Episode 108: The Ruins of Alph
A couple of days had passed since Sora and Kairi's time traveling experience. On their day in Marion Town, Sora and Kairi did have a hard time explaining to their friends about going fifty years in the past; but it didn't surprise them because of their recent encounter with Celebi since the GS Ball shattered.
The group made for lunch when they were being watched by a small round, brown Pokémon with the top of its head resembling a club. A rim goes around the middle of its body. There are three yellow spots on its face, two of which surround its eyes, which are small black dots. It has short legs and toeless feet. The Pokémon also has a hole on its rear similar to the draining hole of a flowerpot. It went over to wherr Kairi is preparing the meal. It consisted of sandwiches containing her friend's favorite lunch meat. Kairi made one very special sandwich.
"I know Sora is going to love this one," Kairi beamed. She hands them over to the others "Here you go everyone. Plenty to go around!"
"Sweet!" Kiawe said taking his.
"This looks so yummy!" Mallow said taking hers.
Kairi handed them to the rest of the Alolan nine unaware of the little Pokémon taking one of the two remaining sandwiches. Kairi was about to hand one to Sora when she noticed it's gone.
"Where did it go?" Kairi asked. "It was just here a second ago." She looked around and heard some munching sounds. She looked below her and saw the little Pokémon eating what she made for Sora. "Oh. Hello there. Was that you?"
"Bonsly?"
"You shouldn't be taking things that aren't yours," Kairi scolded. The little Pokémon then started crying. Kairi waved her arms. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm sorry."
Sora and the Alolan nine went over to see what Kairi was looking at and they all saw the Pokémon crying, but Lillie had a different view on the matter.
"It's a Bonsly," Lillie said.
"It's been a long time since I've seen one of those," Mallow said.
"When I was handing your lunch to all of you, this little one just took it and started eating it," Kairi said. "And I scolded him, he started crying."
"It's not actually crying," Lille corrected her. "It's an attack it's using called Fake Tears. It does it to fluster an opponent." Bonsly stopped fake crying and took off with the sandwich.
"Hey! Come back here!" Sora called out. He chased after Bonsly for the sandwich, but Bonsly had finished eating what was left of the sandwich and hopped into the bushes. Sora came to the bush Bonsly had disappeared into, only to run off from the spikey-headed boy.
"Bonsly, Bonsly!"
Sora gave up searching for the little thief and went back to the others.
"He got away," Sora said. "But he won't next time." Kairi had decided to share hers with him.
"You can have half of mine. You need to eat more, and I'm not too hungry anyway," Kairi offered.
Sora smiled, "Thanks Kairi." Sora took the half she offered to him. "But what was that all about?" Sora took out his Pokédex to hear about Bonsly's information.
Bonsly, the Bonsai Pokémon
Type: Rock
Bonsly is known to cry in order to get away from danger. It does so as an act of defense to get its attackers to drop their guard. However, this Pokémon never goes anywhere near areas with water because of its fear of liquids.
"Looked like a Grass Type," Sora said putting his Pokédex away.
When the group was done with their meal the group made their way through the forest when they heard something in the shrubs. It turns out to be a pretty big Rattata.
"A Rattata! And a big one too!" Illima said.
"And he looks so cute!" Kairi said. She took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Okay Jigglypuff! Let's go!" The Pokéball opens an lets out Jigglypuff. "Okay, Jigglypuff! Double Slap!" Jigglypuff started to smack Rattata hard. Rattata gave Jigglypuff a bite on the stubby hand, but Rattata became infatuated with the balloon Pokémon.
"That was Cute Charm," Lillie said.
"And since that Rattata is a male, he won't be attacking much," Sophocles said.
"That makes it easier. Jigglypuff! Pound!" Kairi ordered. Jigglypuff gave the mouse Pokémon a hard smack. Kairi knew Rattata was weakened enough and she took out a Fast Ball threw it at the mouse Pokémon. Rattata flows inside the Pokéball and it wobbles around for a bit. Stars swirls around the Pokéball confirming the catch. "I just caught Rattata!"
