Trials of Sarah Vol 5: Pokemon Horizions

by Snow Nadder

(Takes place during the Summer of Paldea Adventure) While being a guest speaker at the Indigo Academy in Kanto, Sarah and Race suddenly get sucked into another world trotting adventure when they meet Liko and her Sprigatito. When the Explorers target the three of them for their Terapagos, they suddenly meet Professor Friede and the Rising Volt Tacklers.

56. Sparkle! The Glow of Flame and Art!

Liko -My name is Liko, and right now, I'm taking Uva Academy's Terastal Course to learn the process of Terastallization with Roy, Dot, and Lazuli along with Sarah, Race, and Asha's friends from Blueberry Academy. I've just passed my Basics test, and just recently, Lazuli managed to pass her Basics test; I'll admit, though, it was a surprise to see her new Happiny battling but she proved to be full of surprises as she helped her defeat Teddiursa and show that our swordswoman friend understood what Ms. Katy taught us yesterday with some encouragement from our friends and her parents, I should say. Now, it's Roy's turn to take his Basics test and he'll be taking it under the Artazon Town Gym Leader and our old friend, Brassius.

September 9th, Day 4 of Lazuli, Liko, Roy, Dot, and the BA Students' time in the Terastal Course; after their short stint in Cortondo Town, the heroes are on their way to Artazon for Roy's Basics test; they were camping out in a rocky environment in East Province Area One on the outskirts of Artazon as Roy and Fuecoco readied themselves for their upcoming battle with Brassius. Of course, Ash, Gladion, Hau, and the Pokémon School Gang parted ways with them to attend their own Basics test but they wished the others luck until they would see each other again in the course's mid-term after their tests were complete.

The previous day (Day 3) was Lazuli's Basics test under Katy's wing, and this time (while the Cortondo Gym Leader and Teddiursa went for another round), the swordswoman decided to have Happiny take a shot at the Little Bear Pokémon. During the test, Happiny proved to be a strong Pokémon and a formidable fighter while keeping to her optimistic and carefree nature; her current move set consisted of Pound, Copycat, Defense Curl, Sweet Kiss, Seismic Toss, Heal Bell, and Gravity and she displayed incredible strength (much to Ox and Hu's shock and giving Ash nostalgic vibes as he recalled Brock's Happiny before she became a Blissey).

As with Liko's test, Katy and Teddiursa proved to be a tricky pair to match up to given that they changed things up from last time just for them. Despite her own worries that persisted from the previous night, she managed to have fun and enjoy the here and now (throwing away her worries and cares as she didn't let her past with the Explorers bog her down again) as Liko did. It also helped that because of her boundless energy, Charm had little to no effect on Happiny (which left Katy's Normal Type with only Sweet Scent and Slash to work from).

Despite having little to no battle experience, Happiny held her own and matched Teddiursa with little trouble, using Sweet Kiss to confuse her at one point and knock her block off with Pound and Seismic Toss. When it came time for Katy and Lazuli to Terastallize, while Teddirusa regained her Pure Bug Tera Type, Happiny's Tera Form (to everyone's shock) was none other than Larmina, Topaz, Garnet, and Silvally's shared Stellar Tera Type. Eventually, a well-place Seismic Toss allowed them to finally get the drop on Teddiursa and beat her, clinching the match and allowing the swordswoman to pass her Basics test (much to Lazuli's relief as she smiled over her and Happiny's respective victories).

Katy couldn't be more proud of her second pupil as she gave her her heartiest congratulations and wished her luck as she continued the Terastal Course and led the new life she's now living from this point onward (something Lazuli took to heart as she thanked the Cortondo Gym Leader for everything she taught her and Liko). Her parents shared her sentiments as they extended their congratulations and love to her before they left to reunite with Friede, Diane, Cap, and Johnathan to help continue their research into Terapagos (and taking the copy of the cake she baked earlier and the cake Petunia tried to make off (both of which were packed in wrapped boxes) with them) aboard Galaxagus and Daisy (who'd both rejoin the heroes in Artazon).

"Nice work! Now, let's see you give me a bunch of Flamethrowers!" Roy called as Fuecoco blasted several Flamethrowers in front of him, both feeling fired up to face Brassius again but for the young adventurer's Basics test.

"Nice to see them getting fired up as usual."

"Especially since they'll be squaring off against Brassius a second time tomorrow," Dot and Kieran mentioned.

"Yeah," Liko replied in agreement.

Carmine nodded, "It does make sense since Fuecoco let his anger get the better of him and they lost the first time despite him learning Stomping Tantrum that day."

"I wonder how Brassius would change things up for Roy's Basics test since he's appropriately his assigned Gym Leader to administer it," pondered Lacey.

"He'll definitely ramp things up when we get there and he and Roy begin, even more so considering Rayquaza is now with us," theorized Cripsin.

"You think Ash and the others will be okay as they take their own Basics tests elsewhere?" Liko pondered, thinking about Sarah, Asha, and Race's old friends from Alola and Kanto after they left to complete their Basics tests with the other Gym Leaders they're assigned to

"I'm sure they're fine, Liko; they always find a way to learn something new and put it into practice through a Pokémon battle soon after," Sarah reassured.

"Well, I'm glad you, Dot, and Roy started the Terastal Course with the others in your class on familiar grounds with Ms. Katy, Brassius, and Iono, Liko. What you and Lazuli went through throughout our stay in Cortondo Town with Ms. Katy is a taste of what's to come until it ends; we know they don't fight with the same deck, especially with the Paldea League. We'd make sure to think one step ahead and be ready for what they could throw at all times during an official league match if we're you," Race noted.

"You mean they and the other Gym Leaders don't always fight the same way during the Terastal Course and the Paldea League?" Liko questioned curiously at the former BF Champion.

Race nodded in confirmation and Asha added to his words as she informed the young girl, "Right; they and the other Paldea League Gym Leaders are a formidable force to be reckoned with and they always tailored their tests and battles depending on their opponents' aptitudes and their Pokémon on them. They gave us a run for their money given how often they backed us into a corner and how we won each match by the skin of our teeth throughout our battles with them. Just don't let your guard down, remember the lessons they're teaching you throughout the course, and expect the unexpected at all times; you're becoming great trainers by going through with this course but official league gym battles are not walks in the park compared to your average Pokémon battle with other trainers."

"I agree."

"Msssss. Katy hassss proven herssself to be a formidable fighter along with her Teddiursssssa. Whoever you'll face in your Implementation tesssst and/or an Advanced tesssst (if it is necessssssary, mind you), you must alwayssss be prepared to face any challenge coming your way," agreed Rabbit and Snake.

"Save your breaths, ladies. Our little Happy Girl's got this course in the bag and she'll blaze through it in flying colors, aren't ya, sprout?" Rooster snarked, trying to sound encouraging to Liko.

"I'm definitely gonna try," Liko replied with a smile, knowing he meant well despite how blunt he sounded.

"Hey, you guys, I just realized; Lazuli's not here yet. Where in the world did she run off to?" Drayton noticed, seeing the swordswoman not around the area.

"Yeah, you're right. It's about to rain soon and if we don't get to Artazon soon once Roy and Fuecoco finish their training..." nodded Amarys, concerned as she looked up at the storm clouds above them.

"Hey, guys! I'm back," Lazuli called, getting the others' attention (save for Roy and Fuecoco as they continued training) as she returned from whatever she was doing but with a surprise visitor beside her from her right.

"Hey, there you are!"

"Man, Lazuli, we were getting worried," commented a relieved Kieran and Crispin.

"Hey, kid, who's that beside you, and why is it crystallized like that? Is he...a Pokémon?" Pig observed, surprised by Lazuli's new friend as he stood beside her.

To Sarah's surprise, the Flareon looked familiar; in fact, it was none other than a wild (male) Terastallized Flareon (Level 50) whom she first met in the mountain path connecting Cortondo and Artazon when she, Race, and Asha first took the Tersatal Course and the young couple first challenged the Paldea League.

Surprisingly, when she first met the Terastallized Flame Pokémon, she made the rare decision to leave him be and not catch him; it turned out that the Fire Tera Type wasn't interested in having a trainer like her and was waiting for someone else to take him on and accept him as one of their own. She was amazed by his choice and determination to wait for someone else (not her) to be his eventual trainer, and as a result, she respected his request and left him alone.

This meant he continued to wait and wait until his preferred trainer, according to what he was looking for from him or her, would come and find him even if his search and waiting game would go on for months or years. But, he didn't care; he knew it was something he had to do since he wanted more out of his life than what he was getting out in the open and with someone he'd truly call a friend and family. And, when Lazuli came into the picture, he instantly knew that the swordswoman was the one he had been waiting for and wanted to be with her for the rest of his life (after a battle he requested, of course, which she accepted and won with Daisy and Honchkrow's help).

"Yep, that's it. Isn't he the cutest?"

"That's actually cool of you, Lazuli."

"But, he's not meant to Terastallize outside of a battle since he's like this."

"Did you catch him somewhere before we came here?" puzzled Sydney, Dog, and Carmine, looking at Flareon.

"That's right, we met while we were heading to Artazon; I thought I saw something shining somewhere on that mountain we passed by and went to see where it was coming from. Well, in case you want to know, he was the one who made the glow I saw earlier and his transformation was made permanent from the Terastal Energy I saw growing from there. He is a Terastallized Flareon and hechose meto be his trainer."

Save for Sarah, Race, Asha, and their family (who were surprised by the sight of the familiar Fire Tera Type Eeveelution before them and his choosing Lazuli as his official partner), the others (apart from Roy) didn't take the news lightly as they gasped and gawked at her and Flareon in shock.

"IT'S PERMANENT/HE CHOSE YOU?!" Hu and Mistral screamed, aghast.

"Pretty wild, huh? You left me behind on the mountain while we were talking after my family and I found him and he battled Daisy and Honchkrow. I was pretty surprised by how well he fought before we beat him; he gave them a run for their money and had us on the ropes before we beat him. He was at Level 50 when he challenged us!" Lazuli smiled as she knelt beside and petted Flareon (who purred happily at her touch).

Liko was amazed as she pulled out her Rotom Phone and scanned the Flame Pokémon, "Flareon, the Flame Pokémon. A Fire Type; it stores some of the air it inhales in its internal flame pouch which heats it to over 3,000 degrees."

"So, you finally found the trainer you're looking for..."

"Well, how about that?"

"Crazy! Heh, congratulations, little guy," Sarah, Race, and Asha smiled warmly at the powerful Terastallized Fire Type.

"Wow...!" Kieran quipped.

"Oh, that's why you weren't with us when we came to Artazon's outskirts!"

"We had no idea such a powerful Pokémon was living in that mountain we passed earlier!" gasped Ox and Rabbit.

"Oh, Lazuli, he's adorable in his Fire Tera Type Form!" Carmine cooed, loving the candles on Flareon's head that distinguished his Pure Fire Tera Type Form.

"Flareon, say 'Hi!' to everybody," Lazuli encouraged her new Fire Type.

"Hello, everyone," Flareon greeted politely in a slightly deeper tone (compared to that of Umbreon's Fire Type daughter), confirming that he was indeed a boy.

"Hi there! Nice to meet you," Sarah's Flareon grinned, feeling happy to meet a fellow Fire Type and Eeveelution.

"This is it, Fuecoco; we're gonna win our Basics test and eventually pass the Terastal Course! And, once we do, after mastering the power of Terastallization, we'll challenge Rayquaza to a duel and finally beat him ourselves!" Roy declared to his partner, their shared hopes of getting stronger after completing the Terastal Course and mastering Terastallization soaring high and still eager for a chance at combatting Rayquaza in a proper battle between them.

