At the Watering Hole, Leon and his band returned with their ward and allowed Dodrio to give a report on what has happened. The Espeon washed the stress off his face as the drowsy head finished the report to the Exeggutor. "So that's what happened."

The Chieftain cringed as the left head looked over to Leon and his group. "It's good he found you before they did." "It didn't sound like much of a match." "But they came from the Outlands, then we really need to be careful." Leon shook the water off his face in a manner akin to a prince and was ready to speak of the next stage of the plan. Only to be caught off guard by a man of flames and a Scyther racing. The Espeon had a second blink and recognized the Armarouge that made a stop and slid, stopping right at the presence of the herd while Scyther stopped more precisely and smirked. "You got some leg work, I'd give ya that!" The fire warrior didn't realize that was a taunt and stood tall in his report. "We've found a band of pokemon up at the tree along with a mysterious one who've escaped into a crystal. Do you know of a Koraidon or a Winged King?"

Leon's eyes widen in astonishment. "One of those names is new, but that pokemon is on the front cover of that book!" Pueo had a hoot of shock as Timon and Pumbaa checked the strange mon out of the bunch, the Meerkat put the thought of the mentioned dragon in the back of his mind as he asked. "So if I'm hearing this right, that should be everyone?"

Scyther thought more into it. "There wasn't anything too interesting to that tree and back, so I'm gonna guess the other team found more to talk about?" Leon was about to answer as Terra, Mankey, Phanpy and a pumped up Teddiursa returned, escorting a Marowak, a floating Xatu and an elderly Mandrill. The Espeon gave a fast count, added the Tauros and nodded. "Yeah, this feels about right."

The elder could tell one thing off about the Espeon and agreed with him regardless. "Right it does. This is not something one animal can do alone." Leon agreed with the elder. "Yeah, with a bit of team work, only a few people got hurt." He approached Terra and asked. "I wish to know, where did you get the armor for Charcadet? It's not the kind of thing that shows up around here."

Terra didn't even know where to start. "I think that Koraidon has something to do with it, he jumped into that crystal and made a trial for some test. Does that book explain anything about him?" Leon shook his head. "Not much beyond the alternate name. He his however, connected with those crystals showing up, along with Miraidon. But it feels like he's helped you and the Cadet a ton."

Terra had a mellow smile as he looked at what is essentially a child in an impressive suit of armor. "How much more are we going to work for Cadet to start impressing people?" Leon shrugged. "I don't know, I never raised a Charcadet myself. But we can use some of the time to see if there are moves he wants to try out, as a fire and psychic type, he holds a lot more immediate potential. It will serve us well in the Outlands and beyond."

The Cadet turned with an idea. "I can use stronger flames now! Once someone over there sees it, they will retreat and let us finish this mission." At that, a lion roared out to gain attention, Terra turned to Simba and gave a bow of respect. "We searched every part of the Pridelands that these guys would be. Now we got to do the other half."

Simba insist that Terra gets up. "With a herd like this, I think it's possible. There's something about the Outlands that you need to know of." At the mention, a black bird with magenta flames swooped down and slowed his descent, like a specter who is called upon. He flapped his wings to show off his presence as Leon approached him. "The timing couldn't be better," Pō nodded and flew over to the meeting circle, looking at the variety and laughing in that deep voice. "This went marvelously." He admitted to the King. "It's like seeing day compared to the night that's over there."

Simba could tell that the bird means well enough and looked over to Terra and Leon. "They're the ones who've brought this to my attention after a hunt was going wrong. You've seen more than enough?" The Moltres nodded. "It's every beast for themselves and only the strongest, or the most clever, has a hope in surviving. Some of the pokemon have banded together and even have a local pack wrapped around their finger, but the Outlanders will see that as competition." Leon cringed. "So a pokemon did make himself the boss of those hyenas?" Simba flinched. "Hyenas?"

Pō continued along his report. "Quite and I believe the Obstagoon is finally bringing them to a plan after they've had a lesson beaten into them at least twice over." Leon and his band phewed in relief, even if the Espeon had a complaint to give. "He should have taught them that a lot sooner and saved us from some worries when we had to run into them."

The Moltres chuckled. "Fear not, if they tried that again-" He had a deathly stare as his aura darkened. "they won't be needing to learn anything ever again." Terra gave a roar to snap the bird out of those dark thoughts. "What are they doing now?"

The Moltres sighed and kept his urge under check. "Obstagoon is looking for a way so that he and his fellow pokemon would survive over there. He's found a Mightyena, which is exactly what it sounds like and rescued a Vigoroth from some peril. I'm going to presume that the Circle of Life is still going to be in the fritz if we allow him to go about this?"

Simba answered with experience. "He sounds more like a loner than a leader. He's going to bring those Hyenas towards making something of themselves and if left unchecked, could spell disaster. But that's not the only problem. The Circle of Life is the balance between all creatures in the food chain. Those Hyenas must have taken residence there once the elephant graveyard became scarce of scraps."

Pueo guessed how the grand law works. "Anyone who kills and eats for the sake of it, instead of doing it as a means, are the ones who have to take it up there. Where their behavior would result in the consequences?"

Leon bobbed his head. "Right. If you catch every fish in the pond, then there won't be any new fish to spawn for everyone else."

The locals found that a strong example of how that would happen. Simba continued on. "That's how it would break. Among the exiles over there, are lion's who've kept loyalty to a tyrant who drove the Pridelands into a wasteland. They refused to understand the consequences of their actions and are not allowed to return."

Pō was surprised by the thought of the lush lands ever being that barren, he asked with sincerity. "How long ago, was that? How long was the grass barren?"

Terra recalled. "It wasn't until a few months ago, when Sora, Donald and Goofy visited this place and dealt with that tyrant. These lands are still healing since then." Leon looked over to the Flamigo. "And thus the banishment is pretty recent too. It's clear that the new guests aren't going to do anything to help these lands recover either. Flamigo. ¿Eran los leones de las Tierras Lejanas, los gatos con dientes que te atacaban?"

The bird nodded. "Si." The Espeon felt his brain piece together the clues. "Since the Outlands had little of anything to survive, Flamigo really was a target no matter what. They had no reason to care otherwise." Terra added to the ill news. "And with people like that over there, we have another problem that will get drawn to them and attack everyone."

Simba knows the other. "The Heartless?" Terra nodded. "Nothing is safe out there. We need to split the pokemon who can help us from those who should stay here." This idea brought the King over to the Exeggutor. "You there," The tree was listening and let the King ask. "I'm putting you in charge of watching over the visitors who are staying behind."

The three headed tree nodded. "Of course, your highness!" Simba appreciated that and returned his attention to Terra and Leon. "As for you two, you are in charge of this expedition. You know more about them than any of us do, I trust you know who can be a help." Pō flew by Leon and his squad as Terra looked over to his. "I think everyone with me can pull the weight."

Teddiursa gasped as the keybearer insist. "But we'll need a variety to deal with both the Outlanders and the Heartless." The Espeon understood. "If me and Mahi Mahi-" He had his eyes on the Swampert. "can drive off a whole pack of Hyenas while K'ui gets use covered with wide guard, then it would safe to assume that all of us would fight some lions and other vagabonds too. In truth, there are quite a few pokemon who can be a better help being with us out there, than they would by staying here."

He looked over to the Tauros, Durant and Heatmor in particular. "We have another earthquake user and the only catch lies with Durant and Heatmor. Those two cannot get along for anymore than what is needed. If one of them comes along, the other needs to stay put and protect this place."

