Ecruteak City
It was the morning after Jackson's defeat against Morty at the Ecruteak City gym. Due to the suggestion made by Leafeon, Jackson decided to go to the Ecruteak Dance Theatre in order to understand how the dancers and their Pokémon were able to work together. It was a way for Jackson to overcome the trauma within the past couple days.
Going down the dirt path, Jackson and Leafeon walked together as the former asked, "You sure this is a good idea to just walk in so early in the morning? What if they're rehearsing for a performance?"
"Do not worry." Leafeon assured him, "I dashed on over there when the sunlight first shown to see if it was okay, and Lady Espeon said their practices don't start until late morning."
"You wake up that early, too?" Jackson asked, "I always did back in Ryouzanpaku, or else I'd wake up with a sword tip in my mouth."
"Tell me you're joking..." Leafeon started, before continuing, "Never mind. You wouldn't joke about your time in that dojo."
"It's true." Jackson stated, "Shigure wanted me to join everyone for breakfast. I won't even mention how Seth's masters woke him up." He shuddered at the thought.
"I won't even ask." Leafeon replied as they continued to wander onwards.
(Insert 'Never Give Up' By Sonar Pocket)
Instrumental Opening
(Jackson stands at the top of a cliff, looking out into the vast landscape of the Johto region. He turns to the camera with surprise, grins, then draws his sword and swipes it across the screen, transitioning to white with the logo appearing.)
What tough heart! Once I decided that I'd keep up the fight
My road has never stopped unraveling
(Camera circles around Jackson as he runs along an open-plain path with his Leafeon, who after a couple seconds, leaps onto his shoulders as he activates his Extreme Gear and shoots even faster onto the path.)
Carrying a small bit of pride
With my fists clenched
(The screen shows a brief image of Professor Elm, dropping papers from his clipboard, and smiling as he rubbed the back of his head. It shifts to a visual of Kris, Ethan, and their starters, with Ethan punching his fist forward, while Kris spun around with her arms out wide.)
I aim for the goal again step by step
Racing towards it with all my might!
(The screen shifts to Sonic & Tails, the former giving a thumbs up, while the latter waved his hands above eagerly. The screen shifts to Cypher, who glared at the screen with a Pokéball held close to his face.)
Sometimes it'll be a bad day
Where nothing goes the way I want it to
But even if the sky blurs through my tears
(Jackson is sitting by a campfire, his expression full of emotional pain as shadows of his past with red eyes creeped all around him. He curled himself into a ball as the shadow of his father appeared over his head.)
I'm sure my smiles will come back tomorrow
So it's okay!
(Shadows started getting blown away one large piece at a time, until light broke out around Jackson, who looked up to see his Pokémon all standing there, protecting him from his trauma.)
There's nothing out there to fear
I'll keep believing that 'I'm strong'
And get going!
(Silhouettes of the Gym Leaders appeared as the screen scrolled upwards through a gold, silver, and crystal colors behind them. It shifts to the emblem of Team Rocket, with darkened faces of grunts, with the four admins in front, holding their Pokéballs. Jackson readies his blade, as he tosses a Pokéball forward, which opens up and blinds the screen in a white light.)
'With you around, there's nothing to worry about now'
I felt as if the sky was saying that to me with a laugh
(Leafeon leapt forward and swung her tail into a Razor Leaf, before her tail glowed as she charged up sunlight, before unleashing a Solarbeam. Dewott and Weavile shoot through the Solarbeam, unleashing double Night Slash, slicing the beam, before dismissing their blades, and Dewott angrily looking at the calm and collected Weavile.)
With the sweat and tears I build up
I'm sure I'll come out dazzling
(Quilava turns to face the Team Rocket logo, before unleashing his Flamethrower. He huffed in confidence as Scyther flew over him, before slashing with his mantis claws like a swordsman.)
Even if I end up feeling anxious after it all
As long as I believe I can do it
(An Aeroblast and Sacred Fire came from the sky, shooting down at Jackson's team, but Jackson stepped in and unleashed several sword beams, countering the attacks and making them explode. He and his team endured the shockwaves and smoke from the explosion, before looking up into the distance, and saw the silhouettes of the Tower Duo flying over the two towers that represented each.)
These footsteps have taught me to
Always
Never Give Up!
(Jackson's Pokémon come to his side as he looked to them, before grinning eagerly, and the group leapt up into the air, taking on the new threat and the new adventure. The screen goes white before showing Jackson standing with his sword stabbed into the ground, his Pokémon companions surrounding him.)
A few minutes later, they arrived at the theatre, looking up at the entrance, before walking inside. Jackson looked about the place, before an old man wearing a yukata approached him asking, "Hello, young man. Sorry, but the Kimono girls' next performance will not start until tonight."
"Thanks, but I wasn't here for that." Jackson replied, "I wanted to actually learn from them."
"Oh? And what are you wanting to learn from them?" the old man asked.
