We landed with a light puff of air and dust just outside Kommo-o arena.
The Dragons reacted forming into lines, the littlest ones pushed back. Clanging scales and hard looks were sent our way. Even the little Jangmo-o formed a wall of shields behind their elders like tiny little hoplites, and the elder was quickly hidden behind the bulk of two Kommo-o.
Dragonite rose up to her full height, as I worked my magic, grabbing Riolu out of her arms, and standing on Dragonites left, with Rioly on mine.
Then, I started the challenge.
"Ha!" I called out as I stomped on the ground, spreading my legs. I had seen a Haka before in a previous life. I knew there was a song that went with it, but I had no idea what it was.
So I improvised!
"Do what I do." I told Riolu and Dragonite, and Dragonite instantly joined in, stomping just after, and mimicking my stance.
I looked to Riolu who looked so done with this entire situation.
So I looked at her, glaring when she seemed to refuse. She looked at me, then she looked up.
She sighed, and I turned to see Dragonites face go from looking fearsome to happy and gentle.
I almost giggled. Dragonite could be scary if she wanted to!
Then Riolu gave a cry and slammed her right leg into the ground as she squared her stance.
This sent a current through the Kommo-o and a moment later a decision was made a Kommo-o, a Hakamo-o, and a Jangmo-o all squared up opposite us.
Wait... Why was the other Jangmo-o in the middle? That’s my spot! The leader spot! That should be a Kommo-o!
They had matched us, just with Hakamo-o in Riolu’s place, and Kommo-o facing Dragonite.
Mean!
I shook it off, if they thought I was the weakest, I would just prove them wrong!
The Dragons mimicked my own actions, each of them in turn slamming their right foot down, or in Jangmo-o’s case, two right feet. And then we faced each other.
"I want to be, the very best!" I yelled out, slamming my right hand into my left elbow. That was a move from the Haka’s I had seen so long ago. My pokemon mimicked me, even calling out alongside me, just one step behind. Which actually was kinda cute!
But I couldn’t get distracted now! I was the leader!
"Like no one ever was!" I slammed my left foot stepping forward.
"To catch them is my real test!" Another elbow slap.
"To train them is my cause!" This time I slapped my chest.
Then the Kommo-o interrupted, copying my movements, and calling out his own Haka in denial, obviously not impressed.
Damn! Pokemon theme song didn’t work, I thought for sure it would!
"Enough of this! What are you doing here child!" A human voice called out interrupting my next line! It was a good one I was going to start going into how strong I had trained my friends!
I looked over and...
"That’s a really nice hat." I said flatly, it was the only thing that popped into my head.
"It’s a helmet!" The old man snapped back.
He was wearing a Kommo-o shaped Kabuto helmet. Like an old Samurai.
The old man’s Jinbei, his clothes were just like the Mossui town villagers though.
The Jangmo-o opposite me suddenly released a call, and the dragons all cheered.
Oh... "Hey! You interrupted so I lost!" I yelped, realizing what had happened. I looked to Riolu who just scoffed at me, showing no sympathy as she ended her stance and just rolled her eyes at me. But then I looked to Dragonite, who...
Oh she was super mad.
She actually reminded me more of Iris’s Dragonite at that moment. All red in the face and glaring, like steam was going to pop out of her ears.
Ah. Dragon pride, and she had just been beaten basically by accident.
Before she could start an Outrage, or something I reached up and grabbed her hand.
"We’ll work on it, and do even better next time! We’ll blow them away!" I told her, and she looked away from the old man to me, and I smiled happily up at her, and then her face relaxed and she picked me up.
"Pree!" She whined, sounding a bit irritated, but at least she wasn’t mad anymore. She hugged me using me as a stress ball as she grumbled a bit over my head as she glared at the old man, but she would look back down at me, and calm down with a bit of a huff.
Cute!
"Che! Don’t think just because you have a dragon that it makes it alright for poaching!"
"Wha-" I interrupted Dragonites hug because I was so shocked! "Poaching!"