He asked Terra and Simba. "If you can give me twenty minutes to organize some things, from helping the Cadet learn some handy moves and sorting all this out. Then we won't get any real complaints." That was a considerate plan and the Keybearer looked over to Mankey. "There might be one more thing I want to ask, do you know anything that would be good with Mankey? He needs a bit of range before he goes in there to beat something up." Leon teeheed. "It could be tricky, but there is something a lot of fighting types can use that's pretty common."

Ten minutes later.

The Cadet was in a sweat, glowing in mystical fire while raising his hands to conjure a barrage of psyshock rocks and pelting at a rock. He flexed eagerly as Terra was impressed. "Now that's what I'm wanting to see. Once get the distance, you let them have it by firing as fast as you can."

Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!

They looked over to Leon, teaching Mankey something. "That's right, focus and the earth will answer. Breath in with that stomp." Mankey inhaled and stomped, giving a distinct glow and calling upon five boulders. "And throw!" Mankey tossed the boulders and caused a rock tomb, he tried again with more anger and brought about them even quicker. The monkey leaped in glee. "I did it, I did it! I learned rock tomb!"

The Espeon was pleased as Decidueye recalled. "That move will bury someone and slow them down for a bit. Try it when you want your friends to get that advantage." Leon nodded to his partner. "Right, it might not be the most accurate of moves, but it will do out here. At least until evolution happens."

The Mankey looked over to Phanpy and Scyther. "You guys want in on some of these lessons?" The Phanpy was curious while the Scyther gave himself a light scratch, Leon sighed. "Phanpy has a small problem, in where she's going to need to evolve in order to learn some of the best moves available. Scyther's just about good with what he has anyways and having the material for... an alternative, is out of the question right now."

The Scyther guessed. "Evolution?" Terra's quite surprised. "Wait, he can evolve into something stronger?" The Mantis groaned as Leon corrected him. "Not quiet, Scyther's one of the few pokemon who don't have an increase in anything once he evolves. What he's good at will definitely change. Scizor sacrifices speed and flying for a exoskeleton of steel, one of the best defensive types you can ask for and access to stronger moves that will bypass the speed. But, we can't go about that procedure due to... reasons."

Scyther cringed. "If I even wanted that, I'm one of the fastest of the Guard, so what do I got to change?" Terra answered proudly. "Nothing you wouldn't want. We might have a different battle sync, but out here, we take what we can get."

Leon added to that. "Scyther, as of now, you're swift, deadly and if allowed, you'd be hard to hit and even harder to dodge. I think that's more than enough to get things done." The boy asked. "And what you mean by a battle sync?"

The Keybearer explained. "It's just the way we fight, I hit harder than most of the Guardians, but compared to Aqua and Ven, I'm the slowest." Scyther flinched. "You call that slow?!" Terra nodded. "Especially compared to Ven, who can hit like the wind."

Leon recalled from earlier. "You have spoken about how you and those two are more specialized? I'm guessing it only takes a while for you to get going and put that muscle work to good use?" He dismissed that. "Regardless, it's clear that you're getting along now? Yes?"

Scyther crossed his arms and looked away. "Or that you've been right and I got mad at the wrong time?" The Espeon smirked as Terra realized something might have been said out of his hearing, the youngster continued. "Close enough, thankfully the others only need experience before they start evolving and Phanpy's next stage isn't long at all."

The Phanpy tooted her trunk in confidence. "We can take the Outlands together, no problem!" She had her eyes glitter. "You're about as strong as the Great Tusk!" The Espeon felt that was a greater example. "And if we have a potential ally over there already, one that helped Phanpy get over here, then-" The veteran was having less doubt at the task ahead, Leon looked over to the wild pokemon available. "well... you'll have the honor of how we're going to impress him. Pick which of these are going to come along with us."

The veteran nodded and called to his partners. "You five are in!" Phanpy cheered. "Yah!" Terra called to the metal ant. "Durant, all that talk about Scizor's gave me an idea." The ant guessed and scurried over. "I can put in the work, just watch out for any flames." Terra looked over to the grazing Tauros that was lifting his head up in anticipation. "Tauros, you're coming too!"

The bull swallowed and grunted. "Glad you're picking some muscle. Just point where I got to charge!" Terra gave Leon the rest of the honors. "That's the most I can think about for the raw power, you're the expert on the technical stuff." Leon wasn't judging the rather humble request. "Muscle and precision is paramount. You didn't overlook too much." He called. "Xatu, Marowak, Dodrio, Flamigo, you're coming with us!"

The mystical bird approached in a hover as Dodrio and Flamigo walked towards the youngster, Marowak pressed his bone to the ground and approached with a dance of a blue flame baton. Xatu hummed. "I foresee no consequence." The Marowak agreed. "The spirits are with us today!" Leon explained to the veteran. "We could use more psychics and Xatu's power of foresight can be crucial at times. Flamigo and Dodrio are pretty frail, but they are fast and powerful birds. As for Alolan Marowaks, you won't believe how powerful they can be with those thick club bones."

Terra understood the power, but he wasn't going to explain why he has a latent Judgment on the darker looking creatures. "But what's with the flames and the color?" Leon sighed. "Marowaks on Alola are part ghost and fire, due to how their right of passage is a spiritual one at a volcano. With the will of that spirit fire, our journey will have more safety at the end."

He turned to his Moltres. "Pō, much like before, we'll need you watching us from afar if we're going to encounter more than the Heartless. If the Outlanders think they have a right to attack us, just because, then someone's going to have to teach them why that's not okay. Sometimes a bully won't ever learn until they are given what they dish out." Pō understood and took off. "Worry not, for I won't be far."

The formed band hurried over to a rather impressed Simba, with the veteran reporting. "Alright your Highness. I think we're ready." Simba nodded and took the lead. "I'll get you to the border, but that's as far as I can go." There's several good reasons why that's as much aid as a King can provide.

At Gravity Falls.

Aqua, Ven and their companions of Stantler and Shadey, followed a rumored trial that lead to the base of a great mountain. Finding a small orchard with five apricorn trees. The Keyblade Master opened her mouth wide. "You've been growing!"

The Lil' Bro was feeling a plan in motion. "I'll bet if we save these, we won't have to go back to the others when we have to resupply!" Kit made himself known by a tree in a wave. "You showed up?" He approached with some instructions. "All you'll need is some iron and some cobblestone if you're ever short on pokeballs."

Aqua smiled and showed a recording on her phone. "That or these." The phone showed the details from the blue prints. "If we're interested in making heavy balls and those wing balls, we'll have options for the trickier captures. It's no coincidence that Xion found this," She rolled her eyes in a tease. "but I suppose that was part of Arceus's plans." She read the instructions. "If we want to make any old ball, then any cobblestones would do. The blue one's we'd find in a mountain can help us with the wing balls, while the darker ones we'd fine in a mine could help us make heavy balls."

She looked up to a mountain with a mine track. "We have a mountain right here and somewhere in the world is a jungle that is untouched by time itself."

Kit smirked and put his hands to his hips. "You said it, not me." He instruct. "If you're ever interested in these, then you should start climbing."

Aqua let the stranger know that won't be much of a challenge. "That will be considered." She gave a bow of gratitude. "Thank you Kit, we won't squandered this." The stranger appreciated that with some pride. "I got my hopes up. In the meanwhile, I'll see how the others are managing. You got a lot to explore and such a limited time."

