Liko - My name is Liko. And there's so much I need to learn. About Pokemon. About myself. The good luck charm my grandmom gave me turned out be a mysterious Pokemon named Terapagos and the ones belonging to Sarah and Race. Not even the Pokedex had any information on them. My Terapagos wants more than anything to reach a mythical paradise called Laqua. But to do that, we need to find all of the Pokemon known as the Six Heroes and help Terapagos regain the power it once had. The only one left is the last of the Six Heroes, their leader - Rayquaza, And so the Rising Volt Tacklers have charted a course for the Paldea Region
It was now August 9th as our heroes traveled to their next destination, flying over the Asado Desert in the early sunrise (the desert looking more peaceful now that the Pokémon Hunters Sarah, Liko, Roy, Friede, Cap, Lazuli, and the rest of their party were hunting down were captured). While the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine went on their voyage, Sarah was riding the skies aboard Winter with her dragons for company.
From below, the now-peaceful Asado Desert stretched for miles through its golden ochre dunes, rocky outcrops, and clusters of desert flora. The occasional oasis spots they came across in the desert sparkled like emeralds amid the golden sand, offering them a refreshing and contrasting sight in the arid landscape. The air was also crisp and clear, filled to the brim with the exhilarating rush of the wind blowing against them as they flew together in perfect harmony.
As the dragons let loose on their flying, Sarah's heart filled with thrill and joy. She watched her dragons dive and swirl around her and Winter, each movement a testament to their trust in each other and their unbreakable bond as the Glaseado Mountain peaks shimmered under the sun's rays and the desert's resilience pulsated from below.
The little princess laughed heartily as her voice was carried away on the wind, mingling with her dragons' playful roars and chirps. Moments like this strengthened their bond, forging connections that transcended words and action, especially as the younger dragons darted around their parents (including the younger Night Lights as they playfully chased each other in a game of Aerial Tag). It was nice for them to get away from the craziness of their ongoing journey with the Rising Volt Tacklers for a brief moment and enjoy time together and they were making the most of it.
With Bumpy, her family, and her and Race's dinosaur friends, they were still at the Pokémon Dragon Heart Dome at their and Asha's Paldea summerhouse in Cabo Poco. They loved the varied habitats it harbored as they were having breakfast together (which the royal couple made before they rejoined the others for their next job offer to help boost the Rising Volt Tacklers' finances).
After saving Diancie's Moltres friend from the Pokémon Hunters along with the wild Pokémon and Oliver's Brambleghast, Sarah, Koraidon, and Serpent went with her to find and retrieve her Articuno and Zapdos friends at the Poco Path Lighthouse and the Glaseado Mountains' tallest peak so she could explain to them why she and the rest of their group came to help the heroes. Naturally, they were stunned after learning about the Explorers and their plan for Lucius' Rayquaza. However, they came to accept it and lend their aid to their new allies and friends (even though they would also be at risk of getting into small disputes between them over their respective territories).
Once they felt like they were done flying about, Sarah and her dragons returned to the Dragon Craft's sundeck just as Lazuli and the Circle of Twelve arrived to check on them.
"Had enough high-flying?" Lazuli joked, crossing her arms as she held a water bottle and her sword and wore a towel on her neck (as she had an early morning kung fu lesson with Hu).
"It was great, I haven't had to do dragon flights in a while. And, my dragons were itching for some fun before we and the others take on another odd job," Sarah nodded as Aqua, Rosie, Crest, Chili, Milotic, Hashimoto, Ching Wan, Keldeo, Glaciel, Andres, and Whisker joined the group.
"Speaking of odd jobs, what's the job scope from Friede for today?" Pig quizzed curiously.
"A friend of his, an archaeologist, rang him up and asked us to help him and his excavation team move a large boulder from some ruins they discovered. He told me they're more than willing to pay us if we move it out of the way."
"A phone call just to remove a large rock?" Ox replied skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
"Why would they want you and the Rising Volt Tacklers for a job that mundane?" Rabbit added, sharing his confusion.
"Apparently, from where it's standing, it's preventing them from carrying out their excavation when they came across it. We only need to move it somewhere away from the ruins where it won't disrupt their work so it'll be fairly simple as long as we don't break it."
"I see... But, even if it's only one job, how much they're willing to pay our friends for it won't be anything to write home about, right?" Naomi inquired.
"There is a hefty sum they're willing to pay them for that job and that's if we're lucky to do so without destroying it. I can't say for sure but it'll be over a million dollars if they have that money in cash, gold and/or diamonds if they have that on them."
"What?!"
"That much for one rock?"
"For real!?" the Circle of Twelve including Hu and Sydney balked in amazement.
"If that'sssssss ssssssso, how can we turn down ssssssuch a productive offer?" grinned Snake.
"Totally grea-a-a-a-a-a-a-at!"
"You know, Princess, that's a great idea! If we can move the rock out of the way and earn their pay, it will cover the Rising Volt Tacklers' finances for a good while!" Goat and Dog added in approval.
"That's if everything goes according to plan, really."
"And, while you're at it, you won't mind drilling Roy and his tiny croc on a new move, right? Chili's growing up right now and he's in his preschool or kindergarten stage and he won't be much help with only four moves on him," Rooster noted.
"He's got a lot of growing to do if he's gonna go far," Sydney agreed.
"...There's truth in that; Fuecoco would need to have a varied move set if he were to stand his ground against anybody making trouble or help us with jobs such as that rock. I am giving him and Roy private lessons to help them and it's made easier thanks to my knowing Rayquaza and Legendary Pokémon. They were working themselves to the bone because of that after the briefing when we left to get ready. I guess they're ready to learn a new move now," Sarah replied thoughtfully.
"Any idea how they're doing while you were out on your morning flight and what that move might be?" Mistral questioned.
"They're doing pretty good, I'm going to check on them later and teach them a new move before we see Friede's friend. And, I have one move in mind for Fuecoco. But, I'll need a little help with that..."
She looked at Aqua as she went to the sun deck's water station and made a glass of water for Roy, "Aqua, I'll need you to help me teach Fuecoco Disarming Voice."
"Me?! Why me?" Aqua balked as her jaw dropped at the request.
"'Cause, you're the best one out of all of us in our family using your voice as a weapon against your opponents whenever you sing."
"...Oh, that makes sense."
"So, you up for it...?"
Her Primarina thought it over briefly until she sighed and reluctantly agreed to the offer before she followed her mother to the Brave Olivine, "...Oh, alright, Mom. But, don't blame me if Fuecoco is a little slow on the draw and he sings off-key while learning it!"
"Singing as a weapon?"
"How can you hurt somebody by singing?"
"I don't get it," Timburr, Roggenrola, and Woobat quipped innocently as they watched from the door.
(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 Melon; 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)
The heroes soon arrived at the excavation site belonging to Friede's archaeologist friend and his archaeology team as the Brave Olivine and Dragon Craft moored off with Friede, Doug, and Delilah along with Cap, Persian, Lolita, Mischief, and the Tomoe Squad meeting the archaeologist to discuss the job given to the heroes. With Roy and Fuecoco, they were busy training on the Brave Olivine's battlefield sundeck with a Rayquaza dummy cutout they made while Liko watched them from behind. Shuckle was with them to provide drinks should the pair end up tired and thirsty while Sprigatito and Terapagos napped as they basked in the sun.
"Rayquaza is here!"
"Right there!"
"Whoa, he's going to attack!"
While the two of them trained, Roy and Fuecoco tried to imagine how their and everyone else's next intended confrontation with Rayquaza would go, acting out the entire battle they pictured in their minds while using the dummy Rayquaza as a target reference point (the young adventurer squinting his eyes as the sun bore down upon them).
"Fuecoco, charge at Rayquaza and attack with a new move!" Roy signaled.
"Huh? Right!" Fuecoco replied in surprise, quickly steeling himself before he charged at the cutout dummy.
"Now, Fuecoco!"
Fuecoco jumped and fired at the cutout but only shot a small flame from his mouth before he looked down and flailed in panic, fumbling onto the deck.
"Fuecoco! Are you alright?" Roy gasped as he knelt before his partner.
"A-okay, pal," the male Fire Croc Pokémon reassured before the young adventurer sighed at their latest attempt.
"Oh, well, I had a feeling it won't be easy for you to a new move on the spot. But, if we battle Rayquaza as we are now, we won't stand a chance against him. And, if he Mega Evolves like Sarah's friend due to that special organ in his body... No, don't think like that! Come on, Fuecoco, we've got to keep going!"
"Yeah! Let's get busy! Train, train!" Fuecoco agreed, determined as Sarah and Aqua arrived.
"Hey, Roy, feel like taking a break for a moment? When we start again with our next lesson, you and Fuecoco will be ready to learn a new move from Aqua and my Paldea Starters," Sarah called, giving him her cup and wearing a pair of sunglasses over her eyes.
"Huh? Oh, right! Thanks, Sarah," Roy grinned, accepting the cup and drinking his water as Snorunt arrived with two cups of Shuckle's berry juice he chilled with his Powder Snow for them.
