Sam and Alice stood several paces from Ilima inside the open outdoor chamber of Verdant Cavern. Between the three trainers, Drampa, Lycanroc, Smeargle, and Komala faced each other, waiting their trainer’s next command. Both of Ilima’s Pokémon already looked rugged and slightly battered, while Sam and Alice’s looked perfectly healthy and fit.
Ilima, despite his situation, couldn’t help but continue smiling. “Smeargle, attack Lycanroc with Energy Ball!”
With the green paint on the tip of its tail glowing bright, Smeargle swung it out at Lycanroc, an orb of bright green aura shooting out of it and striking Alice’s Pokémon in the face, pushing it backward.
“That’s it!” Ilima cheered on. “Komala, use Slam on Drampa!”
Komala quickly rolled its way over to Sam’s Pokémon, bouncing up into the air off the side of its log. Komala got enough air to reach Drampa’s head and with its speed not letting up, Ilima’s Pokémon struck the dragon square between the eyes.
Sam clenched his fists on hearing his dragon wail, but he was more than confident that it would survive. “That’s okay, Drampa, it’s almost over! Attack Komala with Extrasensory!”
Drampa threw its head forward to see straight, watching as Komala was about to fall back toward the ground. Keeping its furious eyes trained on it, Drampa pushed its head out and let out a loud hiss. Along with two lights twinkling from its eyes, a ripple of magenta energy forming directly in front of Komala blasted it back toward the ground, leaving a sizable divot where it landed and bounced off from.
“Nice one, guys!” Alice shouted. “Lycanroc, you finish this now! Use Sto–”
“Extremespeed!” On Ilima’s call, Smeargle appeared to teleport from its spot to in front of Lycanroc before punching it in the face.
“Hmph, marks for effort.” Alice grinned, her strategy quickly changing. “Lycanroc, hit back with Counter!”
Hopping off its front paws, Lycanroc balled its right one into a fist before swinging it down and up in a powerful uppercut into Smeargle’s stomach. Smeargle was flung up into the air and landed beside Komala, who now lay fainted along with its partner.
With the battle over, Ilima blew a sigh of relief as he returned his Pokémon into his Ultra Balls. Drampa lowered its head and neck down for Sam to hug in congratulations while Alice knelt down to let Lycanroc nuzzle up into her embrace. Approaching the two, Sam and Alice stood up in attention and awaited his words.
“And to think just a month ago,” he said, “you started your Island Trials right here in this very spot, and now… just look at you two!”
“Pretty crazy!” Sam tried to find the right levels of genuine and sarcastic excitement.
“It’s been a true honor watching you get this far in your trials, and now that I have been bested in combat, I now present you with your prize.”
Reaching into his vest pocket, he pulled out another flower petal similar to the one Mina had given to them, only this one was a vibrant orange.
Alice took it off of Ilima’s palm and placed it in her bag right beside the pink petal. “Thanks again, Ilima.”
“No, thank you.” Reaching his hand out, Ilima quickly received a firm handshake from Alice before moving over to Sam, whose grip was just as respectfully firm.
“Archeops!” Sam commanded. “Acrobatics!”
“Raichu!” Alice called. “Finish off Araquanid with Thunderbolt!”
On the bottommost beach of Brooklet Hill, Archeops sprinted out at Mallow’s Tsareena, leaping up and grabbing it by one of its thighs with its talons. With a tight twist and flip, Tsareena was swung out before it was immediately slammed down onto the sand, which did nothing to cushion the finishing blow against it.
Raichu charged its cheeks as it sent sparks up into the sky before they rained down on Lana’s gigantic aqueous spider in greater intensity. Araquanid let out a bubbly cry through its bubble head barrier before its legs gave out, throwing it onto the sand beside Mallow’s fainted Pokémon.
“Haha! Wahoo!” Mallow and Lana returned their Pokémon into their balls. “That was about as sweet as sugar a battle could get!”
“That really was splendid, wasn’t it?” Lana said with a smile.
After Sam and Alice returned their own Pokémon to their balls, they approached Mallow and Lana, who were zealously discussing their loss to the two trainers.
“Oh, right!” Mallow suddenly noticed them nearing her. “We need to give you both your petals, don’t we? Hey, if you’re not in too much of a rush and a little peckish to boot, why don’t you stop at my restaurant for some lunch?”
“Oh, that’s quite okay!” Sam waved both his hands in as polite a refusal as he could muster. “We do want to try and see if we can–”
“Our treat?” Lana interrupted.
Sam and Alice, silenced, looked to each other.
