1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 85: Tower of Darkness

Mustard was in his room when Alice and I found him, sitting with his handheld game like nothing in the world could hurry him.

The room still smelled faintly of tea, soup, and machine oil from Hyde's corner. My Kubfu stood beside me instead of hiding behind my leg, and Alice's Kubfu did the same beside her. That alone made the walk feel different from when they had first come out of their Poké Balls.

"Master Mustard," I said, "Kubfu saw the spots you told us about."

Mustard's fingers stopped moving. His eyes lifted from the screen, bright with the kind of grin that always made me wonder how much he already knew.

"What's this? What's this?" he said. "Let me see how you and Kubfu are getting along."

Alice and I exchanged a look, then stepped forward with both Kubfu. Mustard crouched in front of them, not touching at first. He watched their eyes, their paws, their breathing, and the way they stood close to us without shrinking away.

My Kubfu tightened one paw around my sleeve and looked at Mustard, "I am still nervous, but I know where I want to stand now."

I smiled down at him. "Beside us."

Mustard's expression softened. "Good, good. You really have become the best of friends, haven't you? Kubfu has grown more confident. Wonderful!"

Alice's Kubfu puffed her chest out a little, then ruined the serious pose by glancing up at Alice for approval.

Alice smiled. "You earned that."

Mustard stood and stretched his arms above his head. "Then you four are ready. Follow me."

He led us outside, past the training court and toward the Soothing Wetlands. The path was familiar now, but walking it with Kubfu made the air feel heavier, as if the island had been waiting for this next lesson.

Mustard hummed as he walked. "Dum dum dee dee...la la de daaa..."

Alice leaned toward me. "He is enjoying this too much."

"He usually is," I whispered back.

Mustard stopped where the wetlands opened beneath the sky. Water shimmered between patches of grass, and far in the distance, two towers waited on opposite sides of the island.

"This is as good a spot as any," Mustard said.

I looked between the towers. "Is this about Kubfu's next training?"

"Exactly!" Mustard pointed one way, then the other. "Prepare yourselves for the Tower of Two Fists! The blue tower is the Tower of Waters. The red tower is the Tower of Darkness."

Alice's Kubfu stared toward the blue tower. Mine turned toward the red one, ears rising as if he had heard a distant call.

Mustard's voice became firmer. "Choose wisely. Kubfu can climb only one of the two towers. The path you choose will shape its fighting style and the type it gains when it evolves."

"So one path closes the other," Alice said.

"That is part of the lesson," Mustard answered. "Strength is not just taking every road. Sometimes it is choosing one road with your whole heart."

I looked down at my Kubfu. "What do you think?"

Kubfu faced the Tower of Darkness. His paws trembled once, then steadied.

Kubfu lifted his chin toward the red tower, small fists held tight, "I am afraid, but I want to know what kind of strength waits inside."

"Then we go to the Tower of Darkness," I said.