Holy karp, did this take forever to write. I knew exactly what I wanted to write, but not how exactly to put the words on paper... that actually seems to be most of my problem when it comes to writers block though, maybe I need to start collaborating with friends more often, hell I only got this chapter done because my friend and fellow Fanfic writer The King of Emerald and I just decided to be in a Discord VC as we wrote, while sharing the documents so we can read one another's work and proof read it.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Wes:
Nayru the Kirlia (Friend Ball, shiny)
Faye the Cutiefly (Level Ball)
Zero the Type: Null (Luxury Ball)
Rose:
Bagon (Great Ball)
Popplio (Poke Ball)
Rockruff (Fast Ball)
Maple the Pikachu (Love Ball)
"That's all I can tell you."
Jason frowned, putting his hand on his head, and ruffled a bit of the hair on the back of his scalp. "So let me summarize what you have just told me. That Pokemon is known as Type: Null, originally classified as Type: Full, and was an attempt to replicate Arceus, the literal F-ING GOD, of all Pokemon. Meanwhile, your mother, the President of the company, is attempting to open Ultra Wormholes to obtain one of those creatures, thus the creation of Null was done to combat the creatures should the need arise."
"Basically," Gladion stated, crossing his arms.
"Well, that sounds fun," Jason sarcastically stated, sighing. "But what you didn't tell me is what exactly you are doing with one of the three Null that were created."
"I want to restore Null's power," Gladion stated. "And at the same time, I want to figure out what my mother is up to, and if possible put a stop to her."
"Makes sense," Jason commented. "However, I can't do much in my current placement."
"You're joking," Gladion hissed, anger filling him again. "Then why even make me tell you all this if you aren't going to lift a damn finger to-"
"Cool it, Hot Topic", Jason said with a slightly commanding tone, forcing Gladion silent (though he did get a glare in response to the jab at his fashion). "While I would like to do something, I don't have enough evidence or motive, and even then, I'm not the Alola Champion. I'm the Kalos Champion, and I'm way out of my jurisdiction here. I can only help the Kahunas and Professor Kukui; they're the ones that need this info. I'm just helping them collect it."
"Then it looks like I am doing this on my own," Gladion muttered in annoyance, turning away.
"Well, you got Wes," Jason suggested. "He can probably give you a bit of a hand."
"You serious?" Gladion hissed in response. "That kid doesn't even know a type advantage if it hit him in the ass."
"... point taken", Jason said. "And now here's mine; he was somehow able to worm his way into that other Type: Null's heart without even trying."
Gladion huffed at that, walking away. "True, but I bet you that kid is right now staring at that ball thinking 'What did I get myself into?'"
XxXxXxX
Wes sat at the table for what seemed like an eternity, staring into the black ball with the golden band. Inside the ball contained a Pokemon he was very unfamiliar with, and the thought of owning such a powerful creature was actually beginning to scare him. A single Tackle from one of them defeated his strongest Pokemon, and now he held that same power inside of the tiny black ball, his to command at any point he wanted. What was to say that this same power wouldn't betray him later on?
"What did I get myself into?" Wes muttered.
"Well, welcome back to the land of reality, Wes," Rose huffed, shifting a little in his seat. "Now are you going to listen to me for once?"
"Cut him some slack," Chloe snapped. "I mean, what would you do in the same situation?"
"Leave another trainer's Pokemon alone and not nickname it," Rose bluntly stated, shutting Chloe up. "What's there to say that Zero will even listen to you in battle?"
Before Chloe could respond, Wes sighed. "You're right. This Pokemon is so powerful and dangerous from what I've seen, and now... he's mine."
"Should we tell Jaun and Lillie about this?" Chloe asked. Now that Wes was even admitting that he was in over his head, worry filled her voice and showed in her eyes.
"No," Wes stated. "I don't want them knowing." And at that, Wes shrunk the ball and placed it onto his belt, just as the two in question started to approach the table with a taller woman that Wes had never seen before. She was ebony skinned with a light pink shirt on, and hot pink shorts. A necklace lined with gems draped over her chest, with various bracelets on her arms and legs, with a strap going around her upper left thigh.
