Pokémon Radiant Sun
So, another month in between updates.
Yeah, I'm not happy about this. July and August as a whole have been a nightmare for me, with several health issues causing me to have to take some time away from the story. I know that real life troubles come before a fanfic I do for fun with a self-imposed deadline, but I strive to keep to certain standards, and it frustrates me when I can't adhere to them.
Not a whole lot to speak of besides that, to be honest. I appreciate everyone's patience and for continuing to be so damn awesome. Especially the fantastic people in the Radiant Sun Discord.
Speaking of, shoutout to Nate of the Fossils who created the Pokémon Radiant Sun TV Tropes Page. Not a whole lot to it right now, but I figure getting the word out there will help the page come to life, since I know there's a lot more Trope-savvy people out there than me. I know I'll be contributing heavily to it when I've got some free time.
Shoutout to the legends who reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, RC-DA, Oragonking, Madame Rodoshe, Muramasa96, Anonymouse, Nate of the Fossils, BraviaryScout, and Zephyrain. You all are amazing and I appreciate you a whole hecking bunch.
Enjoy.
Chapter 127: Totem Battle! Mimikyu's Surprise!
Cerulean City
Many Years Ago…
"You are the absolute best, honey. I thought you had a meeting to deal with?"
Ashton smiled at his wife, even as she held their newborn child Sun in her arms. With an easy smile, he responded with, "This teaching conference is important to you, Laura. Besides, after how busy the past few weeks have been, I figured this could be a nice time to spend some time together. The cape here in Cerulean was, after all, where we first-"
"Stopstopstop!" Laura protested, her face blushing crimson at the memories that threatened to come back. Ashton responded with a massive grin while Laura looked down at the newborn baby in her arms. "Not in front of Sun, even if he can't understand us."
"Hey, don't get embarrassed! It's not my fault you screamed so loud we almost got caught." Ashton remarked with a chuckle as they approached a large hotel that looked. "Besides, I'm sure little Sun will be just like me when he grows up. A proper gentlemen...until he gets in the bedroom. Then all bets are off."
"Oh my god, I have been the worst influence on you. What have I done?" Laura lamented, hanging her head while Sun cooed in her arms. Ashton beamed, lightly tickling his child in Laura's arms.
"That's right! Hey, wait. Damien, has she been a bad influence on me?" Ashton asked his faithful canine, who stared at him for a full ten seconds before nodding.
"Oh well. Sue me. I'm feeling pretty damn good today. Even if we haven't tracked down those Team Rocket Executives." Ashton remarked, his smile diminishing slightly as he remembered what Petrel and his men had done on what should have been the happiest day of his life. Attempting to extort him for money and threatening the lives of Sun and Laura...Ashton would never forgive Team Rocket.
Ashton had gone directly to the Pokémon League and petitioned them for assistance in driving out the remnants of Team Rocket from Kanto, only to get lukewarm responses back. It was clear that the Pokémon League would rather focus on continuing on with life rather than ensuring groups like Team Rocket never threaten people's lives and livelihoods again.
Lorelei in particular was vehement that the League should not get involved in wasting money and resources chasing ghosts, since it was clear that Team Rocket was done and over with. Meanwhile, Lance was sympathetic to Ashton's concerns, but could only do nothing but promise that as the new Kanto/Johto Champion, he'd protect his people.
Hence why Ashton Aupuni, head of Aupuni Industries, had decided to take a short vacation to accompany his wife to a teaching conference in Celadon City. Ashton had even suggested that they walk to the city to get some extra exercise and for Sun to get some of his namesake and fresh air. Besides, Ashton slept with his team out while outside and while it had been some time since they had last seriously battled, they could handle just about anything.
Especially in regards to Damien, who was especially protective of Sun. Nothing could get past the Houndoom, and it was a simple trek. No danger, no fuss. Just how Ashton preferred it.
Laura and Ashton got their suite in the hotel set up and dropped off their things, with Laura hurrying off to the first big meeting of her teaching conference while Ashton took Sun and decided that he would go on a walk and enjoy the day. Damien kept his eyes out for trouble as the father and his baby boy enjoyed the beautiful summertime weather.
"Now then, we could head down Nugget Bridge and head to the Cape...Nah, don't wanna deal with the Trainers." Ashton muttered to himself, shaking his head. There were many interesting places to check out in Cerulean City with his child, though they would be much more enjoyable if he were older.
"Oh well. Nothing wrong with simply finding somewhere nice to sit and taking in the good weather, eh Sun?" Ashton said as the baby looked up at his father and babbled in response, causing Ashton to grin. Damien watched the entire display with some fondness.
Fatherhood had indeed been kind to Ashton. It was very obvious to the Houndoom, these days. It was the happiest that Damien, who had known his Trainer for over a decade, had ever seen Ashton Aupuni.
Both Damien and Ashton were surprised when the man's phone rang in his pocket. He quickly flipped it out and held it to his ear, casting his gaze around the area to see if there was anywhere private he could go. Especially considering who he was now on the phone with.
"Mohn! How's it going?" Ashton greeted his friend cheerfully as he walked towards a large tree in what looked like a small park with a gently flowing stream. The businessman gently sat down beneath the tree, satisfied by the shade provided as he made silly faces to amuse the baby in his arms.
"I'm doing well! How about you, Ash?"
"Well enough. Spending some time with Sun and Damien. How's Lusa and the kids?"
"Lusa's busy, but doing alright. Same goes for Lillie and Gladion. They loved your present, by the way."
"It was nothing." Ashton said dismissively, smiling as his old friend laughed over the phone. Damien barked out a greeting, loud enough to be heard but quiet enough to not startle Sun. Mohn laughed at that, saying, "Hello to you too, Damien! Anyways, I know you're busy, Ash. But I just wanted to check in on how you were doing. I know what happened with Team Rocket rattled you." Mohn said to his younger friend, who sighed into the phone.
"Of course it did. Those fiends nearly killed Laura and Sun, and who knows how many others? If not for Amanda who knows where we'd be right now. I've stepped security around our home and have pushed for stricter proposals, but I'm getting pushback. Lance doesn't want to do anything too severe yet, especially with concerns about Team Rocket moles in the government." Ashton explained with a hard note in his voice, hanging his head.
"Ash, you're being too harsh on yourself…"
"What else is new? I can't help it, Mohn."
"You can't make people change their minds with words alone. You have to convince them of your point and make them understand." Mohn responded to Ashton, who didn't feel even remotely comforted by that statement, since it didn't make sense to him.
"I tried talking and it didn't work, Mohn. I'm trying to make this damn place safer for Sun, for Laura, and the family I'm trying to make here and it's so frustrating. It makes me feel like…" Ashton trailed off, unable to articulate his feelings. Like always, Mohn was able to help him there.
"You feel like you're letting your family down, by not being able to make the changes you think are necessary to make the Kanto region safer." Mohn supplied, with Ashton nodding in response.
"Yes...I feel like I'm a failure, even though this isn't all my fault."
