Liko - After my pendant turned into a Pokémon (one that Race and Sarah knew well) called a Terapagos, the last of four left in the world, we met up with my grandma at her ancient castle in the Galar Region. It was so nice to share all of my adventures with her and hers with mine. While we were talking, we discovered that this Lakua thing was actually a paradise Lucius had been searching for years ago and we discovered that our Terapagos (apart from mine) can utilize two forms to use whenever they have to use them should they be forced to fight. But then, without warning, the Explorers came... And, they were here, for our Terapagos!
In a helicopter rostered especially for them, joined by Glalie, Dusknoir, and Garganacl, Hamber, Coral, and Sidian readied themselves to approach Diana's castle but lost the tracking signal they were given by Amethio on the way.
"Hmm, it appears we've lost Amethio's tracking signal to Diana's castle," Hamber noted.
"Pft, as if we ever really had that stupid widget of his in the first place. I, for one, love issuing a good ol', tried and true surprise attack. I'm so looking forward to this," Coral scoffed, eager for some battle action as she smirked at Glalie. "We'll settle things like we always do, Glalie; you and me, diving head-first and starting things off with a bang, bang, BANG, no holding back."
Glalie smirked as he replied, "You and me both, Cors. We'll blow those heroic slumps of bastards to Kingdom Come and they won't know what hit'em!"
"That's my Glalie!"
Hamber nodded as he then told Sidian and Coral, "I'll be taking point first on the capture of the Terapagos along with the demise of the Alolan Sun Princess and Lazuli. You two will be on standby until I require your aid."
"For real? Ugh, seriously, Ham, that is totally lame."
"But, be warned; Lauzli informed the princess about you two and Chalce so she'll know about you and your Pokémon, especially given she worked with us for the last twenty years or so."
The mention of Lazuli's name left Coral steaming mad as she snarled, "Ugh! Honestly, that backstabbing, two-timing, toothpick-swinging cow... After everything we did for her after welcoming her into our ranks, and after all the work she pulled off to become the best out of all of us through her missions, she throws our care in our faces and waddles off without even a 'goodbye' and saddles herself with the enemy. I tell you, when I finally get in there and find that miserable rat, I'm gonna make her sorry for leaving us high and dry with no reward to give us for the fun she gave us back at HQ and beyond!"
"Save your strength and restrain yourself as I keep advising you, Coral! Do not forget, the princess has an army of 200+ Pokémon and more under her wing; this included the Crowned Sword and Shield: Zacian and Zamazenta, the former Darkest Day: Eternatus, and the King of Bountiful Harvests and his steeds: Calyrex, Spectrier, and Glastrier. We'll be landing in their fatherland as we speak and they'll be at their most vicious when they're defending their both their old home and their trainer. We must also exercise caution around the princess; so far, she hasn't shown much of all of her abilities save for the fact that she is a Power Ranger."
"Are you talking about the numerous people in spandex kicking the asses of alien and supernatural threats from this planet and beyond?" Sidian inquired.
Hamber nodded, "While most of her predecessors have retired from active duties as rangers, others will still be waiting in the wings until they're needed. They all have powers themselves and they'll still pose a threat should we get any of them involved. But, the princess and her husband still carry out that duty they all share which is to protect the world from any substantial threats including us even if their old squadron retired after *their* duty to her, the world, and the region they lived in was complete. To that end, we must be tactical."
"Pfffffft!" Coral sniffed.
"And, since the assassination Amethio, Onia, and Zirc spearheaded failed with our hitman killed by Lazuli's martial arts and her superior swordsmanship, if she continues to plow through our forces with Panthera and Galaxagus by her side, we'll all be in big trouble. So, by that, I assume we'll be taking her and the princess out ourselves, Hamber?"
"Yes, Sidian, at the ancient castle in Breezy Hills."
Back at Diana's castle, Koraidon, Silvally, and the Night Lights continued to snarl at Amethio, Onia, and Zirc for their unwanted arrival, all of them and the heroes (who kept to their battle stances) knowing exactly what they wanted.
"So, Amethio, I see you've wasted no time in coming here after doing a little digging and playing Hide-And-Seek. You've obviously gotten smart from your last fail despite managing to get a lead on our turtles of the hour if you're able to follow us that fast despite leaving no tracks," Lazuli snorted at Amethio.
"I learned from my mistakes just as you, the princess, and your allies did. Nothing more, nothing less. And, let's say I owe for for saving me from that Galarian Moltres even though it was a foolish mistake on your part," Amethio sniffed haughtily, still keeping to his goal.
"What, and give up our little series of reunions leading to the end of you and the Explorers since you still owe me for my life and my parents?"
"Plenty of time to count your woes once you hand over the pendant Pokémon, the fourth and final Terapagos, belonging to your young friend AND the other three with the princess and her husband to me."
"Sorry, Amy; turtle Pokémon before you, they're all off-limits and private property. You've no custody rights to them and I doubt they'd toddle over to you with the bad vibes you've given them."
"This castle is private property as well, belonging to Liko's grandmother, Amethio! You, your zombie hosts, and your Pokémon are trespassing!" Sarah burst out, drawing both the Dragon Blade and the Celestial Crystal Blade.
"You just don't learn, do you?" Amethio remarked darkly as Sarah, Liko, and Race shielded their Terapagos while Liko's Terapagos babbled, not liking the vibes Amethio and his cohorts were sending.
"What is it, Terapagos?" Liko asked her Tera Pokémon.
"Amethio, don't force us to kill you in return for your crimes."
"What you and the Explorers are all doing will have severe consequences on our world and everyone related to these Terapagos and what they've contributed to the world around us and trouble will hit you and your colleagues as well should you go through with your plans."
"What you're suggesting is a death sentence that we and our daughter will inflict on you if you don't turn back and leave right now!" Doug, Tsukumaro, and Delilah warned angrily with Tsukumaro drawing his sword and pointing it at Amethio.
"Tough luck your rule will get you, you old geezers. Whenever there's something of great value to our cause, the Explorers take what they can when they can!" Zirc sneered.
"Even if you do waddle back to your pitiful island kingdom, you should know we'll follow you anywhere and everywhere just for those babies," Onia added, sharing Zirc's sneer.
"Don't make it any harder than it has to be, Onia, Zirc! You two and Amethio and the rest of the Explorers are in for a world of hurt," Race warned darkly, summoning his Mystic Staff and holding it towards the three agents.
"I believe you're the ones who will be in trouble. Especially since one of you owes us an assassin we wasted in the ashes of a little civil war between us," Amethio snorted, unfazed as he prepared to have Ceruledge attack.
"Let's see how fast you can run before we turn you into kindling and bring in your turtles to our leading man," Onia smirked as she and Zirc prepared to do the same with Golduck and Rhydon.
"Not if we knock the stuffing out of you, cow-face!" a defiant voice roared before Rabbit arrived and gave her a hard kick to the face, making her fall hard with a pained "D'OH".
"Whoa!"
"What is that?" gasped Liko and Roy as Hare landed before the heroes.
"Rabbit!"
"What are you doing here?" balked Race and Sarah in bewildered amazement while Hu and Mistral looked in silent shock as their jaws dropped.
Rabbit sniffed with a smirk before she gestured behind her, "Not just me, I brought help!"
A series of battle cries were heard and, in multiple flashes of color as they zipped through the broken window Amethio and Ceruledge broke through, the rest of the Circle of Twelve arrived and clashed with them, Onia, Golduck, Rhydon, and Zirc (catching the six villains completely off-guard by their sudden appearance and their immediate assault).
"Naomi, Horse, Pig, guys!"
"You're here!" Hu and Mistral finally breathed, now smiling in gratitude and awe.
"You and Mistral didn't have to do something like this all by yourselves, you know, Hu, you lummox!"
"We a-a-a-a-all got something like this when we're together and that's a faa-a-a-a-a-act!" Ox and Goat laughed.
Even Snake, who was riding on Ox, had to agree as he humorously snarked at Hu, "Pretty crafty for you two to go to the girl and leave the heavy lifting back home to us, you striped knucklehead."
"Giddy-yap, partner! HA-HA! YEEEEEE-HAW!" Horse hollered excitedly as she utilized her superspeed to dart up the stairs and bowl Zirc and Rhydon over like bowling pins and made Amethio and Ceruledge jump out of the way before they could get hit.
"Throw me the next one, pal!" Dog hollered as he grabbed Golduck and threw him to the side while Naomi hung from the chandelier, looking around for her target.
"I'm ready, Pig! Do your thing!" Snake called to Pig as he acted like a springboard while coiling himself by Ox's horns.
"Yeah! CANNONBALL!" Pig cheered as she jumped up and Snake flung her to Ceruledge and bowled him over before he could react.
"Hey-OW! This wasn't-OW-in the-OW-script!"
"What's with-UGH-this animal-UGH-farm?!" Onia and Zirc cried as Naomi proceeded to rattle them.
