Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Our heroes have their reunion with Rhett in Porto Marinada called off by Chairwoman Geeta, who adds a side-quest to the Hell-Sent girls and the Pomegranetes' (Camilla, Pico and Balto) job of removing Paldea's domes to rescue three certain Gym Leaders that share special connections to the Academy's teachers. Meanwhile, Ko sets out to finally sell his jam...

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(Dome 11: Another Day, Another Meal)

Once again, the group made their way back through the west gate and shlepped through the path to their next destination, Medali. Seeing as they apparently had some time to kill before they got there, Dina piped up, "So, who wants to hear the rest of how I became Cure Envy while we're on our way?"

"Eh, what the hey," Pico supposed. "We've got nothing better to do before we get to Medali. Any objections?"

After everyone else shook their heads no, the axolotl said, "Alright, anyways... umm... ah, shoot, where did I leave off again?"

"You ordered an Avocado Sandwich and Mama stubbed her toe to get it," the lizard answered.

"Oh, yeah! Anyway..."

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(Flashback)

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After the door of Every Wich Way was opened, Dina had just stepped through the doorway before turning around and saying, "Thanks for the yummy sandwich, new friend Jill! Hope your foot feels better soon!"

"Thank you," Jill responded off-screen, "both for the sentiment and for choosing Every Wich Way! We hope to see you again soon!"

Dina left the restaurant and decided, "Okay, now that I have some food comfortably digesting in me, the next best thing to do before I find a new home is to explore my options before I settle down on a choice... starting with seeing what sights there are to take in outside of town." She then walked up to the Pokemon Center and hit up the Poke Mart to buy some things.

She only had enough left over to buy a Great Ball, though, so that was exactly what she did. After the transaction was complete, Dina ventured out into the mining grounds where the smoky quartz dome was still standing, but stayed away from that.

"Hmm," she supposed. "Chances are I'll have to catch a Pokemon out here to defend myself from the hazards, but I can't just start throwing my ball at the first one I see. I'll have to choose carefully so I don't end up throwing my big spend down the pot."

She then looked around for her possible options. She saw a Bramblin tumbling by, but... "Nope, too brittle."

She then saw a Cufant shuffling its trunk along the ground for something, but... "Nah, too reckless."

She then saw a Meowth prowling along the dirt floor, but... "Oh, no way at all. Not with the reputation its kind built up."

Just when she thought the deep end was her only option, a Diglett was tunneling through the ground on its merry little way. This made Dina clutch her Great Ball tightly and mutter, "Bingo." She then crouched down low and snuck behind the mole Pokemon quietly, keeping her footsteps smooth so she wouldn't make any sound to tip her off. Just then, the Diglett stopped to take a breather, and with one swift throw of her ball...

Boomp.

The red light swallowed up the ball's quarry, then the ball swallowed the red light and landed to wobble on the ground. Dina kept a close eye on it, knowing that she couldn't celebrate until she saw the ball stop. After a few seconds, though...

Thoomp.

"Yes! Success!" Dina cheered before picking the ball up and adding, "Now, a Diglett has been captured by me, Dina Goldman!" Now that she was sure to defend herself from any and all possible threats, she was about to turn back before something caught her eye: the shine of sunlight reflected off of one of the obsidian spires in North Area 2. Wanting to investigate, she pocketed her catch and walked towards the spires, but felt a little thirsty. Luckily there was a river through the mines, so she decided to take a dip to refresh.

-

(Flashback paused)

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"And that was how I gained my first Pokemon since I was forced from my home in Montenevera," Dina said as the group left Colonnade Hollow. "Little did I know that those tall spikes of shiny black rock would be guiding me to my destiny... but that is a story for another time."

"And a pause in that flashback couldn't have come at a moment too soon," Eartha said as she pulled up the map on her Rotom Phone. "According to the map, we should be closing in on the next dome any minute."

"No kidding," Balto said as he pointed. "There it is now!" And right where he was pointing, there was another dome over the city of Medali, of clear cubic zirconium.

"Wow, this one's so clear, I can practically see what's going on inside!" Rosita said as she squinted to see, but the facets in the dome distorted the image inside the giant semisphere, making one trapped person look like five. "And we... might be looking at one of our biggest saves yet?"

"Way to keep a positive spin on things, neighbor," Camilla encouraged.

But, as per usual, the peace was short lived as more Diademons appeared; this time topped with gold ring settings that were adorned with Meowth Fur, Slakoth Fur and Komala Claws. "So, ya wanna have a little look-see at what's goin' on inside da dome, do ya?" one of the Diademons spoke in a Brooklyn accent. "Well, ya can't! If ya wanna see trough da dome, ya gotta go trough us!"