"It's like I told you a few weeks ago, my boy. A father's duty, above all else, is to protect his children. To make sure that they have a better life than you did, and to safeguard their futures. Your father was a, pardon my speech, a miserable excuse of a human being. You cared more about your child before he was born than Ano ever did during your entire life." Mohn explained to Ashton, who remained silent.
"And I'm taking that to heart. Hell, didn't you see what happened just a few weeks ago in Hoenn? That massive storm and all of the people Team Aqua killed?" Ashton asked Mohn, knowing full well his friend had been monitoring the situation closely with Lusamine. The eco-terrorists had been causing issues in Hoenn for months and had been vocally protesting for years now.
"How am I supposed to stand against psychopaths who would wield gods like Kyogre like weapons? The League hasn't even done anything substantial against Team Rocket, for crying out loud!" Ashton practically growled, though he reined in his temper. After all, Sun was still in his arms.
"Then why not train again?" Mohn suggested after a long pause, which made Ashton blink in surprise.
"Wait, what?" Ashton asked, bewildered at the sudden change in topic.
"You're worried about Sun, and rightfully so. What Team Rocket did was horrible and even hearing the news secondhand is terrifying. If my little Lillie or Gladion was in danger, you better believe I'd go through hell and back to make sure not one hair was out of place on their head." Mohn remarked with a chuckle. "Point is, you're a fantastic Trainer Ash. Even if you never wanted to be. You can use that strength. That influence you've got and grown, ever since you left Alola. Use it. Channel it, Ash. The Tapu back here in Alola chose you for a reason! You were one of the best Trainers in Alola when you were younger. What's stopping you from getting strong enough to protect your family?" Mohn asked the other father, who looked down at his child. Perfect, innocent little Sun. His Sunshine, bright and happy.
His world.
"Nothing...Except that I don't want to be a Trainer again. I'm happy like this, Mohn." Ashton responded, holding Sun a little closer to his chest.
"I know that, son." Mohn said in a warm fatherly tone, with far more affection that Ano Aupuni had ever spoken to him in. "But sometimes you gotta make sacrifices for your family. In fact, we're probably moving to another region soon now that the Aether Paradise is starting to seriously get some traction here in Kalos. We were thinking about Alola."
"I can't say I approve...Just be safe and be smart." Mohn laughed at Ashton's remark, causing the businessman to chuckle as well.
"I promise nothing. But seriously, maybe the best way to make changes is to have a seat at the table. You wanna make Lance and his stooges listen? Show them you're not messing around!" Mohn laughed then, and Ashton couldn't help a laugh too. Mohn had that effect on him, and he felt better now.
"Now then, I'd love to chat some more, but I've got an interview with a babysitter in a half hour and the house is a mess." Mohn said right as a loud crash reverberated in the background. "And Gladion snuck into the music room again. Take care, Ash."
"You too, Mohn." Ashton said fondly before the call ended, and Ashton tucked away his phone yet again. He thought about what Mohn had said. Using his strength and influence and trying to contend for the Champion's throne was a proposal he hated. He despised being a Trainer. But on the other hand...if it meant ensuring the safety of his family, did he really have much of a choice?
"I will protect you...Always and forever, my son." Ashton whispered as he gently hugged the babbling infant in his arms, leaning back against the tree as he shut his eyes. He continued to think of what he needed to do and what needed to be done.
Laura returned to the hotel an hour later, confused as to where her husband was. She was very pleasantly surprised to find that Ashton and Sun were napping away underneath a tree in a nearby park, with Damien lying at his Trainer's feet with one eye open to keep watch. Laura discreetly dug into her purse to take a picture, squeeing internally at how adorable the two of them were together.
Present
Alola Route 14
"This is troubling…"
"You wanna share with the rest of the class?"
Gladion turned to give Demi a look as she brushed her hair, with Riolu holding up a hand mirror in front of her. The former Team Skull Enforcer held the glare for a moment before sighing, allowing an exhausted frown to come to his face.
"What's troubling is the fact that Guzma let me go so easily. I don't get it. I don't get what he and Aether are playing at, Demi. They're allied with each other, and Guzma let me just stay in Po Town. I didn't have any easy time of things, but if he's working with my Mother, then why did he just leave me alone? All that time at his mercy, he could have had me sent off to Aether Paradise whenever he felt like it." Gladion mused aloud, obviously frustrated.
Thankfully, his injuries were mostly healed now. It had taken a trip to the hospital and a call to Doctor Colress to set him on the road to recovery, but Colress had decided to go the full mile and mostly restore Gladion to perfect condition thanks to the Heal Pulse Treatment he had revolutionized.
"I had totally forgotten that Colress did some research on Type: Null before. Thank Arceus I still had a way to contact the guy." Gladion thought as Demi hummed thoughtfully, drawing his attention.
"What're you thinking?" Gladion asked, curious.
"I'm trying to think of why a woman as driven as Lusamine would simply allow you to escape from Team Skull. And...well, the way I see it...maybe she doesn't need to do anything." Demi said slowly, causing Gladion to look at her with confusion.
"Can you elaborate?" Gladon asked.
"It's just a thought, so don't look too much into it. But, the more I think about it, the more I think Lusamine has no reason to try and kidnap you. Why go through the effort of capturing you and subduing you, and then finding a way to keep you from escaping again…" Demi trailed off, and Gladion's eyes narrowed, seeing where Demi was going with this.
"When I can be given the illusion of freedom while being with the grasp of one of her secret allies, who can have me monitored all the time. Damn it, that's smart." Gladion muttered under his breath, swearing softly. He then looked at Demi and his expression softened, with the teen nodding at her.
"Good to see someone in Team Skull has some brains." Gladion remarked, leaning against the wall while Demi smirked.
"Plumeria is super smart, I'll have you know. It's not just me who can actually think."
"Plumeria doesn't count. She's an Admin, not one of the Grunts." Gladion responded, shaking his head slightly with bemusement. It was that moment that something suddenly slammed against the door, causing Gladion to leap away from the door with a gasp of surprise while Demi flinched violently.
"Knock knock!" Called a voice that sounded vaguely familiar. Gladion's eyes narrowed as he silently moved through the room and walked over to the door and peered through the peephole. He was alarmed to find that the Bone Brothers were currently standing outside of the door, with their Drapion out of its Poké Ball. Gladion gulped and took several steps away from the door, thinking fast.
"Bone Brothers…wanna bet on what they're here for?" Gladion muttered, looking back at Demi. It was at that fortuitous moment that Gladion felt his phone vibrate, and he quickly pulled it out and saw that he had a text message from one of the two people in the world he trusted completely.
Your mother is sending Team Skull after you to bring you back to the Paradise. Run!
Gladion scowled and showed the text to Demi, who paled in horror. Gladion felt somewhat comforted that the girl was concerned for his well-being, and tried to determine a way out of this situation while at the same time not giving away that Demi was here as well.
"Come on out, you bitch! We know you're in there!"
"We can smell fear!"
"Naw dawg, that's just you. Your BO smells like a Toxicroak's nutsack."
