Chapter 6: Jake's Island Challenge Pt 1
Jake smiled as Lucario ran to the field, where Lucario was ready for his order. "Lucario, prepare to use Bullet Punch!" he said.
"Oh?" Hala had a shine in his eyes. "Crabominable, use Power-Up Punch!"
Both of Crabominable's claws became surrounded in a golden aura while Lucario's fists glowed with a light blue aura before both Pokémon punched each other until Lucario was hit in the guts by Crabominable's claw.
"Looks like my Crabominable won that matchup," Hala commented.
Jake exhaled a breath. Take it easy, Jake. Once you're calmed down, you'll eventually win in the end. That's what your mentor has taught you.
"Rgh," said Lucario as he turned to his Trainer.
"No worries, Lucario," Jake smiled at his partner. "Let's go for another attack. Use Aura Sphere!"
Lucario nodded and had his hands together before a blue ball of energy was made between them. He fired the Aura Sphere at Crabominable, who immediately crushed it with its claws, surprising Lucario and Jake.
"How?" Jake asked in his surprise.
"Don't you get it?" Hala smirked. "Crabominable's claws can crush anything that comes at it. When you were done charging your Aura Sphere, I had Crabominable to immediately counter it."
Jake looked at him in admiration. He's good. He's not a Kahuna for nothing. "Lucario, use Double Team!"
Lucario nodded and made copies of himself that surrounded Crabominable, with Hala watching in interest.
"Use Aura Sphere!" Jake commanded.
As before, Lucario had his hands together before firing a blue ball of energy at Crabominable with his multiple copies from Double Team.
"Power-Up Punch!" Hala ordered.
Crabominable's claws became surrounded in golden aura before it punched every last copy of Lucario, but no sign of the real Lucario anywhere. This made Hala surprised before he looked up to find Lucario in the air before he fired the Aura Sphere at Crabominable, who took great damage, due to its Ice typing.
"Not bad," Hala commented to Jake. "The way you had Lucario jump in the air while using Double Team was quite impressive. Wouldn't you say, Kukui?"
"Indeed," Kukui nodded in agreement. "It was as hot as a Flamethrower attack."
Jake sweat dropped at Kukui's comment.
"Now it is my turn," said Hala seriously. "Crabominable, use Ice Hammer!"
A large, icy blue arm came from Crabominable.
"Lucario, switch out!" Jake ordered quickly.
Lucario ran to his side before the Ice Hammer had hit him, surprising Hala.
"You were good out there, take a break for now," Jake said to Lucario, who nodded. Jake turned to Hala and Crabominable. "Looks like I'll need to use this Pokémon. I choose you!" He sent out his newly caught Trumbeak, his Alolan flying type Pokémon.
"Oh, so now it's a Trumbeak?" Hala asked with a smile on his face. "Come on, then! Let's get this show on the road!"
Crabominable agreed with its Trainer.
Let's see…how would Daniel react in this situation against an Ice type that's part Fighting? Jake thought carefully as he looked at Crabominable. All I need to do is deal enough damage before switching out with Lucario again. "Trumbeak, use Feather Dance!"
"Trum," Trumbeak nodded.
Trumbeak flapped its wings in front of it before releasing a shroud of white feathers, and Crabominable's energy lowered for a moment.
"Using Feather Dance wouldn't make a difference," said Hala to him. "Crabominable, use Power-Up Punch!"
Crabominable's claws became surrounded in golden aura before it tried to punch Trumbeak.
"Fly up!" Jake ordered.
Trumbeak flew up after spreading its wings, dodging its foe's attack.
"Use Pluck!" Jake commanded.
Trumbeak's beak glowed white before it began to continuously hit Crabominable all over its body, annoying the Crabominable greatly.
"Easy, Crabominable," said Hala. "Now's not the time to lose your cool."
Crabominable nodded before Trumbeak was switched out with Lucario, surprising them.
"Switching out by tiring out his opponent, not a bad strategy," Kukui whispered in his comment on Jake's battling style.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere!" Jake ordered.
Lucario had his hands together and created a blue ball of energy in between them before firing it at Crabominable, who was hurt badly by the attack and fell down from its weighted body.
"Bullet Punch!" Jake added.
Lucario's fists glowed a light blue color before continuously punching Crabominable on its belly before it finally went down, fainted.
"Crabominable is unable to battle, Lucario wins!" Kukui announced.
Hala returned his Crabominable to its Poké Ball. Then he laughed aloud.
Jake and Lucario stared at him in confusion.
"It's been a while since I had lost a Pokémon by an Island Challenger," Hala said. "I cannot count the amount of wins I had with Crabominable while battling other Trainers who were just starting their journey in Alola. I'd congratulate you, but the battle's not over yet. Hariyama, go!"
His Hariyama came out from its Poké Ball.
"Be ready, Jake," Hala said. "My Hariyama is quite strong as well, like Crabominable. Bet you can't deal enough damage on it before I can to your Pokémon."
