(Sorry about the absence, I write when I feel like it XP I need to get better at an update schedule.
The Reviews
LogBook: Glad you liked the interactions! Hip Hop is gonna be one of the more fun members of Aubrey's party, because maaaaaaaan, she was popping off in being good when I played Legends.
Jacob9594: If it's interesting and unique, I'mma try it.)
Following Adaman, Aubrey would be keeping her eyes out for any sort of Pokemon on the way there. Key on the other hand, would try striking up a conversation with the Diamond Clan's leader.
"So, you're the leader around these parts, yes?" She asked.
"That's right. We share these lands with the Galactic Team and our former enemies the Pearl Clan," Adaman answered. "And I take it you're not with the Ginkgo Guild."
"Oh no, not at all sir. Where I'm from, my place of business is known as Sevii Mercantile, even if we're not based in the Sevii Isles," The merchant answered with a smile.
"What's up with that, anyway?" Aubrey wondered. "It's out of Celadon City, so why the name?"
"Well, would you believe me if I told you the founder is also from the Sevii Isles?" Key answered.
"Hmm, that makes sense. I honestly do not know alot about the Sevii Islands... I believe they are south of Kanto, right?" Vanessa guessed.
"Right you are, Vanessa!" Key responded.
"I would like to hear more of these Isles," Adaman commented. "Might as well pass the time on the way to Brava Arena."
"Well, they're officially named the Sevii Islands, I've always called them Isles since that's what my folks called them," Key explained. "It's an archipelago made up of nine islands, the first seven named One Island through Seven Island. The other two are known as Navel Rock and Birth Island. I've never been to those two before."
"Oh yeah, I think I know of those two…" Vanessa visibly thought for a moment, trying to remember what was on those islands. "Oh yes. Navel Rock is a resting place for the Guardian of the Sea Lugia, and the Rainbow Phoenix, Ho-oh."
"And Birth Island?" Adaman followed up.
"I believe Deoxys showed up there…" Vanessa guessed. "We don't know alot about that one...it showed up fairly recently for us."
"Hmm, all of this from your time...I wonder how many other titans can stand alongside almighty Sinnoh in terms of power," Adaman mused.
"You'd be surprised, man," Aubrey responded. "You would be greatly surprised..."
"Oh yeah, a big example would be the three Lords of Hoenn," Vanessa chimed.
"Those being…?" Adaman was curious now.
"Groudon, Creator of the Continents, Kyogre, Creator of the Sea, and Rayquaza, Lord of the Sky," The younger ranger told him. "And you do not want one of the first two Awake without the other one being awake or one of the orbs that control their power.. That would be bad. World ending bad."
Adaman paused there for a moment, both surprised and intrigued. "I...take it you ladies have experience with that, judging by how specific you said it."
"Nah nah, it's nothing like that," Aubrey assured him. "A friend we made in my own journeys did, but he wasn't an instigator."
"I would not think Jake to be capable of such destructive action...ah, I'm sure he'll stay that way," Key mused.
Before Adaman could ask about him, he would smile. "Here we are, Brava Arena."
"Oh good!" Vanessa had a smile too as they approached the stone steps leading them up to the arena. She also added, "Oh, and uh don't worry too much if one of them wakes up. Rayquaza usually keeps them in check if it gets too out of hand."
"I could infer as much, Vanessa," The clan leader mused. "Now remember what we told you about Lady Lilligant. You may have had an easy time with Kleavor, impressive as that is, but she is not one to take lightly."
"Oh, of course!" Aubrey agreed.
"All we have to do is wait for Lady Lilligant to tire, attack with our best Pokemon against its weaknesses, and stay wary of her perfume!" Key summarized.
"Right. I'll be here watching. If things are looking grim, I'll try my best and step in," Adaman promised.
"Yup." Vanessa gave a nod, and paused to see a Petilil staring at the group. "Oh hello there."
"I take it that's the unevolved form of Lilligant," Aubrey guessed.
"Yep. That would be a Petilil," Adaman confirmed, Petilil pretty receptive to Adaman's presence. "These three are here to help with Lady Lilligant, Petilil. We can trust them." Petilil looked pretty happy at these words, bouncing around Vanessa in particular. The younger ranger blinked at this display of affection.
