Who I Am - Lightning99

Chapter 11:

The First Trial

Rockruff's barks resounding like a wolf pack's howls and clicks from his honed claws tapping the varnished wooden floor disturbed the next morning's tranquillity and jerked Ash awake. Dawn gleamed through the drawn-across curtains, a single glittering golden light flickering in and out with the movement of the fabric, swept by the breeze

Ash yawned and stretched, and spotted Rockruff capering in a circle on a patch of oak flooring beside the red fringe of a warm-coloured rug Staraptor slept on; Pikachu lay on one of Staraptor's retracted ash-grey wings, as if it was a nest. Rockruff was tumultuous, voicing such a varied ensemble of yipping Ash expected to see more of his species, or a Double Team, poorly harmonising.

I finally won! Ash understood from Rockruff's persistent shouting, then, My home is safe!

That sentence jerked Ash again, awakening him to full concentration. Mentally banishing any fatigue, he sat up. "Rockruff, that was your home, too?" Ash asked lightly.

Rockruff stopped jumping; he flicked his small head up and down a few more times than necessary. He barked again, telling Ash he'd lived a comfortable couple of years in the grotto with his brother and sister until they'd been caught by some trainers – his sister first, then his brother a year or so ago. What he divulged next pricked Ash's heart as if a hundred syringe needles withdrew his recent memories and squeezed only the misery back through his skin: Rockruff felt like he'd been abandoned, betrayed by his family for alerting themselves and wanting to be caught. For leaving him alone.

Ash didn't consider the surreal fact that he understood Rockruff's every bark or squeak perfectly as he clambered out of bed and pulled Rockruff tight against his chest, which freshly ached from the inside, when, only a few hours before – maybe ten – he'd not been able to. Ash sat on the bed's squashy edge and began to explain to Rockruff how he shared similar feelings after his own ordeal. He explained about his friends and his Pokémon, and their attempt to disassemble his dreams with fleeting, vulnerable honesty in a moment of pure bonding, of getting to know his new Pokémon like a best friend.

Sceptile stirred across the room, interrupting the personal moment. Rockruff's contagious joy resurfaced when Ash let him down as if they'd not even mentioned the heart-aching subject, and Ash was suddenly imbued with it too, forgetting his recollection as he watched Rockruff bound side-to-side. Something about sharing experiences with another lessened the burden.

Ash washed and dressed expeditiously – a sheen coated his damp hair, framing his face to model-like resemblance. Allowing Staraptor out through the window to stretch his wings momentarily, Ash collected his Pokémon, stowing their Pokéballs in his bag. He moved hastily across the room, tussling his bag onto his back, tossing open the curtains half-way, haphazardly, scuffing the rug as he yanked the door and darted onto the landing. He couldn't contain himself; he was challenging the first trial that day. His veins pumped energy instead of blood.

Despite himself and his impatient haste, Ash didn't know how to begin the trial, was clueless to the order and organisation of the Island Challenge. He needed to consult somebody about it first. Instead of picking up breakfast from his favourite stall and greeting the gentle old woman tending it, Ash turned away from the market, heading towards Aina Café, towards Mallow. She lived the closest and was training to be one of the next Trial Captains, after all.

The sign flipped to read 'Closed' – written in curly print – hung across the door's window, but Ash ignored it, running recklessly into the café. Mallow was stood behind the counter, facing the other way, her long green hair stretching down her back, below even her waist, relishing its freedom from the coil of her white hair ties, which usually styled her locks like two curved flower stems. She whipped around, her hair swishing when the door clicked open and the bell jingled, and her cheeks flushed pink.

"Ash! What are you doing here?" Mallow asked, brushing down a tuft of hair that slightly poked from behind her ear.

"Morning, Mallow! I was wondering if you could tell me how I start a Trial?" Ash said, his cheeks highlighted red from running.

"Sure! Take a seat, I'll be there in a second!" Mallow replied, unclipping her apron hastily.

"Thank you!" Ash called. He pulled out a chair and sat down.

Mallow quickly skipped over, her apron resting on, its strings dangling over, the counter, her overalls folded at her waist. "Sorry, I didn't expect anyone here so early!"

"It's my fault for barging in. You should've kicked me out, really," Ash said.

