After having Silvally join the team, our heroes are continuing with their journey towards Black Moon City. Waiting with anticipation, Ichigo and his friends are excited to see his final gym battle.
"Once we make it down this mountain, we'll be in Black Moon City." Rukia said.
"Perfect. I'll get that eighth badge and the Kalos League will be next." Ichigo said. The final gym battle was coming up and couldn't wait. As they walked by a river, they spotted a wild Umbreon near it.
"Check it out. An Umbreon." Chad said.
"It's a different color from Ichigo's. Is that what regular Umbreon look like?" Orihime asked.
"Yeah, but what's it doing out here?" Rukia asked. Umbreon sipped at the water, but it wasn't the only one there. They saw a Mightyena and a Houndoom show themselves.
"A Mightyena and a Houndoom?" Ichigo said. "What's going on?"
"Who are all of you?" They all looked and were met with a middle-aged man with flowing black hair with brown streaks. He wore a black cloak over his clothes and wore brown-tinted sunglasses. Who is this man?
Pokemon
No time to question my moves
I stick to the path that I choose
Me and my friends are gonna do it right
You'll never see us runaway from a fight
To be a master is my dream
All I have to do is believe
(I believe)
I'm on a master quest
(Master quest)
I'm on my way to victory
I can be a champion if I just believe
I'm on a master quest
(Master quest)
I want the whole world to see
(I believe)
I'm gonna be the very best
Cause all I have to do is believe in me
Pokemon!
(Ichigo's voice) The Moon Shines Brighter
"Who are all of you?" The man asked.
"Sorry. Are we disturbing you or something?" Rukia asked.
"Outsiders aren't really allowed here." The man said. "This part of land is considered sacred ground to Black Moon City. You're trespassing."
"Trespassing?!" Orihime said as none of them liked the sound of that.
"We're sorry. We had no idea. We were actually looking for Black Moon City." Rukia said.
"Very well." The man said. "If you simply follow the river downstream, you'll be at Black Moon City. We're getting ready four our annual Moon Festival."
"Moon Festival?" Ichigo said. The man didn't elaborate on this. He and his pokemon just kept walking in the opposite direction as he told them. None of them knew what that was about, but decided to just keep going. "I wonder who that man was."
"Mr. Zangetsu, wait!" They all looked and saw a shorter old man with curly hair on the sides of his head with it bald on top and wore small glasses. He was hurrying as fast as he could as he carried something on his back. "Excuse me. Was that Mr. Zangetsu you were talking to?"
"Uh... Maybe... You mean the old man with the Umbreon, Mightyena, and Houndoom?" Ichigo asked.
"That's him." The old man said. "My name is Winston. I happen to be the assistant of Mr. Zangetsu, the Black Moon City gym leader."
"That man was the gym leader?!" Ichigo said as they were all shocked to hear that was the gym leader he was talking too. "What's going on?"
"We're in the middle of something for Black Moon City's Moon Festival." Winston said. "I should get going and catch up to him. Bye." Winston ran past them and tried to catch Zangetsu.
"That was the Black Moon City gym leader..." Ichigo said.
"Ichigo, I know what you're thinking." Rukia said. "Don't do it. The answer is no. No. No. No!" She was trying to talk him out of what he was thinking of doing, but she wasn't doing much of a good job at that.
...
Zangetsu
Zangetsu and his three pokemon continued to move up the river. Winston was doing his best to keep up with him.
"Winston, you should go back. A man of your status shouldn't be making a hike like this." Zangetsu said.
"I might be old, but you'll be old man yourself soon enough." Winston said.
"I didn't say anything about your age." Zangetsu said. That was a bit insulting since he was saying Winston was a physically weak man. They all kept going, but Houndoom heard something and looked back. Umbreon and Mightyena caught on as well. "Do it. Houndoom, Flamethrower. Mightyena, Hyper Beam." Both of his pokemon went on the attack as they both used the attacks in the bushes. The attacks caused Ichigo and his friends to come out of hiding.