"A PROPER BATTLE BETWEEN ME AND THOSE RUNTS AFTER THEY LEARNED TO TERASTALLIZE? HMPH, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT," Rayquaza muttered quietly as he turned away, still having doubts about the young adventurer and the Fire Croc Pokémon beating him themselves.

"Rayquaza, please, control yourself! Let's give Roy the benefit of the doubt and a chance when they're ready," Marena chastised him gently, getting an annoyed snort and eye-roll from him.

"Leader has a point, Mother. Young Roy still has much to learn before he can fully master Terastallization and challenge him to a match," Kleavor reminded her.

"We admire him for his confidence and determination to challenge Brother Rayquaza and prove himself and his Fuecoco to him in a match but he still needs to know his limits and think things through without charging head-first into battle," Arboliva agreed.

"Mother, are you sure the boy and his partner with such a fiery spirit between them can hope to hold their own again against Leader even after they achieved the power of Terastallization?" Entei concurred to Marena, wondering if Roy and Fuecoco would achieve the impossible against Rayquaza by themselves.

"He may not seem like much, children, but he does have immense potential. And, as with Liko and Lazuli with Floragato and Happiny during their Basics tests, they're full of surprises and are not ones to go down without a fight. You three, Lapras, and Moltres remember Fuecoco learning Flame Charge to give the princess' family and Floragato a hand and clinch the group battle against Rayquaza by never giving up and drawing more power from their fighting spirit, correct?" Marena reminded.

"That's exactly what worries us and why Leader doesn't see them as worthy adversaries compared to the princess and her and her husband's Terapagos. Because, as far as we could tell..." Entei replied as they, Rayquaza, Lapras, and Moltres continued to watch Roy and Fuecoco train for their Basics test with Brassius before he trailed off.

"Alright, now... Give me the best Stomping Tantrums you can make!" Roy shouted, having his partner practice his Stomping Tantrum attacks.

But, the little Fire Croc Pokémon was only able to perform them five times as the ground broke from beneath the pair on his sixth attempt and they fell into their makeshift pitfall, "WAAAAAAAH/AUUUUUUUUGH!"

"...We're not seeing it," the ancient Volcano Pokémon finished awkwardly.

"You are way too excited for this, you know that?" Dot deadpanned at the young adventurer while the others sweatdropped at him.

"...Oh, well, at least that was an 'A' for effort," Lazuli quipped with an unimpressed sigh, shrugging as Flareon let out a disappointed sigh and shared her sentiments.

---

(Theme Song - Hiten (TV Size - Rurouni Kenshin (2023)) ft. AyaseR-Shitei) Pokémon Horizons Pt. 3: Terastal Debut Ver.

~Kizu ari no sasurai no mi, itami ni donkan na boku tachi~ (Wounded wanderer, we are insensitive to pain!)

~Mou sabitsuitari wa shinai, nozarashi joutou no kissaki~ (Won't rust anymore, exposed to the elements, our blades are sharp!)

Our opening to Part 3 of Liko, Roy, and Dot's journey with the Rising Volt Tacklers and the Alolan Royal Family begins as Liko and Floragato walk out of Uva Academy's gates together before the young girl greets the readers/viewers first and she's later shown holding a Pokeball as they walked along. Roy then greets the viewers/readers before he is shown walking with Fuecoco and Dot and Quaxly following suit as the young recluse greets the viewers/readers herself. After Dot greets the viewers/readers, Sarah, Race, and their family are shown with the Paldea School Gang and their Partner Pokémon

Akumade mo kankaku teki ni, tadashii to omoeta michi wo~ (Always instinctively, we've been running, deceiving ourselves)

Boku tachi wa damashi damashi hashitte kitan da, machigai no hitotsu ya futatsu wa atta~ (Along a path that seemed right to us, there may have been a mistake or two)

Our Horizons Trio, Quaxly, Floragato, and Fuecoco are seen with Galaxagus (with Lazuli on his back), Char, Serrate, Plume, Breeze, and Shadow and his fellow Night Furies flying overhead beside Mistral (who was in her Dragon Form). Next, the group was shown with their Pokémon, mythicals, dinosaurs, and dragons enjoying sandwiches by a campfire at night.

Surikomareta soutai teki na, shiawase ni kyoumi nado nai~ (Ingrained relative happiness but we have no interest in it)

Yuzurenai mono mamoru tame kono, atama wo hineru katana wo nigiru~ (To protect what we can't give up, we grasp the sword that twists our minds)

Then, the group was shown trudging through a snowstorm as Articuno flew above them and Glastrier and Glacial covered them from either side, all keeping a watchful eye for anything that could give them trouble during the frigid blizzard. As our heroes then laid down on the grass (happy over the chance to catch a break after wandering around together), we are shown various Pokémon that reside in Paldea from the nearby trees and brush including a Kingambit.

Juujiro de kousa, kinou no you da, kioku no oku de me wo samasu douran~ (Intersecting at the crossroads, it feels like yesterday, disturbances awaken in the depths of memory)

Itomo kantan, miiraresou da, makka na ame ga kanaderu chinkonka~ (So easily, it could enchant us, a requiem played by the crimson rain)

A singalong shot features Ann and Nemona on the bench closest to the camera with Liko, Sarah, and Kieran directly behind them in the middle, Dot, Penny, and Race on the left, and Roy and Carmine on the right with Ann's evolved Dewott, Kieran's Hydrapple, Carmine's Mightyena, and Pawmot jumping and cheering to the beat first and Floragato, Quaxly, Blitz, Bella, and Fuecoco doing the same afterward. Soon after, we are greeted by good ol' Captain Pikachu, Friede, and the unconventional professor's Charizard as they smirk at the viewers/readers.

Hakanaku chiru mouja temaneiteru monban, mi no uchi kara yakitsukusu gouka~ (The fleeting undead beckon as the inferno consumes from within)

Jigoku darou ga, tengoku darou ga, miteru mae saki wo isogou ka~ (Whether it's hell or whether it's heaven, should we hurry ahead before our eyes?)

Amid a sunset or sunrise before them, Sarah, Race, their Pokemon, dragons, dinosaurs, and mythicals, joined by Diancie and her friends, Lazuli, Breeze, Galaxagus, Pantherra, Dragonite, Honchcrow, Timburr, Delight, Woobat, Gengar, Mismagius, Roggenrola, Lacey, Granbull, Drayton, Flygon, Crispin, Taloneflame, Metagross, Amarys, Incinearoar, Kieran, Mightyena, Carmine, Liko, Floragato, Serrate, Roy, Char, Fuecoco, Dot, Plume, and Quaxly braced themselves, ready for what lies ahead of them.

Kizu mamire nan da tokku ni, kasabuta mou ichido hagashi~ (Covered in scars long ago, peeling off scabs once again!)

Hiten takaku tobitatsu tame ni~ (To soar high into the sky!)

We are then shown Sidian, Coral, Garganacl, and Glalie as the two Explorers are in disguise, going incognito for a supposed mission of espionage for their comrades, Hamber, and Gibeon by secretly learning about the Terastal Phenomenon.

Tatoe kyou ga kusatta hi demo, asu ga motto owatteitemo~ (Even if today is a rotten day, even if tomorrow is even worse)

Returning to Dot, Liko, and Roy, they unleash the power of their newly-gained Tera Orbs amidst three Tera symbols glowing in their respective colors and Tera Crystals appearing after. Through the power of Terastallization, Floragato, Fuecoco, and Quaxly Terastallize, thus becoming a Tera Grass Type, a Tera Fire Type, and a Tera Water Type respectively.

Hitori kurai wa konna no demo, aishite kureru to honki de shinjiteru ze~ (I truly believe that at least one person will love me, even in this state)

Amid the approving stares of Jacq, Clavell, Geeta, and Dendr and a nonchalant stare from a disguised Chalce, Liko, Roy, Dot, and their partners run across a field to join their friends and face the challenges the Terastal Course provided for them as we're shown transitions of Paldea's Gym Leaders, the Paldea Elite Four, and their respective Partner Pokémon they would formally meet throughout the course: Katy and Teddiursa, Brassius and Sudowoodo, Iono and Bellibolt, Kofu and Wugtrio, Tulip and Espathra, Ryme and Houndstone, Grusha and Cetitan, Larry and Staraptor and Flamigo, Hassel and Baxcalibur, Poppy and Tinkie, and Rika and Clodsire.

Aa itsuka itsu no hi ni ka, doro no naka ni saite kumo no ue de chiru no sa~ (Ah, someday, somehow, blooming in the mud, scattering in the clouds)

Liko is then shown preparing to eat a sandwich she prepared only for Floragato to jump in and cheekily snatch it from her. Then, we see one of her eyes as it crystalizes as if Terastallization or something else dazzles and amazes her.

Aa baka mitai na hibi wo, ikinuite miseru no sa~ (Ah, those foolish days, I'll show you that I can survive them)

Finally, we see the heroes on a hill overlooking a stunning view as Lucius' Moltres and Rayquaza (with Marena riding on the latter's back again) soar overhead into the heavens before the opening closes with multiple Pokeballs thrown in the air before they become the new main titles and Cap, Blitz, Rosie, Chili, and Crest appear and wink at the viewers/readers, smirking together.

The Trials of Sarah - Pokemon Horizons Pt. 3: Terastal Debut

---

The weather didn't change by the time the heroes (now joined by Lazuli's new Fire Tera Type Flareon) arrived back at Artazon (despite it being Dot and the BA students' first time in Brassius' hometown) but there was a surprise waiting for them. They noticed Pokémon such as Klawf and Grafiai helping the townsfolk set up various artworks including portraits, paintings, pictures, statues, and more much to their confusion.

"So, this is Brassius' hometown, Artazon?" Dot questioned upon their arrival.

"Yeah, but I don't remember it being so busy as this before," Liko confirmed as she looked at the town's other Pokémon including a Smeargle and a Scizor painting or delicately snipping away at some fabric with the rest of the townsfolk.

"I wonder what all the hullabaloo is all about."

"Is there a festival going on right now?" Mistral and Dog commented.

"That's it! Steady there, keep it up, and...! Ah, there we go, practically perfect," a familiar voice announced, getting the heroes' attention as they saw Hassel and his Gible watching a sign for the event they'd come to being put up.

"Spic and span," Gible agreed, satisfied with the results of the sign in its current position.

"Hi, Hassel," Sarah said as the group met with the art teacher again.

"Hmm? Oh, children, Sarah, Race, Asha, Arven! Good to see you again, perfect! You're just in time for the festivities," Hassel smiled at them.

"Sir Hassel, would you mind telling us what you, the townsfolk, and the Pokémon living here are doing?" Marena questioned, looking at what was being set up before them.

"What does the sign say?"

"It says, 'Welcome to the Annual Artazon Town Art Festival!'. Art festival?" Drayton and Dot observed as they read the sign.

"Oh, the Artazon Art Festival's starting up again, right, Mr. Hassel?" Arven realized.

"That's right. For those who don't know, every year during this time, we and the citizens of Artazon set up a delightful festival of the arts. We want all of Paldea and the world's best to gather together, demonstrate their art styles, and show what they've created based on their respective artistic talents. I'm here by special request of the local council to offer any assistance I can as an art instructor."

One art piece that was set up caught Roy's attention as it was unveiled in front of the entry way and he immediately recognized it as he gasped, "Hey, look, it's Rayquaza again!"

"That's amazing!"

"So cool..."

"That's a powerful sculpture."

"It's incredible!"

"Now, that's what I call art...!"

"I've never seen an art piece detailed like that before," commented Pig, Dog, Sydney, Horse, Ox, and Naomi in awe at the artwork the heroes recognized as Brassius' "Sunflora Glared at By a Black Dragon" sculpture.

"Amazing...!" Dot gasped in fascination.

