Chapter 17:
The Null and the Skull
Location: Paniola Ranch
"Brooklet Hill izz to the north of Route 5. Roto."
"Thanks again," said Marjorie. "Dad is back on two feet again, so we won't bother you anymore."
"And as for me," Mallow said. "Take on the other two Trials on Akala and I should have everything in the Lush Jungle set up. Brooklet Hill is run by Lana. She's a bit of a jokester but she's also tons of fun!"
"Thanks!" I said. "Okay, onwards to Brooklet Hill!"
Location: Route 5
"Alright!" Hau said. "Onwards to our next challenge!"
I thought about what could be next. I hadn't been on Akala Island a week, and it was as if surprises were already round the corner. That's the wonder of the Pokémon world.
Me and Hau were walking down the path until two Preschoolers spotted us. Both were female.
"I'm gonna take you down!"
"No. WE'RE gonna take THEM down. This is a double battle!"
Eliott and Hau Vs. Preschoolers Isa and Nico
"Happiny, go!" shouted Nico, sending out a cute-pink Pokémon with a red pouch. It had a small-white stone in it that resembled an egg.
Happiny (ピンプク)
#039
Normal Type
Playhouse Pokémon
2'00" (0.6 m)
53.8 lbs (24.4 kg)
It carries a round white rock in its belly pouch. If it gets along well with someone, it will sometimes give that person a rock.
Baby Pokémon.
"Igglybuff, you're up!" Nico shouted, sending out a round-pink Pokémon of her own. It had a black spiral on its forehead.
Igglybuff (ププリン)
#167
Normal/Fairy Type
Balloon Pokémon
1'00" (0.3 m)
2.2 lbs (1 kg)
Left to its own devices, it will constantly practice singing. You should make it take a break so it doesn't hurt its throat.
Baby Pokémon
"Slowpoke, go!" I shouted.
"You're up Crabrawler!" Hau replied. "Use Rock Smash!" Crabrawler punched at Happiny, doing lots of damage to it.
"Happiny, Charm!" Happiny fired hearts at Crabrawler, lowering its Attack. Clever strategy.
Suddenly, Slowpoke gleamed at Happiny. "Is that a new move?" I asked.
"Igglybuff, use Sing!" Igglybuff started singing a lullaby that made Slowpoke fall asleep. This wasn't good.
"Now Crabrawler, you ready?" Hau and Crabrawler put both hands in front. They were now covered in Z energy. They started punching. "Let's give Igglybuff a bashing of a lifetime! ALL OUT PUMMELING!" Crabrawler started punching wildly at Igglybuff. One last big slam and it was down.
"NO!" shouted Nico.
"I've got it!" said Ida. "Happiny, Charm again!" Happiny tried it, but it couldn't. Instead, it had to use a very weak Pound.
"I think the move Slowpoke uzzed was Disable! Zzt!" Rotom Dex said. "It lockzz the lazzt move the opposing Pokémon uzzed for a little while! Roto! Take the opportunity!"
I would have loved to, but Slowpoke was still asleep. "Can you take down Happiny?" I asked Hau.
"You bet! One last Rock Smash!" Crabrawler punched Happiny one last time, knocking it out.
"NOOOO! I LOST!"
"YOU MEAN WE LOST!"
"We showed them!" Hau said.
"Now don't brag too much," I said. "They were little kids. Best not to rub our victory in their face."
"You're right," Hau said, as he saw two people up ahead. They were wearing all black. "Uh oh."
The two Grunts noticed us. This duo consisted of two females.
"Great," said Grunt A. "It's you two. We know what you're up to."
"Whatever you're doing, stop!" I said.
"Elliott showed them whoze bozz on Melemele and they can beat you on Akala to! Roto!"
"Is that so?" Grunt B said. "Bring it on!"
"Stop!"
From behind the Grunts was a teenage boy, maybe two or three years older than us. He had short blonde hair, a black hoodie and some ear piercings.
"Oh great," Grunt A said. "Gladion, what do you want?"
"I want to talk to them," he said. "Out the way."
"And why should we listen to you?" Grunt B said sassily. "You're not a fully fledged member. We never wanted you to be."
"True," Gladion said. "But Guzma positioned me as enforcer, and I will listen to him. And if you don't listen to me, you'll be answering to Guzma." He pointed to me. "Let me deal with you."
"Me?" I asked. "Okay what in the name of MissingNo. is going on here?"
Frustrated, the two Grunts looked at me. "We haven't even gotten started with you," Grunt A said.
"Mark our words," said Grunt B. "You'll be going down." With that they ran off.
