Liko - Our adventure with the Rising Volt Tacklers and the Power Rangers continues! Recently, my pendant turned into a mysterious Pokemon called Terapagos, the same Pokémon in the care of Princess Sarah Tomoe and her husband, Race Konami. However, while their Terapagos were happy living with them, my Terapagos wanted nothing more than to find a legendary paradise called Laqua. To do that, we need to find the final member of Lucius' Six Heroes, their leader and his first partner: Rayquaza, and help Terapagos regain the powers it once had. To solve the mysteries surrounding it and find Rayquaza, we've returned to the Paldea Region!
August 15th and the heroes were back on track as they flew across the heavens, having completed the repairs to the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine following the previous day's events that resulted in the arrival of Sarah's Shiny Litten, Sora, and Sprigatito learning Magical Leaf after coming to terms with her past and her strengthened bond with Liko and her family.
However, this particular day would turn out to be a hectic yet memorable day for Dot as she, Plume, and Quaxly were following Tinkatink all over the Brave Olivine from its deck to the interior, the Metalsmith Pokémon looking for something to make a hammer out of.
"H-H-H-Hold up a minute, Tinkatink! Where on earth are you going?" Dot cried after her, flustered.
"Wait up!"
"Slow down, please!" Quaxly and Plume added, sharing her exasperation until she entered the hallway and approached the metal door leading to the kitchen.
She eagerly banged on the door with her hammer to get inside and see what she could make into a hammer. But, when it didn't open immediately as she had hoped, she started to cry.
"T-Tinkatink!"
"Oh, don't cry, Sis!" Plume and Quaxly gasped in surprise and bewilderment.
"What's wrong, Tinkatink, why are you crying?" Dot blinked, trying to soothe her Steel/Fairy Type before Rotom Phone pinged and she got a text message that she had to ignore for Tinkatink's sake. "Who is it? Urgh, whatever, I'll check it out later."
Eventually, the kitchen door opened and Murdock popped out to see his niece, Plume, and her Pokémon, wondering what brought them to him. He soon found out as Tinkatink immediately went inside and Dot gasped in horror, realizing what she wanted to do.
At the same time, Friede, Cap, and Charizard were returning to the Brave Olivine after picking up a passenger who had an important request for them. It was a young woman who tried to get into contact with someone via her Rotom Phone but got nothing in return as she had no answer from her recipient.
"Oh, it looks like she got it! ...What, she's ignoring me?! Come on! Are you there, where are you? You just got my message," the woman muttered, seeming frantic about the recipient of her messages as she sent a few more to them.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! No, you don't! Tinkatink! Don't you dare think about making a new hammer out of my favorite frying pan, you hear me?!"
With Murdock and Dot, they, Plume, Quaxly, and Rockruff were trying to save one of Murdock's frying pans from Tinkatink trying to turn one of his kitchen utensils into a new hammer. And, unfortunately for the friendly cook, she had found and chosen one of his frying pans, a Chinese wok, as the perfect candidate for her supposed second favorite hammer after the one she crafted from Dot's second microphone.
As they were trying and failing to catch Tinkatink while she continued to dodge and kept Murdock's wok away from them, Sarah and Crest came into the kitchen to see how the young recluse, Quaxly, and Plume were getting on with the Metalsmith Pokémon only to freeze and stare at the chase scene happening before them.
The young princess laughed at the group over Tinkatink's hammer-happy antics and Crest just shrugged with a sheepish smile as the former remarked, "Hey, Murdock, Dot, I guess Tinkatink's out looking for new metal for a second hammer, huh?"
"What else is new?" Dot replied before she asked her uncle, "Is this some kind of joke or something?"
"This is not a joke, this is serious! And, it's not something to laugh about!" Murdock snapped in annoyance as he, Rockruff, his niece, Quaxly, and Plume continued to chase after Tinkatink while she scrambled out of the kitchen with his wok still on her. "COME BACK!"
"Oh, boy... Well, we better help get it back before he loses his mind over losing his favorite wok."
"Good idea," Sarah and Crest sighed before they joined the chase with Dot leaving her Rotom Phone behind as it got more messages from the woman texting her.
"Come on, where did my regular report go?" the woman fumed as she and Friede got closer to the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft, sending her latest messages and angry Primeape emojis but still getting no answer from Dot (whom they were directed to along with Murdock on his Rotom Phone (but sadly ignored them after Tinkatink got her hands on his wok)). "They're not even reading them now?!"
Back with Sarah, Murdock, and Dot, they, Crest, Quaxly, Plume, and Rockruff were now joined by Ash, Race, Ochotony, Rosie, Chili, Gladion, his Umbreon, the Pokémon School Gang, Pikachu, Vikavolt, Togedemaru, Sandy, Tsareena, Shaymin, Snowy, Liko, Roy, Fuecoco, and Sprigatito as they continued to chase Tinkatink (who got Murdock's wok on her head as she continued to run away from them) on the Brave Olivine's Wing Deck. Because of her small framework and agility, she was gaining speed and was slowly outrunning them despite their best efforts to catch up.
"Tinkatink!"
"Give it back to him!"
"Don't do it, Tinkatink!"
"Please, Tinkatink, darling! Be reasonable about this!" Pikachu, Togedemaru, Shaymin, and Tsareena pleaded to the Metalsmith Pokemon.
"Hold on, Tinkatink!"
"It's okay, we'll find you some other metal to make into a hammer!"
"Give me back my wok, now!" Liko, Sophocles, and Murdock screamed as their cries sadly fell on deaf ears before the entire group lost sight of her.
"Hey, she's gone!"
"Now, where did she go?!" groaned Rosie and Chili in exasperation.
"Where could she have gone?" Dot fretted worriedly.
"Uh, I think I know...!"
"Oh, no!" gulped Fuecoco and Sprigatito as they suddenly saw her running around on the Wing Deck blindly, still wearing Murdock's wok like a hat.
"Hey, look!"
"There she is!" Liko and Roy cried before everybody saw her crashing into Liko's Terapagos, Garnet, Larmina, and Topaz as they had time to themselves, sending herself along with the wok she stole into the air flying, screaming in a panic.
The heroes gasped in horror while the four Tera Pokémon tumbled forward in a surprised daze but before they could do anything to rescue them, Tinkatink was saved by a Midnight Form Lycanroc and a hand caught Murdock's wok in the nick of time. Gladion and Umbreon were shocked by the sight of the familiar Dark/Rock Type who looked uncannily similar to their comrade and friend in their family despite being older than him.
"Is that-?!"
"A Midnight Form Lycanroc!"
"Gotcha, kid!" grinned the Midnight Form Lycanroc in relief as he landed before they were joined by Friede, Cap, Charizard, and their special guest who got off of Charizard and smiled as she noticed Murdock and Dot.
