Chapter 7:
Play Host to the Ghost
Location: Home
"Lazzt day!" I told Rotom Dex as I scoffed down my breakfast. "And then, it'zz onto the Island Challenge! Roto!"
"Good luck!" Mum said. "You know, you are going to be away from home quite a bit so… how about tonight you stay at the Hau'oli City Pokémon Center?"
"Huh?" I said.
"Great idea! Roto! It will be a mazzive step for your independence! You will need it to go on a journey, and it means lezz of a walk to the trial site! Zzt!"
I nodded. "Sounds great Mum."
Location: Route 1
"I've packed you some more clothes, extra food and some spare change if you need some supplies," Mum told me.
"Ms. Mitchell, you are excellent!" Hau said.
"Please, call me Marina," Mum said. "And…" she said, wiping a tear from her eye. "Please take care of my boy."
"We will! Roto!" Rotom Dex assured. "Hau is one of the nicezzt and mozzt responzzible people we know! You have nothing to worry about, except Team Skull I suppozze."
"Who?" Mum replied.
"Well, see yah!" I said.
"Good luck!" Mum said. "Show Tapu Koko that it made the right choice!"
Location: Hau'oli Middle School
"Good luck!" said Emily. "The Island Challenge is no laughing matter, but if Tapu Koko has seen potential in you, then you should not turn it down."
"Thanks!" I said. It was weird; back in Kanto, I had few if any support like this. Now I had people like Hau and Rotom Dex wishing me luck to this extent.
A voice came over the loudspeaker. "Hello, this is Principal Asuka. Could Elliott Mitchell please come down to the Principal's Office?"
I gulped. "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"I'M SORRY!" I said, as Principal Asuka opened the door. She was an Ace Trainer with black skin and short-blue hair.
"Trouble?" she asked. "What trouble? I'm here to give you this!" She gave me a card that said "Good Luck!" on it. I opened it, and there was an autograph from the Trainers I had battled on my first day as well as the teachers!
"Awww! Roto!" Rotom said. "People are really rooting for ya! Zzt!"
"I guess they are," I said. "But I can't help but feel a bit nervous."
"It's the Island Challenge!" Principal Asuka said. "There is nothing wrong with being nervous, and there is certainly nothing wrong with showing it!"
I nodded. "I will try my best, I promise!"
Location: Hau'oli City
After my final class session had ended, me and Hau headed to Hau' Oli City for some pre-challenge Malasadas. We headed there a little later, and the sun was starting to set across the ocean.
"It's gonna be great!" Hau said. "And with my partner Rowlet, I feel like we can become the first Champions of Alola!"
"Huh?" I said through my mouthful of food. "First Champions? Does Alola not have a League? I know it lacks Gyms."
"Nope! Well, not at the moment," he said. "It's still under construction, but it will open very soon! About a month from now if everything goes according to plan! It's being implemented at the summit of Mt. Lanakila, the tallest mountain in Alola located on Ula Ula Island. The first one who gets to the top has the honour of maybe becoming the first ever Champion of the Alola region! And since Alola has no Gyms, except for that one that's opening on Ula Ula Island, the Island Trials are considered to be our version of the League! You need to clear all the Island Trails to qualify!"
I stood up. "Yeah!" I shouted. "This'll be fun!"
"And I'll be there to help! Roto!"
"He he he…" We heard laughing. I saw it was coming from two children from school, both boys.
"So we gonna do it?" asked the slightly larger boy.
"I dunno, it's a bit scary," said the smaller one.
"Urgh," Hau said. "Tyrone and Mamoru. They are always getting into trouble. They're not worth our time."
"Well come on," the older one, who Hau confirmed to me was Tyrone. "We're getting bigger! We can go into a Graveyard for one night!"
I looked at Hau. "Maybe we should butt in."
Rotom Dex got a map on its screen. "The closest Graveyard from here is the Hau'oli Cemetery! We should follow them there and tell them to come home!"
Location: Hau'oli Cemetery
Hau' Oli Cemetery was dark and foreboding. We clearly were not the only people here, as there were people sending their condolences to their fallen loved ones, both people and Pokémon.