"Um... should I be telling you that?" Jackson asked, a little suspicious on the person.
Suddenly, one of the sliding doors to the backside of the theatre opened up with a blue glow, and Espeon came wandering out. A second later, Naoko followed right behind. Her hair was down, and in its natural color of dark violet. She had on a white short sleeve loose top and purple yoga pants. She looked like she had just recently woken up.
"Espeon, what are you...?" She asked.
"Lady Espeon!" Leafeon greeted, racing over to her.
"I see you arrived very early." Espeon told her.
"I'm surprised you noticed me arriving." Leafeon pointed out.
"I sensed your presence." she replied simply
"Right. I should've known." Leafeon chuckled, "I need to learn about doing that. Although, I'm not an Espeon."
"Oh, you're the trainer who saved me in Ilex Forest." Naoko recognized Jackson.
"Hey. Sorry if I got here a little too early." Jackson apologized, averting his gaze so as not to leer.
"No, I recognized Leafeon from the past couple days." she replied, "So your Eevee evolved into a Leafeon, as I expected."
"So you're the one who saved one of my dancers from that evil Team Rocket gang." the old man stated, "My apologies. I and Ludwig, and I am the owner of this theatre, as well as their dance teacher."
"I see." Jackson replied, "Sorry for my behavior. I honestly thought you were just a creepy old guy who leered at cute girls."
Naoko blushed, while Ludwig had a deadpanned expression, before angrily barking, "I am not one of those goons who try to do that to these girls! How dare you group me up with them!"
"Sorry, sorry." Jackson apologized, "One of my old masters was exactly like that. I didn't like that side of him, though, nor did I get involved with those things."
"Hmph!" Ludwig spun and walked off, while Naoko said, "I know you weren't trying to be rude, but it still came off that way."
"Yeah, your blunt tongue got in the way again." Leafeon argued.
"Just speaking my mind, is all." Jackson noted.
Naoko cleared her throat as she asked, "So, what brings you here today, young man?"
"Oh, right." Jackson realized, "I came here because..." And he begun explaining everything, from his encounter with Silver, to his failed battle against Morty, and what he wanted to achieve.
"I see. You want to see the partnership my sisters and I have with our Pokémon, and see on how that will improve your skills." Naoko understood.
"Yep. If that is okay with you." Jackson asked.
"Of course. I wouldn't mind, but I will have to ask my sisters." She told him, "You can go into the back garden and wait for us." Naoko escorted Jackson and Leafeon into the back garden. Jackson stopped and gasped in amazement. He was sent back to his time in Japan, as the style of the garden was just that. The environment was completed with a koi pond with Goldeen in it, a raked zen garden, even a small area where bamboo was growing. There were bonsai trees and all sorts of other kinds of trees he expected from this kind of environment... except for one tree. It was a bit shorter than Jackson, but had a slightly angled body, two branches with three pom-pom like leaves on its branches, legs that held the tree up, a two-prong branch on top, and a face.
"Love the environment." Jackson noted, looking to the odd tree, "Though...is that suppose to be there?"
Naoko looked to the said tree and gasped, "Sudowoodo! How many times is this?!"
"Whoops! Got discovered again!" the tree moved, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Um...weird Pokémon." Jackson noted, pulling out his Pokédex, pointing it at the Pokémon in question. "Sudowoodo. The Imitation Pokémon. Sudowoodo camouflages itself as a tree to avoid being attacked by enemies. However, because its hands remain green throughout the year, the Pokémon is easily identified as a fake during the winter."
"Do not get my sister Kuni and her Vaporeon out here to force you to leave!" Naoko warned Sudowoodo, who chuckled as he ran away, leaving the scene.
"That Sudowoodo giving you trouble?" Jackson asked.
"Not trouble, per say. But he does ruin the aesthetics of the environment." Naoko sighed, "But the theatre owner kept asking us to remove it from here."
"If he's not causing any harm, why would you need to remove it?" Leafeon asked, which Jackson translated over to Naoko.
"Your guess is as good as mine." she replied, shrugging, "Anyways, why don't you wait out here for my sisters and I to be properly dressed." With that, she exited the scene, leaving Jackson and Leafeon alone.
"Maybe we should let the others out to look around." Leafeon suggested to her trainer.
"No, not right now." he answered, "After how they treated Sudowoodo, I am not entirely sure if that's the best idea. Still, gotta wonder why it keeps coming back if it keeps running away."
He wandered over to the Goldeen in the koi pond, before looking to the zen garden, and then the small bamboo forest. "I know I shouldn't, but..." Jackson started, dropping his bag onto the ground. He took a leap onto one of the bamboo stalks, before bouncing from one bamboo branch to another, reaching the top, placing two feet on equally-level bamboo.
"What are you doing?!" Leafeon questioned Jackson's actions.