"We couldn't find Null's trainer," Jaun admitted. "Even the Kahuna didn't know."
"We're sorry," Lillie apologized.
"It's fine, we... managed to find Null's trainer in the end," Rose lied, instantly changing the subject once she spotted the newcommer. "So you're Akala Island's Kahuna?"
The woman smiled. "That's me! My name is Olivia and I am Akala Island's Kahuna."
"Then you will be our final challenge on this island," Wes said, in a very un-Wes like voice that got the attention of his four friends. "So, can we start on the first trial right away or do we need to wait?"
His impatience was there, but the tone of voice he was speaking in was lacking. It was very unconfident, and before Rose could even express her concern about it, Olivia was speaking again. "Eager to go, huh? Professor Kukui stated that you were like this... well, you'd be happy to know that Lana is still at Brooklet Hill and will take on your challenge."
"Brooklet Hill isn't that far from here," Jaun stated, pointing. "We need to pass the location where we found Null on Route 4, but after that we can go around the ranch to Route 5. The place is just past that."
"Then let's go," Wes grinned, standing up and placing Nayru on his shoulder. "Beating this trial right away might even earn us some bonus points in the book of that asshole."
There he is, Rose thought, following him as he power walked towards Route 4. The walk took quite awhile, before they finally saw the sign to Route 5, however Brooklet Hill was just beyond that, but to their surprise they found a person that they recognized standing there.
"Yo," Jason waved them over.
"Why are you here?" Rose asked, confused. "Didn't you have something important to take care of?"
"Yeah dude, you rode away from the island only a coupe of hours ago?" Jaun stated.
Immediately recognizing that Wes, Rose and Chloe didn't inform Jaun and Lillie about Gladion, he shrugged. "I can take care of my business in two hours, thank you very much. Besides, I had a feeling Wes would jump into the next trial right away if given the chance, and since Brooklet Hill was so close to Heahea City that I decided to check here just in case you happened to show up... and what do you know, I was right."
Wes was about to speak, before a short girl stepped forward, spotting them. "Oh, what do we have here?" Wes turned to see a blue haired girl wearing a white shirt and baggy, blue pants standing there, eying them with sea blue eyes very curiously. She stepped forward again, eyeing Wes in particular, her blue sandals nearly stepping on his own shoes. Since she was so short, Wes could clearly see a yellow headband in her hair.
"Trial goers, Lana," Jason stated, pointing to Wes and then Rose. "Those two are taking the trial, the others are here to observe."
"I see," Lana said, before grinning excitedly. "Alright then, let's begin the Brooklet Hill trail. See that splashing over there?"
Wes followed to where her finger was pointing to see a bunch of waves being created. "Yeah?"
"I wouldn't be surprised to find a fearsome Pokémon is the one causing it all," Lana stated, turning back to them. "So, brave trial-goers, I would like to ask you to investigate that splashing there and find out what exactly is causing it. I won't ask you to swim out there, of course. I have a lovely gift for you instead. May I see your ride pagers?"
"Sure," Rose said, holding out her green ride pager while Wes held out his. Lana took them both and, with a few button presses in each, handed them back. Wes looked at his device to see he had two choices now, that he could not only call Tauros, but Lapras as well.
"Of course, I only have one Lapras in his whole lake," Lana admitted. "So since there are two of you, you need to share a single Lapras."
"Alright then," Wes grinned, pressing his pager. Before long, a lone Lapras appeared on the shore line, looking at them. "Come on, Rose, let's go check it out."
"Alright, alright, don't be so pushy," Rose sighed, climbing onto the Lapras as well. They rose off on the back of the Transport Pokemon and before long, reached the splashing, where a Pokemon that Wes hadn't seen before popped out. The Pokemon had large, light blue eyes with irises that resemble puddles of water and dark blue eyelids. The head and tail of the Pokemon were white, and there was a line of white teardrop-shapes on each side of its body with the teardrop nearest the head being slightly larger. The top half of the creature's body was dark blue and had a short, rounded dorsal fin
"Rotom, scan that Pokemon," Rose commanded.
