Emerald Town.
During the Mask Festival, the town was overflowing with life. The celebration had drawn countless Trainers from all across the regions.
Lanterns and festival lights wound their way up the mountain road, linking Emerald Town to the Kitakami Community Center. Together, they illuminated the night sky, bathing the heart of Kitakami in warm, golden light.
Tourists dressed in festival yukata and wearing colorful masks strolled along the path, laughing with friends, enjoying food stalls, and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.
But tonight, an unusual crowd had gathered in front of the community center.
The reason?
A very special Pokémon battle was about to unfold.
On the battlefield, a tiny girl, no more than five or six, stood proudly across from a teenage girl.
The sight left many spectators gaping in disbelief.
"What's going on? That kid looks way too young to be a Trainer!"
"She doesn't even look six! You can't officially become a Trainer until you're ten."
"Then how do you explain the three Pokémon standing behind her?"
All eyes shifted past Elara, the little girl on the field.
There, looming in protective silence, stood three majestic Pokémon. Their very presence radiated divine power and dignity.
A breeze swept through, ruffling the fiery mane of one of them, its crimson fur blazing like a living flame, majestic and awe-inspiring.
"Wait… those are!" someone gasped. "The Legendary Beasts… Entei, Suicune, and Raikou!"
The murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
From their protective stance, it was clear: the three Legendaries weren't just present, they were guarding the girl at the center of it all.
But who exactly was she?
The whispers grew louder, and even Juliana, Champion of Paldea, felt the weight of the stares. A ripple of pressure pressed against her chest.
Meanwhile, Elara was completely unfazed. With her fists clenched and a confident smile, she called out, "Sister Juliana, I'm ready!"
Juliana exhaled slowly, steadying her nerves. "Alright… I understand." She drew a standard red-and-white Poké Ball from her belt.
Elara mirrored her with a determined grin. "Then let's begin!"
Together, the two Trainers threw their Poké Balls.
Twin flashes of white light burst across the field. One Pokémon emerged large and commanding, the other small and serpentine.
Juliana had sent out a Meowscarada.
Elara had sent out a Dratini.
The crowd froze.
"Dratini?!"
Gasps rippled through the spectators.
"Is that really the Pokémon she picked?"
"That Dratini looks so young! How could it possibly stand up against a well-trained Meowscarada?"
Even Juliana faltered for a moment, staring at the tiny Dragon-type with concern.
"Are you sure about this, Elara?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes!" Elara said without hesitation, her eyes bright with determination. "Dratini and I have been training really hard. Sister Juliana, please battle us seriously!"
Juliana: "…"
A smile tugged at her lips. 'What a stubborn little kid…'
"Alright then," she said softly. "Let's battle."
The referee signaled, and the match officially began.
"Dratini, Dragon Breath!" Elara shouted at once. She remembered her father's lessons, seize the initiative!
"Draaa!"
Dratini coiled its body, then shot forward, releasing a stream of shimmering purple flames charged with draconic energy. The attack rushed toward Meowscarada like a wave.
Juliana sighed under her breath. "Too slow… too slow." She softened her voice, drawing out her words so her partner would catch her intent. "Meowscarada, dodge it."
Meowscarada's ears twitched. It had been with Juliana long enough to recognize her subtle signals. Instead of easily sidestepping, it deliberately slowed its movements, letting the attack graze across its body.
The crowd blinked in surprise.
"Did… did Meowscarada just get hit?"
But Elara narrowed her eyes. Something wasn't right.
Her gaze darted to Juliana, who gave a faint, knowing smile.
"Sister Juliana, don't hold back!" Elara shouted, her voice ringing clear. "I want a real Pokémon battle!"
Juliana stiffened in surprise, then gave a small nod.
She realized at once, holding back would only insult Elara's spirit as a Trainer.
"You're right." Juliana's eyes sharpened with resolve.
"Elara," she said firmly, "let's get serious."
A wide, joyful smile spread across Elara's face. "Yes! Dratini, let's give it everything we've got!"
The battle resumed.
At Elara's command, Dratini unleashed a crackling wave of electricity, its body glowing as it fired off Thunder Wave in an attempt to paralyze its opponent.
But the gap in power was far too wide.
"Meowscrada, let's move!" Juliana called firmly.
