Pokémon Radiant Sun
The time has come. The first Trial of the story has arrived!
Keep in mind that next chapter will be the actual Totem Battle. This chapter would be way too long if I included the entire thing (both the Trial and the Totem Battle) in one chapter. Apologies in advance for that, but it'll be easier to make sure this chapter comes out on time.
Also, thanks for voting on the poll and offering your thoughts for last chapter. Pretty big general consensus that Generation V and Generations VII are the two big favorites amongst reviewers and the poll. Personally I'm in the same boat as you all.
Gen V was something truly special, with a wonderful story, fantastic music and a cast of unique characters that I actually felt invested in. Even more so in the sequel games because they did everything the previous games did, but expanded on it and did it even better (Hugh and Colress being the highlights). It was the Generation that finally dethroned Gen II as my all-time favorite Gen of Pokémon.
As for Gen VII, it honestly did everything Gen VI should have done with X and Y. With a heartwarming and even sad story at times, an awesome cast of characters, great soundtrack, beautiful environments, a game that was actually quite difficult at times (which I praise most of all), and several other unique twists on the established core mechanics, and you have a game that many (including myself) herald as one of Pokémon's crowning achievements in the past 20 years.
So yeah, I hope you all enjoyed that bit of insight. Again, just my thoughts and don't read too much into me talking about X and Y in that way, because they were still pretty good, just not my favorite Generation of Pokémon game-wise. That probably would've changed if they did Pokémon Z instead of ORAS (since that would've expanded on everything and addressed all of my complaints), but what can you do?
X and Y anime was pretty damn great though, I will say.
I enjoyed reading your thoughts and feelings on the various Pokémon Generations as well. Hmm…Makes me wonder what they'll do next. Maybe I'll ask that in the next poll, if Nintendo doesn't drop that bombshell on us in the meantime.
Also, I want to drop a quick little note on something a bit personal.
This week has been a pretty rough one for me. This week I found out that my grandmother's health took a turn for the worst and that she's unlikely to survive through the weekend. I've already spoken to her and found some peace with the whole situation, but…It's been rough this past week. Really rough, that I can't deny.
I'll admit that this chapter difficult to do, just because my mind's been elsewhere this week. I'm tired, frustrated, and admittedly upset because I'm about to lose a grandparent who did nothing but love me, even after having not seen her in many years due to family issues beyond my control. It hurts…But she'll be in a better place soon enough.
So I apologize if this chapter isn't quite as good as normal. It should be, hopefully, but with how things have been this week I'm not in the best mindset to buckle down and kick butt like normal. If any serious issues pop up, I'll be more than happy to revise this chapter and re-upload it when my head's back in the game. Hopefully I won't have to and this chapter ends up awesome.
Thanks for understanding.
Anyways, shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes Raikou927, Cottonmouth25, Autumn Affinity, Madame Rodoshe, NullSilver2005, Sai Og Sus, and Ways, as well as two new guest reviewers known as Some Idiot and ImAPikachu, and four new reviewers known as Consumer of Fantasy, razgriz108, Technetium2, and FedoraGalaxiez. Thank you for the fantastic support and feedback!
Enjoy.
Chapter 21: Normal Trial! Hunters Now Hunted!
"Coo!"
"Pi!"
"…no."
"Coo coo!"
"Piki Pikipek!"
"No. Let me sleep, darn you. It's bad enough that Hau snores like a concussed Snorlax. I don't want to have to deal with you two birdbrains being my alarm clocks."
Oliver rolled his eyes before fluttering up to Sun and pecking the boy square in the middle of the forehead. The boy sat up with a yell, clamping a hand to his forehead and glaring at the smug owl sitting on his lap. Penny just gave Oliver a dirty look as Sun rubbed his head, which thankfully wasn't bleeding.
"You…Are such a jerk."
"Coo!"
"Penny, use Peck on Oliver."
The Pikipek wasted no time in obeying the command, pecking the Rowlet repeatedly, making the owl screech bloody murder as the two of them began flying around the room, squawking at each other. Hau suddenly jerked awake, wiping his face and seeing Oliver and Penny crash onto the floor, screeching. Sun rolled out of bed, hitting the floor with a groan as he got to his feet.
Hau grinned at the sight and said, "Looks like they're all fired up and ready to go."
"More like one enjoys being an jerk and the other is finally getting tired of her Trainer being abused. Ugh, now I have to actually wake up." Sun huffed as he began picking out an outfit for the day. After a week of wearing the same outfit, Sun relished the chance to wear something different. He decided on a pair of tan cargo pants and a white T-shirt, and swapped his hat for another hat, a tan one that fit a bit more for where he was than his previous one. Sun couldn't place the name for his kind of hat, but it kept the sun out of his eyes and was comfortable, so he didn't care all that much. Sun ducked into the bathroom once Hau was done, determined to start today off right despite how his Pokémon were acting.