"On it, zzt," Rotom-dex crackled. "Wishiwashi, the Small Fry Pokemon. It's awfully weak and notably tasty, so everyone is always out to get it. As it happens, anyone trying to bully it receives a painful lesson."
"A painful lesson?" Wes asked. "Please, this Pokemon doesn't look so tough. Nayru, Confusion!"
"Alright, but I hate picking on something so weak," Nayru sighed, her eyes glowing brightly. Wishiwashi screamed in agony before falling back into the water, instantly knocked out. "See? That was no challenge at all."
"Well done," Lana shouted from the shore. Suddenly, more ripples appeared in the water, before suddenly vanishing. "Oh my. Whatever is kicking up such lovely splashes must be rather big... A strapping young Swimmer, perhaps? Maybe we'll be lucky enough to find a spry young Swimmer floundering in the water and in need of saving!"
Is she serious? Everyone thought, excluding Jason, who was leaning against a tree nearby just watching.
"There should be some fishing poles on the Lapras!" Lana shouted towards them. "Try and fish up whatever is causing that splashing!"
"Alright, whatever," Wes sighed, grabbing one of the two poles.
"I bet you we are going to fish up the totem Pokemon," Rose muttered, grabbing the other rod. "Be sure to be careful."
"Please, so far this challenge is a joke," Wes sighed, casting the line into the water. "What will I fish up? A Totem Magikarp?"
Jason flinched at that, causing Jaun, Chloe and Lillie to look over at him in confusion. Jaun was the one to speak up. "You alright?"
"Yeah, just... remembering trying to catch a certain Pokemon in Kalos and all I fished up were Magikarp... and Basculin." Jason replied, looking serious again.
For the next ten minutes, they watched as Wes and Rose continuously cast their lines into the water, catching nothing but tiny Wishiwashi and beating them to a pulp in one shot. Rose had sent out Bagon to help Nayru, but the help was barely needed, and usually one of the two would be standing there looking slightly bored before they were ordered to attack. However, Wes fished up a single Wishiwashi that seemed to look very unhappy, before Nayru blasted it back into the water. Spotting this, Jaun suddenly seemed to realize something.
"Hey... didn't that PokeDex entry state that anyone bullying Wishiwashi would receive a painful lesson?"
"Yup," Lana replied.
"So, you're making them bully Wishiwashi on purpose?" Jaun asked.
"Yup," Lana replied.
"And that's the-"
"Yup,"
"You didn't even let me finish," Jaun replied annoyed, but suddenly his eyes widened as a huge shadow appeared under the Lapras. Before he could even scream out in shock, Rose suddenly shouted out as she was jerked forward. Wes reacted immediately, grabbing her around the waist and holding her on the Lapras as she pulled the rod back as hard as she could. All of the sudden, a monster jumped from the lake, Rose's hook in his mouth. The creature resembled a large fish with glowing blue spots, its body divided into four bands that each becomes a slightly darker shade of blue. A ring of bright blue glowing spots lined the front edge of the two middle bands. The centers of its eyes were fish shaped, glowing white in color.
"What is that thing!?" Wes shouted, flabbergasted, instinctively holding Rose tighter against him.
"Rotom?" Rose asked, her voice shaking.
"Wishiwashi," Rotom replied.
"There is no way in Arceus that is a Wishiwashi!" Wes shouted at the creature.
"Correction, this is Wishiwashi's School Form, zzt," Rotom replied. "Entry: At their appearance, even Gyarados will flee. When they team up to use Water Gun, its power exceeds that of Hydro Pump."
"Oh that's comforting!" Wes shouted again, as the giant creature landed in the water.
"So are you two going to fight the Totem Pokemon, or are you going to stand there spooning all day?" Jason shouted, prompting Rose to immediately realize what was happening, and shove Wes off her into the watery abyss below. At the same time, both Chloe and Lillie immediately slapped his arms with their hands. "Oww! I should give you detention for that!"
"That was too far!" Chloe shouted, blushing madly.
