Gigarot: I think most people'd be a little freaked out in doing what she's doing.
lychee-ran: You'll see :)
theoneandonlylordmonkeyknight: It's certainly unique :D
Ironically enough, that's how I originally intended to write them- calm, focused and calculating.
Sweet buttery Jesus O_O
Go right on ahead- perhaps we could collab to write them meeting and fighting?
Cottonmouth25: Wait, what? (Looks back)
Okay, I foxed the typo
- fixed ^^;
She done good ^_^
LILMATE: 8D
"THAT WAS AMAZING!" Hau exclaimed happily, jumping off Dragonite's back. "I can't wait to fly again!"
Lillie collapsed onto her knees, hand on her chest as she tried to batch her breath, shaking. "I can," she got out.
"Ha-ha! Thanks a bunch, Dragonite- nothing like a brisk flight!" Kukui thanked the dragon before it went off to rest for a bit.
Asalie shakily took the armor off her without a word. "What's the big idea, stuffing me away when my sweet Ilima-" Rotom-Dex snapped before they saw how much she was shaking. "You okay, toots?"
She was about to reply when her stomach heaved and she fell onto her side and threw up. "Whoa!" Hau said in concern and rubbed her back gently- Lille shied away from the vomit, nose wrinkling. "Maybe we should wait a bit for her to recover properly..."
"Star, welcome back!" Ashwin said excitedly before noticing how fatigued and nauseous she looked.
"Sorry Asa's dad- she's not feeling well," Hau apologized, having the brunette lean on. "Can you help her?"
With that, the two helped her into her room and wrapped her blanket around her before leaving some of her favorite movies and snacks. "If you need anything else, just ask- love you!" he said before leaving the room.
Pell, Bishop and Rotom-Dex curled up next to her as the three of them settled back into the room- for Bishop, this was their first time in Asalie's home and they were a bit nervous. "Koo-oo," Pell cooed gently, trying to help ease their anxiety.
Asalie leafed through the movies, pleased with the selection and eager to get her mind off of the last hour. She had finished Ilima's trial while encountering Team Skull, experienced a great burst of adrenaline and then flew on a freaking Dragonite. The events on their own would be draining but with all of them happening in a row was too much for her.
"Ooh, ooh! This one, this one!" Rotom-Dex exclaimed, pointing to one of the movies.
Asalie smile turned into a grin before popping it in. Being able to relax in her room after sleeping in the Pokemon Centers was a balm that she welcomed- being surrounded what was familiar and comforting along with the three who knew her well enough was an added bonus.
"You'll be a de-e-nti-i-st! You have a talent for causing things PAIN! (Pain!)"
"Son, be a de-e-nti-i-ist! People will pay you to be in-hu-MANE! (Inhumane!)"
I forgot how much this movie rocks, she thought, gently soothing a hand over Bishop as they hid under her blanket.
Outside the room, Hau and Ashwin had both settled for a bit as both were rather tired from their day- the brunet had also taken this time to ask the green-haired boy about Asalie's journey.
"That's incredible," Ashwin said as Hau finished up. "To think my little star's about to challenge Hala of all people..."
He rubbed his temple, the dark circles around his eyes all the more prominent. "I only wish I could have been able to see more."
"It's okay- Asa told us you were working hard," Hau assured him. "Besides, tutu is always doing his best as kahuna so I know how it is."
"Oh right- Hala's your grandfather..."
Ashwin trailed off as he looked over at Asalie's bedroom door. "What's wrong?" Hau asked.
"Has she been doing okay since she left?"
"Huh? Well, she's been doing pretty well, I think- she's got a great team and soon she'll be doing the Grand Trial-"
"That's not what I mean," the brunet cut off the green-haired boy off. "Is she-"
However, a vibrating sound suddenly cut Ashwin off and he grabbed his cellphone with an irritated expression. "I'm so sorry, could you hold that thought? My boss gets pissed if we let his calls go to voicemail," he apologized to Hau.
He went to the other side of the kitchen and flipped open his phone. "Hello Branch Chief?" he asked only for someone's voice to snap irritably on the other end. "I humbly apologize for taking so long to answer," he gritted out before the other end continued. "Wait, now?!" he exclaimed in surprise.
The other end sounded garbled and Ashwin rubbed his temple wearily. "I understand Branch Chief- I'll be over as soon as possible."
He hung up the phone, expression dark with frustration. "Work?" Hau asked sympathetically.
"Yeah- the Branch Chief insists they need me back at the base," he said with a groan before casting a worried glance at Asalie's door.
He moved to go towards it but then stopped and took the pad on the table to write her a note and leave a bit of cash. "All right- you have a good night then Hau," he said, setting his gear and hat back on.
"Yeah- good night, Asa's dad!" Hau said as they both departed the house.
"Hau!"
The green-haired boy stopped at the brunet's voice called out to him one more time. "Yeah?"
"Take care of Asalie for me!"
Hau smiled at this. "Will do!" before he ran off.
The next day...
Asalie yawned blearily- Pell, Bishop and Rotom-Dex were spread out over the blankets and pillows and the sun was shinning through the window.