"So, those two still going at it?" Hau asked once Sun had gotten downstairs, with his two Pokémon returned for the moment.
"Oliver just keeps acting out. It's getting to be a bit too much, now. I'm still aching from yesterday, even if Nurse Joy says it'll all heal in no time." Sun said with a small sigh as he put his face in his hands.
"You know, I've been thinking. Maybe it's just a phase." Sun lowered his hands at that, confused.
"A phase? You mean, this is just a passing thing?"
"Yeah. Happens all the time, I think. Pokémon are just like humans. They go through phases, pick up new abilities and new ideas and yada yada yada. On top of that, your Rowlet is still pretty young. Tutu always offers younger Pokémon to new Trainers. I'll bet Oliver grows out of the jerk phase he's in once he evolves and turns into a super reliable partner for you." Hau said bracingly, though Sun sighed.
"It's not that he isn't reliable. I mean…I feel like he cares a lot about me, and the feeling is mutual. It's just that he's a total douche-canoe sometimes…I need another insult. That one doesn't sit right with me." Sun admitted, though Hau looked thoughtful.
"We'll have to consult Hugh about it. I don't want to bother him for a while though…From what I can tell, he's dealing with some serious stuff." Hau said, his smile taking a small hit. That reminded Sun of something.
"Hey, yesterday, you mentioned something that I wanted to ask you about." Hau nodded, and Sun continued. "When Hugh was talking about his friend Aria, you asked Hugh if he loved her. What made you ask something like that? And how did you know that Hugh loved that Aria lady just from hearing him talk about her?"
Hau closed his eyes, looking contemplative.
"Well…Being around someone like my grandpa lets me hear all kinds of advice that I probably wouldn't be able to make sense of until I'm a bit older in life. I'll admit not understanding some of that advice with no shame. A lot of what he says passes over my head…But one thing he said about love a few weeks ago sticks out in my mind because it makes a whole bunch of sense to me. And what he said was that love can make you really vulnerable."
"…Vulnerable?"
"Yeah. Tutu said love exposes you for who you truly are at your core. And he meant love in general, not just romantic love. It can show you all sorts of things you've never seen or felt before. Happiness that you never could have imagined and it can help you become something more than you ever thought you could be…But the opposite is true too. It can be like a pain unlike anything else. And just from hearing Hugh speak…He was hurting really bad. He's got a broken heart that's shattered to pieces over what happened to his friend. She vanished months ago, according to Hugh's friends, and he still hasn't recovered from that." Hau explained with a sad little smile on his face.
"When did you get so…wise?" Sun asked.
"Psh. Wise? That's just me using what Tutu taught me and applying it to real life. Seriously though, I want to do something to cheer Hugh up. He's a friend and we should help him out."
"I agree. We'll brainstorm once we're back on the road. I want to focus on the Trial before anything else. You know?" Sun said to Hau, who thought about it for a moment before nodding. The duo finished off their breakfast before they switched to another topic.
"So, you know that Verdant Cavern we'll be heading too, right?" Hau asked Sun. The boy nodded and Hau continued with, "I hear that it's like…super sacred to Tapu Koko."
"Really? I wonder if it ever goes there." Sun mused, but Hau shook his head.
"Probably, but I do know that absolutely no one is allowed in unless they're currently on their Island Challenge. And even then it's only during periods of time when no one is doing their Trial." Hau explained as he leaned back in his chair, only to let out a yelp and topple out of it.
"…owie…"
"Smooth. Real smooth."
"Well fiiiine!…I was going to actually share something amazing with you, Sun, you lucky thing. But after that bit of sarcasm I don't think you deserve it." Hau huffed, crossing his arms and failing miserably at looking annoyed. He looked like he was about to laugh if anything else.
"Eh, I'll manage without it. Unless it's a portable cheesecake dispenser. I'll happily take one of those." Sun replied with a smirk. Hau rolled his eyes but dug into his backpack, pulling out three gem-shaped objects that Sun recognized as Revives.
"Got a bit carried away and got too many of them. Heh. Figured you might want a few." Hau said, handing them to Sun, who took them with a wide smile.
"Thanks Hau."
"No problem. Happy to help, you know?" Hau remarked with his usual grin. "Those things are really helpful, and it's always good to have them on hand. If your Pokémon faints in battle and can't go on, then give them a Revive and they'll be perked right back up in no time!"