Mallow giggled, "I couldn't have done that."

"You do seem too nice to kick someone out!"

"Well," Mallow said. "Lana says I'm like a parent. I'd help anybody like a parent would help any child, not specifically their own. Or they should, but… does that makes sense?"

"Uhh, not exactly… But I think I get it!" Ash said.

Mallow smiled. "So, what is it you want to know, exactly?" Mallow asked, resting her elbows against the wooden table. "You said something about the Trials?"

"Yeah! Today I'm thinking of challenging the first Trial in my Island Challenge, but I'm not sure how I actually take the challenge. I guess there's a Trial Captain I have to talk to, but I don't know them, so I was wondering if you could help me out."

"Yep, I can! Are you planning on taking the Trial in Verdant Cavern? The cave through the two pillars?" Mallow asked.

"That's the one!"

"Ok. The Trial Captain is a man called Ilima. To start an Island Challenge, all you have to do is go to the location, and then talk to the captain – or in the case of a trial that has no Captain, talk to the Kahuna. The only slight issue you might have is that you can't always find them. Usually, though, Ilima goes to the trial sight at around mid-day. He teaches a class at the Pokémon School in the mornings and then spends the rest of the day taking care of his personal duties and the duties as a Trial Captain. The jobs the Trial Captains can do part-time is something that got me thinking about being one, in all honesty," Mallow explained, flexing and gripping her hands over her knees.

"There's a lot more to it than just taking care of the Island Challenge, then?" Ask asked, intrigued.

"Yes!" Mallow spritely continued, "Ilima volunteers at the Pokémon School, another Trial Captain works at an electricity plant that distributes power to all of Alola. For me… The job I'd want to do is cooking food for any hurt and stray Pokémon, as well as festivals and celebrations, that sort of thing. As well as this café, of course."

"You've got all of this planned out then, haven't you?" Mallow nodded. "It's amazing that you've thought it all through! I hope everything goes well!" Ash said, grinning, that same expression he delivered before every tough battle, after every encouraging pep-talk he gave to his companions, most of which no longer held any significance, the same grin he gave every time he won. His signature smile.

"Thank you, Ash! I'll make sure to try my hardest at it! I hope you'll reach your goal as a trainer too, whatever it is!" Mallow countered, ebulliently.

"Thanks! In that case, I'd better get to the trial right away! Thank you for the information, Mallow! I'll see you later!" Ash said, running out the door he'd burst through, waving behind him.

Pikachu was stood on the table. He glanced at Mallow. "Pika…chu," he said, then followed Ash.

He's always overly hasty like this.

The sun touched the apex of the sky as the hidden Pikipek chimed like a grandfather clock. Ash was at the entrance to Verdant Cavern, as Mallow dubbed it, at midday. He stood aside of the main path, so not to obstruct anyone passing through, stretching his legs and arms, loosening himself ready for the unknown challenge awaiting beyond the cave's black wall; all light seemed blocked out at the threshold. People strolled in and out of the Poké-Center, greeting him with smiles, evidently aware of what he was about to attempt. Something encouraging beamed in their eyes, making Ash feel confident.

It was a cooler day, the breeze and the height of the cliff making it so, and Ash enjoyed the quiet peace around him. The waves sloshed against the mountain below, they didn't violently crash, and the birds chirped between the rustling branches, an odd but pleasing blend of sound. It was a perfect day for a trial.

Ilima arrived five minutes after Ash himself, a slender, handsome young adult with stylish, side-swept, light-rose-pink hair tied with an amulet similar to Ash's. A pair of perfect blue eyes happily greeted Ash, shining with charisma against his darker skin shade, almost like a deep suntan but not. His attire depicted wealth – clean white trousers and an undershirt, and a vest patterned with brown diamonds – but he wasn't stereotypically pretentious, but cool, something Ash knew the moment he announced himself.

"Alola! Might you be a new challenger to my Trial? Kahuna Hala did tell me there would be a few new ones soon," Ilima said in a fitting calm, silvery voice.

"Oh, uhh, yes. Yeah, I'm a challenger!" Ash stuttered, standing up straight, placing out his hand to shake Ilima's. "My name is Ash, and this is my partner Pikachu," Ash said automatically.

