Chapter 47:
Team Skull's Humble Domain
Location: Route 17
"Don't even think about getting another night," Nanu said as he showed me the way out. It was pretty much a boot out after my breakfast had been finished.
"I wasn't planning to anyway," I said. "Wait, quick question."
"Yeah?" Nanu asked.
"Who is the Kahuna?"
Nanu grunted. "Beat Team Skull and return the Pokémon, then we will talk." With that, he closed the door.
"If that'zz what he izz like in a good mood imagine him on a bad day. Roto."
"That's not our focus," I told Rotom Dex. "Right now, we need to go into Po Town, grab Yungoos and return it to the Trainer."
Without hesitation, we ran to the front entrance to Po Town. As expected, two Team Skull Grunts, one male (A) and one female (B).
"Well well," said Grunt B. "What do we have here? The kid who beat Guzma!"
"Yeah!" I said. "If that's evidence to not mess with me, well I have more than that!"
"Really?" Grunt A replied. "Well, I'll have you know that Po Town is Team Skull territory ONLY."
"Fine," I said. "I'll fight my way in then!"
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunts
"Go Pawniard!" Grunt A shouted, sending out Bisharp's pre-evolved form.
Pawniard (コマタナ)
#337
Dark/Steel Type
Sharp Blade Pokémon
1'08" (0.5 m)
22.5 lbs (10.2 kg)
It follows Bisharp's orders to a tee when it attacks enemies. After slashing an opponent, Pawniard clangs both of its blades together.
"Scraggy, you're up!" Grunt B shouted. She sent out a yellow Pokémon with baggy pants.
Scraggy (ズルッグ)
#335
Dark/Fighting Type
Shedding Pokémon
2'00" (0.6 m)
26 lbs (11.8 kg)
It stretches its saggy skin up to its neck to protect itself. Anyone who makes eye contact gets smacked with a headbutt.
"Incineroar, Toucannon! Go!" I shouted as my Pokémon were sent out. "Toucannon, Drill Peck!" Toucannon span round and stabbed Scraggy with its beak.
"Pawniard, Slash!" Pawniard swiped at Toucannon with its claws.
"Now Incineroar, use Double Kick!" Incineroar kicked Pawniard twice, knocking it out.
"Now Scraggy, High Jump Kick!" Scraggy ran up to Incineroar and kicked it. Incineroar almost went down.
"Finish with Drill Peck!" Toucannon drilled into Scraggy once again, finishing it off.
"So… do we let him in?"
"If we don't wanna get our butts kicked even more, then yeah!"
Both Grunts looked at each other. Grunt A broke the silence. "We gotta tell Guzma about this." With that, both of them ran in.
"That'zz our queue. Roto."
We finally walked in.
Location: Po Town
Po Town was, without a doubt, the most depressing city I had been to. Graffitied Team Skull logos scoured the walls, the buildings had clearly been run down since the takeover (including the Pokémon Center) and the rain added to the gloomy atmosphere. The most notable building in the city was a run-down mansion at the end of it. And of course, Team Skull Grunts were everywhere.
"I mean they are putting it to some uzze. Roto. Not good uzze, but uzze. Ztt zzt."
All around me, I got weird looks.
"Let's just go to the Pokémon Center," I said nervously.
I walked over to what would usually be the friendliest building in a community. But here, it was just as battered and creepy as the surrounding architecture. The electronic doors slowly opened. In a normal establishment, they would take about a second to allow access. Here, it took about six.
Location: Po Town Pokémon Center
I walked in and it wasn't much better. A female Team Skull Grunt was where Nurse Joy would usually be, same with where the Pokémart clerk would be situated.
"Hello," I said. "May I please heal?"
"It'll cost ya," the Grunt said.
"That'zz not how Pokémon Centerzz are ran! Roto! The healthcare izz free!"
"Listen Pulseman," the Grunt said. "This ain't Hau'oli City or anywhere. This is Po Town. Team Skull make the rules. Now cough up the money or go away."
I looked at Rotom Dex. "I'd rather not support their shady business."
"I agree. Roto. Let'zz juzzt uzze Potionzz and Revivezz. Zzt zzt."
Location: Po Town
"Okay, Roto. Let'zz find Elekid and scott on outta here. Roto."
