ALOLA TO OUR SAVIOUR: Chapter 21 - Ash Vs Tapu Koko.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon :/
"Alolan Diglett, the mole Pokemon. What appears to be hair on top of its head is a special type of metal that allows it to communicate with other Diglett's and Dugtrio's from up to 20 Kilometres away. Feeding on precious metals as well, it uses the metal hair like substance to locate food. This is the Alolan form of the Kanto Diglett".
Ash, Lillie and Hau all watched the Diglett from a far, burrowing up and down.
The Diglett brown colour was a lot more darker and the dirt around it was made of solid rocks. Like what Rotom said, it had three sprouts of yellow hair sticking out on the top of its head.
Thanks to the repels, they wouldn't bother them but were still around.
"Ground steel huh? Gets absolutely destroyed by other ground types." Ash commented as a Dugtrio burrowed up as well.
It had the same colour as the Alolan Diglett but instead of three short sprouts of hair, each of the heads had a different 'hairstyle'. The smallest had a bowl cut like haircut. The middle one hair was designed to what would be ear length if Dugtrio had ears. And the tallest one had long wavy hair like what a surfer would have.
"Alolan Dugtrio, the Mole Pokemon. Its luscious wavy hair is said to protect its body from the harsh sun lights of Alola. According to the people of Alola, it is said to be bad luck if you keep the fallen hair of a Dugtrio."
"This place reminds me a lot of a tunnel in Kanto. Ironic that is called the Diglett cave as well?" Ash explained as the trio continued forward through the tunnel.
Hau had both Jangmo-o out and Pichu as well.
Pichu was explaining to the shiny Pokemon about the trials and how powerful they had become since they joined Hau.
Jangmo-o grinned.
"Jano!" he cried as Hau gave a malasada to both his Pokemon that were out.
"I question how he has so many of those things…" Ash muttered to Lillie, who had Vulpix in her arms.
"I stopped questioning that a long time ago." She responded sarcastically.
Lillie dropped the sarcastic look and nodded at the duo.
"So, from what I have researched, Konikoni city should just be directly outside the cave to the left." Lillie explained.
"As much as I dislike my cousin, I must admit, their family restaurant sure does make good food." Hau added in.
"I thought they owned a farm?" Ash asked.
Hau nodded.
"They do. It's why their restaurant is considered the best in Alola is because all their ingredients are produced from the farm." Hau explained.
"Look!" Lillie shouted as she pointed towards what appeared to be the exit.
Pichu and Jangmo-o ran forwards towards the exit and began to cheer.
"Pi!"
"Moja!"
The humans rushed forwards and saw the old styled city. Too the cities left was the oceans of Alola and to the cities right was a large farm.
A road going the other way lead into what appeared to be graveyard.
"So, how are we going to do this?" Ash asked the others as they walked down to in front of the city.
"What do you mean?" Lillie responded.
"Like, do we want to grab Mallow and go do the trial or wait a few days." Ash suggested.
"I just want to get done with her as fast as possible." Hau added, bring back up the old rivalry.
Ash and Lillie sweat dropped.
Walking further into the city, the trio saw it was very old school. Pokemon carrying carts, forges to make metals for pokeballs, hell, Ash thought he might have seen a fossil Pokemon.
"Ash? Hau? Lillie?" a familiar voice called out.
Though to their pleasant surprise, it was none other than Lana.
"Lana!" Lillie said, going to hug the girl.
"Nice to see you guys again! Guessing you're here for Olivia?" she asked as Lillie let go of the hug.
"No. You see… we still kind of have to do Mallow's trial." Ash muttered.
"Oh… Right. And is everything fine?" Lana asked.
"Yep… By the way, what are you doing here in Konikoni city?" Ash questioned.
"Oh! I live here." Lana explained.
"But I thought you lived at the Brooklet hill?" Lillie asked this time.
"(Sigh), you see, I live both their and here. My parents aren't married anymore." Lana explained.
"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know." Lillie apologised.
"It's fine. My dad lives here while mum looks after the twins. I tend to travel in-between both." Lana added on to her previous statement. "You actually caught me at a good time, I was on my way to go see Mallow."
Ash's heart began to beat rapidly, while Hau began to be fuelled with rage.
