Chapter 48:

Gladion's Relative

Location: Route 15

What was supposed to be a sleep in day before I found out who the Kahuna would be was cut short when my duvet was basically flung off me.

"Urgh," I said. "What's going on?"

"No time for sleeping," Hau's voice told me. I knew Hau; usually he would be excited about something when doing something like this. But he sounded panicked.

"What's up?" I groaned.

"They have Lillie!" Hau shouted.

My tiredness was officially stripped away when I heard this. "Come on, to the Aether House."

"Change out of your PJs and have some breakfast first," Hau told me.

Location: Aether House

The two of us burst through the doors and ran to the desk where Oranguru looked at us.

"Okay," I said. "Where is Lillie?"

Oranguru shrugged just as the boy with the Yungoos came running in. "It's horrible!" he cried. "Whilst you were gone, they took this blonde girl who came in to talk to Wicke briefly. Team Skull grabbed her and took her away."

"What?!" I shouted. "But where would they have taken her? I didn't see her anywhere in Po Town."

"Calm down," Hau said.

"I will not!" I said. "They've took our friend! Where would they-"

Suddenly, the doors burst open again. Through them came Gladion.

"Hey! Roto! What are you doing here?"

"Cut it!" Gladion said. "Tell me. Are you here looking for her to?"

I decided to cave in. "You're talking about… Lillie?"

"Yes," he replied. "So, you do know her! Why didn't you tell me before?"

"You do kinda hate his guts," Hau said. "And you're sorta part of Team Skull."

"Wait," I said. "Of course! Gladion is part of Team Skull! Do you know where Lillie has gone? Because…"

"Because?" Gladion asked. "What because?"

"Because I want to have a battle!" I replied. "It will help us clear our head a bit! No point getting into cahoots with Team Skull when we're this unfocused."

Gladion sighed. "Fine. But you're wasting my time if you ask me."

Elliott Vs. Team Skull Gladion

"Golbat, go!" Gladion shouted. Sheesh had I not fought enough of these already?

"I choose Snorlax!" I replied.

"Use Acrobatics!" Golbat tossed and turned before kicking Snorlax.

"Come back with Body Slam!" Snorlax jumped up and landed on Golbat. It became paralyzed following this. "Now Giga Impact!" Snorlax charged into Golbat. The power was explosive and knocked it out.

"Urgh. Okay Type: Null, go!" Gladion said. He sent out his Legendary.

"Thanks," I told Snorlax, recalling it. "Okay Hariyama, go!" Fighting Vs. Normal. Just the combination I liked.

"Shadow Ball!" Type: Null fired a black ball at Hariyama.

"That wazz fazzt! Roto!"

"Now use Wake-up Slap!" Hariyama slapped Type: Null. Actually, doing this revealed that what I was fighting wasn't Type: Null, but instead a black Pokémon with red hair coming down from it.

Zoroark (ゾロアーク)

#029

Dark Type

Illusion Fox Pokémon

5'03" (1.6 m)

178.8 lbs (81.1 kg)

It doesn't just transform itself - it also has the power to make hundreds of people see its illusions.

Zorua -Lv 30- Zoroark

"Amazzing! Roto! A Pokémon that dizzguizzezz itzzelf azz another Pokémon to trick it'zz opponent'zz! Zzt zzt!"

"Like Ditto?" Hau asked.

"Not quite. Roto. It can't change it'zz movezzet or anything; juzzt itzz appearance. Zzt."

"Use Shadow Ball again!" Zoroark fired another shadowy blob at Hariyama. It was taking quite a beating.

"Another Wake-Up Slap!" Hariyama slapped Zoroark again, knocking it out.

"This isn't over! Go Sneasel!" Next up was a black Pokémon with sharp claws and a red feather on its head.

Sneasel (ニューラ)

#326

Dark/Ice Type

Sharp Claw Pokémon

2'11" (0.9 m)

61.7 lbs (28 kg)

It uses its claws to poke holes in eggs so it can slurp out their insides. Breeders consider it a scourge and will drive it away or eradicate it.

"Use Aerial Ace!" Sneasel dove into Hariyama for Super Effective damage. It finally went down.

"Thanks," I told it. "Okay Incineroar, go!" My Fire Type was sent out.

"Sneasel, use X-Scissor!" Sneasel swiped at Incineroar in an X formation.

"Come back with Double Kick!" Incineroar kicked at Sneasel twice. That was enough to finish it off.

"Okay, I've had it. Type: Null, go!" The real deal was sent out this time.

"Okay Incineroar, use Fire Fang!" However, Incineroar didn't listen. Instead, it shot a pillar of flames from its belt at Type: Null.

"Woah!" Hau shouted. "Incineroar just learned Flamethrower!"

"Just in time!" I shouted.

"Now use Crush Claw!" Type: Null ran towards Incineroar and brought its claw down into it. Doing this also lowered Incineroar's Defense.

