Chapter 38:

Spirit: Shackling Free

Location: Malie City

"I'll meet you over at the trial site," said Acerola. "It's at a ruined mall."

"Thanks!" I said, before turning to Hau and then back to the creepy girl. "So, what was that move that Dartrix will learn?"

"Not Dartrix silly," Acerola said. "Decidueye, it's evolved form! The move is called Spirit Shackle and, with the Decidueye Z-Crystal, you can use the Z-move Sinister Arrow Raid. As for you and Incineroar, with Darkest Lariat, you can use Malicious Moonsault. Give it a go!"

Hau patted me on the back. "Hey, why don't we travel together for a bit? I might need some help evolving Dartrix."

That sounded like a plan. "Next stop, Tapu Village!"

Location: Route 11

Route 11 was similar to Route 10 as it was nature filled, but quieter and without a mountain being a dead-end of sorts.

"I can't wait!" said Hau. "Dartrix is hopefully gonna evolve today!"

"I can't wait also! Roto! Imagine all the movezz it can learn!"

"Glad you're excited," I said. "And I'm going to try out Darkest Lariat!"

As the two of us excitedly thought about what was next, we were spotted by two Young Athletes.

"Teamwork is dreamwork!"

"That means a double battle!"

Elliott and Hau Vs. Young Athletes Alyssa and Sho

"I choose Fletchinder!" Alyssa shouted.

"Go Herdier!" Sho said in unison.

"Incineroar, you're up!" It was Incineroar's first battle.

"Dartrix, come out!" Hau shouted.

"Fletchinder, use Peck!" Fletchinder stabbed Dartrix with its beak.

"Didn't do much," Hau said.

"Herdier, Crunch!" Herdier chomped down on Dartrix.

"No!" Hau shouted.

"Relax Hau," I said. "Okay, let's try that new move of yours Incineroar! Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar started spinning round and round as black energy protruded from it. It then rammed its body into Fletchinder.

"Darkest Lariat can avoid Defenzzive boozztzz! Roto! It'zz really handy!"

"Now your turn!"

"Oh, okay," said Hau. "Dartrix, Razor Leaf!" Dartrix fired sharp leaves at both Pokémon. It was a Critical Hit on Fletchinder, but it really wasn't effective.

"Now Fletchinder, use Ember!" Fletchinder fired a flame at Dartrix.

"And Herdier, Take Down!" Herdier charged into Incineroar, taking recoil damage in the process.

"Okay Incineroar, ready?" Incineroar looked back at me and nodded. We put our arms forward. "Darkness befalls over this battle. Incineroar… MALICIOUS MOONSAULT!" We put our arms up together, and Incineroar started getting really pumped. Suddenly, a wrestling ring of sorts appeared around Herdier. Incineroar got on the bendy wall things (I know nothing about wrestling) and jumped up. Then, with arms out and covered in energy, it slammed down onto Herdier causing an explosion for major damage. It was finished.

"Wow!" Hau said.

"Keep an eye on the battle Hau!" I shouted.

"Oh, right," Hau replied. "Use Pluck!" Dartrix hit Fletchinder with its beak.

"Use Ember!" Fletchinder shot another flame at Dartrix, almost knocking it out.

"Dartrix, finish with Ominous Wind!" Dartrix flapped its wings, blowing a spooky wind at Fletchinder. It was finished.

"This was more like double trouble!"

"Teamwork didn't work…"

"Okay Dartrix, now we wait!" We sat down, just staring at Dartrix. "Come on, evolve." Dartrix just stood there, a bit confused. "Oh, come on, why is it not changing?"

"Have a look," said Rotom Dex, showing us it's Exp. gauge. It was ALMOST there. "Juzzt a bit to go. Roto!"

"12 Exp. left?!" Hau shouted. "Urgh, we were so close! I just wanted you to evolve Dartrix!"

"That's why you weren't yourself," I said. "Listen, as hard as it is, you need to remain vigilant in battles. Try to focus on winning, not the reward because in this case, it didn't come."

"Yeah," said Hau. Immediately, he chirped back up. "And hey, this means the next battle, Dartrix WILL evolve! Come on Dartrix, into the tall grass!" Hau basically flung Dartrix over his shoulder and walked over to the tall grass for an encounter.