Lillie looked at them nervous as Lana stood their awkwardly.
"Um… Should we get going then?" Lana suggested.
"Great idea! We wouldn't want Hau here to tear down the whole city in rage." Lillie agreed.
"HEY!"
Lana lead the group to a large building with ques waiting outside it.
"Woah. The place is packed!" Ash commented on the sheer size of the cue waiting to get in.
"It is the most popular restaurant in all of alo-" Lana started only to be cut off by Hau.
"MALLOW! I AM COMING FOR YOU, YOU GREEN HAIRED DEVIL!" he roared as he, Pichu and Jangmo-o ran towards the entrance, piercing through the cue.
Ash, Lillie and Lana all just watched with expressions of shock.
"He is going to get himself arrested!" Lillie panicked.
The trio rushed forwards as well to witness Hau pushing the doors open.
Waiters and guests that were dining inside all looked over to the boy and his two Pokemon.
"Alright! Where is sh-"Hau started only for both of his arms to be locked up by two nearby guards. "HEY!"
Chef's rushed out of the kitchen to see the person of interest…
Including a certain green haired girl.
"HAU!" Mallow screamed as the guards let go of the boy as she stormed over and slapped him. "WHAT THE HELL ARE Y-"
She stopped screaming at her cousin when she saw Ash, Lillie and Lana. She froze still and began to shake.
Lana rushed down to Hau to make sure he was alright as she knew how violent Mallow could be.
"Mallow." Ash said sternly.
"A-a-Ash…" she said nervously. She shook it off her anger and turned to the chefs.
"Hey! Don't you guys have work to do! Stuff could be burning right now!" Mallow told them all as they rushed back into the kitchen. "ALRIGHT EVERYONE! Nothing to see here. Apologises for the noise."
"Sit." Mallow hissed pointing at a table.
They all gathered around as Mallow pinched the bridge of her nose.
"So… How have you been Mallow?" Lillie asked, wanting to break the awkward silence.
"Peachy." She responded sarcastically.
"Why aren't you at your trial site?!" Hau demanded.
"Screaming in my face isn't going to get you an answer… I'm tired ok. I've got a life as well." Mallow explained.
"But it said you were away on personal reasons?" Ash asked.
"Well, I'm personally tired ok? Happy now?" Mallow said a lot calmer to Ash.
"(Sigh) We need to do your trial." Hau muttered.
"So, you've beaten Kiawe as well?" Mallow said.
The two boys nodded.
Mallow sighed at that.
"I'm all that's left huh? Alright, I'll go back. But it will have to be in a few days. Today is going to be hectic and tomorrow, somebody is challenge Olivia." Mallow explained.
As much as Ash wanted to get going and get the trial done, he was keen to have a day or two off.
"Ok. That's fine by me." Ash said.
"Alright… Just because Ash said so!" Hau grumbled.
"I was interested in checking out the ruins of life. So, that works." Lillie announced.
"Ruins of Life?" Ash questioned.
"It is said to be the sacred ground of the Akala island guardian, Tapu Lele." Lana told the Kanto native.
"Right since that is all settled, I guess you need somewhere to sleep?" Mallow questioned.
Ash glared at her and sighed.
"Thanks for the offer, but I think the Pokemon center will do." Ash explained.
Mallow sighed.
"Can I talk to you. Privately?" she requested.
Hau didn't catch on but Lillie and Lana did.
Ash looked back at the two girls and groaned.
"Fine." Ash agreed as he followed Mallow into a spare room.
She closed the door as Ash sat on top of a table.
"So..." Ash dragged on.
"If it had of been Lana or Kiawe giving you that offer to stay at their place would you have accepted it?" Mallow asked shakily, looking away.
Ash's jaw dropped.
"Most likely." Ash told her as she paced around the room.
"B-but n-not me?" Mallow muttered.
Ash sighed.
"Ok! I can't exactly trust you after our little incident…" Ash told her as she began to tear up. "Oh, Mallow come on!"
"(Sniff) S-sorry. It's just I want to prove to you I'm not some slut! Gain back your trust and all" Mallow whined.
"Mallow, I didn't call you a slut ok?" Ash replied.
"Sorry…" she said. "I just want to do something to gain back your trust!"
Ash stayed silent.
