scent and took the lead as she ran and her family went after her, "I got him, he went that way! Everyone, follow me! Quickly!"
True to Skystorm's scent and Sokka's suspicions, Zed did in fact flee from his machine the moment it was destroyed. Battered and bruised yet humbled, but unwilling to accept the fact that he lost and it was indeed over for him, he decided to find an escape route as he ran in the jungle lost in his madness.
"No, I'm not wrong!" he cried. "I won't let it be over, not until I prove that I'm right!"
But, his hopes were dashed as he soon saw Sarah and KoKo helping DaDa and Nyasi out of the Spring with the rest of their party, inadvertently making himself known.
"Sarah, look!" cried Hydro, roaring at Zed.
"Hey, it's that Zed creep!" Shaymin snarled.
"Zed!" shouted Sarah, pointing her Dragon Heart Scepter at him. "I guess you've lost, old man! Give up?"
"What, they're still alive?!" Zed freaked, his panic taking over before KoKo took off, supposedly letting his anger over his parents' murderer taking him over.
"No, KoKo, wait!"
"Stop! Don't chase him!" DaDa and the Elder warned, only for their pleas to go ignored.
"KoKo, don't! Killing him won't solve anyt-!" gasped Sarah, realizing what KoKo could be doing as she quickly gave chase. "Aw, man! Hydro, Shaymin, Danny, Danielle, Slurpuff, Ponyta, stay with Nyasi, DaDa, and the Elder!"
"Princess, no! Come back!" cried the Elder, his cries to her also falling on deaf ears, his frantic roars to them sounding off as everybody following Skystar heard him.
"The Elder!" gasped Alpha.
"Skystorm, I just realized!" Skylar replied as she flew with her parents and alongside the Deadly Nadler and also recognized Zed's scent along with KoKo's and Sarah's. "That mean old man is at the Healing Spring, KoKo and Sarah are in the same direction and going after him!"
"He's going to escape through the Healing Spring?!" gasped the female Deadly Nadder.
"Come on, everyone! Hurry!"
"Run, slither, and fly like the wind and lightning!"
"Don't let him get away!" Totem Luxray, Raikou, Haxorus shouted as they continued to chase after Zed.
"Oh, I hope Sarah and KoKo don't do what I think they'll do!" fretted Seleneon.
"I pray we are in time, too, my daughter!" agreed Guardeon.
Zed ran and ran as fast as he could to get away from his pursuers but unfortunately, running to a broken tree root, he found himself trapped. He was stuck between the way he came and the river down below him which would mean his death if he tried to jump in. At that moment, KoKo reached him first and they struggled for a bit before Sarah came and saw them fighting.
"KoKo, please! Stop! He's finished, it's over!" Sarah begged, feeling scared for KoKo and what he's about to do. "Don't kill him, this isn't what your parents and DaDa would want! This isn't the way!"
"Urgh! Stay out of this, Sarah! This is between me and him and I'm not letting him get away with murdering them!" KoKo spat, still struggling with Zed.
"Let me go!" Zed snapped, trying but failing to struggle with KoKo.
"KoKo! Let me handle him!" Sarah pleaded, grabbing KoKo and Zed to pull them apart so she can capture him alone without killing him, only for the former to push her away and continue their struggle as their party and the others finally found them.
"KoKo, that's enough! Stop it now!" shouted DaDa beggingly.
"If you kill him now, you'll be no different than him! You'll be disgracing and shaming your own human parents!" added Nyasi, not wanting KoKo to kill Zed. "I know how you feel, Mother and I do! But, get ahold of yourself! Don't confuse killing him instead of punishing him as justice for your mother and father! Please!"
"What's happening?" Alpha questioned.
"KoKo's anger has taken over," DaDa replied as everyone saw the two struggling while Sarah tried to get her jungle friend to stop before he kills Zed.
"Sarah!" gasped Lillie.
"KoKo, Dr. Zed!" cried Ash.
"Stop it!" begged Pikachu but to no avail.
"Urgh, don't you two underestimate me!" snapped Zed, forcing KoKo off as Sarah caught him.
"ZED!" snapped Sarah, going after the evil doctor herself, surprising KoKo and everyone else as she made a leap of faith towards him as he jumped to his death.
"SARAH!" the Zarude Boy cried in shock and he raced after her while everyone gasped, screamed, or prayed for her.
"MOTHER!" shouted Nyasi, immediately going after her, too.
DaDa looked on worriedly as she went after Zed and, after several tense moments before he could fall to his demise, his left hand was ensnared by a magic rope from her Dragon Heart Scepter as KoKo and Nyasi saved her.
"KoKo!"
"Sarah/Your Highness/Princess!"
"Nyasi!" gasped Ash, the others, Alpha, Vice, The Elder, and DaDa, seeing what the three of them had done.
"Let me go, what are you doing?! Weren't you and your friend listening to me, Al?" Zed panicked, failing to get himself loose as he began to sob while KoKo and Nyasi pulled Sarah back up and helped her tie the rope to the root, deciding to leave him dangling over the river until they could deal with him later. "If you think I'm going to let it end here... Al? Al! AL!"
Sarah looked between her friend and her Zarude son as all three of them shared knowing hugs, the princess proud that KoKo decided to not pursue his revenge and instead have Zed face the music for his sins. The others, relieved that they're alright, joined them to see the mad and defeated doctor left high and dry as he sobbed miserably.
And, when KoKo and DaDa shared a loving hug while Nyasi and Sarah continued their family embrace, all four of them knew one thing; it was over. Despite Team Eclipse's most peculiar retreat, they and everyone else managed to defeat them partly in Zed as well as stop him before he could continue his crimes against humans and Pokemon alike. With peace in the Forest of Okoya restored along with the Heart Tree and Healing Spring, after all of the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude finally joined forces to stop him, all was well again.
Afterwards, once things had finally settled down, everybody worked together to restore the damage that Zed and his machine had done to the jungle. From planting new trees to finding and cutting down the cut and damaged trees that would be used for things like furniture, campfires, cooking, and other such things, the Biotope Company (now with Sharon in charge as its new Head Director), Sarah and her friends and family, and the Jungle Pokemon all worked hard to restore the damage Zed left in his wake.
"That'll do it!"
"Indeed!" smiled Pikachu and Ash, having just planted a new tree.
"Yeah, get the rocks down that way!" called Rob as he helped Sarah's Mudsdale push a new rock they'll put in place.
"Keep it up, you're doing great!" Sharon cheered as she supervised the operation.
KoKo and Skwovet shared a good laugh as they planted a new tree, happy to know that things turned out alright in the end, despite how hectic the past few days had been for them and everyone else.
And, as they planted several more trees in the spots where some of the original ones had been destroyed and cut down, Sarah and Nyasi smiled warmly as they shared another hug. Finally, there was no more strife for the Forest of Okoya to deal with from within and beyond its borders and he was no longer troubled by who or what he's meant to be and where his place in the world is. As they saw with humans and Pokemon working together, all was well again...
All the while, the entire Zarude Tribe, the Elder, and DaDa (who had been welcomed back as an honorary member after many apologies were given to him), watched the restoration from the Heart Tree. Needless to say, everybody in the entire tribe was humbled by this and they've had much to think about after tussling with Zed and Team Eclipse, learning an important lesson in the process.
"What do you make of this?" the Elder asked DaDa and his tribe, looking down at the restoration and seeing Sarah and Nyasi being happy together.
"For years, we've treated the jungle as if it were our own alone, rejecting all others and turning them down for help when they or we truly needed it, and constantly stealing what we wanted. All for the sake of our own survival... Even forsaking two of our own when we found out that they're associated with humans, one of which has been given a better and happier life by the princess herself after Team Eclipse destroyed his old one. I compare all of that to that wicked human the princess calls Zed as well as Lothor's subordinates and everything they had done prior to all of this... And, I wonder, what's the difference?"
"The jungle belongs to all of the Pokemon who live in it and the humans fighting for peace that are willing to share this world with them including us," DaDa explained, knowing what they all learned. "Without its true lifeblood, the jungle won't thrive nor would it ever recover from the threat of danger from beyond. And, we are part of that lifeblood as much as they are. Now, we know; the law, the princess, and her family all taught us that."
With that said, DaDa went down to the jungle below to meet with his son and see how the repairs to the jungle were getting on as his tribe looked on.
