Liko - We heard stories from sailors about a Lapras using its song to rescue ships lost in something called the White Mist. However, when we decided to investigate the situation, something strange happened while we were at sea. When Cap, Pikachu, and Blitz cleared the fog, we saw a group of Pokémon acting as pirates and among them, acting as their leader: Lucius and Marena's Lapras!
Picking up from where we last left off, after he demonstrated his hidden ferocity to the heroes, Lucius' Lapras stared coldly at Marena, Liko, and Sarah (all of whom were still in their respective places from the previous episode) before Liko's Terapagos babbled to get its attention. The ancient and scarred Transport Pokémon took notice of the baby Tera Pokémon and the other three like it who were standing with Marena and Lazuli.
"You..." Lapras hissed quietly, shimmering in a blue light that resonated with Liko's Terapagos's headpiece while it babbled happily at him.
"It's true, you are Lucius and Marena's Lapras!" Liko gasped in delight only for Lapras to turn away, feeling hesitant (especially after seeing Terapagos and Marena (whose eyes started to well up with tears of remorse) as he struggled with his emotions).
"You alright, Boss...?" asked the scarred Wailord, wondering what he and their comrades should do and if something was bothering their leader as they stared at him in concern.
"I'm fine, Wailord. All of you, don't mind me, remember the mission! Now, go!" Lapras reassured as he came to his pirate crew before having them carry on their duty.
"Yes, Sir!" the Pirate Pokémon agreed as they joined Ambipom and Toedscruel while Ash, Gladion, the Pokémon School Gang, and their partners readied themselves for a fight.
"What?!" Liko cried as she, Roy, their partners, and Terapagos looked on, aghast.
"Here they come, guys!"
"They're preparing to attack!"
"Get ready!" Kiawe, Asha, and Gladion warned as they and the others drew their respective weapons.
"Don't forget about us!" Ash (armed with his Pikachu Saber) called as he, Pikachu, Blitz, and Sarah (with Cosmic Grace at the ready) reunited with their friends and prepared for battle.
"You got some nerve coming back here with reinforcements and your head cheese waiting in the wing! But, let me warn you that this is a personal matter between us and a certain Pokémon among you! Don't force us to fight if you know what's good for you!" Sarah warned as she pointed the Sun Sword at the Pokémon Pirates.
"Trust us, girlfriend, we may not be much to you all but we're not the Lapras Pirates for nothing in these parts! Our leader rules this chasm of water and we'll follow him no matter what happens to us!"
"Whatever business you have with him, you'll have to get past us first. If you can beat us, we shall see if you're worthy of his time. But, fail and you call it quits, our boss will decline your offer and we'll be on our way with your cargo," Ambipom and Toedscruel retorted, unfazed by Sarah's warning.
"He's right!"
"They're both right!"
"Let's see what you're made of!"
"We'll let the boss decide the outcome!"
"Give us your best shot until his next call!" agreed Slowbro, Clawitzer, Octillery, Barbarcle, and Mandibuzz as they and their fellow pirates felt unwavering in their and Lapras' resolve.
"Alright, we'll take you on and then you and your leader will listen to what Sarah and our friends have to say!" replied Astrid as Stormfly, Skystorm, and Flystorm readied their tail spines and Sarah, Race, and Asha's Uva Academy classmates jumped in and brought out their respective partners (with Nemona going with Rosie's brother for the battle before them).
"Chansey!"
"Go get 'em, Rockruff!" Mollie and Murdock called, sending out their partners as they prepared to fight only to be frightened by Vigoroth and Slowbro as they unleashed their shared Intimidation ability which prevented them both from fighting the newly-dubbed Lapras Pirates.
"Come on!"
"Step up if you two got the guts as the rest do!" Vigoroth and Slowbro smirked tauntingly, enjoying making Chansey and Rockruff panic from their Intimidation Ability.
"Hold it! We're taking you all on, too!"
"You're going down!" Roy and Fuecoco snapped, ready to hand the Lapras Pirates a dose of payback for earlier.
"We're fighting too, Sprigatito!"
"Let's get 'em!" added Liko and Sprigatito as they joined in.
(Opening)
Now, head forth! Pierce through the clouds~
(Our opening for Part 2 of Pokémon Horizons (i.e. The Gleam of Terapagos) begins with Liko, Sarah, and Race in a triangle formation (Liko up top, Race from the bottom right-hand corner from her left, and Sarah from the bottom left-hand corner on her right) as their pendant and Terapagos Three shone in darkness before the former turned into Liko's Terapagos)
(We swiftly pan across the oceans akin to the beginning of the opening of Attack on Titan S4 Pt. 2 (The Rumbling by SIM) before stopping amongst the horizon as the titles for Pokémon Horizons: The Gleam of Terapagos appeared amidst a sunset/sunrise)
When I remember the words I couldn't say
I dove down to hide myself
Swimming my way through in uncertainty
I cut through the clouds and head for the blue sky
(We see a young Liko walking with her parents through a marketplace before we see her as she is, her uncertainty lifted as she holds and looks at her pendant underneath a moonlit sky from the rooftop of her family's house along with Sarah as she enjoyed her life in Alola growing up before she is shown holding her family's Sun Sword in its powered-down form as the young woman she is and held it above her head underneath the Alolan sun in a split-screen sequence. Then, in a flurry of Leafage and cosmic energy, we see the pair with their three Terapagos, Sprigatito, Hatenna, Blitz, Curly, and Silvally enjoying the breeze together on the observation decks of the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft)
One day, I'll look back
At that fiery red sunset
And burn it all into memory
(A young Roy is shown being fascinated by stories his grandfather was showing him until we see him as the boy he is (looking dirty all over and wearing the Brave Olivine's flag like a cape) eyeing the Ancient Pokeball that once held Lucius' Rayquaza in his right hand and raising it high above him in the rising or setting sun while Race is seen being found by Brandon, enjoying life with him and the other Frontier Brains, and being the man he is now as he eyed the camera and held a Pokeball in front of him while glaring at the camera in the same split-screen sequence before they're shown via Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, and Thunder watching the sunset on the Brave Olivine's Wing Deck and the Dragon craft's sun deck watching the sunset with Bella, Robbie, Tou-Tou, Wattrel, and Fuecoco)
Even if I can't reach the truth of the world~
Or the feelings of that girl~
It's okay to not understand~
Just shine like a rainbow~
(We are shown their friends and Sarah's family including a few of their Pokémon in five/six slot group sequences as follows: Friede, Orla, Mollie, Dot, Ludlow, and Murdock with Charizard, Metagross and Elekid, Chansey, Quaxly, Rockruff and Alcremie, and Quagsire; Burnet (with the cute addition of Lei) and Kukui with Munchlax, Incineroar, and Braviary joined by Diane, James, Nikki, and Johnathan with Romeo, Dragonite, Lucario, Clover, Catnip, Juliet, and Clover; Ash, Lana, Mallow, Kiawe, Lillie, and Sophocles with their respective partners; and Delilah, Doug, Donna (former queen), David, Asha, and Gladion with Mischief, Persian, the Tomoe Squad, Flicker, Flicka, June, Proud, Ziracon, Umbreon, Silvally, and Lycanroc; Goh, Nemona, Arven, Penny, and Team Star with Meowscarda, Pawmo, Killowattrel, Cinderace, Inteleon, Grookey, Mabostiff, the Eevees, Bisharp, Torkoal, Skuntank, Revavroom, Azumarill, Wigglytuff, Passimian, and Toxicroak; and the Blueberry Academy students with Hydrapple, Mightyena, Toucannon, Magmortor, Empoleon, Reuniclus, Whimsicott, Granbull, Flygon, and Haxorus)
(We see a smirking Cap from the Brave Olivine's bridge and Friede taking the wheel along with MK-1 on the Dragon Craft's Bridge at its controls with an eager bark, the three of them preparing to take everyone aboard their respective ships to new heights and continue discovering all the world has to offer among the horizons)
Now, head forth! Pierce through the clouds~
Stumbling, staggering~
Standing firm and reaching farther~
Now, run forth! Towards my future~
(In the horizons, with the heroes riding their respective ships, they dash forward with Lucius' Rayquaza roaring and flying alongside them before Liko, Roy, Dot, Murdock, and Ludlow are shown with their partners stumbling, running, or sliding along Rayquaza's body with Mollie, Chansey, and Orla following on Metagross and Sarah and Race tailing their new friends aboard Bolt and Winter with the rest of their family joining them before Marena and Stormcloud joined them. Meanwhile, Amethio is shown training with his Ceruledge and Corviknight with the former forced back by the latter and their master staggering to the floor and sitting on his ass from the intensity of the training battle. As his partners sparred, he gritted his teeth and tugged his shirt, feeling unsatisfied about the current progress he was making and wanting to do more to improve themselves and himself on something while Hamber and Dusknoir watched on)
At the end of this long, long journey
I'll remember you
One day, we'll shake hands
And laugh
(Lucca, Diana, and Liko were seen together with the final Terapagos in the young girl's arms who cried out and unleashed an energy wave, showing Moltres, Arboliva, and Rayquaza with the second half of the Six Heroes: Entei, Lapras, and Kleavor, in small bursts along with Lucius and Liko's Terapagos, before Sarah, Race, Liko, their Terapagos Four, Sprigatito, Rosie, Chili, Crest, Silvally, Tou-Tou, Robbie, and Bella along with a tearful Marena come across Lucius on a cliff point before they joined the Ancient Adventurer on his current spot)
A light appeared
At the end of the rainbow
And I found my dream
(We see the Explorers in short bursts along with a Tera Orb in Sarah's hand, Lucius' gear and records, one of the Terapagos Four in Stellar Form, and someone reaching out in between the heroes looking out to the horizon and the sun in the heavens before Sarah, Liko, Marena, and Race are seen face to face with the Six Heroes as the opening ends)
(End Theme Song)
"Sprigatito, use Leafage!"
"Fuecoco, Ember, go!" Liko and Roy shouted, attacking Ambipom and Toedscruel before they could make off with the Pokémon food.
"Don't let them escape!" Lapras countered, having the rest of his fellow pirates prepare to join Slowbro, Vigoroth, Ambipom, Barbarcle, and Octillery onboard the Brave Olivine.
"What'll we do now?! There's too many for us to take on alone!" Liko gulped fearfully as the Rising Volt Tacklers had no countered against the Lapras Pirates before Ambipom and Toedscruel struck first to egg the heroes on again, using Focus Punch and Rapid Spin as they charged at them.
"Look out!" Marena cried in alarm as she brandished her staff and blocked Ambipom and Toedscruel's blows before pushing them back. "Back off!"
