Following Captain Ilima, the group spotted two punks in black clothing and having a skull theme as the name says were hanging around a malasada shop.
"Yo yo yo, check it! Whenever, wherever we greet you, Team Skull don't even greet you!" The two punks yelled as gave weird poses. "So give us your Pokemon losers!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I heard something. Ash, did you hear of anything? I didn't." Ilima remarked, causing Hau to snicker.
"Oh. Uhh..." Ash wasn't expecting to be put on the spot like that, but he wasn't given the chance to go along with the joke.
"What?! You mock the fact we're threatening you?! We'll show you! Zubat, go!" The two thugs sent out blue, purple winged bats.
"We about to check you fools!" The other grunt said.
"Oh my, how terrifying." Ilima said with an eye roll, dripping with sarcasm. "Let's show them they're wasting their time. Smeargle, let's go!"
"Popplio, I choose you!"
"Go Staryu, me steady!"
"Pichu, let's go!" While the grunts were intimidated by being outnumbered 2-1, they didn't back down.
"Numbers aren't everything! Astonish!" Both of them ordered, but Misty was quicker to the draw.
"Staryu, use Swift!" Jumping up into the air and spinning, the starfish sent a barrage of stars which exploded against the bats, and they both fell defeated.
"For real?!"
"It's over already?!" The two grunts were baffled by how quickly they lost.
"No fair! I was playing a different game!"
"Dude, let's ditch this port! Nobody has to know! We didn't want your wack Pokemon anyway! Who uses a Smeargle?!" Returning their Pokemon, the grunts left post haste.
"So those were Team Skull." Hau pondered. "Stealing stickers and Pokemon. That is what's wack from what he said! And it's not like messing with others in their challenges will make it seem like they finished theirs."
"Indeed. I'm always having to deal with them by myself, but it was nice having assistance for once. Thank you. Especially you Misty."
"You're welcome." The redhead nodded.
"If only you had an amulet. I'm sure you'd pass the Island Challenge with flying colors.
"Thanks, although that's not my main objective anyway." Misty shrugged. "But I'm fine with that." Nodding in understanding, Ilima then turned to Ash.
"Ash, I've been curious about you from the school. You beat the best student there. I'm wondering how you'd fare against me. To see if you're worthy for my trial."
"I'd be happy to find out." The trainer shrugged.
"Very well then! Behold the magnificent of the one and only Captain Ilima!" Letting her Smeargle run to her side, she threw out her other Pokemon. "Yungoos, let's go!" Once her Pokemon was out, she ordered, "Use Tackle!" Before Ash could giver out his order for Water Gun, the Sea Lion Pokemon sang in a beautiful voice, sending out heart shaped shock waves which knocked the Loitering Pokemon back into a wall.
"Whoa, Popplio learned Disarming Voice!" Hau cheered.
"Interesting. Popplio, use Water Gun!" Before the normal type could recover, it was blasted by water and thus was knocked out.
"Yungoos, return." Ilima said. "Thank you. That was not expected so don't worry. Let's go Smeargle." Running into the battle, Ash had to weight his choices. Deciding with a nod, Ash returned his starter. "Popplio, return."
"Oh, so what are you going to use now?"
"My newest catch. Grimer, I choose you!" Sending out the Aloan variant, the green and stone toothed Sludge Pokemon looked around as he was set out.
"Interesting choice. In that case, make your move."
"Alright. Grimer, use Bite!" However, it was moving at a slug's pace, while Smeargle was much faster as it jumped over the Poison/Dark type.
"Use Sketch!" Grabbing and waving its paintbrush tail, a pencil appeared around the confused Sludge Pokemon as Smeargle learned the dark type move. "Now use Tackle!" Going forward, the Painter Pokemon tried to attack, but Grimer's gooey composition made the move not all that good, plus the stench ability caused the normal type to recoil in disgust.
"Yeah, now use Bite!" Taking advantage of the recoiling Painter Pokemon, Grimer bit down much harder, causing the normal type to yell from the stone teeth hurting it.
"Smeargle, return!" Ilima returned her Pokemon, and sighed. "Sorry Smeargle. I guess it we need to work on our offense. So, you have emerged victorious."
"Alright! Thanks Grimer!" Ash complimented his Pokemon. The poison/dark type tried to go and hug his trainer, but Ash knew that would not go well for his health so he quickly returned his Pokemon.
"Nice using a Pokemon that can handle moves like Tackle." Misty told him.
"Yeah, smart thinking!" Hau congratulated Ash.
