August 21st; with the coming of yet another new day, things were looking up for our heroes now that the Six Heroes were finally reunited. Ash, Goh, Gladion, the Pokémon School Gang, Kukui, Burnet, and Lei have already parted ways with them to continue their own dreams and adventures and Clavell, his faculty, and the Paldea Gym Leaders returned to their respective homes and lives to prepare for the upcoming school term with Dot, Liko, and Roy about to be brought in as Uva Academy's new students to learn about Paldea's Terastal Phenomenon.
After the young girl and the young adventurer decided to continue their journey, it had been decided that while the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft were being repaired following the heroes' scuffle with the Explorers, Friede would look further into Terapagos and the Terastral Phenomenon as he promised Diana while they and Dot would join Sarah, Race, and Asha as their new classmates for Uva Academy's Terastal Course to learn how to Terastallize their partners.
However, Sarah, Blitz, Curly, her human family, Race, Liko, Roy, Floragato, Fuecoco, Friede, Cap, Nebby, Nebula, Mienshao, Wang Lun, Hashimoto, Ching Wan, Lazuli, and the Circle of Twelve were out for the day with Diancie in North Province Area Two. They were following her to the home of her Kubfu friend who would be the last of her Legendary Pokémon friends to join the heroes on their quest as part of the Diamond Pokémon's alliance against the Explorers.
It wasn't long until the group approached a waterfall in the province's bamboo forest and saw a lone little Kubfu practicing martial arts.
"Kubfu, I'm here~!" Diance called sweetly, getting the little Wushu Pokémon's attention and prompting the Fighting Type to stop training and join her.
"Lady Diancie," the Kubfu greeted, bowing in respect to her before noticing its evolved forms, Sarah, and the others with them looking at it curiously. "Uh, forgive me but... Why would you need a royal escort to see me?"
"Oh, Kubfu, these are our new friends and allies. The others and I have joined forces with them to defend themselves against a group called the Explorers who want to harm and steal a few Pokémon from them for their own nefarious purposes. And, not only do we require your assistance but it would do you good to come with us should they discover you here. Your mastery of Kung Fu will be most invaluable to us during our time with them."
The Kubfu looked at the heroes for a moment and thought about what Diancie told it before it bowed again and nodded, "As you wish, M'lady."
"Oh, great, another manly bear joining our roster. Jo-OOMPH!" Eternatus (who decided to join the heroes on the search for Diance's Kubfu friend after becoming bored) snarked until he was given an uppercut to the face by the younger Wushu Pokémon and plopped onto the ground.
"Excuse me?! I'm not a boy or a man, you lummox! I'm a girl!" the Kubfu snapped angrily at him.
"A GIRL?!" Hashimoto and Ching Wan balked as their eyes bugged out at her (knowing that most of their species were male and only a minority (approximately 12.7%) were female, a fact that was an absolute shock to them).
"Oh, my...!" Wang Lun remarked, sharing their shock as he stared at the female Kubfu. "So, Young Miss, you're really...!"
"That's right," Kubfu huffed as she crossed her arms and turned away, still offended by Eternatus' unintentional sexist jab.
"...Okay, that seems familiar," quipped a baffled Mienshao, remembering when she tried to play herself off as a man before Entei and Sarah uncovered her true gender.
Sarah sighed and sheepishly shrugged before she stepped forward and told the female Fighting Type, "Well, I'm sorry if Eternatus rubbed you off the wrong way with his joke, Kubfu, but what Diancie said is true. Your friends are with us and we'd most appreciate it if you join-"
"Can wePLEASEget to why you want us tohelpone of the devils that ruined my life?!" Lazuli interrupted angrily.
Sarah winced and sighed again; she and Reader had expected the swordswoman to be completely against the idea of helping Amethio after they told her and everyone else about the new prophecy they learned and the vision she had regarding the Explorers' betrayal of him, Terapagos regaining his Terastal Form, the pink crystals, and Spinel's Umbreon monstrously reacting to them as she prepared to fight.
(Flashback)
"WHAT?! You want us to help Amethio when he gets attacked by his own teammates and Gibeon?"
That was Lazuli's reaction when Sarah and Reader told them everything as planned; a few hours before the group and Diancie went off to find Kubfu, they explained to everyone else in the Brave Olivine's meeting room during breakfast about the prophecy and the vision they got. When Reader told them about it in the tone her species normally got upon receiving their prophecies (her eyes glowing white as she did so), she managed to spook some of the group (mainly Murdock, Mollie, and Sydney). However, apart from the pink crystals, what really shocked everyone from the vision she showed them were the future events involving Terapagos, Spinel's Umbreon, and Amethio.
The swordswoman was furious when they were told they had to help Amethio should he truly be betrayed by his own syndicate and even Liko couldn't hold back her shock, "You mean...! They betrayed him at that point for some reason?!"
"That's about it," Sarah confirmed, making Lazuli move towards the wall behind her and punch it in disgust.
"Ugh! Goddamn it, I hate this!"
"C-Calm down now, Kiddo! There's no need to get so upset over this. As much as we don't like him, too, there must be a reason as to why he was attacked," Hu pacified his old charge, feeling scared for her blowing her top as she did.
"Why should I calm down?!"
"Just listen, we need to know more about this," he reassured gently before turning to Reader, "Now, Reader, based on the timeline you saw, do you know what exactly happened to him?"
The NightWing remained silent and solemnly replied, "...I can't say for certain until I study it further and uncover the details. But, what I saw involving Amethio was true; at that point, he really was attacked by Coral, Sidian, Spinel, and Chalce."
"HUH/WHAT?!" balked the Rising Volt Tacklers, Liko, Roy, Dot, and the Circle of Twelve in total shock and disbelief.
"Whoa... I never thought he would have it rough," Murdock commented.
"That's just...too absurd even though I believe you," added Mollie.
"I wonder what could've happened that led him to being betrayed," Orla pondered worriedly.
"But, why would they do that to him?! He's one of them and still on our case after confirming he's going after Rayquaza," Roy reminded, not understanding.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Roy. I'm just as shocked as you all are; I wished it was a joke after I saw the timeline and watched what happened to him but that wasn't to be."
"So, you two think there's some sort of hidden truth about Amethio we don't know about according to the vision you saw?" Friede theorized.
"I don't like it," Cap added warily.
"That's the theory but the only way to know about that is to ask Amethio himself. But, given our recent history with him and the Explorers and we won't see him again for a while, that's highly unlikely," Sarah sighed again.
"And, if we're lucky. That moron's a nut job and isn't very open about anything apart from catching Rayquaza no matter what," Sydney snarked.
"You know, it's weird that we're now concerned for someone who's been hunting us down for a while and learned Terastallization only recently to capture Rayquaza only to be betrayed later on," Astrid remarked.
"Yeah, time-traveling is never our thing nor telling the future. But, despite how weird it all is, it does pose a problem," agreed Hiccup.
"Oh, dear... If that's the case, I'm afraid Amethio's life will be in danger and the humans by his side will suffer the same fate, too," Diancie cooed worriedly.
"I'm not following this, Diancie. Why would that be the case?" Dog questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"Because, Dog, it could be a hidden clue as to the inner workings of the Explorers. While Amethio, Spinel, Coral, Sidian, and Chalce are all members, they have certain ranks that would cause tension between them."
"It's the classic bad guy factor of 'discord amongst the ranks'. While the Explorers' schemes are meticulously planned, there might be friction between them over how each of them operates and what could happen the further they push themselves into the darkness and for Gibeon's endgame. Some of them wouldn't see eye to eye with each other for some reason even if they're on the same page. If Reader's vision is true, Amethio would be singled out amongst them but for the wrong reasons," Amber and Ghost (Dragapult) noted on Diance's behalf.
"NightWing Visions are usually cryptic as was Reader's vision of Team Galactic and Heatran before we and our old friends attended the Hisui Festival in the Sinnoh Region's Canalize City the previous year. But, when the timeline they saw plays out as expected, there is a clue that will lead their recipients to hidden truths about those events. The Explorers' betrayal of Amethio could be telling Reader, the princess, and us that the syndicate is corrupted and betrayal runs deep amongst their soldiers," Virizion added thoughtfully, her mind on the snippet involving Amethio.
