Just picked up Ichiban. We get a slightly slower paced chapter this month.
Picking up where the last chapter left off. Kiawe reveals the Z Crystal hidden in En's collar to Sun, and we get a gag where Sun automatically thinks of its price, and Moon sees it through. She pinches him, saying 'I know what you are thinking', and Sun immediately replies 'I'm not selling it! I'm not selling it!'. Mallow and Lana usher the group to the Ruins of Life as they are worried about Tapu Lele, and also want Kiawe to teach Sun the Z Move. Kiawe requests himself to be 'delivered' to the Ruins, and Sun summons Tauros, heading off as Mallow and Lana keep the Team Skull Grunts at bay.
Later, at the entrance of the Ruins, Moon tends to Kiawe's wounds, and enables him to stand. Kiawe postulates that En unleashed an incomplete version of the Z Move at the Festival Tournament, and explains that the Z Ring, Z Crystal and Z Pose are the 3 integral parts of successfully using a Z Move. Moon realizes that the Sparkling Stone is the Z Ring, but Sun says he doesn't know any Z Bouzu (Bouzu can either mean a 'brat' or people who shaved their heads like monks. This is a phonetic gag since Bouzu and the Japanese katana for pose 'Po-zu' are very similar). Kiawe thinks Sun must have somehow moved his arms akin to the Z Pose, allowing the somewhat incomplete Z Move getting pulled off. Sun brags that lucky people will always get things go their way, and Moon shoots him a look of disdain. Kiawe then demonstrates the Pose, but Sun is reluctant to do the 'dance'. Kiawe insists that only when he masters the Z Move will he be able to beat the Team Skull Enforcer. Sun doubts it, but Moon agrees with Kiawe, and reminds him that in order to deliver the Mirage Berry to Tapu Lele, Sun must do anything. Sun has no choice but to comply, but finds himself unable to tap into the mood, until Kiawe reminds him of the thought he had back when he unleashed the move at the Festival Tournament. Not surprisingly, the 100 million yen goal becomes Sun's motivation, and he easily masters the 'dance' by reciting the words '100 million yen'. Sun realizes the problem that he actually doesn't have the Sparkling Stone right now, but Kiawe offers to let him borrow his. Kiawe also explains how draining it is to unleash a move, which is why he is asking Sun to practice it without the Z Ring.
Suddenly, Type: Null ambushes them, and we see Gladion, having taken Tape Lele hostage (it has retracted its head like when it does its Z Move and is carried around like a bag, rather than captured). Kiawe reveals that his Sparkling Stone was given to him by Tapu Lele 5 years ago, but the deity is not responding. Moon realizes that it must still be suffering from its injuries when it battled Xurkitree, and Gladion finally understands why it was so easy to capture Tapu Lele, having fought creatures coming from the crevices in the sky. Moon questions Gladion's intention, and the boy reveals that his goal is to get the Tapus. Moon believes that his ultimate goal is to fight the mysterious creatures from the wormholes, which is probably the reason the Tapus are angry, and proposes that they all work together rather than fight. However, Sun refuses to collaborate with someone who sided with an evil team, and plans to blast him off with a Z Move.
Unfortunately, when Kiawe hands him his Z Ring, Type: Null shatters it, and Gladion mocks that Sun cannot win with a move that knocks himself unconscious. He recalls the reason Sun emerged victorious at the Tournament was because the Kahunas stepped in. The Kahunas were so thrilled by Sun's possession of the Sparkling Stone that he was basically asked to forfeit. Afterall, if he sent in his Porygon, Sun's Litten would stand no chance. Gladion once again mocks how the Z Move wouldn't help Sun win against him, but a voice comes on to mock Gladion instead, saying he wouldn't have shattered the Z Ring if what he said was true.
The voice turns out to be Kahili, who has flown in on her Skarmory. She sends out her Toucannon to hit Type: Null with a Drill Peck, and skillfully 'golf in' the Pokeball of Oricorio in front of Sun, delivering his Z Ring to him. She believes that Gladion knows he would lose in face of a Z Move, which is the real reason he broke Kiawe's Z Ring. With that, Sun formally pulls off the fire type Z Pose, and unleashes an Inferno Overdrive...
Pics:
1) Moon
pinching Sun for thinking of selling the Z Crystal
2) Sun
bragging that he is one of those always lucky ones and Moon making a face
3) Kiawe and the fire type
Z Pose
4) Sun feeling
overwhelmed by the Pose
5) Sun
reminding Kiawe that he doesn't have the Sparkling Stone now
6) Gladion
captured Tapu Lele
7) Z Ring
shattered
8) Toucannon
hitting Type: Null
9)
Kahili arrives
10) Golfs in her
Oricorio
11) Sun
hurting himself while trying to force on his Ring
12) Sun
channeling his aura to En's
Inferno Overdrive
====================
Well, just like Mega Evolution had almost an entire chapter dedicated to it, I suppose it's just fair that we have nearly a full chapter dedicated to explain the Z Move's mechanics. I'm liking Kahili's portrayal in PKSP, and Moon gives us her monthly dose of unique expressions. Somehow I wonder if Tapu Lele may have half-voluntarily let itself be taken by Gladion? Perhaps the 4 Tapu will each choose a character to latch onto? Sun, Moon, Gladion and maybe Hau?
P.S. As for B2W2 not happening this month again, I will just say it's becoming a norm.
Coronis~