Hello all,
This update is brought to you by hiatuses, periods of depression and lack of motivation to finish this. I know it was unexpected given I was on a rhythm, but shit happens. Oh and actually writing other things besides this.
It's been some while hasn't it? A lot has gone on in my life and it's really forced me to put writing on the backburner. It still has. I don't have that same drive and motive to keep on writing like I did when I started this story and I usually move onto something else when it feels like updating a fic like this has become a chore rather than a hobby I enjoy. Probably not the answer or thing you were hoping for me to say. I will admit that it got so tough to sit for fifteen minutes and write that I mulled over actually leaving and discontinuing updates. I'm hopeful that this might be the spark that gets the motor running again.
A little celebratory milestone despite it all. AHHK has now passed 100k views! Thanks to everyone for their support and faithfulness over the years of ups and downs. You all know who you are.
So we'll see what the future brings. In the meantime; enjoy the nicest chapter in almost a year.
Elio had been gone for so long. I was beginning to get worried about him. Hope he isn't in too much trouble.
But I also realized that Kalua's kidnapping was the least of my problems.
"You're going to wear yourself into the carpet."
Hau's words barely went through Lillie's mind as she paced frantically around the middle of the Aether House. Kalua was gone, Elio was gone and Acerola had also gotten worried herself at his prolonged disappearance and went to investigate after she had fed the kids lunch.
"At this rate, they will bill you for shampooing it."
Lillie sighed, finally sitting back down. "It's just...I'm worried about Elio."
She had missed the knowing smirk that crossed Hau's face. All that concerned her was because this entire mess had been her problem.
She was powerless to stop Kalua, Jangmo'o and Kari's yungoos from being kidnapped. Could only half summon her own pokemon into battle to what could be loosely described as one.
How was I supposed to know this was going to happen?
"This is all my fault." She whispered to herself. "If I had become a pokemon trainer earlier, maybe I could have stopped this from happening. Now Elio is going to fix a mistake that I made...and I feel so bad for putting him in this."
"Hey," Hau walked over and gently put an arm over her stiffened shoulders. All while trying to think of something. What would he say in this situation? I'm not him, that's for sure. He could just say her dress is white and she'd be giggling with excitement. Wouldn't do that for me. "Don't doubt yourself like that. There's no way we could've expected something like this to happen."
"Easy for you to say."
"But it's true. Did you think I woke up this morning, waiting for Team Skull to break in and cause all this chaos? No. You didn't expect it. Acerola didn't expect it and Elio didn't either."
"And it's not like we can undo it now."
"Right." Hau nodded in agreement. "The only thing we can do is wait for Elio to come back...and he will. You said it yourself, he's the best trainer you know. He is more than capable of handling whatever Team Skull and Guzma can throw at him."
Even though he lost?
"Even though he lost." He repeated. Lillie blinked, suddenly realizing that she had blurted it out loud. She covered her mouth in embarrassment.
"I said he lost."
"Everyone loses. I beat him when we first stepped foot onto the island for the first time. I could tell his head wasn't in the right place. That's beside the point though. You're not going to win every battle. I know this well."
So sometimes to win a battle means you have to lose it?
Maybe I got my priorities mixed up.
Hau was in the midst of checking his phone. "Hmm okay." He put it back in his pocket. "That was Leilani. Doctor Hansen sent her a new dosage of her antidote and she's left back to the Tapu Village to pick it up. Might not be back for a while."
"So it's just you and me?"
"For now. I'd say we play a game or something, but you're too worried to focus."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not a bad thing. I'm worried about Elio too. You know. He's my friend as well."
Lillie fought the blush creeping on her face when Hau had suggested that Elio was exclusively hers.
"So when are you two going out?"
"Huh?" Her blush deepened.
"When are you and Elio going on a date?" Hau's own smirk was back. "Oh come on, you don't have to play dumb about it. It's written all over you both."
"I...I...Would Elio ask me on a date?"
"I mean why not? We're all teenagers! We can ask each other out and be couples. Nobody's telling us not to."
Elio as a boyfriend. I kind of like the sound of that.
"I don't think I've ever seen anyone get close to you like that. Even me."
That surprised her a bit. "Wait, you have a crush on me?"
"W...well...yeah. I kind of did."
He said that past tense. Does he not anymore?
Hau scratched the back of his head. "I'll go ahead and admit that I kind of had feelings for you, especially when we first met all those months ago."
Lillie felt a bit of relief when he said that. Hau had always been a loyal, close friend, but similarly to him now, she never really picked up on his hints. A wave of guilt washed over her for making him feel ignored.
"I'm sorry...I never realized you saw me that way."
"It's okay." His face looked a little sheepish, but the smile overpowered it. "It's not like I was really that straightforward in giving you signals."
He's so sweet. Lillie giggled. "Really?"
"Yeah, I'm not the best at it either. Look at Leilani and what happened with her."
Lillie shook her head. "Oh relax Hau. I'm sure she likes you that way."
"Maybe. We'll see. But the important thing is that Elio seems to have everything that makes you even happier than I could ever do. As much as it might pain me to let you go and for us to never be a thing, it's worth it if you can be even better with someone else...especially if it's my brother. He deserves it. So do you."
She couldn't help smile at that. Boys who are the best of friends have this amazing sense of brotherly love.
"Thanks Hau. Does that mean I have your blessing or something?"
"Heh," He chuckled. "I guess you do. And you do know what will happen if you break his heart."
"I'll try not to. But I first have to get us together for a time."
"Um excuse me?" Both teens looked back up to see Kari standing nervously in front of them, clutching a blanket close to her chest. "Do you think my yungoos is okay?"
"Oh you." Lillie brought the young girl into a gentle hug. "I'm sure she's already thinking about cuddling up next to you when you go to sleep tonight. Don't you worry about a thing."
"That's right! Because your boyfriend is gonna rescue her! He's a hero right!"
Lillie smiled at the little one's praise, finally managing to acknowledge the fluttering feeling in her heart.
"He's a hero all right."
Neither of them were aware of how long passed by when a loud crash sent the entire Aether House into chaos again.
Lillie tried to urge the kids back into their rooms, but with so much mass panic, it was nearly impossible to get anyone in order. She couldn't really shout or scream anything, lacking the authoritative voice...and it would end up getting mixed in with all the others.
I really wish Elio was here. And why is it that these kids have to get scared like this? It isn't right.