"Yeah, I remember what they do. We can't buy them yet though, right? We'll have to get further along on our Island Challenge to do that…Which begs the question, how exactly did you buy these?" Sun asked Hau, narrowing his eyes slightly in suspicion.
"Well…Being the grandson of the Kahuna has a lot of perks. People recognize me and are sometimes a bit eager to please, so…Yeah, it's not exactly something I like taking advantage of, but it's not like I usually make a habit of using items in battle. I keep them on hand in case of emergencies. You know? Sometimes a Revive can really come in handy." Hau explained a bit seriously, though this was ruined a moment later by someone the writer occasionally forgets about from time to time.
"~You need a little reviiiiiive!~" Rotom suddenly sang out, popping out of Sun's backpack before playing a strange jingle from within its Pokédex.
"You can play music, Rotom?" Sun asked the device.
"Sure can, bzzt! I've actually been debating playing music while you battle. Wanna try out some tracks while we do your Trial?" Rotom asked Sun, who seriously thought about it.
"Sure. So, what kind of music did you have in mind?" Sun asked the device. Rotom floated over to Hau and began playing a very upbeat, cheerful melody that made Hau start bobbing his head up and down.
"Catchy, huh? This is the theme I picked out for Hau. Adds a bit of something special to your battles, right? Plus I can take pictures on top of that, hehehe!" Rotom swooped back into Sun's backpack, turning off the music as he did so.
"Well, I've got the first afternoon appointment of the day while you've got the second night one. What are you going to do in the meantime while you're waiting, Hau?" Sun asked his friend, who replied by kicking his feet up onto the table with a wide grin.
"Watch the news, have some snacks at the bar, play with my Pokémon, daydream about Lillie. I'll figure something out."
"…What was that last one?"
"Play with my Pokémon."
"…"
"…Don't judge me, Sun."
"I'm gonna go."
"Seeya!"
Outside the Verdant Cavern
"Rotom, remind me to have a talk with Lillie about that the next time I see her." Sun said to the Pokédex as he neared the cavern. Sun had restocked himself with supplies (mostly medical) from the Pokémon Center (or the PMC according to Hau), so he was ready to go.
"Is that all you're going to do, Sun?" Rotom asked cheekily, earning a smack from the young Trainer.
"I get enough crap from everyone and my mother about me and Lillie. I'm drawing the line at my own Pokédex making fun of me." Rotom giggled at Sun's dry reply, but settled on top of the boy's hat.
"Wasn't making fun of you pally. Anyone can see that you two became really good friends really quick. Hau's got a thing for her. That much is obvious. So what about you?" Rotom asked Sun.
"No, I don't. She's a friend. Now can I please focus on my Island Trial?" Sun asked the Rotom, who laughed again and hopped back in Sun's backpack. Just as well, as Sun spotted a girl skipping down the path. She had dark-skin and her long black locks were tied into a ponytail and she wore a bright yellow sundress and an even brighter grin on her face. The girl spotted Sun as soon as he saw her and the girl's smile only widened as she drew closer.
"Hiya! I'm Demi! You heading up to the Trial Site?" the perky girl asked, putting her hands behind her head in a very Hau-like way.
"Yeah. Did you just finish up there?" Sun asked the other Trainer. Her response was beaming with even more joy and holding up a small crystal that Sun assumed was the Z-Crystal. The girl pocketed it a second later before turning back to face Sun.
"You betcha! Me and my team had a rough time, but my little Feya here showed them who's boss!" Demi replied with a laugh as a bird soared over to shoulder. It was a small little bird that was orange and red and when it moved, there was a very slight shimmer in the air.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?" Sun wondered aloud. Rotom sighed dramatically and popped out of Sun's backpack, surprising Demi and her bird before scanning it.
"Fletchling. The Tiny Robin Pokémon. This amiable Pokémon is easy to train. But when battle is joined, it shows its ferocious side. Note: This Pokémon is also categorized as a Shiny Fletchling, due to the coloration it has…Bzzt! Don't see one of those very often, do ya?" Rotom remarked as it floated down to eye-level. Sun looked back at the Shiny Fletchling with awe, wondering just how the young Trainer in front of him had found such a rare creature.
"What is that?" Demi asked, bewildered at the even stranger sight of Rotom.
"Howdy! I'm Rotom!"
"Well hi to you, too, Rotom!" Demi said to the device with a laugh.
"This is my Rotom Dex. Basically a Pokédex but with a Rotom living inside of it to help me find my way around and get used to things. Oh yeah, and my name is Sun. Pleased to meet you." Sun said to the girl as his smile widened as he extended his hand to hers. The girl shook the boy's hand, beaming even more.