"Okay... So, in all respect, what'll we do now?" Dot pondered, wondering what everyone should do about the prophecy.
"I don't like it considering how much of a gamble it is... But, if that part of Reader's prophecy is true and Amethio will be betrayed in due time, then perhaps we look into and piece together the bits of her vision leading up to that moment," Tsukumaro suggested.
"You mean us playing the old 'The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend' card, Tsukumaro?" Fishlegs clarified, seeing where the old advisor was getting at.
"Precisely."
"...Well, I'm sure we still have a bone to pick for what he and his blowhards did to the kid. But, if he gets his low quarters in hot water and ends up being an old rag for the Explorers, I guess we'll pitch in on the rescue front," Mistral sighed reluctantly.
"Agreed."
"Ditto."
"Me, too, but I won't like it," added Pig, Rabbit, and Rooster with the rest of the Zodiacs nodding in agreement despite sharing Mistral's reluctance.
"So, where do we start based on all that mumbo-jumbo drag?"
"And, how do we start?" Tuffnut and Ruffnut asked.
"Let's think back to one of the obvious lines in the prophecy for starters," Zenna suggested.
Astrid nodded as she deducted, "Well, there's 'The Spinels weave with silken tongue'; no surprise given Spinel might be involved with his underhanded tactics."
"No prizes, really; it's always known among us that Spinel has a deep but silent hatred for Amethio for some reason. I never pried into it during my time with the Explorers but I can tell those two were willing to step on and out-match each other in their assignments involving Laqua," Lazuli snorted in confirmation.
Sarah agreed as she replied, "While it's not much to go on, it's a start. So, while Asha, Race, and I continue our studies at Uva Academy and Liko, Roy, and Dot join us for class, we still have time to learn more before the betrayal occurs. As much as it pains me to admit it, Amethio, Onia, and Zirc's survival rests upon our shoulders."
"And, you want ME to help you all in rescuing the monsters that murdered my parents, indoctrinated me into their ranks, made me a killing machine before they threw me away and broke the shackles they had on me after I gave them what they wanted (which wasn't much)?! No how, no way, no thank you! FORGET IT! If you want to save Amethio's ass and those of his two sidekicks, go ahead and try! But, leave me out of it!" Lazuli snapped, wanting no part in rescuing Amethio and remembering what he and his cohorts did to her all too well.
She then tried to leave the meeting room to brood but Sarah immediately stopped the swordswoman when she reached for the door (grabbing her right shoulder as she did so) and said, "Lazuli, please... I know you still hate the Explorers for killing your parents and making you a child soldier, what they did was unforgivable, that's true... But, how would you be any better if you left Amethio to be betrayed by his own team, destroyed by their mastermind who must know something about him if there's any connection to him, having no one to turn to for help if he loses Onia and Zirc...?"
Lazuli turned away in a huff but the little princess was persistent as she continued, "You know better than any of us how dangerous Spinel can be thanks to his mastery of deception, manipulation, and playing Devil's Advocate. Who's to say he won't somehow worm his way into Gibeon's good graces and gain favor from him? That makes him even more of a threat to Amethio and you told us he'd use anybody and anything to get his way and anything he wants without a fight as he tried and failed to do with Chalce, Sidian, and Coral. He'll probably also play Gibeon for a fool and instigate Amethio's betrayal by the Explorers through him. Like it or not, we're his only chance for survival. I'm not asking you to forgive them, I'm not asking you to like them, I'm only asking you to do the right thing... "
The swordswoman huffed in response as she harshly shoved Sarah's hand off her shoulder and snapped, "So, you think I know how I felt?! Newsflash, kid, you don't! Someone had to bring him and his cohorts to justice even though I want the same done to Spinel, Chalce, Coral, and Sidian. They and Hamber killed Mom and Dad, and unlike me, your parents were petrified of their own free will after saving you and your home from a mad uncle. I don't care what happens to the Explorers as long as they pay for what they did to me and my family! So, why can't you just leave it at that and let it run its course?"
Sarah was horrified by what Lazuli told her as she tried to convince her again to let go of her hatred, "Lazuli, what are you saying...? What you're saying, what you want...it's not justice! It's flat-outrevenge! Didn't Hu and Mistral tell you about that after they started training you again and learned what became of you after you were kidnapped? Do you really think Seiya and Mary would want that from you? When I was in the same position as you were before finding out what happened to my own parents, at some point, my family and friends told me that only monsters seek revenge."
At this point, all the little princess could do was hope Lazuli would understand what she was saying to convince her to let go of her hatred of the Explorers controlling her (while everyone else watched on sadly, giving the swordswoman sympathetic looks), "That's what the Explorers are doing right now after they found out about you, that's what they'll do to us in one way or another now that we have the Six Heroes back together! And, if Reader's vision is true, that's what will happen to Amethio, too... Spinel will do whatever he can and manipulate anything and anybody to get what he wants. If he swoons Gibeon and turns him and his fellow agents on Amethio, he'll have him, Onia, and Zirc out of the way and somehow settle the score with all of us. A mission for revenge never ends well, and that's especially true for you; that's not what I want for you... That's not what the Circle of Twelve and your parents want from you..."
"...What about whatIwant?" the swordswoman spat back in disgruntlement as she walked off. "Maybe it's not your call."
"You want to find closure and make your parents proud?" Sarah replied firmly, making her stop before she sighed, "...Do what my old team and I often do: learn to be better than even your worst enemies and do the right thing even if you can't always forgive. It's not always easy given it's a selfless path... But, we always try our best..."
She approached Lazuli again and gently laid a hand on her back before saying, "Look, setting aside your endeavors and vendettas to do the right thing can be good for you. That's what Hu and his fellow Zodiacs are all doing right now, that's what we're all doing for you. You know, accepting you as part of the family, making sure you're safe, breaking you free of the trauma that still haunts you to this day, ensuring you still have a life worth living for in Seiya and Mary's names and honor... All of that, on our part, has been for you..."
"...It was worth you all dragging me along your adventures and trying to make me smile again along with Mr. Hu and his friends setting their duties aside, just for me...?"
This time, as he changed into his human form and gently hugged his charge, Hu answered, "You are always worth it, kiddo. And, if you can understand what Sarah is saying to you, then you can understand what she and Reader want us to do and prevent what something like your intent to stand by and let the Explorers' betrayal of Amethio play out could set up emotionally."
He smiled warmly as he then said, "I'm sure Sarah told you about everything she did for Eternatus and for three Team Rocket members that once hounded her and her old friends for their Pokémon including Ash's Pikachu, what the Power Rangers Jungle Fury did for two of their former enemies..."
"...You mean, Camille and Jarrod?"
"...Heh, I'd say they're misunderstood. Years ago, as the Pai Zhuq student he once was, Jarrod let his position get to his head when he threatened and abused two of his fellow students, one of them being Casey. And, as a result, after Casey was chosen to join Theo and Lily and he was let go, he ended up in Dai-Shi's service along with Camille. That monster was nothing but a menace to them and he would play them for fools for his own wants. And, yet, despite their previous strifes with them, the Jungle Fury Rangers did the right thing and saved them when they needed help."
"..."
"While Lily inadvertently helped the enemy with how honest and honorable she was, she unknowingly allowed Camille to understand that she is far more than just a servant of evil. She learned to care, understood how to show empathy for others, and most importantly, learned to love... And, her love extended to Jarrod... He ended up being bullied, tortured, and abused by Dai-Shi the further their journey went and it was through Casey standing up to him and rescuing his former rival when he needed help the most did he return to the light. He and Camille were given a fresh start after Dai-Shi was destroyed, and now, they couldn't be happier. If what Reader and Sarah told us about Amethio being betrayed is true, and if there is more to him than meets the eye, he'll be crying for help... And, maybe, people like you could be the guiding light he needed."
As he spoke and she listened to Hu's words, imaging Camille and Jarrod's journey as he went along, Lazuli began to realize she was becoming a monster like the Explorers were to her. And, what's more, after imagining Amethio in their position for some reason, she couldn't help but think she was being too harsh on him despite her lingering grudge against him and his syndicate.