"I know! I can get you a reservation at the restaurant!" Mallow blabbed.
"How is that getting my trust back?" Ash questioned.
"I don't know… It's the least I can do to repay you back for helping me get some assistance with my little 'issue'…" Mallow said embarrassed.
"Ok. Sure." Ash agreed to the idea of dinner.
Mallow lightened up slightly.
"But Hau, Lillie and Lana are coming with me." Ash countered.
Mallow was stunned by the comeback and thought about it. She wanted to apologise somehow and this was her best shot.
"Alright. Fine!" She grumbled, not liking the idea of serving her cousin food.
The duo left the room and saw Lillie and Hau catching up with Lana.
"Yeah I have had a few more swing by the trial site. Just gunna take a day or two off. Mallow here however, has been off for about a week now." Lana explained. "I'm kind of surprised Salazzle forfeited from what you guys have said."
"Yeah. I was about to unleash hydro vortex on her, but luckily her daughter came back in the nick of time." Hau told the girl who nodded.
The two teens walked over to the others and announced what was going to occur.
"Alrighty. So, Mallow here has gotten us a night for dinner here in the restaurant." Ash announced.
"Really Mal?" Lana said excited. She had eaten here a few times before, primarily before her parents divorced.
Hau grinned slightly. He knew how good the food was here.
Lillie stayed neutral
"Yeah, it's the less I can do for not being at the trial site." She lied. Ash knew and Lillie and Lana saw right through the lie. But poor old Hau just couldn't catch a break.
"I think we should get a place at the Pokemon center before it gets to dark." Lillie suggested.
"Oh? You guys can just stay at my place if you want. Ash and Hau can share the twins room and you can have the spare room Lillie." Lana offered.
"Really? Thanks Lana." Ash thanked.
"Ok. 8:30 tonight alright?" Mallow explained as they all nodded. "You don't mind if I join, right?"
"Just come when you're ready ok?" Ash told her as they left for Lana's place to relax for a while.
(Meanwhile, in the jungle behind the Ruins of Life…)
A small humanoid Pokemon was flying around collecting flowers.
Its feminine body was black but it rested inside of a pink shell with two wings on the back of it. Around its wrists were two pink fluffy pompoms. Its face had tribal like marking all over it with its face being covered by pink curly hair that was contained by a cone on its head.
The Pokemon was humming to itself as it created a crown of flowers.
It was right by a pond as water types were swimming around saying hello, such as Magikarp and Tympoles.
"LELE!" A voice boomed out.
The pink and black Pokemon turned around the burst of her name to see her brother, Tapu Koko descend towards her.
"Oh Brother!" Tapu Lele spoke in a soft female's voice.
"The chosen one." Tapu Koko said briefly.
"The boy with the Dartrix and Litten? He gave a home to one of my orphaned Pokemon. He seems nice." Tapu Lele responded to her as she placed the flower crown on top of Tapu Koko's head. She just giggled from the silly sight of him.
Tapu Koko used his electrical abilities to burn the crown into nothing but ash.
"Aww…" Tapu Lele moaned.
"I questioned why Fini is stuck on Poni Island and you are here!" Tapu Koko hissed. "I never got to myself, but I'm here to test his current strength."
"The chosen ones strength?" Tapu Lele asked and received a nod from her brother.
"Indeed. I wish to see if he is the real deal. He proved his strength during the grand festival on Melemele." Tapu Koko told the female.
"I don't know Koko. Last time you fought on a different Island cause Tapu Fini to flood the place. What makes you think I can trust you now?" Tapu Lele countered.
"I fear 'the things' are returning… I need to know his true strength." Tapu Koko told her.
Tapu Lele thought about and sighed.
"Alright. But just against the chosen one! I know how out of control battle crazy you can go!" Tapu Lele whined as Koko just nodded his head and flew off as Tapu Lele went to go build a new flower crown.
The trio settled down in Lana's fathers house as the girl decided to give them a little tiki tour around the old city.
"Konikoni is notably for its trades since people from Kanto and Johto first civilised here. The caves around the shore were once filled with evolution stones and other rare jewels. In fact, Olivia here is the owner of the jewellery shop, running both the business and the exploration for the items." Lana explained as she pointed over to a cove inside the side of the mountain.