Sam didn’t even wait for Alice as her bento box was placed in front of her by Mallow, already slurping in his ramen and the slivers of green onion and red pepper that were woven inside the noodles. As Alice gingerly took her chop sticks and picked up one of her tempura shrimp with them, Sam lowered his head down over his bowl and bit off the noodles he couldn’t fit into his mouth, where they lightly splashed back into the bowl.
“I take it that it’s good?” Mallow asked Sam.
Sam pinched his thumb and index finger together before swallowing as much as he could to sound as intelligible as possible. “Best ramen I’ve ever had.”
Lana, sitting across from them, smiled at Sam’s earnestness as she sipped at her small bowl of miso soup from her spoon. Sam snapped his soft boiled egg into pieces as he prepared to grab more vegetables and slices of pork with it before looking up at the TV hanging in the upper corner of the wall near their table, watching the news fade in from black.
“Oh!” Sam clacked the tips of his chopsticks together to get everyone’s attention. “It’s back on!”
Alice, Lana, and Mallow also looked up to the TV as the newscaster began his broadcast.
“Breaking news about the recently-formed Earthquestria foundation,” he spoke, “it has been reported and confirmed by its head developer and researcher Sun Smith that each of the seven Earthquestria sites that were being renovated from the Aether Foundations’ former headquarters across the globe have been completed.”
A montage of helicopter aerial shots then flashed upon the screen, showing off buildings similar to the one in Hau’oli in the middle of dense metropolitan cities.
“Among the cities where an Earthquestria location can be found include Saffron City in the Kanto region, Goldenrod City in the Johto region, Mauville City in the Hoenn region, Jubilife City in the Sinnoh region, Castelia City in the Unova region, Lumiose City in the Kalos region, and Hau’oli City here in the Alola region, where Sun has been most active in overseeing its construction from the ground up.”
Alice gently slapped Sam on the arm, seeing as Lumiose City was shown from high up with its new Earthquestria Center focused right in the center. Sam was already too focused on the screen to care.
“Sun appeared again before the press to offer yet another statement,” the anchor continued.
The screen then cut to Sun, who looked far more chipper and happier than he did the previous night, even with the wall of reporters that he faced.
“First of all,” he said, “I’d really like to thank the efforts of everyone involved in the renovation process, without whom, we’d have not been able to complete the transition in such a short amount of time. It also gives me great pleasure to announce that tonight at seven o’clock here at the Hau’oli location, we shall be hosting a live demonstration of the latest technologies our organization has developed followed by a Q and A with our human and Equestrian companions. Passes and credentials will be given out in a timely matter. Thank you.”
As Sun turned back around to enter the building, the reporters microphones jabbed out toward him, wanting to get more questions that would ultimately not come at that moment. As the reporter moved on to a different story, his voice was phased out by the sudden excitement that Sam and Alice felt, Equestria and their friends who lived in it soon to return.
Atop Wela Volcano, Aegislash slashed at Kiawe’s Marowak with Shadow Claw, where it rolled to a hard stop in front of its trainer. Meanwhile, Alice’s Gyarados slapped at Flannery’s Torkoal with Aqua Tail. Though its weight managed to keep it where it stood, the strength of the hit was hard enough to flip the turtule onto the back of its shell, its limbs hanging out of their slots.
Kiawe and Flannery aimed their Ultra Balls at their defeated Pokémon, the red beams shooting out from them pulling them back in. After appreciatively petting their Pokémon, Sam and Alice and Kiawe and Flannery met each other in the center of the crater.
He then turned to Flannery and smiled reverently to her. “I do wish I could have seen their trial, but if these trainers are the result of it, then I can safely say that you’ve performed my duties exceptionally well. Thank you, Flannery.”
Flannery glanced to him with a playful wink. “Hey, so does that mean I’m staying as a captain?” Kiawe squeamishly glanced away, unsure of how to answer her, only for her to start laughing and slapping her hand on his bare shoulder. “Listen, man, I’m just joshing! I’m actually heading for Heahea in an hour or so I can make the ferry to Slateport.”
She then turned to Sam and Alice. “Listen you two, I just want to say before I take off that it was a total privilege to see you in action, and I cannot wait to hear about which one of you becomes the champion here.”
“And it was super cool to get to meet you here,” Sam said. “You take care, now.”
As Sam and Flannery clasped hands, an unbreakable bond forming, Kiawe approached Alice, a red petal held between his index and middle fingers. “Your petal, ma’am.”
“Great,” Alice replied graciously. “Thank you so much again.”
