Into the Vast Poni Canyon we go. Will Collin and Lillie make it through? What will they come across? Find out in today's chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 25-Sun Trekkin Across the Canyon
As Hapu mentioned, the cave was full of Trainers and Pokemon, which was perfect for Collin, wanting to train his Pokemon for the worse case scenario. They walked through the cave, hand in hand. Lillie started to lag behind slightly and Collin noticed.
"Wanna take a small break?" he asked.
"Yeah, my legs are tired." she said and sat on a rock. "Phew, I guess this is good practice when I start my own journey."
"That's the way to look at it. You gonna do the Island Challenge?"
"Of course! Once I get my first Pokemon, I wanna do the Island Challenge." she said with her eyes lighting up. "They sound so much fun by the way you and Hau talk about them. Speaking of Hau, I wonder how he handled the Ghost Trial?"
"Probably better than me that's for sure." said Collin, shuddering at the thought.
"Why? What happened?" she asked. Collin took a deep breath and thought carefully what to say.
"You know how much I hate Ghost Pokemon right?" Lillie nodded in response. "When I went in there, I was scared to death by some of them. That's not the worse part. I saw the ghost of my mom."
"How? She didn't die in Alola right?"
"It was the Totem Mimikyu that was messing with my head. I asked Acerola about it and she didn't have an answer. All she said was that Mimikyu doesn't do that." he said, rubbing his face. "...am I crazy?"
"I don't think so. I mean...maybe Mimikyu's actually do that? Who knows." said Lillie as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "One thing is for sure, you aren't crazy." She pulled him into a hug, which of course he accepted.
"Thank you Lillie." They finished the hug and Collin slowly got up. "You ready to walk again?"
"Yep! We are gonna power though this Canyon no problem!" she said, jumping to her feet and the two walked along the path. They walked the path, after battling more Trainers and Pokemon, they finally got outside. The cool breeze felt refreshing compared to the dampness of the cave. They were extremely high up so they walked carefully, until they came across a bridge.
"Yeesh this place is steep. I didn't expect to be going this high up." said Collin, looking down to the ground. "I think I see Hapu!" he cried and waved down to the Kahuna, who waved back. "Lillie, come wave at Hapu!" Lillie however, didn't move. "You okay?" he asked, going up to her.
"Yeah...I'm fine. I'm just trying to prepare myself." she said. She slowly walked over to the edge and looked down. She saw Hapu and quickly waved, before looking back up and breathing heavily. "Oh Arceus!" she said.
"What's wrong? Not big on heights?"
"Y-Y-Yeah...it's kinda the reason why I didn't save Nebby on my own back in Iki Town...aside from having no Pokemon." she confessed.
"Nothing to be ashamed about." he said. "If you want, I can carry you over." He attempted to lift her up but a sudden pain shot through him. "Ow! Fuck!" he screamed and fell to the ground. "Shit, guess I'm not fully healed. Sorry." Lillie stood up and shook her head.
"I would have said no anyway." she said. "If I'm ever to become a Trainer, I need to get over my fears. Now is the time I do that." She slowly walked over to the edge of the bridge and took a deep breath. "Watch me Collin! This is my first ever Trial!" She began to preform the Normalium Z dance, the same one she did back in Aether, which Collin found too cute. With another deep breath, she began to run across the bridge. She got half way there, when a flock of Murkrow flew down and blocked her path. She looked behind her and there was another two Murkrow blocking her from turning back.
"Lillie!" cried Collin, ready to get his Pokemon out to protect her. Suddenly, she put her hand behind her, as if to say to not help her. He kept a ball in his hand just be sure. "Come on baby...you can do it." he muttered under his voice. With one final breath, she rushed across the bridge, ignoring the Murkrow and made it to the other side. It took her a second to realize what she did and she jumped in the air.
"I DID IT! I BEAT MY FIRST TRIAL!" she cheered. Collin walked across the bridge, clapping all the way and shooing the Murkrow off. "I completed my first Trial!" she said as he made it across. "Amazing right?"
"More than amazing." He said, scooping her up in his arms and kissing her. It wasn't long though, as the pain attacked him again. "Arceus! I swear you think I was an old man with this."