"Nice to meet you too! I'll probably be hanging out at the PMC for a few days while I decide on what to do. If you stick around, tell me how your Trial went!" Demi said excitedly before she began walking down the path.
"Sure thing!" Sun called to the girl, receiving a wave from the Demi as she happily bounded down the path. Sun turned around then, grinning with a new sense of drive, and continued his walk to the cave with Rotom floating above him, buzzing happily.
"I like that girl's attitude. Reminds me of you and Hau. Stay positive and keep on smiling. Ah, and now it's time to finally take on that Ilima guy! I'm just tingling with excitement here, Sun!"
"Are you sure that's not just the electricity?"
"Bzzzt! Maybe it's a bit of both. Either way, I'm pumped! How're you feeling about all this?" Rotom asked Sun, who shrugged.
"Excited. A little nervous, but I'm feeling good about facing whatever is in there. Penny and Oliver, and you, have my back so I'm not too worried." Sun said, flashing the Rotom a confident smile.
With that, the duo finally reached the entrance of the Verdant Cavern, where Captain Ilima was discussing something in hushed tones with a young man beside two giant wooden pillars decorated with designs not unlike the ones on his Trial Amulet. Sun stood patiently to the side while Ilima finished his conversation with the young man dressed in something sort of like a uniform. The other teen walked off and Sun approached the Captain.
"Greetings. Captain Ilima here. And my Trial…" Ilima turned around and gestured grandly behind him, where a massive hole that led into the earth was open in front of them. "…Begins mere steps from here in the majestic Verdant Cavern!"
"…Go on."
Ilima turned around, grinning at Sun. "I'm quite looking forward to seeing how you preform. Now, I'd like you to take a note of a few things. The Pokémon living within the Verdant Cavern are quite fierce. Certainly stronger than the Pokémon you encountered on your trip to this location. If you haven't prepared accordingly, I would recommend you go back to the Pokémon Center and get some Potions and whatnot."
"I'm all set." Sun said to the Captain, his smile widening. Ilima simply laughed, crossing his arms.
"Well, well. So you are. Now, through attempting the Trials during the Island Challenge, one can exceed his or her own limits. That is what the people of Alola believe. That through the sacred customs that have stood strong for hundreds of years, one can achieve a strength that radiates throughout their entire being. And because of that, the bond that those who endure the Trials go through with their Pokémon is strengthened to new levels as well."
"Once you enter the Verdant Cavern, you will be unable to leave until you have completed the Trial, as is custom. Are you ready to begin the Normal Trial of Melemele Island, Sun?" Captain Ilima asked, his voice gaining a formal edge to it.
"Absolutely. Let's do this." Sun said firmly, still smiling. Ilima began walking ahead of him, offering a grin of his own over his shoulder.
"I'll be waiting for you then!" Ilima remarked as he continued walking towards the cave, eventually getting swallowed up by the darkness that was ahead of them.
"Woo! Let's storm that cavern and show them our stuff!" Rotom suddenly yelled out from Sun's backpack. Sun nodded and jogged ahead, eager to see what was awaiting him within the cavern's depths.
Verdant Cavern (Normal Trial)
Sun's jaw nearly dropped in surprise as he beheld the Verdant Cavern. The rather beautiful-looking cavern was lush with plant-life, with even the rocks being covered in mossy greenery. Slopes and rocks stood out all around him as he gazed around the massive cavern, with holes in the ceiling allowing the Alolan sun to shine through, illuminating the cavern and culminating in a sight that stopped the child in his tracks for a moment. He then remembered what he was here for, smiled widely as the excitement set in again, and walked forward to join the Normal-type specialist that was watching him with amusement. Ilima spoke up once Sun had joined him again.
"Allow me to once again engage with the formalities. I am your Captain, Ilima. Welcome to the Verdant Cavern. Allow me to explain the basics of my Trial." Ilima said to the Kanto-native before turning around. "What you should attempt to do is…"
Ilima stopped speaking and pointed forward, and Sun spotted a Yungoos watching from behind a nearby rock. The Pokémon let out a screech before turning around and scurrying off in the other direction, diving into a hole within a rock. Sun could barely make out the form of the Pokémon within, though it peeked its head out a moment later, sniffing the air.
"Defeat three of the Pokémon that lurk here in their dens! Then, you must reach the pedestal deep within the cave…and collect the Z-Crystal there!" Ilima turned to Sun once again, a calm smile on his face as he regarded the young Trainer. Sun could tell he was barely back his own excitement, and wondered if he felt this way every time he presided over a Trial.
