Episode 142: Right On, Rhydon!
About several hours after capturing Stakataka, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Togepi, the Pichu, and the Alolan nine all continued on with their journey to Olivine City.
By that time, Sora and Kairi are challenged into a battle by twin girls.
"Look what we got here, Mindy. The Indigo Plateau Pokémon League champion and the Poké Maiden tournament's champion," one twin said.
"It's not everyday we come across such two trainers like them, Cindy," Mindy said.
"Do you see what I see, Kairi? They heard of us," Sora said with a joke. That made Kairi giggle.
"I think you're right, Sora," Kairi said.
"How about we make this an interesting battle?" Cindy asked.
"Yes. Interesting," Mindy added. The couple looked at each other, not sure how to make of it.
"What?" Sora and Kairi asked. The twins both grinned wickedly at each other before they gave off a cackle.
"When we win," the twins both said in unison. "We wanna have a selfie with the both of you!" They both held out their cellphones. That made Sora and Kairi a bit confused. Pikachu and Togepi were just as confused.
"You mean the both of you were coming all this way just to have a selfie with us?" Kairi asked.
"Toge?" Togepi chirped.
"The thing is, my sister and I take all sorts of selfies with famous people. We usually have them with movie and tv stars," Cindy said.
"We've been hearing all about you, we just wanna have a selfie with you, so we came to challenge you into a battle before we do," Mindy said.
Sora and Kairi didn't know how to make a proper response, but they didn't want to disappoint the twins and it was too late to back out of the battle since they already accepted the challenge. They had no choice but to go along with with.
"I think we can hold you two up to that," Sora said.
"But, that can be decided after we had our battle, okay?" Kairi asked.
"Great!" The twins cheered. The twins each took out a Pokéball and threw it to let out their chosen Pokémon.
"Go for it, Fluffy!" Cindy called out. The Pokéball lets out a Mareep.
"I choose you, Fuzzy!" Mindy called out. The Pokéball opens and it unleashes a Flaaffy. Both sheep Pokémon bleats upon entry.
"A Mareep and a Flaaffy. Evolution pairs really be a fad," Sora said.
"We have our own combos as well, Sora. So, how about we use it?" Kairi suggested. She took out a Fast Ball.
"Great!" Sora also took out a Fast Ball. The couple both threw the Fast Balls. "Go for it, Aipom!" The Fast Ball opens and Aipom does a tail stand.
"Come to battle, Raticate!" Kairi called out. Kairi's Raticate does a flip upon entry. The twins were a bit amazed by the size of the mouse Pokémon, but they wondered how big a fall he was going to make. "So, do you two want to make the first move?"
"Gladly! Fluffy! Start up with Tackle!" Cindy ordered.
"You too, Fuzzy!" Mindy ordered.
Both the Mareep and Fllaaffy charged in with a tackle to land a hit.
"Aipom! Use a Mega Punch on that Mareep!" Sora ordered.
"Raticate! Quick Attack on that Fllaaffy!" Kairi ordered.
Aipom swung her tail and she threw it and it landed a hit on the Fluffy. Raticate quickly charged staright into Fuzzy landing a hit as well. Both the Mareep and Flaaffy skidded the ground.
"Fluffy! Use Electro Web!" Cindy ordered.
"Fuzzy! You use Electro Web too!" Mindy ordered.
Both the Mareep and Flaaffy fired an electrified web right at the couple's Pokémon. The two webs turned into one big electric web. But, Sora had an idea how to block it.
"Aipom! Swift!" Sora ordered. Aipom swung her tail once again and the stars stops the web, and they get caught inside. "Now use Double Hit!" Aipom threw five hits on the stars caught in the web and the attack gets sent back at them, ending up getting caught in their own attack.
"Raticate! Flame Wheel!" Kairi ordered. Raticate curls into a ball of fire and rolls right into the twin's Pokémon. They got flying in the air. "Your turn, Sora!"
"Thanks, Kairi!" Sora thanked his girlfriend. "Double Hit again!" Sora ordered. Aipom jumped in the air and landed a Double Hit on both Fluffy and Fuzzy. Once that was done, Aipom started to evolve. Aipom had now evolved into an Ambipom.