Meowscarada blurred forward, its speed ghostlike as it easily slipped past the electric wave. Then, with a sharp swipe of its claws glowing with psychic energy, it struck Dratini hard, sending the little Dragon spiraling through the air.
"Dratini!" Elara cried.
Her partner hit the ground with a thud and lay still.
Rushing forward, Elara knelt beside it, pulling from her satchel the bottle of Gogoat Milk her father had prepared for her. Carefully, she held it to Dratini's mouth.
"Here… drink this."
Dratini stirred, its body glowing faintly as the restorative drink worked its magic. Its breathing steadied, and it slowly raised its head again. Relief washed over Elara's face.
But in that moment, she realized something.
'Sister Juliana is strong… far too strong. Neither Dratini nor Larvesta could win against her at this stage.'
"Bago! Bago!"
Suddenly, her Terapagos burst out of her backpack with a bark, refusing to sit idle any longer.
As Elara's closest friend and companion, Terapagos couldn't stand watching her lose, it wanted to fight by her side!
Elara gave Dratini a gentle smile, recalling it back into its Poké Ball. She turned to her brave little partner.
"Terapagos… do you want to battle?"
"Pago-go!" Terapagos yipped eagerly, puffing out its chest as it faced Meowscarada, full of fighting spirit.
Juliana's eyes widened slightly. "Terapagos…?"
She was taken aback. For such a young child to control a Pokémon like this… it reminded her of a story she'd once heard at Blueberry Academy, where a professor had mentioned the strange origins of Terastalization, and Terapagos' hidden connection to it.
Though Terapagos looked like a simple, doughy tutle Pokémon, she knew the truth. This tiny creature held the power of something ancient… something legendary.
The crowd, however, had no idea.
At first, the onlookers murmured in confusion. "What is that? It looks so weak, like a starter Pokémon!"
But then,
Terapagos began to shine.
Brilliant crystalline light erupted from its body, dazzling and radiant. The air trembled as waves of energy pulsed outward.
"That's… Terastallization!" someone shouted in shock. "But, how?! Where's the Tera Orb?!"
No one could explain it. No one could imagine that this Pokémon wasn't just using Terastalization, It was the very source of Terastalization itself.
The transformation didn't stop.
Terapagos' body expanded, its form evolving into something immense. A massive, turtle-like shape emerged, surrounded by a radiant orbit of crystals, each one blazing with the power of a different elemental type.
Above this crystalline "planet," a giant turtle stood proud, while atop its head rested a much smaller turtle, its original form still visible.
The crowd gasped in unison, every eye locked onto the miraculous sight.
"What… what is that Pokémon?"
Elara's own jaw dropped as she gazed up at her partner's new form. She had never seen Terapagos transform like this before.
"Wow…" Her eyes sparkled, her voice filled with awe. "It's so beautiful!"
Like a star!
"Bago!"
After completing its Stellar Form, the Terastal energy within Terapagos intensified to a terrifying level.
It turned back to glance at Elara, calling out firmly, "Bago!"
Terapagos could sense the immense strength of its opponent. Now, it was ready to unleash its true power.
Juliana's expression grew more serious than ever.
The second round of the battle began!
This time, Juliana decided to fight with her full strength.
"Meowscrada, Flower Trick!" she commanded sharply.
Meowscarada leapt gracefully, its movements like sleight of hand. With a flick of its wrists, dazzling bouquets of glowing flowers materialized, spinning through the air as they shot toward Terapagos.
The crystalline turtle floated calmly in place, unmoving, simply watching as the attack closed in.
Closer… closer!
Just as the flowers were about to strike, a radiant shield of pure Terastal energy flared into existence before Terapagos. The blossoms collided, but they could not pierce its defense.
"Impossible…" Juliana whispered, her eyes widening in astonishment.
Before she could issue another command, Terapagos's body erupted with a surge of cosmic energy.
In the next instant, a storm of starlight burst forth, countless shards of crystalline brilliance exploding into the sky. Like a galaxy descending, the stars rained down upon Meowscrada in a breathtaking cascade of power.
The entire battlefield was swallowed in dazzling light.
The crowd froze, their pupils reflecting the brilliance as time itself seemed to stop.
It felt like an eternity, though only seconds had passed.
When the light finally faded, Meowscrada lay sprawled on the ground, fainted and unable to battle.
The onlookers erupted in shock. "!!!!"
Gasps and cries filled the air, while others stared blankly at their Rotom Phones, still recording.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?"