"Nice to meet you both," Ilima said, smiling widely. He fixed his hands to his waist. "So Ash, have you been a trainer for long?"

"Yeah, I'm in my seventh year now," Ash said.

"Wow, excellent! In that case, you should be familiar with battling." Ilima coughed, then straightened out his vest. "Firstly, greetings, Ash! My name is Ilima, and I am the Trial Captain of Verdant Cavern. My speciality is Normal-Type Pokémon. Here on Melemele, as you may have noticed due to your experience, we have devoted the island to simplicity, to give the beginners a chance. However, inside this cave is where that is changed. The trail is physically demanding, and you will have to be well versed in battling to succeed. You will have to be innovative, creative, determined. Are you prepared for that?" Ilima asked, a smirk tweaking the corner of his lips.

"Definitely! There's no challenge we'll back down from!"

"Amazing, Ash!" Ilima announced. "If you are ready, my challenge begins mere steps from here in Verdant Cavern! Note that the Pokémon living within Verdant Cavern are quite fierce. Through attempting the trials during the island challenge, one can exceed his or her limits – that is what the Alolan people believe! Once again, are you ready?" Ilima said.

Ash took a deep breath, clenched and unclenched his fists, mentally preparing himself. He nodded. As Ilima stepped back where the path curved towards the cave, Ash heard his name.

Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, and Lillie, with Hau trailing, all ran towards him from around the bend. "We made it!" Hau shouted, reaching his arms triumphantly high.

"Oh? Alola, everyone! Are you all here to watch the trial?" Ilima calmly asked, familiarly.

"If you don't mind, Ilima! I'd like to see how Ash does," Kiawe respectfully replied.

"Not at all! Verdant Cavern is said to be a sacred place to Tapu Koko, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind you watching. Come with me, we'll wait at the end!" Ilima said.

As the group followed Ilima through, they each voiced to Ash a quote of encouragement. Lillie and Lana quietly wished him luck, and Kiawe simply announced he was curious as to Ash's capabilities, and Ash more than wanted to demonstrate what he could do. They disappeared into the cave, and Ash followed them in a moment after.

Through the shade of the hollowed mountain, a vast cave expanded that beautifully befit its name: Verdant Cavern. Moss that seemed luminous blanketed the walls and floor and some huge boulders that diverted the pathway's winding routes up and down; pear shaded ferns protruded from cracks and chips in the walls, growing where the wall and floor met; and tiny clumps of grassy weeds barely a centimetre tall clustered chaotically on the ground throughout. Cut into the rock above, dimly illuminating what would've been placid darkness into a twilight, holes as wide as the entrance – rimmed with smooth vines – let in the sun's glow, and white-ish flecks scintillated within the rays.

The path inwards separated at the edge of a gaping drop, dark enough to the eye that only imagination could determine the extremity of its depths. To the left, the path stopped at a scalable wall with a slope atop it, and at the end of the slope, it repeated as if two steps for giant Pokémon. To the right, the path led down below one of the holes of light, beneath which a moss rock luminesced. Ramps and stone bridges connected both sides of the gorge, and in the distance, canopied by more leaves, was the bright exit to outside. From where Ash was standing, it appeared like a naturally-generated jungle-gym-course.

Ilima stood at the start. "Ok, Ash. The aim of my trial is very simple. All you have to do is get through the exit way back in the cave and retrieve a Z-Crystal from the pedestal on the other side. The only catch is… Yungoos and Gumshoos live in this cavern, and they are here to prevent you from getting to the end! Defeat them along the way, and then all you've got left is the Totem Pokémon, which I shall leave unnamed for a little bit of mystery! Do you understand?" Ilima chipperly asked.

"Yeah, thanks!" Ash replied. Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder, standing poised, and Ash let out Rockruff, who stared at the course, unrelenting. Both looked determined.

"Alrighty! Your friends and I shall be at the exit to watch the Totem Pokémon battle, so good luck! Begin as soon as I leave the cave," Ilima explained, flashing Ash a wave; something on Ilima's glove glistened as he did. Ash nodded as thanks and watched Ilima retreat from the cave, swallowed by the daylight.