"Aipom evolved!" Sora and Kairi said at once.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Togepi!" Togepi chirped.
Both Fluffy and Fuzzy fell to the ground, and they were both beaten.
"Fluffy!" Mindy gasped.
"Fuzzy!" Cindy also gasped. The twins looked at the couple. "We just lost! Can't believe it!"
"I guess we don't get our selfies," Mindy groaned.
"We didn't say that," Kairi corrected her. The couple walked up to the twins. "We would have gotten along with it even if we had lost. And of course, Sora would say the same thing."
"Yeah. But, the problem is, I might have gotten you jealous in the process," Sora said.
The twins were so very happy that the couple got to have their selfies either way. Kairi told them not to kiss Sora on the cheeks; but they went along with it. The twins had different selfies with the couple along with Pikachu and Togepi in the mix. There were even a couple when the Pichu got into it.
The group continued on with their journey. Along the way, Sora had exchanged Silvally and Ambipom for Bayleef and Quilava. The group made a stop by a lake to spend the night.
"This looks like a pretty good spot," Lana said.
"I'll it is. Just look at this lake. It's so very beautiful," Lillie said.
"And a good place to spend the night, since the two of us can gaze into it," Sora said, wrapping his arm around Kairi. She sighs happily, placing her head on his shoulder. Lillie, Mallow, and Acerola high-fived Lana for the call.
The group fell right to sleep and Sora and Kairi shared a tent along with Kiawe, Mallow, and Lana. Pikachu, Togepi and the Pichu slept close to each other.
In one of the other tents, Sophocles and Illima shared one together; Sophocles had Togedemaru out and she slept close to her trainer. Illima wasn't bothered by the dim light. Hapu, Acerola, and Mina shared one with Lillie and she had Snowy close to her.
As Sora and Kairi slept, she clinged to her boyfriend despite having her own sleeping bag. Kairi began to dream that she was in a scene of the Little Mermaid and she looked over to Sora who was now unconscious. She sang to him.
(Kairi)
What would I give
To live where you are?
What would I pay
To stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you
Smiling at me?
Where would we walk?
Where would we run?
If we could stay all day in the sun?
Just you and me
And I could be
Part of your world
Sora stirs awake and sees her looking back at him. Sora and Kairi stare into each other's eyes and she kisses him on the lips. He kissed her right back.
Back to reality, Kairi smiles happily to the dream. On the very next morning, Togepi and the two Pichu woke up and stepped outside. Pikachu joined in on the fun. As they exited the tent, the sun's light hits Sora in the face. Sora just shuts the tent again to get some more sleep.
"More sleep. Need more sleep," Sora said with a yawn. Kairi continued to cuddle her boyfriend in her sleep.
Pikachu, Togepi, and the two Pichu stepped outside and started to play. Togedemaru and Snowy joined in on the fun. Sophocles woke up and stepped out.
"Man, that was a good sleep," Sophocles yawned. He looked over to the Pokémon playing and he went up to them. "Try not to be so noisy this early the morning." As they Pokémon kept playing, Pikachu saw something moving around in the water. Something pointy was swimming in the lake. Togedemaru went over to Sophocles who was doing some stretches.
"Maru! Maru!" Togedemaru warned. She starts to tug her trainer's shirt.
"What's the matter, Togedemaru?" Sophocles asked.
"Togedemaru! Maru!" Togedemaru said, pointing to the lake. He looks into the lake and he saw nothing.
"There's nothing there but water," Sophocles said. "It's too cold and early to go for a swim. So, don't bother me abou-" his sentence was cut short when he saw something swimming in the water this time. "What the? Is that what you were trying to tell me?" The pointy object was moving he fell on his rump when that something jumped out of the water. It was a Rhydon. He didn't know what a Rhydon was doing in the lake, but he knew his friends had to see it to believe it. "Guys! Guys! Wake up! There's something here you will not believe!" Rhydon dove back in the water and kept swimming. Sora, Kairi, and the rest came out of the tents all drowsy.