"You look like a Toxicroak's nutsack."
"Alright…I've got an idea." Gladion muttered as he quickly began to pack what few items he had into his backpack. "I'll draw them away. Have Torch cover us while you hide. I'll have them chase after me and you can get to safety once they're gone. Use a Poké Ride or something."
"Wait, what? No! Not after what they did to you last time!" Demi protested in a whisper, remembering how the Bone Brothers had beaten Gladion and his team into the ground. Gladion sighed, taking a moment to consider how best to escape this while making Demi was safe from the Bone Brothers wrath.
"It's a smart play. Trust me, Demi. They won't hurt either of us." Gladion said firmly, looking the teen in the eyes as she hesitated, clearly worried.
"Come on out, you punk! We know you're out there!"
"The Boss requires your presence!"
"We want a few words too! Hehehe!"
"Fine...But you better contact me as soon as you're safe. I'll be doing the same." Demi huffed as she grabbed a few of her things and stuffed them into her pack. That being done, she walked over to her Quilava.
"Smokescreen!" Demi whispered to Torch as Gladion strode over to the door. The Quilava nodded, igniting the flames on his back.
"I was in the shower you dorks. How, what do you want-Supersonic!" Gladion shouted as he flung open the door and jumped back towards Type: Null. Golbat burst out of the door and released a shockwave of noise that disoriented the trio and Drapion, causing them to shout out in pain.
As this happened, a blast of thick black smoke erupted from the room and filled it completely, giving Gladion enough time to mount Type: Null and return his team and for Demi to hide under the bed. The smoke billowed out from the room and enveloped the trio of thugs outside, causing them to cough violently.
"Run to the Pokémon Center or anywhere else that's safe from those dorks. Be careful." Gladion warned Demi before bursting out of the room, taking care to have Type: Null crash into the three brothers and order Golbat to strike Drapion with Acrobatics.
"Null, get us out of here!" Gladion barked as the monster bounded down the road with a grunt. Meanwhile, Golbat soared away from the Bone Brothers, who sighed with relief as the wave of sound finally ceased and they stumbled out of the smoke, winded and dazed.
"Damn it! Get that piece of trash!" One of the brothers shouted as all three of them began to charge down the road, calling out their Pokémon all the while. Despite the number of Pokémon chasing them, Gladion was able to outpace the Team Skull members easily. Gladion glanced back, grinning as the trio chased after him.
"Come on, you idiots! I thought Team Skull was hard?" Gladion taunted the teens, who shouted after them as their Pokémon began to catch up with Gladion. The teen grinned and continued drawing them away from the motel, all the while texting a certain number on his phone.
Meanwhile, back at the motel, Demi gestured for Torch to look outside to make sure they were gone. After receiving a nod from the Quilava that it was safe, Demi continued scrounging for the remainder of their things before dashing out of the room and calling for a Ride Charizard. Within five minutes, she was in the air and flying over the Haina Desert.
"I hope Gladion can get to safety. In the meantime, I'll camp out by Route 15. The weather isn't...raining like it is over there." Demi shivered as she eyed the storm clouds nearby, pouring rain all over the Tapu Village and Route 14. After about an hour of soaring through the air, Demi angled the Charizard towards a weird white building that she remembered hearing that some of her friends in Team Skull were interested in. As the Ride Pokémon drew closer to the ground, Demi chatted with her Quilava.
"We'll camp by the shore and wait for Gladion to get back to us. I can text him once we land, and then I'll make us some lunch. Sound like a plan, Torchy?" Demi asked her Quilava, who barked out an agreement. It was then that Demi noticed that there were people on the ground below. And she recognized one of them!
"Holy crap, it's Lillie!" Demi cried out as she instructed the Charizard to land in front of what would later be known to her as the Aether House. Demi hopped off of the Charizard and fed it a berry from her bag before waving it off, turning around to greet her friend…
Before realizing how weird of a situation she was now in.
"Uh, um...Hi?" Demi said awkwardly as Lillie, Acerola and the kids stared at her. The teen obviously hadn't realized how strange it was for her to drop in completely unannounced like this, especially considering she was dressed as one of the Alola region's biggest pains in the neck.
"Oh no! It's Team Skull!" Hunter cried out, fumbling with his Poké Ball as Kylee quickly ran to hide behind Acerola. Demi held up her hands in surrender, taking a step back as she pulled down her bandanna.
"Demi?" Lillie questioned, surprised that the girl would show up here of all places. Demi smiled and rushed forward, hugging her friend.
"Lillie! It's been forever, girl! How've you been?" Demi asked, earning a smile from her friend as Lillie returned the hug. She texted Demi every now and then, but she worried about the dark-skinned Trainer being in Team Skull.
"Well enough, I suppose. We're waiting for Sun to finish the Ghost Trial. Um...is everything okay?" Lillie asked the Team Skull Grunt, who's smile faltered. Meanwhile Acerola, who figured out what was going on here and knew of Demi, explained the situation to the kids in a way that they could understand and calmed them down. They also asked to pet Torch, which Demi allowed.
"He's so warm!" Hunter called as he carefully stroked the Quilava's back.
"And soft! Hehehe!" Kylee squealed as she gently hugged the amused Pokémon while everyone watched. It was then that Demi answered Lillie's question.
"Not really. I'm, um, kinda on the run at the moment. The Bone Brothers somehow tracked down where your brother was staying and totally tried to kidnap him." Demi explained to Lillie, who gasped in surprise.
"Why would they do that? I thought he was in Team Skull?" Lillie asked fearfully, clearly worried about her older brother. Demi sighed, shaking her head as she considered what exactly to tell her friend.
"Honestly, I have no idea. But the Bone Brothers are really, really nasty. Don't ever try your luck with those jerks." Demi shuddered, hugging herself.
"Oh...I hope Gladion's okay." Lillie whispered, concern evident in her voice. Acerola patted her on the shoulder consolingly.
"Hey, don't worry about it! Your brother is pretty tough, according to Uncle Nanu. Besides, we can focus on more important things! Like training Nebby! Come on, you two were really getting the hang of having him Teleport on command." Acerola chirped, bouncing on her feet. "And we still need a name for his super move."
"You're talking about when Nebby uses his power and creates that massive blast of energy?" Lillie asked the Ghost Captain, who nodded. Demi just looked back and forth between them, confused. "I really don't know if naming that is necessary, considering how powerful the blast is and how much it drains Nebby to use it. I still don't even know if it causes Nebby any long-term damage using it."
"Momma, it's not that bad!" Cried out a childish boy voice from within Lillie's bag.
"I vote Sparkle Blast!" Hunter yelled out, grinning widely. Kylee pushed him slightly, shaking her head.
"Nope! Boom Boom Power!" Kylee cried out, laughing as Lillie smiled at the children's excitement, though she still seemed somewhat concerned.
"I couldn't come up with anything fun, so you all can name the move." Acerola said with a cheery grin, patting both of the children on the head as they began to suggest ideas back and forth. Demi smiled at the display and thought about it. She then asked Lillie to describe the move in question, which she did after a moment of thought.
