The countryside. 14:30.
The School of Aria continued with the Pokemon trying their best to master controlling the water by just singing while Kyogre sits by, waiting for a wonderful song to happen. The Pokemon who had already learned sound-based moves could perform this, however, some hadn't learned sound-based moves yet.
One of them being Popplio, who was still trying to learn a sound-based move. Everyone else was getting the hang of it, except for her. On the plus side, she had learned Hydro Pump so it wasn't all bad.
"Popp!" Try as she might, Popplio wasn't able to let out any sound moves. Neither Sing, Echoed Voice, Disarming Voice or even Hyper Voice was coming to her. Meanwhile, everyone else was already ahead of her.
Some were even starting to slightly move the water with their voices. But only slightly. The best they could do was two drops of water from the lake. But it was something at least. The same could not be said for poor little Popplio, who was really trying her best.
She could hum, but that was it. After all, humming isn't exactly a Pokemon move. Unless somewhere out there, a move like that exists that hasn't been found yet.
"Oh, Popplio," Aria said. "Guess it's super hard for you out anyone else here, huh?"
"Pop..."
"Tot!" Adagio's Kricketot decided to try and encourage Popplio along with Sonata's Buneary and Eevee.
"Eevee!"
"Bun!" The trio tried to help by using their own humming as Popplio copied them. But unsuccessfully, sadly. She was having trouble getting the hang of it, even when following her friends and her idol Primarina.
"Is there like a quicker way to get Popplio to learn a sound move? Everyone else here seems to be doing just fine with it." Aria asked.
"It's easy for some Pokemon, but not all Pokemon, sadly." The employee shook her head.
"Popplio..." The Sea Lion Pokemon whimpered.
"But...there's always the second-best option." The employee grinned.
"Really?!" Aria and Popplio shot up as they got in the face of the employee. "What is it?!"
"Popplio?!"
"W-Well, isn't it obvious?" The employee laughed nervously while Aria and Popplio were up in her face. "A battle, of course. That's one of the many efficient ways to learn a move."
"Oh...Okay, that makes sense." Aria nodded. "But, who are we gonna battle actually?"
"Options are available. You can either go against the Songstress Primarina or anyone else here."
"Oh!" Sonata slid over. "Aria! How about we battle each other?! Sound good?"
"Me? Battle you?" Aria raised an eyebrow.
"Mhm! Been a long time coming, don't ya think?" A sassy Sonata nudged her big sister. "We're both trainers here. We can help each other out."
"Can you even battle?" Aria asked. "Like, really focusing on the battle?
"Of course, I can! I've copied everything I've seen. From Ponyville to the Canterlot Tournament." Sonata let out a proud smile. "I'm a pretty decent battler if I do say so myself."
"Eevee!"
"Buneary!" Her Pokemon jumped on her head and back, showing off with their trainer.
"Hm...Alright. But just because we're sisters, I won't go easy on you. Got it?"
"Understood 100%! This is gonna be so awesome! I'm gonna battle just like Ash!"
"Just like Ash? Sounds impossible." Aria shook her head.
"Pssh. It's not that difficult." Sonata scoffed. "Just go wild and make up neat tricks along the way. That's how Ash does it, right?"
"...Sure." Aria glazed her eyes. "You gonna watch us, Adagio?"
"Watch you two go at it? Yes please!" Adagio stood up. "Even if it's between your Pokemon, I want to see this without a doubt. Been wanting to know which one of you's most likely to fall first in a worst-case scenario. Just in case..."
"Kinda evil don't ya think..." Both Aria and Sonata said in their minds.
"Then!" The employee clapped her hands together. "Let's get this started. The lesson will continue either way. But you'll still have the chance and all the time to learn from the Songstress either way!"
"Prima!"
"Right! Let's do it!" Sonata put her hoof around her big sister, excited and raring to go. And the same can be said for Aria.
The two of them stood on their respective sides afar from each other.
The employee would act as the referee while a few of the town residents would come by and watch this small battle. And by a few, it was almost all of them because of how small this town was.
Kyogre was waiting for the song to show up, but it could also kill some time to watch a random Pokemon battle as well. Over the years, Kyogre is definitely a Pokemon with great patience.
"You have two Pokemon as opposed to her single Popplio. Should we make it a 1 on 1?" The employee asked.
"Hmm...Whaddya think Aria?" Sonata questioned.