"Bit too optimistic?" I asked.

"That'zz Hau for ya. Roto."

Hau ran about, then found something. It was blue with a black nose and large ears. It was clinging onto a log whilst… sleeping?

Komala (ネッコアラ)

#286

Normal Type

Drowsing Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

43.9 lbs (19.9 kg)

It is born asleep, and it dies asleep. All its movements are apparently no more than the results of it tossing and turning in its dreams.

Komala has no known evolutions.

"That thing is cute!" Hau said. "I gotta catch it! Okay Dartrix, use Pluck!" Hau threw Dartrix at Komala. Dartrix jabbed Komala with its beak. Komala came back with Slam, hitting Dartrix with its log. It then started calling for S.O.S… nothing came! "Okay Dartrix, Razor Leaf!" Dartrix fired leaves at Komala, almost finishing it. Komala then used another Slam. "Okay, let's try this! Go Ultra Ball!" Hau threw a black and yellow Pokéball at Komala. It went in.

The ball shook a couple of times… and clicked shut!

"I caught a new Pokémon!" Hau said, just as he noticed Dartrix was glowing. "I know what's happening here!"

Dartrix got bigger and bigger. When the glowing died, it revealed a Pokémon with a green-feathery head, light-brown cloak like wings and terrifying talons.

Decidueye (ジュナイパー)

#003

Grass/Ghost Type

Arrow Quill Pokémon

5'03" (1.6 m)

80.7 lbs (36.6 kg)

Decidueye can nock and fire an arrow at an enemy in a tenth of a second, so its battles are decided in the blink of an eye.

Rowlet -Lv 17- Dartrix -Lv 34- Decidueye

"It's finally happened!" Hau said, hugging his now fully evolved partner. "It feels like yesterday you were just a cute Rowlet, and now look at you!" Decidueye nodded sternly.

"So," I said. "You wanna try out that new move?"

"Yeah!" Hau said. "Let's find a Trainer first!" Hau healed Decidueye, then ran down the path to a Black Belt. He went in his line of sight."

"I saw your Pokémon evolve; I will gladly take it on!"

Hau Vs. Black Belt Clayton

"Hariyama, go!" Clayton shouted.

"Hey, this is one you're familiar with Elliott! Go Decidueye!" Out came Hau's latest Pokémon. "Start with Spirit Shackle!" Decidueye took one of its feathers. Then, using a sort of bow from under its right wing, pulled it back and fired it at Hariyama.

"Spirit Shackle izz great! Roto! It prevent'zz the oppozzition from switching or fleeing! Zzt zzt!"

"Hariyama, Knock Off!" Hariyama brought its fist down onto Decidueye. It was Super Effective. "Guess you're not too familiar with Hariyama!"

"Well, you certainly won't be familiar with this!" Hau and Decidueye put their arms/wings forward and were covered in Z-energy. Then, they did the face pose that Acerola showed them. "Things are about to get spooky! Decidueye, SINISTER ARROW RAID!" Decidueye flew up and brought out some of its feathers. They floated around, and Decidueye flew down. All the feathers flew into Hariyama, almost knocking it out.

"Knock Off!" Hariyama brought its fist down once again, almost finishing Decidueye off.

"Now use Pluck!" Decidueye finished by pecking Hariyama hard, knocking it out.

"I certainly wasn't too familiar with that!"

"Nice one!" Hau told Decidueye before recalling it. "Okay, let's set up camp! I'm beat!"

Rotom's Move Dex!

Roto! Look at Hau go! His firzzt Pokémon, Rowlet, finally evolved into Decidueye! Zzt zzt! So, let'zz look at Grass Type move today!

Worry Seed!

Abilitiezz giving you trouble? Well, why not uzze Worry Seed! Roto! You won't be having rough nightzz with thizz move! And neither will the oppozzing Pokémon, becauzze Worry Seed changezz their Ability to Insomnia! Thizz prevent'zz the sleep affliction! Roto! It can really switch thingzz up! Not all Abilitiezz can be changed though; keep that in mind. Zzt zzt.

Pokémon that can learn Worry Seed include Exeggutor (both variants) and, through breeding, Petilil and Comfey! Roto!

Do not uzze Worry Seed for exam allnighterzz; take a rezzt! Roto!