The sun began to rise on a crisp Galarian Morning as Kai stepped outside his hotel with Piers and Melony following. They had decided that morning to take a detour to the Wild Area for some training before facing Opal in Ballonlea.

As they patiently waited for their Flying Taxi to arrive, they noticed Mary walking up to them, turning and greeting her appropriately.

"Hey Mary!" Kai shouted. "What's up?"

"Don'tcha have matches to attend to?" Piers asked.

Mary smiled. "No, not today. I'm off the clock. I just wanted to give you guys a few gifts to help out with your training! I was quite impressed by all your battles."

Mary pulled out a box, filled with Lava Cookies.

"Alright! Snacks!" Piers shouted, reaching for a handful.

"Hey! Save some for me!" Melony exclaimed, putting her hand in as well.

Mary giggled. "There's plenty for all of you!"

Kai snatched the box carefully out of Mary's hands. "Let's... wait until the taxi arrives."

Piers groaned. "Give me that!" he said, groping the box.

Just then, they heard the cry of a Corviknight, as the flying taxi swooshed down gently.

"Next stop, Wild Area!" the cabby shouted.

Melony swatted at Piers' arm. "C'mon, lets get in, Greedy!"

Piers took the box, Kai, slightly confused. "More for me!"

He tossed a cookie in his mouth as Melony squirmed about, groaning. "Stop that!"

They all got in the cab, minus Kai. Mary put her hand on his shoulder before he stepped in.

"Kai, hang on a second."

Kai turned around. "Huh?"

Mary reached in her pocket and pulled out one more item. It was what appeared to be a black band of some kind.

"I want you to have this. It will help your pokemon that's closest to you grow even stronger with the bond you two share."

Kai, in awe, took the band, examining it. "Thank you... but why me?"

Mary smiled softly. "Our battle made me see something in you that I saw in our Champion's eyes. Every time I battle with him, he has some sort of spark... and I've never seen it in anyone else's eyes, until now."

Kai's expression went neutral. "But... I'm, really not that good of a trainer... I mean, look at Melony and Piers! They're from royal descent, basically."

Mary shook her head. "Don't doubt yourself! You are very capable of great things. I believe it, and I believe in you."

Kai smiled, placing the band in his pocket. "Gee... Thank you. I don't know what to say!"

Mary began walking away. "Don't say anything. Just make me proud. I'll be rooting for you!" she shouted.

Kai's grin grew slightly, as he looked down at Jangmo-o, who was looking at him with a smile. He knelt down, tying the black belt to Jangmo-o's front leg.

"It seems a bit corny, unecessary rather. But if what Mary says is true, I definitely want to take advantage of it."

Jangmo-o smiled even more, jumping up and down. Kai turned to face the cab, entering with his partner.

"Sorry for the hold up guys, Mary had to ask me something."

Piers, with a mouthful of cookie, turned to face him. "What was it?"

Melony also turned to face him.

"...uh.. nothing important, heh."

Melony smiled at Kai, but then looked back at Piers. "You'll have to excuse Piers... he ate all the cookies."

Kai chuckled. "Oh, uh... no problem."

Piers continued to chew. "Sorry lad, I was hungry."

Melony groaned. "You could've at least saved him ONE."

The taxi began to take off, and the trio was soon on their way to the wild area.

"Ah, this sure does bring back some memories. This was where I caught Dreepy." Kai said.

Melony nodded. "Hopefully, we'll be able to get some good training done here. I'll be ready for Opal by the time i'm through! Maybe Snom can finally evolve too!"

Snom was sitting next to Melony, staring into space.

"Then again... maybe not." She doubtfully continued.

The cab landed, and the trio disbanded.

"Alright, let's meet back here at 7 Sharp." Piers said. "Good luck you two!"

"Same to you!" Kai shouted, as he ran off to a tree to train.

The day was filled with a lot of practice battles against wild pokemon. Kai got closer with Vibrava, and was able to nail down a training method to help the two connect.

Noibat was put to the test by capitalizing on it's flying capabilities. Kai taught it some new moves, strengthening it's traits as a dragon type.

Dreepy was a bit of a challenge to train, but Kai persisted, and his bond with his ghost dragon grew. The little wisp had grown extremely fond of it's trainer, and was willing to push itself to the limit to fight with full force.

Jangmo-o was an entire day's worth of grinding, for an end product well worth the toil...

"Alright Jangmo-o, Low kick!" Kai shouted, as his Little partner shot up in the air and knocked down a Greedent.

Kai fistbumped, and picked up all the berries that fell from Greedent's tail. Jangmo-o had ate a couple, before nuzzling up to Kai.