"Meh. I can handle 2 Pokemon." Aria shrugged.
"Alright then. Your choice. Both of you may send your Pokemon forward!"
"I'll start with you! Eevee!" Sonata chose her Eevee first.
"Eevee!" The Evolution Pokemon jumped over Sonata.
"We're learning a sound move...and I don't care which one it is. Let's go. Popplio. The first time we're in a battle so do your best."
"Popplio!" The Sea Lion Pokemon waddled forth, ready to make her trainer proud.
"Battle...start!"
"Okay, Eevee! Let's get up close! Tackle!"
"Eevee!" Eevee went first by running straight towards her opposing Pokemon.
"Let's stand back instead. Popplio! Use Water Gun!"
"Popp...Lio!" Popplio stayed on the same spot she stood as she puckered her mouth, squirting out a forceful blast of water.
"Vee?!" Eevee gasped as she had been hit by Water Gun, getting soaked and being forced back as she skidded back to Sonata's side. "Eevee!"
"Ah! Eevee!" Sonata gasped.
"Now it's our turn to get close! Use Aqua Jet!"
"Lio!" The Sea Lion Pokemon engulfed herself in an aura of water as she lunged towards Eevee at a speed that made her almost invisible.
"Quick! Eevee! Use Swift!"
"Vee!" Eevee had her own fast attack. The Evolution Pokemon swiped her tail, spraying star-shaped rays that flew towards the opposing Pokemon.
"Manoeuvre through them, Popplio!"
"Pop!" Popplio spun around, using Aqua Jet as a method of evading and advancing as well. She flew over and under, side to side, dodging the star-shaped rays that were thrown her way. With the stars avoided, Popplio crashed into Eevee, leaving behind a watery explosion as the Evolution Pokemon had been knocked back.
"Vee-Vee!" Eevee flew back as she had fainted mid-air.
"Not my Eevee!" Sonata shook her head aggressively as she witnessed her Pokemon fall to the ground, landing flat on her face, fainted.
"Eevee..."
"Eevee is unable to battle! Popplio wins!"
"Just a few hits...bummer..." Sonata lowered her head. "Good job anyway, Eevee."
"Eevee..."
"Lightwork," Aria smirked.
"Popplio!"
"Oh! Aria's pretty good isn't she?" Sunset applauded.
"Hm. Pretty good. Or Sonata's just not that good." Adagio shook her head.
"Hey! I'm good!" Sonata puffed her cheeks. "Just my first battle that's all...Besides. I haven't had the chance to use Ash's battling style yet. Where I go crazy, ya know."
"Hm." Aria nodded before looking at Popplio. She then began thinking in her head. "Still no new moves. Maybe against her Buneary, I might learn something."
She then looked to the side, seeing how some of the Pokemon had just learned how to manipulate more than 2 drops of water as they were learning quick. Some were even starting to ride on their manipulated streams of water. Albeit, 2 feet off the ground.
Aria also noticed that Popplio was gazing at the Pokemon who were successfully progressing in the School of Aria with Primarina giving them praise. Popplio, while a bit sad, knew that she would be able to make Primarina praise her as well since she sees great potential in the Sea Lion Pokemon.
Seeing that her partner was just as determined as her, perhaps, even more, Aria was fixated on making sure that Popplio succeeds and learns a sound-based move instantly. Just to make her friend happy.
"I won't let you down, Popplio. So you can smile proudly in front of your idol..." Aria then turned to face her little sister once more as her eyes flashed. "Are you ready for round 2, Sonata?" Her tone suddenly changed.
"Eugh! Where's this energy coming from all of a sudden.?" Sonata winced as she pulled back a bit. "But yeah...I'm ready. And I'm gonna win! Let's go Buneary!"
"Buneary!" Buneary stood on her head with her as she bounced over Sonata, landing in front of her. "Bun-Bun!"
"We'll get you a move that'll let you sing, Popplio," said Aria.
"Popp!"
"You scare me sometimes, Aria...but I won't lose! Alright, Buneary! Jump really super high and use Dizzy Punch!"
"Bunear!" The Rabbit Pokemon used her ears to bounce off the ground, ascending high into the air with impressive hop strength. "Buuuun!" Buneary then started spinning in the air with her ears lighting up as she was spinning so fast, she looked like a drill while creating a mini-hurricane around her.
"We'll shoot her down! Hydro Pump! Go!"