"Fresh ice-cold berry juice, Roy, Your Majesty?" the Snow Hat Pokémon grinned, offering the cups.
"Wow, alright, Shuckle's berry juice! Thanks a bunch, Snorunt!"
"Thanks, Snorunt. But, keep your and everyone's using my family's titles to a minimum, okay?" the pair replied warmly, accepting the berry juice.
"Mmm, whoo-hoo! Shuckle's berry juice, even when chilled, is the best!"
"The sun's rays getting to you, Roy? By the looks of it, you look as though you've been squinting all morning," the little princess noted, seeing Roy squinting his eyes harshly to protect them from the sun's rays while seeing the Rayquaza cutout during his and Fuecoco's training session.
"Yeah, it is pretty bright today. It wasn't much of a problem two days ago while we were looking for Oliver's Brambleghast before he evolved, Moltres, and those Pokémon Hunters," Roy replied sheepishly.
Sarah nodded as she gave him a second pair of sunglasses, "Here, put these on. Apart from the heat if you don't have sunscreen, the sun's rays could damage your eyes if you look directly at it or continue to squint too hard."
Roy was amazed by the sunglasses and after putting them on, he felt much better and could see better now while taking selfies of himself wearing his new sunglasses (milking how he looked cool with them on), "Whoa-ho! Don't I look cool...with these on!?"
"Sick look, pal!" Fuecoco gushed, loving the new sunglasses his partner wore.
Sarah smiled before she gave Liko another pair for her to wear, "You too if you want your eyes protected, Liko."
Liko accepted the glasses but didn't put them on, giving an awkward smile as she replied, "Well... Personally, I don't find it that bright today for me to wear them..."
"Liko...! C-C-Can I have them?" Fuecoco asked, eagerly looking at Liko's sunglasses as his eyes twinkled.
"Fuecoco...? Uh, are you saying, you want to try them on?"
"Yes! Please, can I? I want some sunglasses!"
Eager to oblige to his request, Liko gave him her sunglasses and he put them on, digging his new cool-dude look with him and Roy posing in front of their group with their new sunglasses on. It also helped that they greatly shielded their eyes from the sun's rays, making seeing in the desert for miles on end easy pickings for the pair (while helping them with their training and their next private lesson with Sarah).
"Fuecoco, you look so cool with these things on you!"
"I love this new style!"
"You look as though you can totally learn a new move with them on ya now!"
Sarah laughed heartily while Liko stared in surprised amazement as they continued to show off, being in higher spirits. But, as for Aqua, she recalled the previous incident with Lucius' Rayquaza and frowned at the pair before turning away and holding her nose high at them. While she knew they were working hard to get back on her and her family's good graces as her human mother did, she found it hard to immediately forgive Roy for recklessly putting everyone in danger by challenging him in his agitated state. She even began to suspect that it would take a long time for them and herself to forgive the young adventurer and wondered if he could mature, change, and grow strongeras a Pokémon trainer despite the progress he and Fuecoco made.
But, as the minutes ticked by, there was trouble; Friede, Doug, Delilah, and their group didn't leave the others to meet the unconventional professor's friend as they were kept waiting and he didn't call them so they could meet and begin moving the rock he needed help with.
"I'm bored..."
"Me, too..."
"Come on, when is that digging buddy of Super Professor gonna ring us up?" groaned Blossom, Zorro, and Mischief, sounding like they've waited ages for something to happen.
"So, nothing yet, huh...? When do you expect we begin to move that rock for your friend and his team, Friede?" Mollie questioned as she and everyone else currently in the Brave Olivine's briefing room including Sarah's blood parents and their Pokémon soon grew bored.
"I'm not sure; last I heard from him, things had been pretty rough on-site. Doug, Delilah, and I had been waiting for a call from him so we could meet and discuss how we'll carry out this job but he didn't reach us since we've arrived," Friede replied grimly.
"We think something must've happened to him and his team before we arrived at this digging site he's occupied," Doug added, concerned.
"I suspected as much. Nobody said earning money's gonna be thateasy," Murdock sighed before the group and the Pokémon heard the distant sounds of machines being turned on and whirring from close by.
"Oh... It sounds like those men are getting their new-fangled equipment running again for their so-called excavation."
"Of course! That must mean they're getting things underway again for us, right?" Delilah and Orla bantered, the former sounding curious and the latter grinning with anticipation.
But, their hopes of starting the job they were given weren't to be as they began to hear a series of loud crashes coupled with frantic cries from the excavators and archaeologists down below including Friede's friend.
On the airship's battlefield sundeck, as Sarah and Aqua helped Fuecoco and Roy train for the little Fire Croc Pokémon to learn Disarming Voice (a Fairy Type move most Pokémon including Fuecoco, Quaxly, Primarina, and Sprigatito are capable of learning), through her Lion's Hearing, the little princess also heard both the crashes and the frantic cries of the workers and Friede's friend.
"They're coming back!"
"Let's run for it!" she heard two workers scream in panic amidst an emergency whistle being blown by another worker, their cries and the whistle also catching the others' attention.
"Huh?"
"What's going on down there?" Roy and Liko questioned curiously and in surprise.
"...Trouble, I'm going down to take a look. Aqua, you stay and guard Liko, Roy, and the rest with them. Solar!" Sarah replied, calling out to her Beast Bot before whistling for Winter, Curly, Shadow, and Blitz as she ran for the Dragon Craft.
"Where are you going, Sarah?" gasped Liko.
"To the ruins site where Friede's friend is, something must be wrong!"
Moments later, riding aboard Solar on his Solar Cycle Mode and with Blitz, Fred, Curly, Tai Lung, and Guardeon riding after them on Shadow and Winter, the little princess made her way to the ruins where Friede's friend and his fellow archeologists were carrying out their dig. Upon arriving, they noticed amongst the workers a Diggersby and a Minccino hard at work either digging at the site or dusting away at one part of the ruins they'd uncovered. A Luxray was also on guard for any nearby threats given the emergency announcement that resulted in some workers fleeing to safety.
They even noticed Friede and Cap approaching an elderly man who was the head of the archeological dig as they too came over to see what was wrong and were beginning to talk to the former's friend.
"Hey, Friede, Cap. Excuse me," Sarah began as she, Fred, Blitz, Curly, Tai Lung, Guardeon, Winter, Shadow, and Solar (after returning to his Lion Form) approached the trio.
"Oh, hey there, Princess. Glad to see you and your family and friends made it, too," the man greeted her warmly.
"Likewise. I get why Friede and Cap are here; I heard screaming earlier while Aqua and I were helping Roy and his Fuecoco train so I came to see what the problem was," she replied.
The man nodded and directed the group toward the rocks the heroes needed to move.
"Good god..." Cap gulped as the heroes gawked at them in shock.
"Uh... Okay, that I wasn't expecting," Solar added nervously.
"Great Arceus' ghost...! I've never seen such rocks as massive as these back in the Okoya Jungle," Guardeon breathed in astonishment.
"Are...these the rocks you want us to move?" Friede questioned his friend.
"Indeed. We were making preparations for you and everyone else in your stead but we ran into some trouble with rather violent Pokémon that kept interfering with our work."
"Did you say 'violent Pokémon', sir?" Sarah inquired curiously, getting a grim nod from the man before he showed the group two excavators and a construction plow in surprisingly bad shape. "Whoa... Did the Pokémon you mentioned do all that to your heavy-duty equipment?"
"Yep. Before they left each time, the crewmen and crewwomen were about to identify Krookodile and Krokorok. As of right now, nobody sustained any injuries, thank goodness. But, we can't get any work done with them interfering so if they come again, well... I'm afraid we'll have to deal with them. And, once they're out of the way, we'll repair the heavy equipment they damaged and get back to work. I'm sorry, Friede, Princess, you'll have to wait until then."
"Actually, Sir, would it be alright if we figure out why the Krookodile and Krokorok were giving you all grief? Perhaps there was a reason they were interfering with your work in the first place," Sarah proposed, not wanting to think about exterminating the wild Pokémon making trouble for Friede's friend and his team.
"Oh?"
"I'll look into it and find out why they're attacking you and destroying your equipment. I don't want anybody to exterminate any Pokémon without reason so it's best if I take on the case with my family and friends and see what the Krookodile and Krokorok have to say."
"Well, if you think that, I won't stop you since you're the Pokémon Ambassador but you only have until the moment they force our hands to do so."
After returning to the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft, Sarah and Friede told everyone what they had discovered. Needless to say, they were horrified to hear what the director wanted to do regarding the Krookodile and Krokorok's attacks on him and his archeologists.
"Deal with them!?"
"That's nonsense!"
"How barbaric!"
"Goodness me!"
"Of all the insolent-!" Ash and the Pokémon School Gang, Gladion, Tsukumaro, Donna (former queen), and David balked in shock and disbelief.
"How dare he! The thought of exterminating Pokémon just so he and his crew could get back to work on that dig place, it's maddening!"
"This can't be the only solution! Don't those people know common sense, honey, Mr. Friede?" Doug and Delilah frowned, concerned and outraged.