"Their Sentai predecessors in the East went through the same ordeal they went through but, unfortunately, they died protecting newfound allies and old friends at the hands of someone or something worse than Dai-Shi. None of us ever met them but from what we heard, they're not that different from the warriors they once fought against. They're truly wonderful spirits, they are... They knew their crimes were too great, and after the true threat to them and their former rivals was known, they gave their lives to give them and their masters a fighting chance. The heroes they saved didn't know they wanted to die to repent for their sins..."
Now, Lazuli felt guilty for Amethio and his supposed predicament after hearing what became of the former enemies of the Juken Sentai Gekiranger, Leo and Mele, as she shamefully admitted (and feeling rather small as she spoke), "...I-I-I... I, I...I didn't know, how...any of them felt..."
That made Hu very happy as he gently kissed her head and replied (while gently hugging her), "Now that you know, kiddo... When the time comes and we have to save Amethio, Onia, and Zirc, please, do the right thing for us... For Seiya, for Mary... You don't have to forgive them when we do, I get that. Well, please, don't give yourself to your hatred for them and the Explorers. But, if you won't do it for everyone here, do it for us-the Circle of Twelve-for your parents, for me... Okay?"
"...Okay," she finished quietly in defeat, sinking herself into Hu's hug and returning it (and making him and his fellow Zodiacs proud).
"Well, with all that said, if everything Reader told us does come to pass, what happens next will lie solely on us," Kalahari finished as everyone grimly nodded.
(Flashback End)
"I know you still hate it but you do remember the promise you made to Hu, didn't you?" Sarah reminded.
"Sarah's got a point, Lazuli. It may be easy for you to do nothing and it is impossible for you to forgive the Explorers for the pain they made you go through. But, in Amethio's case, despite his part in your misery, it's still the right thing for you to do and help him when he's in danger," Friede concurred.
Lazuli sighed but she relented, knowing they were right, "That's what I was afraid of."
"Hey, Pipsqueak, are you and your marching band done? Can we move on with the show now?" Eternatus huffed as he appeared and made the heroes jump in surprise.
"Bored again, Eternatus?" Sarah sighed at him.
"You were taking too long and we got more important things to do. Now, can we please get this over with?" he barked at her before the little princess heard a faint sound from nearby.
But, she wasn't the only one who heard a faint noise; Race also heard something as he whirled around, his eyes narrowing while he looked around. The noise they heard sounded like the faint roars of a lion, and by the sound of it, they were rather close to its owner. They looked at the waterfall Kubfu had been training at and they had the funny idea that the roars were coming from behind it.
"Sarah, Race, what's wrong?" Liko asked, seeing them staring at the waterfall in front of them.
"...What, was that?" the former BF Champion thought as he glared thoughtfully at the waterfall.
(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)
"Hey, Sarah, Race, what's up with you?" Roy inquired as he, Liko, and their partners joined the royal couple.
"We thought we heard something... And, it's coming from the waterfall Kubfu was practicing at," Sarah replied, pointing at the waterfall before she and Race went to the lake it was connected to.
There, they went around it to the other side of the waterfall from the right, and to their surprise, they ended up finding the entrance to a long and dark tunnel behind it.
"Well, what do you know?" Race breathed with intrigue.
"Hey, guys, come check this out!" Sarah added, calling everyone over as they joined the royal couple and saw the tunnel from behind the waterfall.
"Itisa tunnel and right behind the waterfall, no doubt! That means something or someone must be inside it!" gasped Friede in amazement.
"I didn't realize my home had something like this!" Kubfu gawked in bewilderment until she heard a humming sound from Sarah. "What is that?"
Hearing and feeling the humming, the little princess quickly pulled out the Cosmic Orbs from her right pocket and saw all of them slightly resonating with whatever was inside the tunnel and shimmering.
The royal couple stared at the orbs and nodded, knowing what to do as Race told Eternatus and everyone else, "Come on."
"Oh, my arc-Are you kiddin' me, Pipsqueak?" groaned Eternatus as everybody entered the tunnel.
The further they went into the tunnel, the darker it got, and as a result, Tsukumaro brandished his wand and cast a non-verbalLumosspell to light the way forward (making him join his goddaughter and Race as he lit the way). The roars the former BF champion and his wife heard seconds ago sounded off for minutes at a time with the former gently touching the walls as they and the old advisor led everyone to their original owners (akin to how in Episode 5 of Power Rangers Wild Force, the White Noble Tiger Ranger, Alyssa, heard the Elephant Zord within a similar cave resting behind a seal and who is only summoned by whoever it chose who has a pure and noble heart).
"Honey, Race?" Delilah called before being gently shushed by her daughter and son-in-law as they entered a hidden chamber with everyone hearing the roars at their loudest.
"Yes... I hear you," Race mused to whoever was roaring at him, carefully walking toward the wall in front of him and gently touching it, causing the part he was hearing (which was the actual source of the roars he and Sarah heard earlier) to glow before seven spheres of light came out from it landed in his hands.
When the glow they emitted died down, he was shocked to find them looking like Sarah's Cosmic Orbs but with seven different creatures in them in spirit forms:
- the Pyre King Orb (a radiant sphere of energy that shimmered with golden hues that pulsated with cosmic power and contained the spirit of a Pyroar)
- the Liberty Sphere (a sphere infused with the spirit of the American Bald Eagle adorned with stars and stripes that pulsated with patriotic energy)
- the Nightshade Orb (a dark orb carrying a Night Fury spirit swirling with chaotic energy that was shrouded in darkness that emitted an ominous aura)
- the Stormscale Orb (a rugged orb resembling a fossilized dinosaur egg that emanated primal energy while echoing with the ancient roars of an Allosaurus spirit)
- the Sentinal Crystal (a sturdy orb with the spirit of the Stegosaurus and adorned with the dinosaur's spiky plates and pulsating with defensive energy, radiating with a protective aura)
- the Aurora Shard (an orb infused with shimmering celestial energy and the spirit of the Armagasaurus which was encased in a metallic shell and engraved with cosmic patterns, emitting an ethereal glow)
- the Arboreal Crystal (a verdant orb adorned with leafy patterns pulsating with light energy and the spirit of the Therizinosaurus)
"...But, how...? Why?" Race breathed in astonishment at the Cosmic Orbs meant for him before his Wrist Com shone brightly along with the Pyre Fire Orb, eventually bringing out a Cosmic Morpher like Sarah's in place of his old morpher (but with a Pyroar-shaped head akin to Kion's for the hatch).
"No way...!"
"Race, your morpher!" Solar and Athena (who were also with the group to help find Kubfu) gasped in awe at the new morpher.
The heroes stared in surprise at the new morpher in the former BF champion's possession while he could only breathe out, "...What does it all mean?"
"I'm not sure but it might be related to the Celestial Sanctuary Zords you and your family were looking for. With the Explorers still at large, we'll need all the help we can get," Friede replied with Cap giving the Pyroar Ranger an agreeing nod.
"Guys, Mama! Look!" Nebby gasped as he looked around and saw what looked like the end of the tunnel a few feet from them. "There's a light at the end of this creepy tunnel!"
"Good boy, Nebby! It may lead us to the Zords!" Sarah exclaimed as everyone carefully made their way to the end of the tunnel.
"Where does it go, exactly?"
"Well, we won't know until get out and look, really," Roy and Liko bantered as they walked to the end.
When they emerged from the other side, however, they were most surprised; there, in front of them, was a vast and serene landscape complete with rolling meadows housing swept firsts with celestial flowers that stretched out in front of large mountains overshadowing the place beneath a beautiful blue sky and crystal-clear mountain streams winding their way through the sanctuary onto some lakes down below.
Amazingly, the heroes stumbled into a sanctuary akin to the home of the Wild Force Rangers' mentor and robotic friends: Princess Shayla and the WildZords.
"Whoa..." the group peeped in fascination.
"Where are we?" Solar asked, flabbergasted.
"Goodness, this place is beautiful," Diancie breathed before she turned to Kubfu.
"Kubfu, did you know anything about this?" "M'lady, I swear, I know nothing about it! I never even thought of going through the tunnel to check it out! I thought there was nothing worth looking for in there," Kubfu denied as she shook her head, completely taken aback by the sanctuary she also witnessed.
"It's like the Animarium the Wild Force Rangers, Princess Shayla, and the WildZords called home during their tenure," Sarah noted.
"Wow, look at those giant mountains!"
"They're huge!" Roy and Fuecoco observed, looking at the mountains.