He saw that the restoration was going as smoothly as ever, just as he had hoped, as he arrived, seeing KoKo with Sarah and Nyasi planting another new tree in place of another destroyed tree that was cut down.
"Hey, DaDa, are you feeling better now?" KoKo asked as he joined his father.
"Yeah, see for yourself."
"We're glad you're alright now, pretty reckless of what you did back there," smiled Nyasi, getting a knowing chuckle from DaDa as everyone else watched them.
"You've been pretty reckless yourself given how you and my son saved your mother after she captured that human."
"Hey, what can we say? It's been said that Pokemon take after their trainers and children take after their parents," replied Sarah, smiling. "The reverse is also true in your case; you realized that the Jungle Pokemon are the lifeblood of this place just as you and your tribe are thanks to KoKo and Nyasi picked up a little something from me."
"I'm really glad for Sarah, KoKo, and Nyasi, you guys," Mallow smiled.
"This is the happiest I've seen out of those four ever since we first came here and met KoKo and his DaDa," added Tsareena.
"Very, very, very happy!" Mallow's Shaymin nodded.
"They sure have been through a lot these past couple of days," agreed Sophocles, sharing Mallow's smile.
"No doubt this whole thing made them stronger together."
"Right!" said Snowy and Lillie, smiling.
"Mmm-hmm," Kiawe nodded, he, Ash, and Lana along with their partners smiling at the quartet as well.
"Truly, this adventure has shown the four of them that family truly means something much more to them than any physical embodiment of an object of their possession," nodded Reshiram in approval.
"That's our Ponchita," James remarked, he, Nikki, and Tsukumaro smiling proudly at their daughter/goddaughter.
"We're so proud of her," agreed Nikki, shedding proud tears.
"Island Girl really has proven herself to be a fine mother to her Zarude," Race said, giving a knowing and proud smile of his own.
"Heh, yeah. Pipsqueak didn't do too bad, not bad, at all..." chuckled an impressed Eternatus.
"Great, now she's getting me all sappy," sniffed Silvally, rubbing a few tears in his eyes.
"We're so lucky to have someone like her looking after all of us, Blitzy," Curly replied to her crush/future mate as he brought her close for a side-hug and they watched as well.
"We sure are," smiled Blitz knowingly and proudly.
"Oh, the Zarude," blinked Sharon in surprise, everybody turning to find the Zarude Tribe having joined them and looking down at everyone.
"DaDa, this isn't good," KoKo began, going to confront them but stopping as DaDa held him back gently.
"DaDa, are you sure...?"
"Can we really trust them?" the princess and her Zarude son questioned.
"Just watch," he reassured as Sharon began to speak to the tribe.
"Dear Jungle Pokemon, we want to give all of you our solemn promise. We're going to restore the jungle, even if it takes years. I'm begging you to trust us. Will you, Zarude?"
"I don't think they understand," whispered a worker next to her doubtfully as she smiled at him.
"Oh, they do."
Sharon was right; to show that she and her fellow researchers meant well and knowing they're not like Zed, Alpha took a vine from his bands, crushed it, and sent golden leaves scattering around. The others followed his actions as they trusted her word too.
"Look at that!"
"Well, I'll be damned..."
"Is this...?" KoKo, Nyasi, and Sarah asked, looking on in awe at their newfound trust and generosity to the researchers and the Jungle Pokemon.
"So, they can do it if they try," DaDa smiled, impressed.
Everyone else cheered as they saw the Zarude helping out in the restoration; finally, after many long years of being terrorized by them as they ruled the jungle as if it were their own and nobody else's, after realizing that there is a better life for them now that they discovered that they're the jungle's lifeblood, after an arduous adventure with KoKo, the princess, her family and friends, and tussling with Team Eclipse and Zed, the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude Tribe are now living in peace together.
This was proven when Skwovet, Ash, and Pikachu first noticed the new trees that had been planted taking in their power and becoming full-grown trees, a power that astounded even the researchers as they saw it for the very first time.
"Such astounding power," gasped Sharon in awe.
Then, DaDa had a thought as he watched Nyasi, realizing that he hasn't revealed his power yet. "Nyasi... Can you do this, too?" he questioned the younger Zarude.
Nyasi blinked in surprise at this, "I don't know, I never tried. But, I suppose it won't hurt to do so."
He joined some of the other Zarude on the treetops (landing on Alpha's branch), took a vine from his own bands before he crushed it, and he released another stream of gold leaves that caused the other trees to grow faster and become more fully-grown trees. Nyasi was astonished by his own healing power that he shared with his fellow Zarude as he turned to Alpha for confirmation, the leader of the tribe giving him a knowing smile and an approving pat to his back, making him smile back at him as they watched the new trees finally take shape.
"The jungle's back to normal!" Mallow cried, seeing the new trees.
"Zarude are so awesome!"
"They are!" Ash and Pikachu hollered.
Sarah nodded proudly towards Nyasi as they shared loving smiles before she picked up her shovel and got back to work, knowing that there's still much to do with the jungle's restoration.
"Come on, everybody, it's best we don't let something like this go to waste," she told everybody. "We've got work to do and a lot more of this jungle's true beauty to restore! Let's continue to make this a home for both humans and Pokemon to share! Who's with me?"
Everyone cheered as they all agreed and happily got back to work, showing more appreciation and love for nature and the Jungle Pokemon they share the Forest of Okoya with.
"So do we," smiled Sharon to the worker alongside her.
"M'am," replied the worker in agreement as he nodded.
With everyone in agreement and continuing to work together to ensure a truly brighter future for humans and Pokemon alike, the restoration of the jungle continued. Even the Jungle Guard and the PokeDynasty along with the baby Pokemon pitched in to assist, trusting Sharon and the other workers as they saw only Zed and Team Eclipse as the real enemies. The Elder also couldn't help but feel proud of DaDa, Nyasi, KoKo, and Sarah for having made such an impact on everyone and in what they did to have everyone come together with the help of her family and their friends.
"Elder," said KoKo as he and Sarah saw him and Nyasi reunite with them after they planted a new tree.
"When DaDa proclaimed that he intended to raise you and when Nyasi finally returned to us after all this time while under your wing, I wondered if anyone thought this would be our future," he told them as he helped grow the new tree.
"Really?" Sarah asked.
"Look around. You've created a bridge between humans and Pokemon, perhaps no one could've accomplished that but you two. KoKo, you are both human and Zarude. And, Princess, you're the world's savior of both humans and Pokemon from Alola. Therefore, it is my opinion that you two possess the hearts of both creatures..."
That evening, once everybody had finished the restoration of the jungle and the humans have gone back to Milyfa Town (along with getting Zed back from his fate worse than death and then turned into the authorities), DaDa began contemplating again as he looked over his and KoKo's berry field. It was also unfortunately caught in the crossfire of the mess Zed made in his crazed pursuit for the Healing Spring and its water and he had to pick up the pieces after KoKo immediately went to sleep after everyone's long day.
He had been thinking about what the Elder had told his son and the princess while the restoration continued; and in a way, he owed something of a great deal to Sarah and her friends, her, most of all. While Ash and the others had taught him a great deal about what it means to be a human, it was Sarah and her family that ended up being the driving force behind his entire journey from the jungle to Milyfa Town and back. When the situation called for it, she was able to try and get him back on track and loved him like she was the big sister he never knew he had. What's more, he'd never been more proud of KoKo in his life ever since he adopted him and loved him as much as his real parents had. He even wondered if he did them justice at giving KoKo/Al a happy life after tragically losing them to Zed.
While he was thinking, DaDa tended to the berries and whatever berry trees that survived Zed's rampage. He looked at one such berry tree that was still standing after that crazy event and remembering the Elder's words to his son and Sarah, he made up his mind on what to do with the berries on it.
Back in their glen, the Jungle Guard and their PokeDynasty were thinking over everything that had happened between them, their new friends, Koko, Dada, and the Zarude Tribe over the past few days. It had been a wild roller coaster for them all but thanks to all of them, Sarah, her family, and KoKo especially, things turned out all right in the end.