"What is it, Sophocles? Why did you wake us up?" Sora asked.
"I just said there's something in the water that you wouldn't believe! And I saw that something in the water!" Sophocles said.
"What?" Kairi asked.
"What I saw was a Rhydon. And it was swimming in the water," Sophocles said. Sora, Kairi, and the rest of the Alolan nine all looked at each other. Hapu growled in irritation.
"Sophocles, if you woke up just to pull a prank on us, I'll give you such a kick so hard you'll flying around the world and land in the lake!" Hapu yelled.
"It's not a prank! I know what I saw and what I saw was a swimming Rhydon!" Sophocles said.
"It might not have been a Rhydon. You were probably just seeing things," Kiawe said.
"I'm telling you, I saw a Rhydon! Pikachu, Togepi, Snowy, Togedemaru, and the Pichu saw it too," Sophocles said.
"Kiawe might be right. You were probably just still half asleep when you saw it. It might have been a Feraligatr or a Blastoise; or maybe a Snorlax taking a swim," Sora said.
"It might have been, but none of them had a horn sticking out of their noses!" Sophocles said, placing his hand on his nose and moving it to make it like a Rhydon's horn.
"There is no way that a Rock and Ground Type like a Rhydon can live in water. And if so, then how could it live in water?" Lillie asked.
"I can tell you how," a new voice called out. The group turned around and saw a young woman green long hair tied in a ponytail and has green eyes. She wore a pink long sleeved shirt and purple pants wearing yellow loafers. She also has a red pouch on her left. She was carrying a Marill with its right ear pierced. "Easily."
"Um, who are you?" Sora asked.
"Right. My name is Pietra and this is my Marill," Pietra introduced herself.
"Marill," her Marrill chirped.
"I'm Sora and this is my girlfriend Kairi," Sora introduced.
"Hello," Kairi greeted.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Toge, Togepi!" Togepi chirped.
"Pichu!" The Shiny Pichu chirped.
"Pichu," The Spiky-eared Pichu chirped.
"I'm Lillie."
"My name is Illima."
"I'm Mallow."
"The name's Kiawe."
"My name's Lana."
"I'm Sophocles."
"I'm Acerola."
"Mina."
"And the name's Hapu."
"Nice to meet you all," Pietra said bowing her head. "Anyway, I came here because I heard you talking about a Rhydon swimming in the lake. Is that right?" Everyone all looked over at Sophocles.
"Yeah! I did! I just saw a Rhydon swimming in the lake. It was the most unusual thing I have ever seen!" Sophocles said.
"How can it be a Rhydon?" Mallow asked.
"A Rhydon normally doesn't live anywhere near water," Illima said.
"That's right, Illima. It is unusual for Rhydon to swim; unless they know an attack known as Surf," Pietra said.
"Pietra's right! Rhydon can use Surf! That can account for the reason it swims," Lillie said.
"That's right. Anyway, which way did it go?" Pietra asked.
"It shot out of the lake like a Wailmer and then it turned around and swam to the far side of the lake before it disappeared," Sophocles answered. That made Pietra disappointed.
"It sounds to me that you're looking for that Rhydon too," Kairi pointed out.
"To be honest, I am," Pietra said.
"Why?" Sora asked.
"Come with me and I'll show you why," Pietra said. Sora, Kairi, the Alolan nine, and the Pokémon followed her to a mountain tunnel and saw what she meant.
"Whoa. It must be pretty difficult to work on a tunnel like this," Sora said.
"It is. It'll be worth it. My grandma had to cross this mountain to get to town, but it's a long trip and just the other day, she tripped and spranged her ankle. If she could cut straight through, it'll make her life a whole lot easier," Pietra explained. three Dugtrio are seen carrying huge boulders and amazed by how such small Pokémon can carry such big rocks.
"Look at that! Dugtrio!" Sophocles said.
"Does this tunnel have anything to do with why you're looking for that surfing Rhydon?" Lillie asked.
"I'm afraid it does. We're almost at the point of breaking through," Pietra said. A Sandslash and a Graveler are seen digging in the tunnel, trying to get through the tunnel.