"You'll need to be completely in sync with your Pokémon to succeed here." Ilima began to say before a massive roar suddenly bellowed out from within the cavern, shaking the ground and making Sun clamp his hands over his ears. Ilima appeared unfazed, however, though he did look a bit sheepish.
"Oh dear!...Um, there's one more thing I forgot to mention." Ilima said with a small laugh before continuing. "Many strong Pokémon make their home in this cave. But there is one that is far stronger and more fearsome than all of the rest. This special Pokémon is known as a Totem Pokémon, and it resides here as the protector of the Trial Site. It will be the greatest obstacle you face here as you attempt to clear my Trial. You should be prepared for an intense battle unlike any other you have faced thus far on your journey."
"Really wish I had known about this beforehand. That roar sounded like something I really don't want to mess with but…We'll manage. Anything else I should know?" Sun asked the Captain, who nodded.
"Yes. Until you clear the Trial, you will not be able to catch any Pokémon in the Verdant Cavern. This is but one of the seven Trials you will face during your Island Challenge, Sun…"
"And it begins now! The Trial of Captain Ilima!" Ilima shouted, waving an arm in benediction to gesture Sun forward. The child grinned again in excitement, despite his nerves, jogging towards the closest hole he could find. The one the first Yungoos had hidden in.
"Hey there…Wanna come out?" Sun asked the Pokémon as he knelt down beside the hole. The Pokémon hissed at him, making Sun realize what he was doing wasn't the smartest move. The boy scrambled away in time to release Oliver, who let out a hoot as the Yungoos slithered out of its den, growling at it.
"Oliver, use Razor Leaf!" Sun commanded his starter. The Rowlet nodded and flared out its wings, sending a barrage of spinning leaves that twirled in midair towards the Yungoos, who's eyes widened in surprise at the speed of the attack…
Which knocked it out in one hit.
"You really are getting stronger, huh?" Sun asked his Rowlet as the bird began preening its feathers. The owl hooted cheerfully and soared up to Sun's hat.
"Oh, now you're being nice. Can you decide which one you want to be?" Sun asked the owl. Oliver rolled it's eyes and pecked Sun in the side of the head, but it was a bit lighter than it had been this morning. Sun sighed as he began walking away, deciding it was time to have a talk with Oliver.
"I really don't get why you act this way, Oliver. Sometimes you're like the Pokémon partner I've always wanted. Loyal, strong, and just an awesome Pokémon. But at other times you can be so mean and…well, kind of a jerk. Why is that?" Sun asked the Rowlet. Silence enveloped the two of them, and Sun wondered if the bird was thinking about the answer he would give Sun
"Hoo…Coo. Coo, coo!" Oliver replied after a few moments. Sun hadn't been able to quite pick up what the Rowlet had said, but he could have sworn that the bird at least sounded apologetic. Oliver even fluttered down to the ground to look at Sun, staring up at him intensely. Sun knelt down onto the ground so that he was on the same level as his starter, and silence reigned a little longer.
Rowlet then chirped quietly before hopping forward a few times, getting closer to Sun, nodding once. Sun hesitantly picked up the owl Pokémon, who didn't peck him or do anything of the sort. Instead Sun set the owl back on his head and continued the Trial like nothing had happened, though he was wondering what was going on in the head of his starter.
After picking up a fallen Super Potion and stuffing it into his bag, Sun began walking down a slope and spotted a large mossy rock sitting in a patch of sunlight. The Kanto-native walked towards the rock, almost mesmerized by it, but snapped himself out of it and scooped up a fallen Revive sitting on the ground. Sun stood back up and examined the rock, putting his hand on it.
"Weird…it's sitting in the sun, but it's cool to touch." Sun muttered, walking around the rock with his hand brushing against it. Oliver hooted loudly, catching Sun's attention as a Yungoos began running towards him from a nearby hole.
"Oliver, use Razor Leaf!" Sun called to his starter as it took flight. Oliver nodded and released another barrage of spinning leaves, which pelted the mongoose Pokémon and made it screech in pain. The Yungoos crouched lower on the ground and growled at Oliver, making the Pokémon wince slightly at the move.
"Peck! Let's wrap this up!" Sun commanded Oliver, who swooped down with a glowing beak and jabbed it into the Yungoos, sending it tumbling to the ground where it fainted. Sun grinned as Oliver soared through the air and landed back on his head.
"One more left." Sun said quietly, though he did grab an Oran Berry off of the ground, wiped off the dirt on it, and stuffed it into a pouch on his backpack. The boy made his way up a rather steep slope, huffing and puffing as he did so, and continued to trek through the massive cavern, wondering where the last Yungoos was. He eventually sent Oliver out to fly around the area, to maybe pinpoint where the last hole was. Sun eventually began crossing a rather unsafe plank walkway that led to another section of the cave when he heard Oliver hoot loudly from up ahead. Sun turned his head towards his starter, who was circling above a hissing Yungoos on the ground.