They had come so far from being a fighting force for the Jungle Pokemon against the Zarude Tribe that once terrorized them for their own survival but with the revelation that there are much worse threats in the world, they joined forces with the entire tribe and the Pokemon they've sworn to protect along with a fascinating group of humans who are truly larger than life. All the while, two unusual Zarude led the way, motivated by their love for two humans, one who thinks of a young boy as his own son and the other who's a son to a young but loving mother.
Tai Lung, in particular, pondered over everything that had happened since he and the guard first encountered the princess and her family when they discovered and mistaken her saving Fennekin, Phanpy, Cyndaquil, and Swablu for poaching them. He and the Guard wanted to do something to repay her for her kindness and her and her family and friends' assistance in dealing with Team Eclipse and Zed.
Remembering that Wolf, Mousey, and Hakins had slipped away after they were beaten, leaving Zed high and dry to fight the entire jungle on his own, he knew they would be back to try and do Sarah harm again whenever the chance arises. Turning to the baby Pokemon in question, seeing them fast asleep in their den next to him and recalling how they were able to do help save her after she, her adopted parents, Tsukumaro, Race, KoKo, and Skwovet were captured, he knew what they must do now.
The following morning, it was time for the group to leave for their next destination, wherever that may be in regards to Magearna's light from her Soul Heart. After packing up their things back in Milyfa Town, they returned to say goodbye to KoKo and DaDa before they departed.
"Sarah and friends, go?" KoKo asked.
"Yeah. Sorry we have to run, KoKo, but we better get going," nodded Sarah. "We still have to find my real parents."
"And, thanks to all the Zarude, the trees are growing much faster than we thought they would," Ash added, nodding.
"Are they about to leave?" asked DaDa to KoKo.
"Yeah."
Knowing that this will be the last time they'll see each other in a while, KoKo gave each of his friends a hug before he turned to Sarah. The two of them shared loving smiles as they shared a personal hug, mentally thanking each other for everything they did to support each other. He even went as far as to reconnect their hands in the same way he did when the others introduced themselves to him and after she saved him from being run over two days ago and reaffirmed their lifelong friendship with him.
"Now, Sarah, KoKo, and friends, friends forever," he smiled.
"Forever, that's a promise," Sarah nodded knowingly.
"You know it!" Blitz agreed with a thumbs-up.
"SARAH!" cried a tiny voice that caught everyone's attention as they turned to its owner before they saw a surprising sight.
"HEY, WAIT FOR US!" Fennekin cried again as she, her fellow baby Pokemon, their older siblings, the Jungle Guard and its commanders, Misa, Togepi, and Whimsicott darting towards them.
"Tai Lung, Fennekin, guys?" Sarah blinked in surprise, not expecting them to come after her, her family, and her friends.
"You didn't, think you were, gonna, leave us behind, do ya?" panted Skiddo.
"Wait, leave you behind... You mean, you want to come with us?" Sarah asked before she remembered how vulnerable the Forest of Okoya would be without them to protect the other Jungle Pokemon. "I can't take you all with me, I'd be leaving the jungle without its initial line of defense. It's your home, after all."
"Nah, our place is with you now," Tyson smirked.
"Tyson's right, Princess. You've done so much for all of us ever since you first came here and helped KoKo find out who and what he really is," added Amber with a knowing nod. "To tell you the truth, we've been inspired to do better as the Jungle Guard after watching you and your friends and family all fighting Team Eclipse and Zed when they tried to destroy us all."
"And, you've shown us that the world around us is much bigger than we had originally thought when we and KoKo spent a day with you all at Milyfa Town; the world isn't just all jungle and there are many humans out there that are doing good things for Pokemon and not just the bad like Zed. However, while we would be leaving our home behind to help and live with you, from now on, we talked with the Zarude Tribe about our leaving last night," Xena added.
"But, what about your Dynasty, will they be alright without you all?" Sarah continued to question.
"Since the Zarude Tribe agreed to look after the jungle in our place and has now learned to live in harmony with the Jungle Pokemon after everything we went through, they'll be alright from now on," Craggeon replied, smiling warmly. "We've talked it over with them as well and they were very supportive of our decision."
"They'll be forming a new Jungle Guard to take our place and they'll be sure to pass down everything they've seen from us and what we've taught them to ensure that the Okoya Jungle Guard will live on to protect everybody, humans and Pokemon alike, from real threats like that mad scientist and Team Eclipse," informed Ghost.
"And, don't forget ssssshowing usssss how ssssstronger we can be if we work together with humansssss sssssuch asssss you," hissed Medusa, smiling in agreement.
"Whoa..."
"Awesome..."
"Now, that's cool."
"That's great, we'll need all the help we can get!"
"I have no problem with that!"
"It'll be wonderful to have you all come with us!" cried Ash and the rest of Sarah's friends, voicing their delight and amazement.
"Oh no..." groaned Eternatus.
"Oh boy, looks like you got about twenty-eight more mouths to feed if you let them tag along," Rotom-Dex paled.
"Are you sure you want to come with us and be with me from now on?" the princess questioned.
"Of course, it'll be fun!" Swablu cheered.
"We promise we'll be good!" Snom agreed.
"Very, very good!" Cyndaquil promised.
"It's up to you, Sarah," noted Sunflare.
"The choice is yours and yours alone, as they always say," nodded Hurricane.
"What are you gonna do?" quizzed Wyveon.
Sarah thought for a moment before she made her choice, something that joy to the baby Pokemon's faces, "...Alright, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you all to come along."
The baby Pokemon cheered as they jumped up and down in delight while Togepi jumped up to give Tsukumaro a hug and Whimsicott joined her as they wanted to be with Tsukumaro, who couldn't say no to them.
"And, what would I do without my cute new boyfriend to keep him out of trouble, huh?" Misa replied lovingly, causing Dawn (Midday Lycanroc) to blush and stammer in shock.
"B-Bo-B-Boyfriend?! H-Hey, Misa! Al-A-already?! What's with you? We're not there, yet, okay?!" he gawked while Dusk and Luna chuckled at his expense.
"Oh boy, there she goes again," Nikki sighed, sweatdropping.
"That's our Ponchita, alright," agreed James, sharing her feelings.
"What are you talking about? She's been doing fine with the rest of her family and me as far as I can tell," reassured Nyasi to the two, making DaDa and KoKo chuckle at him. "What's wrong with having a few more babies around more mouths to feed?"
"Yeah, look on the bright side, at least you'll have a few more hands around the house when we get back home," chuckled Mallow.
"And, if Team Skull ever plays up when we're done with Team Eclipse, they'll keep you all safe and out of trouble," smiled Kiawe.
Nyasi chuckled before he came up to DaDa to say one final goodbye to him. "You take care along with your son, DaDa. I know that someday, one way or another, our paths will cross again," he told him.
"I know, we haven't seen the last of each other yet as far as I can tell," DaDa replied.
"I'll miss you guys..."
"Nyasi..."
"Yeah?"
"KoKo and I and the Jungle Pokemon, we're very lucky to have met you and Sarah."
"Yeah, me too," Nyasi nodded as they shared their own hug.
"We'll see you later, KoKo," smiled Sarah as her Zarude son returned to her side before she gave KoKo a Wrist Com as a parting to him. "Here, something to remember us by and you never know when it might come in handy if you guys need to call us."
"Whoa, what's this?" KoKo asked, pointing to his Wrist Com.
"It's a Wrist Com, a communicator you wear on your wrist that allows you to talk with us even from a distance. If you and DaDa want to talk to us at any time, press the single button on the right and we'll answer you. Basically, to remind us that no matter how far apart we are, we'll all be friends forever with you guys, the Jungle Pokemon, the Jungle Guard's Dynasty, and the Zarude Tribe."
"...Yeah, thanks," smiled KoKo, accepting his gift from her.
"Well, we're off. See ya later," smiled Sarah as she, her family, their new Pokemon, and her friends all left the Forest of Okoya, saying their goodbyes to them to continue on their journey to find King Doug and Queen Delilah.
KoKo watched happily as they departed but then he looked down thoughtfully as they disappeared. He really admired them and the fact that they're on an important journey and after everything that's happened, with a new perspective on his life as the newest bridge between humans and Pokemon, he decided to take the next step in his life regarding what he now wants to do in honor of their friendship and to discover what humans and Pokemon would need his help.
"Hey, DaDa?" he asked DaDa, turning to him, only to find that he's gone. "DaDa? DaDa, DaDa!"