"You even have a Graveler and a Sandslash helping you," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Yeah. They're having trouble breaking through this rock and some water started leaking out," Pietra said. Water drips on the two Ground Type Pokémon and they flee out of the tunnel, not wanting to get wet.
"I can see why you need that Rhydon. You know it's not afraid of water like most Ground Types and completely get through the tunnel," Illima said.
"How about we head back to the lake and help you catch that Rhydon," Sora offered.
"That'll be great!" Pietra said.
"Marill!" Pietra's Marill chirped.
Up above, Team Rocket is up above and eavesdropping on their conversation.
"Did you hear what I heard?" Jessie asked.
"I certainly did," James said.
"The boss will flip over for a Rhydon that likes the water! We gotta go and catch it before they do!" Meowth said.
"Wobbufett," Wobbufett said.
"It's too bad we simply couldn't make a trade," Jessie calling Wobbufett back inside his Pokéball.
Over to the group they made back to the lake to begin their search for the surfing Rhydon.
"Okay, we're back here in the lake. So, Pietra. How often have you been seeing this surfing Rhydon?" Sora asked.
"I have only seen a few times," Pietra answered. "But, from from what I can figure out, that Rhydon lives somewhere in these woods."
"Then that's where we should start looking," Kiawe said.
"Are there any clues on how we're going to find it?" Hapu asked.
"There is a place where I have seen some Rhydon tracks. And I can show you where it is," Pietra said.
"That's a good start," Acerola said.
"Let's go there," Sora said. Pietra led the group to where she found the tracks. And judging how they looked, they seemed pretty fresh. And they also lead right into the lake.
"Here they are," Pietra said.
"Marill," her Marill chirped.
"Those footie prints should be a synch to follow," Sora said.
"Why didn't you just follow them on your own, Pietra?" Kairi asked.
"I tried that, but it's not as simple as I orginally thought," Pietra said.
"And I can see why. Look," Lillie said, pointing to the trail.
"No wonder you're having a hard time. Those Rhydon tracks are heading into that lake," Acerola said.
"And I thought Lana loved the water," Sophocles said.
"I did too," Lana said.
Sora looked down and he saw what looks like an apple core on the ground. He picked it up and examined it.
"Guys, it's an apple core," Sora said. "Did that Rhydon eat this one?"
"Yes. The Rhydon loves apples and I see those laying around all the time," Pietra said.
"Judging by how it looks, I would say it was freshly eaten and left behind. My theory is that it came for a swim here because it was hungry," Illima said.
"There must be an apple tree somewhere around here," Kairi pointed out.
"And with any luck, we can find Rhydon," Mallow said.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"Pichu!" Both Pichu said.
The group took off searching for the apple tree where Rhydon likes to pick and eat some apples. Team Rocket tiptoed right behind them, poorly disguising themselves as bushes.
"Now that we know what it likes to eat," Jessie said.
"All we have to do is lay and wait," James said.
"Heh! Laying and waiting is what I do best!" Meowth laughed. Team Rocket did their own tracking and they found some round footprints on the soil. "Look."
"Those are footprints. Could they be Rhydon's?" James asked.
"Well, of course their Rhydon tracks! What else could they be?" Jessie hissed.
"Beats me," James asked in a rhyme.
"Let's go!" Jessie proclaimed. Team Rocket followed the tracks and they heard some crunching sounds coming from behind a bush.
"Hey, you hear that?" Meowth asked.
"It's right behind that bush!" Jessie said. Team Rockets snickered wickedly and they leapt to nab Rhydon, but they fell straight to the ground when they found it was just Wobbufett eating an apple. "Hey! What's the big idea, Blobbo?!"
"Yeah! We're starving too! What about us?!" James exclaimed.
"And how and when did you get out of your Pokéball?!" Meowth added. Jessie and James both looked at him. "What? There was no way he could pop out without us knowing! I mean, how the hell do not wonder about something like that?!"
"Wobbu," Wobbufett said, pointing to an apple tree. Team Rocket forgot about logic and they picked apples as fast as a whip and chowed down on the apples and carelessly threw the cores.
