The following morning dawned bright and clear, well as clear as you would expect in the Kalos region especially with their village located closeish to snowpoint city from what he remembered from the anime and with the season heading towards a cold autumn again, but still signalling another day full of potential for Ishi. He jumped out of bed, energised by the thought of his upcoming session with Mr. Suru where he would start crafting the promised Pokéballs for Ivy and Senpei. The idea of actually creating something that his friends would use was thrilling.

As he got dressed and packed his school bag, his mind raced with the designs he had in mind, thinking about the colour combinations and the technical adjustments he would need to make. Today was going to be special - not just another day of learning, but a day where he would bring his friends' wishes to life. Mr. Suru had all the materials readily available for use so he didn’t need to worry about that, just making them would be the only challenge.

Bounding down the stairs to grab a quick breakfast before school, Ishi halted abruptly at the sight of his parents sharing a quick, affectionate kiss in the kitchen. "Ewwww!" he exclaimed instinctively, scrunching up his face in mock horror. ‘They’re trained ninjas and I wasn't exactly quiet coming down the stairs. They can at least think about how I feel in these situations.’

At his outburst, Shion turned away with a blush and a laugh, while Haku just grinned broadly and shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, Ishi, didn't know you were coming down just then," he chuckled. ‘Yeah right old man.’ Ishi thought with a pout.

Trying to shake off the image and clear his still foggy morning brain, Ishi grabbed a piece of toast and, remembering something he had read the night before and the thoughts of the quest involving appraising new pokemon within the village, turned to his dad with a curious question. "Dad, why have you never fully evolved your Bisharp?” ‘Oh boy is that an expression I'm gonna remember for a long time!’ he thought with the Evil grin flashing briefly across his features.

The kitchen went quiet for a moment. Ishi realised this might not be common knowledge, but still believed that this would be beneficial for the village and his own future goals so it was worth the gamble.

Haku looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean, Ishi? Bisharp doesn't evolve. What are you talking about?" ‘Oh ho, imma bout to change your whole world old man… and bisharps i guess.’

"Yes, it does," Ishi insisted, confidence building as he recalled the details. "It evolves into a Pokémon called Kingambit if it holds a ‘Leader’s Crest’ and beats three other Bisharp that are leading a pack of Pawniard.” ‘Oh the delectable expressions.’ suddenly a wash of aura flowed through his mind calming his admittedly less than friendly thoughts. ‘Interesting’ he thought ‘This will be helpful in future, no panic for me I guess, but come on my thoughts weren't that devious.’ not displaying any change in demeanour he still internally pouted at his own aura.

Haku laughed softly, shaking his head in amusement at his son's vivid imagination. "Ishi, where did you hear that? Bisharp’s evolution into this Kingambit Pokémon isn’t something I've seen or heard of. It sounds like something out of an old Pokémon tale."

Ishi, a bit deflated but still convinced of his knowledge, sighed. "Maybe it's just really rare or something. I heard about it from Mr. Suru in his mutterings when his own Bisharp was being unhelpful with his work." ‘A complete bald faced lie, but leveraging his name might give me an edge.’

Seeing his son's genuine belief, Haku placed a hand on Ishi's shoulder, smiling warmly. "Well, if it's true, that’s pretty interesting! But for now, let's focus on what we know for sure. You’ve got some Pokéballs to make, right? How about you go off and focus on that challenge?”

Reinvigorated by the reminder of the day’s important tasks, Ishi nodded vigorously, his momentary distraction fading. "Yeah, I’m going to make the best Pokéballs for Ivy and Senpei!" ‘Seed successfully planted!’ he thought.

The grin returned.

But with his seed planted he moved back to his more pressing task and the surefire Exp he would be granted for completing it. Ishi finished his breakfast quickly and, with a final goodbye to his parents, he headed off to school, his mind once again filled with plans for the Pokéballs.

***

Ishi disappeared out the door, and a heavy silence fell over the kitchen. Ishi's mention of "Kingambit" had stirred a hint of curiosity in his parents. Haku turned to Shion, his brow furrowed slightly in thought.

"Have you ever heard of this Kingambit Pokémon Ishi was talking about?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of amusement and genuine intrigue.