"Wait a minute, is that Brassius'...?" Liko trailed off, recognizing the sculpture.

Hassel smiled and nodded at her, "Mm-hmm, you guessed it; it's 'Sunflora Glared at By a Black Dragon', it's become the centerpiece of this year's art festival. And, as many of you know, it was specially designed by Brassius himself. After all, heisour festival's art director."

"Absolutely astounding..."

"This...sculpture, these humans... They never cease to amaze us with these intricacies, do they?" Kleavor and Entei remarked as they and Marena examined the sculpture and were captivated by how perfectly Brassius captured the essence, power, ferocity, grace, and majesty of the Terastal Shiny Sky High Pokémon.

"Sir Hassel, this...Brassius, you mentioned... H-He... He did...he did my husband's baby...so perfectly. It's...fascinating," Marena told the art teacher, astounded as she felt the Rayquaza sculpture and looked into its eyes.

"I'm sure Brassius would be more than happy to hear you sing your praises about it, Ms. Marena," Hassel grinned at her.

"Hey, Mr. Hassel, I want to challenge Brassius to a battle! Is he currently at the gym?" Roy asked the art teacher, wanting to battle Brassius again and pass his Basics test immediately.

"Challenge him? Oh! You've also come to complete your Basics test as part of the Terastal Course, correct? He's over there right now so please allow me to escort you all."

---

Hassel was right; as he brought the heroes to the Artazon Gym, Brassius was on the battlefield while he finished setting up a new piece he had completed (and thankfully described as avant-garde).

"Oh, Brass!" Hassel called out to the Artazon Gym Leader.

"Oh! Hass, children! What a surprise!" Brassius grinned, seeing Hassel and the heroes before he joined them.

"Hey, Ms. Brassius, it's been a while."

"How are you feeling now? Have you finally gotten over your art block while we were gone?" Arven and Sarah greeted, seeing the master artist in brighter spirits now compared to how he was previously.

"It sure has been, Arven. And, yes, Princess, I indeed have; my old friend has been a big help after you and your friends left and brought back my artistic light when I told him about my predicament," he replied heartily.

"That's good," Hassel smiled before he asked the gym leader, "By the way, how are things going with you on your end?"

"Ah, yes, absolutely splendid. I can tell that this year's festival is shaping to be a truly avant-garde celebration of the arts."

"Wait a second, you two know each other?" Liko interjected in surprise.

"Hey, hey! Wait a minute, hold on, back up! Judging by how you guys are bantering with one another, are you saying you two are actually friends?" Lazuli added, seeing how well Hassel and Brassius were gelling with one another.

Brassius and Hassel smiled in amusement as they confirmed what the pair was thinking, "Of course, we're closely acquainted with one another so you could say weareindeed friends."

"When I was suffering from my art block after completing my greatest masterpiece, even before you all met me months ago, Hassel was the one who lent a sympathetic ear and sound advice for what I should do. He became not only a close friend of mine but also my mentor, actually. My current art style became what it is because of him, especially after I relayed everything you've done for me out of the kindness of your hearts (something I haven't had a chance to thank you all properly for, too)."

"Damn..."

"Whoa, that's so amazing!" the two girls gasped.

"Is that you, Liko?" called a voice that sounded familiar to Liko.

"Uh, Dad?! What are you doing here?" Liko balked in surprise.

Brassius smiled as he answered on her father's behalf, "Mr. Alex's picture books exhibit a strong artistic flair that comes second to none from what I've seen. I personally invited him to this year's festival in hopes of borrowing just a touch of it."

"Hi there, Mr. Alex!"

"Hey, Alex," Roy and Sarah greeted.

"Hello, Sarah and Roy, and a warm hello to you, Race and Asha," smiled Alex before he turned to his daughter. "How's the Terastal Course coming for you all?"

"It was great! I recently passed my Basics test with Ms. Katy two days ago!" Liko grinned at him.

"That's great, Liko, I'm proud of you!"

"Oh, right, I almost forgot! This is Dot, Arven, and the students from Blueberry Academy joining us for the course: Carmine, her brother Kieran, Crispin, Lacey, Amarys, and Drayton. And, this swordswoman with us is Lazuli, she's also with us for the Terastal Course. She just passed her Basics test yesterday, too."

"Hello," Arven and the BA students greeted happily.

"U-Um... How do you do, Sir?" Dot stuttered, trying to sound polite.

"Yes, hi... Alex, is it? Nice to meet you," Lazuli finished, quickly bowing to Liko's father as she gripped her sword to calm her nerves.

"Nice to meet you, too. I've heard so much about you all during Liko's travels with you. Thank you all for looking after my daughter," Alex smiled at them.

"Hey, Brassius! Guess what, I want to battle you right now! Can we do it?" Roy asked the gym leader artist eagerly.

Brassius smiled knowingly as he returned to his completed structure and told him, "Ah, yes, Roy, of course. I was told earlier about your participation in the Terastal Course as of late and I'm curious to see how you've improved from last time. But, not right now, though; I'm a little tied up with a new sculpture I'm finishing before the ceremony tonight which I christened, 'Sunflora at Dawn', a metaphor of a downcast spirit picking itself up to pursue fresh hope."

"It's as avant-garde as Master's pieces come thanks to you all and Master Hass breaking him free from his terrible art block!" his partner, Dolliv, grinned as she greeted the group.

"Dolliv!" Tepig, Wooloo, and Oshawott cheered as they, Stufful, and Snivy (joined by Happiny, Rosie, Crest, and Chili) met up with the young Olive Pokémon.

"Hiya, Ms. Dolliv!"

"Hello, Ms. Dolliv, you're looking better today," Stufful and Snivy smiled at her.

"It's so nice to see you all again, dearies! You're just in time for Artazon's most phenomenal and artistic time of the year. Despite the awkward weather today, please enjoy yourselves throughout your stay at our art festival. Oh, and who's this?"

"Hi-hi-hi~! Me Happiny, me happy to meet you, nice lady!" Happiny cooed with a giggle.

"Yeah, this is Happiny, she's a new Pokémon belonging to Mom's swordswoman friend from back home," Tepig introduced.

Dolliv giggled at the little Happiness Pokémon and immediately cooed at her, "Aww, hello there, sweetie pie. You're just the most adorable wittle-baby I've ever seen!"

Then, the Olive Pokémon turned to Rosie, Chili, and Crest and was surprised to see them in their evolved forms, "Rosie, Chili, Crest? My goodness, you've grown and not just by your evolutions, I must say. Did something happen to you kids while you were out with the princess and her family?"

"What else is new?"

"Mmm, you and Brassius would want to pull up a chair if you want to know what we've been up to."

"Yeah, it's a long, long story," the older evolved Paldea Starters chuckled.

"And, given how important setting up these completed pieces from everybody attending and invited was at the moment, coursework will, unfortunately, have to wait until after the ceremony. So, until I'm ready, feel free to enjoy the breeze of artistry flowing through town to your heart's content," Brassius finished to Roy and the others as he continued to set up his completed sculpture.

"But, I can't wait that long! I want Fuecoco and I to battle you now and get stronger right away so we can challenge Rayquaza to another battle again-OW! Ugh, hey! What was that for?!" Roy begged Brassius to reconsider until he was given a sharp tail slap to the head from an unimpressed Miraidon and glared at the futuristic Paradox Pokémon belonging to Race.

"You robotic jerk!" Fuecoco barked at him.

"Do you ever learn to shut up and use your head, not your heart, for a change, moron?" he snorted in reply.

"I hate to say it with how eager you are to go at Rayquaza again, Roy, but he's right; you're simply too impatient. Sometimes, you never think things through and always follow your heart whenever some situations demand a cool head and not just a wild heart. And, it's the same thing when you never once slow down to appreciate the smaller things in life for a moment when you're laser-focused on the main objective and what interests you. Do you really think you're ready to challenge Rayquaza to another battle even after Terastallizing?" Race sighed in agreement, holding the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

"Challenging Legendary Pokémon is still no joke nor a cakewalk, Roy. My old friends had it rough dealing with the Legendary Titans and the Legendary Birds living in the Galar Region and its Crown Tundra and I had a hard time with Calyrex and Glastrier when Silvally, Salamence, and I battled them after my group and I restored him to his former glory. It's never easy battling them but it was even harder for us to counter his power and match everything they threw at us while coming up with a plan firsthand or on the fly. I was lucky enough to force Silvally to tag out with Salamence when he was on his last legs!" Sarah added knowingly.

"I didn't do that bad, Mother!" Silvally retorted indignantly.

"You were close to being roadkill after Calyrex and Glastrier stomped you to the dirt and they would've beaten us if I hadn't made the switch in time."

Glastrier sniggered at the Synthetic Pokémon who could only glower at him, "Shut up."

"Well, if it's a battle you want, Roy, how about you tango with me until then?"

The heroes turned and saw Nemona and Pawmot arriving, leaving Arven groaning as he noticed their school's student counselor and Champion-Rank Trainer coming to see them.

"Oh, great, ladies and gentlemen, the Uva Academy Battle Queen," the younger Pokémon Cook curmudgeonly remarked which only got a smile out of her.

"Nice to see you too, Arven. I see you're helping our new classmates keep track of their grades and keeping them in top form as we speak."

"Hey, Nemona! What are you doing here?" Roy smiled, feeling glad to see her.

"Oh, I was just passing by and heard your voice; I thought you'd be here for your Basics test with Brassius and immediately remembered our promise. We didn't get to battle last time when the course started but nothing's stopping us right now so I thought we should finally get to it!"

"Yeah, I remember! I'm so looking forward to a battle, let's do it!" Roy agreed, getting Brassius' attention as he momentarily turned to the pair.

"Right, let's make this a fruitful battle for us to remember!"

Moments later, with everyone else watching from the sidelines, Roy and Nemona took their respective places on the battlefield as they would battle with Fuecoco and Pawmot in their friendly battle (thankfully, without resorting to Terastallization between them as regulated earlier by Uva Academy) with the young adventurer first looking up his fellow student's partner on his Rotom Phone's Pokedex.

"Pawmot, the Hands-On Pokémon. An Electric and Fighting Type; it is rather slow to react but once it enters the heat of battle, it will strike down enemies with lightning-fast movements."

"An, Electric and Fighting Type, huh?" Roy mused.

"So, you're banned from doing a Terastal Battle with other students in the course, right, Roy? Then, I won't Terastallize, too, to make things fair for us!"

"Trainers, are you ready? Now, then... Battle, begin!" Marena called, volunteering to be the referee.

"Fuecoco, use Stomping Tantrum, now!" Roy began, making the first move as his partner stomped the ground and sent a large rock splinter toward Pawmot.

"Dodge with Quick Attack, Pawmot!" Nemona countered, having Pawmot use Quick Attack to dodge Stomping Tantrum with lightning speed and ram into Fuecoco hard.

"Don't give up, use Disarming Voice!"

"Augh! And, you kiss your mother with that mouth?!" Pawmot griped as he covered his ears and backed off with Fuecoco's Disarming Voice being unpleasant to hear while concentrating on the battle.

"Keep your distance, Pawmot!" Nemona reassured, not worried once about Roy trying to turn things around.

"Use your Flamethrower, Fuecoco!" Roy continued, having Fuecoco use Flamethrower to burn Pawmot up while he held his ground.

"Nice work, Roy!" Liko cheered for her friend just when it finally started to rain.

"Huh...? Is it raining already?" Dot noted as Brassius opened an umbrella he had with him to protect his new sculpture while he continued to set it up.

"Ack, not again!"

"I hate rain, I hate rain, I hate rain, I hate rain!"

"Hey, who turned on the jumbo shower?!"