Then, just as Goat gave a defiant bleat and caused an explosion that rocked the two Explorer grunts and caused them to land on the ground again with hard thuds (while Naomi taunted the pair for a final time before she got off of them), Diana's Arcanine barged into the living quarters and jumped into the air with a loud howl (also not taking too kindly to the intruders trespassing on his and Diana's castle base and threatening Liko and her friends as well as Diane and her family).
"It's an Arcanine!" Zirc cried as he and Onia picked themselves up.
"Ugh! Just what we didn't need! Go, Golduck, shoot it down with Water Pulse!" Onia gritted, having her partner fire Water Pulse at Arcanine only for him to dodge effortlessly.
"Ceruledge, use Psycho Cut!" Amethio barked to his partner.
"Not so fast! Stupefycharmus!" Sarah shouted as she brandished her wand and defended Arcanine with a single zig-zag flick, sending a burst of magic that stunned Ceruledge for a moment and caused him to fall on top of Golduck.
"Ceruledge!"
"Golduck!"
Then, Diana, having heard the danger going on from her castle's living quarters, arrived back just in time with her Squawkabilly as the latter squawked in alarm, "Castle in danger! Awk! Intruders! Castle in danger!"
"Everyone alright?" the elderly adventurer questioned.
"Grandma!" Liko cried in relief just as Arcanine landed on the coffee table, ready to do battle thanks to Sarah saving his life.
"Arcanine, use Flamethrower!" Diana shouted, pointing her partner to Ceruledge and allowing him to fire his most powerful attack at the Fire Blades Pokémon who had only just recovered and managed to defend himself with his blades.
"Thanks, Diana, we're fine for now," Sarah replied, getting a thankful and relieved nod from Liko's grandmother.
"You need to run, don't worry about me and Arcanine! We'll join you as soon as we can!" Diana continued before turning to her Squawkabilly, "Squawkabilly, take them out through the tunnel!"
"Aren't you coming, Ms. Diana?" Mistral gasped worriedly.
"Not yet, I need to hold up the rear. Plus, I still have something to give to you all and Liko. Now, go!"
"Diana, come on!" Sarah demanded as she brought out Mittens in her Wood Form and prepared to use a teleportation spell before Diane immediately stopped her, holding her left shoulder and getting her attention.
"What?!" she gasped in shock at her sister's grandmother who smiled in gentle reassurance.
"Let her help, baby. Diana is not some helpless damsel in distress as far as I know her after all the adventures she's been through. She knows what she's doing and we should hold her to her word, trust her," Diane soothed her granddaughter-in-law as Diana's Squawkabilly opened a hidden passage leading them to another part of the castle.
"B-But, I-!" the little princess stammered hesitantly (not wanting to leave Diana and Arcanine behind) before the rest of the Circle of Twelve and Arcanine continued their assault as Amethio, Onia, Zirc, and their Pokémon continued to try and catch the heroes.
"AHHHHH!" Roy and Liko screamed as they had a close call with Ceruledge before Hare and Horse managed to kick and bash him back hard.
Understanding they had no choice but to leave and trust Diana to hold her own with Arcanine by her side, Friede nodded and returned Charizard before he, Diane, and Johnathan nodded and led everyone to the tunnel, the unconventional professor calling out, "Come on, everyone!"
"We're with you!"
"Wait for us, Mr. Friede!" Race and Doug shouted as the heroes hurriedly made their way to the tunnel.
"Lazuli, go with them!" Hu cried out to the swordswoman as he and Mistral prepared to join their friends and Diana.
"No, I have some unfinished business with the Explorers and I need to see that justice is done and the kid and her hubby are out of harm's way along with their turtles! Unless we finish dealing with these clowns, they won't stop tailing us for them!" Lazuli retorted.
"...Are you sure?"
Lazuli just gave Hu a single determined nod, having made her mind up as she stayed where she was, "...I am. Besides, I have a feeling Coral and Sidian might not be far behind if they're already chosen to deal with us tonight. Also, I wanted to show you how much I've grown after leaving these freaks behind."
"...Very well. But, stay close," Hu finally decided after a while, understanding her sentiments.
"Lazuli, are you crazy?!" Sarah barked as she went over to the swordswoman only to be pushed back roughly as she fell, Lazuli not wanting her to interfere and put herself as well as the Terapagos Four in more danger.
"You're more important along with your hubby and the girl because of your Terapagos but don't jump in without warning. That's just what the Explorers want from you according to the old saying 'haste makes waste'; haste would create extra tension in you and cut whatever is your true strength in half. You should join the others and make a run for it, I'll help Diana, Mr. Hu, and the rest of the Circle of Twelve hold up the rear and deal with them personally. It's been a long time coming, anyway, and knew something like this was coming. Also, I still owe you, your man, Little Liko, and her grandmother for what I've inadvertently set up for you all. Get going!"
"Lazuli! Hey! Guys, Korai, Aegis?! What are you doing? Let me go! Lazuli!" Sarah repeated only for Koraidon and Aegis to grab and push her along to the tunnel as they, Silvally, Gale, Haze, and their children were the last ones to leave.
"Come on!"
"Forget the Explorers! Trust Diana and Ms. Lazuli! Please!"
"Everybody out!" Silvally, Koraidon, and Aegis boomed as they finally escaped and the tunnel entrance closed to Sarah's final "LAZULI!", leaving the swordswoman, Galaxagus, Panthera, Stardust, the reunited Circle of Twelve, Diana, and Arcanine to deal with Amethio and his cohorts before they would rejoin the others once they're safely out of harm's way.
"Now, which one of you Explorers creeps responsible for killing two of our old friends would like to go first?" Sydney questioned.
"Why don't we start with you, the one with the fat lummox of a two-legged rhino with the massive beam that scorched Seiya and Mary all those years ago?" growled Ox, glaring daggers at Zirc and his Rhydon.
"I don't remember inviting you all to my home," Diana smirked at the Explorers.
"The Explorers don't need an invitation, lady! And, if you want to know, you fat glowing cow, those two have something vital to our cause and they wouldn't hand it over willingly as we demanded! We go wherever and take whatever we want! If you don't hand over what is valuable and important to us alone, you're dead, you hear?!" Zirc raged, losing patience.
"Did you say 'Explorers'?" Diana gasped, her eyes widening in realization before she also glared daggers at him, Onia, and Amethio. "Well, now, that's a twist I almost certainly didn't see coming."
"I think you freakazords have no idea who you're tangling with given you're that desperate to kill our charge because you couldn't get what she has on her. Whatever you're looking for from Lazuli was never meant for people like you!"
"That's not any business of yours! You monsters don't have the right to interfere in our affairs!" Onia spat in a fury.
"You Explorers turned Lazuli into a child soldier and forced her to work with you for over twenty years to the point when you threw her out of your lives after you all got what you wanted from her AFTER murdering her parents and kidnapping her soon after! When you did all of that, it IS our business now!"
"How could you ba-a-a-a-a-astards sink so low?"
"If anything, the real monsters we can see are right here in front of us and you three are just the tip of the iceberg your syndicate made in its wake," snarled Dog, Goat, and Snake in response.
"I've had enough... Ceruledge, get ready!" Amethio huffed as he had his partner ready himself to fight again.
"Galaxagus, Panthera!" Lazuli shouted, having her parents' Pokémon use Flamethrower and Power Gem consecutively to distract and disorientate Amethio, Onia, Zirc, and their Pokémon before the Circle of Twelve took the opportunity to further put them off their tracks and bashed them hard into the walls behind them.
"Pretty reckless of you to jump head-first there, kid," Mr. Hu remarked to Lazuli who just shrugged at him.
"What can I say? I've learned how to live freely and fight for my life after bailing on those morons, I had to improvise to keep them off my back," she replied before she looked at Diana and nodded, signaling they were clear to go.
"Thanks, Lazuli! Come with me, all of you! Arcanine!" Diana thanked before she got on Arcanine and they (Stardust included as she joined Lazuli via her right shoulder once she was on Galaxagaus) all jumped from one of the windows to another part of the castle.
"That lady's intense and those animals were no pushovers, either," Zirc grumbled as the evil sextet picked themselves up.
"That Lazuli, she's gotten craftier since we last saw her fight. Much more compared to how she acted and fought with Galaxagus and Panthera, ow," groaned Onia.
"Forget that lot and her. Right now, we follow those Terapagos from Liko, the princess, and her army. Once they're ours, Lazuli will be ripe for the picking and we'll take her AND the princess out on Master Gibeon's behalf," Amethio decided.
"Sir."
Inside the tunnel, the heroes were making their way out through the secret tunnel Squawkabilly was leading them through. But, Koraidon, Silvally, Aegis, and his Night Light family were still forcing a struggling Sarah to move despite her protests until they had enough of her ranting and knocked her down to give her a dressing down regarding what Lazuli and Diana were doing.
"What's wrong with you? Are you really scared for Diana and Lazuli getting themselves killed doing the right thing to help us get out safely?!" Aegis snapped.
"Would any of them and the Circle of Twelve want to see you crying, Mama? Would they want you to feel sad for them?" demanded Koraidon despite sharing his human mother's sorrow and fear for Diana, the Circle of Twelve, and Lazuli.