"It's incredible!" Liko gasped.
"For real!" agreed Floragato as her eyes twinkled.
"I've never seen anything like this in my life!"
"And, how!" Friede and Cap concurred.
"I wonder who would be calling us to this magnificent place," Tsukumaro pondered as he canceled his Lumos spell and sheathed his wand.
"Well, gang, let's go," Race announced, leading the way to uncover the source of the roars calling the heroes.
They eventually reached one of the lakes and the mountain streams connecting the other lakes to it just as the roar of a dragon was heard from above them. They looked up and suddenly saw a Night Fury-shaped Zord about forty meters long and twelve meters high from nose to tail tip, a pair of bat-like wings with a wingspan of twenty-five meters covered in jet-black, smooth, and reflective scales, and striking purple eyes flying around them before it came to a stop from their left (perching itself on a giant tree stump's branch close by).
It was then joined by an Eagle Zord resembling the American Bald Eagle at a length of 30 meters with a 30-meter wingspan and brilliant metallic gold feathers, its wings adorned with solar symbols that matched its golden eyes as it perched itself on a branch beside the Night Fury Zord from its right.
The ground shook from below them and they turned to their right to find the DinoThunder team's Stegozord running toward them with a second Stegosaurus-like Zord beside it. The new Zord was as tall and long as Carno (approximately 68.6 meters long and 38.5 meters high) and had a sturdy but muscular frame with deep metallic gray scales that contrasted with its vibrant blue energy and jagged lightning bolt-shaped plates along its back that pulsated with an electric blue light (electric sparks dancing across its body that matched its electric yellow eyes), and a spiked tail.
Then, an Armagasaurus-shaped Zord (standing at a height of 112 meters and a length of 132 meters) joined the pair as it walked alongside Tommy's BrachioZord, the AnkyloZord, and the DimetroZord, sporting shimmering gold scales and an elongated neck adorned with golden armor-like spikes running down its neck (each spike shimmering with a warm solar energy that matched its snowy white eyes).
They soon came to a stop in front of the heroes and the second Stegosaurus Zord snorted out a plume of smoke from its nose, causing Fuecoco, Roy, Liko (holding Terapagos in her arms), and Floragato to stumble back in surprise towards the edge of the lake. Even Race was taken aback as he was sent stumbling towards the edge by the second Stegosaurus Zord (after it looked at him) and joined them in the water.
Then, emerging from the sanctuary's plains was an Allosaurus-shaped Zord which roared proudly to demonstrate its fearsome and imposing nature as it ran towards the heroes, being covered in a perpetual layer of frost and ice while standing fourteen meters in height and twenty-one meters in length. Its scales were an icy shade of blue that glinted like frozen crystals in the light that contrasted its vivid red eyes with jagged icicles protruding from its back and limbs, frost and mist emanating from its body which created a chilling aura that froze the ground under its feet.
Joining the Allosaurus-like Zord and the others was a Therizinosaurus-inspired Zord (standing 66 meters in length and 38 meters in height), its body covered in metallic feathers resembling storm clouds with hints of silver on it matching its stormy-gray eye and fluttering and swirling feathers that paired well with its razor-sharp and elongated claws.
The gathered Zords looked at the heroes, Race in particular, roaring and purring softly before everybody heard the loudest roar of all echoing throughout the valley, making them turn toward its owner in reverence (while directing the Pyroar Ranger and everyone else to it).
The owner was a male Pyroar-like Zord akin to Cole's lion-like Zord and friend, Red Lion, standing atop a large cliff overlooking the entire sanctuary (cluing everyone in that it was the leader/king of the Zords living in it) as it roared proudly again.
Along with being shaped like a male Pyroar, he was predominately red coupled with gold accents and white highlights, his coloration matching Race's previous ranger suit with his head resembling the head of the male Royal Pokémon and having glowing gold eyes to boot. His golden mane formed a pattern that resembled Daimonji (大) and the Japanese or Chinese kanji for fire (火) stemming across his sleek and muscular body which sported red armor plates and gold trims, his chest having a prominent lion emblem matching its sharp-clawed paws, and a long and flexible tail with a blade-like tip.
The former BF champion heard his roars and was immediately drawn to them, realizing that the Pyroar Zord was calling out to him, "Yes, I hear you..."
With everybody else watching (since they realized the Pyroar Zord was specifically calling out to him), Race began climbing on the cliff to meet with the Zord (grunting as he made his way up). It was easy for him to climb it thanks to his Pyroar DNA giving him a lion's unique climbing and jumping abilities but the cliff was rugged and a little difficult for him to go up the closer he got to it.
Suddenly, as he was climbing, Race accidentally grabbed a loose rock and started falling before he managed to find his grip and hold on to the cliff again (making his family and friends down below gasp and wince in worry for him). But, as he regained his composure and looked around, the Pyroar Ranger was in shock to see what looked like the horizon beyond the mountains bordering the sanctuary and the sanctuary itself shaped like a Terapagos from his vantage point and it was floating above what looked like the Paldea region down below.
"W-What is this!? I-It can be! It doesn't just...look like the Animarium; I-I-It's a floating island shaped like a Terapagos above Paldea, JUST LIKE THE ANIMARIUM!" he balked in astonishment, realizing what the sanctuary was; it was a Terapagos-shaped island floating in the clouds and above Paldea of all places.
Sensing his chosen warrior below him as he pulled himself up, the Pyroar Zord took one look at him and then jumped off his cliff to meet him, making Race panic as he lost his grip and fell to the ground below.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! UNH!" he screamed before he landed on the ground in front of his family and friends, dazed and bewildered by what had happened.
"RACE!" Sarah, Liko, Roy, Friede, Ching Wan, Hashimoto, and the Circle of Twelve gasped as they, Delilah, Doug, Tsukumaro, Lazuli, Floragato, Fuecoco, Cap, Blitz, Curly, Nebby, and Nebula scrambled over to him to see if he was alright.
Despite how winded and bruised he felt from the fall, while Liko and Roy helped him onto his feet, he couldn't help but stare in amazement as the Pyroar Zord purred at him (with the Night Fury, Bald Eagle, Stegosaurus, Armagasaurus, Therizinosaurus, and Allosaurus Zords joining their leader from either side and shared his warm gaze), "Whoa! I've seen a lot of Zords in Island Girl's care but never anything like you guys!"
He then looked at the Pyroar Zord, getting to the topic of the roars he and Sarah heard as he asked him, "You... It was you all along, right? ...You've all been calling out to us, to me, after we came to North Province Area Two?"
The Pyroar Zord purred in confirmation, still keeping his warm gaze on the Pyroar Ranger. Then, Race suddenly felt his Cosmic Orbs pulsating and glowing from his right pants pocket. Realizing this, he immediately pulled them out and looked in absolute awe as he saw the spirits of the Pyroar Zord and his friends' likeness roaring inside them in response to their presence. At once, Race realized that they were his dinosaur and animal spirits and because of that, the new Cosmic Orbs and their powerweremeant for him.
"Race, does that mean...?" Sarah gasped, getting an amazed nod from her husband.
"They're all mine," he breathed at the Zords, astonished by their connection to his animal and dinosaur spirits.
"I see you and your family and friends finally found the Celestial Sanctuary and its residents, young man."
The heroes looked ahead and saw the spirit of the Thunderclap Celestial, the spirits of his old teammates, and those of the Celestial Guardians appearing in front of the Pyroar Zord and his companions.
"It's you!"
"The spirits of the Celestial Guardians and the Celestial Rangers!" gasped Liko and Roy in wonder.
"They're back!"
"Unreal," breathed Fuecoco and Floragato.
"Whoa, wait a minute! Hold on! Back up, did you say 'more of your friends'? I'm sorry but I get that from some of the other robots but a few are already in the kid's hands," Lazuli rebutted abruptly, referring to the DinoThunder Zords in Sarah's care.
"Why am I not surprised? We already stuffed ourselves with a cluster of Zords a few times but how many do you morons have on you?" Eternatus questioned rashly.
