fallers_rpg | INTERLUDE | Like No-One Ever Was (Calm Before the Storm)

While Hala got challengers on many occasions, there were few that were preempted by a visit by the Tapu.

From behind the house, a large yellow crested Pokemon flew away, trilling as Hala stepped out from the back yard. "I've been informed of your coming, young one." said Hala calmly as the large crested Pokemon settled atop the building, giving Zahra a look. "For someone with such a fighting spirit, you have trained quite a lot. But for what reason I wonder?"

Tapu Koko, Guardian Deity of Melemele Island seemed to regard Zahra with a inscrutable expression as Hala gestured for them to follow him towards the battle stage. "In the sight of Tapu Koko we will battle. Only he can judge this Grand Trial's outcome."

Zahra meets (can they really look into his eyes when they're almost always closed?) Hala's eyes, staring at the Kahuna defiantly. "Alola offers challenges like nothing I've ever seen before. If I don't rise to them, I'm undeserving of the title I earned back home."

that sounds somewhat concerning zahra

Powerstancing on one end of the stage, Zahra takes a deep breath, preparing themself, before offering a deep, respectful bow to Tapu Koko. "Thank you for this opportunity."

"Ho?" asked Hala thoughtfully, moving towards the stage as one of his judges stood there, awaiting the battlefield. "So you have your reasons. But your resolve is interesting to say the least."

"This will be a two on two battle! The Challenger is allowed to swap out their Pokemon at any time while the Kahuna is not!" Exclaimed the judge, one of the students at Hala's dojo.

Hala bowed his head, as he started to pray. "In the sight of Tapu Koko, I ask for the guidance in this battle. May I teach the lessons needed to be taught, and the lessons to be learned. Give me strength in the coming minutes ahead, and the wisdom to see things through."

Tapu Koko trilled in response, and the judge, who also had his head bowed, raised his hand. "Challenger, Kahuna, please send out your first Pokemon!"

Kahuna reached for a Pokeball, but a trilling noise came from Tapu Koko. He paused, and then reached for the other one. "Indeed, if that is your will. Then I will let loose with everything I have all at once! Hariyama! My friend, come!"

With a resounding crash, Hariyama slammed down onto the field, startling the on-lookers. For the Tapu to demand the use of the ace Pokemon right away: this was no ordinary challenge.

As the judge lays out the rules, Zahra unclips a Premier Ball from their belt... and retrieves a Love Ball from their backpack, taking a deep breath as they feel the weight of it in their hand.

After spending day after day loitering on the routes and in the wilds, training their team against any wild Pokémon and any trainer that was up for a battle, Zahra had gotten something of a reputation. Specifically as "that one dragon-type person, Arceus how did they get Dratini and Deino so quickly"

And so, just in case there was some situation that would have them facing off against an opponent that would have reason to investigate their techniques and prepare a counter-team before hand, Zahra has trained a certain Pokémon to throw a wrench in their plans in relative secret, never using her in trainer-on-trainer battles and training her in the wilds only.

However, Hope was also really their, well, only hope against the Kahuna's team. This would be her first time fighting against another trainer. "I'm counting on you two," Zahra whispers, giving the Pokéballs a reassuring squeeze before turning to Tapu Koko.

"In the sight of Tapu Koko, I ask for strength in this battle. May I return the victor and the stronger for it. Give me resolve in the coming clash, and the will to use it."

Zahra's grin slashes open their face as Hala brings out Hariyama. "Good! Hold nothing back! Let's go, Hope!" They throw the Love Ball into a ring, and a Ralts emerges in a flash of light, imitating Hariyama's combat stance. It's... kinda cute, actually? Which, of course, is part of the plan. "Hope, use Charm!" The Ralts giggles, looking adorably at Hariyama from underneath her bangs.

It's time to go.

But without warning, the Kahuna made the first move.

"Hariyama!"

And without warning, Hariyama moved as he closed the gap with a Fake Out, completely ignoring the Charm as it practically slid off the older Pokemon with a direct and strong strike.

The first move was to Hariyama, and Fake Out was at its most effective when it came out first in the turn.

"Double Team, now!"

Hariyama's Fake Out strikes thin air, as with a speedy blur Hope reappears right behind him, a ball of glimmering pink energy appearing between her arms. Zahra's smile grows wider. "Alright, Hope. Here we go: Psybeam!"

"ALLLLLTS!" A pillar of psychic energy bursts from between her hands, striking the Hariyama... and doing absolutely nothing.

Well. This isn't ideal.

"Strength like that is well trained. However, it bares that type advantage isn't everything!" Exclaimed Hala. "Belly Drum!"

Striking his stomach several times, a rhythmic pounding was heard as its power boosted itself several times over, increasing its attack to the absolute maximum. "Now, let us see what comes of this match. Hariyama, Close Combat!"

And that's a solid hit.

The all-out pummeling (the regular kind, not the Z-move) that Hariyama gives Hope is painful to watch, and Zahra visibly bites back a scream. The Ralts is launched back to their side of the field, and Zahra kneels down as she struggles to her feet.

"Hope, are you-"

"R... alts..."

"Okay." Taking a deep breath, Zahra straightens, glaring at Hariyama... then holds out their Pokéball. "I know you want to fight more, but I can't have you getting hurt even more. Hope, come on back."

The Ralts returns, and Zahra looks at their Premire Ball. "Hideo, do the best you can, okay?" The toss the ball out, bringing out a... a Toxel. "Alright. Let's do this!"