"Of course! Don’t think I’m a fool! You came to capture a Kommo-o for your very own! Well you can’t! These are all mine!" He crowed out as he stomped over but as he did, it became very obvious to me that this situation wasn’t as simple as this old man was hinting at.
Because all of the Dragons were watching him with the same eyes they were looking at me.
As an outsider.
He walked over, and a Hakamo-o. Didn’t move to let him pass, the dragon glared and stood its ground and the old man had to sort of awkwardly scoot around them.
"I don’t think they belong to you." I argued as he approached, but my accusation made the old man absolutely blow up.
"I am TETSURYU TETSUHARA! My family ruled Kitakami for eighteen generations! It is my own ancestor that brought these great dragons to Kitakami from a far and distant land! You dare!"
"Your ancestors went to Alola?" I questioned because I mean... I guess that was possible?
"Wha!?" He gasped as if I had stabbed him as he stepped back and pointed an accusing finger at me. "How do you know the name of the secret islands my ancestor visited during his sea voyage!? The place full of dangerous, and powerful pokemon! With barbaric people that he had to fight his way back to Kitakami from!?"
I blinked.
"Alola is a resort island though?"
The man looked at me.
I looked at him.
"N-nonsense! The beasts of Alola were recorded as being the most dangerous in the entire world! He traveled to the island during the great exploration of the seas! He captured many powerful rare pokemon and brought them home along with fearsome and terrible treasures from the natives! The people were evil barbarians! Barely living out of mud huts! He-"
"Kinda sounds like a pirate." I interjected.
The man’s voice left him as he just gaped at me. Speechless.
I sort of just hung there awkwardly as Dragonite hadn’t let go of me yet...
"Yep." I offered, popping the P as loud as I could.
"YOU DARE!?" He screeched loud enough even the Kommo-o winced at his scream, or at least some of them did.
Heh. Kommo-o had Soundproof.
"Rio." Riolu added, actually agreeing with me as she nodded along.
"K-k-k!" He sort of got stuck trying to speak, his face going red in outrage.
"Ko-Mo-o." A voice interrupted and I looked as the elder Kommo-o walked over. The ancient dragon walked slowly. And I could see why. His hips looked bulgy.
"T-this girl!" The old man shrieked pointing at me, but looking to Kommo-o.
The Dragon just shrugged walking over and to my surprise just reached out and plopped a hand onto the old mans helmet.
The old man quieted and growled, but didn’t argue against the Dragon.
The interaction, and the realization at just how old this Kommo-o probably was...
"Was he your pokemon?"
The old man glanced to me, and his shoulders shook for a moment. "No. He has led the Kommo-o here since long before I was born... I tried many times as a child to capture him. But I was never worthy of that." The old man explained haltingly, as he caught his breath.
"My Ancestor brought them here, and we were even known for the great strength of the noble armored Pokemon in ages past... When we were Samurai that protected this land, we were not pirates!"
I kinda wanted to point out that a Samurai could still be a pirate, but I didn’t really want to argue with this old man.
"Ko. Komo." The Elder turned to me, and he looked me over... No, I realized. He looked at Dragonite.
"Drag. Dragonite." She greeted him back and just with that the Elder seemed to realize something. He looked down to me, our eyes met..
"Ko? Kommo-o?" He asked, and Dragonite trilled a laugh. Before I could ask what he had said her hand came up and plopped on my head patting my head.
"Heh?" But Dragonite didn’t answer, just continued to pat me.
’Again?’ That was what Chansey asked me. Appearing in a Dragon den with an unconscious dragon, it did sound like what happened with Garchomp.
She sighed and then started healing. Her actions calmed down the area.
"Huh. That’s not something you see every day. You a member of the Joys?"
"What? No! I’m blonde!"
"I don’t know! Maybe you do that thing those kids do nowadays! Dyeing their hair all sorts of colors!"
"I don’t! Other trainers can capture a Chansey you know!"
