Chapter 8:
Berry Bomb
Location: Hau'oli City
I stretched out in the Alola sun. Today was the day; the Island Challenge starts!
"You all set? Roto?" Rotom Dex asked.
"Yeah yeah," I said. "I can't wait to see how the Alola region tests me and Hau's abilities!"
"You bet!" Hau replied.
Rotom Dex got a Town Map up. "Ilima sent me the information today. Roto. Azz you know, the firzzt trial is at Verdant Cavern. It'zz about a half day walk up Route 2, so there izz nothing wrong with getting distracted. Roto."
With that, it was time to head on out!
Location: Route 2
The sun beamed down on the dusty path, whilst also making the sea sparkle like diamonds. Down the road there were three adjacent paths. One with lead to the cemetery from the day before, one a little further down that lead to a Motel and one opposite the motel that lead to somewhere else.
"Let's hit the road!" I said. However, I couldn't go far before I was spotted by a Beauty.
"Ugh, why did Tapu Koko choose you? I'm clearly prettier!"
Elliott Vs. Beauty Krystal
"Litten, go!" I shouted.
"Gastly, take him down!" Krystal replied. "Use Lick!" Gastly went over to Litten and licked it. It didn't do much.
"Lick it back!" Litten came back with a Lick of its own. This did Super Effective damage on Gastly and paralyzed it. "Great! Hey Litten, let's try your new move! Leer!" Litten stared down Gastly, lowering Defense. Gastly couldn't move the next turn. "Finish with Lick!" Litten did just that; Gastly was down.
"Well, you may be stronger but I'm still prettier!"
Shortly after that, me and Hau got to the Motel. It had a large wooden sign depicting a large-brown Pokémon that was lounging around.
"I was told about those," Hau said. "That Pokémon is called Slaking. It's the final evolved form of Slaking. They aren't found in Alola but they are found in Hoenn and Unova."
"Amazing. Zzt," Rotom said. "The world izz… such an amazing place."
"Anyway," Hau said. "Can I take on the next Trainer?"
"Sure!" I said. "I don't want to hog em all!"
We quickly found the next Trainer; a Preschooler. Hau went up to him.
"My mummy says that I'm strong!"
Hau Vs. Preschooler Kaleb
"Spearow, you're up!" Kaleb shouted.
Spearow (オニスズメ)
#087
Normal/Flying Type
Tiny Bird Pokémon
1'00" (0.3 m)
4.4 lbs (2 kg)
Farmers whose fields are troubled by Bug Type Pokémon appreciate Spearow for its vigorous appetite and look after it.
"Then I'm using Pichu!" Hau replied.
"Great job!" Rotom Dex said. "An Electric Type is great against Flying Types!"
"Go get it!" I shouted.
"Spearow, Peck!" Spearow pecked at Pichu. It wasn't very effective.
"Come back with Thunder Shock!" Pichu fired a small bolt of electricity at Spearow. It did a lot to it.
"Use Peck again!" Spearow used Peck on Pichu once more, but it still didn't do much.
"Now Thunder Shock!" Pichu fired another volt at Spearow, this time knocking it out.
"Man! I forgot about Types!"
"Well," Hau said after we continued down the road. "You seemed enthusiastic."
"Yeah," I said. "Okay, here's the truth. When I first met Lillie, she was…" I thought about it a minute. Lillie specifically told me to keep Nebby a secret. Would that include my best friend who barely knows her? "Attacked by a group of Spearow. That's when Tapu Koko saw my potential."
Hau put his arms behind his head in thought. "That Lillie is a weird kid. But she seems nice, I guess."
"My thoughts exactly," I replied. "She's very shy, I would like to know her a bit more. If she just opened herself up a bit, I feel like she could get on with most of who she meets."
Just then, something waddled in front of us. It was white and blue. It had a separate appendage that looked like a sack.
Delibird (デリバード)
#095
Ice/Flying Type
Delivery Pokémon
2'11" (0.9 m)
35.3 lbs (16 kg)
Although it naturally prefers colder locales, Delibird in Alola seem able to withstand the head to a certain extent.
Delibird has no known evolution.
"Fancy seeing an Ice Type in a tropical climate like this," I said. "Okay, I'm gonna catch it!"
"Hoooold it! Roto!" Rotom Dex said, scanning Delibird once again. "Thizz Pokémon hazz a Trainer already."
"Ah it's fine!" Hau said. "I say we return it!" We saw the way it came from; the other road that was mentioned earlier. A sign said "Hau'oli Berry Farm."
We walked back with Delibird to see a Farmer ploughing some crops.
"Delibird, there you are! What have I told you about wandering off? We can't have that at the moment!"
I looked around to see plants with many Berries on them. Oran Berries, Pinap Berries, even rare ones like Roseli Berries. "One man job?" I asked. "Looks tricky."