"You don't think I care for them!? They just...they just allowed themselves to fight back like they did! Asha's grandma stopped me before I could teleport everyone outside so we could throw them off our tracks! It would've been easier compared to any of us wasting our lives away fighting and I could protect them! We couldn't forget how Lazuli's parents were killed, all because I prodded into her memories despite our wanting to help her!"
"They have your magical animal teachers backing them up, Mother! You remember how they fight from your training with them, they're not legends themselves for nothing! Don't you dare underestimate them now!"
"And, from what we've seen of her, Ms. Lazuli is capable of defending herself. Whenever you and the others end up training with her, she has proven to us why she was the best of the Explorers in combat and Pokémon battles before she defected from them. She also has a personal grudge against them so it would be best for us not to interfere at this time!" Silvally and Haze barked while the others could only watch (despite Friede, Liko, and Roy still not being able to understand what they, Aegis, and Koraidon were saying).
"I can't just leave them let alone Lazuli, you know that?!"
"She appreciated your help and ours when she let out all of that bottled pain she had built up over the years since that day when she was five. If you go back on that now, everything we've done for her and what she's doing right now to return the favor would've been meaningless. Don't dishonor them by doing something you'll regret in their eyes," Gale replied.
"Mom, don't make this any harder for Lazuli and Diana. Diana also said she has to pick something up, let's hold off until she does," Blitz added.
Then, Gale approached Sarah and told her, "Diana and Lazuli want us to be ready for anything should something like this happen; to be reactive, quick...hit the ground running while anticipating the worst as we've done just now when Amethio, Onia, and Zirc barged in. We all knew this was coming and we must move forward no matter what happens to us. If we look back each time we go along, even after we leave somebody behind, we won't get far and we'll keep giving the Explorers leads on what we're doing. We can't let them get their hands on our Terapagos, especially Liko's since it's one of Marena and Lucius' old friends and part of their family. We lose it, Topaz, Garnet, and Larmina to the Explorers, we'll be disgracing them, Rayquaza, Arboliva, Moltres, and the rest of the Six Heroes wherever they are. There's no easy way around it; the only thing we should do in times like this is to keep moving forward, no exceptions."
Sarah eyed her dragons and her Pokémon as they all stared at her determinedly, knowing what Gale was saying as they vowed to do the same (Zap, Splattertail, and Goggles being more eager in the nods as they supported their family's words to her). Her family, Friede, Roy, and Liko, felt the same as they all nodded and shared their determination despite not understanding them fluently still and their fear of what could happen should the Explorers catch up to them. Even Race went over to his wife and gave her a determined nod as he placed a hand on her right shoulder, mentally telling her to trust her Pokémon and dragons as they understood what Diana and Lazuli were thinking.
Despite her personal feelings and knowing that Blitz, Aegis, Gale, Haze, Koraidon, and Silvally were right, realizing that Lazuli and Diana can handle themselves if they trusted them enough to take care of themselves until they're out of danger, Sarah gave a reluctant yet begrudging nod, deciding to move forward with her family and friends and not look back for their sake.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we all get that prattle. Come on, Pipsqueak! When am I gonna fight? I need fight action, now!" Eterantus grumbled as he, Mew, Magnolia, Sonia, and Leon (with his own Charizard, Yamper, and Ninetales in tow) appeared with Mew leading the pack.
"Eternatus!"
"Professor Magnolia!" Sarah and Liko (after checking on her Terapagos (who was in her backpack again) and Hatenna before returning the latter to her Pokeball to keep her safe) gasped in surprise and relief.
"How did you know we were here and in this tunnel?" Roy asked.
"Mew told us the Explorers found and attacked you so she brought us and Eternatus over just as the tests on him to help him control his powers were complete," Sonia replied.
"And, it looks like we got here just in time to help keep you and your Terapagos safe. We have to get you out of here, now," Magnolia nodded just as the tunnel was blasted through and Zirc's Rhydon appeared, getting stuck in the process.
"We might want to run, hurry!" Leon ordered as everybody went after him, Magnolia, Sonia, Mew, and Eternatus with Koraidon and Yamper staying behind with Sonia's Puppy Pokémon blowing a taunting raspberry at him and Koraidon bashing him in the head before they rejoined the others, running towards one of the castle's side towers from the bottom floor.
"Amethio! They're moving through an underground passage, planning to escape via that tower!" Zirc reported to Amethio, pointing him to the side tower from his right and Amethio's left.
"Good, I'll head them off. The two of you pursue them underground so we can hit them from both sides," Amethio nodded as he went outside and brought out his Corvikight.
"Your orders, Master?" Corviknight asked.
"Corviknight, our destination is...that tower over there. Our targets and the Pokémon we're looking for, their four Terapagos, will be on their way there soon."
With the heroes, they managed to reach the side tower safely as Squawkabilly flew off to find his owner and Arcanine.
"How are we doing, you okay to keep going?" Friede asked Liko and Roy who confirmed that they and their partners were okay. "Okay, I'll go to the roof and call for Murdock and the others to come and get us."
"No need, Mr. Friede, they're on their way right now thanks to Reader," Mew giggled at him. "She saw a vision of this happen and they'll be here to help you fight those meanies."
Friede was surprised as he replied, "Really? Wow, I didn't know she could mobilize everyone that fast after one vision!"
"Believe it, Travel Brains; that crazy psychic dragon's visions make her useful for an escape tactic or telling the future regarding events such as this ambush," Eternatus sighed.
"They'll already know we'll be in this tower and Amethio will most likely cut us off before we can even bail even if the others reach us," Race muttered.
"Well, then... What are we supposed to do?"
"And, what of Coral and Sidian should know about our escape?" Roy and Liko asked worriedly.
"They'll be on their way as we speak if they already found out about our Terapagos but we still have to get out of here and that means one of us drawing the line of fire from Amethio, Onia, and Zirc while the others make their getaway."
"We'll have to be both discrete and tactical with this, and should these Coral and Sidian guys attack us after, we're going to have to up the ante on our escape plan and hope the others can get you out of here when they arrive," Sonia thought as Magnolia nodded in agreement.
"There's also the matter of finding and evacuating all of the wild Pokémon around here so they could be safe from harm should the Explorers target them to get through to us so we should rescue them while doing so until it is safe for them to return if they wanted," Asha reminded.
"I'll take on Amethio and clear the way for you," Leon offered.
"No, I'll draw his line of fire, Leon; if I keep him and his Pokémon on me long enough, from there, you make your way out," Sarah countered in turn.
"And, you want to oblige him and his cohorts? You know he's after you and your sword-swinging friend as well as your, Race, and Liko's Terapagos."
"We don't have a choice, Leon; fighting's completely on the table and our only option given Zirc's Rhydon picked us out from the tunnel. I'm hoping to stall them just long enough to give you all a fighting chance to meet up with everyone else on the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine. From there, once Diana and Lazuli join us after finishing what they're doing and the wild Pokémon living in the area are evacuated and safely out of the way, we'll make a break for it."
"And, leave you to deal with one of the Explorers' top agents again?" Friede asked, concerned.
"I'll be right behind you all, Friede, don't worry. I'm not anxious to furnish a meal for Amethio and his Corviknight and Ceruledge if they also want a little payback for me, Race, Koraidon, and Miraidon humiliating them days ago at Roy's island home," Sarah replied reassuringly before turning to Blitz with a special request for him and his mate. "Blitz, you and Curly search the castle for all of the wild Pokémon living with Diana. Have all of them out and out of harm's way so they don't end up getting caught in the crossfire themselves."
"I will, Mom," Blitz nodded as he prepared to head back inside with Curly joining him. "Let's go find everybody and bail them out of this place, Curly."
"Right!" Curly agreed as the two Pikachu went off to find the wild Pokémon and evacuate them from Diana's castle base.
"Eternatus, stay with everybody else, you help watch over Liko, Friede, and Roy and keep them out of sight. If they want to rob us of our Terapagos, we're going to give them one hell of a fight before they could even think of robbing them from us blind."
Eternatus nodded as Sarah handed Topaz and Larmina to Liko and Race as she said, "Take care of them until I get back, okay?"
"Alright but only for their sake," Race replied while Liko nodded.
Sarah nodded back before she turned to Friede and her family and told them, "I'll go first and I'll take Silvally and Koraidon with me. When I cross onto the roof to give you cover and into Amethio's waiting hands, I'm sure he'll have Ceruledge and Corviknight attack me since I'm one of his hot targets. That'll give you your chance but if Coral and Sidian arrive just as you make your move, fight back and show them no mercy. And, whatever you do, if they force you to run when the others arrive, you do so and they'll get them off your backs until Diana, Lazuli, and I meet you."
"Be careful, baby."
"Stay safe and don't die on us."
"Good luck, princess."
"Come back to us when you're done with him, Pumpkin," Delilah, Doug, Tsukumaro, and Tsukumaro prayed while Donna (former queen) and Diane nodded.
The little princess then turned to Koraidon and Silvally as she prepared to climb up the tower, "Koraidon, Silvally!"