The old man grumbled and shrugged his shoulders, but seemed pleased as the knocked out Kommo-o rose up shakily and then wandered off looking a bit dazed.
"Ko! Komo-o." A voice old and gravely called out and I looked surprised to see the Elder Kommo-o again. He staggered forward slowly approaching me. Chansey greeted him and without even speaking she walked up and started checking him over.
I could tell he was shocked at her presumption, but a moment later as she blasted a bit of pink into his hip he sighed and his eyes fluttered almost closed and any outrage he had was gone.
"Chansey, Chanse Chan." She spoke as she worked, definitely berating the old Kommo-o as she worked to help him out.
Kommo-o all around had another flash of outrage at her audacity but had calmed quickly at his noise of relief. Then they approached to look over what Chansey was doing.
She ignored the onlookers and instead focused on healing, even reaching out and doing some muscle rubs.
Elder Kommo-o looked like he was in heaven.
Old man Tetsuryu looked like he was in shock.
"Should I capture a Chansey?" He wondered to himself in a whisper and I smiled.
Yes. The answer if you should capture a Chansey is always yes, because they are amazing.
Finally Chansey stepped back and nodded. "Chanse. Chansey chanse, chan." She explained, seeming to rattle off some instructions to the Elder, and he slowly nodded, seeming a bit dazed at her rapid fire explanation.
"Ko. Komo-o, Komo." He responded and she tittered and waved it off, before pointing at me.
I then pointed at me, because why was I being pointed at.
"Chan, Chan, sey." She explained and he looked from her to me, before slowly his head nodded.
"Komo." He said and then to my surprise he waved to me, to approach.
I did, reaching Chansey’s side wondering what was going on, and then the Elder settled into a stance.
"Ah. The Leaders dance? For you?" Tetsuryu gasped in shock. He looked from me to the old dragon and then seemed to regain himself, rubbing at his chin, before deciding something. "He’s shown me this multiple times, but I can’t figure out what he is trying to show... Watch well." He said to me, his pride in the Elder out weighing his dislike of me.
Watching was definitely on the plan, but I winced at the creak of his joints despite Chansey’s help, at the weakness the old dragon displayed. His clawed hands shook as he held them out, and as he moved his arms.
But I watched wondering what it meant, but slowly I recognized something. A movement that I knew like the back of my hand, how could anyone forget the position for the Kamehameha wave!?
I instantly wigged to what was happening, I suppressed my gasp. I knew what he was testing! What he was trying to convey! To show!
I took the starting stance, and as the old Dragon finished he looked to me, a pleased look in his eyes, and he restarted despite his obvious exhaustion.
I copied him, doing my best to follow and connect. I had to memorize this!
When we finished as I slammed my fists together infront of me, I roared it out.
The name of this move!
"CLANGOROUS SOULBLAZE!" I called, and for just a moment, despite not having a Z crystal, despite not having any connection to this Dragon, I felt it.
We connected.
Everything went silent. The Elder’s eyes were opened wide in shock behind his armor, and the entire clan of dragons stared at me.
Our eyes locked on each other and I knew just how amazing an offering the Elder dragon had given me.
"Thank you. Elder. For teaching me the moves. One day. I hope I earn the right to finish the trials." I spoke gently, the only thing that I could think of to say.
"What was that? What is Clangorous Souldblaze?" Old man Tetsuryu asked, and I looked at him, finally breaking the eye lock with the Elder.
"It’s the name of a Z move. Kommo-o’s specific Z move in fact."
"What... What is a Z move?" The old man asked, almost desperate for an answer.
"It’s a connection between pokemon and trainer. Working together in sync, to create a move of incredible power, but more importantly. To show their bond to each other." I answered back. Then I did the moves again. Syncing the moves as best as I remembered.
"Each Z move has motions connected to it! You learn the motions from the pokemon, they know it! It’s a part of them! A creation of bonds between human and pokemon! Proof we were always meant to help each other!" I extolled as I finished once again. Proving I had memorized it.