Unzipping her bag, Alice dropped the petal inside the front pocket, joining the pink, orange, green, and blue petals lying beside each other there.
Inside the foyer of the mansion in Po Town, Mimikyu rushed Plumeria’s Gengar, leaping up and thrashing its shadowy arms inward, hitting it with Shadow Claw. As it rolled toward its trainer’s feet in defeat, Absol charged at Plumeria’s Salazzle, thrashing its head and sending out a Psycho Cut blade from its horn. The Salazzle tried to hold on to the floor in preparation, but the strength of the attack overpowered it, sending it flying back toward Plumeria where it bounced into Gengar and landed back onto the floor.
As Plumeria returned her Pokémon into her Ultra Balls, the Skull members lining the banisters of the second level cheered Sam and Alice’s victory. Rushing back to their trainers, Mimikyu and Absol received affectionate hugs and nuzzles from Alice and Sam. As Plumeria approached the two, the Skull members’ cheering began to quiet down to let their leader speak.
“Well, that came as no surprise,” she said. “So, you two on your way to battle Sophocles now, or was I it?”
“Nope,” Alice responded with a nod. “Just got him left.”
“Then don’t let us keep you.” She then looked up to the grunts looking down on them. “Yo, who’s got Mina’s petal?”
“Right here, boss!” A male Skull member held up a purple petal in his fingers before tossing it to Plumeria with a swing of his hand, sending it flying straight and true like an arrow.
Plumeria caught the petal between her index and middle fingers, Sam and Alice jolting in response to her uncanny reflexes.
Upon Plumeria handing Alice the petal, Alice reached out with her right hand. “It’s been a pleasure, Plumeria.”
Plumeria, at first surprised by the gesture, betrayed a smirk before clasping her hand around Alice’s. “Hmph. Ditto.”
Inside Sophocles’ battling gym, his Vikavolt pushed Lurantis back with Bug Buzz, but with great willpower, Lurantis broke through the sonic pulses with an outward swing of its arms, ending the attack. Just then, Noivern blasted the Vikavolt with a Flamethrower attack, where it writhed upon the ground in flames before its body settled still, unable to continue battling. Sophocles, stepping back nervously, watched as Lurantis trained its eyes on his last remaining Pokémon: an Alolan Golem.
Forcing a determined face, Sophocles pointed out at Lurantis. “Golem, finish off Lurantis with Steamroller!”
With a roar, the Golem tucked its head and limbs into its body before it began to roll out at Sam’s Pokémon.
Undaunted, Sam punched his fist forward. “Lurantis, dodge it and hit it with Leaf Blade!”
Holding its arms behind it, Lurantis sprinted out at Sophocles’ approaching Pokémon. Leaping high up over the Golem’s body, it twisted its body so that it could bring its scythes down on it and let Golem’s momentum drag the blades along its body. Landing gracefully on the ground, Lurantis watched as Golem’s speed began to slow to a more natural, unforced pace. Sam jumped out of the way as the Golem rolled past him, crashing into the wall where it limply spun to a stop.
“Whew!” Sam looked back to his Pokémon and gave it a thumbs up. “Nice moves, Lurantis!”
Lurantis hopped about excitedly, happy to make the finishing blow. Sophocles returned his fainted Vikavolt and Golem into his Ultra Balls, a proud smile finding its way onto his face.
As Sam and Alice returned their own Pokémon to their balls, Sophocles approached the two of them, his hand in one of his coat pockets. “Great work, you two. I should have known going up against the trainers who defeated Zeraora would have been a losing battle, but it was never my battle to win in the first place, so with that, I give you your last petal. Congrats again.”
Pulling his hand from his pocket, Sophocles handed Alice a yellow petal, and on taking it, she opened her bag, admiring the other six petals they had collected that day. Once she dropped the yellow petal in to join with the others. Sam and Alice both shook the captain’s hand.
“Thank you, Sophocles,” Sam said to him.
“Don’t mention it,” he replied. “Hey, if you’re not already going to try and head to Poni Island right away, I know of a good motel around here that you can stay at for the night.”
Alice nodded in appreciation. “Thanks a lot, but we were actually going to grab dinner and watch the Earthquestria demonstration on the news down in Malie City, and then we're taking the first ferry out to the Seafolk Village tomorrow morning.”
“Working Sam Brier hours, if you know what I’m saying.” Sophocles did not know what Sam was saying, but he could only have the faintest idea.
Sophocles then brought forth another smile. “I understand. Have fun tonight. I need to get going myself. I’m actually a part of the Earthquestria demonstration too, you know.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “I… did not know that, as a matter of fact.”