"Toge, Toge!" Togepi cheered.
"Jigglypuff!"
"Way to go, Kairi! That was a pretty good catch," Sora said.
"Thanks Sora," Kairi said picking up the Fast Ball. "I'll do my best to take care of you." She puts the Fast Ball away.
With that settled, the group continued on to their journey to head to Goldenrod City for Sora's third Gym battle.
Just a little further up, a boy in a red shirt and blue jeans was filling up his canteen with some water when he spotted the group. His eyes had been on Kairi. He dropped his canteen not caring if his water was spilling.
"She's so very beautiful," he said almost losing his voice. "Who is she? Just who is she?" He ran up to the group and called up to them. "Exucse me there, miss!" They all stopped to face him. "To the girl with the auburn hair. I would like to know your name if you don't mind."
Kairi answered the boy, "It's Kairi."
"Kairi? Such a pretty name for a pretty face," the boy said in a flirting tone. "Never have I ever seen such a beauty like you!" He ran up to the girl and holds up a boquet of red roses. "My name is Stanley. You have got to tell me everything about yourself. What are your hobbies and do you have a boyfriend; and if not, then I would like to be your boyfriend."
Sora started gritting his teeth in jealousy when some random boy started to flirt with Kairi right in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Stanley, but I already have a boyfriend," Kairi said. Stanley stood there shocked and heartbroken. Every petal on the roses started to fall off and blow in the sudden wind.
"You're... already taken...?" Stanley said shocked. He looked over to the boys in the group and looked at three usual supects. "Which one is your boyfriend?"
"That'll be me," Sora spoke up. "And I'll thank you not to hit on her." Sora took her in his arms.
"Oh, shoot! My love life has once again taken a point blank fall! Am I doomed to live a life of loneliness?!" Stanley exclaimed. Staneley sobbed. Sora looked to Kairi with a puzzled look on his face.
"Was it something I said?" Sora asked.
"It does seem like it," Kairi said. "Maybe you should apologize."
"Why should I? I was only being honest. And I didn't like it when he was coming onto you like that!" Sora argued.
"Maybe Kairi is right," Illima stepped in. "At least let him you didn't mean any ill will."
"I guess you're right," Sora grudgingly agreed. He turned to Stanley. "Look. Stanley was it? Sorry that I snapped at you like that." He turns to Sora with tears in his eyes. "So how about we start over?" He looked over to Kairi and he got an idea.
"How about I have a battle with your girlfriend instead?" Stanley suggested. "Unless that'll make you jealous?"
"I don't have a problem just as long as it's just a battle," Sora said. He began to think, "At least I hope it is." He turned to Kairi. "What do you think?"
"I know I'll do okay," Kairi said. "Besides, I did well against Raven on my very first battle and won. And there was that one couple and against Team Rocket."
"You're right," Sora said. "Go for it!" Kairi was thrilled to have such a supportive boyfriend. She looked towards her opponent.
"How do you want to do this?" Kairi asked.
"Three on three work for you?" Stanley asked.
"I'm game," Kairi said.
"Great! Remember, just because you're pretty dosen't mean I'm gonna go easy on you!" Stanley said taking out his first Pokéball. "Okay Tyrogue! Go!" Stanley threw the Pokéball and it lets out his Tyrogue. Kairi took out her Pokéball knowing who to use first.
"Okay, Ledyba! Go!" Kairi threw her Pokéball and let out Ledyba.
"Kairi made a smart move sending out Ledyba since her Ledyba is a Flying Type," Hapu said.
"She does. But don't underestimate his Tyrogue. He looks like a tough Pokémon," Illima said.
"Ledyba! Start up with Tackle!" Kairi ordered. Ledyba charged towards Tyrogue.
"Tyrogue! Use Fake Out!" Stanley ordered. Tyrogue's hands glows orange and claps his hands creating a shockwave. Ledyba stops her attack and flinched. "Now move in with your Tackle!" Tyrogue ran towards the ladybug Pokémon and landed a Tackle on her.