"Hey guys," she murmured, gently tapping the Rowlet and Magnemite- the two woke up and yawned a bit.
The brunette went into the kitchen to get them all some breakfast and found the note. Sorry star, the boss called me back- here's some money in case you're getting low. Dad
Asalie frowned softly and wrote down a thank you note and tucked the money away. She took out the food for her team and herself and set it up so they could eat together.
"I don't care if you have a thing for extracting enamal- one day you will be mine," Rotom-Dex declared, kissing the cover bit with leather clad Steven Martin while Pell and Bishop ate.
After they finished eating, Asalie cleaned herself up and got a load of laundry going. Once that was done, she cleaned up their breakfast dishes and went outside.
"Hey Asa- feeling better?" Hau greeted her from outside the porch alongside Lillie.
"Yeah," she affirmed with a thumbs up before she sagged. "I never wanna leave the ground again though."
The three of them walked over to Iki Town where Hala was waiting for her, a Mankey, Makuhita and Crabrawler behind him. I've been expecting you for some time, Asalie- now if you would allow me to properly greet you..."
His feet smashed down onto the stage like a sumo wrestler, shaking the wood beneath them.
"I am Hala, the kahuna of Melemele island!" he declared and held a poke-ball aloft. "It's time to show you and your team's full power in the Grand Trial! Old Hala's not gonna hold anything back! Will you still fight?!"
"Y-yes!" Asalie declared, Pell taking the stage in front of her- her fists shook but she held her ground.
"Then..." he smashed his feet down even harder, making the stage vibrate. "LET THE GRAND TRIAL BEGIN! GO IPO!"
The Mankey jumped onto the stage and danced about, fists raised and claws unsheathed. Pell flapped her wings and flew into the sky, waiting for a chance to strike.
"Focus energy!" Hala ordered and Ipo closed her eyes tightly as she focused.
"Razor leaf- break her concentration!" Asalie ordered- Pell slashed down the attack and Ipo's focus was broken by the attack.
"Jump and use pursuit!" Hala barked- Ipo leaped onto the air and smacked into Pell before she could dodge, taken back by her speed.
"Kale, come forth!" Hala called and the Makuhita jumped into the ring, smacking his fists together with a grin.
"Can you still fight, Pell?" Asalie asked and the Rowlet nodded with a determined grin. "Okay, then use-"
"Fake out!"
The Makuhita shot right in front of Pell and smashed his palms against either side of her head, making her squawk in surprise and fall over. "Now use arm thrust!" Hala barked.
Kale smashed his fists forward and hit Pell twice, nearly knocking her off the battle stage- luckily, she was able to gather herself and come to a halt before falling off. "Fly up- get out of range!" Asalie called out and the Rowlet took to the skies, albeit with some difficulty.
"Now- dive in and use peck!" she ordered and Pell divebombed Kale, knocking him back with the force of her attack. "Don't give him an inch- use razor leaf!"
The Rowlet sent the attack and Kale was nearly forced off the battle stage, panting with exertion. "Here!" Hala tossed a super potion over to the Makuhita and healed him.
"Damn!" Asalie muttered before calling out, "Keep using razor leaf!"
Pell sent down more leaves and Kale held his arms up to defend against the onslaught- however, he didn't count on the attack scoring a critical hit and he was down before he even realized it.
"Well done!" Hala barked. "Now let's finish this, Mano!"
The Crabrawler scuttled to battle position, gaze focused. as his fists were raised.
This is his last Pokemon, and Pell's still doing all right and Bishop's at full health! "Okay Pell, use-"
However, Hala's arms were suddenly raised in an x aross his head before they shot forward into fists as though he were punching a wall, hips moving forward to give more momentum. At this, orange light surrounding Mano and Asalie had the same sensation as when she was fighting the Gumshoos- a grin spread across her face without her even realizing it.
"All-Out Pummeling!" Hala bellowed- Mano bellowed alongside him and before Asalie could even blink, the Crabrawler's fists smashed over and over into Pell faster than her eyes could keep track.
The attack was so strong, it ended up destroying part of the stage before Pell was able to fly away from the last bit of the attack. However, the damage had been done- the Rowlet struggled to stay on her feet but collapsed on the stage, unconscious and covered in bruises from the onslaught.
"Pell!" Asalie cried out, the adrenaline gone with the sweep of worry and fear at her starter's condition- she ran to the Rowlet's side and gently cradled the grass owl.
"Will you continue this fight? You still have one Pokemon left, do you not?" Hala asked.
The brunette's teeth gritted together and turned to Bishop, who was sweating harshly. But when they met her eyes, the Magnemite shakily floated onto the battle stage- Mano's eyes gleamed and Bishop looked close to fainting.
"Bishop, you can do this," Asalie said softly and the Magnemite's eye widened before they seemed to calm down.
"Bubble!" Hala ordered, Mano sending out several bubbles towards Bishop- it wouldn't knock them out but it would negate their sturdy ability.
