Previously on Oranges to Grapes...
Dina Goldman, the newest Hell-Sent girl, reveals that she was an eyewitness to the origins of the crystal domes all over Paldea. After learning that they came from the Great Crater itself, Rosita deems Mesagoza the group's next destination...
-
"Alright, Mesagoza it is!" Jessica said, confident in Rosita's moment of good judgement.
"Good idea," Dina added, "but how will we get there?"
"I'm glad you asked!" Rosita said with enthusiasm. "Before we were floundering about without knowing about the reboot buttons on our Sealing Balls, the three of us had the ability to combine our powers to navigate Paldea better. But the greatest one we had was the ability to glide through the region's sky in our Cure forms, and now that there's four of us, there's no telling what we can all accomplish!"
"I know what you can accomplish," Conner said, having remained solid the whole time.
"Wrer!" the caracal yelped in surprise. "Whoa, Conner, you startled me! Glad you haven't dissipated yet, though, but still."
"Sorry," the snail said. "None of us have. Anyway, as I was saying, now that all eight of us are together, your greatest ability as a team is the power of true flight... with the Precure Triangle Plus Formation."
"Just one question," Eartha interjected, "will we need to push the reboot buttons again after we get to Mesagoza?"
"Not while all four of us are in tune with each other now," Leopold reassured.
"Yeah!" Anton added.
"But we are a little strapped for time," Bea said, "so we may have to trim the stock footage of our transformations to the end pose."
"Fair enough," Rosita said as the girls produced their Sealing Balls.
-
"Answer for your injustices! Hell-Sent Precure!"
-
"Whoo! Boy, I can just FEEL the savings!" Cure Grudge said.
"Now let's feel the wind beneath our feet!" Cure Hatred added.
"Come on, Envy!" Cure Fear added, "we can't do it without ya!"
"Right!"
"Precure Triangle Plus Formation!"
After the first three Cures linked paws and jumped into their shape with energy semispheres, Cure Envy dove upwards and grabbed hold of Grudge and Hatred's arms, using them as handlebars while flames rocketed out of her legs, making the whole thing ascend upwards on the thrust!
"We're doing it!" Cure Fear yipped with glee. "We can fly!"
"Come on, everybody! Here we go!" Cure Envy piped up as she carried the three with her. "Off to Mesagoza!"
And Hell-Sent Precure at full squad soared through the air of the Paldea region... seeing and passing more crystal domes along the way, along with finding out Zapapico was another safe zone.
Now, let's get back to Mesagoza before they do, because it's almost sunset now.
-
At the Academy, Ko was already at the indoor schoolyard, raring to hear the final bell so he could be joined by Camilla, Pico and Balto for the big score. "Okay," he said to himself as he checked his Rotom Phone's clock, which said 6:59. "As soon as day classes wrap up, Camilla, Pico and Balto should be on their way to join me for the big score of solving The Mystery Of... They Who Come and Go During Shift Change." After hearing him say that last part, he looked unsure and said, "Huh. Doesn't carry as much weight when you say it by yourself. Anyway, the final bell should be ringing right about... Now!"
As if on cue, the clock's time changed to 7 o' clock, and the final bell for day classes rang. But almost immediately after, the announcement chime rang, and Director Clavell's voice said, "Camilla Otore, Pico Hatsuki, and Balto Mijuumi, please report to the director's office. Again, Camilla, Pico and Balto, to the director's office, please."
"Again?" Ko wondered aloud. "What is his facination with those three specifically?" But he shook his head and said, "It's okay, Ko, just... if the director needs them, just let them go for now, be the bigger bear. It won't be easy, but you may have to do your best without them for now... but if they don't show up by the time I solve this, I'm taking 90% of the credit."
-
(Scene transition: Academy Crest)
-
...Anyone mind if I skip the 'back to Clavell's office' context?
"Sure, I don't blame you," Camilla said as she and the others sat down. "Blah, blah, blah, always the same."
You said it, sister.
"Now, then," Director Clavell said as soon as the students were comfortable, "by now you may be wondering why I called you three back to my office... again."
"The thought did occur to us," Pico replied.
"But, at the risk of being told to stop," Balto added, "based on past experiences, you're going to tell us that we're not in trouble, you just want to tell us some news?"
"Actually, yes," Clavell said with pleasant surprise. "And just for that, I shall skip the reassurances and head right to the news: the three of you have cleared all of the oral response classes over the past week during your recovery, and passed them with flying colors."
"Awesome! We did it! Score!" the three students said at the same time.
"However," the director interjected, "there is still one obstacle for you to face, and after you clear it, there will be nothing left to stop you from going on your Treasure Hunt."
Figured as much, Camilla thought before saying out loud, "And what is this final obstacle we must clear, if I may be so bold to ask?"
"Simply put, a test," Clavell answered. "But not just any test. This test is a compilation of our curriculum's midterm and final exams, dubbed the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea's Acedemic Review... or FWR-PAPAR, for short."
"The FWR-PAPAR, sir?" Camilla asked.
"And you said that this test is all the exams combined?" Pico asked.
"And that this is the only thing left standing in the way of our Treasure Hunts?" Balto tacked on.
"Yes on all accounts," the director said. "But not to worry, you should have plenty of time to study for this test. I shall notify your homeroom teachers after this meeting, and they shall provide you with your packets tomorrow morning. When you finish the test, simply bring it to the front desk at the entrance, and you shall be given your results presently, along with a reward of EXP Candies depending on how many answers you got correct."
"Well," Camilla said, "that all sounds fair. We were taking classes and all, and this wouldn't be a school if there wasn't at least one chance to demonstrate what we learned."
"I'm glad you think so, Miss Camilla," Director Clavell said. "Now, you are dismissed, and I shall send out the order for the packets. Expect them tomorrow morning."
"We will, Director Clavell," the three students said, and they got up to leave the office and cram for the test before bed, eager to not be trapped at school anymore.
-
To be continued...
