Chapter 33 - "It's Not In Our World."
The four wasted no time, and their adventure to Vast Poni Canyon was a fast one. They ran as quickly as they could without tiring themselves out. It was now almost pitch black in the canyon, and they had to rely on flashlights that they had brought with them in case of emergencies.
Unlike the first time that Kala and Cyan entered Vast Poni Canyon, they did not ignore the steps that would lead them to the Altar of the Sunne and Moone. Instead, it was their destination.
"I've earned the right to climb these steps," Lilo said as the group came to the base of the stone structure. "But I think it's okay for you three to join me. We're not sure what exactly is up there, and as confident as I am, I'm asking for your help."
Cyan nodded. "No problem."
Kala, much to her dismay at disobeying tradition, took the first step. The journey up the stone stairs was a long one, and the four of them became more and more nervous with every step. Upon making it to the top, they were surprised to find that the altar was not shrouded in darkness like the rest of the island was. Instead, it appeared like it was being protected by some sort of shield that kept the darkness away. Surrounding the sky of the altar was a thin purple veil, but the sun still shone through with ease.
But that wasn't the only thing that surprised the trainers. Near the ponds of the altar stood four figures. They were all in black and white. They all had crazy hairstyles and colors. And they were all familiar.
"Team Skull!" Kala yelled. Without warning, she ran forward, and the others were quick to chase her down, forcing her to stop short of the ponds, but she had caught their attention.
Guzma and Plumeria turned while the boy with slicked back blue hair and the boy with slicked back green hair looked up at the sky, baffled by the thin purple veil.
"Of course you'd be here," Guzma said. "Of course."
"We need you to leave!" Plumeria commanded.
"We're not going anywhere!" Kala yelled back.
Guzma's eyes widened. "You're putting yourself in danger by being here, kid! Leave!"
Cyan stepped in front of Kala and held out a Poké Ball. "We're here to put an end to whatever it is your scheming. Team Skull has done enough."
"This isn't what it looks like," Guzma said calmly. "We're bad, but we're not this kind of bad. Ya'll need to step off."
"Go, Venusaur!"
The massive Grass-type appeared in front of Cyan, and he glared at Guzma, challenging the leader to take him on if he dared.
"We don't want to battle. It'd be a waste," Plumeria said. "Don't get involved with things you don't understand!"
"Litten!" Kala yelled. Her Pokémon ran from her side to the edge of the pond. She hissed, preparing to battle whatever Plumeria was going to use.
"Decidueye!"
"Samurott, go!"
From Lilo's and Emma's Poké Balls, Decidueye and a Water-type Pokémon with a large horn and two thick swords appeared respectively. They crouched as they awaited commands.
Guzma sighed. "You're really leaving us no choice, kid. But you're making a mistake! Golisopod, go!"
"Salazzle!"
The two boys with the slicked back hair took their cue, and they ran forward, releasing the ever familiar Hypno and Ribombee.
The eight trainers stared each other down, waiting for one person to make a move. Usually, Team Skull would have tried to be more offensive, but they appeared apprehensive to try to attack.
"Fine, we'll attack!" Kala yelled. "Litten, target Salazzle! Flamethrower!"
"Venusaur, use Petal Blizzard!"
"Decidueye, finish this quickly with Spirit Shackle!"
"Samurott, Aqua Tail!"
As the four Pokémon all charged their attacks and prepared to use them, Guzma looked at his subordinates. "We have to fight. Be smart, and try to conserve your energy if possible. Go!"
"Gotcha! Flamethrower!"
"Hypno, use Psychic, man!"
"Ribombee, hit him with Pollen Puff, bro!"
"First Impression."
What followed was a mixture of rose petals, flames, a ghostly stream, water, psychic energy, and exploding pollen that formed together to create an earth shattering blast. The force knocked back every single one of their trainers from their feet, and only the Pokémon remained standing. And then, Golisopod appeared in front Venusaur. He raised up his claw and prepared to swipe, but Venusaur and Cyan were more than prepared.
"Sludge Bomb!" Cyan yelled from the stone ground.
Venusaur quickly lowered his head and pointed his flower at Golisopod. In a second's notice, he unleashed the goop, blinding the Bug-type. Golisopod began a blind thrashing while he tried to swipe away the purple goo, but it was useless.
"Double Edge!"
"Saur!" the large Pokémon yelled as he used his massive back legs to send him forward. His body crashed into Golisopod, making the Bug-type fall back. Golisopod was finally able to get the goop out of his face, now revealing just how terrified he was. He was covered in a blue light, which absorbed him back into Guzma's Poké Ball before the Team Skull's leader's belt seemingly exploded. A new Pokémon emerged, this one floating above the battlefield with rapidly flapping wings.