"Lio...!" Popplio opened her mouth, creating an orb of water that was charging up high amounts of water, waiting to be released.
"Bun!" Buneary rocketed downwards while spinning around and having the mini-tornado around her.
"Now! Fire!"
"Popp!" Popplio fired the Hydro Pump from her mouth as a high volume of water came streaming out of the Sea Lion Pokemon's mouth.
"Not today! Use Agility to dodge and get in there!"
"Neary!" Surprising Aria and Popplio, Buneary had used a second move while utilizing Dizzy Punch in the air. Buneary's body and mini-hurricane were surrounded in a white light as she used the rhythmic energy of Dizzy Punch and speed of Agility to gracefully spin around Hydro Pump.
"Oh!" Aria gasped as she witnessed Buneary spiralling around the blast of water.
"Bunear!" Buneary moved faster than Hydro Pump as she appeared in front of Popplio in seconds. After getting past Hydro Pump, the Rabbit Pokemon smashed both her ears onto the head of the Sea Lion Pokemon.
"Pop...Popp!" Popplio's head bounced after the hit as she was knocked back.
"How's that?! I learned that trick after watching some Pokemon Contests! Now, follow up with some more Dizzy Punch! Super-fast!"
"Bun!" Buneary followed up as she didn't allow Popplio to have any time to breathe, immediately running towards her foe while her ears lit up.
"Water Gun, go!"
"Pop!" Popplio was luckily quick enough to retaliate as she started shooting out shots of water towards the Rabbit Pokemon. However, thanks to Agility and Dizzy Punch's rhythmic and unpredictable nature, Buneary was able to evade Water Gun by replicating what Popplio did against Eevee's Swift.
"Buneary!" After successfully dodging Water Gun since it wasn't that fast of a move, Buneary then proceeded to continuously strike Popplio in the face with rapid-fire Dizzy Punches via her ears as her movements were blinding like lightning. "Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun-Bun!"
"P-Pop!" Popplio couldn't fight back as she was getting pummeled by repeated Dizzy Punches.
"Bunear!" Buneary then dealt one final blow with a powerful uppercut to Popplio's face, sending the Sea Lion Pokemon flying into the air.
"Lio!"
"Oh!" Sunset Shimmer gasped as she and Adagio looked up.
"We're looking good, Buneary! Let's wrap it up Bounce!"
"Bun!" Buneary hopped on her head once more, bouncing high up with her ears already holding a ton of power behind them.
"We won't lose...Not until we get the voice we need! And achieve Popplio's dream! Aqua Jet!"
"Pop!" The Sea Lion Pokemon, despite taking a barrage of punches to the face, could still and carry on. She closed her eyes as she charged downwards with a stream of water surrounding her.
Popplio and Buneary clashed heads, creating a tiny little fissure. Upon contact, they both managed to give each other fairly painful head concussions as they both were knocked back by their collision They were both now falling from above.
"Now's our chance...Hydro Pump, full blast!"
"Lio!" Popplio proved to be the more resilient one as she faced Buneary who was falling side by side with her. A large orb appeared in front of the Rabbit Pokemon, ready to be unleashed.
"B-Bun?! Buneary!" Buneary started flailing as she was running on air, trying to get away.
"Uh oh!" Sonata realized that they were in a bit of a rough spot. Popplio was too close and Buneary doesn't have the right momentum to use Dizzy Punch in the air. She also doesn't have any ranged moves, sadly. "Uh! Quick! Buneary! Use uh..."
Too late. Popplio was ready to fire.
"Popplio!" With no hesitation, the Sea Lion Pokemon shot out a potent blast of water that consumed the Rabbit Pokemon as Hydro Pump sent Buneary back to the ground.
The volume of water hit the ground, causing a bit of a tremor along with a liquid explosion occurring after the impact. Since Popplio fired it downwards, she was able to slow herself down so that she could land safely. Which she did.
The water was clearing as the outcome had been revealed. Buneary couldn't withstand that Hydro Pump. As such, she had fainted.
"Buneary..."
"Buneary is unable to battle! Popplio wins! Which means the victor is Aria Blaze!" The employee declared.
"Aw...!" Sonata pouted as she sat down. "That settles it...Aria's one tough trainer."
"Bun..." Buneary nodded as she stood up.
"Wow! For her first battle that was incredible!" Sunset was stunned.
"Yeah..." Adagio agreed with a nod.
"Good work Popplio. Did you learn any new moves from that?"