"Ledyba! Use Swift!" Kairi called out. Ledyba fired her Swift right at the Fighting Type Pokémon. Tyrogue tried to dodge it, but the stars hit their mark. "Now use Comet Punch!" Ledyba moved towards Tyrogue to deliver a punch, instead of being Comet Punch, it was a completely different kind of punch attack.
"That was Mach Punch!" Sophocles said.
"And that was a good one!" Lana said.
"Way to go, Kairi!" Sora cheered.
Mach Punch had enough power to take down the scuffle Pokémon and hard. Stanley calls back his Tyrogue.
"That was pretty good, Kairi. But let's see how you handle this one," Stanley said taking out his next Pokéball and threw it. "Let's go Flaaffy!" He threw his Pokéball letting out a Pokémon that appears to a be a pink sheep that has wool on its back to its chin along with black stripes on its ears and its tail. It also possesses a blue orb at the tip of its tail. Sora took out his Pokédex and used it to scan this Pokémon.
Flaaffy, the Wool Pokémon
The evolved form of Mareep
Type: Electric
Flaaffy's wool quality changes so that it can generate a high amount of static electricity with a small amount of wool. The bare and slick parts of its hide are shielded against electricity.
Knowing Ledyba will be at a disadvantage, Kairi calls back the ladybug Pokémon and pulls out another Pokéball.
"It's your turn, Sunkern!" Kairi said throwing her Pokéball. It lets out Sunkern whom spins her leaves upon entry.
"You really are smart as you are pretty," Stanley complemented. "How long can your little Sunkern stand up against my Flaaffy?"
"We're never going to find out if we don't battle," Kairi said.
"True. We won't. Flaaffy! Start things up with Fire Punch!" Stanley ordered. Flaafy moved in with its stubby fist emitting fire.
"Sunkern! Dodge it!" Kairi called out. Sunkern floats up in the air avoiding Flaaffy's Fire Punch. "Fire your Seed Bomb!" Sunkern fired a few seeds and the attack makes contact with the sheep Pokémon resulting in some explosions.
"Flaaffy! Hit that Sunkern with Electroweb!" Stanley ordered. Flaaffy fired a web made of electricity and it traps the seed Pokémon in the electrified web. "Now use Fire Punch!" Flaaffy moved in to deliever Fire Punch on Sunkern with no way of escaping the hold. Kairi had to think very fast.
"Razor Leaf!" Kairi ordered. Sunkern fired Razor Leaf and the attack hits Flaaffy while in the air. "Now finish it off with Mega Drain!" Sunkern's leaves started to glow green and a green beam hits Flaaffy sucking out what energy was left. It also replenishes her stamina. Flaaffy falls over in exhaustion. Stanley calls back Flaaffy.
"That's two of mine you took down," Stanley said. "But the battle's not over yet." He took out one last Pokéball and threw it. "Granbull! Go!" The Pokéball opens and lets out a Pokémon that looks like a purple bulldog with its sharp fangs on the bottom jaw and a black collar around its neck and black wristbands on its front paws. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon.
Granbull, the Fairy Pokémon
The evolved form of Snubbull
Type: Fairy
Granbull has a particularly well-developed lower jaw. The enormous fangs are heavy, causing the Pokémon to tip its head back for balance. Unless it is startled, it will not try to bite indiscriminately.
"I do wonder how Kairi will handle this bruiser," Sora said in thoughts putting his Pokédex away. Kairi could tell how strong Granbull is just by looking at it. She calls back Sunkern and pulls out her Fast Ball containing her latest catch.
"Okay Rattata! Go!" Kairi said throwing her Pokéball letting out her Rattata.
"Rattata!" Kairi's Rattata stood before the larger Pokémon fiercely.
"That Rattata of yours looks like a mean one," Stanley said. "And it's bigger than it's supposed to be."
"I only just caught Rattata, and I wanna see how he does," Kairi said.
"How can you even tell what gender your Rattata is?" Stanley asked.