"I mean, well, it isa fact that the dig keeps coming under attack," Friede interjected, trying to calm them down.
"If the Krookodile and the Krokorok are relentless in their attacks on your friend, Friede, they must have a reason for doing so," Burnet pondered thoughtfully as she held Lei in her arms while he napped.
"That's exactly what I thought. The director agreed to let me look into the matter but I won't have much time before they back him and his crew into a corner. I'm going back to the ruins with Friede and Cap to find out why the Krookodile and Krokorok are attacking them before we start moving the boulders blocking the crew's way," Sarah replied with a determined frown as she prepared to leave for the ruins again.
"Oh! I wanna help!"
"Me, too!" Liko and Roy volunteered, wanting to help with the case much to her disapproval.
"Sorry, you two, it's best if me, Friede, Cap, Solar, Fred, and a few of my Pokémon and dragons go alone. And, what's more, Roy, you and Fuecoco haven't mastered Disarming Voice yet; you two need to finish your training so he can learn it. Besides, if a Krookodile and some Krokorok orchestrated their attacks this perfectly, they could mean trouble for you and your partners."
"But, we wanna help everyone out, too, Sarah! And, the ruins you and Friede mentioned sound cool!"
"We won't do anything dangerous!"
"Forget it!" Blitz snapped in disapproval as he stood atop Winter's head and crossed his arms at them.
"We can't take any chances stopping them and protecting you at once should they strike again!" agreed Curly while standing on Shadow's head and having paws on her waist, glaring protectively at the young trainers.
Even Cap and Friede stared in disapproval as Liko and Roy continued to plead for them and Sarah to have them tag along, "Come on, Friede, Sarah! Please!"
"Please, Cap, Blitz, Curly!"
Already, everyone was feeling apprehensive about Roy and Liko's eagerness to help out, their worries for their safety growing as they knew what could happen should trouble occur. Cap, Friede, and Sarah held firm as they didn't want them to risk their lives for a tough job. But, after they had a quick mental debate between themselves as well as with Fred (who yipped with a carefree grin at her owner) and an equally worried and disapproving Blitz, Curly, Shadow, Winter, Guardeon, and Tai Lung, they sighed in defeat and relented despite their better judgment.
However, Sarah knew she would have to ensure they kept their word as she told them, "...Alright. BUT... No going off on your own while we're there and you and Fuecoco, Roy, finish your training for the day when we're done. And, as the Pokémon Ambassador, you're my responsibility, promise?"
"Ah! Yep!" the pair beamed.
Soon, with Liko, Roy, Sprigatito, and Fuecoco in tow (along with the hidden inclusion of Hatenna who was still in Liko's hoodie), Sarah, Fred, Solar, Cap, and Friede (now joined by Aqua, Flygon, Mudsdale, Gerudeon, Andres, and Whisker) were granted access into the ruins to find and uncover the truth behind the attacks done by Krookodile and Krokorok.
"...Awesome," breathed Roy, astonished as he and everyone else looked at the ruins' layout.
"Alright, let's look for signs of Krokorok and Krookodile," Friede suggested.
"Right/Okay," Liko and Roy nodded.
"What?" Cap quipped as his ears pricked before he felt a disturbance coming from behind him, immediately running off to investigate.
"Where are you going, Cap?" Friede questioned as he and Liko rushed off after him, leaving Sarah, her Pokémon, Fred, and Solar to fend for themselves and look for Krookodile and Krokorok from their current location.
"Huh?" Fuecoco peeped as he turned and noticed a pair of small black eyes looking at them from the sand. "What's that...?"
He tried to get closer to the eyes to see who they belonged to but quickly disappeared before he could catch them, his curiosity attracting the attention of Sarah and her Pokemon when they looked at him to see what he was doing.
"What's wrong, Fuecoco?" Sarah asked as she, Mudsdale, Flygon, Aqua, Fred, Solar, Gerudeon, Andres, and Whisker noticed the eyes and Fuecoco's failed attempts to catch them and see their owner, causing him to look around in confusion.
"Hey, wait a minute. I remember seeing eyes like that," Flygon breathed suspiciously as he saw the eyes pop up behind him before their owner jumped out and bit his tail.
"YEOOOOOOOOOWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!"
"Fuecoco?!" Roy gasped as his partner flailed about in pain before he and the culprit landed on the ground, the latter revealing itself to be a Sandile. "Are you okay, buddy?!"
"THAT HURT!" Fuecoco raged at the Desert Croc Pokémon as it scurried off.
"What the-?!"
"What is that!?" cried a shocked Andres and Whisker.
"A Sandile, from the Unova Region!"
"What's it doing here in these ruins?" Mudsdale and Flygon balked as Roy brought out his Rotom Phone and scanned the pre-evolved form of Krokorok and Krookodile.
"Sandile, the Desert Croc Pokémon. A Ground and Dark Type; it travels through the ground like it is swimming. It can evolve into Krokorok and later into Krookodile."
"Wait, is this what we're looking for? This is the Pokémon that's been messing with the crew?" Roy quizzed in confusion.
"Hold it, Roy, think back to what Friede and I said at the Brave Olivine; his friend told us that his crew identified the Pokémon that trashed their heavy-duty equipment as Krookodile and Krokorok. Maybe this Sandile could be related to them somehow. And, besides, did you see how small it is? There's no way it could've ruined their construction plow and excavators as it is now," Sarah informed as they watched Sandile look at them briefly before going off on its own.
"COME BACK HERE, JERK!" Fuecoco snarled as he chased after it.
"Fuecoco!"
"No, Fuecoco, you moron! Leave it alone!"
"You don't know where it's going!" Roy, Aqua, and Andres shouted as they joined in the chase before Sandile burrowed under the ground.
"It dove right into the sand. Come on, we gotta tell Friede about this!"
"You read my mind, let's j-huh?"
But, before any of them could leave to find Friede, Liko, Sprigatito, and Cap, they suddenly found themselves sliding downward as if they were slowly pulled into the sand below their feet.
"W-What's going on?!"
Sarah's Pokémon, Solar, and Fred tried to break free but realized they couldn't break free from the sand as Aqua, Whisker, Gerudeon, and Mudsdale shouted "Hey! I can't move!"
"Mom, I'm stuck!"
"NGH-Me, too! I feel like I'm-ngh-glued to the ground-ugh!"
"Urgh, we're...! Ngh-we're being pulled under!"
Fred yipped fearfully as Sarah quickly reached out and grabbed him before throwing him away from the sinkhole while shouting, "Fred, run! Find Friede, tell him what's happened! Hurry!"
"*I'M SINKING! WE'RE SINKING!" Fuecoco wailed in panic as he jumped onto Roy's head to save himself despite it being futile.
Fred yipped in horror as he was forced to watch his owner and family along with Roy and Fuecoco sink and then vanish without a trace before Sarah shouted to him again, "RUN, FRED! RUUUN!"
With a final round of screams, they were gone and Fred was left all alone as he let out a mournful and horrified howl. Terrified for his family and friends and knowing he had to get help, the cybernetic fox cub darted off with a tearful whimper, hoping to find Friede, Cap, Liko, and Sprigatito before anything bad happened to them and he doesn't get dragged into the sand.
Meanwhile, with the quartet in question, they found several trails of tracks made by Sandile, Krookodile, and Krokorok on their end at another part of the ruins, their only current leads as to the case involving the attacks made on the unconventional professor's friend and his fellow archeologists.
"These are Krokorok, Krookodile, and Sandile tracks and there are a whole bunch of them here," Friede deducted.
"Does that mean...? It's a bunch of Pokémon responsible for attacking your friend and his crew?" Liko asked.
"Yeah, do you want to know my theory? I suspect they got a nest somewhere in the ruins," he nodded before he turned to the young girl, not knowing what happened to Roy, Sarah, and the others. "Liko, Roy, make sure we don't get separated and stick close to Sarah, okay?"
Liko nodded but immediately, the quartet saw no sign of the rest of their party as they realized they had left Roy, Sarah, her Pokémon, Solar, and Fred behind after Cap picked up on the tracks left behind by the Sandile evolution line.
"Roy, Sarah/Not again!" the two humans shouted in alarm before they heard panicked yet relieved yipping and soon noticed Fred running towards them. "Fred!"
"Fred! What happened, where are Sarah and Roy?"
"What about the others, are they okay?!" they asked worriedly as Friede held the cybernetic fox and comforted him while he whimpered, fearful for his family.
Back with Roy, Sarah, and the rest of their group, in a hidden underground chamber, they managed to emerge from the sand pile they were buried under after sinking from the upper level, relieved to be alive after the ordeal.
"Phooie! Blech, that was fun...not!" Gerudeon grumbled as she spat some sand out of her mouth while her children crawled out of the pile and shook themselves off.
"I can't believe we couldn't climb out of this dump the moment we found ourselves sinking."
"Yeah, and it sucks 'cause you know Dig, and I'm a natural-born sand diver given my type. Whoever humiliated us like this is gonna be sorry when we catch them," Aqua and Flygon bantered in disgruntlement.