"Hmm. Eevee could evolve if he touches one of those…" Hau thought to himself.
"Pew!" Nebby cried.
"Pix!" Vulpix cried as she walked next to Lillie.
They continued through the main street of Konikoni as they reached a cliff that looked over the ocean, leaning against the railing while Lillie sat on a nearby bench to brush Vulpix's snow like fur.
"I'll give you this advice. Tying in with the whole restaurant theme, Mallow will be getting you two to collect ingredients for her. Those ingredients will be used to draw out your totem Pokemon." Lana explained to the two males.
"'Your totem Pokemon'? As in there is two?" Hau asked, wanting to learn as much as possible about his cousin's trial.
Lana nodded.
"Yes. Like Ilima's trial, you will both versus different totem Pokemon. I'll leave them for you to find for yourself."
"She is a fan of grass types right? So Torracat, Dartrix and Salandit should breeze through this." Ash said out loud.
Lillie didn't trust Mallow. Not after what happened last time, so she is planning to keep a close eye on her.
Despite being the middle of the day, the nearby streetlight started to flicker, which Ash caught.
"Hey, you guys see that?" he asked as everyone looked to where he was pointing.
"See what Ash?" Lillie asked.
"Huh… Thought I saw it fla-"Ash started only for the light to flash again, but this time everyone saw.
"Woah!? What's happening?" Lana questioned.
"Probably just some electric Pokemon trying to play a prank." Hau stated.
As he said that, a figure flew out of the trees and floated down towards the group.
Ash and Lillie recognised the Pokemon. It was the same Pokemon that saved Ash and Nebby when the bridge of Melemele collapsed. While Hau knew the Pokemon through his grandfather.
"What is that Pokemon?" Lana said as Rotom appeared and scanned but finished with no result.
"No result found! I got nothin!" Rotom blurted as the Pokemon continued to stare at the group, Ash particularly.
"That's… Tapu Koko! Melemele islands guardian!" Hau said carefully.
"A Tapu!?" Lana squealed at Hau before turning back to the Tapu Koko.
"Yeah. I've never met or seen it before. But Grandpa has shown me pictures identical. What I want to know is why is it here?" Hau asked.
"Battle!"
"I-i-it can talk…" Lillie muttered.
Tapu Koko dived forward, forcing Hau and Lana out of the way to be straight in front of Ash.
"Battle!"
Ash pointed at himself as the guardian nodded at him.
"Follow."
Saying that, Tapu Koko flew over towards the city. Ash looked at his friends as Hau was helping Lana get back up.
"What should we d-"Lillie started only to watched Ash run off in the direction of Tapu Koko.
"ASH! Wait!" Lillie yelled as she and Vulpix began to run as well with Lana and Hau behind.
The trailing trio eventually found a large group of people surrounding a public battle field.
"WOAH! Look at that cool pokemon mum!" a little boy cried out, pointing at Tapu Koko. The mother just clutched on to her son.
"What is Melemele island guardian doing here on Akala?" a woman asked her friend, who just shrugged her shoulders.
Lana, Lillie and Hau barged their way through to find Ash standing on the opposite side of Tapu Koko.
Lana looked around and spotted both Mallow and Olivia.
"Guys! This way." Lana said as she moved towards the two girls.
Ash gave a defensive stance to the guardian who just floated and stared at him.
Mallow watched with great concern, wondering what had Ash done to draw the island guardian away from its own island. Olivia kept a poker face, glaring at both.
"Mallow!" Lana shouted as Lillie and Hau followed.
"Lana! What happened!?" Mallow cried to her friend.
"Lana was just showing us around the city when suddenly Tapu Koko appeared and challenged Ash to a battle!" Hau explained.
Both the girls flinched at this.
"He is a fool if he can think he can match the power of a Tapu!" Olivia said to them.
Hau and Lillie looked at each other worried.
"You're a kahuna! Can't you do something to stop this!?" Lillie asked the women.
Olivia just shook her head.
"Once a Tapu has declared a battle, there is no backing out of the ultimate honour…" Olivia explained as the battle was about to begin.
"Chosen one! Battle!" Tapu Koko yelled as he flung his right arm forward.
"Go Salandit!" Ash yelled as the fire poison type appeared and hissed at Tapu Koko.