"Guys! Little Buddy, what's happening?"
"Is everything alright?" panted Arven and Carmine as they, Kieran, and the Paldea School Gang came to see what the matter was until they caught sight of the woman with Friede, Cap, and Charizard.
As the heroes quickly converged on the Wing Deck, they saw that the woman looked a bit younger compared to the friendly cook with purple eyes and dark violet hair coupled with a Rockruff-styled outfit from her shirt and skirt in dual shades of brown to the red and white jacket she wore over them, a pink scarf wrapped around her neck, and Rockruff-faced slippers.
"Just dropping in!" she greeted with a grin.
Murdock and Dot went pale as they immediately recognized who the woman was, "Bianca?!"
"M-Mom..."
"MOM?!" Liko, Roy, the Pokémon School Gang, Gladion, Ash, the Paldea School Gang, Carmine, and Kieran barked in utter shock over the revelation and seeing Dot's mother/Murdock's younger sister for the first time.
Sarah's eyes widened, completely gobsmacked by the revelation the young recluse had family outside of Murdock that neither she nor the others that recently joined the Rising Volt Tacklers didn't know about.
"...Somebody pinch me if I'm dreaming," she commented as Crest did so. "OW! Not literally, Crest!"
"Sorry, Mom."
(Opening)
Now, head forth! Pierce through the clouds~
(Our opening for Part 2 of Pokémon Horizons (i.e. The Gleam of Terapagos) begins with Liko, Sarah, and Race in a triangle formation (Liko up top, Race from the bottom right-hand corner from her left, and Sarah from the bottom left-hand corner on her right) as their pendant and Terapagos Three shone in darkness before the former turned into Liko's Terapagos)
(We swiftly pan across the oceans akin to the beginning of the opening of Attack on Titan S4 Pt. 2 (The Rumbling by SIM) before stopping amongst the horizon as the titles for Pokémon Horizons: The Gleam of Terapagos appeared amidst a sunset/sunrise)
When I remember the words I couldn't say
I dove down to hide myself
Swimming my way through in uncertainty
I cut through the clouds and head for the blue sky
(We see a young Liko walking with her parents through a marketplace before we see her as she is, her uncertainty lifted as she holds and looks at her pendant underneath a moonlit sky from the rooftop of her family's house along with Sarah as she enjoyed her life in Alola growing up before she is shown holding her family's Sun Sword in its powered-down form as the young woman she is and held it above her head underneath the Alolan sun in a split-screen sequence. Then, in a flurry of Leafage and cosmic energy, we see the pair with their three Terapagos, Sprigatito, Hatenna, Blitz, Curly, and Silvally enjoying the breeze together on the observation decks of the Brave Olivine and the Dragon Craft)
One day, I'll look back
At that fiery red sunset
And burn it all into memory
(A young Roy is shown being fascinated by stories his grandfather was showing him until we see him as the boy he is (looking dirty all over and wearing the Brave Olivine's flag like a cape) eyeing the Ancient Pokeball that once held Lucius' Rayquaza in his right hand and raising it high above him in the rising or setting sun while Race is seen being found by Brandon, enjoying life with him and the other Frontier Brains, and being the man he is now as he eyed the camera and held a Pokeball in front of him while glaring at the camera in the same split-screen sequence before they're shown via Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, and Thunder watching the sunset on the Brave Olivine's Wing Deck and the Dragon craft's sun deck watching the sunset with Bella, Robbie, Tou-Tou, Wattrel, and Fuecoco)
Even if I can't reach the truth of the world~
Or the feelings of that girl~
It's okay to not understand~
Just shine like a rainbow~
(We are shown their friends and Sarah's family including a few of their Pokémon in five/six slot group sequences as follows: Friede, Orla, Mollie, Dot, Ludlow, and Murdock with Charizard, Metagross and Elekid, Chansey, Quaxly, Rockruff and Alcremie, and Quagsire; Burnet (with the cute addition of Lei) and Kukui with Munchlax, Incineroar, and Braviary joined by Diane, James, Nikki, and Johnathan with Romeo, Dragonite, Lucario, Clover, Catnip, Juliet, and Melon; Ash, Lana, Mallow, Kiawe, Lillie, and Sophocles with their respective partners; and Delilah, Doug, Donna (former queen), David, Asha, and Gladion with Mischief, Persian, the Tomoe Squad, Flicker, Flicka, June, Proud, Ziracon, Umbreon, Silvally, and Lycanroc; Goh, Nemona, Arven, Penny, and Team Star with Meowscarda, Pawmo, Killowattrel, Cinderace, Inteleon, Grookey, Mabostiff, the Eevees, Bisharp, Torkoal, Skuntank, Revavroom, Azumarill, Wigglytuff, Passimian, and Toxicroak; and the Blueberry Academy students with Hydrapple, Mightyena, Toucannon, Magmortor, Empoleon, Reuniclus, Whimsicott, Granbull, Flygon, and Haxorus)
(We see a smirking Cap from the Brave Olivine's bridge and Friede taking the wheel along with MK-1 on the Dragon Craft's Bridge at its controls with an eager bark, the three of them preparing to take everyone aboard their respective ships to new heights and continue discovering all the world has to offer among the horizons)
Now, head forth! Pierce through the clouds~
Stumbling, staggering~
Standing firm and reaching farther~
Now, run forth! Towards my future~
(In the horizons, with the heroes riding their respective ships, they dash forward with Lucius' Rayquaza roaring and flying alongside them before Liko, Roy, Dot, Murdock, and Ludlow are shown with their partners stumbling, running, or sliding along Rayquaza's body with Mollie, Chansey, and Orla following on Metagross and Sarah and Race tailing their new friends aboard Bolt and Winter with the rest of their family joining them before Marena and Stormcloud joined them. Meanwhile, Amethio is shown training with his Ceruledge and Corviknight with the former forced back by the latter and their master staggering to the floor and sitting on his ass from the intensity of the training battle. As his partners sparred, he gritted his teeth and tugged his shirt, feeling unsatisfied about the current progress he was making and wanting to do more to improve themselves and himself on something while Hamber and Dusknoir watched on)
At the end of this long, long journey
I'll remember you
One day, we'll shake hands
And laugh
(Lucca, Diana, and Liko were seen together with the final Terapagos in the young girl's arms who cried out and unleashed an energy wave, showing Moltres, Arboliva, and Rayquaza with the second half of the Six Heroes: Entei, Lapras, and Kleavor, in small bursts along with Lucius and Liko's Terapagos, before Sarah, Race, Liko, their Terapagos Four, Sprigatito, Rosie, Chili, Crest, Silvally, Tou-Tou, Robbie, and Bella along with a tearful Marena come across Lucius on a cliff point before they joined the Ancient Adventurer on his current spot)
A light appeared
At the end of the rainbow
And I found my dream
(We see the Explorers in short bursts along with a Tera Orb in Sarah's hand, Lucius' gear and records, one of the Terapagos Four in Stellar Form, and someone reaching out in between the heroes looking out to the horizon and the sun in the heavens before Sarah, Liko, Marena, and Race are seen face to face with the Six Heroes as the opening ends)
(End Theme Song)
"Just dropping in!" the woman, Bianca, greeted cheerfully.
