Broken But Unbowed

[onaroll]

Last night, Amelie had a screaming meltdown as five years of trauma repression finally caught up to her. She then proceeded to receive sympathy and understanding from a group of children literally half her age before being bundled off to her wife for the night. She spent a while explaining everything to Apple before crying herself to sleep and waking up to a delicious Japanese-style breakfast prepared by a friend of Ash's, and then it was time.

The Kahuna of Poni Island, Hapu, invited her to participate in her Grand Trial. To 'repair the person that is Amelie.'

She takes a while to prepare - changing her hairstyle to her old low ponytail, swapping out her miniskirt and blouse combo for her suit, and capping the whole thing off with a lapel pin shaped like a spray of white apple blossoms.

With a gesture, she opens the menu and warps to Poni Island. She's ready.

Comments

2/2

[onaroll]

Her eyes snap open. There’s something in them now that speaks of her resolve.

“We won’t be bound by that day anymore! Any of us! Come, Tyrantrum! Roar out our rage!”

At this command, Tyrantrum powers up a Dragon Pulse before firing a Hyper Voice through it. Towards the sea water surrounding them.

“And now...move beyond it. KT IMPACT!”

The Hyper Voice collects the seawater, and the combination of Dragon Pulse and Ice Fang slams into it, creating a massive iceberg that is carried into the air. As Tyrantrum leaps upward, he starts glowing orange before firing off a Draco Meteor through the mass of ice, raining down on Mudsdale in a shower of frozen meteors.

1/3

[duck_npcs]

"Bold words. Mudsdale!"

From the ground, suddenly the missing Mudsdale burst free from it, charging upwards towards the Tyrantrum to clash towards him, covered in Z-Power. It seems, that Amelie had neglected to realize that this was only half of the Z-Move.

The pair of Pokemon slammed together into a explosion and with a thud, Mudsdale landed. For a moment, it seemed like the KT Impact didn't do it. But then, it slumped to its knees and fell, KOed.

"Winner! Challenger Amelie!" Exclaimed Kiawe.

Cheers broke out from the stands as a figure broke from it and charged Amelie.

2/3

[never_give_up]

"You did it!" Exclaimed Serena, clutching onto Amelie happily. "I'm... I'm so proud of you!"

"Congratulations on joining the Grand Trial Club!" Exclaimed Ash, holding out his fist for Amelie to pound as Lana and Kiawe held up their wrists in greeting.

"I'm so proud of you big sister!" Bawled Serena.

3/3

[duck_npcs]

"Yes, yes, you did well," said Hapu, walking forward with a large chest and a Z-Ring. "As Island Kahuna, I present to you Amelie of Kalos, with the mark of the right of passage. Take this Z-Ring as proof of your passing, and..."

She opened the box to reveal a multitude of Z-Crystals. "Select one Z-Crystal from any of these Z-Crystals. It is tradition. Wear it with pride."

Above, sparkling water rained down as everyone looked up as a shell-like Pokemon circled ahead. "Ah," said Hapu, as Tapu Fini trilled overhead. "It seems your heart has truly been cleansed. Tapu Fini has said your heart has been cleansed of doubt and fear. You have been reborn from the old Amelie."

[onaroll]

Amelie doesn't go for the fistbump, instead roping Ash into the hug with Serena. Smiling, she ruffles their hair as she stands up, walking over to Tyrantrum. He makes some small noises nothing like his earlier battle roars and looks down at Amelie, who places a fond hand on his muzzle.

"You feel refreshed too, don't you? Thank you for everything."

Leaning in, she gives Tyrantrum a hug before turning to Hapu. She carefully picks out the Dragonium Z before crouching down and throwing her arms around the Kahuna.

"Thank you...thank you so much!"

1/2

[never_give_up]

Hapu smiles and hugs back. "Go in peace, may your heart be cleansed by the waters of Tapu Fini. I was right, to offer you my Grand Trial."

"You know, this deserves a celebration." said Serena, wiping tears from her eyes. "Once we get back to Melemele, we'll throw a feast for Amelie."

"That's right!" Exclaimed Mallow. "We'll hold it at the Aina Restaurant. I've already told dad to start cooking. It's not every day someone passes the Grand Trial."

"Hapu you should come too!" Exclaimed Ash. "We'll teleport over."

Hapu nodded. "I would be honored. To celebrate, with the guest of honor."

2/2

[cidery]

"We'll be there too," said a voice as everyone turned. There, standing was Apple, her wife, and her parents as well, along with Serena's mother Grace who was noticeably pregnant. A minor footnote, but no one was really paying attention to that. Except for Tzareena who hovered protectively over her.

Cat's out of the bag but, despite this, the situation was no less happy as Grace, Amelie's Grace, sweeps her into a hug.

"I'm so proud of you, my darling girl," said Grace, her father following close behind.

"You found your closure, my wife," said Apple, smiling her thousand watt smile. "Let's go have some cake. Right, papa?"

Tadashi nodded. "I've never had an all expenses paid trip to Alola. Let's make the most of it."

[onaroll]

Amelie returns the hug, clinging to her mother for a moment, before returning Tyrantrum and sweeping Apple into a kiss, her hands going up to run through her wife's hair. As she disengages, she takes Apple's hand in hers and looks around - at her family, at her friends, at all the people that supported her.

"Ah! Je vous aime tous!"

1/2

[duck_npcs]

As the group headed through the teleports back to Melemele, Hapu paused to look over at Tapu Fini who was lingering in the skies over the battlefield.

Tapu Fini was staring over onto the moon for a long moment. "Tapu Fini?" she asked, curious.

Tapu Fini looked over at the cliffside and Hapu followed it. There, a man stood, looking over. He was looking over a Duck Menu as well, watching the proceedings.

2/2

[duck_npcs]

The man smiled.

He bowed and vanished. But not before sending a message to the Duck.

"What ominous statements," said Hapu, having seen it on her own phone before she followed the group through the portal.

"Patch 3.0 approaches. Please Look Forward To It."