"Nice job, Oliver! Hit it with a Razor Leaf!" Sun called to the bird, almost losing his balance in his excitement. Oliver unleashed his attack, but this Yungoos seemed to be smarter than it's friends because it dove back into the hole to dodge the barrage. Sun safely made it across the plank, sighing with relief, and walked over to his Rowlet, who was hooting in an annoyed fashion as it flew over to Sun. The boy dug out a Poké Bean and fed it to Oliver, calming the bird down.
"There's no easy way up there…" Sun muttered, eyeing the high cliff that the hole (where the final Yungoos was hiding) was at. Sun quickly spotted a small tunnel sitting off to the side that looked like it led up to the area where he needed to go, so the child quickly ran over to it and slipped through, with Oliver following him into a small area where Sun found another Super Potion lying there.
"People really need to stop dropping stuff. Or maybe Ilima needs to look around here for dropped items more. This is ridiculous." Sun thought as he hopped down from the ledge he was on, grunting as his feet hit the ground. He knelt down and looked inside of the hole…
Only to find nothing.
"Huh?"
"Scree!"
Sun looked up and saw the Yungoos peering down at him from a ledge about twenty feet up, wearing a smug look on its face. It then scampered off into another nearby hole while Sun sighed. This last Yungoos would be a bit of a challenge to take out, that was for sure.
Sun hopped down from the ledge and began following a long path that led up a slope to the other hole that the Pokémon had been hiding in. Sun peered inside once again, with Oliver landing on the ground beside him to help look inside…
Only to find nothing.
"What on earth…" Sun mumbled, standing up again and looking at Oliver. The Rowlet shrugged before looking off to the side and pointing outward with its wing. Sun followed where he was pointing the saw a familiar-looking Yungoos waving at them from across the cavern.
"Oliver?"
"Coo?"
"That Yungoos is just messing with us now, isn't it?"
"Coo hoo."
"I thought so."
Sun began walking along an upper path that led to the spot where the Yungoos was now hiding (the Pokémon having dived into its hole yet again), but spotted a man standing at the exit to the cave wearing a small smile as he saw Sun approach.
"Good morning sir." Sun said to the man.
"Good morning to you as well, young man. Just so you know, I am the Trial Guide of Verdant Cavern. I'm here to help young boys and girls attempting the Island Challenge, and I assist Captain Ilima in supervising Trainers to make nothing too crazy happens. After all, we want Trainers to be safe and have fun while out here, you know?"
"Of course."
"It looks like you've still got one more Yungoos to track down and prove yourself against. I wish both you and your team good luck." Sun nodded and thanked the man before making his way down the path, doing so more slowly this time in order to make sure he didn't slip. Sun grabbed an X Defense on the ground, a little annoyed at the excess litter once again, and peered down into the hole where the Yungoos had been hiding.
Only to find jack squat.
"Come on!" Sun stood up quickly, turning around and looking around the cavern. To his annoyance, he found the Yungoos watching him from afar, outright laughing at him. Sun watched the display for a moment before he smiled a little, shaking his head.
"Coo coo! Coo hoo!" Oliver hooted out as Sun began walking.
"Yeah, I know you like that guy's style. No need to rub it in, jerk-butt." Sun said as Oliver landed on his head. While he didn't really know if that was what Oliver had said, he could tell that the Rowlet was finding this all hilarious from the way the bird was giggling to itself from time to time. Sun made his way across the plank walkway and was surprised when two familiar figures suddenly leapt out at him from behind the rocks.
The two Team Skull Grunts looked quite smug as they approached. Axen and Kevin stopped a few feet away from him, with Kevin stepping forward and pretending to swat an invisible fly with his hands.
"Yo, yo, yo!" Kevin called to Sun, who raised an eyebrow.
"…Uh…Yo?" Sun said awkwardly, unsure of what that even meant. He'd have to consult Rotom after this was all over. Maybe the Pokédex was fluent in whatever language they were speaking.
"It's your Berry thief boys, back…back again!"
"The Berry thief boys are back?" Sun asked.
"Yeah, tell a friend!"
"~Guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's back, guess who's baaack!~" Rotom sang out, flying out of Sun's backpack.
"Oh, it's that thing again. Huh…So, you remember us?" Axen asked Sun, who deadpanned. How could he NOT remember them!?