"Don't 'Just dropping in!' on us like that! You could've told me beforehand that you'd be coming today while you were at it!" Dot replied in exasperation as she and the others joined her, the Midnight Form Lycanroc (which belonged to her), Cap, Friede, and Charizard.
"I didtell you I'd be coming but you and your uncle left me on 'Read' and 'Unread' since you didn't respond to the other text I've been sending you!" Bianca replied, making her daughter and brother wince at each other before she joined them and handed the wok back to Murdock. "You know, it's rather interesting now that I think about it, Big Bro. Your reports have become so brief as of late when I read them so I thought it best to swing by in person to see what's up and Friede just happened to come by our house and pick me up."
She soon grinned at Dot and began to ramble excitedly to her daughter, "Ah! Do you know how smooth flying on a Charizard feels when you do it for the first time, Dot? You've got to try it sometime in your life while you're at it. Isn't that right, Friede? That quick trip through the skies you gave me was quite the experience! And, you know what else-?"
"Bianca, you did it again. Please, stop it," her Lycanroc sighed as he gently touched her, stopping her from continuing her excitement-filled tangent.
"Oop, right, I'm at it again, sorry. Ah, yes, this here is my Midnight Form Lycanroc, he's my Partner Pokémon," Bianca smiled, introducing her partner before she stared blankly in surprise. "Huh? Uh, what was I going on about again?"
Murdock and Dot sighed awkwardly at her but the others didn't know what to make of her as they remained mostly silent.
"Is it just me or does that lady seem a little weird with how energetic she is?"
"She's giving me the creeps with the wacky vibes she's giving off just by how she rambled."
"I'm so glad Mom's not like that with us," Rosie, Chili, and Crest whispered.
"...Yeah. Anyway, it's nice to meet you, Bianca. I'm Sarah Tomoe and I'm one of your daughter's friends. So, what brings you our way if Friede picked you up?" Sarah began, trying to wrap her head around Bianca's energy and why she came to the Dragon Craft and the Brave Olivine to see her brother and daughter.
Suddenly, Bianca perked up as she remembered something she tried to say earlier and said to Dot, "Oh, right, I just remembered! Well, Dot, I figured your trial period with your uncle and the Rising Volt Tacklers has gone on long enough so I came to pick you up and take you home."
The others were shocked and surprised by what Bianca told her daughter but Dot stiffened at her in response as she wasn't expecting her mother to say that (something Sarah noticed as she saw how conflicted the young recluse was over the news).
"Wait, pick her up?"
"Trial period...?"
"Of course! My daughter was with our friends for a trial run so she should be good to go home soon. Don't you agree, Dot?" Bianca replied with a smile before she turned to Dot only to discover that she had 'vanished' without a trace along with Quaxly, Tinkatink, and Plume (who activated his camouflage ability so they could sneak out of sight easily). "She's gone again...? Oh, well, never mind. I suppose we'll talk more about it when we get home."
"W-Wait a sec!"
"Excuse us, M'am!" spluttered Roy and Liko in bewilderment on everyone's behalf.
Back to Dot, Plume, Quaxly, and Tinkatink; after they managed to escape from her mother, the young recluse returned to her room in a curmudgeon fashion and laid on her bed face and body flat with her Pokémon and Featherhide sadly following her, feeling her inner turmoil. She didn't know what to think as the presence of her mother and her mentioning this "trial period" her daughter was doing weighed heavily on her mind. Her companions could tell it was a roadblock for her and they wanted to help her overcome her greatest challenge yet but none of them knew what.
With everyone else, they met in the Brave Olivine's briefing room for snacks and tea so the heroes could get to know Murdock's sister better. The only ones that weren't with them were Pincher, Sparks and Spew, Glimmer and Gleam, Serrate, and Char since they didn't know how Bianca would react to them should she see them before her eyes (that and she probably would never thought dragons even existed) so they were ushered to the Dragon Craft (with the obvious exception of Plume given his camouflage ability) where they would be safe until then.
"Ah, sorry about that, everyone. As you can tell, my sister has quite the character for a woman of her age," Murdock apologized, feeling a little bad about his sister's energetic behavior and her rambling.
"Excuse me, what do you mean by 'quite the character'? Honestly, Murdock, you think after all this time being your sister, I would've known what you meant by that," Bianca replied incredulously before she began to ramble in her excitement again to the others. "Ah! And, you all know what else I had been wondering-?"
"Focus," Bianca's Lycanroc reminded with a soft smile as he stopped her again.
"Oops, there I go again, hmm-hmm."
"Anyway, being Dot's mother and the overprotective girl that she is, Bianca's never been one to stop worrying about her and her well-being as far as I know."
"Compared to Murdock based on parental care for her, she's ten times the worrywart he is. That's why she's always so excited as you've noticed beforehand," Friede added.
"But, as you now know, Dot could never match the energy she exhibits day after day."
"I can imagine. She would want to make a Pay Day with how much fun she's having despite her worries for Dot," Kukui smiled in understanding.
"Is that so?"
"Si, whenever she was doing her livestreams, she was quite the free spirit and having a lot of fun, too," Liko and Nemona replied curiously.
"Livestreams? Are they what Dot usually did whenever she cooped herself up in her room?"
"Are you saying she was doing livestreams at home before she met the other Rising Volt Tacklers and us?" asked Goh in surprise (who was invited to the Brave Olivine to meet Bianca once they got her settled in for the duration of her visit).
"You bet, it was quite a surprise I got when I checked on her to see how she was getting on. However, I never knew more about it because at one time, when I barged into her room because she wouldn't come out, she said 'Mom Alert!' and got super mad at me before kicking me out and shutting the door on me."
"Gee, I wonder why she'd do that," remarked Blitz sarcastically as he, Curly, and Bianca's Lycanroc watched over Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Rockruff and their fellow Pokémon listened in on the conversation.
"Word," agreed Crest, Rosie, and Chili, sharing his sentiments about Dot's mother with the older Lycanroc smirking in amusement at them.
This surprised the young heroes as Roy asked Bianca, "So, wait a minute... Was Nidothing in the middle of doing a livestream when you went to check on Dot that time?"
"Nidothing?" echoed Bianca, having no clue about Dot's internet persona.
