Chapter 23 - "Explain Yourselves!"

The duo, upon arriving in Malie City again, decided to stay for another night. The battle with Graveler and his gang had done some damage to Brionne, so Cyan wanted to make sure that he got the proper rest before moving on.

The next morning, the duo and their Pokémon enjoyed a simple breakfast of pancakes with local Alolan fruits. When they finished eating, they went to the Pokémon Center courtyard to stretch.

Kala, trying to get Jangmo-o used to battling, had her three Pokémon do simple dances with her. The three all basked in the morning sun as they performed slow Alolan dances, stretching their bodies. Occasionally, they would strike poses that would prepare them for battle, and Jangmo-o seemed as though he were a natural.

Meanwhile, Cyan and his Pokémon lightly jogged around the courtyard. Ivysaur kept up with Cyan while Brionne, who had trouble with movement on land, moved at a slow pace alongside Oranguru. Lycanroc and Salandit felt the need to challenge one another, and they raced around the courtyard as fast as they could. This, unfortunately, tired both of them out more than anything.

It didn't take too long, and the group finished their morning exercises. It was now time for them to go off for their next destination and Cyan's second trial on Ula'ula Island.

But something was off.

The usual quiet Malie City was loud, and people flooded the streets. The residents seemed bothered by all of the ruckus and tourists were angry that they weren't able to easily move throughout the city.

"What's going on?" Cyan asked as he looked into the crowd. Everyone was pointed towards the garden, and they seemed to be getting angrier and angrier.

"I'm not sure, but let's try to get a closer look," Kala said. She grabbed ahold of Cyan's arm and pulled him as they worked themselves through the crowd.

The two heard people shouting, and from the sounds of it, the garden was closed off for some reason. The garden was one of the most popular attractions on all of Ula'ula Island, and people who came from all around the world wanted to get a look at it.

"Can't they just come back tomorrow?" Cyan asked. The two were still slowly making their way through the crowd.

Kala nodded. "They could, but I think that something else is up. I'm not sure why they'd close the garden."

Finally, it all started to become clear as the two made it to the front of the raging crowd. At the front of the entrance to the garden stood two teenagers, both wearing bandanas with skull prints on them. Once they saw Kala and Cyan, a look of terror came over their face.

"It's, like, those dweebs from before!" the Team Skull member with pink hair screeched.

"We were told there wouldn't be any trainers here, man!" the boy with slicked back blue hair exclaimed.

The two were quick, and they drew out their Poké Balls.

Cyan and Kala sighed before looking at each other.

"It's you two again?" Cyan asked. "How about we don't battle, but we say that we did. We'd just beat you anyways."

"Shut up, man!" the boy yelled. "You know nuthin'! Our boss wants to enjoy the sights, and he doesn't need anyone disturbing him right now. And if Malie City is lucky, we'll turn this place into our next base of operations, man!"

"Litten," Kala said. Her Pokémon nodded and then walked forward.

Cyan thought for a moment before he picked his Poké Ball. He tossed it into the air, Oranguru appearing from the light.

"Go!" the two Team Skull members shouted. They threw their Poké Balls forward. The chunky Raticate and a large yellow Pokémon with a white mane and a large nose emerged. They looked out at Cyan and Kala with anger in their eyes.

"His Drowzee evolved into a Hypno," Cyan remarked. "Maybe they'll be a challenge now."

"You're pretty cocky for someone who's about to lose, man!"

"We'll, like, crush you!"

"Headbutt!"

"Hyper Fang!"

"Here they come! Litten, start with Scary Face!"

Litten jumped into the air while the two Pokémon came dashing towards her. She released energy from her face, creating an image in the air resembling a ghost's scowl. And then, to go along with the image, was a roar of a Pokémon much larger than Litten. The two charging Pokémon slowed down as they looked into the air, giving Cyan his chance.

"Zen Headbutt!"

Oranguru was filled with psychic energy before he lunged forward, his head lowered. He tackled into Hypno, sending the opponent's Psychic-type reeling backwards.

"Crunch!"

The chubby Raticate changed his attack direction and turned towards Oranguru. With a quick snap forward, he clamped down dark energy onto the simian Pokémon. Oranguru let out a loud groan before he started to stumble back.

"Headbutt, man!"

The Hypno recovered from his attack and then charged yet again. This time, he was able to land a direct hit, making Cyan's Pokémon fly backwards.

