Chapter 27:

Diglett Dug

Location: Heahea City

"Alright!" Hau said. "Time to take on Olivia!"

"To do that," said Professor Kukui. "You'll need to head through Diglett's Tunnel. You'll reach Olivia's home city of Konikoni."

"Interesting," I said. "You know, in Kanto we have a place called Diglett's Cave. I wonder if this will be similar?"

"Well let'zz find out! Roto!"

Location: Diglett's Tunnel

The tunnel was filled with minecarts filled with rocks and other minerals. We saw a few Alolan Diglett pop their heads out here and there. Workers laughed as they popped up and down.

"Both humans and the Diglett help out here," said Hau. "This is a tunnel still under construction as you can see."

A Worker walked by at that point. "Hey, can you please be careful around here? There are some thugs that are annoying the Diglett."

Worryingly, I looked at Rotom Dex. We knew who it was. "Let's go," I said. I sprayed some Repels as to not have the Diglett annoy us.

We eventually reached them; some Team Skull Grunts who had some Alolan Diglett cornered.

"So," said the female Grunt (Grunt A). "We hear you can dig through volcanic rock, yo?"

The Diglett went underground, scared. "Hey!" shouted the Male Grunt (Grunt B). "Come back here!"

"Leave them alone!" Hau shouted.

Both Grunts saw us. "Well well well," said Grunt A. "If it isn't the one who's trying to stop us?"

"Stop harrazzing the Diglett! Roto!"

"Or what?" said Grunt B.

"Or…" said Hau. "We'll show you whose boss!"

"Try us yo!"

Elliott and Hau Vs. Team Skull Grunts A and B

"Fomantis, go!" shouted Grunt A.

"You're up Salandit!" Grunt B said.

"Okay Torracat, you're on!" I yelled.

"Go Vaporeon!" Hau said alongside me. He sent out a blue Pokémon with gills on its neck.

Vaporeon (シャワーズ)

#154

Water Type

Bubble Jet Pokémon

3'03" (1 m)

63.9 lbs (29 kg)

Its cells are composed of units much like water molecules. It lives close to water and is often mistaken for a mermaid.

Eevee -Water Stone- Vaporeon

"Wow!" I said.

"Yeah," Hau responded. "Wanted to get Eevee evolved so I have another Type strong against Olivia."

"Torracat, Fire Fang!" Torracat chomped down on Fomantis with its fiery teeth. It did a lot of damage.

"Salandit, Dragon Rage!" Salandit fired blue energy at Vaporeon, doing exactly 40 damage to it.

"Vaporeon, Water Gun!" Vaporeon squirted water at Salandit for Super Effective damage. At the same time, it was clear Water Gun wasn't a particularly strong move.

"Fomantis, Razor Leaf!" Fomantis fired sharp leaves at Vaporeon.

Angrily, Torracat shouted at Salandit. Its Attack rose, but it was also confused. "Zzt! That'zz Swagger! It raisezz the opponent'zz attack but alzzo confusezz them! Roto!"

"Nice Torracat!" I shouted. Salandit hurt itself the next turn and went down.

"Okay Vaporeon, Bite!" Vaporeon bit down on Fomantis, knocking it out.

"Nooo! Our future base!"

"You'll pay for this!"

"Okay," I said. "You're defenceless now! Leave!"

Grunt A clenched her fist. "Fine, but this isn't the last you've heard of Team Skuuuu- what's going on?"

The ground was weaker below both of their feet. Then, up at the surface popped a Dugtrio. Albeit, each of it's three heads had magnificent blonde hair.

Dugtrio (Alolan Form) (ダグトリオ)

#086

Ground/Steel Type

Mole Pokémon

2'04" (0.7 m)

73.4 lbs (33.3 kg)

These Pokémon are cherished in the Alola region, where they are thought to be feminine deities of the land incarnate.

Diglett -Lv 26- Dugtrio

"I think you've juzzt made the Diglett'zz parents angry! Roto!"

"We'll take it from here." Two Aether Foundation members walked onto the scene.

"Oh, it's you guys," I said, still having that dream on my mind.

"These guys aren't going anywhere. Thanks for doing the hard part though, we'll take them to Officer Jenny."

"Yes, please do!" Grunt B shouted. "Better that than be humiliated by you two! Trial taking scum!"

"Okay that's enough," said the male Aether Foundation member.

"Let's get out of here," I told Hau.