Shion shook her head, chuckling lightly as she put away the breakfast dishes. "No, never. It must be one of those things he picked up from his books or maybe just his imagination running wild again. What could a five-year-old know that we don’t, right? But then again if he heard it from Mr. Suru that's a completely different story, he’s a close confidant to the chief after all."

Ishi didn’t know this as when he had first appraised Mr. Suru had shown that his title was master craftsman and mentioned nothing of this relationship. His use of name dropping had inadvertently given his parents much more to think about than he had bargained for.

Haku nodded, agreeing outwardly while a tiny seed of doubt took root in his mind. Shion continued tidying up, subconsciously reached into his pocket, fingers brushing against a small object he’d kept with him for years - a trinket he had found during one of his first journeys as a young trainer.

Pulling it out, he examined the item more closely. It was a small, intricately designed crest, metallic and cool to the touch. The crest was composed of a central, shield-like emblem surrounded by what looked like rays or blades emanating outward, giving it a regal and formidable appearance. Its design was strikingly similar to the descriptions Ishi had excitedly shared about the "Leader's Crest" needed to evolve a Bisharp into Kingambit.

Haku's eyes narrowed as he turned the object over in his hand, contemplating. The coincidence was uncanny. Could there be truth to Ishi's claims? He remembered the day he had obtained it - after a challenging battle with a particularly fierce Bisharp that seemed to command others. At the time, he hadn’t thought much about the significance of the crest, seeing it as just another curious but mysterious artefact from his adventures.

Stolen story; please report.

"Shion," Haku called out, holding the crest up for her to see. "Remember this? Remember what I told you about how I found it years ago after defeating that wild Bisharp leader. It’s never been anything terribly important? But now… Maybe Ishi isn’t just making things up." The last part of the sentence trailed off into barely a whisper.

Shion approached, peering at the crest with a sceptical but intrigued expression. "It does look special, always has in my opinion, but surely it’s just a coincidence. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to look into it a bit more, just in case.”

Both knew the world of Pokémon was vast and full of mysteries, some of which even seasoned trainers like themselves hadn't fully explored. With a thoughtful nod, Haku pocketed the crest again.

"Maybe we should start paying a bit more attention to what Ishi finds," Haku suggested, a smile creeping across his face as he thought about his son's potential to uncover something new. "Who knows? He might be onto something we adults have overlooked.”

Shion agreed, her earlier dismissal giving way to a flicker of pride in their son's curiosity. "Let’s see where this leads. Ishi might just surprise us all."

With that, the couple went about their day, the morning's conversation lingering in their minds, a reminder that the world of Pokémon always held more secrets to be discovered, perhaps now by the next generation.

Haku approached Chief Hanzo later that day, the raw curiosity gnawing at him after the morning's discovery and Ishi’s unexpected knowledge. He found the Chief overseeing some archival work in the council chamber, an opportune moment for a private conversation.

"Chief Hanzo," Haku began, his tone respectful yet tinged with urgency, "have you ever heard of a Pokémon called Kingambit?”

Chief Hanzo paused, his fingers halting over the document he was examining. He looked up slowly, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Kingambit? Where did you hear that name?" he asked, his voice low and far more serious than Haku expected when he’d asked.

Haku, slightly taken aback by the Chief's reaction, pressed on. "It was Ishi, my son. He told me about it this morning, mentioning a specific method for evolving Bisharp into one. It involves a ‘Leader’s Crest’ and some kind of ritual battle among Bisharps. Apparently he heard Mr. Suru muttered about it to his partner when the bisharp was being lazy and not helping him.”

The Chief’s expression shifted from curiosity to shock, then intrigue. After a few moments of silence, he stood up. "Follow me," he said curtly.

Curious and slightly anxious, Haku followed Chief Hanzo through the familiar parts of the chamber and then to a less frequented section where a small, nondescript door was nestled. The Chief produced a key, unlocking the door to reveal a secret room filled with ancient artefacts and scrolls.

They stepped inside, and Chief Hanzo began rummaging through a stack of old, dusty scrolls. After a few minutes, he pulled out a half-burnt scroll, the edges charred and fragile. The word "Kingambit" was visible at the top in faded ink.