"And what else would you call it," Jason replied with a sigh. "Doesn't matter, let's see how they fare."
"That's the Totem Pokemon?" Wes asked, swimming up onto the Lapras before climbing back onto it. "Welp, we lost."
"Hey, we're standing and we still got Pokemon, don't we?" Rose asked, in very similar words Wes used on her in their first trial. Wes looked at her surprised, as Rose grinned, pulling out her Poke Ball. "Go, Popplio! Use Disarming Voice!"
Popplio inhaled, and let out a scream. The sound waves, normally invisible to the human eye, had pink sparkles that made them visible. They slammed into Wishiwashi, causing the creature to roar a bit before sending out a Water Gun which sent Popplio flying. The sea lion Pokemon fell into the water, but swam to the surface, ready to battle.
"Use my own words against me, why don't you?" Wes mumbled, but he was grinning all the same, pulling out his Level Ball. "Go, Faye! Use Moonblast!"
The cutiefly popped out, charging up a pink orb of light before sending it flying into Wishiwashi. The large Pokemon was powerful, the attack barely seeming to damage it. Wishiwashi roared again. Suddenly, the sky darkened, and rain began to fall.
"Uh oh," Jaun looked up, pulling an umbrella out of nowhere, Lillie and Chloe instantly darting under it as well to avoid getting wet. "Rain Dance, which will make the Wishwashi's water attack stronger."
"That won't be a problem for Popplio since it resists water, right?" Lillie asked.
"Normally, yes," Chloe answered "But with that Wishiwashi's high attack power, a rain boosted Water Gun might just do enough."
"Popplio, Aqua Jet!" Rose commanded.
"Faye, use Silver Wind!" Wes shouted.
Faye flew into the air and flapped her wings rapidly, creating silver powder that traveled along powerful wind currents. At the same time, Popplio surrounded itself with water, flying into Wishiwashi. Both attacks seemed to do a bit more damage, but suddenly Wishiwashi unleashed another Water Gun, which barely grazed Popplio, but slammed into Faye, sending her flying into the water.
"Faye, come back!" Wes shouted, recalling the knocked out cutiefly into her ball.
"Popplio, can you keep going?" Rose asked. Although the sea lion Pokemon nodded, she still winced in pain. "You need rest, return for now!"
"Welp, that's one down, and one injured," Jason muttered. "Rose won't use her Rockruff unless she has no other choice, so let's see what she uses next."
"Maple, go!" Rose commanded. Maple nodded and leapt down into the water, somehow creating a surf board from nowhere.
"How does she even do that?" Wes asked, before shaking it off. "Nevermind... Nayru, get on that surf board with Maple!"
"Are you sure that's a-" Nayru asked.
"I'm not using Zero unless I have no choice," Wes stated. "Get on there."
"Alright, fine," Nayru sighed, levitating down and landing on the surf board, as the two jet off to fight the Wishiwashi.
"Maple, Electro Ball!" Rose ordered.
"Nayru, Psyshock!" Wes commanded. Both Pokemon generated their attacks, with Maple creating an orb of lightning on her tail before flinging it towards the Wishiwashi, while Nayru created the orbs of purple and blue energy, sending them flying into the giant fish. The attacks commented, and suddenly the fish monster began looking like it was going to disperse, however it seemed to regain it's shape quickly, launching another attack that narrowly missed the surf board carrying the two Pokemon.
"Well, I guess Wishiwashi had to resort to eating the Sitrus Berry I supplied it," Lana commanded.
"How does a giant fish made up of several smaller fish EAT!?" Lillie shouted.
"Once more!" Wes and Rose both shouted. Maple and Nayru launched their attacks again, only this time Wishiwashi avoided damage by sinking into the water below. Suddenly, it resurfaced, flinging them off the surf board before launching another powerful Water Gun, which connected with Maple and sent her flying.
"Maple!" Rose shouted, pulling out the Love Ball. "Forgive me for this..." Maple was recalled into her ball with a sigh.
"Nayru!" Wes shouted, as she landed in the water.