The prehistoric Paradox and Synthetic Pokémon nodded as they joined their human mother and they prepared to head up to meet with Amethio but not before Sarah turned to Friede and shook his hand, "Okay, Friede, you and everybody else... Good luck."
"And, to you, Sarah," Friede replied with a determined nod and gave her a gentle ruffle of her hair before he and everyone else made a break for it. "Let's go, gang!"
Finally, Sarah, Silvally, and Koraidon reached the top of the side tower and they looked around, hoping Blitz and Curly would get all of the wild Pokémon out of the castle safely while the others looked for Lazuli and Diana and make a quick exit and reunite with the others without being spotted by Onia and Zirc and before Coral and Sidian arrive to cut them off. All the while, they waited for Amethio to appear before them so they could keep him busy without knowing she gave Larmina and Topaz to Race and Liko.
Sure enough, the top agent and Corviknight appeared before the former snarled, "Did you really think I would let you fools go, princess?"
Deciding to toy with Amethio to wind him up and give everyone else a headstart, Sarah sighed and shrugged with a smirk as she taunted, "Hey, what took you so long? I was worried you might miss out on our little sleepover with Liko's grandmother. Now, if you don't mind, we're waiting for our flight taxis to pick us, our friends, and my family up so could you do us a favor and wait your turn?"
Amethio seethed from the taunt, the princess having hit a nerve in him as he raged, "Petulant little-! CORVIKNIGHT, USE HURRICANE!"
"Take this, you cheeky little sneak!" Corviknight cawed as he shot Hurricane at Sarah only for her to dodge (and Silvally and Koraidon to stand their ground) as she flipped back and brandished her wand, shooting a non-verbal Stupefy spell which Amethio and his Raven Pokémon managed to avoid.
"Come on, can't you learn to let up with me here? I'm trying to make a call while we wait for our ride! It'll only take a couple of seconds, not worth you losing your head and your crewcut over something so trivial," she continued to taunt, laughing and faking a call through her Wrist Com which left Amethio even more irked as he gritted his teeth in an uncontrollable rage.
Deciding she had enough poking fun at him, Sarah sighed and decided (all while she continued to give him a taunting smirk), "Okay, fine, have it your way. But, I'm not a fan of fighting in small spaces like this, so... It's Morphin Time!"
She activated her Cosmic Morpher and brought out her Solgaleo Sphere as she ran, jumped off the tower, and morphed into her revitalized original alter-ego for the top Explorers agent to see, "Cosmic Orb: Solgaleo Sphere! Link to Morphin Gird!"
Amethio became shocked and he was thrown for a loop as he witnessed Sarah transforming into her true Power Ranger form and land on the roof while Silvally and Koraidon jumped off the tower and joined her, the little princess brandishing her Solgaleo Flare Saber as she then declared, "Solgaleo Ranger, Sarah!"
"WHAT? How did you-?!" Amethio gawked, unsure of what to say.
Sarah just smiled as she holstered and rested her saber on her right shoulder while she taunted, "Not gonna compliment me on regaining my true form but in a new style? It's courtesy of a few powerful people with supernatural powers you Explorers have no understanding of. Now, are you gonna quit dropping your jaw and fight? My boys and I are waiting for you in our new play area~!"
Amethio snarled again but he obliged and agreed to Sarah's taunt and joined her, sending out Ceruledge to fight again and returning Corviknight as he stoutly said, "Corviknight, return. This will be our battle, Princess, and this castle will be your final resting place when we're through with you."
"Futuristic and/or prehistoric synthetics squaring off against darkness and fire in a 1-on-1 battle; is that what you want out of me in my old but refurbished spandex? I'm ready, let's see how you do against one of my sons and finest warriors from Alola. Silvally, show them how it's done, will ya?"
"I am READY, Mother! This battle-ready hodgepodge is gonna rock and roll!" Silvally smirked as he stood before Ceruledge and readied himself while Koraidon stood back, ready to jump in should he be needed or to provide a means of escape for his human mother and Alolan brother.
Meanwhile, Diana, Arcanine, Lazuli, Galaxagus, Panthera, Stardust, and the Circle of Twelve arrived at a peculiar room the elderly adventurer led them to after escaping from Amethio, Onia, and Zirc. The item Diana mentioned she needed to pick up was in there and she had to be quick so they could rejoin the others and get away before they catch up to them.
"Is this it?" Lazuli asked Diana.
Diana nodded as she told her group and Arcanine, "Yes. You all wait out here and keep watch and I'll be right back."
"Right."
"Okay," the Legendary Pokémon and swordswoman replied as the others nodded.
"Diana!" cried Squawkabilly as he reunited with his beloved owner.
"Squawkabily!" breathed Lazuli, smiling with relief along with Diana at the unharmed Parrot Pokémon.
"Well, now, I guess that means you were successful in guiding everybody to the tower. Good."
Once inside the room (which was a hidden reading room filled with books on legends and mysteries of the world), and with everybody else in her group keeping watch from outside so they don't get jumped at, Diana grabbed a satchel and stuffed it with some of the books she collected that related to her research involving Lucius, the Six Heroes, and Lakua amongst other topics.
"Well, that's that. What's left?" she pondered before looking at a surprisingly intricate belt used to store small items inside its large pouch and a familiar dusty old book (which was the very same book containing the records of Lucius and his family/friends and their adventures together).
With Liko, Roy, and the others, the young trainers couldn't help but be concerned for Sarah as they said to Doug and Delilah, "Your Majesties, tell me your daughter's not using herself as bait just to help us and our Terapagos escape!"
"Let me go back, please! Fuecoco and I can help!"
"Out of the question! We can't afford to put you two AND our daughter and Race's Terapagos as well as your own at risk, Liko!" Delilah denied firmly to Liko.
"Have faith in our daughter if you've already forgotten; our baby girl's a phenomenal trainer and she and Ash became Pokémon League champions months ago near the end of their school days while she became the Alola Champion after battling Prof. Kukui in an exhibition battle! She'll return after putting Amethio in his place, count on it!" Doug added confidently.
"Ceruledge, use Psycho Cut!" cried Amethio to Ceruledge, allowing his Fire Blades Pokémon to make the first move only for Silvally to dodge.
"Silvally, Swords Dance plus Quick Attack!" Sarah countered, having Silvally use Swords Dance to increase his Physical Attack stats and charge forward.
"Go, Ceruledge, charge in!"
In a bout of speed and power, Silvally (using Quick Attack and after boosting his Physical Attack stats with Swords Dance) and Ceruledge (using his raw strength and his blades) faced each other down in a repetitive clash, both Pokémon neither gaining quarter nor gaining edge between each other until Sarah and Amethio called for their next moves.
"Use Psycho Cut!"
"Shadow Claw!"
This ongoing brawl between them repeated but with them using their respective Psychic Type and Ghost Type attacks as they both dodged, slashed, and parried each other's blows with Ceruledge unleashing multiple Psycho Cut attacks while Silvally dodged and countered each of them with his Shadow Claw. Whilst they were fighting, Silvally managed to strike the tower behind Amethio and distract the Fire Blades Pokémon before he landed a super effective hit. In doing so, however, he had triggered Ceruledge's Weak Armor ability, increasing his speed at the cost of his defense just as Friede and his Charizard did.
"Phantom Force!" Amethio barked again, having Ceruledge use Phantom Force to disappear and teleport behind Silvally only for the Synthetic Pokemon to hear him coming and jump above him to dodge before landing near his human mother and Koraidon.
"Come on, Amethio; the old Hide-And-Seek bait and switch with Phantom Force again? Even with Weak Armor, I thought you and Ceruledge would've learned new tricks despite being such a pair of old dogs. Even Silvally knows when to pinpoint an adversary such as him whenever something like Phantom Force is used," Sarah scoffed, sounding unimpressed.
"Save me your idol prattle for when you're dead and your Terapagos is mine! Use Night Slash!" Amethio barked, still feeling insulted as Ceruledge shared his sentiments and charged over to Silvally to hit him with Night Slash.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Amethio! And, I suggest you be careful of what you wish for 'cause you just might get it!" Sarah replied, pulling out a Move Card.
"What is that?!" Amethio demanded, not knowing what he was about to find out.
"Read what it does and weep. Silvally, use Attack Burst!" Sarah called, flipping her Move Card to show him what it was and activate it which caused Silvally to roar after gaining a tremendous burst of power and let out a large dust cloud.
Amethio and Ceruledge had no response to this staggering display of power nor what the little princess pulled just by using a game card (in their eyes) as the Fire Blades Pokémon was forced to stop and look around, wondering where the Synthetic Pokémon was. Suddenly, without warning, Silvally appeared from the dust cloud and struck him, sending him screaming into the air before a series of white lightning bolts struck him.
"GYAAAAAAAAAIIIIIAAAHHHHH!"
"CERULEDGE!" Amethio roared in total shock before he shouted at Sarah, "How did you do that?! That's not fair!"
"I told you before, Amethio; I'd make sure you regret tangling with me if you mess with my family," Sarah scoffed as Silvally jumped into the air and struck the evil Pokémon again, sending him crashing into the ground.
