Chapter 42
As we press forward, confronting Team Skull Grunts along our path, we eventually arrive at the formidable gate that signals the entrance to Po Town.
Two Team Skull grunts stand guard at the entrance to Po Town. One of them remarks, "Yo, what's up? You wanna join Team Skull?"
"Absolutely not," I retort, and they catch sight of our Z Rings. "Hold up... Are those Z Rings?" the second grunt inquires.
"For real?! You're actually on the island challenge?" gasps the first grunt.
"Came to laugh at us losers who gave up on the island challenge, huh?" questions the second grunt.
"Wait, we never—" Trenor begins to protest, but the first grunt interrupts, "You showed up so suddenly and got the nerve to laugh at me?!"
Once again, they attempt to attack us with their Pokémon, this time unleashing a Scraggy and a Pawniard. However, we overcome their challenge using Mimikyu and Passimian, emerging victorious in the battle.
"You're on a whole other level than me. I've just got to laugh at myself..." the first grunt mutters in defeat. "Ack! The island challenge has made you way too strong!"
As they recall their Pokémon, the second grunt exclaims, "No fair! I hate strong kids like you! I'm not letting you in!" They proceed to lock us out of the town. Lillie turns to us, asking, "Now what should we do?"
"You there," a voice interrupts, and we turn around in disbelief to see Nanu, the former International Police member, standing before us.
"Officer Nanu?" I express surprise. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Ah, Aurora's son," Nanu acknowledges. "Seems to me you're trying to get into Po Town. You sure you've thought this through? You'd better be ready if you're thinking of coming in here. Ready to live as Team Skull. Or ready to take on Team Skull. You really think you're ready for that?"
"Look, you may have retired from the International Police, but we have our reasons for being here," I assert. "We need to enter Po Town."
"I guess everyone has their own reasons. I've got my reasons, too, for doing what I do. I'll have them let you in," Nanu sighs. "If you don't make it, I'll be sure your remains at least get back home."
After Nanu helps us open the door, he departs without much ado. Selene looks puzzled and asks, "So, he's a former International Police member?"
"Yeah, he retired quite a while back. He was even on par with Looker at one point," I explain as we step into Po Town.
There, we witness the somber atmosphere of the town, evident in its desolation, and numerous barricades obstruct our path. A Team Skull grunt spots us and remarks, "Huh? What are these numskulls doing here? What, oh what, should we do?"
"Forget about it! We've got this Barbaracle... I mean, we've got this barricade!" the second grunt chimes in. "Do you really wanna bother moving it out of the way just to take these kids on?"
"True, true." agrees another. "Go home! Go! You're not coming in here, got it? Not unless you find some path through here..."
Seems like a challenge indeed! We stumble upon a secret hole hidden in the bushes, allowing us to bypass the first barricade. The grunts are taken aback as the first one exclaims, "Dude, are you hardheaded? Your skull must be rock! You shouldn't have come in here, yo. Now I'm gonna make you regret it!" The second grunt adds, "Hey, yo, barricade or no, we ain't lettin' you go!"
As they engage us in battle using Spinaraks and Trubbishes, our Pokémon confront theirs. In the midst of the battle, our Dartrix finally evolves into Decidueye, utilizing its newly learned move, Spirit Shackle, to prevent the opposing Pokémon from escaping.
Decidueye: The Arrow Quill Pokemon: Grass and Ghost Type. Evolve from Dartrix at LV:34. It nocks its arrow quills and shoots them at opponents. When it simply can't afford to miss, it tugs the vine on its head to improve its focus.
With determination, I activate my Z-Power Ring, channeling the Ghost Dance energy. "This is our full power! Sinister Arrow Raid!" I exclaim.
Decidueye takes flight, encircling itself with an arc of arrows as it soars through the sky. With precision, it descends toward the target, the arrows accompanying its dive. They strike the opponent in a flurry before exploding, creating a powerful impact as Decidueye swiftly swoops past, knocking out the Pokemon.
"I wanna go back in time and tell myself not to battle you. That barricade made us soft... There's something to regret all night..." the first grunt mumbles remorsefully.
"I lost, I lost! I'll give you the money I have!" The second grunt hands over the money and cries out, "We needed that barricade after all! Come on, hold back a little!"
Disregarding the grunts' comments, we make our way into the Pokémon Center, visibly under Team Skull's control. Despite the situation, they still offer to heal our Pokémon, albeit with a charge of 10 dollars for the service.
Continuing through the barricade, we engage in battles with more Team Skull grunts. In the midst of these intense battles, our Torracat undergoes a transformation, evolving into Incineroar, further empowering our team with its evolved strength.
Incineroar: The Heel Pokemon: Fire and Dark Type. Evolve from Torracat at LV:34. This Pokémon has a violent, selfish disposition. If it's not in the mood to listen, it will ignore its Trainer's orders with complete nonchalance.
As we confront opponents like Mareanie, Incineroar's Darkest Lariat proves invaluable, disregarding all stat boosts, including those caused by moves like Cosmic Power. During the battle, I decide to test out Incineroar's new Z-Move.