"Not really," he said. "I have Delibird to transport the Berries all over the Alola region! But it's been distracted recently which we can't have because a Crabrawler has been stealing Berries from me!"
"A Crabrawler," Hau said. "Grampa Hala uses one of those. It's a Fighting Type. They love berries."
"Grampa Hala?" the Farmer asked. "So, you are the Kahuna's Grandson! Hau I believe! Yes, he has told me all about you. Alola! Names Barnaby. I run this Berry Farm with Delibird and with a bit of community help to."
"Hard stuff," I replied. "Alola! My name is Elliott Mitchell, and I'm also taking on the Island Challenge. Okay, we'll go find that Crabrawler for you and tell it to leave you alone!"
"And I'm Rotom Dex! Roto!"
"Thanks a billion!" he said. "I'll call you if anything happens! Crabrawler are found under Berry Trees."
Me and Hau walked out of the Berry Farm to find a large patch of grass in front of us.
"Let's go find ourselves a Crabrawler!" I said. Before we could go into the grass however, a Backpacker stopped me. She was wearing a white shirt with tied back blonde hair.
"Taking on the trial aye?
Elliott Vs. Backpacker Ashley
"Cottonee, go!" Ashley shouted. She sent out a white-fluffy Pokémon with two leaves on its side. It was floating in the air a bit.
Cottonee (モンメン)
#105
Grass/Fairy Type
Cotton Puff Pokémon
1'00" (0.3 m)
1.3 lbs (0.6 kg)
To protect itself, it shoots cotton from its body. When it gets wet in the rain, its cotton grows moist and heavy, and it can't move as well.
"And I'm using Pikipek!" I shouted.
"Cottonee, Fairy Wind!" Cottonee fired some light-glowing wind at Pikipek for small damage.
"Peck it!" Pikipek pecked at Cottonee for lots of damage.
"Fairy Wind again!" Cottonee fired some more shining wind at Pikipek. Thankfully, it missed.
"Now use Peck!" Pikipek stabbed Cottonee with its beak. It was a Critical Hit that took it out.
"Yeah, I think you are taking it on."
"Great job!" I told Pikipek who perched on my shoulder. "Okay, let's keep moving!"
As I walked into the tall grass however, something ran up to me. It jumped out and revealed itself to be a plump-yellow Pokémon with black fists.
Makuhita (マクノシタ)
#068
Fighting Type
Guts Pokémon
3'03" (1 m)
190.5 lbs (86.4 kg)
Their daily routine consists of training together first thing in the morning, eating and napping in the afternoon, and then more training afterward.
"Go Slowpoke!" I shouted. Makuhita started by clapping in front of Slowpoke, causing it to flinch.
"That's Fake Out!" Hau shouted. "It can only be used on the first turn but it guarantees a flinch!"
Makuhita then used Sand attack. It threw some sand in Slowpoke's eyes, lowering Accuracy. "Water Gun!" Slowpoke fired water at Makuhita, but it missed. "Okay that's enough. Go Pikipek!" Out came my Flying Type. Makuhita suddenly elbowed Pikipek a few times. It was Arm Thrust. "Now use Peck!" Pikipek pecked at Makuhita for a surprising among of damage. Makuhita then used another Arm Thrust, almost finishing Pikipek. "Yeah, this thing is strong." I got out a Great Ball. "Let's give this a go!" Makuhita went inside. We watched the Great Ball wobble…
But Makuhita escaped! Now angry, Makuhita pumped itself up. "Zzt! Focus Energy! It increasezz the chance of landing a Critical Hit! Roto!"
"Now Pikipek, Peck again!" Pikipek pecked at Makuhita again, almost finishing it. Makuhita then came back with Arm Thrust. The first one was a Critical Hit that finished off Pikipek. "Okay Misdreavus, go!" I shouted. None of Makuhita's moves would work on Misdreavus, so I used this opportunity. "Great Ball, go!" Makuhita went inside the Great Ball and…
Stayed inside!
"Congratulations! Roto!" Rotom Dex said. "Okay, enough dis- hold on, I'm getting a call." On Rotom Dex's screen was Farmer Barnaby.
"It's not good!" He panicked. "It's not Crabrawler! It's someone else!"
Me and Hau looked at each other, nodded and started running back to the farm.
Upon returning to the farm, we saw just the people who we would imagine stealing Berries.
"Team Skull!" I shouted.
"Not you guyzz again! Roto!"
"Who?" Hau asked. "Are these the guys you took on when meeting Ilima?"
"Who? WHO?!" asked Grunt A. "Yo, we are only the meanest people in all of Alola!"
"Yeah!" Grunt B said. "And that means these Berries are ours for the taking. Mind your own business and go away."
"Not on our watch!" I said.
