Who I Am - Lightning99
Chapter 11:
The First Trial
Ash was jerked awake the next morning by so many barks, and clicking sounds that there may as well have been an entire pack of Mightyena loitering at his bedside. When he sat up and looked, though, it was just Rockruff who was bounding in and out and around a ray of glittering golden light that flickered against a gentle breeze.
I finally won! Ash understood from Rockruff's persistent shouting. My home is safe!
Ash shook himself awake, then, to full concentration. "Rockruff, that was your home, too?"
Rockruff stopped jumping; he flicked his small head up and down a few more times than necessary. He barked again, telling Ash he'd lived a comfortable couple of years in the grotto with his brother and sister until some trainers had caught them – his sister first, then his brother a year or so ago. He claimed he knew they weren't at fault but that a part of him couldn't help feeling like they left him there. Alone, abandoned.
As Ash clambered out of bed, pulled Rockruff tight against his chest, and sat back on the bed's squashy edge, he explained his situation. He explained about his friends and his Pokémon and their attempt to disassemble his dreams. He dug into the thoughts he had been avoiding, and although it was hard, Rockruff had just shared his past. Somehow, that made it just a little bit easier.
Ash didn't even consider the strange fact that he could understand Rockruff's barks and whines perfectly.
Sometime later, Sceptile stirred across the room, interrupting the personal moment. It was then Ash truly took in the state of the room: Staraptor lay asleep on the red mat in the middle of the room, Pikachu nestled into one of his retracted wings; Sceptile and Heracross were asleep sitting up against the door; Infernape's Pokéball was atop the desk – he hadn't wanted to set the room on fire accidentally.
Ash watched Pikachu with a small smile until Rockruff started moving. He wriggled free from Ash's arms and bounded towards Sceptile as if they'd not even mentioned the heart-aching subject, paws clicking on the varnished wood. Ash shook his head and let loose a small chuckle as he watched Rockruff bound side-to-side, nudging Sceptile with his head. Something about sharing experiences with another lessened the burden, it seemed.
Ash washed and dressed quickly – so quickly that a damp sheen still coated his hair as he prepared to leave, framing his face handsomely. While stowing his Pokeballs in his bag, he allowed Staraptor out through the window to stretch his wings momentarily. He rushed across the room, tussling his bag onto his back, tossing open the curtains halfway, and scuffing the rug as he yanked the door and darted onto the landing. He met Staraptor at the door, where he returned him and dashed out into the city.
And that was when he finally stopped, having come to a quick realisation. He had decided he would challenge the first trial that day, but he had no idea about the order or the organisation of the Island Challenge. So, instead of picking up breakfast from his favourite stall and greeting the gentle old woman tending it, Ash turned away from the market, heading towards Aina Café, towards Mallow. After all, she lived the closest and was training to be one of the next Trial Captains.
A sign flipped to read 'Closed' – written in curly print – hung across the door's window, but Ash ignored it, running recklessly into the café. Mallow was standing behind the counter, facing the other way, her long green hair stretching down her back, below even her waist, relishing its freedom from its usual, tightly-tied style. She whipped around, her hair swishing when the door clicked open, and the bell jingled. Her cheeks flushed pink.
"Ash! What are you doing here?" Mallow asked, brushing down a tuft of hair, slightly poking from behind her ear.
"Morning, Mallow! Could you tell me how I start a Trial?" Ash said, his cheeks highlighted red from running.
"Oh, sure! Take a seat. I'll be there in a second," Mallow replied, unclipping her apron hastily.
"Thank you," Ash said. He pulled out a chair and sat down.
Mallow skipped over, laying her apron on the nearby counter. "Sorry, I didn't expect anyone here so early."
"It's my fault for barging in. You should've kicked me out, really," Ash said.
Mallow giggled, "I couldn't have done that."
"Yeah, I get that feeling from you."
"Well," Mallow said, sitting opposite him. "Lana says I'm like a parent. I'd help anybody like a parent would help any child, not specifically their own. Or they should, but… does that makes sense?"
"Uhh, not exactly… But I think I get it."
"So, what is it you want to know, exactly?" Mallow asked, resting her elbows against the wooden table. "You said something about the Trials?"
"Yeah. I'm thinking of challenging the first Trial today, but I'm not sure how I actually do that. I guess there's a Trial Captain I have to talk to, but I don't know them, so I was wondering if you could help me out."
"Yep, I can. Are you planning on taking the Trial in Verdant Cavern? The cave through the two pillars?"
"That's the one."