"Man, that was one mean sinkhole," Solar groaned as he shook his head and metal mane.
"Ugh, now we know how that Thomas The Tank Engine character felt when he went down the mine, no pun intended," Mudsdale snorted as he shook the sand from his mane.
"You mean like when he flouted a danger sign at some lead mines and tobogganed into a mine shaft like a total moron at the tail end of Season 1 we and the kids watched days ago back home before coming here?"
"The very same."
"Where are we?" puzzled Sarah, looking around the chamber and realizing they unintentionally went deeper into the ruins.
"Well, we're all here. Is that everybody, honey? We didn't leave anybody behind, did we?"
Suddenly, they heard what sounded like a concerned but firm female voice and the group turned to find what looked like a small Ground Type Pokémon family comprised of a female Krookodile (as denoted by the eyelashes), a male Krokorok who was her mate, and two Sandile which are their children.
"That's good. However, young man, you had us worried after you went off like that! Don't ever go off on your own again without telling us! Hold on... What do you have in your mouth? Come on, spit it out," the female Krookodile demanded as she picked up the Sandile and shook him hard, recognizing that he had eaten something he shouldn't have.
Roy and Fuecoco held each other but Sarah carefully shushed them and the others as they quietly listened in while the young adventure peeped, "It's Krookodile and Krokorok...!"
Eventually, Krookodile managed to get the Sandile in her hand (a male she and her mate denoted as their son) to spit out what looked like a small screw.
"I warned you, didn't I? Your father, too..."
"Sorry, Mommy," the male Sandile replied, ashamed of himself while his father and the Sandile riding on his head (a female who was his sister and their daughter) frowned at him in exasperation.
The group soon heard a series of cries and noticed Krookodile and Krokorok approaching what is their nest that housed five additions to their family including three newly hatched Sandile babies and two eggs housing their youngest siblings (while carrying their eldest children). Unfortunately, like all newborn babies, the three new Sandile are incredibly rambunctious as they wanted to explore with Krookodile using her tail to keep two of them from going off on their own and Krokorok rushing after his and his mate's third newborn as it scampered off.
"Those look like newly hatched Sandile!"
"Babies?" Roy and Fuecoco breathed in surprise.
"Yeah... And, it looks like Krookodile and Korkorok are mates and they just had them recently," Aqua nodded in awe.
"How do you like that?"
"No wonder those two had been giving Friede's friend and his archaeology crew outside this dig grief since we arrived," Flygon and Whisker added with widened eyes.
"Yes... All of those Sandile must be babies since five of them recently hatched including the one we unintentionally followed down here and two of them are still eggs. The Krookodile and Krokorok over there must've made their home in these ruins after meeting each other sometime before we and Friede's archaeologist friend and his excavation crew arrived at this dig."
"Then, when Friede's friend and his crew came into the scene, they felt that their home was being threatened and destroyed their equipment so they could somehow leave and they can live in peace with their babies," Mudsdale and Solar deducted in amazement.
"Whoa, so...then, these ruins... Are they Krookodile and Krokorok's home for them and their babies?" Roy realized, amazed.
"Cool..." Fuecoco chirped in awe.
"Yeah, I get it now. Friede's friend and the workers had no idea that by coming to these ruins after discovering them, their archaeological excavation left them feeling threatened. Krookodile and Krokorok thought they were Pokémon Hunters because of their machinery digging the place up and causing a massive racket for them and their babies. They were trying to protect their home and their young but unintentionally earned the ire of the workers in doing so," Sarah stated, feeling sorry for Krokorok and Krookodile for their unfortunate plight.
"But, that's not fair. They shouldn't be exterminated just for safeguarding their babies, they're just like us humans with our families," Roy commented, disgusted by what Friede's friend suggested regarding them and their continued mission to protect their babies (which he and his crew completely misunderstood and blew out of proportion).
"Yeah, they deserve to live in peace," agreed Fuecoco, sharing Roy's sentiments.
"Phew, five babies soon to be seven? Glad I'm not them, I get enough grief from looking after Andres and Whisker even though I wouldn't trade them for all the treasure in the world," Gerudeon commented.
"Mom," groaned Andres and Whisker quietly.
"Hey, what's that with the remaining Sandile eggs?" Flygon noted, directing everyone toward an egg that was big enough for a human or Pokémon to carry with two eggs except it was not a Sandile egg at all (for it had a swirling dark blue and silver pattern reminiscent of a starry nighttime sky).
"That egg... What is it? It's not a Sandile egg with its odd color and pattern so what could it be? And, why do Krokorok and Krookodile have it?" the little princess thought, wondering what was inside the nest before the baby Sandile started crying despite Krookodile and Krokorok's efforts to comfort them.
Not wanting them to feel sad anymore, the Ground Type couple proceeded to do something surprising to the heroes to calm their babies down and get them to stop crying: creating a familiar drum rhythm by gently patting their babies and pounding their tails on the ground. The rhythm they were making immediately caught the heroes' interest as they listened in to it with Fuecoco and Roy recognizing it almost instantly.
"Hey, that rhythm they're making sounds like...!"
"Our song!" they chirped brightly as Fuecoco's hair strips flicked to the beat.
"Does that sound familiar to you?"
"I remember wanting to cut my ears with a steak knife due to how off-key they sounded whenever they sang it," Aqua and Flygon bantered quietly as they also recognized the rhythm and tied it back to Roy and Fuecoco's "song".
"But, it's not enough. Look, the babies are still crying," Andres reminded the group as he noticed the babies continuing to cry despite their parents' best efforts.
"Okay, correct me if I'm wrong but they look like they need help before they lose their sanity," Whisker added.
"Yeah, I bet their babies would stop crying if we can somehow give them a hand. It could work in our favor since we need to stop Friede's friend and his archaeologists from exterminating them," Solar nodded.
It was then that Aqua immediately got a brain blast after listening to Krokorok and Krookodile's rhythm and said to her human mother, "...Mom, I just got a killer idea. But, we'll all need to pitch in to help them calm their babies down."
"Yeah, you're right... That beat, they must really enjoy making music if they know that rhythm. Roy, are you and Fuecoco getting this?" Sarah nodded before turning her attention to the young adventurer and his partner.
"Yeah, I'm totally getting the beat. Fuecoco, are you getting this, too?" Roy nodded before asking his Fire Croc Pokémon.
"Sure did!" Fuecoco grinned.
"Alright, let's go! Ready, Sarah?"
"After you two and Aqua, Roy."
Aqua nodded in reply and slowly went over to the Ground/Dark type family of nine, drawing the attention of Krokorok and Krookodile as they turned to her despite their five babies continuing to cry and their continued rhythm.
"Oh... Hello there. I apologize but can we talk later? My mate and I are busy," Krokorok requested while trying to soothe the babies he had on him.
"Actually, I'm sure she won't mind answering a few things, darling," Krookodile interjected to her mate before turning her protective motherly glare on the Primarina before them.
"Who are you and what business do you have here? You're obviously not a Ground nor Dark Type."
"You're right, I'm not like you. I'm a Water and Fairy Type, a Primarina from the Alola Region. My name's Aqua," the royal Primarina nodded as she subtly tapped the ground with her tail, keeping to Krookodile and Krokorok's rhythm.
"Aqua, Alola Region...? Hey, aren't you that little Primarina belonging to the fabled Sun Princess, Sarah Tomoe, we've been hearing about recently?" Krokorok questioned.
"That's me."
Krookodile looked curiously at her but retained her motherly glare as she asked, "Why are you here, then? Where did you come from if you and the princess came from Alola?"
"My family joining us came with them and we know how to help you make your babies happy," Aqua replied kindly, pointing at Sarah, Fuecoco, Roy, Mudsdale, Solar, Gerudeon, Andres, and Whisker as they stomped their feet or hooves, pounded their tails, and clapped their hands to the Ground/Dark Type couple's rhythm.
Krookodile and Krokorok were surprised by this as they watched on while three more Krokorok (including one having a four-leaf clover in his mouth that acted like a toothpick or makeshift cigarette) that was with the peaceful family prepared to attack, thinking they were a threat.
"Fue, fue, fue, coco! Fue, fue, fue, coco/1, 2, 1-2-3! 1, 2, 1-2-3!" Roy and Fuecoco chanted as they stomped and clapped.
Then, to Krookodile and her mate's surprise, they discovered their babies singing along with them at the tail ends of their parents' rhythm and they became happier as they smiled and stopped crying. Krookodile smiled as she looked at Aqua and her family's unexpected visitors-turned-new friends; by the hand of fate and chance, whether she and her family expected it or not, they had found the answer to their troubles and the help she and her mate needed to soothe and protect their babies until their predicament has been sorted out.
"Roy, Fuecoco! Sarah, Mudsdale, Gerudeon, Andres, Aqua, Whisker, Flygon, Solar!"
"Where are you guys?!"
"You there?" Liko, Friede, and Sprigatito shouted, hoping to get an answer from the rest of their party but to no avail as they, Friede, and Cap looked around the last spot they were together in.
