Wow, this was released on time. Maybe the view counter will fix itself. Anyways, thank you for reading so far!
Daniel sat in the middle of the road with his legs crossed and eyes closed. A few hours earlier a "ronin" Hoppip defeated Lazuli, tossing her into the grass behind where Daniel now meditated. Daniel recalled Motobu's words.
"To sense Aura, one must realize that all life is connected. Energy flows through all things, and Aura is one we can interact with. The aura we can see and sense is a reflection of that individual's connection with the world."
"How does that let us sense emotions?" Daniel asked.
"Emotions are what connect people and Pokemon. Without emotion, we could not grow close bonds. Normal folks use their eyes to watch another person's face and hear their tone of voice to understand and connect with them. We extend our aura to connect to theirs, and understand their pain, joy, and intent as if it were our own."
"Wait, how does aura sense allow me to find berries? They don't have emotions."
"All life is connected. Weren't you listening lad?" Motobu stuck a finger in his ear. "Ye unconsciously spread yer aura around yer self, and came into contact with what ye were looking for."
That's what Daniel was trying to do now. Spread his Aura like the branches of a tree to cover the entire island. Motobu had said it was possible. In fact, that's how he knew Daniel reached the fountain during each morning run. He said he could even sense his granddaughter all the way on One Island.
"It's easier to sense someone or something ye have a strong bond with"
Daniel had shared something with the ronin, a battle, a clash of wills. Hopefully, that would be enough.
He felt the world as he extended his aura farther and farther. Distant auras, once dim or invisible, grew alight to Daniel's sight. He was the wind that carried countless Hoppips. He was the grass that basked beneath the sun, the insects in the dirt, the trees, the fish, all life that entered his aura's domain became a part of him.
It threatened to overwhelm all his senses. It was like a swarm of bees. Their wings wanted to deafen him, their legs demanded his skin's attention, and their motion tried to blind him.
But there was a single spot that stood out. It was like every other inch of the canvas was smeared, flecked, and dripping with color, leaving one small section that remained devoid of any pigment because a piece of the canvas had been removed. It was unnerving.
That's it.
Daniel narrowed his focus and locked on to that space. He couldn't lock on to the Hoppip's aura, it didn't have one. It was resting on a tree about a mile upwind.
The ronin sat alone on the peak of a pine. There he surveyed Berry Forest in the distance. He knew he would find powerful opponents there, he simply wasn't worthy. It wouldn't be a test for himself if he lost instantly. If he wanted to become stronger he would need to find opponents near his level. He thought attacking a human would send more of them after him, whereupon he could choose a proper opponent. But the humans didn't seem to care about what he did. They were the same as the rest of his kind, careless of individual plights.
The other Hoppips hated him, they had made that very clear. He still couldn't defy the winds enough to leave them. He was too weak now, but soon, the winds would obey him.
Defeating a dragon should have made me stronger. The ronin thought.
But all it had done was show him that dragons fell to the power of whimsy. He wished he could fight that dragon again, so he could prove that it was his strength, not the nature of his attacks, that gave victory to him.
I won't get stronger if I only rely on typeness.
As the wind blew past him, the ronin noticed something was off.
The others, they've gone silent.
While his fellow Hoppip avoided him, they never stayed silent. They made fun of him by giggling together in clumps, pointedly excluding him. But they only went silent if-
An attack!
A purple ball of flame brimming with power struck just beneath the ronin. The following explosion blew him away.
No! I am stronger than the wind. The ronin halted in the air and surveyed the land below him.
Where had that attack come from? It was like the one from that dragon earlier today. But he had defeated her, there was no way she was healed already.
Another ball of fire whizzed past the ronin. It came from under the canopy. The ronin darted in that direction.
This time, my strength will prevail.
The ronin burst from the leaves to find a human with his hands extended towards the sky, towards where the ronin had been resting.
That human can manipulate the source!
Humans weren't supposed to do that, but Hoppips weren't supposed to frown. The ronin fired a stream of Bullet Seeds at the human.
The human dodged, running behind a tree. The Hoppip darted forward to get another angle on the human.
