Chapter 11 To Top a Totem
Back in Ash's House, Palermo is now sitting at the sofa of the living room while Aurora is pouring some tea. Aurora asks, "So Mother, what do you want to talk to me about?"
Palermo says, "A lot of things had happened recently, and I didn't feel in the mood of holding the showcase this year."
This causes Aurora to be surprised, "Why Mother? What makes you do such a big deal?"
"Of all the performers, I have been trying to find another person that can rival Aria. A few months ago, I finally found her."
"That's great, mother. But what is special about her?" Aurora asks.
"She is the first one that refuses to train under me because she wants to improve, so I suggest she go into Hoenn to partake in the Contests, I want you to meet her as you can see how special she is." Palermo says.
Aurora says, "Let me guess, the person you are talking about, is it Serena?"
Palermo raises an eyebrow and says, "It seems you have known her."
"Her mother and I are best friends back then and my son Ash has a crush on her." Aurora says.
"So the one that travels with her really is Ash. It sure has been a while since I saw him, I kinda forget what he looked like. But if he had a crush on her, how is he feeling after learning the misfortune..."
Aurora says, "Don't worry, Mother. Serena is not dead, but she lost all her memories as Serena since she still has a split self-named Lillie. Who is a member of the Aether Foundation."
Palermo says, "The Aether Foundation...I remember that the members there are also Giratina, is that true?"
"Yes, so far Lusamine is still split into two while her children are whole again. I am sure that Ash will be able to unlock her memories before things get worse."
"I hope so." Palermo says as she sips on the tea.
Ash and Golly are helping Lillie capture a Normal Type Pokemon, and after searching for a while, they manage to find a Buneary for Lillie. At first, Lillie is a little scared of the bunny Pokemon, but after a while, she manages to get used to it.
Once they are done, they find Hala waiting for them in front of the cavern, so they go to greet him.
"Yungoos and Gumshoos, as well as Rattata and Raticate live within the cave. There is also an extremely strong and special Gumshoos and Raticate which is called the Totem Pokemon."
"A Totem Pokemon?" Ash asks.
"In the Alola Region, there are certain Pokemon which are called that. Many of them listen to the wills of the guardian deity Pokemon and help out during the island challenge. Ash, Golly, and Lillie, for your Trial, I want you to battle the Totem Pokemon and defeat it. And then, with the Gumshoo's help, we can run the Rattata and Raticate out of town."
"But I have a question." Lillie says. "Raticate and Gumshoos are the Totem Pokemon in the cave, right? How are they able to cooperate together?"
Hala smiles, "Good question. Since both of them are Totem Pokemon chosen from our Guardian Deity, they reach a compromise to be the totem Pokemon in the area."
"Another question." Ash says, "Since you said that there are two Totem Pokemon, but we have three here..."
Golly says, "You two can go first, I don't mind being the last one to challenge."
"Are you sure?" Ash asks.
"I'm fine." Golly says with a smile. "Though I wonder how are we going to ask Gumshoos for help?"
"When it recognizes your strength after the battle, it will offer its help." Hala replies. "Usually we will require a Trial Captain for the trials, however, the current Trial Captain of the Verdant Cavern is not available, so I will be the one."
After getting into the cave, they are amazed at how big it is, Hala says, "So Ash and Lillie are doing first, then before battling the Totem Pokemon, you have to face some challenges first. For Ash, you have to defeat a Yungoos and a Gumshoos, and for Lillie, you have to defeat a Rattata and a Raticate."
Then much to their surprise, four Pokemon appear in front of them, and Hala says, "We will now begin this Trial's Pokemon battle!"
Ash says, "Rotom, give me the data of Yungoos and Gumshoos."
"Leave it to me." Rotom says. "Yungoos, the Loitering Pokémon. Gumshoos, the Stakeout Pokémon. Both are Normal types. Yungoos have sturdy fangs and jaws, and when they evolve into Gumshoos, they gain a certain tenacity and patience."
"And there is one thing I have to mention." Hala says. "Until you clear the trial, you will not be able to catch Pokémon in Verdant Cavern. Ash has Pikachu and Rowlet to battle, but Rowlet is sleeping, much to their surprise.
"Wake up, Rowlet!" Ash yells, and Rowlet notices the two Pokemon and starts to get serious. As for Lillie, she goes for Sylveon and Buneary, both Pokemon manage to do a lot of damage to the Rattata and Raticate, while Pikachu and Rowlet work together to defeat Yungoos and Gumshoos as well.
"We did it." Ash says.
"But somehow I feel a piercing gaze is cutting right through us..." Lillie mutters.
Just then, a Totem Gumshoos and a Totem Raticate jump in front of them. Hala says, "Here they are! They are the Totem Pokemon!"
"They're so huge!" Golly exclaims in surprise.
"Unbelievable! They are three times the size of the other Gumshoos and Raticate!" Rotom says.
Both of them are glowing orange as Gumshoos leaps into the air. Ash says, "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"
But before Pikachu attacks, the Totem Gumshoos uses Frustration at Pikachu. However, the Mouse Pokémon dodges the attack, albeit barely and counterattacks with a Thunderbolt which successfully hits Gumshoos.
As for Raticate, it goes for Super Fang, biting at Buneary, causing some damage. "Buneary! Get ahold of yourself! Use Double Kick!"