Performing the Dark Dance, reminiscent of Ghost-type moves but executed with a straight-up stance and finishing with both hands raised, I command, "Use Malicious Moonsault!"
Incineroar's form becomes engulfed in a fiery, yellow-orange aura as it leaps into the air, descending chest-first onto the opponent. The impact triggers a massive explosion, showcasing the devastating power of Malicious Moonsault.
As we stand at the entrance of the Shady House, Trenor remarks, "So, this is where Guzma is located?"
"This base seems different from the ones we've faced before, but we're capable of handling it," Lillie reassures us, expressing her determination.
Inside the manor, we persistently battle through Team Skull members, overcoming each challenge they throw our way. Amidst the intense battles, our Brionne evolves into Primarina, further strengthening our team with its evolved form and abilities.
Primarina: The Soloist Pokemon: Water and Fairy Type. Evolve from Brionne at LV:34. It controls its water balloons with song. The melody is learned from others of its kind and is passed down from one generation to the next.
With Primarina's move, Sparkling Aria, not only unleashes a powerful sound-based attack but also possesses the ability to heal burns. During our battle, we decide to utilize the Z-Move as well. As Lillie initiates the Water Dance, she exclaims, "This is our full power! Oceanic Operetta!"
Primarina begins to sing a captivating melody, forming an immense water bubble from its nose. Skillfully controlling the bubble, Primarina directs it toward the opponent while continuing its song. The harmonious notes intensify, causing the bubble to burst with a tremendous force, showcasing the might of the Oceanic Operetta.
As we progress through the manor, we stumble upon three papers containing the passwords we've been seeking. Additionally, a Team Skull grunt drops a hint, saying, "A true Team Skull member always butts heads and answers with a hearty 'No!'" This clue may assist us in deciphering one of the passwords we've discovered.
We reach the top floor where Guzma's room looms ahead. A Team Skull grunt challenges us, stating, "Greetings, visitors. If you wish to meet with Master Guzma, then give the three secret passwords. Then tell me the day's first password! Which one of these does our big sis like best? Poison Gas, Toxic, or Poison Jab?"
"Poison Jab," I confidently respond.
"Tch... Then tell me today's second password! Which one of THESE does our big sis like best? Steenee, Bounsweet, Tsareena?"
Nate confidently answers, "It's Bounsweet."
"Seriously?! Then tell me today's third password! Which one of THESE does our big sis like best?! Tapu Cocoa, Roserade Tea, or Moomoo Milk?"
"The answer is Tapu Cocoa." Selene says.
"So you think the passwords are Poison Jab, Bounsweet, and Tapu Cocoa? Are you sure about that?"
Given the hint we received earlier, I confidently reply, "No!"
"Bwa ha ha! You know all our big sis' favorite things, and you even knew to say "No!" at the end! Yeah, you're one of us, boneheads!" The grunt chuckles and steps aside. "If you wanna have an audience with Master Guzma, then follow the path out on the roof."
Continuing forward, we finally encounter Guzma, who declares, "The hated boss who beats you down and beats you down and never lets up... Yeah. Big bad Guzma is here! I don't really get you, kid, but at least this is a change of pace. It's not every day someone comes straight to me for a beating!"
I respond firmly, "We're not here for you. We're here to retrieve the Yungoos you've taken."
Guzma smirks, retorting, "Oh, Yungoos? How sweet of you to help out a sad little girl. Tch!" He reveals the Yungoos hiding behind a box of Z-Crystals. To our surprise, they are holding Bugium-Zs.
"And you came all the way here just for that, huh? Can't you just watch out for your own Pokémon and stay out of other people's business?! You're some messed up kids!" Guzma sneers.
"Messed up? Us?" Rosa questions.
"You wanna know what I do when some machine messes up? The first thing I do is give it a nice hard smack! I mean, most of the time I smash it to pieces, but hey, what can you do? Now let's see if I can't fix you!" Guzma declares.
As Guzma unleashes his Golisopod, Masquerain, and Pinsir, all Bug-type Pokémon, we counter with our Minior, Oricorio, and Aegislash to retaliate in the battle.
As the battle intensifies, Guzma shouts, "You think you're tough, huh? Let's see how you handle this! Golisopod, show 'em your First Impression!"
In response, I call out commands to our Pokémon. "Minior, brace for impact! Oricorio, dodge and strike with Revelation Dance! Aegislash, use King's Shield!"
Minior withstands the powerful attack, while Oricorio elegantly evades, retaliating with a dazzling Revelation Dance. Aegislash adeptly shields itself, preparing for the next move.
Guzma grins, impressed. "Not bad! Masquerain, hit 'em with Air Slash! Pinsir, go for X-Scissor!"
"We're not backing down!" I exclaim. "Minior, counter with Power Gem! Oricorio, follow up with Air Slash! Aegislash, strike back with Sacred Sword!"