"Popplio!" Popplio turned around, glad that she made her trainer proud. But as for a new move, that was yet to be discovered. The Sea Lion Pokemon held her breath in, ready to perform another hum in hopes that she had gained a sound-based move.
Adagio, Sunset, Sonata, Aria, Buneary, Eevee, Kricketot and the employee leaned in to see if Popplio could pull it off and finally advance in the School of Aria.
"Pop...!" And the result? She did actually learn a new move. But not the one she wanted. Out of her mouth, bubbles came flying out, showing that she had learned Bubble Beam instead of any normal sound-based move. Bubble Beam was her fourth move learnt. "L-Lio?"
"Seriously?" Aria's eyes widened as her eyebrows angeled into a less happy state. "Just Bubble Beam?"
"Well at least she learned a new move, so it's not a complete failure right?" Sonata went over to Aria.
"Yeah but...not the one she wanted is it?" Sunset shook her head.
"Hm. That's a real shame, actually." Even Adagio felt bad for Popplio.
"Hm...perhaps a second try?" The employee shrugged. "There's not always a 100% guarantee it'll learn the move it wants most of the time anyway."
"Yeah. I noticed." Aria sighed. "Sorry, Popplio. Maybe a second battle?"
"Pop." Popplio sat down, feeling a bit exhausted after the battle with Sonata. She was a bit distraught from not learning any sound-based move. Her Pokemon species is genetically capable of learning sound moves considering what the final evolution is, but so far, there's been no luck.
"Maybe no more battling for a while. Let's get you some rest first." Aria said. "You're still pretty beat up. Are there any potions nearby?" Aria decided that it would be best if Popplio didn't battle for a while. She could get some rest instead. And perhaps, just practising without battling might work out.
17:50.
The sun was now giving off an orange glow as it was on the horizon. Aria and Popplio were still trying to learn a sound move. But there was still no luck. Everyone else had gotten far enough. They were able to manipulate the water by controlling a few small streams with their voices. But that was as far as they all went. They had their limits currently.
"Popp!" Popplio didn't give up. She kept trying to learn a sound-based move.
"Bit slower this time." Aria encouraged her partner. "You're getting there!"
"Lio!" Even if she hadn't learned a sound-based move, her humming was still fairly pleasant to the ears with a nice melody. It showed that Popplio had the potential to sing beautifully eventually. After all, that's the nature of the Popplio evolution line.
Popplio was tiring herself out. Even with her determination and passion, she was still little and fragile. The Sea Lion Pokemon sat down, trying to catch her breath.
"No good, huh?" Aria sighed. "Maybe you'd like another battle with someone else?"
"Pop..."
"Marin?" Primarina noticed this, seeing how Popplio had failed to learn a sound move despite her efforts. Obviously, she could try again, but seeing Popplio in this state was unpleasant and just made Primarina show high amounts of pity and empathy for the little Popplio.
"Lio..." A disappointed Popplio sighed as she saw that the sun was now on the horizon. She could be here all day at this point as she looked down at the ground.
"Prima." The Soloist Pokemon went over to the Sea Lion Pokemon.
"Pop?" Primarina looked up at her idol.
"Ma. Marina." Primarina put her flipper over Popplio, comforting her fellow Water-Type. She knew at this point, Popplio's hope was slowly fading away. So she decided to cheer her up along with Aria. "Prima!" The Soloist Pokemon was about to use her signature move.
Sparkling Aria.
She hummed a small song which ended up creating a large orb of water with bubbles and sparkles surrounding it. However, her singing so far to the point where it duplicated into two. The orb flew over to Popplio and Aria, placing them both inside of the Sparkling Aria all of a sudden.
"Huh?" Aria looked down to see that she was now inside of the orb as it was floating, carrying her up.
"Pop?"
"Priiii!" Primarina made more orbs that went towards Sunset, Adagio and Sonata, carrying them and their Pokemon as well. Soon, everyone in the countryside had been picked up by the orbs. Very little considering the size of this place.
"Ooh!" Sonata gawked at the beautiful orb surrounding her.
"What's going on?" Sunset looked around the orb that she was being carried by. Primarina continued to sing as she was controlling the orbs of Sparkling Aria with her voice.
Popplio and everyone were given a calming melody while also being sent high into the air. But for a reason. Primarina Sparkling Aria wasn't sending them up or even causing music to come out. The sparkles from the orbs multiplied as some of them flew off.
