Chapter 19:

Royal Rumble

Location: Route 6

My next stop was Royal Avenue, where Hau was waiting. It was halfway down the already pretty short Route 6 (with the other end leading back to Heahea City), so I was in no rush. Good thing to, because it wasn't long before a Youngster wanted to battle me.

"My passion burns as hot as Wela Volcano!"

Elliott Vs. Youngster Anthony

"Go Yungoos!" Anthony shouted, sending out his Normal Type.

"And I choose Torracat!" I replied.

"Use Quick Attack!" Yungoos darted forward into Torracat.

"Come back with Double Kick!" Torracat kicked Yungoos twice, knocking it out.

"Well, nice one. But I've just started erupting! Go Magby!" Out came a red Pokémon with a bobbly head and a yellow beak.

Magby (ブビィ)

#200

Fire Type

Live Coal Pokémon

2'04" (0.7 m)

47.2 lbs (21.4 kg)

Many of these Pokémon can be seen in areas with volcanic activity. Feeding can get them so excited, they exhale flames of 1,100 degrees F (593֯C).

Baby Pokémon

"Okay Slowpoke, let's give it a go!" I shouted. "Remember what we practiced? Use your tail!"

"Magby, use Feint Attack!" Magby suddenly appeared from behind Slowpoke and attacked it.

"Okay, let's give it a go!" I put my hands forward as Slowpoke put its tail forward. "With the crashing waves, it's time to use… HYDRO VORTEX!" I made a swaying movement with my hands as Slowpoke did the same thing with its tail. When Slowpoke was covered in Z-energy, it opened its mouth. Then, Slowpoke let out a large wave of water that covered both it and Magby. Slowpoke then swam up to Magby and started swimming in circles, making a whirlpool. Magby got caught in it, and then the water all homed in on it, knocking it out.

"I am now extinct…"

"Nizze one! Roto!" Rotom Dex said. "You can now uzze three Z Moves! Keep thizz up and you'll be able to uzze em all! Zzt!"

Following that, I finally reached the entrance to Royal Avenue. It looked like a fun place to be, with flowers everywhere and people vibing.

"Elliott?"

Lillie ran up from the south. "Hey!" I said. We hugged. "How's things going with the Professor?"

"Great," she said. "But he's disappeared. So his wife, Professor Burnett, said I should go check out the Battle Royale. I wasn't too keen, but I kind of figured you and Hau would be there."

"So," said another girl that was coming up from behind Lillie. She was short and black, wearing what looked like explorer's clothes. With her was a large-brown Pokémon with big hooves and black hair. I correctly assumed that it was Mudbray's evolved form.

Mudsdale (バンバドロ)

#166

Ground Type

Draft Horse Pokémon

8'02" (2.5 m)

2028.3 lbs (920 kg)

It can trudge mountain roads without rest for three days and three nights, all the while draging a 10-ton load.

Mudbray -Lv 30- Mudsdale

Suddenly, Nebby jumped out of Lillie's Bag.

"Nebby!" Lillie said.

"How izz it? Roto?" Rotom Dex asked.

"Good but naughty," Lillie replied. "Oh, that's right. I haven't introduced you to my friend, Hapu."

"Hello!" she said. "I came to Akala Island to ask Olivia for advice, and I ended up running into Lillie. She told me all about you but little about herself interestingly enough. How you beat Kahuna Hala and how you had been taking down Team Skull."

"Not for long!"

In the distance we saw a Male Team Skull Grunt coming over to us.

"Nebby," Lillie said. "Back in." Nebby was much less insisted this time; it hopped right on in.

"Well," said the Grunt. "Going to Royal Avenue, are we?"

"Whatsittoya?" I replied. "Can't you just take your waste of time somewhere else?"

"Yeah!" Hapu said. "Go back to Po Town if you want to get up to your shady shenanigans!"

"Little girl thinks she can be tough with me?" the Grunt asked.

"I'll show you if you want!" Hapu replied.

Hapu Vs. Team Skull Grunt

"Go Drowzee!" the Grunt shouted.

"Get in there boy!" Hapu told Mudsdale. "Use Highhorse Power!" Mudsdale, using both its legs, kicked at Drowzee. The impact was so great it went flying off into the Grunt, knocking it out on impact.

