Chapter 43
As we arrive at the Aether House, we notice Hau stirring awake. He groans softly before muttering, "Where am I...?"
"You're at the Aether House. You're safe now," I reassure him.
Lillie expresses her concern, asking, "Hau, are you okay?"
For the first time, Hau frowns deeply, an unusual sight. "I'm sorry! I... I can't even force a smile right now. That Plumeria lady came right after you left for the Ghost Trial... I'm supposed to be a Trainer! I have all these Pokémon with me! But when it mattered, I still let the kids down by allowing them to take the Yungoos..."
"We've already retrieved the Yungoos," I assure him. "Now, our priority is to ensure Nebby's safety."
Lillie nods in agreement and reaches for her bag, but her face twists in horror. "Nebby! He's gone!" she cries out in distress.
The shocking revelation leaves us speechless, unable to comprehend the unfolding situation. "No... it can't be..."
Hurriedly rushing outside the Aether House, our worst fears are confirmed as we witness a sight that fills us with disbelief—Nebby is with Faba, and they vanish through a teleportation portal.
"It's Faba... he's taken Nebby!" I gasp, my voice filled with a mix of shock and dismay at the unexpected turn of events.
Lillie's distress is palpable as she sinks to the ground, overcome by guilt and despair. "Oh no... How could I have let this happen?" she laments.
I attempt to console her, saying, "At least this time, they didn't take you. We'll find a way to get Nebby back." Trying to offer a glimmer of reassurance amid the chaos and worry.
As Gladion rushes in, he confronts Lillie with urgency, "Lillie, did you take Cosmog from the Aether Foundation?"
Lillie, overwhelmed by guilt and sadness, can't bring herself to face her brother. "Nebby... he's gone..."
Gladion, gripped by anguish and self-doubt, stares at his hands with a sense of horror. "I still couldn't protect them...? Then what was the point of me even leaving home in the first place?! I can't stand this... This useless feeling... I'll blow it away with everything I've got!"
Facing Gladion's aggressive approach with his Pokémon—Crobat, Zoroark, and Type Null—I recall the wisdom of cooperation and appeal to him, "Gladion! We can recover Nebby, but only by supporting each other! What do you hope to achieve in a fruitless battle like this?"
Gladion's tense demeanor softens slightly as he acknowledges, "That was wrong of me... I shouldn't have dragged you into a meaningless battle like that... But I told you! I told you that Cosmog would bring disaster to all of Alola! I have to get it back from them!"
Lillie swiftly responds, determined to take action. "We'll head to the ferry terminal immediately. We must go there now."
The urgency in their voices indicates the gravity of the situation, prompting a swift departure to pursue Nebby and address the impending crisis.
As we reach the Ferry Terminal, Gladion inquires, "Hrmph... So, we're waiting for Hau?"
Thinking it over, I respond, "We should wait for him. He'll be a valuable asset and a big help to our mission."
Gladion reflects on Hau's character, acknowledging, "Yeah, I guess so... He's a pretty interesting kid. I'll give you that. Growing up in the great kahuna's shadow and still trying to stand up to Hala as an equal? Not just that, but trying to become even better than Hala, too? ...I couldn't do it."
"Officer Nanu?" we exclaim in surprise as Nanu appears unexpectedly at the Ferry Terminal. His appearance catches us off guard, prompting curiosity about his sudden presence in this situation.
"If only Team Skull could've just kept themselves and their troublemaking to Po Town... Why'd they have to make all this fuss, huh?" Nanu grumbles before addressing us directly. "You there, Ash and Lillie. I'm an island kahuna, you know. Battle against me. It'll be a good experience for you if you're really hoping to master the island challenge."
Surprised by this revelation, I ask, "Wait, you're an Island Kahuna?" The unexpected disclosure leaves us taken aback, realizing Nanu's significant role as an island Kahuna despite his unconventional demeanor. Then I say, "I accept your challenge."
"Don't take it too seriously, now. The rule is to defeat my three Pokémon using only one of yours."
"Just one?" I exclaim in astonishment, momentarily taken aback. Collecting myself, I nod and reply, "That's acceptable for me." Determined to face this challenge, I prepare to engage in the battle under the unique condition set by Nanu.
Nanu sends out his Krookodile, and I stick with my choice of Golisopod. Krookodile initiates with the Intimidate Ability, but Golisopod remains unaffected.
"A Golisopod, huh... Unexpected choice," remarks Gladion.
Opting for a decisive move, I command, "First Impression!" Golisopod lands a powerful hit on Krookodile, dealing significant damage. However, Nanu's smirk indicates a planned move, "Counter."
I'm taken aback as Golisopod sustains considerable damage despite the move not being super effective. Since I can only use one Pokémon, Golisopod can't trigger Emergency Exit.
"Then I'll resort to Special moves. Scald, Golisopod!" I command, catching Nanu off guard. He gasps, realizing the impending danger.
Krookodile is overwhelmed by Golisopod's Scald and the subsequent Liquidation that follows, leading to its defeat.
"You really weren't half bad, as expected from Aurora's son," Nanu remarks.
