Liko eventually calms down, asking "Okay, Just tell us what you know, about Lucius, Laqua, everything."
Rystal nods, thinking back to that fateful day. "I was running from a group of theives who wanted Terapagos, then I ran into Lucius, who scared them away with his Rayquaza. Lucius was the one who told me about Terapagos, I used to call it Pagogo and Laqua. He told me how he wanted to find it, and I wanted to join him. We traveled the world, he caught the rest of his Pokemon during all that time. One day we stopped in a town and asked around about Laqua, but everyone thought it was just a fairy tale. Except for one, our new friend: Gibeon, and his Zyguarde."
The group seem to take a step back, Ash and Liko shutter mentally. Their suspicions of the modern Explorers roaming freely in their minds. Ash's mind turns to Lysandre again, thinking how history repeats itself. An evil man with a Zyguarde, he hopes that Squishy and Z2 are okay, Greninja can protect them. Or maybe they're now under Bonnie's care.
Rystal continued, "The three of us traveled together for years, and called ourselves the Explorers." The group seems to soften, such pure intentions back then, Rystal keeps telling her tale, "We eventually found Laqua." Shocking the group, if Rystal still knew the location, they go get Terapagos there immediately after taming Entei and Rayquaza.
"It truly was a paradise..." Rystal said nostalgically, "Many Pokemon lived together in harmony. We went deeper, wondering what else there is to see, but... The deeper we went, the less welcoming Laqua became, nothing but withered plants and dead grass. Until we found something, a cluster ofpink crystals. Terapagos immediately hated it."
"Laquium..." Friede muttered, gears turning in his mind, while Ash and Liko remember when they saw Spinel useLaquium, and how Terapagos stepped in.
See Also10 Characters We Want to See in Pokemon Horizons Season 2Liko's Pendant in Pokemon Horizons is More Important than You ThinkPokémon Horizons Breaks the Rules With a Legendary Creature's Capture151 Original Pokémon by Length Group Clicking"Gibeon knew they contained a lot of energy, so did Lucius, it was how Laqua looked so alive at the top. But he also knew they could be a burden, so he wanted us to leave, so that we couldn't risk ruining anything. But Gibeon didn't take too kindly to that, and had Zyguarde dig up the crystals, making pink mist spill out, making the Pokemon go on a rampage." Ash and Liko shudder again, thinking of how Spinel's Umbreon acted under the mist's influence.
"Lucius and his Pokemon tried to stop the mist, but they couldn't stop it, not even when Zyguarde went against Gibeon and tried to help." Rystal explained, tears forming in her eyes. "The ground broke beneath Gibeon, and he fell before we could save him..."
Ash and Liko shared a brief look, coming to a shared conclusion. Even if Gibeon fell to his demise, he had to have escaped Laqua and led to the modern day Explorers and Amethio's birth.
"Terapagos and I didn't want to give up either, so much that Terapagos transformed into its Stellar Form." Rystal choked between sobs, making the kids and Friede's eyes widen, remembering when Briar showed them a picture of that very form. "Terapagos sent Lucius's Pokemon around the world to protect them, and contained Laqua in a dome of energy. But Lucius didn't get out in time..."
The group's features fill with worry, worrying how the story ends, Rystal continues despite her tears "Lucius insisted I leave him behind, promising we'll meet again. Made me promise to protect our future." Gesturing down to Leila, "The crystals in the dome exploded, and the next thing I saw was the pendant where Terapagos was." Rystal reveals a teal gem shaped pendant from under her shirt, Liko and Diana recognize it, how could they not? The same pendant they wore, the one holding Terapagos.
"I left right Laqua right after, I needed to protect Leila." Rystal continued, "I don't want to tell her about Lucius, I don't want hisotry to repeat itself. I don't need to be remembered, her life alone is proof Lucius and I existed."
See AlsoPokémon Reveals Its New Evil Team's True History, & They Have A Big Connection To the Series' HeroFriede speaks up after some silence "Rystal, do you remember where Laqua was?"
Rystal thinks for a moment, before saying "No, I'm afriad I don't. Rayquaza flew us there after days at sea. A ship picked me up on the way back. Gibeon could know, if he were still alive."
Liko is about to pipe up that Gibeon IS still alive, but a bright light surronding Rystal, "Oh dear," she says, "It looks like my time here is up, but I'm so grateful to see the future Lucius's protected. Liko?" Rystal asks, making the girl look up at her. "Look after Terapagos for me, and thank you, for letting me see all this." With those final words, Rystal and Leila fade away, soon nothing but air stands in their spot as if they never were here.
Terapagos stares where Rystal once was, and starts to cry. Liko bends down and hugs it, and Ash goes behind her and hugs Terapagos too with Pikachu, as does Roy, and Dot, then Friede and Diana. Terapagos eventually calms down, looking up to Liko in a pleading manner. "Hey, why're you looking at me like that, little guy?" Liko asked.
Ash pipes up, "I think he wants something." Handing Liko a Poke Ball, Liko senses what Ash thinks and tests Ash's theory by holding the ball out to Terapagos. Who happily lets himself get captured. Liko sends Terapagos back otu and hugs it again, "We're in this together now,Pagogo!" She happily cries.
"You're leaving again?!" Roy cried, him and the rest of the RVT standing outside the Brave Olivine the next day, Diana about to board her Arcaine.
"Yeah," Diana said, "Now that the mystery about the pendant's over. Even though I didn't know Rystal and Lucius were my grandparents since my mom told me her mother died young. So now I'm gonna travel wherever my heart takes me. I'll still come back to help if you need me, though!"
The RVT watch Diana get atop Arcaine and ride off inot the distance. "So, what now?" Roy asks.
"Well, we still have to locate Entei and Rayquaza." Liko started, "We should do that before we try to find Laqua."
"But, where would we find them?" Dot asked.
"Maybe we could go to Johto? Or Hoenn?" Ash suggested.
"Actually," Friede piped up, "I think I know someone who can help..."