"Well I guess I'll bring this little one with us. She seems pretty enthusiastic," She said.
"Maybe Petilil wants to help us too," Key mused.
"By all means she can come along," Aubrey agreed. It was around this moment Hip Hop let herself out of her ball.
"Hippo! Hippo hippo!" The Hippopotas happily cheered - Brava Arena, at long last!
"Woah!" Adaman chuckled. "I've never seen that before!"
"Hehehe." Vanessa giggled as well, her Teddiursa and Scyther doing the same, with Teddiursa playing around with Hip Hop, and Scyther watching over them to make sure nothing happened.
"Watch and learn, Hip Hop. We're gonna show you some real good group dancing," Aubrey vowed.
"I think it'd be best for Scyther to stay by Hip Hop and Teddiursa, no?" Key suggested. "In case Lady Lilligant decides to attack them."
"Yeah." Vanessa nodded in agreement with Key's plan. "Scyther! Keep an eye on the little ones, alright?" Scyther gave her a curt nod of understanding as they went into the arena.
The arena itself would be quite misty at first before a strong wind blew through the area, clearing away the mist to reveal a slender figure with a six-petaled flower on the top of its head, and unlike regular Lilligant, visible legs that were definitely made for dancing. With a golden glow surrounding it, that was the dead giveaway this was indeed Lady Lilligant, the Lady of the Ridge. It did a few dance moves as a taste for what was to come before jumping at the trio, landing gracefully in front of them.
"Soren, stand by for Poke Assist!" Aubrey called out her Zubat to lead off this fight.
"Well then! Quilava, let's do this!" Vanessa called out Quilava as her opener. And Key?
"Raichu! Some assistance please?" She would send out her Alolan Raichu as Lady Lilligant began her dance, spinning through the air and trying to slam down on the party.
"Woah!" Vanessa dodged out of the way, spotting Lilligant creating shockwaves with her landings. "Oh boy! She makes shockwaves!"
"Not a problem for us!" Aubrey exclaimed, jumping over the shockwaves with Key, and Raichu simply surfing over them with some good ol' fashioned psychic power.
"Right! Quilava, let's get an Ember in!" Vanessa instructed. The Ember sailed straight past Lady Lilligant, naturally dodging it with her routine of jumping around the arena and slamming down.
"Soren, try for a Flying-type move, buddy!" Aubrey ordered, leading Soren to try for an Air Cutter, grazing Lilligant and throwing her off balance for a moment. The flower on her head started to puff out a perfume like gas around her.
"Yeah... Good call," Vanessa agreed with her partner's decision. "Quilava, Scyther, switch places! I need an Aerial Ace, Scyther!" When Scyther went for the attack, Lilligant would send out the perfume right at Scyther as an attempt to block the attack, Key catching on to what she was trying a moment too late.
"Vanessa, no! That's the perfume that sent Ursaluna into a tizzy!" Key shouted.
"...Aww crud…" Vanessa grimaced. This would send Scyther off course as he tried to dodge it but he does land a solid hit on Lilligant at least. Lilligant was able to get back to her feet, doing a pirouette spin around to try and spread her perfume around now that Scyther was incensed by it.
"Crap...Soren, Air Cutter and send that stuff back to sender!" Aubrey quickly instructed, pulling her scarf around her nose and mouth. Soren obliged, his Air Cutter protecting the others from the perfume. "Get Scyther under control, partner! Key, help me out here! Capture...ON!" Out went Aubrey's Capture Disc!
"On it!" Vanessa sent out her own Capture Disc, instead at her own Scyther to calm him down.
"Right! Raichu, use Psychic and keep Lilligant in place!" The merchant instructed, her Raichu engaging in an epic struggle for control over the Noble, Aubrey starting to draw loops around Lilligant. With their efforts, Scyther would be able to snap out of it, and Raichu would be able to allow Aubrey getting in some good loops before taking an Energy Ball directly from her, snapping her free from the Psychic.
"You okay, buddy?" Scyther gave Vanessa a nod. "Okay, good...if we can get rid of that perfume, Scyther can finish this pretty easily, I think."
"I don't think it'll be that easy..." Aubrey told her partner. "You notice how she was using that stuff as a defensive wall?"
