Gamelover41592: Thank you! I was getting worried about you
Matt (Guest): Thank you!
IllusionSign (Guest): Good to see you again and congrats on the shiny! Mine was a shiny Magikarp found in the wild!
After all the excitement of Necrozma, it's time to get back on the Island Challenge! And this time, we're taking Mina up on her offer.
"So you two actually battled Necrozma?! And went into an Ultra Wormhole!?" Kukui exclaimed once his daughters finished telling their story.
"Yep!" Kitty declared. Admittedly, both parents were happy at how well their daughters had taken it. Most kids would have come back utterly traumatized.
"Yeah, we had each other and we took it on together," Emma said.
"While I'm not happy you two did this without telling anyone-" Burnet began, waiting for Emma and Kitty to look ashamed, before smiling. "You two are the heroes of Alola. Well done." She then turned to her older daughter. "Emma, you said that Nebby is part of an evolutionary line?"
Emma grinned and pulled out her notebook. "Yes, it was. In addition, it could also fuse with Necrozma."
"And what happened to both Necrozma and Solgaleo?" Burnet asked.
"Necrozma vanished after the battle and Solgaleo left with Lillie," Emma reported as professionally as she could. Burnet nodded.
"Well, I bet both of 'em had some powerful moves!" Kukui declared, causing his family to laugh. "But I think you two have something else to do?" Emma and Kitty grinned at each other.
"Mina, we're ready to take you up on that offer on a trial!" Emma called out as she walked inside Mina's house boat. The artist turned around from what she was working on with a grin.
"Heh heh heh...then let the trial of Mina begin!" Mina declared happily. "I guess I've got to tell you what you need to do. You have to battle me!"
"...That's it?" Kitty asked as she pulled out her Pokéballs. "Okay!" Mina was the Fairy captain, which meant she used Fairy types. While it was tricky, Kitty was still able to win.
"Phew! Looks like you have had some kind of Island Challenge!" Mina said, sounded impressed. "Since you managed to beat me, though, I'll give you this Pink Petal as proof."
"Um...shouldn't I get a Z-Crystal?" Kitty asked as she took the petal with a confused expression.
"This was just the start. But you've only just begun my real trial," Mina revealed. "Now you have to go around to all the captains in Alola and get a petal from each one of them!"
"Oh…" Kitty said. Admittedly, a single battle did seem way too easy for a trial. She turned to her sister. "Hey Emma? Wanna race? First one back gets to challenge the Totem?"
"Just let me get my own petal and then we can," Emma said, not wanting to be put at an unfair advantage. Kitty pouted, knowing that Emma caught her. Emma just rolled her eyes. Mina quickly healed her Pokémon and battled Emma. She quickly finished the battle and the race was on!
"Hey! I know you're happy that we beat Ilima and all, but you've still gotta wait for me, partner!"
"Hau! It's good to see you!" Kitty cheered as she saw her friend's Decidueye run over, followed by said friend (and crush). Sure, she really wanted to beat Emma, but she could spare a few minutes to talk to her friend.
"Oh! Hey Kitty!" Hau greeted them. "I heard the news from Gladion, you know. 'Saviors of Alola', huh? Heh heh! I'm glad I got to set out on my island challenge together with such awesome trainers."
"Stop! You're making me blush!" Kitty joked as she looked away, trying to hide her actual blush.
But I'm not slacking off, either!" Hau revealed. "It's good to have fun in battle, sure...but losing a battle when all you're really doing is having fun is...well…"
"Not fun?" Kitty offered.
"Yeah. You can't let down your Pokémon when they're fighting their hardest for you, now can you?" Hau pointed out. "Right, Decidueye?"
"Desiiiii!"
"I know you want to win...and I'm gonna make sure that happens!" Hau promised his partner. He then turned back to Kitty. "When we're both done with our island challenges, we should have a serious battle. You and me."
"We totally will. I promise," Kitty agreed.
"Pokémon and their trainers have gotta have their hearts in the same place if they're gonna win in battle! That's the way to really have a blast together!" Hau declared.
"Hey, you haven't seen Ilima, have you?" Kitty asked.
"Oh yeah! He's in the graveyard! Emma showed up shortly after I finished battling him!" Hau revealed before rushing off.
"Crap! I'm gonna lose!" Kitty called out as she rushed towards Ilima who, mercifully, was still present.
