Chapter 7: Jake's Island Challenge Pt 2

Jake was together with Kukui on his boat as they sailed across the sea to Akala Island, where Jake's next three trials awaited him along with the next Island Kahuna. Jake was pumped up for a challenge, with Lucario eager to fight tougher opponents to get stronger.

"Where should we land?" Jake asked.

"I thought a place where you can immediately catch your fifth Pokémon," Kukui replied,

Jake smiled at the professor. He always thought he would catch a new Pokémon in Alola. He needed two spots left before he was ready for the World Battle Tournament. He was getting pumped for a challenge.

After they got off the boat, Jake looked around while Professor Kukui walked up to a fisherman.

"Hello, would you care to show us a direction where we can find some Water type Pokémon?"

The fisherman nodded and pointed in the direction. "That way."

"Thank you," Kukui thanked him before turning to Jake and Lucario. "Let's go, Jake. Time for you to catch some cool Water type."

Jake cheered, eagerly rushing off, leaving Kukui behind.

"Hey, Jake! Wait up! Don't use Extreme Speed without me!"

Jake laughed aloud at the professor. "You're too slow to use it anyway, professor!"

Kukui grinned. He always liked a challenge. "We shall see, when you bump into that rock."

Jake blinked before hitting a large boulder in front of him. He fell on the ground, dizzy. Lucario helped him stand back up. Jake shook his head, then turned to Kukui. "How'd you know that?"

"I saw it," Kukui simply replied. Then he chuckled. "You remind me of Ash in a way. He was always eager for a challenge and rushed off into the next battle with no strategy."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Jake said flatly.

"It is, as a matter of fact."

Lucario's ears began to rise up as he sensed something with his Aura before pushing Jake down when a blue ball of water came and hit the boulder.

"Thanks, partner," Jake thanked Lucario.

"What was that?" wondered Kukui.

"That, I think," Jake pointed at a Buizel, who was aiming at them with its paws. "Hey, you! Why did you attack me like that, huh?"

Buizel shook its head, pointing at Lucario, who grew surprised.

"It seems that Buizel wanted a challenge with Lucario," Kukui guessed.

Buizel nodded in confirmation.

"If that was it, then it shouldn't have launched its attack at me," Jake grunted. Then he grew serious. "Okay, Buizel. You've got yourself a battle. Right, Lucario?"

Lucario nodded.

"Extreme Speed!" Jake ordered.

Lucario ran faster than the nick of the eye towards Buizel, who was prepared for the attack and came in a swirling vortex of water before launching itself at Lucario, with both clashing their attacks and coming out unharmed.

"That was an Aqua Jet," Kukui noted, then looked at Jake. "Are you sure you can take on this Buizel?"

"Sure I can," Jake nodded. "This is where I'll catch my fifth Pokémon. Lucario, Aura Sphere!"

Lucario nodded and held his paws together before generating a blue ball of energy between them. On the other side, Buizel was preparing a blue ball of water between its hands before they both fired at each other, their attacks colliding and creating smoke between them.

"Use your Aura to track it down," Jake commanded.

Lucario nodded and concentrated his focus on Buizel, who was running around the field to find an opening on its opponent. When the sound of Buizel's feet coming closer, Lucario's fists glowed white before he punched directly at Buizel's stomach, causing the Water type to cry out in pain and fall to the ground.

"Nice work, Lucario!" Jake commented. "I think it's about time we finish this so we can capture it. Extreme Speed!"

Lucario ran fast towards the fallen Buizel, who struggled to stand before getting hit by Lucario's unseen body and staggered backwards from the hit.

"Poké Ball, go!" Jake shouted before throwing an empty Poké Ball at Buizel, who was sucked in by the red beam as the Poké Ball landed softly on the ground, shaking up to three times before signaling Buizel's capture. Jake walked over and picked the Poké Ball up. "I just caught a Buizel!" he cheered, with Lucario joining in.

"Not bad on your fifth capture," Kukui commented to Jake. "Let us head to a Pokémon Center, so you can heal your Pokémon."

"Yes, sir!" Jake saluted, prompting a chuckle from Kukui.

At Heahea City Pokémon Center

Jake heard the ding sound coming from the recovery room, with Nurse Joy walking out and approached him with the tray where his two Poké Balls were on. "Well, Jake. No more waiting. You'll be glad to know that your Buizel and Lucario are in top shape again."

