When the group was about ready to leave the alter as well, Mina walked up the stairs, giving them a wave with a very distant stare.
"Aaaaash, friiiieeends... Aloooola Alola. I got... uh, curious... when I saw the alter go all dark and stuff. Like... who turned off the lights? I guess you... took care of it. Huh?"
"Yeah, we did Ash nodded.
"Weeeell... I'm not going to let you take all the good parts for yourselves. I'm a uh, a captain too, ya know? So how about we see if you... can beat my trial? If you're ready to... uh... try, just come to my house. It's in the... seafolk village."
"Yeah, I think we'll go to bed before that." The Kanto born trainer said before yawning. "Saving the world is exhausting."
"Hmm... might as well." Mina shrugged. "I'm feeling..." The trial captain then yawned. "...pretty tired myself. Well... see you later or something." Mina walked off, leaving the heroes wondering.
"What kind of hits is she taking?" Hau questioned.
"Well whatever it is, she's as baked as a brownie." Misty chuckled. "Let's go to the Pokemon Center. I certainly need a good shut eye after all of that."
"Yeah, even I know when to stop and take a rest." Hau chuckled tiredly. "We should eat something though. I'm starving."
After a well earned dinner of seafood and a sleep so heavy you'd think our heroes were snoring logs, Ash burst out into the open, stretching his arms out high and wide as he stretched.
"Good morning Alola!" Hau jumped out just as excitedly, his whole body filled with enthusiasm.
"Time to give it our all!"
"Poipole!" The little Ultra Beast followed suite, having been caught by Hau when Zossie gave him a free Ultra Ball. However, unlike what they were expecting, Misty just walked out, sipping some coffee while her Eevee was still trying to wake up from her bag. The boys sweated in awkwardness before the native boy questioned, "Misty, why didn't you come out here with passion like we did?!"
"Poi poi?"
"Sorry, but I'm still a bit tired from last night. You boys are lucky you have near limitless energy when you're in the right mood."
"Eev...vee." Her little normal type agreed with a snore and a light nod.
"Haha, I can see that. But I think I know a certain breakfast that can perk you right up." Ash hinted towards Hau, whom was confused before a light bulb lit above him. He gasped with a giant smile.
"Malasadas!" The boy cheered as we cut to them sitting in a store as he ate his breakfast pastries with gusto. All their Pokemon were enjoying some as well with the bigger ones sitting outside. Poipole was even entertaining the more easily amused ones by spinning around happily on its head in the air while enjoying the pastry.
"Come on Misty, a good sugary treat after what we did last night is something that will perk you up with your coffee!" Ash laughed. Misty rolled her eyes with a playful grin.
"Alright, alright already. But it's only because I've helped save the world that I think I deserve this treat." The redhead said as she bit into a cream filled malasada. After getting their fill, the group got directions where Mina's house was, which was shaped like a Wishcash, and knocked on the door. An old man opened the door.
"You must be the trial-goers Mina mentioned would come soon, yes?" Ash nodded.
"Yeah, is she here?"
"Yep. She's painting in the living room corner." Opening the door wider for them, the teens entered the home of the trial captain where they saw her painting with pinks and purples while in the butterfly position with a paint brush in her mouth. "Mina, your challenger has arrived." Her father called to her. Mina stopped, put her brush down, then slowly fell back until her back rolled onto the floor so she could see them upside down. Taking the brush from her mouth out, she greeted with a smile and distant look, though not as distant as it was last night since there was some focus,
"Oh hey guys. So I take it you're ready to take my trial, right? You did come to my house like I said after all."
"Yeah, I'm ready." Ash nodded.
"Heh heh heh." She slowly chuckled as rolled onto her front and got to her feet, her hair sort of fuzzy and all over the place. There were even splotches of paint in it. "Then let the trial of Mina begin! Let's get to the village's battlefield." Moving to a piece of land where there was a rectangle in the dirt, the trial started.
"Go, Mawile." Ash was soon freaked out by the sight of this fairy/steel type, whom had a giant gaping maw growing from her head.
"Wow, that's scary looking on such a normal looking Pokemon!" The trainer commented, though he was quick to regain his composure. "But... I faced against Necrozma, so this is only just a bit shocking! Muk, I choose you!" Ash sent out his rainbow colored Sludge Pokemon.
"Play Rough." Mina blankly ordered. Throwing the giant mouth attached to her head over, it spewed out some smoke to obscure the battlefield. Muk slowly looked around to try and find Mawile in the smokescreen, but the Deceiver Pokemon was moving too fast through the smoke. That is until he got smacked by said jaw, grunting from how strong the blow was. Several more blind shots were made as he was smacked around, his sludge body leaving imprints from the impacts.
"Counter with Ice Punch!" Ash pleaded. With a glowing ice blue fist, Muk punched where he anticipated Mawile to strike next, and punched the inside of the giant mouth of the steel/fairy type. It flinched since the move froze its appendage, and thus becoming too heavy for it to lift and move. It cried out from being immobilized. "Continue with Break Break!" Now with arms glowing white, Muk delivered a direct blow to Mawile's body, causing it to yell in pain. "Again!" With another strong strike, Mawile was rendered unconscious.