"Hmm…think she would be able to block in multiple directions?" Vanessa wondered. She would get her answer when Lilligant went for her next trick, puffing perfume from the flower on her head and spinning up, landing in the same spot to send a green, nature's energy type shockwave around her, prompting another series of jumps and recalling their Capture Discs to avoid damage. "Darn."
"We just gotta keep blowing it away or hit that flower of hers!" Key suggested, readying a mallet.
"Be my guest!" Aubrey suggested, though Lilligant wouldn't take this lying down. Moving her arms around as Key went to line up her shot, she would send the perfume the merchant's way before she could complete the throw, sending the mallet flying off the arena.
"Ack! Ungh..." Key coughed, falling to a knee for a moment.
"Key!?" Vanessa cried out in alarm. "You okay?"
"Oh...I'm never better!" Key answered, clearly under the perfume's effects as she got her other mallet ready.
"Raiiiiii!?" Raichu cried out.
"Now I feel bad..." Aubrey frowned. "One of us has to deal with her."
"I'll do it," Vanessa offered. "You keep up the pressure on Lilligant."
"Got it...hey Raichu, stay back. I'll deal with Lilligant while Van gets Key back to her senses," Aubrey advised.
"Rai...chu, chu," Raichu agreed, floating over to Hip Hop and Teddiursa, the Ground-type loving every minute of this and nonchalantly dancing to a tune that she was playing in her head.
"Empathy, we need some backup here!" Aubrey sent out her Kirlia next, surprised at the situation before them, but composed herself quickly.
"I'll help wherever I can. Ready for this, Soren?" She asked, getting a hearty cry of approval from Soren.
Vanessa on the other hand would get to work, first by disarming Key of her weapon - after dodging a few wild swings from the merchant, she'd grab hold of her right wrist and wrenched it back in a way that would force her to drop the mallet. This would prove effective, leading the incensed Key to send both of them to the ground with a single leg trip. Vanessa would quickly roll over and then plant herself on top of Key to keep her in place.
While that struggle ensued, Key proving to be quite resilient to Vanessa's pin hold, Lilligant resumed her battle style with Energy Ball volleys that Soren flew out of the way of and Empathy pirouetted around.
"I can dance too, ya know!" Empathy exclaimed, attacking in tandem with Soren's Air Cutter using Confusion. The idea was to keep Lady Lilligant off balance so Aubrey would be able to loop around the noble Pokemon without much difficulty. It'd prove to be the idea for a little bit, with Lilligant bounding up and lunging at Aubrey with a flipping axe kick.
"Woah!" Aubrey jumped back to avoid the attack, skidding before the edge of the arena and stopping herself before falling off.
"Be careful up there!" Adaman shouted. Soren, not willing to let this stand, would take a risk and charge right at Lilligant, biting down on the flower on its head and holding on before she could attack again.
Vanessa would glance over to see Soren's attack. "Nice one…" She then tightened her grip on Key. "Yeesh, what do you eat?"
"Real food!" Key answered, Vanessa keeping her grip on the struggling merchant.
"Riiiiiight…" Vanessa sweatdropped.
While Lilligant was able to throw Soren off of her, the Zubat stayed in the air, letting out a loud screech as a blue light would start to envelop it in a familiar phenomenon - evolution!
"Alright Soren!" Aubrey cheered, having raced back to the center of the arena. When it faded, her Zubat was now a Golbat!
"Now things are looking up!" Empathy smiled, sharing a high five with Soren's wing.
"Hey Van, what's the status of getting Key to snap out of it?" The older ranger called.
"Not going alright!" Vanessa called. "I'm kinda stuck here just trying to keep her under control!" It was then Adaman decided to make his move, rushing past an attack from Lady Lilligant to come to Vanessa's aid.
"I'll take her from here, you focus on finishing this!" He declared with some authority in his voice.
"Thank you!" Vanessa would hop off Key to let Adaman take over on getting the merchant under control, the clan leader able to do just as well as Vanessa in terms of strength dragging Key off to safety.
"Alright, Soren's evolved, Empathy's here...all we gotta do is keep Lady Lilligant off rhythm with special attacks!" Aubrey told her partner.
"Right." Vanessa nodded.
"Soren, Empathy, keep doing what you're doing!" Aubrey instructed, sending her Capture Disc back out.
