With the Waterium Z crystal in hand, Alex returned to Route 6 and approached the boy looking at the Sudowoodo that were blocking the path. She moved her arms the way Lana had shown her, and the Sudowoodo ran off. The boy cheered, jumping up and down in excitement. "Oho! These Sudowoodo are fascinating Pokemon as well, worthy of being a research topic all on their own!" Phyco said, with Soliera on Alex's other side. "The way they mimic plants in order to avoid water... How very interesting."
"Just as our research suggested, Captain Phyco," she said with a nod.
"Indeed... We must gather data about Pokemon if we want to win Pokemon battles, after all," he continued. The two looked at Alex and did their strange wave. Alex blinked, returning it with the usual Alolan wave. "That being said, there is no need for us to use these odd Alolan Pokemon." He glanced at his companion. "Soliera, if you would be so kind..."
Soliera nodded. "Trainer," she said, addressing Alex, "could I ask you to face me in a Pokemon battle?"
"Oh, yeah, sure," the girl replied and nodded.
Soliera smiled. "Then... I will face you with my Poipole." Poipole? What on earth is that?
"Thank you very much..." Soliera mumbled, looking a bit disappointed that she lost. "I was able to understand Poipole better, but it seems my Pokemon battle skills leave much to be desired..."
Alex shook her head. "You did well." She must be new to being a trainer.
Phyco glanced at Alex's wrist. "That Z-Power ring of yours... Its light feels somehow nostalgic." He glanced up towards the sky. "Do you think it is the same light our ancestors gazed upon? The light said to have come from the Blinding One?" Alex cocked her head to the side. What is 'the Blinding One'?
Phyco shrugged. "Who can tell? Yet it is our duty as the Ultra Recon Squad to find that out. The two waved again and left.
Alex sighed, watching them duo leave. "Those two are certainly interesting." She shrugged and continued down the path that was now open.
The path was just a straight lane with a few grass patches lining the road. Halfway down the the path, a large Pokemon, a Mudsdale, was looking down another road that lead off to the east. The Mudsdale turned its head when it heard Alex approach and neighed at her.
A small girl, who was hidden behind the Pokemon, looked over to Alex as well. A Drifloon was floating by her. "You there, Trainer," she said. "Can you come to my aid? Over here."
"Um..." Alex looked down the road she was standing at to find a pair of Team Skull members blocking the road. She sighed heavily. "Oh, these guys again..."
"Yo, yo, yo! Don't go turning your backside on us!" the first grunt shouted.
"And you!" the second one said, jabbing his finger angrily at Alex. "You're that numbskull trainer from Melemele, yo!" Oh, I fought this guy before then?
"These scoundrels are Pokemon thieves," the girl said, turning to the grunts again. "And you're on familiar terms with them."
Alex sighed again, then looked up at them. "I don't know who they are!"
"Yo, for real?!" the first barked.
"I am Hapu," the girl said. "Life in the big city sure is something else. Pokemon thieves roam about brazenly..." She glanced up at Alex. "Hm... I leave that one to you."
"We're not thieves, yo! It's a legitimate business!" the first grunt snapped.
"We got straight messed up in Melemele... got exiled to Akala... but we ain't goin' out like that!" the second shouted.
Well that was quick.
"With all these losses, we're gonna anger our bosses!" the second grunt groaned. "These tears taste like salt, yo! It's all your fault, yo!" The Drifloon cried curiously. The Mudsdale cried out as well, staring down the grunts.
"Mudsdale, shall we stomp these scoundrels?" Hapu asked with a smirk. "It'll be a mess to clean up afterward, but I am willing if you are."
The grunt's eyes widened. "Time for us to break out, yo! Gotta tell ya'll peace out, yo!" They sure do say 'yo' a lot...
"I'm not gonna keep telling you this... except when I keep telling you this! You better listen to what my homie says and drill it into that thick skull of yours! Seriously! You'd better not forget, numbskull!" With that, the two ran passed Hapu and disappeared down the straight path.
Hapu looked at the Drifloon. "You'll be fine getting home?" she gently asked the Pokemon. It cried, turned, and drifted away. "'Glad to see that Drifloon will get home on her own," Hapu continued, watching Drifloon leave. She turned her gaze back to Alex. "I've got to you to thank for that. Give me your name, trainer." Alex told her. "Alexandra, eh? That's a fine name." She grinned. "I like the way you handled yourself in battle. Mudsdale and I are always wandering all about Alola to try to achieve our goals, so perhaps we'll meet again someday. I am indebted to you for your aid, after all." Mudsdale cried out from behind Hapu. She looked back at the big Pokemon behind her and nodded. "Ah yes. You might want to try your hand at a Battle Royal or two, Alexandra. Mudsdale here thinks you'd be well suited to it, given how strong you are." She climbed onto Mudsdale's back and the two trotted away.