“Yep. I actually helped build and develop the communication devices that will be used to speak to the Equestrians on their world.”
“That’s really awesome!” Alice nudged at Sophocles’s shoulder, making him clutch it instinctively. “In that case, I’m super thankful that you took time out of your busy day to help us finish Mina’s trial!”
“Oh please,” he responded, flushed and flustered, “if it wasn’t for your help, tonight wouldn’t even be possible. It was the very least I could do.”
“I still appreciate it, man.” Sam reached forward for another handshake. “Good luck tonight.”
“Good luck yourselves on the rest of your trials!” Sophocles and Sam shook hands once more.
Sitting at the counter of a sushi bar, Sam and Alice regularly glanced between their rolls and nigiri and the nearest TV hanging from the wall. Two people had fit themselves between each stool trying to get themselves closer to the ongoing demonstration as Sun, Adam, and Sophocles stood together in a large white room before a medium-sized audience mostly comprised of the press.
Sun waited for those in attendance to stop their applause so that he and his associates could continue. “So now that we’ve shown you some of our latest technology, how’s about we see it in action? Soph?”
As the audience resumed their clapping, Sun and Sophocles walked over to a large panel with an equally big monitor atop it. Sun reached into his pocket and pulled out a mostly flat rectangular phone with a large screen, and after tapping at it for a few seconds, he flipped the phone over to reveal its screen to the audience, who watched as it prepared to call whoever Sun contacted.
Just then, the icon of a familiar purple alicorn appeared front and center, signaling that she had been connected with. “Is this on? Can everyone hear me?”
As the screen flashed to black, a video of Twilight showed up on the rest of the screen, revealing herself in a perfect replica of the room Sun and the others stood in. In response to her question, the press and others in attendance broke out into large cheers that surprised Twilight before she began to blush, slightly overwhelmed by the abundance of attention. In the restaurant, Sam and Alice giggled, delighted to see their friend once again, even if it was through two separate screens.
“Hold on a sec.” Sophocles began to type away at the panel, activating the monitor. “Let’s see if this works next.”
After activating the a blue icon of a simple white image of a rotary phone, it spread across the screen before fading to black with the words “Connect Device.”
“Alright, we’re ready!” On Sophocles’s confirmation, Sun turned to the monitor on the panel and swiped the video of Twilight off his phone at it.
Almost immediately, the words on the screen faded away before being replaced by another message saying, “Connection Complete” along with a green check in a circle above it. Once the screen flashed to black again, Twilight appeared back on the screen in the same place she was. Another bout of applause came from the crowd as they managed to get a better sense of the space Twilight occupied. Along with her, a diverse mixture of pony and human workers in matching stylish white and blue lab-coats stood by, awaiting the next part of the demonstration.
“As you can see,” Adam spoke, “we’re able to get a crystal-clear signal, no pun intended, between this world and Equestria. While communication at the point of launch will be currently be limited to only the cities and towns where an Earthquestria center exists, we hope that in only a years time, we’ll be able to expand to the point that anyone, anywhere, anyworld will be able to converse freely with one another.”
Sun then walked beside Adam, putting his hand to his shoulder. “And now for the part you didn’t even know you waited for! Twilight, are you ready?”
“Yes!” As a human took her phone from her magical grasp, she walked backwards toward a massive circular platform that, like the room it was placed in, was an exact replica of the one Sun and Adam stood before.
On the base of the platform, the outline of Starswirl’s arcane circle was traced out by a light display from underneath the floors. Inside the gates that encircled the platform save for a fifteen-foot gap in the front, blue crystal was carved inside the inner sides of three banisters to form three flush rails and supports that fed into the perimeter of the base. Once Twilight stepped up onto the platform, Sophocles and another human Earthquestria employee began to type up on the panels beside it.
“Hau’oli to Ponyville, standby.” Sophocles took his hands off the keyboard once he saw an image of Hau’oli City and an image of Ponyville appear and begin to merge toward one another on the screen of the panel as a blue progress ring drew itself around the two pictures.
After several seconds, the ring completely closed, the two images completely overlapping before they warped into a green ring and checkmark.
“Ponyville to Hau’oli,” the voice of the female employee on the other end reported, “connection established. Prepare for launch.”
Sophocles pulled up on a small switch with his thumb, the lights outlining the buttons on the panel turning brighter with the extra power being fed into them. Soon, a green button beside the switch began to flash, signaling that everything was ready on his end.
Sophocles reached for the button on the panel. “Launch in t-minus five, four…”
“Three…” the employee on the other end joined in, “two… one.”