"Ember!"

Litten landed in front of Oranguru before unleashing small spurts of flames forwards. The spurts collided with Raticate and Hypno, irritating them slightly, but they looked ready to attack once again.

"Psybeam!"

"Crunch!"

"Confusion!"

"Fire Fang!"

Hypno and Oranguru both raised their hands and pointed at one another. They focused their energy, and they tested each other's mental strength, something that the people looking on were unable to see.

Meanwhile, Raticate and Litten darted towards the middle of their makeshift battlefield. They collided, sending dark energy and flames into the air. When the smoke cleared, they stood still, attached to one another in a test of strength.

The four Pokémon stood in their standstills as they struggled against one another. But it was eventually Team Skull who made their next commands.

"Hyper Fang!"

"Poison Gas!"

Raticate snapped back, and his jaws started to glow with white energy while Hypno released his psychic attack. He started to create a purple haze from this palms, and he sent it wafting forward.

"Feint Attack!" Cyan ordered.

Oranguru held out his hands in front of his face and let out a screech, startling all of the Pokémon. Hypno faltered for a moment, and the gas slightly faded away. Then, Oranguru lunged forward, punching Hypno with dark energy. The yellow Pokémon fell on his back and flinched, unable to get back up.

"No, man!"

Raticate then tried to use his attack, but Kala made her command.

"Double Kick!"

As Raticate came forward, Litten twisted around. She kicked out, hitting Raticate once in the face and then another time in the stomach. The chubby Pokémon rolled backwards and landed in a heap next to his partner.

Both of the Team Skull members stared in disbelief at their fainted Pokémon. They looked at each other and then screamed.

"Let's go!" Cyan said. He started to run while the Team Skull members panicked over their Pokémon. Kala, Litten, and Oranguru all followed close behind.

The garden was even more quiet than it was a couple days prior, but this was because there was no one to be found. The only sounds that could be heard was Cyan and Kala's footsteps as they ran across the wooden bridges that took them to the middle of the garden.

Sat in the middle was the gazebo from before. The girl that they had a small encounter with after Cyan's battle with Olivia stood on one of the benches and looked over the garden's ponds. Next to her was a man with white hair and black clothes. They looked away from where Cyan and Kala were coming from, but they knew of their presence.

"Explain yourselves!" Kala shouted.

The man stood still, and it was the girl with pink hair that turned around. She shot a glare at Kala. "We're just taking in the scenery of the garden."

"Can't do that without being a nuisance about it?" Kala snapped.

The girl stepped off of the bench and drew out a Poké Ball. "You're the nuisance. What did I tell you about fighting with Team Skull?"

Kala stepped in front of Cyan, and then Litten jumped in front of her. "It doesn't matter what you said. You're disrupting the peace. And Team Skull can't be trusted."

"Plumeria, take care of them," the man said, still looking away from the group.

"Got it, boss," she responded. With that, she threw out her Poké Ball, and a large winged Pokémon with a gaping wide mouth appeared. It shot its glare at Cyan and Kala, forcing Cyan to take a step back.

"I've heard horror stories of these Pokémon," Cyan said. "People get lost in caves in Kanto and have to deal with Golbat and Zubat for what feels like days. Be careful."

"Fire Fang!" Kala ordered.

"Air Cutter!"

As Litten bounded forward with fire exploding from her mouth, Golbat flew back a few feet. She started to flap her wings rapidly, releasing energy that cut through the air. It stopped Litten's motion, blowing back the Fire-type to the edge of the bridge. Her tail dipped into the water, and she shrieked before running to the middle.

"Ah. Kitty can't swim?" Plumeria said with a pouty face. "Sounds fine with me! One more Air Cutter!"

"Ember!"

This time, Litten released spurts of fire from her mouth which clashed with the wind energy. They fought with one another for awhile, but it was Golbat's attack that won out, blasting the fire back at Litten. The fire and wind energy collided with the small Pokémon, sending her reeling backwards into Kala's arms.

Kala glared. "We're not finished!" she said as she pulled out her next Poké Ball. "Go, Dartrix!"

The elegant bird Pokémon materialized from the ball, and he was immediately prepared to battle. The two Flying-types stared at one another, waiting for their trainers' calls.

"Wing Attack!"

"Use Ominous Wind!"