"Hey-hey-hey-hey, wait a sec! I remember catching that stream live when it aired that day!" Liko gasped as she got into Fangirl Mode, recognizing Bianca from a previous livestream she watched that Dot once did as Nidothing (much to Roy's surprise as he turned to her). "WOW! So, that means you must be the 'Mom' she was talking about when it went on the air! I'm so blown away right now!"
"Relax," griped Ortega, growing uncomfortable over Liko's fangirling over anything or anyone related to Nidothing.
"Yeah, Liko, take a chill pill, will ya?" agreed an incredulous Giacomo.
"What isa Nidothing, exactly? Oh, wait, never mind. I'll see if I can look it up," puzzled Bianca as she immediately found an article about her daughter's Nidothing internet persona. "Streaming, popular-hey! Now, this is big news to me! I've got to ask her right away!"
"Bianca," Murdock interjected.
"Don't try to stop me, Murdock! I need to hear everything from Dot herself and I mean *everything, every little detail she could give me!"
"I'm not going to even if I could. But, if you give her some donuts to help make her feel comfortable about it, she might open up and tell you the whole story."
Just when he was about to give his sister a plate of doughnuts he had made for Dot, Murdock was approached by the Family of Four Maushold, all of them eagerly hissing at him to allow them to deliver the donuts to her on his behalf (much to his amusement as he happily gave them the plate).
"Oh! You all want to deliver them to Dot again, do you?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Please, Mr. Murdock! Please! Pretty please? Yes, let us take them!"
"Hmm-hmm-hmm, go for it."
"What's with them?" Bianca quipped curiously, watching the Maushold leave the briefing room with the donuts for Dot.
"Oh, those are the Family of Four Maushold that joined us a few days ago. It's their way of saying 'Thank you!' to us for saving and reuniting them after a recent storm that gave them and some friends they knew grief, and ever since then, they've been doing all sorts of things to show how much they owed their lives to us. And, while doing them all out of gratitude," Sarah smiled as they watched the Family Pokémon go.
"Are you serious right now?! Now, I *really* have to talk to Dot about all this!" Bianca gasped as she prepared to follow the Maushold.
"Ms. Bianca!" Liko and Roy replied quickly as they joined the energetic mother, stopping her before she could leave to meet with her daughter.
"Uh, well... Would it be possible for us and some of our other friends to go and talk to Dot on your behalf?" Liko offered.
"Huh?"
"We'll speak to her and ask her anything you want to know from her."
Bianca was surprised by what she heard from two of Dot's friends before her but she smiled and accepted, "...Alright. I suppose I'll leave my questions and the rest to you."
"Sure!" Roy and Liko grinned as Sprigatito and Fuecoco noticed their friends preparing to leave to see Dot, deciding to go with them to see if they could help.
Sarah nodded in agreement as she, Blitz, Curly, Crest, Chili, Rosie, Larmina, and Topaz joined them with Race, Ochotopy, Garnet, Kieran, Ash, the Pokémon School Gang, Pikachu, Vikavolt, Togedemaru, Sandy, Tsareena, Shaymin, and Snowy following suit. As they left, while some of the others stayed behind to keep Bianca, Friede, Cap, and Murdock company (while also deciding to keep the former in the dark about her daughter's current adventures and doings until Dot would be ready to talk to her about them), Bianca couldn't help but tear up with a mother's pride as she felt that Dot was better than she realized now that she had friends in her life.
"Aww, this is so emotional to me. During her time away, Dot actually made friends with people who would do anything to protect and care for her as I do," she sniffed sentimentally.
"Here we go again," sighed her Lycanroc in knowing amusement.
"Like brother, like sister, huh?" snarked Cap as he and Friede shared knowing smirks.
Meanwhile, Dot was still in her room sulking over her mother's offer to take her home now that her "trial period" was over. She still didn't know what to think even after the Family of Four Maushold delivered the donuts from Murdock to cheer her up (which Quaxly, Tinkatink, and Plume accepted on her behalf as they helped themselves to a few). But, she wouldn't be sulking for long as Liko, Roy, Sarah, Race, Ash, the Pokémon School Gang, and their Pokémon came up to her door to ask her to talk to them about her trial period (and, in turn, how she came to be with her uncle and the Rising Volt Tacklers).
"Dot, it's us, Liko and Roy! We're here with some of our friends including Sarah, Race, and Ash, you get the idea," Liko called. "We wanna hear your side of the story, what is this 'trial period' your mother mentioned and all that...?"
"We just don't want you to be taken away from us out of the blue like that without knowing. We want you to tell us because you're our friend and we're your friends, too," Roy added.
Despite their best efforts, Liko and Roy didn't get any response as Dot continued to sulk in her bed while Plume nuzzled her gently to comfort her and he, Quaxly, and Tinkatink continued to help themselves to the donuts left for them. Hearing how much Liko, Roy, and the others joining the pair wanted to talk with her about her backstory and knowing how much she needed them even if she didn't want to admit it, the Duckling Pokémon went to the door and pointed her to it.
"Come on, Dot, let's go! Tell them, tell them everything," he urged.
"Uh... You want me to go to them?" she gulped in response.
"Seriously! I don't about this trial period thing either! But, if we're going to help you, you need to come clean with us! Don't let your mom walk over you without knowing what you've been doing! Tell them your story! Tell them, now!"
"Oh, alright, I'm going... But, they most likely have left by now and I'm not about to go on a wild goose chase looking for them all day..."
But, as she curmudgeonly approached the door after giving in to Quaxly's wishes, Dot opened it and gasped in shock to find that her friends were all still there. It turned out that they didn't actually leave as they were letting on; instead, they faked her out by pretending to leave her alone and waiting for her to come out and meet with them so they could have her explain her backstory and the subject of her "trial period" to them in person.
"H-Huh?! Wait a minute! Y-You're all still here?!" she yelped, completely flustered.
"That fakeout with our leaving worked, didn't it, guys?" sniggered Roy to Liko and the others.
"You didn't think you could get rid of us that easily with your 'Silence is Golden' rule, did you?" Race smirked at her with Quaxly giving their friends a smile and a thankful wink.
Seeing the same smirks and smiles Liko, Roy, and Race gave her on the others and the outpouring of support coming from them, Dot couldn't help but give them a small smile in return, "Well, okay, I suppose it won't hurt to tell you my story."
Soon, the entire group was in the Brave Olivine's hold where Dot felt secure enough to tell her friends about her trial period and what brought her to join Murdock and the Rising Volt Tacklers in full (with Quaxly and Plume joining her as her support system).
"Truth be told, the trial period you heard about was my idea. Before joining the Rising Volt Tacklers, I felt like I'd hit a proverbial wall at one point."
"Hit a wall?" Liko pondered.