"Oh, come on, Roy, Sarah!" Friede grumbled as Fred howled and whimpered for his family, hoping they, Roy, and Fuecoco weren't hurt nor dead.
"Wait... Over there!" Cap noted as he darted forward after his ears pricked up again.
"Whoa, wait up!" Friede called his partner before the quintet ended up at the sand-covered sinkhole, now shown to be the hidden doorway to the Ground/Dark Type family's underground chamber home unbeknownst to them. "Cap!"
"What is it?" Liko questioned.
"Here... Open sesame!" Cap quipped, stomping on the sinkhole and causing himself, Fred, Liko, Sprigatio, and Friede to sink in it the same way Roy, Sarah, and their party went (the Brave Olivine captain remaining as calm as he could).
"W-What's this?!" Friede gasped as he and Liko joined him along with Fred and Sprigatito (the former jumping on his head in fright after recalling what happened to his family).
"Trust me."
"Y-You want us to follow you?"
"W-What does that even mean?!" Liko shrieked as they sank further and further down into the sinkhole and vanished without a trace with the young girl letting out a final panicked scream until...
Fred was forced to jump from Friede's head and look on in fright, unsure of what to do now that he was alone. But, after recalling the love his family had given him since he was given to him by Robin and Cyborg and knowing he had to help them, the cybernetic fox steeled himself with a hardened look and let out a proud yip before he jumped into the center of the sinkhole, not knowing what laid in store for him, Liko, Sprigatito, Friede, and Cap but determined to find his caretaker and family again.
Eventually, he rejoined the quartet as Cap stood with an inquisitorial glare with his arms crossed and Friede, Liko, and Sprigatito burst out of the sand pile they fell and were buried in. As they reunited, they saw before them (by Liko, Cap, Sprigatito, and Friede's standards) the most peculiar *AND* the strangest sight before them (with Fred also giving a curious tilt of his head and a surprised yip).
There, in front of them, was Roy, Sarah, Fuecoco, Aqua, Flygon, Solar, Mudsdale, Gerudeon, Andres, and Whisker with Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, their currently hatched babies (who were all much happier since their new friends came into the picture), and their Krokorok bodyguards dancing, stomping, clapping, and singing together in harmony (with Roy and Fuecoco wearing their sunglasses) like they were in a music concert.
Roy - Okay, everybody, loud and clear! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile~! Fue, fue, fue, coco! Fue, fue, fue, coco~!
Sarah - Play a new game~
Flygon - Fun is the game~
Aqua - Try-ee-y-ee-y-y-y-y! So, come with me~
"I have no idea what I'm watching right now," Friede commented, not knowing what to think about the show before him.
"Me neither; Roy and Sarah are a pair of mysteries in their own rights," Liko smiled in amusement.
Roy - Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile! Shout it out loud for all to hear~!
Aqua & Sarah - In harmony, discovering ways to shi-i-i-i-i-i-i-ine/In harmony, discovering ways to shi-i-i-i-i-i-i-ine~
Sarah - With a little bit of kindness~
Roy - And, a little bit of confidence~
Sarah, Roy, Flygon, & Aqua - We can make it fun! To! Do!/We can make it fun! To! Do!
Fue, fue, fue, coco! Fue, fue, fue, coco! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile~!
Then, Liko frowned in concern and doubt as she looked at the happy Ground/Dark Type family and pondered, "But, these wild Pokémon with them... Were they the ones behind all the trouble at the excavation site?"
Hearing this, while having Solar and Mudsdale carry on with their group's rhythm, Gerudeon, Andres, and Whisker joined up with the quartet as Andres and his mother replied (while Whisker comforted Fred as he happily and tearfully nuzzled her), "Errh! No way, our wandering brainiac's friend and his digging posse got it all wrong."
"What you're seeing here is a Pokémon family living in this archaeological palace where virtually no human knows about them... That is until now."
"Which is sadly common with humans these days as far as we can see," nodded Whiskers as she continued to soothe Fred.
Sarah - With a little bit of kindness~
Roy - And, a little bit of confidence~
Sarah, Roy, Flygon, & Aqua - We can make it fun! To! Do!/We can make it fun! To! Do!
Roy - Fue, fue, fue, coco! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile~!
Sarah & Aqua - Workin' smarter with each other/Workin' smarter with each other~
Work together, make it better/Work together, make it better~
Roy - Okay, everybody, loud and clear! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile! Shout it out loud for all to hear~!
Sarah & Aqua - We are stronger with each other~(Stronger with each other~)
Work, work, let's unite, everybody shining bright~(Shining bri-i-i-i-i-i-ight~)
Roy - Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile! Shout it out loud for all to hear~! Sandile, Krokorok, Krookodile! Shout it out loud for all to hear~!
The song soon ended as Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their family bodyguards performed a powerful move known as Round on a nearby rock and shattered it, cementing their friendship with and gratitude to their new friends.
"Ah! What was that move just now?!"
"Whoa!"
"It shattered that rock to nothing!" Roy, Fuecoco, and Solar gasped in amazement as their and the others' jaws dropped.
"That was Round!"
Roy, Sarah, and their party looked over and saw Friede, Fred, Sprigatito, Liko, and Cap with the young adventurer gasping, "Friede!"
"You're pretty impressive, you two-making friends with Krookodile and the other crocs!" Friede grinned as Fred happily yipped and ran towards his owner before jumping in her arms and nuzzling her chest.
"It wasn't just us; it was all because of Fuecoco, Aqua, and Sarah's singing and Aqua was the one who suggested helping them with a song after seeing Krookodile and Krokorok trying to calm their babies down with their drum rhythm," Roy replied modestly before he got to the heart of the matter they discovered, seeing how happier Krookodile, Krokorok, their bodyguards, and their babies were after singing and dancing with them and their fellow Pokémon. "You know what, Friede? While they were singing and dancing with us, I can tell... Krookodile, Krokorok, and their family had a lot of fun, we don't think they are mean or 'savage' Pokémon!"
Immediately, Liko and Friede smiled as they nodded in agreement, now knowing that Krookodile and her family meant no harm as the others did.
But, the happiness the entire group shared with the female Intimidation Pokémon and her Desert Croc Pokémon family didn't last long as they heard the sound of drilling and the ruins began to shake from above.
"Hey, what's that!?" Roy gasped.
"Oh no, they started work on the excavation again! It's making the entire ruins rumble and the sound they're making is so loud!" Friede cried in alarm, recognizing what was happening from the surface.
Friede was right; the noise from the excavation was too much for the baby Sandile to bear as they started crying again much to Father Krokorok and Mother Krookodile's dismay.
"Honey, let's go."
"Yes," they told each other, gently placing their babies back in their next with the remaining Sandile eggs and the strange dark-blue and silver egg before they and their family bodyguards (or older offspring) climbed up to the surface to stop the archaeology team.
Liko gasped in realization as she told Friede, "Sarah's right; I think Krookodile, Krokorok, and their family just wanted the rumbling to stop! I can't imagine them setting out to hurt anybody!"
"You and Sarah are definitely right but the archaeologists said their only option is to 'deal with them'!" Friede agreed, looking grim.
"Oh, no!"
"Not if we have anything to say about that! Come on, Roy, let's rocket!" Sarah vowed with Roy nodding in agreement as they, Fuecoco, Solar, Fred, Gerudeon, and Flygon went off to stop the archaeologists and protect Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their family. "Andres, Mudsdale, Whisker, take care of the babies for them until we stop the archaeologists!"
"They're in your hands until we get back, kids!" Gerudeon agreed as they left.
"Mom/Sarah?!" the Thief Pokémon's children gawked as they realized they were stuck with babysitting duties for a spell with Mudsdale.
"...Understood, Princess," Mudsdale nodded.
"Roy, Sarah, wait!" Liko called.
"We have to stop them!"
"We must save our friends!" Roy and Fuecoco shouted back as they disappeared, forcing Liko, Friede, Sprigatito, and Cap to join them.
"Tell me they're not trying to stop those guys alone!"
"I'll go with 'em, Uncle Muds! I can help!" Whiskers and Andres protested to Mudsdale.
"Stay where you are, we can't leave the babies defenseless! Remember this, too; my mother's a champion of reaching the hearts of both humans and Pokémon! She'll end this madness with Roy's help! Count on it!"
"...Sure, Uncle," Andres sighed before he and Whisker drew their attention to the babies and noticed the large egg with them and their unborn siblings. "Hey, Sis, what's with this egg?"
"Beats me," Whisker admitted.
However, little did they, Mudsdale, and Sarah know that several pairs of eyes saw everything from the shadows and looked up, glaring at the machines echoing their work from the surface and snarled.
As Roy, Sarah, and their entire group ran back outside, the little princess activated her Wrist Com to call the others back at the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft with Ash picking up her call, "What's happening, Sarah?"
"Guys, we found out who's attacking the archaeologists! A mother Krookodile and her family made these ruins their home but their drilling and excavating caused trouble for them and their babies!"
