"Whoa..." Ash's ears perked up at the collective gasp, making him turn to face the triplets and Captain Ilima, who were staring at Ash with wide eyes, "My goodness! That was one of the best challenges i have seen as a captain!" Ilima exclaimed, "Never before has Totem Raticate offered the Z-Crystal to a trainer!" He continued as he started clapping his hands slowly.
Ash nodded at Ilima's words as he held the Z-Crystal up, roaming his eyes over the white coloured diamond shaped object, "So...what do i do with thing?" Ash asked after a few minutes, his voice calm and as cold as ever. Ilima smiled, clearly not hearing the coldness in Ash's voice as he walked until he was toe-to-toe with Ash, "It's very simple actually!" He exclaimed, making Ash flinch and step away from the boy, only for Ilima to follow him, "Step back." Ash demanded coldly, making Ilima blink in confusion as Ash took a large step back from the pink haired boy.
"Uhh.." He said in confusion, making Ash roll his eyes - the young captain clearly didn't understand personal space, "What do I do with this thing?" Ash demanded once more, snapping Ilima out of his confused daze - a grin spreading across his face, "Why! That's really simple - but first, you do have a Z-Ring, correct?" Ash just stared at the pink haired boy silently, making Ilima sweat-drop as he scratched the back of his head.
"Well, this is a problem - without a Z-Ring, you can't use the Z-Crystals..." Ash just shrugged - it didn't really matter to him if he could use them or not. He was slightly annoyed that he had fought so hard to get something he couldn't use, but Ash knew life didn't really like him, so he wasn't surprised.
"I can help with that" A voice suddenly spoke out, making the triplets and Ilima look around in confusion. Ash on the other hand froze, a frown appearing on his face, "Not it again" Ash said, the coldness in his voice deepening as the others looked at him confusion, "Not who?" Ilima asked in confusion, making Ash turn his cold frown towards the pink haired boy, "Tapu Koko" Ilima's eyes widened at the mention of the totem pokemon, going to say something but stopped when a surge of electricity struck the space between himself and Ash.
The triplets and Ilima shielded their eyes from the brightness of the light in front of them. Ash on the other hand just stared at the light, his frown deepening as the light faded to reveal the fabled Totem pokemon.
"I-Is that-?" Ilima stuttered out as he lowered his hand, his eyes wide, "Its Tapu Koko..." Nicole and her brothers said slowly as they looked at the almost bird-like pokemon, who had its back to them, facing towards Ash, "Chosen One" Tapu Koko spoke calmly as it looked at Ash, who bore the same frown, "What do you want now?" Ash said coldly, watching as Tapu Koko's eyes glowed pink and moved its arms, a white wristband shaped object seemingly appearing from nowhere and floating in front of Ash.
"In order to save the Alola region - each of the chosen one's need to master Z-Crystals" Tapu Koko spoke in the same calm voice, ignoring the coldness in Ash's voice, "One cannot master the Z-Crystals without a Z-Ring. Take this Z-Ring." Ash continued to frown as he looked at the pokemon, not moving to take the ring - it wasn't that he didn't want the Z-Ring, or that he wasn't interested in the Z-Crystals and the possible power that he could gather from them. Honestly, he just didn't like the Totem pokemon, its attitude or what it was expecting off Ash.
"Take it. Now." Tapu Koko stated once more, watching as Ash clenched his fist whilst glaring, "Why?" Ash said after a few seconds of glaring, watching as Tapu Koko raised a brow, waiting for Ash to elaborate, "Why are you giving me this?" "As I stated before - each of the Chosen One's must master Z-Crystals in order to save the Alola region. Do not think this as a gift. It is merely a requirement for the region to be saved." Ash growled, reaching out a snatching the Z-Ring violently. He was sick of the Totem' pokemon attitude - and if taking the Z-Ring meant he would leave, then he would swallow his pride and accept the offered item.
"Good." Tapu Koko stated as Ash took the Z-Ring, lowering its arms and its eyes going back to their normal black colouration, "I do believe that this will be our last encounter until your all ready" He continued, turning to look at the gawking triplets, who blinked and took steps back at the intimidation the electric pokemon exerted, "Farewell" Was the last thing Tapu Koko said before it closed its shell-like armour around its body and took to the air: disappearing in a flash.
"How do I use the Z-Crystal?" Ash was the first to speak after Tapu Koko left, having slipped the Z-Ring onto his left wrist before looking at Ilima exactingly - who snapped out of his bewildered stare at the spot Tapu Koko had been stood in.
Looking at Ash, Ilima stared silently at the boy before clasping his hands together loudly and shouting at the top of his voice, "THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!" Ash flinched at the sheer volume of the shout, "YOU JUST FACED DOWN THE MOST FINICKY OF THE TOTEM POKEMON SO CALMLY! AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT GAVE YOU A Z-RING! DO YOU KNOW HOW INCREDIBLE THIS IS?!" Ilima continued to shout excitedly, clenching his fists in excitement.
"I don't care." Ash stated, making Ilima snap his head up, shock etched across his face, "Just tell me how to use this stupid Z-Crystal so i can move on." Ilima stared at Ash in shock - did he not understand the sheer luck he had just gotten? Not only had he faced the Totem pokemon, but he was even blessed by the one of the great Totem pokemon with the gift of a Z-Ring!
Ilima went to say something, but stopped when he realised that Ash wasn't interested, "Fine" He said, placing a hand on his hip as he looked at Ash, who was watching him exactingly, "You place the Z-Crystal in the Z-Ring then you and your pokemon make this pose," He explained, moving so one arm was above his head and the other was by his chest, "That will activate the Z-Crystal and will lead to the move Breakneck Blitz"
Ash just nodded as he slipped the Z-Crystal into his pocket before walking past Ilima and back into the cavern, "Well...let's move on" Ash stated as he walked, not looking back as the other's quickly followed him, leaving Ilima shaking his head, a frown on his face.
"Whats his problem?" Ilima asked aloud as Ash and the triplets disappeared from sight.