This time, Golbat moved forward, her wings glowing with white energy. She swooped down, but Dartrix unleashed a wind filled with black and purple energy from his wings. The energy collided with Golbat, putting her attack to a stop.

"Now follow with Razor Leaf!"

Dartrix darted into the air and twisted his body, releasing a flurry of leaves from his wings. Then, with one swift motion, he whipped around, sending the leaves forward. They ripped into Golbat's body, forcing the Pokémon to fall to the ground.

"Peck!"

"One more Wing Attack!"

The two Pokémon shot forward, colliding in the sky above the bridge. They paused as they held out their positions before both collapsing. The two trainers were quick though, and they let the red streams from their Poké Balls absorb the Pokémon, returning them to safety.

"You couldn't beat two simple Pokémon?" the man snapped. He turned, revealing that his eyes were seemingly sunken in as though he hadn't slept in weeks. He stepped off of the bench and then approached the edge of the gondola.

"Sorry, Guzma," Plumeria muttered. "They were stronger than I thought they would be."

Guzma pulled his Poké Ball from the inside of his black overshirt. "I'll guess I'll just have to take care of them myself."

Cyan stepped forward, and his Oranguru soon followed. Oranguru closed his eyes and began to focus, ready to battle whatever it was that Guzma would choose.

"Golisopod, use First Impression!" Guzma commanded as he tossed the Poké Ball into the air. It exploded open, and a large Pokémon with what appeared to be silver armor covering it quickly emerged, and before Cyan could make a command, he snapped forward. With one swift strike, he slashed at Oranguru. The two stood still, and then, out of nowhere, Oranguru collapsed to the ground.

"What?!" Cyan yelled. He ran over to his Pokémon and knelt down. Golisopod towered over the two of them, but when Cyan tried to catch its gaze, the Pokémon shyly looked away. With that, Cyan withdrew Oranguru and then pulled out his next Poké Ball and threw it forward. Lycanroc appeared behind Golisopod and growled.

"Don't think that your Pokémon are even close to strong enough to take on mine," Guzma snapped. "Use Swords Dance!"

"I guess we'll just have to test you then!" Cyan snapped. "Howl!"

The two Pokémon charged their energy, and they started to glow with a slight red aura before kneeling down, preparing for their trainers' commands.

"Accelerock!"

"Razor Shell!"

As Lycanroc bounded forward with small rocks forming around her body, Golisopod quickly formed an aquatic blade of energy around his arm. He swiped as soon as Lycanroc was within reach, and the two collided. They both paused for a moment before, once again, Cyan's Pokémon collapsed to the ground.

"No way," Cyan muttered. "No way… One hit?"

"It's so strong," Kala said.

Guzma started to laugh. "You ain't seen nothing like my Golisopod before, kid. Don't even try to think you can take me."

Cyan returned Lycanroc and then thought about his next move. He understood that Razor Shell was a Water-type move, but the creature that stood before him appeared to be a Bug-type in appearance. Nonetheless, he had to take his chance. He threw his Poké Ball forward, and Ivysaur materialized on the bridge. He stretched out and then looked up at Golisopod, not unnerved by the larger Pokémon.

"Another weak Pokémon," Guzma said. "Use Slash!"

Golisopod bounded forward, and his claw started to glow bright white.

"Seed Bomb!"

Moments before Golisopod could strike, Ivysaur unleashed a white seed from the tip of his bulb. It exploded almost immediately, sending a pink smoke into the air that covered both of the Pokémon.

"Razor Leaf!"

The two trainers couldn't see what was happening, but Ivysaur let out a cry, and a flurry of razor sharp leaves emerged from the pink smoke. Eventually, Golisopod stumbled backwards as the leaves continued to pelt against him. He raised his arms in irritation and then began to swipe them away.

"Vine Whip!"

Ivysaur reached out with his two vines, still covering himself from with the smoke. But Guzma had a counter prepared.

"Grab 'em!"

Golisopod was quick and reached out his two claws, grabbing ahold of Ivysaur's vines. He then quickly heaved, tossing Ivysaur into the air.

"Slash!"

Ivysaur, now helpless to do anything, flailed as his body started to fall back to the ground. Golisopod bounded forward and charged energy within his claw before he slashed, knocking Ivysaur backwards. The Grass-type crashed into the bridge and slid against its wooden surface. With only one attack, Ivysaur was clearly worn out.