"Some… weight you've put on Drowzee…"

The Grunt recalled Drowzee and got up. "This ain't over yo. You two, stay out of our way." He then walked up for Lillie. "And you? We don't need to worry about you at all."

With that, the Grunt walked back south.

"Your Mudsdale is strong," I said.

"It's also my Ride Pokémon, aren't you boy?" she said, stroking its nose. "It helps me get over rocky terrain, though there isn't much of it on Akala Island. Anyway, I believe I was interrupting you. To Royal Avenue!"

Location: Royal Avenue

The streets were bustling with many balloons tied to steel fences. Children were running around munching Malasadas. There was a grocery store and a small hotel, though not as fancy as the ones in Heahea. There was a small bed of pink flowers in the centre.

"Look! Roto! Oricorio!" Rotom Dex was right; there were Oricorio in the flowers. But unlike the ones on Melemele, they were pink and looked like hula dancers.

Oricorio (オドリドリ)

#097

Psychic/Flying Type (Pom-Pom Style)

Dancing Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

7.5 lbs (3.4 kg)

This Oricorio has sipped pink nectar. It gets so caught up in its dancing that it sometimes doesn't hear its Trainer's orders.

Oricorio has no known evolutions, but changes form based on what nectar it has sipped.

"This place is bustling," Lillie said.

"And they mainly come for that!" Hapu pointed to the only building which I hadn't pointed out, which was a bit silly as it was the biggest and most eye catching. It was a large-black stadium with a logo on the front with four boxing gloves, one of different colours, clashing.

"Amazzzing! Roto!"

"That is the Battle Royal Dome!" Hapu said. "Four people battle at one to try and take down an opposing Pokémon. It's really popular in Alola."

"Hey!" Hau came running up to me. "Glad you could make it!"

"Hey!" I said. "Hapu, this is my friend Hau. He's taking on the Island Trial to."

"But for now," Hau said. "Big news! They're taking sign ups for the Battle Royale! We have an hour to sign up!"

"Maybe he doesn't want to," Lillie said.

"Are you kidding?" I replied. "I can't turn this opportunity down!"

"Then we'll watch!" Hapu said.

"I… don't want to…" Lillie replied.

"Lillie doezzn't like battling. Roto," Rotom Dex explained. "She will support uzz, but we underzztand the need to sit out."

"You'll be alright on your own?" Hapu asked.

"Yeah!" she said. "And Elliott? Hau? Good luck!"

Location: Battle Royale Dome

Me and Hau walked into the entrance to the dome where people were mingling.

"People come from all over," Hau said. "Not just to participate, but to watch! That's the benefit of having region-exclusive hobbies. Alola isn't the most popular tourist destination in the world for nothing. Anyway, who will you be using?"

"Torracat of course!" I said.

"And I'll be using Dartrix!" Hau replied.

"Ah hah!" shouted a familiar voice. "Alola! Some new recruits?"

The two of us looked up to see a buff man wearing a wrestlers mask.

"AAAAHHH!" all the ladies screamed. "IT'S THE MASKED ROYAL!"

"Who?" I asked.

"He's a regular to this establishment!" Hau replied.

The Masked Royal jumped down. There was something… familiar about him. First the voice, but something about his appearance. "So, what is your name Elli- I mean young man?"

"Elliott," I replied. "And yes, me and my friend Hau would like to participate."

"Great idea!" the Masked Royal said. "But we need one more recruit." The Masked Royal looked around and saw our latest rival.

"Hey! It's Gladion!" I said.

Gladion put up his hoodie, a bit embarrassed. "Oh come on!" said the Mask Royal. "You're participating to, aren't you?"

"Why should I?" Gladion asked.

"Becauzze it'zz fun! Roto! Come on!

"Please!" I said. "People will be watching. My friend Hapu is in the audience and Lillie is cheering me on whilst not watching!"

That caught Gladion's attention. "Huh? What was that?"

"He said his friends will be cheering him on!" Hau said. "What do ya say?"

Gladion gave Hau a slightly mean stare. "I wasn't asking you, but fine I'll join. If it will get you off my back."

"Then it's settled!" said the Masked Royal. "Let's begin!"

