Chapter 20:

Is this Lava?

Location: Route 7

Ahead of me lay Wela Volcano, the Dividing Peak Tunnel and a small beach. I had a plan set for today; train on the beach in the morning and ascent Wela Volcano in the afternoon.

"Okay Lapras, let's do this!" I shouted, holding up my Ride Pager next to the sea surface. Lapras came out and I hopped on. I skimmed across the water and found something bubbling.

"Roto! That muzzt be a Fishing Spot! Something rare muzzt be in there! Zzt!"

I went over to the bubbling area and casted my line. I waited patiently… and got a bite! Excitedly, I yanked the rod up. The Pokémon I got was yellow and shaped like a star. It had a round-red gem in its centre.

Staryu (ヒトデマン)

#223

Water Type

Star Shape Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

76.1 lbs (34.5 kg)

In many places, there are folktales of stardust falling into the ocean and becoming Staryu.

"Slowpoke, go!" I shouted. Staryu started by shooting stars at Slowpoke.

"Zzt! It'zz uzzing Swift!"

Slowpoke started swimming towards Staryu and hit it with its head. "I think Slowpoke just used Headbutt!" I shouted. "Nice one!"

Staryu was weakened quite a bit, then started calling out. "Uh oh, Roto," Rotom Dex said.

Suddenly, from out the ocean, burst a Pokémon that looked like Staryu. However, it was purple, had multiple sides to it and a much prettier gem.

Starmie (スターミー)

#224

Water/Psychic Type

Mysterious Pokémon

3'07" (1.1 m)

176.4 lbs (80 kg)

Its shining core is thought to receive and transmit enigmatic signals. It had been known to cause headaches in those who approach it.

Staryu -Water Stone- Starmie

The next turn, both Pokémon fired another Swift at Slowpoke. It was almost down. "Use Headbutt!" I shouted. Slowpoke attacked Staryu with another Headbutt, knocking it out. "I think that's enough." I recalled Slowpoke. "Go Munchlax!" Out came the Normal Type. Starmie used Water Gun this time, but it missed. "Okay Munchlax, Metronome!" Munchlax waggled its fingers.

"Be careful, Roto…"

The move was… Megahorn! Munchlax grew a horn and rammed it into Starmie, knocking it out at once.

With that out the way, I continued to skim the water. Of course, I wasn't the only one having a day out. There were a few swimmers, and one came up to me.

"Come on it! The water is lovely!" she said.

Elliott Vs. Swimmer Dakota

"Go Surskit!" Dakota shouted. Out came a Bug and Water Type.

Surskit (アメタマ)

#139

Bug/Water Type

Pond Skater Pokémon

1'08" (0.5 m)

3.7 lbs (1.7 kg)

It moves as if skating on the surface of the water. If often fights with Dewpider over food.

"I'm using Trumbeak!" I replied. "Use Pluck!" Trumbeak stabbed Surskit with its beak. It was finished in an instant.

"Okay, that was strong. Go Dewpider!" Another Bug and Water Type. This would be easy.

"Trumbeak, Pluck!" Trumbeak stabbed at Dewpider hard, but it didn't quite knock it out.

"Use Bubble Beam!" Dewpider fired some bubbles at Trumbeak. It was fine.

"Use Pluck again!" Trumbeak attacked Dewpider once more, knocking it out.

"Okay, you can stay dry if you want."

Following that, I went onto a small island. It was just a few rocks with sand and a small section of steam coming out of a hole, obviously from the volcano.

"We've come a long way, Roto," Rotom Dex said.

"Yeah," I replied. "But still, what is up with Gladion?"

"Maybe you shouldn't let him get to you. Zzt. He'zz a teenager after all."

I smiled. "I guess you're right, but still. There is something about him. It's just a thought, but… I think he might know Lillie. I mentioned her yesterday, and that got him to try out the Battle Royale."

"Maybe you're being a bit too obzzervant. Roto. How many people are called Lillie? She'zz not the only one. Zzt. Like you're not the only Elliott."

"I suppose. It was… just a hunch. Because I think… Lillie might be in danger. Not from Gladion per say."

Just then, I saw a Diglett! Except this one was browner than the already brown Diglett from Kanto and it had three small tufts of yellow hair on its head.

Diglett (Alolan Form) (ヂィグダ)

#085

Ground/Steel Type

Mole Pokémon

0'08" (0.2 m)

2.2 lbs (1 kg)

The need to dig through volcanic rock in the ground has made them more powerful than the Diglett of other regions.

Diglett noticed me and ducked its head back underground.

"Well, it's certainly better at hiding than Nebby!" I said.

"Zzt. Something is on your mind about her," Rotom Dex said. "What danger izz she in? Roto."

"I'll… tell you when the time is right," I said. "But I wouldn't be surprised if Nebby is a large link to it."

As we reached the other end of the small island, we found another Swimmer.

"Good to rest your legs after doing breaststroke. Let's have a battle break!"

Elliott Vs. Swimmer Venessa

"Go Shellder!" Venessa shouted.

"And I'm using Munchlax!" I replied.

"Shellder, Withdraw!" Shellder went inside its shell and its Defense rose.

"Chip Away!" Munchlax started hitting Shellder. Chip Away of course ignores Defensive boosts, so this would be my clear strategy.

"Now use Icicle Spear!" Shellder fired some icicles at Munchlax.

"Come back with Chip Away again!" Munchlax hit Shellder once more. This was a Critical Hit.

"And now Water Gun!" Shellder then fired a jet of water at Munchlax.

