Chapter 9:
Totem Brawl
Location: Route 2 Pokémon Center
"I am happy to confirm that your Pokémon are happy and healthy!" said Nurse Joy as she handed back my six Pokéballs. "And good luck in the trial!"
"Thanks!" I said.
"Nervous?" Hau asked. Hau said that I could go first as I had a full team of six and he needed to do some more training.
"A little," I replied. "But if Tapu Koko saw something in me, then I know I can do it!"
Ilima walked through the Pokémon Center doors. "You ready Elliott?"
I punched the air. "You bet!"
"And I'll be there for info! Zzt!" Rotom Dex said.
Location: Route 2
Me and Ilima walked up to the colourful gate that was blocking Verdant Cavern. Ilima fiddled about with a lock and opened it for me.
"So, some quick rules," Ilima said. "First of all, once you go in, you can't come out. Either you beat the trial or the trial beats you; that's the only way you leave. You are allowed to heal your Pokémon with items to, but no coming back for healing. Catching any Pokémon is also prohibited lest you become disqualified, and disqualification can ban you from the Island Challenge permanently. Are you ready?"
I nodded. "Yeah, let's do this!"
Ilima put his hand in front of the gate. "Then good luck with the trial, and may Tapu Koko's blessing be in your favour! I'll be coming inside to give you an explanation!"
Location: Verdant Cavern
Inside the cave were slopes with multiple holes in the wall. There was an exit at the other end. It wasn't the only source of light however; there were multiple holes in the ceiling that allowed sunlight to beam down. That could be why there was moss and multiple lush plants growing along the walls and floor.
"To think plantzz can grow in a place like this. Roto," Rotom Dex said.
"Welcome to Verdant Cavern," Ilima said. "The first trial of your Island Challenge. So, the task is to beat two Pokémon, but they can be quite difficult as they like to hide in the holes all around here. And once you've beaten them…"
We heard a deafening sound from the exit to the cave. "What is that?" I asked.
"Oh," he said. "Let's just say that the Pokémon won't be the only opponent you will face here, because an extra strong foe is waiting for you…"
I adjusted my hat. "Let's do this!"
Immediately, I saw a Yungoos. I ran towards it, but it went into one of the holes in the wall.
"Not exactly subtle, Roto!"
Thankfully, I saw it in one of the holes further up, so I ran up the slope and caught up to it.
"Makuhita, go!" I shouted. Yungoos jumped forward and bit down on Makuhita, sweeping away half its damage.
"Roto! That'zz Super Fang! It halvezz the opponent'zz health! Zzt!"
"Arm Thrust!" Makuhita took Yungoos by the head and thrusted it down three times. It was enough to finish it.
"Great start!" I shouted. Just then, I saw a dust cloud.
"That must be it!" Rotom Dex said. "The next Pokémon! Zzt!"
"Alrighty!" I shouted. "Let's catch it!"
"Not on our watch yo!"
From below we heard some familiar voices as the two Team Skull Grunts swaggered over.
"Hey!" Ilima shouted. "Only one person may take on the trial at a time! I'm afraid you must leave!"
"Nu uh!" Grunt A said. "We have a bone to pick with Tapu Koko's pride and joy over there." He pointed to me.
"Leave him alone! Roto! Can't you see he'zz in the middle of something?"
"Yeah!" Grunt A said, walking up the slope towards me. "And we were in the middle of stealing Berries, but you interrupted that. I'm afraid we're going to have to give you a taste of your own medicine." Grunt A clicked his finger. "Try and get that other Pokémon; it's our trial now!"
"No it's not!" I said. "Leave now!"
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"Go Drowzee!" shouted the Grunt.
"Go Slowpoke!" I replied.
"Drowzee, Pound!" Drowzee jumped up to Slowpoke and hit it.
"Come back with Yawn!" Slowpoke yawned, but it had no affect. "Why?"
"I think it might be Drowzee's Insomnia Ability!" Ilima shouted. "It prevents it from falling asleep!"
"Now Drowzee, Hypnosis!" Drowzee waved its arms about, and Slowpoke dozed off.
"This won't do," I shouted. "Go Litten!" Out came my Starter.
"Use Pound!" Drowzee jumped at Litten for minimal damage.
"Come back with Lick!" Litten licked Drowzee for Super Effective damage. Additionally, Drowzee was paralyzed! "Good going Litten! Now use Ember!" Litten shot a small flame at Drowzee, almost knocking it out.
"Confusion!" Drowzee fired a small blast of Psychic power at Litten. Litten shook it off easily.