"I'd love to, but no," I said. "Either we do the job quickly or properly." I looked at the Mansion in the distance. "Let's head there."
We walked up to the Shady House (as I will now call it). As we did this, something was bothering me. "Isn't it… odd that no Grunt has come up to challenge us?" I asked.
Usually, it was here where Rotom Dex would say "Maybe they're scared! Roto!" But it kept its mouth closed; one wrong word could see us with a few bruises.
"Hold on," I said. "This might answer my question or have me killed." I saw a Grunt practicing his dance moves (it honestly more looked like he was using Flail) and bumped into him.
"Watch it yo!" he said. "Trying to practice my-" He saw me. "Oh… well what do we have here? It's you!"
"Listen," I said. "I need to ask something. Why is no one… battling…" ABORT! ABORT! That's what my mind said. "Nevermind."
"Nevermind?" he said. "Oh, you're not going anywhere. You wanna know why we haven't battled you?"
All the Grunts suddenly started walking over to us. My heart starting pumping at twice it's usual rate. "Why?" I asked.
"Because one by one, or even two, just won't do it. Now, maybe one on 20…"
Many Grunts started surrounding us. I was sweating now.
"Please!" I said. "We… just came in here to retrieve a Yungoos that you stole!"
Wrong choice of words.
"Get em gang!"
"STOP!"
We heard a voice. Nanu's voice. All the Grunts looked round to see him standing there.
"Nanu!" I said.
"Kid, what are you doing?" he asked. "I know you're strong, but-"
"And what will you do about it?" I asked. "It's not like you're happy with my job."
"I'm not," Nanu replied. "But I still gotta do both of them."
"Both?" I asked. "What do you mean?"
"Don't you have a Pokémon to get?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yeah. But how do I…" Without thinking, I barged passed the Grunts and ran to the Shady House.
"Hey!" a Grunt shouted.
"Ignore them! Roto!"
We ran all the way to the Shady House.
Location: Shady House
The first room of the house was the Foyer (or at once that). A staircase let up to two more staircases and there were doors on the ground floor to.
"Well well," said a male Grunt. "We were expecting you."
"Huh?" I asked. Admittedly that response was stupid; of course, they would be expecting their biggest threat. "I suppose you want to battle?"
"Yeah!" the Grunt said.
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"Go Zubat!" shouted the Grunt.
"And I'm using Snorlax!" I replied.
"Zubat, use Poison Fang!" Zubat sunk its poisonous teeth into Snorlax. Thankfully, there was no risk of Snorlax getting poisoned.
"Snorlax, Giga Impact!" With all its strength, Snorlax rammed itself into Zubat. It was down in one.
"Oh, okay." The Grunt withdrew Zubat. "Go Gastly!" Out came a Ghost Type; not something that Snorlax should deal with.
"Come back," I told Snorlax. "Go Incineroar!" Out came my starter.
"Shadow Ball!" Gastly fired a shadowy blob at Incineroar, but it didn't do much.
"Now use Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar span round and round, hitting Gastly in the process. It almost went down.
"Thunderbolt!" Gastly fired a bolt of lightning at Incineroar. When it was hit, Incineroar was paralyzed!
"Not good. Finish it with Fire Fang!" Incineroar managed to get through the paralysis and chomp down on Gastly with its hot teeth. Gastly was done.
"Fine. Go Salandit!" Out came a Fire and Poison Type.
I recalled Incineroar and sent out Slowbro. I wanted to try something. "Ready for this?" I asked Slowbro. It didn't react but knowing Slowbro, it was silently agreeing with me. Or not caring at all.
"Salandit, use Double Slap!" Salandit smacked Slowbro twice. That was it.
Me and Slowbro put our hands in front of us. "Prepare for a mind-melting debut!" We then put our left hand to our head and our right arm out. "SHATTERED PSYCHE!" Slowbro lifted up Salandit with Psychic power, then started bashing it about everywhere. Then, telekinetically holding it up, it sent out a final large mind blast that fainted Salandit.
"Shouldn't have agreed!"
"Okay," I asked. "You have a Yungoos here. Give it back."
