Chapter 54
Upon our return to the Alola Region, we were warmly greeted by everyone, each curious about our experience at Fula City's Wind Festival. Soon after, we set off for Seafolk Village, embarking on a research trip as planned.
Mina graciously offers to be our guide around the island, while each member of our group has their own distinct research projects. Lillie and I, specifically, are focused on obtaining the last two Z Crystals: the Fairium-Z and the Groundium-Z. Additionally, we're determined to complete the remaining Grand Trials.
Mina playfully remarks, "Well, I'm a captain, too, you know? So why don't you see if you can beat my trial? If you're ready to try, just come by my house. Or, yeah, I guess you could just come with me... Let me know if you wanna go together."
Later, after our group disperses, Lillie and I follow Mina to her house, where we meet her parents. Mina, with a hint of amusement, asks, "So, I take it you're ready to take my trial, right? You did come to my house like I said, after all."
"That's precisely why we've come," I affirm.
"Heh heh heh... Then let the trial of Mina begin!" Mina smiles, "I guess I've got to tell you what you need to do. You have to battle me! I can take you on at the same time."
Mina deploys three Pokémon: a Ribombee, a Granbull, and a Mawile. Lillie and I quickly strategize and opt to engage with Salazzle, Sandslash, and Lycanroc to battle.
During the battle, Mina decides to showcase the Z-Move. After performing the intricate dance, she commands, "Use Twinkle Tackle!"
Her Ribombee executes the attack, transforming into a shooting star and forcefully tackling Lycanroc, knocking it out. Despite this setback, we persevere and ultimately manage to overcome Ribombee and the rest of Mina's team, with Salazzle emerging as the last Pokémon standing, securing our victory.
"Woah! I'm shocked at your strength!" Mina gasps. "Phew! Looks like you have had some kind of island challenge! Since you managed to beat me, though, I'll give you this Pink Petal as proof."
As each of us receives a Pink Petal, confusion flickers across our faces. "That's a good start. But you've only just begun my real trial. Now you have to go around to all the captains in Alola and get a petal from each one of them!"
"Wait, all the petals from each of the captains?" Lillie asks in surprise. Suddenly, a memory surfaces: before our group separated, Mina had seemed to distribute something to Mallow, Lana, Kiawe, and Sophocles. It becomes apparent that those were likely the petals Mina mentioned. I presume it's not just those four; we likely also need to obtain petals from Ilima and Acerola, who are most likely situated on Melemele Island and Ula'ula, respectively.
We opt to utilize Charizard to head to Ilima's location first, despite this requiring us to depart from Poni Island immediately. Luckily, with Professor Kukui's authorization, we are granted permission to return to Hau'oli Cemetery, where Ilima is situated.
Before departing for Hau'oli Cemetery, we encounter Hau and his Decidueye. Hau greets us enthusiastically, "Hey! I know you're happy that we beat Ilima and all, but you've still gotta wait for me, partner! Oh! Hey, Ash and Lillie! I heard the news from Gladion, you know. Saviors of Alola, huh? Heh heh! I'm glad I got to set out on my island challenge together with such an awesome Trainer. But I'm not slacking off, either! It's good to have fun in battle, sure... But losing a battle because all you're really doing is having fun is...well... You can't let down your Pokémon when they're fighting their hardest for you, now can you? Right, Decidueye?"
Decidueye nods in agreement with Hau's words. "I know you want to win... And I'm gonna make sure that happens! And here. Have a Max Elixir! You should go ahead and use one when battle is dragging on and on!"
Gratefully accepting the item, we thank Hau. He continues, "When we're both done with our island challenges, we should have a serious battle. You and me. Pokémon and their Trainers have gotta have their hearts in the same place if they're gonna win in battle! That's the way to really have a blast together!"
We encounter Ilima standing before one of the gravestones shortly after Hau departs. He greets us, "Greetings. Captain Ilima here. It seems you've collected a great number of Z-Crystals, Ash and Lillie. You are positively shining! Yes, it's important to always shine."