A Dratini dropped from a branch of the tree the human was hiding behind. She crashed into the ronin, wrapping him with her body. The two hit the ground with a thud, the Dratini never loosening the constriction.
The ronin's mouth gaped, which let precious air escape from his lungs. He writhed to break free as the Dratini squeezed harder.
"Don't let up, Lazuli!"
The ronin struggled to breathe, struggled to think. He had to escape, had to run. A tiny Pokemon like him would-
No! I will defy the winds!
A plume of purple powder puffed from the ronin's mouth right at the Dratini's face. She didn't flinch, the constricting continued.
The ronin absorbed green energy from Lazuli. But the dragon resisted the grass-type attack. Despair crept up within the ronin.
No, I can't lose here. I will not run and hide.
Everyone wanted to pretend that he wasn't there, that things would be better if he wasn't around. He thought that becoming strong would show them that he had worth.
The ronin felt Lazuli's grip slacken. The Poison Powder was taking effect. The ronin spun his propeller leaves as hard as he could, escaping the dragon's clutches.
He prepared a Fairy Wind. To hell with that vow, it would be weak not to use it.
As he prepared to lose the attack, but an arc of electricity struck him. His body seized up, his propeller stopped spinning, and he floated on the wind.
The human threw a red Pokeball at him, hitting with a click. The ronin struggled against the energy that now encapsulated him.
I'm supposed to defy the wind! I'm supposed to get strong!
But he knew this day would come. He knew that someone stronger would best him. He was just a little Hoppip. Even fully evolved Jumpluff would struggle against a dragon. That was the way of the world.
But that human defies the world.
The Dragon Rage attack had come from the dragon, but she couldn't have found him. It would be impossible by sight, sound, or smell with all the other Hoppips around. So how did they find him?
I knew something was strange about that human. Maybe he can access the source. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to stick with him, at least until I'm strong enough to leave.
The Pokeball shook a third time, then clicked. The Ronin Hoppip was captured successfully.
"Haha, yes!" Daniel pumped his fist in the air.
Lazuli held her head high in triumph. Then she stumbled as she slithered towards Daniel.
"Take a break, Lazuli." Daniel returned her to her Pokeball. "We'll get that poison out of your system soon."
Daniel had done it, he caught his first Pokemon in a battle! A Hoppip wasn't the strongest Pokemon, but he knew that this one was tricky and determined. He managed a glimpse of its emotions during the fight. It wanted to better itself, to become strong.
"We'll make it out there. I'll make you and Lazuli the best we can be!"
…
Ronin peered into the dojo where Motobu was training Daniel. That was what his trainer called him. Ronin. It meant something like "lone warrior". Fitting, except now he wasn't alone. He floated about 10 feet above the ground as Lazuli nipped at him. She tried her best to catch Ronin, much to his annoyance. She was young, a child. But she didn't feel like a child when she was squeezing the life out of him.
"When will you give up?" Ronin asked.
"When I catch you!" Lazuli sprang high, but Ronin rose a foot higher
"You haven't caught me despite trying all day."
"Nuh-uh. I got you two days ago."
"That doesn't count. That was an ambush"
"No. I was in a tree, not a bush."
Ronin groaned. At least she was earnest. She was also a bored child, one that he was told to bond with.
"You're never going to catch me from down there."
"Then should I spit fire at you? Hit you with electricity?"
"No. No. No." Ronin shook his head rapidly. "You can't always rely on ranged attacks. You have the option of physical attacks. Go practice jumping off trees or something."
"Hmm," Lazuli wandered away to jump off a building. She slithered in the air gracefully and hit the ground nearly silent.
Hopefully, that will keep her occupied.
Ronin continued watching the humans train. He saw the telltale signs of the source as they worked, flares of energy that were pulled by their will into this dimension.
But what type is it?
Only the older human kept battle pace for more than a minute. In fact, the old one was constantly using source energy. As far as Ronin could tell, these were the only humans capable of doing this.
What makes them different? What grants them such power?
His curiosity was the reason he didn't flee when out of his Pokeball. That and the free food. Maybe he could find a way to become strong by watching their training.