"Oh we would," said the Grunt. "But it's with Guzma. And knowing him… you'll have to earn it. He's in his room, but you need some passwords to get in. Some Grunts have it. Beat them and they will tell it to ya."
So, a game? Yeah, I would play along. "Deal. And if I lose?"
"Huh?" the Grunt asked. "There isn't a penalty yo."
"Don't try and edge thezze guyzz on. Roto."
Me and Rotom Dex went through the Shady House, looking for potential passwords. I opened up a door to a bedroom where a Grunt was having a power nap.
"Nope," I whispered.
"What about in here? Zzt zzt." I opened the door to what looked like a Living Room. Fancy furniture was tossed and turned like a messy room. I will admit I am no saint when it comes to cleanliness (one look at my room on some days will tell you that) but seeing all this made me cringe a bit.
"Hey!" shouted a female Grunt. "Yeah, I have a password, but I'm not telling you unless- "
"I beat you?" I asked. "Yeah yeah, I know what I'm doing!"
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"Go Trubbish!" the Grunt shouted, sending out a Poison Type.
"And I'll use Misdreavus!" I replied. "Use Psybeam!" Misdreavus fired a pink beam at Trubbish for Super Effective damage.
"Now use Sludge Bomb!" Trubbish fired a ball of gunk at Misdreavus, but it didn't do much.
"Psybeam again!" Misdreavus finished the trash bag off with one last Psychic blast.
"Well if that's how you want to play it, fine! Go Houndour!" Out came a Dark and Fire Type.
"Good job Misdreavus. Okay Hariyama, you're up!" It was Fighting Type time.
"Fire Fang!" Houndour's teeth were set alight and it chomped down on Hariyama.
"Wake-Up Slap!" Hariyama slapped Houndour across the face. "And now Wake-Up Slap again!" Hariyama slapped Houndour again, knocking it out.
"The password is Beat Up!"
"One down, two to go! Roto!"
"Let's try upstairs now," I suggested.
The two of us walked up the once grand staircase on the right. Opening the first door, we found what looked like a children's room, evident by the dollies and the Teddiursa plush on the bed. Of course, since this was Team Skull we were talking about, the Teddiursa had its right arm and left ear ripped off. The pink wallpaper with patterns of Vivillon on it insinuated that this would have once belonged to a girl.
"I do wonder what happened here?" I thought.
We walked into another room. This once had multiple TVs and a Grunt playing what looked like a Nintendo Wii. I saw the exact game they were playing: Poképark: Pikachu's Big Adventure.
"Nice game," I said.
The Grunt playing turned his head. "Leave me alone. Playing… game."
Okay this guy cannot have been addicted to Pikachu's Big Adventure. Deciding enough was enough, I unplugged the game. "Do you have a password?" I asked.
"I dunno," he said, then looked shocked when he realised, he was looking at a blank screen. "Wait, who turned off my game?"
"Let's get outta here!" I said.
"You!" the Grunt shouted. "What do you think you're doing? I have been on this game for 3 days straight, with only two bathroom breaks! A new record! You are going to pay for stopping me!"
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"Toucannon, go!" shouted the Grunt.
"And I choose Wimpod!" the Grunt shouted back.
"Use Drill Peck!" Toucannon drilled its beak into Wimpod, knocking it out at once.
"You will pay! Go Drowzee!" Next was a Psychic Type.
"And I'm using Incineroar!" I responded. "Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar span round and round and hit Drowzee. Critical Hit! It went down in one!
"Game Over!"
"Okay, Roto. Let's go find another password."
"Hold on," I said. I went over to some pulled curtains and opened them. Sunlight (well, as much as you could get during rain). As if Uxie had looked at him with eyelids open, the Grunt shielded his eyes with his hands.
"Ah!" he said, but slowly pulled his hands away. "I've… forgot what this looked like yo." He dropped his Wii remotes. "Okay, I am going to have some time outside! Oh, one of the passwords is Bounsweet by the way!"
"Thanks," I said. "Now let's go find the last one."
"You'll find the last password holder on the balcony!" the Grunt said. "Oh, beautiful sunlight, I've forgot what it's like!"
We climbed the stairs to the balcony that gave us a good view of the run-down settlement. The balcony itself? You could access part of the roof with it. And there was a female Grunt there.
"Hey!" I said. "Do you have the last password?"
