Chapter 26:

Wonders of the Wormhole

Location: Heahea City

"I hope you understand," said Professor Kukui. "This person you are going to meet is constantly working, so I hope you don't mind killing time until this afternoon."

"No prob!" I said. "I'd say we could do some training, but we've been at it for a few days. Let's take a break."

"And I know just how you could spend it." Professor Kukui pointed to a billboard. Me and Hau went over to it.

"Pyukumuku cleaners wanted," Hau said. "Paying at the Hano Grand Resort."

"Good idea! Roto!"

Me and Hau looked at each other. "Let's do it," I said.

When we got to the Hano Grand Resort, we were greeted with a Pokémon that looked like a necklace of flowers. The face was a green orb.

Comfey (キュワワー)

#210

Fairy Type

Posy Picker Pokémon

0'04" (0.1 m)

0.7 lbs (0.3 kg)

Baths prepared with the flowers from its vine have a relaxing effect, so this Pokémon is a hit with many people.

Comfey has no known evolutions.

They went round our necks.

"Alola!" shouted some of the hotel staff. "What can we do for you toady?"

I looked at Hau with slight uncertainty. But they seemed friendly. "We're… cleaning up Pyukumuku," I said.

All the staff gave a disappointed sigh. "Awww… the beach is through there."

We were pointed in the direction of the beach.

"What'zz up with them? Roto?"

"It's not cheap to stay here," Hau said. "So, they treat every guest with the upmost comfort to ensure their five star rating which they constantly struggle to hold. With prices this high, guests need to get their moneys worth."

Me and Hau went to the beach where we saw people laying down, sunbathing. The sea was blue, the sand was white and dotted all over were black Pokémon with black spikes protruding from their backs.

Pyukumuku (ナマコブシ)

#256

Water Type

Sea Cucumber Pokémon

1'00" (0.3 m)

2.6 lbs (1.2 kg)

The tradition known as Pyukumuku chucking started from the custom of throwing Pyukumuku back into the sea after they was onshore.

Pyukumuku has no known evolutions.

"Okay," said another member of staff. He was older than the rest, and certainly grumpier. "Your job is to throw all the Pyukumuku back into the sea."

"That's a bit mean," I said.

"Tourists hate them though. They find it ruins the sand and they are slimy to touch, so get throwing so I can get paying." He grumpily stomped off after that.

"Well," I said. "Might as well get to it." I put my hand on one of the Pyukumuku. Frustrated, it punched me in the nose with a white fist coming from its mouth. "Oof! What's the deal Pyukumuku?"

"Thizz won't be eazzy, Roto…"

"Yeah it will!" said Hau. "Because we've got our Pokémon with us!"

"Hey you're right!" I said, sending out everyone. Torracat, Trumbeak, Munchlax, Misdreavus, Hariyama and Slowpoke.

"And me to!" Hau sent out Dartrix, Crabrawler, Pikachu, Eevee and his newest Pokémon, Tauros.

"Wow!" I said. "You caught yourself a new one!"

"And you never told me Makuhita evolved!" Hau replied. "Okay, enough dilly dally! Let's get to work!"

Immediately, Hariyama picked up one of the Pyukumuku, then immediately threw it as far as it could. "Be nice!" I shouted. "This isn't a competition!"

Everyone did their jobs though. Trumbeak and Dartrix picked them up and flew them to a good distance. And Slowpoke? Just loafed about with its tail in the water.

"Hey," Hau said. "I think we have a situation." Hau pointed to one of the Pyukumuku buried in sand.

"Oh no," I said.

We all ran over. Pyukumuku was slowly sinking. "We need to get it out," Hau said.

"Hariyama," I said. Hariyama walked over and slowly but surely, pulled the Pyukumuku out. "Nice!" I said, before Hariyama threw it out to the ocean. "What did I just tell you."

"Hey, Roto. I think that sand izz sentient. Zzt zzt."

We looked to see the sand pit start to look a bit funny. A small shovel revealed itself and then the mount grew a mouth and eyes.

Sandygast (スナバァ)

#225

Ghost/Ground Type

Sand Heap Pokémon

1'08" (0.5 m)

154.3 lbs (70 kg)

It takes control of anyone who puts a hand in its mouth. And so it adds to the accumulation of its sound-mound body.

"Go Slowpoke!" I shouted, who had just caught up with us. It was time for it to play a part. "Use Water Gun!" Slowpoke spat water at Sandygast. However, upon getting hit, Sandygast's Defense rose. "But how?!" I shouted.

"Zzt. It'zz called Water Compaction. Roto. It raisezz Sandygast'zz Defense when it'zz hit by a Water Type attack!"

Sandygast came back with Mega Drain, sapping some health from Slowpoke. "This isn't good. Come back!" I recalled Slowpoke. "Misdreavus, go!" Out came my Ghost Type. Sandygast used Bulldoze, but Misdreavus took no damage due to Levitate. "Now use Hex!" Misdreavus started at Sandygast weirdly, doing Super Effective damage to it. Sandygast then used Mega Drain, but it missed. "Now Confuse Ray!" Misdreavus sent a weird ray over towards Sandygast, confusing it. Sandygast hurt itself the next turn. "And now Hex!" This Hex was a Critical Hit, knocking it out.