"How about Cosmic Burst? Nebby's name is based on space-stuff, right?" Demi suggested, getting in on the fun. Lillie raised a hand as if to protest, but Nebby floated out of the bag with a joyful cry.
"I like that one, Momma!" Nebby said happily as Lillie turned towards her Pokémon. Lillie looked back and forth between Demi and Nebby before sighing and pulling Nebby into a hug.
"Oh my god, I can understand him. That's so cute!" Demi giggled as the Cosmog wriggled in Lillie's arms.
"...Fine. Cosmic Burst it is. Maybe I can work with Sun after he beats the Trial and comes back." Lillie said to those around her, though she didn't seem particularly happy. A few moments later she explained why. "But is this really the best time to be figuring out Move names? My brother is out there fighting against the toughest members of Team Skull. I feel like we should be doing something to help him!" Lillie said to everyone, who looked at her for several moments before someone interrupted by coughing.
"Nah. I took care of it, Princess." Everyone turned towards the new voice that had spoken up, and saw that Kahuna Nanu was sitting on a nearby bench sipping from a can of beer. Acerola put her hands on her hips, huffing.
"Uncle! You know how I feel about you drinking during the day!" Acerola chided Nanu, who raised an eyebrow before chugging the rest of the beer.
"What beer?" Nanu asked, crumpling the can in his hands and tossing it towards the trash can, coming about ten feet short. Both children pointed at Nanu, shouting, "You littered!"
"Eh. Maybe I just wanna let the world burn a little. Not like I'm gonna be alive by the time global warming kills us all." Nanu remarked, shrugging casually before turning towards Demi. "So what's the deal with Team Skull chasing you? I thought you were in with them."
"I am...But the Bone Brothers are giant assholes who don't care about roughing up other members of Team Skull. Those jerks beat up Gladion really badly and I'll be damned if it happens again!" Demi nearly shouted, causing Nanu to raise a hand to silence her.
"Yeah, yeah...I'm still trying to clean the bloodstains out of my couch." Nanu groused, much to the growing horror of Lillie. The Kahuna noticed her expression of concern and shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Princess. Your brother's a tough one, and I've been looking out for him for over a year now. He's laying low right now at a hideaway until we can figure out a safer spot for him."
"Oh...thank you, Kahuna Nanu." Lillie said to the older man, bowing to him as he waved at her dismissively.
"Don't mention it. Couldn't very well let the kid croak on my watch. The amount of paperwork I'd have to file would be pure hell." Nanu responded, causing Lillie and Acerola both to glare at the older man. Nanu rolled his eyes as he pulled out his smartphone. His gaze hardened upon seeing whatever was on the screen, as he hopped off from his seat and shoved the phone back into his pockets with a muttered swear.
"I have to go. There's an attack happening in Malie City...Amber Fontaine." Nanu growled as Acerola gasped in horror.
"I'll go too! You're gonna need-" Acerola tried to say, only to get a sharp glare from Nanu in response. Lillie and the kids shivered at the intensity of the look, as it was the most emotion they had ever seen from the stoic man up to this point. Acerola stared at Nanu for several seconds before sighing deeply.
"Just...come back alive? Please?" Acerola asked Nanu, who rolled his eyes before stepping backwards into his own shadow, leaving the children behind as he went to do battle with the infamous assassin.
Meanwhile…
Abandoned Site
Sun opened his eyes and saw only darkness around him, and for a moment he wondered if he had died. That the Totem had killed him in that backroom, and that his Island Trial ended right then and there.
Only for a light to suddenly flicker on somewhere above him, and Sun was treated to a sight of his surroundings. Or perhaps, lack thereof.
Because the light had illuminated a surrounding area of about a hundred yards in each direction, showing the same dirty floor that the backroom had before. As for the rest of the room, there was only darkness. However, the worst part was…
Sun wasn't alone.
"Hehehe...Come closer, friend. Let's play...play...play...FOREVER!" the distorted cackling of the Totem Pokémon as it wriggled in front of him. Sun shivered at the harsh voice booming from the horrifying creature, even as Rotom Dex suddenly popped out of his backpack.
"Bzzzztt! Huh? Who? What? When? Where? Why?…Oh hey! Is this a Totem Battle? This place is spooky, huh?" Rotom Dex said cheerily before floating out of Sun's backpack and calling out, "New Pokémon detected!"
"Do your job and tell me what in the name of Arceus that thing is!" Sun yelped, pointing at the Totem Pokémon as intense music began to play from the floating haunted device. Everyone's favorite Rotom Dex beeped and flipped to the proper entry.
"Mimikyu. The Disguise Pokémon. A lonely Pokémon, it conceals its terrifying appearance beneath an old rag so it can get closer to people and other Pokémon. Its actual appearance is unknown. A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock." Rotom Dox explained to an unnerved Sun as the Pokémon before him shifted and shuddered. It then let out a piercing shriek before its body pulsed with energy and a fiery orange glow surrounded it, showing that it was now using it's Z-Power.
"Bzzzzt! All of it's stats just went way, way up!" Rotom Dex warned Sun as he pulled out a Poké Ball and frowned before calling out his first Pokémon, Brago. The Arcanine appeared in a flash of light and growled at the Totem, striking it with Intimidate before crouching low, ready to pounce.
"Mimikyu, huh? Well, whatever it is, we'll hit it with everything we've got right off the bat!" Sun shouted as called as his Z-Power forth. Sun began to strike a series of poses as energy flowed between himself and the Arcanine at his command. Shining light began to fill the room as Sun finished the sequence, and Totem Mimikyu's head tilted slightly in confusion as Brago charged up the fireball within his mouth using the Z-Power flowing through him.
"Brago! Channel Flame Burst...and use Inferno Overdrive!" Sun shouted as Brago roared and released the attack, sending the raging fireball towards the Totem Pokémon. Mimikyu let out a soft cry before suddenly screaming as the attack struck and the shadows around the edges of the room were momentarily cast aside as a powerful rush of flames filled the air and illuminated the area. Sun shielded his face from the light and the heat, lowering his arms a few moments later.
"Direct hit...Good work Brago." Sun laughed as he panted slightly, grinning at the canine as the flames began to die down. "Now we can wrap this thing up-"
CRACK!
Sun and Brago both winced at the horrifyingly loud sound and turned towards where the Totem had been standing. Standing there, partially on fire, was Totem Mimikyu standing tall. Except its "neck" looked broken and two glowing lights appeared towards the creature's chest...two gleaming eyes filled with pure rage. The worst part was that despite being hit with a Z-Move, the Totem Pokémon didn't look remotely hurt besides how its neck looked.
"What the hell was that!?" Sun demanded as the practically undamaged Mimikyu giggled back at him before launching itself forward, a Shadow Claw extending out from beneath the rag the creature wore. Brago tried to dodge the attack, but the Totem struck first and sent Brago skidding backwards across the floor.