He walked off and Ven thought to get more to the point. "At least until Rotom gets bored. Sounds like we have some pretty good spots to consider." Aqua waved a suggestion. "We'll ask the Pines if they want to go on a hike with us and help us find some pokemon. This big one should be asked once they're allowed to focus."

Ven scratched the back of his head. "Soos is a close friend of theirs and Mabel's really taking this as a big deal. He's got something that is suppose to help him learn the basics of talking to a girl."

Aqua felt that would be interesting to observe. "Communicating, finding ques and some common sense." She had a nervous smile at the topic. "The most I know on the matter is following what the heart says and consider what someone might be feeling."

Ven blushed and continued along with the mission. "Speaking of feelings, where would Rotom be hiding at that mall, if given the chance?" He used the dex to see the variety of forms Rotom has. A fan, a refrigerator, a lawn mower, a toaster oven and a washing machine. He felt a particular clue was right in the forms and smacked himself on the forehead. "Doi! I saw an appliance store with this kind of junk! How did I not figure that out?"

His Big Sis guessed. "Adrenaline from chasing Shadey? Now that you know where he'd strike, how are we going to lure him in? He'll know that we'll use it as bait." Ven sighed with a promise. "I'll think of something. This isn't a plan we can rush in one night."

Aqua explained her own observation. "Kit's just making it sound like we have a strict time limit as a way to test us. While we shouldn't delay anymore than we need to, a proper plan will come. We have the knowledge to make it."

She twirled to the forest with a childish glee. "We have an unknown wilderness all around us, a town nearby for our personal needs and by tonight, we'll have the means to call our friends and see how they're doing. Contrary to the few pokemon we've captured, we're still making admirable progress." The last perk caused Ven to envision. "I'll bet Terra's finally getting the hang of this right now!"

Aqua counted on that. "He just needs to find a partner that would compliment him. Now, shall we go find the Pines and see how they're fairing with their buddies?" There wasn't a harm for a fast check up, least for the hour that passed.

At the Outlands Borders

The Patrol Guard took one step from a desert the crag wasteland and were almost immediately beset by a heartless horde. From a pack of yellow stripe lizards who's bite could leave paralysis, to skeletal dinosaurs with blue bodies and wrecking ball like tails with a chomping maw, riding on top of them were dark apes with curled horned staffs. Flocking from the sky were dark blazing buzzards.

The shamans fired a barrage of fire spells that Armarouge was eager to absorb in a flash fire. Leon kept to the back and unleashed a dazzling gleam while Pueo focused on each of the living bones and fired arrows to their shadows, keeping them in one spot as K'ui use wide guard to protect the guard and give Mahi Mahi and Tauros time to unleash an earthquake, sending the Paralizards flying while Pō let loose a fiery wrath to eliminate the more dangerous of the horde.

Terra had the ground bound, melee fighters follow him against the big bones while Simba leaped after one of the shamans and knocked it off the steed while Durant took care of another with a first impression blow and gave the steed a repeated metal clawing. Directing it to a duo of two and using a mighty roar to stun them in place. Armarouge intercepted the other two and conjured a mystical fire to vaporize two of the shamans while Teddiursa and Phanpy contended with the steeds with facade and a built up roll out. Scyther charged after the Blazzards in a quick attack as Xatu assisted with air cutter, Flamigo leaped behind and assisted with low sweeps as Dodrio leaped like a brave bird and followed with double peckings.

Terra cleaved a living bones in two, had the fortune to watch the Paralizards get obliterated by black fire and called. "Cadet, go help Pō! Marowak and I have an idea!"

The Cadet gasped and raised his hands to the sky, conjuring psychic rocks as Leon gasped in amazement. "I see it! Pō, feed that fiery wrath into those rocks and make the sky rain in the destruction they seek!"

The Moltres nodded, flew above the stones and let loose the dark aura that blended with the purple, making them feel otherworldly as it bombarded the grounded heartless and sent two of them into a cluster. Teddiursa and Phanpy knocked theirs close by as Mankey used a rock tomb to get the foes trapped into a cluster. Terra and Simba leaped into the rocky cage and let loose an earth shaking roar as Marowak leaped into the center and smashed his bone to unleash spectral blue fire, blasting the big bones to kingdom come and leaving the Blazzards that were rapid firing fire balls. Scyther kept them distracted with a double team as the Cadet tossed mystical flames upon the birds, leaving Pō to pick each individual off with mighty hurricanes and flame thrower blasts while Flamigo and the leaping Dodrio knocked a few close to the ground and fire Terra's blade to vanquish.

At the peak, a second wave of five earthly cobra with blue fire spits appeared and forced Durant to burrow into the ground to dodge a focus fire. He appeared behind one and pinned the Sulfur Spitter down as Cadet and Pō worked together to unleash another Twilight Impact. The tension of battle was finished and the Armarouge gave a childish leap in joy. "Oh yeah!"

Pō had a bit of a laugh and noticed further ahead, a slope into a canyon that is has a split boulder in the center, he cawed as the birds returned to the grounds. "The Broken Rock is in sight, ground dwellers!"

K'ui felt his limbs working as the Patrol kept ahead to the marking. With the experience of how hostile the Outlands can be, Leon called for a short break. "Everyone, this will make a half decent camp! Set up while Pō and I make the map." Xatu kept still by the rock that Pueo perched on while Dodrio and Flamigo kept guard of the left and right exits that lead further into the wasteland. Durant burrowed to keep himself hidden, in case of an untimely ambush as Tauros and most of the other pokemon explored to their own devices. Marowak kept the lions and the Espeon, who listened to what the Moltres had to say.

Pō gave Leon the set of directions, while the youngster drew fast and made pictures that summarizes where is where. Terra sat down in some kind of meditation while Simba was impressed by the precise work the youngster was making. "It's like he's done this a hundred times." Terra believed that. "He's traveled with his partners before, he takes this a lot more serious than what his buddies might have you believe."

The Espeon gasped to something in particular as Marowak had something of a concern. "Your Highness, it's dangerous for you to be out here for too long and the desert's got it's own perils, how do you plan to get back?" The King wasn't too worried for his own. "I know my way around." He was however more weary of the dangers the patrol is in. "That outbreak of Heartless was more than I'd expect. Are you going to be able to get away with splitting up again, if it's needed?"

Terra had a basic idea on where most of the attacks were coming from. "The Heartless are drawn to dark hearts in the area, the more of them are around, the more Heartless we have. If we figure out how to get the Outlanders to back off, that would mean less we'll have to fight." Pō over heard that and let Leon know he'll be right back, he flew over and asked the lion. "Do you really believe that they'll keep away by choice? Simply because strangers asked them too?"

The veteran really didn't wish to agree with the dark pheonix, while Simba felt that was a point to be made. "I doubt they'll just listen." The veteran nodded in defeat. "It's their own fault, that they're living like this. They're not going to admit to that, especially those who are friend with the King that decreed it." Pō closed his eyes and nodded back to him. "Exactly, even if Obstagoon is taking care of one of them for us and drive them to a" his voice squeaked in doubt. "noble cause," and turned it to the deep tone. "it changes nothing for the others who aren't under his gaze." Simba already thought of a most prominent example. "And some would sooner eat a porcupine than listen to anyone who isn't of their kind." Terra pieced together a bigger picture. "It's that pride that stayed loyal to the tyrant, they're one of the sources of the Darkness out here. If we drive them away, the Heartless will ease up."