Location: Route 9

Route 9 was a short path with two roads. One which went to Memorial Hill and the other that went under a red archway; that was the entrance to Konikoni City. A Police Station was just outside the tunnel.

"Finally!" shouted Hau. "Some fresh air!"

"I see you made it through," said Officer Jenny. She had her Growlithe with her.

"It wazzn't eazzy. Roto. We came acrozz Team Skull. Expect the Aether Foundation to bring them to you. Zzt zzt."

Officer Jenny smiled. "Thank you. I've been informed of what you're doing, you should be proud."

"Well?" I Hau. "Let's head onwards!"

Before we walked to the gate though, we saw a man fishing. "I'll be a second."

I tapped on the Fisherman's shoulder. "Oh, come on, you made me lose my catch!"

Elliott Vs. Fisherman Mike

"Chinchou, go!" Out came a round-blue Pokémon with two antennas that had two bulbs on the end.

Chinchou (チョンチー)

#257

Water/Electric Type

Angler Pokémon

1'08" (0.5 m)

26.5 lbs (12 kg)

Its two antennae glow softly to lure in prey, making it a useful Pokémon for night fishing.

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

"Use Spark!" Chinchou covered itself in electricity and charged into Munchlax. In retaliation, Munchlax jumped up and landed on Chinchou.

"It uzzed Body Slam! Roto!"

"Great!" Hau said. "Body Slam has a chance of paralyzing the opposing Pokémon. But Electric Types like Chinchou can't be paralyzed.

"Now Chinchou, Bubble Beam!" Chinchou fired a jet of bubbles at Munchlax. When it hit, Munchlax's Speed fell. Not that it mattered much considering the fact that Munchlax was very slow anyway.

"Munchlax, Body Slam again!" Munchlax jumped up and landed on Chinchou. It was a Critical Hit! Chinchou fainted!

"Wait… I'm sure it was an old boot anyway…"

"Nice one!" I told Munchlax. Munchlax came up and hugged me. As it did this, Munchlax started to glow.

"No way! Roto!"

"Yeah way," Hau replied. "Munchlax is starting to evolve!"

Munchlax got bigger, rounder and… fatter. It finally evolved into a Snorlax!

Snorlax (カビゴン)

#043

Normal Type

Sleeping Pokémon

6'11" (2.1 m)

1014.1 lbs (460 kg)

It has no interest in anything other than eating. Even if you climb up on its stomach while it's napping, it doesn't seem to mind at all!

Munchlax (B) -Happiness- Snorlax

"I have a Snorlax now!" I shouted, just as Snorlax lay down and started sleeping. Its HP was healed as it did this.

"And it learned Rest!" Hau shouted. "It heals HP and status conditions by going to sleep!"

"Okay," I said. "On to Konikoni City!"

Location: Konikoni City

What a fascinating place! The architecture had bendy roofs, some parts were made of gold and people were selling items and food in street venues.

"Alola!" Olivia said. "Welcome to my home!"

"It's great!" said Hau. "Certainly not like other places."

Olivia smiled. "I own a rock shop here. But it is now my duty as a Kahuna to challenge you both to the Grand Trial!"

"Thanks," I said. "But would you like to take on Hau first? I was the first of us two to take on the Grand Trial on Melemele Island, so it's only fair that Hau goes first here."

"That's so kind of you!" she said. "We will start heading to the trial site tomorrow. It's a bit of a trek through Memorial Hill, so we will have our Grand Trial the day after. You might have to wait a bit Elliott."

"Fine with me," I said. "I have some training to do anyway!"

"Alright!" Rotom Dex shouted. "Grand Trial here we come! Roto!"

Rotom's Move Dex!

Roto! Diglett Cave wazz amazzing! Fun fact; Diglett found in Kanto, Johto and Kalozz are pure Ground Type, but Alolan Diglett addzz the Steel Type. So, that'zz the Type we will be looking at today. The Steel Type move we will look at will be…

Steel Wing!

Steel Wing izz a move primarily learned by Flying Type Pokémon. Roto. The user turnzz it'zz wing to metal and hitzz the oppozzing Pokémon! It really helpzz in term'zz of coverage, and it might even raizze the userzz Defense.

Pokémon that can use Steel Wing include… mozzt Flying Typezz! Zzt! Via TM of courzze. Roto.

Wait. If their wing become'zz metal, how do they stay airborne? Roto.