"Popplio, save Nayru!" Rose commanded, throwing her Poke Ball. Popplio leapt out once again, diving into the water and pulling up Nayru, who coughed up some water before climbing onto Popplio's back.
"Nayru, if you are too weak to continue-" Wes started to say.
"Hell no, keep me in!" Nayru shouted, glaring at the fish. "I got this one."
"Then get ready, Nayru," Rose stated. "Popplio, Aqua Jet!"
Nayru drew in some breath, just before Popplio surrounded herself with water once again, charging into Wishiwashi. This time, the attack seemed to do a whole lot more damage, causing the Wishiwashi to stop schooling together, and leave a solo, small Wishiwashi with a yellow glow swimming there,
"Now, Nayru, Shadow Ball!" Wes ordered. Nayru formed a purple ball of energy in her hands, sending it forward and slamming into the small Wishiwashi. Due to not schooling anymore, the defense of the Pokemon was drastically reduced, and the attack was able to knock out the creature in a single blow.
"We did it!" Wes and Rose shouted, cheering.
"I knew they had it in them!" Lillie shouted as well, dancing with Chloe as the rain stopped falling.
"Way to go, guys," Jaun smirked, as the Lapras returned to shore.
"Hey, Popplio is glowing." Jason pointed out. It was true, the sea lion Pokemon was surrounded by light, and began growing in size. The glow stopped, as a new creature looked up at them, three ruffle-like growths around its body, white and pale blue in color. She had long ears, made up of three segments that lighten and increase in size towards the tip. She also had a long, conical snout with a white tip, a spherical pink nose, and large dark eyes with pinkish pupils.
"Allow me," Rotom stated. "Brionne, the Pop Star Pokémon. A skillful dancer, it creates a sequence of water balloons as it dances, and briskly bombards its enemies."
"I wasn't aware I would be getting a idol for a Pokemon," Rose sighed, but smiled all the same. "That's great Brionne!"
"Maybe it's time for a nickname," Wes suggested, earning himself a glare from Rose.
"Very well done, you two," Lana commented, walking up to them. "I must say that I find myself at an impasse here. All of the Wishiwashi that I so diligently trained up were defeated, and that is very frustrating, but of course I cannot let your completion of my trial go uncelebrated. You both were amazing, and your reward are two of these." She held out two, glowing blue crystals.
"The Waterium Z," Wes muttered, taking the gem.
"Come to think of it, we haven't done a single Z-Move yet," Rose stated, sweat dropping. "We might want to actually test these things out soon."
"That's not all I can offer you," Lana suddenly said, running over to a case nearby and bringing it back, opening it to reveal two fishing rods. "Here. These are Lana original handmade fishing rods."
"A-are you sure we can just have them?" Rose asked, taking one in shock.
"Of course," Lana said, smirking. "You two earned them, and plus since you cleared the trial you can fish here with no issues. But just do me a favor."
"W-what is it?" Wes's voice shook, as she was looking at him in a serious way.
"If you find a strapping man drowning here, call me immediately for the CPR!"
Everyone fell over at that.
XxXxXxX
"We got time before we need to go back," Wes stated, looking at the sky. "Want to test these rods out?"
"Sure," Rose said, sitting by the lake side. "Shame that we were the only ones that wanted to stay though. I bet Chloe and Lillie could've caught some new members themselves."
"Ah well," Wes sighed, casting his line and holding it with one hand, placing his chin in the other. "Their loss if we find something amazing."
"Doubt we're going to find anything THAT awesome," Rose sighed, casting her line out as well. "I mean, all we found during the trial were Wishiwashi, though I bet Lana did that on purpose."
"She did," Wes commented, reeling in his line, which had a old boot on the end of it. "...are you serious?"
Rose giggled, before she suddenly felt a pull on her own line. She tugged and spun the reel back, finding herself staring at a Pokemon on the end of her hook. It was a very shabby, old-looking fish Pokémon with a light brown body covered in dark, irregular spots. It had large, deep-set eyes and big, pink lips, the tail and pectoral fins dull blue and tattered in appearance. The dorsal fin is triangular with a hole in the middle.