"Does this have to do with your Nidothing livestreams, Dot?" Sarah guessed.
The young recluse nodded before she continued, "I was always cooping myself in my room back home but at the time, it felt as though I was not missing out on anything. I thought I had everything I ever wanted; I could do my livestreams as Nidothing with the internet as my oyster, my only connection to the outside world. But, as time passed, I kept hitting roadblock after roadblock with things I couldn't get from inside my room. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place..."
(Flashback)
Sometime before meeting her friends, Tinkatink, Plume, and Quaxly, Dot was in her room surfing the web for things she could do research on for her Nidothing livestreams. But, despite her best efforts, she was getting nowhere with the current video or livestream she had in mind, not finding anything that would pique her interest and get her mind racing.
"Hmm, something just doesn't add up here. Come on, why isn't there anything more interesting?"
Then, just as she was about to give up and move on to a new topic, she came across a link showing a picture of Friede and Cap with several Grass Type Pokémon they connected with during one of their adventure-filled research trips together.
"Oh, this thesis looks kind of cool."
Curious about the link, she picked the photo and found information about the unconventional professor and the Grass Types he encountered and studied through personal experience. There was even a distribution map of their habitats and locations that could be found around the world that came with his thesis.
"As far as I can remember, the internet was filled with interesting info; it was a treasure trove of research on Pokémon and anything related to them and so much more. But, why did I find it all so interesting...? It was because the information I was looking at came from people speaking from actual experience. At some point, before I realized this... I tried to research things that intrigued me and gather lots and lots of info from them so I could share it all with the world as Nidothing. I didn't want to be overshadowed by everybody else doing the same thing but in their own ways. However, it didn't seem right and I couldn't keep up with them..."
After some time doing her research for a future Nidothing video or livestream, the young recluse leaned back in her chair as she had hit another roadblock, wondering what to do until she got a notification on her computer, telling her there was a livestream from Iono that'll begin soon (suggesting that she's not just a fan of the Levincia City Gym Leader but also an internet pen pal and rival streamer of hers).
"Looks like Iono's got a livestream on today. Well, guess I'll grab a bite to eat before it starts then," she sighed as she went down to the kitchen to get a snack to prepare for Iono's livestream.
But, before she could even reach the kitchen, just as she arrived at the living room and turned off the lights (thinking she was the only one at home or her family was currently asleep or away with errands), she flinched in surprise as she saw Friede and Cap (whom she had heard of but yet to meet formally) getting up from one of the couches. Immediately, Dot realized she wasn't home alone as she once thought.
"W-W-Who are you?!" she cried, flustered.
"My name's Friede, I'm actually a close friend of your uncle, Murdock," Friede greeted warmly as Cap joined him on his left shoulder and smirked at her. "This fella with me is my partner, Captain Pikachu, 'Cap' for short."
"What's up?" Cap smirked as the young recluse joined them.
"Wait, you're Friede?" Dot blinked curiously at the pair, recalling the unconventional professor's Grass Type Pokémon thesis she found.
"I was just passing today and decided to stop by and say 'Hello'. I'm very honored to meet you, Dot. Now, I know we only just met, but... Would you mind fixing this little bug up for me?"
Friede held up his Rotom Phone and pulled up the thesis he worked on but Dot didn't know what he was letting on until he explained further and showed her what he had done (as well as the issue plaguing it), "You see, this is what's bothering me. If I can't get this baby to work right, I won't be able to do what I enjoy most throughout our travels."
He then showed Dot the photos and the data he wrote regarding his thesis on Grass Type Pokémon, However, it wasn't until she saw the group photo of him and Cap with the Grass Types they met and interacted with that she recognized it as the link she came across earlier and it finally clicked for her (and she recognized the unconventional professor right away).
"Wait, that was from the thesis I found earlier...! Then, you're...Professor Friede," she whispered in amazement and surprise, piquing Friede and Cap's interest as they stared at her intensely until she turned away awkwardly, trying to hide a blush from under her bangs. "Oh! Uh, sorry, n-never mind..."
Despite this, Friede (looking impressed) simply smiled at her and asked, "So, now, do you think you can do it?"
"Sure, I can," she replied quickly, taking his Rotom Phone to fix the bug in his thesis, getting an amused yet thankful smirk from him.
"Well, now, that's reassuring coming from you."
After some tweaks and debugging she carried out, they sat together opposite each other as she handed him his Rotom Phone with the data from his thesis still intact. Friede was most impressed by what he saw; despite being a kid, Dot was incredibly talented with technical smarts and programming including debugging software as he and Cap found out. At that moment, he knew that a technical specialist like Dot would not only be a perfect addition to the Rising Volt Tacklers but given what Murdock had told him before his and Cap's meeting her, it would be a great opportunity for her to see the world and be part of something bigger than herself while doing what she loves most.
"Thanks a bunch, Dot. And, all the data's still intact, that's a good sign."
"Don't mention it; I can't imagine how crazy it would be for you to lose such valuable data as that."
"So, Dot, if you're up to the task based on your talent, would you like to make an app specially for the Rising Volt Tacklers?"
"What do you mean by 'up to the task'? I-w-Wait! Did you say 'app'?!" Dot spluttered in surprise, not expecting the offer given to her.
Friede nodded and explained to her, "Yeah, I want an app made specially for us to stand as a testament to our friendship."
"That's right," Cap concurred, taking an interest to Dot's technicality as well.
"So, what do you think? Can you do it?"
"I can... But, it's nothing like debugging your thesis, so... I'll make you one if you give me time to get the program you need together."
"Now, that's quite remarkable of you to do."
"What's remarkable about my technicality? It's just something I taught myself 'cause I liked doing that sort of thing..."
"Better yet, that's absolutely special of you! Believe it or not, we share something in common between your technicality and my passion for hands-on research. I've no doubt it's the hand of fate bringing us together! Right, Cap?"
"No doubt about it."
"So, what do you say? Want to join us aboard our ship?"
"W-What...? What are you saying? Y-You're not making any sense with all that..." she muttered quietly until she sighed and returned to her room, telling Friede and Cap, "N-No, on second thought, forget it. I-I just... I can't make you the app."
Despite Dot's refusal to make the Rising Volt Tacklers app and her reservations about his offer, Friede wasn't deterred; he could tell that Murdock's niece was more than meets the eye and much more than she let herself on with her technicality. He saw that when she fixed his thesis on the Grass Type Pokémon he and Cap researched and knew she was looking for something more in her life after seeing her work including debugging it without losing his data. It was as if the unconventional professor had an eye for seeing things some people couldn't see nor admit to themselves and knew better than to force her to decide whether or not she would like to come with him, Cap, and Murdock.
So, he just smiled at her, being patient with the young recluse and allowing her to make that choice in her own time.