"Let's do it!" Incineroar got away from Type: Null's grip and both of us put our hands in front. "Legendary or not, you're still going down!" We both put our arms up. "MALICIOUS MOONSAULT!" A wrestling ring appeared from beneath Type: Null. Incineroar jumped onto one on the bungees then bounced up. Opening its arms, it landed on Type: Null. It did quite a bit.

"Use Crush Claw again!" Type: Null brought its claws down again. This time Incineroar almost succumb to it.

"Okay! Now let's get this over with! Incineroar, Darkest Lariat!" Incineroar span round and round then hit Type: Null. It was finished.

"Urgh. How… are you this strong?"

"Okay, you've proved your point," Gladion said. "Now I should stop wasting time and-"

"Aether Paradise." I said.

"Huh?" Hau replied.

Gladion seemed shocked. "They can't have, wait a second. How would you know that?"

"If I tell you, please believe me," I said. "When I first came to Alola, I started having a recurring dream of Lillie being chased by Aether Foundation employees at Aether Paradise. I know that's where it was because when I went there a couple of days ago, the place lined up perfectly with my dream."

"Amazing," Hau replied. "I can see why you kept this secret."

Gladion clenched his fist. "Okay. Fine. It's a long shot and it's hard to believe, but we will head there. If nothing else, it's a good starting point. Plus it's not too surprising."

"Let's head to Malie City," Hau said. "Maybe the boat is still running, though I doubt they will let us on."

Location: Malie City

"As expected," I said, looking at the schedule. "All the ferries to Aether Paradise have been cancelled. Considering the fact that something might be going on behind the scenes, I don't think they are offering tours."

"What now then?" I asked. "Should we use Charizard Glide?"

"I don't have Pokéride," Gladion said. "And we need to go in together if we will have any chance of finding my sister."

Me and Hau looked at Gladion weirdly.

"Sizzter?! Roto?!"

"You're Lillie's sibling?!" I said as Gladion covered my mouth.

"Quiet," he said. "Okay, I've told you, albeit accidentally. But you cannot let anyone else know."

I took Gladion's hand away. "Sister or not sister, you're right. We're in this together. But if that's the case, then it looks like we can't get across today."

"Now hold on a minute." We heard Nanu's voice from just down the path. "If you need a boat…"

"Yeah?" I said.

"I can't be bothered to get it out today."

"What is with you?!" Gladion shouted. "For all we know, someone could be in grave danger!"

"Relax kid," Nanu replied. "I'll have someone check up on it. I haven't had the desire to take it out for a couple of years. And besides." As he said this, he looked at me and Hau. "What are you doing leaving Ula'ula Island without battling the Kahuna?" With that, Nanu went into his pocket and pulled out a necklace. On that necklace… was a black Z-Crystal!

"The Darkinium Z!" Gladion said. "So, you're the Kahuna?"

"Not that I want to," said Nanu.

"Do you want to go first?" Hau offered.

"Gladly!" I said. "Nanu, I accept your challenge!"

"Sheesh," Nanu replied. "Fine."

Elliott Vs. Kahuna of Ula'ula Island, Nanu

Sableye, go," Nanu said, sending out his Ghost and Dark Type. To counter it, I sent out Misdreavus. It was at quite a disadvantage, but these were Dark Types we were talking about so better now than later I suppose.

"Good luck!" I told it. "And that goes to you to Sableye and Nanu!"

"Sableye, Shadow Claw." Sableye's claw went black, and it slashed at Misdreavus for lots of damage.

"You okay?" I asked. Misdreavus looked back at me reassuringly and started making a black ball in front of itself.

"That can't be!" Gladion said. "Misdreavus is using…"

"Alright!" I shouted. "Okay Misdreavus, give Sableye a good dose of Shadow Ball!" Misdreavus fired the dark ball at Sableye. When it hit, Sableye's Sp. Defense fell.

"Well done, Misdreavus!" Hau shouted.

"Shadow Claw again." My celebration was cut short when Sableye finished off Misdreavus with one last swipe.

"No!" I shouted. "Well done anyway Misdreavus." I recalled it. "Next up, Toucannon!" My big beaked Pokémon went into the fray. "Drill Peck!" Toucannon span round and round, ramming its neck into Sableye. It was almost finished.

"Use Power Gem." Sableye fired a diamond from its eyes at Toucannon for Super Effective damage.

"One more Drill Peck!" I shouted as Toucannon knocked out Sableye.

"Hmm. Okay, you're pretty good. Krokorok, go." Next up, a Ground Type. And immediately, Toucannon had a strategy. It started firing seeds.

"Zzt! Toucannon izz uzzing Bullet Seed!"

"A Grass Type move!" I shouted. "Amazing!"

After the seeds were fired, Krokorok shrugged it off. "Crunch attack!" Krokorok brought its jaws down onto Toucannon hard. It knocked it out.