Pō felt that was a sound plan, yet his voice turned more sincere. "But, do any of us have a plan beyond storming over to their dens and letting them have it?" The veteran felt a spark in genius that he was hesitate to speak out about. "Not yet and it could only make the Heartless attacks even worse. But maybe..." He felt the plan come alive in his mind. "yeah... that could work."

Simba saw the confidence and smiled with him. "Is this something you'd like to share?" Terra shook his head, a little embarrassed to admit. "I'll tell my friends about it, but all you and Leon need to know is that you won't have to worry about those Outlanders for the rest of the day."

Leon finished his drawing and dashed while Xatu hovered close, clearly overhearing the conversation. The Espeon called out. "Alright, I got a map. It's pretty spread out but I'm thinking we can finish this in half a day." The band hurried to see the map, to the east is a boneyard and north of it was a raised rock with a strange round headed giraffe. A volcano at the far north showed a marking of flame along with a cave entrance somewhere. "Over here has to be the lair of those Hyenas and where Obstagoon was last seen. With something happening north of here, a pokemon known as Farigiraf is seen trying to handle it's own against those lions, along with a supposed steel type. If some of us hurry, we can get over there before that escalates and maybe converge over at the Volcano to find the fire types over there."

Marowak cringed. "That was where me and my companions had left some of our wards, you must be careful before you go over there. It housed something of great evil that we've banished." He had doubts. "Or so we believe." He widen his eyes. "There might be one other who is going to be the most hidden, but he will reveal himself when he sees what you intend to do."

Terra guessed. "Does that evil anything like a dark totem pole?" Marowak nodded as Xatu froze in terror for that moment. "It was beckoned by a demon of fire, that wished something vile upon a giant mawed beast and even dragged it over to the lava. It was only of good fortune that the beast was able to wit stand some of the burning, but the power nearly overwhelmed us." He raised a finger. "Until a mighty one of Great Tusks came and smashed that totem. We've handled the demon's outburst while our friend helped the maw beast escape."

Terra and Leon flinched at the words and looked to each other. "Great Tusks?" "The one that Phanpy talked about?" Simba focused on the less detailed part. "This friend of yours, what does he look like?"

Marowak was uncertain on how much of a help that would be. "He takes on many forms, one we won't notice unless we're certain of where to look, the other is of a dog, much like the wild ones around here and the other is of a giant serpent." Leon opened his mouth and admitted. "He's probably testing us before he shows himself. But that would explain how we still have time by now." He explained to the lions. "I think I know who that might be, but you'd probably freak out unless I can show you a picture. Just pay attention if you see anything with flashing hexagons and looks green, because this pokemon is a guardian of an entire ecosystem. We should also be on the look out for this... Maw Beast, because if it could resist the heat of lava, then it has to either be part water or part dragon. Most fire type pokemon can shrug off that kind of heat in comparison."

He had a flinch of terror and tried to calm himself, Terra noticed and asked. "You also have an idea of what that Maw Beast even is?" The Espeon wish his sense is mistaken. "I might, but worrying about it now would make us rush this mission. It would make itself known really fast and it's exactly why we're here. Most pokemon who know the move, Stockpile, tend to be pretty big eaters and there's an Ultra Beast that is part dragon and does nothing but eat. Literally anything, from the mountains, to a whole lake." He was about to panic. "No, no, no, no, no, no! Don't think about, don't think about it."

Mahi Mahi grabbed Leon by the scruff, bringing the youngster into a calm. Terra regretted asking. "We'll be on the look out for anything big, looks like a reptile and would eat house and home." Leon was let go and he kept more in focus while addressing the west, showing a den of what looked to be lions and a nearby mound. "Over to the west are the lions we were warned about, along with a termite mound that a pokemon could see as an all you can eat buffet." At the south was a pokeball marker. "And this is where we are now. I've been thinking, since me and my companions have already handled those Hyenas pretty easily, we should head over to the Boneyard, just in case we run into Obstagoon. He's pretty easy to predict if you know what move he has."

Terra felt that was a sound plan. "And while you do that, me and my squad can head west and see if we can't intercept those lions. The sooner they are out of the way, the sooner we can get this over with. When that is done, we'll search the Volcano and any plateaus that are close by. That would make it everywhere that a pokemon can be found and then we can focus on that Maw Beast."

Leon agreed with that. "It's easier said than done, because that Obstagoon might have problems that would be heartless bait as well." Terra agreed back. "It can escalate quickly if we don't hurry."

Leon warned the veteran. "If you're heading to face those Lions with your partners, be careful. Pō can't be in two places at once." Terra thought more into his plan and looked to his partners as Simba was imagining a larger scale ordeal. "If you can't find the Maw Beast, meet me back in the Pridelands at once, so we can understand what we're suppose to be looking for." He readied to turn as Xatu sneaked by him. "Good luck Terra, Leon."

In a sudden, he and Xatu disappeared in a flicker of light, surprising the veteran as Leon had confidence return to him. "Xatu didn't want to take the chance and is bringing Simba back home. Once you remember where you've been, a teleporter will get you there as soon as you can blink."

Terra used the time, Simba was having a scene of bewilderment, to speak up about his idea. "My idea is using something I had a habit of doing." Leon raised an ear. "And that habit has not only, gotten you into a lot of trouble, but it's pretty embarrassing?"

The veteran blushed in guilt. "Someone looks at me and my strength, then try to use it by telling me a bunch of crud that I'd follow." The Espeon guessed that Terra had fallen for that deceit. "And..." The veteran proposed. "What if, I use that as the bait?"

Pō gave an oh as Marowak leaned by his bone with a sly attitude. "So you'll listen to their excuse?" Terra nodded, blushing at the spilling idea. "Once I hear enough and say no, they'll show their true colors. Then me and my squad will get the jump on them."

Pō laughed to a devious scheme as Leon bobbed his head. "Mhm! Mhm! Since we know Xatu has teleport as well, I don't see why that plan won't work besides some luck. Just in case," He asked his bird. "Pō, I know enough of what an Obstagoon can do, to know how to handle one that's recently evolved. You are to follow Terra and help if it is needed." The Moltres listened and laughed in joy. "Ho, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! This is going to get good."

He flew off to the west as Xatu returned to give a caw. "The King is back to safety, I've missed a plan, haven't I?" Terra nodded and looked over to his options. "You have, but I'll fill you in as we get to work."

A few minutes later.

Leon and his partners made the selection of Marowak, Dodrio and Flamigo while making their way to the rumored boneyard. K'ui turned back and scuttled backwards while thinking out loud. "You think that plan's gonna work?"

Leon hoped. "If we heard correctly, that habit of trusting the wrong kind of people was how he ended up over here, instead of with his friends. But using that to an advantage is a sure way to apply what he has learned and prove that he can handle all the liars that are out there." He whispered closely. "We'll get finished with this patrol as soon as possible and give a bit of a surprise in case there's a part of the plan he overlooked."

Mahi Mahi grumbled. "Which is?" Leon thought out loud. "How many lions are out here? How they fare compared to those hyenas and the... other factors? Phanpy has a similar force that we've used to make a point, but it takes experience and power to deliver those same results. It's why Pō's been assigned to watch over Terra and his friends. Even if they are improving as fast as they are."

The Swampert nodded. "They still need work." Pueo agreed with him. "What's important, is that they're friends now. It's a start." The band spotted the boneyard and Leon crouched while whispering. "It is, but we're here."

