Chapter 21:

Kubfu Fighting

Location: Master Dojo

"So," said Master Mustard. "It has come down to you four."

There I stood alongside Klara, Avery and Isaac. I was shaking a bit. "What's the last trial?" I asked.

"You will find out in a second, but first of all, there is someone I want you to meet." Master Mustard clapped his hands, and something popped out from the ceiling. It was brown and furry, with what looked like a white headband.

Kubfu (ダクマ)

#100 (Isle of Armor)

Fighting Type

Wushu Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

26.5 lbs (12 kg)

Kubfu trains hard to perfect its moves. The moves it masters will determine which form it takes when it evolves.

Legendary Pokémon

"WHAT?!" we all shouted.

"A Legendary?" Isaac said. "And whoever wins gets it?"

"Well I hope so," said Master Mustard. "Don't be too sure though. If you win, Kubfu will have to see if your hearts can connect. And so far… few have done it with the Kubfu I have trained. Not even Leon himself was seen as able to train Kubfu."

"Now wait!" Klara said. "What if we win and Kubfu says no? Is there a consolation prize?"

"Err…" said Master Mustard. "Let's just get on with the final Trial! Come with me!"

Master Mustard took us out to the battlefield at the back of the Dojo.

"To see has the honour of potentially training Kubfu…" he said. "We will host a mini tournament!"

We all chatted amongst ourselves. Great idea honestly.

"Now, let's determine the first matchup." Mustard got a hat and pulled out some names. "Gloria will be battling… Klara!"

I looked at Klara. She winked. I might have blushed a bit.

"Good luck!" Isaac told me.

Me and Klara went onto the battlefield together. "Okay!" said Honey. I saw Hyde in the seating area. He didn't have a computer!

"Go get em!" he shouted.

"Let me explain the rules. This will be a 3 vs. 3 battle. Substitutions are allowed. Oh, and one more thing… this is a Power Spot! So you may Dynamax or Gigantamax your Pokémon!"

"Nice!" I shouted. "Okay Klara, ready when you are!"

"I am ready love!"

Gloria Vs. Klara

"Koffing love, I choose you!" Klara sent out a round Pokémon with poisonous gas coming out of it.

Koffing (ドガース)

#250 (Mainland)

Poison Type

Poison Gas Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

2.2 lbs (1 kg)

It adores polluted air. Some claim that Koffing use to be more plentiful in the Galar region than they are now.

"And to counter that," I said. "I choose Toxel!" I sent out a Poison Type of my own.

"Awww!" Klara said. "You have a Poison Type to!"

"Toxel, Nuzzle!" Toxel rubbed its cheek against Koffing. This paralyzed it and Koffing couldn't move. "Now do it again!" Toxel used another Electric Type move. It wasn't doing much though.

"Koffing, Assurance!" Koffing, covered in black energy, rammed its body into Toxel.

"Now use Flail!" Toxel started rolling and thrashing about, attacking Koffing. It couldn't move. "And again!" Another Flail hit Koffing. It didn't quite defeat it.

"Koffing, use Sludge love!" Koffing fired gunk at Toxel. It was defeated. One down already.

"Okay then. I choose Raboot!" Out came my partner. "Quick Attack!" Raboot dashed into Koffing. It was finished.

"Oh no! Wait, I've still got this! I choose Whirlipede!" It was evident; her Venipede had evolved.

Whirlipede (ホイーガ)

#075 (Isle of Armor)

Bug/Poison Type

Curlipede Pokémon

3'11" (1.2 m)

129 lbs (58.5 kg)

This Pokémon spins itself rapidly and charges into its opponents. Its top speed is just over 60 mph (97 kmh).

Venipede -Lv 22- Whirlipede

"A Bug Type?" I asked. "I've seen better matchups. Let's take advantage of this Raboot! Flame Charge!" Covered in fire, Raboot charged into Whirlipede. It was Super Effective, but only did about a third of damage. What's worse, Raboot became poisoned! It was Whirlipede's Ability, Poison Point.

"Ooh la la! Nice job Whirlipede! Now give that cute thing a Rollout!" Whirlipede rolled into Raboot at top speed. It was Super Effective.

"Flame Charge again!"

"Rollout!"

Both moves collided, causing an explosion. Raboot had clearly taken damage, but Whirlipede was down.

"Nice one!" I told Raboot. Just then, the poison got the better of it; Raboot fainted. We were neck and neck now.

"Time for my final Pokémon! Slowbro, come out love!" Klara had also evolved her Slowpoke. It now had what looked like a cannon on its arm.