"Well that was close," said Hau. "But that also looks like all the Pyukumuku!"

"Indeed it is!" The Grumpy Man from earlier came over. "Yep, this looks good. Here, worth your while." We got 1,000P!

"Thanks!" Me and Hau both said.

"No problem. Also, Professor Kukui told me that the guest will be ready in an hour. Meet her at the Dimensional Research Lab."

"In that case," Hau said. "What do you say we used our hard-earned cash on some Malasadas?"

"Sounds great!" I replied.

After an hour passed, we found the Research Lab. It was a brown building with a flat roof.

"Here we are," Hau said. "Let's see who we're meeting!"

"Hold up!" It was Lillie!

"Oh, hey!" I said.

"I want to come to," Lillie replied. "Professor Kukui will be there to."

"The more the merrier, Roto! Well, azz long azz it'zz not thozze Team Skull crookzz or the Passimian from yezzterday. Zzt zzt."

Location: Dimension Research Lab

Inside were many Scientists reading through papers and typing on computers. The books on the walls were talking about different subjects, though they were all loosely connected. Some of them included…

"The Dream World: A Dimension in the Dreams?" By Dr. Fennel.

"An Unown World." By the Johto Institute of Archaeology.

"The Distortion World: Where Time and Space do not exist." By Champion Cynthia.

"Branching Timelines and the Potential Threat." By Professor Burnet Kukui.

"What are they studying?" I asked… no one in particular. I was hoping someone would have the answer.

"Alternate Dimensions." Professor Kukui arrived with a woman wearing a grey tank top and black leggings.

"Alola!" We all said.

"Alola to you," said the Professor. "I would like you to meet my wife, Professor Burnet!"

"Alola!" she said. "I've heard so much about all of you. Come upstairs, I would like to talk about things."

A floor upwards was where the real stuff was researched. Many experiments were being conducted and I'm not even going to go into any of it. Partially because of confidentiality but also because I understood none of it.

"As my husband said," Professor Burnet exclaimed. "I study alternate dimensions. But my main topic of interest is this!" Professor Burnet opened the book she wrote to show a photograph of something white. It looked like a hole in the sky made of a net.

"What is that?" I asked.

"An Ultra Wormhole," Lillie replied. We all looked at her.

"Correct!" Professor Burnet said.

Lillie continued talking. "They are unstable portals connecting our world to another called… Ultra Space. This is another dimension. Little is known how to open an Ultra Wormhole, but they have been known to open randomly on very rare occasions. It is believed that strange Pokémon may also reside in them, the name given being called… Ultra Beasts."

Professor Burnet clapped. "Well that's my entire 300 page book summarized in a couple of sentences! How do you know this much Lillie?"

Lillie looked around. "I… read your- where's Nebby?"

We saw Nebby looked at a picture of an Ultra Wormhole on the wall. "I think it'zz interezzted! Roto!"

"Nebby!" Lillie shouted. "Back in the bag this instance!" Nebby did, as interested as it was.

"So," Professor Burnet said. "THIS is the Nebby that I was told about."

"The Professor told you?!" Lillie shouted. "Well, I suppose it's fine. I can trust you after all."

"But it's weird to think about," I said. "I know there are other regions, but other dimensions?"

Professor Burnet smiled. "Precisely. Now I believe that you lot deserve some rest. After all, Elliott and Hau have cleared all the Island Trials. All that is left to do is beat Olivia."

Me and Hau nodded to each other. "Yeah! Let's do it!"

Location: Heahea City

"Well that was interesting," I said. "But at the same time, I think I've turned my brain to mush trying to understand."

"Me to," Hau replied. "I think you need a focused brain for what's coming up."

"Yeah," Lillie said. "Nebby?"

Nebby was out of the bag, looking up at the sky.

"What's wrong?" I asked. I thought I saw something faint in the air. It looked… white. "What is that?"

Hau and Lillie looked up. All that was in the sky now were a few Wingull. "Nebby, get in the bag." Nebby, still curious as to what just happened, hopped back in.

I knew I saw something else. Because if it's what I thought it was, then the world might be in serious danger…

Rotom's Move Dex!

Urgh. Pyukumuku are slimy! Roto! But at leazzt we got paid for dealing with them. Well, I didn't. Zzt zzt. So, let'zz look at a Water Type move today.

Brine! Roto!

The sea is salty, and so izz brine. You know when you cut yourself then take a swim in the ocean and it really stingzz? That'zz Brine in a nutshell! When the oppozzing Pokémon'zz HP is under half, Brine hitzz for double damage! That must really sting!

Pokémon that can learn Brine include Tentacruel, Wishiwashi and… Hariyama?!

What? Okay, can someone at Game Freak explain THAT to me. Ohhh, that'zz right. Sumo Wrestlerzz salt the arena. Sorry for the 4th wall break! Roto.