Hau was up and alert, poke ball in hand when a huge purple winged pokemon swooped into the room. Its wings fluttered rapidly like an insect before Lillie felt its bright gold eyes settle on her.
She couldn't move, paralyzed by the glare it sent from above. The urge to scream too was bubbling up from within and she couldn't even find or muster the strength to do so.
A screech interrupted her thoughts as a blur smashed into the crobat's side. The pokemon righted itself mid-flight, glaring down Hau's dartrix that had attacked it.
Hau had jumped right into the action, already ordering more attacks even as a familiar cobra snake pokemon joined it.
Team Skull is back?!
She wanted to help, but wasn't sure how without her own pokemon. Hau was in the midst of sending out Sparks to help out.
The arbok lunged forward, sweeping the alolan raichu down with an aqua tail while Dartrix evaded a rather nasty cross poison attack.
"Time to hit back! Sparks, psychic on the arbok!"
Its blue eyes began to glow, holding the serpentine pokemon in place before they sent out another wave of psychic energy to topple it back down. Hau's attack was powerful, but it wasn't enough to knock it out fully.
Sparks turned, firing off a thunderbolt that intercepted the crobat going straight for its teammate. Dartrix squawked a thanks, quickly unfurling its wing to throw a volley of blade quills at the lunging arbok.
Hau was battling well.
Until it happened ironically.
Dartrix screeched loudly as his entire body flashed in a radiant illumination of white and he had begun the same metamorphosis that many pokemon underwent when entering the next stage of their lives.
"It's evolving?" Hau asked, even though the answer was an obvious yes.
The two poison types, while stunned by the display, knew that it was merely a big distraction and could afford to not pay it any attention.
The crobat's gaze turned to the alolan raichu, eyes and mouth agape at seeing its partner undergoing evolution.
Both pokemon lunged, striking in the blink of an eye with cross poison and aqua tail, sending the electric type crashing into the wall where it collapsed.
Hau hadn't noticed.
The glow had faded and it revealed a taller avian pokemon with slender legs that ended in three digit talons. Its belly was a mixture of white and brown while the outside resembled a cloak of sorts with a forest green color. Its head was covered in the same green pelt that flowed down its back and sides fashionably.
"Yes!" Hau pumped a fist, half thinking he had one up on Elio now that his starter pokemon had reached its final evolution first. He quickly snapped back to business as his pokemon jumped aside, avoiding a swooping crobat. In one smooth motion, he had drawn a quill, nocking it against one of the wiry strings that dangled from its "hood"
With its free hand, he stretched it out and let the quill fly. It darted through the air with incredible accuracy, but ended up missing the crobat.
He was wanting to press his advantage, but saw the arbok attempting to attack from behind and spun around, throwing the cloak aside to fling almost twice as many razor leaves as it did as a dartrix.
The crobat flew up, suddenly stopping in midair. Turns out that Hau's starter pokémon didn't end up missing after all.
The arrow was sunk into the ground, but had unleashed a purplish black spectral energy that connected and tethered the bat pokémon, leaving it almost completely helpless.
"Okay, Sparks!" Hau had called out, in the middle of ordering an attack when he stopped, looking around when he didn't see his pokémon moving. Finally finding it slumped over on the ground, he began to go into a bit of a panic himself.
"Okay relax." He said quietly. "You got this!"
Hau's luck was short lived though, as the shadow tether from the earlier attack had weakened enough for it to get free. As he turned to face it; the arbok struck from behind in a bite attack as the crobat swooped down, nimbly hitting him with acrobatics to clearly knock him out of the fight.
"NO!" Hau cried. "How? How does this happen?"
"Because you played right into our hands."
He bristled at the cunning woman's voice just at the entrance of the house. A hand drifted down to another two of his pokémon, intent on not done fighting just yet.
"Wouldn't do that if I were you." Plumeria's eyes flashed dangerously as she glared at the two poke balls in Hau's hands. "Unless you want more happening around here and I'd hate to give the kids here more trauma from so much fighting."
"You again!" Hau made a fist. "Do you Team Skull thugs not know when to quit?"
"Who said we quit?" She turned to Lillie, who seemed to shrink back into a corner with a couple of the kids hiding behind her taller form. "Now I'm here for something...and someone."
"Don't you take a step closer!" Hau warned her. "Lillie get out of here!"
"Not going to disappear this time huh?" Her words made the blonde stop, eyes widening. "So maybe the tall tales we had were all wrong."
"That was different." Lillie whimpered softly, causing Hau to turn around and gawk at her incredulously.
"What are you talking about?"
"Nebby and I were both in trouble." She continued without so much as a pause. "That was the only reason why it used its power. I'm determined to not let that happen again! That's why I'll do whatever I can on my own, even if I find myself in trouble again."
"What the hell does this girl think she can do? Dumbass little princess." The Skull grunt accompanying Plumeria asked mockingly. "Shut up and come with us."
"You thieves aren't putting a hand on Lillie!" Hau brandished another poke ball and was promptly silenced from another glare Plumeria sent his way.
"It's fine...there's nothing more we want. Besides," Her venomous gaze turned back to Lillie. "We're not the only ones that are called thieves. Isn't that right princess?"
She said nothing, as the admin freely stalked forward and got right in the blonde's face. To Hau's amazement, she seemed to shrink down from being intimidated a little bit, but actually didn't back up.
"Isn't that what you are too? A thief? Just as bad as we supposedly are."
"Please." Lillie pleaded, looking hurt by the accusation. "There's no need to hurt anyone here. If I go with you...will you leave Hau and these kids alone?"
For the longest time, Plumeria didn't speak or give any indication she heard her plea. Then she gave a barely perceptible nod. "Of course. But you have to come with us. There's someone who wants to meet you again...to catch up."
"For the Tapu's sake Lillie, what are you doing?!" Hau's stress levels had gone up even further. "Are you crazy?"
"Don't make this any worse than it is right now." Plumeria hissed acidly. "My patience is running thin and so are the people wanting her."
"It's going to be okay Hau." Lillie assured him quietly. "Please...just...don't follow us."
The kahuna's grandson looked dejected as she reluctantly followed the Skull grunts out from the house's entrance, leaving nothing except for himself and the destroyed masonry of their vain battle.
A soft cawing noise came from his side and he turned to see that his starter pokemon had regained consciousness. Hau crawled over, gently petting his decidueye's cloak.
"I'm sorry too."