Kai knelt down to his partner, scratching it's neck. "You're doing great buddy! Maybe that band was helpful after all."

Jangmo-o squeaked in approval, before suddenly shooting it's head up. A Loud stomping sound was heard, and Kai also averted his gaze.

"Huh?"

At that moment, Kai and Jangmo-o were on high alert. Suddenly, out of the grass jumped a Turtonator, flaring in rage, and aiming for Jangmo-o.

"Jangmo-o, dodge!"

Jangmo-o rolled out of the way just in time, as Turtonator landed down with a trail of fire. It roared loudly.

Hmm... this thing is aggressive! Looks like I found a new party member.

Jangmo-o stood in it's battle stance, ready to Pounce.

"Alright Jangmo-o, Dig!"

Jangmo-o prepared to burrow underground, before tunneling under quickly. Turtonator roared again, it's chest flaring. As Jangmo-o emerged, Turtonator struck it down with a firey blast. Jangmo-o was sent backwards.

"Are you alright buddy?"

Jangmo-o got up, back in it's battle stance. "Thata Boy!" Kai shouted. "Alright, How about a low kick?"

Jangmo-o shot up, rearing it's legs to knock Turtonator down. The gargantuan beast toppled over.

"Alright! Now hit it with a Dragon Tail!"

Jangmo-o's tail began to Glow as it leaned in to knock the Turtonator into next Tuesday. Just then, Turtonator's body glowed a bright white as it erupted in flames, sending Jangmo-o back. Turtonator got up, hurt, but still in fighting shape.

"This is it Jangmo-o, let's hit with another Dragon Tail!"

Jangmo-o Jumped up, swinging it's tail, before Turtonator knocked it back with a firey fist.

Jangmo-o was sent into the ground like a meteor, burning. It was hurt.

"Jangmo-o! Jangmo-o? Are you alright? Say something little buddy?"

Jangmo-o still, persisted. It emerged from the ground, angry. It let out a battle "cry" (Squeak, rather") And charged at Turtonator with a flaming hot dragon tail. Turtonator fell back, dizzy.

"That's it Jangmo-o! Way to go!" Kai shouted, reaching for his bag, pulling out an ultra ball. "Alright, let's catch this thing!"

Kai pulled his arm Back, before slinging the Ultra ball at Turtonator. The ball encapsulated the flaming turtle with a red beam of light, before sucking it inside.

One.

Two.

Three.

Click!

"Gotcha!" Kai shouted. He picked up the ball, putting it onto his belt. He turned to Jangmo-o, who looked like he was about to fall over.

"Jangmo-o! Oh no!" He ran over to his partner, kneeling down, as Jangmo-o fell into his arms. "Jangmo-o, come on buddy! Here, have a potion!"

Kai healed Jangmo-o back to full health, but noticed that it was still feeling a bit woozy.

"Jangmo-o, what's wrong?"

Jangmo-o didn't speak. It looked up at Kai, tilting it's head. Then, it nuzzled his bag, specifically at the spot where Kai kept rare candies.

"Huh? You want a treat?"

Jangmo-o shook it's head, before sitting down on the ground.

Then, Kai's eyes widened.

"Wait... it can't be! No... are you-"

Suddenly, Jangmo-o began to glow a bright white.

Kai was in his room, washing off this newly caught Jangmo-o. It was sick, injured maybe.

"Hey little buddy, are you alright?" Kai asked it.

Suddenly, the Jangmo-o's eyes began to flicker to life. It shook it's head, looking up at Kai. It's head, tilted. Then, it smiled, jumping out of his hands, and running around the floor.

"Oh!" Kai shouted. "You're quite the energetic fellow, aren't you?"

Jangmo-o ran up to kai's knee, nuzzling it, as Kai scratched it's neck.

"Yeah... I think we're gonna be best friends. Best friends, forever."

Kai watched his friend Glow bright white, his eyes, as wide as graprefruits, as he ooed and awed. He never thought he would get to see the day that his partner from Day One would ever evolve.

Jangmo-o grew, and became bipedal. His scales, more shiny and distributed across his body. Soon, the light faded, and out emerged Hakamo-o. It looked at itself, lifting it's arms and observing it's new body. Then, it looked at Kai, smiling and cheering in joy.

"Dude! You look sick!" Kai shouted. "You're all evolved now! Mary was right!"

Hakamo-o ran up to Kai, almost jumping into his arms, sending him back.

"Woaaaoaaaah!" Kai shouted, laughing with Hakamo-o. "Well, one thing is for sure." Kai began, adjusting his hat. "You're MUCH too big to be nuzzling me anymore! Haha!"

