Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Dina divulges more info to the group about her Cure Envy origin story... but only gets as far as catching a Diglett before seeing the obsidian spires. Along with a few... breaks in the status quo, Pico removes the dome over Medali and earns another Prime Tera Jewel by himself...

-

(Dome 12: Navi Ninpo)

Now that Medali was freed from its prison, the group was able to explore the city while Pico claimed his prize: a photo with a Gym Leader who also happened to be a member of the Elite Four. But as the others wandered the streets and saw the many restaurants the city had to offer, they were still a little full from their meal at Cascarrafa, which made them a little jealous of the customers who didn't eat before.

"Man," Balto commented, "now that we're getting to see what we're freeing from the domes, I'm kind of sad that we have to keep moving."

"Speak for yourself," Rosita said. "Remember, we're clearing out the domes for the sake of the Paldea region and all who inhabit it... not to mention that once they're all gone, the others and I will have access to Area Zero to strike down the main cause of the domes and/or a do-over on my Academy enrollment."

"That is a very mature thing of you to say, Rosita," Camilla said, "especially since the gate to Area Zero is right over there with no one standing guard."

"I know," the caracal said, "but I'm not going in... yet. Lots of other people were denied the chance to enter Area Zero in the past, and I'm guessing some of them gave in to temptation and walked in anyway, but not me. I want to earn my chance to go in... the right way."

"And I know we'll earn that chance," Jessica said as she praised Rosita with gentle headpats that made her purr.

"Okay, everybody, I'm back!" Pico said as he caught back up to the group. "Just got my photo with Larry posted so the chairwoman will know what a great job we're doing so far. Did I miss anything?"

"Just Rosita being mature and responsible," Dina said, "and us being proud of her for it."

"Yes, Rosie is a good kitty," Eartha said, "but let's not get sidetracked here. Our next target is the dome over the Navi Squad's base, located in the notoriously trecherous Tagtree Thicket."

"Notoriously?" Pico questioned.

"Trecherous?" Camilla added.

"How can one place in Paldea be so bad that practically everyone knows how bad it is?" Balto asked. "Gosh, I hope I defined those words right."

"You did," the fennec fox confirmed, "and it is. Tagtree Thicket is known for being home to Paldea's population of Poison-type Pokemon, all of them gunning to make people and Pokemon sick... or worse. I should know, because my troop leader deemed that place off-limits to anyone with an open wound. She even made up a poem to help us remember how dangerous that thicket can be."

"Right," Balto said, "and I'm sure we'll have time to hear it, but I heard 'Squad base,' meaning there's another Starmobile for me to alert my dad about, and I do not want to let him down. So we'll have to talk about it while we're on our way there."

"Good idea," Pico said. "In fact, I know a way there once we come back to Zapapico... through Dalizapa Passage?"

"Wha?" Dina asked in surprise. "You don't mean?"

"Exactly."

"Hooray! We're all going back to Zapapico the same way I first arrived there!" the axolotl cheered. "What an honor!"

"Technicalities dodged, and moving." Finally, the group left Medali to climb the base of Glaseado Mountain to the passage in question. They walked through two tunnels and passed the signs that marked the intersection before they returned to Pico's hometown... again. But they didn't have time to try and reconnect with Jill before they went back to the mines and stopped at the Pokemon Center in front of the thicket.

"Okay, everyone," Balto said, "while we're at a place where we can heal up our Pokemon, let's do so. You all heard Eartha, we can't risk having any cuts, scrapes, scratches or the like once we're in that thicket."

Everyone did so, and once the last chime rang out, the group finally approached the entrance to Tagtree Thicket, marked with the flags of the Navi Squad. But once they were close to the opening, Eartha spotted a piece of paper taped to the rocks. "Huh. Looks like someone left a note."

"What's it say?" Balto asked curiously, his head cocked to the side.

Eartha scanned the paper... then stopped. "Wait a second... This is the poem my troop leader said about the thicket!"

"Well, what does it say!?" the husky pressed. "Maybe we want to remember how dangerous the place is!"

"It says," Eartha started,
"'Whoever steps inside this place,
Must injury and wounds erase.
For if there's an opening in your skin,
Tagtree's poisons will find a way in.
And if you get sick, you're out of luck.
Signed, all of us who give a (redacted.)
P.S., don't say we didn't warn you, because we did.'"

"Well, that answers one question," Jessica supposed, "yet raises so many others."

"But there's no time to get into that now!" Balto pressed. "We'll just have to plug our noses and dive right in!" He then took out his Poke Ball and added, "In fact, to make doubly sure we don't run into any problems along the way... Go, Prince!"

"Qua!" the Quaxly exclaimed once he was solid.

"Alright, Prince, I need you for a very important job," Balto explained. "Once we enter Tagtree Thicket, I need you to use your Water-type powers to wash away any poison we may run into. Think you can do that for me?"

"Quaxly!" Prince confirmed with a thumbs-up with his wing.

"Great!" Balto said, beaming with pride. "Now, Prince, let's dive right in with Aqua Jet! Everyone else, follow us closely!"

As the duckling Pokemon rode his self-made current through the thicket, the rest of the group chased after him as the water sprayed outward, making the colorful markings melt off of the bark of the trees like watercolor paint in a rainstorm. A few steps into the thicket, however, and two things were obvious: there were no Pokemon to be found anywhere in the thicket, and they could already see the outside of the amethyst dome next to them.

