Chapter 43:
Pikachu's Creepy Doppelganger
Location: Route 14
Route 14 was a beach route with black sand. I had heard of black sand beaches before, though these were usually near a volcano. So why wasn't this the case back on Akala Island? I don't know. It's usually because of basalt or something like that.
That wasn't what I was focusing on today however; my attention was on my next Trial! Specifically, the last of two trials on Akala Island before the Grand one. Which reminded me, I hadn't even met the Kahuna yet. I really hope he's ambitious about battling like me.
"You made it!" said Acerola who ran down the beach to see me. "The Trial is just in there!" She pointed to what looked like a large shopping mall. However, it was abandoned. The windows were either dirty or smashed. The signs were falling off and the warehouse door seemed permanently open.
"In there?" I asked. "It's a little… run down. What happened?"
Acerola gave an explanation. "This was a mall built on Tapu Bulu's land. Naturally, it was not happy about this so, on the opening ceremony, it threw a rage and destroyed the whole thing. Don't worry, no one was hurt as Tapu Bulu cares about its people. Originally going to be demolished, it became a home for Ghost Type Pokémon, so the govermnet kept it up. Eventually, Tapu Bulu came out to me and said that a Totem Pokémon had made its home here and asked me to become the Trial Captain; I couldn't turn down that offer!"
"Seemzz spooky! Roto!"
"Oh, it's more than that…" Acerola said creepily.
"Are you sure about thizz? Roto?"
I nodded. "It's a Trainers duty to be brave. Tapu Koko would not have endorsed me if it knew I couldn't do this."
Acerola went open to the left doors and they opened on their own.
"D-d-did they open on their own?" I asked.
"Yep!" Acerola said.
Multiple thoughts rushed through my head; maybe it was haunted!
"They're automatic!" Acerola assured me.
I breathed a sigh of relief and pepped myself back up. "Okay! Trial, here we come!"
Location: Thrifty Megamart (Abandoned Site)
Trial Start!
"Okay," Acerola said. "Things are not all that they seem here. You will need to take photos for this."
"On it! Roto!" Rotom Dex got up a camera on itself.
"You can do that?" I asked.
"It'zz called Poké Finder! Roto! It can snap picturezz of Pokémon! Zzt zzt!"
Well then it was time to let out my inner Todd Snap!
"Good luck…" Acerola said as the doors closed.
"Well," I told Rotom Dex. "Let's… just get this…" Behind me at one of the cash registers, I saw one of the conveyor belts moving. "What'zz… going on? Roto?"
"Activate Poké Finder," I said.
Rotom Dex got its camera up and I got a good look through it. Through it, I saw a Gastly! "Gotcha! Zzt zzt!"
Gastly saw me and attacked!
"Go Incineroar!" I shouted. Gastly started off with Confuse Ray, confusing Incineroar. "Uh oh. Use Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar tried to attack, but it hurt itself instead! Gastly then came back with Shadow Ball, firing a dark blob at Incineroar. The next turn though, we got a Darkest Lariat in! It knocked out Gastly in one blow!
"Oh great, Roto. So, I have to be a tool to look at Ghost Typezz? Roto."
"Rotom," I said. "You ARE a Ghost Type! Why are you so scared?"
"Becauzze I'm not!" it replied. "In Pokédex form, I'm juzzt an Electric Type. Roto."
Well, I didn't know that. Fair enough. Who am I to judge? There are no Rotom in Kanto or Alola.
We walked down the frozen food isle. On one side were the frozen treats; things like ice cream. The other was frozen vegetables and pizza. Now everything was sludgy and inedible because the freezers hadn't been on in years.
"I don't blame Tapu Bulu for getting angry," I said. "This was built on its land. In many ways, it had every right to do this."
"Look out!" Rotom Dex shouted. In the distance, we saw a trolly starting to move slowly towards us. It got faster and faster to the point where it was at break neck speed. I jumped out of the way, grabbed Rotom Dex and put up the Poké Finder. The cart was being controlled by a purple Pokémon with floating-disjointed hands.