Elio tried his best not to pale at the sheer vertical concrete walls of Po Town that towered over him. Looming like a fortress, he had to estimate they were at least fifty feet tall with oblong pillars stretching along the sides like posts. The road that led inside was cut off by a large gate door that looked to be made of metal. Whoever designed the place probably didn't know this was both a humid area that rained nearly every day and the face was already an unappetizing brown from the rust buildup.
Just touching that will probably end up giving me tetanus.
He saw no windows, no burrows in the ground or any fractures along the side of the structure that could let him slip in unnoticed.
Looks like it's time to throw down the door.
He saw two figures lounging under the scant cover of the downpour, leaning as far back as they could to avoid the runoff splashes from above. More thunder rumbled overhead, adding to the rather miserable gray atmosphere.
"'Sup kid?" The male Skull grunt greeted as Elio approached out in the open. Stealth was off the table and he figured he'd have more than enough firepower at his disposal to deal with whatever the gang could throw at him. "Ya wanna join Team Skull?"
Elio smiled. "Sure, where can I apply?"
"You idiot!" The female grunt growled at her partner. "Dat ain't no kid. Dat's the Skullbane! He ain't here for no job, he here because he came to laugh at all us who failed the island challenge."
"Skullbane?!" His entire expression had changed to something more wide-eyed and fearful. "Woah bro. M-mad respect. We don't want no trouble."
"How about you tell me why you failed the island challenge?" Elio kept his voice calm, but his hand hovered over a poke ball.
"You're just gonna laugh at us more." The female grunt growled again. "And if you're coming to see the boss, ya better have said your goodbyes to your pokemon. He'll rip 'em apart alive."
"So maybe he won't mind if we get a piece of the action too."
Elio held up his hands. "I don't want to fight you guys. Come on, just let me through."
"Dat ain't happening."
They sent out a fearow and haunter, which floated in the air idly in front of their trainers.
Elio had brought out Rufflet and Nani.
"I'm just going to warn you now, it's probably not the smartest thing to fight a milotic in the rain."
His words must've fallen on deaf ears because the grunts attacked with their pokemon. Fearow spiraled into a drilling attack with its beak while the haunter's floating hands crackled with lightning in a thunderbolt.
He sighed, watching as both his pokemon easily avoided the moves. "Ugh fine. Deal with them guys."
Nani looked rather uninterested as she fired off a scald that knocked the ghost type out immediately. Rufflet looped up, avoiding the drill peck and hitting the fearow with aerial ace. As soon as she was done, Nani aided him in another scald that send the larger bird crashing into the wall where it fell down limply.
"Tried to warn you people."
The two Skull grunts stared at him in disbelief. "Bro, no wonder he's called the Skullbane. He took them out so quickly!"
"Yeah I know! We're so screwed!"
"Dat isn't fair! I hate strong kids like you! You ain't gettin' in now!"
Elio didn't wait for another invitation. The Skull grunt said something into a phone and moments later the large set of double doors began to slide open just a crack. They squeezed in and they began to close just a moment later.
"Oh no you don't."
He took off at a dead sprint, even though it was just ten feet away. If he was quick enough, the boy might be able to squeeze through.
Elio never noticed Nani's tail lashing out and tripping him. His mind went into overdrive as he toppled over onto the wet concrete, tucking his head in and exhaling sharply as soon as he hit the ground. He would've been struggling for air to re-inflate his lungs if he landed at the wrong moment.
Looking over, he saw why she had tripped him. The metal doors were at least half a foot thick and could maybe be wide enough to squeeze himself through...but the odds were astronomical that he would've went through unscathed.
Nani slithered up to him, surveying the door and eyeing her trainer.
"You're probably right. I would've never made it."
She cooed softly, bringing her tail in front and sharpening it into her sword. Driving it between the seam, she twisted it about in an attempt to pry it apart. The sound of screeching metal as her blade scraped against the outside set his teeth on edge.
"It's not gonna work. Unless you got yourself a machamp, you might as well give up."
Elio turned to the gruff voice, finding himself opposite of an older gray haired man who looked rather disinterested in his efforts. He wore a dark faded uniform over a crimson T-shirt with slacks, looking somehow casual yet washed up at the same time. His dark red eyes bore into Elio and he found them a little unsettling.
"My pokemon's in there." He said flatly. "Team Skull took it. And some of my friends' too."
"Huh. Well it seems to me you're trying to get into Po Town. Are you sure you've thought this through?"
"Not really. Was just gonna knock on Guzma's front door and give him a good thrashing."
"Uh huh." The man glossed over it as if it was something he'd have heard every single day. "Better be ready if you're thinking of going in there. Either ready to live as Team Skull or take on them."
"I don't have much of a choice." Elio made a fist, telegraphing his answer. "My pokemon's in there. So are my friends'. I'm going in."
"I guess everyone has their own reasons." He sighed. "So do I...doing what I do. I'll have them let you in. If you don't make it, I'll be sure your remains get back home."
Sun blinked, not sure whether the last statement was a dry wit or he was being legitimately serious.
I really really hope it was just a joke.
Sure enough, the mysterious man who had shown up out of nowhere had the pull to let Elio in. He didn't look like he was a part of Team Skull, yet strangely the gang knew better to listen to him. He saw a worn down police badge on the breast pocket, but figured not to ask...as retired officers still frequently wore their badges as a memento. Either way, the gates opened just wide enough for him to squeeze through.
Like they've been much help anyway.
If there was one word he had to describe Po Town...it was...depressing. Very depressing.
The rain seemed to sense his mopey attitude and continued its downpour from a dreary gray sky with no sign of stopping whatsoever. As he went through the door, he made a beeline for the closest shelter, stripping off his raingear to wring it out. The constant fall had already soaked through the outer shell and he could feel the cold dampness from the inside. It was only going to remain waterproof for so long.
"Wish there was a way for Torracat to help me with this." He didn't want to risk giving away his "infiltration" but thanks to the mysterious old man...that he now dubbed McGruff publicly letting him in, there was no doubt Team Skull would be looking out for him, knowing he was somewhere within the walls. He couldn't stay there for long.
The porch and sunroof he had gone underneath wasn't infallible to the rain either, parts of it leaked from the top, trickling down the rotted wood in streams and he could already see puddles forming to drain further down. The gutters on the sides gushed with more, creating rivers that went straight for the drains.