Shocked gasps could be heard from her friends and everyone else listening in while the little princess continued with her fast-track report.
"That's insanity, Princess! What are Sir Friede's friend and his workers thinking?! They've flouted the curfew they set up for you so they can start working again after they had no more supposed trouble from the wild Pokémon you've mentioned!" Tsukumaro screeched in shocked disbelief.
"Are dig-dig humans crazy-poi?!" agreed Ogerpon who sounded shocked and furious.
"I know but they took us by surprise when we heard them digging and drilling from above the chamber we were in earlier! However, that was the final straw for Krookodile and Krokorok when their babies cried from the noise again after Roy and I, Solar, and our Pokémon managed to make them happy and calm them down! They're going to the miners right now with their bodyguards or older offspring to stop them while they continue their excavation but they'll get themselves killed doing so! We'll try to stop them but I'm afraid we won't get to them in time! You've got to get to the workers and stop them from attacking first until we get there!"
"And, if Friede's friend and his crew refuse to listen and you can't make it?" asked Mallow.
"...You must stop them yourselves in our stead. Take out their Pokémon if you have to so Krookodile, Krokorok, and their family won't have to suffer anymore and make them see reason. Be ready should that happen. But, if they're in too much of a frenzy, you've got to subdue them until we get there!"
"You got it, Sarah! Let's go, everyone!"
"Right!" Ash and the Pokémon School Gang agreed as the call ended.
Back on the surface, the workers were indeed resuming their excavation with Luxray standing guard as before. This time, however, the Gleam Eyes Pokémon was able to pick out Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their bodyguards/older offspring hidden in the sand, on the prowl as they prepared to make their next move against the archaeologists.
"Intruders!" he shouted to the workers.
"Huh?!"
"Oh, no!"
"Sir, it's them!"
"They're back to make another mess of things!"
"Chief, they're at it again!" screamed the archeologists as they and their worker Pokémon readied themselves for a fight.
"...I suppose we truly have no choice," the director sighed grimly before he turned to two of his workers. "Gerald, Cindy, you know what to do!"
"Yes, Sir, Minccino/Diggersby!" replied the workers, Gerald and Cindy, as they and their Minccino and Diggersby prepared to confront the Desert Croc family as they popped out from the sand and faced the workers.
Sarah gasped in horror and shock as she, Fuecoco, Roy, Fred, Aqua, Flygon, Gerudeon, and Solar; despite having returned to the dig in time, they were too late to stop Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their bodyguards/older offspring from going at the workers again with the latter group preparing to exterminate them. Speaking of which, the family quintet had their sights set on Cindy, Gerald, Minccino, and Diggersby as the older offspring/bodyguards went on the attack first.
"Oh, no, we're too late!" Solar cried.
"Minccino, use Dazzling Gleam now!"
"Diggersby, Hammer Arm!" Gerald and Cindy shouted, allowing Minccino to use Dazzling Gleam to stop the Three Krokorok Brothers/Bodyguards dead in their tracks and leave them open to an attack.
"No, wait! Krookodile and her family aren't here to cause any trouble!"
"Don't do it!" Roy and Fuecoco begged.
"Krookodile, Krokorok, no!"
"Stop!"
"They'll kill you if you retaliate!"
"Get back here!"
"Look out!" added a frantic Sarah, Gerudeon, Solar, Aqua, and Flygon with Fred yipping worriedly only for their, Roy, and Fuecoco's pleas to be ignored as Diggersby struck the Three Krokorok Brothers/Bodyguards and knocked them out, leaving them out of the scuffle with serious head trauma and concussions.
"Boys/Oh, no!" Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok shouted in shocked horror, seeing their boys knocked out.
This infuriated the Ground/Dark Type couple as they snarled furiously at Minccino and Diggersby along with the archaeologists who dared to not only trespass upon their home for their own reasons and without warning but kick things up a notch between them with their continued fighting against them (as they and their family had been trying to force them to leave them alone and let them live in the ruins in peace).
"BASTARDS!" they roared, now left in a blind rage as they used Crunch and Take Down at full chat to hit back at Minccino and Diggersby and knock them out in return.
"Minccino/Diggersby!" Gerald and Cindy gasped in horror at their downed partners.
"Now, you've done it, Mr. Dig-The-Ruins! You and your platoon got yourselves a mad married crocodile couple comin' atcha!" Gerudeon shouted at Friede's friend just as Ash, Gladion, and the Pokémon School Gang along with their Partner Pokémon, Race, Athena, Blaze, Robbie, Bella, Tsukumaro, Absol, and Ogerpon arrived.
"Princess!"
"Sarah, Roy, you guys alright?" Tsukumaro and Ash called.
"We are but we got bigger problems!" Sarah quickly replied.
"What have we been missing out on before you called?" gasped Sophocles, seeing the enraged Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok and their downed older offspring just as Hiccup, his friends, and their dragons along with Winter, Shadow, Skystorm, and Flystorm came into the scene.
"And, what's with those guys over there?" Hiccup added in stunned shock as he pointed at the mating Ground/Dark Types.
"Not much and no time to explain but we need to stop Krookodile and Krokorok! They're now left in a blind rage after seeing their older offspring knocked out while they tried to force out the archeologists and stop them from continuing the dig!"
"It looks like we better start now 'cause they're going at the equipment!" Kiawe noted grimly as everybody on the heroes' side including Fuecoco and Roy watched Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok begin to wreck the archeologists' machines at a much more violent and angered rate.
"Krookodile, Krokorok, please stop!" Roy cried out.
"Pikachu, everyone, go!"
"Stop Krookodile and Korokorok and calm them down!"
"Protect the workers, quickly!"
"Don't let them be destroyed in turn!"
"Let's do it!" Ash, Mallow, Lillie, Gladion, and Lana bellowed to their, Kiawe, and Sophocles' Pokémon.
"Go for it, guys!"
"Krookodile, Krokorok, everyone, help is on the way!" Kiawe and Sophocles finished as Pikachu and the rest of his team rushed at Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok (much to the couple's anger and annoyance) and tried to subdue them while protecting the archeologists and their equipment.
"Princess!" gasped Friede's friend.
"What do you and your friends think you're doing?!" Cindy demanded in disbelief.
"This has gone far enough; as of right now, all excavation here must cease until the matter with Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok and their family is straightened out! I won't allow the extermination of any Pokémon including them to be carried out as long as I'm still here with my family and friends!" Sarah spat back.
"Please, you guys, don't do this!"
"You're all making a big mistake!"
"If you don't stop digging now and settle this madness between yourselves and the wild Pokémon you've disturbed, you'll end up causing more trouble for us!" Ash, Kiawe, and Gladion urged as Pikachu, Pyroar, and the eldest Silvally barked in agreement and Lazuli arrived aboard Galaxagus with Panthera, Timburr, Woobat, Roggenrola, and Stardust in tow.
"Huh?"
"What are you talking about?" asked two confused workers as Friede, Liko, Sprigatito, and Cap finally caught up.
"The vibrations from your machinery were driving them nuts as they traveled from here to their nest in the underground chamber our two friends and their Pokémon were in according to what the kiddo told us," Lazuli informed.
But, before everyone could continue, Shadow, Winter, Toothless, and the dragons suddenly perked out and looked around, snarling and growling as if they could sense something was approaching them. The humans and Pokémon looked around, not understanding what's got them so riled up.
"Hey, what's with you and your Viking pals' dragons, Princess?" a third worker puzzled in confusion before the ground shook.
"W-what's-?!"
"What's happening?"
"I don't know!"
"Sarah! Tell us what's going on!"
"Ditto!"
"What's the big idea!?" Roy, Liko, Solar, Friede, Cap, and Aqua cried out to the little princess.
"...Uh, guys, I don't think we, Krookodile, Krokorok, and their family are alone out here," Sarah gulped worriedly after a moment (while hearing what sounded like a series of angry snarls and hisses from underground), realizing they were about to have a few unexpected guests joining in on the fight.
Suddenly, without warning, the earth and sand erupted in a tumultuous upheaval, startling everybody. And then, bursting from the depths as fast as a Sandbuster with powerful wing beats and letting out furious roars emerged three angry female Deadly Nadders known as Amberstrike, Flamecrest, and Sandstormer.
"What are those things?!"
"They're dragons!" shouted Cindy and Gerald in alarm.
"Not just dragons, female Deadly Nadders!" Astrid corrected in shock with Stormfly, Skystorm, and Flystorm looking at Amberstrike, Sandstormer, and Flamecrest in disbelief.
"And, you didn't know about them living in these ruins with Krookodile, Krokorok, and their family in the underground chamber you told his about, didn't you, Sarah?" Zenna snapped at the little princess.
"I had no idea there would be any dragons living in these ruins! But, why-ah!" Sarah replied incredulously before she gasped, remembering the large egg that was with Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their family's nest. "...Oh, no! The large egg that was with Krookodile and Krokorok's babies and their unhatched newborns! I forgot about it!"
"What?!" screamed the shocked Viking Teens.
