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HOR01

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Journey to a New Horizon
HOR01.png
地平への旅立さ
Journey to a New Horizon
Info
Collected in Vol. 1
Chapter number 1
Other
Location Route 1
Manga series Pokémon Horizon
Chapters
Previous Chapter None
Next Chapter The Power of Teamwork

Journey to a New Horizon (Japanese: 地平への旅立さ Journey to a New Horizon) is the first chapter of the Pokémon Horizon manga.

Synopsis

Professor Kukui welcomes Akira to the Alola region after his long flight. The excited Akira runs past Kukui, dropping his suitcase in his enthusiasm at vacationing on the tropical island. With the blue sky overhead, he leaps into the vast ocean in front of him, only to immediately hit the bottom of the shallow water.

Carrying his wet clothes, Akira marvels at the many different species of Pokémon surrounding them, and Kukui tells him that the Alola region is famous for people and Pokémon peacefully coexisting. From their chats on the internet, Professor Kukui has realised that Akira doesn't know a lot about Pokémon, and Akira explains that back home he is stifled by all the chores and schoolwork he has to do, and so he doesn't really have time for Pokémon. He is happy to relax now and have a break from that by visiting his family member Professor Kukui.

Kukui has an idea, and shows Akira two Pokémon fighting with each other. He tells the confused Akira that this is a Pokémon battle, a competition between Pokémon, and that Pokémon can be captured inside capsules called Poké Balls.

Akira notices that one of the Pokémon, a puppy-like creature, looks particularly enthusiastic for the battle. The girl behind the Puppy Pokémon tells it not to push itself too hard. The boy behind the other Pokémon, Crabrawler, sees the girl's Pokémon wants to fight on, and others in the gathering crowd say that it is always ready to fight but is just not strong enough.

Rockruff, the Puppy Pokémon, leaps towards Crabrawler. The boy behind Crabrawler says Rockruff can attack his Pokémon as much as it wants but it won't hurt it. His Pokémon hits back, and the girl shouts for her Rockruff with a tone of resignation. Akira shouts enthusiastically for the stubborn Rockruff. The boy commands Crabrawler to use Bubble Beam, and Rockruff takes a direct hit, making it stagger backwards. Akira is concerned, but the determined Rockruff recovers from the hit.

Akira recognises that Rockruff is small but has guts, and shouts encouragingly to Rockruff that it is time to win this battle. But the girl says the battle is over, and she returns Rockruff to its Poké Ball, to the astonishment of Akira.

He asks the girl why she gave up when the battle was just getting started. The girl replies that she cannot believe Akira would force an injured Pokémon to battle. Akira insists that Rockruff wanted to keep fighting but she says that is a selfish way of thinking. Before the argument can escalate further, Professor Kukui steps in and tells Akira and the girl, Mana, to calm down. Mana is shocked that Akira knows Professor Kukui.

At Professor Kukui's research laboratory, the Professor explains that Akira is family and is here on vacation for the summer, to which Mana asks Akira how he can be related to a Pokémon Professor and know nothing about Pokémon. She asks what Akira plans to do all summer, and Akira slouches and says he'll just chill out and enjoy the tropical island life. Mana disapproves of this and says she is going to be studying the Pokémon of the region because her dream is to become the best Pokémon Trainer she can be.

Akira looks questioningly at the mention of 'Pokémon Trainer', and Mana says a Pokémon Trainer is a partner to Pokémon who like to battle. Akira asks why, if Mana is Rockruff's partner, she stopped it from battling earlier. Mana admits that Rockruff isn't very strong, and recalls if she ever takes her eyes off the Pokémon that it rushes off to fight wild Pokémon. She says that she is not Rockruff's official Trainer, but she if fond of it and helps it when it insists on battling. Akira looks across to the cage Rockruff is in. He relates to Rockruff, saying that the Pokémon is stifled, much like himself.

A loud, booming noise startles the group. A villager bursts in to the Professor's lab and yells that a Pokémon has gone berserk. Mana and the Professor quickly run outside to go and calm the Pokémon down. Alone, Akira notices that Rockruff is eager to go too, and unlocks its cage. The Pokémon burst out and heads in the direction of the others. Akira smiles in admiration of the Pokémon and follows it.

At the scene of the commotion, Mana and Kukui look on at an enraged, wild Drampa ripping up palm trees, saying they need to calm down the large Pokémon so it returns to normal. Mana throws her Poké Ball, and chooses her Rowlet to battle Drampa. Rowlet dodges an attempted bite from the Drampa, and Mana commands it to use Razor Leaf. But the Drampa quickly uses Twister, which sends Rowlet hurtling backwards. Mana switches out the hurt Rowlet, returning it to the Poké Ball. At that moment, Rockruff jumps in to battle and bites the Drampa. The Drampa knocks Rockruff off, and Rockruff lands on its feet, ready to continue. Kukui asks why Akira let Rockruff out, and he replies that Rockruff wants to fight. Mana is concerned as Rockruff gets hit multiple times by the Drampa, and says that Akira can't even give Rockruff proper commands. Akira says Rockruff hasn't given up yet, and the weakened Pokémon lunges at Drampa once again, but takes a direct hit from Dragon Pulse and lands hurt on the ground.

Mana tells Akira to let her handle this with her Pokémon, but Akira stresses that Rockruff hasn't given up yet, as it gets to its feet. Akira is amazed by Rockruff's determination and wonders why it wants to fight so much. Rockruff lets out a resolute bark, and Akira realises he wants to support the Pokémon whatever its reason to fight is.

Mana expresses to Akira her concern again that an injured Pokémon should not be forced to fight. She feels sorry for Rockruff and gets ready throw her Poké Ball, but Akira grabs her arm to stop her. He tells her not to stifle Rockruff, and that if she looks closely it is clear that it wants to battle, and says it is tough.

Akira and Rockruff ready themselves to engage Drampa in battle again. Akira encourages Rockruff to shout a battle cry, and after a weak first attempt, the pair cry loudly together.

A stone around Rockruff's neck begins to shine. The wild Drampa uses Dragon Pulse on Rockruff, but Akira tells Rockruff to charge forward and Rockruff responds, dodging Dragon Pulse by moving much faster than before. Akira praises Rockruff, and commands it to use Tackle. Moving very fast, Rockruff begins to glow, and Professor Kukui wonders if this could somehow be a Z-Move. With the stone continuing to shine, Akira tells Rockruff to give it all it's got, shouting 'full power'. Rockruff hits the Drampa, knocking the large Pokémon backwards and defeating it.

Akira is overjoyed and celebrates with Rockruff. Mana can't believe that Rockruff could be so powerful and admits that, as a Trainer, she was holding back the Pokémon by applying common sense rather than observing it and believing in it.

Before Mana can apologise to Rockruff for her actions, Akira apologises to the Pokémon, saying that if he had been a better Trainer they might have defeated Drampa faster. He turns to Professor Kukui, and says he wants to be Rockruff's partner in battle, and wants to become the best Pokémon Trainer he can be.

Kukui agrees and gives Akira some advice–to broaden his horizons. Akira gives a puzzled look, and the Professor explains this means to have new experiences, to expose himself to new perspectives. He suggests that Akira travels around the islands with Rockruff to challenge himself so that he can grow as a Trainer, and calls it the island challenge. Akira and Rockruff agree with enthusiasm, and ready themselves to head for a new horizon.

Major events

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Trivia

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