"Oh! Of all the-! Confounded weather! This unexpected storm is such a nuisance to Pokémon like myself!" Mudsdale, Flygon, Flynn, and Sarah's Entei yelped in disgust as the rain poured down on them, prompting Elder and Alder to come to them and spread their wings to shield the quartet from the bad weather.

But, Roy and Nemona weren't bothered by the rain as they continued their battle with Nemona making her next move, "Now, surprise them with Dig!"

"Coming right up, Nemo!" grinned Pawmot as he dug underground and made his way to Fuecoco.

"Fuecoco, use Flamethrower again!" Roy shouted out of impulse, completely forgetting about the change of weather and how it would greatly impact Fuecoco and their battle with Nemona and Pawmot.

Then, there was trouble; Fuecoco tried to use his Flamethrower attack on Pawmot again after he popped out in front of him but to his surprise, he found out that he couldn't do it (all because of the rain and how it had dwindled his firepower). Roy was shocked by what he was seeing and even Liko couldn't help but gasp in surprise at the ill-fated move on his and Fuecoco's part. Brassius, however, looked on with a suspicious glare as he realized what his pupil failed to comprehend at that moment.

"Finish with Double Shock!" Nemona smirked, allowing Pawmot to absorb light blue and yellow sparks from his body and the storm (since lightning would've been involved if the weather had gotten worse at this time).

"Shock 'em up and knock 'em...DOWN!" Pawmot roared as he thrust his hands forward and grabbed the bewildered Fuecoco, immediately shocking him and sending him flying back to Roy (and even knocking him out, thus clinching the battle for him and Nemona).

"Fuecoco! Are you okay?" Roy cried as he went over to his defeated partner and finally noticed the rain, "Why didn't your Flamethrower work? Huh, rain...? When did that...? Ugh!"

"Are you kiddin' me?"

"He only realized it was raining just now?"

"Lame-O!" snorted Vaporeon, Sarah's Flareon, and Jolteon in disappointment at Roy (the tomboy Lightning Pokémon sticking her tongue out at him and Fuecoco).

"That battle-hungry pipsqueak is even denser than the Kanto boonie," grumbled Eternatus in disgust.

"...Hmph, how disappointing," Entei glowered, unimpressed by what he and his family saw (and, surprisingly, unbothered by the rain).

"Wow, Roy, that was a great battle! You and Fuecoco learned some new moves last I saw you, perhaps we should-" Nemona grinned as she and Pawmot approached the disappointed young adventurer.

"Nemona, let's do it over again!" Roy urged, surprising the Champion-Rank Trainer.

"Huh?"

"You've only beaten us because of the rain! So, I w-!"

"Enough!" Brassius called.

Everyone turned to the Artazon Gym Leader as he lectured his defeated pupil, "There is no point in wanting to battle and defeat Nemona again as you are now, no matter how many times or how much you want to try."

Sarah couldn't help but agree with Brassius as she joined him and told Roy, "Brassius is right, Roy; you think you've lost only because of the rain but you also lost because you didn't take note of your surroundingsIN ADDITIONto the rain and you've only noticed it just now. Fire Types like Fuecoco are severely weak to water and on a rainy day like today, Fire Type attacks including Flamethrower have little to no power. You were great at pushing through when you needed to but the problem is you didn't have a backup plan when the rain came into play. Or, better yet, why call for something like Flamethower at theworst possible time?!"

Roy gasped in surprised shock at this but the little princess wasn't done grilling him as she continued disappointingly, "Because of your tunnel vision on this whole ordeal, when Nemona and Pawmot used Double Shock on Fuecoco to end the battle, they took advantage of the rain because water conducts electricity and they did it without Terastallizing once! You've got to remember that strength alone isn't everything that makes a strong team and your surroundings can change the outcome of a battle at a whim! Stuff like that and more is why Nemona's the reigning Champion-Rank Trainer in Uva Academy and why she was even strong in the first place! Even I had trouble battling her whenever we would go at each other every now and then during my, Race, and Sis' time in Uva Academy last year!"

"The princess is correct, Roy; there's no point in continuing in your current mindset as I told you moments ago. If you fail to understand why that isandher words, I'm afraid you will never master the power of Terastallization. Our battle is on indefinite hold until further notice," Brassius finished disappointingly much to Roy's dismay.

"No way..." he moaned solemnly.

"Oh, Roy," Liko sighed, feeling bad for her adventurous friend as Mai came over to cheer him up.

"Don't feel bad, Roy, your battle with Mr. Brassius won't be gone forever. Let's check out the art festival until then, okay? Let's have some fun, fun, fun!" the female Mimikyu encouraged happily, trying to bring a smile to his face.

Hassel smiled in agreement as he encouraged everyone to join in on the art festival's activities, "Little Mai is right, everybody! Now, why not join us for the art festival and try your hands at art for a change of pace?"

The others gasped in surprise and eagerly agreed to the proposal but Lazuli gulped as she nervously quipped, "A-A-Art... Me, uh, well...?"

"You heard your art teacher, Mom! Why not take a load off with some of this arts and crafts stuff?" Woobat chirped eagerly at her.

"Are you crazy? I've never done anything like that in my whole life! I don't even know where to start!"

"You said to Mr. Clavell you wanted to start fresh with a clean slate, didn't you? That's why you're learning Terastallization all over again! We can help you with it!" Roggenrola replied cheerfully (not minding the rain with his human mother and her happiness solely on his mind).

"Well, yeah, I did... But, still-!"

"You don't have the Explorers breathing down your neck now, do you?"

"It will be a perfect opportunity for you to discover the joy and beauty of fine arts you were deprived off." "We can even help you make something for your parents!"

"If we can help you come up with an art piece that draws out the best in you away from the heat of battle, Lazuli, I'm sure it'll be something Uva Academy and your parents would be proud of, that it would."

"Come on, Mom, let's draw or paint something together!"

"That's how we do things, together forever!"

"Please?" Galaxagus, Panthera, Daisy, Honchkrow, Delight (using her mother's rain as cover), Timburr, and Happiny encouraged.

Hu (currently in his human form) had no objections as he smiled at his charge and held her shoulder, telling her, "I don't see why not. What do you say, Kiddo, feel like learning something new for a change before your Implementation test? It won't be for a couple of weeks or days."

"Fun, fun, fun! Art is fun; try it, you'll like it!" agreed Mew with a cheerful giggle as she floated over to them, wanting to join in.

"...Okay, okay, I'll do it," the swordswoman gave in, getting excited cheers from Timburr, Roggenrola, Woobat, Delight, and Happiny.

"Good idea, Hassel. I'm quite interested to see what Liko and her friends would come up with for the festival," Alex agreed, having no issues with the idea.

Hassel nodded as he told everyone (including Nemona), "This art festival of ours will accept submissions from anyone and everyone so please craft your pieces to the fullest extent of your hearts. That means you will be submitting a piece as well, Nemona."

"Right," Nemona grinned in reply, eager to join her friends for their arts and crafts projects for Artazon's art festival as Fuecoco joined Dolliv, Rosie, Crest, and Chili (who also didn't mind the rain) while watching Brassius finish setting up his 'Sunflora at Dawn' sculpture.

"The theme of this year's festival is 'Working with Pokémon'. What you children must do is make your art piecestogether with your Pokémon."

"Making art with your Pokémon? That sounds like fun!" Liko grinned, wanting to see what art piece she and Floragato could make together.

"It would be nice to do something more hands-on if only to stay dry," Dot agreed.

"It could also give us ideas for an art festival for Blueberry Academy and back home in Kitakami Town," Carmine concurred as her brother and their friends/classmates agreed.

"Never mind all that! I just want to battle-OUCH!" Roy exclaimed, his mind only set on getting stronger and challenging Rayquaza again and not doing much else which got him a head smack from Koraidon.

"Idiot!" he blasted in annoyance.

"Come on, Roy, is battling all you can think of when it comes to the Terasatal Course?" Keldeo quizzed as he, Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion joined the group.

"Always the kid to charge first and ask questions later, eh, kid?" chuckled Terrakion.

"You must learn to control your urge to battle and concentrate on setting your priorities aside. Life is not all about battling and getting stronger as Nemona and Pawmot have proven to you during your battle and as the princess and Brassius told you moments earlier. If you're forever laser-focused on becoming stronger and proving yourself to Rayquaza, you will get the people and Pokémon around youandyourself and Fuecoco hurt. And, you will never learn to Terastallize as you hoped," Virizion explained.

Roy wanted to protest but immediately felt Cobalion's piercing gaze and he turned to the Iron Will Pokémon as the latter only replied, "It is what you learn from defeat that is truly important..."

The young adventurer was stunned as he stuttered, "...B-But, I-!"

"Now is the time for you to cool down from your previous battle and think over what you've learned from your missteps until you're ready to learn the true weight of Terastallization," the Steel/Fighting Type finished sagely as he, Terrakion, Virizion, and Keldeo went off to see more of the art festival with the rest of their family.

"They do raise a good point, Roy; as Pokémon Trainers and people, it's important to switch things up at times whether in battle or when doing anything else," Sarah advised Roy.

"And, look at Fuecoco over there, he seems interested," Liko smiled, directing him to Fuecoco as he stared in awe at Brassius and the sculpture he was setting up.

"So cool..." Fuecoco breathed in awe, admiring the details Brassius was putting on it.

"Fuecoco, are you really interested in doing arts and crafts?"

"Yeah! It's awesome! Come on, Roy! Let's give it a shot! Please, pretty please?!"

"...O-Okay then, if that's what you want," he reluctantly agreed, not wanting to disappoint his partner.

Hassel smiled warmly as he then instructed Nemona and Arven, "Now, Nemona, Arven, would you please escort Roy and the others to the Pokémon Center so we can begin your projects?"

The two students agreed and led the heroes to the Artazon Pokémon Center as it and Brassius' gym served as the town's public workshops for the art festival. Inside the Pokémon Center and the Artazon Gym were a variety of art supplies and materials the townsfolk, tourists, passersby, and participants worked with to develop their artworks. The heroes were in awe of what was set up for everyone who wanted to make art pieces for Uva Academy and the Artazon Art Festival.

"Every year during the Artazon Art Festival, the Pokémon Center and the Artazon Gym served as public workshops for the attendees and attendants to unleash their creativity and show everyone what makes them and their Pokémon shine through their artwork. You're free to use any materials and tools you want depending on what you're going for," Nemona explained.

"It's huge..." Liko breathed, admiring the workspace they were given.

"Well, we better be getting back to the school. Good luck," the Champion-Rank Trainer smiled as she and Pawmot left to return to Uva Academy.

No sooner did they leave the heroes to their own devices with the art supplies and workspace given to them than of all people or creatures, Izzy Moonbow and her Maractus, suddenly appeared behind them while levitating some art supplies she gathered via her magic.

"Wow! Hallelujah! Art supplies here, there, left and right, everywhere! I feel inspired! Now, what should I make first with all of this? I wonder if-oh?" she chirped happily as she entered the heroes' workspace and saw them before her. "Oh, hi, gang! Sarah, what's up?"

"WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Liko, Dot, and Roy screamed in shock and terror over Izzy and her Maractus being in their world as they and everyone else turned to them before Liko and Roy dragged her and Maractus inside and Dot immediately shut the door (but not before checking if Nemona, Pawmot, or anybody else saw or heard her as she did so).

Equally as staggered as the three trainers were upon seeing her, Lazuli dashed over to Izzy and hissed, "You idiot! Are you crazy?! You nearly gave us heart attacks!"

"Izzy, what are you and Maractus doing here in Artazon?!" Sarah spluttered as she, Rosie, Crest, and Chili joined them.

"Or, better yet..."

"How did you even get here?!" Chili and Fuecoco balked.

"Why are you here, anyway?"

"Yeah," Quaxly and Floragato remarked.