Buneary nods as he starts to kick at the Raticate, slamming it to the wall, however, it is still standing as it roars loudly.
Gumshoos manages to shrug off the attack and attacks again with Frustration, but this time it manages to hit Pikachu. This sends Pikachu flying and Gumshoos immediately appears behind Pikachu preparing for another attack.
"Look at that speed..." Ash says.
"Sylveon! Use Moonblast!" Lillie commands, and Sylveon fires the attack on Raticate, causing it to roar in pain.
Ash then notices Rowlet flying behind Gumshoos and commands Rowlet to use Tackle from behind. But just as Rowlet is about to hit the Totem Pokémon, it picks up a nearby rock and throws it at Rowlet, sending it flying at Ash who barely manages to catch Rowlet in time. It is then shown that Rowlet has been knocked out unable to battle.
"Oh no, Rowlet, thanks for saving Pikachu." Ash says while recalling Rowlet.
At the same time, Buneary is hit by the Sucker Punch from Raticate, and it also faints. Lillie frowns, "I'm sorry, Buneary."
Then both Ash and Lillie have Pikachu and Sylveon respectively. Ash then commands Pikachu to use Electro Ball while the Totem Gumshoos uses Sand Attack in response to intercept the attack. Pikachu watches in shock as his attack gets deflected, allowing Gumshoos to hit Pikachu from behind and send him flying across the battlefield.
As for Lillie, she has Sylveon use Fairy Wind, but Raticate manages to use Quick Attack to go through the winds and then hits Sylveon, also sending her flying across the battlefield.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash says.
"What? Pikachu won't defeat it with the Quick Attack..." Rotom says.
Lillie says, "Sylveon, Swift!"
As both Pokemon attacks, Gumshoos go for Sand Attack while Raticate goes for Quick Attack, Ash has Pikachu use the sand as its own cover, while Sylveon uses the stars as barrier, causing the attacks to hit Gumshoos and Raticate, causing them to fall into the ground.
"Finish with Thunderbolt!/Moonblast!" Ash and Lillie yell at the same time, and both Pokemon attack the two Pokemon and create the explosion. But both Totem Pokemon break off the attack until they fall down with swirls on their eyes.
"The trial is finished! The winners are challengers Ash and Lillie!" Hala yells.
Ash and Lillie are joyed as they hug their Pokemon. "We did it!"
Just then, the Gumshoos and Raticate try to stand up, and both Ash and Lillie quickly rush to them and help them stand up, Lillie also forgets that she has the fear of touching Pokemon right now.
"Are you okay?" Lillie asks.
"We're fine." Gumshoos says to them as both Gumshoos and Raticate take out 2 Z Crystals.
"Are those for us?" Ash asks.
After they nod, they take the Z Crystals and reach them to the air, "We got the Normalium Z!" Then their Pokemon also cheer for them as well.
Hala thinks, "Totem Pokemon don't usually give out Z Crystals, they are strange people after all..."
Golly says, "So now it is our turn, right? If it is possible, I want to battle the Raticate, is that possible?"
The Totem Raticate notices Golly as it nods, and both the Rattata and Raticate are prepared to fight her. And it doesn't take too long for Golly to win against them and get her own Normalium Z.
"Now that's done, Gumshoos, would you mind helping us drive the Rattata and Raticate away from Iki Town?" Ash asks.
Totem Gumshoos grin in response as the Yungoos and the Gumshoos follow them to Iki Town's Supermarket, where a bunch of Rattata and Raticate are eating the food.
Outside the room, Ash, Lillie, Golly, Hala, Officer Jenny, and the Totem Gumshoos and ally Gumshoos and Yungoos all prepare to ambush the Alolan pests.
"Now we're opening the door..." Ash says as they open the doors. The Rattata and Raticate stop eating to stare in surprise at seeing the Pokémon they fear the most. The group of Alolan Rattata and Raticate then charge at the two Gumshoos and Yungoos. However, their efforts of fighting are in vain as the Rattata and Raticate were sent flying in large numbers as the Gumshoos and Yungoos unleash their attacks.
The Alolan Rattata and Raticate then flee back into the wild as the two Gumshoos and Yungoos cry out in victory before Golly manages to throw a Poke Ball and captures a Rattata.
"Just like what my data said." Rotom says.
"Thank you for helping us out." Officer Jenny replies to the three Pokemon, and the Yungoos turn to Ash and signal that he wants to be captured. Ash is delighted as he captures the Yungoos.
"As the Island Kahuna of the Melemele Island, I recognize that you have completed the Trial." Hala says. "The next for you three is to take on the Grand Trial. I'm quite looking forward to that. I'll be able to see your Z-Moves with my own eyes."
"We're super excited as well." Lillie says, but then she starts to get scared again after Pikachu gets close to her. Golly mutters, "I thought you weren't scared of touching Pokemon...but I guess we're wrong..."
Lillie pouts and says, "It's not like that! I can touch Pokemon when I want to, and you already see that!"
Then they laugh a little before heading back the house to rest.
And here is a new chapter, I want to say that the trials with Golly won't be written in my story since writing trials about Ash and Lillie is already tiring for me. But they have managed to complete the first trial, I hope you like it and the next chapter will be the Grand Trial and also meeting Ash's grandmother Palermo back in the house.