Gamelover41592: Thank you!
Time for the best Victory Road they could give us in the original game: Vast Poni Canyon! Let's begin!
"This is it…" Emma said as they walked towards the entrance. She knew that Vast Poni Canyon was a challenge for even the best trainers to get through. So she knew that she and Kitty were in for a challenge. Much to their surprise, Hapu and her Mudsdale were waiting for them. Lillie waved to her.
"Did everything go well?" Hapu asked.
Well, I…" Lillie trailed off, looking at the ground. "I had to have Emma and Kitty do everything for me yet again, but…"
"Nothing wrong with that, Lillie," Hapu assured her. "People cannot survive on their own. They have got to help one another out. Same for Pokémon, too. That is what my grandfather used to say."
"Ni-hii!" Mudsdale chimed in in his own way.
"It's that kindness of yours, girls, that keeps that brilliant smile on Lillie's face," Hapu continued. Emma just smiled while Kitty looked away and blushed, using her bag to hide her face.
"Please wait," Everyone turned around to see Dulse and Zossie standing behind him, Dulse being the speaker. "We have been betrayed by Lusamine...and now we are expected to put our faith into two children like you? Even if we are still weak, we have also learned to battle with Pokémon...We should be able to resolve the situation with Necrozma ourselves!" Dulse then turned to Emma. "I will defeat you, and we will handle things with our own power this time!"
"I wish you guys didn't have to be like this," Kitty said sadly as Emma got ready for battle. Much like the last several times, she was easily able to defeat his Poipole.
"Can we not stand up against the long history of a region like Alola, where the culture of Pokémon battling has had so long to develop?" Dulse wondered aloud.
Zossie nodded. "Mm-hmm. The people of Alola get along and get to know each other through Pokémon battles."
"Greetings. I am the kahuna of this island. Hapu," Hapu introduced herself. "You are from the beasts' world, are you not? We in Alola have long lived together with our Pokémon, being aided by them to survive. If you are in some sort of trouble, then we will gladly come to your aid however we can." Lillie nodded. Mudsdale let out a cry. Emma gave them a thumbs up. Kitty just smiled. Dulse and Zossie looked at each other, where Zossie just nodded.
"That is most generous of you…" Dulse admitted. "When Necrozma comes, then...will you battle it?"
"We will," Emma said. "We will save both of our words."
"...Thank you," Was all Dulse could say.
"Well then!" Hapu said happily. "The path to the shrine is through the canyon. You will find other Trainers in this place, though. They come for training. It will be a tough road. You will have to pitch in, too, Lillie. But if you three end up in any real trouble, Mudsale and I will hasten to you."
"Thank you, Hapu," Lillie thanked her with a nod. "I will do all I can to help Emma and Kitty!"
"Then I guess it's time to go in…" Emma said, turning to face her sister. "You ready?"
"Ready," Kitty replied. She and Emma joined Lillie at the entrance of the canyon.
"The vast canyon...I wonder what we will find ahead?" Lillie asked the girls.
"It has some of the strongest Pokémon in Alola…" Emma revealed, doing her best to keep her excitement levels down.
"And, like Hapu said, it's gonna be full of trainers," Kitty chimed in. "But I know we can do it!"
"Whoa...check out the statue!" Emma said, completely changing the subject as she began to look over it. "What do you think it is?"
"Emma, we're going to need to go into the canyon," Kitty said. Emma rapidly shook her head to clear her mind.
"Right, we've got to go!" Emma said. "Ready Lillie?"
"When I-Once I am ready, I am going to come after you," Lillie explained again. "I'm going to catch up with you. For Nebby's sake...and for my mother's sake too. Oh, yes, but first let me make sure that your Pokémon are ready for battle!" Emma and Kitty both eagerly handed their bags over, before Lillie handed them back once she had finished.
"See you inside!" Kitty called out with a wave as she and Emma headed into the canyon.
"Phew...this canyon truly is a difficult path to walk," Lillie admitted as she came out of a cave.
"Nice to see you made it," Emma said with a fond smile. Kitty pulled their friend into a hug.
"Well you two made the Canyon seem like it was nothing!" Lillie commended as she walked to where Emma and Kitty were. It was a wooden bridge. "This bridge reminds me of the first time that I met you two...I'd taken Nebby with me, but I didn't have the courage to protect it myself. I couldn't do anything...but I'm not that person anymore!" Lillie then began to walk across the bridge. A Murkrow blocked her path.