"I'm sorry," I said. "What's all this about?"
"Doesn't matter," Gladion said. "I want to beat you, and your friend is too happy go lucky for me."
Hau shrugged. He wasn't sure if that was an insult or not. Either way, I was going to take Gladion down, Team Skull member or not.
Elliott Vs. Team Skull (?) Gladion
"Zubat, go!" shouted Gladion.
"You're up Slowpoke!" I replied.
"Start with Bite!" Zubat flew over to Slowpoke and bit down on it for Super Effective damage.
"Now use Disable!" Slowpoke gleamed at Zubat, disabling Bite.
"Urgh. Use Wing Attack!" Zubat flapped down to Slowpoke and hit it with its wing.
"Now use Confusion!" Slowpoke sent out a small mind shock to Zubat for Super Effective damage. What's more, Zubat was confused!
"I will admit. That is impressive. Zubat, use Confuse Ray! Give Slowpoke a taste of it's own medicine!" Zubat sent out a weird ray to Slowpoke, but it had no affect. "WHAT?!" Gladion shouted.
"Zzt. Slowpoke's Ability is Own Tempo! It can't become confused!"
"Give it another Confusion!" I shouted. Slowpoke sent out another mind blast to Zubat, knocking it out.
"That… is impressive. But… I'm not finished! Silvall- I mean Type: Null! Go!" The next Pokémon was… interesting. It was a black and grey Pokémon with a brown helmet on. It could only be described as a weird mishmash of things.
Type: Null (タイプ：ヌル)
#259
Normal Type
Synthetic Pokémon
6'03" (1.9 m)
265.7 lbs (120.5 kg)
There's danger of it going on a rampage, so its true power is sealed away beneath its control mask.
Legendary Pokémon?! What? Roto?!
"A Legendary?!" Hau shouted.
"Relax," I replied. "If what Rotom said is true, then that mask is suppressing its true power. I'll strike whilst it's not berserk. Makuhita, go!" I shouted. "Use Fake Out!" Makuhita clapped in front of Type: Null (which is an… interesting name by the way). It flinched. Didn't matter too much because Type: Null was faster.
"Aerial Ace!" Type: Null darted into Makuhita for Super Effective damage.
"We've still got this," I said. "Makuhita, ready?" Makuhita turned to me and nodded. We put both our arms in front and were surrounded in Z energy.
"Now what?!" Gladion shouted. "A Z-move?!"
"Legendary Pokémon or not, Type: Null is going down! ALL OUT PUMMELING!" Makuhita punched Type: Null a fair few times. One more punch and Type: Null didn't quite go down.
"Pathetic. Use Aerial Ace!" Type: Null attacked once more. Sadly, this was a Critical Hit. Type: Null was down.
"No!" I yelled. "Well great job Makuhita. Okay Trumbeak, you're up!" Out came my Flying Type. "Pluck!" Trumbeak stabbed Type: Null with its beak, knocking it out.
Angrily, Gladion recalled Type: Null to its Pokéball. "Who… are you?" he asked. "You know what, forget it. Just do not get in my way, or Team Skull's."
"Why?" I asked. "Team Skull are doing bad things. They clearly don't like you, so how about we team up and take them down together?"
Gladion just started me down. "I said stay out of it." He said that and walked off.
"What a weird guy. Roto," Rotom Dex said.
"Yeah," I replied. "I don't know whose side he's on, but it looks like I got myself a rival, and the complete opposite to Hau at that."
I looked over at Hau, who seemed to be clenching his fist in anger. Rotom Dex checked up on him. "Hau? Zzt zzt. Everything okay?"
"Too happy go lucky?" he replied. "I'll show him happy go lucky! I'll beat all the island challenges and become Kahuna of Melemele Island!"
"You tell him!" I said. "Okay, tomorrow is our next trial, so let's get some rest!"
Rotom's Move Dex!
Roto! Gladion. What a mysteriouzz guy. The Pokémon he uzzed were Zubat and Type: Null. Focuzzing on Zubat, let'zz look at a Poison Type move.
Gastro Acid! Roto!
This statuzz move can put the opponent in a sticky situation! Roto! It can eliminate the effect of the opposition'zz Ability! Many timezz, Abilitiezz can be really helpful, azz seen today with Slowpoke'zz Own Tempo. Roto. But if Zubat used Gazztro Acid, it would have been able to get a confuzze on.
Pokémon that can learn Gastro Acid include Arbok, Cradily and Pyukumuku! Roto!
I hope I don't get hit with the move! Roto! I might not have my Ability of knowledge! Zzt zzt!