The sparkles then flew over Kyogre, landing in the lake. Once the sparkles multiplied and flew over to the body of water, the entire lake had been given millions of dazzling sparkles that could be seen over the horizon. Popplio and the others were given a high view of this as they saw how far the sparkles stretch out onto the horizon.
The way they shined with the orange glow of the sun while illuminating the lake was beautiful to look at. And to Popplio, it was more beautiful than anything as her eyes lit up from seeing this sight while also listening to the melody of Primarina.
And this melody is what Kyogre needed. It was finally getting to hear a song from Primarina. The Sea Basin Pokemon let out a low-pitched cry that somehow went well with Primarina's singing.
"Pretty!" Chloe gawked.
"Yamper!"
"Countryside always has the best music in one way, right?" Hollow said.
"Mhm." Jewel nodded in agreement.
Everyone was stunned. But none were more stunned than Popplio. The song was so enchanting to her as well as the melody. So enchanting that her eyes were flashing all of a sudden while her mouth was twitching.
"What a view...Guess this is her way of cheering Popplio up. It's great isn't it Popplio?" Aria turned to her partner. But when she did, she noticed something different about Popplio.
"Pop..." Popplio's tone was suddenly shifting. Something was definitely happening to her. As Primarina's song increased in volume, further escalating the beauty, Popplio felt enchanted to join in, just like Kyogre.
Popplio began singing to Primarina's melody as she felt the urge to do so. At first, it looked like her usual humming. However, not this time. Because Aria saw something magical.
Inside of Popplio's mouth, a pink glow was emanating, slowly trying to come out. Aria gasped as she recognized which move that resembled.
It was Disarming Voice.
With all of her energy, Popplio had used Disarming Voice as a charming cry came out of her mouth, mixing well with Primarina's melody. She had finally learnt a sound-based move as Popplio's Disarming Voice was apart of Primarina's song, which Kyogre enjoyed greatly.
Primarina had noticed this as she was proud that Popplio had managed to learn a sound-based move at last. In fact, this was one of the many options the employee didn't mention. Sometimes, moves can be learned in the spur of moments such as this.
Popplio's singing was even starting to move the water itself. She was already advancing in the School of Aria without even noticing herself, showing just how fixated and focused she was right now. The small streams of water flew around the orb that surrounded Popplio as it was all gravitated towards her.
Primarina's song was slowly coming to an end as Popplio followed the Soloist Pokemon's slow movements to make Disarming Voice flow well with it. The song came to a resounding end with a peaceful hum at the end of it. One that was enough to soothe the soul. It certainly soothed Kyogre's soul.
The orbs gently placed everyone down as they had popped, leaving behind falling sparkles.
"Popplio! You did it!" Aria, more excited than usual, ran over to pick up her partner as she gave the Sea Lion Pokemon a beloved hug. "You learned Disarming Voice!"
"Popplio!"
"Spur of the moment. Nice." The employee nodded.
"So that's what it took for her to learn a sound move? Worth if it you ask me." Sunset Shimmer said.
"About time," Adagio replied. "Kinda glad for her actually.
"Woohoo!" Sonata dashed over, hugging both Popplio and Aria at the same time. "Congrats you two! I feel so proud right now! But not as proud as Primarina over there."
"Prima." Indeed she was. The Soloist Pokemon went over to Popplio, showing a proud smile on her face. "Marin! Marina!"
"Popplio!" And of course, Popplio felt a great achievement because of this. Gaining a sound-based move was by far the best moment in her life. For now. There was certainly more to come.
However, the Sea Lion Pokemon yawned, showing that she was too tired to continue today. That soothing song definitely did it for her as Aria picked her partner up.
"Oh, sorry. Guess we should get you to sleep. Maybe tomorrow, you can continue. Are you still gonna be here tomorrow?" Aria asked.
"We sure are. Until Wednesday of course." The employee answered. "We look forward to what you'll do tomorrow!"
"Prima!"
With the song over, Kyogre could finally leave. That was all it wanted. The Sea Basin Pokemon let out a farewell cry that alerted everyone as it turned around, fully submerging its body into the sea.
Everyone waved goodbye to Kyogre as they had enjoyed its company. Plus, they got to see a Legendary Pokemon, so that was a huge plus in their book. Kyogre was most likely heading back to the seas of Hoenn as the journey continues.
Chapter 354 End.