"Ash, you and your Pokemon make quite a team together." Ilima said with a satisfied smile. "When you can, come to Verdant Cavern and take on my trial. You can get there from Route 2. I bid you Alola." With that, she left the group.
"Well, with all that, I could certainly go for something to eat! Like this malasada shop!"
"What's that?" Ash asked.
"Fried doughnuts, dude!"
"Doesn't that sound unhealthy?" Lillie asked with a frown.
"Only if you eat too much everyday, but Ash and Misty have never tried it! We've got to give them their first taste!"
"They sound very tasty." Misty accepted.
"Nice! Let's go it! We can have our Pokemon try some too!" And indeed they had a good time enjoying the fried doughnuts. When presented with a smorgasbord of doughnuts, Hau waited for each of his friends as Ash took a lemon flavored one, Misty a passion fruit cream filled one and Lillie a vanilla cinnamon one, each gulped before taking a bite. Their eyes opened wide before they all hummed in satisfaction. Especially Lillie whom had sparkles in her eyes.
"Wow, these are good!" Ash exclaimed.
"These doughnuts are so tasty!" Misty agreed.
"I've never had anything as delicious as this!" Lillie marveled as she ate more of the delicacy. All of the Pokemon enjoyed their treats as well. "So, if I recall correctly, the trial was supposed to be at Verdant Cavern at Route 2? I've never been there personally.
"Yeah. Wonder how easy it'll be to find the cavern though?" Ash wondered. That's when Rotom decided to answer.
"Don't worry my dreamy owner, allow me." Using its GPS, it pinpointed said cavern.
"Ah. Thanks."
"You're welcome my cutie pie. Enjoy your food." Rotom said before going back into Ash's bag.
"I wonder if it's ever going to run out of any unique nicknames?" The trainer asked his friends.
"I hope not. A Pokemon hitting on someone like this is hilarious." Misty giggled.
"It's certainly amusing in a weird sense." Hau agreed.
"Let's just hope it doesn't ask to marry you or anything." Lillie softly laughed. They then heard Rotom chuckle,
"Zzz zzz zzz. We'll see." After a few seconds of everyone comprehending that, Misty said to Ash with a restrained smile,
"If that thing really does propose to you, I'm going to die laughing my butt off. I mean we're talking about my guts busting literally from how hard I'm laughing."
"Um... as I was saying." Lillie spoke again. "I read something in an old book once. It said that the island challenges were once a journey made to prove yourself and gain the strength to battle against the guardian deities of Alola."
"No way. Seriously?" Hau gasped.
"Yes, from what it said. The people in Iki Town said that Tapu Koko loves Pokemon battles, didn't they?"
"It must be if it's the ritual instead of a sacrifice to quell its anger." Ash shrugged.
"That's just a stereotype of ancient cultures and tribes." Hau pointed out.
"If we could meet Tapu Koko once more, do you think we would find the answer to why it saved you and Nebby that day?" Lillie asked Ash.
"I don't know. Unless it can use telepathy or shows me something just as clear, I might never know." Nebby tried to answer but the blonde shushed her Pokemon. She then nodded to Ash's response.
"That's fair. Ash, I wish you luck with this trial-no. Your whole journey with the challenge."
"Me too!" Hau said. "While I plan on winning in the end, let's have as much fun as we can before reaching that point."
"I'll support you too Ash." Misty nodded. Then she smiled mischievously. "At least until you get me my bike. After that you're on your own."
"Misty!" The redhead laughed while Lillie and Hau were confused, not in on the context.
On their way to the cave, a Spearow jumped out at them from the tall grass, defending its territory.
"Ah!" Ash freaked out upon seeing it.
"What's wrong Ash?!" Lillie questioned with worry.
"Ash was attacked by a group of Spearow before coming to Alola, but don't worry Ash, it's just one!" Misty tried to assure Ash. "It's just one, and we're here for you. You can catch it. You might get over your fear even." After hearing all that, Ash was able to calm down with all those reasons, and shake his head.
"Right, right. I-I can do this."
"Yeah, you got this!" Hau encouraged.
"Yes, do it my preciouzzz cupcake!" Rotom added.
"Pichu, I choose you!" Sending out his Tiny Mouse Pokemon, he ordered, "Use Thunder Shock!" Sparking with electricity, Pichu yelled her name as she sent a dose of energy to zap the incoming Spearow trying to tackle it. It screeched in pain from being zapped, then paralyzed as it fell to the ground. "Go, Pokeball!" Ash threw the mechanical sphere so that it bounced off the Pokemon, absorbing the flying type. It wriggled back and forth a few times before clicking. "Yes! I caught a Spearow!"