"You dare challenge me?" Grunt A said.
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"I choose Misdreavus!" I shouted.
"Go Drowzee!" shouted the Grunt, sending out a yellow Pokémon with a small trunk for a nose.
Drowzee (スリープ)
#066
Psychic Type
Hypnosis Pokémon
3'03" (1 m)
71.4 lbs (32.4 kg)
It puts its prey to sleep and devours their dreams. It seems that bad dreams taste sour, so Drowzee doesn't particularly like eating them.
"Okay Misdreavus, Astonish!" Misdreavus scared Drowzee, doing Super Effective damage. Additionally, Drowzee flinched! "Great! Now do it again!" Misdreavus used another Astonish. One more would do it.
"Drowzee, Disable!" A small gleam came from Drowzee's eyes.
"No good! Zzt! Now Misdreavus can't uzze Astonish!"
"But we can still win!" I replied. "Use Psywave!" Misreavus shot a wave of Psychic energy at Drowzee, almost finishing it.
"Use Confusion!" Drowzee sent a small blast of Psychic energy at Misdreavus. It didn't do that much.
"Psywave again!" One last attack, and Drowzee was finished!
"Yo! You are strong!"
"End of the line!" I told them. "Drop the Berries and leave."
"Nice try," said Grunt B. "But it seems you've forgotten about me! Let's do-"
Suddenly, a Pokémon came walking by. It was brown, crusty and had two claws that looked like blue boxing gloves.
Crabrawler (マケンカニ)
#071
Fighting Type
Boxing Pokémon
2'00" (0.6 m)
15.4 lbs (7 kg)
Its hard pincers are well suited to both offense and defense. Fights between two Crabrawler are like boxing matches.
"It's you!" Barnaby said. "You're part of the Berry thieves!"
Crabrawler then saw the Berries being stolen by Team Skull. It started taunting them.
"I think it wants to help!" I said.
"But… it stole my farming!" Barnaby said.
"True, but they're worse!" I said pointing at Team Skull. "How about you command Crabrawler?"
Crabrawler nodded at Barnaby in approval. "Okay. Yeah, let's do it!"
Barnaby Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"Go Ratttata!" the Grunt shouted.
"Great! Roto! A Dark and Normal Type izz weak to Fighting Type movezz! Thizz should be a breeze!"
"Quick Attack!" Rattata dashed into Crabrawler.
"Now use Rock Smash!" Crabrawler came back with a punch that almost knocked out Rattata.
"Now Tackle it!" Rattata rammed its body into Crabrawler.
"Finish with Bubble!" Crabrawler fired some bubbles at Rattata, finishing it off.
"Yo! This guy is strong!"
"Enough is enough!" I shouted.
"Crabrawler, do it!" Crabrawler cut the net of Berries the Grunts had and they fell on the floor. Delibird picked them all up.
"Urgh. Fine. Keep them. But yo, we're coming back!"
"Then Crabrawler will deal with you!" Barnaby said as the Grunts stomped off.
"Nice one!" I told Barnaby.
"Yeah," he replied. "Crabrawler, I'm sorry I got angry, but you can't just steal from farms like this. BUUUUUTT. If you become my Pokémon and help protect the Berries, then you can have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Supper if you work hard!"
Crabrawler smiled. "I think that's a yes!" I said.
"Thanks for your help," Barnaby said, handing us a selection of Berries. "These are to help you on your trial. Good luck!"
After that, we reached the Pokémon Center by sunset. We were tired, but I had a new Pokémon!
"Well," Ilima said, waiting by the gate to Verdant Cavern. "Ready to give it your all?"
"Yeah!" I said.
"Great! Come tomorrow," he replied.
"Tomorrow?" I said disappointingly.
"Hey, we've had a busy day already!" Hau replied. "And we'll need our rest. We'll be revitalized tomorrow!"
"You're right!" I replied. "Look out Verdant Cavern! You're going down!"
Rotom's Move Dex!
Alola! Zzt! Wow! Elliott caught a Makuhita and Barnaby caught a Crabrawler! It'zz been a Fighting Type frenzy today, so we will be looking at a Fighting Type move today! Specifically, Brick Break! Roto!
At bazze 75 Power, Brick Break izz already pretty decent. But uh oh! The opponent has used a reflective move like Light Screen or Reflect! What'zz a Pokémon to do? Brick Break of courzze! Roto! The move actually breakzz away the move which stayzz on the battlefield for some time, effectively erazzing a foezz strategy! Zzt!
And Brick Break is a TM! So lotzz of Pokémon can uzze it! By levelling up, the move is learnable by Pokémon such azz Scrafty and Pangoro, but there are many more beyond that which can learn it via TM!
Oh, and don't uzze Brick Break on Mum'zz favourite mirror as practice, or that's seven yearzz bad luck! Roto!