Curious, Lillie asks, "So what are you doing here?"
Ilima shares, "You know, I've traveled the world since I was young with my mother. She's an actress on the stage, you see. In doing so, I came to realize something. I came to realize how beautiful my mother was when she dedicated herself completely to the role she was performing onstage...Yes, it is moving to see such complete dedication to anything! The brilliance of the Z-Crystals! The gleam of Totem Stickers! In my role as captain, I just want to do my part to make everyone shine!"
Recognizing that the gravestone likely belongs to his mother, I express concern, "I'm sorry... we're here to find you because we're doing Mina's trial, and we need the petal."
Ilima responds with understanding, "Don't worry. But... let's set that all aside. You're here for Mina's trial? Then allow me to check just how strong you have become!"
"So you're going to battle us?" Lillie asks, visibly puzzled by Ilima's approach.
"In a sense, this is a trial for me as well. A trial to see if the strategy I've thought up will work!" Ilima explains.
He unleashes Gumshoos, Smeargle, and Komala in the battle. Surprisingly, I notice he isn't utilizing Eevee. Lillie and I opt to deploy Lucario, Crabominable, and Hakamo-o for the battle. During the intense exchange, Hakamo-o manages to endure the powerful hit from Breakneck Blitz, triggering its evolution into Kommo-o. Seizing the opportunity, Kommo-o employs Clanging Scales, decisively knocking out all of Ilima's Pokémon.
Kommo-o: The Scaly Pokemon: Dragon and Fighting Type. Evolve from Hakamo-o at LV:45. When it spots enemies, it threatens them by jingling the scales on its tail. Weak opponents will crack and flee in panic.
"Yes! You have emerged victorious!" Ilima beams with joy after our triumphant battle. "You- No, you and your Pokémon have become quite a delightful team! Please take this Orange Petal. It has a definite warmth to it, just like me."
Gratefully, we receive the Orange Petals from Ilima. He adds, "So now it seems you have two petals. Wouldn't you like to see what happens when you have collected all seven?"
"That's for us to find out," I respond with a smile. Ilima shares further, "You know, Hau has been out on Mahalo Trail doing nothing but training and has improved a good deal!"
We bid him farewell as we return to Poni Island, seeking out others and requesting the remaining petals to continue our quest. Yet, as we approach each member of our group, it becomes evident that everyone is preoccupied with their own tasks and endeavors. We feel hesitant to interrupt or pressure them to halt what they're doing just for the sake of our quest to gather the remaining petals. Consequently, we collectively decide to set aside our immediate goal and opt instead to explore the uncharted territories of Poni Island first.
In one of the village houses, we encounter a young girl accompanied by her Sylveon. She murmurs softly, "Then I've got to go and get Sylveon some snacks at the malasada shop... and..."
Realizing our quest to battle Eevee users doesn't include Sakura, the Sylveon user, I express my thoughts, "Wait, among all the Eevee users that Kagetora asked us to battle, we haven't faced the Sylveon user Sakura, have we?"
Lillie gives me an odd look, "Ash... she is too young to be Sakura."
The girl overhears our conversation and interjects, "You're looking for the Sylveon User Sakura? That's my grandma! And that Kagetora guy asked you to come visit her? But my grandma died last year, you know?"
We're taken aback by this revelation, and she continues, "Here, I keep Sylveon now, so how about I battle you instead!"
We accept the challenge, and Lillie engages in the battle, using Toxapex. Employing Baneful Bunker to protect and poison the Sylveon, Toxapex eventually delivers the finishing blow with the Z-Move Acid Downpour.
"I couldn't skillfully do what I learned from my grandma," she admits. "The sweetest part of life is when you're cute. But the sweetest part is also the shortest. That's what my grandma told me. Maybe you can tell that to Mr. Kagetora or whomever!"