"Magnet bomb- burst them and push him back!" Asalie ordered and the magnets smashed into the bubbles and through them into Mano, stunning him. "Thunderwave!"
Bishop quickly sent a paralyzing wave of electricity at Mano, hindering his movements. However he was still able to move enough so when Hala ordered, "Rock smash!" he knocked Bishop back.
The Magnemite panted harshly from the pain, barely a sliver of health left in them. "You're doing great- keep using thundershock!" Asalie shouted, making them snap out of it.
Mano struggled to fight back but thunder wave kicked in and paralyzed his movements, allowing Bishop to hammer in thundershock after thundershock as fast as they could until the Crabrawler collapsed, unable to continue.
"YES!" Asalie shrieked, running to scoop Bishop into her arms before bringing her healing supplies out. "I'm so proud of you both- you were AMAZING!"
"WHOO! Way to go!" Hau cheered happily.
"Well done, everyone!" Lillie called with a smile.
Hala brought Mano back. "Well done," he said before turning to Asalie. "This comes as no surprise to me- you've become a fine trainer and have gained a fine team!"
Asalie was about to reply back when a piercing, "TAPU KO-KO!" resounded over the area.
She jumped in surprise at the cry, recognizing it on the spot. "And it seems our mighty guardian agrees! Perhaps it's hoping that one day you become strong enough to engage in battle with it?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, okay?" Asalie said with a nervous laugh, though her pride shone through.
Hala laughed as well and crossed over to her before holding an orange crystal with a fist insignia to her. "This is Fightinium-Z- now observe, Asalie."
After the brunette took the Z-Crystal, Hala swept his arms up and then smashed them forward as if punching, moving his hips and back forth with his movements. "This will allow you to use All-Out Pummeling. And before I forget-"
The kahuna held one last object to Asalie- a white ring bracelet with the shinning stone fashioned to hold Z-Crystals! "Ilima brought it to me to carve out and I only finished just before you came back," he told her.
"Thank you both," Asalie said, slipping the ring onto her left wrist.
"With this, you have cleared all the available trials of Melemele island- now if you can just get out your passport-"
Asalie fished the book out of her bag- she had all but forgotten the item and the dust on it showed. Hala took out his seal and put it on the page. "This shows your accomplishment and will even allow more unruly Pokemon to obey your commands."
"The moon in the daytime... the sun at night- can you pour your heart into something that cannot be seen but is as real as you and me? As you go on, consider what makes up the people and Pokemon you meet: Both what you can and cannot see. If you do this, then you will meet Tapu Koko again."
Asalie lied down on her bed to look up at the ceiling- she still couldn't believe what had happened yesterday and today.
It's only been a few months since I got here and I've already got the equivalent to a gym badge and beating an Elite Four member, she thought before closing her eyes- even just thinking about it made it more surreal.
She looked at the two poke-balls on her desk- Pell and Bishop were both resting in Ashwin's room, as Asalie wanted to give them somewhere nice to sleep off their battle and she needed to be alone for a bit.
"Moving?!"
Ashwin nodded- they were in the main room of their apartment building with Astin on the couch and Asalie sitting on one of the chairs while Ashwin stood by the door. "I'm being promoted to work at our main HQ in the Alola region- I'm expected to be there in a month's time," he told them.
"That's great- congratulations!" Astin said immediately with a smile.
"Wait a minute, we have to leave Kanto then?!" Asalie asked.
"Yes-"
"But- but what about our stuff, our apartment, our-"
Asalie couldn't go on, the prospect of being away from everything she knew and was familiar with- leaving behind her- was already making cold panic settle in her body.
"Star-"
"I'M NOT GOING! I WON'T LEAVE M-"
"Asalie?"
The brunette looked up to see Lillie peeking into her room- she quickly got up to go meet her. "Hey Lillie," she greeted her with a smile before she noticed how nervous the blonde looked, her hands trembling around the bag strap.
"I- I need to ask a favor from you," she said.
"What's up?"
"Well, I told you that Nebby came from somewhere far away and that I was trying to help them get back there?"
"You said they saved your life when you were in trouble."
"Yes- so I want to pay them back for helping me finding their home."
Lillie looked down sadly. "But I've had no luck- I feel like I can't do anything unless I'm a trainer as well..."
"That's bullshit," Asalie said immediately. "You've been traveling and you even made it farther than me without completing Ilima's Trial- I wish I could go as far as you like that sometimes!"
Lillie blushed at the praise and Asalie had to physically strain herself not to squeal at how adorable she looked or yell in triumph for making her crush blush.
"Even still, you don't have to agree- I've already gotten you into so much trouble before..."
"Lillie."
The brunette leaned out her window and put her hands on her shoulders. "Do you hear me saying no?"
The blonde looked up at the brunette in surprise. "So you'll really help me?!"
"Damn right I will!"
"Oh thank you so much!" she cried, hugging Asalie tightly. "I really didn't know what else to do- thank you, Asalie!"
Asalie's face was bright red at the contact and a weak giggle escaped her. "S-so, we'll be going to the next island together, right?"
"Right!"
I had to split the chapter up, I'm afraid ^^;