Chapter 8

Ash and Lillie are walking around the grasses in the park of the Hau'oli City, Ash notices an Abra sleeping in the grass and he says, "Wow, there are also Wild Pokemon in this city."

Lillie says, "This city is lively, that's for sure. If my instincts are correct, that Abra must be wild Pokemon."

Ash nods as he tosses a Quick Ball, for fear that it might teleport away, and much to their relief, it is captured in the end.

"What are you doing?" They hear a voice and then they notice a Meowth. But the Meowth is different as it is grey colored. "Are you capturing Pokemon?"

"Wait, you can talk human? Does that mean you are..." Ash gasps. But the Meowth says, "Do we meet before? I don't think I know you."

"So you aren't related to some kind of organization?" Lillie asks as it says, "I don't know what you are talking about. The reason I can speak human is because I want to find a human partner. But none of them want to because they think me as a freak."

"You are not a freak. I have seen a Mewoth that can talk before, and we are willing to add you to our group as well." Meowth thanks the group as it lets itself being captured.

Meowth, Alola Form. The Scratch Cat Pokémon. A Dark type. Meowth are not native to the Alola region, but people brought them here. Eventually, their appearance changed to what we now see. They are prideful and cunning.

"That is really rude." Meowth mutters, "I am not that cunning."

"Well, don't worry about it." Ash says as he recalls it.

The next Pokemon he captures is a Magnemite, who is attracted by Pikachu's electricity and Ash offers to capture it.

After having new Pokemon, Ash and Lillie are now heading towards the Marina, just as they reach there, they see that Ilima is there. Ilima notices them and he says, "Greetings. It's me, Captain Ilima."

As they are greeting the pink haired boy, they suddenly hear some noises, "Yo, yo, yo, check it!" "Whenever, wherever we meet you, Team Skull don't even greet you!"

As both Ash and Lillie turn around, they see two people wearing skull like hats and black clothes, not to mention that they have face masks and a pendant that also looks like a skull. They did some weird moves and one of them says, "So, Cap, just give up the Pokemon, yo."

As Ash and Lillie are processing what's going on, Ilima decides to ignore the two people as he turns to Ash and Lillie. "Oh! You, from the Trainer's School! Already made your way to Hau'oli, hmm?"

Ash and Lillie nod as the two grunts start to get annoyed, "What? what?! Why you trying to act hard when we're already hard as a bone out here, homie?"

"Yo, let's check these fools." The second grunt says.

Ash asks Ilima, "Who are they?"

Ilima just simply replies, "They are Team Skull. And oh my...How terrifying...Only thieves steal people's Pokemon. I won't stand for it."

"So those are the Team Skull that we need to stop, huh?" Ash says, "Ilima, leave the battle to the both of us."

Lillie is surprised, "What do you mean both of us? Did I need to battle as well?"

Ash says, "Come on, Lillie. We can do it ourselves, don't you worry about it."

Lillie can only nods and they send out Pikachu and Sylveon together,, while the two grunts send out Zubat and Rattata. Ash says, "Pikachu, use Quick Attack." Pikachu uses the move so fast that it didn't give Zubat a chance to dodge. Lillie says, "Use Moonblast." Sylveon fires the move and hits the Rattata, causing it to faint.

"What?" The first grunt is surprised and Pikachu also finishes the Zubat with the Thunderbolt. The two grunts can only look in utter shock as they start to do some strange pose again. "No fair I was playing a different game!"

"Let's get up out of this port, B! Nobody has to know about this." The other grunt says. "We don't need your wack Pokemon anyway, Ilima."

Then the two of them run away as Ilima shakes his head. "Again? Oh my... How terrifying..."

He turns to Ash and Lillie, who hug their Pokemon with cheer. Ilima says, "My thanks to you and your Pokémon. Why don't I give you these to express my gratitude?"

After giving each Pokemon an Oran Berry, he turns to the two trainers, "I must admit, I've been wondering about you since I saw you at the Trainers' School... Professor Kukui brought you along, and you and your Pokémon seemed to defeat our teacher so effortlessly! Very well then! Allow me to see if you're ready for my trial!"

Lillie asks, "You mean, we get to battle you?"

"Why yes. Behold the magnificent Pokémon of the one and only Captain Ilima!"

As the battle begins, he sends out Yungoos and Smeargle. Ash says, "He is a Normal Type Trainer, Lillie. We should use our Fighting Type Pokemon."

"Right. Pangoro, I choose you." Lillie sends out her Pokemon, Ilima says, "That is a nice sunglass you have on your Pokemon."

Lillie starts to remember how she met her Pancham and she says, "That was my favorite sunglasses, I gave it to him when he was a Pancham so we can perform together."

Ash smiles as she starts to remember, he says, "If that's the case, Hawlucha, I choose you as well."

Ash also sends out the Pokemon, and Ilima says, "I see you are using Kalos Native Pokemon, but I was graduated from the Kalos University, so I have been investigating about those two. Yungoos, use Leer."

Yungoos uses the moves to lower their defense, Ash says, "Hawlucha, use Karate Chop." Hawlucha uses the move to slash against Yungoos, but it is able to dodge.

"Smeargle, use Ember." Both Ash and Lillie are surprised to see the Pokemon use a Fire move, and it hits Hawlucha and Pangoro at the same time. Lillie says, "Pangoro, hang in there and use Arm Thrust."