Sophocles pressed the button, the lights draining out of his display. Sun, Adam, and their audience then watched as the crystal railings of the platform began to brightly glow, their energy beginning to spread throughout the edge of the circle on the floor before it filled the rest of the etching. A loud whir began to buzz out from the massive device as the glow of the railings and the surface of the floor grew brighter. Cameras were held as still as possible, the breaths of the audience caught in their throat.
Finally with a final flash of light, Twilight was now standing upon the center of the platform before the mystified humans. With a theatrical flaring out of her wings, she inspired the people gathered to shoot up onto their feet and give her and the others of the Earthquestria foundation a standing ovation. Even as she trotted off the platform to join Sun, Adam, and Sophocles, the people refused to let up their applause.
In the sushi bar, excited murmurs and exclamatory gasps filled the air, Sam and Alice leaning over their dishes to keep the people crowding around them from further invading their space. Looking back up at the TV and seeing Twilight right there beside Sun again, they still couldn’t help but be as internally ecstatic as everyone around them and on the air was outward about their glee.
Sam and Alice stood upon the banister of the bow of their ferry, the morning sun having already risen up over them, but not on the island their boat neared. Finally, like a curtain, the sunlight began to fall over Poni Island and unveil the craggy, mountainous splendor that it presented.
“Hmhmm…” Alice’s quiet giggle was noticed by Sam.
“What is it?”
“When you’re up this early, do you ever go outside and look at the sunrise?”
Sam stayed silent for a spell, slightly embarrassed. “I… usually don’t.”
“I think you should, because this… dear god, this is beautiful!”
“I think I’ll keep that in mind.”
With only a few minutes separating them from the Seafolk Village, Sam and Alice made their way to portside.
Walking off the boat before a handful of other people, Sam and Alice walked across the platforms of the small waterside town, now able to get a fuller appreciation for its rustic quaintness without a Prism grunt in sight. There seemed to be fewer people walking about as well, which only served to make Mina, who stood beside the trunk of the titanic tree that sprouted out from the ocean in the middle of town, pop out amongst them. Alice had already zipped her bag open in preparation to hand Mina the petals.
With Sam and Alice equally sticking out like sore thumbs amongst the sparse number of people about, Mina straightened herself up and appeared alert for the two trainers. Once Alice was a few more paces away from Mina, she reached into the open spot of her bag and pulled all seven of the rainbow-colored petals.
Mina appeared even more awake upon seeing them. “Ah, good! You retrieved all the petals!”
“Wouldn’t have wasted the trip out here if we didn’t,” Sam said with an honest shrug.
“Mmhm, smart. May I please see them?”
Alice handed Mina the petals, and she and Sam watched as the captain began to rearrange them by shade. After getting them neatly together, she placed a thin, short needle with a balled end through an equally small hole of the base of each petal. After fanning them out to form a beautiful flower from them, she pushed a plastic stopper into the point of the needle, twisting it further into the back of the back petal to keep each of them in place. Holding up the final result to Sam and Alice, they smiled at the majesty of the craft.
“Perfect,” Mina said. “And now, it’s time to face the Totem Pokémon. Wait here, please.”
Mina ran past Sam and Alice and headed to the southernmost pier of the town, Sam and Alice unable to do anything but stand and wait as requested. Upon reaching her spot, nothing but blue skies above her, she chucked the flower high up into the air. Even underneath the tree-supported canopy that Sam and Alice stood under, they could see as the eastern sun shone through the petals, projecting a myriad of colorful lights through the fabric.
Mina kept her eyes upon the flower as it came back down, gently catching it with one hand with a cushioning bend of her knees. With the signal cast, she ran back to Sam and Alice, who could already tell what she had done.
“Wonder who our Totem is,” Alice wondered aloud.
Mina returned to them, panting with her hands over her knees. “You won’t need to wait to find out much longer… because look.”
Pointing to the north, Sam and Alice suddenly noticed as three small shapes came at them from the mainland entrance of the town. Backing away from the tree to give the oncoming Pokémon room, Sam and Alice readied their hands upon their belts in preparation for which Pokémon would be arriving.
The Totem Pokémon, fluttering between its two allies, was a large Ribombee with its aura surging, its dainty smile a contrast to the threatening energy surrounding it. On both sides of the Totem Ribombee were a Wigglytuff and a Pelipper, who roosted upon the wooden walkway beside their leader.
Sam cocked his head with a self-assuring frown. “Well, at least it’s familiar.”