"Busted." Ichigo said.
"What are all of you doing here?" Zangetsu questioned. "I told you that this place is off limits to outsiders."
"I told you this was a bad idea, Ichigo." Rukia said.
"Sorry, but I wanted to come talk to you and I just couldn't wait around." Ichigo said.
"Absol..."
"Whatever it is you wish to talk to me about will have to wait." Zangetsu said. "I'm in the middle of something at the moment."
"The middle of what?" Orihime asked.
"That isn't really something of your concern." Zangetsu said.
"Come now, Zangetsu. They seem like nice people." Winston said. "What's so bad about telling them what is going on? They also clearly don't know what is going on. There's no harm in telling them."
"Well, I suppose you're right." Zangetsu said. "Very well. As long as you don't cause any trouble, you may witness what will happen tonight."
"We won't. We promise." Orihime said as they all agreed.
"I happen to be on my way to Moon Pond." Zangetsu said.
"Moon Pond?" Ichigo questioned.
"It's a spring on the mountain that's just up the river." Winston said. "You see, Black Moon City is at the base of the mountain. It's named Black Moon because moonlight is often blocked by the mountain. However, once a year, we hold our annual Moon Festival. It's where we pay respects to the moon deities, a chance for our dark city to step into the light. Zangetsu has been tasked to have moonlight flow into our city."
"How do you get moonlight to flow into the city?" Ichigo questioned.
"If you come with us, you'll see. You have to see it to truly understand what's going on." Winston said.
"We should get going. We need to get there by nightfall." Zangetsu said as he and his pokemon got moving. Ichigo and the others were most curious as to what is about to happen now. All of them kept heading up the river to see what Zangetsu is going to do exactly.
...
Later
Ichigo and his friends continued to follow Zangetsu and Winston for they wanted to see what it was Zangetsu was going to do. This Moon Festival does sound rather interesting, but it sounds like whatever is going to happen at the river is going to be great. Ichigo and Absol moved up to walk beside Zangetsu.
"Listen, I'm sorry we came here and bothered you when you told us not to." Ichigo said. "It's just that there's something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Whatever it is, I do not wish to hear about it now." Zangetsu said. "My top priority is what I'm doing now. This festival is sacred to Black Moon City and it's my responsibility to make sure it's seen through. Whatever it is you have to say must wait."
"Okay." Ichigo said with annoyance. It's not like he had much of a choice but to wait in the first place. As they were walking, he looked down at Absol and noticed his mega stone.
"That's a mega stone. Your Absol can mega evolve?" Zangetsu questioned.
"Yeah. Absol and I've been through a lot together that our mega evolution is quite powerful." Ichigo said.
"That's actually good to hear." Zangetsu said. "Mega evolution is indeed a special power that unleashed the full potential of the bond between trainer and pokemon. Houndoom and I fully understand that."
"Your Houndoom?" Ichigo questioned. He took a look and didn't notice until now. Houndoom was wearing a spikey black collar with a mega stone on it. "You mean your Houndoom is capable of mega evolving as well?
"Indeed." Zangetsu said. "A pokemon that is able to mega evolve shows that it had power in it that has yet to be reached. I believe that every pokemon has that potential, but it has to be uncovered. As trainers, it is our responsibility to bring out that power." Hearing he has a pokemon that can mega evolve, and his insight on mega evolution and pokemon, makes Ichigo want to battle this guy even more.
"I hear what you're saying." Ichigo said. "When Absol and I battle, I feel like Absol can always put out a lot more. I want to battle as hard as I can with my pokemon, get stronger and stronger, and see just how strong we all can become."
"Is that so? If so, why do you wish to become stronger?" Zangetsu asked.
"Well, it's for my family, especially my mother." Ichigo said.
"Your mother?" Zangetsu questioned.
"She died before I had the chance to go out on a journey, and I stayed for a while to watch over my sisters and my father." Ichigo said. "After some time passed, I was finally able to go on a real journey. I want to become the type of trainer they believed I could be."