Lapras noticed Marena and was surprised to see her fight but he was not going to take it lying down as he issued his next order, eyeing the Power Rangers, Asha, and the little princess, "Take care of the armed ones, don't worry about the small fry!"
"Check!" the Lapras Pirates grinned as they came over to Sarah, her friends, Race, and Asha, going on the offensive as they clashed with the Power Rangers Ultra Rescue and Nikki and James' daughter.
Seeing this, the heroes in question were forced to clash with Slowbro, Vigoroth, Ambipom, Barbarcle, and Octillery along with their fellow pirates joining them and even Marena found herself in combat with Vigoroth and Barbarcle as she traded blows with them while making sure they didn't get the drop on her.
"Oh, no! Sarah!"
"Guys!"
"What the-?!"
"Look out!" Liko, Roy, Mollie, and Murdock gasped in alarm as they and the others were bypassed in favor of Asha and the Ultra Rescue Rangers, watching them being forced to take the brunt of the assault thrown at them by the Lapras Pirates.
"This is bad, it looks like Lapras has got his sights set on our buddies since they posed more of a threat in his eyes!"
"And, that means trouble!" Arven and Mabostiff noted, gritting their teeth worriedly.
"We've got to do something before they're taken out of the picture and they make off with our food as they did with the other ships they hijacked!" Nemona called.
"How are we gonna do that, partner?" Meowscarada quizzed, feeling useless as he saw Lapras and the other Lapras Pirates in the ocean gazing at them with cold yet calculating eyes. "That floating Jolly Roger and his motley crew won't let us leave peacefully."
"We've got to do something!" reminded Sylveon as they watched the Lapras Pirates give the Power Rangers and Asha grief before the Ultra Rescue team was forced to escalate the battle with how much trouble they were in.
"Let's ranger up! We can't have them ambush the others for leverage and make off with our food!" Sarah shouted to her friends.
"Right!" Ash, Gladion, Race, and the others agreed as they and their leader brought out their respective morphers.
"It's Morphin Time! Cosmic Orb: Solgaleo Sphere!"
"Poke-X Fury Keys, Activate!"
"Link to Morphin Grid, HA!"
While Ash, Gladion, Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, Lillie, Race, and Kiawe morphed back into their respective Power Ranger alter-egos, Sarah transformed into the Cosmic Solgaleo Ranger again. Drawing their sabers, the Bio Lion Talon, and the Solgaleo Fire Saber, they were able to push back against the Lapras Pirates fighting against them (who, along with Lapras, were all shocked by the fact they could morph into a superhuman fighting force and effectively match them based on combat and more).
Of course, they had a somewhat easier time with Marena, Lazuli, and Asha as they had their staff, sword, and Prism Shooter (in Knight Mode) and had no superpowers, unlike the others, causing them to take some hits in while they held their own.
Seeing this, while he and the others knew Marena could handle herself as she fought whoever was coming at her (with the same being said for Lazuli as she gave the Lapras Pirates a run for their money on her end), Kiawe became worried for Asha after she got hit by Vigoroth, making him call out to her, "Asha, hurry! Get out of here, you need to run for it!"
But, while she was getting rag-dolled by the Lapras Pirates despite her combat prowess, Asha refused to retreat and leave her sister, her brother-in-law, and their friends to fend them off as she retorted (while using everything in her to defend herself, protect everyone with them, and fight back against her powerful foes), "Kiawe, if you think a girl such as me can't do much without any ranger powers with only a few weapons and martial arts to back me up whenever I'm forced into a corner, you're damn wrong! With everything Rajhu taught me after I was reincarnated while I lived with him for the last seventeen years, I can take hundreds upon thousands of heavy hitters from even professional Pokémon Pirates such as these jokers and live to tell the tale, as many as it takes! So, leave me be! You and others focus on protecting the others on your end and I'll do the same here!"
The battle continued for several tense minutes but eventually, when the Lapras Pirates got their footing again and started to corner the Power Rangers, Lazuli, Marena, and Asha, they were stopped by Lazuli and Dot's Featherhides as they appeared in front of the heroes, glaring at them.
"You?!"
"What are you two doing here?" the swordswoman and Murdock blinked at them before the two dragons let out a sonic scream that caused the Lapras Pirates to yell loudly and cry out in pain, surprising the heroes.
"What's that?!"
"The Pokémon Pirates stopped when they screamed!"
"Yeah, and they're not hurting us!" Mollie, Liko, and Roy gasped as the trio realized they and the others along with their Partner Pokémon weren't affected by the Featherhides' screams.
"How about that? The old Featherhide Sonic Scream, that never gets old when used against crooks and pirates such as them!" laughed Race, seeing what Dot and Lazuli's dragons had done just as Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion, Keldeo, Suicune, Lapis, Jakanee, and Link came between the two parties along with Friede, Cap, Charizard, Diana, and Arcanine.
The Lapras Pirates were shocked and backed away from the Legendaries, their distant ancestor from another time, Jakanee, Friede, Diana, their partners, and Lapis, and were even more astonished to see Hiccup and his friends onboard their dragons (with their Partner Pokémon beside them) arriving from above with Sarah, Blitz, and Curly joining them aboard Shadow and Winter. Even the Circle of Twelve jumped in to stop them and Lapras (since the ancient Transport Pokémon was resistant to the Featherhides' screams through his iron will and cold heart) from causing trouble.
"I wouldn't touch my apprentice, her family, and our friends if we were you," Hu warned as the Lapras Pirates started at him and his fellow Zodiacs along with Jakanee and the Dragons of Berk along with the little princess and Race's dragons in shock.
Lapras narrowed his eyes at the heroes, his resolve not wavering despite the odds against him and his crew. But, when the ancient Transport Pokémon finally turned to Marena and got a good hard look at his master's husband (who glared at his pirate crew before she eventually looked at him (her eyes softening with a transparent glint of remorse once they made eye contact with each other)), he couldn't help but gasp in shock. He thought he was seeing things as he blinked, hoping she would vanish like a bad dream. But, she didn't, she was here...
"Marena...?"
Hearing his voice, Marena finally relaxed and looked at Lapras, still feeling guilty for her previous actions and her choice to protect him and the rest of the Six Heroes as she did.
"Lapras... Hi, it's been too long. I've missed you, you sure have fared well...better than most despite the battle scars, I might add," she replied with a sad smile.
But, Lapras coldly turned away from her, obviously mad at his master's wife for abandoning him for reasons only known to him as he scoffed, "...And you're not?"
Marena continued to smile sadly, expecting such treatment from him as she added, "...I know you're angry and you have every right to hate me for what I did but you must trust me that I did what I had to do because I love you all."
But, the ancient Transport Pokemon ignored her and said nothing. Seeing the animosity being thrown at her human advisor by him, Sarah relaxed herself and demorphed before sheathing Cosmic Grace, wanting to talk with him on Marena's behalf before he shut himself from her completely.
"Lapras, please, listen to me! We don't have to fight, we just wanted to talk with you. What would you gain by doing all of this and closing your heart to Marena? What makes you and your crew any better than who somehow hurt you all? And, before you say it, it's not Marena and Lucius," the little princess began.
"There's nothing left to say. You humans have no idea of the pain I went through ever since I was cast aside by the ones I trusted the most back then. How could you understand what I've been through?" Lapras continued, remaining as cold-hearted as ever as he glared at Sarah and the others.
"Your scars... I know that you've been through a lot from them, my husband also knows... He saw your Wailord friend in the same condition when he told me he saw him leaving the Brave Olivine the first time after Ambipom and Toedscruel boarded without warning..."
"...You, what do you know?"
Liko's Terapagos babbled at Lapras with Larmina, Topaz, and Garnet joining in, getting his attention again as he showed another touch of hesitation. He was unsure of what to say until Sarah spoke to him again.
"I'm not sure how you and Wailord got those scars and I don't know how you built up your crew but I'd have to hazard a guess in that you had your fair share of encounters with hunters and bad trainers, correct? I get why you're mad at Lucius and Marena but you have to know they did it for a reason. You're trying to survive and help your friends here deal with their plight by stealing the cargo passing ships carry... I saw it for myself; my Eevee Squad did the same after they were abused and abandoned by humans before I saved them. But, must know that not all humans are like those bad apples, there are still some people who care. Marena and Lucius felt the same about you and the rest of the Six Heroes!"
"You say that they still care about me and the others but where are they now? Where were those two when we needed them the most? How could they do this to us, to me? After everything we've been through, how can you stand here before me and tell me that they still have a heart to care when they didn't even come to us beforehand? How are they any different from the humans my crew and I had encountered and come across before you fools came along?!" Lapras ranted furiously, gritting his teeth.
Nobody knew what to say until he decided it was time for him and his crew to leave, "Crew, let's go! We're leaving this motley bunch of misfits!"
"Lapras, wait! You don't understand, I'm telling you the truth!" Sarah pleaded as everyone watched on, aghast at what Lapras and his crew were doing before she made make another gamble. "Wait, Lapras, I can help you understand! Take me with you!"
The Rising Volt Tacklers and Diana were shocked over the idea but the others stood by, knowing she was making herself a hostage to try and help Lapras open his heart.
The others didn't have any objections to this, trusting Sarah to do what she must to show Lapras the goodness of humanity and give him kindness, thinking he would better understand Marena and Lucius' plan to save them with a clear and calm mind and a new perspective on humanity as a whole.
"Very well. Vigoroth, Slowbro, Toedscruel, Ambipom, bring the prisoner! he told the Long Arm, Woodner, Wild Monkey, and Galarian Hermit Crab Pokemon.
"Yes!" the four Pokemon nodded as they boarded the Brave Olivine again and walked over to Sarah.
"Oh no, you don't! Hang on, Sarah!" Fuecoco growled as he charged at the four pirates.
"Fuecoco, don't!" Roy shouted in alarm just as the female Jellicent intercepted and knocked him back, allowing Ambipom, Vigoroth, Toedscruel, and Slowbro to apprehend the little princess and take her aboard Wailord while the others stood back.
"Come, everyone! We are returning home! Keep an eye on the girl until we get there!"
"YEAH!" cheered the Lapras Pirates as they held their "royal prisoner" at bay and made their way to what Lapras called "home".
"Be careful, Mom!"
"You better come out of this mess alive when we get ya back, ya hear, kid?!" shouted Blitz and Lazuli to Sarah.
"Marena, Race, guys, take care of the Rising Volt Tacklers and Lazuli along with everyone else and my family until I've calmed Lapras down and told him everything! I'm depending on you!" Sarah called back as she and her "captors" started to disappear into the horizon.
"No, wait! Lapras!"
"Come back, old friend! Liko and Terapagos screamed, watching in vain as the Lapras Pirates got farther away.
"After them, quick!" Friede shouted to everyone, not wanting anything to happen to Sarah or lose track of the escaping Lapras Pirates.
