Light and Fennix continued onward, keeping an eye on the other path across the lava as they did so. Eventually, they noticed the point where the two paths connected into a Y shape. With renewed energy, the two ran to the point where both paths connected. As Light made it, he immediately turned around to glanced down the other path in hopes that he would see his friends. His hopes were well founded, as he immediately saw Ampharos, Mawile, and Lilac walking along the path. Lilac noticed him as well and waved.

"Hello Light, Fennix," Lilac called. "Looks like you guys are no worse for wear."

Light nodded, a large smile on his face as a small weight lifted. "Yeah. You guys seem to be doing well enough, too. Did you run into any other trouble?"

"We had one other encounter that could have been dangerous," Lilac answered. "Camerupt, so we were at a disadvantage. Luckily, we managed to dodge its Eruption and Mawile and I were able to take care of them. I'd ask about you guys, but I was keeping an eye on you. Unless you got attacked while we were fighting the camerupt, you didn't seem to be having any issues."

Light shook his head. "Nah, we were fine."

By then, the two groups were finally together once again, so Ampharos stood ahead of the group while everyone else looked at him for leadership. "Alright crew, it's good to see us all together and well. And, thanks to Light and Fennix, we now know where we are and what we're doing."

Light nodded as he felt all eyes fall on him. "This dungeon is called the Fiery Basin and apparently there's a Pokémon called the Tapu here. In the past I came here to get an item from that Tapu so that I could help fight."

"Which Tapu?" Mawile asked.

To that, Light could only shrug. "Espurr told me that there were four of them, but I honestly can't remember which one was here. Or…any of them at all, if I'm being honest. Sorry."

"Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Bulu," Mawile said. "Each of them representative of something different. Tapu Fini represents hope, Tapu Lele love, Tapu Bulu abundance, and Tapu Koko conflict. Based on that information, I would imagine that we're off to meet with Tapu Koko."

"Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?" Fennix asked.

"In a way, both," Mawile answered. "The Tapu are known for being capricious, but as Tapu Koko values those strong in combat, we may be able to prove out strength to him. That, likely enough, is the final part of this trial. The five of us should be more than enough for only him."

"Then let's go!" Fennix cheered. "Let's beat Puriah's next trial."

"Indeed, young Fennix." Everyone turned their attention back to Ampharos as he spoke. "I imagine we should be close to the end here. It won't be long now. So, let's give it one more push, crew!"

"Yes, sir!" everyone answered him as they all continued to make one final push through the dungeon.

As Ampharos suggested, the end of the dungeon wasn't too farther in. Not only that, but the end of the dungeon was obviously marked. There was another enclosed cavern within the volcano, like the one that Light and Fennix saw the memory of Puriah and Clover in, only the cave entrance here had two totems made of wooden carvings of bird Pokémon heads.

"Yep, that's definitely the end of the dungeon," Fennix deadpanned. "Geeze, it's like the boss of the dungeon is saying 'I'm right here, come and battle me!'"

"Well, it is Tapu Koko," Lilac pointed out. "That's sort of the point."

"Moreover, this is reminding me of that one Grass Continent town we docked in that one time," Light mused. "What was it called again? Treasure Town? Is there a connection?"

"As the Grass Continent is the most abundant of the continents, it tends to be visited by Tapu Bulu quite a bit," Mawile answered. "Though I'm not all too familiar with the history of each town on there, it wouldn't surprise me if Treasure Town has some connection to the Tapu."

"Anyways, shall we go on?" Ampharos asked. "Let's finish this second trial."

Everyone else nodded and they all walked into the cavern. The room was circular with lit candles lining up the perimeter. Within the middle of the room sat some sort of yellow bird head with three white diamonds in the middle, a black beak with red triangles on the top, and wings that looked way too small to get any sort of flight. As Light looked over the creature, he found it rather odd.

"Is that the Tapu you were talking about?" Light asked.

"Good, you aren't ignorant," the strange bird thing said.

The bird head split open, revealing that it was merely a shell. Light and Fennix both took a step back at the sight of the Pokémon revealing itself. However, Mawile, Ampharos, and Lilac all managed to remain calm in the face of the reveal.

"That is what Tapu Koko actually looks like," Lilac telepathically explained. "What you saw before was just its shell."

"Don't speak, I already know why you're here," Tapu Koko continued. "You are here so the human is less useless in fights. You wish for the great power that makes moves stronger than normal to face Dark Matter."

"Hey! Light isn't useless!" Fennix yelled.

Mawile stepped forward, her giant maw facing to the side and ready to be swung at any moment. "Yes, we are. So, you wouldn't mind giving it to us, would you?"