"This is where my mother lays," Hau said. He found a gravestone with the words "Alanna Olanna." Hau put some flowers in front of it as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Hey," I said. "I can relate. My father passed away whilst Mum was still pregnant with me."
Hau finally smiled. "Thanks Elliott."
Just then, something appeared from behind the gravestone. It was grey, floating and had what looked like a red necklace around it. "Look out!" I said.
Misdreavus (ムゥマ)
#372
Ghost Type
Screech Pokémon
2'04" (0.7 m)
2.2 lbs (1 kg)
What makes it happy is imitating the voices of weeping people and scaring everyone. It doesn't deal well with folks who aren't easily frightened.
"A Ghozzt Type! Roto!"
"Just what I need!" I shouted. "Go Munchlax!" Out came my Normal Type. Misdreavus sent out a wave of Psychic energy.
"That's Psywave!" Hau said. "It does different damage depending on the level of the opposition!" Thus, it didn't do that much.
"Munchlax, Lick!" Munchlax licked Misdreavus for Super Effective damage. Misdreavus then used another Psywave. "Okay Munchlax, Metronome!" Munchlax wiggled its finger. It selected a move. Its fist turned to metal, and it punched Misdreavus.
"Zzt! It came out azz Bullet Punch! Roto!"
"Enough games!" I shouted. "Go Pokéball!" I threw a Ball at Misdreavus, and it went inside. It shook a few times and…
I caught it!
"A new Pokémon!" Hau said. "And a Ghost Type to! This will really help you in the Island Challenge!" Hau then sent out Rowlet, who perched on his shoulder. "You know, I've heard that Rowlet's final evolved form, Decidueye, is a Ghost Type to!"
"Hold on," I said. We hid behind a gravestone as we saw Tyrone and Mamoru put out sleeping bags.
"This will be fun!" Tyrone said.
"I don't know," Mamoru replied.
I sent out Misdreavus, then started speaking. "Tyrone, Mamoru, what are you doing here?"
Mamoru looked around. "Who said that?"
"It's the Ghost of Hau'oli! And we tell you to leave."
"Don't listen," Tyrone said. "It's just a legend."
"JUST a legend? Well, I think a legend would be quite… ASTONISHING! Misdreavus, that means used Astonish." Misdreavus suddenly appeared from the ground and scared the two trouble makers. They ran out screaming. Me and Hau laughed.
"Great one!" I said. "Now let's back to Hau'oli before something else scares… us…"
Suddenly, a ball of has appeared in front of us; it was a Gastly.
Gastly (ゴース)
#073
Ghost/Poison Type
Gas Pokémon
4'03" (1.3 m)
0.2 lbs (0.1 kg)
It's said that gas emanating from a graveyard was possessed by the grievances of the deceased and thus became a Pokémon.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!" we screamed as we ran out.
Location: Hau'oli City
It was now full on night time. The lights of the buildings lit up casting a ray across the black sea. The moon shone brightly in the sky. So bright that if no lights were on, it would be the primary source of light itself. No stars could be seen due to the light pollution from the buildings and streetlamps.
"Well, that was some spooky fun," I told Hau. "But hey, it was worth it! I have Misdreavus now!"
"And then some!" Hau said. "Hey, thanks Elliott. For being there for me back there."
"Don't sweat," I replied. "Feel free to talk to me when you're feeling a bit down. Otherwise, our journey has officially started!"
"Yeah!" Hau shouted.
Rotom's Move Dex!
Hello everyone! Roto! Well, we were in for a spooky treat today! But it all ended with Elliott catching hizz latezzt companion, Misdreavus! So, let'zz look at a Ghost Type move today! Specifically, Phantom Force!
Phantom Force is basically the Ghost Type verzzion of the move Fly. The user suddenly disappearzz into thin air, then attackzz! Roto! It can lead to some interezzting strategiezz as the user can't be touched because it'zz, you know, disappeared. Zzt zzt! Thizz izz not to be mixed up with Shadow Force, a stronger variation of the move that is only learned by the Legendary Pokémon Giratina.
Pokémon that can learn Phantom Force include Drifblim, Trevenant and Dhelmise!
I tell you what, sometimezz I would just like to disappear whenever I see a chatty tourist. They can get annoying, Roto!