Hearing the crash and Ceruledge and Amethio's screams as well as Silvally's roar, Diana (who had returned after packing the belt and Lucius' book in her satchel), Lazuli, and their partner turned to where the battle was coming from as the swordswoman couldn't help but quip, "Huh, I guess the kid's taking Amethio to school as we speak."
Diana nodded with a smile as she couldn't help but be impressed by what she was hearing, replying to Lazuli, "Now, I see why Sarah has become such a legend in such a short time along with her friends. I'm very glad Liko has a good friend in her."
"She really is a joy to behold and the most wonderful student Lazuli and I had the honor of teaching," Hu sighed sentimentally.
Lazuli nodded before she asked Diana, "Did you get what you're looking for?"
"I did, we better hurry and meet up with the others if they're waiting for us."
However, before they and everyone else in their party could make a break for the others, a familiar Dusknoir appeared from the ground in front of them. And, who should come from behind it to confront the pair himself but Hamber who had finally arrived at Galar (meaning Coral and Sidian were not too far behind).
"Hello, Diana, Lazuli, I've been looking for you two. It's been a long time," the butler greeted as the elderly explorer, the swordswoman (bringing her sword back out), Galaxagus, Panthera, Stardust, and the Circle of Twelve could only glare, snarl, or snort at him in anger and disgust.
"Use Night Slash/Shadow Claw!"
Back with Amethio and Sarah, the two of them along with Silvally and Ceruledge continued their battle on the rooftop. Ceruledge went at Silvally with another Night Slash attack but Silvally countered him with Shadow Claw, parrying with his right claw and striking him again with his left (despite activating his Weak Armor ability again).
"Let's finish this, Ceruledge! Use Psycho Cut!"
But, Sarah immediately pulled out her Tera Orb and it shimmered as she decided to use its power to finish the battle as she declared, "Not tonight, Amethio! Come on, Silvally, let's show him and Ceruledge how we really shine in battle!"
"What?!" the top agent gasped, recognizing the object in Sarah's right hand as it shimmered and shone brightly.
"Take in the bright light of the crystal stars of your Terastal form, Silvally! Unleash the crystalized beast from within and your true power Terastallize!"
Once her Tera Orb was shining at its brightest, Sarah threw it over to her Normal Type and it enveloped him in a series of crystals before they broke off, transforming him into a Tera Form that was only seen by her, Race, Kieran, Briar, and Carmine: the Stellar Type Form.
"What the-?!"
"The hell kind of Tera Type is that?!" spluttered Ceruledge and Amethio, flabbergasted.
Silvally roared proudly, his roar getting the attention of the others as they stopped in their tracks (since they were briefly hiding out at one of the other side towers closest to the main doors and the living quarters), noticing him in his Stellar Type Form.
Liko and Roy along with Sprigatito and Fuecoco were astonished to see a Tera Type that was nothing like the Tera Grass Type used by Brassius and his Sudowoodo and even Friede was amazed to see a Tera Type that was completely different from Galaxagus' Tera Dark Type.
"Sarah!" Friede gasped.
"Silvally!"
"What is that?!" Liko and Roy gawked.
"Is that-!?"
"But, it's nothing like that Brassius' Sudowoodo used!" Sprigatito and Fuecoco added, stunned beyond belief.
It wasn't long until Silvally roared again and the Dark Crystal that has been circling around him along with the others floated above his head and he turned into a Tera Dark Type, his tail and head scales consequently turning black and the cool dude punk-like smile appearing above him.
"Whatever, even a little Terastallization won't save you now that you've triggered my Weak Armor ability again. Take this!" Ceruledge snapped as he fired Psycho Cut but the attack ended up having no effect on his Terastallized foe. "I-IMPOSSIBLE!"
"It can't be! That Pokemon Frankenstein turned into a Tera Dark Type, Psychic Type attacks such as Psycho Cut can't beat it!" Amethio gritted.
"Exactly! And, now, with you and Ceruledge stuck between a rock and a hard place, your world's about to come tumbling down! Silvally, use Tera Blast!" Sarah finished, having Silvally concentrate his Terastal Energy into one blast.
"WE'RE TAKING YOU DOWN!" Silvally shrieked with a final roar as he fired and Ceruledge tried to block it.
But, it was too late and there was nothing he could do; the Tera Blast hit him and it covered him in an explosion of Terastal Energy and smoke while Amethio stood his ground, managing to keep himself from being blown away.
When the smoke plume cleared, Silvally was the only one left standing as he returned to his original form while Ceruledge laid battered, bruised, and beaten once more, shocking Amethio as he gasped upon his latest failure.
"Do you see it now, Amethio? That's what happens to guys such as you and your Pokemon when you dare trifle with me and my family. And, believe me, me being a Power Ranger should be the least of your worries," Sarah scoffed triumphantly as she held out her right arm to the side and caught her Tera Orb when it returned to her right hand.
Her family smiled proudly at her but Friede, Liko, and Roy were astonished as the latter two remarked (while Sprigatito's jaw dropped and Fuecoco looked at Silvally with his eyes twinkling in awe), "Silvally, he and Sarah..."
"They did it... They beat Amethio and Ceruledge!"
"Yeah! Go, go, Silvally!" Fuecoco cheered for the Synthetic Pokemon.
"Amazing! That's incredible, what kind of Terastal Form is that? I've never seen anything like it, I've got to learn more about it!" breathed Friede as he grinned with excitement over Silvally's Stellar Type Form.
Unfortunately, everyone's excitement over Sarah and Silvally's victory over Amethio and Ceruledge was cut short when Sprigatito hissed and Zirc and his Rhydon appeared on the staircase.
"Hey! Onia! Quick, I found them, over there!" Zirc shouted to Onia.
"The Explorers!"
"Huh?!"
"It's them!" screamed Zap, Splattertail, and Goggles.
"Quick, everyone, out the window!" Friede shouted as he and everybody else were forced to go through the window.
"Let's go!" Roy agreed as they all squeezed out of the window (with Nebby and Nebula darting out as balls of light before returning to their normal forms) and went down a nearby ladder or flew down towards the castle courtyard.
Unfortunately, their escape was halted by Zirc and Onia as they, Rhydon, and Golduck waited for and cut them off from the living quarters and the main doors.
Friede couldn't help but smirk by how persistent they and Amethio were in completing their mission as he snarked, "Well, now, you lot know how to have fun playing Tag with us like you did back at Galar Mine, don't you?"
"Please, stop making this so difficult for us!"
"Nowhere for you and your royal guards to run, squirts. Now, be a good boy and girl and hand over those Pokemon on you. Then, we can all go home happy," Zirc and Onia threatened, the former directing his threat to Liko and Roy.
But, Liko and Roy weren't going to go down without a fight nor lose the Terapagos Four and Sarah and her family to the Explorers as they stepped forward along with their partners and made their stand, "Sprigatito!"
"Fuecoco!"
Friede was surprised by this but he smiled curiously as he quickly stopped Tsukumaro and the rest of the royal family from stepping in, wanting to see how Roy and Liko improved and had gotten stronger as trainers through their training throughout their travels.
"Golduck, use Water Pulse!"
"Rhydon, use Rock Tomb!" Zirc and Onia barked, having Golduck and Rhydon make the first move.
"Dodge it, Fuecoco!"
"Sprigatito, Leafage! Then, use Quick Attack!"
While Fuecoco managed to dodge Rhydon's Rock Tomb, Sprigatito managed to counter Water Pulse before she charged at Golduck and rammed it on the chest with her Quick Attack.
"Now, use lots of Leafage!"
Seeing their chance, and because Onia wasn't fighting with her Skarmory this time, Sprigatito roared, "Game...OVER!"
Golduck (having no response to the Grass Cat Pokemon's assault and being the wrong Pokemon Type) was vulnerable to Sprigatito's Leafage attack as it tried and failed to block the powerful Paldea Grass Starter attack, the Grass Type move being super effective against the evolved Water Type and knocking it out rather quickly.
Onia was horrified by this as she gasped at the sight of her downed partner when it was blown back towards her, "Ah! Oh no, Golduck!"
Zirc growled worriedly, realizing he and Rhydon would need to take out the strongest link between them and their current foes in battle, "That attack was super effective... Well, it won't help unless we shut that little tabby cat down. Rhydon, go for that Sprigatito and give it a Megahorn!"
"Fuecoco, use Stomping Tantrum!" Roy countered as he and Fuecoco stopped Rhydon just in time with the Fire Croc Pokémon stomping the ground and giving the Horn Pokémon a real thrashing with his Ground Type move.
"DYAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" wailed Rhydon in pain before it fell to the ground, knocked out completely.
"Ah, Rhydon!" Zirc balked.
"Argh, no! Two in a row! That Ground Type move was super effective against Rhydon?" Onia cried in anger and humiliation.
With Diana and Lazuli, they and their party faced down Hamber and his Dusknoir as the elderly explorer told her former friend, "Give it up, Hamber, it's all over for you; the pendant that you're desperately seeking has now been lost."
