Chapter 54:

Trials and Tribulations: Part I

Location: Seafolk Village

I needed to let the prior day wash over me, so I just sat on the dock of the Seafolk Village watching the Magikarp swim underneath. I had my feet in the water to give me that slight chill which I weirdly needed. So much had happened recently. It was too much to take in.

"You did well yezzterday, Roto. I know we couldn't save Lusamine. But what now?"

"I need to do the final Trial," I replied. "Through all that has happened, I haven't forgotten about it. I have one more before my final Grand Trial, and I conclude that Mina is the Trial Captain."

"Yes I am." We saw Mina once again thrashing away at a canvas.

"How long have you been there?" I asked.

"About 20 minutes. You didn't know?"

(How could I when Mina appears out of thin air?)

"Great timing anyway," I said. "So… what's the final Trail?"

"That's easy," she replied. "It is the longest Trial yet. Though you can do it at your own pace sort of."

"Own pace sort of? Zzt zzt?"

Mina got out a Bag and gave it to me. "You are to go to six Trial Captains, battle them and receive a petal. Then, you bring them to me."

I thought back to all the Trial Captains.

Ilima, who is on Melemele Island.

Lana, Kiawe and Mallow are all on Akala Island.

Ula'ula Island has Sophecles and Acerola.

Finally, Mina seems to be the only Trial Captain here, so she wouldn't count.

"You said five?" I said. "But not counting you, there are six."

"Oh yeah," she said. "Acerola is a bit busy with a few things, so Nanu, and yes it did take a will battle you in place. Don't worry, you can do this Trial over a couple of days."

Trial Start!

"Well?" I said. "Let's hop to it! Charizard, let's-" However, I put away the Ride Pager. "Actually, no. This is our final Trial. Let's make it last. Rotom, shall we Mantine Surf from Island to Island?"

"Now what do you think I would say to that?! Roto! I'm not waterproof! I barely survived the Wishiwashi on Brooklet Hill!"

"Just stay in my Bag," I said, opening it. Rotom Dex reluctantly went in.

"You like a challenge, don't you," Mina told me. "Impressive. Okay, I'll take you to Poni Beach."

Location: Poni Beach

The two of us walked down to the beach where Mantine were all set up.

"Alola dude!" said the instructor. "You wanna ride the waves?!"

"You bet!" I said. "I'm doing my final Trial!"

"Gnarly!" he replied. "Now, is this your first-time squirt?"

"Yep!" I said.

"Well, it seems we got a Mantyke here. Okay then, let's do some training. Get changed and meet me at that Mantine!" He pointed to the one in the middle.

I changed into my swimming gear and was provided a safety vest. I hopped onto the Mantine with the help of the Instructor.

"Okay, so this is how you do it. Lean to make Mantine go in different directions."

"That's it?" I asked.

"Well, if you wanna be straightforward. How we do it? We like to do tricks! Keep doing those and what you get are points to use on special moves and items that can help you in the long run!"

"Sounds great!" I said, just as I saw a large wave start to form.

"Here it comes," said the Instructor. "Oh, and one more thing dude. Be careful of rocks and wild Pokémon. They might knock you off."

"Got it!" I said. "Okay, hang tight!"

Poni Island – Melemele Island

The wave started appearing and Mantine skimmed it.

"This is fun!" I said.

"NOT FOR ME! ROTO!" shouted Rotom Dex's muffled voice.

"Let's try a flip!" I said. "Mantine, up we go!" Mantine went into the air and twisted. It was the Huntail Spiral! We landed back onto the wave.

"Great!" I said, just as I saw a rock coming my way. "Turn!" However, in the panic, I steered the poor Mantine into it and I fell off. I got back on, regained my balance, and continued.

"Be more careful! Roto!"

This time, we span the other way; it was the Gorebyss Spiral! "Woo hoo!" I shouted, just as I saw a large shadow in the water. A Wailord jumped out and created a large splash which we narrowly avoided.

"I can't scan that!" Rotom Dex shouted. "Wait till were back on dry land! Roto!"

"That won't be too long!" I said. "I can see it!" In the distance, I saw Melemele Island. We slowed down a bit and got to the next beach.

Location: Big Wave Beach

I got changed again and then sat down to catch my breath. "That was… fun…" I said.

"Nice one!" said the Instructor.

"How did you get all the way here?!" I said. "Oh, wait. Is this a Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny deal where you all look alike?"

"Yep!" he said. "I was informed of your Trial, so good luck!"

Rotom Dex got out of my Bag. "And we have to do that three more timezz? Roto?!"

"Excuse me," I asked. "Do you know where Trial Captain Ilima is?"

"Oh, yeah!" he replied. "He's doing a lecture at the School!"

"The School!" I said. "It's been a while!"

We started walking back to the path. "Elliott," Rotom Dex said. "Don't forget someone elzze you need to see. Roto."

"Who?" I said. "Professor Kukui is on Poni Is- Mum! Of course! I just need to go see Ilima and then head to Ten Carat Hill and we will be straight there afterwards! Thanks for reminding me! But before all of that… Malasadas?"

Location: Hau'oi City

"Nice to be back," I said, eating Malasadas in the sun. "I tell you what, so much has happened here. This is where I started my journey, met Team Skull and got my first Island Stamp!"