"I shall take that bet," Jake smiled. "I'm always up for a challenge."
"Rgh," Lucario agreed.
"Oh, really?" Hala smirked. "Then let's continue. Hariyama, use Fake Out!"
"Aura Sphere!" Jake ordered.
But Hariyama was quicker, with its hands glowing orange before clapping them together, where a large shockwave came out of them.
Jake smirked.
Lucario continued his attack, surprising Hala. Lucario fired his blue ball of energy at Hariyama, hurting it.
"How?" Hala asked.
"Haven't you heard of Lucario's ability, Inner Focus?" Jake questioned.
"Inner Focus, does that mean…Fake Out has no effect?"
"Exactly!" Jake smiled, laughing at Hala's expression. "Lucario, use Extreme Speed!"
Lucario nodded before running faster than the nick of the eye around the battlefield. He hit Hariyama once, then twice, before three times.
"Hariyama, use Knock Off!" Hala ordered.
Hariyama slammed its hand at Lucario, damaging him greatly before Lucario staggered backwards in pain.
"Don't worry, Lucario, switch out!" Jake said, with Lucario running back to him. "Trumbeak, I choose you!"
Trumbeak came out again with a battle cry.
"Use Pluck!" Jake ordered, with Trumbeak's beak glowing white before it started attacking Hariyama continuously.
"Knock Off!" Hala commanded.
Hariyama slammed its hand at Trumbeak while it was still close, with Trumbeak crying out in pain.
"Stay strong, Trumbeak!" Jake said, then realized something on his wrist. That's it!
"Arm Thrust!" Hala ordered his Hariyama.
Hariyama's hands glowed light yellow as it repeatedly hit Trumbeak, who cried out painfully by the continuous attack.
"Trumbeak, return!" Jake said, recalling it back to its Poké Ball. "Lucario, go!"
"Rgh," Lucario nodded and ran to the battlefield.
"And now we shall show you our special move," said Jake with a smile, showing his Z-Ring on his wrist.
"Oh?" Hala looked at him with interested eyes. "Then, it is a Z-Move showdown!" He showed his own Z-Ring on his wrist before pressing on his Fightinium Z.
Jake pressed on his Steelium Z-Crystal he had received from Tapu Koko. "By the power within us…"
"We shall not…" Hala continued while doing the pose.
"...lose to you," Jake said. "Corkscrew Crash!"
Lucario had the same pose as his Trainer before he jumped into the air while spinning rapidly until he turned into a yellow drill.
Hariyama repeatedly struck the air with its palms, which sent out orange, hand-shaped energy.
The two Z-Moves clashed, creating a smoking explosion once they hit each other. Both Jake and Hala almost lost their footing, but withstood the pressure.
Once the smoke cleared, only Lucario stood on his feet while Hariyama had fainted on the ground.
Kukui smiled, raising a hand. "Hariyama is unable to battle…and the winner is Jake Kidoya!" he announced.
Jake blinked before cheering in happiness. "We did it, Lucario! We won!"
"Rgh!" Lucario smiled happily to his Trainer and ran up to Jake before the human hugged him with warmness.
Hala returned his Hariyama to its Poké Ball. Kukui had come over to him. "So, what do you think of the boy?" the professor asked.
"He seems promising, like another certain individual I had a battle with," Hala replied.
Kukui nodded in agreement.
Hala walked over to Jake. "Jake, as proof of your victory over me, I present you with this Fightinium Z." He showed him the Z-Crystal. "Take it with pride and show your full force in utilizing its Z-Move."
"Wow, thank you so much, Kahuna Hala," said Jake gratefully before accepting the Z-Crystal. "Look, Lucario. Our second Z-Crystal."
Lucario was pleased with his Trainer and nodded in acknowledgement.
"And now that you've gotten your Z-Crystal, I think it's about time we head out to Akala Island, yeah?" Kukui asked with a smile.
"Yes, but first, I would like to catch a new Pokémon," said Jake.
"I understand," Kukui nodded. "It is important to have a full team on you on your journey."
Jake was about to walk away, but stopped, turning to them and asked: "Where can I catch some Pokémon?"
Lucario facepalmed at the question, which Jake looked at him in confusion.
"You can find some in the forest nearby," Kukui replied.
"Great!" Jake smiled gratefully. "Thanks. I'll go there right away!"
He began running to the forest, with Lucario right behind him.
Later…
Jake was in the forest near Iki Town, with Lucario beside him as they walked through the woods and searched for a new Pokémon they could capture. Jake had already caught two Pokémon aside from his Lucario, but he thought it would be nice to have a full team of six while in Alola.
Besides, if Daniel already caught five Pokémon since I last met him, why shouldn't I be able to do it as well? Jake always thought of Daniel as someone he would inspire to become once his Island Challenge is over. With his training to become a better Trainer than his mentor, then he would be able to win over him in a battle. Who wouldn't want that to happen?