Sora, Kairi, Pietra, the Alolan nine, and the Pokémon approached the area and they all saw apple cores flying from behind the bush.
"Come on, guys," Sora said. They all peeked and they saw it was only Team Rocket. "I should have guessed it was too good to be true. What are you three morons doing here?" Team Rocket started to give their motto with their mouths full. When the motto was done, Sora just rolled his eyes. "You can think you can do your stupid motto when your mouths aren't full; because I didn't hear any of it."
"All we heard was mmf, mmf, mmf," Mallow said.
A roar was then heard. They all turned to see the Rhydon had shown up. And he looked pretty angry when Team Rocket was eating his favorite food.
"I have a sinking feeling that it's pretty angry," James said.
"And I have a sinking feeling that it's pretty hungry too," Jessie said.
"Wobbu," Wobbufett said. Meowth held up some apple cores in front of Rhydon.
"Here, take these. I haven't even touched 'em," Meowth fibbed. Rhydon charged at Team Rocket with his Horn Attack and they got sent flying in the air.
"TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"
"WOBBUFETT!"
Rhydon gives another roar and Pietra steps in.
"Rhydon!" She called out to the rhino-like Pokémon. "You're strong and I need your help! Let me battle you so I can catch you!" Rhydon stomps on the ground three times and then runs off. "Yes! That's the kind of power I need!" They chased after the Pokémon, only to jump in the water. "No! It's going to get away!"
"Not for long!" Sora said, taking out his Pokéball. "Rhydon isn't the only one who likes the water! Go Croconaw!" Sora throws his Pokéball and Croconaw dives in the water as soon he is let out.
"I'm in too, Sora! Omanyte! Go!" Kairi said throwing her Pokéball. Omanyte joins in on the pursuit. Lana takes out her Pokéball and Net Ball.
"Go Seaking and Poliwhirl!" Lana shouted. Seaking and Poliwhirl joins the couple's Water Type Pokémon to chase after Rhydon.
"Marill! Join in!" Pietra said.
"Marill!" Marrill chirped.
"Everyone! Go and find that Rhydon!" Lana said.
"And don't let him get away!" Kairi said.
"Hurry!" Sora added.
"Move out!" Pietra said. All of the Water Pokémon all nodded and swam in the lake to find Rhydon. "We can follow them in my boat!"
"The most of us will stick on the land keep it from getting away!" Kiawe said.
"Right! Kairi, Lana, and I can go with Pietra!" Sora said. With that said, Sora and the girls got to the boat and Pietra steered her boat. Team Rocket landed in a nearby tree and climbed right down.
"We may not have gotten Rhydon, but we did get the boot," Meowth said.
"More like the horn," Jessie said.
"At least we went with a little dignity," James said. Team Rocket heard a motor of a motorboat and saw Sora, Kairi, Lana, and Pietra on the boat. "What is that?"
"It's the twerps and that girl," Jessie said.
"What are they doing?" Meowth asked.
Kiawe, Sophocles, Acerola, and Hapu came along and spotted Team Rocket looking at the group.
"What? Are you still here?" Hapu asked.
"We'll have to get rid of you," Kiawe said. He took out a Pokéball and threw it. "Charizard! Go!" Charizard comes out of the Pokéball and roars upon entry. "Charizard! Fire Punch!" Charizard's fist emitted fire and threw a burning punch. Team Rocket goes flying once again.
"THIS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE ANIME!" Team Rocket shouted when they went flying.
"WOBBU!" Wobbufett echoed.
A star twinkles in the distance.
"That takes care of them; for now," Kiawe said.
"Even I would have learned my lesson by now," Sophocles said.
"Yeah. Me too," Acerola said.
On the lake, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Togepi, the Pichu, Lana, and Pietra keep an eye open for Rhydon.
"That Rhydon can't be too far," Sora said.
Marill comes out of the water to make a report.
"Did you find anything, Marill?" Pietra asked.
"Marill," Marill shook her head.