"Greetings. Captain Ilima here," Ilima greeted her. "It seems you've collected a great number of Z-Crystals, Kitty. I see you and your sister have improved quite a bit since I last saw you. You both are positively shining! Yes, it's important to always shine. You know, I've traveled the world since I was young with my mother. She's an actress on the stage, you see. In doing so, I came to realize something. I realized how beautiful my mother was when she dedicated herself completely to the role she was performing onstage...yes, it is moving to see such complete dedication-to anything! The brilliance of the Z-Crystals! The gleam of Totem Stickers! In my role as captain, I just want to do my part to make everyone shine! But...let's set all that aside. You're here for Mina's trial?"
"Yes." Kitty answered.
"Then allow me to check just how strong you have become!" Ilima declared as he pulled out his first Pokéball.
"Ahhh...aromatherapy," Mallow said happily. She was surrounded by grass Pokémon. "I feel so relaxed whenever Comfey hits me with it...like all my worries just waft away."
"Are you sure you should relax so much, Mallow?" Lana asked. "I quite like it when you're full of energy. You are much less likely to be startled by an unexpected visitor when you are." As if on cue, Mallow turned around to see Emma standing behind her.
"Emma!?" Mallow exclaimed, causing the Pokémon to race off. "When did you get here?!" N-Not that it matters. I was just trying to get closer to my Pokémon to see what kinds of special dishes they might like me to make for them. That's all!"
"Like I thought, true relaxation might be out of the question for you, my spry Mallow." Lana said.
"I can so relax! You know I can, right Emma?" Mallow asked.
"Hey, if Kitty can, so can you," Emma said with a shrug.
"Oh geez! You two! I'll show you! I'll prove it in battle!" Mallow challenged.
"Perfect! Because that's what I'm here for!" Emma said with a grin.
Mallow smiled. "Now that all Pokémon have me feeling all relaxed...take our all-our attack!"
Kitty was admittedly surprised that Lana had given her the petal after she beat Mallow, but she wasn't complaining. After all, it meant that she could get to Kiawe faster. However, Hiker David was standing in his normal place.
"Alola! Now who am I?" David greeted her.
"Um...David, right?" Kitty offered.
"Good to see you again!" David replied.
"Uh...you wouldn't happen to know where Kiawe is, would you?" Kitty asked.
"You're looking for Kiawe? He's...oh! Right there!" David pointed behind her, where Kiawe was walking towards her.
"Thank you for filling in for me while I was away, my good hiker," He thanked his friend.
"You never even have to ask, bro!" David assured him. "Nothing better than dancing up here on the volcano with my main Marowak and you!"
"Yes...that's exactly the sort of intense training that made me who I am today. That's why I am thinking that you might be a good candidate to become the captain after me," Kiawe said.
"...I think you should let someone who really wants to be captain take the job, bro," David replied. "I'm not the type who can help trial-goers the Marowak live up to their full potential. 'Cause all I really want to do is bust a move!"
"Is that so?" Kiawe asked. He then turned to Kitty. "You're here for Mina's trial, right? Would you like to burn in battle with me?"
"Sounds painful...but I'm in!" Kitty agreed.
"Being thrilled by an opponent's excitement...nothing makes me want to battle more!" Kiawe declared as he readied himself for battle.
"Well, Soffy, I guess this will be good-bye for a little while…" Molayne said sadly as Emma walked into Hokulani Observatory.
"B-Big Mo...I...I just…" Sophocles couldn't get the words out.
"Now, Soffy...when you're saying goodbye to someone who is important to you, you gotta show them one last smile!" Molayne encouraged his younger cousin. "That's what that old friend of mine always said, anyway, back when we did our island challenge" He then turned to face Emma. "Hey, Emma! Thanks again for doing that favor for me before."
"It was no problem. I was looking for a reason to see my dad anyways," Emma replied.
"It sure seems like you've gotten to see some interesting things on your island challenge. It's been quite the experience for you!" Molayne said in an impressed voice. He then looked between the two kids and snapped his fingers. "I know! Why don't you two have a little battle now, while I can still watch?"
Sophocles nodded. "Mm-hmm. I've gotta show Big Mo how strong I can be…and I did say we should battle next time, right Emma?"
"I'm looking forward to it," Emma replied.
"I believe in my Pokémon's strength...I trained them together with Big Mo, after all!" Sophocles declared as he sent out his first Pokémon.
"Guzma? What are you doing here?" Kitty asked. She had made her way to the Aether House in order to find Acerola, only to see the Team Skull leader standing outside.
"Oh, it's you…" Guzma turned to face her. "Look, kid...about what happened with Necrozma...I guess I should...Thanks. I'm saying thanks. OK?"
"Hey! If it isn't Kitty and Guzma!" Hau declared as he rushed down the stairs. "What're the two of you doing together?"