"Lillie hang-" Kitty began only for Emma to block her.
"No. Let her do this," Emma said simply. Two more Mukrow joined the first on the bridge, blocking Lillie in. Lillie steeled her nerves. She would not back down! Effortlessly, she ran past the Murkrow.
"Oh…" Lillie took a few seconds to realize what she had just done. With a smile, she turned towards Emma and Kitty, waving to both of them. "Emma! Kitty! I did it! I made it all the way across!"
"You did great!" Emma cheered while Kitty just clapped. The girls made their own way across, getting the Murkrow to leave for good measure.
"Someday...I'd like to be more like you two," Lillie admitted. "I want to fight together with Pokémon and become strong enough to outdo even myself."
"We know you can do it!" Kitty declared proudly.
"Thanks…" Lillie said, looking away so that Kitty couldn't see her blushing. She patted herself on the cheeks to calm herself down. "Would you like me to heal your teams?"
"That would be great," Emma replied. All of the Trainers were tough and both girls had at least one member of their team faint.
"Don't worry! I've got you covered!" Lillie assured the girls as she healed their teams. "Though I'm not sure I brought enough Max Repels for a path like this one…"
"Don't worry, we'll keep you covered!" Emma promised her as they walked into another cave.
"Is this...a trial gate?" Emma asked no one in particular. Upon reaching the end of the canyon, Emma and Kitty were surprised to find what they realized was a colorful gate used for the trials.
"Maybe there was one here at one point?" Kitty offered. Lillie then jogged over.
"Hah….hahhh….Sorry...I'm not...very good...at running," She panted as she tried to catch her breath. "Phew! It looks like we're nearly to the altar now, aren't we? Let me take care of your Pokémon for you." The process of healing was repeated. "When your Pokémon are full of energy, then a Trainer can go anywhere in the world...Doesn't it seem that way?"
"Well, it looks like we are gonna have a bit of a road block…" Emma said as she motioned to the gates.
"Is this a trial?" Lillie asked.
"We think so," Emma replied. "It was most likely abandoned, but there could still be a trial Pokémon here."
"Just stay behind us," Kitty warned. Lillie nodded and the girls walked through the gates. Inside, they found an ancient stone monument. "Em, could you make this out?"
"I can try…" Emma said as she knelt down and read what was written on the stone. "Ahead lies a sacred ground of trials. None who do not take part in its trials will be allowed to walk upon this earth. Those lacking the courage to defeat the totem guarding this land will be denied entry. But those who believe in the Pokémon and walk beside them shall gain great power."
"So it is a trial," Kitty said. "So...do you want to challenge this one together?"
"I don't see a captain, so let's do this," Emma agreed as she put her hand forward. Kitty puts on top of her sister's. "Let's go…" Slowly, the girls began to walk forward. They swear they could feel something glaring into their souls. A Jangmo-o jumped out, but Kitty's Ribombee dealt with it with ease. They kept walking. A Hakamo-o jumped out next, forcing Emma to take it down with Vikavolt. They could see the pedestal with the Z-Crystal on it. The glare was only getting stronger. "I think I know what the totem is."
"Same," Kitty agreed. She wasn't as knowledgeable as Emma in Pokémon, but she wasn't stupid and knew evolution lines. "You ready?"
"Only if you are," Emma replied. The girls nodded and walked forward. Upon reaching the pedestal, they both reached forward.
"Sou-ouuuund!" Kommo-o roared as it jumped down, blocking the pedestal. Emma and Kitty both jumped back before grinning at each other.
"Vikavolt, let's go!" Emma called out.
"Primarina, let's win this!" Kitty yelled out. "Now, Moonblast!" The attack landed, dealing heavy damage.
"Vikavolt, Acrobatics!" Emma ordered as she thrust her hand forward. Again, the attack landed, leaving Kommo-o close to being finished off. "You wanna finish this?"
"With pleasure," Kitty replied. "Primarina, Moonblast again!" This time, the totem was defeated, Kommo-o running off. "Not bad!"
"Same to you!" Emma fired back, causing both girls to laugh. They both grabbed their Dragonium Z with a smile and headed out. The altar was just up ahead!
Next time...we battle Necrozma. See you all then.