"Use one more Ember!" Litten fired one last flame at Drowzee, knocking it out.
"No! This was our trial!"
"Yo!" Grunt B shouted. "It's getting away!"
"Well why didn't you tell me?" Grunt A said, walking over and hitting Grunt B over the back of the head. "Here, I'll wait over at that cave and you wait at the other one!"
Grunt A and B walked over to the different holes, leaving one whole left.
"Pzzt," Rotom Dex whispered. "Thizz might be your chance, Roto."
I nodded and went over to the other hole where sure enough, the Pokémon was waiting.
The Pokémon was a Raticate, but black, fatter and had puffy cheeks. It was like the Raticate went goth and then had its wisdom teeth taken out.
Raticate (Alola Form) (ラッタ)
#016
Dark/Normal Type
Mouse Pokémon
2'04" (0.7 m)
56.2 lbs (25.5 kg)
Its disposition is far more violent than its looks would suggest. Don't let your hand get too close to its face, as it could bite your hand clean off.
Rattata (Alolan Form) -Lv 20 at night- Raticate (Alolan Form)*
*Kantonian Rattata can evolve at any time of day.
"Go Makuhita!" I shouted again. Raticate came forward with Tackle. "Now use Arm Thrust!" Makuhita thrusted down Raticate twice before knocking it out.
"Hey!" Grunt A shouted. "That was our catch!"
"No it wasn't," Ilima said. "Look, you've had your fun. Leave now and Officer Jenny won't be called."
"Fine," Grunt A said. "But this isn't the last time you've seen us. If we can't clear this, then no one can."
"But we did just help him!" Grunt B said.
Grunt A hit Grunt B on the back on the head again. "Don't make us look stupid!"
"You already have! Roto!"
With that, the Grunts walked out the cave.
"I am so sorry about that," Ilima said. "To disrupt one's trial like that. It's so stupid. But on the bright side, you've cleared the first part of the trial! Go through the exit at the other end of the cave and pick up your reward!"
I started walking over, when Rotom Dex started talking. "Careful Elliott, Roto. Ilima said that there izz one more obstacle, whatever that meanzz."
"I'm aware," I said. "So, whatever it is we're taking on, let's do it!"
"That's the spirit!" Ilima said.
I walked outside to see a small-stone podium.
"Izz that what Ilima was talking about? Zzt," Rotom Dex asked.
I looked at the podium. There was a small-white crystal on it. "What is that?"
As I got closer however, we heard the same roar as earlier.
"Elliott," Rotom Dex said. Even though its voice was pixelated, it was still scared. "Look up, Roto…"
I did, to see a large Pokémon. It was brown, angry, had a streak of yellow hair that went from the top of its head and down the back to its tail and most importantly, it was huge.
Gumshoos (デクグース)
#014
Normal Type
Stakeout Pokémon
2'04" (0.7 m)
31.3 lbs (14.2 kg)
Although it wasn't originally found in Alola, this Pokémon was brought over a long time ago when there was a huge Rattata outbreak.
Yungoos -Lv 20 at Daytime- Gumshoos
"only 2'04"? I replied. "It looks a lot bigger than that!"
Gumshoos jumped down to our level. "Look out!" Rotom Dex. "It's about to strike!"
"I present!" Ilima said, coming to witness the battle. "The Totem Pokémon of Verdant Cavern, Totem Gumshoos!"
Elliott Vs. Totem Gumshoos
A burst of energy came off Totem Gumshoos. Its Defense rose by one.
"We can do this!" I shouted. "Go Makuhita!" Out came my Fighting Type. "Fake out!" Makuhita clapped in front of Totem Gumshoos, making it flinch. After that, Totem Gumshoos roared again, and a Yungoos ran on to help out.
"What now?" I asked.
"An Ally Pokémon," Ilima said. "Totem Pokémon can call on friends to give it a hand."
This match just got harder. Totem Gumshoos used Super Fang, bringing down Makuhita's health by a half. Then Yungoos used Quick Attack.
"Use Arm Thrust!" Makuhita attacked Yungoos twice, but it didn't quite knock it out. Then, both Pokémon used Quick Attack. That was enough to take Makuhita out.
"Not good! Zzt!"
"Don't worry," I replied. "Misdreavus, go!" This would be a Pokémon that wouldn't be hurt by Normal Type moves. Yungoos used Leer, lowering Misdreavus' Defense. "Now Misdreavus, use Psywave!" Misdreavus sent out a wave of Psychic energy at Yungoos, knocking it out. Then, Totem Gumshoos used Bite, finishing off Misdreavus in one blow.