"Ok. The Trial Captain is a man called Ilima. To start an Island Challenge, all you have to do is go to the location and then talk to the captain – or in the case of a trial that has no Captain, talk to the Kahuna. The only slight issue you might have is that you can't always find them. Usually, though, Ilima goes to the trial sight at around mid-day. He teaches a class at the Pokémon School in the mornings and then spends the rest of the day taking care of his personal duties and the duties as a Trial Captain."
"Trial captains have more duties than just the trials?"
"Yep. They have a bunch of things to do, mainly regarding helping people around the island. Honestly, those jobs are what made me think about being one."
"There's a lot more to it than just taking care of the Island Challenge, then?" Ask asked, leaning forward a little.
"Yep," Mallow continued, "Ilima volunteers at the Pokémon School. Another Trial Captain works at an electricity plant that distributes power to all of Alola. For me… The job I'd want to do is cooking food for any hurt and stray Pokémon, as well as festivals and celebrations, that sort of thing. As well as this café, of course."
"You've got all this planned out then, haven't you?" Mallow nodded. "I hope everything goes well," Ash said, grinning, that same expression he delivered before every tough battle, after every encouraging pep talk he once gave to his companions. His signature smile.
"Thank you, Ash. I'll make sure to try my best. I hope you'll reach your goal as a trainer, whatever it is."
"In that case, I'd better get to the trial right away. Thanks, Mallow. I'll see you later!" Ash said, scraping his chair against the ground, bolting out the door, and waving behind him.
Pikachu stood on the table. He glanced at Mallow. "Pika…chu," he said, then followed Ash.
He's always like this.
As the sun touched the sky's apex and the hidden Pikipek chimed like a grandfather clock, Ash waited at the entrance to Verdant Cavern, as Mallow had dubbed it. He stood aside from the main path so as not to obstruct anyone passing through, stretching his legs and arms, loosening himself, ready for the unknown challenge awaiting beyond the cave's wall. It was a cooler day than Alola had delivered recently, probably due to the breeze and the height of the cliff, where so far over the edge, Ash could hear the faint sloshing of waves against the rockface. It was the perfect day for a trial.
People strolled in and out of the Poké-Center, greeting him with smiles, evidently aware of what he was about to attempt. Something encouraging beamed in their eyes, and Ash returned the smiles gladly.
Ilima arrived five minutes after Ash, a slender, handsome young adult with side-swept rose-pink hair tied with an amulet similar to Ash's. A pair of gleaming blue eyes happily greeted Ash, shining with charisma. His attire depicted wealth – clean white trousers, an undershirt, and a vest patterned with brown diamonds – but as soon as he announced himself, Ash could tell he was more cool than pretentious.
"Alola! Might you be a new challenger to my Trial? Kahuna Hala did tell me there would be a few new ones soon," Ilima said in a fitting calm, silvery voice.
"Oh, uhh, yes. Yeah, I'm a challenger," Ash said, straightening up and placing out his hand to shake Ilima's. He continued automatically, "My name is Ash, and this is my partner Pikachu."
"Nice to meet you both," Ilima said, smiling widely. After shaking Ash's hand, he fixed his hands to his waist. "So, Ash, have you been a trainer for long?"
"Yeah, I'm in my seventh year now," Ash said.
"Wow, excellent! In that case, you should be familiar with battling." Ilima coughed, then straightened out his vest. "Firstly, greetings, Ash! My name is Ilima, and I am the Trial Captain of Verdant Cavern. My speciality is Normal-Type Pokémon. Here on Melemele, as you may have noticed due to your experience, we have devoted the island to simplicity. We want to give beginners a chance to improve. However, inside this cave is where that changes. The trail is physically demanding, and you must be well-versed in battling to succeed. You will have to be innovative, creative, and determined. Are you prepared for that?" Ilima asked, a smirk tweaking the corner of his lips.
"Definitely! There's no challenge we'll back down from!"
"Amazing, Ash!" Ilima announced. "If you are ready, my challenge begins mere steps from here in Verdant Cavern. Note that the Pokémon living within Verdant Cavern are quite fierce. One can exceed their limits by attempting the trials during the island challenge – that is what the Alolan people believe! Once again, are you ready?" Ilima said.
Ash took a deep breath and clenched and unclenched his fists. He nodded. As Ilima stepped back to let him into the cave, Ash heard his name. Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, and Lillie, with Hau trailing, all ran towards him from around the bend.
"We made it!" Hau shouted, reaching his arms triumphantly high.