Nanu then sends out his Sableye, initiating the match with a Shadow Ball. Golisopod nullifies the attack using Liquidation, but Sableye follows up with Shadow Sneak, dealing some damage.
"Golisopod, Pin Missile!" I command, but it gets deflected by Sableye's Shadow Claw. Before Golisopod can counterattack, Sableye traps it with Mean Look. I try another command, but Golisopod remains immobilized, enduring several Shadow Claw strikes.
"Golisopod, Leech Life!" I exclaim, surprising Nanu as the move not only knocks out the Sableye but also replenishes Golisopod's health.
"That's a smart move. Golisopod might have a chance against his last Pokémon," Selene observes.
"Well, what do you know? It can use Leech Life after all." Nanu says. "I want to beat you before pulling this one out. You can't always get what you want!"
He sends out Alolan Persian as his last Pokémon. Its Power Gem strikes Golisopod down, but Persian takes a hit from Golisopod's Liquidation.
"I must say, even if you weren't here, Golisopod would be just fine. Not only that, I think Golisopod might do better without you," Nanu remarks.
"What do you mean by that?" I question, feeling a surge of emotions. "Why are you saying this?"
"I'm simply telling you how it is. A Pokémon should choose the Trainer best suited for them," Nanu replies.
"Are you suggesting I'm not?" Nanu's dark-type provocation irritates me, but I try to stay composed as he prepares to use Dark Pulse on Golisopod. Golisopod shakes off the impact.
"Nice try, but I'm not falling for it," I retort. "I know your strategy, and trying to provoke me won't work."
Golisopod adeptly dodges several Night Slashes and retaliates with Leech Life. Nanu observes, "Well, interesting. I never thought I'd have to use this. I guess you never know."
He suddenly activates the Z-Move, prompting Lillie to warn, "Here it comes!"
"Allow yourself to be enveloped in the darkness! Use Black Hole Eclipse!" Nanu commands as Persian summons a giant black hole, attempting to drag Golisopod into it.
"A Z-Move for a Z-Move!" I shout, activating my Z-Power Ring equipped with the Bugium-Z crystal. Forming my arms into an M-shape, I slash through the air resembling a Bug's horn. "Savage Spin-Out!"
Golisopod heeds my command, ejecting a thick mass of white silk from its mouth, encasing Persian in a cocoon. Vikavolt takes action, slamming the cocoon on the ground and tossing it into the air, allowing the Black Hole to pull it in.
As the Black Hole reaches its climax, the cocoon falls downward. Golisopod charges, slashing through the cocoon, striking the Persian, and knocking it out as the Black Hole dissipates in a massive explosion.
"He did it!" My friends cheer for me, and I express gratitude to my Golisopod for its remarkable performance. Nanu, seemingly unimpressed, shifts his focus to Lillie, acknowledging her as the next challenger.
Lillie nods confidently as she enters the battle with Nanu, and after Nanu heals up his Pokémon, the battle ensues. Mimikyu faces off against Persian, both under the same conditions. When Persian's Black Hole Eclipse deals some damage to Mimikyu, it manages to endure the attack.
"Now, let's do this!" Lillie exclaims, activating Mimikyu's Mimikium Z. She assumes the pose, shaping her hands into a heart before mimicking a Fairy. "Let's Snuggle Forever!"
Mimikyu darts around, causing Persian to grow anxious. Then, it leaps, enclosing Persian within its body, and continues to assault it with Play Rough until Persian finally faints. The victory is secured by Mimikyu's relentless attack.
"Well, shoot... Of course, I already knew you had the heart and the strength to storm Team Skull's stronghold, but I didn't know you were this good. Your Pokémon worked real hard for you. Let me fix your team up for you," Nanu says, offering to heal Golisopod and Mimikyu.
"Here. This is yours," he adds, handing both Lillie and me the Darkium-Z. With that, we conclude the Ula'ula Grand Trial, marking our completion of the third Grand Trial.
"If you want to use the Dark-type Z-Power, you've gotta do it like this," Nanu explains, demonstrating the pose. Afterward, he composes himself and continues, "There. Congratulations or whatever. You've officially finished your Ula'ula trials. You've got somewhere else to be, don't you? Try not to destroy the whole place. Oh... And you, boy. Gladion. Tell me... If you're really trying to get stronger as you say, then what're you depending on Team Skull for?"
Gladion is left speechless as Nanu leaves, and Hau arrives shortly after. Frustrated, Gladion says, "Don't you dare say a word about this being fun."
"If I'd been stronger... If I'd been the kind of Trainer who could seize victory, like Dartrix wants, too... I'm ready to do whatever it takes now!" Hau expresses his determination. "But where was Nebby taken? It couldn't be Po Town. Ash and the others were there the whole time."
"Hmph... So you're not quite as dumb as you are naive. It'll be Aether Paradise," Gladion replies, revealing his suspicion about Nebby's location. Then, boarding the boat, we set our course toward Aether Paradise, determined to retrieve Nebby and confront the looming challenges awaiting us there. The journey ahead felt tense, filled with anticipation and worry, but our resolve remained firm as we sailed toward Aether Paradise.
Here is a new chapter, and there you have it, the Grand Trial as well as Nebby's kidnapping. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be the battle in Aether Paradise.
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