"I assure you, it is not that much, our brash friends. As for the DinoThunder team's BioZords with us, they, on the other hand, were created by Tommy and his friend, Hailey, when they developed their team's powers as I'm sure the princess, her husband, and her old friends already know. But, back on topic, we've made many friends throughout our mortal lives along with the Leo Eight; the Zords before you that now belong to the Pyroar Ranger are as follows: the Cosmic Pyroar Zord, the Solaris Eagle Zord, the Shadow Night Fury Zord, the Frostbite Allosaurus Zord, the Thunderstrike Stegosaurus Zord, the Solarius Amargasaurus Zord, and the Galestorm Therizinosaurus Zord."
Race blinked in surprise as he pointed at himself and replied, "...Me?"
"Looks like it, Race, dude. You got yourself a new robotic team in the wings," Rotoscope nodded as he appeared alongside him.
"The seal we've placed on this floating island via the chamber and tunnel you went through allowed it to be hidden from any curious and prying eyes should they come snooping around in the area. The only way it would be opened was for it to be found and opened by someone pure of heart. In truth, however, it was up to the Pyroar Zord himself since he is the one who would choose to align himself with."
The Frostbite Ranger's spirit turned to Race and told him, "Our friend wisely chose you to be his new master after sensing your good heart and will to do anything to protect the earth and the galaxy beyond, and what's more, your qualities of being a ranger are the same ones upheld by your wife. But, he mainly chose you because of your fearless nature; despite your tragic past, you pushed through your fears and carried on with your life as best you could with a little help from your family and friends throughout your journey. His choice was made clear when you decided to confront your past and your former parents and not run away from them to protect the ones you loved; this included the people who took you in and became your new family, eventually coming from your fight with them stronger than ever. Because of that, you earned his trust and those of his fellow Zords. There is no one more worthy of being their master than you..."
Race was utterly floored by everything he had heard but he pocketed the other orbs and held his Pyre Fire Orb, looking between it, the Pyroar Zord as he purred at him (wanting him to try out his new power), and his wife (who shared the Zord's sentiments), "...Should I go for it?"
"Go for it," Sarah encouraged, placing a hand on his right shoulder and nodding.
"Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, poi!" Ogerpon cheered as she did the Happy Ogre Dance for him with everyone else nodding in agreement.
His answer given, Race placed the Pyre Fire Orb and closed the hatch, declaring, "Link to Morphin Grid!"
In a new transformation sequence, Race is in the Morphin Grid, now wearing a new crimson-red spandex body suit before punching his morpher forward and creating a holographic image of a male Pyroar in front of him. He runs to the image and jumps forward, performing a floating backflip and phasing through it while donning his new chest and abdomen armor (gaining new fabric flails from his shoulder pads to keep to the Royal Pokémon lineage) and the new belt around his waist. Once his armor was on him, he landed on one knee and got back on his feet, swiping his right hand across his face to materialize his helmet and complete the transformation.
Gone was the original Pyroar Ranger with the coming of Race's new power, and in his place, was the new Cosmic Pyroar Ranger.
His transformation complete, the heroes got a good look at him as he stood before them, the spirits, and the Zords as they all gasped or smiled (with the Pyroar Zord giving a soft purr of approval for his new friend):
- his helmet is shaped to be like Kion's head, having a fierce lion motif with his visor shaped like a lion's eyes (which gave off a golden glow)
- the new chest armor he donned was sleek and form-fitting with a new high-tech look akin to the ranger suits used in MMPR: The Movie but with intricate gold designs resembling flames that emanated from the center and spread outward
- his shoulder pads (where his fabric flails popped out of and went down to his thighs) were gold and angular in design as they were made to resemble a lion's claws and he kept the white scarf from his old ranger form around his neck (but now extended to his lower chest)
- the red and gold gloves had claw-like tips on them (akin to the claws from the gloves of the Wild Force Rangers) but they were gold and had flame designs to match his pants (sporting red and gold accents, too) and boots (sporting a claw-like design on the toe tips) and his new utility belt from Robin and Cyborg is now gold with red accents
- to top it all off, he gained a new weapon called the Stellar Pyroclaw Blade-a sword at about six ft. in length from pommel to tip with a blade giving off a gleaming fiery orange hue reminiscent of molten lava and sporting embedded intricate patterns looking as though they danced like flames. The hilt's crossguard even took the form of a pair of roaring lion heads and featured blazing red eyes while the grip was wrapped in supple leather. Overall, it is a longsword that is extremely tough to break but light enough for him to swing about and defend himself from his foes without being cumbersome
Race was astonished as he looked himself over in his new ranger form and his new sword, only letting out a quiet, "...Unbelievable."
"Ooh, what do we have here? I could've sworn I felt a power surge traveling across dimensions while I was out with my dear Fluttershy today," a sly yet mischievous male voice snarked playfully, getting the heroes' attention.
Then, a large gray leaf came floating down from the heavens before it turned around to face them before a pair of familiar yellow eyes opened (making Sarah realize that there was one creature from Equestria that she had forgotten to introduce Liko, Roy, Dot, Lazuli, the Circle of Twelve, and the Rising Volt Tacklers to).
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH/WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" As expected, all Lazuli, Friede, Roy, Liko, their Pokémon, and the Circle of Twelve could do was scream their heads off in shock but Sarah and her family could only groan in exasperation or playfully roll their eyes at the owner of the voice for his prank.
"You had to ruin the moment, didn't you, Discord?" sighed Solar.
"You'll give Liko and our new friends a heart attack with that jump scare," Athena agreed, making the reformed Lord of Chaos and Fluttershy's love reveal his normal self to the heroes.
"Apologies, my beloved Beast Bots, but I just couldn't resist seeing what all the fuss was here and meet our new pals with you," Discord remarked.
He turned to the newbies of the group belonging to the Rising Volt Tacklers and Lazuli and greeted, "Surprise, konichiwa, ni-hao, guten tag, buenos dias, hello, lovlies! What brings you to this floating paradise of a strip of land, eh?"
"S-S-S-S-Sarah... W-W-W-What is that?!"
"S-S-S-SCARY!"
"O-O-O-Or, w-w-who is he?!" stuttered Roy, Fuecoco, and Liko, still spooked by Discord's arrival.
"HE NEARLY GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!" screamed Floragato indignantly, trying to recompose herself as she breathed heavily.
"What kind of creature is this?!" Friede balked as he held his chest and tried to relax his beating heart.
"I oughta slug ya for scaring us, you miserable animal jigsaw!"
"That goes double for me!" barked Lazuli and Cap as the swordswoman prepared to attack Discord with her sword drawn and the Brave Olivine captain's cheeks sparked like mad.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, Lazuli! Cap! Take it easy! Calm down, will ya?" Sarah gasped frantically, getting in their way and stopping them before they could shock and shish-kabob the Draconequus.
"At ease, Cap, Lazuli, dearies, I'm sure this creature means no harm. He may have been a troublemaker despite whatever intentions he had years ago in his home world and gets up to mischief a little too much for his own good whenever he wants to. Regardless, nowadays, he means well," Delilah soothed before she turned to Discord and gently chastised him, "Now, Discord, my family and I understand we all like a bit of fun now and then and it's good to laugh when we need to. But, after what happened to us as of late, we'd appreciate it if you don't drop in without warning and give us and your 'victims' grief while you're having fun."
"Mmph, killjoy," Discord pouted despite seeing the logic in Delilah's scolding and crossing his arms.
"Anyway, our friends, may we introduce you to the Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony from Equestria, Discord," Tsukumaro introduced, clearing his throat.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Discord grinned cheekily, giving Liko, Roy, Friede, Lazuli, Cap, the Circle of Twelve, Serrate, Char, Floragato, and Fuecoco a bow.
"Spirit of Chaos... Wait, you represent chaos? You wouldn't have to know the Spirit of Order Sarah told us about, Ashia, right?" Liko blinked in surprise, recalling when Sarah told her and Roy about the Six Spirits of Harmony.
"The spiritual foil who saved me from near death and Opaline's wrath? Why, of course, little one. She and I go way back since she saved my life; she stands for order while I'm her counterpart, representing everything she doesn't in my own humorous way."
Liko, Roy, their partners, Friede, Cap, Lazuli, and her guardians looked at each other warily, all still trying to wrap their heads around the strange mix-matching creature before them. None of them knew what to say to him in response so Rabbit decided to take a chance and hopped over to him.
"So... Discord, ahem, is it? If you are this spirit of chaos and the exact opposite of Ashia... And, you came from Equestria as did Sarah's pony friends, what magic do you specialize in?" she inquired carefully.