"Great, thanks Nurse Joy," Jake thanked her and took his Poké Balls back.

The door opened to the Pokémon Center, revealing a teenage boy with reddish brown hair and green eyes, and he wore a scarf around his neck, which hung from his shoulders.

"I'd like to have my Pokémon healed," the boy said to Nurse Joy.

"Of course," she nodded and took his Poké Balls on the tray before going into the recovery room again.

The boy glared at Jake, who looked stunned. "So you are 'friends' with the Kanto Champion, I hear," he spat.

"Yeah, so?"

"What a waste," the boy said. "You should train yourself rather than train with a Champion; he'd have no time for you anyway."

Jake grew angry at the tone in the boy's voice. "What'd you say?!"

"My point is that you should try and be more yourself rather than someone who is better than you."

Jake fumed and glared angrily at him. "Who are you, and what makes you think I am going to listen to what you say?"

"The name is…Kai," the boy introduced. "I am the leader of the team for Galar known as the Phantom Trainers. You wouldn't stand a chance against me in a Pokémon battle, seeing as your skills are far inferior to mine."

"Oh, shall we test that out?" Jake challenged.

"Be my guest," Kai smiled darkly.

Then Nurse Joy returned with Kai's Poké Balls. "Here you are. Your six Pokémon are fully recovered."

"Thank you," Kai thanked her before turning to Jake. "Let's go out in the back, shall we? We shall have our battle there."

"We'd need a referee…"

"I don't need one."

Jake gave a low growl, but followed him to the back of the Pokémon Center as they took their places at the battlefield. "How many Pokémon?"

"Six on six," Kai replied.

"Uh…that's going to be hard. I only have five…" Jake answered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Kai snorted. "What a child. All right, fine. A five versus five battle it is, then."

"My first is…Litten, I choose you!" Jake sent Litten out on the field, who looked at Kai with intended eyes.

"A baby Pokémon should be a lot less of my time once I finish it with my Pokémon," Kai said before unclipping one of his Poké Balls. "I shall finish you quickly. Moltres, I choose you!"

Jake widened his eyes in shock and horror, as the Flame Pokémon Moltres appeared in the air of the battlefield. "H-How did you manage to catch Moltres?!"

"Unlike you or Champion Daniel, I despise friendship and search for power," Kai explained. "I caught Moltres when my team spotted it at Mt. Ember's volcano. Let's finish Litten before he can attack us, Moltres."

Moltres gave a loud screeching roar.

"Flamethrower!" Kai ordered.

"Use Dig!" Jake commanded quickly.

Litten dug itself down to the ground while Moltres hovered in the air above its hole and fired reddish orange flames down, causing the hole to light up in flames as a cry of pain was heard within the flames.

"Litten!" Jake gasped. "That's unfair! I do not have a strong Pokémon to fight your Legendary!"

"Then just quit while you still can," Kai said.

Jake grunted as Litten came back up, panting heavily as it looked at its Trainer with expected eyes. "Litten…" he whispered.

"Meow," Litten nodded as it turned to Moltres, who looked unfazed at the glare it gave.

"All right, Litten. Let's continue!" Jake said confidently.

"What a waste of my time," Kai sighed. "Moltres, use Flamethrower again!"

Moltres opened its mouth and fired reddish orange flames down to Litten again, with Litten bracing itself before the flames surrounded it.

"Use Flame Charge!" Jake ordered.

Litten nodded. Its spines lit up as reddish orange flames surrounded Litten before it ran and jumped in the air towards Moltres, who had Litten back down by flapping its wings to create some gust.

"Keep using Flame Charge!" Jake commanded Litten, who nodded understandingly.

"A waste of energy," Kai sighed. "You should know that your weakling of a Fire type is no match for Moltres."

"Who says we're trying to attack it?" Jake smiled.

"What?" Kai looked confused.

Litten continued to try and reach it, or it seemed to be for Kai, but as it was kept from reaching Moltres, Litten began running around the battlefield faster than before.

Kai gave a bored look on his expression. "This isn't worth our time. Moltres, finish it off with Fire Spin!"

Moltres opened its mouth and fired a stream of fire at Litten, forming a circle around it before the flames turned into a tornado, trapping a worried Litten, who looked restlessly around for an opening.

"There's nowhere to run now," Kai said to Jake. "Flamethrower!"

Moltres nodded to its Trainer and fired reddish orange flames at Litten, who looked too stunned to move as it was finally hit and fainted.