"Ugh, what a weirdo," Dot grumbled as she shut herself back in her room as Iono's stream began, prompting her to tune in before she could miss out. "Oh, no! Iono just got her stream going!"
"*Keep the questions coming and going, my lovely queries and Pokémon Qs! Feel free to comment as much as you please!*" the Levincia Gym Leader and Dot's future friend announced to her viewers.
"Questions and queries...?" Dot pondered, typing in a question for Iono to answer but thinking she wouldn't notice it among the thousands upon thousands of questions from her other fans.
But, her hopes of her question being unnoticed were dashed when she immediately saw it via an old username she previously used, "Ooh! I Spy a curious comment charging in like a-comin'-trekkin-Tauros. It's a pop quiz question from Homebody!"
"WAH! T-Tha...no way! It can't be! B-B-B-But, that's my comment!" Dot whimpered in panic as she braced herself for Iono's answer.
"'I'm a streamer like you, Iono. Have you ever felt like you've hit a wall before?' So, that's what it said! Why, yes! Of course, I felt like I'd hit a wall before!"
Dot was surprised as she mused, "Wait, you felt that way, too, Iono?"
"Despite that, however, I've learned time and time again that sitting on your bum and waiting won't get you over it. You want something done, you got to take that first step and get moving!"
"First step, get moving...?"
"Oh, yes, I felt that way, too. But, I wouldn't wanna stop streaming! Oh, I know! If you want to get started, if I wanted to get started on anything for my streams, I'd have my studio grow wings so I can fly all over! Did that help you out? If it didn't, then laugh it away with a little 'Iono, yay'!"
The next morning, Iono's livestream was over but Dot was thinking about everything she said to her and Friede's words from earlier even after she fell asleep.
"Dot! Are you still in your room, are you up yet?! Murdock and Friede left the house ages ago!" Bianca called from her bedroom door, waking her up.
"Mmm, like that really matters to me," the young recluse yawned in response until she opened her bedroom window and saw the Brave Olivine taking off and preparing to head out, thinking about what Friede and Iono said to her.
"If you want to get started, if I wanted to get started on anything for my streams, I'd have my studio grow wings so I can fly all over!"
"Better yet, that's absolutely special of you! Believe it or not, we share something in common between your technicality and my passion for hands-on research. So, what do you say? Want to join us aboard our ship?"
At that moment, thanks to Friede's words and Iono's advice, Dot made the fateful decision to join him, Cap, and Murdock aboard the Brave Olivine, telling her overprotective and overbearing mother that she would join them via a 'trial run' so she wouldn't go into a tizzy for her well-being and the rest is history.
(End Flashback)
"After that, I made the app and came aboard the airship. I convinced my mom to let me join them by telling them it would be for a trial period and she said I could stay here until she came to pick me up," Dot finished sadly.
The others didn't know what to think as Liko only breathed, "So, that's how you came into the Rising Volt Tacklers..."
"...I see, you realized that you wanted to do something bigger, to be part of something you could only begin to imagine if you hadn't taken that first step into adventure as Iono suggested."
"And, you lied to your mother so you can do what you love doing while on the go and do much more with your livestreams and everything else."
"It seemed as though Friede and Iono gave you the boost you needed to go out and see the world, allowing yourself to broaden your horizons and see what you can do with your technicality away from home. And, what's more, you felt as though you wanted to get away from Bianca so you wouldn't have to deal with her being so overprotective of you," Race, Lillie, and Sarah noted thoughtfully.
"But, now that you've got us as friends and gone through so much ever since we came on board, do you really want to go home with Bianca?" Mallow asked worriedly. "You're finally doing something you love doing and you got so much out of it and joining your uncle and Friede since then. Shouldn't you tell her about that?"
"I don't know... I wanted to tell her but she wouldn't listen to me no matter how hard I tried," Dot replied hopelessly. "She wouldn't care what I thought...mainly because I didn't speak up for myself whenever she was around."
"But, she won't understand how you felt about all this if you don't tell her about it. As we all know, there comes a time in every child's life when they have to stand up for what they believed in doing to their parents, doing what they love to do despite their better judgment. How would you feel about leaving us behind without telling her?" Kiawe asked, concerned for her.
Dot didn't know what to say as Plume gently nuzzled her while letting out a sad croon; despite having known her for only a few days after they met, he had grown fond of his rider and didn't want to say goodbye to her should Bianca take her away.
Lillie and Gladion feel especially bad for her as they realize that her relationship with her mother was paralleled to their relationship with their own mother before the incident involving Nihilego and when she once prioritized her and the Aether Foundation's work on the Ultra Beasts while leaving herself no time for them (being the overbearing yet sometimes lovingly naïve mother that she once was to them).
But, before they could tell her their history with their mother and relate to her struggles, Plume perked up fearfully and quickly vanished via his camouflage ability just as the heroes suddenly heard, "Oh, Dot, what a surprise! So, you've finally come out of your room!"
The heroes turned in shock and surprise to find Bianca standing above them with her Lycanroc beside her, smiling down at them as she said to her daughter and her friends, "What a coincidence you'd be here! I was getting finicky waiting for news or something so I thought I'd swing by the kitchen for a bite to eat, and lo and behold, I end up bumping into you children along the way! So, Liko, Roy, did she tell you and your friends anything?"
While Dot remained silent as usual, not knowing how to tell her mother how she felt, all Liko and Roy could say on everyone's behalf was, "Oh, uh...!"
"Well, she told us everything about her trial period, how she came to join the Rising Volt Tacklers, and you coming to pick her up."
"Then, you all should understand what I'm feeling, right? I came here because I thought her trial period had gone on long enough and I was getting lonely with her but I wanted to hear what she thought about it. I would've loved to ask her about it myself, but as you can see, Dot never bothered to tell me anything. Nothing at all!"
"You're so annoying getting on my case, you know that...?" Dot grumbled quietly as she turned away, not liking how overbearing Bianca was becoming to her as she and Lycanroc joined her, the camouflaged Plume, and Quaxly.
"Excuse me?! Well, of course, I'm annoying to you! I knowI get on your case one too many times! But, I've good reason for worrying about you, and as your mother, it is my duty-!"
"Bianca!"
"Wait!" Lycanroc and Liko cried, making her stop before she could let her annoyance at her daughter being closed off and silent towards her take her over.
"Bianca, let's be reasonable. I'm sure Dot has every reason she has to tell you how she felt but you never gave her a chance to say anything because you were so overprotective of her. Let's take a moment to think this over and once we're all in the right mindset with her, she'll explain everything to you but you must hear her out first before you do anything," Sarah reasoned.
"Sarah..." Dot squeaked in surprise at her first friend.
"Hmm, I see... I get that, but still, ugh... What to do...? Lycanroc, what do you think we should do?" Bianca muttered thoughtfully before turning to her partner.