"Mawile, return. Go, Granbull." A pink bipedal dog appeared with large spikes growing out of its lower jaw. "Stone Edge."
"Counter with Gunk Shot!" While Granbull started to create white orbs that became rocks, Muk regurgitated brown globs of sludge. Granbull launched its attack, and they clashed in the middle, but Muk's attack was stronger as it pushed through the rocks way more easily, and were able to effortlessly bombard against the howling Fairy Pokemon. It dropped onto its back, defeated in one go.
"Alright Muk! That training is paying off!" Ash congradulated his Pokemon, to which it gave a goofy smile.
"Granbull, return. Go, Ribombee." Out came was an adorable, tiny Pokemon with a large head, slightly smaller body, and thin arms and legs. It is covered in fluffy, yellow hair and has a white face and lower body, and a tuft of hair on its back. It has big eyes with one white and one brown square speck in the center. Over its eyes are white hairs similar to eyelashes, and it has two black antennae. Around its neck is a brown scarf with a needle-like projection on the front. Two wings nearly as large as its body sprout from its back. The wings are white with three brown loop designs near the base. Its four thin limbs have bulbous hands or feet. Even Misty with her entomophobia could not resist how cute it looked as she smiled and her eyes sparkled.
"Oh my goodness! How can a bug be so adorable?! Bugs are so gross but this one is more adorable than revolting!"
"Eh? You have a problem with bugs?" Mina questioned the redhead. Misty's demeanor changed rapidly from joy to disgust.
"I just can't stand bug types! They're creepy and gross! But..." Although that didn't last long. "...this one is so cute I want a plushie of one!"
"Well this is certainly out of character." Ash chuckled awkwardly with a head scratch. "Anyway, Muk, use Gunk Shot, again!"
"Dodge with Quiver Dance." Mina said. Glowing white, Ribombee started dancing around Muk, whom despite having a closer target couldn't hit such a fast moving, small creature.
"Keep using Gunk Shot!"
"Blind it with Dazzling Gleam." Rising up high, the Bee Fly Pokemon produced a blinding amount of light, blinding and hurting the sludge Pokemon. "Now use Bug Buzz." Vibrating its wings, a soundwave began to spread through the area, and it caused the poison/dark type's body to ripple as the attack hurt the Sludge Pokemon, whom yelled from pain until he basically turned into a puddle, defeated.
"Muk, return!" When he was recalled, Ash nodded with a smile. "You sure showed them. Thank you. Alright then, Hawlucha, I choose you!" Sending out one of his ace Pokemon, the Wrestling Pokemon flexed his muscles.
"But wait, if Ribombee knows Dazzling Gleam, then won't he just be knocked out no problem?" Hau questioned.
"Not if he can get a flying type move in first." Misty smirked.
"Ribombee, Quiver Dance!" The trial captain ordered, a bit more effort put in to show she was taking this seriously. But as it started to glow white, Ash countered,
"Use Acrobatics!" Hawlucha blitzed out of sight, and Ribombee didn't know where to go since two after images were moving around at a speed it didn't expect. From behind, the fairy/bug type cried out in pain when it was struck from behind by the fighting/flying type, and thus was kicked down into the ground, defeated as Hawlucha used his wings to slowly fall onto Ribombee, flexing his triumph.
"That was great Hawlucha!" Ash laughed. The Wrestling Pokemon gave a thumbs up.
"Wow, you're strong." Mina said as she returned her Pokemon. She then started walking towards Ash as he returned his. "Since you've managed to beat me though, I'll give you this pink petal as proof." Not only was Ash cofused by this, Hawlucha and his friends prat falled from having heard of such an underwhelming award.
"Huh? No Z-Crystal?" The trainer asked as he was given the pretty pink petal.
"It's a good start, but you've only just begun my real trial." She laughed coyly. "Now you have to go to all the captains of Alola and get petals from them as well, then bring them to me." Rotom came out.
"We're collecting petalzzz? Thizzz zzzoundzzz like a nice, relaxing trial for once!"
"Are you kidding me?" Ash sighed as he scratched his head. "That'll take all day!"
"Well, there's no sense in dilly-dallying then." Misty said as she stood up. "Let's get to work." Luckily, thanks to Ash's awesome team, each of the trial captains went down easily. Hawlucha was the MVP as he dominated Ilima, Mallow and Lana's Aquanid. He wasn't the only one to help get the petals though as Charjabug used either Energy Ball or Thunder to defeat the rest of the water types of Lana's team, Primarina washed away Kiawe, and Sophocles even gave him a petal without a fight. However, when trying to meet with Acerola, the group spotted Guzma staring at the Aether House.
"Guzma?" Hau questioned.
"Poi?" His pet partner asked.