"I'll keep on looping, then!" Vanessa did the same, sending out her own Capture Disc. With Air Cutter and Confusion volleys keeping Lilligant's rhythm completely off, there wasn't much she could do from the beatdown and Arc Stylers. After enough effort, the bright light surrounding Lilligant would dissipate from her body, the noble taking a knee as the golden light formed into an orb, sending itself up in the air.
"Whew...Capture complete..." Aubrey sighed with relief. Then she thought of something. "Hey uh, you think Petilil has Aromatherapy?"
"Hmm, maybe?" Vanessa responded.
"Check your Styler, it can do that, right?" The older ranger asked, seeing Key passed out with Adaman, the merchant breathing heavily from the struggling she was doing.
"Hmm…" Vanessa would look at the relevant info, and sure enough, Aubrey's hunch was right. "Hey Petilil, can you use Aromatherapy?" Petilil would do just that, rousing Key to her senses as she sat up rubbing her wrist.
"Ooogh...did we win?" She asked her friends.
"Yes we did!" Vanessa happily reported. Adding to Vanessa's joy, Lilligant would bless the younger ranger with another plate once she was able to get back to her feet from the power surge, a green colored one now in Vanessa's hands. "The powers of Plates are shared among Pokémon." She smiled at this one.
Adaman dusted off his hands as Key recalled Raichu. "Hey, thank you. Not only did you save Lady Lilligant, but Arezu as well. First Wyrdeer, then Kleavor, Ursaluna, and now our Lady of the Ridge. Aren't you some hotshots, rangers?"
"Dang right we are!" Aubrey beamed, lowering her scarf back down around her neck. "I'd say this calls for a Mission Clear!"
"That it does!" Vanessa smiled, putting the plate away. Both rangers would strike their poses, and Key, having gotten her mallets back, would twirl them around and cross them in front of her with a bright smile and an arm fold.
"Now, how about before you head back to the village, you have dinner with the Diamond Clan?" Adaman offered. "After that hectic battle, I feel like you've all earned it."
"Oh, that would be wonderful!" Key mused.
"Oh yeah." Vanessa would see Petilil looking at her. "As for you…wanna come along with us?" Even if Petilil was mostly watching, she would nod, grateful for the rangers' help and allowed herself to be captured.
"Hippo! Hip hip hippo! Po tas potas!" Hip Hop cheered, running over to Aubrey.
"It seems Hip Hop enjoyed the show," Empathy noted with a smile, seeing Lilligant's curious expression. What was this Hippopotas doing all the way out here? This led Empathy to explain the situation to Lilligant, and after some words were exchanged, she nodded and turned to the humans of the party. "So, we've reached an agreement."
Vanessa tilted her head to the side a bit. "Oh?"
"As thanks for snapping her out of her frenzy, Lady Lilligant is offering to do a dance just for you all," Empathy explained. "It's the least she can do after being sent into that frenzied state."
"Well that sounds lovely!" Vanessa beamed.
"Yeah! Ya hear that Hip Hop? You're finally gonna get your wish!" Aubrey mused.
"Hippo..." The Hippopotas looked so happy she could cry, but shook her head and tried bowing in appreciation to the Lady of the Ridge.
"Right, but first let's eat. You three must be starving," Adaman decided, gesturing for them to follow him back to the encampment. "We'll be back, Lady Lilligant."
"Lilli!" Lilligant did a twirl, giving the group a curtsy as they went off.
"Whew…" Vanessa breathed a sigh of relief. "That was a bit tiring. But I'm glad we were able to do some good."
"Amen, partner..." Aubrey agreed, stretching her arms. "Hey Key, how's your wrist?"
"A bit sore, but otherwise fine," The merchant confirmed.
"Sorry about that," Vanessa apologized. "I needed to get ya disarmed so you did not try to smack me in the head with that."
"Oh! Hope I didn't hit you then..." Key sheepishly responded. "Or wasn't too much trouble for you."
"It was more trying to keep you down that was the problem," Vanessa explained.
"Ah..." Key blinked.
"You think I shoulda done that pinning her down thing?" Aubrey wondered.
"Oh, I definitely think that would've been a big help!" The merchant perked up with a smile.
"Because...she's got a bit more strength?" Adaman asked.
"Yeah, and weight because of the muscle," The younger ranger confirmed.