"Litten!" Jake gasped.

"See? It is a weakling," Kai reminded him.

"Pokémon aren't weak just because they look like it," Jake growled, returning Litten to its Poké Ball. "You gave it your best shot, my friend," he whispered. "My next Pokémon…go, Trumbeak!"

Trumbeak came out in the air, glaring at Moltres, who stared back at the Trumbeak.

"Pluck!" Jake ordered.

"Flamethrower!" Kai demanded Moltres.

Moltres was faster than Trumbeak to attack, firing its reddish orange flames at it before Trumbeak fell to the ground immediately, having fainted.

"In one attack…?" Jake was shocked. "Come back, Trumbeak." He returned it to its Poké Ball. "Go, Sprigatito!"

Kai smiled evilly, when Sprigatito came out on the field. "A Grass type. That's your best shot at giving revenge for your fallen Pokémon?"

"Shut it," Jake said between clenched teeth. "I don't take advice from guys like you, Kai. Sprigatito, let's do this!"

"Meow," Sprigatitio nodded in agreement.

Kai yawned, looking bored. "Flamethrower."

Reddish orange flames came out of Moltres' mouth as it hit and burned Sprigatito, who screamed out in pain and fell on the ground, fainted.

"No way…" Jake was too shocked to find the words.

"Ready to give up?" Kai asked, giving him a dark smile.

Jake sighed. "I give up."

"Wise move, loser," said Kai, with Moltres hovering down to stand beside him. "You wouldn't stand a chance against Moltres anyway. I need a real challenge. Too bad that Alola got weak Trainers who lack any experience in battle. You should know your place before going straight into fighting a Legendary Pokémon."

Moltres nodded in agreement.

Jake gritted his teeth in anger. "I said that I don't take advice from you! What makes you look so tough? That you got a Legendary Pokémon by your side, or something? Daniel didn't need a Legendary Pokémon to win the Kanto League."

"True," Kai agreed. "He didn't, because he's got more real experience in battling with Pokémon than you do. You are just an inexperienced Trainer who thinks he can manage to win the Island Challenge."

Jake growled angrily, closing his hand into a fist. But before he could deliver a blow to Kai, Kukui stopped by appearing beside him and held him back.

"I don't think it'd be a good move if you attacked him, Jake," the professor said, turning to Kai, adding: "You should really give him a break. He's only recently started his journey from Kanto and has also only begun his Island Challenge. Give him some Slack Off, young Kai."

Kai shrugged. "Whatever. I was just trying to be helpful."

"Which you didn't," Jake shot back.

Kai sighed before returning Moltres to its Ultra Ball. "We shall settle this once you've become stronger," he told Jake. "Until then, adios." He walked away from them.

Jake gave a defeated expression as he held his Sprigatito in his arms. "I'm sorry that I lost, Sprigatito."

"Meow…" it said sadly.

Kukui approached Jake. "You just gotta need to train a bit more, then you will be able to beat him. I'd say as strong as a Blast Burn, and then you will be fine."

Jake stood. "I promise to get stronger and defeat Kai," he promised. "There's no way he will beat me a second time."

"That's what I like to hear!" Kukui smiled. "Just get a nice Dragon Claw on him, Jake. I will cheer you on."

Jake nodded in thanks before going into the Pokémon Center to heal his Pokémon. When he was finished getting his Pokémon healed, he walked back out to Kukui. "I'd like to start my second trial. Where should I take it?"

"Brooklet Hill," said Kukui. "Lana should be waiting for us there. I called her earlier and she agreed to letting you do some training there."

"Great!" Jake smiled gratefully. "It's time for the Brooklet Hill trial! Let's go!" He began to run, but Kukui stopped him.

"Do you know where Brooklet Hill is?"

Jake frowned, then shook his head.

"I thought so. Allow me to show you the way," Kukui said before walking forward, with Jake following close behind him.

Unaware to them, someone was watching them from behind a wall of the Pokémon Center building with interested eyes.

At Brooklet Hill

Jake awed at the lake in the area of the hill. "Wow, this looks awesome! Where is Lana, though?" he wondered as Kukui pointed to her at the left.

"Right there, Jake," was all he said.

Lana waved to them. "Hello, Jake, Professor Kukui!" she called happily.

They approached her as Jake smiled at Lana. "So you are going to help me with my second trial?"