"Oh? Alola, everyone. Are you all here to watch the trial?" Ilima calmly asked familiarly.
"If you don't mind, Ilima. I'd like to see how Ash does," Kiawe replied.
"Not at all. Verdant Cavern is said to be a sacred place to Tapu Koko, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind you watching. Come with me. We'll wait at the end," Ilima said.
As the group followed Ilima through, they each said a quote of encouragement to Ash. Lillie and Lana quietly wished him luck, and Kiawe announced he was curious about Ash's capabilities – Ash more than wanted to demonstrate what he could do. They disappeared into the cave, and Ash followed them inside a moment after.
Through the shade of the hollowed mountain, a vast cave expanded that befit its name: Verdant Cavern. Moss that seemed luminous blanketed the walls and floor and covered some huge boulders that split the pathway into a winding maze. Pear-shaded ferns protruded from cracks and chips in the walls, growing where the wall and floor met, and tiny clumps of grassy weeds barely a centimetre tall clustered chaotically on the ground throughout. There were holes in the rock ceiling, edged by vines, where light shone through, dimly illuminating what would've been placid darkness into something like twilight, white-ish flecks scintillated within the rays.
The path led inwards, separating at the edge of a gaping drop that was dark enough to the eye that only imagination could determine the extremity of its depths. To the left, the path stopped at a climbable wall with a slope atop it, and at the end of the slope, it repeated as if two steps for giant Pokémon. To the right, the path led down below one of the holes of light, beneath which a moss rock luminesced. Ramps and stone bridges connected both sides of the gorge, and in the distance, canopied by more leaves, was the bright exit to outside. From where Ash was standing, it appeared like a naturally generated jungle gym course.
Ilima stood at the start.
"Ok, Ash. The aim of my trial is straightforward. All you have to do is get through the exit at the back of the cave and retrieve a Z-Crystal from the pedestal on the other side. The only catch is… Yungoos and Gumshoos live in this cavern and are here to prevent you from reaching the end. Defeat them along the way, and then all you've got left is the Totem Pokémon, which I shall leave unnamed for a little bit of mystery. Do you understand?" Ilima asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Ash replied. Pikachu jumped down from his shoulder, standing poised, and Ash let out Rockruff, who stared at the course, unrelenting.
"Alrighty! Your friends and I shall be at the exit to watch the Totem Pokémon battle, so good luck. Begin as soon as I leave the cave," Ilima explained, flashing Ash a wave; something on Ilima's glove glistened as he did. Ash nodded and watched Ilima retreat from the cave, swallowed by the daylight.
Ash turned around, grinning expectantly, and was immediately stunned into action: a sneaky Yungoos snaked towards Rockruff, its jaw glowing with Bite.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash called. A second later, a spark of lightning zipped past his head, blowing his jacket and hat askew. Thunderbolt hit the Yungoos directly. It skidded on the ground, its body smoking, and retreated, scampering quickly into a small hole in a boulder Ash hadn't noticed before. He deduced that he should keep an eye out for them: they seemed to be the Yungoos' hideaways.
Ignoring that hole, Ash dashed down the left path to the climbing wall rather than the easier path. He grasped for a protruding rock that looked stable enough and peered upwards for a higher handgrip, spotting three Yungoos' beady, mischievous eyes leering over the top of the wall.
"Pikachu," Ash said, stepping confidently on a rock and pushing himself up. "Quick Attack up the wall. He reached up again and climbed another foot, then another. "Rockruff jump and use Tackle for extra force to propel yourself upwards!" Without looking away, his hands and feet relentlessly pushing and grabbing safe chunks of rock, feeling the roughness digging into his palms, readjusting now and again, saw his two Pokémon dash past him.
Pikachu was the fastest. He dashed at the wall, balanced his paws on two protruding rocks, and jumped up to another set and another. He zigzagged across the wall, back and forth, then bounded over the top, clattering into a Yungoos' head. Simultaneously, Rockruff catapulted over the wall with his Tackle, crashing into the second Yungoos.
The third Yungoos didn't flee as its companions scuffled with Ash's Pokémon. Instead, it swiped Sand Attack down at Ash just as he looked up to re-position his hand, timing it perfectly. The sand dusted Ash's face, forcing him to shut his eyes. His left hand slipped, causing his left leg to buckle too. He fell backwards but grabbed madly for the hold again, pulling himself flat against the wall with a heavy inhale when his hand caught it. He released the breath, wiped the sand from his face, and climbed the last few holds up and over the top, where the third Yungoos lay, fainted, sparking with the trace of an Electric-type move.