Ash turned around, grinning expectantly, and was immediately stunned into action: a sneaky Yungoos snaked elusively towards Rockruff, its jaw glowing with Bite.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash called. A second later, a spark of lightning zipped past his head, blowing his jacket and hat askew. Thunderbolt hit the Yungoos directly. It skidded on the ground, its body smoking, and retreated, scampering quickly into a small hole in a boulder Ash hadn't noticed before. He deduced that he should keep an eye out for them: they seemed to be the Yungoos' hide-aways.

Ignoring that hole, for now, Ash followed the left path to the wall hot-footed, desiring a challenge rather than looping around to the right. He grasped for a protruding rock that looked stable enough, and peered upwards for a higher handgrip, spotting three Yungoos' beady, mischievous eyes leering over the top of the wall. Ash stepped confidently on a piece of rock and pushed himself up. He re-adjusted his lowest hand to a higher grip, and pushed off with his other foot, easily climbing a foot or two. Without looking away, his hands and feet relentlessly pushing and grabbing safe chunks of rock, feeling the roughness digging into his palms, re-adjusting now and again when the route was crumbling, Ash called to Pikachu and Rockruff. "Pikachu, Quick Attack up the wall, and Rockruff jump and use Tackle for extra force to propel yourself upwards!"

They did as said; Pikachu dashed at the wall, balanced his small paws on two protruding rocks, and jumped up to another set, and another. He zigzagged up past Ash, across the wall, back and forth, then bounded over the top, clattering into a Yungoos' head. Simultaneously, Rockruff crouched as he'd practised for Bite. Using Tackle before jumping catapulted Rockruff over the wall and into a second Yungoos.

The third Yungoos didn't flee as its companions scuffled with Ash's Pokémon; it swiped Sand Attack down at Ash just as he looked up to re-position his hand, timing it perfectly. The sand dusted Ash's face, forcing him to snap his eyes shut, destabilising his balance. His left hand slipped, causing his left leg to buckle too. He fell backwards, but grabbed madly for the hold again, pulling himself flat against the wall with a heavy inhale when his hand caught it. He released the breath, wiped the sand from his face, and climbed the last few holds up and over the top, where the third Yungoos lay, fainted, sparking with the trace of an Electric-type move.

"Thanks!" Ash called, gesturing a thumbs-up, already running forwards: his two Pokémon followed at his heels.

Ash glanced down the path that conjoined his to the other route around the moss rock – he saw another Yungoos den at the bottom. Ash reflexively leaned backwards just in time for a Yungoos to soar through the air using Tackle, which struck an unexpectant Rockruff on his other side. Rockruff rolled, then ducked as the Yungoos used Bite. "Rockruff, Sand Attack then Thunder Fang!" Ash called and trustingly looked back at the path whereon two Yungoos darted at Pikachu. He didn't need to look at Rockruff, only hear Yungoos yelp as the Thunder Fang connected with, Ash assumed, quite a lot of ferocity. "Pikachu, Quick Attack off one onto the other!"

A glowing white trail line followed Pikachu. He darted into one Yungoos with his paws and jumped off and at the second with a headbutt, knocking them both to the edges of the ramp as easily as pins; they dangled perilously towards the drop-off. Pikachu used Ash's mind. Jumping from the head strike, he dropped onto the Yungoos' back using Quick Attack, knocking it unconscious, then leapt easily at the other, who prepared Bite. "Iron Tail!" Pikachu enacted the move before Ash finished. He steeled himself briefly, then trashed in a wide circle, his tail swinging like a propeller blade. Yungoos clattered back down the ramp, hitting the wall with cracking force.

"Nice work!" Ash called, slapping Pikachu's tail like a high-five.

Ash continued, running through the cave, focusing only on the task, finding with ease that his mind didn't wander. Pikachu and Rockruff fought off two more Yungoos, one each, and they stopped at another junction. This time Ash took a moment to consider. He had two routes; climb another wall that stopped right at the exit, or tight-rope across a wooden plank hovering over the gorge? Ash recklessly chose the latter this time, the adrenaline in him favouring the challenge. He was enjoying himself too much to end it so soon.