"Right." Adaman nodded in agreement.
By the time they got back to the Diamond Clan's encampment, Arezu perked up seeing their return. "Oh, thank you! You're the best!" She graciously told the trio. "Being all frenzied didn't suit Lady Lilligant one bit."
"Where's Calaba?" Aubrey wondered.
"Oh, she headed back. What's the plan now, Adaman?" Arezu inquired.
"Well first, we're treating these three to dinner, and then, Aubrey's Hippopotas is going to be granted the honor to witness Lady Lilligant's dance," Adaman explained.
Arezu gasped. "Really!?"
"Yup. It was the least she can do after we helped her out," Key replied.
"That's amazing! I'd love to watch too, but...you've earned this dance," The warden calmed herself for a moment. "I hope you all enjoy it."
"I'm pretty sure we will!" Vanessa responded confidently. After some time waiting, the trio could see what they'd be having for dinner.
"Ooh, what do we have here..." Aubrey looked interested.
Vanessa licked her lips with a smile. "Some classic handmade dumplings with a nice sauce too!"
"You like? It's one of my favorites," Arezu mused.
"Yeah, these should be good!" After dunking one dumpling in sauce and popping it in her mouth, Vanessa could confirm - these were good indeed.
"Mmm, tasty!" Key giggled.
"Oh yeah," Vanessa chuckled. Aubrey was focused on digging in once she knew it was tasty as well, keeping her words to a minimum.
"Hey, can I just say...I'm happy that all our different groups were able to come together and tackle this problem?" Arezu brought up mid-meal.
"Oh yeah...it was like that thing back at the ruins was saying," Aubrey remembered.
"Yeah it was." Vanessa nodded along in agreement.
"Calaba was talking with me about that when you were off quelling Lady Lilligant's frenzy," The warden continued. "How 'all lives touch other lives to create something anew and alive', which is what was going on thanks to Aubrey reminding her of that."
"Is that what it said?" Key sounded intrigued.
"Yeah! I might not be the smartest gal alive, but I can read Unown!" Aubrey mused.
"Yeah. Unowns are like that...I wonder if they are around, actually…" Vanessa mentioned.
"Well if the writing in the ruins is Unown, odds are they are here," Key responded.
"I also wanted to make a promise here, that I'm a warden," Arezu continued. "I of all people should know that I can stand in solidarity with other people, especially my fellow warden out here."
"Yeah, exactly. You got it, Arezu." Vanessa gave Arezu a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"And that's why I gotta get stronger once my ankle's better. That way if anything happens to Lady Lilligant again, I'll be ready for it!" The warden vowed.
Aubrey finished her food, setting her plate down and thinking it over. Getting stronger...maybe Isabella was onto something? Or at least the Master Dojo would be.
"Yeah." Vanessa nodded. "Just make sure you heal up right, Arezu!"
"Oh, I'll make sure of that," Adaman's voice could be heard. Once the trio was done with dinner, Petilil would come out of her ball, ready to lead the group back to Brava Arena for Lilligant's performance.
"Lead the way, Petilil," The younger ranger instructed. Petilil led the way back to the arena, and once they arrived, Lilligant was there waiting for them with a wave.
"Hey Lilligant! We're here!" Aubrey would call out her full team, all of them getting caught up on what was going on from Empathy. Hip Hop especially was eager to see the show.
"Yeah, let's see this play out!" Vanessa did the same with her Pokemon, the three joining Aubrey's Pokemon to join the crowd. Key would send out Mantine, Raichu, and Corviknight, making up the rest of the Pokemon audience as Lilligant would get in first position, ready to start her performance.
The performance that they would be treated to was a graceful ballet with other Pokemon providing some music in the background with their cries and other noises, Lilligant doing all sorts of moves strung together, Hip Hop stringing together her own moves that, while not nearly as graceful, were enough to make her engaged with the show itself. Empathy did her best to keep up, Otzawott merely watched along trying to act cool, and Axel and Soren were more vibing to the music the mirelands' Pokemon were making.
As for Vanessa's Pokemon, Quilava was curled up on her lap just watching this while Teddiursa, and Petilil were trying to follow Hip Hop's Lead. Scyther was keeping an eye one everyone, still a bit guarded, but he seems the protective type. Key's Mantine and Raichu were sharing a dance while Corviknight was simply watching along, proving to be the 'tough crowd' among them.