He went off and found DaDa back at the Heart Tree, talking to the Elder on an important matter regarding the two of them and what their future would be.
"DaDa, why did you leave?"
"Hey, Koko. I was asked to rejoin the troop and you've been invited, too."
"There is no reason for us to keep you out anymore, not after Princess Sarah managed to open our eyes to the truth that we Zarude had been too ignorant to face after all this time."
"DaDa, I was thinking earlier after Sarah left..." KoKo began, deciding to tell everyone what he wanted to do now after looking at his new Wrist Com.
"Uh, what is it?" he questioned curiously as his son made his choice.
"...I really want to go out on a journey! I've thought about it for a long time; helping out humans and Pokemon bond, that's what I really want to do."
"Huh, you're kidding! You want to abandon the jungle?"
"That's not it," KoKo continued, undeterred in his choice. "I know this, I love humans and Pokemon, too. So, I want to help them all out like Sarah is doing. Just as she's caring for humans and Pokemon as the Alola Region's Sun Princess, I want to do the same for all of them, in my own way!"
"'All of them'?! And, just how do you expect to do that? You are a Pokemon, a small Zarude!"
"No! I'm a human and a Pokemon but I'm also your son, just as Nyasi is Sarah's son! There are things that I can do that most humans can't because you raised me! And, he was able to do things most Pokemon can't because she raised him as his own for his parents! The same things you and she can!"
"That is such nonsense! You'll end up running back in tears!"
"I'll show you, you're wrong," the two of them bantered before staring each other down in a battle of wills until DaDa gave up and allowed him to walk down the path he chose.
"Do what you want," he relented.
"...I'm sorry, DaDa," KoKo replied, knowing how hard his leaving would mean for him and everyone else in the jungle before he decided to leave to go on his journey. "Everyone, take care of my DaDa!"
But, as he left, DaDa smiled proudly behind his back; he had just tested his son one last time to see if he was really ready to go on his journey and he passed. He knew how much he loved Pokemon and with Sarah's arrival, he was able to have the same love for humans, his love for both of them growing after he experienced everything he went through during his and the Guard's day out in Milyfa Town.
Yes, his leaving may be hard on him and everyone else in the jungle, and letting him go is the hardest thing for him to do still. But, he knows that their goodbye won't be forever and KoKo will be doing the entire Forest of Okoya a world of good by following the path he chose to follow. And, he would support his son's decision every step of the way, even from afar.
"That's how you want it?" Alpha asked, unsure if he made the right decision to let him go.
"Yeah, it's perfect. He's serious about it. Once he made that clear, it was the only thing I could do," replied DaDa confidently, knowing he and his son both made the right call together. "Hey, my son's heading out so do what I told you to do!"
"Right!" the entire tribe called before they spread out to carry out their mission from him.
"Hey, have you seen what he's seen?"
"Yeah."
"How was it?"
"It was...just as KoKo said," DaDa finished, recalling the first time he and his son (back when he was a toddler) seeing the fireworks calling for Celebi's return and feeling enlightened and enthralled by them.
Word of KoKo's departure to go on his own journey spread throughout the jungle. Wherever they are, all of his friends were told that the Zarude Boy was heading out to see the world to help humans and Pokemon bond and live together in harmony and they quickly stopped what they're doing to see him off. Even a surprised Skwovet was startled when he was told that his human brother would be leaving by Flygon, leaving him incensed that KoKo would leave him high and dry without saying goodbye before he joined him.
With Sarah and her family and friends, they were contemplating what would happen to them on the next part of their journey when they heard KoKo running after them to tell them the news of his going on a journey.
"Sarah, Ash, friends!" he called, running after them but tripping and falling as he tried to catch up with them.
"KoKo!" gasped Sarah as she, Blitz, Curly, and Nyasi joined him. "Are you alright?"
"What is it?" Blitz asked.
"KoKo go, too," replied the jungle boy, surprising the princess and her son.
"Go, too? You're going on a journey as well?" Nyasi blinked in surprise at him.
With the Zarude Tribe, DaDa directed them in sealing up the hole that Zed's anchor made on the Heart Tree that caused it and the Healing Spring to lose their power after the Healing Water spilled out. As their own recovery operation continued and seeing an exposed hole showing the tree's core, he watched on as he supervised their efforts, knowing that things would only get better for everyone including KoKo with what's ahead of them regarding the future.
"I can't believe you're actually going on a journey," smiled Sarah at last, feeling happy for KoKo as Tai Lung, Cobalt, and Amber went over to congratulate him.
"Congratulations, KoKo."
"You've made the right choice."
"We're all so proud of you," they told him proudly as Fennekin, Phampy, Swablu, and Cyndaquil checked his stuff but noticed something strange about it.
"Hey, KoKo! Guess what!" Phanpy called.
"There's something else in your bag, too!" Cyndaquil added, pointing to the Zarude Boy's bag, causing a surprised KoKo to check inside it to find four peculiar berries stashed in them.
"This, I didn't bring this," he gasped, becoming tearful as everybody then noticed a giant geyser of water shooting up from the Heart Tree's location as it poured down like rain and it flowed out of its roots like it used to.
"That's awesome!"
"Neat!" Ash and Pikachu gasped in awe.
"The Heart Tree, it's back to normal!"
"This water, the Zarude Tribe... They've done it-bzzt!"
"Water and life have now returned to the jungle thanks to them and all of us, as it should!"
"Fassssscinating!" Tyson, Manteon, Guardeon, and Medusa replied in delight.
"Was your DaDa the one that made this miracle happen, KoKo?" breathed Nyasi, awestruck as everyone took notice of the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude Tribe gathering to see KoKo off.
"DaDa..." KoKo smiled tearfully, seeing DaDa smiling proudly at him.
"Aw, come on, Big Bro! Come on! Why'd you have to do this to me! You're going away on a journey and-WHY?" sobbed Skwovet as he ranted, not ready to say goodbye to his big brother yet and tearfully pouting as DaDa gently soothed him.
"Give it all you got, but come back. That bridge between humans and Pokemon, you can help create it," DaDa thought as he and KoKo shared a final loving smile to each other. "I know you can. After all, you're my son. And, I'm proud of you."
As his resolve to go on his journey to help Pokemon and humans bond was confirmed and renewed, with the support of all his friends and DaDa, KoKo gathered his stuff and attached his new Wrist Com to his left arm/wrist. Then, with the two extra berries DaDa gave him, he, in turn, gave them to Sarah as a final parting gift of his own.
"Bye, Sarah, Nyasi, Blitz, Curly, friends," he smiled.
"Bye, KoKo. Don't ever forget, wherever you go, we'll always be with you," smiled Sarah knowingly as she held the berries. "And, thanks for the berries, I'll treasure them as much as I can."
"Come visit the Alola Region any time!" smiled Mallow.
"You're always welcome and so are your DaDa and your friends!" added Lana.
"Yeah, Pikachu and I will be waiting at Pallet Town when our journey in Alola is done," agreed Ash. "I know we'll see each other again someday."
"Make sure to stop by at my family's farm if you do visit," smirked Kiawe. "There's a lot of things for you to try out and see at Akala Island."
"And, we have plenty of friends who'd love to meet you," nodded Sophocles.
"You take care now, you hear?" replied Lillie, all of them getting a nod from KoKo before he leaves and they say their goodbyes along with others.
"Goodbye, KoKo!" James shouted, waving goodbye.
"Good luck on your journey!" encouraged Nikki to KoKo.
"Take care of yourself, Sir KoKo!" Tsukumaro finished as Togepi and Whimsicott also said goodbye.
"Farewell... Little Brother," Nyasi smiled as KoKo disappeared on the path down his own journey, his friends also saying goodbye to him as he departed.
Satisfied that KoKo made the right decision for himself and the ones he made for himself as well as him, DaDa finally took off his pink cape, continuing to watch on proudly with the rest of the Jungle Pokemon and the Zarude Tribe. Doing that, he knew that he finally found closure for both his son and himself, and his human parents can rest easy now.
As he finally left the comforts of the only home he's ever known, KoKo knew that he not only had a long journey ahead of him as his friends did before him, he had taken his first steps into a larger world. No matter what happens, no matter where he goes, no matter who or what people see him as, one thing, for him, is certain; he's both human and a Pokemon. But, most of all, he's his DaDa's son and he'll serve as the next bridge between humans and Pokemon everywhere he goes in the Incredible World of Pokemon.
