Chapter 30:

Rockin Akala's Grand Trial

Location: Akala Outskirts

"Wake up sleepy head."

I heard a female voice outside the tent. It woke me up because I knew whose voice it was. Peaking through, I found Lillie!

"Alola!" I said. "Ah, wait! Still in my PJs. Hold on." An embarrassed Lillie poked her head back outside and got changed into my regular clothes.

Lillie helped me take down my tent.

"What bringzz you out here? Roto?"

"Oh," she said. "I… wanted to ask the Island Guardian something."

"You mean Tapu Lele?" I asked.

"Yep!" Professor Burnet appeared as well. "I helped Lillie get here!"

At that point, Nebby popped out of Lillie's Bag. "Oh hey Nebby! You going to see Tapu Lele?"

"Pew pew!" Nebby responded.

"Okay, back in the bag until we see it," Lillie said as Nebby jumped back in.

"Alola!" Olivia appeared from the direction of the Ruins of Life. "You ready?" She looked at the other two. "Professor Burnet, hello! And you are?"

"Lillie," she said. "I've… come to see Tapu Lele."

Olivia looked slightly worried. "I don't think you can. You see… you need to push some large boulders to get through the ruins. If you don't have something to do that, you can't see Tapu Lele."

"Oh," she said. "Well then… I guess I'll watch the Grand Trail…"

"Great! Roto! Thizz will be fun!"

"Then come with me," said Olivia.

"Lillie," I said. "You've come a long way from disliking battles."

"Well, maybe," she said. "I don't love them. I don't know okay? Can we just go?"

Location: Ruins of Life

We all stood outside the Ruins of Life. I was standing a few feet away from Olivia.

"Elliott, with Tapu Lele's permission, you are about to take on the Grand Trial of Akala Island. You have worked hard and overcome the odds to take this opportunity." Olivia put her hands together. "Tapu Lele, do you accept Elliott Mitchell as my challenger?"

"Le Leeeee!" we heard from the ruins.

"That's a yes!" she said. "Be careful, because this boulder is going to crush you!"

Elliott Vs. Kahuna of Akala Island, Olivia

"First up, Nosepass!" Olivia sent out a chunky-grey Pokémon with a big-red nose.

Nosepass (ノズパス)

164

Rock Type

Compass Pokémon

3'03" (1 m)

213.8 lbs (97 kg)

The magnet in Nosepass' nose provides an unerring compass, making it an excellent partner for Trainers going on a journey.

"And I choose Torracat!" I replied.

"What?" Lillie asked. "But isn't Torracat weak to Rock Type attacks?"

"Maybe," Professor Burnet said. "But this is Elliott we're talking about. He always has something up his sleeve. But Olivia being a Kahuna, she'll have some tricks of her own to."

"Double Kick!" Torracat kicked Nosepass twice in the face. It did Super Effective damage, but Nosepass' Defense was really high.

"That did a lot but not a lot! Roto! Elliott don't give up! Thizz izz your Grand Trial! Zzt zzt!"

"Nosepass, Thunder Wave!" Nosepass fired a pulse of electricity at Torracat, paralyzing it.

"Not good," said Professor Burnet. "Nosepass is slow but Thunder Wave has brought down Torracat's Speed exponentially."

"Rock Slide!" Nosepass made some rocks fall from the sky onto Torracat for massive damage. Additionally, Torracat couldn't move because of the paralysis. "And again!" Another Rock Slide came down, knocking out Torracat.

"No! Roto! That'zz already Elliott'zz firzzt Pokémon down for the count! Zzt zzt!"

I recalled Torracat. "Okay Trumbeak, go!" I shouted. "Use Rock Smash!" Trumbeak hit Nosepass with its wing, lowering its Defense.

"Nosepass, Spark!" Nosepass covered itself in electricity and charged into Trumbeak. It was Super Effective.

"Use another Rock Smash!" Trumbeak hit Nosepass again.

"Now Rock Slide!" Nosepass made more rocks fall from the sky, knocking out Trumbeak.

"No!" Lillie shouted. "You can turn it around Elliott!"

"For someone who doesn't like battles you seem pretty ambitious," Professor Burnet said. "Maybe deep down…"

"Okay Hariyama, go!" I shouted. "Fake Out!" Hariyama clapped in front of Nosepass' face, causing it to flinch.

"Rest Nosepass!" Nosepass went to sleep, regenerating all its HP in the process.

"Uh oh," said Lillie.

"Don't worry! Roto! Remember, Nosepass hazz lozzt a lot of Defenzze! Zzt zzt!"

"Hariyama, use Vital Throw!" Hariyama threw Nosepass. It was a Critical Hit and… it was only left standing by 1HP!

"No!" Professor Burnet shouted. "It has Sturdy!"

"Knock Off Hariyama!" Hariyama brought its fist down onto Nosepass, finally finishing it off. "Great job!"

"That'zz only her firzzt Pokémon, Roto. It'zz too early to celebrate."

"The Rotom is right," Olivia replied. "Go Boldore!" Out came a three-legged Pokémon made of rocks. It had red gems sticking out in places.

Boldore (ガントル)

#121

Rock Type

Ore Pokémon

2'11" (0.9 m)

224.9 lbs (102 kg)

The energy overflowing from its body has turned into orange crystals that are hard enough to smash diamonds.