"On the contrary, Diana, I've heard that it had awakened from its slumber the previous day and I've received word as of late that three others like it had been wide awake as well for some time and are currently in the hands of the Alolan Sun Princess and the recent former Hoenn Battle Frontier Champion. That's why my subsidiaries and I are here; we're taking those Pokémon and if we have to eliminate you, the princess, her family, and all those who are connected with her to do so, then so be it," Hamber stated threateningly.
"And, I presume by 'we', you mean the Explorers, the people responsible for removing Lazuli's mother and father from your equation twenty years ago while erasing her memory to take some sort of power she holds within her that you've coveted for your so-called mission. Am I correct?" Diana scoffed.
Hamber was slightly surprised but he went on to mock the pair and their party, "Oh, did I not mention that let alone our killing off Seiya and Mary?"
He then turned to Lazuli as he continued to mock the swordswoman in her face as well as Diana's, "I assume you've filled her in on our time together, Lazuli, did you? How have your parents been, by the way?"
"Better now, especially since they're about to be avenged," Lazuli growled as she tried to charge him only to be held back by Hu, Mistral, Rabbit, Naomi, Stardust, and Snake.
Diana's glare darkened as she glared harder at Hamber and held her right arm out to gently stop Lazuli and push her back with Arcanine growling at the evil butler and sharing her sentiments as she spat at him, "Can't say I like the sound of that with how she and Sarah told me everything; I never dreamt you of all people would sink so low as to help kill a child's parents just to get what you wanted, going so far as to turn her into a child soldier called the Female Battousai for twenty years after kidnapping her and wiping her memories clean. I thought you used to be better than that before you found out about the pendant and became part of all this."
Hamber glared back as he coldly spat, "I was hoping you'd understand compared to most people, especially our traitorous Female Battousai."
"Well, I don't believe you one bit, why are you attacking us? The Explorers were supposed to be Lucius' followers!"
"The fact that you already know that spares me from the time I need to tell you further!"
Before the two could argue any further, they both heard a loud rumble and an explosion that shook the castle from behind Diana and Lazuli on their end.
"What was that?!"
"Somebody else must've broken through to the castle!"
"The princess and her friends!"
"And, her family, too!"
"They might be in danger!" Hare, Mistral, Sydney, Pig, and Ox shouted in alarm.
"Kiddo, Ms. Diana, leave him be and let us proceed to the princess and her party! We must make haste!" Mr. Hu alerted the ladies.
Diana and Lazuli quickly nodded at him and each other as the pair quickly shouted, "Arcanine!"
"Galaxagus!"
"Right!"
Allowing Diana and Lazuli to get on their backs, Galaxagus and Arcanine, joined by the Circle of Twelve, Panthera, Squawkabilly, and Stardust (who jumped onto Panthera's back) made their escape with Naomi throwing an energy sphere that acted as a smoke bomb on the ground in front of Hamber and Dusknoir which exploded and unleashed a small cloud of smoke that blinded them for a bit. Once the smoke started to clear, the butler and his Gripper Pokémon saw that their adversaries were gone.
"Master, the explosion and that rumbling, you think Coral and Sidian have arrived and they couldn't wait anymore?" Dusknoir inquired to his master, knowing where the disturbances came from/who was responsible.
Hamber sighed as he concurred, "Those two; I ordered them to go on standby earlier until I needed them but, as usual, they chose their own time to spring into action. What am I going to do with them?"
Then, his phone rang with a call from Master Gibeon, and wondering why he would be calling him at a time like this, he answered, "Hmm? Master Gibeon..."
Within the castle's halls, after breaking in and entering the place just as Amethio and his crew did, Sidian and Garganacl looked around for their prey. Thankfully, there were no wild Pokémon around for them to attack as Blitz and Curly managed to warn everyone living with Diana about the danger they were in and evacuate them to a safe location away from the crossfire. Thus, no casualties were present as they made their way through.
"Let's route the entire castle. They can't be too far," Sidian suggested to Garganacl.
"Right, lead the way, partner," the Salt Pokémon agreed as they carried on with their search.
Coral, on the other hand, went for a more direct and explosive approach as she came down on her Glalie, telling him, "Hey, Glalie, wanna play a game? I'm sure you remember this once since it's your favorite."
"Oh, yeah. I know. 'Hunt The Pokémon', let's freeze 'em," Glalie smirked in reply.
The freezing air Glalie emitted was soon felt by Sarah and Amethio, the latter snarling in disgust as he realized Hamber, Coral, and Sidian had arrived as well to claim their targets and called Corviknight, "Rrrgh, I should've known he would jump in and they'd follow suit! Go, Corviknight!"
Sarah also felt the same way, realizing that she needed to get back to her family and friends as she breathed, "Glalie? Oh, no... Sidian and Coral, they're finally here; I've got to get back! Silvally, Koraidon!"
Silvally jumped down from the rooftops and Sarah mounted Koraidon as the trio went off to reunite with the rest of their party while Corviknight and Amethio managed to dodge the tower that began to tumble down from behind them. The sound of the side tower Amethio was in front of during his battle with Sarah calling caught the attention of Liko, Roy, and everyone else with them as they realized what had happened.
"What was that?"
"The whole tower's fallen down!" the young trainers breathed in shock before Coral cackled loudly and she and Glalie appeared before them and the others.
"Looks like I found you~! Man, that was way too easy," she sneered before another part of the castle was blown from behind the heroes and Sidian and Garganacl arrived, sandwiching them and blocking their other path of escape.
"Be good now and stay where you are," Sidian warned simply as he, Coral, and their partners edged closer to them.
"Who are-?! What is happening? Are they-?!" Liko breathed in slight fear, realizing it was all over for everyone (even though the royal family prepared to fight back) before a large lightning bolt came down upon the courtyard and revealed itself to be a nourished and battle-ready Cap.
"CAP!" she and Friede gasped in relief as the cool explorer Pikachu landed a Thunderpunch on Glalie.
"GLALIE!" Coral screamed.
"Garganacl!" Sidian ordered, having his partner save Coral's Face Pokémon before Roy saw the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine and smiled.
"YAHOO, here comes the Brave Olivine and Dragon Craft!" he cheered.
"Yeah, the calvary's here!" concurred an excited Fuecoco.
"You cut it close there, Cap, but thanks! Great rescue on your part!" laughed Friede.
"That's just our style, pal," Cap smirked back at his partner.
Ring-Ring-Ring! Ring-Ring-Ring! Ring-Ring-Ring!
"Race, Your Majesties, are you alright?! Thank goodness we found you!"
"Everyone, hurry! Get back to the ship and the Dragon Craft!" Rotom-Dex (from the Dragon Craft's cockpit alongside MK-1) and Murdock called on Liko, Roy, and Friede's Rotom Phones.
"Murdock, Rotom, hey!" Liko chirped happily.
"Hey, kid, don't worry! We're sending Metagross and the others down to you!" Murdock reassured just as Orla's Metagross arrived to pick up Liko and Roy while squared off against Coral's Glalie to buy them time to return to the Brave Olivine.
"Get on board, quickly!" Metagross urged the young trainers.
"Thanks, Metagross. Sprigatito!"
"Fuecoco!" the young trainers smiled as they and their partners (jumping onto their respective partners' shoulders) climbed aboard the Iron Leg Pokemon as fast as they could while Friede brought out his Charizard.
Intrigued by the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft as he looked at them, Sidian eyed Cap as he frowned, "I see... So, you're with them, aren't you?"
"He's not the only one, you know!"
"That's right!" Ash and Pikachu barked as they and the Pokémon School Gang and their partners (the six graduates morphed and with their Poke-X Fury Sabers drawn) along with Sarah and Race's dragons arrived and landed on the ground just as Lazuli, Diana, Squawkabilly, Arcanine, and the Circle of Twelve appeared.
"Hey! Who are you?!" Coral demanded.
The Pokémon School Gang and Ash didn't answer her as they began their roll call, "Thunderbolt Fury, Pikachu Ranger! Ash!"
"Fire Fury, Turtonator Ranger! Kiawe!"
"Grass Fury, Tsareena Ranger! Mallow!"
"Electric Fury, Togedemaru Ranger! Sophocles!"
"Water Fury, Primarina Ranger! Lana!"
"Ice Fury, Vulpix Ranger! Lillie!"
Then, arriving just in the nick of time with Koraidon and Silvally, Sarah jumped off her prehistoric Paradox Pokemon and joined her friends as she did her part, "Solar Fury, Cosmic Solgaleo Ranger! Sarah!"
Coral was shocked as she gasped, "Huh?! WHAT? Oh, no!"
Race, understanding that the time has come for him to morph, readied himself just as Gladion arrived with his own Silvally, Lycanroc, and Umbreon.
"Well, Gladion, you all took your time."
"Better late than never, you ready?"
"You're on," the two bantered with a smirk as the two joined Sarah, Lillie, and their friends and made their stand with them with Race shouting, "It's Morphin Time!"
The pair then activated their Morphers and brought out their Poke-X Keys, morphing into their respective alter-egos as they bellowed, "Link to Morphin Grid, HA!"