"Thanks," Ash called, gesturing a thumbs-up, already running forwards. Pikachu and Rockruff followed at his heels.
As he reached the crossroads where the left and right paths reconnected, Ash reflexively leaned backwards just in time for a Yungoos to soar through the air using Tackle. While Ash dodged it, he struck an unexpectant Rockruff on his other side. Rockruff rolled, then ducked as the Yungoos used Bite. As he turned, Ash spotted a den at the bottom of a nearby ramp.
"Rockruff, Sand Attack, then Thunder Fang!" Ash called and, trusting his abilities, looked back at the path whereon two Yungoos were running at Pikachu. "Pikachu, Quick Attack off one onto the other!"
As he heard a strong Thunder Fang connect in the background, Ash watched as a glowing white trail line followed Pikachu. He darted into one Yungoos with his paw0 raised. When he hit, he jumped up and at the second with his head, knocking them both to the edges of the ramp as easily as pins. A second later, Pikachu dropped onto the Yungoos' back using Quick Attack, knocking it unconscious, then leapt easily at the other, who prepared Bite. He had thought it, but Ash hadn't even given instructions for that move.
"Iron Tail!" Ash shouted, but Pikachu enacted the move before he even finished. He steeled himself briefly, then thrashed in a wide circle, his tail swinging in an arc. Yungoos clattered down the ramp, hitting the wall at the other end.
"Nice work!" Ash called, slapping Pikachu's tail like a high-five.
Ash continued running through the cave, focusing only on the task. Pikachu and Rockruff fought off two more Yungoos, and they stopped at another junction. This time Ash took a moment to consider. He had two routes; climb another wall that stopped right at the exit or tightrope across a wooden plank hovering over the gorge. Ash recklessly chose the latter this time, his adrenaline favouring the challenge.
Ash stepped out onto the wobbling wood, one foot at a time. It was shaky, but he slid his feet forwards without hesitation, one at a time. He'd walked over more perilous rocks and pathways throughout his travels, and such a simple wooden plank wasn't as life-threatening as when he'd rescued Lillie and Nebby. Either way, he assumed the Trials were in some way safe-proofed and that falling would only lose him time. There was probably a net somewhere below him. He didn't find out, though, as he easily cleared the plank.
Three more Yungoos met them on the other side, skulking out of two dens. One hit Pikachu with Tackle, another barely missed with Bite, spinning so fast to regroup its tail slapped Pikachu's face.
"Pikachu, Quick Attack! In the aftermath, use Tackle, Rockruff!" Pikachu's successive Quick Attack knocked all three Yungoos off their feet and into each other. They scrambled for separation, but not before Rockruff charged in with Tackle, hitting all three at once, flinging them backwards. But they all spun and bounced back off the wall, two clattering into Rockruff with Tackle, the third with Bite.
"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!" Pikachu's voice and static filled the cave, and the three Yungoos fainted. Ash checked on Rockruff then, ruffling his head. He yelped in response, announcing he was fit to continue.
Ash continued to a semi-circled hole leading through a wall. He dropped to his knees, looked through at a tight corridor on the other side, and then lay on his front. Using his forearms, he stretched his right arm out, pushed on the floor and moved forwards, copying with his left. He scurried through the hole and out the other side, where another Yungoos faced him. It cut across Ash using Tackle, forcing him to jump back into the wall – the impact made him puff out all his breath. He dodged another Tackle and saw Pikachu exit the tunnel, who quickly struck the Yungoos with Thunderbolt. When Rockruff appeared, he finished it off with Thunder Fang.
Unfortunately, the passage turned out to be a dead-end. So, Ash retraced his steps, and he found a ramp to the exit. He didn't even scold himself for going the wrong way. He had enjoyed the battling far too much.
"That wasn't so hard," Ash said when they reached the exit, stretching and rubbing his arms. He waited until his breath evened itself before continuing. During that rest period, he deduced the Totem Pokémon: Gumshoos. Ilima had stated both Yungoos and Gumshoos made their homes in the cavern, but he'd only seen the former.
"You guys ready?" Ask asked, clenching his fist. Hearing their confident cries, Ash stepped into the clearing.
Large walls of rock encircled a deep, circular clearing. Grassy pathways circled up and around as ledges on the walls, whereon Ash's new friends sat or stood, watching like the spectators in a league, anticipation written into their expressions. In the centre of the open, dusty-floored area stood a pedestal. Alolan symbols were carved into the cylindrical body, and two triangles protruded from it like those on the body of a rocket. A Z-Crystal sat in the centre of the pedestal, gleaming because of the sun that stared directly into the hole.