"Come on. This is pretty normal for me." he answered, not looking down as he kept his stability, "Back in the Japan world, when I was learning the Seikuken, the Grandmaster would have two clubs and I would have to block and evade the attacks while standing on the highest bamboo stalks, which was about fifty meters in the air, mind you. And there were a lot of smaller stalks below me like a spiked floor."
"You have got to be kidding me..." Leafeon muttered, though knew he wasn't joking.
Jackson hopped from one shoot to another, keeping his balance as he went to having one or both feet on a stalk. Jackson kept his balance without too much effort. "Maybe I should have you and the others practice footwork and balance by doing stuff like this." Jackson suggested to Leafeon, seeing her expression, before adding, "We can start at a lower height and different footholds than this."
"It's like you know what I was thinking." Leafeon noted.
"Yeah..." Jackson replied. He did know his Pokémon pretty well.
"Excuse me." someone down below called out, and Jackson took a moment to regain his balance as he looked down below, noticing five young ladies down below. Naoko was among them, but there were also four others around her, all of them a bit older than her.
From shortest to tallest, the first had long, bronze hair, yellow eyes her attire being a short-sleeved yellow top and jeans, with wooden clogs for footwear. Her Pokemon was an Eeveelution, yellow body and black eyes, with spiked yellow fur with a white collar.
The middle height of the girls had dark red hair, wavy at the ends, orange eyes, a red tank top, white pants, and red tennis shoes. Her partner was a red-furred Eeveelution with pale yellow fur on the top of its head, collar, and tail, almost looking like flames.
The second highest was a girl with blue hair, held in two low twintails, and eyes that matched. She wore a blue short-sleeved top, short black pants, wooden clogs, and she had a red bracelet on her right wrist. Her Eeveelution was more fish-like than the others, blue-colored, with beige-finned ears, a white collar, dark blue scales going down the spine of its back, and a long tail with a fish-like end.
The tallest of the girls was the only natural ebony hair of the girls, and gray eyes. Her attire was a black short-sleeved top underneath a black and yellow-trimmed, open kimono-like top, a visible set of gray tights underneath, and wooden clogs. Her Pokémon was another Eeveelution, with red eyes, short black fur, with yellow rings on its forehead and legs, with yellow bands around its ears and tail.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" the tallest girl asked, glaring up at him.
"Sorry." Jackson apologized, "I got nostalgic, and climbed up here. I'll get down." He leapt off the bamboo stalk where he stood, doing a front flip as he did so, surprising the girls. Fortunately, he landed neatly on his feet right next to Leafeon.
"You should've thought that was poor etiquette when waiting for people you wanted help from." Leafeon argued.
"Well, how was I suppose to know they were that quick to change?" Jackson questioned her.
The four older girls looked to Naoko, with the blue-haired girl asking, "This is the boy who saved you in Ilex Forest? Quite a strange one."
"True, but he is everything I told you." Naoko told them.
"You mean, he was also the one that Celebi met?" the bronze-haired girl asked, to which Naoko nodded.
"And he's the one who can understand Pokemon, too?" the red-head asked. Again, she nodded.
"Sorry for my behavior before." Jackson apologized, walking over to them, "Let me start with an introduction. My name is Jackson Alpphire, and this is my partner, Leafeon." The Verdant Pokémon bowed to the girls.
"These are my older sisters." Naoko introduced the four girls, waving to each of them, from shortest to highest, "First is the second youngest of us, Sayo, and her partner, Jolteon. Up next is the middle sister, Miki, and her partner, Flareon. Next is the second oldest, Kuni, and her partner, Vaporeon. Last, but not least, is our elder sister, Zuki, and her partner, Umbreon."
"Thank you for protecting our younger sister." the four simultaneously told Jackson, bowing to him.
"And we thank you for saving Espeon, young Leafeon." The other Eeveelutions added, bowing their heads to Leafeon, who looked taken aback.
"I just did what I felt was natural." Jackson replied, "Besides, I had to deal with Team Rocket a couple times already. They were a big nuisance."
"Regardless, we can't thank you enough." Zuki told Jackson, "As you can guess, our youngest sister tends to get lost easily. And that ends up putting her in a lot of precarious positions."
"Though, I bet that's not the reason why you came to us, isn't it?" Kuni questioned.
"True." Jackson replied, "I need to reconnect with my Pokémon, and understand what it means to be a strong trainer..." He then explained the situation of what he experienced in the past few days to them, telling them why he wanted to meet with them. "...My Leafeon tells me the five of you bond so well with your Pokémon, I felt like I should learn from all of you."
"I don't see why not." Naoko stated, looking to her sisters, "Maybe he can witness us practicing with our Pokémon for our performances."
"I don't mind." Zuki answered, "If you don't mind, maybe you can join in our practices."
"Me? Take part in your practices?" Jackson echoed, "Is that okay?"
"Of course. After all, you already shown your footwork just a moment ago." Zuki replied, "And since you own an evolution of Eevee, just like us, it would just make more sense."