"Yes," she nodded. "But first, a little introduction to the Water trial. You are going to be fishing the Totem from the lake."

"Wait…fishing?" Jake blinked, surprised.

"You see, Lana is a specialist in Water type Pokémon and fishing is one of her talents," Kukui explained. "So it's only natural that you'll be fishing for your second trial."

"Maybe you will also be fishing a Kyogre from the lake," Lana added.

Jake looked at her, dumbfounded. "Kyogre?!"

Lana stuck her tongue out at him.

Jake sighed, realizing she was playing with him. "All right, then where's the fishing rod?"

"Here," Lana presented him with his fishing rod. "I will be overseeing your trial. Kukui will stand to the side and judge how well you do."

"Seems fair enough," Jake nodded. He took Lucario's Poké Ball and sent him out. "Lucario, we're going fishing. Are you all up for our next trial?"

Lucario gave him a confident smile, giving him a thumbs up.

"Then, let's do it," said Jake.

"We are going on Lapras," Lana told him. "Your Lapras are right beside mine. I hope you're ready for the trial, because it will be a wild ride."

"Don't worry," Jake smiled. "I'm up for a challenge."

"All right, I will be standing here on this side of the lake while you two are going to the water," Kukui said. "Good luck, Jake. I am looking forward to seeing your results."

Jake gave him a confident smile and a thumbs up.

A little later, Jake and Lana were out in the lake on their respective Lapras, with Jake already fishing for the Totem Pokémon. He was patient with the waiting, while Lucario looked sharply in the water and waited for the moment to ready an attack.

After a while, Jake was getting impatient before his rod began shaking when something bit onto it. "I got a bite!" he said happily before he reeled the Pokémon up from the water, revealing it to be a Wishiwashi. "Aw, man," he looked disappointed.

Lana giggled. "You are going to be needing a lot more luck than that, Jake, in order to lure the Totem."

"Ah, no worries! I can do this!" Jake said confidently before his fishing rod began to be bit on again when the rod was shaking. "Another one! Let's go!" He reeled the Pokémon up, revealing it to be a Magikarp. "Are you serious?!"

Lucario shook his head in amusement while the giggle from Lana was a bit louder.

"One more time!" Jake said determinedly as he threw the rod in the water again. A bit sooner the rod was shaking in the water. "Another bite. Come on!"

The clouds were getting closer up in the sky, with the rain starting to pour down on them. Suddenly, a large Araquanid came up from the water and glared at Jake, who was nervous.

"Is this the Totem of Brooklet Hill?!" he gasped. "It's huge!"

Lucario braced himself for an upcoming attack, with Totem Araquanid getting ready to fire Bubble Beam at the two.

Lapras swam to land as Jake almost lost his footing but jumped down on the sand as he faced the Totem. "Lucario, use Aura Sphere!" he commanded.

Lucario held his hands together as a blue ball of energy formed between them when Lucario fired it at Totem Araquanid, who immediately sliced it in two with one of its claws.

Totem Araquanid fired the Bubble Beam again at them, which Lucario pushed Jake away before he was hit by the attack.

"Lucario, Extreme Speed!" Jake ordered.

Lucario began running faster and ran across the water to meet the Totem Araquanid, which was readying its Leech Life attack.

"Aura Sphere!" Jake commanded.

Lucario, while running around Totem Araquanid, created a blue ball of energy between his hands and fired it at the Totem, which got hurt from the attack, preventing it from using its move.

"Jake, you can use two Pokémon!" Kukui reminded the boy. "There's a Wishiwashi in the lake!"

Jake blinked in realization as he noticed the Wishiwashi in the water. "Thanks, Professor! All right, Trumbeak, I choose you!"

Trumbeak came forth from the Poké Ball as it gave a battle cry.

"Use Feather Dance on Araquanid! And Lucario, Extreme Speed on Wishiwashi!" Jake ordered.

They both nodded, with Trumbeak's wings glowing white as it lowered Araquanid's attack power, while Lucario ran faster than the Wishiwashi could see him and immediately hit the Wishiwashi, who cried out in pain. At the sound of its teammate injured, the Totem Araquanid launched a Bubble Beam at Lucario, who did not expect the attack and was hit hard before being sent across the water by one of Araquanid's claws.

"Lucario!" Jake gasped.

Trumbeak flew over to Lucario and assisted him back up to a piece of land in the lake. Lucario thanked it by smiling gratefully.