The battlefield crackles with energy as attacks collide, both sides showing remarkable resilience and determination. Guzma's Pokémon are formidable, but with strategic maneuvering and skillful tactics, our team fights fiercely to turn the tide in our favor.
With resolve, I activate the Ghost Z Crystal. "Now's the time! This is our full power! Never-Ending Nightmare!"
Aegislash synchronizes with my movements, elegantly dancing as it creates an illusionary dark scene that shrouds the battlefield. A massive shadow forms around its feet, from which numerous eerie, shadowy hands emerge and lunge toward Guzma's Bug-type Pokémon. As the hands make contact, they explode in a display of overwhelming power.
"That's... horrifying," Trenor gasps, stunned by the intense and eerie display of Aegislash's devastating attack. The combination of illusion and shadowy force leaves everyone in awe of the sheer power unleashed during the battle.
Guzma, observing his defeated team, mutters to himself, "Yeah, yeah. I gotta admit, that was great!" Then, in a sudden outburst, he yells at himself, "Guzma! What is wrong with you?!"
Guzma, with a forceful tone, commands the grunt, "Yo! Give the Pokémon back to the kid. NOW!"
The grunt complies and hurriedly leaves, allowing the Yungoos to rush back to us, relieved and safe. Then he rushes out of the house as well.
Guzma glares at us, his determination unyielding. "I'm gonna beat you down one of these days! No matter whose help I need to do it..."
As Guzma departs, we approach the chest and casually remark, "Don't mind if we take these," retrieving the Bugium-Zs and securing them in our bag.
Exiting the manor, we find Officer Nanu waiting outside with the Yungoos. "Have I got you to thank for this?"
The Pokémon rush to us, displaying visible relief and happiness upon being reunited. Officer Nanu observes the scene with a hint of self-deprecation, stating, "Thing must've been scared half to death if it's glad to see a wretch like me. What a lot of hassle..."
Noticing our Z Rings, he comments, "So trial goers, huh? Figures. Look, I'm not gonna fight someone who is taking on Team Skull. I'll heal your Pokémon up, so...go. Just go."
Nanu assists in healing our Pokémon, and as he looks around, he remarks, "Though...looking around now... It seems like there're fewer Team Skull folks around today than usual. Huh. I guess some of 'em might have run off after seeing their boss get beat."
Acerola rushes excitedly towards us, calling out, "Uncle Nanu!"
Nanu responds with a muttered remark, "And here comes the noise again..."
Yungoos also runs towards Acerola, and she addresses the Pokémon, saying, "Aue! I'm so sorry... You must've been so scared, huh? Thanks, guys! Really! You're really something!"
Acerola turns back to her uncle, expressing her concern. "Uncle, you're a great police officer, aren't you? I really hope that you're keeping a good eye on things here! What else do you stay here for, if you're not putting a stop to Team Skull's shenanigans?"
Nanu nonchalantly shrugs. "The rent's real cheap. No one else is crazy enough to stay this close to Team Skull, after all."
We exchange a bemused glance at his response, while Acerola persists, "That's what you say. But it's really all for the Pokémon, isn't it? You could depend on the Aether Foundation to look after the Pokémon that Team Skull hurts, but you stay here to look out for them, huh?" She turns to the Yungoos, reassuringly saying, "Come on, Yungoos. Let's get you back to Aether House! I'll come back to see you again soon, Uncle!"
Nanu mutters, "No one's asking you to..."
He then shifts his focus to us, pondering aloud, "Pokémon tucked up in their Poké Balls, Team Skull locked up in their little town... I wonder if either enjoys the experience?"
Feeling the weight of his words, we decide it's time to depart from Po Town, leaving behind the complexities and mysteries lingering in the air.
And here is the end of the Team Skull Raid. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the Grand Trial.
Ash and Lillie's Pokemon:
Charizard x2, Butterfree x2 (One Pink), Raticate (Alolan), Pikachu, Raichu (Alolan), Sandshrew (Alolan), Vulpix (Alolan), Dugtrio (Alolan), Persian (Alolan), Golem (Alolan), Grimer (Alolan), Marowak (Alolan), Lapras, Meganium, Typhlosion (Hisuian), Steelix (Crystal), Mantine, Sceptile, Gardevoir (Shiny), Milotic, Absol, Infernape, Lucario, Togekiss, Gallade, Samurott, Audino, Zoroark, Hydreigon, Greninja, Meowstic x2, Aegislash, Hawlucha, Zygarde, Decidueye, Incineroar, Brionne, Toucannon, Gumshoos, Charjabug, Crabrawler, Oricorio, Ribombee, Lycanroc x3 (Midday/Midnight/Dusk), Wishiwashi, Mareanie, Mudsdale, Araquanid, Fomantis, Shiinotic, Salazzle (Shiny), Bewear, Tsareena, Comfey, Oranguru, Passimian, Golisopod, Sandygast, Pyukumuku, Minior, Komala, Turtonator, Togedemaru, Mimikyu (Shiny), Bruxish, Magearna (Shiny), Marshadow, Kleavor