"Sorry, who are you?" Sun asked the two of them, pretending to be confused. Oliver started cracking up while Rotom giggled in response. Team Skull, however, was anything but amused. Both of them looked surprised before shrugging, looking incredibly disappointed.
"Oh, I see…" Kevin said with a nod, looking to Axen for a moment. Both of them nodded and then switched places, making Sun even more confused.
"Just 'cause we switched places, you can't tell who we are anymore!?" Kevin asked Sun, who sighed deeply. He could tell the two apart easily enough, even if they were dressed the same and had the same dyed hair color. Axen had a rougher voice and was a bit paler than his companion, who stood a little shorter than his friend.
"Who cares about that anyway?!" Axen demanded, sounding fed up. "We're here to mess up his Trial, yo!"
Kevin nodded in understanding, chuckling. "Oh yeah, that's right! Yo, let's get that Pokémon, homie!"
Axen jogged down the slope, grabbing a Poké Ball off of his belt with a laugh. Sun was surprised when Rotom flew out of his backpack and began playing a strange song of sorts.
"Oh hey, that's the Official Team Skull Theme we released last week on AlolaNet! Good to hear we have fans, yo!" Kevin said to Sun, grinning underneath his bandanna. Sun gave Rotom a questioning look, but the device just grinned back at him in response.
"Drowzee! Let's smash that little guy!" Axen said, releasing his Pokémon.
"Oliver, use Peck!" Sun said to the bird resting on his head. Oliver hooted and took flight, doing a small spin in midair before soaring towards the Drowzee on the ground, who was crouching low in anticipation.
"Hit 'em with a Pound, homie!" Axen ordered his Pokémon as Oliver swooped low, pecking at the Hypnosis Pokémon. Drowzee then leapt at Oliver, with both of it's arms glowing bright white.
"Dodge it Oliver!" Sun shouted to his Rowlet. To Sun's surprise, Oliver's eyes caught his for a moment before the bird weaved underneath the Drowzee, dodging the move completely and effortlessly.
"Razor Leaf!" Sun called out as the Drowzee turned around in midair, surprise etched on its face.
"Use Pound to drop to the ground. Then bounce up and hit the bird!" Axen commanded. Drowzee swung its arms downwards, making the Pokémon fall quickly to the ground and dodge the Razor Leaf attack. Sun was surprised at the maneuver, taken aback as the Pokémon hit the ground with a grunt before springing back up and slamming into Oliver, making the owl hoot in protest.
"One more time! Razor Leaf!" Sun said to Oliver as the bird glared at the Drowzee. Oliver obeyed quickly, launching a barrage of leaves that flew into the Psychic-type and sent it falling back to earth unconscious.
"Dang!" Axen sighed, returning his Pokémon and looking at the Poké Ball. "Nice work anyway, homie. We'll smash 'em next time."
The Grunt then turned his attention to Sun, who seemed to be surprised at the small display he saw. Sun also became aware that Rotom was playing a different tune now from behind him, but Sun was ignoring that and focusing on Team Skull. Axen's eyes narrowed for a moment before the Grunt shrugged. "So, is it cool to be in Team Skull if I'm this brittle? Seriously, what's up with that? I even got in some extra training so I could become even harder, and I still got thrashed."
Kevin looked impressed too, joining Axen in throwing his arms apart as he said, "For real, though!? I can't get my skull around it! This kid's mad strong, yo!"
Both of them suddenly backed away and began talking in hushed tones that Sun was able to easily hear...because if there's any Team that doesn't embody subtlety, it's Team Freaking Skull.
"Naw, it ain't even like that, Kev. This kid is straight up dangerous, homie!" Axen exclaimed.
"I don't know man…Isn't this whole place trouble?!" Kevin asked.
"Yeah! It totally is, homie! That thing is so strong that regular Pokémon don't even wanna come out and battle, you know?" Axen replied with a shudder. With that, the two ran up the slope and left Sun questioning his life choices.
"Seriously, just what happened? And why are you playing that song, Rotom?" Sun asked the device.
"Turns out Team Skull has their own songs and stuff on the internet. Well, AlolaNet. Anyways, remember how I said I was going to play music to keep things interesting? Well its working!"
"You're not wrong." Sun agreed with the Pokédex. He turned around and let out a yelp as Kevin was suddenly in his face.
"Yo, kid! You know there's a mad strong Pokémon lurking back here somewhere, right? I'd run if I were you." Kevin advised Sun, completely serious.
"Why? Me and my team can take it." Sun replied to the young man, who shook his head. The young man sighed and looked directly at Sun.