"Since we already had our breakfast, we can get going with our morning exercises." Miki told her sisters, who nodded in agreement.
The exercises were basically their morning stretches, which Jackson participated in, as well. They had a practice hall inside the theatre, where they made sure they were loosened up. Jackson had been use to this from his training days, and it certainly surprised the girls to see Jackson easily split his legs a full 180 degrees. Flexibility was something he had no problem with. Leafeon joined the other Eeveelutions in their stretches and readiness for the day, making sure she got a lot of sunlight for her photosynthesis.
"Now, we have a Pokémon battle with one another." Zuki told Jackson, "It allows them to not only get themselves fully ready, but gets any excess excitement out of the way."
"That makes sense." Jackson understood, "So how do you partner up?"
"We marked balls with our colors on them." Sayo answered, coming in with a box that had things bouncing around inside of them, "We made sure to add one for you. It'll be nice to have one extra person to join us, as it usually means that the last one would just have to be the odd one out and find a way to get their excess energy out another way."
"So, let me start by drawing two balls." Kuni started, digging into the box without looking, and drawing out two orbs; one purple, one yellow. "Seems like Naoko and Sayo will be sparring with each other." she understood, and the two sisters smirked at each other.
"Up next..." Miki stated, digging into the box, and pulling out a blue and green orb. "Jackson will be facing off against our sister, Kuni."
"I look forward to it." Kuni told Jackson, who nodded in agreement.
"That leaves you and me, Miki." Zuki understood, walking up to her, "Better hope you are ready."
"I will do my best, sis!" Miki replied, looking a bit nervous.
"Is there a reason why she's a bit worried?" Leafeon asked Flareon.
"Oh, it's the fact that Umbreon and her trainer are just a bit better than all the other sisters." Flareon replied, "They have had more experience than the rest of us."
The group moved next door to a set of battlefields, where each pairing took a battlefield. batting cage-like barriers were made to separate each battlefield. Jackson stood in one, facing off against Kuni and her Vaporeon.
"Let's see what the dex has to say." Jackson stated, pulling out the Pokédex. "Vaporeon. The Bubble Jet Pokémon, and the Evolved form of Eevee. Vaporeon underwent a spontaneous mutation and grew fins and gills that allow it to live underwater. This Pokémon has the ability to freely control water."
"A Water-type means we have an advantage against it, Leafeon." Jackson stated.
"True, but I have a feeling Lady Vaporeon might have some surprises." Leafeon stated, getting herself ready to fight.
"Do you want to start the fight?" Kuni asked.
"My style is always letting the lady to go first." Jackson told her.
"Such a gentlemen." she stated, "Then let's start. Vaporeon, Rain Dance!"
"Come forth, rain!" Vaporeon shouted, her body glowing as a storm formed over their heads, and started raining down onto the field over them. It wasn't bothering the other battles, as it didn't get in their ways.
"A move that summons rain?" Jackson asked, looking up, shielding his eyes from the rain.
"Careful, Jackson." Leafeon warned him, "My Solarbeam won't be as effective in the rain!"
"Then let's try another Grass-type move! Razor Leaf!" Jackson called out, and Leafeon spun her body as she flung energy leaves at Vaporeon.
"Acid Armor." Kuni followed up.
"Now you see me..." Vaporeon stated, her body becoming purple for a moment before her body flattened and vanished, causing Leafeon's attack to fly by.
"What the heck?!" Jackson questioned as Leafeon gasped.
"Now Aurora Beam." Kuni continued. Vaporeon appeared out of nowhere and shot a stream of rainbow energy like an aurora, hitting Leafeon hard.
"No, Leafeon!" Jackson exclaimed, "Shoot! Was that an Ice-type move?!"
"That...hurt." Leafeon grimaced, getting to her feet from the super-effective move.
"Keep it up. Aurora Beam again!" Kuni called out.
"Leafeon, evade with Quick Attack!" Jackson called out. Leafeon ran around the rain-swept field, evading Aurora Beam coming from Vaporeon as she kept firing from all angles. She turned and caught Vaporeon off guard, hitting her with a speedy body blow. However, the Acid Armor did boost her defenses, lessening the blow, as they found themselves back to their original positions again.
"As you can see, my Vaporeon is quite good in the rain." Kuni noted, "That's why Rain Dance is such a good setup for all sorts of things, including this; Surf!"
Vaporeon's eyes glowed as she shouted, "Come forth!" She summoned up a tidal wave right underneath her feet, riding on top as she towered over Jackson and Leafeon.
In the battlefield next to them, Zuki paused her battle, allowing Miki and Flareon to catch their breath while Umbreon was overwhelming them, to witness the attack approaching the guests. "Oh, my." she muttered, "It would seem that Kuni is already showing off her best combo. How will you deal with this?"
Jackson saw the wave coming, struggling as he muttered, "We can't parry that. We gotta evade as best as we can. Get some speed and leap over with Quick Attack!"