Croconaw swam around, keeping his eye open. His eyes shifts around like a crocodile that it's based on waiting for an imminent prey to come around. Sora looked over to Croconaw and figured if Totodile hadn't evolved, then he would have used the search as an excuse just to play around in the water. Croconaw stopped swimming and saw something in the water. He bit the object, but it turns out to be Rhydon's horn. Rhy don comes out of the water with Croconaw on it. Rhydon spins the horn to get him off. Rhydon's horn spinned faster and fast and the crocodile Pokémon goes flying. Croconaw makes a pretty big splash (no pun intended).
"Rhydon! Battle me!" Pietra challenged.
"Seaking! Poliwhirl! Surround Rhydon, so he won't get away!" Lana told them.
"Omanyte! You surround him too!" Kairi told Omanyte.
"Croconaw! You too!" Sora said.
All of the Water Type Pokémon quickly surrounds Rhydon just so he won't escape again; or it would seem. Rhydon dove underwater. All of the Pokémon swam after the rhino-like Pokémon to catch him. Rhydon stops swimming and used Horn Drill to create a whirlpool.
"Omanyte!" Kairi gasped.
"Everyone! Get out of the water!" Lana called out. It was no use, since all of the Pokémon gat caught in the whirlpool. As they all went for a spin, all of them got very dizzy.
"I don't feel so hot." - Croconaw subtitle.
They called back their Pokémon with the rest of the Alolan nine still on the shore and witnessing what happened. The group got back together to come up with a new plan.
"Man, I knew this was going to be hard, but I didn't think it'll be THIS hard," Sora groaned.
"I'll be lying if I said that I didn't think that too," Lana said. Kairi looked at the Rhydon coming out of the water and walked on the island on the lake.
"Guys! Look!" Kairi said. They all turned to see Rhydon coming out of the water. "He's going ashore on that little island!" Illima took out a pair of binoculars and looked inside. He noticed something red in the trees on the island. He zoomed in and saw what they were.
"Apple trees. I can see why Rhydon loves to swim so much. The Rhydon must love apples so much, he got over his fear of water to swim there," Illima said.
"We should get over to the island!" Sophocles suggested.
"I don't think that boat is going to support all of us," Mallow said.
"And the motor won't last for long if we make a few trips; I think," Acerola said.
"There are some other boats you can use. Those are spares in case the one I'm using sinks!" Pietra offered.
"Now that we know every inch of the area, Rhydon has nowhere to get away," Kiawe said.
"Then let's get a move on!" Sora said. The group got to the boats Pietra told them about. They all rode over to the island to get hold of the Rhydon before he gets away again. "Okay, let's split up. Illima, Acerola, Mina, and Hapu, you guys check the woods that way, and the rest of us can try to do the same that way."
"Sounds like a plan," Acerola said. With that said, they all slpit up to search for Rhydon. Illima, Acerola, Mina, and Hapu got deep in the woods.
"This spot should do," Illima said.
"Any ideas of how we're going to get him?" Acerola asked.
"We might just dig a hole and trap Rhydon in it," Mina suggested.
"You mean take a play from Team Rocket's playbook?" Hapu asked. The Fairy Type trainer nodded. "Works for me." Hapu took out her Heavy Ball and threw it to let out her Shiny Onix. Stars swirls around upon entry. "Onix, you dig a hole, big enough for Rhydon to fall in, but not too deep." Onix nodded and dug the hole. It wasn't deep enough, so they all took some debris from the trees and covered it up... They all headed into the shrubs to lay and wait.
They waited for a few moments. After that, they heard something fall right into the pitfall trap.
"Could it be?" Illima asked.
"It might be," Mina said.
"Better check it out," Hapu said.
Illima, Acerola, Mina, and Hapu went over to see what fell in the trap, hoping it was Rhydon, but it turns out out to be a Slowpoke.
"Slow, Slowpoke, Slow," Slowpoke said. They all did an anime-style fall.
"Maybe not," Acerola said.
"It was worth a try," Mina said.
"We should get that Slowpoke out of there before, it figures out where it is," Hapu said.
"Yes. It wouldn't be right to leave it in there. I hope Sora and the rest had much better luck than we did," Illima said. They took a vine and put it down in the hole for Slowpoke to snag it.
