Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

On the way to Glaseado Mountain, Pico and Dina discuss pleasantries with each other, namely what they hope to gain after their mission is complete. But after the turquoise dome is removed and the Snowflake Diamant is defeated, Pico saves Dina's life before collecting his rewards...

-

(Dome 17: The Herbs of Life)

As it turned out, the one who called Hilda in the previous chapter after she dropped Pico and Dina off was Camilla, and now she, Rosita and Jessica sat in the cab waiting to arrive at their next destination. "Alright, just one more dome for me to clear out, and I'll have held up my end of the mission," the bunny said.

"I'm just glad I'm here for this," Rosita responded. "Ever since this whole ordeal started, working with you guys makes me feel like I'm important and not in the way... unlike back at home."

"And I'm glad I've somehow managed to keep my curse under control, knock on wood," Jessica added as she took out a wooden block from one of her pockets and tapped it three times.

"Alright, here you go, ladies," Hilda said as she parked the cab at the Pokemon Center outside of Porto Marinada. "And unless I get a third call, after this I'll be clocking out for the day so one of the other drivers can take over."

After the three piled out of the cab, Jessica waved and said, "Thanks for the ride, Hilda! Enjoy your time off!"

"Sure thing," the Flying Taxi driver said, but not five seconds after the Squawkabilly took off again, a chime was heard faintly. "Son of a Bisharp!"

"Now, don't take it personally, Jessica," Camilla tried to reassure. "It was probably Balto and Eartha who made that call."

"Well, there's that," Rosita supposed. "But what are we doing outside of Porto Marinada? I'm pretty sure there was a stop around Lake Casseroya."

"Because I know a way to stock up on ice for Jessica to have Leopold around," Camilla explained. "And once we do, the dome we need to take out will be just a hop, skip and a jump over the water away."

"I think I know what you're talking about," Jessica said, "and I've been waiting for this for a long time!"

"Just remember that we're still on business here," Rosita pointed out. "No lollygagging until we complete the mission."

"Just gonna out my wants like that, are you?" the snow leopard pouted as the group went down the hill to the harbor town. "Fine..."

As soon as the girls reached the town, they passed through the central plaza and walked towards the ice cream stand, where Leopold coalesced from the freezer's frost and Conner formed from the grass nearby. "Hi, everybody!" the weasel made of snow greeted.

"Hi, Leopold," Jessica responded dully.

"Well, good morning to you, too," Conner added.

"Don't pay her any mind, Conner," Rosita said. "Jessie's just grumpy because her crush is still being gaslit."

"Well, the news keeps on coming, girls," Camilla stated after she purchased a scoop of Nacli Salt Ice Cream for herself. "Bad news first, I only bought enough for myself, so there isn't much to go around."

"That's okay, we're still kind of full from breakfast," Rosita told her neighbor. "And the good news?"

"There was another reason I chose this route," the bunny explained. "I wanted us to do a walk-and-talk so we could get to know each other better before our quest comes to a close. Eartha and Balto said they were going to do the same thing, so I figured they might be on to something."

"Well, that sounds like a good idea," Rosita said. "But how should we start?"

"Well, since the door's open," Camilla supposed after a few licks of her treat, "there is one question that's been in the back of my mind for about two weeks now: What would've been your treasure if you could join us on the Treasure Hunt?"

"Oh," the caracal said with an unsure twitch of her ear. "Good question. I guess if I had to choose, it would be having you as a friend. What with my parents seeing me as nothing more than the result of a moment of weakness and an old condom that crumbled as easily as their resolve, I had no hope of seeing them as a source of more than fear because after I happened, but you living next door was my only silver lining. It wasn't until I was at least 6 years old that I learned my mom wanted to abort me, but my dad was so grief-stricken that he took the money for the abortion and got himself a vasectomy before he filed for divorce. So, since she had no choice but to have me, she took out her anger on me every chance she wanted. Whenever I did something bad, she'd blow up and throw all her crap at my head, but when your grandma overheard one of her crapstorms, she stepped in and offered to babysit me if I ever became too much. If I didn't have that, there's no telling if I would be able to feel joy ever again. The only reason I didn't get taken from my mother for child abuse is because she sold the social workers their houses and they'd have to move if they ever got her licence null-and-voided. She's a realtor, by the way." At that point, the girls had reached the edge of the beach and climbed up one of Conner's vine-ladders that crumbled when the group reached the top because Anton wasn't there to enrich the soil. "So, that's pretty much why having you as my friend is my treasure in a Nutpea shell."