"Duh! It's an art festival here, sillies! I knew you'd be here, too! Art has been my forte ever since I was a filly, why else would I be here?" Izzy replied, grinning as she set her supplies down in her chosen work area.

"...Am I missing something here or is that another one of Little Buddy's pony friends she told Nemona and the others and I about?" Arven blinked in surprise.

"Yeah... Arven, meet Izzy Moonbow," Liko smiled sheepishly as Happiny jumped out of her human mother's arms and cheerfully climbed onto Izzy's back.

"Mommy, mommy! Pony! Happy pony! Happy pony, Mommy!" the little Happiness Pokemon cooed.

"...Of course, you'd take to her off the bat, kid," Lazuli sighed with a soft smile.

"Izzy, I can't believe you! You know better than to show up when we least expect it let alone in a public area! Imagine what Hassel, Brassius, or anybody else would say if they saw you right now!" Race barked at the happy-go-lucky unicorn.

"Hey, I know I'm supposed to be invisible but I love art more than anything else! I love creating new things with arts and crafts! All of this stuff here, the workspace, the possibilities are endless!" Izzy replied with a grin, still in her element.

She then brought out her Unity Pin and told everyone, "And, if you didn't catch it the first time, My Unity Pin gave me the ability to go back and forth between here and Equestria."

She squeed innocently as Rooster moaned in dismay (recognizing Pig's happy and cheerful behavior in Izzy), "Oh, for the love of Buddha himself, as if having one Pig isn't horrible enough..."

"Young Izzy, I implore you! You know as well as we do that you can't be seen by anybody but us! If Sir Hassel, Sir Brassius, or anybody else including Ms. Liko's father finds out about you, we don't know how-!" Tsukumaro stressed to Izzy, trying to control his disappointment and anger over how casually she was taking her presence in the real world.

"Uh, actually, fellas! Let's pass her off as one of Seiya and Mary's pony friends. You know, like, we'll let everyone know that Lazuli's pops sent her over as an additional chaperone. A new babysitter for her, right?" Syndey suggested.

"I'm older now, thank you," the swordswoman rebutted quietly, feeling slightly insulted by the fib.

Sarah also had doubts about the fib and whether or not Hassel, Brassius, Alex, or the other participants and attendees would believe it and let her presence slide. But, despite her, her human family, Liko, Roy, Dot, and Lazuli's better judgment, she admitted to herself that nobody, not even Clavell, his fellow faculty, Geeta, Rika, Hassel, Poppy, and the Paldea Gym Leaders knew about Izzy and her friends let alone Equestria. Even so, she was still worried for Izzy's safety should she somehow expose her homeworld and who and what she is by accident.

"Come on, Izzy, we can't take any chances and-" she compelled, not in the mood to argue.

"Oh, come on, Sarah! This is arts and crafts heaven for me and your friends can have me give them help if they're stuck on anything! I won't get into trouble while I'm working! I'll stay right here and create, promise!"

"I don't know..."

"Please, please, please, please, please...?"

"...Okay, you can stay and take part. Just don't make it hard for us to pass you up as an extraterrestrial," Sarah sighed in defeat.

"YAHOO!" Izzy cheered, happily tackling Sarah to the ground in thanks.

Soon, everybody got to work on what their art pieces for the Artazon Art Festival could be. With Liko, she, Serrate, and Floragato came across some bundles of paper and she recalled her father being a picture book artist as she held two slips of paper in her hands.

"Hey... I wonder if we could paint something nice for the festival, something akin to what Dad does with his picture books," she mused thoughtfully.

"Should we do it?" Floragato asked, wanting to try her hand at painting.

"Good idea!" Serrate agreed.

"Let's do it!"

With Dot, she, Plume, and Quaxly looked over a work spot that housed several bundles of metal that serve as one of the materials for art pieces made of metalwork.

"I may not know much about arts and crafts compared to the others and Izzy, and yet..." she began before Tinkatink appeared out of her ball and began to examine one of the metal pieces her family was surrounded by (all three hoping that she wouldn't make a new hammer out of it by mistake). "Tinkatink doesn't seem to mind, at all."

"I'll say."

"You're right," Quaxly and Plume concurred.

"It's him," Fuecoco gushed as he noticed a portrait of a Charizard and recalled Kaji, Amber, and Friede's Charizard.

"A Charizard, huh?"

"Yeah, we should make him!"

"Of course! Fuecoco, I got an idea!"

"Let's do it!" he and Roy bantered, getting an idea for their art piece.

"Now, let's see, what kind of painting should we make...?" Liko pondered as she, Serrate, and Floragato laid out a large piece of paper with small vats of green, yellow, light blue, golden yellow, and pink paint ready to be used.

"Hmm..." Floragato mused before she dipped her left paw in the light blue paint and got an idea. "Hmm? I wonder..."

She then pressed her paw onto the paper and made a paint stamp. Suddenly, as she saw Floragato putting more of her paw prints on the paper, Liko got a brainstorm and even Hatenna and Terapagos popped out of her hoodie and tote bag to see what they were doing.

"Is that...paw print stamping? Floragato, that's a great idea! Now, try doing that with your bud!" She grinned.

"Okay," the spunky Grass Cat Pokemon replied, using her bud as a paintbrush as she stamped a perfect sphere in golden yellow coinciding with her light blue paw prints.

"Now, that's perfect! I should do that, too, but with something a little more personal!" Liko nodded, taking a paintbrush to do the same just as Terapagos and Hatenna joined in by using their feet dipped in yellow and pink paint, giggling as they did so. "Hatenna, Terapagos, are you trying to help us, too? Wow, thanks so much!"

---

Dot was also coming along with the foundation of her project, too, as Tinkatink already made several new hammers for her family to work with and she started brainstorming how they and the steel loops could fit together.

"Hang on... Maybe, if I could put this hammer together with this loop... No, maybe not. But, if... Quaxly, if you could help...?" She theorized before turning to her partner.

"Sure thing," Quaxly nodded, prompting Dot to bring out her Rotom Phone and get inspiration for the technical elements of her art piece.

"Yeah! It could work but I want something a little more high tech to make it pop out! Now, let's see..."

"There, right... It's starting to look like a Charizard now," Roy grinned as he and Fuecoco are sculpting a clay figure of Charizard (obviously basing it off of the Charizard they saw from the portrait they saw and Friede's Flame Pokemon) just as Dot came over.

"Hey, Roy, can you do me a quick favor?" she asked.

"Uh, sure. What's up, Dot?" he asked curiously as he turned to her.

"I'm wondering if I could borrow Wattrel for a minute."

Roy was surprised by the offer but he obliged and brought out his little Electric/Flying Type for her.

"Wattrel, I'm working on a little project with Quaxly and Tinkatink and we could really use your help. Can you give us a hand with it?" the young recluse asked the Storm Petrel Pokemon.

"Hook me up," Wattrel nodded, agreeing to help his friends with their project for a moment.

"Right, thanks, Roy. We'll be back when we're done," Dot thanked as she and Quaxly returned to their station with Wattrel following them.

"Come on, Fuecoco! The others are working hard on their projects, we can't fall behind them with ours!"

"You got it, pal!" Roy and Fuecoco bantered happily, determined to make their sculpture just as good as the others' pieces.

So, that's what they did; for the next several moments (while most of the heroes were already on track with their art pieces including Liko and Dot), Roy and Fuecoco refined and added details to their clay Charizard sculpture as they envisioned the Charizard in the portrait. But, after they were done, when Roy referred back to the portrait Charizard and their clay sculpture, he couldn't help but feel something about it was off.

"Hmm, well... It looks done but something seems...off about it. What are we missing here?" he pondered until they noticed it starting to fall apart when the head tilted downward. "Ah! Oh, no, the head! The wing! It's all coming apart! No, no, no, no, no, no! Auuuugh! Why, why did this happen?!"

"Art of all sorts lives or dies by the hands of the artists no matter which direction you take," Brassius explained sagely with the wisdom of a professional artist, having finished with his Sunflora sculpture and arrived to see how the heroes were doing with their projects and seeing Roy struggling with his and Fuecoco's Charizard sculpture.

"Brassius, it's just, I-! Roy began, surprised to see him.

"In case you've already forgotten, the clay you're using is not the only material at your disposal. Anything in sight of you as well as anything within your reach could be the clue you're looking for to help you create your art and shine through," he finished wisely as he left to check on his friends.

"Anything around me...could be the clue I need? Auuuugh! What does that even mean?! I'm so lost!" Roy pondered and griped, not knowing what Brassius meant by his words of wisdom.

"I SAID IT BEFORE AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, THAT KID IS HOPELESS AND HE'LL NEVER CHALLENGE LET ALONE BEAT ME EVEN IF HE HARNESSES THE POWER OF TERASTALLIZATION," scoffed Rayquaza as he and his family watched from the windows (all of them unfazed by the rain as the storm continued to rage).

"Rayquaza, please, stop it! Let's not antagonize the kid while he's learning here," Marena chastised, frowning at her and Lucius' greatest partner while she was working on a painting (having a clear idea of what she wanted it to be).

---

But, Roy wasn't the only one who was struggling to get his project off the ground; Lazuli was also having trouble trying to figure out what her art piece would be and hit the ground running with it.

She was currently standing in front of some bronze pieces her family had gathered and an easel that had a single medium-sized canvas on it (having a stick figure painted in it for starters). She wanted to do a painting or a sculpture depending on what she wanted but she didn't have any idea of what she wanted to make for the art festival.

After a while, she plopped to the ground and landed on her back with a loud and defeated, "DAMN!"

"What's wrong, Mom? Aren't you happy to be doing something fun and productive?" Flareon puzzled as he joined his destined partner alongside a worried Happiny, Timburr, Roggenrola, and Woobat.

"Do Ilookthe part, Flareon? I can't work like this! I'm not cut out for this art stuff. I don't have anything! What am I supposed to do now?!"

"Mommy..." Happiny cooed sadly.

To their surprise, the stick figure the swordswoman started with seemed to come to life and begin taunting her as it peeved, "Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! What's the point in continuing if you're already out of your depth? You suck at this crap, lady! Hell, the way you're going at it, you might as well pack your backs and leave town! I mean, you! Yeah, you, of all people, pulling off a simple drawing or sculpture? HA! Did you really think you make an art piece that can please these losers a-YAAAAAAAAHHHH!" sneered the stick figure with a smirk as it stood on her chest and mockingly pointed at her before being erased by Izzy.

"I never liked art that trash talks a friend like you, meanie," the happy-go-lucky unicorn spat at the erased stick figure before she smiled at Lazuli again. "Hey, girl, what's gotten you bummed out? You can't let creative blocks knock you down and beat you up like that. Why aren't you having fun?"

"I don't know if Icanhave fun with this. I've never done this in my life and even if I do know how to do this crap, what difference does it make? I'm way out of my league here! This is just not for me! I've no ideas, no foundations, no experience, no starting points, no references, no imagination on this nonsense, no nothing! It's hopeless, I'm never gonna live this down," Lazuli argued as she sat up in defeat, not looking forward to trying again.

"What's wrong with that? You can make anything from art as long as it comes from you and you alone! It doesn't have to be perfect or stingy or whatever those snobby art critics yap about, what matters is that the piece you make comes entirely from you and how you feel about it."

"...How do I even do that? I'll never live it down. Unlike the others, I've no eye for art, it's pointless for me..."

"Not if you draw out something special from inside as long as it comes from your heart, it's not!" Izzy replied, still grinning as she began to sing to lift her spirits.

(Work of Art - Disney's Zombies Re-Animated)

Moments later, Lazuli was sat down in the center of another art room surrounded by multiple easels set in a circle and with several stick figures from her own drawing mocking and laughing at her. She was feeling down in the dumps about what she started off with until Izzy popped up to give her a hand and point her in the right direction regarding her artwork(s) for the art festival.