Tapu Koko examined her. "Based both on your position and tone, you already know what my answer is."

"Why?" Fennix growled. "Why would you do this? You know if Dark Matter wins, the world will end, right?!"

"Fennix, you do remember that Dark Matter is gone, right?" Lilac whispered. "We're just in the past."

Tapu Koko answered Fennix's complaint before Fennix was able to answer Lilac. "If you are too weak to be able to face me, what hope do you think you have against Dark Matter? Now enough talk." Tapu Koko glanced across the entire party before his eyes went onto Light. "You."

Light took a step back. "Me? What about me?"

"Human. If you wish to gain this power, you yourself must battle me alone."

"What?!" Light and Fennix both asked.

Lilac looked confused as well. "How could he know Light was a human? How could anyone know that, just based on looks? Unless this is just something Puriah does, but why would she? To make it completely like how it was in the past?"

"That would be most likely, though I'll admit it's strange as well," Mawile mused. "Human are rare in this world; I can't imagine that Puriah would expect the descendants of her friends to know one. And Light was dead, as far as she knew. Still, this does give us some sort of advantage."

Tapu Koko let out a discharge of electricity that, while it didn't hit anybody in the group, did get their attention. "I said, enough talk! I have no intention of fighting anyone else. The human is my opponent; nobody else."

"Light, can you handle it?" Mawile asked.

Light looked over at the Legendary Pokémon. Ugg…I've never beat a Legendary Pokémon in battle without help before. This should be…fun.

However, Light gave his bag to Lilac before he stepped forward, getting on four paws, ready for the battle at hand. "Lilac, do you know anything about Tapu Koko's battling capabilities?"

"He's Electric/Fairy. He prefers Physical attacks, but it can also use Special attacks rather well. The biggest thing you need to watch out for is his speed. Tapu Koko is said to zip around the battlefield like lightning, getting close and attacking his opponents before running away. He's most likely much faster than you, so you won't be able to use your speed to win this battle." Lilac paused for a moment. "Honestly, I'm not sure how you're supposed to win as you are now, let alone how you won this battle as a human."

"I'll…think of something," Light answered, even though he was thinking the same thing. "Thanks Lilac."

"Good, it seems you have courage, at least." Tapu Koko floated with one shelled arm in front of the other, floating quickly up and down as he did so. "But let's see if you have the strength to back it up."

Light nodded. "Let's go."

Tapu Koko suddenly disappeared, leaving Light to frantically look around to see where he went. Unfortunately, Light couldn't see anything before his stomach was suddenly slammed and he was sent flying back. Light hit and rolled across the ground and, by the time he reoriented himself, Tapu Koko returned to his earlier position in the sky.

"Well, that sucked," Light groaned as he lifted himself back up on his feet.

"Light, are you okay?!" Fennix called.

"He's…he's so fast," Light grunted. Shoot. My usually technique of dodging and blocking isn't going to work here. Or at least, it's going to be much more difficult. And he's so strong too. Just one attack and I already am feeling the pain.

"Is that the best you can do, human?" Tapu Koko asked with disdain.

Gotta thing of something, fast, Light thought.

Tapu Koko summoned electricity in between his shell that formed a sphere when he was done. When he was done forming the Electro Ball, he powerfully shot it in Light's direction. The pikachu had only a split second before the attack hit him, but he managed to react quickly enough by using Iron Tail and deflecting it. Light couldn't deflect it in Tapu Koko's direction, but he did at least send the Electro Ball towards the ceiling. The attack exploded, but nothing else happened because of it.

Light took this momentum and rushed towards Tapu Koko before hopping in the air, his tail still glowing silver. As Light got close enough, he swung his tail as powerfully as possible. However, Tapu Koko was too fast and darted away a second before Light's attack could have impacted him. Tapu Koko then flew above Light and slammed him back to the ground with another Quick Attack. Light was able to still use his Iron Tail to help break his fall, but he felt winded from his failed attack.

Without giving Light much of a chance to recover from his fall, Tapu Koko's shells glowed silver and he rushed at Light with a Steel Wing. Light was just barely able to dash past that attack, and when Tapu Koko still rushed at Light, Light used Brick Break to counter Steel Wing with an effective attack. While it didn't do much damage specifically to Tapu Koko, it was enough to deflect him back, and Tapu Koko quickly zipped back into the sky which gave Light some space.

"Light, how are you holding up?" Lilac telepathically asked him.

"Oh, you know, about as well as possible," Light mentally snarked. "If you've got any ideas, feel free to mentioned them."

