Chapter 58: "The Noble Dance of Victory"

"Since we are all set, let's head into the forest tomorrow and help you take back your habitat!"

"Even though your companions have left, once you reclaim your territory, they'll surely be back before long!"

Kuangtai suddenly spoke these words, causing Petilil, who had just been happily rubbing her cheek against his, to freeze in her tracks.

She was gently lifted down from Kuangtai's shoulder by his hands. Her clear, little eyes met his, and a chaotic storm of thoughts began to swirl within her heart.

This day had finally come, after all.

From the very beginning when she first wandered over, this human had mistaken her for an Oddish.

Then, he had taught her how to grow stronger.

He helped her comprehend moves, put her through relentless training, carved little wooden figures for her, and fed her countless delicious berries and meals.

And now, he had even crafted a neat little set of armor for her.

If she defeated that Electrode over there, would she really have to leave the Poké Ball? Leave the workshop?

"Petil..."

Petilil's enthusiasm suddenly deflated.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Kuangtai asked with a hint of confusion. Petilil hopped down from his hands, the three leaves on top of her head drooping slowly as a wave of melancholy washed over her.

If she won, would she have to leave the workshop?

If not, the habitat would simply remain occupied by Electrode. But if that was the case, what was even the point of continuing to fight?

There was... no longer any reason to fight.

Kuangtai sensed Petilil's dejection and, putting the pieces together in his mind, suddenly asked, "Are you reluctant to leave this place?"

"Petil..." Petilil glanced back at Kuangtai, then looked over at the absent-minded Doublade.

Should she leave... or stay?

She was completely torn.

"Don't worry," Kuangtai's voice drifted over, causing Petilil to raise her head once more.

"Whether you want to leave or stay, I won't stop you. You can take your time to think about it, and then..." Kuangtai paused for a moment. "...do what you want to do... do what you believe is right."

The leaves on top of Petilil's head slowly straightened back up. A thoughtful look appeared in her eyes, though her expression remained deeply sorrowful.

She didn't want to leave.

Seeing this, Doublade finally snapped out of its usual daze!

Oh! So she didn't want to leave; she had grown attached to the workshop!

Doublade floated over and stroked Petilil's leaves with one of its ribbons.

"Yo-hoo~"

"Yo-pu~"

Ah, meetings and partings are simply the way of the mortal world. Sometimes, people are merely passing travelers in your life, and likewise, you are merely a traveler in theirs. Just like me—the entire kingdom became a mere passerby in the lifespan of my blade existence, from the king to the knights, everyone went out together in a chorus of joyous laughter and total annihilation.

"Petil~"

Petilil questioned Doublade, implying that since Doublade also had a former master, didn't it feel any emotional attachment after he vanished?

Doublade replied that although the existence of its former master felt like just a short while ago to it, a thousand years had already passed chronologically, and its former master had long since turned to dust. Sometimes, one had to face reality, and more importantly, do things that held personal meaning!

Its current self had already found a new way of life, and the memories of the kingdom era were gradually fading. Compared to the past, the present suited it much better.

Of course, another reason was that the emotional bond between its former master and itself wasn't all that deep... after all, it had ended up gathering dust in a warehouse in the end.

Anyway, if reclaiming your habitat is something you find meaningful, then go ahead and do it!

Once you're done, just come back. Don't worry about whether other Pokémon will try to occupy it again; whenever you see a Pokémon show up, just march up and slap it twice. Before long, no other Pokémon will dare run over there!

Doublade's method of counseling was rather crude, yet it managed to bring a tearful smile to Petilil's face. At that moment, Kuangtai walked over.

"Wawa!" Petilil hopped over to Kuangtai, the three leaves on her head swaying back and forth.

"If you're still willing to keep living with me, doing it the way Doublade suggested is actually fine too," Kuangtai smiled gently. "Everything is up to your own choice."

"We must follow the voice within our hearts and never choose something that will make us regret it."

"Petil!"

Petilil's little skirt-like petals ruffled as she cheered herself on, and gradually, a resolute thought began to form in her mind.

Yes, just as Doublade had said!

"Wawa!"

Even if another Pokémon were to come and inhabit the territory later on, that would simply mean she had chosen to abandon the habitat herself—just as she had actively chosen to leave Lilligant and the other Petilil behind!

That was her own choice! Actively relinquishing something versus having it stolen away by others were two completely different concepts!

She wanted to fight, and then... return right back here!

She didn't want to leave!

"Pokémon with a stubborn nature can sometimes find their way out of a psychological dilemma much faster," Kuangtai smiled faintly.

There was nothing wrong with being stubborn! Compared to timid or introverted Pokémon, they were much tougher, and once they set their minds on something, they were far less likely to give up!

"Alright, that's settled! Tomorrow we'll make our preparations and go challenge that Electrode!"

"Wawa!"

Kuangtai reached out his hand, and Petilil lifted her little skirt-hem as well. The two of them shared a high-five!