"One last Chip Away!" Munchlax hit Shellder one last time, knocking it out.

"In that case, my next Pokémon will be Corsola!" Out came a small-pink Pokémon that was round with large-branches all over it.

Corsola (サニーゴ)

#135

Water/Rock Type

Coral Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

11 lbs (5 kg)

In Alola, where their natural enemies Mareanie are plentiful, many Corsola have stubby branches on their heads.

Corsola has no known evolutions.

"Thanks Munchlax. Go Makuhita!" I shouted.

"Use Bubble Beam!" Corsola fired a stream of bubbles at Makuhita. In retaliation, Makuhita went over to Corsola and threw it hard.

"That'zz Vital Throw! Roto! The user movezz lazzt but it never missezz! Zzt zzt!"

"Nice one!" I told Makuhita.

"Corsola, Recover!" Corsola suddenly healed all of its HP. "Yeah, try it now!"

Makuhita looked back at me. "Oh, we'll try." We put both our arms in front. Z-energy surrounded us. "Recover won't help you now!" We started punching. "ALL! OUT! PUMMELING!" Makuhita punched Corsola multiple times. It fainted.

Following that, I decided that it was time to head back onto dry dry land. So I hopped on Lapras and we started riding the waves again. Of course, it wasn't going to be as simple as get back there in one piece, because another Swimmer spotted us.

"Taking the long way back aye?"

Elliott Vs. Swimmer Casey

"Okay Slowpoke, go!" I shouted.

"You're up Mareanie!" Casey replied. "Mareanie, Bite!" Mareanie came forward and bit down on Slowpoke for Super Effective damage.

"Disable!" Slowpoke glared at Mareanie, disabling Bite.

"Oh great. Okay Mareanie, Peck!" Mareanie pricked Slowpoke with one of its spiky weaves.

"Confusion!" Slowpoke sent a small blast to Mareanie's mind. It was a Critical Hit that took it down.

"Okay, I think you've had enough water for today." It was time to head for the next trial.

Location: Wela Volcano Park

Above me, I saw the smoking peak of Wela Volcano. The rocks around me were blacker than Zekrom itself and steam was spouting out of different areas.

"Zzt. I wonder what Pokémon we will find here? Roto!"

I walked through some tall grass and had my first encounter. It was a Cubone.

Cubone (カラカラ)

#197

Ground Type

Lonely Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

14.3 lbs (6.5 kg)

The skull it wears on its head is that of its dead mother. According to some, it will evolve when it comes to terms with the pain of her death.

"Okay Slowpoke, go!" I shouted. Cubone started with Bone Club, whacking Slowpoke in the face with the bone it was carrying. "Use Water Gun!" Slowpoke spat some water at Cubone, almost knocking it out. Cubone then started crying for help… nothing came! Cubone used Headbutt, and Slowpoke sealed the deal with a final Water Gun.

My trek up the mountain continued. Steam holes became more frequent the higher I got. I put my hand over one; bit of a mistake as I burned it.

Soon, I came across a Trainer.

"You think this mountain is cool? You should check out the mountain from my region!"

Elliott Vs. Sightseer Mariah

"Go Meowth!" Mariah shouted, sending out a Meowth of the Kantonian variety.

"Go Torracat!" I responded.

"Meowth, Fury Swipes!" Meowth scratched at Torracat a few times. Torracat had had enough; it chomped down on Meowth's tail.

"Roto! Torracat learned Bite!"

"Great job!" I said. "Now give it a dose of your Double Kick!" Torracat kicked Meowth twice, knocking it out.

"It's called Cinnabar Volcano. Its eruption destroyed an entire town!"

Before I went through the tunnel that would take me to the summit. I wanted to go through the grass once more, just to see what there was. And lucky me; it was one that I had never seen before! It was black with menacing-blue eyes and an orange streak going down its tail.

Salandit (ヤトウモリ)

#195

Poison/Fire Type

Toxic Lizard Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

10.6 lbs (4.8 kg)

Volcanoes or dry, craggy places are its home. It emanates a sweet-smelling poisonous gas that attracts bug Pokémon, then attacks them.

"Okay Slowpoke, go!" I shouted. Salandit started with Dragon Rage, breathing blue energy at Slowpoke. "Come back with Confusion!" Slowpoke made Salandit a bit dizzy, knocking it out in one.

After that, I made it to the start of the trial sight on the summit through a cave. Someone was there to heal my Pokémon, and I decided to settle down for the night. The sun was starting to set, and I could see the whole island. I could even see Melemele Island in the distance.

Tomorrow, it's trial time.

Rotom's Move Dex!

Zzt. Big day today; Torracat learned Bite! It'zz a Dark Type move that should really help in the long run! Roto! So, today'zz move will be Dark Type.

Punishment! Zzt zzt.

It'zz not uncommon for Trainerzz to have stat raizzing moves on them. Bulk Up, Quiver Dance, Agility, the examplezz of movezz that raizze statzz are endlezz. But what if you want to uzze thozze stat boozztzz to your advantage? Well Punishment izz the move for you! Roto! The more the oppozzing Pokémon has raizzed itzz statzz, the more damage it doezz! That'll teach them! Roto!

Pokémon that can uzze Punishment include Primeape, Weavile and Tsareena.

I tell you the alternative name for thizz move. No videogamezz for a week! Roto! Get it? Becauzze… Punishment?

"Rotom if you are going to continue these stupid jokes then YOUR punishment will be Professor Kukui coming back in."

Sorry! Roto!