Before Lilac could give any suggestions, Tapu Koko disappeared once again, likely getting ready for another Quick Attack. Light knew that he couldn't give a guess as to where the attack would come from, but he decided not to sit around and let it happen. So, the pikachu began running for the other side of the room, his eyes snapping back and forth as he prepared for some sort of attack.

"Light, the attack is coming from your left!" Lilac warned.

Light reacted as soon as he heard those words, his tail glowing silver as he protected his left side. Lilac's words came in at just the right time, as Tapu Koko's Quick Attack hit Light's Iron Tail with a clang resounding from the clash of attacks. With the attack bounced off, Light had an opening and slammed his Iron Tail into Tapu Koko's chest, between his shell. The attack managed to reel back Tapu Koko, but he was still able to float just fine.

"So, you do have some fight in you after all," Tapu Koko said. "Good. I hoped you wouldn't bore me."

Tapu Koko once again brought some electricity together in a sphere and shot another Electro Ball at Light, hoping that their proximity would allow the attack to hit. However, Light was able to deflect the Electro Ball as he previously had, sending it into the ceiling again. Seeing that attack fail, Tapu Koko rushed quickly back to a safer position.

"So far, so good, I guess," Light thought. "But I'm still not dealing nearly enough damage. I'll need to think of something…"

Light's eyes glazed up as he was focusing on Tapu Koko and he noticed several marks on the ceiling from the constant attacks that battered it. As he looked at it, a plan formed into his mind. A dangerous plan, and one he hesitated on initially, but he knew it was his only chance at winning.

"Lilac tell Fennix to use Solarbeam on the roof," Light commanded telepathically.

Tapu Koko rushed back in Light's direction, preventing him from being able to hear what Lilac's response was. Light rushed away and dodged the attack, butTapu Koko was fierce in his constant attacks, and eventually Light was backed into a wall between two of the candles. Tapu Koko eventually launched a strike aimed at Light's face, which Light ducked under before he, crouching low as possible, used Iron Tail to push himself off the wall and launch himself away.

"Oh no you don't!" called Tapu Koko. "You're not getting away from me!"

Tapu Koko slammed the ground and a purple shockwave rippled from where he struck. That purple shockwave quickly engulfed Light and threw him back, and when he touched the field once again, the ground glowed the same purple color and several prismatic bolts erupted from that spot. Light felt pain rack through his body and felt his energy drain from the attack, so much so that he couldn't help but cry out from it.

"W-what was that?" Light grunted as he attempted to stand up. He managed, but he felt the fatigue from that one attack, and he was only barely able to stand. He knew that running around wouldn't be possible either, at least in his current state.

"Nature's Madness, the signature ability of all of us who guard this world," Tapu Koko explained. "While it can't outright take out a Pokémon, it drains half their energy away from them. And it's not something you can just simply avoid. Perfect for those like you, who keep running. You face a Legendary Pokémon, remember?"

"Ugg…he's got a point," Light groaned. "Lilac, is Fennix almost done?"

"She stopped for a moment when she saw you get hit by the attack, but I got her back to charging. But you need to think of something in the meantime. You need to hold out just a little bit longer."

Light sighed, preparing himself for the worst. He braced himself and his muscles, even though he was having trouble getting them to listen to him. Tapu Koko was also preparing for another attack, getting ready for another Electro Ball. Light prepped to deflect it once again by placing his tail across his stomach, since he knew he wouldn't be able to deflect it normally. Tapu Koko shot the Electro Ball regardless and Light sent the attack to the ground with a flick of his tail. Doing that, though, took a lot of energy for him to do so.

"It seems you're on your last legs," Tapu Koko said. "Very well. Let's end this."

However, before Tapu Koko could attack, a bright green beam was shot straight into the roof of the cavern, causing a large explosion and sending several rocks falling towards the ground. Seeing this, Light used his last bit of energy and jumped into the air, taking advantage of this opportunity despite his fatigue.

Tapu Koko dodged around the rocks, but the multitude of debris greatly limited his ability to dodge around. What didn't help was that Light flung himself into the air and was starting to break boulders with Iron Tail and send them careening towards Tapu Koko. While Tapu Koko was distracted and taking damage from relentless barrage, Light went as high above him as he could. Once there, Light fell back to the ground, using gravity to increase the power of is Iron Tail. And while Tapu Koko was distracted, Light's attack connected, sending them both to the ground. And once they impacted, tons of dust was sent everywhere.