"My name is KoKo. I'm a human and a Pokemon, and I'm DaDa's son."
Back at the Milyfa Town Pokemon Center, everyone called Prof. Kukui and Burnet to tell them everything that went on with involving KoKo and DaDa and what they've been doing. Unbeknownst to them, Mousey, Hakins, and Wolf were with them on another spot as they watched Zed being arrested, glaring defiantly as he was hauled away to prison.
It turned out that they had a part in exposing his crimes after they got the dirt they needed on the guy which got him to confess to Officer Jenny, the mayor, and the citizens about his sins including the deaths of KoKo's real parents. So, as strange as it may sound, the Three Stooges Sins actually did some good for once.
"With an anonymously sourced video of the car wreck that occurred ten years ago, Dr. Zed's involvement in the incident appears to be almost certain," stated a reporter regarding the news as the three of them left with smug smirks on their faces. "Biotope will soon hold a press conference."
"Wow! That must've been quite an adventure for all of you!" Kukui gawked in amazement. "I've bet you've all taken the time to find and discover many different Pokemon along the way!"
"We sure did, Professor!" Ash replied.
"And, I've gotten tons and tons of data that I'm sure would interest you both and Lusamine and the Aether Foundation so you can put it all to good use!" Rotom-Dex added gleefully.
"We sure did have fun," smiled Mallow as well.
"We're really glad that you're doing okay but going up against Dr. Zed and Team Eclipse like that, you're all way in over your heads!" Burnet added, fretting once again over their safety. "Who knows what else they could've done to you if you weren't careful?! But, in all seriousness, good work at stopping them!"
"Don't worry, Professors, we'll be more careful," Sophocles said sheepishly.
"We haven't gotten ourselves in too much trouble while we were here," added Lillie.
"Well, make sure you stay that way and that can be harder than some Iron Defense," continued Kukui, also relieved to know they're still fine. "And, will KoKo be alright on his journey, too?"
"He'll be fine, he's got the support of his friends and DaDa so he'll have nothing to worry about," reassured Kiawe. "We'll see him again someday."
"It'll be wonderful to finally meet him. Hey, if I may ask, where are Sarah and Nyasi?"
"Weren't they with you a couple of minutes ago?" the two professors quizzed, seeing that Sarah and her Zarude son are not with everyone.
"She went with him to a shop around town to make a final souvenir purchase for him before we leave," Nikki replied.
"She told us it's really important to find something that'll help him remember KoKo, DaDa, and his old home," James told them.
"Oh, really? What's she buying for him?" smiled Burnet curiously.
"Well..." Tsukumaro chuckled.
At a tailor's shop, a man was working on a large pink blanket that Sarah specifically ordered for Nyasi before they would leave town.
Once he was satisfied with his work, he took it over and showed it to the pair. "Well, Miss, how does it look to you two?" the tailor asked kindly.
Sarah and Nyasi looked the blanket all over as they inspected it for any imperfections and upon finding nothing wrong about it, they nodded to each other and smiled at the tailor for his work.
"It's perfect for him, thank you," she replied, handing him some gold to cover the expense.
"Thank you," the tailor smiled as he went back to his workshop and Nyasi took the blanket.
Walking to a mirror big enough for him, he wrapped the blanket around his neck like a cape, the same way that DaDa once did with his own after he and KoKo first found it ten years ago. He looked himself all over as Sarah smiled with a proud nod, knowing that her son has something to remind him of everyone they met in the Forest of Okoya and the two friends they were lucky to meet and cross paths with for another adventure of a lifetime.
"Yeah," he said, satisfied with his new look.
As for DaDa, his and KoKo's berry trees were all grown and were stocked with ripe berries for their friends. The Jungle Pokemon all cheered as they have their own spoils to have at last after so long and DaDa was glad that he can share the berries he has on him with them in his son's honor and memory.
"Ripe berries! Everyone, calm down, there's plenty for all of you," he chuckled.
As everyone enjoyed the berries, he found himself paid a visit as he noticed some familiar fairy dust that drew his attention. He turned and he was amazed to find himself visited by the Guardian of Time/Jungle Guardian herself, Celebi (a Shiny, being a bright pink and magenta all over with green eyes and green tips on her antenna). She was smiling down on him happily, knowing that the jungle was peaceful again which allowed her to visit once more.
"Well, well, things have gotten better," DaDa chuckled warmly as Celebi then took flight, joyful to return to a world of peace once more.
As she flew and DaDa followed her, they could see that things have indeed gotten better. Sharon was leading the Biotope Company in the continued restoration and preservation of the jungle (seeing the Guardian of Time, much to their awe and amazement), KoKo's friends were enjoying their own berries, the jungle flourishing again but with the Zarude Tribe and the Jungle Pokemon living-side-by-side as it should be, it doesn't get any better than this.
One can only wonder how long this peace will last and if, in a matter of time, things would eventually revert back to the status quo everyone once knew before the events of their adventure with KoKo, DaDa, Sarah, her family, her friends, and the Jungle Guard happened. But, that was all a thing of the past now; what mattered now is that they're one happy family living in the same home, sharing the same sky - one sky, one destiny. And, it's all thanks to the efforts and bonds of a certain boy and his Zarude father along with the Sun Princess of Alola, her family, her friends, the Jungle Guard, and a young Zarude that she's proud to call her own son. With the end of KoKo and Sarah's adventure with DaDa and Nyasi and everyone else they know and love, a new chapter in each of their lives has only just begun.
"The incredible unpredictable world of Pokemon. They help each other, they help humans, living side-by-side. There may be disagreement but they're family, connected by so many different bonds. And as many people and Pokemon, as there are in this world, there are just as many dreams and adventures. Yes, filled with hope, filled with wonder, the amazing world of Pokemon!"