"Salazzle, use Dragon Pulse!" Plumeria ordered, targeting Kala.
"Crunch!" Kala commanded in response.
Salazzle weaved through the wavering smoke and then jumped into the air. She formed a ball of arcane energy in her mouth and then launched it downwards, making it explode against the ground. The wave washed over Litten, but the smaller Fire-type fought through. Before Salazzle could descend, Litten was engulfed with a black energy. She jumped and the energy formed a set of jaws that she used to clamp down onto Salazzle. The two Pokémon cried out while they both plummeted back to the ground.
"Hypno, use Headbutt!" the blue haired boy yelled. He pointed at the descending Litten and Salazzle.
"I don't think so!" Lilo shouted. "Decidueye, Sucker Punch!"
As Hypno ran forward with his head lowered, Decidueye shot across the field, a black cloak of energy forming over one of his wings. He quickly crouched to the ground and uppercutted Hypno, putting a quick stop to his attack.
"Dazzling Gleam, bro!"
"Razor Shell!" Emma ordered in response.
Ribombee floated towards the group, and she started to flap her wings, releasing a pink wind across the battlefield. All of the Pokémon were pelted with the pink energy, but Samurott was fast enough to get behind the Fairy-type. She unsheathed her sword and slashed, knocking Ribombee out of the sky.
"Now, Samurott, use Focus Energy!" Emma said.
"Samurott!" the Pokémon cried out as a red veil of energy surrounded her body.
"Ribombee, use Bug Buzz, bro!"
Ribombee flew towards Samurott, and a dark green energy exploded off of her body. The energy connected with Samurott, sending her stumbling backwards, but it wasn't enough to damage her severely.
"Aqua Tail!"
Samurott roared, and she twisted her body as her body became surrounded with an aquatic force. She slammed her tail into Ribombee, forcing the Fairy-type to the ground.
"Bro!"
"Decidueye, use Leaf Blade!"
Decidueye's feathers extended outwards, and they started to glow with a green energy, seemingly becoming sharpened. He then quickly approached Hypno and slashed.
"Ice Punch, man!"
Hypno's arm became crystallized, and he reeled back. As Decidueye came towards him, he lunged, jabbing forward directly into Decidueye's chest. The Grass-type's attack was stopped, and he flew backwards, stunned by the strength from Hypno.
"Spirit Shackle!"
As smooth as he could, Decidueye unleashed an arrow of ghostly energy upwards. It seemingly ricocheted off of something that was in the air and then shot towards the ground, stabbing into Hypno's shadow. The Psychic-type tried to move but was trapped in place.
"Now Brave Bird!"
Keeping his aerial momentum, Decidueye turned around and then pointed his body towards Hypno. His body was covered in what appeared to be white flames, and he tucked in his wings. He crashed with Hypno, sending smoke into the air that cloaked both of the Pokémon.
"Man!"
"Salazzle, use Sludge Bomb!" Plumeria shouted.
"I don't think so!" Kala yelled. "Thrash!"
Before Salazzle could even start her attack, Litten emerged from the smoke. Her eyes were glowing with a white intensity, and then, as though she was an entirely different beast, Litten began to rapidly strike Salazzle. Her attack was nonstop. She'd swipe with her two front paws, knocking back Salazzle, and when the Poison-type thought the attack was over, Litten would turn around and strike with her back legs. Soon, Salazzle became desperate, and she belched downwards, releasing the poisonous goop onto both of them. This was enough to stop Litten's attack, and then the two found some distance.
"Flamethrower!" Plumeria commanded.
"Flare Blitz!"
As Salazzle unleashed the consistent stream of flames from her mouth, Litten ran forward. Litten's body was quickly engulfed in fire, and she dove straight for the flames. To Salazzle's surprise, Litten blasted straight through the stream with ease. The two Fire-types' bodies cracked against each other, and Salazzle was flung backwards before limply hitting the ground.
"Salazzle!" Plumeria yelled.
"Masquerain, use Bug Buzz!" Guzma commanded.
His Pokémon was incredibly fast, and he zipped across the field. He quickly unleashed the dark green energy downwards, forcing Venusaur to take a few steps back.
"Follow with Ice Beam!"
Without giving Cyan and Venusaur a chance to attack, Masquerain released his beam of light blue, blasting Venusaur directly in the face. The Grass-type cried out in pain, but he looked up, trying to find the Bug-type through the mess of the attacks.
"Air Slash!" Guzma commanded, his attacks getting more and more relentless.
"Petal Blizzard!"