Izzy -When you're playin' to win, you only win when you win! And, so you're kinda losin' every time~

She then puts her front right hoof on the stick figure in front of the swordswoman as she holds a paintbrush in her magic, making the other stick figures scream and run away from her in a panic. Once they were gone, she dragged Lazuli away and brought her to a large easel that held a new canvas on its bar before giving her the paintbrush.

But when you follow the joy, then you can black out the noise~

That's when the pieces finally start to align~

So, get rid of your inner critic, just be finished with it! You know you don't gotta be so hard on yourself~

Lazuli looked at the stick figure from her old canvas and turned to the paintbrush in her right hand. Deciding to take Izzy's words for it, she dipped it into a can of fresh purple acrylic paint and drew a purple line on the canvas. She didn't smile when she did it but the swordswoman was starting to feel comfortable as she realized she felt comfortable by starting with a line from purple paint.

So, draw the line, girl! You're doin' fine, girl~
And, don't you worry 'bout anyone else~

Then, Izzy led her through a valley of artwork and up-cycled projects she had done in the past (including the Marestrem and her Motor Scooter) before they were joined by Happiny, Timburr, Roggenrola, Woobat, Flareon, and Delight, the happy-go-lucky showing her warrior friend that they all came from her heart and her pieces needed the love and attention they could get from their artist.

Just do you, just do you, there ain't nothing that you've got to prove~
If it's comin' from your heart, you'll always make a work of art~

The swordswoman was awestruck by what she was seeing and what Izzy told her, and gathering a cluster of paints and brushes for her Pokémon to use, they began letting their creativity run wild as they recalled and became inspired by the intimate moments they shared during their time together. This included the moments that Lazuli and her parents shared and made up for the time they lost following their "deaths". As they painted to their heart's content, Brassius came to see what she was doing after hearing the music and laughter coming from the room they occupied as the swordswoman's new work space. When he entered, he was surprised yet intrigued to see what was happening with Roy's adult classmate and her Pokémon (while Izzy cleverly kept herself hidden, having sensed he was approaching and now watching them).

Just do you, just do you, there ain't nothing that you've got to prove~
If it's comin' from your heart, you'll always make a work of art, yeah~!

Don't gotta pick yourself apart, you're gonna make a work of art~(X2)

Once they were done with her painting, she got to work on her sculpture (this time, with Flareon, Woobat, and Timburr giving her a hand). Brassius looked on in awe as he watched Lazuli observe the bronze pieces and nodded, getting a brainstorm for what she and her three Pokémon could make out of them.

Just do you, just do you, there ain't nothing that you've got to prove~

With the help of Flareon's Terastallized Flamethrower, Woobat's Psychic attack, and Timburr and his wood beam, Lazuli morphed and shaped the bronze pieces and put them together (with Happiny's assistance and Roggenrola overseeing the construction) to what she wanted them to look like. All the while, she smiled broadly as she saw what she made coming together from her heart thanks to the happy-go-lucky unicorn's sound advice.

Izzy & Lazuli -If it's coming from your heart, you'll always make a work of art~
Just do you, just do you, there ain't nothing that you've got to prove~(X3)

If it's coming from your heart, you'll always make a work of art~(Lazuli -Work of art~)

At last, when they had finished, the time came when the swordswoman, Izzy (still keeping herself hidden), Flareon, Timburr, Happiny, Roggenrola, and Woobat stood back to admire their work. Galaxagus, Panthera, Delight, Daisy, and Honchkrow came to see what Lazuli came up with, realizing that she had vanished and went looking for her until they heard her and Izzy singing and laughing from their new shared workspace. Like Brassius, they were surprised by what she had developed with Happiny, Flareon, Timburr, Woobat, and Roggenrola (especially given that she had completed two pieces for the art festival).

"Cool!"

"They're beautiful!"

"Mommy art finished, we finished!"

"Now, that's what we call art!"

"Did you see, did you see, Mom? They're better than we expected thanks to your unicorn friend!" Timburr, Woobat, Happiny, Roggenrola, and Flareon grinned in awe.

With the Artazon Gym Leader, Brassius looked at the completed sculpture and painting Lazuli made with her Pokémon's help and he couldn't help but smile proudly at what they'd created before turning to leave the room and check on the others. He planned to make his thoughts on her artwork known later when it was time for her and her friends to present their finished pieces.

"Wow... I never expected them to turn out like this, Izzy," Lazuli remarked, amazed by her own pieces. "And, I've you and my entire crew with me to thank for that."

"Duh! It's not that hard once you put your heart and mind to it, especially since you have a new life ahead of you now! You're just like Misty after she turned against Opaline and started learning to have fun with us! You can decide your own destiny and how you live your life as she did," Izzy smiled.

Happiny, Timburr, Woobat, Roggenrola, and Flareon grinned in agreement given how much they contributed to their pieces and the fun they had in doing them with her (knowing that their unicorn friend was right on the dot). Even the Circle of Twelve (who also noticed that their charge went missing and went to find her) couldn't help but marvel at her completed painting and bronze sculpture when they found her, her five Pokémon with her, and Izzy. They could tell that she gained a solid understanding of the basics of fine arts and was learning to be happy living her new life with her friends.

After explaining everything to the rest of her family once they finally saw them, Lazuli, Happiny, Timburr, Woobat, Roggenrola, and Flareon along with Izzy brought their sculpture and painting to the art room where the others are continuing their pieces to show them before Brassius, Alex, and Hassel would arrive to judge them together once they were done and approve of their submissions.

But, while Lazuli, Happiny, Timburr, Woobat, Roggenrola, and Flareon were busy doing their artwork with Izzy, at the same time, Roy was trying to figure out the meaning behind Brassius' previous tippet of advice as he and Fuecoco started their Charizard sculpture all over again. He didn't know what his assigned gym leader meant by "This clay is not your only material" and didn't know what else they should do until his train of thought was lost when Fuecoco accidentally got a new clay wing he tried to fit on the sculpture into his nose and used Flamethrower (hardening it by mistake).

"Fuecoco! Are you okay, buddy?" he asked, looking concerned until he noticed the hardened clay wing. "Aww, you burned the wing, didn't you?"

"Aww, crap," the Fire Croc groaned, seeing his mistake.

"Hey, don't sweat it. It's not a total loss, we'll make a new one and put it on-hmm? Wait a second, the wing looks much cooler when burned like that. And, it didn't fall apart, either," Roy comforted until he saw the new look the wing got from his partner's Fire Type attack and tested its durability, immediately getting a new brainstorm regarding their sculpture. "Hey! I get it; if we're supposed to make art with Pokémon according to the festival's theme, maybe we can use Pokémon moves as art materials, too!"

He immediately put the idea to the test moments later as he sculpted the wings and painted them orange, turning to Fuecoco (who was readying himself with his Flamethrower as he was putting the finishing touches on it) and saying to him, "Right, perfect. Okay, Fuecoco, use Flamethrower to harden the wings."

"You got it!" Fuecoco nodded as he hardened the completed wing and it was ready to be put with the rest of the sculpture.

"Looks great like that!" Roy grinned as they painted and hardened the rest of the sculpture pieces in the same way, eventually putting them together and getting the Charizard sculpture they wanted and envisioned. "Okay, that's done...! Ha-ha, we did it! It's true; you reallycanfind different clues in all sorts of places!"

"Yeah! It's awesome! It's just like Friede's partner! It's like the portrait Charizard, it's perfect!" Fuecoco gushed as he examined the sculpture and fawned over it, now extremely happy with what he and Roy finally delivered.

"I get it now! The same can be said for battling, youcanfind clues in all different places! And, there may be a clue as to what we can do against Brassius in our Basics test!" Roy realized happily, finally understanding what Brassius and Sarah said earlier and feeling ready to take his Basics test upon the former's approval.

"We're back!" Lazuli called to the others as she, her family, the Circle of Twelve, and Izzy arrived with her finished sculpture and painting in hand.

"Well, kiddo, how are you feeling now? Did Izzy give you what you need for your pieces?" Hu asked, giving her a knowing wink.

"Great. Izzy's quite the mad arts and crafts genius, I really owe her one with what I got here," the swordswoman replied, getting an innocent chuckle and smile from the happy-go-lucky unicorn and a warm head pat from the Tiger Zodiac.

---

Evening came and the rain had finally passed, meaning the Artazon Art Festival was able to go off without a hitch. After the opening ceremony was complete, everyone was able to present their finished artworks based on the theme of "Working with Pokemon". Everybody was enjoying themselves as they observed the artwork the festival participants created with Brassius' sculptures being the centerpieces of the festivities (his "Sunflora Glared at by a Black Dragon" sculpture obviously being the forerunner of it all).

Arven and Nemona (who had been working on her piece in secrecy after returning to Uva Academy and returned via her Cyclizar) with Mabosstiff and Pawmot presented a painting of the Boss Pokemon and a wooden portrait of the Hands-On Pokemon themselves. Liko couldn't help but marvel at how well they were detailed and made by them and their partners.

"Wow, guys, your submissions look absolutely great!" she praised the pair in admiration.

"Thanks, Liko, my buddy and I really managed to capture his gruff yet kind-hearted demeanor with what we're going for in our painting, right?"

"And, I drew Pawmot in the heat of battle especially with how great of a battle model he is! So, what did you and the others make for the festival? Let me see!" they smiled as Liko presented an acrylic portrait of Arboliva surrounded by fine splotches of blue, pink, and yellow which were actually the paw prints and footprints of Terapagos, Hatenna, and Floragato (showing Arboliva at her most beautiful from their eyes). "Whoa! Look at yours, Liko! It's so super colorful!"

"I've captured Arboliva and her majesty this way with the help of Floragato and my other Pokemon. I called it, 'Arboliva in Full Bloom'."

"Hey, here's looking at you, Sis!" Moltres grinned, seeing his sister as the subject of Liko's painting.

"Well, now... Young Liko has done a fine job portraying you in your full splendor, Sister," Entei remarked, impressed by Liko and her team's painting of the ancient Olive Pokemon.

"Oh, my... It does feel a little odd to be looking at myself but in paper and paint form," Arboliva replied in surprise and awe.

"You humans continue to surprise me... To think that you of all creatures would be capable of making such... intriguing, beautiful trinkets," Rayquaza admitted, impressed.

"Wow, Liko! Your painting is truly beautiful! I think it turned out great with what you and your Pokemon did," Alex praised as he, Hassel, and Brassius arrived to check out the heroes' pieces.

"Such bold color choices for such an ancient and beautiful Pokemon, truly an avant-garde painting of wonder!" Brassius added in agreement.

"We did it, Floragato!"

"Sure did!" Liko and Floragato beamed.

Next up was Dot's piece consisting of a small ferris wheel made out of steel and the 'carts' looking like Tinkatink's hammer, "This here is my Hammer Ferris Wheel."

"Hammer Ferris Wheel?" Liko and Roy echoed in surprise.

"Wow, you did a great job with that, Dot."

"I'll say, you, Quaxly, and Tinkatink went to town with that thing. But, how does it work?" Drayton and Kieran commented.

"You'll see. Wattrel, use Spark to power it! Quaxly, you use Water Gun!" Dot told them, having Wattrel use Spark to light up her wheel via a generator and Quaxly use Water Gun on the hammers to make it turn (without having the water short-circuit the wheel itself).

The group and the attendees were amazed by her creation as Hassel and Nemona praised on everyone's behalf, "Wow! It lights up! It's very much like a real carnival ferris wheel!"

"What a marvelous and ingenious piece of technical metalwork that is!"