"Hehe, you're good looking for an old man." she said. This made Collin blush and began to stammer. "Come on old man, lets get going." She took his hand and dragged him into another cave entrance.
"You're gonna kill me one of these days I swear." he said out loud, getting a giggle out Lille as a response.
They continued their way through the caves, fighting more and more Trainers and Pokemon. Thankfully, Lillie was healing Collin's team so there was no problem with them getting tired. During this time, something came in Collin's mind.
"How's Nebby doing?" he asked. Lillie looked at her bag and sighed.
"Still nothing. I'm glad he's alive, but he hasn't moved at all since Aether. I miss him trying to get out of the bag." she said.
"Heh, never thought I hear you say that."
"I know but still, I hope we find a way to bring him back to his old self." She began to let out a slow laugh. "I guess I really am a mother to him...making you his dad."
"Well I was the one who came up with the idea." he said, laughing too. "He really was like a baby. Don't worry though, we'll get him back to normal soon enough." He pulled her close to comfort her.
"Yeah, we will." Collin loved how confident she has become ever since Aether. Gone was the shy timid Lillie, and was replaced with an adventurous, confident Lillie. "We can't be far now, let's pick up the pace!" she said and they walked out of another cave exit and into the fresh air. They came across another bridge and on it was a woman, who turned to face them.
"HOLD! HOLD THAT POSE!" she said. Collin and Lillie stood still, with Collin's arm wrapped around Lillie. The woman got out her sketch book and began to draw super fast, he swore he saw smoke coming off the pencil. "Now that's a great composition!" she said, holding the sketch up. While it wasn't highly detailed, it was a good pic for how quick it was.
"Wow! That's amazing!" said Lillie, awestruck by the sketch. "I can see me and Collin perfectly!"
"Thanks! You can keep it if you want." said the woman.
"How much is it?" asked Collin, getting his wallet out before the woman put her hand up.
"Oh no need to pay. You coming here and giving me inspiration is good enough!" she said, taking the picture out of the sketch book and handing it to Lillie.
"Thank you so much Miss...?"
"Oh where are my manners! Name is Mina. And I'm a Trial Captain...of sorts." she said looking away.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Collin.
"Well I've been made a Trial Captain not that long ago, but so far I haven't really come up with a Trial. I need more time." she said, but smiled. "Thankfully, Alola is pretty laid back so I'm not in any rush. Still, I want to get this done before the end of the year."
"I'm sure something will come to mind soon." said Collin.
"You're right." she said, then noticed the Z-Ring on his wrist. "Oh! While we are here and there is no Trial, let me give you this." She handed Collin a Z-Crystal. "This is the Fairium Z. Allow me to preform the dance." Mina stood back and began to preform the dance, which ended with her standing on one leg and her arms out by her side.
"Thanks Mina." said Collin. "Hate to do this, but we need to get going."
"Yes, I've delayed you long enough. I should go off and think about a Trial...maybe if it involved flowers...wouldn't that be cool?" she asked.
"I think it would be!" said Lillie. "I want to start my Island Challenge soon and I hope I get to try your Trial." Mina couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"Well I better make a move on then. I'll see you later! Alola, Alola!" she said as she walked passed them and into the cave.
"What was that? Why did she say Alola twice?" asked Collin.
"Oh...well you know how people say Alola as a greeting?" said Lillie.
"Yeah?"
"Well it can also mean goodbye. It's not said as often, but people do say it."
"Interesting." said Collin. "Still, I hope she does come up with a Trial soon."
"Same. Shall we keep going? We must be close to the end." said Lillie. The two walked across the bridge and pass some tall grass. When they were back on low ground, there was a line of Trainers in the way.
"Better take care of this. Watch and learn Lillie." said Collin and began to fight the Trainers with his Pokemon. Within ten minutes, the pathway was clear. "Phew, that was some training. But my team feels much stronger now."
"That's great! Allow me to heal them." She took his Pokemon and slowly healed them. "There we go, all better." They continued to walk the path when they reached another cave entrance, this time with the familiar Trial Totems on the outside. "This must be a Trial." she said.
