FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"I finally pieced together the information from that last mural," Leanne announced once everyone settled around the table. Several pages lay scattered about, most of them riddled with facts about the Oblivia region. Leanne grabbed the one page that was next to the pictures of the murals. "According to legend, Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno were essential in protecting the Golden Armor, and thus the person who wore it."

"Are they evil, mom?" Nema asked. Leanne shook her head.

"They're being used by evil people, but they themselves aren't evil." She pointed outside to the floating building. "Their power keeps the Sky Fortress's exterior defenses active and gives it the means to move. Check out this image." The image she presented depicted what appeared to be a rainbow shooting out of an upright cup. Below the cup was a stone surface featuring a pair of wings surrounded by spheres of various colors of the rainbow. To the left was the Sky Fortress, surrounded by purple lines. The rainbow was shown piercing the lines.

"Hold on... that's the grail from the Rainbow Festival!" Summer cried.

"Indeed. The ancient script says that the hero or heroes of Oblivia brought an item called the Rainbow Grail to a location known as the Rainbow Dais. The rainbow that appeared guided the legendary birds from the dark hold the armor had on them," Leanne finished.

"Just like in the festival..." Ben noted. Nema and Rand nodded.

"In today's Oblivia we only remember holding up the Rainbow Grail on its corresponding platform," Leanne added. "I'm not sure why that is, but it looks like Cocona Village is your next stop."

"The murals held all the answers the whole time... Leanne, you may have just saved everyone. Thank you very much," Rand said. Leanne blushed and smiled at her husband.

"All right, Ben. Let's get to Booker's house and try it out," Summer said. Before she and Ben could leave, however, Nema urged them to wait.

"Hold on... you still need to tell us about Tilikule Island," she stated. "Did everything work like Mom said it would?" Both rangers returned to their previous spots and sighed. They looked at each other and nodded.

"This might be a bit difficult to explain," Ben said, "so we'll show you instead." A flash much like that from a camera shot from their bodies, dazing everyone momentarily. At the same time, they shed their disguises, taking on the form of the Eon duo once more. Everyone stared at the two floating dragons in shock, unable to fully comprehend what had just happened.

"Mom... Dad...? What... what happened to my friends?" Nema stammered. Rand was the first to recover.

"Well I'll be..." he breathed. "There really was something special about you two. I had the feeling, but I figured it was your skills."

"Well, it seems like things turned out exactly as I thought they would," the professor announced confidently. "When you two told me about your hallucinations, I just had to dig through all the books I had. As it turns out, after the Great Teakwood Fire happened, neither Latias nor Latios nor the heroes that worked alongside them could be found. I suspected that the odd visions meant you bore a connection to the heroes of legend, but I never thought this is what that connection would lead to."

"I doubt it means we're now the same pokémon that defended Oblivia a long time ago," Ben said, "but we have some of their memories. Supposedly, we lived together in Oblivia a long time ago. When the Evil Ruler put on that Golden Armor and used the Sky Fortress to sink the island in the Eastern Sea, we had to do something quickly."

"According to what the visions told me," Summer continued, "we combined our powers with that of the other legendary pokémon and created two illusionary humans to help two other humans who greatly resembled. You know the rest from there."

"Well... this explains everything." Leanne walked over to them. "Amazing... Being granted a second chance in life is a rare thing. It's even more incredible that you can speak much like humans can."

"I still don't think we're the same pokémon, however I am surprised everyone is taking this really well," Ben noted. Rand nodded.

"I'm glad. Ben can finally stop worrying about how everyone would feel," Summer added cheekily, earning a mock glare from Ben.

"You two are so cute together!" Nema cried in delight. They flew over to her and nudged her, encouraging her to pet them. "You feel so soft!" Her parents smiled at the sight of their daughter being nuzzled by the former humans. "I can't help but feel safe around you two." Eventually they separated, and Rand took this opportunity to ask an important question.

"Do the Pinchers know about you two?"

"No," Ben replied, "as far as we know. None of them know. We haven't told anyone else about us yet."

"Good. It would be best to keep this between us."

---

The path to Cocona Village was filled with pokémon panicking over the return of the Sky Fortress. They seemed to calm down, however, when they saw the two rangers walk past them, as if they instantly recognized who they were to the human onlookers' confusion. It was not long before they arrived near Booker's house.

"HEY!" Both rangers looked up to see Summer's staraptor glide to them. Pichu shook from the shrill cry, but remained asleep. "Long time no see, you guys!"

"Staraptor! How have you been? It's good to see you again," Summer replied, smiling at her avian friend.