“Yep, and it will be just as easy too!” Alice pulled a Poké Ball from her belt and threw it out. “You’re up again, Mudsdale!”
Her ball opened up and let her large, muscular horse Pokémon land upon the walkway, which creaked and groaned slightly, but otherwise kept a sturdy hold of it.
“Nice supports,” Sam commented to himself, taking out his own Poké Ball. “Alright, Aegislash, let’s do this!”
Sending his ball flying, his shield and sword Pokémon emerged from the energy that shot out, joining Mudsdale’s side exactly how they did upon starting the trial. Then, to Mudsdale’s great discomfort, all three rival Pokémon turned to face it, their intentions as insidious as the grins on each of their faces.
Alice seized up too, knowing exactly what this would mean. “Oh, crap.”
The Totem Ribombee attacked first, forming a bright green Energy Ball in between its tiny hands before pushing it off, sending it shooting out into Mudsdale’s chest where it exploded around the body like a cannon-sized paintball. Next to attack was the Pelipper, whose lower beak began to inflate as it filled with water, vapor visibly pouring out the edges of its mouth. With Mudsdale still shaken from the Totem Ribombee’s Energy Ball, the Pelipper very easily shot a hefty stream of steaming-hot water into Mudsdale’s face, sending it sliding back along the boardwalk and spraying the uncomfortably warm mist into Sam, Alice, Mina, and Aegislash. Finally, Wigglytuff’s mouth began to frost over before it fired large Ice Beam. Striking the dead center of Mudsdale’s chest, Alice’s Pokémon let out a short yelp before getting thrown off its hooves, crashing onto its side where it laid still, completely knocked unconscious.
“Dammit,” Sam drew out in a long sigh. “Aegislash, hit the Ribombee with Iron Head for the both of you!”
With a vindictively angry squint of its eye, Aegislash soared forward before slinging its body halfway between Sam and the Totem Ribombee, using its momentum to fling its shield out, its edge crashing into the entire length of the insect’s body. The hit was even hard enough to send it back flying into the side of the tree, the Wigglytuff and Pelipper looking back nervously in fright over Aegislash’s strength. Aegislash scooped its shield back up as it rolled back over to it, shifting back to in front of Sam to await the Totem Ribombee’s retaliation as it woozily retook its position.
Alice returned Mudsdale into its ball before putting the red-top of it against her forehead. “Sorry girl, seems they got the best of you that time.” Upon placing the ball back onto her belt, she took out another and threw it forward. “Your turn, Lycanroc!”
Upon forming from the Poké Ball's energy, Lycanroc landed upon the ground and broke off into a rapid sprint toward the Totem Ribombee.
“That’s it, boy!” Alice cheered on. “Finish the Totem Ribombee with Stone Edge!”
Frightened, the Totem Ribombee quickly formed another Energy Ball in its hands and threw it at the oncoming wolf. Though it broke perfectly onto Lycanroc’s head and all over its body, it still continued to run, unwilling to stop until its attack landed. With one final stride, it readied its body to leap up, the claws in its right paw growing three times their size and turning white with terrestrial energy. Shooting up, Lycanroc slashed up into Ribombee’s chin, sending it flying up toward the branches of the tree.
“Yes!” Alice barked. “Nice hit!”
Upon landing upon one of the larger branches, its body draped itself across before gravity began to slide it off, the Totem Pokémon far too weak to try and hold itself on. Before it could tumble down the trunk, the Pelipper caught it on the flat top of its beak and carried it back down to the floor before tilting its head, gently dropping it onto the wooden surface to rest. Wigglytuff angrily faced Lycanroc, who growled forebodingly at it as it retreated back towards Alice.
Once Pelipper returned to its spot, Sam and Aegislash were surprised to find both remaining Pokémon turning to face them. The Pelipper filled its beak up once again, this time shooting out an even bigger and visibly cooler rush of water at Aegislash, who pushed against its force with the base of its hilt as it relentlessly slammed into its face. With perfect timing, the Wigglytuff fired off a Flamethrower attack, the ends of the plume crossing behind the very back end of the Pelipper’s stream so that it could reach Aegislash unimpeded. With the water dripping off Aegislash’s blade and shield quickly evaporating, it didn’t take long before Wigglytuff’s fiery attack hit Sam’s Pokémon with its full force.
Upon Wigglytuff ending its assault, Aegislash fanned the remaining flames away with a single swing of its shield, signaling its readiness to Sam. “Good job, now use Iron Head on Wigglytuff!”
