Upon arriving in Jacklot City, our heroes have reunited with Rena. Until Orihime's competition, they are waiting for the day and training for it.
Ichigo and Absol stretched out as they stepped outside and took in the morning.
"That was a good sleep." Ichigo said with the others following him outside.
"It's rather nice of Rena and her family let us stay here until the competition." Rukia said.
"Don't forget that we've all decided to battle in the tournament as well." Chad said.
"Yeah. That's why we need to spend the time working for both events." Ichigo said.
"You're right, Ichigo." Orihime said as she took out a pokeball. "I think I'm going to use Swanna for this one. Swanna has learned Brave Bird, but it still needs work." Time is ticking and they all have some work to do.
You're just a kid on a quest
To be the best of the best
Someday your destined for power and glory
You know you're up to the test
There's only one way to tell this story
Be a hero
Be a hero
All the power is at your command
Face your fears and show you're a hero
The future of the world is in your hands
Pokémon
(Orihime's voice) Knight and Day
"Swanna, Brave Bird!" Orihime said as she was doing some training with Ichigo's Scraggy. Swanna came down at Scraggy and tried using Brave Bird. Swanna flew down at Scraggy, but the attack failed.
"Scraggy, Zen Headbutt!" Ichigo said. Scraggy's head glowed blue and smashed its head against Swanna.
"Swanna, are you okay?!" Orihime asked.
"Swanna..." Swanna might have taken some damage, but Swanna was able to shake it off.
"The power is there, but the control isn't." Rukia said. "An imperfect Brave Bird could be dangerous since it can cause recoil damage." Orihime and Swanna are trying to learn to use Brave Bird, but it's difficult. While they were training, Orihime spotted Rena walking by.
"Rena? Where are you going?" Orihime asked.
"I'm heading to my old school." Rena said. "You guys said you wanted to check it out. I'm going to see if I can get permission to give you guys a tour. By the way, keep your eyes open."
"For what?" Orihime asked.
"Rumor has it that Jin Kariya, one of the Elite Four, is here." Rena said.
"Elite Four?!" All of them said as they were shocked to hear about that. When Rena told them about that, she left and had them all thinking.
"One of the Elite Four could be here?" Ichigo said.
"Hang on." Rukia said as she pulled out a magazine. "I think I saw an article of him around here." She kept flipping through the pages until she found what she was looking for. They all saw a photo of a white haired man. He wore a brown trench coat with a red dress shirt and black pants with a scar just under his mouth. "Here it is. It says that he's a flying-type specialist."
"Is he? Maybe we should go find him." Ichigo suggested.
"Ichigo, he's probably here on vacation. The last thing he would want is for people to be bothering him." Rukia said.
"What I mean is that maybe we could ask him for help." Ichigo said. "Orihime, since he's a flying-type specialist, maybe he can help you and Swanna perfect Brave Bird."
"Huh... That's actually not a bad idea." Rukia said.
"You really think we should try?" Orihime asked. "Swanna, do you want to see if he'll do it?"
"Swanna!" Swanna seemed to love the idea.
"But how do we even find him?" Rukia asked.
"That's him over there." Chad said and he was so blunt about it. All of them looked down by the lake and saw Kariya standing on a deck. He was really right there.
"Perfect. Let's go." Ichigo said as he brought Scraggy back in its pokeball. He and the others hurried over there to speak with him. Kariya stood on the deck and stared out at the open water. It was like his mind was miles away. "Kariya!" Ichigo called to get his attention, but he didn't even seem to notice him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Kariya." Orihime said. "We don't mean to bother you. I was hoping you could help me and Swanna with something." They were trying to get his attention, but he didn't even seem to notice them.
"Is he ignoring us?" Rukia asked.
"Excuse me." Orihime said.
"Hey! We're talking to you!" Ichigo called.
"Swanna!" Swanna's call seem to have gotten Kariya's attention as he turned to them. Kariya walked right over to Swanna and dropped down to look in it's eyes.
"Aren't you an elegant creature." Kariya said as he petted Swanna's head. It was rather weird how Kariya heard Swanna and not the rest of them.
"Absol." Absol managed to get Kariya's attention as well. Kariya petted his head as well.
"I can tell you're a powerful creature as well." Kariya said.
"Well, at least he's not ignoring the pokemon." Rukia said.