"I've been well, and I have a surprise for Ben!" she announced. "You can come out now!" As soon as she said that, another staraptor flew from a hidden perch in the trees. Ben's eyes widened upon seeing the other staraptor.

"I... I almost don't believe... Staraptor, you survived too?" Ben wondered. "This is great! I'm glad to see you alive and well, old friend. I was worried you had... well..."

"He's a lot more brawny than he looks, that's for sure. Unfortunately, that attack he endured... it killed his voice," Staraptor explained sadly. The male staraptor rubbed against her, encouraging her not to worry about him. She smiled, changing her tone. "We met when I flew to Dolce Island to warn everyone about the attack. He and a few other humans helped me move all the pokémon over here. See for yourself." Pichu stirred upon hearing this.

"Re-really? Everyone's... a-alive?" Pichu asked. He jumped down onto the sandy ground and saw all of the other pichu around Booker's house and nearly cried again, this time out of happiness. "I-I-I don't know what to say," he said, voice shaky, "except... thank you so, so much for rescuing them. I'm just so relieved everyone's okay."

"See, I told you your time would come," Summer said. "We're all proud of both of you." She put Pichu on the ground and hugged her staraptor, who beamed with pride in response. Both rangers were significantly calmer than before, remembering they had allies everywhere thanks to their efforts, but they were still aware of their mission, knowing that the same thing could very well happen to Renbow Island if they did not hurry. Just as Staraptor said, all of Pichu's pokémon friends were alive and well. Booker greeted the rangers as they entered his home.

"I'm just glad those staraptor gave everyone the heads up," Booker said. "We might not be able to get the island back, but a home is more replaceable than a life."

"Hey Booker, we'll need to borrow the Rainbow Grail for a moment," Ben requested.

"Huh? What do ya need it fer? A drink?"

"I need to borrow it to protect Oblivia," Ben quickly explained. Confused, Booker fetched the item for him.

"Don't know what this is about, but go ahead." Booker handed the grail to him and watched him sprint to the platform in Cocona Village.

"Summer, your partner seems quite eager about something," Nick said. "I hope he doesn't trip and drop the Rainbow Grail. If it breaks, we'd..."

"Not now, Nick. That annoying thinkin' of yours won't help at all. If that happens, I reckon we'll just make a new one."

Summer was confused. "Wait, you mean the one Ben has is just a replica?" Booker nodded. "Well, you see, we need the Rainbow Grail to take down that barrier around the Sky Fortress. According to legend, that artifact is the key to stopping the Pinchers' plans once and for all."

"Ah, so that's it. We better go tell your friend before he makes too much of a scene." They hurriedly left the house and entered the village. Ben was standing atop the wooden platform, constantly raising and lowering the grail in frustration as the rest of the villagers stared in confusion. Summer and Pichu couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.

"Ben, that grail is made from paiper-maché. It's just a fake of the real thing," Booker called out. The ranger stared at the grail and facepalmed before stepping down and returning it.

"That would explain why nothing was happening... but if this is fake, where's the real one?"

"It's actually in Rasp Cavern. I've got the key to the door."

---

The group swiftly walked through Rasp Cavern before arriving at a locked door.

"You remember the trial you took to get the fake Rainbow Grail, right?" Booker asked them.

"Yes," both rangers replied. They entered the room where all the tiles were lit. Walking past the tiles, they stopped in front of a door with the same image as the platform in Cocona Village.

"Well, the real trial is just past this door. It's been years since I last opened it." Booker pulled out a panel and slid it into a slot, causing the door to split in half. He sighed as the parts of the door moved aside, revealing another room. "As far as I know, neither I nor anyone else in the village were ever able to get far enough, so I had Nick build a replica of the grail while I built that platform. Stay calm, and keep your wits about ya. You can beat the Hero's Trial." With that, Booker left for the village, giving the Eon pokémon the opportunity to shed their disguises.

"Try using your powers if things get too dicey. Are you guys ready?" Pichu asked them.

"Yeah," Ben said as Summer nodded. "How are you feeling, buddy?"

"Much better knowing I didn't lose anyone to that thing," he replied, relieved. "I'm so glad I have friends like you. Was someone doing something to me?"

"Well, I figured out how to use Heal Pulse," Summer answered as Pichu jumped onto Ben's back. "I just wanted to do something to stop you from feeling so horrible, and it just came to me." He nodded in thanks as they entered the chamber. Inside lied a small arena. A panel of faded text appeared on the floor, and next to it was an even smaller panel.

"That guy Amun wrote a translation here," Ben observed. "It says that the hero must show no fear when it comes to peace. What does that mean?" The rangers tensed upon hearing the doors behind and in front of them rise. "Uh-oh." Three charmeleon dropped down from the ceiling, all of them appearing too agitated to be reasoned with and out of range of their Stylers.