"Wait, actually..." Lycanroc blinked before he turned back to Dot, seeing Quaxly in her arms (much to his and his human partner's surprise).
"Hi," the Duckling Pokémon greeted.
"Hold up... Dot, is that a Quaxly on you? Did you become a Pokémon trainer recently?"
"...Why'd you ask?"
"I see... If that's the case, there isone way for us to settle this!" Bianca grinned, getting a brainstorm for her and Dot's family dilemma as she then said, "I challenge you to a battle!"
Silence fell upon the heroes before they all gawked in shock at her, "WHAT WAS THAT!?"
Later, Dot and her party regrouped with the rest and everyone gathered on the Wing Deck to watch her battle her mother. They were just as shocked to hear that Bianca challenged her daughter to a Pokémon battle and wanted to see how it goes.
"Okay..." Orla commented awkwardly as everybody watched from the sidelines (with the still-camouflaged Plume standing beside Dot and Quaxly from their left, feeling worried for his rider).
"Now, what did you do to pull this off?" Murdock questioned, wanting to know how niece and sister ended up battling each other.
"What's the sitch?" Cap inquired suspiciously.
"Don't look at me, I didn't..." Dot began before she trailed off, not knowing how to tell her uncle and Cap about earlier.
"'Talk is just talk, actions and battles speak louder than words!', I've heard it's common among trainers to follow that tippet on anything," Bianca replied to her brother from her side of the Wing Deck. "In other words, while we have our battle, since Dot's at a point in her life when she feels embarrassed to tell her parents anything, she'll be able to tell me how she felt about everything she's been through since joining you all!"
"Is she for real?" Roy asked Mollie, curious about Bianca's reasoning.
"I've never known nor heard of that saying before," she admitted.
Friede, however, smiled knowingly as he immediately caught onto what Bianca was letting on, "But, with how passionate she is, there may be some truth to her words."
"Are you serious?" blinked a surprised Drayton.
"How did it all get to this point, me battling my own mom right now? I can't believe it," muttered Dot, conflicted over everything that happened throughout the day.
"Let's go, Dot!" Quaxly urged as he stepped forward and prepared to fight for his partner's sake.
"Quaxly, you want to battle her?"
"For you, anything!"
Dot didn't know what to think about how far Quaxly was going for her as her Partner Pokémon and friend. She then looked back at her uncle and friends as they all stared in anticipation, turning her attention to Liko, Roy, Ash, the others, the Alolan Royal Family, Race, Gladion, Carmine, Kieran, the Paldea and Pokemon School gangs, and most importantly, Sarah (who nodded at her).
"This battle; it just, seemed so pointless in hindsight. And, yet, somehow, I can't help, but... Feel like I shouldn't run away from it," she muttered quietly as she watched Quaxly ready himself to fight, dancing in place and psyching himself as Bianca's Lycanroc stepped up to face him.
Deciding to take a chance, she stepped forward with him (while Plume stayed back with his hopes for his rider and Quaxly's victory soaring high, doing his best not to make himself known to Bianca) and brought out her headband, pulling back her bangs as she said, "Mental Switch, on!"
Bianca did the same as she undid her scarf and tied her own bangs back, using it as a headband while saying, "Mom Switch, on!"
"Whoever strikes first wins first! Quaxly, use Water Gun, now!"
"Splashdown, yeah!" Quaxly shouted as he and Dot made the first move with Water Gun.
"I had a feeling you'd start with the basics! Lycanroc, go!" smirked Bianca, allowing her Lycanroc to dodge his small acquaintance's blow.
"Don't stop now, keep going!" Dot urged, allowing Quaxly to fire consecutive Water Guns while Lycanroc dodged them as he moved forward to attack him at close range.
"You know, Dot, I've been well informed about everything from Murdock's viewpoint based on his reports. Even now while in the airship during your trial period, you remain cooped up in your room!" Bianca grilled her daughter while Lycanroc and Quaxly continued to fight.
"That was then, Mom, but this...is now! I've changed since then; I've made many friends since I joined Murdock and Friede and they came into my life, and because of them, I began to realize that the outside world is more fun than I could ever have imagined!"
"Then, why did you decide to be a Pokémon Trainer? You never seemed to be interested in becoming one!"
"I didn't know how it felt back then! But, ever since I met Quaxly, things have been more exciting for me! And, I thought of having fun with Tinkatink and another friend of ours, too! That's why...!"
"...You've caught them, is that it?"
"That's right!"
As their partners bantered with one another over Dot's life choices and what she had been doing since joining the Rising Volt Tacklers, Lycanroc managed to dodge two more Water Gun attacks until he finally reached Quaxly with both Pokémon preparing to use close-range attacks against each other despite the Duckling Pokémon being briefly taken aback by how intimidating the older Midnight Form Wolf Pokémon looked.
"Quaxly, use Pound!"
"Right!" nodded the Duckling Pokemon as he charged at his bigger opponent.
"Use Counter!"
"Come on!" Lycanroc dared the Paldea Water Starter as he readied himself, tapping into the energy he had to unleash his Fighting Type move.
"Coming...THROUGH!" Quaxly roared as he lunged at Lycanroc with Pound.
"Hmph! Too slow!" Lycanroc scoffed as he landed a haymaker with Counter at twice the original power of Pound, sending Quaxly flying until Dot caught him.
"Even though I'm backed into a corner, and even if I do end up hitting another wall, I can learn from my mistakes and try something new next time!" Dot continued as Quaxly jumped out of her arms and they got back in the fight, not wanting to give up. "Everything I could only ever imagine and wish for back then, they were all out of reach when I was in my room! But, now... Thanks to my friends, Tinkatink, Plume, and Quaxly, I feel like I can do anything now and that excites me, and makes me happy, more than anything else!"
"Is that so? Well, in that case, let's see you dazzle me with what you can do now!" Bianca dared, ready to see what her daughter was truly capable of now.
"Quaxly, use Water Gun, go!"
"Lycanroc, Rock Throw!"
"Bombs away!" Lycanroc howled as he used Rock Throw attack at Quaxly who countered each of his rocks with Water Gun, creating a smoke plume in the process.
"Now, use Pound again!" Dot called, having Quaxly go at Lycanroc with Pound a second time.
"Counter again!"
With another devastating Counter attack, Lycanroc pounded Quaxly and he crash-landed on the Wing Deck, worrying Dot greatly as she realized the harsh effects Counter left on him at twice Pound's original attack power.
"No matter how hard we hit, Lycanroc comes at us with twice the power left by Pound using Counter. At this rate, is it hopeless from the beginning...? Are we doomed to lose from the start after everything we've been through...?" she muttered darkly, wondering if she should throw in the towel while she still got the chance.