"All right, thanks Trumbeak," Jake thanked his Flying Pokémon, who gave a happy chirp. "Lucario, Aura Sphere on Wishiwashi! Trumbeak, use Pluck on Araquanid!"

Trumbeak's beak glowed white as it began attacking Araquanid while Lucario's blue ball of energy was fired at the Wishiwashi, who was then unable to continue the battle. As Trumbeak continued hitting the Araquanid, it was struck hard by one of Araquanid's claws.

"Roost!" Jake ordered Trumbeak, who began healing itself with a green glow around its body.

Araquanid glared at the two Pokémon it fought against. Then it launched a Bubble Beam attack on Trumbeak, who was saved by Lucario's Aura Sphere, with Trumbeak smiling at the Aura Pokémon.

"Keep it focused on the battle!" Jake said to his Trumbeak, who nodded understandingly. "Use Pluck!"

Trumbeak's beak glowed white as it continued its assault on Araquanid, who was growing restless at the continued fight.

"Lucario, Extreme Speed!" Jake commanded him.

Lucario nodded and ran quickly towards Araquanid, who was hit by one of its legs.

Jake spotted an opening with a shine in his eyes. "That's it!" he realized.

Lucario and Trumbeak looked at their Trainer in wonder.

"Trumbeak, use Pluck to distract Araquanid, and Lucario use Bullet Punch on Araquanid's legs," Jake ordered.

His Pokémon realized his plan and nodded understandingly to him before going towards Araquanid. Trumbeak's beak glowed white as it attacked Araquanid's eyes, irritating the Totem Pokémon while Lucario's fists glowed as he punched continuously at the legs of Araquanid.

Araquanid screeched painfully.

"Lucario, continue with Bullet Punch!" Jake said. "And Trumbeak, continue with Pluck!"

"Trum!"

"Rgh!"

They both continued their assaults on the Totem Pokémon until it finally began to fall down and crashed into a rock on a piece of land, unable to continue fighting.

Jake looked for any signs of threat from the Totem before relaxing with a sigh of relief. "We did it! We won the second trial!" he cheered, his Pokémon joining in with his cheering.

"Not bad, Jake!" Kukui called, clapping for the boy. "That was some fierce fighting you showed us. You surely showed a good strategy."

Jake rubbed the back of his neck before noticing a shadow above him. He paled as the Totem Araquanid was above him, but instead of attacking, it presented him with a Z-Crystal. "Is this for me?"

Araquanid nodded before turning and walking away.

Jake looked in his hand. "This is a Waterium Z," he realized.

Lucario looked down at the Z-Crystal before smiling at his Trainer.

"You do have a Water type, right, Jake?" Lana asked, coming over on her Lapras before jumping down on the ground.

"Yeah, I have a Buizel," Jake confirmed.

"Then I'd say the Araquanid would want you to have it," Lana concluded.

"Do you think so?" Jake smiled, earning a nod from her. He then looked where the Totem disappeared, calling: "Thank you so much, Araquanid!"

Kukui approached him, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "Well done, Jake," he congratulated. "If anything, it was a good battle."

"Yes," Jake agreed. "It was a challenge to win, but in the end, we managed to score a victory." He then asked: "Where's the next trial?"

"It is at Wela Volcano," Kukui replied. "We'll be meeting Kiawe there once we're ready to leave."

"I am ready," Jake smiled.

"You are, but what about your Pokémon?"

Jake realized he hadn't considered his Pokémon's health, so he nodded in acknowledgement to Kukui. "Let's go to a Pokémon Center first, then."

"That's more like it," Kukui said. "We're going with an Extreme Speed to the closest Pokémon Center."

Jake sweat dropped, as he knew he wasn't going to get used to these names Kukui uses in his words.

At a Pokémon Center

Jake heard the dinging recovery sound as he approached Nurse Joy, who came out with Lucario and Trumbeak. "I'm so glad you two are fine," he said gratefully. "Thank you, Nurse Joy."

"No problem," she said with a smile. "It's my job to make sure all Pokémon are healthy."

Jake returned Trumbeak to its Poké Ball, while keeping Lucario out with him, as Kukui approached him. "We are ready now for the Wela Volcano site."

Kukui nodded. "Then let us make a move on."

They began walking out of the Pokémon Center, before they met up with Kai, who was staring intensely at Jake, who was nervous.

"I heard you've won a second trial," Kai said. "Let's have a battle again. I challenge you!"