As balanced as a Hitmontop resting on its spike, Ash stepped out onto the wobbling wood, one foot at a time. It was shaky, but Ash was confident. He slid his feet forwards, one at a time, instead of stepping, constantly grounded on the plank. He'd walked over more perilous rocks and pathways throughout his travels, and a simple wooden plank hadn't been life-threatening when he'd rescued Lillie and Nebby. Either way, guessing the Trials had to have been safe-proofed, a deep lake of some kind – shimmering, Ash cheerfully fantasised, surrounded by colourful plants and fluorescent underwater weeds – had to rest at the bottom to catch anybody that might fall. Or a net. Ash stepped onto the other side without realising it.

Three more Yungoos met them there; Ash saw two more dens. One hit Pikachu with Tackle, another barely missed with Bite, spinning so fast to regroup its tail slapped Pikachu's face.

"Pika!" he called, frustrated.

"Pikachu, Quick Attack! In the aftermath, use Tackle, Rockruff!" Pikachu's successive Quick Attack knocked all three Yungoos off their feet and into each other. They scrambled for separation, but not before Rockruff charged in with Tackle, hitting all three at once. They expertly bounced back off the wall, two clattering into Rockruff with Tackle, the third with Bite. "Thunderbolt Pikachu!" Pikachu's voice and static filled the cave, and the three Yungoos fainted.

Ash checked on Rockruff, ruffling his head, who yelped, announcing he was fit to continue. After confirming it, the trio ran up another ramp to a tiny, semi-circled hole leading through a wall. Ash dropped to his knees, looked through to a tight corridor on the other side, then lay on his front. Using his forearms, Ash stretched his right arm out, pushed on the floor and moved forwards, copying with his left. Like a crawling soldier in a trench, he scurried through the hole and out the other side, where another Yungoos faced him. Yungoos cut across Ash using Tackle, forcing him to jump back into the wall. He puffed out all his breath at the impact. Ash dodged another Tackle and saw Pikachu exit the tunnel. He quickly defeated the Yungoos with Thunderbolt, coupled with Thunder Fang when Rockruff slid through.

"Pikachu!"

"Yeah, it's a dead-end," Ash said, his breathing turned into deep, exerted pants. Ash, looking left and right, spotted a ramp to the exit at the bottom of a slightly steep wall from where they'd come. Ash sighed. He'd frantically enjoyed the battling and skilful manoeuvring so thoroughly that he'd missed the obvious route. "Alright, let's jump down here and get to the clearing!" Ash said.

Stepping back slightly with his left foot, Ash jumped over the edge, landing flat on both feet at the bottom, a slight tremble jolting his feet and knees. Pikachu and Rockruff landed with cat-like prowess, and followed Ash up the ramp, into the view of the light.

"That wasn't so hard," Ash said, stretching and rubbing his arms that felt fine despite the activity, preparing himself for the battle that awaited through the gap. He knew what the Totem Pokémon was now. Gumshoos. Ilima had stated both Yungoos and Gumshoos made their homes in the cavern, but he'd only seen the former. "You guys ready?" Ask asked, clenching his fist. Hearing their confident cries, Ash stepped into the clearing.

Large walls encircled the deep circular glade he wandered into. Grassy pathways circled up and around as ledges on the walls, whereon Ash's new friends sat or stood, watching like the spectators in a league, anticipation written into their expressions. The raised paths isolated an open, dusty-earth gap in the centre, and, sat directly in front of him, was a pedestal. Alolan symbols were carved into the cylindrical body, two triangles protruding like those on the body of a rocket. In the centre of the pedestal, gleaming because of the sun that stared directly into the hole from its peak position, sat a Z-Crystal.

All Ash had to do was retrieve it. Ash stepped forward, glancing left and right for the Totem Pokémon he knew was coming. He felt Pikachu tense on his shoulder, and Rockruff at his ankle, and then something else, like the feeling of being followed, of a piercing gaze cutting through him, but he couldn't see where from. He walked right into the centre of the opening, and then it came: the Totem Pokémon.

It roared, and Ash followed the voice, turning in a circle. There, perched upon another balcony hanging over the cave, was, as Ash had worked out, a Pokémon that could only be Gumshoos. It had a fierce face, the same brown and yellow fur as its pre-form, a hairier version of Yungoos. Gumshoos was undoubtedly Yungoos' evolution. But Ash was rendered hesitant by shock; it was huge. While uncomparable to the giants from the Giant Pokémon Island, it was maybe four or five times the size of a Yungoos, probably twice or thrice that of a normal Gumshoos. Significantly taller than himself. It jumped, flipped, eclipsing the sun with its tucked frame, and landed, causing a tremor.