Haunter (ゴースト)
#074
Ghost/Poison Type
Gas Pokémon
5'03" (1.6 m)
0.2 lbs (0.1 kg)
It fears the light and revels in the dark. It may be on the verge of extinction in cities that stay brightly lit at night.
Gastly -Lv 25- Haunter
"Let's use Hariyama!" I shouted.
"Are you mad? Roto? A Fighting Type?"
"Yes," I said. "I am mad!" Haunter started off with Night Shade, sending a pulse of black energy the way of Hariyama. "Come back with Knock Off!" Hariyama slapped Haunter with its fist. Super Effective! Haunter almost went down. However, it came back with Shadow Punch by punching the ground and increasing its shadow to hit Hariyama. "One more Knock Off!" Hariyama hit Haunter once more, knocking it out.
After that, we went to the toy aisle. Action figures, rattles, building blocks and plushies lined the floor.
"Guess Tapu Bulu doesn't like kids very much," I said as I picked up a children's doll. It depicted Elesa, the Gym Leader of Nimbasa City in the Unova region. She's a fashion designer and it was one of those dolls which comes with fabric to create your own clothes for her. As I did this, I felt everything go… suddenly cold. I shivered a bit. Even as someone who had just recovered from heat stroke, something seemed off about it.
"But the Ghozzt Typezz seem to love it!" Rotom Dex said.
"Yeah," I said, just as I saw a Pokédoll in the middle of the floor, sitting perfectly upright. "Huh. Look at this."
At that point, it started coming up to me. I grabbed Rotom Dex (who was busy cuddling a plush Teddiursa) and opened the Poké Finder. Through the lens was a purple Pokémon with a large grin on its face.
Gengar (ゲンガー)
#075
Ghost/Poison Type
Shadow Pokémon
4'11" (1.5 m)
89.3 lbs (40.5 kg)
Should you feel yourself attacked by a sudden chill, it is evidence of an approaching Gengar. There is no escaping it. Give up.
Gastly -Lv 25- Haunter -Trade- Gengar
"We won't give up!" I shouted. "Seriously Rotom, that was morbid!"
Gengar attacked. "Go Incineroar!" I shouted. Gengar started with Shadow Ball, firing a black ball at Incineroar. "Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar span round and round and crashed into Gengar, almost dealing with it. Gengar then came back with another Shadow Ball, but it missed. It crashed into some toy cars. "Finish with one more Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar span round once again and hit Gengar. I had won.
"That should do it," I said.
"Oh, is it?" I looked down the aisle to see a door at the back of the store. There… was Acerola. "You… shouldn't be here! LEAVE NOW!"
"Goodidealet'zzgetouttahereRoto!" Rotom Dex said, pushing me away.
"Hold on," I said. "Acerola, there has to be some mistake. I haven't broken any laws. I haven't attempted to catch any Pokémon."
"I SAID LEAVE!" Acerola shouted. I grabbed Rotom Dex and fired up the Pokéfinder. Through it… Acerola wasn't there.
"You're not real," I said. I walked over to Acerola, or at least what I thought was Acerola. When I did, she disappeared. "I knew it. It was an illusion." I saw the door she was in front of was ajar.
"Elliott, think about thizz. Roto."
"I have," I replied. "I'm going in. This is my Trial. This must be trickery of the Totem Pokémon."
Through the door was a small room. It had some pictures all over the wall. There was a poster of Contest Star Lisia on the wall as well as a Pikachu on some guy's shoulder.
"This looks like a storage room of some kind," I said. "But… it's completely empty."
"I told you to leave!"
Acerola appeared from behind us again.
"Wait…" I said. "You're certainly not Acerola!" I grabbed Rotom Dex and brought up the Finder. This time, I saw what was causing the illusion. It was a Pikachu. Well, it looked like it. It was a Pikachu rag with crudely drawn eyes and cheeks, and a piece of wood for the tail. "What are you?!" I shouted.