The others all presented their own artworks they did with their Pokémon and each of them received just as much praise as Liko and Roy did from the Champion-Rank Trainer, Hassel, and Brassius (especially the Artazon Gym Leader's heartiest congratulations which the BA students considered a badge of honor).

Lazuli was the next one to present her and her Pokémon's finished pieces as she showed everyone a bronze statue of Hu in his Tiger Form (since he was his personal guardian by Seiya and Mary's request and the Zodiac she was close to the most), capturing his fierce yet graceful essence as he stood majestically upon a rocky base simulating his natural habitat. The statue's surface beautifully reflected the evening sunlight, drawing attention to the intricate details of the Tiger Zodiac's fur and his powerful musculature.

Alongside the statue to its right was a painting of her parents in their respective Zodiac forms but with a fireworks-themed background behind them.

The attendees and everyone else were all staggered by the stunning artwork double bill presented to them by the swordswoman, making her quite the show-stealer.

"Are you kidding me?!"

"How did she do that?"

"That's phenomenal!"

"YEE-HAW, that's attention to detail, ya'll!"

"I've never seen anything like this in my life!"

"Good grief! How da hell did the kid find time to do these two squawking show-stoppers?!" Pig, Dog, Ox, Horse, Mistral, and Rooster gawked in shock and amazement.

"Sick! Get a load of that, big man! Your girl got the looks on ya with that bad boy!" Sydney quipped, directing Hu to the bronze statue of him in his Tiger Form.

"Very funny, you joker," Hu snarked to his fellow Zodiac, rolling his eyes at him (but sending Lazuli both a proud smile and a sly wink, appreciating his charge for capturing him in his animalistic prime).

"They're amazing!"

"Whoa...!"

"Man, Lazuli, you rock!" gasped Liko, Dot, and Roy.

"Uh... Yeah, gee... It was nothing, really," Lazuli replied modestly, rubbing her head as she blushed.

"You sell yourself short with such wonderful pieces, Ms. Lazuli! You have my heartiest congratulations for artwork that comes from the heart! To capture your personal guardian in his prime as a tiger with this powerful and intimidating bronze sculpture, the love you have for your parents in their animalistic norm showing how overjoyed you have them back in your life with such bright and bold colors, and doing it all with your Pokémon while having a smile on your face...! Most definitely avant-garde; just by these two alone as they are now, both have shown the remarkable change in youandthe new path you've taken to become a better woman and a remarkable trainer," Brassius smiled proudly, singing his heartiest praises to her (which made her blush even harder as she humbly smiled at him).

Sarah followed after her with a painting depicting Larmina, Silvally, Nebby, and Nebula amidst a beautiful and dream-like nighttime background of blended and soft purples, blues, and sparkling whites. Larmina was in the foreground in her full glory as she radiated a gentle light and illuminated Nebby nestled beside her with Silvally standing proudly amongst them while Nebula spiraled around them.

"Me! Uncy Silvally! Big Bro-Bro Nebby! Big Sis-Sis Nebula!" cooed Larmina in delight.

"Hey, Sis! Look, it's us!" Nebby chirped excitedly.

"Cool!" Nebula gushed.

"Huh... I look good," Silvally smirked, raising his eyebrows at himself in his mother's painting as if he were looking at his reflection in a mirror.

"Oh, wow, very ego of you, Uncle," snarked Prinplip, frowning at the Synthetic Pokémon over his ego.

"Yeah!" his siblings agreed, sharing his sentiments.

"You shut up," Silvally barked indignantly at them.

"A striking twilight with a royal quartet of four...! Once again, a colorful and powerful avant-garde masterpiece, Princess!" Brassius commented with delight.

"Not bad, kid," Lazuli quipped with an impressed smirk.

Then, everybody heard giggling from nearby as they noticed Izzy standing at the main square with the supplies she gathered for a new art piece she was about to do. As she began to sing "With a Little Creativity" (with the help of a beatbox she brought along from Equestria), the jovial and energetic atmosphere she brought to the event filled the air, her horn glowing brightly as she gathered several materials around her.

The beatbox boomed the energetic beat she kicked up, the happy-go-lucky unicorn twirling and spinning as her mane flowed like a rainbow behind her and she jumped towards a blank canvas. With her paintbrush at hand, she splattered paint on it with wild strokes with each one reflecting her exuberance. This exuberance was extended to Maractus as she assisted her unicorn friend with energetic and electric strokes of her own paintbrush while trying to get the awestruck crowd hopping to the beat (the attendees watching as their every movement was guided by the rhythm of Izzy's song).

Come on! (Ooh-ooh!) I got a good feelin' in my soul~
Let's put our manes together, let's lose control~

Even though they were just getting started, Izzy and Maractus paused for a moment as they surveyed their work. Then, with big grins in their faces, they jumped to their vision as they added glitter and beads to the canvas. Each element they added puts them one step closer to bringing their creation to life as they shimmered under the festival lights while the beat continued.

Oh, yeah, I got that vision! Told you before~

Izzy soon began weaving in and out of the crowd with Maractus, jumping from left to right with her magic-enveloped supplies that encouraged their combined free-flowing creativity with the area around them now a whirlwind of color and laughter.

I make something out of nothing so here we go~
Can you see it? Oh, yeah, I can see it~
Just follow my vibe! No, we don't need a blueprint~

The excitement was building within the crowd as Izzy and Maractus started layering their artwork with various textures from soft fabric and rough and angular twigs to those of recycled materials. They soon glided across the ground as they left colorful paint trails, both of them creating a stunning visual tapestry in their wake.

Just a little random, just a tad chaotic~
But, in a bit of time, oh pony, it'll be lit~
Every little thing, yeah, has got a purpose~

By the time the song reached its climax, the happy-go-lucky unicorn and her Cactus Pokemon stood back and surveyed their masterpiece as it came to life around them. Then, they added their finishing touches to it, transforming the canvas into a dazzling symbol of unity, joy, and endless imagination.

The finished painting showed her and her pony friends along with their respective Partner Pokemon together under the sun shining above them with the Unity Pin in the middle, making her cutie mark glow as it emitted its magic into the air and created an array of fireworks.

Oh, pony, can you feel me~
Every little thing, yeah, just needs a place~ (Oh, pony, can you hear me?)
Every little pony has got their own destiny and I'm gonna live mine with a little creativity~
With a little creativity~
With a little creativity~ (Oh, pony!)
(With creativity) With a little creativity~

The song finally ended as Izzy and Maractus let out an energetic and jovial "TA-DA/TA-DA!" and presented their completed painting, causing the crowd to break out into rousing cheers and applause. Izzy couldn't help but beam, knowing she and Maractus inspired others in the crowd to embrace and express their own creativity.

"BRAVO! ENCORE! WHAT AN AVANT-GARDE PIECE OF ACRYLIC ENERGY, FRIENDSHIP, AND UNPARALLELED CREATIVITY!" Brassius gushed, applauding Izzy and her Maractus the loudest of them all.

"Wow! That's got to be the biggest and the best painting I've ever seen from anybody!" Nemona praised excitedly.

"...Does this happen all the time with your pony friends? You know, breaking into spontaneous singing?" Lazuli whispered to Sarah awkwardly.

"Eh, you'll get used to it. You should hear Pipp whenever she's in her element," the little princess quipped, recalling Pipp and her streaming.

---

Roy and Fuecoco were the last to present their finished piece for the art festival and it was their completed Charizard sculpture-turned-statue (but with a few new additions they'll add to demonstrate what they've done). They were still extremely proud of it (and rightly so given the young adventurer finally understood what Brassius told him earlier after they stumbled with it the first time).

"They're all great but Fuecoco and I made this in tribute to an old friend!"

"The best friend there ever was!" they grinned proudly.

Brassius was stunned by the ferocity and Fire Type prowess the Charizard statue emitted and even Liko couldn't hold back her amazement as they both quipped, "It really stands out just as Lazuli, Sarah, and Izzy's pieces did earlier!"

"But, what is the name of this stunning beauty?!"

"It's called 'I Wanna Get Stronger Through a Friend!'; we based it on his wish to become as strong as Friede's Charizard along with Amber and Kaji and my own feelings, too! Okay, Fuecoco, let's top it off with a little Flamethrower!"

"Yeah!" Fuecoco cheered as he fired Flamethrower in the form of a small fireball and it exploded, lighting up the sculpture's metal tail, claw, mouth, and eye posts with his flames.

Everyone was astonished by the completed build with the addition of Fuecoco's firepower with Hassel and Nemona gushing on everyone's behalf (again), "That's the most magnificent Charizard in art form I've ever seen!"

"It just oozes strength with what you two went for!"

"That is so uncanny..."

"But, you gotta admit, they're really dedicated," quipped Kaji and Amber, looking impressed by the completed sculpture-turned-statue of their species.

"ROY!"

"Yes, we totally did it, buddy!" Fuecoco and Roy hollered happily as they shared a hug.

Of course, Brassius couldn't help but feel proud of his pupil as he stepped forward and passionately explained to him, "You finally understand what I told you earlier, I hope? Now, you know that art isn't the only field of education and life where clues can be found wherever you look. The same can be said for battling as Terastallization coincides with mixed media artwork; between Pokemon and trainer, the sky and the land, logic and emotion...! Whenever they all intertwine with one another, that's when you create art that shines at its brightest!"

"Right," Roy agreed with his gym leader's praises and words of wisdom.

With this, the pair knew they were ready for the young adventurer to begin his Basics test as the Artazon Gym Leader then confirmed, "I'll be waiting for you and Fuecoco in the Battle Court."

Making his grand entrance once again and with everyone else on the sidelines watching, Brassius joined Roy and Fuecoco on his gym's Battle Court and brought out his Sudowoodo for his Basics test, "Now, Roy, are you finally ready to fling open the doors to the world of art? Sudowoodo, let's go!"

"Ready, Master!" his Imitation Pokémon saluted, getting into his battle stance.

"Here we go again..." commented Lacey.

"Let's see how Roy and Fuecoco do against Sudowoodo this time," Kieran agreed.

"My Sudowoodo is a Rock Type in his normal form! But, when he is Terstallized, he becomes a Pure Grass Tera Type, do you understand what that means?"

"Yes!" Roy confirmed.

Nemona smiled at him as she noted, "As long as Sudowoodo remains a Rock Type, Fuecoco's at a disadvantage and he and Brassius will have control of the battle. The key to *this battle* will be for him and Roy to find a way to turn that around and make it work for them."

"Our Terastal Course Basics test begins now! Let the contest begin!"

"Right! Fuecoco, Stomping Tantrum, let's go!" Roy began.

Fuecoco, in response to his partner's first call, proceeded to use Stomping Tantrum and send a large rock splinter hurtling towards Sudowoodo.

But, Brassius smirked as he countered, "Still going with the same old corner-cutting tricks, eh? Sudowoodo, use Substitute!"

"Whoo! Seeing double?!" Sudowoodo smirked as he made a double of himself in front of the pair.

"Go for the left one!" Roy directed, having Fuecoco hit the Sudowoodo from the left (revealing it to be his double while the real Rock Type was still standing from his right).

"Use Stone Edge!"

A Stone Edge from the Imitation Pokémon knocked Fuecoco by his stomach, sending him flying into the air and crashing onto the field when he came back down thus prompting Roy to call out, "Hey, Fuecoco! Are you alright, buddy?!"

"Ugh...! I'm okay, pal... And, ready for action!" Fuecoco cried determinedly, immediately picking himself up and glaring at Sudowoodo carefully.

"Mmm! Use Disarming Voice, now!" Roy nodded, now having his partner use Disarming Voice to deafen their opponent.

"You're not full of surprises this time, are you? Stone Edge, again!" Brassius remarked, having Sudowoodo use Stone Edge to block and cancel Disarming Voice before it could reach him.