Daniel was thrown to the ground, his legs swept from underneath him. Motobu held him by his lapels, raising his knee slowly to indicate a strike to the head.
"Ye need to sprawl when I get close lad," Motobu helped Daniel to his feet.
Daniel nodded, then reset the distance between them. It was midday sparring. The three would have lunch afterward. Sakura had remained distant from Daniel. She believed that his presence was driving a wedge between Motobu and Azalea. Daniel didn't think that was the case. Motobu constantly compared Daniel to Azalea during training. The comments were occasionally misogynistic, but Daniel figured it was just the way the elderly were like here.
"I'd say ye fight like a girl, but I know Azalea would kick yer ass! Good luck making her yer bride!" Daniel remembered that one because of the latter comment. It was the first time Motobu suggested a relationship between the two, and it was completely unprompted.
Daniel would always nod and smile because he had an irrational fear of being thrown out if he didn't. Motobu stated plainly that he wanted to train as many aura users as he could. People like them were rare, the abilities were hereditary, supposedly directly from Shiro-Obi and his closest students.
Wouldn't that imply that all Aura users are related by blood?
Daniel fell to the mat again, Motobu had perfectly countered his ouchi-gari.
"I think that's enough, Lad."
"Ok," Daniel groaned as he sat up.
"Chin up, Daniel. Sakura is fixing us some katsudon!"
The two headed towards the house. Daniel caught Ronin floating high in the air before Lazuli lept from the house right at him. Ronin managed to dodge Lazuli, he was clearly surprised. It was the first time Daniel had seen something other than a frown on his face.
Daniel and Motobu took off their training gis' and folded them neatly before putting them near the kitchen door. Then the two took turns dropping large ladles of cold water on their heads and bodies. Training wasn't allowed in the house, a rule established more than 25 years ago Daniel was told. That meant that the clothes and sweat had to be left outside. The two toweled off and then put on their hippari.
This lunch, like most he had enjoyed with the Kumites, was delicious and quiet. Daniel wasn't quite part of the family, a problem Motobu had indicated a solution for. When he brought the comments up with Sakura, she had said Motobu was just joking, and that she would never allow such a thing.
"Have ye noticed, that Azalea hasn't called us?" Sakura didn't look up from her meal.
"She's just in her rebellious phase. It will pass."
"I think ye misjudge our granddaughter. She's old enough to be rid of us ye know. She even has a league sponsorship lined up. Or did ye not care to know."
Daniel shrank in his seat. He didn't enjoy family drama, even if it wasn't his own.
"She'll come around. She's a smart girl. Besides, we're her family."
"Motobu. Ye let her leave without a word. Ye made me run after her while ye played around with this one," Sakura looked sharply at Daniel.
Motobu sighed. He didn't want to engage at this time.
"Oh no, ye won't brush us off that easily. Do ye really want this to end like it did with Itosu?
Motobu stiffened but remained silent.
"Ye talk about family, but where are they now?" Sakura's voice shook. "When will you-"
"Fine," Motobu stood up. "I'll go call her."
Daniel remained as Motobu stormed off. "Um, Missus Sakura?" He asked sheepishly.
She eyed him calmly. "Yes?"
"Who's Itosu?"
"Our son. Why don't ye ask Motobu about him? Ye might have trouble getting anything out of him. He has problems admitting his failures as ye no doubt can see."
"Sakura, am I... unwelcome here?" Daniel braced himself. If he were kicked out right now he would manage. He had less than two weeks until his trainer card came in. Maybe he could earn a sponsorship if he made a name for himself on the Sinnoh circuit.
"Lad, I have no problem with yer presence here. You've been through a lot if what the ladies say is true. I've tried not to pry."
"So you don't think I'm the reason Motobu is ignoring his granddaughter?"
"Oh, I know that's the case. I've been pestering him since she left. It would be easier if ye weren't here, but I won't kick you out of the dojo."
Wow. Sakura was much kinder than Daniel had given her credit for. He certainly wouldn't have let a stranger with no background into his home. Especially if he was tearing rifts in the family.
"Thank you. It means a lot to me. I really appreciate you cooking for me too. It's always delicious."
"Aye, that's no bother, lad. Ye remind me of Itosu when he was young." Sakura looked away, distant.