It was strange having an island on one side that had three inches of rain per year on average. While the other had three hundred.
Elio assumed Guzma's lair was situated on the largest estate at the end of the entire complex. A hacienda that looked almost out of place from the other rather large and lavish mansions that were falling into disrepair. The rainfall was constant and had worn their original rich brown and cream colors into something faded and bleary as the rest of the sky.
One thing was for sure, he was grateful to have a change of clothes.
The other was that he was glad it was only his ass on the line for this. There was no way he was going to be bringing anyone along with him.
Especially Lillie. The thought of having her in their clutches and what they'd do to her made his blood boil and skin crawl.
He took the back routes, slipping his raingear back on and making his way out there. By now, he had deduced that some of the smaller houses were home to the other grunts that lived on the property. Like the outside, the trashed furniture, wall graffiti and overall ransacking was just like as he expected, but one positive was that it was dry.
Most of the fences were either rotted wood or had open gaps already, finding a peculiar object along the way. It sparkled with bright crystals, a rather strange glow compared to the gloomy outside. With Rotom's quiet help, he identified it as an ice stone, which could apparently only be found on Mauna Lanakila.
One of the essential pieces for Kanua to evolve. As much as she would want to help her sister, he knew that this wasn't the time yet. She was barely a child.
He finally reached the front of the hacienda, taking care to step around the carelessly thrown bottles of beer, soda and snacks, which got denser the closer he went. Nobody was out in plain sight yet, but he knew he'd be surrounded the moment he stepped foot into the open.
Let's do this.
"Hey, whatcha think ya doin' over here?!" Elio heard the activation of a pair of pokeballs, coming face to face with a golbat and alolan raticate. Both opposing pokemon bared fangs and snarled at him in front of their trainers.
"Hey, I'm not here for you. I'm here to speak with your boss."
"Well ya can't just waltz up to the front door and expect yaself an audience!" One of the grunts said, rolling his eyes. "It's common sense."
"I think common sense would be to get outta of this rain." His partner said, shivering. Elio could tell his clothes were soaked through. "Guard duty sucks."
"Your pal is right," he pointed out. "I have no quarrel with you and it's getting more miserable the longer we stand out here."
For a moment he thought the first one considered it, but then his gaze sharpened. "Golbat, air cutter!"
"Alrighty, let's just make this quick."
A couple minutes later, he left the two grunts angry and still soaking wet after a rather easy battle. It was the first time he had really thought to use Kamua and she had really did well. By the time he reached the front of the house, she had grown exponentially.
Now he stood in front of the dilapidated house as three larger grunts faced him, all arms crossed and taller than him by a foot.
"What do ya want ufa?" The one in the center asked gruffly. At the name, the other two laughed.
"To get my pokemon back." Elio said. He stood rigidly, head held high and making eye contact. He didn't want to give off how uneasy he was. They probably smelled blood or fear like sharpedo.
"Better give a talkin' to the boss."
"Then let me see him."
"Like that's going to happen. Get lost kid."
"How about this?" Another one stepped forward. "You beat all of us here and we'll let you in to try?"
"Deal."
The three Skull grunts grinned behind their masks, sending out a gengar, salazzle and lurantis.
It was a significantly tougher fight. Rufflet, Nani and Torracat finally put them down and as part of the agreement, they allowed him inside.
Elio did so without thanking them...if anything he was grateful for the practice. Rufflet was nearly knocked out by a surprise of the opposing gengar knowing thunderbolt which caused his three pokemon to triple attack and knock it out before it could turn it on Nani as well.
Inside it was the same, damp, abandoned and things tossed about as if he was in a frat house after a party. Dirt wore into the expensive carpet in trails, lined with old snack wrappers and bottles. The place reeked of sweat, alcohol and testosterone. And it also smelled as if the plumbing was out.
The noises were just as he expected, some mumble rap music blaring from a speaker upstairs and he was pretty sure he heard vulgar words every other time. A bestial growl came from another room, followed by a woman's labored breathing. It took Elio just a couple of seconds to realize what was happening behind that door and he steered clear of it.
If anything, Guzma likely occupied the master suite of the place. Upstairs he went.
A single grunt stood at guard in front of the closed double set of doors, eyes locking onto the boy as he came down the hallway.
"Heh, Skullbane. I'm guessing you're here to see Master Guzma."
Elio said nothing. Yet he wanted to throw him aside and kick open the door.
"Give me the three passwords."
Passwords? Well, I'm gonna guess.
"Password number one. What is Master Guzma's favorite pokemon?"
"Golisopod." That was an easy one.
"Password number two. What is Master Guzma's favorite drink?"
Time to guess. "Tapu Cocoa?" Many of the bottles he had seen haphazardly discarded were the iced variant, which was apparently just as popular as the hot one.
"Not bad." The grunt snickered. "Are you sure those were correct?"
Elio was about to mouth a yes, but he stopped himself.
The guard said three passwords. Let me listen carefully.
"Better hurry up ufa, or I'm kicking you out for wasting my time."
"No. You said there were three passwords." He leaned in closer, thickening the tension. "The third one is no!"
At first he thought that it might come physical and tensed his body, ready for a fight. It didn't do him much good in sizing up the other guy, but he wasn't about to just roll over, not with pokemon he had to rescue.
"Heh." The grunt snickered. "You're a savvy one...bonehead!" He stepped aside, "Master Guzma awaits you in the pool."
The pool? Elio dashed through, seeing another small set of stairs off to the left from a king sized bed that looked in half decent shape. A chair was in the very middle, its arms looking like they had been slammed countless times by angry fists. Same with the wall.
The rap music grew louder as he neared the pool area, followed by growing chants and screams. He thought he heard the sounds of something fighting as well.
Then it dawned on him. Guzma's underground pit ring.
He was no longer meddling in a bunch of delinquents who were in a schadenfreude of causing trouble and finding amusement in adults' angered reactions. These were actually criminals...and some truly bad people. Fear crept up his stomach for the first time again in the last five minutes, growing more and more unsettling the more he saw of Team Skull's true turf. Elio wondered what the actual Alolan council or authorities would think if they saw what was going on. Police never went here and it seemed that the money to improve any quality of life was moved to the wealthier east side and the touristy islands.
This was a side of Alola they probably wanted to keep covered up. Knowing there was an illegal smuggling and fighting ring operating on the islands would definitely sully its tourism economy, something it relied on heavily.