The angry roars of Sandstormer, Amberstrike, and Flamecrest were more than enough to snap Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok out of their blind rage, making the couple gasp in horrified shock as they turned and noticed the three female dragons preparing to attack the archeologists (not caring who or what was in the way).
"NO! Amberstrike, dear!"
"Flamecrest, Sandstormer! Wait!" they cried out.
But, the three female Deadly Nadders didn't listen; like them, they were in too much of a blind rage to hear them but as they emerged from the underground chamber they lived in and were also disrupted by the dig (in addition to hearing their babies cry), they were making it personal.
To make their point driven by fury and territorial instincts clear, Amberstrike led the charge as her golden yellow scales gleamed in the sunlight and brandished her spikes while proudly sporting her spike crown adorned with sharp spikes that curved backward.
Flamecrest followed closely after her as her orange and crimson scales shimmered akin to a blazing inferno, raising her spike crest proudly against the sky's backdrop. And, Sandstormer charged at the workers, their equipment, and the heroes with unbridled rage from below, her muted tan and brown scales helping her blend into the desert landscape.
"SCATTER!" shouted Sarah as the heroes, the Viking Teens, the Pokemon, the dragons, the workers, and Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok scrambled and the Deadly Nadders unleashed all-out havoc on the excavation site.
The workers and Friede's friend screamed in terror as panic took them over and they tried to escape Flamecrest, Sandstormer, and Amberstrike's combined wrath, their massive wings battering the air while firing their poisonous tail spines with deadly accuracy and breathing their magnesium fire which burned some of the heavy duty machinery.
"Girls! Please, stop!"
"Oh, my! What have we done?!" Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok barked in horror, seeing the scale of devastation the Deadly Nadders were unleashing upon the workers while their older offspring were starting to get their bearings.
"They've gone completely mad!"
"We've got to stop them before they tear up the ruins!"
"Let's go!" Lillie, Fishlegs, and Sarah shouted as they and the others rushed to fight and subdue the angered dragons with Lazuli, Galaxagus, and Panthera joining them to help (leaving Woobat, Timburr, Stardust, and Roggenrola with Friede, Cap, Roy, Fuecoco, Liko, Sprigatito, Fred, Solar, Tsukumaro, Absol, and Ogerpon).
"Liko, Roy, get back!"
"Children, stay with us where it's safe or you'll be killed!"
"Come on!" Friede, Tsukumaro, and Cap shouted to the young trainers.
While Liko, Sprigatito, Fred, Stardust and Lazuli's smaller Pokemon agreed (with Solar offering his help to look after them), Roy and Fuecoco just stared in shock and concern, realizing the danger imposed by the rampaging dragons.
"Those dragons... They're in a blind rage as Krookodile and Krokorok were but if this keeps up, they could..." Roy fretted worriedly.
"This is terrible," Fuecoco whimpered in agreement.
"Stormfly, use your spine shots, girl! But, gently, we don't want to hurt them!"
"Same goes for you, bud! Don't hit them too hard!"
"Follow their lead, Stryka! Remember, what's happening right now is not their fault!" Astrid, Hiccup, and Zenna told their respective dragons, knowing they and their friends are all treading a fine line with the female Nadders.
As the Viking Teens and their dragons along with the Ultra Rescue Rangers and Lazuli did their best to subdue Flamecrest, Sandstormer, and Amberstrike, the female Deadly Nadders retaliated in response to their efforts to stop them by using their magnesium fire to burn them. Sarah and her group had their hands full with safeguarding the workers as they scrambled to get them away from the mad dragons attacking everyone.
"Look out, Meatlug! Tail Bludgeon!" Fishlegs shouted to Meatlug, having her flap her tiny wings to dodge and bludgeon Amberstrike with her tail.
"Now, Astrid!" Hiccup called, signaling Astrid to stop Amberstrike (who, in fact, was the main matriarch between herself, Sandstormer, and Flamecrest).
While Stormfly braced herself to step in if necessary, her rider jumped off her and came face-to-face Amberstrike, landing in front of her nose (the natural blind spot of their species). Amberstrike sensed the Hofferson Viking tomboy and tried to see her but she skillfully dodged her and hit a pressure point located on her neck, making her freeze up before she plopped onto the ground and closed her eyes.
"Unreal!" Cap gasped.
"How did you do that, Astrid?" Friede inquired, amazed.
"It's simple, really; Deadly Nadders have a pressure point on their necks like most dragons. Get a lucky touch on it and they flop over like newborn puppies, the trick is to get close to one to do so," Astrid informed.
"Great trick but good luck trying that with the last two still tearing up the damn place!" Race shouted as he pointed to Sandstormer and Flamecrest.
Not wanting the workers to get hurt or sit on the sidelines while they and the rest of his and Roy's friends are in danger, Fuecoco rushed forward without hesitating once (putting his sunglasses back on to help him see in the intense sunlight). With his small body and agility for his size coupled with controlled bursts of fire, the male Fire Croc Pokémon engaged with the two remaining angry Deadly Naddlers to distract them rather than hurt them to keep them from causing any more damage.
"Fuecoco, no!" the young adventurer cried, seeing his partner joining the others to stop the fight.
But, Fuecoco didn't hear him; all he cared about was saving their new friends and stopping Flamecrest and Sandstormer from hurting anybody else in their blind rage. Recalling how he and his group made Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their family happy when their newborn babies started crying, he sang as loudly as he could, trying to calm them down. Seeing this and remembering their new friends' kind gesture, Mother Krookodile, her mate, and their older offspring joined in by using Round to create a rhythmic beat that resonated through the chaos, their efforts being doubled by the appearance of the couple's hatched newborns (who were brought to the scene of disaster by Whisker, Andres, and Mudsdale with Whisker balancing the angry Naddlers' egg on her back).
As he looked on, Roy saw their window of opportunity; knowing they had one shot to end Flamecrest and Sandstormer's blind rage, he encouraged his partner to continue what he was doing, "Come on, Fuecoco! You can do it!"
Everyone watched on anxiously as Fuecoco took his leap of faith, the male Paldea Fire Starter recalling a technique he had learned from his family and friends' travels as he focused his energy and summoned a gentle and melodic tone from deep within himself.
"Stop this right NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW~"
The harmonic noise echoed everywhere and left Sarah, Aqua, and Roy in shock as Fuecoco bellowed his musical call (which was reminiscent of perfectly fine-tuned wind chimes jingling on a peaceful yet breezy day) and enveloped Flamecrest and Sandstormer from the dust and smoke they were in. The two Deadly Nadder matriarchs soon stopped in the middle of their rampage as the calming effects of his new attack took hold and their gazes eventually softened, seeing that he meant no harm while in his tranquil embrace.
The sound of his new attack woke up Amberstrike in the process. However, the central Deadly Nadder matriarch was no longer angry, her softened eyes turning to Fuecoco who was relieved to see her, Sandstormer, Flamecrest, and everyone else unharmed.
"My friend," he said as he turned to Amberstrike, carefully reaching out to her while she lowered her head and allowed him to touch her snout, emitting a low and gentle yet rumbling purr.
He even gestured to Mother Krookodile and Father Krokorok to their hatched newborns who crawled happily over to their parents, relieved and happy that they weren't killed by the workers and reassuring them that they're okay now. That was all the Pokémon couple needed to calm their minds and agree to stop their own rampage for good, knowing that things could've been much worse when the female Deadly Nadders started causing trouble too big for anybody to ignore.
Even the heroes were relieved to see what unfolded before their eyes as Friede commented, "Well, now, it looks like they and our new friends have finally calmed down."
"That's good," Cap agreed.
"What a relief that was," added Liko.
"That move... Was that really just-?" Roy quizzed, taking note of Fuecoco's new move.
"I'd say Fuecoco's learned Disarming Voice."
"Disarming Voice...? AH! Fuecoco! I'm so proud of you, buddy, you finally learned one of Aqua's favorite moves!" Roy cheered as he joined his partner.
"Yeah! This is cool, bro! I can sing and dance in battle now! Isn't it awesome?!" replied Fuecoco, sharing Roy's enthusiasm.
"...Well, now. I guess the student became the teacher in this case," sighed Aqua with a smile as Amberstrike, Flamecrest, and Sandstormer went to Mudsdale, Whisker, and Andres (the Draft Horse and male Alatian Form Luxray having carried with them four eggs belonging to them minutes since the entire conflict kicked into high gear).
"That was close..."
"Did we survive?"
"I think so..."
"That was crazy..."
"Too crazy for my liking."
"Be thankful we aren't dead that's to one of the kid's Pokémon and a Fuecoco no less," some of the workers sighed in relief.
The three Nadders gave them and Whisker grateful nuzzles while the dust settled as the workers recomposed themselves, shocked by the entire ordeal as one of the other workers (now acting a little hostile towards the Nadders), "Okay, not that I want to point any fingers at anybody for this whole mess, what's the deal with those lizards that nearly spiked us?"