"See anything, buddy?" Jake asked Lucario, who shook his head. Jake looked in dismay. "Oh well. We'd better look somewhere else."
Lucario nodded in agreement when something caught his eyes. He took a defensive stance, when the rustling bushes were heard nearby.
"What is it?" Jake wondered.
Lucario pointed with his one paw to the rustling bushes. Then a Litten came out from the bush and stared intently at the two with inquisitive eyes.
"All right! I've heard about Litten, it says that Litten can be quite protective of its Trainer once it gets to know them," Jake realized when he looked Litten up on his Rotom Phone. "It'll be our next catch. Lucario, since Litten is a Fire type, you'll have the disadvantage. Let's have Trumbeak deal with it."
Lucario nodded understandingly and took a step back when Jake took Trumbeak's Poké Ball and unclipped it from his belt.
"Trumbeak, I choose you!" Jake sent Trumbeak out into the air, with it releasing a battle cry.
Litten took a defensive stance and growled at Trumbeak, its challenger.
"Use Feather Dance!" Jake ordered.
Trumbeak's wings glowed white as feathers came from them, causing Litten's attack point to be lowered for a moment.
Litten began firing sparks of reddish orange embers at Trumbeak.
"It's Ember. Dodge it, Trumbeak!" commanded Jake.
Trumbeak avoided the attack from Litten.
Litten growled in irritation at the dodge, then it used a move which made its spines to show up on its back before it was surrounded by reddish orange flames around its body.
"It's charging up a Flame Charge," Jake noted. "Use Feather Dance again!"
Wings glowing white, Trumbeak lowered Litten's attack point again when Litten charged at it with full force, but its damage was halved on Trumbeak, who recovered quickly afterward. Litten panted, at the point of being tired.
"Poké Ball, go!" Jake threw his Poké Ball that was empty at Litten, who became sucked in by the red beam and it softly landed on the ground, shaking up to three times before it signaled Litten's capture. Jake cheered as Lucario retrieved the Poké Ball. "I just caught…a Litten!"
"Rgh!" Lucario cheered.
"Trum!" Trumbeak cheered as well.
Then they heard clapping, as Jake looked at the professor, who had arrived at the area.
"Not bad, Jake. I'd say that performance was as great as a Dragon Dance," Kukui said, approaching Jake. "The way you used your moves to lower Litten's attack and tiring it out before throwing your Poké Ball, I'd say that is worth a full force Thunderbolt."
Jake stared at him, confused. "I'm not sure what you mean by that, but thank you nonetheless, professor. It's my fourth Pokémon now. I almost have a full team for the World Battle Tournament."
"World Battle Tournament?" Kukui asked, his expression turning into wonder.
"Right! It's a championship which takes each team from all nine regions into a tournament which proves the winning team the title of World Champions. It's my dream to become involved in the tournament with my mentor, Daniel Platinum."
Kukui smiled. "I'd say that you will be making a fine team indeed, Jake. The way you battle, it reminds me a little of Ash. But don't get too overconfident in your abilities, Jake; there will be times when your opponent will make a comeback and get revenge from your attacks."
"I understand," Jake nodded understandingly.
"Still, that newly captured Litten is a bit exhausted, why don't we get it to a Pokémon Center?" Kukui suggested.
"Okay," Jake agreed.
Once they arrived at the Pokémon Center near the Pokémon School, Nurse Joy healed Lucario, Trumbeak and Jake's newly caught Litten to full health.
"Who's your fourth Pokémon?" Kukui asked.
"Oh," Jake realized he hadn't let him see it. "Sprigatito, come on out!"
Sprigatito came out from its Poké Ball. Kukui smiled happily and knelt down to meet the Grass type.
"So, you're Sprigatito, it is very nice to meet you," Kukui said.
"Meow," Sprigatito nodded in acknowledgement to him.
"Where is this one from?"
"It is from the Paldea region," Jake answered.
"Paldea?" Kukui repeated. "That sounds like a long way from home if you caught it in Kanto."
"It sure is," Jake said. "I was the first to catch it before Daniel did. It is one of my good friends."
"Meow," Sprigatito rubbed its head on Jake's leg in affection.
Kukui smiled. "You two are pretty close," he noted.
"Yes, even if I only caught it a few weeks ago," Jake said.
"So, you up for the next island of your Island Challenge?"
"You bet, Professor!" Jake gave him a huge smile and a thumbs up.
"Then, let me just prepare the boat," Kukui said before leaving the Pokémon Center.
Jake walked out, with Lucario and Sprigatito close by him. He looked up in the blue, cloudless sky as he thought of his mentor, Watch me win the Island Challenge, Daniel. I will clear all trials before I return.
Author's Note: The first of a six-parter of the story has arrived. I hope you enjoyed the first part, readers. Let me know what you thought of the first part of Jake's Island Challenge story arc by commenting. I'd love to hear your thoughts!