Leafeon looked to Jackson, knowing that this wouldn't work. A straight jump over that, even with a speed increase, wouldn't be enough, as the rain amplified the Surf's height and power. She had to think quickly as she dashed ahead at the attack. She was near the cage, and looked to it, before suddenly coming up with a plan. She angled towards it, which caused Jackson confusion, until she leapt up onto it, using the grates of the cage as footholds, using the momentum of the Quick Attack in combination, and pushed herself higher than what was originally planned. Her feet were dipping into the lip of the Surf, causing her to to a front flip and she got over the attack, but upon landing on the wet ground below, she stumbled and fell, sliding to a halt, but still able.
"Well, well." Kuni noted, "That was very clever."
"I'm impressed." Vaporeon stated, landing on the ground near Jackson, "You have great footwork."
"Nice going, Leafeon!" Jackson cheered, before faltering, and realizing, "But... I didn't think of doing that. I was just thinking of a straight shot over. I ended up needing my Pokémon to make the better choice for me in the moment... again..." The sky cleared up as the Rain Dance was over, but Jackson hid his eyes from view by lowering his head. Leafeon looked to him, before sighing. Did he really listen to anything she said to him last night? If he did, then he wouldn't be acting like this.
Kuni and Vaporeon looked to Jackson, before looking to each other. Zuki narrowed her eyes as she looked to Jackson. Miki saw her expression, and reacted by clapping her hands loudly as she called out, "Okay, everyone! Sparring battles are over! Let's get ready for our dance practices!" Naoko and Sayo stopped their battle, as did their Pokémon, to see all battles have stopped. With everyone now paying attention, they gathered themselves up, and went back to the theatre.
About an hour later, in the open-air practice hall of the theatre, Jackson and Leafeon stood in awe at the five girls as they had now donned their kimono attire. They were very similar to maiko, as Jackson recalled, but they were more suited for dancing, and they were not white-faced like one traditionally was, though they said they did so during their actual performances. Their hair was dyed black, apart from the naturally black Zuki, tied up in hair ornaments, and their accessories and kimonos had similar colorings to their respective Pokémon.
"Wow..." Jackson was all that Jackson could say about them as they stood in a row in front of them.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" Ludwig asked Jackson.
"Yeah. I can tell the effort it takes to get yourselves this amazing must be incredibly tough." Jackson summed up.
"We've gotten use to it." Naoko replied, smiling innocently at it.
"Alright girls. It's time to prepare for tonight's performance." Ludwig told the girls.
"Yes!" They responded as one, taking their places. Jackson went to one side to watch the performance, placing himself in the traditional sitting style he got from the Japan world. Leafeon sat right next to him as they watched the kimono sisters and their Pokémon did their practice performance, watching as they spoke the lines for their performance, heard Ludwig correct the girls on their actions. However, Jackson was noticing that the Eeveelutions were not only given little to no corrections, but that they were completely in sync with their trainers, doing the correct movements without them asking them to.
After an hour, Ludwig shouted in the direction near Jackson as he went, "Darn it, Sudowoodo! I told you to stop coming around!" Jackson turned and was startled to see that the same Sudowoodo that they caught before standing on the grounds behind and next to him. It chuckled, and ran off from the scene. "Unbelievable..." Ludwig growled.
"Why does it keep coming back all this time?" Sayo asked.
"It's beyond me." Miki replied.
Zuki took this time to turn over to Jackson as she asked, "Jackson, I would like to ask you something?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"I noticed your skilled in your feet. Do you perhaps know how to dance?"
Jackson was a bit surprised by her question, until he recalled that he was standing on the bamboo stalks when he met them. "Yeah, I can, a bit." Jackson replied, "A friend of mine loved to breakdance, so he taught me how to move. I know that's a little far off from how you guys traditionally dance, but..."
"There's no need to worry about that." Zuki assured him, "Are you needing any music to dance to?"
"No. I have a music player and speaker." Jackson replied, grabbing his bag and digging into it, finally pulling out his music player, taking out the ear buds attached to it, and grabbed the speaker that he attached to it. He decided to take it to the opposite end of the practice hall, setting it up. Leafeon walked next to the sisters, watching him work. He stopped as he looked back and noted, "You know, it really does feel awkward to me to play music like this after watching you guys and your style of music and dance. It almost feels controversial."
"We are not biased, so stop worrying." Kuni assured him.
"I would like to see that confident person I saw back in Ilex Forest." Naoko told Jackson.
"Yeah, come on! Just dance!" Miki told him.
"Okay, okay..." Jackson replied, going back to his music, and selecting the song to dance to. Choosing one, he was about to his start when he paused and thought about something. He went back to his bag, dug in, and grabbed his sword and sheath, bringing it back next to the music player, and placing it on the wall behind it. This surprised the girls, including Leafeon, as he bent down and hit the play button, giving it a three second pause before the music started.