"My magic, what I specialize in? My dear little bunny, that should be a no-brainer given you and your pals are Zodiacs, magical creatures in your own right, are you not? Me? I'm simply the jack-of-all-trades, as they say," Discord chuckled as his eyes twinkled with a mischievous spark, a tippet of playful chaos lurking in his mind. "I bend reality to my will, cause of a bit of mayhem however I please, or simply decide to make life a little more...interesting if you or I feel a little, mmm, shall I say, bored? No need to worry! I don't go to great lengths to make trouble, and unless you ask me to, I won't turn your world upside down..."
He chuckled slyly before Sarah chastised him (narrowing her eyes at him as she did so), "Discord, calm down. You were already in hot water with your friends over that years ago, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, I get that. I know what I'm doing. I got that from our friends more often than not and they never let me hear the end of it," he replied dryly until he finally had his eyes on Lazuli and her guardians and teleported to them, looking over the Circle of Twelve with interest. "Ooh, and what do we have here? Hmm, a lone swordswoman and these Circle of Twelve chaps I've been hearing about. Nice, very nice..."
"Hey, watch the tail," Naomi barked lowly with a suspicious glare as Discord played with her tail and she slapped him.
Lazuli held her sword at him as he floated over to her and Hu, thinking he would hurt them, "Hold it, what are you talking about? How'd you know about Mr. Hu and the Zodiacs?"
"Oh, please. You really thought you could escape from anybody's radar with your runaway crusade? I'm most educated in education on the cosmos thanks to my powers; I see anything and everything in between dimensions," Discord grinned at her as he used her sword like a toothpick (thankfully, without damaging the repaired and upgraded blade). "Why, I was able to know about your mother who was, as you know, a Unicorn Zodiac and the Nemean Lion Zodiac that was your father. Two fierce types but with hearts of gold intertwined by love upon meeting each other for the first time, are they not?"
"Wait, you knew about Mom and Dad? How did you know about that?! You better not desecrate them and their memory 'cause I don't take too kindly to anyone slandering them," she gasped with a low growl, her heart skipping a beat before she glared at the Draconequus and held her sword's point at his face (wondering how he could've known about her long-dead parents).
"At ease, my dear. Forgive him,Iwas the one who told him about your deceased loved ones," another voice apologized before its owner came in the form of Luna, Equestria's former Princess of the Night, who came in from the sunlight and majestically glided down to everyone before landing in front of the swordswoman.
"Whoa..." breathed Friede, Liko, and Roy, seeing Celestia's sister appear as they took in her flowing mane and royal regalia.
"Cool...!"
"Sparkly...!"
"Good grief," gasped Floragato, Fuecoco, and Cap while Serrate, Hatenna, and Char were left speechless at what they saw.
Even Lazuli, Hu, and the rest of the Circle of Twelve could hardly find the words to describe the alicorn princess who joined Discord and looked warmly at the swordswoman herself.
"Hello, Young Liko, Roy, Professor," Luna smiled at the young trainers and the unconventional professor before turning to Lazuli. "At last, Young Lazuli, we finally meet. Again, apologies for Discord knowing who your parents were; I believe it was my fault for not letting you know sooner."
"...H-How'd you know who I am?" asked Lazuli, completely astonished and tempted to raise her sword at her (but couldn't as she kept it lowered out of respect, trying to contain her shock).
"Oh, forgive me. Where are my manners? My name's Luna and I'm Equestria's former Princess of the Night in charge of watching over my world during the glorious night. And, just in case you don't know, my sister, Celestia, was once our world's Princess of the Day, she raises the sun since she was responsible for watching our little ponies and creatures during the day throughout our time before we retired. I've been watching over the stars and moon throughout the past millennium and the constellations of your parents are no exception; I apologize for your loss at the hands of the criminals responsible for murdering them in cold blood. But, I assure you, they're okay now and are currently watching over you."
"...My Mom and Dad, you knew them? How...?" Lazuli blinked.
Luna nodded, "Your parents were wonderful creatures; my sister and I knew them well, we taught Mary a variety of spells and enchantments since we first met her. She's such a quick learner and we felt that her magical prowess could rival Twilight's when we were through."
She gave the swordswoman and Hu (who looked glum as they remembered the trauma they went through over Seiya and Mary's sacrifices despite them being futile) a sympathetic frown as she continued, "I apologize for what the humans kidnapping you did so early on in your life; my powerful sense of magic told me they died protecting you, and like your tiger guardian, I was too late to stop them and unable to do anything when they sacrificed themselves to do that. However, as much as I want to share in your grief, you needn't worry your head for I've remembered what truly happened to them when they died..."
"...What?"
"As far as I know, according to what Seiya and Mary told Celestia and I, a being as powerful as a Zodiac can never truly die or be destroyed. If it had been possible to kill one when they hunted you three and your guardian, they would've known about their constellation remains beforehand. By the looks of it, this tippet of information completely slipped their minds."
"...C-C-Constellation, r-r-r-r-remains?" the swordswoman stuttered, gob-smacked by what she was told and feeling like she was going to faint from the realization that her parents didn't actually die as she previously thought (until Hu caught her when she nearly fell).
"So... D-D-Does that mean...?"
"Seiya and Mary-?"
"The Explorers didn't...?"
"They're all right?!"
"...Then...they, we-they didn't truly die, as we feared?" Rabbit, Dog, Pig, Rooster, and Ox bantered in stunned shock.
Luna gave the Circle of Twelve and Lazuli a warm smile and nodded again, "They're nothing but stars now; their constellations remained intact as their physical forms were only vehicles for their life forces to roam your world in. While you are human, you are also a Zodiac like your parents. Whichever constellation you are, as long as it remains intact, whenever your physical bodies are destroyed, you take the form of some wandering little spirits until they are restored."
Discord smirked, "Case in point..."
He snapped his fingers and the two balls of light that came to the swordswoman after her previous scuffle with Spinel (and which had been following her and her friends since confronting Amethio, Onia, Zirc, Sidian, and Coral at Diana's castle base in the Galar Region) appeared before they floated over to her.
"Wait a minute, stars... Wandering little spirits, those little things around Lazuli?" Friede blinked, surprised as he, Liko, and Roy looked at the balls blinking at Lazuli.
"Then, does that mean...those balls of light that helped the Jungle Guard saved us from Coral's Glalie at Grandma's castle...?"
"...Are actually Lazuli's parents as stars while their bodies were being repaired?!" gawked the young trainers in shock at what Luna told them, getting a confirming nod from the alicorn.
Everyone was amazed by the revelation of the true fate of Lazuli's parents but Lazuli froze at that; she suddenly realized why the lights appeared before her a couple of times blinking as frantically as they did whenever she was in a crazy situation and why they were protective of her. The balls of light that supposedly cared for her well-being were not ordinary balls but rather, they were her parents in their wandering spirit forms after their bodies were destroyed.
Because the Explorers had no idea that they had to obliterate her mother and father's constellations to kill them permanently and had only destroyed their physical bodies after they saved her, Seiya and Mary became wandering spirits as a result. This also meant that after becoming spirits, their bodies had been recovering throughout the last twenty years of her life and they had wandered the world aimlessly until they would somehow find their daughter again.
Wanting to be sure, she clipped her father's sword back on her belt clip and held out her hands, allowing her parents' spirits to float down and rest on them as she could only breathe out (with tears welling up in her eyes), "Mom...? Dad...?"
Her hands trembled as she threatened to break down in a sobbing fit, prompting Seiya and Mary to float to her chest and blink gently as if they were hugging her in their current forms. She held them close as her hands softly grazed them, feeling their love and warmth until she fell to her knees and finally started sobbing as she bawled her heart out for the entire Celestial Sanctuary to hear. It was all too much for her but she had never been so happy since her early childhood; her parents were alive but in the form of wandering spirits.
Liko and Roy were even more astonished as they watched Lazuli bawl and hold her parents' spirits with all her might (the swordswoman thinking they would disappear if she let them go); they truly thought she had lost her parents forever when Amethio and the Explorers murdered them in cold blood but now, with this surprising tippet given to them and everyone gathered by Luna, they were alive all this time except they were now spirits and had no human bodies for their life forces as of yet.