Haku accepted the scroll carefully, unrolling it to reveal a simple drawing in charcoal of a formidable-looking Pokémon, along with a few cryptic symbols next to it. The rest of the scroll was too damaged by fire to be indiscernible, the text lost to time.

"What is this?" Haku asked, looking up at the Chief with a mixture of confusion and awe. ‘No way Mr. Suru must have figured out the method somehow. But how though this scroll is illegible!’ he thought waiting for the Chief to enlighten him.

The Chief watched him, his face thoughtful. "It's the only record we have of this Kingambit," he admitted. "I had forgotten about it, considering it a legend or a myth that didn’t warrant attention." Shaking his head tiredly, even though it wasn’t even midday yet. “I’m definitely going to have to question my old friend about this… but I suppose that can wait a while until we confirm this tale.” a long sigh escaped him at the prospect of more work.

A rare look of uncertainty crossing his features. ‘If Ishi has stumbled upon this information, and even I was unaware of its significance, and if that old bugger even spoke about it around him before even telling me…’ with a rub on his temple he continued, trying to put those thoughts behind him "This act of vandalism on one of our ancient texts may have hidden a truth now surfacing through a child.”

Haku nodded, still processing the revelation. "Ishi is very curious and determined. If there's a way to uncover more about this Kingambit, he might just be the key."

"Indeed," Chief Hanzo agreed, a spark of respect for the young boy evident in his eyes. "Keep this scroll safe, Haku. Let’s see if this young curiosity of yours can lead us to something the elders have overlooked.”

Haku left the secret room, the scroll secure under his arm, his mind racing with possibilities. As he walked home, he contemplated the mysterious connection between his son’s newfound knowledge and the village's forgotten lore.

***

Ishi, his mind buzzing with thoughts of Pokéball crafting techniques learned from Mr. Suru, was not prepared for the sombre atmosphere that greeted him as he pushed open the front door. The house was unusually quiet, the air thick with a seriousness that immediately piqued his curiosity and concern. “I’m home!” he called out, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness.

Walking into the kitchen, Ishi was surprised to find only his dad at home. Haku was seated at the kitchen table, an expression of contemplation on his face, and before him lay an old, burnt scroll. Ishi’s eyes widened in recognition. “Hey, that's Kingambit!” he exclaimed, his surprise making him momentarily forget the unusual mood. “I thought you said you’d never heard about it,” he questioned, his tone a mix of excitement and confusion.

Haku looked up, his face softening into a smile at Ishi’s enthusiasm. He nodded slowly. “Yes, about that... why don’t you tell me more about this evolution method you mentioned?” he suggested, his voice gentle to encourage his son to open up. ‘The Chief is probably questioning Mr. Suru as we speak but it’s best to keep that from Ishi.’

Eager to share his knowledge, Ishi clambered onto a chair opposite his dad, his initial reservations forgotten as he thought about Bisharp’s potential transformation. “Okay, so Bisharp can evolve into Kingambit, but it needs a Leader’s Crest, and it has to beat three other Bisharp that lead packs of Pawniard. It’s really rare!” Ishi explained, his hands moving animatedly as he visualised the process.

As Ishi spoke, Haku began to jot down notes, his pen scratching across the parchment steadily. He listened intently, occasionally nodding or murmuring a thoughtful “hmm” as Ishi detailed each step required for the evolution.

Once Ishi finished, Haku set down his pen and looked at his son with a mixture of pride and admiration. “I won’t ask how you know this, but just know I am very proud, you are my kid after all” he said sincerely.

Ishi blushed, unaccustomed to such direct praise, and pouted slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. “Dad...” he mumbled, his cheeks still tinged with red.

Haku’s laughter broke the serious atmosphere, lightening the mood instantly. “Come on, let’s start preparing dinner before your mom gets home. She’ll want to hear all about this too,” Haku suggested, standing up and ruffling Ishi’s hair affectionately.

Together, father and son moved around the kitchen, Haku guiding Ishi through the steps of preparing their meal even if he didn’t particularly need it. As they set the table, Ishi’s thoughts returned to Kingambit and the adventures that awaited, but for now, he was content to share a quiet evening with his family, surrounded by the comforting smells of home-cooked food and the soft murmur of familiar voices.

‘Oh the Exp Imma bout to get!’ he thought internally elated with his choice of telling his father about Kingambit.