(Insert 'Back 2 Back Cash Cash Remix' from 'Sonic Generations')
Jackson closed his eyes as he heard his music playing. As soon as the first beat was dropped, he did a front flip, stomping the ground upon landing, causing a shockwave that ruffled dresses and fur of the girls in front him slightly. He started to subtly bring his dance steps in as the song gradually got stronger and stronger, until he was performing his breakdance moves to the rhythm of the music. Thanks to his years spending with Sonic, and seeing other breakdancers on the street, and having full control of his body thanks to his martial arts training, Jackson was impressing the girls with his movements.
"It's definitely a different style, like what you would see in the streets of Goldenrod City." Kuni noted.
"But his movements are precise and almost elegant in their own way." Naoko noted, "He is rather impressive."
"Look, he's going to his sword." Sayo noticed, seeing him backflip towards his sword, pulling it out of its sheath, and front-rolling back to his starting place, his sword at the ready. He then swung it around with fluidity and with skills like he was fighting numerous fighters around him, still in the rhythm of the music, and making sure he kept his distance from anything he could damage.
"I didn't know he was so skilled at sword-fighting!" Miki gasped.
"That's incredible!" Sayo exclaimed.
"Boy is certainly more than just an ordinary trainer." Ludwig agreed.
Zuki watched this, and gave a smirk, before bending down to Leafeon, asking, "You're watching his movements?"
Leafeon, who was mesmerized by Jackson's moves, jumped slightly, turning to her. Knowing she couldn't understand her, she nodded in response.
"I bet you are learning those movements as we speak." she told her, "Isn't it great to have a trainer to be inspired by?"
Leafeon looked intrigued by her words, looking back at Jackson as he was continuing his dance movements, before smiling as she answered, "Yes. It is great. I wish he knew it, too."
When the song ended, Jackson struck his final pose, his sword pulled back, and his open palm thrust forward, his knees bent. The girls all applauded at his performance, while Ludwig nodded in approval. The other Eeveelutions cheered at his performance, as well. Jackson relaxed himself as he stood there, rubbing the back of his head as he grinned at the praise he was given.
"What shame you are bringing to this place! Wood Hammer!" shouted a voice from in the garden. Jackson turned to see none other than the Sudowoodo running towards him, leaping in, creating an energy log from one of his hands, and swinging it at the swordsman trainer. Jackson reacted by blocking the attack, the force from being caught off guard sent him right back to the wall, which was a Japanese boarded wall, causing it to fall over as he fell.
The girls gasped as Ludwig shouted, "Boy! Are you okay?!"
Jackson got back up onto his feet, barely injured by the attack, but thrown for a loop as he looked to the angry Pokémon in front of him. "What's your deal?!" he asked.
"That music, that dance, everything about you. It's not what I want to see here!" Sudowoodo barked, stomping his feet, "Get out! Get out! Get out!"
"Hey, this is a dance hall!" Jackson argued, "Besides, I got the approval from the girls to perform. It's not like I need your approval!"
"I don't care! I don't care!" the Imitation Pokémon barked, glowing as he summoned up a storm of rocks, "Get out! Rock Slide!" he sent the storm of rocks towards Jackson, who was prepared to destroy them.
"Razor Leaf!" Leafeon shouted, summoning up a storm of leaves with her tail, destroying all of the rocks. Jackson turned to see Leafeon dash in to get in between him and Sudowoodo.
"Leafeon!" Jackson gasped.
"Didn't think of needing my help for this, did you?" she sassed at him, looking back at him. Jackson looked a little thrown off guard at her words.
"Get out of my way!" Sudowoodo called out.
"That's not gonna happen." Leafeon answered, ready to fight. Jackson regained himself as he chose go trainer mode and help her out.
"Then I'll Slam you out of the way!" the Rock-type declared, raising a glowing hand.
"Dodge with Quick Attack!" Jackson called out. Leafeon made a lightning fast dash to evade Sudowoodo's attack, before pivoting around and slamming him in the side of the head.
"You'll pay for that!" Sudowoodo shouted, trying to Slam her again. She dodged with her speeds, using footwork that Jackson had not seen from her before as she danced about, evading and striking over and over, knocking the Pokémon all over the place.
"Those movements!" Miki recognized.
"Yeah, they're just like..." Kuni followed, stopping as everyone knew what she looked like.
'Are those...similar to my dance steps?' Jackson asked himself, seeing Leafeon's movements.
"Try dodging this! Wood Hammer!" Sudowoodo shouted, raising an energy tree trunk high over his hand, and bringing it down on the ground, causing a shockwave that sent Leafeon flying, sliding on the floor right by Jackson.
"You okay?" Jackson asked.
"Just fine." she replied.
"Good. Let's send him out of here." Jackson told her, "Use Razor Leaf!"
"Can't do that." She replied, throwing Jackson off again.
"Why not?!" he asked.