Ash stepped forward, glancing left and right for the Totem Pokémon he knew was coming. He felt Pikachu tense on his shoulder, and Rockruff at his ankle, and then something else, like the feeling of being followed, of a piercing gaze cutting through him, but he couldn't see where from. He walked right into the centre of the opening, and then it appeared: the Totem Pokémon.
It roared, and Ash followed the voice, turning in a circle. There, perched upon another balcony hanging over the cave, was, as Ash had worked out, a Pokémon that could only be Gumshoos. It had a fierce face, the same brown and yellow fur as its pre-form, a hairier version of Yungoos. It was undoubtedly Yungoos' evolution. And it was huge. It wasn't quite the size of the giants from the Giant Pokémon Island, but it was maybe four or five times the size of a Yungoos, probably twice or thrice that of a normal Gumshoos.
Ash tensed as it jumped, flipped, eclipsing the sun with its tucked frame, and landed, causing a tremor. It straightened up, matching Ash's gaze. In those few seconds, Ash analysed Gumshoos as best he could. It was large with stubby limbs. It wouldn't be too fast, meaning Pikachu had an advantage. Its teeth and claws were razors, so its hits would do damage. Dodging would be essential.
Ash quickly formulated a plan in his head, taking in his surroundings and deciding what he could and couldn't use. He was ready.
Opening his mouth to instigate the fight, Ash heard the clicking of claws to his right. Two Yungoos scuttled out of another of the dens Ash had missed. Seeing this, Ash readjusted.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt to stun Gumshoos!" Ash called, keeping his eye on the approaching Yungoos. He heard Pikachu move behind him.
"Rockruff, use Sand Attack to blind the Yungoos!" Rockruff immediately scraped its paws against the ground, kicking up dust at the Yungoos. They jumped back, catching the backdraft with the wind. "Dart through the dust and use Tackle consecutively!"
Ash spun around to Pikachu just in time for Gumshoos to charge rather lethargically. Its sharp teeth grew quickly, extending larger than they already were. It was either using Super or Hyper Fang.
"Wait it out until it comes close… Iron Tail!" Ash directed, judging the distance. Pikachu slapped Gumshoos' extended fangs, knocking its face sideways. But its body stayed rigid, unmoving, and it headbutted Pikachu.
"Duck out!" Ash called, and Pikachu retreated just as Gumshoos' eyes sharpened, and Ash saw Pikachu's fur stand up. Leer. He'd have to avoid the attacks even more now.
"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu charged the attack, launching it straight at Gumshoos' head. It opened its gaping mouth, all of its teeth whitening this time, and bit down, blocking the attack. Its body faintly flashed yellow.
"It's powerful… Alright, Pikachu! Run around it to confuse it!"
Playing to his strengths, Pikachu zipped to Gumshoos' feet, then dashed left in a flaunt of agility, turned and ran around its back, once, twice. Gumshoos swivelled, but Pikachu was already gone, materialising behind it in a blur of movement. "Thunderbolt!"
The spider-webbing streaks of yellow electricity hit Gumshoos behind the head, sending sparks down the rest of its body. But it didn't paralyse it.
Pikachu stopped running then, and Gumshoos turned and lurched, hitting him with its two large fangs as if unfazed by the streaks of yellow crackling across its body. Pikachu flipped in the air and skidded on its paws, and Ash quickly saw why it seemed so unfazed. Some sort of aura coated its fur again, tinting it yellow. Ash deduced that it was probably its ability.
"Pikachu, get in there! Mimic Close Combat with Iron Tail!" Ash directed, suddenly becoming aware of the scuffling sounds behind him. "Rockruff, charge Thunder Fang!" Ash called over his shoulder.
The move was charged and waiting when Ash turned properly, when Rockruff was mid-dodge, skidding low under a flying Yungoos.
"Bite the tail of the one on the floor!" Ash called next, and Rockruff pivoted quickly, clenching its electrified jaw on the Yungoos' tail. It yelped, and its partner jumped in again, flying with Tackle.
"Swing it around and hit the other Yungoos back! Then let go and follow up with Tackle! Pikachu! Retreat, then leap off the wall to get above Gumshoos!" Ash saw Rockruff slap the two Yungoos together and returned to watch Pikachu, who was in mid-air when he saw him. "Iron Tail down onto its head and use the force to stay airborne!"