"Me and my boy Zubat lost out on a lot of fun times because of that nasty thing. This is where our Island Challenge came to an end, when I was even younger than you. So do the healthy thing and bail on this stupid place, yo. Ain't worth losing faith in yourself over, like I did." Kevin said to Sun, almost pleadingly. Sun was again surprised by this, and wondered if all of Team Skull were like this. Mostly bluster with some actually good battlers, but all of them hurt by the Island Challenge due to their failure to overcome it.
"Then I'll overcome the Trial for not just myself, but for you guys too." Sun said to the young man, grinning back at him. Kevin blinked in surprise at the statement, but was caught off from what he was about to say by Axen.
"Naw, homie! We're not going out like that! We gotta get our revenge! Go stand over that den and catch that skulking Yungoos, yo!" Axen called to Kevin, who put his hands on his hips and sighed again.
"For real, homie!? While I'm balls deep in bad memories and good advice?...Fine! I got no bones to pick with you, kid." Kevin said to Sun, nodding at him before chasing his friend up the slope. Sun saw them both split apart, running to both of the other holes in the cavern. Sun slowly turned to face the out of the way hole that he had first gone to and smiled. Two minutes later, he and Oliver were peering into a hole and were surprised when a familiar snarl greeted them.
A much larger and more fierce-looking Yungoos greeted them with a growl as it crawled out of the den. Sun then realized that it wasn't quite a Yungoos after a moment as the Pokémon stood on it's hind legs, watching them warily.
"Rotom, what is that?" Sun asked the device as it floated by, playing a new song. Rotom shut scanned the Pokémon and beeped for a moment before speaking.
"Gumshoos. The Stakeout Pokémon. When it finds a trace of its prey, it patiently stakes out the location...but it's always snoozing by nightfall. So lazy." Rotom commented, giggling a little.
"Right…Oliver, use Razor Leaf!" Sun commanded his starter, who was already flying at that point. The owl hooted loudly and released the attack, hitting the Gumshoos directly and sending it to the ground. The Pokémon rolled to its feet, glaring up at Oliver before bending down and scrapping down at the ground and flinging a torrent of dirt and rock upwards, hitting Oliver with a Sand Attack.
"Oliver! Are you alright?" Sun asked his Rowlet, who nodded an affirmative, despite wincing with discomfort. "Then use Tackle!"
Oliver hooted and dove back towards the ground, crashing into the Gumshoos despite its efforts to dodge the attack and even with Oliver's limited visibility. Sun then spotted the Stakeout Pokémon open its mouth wide, its razor sharp teeth glowing bright white.
"Oliver! Watch out!" Sun shouted as the larger Pokémon leapt at the Rowlet while it was desperately trying to get the sand out of its eyes, with both of his eyes shut at the moment. Oliver's head perked up and the bird flapped its wings hard, barely dodging the attack and listening to Sun despite not seeing the attack coming.
"Razor Leaf, dead ahead!" Sun said to Oliver.
"Coo coo!" Oliver hooted loudly, swooping forward and releasing a torrent of leaves toward the Gumshoos, hitting it directly in the back. The Normal-type screeched in pain and tumbled to the ground, where it crashed in a heap and remained still.
"…Yes! That was awesome Oliver!" Sun yelled to his bird, who had fluttered to the ground. Oliver hooted happily back at Sun, his eyes shut. Sun fished out a water bottle and began washing and wiping the sand off of his Pokémon. Oliver sighed with relief once the sand was clear, and after grabbing the Tyranitar-shaped comb from the case, he began combing the Rowlet while the owl preened.
"You did awesome out there…Guess we can go get our Z-Crystal now. I wonder where that Totem Pokémon is though…" Sun wondered aloud, gently combing Oliver's feathers. The Rowlet didn't replied, its eyes shut as it relaxed before the big battle it knew was coming.
All too soon, Sun had the comb put away and had returned Oliver, looking up towards the exit of the cave that the Trial Guide had been guarding. Sun made his way over to the man, who nodded to him as he approached.
"Fantastic work! Not only did you show up those two goons, but you proved your strength to all three Pokémon!" the Trial Guide said with a wide grin. Sun matched it with one of us own. "Go on inside. Best of luck to you!"
Sun nodded and walked forward, where he shut his eyes as the light from outside began shining directly on him. Thankfully he was able to hear Rotom buzzing excitedly above him just fine, and as Sun's vision began to clear he continued walking down the path, wondering where it led.
"Bzzt! Now, my friend! Let us go into the heart of the cave! It's time to get your mitts on your first Z-Crystal!" Rotom cheered as he flew above Sun as the boy continued his trek and made his way into the deepest depths of the cave, shivering with anticipation and excitement at what was waiting for him within…