Coral and Sidian along with their partners were left speechless as the last two boys morphed to become the last members of their team, completing the roll call as they and the others boomed, "Prideful Fury, Pyroar Ranger! Race!"
"Synthetic Fury, Silvally Ranger! Gladion!"
"Rangers Forever, Defenders Together! Ultra Rescue Power!"
"IT CAN'T BE, THAT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE!" wailed Coral in total shock and disbelief.
"It's true; the princess and her friends along with her husband and the other brat that just joined, they've all morphed into Power Rangers!" Sidian seethed in realization as Sarah and her entire ranger team of nine stepped forward and got into their battle stances.
Realizing that things were going to get ugly, Zirc and Onia made the wise decision to call it a night and retreat with Amethio after returning their partners and bringing out their Skarmory, knowing that they had failed their mission after seeing Coral and Sidian get in the way, "I'm not getting caught up in this!"
"You said it!"
"Go, Skarmory!"
Lazuli laughed, "Scared by the odds stacked against you, chumps?"
Sidian and Coral reeled around in shock after hearing her, and when they did, they found the Female Battousai smirking smugly at them with the Circle of Twelve alongside her, Galaxagus, Panthera, and Stardust (as Timburr, Roggenrola, and Woobat were found by Blitz and Curly and also evacuated with the other wild Pokémon living in Diana's castle).
With the elderly explorer, she and Arcanine looked around their base before they joined the others, seeing that the place had been further ransacked by Sidian and Coral upon their arrival and none of the wild Pokémon to be found, the latter leaving them amazed and realizing that Sarah had something to do with them being safe and sound from the Explorers' attack.
"My, this is a surprise. That Sarah; she never ceased to amaze me with what she could do along with her family," smiled Diana before she sighed at the damage Sidian and Garganacl left in their wake. "Ah, for pity's sake, they really made a mess of this place. But, we're okay."
"That's right," Arcanine agreed.
As Orla's Metagross carried Liko, Roy, the former's Terapagos, Sprigatito, and Fuecoco back to the Brave Olivine with Leon riding his Charizard and Magnolia, Sonia, Yamper, and Ninetales aboard Gale and Haze joining them to help watch over the two children, Sarah, her family, her friends, Friede, Charizard, Eternatus, and Cap along with Lazuli, Galaxagus, Panthera, Stardust, and the Circle of Twelve were left on their own to square off against their powerful foes from the Explorers.
"So, Lazuli... You really are alive, huh?" Sidian hissed quietly, his glare at the swordswoman darkening.
"My family's remnants and I along with my old guardian, Sidian, had been aware that you, Coral, and Chalce would eventually come for us and our new posse after all this time right from the start," Lazuli snorted.
"AAARUGH! I should've known you'd be spilling our secrets to those fools under the guise of being dead after bailing on us, traitor!" Coral raged in fury.
Lazuli shook her head as she joined Cap and the Ultra Rescue Rangers and retorted, "You gave up on me throughout the last four months after I flew off of your radars which was your first mistake with me. Besides, I knew I was disposable by Gibeon the moment you all got what you thought you wanted and left me for dead. You were once jealous of me throughout my years of service because I was the best warrior and operative among our ranks since I've accomplished my missions given to me by Gibeon without fail compared to you all before he threw me out after I completed my final objective involving the kid and her husband. You all and Hamber wanted to play that game with me? Well, turnabout is fair play, is it not?"
"HA! You're too blunt and snarky, that pint-sized rat's too small, and your so-called 'friends' are too pesky to talk big and you all made me so unbelievably cranky...YOU ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU RATTED US ALL OUT, BATTOUSAI! I'M GONNA KNOCK YOU DOWN SO HARD AND MAKE YOU BEG FOR MERCY THAT YOU'LL WISH YOU WERE DEAD! GLALIE, USE BLIZZARD!"
"Split up!" the Female Battousai shouted to the others with her, allowing the rangers, their Pokémon, the dragons, and Cap to dodge Glalie's Blizzard as the Ice Type attack made its way to Garganacl and Sidian.
"Garganacl, use Wide Guard!" Sidian barked, having his partner defend them with Wide Guard to block the Blizzard attack and ready themselves to strike the heroes down. "Now, take them down!"
"Up here, Cap! Sarah, Lazuli, go!" Friede called as he and Charizard went for Cap to plan a power assault from an unexpected direction.
"Right! Hey, kid!" Lazuli shouted to Sarah.
Sarah nodded before she gave her team and her family her orders, "Gladion, Race, Ash, Sophocles, Lazuli you guys go and tango with Coral and Glalie and keep them off our backs! Mallow, Lana, and Lillie, with me; we'll take on Sidian and Garganacl and keep them from putting up their defenses! The rest of you, ready yourselves for when I need you!"
"You ladies have fun dancing with Mr. Salt and Mr. Spice over there! I'm gonna hook up with your males and Ms. Toothpick Killer and clobber the Ice Runt Queen and Mr. Freeze with her!" Eternatus replied as he went to join Lazuli, Ash, Gladion, Sophocles, and Kiawe.
"Out of my way! Glalie, use Blizzard again!" Coral snapped as her Glalie fired his Blizzard a second time which was countered by Galaxagus, Pyroar, and Turtonator unleashing a Triple Flamethrower that burned away at the Ice Type attack, allowing Pikachu, Vikavolt, and Togedemaru to strike the Face Pokémon with Discharge, Zing Zap, and Iron Tail while Ash, Kiawe, and Sophocles attacked him and Coral in turn with their Poke-X Sabers while Lazuli and Gladion joined in with their swords (with Kiawe lending latter his Magnum Sword) while they fought back.
"You power pests are starting to bug me!" the energetic top agent snapped at them, not finding the fight to be fun at all as she and Glalie dodged, blocked their attacks, parried their blows, and fought back for their lives, especially when Race came in with his Bio Lion Talon in his right hand and his Beast-X Pyroar Fang held in his left hand and he, Bella, and Robbie wailed on them.
"Garganacl, defend yourself with Wide Guard!" Sidian called, pointing his partner toward Lillie, Sarah, Lana, and Mallow along with their Pokemon (including Silvally and Koraidon) as they charged at them, allowing Garganacl to defend himself with Wide Guard.
"Iron Boulder, use Gouging Fire! Shut down Garganacl's Wide Guard!" Sarah bellowed, allowing Entei's paradox ancestor to charge at the Salt Pokémon's Wide Guard first and shatter it, allowing the girls, Snowy, Tsareena, Primaina, Sandy, Shaymin, Silvally, and Koraidon to wail on him and Sidian as they fought hard without hesitation and not wanting to give them a chance to counter.
"Had enough?" Sarah barked at Sidian.
"Not likely! Garganacl, show the princess what you can do! Use Salt Cure!" Sidian huffed in reply.
"Sarah, Friede, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ash called out to Sarah and the unconventional professor, knowing how to put Garganacl down.
"I think we're gonna need speed for this one!" nodded Sarah in agreement.
"Just what I was thinking!" smirked Friede.
"Hey, Mom!" Blitz shouted as he and Curly reappeared.
"We did it, all of the Pokémon living in Diana's castle are out of here safely!" smiled Curly.
"Great work, you two! Blitz, you mind giving us a boost with your speed here?" the little princess grinned.
"You want speed, I'm your Pikachu! Let's fly, Cap, Pikachu!" Blitz grinned back, having Cap and Pikachu join him.
"Yeah, let's get him!"
"Better keep up if you don't want him salting you, kids!" Pikachu and Cap replied, sharing Blitz's determination and enthusiasm with the latter smirking at his fellow Electric Types just as Garganacl prepared to use Salt Cure.
"Here it comes!"
"Now!"
"Let's go!"
"Use Triple Volt Tackle!" Upon Sarah, Friede, and Ash's orders, Pikachu, Blitz, and Cap made a break around the castle walls as they used Volt Tackle, dodging Garganacl's Salt Cure attack as the Rock Salt Pokémon fired at them.
With battle cries from all of them and once he was in their sights, they darted through the courtyard at a trio blinding speed and flashes before they rammed into the evil Rock Type. Garganacl did his best to defend against the three Mouse Pokémon pushing against him but their combined strength and electrical power overwhelmed him and sent him flying back to the castle wall behind him much to Coral and Sidian's astonishment.
Realizing they had been outwitted and beaten by three Pikachu, Coral screamed as she let out a giant tantrum, "YOU ARE ALL RUINING MY FUN! GLALIE, LET'S END THEM WITH A BANG!"
"No! Don't do it, Coral!" Sidian gasped in horror, realizing what Coral and Glalie were about to do.
"Cap/Pikachu/Blitz!" Friede, Ash, and Sarah cried as they rushed over to the three male Mouse Pokémon.
"GLALIE, USE SELF-DESTRUCT! FULL POOOOOWEEEEEEEEEEEEER!"
"Self-Destruct?!"
"She's gonna blow us AND herself and her crewmates up!"
"She's nuts!"
"We've got to get out of here!"
"But, how?!" the Pokémon School Gang gawked in alarm as Coral jumped off her partner.