With a midair cartwheel, Aegislash tossed its shield at the Wigglytuff, where it took a hard enough bounce off the ground to bend and break the board before slamming into Wigglytuff’s face, knocking it onto its back. Aegislash deftly caught its shield once again before Lycanroc prepared for Alice’s call.
“Okay, Lycanroc,” she said, “let’s see if you can finish off that Pelipper with Stone Edge!”
Charging at its target, Lycanroc’s claws began to grow and glow again as its strides became longer and stronger. With its final leap, it swung upwards with all its might, dragging both claws along the entire length of the pelican’s beak. Letting out a weakened caw, it began to flip backwards, seemingly defeated. As it reached the halfway point of its inversion, Alice suddenly noticed its beak begin to puff up again.
Looking down, she found her Pokémon standing complacently still with the victory it assumed it achieved. “Lycanroc! Get out of there!”
With its façade betrayed, the Pelipper swung itself upright before shooting another Hydro Pump at Lycanroc, who was too slow to avoid it as its body was violently hosed back to Alice. As it rolled to a limp stop in front of her, Sam noticed Wigglytuff’s mouth glowing bright and hot again.
With another forceful blow, Wigglytuff hurled out another Flamethrower, fully bathing Aegislash in fire. As it grunted to withstand the heat, its moans grew more tired before its shield fell from its grasp, followed by its own body clattering to the ground with it. Sam looked up at the two Pokémon, who looked extremely satisfied with their individual takedowns. As he brought Aegislash’s Poké Ball off from his belt to return it, his eyes never left the two.
“We expected better,” he muttered loud enough for them to hear.
At once, Sam and Alice returned their fainted Pokémon into their balls. Looking to each other, they each seemed to know exactly which Pokémon to send out next to finish everything off.
“Let’s end this, Raichu!” Alice tossed her ball at Pelipper.
“Just like last time, Salazzle!” Sam threw his ball at Wigglytuff.
Before they hit the ground, both Poké Balls opened up and let both Pokémon inside of them out, each facing the Pokémon they knew their trainers would direct them to.
“Okay, Raichu!” Alice yelled. “Finish off Pelipper with Thunderbolt!”
Charging its entire body, Raichu shot a strong, continuous bolt of lightning from its head, sending it in a perfect arc at Pelipper to cover its entire body with electricity. With a loud, drawn-out honk, it could no longer keep its wings flapping as it tired out, plummeting to the floor and bouncing hard off it before lying still, leaving Wigglytuff nervous and alone before Salazzle.
“No hard feelings,” Sam said, raising his arms up, “but this trial has gone on long enough already.”
With his wrists crossed out in front of his face, his Z-Ring and the Poisonium Z inside the face sparked to life, Salazzle compelled to stand up straight and hold its arms out exactly like its trainer. Upon putting their arms down and holding them out and crossed, Sam and Salazzle held their arms up and wound to the left before lunging their feet forward with their arms held out and slanted. Z-Power erupted from Sam’s body and swirled into Salazzle, its aura flaring up like the purple flames appearing along Salazzle’s back down to the tip of its tail.
“Alright, Sam,” Alice exclaimed, “finish this bad boy off!”
“Plan to.” Sam punched both fists in Wigglytuff’s direction, transferring his added fervor to his Pokémon to deliver an even stronger final blow. “Salazzle, attack Wigglytuff with Acid Downpour!”
With its closed mouth hardly able to contain the thick smoke billowing up inside of it, Salazzle held back as much and as long as it could before it blew its heavy purple smog in the Wigglytuff's direction. The smoke crashed into the Wigglytuff before it fully enveloped it, not a single person able to see past the small layer that covered it. Even its painful cries were muffled by the density of the violet cloud, leaving it helpless as it struggled to get out. Finally, Wigglytuff’s body fell forward out from the smoke before it landed on its face, too exhausted to stay away and get back up. Salazzle finally relinquished the rest of its attack, panting in slight fatigue.
Despite the brutality of Sam and Salazzle’s Z-Move, Mina blew a sigh of relief for herself, ready to make her first announcement. “The Totem Ribombee and its ally Pokémon are no longer able to battle. Sam and Alice Brier have completed the Fairy-type trial!”
Raichu happily twirled around and behind Alice before facing her and throwing her arms out for a hug which Alice just as joyfully gave it. Salazzle leapt into Sam’s arms as he held it close to his chest, incredibly proud of his Pokémon’s accomplishment. Mina looked back at the three defeated Pokémon, who each began to get as upright as they could despite the pain coursing through their bodies. Even in their defeat, the three of them looked upon Sam, Alice, and their Pokemon and smiled, gladdened to have helped them attain a well-deserved victory. At this, Mina managed to smile too.