Dodrio spotted something ahead and began to charge, with Flamigo and Marowak keeping behind her. The band looked ahead to find a circle of vultures closing in on a black feathered, baby vulture with a pink head, red eyes and using an upper half of a skull as a diaper. The chick flapped her wings to hover and warned the buzzards. "Back off, I'm heading to that Boneyard to try some of them out!" She landed on her rear as the buzzard leader wasn't threatened and asked his flock. "Right. All in favor of attacking at once and seeing if she's as plump as she looks?"

The vultures voted on that right as one of them noticed the angry three headed ostrich rushing through one like a brave bird, sending it rolling while Flamigo leaped after the leader and gave a double kick. "Vete!" Marowak rushed by to club a vulture and unleash a spin of will-o-wisps to burn the other.

The Vultures reconvened and were bull rushed by a hollering Crabominable that threw a fast ice punch to scare the lot into a panic as Pueo appeared from the shadows and aimed an arrow, hooting a warning. "Back off! Vullaby's coming along with us!"

The vultures were seeing a fight they had no chance of winning and fled, leaving a Vullaby to sighed in exhaustion. "Man, can't even take two steps without worrying about a local coming after you." She stood up and turned to recognize the Marowak, flapping in a panic. "Eek! Are you and Xatu finally back with help?" The bone keeper grunted. "I thought I told you to keep by Farigiraf and the Gambit! What are you doing out on your own?"

The Vullaby flapped in a plea. "I had to get out of there with all the lion attacks happening almost every hour since the morning. Farigiraf had enough time to use some foresight and said that friends are on their way if I hurry to the Bone Yard." She blushed awkwardly as Leon gave his hello. "Well, Fargiraf wasn't wrong." The Dodrio's asked. "You're saying those lions have been after you all day?" "Of all the rotten" "What are they trying to do by going after the weaker one?"

The heads looked to each other in a common agreement as Leon asked. "I heard of a Gambit and a friend said he spotted a steel type, he could be a real help in chasing off those lions if we can get to him fast enough. But first, we need to check the boneyard, just in case we have more like you." The Vullaby flapped in astonishment and blushed. "Hurray for the bones! I'm liking you guys already." Marowak grunted and lead on. "But we need to hurry, any moment we waist is another lion attack waiting."

That is agreed upon and the band hurried to what is a very used hyena den, with gnawed bones and scratch marks nearly everywhere. Leon looked around and ordered his archer. "Pueo, stay on look out and see if you can find anything hidden. Every pokemon we find is going home, one way or another." The owl was on it and noticed something slithering out of the gaps of bones, a swarm of Sulfur Spitters that caused the archer to disobey a direct order. "We got company!" The band were seeing the heartless on the attack and Vullaby stepped back to blow a tail wind.

"Bad! Bad! Bad!"

The Espeon turned to the chick and gave a wink. "Thank you for the boost! Just stay behind us and keep a support with snarl if you have it." The Vullaby freaked out. "Wow, you know how to read minds!" Leon giggled with elegance in preparation for battle.

At the west side of the Outlands.

Terra and his band were in a face off against a stampede of Big Bones, lead by a particular one with three horns that was ridden upon by a Shaman with a more decorative form. He, Tauros and Mankey stomped as one to unleash a barrage of boulders, the keybearer leaped to give them a slash and bombard the foes. Giving Teddiursa and Durant time to leap on the back of the Three horns and confront the Shaman. Durant lunged for a bug bite as Teddiursa gave a facade punch, the beast went out of control and the Shaman shoved the bear off while Terra caught a mystical fire from the Cadet and slammed down at the back leader in a meteor cleave, sending Durant flying while Xatu teleported to the side of the pack and let loose an air cutter. Phanpy leaped in the middle of the rampaging pack and unleash a bull doze while Scyther zipped through each one in a quick attack and finished them off.

Terra kept a tense air and looked around for more danger before looking over to the Termite Mound. "Come on, those things never stop coming." Teddiursa got on her feet and nodded fiercely as she ran ahead with the dizzy but determined Durant. Leading the Patrol to hurry along fast to the base of the mound, where a fuzzy purple insect with brown feet, tiny brown hands, red compound eyes and white antennas was scattering a purple powder upon a termite swarm. The bug watched the swarm fall over in a twitch and gave a dance. "Yum, yum, yum! What a haul!"

He spotted visitors and gathered the termites in excitement. "Howdy! Are you here for a pick me up before you head on to those lands with the rock?" He blushed. "There's a lot of treats over here!" Durant definitely refused. "I didn't think a Venonat would have the luck of being out here. What the heck are these?" The Venonat gave a little dance. "One whiff of my poison powder and those scaries run off!" Teddiursa cringed. "They'd even try to attack a pokemon like you? Wow, this place really is a nightmare." Terra gave a roar to scare off the remaining termites and assess control of the argument. "Let me handle this, Teddi."

He ahemed to the Venonat as the Teddiursa pouted. "We know a place where you all won't bother the locals. But we got to find every pokemon that's lost here. Do you know any that are nearby?" Venonat nodded. "I know some friends who are making a big burrow out of this plateau-" He slumped. "between the earthquakes and lions though, it's a struggle." He dropped the termites in that moment and headed north. "Come on, the Nidos would want to hear this!"

Back at the Boneyard

Pueo's fast use of leaf blade, Dodrio and Flamigo's swift speed, K'ui's brute strength and Leon's gleam felled the last of the heartless in the area, leaving the band a little tired out. The Espeon had a sweat. "Well, at least I get why he didn't want me to tag along. But I think we handle this well enough without him."

Vullaby noticed a glimmer of something by a rocky hill and cawed. "Hey, something else is over here." She flapped over and the squad followed behind, Pueo felt lingering shadows and insist. "Let's hurry and see if there's anything worthwhile, before more of those monsters show up." Leon kept a close eye and noticed something of a dim light, a black, sharp edge of stone sticking out of the formation. Flamigo tilt his head and gave a light kick, knocking the stone out and letting Leon pick it up with his teeth, he tasted something sharp and put the stone in his bag. "This stone is sharp!"

That was quite obvious and Pueo noticed words bellow where the stone was. The letters had eyes. "This writing-" The Espeon hmmed and recognized the language of the Unown. "Bring the earth to he of the air and he will learn it's strength."

Leon realized something, looked to the sharp stone, then back to the writing once more as it faded away. He looked over to the rock and recognized. "This is black augurite!" The pack mates who knew about the details gasped in shock as Mahi Mahi squinted his eyes in suspicion. "Someone put that there!"

Marowak tried to inspect the mark. "How would we know that? What's going to come out of finding things in these lands?" Leon zipped the bag closed. "If this wasn't marked by the ancient language that dates to Hisui, trusting this would have been a horrible idea. I've been told that someone is watching what we're doing and gave us all the supplies we need. If Scyther wants to be a real partner for Terra, he will consider this." As the pack were at an agreement, they heard a high pitch uproar in the north. Vullaby squawked. "Oh no, Farigiraf!"

She tried to fly off and failed to make it a few feet, Mahi Mahi picked her up and put her on his back. Leon followed the sound in a sprint and called. "Come on, we still got time!" The pack hurried to a base of a mountain, finding an orange giraffe with yellow legs, yellow tipped black spikes across his back, a black neck and a round head with sharp teeth, four antennas with bulbs and glowing yellow eyes. Doing battle with a blue metal shogun with blades at his abdomen, a sword on his head and blades for a wicked mustache. His arms were of golden color and he had long hair that he used as a chair. The two kept a stand against a pack of dark brown lionesses and a male with a damaged mane. He laughed in desperation and tried to pounce on the Farigiraf's neck, the long neck stepped back as the big blade gave the lion a sucker punch with the blunt of his bladed hand.