Pangoro slaps at the Yungoos, who finally gets hit and then defeated. Ilima just smiles and he asks Smeargle to use Water Gun, the powerful water blasted at the two Pokemon as they lose a lot of HP.

"Just how did that Smeargle learn those moves?" Ash asks. Lillie says, "It must be Sketch. The move made Smeargle able to learn the attack..."

Ilima says, "That's right. Smeargle is a great Pokemon to use because of that. Leafage on Pangoro."

"No you won't. Hawlucha, use Aerial Ace to help him." Hawlucha quickly uses the attack, sending the Pokemon to the ground. Lillie says, "Pangoro, finish it with Dark Pulse."

Pangoro fires the attack and then Smeargle faints in the end.

"You-or should I say you and your Pokemon-make quite the interesting team! I do hope you'll come to Verdant Cavern and attempt the trial-the trial of Ilima."

"Verdant Cavern? Where is it?" Ash asks.

"You can get there from Route 2...That Rotom Dex of yours will show you the way." Ilima says as he bids them farewell.

Now that the two of them are walking on the way, Ash says, "So Lillie, you have been to this city before, what do you think of it?"

Lillie frowns, "You know, I am really glad to have a familiar face traveling with me. I always get lost so quickly... I can't figure out the roads here... I can't even buy my own clothes..."

Ash is surprised to hear Lillie talk to herself like that. Lillie decides to shake off the question by saying, "But I have decided. After defeating Ilima, I want to partake on those Trials as well. I want to be as strong as you so I can protect myself."

Ash smiles, "That's great, Lillie. I will always support you no matter what choice you make."

Lillie blushes a little, and she says, "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. Like Tapu Koko... The people in Iki Town said that Tapu Koko loves Pokémon battles, didn't they?"

Ash nods, "If we could meet Tapu Koko once more, do you think we would find the answer to why it saved me and Nebby that day?"

Lillie says, "I am not sure about that. But I wish all goes well for the both of us."

Then Hala tells Ash and Lillie to pet the Tauros again if they want to go to Route 2. After that, Hala says, ""Maybe old Tauros here can feel your love for Pokémon. He sure seems happy to know you. And yet... It still seems to me like Tauros wants to stretch his legs on his own island challenge! Ha!"

"I guess so." But then the Tauros starts to run off, and Hala just laughs and says, "What! You want to play tag, now? The Melemele kahuna never loses, friend!"

After Hala also rushes off, Lillie asks, "Where did he get that much energy?"

"Who knows." Ash shrugs.

Back in the Route 1's Ash's Mansion, Aurora is now training her Pokemon alone as both Ash and Golly are on their journey. Just then, Aurora looks up to the sky and sees that the Helicopter is about to land at the place. Aurora notices the helicopter as she steps aside, giving the space for the helicopter to land.

Out from the helicopter is a grey haired woman and Aurora rushes to hug her. "Mother, what are you doing here?"

The grey haired woman smiles and she says, "Hello, dear Aurora. I see you are still the childish girl I have met from before."

Aurora pouts and she says, "Just because I have children doesn't mean I can be childish, but what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be training Aria to keep her title as the Kalos Queen?"

The woman, finally known as Palermo, says, "A lot of things has happened, and I need to take a break because of it. By the way, how are your children doing? I didn't see them with you."

"They are on their journey to gather the Z Crystals." Aurora says, "Taking the Island Challenge might be able to help them relax."

"Those Z moves, I remember back when you were the Kalos Queen, you manage to use those moves into a spectacular performance. It is quite a shame that you retired in order to become the Champion of the Kanto Region."

"Can't blame me. I like performances, but I also like to use them in battles, that's why I develop the Contests. But anyways, this isn't a place to talking, Mother. Please come inside the house and we can talk some more."

Palermo nods as Aurora helps her get into the house.

Here is a new chapter, and things is getting interesting as Ash and Lillie meet Team Skull for the first time. Not only that, Lillie is going to take part in Contests like Ash. I hope you like this chapter.

Ash and Lillie's Pokemon:

Alola Dex: Rowlet, Litten, Pikipek, Yungoos, Rattata (A), Butterfree, Ledyba, Spinarak, Pikachu, Grubbin, Bonsly, Blissey, Snorlax, Slowpoke, Wingull, Abra, Meowth, Magnemite, Muk, Gengar, Crobat, Noivern, Primeape, Hawlucha, Gyarados, Gigalith, Sylveon, Tauros, Milotic, Talonflame, Noctowl, Goodra, Tyranitar, Trevenant, Metagross, Pangoro, Torkoal, Krookodile, Garchomp, Glalie, Vulpix, Scrafty, Clawitzer, Lapras, Crawdaunt, Scizor, Heracross, Dragonite, Aerodactyl, Cosmog

Kanto Dex: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Pidgeot, Rapidash, Kingler

Johto Dex: Meganium, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Bellossom, Steelix, Donphan

Hoenn Dex: Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert, Swellow, Gardevoir

Sinnoh Dex: Torterra, Infernape, Empoleon, Staraptor, Floatzel, Rhyperior, Yanmega, Gliscor, Gallade, Dusknoir

Unova Dex: Serperior, Emboar, Samurott, Liepard, Unfezant, Zebstrika, Seismitoad, Leavanny, Gothitelle, Ferrothorn, Hydreigon

Kalos Dex: Chesnaught, Delphox, Meowstic, Aegislash