"Alpha! This one is powerful! We must be careful!" Brago warned as he snarled back at the Totem Pokémon, who simply twitched and laughed at them both.
"How did it tank that Z-Move? Rotom, do you know?" Sun asked the device, who beeped twice as a picture of Mimikyu appeared on the screen.
"Bzzzt! That's Mimikyu's Ability, Disguise, which allows Mimikyu to protect itself from a single attack." Rotom Dex explained as it floated lower towards Sun, eyeing the Totem as it shuddered violently in front of them.
"And we just used our Z-Move on that...and pretty much wasted it." Sun sighed, already starting to realize that the Totem Pokémon standing before them was far more than it seemed. Sun looked at the strange creature and adjusted his hat before pointing forward.
"Brago, use Bite!" Sun commanded the canine as Brago bounded forward, snatching up the Totem Pokémon in his jaws and shaking it violently. Totem Mimikyu screamed for a few moments before another Shadow Claw reached out from underneath the creature's rags and slashed Brago again, knocking away the Arcanine.
"That didn't do nearly enough damage. Maybe it's got another type?" Sun wondered aloud as Brago got back to his feet. Sun was just about to issue another command when Mimikyu let out a piercing cry that seemed to echo around the battlefield.
"Oh no." Sun muttered as a familiar cackle of mirth echoed around them, and from the shadows a Haunter appeared and took its place beside the Totem Pokémon of the Abandoned Site.
"No matter. We'll defeat them soundly. Alpha, let's go!" Brago barked as he crouched low, preparing for Sun's next command.
"Flame Burst on Mimikyu!" Sun ordered Brago as the Arcanine breathed out a rush of flames that formed into a massive sphere of fire. The ball then exploded outwards, with the streaks of fire striking Mimikyu and knocking it backwards. The flames also scorched Haunter, who cackled despite being in clear pain.
"The fire burns eternal...And so shall you." A harsh voice whispered into Sun's mind, causing him to shiver and hug himself tightly. Totem Mimikyu lunged forward, extending another Shadow Claw towards the Arcanine, who at Sun's command used Extreme Speed to dodge and retaliate with a Fire Fang. Mimikyu shrieked in the jaws of the canine before striking back with Astonish, causing Brago to flinch. Totem Mimikyu hopped away with a hiss, though after a moment it giggled with malice.
It was then that something occurred to the Legendary Pokémon. Brago looked around with some concern before he noticed that the Haunter was no longer in front of them.
"Where did it-?" Brago began to ask before the Haunter suddenly reappeared in front of Brago, its eyes glowing blue as Brago stared directly into them. Brago's legs shook for a few moments as his eyes drooped with exhaustion before the massive hound fell asleep.
"Crap, that's Hypnosis!" Sun yelled out before calling, "Brago, wake up!"
Sensing that this was the opportunity to strike, Totem Mimikyu's body suddenly lurched forward with a soft hiss, swinging its body towards Brago as a strange star-filled mist crept out from the ghostly creature and enveloped the fierce canine. Sun could barely make out from within the cloud the sight of Totem Mimikyu beating the stuffing out of Brago with its odd tail. To Sun's dismay, even the Haunter got in on the action with a Sucker Punch that knocked Brago out.
"Brago, return!" Sun called as he recalled his trusty Arcanine, quietly thanking the canine for his efforts. He thought about it for a moment before pulling out another Poké Ball. "Penny, let's go!"
The Toucannon took flight upon being called out, glaring at the Mimikyu's strange form and the Haunter that was pointing and laughing at Sun. The boy pointed at Mimikyu and called, "Use Rock Blast!"
Penny swooped low and opened her beak, releasing four waves of rock-like pellets at the spooky creature below, causing it to screech in pain as the attacks smashed into it. Totem Mimikyu hissed loudly and pointed its tail at the Toucannon, which was enough of a signal for Haunter to suddenly lunge forward with Sucker Punch to knock Penny downwards. Unfortunately it was low enough for the Disguise Pokémon to attack with Play Rough, which Penny barely escaped from while covered in dings and scraps.
"Dang...That thing hits hard. Now what?" Sun muttered to himself, crossing his arms. "Penny, use Fly on Haunter!"
Penny flashed white and flapped hard with her wings, soaring high into the air. Haunter and Mimikyu both tried to attack the Toucannon, but she was far too high to reach. Penny then soared downwards and slammed into the Haunter, sending him tumbling through the air with a howl of pain. Mimikyu didn't move at all to try and attack the Toucannon, instead watching Penny with eyes that were now flashing white repeatedly.
"Bzzzt! Sun, watch out! Totem Mimikyu is using Mimic!" Rotom Dex shouted, causing a wave of dread to wash over Sun. Mimic allowed the user to copy and learn the last move used by its opponent for up to an hour's time. Which meant…
"Monkey see, monkey do...Now I can fly!" Mimikyu cried horrifically out as its body glowed a faint white color before slowly rising into the air. Sun's jaw dropped in response as he realized that things had just gone from worrying to downright terrifying for him and his team. Penny was stunned as well, and barely reacted in time to avoid having a Totem Pokémon crash directly into her with her own move.
"Blast Beak!" Sun called out as Penny chirped in response, charging up her beak. However, to her dismay, the Haunter suddenly flickered into appearance beside her and struck with Sucker Punch. Penny screeched and released the attack on the Haunter, blasting it clear out of the air. To Sun's delight, the specter landed on the ground and phased into the ground, defeated. Penny soared to the ground, panting in pain after the two-on-one assault.
Mimikyu landed on the ground and lunged towards the Toucannon, who was crashed into by the Mimikyu as a smoke cloud surrounded them. Sun grit his teeth as Penny was battered by the Disguise Pokémon's Play Rough once again, barely escaping the cloud and soaring into the air.
"Drill Peck!" Sun shouted as the battered Toucannon launched herself at Mimikyu, who hissed and tried to leap into the air to dodge, though it was in vain. Penny slammed into the ghostly Totem Pokémon, causing it to squeal as it tumbled through the air and crashed down hard on the ground. The Totem rolled to its feet, crouching low before it dove into its shadow.
"Shadow Sneak? Penny, stay on the lookout!" Sun warned the Toucannon, who nodded as she soared above the battlefield.
Totem Mimikyu didn't keep them waiting for long, as it shot out of the shadow directly below Penny with a screech of fury, swinging around as its tail glowed bright green. Penny was unable to move away quick enough and was knocked clean out of the air by what Sun would later learn was Wood Hammer. Penny hit the ground hard and rolled several times before coming to a complete stop. Mimikyu landed on the ground as the recoil from the move struck it, which was a better fate than the unconscious Penny's.
"Good work, Penny. Thanks…" Sun said quietly as he returned the Toucannon, reaching for another ball and sending out Finn. The Poliwrath struck a pose and let out a yell as Mimikyu twitched several times.
"Alright, Finn. This thing is really tough. Don't let your guard up." Sun warned the Poliwrath, who simply laughed at the remark.