He emerged to find a large lap pool that was drained of water, replaced by cracks, dirt and pockmarked in many places that it barely resembled its original shape. The bottom was about seven feet down at its absolute deepest.
Something smashed against the wall and Elio watched a massive garbodor fly into the back of the pool, slumping over in defeat. The trash monster had some rather grievous wounds that looked like it would've had to spend quite a bit of time in an infirmary of ever recovering. Even though it wasn't his pokemon, he wondered what could've given it that bad of a beating. Garbodor were known to be defensive powerhouses.
A growl and raise of claws came from the other end. He saw a tall pokemon that had two clawed arms and a barbed tail. It had long armor plates folding along its joints that looked like it would've been a challenge to go after. Drapion, a pokemon that was native to the swamps of the Sinnoh region and parts of Unova and Kalos, known for its love of wanton violence and ripping apart smaller and weaker pokemon.
He spotted Guzma's white hair on the other end, raising his own fist into the air to the masses cheering at the display of violence. He had screamed something out which prompted them to shout even louder.
Just from knowing, he immediately knew that kind of ring it was. A timer to see how long a victim could last against it. For even more amusement, sometimes they would blindfold it to see how long they'd last before getting caught in its lethal claws. He had no idea if any of his pokemon would be strong enough to fight back.
What are you talking about? This is your pokemon on the line here.
Voices picked up as he approached, making his presence known. Guzma stopped, turning to face him and he froze.
For a moment, the two of them stared at one another as if daring the other to flinch. Despite Elio's every instinct to do so, he remained steely focused, his expression not overly angry.
Finally Guzma turned his eyes and shook his head.
"Well, color ya boy Guzma surprised ya actually had da stones to show up. It's me...da hated boss who beats ya down and beats ya down and never lets up!" Everyone else affixed their gaze on him. He tried his best not to shrink.
"I don't get ya kid. But at least this is a change of pace. It ain't erryday someone comes to me for an ol' fashioned beatin'!"
"Who said I came here for you?" The words were out of his mouth before he even realized it. An "ooh" rose among the onlookers.
Guzma didn't like to seem that his own personal pride was at stake. He narrowed his dark eyes. "Oh you're here for your pokemon." At the snap of his finger, a grunt stepped forward, holding a cage that held a terrified Jangmo'o, Kalua and Kari's yungoos.
"How sweet of you to help a little girl like that." Guzma spat on the ground and brushed it with his shoe. "What are ya gonna do if I say no?"
"Make you regret your life choices."
"I already do!" This brought an uproar of laughter from everyone and Elio tried his best not to feel the heat on his back. "I got outta this system before it fucked me six ways to Sunday! You want to know how a real trainer fights? It ain't how that motherfucker Kukui tells you. The best way is to be the last man standing over the corpse of your dead enemies."
Elio saw a glint in Guzma's eyes that unnerved him and he took a hesitant step back.
"Ya wanna know what I do when some machine messes up? I give it a nice hard smack."
"Yes because that'll teach it a lesson and solve the problem. I'll admit I've done that before to vent, but it seldom helps."
"Most of the time I smash the thing to pieces! It's wonderful!" Guzma's hands curled as he gave the kid an intense look. "Just like how my pokemon and scrapper here are gonna tear yours to shreds. Ya gonna be runnin' with their remains back to the pokemon center! Just you watch!"
He summoned a poke ball into his hand; the familiar chitinous golisopod Cicindel emerged, hissing a challenge.
Elio felt Torracat's ball wiggle, knowing that his most hated rival was out there. He was itching for a fight.
We've practiced. We've watched clips. We know how he fights. We'll win.
Torracat emerged and deftly landed on all fours, baring his fangs at Cicindel, who regarded it with indifference. The bell of fire on his neck blazed hot enough to where his own trainer felt the heat at the top of the pool. Jangmo'o stamped forward in the cage, glaring at his pokemon. The rivalry between the two hadn't subsided...not yet.
"There ain't no holds barred here kid!" Guzma shouted, pumping a fist. "First impression!"
Cicindel vanished, reappearing in front of Torracat to swipe upward. Despite their training, he wasn't quite fast enough to dodge it and was flung back. The attack didn't seem to faze him as much, landing on his feet.
He's gonna try and hit us with a pin missile. Then we're gonna be doing a dodge the pin missile game and funnel us into a choke point.
"Overheat!" It was time to roll the dice and see what happened. Torracat gathered the energy in his mouth, quickly focusing a beam outwards that was scorching hot enough to make everyone else stagger back. Cicindel slammed its plated forearms together, absorbing the blast as best it could. As he separated them, Torracat took the opportunity to flame charge straight through, predictably. Caught off guard again, he managed to stagger the large bug creature.
Confounding was the key here. Elio noticed that although a golisopod was fast, it had trouble shifting stances without exposing some of the open fleshy joints in its diamond-like armor. Getting in close was a double-edged sword in having it change stances, but also left Torracat open to those close ranged attacks.
Cicindel formed a liquidation sword in its right arm, swiping dangerously close, but like last time, he had found it rather difficult to hit a fast moving target. The flame charge had given him a hefty boost and Guzma realized he'd be stuck in the same situation as last time.
Torracat continued his attack at Elio's command, hammering Cicindel at his weak points. Flame charges, bites. He swept with his powerful frontal legs in double kicks that actually made the large golisopod crash onto the ground.
Guzma's eye twitched and he gritted his teeth in a low frustrated growl. "This can't happen! NOT NOW!"
"It's happening whether you like it or not!" Elio shouted back. "Take his sorry ass down with an overheat!"
Torracat fired it quickly, the white beam surging down to scorch the concrete bottom and envelope Cicindel. It hissed loudly, but somehow managed to fold itself up and roll out of its path. He saw the rear armor open up and it quickly launched another barrage of pin missiles.
Torracat didn't need to be told to dodge again. He jumped aside as many swarmed his position, running forth and glancing up to fire another pair of embers that intercepted and destroyed the last few.
We'll use the speed advantage again.
Elio just wasn't sure about the sinister grin etched on Guzma's face. He didn't like it either. It meant the Skull boss was up to something.
"And now we'll see how mighty the Skullbane is NOT." His grin turned savage and he flicked another pair of poke balls out.
What Sun didn't realize was that this wasn't exactly a sanctioned battle. So with nobody to really enforce a one on one fight, there were no real terms.