"I guess so. But we haven't seen a Captain..." said Collin, looking around. "Guess we should go in anyway." The two walking into the cave, wondering what was going to face them.
The first thing Collin noticed was a small stone tablet off to the side. He walked over to it and tried to make out the words. It said;
Ahead lies a sacred ground of trials. None who do not take part in its trials will be allowed to walk upon this earth. Those lacking courage to defeat the totem guarding this land will be denied entry. But those who believe in their Pokemon and walk beside them shall gain great power!
"Great...one of THOSE things." said Collin, sounding annoyed.
"What do you mean?" asked Lillie.
"Basically I have to do this to allow us to pass through. Problem is, we have no idea what the Trial is about." he said. "I hate riddles like this. Don't get me started on the Regi Trio back in Hoenn." Normally, people would be shocked about this, but after hearing so many stories, Lillie accepted it.
"Must have been a challenge huh?"
"I'll tell you later. Lets get this Trial over with so we can get to the Altar." As Collin walked forward, he began to hear low rumblings coming from deeper in the cave. Suddenly, a Pokemon jumped right out in front of Collin and was ready to fight. Within minutes, the Pokemon was defeated. "What Pokemon was that?"
"That was Jangmo-o. It's a Dragon Type Pokemon. They are said to be very strong." said Lillie.
"Great, another strong Dragon Type. As if I've not seen enough of them." sighed Collin. "Well looks like Mimikyu got his work cut out for him." The two continued their way through the cave when another Pokemon attacked Collin, looking taller and standing upright, which was once again easily defeated. "I'm gonna take a wild guess and assume that the Totem Pokemon is the fully evolved version of Jangmo-o." he said with a deadpan voice, making Lillie laugh.
"Oh, I won't wonder what made you think of that?" she said, stilling laughing.
"A hunch. At least Mimikyu will make it easy for me." They got to a small statue with a hole in it, containing a Z-Crystal. Learning from his mistake back in the Normal Trial, Collin waited for the Totem Pokemon to appear. A loud shaking sound could be heard and then suddenly, the Totem Pokemon crashed down onto the ground right in front of the couple. "Lillie, what's the name of the Pokemon."
"I think it's Kommo-o if I remember. Be careful Collin, this Pokemon is said to be strong, even when not in Totem size." she warned.
"Ah don't worry. GO MIMIKYU!" he shouted. Mimikyu came out and prepared to fight. "Play Rough!" he cried and Mimikyu rushed towards the Kommo-o and rapidly attacked the Pokemon. Kommo-o got annoyed and used Flash Cannon on the Pokemon, however nothing happened due to Mimikyu's ability.
"KOMO?!" cried the Pokemon in confusion.
"Heh, thought this was going to be easy? Too bad for you. UNLEASH Z-MOVE!" shouted Collin as he twisted the Fairium Z and preformed the dance that Mina showed him, much to his embarrassment. "USE TWINKLE TACKLE!" The battle field became extremely pink and Kommo-o was floating, still confused. Mimikyu floated up in the air and looked like it began to toy with the Totem Pokemon, before giving it a strong tackle that sent the Pokemon flying into the ground, knocking it out completely. Collin finished the Trial in record time.
"Wow...that was...rather underwhelming." said Lillie. "It sounded like it was going to be difficult but then... I don't know. I was expecting more, I guess."She sounded disappointed. "But still, congratulations!"
"The way they built this all up made it sound epic and hard but...it was actually boring. But thanks Lillie. I bet it has to do with the fact that I did use a Z-Move." he said, justifying how quick it was. "I mean if Mina didn't give me this, more than likely it would have been harder. On the plus side, we don't have to waste more time getting to the Alter."
"True." she said, taking a deep breath. "I'm so nervous, but we got to do it. For mother and Guzma." she said, showing a brave face."
"Yeah. Come on, lets get going." After picking up his Dragonium Z, the two walked hand in hand out of the Trial, and moved forward into the Altar of the Sunne.
Today's chapter might not be the best. I'll be taking another break. Sorry but something personal happened and I need time to think about a few things. I hope you understand. Reviews and comments of any nature are welcomed and as always, I'll see you in the next chapter. Cheerio!