"It'zz getting harder! Roto!"
"Don't sweat!" I replied. "Okay Pikipek, go!" A fast Flying Type was sent out. Totem Gumshoos used Bite, almost dealing with Pikipek at once. "Now use Rock Smash!" Pikipek attacked Totem Gumshoos for a Super Effective hit that lowered its Defense. Totem Gumshoos finished things off with another Bite. "Ngh. Litten, go!" I shouted. Totem Gumshoos used Bite, doing about half to Litten. "Use Ember back!" Litten fired a flame at Totem Gumshoos. This was a Critical Hit. Totem Gumshoos then used Quick Attack that ended Litten. "No! Okay Slowpoke, we're running out of options!" Slowpoke dopily entered. It took a Bite again. Already it was almost finished. Then, Slowpoke fired water at Totem Gumshoos.
"Zzt! That'zz Water Gun!" Rotom Dex shouted.
"Great timing!" I said just as Totem Gumshoos finished things off with a Quick Attack. "Last chance saloon. Go Munchlax!" I yelled. Totem Gumshoos wasted no time by started with Bite. "Now use Metronome!"
"WHAT?! ROTO? That'zz very rizzky!"
"We don't have much of a choice!" I replied. Munchlax wiggled its fingers, then used a move. What move? Munchlax's paw went black and sharp, and it slashed at Totem Gumshoos for nothing.
"No!" Rotom Dex shouted. "A Ghost Type move like Shadow Claw hazz no effect on Normal Type Gumshoos!"
Totem Gumshoos used another Bite.
"One more chance Munchlax! Metronome!" Munchlax wiggled its finger again. Munchlax then went up to Gumshoos and punched it hard with a Dynamic Punch. It was a direct hit that knocked it out!
"You did it! Zzt!"
Munchlax turned around and smiled, then fell down from exhaustion. "Nice one," I told it, helping it up.
"Yes, quite fantastic," Ilima said. "You have completed your first Trial in the Alola region. You may take the Z Crystal, the Normalium Z."
I went up to the podium and picked up the white crystal.
I got… Normalium Z!
"With this, you are now able to use the Normal Type Z-Move, Breakneck Blitz! All you need is a Pokémon that knows a Normal Type move to hold it, then you do this." With his arms, Ilima made a square shape. Right arm on his head and left arm on his stomach. "It may take a few tries."
"This is amazing!" I said. "So, what now?"
"Kahuna Hala," replied Ilima. "Beat him and you will have completed the Island Challenge on Melemele Island!"
"Sounds great!" I replied. "I better head back to the Pokémon Center and give Professor Kukui a call. He will love to hear this!"
Location: Route 2 Pokémon Center
"That's amazing!" said Professor Kukui when I called him over the computer screen. "It's still a shame that those Team Skull members interrupted things though."
"They actually helped! Roto!" said Rotom. "They juzzt didn't know it. So, could you tell Hala that Elliott is ready?"
"Of course!" Professor Kukui replied. "The Grand Trial will take place in Iki Town. I'll let Lillie know as well. Congrats again!" With that, Professor Kukui signed off just as Hau entered the Pokémon Center.
"Elliot!" Hau said. "How did it go?"
I held up my Z-Crystal. "Read em and weep!" I replied.
"Amazing!" he said. "And now you get to take on Grandpa Hala! Good luck!"
"I'll start heading over to Iki Town tomorrow," I said. "I can wait for you if you want though."
Hau shook his head. "Nah, I'll catch up. Can't wait to see your battle! And wish me luck for tomorrow!"
"I will!" I said.
Rotom's Move Dex!
Alola! Zzt! A major step for Elliott today as he completed hizz first trial and got a Normalium Z! He can uzze the Normal Type Z move now! So, what better Type to look at than the Normal Type! The move we will be looking at today is…
Follow Me!
Well, this one is quite strategic. Uzzed in Double Battles, Follow Me makezz the uzzer the centre of attention meaning that all movezz go to it instead of the oppozzing Pokémon. So if you have a Normal Type and a Psychic Type and the opponent izz about to uzze a move like Shadow Ball on the Psychic Type, uzze Follow Me to draw it in and sponge the damage! But if it used a Fighting Type move inzztead to trick you, then prepare for a beating and a half!
Pokémon that can uzze Follow Me include Clefairy and (through breeding) Riolu!
Now we should keep following the story; Elliott hazz a long way to go yet!