Guzma's second poke ball exploded in a flash of light, revealing a scarlet and gold four-legged spider-like creature with a pair of silver mandibles.
"New pokemon detected! Actually there'zzz two! But I'm gonna do the firzzzt one becauzzzze the author izzz impatient! Bzzt! Ariados. Long Leg pokemon. It is the final form of spinarak. There are some places that use an ariados' spun string to make clothing and textiles that is popular for its durability. This pokemon can spit its string from its mouth and abdomen to ensnare its prey to be finished with its fangs or poisonous stingers. Ariados is a bug and poison type. Additional information is available upon catching this pokemon."
"Ananzi. Ya know what to do." Guzma growled.
Torracat lunged for Cicindel again.
As he did; Ananzi the ariados fired a long string from its mouth, snagging Torracat's leg. The spider yanked on it, dropping him to the ground.
Elio gasped. On the other end, the captured pokemon watched in similar horror. Jangmo'o in particular snarled in anger, suddenly lashing out and crushing his head against the metal bars. The cage budged slightly, but he wasn't quite powerful enough to bust through.
"Looks like I got ya precious pokemon riled up." Guzma sneered at him. "They can watch ya lose in first person! X-scissor Miedo!"
The pokemon from Guzma's third ball jumped forward, another bug one with deadly looking pincers and small stubby brown legs. Two thin arms ended in three digit claws. Its eyes glowed with undiminished aggression.
"And here we go for double dippin' Bzzt!" Rotom said.
"Ya really gonna have your oversized computer pad talk?"
"Why yezzzz!" Rotom's stance immediately changed as it turned to face Guzma, the normally playful eyes narrowed and glowing a crimson red. Elio paled, knowing well what was coming next. "I will talk and dezzzzcribe the texture of your zzzkin when we're done here with you! Burned to a crizzzzzp! How doezzz people like their meatzzzz? Bzzzt! Well done? Shaved thinly? I presume? Bzzt!"
You know for once, I actually enjoyed his death threat.
"Anyway before I wazzz rudely interrupted. Pinsir. Stag beetle pokemon. It uses its pincers and uses them to tear apart its foes and throw them far. It's biggest rival in Alola is vikavolt and strangely it coexists with heracross there. Although a physically strong pokemon, it has difficulty coping with the cold. Pinsir is a bug type. Additional information is available upon catching this pokemon."
"Not really sporting if it's a three on one." Elio said.
"Sorry kid, but this ain't like the island challenge. No rules here." Guzma gestured for his pokemon to attack.
Torracat dodged a liquidation from Cicindel, only to get snagged by another string shot from Ananzi. Miedo spread his arms out, jumping for him, only to catch a fire fang as he tried a submission. In all honesty, he was surprised to see his starter holding his own.
Then I guess all bets are off the table if this isn't a sanctioned battle. I'm fighting practically for my life here.
Jangmo'o and Kalua cried from their corner of the area, which seemed to encourage Torracat even further. As Ananzi shot his leg again with another string shot, he had instead opted to sprint forward dashing in a flame charge. The spider pokemon was caught off guard and taken for a ride, being dragged along the floor of the pool like a rag doll.
"Don't let it get away!" Guzma snarled. "Cut off its legs if you have to!"
Elio blanched at hearing that. The leader of Team Skull was off the rails and actually trying to maim his pokemon. He tried not to think about what would've happened if he hadn't come.
Cicindel waited until Torracat was distracted, circling him from the outside on his stubby chitinous limbs. Miedo had no such precautions and dived right into the fight.
Torracat saw him coming and despite being dragged back by Ananzi; he blew off an overheat that caused the pinsir to screech loudly and retreat backwards.
Cicindel saw its chance to strike.
Torracat saw him too and fired a second overheat, causing the golisopod to pause his attack and roll up into his ball mode to escape. The blast of white hot energy went through the already leaky roof, blowing apart a section in a display of smoke, ashes and burnt stone. Immediately the downpour started again, coming through and drenching the center of the pool.
Guzma gave a dark laugh. "Oh man. Was that a mistake or what?" He flashed another sinister grin. "Liquidation!"
Elio realized his mistake too late. Opening hole, which had not been his intention had weakened the power of his fire attacks and strengthened Cicindel's water. The sword the massive bug wielded was even more defined in the confines of the rain, bearing jagged marks along the leading edge.
He lunged.
Only to be met by a second sword, sharpened and folded into an iron tail.
Elio slipped Nani and Akela's balls back on his belt and gave the Skull boss a defiant glare.
"If you're breaking the rules. So am I."
To his surprise again; Guzma threw his head back and laughed. "Finally someone has da balls to untie that hand behind their back. Not that it's gonna help you."
Nani's strength in her tail managed to overpower Cicindel and she slammed its hand into the wall. Miedo moved to cover him, diving for another submission. He caught her lithe serpentine body and threw her harshly on the ground. She made a crack in the foundation as she hit it, but quickly recovered, knocking him down on his back with a sweep of her iron tail. As he turned to face her, Akela stepped in front, pounding his fist on the floor. Massive boulders erupted out of the ground and splashed on the surface in a wave outwards.
Ananzi managed to jump out of the way, but Miedo and Cicindel were caught in its wake. The former was launched into the corner of the pool where he had been buried by several of the biggest rocks. The latter activated its amplified liquidation swords, slashing through and already back on the offensive.
"Flame charge!" Elio shouted. He knew that if he could keep his speed up, there was no way Cicindel would stop making mistakes. Torracat rushed forward cloaked in flames and lunged for the golisopod.
Only to get swatted aside. Right towards the cage.
"Oh no."
Jangmo'o's eyes went wide and he froze just for a moment, not really sure what to do. Behind him; Kalua ducked with Kari's Yungoos, hoping it would shield them.
Elio saw his youngest team member throw up a protect shield just behind the outer edges of the cage as Torracat barreled straight through. His entire bulk of hard muscle and hot fire easily destroyed the outer corner of their confinement. Jangmo'o squeaked with surprise, standing in front as Kalua and the small yungoos scampered away towards Elio.
Guzma saw it happen and growled lowly. "Big mistake. Ananzi!"
His spider jumped up, spitting another wad of string from his mouth and catching Kalua's leg.
"Cover them!" Elio shouted to Nani and Akela, who were just getting back up. "Don't let Guzma touch them!"