"Right!" everyone else replied despite Ash, Marena, and the others on their end still placing their hopes and trust in Sarah to help Lapras see the good in humanity and better understand the truth.
With Ludlow still at the helm of his old ship and everyone else gathered in the Brave Olivine and Dragon Craft's bridges (while Orla remained in the engine room and MK-1 continued to follow the Rising Volt Tacklers, keeping his eye on the Lapras Pirates and his "captured" human as he did so), they began to go over everything that happened and what they just learned about their "intruders" and the Ancient Pokémon of the hour.
"Hmm, looks like Sarah, Eri, and Race were right on the money; those crafty pirates pulled a fast one on us," Friede huffed, looking impressed as he looked through a telescope at their targets.
"What do you mean by that?" Liko questioned.
"Think about it, 'A kindhearted Lapras who guides ships that are lost' or so we assumed... Then, just as we entered this part of the ocean, the fog came in out of the blue like someone conjured it."
"Lapras used to move, right?" Diana inquired knowingly.
Friede smirked at her as he replied, "Right. A ship comes by, and suddenly, sailors are lost in a fog bank; come on, the answer was both in front of and beside us the whole time. Lapras was the one who created the fog using Mist, and when the sailors least expected, they hijack the ships and make off with their loot."
"Oh, wow...!" Liko said, astonished.
"Yeah, but after that, Lapras sang his song and saved them, right?" Roy reminded.
"That's what happened, right?" agreed Fuecoco.
"The rescue routine was part of a carefully planned heist, Roy, and it's something I'm sure Marena, Sarah, and Race figured out when Ambipom and Toedscruel entered the fray. And, it all became clear when we discovered him and their fellow pirates earlier. Not to mention, they put up quite a fight against them, Lazuli, and the rest of the Power Rangers Ultra Rescue and even Asha was able to hold her own against them until the Featherhides came to our rescue. While he distracts the sailors and gets their full attention on him..." Friede pointed out before he trailed off.
"...No one sees his crew move in on the ships. Sarah, Race, and their friends were right on the dot about that silhouette being Wailord," Dot finished knowingly.
"Bingo! Once Cap, Pikachu, and Blitz blew away the fog and found our uninvited quarry, the situation before us came right into focus."
"Amen to that," smirked Cap.
Liko was even more stunned by what she and everyone else was told as she breathed again, "So, does that mean...?"
"Right, it's a scam that Sarah, Marena, and Race saw unfold before their very eyes before the rest of us even knew; while Lapras grabbed our attention and diverted us with the fog, his friends closed in on the ship on Wailord's back and then carried out their plan to strip the airship clean of its provisions. They would've done the same for the Dragon Craft had Sarah and the others not intervened. However, they weren't just for deception; they were also pretty good fighters from what Lazuli, Marena, Ash, Race, and Gladion told us during that scuffle earlier. They even went the extra mile to pull the hostage leverage card when Sarah willingly volunteered to be their so-called 'prisoner' so she could talk with him and calm him down by the time we catch up to them."
"Ah! So, that's what the Song in the Mist was really all about?!"
"They're only out to steal food from boats?!" gasped Liko and Roy.
"Apparently, the same thing happened to the cargo ship captain we talked to back in time. Poor guy never noticed that his rescuer was the main culprit stealing his supplies and with a full crew to back him up."
"A brilliant deduction, Friede!" admitted an impressed Murdock.
Race nodded as he added, "The biggest giveaway that made us realize he pulled the wool over our eyes was all the Pokémon that can't swim in his crew and who weren't found in these parts. It's obvious they needed help when they joined and Lapras' Water Type friends were the remedy to their little pirate handicap."
"And, that would be Wailord?" Mollie inquired.
At this, Eri nodded as she told the traveling doctor, "Exactly, that rocking and rolling we all felt on the Brave Olivine was Wailord getting close to us. He must've been the prelude to the storm that was Lapras and his fellow pirates."
Diana nodded in agreement with an impressed smirk as she theorized how Lapras got his pirate crew together and how they pulled off such a feat, "I wager that Lapras went to many different regions gathering enough friends he could find to help him. In fact, judging by how they carried out their heist, we should probably call them: the 'Lapras Pirates'."
"**I think they already laid claim to that one when Ambipom and the others mentioned who they are, Diana, dear,**" remarked Meowscarada.
"**How original,**" joked Pikachu.
Liko and Roy, however, couldn't believe their ears as they gawked at the elderly adventurer, the young girl whimpering and the young adventurer shuddering, "Hey, wait, did you say 'pirates'?"
"Impressive team-building skills and their fighting prowess earlier against Sarah, her friends, Lazuli, Marena, and Asha under his leadership was remarkable."
"Yeah, no kidding, I heard that Lapras were intelligent but what we've seen earlier before Sarah was taken is off the charts. Before the Featherhides swooped in and saved us with their sonic screams, they wouldn't back down and were relentless in their assault. If Lapras trained them to be that tough, I'm surprised by how he got them into fighting shape to go up against even the Power Rangers," Mollie and Murdock remarked in awe.
Friede nodded as he told them (just as Sarah's blood family and Asha and her family entered the Brave Olivine's bridge), "You two and the Blueberry Academy students bringing up all that Pokémon food up to the deck helped to confirm that's what they're after."
"Why didn't you just tell us that from the get-go, Friede? You had me spooked!" Mollie snapped at the unconventional professor.
"**Moron~**" Chansey sighed in begrudging agreement.
Friede couldn't help but laugh as he replied, "Whoops, my bad!"
"Give me a break," sighed an incredulous Murdock.
"**That's just like you, Mr. Gamble,**" agreed Rockruff indignantly.
"But, why would Lapras and the others do this, though? And, why would Sarah go so far as to volunteer as their hostage which only gives them more leverage over us than they already had?"
"Yeah, and what's with all that scheming to steal other people's berries and Pokémon food, anyway?"
"...Do you think it's wrong for them to do such a thing?" Diana quizzed her granddaughter and Roy.
"Uh, yeah..." Roy replied, unsure of what she was implying.
"I suppose, from our perspective, you'd generally be right. That said, I wondered what it would've looked like from Lapras's point of view or the perspective of any of our friends with us. Why not Race? He probably knows about that given what he told me when I asked him how he came to be with the Battle Frontier. And, do you remember what Sarah told Lapras earlier? She told him that her Eevee Squad i.e. Umbreon and his daughters went through the same ordeal he and his friends went after they were abandoned so she knows a thing or two about that sort of thing."
"From Lapras's, uh...?" Roy echoed.
Suddenly, Liko gasped as she turned to Race (who was carefully watching the Lapras Pirates and his wife with Bella on his right shoulder and Robbie standing from his left, hoping she knew what she was doing), asking him, "Hey, Race, I never got around to asking but do you know what Lapras and his friends felt when they had to steal what the sailors they played for fools had?"
The former BF Champion looked at Liko and sighed, knowing that he would have to indulge everyone else who didn't know about his past including her, "Well, I suppose you and the Rising Volt Tacklers would have to know someday; Diana asked me the exact same thing while we were hiding out in the Crown Tundra. Fact is, I know exactly how they felt and why they do all that..."
Liko and Roy listened intently along with the others as he grimly continued, "When I was five, my blood parents dumped me on the streets of Adventure City because they didn't want a child let alone me. They wanted me to die since I was nothing to them. I didn't know what to do after I got there and they left me for dead; I was alone and had nobody to turn to for help. So, for an entire year after that, I lived in the alleyways, avoiding gangs, stealing food, and escaping the police to survive. I knew if I was found somehow, someone would call child services and send me back to them and I didn't want that to happen... That was until Brandon, the Pyramid King of the Battle Frontier, found me while he came there and took me in as his son after I turned six."
"Your parents did that, Race?!"
"What's that?!"
"No!"
"Oh, man!"
"That's horrible!"
"What did you say?"
"No way..." Nemona, Arven, Liko, Roy, Penny, Murdock, and Mollie gasped in horror.
A small tear crept and fell from his left eye as Ash placed a comforting hand on his right shoulder (as he, Pikachu, and his Alola team stood from his right), his silence prompting the future Pokémon Master to continue for him, "If it hadn't been for Brandon, Race probably would've died and he wouldn't have met us during that field trip our class took to the Kanto Region while were in school."
"His parents' hatred for him was a real thorn in his side," added Lana.
"He got over that thanks to the Frontier Brains but until recently, he would have occasional nightmares about them and how they dumped him like that but with no hope of being saved or something worse," Mallow concurred with a sigh.
"Race, we're sorry, we had no idea..."
"You really do understand why Lapras and his pirates did what they did," Friede and Cap added solemnly.
Ludlow also shared his condolences as he told Race, "As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than there is wrong, no matter how ill or how hopeless you may feel..."
Race slowly nodded until he wiped his tears away before turning to Liko and Roy, telling them, "Listen, stealing may be wrong but when you have to survive, you won't have much of a choice. What's more, Lapras must have a reason for building his crew and spearheading these expertly planned heists we've heard about. Those Pokémon he gathered most likely have backstories we don't know about and we may never know how they ended up with him but our perspective on the matter doesn't give us the right to judge them so harshly. I know that on a personal level and Island Girl knows it through Umbreon and his daughters..."
The two young trainers nodded, now more understanding of what they were told with Liko musing to herself, "Race... I never knew how much of a hard life he had before he was found. Being abandoned by his parents, living in the streets for a year after that...I can't imagine my parents being like that with me..."
Moments later, Cap pointed ahead and informed everyone, "There!"
Everyone from both the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine looked ahead and noticed that thanks to Ludlow's expert sailing, they were able to find Wailord and catch up to him and the rest of the Lapras Pirates ahead of them with Sarah held by Ambipom as she rode with them on his back.
"It's Wailord and the Lapras Pirates with Sarah! We've caught up!"
"Ludlow, you're so awesome!" Liko and Roy cheered, singing Ludlow's praises.
"This ship was Ludlow's to begin with; on the sea, there's no one who can beat him," Friede reminded proudly, knowing how capable his grandpa was when he was in his element.
"Ha-ha! Like a Gyarados in water, am I right?" chuckled the RVT's wise old sage of a sailor.
With the odds seemingly in their favor, Friede contacted Orla and requested, "Hey, Orla, how 'bout we close up the gap? Full speed ahead!"
"You got it, Friede! Now, do your thing, Charizard," Orla smirked back, allowing Charizard to use Flamethrower and put the Brave Olivine on full chat.
"Full chat, coming up!" grinned Slugma as he took in Charizard's Flamethrower and heated the boiler at maximum power, gunning the Brave Olivine at full speed towards the Lapras Pirates and their "royal prisoner" with the Dragon Craft following close behind.