"This guy is a weirdo. I'm starting to think he can't really teach anything." Ichigo said. It doesn't seem like this member of the Elite Four isn't really going to teach them anything.
"Hey!" All of them looked down the deck and saw another trainer. "Any of you a pokemon trainer?! I'm looking for some battling!"
"This could be a better opportunity." Ichigo said. "Orihime, you should take the challenge. Maybe if Swanna gains some experience, gets stronger, Brave Bird might be easier to handle."
"I don't know about that." Orihime said.
"Might as well give it a try." Chad said.
"Okay." Orihime said as she went down to take the challenge. "Swanna, do you want to battle?"
"Swanna!" Swanna flew in the air and was ready to battle.
"Here's my pokemon. Go, Crustle!" The trainer called.
"Crustle!" The battle was about to start with Kariya taking a look himself.
"Swanna, Bubble Beam!" Orihime said. Swanna fired a barrage of bubbles. Crustle ducked inside its shell and was blocking the attack.
"Direct hit! Crustle is a rock-type. That should have done a lot of damage." Ichigo said.
"Maybe, but Crustle's ability is Sturdy." Rukia said. "That means it can take the attacks."
"Swanna, Air Slash!" Orihime said.
"Now use Protect!" Swanna launched blades of wind, but Crustle had a barrier form around itself and was able to block the attack. "Now use Rock Slide!" Crustle caused rocks to fall from the sky. Swanna tried to avoid them, but Swanna ended up getting hit and got caught in it.
"Swanna, are you okay?!" Orihime asked as she was afraid Swanna was hurt. Swanna was able to get back up, but took a lot of damage from that attack. "I guess we should give it a try. Swanna, try Brave Bird!" Swanna tried using the attack. It flew at Crustle with the energy burning, but the power quickly disappeared again.
"Fury Cutter!" Crustle slashed against Swanna and Swanna was knocked back. "What was that? Using an attack you haven't even mastered?" Orihime felt so bad for Swanna. Nothing she tries is getting the attack to work.
"You're close." Kariya said as he walked behind Swanna and helped her up. "Swanna, rather than focusing on the energy, just let it all out around your body and release it."
"Hold on! That's Kariya of the Elite Four! I'm not battling someone who is being coached by one of the Elite Four!" He returned his Crustle and just ran out of there.
"Coward." Ichigo said.
"You know what Swanna is doing wrong with Brave Bird?" Orihime said.
"We came to talk to you because we were hoping that you could help Swanna perfect the attack." Rukia said. "You are a flying-type specialist, right?"
"Indeed, I am." Kariya said. "Let's talk over some drinks." Kariya escorted all of them back to the deck and treated them to some refreshments. "Swanna is close to perfecting the attack. The problem is that Swanna is focusing too hard on the power."
"Focusing too hard?" Orihime asked.
"I don't understand." Rukia said.
"Some attacks require control, but others require to be free." Kariya said. "Brave Bird is a powerful and difficult attack to master. It's where the pokemon releases much energy and flies right into the opponent while also taking damage."
"I still don't understand what Swanna is doing wrong." Orihime said.
"Swanna is putting too much focus on the attack, trying to compress the energy so it doesn't run wild and out of control." Kariya said. "Rather, it's the opposite that Swanna needs to do. Swanna needs to let the energy roam free and envelop it around it's body."
"But wouldn't that be dangerous since Brave Bird can cause damage to Swanna?" Orihime said.
"Perhaps, but you need to trust that your Swanna can take it. You have to trust that your Swanna is tough enough." Kariya said.
"I have to trust Swanna?" Orihime said. She thought she's been doing that.
"I'm sure Orihime trusts Swanna, but I'm also sure that Orihime doesn't want Swanna to get hurt." Rukia said. "Orihime has always been a kindhearted woman who never could stand seeing others get hurt."
"That might be understandable, but a trainer needs to put trust and faith in their pokemon." Kariya said. "If there is doubt or worry, it greatly effects the pokemon. Pokemon are able to sense what we humans are feeling. Orihime, if you're too concerned about Swanna getting hurt, it might hinder Swanna's full potential. You need to be able to let Swanna fly, especially since it's a flying-type."
"Let Swanna fly..." Orihime said as she had to rethink how she is with Swanna.