Mimikyu (ミミッキュ)
#315
Ghost/Fairy Type
Disguise Pokémon
0'08" (0.2 m)
1.5 lbs (0.7 kg)
Its actual appearance in unknown. A scholar who saw what was underneath its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock.
Mimikyu has no known evolutions.
Acerola's illusion completely disappeared, revealing Mimikyu to be the Totem Pokémon.
"S…s…" Two dark claws came from underneath it.
"Here it comes!" I said.
"SEEEE MEEEE!" it cried out.
Elliott Vs. Totem Mimikyu
Aura surrounded Totem Mimikyu, raising Attack, Sp. Attack, Defense, Sp. Defense and Speed.
"Go Incineroar!" I shouted. Mimikyu started with Play Rough. It went up to Incineroar and started attacking it. "Let's do this!" We put our arms out in front. "Prepare to be taken over Mimikyu!" A wrestlers ring appeared. "Let's use… MALICIOUS MOONSAULT!" Incineroar jumped up, then landed on Totem Mimikyu with a large explosion. It did… nothing?! Instead, the costume's neck broke and it rested on one side. "What happened?!" I shouted.
"It muzzt be Mimikyu'zz Disguise Ability! Roto!" Rotom Dex shouted. "It takes no damage from the first move!"
"I just wasted my Z-move then!" I shouted.
"I have more information about Mimikyu! Roto!"
It stands in front of a mirror, trying to fix its broken neck as it its life depended on it. It has a hard time getting it right, so it's crying inside.
Totem Mimikyu started calling. Then, from the water dispensers on the ceiling that would turn on when there was a fire, squirmed through a large-blue Pokémon with tentacles.
Jellicent (ブルンゲル)
#319
Water/Ghost Type
Floating Pokémon
7'03" (2.2 m)
297.6 lbs (135 kg)
Fishermen are terrified of Jellicent. It's rumoured to drag them into the sea and steal their lives away.
Frillish -Lv 40- Jellicent
"Great," I said. "As if things can't get any harder, a Water Type. Don't give up Incineroar!" Totem Mimikyu used Play Rough again, viciously attacking Incineroar in the process. "Use Darkest Lariat on Jellicent!" Incineroar span round and round, then attacked Jellicent. Jellicent then came back with Water Pulse. It fired a ball of water at Incineroar for Super Effective damage, knocking it out.
"Not good! Roto!"
"I'm not scared of you Mimikyu! Slowpoke!" Out came a Water Type of my own. Totem Mimikyu used Shadow Claw on Slowpoke, slashing it with one of those claws I mentioned earlier. Jellicent used Ominous Wind, by blowing black wind at Slowpoke. "Slowpoke, use Psybeam!" Slowpoke shot a pink beam at Jellicent, confusing it.
"Nice shot! Roto!"
Mimikyu came back for another Shadow Claw, but it missed! Then Jellicent tried another move, but it hit itself instead! During this time, Slowpoke went into a bit of a daze and healed itself.
"Zzt! That move! I think it'zz Slack Off! It heals HP!"
"Just what we need!" I said. Totem Mimikyu used Shadow Claw again, which Slowpoke survived. Jellicent tried another Ominous Wind, but it hurt itself again. "Now use Water Pulse on Mimikyu!" Slowpoke fired a ball of water at Totem Mimikyu. Totem Mimikyu used Shadow Claw, knocking out Slowpoke. Also, during that turn, Jellicent snapped out of its confusion.
"You're really being challenged! Roto!"
"And that's what the trials are all about! Go Misdreavus!" I shouted. Bit of a double-edged Honedge this one; Ghost Types are Super Effective against each other. Totem Mimikyu started with Shadow Claw, doing lots to Misdreavus. "Now use Hex!" Misdreavus stared evilly at Jellicent. Critical Hit! Jellicent was down! "Nice one! Now to focus all our energy on the main target!" Totem Mimikyu however finished of Misdreavus with one last Shadow Claw. "No!" I shouted. Following this, Totem Mimikyu started calling again. Another Pokémon appeared, this one looking like a discarded-grey doll.
