View source for HOR02

{{Translation notice}}
{{MangaPrevNext
|prevcode=HOR01
|prevtitle=Journey to a New Horizon
|nextcode=HOR03
|nexttitle=Traveling Trainer Tokio
|series=Pokémon Horizon
|colorscheme=Alola}}
{{ChapInfobox
|title_en=The Power of Teamwork
|title_ja=コンビの力
|title_ro=
|image=<!--HOR02.png--> 
|manga_series=Pokémon Horizon
|location=Route 1
|scheme=Alola
|pub1=Shogakukan
|pub1-data=Chapter 2 in {{Vol|Pokémon Horizon|1|Vol. 1}}
|pub2=VIZ Media
|pub2-data=Event 2 in {{Vol|Pokémon Horizon|1|Vol. 1}}
}}

'''The Power of Teamwork''' (Japanese:コンビの力 ) is the second chapter of the [[Pokémon Horizon]] manga.

==Plot==
At his research laboratory, [[Professor Kukui]] ponders how {{p|Rockruff}} was able to beat the {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Drampa}}, a Pokémon almost ten times its size, and recalls that the move Rockruff used was no ordinary {{m|Tackle}}.

Kukui remembers how he found Rockruff on a beach and took it home, and that the mysterious stone around its neck was a different color to those of other Rockruff. He wonders if {{OBP|Akira|Horizon}} was able to bring out Rockruff's true power, and concludes that more will be revealed as the two take on the [[island challenge]] together.

[[Mana]] is searching the beach trying to find Akira and Rockruff, wondering how their training is going. She is stunned to find them both by the sea chewing bones. While Akira and Rockruff are playing, she reminds them that they should be training hard, and that today is the day of the practical exam for Akira to get his Trainer Passport so they can begin the island challenge.

Mana shouts at them to listen to her, and Akira is hit by a coconut falling from a tree. Mana and Rockruff are worried for Akira, but he is only playing a prank on them by pretending to be hurt.

Mana reminds him that his test is starting soon, and when Akira says with confidence that he'll be fine, she tells him that's what he said about the written exam which he failed on. Akira remembers, and says the questions were very hard, though Mana disagrees that they were. He insists he'll be fine, and can get his Trainer Passport if he gets 100 points on the practical exam.

As they are walking to the exam, they hear people talking about the Rockruff that beat Drampa, and Akira tells Rockruff that it is famous now, though Mana is still worried about Akira failing the practical exam.

A boy is watching them from the shadows, disbelieving that Rockruff truly beat Drampa.

At the Pokémon Trainer Passport practical exam arena, Rockruff senses something, but then starts spinning in a circle chasing its tail. Akira leaves it to go and get his examination slip, but on his return is mortified to find that Rockruff has gone. With 30 minutes left until the exam, Akira and Mana begin to search for the Pokémon.

Shane, the boy who was watching from the shadows earlier, throws the kidnapped Rockruff–who is dizzy from all the spinning around–to the ground in an alleyway. With an accomplice behind him, Shane says he doesn't like how popular Akira and Rockruff are getting, saying it was just luck when they defeated Drampa. He says that without a {{pkmn|Trainer}}, Rockruff will give up right away.

The accomplice begins filming, and Shane sends out his {{rf|Alolan}} {{p|Meowth}} to battle Rockruff and prove to everyone it is a weak Pokémon. Meowth attacks with {{m|Fake Out}}, which knocks Rockruff to the floor. Shane laughs at how easy his Meowth has won, but is quickly surprised when Rockruff stands back up unfazed. He tells Rockruff to give up, and his Meowth hits it again, but Rockruff stands up again unhurt. This happens again, and again Rockruff gets to its feet uninjured. Shane and his accomplice are taken aback by how resilient Rockruff is.

Akira and Mana find them, and Akira says that they have badly misjudged Rockruff because it has guts. He found them because he heard the kidnappers saying that they were jealous of himself and Rockruff because they are popular.

Shane says it doesn't matter that they have been found because Akira is just a rookie trainer. His Meowth attacks again and dodges the charging Rockruff, and uses {{m|Feint Attack}} on the Pokémon. Rockruff dashes in headlong again, and Meowth dodges it again, with Shane saying the attacks are amateurish and obvious. Meowth stamps on Rockruff, and Mana says that Rockruff can't match the {{DL|Stat|speed}} of Meowth, telling Akira to give Rockruff commands.

Akira says he will command Rockruff to attack, but appears to fall asleep. Mana and Rockruff see this, and Mana is astonished that Akira could do such a thing. She hits Akira and tells him to pull himself together, and Shane scoffs this proves Akira is a rookie.

Rockruff takes another hit from the Alolan Meowth and falls to the floor. Shane laughs that Akira doesn't deserve a Trainer Passport, and commands Meowth to finish off its opponent with {{m|Fury Swipes}}. Mana shouts for Rockruff to dodge, but Shane says it can't even stand up. Suddenly, Rockruff opens its eyes, gets to its feet, and barks at the oncoming Meowth, scaring it. Mana and the two kidnappers are shocked, saying that it must have faked the collapse. Akira says his pretending-to-sleep tactic has worked–a real fake out. He commands Rockruff to {{m|Bite}}, which [[Fainting|faints]] Meowth.

Akira and Rockruff celebrate. Mana wonders how Rockruff learnt such a strategic move, and realises that in pretending to sleep, Akira communicated to Rockruff to do the same without saying anything. She understands that Rockruff has a hidden reserve of strength, and that Akira can help Rockruff to draw out that power.

Mana smiles as Akira and Rockruff run hurriedly to the exam.

At a beach, a [[Tokio|boy]] with a {{p|Type: Null}} converses with a mysterious man in a dark suit about the Rockruff with the red stone, saying they have some interesting information.

At the practical exam arena, an emotional Akira celebrates getting his Trainer Passport, much to the relief of himself, Mana, and Rockruff. The group can now begin the island challenge.

==Major events==
* {{hor|Akira}} has his first [[Pokémon battle]] and wins.

===Debuts===
====Humans====
* [[Tokio]]

====Pokémon debuts====
* {{p|Type: Null}}
* {{p|Meowth}} ([[Alolan form]])

==Characters==
===Humans===
* {{hor|Akira}}
* [[Mana]]
* [[Tokio]]
* [[Professor Kukui]]
* [[Alola]] citizens
* {{pkmn|Trainer}}s
* [[Team Kings]] Grunt

===Pokémon===
* {{p|Rockruff}} ({{hor|Akira}}'s)
* {{p|Type: Null}} ([[Tokio]]'s; debut)
* {{p|Meowth}} ([[Alolan form]]; Trainer's; debut)
* {{p|Eevee}} (Trainer's)
* {{p|Psyduck}}
* {{p|Comfey}}
* {{p|Exeggutor}}
* {{p|Pikipek}}
* {{p|Pikachu}} (fantasy)
{{-}}
<!--
==Trivia==
-->
{{MangaPrevNext
|prevcode=HOR01
|prevtitle=Journey to a New Horizon
|nextcode=HOR03
|nexttitle=Traveling Trainer Tokio
|series=Pokémon Horizon
|colorscheme=Alola}}
{{Project Manga notice}}

[[Category:Pokémon Horizon chapters]]

[[es:PH01]]
[[zh:精灵宝可梦地平线 第1话]]