"What... is this?" Rose asked, staring at the flopping creature in a mixture of confusion and disgust. "Rotom, analyze this for me." But to her surprise, Rotom didn't respond, the screen of the device static looking as if the device had crashed. Wes and Nayru were also non-responsive, staring wide eyed at the Pokemon in shock, their mouths gaping.
"Well, if it's that repulsive, I'll just throw it back," Rose sighed, taking the fish off and with a toss, letting it go. The Pokemon looked back at her in sorrow before landing, as if it was used to this treatment.
That is when hell broke lose.
"ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Wes suddenly screamed, practically teleporting so his nose was touching Rose's.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?" Naryu shouted, her face also inches from Rose's.
"Uh, personal bubble?" Rose replied, clearly uncomfortable.
"Do you... have any idea... what you just let go!?" Wes panted, clearly trying to keep from shouting again.
"Uh... no?" Rose sheepishly replied, sweat dropping.
"That was a damn FEEBAS!" Wes shouted in anger. "A really, really, really, really, REALLY rare Pokemon!"
"Did you really have to say 'really' five times?"
"YES!" Wes shouted, grabbing his rod and casting the lure back into the water, Nayru sat down next to him, looking just as pissed.
"Uh, Rotom?" Rose asked, stepping back to give Wes some space, taking the floating PokeDex with her.
"Feebas, the Fish Pokemon," Rotom suddenly crackled back to life. "Feebas's fins are ragged and tattered from the start of its life. Because of its shoddy appearance, this Pokémon is largely ignored. It is capable of living in both the sea and in rivers, zzt."
"So can anyone tell me what I did wrong?" Rose asked.
"Wait, you let it go!?" Rotom suddenly gasped, recovering completely from his reboot.
"Yeah, you said it yourself, it's a shoddy Pokemon," Rose replied.
"And you're supposed to be the smart one," Wes commented, not even looking at her as he glared out at the water.
"W-what are you doing?" Rose asked.
"Finding that Feebas," Wes snarled. "I don't care HOW long it takes me."
"Alright, what happened?" came Jason's voice as he walked up the path. "I could hear you shouting from back at the- wait, why does Wes look so pissed off? Did he get slapped by a Wishiwashi or something?"
"Jason, thank Arceus," Rose sighed. "Talk to Wes. He's going crazy over a Pokemon that I let go."
Jason stared confused, before looking back at the water. It was then he remembered that Wes was from the Hoenn region, and that there were rare reports of Feebas in this particular lake. He walked over, looking at Wes. "She let a Feebas go, didn't she?"
Wes turned his head slowly to look Jason in the eye, and it was then that student and teacher seemed to form a psychic link. From Rose's point of view, it looked as though Wes just scowling at Jason and nothing more. As he turned his head back towards the water, she smirked confidently, knowing that kind of look would get Wes at least a detention or two. To her surprise, however, Jason only nodded, stood up, and began walking back towards her.
"Detention, Rose", he said, uttering the one phrase she never thought she'd ever hear from him.
"Wait, what!?" Rose shouted, looking flabbergasted as he walked past her towards the entrance to Brooklet Hill. "First Wes and Nayru, now you! What exactly did I do to piss everyone off by letting a damn fish go?"
"I'm going to guess that you let the Feebas go because you thought it was ugly and looked just as useful as a Magikarp", Jason pointed out. When Rose couldn't deny it, he shook his head, sighing. "And you're supposed to be the smart one... Back to the Pokecenter with you, and I need you to write an essay about 'How NOT to Judge a Book by its Cover'."
Rose opened her mouth to argue, but one look from Jason told her it was fruitless. Sighing, she grabbed her stuff and began following Jason back to the Pokemon Center, cursing Wes under her breath as she walked, not knowing what she did wrong and not knowing why everyone was so bent out of shape right now. She barely made it back onto Route 5 before she suddenly heard Wes's voice again. "You owe me a Prism Scale!"
In Rose's defense, she can't be expected to know EVERY Pokemon... she did make the fault of judging a book by it's cover, a lesson I feel like a lot of people need to learn.