"Alright, let's go!" exclaimed Roy excitedly as the heroes got closer and closer while the Lapras Pirates remained supposedly oblivious to their approach.
"Keep it up, MK! We're almost there!" added Dusk to MK-1 from the Dragon Craft's bridge who barked in agreement as he kept on course.
"Let's keep it up, we're right up his flukes!"
"Nowhere to run now," smirked Friede and Cap, seeing everyone's targets in sight.
But, Diana frowned as she saw something that gave her reason to worry, "That may be but it appears we're the ones who are about to get caught."
"...What do you mean?" puzzled Giacomo before everyone looked ahead and noticed the Lapras Pirates on Wailord's back facing them.
Slowbro, Barbarcle, Mandibuzz, Toedscruel, one of the Bibarel, Vigoroth, and Octillery glared at the heroes with the Woodner Pokémon and Ambipom keeping a close eye on Sarah (who was shocked that her family and friends were following them after the pirates departed once she was taken captive), having known that the heroes were following them the entire time since they left for their pirate base.
Friede smirked at them as he remarked, "Heh, they're clearly spoiling for a fight!"
Liko, Roy, Mollie, Chansey, Sprigatito, and Fuecoco started to flail in panic (or gape in shock in Mollie's case) at the Pokemon Pirates preparing to attack them until Ludlow calmed them down and firmly reassured, "Keep your wits about you! Trust in my Quagsire, he knows what to do!"
True to his word, Ludlow's Quagsire stood at the stern as he raised his arms and shouted, "Leeeeeeeeet's...!"
"Whoa! When did he get up there?!" Roy gasped in surprise.
"Just be sure to hang on tight! Quagsire's Surf move makes some serious waves!"
"Right! While you're doing that, we got your backs as well!" Hiccup added as he appeared aboard Toothless with his friends, their dragons, and their Partner Pokémon.
"We?" Liko and Roy echoed.
"How are you all gonna do that?" Friede pondered until Elder and Alder rose from the water, surprising the Lapras Pirates as they stared at the Titan Wing Mist Twister's size and gasped at Vaporeon, Oshawott, Parosea, Snivy, Raja, and Toxin the Luxicore on his back.
"What are those things?!"
"I've never seen those Pokémon before!"
"A Vaporeon, Sniny, and Oshawott are easy targets but what about that swimming horse?!"
"And, what's with that Luxray and the Arcanine with it and Snivy?!" Slowbro, Vigoroth, Mandibuzz, and the first Bibarel gawked.
"Targets sighted!"
"Ready to fire when Quagsire surfs up?" Elder and Alder asked the Pokémon riding on his back.
Vaporeon, Oshawott, and Parosea nodded on behalf of themselves, Toxic, and Snivy, "Ready!"
"Yeah, baby!"
"Sweet, let's swim!"
At the same time, Naguara, Flipper, and Flicka breached the surface, sharing their sentiments while they glared at the Lapras Pirates and saw Sarah in their grasp.
Ambipom gasped as she alerted her friends, "Heads up, guys, we got three unknown bogies with our tailgaters at six o'clock!"
"Who or what are they?!"
"Who cares? We gotta stop those clowns and fast!" Mantine and Octillery barked.
"Octillery's right, we mustn't let the meddlers follow us back to our base! Fire your Water Guns!" Toedscruel ordered as he and Ambipom held Sarah tightly and their fellow pirates fired Water Gun.
"Hmm...Hm! Hm! Hm! ...BOOGIE DOWN! SURF'S UP!" Quagsire finished as he used Surf and Oshawott, Vaporeon, Parosea, Toxic, Flipper, and Flicka used Hydro Pump, Fairy Wind, Ice Shard, Water Gun, Hydro Pump, and Leaf Storm to counter and neutralize their assault.
"Hard to starboard!" Ludlow declared as a determined glint appeared in his eyes.
With his immense sailing expertise, he made the Brave Olivine ride along the waves and MK-1 carefully drove the Dragon Craft on, the latter taking great care to avoid the airship belonging to the Rising Volt Tacklers as they rode along the waves made by Quagsire's Surf. While everyone else in the Dragon Craft held on tightly, the warning Ludlow gave to his fellow passengers on the Brave Olivine's bridge seemed to have gone in one ear and out the other as some of the heroes stumbled, slid, rolled, or held on to something throughout the bumpy ride they were having while yelling in surprise.
Atticus' Skuntank felt nauseous and tried to contain himself while he held onto his partner, feeling a little green as he held his mouth and quietly thought, "...I'm gonna be sick, I'm gonna be sick!"
"Hit 'em again!" Barbarcle shouted to Slowbro and Octillery.
"Right!" his fellow Pirates agreed as they and the rest targeted Quagsire who turned left and gave his partner the direction he needed to take this time to counter and avoid the next assault (repeating the rough riding everyone on his end was dealing with).
"Hard to port!" Ludlow agreed as he threw the wheel left while Elder and Alder's Pokémon party repeated their previous assault. "Now, that's a rad wave, Quagsire!"
The Lapras Pirates fired Water Gun again and again as they hoped to hit their targets and make them back off. But, no matter how hard they tried, how persistent they were, and how fast they fired their Water Gun attacks, they couldn't break through the heroes' defenses and counters (something Lapras noticed as he looked back and noticed how much trouble his crew was having despite Sarah continuing to show no sign of resilience as part of their deal).
"Damn it, those power tosses don't give up!" the Galarian Hermit Crab Pokémon snapped, annoyed.
"I'll admit, those fools are craftier than we first imagined," Toedscruel remarked, impressed.
"What'll we do now?!" Ambipom fretted.
"Stand aside!" Lapras ordered, halting his crew's assault.
"Yes, Sir," the Lapras Pirates replied, trusting their leader as they realized he was taking matters into his own flippers.
"They stopped their attack," Friede blinked as Quagsire halted his Surf attack and landed back on the stern with Elder and Alder along with their party carefully watching them to ensure they weren't trying anything funny. "Alright! We can finally pass Wailord and get closer to Lapras and Sarah!"
"Yeah!" agreed Murdock as Cap smirked broadly with the heroes' fortunes finally turning for the better as the Viking Teens, their dragons, and their Partner Pokemon readied themselves to apprehend the Lapras Pirates.
As Wailord moved aside, Lapras eyed the heroes coldly and looked undeterred as Liko shouted, "Look, there he is!"
"Clever move, hanging back so his friends can escape," Friede smirked, seeing what Lapras was doing.
But, that wasn't the only thing Lapras had in mind to safeguard his crew and stop the heroes before they would catch up to them; before everyone realized it, the ancient Transport Pokémon growled and let out a fierce battle cry before he came at the Brave Olivine in a kamikaze charge.
"LOOK OUT!" Zenna shrieked in alarm as her equally startled friends, their dragons, and their Pokémon flew higher to avoid Lapras.
However, Elder, Alder, and the Pokémon with them weren't so lucky as they gawked and yelped at him before he knocked them aside, making them scream in fright and pain at his astonishing power and speed as they landed in the water a few feet away from the heroes from either side.
"NO!" Sarah screamed in horror, surprising the Lapras Pirates as they looked between her and the Pokémon that were bashed aside before they saw Elder and Alder recover and gather a dazed Vaporeon, Oshawott, Snivy, Toxic, Raja, and Parosea just as Naguara, Flipper, and Flicka managed to shake off the unexpected kamikaze assault and regroup with their battered friends.
"Oh, no! He actually-Everyone, hang on!" Friede shouted to everyone onboard the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft (since their communication channels patched through to each other), making the heroes brace themselves before Lapras rammed into the airship's hull with tremendous force (also knocking Quagsire back as he did so).
The unexpected bash rocked the Brave Olivine and nearly caused it to crash into the Dragon Craft, forcing MK-1 to take evasive action as he lifted his family's aircraft out of battering range and everyone aboard both ships screamed in alarm (doing their best to hold their footing and hang on to each other or something around them so they don't end up crashing into anything themselves).
"MK, MR. LUDLOW, HEY!" squealed Blitz as he and Curly held each other and shuddered while his blood parents held them tightly.
As she and the Lapras Pirates watched on, Sarah couldn't help but feel her heart and stomach twist themselves into knots; her horror for her family and friends grew as she felt helpless seeing them being assaulted by one of Lucius and Marena's own friends/family members. She had begun to wish she had thought her earlier gamble a little more thoroughly but the little princess and her captors knew it was too late to undo it and she had to stick to it for her human advisor's sake given Lapras' lingering grudge against her.
"No! No, no, no, no, no, no!? What have I done?! This is all on me! The others and my family are going to be beaten or die by Lapras' hand because I allowed myself to be their prisoner to help him and Marena!" she fretted as she fearfully gritted her teeth.
"Wow, that is daring!" Liko gulped, completely overwhelmed.
"I don't believe my eyes!"
"Man, that Pokémon's got guts!"
"That's for sure," Friede, Diana, and Cap smirked, impressed by Lapras' fighting prowess.
"Lapras... Stop it! You can't do this! What the hell are you thinking?!" Marena yelled frantically at the ancient Transport Pokémon.
But, Lapras ignored her cries as he opened his mouth and conjured a familiar ball of white light and Ice Type energy (making Friede wince as he realized what he was doing) before he fired, "...ICE BEAM!"
A fully charged Ice Beam was shot at the Brave Olivine and the area was in as Lapras froze the water and completely trapped the heroes riding in his newly-made icy prison. He didn't bother to do the same with the Dragon Craft because he knew the ones in it would be wasting their time trying to dig them out, and by the time they managed to free his beaten opponents, he, his crew, and Sarah would be long gone.
"Good shot!" Friede muttered in stunned disbelief.
"Impressive," commented Quagsire (who rejoined the heroes in the Brave Olivine's bridge while Ludlow and Cap also looked on, stunned).
"It looks like he used Ice Beam to trap us here," noted Diana, impressed with what she saw from Lucius' Transport Pokémon as everyone else didn't know what to say (all of them lost in their shock).
"He sure did...!"
"Lucius' fifth member of the Six Heroes is on a whole other level!" agreed Mollie and Murdock, aghast.
Even Liko and Roy couldn't help but mumble and grit their teeth with great anxiety at Lapras' power as they cried, "S-So, now we're...!"
"...WE'RE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN!"
Nobody said a word as they stared in shock, horror, awe, and amazement at Lapras and what he did to stop them and allow his crew to return to their pirate base while keeping hold of Sarah. Satisfied that he was able to send a clear message to them that they should not trifle with him and the Lapras Pirates unless they know what's good for them and until the little princess kept her end of the bargain she struck with him, Lapras scoffed at the heroes and he turned away to rejoin his crew.
"Don't go!" babbled Liko's Terapagos in despair as he left with his back turned to them.