"How can it be this powerful?!"
Juliana stood in stunned silence.
Elara, however, was gazing at Terapagos's glowing shell, awe shining in her young eyes. Then, as if something clicked in her heart, she called out:
"Sister Juliana, let's stop here for today!"
Juliana blinked, surprised, but when she looked at Elara's serious little face, she said nothing more, only gave a small nod.
"Alright."
Elara ran over and held out a bottle. "This is Life Goat Milk my daddy gave me. If you let your Pokémon drink it, they'll feel better right away!"
Juliana accepted it quietly, touched by the child's kindness.
Meanwhile, Elara turned back to her partner, gently patting Terapagos on the head. "Thank you for your hard work, Terapagos!"
"Bago-go!" the legendary turtle chirped, its crystalline eyes gleaming with joy.
"Sister Juliana, let's go back!" Elara said cheerfully, slipping her small hand into Juliana's.
Juliana smiled and nodded, walking back with her, while the three Legendary Beasts, Entei, Suicune, and Raikou, followed silently behind, their presence radiating divine dignity.
But Elara's mind was clearly elsewhere.
As soon as she returned to her room, she rushed to pick up her Rotom Phone.
Her little fingers tapped quickly, and in moments, the call connected.
"What's up, Elara? Did you and Juliana make it safely to Kitakami Village?" Naoki asked over the Rotom Phone.
Elara nodded eagerly. "Yes! Daddy, I just had a Pokémon battle with Sister Juliana!"
Naoki: "…"
He had suspected this would happen.
"So," he asked patiently, "how did it go?"
"I lost…" Elara admitted, her voice tinged with discouragement. "But Terapagos helped me defeat Sister Juliana's Meowscrada."
"Then why do you sound unhappy?" Naoki immediately noticed the weight in his daughter's voice.
"Because…" Elara frowned, her small face tightening in frustration. "Because I don't think I'm a good enough Trainer."
"Huh? What makes you say that all of a sudden?" Naoki asked in surprise.
Elara lowered her gaze. "Because I've never really raised Terapagos myself. I don't even know all the moves it can use. It wasn't me, it was Terapagos's own power that defeated Sister Juliana's Meowscrada. Dratini and I couldn't have done it on our own."
Her fists clenched as she whispered, "If I'm just relying on Pokémon's strength without doing anything as their Trainer… then I'm not really a Trainer at all."
"I see." Naoki was silent for a moment before smiling warmly. "You truly are my daughter. I'm proud of you for realizing this so early."
Elara's eyes widened, lifting to the screen.
Naoki continued gently, "Terapagos chose you. It likes you, and it wants to travel with you. That makes your relationship with it special, more like partners than a typical Trainer and Pokémon bond. But tell me, what do you think you should do in this situation?"
Elara tilted her head in confusion, thinking hard. After a while, she shook her head. "I don't know…"
"Listen carefully," Naoki said with a steady tone. "Your thought isn't wrong. For now, what you should do is train hard, focus on raising Larvesta and Dratini into strong Pokémon with your own effort.
"When you've grown strong enough, when you've earned Terapagos's full recognition, then you'll stand behind it as a true Trainer. You'll fight together, side by side, as equals."
Naoki's heart swelled with pride. Elara was so young, yet she already understood what many adults took years to realize.
He remembered his own past, the gap between his skill and true champions like Leon and Alder. He had won the Masters Eight only through unorthodox methods. In truth, he had never been a Trainer at heart, merely a rancher who fought out of necessity. Commanding Pokémon in battle was never his calling.
But Elara was different.
Hearing her father's words, Elara's eyes lit up with clarity. Slowly, her expression shifted from troubled to determined.
She turned toward Terapagos, who floated quietly beside her. Her voice rang out with conviction.
"Terapagos, I promise, I'll work hard to become stronger, to earn your recognition, and to fight alongside you!"
"Bago-go!" Terapagos trilled happily. It didn't fully understand her words, but it could feel the sincerity in her heart, and that was enough. Its shell gleamed with joy as it responded, "Bago!"
Naoki, watching the scene through his Rotom Phone, let out a long, relieved sigh. His daughter had found her resolve.
But that relief would not last.
The very next day, headlines exploded across the Poké-world:
"Shocking! A young girl appears in Kitakami Village with multiple Legendary Pokémon!"
...
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