The blade man gave an even sharper glare and declared. "And I thought I was being nice for letting you all walk away here!" Leon completely disregarded a plan as he and his pack leaped to get in the way, with Vullaby flying behind the bigger pokemon and squeaking. "Don't worry, I got you covered!" She flapped to blow in a tail wind as the lions were completely off guard by the arrivals. A particular one that a bit larger and more ferocious looking, was quickly over it and gave a glare of daggers. "Pathetic, they are just prey, rip out their throats!"

The blade man sat there in wait as the lion pack sprinted for another go, Pueo used a spirit shackle to keep the lone male still as Leon fired psybeams rapidly, Farigiraf assisted him with a twin beam barrage as K'ui and Mahi Mahi lead a frontal charge and quickly knocked many of the pack back in a drain punch and a water fall. Marowak and the birds followed into a flanking formation and kept the cats occupied in a one sided battle. The Alpha lioness watched on and saw the Swampert gave a pack an upper cut, the fish dug his hands into the earth for something. The Alpha sprinted in between her pack and lunged at the mud fish, Mahi Mahi lifted his right hand for a block and was given a rather deep bite that made him grit his teeth.

Rush! POW!

At a blink of an eye, the blade man gave the lioness a shoulder bash and sent her rolling into the dirt. Leon cringed and channeled a power gem blast to keep the alpha back, he gave something a kin to a roar. "Hey! Take off and leave us alone already! It's not worth the trouble!"

He kept an eye to Mahi Mahi, who was inspecting a bleeding bite wound. "Mahi Mahi, are you going to be okay?" The Swampert shook his hand and readied his left fist. "It will take more than that to make me worried!"

Leon had a deep breath and shifted an eye to a lioness that recognized him as the pack alpha and made a lunge for him. Before the Espeon could fire, something rushed from the left and knocked the lioness away. A white canine with a teal muzzle and collar, with one swipe, the Lioness was knocked into a spin and the pack watched the canine reassemble himself into being. The dog gave her a glare and turned to the pack. "You have no reason to be doing this! Return to where you came, now!"

The Lioness was quick to get up and gave a glare back to the dog that wasn't budging. She snarled in spite. "We should be ruling these lands! We will not allow you pests to command anything from us!" Vullaby was at the end of her patience and cawed for a fight while Leon was having a pretty intense stare with the dog. Marowak readied a fire spin as Flamigo readied valorous kicks. The lioness growled and turned. "You better watch yourself around these lands, little cub." She roared to call off the attack and issued a retreat, Farigiraf and Leon had a dazzling glow to make it be known that if the pack tried anything, they will be attacked.

The blade man huffed at some doubts. "Those psychotic cats aren't going to stay gone because we got the bigger numbers." He asked the arrivals. "What are you all even doing here in the first place?"

Leon brought out a potent salve and applied it to Mahi Mahi's bite wound. "To find you, Kingambit! I know if you had Bisharps and Pawniards with you, then those lions would have regretted coming anywhere close to you. I know that you're often with a pack." Kingambit took offense. "If I wasn't swept away from them, we'd be teaching those cats a lesson about crossing us!"

Farigiraf gave a step and insist. "Kingambit, let's focus on what's important." The steel type nodded. "Yeah, the scummy part of it all is that we actually helped save this dump when some monster was messing it all up at a volcano! This is how the land thanks us?!"

Marowak tapped his bone. "We were warned that those lions are a bad bunch that were banished here. The king over at the Pridelands speaks truth about this." Leon watched Mahi Mahi feel a sting from the medicine and worried. "There was so much hatred in that attack. Just... why?" The Swampert was feeling his wound numbing and the bleeding halting. "Don't matter much now, only that we won." The Flamigo nodded and looked ahead to a distant volcano. "Ahora se persigue a los gatos con dientes. No nos volverán a molestar." Leon had his doubts. "Eh, no estoy tan seguro de que se detengan después de una derrota."

He looked to Farigiraf and then to the dog. "There's just a few things we need to do before we meet with Terra and put an end to this search. Zygarde, I'd expected you'd be around when Marowak talked about someone taking on many forms. Thank you for helping the land while we tried to get here." He gave a bow of gratitude as the being of Order asked rather hot blooded. "That voice tells us that there is much more you intend to do. What have you found?"

Leon started with the most obvious. "We also expect that an Ultra Beast is somewhere around here. A big one with a giant, you know how dangerous it can be for the ecosystem if we don't try to find him." Zygarde was aware. "That was why that demon tried to attack him, I helped that pokemon dig his escape through a cave and told him to just keep going." Leon cringed. "That Guzzlord isn't digging, he's eating! He could be burrowing his way out of somewhere and we'll have to get there as soon as we can."

The three jumped as the Kingambit cringed. "OOOOH, that's not going to be good if one of these locals gets a look at him." The Espeon agreed and asked. "Zygarde, if you can feel the tremors, then you can find where Guzzlord would be munching out of. Keep an eye for that while we handle the last of the problems out here."

The dog listened well as Kingambit gave a stink eye. "Why should any of us listen to you? You're a kid that's stepping into dangerous lands!" K'ui growled as Leon closed his eyes in grace. "It's nice that you consider that. But we wouldn't have been allowed to come here if we weren't going to handle it." The Kingambit put a hand on his hip. "You might have the hindsight of a psychic type, but I'd sooner chip my blade than depend on that to get anywhere." Leon found that as a challenge and didn't notice a light emitting from his frame, K'ui jumped at the Kingambit and called him out. "Hey, Leon's lead us thick and thin over the months! You're wanting a go at us or something?"

Glimmer, Leon noticed he was standing tall in a gleam of light and brought the wild pokemon into astonishment. The Kingambit jumped back in battle. "King?!" Leon felt the word miss his ear, yet understood the shock. He kept behind K'ui and ordered. "Let's show this bossy King, how we handle things." The Crabominable beat at his chest as the Kingambit was at the corner and rushed in a scoot, ramming the ice type with an iron head and making him step back. Leon threw a punch and gave a battle cry, K'ui followed with a fast fist, sending the Kingambit into a spin of a punch and bringing him to his knees. Leon was aware of a particular move and brought out a gray lid ball with blue round lumps. "Go, heavy ball!"

Fling! Tap!

The ball brought the rowdy steel type in and gave a shake before landing. In one shake, the ball clicked and cemented a capture." Leon hmphed, picked the ball up and let out a Kingambit that was bewildered, light enveloped the youngsters form and he returned to an Espeon who had a particular wrist band and an dark pink crystal. "Has my point been taken?"

The steel type jumped back onto his seat and he shook his head in a way he's seen his subordinates do. "Alright, alright, alright. You made you're point!" Leon hoped so. "This is only going to be for a while, but I know a power house like you could be a real help. Luna Kaua." He thought to ask. "Speaking of which, have you seen an Obstagoon or a black Linoone around here before? He's stirring up a lot of trouble and we'd expected him to have been over here."

Farigiraf gasped. "He? My senses picked up some kind of leader ship that was directing something towards a show of might." Kingambit remembered more specifically. "That little fur ball? Did he cause one of the clans to start following him around?" Marowak nodded. "That's precisely what he's done." Kingambit laughed in pride as Leon pleaded. "Come on this is serious. He needs to know that help's finally arrived." He took a deep breath and let Zygarde take off while he lead. "Come on, Terra should be over at the west."