"Lapras, no! Please, wait!" Liko wailed, being too late as he was soon gone.
Horrified, Marena hurried out to the stern and arrived just in time to see Lapras fade away in the horizon, being long gone and with no intent on dealing with her and the others anytime soon. Realizing the full extent of what her and Lucius' decision to protect them the only way they knew did to him years later and how it had effectively driven a wedge between them, resulting in her charge volunteering to be his and his crew's prisoner for her sake, the human advisor got down on her knees and let out a loud, beaten, and self-loathing scream before pounding her fists on the floor in heartbroken agony (akin to Sora in his darkest hour in the climax of Kingdom Hearts III).
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Magearna, who had been watching from the Dragon Craft's bridge, was grief-stricken by this and the loss of her human charge as she began to cry, getting down on all fours and with tears dropping from her eyes while her Soul Heart twisted in agony.
"Oh, Magearna..." sighed Virizion sadly, comforting the broken Artificial Pokémon.
Hearing Marena and Magearna's heartbroken cries and no longer seeing Lapras, an equally devastated Roy could only mutter, "He, left..."
"Ouch," Fuecoco peeped, stunned.
"And, he wasn't even going in full speed," Friede stated.
"Indeed," a defeated Cap scowled in agreement.
"It can't be..."
"He's gone..."
"They're all gone..."
"And, they still have Sarah," an astonished Nemona, Kieran, Arven, and Carmine breathed.
"...Oh!" cried Delilah as she turned away and Doug comforted her in a hug, both of them deeply concerned for their daughter in the hands of the Lapras Pirates.
And, that wasn't the worst; Orla and Charizard noticed the ice also froze the Brave Olivine's propellers and engine on the airship's bow which made it hard for Ludlow to steer as he couldn't turn it.
"Arrrgh, it won't budge!" he grumbled as he failed to turn the wheel.
"It's exactly like the fog from his Mist attack; you can chase it but never catch it," Diana remarked.
"After this, I doubt he will come near us again. And, Sarah's gamble didn't help but since she's now officially their prisoner," Mollie frowned, seeing how much of a rut they and the others were in now.
"That's not good," Liko frowned sadly.
"Hey, guys! Are you okay, Lapras didn't hurt you too bad, right?" Rotom-Dex called worriedly from the Dragon Craft's bridge.
"We're okay, Rotom."
"No problem."
"We're just being peachy sea-farers."
"Agreed."
"Just dandy from here."
"Ditto," Ash, Goh, Pikachu, Grookey, Goh's Cinderace, and Inteleon groaned as they and the others picked themselves up.
"No success with Lapras and the Lapras Pirates, then?" Tai Lung asked knowingly.
"Yeah, Lapras is too good and he managed to trap the Brave Olivine in a pool of ice."
"Unless we can dig out of this stupid mess, who knows what they'll do to Sarah even if she's going to talk to him about Marena and Lucius?" Lillie and Mallow pondered worriedly.
"I hope she'll be okay," sighed Lana.
"Me too, Ms. Lana. Me, too," agreed Tsukumaro as he comforted her with a gentle pat on the head while her partners nuzzled her.
"Well, there's no use moping around feeling sorry for ourselves. We gotta get off our sorry asses and figure out a plan, now," Amber decided, knowing they had no time to lose.
"Amber's right! We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves! Well, what are we supposed to do now, Friede?" Murdock demanded, turning to Friede and hoping he'd have a plan of action.
"Yeah, are we just gonna give up and call it a day?" Orla added as she joined the group in the Brave Olivine's bridge.
True to his unconventional ingenuity, Friede smirked as he told them and everyone else, "Not a chance. Lapras is still out there at sea, we'll meet up with him again-OW!"
"Not really helping, Mr. Friede-poi!" Ogerpon snapped as she bonked him with her spiked bludgeon.
"Out there is kinda broad, you know that?" Mollie sighed, unimpressed.
"The whole ocean's out there and it's so big. They could be anywhere at this point!" Roy fretted, fearing the worst for Sarah.
All the while, Magearna cried harder and harder despite being comforted by Virizion before she finally wailed at the top of her voice, "...PRINCEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!"
Meanwhile, with Sarah, the little princess could do nothing but watch and keep herself calm, seeing Lapras reunited with her and his crew before they continued towards their pirate base now that her family and friends weren't chasing them again thanks to his Ice Beam prison. She was starting to be scared after what he had done to stop them in their tracks but she knew he and his crew wouldn't hurt her after the bargain she struck and Snotlout's unintentional blip as long as she didn't hit a nerve with any of them including Lapras himself.
Sure enough, they arrived at the Lapras Sea and came towards their pirate base, an oceanic cavern island sporting many rocks around it (which kept the Pokémon Pirates safe from passing boats and curious adventurers) coupled with dozens of empty boxes floating around the area from the Lapras Pirates' previous successful heists.
Sarah was stunned and she looked at Lapras, asking him, "...Lapras, all these boxes, are they-?"
"Yes, they're from our previous heists. None of the sailors we fooled and hijacked knew the truth about their ships' missing cargo by the time we were through with them," the ancient Transport Pokémon replied as the Lapras Pirates entered the cavern island, his gaze turned away from her and Marena still on the back of his mind despite how cold-hearted he still was towards her and the others.
Returning to Sarah's family and friends, Liko thought for a moment before she decided to speak up, recalling what happened to Lapras when he noticed Marena and Terapagos before Sarah struck her bargain with him and he took her as "hostage".
"Lapras... When he looked at my Terapagos, Larmina, Garnet, and Topaz, even if he didn't know about the latter three, he looked...kind of, uncertain to me," she said thoughtfully, getting everyone's attention.
"Uncertain?" Friede echoed.
"Your Terapagos?"
"Lapras, uncertain? After seeing Terapagos, Topaz, Garnet, and Larmina?"
"Huh, what are you talking about, Liko?" Rotom-Dex, Breezeon, and Freezeon questioned from the Dragon Craft, not understanding what the young girl said.
"Yeah, Garnet, Larmina, and Topaz know nothing about Lapras but yours sure does," Sophocles reminded in agreement, sharing their confusion as he raised an eyebrow at her.
"Hear me out; after mulling over it for a bit, I have a feeling...Lapras has something heavy on his mind. Something we know nothing about... Maybe if I spend more time with him, I could understand him and what he's holding back more."
"But, Lapras made his hatred for Marena known when he wouldn't listen to what she had to say and did everything in his power to stop us after Sarah struck her bargain with him. And, by the look in his eyes, he seemed adamant about hearing what she had to say about Lucius' wife. How would you fare any better given how mad he was at her and how he wouldn't give us a chance to speak both her mind and ours out with what he did earlier?" Kiawe replied doubtfully.
"But, Moltres forgave her after we calmed him down and he saw the truth when Terapagos did what it did back at Galar Mine once it had awakened, remember, Kiawe? Even Arboliva, Entei, and Kleavor found it in themselves to forgive her for what she did and gave her a second chance once she told him why she had to protect them as she did with Lucius' help and approval," Roy interjected, starting to see where Liko was going with her theory.
Everyone else thought back to what happened at Galar Mine and when Marena revealed Entei and Kleavor and smiled as Friede said, "Well, that means it's even more important we find him again!"
"That's true; Sarah did tell Lapras she would explain everything to him if she gave herself up to him and the Lapras Pirates," Orla recalled, seeing the logic behind Liko's idea.
"If we can help her reach out to his heart and tell him everything Marena had done for us since she came into our lives long after she made the most difficult decision she's ever made, we can get through to him!" Ash grinned.
"You know, that's actually a fairly convincing argument," Xena nodded in approval.
"You think taking time to get to know him and earn his trust will make Lapras chill with us and allow him and Marena to make amends, Liko?" questioned Terrakion.
"It's our only option and if it is possible he's hiding something, we need to do everything we can to draw it out for their sakes," the young girl replied, determined.
"Yeah, you're right!"
"It just might work!"
"Of course, maybe... It's just like you and Ash said; if we can find a way to get Lapras to trust us and have him allow us to tell him the truth about Marena's choice and show him that she's not a traitor to him, Lucius, and the rest of the Six Heroes, there's a good chance we can help him out!" Lillie agreed wholeheartedly.
"Yeah!" grinned Nihilego Lillie in agreement, sharing her sister's sentiments.
"If that's what you think, it's worth a shot. We'll stay and melt the ice but it'll take a while for it to do so with our dragons' flames," Astrid announced.
"In the meantime, only a few of us will need to go across the ocean and find Lapras, the princess, and the Lapras Pirates. The rest will stay behind and follow later once the Brave Olivine is freed," Cobalion added, helping to set up a new plan in motion.
"Sarah's Suicune, Lapis, and Link can walk across the water so they'll give us a hand in finding out where the Lapras Pirates' base is."
"And, Koraidon, Miraidon, Serpent, and Athiusa all have an Aquatic Mode so they'll also help us travel on water," Penny and Arven suggested.
"Wait, guys, look! In front of us, what's that floating over there?" Sophocles gasped in surprise, seeing another empty berry crate floating close by.
"Is that, another empty berry crate?"
"There are more like it just as we came by," Asha and Lana peeped curiously.
"Aren't those the same berry crates originally part of the ship captain's precious cargo? Lapras must've thrown it out after he and his crew completed their heist and it drifted here," Friede noted curiously just as Liko got a brainstorm that would add to everyone's new plan.
"Drifted...? Ah, hey, that's it! That's the answer!"
"What's up, Liko?" Roy asked, wondering what she had in mind to add to their new plan.
"If we can't catch him and if he can't come to us no matter what we do, we'll need something to back our words up so he'll have no reason not to trust us and Marena! We can also give the Lapras Pirates a gift to befriend them, showing them we mean no harm and the fact that Marena also had Lapras and the rest of the Six Heroes deeply in her mind if he either told them or didn't tell them anything about his past!"
"Brilliant!" Diana grinned, feeling proud of the wisdom her granddaughter displayed.
"So, you want us to give them a peace offering while Sarah talks with Lapras about Marena?" Friede questioned.
Liko nodded and Sprigatito, realizing how much of a good addition to the plan that was, agreed with her partner, "Not a bad idea."
With everything set, Liko and Sprigatito met up with Marena on the stern as she stood back on her feet, solemnly looking out towards the sea and thinking about Lapras and her charge with no more tears left to cry. They wanted to ask her to join them and their party and help them find Lapras, the Lapras Pirates, and Sarah while doing the favor she had in mind.
"Marena?" Sprigatito called.
"Marena, we need you now. The others and I have asked Drogon and Zephyr for help with our new plan and you'll be needed for it," the young girl began determinedly.
"...What can I do? Lapras clearly hates me, I failed him... I can't help him now, it's too late," Marena replied, feeling broken inside.
