The group was walking into the forgotten park with Angela at the rear to make sure they all went where they were supposed to go. As the got further and further in, Ire got more and more nervous by the scenery.
When they reached where they were being led, the group found that many of the plants were non-existent here, and the plants that were there like tree were burnt and dead.
“What happened here?” Matrix asked.
“Do you like it?” Grumpig asked, hidden in the foliage around the dead area. “It was like that when I found it. I’m rather fond of how it looks.
“Will you stop controlling me?!” Angela said, shaking her head. “Or are you too weak not to face us yourself?”
“Don’t call me weak! Besides, after you left there was a pokemon who was able to resist anyone’s command other than their trainer. And that was only because they were willing to listen.”
“Listen Grumpig,” Lea cut in. “You’ve done enough, and it’s time you stop trying to hurt everyone.”
“Well I see you’ve got my old ‘comrades’ to help you, but that won’t be enough for you to win.”
“Why don’t you care to put your bits where you’re boasting.” Quarry taunted Grumpig.
“That actually sounds like a good idea. Let’s begin!”
Grumpig’s eyes and pearls began to glow as she emerged from the plants along with some of the pokemon who had stayed. Out of those were only Glameow and Heracross.
“Most of the other pokemon left, but of course, I don’t need that many to get rid of you. Glameow, take who you want. Heracross, attack whoever she doesn’t attack.”
Glameow gave an evil smile and went after Mightyena. Heracross decided to go after both Lea and Matrix. Grumpig herself went to face the two ponies in the group.
“So you two thought it would be a good idea to help the same pokemon you wanted to get rid of?”
“Better than helping you!” Quarry exclaimed.
“But what about you Ire? You look nervous. What’s so scary about this place to you? Perhaps you’ve been here before?”
“It happens to be that I have.”
“Well then I’m glad I chose it. Nothing better than to pick a place to give me an advantage.”
“Uh, I wouldn’t try taunting her like-” Quarry started.
“You think you have an advantage here?!” Ire yelled, her horn starting to spark in rage. “Do you know why these plants are all dead? Do you know why the trees are all burnt?! I did that! I did everything you see around us and I was just a filly! If I did all of this back then, what’s stopping me from doing worse to you now?!”
Grumpig tried to attack Ire, but failed as she was knocked away instead. “I was born with the name Bright Ire, but when I got my cutiemark, I opted to do what some ponies do and change their name to something more fitting. I chose Rage Spell, because everytime I get to angry, my magic gets out of hoof! It flares up and sometimes I can’t control it! So really, do you want to try and make it worse? Speed up the timer on the already ticking bomb? Go ahead, try.”
Grumpig chose to attack even after Ire’s speech, but Bright Ire countered the attack with one of her own that completely dissipated Grumpig’s and hurt her badly.
“Look out!” Quarry said, guarding Ire from an attack from behind.
Grumpig had focused some of her energy to get Angela to attack Ire for her, hoping it would go unnoticed until it was too late. Quarry was left with a large gash on his back where Angela’s horn had hit. His one wing was damaged as well from landing on it upon hitting the ground. Ire quickly went to see if her husband was okay when Grumpig attacked her once more.
“That’s it!” She yelled. “You can attack me all you want, but when you attack my husband and use him as a way to hurt me, I will take away all restraint I had!”
Grumpig barely had time to put up a light screen before the attack hit. Like a normal light screen, Ire’s attack only did half the damage it would have otherwise, but Grumpig was still badly hurt and found herself covered with burns.
The other battles ceased, with Lea and Matrix stopping for the disoriented heracross, and Glameow and Mightyena stopping from shock at what had just happened. Ire was breathing heavily from her attack, holding Quarry in her hooves as she cried. He had been just close enough to her attack that he had been harmed too.
“Matrix use yawn on Grumpig. We want to bring her back and make sure she’s not too seriously injured. Ire, do you need help bringing back Quarry?”
Ire sniffed as she nodded her head. Lea’s own eyes started to glow as she helped get Quarry on Ire’s back with a little difficulty.
When the group finally got back to the Pokemon Center, Blissey was immediately able to help heal Grumpig at least a little. Quarry, on the other hand, was only able to be but in a more stable condition before Bluegrass went with Ire to bring Quarry to the hospital.
“Mommy! Why did you bring her back!” Kya said, her fires blazing in fear.
“We need to make sure we know where she is. Besides, I don’t think even the new cells and the police station will be able to hold her. Matrix and Blissey will be taking shifts to make sure she stays asleep. In a few days, we’re going to take her to Arceus.”
“We’re gonna what?!” Kya exclaimed.
“I’ve wanted to take a trip to visit some of the other cities and towns, and since the first place I want to go is right near the Everfree Forest where he’s staying. It makes sense to see him about her.” Lea gestured to Grumpig.
“When will we go?” Midnight asked Lea.
“What do you mean we?” Angela asked. “Who said you would come?”
“Well I assumed that Caddi would be joining you. I would like to stay with her, especially since she’s going out of town.”
“Don’t you need to stay here as police chief?” Matrix asked.
“Iron says he’ll be able to start back with that part of his job tomorrow. I’d just be going on vacation anyways because he was insisting I do that.”
“Fine! You’re joining us! Anyone else?” Angela asked.
“I might!” Citrus called. “I’ve got some relatives there, though distant. I think they’re like third cousins or something like that. Which reminds me… I’ve got some family in Manehatten and some near Applewood that I should visit some time.”
“Is that all?” Lea asked. When no one answered, she started to count who would be going. “Let’s see, we have six pokemon, along with two technically three ponies, so that’s nine of us altogether. Wait Midnight, will Silver be coming along?”
“Let me go ask.” He responded, leaving to find the swoobat.
“Well, while we wait, I’d like to mention that I’d like to stay there about three days, after which we’ll go to Canterlot. We might stop some other places afterwards, but for now we’ll just have those two on the list.
“Hey, just so you know, he said he wants to stay here.” Midnight said to Lea.
“Alright, so we’ll need nine tickets for the train. Anyone know how much tickets are?”
“The tickets are ten bits for an adult, and seven for anypony twelve and under.” Citrus explained to Lea.
“So that means 81 bits total since Kya, Sparks, and Ziggs are all younger than twelve.”
“Choo choo?” Sparks asked, trying to climb on his mom’s back.
“Yes Sparks! The whole family’s gonna go on a choo choo train!” Kya told him.
“Choo choo!”
“I’m not sure when exactly we’ll leave, but everyone should plan for at least three days from now, and we might be taking the overnight train.” Lea told everyone. “I’ll work on details and such, but right now, everyone should take a break. We’ve had a long few weeks and I think we all need it.