Everyone was amazed by Brassius still holding his own against Roy as Nemona commented, "He countered Stomping Tantrum and blocked Disarming Voice with Substitute and Disarming Voice again..."

"That's a gym leader for ya; I guess he was ready to counter anything he had already seen before," agreed Carmine.

"What's the matter, Roy? Stuck on a blank canvas already?" Brassius asked his pupil.

"No way! We're just getting started! Now, give me a bunch of Flamethrowers!" Roy retorted before having his partner attack with Flamethrower and spamming his favorite Fire Type move.

"How pathetic, Substitute, Sudowoodo!"

Sudowoodo dodged Flamethrower with Substitute but time and time again, Fuecoco kept spamming Flamethrower and hitting the doubles.

"What is Roy trying to do here?"

"If he and Fuecoco keep spamming Flamethrower like that, they need to change their approach," commented Amarys and Arven worriedly as the heroes watched in anticipation.

"So, is this all you and your partner were capable of just like before?" Brassius mused, unimpressed by what Roy was doing.

"This is it... I have to find the clue we need to move forward and win! Don't stop, Fuecoco! Keep going!" Roy vowed and encouraged his partner, already having a plan in mind as the back-and-forth between Fuecoco's Flamethrower and Sudowoodo's Substitute continued (which caused the area around them to grow in temperature).

"Uh... Guys, is it just me or is this place feeling like an oven now?"

"...Phew, I want to take a dip in a river or lake right now," Rosie and Crest quipped, both starting to feel hot as they sweated from the heat of Fuecoco's spammed attack.

"Yeah, well, the heat never bothered me, anyway," grinned Chili at them as she took in the growing heat while watching the battle.

"Yippie for you," Crest and Rose deadpanned sarcastically at her.

"It's starting to get awfully hot around here," Dot noticed as she felt the growing heat from Fuecoco's Flamethrower.

"Ah! Hey, look there!" gasped Race in shock as he looked between Sudowoodo and his double, seeing him starting to sweat each time he dodged Flamethrower with Substitute. "Sudowoodo's starting to sweat!"

The others gasped in surprise and shock at the subtle turnabout as even Roy noticed this and saw his and Fuecoco's chance, "That's it! Fuecoco, there he is! Use Stomping Tantrum and aim your attack to the left!"

"Gotcha, pal!" Fuecoco agreed as he unleashed Stomping Tantrum again and sent his rock splinter to the left, striking down Sudowoodo before he could use Substitute again (which he repeated even though Roy now knows which is which).

"We got this, buddy! Stomping Tantrum to your left! Now, to your right! Left! Right, Left! Right!"

For the next several moments, Fuecoco could see where the sweating Sudowoodo was going with his Substitute move and attack accordingly with Roy guiding his every shot despite the Imitation Pokemon's best efforts to dodge (which were all futile now that they'd picked him out). Brassius gasped in shock as he saw Sudowoodo found out and being whomped effortlessly thanks to his pupil and his Fire Croc Pokémon's spamming of Flamethrower to make him sweat as he realized his pupil had taken his previous words to heart and put them into practice (just as Liko did during her Basics test with Katy).

"Use Stone Edge!" he countered, having Sudowoodo change tactics and go for a frontal assault with Stone Edge.

"You're mine now!" Sudowoodo thundered as he unleashed his Rock Type attack.

"Not so fast, Stomping Tantrum!" Roy countered back, allowing Fuecoco to use Stomping Tantrum once more but to break through Stone Edge and hit the Rock Type back, making him skid back to Brassius.

"Ngh, damn it!" groaned Sudowoodo as he glared at his Fire Type opponent, gritting his teeth.

"Looks like Sudowoodo's not having a good day with Fuecoco's Stomping Tantrum attacks," grinned Nemona, eager to see how Roy and Brassius' battle would end now that the young adventurer and Fuecoco had the upper hand.

"How about that? The runt's actually doing it."

"Most impressive."

"So, Little Roy isn't all brawn and no brains, after all," commented an impressed Moltres, Arboliva, and Lapras as they, Kleavor, and Entei watched from outside the Battle Court.

Even Rayquaza was intrigued by what Roy pulled off as he watched the action from above and commented, "HMM... PERHAPS, THE FIRE BOY DOES HAVE SOME NEW TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE SHOULD HE CHOOSE TO FIGHT SMART. IT WOULD SEEM THAT I'VE UNDERESTIMATED OUR YOUNG FRIENDS..."

Marena heard their comments as she smiled and nodded, "Right, now you see how special Roy can be when he's pointed in the right direction. So, therefore..."

"I'm impressed, Roy, you've learned well. But, now it's time for me to fulfill your expectations! And, I call this moment, 'The Lie That Came True: Part Two!'," Brassius called to his pupil as he brought out his Tera Orb and charged it with Terastal Energy. "Let's shine at our brightest and best, Sudowoodo!"

Then, when he was ready, as Katy did before during Lazuli and Liko's tests and he did previously during his and Roy's first battle, he threw the orb over his Rock Type partner and he Terastallized into a Pure Grass Tera Type.

"THE BEST OF A POKEMON ARTIST!" Sudowoodo cooed loudly, ready to fight in his Tera Form again.

At this, Roy glared determinedly at Sudowoodo in his Grass Tera Type form as he brought out his own Tera Orb from Geeta, knowing he and Fuecoco were ready to achieve the impossible now that they knew what they had to do to flip the script on him and Brassius.

"Okay... You ready, Fuecoco?" he called to his partner.

"Ready, buddy!" Fuecoco replied, sharing his determination as they braced themselves for his first-ever Terastallization.

"Now, the crystallization of our dreams! Go forth and shine brightly!"

With that heartfelt declaration and a clear idea of what they should do to prove themselves to their current opponents, Roy charged his Tera Orb with Tera Energy and threw it over his partner. When he emerged from the crystals, Fuecoco became a Pure Fire Tera Type, sporting the same candelabra crown Lazuli's Tera Flareon wore on his head.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" he roared proudly, being charged with Terastal Energy.

"FUECOCO! You look so cool!"

"Not bad," Sora peeped curiously.

"Make us Fire Types proud, kid!" smirked Lazuli's Flareon to Fuecoco, seeing his Tera Form on him.

This was it; the second Battle of the Tera Types during the heroes' time in the Terastal Course. But, this time, when compared to their previous battle, between Brassius, Roy, and their partners, who will stand and who will fall?

"Now, it's time to speed things up and finish our little art dance in one blow! Use Trailblaze, go!"

"We'll speed things up, too, with a little surprise for you! Fuecoco, Flame Charge!"

"Ready! Set..."

"...ATTACK!" the quartet bantered as Fuecoco and Sudowoodo charged at each other with Flame Charge and Trailblaze.

But, the Fire Croc's Flame Charge attack was an unknown frontline to Brassius as he balked in shock at them, "What is this?!"

The two Terastallized Pokémon skidded back from the collision after they tried to overpower each other. However, Fuecoco and his Flame Charge were too much for Sudowoodo to handle as his Trailblaze attack was canceled and he was pushed back again, skidding on the field from his back (while Fuecoco managed to hold his ground given he wasn't yet used to such power from Terastallization and Trailblaze still issued some power to him).

"This is it, Fuecoco! Use Flamethrower, full blast!" Roy finished as he saw their chance, allowing his partner to end the match with a powerful Terastallized Flamethrower that completely engulfed the staggered Imitation Pokémon in an explosion and a thick cloud of smoke soon after.

When the smoke plume cleared, Fuecoco landed on the ground and returned to his normal form, eventually seeing Sudowodo completely out cold and back in his normal form as he groaned in pained defeat.

Brassius was stunned into silence by how differently things turned out but he smiled proudly and declared, "It looks like...victory is yours."

Everyone cheered for Roy and Fuecoco, the pair growing ecstatic over their victory as they hugged each other and happily screamed, "ALRIGHT! YEAH! We did it, that was great, Fuecoco!"

"WE DID IT, BUDDY! WE BEAT BRASSIUS!"

"You fought well, Sudowoodo, return... I'm proud of you," Brassius praised Sudowoodo as he returned him to his Pokeball before turning to Roy. "You surprised me this time, Roy. And, I commend you for your quick thinking. How did you know?"

"I could see him sweating as we spammed Flamethrower. You taught me that clues can be found anywhere and once I put my mind to it, it hit me right there. I had you to thank for that," Roy smiled at him.

Brassius gave him another proud smile as he nodded and pulled out his Rotom Phone, approving his pupil's performance and sending him a Terastal Course stamp for his Basics test, "I see... You saw everything, felt everything, and then...you created it as a result of all the work you've put into it. And, you did it all with the help and trust of your Pokémon and the bond you two shared. That kind of effort makes a trainer such as you worthy of the power of Terastallization so allow me to pass you on your Basics test."

"Wow, thank you so much, Brassius! See that, Fuecoco? We just passed our Basics test!" Roy thanked him before showing his partner Barssius's Terastal Course stamp.

"So cool!" Fuecoco breathed in awe.

"Hey, Roy, you did it!"

"You had us worried there but you did it," Liko and Dot praised him as the others congratulated him on passing his Basics test, too.

"Congratulations, Roy, that was quite the gamble you and Fuecoco pulled."

"You really pulled through during your Basics test."

"I gotta say, Roy, you and Fuecoco did okay," Sarah, Asha, and Race smiled at the young adventurer.

"Well, we had a little help from you, too, Sarah," Roy blushed at the little princess, still smiling.

"So, I guess... Next time, it's me. And, I'll be against Iono in Levincia. But, still... Am I really ready?" Dot mused with concern as she looked at her Tera Orb and knew her Basics test with Iono was up next (prompting Plume to comfort her with a reassuring nuzzle and chirp).

"Now, you are all free to enjoy everything our town's art festival has to offer!" offered Brassius, knowing everyone should celebrate Roy's victory.

"Hey, wait! I just realized! We haven't even looked at Marena's piece yet!" Izzy gasped in realization.

"Marena?" everyone echoed in surprise.

They immediately turned to the Sea Wtich and she humbly smiled before she replied, "Well... It's not much from my end compared to your work, really. But, it is still personal to me and I'm quite happy with it..."

With Izzy's help, she then showed everyone her finished painting, and needless to say, the heroes, Hassel, Alex, and Brassius were staggered by what she had painted; it was of the Six Heroes themselves, herself, and Lucius together with the loving addition of Terapagos resting in the Sea Witch's arms as the family of nine they were (with Marena and Lucius resembling Attack on Titan's Carla and Grisha Jaeger at their happiest with a newborn Eren in their warm embrace from the first opening of Season 3: Red Swan).

"Ta-da~!" Izzy cheered, presenting her painting.

"Whoa!"

"Are you kiddin'?!"

"That's incredible!"

"Did she really paint that?"

"And, look who she's with!"

"It can't be!"

"I couldn't have been-!"

"But, it is!"

"It's her and Lucius!"

"And, the Six Heroes and Terapagos, too!" the BA students, Arven, Liko, Roy, and Dot gawked in shock.

Brassius smiled warmly at the Sea Witch as he joined her and said, "A most avant-garde representation of you, your husband, and your family, Ms. Marena... Hold on to that image because, if there is a chance Lucius is still around, you *will* see him again. This recreation of a memory you have of the Six Heroes including Arboliva and Rayquaza, you, and Lucius shall be your guiding key wherever he may be..."

"...Thanks, Brassius," Marena replied, appreciating his praise and best wishes to her and her search for her husband.

She looked at Terapagos as he cooed at her happily, loving the painting of him and their entire family dearly. Even the Six Heroes themselves couldn't help but enjoy the painting and appreciate that she still loved them despite everything that happened between them, knowing Lucius would've wanted them to be together once more and would see them again, someday.

To Be Continued...