"Get ready, everyone!" Ben shouted. All three charmeleon constantly shot powerful Ember attacks at the trio, who managed to dodge them with little effort. Thirty seconds later, three jolteon joined the charmeleon, also appearing too agitated to reason with.

"Look out, guys!" Pichu shot a few Thunder Shock attacks of his own to repulse some of the barrage of fire and electricity. The dragons were actually hit by some of the attacks, but thanks to their Stylers' energy, they were not too badly damaged. A few seconds later, three snover were summoned to the field.

"Oh great, ice," both Eon pokémon groaned. Fortunately, the elemental assault came to a close twenty seconds later, and everyone sighed in relief. The attacking pokémon disappeared as both doors lowered, allowing entry into the next room. Everyone took the moment to examine themselves.

"I'm not bruised anywhere, but my Styler's energy is getting low," Summer observed. "It's been a while since we last visited a recharge station. I hope we can find a way to recharge it soon."

"Hang in there, Summer," Ben reassured. "If anything happens, I'll be there to back you up." Pichu nodded as she blushed slightly at his comment. Within the next room they found another panel on the ground with another explanation near it. "It says peace takes a series of steps to reach. I guess this room needs us to move quickly and intently." Once he finished, the room's trap activated, and spikes shot out of the floors ahead of them at intervals.

"Maybe not. We could just fly over these floors," Summer suggested with a shrug. "It would be faster and safer."

"Agreed." Pichu smirked at the spiked floors as they flew over them, reaching the other side quickly and prompting the next door to open. This next room featured a much larger version of the trial used for the Rainbow Festival.

"This panel says peace cannot be acquired with power," Summer read. "We'll need to make the right moves to get through this trial. It's just like the trial for the Rainbow Festival, and apparently Amun has been here too."

"Allow me," Pichu offered as he jumped off Ben's back. He stepped on one circle and quickly trailed a path to the other circle, being sure to stand on all the tiles only once. After solving the puzzle, the next door opened. This time, it revealed a room full of panels pointing in different directions.

"Amun made it here too," Ben commented upon seeing another explanation to the panel in front of them. "'Peace is something spread by a proper flow. Show the presence of mind to determine the proper flow.' It looks like those floors will take us wherever they point."

"Ben, should we just fly over the floor again? We'll need to act quickly before that fortress launches another attack," Summer advised. Just as before, the trio flew ahead, avoiding the pillars as they did so. Their flying caught the attention of the ledian, ampharos, and primeape in the room.

"Wait!" Ledian called out to them just as they landed near the door. He grabbed Ampharos and flew over to them. "I've never seen anyone other than myself do that before, not even that human fellow from several years ago." Primeape quickly climbed one of the blocks and made his way to them in one jump.

"Hey, that's not fair! I'm calling shenanigans!" Primeape angrily shouted. "You cheated!" Summer smirked.

"Well we did," she admitted. Her smirk disappeared as she grew serious. "However, we don't have the time to discuss this now."

"You felt the earthquake, right?" Ben asked them.

"Yeah, but what's that got to do with your cheating?" Primeape wondered.

"Just what business do you have here?" Ampharos asked them, feeling anxious. Summer glanced at Ben, who seemed to be plotting something.

"Hmm... Take a close look. We might be wearing some unusual items, but our appearance hasn't changed once bit. Who are we?" he asked them. The trio studied the Eon pokémon for a few moments before stepping back in shock.

"Whoa... i-it's really them..."

"It sounds like Absol was right after all," Primeape said. "I owe that guy a huge apology." He punched himself on the nose, then sighed as he calmed down.

"What was Absol right about?" Summer asked them what Primeape was talking about.

"Absol appeared some time after the last human here disappeared," Ampharos explained. "He said that you two would reappear when Oblivia was in danger again, but I never thought you would have all this... human stuff on you, especially that scarf."

"Pichu, you're so lucky you get to travel with THE Latias and Latios," Ledian gushed. "I'm pretty jealous." Pichu smiled.

"We were rangers before we regained our memories," Summer stated, playing along, "and we don't want to abandon our position. Anyways, we must get the Rainbow Grail."

"Can we help? It looks like those things on your arms need some power." Ampharos touched their Stylers and fed electricity into them until their energy lights turned green. "That's a good sign, right?" The Eon pokémon nodded their thanks as they and Pichu entered the final room.

"It looks like Amun wasn't able to make it to this room," Pichu noted. "There's no panel anywhere explaining this one." A loud cry rang through the air as an absol dropped down into the room from an unseen ledge.

"The time has come."