"That's very flattering to hear," Camilla said as she finished her ice cream. "What about you, Jessica?"

"Me?" Now it was Jessica's ear's turn to twitch. "Well, there's really not much to tell about me. I'm just an average person with a high-end job trying to make a name for myself. Most I could manage is an engineering major from college, but there isn't much demand for those around here, so that's kind of why I maintain the wind turbines. But, as a rule of thumb, there aren't many people to socialize with in that line of work, so I can feel a little lonely. Sure, occasionally the odd traveler comes my way, and we have a nice little chat, but that's pretty much it. It's a good thing I was swept up in this whole ordeal, because that way I get to talk with other people more often... way more than my job. So, if I had to pick one treasure to hunt for, I think I'd want more socializing with the populace."

"I see," Camilla said. "That sounds like... a nice thing to look for."

"Oh, it is," Jessica asserted.

"But now that we've said what we're hunting," Rosita added, "we'd like to hear more about you."

"Fair enough," Camilla said. "Then let me say this to start: I'm not originally from Paldea. My parents actually had me in the land of Kitakami, where my mom passed away after I was born. Obviously I didn't have a lot of female role models growing up, but I did have my dad, my uncle next door, and my cousin. But when I got older, Daddy realized that I needed someone who could help me understand why I was so different from everyone else in my family, and that's when Grandma offered to help guide me through growing up. But having been around too many boys did a number on my informative years, so I had no interest to find a partner, which explains my asexuality. But I do understand that once my life reaches a certain point, I will have to find my own path since I know Grandma's not going to be around forever. No one is. So as long as I can keep finding a way forward, that is going to be my treasure."

"Huh," Conner and Leopold said together. "Neat."

Rosita and Jessica, however, were phoning in the conversation because some Tatsugiri were posing behind Camilla, and it made their stomachs growl. "Uh, what are you two doing?" Camilla asked. "What's with that look in your eyes?"

"Are you gonna eat that sushi over there?" Rosita asked in monotone.

"Because we don't want it to go to waste," Jessica added.

"What sushi?" Camilla asked, unaware of the fish Pokemon behind her until she turned around. "What the?"

"Cat instinct... TAKING OVER!" both felines said as their eyes went glossy and they pounced at the sushi- before they realized they were out of their league and jumped into the lake to swim away... making the two face-plant into the ground.

"Sweet baby carrots, what's gotten into you two!?" Camilla exclaimed with a mix of concern and disbelief.

"It must be their animal hindbrains hijacking their thinking," Conner supposed. "I do seem to recall Rosita on the verge of one of these episodes the last time we were here."

"But they didn't have anything to derail that train like they did then," Leopold said as the felines got up.

"Plah!" Rosita sputtered as she spat out a clump of grassy dirt. "Okay, I deserved that after what I told Balto."

"We'll have time to reminisce later," Jessica said as she brushed the dirt off her clothes. "That lapse in intellect was a sign that we need to stick to the mission. So let's transform before we reach the dome."

"Right," Rosita agreed as she took out her Sealing Ball along with Jessica. "Cammie, you should send out your ace in the meantime."

-

Rosita and Jessica raised the Sealing Balls over their heads and shouted together, "Precure Ruination!"

Conner and Leopold dissipated into grass and snow, and it swirled around the girls and made their clothes turn into colored light... then they started changing!

First, their torsos were surrounded in grass and snow and collected into their tops.

Next, more grass and snow collected around their waists and became their bottoms.

Then, even more grass and snow collected around their limbs until they became their arm and leg covers.

Finally, they threw the Sealing Balls in the air as more colored light poured from their heads and became their hair, then the balls got on their chests and became their adornments.

