Chapter 57:

A Sandy Kahuna Finale

Location: Seafolk Village

This was it. My match against the last (and newest) Kahuna in Alola. I had only seen Nanu's battle skills once, and that was against a Team Skull Grunt. Now, this was the big deal.

"Nervouzz? Roto?"

"Yeah," I said. "But I'm excited. It feels like yesterday since I met Tapu Koko, but it feels like a lifetime away to."

"I know what you mean. Roto."

"Hey!" shouted the Veteran Trainer. "We set sail in for Exeggutor Island in 10 minutes! You ready?"

"Yeah!" I said. I sent out everyone. Incineroar, Snorlax, Slowbro, Mismagius, Hariyama and Lunala. Oh, if you're wondering where Toucannon was, it was on some place called Poké Pelago. Nice resort for Pokémon in the PC. "Okay everyone, this is it. You've helped me this far, and even if we defeat Kahuna Hapu, it's not over. We still have the Pokémon League. But… I just want to thank each and every one of you."

Everyone gave a shout of excitement. "That'zz the spirit! Now, we have a Kahuna to beat! Roto!"

Location: Exeggutor Island

The Exeggutor danced about in the blazing Alola sun as the boat pulled in and I got off. In the middle of them was Hapu, on her Mudsdale as always. (Does she ever walk?)

"Kahuna Hapu!" I said. "I challenge you to a battle!"

Hapu smiled and got off Mudsdale. "Elliott Mitchell, I have seen first hand your strength throughout the Alola region. Whilst I am certainly a bit worried about not meeting Tapu Fini's standard, I know that a battle with you will give me just the challenge I need to make a grand Kahuna debut!" She stroked the ground. "This is it. Your final Kahuna match. I couldn't be happier to be your final opponent before the ascent up to the Pokémon League. I may be a kid, but I'm strong!"

"Bring it on!" I shouted.

Elliott Vs. Kahuna Hapu

"Gastrodon, go!" shouted Hapu. She sent out a yellow, blue and green Pokémon that looked very slimy.

Gastrodon (トリトドン)

#342

Water/Ground Type

Sea Slug Pokémon

2'11" (0.9 m)

65.9 lbs (29.9 kg)

Experiments are being conducted to discover what happens when a Gastrodon is raised in a location other than the sea where it was born.

Note: There are two forms of Gastrodon. This is the East Sea form. The West Sea form, which is pink, is not found in Alola. It is believed that they become separate after Mt. Coronet in the Sinnoh region formed and split them.

Shellos -Lv 30- Gastrodon*

*Both forms evolve the same way

"I'll start with Hariyama!" I shouted. "Use Fake Out!" Hariyama clapped in front of Gastrodon, making it flinch. "And now Close Combat!" Hariyama then punched Gastrodon a few times. It brought it down to yellow health.

"Okay Gastrodon, Scald!" Gastrodon shot boiling water at Hariyama. This caused it to get burned.

"Close Combat again!" Hariyama punched Gastrodon a few more times, but it didn't quite go down.

"Now it's vulnerable! Use Earth Power!" Gastrodon sent a shockwave through the ground that hit Hariyama. It was hanging by a thread and the burn wasn't helping.

"Use Reversal!" Hariyama was surrounded in blue energy. It then punched Gastrodon finishing it off. However, it was a victory short lived. Hariyama went down from the burn.

"Nice job! But can you take down Flygon?!" Out came the green Dragon Type.

"If the first Pokémon ended in a draw, then what does that spell for the rest of it? I'm not scared though! Come on out Snorlax!" My Normal Type was sent into the fray.

"Flygon, start with Earth Power!" Flygon sent a shockwave through the earth that hit Snorlax. Its Special. Defense fell.

"Come back with Heavy Slam!" Snorlax jumped onto Flygon for quite a bit of damage.

"Not happening! Flygon, Draco Meteor!" Flygon screamed, then meteors fell from the sky onto Snorlax. It took a lot of damage.

"Snorlax! Use Giga Impact!" Snorlax attempted to charge into Flygon, but it missed!

"Now use Bug Buzz!" Flygon flapped its wings, sending out green shockwaves that fainted Snorlax. This girl meant business.

"Okay! Let's go Lunala!" My Legendary came out.

"Use Draco Meteor!" More meteors came falling down. This one wasn't as strong because Draco Meteor is a powerful move that… wait. Rotom Dex already mentioned that in its segments.

"Now use Shadow Ball!" Lunala fired a black ball at Flygon, defeating it.

"Let's try Ghost Vs. Ghost! Golurk!" Next up was a robotic-blue Pokémon with strong arms and a seal across its chest.