"Yeah," I said. "But you will have to battle for it. Come at me!"
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Grunt
"Go Ariados!" she shouted, sending out her Bug Type.
"And I'm using Toucannon!" I replied. Its beak started heating up.
"Fury Swipes!" Ariados scratched Toucannon but became burned in the process.
"Now! Beak Blast!" Toucannon fired energy from its beak at Ariados. It blasted away the rest of its HP.
"Urgh. Go Pawniard!" A Steel Type would take Flying Type attacks well, so I switched.
"Go Hariyama!" I yelled.
"Pawniard, Metal Claw!" Pawniard, using its scythe, swiped at Hariyama.
"Now Wake-Up Slap!" Hariyama smacked Pawniard. It was finished.
"Urgh. What is it with you? Go Golbat!" Finally, a Poison and Flying Type. The last thing I wanted Hariyama going up against.
"Okay Slowbro, go!" I shouted.
"Golbat, Swift!" Golbat fired some stars at Slowbro.
"And now Zen Headbutt!" Slowbro hit Golbat with its head for Super Effective damage.
"Golbat, come back with Leech Life!" Golbat sunk its teeth into Slowbro again. The Super Effective move drained some vitality.
"Now give it another one!" Slowbro used Zen Headbutt once more, knocking out Golbat.
"Oh great!"
"Tapu Cocoa, the favourite drink of Alola, is the last password," the Grunt said.
"Lookzz like we have em all! Roto!"
"Then let's go to Guzma's room!" I said.
The Grunts took me up to a special door. One of the Grunts knocked. A small slider where some eyes peaked through looked at me.
"Password?" the voice asked.
"Beat Up, Bounsweet, Tapu Cocoa!" I said.
The slider went back and the door opened slowly. "Good luck," the Grunt told me creepily. He sounded like an actor welcoming you into a haunted house attraction on Halloween.
In the room was Guzma. He was playing that stupid song of his through some speakers whilst Grunts were dancing along to it.
"Well well well, look who decided to turn up?"
"Enough!" I said. "You have Yungoos and I need t-" I saw a Treasure Chest full of green Z-Crystals. I went over, but some Grunts blocked the way.
"Stop snooping," said a female Grunt.
"Hold on! Roto! What are thozze?"
Guzma went over to the chest and picked up a Z-Crystal. "Buginium Z. After we were banned from the Trials, we decided to get our revenge and steal all of them."
"No fair! Roto!" shouted Rotom Dex. "We will tell Nanu about this!"
"You'll be telling no one!" shouted Guzma.
Elliott Vs. Team Skull Boss Guzma
"You're up Ariados!" Guzma shouted, sending out his first Pokémon.
"And I'm using Toucannon!" I replied. "Give it a dose of Drill Peck!"
"Sucker Punch yo!" Before Toucannon could get a move in, Ariados punched it first. Thankfully, a Drill Peck was enough to… almost knock it out.
"And now Infestation!" Ariados fired some small things at Toucannon. It didn't do that much.
"Drill Peck again!" Toucannon drilled its beak into Ariados again, knocking it out.
"Not done yet! Go Golisopod!" Out came the Water Type behemoth that was Guzma's partner.
"Let's fire up Beak Blast!" I said.
"First Impression!" Golisopod attacked Toucannon first, burning it in the process. Then Golisopod went back to Guzma and he sent out Masquerain. Admittedly, pretty clever. "And don't think Beak Blast will help you this time! Icy Wind!" Masquerain flapped its wings, sending a cold wind towards Toucannon. The move was a Critical Hit, knocking out Toucannon.
"No!" I shouted. "Come back." It was time for my next Pokémon. "Incineroar!" A Fire Type would do it.
"Use Bug Buzz!" Masquerain flapped its wings, sending a green shockwave towards Incineroar. It also lowered Incineroar's Sp. Defense.
"Use Fire Fang!" Incineroar's fangs caught fire and it chomped down on Masquerain. It was burned.
"Always finding a way though, huh. Now use Air Slash!" Masquerain slashed the air, sending a pulse towards Incineroar. It was a direct hit.
"Now Fire Fang again!" Incineroar finished off Masquerain with one last Fire Type move.