"No worries, buddy. We've got this. Besides, it doesn't look so scary. Kinda reminds me of a Pikachu, except this one is more ugly than cute." Finn noted, getting into a fighting position. The Totem Pokémon went still at those words...and then both Sun and Finn felt a wave of fear rush over the both of them as the gleaming red eyes returned on Mimikyu, and the Totem Pokémon released a primal cry of such anger that Sun wished he was anywhere else in the world right now.
"I do believe you have made a terrible mizzztake." Rotom Dex very unhelpfully added as Totem Mimikyu roared in fury before slowly rising into the air with Fly. Finn's eyes widened as the Disguise Pokémon soared towards him with a terrible scream of pure rage.
"Well….crud." Finn remarked flatly before Sun shouted, "Dodge with Scald!"
Finn looked down at the ground and blasted himself into the air just in time to dodge the Fly attack from Totem Mimikyu. Finn landed on the ground a short distance away, though he froze in surprise when he heard a cackle echo through the clearing. Sun recognized it immediately, since it had only been minutes since he heard it last.
"Another Pokémon is coming to help the Totem Pokémon. A Gengar!" Sun called to Finn as the Shadow Pokémon rose up in front of Finn with a giggle before its eyes flashed blue. Finn swayed on his feet, as the exhaustion set in.
"Finn, use Hypnosis on Gengar!" Sun shouted loudly, with the Poliwrath's stomach glowing bright blue in front of the surprised specter. Gengar and Finn both fell asleep standing up in front of one another, much to the annoyance of both Sun and Totem Mimikyu.
The Totem Pokémon snarled and lunged at Finn, striking him with Shadow Claw and sending him to the ground. Mimikyu shook with anger, sputtering the hissing as it advanced towards the downed Poliwrath.
"Finn, wake up!" Sun shouted at his Poliwrath as Mimikyu's tail glowed bright green once again, showing that it was about to use Wood Hammer. "Come on, Finn!"
Mimikyu slapped Finn with Wood Hammer and sent him flying across the battlefield. Finn crashed down in front of Sun and the boy dug into his backpack, pulling out an Awakening and using it on the battered Poliwrath.
"Ouughh, that was one nasty dream." Finn groaned as he sat up and looked at Sun. "I dreamed that some really weird Pikachu monster attacked me. Boy, it sure was ugly."
"RAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"Finn, might wanna work on not making the Totem's murderously angry with you." Sun deadpanned as Finn scrambled to his feet, getting into another fighting stance. "Use Psychic to send Mimikyu away!"
Finn grunted as he focused his attack at the charging Mimikyu, catching it in Psychic and hurling it across the room. It was at that moment that Gengar woke up, yawning loudly before realizing what was going on. Mimikyu landed on the ground hard, but was quick to get back up, hissing loudly as its head bobbed limply. Gengar snickered at the display, only to get a glare from the Totem Pokémon that shut it up. The Mimikyu then cried out, pointing its tail towards Finn and then suddenly diving into its shadow.
Gengar sighed before turning towards Finn and launching itself quickly forward as its hands glowed purple. Sun recognized the move as Shadow Punch, and knew it couldn't be avoided. That being the case…
"Finn, tank the hit and then use Psychic on Gengar!" Sun called to his Poliwrath as Finn nodded resolutely. Gengar cackled as it punched Finn hard in the chest with Shadow Punch, knocking him back a step before Finn retaliated with a powerful wave of Psychic energy.
However, as the Gengar was blasted away, Finn failed to see Totem Mimikyu rise up from the ground behind him and slowly drift into the air with Fly before swooping towards him.
"Finn, jump into the air!" Sun shouted to the Poliwrath, who kicked off of the ground right away and flipped into the air, dodging Mimikyu's Fly attack…
And instead running into a Shadow Ball from Gengar, who had been waiting for the Poliwrath in midair. Finn fell to the ground in a heap, fainting from the damage he had taken. Sun took that moment to observe Mimikyu, and noted that it was definitely starting to show signs of slowing down. The Gengar was also badly hurt after taking that Psychic attack.
"That was a bad matchup...Dang it. Finn, come on back." Sun returned the groaning Poliwrath and called out Oliver. The Dartrix fluttered to the ground and his eyes narrowed at the sight of the horrible Totem Pokémon standing before them. Mimikyu hissed in response, its eyes glowing a harsh red color through its rags. Oliver turned towards Sun and jerked a wing towards the Totem Pokémon.
"I like their style." Oliver noted, causing Sun to give his Partner a flat look. The Dartrix shrugged in response, laughing softly before turning back around and flaring his wings, prepared to attack.
"Razor Leaf on both of them!" Sun shouted as Oliver took flight, releasing a wave of leaves upon the two Pokémon, making them both shrink back as the attacks shredded them. Gengar retaliated with a Shadow Punch that knocked Oliver back as Mimikyu took to the air with Fly once again. Oliver righted himself in midair and hooted in alarm as the flying ghost soared at him with a demented giggle.
"Leaf Drive! Turn around and hit Totem Mimikyu!" Sun called to Oliver, who flapped his wings hard and released a Leafage into the face of the Totem Pokémon, causing it to falter just enough that Oliver was able to dodge its attack while diving into his own leafy whirlwind, creating a spinning drill-like tornado of leaves that turned around and slammed into the back of Totem Mimikyu hard.
Meanwhile, Gengar fired off a Shadow Ball that just barely missed the Dartrix, who responded with a Razor Leaf that struck the Gengar but didn't do much damage to it.
"At least it's not using Hypnosis...yet." Sun thought darkly as his bird soared through the air, dodging another Shadow Ball from Gengar while Totem Mimikyu waited on the ground, shuddering from the damage it had accumulated over the course of the battle. Sun was worried about how three of his Pokémon had fallen to the sinister Totem, but he was feeling as though the battle was coming to a close.
Totem Mimikyu rose high into the air once again, using Fly to try and get the advantage over Oliver, even as Gengar rushed forward and struck with a Shadow Punch. Oliver screeched in pain and retaliated with a Pluck, knocking away the ghost and allowing Totem Mimikyu a chance to strike with Fly…
"Oliver, Protect!" Sun shouted as he spotted not just Totem Mimikyu soaring towards him, but Gengar charging up a Shadow Ball. If both attacks struck the Dartrix, he would've been knocked out instantly. As it was, Oliver thrust out his wings and summoned a barrier just in time for the Shadow Ball to explode harmlessly against the shield and for Totem Mimikyu to bounce off of it with a strangled squeal.
"Oliver, use Grass Knot on the Totem Pokémon! Slam it down!" Sun called as Oliver soared to the ground, his eyes glowing green as it landed on the ground and dug his claws into the floor. Mimikyu landed on the ground nearby, charging up its tail for Wood Hammer again, only for several vines to erupt out of the ground and yank the Totem into the air. Mimikyu screeched as it dangled in the air, its fury almost palpable in the room. This wasn't helped by the Gengar unhelpfully laughing at the Totem before it was slung into the ground as hard as Oliver could manage it. The Totem lay on the ground with a faint growl, struggling to move.