"Salandit! Use-"Ash started to only be cut off by his challenger.
"NO! MORE POWER! All of them!" Tapu Koko yelled.
Ash blinked.
"All my Pokemon vs you?" he asked and got a nod back as a reply. "Alright… Torracat, Dartrix and Stufful! Battle time!"
His three other Pokemon joined Salandit on the field of play. Stufful and Salandit had no idea about their foe but both Torracat and Dartrix both remember Tapu Koko.
Tapu Koko roared as the battle field glowed yellow with sparks flicking everywhere.
"You may have the first move!"
"Stufful use leer! Torracat use flamethrower!"
Stufful lowered Tapu Koko's defence as Torracat released the fire attack.
Tapu Koko used Electro ball and flung it directly into the flamethrower, getting just over half way through until it exploded with the result being a giant cloud of smoke.
Ash gritted his teeth as Tapu Koko zoomed through the smoke cloud, slamming both the bear and cat.
Tapu Koko returned to his spot where he just floated, waiting for the next move.
Stufful and Torracat both got up hurt, but were still fine to battle.
"Salandit, flame burst now!"
Salandit's back flared up as she spat out the flames directly at Tapu Koko.
The guardian just closed his shield like arms as the attack hit, leaving char marks. Opening again, the char faded away.
"Is this all you have!"
Ash growled.
Tapu Koko's claw like hand glowed pink as he slammed it down on the ground, causing a small tremor with pink lightning being ejected from the ground. Each of Ash's Pokemon has a pink ring around them as the ground cracked with lightning.
All of his Pokemon lost half of their health.
"Wh-what was that move?" Hau stuttered.
"Natures madness. A fairy attack that will always half your health." Olivia told the teens.
"Toxic!"
Salandit spat out the toxic substance out and flung it Tapu Koko, but again closed his shield like arms in to protect himself.
"Surround him!" Ash cried.
Tapu Koko reopened and found that he was surrounded by Ash's Pokemon.
He twisted his head around to locate were everyone was.
(Meanwhile on Melemele island…)
"Yes. I do believe this year's batch of senior students have very high potential to succeed in the trials or gyms in the future. With the league also making its debut this year, I think Alola is in very good hands professor." Ilima said to Professor Kukui as the duo were inside the professors house.
"Yep. Hopefully after the first competition this year, it will boost the popularity of the trial system in other regions." Kukui told the normal type specialist.
"BREAKING NEWS! We have current live footage of the Island Guardian of Melemele island, Tapu Koko battling against a trainer in the local battle field of Konikoni city on Akala Island!"
Ilima and Kukui stood up stunned as a live stream from a helicopter zoomed down on the island guardian squaring off against… Ash!
"Ash!?" Kukui yelled as Ilima stepped back slightly.
Elsewhere Hala was staring heavily at Tapu Koko's every move.
He knew the Pokemon better than anyone.
He was testing Ash's capabilities.
"Leafage! Smog! Flamethrower! Leer!" Ash yelled as his Pokemon used the moves.
However, Tapu Koko simply sped out of the way of the attack, with the moves colliding into one another.
Using shock wave, he flung Ash's Pokemon back at him.
Lillie watched Clutching heavily onto Vulpix as Nebby watched from his bag.
Lana grabbed on to Hau's arm worried as the boy watched silently.
"MORE POWER!" Tapu Koko roared.
Storm clouds began to form above Tapu Koko as multiple strikes of lightning collided with his body. Spewing electricity, Tapu Koko unleashed a powerful discharge, consuming all four of Ash's Pokemon with the human standing their helplessly.
Once the attack finished, Stuff was out cold with the other three barely holding on.
Tapu Koko, who had barely a scratch, continued to glare at Ash.
"SHOW ME YOUR POWER!"
Tightening his fists, Ash glared at the guardian.
"TORRACAT! SALANDIT!" he yelled as his fire types barely walked forward.
"Blaze activate!"
Torracat glowed red with turned into fire. Salandit, despite her injuries, blushed at the sight.
"Salandit! Nasty plot on Torracat!"
The lizard did so as the blaze grew larger.
Tapu Koko just stood still.
Ash slammed the Z-ring and performed the dance.
"Turn flamethrower into Inferno overdrive!" Ash roared.