"Ivysaur!" Cyan yelled. He gritted his teeth and then looked back to Golisopod. "He's so strong…"

"Ivy!" the Grass-type screeched as he stood back up. Suddenly, energy started to surge throughout his body, and a white glow came off of him. His body began to morph and change slightly, growing a lot more massive in size. Soon, the white light exploded off of him, and he had taken a new form.

"Yeah!" Cyan exclaimed. "Venusaur!"

"Saur!"

Guzma laughed. "It doesn't make any difference."

"Vine Whip!" Cyan ordered, ignoring Guzma's doubts.

Venusaur was a little bit slower now, but the vines that he released were much thicker. Once again, Golisopod caught them with his claws, and he tried to lift, but Venusaur was considerably larger now, and a look of panic came over Golisopod's face.

"Saur!" Venusaur called, letting Cyan know that he'd handle the rest. With that, he lifted the massive leaves on his back, and small pink petals fell from his body. The whipped up and swirled forward, creating a blizzard of petals and then slicing into Golisopod and making the Bug-type screech.

"What in the world was that?" Cyan wondered. He turned to Kala who simply shrugged her shoulders. "It looked like a mega Razor Leaf!"

Soon, the petals died down, and somehow, Golisopod remained standing. The red aura from before reemerged, and he shot a death glare at Venusaur.

"Another Swords Dance?!" Cyan yelled.

Guzma started to chortle. "Your Petal Blizzard was strong, but my Golisopod is on a whole different level, boy. Golisopod, use Slash!"

Golisopod roared and then sliced through the binds that Venusaur had created. He then charged forward, energy exploding off of his body.

Cyan turned to his Pokémon, seeing that he was still worn out from the battle as an Ivysaur. "Let's push a little bit more! Take Down!"

"Saur!"

"Goli!"

The two Pokémon charged into one another, and there was a small explosion of white light. To everyone's surprise, Venusaur was tossed back, and he landed with a hard crashed in front of Cyan, shaking the bridge. When the light faded, Golisopod was left heaving, and a thin veil of blue energy engulfed his body. He was then absorbed back into Guzma's Poké Ball that remained attached to his belt.

Guzma grinned and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "My Golisopod is still able to go, boy. You were only able to knock down roughly half of his energy."

Cyan knelt down and put his hand on Venusaur's rough skin. The Pokémon was breathing heavily, but with some rest, he'd ultimately be okay.

Guzma began to walk forward, and he closed his eyes. "Our battle is done. Stay out of Team Skull's way. You're only going to make things worse if you do." He passed Cyan and Kala without looking at them and continued on his way down the bridge. Plumeria followed in his footsteps, shooting daggers with her eyes at Kala.

Soon, it got quiet again, and it was only Cyan, Kala, and their Pokémon. Cyan withdrew his new Venusaur into his ball and then stood up.

"I can't believe I lost," he mumbled.

"We lost," Kala added. "You weren't in it alone."

Cyan looked down the bridge where Guzma and Plumeria disappeared. "I guess this means that I have to keep getting stronger. Next time we meet, I'm not going to lose."

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

So, Cyan loses. I think he's gotten a bit cocky because of his successes in the trials, but when it comes to actual battling, maybe he's not as good as he thinks he is? And it looks like Kala has some work to do too.

REVIEWS:

wisdom-jewel - "I love Kala's past. It would be interesting to see her do become one in the future, or make a reference in Logan and Yurie's story about her. It would be fun. Can the Garveler gang be an ongoing gag? Like they appear every once and a while?" - As for referencing Logan and Yurie's story (small spoiler, but I think it's worth knowing) Kala and Logan do know each other. And for Graveler and his gang, I definitely want to make them come back at some point.

CrescentApple - "Kala's backstory was unexpected but a curious one. I never saw her with huge potential, just a Hermione-esque character :p It'd be funny if Tapu Koko appeared before Kala to tell her "get strong, because I want ro battle you in the future" and when they meet avain Tapu Koko just DECIMATES her entire team. baah, I love me some humiliation equals learning. I cant see Cyan affected by this. Win or lose he enjoys plain battling either way." - Kala does seem to take losses more personally, but as we'll see in the next chapter, Cyan doesn't like losing either. I also really like the idea of Kala eventually getting to battle against Tapu Koko. Maybe I can work that in at some point.