Pikachu, his tail steeling, colouring silver again, drove it down into Gumshoos' head, bouncing back into the air, where he spun even before Ash called, "Thunderbolt!" Pikachu unleashed the savage blast onto Gumshoos' back, landing cooly on his paws, his red pouches sparking a moment longer. Gumshoos fell to its knee.
A surge of surprise hit Ash when Gumshoos stood and swung its tail into Pikachu, batting him aggressively. It then charged with Bite, clamping tightly onto Pikachu's tail, stopping him from moving.
It must be a Special Defence boosting ability… Ash thought, carefully eyeing Pikachu's trapped tail, peeking over his shoulder at Rockruff. One Yungoos was down, so there was only one left. One and the Totem.
The Gumshoos snapped its mouth open and closed again, then again, catching Pikachu's tail each time he attempted to wriggle free. Pikachu fought hard, twisting and pulling his tail, almost loosening it from the sharpened teeth. Ash suddenly got an idea.
"Hold out, Pikachu!" He spun around to Rockruff, "Use Bite and grab on to Yungoos, just like Gumshoos!"
Rockruff jumped over Yungoos, pawing its head into the earth, then clamped his teeth onto his tail like a vice.
"Thunder Fang!" Ash called, watching only for a moment as the electricity flared, then turned to Pikachu again, "Channel Thunderbolt into your tail!"
When Pikachu lit his tail, it exploded between Gumshoos' jaw. Smoke streamed through the gaps in Gumshoos' teeth, bursting into a grey plume when it opened its mouth opened, releasing Pikachu.
"Rockruff, Tackle!" Unleashing a rumbling bark, Rockruff hit Yungoos square with Tackle, knocking it unconscious. Ash grinned, looking at Pikachu. "Pikachu, bounce off the wall with Volt Tackle!"
Pikachu's tiny body flared up with violently crackling lightning, stretching behind him almost to the other end of the clearing. Pikachu bolted at the wall, flipping mid-way, then sprang back off it effortlessly, rocketing straight into Gumshoos' head so forcefully its body became horizontal. Gumshoos seemed to hover momentarily, then slammed into the ground, making the ground shake. Volt Tackle faded, and Pikachu flipped once, landing easily on his paws, his body covered in small tatters and bruises.
Gumshoos lay unconscious. Ash won.
Ash considered Gumshoos' steps thunderous, so when he heard a stampede-level clatter of feet, he feared that the overly formidable Gumshoos wasn't the Totem Pokémon, that another, larger Pokémon was coming. But it was only Kiawe who stopped in front of Ash, slapping a firm hand onto his shoulder.
"That was an incredible battle, Ash! I was moved to almost tears! Such excellent skills and creativity! It makes my heart fire up! I want to battle you next!" Kiawe announced, nothing in his eye telling Ash he was joking.
"Now, now, Kiawe. Allow Ash to retrieve the Z-Crystal before you bombard him too heavily," Ilima said, pulling Kiawe aside and gesturing to the Z-Crystal.
Ash walked to it proudly, as if walking down a red carpet, Pikachu and Rockruff marching by his sides. He grabbed the Z-Crystal, which disappeared in his fist, and then the cheering reached his ears, breaking past the overpowering adrenaline that had caged his mind and senses until that moment. He saw Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana walking forward, clapping and congratulating him. Kiawe rushed in again, returning to his godly praise, which reminded Ash, suddenly, of Clemont's previous devotion.
But he didn't dwell on it, on the sadness.
A fountain of pride, the same thing he'd felt after every previous gym battle, flushed the excitement and aches out of Ash's body. He was so pleased he felt weightless. Maybe it was a relief that he hadn't lost his skills after being degraded, but nothing could dampen his feelings at that moment.
"I, myself, am a big fan of Electric-Type Pokémon, so seeing Pikachu single-handedly defeat such a towering Gumshoos is incredible!" Sophocles commented.
"I agree! A Pikachu's base stats are not usually high, but your Pikachu seems rather strong for a Pikachu, Ash," Lillie added, and Ash nodded with a smile, remembering how that was Team Rocket's motive to chase him down. Those days felt like years ago.
Fast dull taps suddenly came from the cave mouth while Ilima tended to Gumshoos and the Yungoos, from which a man in a palm tree shirt ran through, panting. Ash hadn't even gotten a word in yet.
"Ilima! We've… got trouble… down in Hau'oli!"
Ilima returned Ash's valiant opponents. He ran off beside the man, asking questions, and Ash followed Ilima, keen to help, his new friends following him. But not even the threat of trouble clouded his joy.