"Mimikyu, the Disguise Pokemon. Type: Ghost/Fairy. Its actual appearance is unknown. A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock."
Abandoned Thrifty Megamart (Night)
The normally cold building skyrocketed in temperature as Dominic punched one of the walls. 'I can't believe I let this happen!' he scolded, tears streaking down his face.
He had just finished his Ghost-Type Trial, having defeated a Totem Mimikyu and gaining a Ghostium Z. But while he was battling, Lillie and Nebby were kidnapped by Team Skull. He could've helped them, but he was too preoccupied with his own success. The building shook as the boy's anguish reverberated through the aisles.
'Of course I couldn't protect her.' Dominic told himself, losing the strength to keep standing. 'I can't do anything but hurt the people I care about. Maybe Lillie and Nebby would've been better off if they never met me. Kukui at least kept them safe. I just dragged them from island to island with me.' He looked down at his Z-Power Ring, the sacred item gifted to him by Tapu Bulu. With a shout, he removed it from his wrist and threw it into the darkness. He didn't want to be burdened with the responsibility anymore.
The sound of something moving through the building brought Dominic out of his self-pity. The blonde got out a Poke Ball. Before coming to the Megamart, he left all but one of his Pokemon at the Aether House. He didn't want them to see him like this, so he only had his newest Pokemon with him at the moment. Walking past a display of plush toys and accessories, he reached a dark corner where something unexpected was looking at his Z-Power Ring. A wild Mimikyu.
"Do you want it?" Dominic asked the small Pokemon, who looked up in shock. It didn't know there was a human in the building. "You can have it. I don't need it anymore." After that, Dominic turned around and walked toward the exit.
Mimikyu may not have known much about humans, but it did know about feeling bad about oneself. It was written all over the human's face; he was hating himself for something he did. Knowing how that felt, Mimikyu rushed to the price register to stop Dominic. It jumped onto one of the monitors to meet him at eye level before letting out a series of chitters and squeaks that were unfortunately not understood by the blonde.
"I'm sorry if I disturbed you or any of the other Pokemon." he said, regretful for causing yet another problem. "Don't worry. You won't be seeing me again."
Irritated that its message wasn't getting through, Mimikyu got Dominic's Z-Power Ring out from its disguise and offered it back to him.
"I already said you could keep it." Dominic said, starting to lose his patience. Before he could say anything else, Mimikyu had attacked him with Shadow Sneak, tackling his chest. It was crying. Dominic grabbed the Pokemon with both hands, gently holding it. "You really want me to take my Z-Power Ring back, don't you?"
Mimikyu nodded. It didn't know why the boy left it behind, but it felt important somehow.
"Fine. But don't ask me to use it." he said, putting the ring back on his wrist, ignoring how right it felt to wear it. He set Mimikyu down, then made to leave the abandoned store.
At least, until he was launched back in through the broken windows. Mimikyu, as well as several other wild Ghost Pokemon, were surprised by the sudden noise.
"This is not my day." Dominic blanched as he pulled himself out of a pile of rubble. Outside was a very powerful, very angry, Sandygast. Based on what he knew about the species, Dominic theorized that it was angry that it wasn't in its own territory. The color of the sand below it was a dead, pun not intended, giveaway. It was firing off random Shadow Balls in all directions, making it dangerous to get near.
But if there was one thing to know about him, it was that Dominic had no regard for danger at all.
He ran out of the store again, Poke Ball in hand, and initiated a battle with Sandygast. "Minior, come out!" he called out, releasing the alien Pokemon. "Use Confuse Ray!" Minior formed eerie lights that surrounded it before firing them at Sandygast, confusing it. This somehow made things worse, as the wild Pokemon's attacks were even more ferocious than before. An Energy Ball was launched at Minior, causing its outer shell to shatter, revealing the Red Core inside. "Power Gem!" The tips of Minior's body started to glow white before they all fired beams of energy at its opponent. Unfortunately, this attack did almost nothing to the Ground-Type Sandygast, who retaliated with a Shadow Ball. Minior fell to the ground, defeated.
Dominic called back his Pokemon while taking a step back. He needed to get Minior to a Pokemon Center, but with Sandygast in the way, that was impossible. Just as the wild Pokemon fired another Shadow Ball, Mimikyu leapt to Dominic's defense, taking the attack for him.
"Mimikyu!" the boy cried out, worried for the small Pokemon. Mimikyu looked back at him as its head broke, relieved that he was okay. Then, it turned back to face Sandygast. It used Shadow Sneak to attack, catching its opponent off-guard before it struck back with a Shadow Ball.
Everything in its body hurt, but it couldn't give up. Mimikyu's eyes gleamed as its tail started to glow bright green. With the last of its energy, it whacked Sandygast in the face, dealing immense damage to both of them. Sandygast, defeated, sank into the beach.
"Are you okay?" Dominic asked, running to Mimikyu's side. It was unconscious. 'Why did it try and help me?' the boy wondered. 'Why did it go to such lengths to make sure I was safe?' Knowing what to do, Dominic got out a Dusk Ball and used it to catch Mimikyu. He'd bring it to the Pokemon Center with Minior.
As he ran back to Tapu Village, he failed to notice Tapu Bulu watching him from above. The Land Spirit Pokemon was glad that both of those pained souls found each other. It knew why Mimikyu tried so hard to defend someone it just met. It didn't want him to feel worthless. It didn't want anyone to feel worthless.
Maybe they'll be able to save Alola, after all.