Roggenrola -Lv 25- Boldore

"Thanks," I told Hariyama, recalling it. "Okay Slowpoke, go!" Out came my Water Type.

"Good choice!" said Professor Burnet. "Water Types do great damage on Rock Types!"

"Boldore, Rock Blast!" Boldore fired multiple rocks at Slowpoke.

"Use Water Pulse!" Slowpoke fired a ball of water at Boldore, but it was only left with 1HP. "Oh no, it must have Sturdy to!"

"Now Boldore, Headbutt!" Boldore lurched forward and hit Slowpoke with its head, finishing it off.

"Oh no, we're not finished. Go Misdreavus!" I yelled. "Use Hex!" Misdreavus gave Boldore an eerie look, knocking it out.

"One to go!" Lillie said.

"Don't get too excited," Professor Burnet said. "Olivia's final friend must be her ace."

Olivia threw a Pokéball. "Lycanroc, smash the opposition!" Last but not least was a red Pokémon with fur all over it. It had red eyes, a menacing grin and sharp claws.

Lycanroc (ルガルガン) (Midnight Form)

#127

Rock Type

Wolf Pokémon

3'07" (1.1 m)

55.1 lbs (25 kg)

It goads its enemies into attacking, withstands the hits, and in return, delivers a headbutt, crushing their bones with its rocky man.

Rockruff -Lv 25 at night- Lycanroc (Midnight Form)

"That thing looks scary!" Lillie said. "Hey, is that what Professor Kukui's Rockruff will evolve into one day?"

"Maybe," Professor Burnet replied. "This is one of three forms that Lycanroc can evolve into. There is also a Midday Form and a Dusk Form."

"Now Lycanroc, Bite!" Lycanroc leapt forward and chomped down on Misdreavus for Super Effective damage. Misdreavus also flinched at the move. "And another Bite!" Lycanroc bit down once more, knocking out Misdreavus.

"Oh no," I said. "Okay Snorlax, go!" Out came my Normal Type. I wasn't expecting to do much though.

"I think it's time," said Olivia. She put her arms out as her Z-Ring started to glow.

"Here it comezz! Roto!"

Olivia started flexing her muscles as Lycanroc did the same. "Prepare for the power of a rockfall from the summit of Mt. Lanakila! Lycanroc, CONTINENTAL CRUSH!"

Lycanroc started gathering up rocks around it. It jumped into the air to form a large rock above Snorlax. The rock came crashing down, doing lots to Snorlax.

"Such power!" I shouted. "But we've still got this! Snorlax, Body Slam!" Snorlax jumped onto Snorlax, but it did very little. "Okay, this won't work. Snorlax, return! Come back Hariyama!" Out came my Fighting Type.

"Lycanroc, use Rock Slide!" Lycanroc made rocks fall onto Hariyama, but it wasn't very effective.

"Now Hariyama, Belly Drum! Let's finish this!" Hariyama started tapping its belly. In return for some HP, it's Attack was maxed out!

"Lycanroc, Brick Break!" Lycanroc brought its fist down onto Hariyama.

"Okay Hariyama, ready?" We put our hands out, and we started glowing with Z-Energy. "With the power of fists, we will smash this rock!" We punched multiple times. "ALL OUT PUMMELING!" Hariyama punched Lycanroc many times and then, with one last blast, Lycanroc was finished!

"Well, I think you've left me crumbled!"

"We did it Hariyama!" I said.

"He won!" Lillie said, hugging Professor Burnet excitedly. "Nebby, he did-" Nebby was out of the Bag. "Nebby, back in the bag! Tapu Lele is busy today!" Nebby reluctantly hopped back in.

"That was impressive," Olivia said. "You managed to break away at my Rock Types. And for that, I give you… the Rockium Z!" I was given the brown Z-Crystal.

I obtained… a Rockium Z!

"I will now have your Alola Passport." Olivia put a stamp on the Akala Island page. "Congratulations! You have conquered the challenges on Akala Island!"

At that moment, Hau came running in. "Sorry, I was caught up a bit with training and… oh you've beaten her."

"Yep!" I said.

"Hey, I recently got a message from Faba of the Aether Foundation!"

The name drop seemed to shock Lillie, further proof that something was going on behind the scenes.

"What's the matter?" Professor Burnet asked.

"Oh, it's nothing," she said.

"He wants us to come over to Aether Paradise in two days. He will meet us at the Hano Grand Resort tomorrow to prepare. He says you can come to Lillie! Isn't that exciting?"

Lillie looked down. "Thanks, but I'll pass. I know this is an excellent opportunity, but I don't want to go. I'll meet you on Ula Ula Island though."

"Oh, okay," I said, trying to act shocked. It was very possible that Lillie dodged a Bullet Punch with that one.

"Well it'zz settled! Roto! Next stop, Aether Paradise! In two days!"

Rotom's Move Dex!

What a day! Roto! The Rockinium Z izz Elliott'zz! Zzt! So, you know what that meanzz? Yep! Rock Type move time!

Head Smash! Roto!

Head Smash izz a VERY strong move! Roto! 150 base power? That'zz inzzane! But, it comezz at a cozzt. It doezz mazzive recoil damage! So uzze sparingly!

Pokémon that can learn Head Smash include Relicanth, Rampardos and Scrafty!

If Head Smash wazz uzzed on me, it would break my screen! Roto!