Hakamo-o stood up, helping Kai. "Thanks Jangm- Er, I mean, Hakamo-o... You're the best!"

Hakamo-o Smiled, and the two looked up at the sky. The sun was beginning to set, and Kai knew it was time to head back to the entrance of Hammerlocke hills.

"Alright Hakamo-o... let's head back. Race ya!"

The two ran off suddenly, laughing the entire way there.

When they arrived, Piers and Melony were waiting, evident that their training had been a success as well. They turned, shocked to see this new pokemon with Kai.

"Oh my! Is that Jangmo-o?" Melony asked.

Kai slowed down. "Sure is! Meet Hakamo-o! The new and improved!"

Hakamo-o Grinned, fistbumping, to mimic Kai.

Piers chuckled. "Looks like we all had an eventful evening. Take a look at Ziggy, I didn't even realize he could do this.

Out from behind Piers emerged Obstagoon, which was what Linoone had obviously evolved into. It shook it's head around wickedly.

Melony sighed. "Well... as luck had it... snom STILL didn't evolve."

Snom, in melony's arms, looked up in confusion, knowing it was mentioned.

"But... pretty much everyone else on my team did! I found an Ice Stone, and evolved Darumaka into Darmanitan... Mime Jr. evolved into Mr. Mime, and on top of that... I found some new cute Pokemon! An Eiscue, and Lapras!"

Kai looked at snom, who was looking dead at him. It smiled with it's two black dots for eyes.

"That's awesome Melony! I'm sure snom will evolve eventually... it's just a matter of when. I didn't know when Jangmo-o would evolve, if he ever would... so to see it finally happen was truly something!" Kai said.

Melony smiled. "For sure."

Piers yawned. "Right, let's go get some grub at Hammerlocke, hit a hotel, and get some sleep. Ballonlea is calling us!

Kai and Melony nodded, as Piers began walking ahead. He wasn't wasting time, as Obstagoon followed briskly.

"You know Melony, I should mention what Mary told me at Stow-on-Side. You're alot more conservative about this stuff as compared to... well, Piers."

Melony nodded. "Do tell! I can keep secrets."

Kai and Melony began to walk to Hammerlocke, as Kai pointed out the Black Band on Hakamo-o's arm. "Mary gave me that, telling me I deserved it. I don't know how... but... it helped Hakamo-o and I grow even closer than we were before. Maybe it would help Snom?"

Melony was inquisitive. "Oooo... that's interesting. Maybe, but I won't take that gift from you. After all you earned it!"

Kai chuckled. "Thanks I guess... but I don't know why you guys didn't get one. I mean, you two kick ass on the battlefield, and you're the descendants of Gym Leaders for goodness sakes!"

Melony smiled. "I appriciate that... but, I don't use that as a factor in my battle styles. My mom may be a gym leader, but I have my own battle strategy. One I inherited from my Father." She began. "He was the one that taught me everything that made me who I am today."

Kai scratched his chin. "Who... was your father? If you don't mind me asking..."

Melony's smile began to dim. "His name was Pryce. He moved to the Johto Region after He and my Mother split... and while I wanted to go with him, my mother insisted that I stay with her... which was not my first pick."

Melony turned away, frowning.

"Oh... Gee, I-I'm sorry." Kai frowned, scratching his neck. "I didn't mean to drive the screwdriver into you like that."

Melony shook her head, turning back to Kai. "No no, it's alright. I still keep in contact with my father all the time. He helps me make critical decisions that I'd rather not go to my mother about."

Kai smiled lightly, turning to face Hakamo-o.

"...And it's no problem. I trust you after all." Melony said, gripping her arm.

Kai nodded his head. "Likewise with you. Piers, and of course you as well... have made me realize how much of a blessing it is to be a trainer. It's a whole world I never thought I'd get to see. All because those around me said it was impossible."

Melony turned away. "Yeah. It's really something, isn't it?"

Kai chuckled. "You got that right."

They had made it to the Hotel room, and checked in.

"12 PM sharp tomorrow, no excuses!" Piers shouted as he entered his room.

"Since when did you become captain of ship?" Kai asked.

Melony giggled, as she also entered her room. "Goodnight Kai. Sleep well."

Kai waved before shutting his door. "You as well!"

Kai walked over to his bed, Jumping onto it and sprawling out whilst letting out a big sigh. "The question is... what am I going to do about Opal? A Fairy type could crush my dragon army... Hmm."

Kai thought about it, before eventually dozing off and falling asleep. Hakamo-o did the same on the floor.

I've got my groove back to write! Thank you all so much for the support! My hope is to have this story crunched out by the years end, and begin on the sequel. Yeah, a sequel will indeed be in the works!