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Togepi, the Pichu, Lillie, Mallow, Kiawe, Lana, Sophocles, Pietra, and Marill wait in the bushes in the nearby bushes waiting for Rhydon to come.
"I hope Rhydon is pretty hungry," Lillie said.
"Me too," Sophocles said.
"He had to be working up an appetite after all that excitement," Kiawe said.
"And we'll be ready for him. Right Marill?" Pietra asked.
"Marill!" Marill nodded.
They all heard some stomping and they quieted down. What they saw was Rhydon coming to eat the red delicious apples in the tree. Pietra comes out of their hiding place.
"Rhydon! Battle us!" Pietra challenged. Rhydon shrugs her off and just kept going.
"You're not getting away that easily! Pikachu! Thunderbolt on the ground in front!" Sora ordered.
"PIKACHU!" Pikachu fired Thunderbolt in front of Rhydon and he stops in his tracks.
"Don't run away, Rhydon! I challenge you to a battle!" Pietra said. Rhydon looked at the girl and saw how determined she is. Rhydon could have kept going, but he had no choice but to accept Pietra's challenge, since he knew she wasn't going to leave him alone. "Thank you, Rhydon! I knew you'd come through!" She turns to her Marill. "Okay Marill, this is what we have been waiting for."
"Marill!" Marill said.
Marill got into position for battle. Illima, Acerola, Mina, and Hapu came in just in time to witness the battle. Rhydon starts things up with Dragon Tail.
"Rhydon is using Dragon Tail! Stand your ground!" Pietra called out. Rhydon's tail smacked Marill, but it had no effect since Rhydon's attack is a Dragon Type move. "Use Water Gun!" Marill fires Water Gun, but Rhydon wasn't phased by the attack.
"It's not afraid of water, Pietra! Try something else!" Sora called out to her.
"Marill! Try a Play Rough attack!" Pietra ordered. Marill charges towards Rhydon to use Play Rough on him, but Rhydon smacked Marill off. Rhydon moved in with Horn Drill. "Fire your Ice Beam!" Marill fired Ice Beam and hit the large Pokémon in his tracks.
"Too bad Rhydon didn't get over his fear of ice," Kairi said.
"That's right. And Now Rhydon is on the ropes!" Lillie said. Marill fired Ice Beam again and it froze Rhydon in place. Pietra took out a Pokéball and threw it at the frozen Rhydon. The Pokéball wobbles around, but the Pokéball burts open. Rhydon breaks out of the ice.
"No good! That Rhydon still has some fight left in him!" Hapu said.
"Marill! Ice Beam again!" Pietra ordered. Marill fired Ice Beam again, but Rhydon moves on the right. Rhydon charges with another Horn Drill. "Dodge it!" Marill dodges the attack. "Now use Iron Tail!" Marill's ball on her tail gave off a metallic glow and she swung it around like a mace. Rhydon charges right at the aqua mouse Pokémon with ferocity. Marill smacked Rhydon right on the side of his face and fell to the ground beaten. Pietra took out another Pokéball and threw it at Rhydon. He flows inside and the Pokéball starts wobbling around again. The group watched anxiously to see if it will hold Rhydon this time. Stars swirls around Rhydon, confirming the catch was successful. She walks over to the Pokéball and picked it up. "We finally caught the swimming Rhydon!"
"Marill!" Pietra's Marill jumped into her trainer's arms.
"Thank you, Marill!" Pietra said happily.
"I'll have to admit, I thought that Rhydon had you beat, but using Iron Tail on it was a very smart move," Sora said.
"I may have thought of it, Sora, but it was Marill who did it. You were perfect, Marill," Pietra said with pride.
The group went back to the tunnel Pietra and her Ground Type Pokémon to complete the shortcut. Knowing her new Rhydon isn't going to be troubled by water, Rhydon used Horn Drill to break through the boulder blocking the way. Rhydon then broke it with Dragon Tail. Now the tunnel was completed. Sora, Kairi, the Alolan nine said their goodbyes to Pietra and continued on towards Olivine City to earn his next Gym Badge.