Despite her worries, Quaxly didn't share them as he staggered back on his feet, not wanting himself and his partner to lose. His determination triggered something in Dot once she saw how far the Duckling Pokémon was willing to go and either reach for the stars or take the fall for her, Plume, Tinkatink, and all their friends for her sake, especially regarding their family love and friendship.
"...You're right, Quaxly, what was I thinking? If you won't give up, neither will I. If we quit now, how can we face the others, Plume, Tinkatink, and Sarah again? I shouldn't be thinking about what I can't do; rather than that, perhaps we should figure out what we cando," she concurred determinedly, examining Lycanroc's physiology and seeing what might be a weak spot of his they can take advantage of.
"Right there! Alright, Quaxly, use Pound but aim for his legs!"
"Now, you're talking!" Quaxly smirked as he charged at Lycanroc for a final time, keeping his eye on the Wolf Pokémon's legs and waiting for Dot's signal.
"Now, Quaxly, GO!"
"You're finished!"
"One more Counter!" Bianca grinned.
However, just as Lycanroc unleashed his third consecutive Counter attack, and Quaxly used Pound, the Paldea Water Starter faked his Rock Type opponent out and aimed for his legs. As he did so, his legs started to give off an orange glow and he tripped him up with a low roundhouse kick and a loud "HYAH!', knocking him off balance
Sarah and Dot gasped in shock as they spluttered, "Whoa!"
"Hey, wait! Isn't that-?!"
"You're going...DOWN!" Quaxly screamed determinedly, unleashing a final hard kick to Bianca's Lycanroc on the stomach and sending him flying across the Wing Deck which shocked Bianca.
"Oh, no! Murdock!" Bianca cried to her brother.
"Oh! Right!" Murdock replied.
But, before he could do anything, Gladion's own Lycanroc and Umbreon jumped forward as the former roared, "LOOK OUT!", and they managed to catch the older Midnight Form Rock Type before he could crash into the ship or be sent flying off despite the Wing Deck's barrier. With the older Midnight Form Lycanroc safe and sound, they both sighed in relief and looked at him to see if he was alright only to see him knocked out cold and having swirls over his eyes from Quaxly's new move.
Dot gasped in amazement as she sang Quaxly's praises and immediately recognized the new move, "Ha-Ha! We did it! That was awesome, Quaxly! You've just learned how to use Low Sweep!"
"Practically perfect," Quaxly remarked happily, feeling proud of himself and Dot for their victory.
"BIG BROTHER! YOU DID IT! YOU AND MAMA WON!" Tinkatink cheered, running over to Quaxly and sharing a hug and laugh with him as she was delighted over his and her human mother's victory.
The others smiled warmly and felt happy for Dot and Quaxly as Bianca came over to her daughter and smiled proudly at her, "Well, Dot..."
"Mom, I'm ready now!" Dot replied, now ready to tell her about her decision to leave for home or stay with her friends.
Everyone watched in anticipation and with bated breath, wondering how Bianca would react to her choice to either leave or stay, "I don't want to go through with the trial period anymore! The truth is... I want to stay with my friends just as they would stay for me! I'm staying with the Rising Volt Tacklers as a proper member! If it's alright with you, will you please let me stay?"
Silence fell as everybody braced themselves for Bianca's reaction to Dot's choice to stay and Luna and Gladion's Lycanroc carefully guided her partner (who had come to) back to her. Quaxly was the first to see his partner's mother react to her choice to stay with her friends, gasping in surprise at her.
"Hey, Dot! Look!" he gawked as she looked at her mother and yelped, seeing her crying tears of joy for her.
"I...I...! You don't know...how long, I've been waiting to hear you say that...! You really have grown...! Oh, Dot... I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!" Bianca sobbed happily, hugging her daughter proudly despite her not returning it (still feeling uncomfortable about hugs) as the others joined them. "This is the best I've ever seen from you! Living out your days on this wonderful ship with friends who understand you and your feelings, I-I just...! I don't know what to say!"
She didn't need to and neither did Dot as Plume made himself reappear before the older woman and gently licked her tears away to comfort her (much to the shock and horror of the others), getting Bianca's attention as she blinked in surprise at him until she chuckled and gently rubbed his head.
"I know what you're thinking, Dot, but you needn't worry. I had a feeling you would be taken care of and looked after well, and besides, you didn't think I'd be completely in the dark when I heard you mention your other friend during our battle and the name 'Plume', did you? I wondered whether or not you would have a guardian angel of some sort looking after you and to see it as a creature like this cutie, I couldn't be happier. If I'm honest, I'm just as much of a thrill-seeker as you probably were even if you don't show it as much; his presence here, while unexpected, has reassured me that I don't need to worry about you anymore."
She looked at all of her friends and returned her attention to Dot as she said, "It's okay. Besides, who am I to deny such a heartfelt wish from a daughter like you?"
"Thank goodness!"
"Alright!" Liko and Roy cheered, feeling happy for Dot as the young recluse took off her headband and smiled, doing her best not to show anybody her own tears of joy while Plume happily nuzzled his rider (allowing her to pet his forehead).
Sarah smiled at the young recluse before she felt something thin gently poke her back, prompting her to see a tiny envelope floating before her which Liko and Roy also noticed.
"Hey, Sarah, you've got a letter from someone."
"Anything good?" the young trainers remarked as the little princess took up the envelope which opened itself up, letting out a plume of confetti and a party horn that honked in her face, surprising everyone.
"...Okay, wasn't expecting that," Kieran quipped as Sarah looked at what was inside the envelope and saw an RSVP from Pinkie Pie that read, "You and your family are invited to the most fun and amazing sleepover ever!".
"Heh, what do you know? An invitation to a sleepover party by Pinkie Pie," she chuckled again.
"Sleepover?!"
"Wow! For real?! Can we go with you and see who this Pinkie Pie is? Dot, too! We can celebrate her staying with us, too! Please, Sarah!"
"Please! Can we come?"
"Can we, can we?!" Liko, Roy, Sprigaito, and Fuecoco chirped excitedly, realizing she was talking about her friends from Equestria.
"U-Uh, me...? Oh, uh... I-I-uh..." Dot gulped only for Plume to happily chirp and nudge her rider, wanting her to go and see Sarah's pony friends from Equestria.
"...You'll be okay with that, Bianca?" Sarah asked Bianca after thinking for a moment.
"Of course, I want nothing more than Dot to be as happy as she can be doing what she loves best with all of you. Want to take it?" Bianca sniffed again in approval, sharing her daughter's happy tears until she offered her a handkerchief.
"Uh, no way!"
"Oh, come on, you know better than to refuse a gift from me, right?" the two bantered as they and everyone else laughed heartily.
To Be Continued...