"Because that move has been replaced with a new one just now." she replied, dashing forward as Sudowoodo was about to unleash another Wood Hammer. Her tail glowed green, and she swung it underneath her opponent's attacking arm, knocking it upwards, before pivoting around with a front paw, and spinning herself into a sword slash with her tail, causing Sudowoodo to be sent flying into the garden again, falling on his back.
"Whoa!" Jackson gasped.
"That was Leaf Blade." Zuki recognized, getting Jackson's attention.
"Leaf Blade?" Jackson echoed, looking to Leafeon, who turned to him, smiling.
"See? Now I can swordfight like you can." she told him.
"And apparently dance like I can, albeit roughly." Jackson noted, "But you figured that out so quickly. How?"
"Simple. Leafeon, and all your Pokémon, have been watching you since you caught them." Zuki told him, approaching Jackson, "When you approached us, you wanted to find your connection with your Pokémon, and figure out what it means to be a strong trainer. In my opinion, I believe you are a strong trainer, as you inspire your Pokémon to become strong, and you teach them things just from watching you. It was the same with all of our Pokémon." The other four sisters nodded in agreement, showing their affection to their Pokémon, who showed it right back. Umbreon approached Zuki's side, sitting calmly next to her.
"It's the truth." Leafeon agreed, turning to Jackson, "Remember how I jumped off the cage to get over Vaporeon's Surf? That was also inspired by you."
"Really? When did I-"
"From when you were hopping up the bamboo to the top. You were doing the exact same movements." Jackson recollected that moment, and realized she was right.
"A trainer can push a strong Pokémon to do what they are commanded, but a truly strong trainer can inspire their Pokémon to become strong and learn from them." Zuki told him, "The amount of trust your Pokémon have in you is fantastic to watch. I saw that when watching you and Leafeon. Remember what you are teaching them, and know they will remember the steps and use them even if you don't command it."
Jackson was amazed at these words, before looking at Leafeon. "You trust me that much?" he asked.
"Jackson, that's what I have been trying to say from the start." the Verdant Pokémon answered, "You said you came to this world to learn how to regain who you were, and learn to trust yourself again. Well, I trust my trainer. All of us do. Weavile, Dewott, Quilava, Scyther. And let's not forget Ledian, as well. Trust in who you are."
Jackson placed a hand over his heart, looking down at it as he thought on her words. After what happened to the two girls flirting him so hard, he realized he wasn't growing up like he thought he was, and it faltered his trust in himself. After what happened with Cypher pointing out his 'flaws', his vulnerable state put him in a state after that. All this time, he was just doubting himself. The doubt was the reason why he felt like he wasn't a strong enough trainer. All he had to do was step away from what Cypher told him, and remember the trust his Pokémon have in him. There was no need to change. He was fine the way he was. And as for the two beauties, he needed to remind himself he was still recovering. He will take time to mature and become a better hero.
Jackson closed his eyes and smiled as he raised his hand, curled it into a fist, and punched himself on the side of the face. This left a mark on him, as well as startled expressions from all in attendance around him. He opened his eyes, looking to both Zuki and Leafeon. "Thanks. I guess I really needed that wake-up call. I'll be okay from here on out." Leafeon smiled happily, while Zuki and the rest of the girls looked satisfied.
"But now we need to do something about that blasted Sudowoodo." Ludwig growled, looking to the said Rock-type, who sat up, feeling disgraced by what had happened, "I'm thinking I should call Officer Jenny and have it forcefully taken off property!"
"Hold on a moment, sir." Jackson stopped him, "I get the feeling that Sudowoodo is not meaning any harm here."
"But it just attacked you!" Ludwig reminded, "A guest in this private property, and in front of my dancers, no less!"
"I think you're too quick to judge." Jackson argued, "He was actually insulted by my dancing being done in this place."
"Right. You understood him during the fight, did you?" Miki asked.
"Correct, and based on what I can gather, it seems like we have a huge fanboy to the sisters." Jackson chuckled, "The reason he keeps sneaking onto the property is because he really like the dances of the girls."
The sisters and Ludwig all to this realization in surprise, as Sudowoodo hopped onto his feet, saying, "It's true! I love them! Their dancing is so great, like this~" He begun making similar movements to how the girls danced and moved about during their practice.
"So he only came here to watch us because he loved us?" Naoko understood.
"Guess we didn't really understood him at all." Kuni sighed, with Sayo looking just as guilty.
"I totally understand the feeling." Jackson stated, getting a whip from Leafeon's tail as a sign for his lack of tact.
"Still, this Pokémon will be difficult to deal with if it is here all the time." Ludwig sighed.
"Here's an idea." Zuki suggested, "How about if Sudowoodo becomes one of our bodyguards here."
"That's a great idea!" Naoko agreed.
"Lord knows you might have dealt with some peeping toms or two." Jackson argued, "Sudowoodo is very protective of the girls, so it would make sense that he could be security here."
