Ting-Lu: "My Hero!"

"Roar!"

The sound of a dragon's roar came from the clouds, and a flash of orange appeared between the clouds.

Wide wings flapped, hurricane winds whistled, the huge Charizard carrying Aisha soared in the sky.

"Ohh~ ~ ~!"

Riding on top of the Charizard's broad back, facing the strong winds, Aisha's hairstyle had turned into a big back, and he was cheering very happily.

No matter how many times he had experienced it, the feeling of flying freely in the sky on the back of a flying Pokémon like this was still something he couldn't get enough of.

The dream that has been engraved in the blood of mankind since the beginning of time is to break free from gravity and fly high into the sky.

And, Pokémon has been the help to fulfill this wish...

Now that Charizard was flying with Aisha in the sky, far from the ground, he looked down and had the feeling that he was looking at the mountains.

"Eh..."

When Aisha looked down, the mountains below and in the distance stretched into the distance.

Between the mountains, the deep canyon was like a sword mark engraved on the ground, following the footsteps of the mountains, stretching to the sky.

"Still ahead."

Aisha thought to himself.

According to the location information given to him by Chien-Pao and Chi-Yu before his departure, where Ting-Lu was hiding was at the end of the canyon, between the mountains.

All he had to do was to follow the canyon all the way...

"Charizard, speed up!"

Patting Charizard's neck, Aisha laughed heartily and ordered it to fly a little faster.

If it was an ordinary Pokémon trainer, he wouldn't dare to command his Pokémon to fly too fast due to his weak body compared to Pokémon and the wind pressure.

But Instructor Ai doesn't care.

Dayan Sword Saint was fearless.

Even if Charizard was flying at full speed, the wind pressure that hit Aisha while he was flying was just a breeze to Aisha.

It didn't even blow his hair!

"Roar!"

Charizard also smiled happily and roared.

This dragon roar was so loud that it shook the sky and moved the earth.

Birds flew in the forest, and beasts emerged from the mountains.

The wild Pokémon living in the Ting Canyon were all watching Charizard's wings soaring in the sky as if they were enemies.

However, Charizard that flew across the sky didn't even give them a look.

Its thick tail, along with the hurricane's sweeping winds, swung continuously.

The flames burning at the end of its tail left a bright line of fire in the sky, like a shooting star crossing the sky, shining brightly.

"Roar!"

The wind roared, and on top of Charizard's long neck, a flame-like feather burned vividly, as if it were alive, emitting a warm glow.

Aisha noticed this with a thoughtful expression.

It was the feather of Moltres, a prize given to him by Lance when he won the Indigo Plateau Conference and emptied the Kanto League's coffers.

This thing does a lot of things...

In addition to lighting the sacred fire in the Indigo Plateau Conference's fire pit as a symbol of the Kanto people's spirit, it is also, as Lance said, a highly effective Fire-type secret treasure.

If you use it on a Fire-type Pokémon, you'll get a lot of benefits.

Instructor Ai only had two Fire-type Pokémon on hand.

Chi-Yu doesn't need it.

So only Charizard can take advantage of it.

But it's good that Moltres and Charizard are both Fire and Flying Pokémon, so if he absorbs this feather, Charizard can absorb all the Flight energy contained in the feather, in addition to the Fire energy, which is a truly rational use.

"Good..."

Aisha smiled.

He was also looking forward to how powerful Charizard's fire power would be after he really finished digesting the energy in this feather, with his phobia of not having enough fire power?

"Speaking of which, Ho-Oh is also a Fire and Flying attribute..."

Rubbing his delicate chin, Instructor Ai suddenly remembered the Ho-Oh that was enshrined in Bell Tower, the totem of Johto region and the spiritual symbol of its people.

This guy was a full-fledged upgraded version of Moltres.

"Hmm..."

Instructor Ai had a bold idea.

"I'll pluck a feather from it someday and use it on my old sprayer."

This is really bold.

"Instructor Ai."

At that moment, Rotom phone's voice pulled Aisha back from his thoughts.

It floated behind Charizard's neck, and while avoiding the strong wind, it lit up the screen and showed Aisha the map.

The map clearly showed that with the Charizard flying at full speed, they were gradually approaching the edge of the canyon.

As they were about to fly out of the canyon, the map showed that there was a large area of mountains and ravines, with cliffs and walls everywhere.

Instructor Ai was glad that he had trained Charizard and tiny Metagross to fly.

If we were to go on foot on the ground, not to mention the distance, but the steep terrain of the mountains and ravines, it would take a lot of time.

"When you're a trainer, you have to arrange your transportation..."

Aisha sighed from Charizard's back.

When traveling and practicing, one must go through countless rugged and dangerous terrains.

From this point of view, the traveling Pokémon trainers were more like ascetics than those monks in the monasteries.

In this case, a mounted Pokémon that is physically capable of traveling over most of the terrain is a must-have for a trainer.

Walking on the ground.

Crossing seas and rivers.

Flying.

A flying Pokémon can overcome most obstacles.