Then, as we bid farewell to the little girl Kira and begin to depart, Snowy and Absol suddenly sense something and dart off. In a rush, we follow after them, leading us to an encounter with Gladion.
"Gladion?" Lillie gasps in surprise.
"Ash and Lillie?" Gladion is equally shocked to see us. "Ash. I've been waiting for you. Thank you. For what you did for Lillie. For our mother. I appreciate it. Maybe more than you know. And the only thing I can offer you in thanks is a great battle. So I'm going to show my full power... My real full power this time!" Gladion expresses with a smile.
I reciprocate with a smile, "Sure. I'll be glad to battle you, Gladion."
Gladion selects Crobat, Lucario, Weavile, and Silvally to join the battle, while I choose to deploy Gallade, Oricorio, Minior, and Lapras for the intense showdown.
Gladion's Crobat takes to the field, swift and determined. "Gallade, let's show 'em what we're made of!" I call out, my voice brimming with confidence. Gallade leaps into action, swiftly engaging Crobat in a flurry of moves.
"Gallade, use Psycho Cut and Psyshock!" I command, Gallade responding with a blend of psychic and cutting attacks. Crobat retaliates with Cross Poison, its poison-infused strikes causing Gallade to falter and become poisoned.
"Gallade, hang in there! Use Sacred Sword!" I urge, sensing the urgency to end the battle. Gallade focuses its energy, channeling the power of the Sacred Sword. With a mighty strike, Gallade delivers a decisive blow, and Crobat is unable to withstand the forceful attack, fainting as a result.
Gladion's Lucario takes the field with an intense aura, ready to face off against my Gallade. "Your Gallade's strong, Ash!" Gladion shouts. "But let's see how you handle this!"
Lucario charges forward, its metallic claws gleaming as it strikes Gallade with a powerful Metal Claw. Gallade, weakened by the poison and already fatigued from the previous battle, struggles to withstand the forceful blow. Despite its valiant effort, Gallade is unable to continue the fight and succumbs to the attack, fainting on the battlefield.
I recall Gallade, feeling a pang of disappointment but also pride in its valiant effort. "You did amazing, Gallade. Take a well-deserved rest," I murmur softly as I retrieve its Poké Ball.
"Oricorio, it's your turn! Show 'em your dazzling moves!" I call out as Oricorio elegantly takes its place on the battlefield, gracefully twirling and preparing for the confrontation against Lucario's resolute strikes.
"Use Revelation Dance!" I command, capitalizing on Oricorio's Fire-type form. Oricorio channels its fiery energy into the spectacular dance move, culminating in a stunning display of flames. The attack, now infused with Fire-type power, strikes Lucario with intense force, exploiting its weakness and overwhelming it.
The scorching Revelation Dance proves to be super effective against Lucario, dealing significant Fire-type damage and causing it to be knocked out of battle.
Zoroark, Gladion's next choice, dashes onto the battlefield, its illusionary prowess evident. To my surprise, Gladion swiftly activates the Z Power Ring with the Darkium-Z, initiating Black Hole Eclipse. The overwhelming force of the attack ensnares Oricorio, drawing it into a devastating vortex, causing it to explode and be knocked out of the battle.
"Minior, you're up! Let's hold our ground!" I command, switching to Minior, determined to maintain our momentum. The battlefield becomes a flurry of attacks as Zoroark's speed challenges Minior's resilience. Despite Zoroark managing to break through Minior's shields, the Shell Smash maneuver powers up Minior's moves, converting it into a devastating Power Gem attack that strikes Weavile, overpowering it and causing it to faint.
"Your Minior's quite sturdy, Ash!" Gladion acknowledges, switching to his Silvally. "But let's see if it can handle this!"
Gladion inserts the Steel Memory into Silvally, empowering it to use Multi-Attack. Unfortunately, Minior, already fatigued from the previous battles, struggles to withstand the onslaught and is defeated.
"Lapras, show them your strength!" I call out, summoning Lapras to the battlefield as it faces off against Silvally. Gladion alters Silvally's typing using Grass Memory, attempting to gain an advantage.