(End Credits music: Disney's Tarzan - You'll Be In My Heart (ft. Phil Collins), Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon - The New World (OST)
Sarah's Team
1. Pikachu (aka Blitz)
Moves - Thundershock, Tackle, Thunderpunch, Double Team, Thunderbolt, Electroweb, Volt Tackle, Wild Charge
2. Lycanroc (Dusk Form) (aka Dusk)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Rock Slide, Protect, Accelarock, Outrage, Stone Edge, Close Combat
3. Lycanroc (Midnight Form) (aka Luna)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Protect, Rock Slide, Outrage, Counter, Stone Edge, Close Combat
4. Silvally
Moves - Crush Claw, Air Slash, Hyper Beam, Swords Dance, Dragon Claw, Multi Attack, Tri Attack, Aerial Ace, Blizzard
5. Mudsdale
Moves - High Horsepower, Double Kick, Mud Slap, Bulldoze, Iron Head, Superpower, Close Combat, Focus Blast
6. Wooloo
Moves - Wild Charge, Tackle, Electro Ball, Volt Tackle, Double Kick, Copycat, Cotton Guard
7. Ponyta (Galarian Form)
Moves - Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse, Psybeam, Psychic, Future Sight
8. Meowth (Alola Form) (aka Lolita)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Scratch, Iron Tail, Dark Pulse, Shadow Ball, Shadow Claw
9. Primarina (aka Aqua)
Moves - Pound, Water Gun, Icy Wind, Bubblebeam, Aqua Jet, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Acrobatics, Liquidation, Sparkling Aria, Hydro Cannon
10. Milotic
Moves - Dragon Pulse, Ice Beam, Twister, Mirror Coat, Dragon Tail, Hydro Pump, Recover, Aqua Tail
11. Ampharos (Shiny) (aka Candy)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Confuse Ray, Power Gem, Signal Beam, Discharge, Iron Tail, Dragon Pulse, Focus Punch, Shock Wave
12. Sylveon
Moves - Tackle, Tail Whip, Copycat, Shadow Ball, Light Screen, Moonblast, Dazzling Gleam, Fairy Wind
13. Goodra
Moves - Water Gun, Protect, Tackle, Dragon Breath, Dragon Pulse, Rain Dance, Aqua Tail, Ice Beam, Water Pulse
14. Noctowl
Moves - Wing Attack, Foresight, Air Slash, Confusion, Sky Drop, Superpower
15. Meowstic (Male) (aka Danny)
Moves - Helping Hand, Psyshock, Light Screen, Future Sight, Dark Pulse, Psychic, Calm Mind, Shadow Ball, Energy Ball, Miracle Eye
16. Meowstic (Female) (aka Danielle)
Moves - Heal Pulse, Psyshock, Light Screen, Dark Pulse, Future Sight, Psychic, Charge Beam, Shadow Ball, Energy Ball
17. Snivy
Moves - Vine Whip, Leaf Storm, Twister, Leaf Blade, Grass Pledge, Double Team, Solarbeam
18. Oshawott
Moves - Water Gun, Razor Shell, Icy Wind, Iron Tail, Water Pledge, Double Team, Scared Sword
19. Tepig
Moves - Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Solar Beam, Rock Tomb, Fire Pledge, Wild Charge, Double Team
20. Vulpix (Alola Form) (aka Snowflake)
Moves - Protect, Powder Snow, Ice Beam, Iron Tail, Icy Wind, Hypnosis, Freeze-Dry
21. Dragonite (aka Draco)
Moves - Dragon Rage, Iron Tail, Ice Beam, Hyper Beam, Dragon Rush, Dragon Claw, Dragon Dance, Dragon Tail
22. Hydreigon
Moves - Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Wing Attack, Flash Cannon, Dragon Rush, Tri Attack, Hyper Beam, Dragon Pulse
23. Flygon
Moves - Crunch, Dig, Rock Slide, Steel Wing, Dragon Rush, Dragon Claw, Fire Punch, Thunderpunch
24. Solgaleo (aka Nebby)
Moves - Sunsteel Strike, Focus Blast, Teleport, Flamethrower, Wild Charge, Cosmic Power, Calm Mind, Psychic
25. Lucario (Shiny) (aka Star)
Moves - Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Aura Sphere, Dig, Vacuum Wave, Shadow Claw, Focus Blast, Dragon Pulse, Metal Claw, Force Palm
26. Poipole
Moves - Venoshock, Fury Attack, Peck, Iron Tail, Poison Jab, Pin Missile, Nasty Plot
27. Mimikyu (aka Mai)
Moves - Shadow Claw, Drain Punch, Wood Hammer, Psychic, Mimic, Light Screen, Dark Pulse
28. Umbreon (Shiny)
Moves - Dark Pulse, Psychic, Moonlight, Shadow Ball, Iron Tail, Flash, Throat Chop, Copycat
29. Jolteon
Moves - Thunder Fang, Thunderbolt, Double Kick, Shadow Ball, Pin Missile, Wild Charge, Copycat
30. Vaporeon
Moves - Water Gun, Swift, Iron Tail, Shadow Ball, Dive, Copycat, Water Pulse
31. Flareon
Moves - Fire Fang, Flamethrower, Double Edge, Shadow Ball, Ember, Copycat, Mystical Fire
32. Espeon
Moves - Psychic, Psybeam, Iron Tail, Shadow Ball, Light Screen, Copycat, Dazzling Gleam
33. Leafeon
Moves - Synthesis, Energy Ball, Solar Blade, Shadow Ball, Leaf Storm, Copycat, Last Resort
34. Glaceon
Moves - Shadow Ball, Ice Fang, Icy Wind, Ice Shard, Iron Tail, Copycat, Freeze-Dry
35. Eevee
Moves - Helping Hand, Protect, Dig, Double Edge, Swift, Iron Tail, Copycat, Bouncy Bubble
36. Skitty
Moves - Doubleslap, Ice Beam, Iron Tail, Copycat, Double-Edge, Play Rough, Solar Beam, Charge Beam
37. Braviary
Moves - Superpower, Sky Attack, Brave Bird, Close Combat, Steel Wing, Sky Drop, Rock Tomb, Wing Attack
38. Absol (Shiny) (aka Mulan)
Moves - Night Slash, Psycho Cut, Shadow Claw, Hyper Beam, Flamethrower, Shadow Ball, Stone Edge, Close Combat
39. Houndoom (Shiny)
Moves - Thunder Fang, Solar Beam, Sludge Bomb, Flamethrower, Crunch, Stone Edge, Iron Tail, Incinerate
40. Latias (Shiny)
Moves - Safeguard, Psychic, Mist Ball, Dragon Pulse, Steel Wing, Recover, Reflect, Dragon Dance
41. Latios (Shiny)
Moves - Steel Wing, Psychic, Giga Impact, Dragon Pulse, Luster Purge, Charge Beam, Reflect, Dragon Dance
42. Salamance (Shiny)
Moves - Incinerate, Hydro Pump, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Rush, Protect, Steel Wing, Shadow Claw, Draco Meteor
43. Rapidash (Galarian Form)
Moves - Psycho Cut, Mystical Fire, Megahorn, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse, Agility, Wild Charge
44. Yamper
Moves - Wild Charge, Fire Fang, Play Rough, Double Edge, Dig, Thunder Fang, Howl
45. Raboot (aka Scorch)
Moves - Quick Attack, Double Kick, Flame Charge, Ember, Headbutt, Blaze Kick, Acrobatics, Counter
46. Stufful
Moves - Force Palm, Ice Punch, Thunderpunch, Focus Punch, Brick Break, Rock Slide
47. Calyrex
Moves - Psychic, Magical Leaf, Agility, Pound, Solarbeam, Light Screen, Reflect
Calyrex (Ice Rider)
Moves - Psychic, Headbutt, Mist, High Horsepower, Icicle Crash, Double Kick, Glacial Lance, Light Screen, Reflect
Calyrex (Shadow Rider)
Moves - Psychic, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Agility, Phantom Force, Double Kick, Astral Barrage, Light Screen, Reflect
48. Glastrier
Moves - Headbutt, Thrash, High Horsepower, Mist, Icicle Crash, Double Kick, Ice Beam, Blizzard
49. Spectrier
Moves - Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Calm Mind, Agility, Phantom Force, Double Kick, Haze, Protect
50. Lunala (aka Nebula)
Moves - Teleport, Cosmic Power, Moongeist Beam, Moonblast, Phantom Force, Protect, Psychic, Psycho Cut
51. Charizard (aka Kaji)
Moves - Ember, Fire Spin, Dragon Rush, Metal Claw, Flamethrower, Dragon Claw, Thunderpunch, Fire Punch, Seismic Toss, Blast Burn
52. Kubfu (aka Hashimoto)
Moves - Counter, Aerial Ace, Fire Punch, Thunderpunch, Ice Punch, Iron Head, Headbutt
53. Urshifu (Single Strike Style) (aka Ching Wan)
Moves - Brick Break, Revenge, Fire Punch, Thunderpunch, Ice Punch, Wicked Blow, Protect, Bulk Up
54. Eternatus
Moves - Dragon Pulse, Dynamax Cannon, Recover, Enternabeam, Cross Poison, Flash Cannon, Dragon Tail
55. Arctozolt