"Nicely done Ash." Lillie cheered for him.
"Yeah, nicely don indeed." The group noticed that a Lass in a white shirt and green skirt walked up to Ash.
"I've actually been looking for a trainer with a Spearow. That way I could get one that can get my Hawlucha. How about it?"
"What's a Hawlucha again?" Ash asked his friends.
"It's a fighting/flying type. Quite popular in Kalos." Lillie answered. "I think you should get it. It'll be a great help."
"Oh, alright. I can do the trade."
"Thank you! There's a nearby Pokemon Center. Follow me." Going to the Pokemon Center, he and the Lass were able to trade and now he has the mighty Wrestling Pokemon. He did have to take Pichu off his team though. "Thanks for the trade kid." The girl then left.
"Wow, my first Pokemon trade."
"You made a good trade." Misty said with a smile. As they left the Pokemon Center, an old man with a Crabrawler ran to the center.
"I heard you made a trade. That means you're trainers right?"
"Yeah?"
"Well we need help! Team Skull are harassing our Mantine line!"
"What?!" Misty cried out in outrage. "Come on guys, we've got to rescue them!" The redhead ran ahead, followed by the others.
"You want us to stop dancing?! That's our identity, yo! It's all we got!" One Skull grunt objected to being told to stop.
"Eh, forget her! Let's just take it out for a spin anyway! We dance wherever we want, yo!"
"I don't think so!" Before they could take the Mantine, Misty came to stop them.
"Please! Keep these numbskulls away from Mantine!"
"Hey, we hardheaded lady, not numbskulls! But it appears we-wait. You're that Staryu chick! You want another scrap?! A battle, yo?!" You might've beaten us in the city earlier, but we'll work together to beat you this time! Zubat, go!"
"Drowsee, go!" Seeing a defensive psychic type, Misty called to Ash,
"Ash, I need Grimer's help!"
"Okay! Grimer, I choose you!"
"Ha, like we're just going to let you do what you want?!" The grunt scoffed. "Use Hypnosis!"
"Close your eyes and use Bite!" Closing its eyes, the Sludge Pokemon ignored the Hypnosis and bit down on the Hypnosis Pokemon, and it honked with agony. "Hey yo! Get away!"
"Use Bubblebeam!" Misty ordered, and Staryu sent a stream of glowing bubbles which sent the Zubat crashing into Drowzee, and Mantine took the opportunity to take down both at once with a well timed Hydro Pump, pushing them through the sand forming a trench filling up with seawater, and the two were down for the count.
"You destroy us?! Now I'm really mad!" The grunt on the left exclaimed as he returned his Drowsee.
"Seriously, home slice?! You're too strong for a kid, yo! Now I've got to go and make someone else miserable to feel better! Let's go mess with Ilima again!"
"I'm down with that home boy! Verdant's pretty close by anyways!" The two then ran off.
"Oh thank you! Now Mantine won't be subject to their terrible dancing thanks to you! Not that good dancing would be allowed anyway. You two are decent. Just like I'd expect from trial-goers on the Island Challenge."
"I'm not in the challenge, but Ash is. And yeah, I could never forgive someone willing to treat water Pokemon as dance boards."
"Truly well said. Well then Ash, I can't wait for you to complete your challenge then. I bet you'll win hands down with how well you handled yourself. Even Kahuna Hala would probably say you're ready to take on all of Alola. If he says you're ready, come back here anytime for some surfing fun!"
"Thanks. We will." Ash nodded as he and Misty went to regroup with the gang.
"Azzz expected from my honey bun. You're so amazing." Rotom said.
"Yeah, the way you beat them so bad was cool! They don't stand a chance againt you!" Hau complimented the two. Lillie said nothing but her smile and nod showed she agreed.
"It was nothing. We'll take those punks down any day. Right Ash?"
"Yeah." He and Misty bumped fists.
A/N: Man, what's with their wack talking, yo?! They treatin' this biz like it's a gangsta movie from the frick'n 90s! They's better up their game if they want to be taken seriously!
...lol, just kidding. As you can probably see from the above line I don't have a clear understanding of gangster lingo. I haven't seen a lot of gangster movies and the only major one I can think of that I have is 'The Goodfellas'. But seriously, how can they not tell they're being lame by leaning so hard into gangster culture. Gangs are scary, but not when you're being so hammy about it, it could be in a comedy movie. At least that's my opinion about all that.