"Antithesis of forgiveness, Cure Grudge!"
"Antithesis of love, Cure Hatred!"

"Answer for your injustices! Hell-Sent Precure!"

-

"Come on out, Rosie! Let's give the Cures some backup support... again!" Camilla said as she threw her Poke Ball, and in a flash of white light...

"Mrow!"

"Now let's see if I can make bridges as easily as Leopold can," Cure Hatred said as she stepped out to the edge of the lake, and as soon as her boot touched the water, it froze into ice! "Okay, I can. Follow me, girls!"

"Right behind you!" Camilla said, and soon she and her Floragato were crossing the ice bridge to the islet nearest the alexandrite dome behind the two Cures. As soon as they reached the patch of land, three castle-headed Diademons adorned with Tatsugiri Scales rose up from the water and introduced themselves with a roll-call and poses.

"Power of curly shrimp!"
"Power of stretchy fried egg!"
"Power of droopy tuna!"

"Really? Only three Diademons?" Cure Grudge scoffed as she readied her vine-laces.

"Too easy," Cure Hatred said as she extended her ice blades.

"Good point," one of the Diademons said. "Dongiri Gattai!"

"Right!"

At that call, six more Diademons adorned with Dondozo Whiskers rose up from the water, and arranged themselves into a stack before their bodies morphed together into a large, spiked bipedal monster with a dragon-like head. Then, as the mishmash held out its arms, two of the first three Diademons merged into a crystal shield while the last one became a crystal sword.

"Ha! You think you have a better shot at beating us by clumping together?" Camilla retorted. "All you did was make yourself one target. Rosie, use Magical Leaf and don't let up!"

"Mrow!" As the bunny's Floragato whirled her yo-yo to blast the flurry of leaves, the large crystal combination raised its shield to block, but when it smirked in derision...

"Now, Cures!"

-

Cure Hatred rushed forward and elongated her ice blades, right towards the combined Diademons!

"This is the punishment for your crimes! Precure... Icerend..."

She thrusted the blades forward with all her might, and they impaled the monster clean through!

"MINCER!!!"

She flailed the blades all over the place, slicing and dicing the monster into its Diademon components!

-

Cure Grudge leapt into the air and sent out all of her vine laces, and they grabbed eight of the Diademons!

"This is the punishment for your crimes! Precure... Grasswither..."

The vines pulled with all their might, and the Diademons were flung back and crashed behind her!

"FRENZY!!!"

The vines flailed all over the place, bludgeoning the Diademons into the ninth one before they smashed them all together!

"You have issues!" the Diademons seemed to say before they were shattered into diamond dust.

-

"Good job, girls, but it's not over yet," Camilla said before she took out her scepter and absorbed the diamond dust into it. "Chances are the last Diamant in that dome had time to prepare for us, so don't power down yet."

"Wasn't planning on it," Cure Grudge assured as the beam popped the alexandrite dome.

"Besides, I'm not worried," Cure Hatred added coolly. "If my guess is correct, that dome is holding a Dragon-type enemy, and they're weak to Ice-type attacks."

"Mrer..." Rosie grumbled before the group crossed another ice bridge to the large island that was freed, and Cure Grudge lashed her vine-laces at the rock wall, using them as a grappling hook to carry the group to the top. Rosie, however, opted to use her yo-yo in the same fashion, and when she regrouped with the others, a navy kimono with a scale pattern and a Dragon Tera Jewel for a head was waiting.

"You've managed to fell my footsoldier team,
But your hollow victory is not what it'll seem.
If, like all the others, I am defeated,
An important part of Paldea will be deleted.
So accept your demise, as I take center stage,
And die by the Medieval Diamant's rage!"

"What part!?" Camilla demanded, but the sleeves were already raised and the sparkles were already gathering before an answer could be said.

"LOOK OUT!!" Cure Grudge shouted as she flung a vine-lace to catch her friendly neighbor... along with Rosie and her yo-yo. Fortunately, they were pulling the same direction to help the lapine girl avoid being torched by blue flames tinged with purple.

"WHAH!" Camilla exclaimed before she was caught by a pair of arms... belonging to two individuals. "Whew! Thanks, Rosie!"