Banette (ジュペッタ)
#317
Ghost Type
Marionette Pokémon
3'07" (1.1 m)
27.6 lbs (12.5 kg)
Resentment at being cast off made it spring into being. Some say that treating it nicely will satisfy it, and it will once more become a stuffed toy.
Shuppet -Lv 37- Banette
"Well, I won't be very nice here! Go Toucannon!" I shouted. When it came out, its beak started heating up. Totem Mimikyu used Play Rough, but doing this burned it! It had fallen into my trap! Banette used Feint Attack, which led to it getting burned. One more Play Rough from Totem Mimikyu knocked it out. However, a lot was set in place. "Go Snorlax!" I shouted. Snorlax curled up into a ball and rammed into Totem Mimikyu. "Hey! That's Rollout! Not bad!" Totem Mimikyu used Play Rough, then Banette used Screech. This lowered Snorlax's Defense. Snorlax used another Rollout, this one being stronger. Totem Mimikyu used another Play Rough which did quite a bit more and Bannette used Feint Attack. That one was a Critical Hit. Snorlax used another Rollout. This one was a Critical Hit! Totem Mimikyu was almost finished. Totem Mimikyu however used Leech Life, sapping some health away from Snorlax. Banette came back with another Feint Attack. Snorlax was down.
"One left! Roto!"
"I'll be fine!" I said. "Go Hariyama!" A Fighting Type. But I needed to wait it out. Totem Mimikyu used Play Rough, doing lots to Hariyama. Then Banette used Will-O-Wisp. It sent a flame over to Hariyama, burning it. And speaking of burning… it finally got to Totem Mimikyu! It fainted! Banette ran off.
"YOU DID IT! ROTO!"
I ran up to Hariyama and hugged it. "NICE ONE! NOT JUST YOU HARIYAMA FOR HANGING ON BUT TO EVERYONE! WE DID IT TOGETHER!"
"Elliott. Roto. Sorry to interrupt the celebrationzz… but thizz place izz giving me the creepzz. Can we leave pleazze? Zzt zzt."
Yeah, I agreed.
Location: Route 14
We came out of the abandoned mart, clearly having had our fill of supernatural shenanigans. Waiting outside was Acerola.
"Hold on," I said, grabbing Rotom Dex. I got up the Poké Finder to reveal that Acerola wasn't an illusion. "Thank Arceus."
"What happened?" Acerola asked.
"There was this back room and…"
"Hold on," Acerola said. "There is no back room. It was never built. Everyone says that, but it doesn't exist." She got out a floor plan. "See? No back room. Anyway, I believe you deserve this!" Acerola held out a purple Z-Crystal. "This right here, is the Ghostinium Z! It's yours!"
I got… the GHOSTINUIM Z!
"Now to use the move Never Ending Nightmare, you do the same post that I showed Hau and Ddecidueye. Watch." Acerola made the same head in front of the hands position from before. "Good luck with it! Now you can take on the Kahuna!"
"Oh great!" I said. "Where can I meet this Kahuna?"
"Well…" Acerola said. "Outside Po Town. But it's on a case-by-case basis as to whether he can do it."
"Po Town…" I said.
"Oh no," Rotom Dex said. We looked at each other in worry.
"THAT'S WHERE TEAM SKULL IS BASED!"
Rotom's Move Dex!
I'm scared let'zz look at a Ghost Type move. Roto.
Nightmare.
Nightmare izz a move that only workzz when the opozzing Pokémon izz azzleep. Roto. What doezz it do? It makezz the opponent have a nightmare that drainzz their HP a bit after every turn! Roto! It can be really helpful!
Pokémon that can learn Nightmare include Gengar, Hypno and Darkrai.
What'zz my biggezzt Nightmare? Going through all of today again! Roto!