"If you insist!" Jessica spat as she and the other Hell-Sent girls took out their Sealing Balls... but before they could say the first syllable of their transformation phrase, Pico had already sent Apple out!

"Fue!"

"Hey!" the Diademon called out. "We're fightin' here!"

"Y que!?" Pico shouted as he and his Fuecoco were seething. "Apple, Stomping Tantrum!"

The fire croc Pokemon started stomping its feet angrily, causing cracks in the ground to form and swallow the Diademons' feet, trapping them in place!

"EY! EY! EY! QUIT BASHIN'! QUIT BASHIN'! UNCLE! UUUNNNCLLLLEEE!!!"

"Now finish this with Incinerate and shut their holes!" Pico ordered harshly, and Apple blasted them all with a blazing jet of flames that engulfed the Diademons and shattered them all into diamond dust one by one!

By the time the talking one was hit, its last words were, "Eh, fuggeddaboutit."

Now that all the Diademons were shattered, Pico's scepter absorbed the dust and shot the beam at the dome while Apple started glowing... meaning only one thing. As the body got larger and wider, the sprout on its head multiplied into a bunch arranged into a circle before a round, oval-shaped object popped up from the center and landed in the bunch. Once the light faded, the cubic zirconium dome was gone, and Apple had evolved from Fuecoco to Crocalor!

But all anyone else could do was stand there dumbfounded as Pico stole the Hell-Sent girls' thunder. "...That works," Jessica supposed as she and the others put their Sealing Balls back.

"Sweet baby carrots, Pico, where did all that come from!?" Camilla exclaimed. "And where was it the last several domes?"

"Sorry," Pico said as the group ventured into the city. "There was just something about that one Diademon in particular that just... set me off."

"You," Dina started before adding with a smile, "I like."

But as the group walked deeper into town, they noticed a shimmer of light coming from behind the old amphitheater. "Come on everyone, that may be what we're looking for," Pico said as he led the others into the small alcove to investigate. Sure enough, he was right. Waiting patiently was a white kimono with black dotted pinstripes and a Normal Tera Jewel for a head, and Pico knew what was coming, so he decided to ask, "Okay, Diamant, before you start speaking in rhyme, I have to ask: We already know what you're doing with the Pokemon that touch the domes, but what about the people? What happens to them?"

The Diamant raised its eyelids in interest, and answered with,

"Not very many people give us that query,
For they make assumptions to draw their own theory.
But, obvoiusly, the people we catch
Have their energy drained, for ours they did snatch.
Now their boundless gumption does fuel our being,
Like me, the Engagement Diamant you're seeing.
But my patience is weary, and your time is short,
Now the moment has come... for you to abort!"

As the light shimmered, Pico sent Apple back out and ordered, "Now, Apple, time to let the power you've gained really shine! Use Flamethrower!"

As the evolved fire croc Pokemon inhaled, the Engagement Diamant fired off a beam of light just like the ones the crystal scepters shot to remove the domes... but it was aimed in front of the group instead of at them, concentrating into a ball of light that got bigger with every second! But before it could go critical...

"CAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!" Pico's Crocalor shouted as loud as it could, blasting a massive spray of fire that engulfed the kimono and dispelled the ejection with painful, deafening agony!

"AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Exploded in a shower of light, restored energy, reversed damage.

"Oh," Jessica retorted, "first Pico doesn't let us be the Cures for this chapter, now the narrator's too good for our predictable story structure, is he!?"

"Gettin' himself a tone!" Balto huffed.

"Hello!?" Pico piped up. "My Pokemon evolved and destroyed another Diamant here, remember!?"

"Right," Camilla answered, "and that can only mean..."

As the bunny pointed upwards, the Prime Normal Tera Jewel descended before Pico. "Pico Hatsuki," the voice said, "you have broken the influence of the light over the Normal-type, and as such, have earned the respect of the community of Medali. Accept this Prime Tera Jewel as your reward, for it will strengthen your powers even further... but there is still more work to be done."

"Right," Pico said as he pocketed his fifth Prime Tera Jewel, "and now to go looking for Larry."

"I'm right here," a male voice said plainly, and Pico turned around to see exactly who he was looking for. "First of all, I want to thank you for saving Medali... and me. If there's anything I can do to repay you, all you need to do is ask."

"Well," Pico said, "as luck would have it, there is something you can do. I'd like to take a photo of you and me together, so I can post it online."

"I suppose that's acceptable," Larry said without flinching. "Perhaps we can do it while I'm on my lunch break."

(Engagement Diamant defeated!)

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To be continued.