"Rattata is pretty easy because of the size of the whiskers," Kairi explained. "Okay, Rattata! Start things up with Quick Attack!" Rattata ran towards Granbull at such speed.
"Granbull! Stop that Rattata with your Crunch!" Stanley ordered. Granbull moved in to deliver a bite attack, but the bulldog Pokémon just missed the mouse Pokémon. "Don't let it get away! Crunch again!" Granbull tried another Crunch attack, but Rattata avoided Granbull again just by jumping on its arm.
"Bite!" Kairi called out. Rattata gave Grannbull a bite on the arm. Granbull yelped in pain as Rattata jumps off the larger Pokémon. "Now use Flame Wheel!" Rattata surrounds himself with fire and shoots at Granbull hitting it in the gut.
"Granbull! Use Close Combat!" Stanley ordered. Granbull charged towards Rattata to deliver its attack on the smaller Pokémon.
"Quick Attack!" Kairi called out Rattata ran right under the bulldog Pokémon before it could give him a Close Combat attack. "Now use Flame Wheel again!" Rattata curls into a ball and rolls as flames surrounds his body once again. The attack knocks Granbull on the ground. Rattata then stands on top of the fallen Pokémon. When Granbull tries to lift its leg to stand up, Rattata noticed right away and stomps on the belly as hard as he could stopping the leg lift completely.
"No way! I can't believe it! Not many trainers could have taken down my Granbull like that!" Stanley said calling his fallen Pokémon back.
Rattata ran up to Kairi and nuzzled up to his new trainer.
"I'm so proud of you, Rattata," Kairi said. "You did very good in your first battle!"
"Rata!" Rattata beamed.
Stanley took his leave after shaking Kairi's hand for her victory. As the group continued on with their journey, they all came across what looks like an old temple of some kind.
"What could that place be?" Sora asked.
"Give me a second," Illima said taking out his guidebook. "Here it is. According to the guidebook, this must be the Ruins of Alph. Legends tells of this place of a group of Pokémon lives in there known as the-" Illima's words were cut off.
"The Unown," a familiar voice called out. The group turned around and saw a familiar face. With Professor Hale is a young man with his brown hair tied in a ponytail wearing a searchers outfit the same the professor.
"Professor Hale?" Sora asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Just looking into the Ruins of Alph in research of the Unown, before I retire from exhibitionism," Professor Hale said. "I didn't expect to run into all of you here of all places."
"Neither did we to be honest," Sora said. "How is Molly doing?"
"She's doing well since we last saw you," Professor Hale said. "She was very happy to see you again after so long." That made Sora smile. "I figured I would see you eventually when I heard you and your friends had arrived in Johto."
"I kinda did too," Sora said looking at his assistant. "So who is this guy?" The man spoke up.
"My name is Schuyler, and I assist Professor Hale in his research," Schuyler said. "Professor Hale has told me so much about you, Sora."
"Thank I guess," Sora said.
"You said something about something about the Unown; as in the Symbol Pokémon," Lillie pointed out.
"That's right," Professor Hale nodded. "I've been researching the mysteries of the Unown for many years now. I have reported my many findings to Professor Oak. There's also theories about the prehistoric Pokémon Kabuto and Omanyte living here as well."
"After catching Aerodactyl, I think I would believe it," Sora said as he remembered his first encounter with actual Pokémon from prehistoric times. And Sora would be considered to be one of the few trainers who would have one or two of them. "Would it be okay if look into this with you?"
"I don't really know," Professor Hale said stroking his chin.
"It'll go faster if there more people along for the exhibition," Mallow said.
"And it'll be a thrill to see such rare Pokémon," Acerola said.
"And we promise not to get in the way," Kairi said.
"Oh, okay. I guess I can make an exception for you," Professor Hale led the group right to the Ruins of Alph, unaware of the Kabuto and Omanyte living underneath it. Two of the Pokémon sensed the presence of invaders. Kabuto and Omanyte went up to the surface and saw humans enter the Ruins. They had to do something.