But Balto was still carrying out his plan of attack, making Prince snake the tendril of water around every tree, cleaning them of every spot, stripe and squiggle of color as he led the group along the path... until finally, at the end of the trail where the gate to the base was behind the dome, everyone turned around, and both the husky dog Trainer and his duckling Pokemon had transformed Tagtree Thicket into a gnarled, yet clean forest landscape!

"We did it!" the canine said. "We made it through Tagtree Thicket without getting a single drop of poison on us! Slap me some wing, Prince!"

"Qua!" The tendril was dispelled, and Prince high-fived Balto in midair before he landed clean on both webbed feet. But as soon as he did, the Quaxly started shining with blue light... and began changing! His legs grew longer, his wings and tail became more feathered, and his coif was smoothed down over the top into a round, glossy crest. When the light faded, gone was Balto's affectionate, friendly Quaxly, for Prince had evolved... into Quaxwell!

"Whoa..." Pico said in amazement. "Now all of our first Pokemon have evolved!"

"And it happened when we each reached a halfway point in our paths," Camilla said. "Starting to sense a pattern here..."

"Now we just have to find some Diademons to shatter before we can take down the dome," Balto said. "Prince, knock on their door with Water Pulse!"

"Quax," Prince said in his new form before he brought his wings together and focused. A ball of blue energy gathered at his wing-tips, and with a swift outward thrust, it was shot at the surface with a splash, making a hollow "tong" ring out.

As predicted, twelve Diademons with slimed heads adorned with Shroodle Ink popped off of the dome's surface in response. "Who's that knocking on our dome... and how are they doing that?"

"Hello," Balto said with a wave, before shifting demeanor and adding, "and bye-bye. Prince, bid them adieu with Aqua Cutter!"

"Well," the practicing Pokemon said before his wings shone blue, and with controlled sways, he sent out crescent blades of water at the Diademons that made quick work of the horde!

That quickly, Balto took out his scepter and absorbed the diamond dust that resulted, then shot the beam at the dome to remove it.

"And that's twice that we didn't get to transform," Rosita commented, "but for some reason, I don't mind."

"I kind of want to see what Balto and Prince can do with the Diamant," Jessica added.

"Well, we're about to find out," Eartha said as Balto and Prince passed the gate of the Poison Crew's base, where a purple kimono with a green ooze pattern and a Poison Tera Jewel for a head was waiting at the big dirt patch.

"Okay, Diamant, let's cut to the chase," Balto stated. "You don't want me here, and I don't want you here. But you and two others are the only things standing in the way of me fulfilling a task for my father. So what do you have to say to that?"

That was only met with a hearty laugh from the Diamant, followed by,
"The Jolly Roger Diamant is what I am called,
And not just because of how my laugh just falled.
But I noticed you all have felled eleven before,
So perhaps this encounter may not be a bore.
Now if you want to fulfill this outside chance,
All I have to say is... get ready to dance!"

As the sleeves were raised and the shimmering gathered, purple spots along the ground appeared where Balto and Prince were standing. Instinct took over, and both of them moved out of the way just in time for gushes of roiling poison to shoot up from the ground like purple geysers!

That made something click for Camilla as she called out, "Guys! It's just like when Rosie and I were facing the Hemisphere Diamant! As long as you keep moving, the attack won't hit you!"

That made Balto realize something the Jolly Roger Diamant said in its poem. "Of course! It makes sense now!" He then ran along the ground to dodge more poison geysers before adding, "You heard the talking robe, Prince! Get ready to dance!"

"Quaxwell," the refined avian said before he took a brisk pace and rushed towards the canine, dodging more poison geysers along the way. Balto followed along with his Pokemon, running together in patterns as the geysers kept popping up, making the whole thing look like a warmer cross between an ice-skating performance and a fountain show.

"Okay, Prince, get ready to bring it on home! Come to me!" Balto said with his paws held forward.

Taking his cue, Prince rushed towards Balto with his wings held forward, and once paws and wings were clasped together, the husky spun around in a circle, swinging his Pokemon around until he let go, flinging Prince at the Diamant and crying out, "Now! Finish it off with Air Slash!"

Prince spun around in midair as his wings shone a lighter blue, then once he was close enough, he swung them together and shot a massive crescent blade of air at the Diamant that sliced it in two!

"AAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!"

With the Diamant's onslaught finally ended, Balto and Prince rushed towards each other again before the explosion of light could happen. Then once the blast popped, they held wing-in-paw again... and took a bow for the audience.

That was met with a round of applause as they clapped and cheered while the shimmering restored the energy and reversed the damage, and it got even bigger with the rescued people and Pokemon joining in. "That was a wonderful performance, you two!" "Magnificent! Yay!"

As expected, the former Team Star Grunts went back to the Academy... but these in particular were inspired by the battle that transpired and wanted to learn such beauty and grace for themselves. As soon as the last one left, Balto looked up and saw the Prime Poison Tera Jewel descending. "Balto Mijuumi," said the voice. "You have broken the influence of the light over the Poison type, and as a result, have liberated the hearts of these students. As you accept this Prime Tera Jewel, know that you have already passed the halfway point in your quest. Do not falter."

"I won't," Balto said as he pocketed his third Prime Tera Jewel. "Nor do I plan on faltering on this," he added as he walked up to the large tent, and opened the curtain with Prince... revealing the purple Navi Starmobile.

(Jolly Roger Diamant defeated!)

-

To be continued.