Feeling the need to make a decisive move, I decide to take charge. "This is our full power! Subzero Slammer!" I declare, activating the Icium-Z. Lapras responds by conjuring a platform of ice that rises beneath its feet, firing a colossal beam of freezing energy. The beam envelops Silvally and the battlefield in ice, encasing the opponent in a frozen prison that extends outward before shattering with immense force.
The explosion of ice energy knocks Silvally out of the battle. Gladion's demeanor softens slightly as he acknowledges the battle's conclusion. "Hmph. There's nothing more to say. You've got good Pokémon. And I did travel with you and Lillie to Sinnoh together."
"That was an amazing battle, Gladion. You're also strong as well," I express, feeling a sense of camaraderie despite our competitive spirit.
Gladion reflects on Hau's growth, "You know, I tried battling Hau, too... He's really changed. I'm not surprised anymore that he managed to beat even Kahuna Hala. If you two are going to get even stronger, then I guess I can't let down my guard yet."
"You bet," Lillie chimes in, echoing her determination.
Gladion's tone shifts, and he expresses a desire to give us something as a token of gratitude. To our surprise, he presents us with a Type: Null each. Lillie's curiosity is piqued, "Type: Null? Where did you get a second one?"
"With father's return, both of them were involved in creating this Pokémon in the secret labs," Gladion explains. He also entrusts us with 18 memory drives needed to change Type: Null's Evolution – the Pokémon Silvally.
"Type: Null... It was being researched as a possible weapon to be used to fight the Ultra Beasts, but I think you will be able to show Type: Null that there is much more to this wide world than that," Gladion reflects, acknowledging our potential to guide Type: Null beyond its intended purpose.
Type Null: The Synthetic Pokemon: Normal Type. A Pokémon weapon developed for a specific mission, it went berserk during an experiment, so it was cryogenically frozen.
Walking side by side, Lillie and I venture towards the Poni Grove, a serene and natural path weaving through the lush canopy of trees. This scenic route spans across the eastern side of Poni Island, offering a tranquil ambiance as we explore the verdant surroundings.
Exiting the tranquil confines of the Poni Grove, we step into the vast expanse of the Poni Plains. The expansive field stretches far and wide, offering a panoramic view adorned with numerous Pokémon roaming freely across the landscape. The open terrain allows us to witness the diverse array of Pokémon in their natural habitat, moving about and interacting in their own unique ways.
As we explore the area, our journey leads us to the hidden recesses of the Plains Grotto. Delving into its depths, we stumble upon a hidden treasure—the Kommonium-Z.
"Lillie says, "So we just got another Z Crystal... how many Z Crystals haven't we gotten yet?"
I reply, "Three more to go, but we'll be able to acquire them soon enough. Our journey's been amazing so far, and I'm sure we'll find the rest in no time."
Continuing our journey, we unexpectedly encounter Looker and Anabel amidst the captivating landscapes of Poni Island. Anabel seems introspective, acknowledging the island's unique atmosphere, "So this is Poni Island... I can tell that only the best Trainers in all of Alola gather here. Nature and Pokémon and people, surviving together in their own harsh way..."
Looker, ever the concerned mentor, interjects, "That's no reason to come here and train, Anabel! You're supposed to be on vacation! I would like to make it clear that I think this is a mistake!"
"Mr. Looker, Anabel," we greet them, their surprise evident upon seeing us. Anabel smiles warmly, "Ash and Lillie. It has been a while."
Curious about their presence, Lillie inquires, "Indeed. So what are you doing here?"
"And did my Mom send you two here for something?" I ask, curious about the purpose of their visit.
Anabel explains, "No, Ash. I plan to train at the Battle Tree to prepare for any assignment as a member of the International Police."