Ash tensed, analysing his opponent. Gumshoos was large with stubby limbs. It wouldn't be too fast. Pikachu had an advantage. Its teeth and claws were razors: its hits would do damage. Dodging would be essential. Ash quickly formulated a plan in his head, taking in his surroundings, deciding what he could use and what he couldn't. He was ready.

Opening his mouth to instigate the fight, Ash heard the clicking of claws to his right. Two Yungoos scuttled out of another of the dens Ash had missed. If Pikachu was fighting Gumshoos, Ash would have to trust Rockruff with the interloping Yungoos.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt to stun Gumshoos!" Ash called, keeping his eye on the approaching Yungoos. He heard Pikachu move behind him. "Rockruff, use Sand Attack to blind them!" Ash announced, and Rockruff immediately scraped its paws against the ground, kicking up dust at the Yungoos. They jumped back, catching the backdraft with the wind. "Dart through the dust and use Tackle consecutively!"

Ash then spun around to Pikachu, just in time for Gumshoos to charge. Its sharp teeth grew quickly, extending larger than they already were as it ran rather lethargically forwards. It was either using Super or Hyper Fang.

"Wait it out until it comes close… Iron Tail!" Ash directed, judging the distance with eyes of a Braviary. Pikachu slapped Gumshoos' extended fangs, knocking its face sideways, but its body stayed rigid, and it headbutted Pikachu. "Duck out!" Ash called, and Pikachu retreated, just as Gumshoos' eyes sharpened, and Ash saw Pikachu's fur stand up. Leer. He'd have to avoid the attacks even more now.

"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu charged the attack, launching it straight at Gumshoos' head. It opened its gaping mouth, all of its teeth whitening this time, and bit down, blocking the attack completely. Its body faintly flashed yellow. "It's powerful… Alright, Pikachu! Run around it to confuse it!" Playing to its strengths, Pikachu zipped to Gumshoos' feet, then dashed left in a flaunt of agility, turned and ran around its back, once, twice. Gumshoos swivelled, but Pikachu was already gone, materialising behind, a blur of movement. "Thunderbolt!"

"Pika…chu!" The spider-webbing streaks of yellow electricity hit Gumshoos behind the head, sending sparks down the rest of its body. But it didn't paralyse it. Pikachu stopped running, and Gumshoos turned and lurched, hitting Pikachu with its two large fangs, as if unfazed by the streaks of yellow crackling across its body. Ash quickly saw why. Some sort of aura coated its fur, tinting it yellow, again.

It must be its ability, Ash thought.

Pikachu flipped in the air and skidded on its paws. "Pikachu, get in there! Mimic Close Combat with Iron Tail!" Ash directed, suddenly becoming aware of the scuffling sounds behind him. "Rockruff, charge Thunder Fang!" Ash called over his shoulder. The move was charged and waiting when Ash turned properly, when Rockruff was mid-dodge, skidding low under a flying Yungoos. "Bite the tail of the one on the floor!" Ash called next, and Rockruff pivoted quickly, clenching its electrified jaw on the Yungoos' tail. It yelped, and its partner jumped in again, flying with Tackle.

"Swing it around and hit the other Yungoos back! Then let go and follow up with Tackle! Pikachu! Retreat, then leap off the wall to get above Gumshoos!" Ash saw Rockruff slap the two Yungoos together, and returned to watch Pikachu, who was mid-air when he saw him. "Iron Tail down onto its head and use the force to stay airborne!"

Pikachu, his tail steeling, colouring silver again, drove it down into Gumshoos' head, bouncing back off into the air, where he gyrated already, even before Ash called, "Thunderbolt!" Pikachu unleashed the savage blast onto Gumshoos' back, then landed cooly on his paws, his red pouches sparking a moment longer. Gumshoos fell to its knee.

A surge of surprise hit Ash when Gumshoos stood and swung its tail into Pikachu, batting him aggressively. Subsequently, it charged with Bite, clamping tightly onto Pikachu's tail as he jumped to evade the lunge, stopping him from moving.