"To know your limits is commendable." said Hala. "Were you to continue battling and devote yourself past your Ralts' limit, well, it might have been a different story. But now you face Hariyama once more."

The referee raised his hand. "Toxel vs Hariyama, battle begin!"

"Hariyama, Heavy Slam!" Exclaimed Hala as Hariyama charged in with a Heavy Slam to slam his hand down on Toxel.

Zahra just nods, bracing themself for the battle ahead. Hope, the Pokémon most powerful against Hala's team, was down, and Hariyama was at his most powerful.

But...

But.

Belly Drum and Close Combat made him vulnerable, too. If Hideo could just get a few solid hits in- As Hariyama hurtles towards Hideo, Zahra orders, "Knock him out of the air while he's off-balance. Use Nuzzle!"

The Toxel leaps up, clothed in sparking electricity, and rams into Hariyama with full force... and actually manages to force him back. Now that the Hariyama is paralyzed, they might just be able to get a good hit in.

"Now, use Acid!" And with the Belly Drum and Close Combat lowering his defense, this just might work. Hideo spews a gout of orange acid at the Hariyama, hoping that it makes contact.

Edited 2020-01-05 03:49 (UTC)

Even with the momentum, it seemed like everything would make sense and that Zahra's Hideo would have advantage. But then...

"Hariyama!" Hala suddenly shouted as he crossed his arms and Hariyama dodged smoothly. The power of the Z coursed through him as the spiritual, majestic flames flickered across Pokemon and Trainer.

Hala began the pose, bringing his foot high into the air as he slammed it down as a sumo would. "I share the will of Melemele island and that of the guardian deity Tapu Koko -- as Island KAHUNA!"

With Hariyama copying his pose exactly, completely in sync as he brought up his hands and light crashed into Hariyama. Throwing fists forward, Hala threw his fist into the air as he brimmed with golden light which coursed into Hariyama. "Now it is time for all this power to act in concert!"

"ALL OUT PUMMELING!" roared Hala as the Z-move initiated as the words bloomed into being, shimmering into existence as the massive wave of fists crashed forward at Hideo like a non-stop tide of hands.

Sometimes, it's not about tactics. It's not about type advantage, or status ailments. It's not about buffs or debuffs.

It's about raw, unadulterated power.

To Hideo's credit, she manages to dodge the first few, stumbling out of the way. But they just. Don't. Stop. Before the Z-move is even over, Hideo is knocked out flat on her back, fainted.

"HIDEO!" Zahra rushes into the field, returning the Toxel to her ball. They sigh, staring at the stone beneath her feet... then looks back up at Hala, smiling brilliantly. It's not fake, to cover up the impact of the loss, or even spiteful in any way. The thrill on Zahra's face is genuine.

"Sweet Slifer, you were amazing!" Zahra runs back up to Hala, offering a hand for him to shake. "That was the best Pokémon battle I've had here!"

Hala smiled as he grasped Zahra's hand and shook firmly as well. "And did you learn something as well from it?" he asked them.

"Even power, pure and unadulterated such as the Z is something that has its place," elaborated Hala. "But what do you think that means to you? What does power mean, and what does it mean being worthy of such a position of earning a place within it's grasp? Tell me: what is it that you fight for?"

Tapu Koko trilled as Hala looked up at him. "This is the question Tapu Koko asks as well. "He wishes to know what you wish to battle for, timeless one."

Zahra thinks for a moment, staring up at the sky.

"The truth is, that's something I've been struggling with l- no. For almost a year now, even before I came here. Becoming and staying the best is engraved in my soul, but that's not enough, I think.

"Back home, there was always something that needed fighting against or for. Before I existed, Anzu fought for her future and Atem fought for his past. When they came together to make me, I... I was different. There wasn't really any time for introspection since- okay, it was a lot, not going to get into that stuff, but...

"I've just been living since all of that ended... what, eight months ago now? And I've been trying to find something to fight for, something to propel me forward and make me improve myself, but other than that instinct to be the very best like no-one ever was there's nothing. Wanting to be strong isn't enough to be strong, and I haven't been able to find anything to help me move forward.

"I was hoping battling you would help me find that spark again, but I'm not sure it has."

They sigh, neck bowed and hands stuffed deep into their pockets. "I just... I just don't know what to do. Battling was my life back home until it wasn't, and I don't know what I could or should do here other than endlessly train and fight."

Hala regarded the young person in front of him. So young, and so old at the same time. Neither man nor woman, just there, all at once. Tapu Koko trilled and he smiled, before leaning back on his sandals a little, looking up into the skies.

"I think then... you know the answer to that question." said Hala.

The wind blew as he said, "You... are here to find that question. Even if you make mistakes... even if your questions are the right ones, and you perform the wrong deeds, there is always the path you choose ahead of yourself. Endlessly devoting yourself is one path ahead of yourself, but choice is always an option ahead of yourself now."

"Alola is a land of self discovery, natural beauty and wonderful creative spark. Even with the danger that approaches, and the slumbering deities in your soul, never forget what this land has to offer -- another road. Keep that in your heart, timeless challenger, and you will find your path."

At this, Hala turned to Zahra. "Come to challenge me again, when you feel like you've taken the step in the path you want to, wherever your path has led you. I will be waiting."

INTERLUDE | Like No-One Ever Was (Calm Before the Storm)

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ORAORAORAORAORA

:D

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