The group had arrived to the Ruins of Alph; Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all looked around and saw it got its name, but they all wondered what could have happened that made it like it is today. Perhaps that itself is a mystery.
"The Ruins of Alph," Schuyler said.
"What could have happened here?" Kiawe asked.
"It's possible that the Unown were the cause of this," Professor Hale theorized.
Sora took a look at the strange symbols on the walls. They all looked like letters for some reason, but they appeared to have one eye.
"Are they what I think they are?" Sora asked taking out his Pokédex. He looked up Unown and the image of them appearing as the entire alphabet and two that looked like an exclamation point and a question mark appeared.
Unown, the Symbol Pokémon
Type: Psychic
This Pokémon is shaped like ancient writing. It is a mystery as to which came first, the ancient writings or the various Unown. Research into this topic is ongoing but nothing is known.
"That explains where they got their name," Sora said putting his Pokédex away. He looked at the walls and he saw it was a thriving civilization with people and Pokémon living happily together, until he reached a wall that shows an image of Kabuto and Omanyte attacking the city.
The next image showed the prehistoric Pokémon being driven underground by the symbol Pokémon; but the sea dwelling Pokémon had aldready had the city destroyed. He quickly realized it was Omanyte and Kabuto that did it, not the Unown and it might have been what has happened, or what they foretold would happen. Sora knew it was bad either way.
"Pikachu," Pikachu shared his trainer's worries.
"I know Pikachu," Sora said. "Uh, professor. You said that it was the Unown that destroyed the city, right?"
"It's only a theory," Professor Hale said. "Why?"
"I think you should come and see this for yourself," Sora said. Kairi, Togepi, the Alolan nine, Professor Hale, and Schuyler all came over to what Sora was looking at. Their eyes got wide-eyed to what they saw.
"Omanyte and Kabuto," Lana said.
"They're fighting the Unown," Mina said.
"But why?" Hapu asked.
"I may have a new theory," Professor Hale said. "The Unown must be protecting the city from behind further destroyed, so they drove them under ground. But, it have been too late for the inhabitants."
"What could the inhabitants do to make them so mad?" Sophocles asked.
"I don't know," Professor Hale admitted.
"I think I may have an idea," Schuyler spoke up. "It's possible that they had lived here before the inhabitants did. And they thought of them as invaders so they drove them away."
"I hope they're not around now, because of his experience with prehistoric Pokémon," Sophocles said.
"Me too," Mina said.
"And like that red moon incident a while back," Hapu remembered.
"I suppose we should take our leave," Illima said.
Suddenly two huge balls of mud came right at the group. Sora and the rest saw both of Kabuto and Omanyte.
"An Omanyte and a Kabuto," Lillie pointed out.
"So, the hydrographics were accurate," Professor Hale said.
"They do look angry that we're here," Lana pointed out.
"And it dosen't look like they're going to let us leave," Mallow said.
Sora and Kairi knew what to do since they had to do something about it.
"You guys stay back," Sora said.
"We'll deal with them," Kairi said. Pikachu jumped in front of Sora while Kairi had a Pokéball ready to deal with the prehistoric Pokémon. "Sunkern! Go!" Her Pokéball unleashed her Sunkern.
"Which one do you want?" Sora asked.
"I'll take Omanyte," Kairi said.
"Okay. Then I'll take Kabuto," Sora said looking to his partner. "Pikachu! Quick Attack!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu ran across the ruins floor and makes a strike at Kabuto.
"Sunkern! Use Razor Leaf!" Kairi ordered. Sunkern unleashed Razor Leaf and headed towards Omanyte. The spirial Pokémon avoided the attack and moved towards the seed Pokémon. "Keep firing Razor Leaf!" Sunkern fired Razor Leaf again and again. The attack hits its mark on Omanyte.
Pikachu literally ran circles around Kabuto as it tties to scratch Pikachu.