"What do the 'ladies' say about me? They've heard about my time on the island?" Daniel changed the subject.
"Aye, and it wasn't my lips that loosed it. They think ye spent a year alone on an island as a trial to prove ye were worthy of learning under Motobu. Said that ye left after killing a dragon and hatching its egg as yer own. Then ye kicked a Hypno in the woods just for good measure. I figure that isn't the case."
"Yeah. Those Wild rumors are only kinda sorta true. I wish I had something funny to say, but those times weren't all that funny." Daniel's expression darkened.
"I'm sorry lad. I know ye don't like talking about it. Eat up, there's still plenty."
Daniel's appetite dwindled as he thought about the Salamence. And about Wilson.
"Am I really just here out of pity?"
"No lad. Don't think that way. I might not be as skilled as Motobu, but I too care about the continuation of Ora-Ryu. My father was the 21st Master."
"Wait, Motobu married in?"
"Aye, he was desperate for me too," Sakura smiled fondly. "My father would only let his son or someone stronger than him be the next head of Ora-Ryu, and I never got any brothers. Motobu was a scrawny fisherman's son, so he had but one recourse."
"He married you just to learn karate? Seems shallow."
"Not at all lad. I'm just skipping the private details." Sakura's smile widened.
"So you know Ora-Ryu too?"
"Not all of it. I can only use Aura Sense to a small degree. I can't ignite my aura or use Aura Sight. I never had a reason to do so."
Daniel knew what she spoke of. In order to unlock the power within, you had to be pushed to your limit. You need to be stretched thin, to a point where the slightest tap will break you or send you flying. Then you need to stay together when you're chewed up and spit out.
"When did Motobu first ignite his aura?"
"On a deserted island where he was training. That's why those rumors spread about you. He used to brag all the time about taking down a Gyarados."
"I see. Do you know when Azalea first ignited her aura?"
Sakura drew her lips to a line. "We don't talk about that."
Daniel let the topic drop. The two ate silently as they overheard Motobu on the phone. He wasn't talking to Azalea yet. The phone looked like a landline straight from the 90s. It had a curly cord and a distinctly shaped receiver.
Motobu returned to the table.
"How did it go?" Sakura said.
"I didn't get to talk to her. She wasn't at the dorm."
"It's a Saturday. She's probably out with her friends. Call her tonight."
"Aye."
"Azalea doesn't have a cellphone?" Daniel said.
"No. There aren't any cell phone shops on Three Island. None of us have needed one." Motobu said.
"Huh. That must make it hard for her to fit in."
"Now we told the lass that she could buy one if she saved her money, but she never did," Motobu said.
"Don't mind him, he's just being cheap," Sakura said.
"I can only live so much off that 'cultural heritage ambassador' title. That and the royalties."
"Aye. They stopped making movies with yer mug 20 years ago."
"Wait. Motobu was a movie star?" Daniel said.
"Indeed lad. There was a time when I couldn't keep the ladies off my-"
"Just one. But then they made an arcade cabinet with 'Mister Karate' in it. We even had one at Sapporo's bar. I hear they still make them." Sakura said.
"Sakura, can't ye let me show off in front of the lad once in a while."
"Ye do that whenever ye wash off. Oh wait, it ain't that big."
Daniel gaped. Had Sakura really made that joke? He thought she was a prude.
"Hey, now that's a low blow. Those are illegal in friendly settings." Motobu smiled.
"Then it's a good thing I'm yer wife and not yer friend." Sakura smiled back.
Lunch finished amiably, and the two men returned to the dojo.
When Daniel stepped outside he saw Ronin frantically dodging Lazuli as she leapt from building to tree and back. She glided an amazing distance, maybe 20 or 30 yards before landing. It won't be long until she can fly properly. Ronin seemed to be getting along well with her, despite the frown.
The two resumed their training, while Lazuli managed to tag Ronin once.
Hooray, character development. I hope it went well. Communication is key to good relationships. The lack thereof is a source of conflict!
I swear, Sinnoh is coming. I wish to frolic in the snow and freeze to death on Route 217.
Thank you for reading!