However, Instructor Ai wanted to have a Pokémon that could cross the sea properly, considering the problems of combat and endurance.

Naturally, he couldn't rely on Azumarill to cross the sea...

"I wonder if Rapid Strike Urshifu would work?"

Muttering this to himself, an image came to Aisha's mind.

The dashing, majestic black bear, like a real warrior in a martial arts drama, was treading water and floating steadily on the surface of the water.

"Hiss..."

Instructor Ai let out a breath of cold air.

"So cool!"

"Indeed."

Rotom phone echoed Instructor Ai's words.

Then, it spoke in a somewhat flirtatious manner.

"Actually, Instructor Ai, if you don't mind, I'm also an all-purpose transportation."

Aisha: "?"

Looking at Instructor Ai who had a question mark on his head and a rapidly rising Special Attack, Rotom phone spoke out his idea.

"Look, I become a washing machine, Instructor Ai you can sit on me to cross the sea, I become an electric fan, Instructor Ai you can grab me to fly to the sky, if you want to race, I can also become a lawnmower form for you to make do with a little bit of driving."

Aisha: "..."

Instructor Ai looked at the sky.

He imagined himself sitting on the lid of a washing machine, flying across the ocean, holding a fan with one hand.

And then, the image of driving in a lawn mower...

It was too beautiful to think about.

"What do you take me for?"

Aisha rubbed his brow.

"Tom?"

"Eh-heh-heh," Rotom phone chose to play dumb and cute.

"Uh..."

Aisha shook his head.

However, Rotom Phone's interruption reminded him of his conversation with Clemont at the Prism Tower in Lumiose City.

"I wonder if that inventor has found a way to make a Rotom bike yet?"

A million-dollar bike is the standard for every trainer.

Especially since the Rotom bikes popularized in the Galar region in later years were also designed to be launched into the water, taking the job of surfing's secret transmitter out of the equation, Instructor Ai couldn't help but think about it.

"That basin you mentioned, it's up ahead."

Rotom phone reminded Aisha.

It zoomed in on the map on the phone's screen.

Aisha saw a very special terrain at the end of the canyon - a flat area sunken between the mountains.

That was exactly where Ting-Lu was!

"Buzz!"

"Woo!"

At that moment, the sound of swords and fish chants also reached Aisha's ears.

Chien-Pao and Chi-Yu seemed to be prompting him.

"Okay."

Clenching his hand into a fist, Aisha revealed a battle-hardened smile.

"Charizard, fly that way!"

"Roar!"

With a roar, and a strike of his wings, Charizard flew towards his destination, trailing a bright light of fire.

...

"Crack!"

The earth cracked under the giant tree.

With a flash of cold light, a bronze spike stained with a touch of patina broke out of the ground.

A pair of eyes flashed coldly between the cracks in the earth.

"..." The vessel was silent, but its aura gradually rose.

It sensed that the scent of the sword and the bead were rapidly approaching the area.

As the distance drew closer, the vessel clearly sensed that the two auras, which were as distinct as fire and ice, were coming towards him with the same emotion.

It was malice...

And the will to fight!

They were challenging themselves.

"..." The calm stag remained silent as always, but, between its eyes, it flickered with a battle intent as hot as flames.

Come on.

Let me see what kind of confidence your new master has given you to trust him enough to assist him in sending me his ill will.

"Ka, ka!"

The wide ground was cracking, deep cracks spreading out as densely and rapidly as a spider's web.

Until... The ground under the giant tree shattered!

"Boom!"

"Yo!"

In the midst of the shattering sound of the ground, the high pitched cry of a giant deer was heard.

The deer's roar resounded through the sky and spread throughout the land.

The basin, like an ancient tripod, suddenly boiled up.

The wind, the water.

The roar of the earth.

A thick and incomparable like a mud pillar as solid thighs from under the broken ground out, a long time to step on the sunshine of the earth.

Buried deep in the ground, not see the sun for a long time of the bronze tripod finally saw the light of day.

"Ow..."

With the ancient tripod on its head, its body was as solid as the earth and as majestic as a mountain, the majestic stag stood in the center of the basin.

It raised its voice to the sky.

"Ow!"

The deer's roar is like a warrior's drum.

Ting-Lu is like an old general on the stage, waiting for his opponent with a steady step.

The deer stepped out of the shade, and the sunlight poured down, filling the bronze tripod on its head.

"Ow!" Is it coming?

Ting-Lu raised its head, its amber eyes reflecting the image of a Charizard disappearing from the sky.

And then... A cold light fell from the sky!

"Swish!"

Carrying his bronze sword, Aisha leapt down from the clouds without a care in the world.

This 100 meter height was nothing to him.

"Boom!"

The young man's figure landed with a bang, like a cannonball on a mound.

There was a loud bang, and debris and smoke were splattered in all directions.

A slender hand with superpowers, fiercely probed out of the diffuse smoke and dust, and tore it apart!

"Whew!"

The smoke and dust that had filled the air was gone with the wind, and a beautiful black-haired boy with a sword in one hand, a jade in the other, and a fluttering coat, appeared in Ting-Lu's eyes.