"Why are you standing around like a big dope when it's clear there's still hope for us and Lapras?!" Liko snapped angrily, not wanting to hear a depressing word coming out of the Sea Witch which made her gasp turn to her in bewilderment. "Let's go find Lapras and Sarah! We'll have what we need ready for him and his pirates, too! But, we can't understand him and what he's going through right now without you! Hurry up and get ready!"
Marena didn't know what to say but as she looked down and held her husband's belt she still had clipped around her waist, she tried to tell Liko, "But, I-"
"No buts about it! You promised to make amends with the Six Heroes once we started looking for them, Laqua, and your husband, didn't you?! If you go back on that promise now, what you're doing for them and Lucius as of late will be all for nothing!"
Marena gasped again but Liko wasn't done grilling her as she continued, "Don't you get it already? You loved Lucius and the Six Heroes with all your heart and your decision to split your friends, your own family, up to protect them from anyone who wants to use them for evil hurts you because they meant so much to you! I don't know what Lucius would say but if he did, and if he were here now, he would tell you he felt the same way if he was in your shoes! It's obvious doing what you had to do to protect them all those years ago was the toughest thing you ever had to do!"
"...I-I...?"
The young girl and Sprigatito nodded before the former added, "You get it? Along with or apart from Lucius, the person who will reach out to them and right the wrong made in their protection and survival from the forces of evil is you no matter what anybody says! We promised to help you find and bring them together again back at Galar Mine, but in return, you have to reach out to them yourself after we helped you."
"That's right!" Sprigatito meowed with another firm nod just as Terapagos appeared and cooed cutely at the Sea Witch.
"Marena! Marena!" he squeaked.
"So, what's your answer? You've earned Arboliva and Moltres' forgiveness and Entei and Kleavor did the same throughout the time you kept them for your husband all those years ago! Don't you want to do the same for Lapras and Rayquaza? Do you want to see Lapras and the rest of the Six Heroes together again somehow, even for a moment or two, and find Lakua and Lucius or don't you?!"
Stunned by what she was told to her face and remembering what she wanted most of all, Marena's eyes watered with realization and determination as she tearfully reaffirmed her previous vow, "I, I want... I want to! ...I DO! I want to see my family together again even if we have to chase Lapras and Rayquaza all over again to do it!"
Liko gave an approving nod and a determined smile as she held out Lucius' journal containing his records and threw it to her, "That settles it, here! Let's go!"
Catching her late husband's journal and taking out the photo of him stuffed inside it, seeing his smiling face and remembering the happiness she once had with him and their family, Marena gave a tearful yet determined smile. Her vow renewed and knowing what she had to do, she and Liko made their way to the others going with them before they, Roy, Friede, Doug, Delilah, Tsukumaro, Arven, Nemona, Penny, and their Pokémon went off with Suicune, Lapis, Link, Koraidon, Miraidon, Serpent, and Athisua to look for Sarah and Lapras while the rest would follow behind once the Brave Olivine is free from its icy prison. In the meantime, Asha, Race, their Pokémon, Red, Blue, Peacock, and Bolt went with Drogon and Zephyr (after releasing them from his and Sarah's suitcases) to collect a special delivery for the ancient Transport Pokémon and the Lapras Pirates.
It was time for the true reunion of Marena and Lapras to begin and the truth to finally come out.
Back at the Lapras Pirates' base, Sarah had been tied up by Toedscruel and Ambipom upon arriving (with her belongings on her apart from her amulet confiscated for safety and good measure by the others) and was now being interrogated by Lapras in a separate part of the base as he wanted to know more about Marena in this new era and how she had been getting on since her 'betrayal' in his eyes.
"Alright... Do you want to tell me what's going on? I'm quite interested to hear what you have to say about that harpy who backstabbed me and the rest of our family. It's clear to me you know what she had been up to ever since she came out into the open. So, why don't you tell me about your business or relationship with her?" the Ancient Transport Pokémon began darkly, making Sarah look at him in confusion.
"What?" she puzzled as he continued to inquire.
"It's been over a century since I was released from my Pokeball and heard anything about her and Father. Everything I once knew is gone and I do not know the fates of my brothers and sisters in years since before I established the Lapras Pirates you saw before you. I want to know what that seven seas blockhead was doing since she split us up for who-knows-what and left us for dead; that's what I'm most interested to hear at the moment and why I wanted to talk to you alone as you promised. And, not from her own mouth but from people like you who know that side of her that I don't."
Knowing she had to hold up her end of the bargain she made earlier and seeing that he deserved to know, Sarah replied with a sigh,"...Well, while I haven't met her until recently, I know she was a very good woman despite how kooky she can be. She's my human advisor; I'm the current ruler of a kingdom called Dragonstone and she's one of my right hands alongside a dragon seer, helping out with some of the decisions I make. Whenever she's in her element, she's, really playful... She's got an adventurous soul in her, too..."
"Oh...?"
"She told us about her marriage with Lucius recently so, yeah... Heh, funny; never knew she thought about having a family throughout her extended lifespan after learning Animus Magic and traveling around the world, or so she claimed... You may think she and Lucius abandoned you after everything between you, them, and the rest of the Six Heroes, Lapras, but you must know... It's not their fault. If they were here now, they'd have a lot to tell you including why they split you all up; they're not heartless, they just wanted to protect you from anybody wanting to use you for dark purposes. They're scared for you..."
Lapras raised an eyebrow as he questioned, "Those two? Scared? For us, being used for dark purposes? ...Why?"
Sarah looked away for a moment, deep in thought as she explained, "Marena told my family and I and our friends everything while we confronted Moltres at Galar Mine and-"
"Moltres, at Galar Mine?" the ancient Transport Pokémon gawked in shock.
The little princess nodded as she continued, "He felt the same way you did; he got the wrong idea that she and Lucius betrayed you all by splitting you up and leaving you all for dead, to fend for yourselves... But, they loved you too much to even think about letting you go. You guys and Lucius were the best things to ever happen to her when she first met you. My family and I and our friends had to pull off a gamble with her and Arboliva's help to calm him down and get him back in the right state of mind... And, after that, he was convinced to join us after remembering a promise she and Lucius made to him with help from a certain Pokémon belonging to my friend, Liko. It wasn't pretty nor easy since I had to square off against him before he could cause a massive cave-in after he was awakened and give them time to regroup but it was worth it."
"...I see. And, you know why Marena and Father split us up to protect us?" Lapras quizzed thoughtfully despite his lingering grudge on the Sea Witch.
Sarah looked back and nodded again at the Water/Ice Type as she revealed, "...They were worried you would end up being taken from them and used as weapons by the wrong people, anybody or a group of humans who want your power and use it for personal gain or worse. It's a situation that I'm all too familiar with ever since my friends and I became the superheroes you and your crew saw earlier today known as the Power Rangers and the day when was first attacked by a man whom I considered my fallen uncle. Marena and Lucius left you and your friends in the dark about their noble ploy so you wouldn't worry for their sakes."
"Hmm, even so...you think they would go so far as to not trust us with our concern with how they're shouldering such a foolish burden, even if everything we've been through together is all a lie?"
"It's not a lie; they were greatly concerned for your safety, knowing you would do whatever it takes to help with what they have in mind to save you at the cost of your lives. They didn't want to put any pressure on you by unknowingly having you give them more reason to worry about your well-being. If anybody with a black heart finds out about you and your friends and challenges them for you and your combined power, they would have to deal with them and protect you at the same time which is the last thing they wanted."
Lapras turned away doubtfully until Sarah added, "It doesn't sound like much but that just shows how much they loved you. Even though she and Lucius went through with the plan, Marena felt guilty about not telling you guys about it and she never got over that. That's why she separated you, Rayquaza, Arboliva, and Moltres but kept Entei and Kleavor as mementos to Lucius, to remind her of her happier days before she was forced to leave you all behind."
The ancient Transport Pokémon was stunned when he heard Rayquaza, Arboliva, and Moltres' names but the mention of Entei and Kleavor being with Marena the whole time shocked him the most.
"Entei, Kleavor?! All this time, she...!" he breathed in shock, lost in thought for a moment before he shook his head in denial as he didn't want to get his hopes up before snorting, "Then, why didn't that witch bother to keep us together if anything happened to Father?"
"It's as I said; someone nefarious and with a black heart will hunt you down and capture you for your power and personal gain. They realized at some point, it would be too dangerous for all of you to stay together if your presence and the legends surrounding you all attract potential bogies looking to turn you into weapons of war and for personal gain; it's exactly what's happening with the Explorers and Rayquaza after he was brought out of his Pokeball months ago in
"Rayquaza... Leader? He's, he's alive...?" Lapras blinked, astonished by what he had heard.
"And, he's not the only one they're after; they were after a Terapagos friend of yours traveling with a girl named Liko and three others like it belonging to me and my husband. The one in Liko's care was the Terapagos that once lived and traveled with you, the rest of the Six Heroes, Lucius, and Marena and it wanted to see you again when it saw you."
"...So, that's it. I thought it was strange why there would be four of that little jewel turtle but after seeing the other three with you and that boy... However, if those humans think they can capture Terapagos and Rayquaza, that's impossible!"
"I know that! That's why my family and I with our friends are working to get to him first before the Explorers catch him, and if things go according to plan for us, there's a good chance we can bring you all and Marena back together. But, we can't find and reach Rayquaza without your help. I've seen Marena's love for all of you firsthand and she never stopped thinking about you. She wants you guys and her to be a family again, that's her greatest wish. And, we will help you find Lucius and Laqua, if you can trust her again..."
Lapras was silent as he took in everything he discussed with the little princess, looking away while he gathered his thoughts and pondered what he should do. He didn't want to get his hopes up too high and there was the fact that he still hated Marena for what had happened in the past. But, his talk with her had enlightened the Water/Ice Type and he was starting to have a firmer grasp on the situation he found himself in. What's more, if what Sarah said was true and Marena still does love him and the rest of their family despite making the hardest decision she's ever had to live with for their sake and well-being, maybe he'll realize that he's being too hard on her and if there's more to her previous choice than meets the eye.
Sarah was worried that everything they discussed would go in through one ear and out the other for Lapras but she saw him sighing heavily before he turned to her, his cold glare slowly softening as he told her, "...Alright. You have my interest but we'll need to see if your words ring true. I hope you realize that your life is still in my flippers should they be a lie. We'll meet up with my crew in the main lagoon. Come with me."
With the still-bound Sarah riding on his back, the pair made their way to the main part of the base to meet up with the Lapras Pirates and tell them what they had discussed. The short trip was quiet and uneventful but that was to be expected since the ancient Transport Pokémon and the little princess couldn't find anything else to talk about between them apart from the subject of Marena from earlier.