"Let's just say she was talking to both of us," Cure Grudge said, "because we're fighting for the same team. Hatred, now!"

"Icicle Kunai!" "Lanyard Suplex!"

Both attacks combined into a knife-chain that pierced the Diamant's fabric, then hitched the blade into the other side.

"Get over here!"

But the flames burned the vines and melted the ice, rendering the attack useless!

"Rosie! Help them out with Magical Leaf!"

"Mrow!" With a whirl of her yo-yo, flurries of leaves collided with the blue flames, clashing against each other.

"Rargh! Even with your blades, whips and yo-yo whirls,
I will not be defeated, let alone by some GIRLS!"

The last word in the Medieval Diamant's rhyme made the listeners tense up. "What," "Was that." "You said?"

Even Rosie hissed as she started to seethe with fury, until with a burst of light... "WRREEEEEEEEERRRR!!!"

That one loud, angry yowl signaled the start of her ascension to her final form as the mass of light started changing. Along with growing taller and her whiskers getting a little more volume, her fur-apron split up the middle and migrated to her back, becoming a muffler that revealed flower petals blooming from her neck. Then, her facial markings morphed into a large X that covered her face. Finally, she held her yo-yo in her paws, and it began to bloom into a bulbous flower that hovered in midair. Gone was the Floragato when the light faded, and gritting her teeth in its place was Meowscarada.

"YYAAAAAAHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!" Cure Grudge screamed as her vine-laces seemed to come to life, growing longer and splitting at the ends. "BRAMBLE CATCHER!!!"

"GGRRRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Cure Hatred extended her ice-blades, and they began to emit fog as she jumped after the Diamant. "NITRO STINGER!!!"

The massive tangle of vines caught the kimono before it could start up another attack, and once the blades stabbed its fabric, ice began to creep out from the gash, freezing it solid!

"It doesn't matter what anybody has lost!" Cure Hatred stated.

"Our mission is destroying you at any cost!" Cure Grudge added.

"And now it's time to end it all quick!" Camilla tacked on.
"Rosie! Finish it with Flower Trick!"

With a snap of the feline Pokemon's finger-beans, a massive flower bulb appeared over the immobilized kimono, and the Cures let go and cleared out before it fell and exploded in a glorious explosion of flower petals!

"AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! SOOOOOOOO BEEEEEEEEE IIIIIIIIIIIT!!!"

After the resulting shower of light restored the energy and reversed the damage, the episode of wrath passed, letting Rosita and Jessica power down and sigh along with Camilla, before they collapsed onto their knees.

"We did it," the bunny said. "We restored the Path of Legends to its domeless glory... all six of us."

Conner, Leopold and Rosie smiled with pride, happy that they got credit. "Camilla Otore," the voice said as the Prime Dragon Tera Jewel descended before her, "you have broken the influence of the light over the Dragon-type, and as such, have gained full access to all of the pantries of Paldea. Not only that, but your admittance of continuing to find a way into the future has proven your adherence to one of the pillars of Pokemon training: adventure. Please present your crystal scepter, so you may gain one of the legendary talismans to help complete a task in that future."

Camilla did so, and the scepter changed shape into one of Rosie's flower bombs, with the head becoming the base and the spikes splitting into petals.

"Behold, the Natural Jewel lit by the promise of new discovery," the voice said. "Accept it and your final Prime Tera Jewel, for you have earned them well."

"Amazing," Camilla remarked, as she pocketed her fifth and final Prime Tera Jewel and held her talisman in her paws. "So, Rosita and Jessica, are you two gonna be okay?"

"They'll be fine," Leopold said. "They just need a few minutes to recover, but they'll come around."

"You just go ahead," Conner said as he waved them ahead. "Go and get what you need from the last pantry."

With a nod from both, Camilla and her Meowscarada then made their way to the False Dragon Titan's den, sliding down the rock wall to reach the cave, where the walls inside were lit by the red glow of the last crop: the Spicy Herba Mystica.

(Medieval Diamant defeated!)

(Path of Legends cleared!)

-

To be continued...