Golurk (ゴルーグ)

#313

Ground/Ghost Type

Automaton Pokémon

9'02" (2.8 m)

727.5 lbs (330 kg)

Some say that ancient people invented Golurk to serve as a labourer. It follows its master's orders faithfully.

Golett -Lv 43- Golurk

"Lunala, Moongeist Beam!" Lunala fired a strong beam at Golurk. It… knocked it out in one. Oh, that was easy.

"Well, I'm not going down! Go Mudsdale!" Finally, out came her partner. She didn't send it out, it galloped in because it is always out.

"Shadow Ball!" Lunala fired a black ball at Mudsdale, but it missed!

"This is a move!" Hapu said, as she put her arms out. Mudsdale did the same with its head. "It's time to make the earth shake! TECTONIC RAGE!" Hapu then began to spin round and put one arm on the ground. Mudsdale jumped up and then tackled Lunala so hard that it went underground. There was an explosion as Lunala flew out, injured.

"Come back with Moongeist Beam!" Lunala fired the moon-powered beam at Mudsdale, though it only did about half.

"Now Payback!" Mudsdale was surrounded in black energy, and it tackled Lunala. It was defeated. "Legendary or not, I can take you!"

"Thanks," I told Lunala. "Slowbro, go!" It was time for a Water Type.

"Use Payback again!" Mudsdale, all black, charged into Slowbro.

"Now it's time to get soaked!" Me and Slowbro made a wave motion with our arms. "Water washes away mud! HYDRO VORTEX!" Water covered the island as Mudsdale got caught within it. Then, Slowbro swam round and round created a whirlpool that bashed away the rest of Mudsdale's HP. I had won!

"Alright! I hope I... I..."

"Nice one!" I said.

"Yeah… I suppose…"

Rotom Dex caught on. "What'zz wrong Hapu? You seem awfully down. Roto."

"Oh, I'm fine. Here! Groundinium Z!"

I got… the Groundinium Z!

"Yeah. Thanks. And now give me your Alolan Passport."

I did, and she stamped it with Tapu Fini's symbol. I looked at it. "What was that you said before battle? About Tapu Fini?"

"I wanted to impress it," she said. "And my first battle? I lost! And you didn't even use two of your Pokémon! I was an absolute cakewalk!"

"Now hold on!" I said. "I found you to be very strong! Do not beat yourself up for a loss like this!"

"I'm not!" she said. "Well, maybe a little but what if I disappointed Tapu Fini?"

Yes. This wasn't about her. This was about trying to impress the Island Guardian. "I tell you what, I think Tapu Fini couldn't have asked for anything better. Hey, if it cheers you up, shall we head to the Ruins of Hope and we'll see what it thinks?"

Hapu nodded.

Location: Ruins of Hope

Me and Hapu made our way through the Ruins to the shrine dedicated to this island's Tapu.

"Now Tapu Fini only shows up when it comes across a worthy challenger or when the world is in crisis," Hapu explained. "But it can reply to things I say. Oh, that's right. As the Kahuna, I'm able to understand what it says. It's a weird power."

"Gotcha!" I said.

"Go get em girl! Roto!"

Hapu walked up to the shrine. "Tapu Fini. I… lost my first Grand Trial battle. I know the Kahuna is supposed to be the strongest on the Island… but…" Tears ran down her cheeks. "I lost on my first try! What kind of Kahuna am I?!"

At that point, an eerie cry echoed round the chamber. "That must be it," I whispered.

"Really? Yes! Thank you! I will try my best!"

Another cry echoed round the room as Hapu ran down to us. "So?" I asked.

"It says it's fine! We all have our losses! In fact, Grandfather even lost his first battle! I just need to keep training!"

One more cry echoed round the room. "What about that? Roto?"

"That's for you," Hapu said. "It wishes you luck in the Pokémon League, and it will be waiting for you afterwards!"

"I'll try my best Tapu Fini!" I said. Saying that finally struck me; tomorrow I start the ascent up Mt. Lanakila! "Rotom. It's time."

Rotom Dex nodded. "You've come too far to say no. Roto."

Hapu wiped her eyes. "And I wish you luck to. Do not let Alola down!"

Rotom's Move Dex!

Woo hoo! Final Kahuna down! Roto! Hapu uzzezz Ground Typezz, so we will look at a Ground Type move today!

Magnitude! Zzt zzt!

I would say thizz move izz like Ground Type roulette, but saying that? I don't want to have anymore Game Corner shutdownzz. Roto. Magnitude choozzezz a random number between 4 and 10. If 4, then Magnitude'zz power is a pathetic 10. But if the number 10 izz picked? It'zz 150! Amazzzing! Though it mainly fallzz into 7, which izz 70.

Pokémon than can uzze Magnitude include Dugtrio (both forms), Whiscash and Golurk!

Tomorrow izz the day! Roto!