"Ko." The Elder answered back nodding, and I smiled at him.
"But you need three things to perform a Z move." I added on a little sadly. "A Z ring. A piece of a legendary pokemon forged into an item that can help empower humans. A Z crystal, of the correct type, or pokemon, to insert into the Z ring. A connection forms between trainer and pokemon. And of course the most important thing of all! A friend! You can’t do it if you aren’t friends with your pokemon!"
The Elder Dragon suddenly started jolting, and I almost flinched before I realized he wasn’t in danger, or sick. He was laughing, a wheezing noise of delight.
He calmed after a few moments and nodded, agreeing with me. "Ko, komo. Kom kom." He chattered in his gravely voice and then he turned and called out.
"Koooo!"
"Ko!" The rest of the dragons all responded and an excitement ran through everyone.
A few moments later The dragons lined up and the Elder looked among them. Before pointing.
"Jan!? Jang!" A Jangmo-o called out having been pointed out by the Elder and the little guy ran forward eagerly practically galloping before skidding to a stop.
"Ko?"
"Jaaaang!" He cheered, leaping and doing a cute little wiggle with his legs as they were off the ground before landing and then nodding, looking pumped up, barely able to stop himself from tippy tapping his legs as he tried to look serious.
Then the little Jangmo-o turned to me, and I knew.
"I see." I agreed simply then because it was the right way to do it, I hunkered down and started the Haka for the Clangorous Soulblaze. As I worked, Jangmo-o followed along as he could without fully free arms, but when I finished, I was sure.
"Hello Jangmo-o! I’m Vicky! My dream is to have fun, explore the world, train powerful pokemon and live my life without regrets!" I called out loudly, then I dug into my bag and pulled out a Premier ball.
"Will you join me? Travel the world and grow stronger than anyone!?"
"Jang!" He cheered and leapt, and the ball clacked shut.
I had a Jangmo-o!
"Eeeee!" I cheered, tapping my feet in place as I delighted in my new friend!
"Ko." The gravely voice called and I looked up from the pokeball to see Kommo-o digging under his armor for a moment, and then...
"Oh."
"Ko." He spoke opening up his palm, and there in resting was... "Kommomium Z." A Z Crystal. Old. It was an old Z Crystal, something I could tell from a single glance. The yellow crystal was scuffed with age, yet the black symbol inside was still visible.
"I don’t have a Z ring." I explained and Kommo-o just offered it to me again.
I nodded, reaching out and taking the Z crystal. "I’ll... I promise, I’ll find a way to use this. Even if I have to go to Alola."
"Komo." The Elder rumbled gently, and then reached out and patted me on the head.
"I don’t understand." Tetsuryu muttered, looking a little lost. "Why? Why wasn’t I... Why didn’t you ever choose me? I’ve been with you my entire life."
"Ko. Komo." The Elder rumbled, trying to sound comforting, but I don’t think it really helped.
The old man just looked kind of devastated.
I didn’t know what to say, and by the time I tried to say something. It was too late.
Tetsuryu turned and walked away. A long walk ahead of him, as I think he was heading towards Mossui town.
I watched him go along with the Elder, just like me, I could tell the Elder didn’t feel good about what had happened.
I shook it off. I couldn’t change what had happened. Only do the best I could. I squeezed the pokeball in one hand, and the Z Crystal in the other.
Alola.
I was going to have to go someday. But that was for the future, now? Now I needed to check in on Ivy, see how her day of exploration had gone, and prepare.
It was getting close to time to head home. But my feet couldn’t move.
"I... I don’t know why you didn’t give it to him. He obviously loves you and your family... But I promise, I’ll train Jangmo-o until he becomes very strong... And I’ll love him and be his friend for my entire life."
"Ko." The Elder offered, looking at me, and nodding seemingly pleased.
Okay now I had to gather up Chansey who was wandering around offering her healing, and then gather up Dragonite and Milotic... Well maybe I would give them a while to themselves.