"Pikachu! Iron Tail!" Sora ordered. Pikachu smacked the shellfish Pokémon with his tail and hits a wall close by. "Now use Thunderbolt!" Pikachu shocked Kabuto hard. The prehistoric Pokémon wasn't going down so easily. "Dosen't this thing quit?
Omanye fired a Mud Shot attack and Sunkern dodges the muddy projectiles. Omanyte tried again by sending out Water Pulse. The attack hits its mark with the Seed Pokémon and became confused in the process.
"Sunkern! Try using Seed Bomb!" Kairi called out. Sunkern did fire several seeds all over. All of the seeds exploded upon landing. One of the seeds landed in front of Kabuto and went flying upon exploding. The impact made Pikachu do a backflip avoiding the attack.
"Pika," Pikachu panted.
"Hey Kairi! Watch the friendly fire!" Sora said to his girlfriend.
"Sorry Sora," Kairi said. "And Sorry Pikachu! You okay?"
"Pika!" Pikachu said giving a thumbs up.
"Wanna wrap this up?" Sora asked.
"Gladly," Kairi nodded. "Sunkern! Take Omanyte to the sky!" Sunkern manged to shake off the confusion, and went to Omanyte who wrapped itits tentacles around the seed Pokémon. Sunkern to the sky.
"To the sky," Sora said getting an idea. "Pikachu! Home run with Iron Tail!"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded. Pikachu swung his Iron Tail like a baseball bat and batted Kabuto to the sky heading to Sunkern and Omanyte. The spiral Pokémon manages to let go of Sunkern. She floats up while Kabuto and Omanyte bashes into each other. Both were low on energy. Sora threw his Pokéball and traps Kabuto inside. Kairi also took out a Pokéball and threw it at Omanyte who also flows inside the Pokéball. The two Pokéballs wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéballs confirming the catch. Sora's Pokédex starts buzzing asking him if he wants to keep Kabuto in exchange of one the others or does he want to send to Professor Oak's lab. Sor chose to keep Kabuto in exhange for Gligar.
The couple managed to catch two prehistoric Pokémon.
"Pretty good catches you two," Professor Hale said.
"Thanks," Sora said.
"Now let's get out of here before any more show up," Hapu said.
Not needing to be told twice everyone made a break for it. Once they all made it far enough, they all gave a sigh of relief.
"I think that was close," Acerola said panting.
"Too close to find out what would happen," Schuyler said also panting.
"You think we should let the world know about the Ruins of Alph's latest discovery?" Kairi asked.
"I don't think so, Kairi," Professor Hale said. "I think it's best that the ancient ruins stays a mystery for now."
"Now that's an idea," Kiawe said.
"Agreed. The last thing those other Kabuto and Omanyte need is uninvited guests coming to their doorstep," Illima said.
"And I did say it'll be my final exhibition," Professor Hale said. He looked over to the group. "So where are you heading now?"
"Down to Goldenrod City," Sora said.
"Well, if you get the chance, do you think you could come over to Greenfiled. I mean it wouldn't be too much trouble," Professor Hale.
"Not at all," Kairi said.
"We could drop in to say hi," Sora said smiling.
Professor Hale smiled and said their goodbyes to Sora's parent's old friend and took their leave. Later that night, Team Rocket manages to make it to the Ruins of Alph.
"Do you think we could find any rare Pokémon here, Jessie?" James asked.
"I don't think we can find any rare Pokémon. I know we'll find any rare Pokémon," Jessie said. "There have to be some gems to give to the boss."
"Jessie's right. The boss will be tickled pink with delight when we come back with them," Meowth said.
"I can dig it," James smiled.
Suddenly a bunch of Kabuto and Omanyte had shown up. They all knew the prehistoric Pokémon were within their grasp and rushed over to nab them only to end up being their victims. They end up running for their lives as the prehistoric sea Pokémon chased them off the grounds of the ancient ruins.
Team Rocket kept running for their lives unaware that they had stopped chasing them.
TEAM ROCKET IS RUNNING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket yelled as they kept running.
There will be more to come the next time, so keep reading and waiting for it.