"Crew, report in," Lapras cooed to his crew as they approached from the main entrance only to be met with no one.
"What is it?" Sarah asked, wondering what was wrong.
"Shh," Lapras shushed with a small but intense purr as he looked around and slowly went inside the lagoon, eventually hearing and finding his crew talking amongst themselves and sounding happy about something until... "What is this?!"
To say the ancient Transport Pokémon was shocked and not happy with what he was seeing would be an understatement; Sarah was also baffled by what she saw as the two of them found the Lapras Pirates mingling with Liko, Friede, Marena, Roy, Arven, Nemona, Penny, their Partner Pokémon, Doug, Delilah, Tsukumaro, Drogon, Zephyr, Suicune, Lapis, Link, Koraidon, Miraidon, Serpent, and Athisua with several boxes on them (courtesy of Drogon and Zephyr as per Liko's request for them when she and the others carried out her part of their plan). Alongside them were Asha and Race who were also joined by their Pokémon, Red, Blue, Peacock, and Bolt as they all smiled at their "hard-to-catch" soon-to-be comrade.
"Yo, Lapras, it's nice to see you! And, we see you've been kind to Sarah since you and your pals brought her here."
"'Bout time!" Friede and Cap smirked, seeing the dumbfounded Water/Ice Type before them and Sarah on his back looking unharmed.
"Um, sorry to barge in," Liko apologized with a polite bow.
"How...?" Lapras began, not understanding how the others figured out the location of his and his crew's pirate base.
"You surprised? Liko here found out the location of your hidden pirate base and this guy with some of our friends from the Alolan Royal Family and Paldea brought us over. We also brought along a few members who are quite familiar with your 'prisoner' when you bailed on us earlier today," Friede explained, gesturing to Liko, Charizard, Sarah, Race, and Asha's Uva Academy classmates, and the Alolan Royal Family.
Sarah was amazed by Liko's ingenuity as she watched from Lapras' back and asked her group, "How did you find out about their base? What are all those boxes for?"
Seeing Sarah's astonishment, the young girl was happy to indulge her and Lapras in what they did after they and the others lost them, "We found out about those empty berry crates from their previous heists. There were so many of them floating around, this had to be the place."
Lapras didn't know what to say until he noticed Asha and Race with their Pokémon, Red, Blue, Peacock, Bolt, Drogon, and Zephyr as they both carried two boxes and approached him and the Lapras Pirates to show them what they and their group were offering to them.
"What are those boxes?" he inquired suspiciously, being fluent only to Race as the two royal family in-laws set their boxes down.
"Just a small token of friendship we're giving to you and your pirates, it's what humans would call a 'peace offering' if you want to call it that," Marena replied.
"I gotta say, Lapras, you're the smartest Pokémon we've ever met bar none. Even I wasn't expecting you to be the mastermind of a series of cleverly plotted ship heists as what we've heard and seen," complimented an impressed Race, chuckling.
"Just to show you we mean no harm to you and your crew and show our newfound respect for you with what you did... Ta-Da~!" Asha grinned as she and Race opened the boxes and showed off a cluster of berries and fruits for the Lapras Pirates.
The Lapras Pirates were astonished by the mass abundance of berries and fruits they saw as they approached the boxes to see what they and the others who knew the princess brought for them and their leader, allowing Asha and Race to stand back and let them know what they gave them. Curious, they examined the fruits and berries in the boxes but little did they know that instead of the berries they were used to stealing from under the noses of the sailors they've hijacked, they were fruits and berries from Pyrrhia's Rainforest Kingdom.
None of them knew what to make of the payload given to them but Slowbro took the initiative to act first as he picked up a papaya and took a bite of it before a smile grew on his face, enjoying the taste it offered. That was all his fellow pirates needed to see and hear and they quickly followed his lead while they mingled with Terapagos who was happy to enjoy the company as he talked at length with them.
The ancient Transport Pokémon didn't know what to say about this just as Wailord appeared and asked his leader, "Boss?"
Lapras started to growl at the heroes before him as he took their acts of kindness and generosity as an insult before Liko quickly intervened, "No, wait, please! Just talk to Terapagos!"
"Please, give us back our Mother!"
"Listen to what we and Terapagos have to say!" added Koraidon and Serpent, both wanting Sarah back and allowing Lapras to see Terapagos mingling with his crew with Larmina, Garnet, and Topaz joining in on their happy conversation (allowing the Lapras Pirates to warm up to them as well).
As much as he hated to admit it, he was impressed with how his crew was taking to talking and hanging out with Pokémon under the care of humans in more peaceful circumstances compared to when they were carrying out their heists. Before him, there was no animosity between them and they were talking about anything and everything involving Pokémon without a care in the world. And, while they were talking, they also shared a few laughs between them.
"I have to say, I'm really impressed by how fast it made friends with all of them. Even Larmina, Topaz, and Garnet were taking well to them when they jumped in," Friede remarked as he and the heroes joining him, Liko, and Roy warmly smiled at them.
"Terapagos is kind of amazing," Liko thought in awe of Terapagos.
Marena couldn't help but feel sentimental as she watched Terapagos and his fellow Tera Pokemon mingle with the Lapras Pirates, a small tear coming from her left eye as she thought to herself, "Terapagos... Even now, you still have a way to reach out to others with your pure heart and innocence..."
"Liko, Marena," Sprigatito smiled at her partner and the Sea Witch, knowing what they must do next as they nodded in agreement. Marena stepped forward, getting Lapras' attention as he turned to her with a soft glare, now waiting for her to speak her mind thanks to Sarah.
With that, Marena got on her knees and began to speak her heart out to him (not wanting to waste her last chance to make amends with Lapras), "Lapras... I, I have no excuse. I know Lucius and I did you and everyone else in our family wrong by going through, I'm sorry... The mental scars we've given you could never be healed, I know this very well after we lost him. I did keep Entei and Kleavor to remind me of him, what I did, and everything we went through together, all while leaving you, Arboliva, Moltres, and Rayquaza behind after separating you, I can't deny that. However, because we still loved you despite that fact, let me remind you that we only split you up to protect you from humans wanting to take advantage of your power. After I found out about Rayquaza, all I wanted was for us: you, me, Rayquaza, Arboliva, Entei, Kleavor, Moltres...to become a family again... I'm sure...Lucius would've wanted that, even after he vanished or died..."
Lapras bore his deep gaze into Marena as her tears returned and fell from her eyes, seeing that what she was saying was the truth and was truly remorseful about her previous decision to separate them to protect them from horrible humans despite Lucius' support of her plan. She clearly wanted them and the rest of the Six Heroes to be a family once more and she didn't deny her wrongdoing despite her noble intentions.
Liko then approached Lapras and made her plea to him involving Terapagos and Laqua known as she told him, "Lapras, please listen to me. Terapagos wants to go to Laqua, the paradise he once went to with Lucius. I mean... We have no idea what it's like there or where it is but we do know that it's Terapagos' wish since he had awakened and we mentioned Marena's wife around him and I want to make it come true. That's why we're here with our friends from the Alolan Royal Family; we know that you were close friends with them...or used to be."
Lapras hummed thoughtfully as Terapagos cooed at him, "Lapras...!"
"Please, Lapras! Please! Terapagos really wants your help and you know now that Marena wants you, her, and the rest of the Six Heroes to be a family again!"
Lapras prepared to protest in response to the young girl but before he could do that, Terapagos let out a loud cry as he emitted a bright light similar to the light of Terastal Energy, prompting Marena's Ancient Pokeballs to glow in response to his power. Knowing what she must do after seeing this, she gently took them out of the Pokeball slots on Lucius' belt and allowed Arboliva, Moltres, Entei, and Kleavor to come out to meet Lapras again.
"Brother..."
"Yo."
"Lapras..."
"Good to see you again..." the Ancient Olive, Malevolent, Volcano, and Axe Pokémon greeted warmly, relieved to see their old friend/brother again as they immediately recognized him.
Lapras started back at his family and Marena, supposedly looking indifferent to them. However, when he looked more closely at the Sea Witch's waist and noticed the Ancient Pokeballs she had with her, he blinked in surprise as he discovered she was wearing her husband's old belt.
This prompted Terapagos to crawl over to him and babble again as he stood on his hind legs, "Lapras, please! Please, remember...!"
"Then, you know I... I, I do remember..." he replied before he let out a loud harmonic trill, covering the entire area in the same mist Arboliva and Moltres emitted when they showed their own memories of Lucius.
This time, however, the memory being shown to everyone gathered was a peculiar one from Lapras; the memory showed the heroes a ravine that opened up with rocks falling around them as if an earthquake was happening.
"What is this?" Liko quizzed, amazed.
"Is this...is this another memory?" Sarah breathed before she noticed a male figure standing before everyone.
Amazingly, the figure wearing a blue cape, white gauntlets and black boots with black and gold cross straps, a black cape with gold trim, and blue hair was...
"Is that Lucius?!" Liko gasped in shock while everyone else's jaws dropped.
The five members of the Six Heroes gathered along with Terapagos and a tearful Marena stared at Lucius in Lapras' memory, the Ancient Adventurer smiling warmly at them and giving his wife a loving gaze as he told them what he planned to do and faced whatever danger is ahead of him.
"My... My darling," the Sea Witch cried softly as her tears fell and she tried to reach out to her husband.
"I thank you, every one of you. And, Marena, thank you for the happiness and love you've given me. I'll never know or find another woman, a group of friends, or a family like all of you anywhere... This falls on my shoulders now. I'll stay alive, that's a promise. I must remain in Laqua but without a doubt, no matter how long it may take, we will be together again someday..."
The memory ended as the environment around the heroes became a blinding white light that Terapagos absorbed into his body and Lucius disappeared (with Marena slowly letting her right arm fall as she gave a sad smile and dropped to her hands and knees). As everyone wondered what had happened, the baby Tera Pokémon happily babbled and cooed over what had happened, bringing a smile to everyone's faces.
"I guess he got reenergized."
"Thank goodness," Roy and Liko smiled until everybody saw and heard Lapras crying his heart out from his father figure's promise to see his family again, the ancient Transport Pokémon singing a song he knows in tribute to Lucius with Terapagos, Arboliva, Moltres, Entei, and Kleavor (the latter four sharing his tears and sentiments) joining in.
"They must've made a pact with Lucius all those years ago."
"That's got to be why Terapagos wants to go to Laqua," Friede and Roy theorized.
Liko was amazed as she realized why Lucius' Pokémon decided to go with them, "Lucius' promise; so that's why Arboliva, Entei, Kleavor, and Moltres wanted to go with Terapagos, why they all decided to come with us!"