As they moved towards them; Cicindel covered its own comrade by launching a blast of pin missiles in every direction. Both dodged right away, but it bought them enough time to retreat back. Ananzi fought hard with Kalua as she cried out while being dragged back.
"You're not taking a hostage." Elio snarled. As Akela stopped, he summoned another rock slide attack. Cicindel was ready and Jangmo'o saw it coming too. He abruptly put up his protect shield and stepped in front of Torracat, straining as it battered against his barrier.
Elio saw his starter glance in disbelief, surprised at the friendly fire but even more at the small pokemon he had been at odds with selflessly stepping up to the plate.
Maybe there's hope for them yet.
Ananzi wasn't so lucky and was knocked out from the rockslide. Kalua struggled, finally finding a spot where she could freeze the webbing and pull herself free. The small vulpix jumped into Elio's waiting arms.
"I got you." He grabbed the yungoos too, hastily stuffing them in his backpack. "You're alright."
He turned to Guzma, who was definitely red in the face with embarrassment and angered that his plan had been foiled.
"I think it's time for you to leave."
"I ain't leavin' until I'm done beating you into the dirt!" At his words, Cicindel and Ananzi righted themselves and charged.
Nani sprung into action as well, spraying a scald attack at the ariados. The spider was unable to dodge and amplified by the rainy weather, it was blown into the side of the pool, crashing to the ground with a thud.
Murmurs grew in the crowds around them and Elio saw them beginning to disperse. Nobody was interested in seeing Guzma lose.
Yet somehow, Cicindel wasn't finished quite yet. His black eyes blazed with anger as he and Torracat continued their fight. Staying in the rain allowed his liquidation blades to remain fresh as he deflected shots of ember and overheat. Having used it so much, it was much weaker than when he first fired.
"Don't let him corner you!" Elio shouted. "Stay mobile!"
Torracat did that, using his smaller and more agile frame to constantly try and get an angle. Like before, Cicindel was quick in bursts, but he couldn't keep up with a quicker opponent in close quarters.
He planted one foot down, flame charging once more at the leg. As the golisopod put weight down, he pushed harder, causing it to topple over. He scrambled up, getting a perfect shot at its exposed belly.
But as he did, he began to glow.
Elio's heart stopped.
Is he?
Torracat turned brighter, his fur being discolored by radiant white light as the evolutionary process took over.
A surge of hope took over his trainer. His starter was finally beginning to mature into his final form.
"It'zzz an evolution!" Rotom buzzed loudly.
Neither of them noticed Guzma smirking on the other side. They were all focused on the evolving pokemon. Torracat landed on the ground, still bathed in that raw energy.
Then a salvo of pin missiles swarmed in, immediately shutting it out as if an extinguisher on a fire. Torracat let out a raw scream of pain as the blasts hurtled him to the ground.
Everyone else gasped, still surprised even as they glanced back at Cicindel, who was unfazed by the saturation of such power and opted by his trainer to attack in the midst of the evolution process.
Elio saw the wounds on his pokemon, they were serious from multiple abrasions and bloodied patches of fur. His own medical expertise kicked in and he realized that without quick treatments as fast as they may be, his condition could be much more serious.
Cicindel heard a cry from the other end and turned to see Jangmo'o barreling in with his head lowered. Not quite fast enough to raise one of his armored gauntlets in time, the headbutt knocked him off balance. Jangmo'o jumped out of the way of the sword that slammed down on him and attacked again.
Only he was ready this time around. Cicindel barely flinched and glanced down at his opponent. Jangmo'o wasn't done either. He tried again and again and again, each to no avail at felling the much larger pokemon. The golisopod watched with amusement and finally decided he had enough. His spare claw stiffened into metal and he slashed across the baby dragon's back, sending it tumbling right beside Torracat.
"You would do that." He glared, gray eyes filled with newfound hatred at the Skull leader.
Guzma gave an indifferent laugh. "So now ya see what it's like to be beaten and ridiculed and watch as your own pokemon suffer. All because of your own actions! His evolution made him inert...the perfect target to finally put down. Annoying little brat."
The glow returned. Cicindel sprang to attack and was instead met by a lightning fast Nani, who had formed her sword iron tail and deftly held it pointed right underneath its compoundeyes. She hissed threateningly as if daring him to make a move. Behind her; Akela tensed, ready to help his teammate out.
"I think we're done here." Guzma said. "It's no rules out here. Ya gonna have a lot more suffering in the days to come. Lemme tell ya. I ain't done with you yet."
Before Elio could say a reply, the Skull boss recalled his pokemon and sprinted out of the pool area, disappearing.
He looked down, seeing that Torracat was still normal and hadn't evolved.
Official league rules had sanctioned that in a battle; if one pokemon was evolving into a later stage or form after entering combat, that it was not to be attacked until the evolution process was complete. Though it left the evolving pokemon defenseless as it had stored the energy and strength to undergo such an arduous process, interrupting its cycle could cause serious damage to its body functions and kickstart later health issues for that pokemon at a much earlier stage than expected. Of course this wasn't much of a rule followed in the wild, but most wild pokemon were also smart enough...if not instinctual to find a place to undergo the evolution process in private without any outside intervention.
Interference, the doctors and nurses of pokemon expertise had called it. A trainer committing interference voluntarily were subject to some of the harshest fines in the League and even rescinding of a license.
He knew that Guzma liked to fight viciously, but he never would have expected him to stoop that low. Then again, now he wouldn't put it past him.
If Torracat didn't evolve. Who did?
He glanced at his pokemon. Nani had relaxed into her normal calm demeanor as Cicindel vanished back into its poke ball and she slowly surrounded Torracat. Her body emitted a dull green glow as she used recover to heal herself...and Torracat as well.
"Nani izzz uzzzing recover! Bzzt!" Rotom said. "Maybe if she'z in direct contact with Torracat, she can help heal hizzz woundzzz!"
"It's worth a shot." Elio glanced up at the rest of his pokemon. "Are you all okay?"
Akela formed a fist and sniffed the air. Jangmo'o stepped from behind, using an arm to hold up a destroyed scale.
An arm?
When the glow returned, it wasn't Torracat who was the one evolving.
It was Jangmo'o.
No longer the small child he had raised when it hatched from the egg; he now stood on two legs. His sharp prickled gray skin was still there, but more defined and slightly shiny. Larger golden scales had begun to grow on his head and the backs of his forearms, taking on a slightly bronze color. He no longer had the timid curious eyes of his previous form, now they were rigid with determination and courage.