A large ball of fire built up in front of Torracat as he let it go straight towards the electric type.
The island guardian stood his ground as the ball of fire attack him up and released a large explosion.
Lillie dropped Vulpix on accident to hold his skirt and hat while Hau shielded Lana. Mallow hide behind Olivia, who just kept her arms crossed as she watched the explosion.
Ash panting, held on to his hat as winds built up.
Kukui, Hala and Ilima all watched the TV heavily for what was going to happen next.
The explosion finished and all was left was smoke.
A crack of lightning surrounded the smoke and flicked it away, leaving just Tapu Koko, who only been slightly hurt.
Ash's jaw dropped as he stood back.
"YOU THINK THAT IS A Z-MOVE!?" Tapu Koko roared a crystal formed in front of him. The crystal broke into dust and landed on the ground, resulting in cracks to run wild on the ground. "THIS IS A Z-MOVE!" he roared again as he closed his shield. "GUARDIAN OF ALOLA!"
A large clear fist punched through the ground as another hit the ground to blow up the large, clear, headless, humanoid body. Tapu Koko slammed on the top as the body turned yellow with electricity flowing from as the giant lifted his fist up and over Ash and his Pokemon.
"ASH!" Lillie cried as the giant created by Tapu Koko lowered its fist.
Ash closed his eyes, thinking this was the end.
But just as he did, a pink barrier covered him and his Pokemon, with the attack bouncing back and th body fading away.
Ash opened his eye up and saw the barrier and the Pokemon that saved him.
Its feminine body was black but it rested inside of a pink shell with two wings on the back of it. Around its wrists were two pink fluffy pompoms. Its face had tribal like marking all over it with its face being covered by pink curly hair that was contained by a cone on its head. It looked very like Tapu Koko.
"Enough Koko!" the Pokemon growled. I know you want to battle him, but now you can wait till he returns to Melemele."
Tapu Koko stood and looked at the pink pokemon.
"That is Tapu Lele. The guardian of Akala." Olivia told the trio.
Tapu Koko shook his head and looked at Ash, who was cradling his injured Pokemon.
"This is not over. Next time, I hope it will be less one sided. Goodbye."
Tapu Koko flew off as did Tapu Lele.
The trio plus Mallow and Olivia walked over to Ash.
"Ash- "Mallow started.
"You think we can make a rain check on tonight?" he requested.
"O-o-of course!" Mallow stuttered.
Olivia towered of him.
"You may have lost, but you were challenged by a Tapu, the ultimate honour." Olivia explained as Ash sighed.
"Right…" he muttered as Lillie gave looks of concern as he walked into the direction of the Pokemon center. "I just want to be alone for a while."
The boy dropped off his Pokemon and was told it would be around 5 – 6 hours before they were fully hit. He waited in the center for around an hour and a half before deciding to head back to Lana's fathers place.
He opened door and was greeted by the smell of a freshly made chocolate cake.
The Kanto native followed the scent to find Lillie icing the cake with Lana grabbing plates.
"Guys?" Ash questioned.
Lillie jumped slightly as Lana looked over.
"Oh! Ash! We decided to make a little something something just to help cheer you up!" Lana confessed as she walked up to him. "And when I mean we, I mean Lillie." She whispered that last part.
Ash blinked.
"How large of a slice do you want?" Lillie asked.
"Whole Cake?" Ash joked as the girl laughed at him. "Is it too late to change my mind about the restaurant? Just was a bit hot headed at the time."
"I'll call Mallow to make the changes!" Lana said as Lillie handed Ash a piece of cake, devouring it instantly.
"Beautiful!"
Authors Note: Apologizes for the lateness of this one. I spent about 4 days on a camp without internet (so no way to upload) and without Laptop.
But it is here!
Sort of inspired by the episode a wee while ago.
With OC's, some may not appear until the league, some might appear before then, some might not appear at all (Unlikely if you have followed what I said), some might be in team skull or Aether. They will come.
And oh Yeah, Marshadow got 'officially' revealed. Huh. Interesting times ahead... I'm starting to believe the Switch rumors are real now (That Gen 7 is incomplete). What is your guys thoughts on it? Let me know :)
So until next time! Review, suggest or PM me! Spectre out!