Once the date of the speech was confirmed, Ethan mounted his Absol and set off toward Stonefield Town.
There was still a week left before the ceremony at the school, so he planned to spend those days visiting his parents and, when the time came, head straight to the school.
Last time, he had returned by bus, but now he was riding on Absol's back —which alone made him look far more imposing—, so when he entered the town mounted on his Pokémon, he caused quite a stir among the neighbors.
When he arrived home, he saw his father and Machop working in the field, while his mother and Lotad were watering the garden. Life looked peaceful and prosperous.
...
That night, after a warm family dinner, Ethan went out accompanied by Absol.
"Absol, you're saying there's an energy fluctuation from a Secret Kingdom nearby?" Ethan asked.
The Pokémon nodded and immediately took the lead to guide the way.
Following its steps, Ethan soon arrived at an old, familiar quarry. He climbed to the top of the mountain where, according to Absol, the entrance to the mysterious Secret Kingdom was located.
"Here? No one would imagine there's something like that in a place like this..." Ethan said, gently patting Absol's head.
Then he released Meltan.
"Zzzt!"
Obeying Ethan's signal, Meltan let out a cheerful sound and activated its spatial magnetic field.
Immediately, a portal began to open slowly, revealing the inside of an unknown world.
At that moment, the Pokéball containing Sandslash on Ethan's belt began shaking violently.
Before Ethan could react, the Pokémon came out on its own.
"What's wrong, Sandslash?" Ethan asked, puzzled.
The Pokémon responded with excitement, its expression filled with emotion.
"Wait... don't tell me this Secret Kingdom is your home?"
Recalling the moment he first passed through this world and saw Sandshrew falling from the sky, Ethan had a hunch.
Sandslash nodded quickly, gazing at the entrance of the portal with a mix of nostalgia and determination.
"I see... then let's go back and take a look," Ethan said with a faint smile, remembering how weak that little Sandshrew had been when they first met.
Now, however, it had become a powerful Sandslash, mastering both combo techniques and the ability of dual focus. Its strength was worthy of a true champion. Returning home like this... was, without a doubt, a triumphant return.
"Let's go."
Ethan placed his hand over his Pokéballs and crossed the portal alongside Sandslash, Meltan, and Absol.
...
Darkness surrounded them for a moment, and when it cleared, they found themselves in the middle of a stone forest.
Above them, the sun shone brightly in a clear sky.
"It was nighttime outside... and here it's daytime," Ethan murmured, observing the barren landscape filled with rocky formations.
Sandslash trembled with emotion as it looked upon the familiar surroundings.
Then, suddenly, several earth-colored figures began emerging from the ground.
"They're Sandshrew—there are so many of them!" Ethan exclaimed in surprise.
He quickly released Cacturne and Slowking. Absol and Meltan also took their positions nearby, forming a protective circle around him as they watched the crowd of Sandshrew cautiously.
Sandslash stepped forward to communicate with them.
However, as the exchange went on, its expression grew increasingly agitated, while the other Sandshrew began backing away, showing signs of alarm.
Suddenly, a roar echoed through the entire area. From the ground emerged an enormous figure —a Sandslash over three meters tall, glaring at them menacingly.
"A Totem Pokémon!" Ethan exclaimed, astonished.
Totem Pokémon were a phenomenon first discovered in the Alola region. Unlike others of their kind, these individuals were gigantic and surrounded by a special aura of power.
This Sandslash, at least three times the size of a normal one, radiated a terrifying pressure. Facing it, Ethan's reddish-furred Sandslash stood firm, the two locked in a clear confrontation.
The Totem Sandslash roared furiously, unleashing a surge of energy to try to subdue the challenger.
But Sandslash answered with a low growl, immediately launching an enhanced version of the move Sand Attack. The wind whipped up a dust storm that struck the Totem Sandslash head-on, making it stagger.
The massive Pokémon roared in anger and charged with claws glowing white.
Sandslash spun rapidly, its own claws shining as well, and counterattacked with the combo move Crush Spin (Rapid Spin + Crush Claw).
Boom!
The clash was brutal. The energy released from both forces raised a cloud of dust and fragments of stone.
And then, before the stunned eyes of all the Sandshrew, their imposing leader was sent flying, crashing into a huge boulder that shattered on impact.
Cacturne and Slowking stepped forward, ready to intervene, but Ethan stopped them with a gesture.
"This is a battle that belongs only to Sandslash," he said firmly. "We have to let him settle it on his own."
He already understood: it was probably by that Totem Pokémon's decision that the young Sandshrew had left the clan long ago. That's why this fight wasn't just a battle... it was the trial that would define his destiny.
On the field, the Totem Sandslash roared again, charging with its metallic claws gleaming under the sun. But Ethan's Sandslash didn't back down —it spun powerfully, its own claws shining with metallic light, and clashed head-on.
The result was the same.
The gigantic Sandslash was once again sent flying, defeated by the speed and strength of Ethan's Sandslash.
(End of Chapter)