"..." Amber-colored eyes locked onto the person's body.

Ting-Lu was silent for a moment, and then, its eyes overflowed with a well of satisfaction.

Really, really excellent!

Too good!

"Ow!"

Ting-Lu's chirp was high-pitched and excited.

It was staring at the youngster that appeared in front of it, and its body couldn't stop trembling.

This cold fighting aura... It's just like the heros I've seen in ancient times!

His appearance is even more impressive, and he is so handsome that he is worthy of the title of hero.

No wonder... Sword and bead have fallen under your command.

You're really a hero you can't refuse!

[Hero.]

Reshiram's voice, with a hint of amusement, reached Aisha's ears.

[This giant deer, I'm afraid it's fallen in love with you at first sight.]

"Don't joke."

Aisha shook his head gently.

He stared at Ting-Lu, who was standing still in the center of the basin, with a serious expression.

"Chien-Pao and Chi-Yu said that Ting-Lu is the most calm one among their Four Treasure of Ruin... How could it fall in love with me at first sight?"

[You, you...]

Reshiram's tone of voice showed a touch of helplessness.

[Please be a bit self-conscious about your own charms...]

"Stop it!"

Aisha, who had already entered a state of critical combat, had no distractions.

He interrupted Reshiram's words and violently raised his left hand, which was wearing a jade bracelet, and in an instant, a bright light of fire blossomed!

"Oooh!"

Chi-Yu's long chant could be heard.

Will-o-wisp emerged and quickly drifted towards Ting-Lu, who was gazing at Aisha under the giant tree.

"Ow?"

Ting-Lu had just reacted from the shock of the beautiful boy falling from the sky, when it realized that Will-o-Wisp had already reached its front leg.

With a dull stinging sensation, Ting-Lu was again filled with appreciation.

It's always better to strike first in a fight...

Moreover, he probably gathered information about itself in advance, and that's why he targeted itself to get burned and weakened its physical attack.

He's really a qualified warrior.

Uh...

As the saying goes, "A woman's eyes are a reflection of her beauty."

Ting-Lu sees Aisha's good looks, so it compliments him on his behavior.

If Chi-Yu came and burned Ting-Lu, Ting-Lu would have to scold it for being a bastard...

"Ow!"

Like it or not, Ting-Lu is not a lickspittle.

It recognized Aisha's heroic qualities, and trusted Chien-Pao and Chi-Yu's vision.

But it's time for a fight!

"Rumble!"

The stag stomped its foot, and a wave of earth rose from the ground, whistling towards Aisha in the distance.

"Stomping Tantrum?"

Recognizing Ting-Lu's move, Aisha did not hesitate to leap into the air and use his psychic power to float himself in the air.

At that moment, Ting-Lu screamed in the sky, and a large piece of rock appeared, covering almost all of the sky.

The rocks fell, and Aisha swung his sword to block them.

The light of the Holy Sword flashed through, and the rocks that covered the sky shattered into pieces all over the ground.

"Heh-heh."

Aisha laughed lightly.

When he was learning swordplay from the Three Swordsmen in the Unova region, the most important thing he learned was the use of the Holy Sword.

It was the Three Swordsmen's and Keldeo's favorite move...

Chien-Pao happened to know this move.

Instructor Ai was honored to become an extra member of the Three Swordsmen... Well, isn't it normal for there to be five Swordsmen?

"Swish!"

With a swing of the sword, there was a flash of cold light.

An ice grit tore through the air and struck Ting-Lu's chest in a flash.

As the dual characteristics of the Sword of Ruin and Bead of Ruin were activated together, Ting-Lu's dual defense was violently reduced.

However, as the Vessel of Ruin feature gradually showed its brilliance, the flickering light of the several jades encircling Aisha's left hand also dimmed considerably.

Luckily, this battle didn't require too much fire...

"Ow!"

Ting-Lu raised its head, and with the violent wind and sand brewing in the bronze tripod above his head, a rock lance as large and sharp as a giant sword quickly condensed.

"Buzz!"

Standing in mid-air, Aisha crossed his sword and assumed a stabbing stance.

Sucker Punch!

"Swish...!"

A flash of sword light cut through the sky, and Aisha's sword-wielding figure dashed in front of Ting-Lu's sharp stone attack before it could be launched.

Ting-Lu took a step back with the sword.

Aisha, who was in close proximity to him, raised his left hand, and the jewel on his wrist glittered with an evil light.

Taunt!

This move blocked Ting-Lu's way of regaining its strength with Rest.

Instructor Ai doesn't want to fight a tug-of-war with Ting-Lu.

He's still a human, and doesn't have the stamina of a Pokémon.

"Ow!"

Ting-Lu only felt a burst of anger, and its breathing became much more ragged.

Aisha didn't panic and used Reflect.

Now... I can fight without fear!

"Buzz!"

The bronze sword blossomed with a freezing light, and Aisha slammed it into the bronze cauldron above Ting-Lu's head!