Both of the Pokémon released their attacks, but this time, Venusaur used his attack in a defensive way, cloaking his body. The air that Masquerain released just bounced off of the petals, dissipating immediately.
"Now Sludge Bomb!"
The petals divided down the middle before Venusaur once again unleashed the purple goop from the top of his flower. It doused the Bug-type completely, bringing him to the ground.
"Now finish this with Double Edge!"
"Saur!" the Pokémon yelled as white energy exploded off of him. He ran forward and tackled Masquerain, finishing him off.
Guzma huffed and then returned Masquerain. "Kid, you're only making this worse! If we keep fighting, then you're putting everyone in danger!"
"If we don't stop you, then we're putting everyone in danger!" Cyan retorted.
"Fine," Guzma growled before throwing his ball forward. "First Impression!"
Before Cyan or Venusaur could react, Golisopod emerged and slashed with his massive claw. The power was strong enough to force Venusaur backwards, his body sliding against the solid ground.
"Be patient, Venusaur!" Cyan ordered.
"Saur…" Venusaur mumbled, understanding what Cyan was saying.
"Razor Shell!"
Golisopod's claws were surrounded by aquatic energy, and since he was close, it didn't take very long until he was able to strike. One slice sent Venusaur back even further, but the Pokémon remained strong.
"Waterfall!" Guzma yelled at the top of his lungs.
Golisopod put his arms together and then ducked. With one swift strike, he uppercutted Venusaur, somehow forcing the Grass-type into the sky.
"Venusaur, now!"
"Saur!" the Pokémon cried out while releasing a thick beam of bright yellow light from his back. The light shot directly towards Golisopod, blasting him all the way back to Guzma's feet. Golisopod's body was weak, indicating that the battle was already over. Venusaur then landed safely, and he let out a roar before collapsing to one leg.
"We won!" Cyan yelled. He jumped into the air and clapped his feet together. "We actually won!" He then ran over to Venusaur and pet his Pokémon softly.
"Good! Now we're gonna ask that you stop what you're doing here and return Poni Island back to normal!" Kala snapped.
Guzma and his group exchanged looks before the leader glared at the four trainers and yelled, "You idiots! This ain't us!"
"What?"
"We've been trying to tell you. This isn't us. This is something else. This is something different. This is something very dangerous," Plumeria added.
"It's above Team Skull, man."
"Yeah. Way above us, bro."
Kala looked back at Cyan, unsure of how to answer. But it didn't matter, because there was a sudden explosion, which brought everyone's attention to the sky. Above the collection of trainers, a portal created by pink and blue energy appeared, seemingly ripping a hole from out of nowhere.
"What is that?" Cyan asked. He knelt down and fed Venusaur a few berries just in case, but he kept his attention focused on the hole.
"We came to fight whatever comes through that portal! We're here to protect Alola, you dimwits! We tried telling you!" Guzma screamed.
"What in the world is happening?" Kala asked.
"It's not in our world," Plumeria said.
They all stood in silence as the hole in the sky shifted and grew bigger. Electricity sparked off of it before something exploded outwards. It was a large white creature who crashed roughly ten meters away from the group, making some of them lose their balance. It was feline in appearance, complete with a thick white mane. It looked towards them, and they could feel the power it exuded. With one stomp of its leg, it let out a roar.
Kala starred in absolute shock. "Solgaleo…"
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This chapter was basically a four on four battle, which I found difficult to write. The next chapter is going to be a whole bunch of trainers battling one Pokémon. Not sure how that'll workout...
REVIEWS:
pokemonking0924 - "Lilo proves to be a step ahead once again, although by the looks of it this was her toughest challenge yet. Everyone has this big dream or goal they want to achieve but Cyan just wants have fun while traveling and battling. Although by the looks of his plan to go to Johto after completing the island challenge and entering the Alola league, my guess is that he's planning on searching for his sister himself. But before all that a new crisis has arrived at the Altar of the Sun and Moon, looking forward to seeing what happens next. Since Lilo and Cyan plan on traveling the world I was wondering if they're going to battle Logan at some point." - The answer to that question will come sooner than later!
CrescentApple - "Predictions... i have no idea. I never finished Sun/Moon so everything in Redding is completely new to me here. I guess the legendary Pokemon and Ultra beasts are picking fights with one another. Kudos for Lilo completing the island challenge." - Well, I'm not really using too much of what was in the games for this arc. I've been trying to be more and more original. Haha
wisdom-jewel - "I can't wait to see what happen. I would love to see how the four trainers deal with the upcoming events. It would be entertaining to see how each one of them dealing with the problem. The whole thing sounds like it would be a steep learning curve." - Like I mentioned, what happens in the next couple of chapters will have a big effect on the trainers.