At the other side of the Outlands.

Terra and his band followed Venonat to what looked to be a burrow colony right in the rocky plateau, where a variety of rabbit like reptiles, some purple quadrupedal, having a horn on their head and green in their inner ears. Some blue, nearly bipedal and having no horn. Keeping guard of what is clearly younger members of their kind, trying to get a bit of sleep away. Keeping watch, from the front and back, where two bipedal reptiles of similar features. One is purple with a gray plate over his chest and belly, having a mighty tail a row of teeth, two sets of three clawed hands. The other, who is clearly a mate, Had smaller horns and a smaller tail, her cream colored chest plates were a lot smaller, resembling a pair of chests. Her mouth looked more like a beak and her inner ears were brown.

Xatu was more than pleased. "A family of Nidos!"

The female heard that and turned, looking up, having a moment of terror and roaring. "A lion's with you?!" The male turned fast, saw Terra among the group and leaped out to make a threatening tremor, he gave a battle pose and roared. "Get by the Nidorans and Rinas, Nidoqueen! Me and the Rinos got this!"

The juveniles over heard and scurried out to have a guard over the entrance. Phanpy remembered a pack that helped guide a way and kept in between the two while Venonat pleaded. "Wait, wait! You got it all wrong, Nidoking." Phanpy tooted her trunk. "Terra's a friend! We've come here to help."

The alpha took the words of a pokemon first and foremost as Terra made it clear the intentions. "I know you and your family have been attacked by lions regularly. They need to know to take a loss and let you take off to anywhere but here." Nidoking was wide eyed in shock as Nidoqueen over heard. "How would you all know that?"

Terra answered, unaware of a shadow receding. "A friend of ours had someone fly the land to see what's been going on and we've been told about the locals." Xatu used his wings like flags and caused Nidoking to believe that. "Okay, you're one of the good ones that's actually going to try to help us? But what are we going to do? The moment we step out of here, we'll be in for a hike!"

Terra looked to his squad and had most of them, baring Tauros, Phanpy and Durant, to get to hiding. "I got an idea that's going to get a message to those lions. If they come around, pretend that you never saw us and that these two" He pointed to Tauros and Phanpy. "came by alone."

The Durant dug into the ground. "You'll figure the rest out?" The warren understood and let him know they'll play along. Nidoqueen grunted. "I get it, they might listen if a lion's saying it." Nidoking grunted. "And if they still wont, then they just went into a trap." Xatu teleported Terra away and left the group to get into position, having the youngsters wake up from their naps and get ready for a migration while Tauros and Phanpy kept guard and on watch.

Twenty minutes later, right as the Nido clan were wide an awake, a pack of encroached from the east. Nidoqueen and the juveniles went into a defensive stance of the youngsters as Tauros and Phanpy hurried to their guard. A particular alpha female made herself known, with hateful intent. "Finally deciding to crawl out of hole? Where do you think you're going?"

The Nidoking stood his ground. "Away from here, so do yourselves a favor, head back to your den and we'll be long gone." The Alpha Lioness gave a light chuckle. "And allow you all into the Pridelands? Please, I'm afraid this little game" She said as he pack approached with growls. "is over."

In a sudden, Terra arrived, pretending he didn't over hear that. "Hey, what's going on here?" Nidoking shifted his eyes to know there's another lion in the back, keeping up his charade as the alpha was a quite surprised by another feline. "Oh, didn't see you here. What's brought you to the Outlands?"

Terra kept his eyes on the pokemon, seeing they've taking the defense. "I'm just looking for these guys myself, I've been told that they wandered over here by mistake and I'm here to get them over to the greener pastures." A male with a damaged mane cringed and went jittery at the thought. "Did he send you?"

The alpha gave her subordinate a glare to make him shut up and asked. "The usurper? Simba? He hasn't come to address this himself?" Terra had a bit of a surprise as four lions approached from behind, the keybearer had an idea of where this is going. "Not really, almost everyone in this neighborhood was banished by him and are out for his blood. Guess you didn't like how he took over?" The alpha snarled at how she was called out. "He didn't tell you how he did it? How... dubious."

Terra nearly resisted the urge to bring his blade out and allowed her to continue. "We were the next in line, when Simba and his friends murdered our king! And now he's sent you to finish the job? Please, you're fighting for the wrong cause."

The keybearer clicked his tongue in silence. "I don't think he cared enough to send me on. This isn't worth the trouble." He gave Tauros a look as a que as the lioness was offended. "Those lands belonged to us lions and we were robbed! Simba's taken pity on these lesser animals, yet he chose to ignore us? While we have to fight for scraps to survive!"

Terra felt an ounce of pity for the lions followers. "That's been the reason they need to leave. But they'll get what's going to happen and why. Would you please stand aside, you're going to make this harder than it needs to be." The Lioness made a sprint after the Keybearer that conjured his blade and deflected her away. The lion flank went after Tauros and Nidoking while the back row split between the Nidoqueen, with one going after Terra. Burst! Durant leaped out, grabbed a lion and sent her in a flip as Xatu appeared with the band of misfits. Quickly bringing the numbers at an even, with the Cadet, Teddiursa, an angry Mankey, a Scyther tilting his head to the pack in a condescending manner and a skittish Venonat. The lone male was ambushed in the back by a sudden eagle chick that cawed. "Huya!"

He flew above to avoid a claw as Phanpy and Tauros charged after the rushing pack and let loose a shock wave to knock the pack back. Nidoking and Nidoqueen unleashed a blast of earth power as the Nidorinos charged with poison jabs ready.

Mankey lunged after a lion and gave a low kick, ice punch combo as Teddiursa was given a will-o-wisp burn from the Cadet and joined in an assault. Scyther split himself into a double team and rushed through each lion in a combo of dual wing beat and fury cutter. The Scyther made for the alpha and gave her a quick attack tackle, the lion clawed at him and Terra followed with a blade swing that sent her rolling back.

Venonat pounced on the distracted male and gave a bug bite as the Cadet called him back and fired a mystical fire, giving him a burn that made him regret things. "Ow, ow, okay, ow!" He leaped away and went after the small bear, when he noticed a shadow of something leaping after him.

SMASH!

The match came to a brief halt on the arrival of a great beast that looked like a stocky elephant with spiked plate from the nose to the back, pink fur at his ankles and a reptiles tail. Having his weight applied to the lion and putting him completely out of commission. He gave the lion a glare of yellow, reptilian eyes before focusing on the lion pack, Phanpy curled to protect herself and gasped in joy. "Hurray! The Great Tusk is here!"

The strange Donphan over heard that, saw Phanpy came with friends and gave a grumpy look for the lions. The alpha lioness swatted Scyther away and lunged for the back of the donphans ears, where a throat ought to be. The Great Tusk turned fast and gave the lion a swift swat with his trunk before stomping and bellowing. "RWUURRRRRR!"

Terra gave Teddiursa a fast remedy from the burn and charged with her for close combat, keeping clear of the Great Tusk throwing his weight and slamming his trunk at the alpha. The lion was sent into a roll as Scyther surrounded her in a double team and went for a sharper fury cutter, the lion sprinted away and rushed through the illusions, making a charge for Terra. The keybearer and the Teddiursa gave a combo of a mighty blow and a thunder punch, the lion ducked the cleave and back handed the bear right into the dirt. She made a sprint after the bear with her claws ready and Phanpy rolled in the way to use protect, she followed with a roll out to send the lion in a flip and turned for another. As the fight was reaching a peak, a cockney accent asked from nowhere. "Oi! Who's starting this fight without me?"