Slowbro (Galarian) (ヤドラン)

#002 (Isle of Armor)

Poison/Psychic Type

Hermit Crab Pokémon

1.6 m (5'03")

155.4 lbs (70.5 kg)

If this Pokémon squeezes the tongue of the Shellder biting it, the Shellder will launch a toxic liquid from the tip of its shell.

Slowpoke -Galarica Cuff- Slowbro

"I need to think about this," I said. "Go Liepard!" My Dark Type would take it.

"I think it's time now!" Klara said. She recalled Slowbro, and Dynamax Energy started gathering around the Pokéball.

"Let's do the same Liepard!" I told it, recalling it and energy started doing the same.

We both shouted the words. "DYNAMAX!"

Liepard and Slowbro were sent back out, much larger.

"Liepard, Max Darkness!" Liepard surrounded Slowbro in darkness, doing quite a bit.

"Slowbro, Max Ooze!" Slowbro shot a large blotch of poison at Liepard. Slowbro's Sp. Attack rose.

"We need to defeat it! Liepard, Max Darkness!" One more Dark Type move defeated Slowbro! It fainted and both Pokémon reverted back to their original size.

"No no no!" Klara shouted.

"Hey," I said, holding out my hand. "Thanks for the match."

Klara smiled. "You as well, I guess."

"Okay!" said Mustard. "Isaac, Avery, it's your turn now!"

Both Trainers walked up to face each other.

"I can't predict who will win," said Avery. "But I will try my best!"

"Hey Gloria!" said Isaac. "This victory is for you!"

I looked away; this was getting beyond embarrassing.

Dojo Trainer Isaac Vs. Avery

"Go Rockruff!" Isaac shouted.

"And I'll use Swoobat!" Avery replied. Clearly, Rockruff had the advantage. "Swoobat, Confusion!" Swoobat made Rockruff feel a bit dizzy.

"Come back with Rock Tomb!" Rockruff made a bunch of rocks crowd up on Swoobat; a Super Effective hit!

"And now Swoobat, Air Cutter!" Swoobat fired streaks of air at Rockruff. Whilst not very effective, it was a Critical Hit.

"Rockruff, Rock Tomb again!" Rockruff made more rocks crowd up on Swoobat.

"Confusion!" One more Psychic Type attack and Rockruff was finished.

"Don't underestimate us! Go Poliwhirl!" The Water Type was next. "Bubble Beam!" Poliwhirl fired bubbles at Swoobat, defeating it.

"Oh dear, what am I to do? I know what, go Kadabra!" Avery sent out Abra's evolved form, the spoon holding Kadabra.

Kadabra (ユンゲラー)

#032

Psychic Type

Psi Pokémon

4'03" (1.3 m)

124.6 lbs (56.5 kg)

Using its Psychic power, Kadabra levitates as it sleeps. It uses its springy tail as a pillow.

Abra -Lv 16- Kadabra

"Kadabra, Psybeam!" Kadabra fired a pink beat at Poliwhirl.

"Use Ice Beam back Poliwhirl!" Poliwhirl shot white energy at Kadabra.

"And Kadabra, Energy Ball!" Kadabra fired a green ball at Poliwhirl. It was knocked out.

"Big deal, I can still win! Heracross, go!" Finally, was Isaac's strongest Pokémon.

"Kadabra, Psybeam!" Kadabra attacked with a Psychic Type move, almost defeating Heracross.

"Come back with Horn Attack!" Heracross rammed Kadabra with its horn, but it was clear who the winner was.

"Psybeam!" Kadabra beat Heracross.

Avery and Isaac shook hands.

"Great battle, both of you!" said Mustard. "Now, we will take a short break before Gloria and Avery battle."

I eyed Avery. He saluted.

After a rest up, it was time for my battle against Avery.

"Same rules apply!" said Mustard.

"Hope you realise who you're going up against!" Avery said.

"I do!" I said. "But I hope you know you're going up against the future Champion of the Galar region!"

Gloria Vs. Avery

"Swoobat!" shouted Avery.

"And I'll be using Liepard!" I replied. "Fake Out!" Liepard clapped in front of Swoobat; it flinched.

"Now Swoobat, Air Cutter!" Swoobat fired streaks of air at Liepard. Thankfully, it missed.

"Assurance!" I shouted as Liepard attacked Swoobat with its Dark Type move.

"Air Cutter again!" Swoobat fired more streaks at Liepard, this time hitting.

"Use Torment!" Liepard shouted at Swoobat. Now it couldn't use Air Cutter that turn!

"Oh no! Fine. Swoobat, Swift!" Swoobat fired stars at Liepard. It hit.