At the same time, Doublade raised its ribbons, grasping one of their hands in each, and chimed in with the tone of an elder:

"Yo-hoo~"

"Yo-pu~"

See? The advice given by someone who has lived for a thousand years is always better, right? Sometimes, you youngsters really ought to listen more to the voices of the ancient veterans!

"That being said, now is the exact time for that other matter."

Kuangtai rose from his squatting position, walked over to the workbench, and picked up the stone sculpture of Arceus.

However, a thoughtful look crossed Kuangtai's face.

Actually, an somewhat irregular evolution move had already manifested previously.

And that was "Weather Ball."

Theoretically speaking, Petilil shouldn't be able to learn Weather Ball; it was a move that could only be acquired after evolution, regardless of which evolved form it took.

During his previous work, he had unexpectedly unlocked this move. This meant that through crafting, one could occasionally acquire moves belonging to evolved forms—though perhaps they weren't strong enough?

No, Weather Ball was already considered a remarkably powerful move; it was simply limited to being used under specific weather conditions.

In the natural world, certain Pokémon could also learn skills under special circumstances that were normally restricted to post-evolution stages. Thinking of this, Kuangtai nodded inwardly.

Could it be that Petilil's learning talent was unexpectedly high?

Then, what kind of powerful move would the stone sculpture of Arceus reveal to Petilil?

Could it be... that dance?

Accompanied by his two Pokémon and the stone sculpture, Kuangtai left the workshop and stepped out into the clearing. Petilil also knew that this stone sculpture possessed extraordinary power—something Kuangtai had created, yet strictly forbidden anyone from touching.

Was this the moment to use it? What kind of power would it grant her? Petilil wondered.

"This stone sculpture is of Arceus, a Pokémon said to be the deity who created the world," Kuangtai introduced to his two Pokémon. Both Petilil and Doublade were deeply moved.

A Pokémon that created the world?

To think... such a Pokémon existed! No, at that point, it could hardly be called a Pokémon anymore!

"So, come and comprehend it now. You can feel the power emanating from the sculpture, right? Touch it, and then..."

"Everything is up to you. It can help you comprehend a powerful, post-evolutionary move, but it only works for Pokémon."

Without hesitation, Petilil reached out and touched the stone sculpture of Arceus.

A grandiose, ancient melody resounded within Petilil's heart—music that seemed to traverse thousands of years, echoing from a primordial era. It was originally the tune played by the people of the Shinnoh region to demonstrate the magnificent power of Arceus.

Bathed in the washing tides of a thousand years, the music spanned the gap from the ancient past to the future!

A strange energy surged from the surrounding air, and a brilliant radiance began to bloom around Petilil. This glow bore a striking resemblance to the light of evolution.

The ancient melody intertwined with this converging energy. Petilil closed her eyes, listening to the music as numerous vivid visions filled her mind.

A distant sky, primeval mountains, a tranquil forest, ancient ruins.

Radiance illuminated the heavens, and the ruins restored themselves to a time of prosperity. Countless humans and Pokémon sang and danced, holding aloft torches whose warm glow caused the light in the sky to burst forth in a brilliant interplay of radiance and fire...

Those dances... the dances of the people and the Pokémon, carried a peculiar charm and power.

Using music... and dance, to manifest the great might of the deity!

Following this, Petilil withdrew her small fist from the sculpture. Having gained enlightenment, she began unconsciously mimicking the actions of those ancient people and Pokémon, tracing the steps of their dance!

Right there on the spot, Petilil began to hop and sway as she danced!

Faintly, the music of the ancient Shinnoh era manifested alongside her dance, leaving both Kuangtai and Doublade utterly stunned.

Then, a formidable surge of energy gathered within Petilil, and the radiance bloomed in its entirety!

"Wawa!"

Petilil completed the ancient dance flawlessly, and the glowing light gradually dissipated. The hem of Petilil's skirt ruffled as she realized she now knew how to wield that formidable move!

『The stone sculpture of Arceus has helped Petilil comprehend a powerful move!』

『Petilil has learned "Victory Dance"!』

『Having comprehended Victory Dance, upon exposure to a Sun Stone, Petilil will definitively evolve into its Hisuian form!』

Kuangtai smiled.

Having mastered the noble Victory Dance and secured a definite evolutionary path, the doors to a brand-new world were slowly opening before Petilil!

"However, you don't know Toxic yet. If you did, we could have gone with a cheap status-inflicting strategy. But even as it is, this is already fantastic!"

"Sometimes, a battle of vengeance fought with overly cheesy tactics loses the true meaning of combat. A revenge match like this is much better won through sheer strength, landing every punch and kick directly!"

"Use the power you've gained to defeat them!"

Kuangtai stroked Petilil's leaves before carrying the stone sculpture of Arceus back inside the house.

However, right at that moment, Kuangtai caught sight of the Unown Slate resting on the workbench out of the corner of his eye.

The characters on the slate had rearranged themselves, forming a brand-new word.

Regirock.

"The Unown Slate sometimes foretells special, Pokémon-related events about to occur. So after Celebi, the next one to appear is the legendary giant, Regirock?"