"Oliver, use Pluck on Gengar! Finish it off-" Sun began to say before Gengar flew towards Oliver, its eyes glowing a familiar blue glow.
"Oliver look away! It's Hypnosis!" Sun shouted at the bird, who instead closed his eyes and flapped his wings hard and soared back into the air, his beak elongating as he used Pluck and jammed his beak hard into the face of Gengar.
"Oh thank god, it missed...I don't think closing your eyes actually stops the move, but I'll take it." Sun sighed with relief as the Gengar went sailing backwards with a scream of pain, only for Totem Mimikyu to suddenly slash at Oliver with Shadow Claw, knocking him out of the air for a few moments before he broke his fall with a flap of his wings. Oliver panted in pain as a green aura began to envelope his body, signaling that the Dartrix's Ability Overgrow was now in effect.
"Razor Leaf!" Sun called as Oliver flapped his wings hard, sending a wave of spinning leaves at the two ghosts as they prepared to attack once again. Gengar dove into his shadow to dodge while Totem Mimikyu shrieked in anger at being struck again. Sun spotted the Gengar lurking in Oliver's shadow just below the bird in question, and an idea suddenly came to the young boy.
"Astonish on Gengar! Follow up with Pluck!" Sun called as the Gengar shot into the air, prepared to attack with a Shadow Ball. Oliver's eyes flashed red as he rotated his head to face the Shadow Pokémon, flapping his wings backwards to strike the Gengar. The specter yelled out in surprise at being hit with the super-effective attack, flinching as it did so, which allowed Oliver to follow up with a Pluck that knocked it out.
"Awesome work, Oliver!" Sun cheered as the Dartrix hooted triumphantly, landing on the ground as the Gengar flickered out of existence as it fell towards the ground. Oliver looked towards Sun with a proud smile.
And then he began to glow.
"Yes!" Sun shouted with a wide grin as Oliver's body began to glow a bright blue color. A color that Oliver had once glowed several months ago as a Rowlet. This could only mean one thing.
That after so much struggle, doubt and battles, Oliver was going to achieve his final and true form.
The Dartrix was finally evolving.
Oliver's body began to slowly grow as the light shined brighter and brighter, with Sun grinning with pride as his Starter continued to evolve. Even Totem Mimikyu was stunned by the sheer beauty of the wonderous glow that brought upon evolution. Oliver's body shone through the darkness all around them, and all of them waited for the change that was sure to come.
But it never did.
Oliver's body slowly began to shrink back down to its normal height. The glow's brilliant light began to fade, and soon a horrified Dartrix was revealed. Sun felt a fresh wave of horror roll through him as he realized something strange had happened.
The evolution had, somehow, failed. Oliver was still a Dartrix. And there was a possibility that he would never change again.
"No! No! What's going on!? I was so close!" Oliver screeched, panicking as he looked over at his body as the glow of evolution faded completely. Sun was just as confused, concerned and surprised as Oliver.
"Hehehe…too bad!" Hissed a familiar and awful voice. Sun looked towards Mimikyu and saw it creeping towards Oliver, a Shadow Claw raised and ready to strike.
"Oliver, dodge it! Fly away!" Sun cried out to the still-panicking Dartrix, who didn't even register the words of his Trainer. Instead he closed his eyes and hung his head, tears dripping down his face.
"What a worthless disgrace of a Pokémon I am." Oliver muttered before Mimikyu struck, putting the Dartrix out of his misery. Mimikyu giggled dementedly as Sun tried to process what had happened, scowling in frustration as he returned his Partner.
"You did your best, Oliver. Rest up." Sun muttered as he pulled out Alastor's Poké Ball, wondering why Oliver had been unable to evolve. Sun wanted to honestly stop the battle and try and figure out what was going on, but he needed to finish off this spooky Pokémon once and for all. With a shaky sigh, he called out his Alolan Graveler.
Alastor appeared in a flash of light and immediately recoiled upon seeing the Totem Pokémon he was now having to do battle with. Sun didn't feel a single bit of sympathy considering Alastor had chosen to retreat into his Poké Ball instead of facing the ghosts with Sun.
"Alright, Oliver took care of that Gengar helping it, so it's up to you to finish the job!" Sun called to Alastor, who scowled angrily.
"Naturally that useless bird couldn't be relied on to actually fight." The Alolan Graveler growled angrily, his voice dripping with contempt. Despite that, Sun could hear how unnerved he was standing opposite an opponent as powerful as Totem Mimikyu, who had dispatched every single one of Sun's Pokémon so far.
"Alastor, the Totem is nearly beaten! You've got this!" Sun called to the shaken Alastor, who shut his eyes for a few moments before opening them in a harsh glare.
"You're right. I'll crush this thing beneath my foot!" Alastor bellowed as electricity surged within his fingertips. Mimikyu laughed as it surged forward, a Shadow Claw charging up as it charged at Alastor, who froze at the terrifying ghost coming right at him.
"Thunder Punch!" Sun shouted as Mimikyu slashed Alastor deeply with the attack, only to get a lightning-charged fist to the 'face' for its troubles. Mimikyu flipped in midair and landed on the floor, shuddering again in pain while Alastor ran a hand over the faint gouges in his body where Mimikyu had struck him. The Alolan Graveler shuddered, though whether that was from pain or something else he would never tell anyone. Thankfully for Alastor, Sun was focused on bringing down the Totem Pokémon of the Abandoned Site and didn't comment on it.
"Alastor, use Rock Blast!" Sun called to the Alolan Graveler, who opened his palms and released three waves of the attack at the Totem Pokémon, which took that moment to use Fly, dodging the attack effortlessly.
"W-w-w-what!? How can it fly like that!?" Alastor demanded, taking a step back as Mimikyu soared overhead, giggling.
"I can taste your FEAR. It's...delicious." Mimikyu hissed into their minds as the shadows surrounding them suddenly drew closer, which only served to unnerve Sun and Alastor ever more than they already were.
"Alastor, get ready to use Thunder Punch again once Mimikyu comes at you!" Sun called, knowing that Fly wouldn't do that much damage against Alastor. True to what Sun had said, the Mimikyu soared into Alastor's literal rock-hard body with the Alolan Graveler barely registering the move, and he managed a measure of payback against the Totem by slugging it with two crackling Thunder Punches.
"Heh...Yeah! That's right! I've got you on the ropes!" Alastor laughed, taking a step forward as the Totem Pokémon crashed hard on the ground, hissing softly as it trembled from the beating it had endured. It was then that a electrical wave crackled into existence around Totem Mimikyu, causing it to groan in pain.
"What luck! That Thunder Punch paralyzed the Totem!" Rotom Dex cried out as Sun grinned.
"We're nearly there! Alastor, use Rock Blast!" Sun called out, with Alastor raising his hands to attack. Sun watched as the Totem used its tail to slowly reach out to the side of the room, hissing softly.