"Thanks," I told Toucannon. I recalled it for Slowbro. Yeah, it was a Psychic Type but it was best that everyone participated. Plus, Slowbro was in its semi element with Krokorok being a Ground Type.

"Use Crunch." Krokorok chomped down on Slowbro quite hard, lowering its Defense.

"Now use Water Pulse!" Slowbro fired a pulse of water at Krokorok. It almost went down.

"Crunch again." Krokorok finished off Slowbro with one last Dark Type move.

"Nice job for someone with a disadvantage," I told it. "Okay Snorlax, I choose you!"

"Earthquake!" Krokorok made the ground shake. Even the sea next to us made a few huge waves (not tsunami level, don't worry).

"And now Body Slam!" Snorlax jumped onto Krokorok, dealing the final bit of damage.

"Impressive, I will say. Okay Persian, come out." Finally, was Alolan Persian. It was black but with a rounder head than Kantonian Persian.

Persian (Alolan Form) (ペルシアン)

#053

Dark Type

Classy Cat Pokémon

3'07" (1.1 m)

72.8 lbs (33 kg)

In contrast to its lovely face, it's so brutal that it tortures its weakened prey rather than finishing it off.

Meowth -Happiness- Persian*

*Kantonian Meowth evolve via levelling up.

"We'll stay out," I told Snorlax.

"Fine," said Nanu, putting his hands forward. "Let's just get this over with." He put the Z-Crystal from around his neck into a Z-Ring. He put his hands up (rather unambitiously) as Persian did the same with its tail. "Black Hole Eclipse." A black hole appeared from below Snorlax and it got sucked in. It didn't do a mad ton because of how much HP Snorlax had, but it was clearly a powerful attack.

"Body Slam!" Snorlax tried to land on Persian, but it missed. "Okay, back we go," I said, recalling Snorlax. "Go Hariyama!" Hariyama was of course going to be the main one here, being a Fighting Type. But Nanu had a few tricks up his sleeve.

"Play Rough." Persian started attacking Hariyama viciously, doing Super Effective damage.

"We're not done!" I said as me and Hariyama put our hands out. "Time to give Dark a taste of Fighting spirit! ALL OUT PUMELLING!" We punched the air, then Hariyama punched Persian multiple times. It… didn't quite finish it.

"Play Rough." The next Play Rough was a Critical Hit, knocking out Hariyama.

"We can win this! Go Incineroar!" I yelled. Yeah, I had this. "Use Flamethrower!" Incineroar shot fire at Persian, finishing it off.

"Huh. Congrats." I admittedly saw Nanu smile a bit there.

"Just take it," Nanu said, giving me the Z-Crystal.

I got… the Darkinium Z!

"And also, yeah I have to do this." I handed Nanu my Alola Passport and he stamped it with the shape of presumably Tapu Bulu.

"And I know you can use Malicious Moonsault so I'm not going to show you the position."

"My turn!" said Hau.

"Urgh, fine," said Nanu. "Let me go to the Pokémon Center and heal up, and we'll get this over with." Nanu walked down the dock.

"Sheesh," said Gladion. "What's with him?"

"That'zz who Tapu Bulu chozze? Roto?"

"As for us," said Gladion. "We should prepare for tomorrow. Hau, is there anything you need?"

"Malasadas!" Hau replied. "Watching that battle made me hungry!"

"I'll get them," I said. "Can't battle the Kahuna on an empty stomach!"

"Will you stop being so cheery?!" Gladion shouted. "What is it with you? My sister is kidnapped, and you continue to be this peppy? Can you try to, you know, take stuff a bit seriously?"

"Now juzzt hold on a minute, Roto. Unlezz you haven't been paying any attention, Elliott hazz juzzt completed hizz third Grand Trial. Izz he not allowed to celebrate a little? Zzt zzt. I know you have a confuzzing situation. Elliott really doezz worry about Lillie; she'zz hizz bezzt friend bezidezz Hau, and he will do anything to save her. Zzt zzt. We're not even heading there till tomorrow anyway. I'm not azzking you to brighten up, but don't berate otherzz for having their moment. Roto."

Gladion looked at Rotom Dex. "I suppose you are right. But Elliott, if we are going to make this work, do not tell me to lighten up or anything. Got it?"

"I know," I said. "For now though, let's go get supplies."

"Fine," Gladion said. "Working with Guzma was bad enough."

Rotom's Move Dex!

Roto! That'zz the Darkinium Z obtained! It'zz Dark Type time!

Snatch!

Sly, sneaky and strange, Snatch izz a move that goezz firzzt and stealzz the opozzing Pokémon'zz Statuzz move before it can uzze it! So, if the opozzing Pokémon uzzezz Bulk Up let'zz say, the "Snatcher" will uzze the move inzztead! That'zz juzzt naughty, but very satizzfying to pull off! Zzt zzt.

Pokémon that can uzze Snatch include Banette, Munchlax and Weavile!

And now we need to Snatch Lillie back from Team Skull! Roto!