"Well..." Ludwig started, looking to Sudowoodo, who looked like he was pleading not to be sent away again. After a bit of straining, he sighed as he replied, "Alright. He can stay. But he better do his job right!"
"Oh, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Sudowoodo cheered, leaping onto the wooden floor and shaking hands with Ludwig, who was shaken by his handshake. He looked pretty dazed afterwards, as Jackson, the girls, and the Eeveelutions laughed at his state of being.
Later that evening, Jackson was back in the theatre, this time part of the audience as he and Leafeon sat together, watching as the Kimono sisters were prepared for their performance. Jackson was given tickets to watch the show, while Sudowoodo was security in the back, as well as aiding as a backstage worker. Jackson had watched their practice before. But now, he was even more excited to watch them actually perform.
"I see you are here to enjoy the performance as I am." said a familiar voice. Jackson spun and looked to see none other than Morty and his Gengar together, sitting down right next to him.
"Morty!" Jackson gasped, "I didn't expect to see you here."
"As someone who enjoys the history of the Johto region, particularly about the two towers, how could I not miss these performances?" he asked, sitting down cross-legged next to Jackson, while Gengar had a snack.
"Right. That the story they are going to talk about here." Jackson recalled.
Morty looked to Jackson carefully, who looked right back, and he smiled. "Seems like the light I saw you have before in the Burned Tower is back again. It might even be brighter than before."
"You think?" Jackson asked, "Though, I gotta ask; why are you considering it my 'light'?"
"Because the bigger the light, the larger the shadow it makes." Morty answered, "A large shadow is a powerful one, like my Ghost-types. I hope you can show me how big of a shadow you can create with your light the next time we battle."
"Sure. I'll do just that." Jackson replied, with Leafeon nodding in agreement.
Just then, the lighted dimmed down, getting everyone's attention to the stage. Gengar finished his snack at this point. Everyone watched as the first spotlight showed the a circular image of the two Legendary Pokémon who govern the two towers; Lugia and Ho-Oh, circling around one another, before the curtain rose, revealing Zuki standing center stage.
The story was shortened as followed; long ago, there existed two towers; the Bell Tower and the Brass Tower, with Ho-Oh and Lugia governing the respective towers. People would communicate with each Pokémon, creating a harmonious friendship between the two. However, one evening, when the towers were bathed in moonlight, as Zuki's Umbreon demonstrated with the Moonlight move.
Sayo continued the story, with Jolteon assisting, as a lightning storm struck the Brass Tower, with Miki and Flareon following up on how the tower was set ablaze into an inferno, and Lugia attempted to stop the fire by flapping its wings, but to no avail. Kuni and Vaporeon followed up, speaking on how Lugia summoned rain, and doused the fire until they were no more.
There was a moment of darkness, before Naoko and Espeon appeared, the later using Morning Sun as they continued the story, speaking of the new dawn. However, Lugia had left the now Burned Tower, hiding in the ocean's depths, waiting for one pure of heart to meet it so they would return to Ecruteak City. The five sisters joined as one as they danced, telling about how the Burned Tower is a reminder of what was once lost, and what will be again.
Later on, Jackson had reunited with the sisters, who said their farewells to all the audience members, with Leafeon at his side. Morty stood behind, watching the young trainer.
"That was an amazing performance." Jackson told the girls, "I really wouldn't mind seeing it again."
"We appreciate it, Jackson." Kuni replied, "And we'd be glad to see you again at one of our performances."
"I hope you learned more than just the story about the Burned Tower today, Jackson." Zuki hoped.
"Yeah. I definitely got that reminder to myself as to who I was, and then some." Jackson responded.
"Speaking of which, I actually remembered something Eusine spoke to me about before he left." Morty recalled, "He said that while you were in the Burned Tower before, you managed to have an encounter with the Legendary Beasts of the Brass Tower, Suicune, Raikou, and Entei."
The five sisters gasped, as Jackson didn't tell them that part as of yet. "You never spoke of that!" Naoko gasped, "First Celebi, now the Legendary Beasts?!"
"You just keep getting more and more interesting." Kuni noted.
"I didn't think it necessary." Jackson replied.
"Did you have an audience with them?" Sayo asked, "What did they say?"
"To sum it up brightly, they questioned why I was there, and I was able to gain their trust. They also spoke about how I could be better than the hero I once was."
"And I believe it to be so." Zuki responded, "So long as you listen to your Pokémon, as they listen to you, then I'm sure that you will become an even greater person than you were before."
"Thanks, Ms. Zuki." Jackson replied, looking to all the girls, "Thank you so much for everything you have done for me." They all smiled and giggled as a response.
"And now..." Jackson continued, looking to Morty, "I just have get over one more hurdle before pushing onward. I'll take you on tomorrow, Morty."
"I'm looking forward to it." he answered, smirking. Gengar and Leafeon looked to one another, wanting to fight each other, as well. Jackson's light was ignited, and he was ready to blade it up tomorrow against Morty.