"How about I show you with a real battle?" Kariya said with all of them surprised.
"Me?! Battling against a member of the Elite Four?!" Orihime said as she never thought something like that would happen. Orihime wasn't sure, but she went through with it if it will really help Swanna. The two of them faced each other and got themselves ready.
"Here's the pokemon I'll be using. Ride the wind, Corviknight!" Kariya said.
"Corviknight!"
"Corviknight?" Ichigo said as he's never seen that pokemon.
"It's a flying-type, but it's a steel-type like Skarmory." Rukia said.
"My Corviknight can use Brave Bird as well. Maybe it can help you." Kariya said. "Shall we get started, Orihime?"
"Okay..." Orihime said, but she still wasn't sure about this. "Swanna, I want you to use Aqua Ring." Swanna followed the orders as rings of water appeared around Swanna.
"Starting with an attack that constantly restores energy. Smart start, but it won't be enough. Steel Wing!" Kariya said. Corviknight flew right at Swanna with the attack. It smashed right against Swanna and dealt some damage with that powerful attack.
"Bubble Beam!" Orihime said. Swanna tried blasting Corviknight, but Corviknight flew around and avoided all the attacks.
"Now use Sky Attack!" Kariya said. Corviknight was surrounded by a gold energy and flew right at Swanna. Corviknight smashed into Swanna and did some damage. Orihime was getting concerned that Swanna was getting hurt. "I think now would be a good time to try Brave Bird."
"Here goes." Orihime said. "Swanna, Brave Bird!" Swanna tried using the attack as the energy flowed, but it dispersed again. At least this time, Swanna pulled away before Corviknight got hurt.
"Don't let fear hold you back, Orihime." Kariya said. "Don't you trust, Swanna? Don't you believe in it?" Orihime does, but at the same time Orihime doesn't want to see Swanna get hurt. That's when she realized it. Swanna must be concerned for Orihime's feelings and is holding itself back for her sake. If Orihime wants Swanna to truly fly, she has to face her fears.
"Swanna..." Orihime said and got Swanna's attention. "Swanna, I know you must care about how I feel. After all, before you came with me, you belonged to a kind princess. You're graceful, elegant, and beautiful. I don't want to see that ruined. I don't want to see you or any of my friends hurt, but don't think that means I don't believe in you. I want you to truly spread your wings and fly! Fly as high as the sky, fly straight to the rising sun!"
"Swanna!" Swanna let itself go and flew straight in the air like Orihime said and flew right in front of the shining sun.
"Swanna, Brave Bird once more!" Orihime said. Swanna let the energy go and dived down. The attack seemed to be working as Swanna was surrounded in a great deal of energy.
"That's better. Corviknight, give them your Brave Bird!" Kariya said. Corviknight flew straight at Swanna with the same attack. The two of them collided and caused a large explosion. Orihime did see Swanna fall out the smoke.
"Swanna!" Orihime called as she ran as fast as she could and was able to catch Swanna.
"Is Swanna okay?" Ichigo asked as they all gathered around.
"I think so." Orihime said.
"Well done, Orihime." Kariya said as he brought Corviknight back to its pokeball. "You let go of your fears and you really let Swanna shine its beautiful feathers. Don't forget that."
"I won't. I let my own fears hinder Swanna's true potential." Orihime said. "Swanna was holding back for my sake. I won't allow a mistake like that happen again."
"Good. I better take my leave then." Kariya said as he turned around and left them with Orihime not forgetting what she learned here.
"Hey, Kariya! I'm going to win the Kalos League! When I do, we'll battle!" Ichigo said.
"If that happens, I'll take you on in the Champion League. I'll be waiting for when that happens." Kariya said. Suddenly, a gust of wind came out of nowhere and Kariya just disappeared.
"How'd he do that?!" Ichigo said as he left quite the impression on all of them with that exit.
After meeting one of the Elite Four, Orihime has learned more about how to bring out a pokemon's full potential. I'm sure they'll shine like the sun soon enough. The competition is getting closer, and the fun and excitement in Jacklot City isn't over yet. Stay tune to see more.
To Be Continued...
Pokemon Question: Okay, all you trainers. The answer to the last question was...Krabby! Krabby cloaks itself in bubbles when it senses danger. Here's the next question. What pokemon holds a dangerous power that it actually needs a seal to keep it under control?