"Don't get cocky yo! Go Pinsir!" Out came a brown Pokémon with two-large pincers on its head.
Pinsir (カイロス)
#211
Bug Type
Stag Beetle Pokémon
4'11" (1.5 m)
121.3 lbs (55 kg)
One solid blow from its horns is enough to split apart a large tree. Its greatest rival in Alola is Vikavolt.
Pinsir has no known evolutions.
"Use Storm Throw!" Using its pincers, Pinsir grabbed Incineroar and threw it down. It was a Critical Hit that knocked Incineroar out.
"No!" I shouted. "Thanks, Incineroar, take a good rest. Now you've gone and done it! Go Misdreavus!" It was Ghost Type time. "Use Psybeam!" Misdreavus fired a Psychic beam at Pinsir. It shrugged it off.
"Use Throat Chop!" Pinsir's arms went dark and it hit Misdreavus.
"What is that move?" I asked.
"Throat Chop. Roto. It'zz a Dark Type move that preventzz a Pokémon from uzzing sound bazzed moves like Screech or Bug Buzz."
"Misdreavus doesn't know any anyway. Use Hex!" Misdreavus stared at Pinsir menacingly. This did damage to it.
"Throat Chop again!" One more swipe knocked it out.
"Uh oh. Okay Hariyama, I choose you!" I shouted. "Use Fake Out!" Hariyama managed to get a move in first that made Pinsir flinch. "And now Seismic Toss!" Hariyama took Pinsir, jumped up and finally threw it on the ground. It was done.
"Back to Golisopod I see?" Guzma shouted, sending Golisopod out again.
"Thanks," I told Hariyama. "Okay Snorlax, go!" I shouted. My sleeping giant was sent out.
"First Impression!" Golisopod attacked first.
"And now, ready?" Me and Snorlax put our hands in front. Then put them in a square. "First time we've done this in a while. BREAKNECK BLITZ!" Snorlax charged with all its might into Golisopod. It brought its HP down by quite a bit.
"Now Liquidation!" Golisopod's arms were covered in water, and it slashed at Snorlax.
"And now Giga Impact!" Snorlax charged into Golisopod. It was the end for it; I had won!
"Oh great, again."
"Okay," I said. "That's enough! Cough up the Yungoos!"
Guzma clicked his fingers and two Grunts came with the Yungoos next to them. One Grunt kicked Yungoos's back and it went along to me. I knelt down and whispered something in its ear. Yungoos then ran off. "Come back!" I said as it ran to a certain part of the room where I grabbed it. "Can I have its Pokéball to?"
Guzma clicked again, and its Ball was brought out. I recalled Yungoos. "Okay, I'm going to head off."
"You better yo!" Guzma said. "Because next time I meet, you'll be totalled!"
Ignoring him, I walked outside the Shady House.
Location: Route 17
"Nanu!" I shouted, banging on the door to the Police Shack. The unambitious cop opened the door.
"What? Oh, it's you," he said. "What now? I know I said about the Kahuna, but I'm a bit busy t-"
I took off my shoe. Inside it was a Buginium Z. "I snuck this out of the Shady House! Guzma has them all!"
Nanu took it off me. "Hmm. Thanks kid, I'll file a report. Here you go, it's yours." He flung it back to me. "Now I have a lot of work to do. I'll tell you about the Kahuna at some point tomorrow."
"But you said-"
"I know." He closed the door.
"Oh," I said. "Well, at least we can go return Yungoos! And hey, a new Z-Crystal! Thank you Yungoos for snatching one for me!"
The kid at the Aether Paradise was very happy for me by the way. But, as I would learn tomorrow, this happiness wouldn't last long…
Rotom's Move Dex!
So many Bug Typezz today! Roto! And Elliott got the Buginium Z! So, it'zz Bug Type time! Zzt zzt!
Bug Bite!
Now thizz izz a move that provezz you can't be too reliant on Berriezz! Roto! Becauzze Bug Bite eatzz them! Zzt zzt! So, say goodbye to healing! Unlezz you can uzze Recycle. Roto.
Pokémon that can learn Bug Bite include Araidos, Volcorona and Vikavolt!
Also, pleazze do not uzze thizz on Pokémon which are STARVING in the wild. Roto.