What happened then made Sun's blood boil with frustration. A Haunter suddenly flickered onto the field holding a green berry, a Lum Berry to be precise, and tossed it to the Totem Pokémon. Mimikyu caught it and stuffed the berry under its rags, an audible chomping sound echoing throughout the area.
"Attack, Alastor! Stop watching it!" Sun yelled to the Alolan Graveler as it watched the entire scene transfixed. Alastor snapped out of it and fired his attack just in time for the Mimikyu to recover from its paralysis, though that didn't stop it from getting hit with three waves of Rock Blast.
The Totem Pokémon swayed where it stood, shaking its body slightly as it looked towards Alastor. The Alolan Graveler held out his arms and grunted, bracing himself for more. Totem Mimikyu rushed at Alastor with a screech and struck with Play Rough, with Alastor just barely able to retaliated with a Rollout that knocked away the Totem Pokémon.
Mimikyu dodged the second round of Rollout with Fly, slamming into the Alolan Graveler with the move a few moments later. Sun wracked his mind with ideas on how to end the battle quickly, since he could see that Alastor was tiring. But he also noticed that Totem Mimikyu could barely stand, and its Z-Power aura was flickering. Maybe with another move or two they could end this.
"Alastor, use Rock Tomb!" Sun called out as Alastor growled in annoyance, huffing as he hurled a wave of rocks at the Totem Pokémon.
"If this were me on my own, this battle would already be over!" Alastor snapped as Mimikyu dodged the attack and dashed forward with Shadow Claw. Alastor yelled out in pain at what seemed like a Critical Hit, stumbling backwards with a grimace.
"Get over yourself!" Sun yelled back, finally losing his temper. Alastor turned towards Sun and thrust out his hand, causing Sun to scream as a Thunder Shock struck him in the chest and sent him falling to the ground screaming in pain.
"Brzzzzt!? Sun, are you okay?" Rotom Dex asked with obvious concern, glaring at the Alolan Graveler who was now grinning. "What is wrong with you!? You just attacked your Trainer!"
"I hope it hurts. You deserve so much more for what you've done to me." Alastor remarked, not seeing that Totem Mimikyu was slowly approaching him. Sun pushed himself upright as he caught sight of the Totem preparing to use Wood Hammer, its tail glowing a bright green color.
"Alastor, that's Wood Hammer! Watch out!" Sun shouted, causing Alastor to turn around with surprise.
Totem Mimikyu glared at Alastor with an expression that made the Alolan Graveler freeze where he stood, his body trembling as the Totem's influence smothered him. Mimikyu spun around with a squeal and struck Alastor hard with its glowing green tail, sending him flying backwards across the battlefield.
Alastor rolled to a stop near Sun, who noticed that Alastor was knocked out cold. Sun scowled in frustration at the audacity of the Alolan Graveler, who practically had the battle won until his ego got in the way. Sun was out of useable Pokémon. Which meant that...
"Hehehehe...You lose!" the Totem Pokémon giggled as Sun stared at Alastor's unconscious form, frowning as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that he had just lost an Island Trial. Mimikyu's Z-Power slowly faded away as the Totem's 'neck' seemingly cracked back into place in a way that made Sun flinch.
"Gooooodbye!" Totem Mimikyu screeched as the shadows suddenly drew closer, and before Sun could do more than scream they completely engulfed him-
Leaving him standing at the entrance of the Abandoned Site, completely bewildered. Sun looked backwards and saw a Pikachu tail clamber up and over one of the shelves, and the boy shivered before turning back towards the entrance and opening the door.
Acerola was waiting for him outside, her expression expectant. Her eyes went wide as she took in Sun's downcast expression, his eyes a darker shade of gray than usual. She stepped forward as he opened his extremely pink umbrella to protect himself from the rain.
"So...how'd it go?" Acerola asked, her tone delicate. Even if she was proud of the strength of her Totem and was happy it had won, Sun was a friend of hers and the Captain knew he had been through a hard time lately. Losing such an important challenge would sting for sure.
"Not well. The Trial wasn't too bad, but that Totem of yours was tough." Sun sighed as he rubbed his face, feeling rather exhausted now. Sun briefly recapped the events of the fight, including Oliver somehow failing to evolve, and she put a hand to her chin thoughtfully.
"You can't always win going into things blind. Sometimes things just require another try. The most important thing is not to give up!" Acerola said brightly, fist-pumping. Sun offered her a weak smile, still disappointed in himself. He didn't blame his team, not even Oliver, or Alastor for their failure. He blamed himself, and Sun would figure out a way to overcome the Totem Pokémon and win the Trial.
Acerola sent Sun off on his way so that she could spend some time talking with her Totem and discuss the battle, though she did feel some concern as she watched Sun trudge off down the beach. From what Acerola knew, the boy wasn't used to losing very often. However, she also suspected Sun felt down more out of concern for his Pokémon.
"Oh well, them's the breaks…huh?" Acerola heard a strange sound behind her and turned around to see a disturbance in the shadows of a nearby tree. Then, all of a sudden, Nanu stumbled out of the shadows, clutching his chest with a pained expression. Acerola's eyes went to the spatters of blood on his uniform, and the fresh blood soaking through his shirt.
"Uncle Nanu! Are you okay?" Acerola asked worriedly as he fell to his knees, panting.
"No. That psychotic bitch is still running wild. But worse than that, they've got Tapu Bulu. Acerola…Get word to Hala. We've got to protect Tapu Koko, or else Alola is doomed." Nanu wheezed, letting out a soft groan as Acerola tried to do what she could to help her injured uncle. Nanu barely registered Acerola's efforts to ease his pain, including grabbing a first-aid kit out of her backpack and calling out her Driftblim to carry him to the Pokémon Center.
All Nanu could think was of how, yet again, he had messed things up.
"Oh well...At least I called in the cavalry before I escaped. With any luck they'll kill that stupid freak once and for all." Nanu mused as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one with a lighter he pulled out of his other pocket.
As he did so, Nanu idly wondered whether or not he should be more worried about the bullet in his chest.
NEXT TIME: Sun regroups after his defeat, Alastor gets rewarded for bad behavior, Amber has an unexpected reunion and Borlath goes after the final Tapu.
Shoutout to my good friend SomeCallItKye for his name suggestion for Nebby's power Move. Much appreciated, dude!
Q & A
From: Anonymouse
So what exactly are Borlath's teams TM moves? Puffy has Ice Beam, and I don't thing Rooto can learn Skill Swap naturally, but I dunno about the rest.
He actually changes them around to suit the battle, since you can typically only have a Pokémon learn 4 TM Moves at once, so unfortunately I can't give you a definite answer.
That's all for now, folks. Thanks again for your patience while real life stuff beats me down and beats me down and never lets up. Your support helps so much and motivates me to keep working hard on these chapters.
Please be sure to review the chapter and tell me your thoughts. And as always, favorite and/or follow the story to keep updated with it! I also have a RS Discord and a TV Tropes page for the story that you can contribute to if you want! I answer questions left in the review section, so feel free to ask whatever you feel like.
Take care and stay awesome!
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