Moves - Freeze-Dry, Pluck, Ancient Power, Bolt Beak, Discharge, Hydro Pump, Icicle Crash, Icicle Spear
56. Cinderace
Moves - Ember, Counter, Double Kick, Electro Ball, Acrobatics, Reversal, Flame Charge, Bulk Up, Pyro Ball
57. Cufant
Moves - Iron Head, Play Rough, High Horsepower, Superpower, Iron Defense, Rock Tomb, Dig, Brick Break
58. Dracovish
Moves - Hydro Pump, Dragon Pulse, Ice Fang, Dragon Rush, Earthquake, Fishious Rend, Rock Tomb, Bulldoze
59. Dracozolt
Moves - Pluck, Dragon Tail, Bolt Beak, Discharge, High Horsepower, Stone Edge, Dragon Claw, Dragon Rush
60. Zarude (aka Nyasi)
Moves - Jungle Healing, Close Combat, Solar Blade, Vine Whip, Power Whip, Darkest Lariat, Synthesis
61. Arcanine (Shiny)
Moves - Agility, Dragon Pulse, Iron Tail, Close Combat, Wild Charge, Psychic Fangs, Howl, Extreme Speed, Heat Wave
62. Alolan Ninetales (aka Tundra)
Moves - Aurora Beam, Ice Beam, Aurora Veil, Dazzling Gleam, Blizzard, Confuse Ray, Freeze-Dry, Draining Kiss
63. Tyrunt
Moves - Thunder Fang, Crunch, Rock Tomb, Ice Fang, Draco Meteor, Dragon Tail, Fire Fang, Charm
64. Amaura
Moves - Ancient Power, Blizzard, Mud Shot, Aurora Veil, Calm Mind, Mirror Coat, Safeguard, Weather Ball
65. Pyroar (Shiny) (aka Kion)
Moves - Tackle, Ember, Noble Roar, Headbutt, Double Team, Flame Charge, Flamethrower, Bulldoze, Iron Tail
66. Pyroar (Shiny) (aka Kiara)
Moves - Tackle, Ember, Double Team, Fire Fang, Wild Charge, Flame Charge, Flamethrower, Bulldoze, Iron Tail
67. Suicune (Shiny)
Moves - Extreme Speed, Ice Beam, Aroura Beam, Air Slash, Hydro Pump, Mirror Coat, Roar
68. Raikou (Shiny)
Moves - Extreme Speed, Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Discharge, Aura Sphere, Wild Charge, Roar
69. Entei (Shiny)
Moves - Extreme Speed, Flare Blitz, Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Eruption, Lava Plume, Roar
70. Beautifly
Moves - Twister, Electroweb, Safeguard, Solarbeam, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Aerial Ace
71. Lycanroc (Midday Form) (aka Dawn)
Moves - Drill Run, Safeguard, Close Combat, Iron Tail, Fire Fang, Stone Edge
72. Seviper
Moves - Haze, Poison Tail, Flamethrower, Double Edge, Iron Tail, Dragon Tail, Dark Pulse, Wrap
73. Audino
Moves - Heal Pulse, Safeguard, Psychic, Fire Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Ice Beam
74. Cranidos (Shiny)
Moves - Double Team, Headbutt, Head Smash, Crunch, Swords Dance, Zen Headbutt
75. Talonflame (Shiny)
Moves - Ember, Flame Charge, Tailwind, Brave Bird, Aerial Ace, Steel Wing
76. Tyrantrum (Shiny)
Moves - Head Smash, Ancient Power, Thunder Fang, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Draco Meteor
77. Aurorus (Shiny)
Moves - Hail, Rock Tomb, Aurora Veil, Ice Beam, Mist, Nature Power
78. Haxrous (Shiny)
Moves - Dragon Claw, Draco Meteor, Focus Blast, Giga Impact, Iron Tail, Close Combat
79. Sawsbuck (Shiny)
Moves - Double Kick, Megahorn, Energy Ball, Double Edge, Solarbeam, Camouflage
80. Totem Alolan Marowak
Moves - Shadow Bone, Bone Rush, Double Edge, Stone Edge, Iron Head, Boomerang, Flare Blitz
81. Totem Togedemaru (aka Sonic)
Moves - Zing Zap, Spiky Shield, Pin Missile, Iron Head, Iron Tail, Rollout, Thunderbolt
82. Totem Vikavolt (aka Nitro)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Signal Beam, Zap Cannon, Solar Beam, Energy Ball, Wild Charge
83. Kommo-o
Moves - Counter, Focus Punch, Close Combat, Clanging Scales, Dragon Claw, Dragon Pulse, Shadow Claw
84. Zeraora
Moves - Brick Break, Plasma Fists, Iron Tail, Drain Punch, Close Combat, Thunderpunch, Focus Blast, Double Team
85. Zoura
Moves - Night Daze, Dig, Super Fang, Bounce, Tackle, Double Kick, Mud Slap, Dark Pulse, Copycat, Shadow Ball, Foul Play
86. Cobalion
Moves - Metal Claw, Flash Cannon, Quick Attack, Work Up, Leer, Retaliate, Swords Dance, Sacred Sword, Focus Blast, Close Combat, Double Team
87. Virizion
Moves - Megahorn, Giga Drain, Double Kick, Sacred Sword, Swords Dance, Magical Leaf, Focus Blast, Close Combat, Energy Ball, Calm Mind, Double Team
88. Terrakion
Moves - Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Smack Down, Sacred Sword, Hyper Beam, Retaliate, Swords Dance, Focus Blast, Double Team, Close Combat
89. Keldeo
Moves - Aqua Jet, Focus Blast, Hydro Pump, Secret Sword, Water Pulse, Double Team, Close Combat, Calm Mind, Scald
90. Cresselia
Moves - Psychic, Moonlight, Moonblast, Magic Coat, Psycho Cut, Protect, Double Team, Signal Beam, Solarbeam
91. Pikachu (aka Curly)
Moves - Quick Attack, Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, Charm, Grass Knot, Brick Break, Light Screen
92. Zoroark (aka Mischief)
Moves - Night Daze, Night Slash, Double Team, Shadow Ball, Foul Play, Agility, Focus Blast, Copycat, Shadow Claw
93. Persian (Alola Form)
Moves - Power Gem, Bite, Scratch, Fury Swipes, Night Slash, Play Rough, Hypnosis, Shadow Claw, Iron Tail
94. Serperior (Shiny) (aka Blossom)
Moves - Frenzy Plant, Grass Pledge, Solarbeam, Double Team, Sunny Day. Synthesis, Dragon Tail, Dragon Pulse, Iron Tail
95. Samurott (Shiny) (aka Sokka)
Moves - Razor Shell, Sacred Sword, Detect, Night Slash, Slash, Megahorn, Water Pulse, Hydro Cannon, Liquidation, Iron Tail
96. Torterra (aka Kurma)
Moves - Frenzy Plant, Grass Pledge, Grassy Terrain, Solarbeam, Stone Edge, Synthesis, Rock Polish, Double Team, Wood Hammer, Rock Slide
97. Sceptile (aka Zorro)
Moves - Frenzy Plant, Grass Pledge, Grass Whistle, Solarbeam, Leaf Storm, Dragon Pulse, Double Team, Dragon Claw, Acrobatics, Aerial Ace
98. Slurpuff
Moves - Fairy Wind, Safeguard, Magic Coat, Cotton Guard, Draining Kiss, Aromatherapy, Copycat
99 - 108. Kion and Kiara's Pride - (6 F and 3 M)
Totem Luxray
Moves - Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Electro Ball, Double Team, Double Kick, Secret Power
Sarafina, Nala and Sarabi
Moves - Tackle, Heat Wave, Double Team, Fire Fang, Protect, Flame Charge, Flamethrower
Kovu and Simba
Moves - Tackle, Heat Wave, Double Team, Noble Roar, Wild Charge, Flame Charge, Flamethrower
Litleo Cubs (Tifu, Zuri, Cinder)
Moves - Tackle, Ember, Headbutt
109. Delcatty
Moves - Copycat, Blizzard, Solarbeam, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball, Iron Tail, Water Pulse
110. Boltund
Moves - Fire Fang, Thunderbolt, Charge, Wild Charge, Flame Charge, Psychic Fangs
111. Wvyeon
Moves - Dragon Claw, Dragon Breath, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, Steel Wing
112. Cryoceros (aka Nico)
Moves - Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Wide Guard, Ice Shard, Sheer Cold, Focus Energy
113. Cryoceros (aka Saba)
Moves - Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Wide Guard, Ice Beam, Icicle Spear, Work Up
114. Orcrown (aka Azul)
Moves - Water Gun, Water Pulse, Aqua Jet, Aqua Tail, Hypnosis, Light Screen
115. Orcrown (aka Azula)
Moves - Water Gun, Water Pulse, Life Dew, Liquidation, Muddy Water, Magic Coat
116. Infernoble (aka Apollo)
Moves - Flamethrower, Noble Roar, Psychic Fangs, Fire Fangs, Flame Charge, Calm Mind
117. Infernoble (aka Enya)
Moves - Flamethrower, Noble Roar, Psychic Fangs, Fire Fangs, Flame Charge, Light Screen
118. Reshiram
Moves - Fusion Flare, Blue Flare, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Claw, Steel Wing, Flamethrower
119. Minesheo
Moves - Bulk Up, Force Palm, Focus Punch, Aura Sphere, Acrobatics, Detect