"They're not lizards, they're Deadly Nadders; their motherly instincts are strong, stronger than the parental sense of most dragons, I can imagine. If their family is harmed or threatened in any way, this makes them extremely aggressive and overprotective of their young and each other whenever someone tries to enter their nests or enter them by mistake. They must've made their nest in the underground chamber where my family, two of our friends, and I sunk into based on unexpected circumstances. And, after what just happened, I realize now that they also didn't take too kindly to loud noises and machinery used to move large boulders out of the way. By that, it's easy to see that they, Mother Krookodile, and her family are no different by protecting their shared 'home', hmm?" Sarah retorted firmly at the workers, making some of them wince, gulp, and look down in shame at what she was implying to them and their co-workers.
Astrid nodded in agreement as she added, "What happened to us before Fuecoco saved our lives was justified on their part; they wanted to protect their home alongside Krookodile and Krokorok and they didn't want to have their only friends be exterminated."
"That's astounding... But, what I want to know is how the devil you all and the babies were able to leave their next and get out here?" Tsukumaro replied, looking at the Sandile babies, Andres, Mudsdale, and Whisker.
"They grew worried when the dragons left the chamber to begin their rampage and practically begged us to help stop them, their older siblings/bodyguards, and their parents from doing something they regret," Andres said to him.
"They burrowed us a way out of the chamber and we followed them though they asked us to take this big boy with us for good measure or something," Whisker added, gesturing to the large egg on her back.
"...It figures," Race sighed as Friede told his friend everything and why Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their older offspring/bodyguards caused trouble in the first place.
"Hmm... So, all the racket the machines were stirring up as we were working disrupted their next site right under the ruins, eh?" the lead archeologist noted thoughtfully, getting confirming nods from Friede, Ash, and the others. "...Alright, I'll see what I can do to sort the matter out now that we got the context and understand that we're not the only ones here."
"Much obliged to hear that, my friend."
"We're very grateful to hear that, Sir," Friede and Ash smiled on the heroes' behalf.
"That's right!" Pikachu grinned in agreement.
Friede's friend nodded until he reminded everyone of their intended job offer, "That being said, this does mean it'll be a little longer before we're ready for you to transport the rocks. We must have them transported soon or our excavation will be pushed back even further."
"We have to..."
"...Move these rocks?" gulped Liko and Roy, looking at the rocks.
However, their answers to their double-trouble dilemma came via Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, their family, Amberstrike, Flamecrest, and Sandstormer as they happily mingled with their former enemies and new friends. Now, that they and their human partners/co-workers had been humbled by the Ground/Dark Type couple and the female Naddlers and understood why they were causing trouble for them at all, Minccino, Diggersby, and even Luxray quickly befriended them and their children and they began to talk on friendlier terms and play with one another.
Seeing this, Roy suddenly got a brainstorm as he happily quipped, "I know!"
Then, moments later, as the young adventurer was putting his plan into action, Orla, Mollie, Murdock, Delilah, and Doug came from the Brave Olivine and Dragon Craft to see what was taking their family and friends so long.
"We hope we haven't come at a bad time, everyone."
"You were taking forever to get the job done so we decided to come and check things out."
"What on earth have you all gotten yourselves into now?" Doug, Mollie, and Orla stated as they saw Krookodile, her family, Amberstrike, Flamecrest, and Sandstormer standing in front of the rocks.
They soon found out as the Ground/Dark Type family and their three dragon friends picked up their rhythmic beat and Mother Krookodile, Father Krokorok, and their older offspring/bodyguards fired off Round to crack the rocks. Then, picking up where they left off, the Naddler Mothers fired a combined magnesium fire blast focused on the spot where their friends cracked the rocks and they suddenly blew up upon contact, shattering to bits.
The heroes cheered as Roy jubilantly cried, "They did it!"
The workers were impressed and even Friede's friend was amazed as he grinned broadly and said, "Oh, how extraordinary! With these Pokémon and their dragon friends, we won't need help from your ship and the Dragon Craft, after all!"
Friede gulped as he echoed awkwardly, "Uh... Y-You don't need...?"
Murdock, Mollie, and Orla sighed in dismay and disgruntlement as their pay was obliterated, saying with a sigh, "In other words..."
"...our sweet, sweet reward money..."
"...Just went down the drain."
"Uh, hello! My family and I have tons of money on us, remember? I've no problem with us donating if you've already forgotten," Sarah reminded, raising an eyebrow at the trio incredulously.
They tried to protest the offer but Delilah nodded in agreement as she smiled and told them, "It's no trouble at all, I'm sure we won't mind something from our family's finances to help keep you afloat. We'll cover the obliterated pay if you still want your money troubles covered."
"Much better given how generous Sarah and her family are!"
"And, I'm sure letting Krookodile, her family, and the Nadders they befriended live and work with them is a greater reward than all the money in the world," Snotlout and Astrid remarked as they smirked.
Wanting to repay Sarah for the help she and her family and friends had given her, Mother Krookodile went over to Whisker and gently took the large egg off her back before going over to the little princess and presenting it to her as a gift.
The little princess blinked in surprise before she asked her, "...This egg. You, you want me to have it?"
Mother Krookodile nodded warmly as she told her, "You and your family and friends risked your lives for us and did so much to help, especially that boy and his Fuecoco. For that, we can't ever thank you all enough. If anything, I think this little guy is meant to be with you."
"Whoa... Thank you."
Accepting Mother Krookodile's gift, Sarah smiled back and gently took the egg off her arms but as she did so, it shimmered for a moment and began to crackle before a light peeked out of the cracks. She yelped in surprise and quickly placed it on the ground, forcing everyone to watch it crack open as a baby dragon akin to the Mystic Force Rangers' dragon ally, Fire Heart, popped out of it.
Everybody looked on in amazement at the baby dragon as it was shown to be three feet long and 1.5 feet high and covered in shimmering deep blue and silver-accented scales along its spins and wings. It also had small but sturdy wings on its back and its tail ending at a tuff of soft silver fur and it sported a pair of bright luminous silver eyes. Apart from the silver and blue coloration, this baby dragon was the spitting image of Fire Heart when he was just a baby himself after hatching. It was nothing like the other dragons the heroes and the Rising Volt Tacklers had ever seen.
"Aww!" the girls cooed cutely.
"Oh, my!"
"He's such a darling," gasped Doug and Delilah, seeing how sweet the baby dragon was after hatching.
"He's such a wonder to behold," Absol added in fascination.
"YAY! New friend, new friend, new friend! Happy, happy, happy!" Ogerpon cheered excitedly as she did the Happy Ogre Dance.
"Aww, man! And, that was such a good egg, too! I wouldn't mind having it for an omelet if there wasn't another dragon in it," grumbled Snotlout as he crossed his arms with a disappointed pout.
"Goodness me!"
"This is quite the surprise," Father Krokorok and Mother Krookodile remarked in astonishment as the baby dragon shook itself and its vision cleared, the first thing it saw being Sarah as she stared at it in awe.
"...Mama, Mama..."
Everyone gasped in amazement as it spoke, revealing itself to be a male as he reached his tiny arms and claws out to the little princess and made her give him a warm motherly smile. Knowing what he wanted, Sarah gently took the baby dragon in her arms and cooed softly at him, getting happy and peaceful babbling from him. Before long, it was time for her and the rest of the heroes to leave and continue on their journey now that the archaeologists and their former enemies are finally at peace with Krookodile, her family, and the Naddler Mothers becoming official members of the excavation team on peaceful terms.
Liko - Well, we didn't get any reward money despite Sarah and her family having generously donated a fraction of their wealth to us to help keep our heads afloat. But, still, with Roy and Fuecoco...
"Goodbye, Krookodile, Krokorok, Sandile! Take care of your Deadly Nadder friends and yourselves!"
"Goodbye, everyone! ...SEE YA REAL SOON~!" Roy and Fuecoco cheered while they, Liko, Sprigatito, Aqua, Sarah (holding the baby dragon in her arms), Friede, and Cap stood on the Brave Olivine's Wing Deck, saying their goodbyes as Fuecoco fired Disarming Voice to give their new friends a proper farewell.
Friede's friend, his team, the Nadder Mothers, and Mother Krookodile and her family bid farewell to the heroes as well with Amberstrike, Flamecrest, Sandstormer, the motherly Intimidation Pokémon, Father Krokorok, and their older offspring/bodyguards returning their gratitude and best wishes to them on their journey together with happy and peaceful roars and a final group Round attack.
Liko - ...They've gained a few treasures of their own throughout our adventure which were worth much more than money. And, everyone at the excavation site seemed to agree on something for their future; when the Sandile babies are taking their naps, the excavation crew will be taking their break, too. What's more, our new Naddler friends: Amberstrike, Flamecrest, and Sandstormer, will be with them as official part-time excavation crew members since they still have to watch over their unborn babies. And, so, the adventures of the Rising Volt Tacklers, the Alolan Royal Family, and the Power Rangers continue!
To Be Continued...
Occurred Events
- Roy and Fuecoco befriend a Krokodile and Krokorock Family
- Fuecoco learns Disarming Voice against three Nadder Mothers
- Sarah discovers a Dragon Egg which is similar to Fire Heart and it hatches