A Vigoroth head butted into a lion pack and followed with fury swipes as a Mightyena appeared and gave a invigorating howl. Following behind was a black n white, bipedal, red eyed badger with a dangling tongue, and gray fur posing as a vest and bracers. He brought his tongue down to show fangs. The alpha lioness dodged the Phanpy and find the absurd beast a nuisance. "You'll never rule over these lands."

She pounced at the Obstagoon that crossed his arms, blocking the bite while screaming into her ear. "Who said anything about me wanting that?" He gave her a punch that sent her to her back. Obstagoon smirked as the dirt behind him raised up, hiding the arrival of one of the more terrifying things in the out lands, a pack of opportunistic hyenas. Obstagoon pointed at the lion pack in particular. "Oi! We got some more meat around 'ere, get them lions!" The hyenas giggled and made a lunge for the losing lions, forcing them to realize this was a fight that was going to cost them if they stayed.

The alpha lioness was getting up to see her pride running off while her injured subordinate was trying to wake up. "Are we winning, mother?" The alpha hyena heard that and asked sarcastically. "If you mean we, then you mean us? Then yeah!"

Her subordinates were ganging up on the lion that realized who said that and made a run for his life, leading the alpha lioness to realize she lost and run off. With the hyenas balked to keep the cats running, the Teddiursa phewed and sat on her rear as the Cadet approached the Obstagoon and gave a salute of gratitude. "That was a brawl. I thought that fight was going to get more drastic towards the end."

Obstagoon sized up the Cadet, the Scyther, Tauros and Durant that were keeping watch, then to the Phanpy that was making a dance of victory and gave off a glow. He laughed in good will. "I figured they'd stop being a bunch of talk once they see their boss get punched like that." He gently pushed him aside and went for a particular Lion with a blade in his mouth. "Now, step aside. You smell like you've just evolved."

Cadet huhed as Obstagoon approached the keybearer with aggressive intentions, Teddiursa hurried to get in the way. "Hey, hey! We just fought with our lives! What are you trying to do?" Obstagoon distracted himself by watching the Phanpy grow bigger and take on a form that is similar to the Great Tusk, all be much smaller and not as prehistoric. The older donphan was another idea in his mind while Terra pulled the bear back and to his hip. "He didn't come here to save the day, he's just looking for a bigger fight!"

Obstagoon nodded and had his focus on the keybearer. "Now ya talking my language. Those lions thought they own this dust bowl, thinking they can do what ever they want while the rest of us take it! Ya got the guts to stand up to them, you got the stronger stuff they don't."

Teddiursa pouted with her arms crossed as Terra had adrenaline flowing in his vein as the Obstagoon had an insane plan in motion. "I smell your scent, it's nothing like those lions. Much stronger. If I take you down a peg, then I can move on over to becoming the toughest thing here! You ain't leaving here before I get a go!"

The hyenas finished chasing the lions away and watched the Phanpy finish her evolution into a gray Donphan with short, average tusks, more than enough of a visual to understand what they are dealing with. They retreated to get by the Vigoroth and Mightyena as the obstruct made it clear he wasn't going to back off, what is currently the greatest ordeal left in the outlands and one humbling blow could end it. Terra took the challenge with a stance of courage, he used his remaining adrenaline to charge at the Obstagoon that obstructed and was send flying a ways, skidding across the land and keeping his feet to the ground. The push slowed down as Obstagoon dug his toe nails and had a strong stance, the bull rush from the heavy weight of the Wayfinders, was obstructed.

Obstagoon felt his heart rushing, realizing he wit stood that kind of blow, felt a burn from his trinket and used the chance to scream into Terra's ear. "My turn!"

He gave a punch of facade and hit Terra square in the face, sending him into a complete white out and falling to his side. The hyenas got a laugh at a lion of that caliber getting knocked down like that while Obstagoon lifted his hands and cheered. "Y'all see that! Who's bad to the bone here!" The Mightyena howled. "Obstagoon!" Vigoroth clapped. "Obstagoon!" The Hyenas were drawn to the cheering and joined in, until they notice that the Great Tusk and the eagle chick were getting annoyed by them.

A shadow appeared over the rowdy band, to break up the squabble. A Pō that kept guard of an awakening Terra and giving off an aura of dark wrath. "That's quite enough, fool! How's about you take this to those mad cats before they get the idea to come back?"

The deep voice was a surprise and the Obstagoon turned to the dark Moltres that caused a sweat, seeing the bird has had more experience battling and has a greater power to where it won't be easily fooled by the obstruct strategy. As much as the Obstagoon wished to fight someone of that weight class, he grunted in agreement. "Yeah, it took a couple wacks to the head to get these idiots to finally listen." He looked to the Hyenas. "and I'm thinking those lions will need six of those to take the hint."

He called out to the Great Tusk as he readied to leave. "After that, I'm going to see if you're really a legend like they've been saying, Donphy! Ya better meet up by the mounds when the sun starts going down!" The Great Tusk groaned and looked to the newly evolved Donphan that was concerned for getting Terra up, the beast gave a grunt and smiled. The Donphan grunted back and promised. "We'll get everyone out of here in no time now!"

The Great Tusk had the eagle chick fly over to the smaller one's head and took off to the south as Terra was getting up and had a second look at the two, the comparison of size and features are uncanny. Obstagoon whispered to Terra as the gang hurried ahead to do some heckling. "If ya gave me a smack like that, then the King that sent y'all here's got to be holding something back. Ya be telling 'em to that Obsty's going to see if he's up to the stuff! Capeesh?"

Terra was more astonished by the blow than the words. "You're making a big mistake, Obstagoon." The dark type took that as a yes, wildly enough. "Ya look like you been hogging some of the bigger fights for ya'self too! So what's the mistake here?"

That was quite a valid point and Terra simple stood out of the way, letting Obstagoon catch up with his gang. The Moltres felt someone was coming as the Keybearer asked the herd. "Is everyone here alright?"

Nidoking looked over to his mate, who was counting the young ones. "Looks like it, we really wouldn't have made it out of that if y'all didn't come." He put a fist to his chest, macho to macho. "Y'all are pretty strong!" The band smiled to that as Scyther admitted. "Thank you, a lot of us have been working out." He looked over to an embarrassed Armarouge and a Teddiursa that was puffing her cheeks up, Mankey was the only one who looked rather mellow but had an irritating thought. "So what's that Obstagoons big deal?"

Terra recalled a few things he's learned about basic animal behavior and put them to work. "He thinks he's the top animal in the whole lands and he's wanting to prove that by beating up anyone who has some merit. Those hyenas are just along for the ride, but the pokemon." He thought from seeing their eager behavior. "They're his real muscle."

Teddiursa groaned. "We got to beat him or he's never going to give it up! Why can't I evolve sooner?" Terra knew that wasn't the bears fault. "Because it takes longer for you. You've gotten a lot stronger since you learned that one move to go with the other. But you all still need practice."

He corrected himself. "No, we all need it." "Oh my goodness! What's happened here?" Pō let Leon and a gang that had the additions of a Farigiraf and a Kingambit, arrive to the scene.

Terra almost had his heart leap when he saw the Giraffe with his hood closed, a second head resembling the dark forces that are a regular. The Farigiraf opened the second mouth to show a friendlier face that could tell. "Obstagoon was here?" Terra nodded and looked over to the path of the Volcano, with a clearing that can make a decent camp. "Can we explain over there first?"