"Oh, it's you guys." They heard him sneer sardonically. "Look, about what happened with Necrozma... I guess I should... say thanks, ok?"
"Why would you thank us?" Misty asked skeptically.
"For saving me, Carrot Top." He rolled his eyes annoyed. "And... Alola too."
"Guzma, there's something I wanted to ask you." Hau spoke up. "That Golisopod you have, yeah?"
"Yeah, he's been with me since before I started on my own island challenge." He smiled. "My partner. There ain't nobody in Team Skull that can beat my Golisopod. The rest of my team too. I met them all during my island challenge and trained them up as good as anything. Not that any of that matters now."
"So you met your Pokemon during your challenge and made some really great friends too, huh?"
"Friends?" Ash asked.
"You know, everyone in Team Skull. They all really love Guzma, right?"
"Tsk, you trying to preach me a lesson about making friends along the way in life? What a cliche." Guzma scoffed. "You really are old Hala's grandson. Who knows? Maybe kids like you can make the island challenge actually mean something again. Here Ash, this'll add to your collection." Guzma tossed Ash one of his Bugium-Z. A breeze wafted through the area, and Guzma breathed it in with a grin. "Ah, here it comes again. The winds of Alola are blowing again, bringing some new change." As he ran, Hau called out,
"Just you wait Guzma! I'm going to come out on top and beat all the kahunas! I'm going to make sure everyone can be something great, whether they choose to do the island challenge or not! You didn't fail to become a captain, Guzma! No matter what you might think! So-"
"Hau, I don't think he can hear you anymore. At least not clearly." Misty interrupted his inspirational speech.
"Aww." Hau slumped. "But I was being so inspirational." Poipole patted his shoulder.
"Well, be as inspirational as you want, but it can only travel so far before people can't hear it good enough." Ash laughed. After Ash beat Nanu with Hawlucha complete ease, the group went back to Mina to show her the petals.
"Here you go, one rainbow flower from the petals you got from everyone." The fairy captain handed Ash a flower trinket with seven colors.
"It's so pretty." Misty gasped at the sight of it.
"Eevee." Her little Pokemon nodded.
"Poi poi." Poipole agreed.
"So then, where's that Totem Pokemon?" Mina asked. "This is the final Totem Pokemon for your final trial of your island challenge. I hope you're ready for the toughest totem yet." A Pokemon cry was heard outside, so Ash and the others went out to see it was a larger Ribombee. Unfortunately though, its size apparently made whatever made it seem cute go away as Misty shrieked with fear and ran away down the docks.
"There's the normal response." Ash said, unimpressed. "Guess this one was too big."
"Weird that size is all it took for her to run off from the same Pokemon." Hau pointed out.
"Things are generally cuter when they're smaller." Mina nodded. In no time flat though did it take for a repeat of Hawlucha defeating Ribombee with Acrobatics since even with higher capability and speed, Hawlucha had enough cover around to hide from attacks and strike with a blow that still one shot it into the water. "Hmm, you are certainly a strong trainer. You didn't just beat the captains to get all their petals, you even beat the totem Pokemon that came to check out the rainbow flower we made. You are just too great Ash! You're an awesome Pokemon trainer!"
"Hehe, thanks." Ash chuckled.
"Well, here you are. A well earned Fairium-Z." Ash was given a pink crystal with an emblem of a fairy in it.
"Wow, Ash completed all his captain trials!" Hau cheered.
"You doing it Ash!" Rotom popped out. "You're almozzzt done with all of your trialzzz! Just one more to go!"
"Poipole!" The two Pokemon said their names to show they were happy for him. Ash grinned from all this praise.
"Now, watch this real close." Mina instructed. Doing the initial poses, the trial captain then formed a heart before posing with a raised leg and her arms in a w form with her hands horizontally flat. "The only thing left is the grand trial. It'll be Little Hapu's first grand trial. That's pretty exciting."
"Yep!" Hapu said as she walked up to the group, along with an embarrassed Misty, and Hala of all people!"
"Grandfather?!" Hau gasped.
"Alola, Hau." The old man smiled.
"You did an admirable job completing Mina's trial Ash. It's time for your grand trial! I'll await your arrival on Exeggutor Island. I'll see you around Hala." Hapu told him before walking off.
"Congrats on you winning the trial. Hapu told me you'd win by the time we came back here."
"Hehe, thanks Misty."
"So the time has come for you to wrap up your island challenge." Hala said. "The island challenge helps you all grow, and you in return will help Alola keep changing. I can't imagine anything more delightful!" The old kahuna laughed. "I wish you luck, but I doubt you need it." Ash smiled.
"I don't think so." Ash nodded.
A/N: Alright so I know a lot of battles were cut out but the majority of them were essentially curbstomps. Though the Rimbombee one is one I'd still like to go over detail so perhaps after the Pokemon League I'll include that in here so that you readers know how exactly it went down. It probably won't be too much longer than a skip since Hawlucha can actually still one-shot it, if barely, but the amount of power it gains from its aura is impressive.