"So you battle for more than just yourself." Zangetsu said as he was quite pleased with Ichigo's reasons. All of them kept walking, but came to a stop when they saw a large tree was blocking the way.
"Oh dear. This is a problem." Winston said.
"We can just go around, can't we?" Orihime said.
"Perhaps, but we'll save time this way." Zangetsu said as he and his pokemon stepped forward. "Umbreon, Double Edge."
"Umbreon!" Umbreon glowed yellow and smashed itself against the tree. The tree broke in two and the two pieces were launched in the air. Ichigo and his friends were all shocked at that alone.
"Now." Zangetsu said. Mightyena and Houndoom jumped in the air and used their bodies to push the two pieces out of the way. The fact that his pokemon could pull something like that off was a little hard to believe.
"Those pokemon of his are incredibly powerful!" Rukia said.
"No joke. He made something like that look easy." Chad said. Imagining how much strength and power it takes to do what those three just did is something to behold. Ichigo can see he has a real battle ahead of him.
...
Moon Pond
By the time they got to the spring, it was nightfall. The moon reflected in the water with three rocks sticking out of the water. Zangetsu's pokemon each jumped on a rock and got ready.
"It's time." Zangetsu said. He held out his hand for something. Winston finally dropped what he was carrying. He showed it was a box and opened it up to show there was a moon stone inside.
"That's a moon stone. It's used to have some pokemon evolve." Rukia said.
"Normally, but we have another use for it." Winston said. He handed the stone to Zangetsu and got ready for what they came for.
"We ask the forces of the moon to share your light." Zangetsu said as he prayed to those above. "Guide the spirits through the dark. Enlighten those who are lost in the dark. May light always last when there is dark for the light represent the joy and hope for others." He tossed the stone up to the sky. It twirled around in front of the moon with the moonlight reflecting off of it.
"Houn!"
"Migh!"
"Breon!" All three of Zangetsu's pokemon howled right at the stone. Suddenly, something amazing happen. The moonlight shined off of the stone and went in the river. That caused the water to shine and it began tracing the water. It looked amazing. Moonlight was actually flowing down the river and was heading for Black Moon City.
"Incredible!" Rukia said.
"Beautiful..." Orihime said. The light flowed down the river until it reached the city. The people in the city saw it happen. It reached a crescent shape bay and it caused the whole city to shine. When that happened, people let go of lanterns and caused them to fly in the sky. When the lanterns were high enough, Ichigo and the others could see them.
"What's with the lanterns?" Ichigo asked.
"They carry the hopes and wishes of all in the city." Winston said. "They're being sent to a moon goddess to drink an elixir in hopes that they all come true. The light that shined down the river helps guide those lanterns." It all sounded and looked beautiful. They're all glad they get to witness something like this.
"It is done." Zangetsu said as Houndoom recovered the moon stone. "Now that it is, what is it you wished to speak with me about, Ichigo."
"I heard that you were the gym leader of Black Moon City." Ichigo said. "The reason we came here was so I could challenge you to a battle."
"I see... How many badges do you currently have?" Zangetsu asked.
"Seven." Ichigo said.
"So, I'm your last challenge before the Kalos League." Zangetsu said. "If that's the case, I will be expecting this to be a great battle. I won't be holding anything back. Very well, Ichigo. I accept your challenge." That was good to hear. Ichigo's final gym battle is soon at hand.
After being part of an amazing experience, Ichigo still managed to get his gym battle. Tomorrow, his gym battle will take place. Will he have what it takes to win his eighth badge? Stay tune to find out.
To Be Continued...
Pokemon Question: Here's the answer to last question, trainers. The answer to the last question is...Lopunny. Lopunny's fur stores tons of insolation for warmth in cold weathers. Here's the next question. What pokemon absorbs sunlight and turns it into powerful and destructive beams that is NOT Solar Beam?