However, a quick exit would come but at the hands, hooves, paws, and claws of the Jungle Guard and Spectrier with the Swift Horse Pokémon and Spookeon (being safe from Self-Destruct doesn't have an effect on Ghost Types such as them) bucked and head-butted Glalie away just as it prepared to use the attack. Then, with great speed, agility, teamwork, and lightning-fast reflexes, Tai Lung, his friends, Guardeon, and his family played a game of Hot Potato with Glalie as the "potato", slapping, head-butting, kicking, and whacking the Face Pokémon to each other (much to Coral's shock and horror as she and Sidian helplessly watched the former's supposed big bang backfire) before Spookeon met up with the evil Ice Type and set his sights on the two powerful Explorers and the downed Garganacl.
"Whoever owns this castle, please forgive me, my friends, and my family for doing this to your castle. I'm so sorry!" he whispered hurriedly, praying that Diana (should he, his family, and the Jungle Guard meet him eventually meet her and Arcanine) would forgive him for the damage he would do to her castle base with his final strike as he headbutted Glalie (who was ready to use Self-Destruct by now) as he shouted, "FOOOOOOOOORE!"
At that moment, when Spookeon rammed the now-panicked and screaming Glalie to the terrified Coral and Sidian, Guardeon screamed, "NOW!"
In response, Sarah's reunited dragons all darted forward along with Nebby and Nebula and two hidden balls of light just as Glalie had hit Coral and Sidian's spot thanks to Spookeon and he blew up through Self-Destruct, covering the entire courtyard in a giant cloud of smoke.
"FRIEDE, SARAH!"
"CAP, EVERYONE!" Liko and Roy wailed.
For a moment, watching from Metagross, Liko, her Terapagos, Roy, Fuecoco, and Sprigatito feared the worst as they couldn't see their friends from the smoke left behind by the powerful blast of Glalie's Self-Destruct gone wrong. But then, as if by some sort of miracle, the heroes they feared to have died in the blast emerged from the smoke, all of them hollering excitedly as they all rode on Sarah's dragons along with Race's, and in particular, with Sarah, Blitz, and Curly on Winter, Race, Gladion, Umbreon (with his Silvally and Lycanroc riding on Camo), Bella, and Robbie on Bolt, and Eternatus carrying Magnolia, Leon, and Sonia. Cap, on the other hand, was safely on Friede's shoulder with both riding on Charizard, all of them and the others having escaped with the others thanks to the Jungle Guard, Spectrier, and Spookeon.
"We sure like cutting it close, don't we?" Friede joked to his partner.
"That's for sure, pal," Cap nodded, smirking triumphantly.
"Yeah, we got them!"
"We won!"
"In your faces, Explorers!"
"Score one for the Power Rangers, Spectrier, and the Jungle Guard!"
"Spookeon, too!" Ash, Pikachu, Kiawe, Mallow, and Lana cheered.
"They didn't know what hit 'em that time!"
"They'll be feeling that in the morning, Sis!" laughed Togedemaru and Vikavolt.
"But, let's not put our lives on the line by a single thread like that again, okay?" Lazuli panted as she rode on Galaxagus with Stardust on her shoulder and the Circle of Twelve flying alongside her from both sides (with Mr. Hu carrying Panthera) and she then noticed the two balls of light keeping close to her. "It was you two; you helped us get out of that blast safely, didn't you?"
The balls didn't answer but they blinked on and on rapidly as if to tell her that they did have a part in rescuing her and her friends, making her smile as she whispered, "Thank you."
"They made it out, thank goodness!" Roy sighed with relief.
"What about Grandma?" Liko asked, worried about Diana.
Naturally, after seeing her friends narrowly escape the blast with their lives, Liko would be worried for her grandmother and had good reason to think she didn't escape from the blast. However, her fears were thankfully unfounded as everyone looked in astonishment to find Diana on Arcanine, the large Legendary Pokémon jumping from the smoke plume and landing on the Brave Olivine's Wing Deck (which also, thankfully, didn't have its barrier up at that time).
"Amazing...!" Liko breathed, feeling everyone's astonishment at her grandmother.
"Now, that is one cool lady."
"A real spunky child at heart for her age," Friede and Cap smiled, their admiration for Diana growing.
Morning came and it was now July 16th; after reuniting with everyone else aboard the Brave Olivne and the Dragon Craft, the heroes departed from Hammerlocke now that they dealt the Explorers a serious blow to their plans at the moment. With Coral and Sidian, despite being battered and bruised and their partners completely conked out from Glalie's Self-Destruct backfiring on them, they stood and sat amidst the rubble as they watched the two aircraft leave the city's outskirts for another part of Galar or another region to get away from them, Hamber, Onia, Zirc, and Amethio.
"Aww, they skedaddled and we were so close after striking the iron while it was still hot," Coral whined despite keeping to her carefree and energetic manner.
"I can see that but at least we know what they're all capable of; the Power Rangers Ultra Rescue does worry me given that we're dealing with nine rangers instead of the usual five or six let alone the rare combinations of 7-10. All of them were formidable in their own right but the princess was still the most powerful of them all, we weren't prepared for her unpredictability with what she pulled but we got an inkling of what to expect even if it was not much to go on. However, you went a little overboard and got us punked there," Sidian scolded his young colleague.
But, Coral didn't care as she smirked at him, "I had three pint-sized problems in front of me when your Garganacl got whomped by them and I tried to solve them. Hey, shouldn't our ride be here?"
Sidian just groaned at her; he wondered how he had ever managed to deal with Coral and her excessive demeanor during his time with the Explorers since he joined forces with them. With Onia and Zirc after reuniting with them, however, Amethio looked out into the distance; after his latest defeat by Sarah's hands thanks to her unpredictability, he was left fuming and conflicted for he realized he was way out of his league with her.
As the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine continued to leave Hammerlocke behind, whilst Sarah and her group decided to take the day off and rest up after such a hectic night, Liko was with Friede, Diana, Cap, Sprigatito, and her Terapagos in the latter's observation deck. When her grandmother showed her what she had taken during the heroes' escape, she was shown the book containing Lucius' records of his entire journey with his family/friends.
"So, this... This is, Lucius' journal, full of all his actual records?" she gasped in awe at the worn-out journal in her hands.
Diana nodded as she opened the book and began to read what the Ancient Adventurer wrote in it, starting with Lucius' foreword, "Adventure is calling, just waiting...just waiting for you to go and find it. This world has so much beauty, joy, and excitement to offer. And, you will discover this world is filled with Pokémon. Your future awaits."
Her grandmother smiled as she then told Liko, "Lucius' adventures written in this very journal have become the stuff of legends but you know that. I happened to believe they are the stuff of history including the surprising detail about his life and marriage with your new friend, Marena."
Liko smiled back, nodding as she replied, "I believe that, too, Grandma. Just like Sarah and her family along with Marena, I really do."
"I'm so happy to hear you say that, Liko. If that's what you really believe, and if Lakua can be found, then you must seek out the rest of the Six Heroes."
"Seek out the Six Heroes?"
"Yes. The Terastal Shiny Rayquaza, Arboliva, Galarian Moltres, Lapras, Kleavor, and the descendant of Sarah's Gourging Fire: Entei," Diana nodded as she revealed exactly who the Six Heroes were. "These six Pokémon are Lucius' partners and his and Marena's family; and apart from Arboliva, Moltres, and Rayquaza, since Marena separated them, Kleavor, Entei, and Lapras for their own protection, nobody knows what happened to them apart from her."
Friede and Cap smiled, excited over the prospect of the mystery of the Six Heroes looming over everyone, "Every new step we take gets more and more fascinating; this is the stuff adventures are made of."
"And, that's what we live for."
"Hey, Friede? I hate to rain on your parade but we'll be moving to the Crown Tundra in the Galar Region's southern territory to lay low for the time being," Mollie interrupted as she appeared to give them some news.
"The Crown Tundra? Calyrex's old home?" Liko echoed curiously.
Mollie nodded as she replied, "After what happened with Coral and Sidian when they gave you all grief, and since this Hamber character Lazuli mentioned tried to stir up trouble, we didn't want to take any chances until we're finally in the clear."
"Interesting... I've been meaning to find out more about that winter wonderland for some time now," Friede pondered, looking intrigued before he eyed Cap and asked him, "Well, Cap, there's a lot of mysteries the Crown Tundra as a whole has for all of us to solve and we'll need a break before we continue with our adventures so we can keep the Explorers off our tail. What do you say, up for a snowy surprise or two up there?"
Cap thought for a moment over everything that went down and what the Crown Tundra would offer before he smirked and replied, "Let's."
But, despite things going smoothly for the heroes again, what they didn't know was that in the shadows, the Explorers had a hidden agenda of theirs already in the making. After returning to HQ with Sidian, Coral, Amethio, Onia, and Zirc, Hamber made his report to Master Gibeon and told him everything that went down in full detail.
As he finished, he smirked darkly and coldly with a small but sly hint of satisfaction, "It appears our mission is becoming ever closer to completion, Master."
Master Gibeon hummed thoughtfully as he replied, "My wish, finally... Soon, everything will be in place... Soon..."
To Be Continued...