"I know," said Rotom Dex. "And now look at you! Only yezzterday, you pretty much saved the world! You dezzerve thizzz more than anyone elszzz! Roto! Now, shall we get yourzzzelf over to Hau'oli Middle School?"

Location: Hau'oli Middle School

It felt like yesterday since I had been enrolled. It had now been over a month, and I was on top of the Alola region. I looked at the clock; it was 11:58.

"Any minute now, the bell will ring for lunch," I said.

11:59.

"Okay we can't have you waiting," said Rotom Dex. "Come on-"

"No," I said. "It's a surprise."

"Well, you're clearly not very good at them are you." From behind a tree appeared Ilima. He put out his hand. "Welcome, Elliott."

I shook it. "Yeah, I'm here to take you on."

"I know," he said. "But surely, an audience will be needed."

At that point, the bell rang and people started piling out. Everyone stopped when they saw me.

"To the battlefield," I said, as we stood opposite one another.

"It's time for a battle!" shouted Ilima.

Elliott Vs. Trial Captain Ilima

"Go Smeargle!" Ilima shouted. Out came his Normal Type.

"I choose Hariyama!" I replied.

"Smeargle, Brave Bird!" Smeargle covered itself in blue energy, then flew into Hariyama for Super Effective damage.

"Close Combat!" Hariyama punched Smeargle multiple times. It was down.

"Thanks, Smeargle. Okay Gumshoos, go!" Next up was my first Trial foe.

"And I'll use Snorlax!" I replied, sending out the sleeping giant.

"My my," said Ilima. "So, you were able to evolve the Lunchtime Muncher." I saw Snorlax (in a drowsy state of course) look around the schoolyard. A place which it had known for some time. "But I'm afraid reminiscence must come later! Gumshoos, Hyper Fang!" Gumshoos bit down on Snorlax.

Just then, Snorlax bit down on Gumshoos! "That's Crunch!" I shouted. Gumshoos' Defense fell.

"This is a Crunch for you!" Gumshoos came back with Crunch.

"Finish with Giga Impact!" Snorlax charged into Gumshoos with all its might. It was down.

"Finally," Ilima said. "Komala!" I decided to keep Snorlax out for this one, even though it did need to recharge. "Now watch this." Ilima and Komala put their arms out. "I helped you get your Z-Crystal, now this is the power of it!" They did the Z pose. "BREACKNECK BLITZ!" Despite sleeping, Komala charged into Snorlax at breakneck speed. "Now," Ilima said. "Before you try it yourself, may I?" He quickly threw me something. It was a Z-Crystal with Snorlax's face on.

"What…" I said.

"Just swap it and do the Normal Type Z pose."

I decided to give it a go. All of a sudden, Snorlax leaped into the air. Then, it frantically ran towards Komala and jumped up.

"Wow! Roto!"

"Let's try this!" I shouted. I just felt a name come to me. "PULVERIZING PANCAKE!" Snorlax landed on Komala, creating an explosion that knocked it out.

"Yes. You indeed have graduated."

The School cheered as I bowed.

"Thanks!" I said. "Hey… why did you give me this?"

Ilima smiled. "I had no hope of winning against the saviour of Alola now, did I?"

I smiled. "Okay, I should stop interrupting things. I need to do something…"

Location: Ten Carat Hill

We went back to the large crater.

"Here we are," Rotom Dex said. "So… what are we doing again? Roto?"

"Machamp!" I shouted as Machamp appeared and lifted me up. We saw the large boulders which we pushed in, creating a path to the previously inaccessible Z-Pedestal. In it was a blue Z-Crystal with a pair of wings inside.

"Thizz muzzt be the Flyinium Z! Roto!"

I pulled it out. "You're right. I don't know the pose though. Shame. Toucannon might make good use of it." I put it away. "Now. I believe we should crash for the night. And I know just where…"

Location: Route 1

"It's been so long," I said, standing outside my house. I knocked on the door and waited in excitement as the footsteps got closer.

Mum opened the door.

"Hey Mum," I said.

Mum, teary eyed, hugged me. "Welcome home darling…"

Rotom's Mov-

"Wait! Rotom we didn't see any new Pokémon today! Can you do one entry?"

What izz there to scan? Roto.

"We saw a Wailord earlier!"

"So we did. Zzt zzt."

Wailord (ホエルオー)

#352

Water Type

Float Whale Pokémon

47'07" (14.5 m)

877.4 lbs (398 kg)

Its immense size is the reason for its popularity. Wailord watching is a favourite sightseeing activity in various parts of the world.

Wailmer -Lv 40- Wailord

Rotom's Move Dex!

Hah! I can only be interrupted once, juzzt like our Normal Type move of the day since we faced Ilima! Roto!

Fake Out!

Now thizz izz a move you should be familiar with. Zzt zzt. Whilzzt weak at only Power 40, it alwayzz strikezz firzzt and alwayzz hazz a flinch. Roto. But it can only be uzzed on the firzzt turn of battle!

Pokémon that can learn Fake Out include Persian, Hariyama and Mienshao!

That really takezz the Fake?! I'll stop now. Roto.