120. Uxie
Moves - Teleport, Psychic, Protect, Light Screen, Reflect, Copycat, Tri Attack
121. Mesprit
Moves - Teleport, Psychic, Protect, Light Screen, Reflect, Copycat, Tri Attack
122. Azelf
Moves - Teleport, Psychic, Protect, Light Screen, Reflect, Copycat, Tri Attack
123. Shaymin (Land Form) (Shiny)
Moves - Seed Flare, Quick Attack, Magical Leaf, Aromatherapy, Double Team, Nature Power
124. Magearna (Original Color)
Moves - Focus Blast, Crafty Shield, Shadow Ball, Brick Break, Dazzling Gleam, Double Team, Signal Beam
Jungle Guard - 125 - 135 - (7 M and 4 F)
Guardeon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Metal Claw, Iron Tail, Double Team, Focus Energy
Spookeon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Shadow Claw, Confuse Ray, Double Team, Focus Energy
Veneon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Poison Tail, Acid Armor, Double Team, Focus Energy
Breezeon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Air Slash, Steel Wing, Double Team, Focus Energy
Craggeon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Accelarock, Rock Slide, Double Team, Focus Energy
Brawleon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Close Combat, Focus Blast, Double Team, Focus Energy
Manteon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Bug Buzz, Fury Cutter, Double Team, Focus Energy
Helioseon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Moonblast, Double Team, Focus Energy
Thundereon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Dragon Rush, Thunderbolt, Double Team, Focus Energy
Seleneon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Confusion, Moonlight, Double Team, Focus Energy
Freezeon
Moves - Quick Attack, Shadow Ball, Psychic Terrain, Mirror Coat, Double Team, Focus Energy
Zeraora (Shiny) (aka Tai Lung)
Moves - Power-Up Punch, Quick Attack, Plasma Fists, Iron Tail, Close Combat, Work Up
Jungle Guard Second in Commands - 136 - 141 - (2 F and 4 M)
Charizard (Shiny) (aka Amber)
Moves - Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Dragon Claw, Dragon Breath, Steel Wing, Blast Burn
Greninja (aka Xena)
Moves - Water Shuriken, Double Team, Quick Attack, Aerial Ace, Night Slash, Cut
Lucario (aka Cobalt)
Moves - Aura Sphere, Detect, Bone Rush, Close Combat, Circle Throw, Bulk Up
Sandaconda (aka Medusa)
Moves - Scorching Sands, Scale Shot, Skull Bash, Dig, Dragon Rush, Glare
Dragapult (aka Ghost)
Moves - Breaking Swipe, Bite, Dragon Darts, Dragon Dance, Shadow Ball, Quick Attack
Infernape (aka Tyson)
Moves - Close Combat, Calm Mind, Bulk Up, Mach Punch, Power-Up Punch, Blast Burn
Jungle Baby Pokemon - 142 - 145 - (4 F and 1 M)
Fennekin
Moves - Scratch, Heat Wave, Magic Coat, Psychic Terrain, Hypnosis, Wish
Swablu
Moves - Peck, Dragon Rush, Tailwind, Roost, Haze, Feather Dance
Cyndaquill
Moves - Crush Claw, Reversal, Flare Blitz, Double Kick, Double Edge, Extrasensory
Phanpy
Moves - Ice Shard, Mud Slap, Play Rough, Head Smash, Ancient Power, Focus Energy
146. Buneary (Shiny)
Moves - Circle Throw, Copycat, Fire Punch, Ice Beam, Dizzy Punch, Bounce
147. Piplup
Moves - Peck, Bubblebeam, Pound, Fury Attack, Rain Dance, Feather Dance
148. Appletun
Moves - Headbutt, Protect, Iron Defense, Recover, Apple Acid, Solarbeam
149. Snom
Moves - Bug Bite, Struggle Bug, Powder Snow, Magic Coat, Fairy Wind, Mirror Coat
150. Skiddo
Moves - Vine Whip, Milk Drink, Grassy Terrain, Rollout, Razor Leaf, Synthesis
151. Lycanroc (Midday) (aka Misa)
Moves - Accelarock, Double Team, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Quick Attack, Protect
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)
20. Dart - Night Light (F)
21. Pouncer - Night Light (M)
22. Ruffrunner - Night Light (M)
23. Rosa - Titan Wing Dramillion (F)
24. Lilac - Terrible Terror (F)
25. Hydro - Tide Glider (F)
26. Hurricane - Windwalker (M)
27. Cantana - Death Song (F)
28. Rubble - Gronckle (M)
29. Boulder - Shovelhelm (M)
30. Voltage - Skrill (M)
31. Flystorm - Deadly Nadder (M)
32. Phoenix - Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare (M)
33. Nova - Titan Wing Singetail (F)
34. Whiplash - Razorwhip (M)
35. Rosethorn - Triple Stryke (F)
36. Reignstorm - Stormcutter (M)
37. Ruby (M) and Sapphire (F) - Mist and Spark's Parent - Titan Wing Zippleback
38 - 40. Skystorm and Flystorm's Children - Pearl, Amethyst, Diamond (3 F)
41 - 42. Sunflare and Pheonix's Children - Prye, Wildfire (2 M)
43. Silver and Whiplash's Child - Skylar (F)
44. Starfire and Reignstorm's Child - Crescent (M)
45. Venom and Rosethorns' Child - Flora (F)
46. Inferno and Nova's Child - Sunset (M)
47 - 51. Twilight and Dawn's Adoptive Children - Viper, Wyvern, Rhaegal, Kayda, Edna (3 M and 2 F)
52. Mirage - Changewing (F)
53. Flo - Threadtail (F)
54 - 55. Puff and Big Buff - Buffalord (M and F)
56. Charger - Rumblehorn (F)
57 - 58. Night Fury Eggs
59 - 60. Starlight and Eclipse - Night Fury (F and M)
61 - 62. Spike and Appa - Buffalord (M and F)
Sarah's Pokemon Gems (Original):
1. Cresselia
Moves - Psychic, Moonlight, Moonblast, Magic Coat, Psycho Cut, Protect, Signal Beam, Solarbeam
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, Dragon Claw, Dragon Ascent, Twister
4. Zacian (Hero of Many Battles/Crowned Sword)
Moves - Iron Head/Behemoth Blade, Metal Claw, Sacred Sword, Wild Charge, Solar Blade, Swords Dance
5. Zamazenta (Hero of Many Battles/Crowned Shield)
Moves - Iron Head/Behemoth Bash, Metal Claw, Close Combat, Dazzling Gleam, Focus Blast, Iron Defense
6. Xerneas
Moves - Moonblast, Aurora Beam, Dazzling Gleam, Geomancy, Focus Blast, Nature Power
7. Zygarde (10% Form/50% Form)
Moves - Dragon Pulse, Earthquake, Core Enforcer, Superpower, Land's Wrath, Dragon Dance
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
3. Suicune (Shiny)
Moves - Extreme Speed, Ice Beam, Aroura Beam, Air Slash, Hydro Pump, Mirror Coat, Roar
4. Raikou (Shiny)
Moves - Extreme Speed, Charge Beam, Thunderbolt, Discharge, Aura Sphere, Wild Charge, Roar
5. Entei (Shiny)
Moves - Extreme Speed, Flare Blitz, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Eruption, Lava Plume, Roar
6. Ho-Oh
Moves - Sacred Fire, Sky Attack, Flamethrower, Safeguard, Recover, Steel Wing
7. Yveltal
Moves - Oblivion Wing, Focus Blast, Dragon Rush, Phantom Force, Psychic, Sky Attack
8. Reshiram
Moves - Fusion Flare, Blue Flare, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Claw, Steel Wing, Flamethrower
9. Zekrom
Moves - Fusion Bolt, Bolt Strike, Dragon Claw, Dragon Pulse, Wild Charge, Steel Wing
10. Kyurem
Moves - Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Shadow Claw, Glaciate, Sheer Cold, Focus Blast, Flash Cannon
Black Kyurem
Moves - Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Shadow Claw, Fusion Bolt, Freeze Shock, Sheer Cold, Focus Blast, Flash Cannon
White Kyurem
Moves - Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Shadow Claw, Fusion Flare, Ice Burn, Sheer Cold, Focus Blast, Flash Cannon
Disclaimer Note: Spookeon, Veneon, Breezeon, Craggeon, Brawleon, Manteon and Gaurdeon belong to SplatterParrot who gave me permission to use them. Thundereon, Freezeon, Heiloseon and Seleneon all belong to redballbomb on Devainart who gave me permission to use them.