"The Kahuna's grandson, huh...nothin'. We're not doin' nothin'," Guzma replied with a shake of his head.
"Oh yeah! I've got something I wanted to ask you, Guzma!" Hau remembered. "That Golisopod you've got, yeah…"
"Huh? This dude? Yeah, he's been with me since before I started out on my island challenge. My partner," Guzma revealed. "There ain't nobody in Team Skull who can beat my Golisopod. The rest of my team, too. I met them all during my island challenge and trained 'em up as good as anything...not that any of that matters now."
Hau nodded. "So you got to meet your Pokémon partners by doing the island challenge and made some really great friends, too, huh?"
"I guess that explains why all of them love you so much," Kitty said with a smile.
Guzma shook his head. "You'll meet Pokémon and people on your journey that'll enrich your life. Is that it?...Geez. You really are old Hala's grandson...Who knows? Maybe kids like you can make the island challenge mean something again." He then turned away. "Ho...Here it comes again. The winds of Alola are blowing again, bringing some new change." With that, he rushed off.
"Just you wait, Guzma!" Hau called after him. "I'm gonna outdo even the kahunas! And I'm gonna make sure everybody knows they can be something great, whether they choose to do the island challenge or not! You didn't fail to become a captain, Guzma! No matter what you might think! So go become something else-something that nobody else has ever managed to be! Kitty! Consider this one last warning! I told you before, but once we finish our island challenges, we're gonna have a serious battle-you and me!" With that, he raced off and Kitty grinned as she headed inside. Much to her surprise, Nanu was inside.
"You've gotta at least learn the moves. Someday, you'll be able to use Darkinium Z, too," Nanu encouraged the little kids.
"Rawr! Like that, right?" The boy asked. "If I can get stronger, maybe Acerola won't have to worry when she leaves Aether House."
Nanu then turned around to see Kitty. "Oh, you girl...finishing up your island challenge, is that it?"
"Yep!" Kitty replied.
Nanu shook his head. "I suppose I ought to take you on in Acerola's place, huh? But that boy got me good when I tried to battle at about Acerola's level, so I don't feel much like bothering again. So here. Just take it. Acerola left me some of these, so have one." Kitty grinned as she took the last petal. Kitty grinned. She had to hurry back. Emma was going down!
"How did we tie!?" Kitty asked when she realized she and Emma had arrived at the house boat. "Seriously, I got held up talking twice!"
"Take a wild guess," Emma snarked. Kitty nodded in understanding. Emma got distracted by Pokémon. "You can go first. I don't mind."
"Welcome back girls!" Mina greeted them. "Was everyone doing okay? We captains love getting to see how kids like you and your teams grow. Trial-goers and those of us who watch over the trial-goers, we all get to share the joy with our Pokémon, you know? Alright, then. Lend me the seven petals you collected for a second, would you?" Kitty managed to find the petals with a decent amount of ease. Mina took the petals and began to put them together. "Here you go! One Rainbow Flower! I made it from the petals you got from everybody."
"It's so pretty!" Kitty gushed.
"So then, where's the Totem Pokémon?" Mina asked. "This is the final Pokémon for the first trial of your island challenge~! I hope you're ready for your toughest totem yet!"
"I'm ready for anything!" Kitty declared as she turned towards the door.
"Bom-BEEEEEEE!" The totem Ribombee cried as it settled in front of Kitty.
"Lycanroc! Let's go!" Kitty ordered. "Use Rock Slide!" The attack landed and the Ribombee flinched, but didn't go down. It then launched a Dazzling Gleam, but Lycanroc did not fall. "Okay, now Bite!" Yet again, the attack landed, but the Ribombee still didn't fall, before using Bug Buzz. Finally, Kitty decided it was time to break out the big guns. "Lycanroc! Unleash your power with your Z-Move: SPLINTERED STORMSHARDS!"
"LYCANROC!" This time, the Ribombee fell. Mina began to make magic fingers at Kitty.
"That's a pretty good picture! You and your Pokémon!" She said happily. "You didn't just beat the captains to get all their petals. You even beat the Totem Pokémon that came to check out the Rainbow Flower we made! You are just too great, Kitty! You're a great Pokémon trainer! So here you go! A piece of Fairium Z for you!" Kitty smiled as she took the Z-Crystal. "You've finished all your trials, so the only thing left for you is your grand trial! It'll be little Hapu's first grand trial. That's pretty exciting."
"I guess it is," Emma agreed. "But I think it's my turn."
We are nearing the end of this crazy story! And, well, they said it in the story. Next time is our final Grand Trial.