This prompted Liko to step forward and stand by Lazuli's side and ask Luna, "Um, Ms. Luna... Well, I was wondering... If it's possible and these spirits are Lazuli's parents, um... Can they, uh...be, I don't know...brought back to life?"
"That depends; their bodies were destroyed at least over twenty years ago so that would've been plenty of time for them to recover what they lost, I am happy to say their bodies are almost restored. But, unfortunately..." Luna replied, trailing off with a worried frown and looking away.
"What's the matter, Luna?" Roy asked, frowning with concern.
"Well, I also remembered that if their bodies were to be completely restored, they would require a particular and tremendous source of magic from a powerful being adept in such talent. However, My magic, my sisters, and that of Cadence and Twilight wouldn't do the job but I do know that there is only one amongst you with the power of the phoenix to accomplish that."
"Sarah?"
"The princess?"
"The royal kid?" blinked Pig, Goat, and Ox in surprise.
"Me?! I barely know how to use the Phoenix Spirit and its power and I'm still learning," Sarah protested, sharing their surprise.
"It's true that you're still learning about it and what it can do under your control, Sarah, but in the right hands, it's the most powerful spirit with the power to heal and create life. You were able to bring back your biological grandparents with the Phoenix Spirit during your family and friends' first adventure with the PAW Patrol in Adventure City, didn't you?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"Then, that makes you the perfect candidate to help bring them back," Luna finished, a trusting smile on her face.
"And, if you want, I'd lend a hand-paw-claw, whichever takes your fancy, if the process goes out of whack. I know I wouldn't miss out on the fun of recreating life that was lost," Discord added mischievously as he casually lounged about above his royal caretaker.
"...Kid, do it," Lazuli requested, turning to the little princess as she held the orbs that were her parents with a newfound hope and determination brewing within her.
Sarah was baffled by the swordswoman making this almost-immediate request to her but the former Explorer replied, "I've gone through the last twenty years of my life without my parents, thinking they died and I'd never see them again. But, after being reminded of my Zodiac lineage and blood and seeing Mom and Dad as they are, I'd do anything to have them back. Even if on the tiniest sliver of hope I now have, what would I give to see them again..."
She looked at her friends gathered, watching her at the major high point of her life, Luna, Discord, and her guardians as she told everyone, "All of you... I-I, I'm... I'm forever in your debt, thank you..."
Liko smiled softly at the swordswoman as she touched her right shoulder gently and told her, "We're just glad you're happy you're able to see them again, Lazuli..."
"She's right, Lazuli! You've been through so much with us since you came onboard and it'll be great to meet your parents. I'm sure they'll want to hear everything that happened from all of us," Roy grinned in reply, regaining his general enthusiasm.
"You've gained and learned so much throughout your adventures with us, and knowing that your parents were alive all this time, I'd say getting them back is the best reward for you after everything you did," Friede concurred with a knowing grin.
"You deserve it, Little Lady," agreed a smirking Cap, showing his approval.
The swordswoman looked at Seiya and Mary, and upon seeing them gently blink at her in loving approval of her choice and agreement over what they said, she nodded and turned to Luna, "Okay, I'm ready."
"Then, let us begin," Luna nodded reassuringly.
Soon, the heroes found themselves before Sarah, Discord, and Luna standing in a triangle formation with Lazuli, Seiya, and Mary in the middle of their formation (the swordswoman wanting to be close to them and who would play a vital role in their ritual in Luna's eyes as she meditated). With the spirits of the Celestial Guardians and the Celestial Rangers, moved and touched by what they had seen before, they volunteered to preside over the resurrection ceremony and ensure nothing goes wrong and Seiya and Mary come out of the ritual unscathed.
"Now, Lazuli, the most important thing for you to do is to remember the love and happiness you three shared. Clear your mind of all negative thoughts and focus only on positive thoughts," the Celestial Sorceress instructed as she looked down upon the swordswoman (facing her as she was in the middle of her group's circle formation above Luna, Discord, and Sarah). "Draw out all of the happy memories you made with them and the love they had given you and of which you returned throughout your early childhood. Allow them to fill you up and remember your mother and father as you knew them before they died."
Lazuli nodded in response and took a deep breath before she closed her eyes as she meditated; being careful not to draw out the pain and sorrow she suffered from at the hands of the Explorers, she focused solely on her early childhood and life with her parents before they came and brought her in as their child soldier. She thought back to the times when Seiya and Mary introduced her to magic and began teaching her what they knew, her father's comforting presence whenever they were together, the love her mother had for her during their mother-daughter moments, and the love they had given her since her birth (with them making Hu their personal family guardian and her godfather when she was born).
With each happy memory as she recalled them one by one, their warmth filled her heart and she could feel their bond and connection with her becoming stronger with every passing moment. Seiya and Mary, in response, began to shine brighter as they too recalled their memories of the happier times they had with their daughter before their premature and hasty deaths by the Explorers.
"Begin!" the Celestial Sorceress signaled, raising her right hand to Luna, Sarah, and Discord once she was satisfied with what she was witnessing.
Nodding in reply, the trio set to work; Discord was the first as he channeled his chaos magic to them with Sarah coming in second as she summoned her Phoenix Spirit and channeled its power. The spirit cawed proudly and flew around the sanctuary before it circled Lazuli's parents and transmitted its energy to them, causing them to pulsate with renewed energy. And, finally, Luna channeled her alicorn magic, calling upon Seiya and Mary's respective constellations to grant them new life to their restored bodies and converging their light with the energy of Sarah's Phoenix Spirit.
Finally, once they were ready, the Phoenix Spirit let out a more powerful caw before it converged with them and their shared light pulsated harder and shone brighter.
Everyone from the sidelines watched with bated breath, hoping the ritual wouldn't go wrong and Lazuli and her parents would be together again for the first time in twenty years.
"...Mommy, Daddy...! Come back to me, please!" Lazuli thought as tears welled up in her closed eyes and she felt herself reaching the tail end of her happy memories with her parents while trying not to remember the day she dreaded to remember which involved the Explorers.
Realizing she had drawn out all of her happy memories involving her parents, the spirits of the Celestial Guardians and the Celestial Rangers could see her struggling not to remember the day the Explorers "killed" them and kidnapped her for their goal of finding Laqua and the substance the heroes now know as Laqurium Gibeon wanted so badly (wanting whatever power she had that they felt they needed to achieve their "grand" task).
"Do not resist, Lazuli. It does pain you to go through your service with the Explorers again but we must also remember everything that made us the people and beings we are now. Let go of yourself, remember everything you went through, both the good and the bad, to remind yourself that you're not alone anymore. Let them flow through you and don't give in to your hatred and fear... Your friends are here to guide you whenever you find yourself lost in the darkness, you have those who cherished you and helped you regain what you had once lost, and you will soon be reunited with those you have lost as long as you never forget who you truly are..." the Celestial Sorceress advised soothingly.
The swordswoman listened as she took a few deep breaths to calm herself and allow the memories of her time as the Explorers' Female Battousai to play out after losing her parents and being forcibly inducted into their ranks, going through them one by one until the time when she was cast aside after completing her role and decided to leave (much to the shock, disbelief, and dismay of her former colleagues).
A tear fell from her eyes as she recalled the four months she, Galaxagus, and Panthera were left on the run after abandoning the Explorers before meeting Sarah and her family through Petunia along with meeting Liko, Roy, and the Rising Volt Tacklers, her brief reunion with Amethio when he arrived to steal and claim Terapagos from the young girl, joining the heroes for their journey together, the friends she made with the people she met, the Pokémon she encountered and accepted into her team, and the rest was history.
Each memory she went through allowed her to pour out all of the pain and trauma she went through and retain only the happiness and love she got from her parents and friends including the Circle of Twelve as Seiya and Mary's spirits pulsated and blinked their lights at a high-speed rate. It felt as though after seeing everything their daughter went through, and despite her story since their "deaths" being as tragic as it is, her years in the Explorers didn't define her; everything she did after leaving Amethio, Coral, Sidian, Spinel, Chalce, Hamber, and Gibeon with her new friends and the people and creatures who became her adoptive family helped mold her into the woman and warrior she is now. They and the Circle of Twelve filled the void in her heart that her parents left behind and the love and happiness they gave her during her time with them all led her to discover what truly happened to her parents.
