Previously on Oranges to Grapes...
After the Hell-Sent Girls arrive at North Area 2's Pokemon Center, Eartha starts the recruitment of Dina Goldman and Bea a little rockily, and they need to provide her with a little context...
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After a bit of detailed explanation, Dina mulled over the info she was given. "So, let me get this straight," the axolotl started. "You three each established a bond with a Spirit of Ruin, and have been using their powers to fight Diademons by merging with them and becoming magical anti-heroines with violent powers... but you can't directly fight the domes they're coming from without hitting the wall?"
"That would be the process of events, yes," Eartha confirmed.
"You mean you haven't tried?" Rosita asked.
"Embarrassing as it is to say," Dina replied, "to answer your question, Rosita: no, I have not."
"Does that mean we'll have to waste a chapter on a flashback?" Jessica asked.
"Not necessarily," Bea interjected. "Before we get into anything of the sort, first I must inform you all of how you can bring your partners back from absence. There is a button on the front of your Sealing Balls that you can press when the ball itself emits a dull glow. Pressing that will force your spirit partner to return."
"That's it?" Rosita asked curiously. "Sounds pretty easy." Deciding to give the claim a try, she took out her Sealing Ball and rolled it around in her paws until she spotted a solid circle in the center of the front panel. "So you're telling me this is the button?" she asked as she pointed to the spot.
"That is the button," Bea confirmed.
"So I just press it like this?" the caracal asked while doing so, making the ball click. Suddenly, a swirl of wind WHOOSHED all around her, blowing leaves and grass all over the place for five seconds. When the wind settled, the debris collected at Rosita's feet and reformed into the shape of a snail, which yawned after it was complete. "Hom... boy, what a nap. I sure needed that."
"Conner!" Rosita cried out with joy. "Oh, thank legendaries I didn't lose you! ...Oh!" Her ears then perked up as she produced a Kelpsy Berry from her pocket and added, "Here you go, as promised."
Conner happily ate the offered Berry before saying, "Well, thank you, Rosita. I sure am glad you remembered your word."
"Well, dab my spots," Jessica said in awe. "It really worked."
"Okay, I'll go next," Eartha said as she took out her own Sealing Ball. "Then, after I get Rotom situated into its Frost Form, you can do yours." She then found the button, pressed it until the ball clicked, and another swirl of wind kicked up dirt and rocks that clumped into the shape of a moose.
"Paldea, here I am!"
"And welcome back, Anton!" Eartha greeted with a wag in her tail before she gave her partner a Hondew Berry to snack on. "Oh, before I forget..." She then sent Rotom back out and tapped her phone a few times, and there was the minifridge.
"Okay, my turn!" Jessica chimed in, and the same motions later, a third swirl of wind blew cold air around, made even colder due to Rotom helping it along with Blizzard until...
"Happy birthday!"
"And with Leopold back, the gang's all here," the snep-girl said as she fed her partner a Qualot Berry to munch. "Good to see you again, buddy."
"So, spirit of Chi-Yu," Conner said after he finished eating, "at last we meet again."
"Indeed we do," Bea replied, "but I go by Bea now."
"Okay, now that the team is officially at full squad," Rosita interjected, "I still have some questions. At the risk of getting smacked with a green noodle again, Conner, why was I not informed about this reboot button before we came here?"
"Long answer, I wanted to put my trust in your abilities as a bearer of my Sealing Ball," the snail explained. "Short answer, when it came time to put the button to use, it slipped my mind... also, I was enjoying the cooldown too much."
"We all were," Leopold added.
"Okay, thank you for answering me," Rosita said, "and you're forgiven. Next question is for Dina: How do you know about the Diademons and the crystal domes, but haven't tried to do anything about them?"
"Because I've seen what they're capable of with my own eyes," Dina answered, "back home in Montenevera."
"Oh, you mean where the tanzanite dome is?" Jessica wondered.
"Right," Dina confirmed, "but before the dome appeared there. And to answer the next question, yes, I know where the dome came from... possibly the others as well."
"Speaking of which," Eartha interjected, "look!" And right where the vulpine girl was pointing, where the Caph Squad base was... instead stood a dome of citrine.
"Wow," Rosita commented. "Do NOT know how we missed that."
"Well, that doesn't matter right now," Jessica said, "because we agreed not to deal with domes or Diademons right now, and we still need context on a few things before that."
But while the conversation was going on on the ground, the Dragonite that frequented North Area 2 was doing its usual lazy laps in the air above the bamboo forest... when it took notice of the new addition to its territory. Deeming it an intrusion, the dragon Pokemon fired off a Hyper Beam at the dome... but apart from the usual explosion on impact and cloud of smoke, it still held strong. That only angered the big fella even further, so it cloaked itself in purple energy waves and charged full speed, hell-bent on destroying the obstruction by any means possible.
That move was a big mistake on its part, for as soon as the Dragon Rush made contact... boop. Gone was the docile-turned-hostile beast, and ten Diademons with wrestling belts on their heads adorned with Dratini Scales made themselves known.
"Uh, Jessie?" Eartha said with unease. "I don't think these guys got the memo on the agreement!"
"Then it's a good thing we got our partners back!" Jessica replied.
"Right!" Rosita said as she and the other two took out their Sealing Balls. "Answer-getting later, Diademon shattering now! Dina, watch and learn!"
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To be continued.