Regrettably, Looker mentions that he only has a Red Card to offer us. "Sadly, I only have this item called a Red Card. Please keep it as a memento of this encounter!" He hands us the item, describing its function as a means to forcibly switch any Pokémon that lands an attack on the Pokémon holding it, though the item itself is consumed once activated.
After Anabel departs for her training, Looker sighs, expressing concern for Anabel's safety. "I'd never hear the end of it from Aurora if I let anything happen to Anabel. My new partner isn't very strong, but it looks like I have to go to the Battle Tree, regardless! But only as a bodyguard, of course. Well then, alola!"
As Looker bids us farewell and leaves, we remain curious about Looker's new partner, pondering the mystery behind this enigmatic addition to his team.
Continuing our journey, we arrive at the enchanting Poni Meadow. Amidst the vibrant flora and flourishing vegetation, we stumble upon the coveted Purple Nectar, a key component in altering Oricorio's form. With this newfound discovery in hand, we're poised to evoke the final transformation of our Oricorio.
Utilizing the Purple Nectar, we facilitate the transformation, causing our Oricorio to assume its final, ghostly form – the elegant Sensu Form. The graceful and spectral appearance of our Oricorio in its Ghost-type Sensu Form signifies the culmination of its evolution, showcasing its newfound power and versatility.
Oricorio (Sensu Style): The Dancing Pokemon: Ghost and Flying Type. This Oricorio has sipped purple nectar. Its elegant, attractive dance will send the minds and hearts of its enemies to another world.
In the depths of the Resolution Cave, our journey takes an unexpected turn as we encounter Z2, prompting Squishy's emergence to inquire about the reason for its presence in Alola.
Z2, revealing its motivations, explains that the appearance of Necrozma compelled it to arrive in Alola, sensing the resolution of the issues it previously faced. Expressing a desire to join our team, Z2 seeks to align its powers with ours to face future challenges.
After considering Z2's request, we decide to capture it, acknowledging the potential synergy its powers could bring to our team. With careful preparation and skillful execution, we successfully capture Z2, welcoming its formidable strength and unique abilities to our roster of Pokémon companions.
After traversing the scenic landscapes of the Poni Coast and overcoming the challenging trials of the Poni Gauntlet, we finally arrive at the revered Battle Tree, where Nate and Rosa are immersed in their project. Eager to catch up, I initiate the conversation, "So, how's the Battle Tree treating you both after our journey through the Poni Coast and Gauntlet?"
Nate's eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. "It's been an amazing experience. We've had a lot of fun here. How about your trials?"
Lillie lets out a faint sigh. "Well... our trial involves gathering seven petals, but unfortunately, we've only managed to secure two so far..."
Curiosity evident, Rosa asks, "And where might we find the other five?"
I provide the details, "Ah, the remaining five petals are with Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles. We've decided to wait until they've completed their tasks before challenging them for the petals."
They nod as we decide to go back together, with them having finished their tasks first.
Here is a new chapter, and this marks the exploration of the eastern half of Poni Island. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be the continuation of the Trial.
Ash and Lillie's Pokemon:
Charizard x2, Butterfree x2 (One Pink), Raticate (Alolan), Pikachu, Raichu (Alolan), Sandslash (Alolan), Ninetales (Alolan), Dugtrio (Alolan), Persian (Alolan), Golem (Alolan), Muk (Alolan), Exeggutor (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 x2, Decidueye, Incineroar, Primarina, Toucannon, Gumshoos, Vikavolt, Crabominable, Oricorio, Ribombee, Lycanroc x3 (Midday/Midnight/Dusk), Wishiwashi, Toxapex, Mudsdale, Araquanid, Lurantis, Shiinotic, Salazzle (Shiny), Bewear, Tsareena, Comfey, Oranguru, Passimian, Golisopod, Palossand, Pyukumuku, Type: Null, Minior, Komala, Turtonator, Togedemaru, Mimikyu (Shiny), Bruxish, Drampa, Dhelmise, Hakamo-o, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma, Magearna (Shiny), Marshadow, Poipole, Zeraora, Kleavor