It must be a Special Defence boosting ability… Ash thought, carefully eyeing Pikachu's trapped tail, peeking over his shoulder at Rockruff. One Yungoos was down, so there was only one left. One and the Totem.

Rapidly, the Gumshoos snapped its mouth open and closed again, then again, catching Pikachu's tail each time he attempted to wriggle free. Pikachu fought hard, twisting and pulling his tail, almost loosening it from the sharpened, boulder teeth. Ash suddenly got an idea. "Hold out, Pikachu!" He spun around to Rockruff, "Use Bite and grab on to Yungoos, just like Gumshoos!"

Rockruff jumped over Yungoos, pawing its head into the earth, then clamped his teeth like a vice onto his tail. "Thunder Fang!" Ash called, watching only for a moment as the electricity flared, then turned to Pikachu again, "Channel Thunderbolt into your tail!" Meshed between Gumshoos' jaw, Pikachu lit his tail, which exploded upon generation. Smoke streamed through the gaps in Gumshoos' teeth, bursting into a grey plume when his jaw opened, releasing Pikachu.

"Rockruff, Tackle!" Unleashing a rumbling bark, Rockruff hit Yungoos square with Tackle, knocking it unconscious. Ash grinned, looking at Pikachu. "Pikachu, bounce off the wall with Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu's tiny body flared with violently crackling lightning towering almost as tall as Gumshoos itself. Pikachu bolted at the wall, flipping mid-way, then sprang back off it effortlessly, rocketing straight into Gumshoos' head so forcefully its body became horizontal, hovering momentarily, before slamming into the ground, creating an earthquake. Volt Tackle faded, and Pikachu flipped once, landing easily on his paws, his body covered in small tatters and bruises.

Gumshoos lay unconscious. Ash won.

Ash considered Gumshoos' steps thunderous, so when he heard a stampede-level clatter of feet, he feared that the overly formidable Gumshoos wasn't the Totem Pokémon, that another, larger Pokémon was coming. But it was only Kiawe, who stopped in front of Ash, slapping a firm hand onto his shoulder.

"That was an incredible battle, Ash! I was moved to almost tears! Such excellent skills and creativity! It makes my heart fire up! I want to battle you next!" Kiawe announced, nothing in his eye telling Ash he was joking.

"Now, now, Kiawe. Allow Ash to retrieve the Z-Crystal before you bombard him too heavily," Ilima said, pulling Kiawe aside and gesturing to the Z-Crystal.

Ash walked to it proudly, as if walking down a red carpet, Pikachu and Rockruff marching by his sides. He grabbed the Z-Crystal, which disappeared in his fist, and then the cheering reached his ears, breaking past the overpowering adrenaline that had caged his mind and senses until that moment. He looked and saw Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana clapping, walking forwards, shouting congratulations, complimenting his and his Pokémon's collective abilities. Kiawe rushed in, again, returning to his godly praise which reminded Ash, suddenly, of Clemont's previous devotion.

But he didn't dwell on it, on the sadness.

A fountain of pride, the same thing he'd felt after every previous gym battle, flushed the excitement and aches out of Ash's body. He was so pleased he felt weightless. Maybe it was relief that he hadn't lost his skills after being degraded, but nothing could dampen his feelings at that moment.

"I, myself, am a big fan of Electric-Type Pokémon, so seeing Pikachu single-handedly defeat such a towering Gumshoos is incredible!" Sophocles commented.

"I agree! A Pikachu's base stats aren't usually overly high, but your Pikachu seems rather strong for a Pikachu, Ash," Lillie added, and Ash nodded with a smile, remembering how that was Team Rocket's motive to chase him down. Those days felt like years ago.

Fast dull taps suddenly came from the cave mouth while Ilima tended to Gumshoos and the Yungoos, from which a man in a palm tree shirt ran through, panting, interrupting the celebrations. Ash hadn't even got a word in yet. "Ilima! We've… got trouble… down in Hau'oli!"

Ilima returned Ash's valiant opponents. He ran off beside the man, asking questions, and Ash followed Ilima, keen to help, his new friends following him. But not even the threat of trouble clouded his joy.