"Come on Uncle Kukui, I'm sure I can make it on my own." Ashley complained.
"After what happened yesterday, I'm just making sure." Kukui said with a laugh.
"No one else's family is going to be escorting them though!" Ashley whined.
"No one else has amnesia at the moment." Burnett pointed out.
"Why are you guys coming anyways?" Ashley asked trying to change the subject.
"Beach day, I thought I would let Lei splash around for a bit." Burnett said with a shrug.
"Now for a question from me. What are you wearing?" Kukui asked to Ashley.
"Not everyone can go around without a shirt. Anyways it's a rashguard suit. Lana brought it over earlier." Ashley said doing a quick spin. The suit in question was mostly black with some blue and red accents. It had long sleeves, and a tight collar, with a bikini style bottom to them.
They got to the beach a bit early, so Ashley let Mudkip and Lileep hang out on the beach.
"Kukui dear, do you notice something odd about Ash?" Burnett asked.
"Nothing more than usual." Kukui said. "Why do you ask?"
"It might just be the suit or my imagination, but it almost looks like he has the figure of a young girl." Burnett said tilting her head slightly.
A while later after a bit of practice, Ashley was the third to leave the beach. They were instructed to head all the way to Akala Island and wait until everyone was there. Lileep stayed behind enjoying the warmth, while Mudkip rode on Mantine just in front of Ashley.
"Try and keep up!" Ashley taunted as she spun over Sophocles, speeding ahead.
"Hey, wait up, this isn't exactly easy!" Sophocles complained, wobbling, before falling off.
Up ahead Ashley saw it, Akala island. Wela Volcano proudly stands in the center. Keeping her balance, she pushed onward towards the beach.
"Over here!" Lana called from the beach. "Did you even get wet Ashley?" Lana asked, looking at her friend.
"A little, balancing was easy though." Ashley said, stretching a bit. "I figured you would be dryer than me."
"I enjoy the ocean, maybe a bit too much." Lana said with a laugh.
"You're earlier than expected." A voice called out. Walking down to the beach was a cloaked figure. "Don't think you can run away from my challenge this time." They said holding up a Pokeball.
"I'm not running from you!" Lana said, standing her ground.
"You are irrelevant, it's them I wish to battle." The figure stated.
"But I don't fight, and even if I did, I won't fight you!" Ashley said, scared.
"Then this will be easy. Come out Heracross!"
The Heracross stood, waiting.
"Mud!" Mudkip shouted running between Ashley and the Heracross.
"The little guy has guts. Pity." The cloaked figure said, but still waited.
Lillie, quickly followed by Kiawe came onto the beach.
"What's going on?" Kiawe asked, seeing the standstill.
"This person just came out of nowhere, and challenged Ashley to a battle, but neither one has made an attack." Lana explained.
"I recognize them. They were at the Wallace Cup. They fought Misty just like this. They waited for her to attack, and then before it landed they struck." Lillie said frightened.
"But Ashley said she doesn't battle." Lana said.
"Then it's a standstill. Mudkip is waiting for a command, while the Heracross is waiting for an opening.
The cloaked figure, looked at his watch before quickly closing it.
"My master was wrong. You are a waste of time. Heracross just end this with MegaHorn." The cloaked figure said bored.
"Mudkip! Look out!" Ashley yelled.
Mudkip stood its ground, taking the entirety of the attack.
"He's tougher than I thought. No matter another MegaHorn!" The cloaked figure commanded.
Once again, Mudkip was hit, and stood its ground. Ashley was terrified, if she didn't issue a command, who knows what they'd do to Mudkip.
"This is getting tiresome. Heracross just finish this already." The figure said annoyed.
"Mudkip please do something!" Ashley pleaded.
Just before Heracross hit a third time, Mudkip charged right at it, sending it hurtling back into some rocks.
"I think that was a Bide attack." Lana said amazed.
"A risky move, and one most Pokémon wouldn't use without being commanded." Kiawe said.
"So you're one of those trainers. Very well Heracross stand still." The cloaked figure commanded.
"Mudkip, use…". Ashley struggled. She knew attacks that Mudkips could learn, but what ones did her Mudkip know. "Mudkip use Mud Slap!"
"Heracross block it with a Bullet Seed."
The mud was dispersed, as a few stray seeds hit Mudkip.
"Let's try something a little bigger, use Whirlpool?" Ashley said, unsure of herself.
"Heracross go up." The cloaked figure said, as Heracross moved out of the way.
"Distant attacks don't seem to work on them Kukui said, walking up.
"They've countered every attack Ashley has thrown at them." Lana whined.
"Isn't there anything Ash can do?" Mallow asked.
"Not likely, I think he's only got two Pokémon with him, and the other is back on Melemele island." Kukui sighed.
"Mudkip use Tackle!"
"Finally, we get somewhere." The cloaked figure said. "Heracross stop it with a Brick Break."
When the two collided however, it wasn't Heracross stopping Mudkip. Mudkip had grabbed a hold of Heracross's attack, and stopped it in its place, before a bright light shone.
"Mudkip! What's happening!" Ashley yelled out.
"Better late than never." The cloaked figure commented.
As the light faded, a Marshtomp was on top of the Heracross, readying a punch.
"Now Heracross use Throat Chop." The cloaked figure said.
Despite being pinned, the Heracross managed to knock Marshtomp away before it could attack.
"Now while its dazed, finish this with a Bullet Seed." The figure said.
Marshtomp was quickly knocked out, and before it had even hit the ground, the cloaked figure was gone.
"That trainer is tough." Kiawe said in shock.
"Their Pokémon only got hit two times the entire fight." Lillie exclaimed.
"They remind me of how Guzma battles, except they wait for their opponent before striking." Lana shuddered.
"Hey guys. I made it!" Sophocles said, running up the beach, looking at the solemn faces, and Ashley comforting a Marshtomp. "What did I miss?"