Then, as the Phoenix Spirit entered her parents' spirits (while they rose above her and hovered at least a few feet in the air), with a brilliant flash, they started to form human body parts from their arms and legs to their chests and heads. Eventually, its orange light burst outward and its energy dissipated, prompting Lazuli to open her eyes and look on in astonishment as she saw two human figures (both unconscious and looking like they had been asleep for a long time) floating down to the same spots where the light orbs had been before her.
The swordswoman got back on her feet and tried to touch them as they lay on the ground but they slowly came to, making her back off slightly as she was worried how they would react if she saw her as the woman she is now. But, she was also worried how they would react after she poured all of her memories into them including her time with the Explorers (which she didn't want them to know about given how scared she was of their reactions about her "service" to them, Hamber, and Gibeon).
Eventually, Seiya and Mary looked over themselves in their restored human bodies after getting back on their feet before they turned and faced their daughter for the first time in twenty-five years (giving her a chance to see them once more but seeing subtle and major changes to them in accordance to their time apart and how they would've looked had the Explorers not interfered with their lives):
- Seiya was now in his mid-30s (looking slightly older than he was) with piercing blue eyes, his neatly-kept beard now looking a bit thicker (giving him the look of a seasoned samurai warrior), and his Explorers uniform was completely changed as it was now crafted from a sturdy leather-like material that was a deep royal blue with gold accents (sporting a reinforced chest plate with lion motifs, gold pauldrons engraved with lion claws on his shoulders, a dark gold cape flowing down his back that resembled the mane of a lion, and boots with lion paw-shaped steel tips)
- By contrast, Mary was barely touched by the steady march of time as she was still in her late 20s and retained her soft lavender eyes while having a silver sheen running through her long flowing hair, her waist belts remained but with the addition of small metal bells and flowers, and her Explorers outfit was made lighter and more flowing from blue fabric and matching boots (sporting silver-patterned sleeves in the same manner, a light cloak flowing down her back, and a silver tiara on her head boring a unicorn horn emblem)
Everyone was shocked at how Lazuli's parents looked in their restored human bodies and their jaws dropped, the heroes being left completely speechless as they didn't know what to think. Even Sarah and her family were flabbergasted as they eyed the couple along with Discord and Luna (who were just as amazed to see that the ritual went without a single hitch). They all wanted to say something to them to reassure themselves and prove they were alive and well again but none knew what...
Eventually, Daisy, Galaxagus, Panthera, and Honchkrow came forward slightly as they joined Lazuli and the female Dragonite then asked, "Seiya, Mary... Is it, really you...?"
Seeing their old partners and their daughter again for the first time in years, the resurrected couple couldn't help but smile at them as Seiya replied, "...Yeah."
"SEIYA/MARY!" screamed an overjoyed Galaxagus and Panthera as they, Daisy, and Honchkrow rushed to their old masters/friends and reunited with them, all of them deeply overwhelmed with utter joy and relief that the once-deceased Zodiacs were back with them.
"Boys, Honchkrow, Daisy," Mary soothed as she and her husband looked at their crying team and they exchanged relieved smiles, knowing they were back together again.
Then, they turned their attention to their daughter and came a few steps closer to her who could only stare in shock at them as she silently cried, her tears flowing down her eyes as she took in the reality that her parents were finally back (her father's sword in her right hand as she held in a reverse grip and it trembled in her grip in response to her overwhelming happiness and relief). And, this time, thanks to Sarah, Discord, and Luna (and the former moon princess reminding her of her Zodiac lineage), they were here to stay and the Explorers would never separate them as they did again.
"...Dewdrop!" Seiya shouted as he and Mary cried, relieved that their daughter was still alive.
"...Mommy, Daddy," she whimpered.
She slowly stumbled over to them but the swordswoman couldn't help herself and scrambled to her parents as they hugged her and she sank into their warm embrace. She sobbed with overwhelming joy and happiness as she felt their warmth and took in the sounds of their heartbeats, letting Seiya and Mary know they were alive once more. The feeling was mutual as the two Zodiacs hugged their daughter and cried with her, fearing that they or she would disappear instantly if they let go of her.
All the while, Friede, Cap, Roy, Liko, Diancie, Kubfu, Floragato, and Fuecoco with Sarah, Race, and their family couldn't help but smile for the reunited family. But, the Circle of Twelve were completely emotional as some of the Zodiacs tried to contain their tears of joy and relieved smiles, turned away as they sniffed while silently crying, or bawled their eyes out for the long-awaited reunion between their old friends and their daughter.
To their reluctance, the reunited family of three broke their embrace and Seiya and Mary found Hu and their fellow Zodiacs before approaching them.
"Seiya, Mary," Hu began as the pair approached him and nodded warmly.
He didn't know what else to say as he looked between Seiya and Mary while they stood before him as if what happened with the Explorers was nothing but a bad memory or nightmare. But, it wasn't long before he eventually nuzzled them, feeling a giant weight lifting off his shoulders as he happily sobbed.
"Hello, old friend."
"We missed you," they replied soothingly.
"You don't know how many times I wished you'd come back," the tiger Zodiac sniffed.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAY!" Sydney squealed as he jumped on Seiya's right shoulder after the swordsman and his wife broke their and Hu's embrace. "You're back! For real! This isn't a dream, right?"
"If you're on my shoulder, this is no dream," Seiya chuckled at the rat Zodiac.
"We're back, Sydney," Mary added with an amused smile as she gently scratched his head.
Mary then turned to the heroes and gratefully smiled at them, saying, "All of you... Thank you, our baby is back with us because of you."
"Um, thanks, but it was nothing. Lazuli was a major help to us and she's been protecting us from the Explorers a lot," Liko replied modestly, bowing to the Unicorn Zodiac.
"Yes, our apologies for the hassle they've brought you all, young lady. I still can't believe they're a nuisance as they were back then and they gave our sweetheart no end of trouble throughout the last twenty years she'd been with them. But, we heard everything regarding Amethio and Gibeon, Hamber, and his co-agents betrayal of him and we can say we're just as surprised as you were," Seiya admitted.
He then turned to Lazuli and went to her, gently holding his daughter's face as he soothed her, "Don't you worry your little head, honey. We'll be ready to help him even if he doesn't want to admit or accept it. As your friends said, it is the right thing to do."
The swordswoman nodded before she turned to Luna and Discord, wanting to thank them for their help in returning her parents to her, "Luna, Discord... I-I... I don't know, how to thank you, both of you... I only wish that, well... There was some way, Mommy, Daddy, and I...could repay you..."
Luna smiled softly and shook her head, saying, "There's no need for you to repay us, young lady. Your smile and happiness over your parents returning is more of a reward to us. Your story may not have been the best given what you went through from your early childhood but it'll end however you want it now that your parents are back and you continue to hold them in your heart."
Discord nodded with a cheeky smile, "Now, if you party animals don't mind, we'll be on our way home. But, it won't hurt to pop on over and see how you lovelies are getting on every now and then."
"Goodbye, our friends, it's been an honor," Luna finished as she and Discord returned to Equestria and left the heroes and the spirits alone.
"Well, we got more than we bargained for upon coming here. But, I suppose it was worth it given what we've just witnessed," Friede quipped.
"Totally," Cap agreed, still smirking at seeing Lazuli and her parents reunited.
"So, now that we know what happened to the Celestial Sanctuary Zords, what should we do with them?" Roy pondered.
"My Zords will be safe here given their location; as far as we know, there's no way the Explorers will ever find this place. They'll be as free and happy as can be given it'll never show up on their radars," Race suggested.
"Good idea, maybe the Leo Eight can make their home here from time to time after the Paldea Base is complete and pay them a visit," Sarah nodded.
Everyone else nodded and Mistral decided it was time to return to the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft, saying, "Come on, everyone, let's double back to the ships. I'm sure everyone else is wondering what happened to us and if we found Diancie's Kubfu pal."
"Yeah, can't forget about our and Dot's new student orientation and first day at Uva Academy, too," Liko concurred as the heroes left the Celestial Sanctuary to introduce Seiya and Mary to the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers, Sarah and Race's family, and their friends (not knowing that this is the beginning of something crazy that'll set in motion the events following the start of the new school term at Uva Academy).
To Be Continued...