After exploring the remainder of Route 6, Alex returned to the east path where she met Hapu, where the dirt road turned to asphalt, with an arch standing over it.
The area had a Pokemon Center, a small park with benches and a fountain, a large building further east, and a building passed the Pokemon Center that looked like an arena, with people, Pokemon, and balloons outside of it. Curious, Alex approached the arena. As she drew closer, she stopped in her tracks, spotting a familiar, black clad figure. "Is that... Gladion?"
He was looking sternly at the building before him and snorted. "Why do I do this... Every time something brings me down, I end up coming right back here again..." He paused. "Come on, Null. We'll beat everyone who stands before us. We're going to be strong enough to protect them this time..." He then walked inside. Alex followed him inside.
Alex moved inside, looking around the large room. "Glad you could make it!" shouted another familiar voice. Alex looked up and saw a man in wrestler's tights, boots, and a mask. "I'm here today, yeah, to spread the word, oh yeah, about Battle Royal! They call me... the Masked Royal! Woo!"
Alex stared at him. "Professor?" She had never heard anyone else talk that way other than him.
"The Masked Royal!" he corrected. Alex shrugged, since he wasn't going to give up his charade. "I'm here to teach you, oh yeah, about the battle format passed down in Alola for generations... The Pokemon Battle Royal. Woo!" he said, moving closer. "'But Royal, what's the Battle Royal?' you might ask.
"Four trainers! Four trainers, yeah, each pick three Pokemon, yeah, for one big Pokemon battle, on yeah! When one trainer's team can't battle anymore, yeah, the Battle Royal ends!" Just one trainer has to lose for it to end? "Whichever trainer has taken out the most Pokemon, yeah, has the most Pokemon left will emerge the winner, woo!
"First, just give it a shot! Pick your Pokemon, and let's do this!"
"Dude! It's the Masked Royal! I wanna battle! I wanna battle!" Alex looked up and saw Hau looking down at them from the balcony.
"You there!" the Masked Royal called out, looking at Gladion. "Come join in the fun!" He looked up at Hau with a grin. "I'll be in the mix, too, yeah. And now we have our foursome. Woo!"
Hau jumped. "What?! Gladion, too?!"
"Discovery! New experiences! Adventure! It's all yours if you want it! It's time for a Pokemon Battle Royal!" called the Masked Royal. "Ready... fight!" and he rushed into the arena room, behind the counters.
Professor Kukui doesn't try that hard to hide it's him. He's even used his Rockruff. The four left the arena room since the battle was concluded. The Masked Royal stopped once outside and turned to them. "So what do you think? It's easy to have a fun time with Battle Royal, woo! You even have a shot at beating real tough opponents this way, yeah?" Alex shrugged.
"You were on fire during that battle. I hope you bring that fire with you and burn up my trial." All four turned to see who spoke, and the man approached. "The name's Kiawe, the Fire captain," he introduced himself. "You can get to Wela Volcano Park from Route 7. I'll be waiting on the peak. If you plan to see your island challenge through to the end, climb to the top with your strongest team!" He left afterwards.
"So! Alex, Hau," he said, glancing at them. "How are your trials going? I hope you and your Pokemon are working hard and havin' a blast. Woo!"
"But, Mr. Masked Royal... How'd you even know that we're doing our trials right now?" Hau asked. Alex looked down at the charm hanging from the strap on her bag. Isn't just looking at this enough to know? Hau noticed her. "Oh, I get it! Because of our amulets, huh?" He flashed the Royal his usual big grin. "Well, I'm having a blast!" He paused, then looked at Gladion. "But why are you here? Why would you even wanna do a Battle Royal? You still trying to get stronger or something?" Hau grinned again. "Or maybe you just want to make some friends?" he chuckled.
Gladion snorted and began to walk away. "I'm not here to play. I'm here because you can't protect anything when you're weak."
Hau put his hands behind his head, and he and Alex watched Gladion leave. "Wow... You're just a ray of sunshine, eh?" he mumbled. "I think you'd have a lot more fun if you just let yourself have a good time with everybody else. You can do a lot more together!"
"He's got to have his reasons, right?" Alex said.
Hau shrugged and turned to the Royal, grin back on his face. "Well, I don't know what his deal is, but I thought that battle was just plain fun! That's why I'm gonna keep doing Battle Royals. And my Pokemon seem to like them, too!"
"I think I'm going to move on," Alex said. "I'll see you later, Hau." She waved and left the arena.