"Wow...didn't think we'd be treated to something like this time traveling," Aubrey mentioned with a smile.
"Me neither," Vanessa chuckled.
"And it's crazy...Sinnoh was like this in the past," Key added. "How does it feel that you're experiencing your region's history?"
"It's pretty surreal, actually," The Sinnoh native admitted.
"Not what you expected?" Aubrey asked, feeling Key give her hand a friendly squeeze. Seeing no harm in it, Aubrey returned the gesture. "Well, even if that's the case, I think we can handle it just fine. Even if we've got no real leads on that rift in the sky..."
"Yeah it's not what I expected...but it's also a great learning opportunity," Vanessa mused.
"How so?" The older ranger seemed curious.
"Well, all of the evolved Pokemon that vanished to start with," Vanessa began.
"Oh yeah, that is true...maybe all the changes to Sinnoh caused them to go away," Aubrey theorized.
"That is my guess," Vanessa agreed. "It's entirely possible there is some point in the world where they are still around but it has likely not been touched by people for a long long time."
"Guess we could find out when you get home, huh?" Key suggested with a giggle.
"Yeah." Vanessa responded with a nod. They'd hear the Pokemon cheering for Lilligant, the noble having finished up her show. Hip Hop especially looked happy, misty-eyed from finally getting her wish. After some conversation with the others, with Aubrey's other team members giving supportive cries, Empathy would walk her way over to the trio.
"I've got good news - Hip Hop's sticking with us!" She said.
"Wait really?" Aubrey sounded surprised.
"Yes. Not only because she would like to learn from your moves, but you helped her do something she's been trying to do for quite some time," Empathy explained. "She's with us for the long haul, Aubrey."
"Alright! Thanks for the show, Lilligant!" Aubrey beamed, getting a friendly curtsy from the Lady of the Ridge.
"Good! Welcome to the team!" Vanessa welcomed for good this time.
Gathering up their Pokemon, they would give Lilligant a wave goodbye and head on back to the village. After a nice trek, they'd finally hear the stamping of paws behind them - Ursaluna had followed them back, and lo and behold, it had something for Vanessa. A block of peat.
"Oh, what's this for, Ursaluna?" Vanessa asked. Ursaluna would point to Teddiursa with one of his forepaws, getting Vanessa to understand. "Ooooh. Do I need this to evolve Teddiursa?" Ursaluna would nod to confirm this.
"And I guess we'll find out when we get there too," Key remarked. "Thank you, Ursaluna!" With that done, Ursaluna would head off, leaving the three to head to their home for the night.
"Hey, before we go to bed, partner..." Aubrey mentioned to Vanessa as Key laid down for a good night's sleep.
"Yeah Brey?" Vanessa turned her attention to Aubrey.
"You think when we get back, we oughta toughen up a bit?" The older ranger suggested. "Maybe Izzy's dojo might be good for that..."
After thinking about that for a moment, Vanessa nodded in agreement. "You know what? Sure…that sounds good to me, Brey. Should be a good trip too."
"I was getting the impression the rest of this mission hereon is gonna push us to our limits. That's why I'm suggesting it," Aubrey mentioned, wrapping an arm around Vanessa. "But we're gonna power through it with our strengths combined, right?"
"Right!" Vanessa gave her partner a smile.
"Now..." Aubrey yawned. "I'm gonna get some shuteye. Sweet dreams, Van..." She'd lay down on her bed, conking out asleep once her head hit the pillow. Vanessa simply chuckled, her mind already thinking of how to wake Aubrey up tomorrow morning.
"Good night, Brey…" She would lay down herself, drifting off to sleep as well.
(And that's another area clear! Wa-Wario! I…unironically feel like Legends Arceus reminds me of Wario Land: Shake It…hey Nintendo, when can we get another Wario Land game?
Anyway, before I end the chapter, we got a TV Tropes page for the Ranger stories! Only thing is uh, we don't have much of anything, so if you want to contribute to the pages, the link is on my profile page, I would greatly appreciate it since my life is hectic enough as is. Thanks for everything everyone, and I'll see ya next time where the Cobalt Coastlands is up next, as well as some strange phenomenon. Catch you later!)