"Woweee!" Rotom buzzed and flew beside Jangmo'o...or whatever the new form was called. "You've got an evolved pokemon on your handzzz! Bzzt! Hakamo'o. Hard scale pokemon. It is the evolved form of Jangmo'o. The scales on its arms shed and regrow on a continuous bases. They become harder and sharper each time. Hakamo'o prides itself on its damaged armor, clanging its scales together and issuing a war cry to opponents. Hakamo'o is a dragon and fighting type."
"Wow." Elio looked down at his new pokemon, proudly posing. "I'm really proud of you buddy. Thank you for your help."
Hakamo'o nodded, forming a fist and colliding it with his open palm before curtly bowing. He walked next to his trainer as Kalua and the yungoos cried out, excited at seeing their former cellmate evolving.
Torracat coughed softly as Nani's recover faded. Some of the smaller minor wounds were set to heal, but Elio needed to leave quickly. He was hesitant to let him back in his poke ball because he didn't know the extent of moving in between would worsen his injuries.
"Elio!" He heard someone. It was a female voice, so it couldn't have been Guzma coming back for seconds.
"Over here!"
He heard a rather unsettling barking noise and something coming through the opening out of the side. A massive dog raced in, seeing them and barking loudly again.
Hakamo'o, Akela and Nani tensed, seeing the new threat, but Elio shook his head and gestured for them to relax.
"I think they're friends."
Footsteps pounded outside as he saw a purple blur of Acerola's hair as she walked though. Elio saw her shoes had been completely soaked despite wearing a dark rain jacket. He realized that his own were as well, but in the heat of battle he paid it no attention.
"Elio!" She and the dog jumped down into the pool and ran to his side. "Elio are you alright?!"
"I'm fine." He waved her off as the pokemon accompanying her began to prod through and sniff Torracat curiously. He could see it had dark gray and black fur with a burnt orange snout and underbelly. Two curved horns protruded out from where its ears normally were. A pointed tail wagged in concern behind. The canine was definitely fierce looking.
"New pokemon detected!" Elio wanted to stop Rotom from interrupting a rather grim moment, but decided to let it pass. "Houndoom. Dark pokemon. It is the evolved form of houndour. It has eerie howls and people long time ago feared it as a reaper. They spew flames mixed with toxic chemicals to finish off their opponents. Houndoom is a dark and fire type. Additional information is available upon catching this pokemon."
"It's okay." Acerola assured him. "Bella here is a friend." She glanced at Torracat again. "He can be moved without any issues. We'll need to get him treated right away."
Elio wanted to pick him up, but opted to instead return him back to his ball. The same with everyone else.
"Look at you kid."
Everyone glanced up to see that same older man he had encountered right before entering Po Town...the one that let him access it. He scowled at them and Elio felt his own skin crawl. Standing out in the rain, he didn't seem to notice it even as it soaked into his shirt and dripped off his steely gray hair.
"Have I got you to thank for this kid?"
Elio realized he was the one being addressed and nodded slightly. "I guess I saved you from shipping my remains back to my mother."
"I didn't mean that." The man gestured to a small figure at his side.
He stared closer. It was the pawniard he had seen from before. It held up its stone and locked eyes with him.
"Thing's must've been really grateful if it's glad to see a wretch like me."
Sun considered his options. Acerola didn't seem off put by his aloof nature, rather he saw her smiling at him. He wasn't an enemy...but he didn't radiate outright as someone he could trust.
Not yet at least.
That's when he noticed the necklace around the man's neck, fit with an obsidian crystal.
Is that?
"Look, I'm not gonna fight on someone taking on Team Skull. But you better not linger around if your pokemon got hurt that bad from fighting Guzma."
"Uncle Nanu!" Acerola smiled at him again, never faltering. Her cheerful mood had done nothing to brighten his spirits.
"Ugh, the nose again." Nanu grumbled.
"Oh stop it!"
"Whatever. There's a lot fewer Team Skull folks around now. You must've run them all out of town after upshowing their boss."
Or they're following Guzma to cause whatever other havoc. And I didn't beat him. Not yet.
Acerola laughed. "Isn't Elio something?"
"Yeah. I suppose so."
"You're such a great police officer! It's great to keep a good eye on things around here right?"
Nanu rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Maybe that or maybe the rent's cheap."
"Probably both." Elio said. "Rain constantly and hoodlums like those hanging around all day? No wonder."
Nanu said nothing, but Sun swore he saw the corner of his mouth curl up in a slight smile.
"Nobody else is crazy enough to stay this close to Team Skull's main hideout anyway. Plus it keeps them from getting into some deep shit they might not be ready for."
"Well whatever it is, I think we best get back to the Aether House before more Team Skull decide we're all worth picking on."
"Pokemon kept in their poke balls…Team Skull kept in this shithole…I wonder if either enjoys the experience?"
Nanu shuffled off, leaving the pawniard confused, but it scampered over to Elio, showing its stone.
"Yeah," He took it and flipped it between his fingers. "I'm glad I could help you out."
"Come on!" Acerola got to her feet. "I was beginning to get worried about you, so I got here as fast as I could. Let's get back to Aether House!"
She summoned her drifblim, Elio only knew about it from watching balloon festivals with a popular design in their image. She was gone up in the sky before Rotom could even register and document a new pokemon.
Perhaps another time buddy.
He fumbled around for his ride pager, powering it up and getting ready to reserve a charizard. Elio was pretty sure that even in this uncomfortable weather, it would be the only reasonable transport to get him back in time.
Time for a shower and some dry clothes.
Upon hitting the booking button, he was surprised to see it fail. His account was locked.
The rides aren't all booked right now...what's the deal?
He tried it again. No dice. Reset the system and still nothing. It gave him the same message for each of his attempts.
The hell's going on? Why can't I call a ride? Signal's strong, rides are available and I've paid the annual fee for the premium membership.
Outside, he heard the rain begin to lighten up.
"Okay." He sighed and pulled his coat over again. Kalua and yungoos dipped underneath the flap in his backpack as he covered it with the waterproof shell. "I guess we're gonna have to run back the whole way again."
The pawniard tucked its stone at its side and followed him out.
"You coming?"
Well...we shall see when the next update is coming out. It took me a little while to try and recalibrate myself into the mindset of this story again. I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter nonetheless.
Mahalo for reading and reviewing. You give my writing purpose.
Brav