Location: Battle Royale Ring

"Welcome everyone!" said the announcer as I stood in the entrance. My entrance was shaped like a Charizard and was the red corner. The Masked Royale was on the blue corner, shaped like a Gyarados. Hau had yellow, shaped like a Pokémon called Haxorus and Gladion was in the green Tyranitar corner. "Welcome to another grand duel at the Battle Royal Dome! Now, let's go over the rules! Each Trainer uses one Pokémon and the one to knock out the most Pokémon is the winner! So without further ado, let's bring them on!"

The four of us walked on to each corner of the ring. "Hey!" I told Gladion. "Best of luck!"

"I don't need it from you," he said.

"Okay Trainers! Choose your Pokémon!"

We all led with our Pokémon. I led with Torracat, Hau with Dartrix, Gladion with Type: Null and the Masked Royal with Rockruff.

"Hey!" I told the Masked Royal. "My friend Professor Kukui has a Rockruff to!"

"O-oh!" he said. "Amazing! Well, he might just be watching as we speak!"

"Let's start!" said the announcer.

"Okay Torracat, use Fire Fang on Dartrix!" Torracat bit down on Dartrix with its flaming fangs.

"Rockruff, use Rock Tomb!" Rockruff caved in a bunch of rocks to Dartrix, almost finishing it.

"Type: Null! Aerial Ace!" Type: Null dashed into Dartrix. The Super Effective attack hit Dartrix, giving Gladion a point.

"No!" Hau said, recalling Dartrix. "Well, good luck to the rest of ya!"

"Okay Torracat, use Double Kick on Rockruff!" Torracat kicked Rockruff twice, dealing a lot of damage.

"Rockruff, Rock Tomb!" Rockruff made a bunch more rocks cave in, doing lots to Torracat.

"Now Type: Null, Aerial Ace again!" Type: Null dashed into Torracat this time.

"Use Double Kick!" Torracat kicked Rockruff twice, knocking it out.

"Finish with Pursuit!" Type: Null rammed into Torracat, knocking it out.

"And with that, we have our rankings!

4. Hau

3. The Masked Royale

2. Elliott

And our winner… Gladion!

Thank you everyone for taking part! See you again soon!"

Location: Battle Royale Dome

"Shame," I told Hau. "But it was all part of the experience! Maybe I'll do it again!"

"You bet!" Hau said. "Hey look, Gladion!"

Gladion looked at us. "Leave me alone. I didn't want to participate in the first place." He started walking off, but before he reached the entrance, he stopped. "Who were those friends you mentioned earlier?"

I was about to bring up Lillie again but remembering the safety of Nebby and Gladion's relation with Team Skull, I had to think of something else. "Oh, Lucas. You know, Champion of Sinnoh? Yeah, he's a friend of a friend of a cousin's sister-in-law, I suppose."

Gladion looked back at me. "You are a terrible liar. I have my eye on you."

With that, he walked off.

"Well well!" said the Masked Royale. "Great battling all of you! It's nice to try something different!"

"Yeah," I replied. "There is something about Gladion that makes me think he's… suspicious of me."

"No prizes for being right there," Hau said. "He has some sort of connection to Team Skull, but I'm conflicted in what it could be. Don't let him get to ya though!"

"He'zz right! Roto! And hey, second plazze is nothing to sneezze at! Zzt! Now, what do you say we get some rezzt? We have a trek up a volcano tomorrow! Roto!"

"Sounds great!" I replied.

Rotom's Move Dex!

Roto! Exciting day, wazzn't it? Elliott may have come second, but he winzz first plazze in spirit! Roto! We alzzo saw a Rockruff battle it out, so in honour, it'zz time for a Rock Type move!

Rock Polish!

Rock Types are quite defenzzive and strong, but the caveat for many izz that Rock Typezz tend be quite slow. Not alwayzz, but it'zz not uncommon. Zzt. Rock Polish can sharply raizze a Rock Type'zz Speed, meaning that thizz thing will be tumbling around all over the plazze if you play your cardzz right! Roto!

Rock Polish is a TM, so many non Rock Typezz can uzze it thizz way. Examplezz include Garbodor, Muk and Palossand! Zzt!

Shame I can't uzze it; sometimezz I need a bit of a polish! Roto!