Once Light felt his feet connect with the earth, he quickly ran away from the dust pile he created to avoid combining his fatigue with a lack of oxygen. By then, the rocks that were shaken loose had already filled and no more rocks were falling. Light panted once, twice, three times as he waited for the dust to settle to see whether he was victorious or not. Eventually it did, and there Tapu Koko was floating, an annoyed expression on his face.

"N-no," Light breathed. He knew his body was done, that last attack was the last thing he could do. "F-fine. I…surrender."

Tapu Koko's arms went into a much more unguarded position and his face softened. "You had help."

"We never fought against you!" Fennix said as she ran up to Light's side. "We just helped him. We totally didn't cheat! Besides, I used the Solarbeam. Light never told me to do anything."

"Hmph. Do you really expect me to believe that? When you guys have a Psychic in your group? And probably multiple other forms of telepathy beside the point?"

Light stepped forward. "Your right, I gave the command to do it."

Tapu Koko nodded. "Good, you fessed up. Fine, you pass."

"What?!" Light and Fennix both asked at the same time.

Light continued. "But I lost."

"Are you two of one mind or something?" Tapu Koko groaned. "Anyways, let me remind you that I value combat over all else. And one part of conflict is the tactics that you use. In that, I can't argue against you, as that was an effective tactic. Besides, I was never expecting you to win. You are a mere human while I am a Legendary Pokémon. Still, I must admit, I'm impressed. I wasn't expecting such a fight from you. Your kind used to always stay back behind their Pokémon shields and let them fight for you."

"We…did?" Light asked, mostly to himself.

Fennix, however, stomped her paw. "Humans aren't always like that!"

Tapu Koko glared at her. "And how many humans have you met? Aside from the one standing next to you? For many humans, Pokémon were no more than the tools of which they use to give themselves superiority. If they wanted to fight, it was always the Pokémon they hurt, not themselves. For many a time, this was how it was to be."

Light felt each word hit his heart like daggers being thrown directly at him. He nearly stood back and fell to the ground from the stinging words. However, before he could collapse, Mawile stepped forward.

"However, that isn't the entire story, is it? After all, as an archaeologist, I've done my own research on human/Pokémon interactions in the past. And while there is much that has been lost to history, I do know one thing. Humans didn't merely step back and let their Pokémon do all the work. They were constantly paying attention to the battle and giving out commands when the situation called for it. And isn't that something you also value? The tactics used in combat?"

Tapu Koko let out a sly smile. "Indeed. Once upon a time, I had a very low opinion of humans. I did not care for them and found their decision to use Pokémon to fight for the abhorrent. However, a crisis once hit the island I was the protector of, thousands of thousands of years ago, before humans began creating trials to gain further strength and self-insight. A crisis in the form of a creature that simply did not belong in this world. I strove to protect the Pokémon from this crisis, but was beaten, as my opponent was simply too power. But a human found me and patched me up. He asked to fight with me in hopes of defeating my opponent. I accepted, having been brought to nothing by my opponent anyways and having nothing to lose. By listening to that human, we were able to defeat the creature.

"From that day on, I watched over the humans of this world. And I found those that, like the human who helped me, were able to draw out the full strength of their Pokémon through the tactics that they use. One day, a human was so adept at this that I challenged them to a battle. And it was one of the best battles I ever had."

Tapu Koko turned his attention to Light. "So, remember that, human. Do not let pride or your desire to prove yourself get in the way of things. Regardless of how weak you are, you make powerful allies. That is the true nature behind the power I intend to give you."

Light paused for a moment before nodding. "I understand. Thank you. Then you will give us that power?"

Tapu Koko nodded. "Yes, I will. The power you are looking for is in the next room. Go and claim it. And when you encounter Dark Matter's minions, give them hell for all of us Tapu."

"We will, thank you," Light bowed.

After Tapu Koko said that, Light noticed a bright light that flashed on the other side of the cavern. The five Pokémon all gave each other quick glances, knowing very well what that meant. With their pathway open and the trial cleared, the crew waved their goodbyes to the Tapu before they all walked into the light.

AN: I've mentioned this before, but I love world building. And I love doing it in unique ways, too. Most of the time, people who add Alolan stuff to the main PMD mythos tend to put them on either a separate continent or a separate area (no offence, Ambyssin, you're story's just fine). And here I am, taking an already established location and giving it a connection with a Legendary Pokemon. Granted, that's irrelevant to this chapter, but still.

We also get a bit of a greater idea of the human/Pokemon divide in the ancient past. History is always interesting to write as you have to balance giving hints and ideas without outright telling people everything, as history itself is never as clear as we want it to be. But I imagine most of you can get the idea.

Special thanks to TheGoldCrow for beta reading.