Marena was softly crying as she finally saw that her husband wasn't dead as she feared but still alive and was in Laqua for some reason. She had never felt so happy in her entire life as it meant that there was a chance that she and the Six Heroes would be able to see him again once they were all reunited and they discovered where Laqua was located.
"Lucius, so you...you didn't die, after all? You were in Laqua, all this time... Lucius, you're still one for helping everyone around you while out on your adventures even now, aren't you?"
"Mother..."
The Sea Witch looked up and saw Lapras staring softly at her with a warm smile through her tears, the ancient Transport Pokemon gently nudging her back on her feet as he stared at her and Liko. The young girl's eyes glistened as she took in Lapras' trusting gaze before he turned his attention back to his mother figure and spoke to her in a warm tone that showed no more of the anger and hatred he once had for her.
"...I understand now. I was wrong; you had no choice and you and Father were thinking about us the whole time. That was the hardest choice you've ever made and I wasn't being fair to you about it. You really do care for us, after all this time..."
"...Lapras," Marena sniffed before the two shared a nuzzle and a hug through their tears, their relationship mended and renewed as the rest of their family and everyone else smiled warmly at the pair.
With the knowledge of his father's promise to see him and their family again someday under his flipper, Lapras felt like a new Pokémon as he let out a cry and had Vigoroth and Barbarnacle bring in a box of the stolen food he and the Lapras Pirates hijacked, allowing them to open it and share the berries inside it with their new friends and his family. He also had Toedscruel, Ambipom, and the rest of his crew untie Sarah and return everything they confiscated to her and the Pokémon ate their shared meal happily until they heard Toothless and Stryka's roars.
"Hey, look! The Brave Olivine, it's free!" cheered Roy as the heroes saw the Dragon Craft, the freed Brave Olivine, and the Viking Teens coming in.
Moments later, Sarah and her group reunited with the rest of their parties, eager to tell everyone what had happened and of Lucius' pact with his family while the others were happy to see them again. They were especially relieved to see Sarah unharmed as Ash, the Pokémon School Gang, their Partner Pokémon, and the rest of the little princess' family happily and tearfully dogpiled her.
"Well, looks like things went well with our motley Pokémon pirates, huh?" chuckled Orla.
"How did you guys break free from the ice?" the young adventurer asked.
"Ha! A little ice never bothered our dragons, not one bit!"
"And, Trusty Arcanine found a way to help them deal with it," Snotlout and Diana replied as Arcanine and Hookfang proved their words by proudly letting out their dragon fire and Flamethrower.
"Hey, everyone! I've just made some delicious donuts so if you're hungry, come and get 'em!" Murdock announced eagerly as he arrived on deck, having finished making the donuts much to the delight of the heroes before him and the Lapras Pirates as they cheered.
"That's great, I haven't had lunch since I was brought here," Sarah grinned as everyone shared a large cluster of donuts the friendly cook prepared while his group broke free from the ice and made their way to the pirate base.
All the while, Lapras felt at ease as he spent some long-overdue time together with his family despite feeling out of place in such a happier environment and with much more company than he would've liked. He also wouldn't dare to admit it but his earlier conversation with Sarah had made a change in him and it snowballed into the happiness he was feeling following his remembering Lucius' pact and his and Marena's reconciliation despite his cold exterior, something his brothers and sisters smiled at him for as they made the most of their reunion.
"Do you think Lapras and his friends have always been like this with each other?" Liko asked her grandmother as they and Sprigatito stayed together and ate their donuts.
"Working as a team to acquire food any way they can and making sure everyone gets enough; it doesn't really matter if it matches our concept of what's good or bad but it's their way of life given how long they had been together after assembling. It always has been, it's just one way of living in the natural world," Diana replied sagely as the heroes and the Lapras Pirates began to play and mingle happily with one another.
"Wow, Grandma..."
"Pokemon and humans can coexist in this world but by no means is it always easy. What we're seeing is one way but it's not the only way. But, you know, the job or honor of uniting people and Pokemon... Well, that all happens to fall upon the Pokemon trainer, right?"
Liko just nodded; she had a lot to think about regarding the entire experience involving Lapras and the Lapras Pirates.
Dusk fell as the heroes prepared to leave and continue their ongoing search for Rayquaza and Laqua. While the others packed up and prepared to say goodbye to the Lapras Pirates with Lapras deciding whether or not to rejoin his family and leave his friends or remain with them until he decides to rejoin them, Liko, Roy, their partners, and Sarah (with Blitz, Curly, and Silvally back by her side) sat together with a smile.
"Wow, I am so stuffed!"
"Me, too..."
"They're so good!" Roy, Fuecoco, and Sprigatito sighed blissfully, satisfied with the donuts they ate.
"I'm glad the Lapras Pirates didn't hurt you, Sarah," smiled Liko to Sarah.
"You can thank Lapras for that; something told me he wanted to talk to me about Marena and my words to Lucius' Transport Pokemon helped him break out of his cold and hardened shell. But, if anything, he's not the only one who deserves credit for my well-being," the little princess replied as they watched Marena and Lapras talk again.
"Lapras, I know it's a century too late to ask even though we just got back together..." the Sea Witch began, getting Lapras' attention as he looked down at his old trainer's wife.
"...Will you consider coming back with me and our family? Will you keep our promise to Lucius as we make our way home to Laqua? I'm sure he wanted us to be a family again for his sake if that's what you want, of course... And, it also means we'll find and protect Rayquaza should he be anywhere in the world..."
Liko agreed as she joined her and made her plea to him, "Please, Lapras! If you want to fulfill the pact you made with Marena's husband, come to Laqua with us."
Lapras, however, was feeling a little hesitant; while he wanted to see Laqua and Lucius again and be with his family once more, it meant he will be leaving his crew behind. They were the only friends he had in this new era since he had awakened and he couldn't just abandon them no matter what.
"Hey, Lapras, it's okay!"
"We'll be fine, Boss."
"It's alright now. You have a family to go back to and your mother, father, brothers, and sister need you."
"You were the one who brought us together and taught us to be family and survive out in the natural world."
"You taught us that no matter what happens to us and how different we all are, we are part of one world. Whenever we're in trouble, we'll always have each other's backs to live happily together."
"You taught us all that!"
"We have Wailord with us and with him taking over for you, we'll live on in your honor and memory."
"We are a family thanks to you and we'll always be with you and your real family no matter what."
"We'll be with you while you live on for your father's sake."
"Always by your side!"
"Together."
"Forever," the Lapras Pirates reassured, smiling at the ancient Transport Pokemon responsible for assembling them to go with Marena and his old family.
"Right, Brother Lapras?" Wailord agreed warmly.
Lapras hummed thoughtfully as he realized his new family did have a point and his ultimate decision was made even more clear when Ambipom gave him and Marena his Ancient Pokeball, surprising the Sea Witch as she immediately recognized it and gasped.
"Hey, look! Is that Lapras' Ancient Pokeball?"
"So, the Lapras Pirates have been keeping it safe all this time!" grinned Ash and Lillie as the Long Arm Pokemon allowed Marena to take it in her hands.
Seeing his Ancient Pokeball again, Lapras looked at Marena and nodded to his human mother, deciding to return to her and his family. But, before he and his family would return to their Pokeballs without hesitation, he returned his attention to his crew and approached Wailord with one final request for him.
"Wailord, along with the rest of my crew, you've always been so loyal to me without question since we began our heists. As of now, I appoint you as the new leader of the Lapras Pirates. There is a certain quality my post requires above all else: an unwavering desire to care for and look after those one sees as family. Along with me, you've always cared for our family whenever they're in trouble and you've extended your concern to me earlier today; no one embodies that more than you. They're in your hands now."
"I won't let you down, Boss," Wailord replied knowingly and determinedly.
Lapras nodded with a soft smile before he rejoined Arboliva, Moltres, Entei, and Kleavor and the five of them returned to their Ancient Pokeballs. Now, that five of the Six Heroes are reunited on the heroes' side, the only one missing in the link is Rayquaza.
Saying goodbye to their new friends and telling them to take care of their old leader, the Lapras Pirates climbed aboard Wailord and they sailed out into the open sea, dispersing Mist to make their escape peaceful.
"Bye, you guys!"
"Take care of yourselves!"
"Stay together!"
"See ya later!" Sophocles, Mallow, Lana, and Ash smiled as they and the others waved goodbye.
"You think they'll be fine without Lapras with them?" Mela asked Sarah as the Lapras Pirates vanished into the mist and open ocean.
"I think so; they're all a family because of him and after he taught them all they need to know, I have a feeling the Lapras Pirates will live on," Sarah smiled softly.
"Hey, guys! I just realized, now that Lapras is joining us...!" began Eri with an amazed gasp before she trailed off.
Liko nodded as she also understood what Lapras' decision to come with the heroes and his old family meant, "That means we now have five of the Six Heroes left!"
"Which means the last one we need to find is Rayquaza, we're so close!" Roy added gleefully.
Suddenly, Liko's Terapagos, Larmina, Topaz, and Garnet started to babble at something like crazy. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they watched them until they noticed the Rayquaza Gem on Sarah's Cosmic Grace shining brightly.
"Hey, Sarah, what's with that gem on your sword?" Goh asked, directing Sarah to her Rayquaza Gem.
Surprised, Sarah pulled it out and looked at the glowing gem from the Sky High Pokemon she and her friends knew until...
ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
"That roar!"
"Does that mean-?!" Gladion and Kiawe gasped as they recognized the roar.
"Look there!" Pikachu cried, pointing everyone towards a familiar Terastal Shiny Rayquaza coming towards Lapras and his crew's empty base.
"Rayquaza!"
"W-What?!" gasped Liko and Roy.
"Uh, guys, that's the Shiny Rayquaza you guys told us about? The one that belonged to Lucius?!" Goh balked.
"He's huge!"
"Crazy...!"
"Amazing...!" Goh's Cinderace, Grookey, and Inteleon breathed in awe.
"It's gorgeous!"
"Beautiful!"
"I've never seen one with a body like that before!" Mallow, Lana, and Lillie gushed.
"He looks magnificent..."
"I can't believe it..."
"Muy execellente, that is one stunning Rayquaza!" Penny, Arven, and Nemona breathed as their classmates were left speechless.
"He's here, he came to us!"
"Finally," smirked Cap and Friede, knowing what his appearance meant.
With Liko and Marena, the two of them were left in awe at the Terastallized Shiny Sky High Pokemon, the last member and leader of the Sea Witch and Ancient Adventurer's family.
"Rayquaza... Hang in there, my love, he's all that remains! We tame him and reign him in and we'll be complete, we'll be on our way home before you know it... I hope," Marena prayed as she looked at Rayquaza despite feeling that he is going to be the most difficult of the Six Heroes to tame and reunite with.
To Be Continued...