"Come back with Assurance!" Liepard defeated Swoobat.

"Okay then. My next Pokémon is Kadabra!" Avery sent out his next Pokémon.

"Assurance!" Liepard hit Kadabra with a Dark Type move, doing a lot to it.

"Energy Ball!" Kadabra fired a green ball at Liepard. It finished it.

"Uh oh," I said. "Come on out Lombre!"

"Psybeam!" Kadabra fired a Psychic Type attack at Lombre.

"Bubble Beam!" Lombre fired bubbles at Kadabra. It was a Critical Hit that took it down!

"Well, onto my final Pokémon it seems! Go Slowbro!" It was a Poison Type.

"Lombre, Bubble Beam!" Lombre fired another round of bubbles at Slowbro.

"Now! Shell Side Arm!" From its arm cannon, Slowbro launched poisonous liquid at Lombre. It was defeated.

"Thanks," I told Lombre. "Finally, Raboot!" And yes, it was time.

"LET'S DO THIS!" We both shouted. "DYNAMAX!"

Raboot and Slowbro got much bigger.

"Now Raboot, Max Flare!" Raboot kicked a large amount of fire at Slowbro. This caused the weather to become sunny.

"Use Max Mindstorm!" Slowbro fired a large amount of Psychic energy at Raboot. Psychic Terrain appeared on the field.

"One more Max Flare!" Raboot launched more fire at Slowbro. Critical Hit! Slowbro was defeated.

"That's great!" shouted Master Mustard. "Everyone, we have ourselves a winner!"

Avery, Klara, Isaac, Honey and Hyde applauded me.

"You should be proud," said Mustard. "But… there is one more trail."

"I have to battle you?" I asked.

"Just kidding!" he said. "Though if you want to battle me, it can't be now. I am far too strong at full power. You are talking about a previous Champion here. When you finally take down Leon, come and see me, and I would be happy to oblige. But for now…"

Kubfu suddenly appeared before me. "Will Kubfu warm up to Gloria?" Honey asked.

I looked into Kubfu's eyes.

Kubfu looked into mine.

Kubfu walked up to me and jumped up. We fist bumped! Everyone cheered!

"Goodness!" said Mustard. "This is amazing!"

"Ready Kubfu?" I threw a Pokéball and Kubfu went inside. I had myself not just a new Pokémon, but a Legendary!

"Congratulations!" said Master Mustard. "And to all of you as well! Now, may I all award you with this." In some jars, Honey handed us all some Max Soup. "When your Pokémon eat this, they can Gigantamax! Of course, only certain ones can do it."

"Thank you," I said.

"The trials are over!" said Master Mustard. "Thank you to everyone who came to this class! Please leave your clothes in the basket outside and I hope to see you again soon!"

Before I went off, Master Mustard stopped me. "Huh?" I asked.

"You have potential miss. Your next step is to adventure with Kubfu. Then, bring it back here when you feel the time is right. We will then have Kubfu evolve."

That sounded exciting. "You got it Master."

"And I presume you're heading to Stow-on-Side next?"

"Uh huh," I replied.

Master Mustard smiled. "Then tell Bea that her Uncle Mustard wishes her my best. She's a tough cookie."

Location: Fields of Honour

After getting changed, I looked out to sea. It had been a tiring couple of days to say the least.

"Hey," said Avery. Klara joined him.

"Oh, you two," I said. "I guess this is goodbye for now."

"Yeah," Klara replied. "So what are your plans love?"

"I'm going to continue obtained Badges," I said. "I'm not even halfway there yet. I'll head back to Postwick first though and introduce Kubfu to my best mate Hop. He's Leon's brother."

"Sounds good," Avery said. "As for us, I think we will work to become Gym Leaders. We will need to become part of the Minor Division though before we can go up to the Major Division."

"It will take a lot of work," Klara said. "You'll see our face in the Gyms soon enough!"

"I wish you both luck."

We all gave each other a group hug, and I headed off…

Isle of Armor – Mainland Galar

Location: Postwick

"Shut up!" shouted Hop. "You got Kubfu?"

"Yep!" I said. "It was hard work, but I got there!"

"Nice!" Hop replied. "Does that mean you're back on the Gym battle road?"

"Heck yeah!" I replied. "I suppose Stow-On-Side is next, though we'll go via Hammerlocke. There is a Gym there to, but I think Raihan is a bit strong for us. We have lots of training to do."

"Then…" said Hop. "We can go to the northern Wild Area! They have lots of Pokémon there to!"

"I'm excited!" I replied. "Onwards to Hammerlocke!"