Through the celebratory cacophony, a single set of hands applauded the two siblings from the sidelines. Upon being heard, Sam, Alice, and their Pokémon settled down before turning to the west, spotting Hapu standing beside her Mudsdale, still clapping and making her blessing seen.
“Nicely done, you two.” She and her Pokémon came forward, Sam and Alice now facing her fully. “Though, I should expect nothing less from you guys at this point.”
“Hapu,” Alice addressed. “What’s going on? Are you so eager to face us in the Grand Trial that you came all the way to fight us?”
“Grand Trial?” Hapu put her hands to her hips. “There may not be a Trial Captain present for it, but you have one more trial on Poni Island to face before you can challenge–”
Alice pulled her hand from her vest pocket, silencing Hapu with the Dragonium Z she held in her fingers. Still wordless, Hapu reached forward, Alice placing the gem on the palm of her gloved hand.
After examining it closely, Hapu looked up and glanced between Sam and Alice. “Where’d… How’d you get this?”
Sam crossed his arms. “Burnet snatched me away after Alice and I tried going back to the Aether Paradise with Sun and the others during the attack on the Seafolk Village. Alice stayed behind with me and Burnet took us to the Altar of the Sunne to throw us into an Ultra Wormhole, but we had to go through the Dragon trial before we could. There was one of those in the pedestal.”
“You can also contact Dexio if you don’t believe us,” Alice argued further. “He was there too, and he’s probably a much more credible witness than Sam or I are or… Burnet will ever be…”
“No need.” Hapu gently lobbed the Z-Crystal back into Alice’s hands before she placed it in the pocket she got it from. “You two have been taking your trials together, have you not?” The two nodded. “That’s what I thought. Sam, here.”
Reaching into her own pants pocket, she pulled out another Dragonium Z and tossed it over to Sam, catching it in a basket made from his own hands. “Wait, where did you–”
“Since there’s no captain for that trial, I’m in charge of putting the Dragonium Z inside the pedestal. Tapu Fini usually lets me know when the Z Crystals get taken or misplaced, because sometimes the wild Oricorios here will fly off with them, and I assumed that was the case again, but I’m glad to know that it was actually won this time. And since trainers usually take the trials alone, there was only one in the pedestal, but if you both succeeded together, it would be fair for both of you to have one, right?”
“I…” Regardless of the long-winded answer, Sam silenced himself and nodded. “Thank you, Hapu.”
“The thing though is it’s just a colorful rock if you don’t know how to use it, so here’s how to activate it.”
Hapu stood with her legs apart before crossing her wrists in front of her face, putting her arms down and then crossing them back out. Keeping her fists closed, she placed the backs of the tips of her fingers together and pulled her hands back to beside her right ear, shifting her right leg back. She then thrust her arms forward, reaching out. Finally, she opened her arms up and slowly rolled her fingers to point at each other, mimicking the opening of the toothy mouth of a dragon.
Alice huffed out excitedly. “Thanks Hapu, that’s going to help out a lot.”
“And while we’re on the subject of Z Crystals,” Mina butted in, “here.”
Turning around, Sam and Alice looked to see Mina presenting them with a Fairium Z in each of her hands, Sam and Alice taking them each one-handed.
“I know I used it against you guys,” Mina continued, “and you’ve probably seen it used multiple times against Team Prism, but do you need me to show you again?”
“Hold on,” Sam said, glancing to his sister, “I think it’s…”
Sam and Alice then skipped ahead, forming a heart with their hand before standing on one leg and making a pair of small wings with their arms and hands.
Mina nodded, accepting the precision of their dance. “Yep, you’ve got it. In that case, Hapu, they’re all yours now.”
Though Mina had already turned around to head back to her home, Alice still gave her a small wave. “Thanks again, Mina.”
Mina bid them farewell with an outward cock of her wrist, continuing her way back. Along with her, the three Pokémon Sam and Alice faced also began to fly away, their job for the day finished.
Sam and Alice then faced Hapu, who sported a sense of new determination on her face. “So, looks like your Grand Trials are next, huh?”
“Seems to be,” Sam replied.
Hapu nodded, accepting this. “It still looks like your Pokémon took a bit of a beating in that last battle, so why don’t you go heal your Pokémon at the Pokémon Center and then meet me out on Exeggutor Island?”
“Hold up, where?”
Hapu pointed out to the west. “It’s a small island a couple of miles out from here. You’re more than welcome to take your Ride Laprases or Charizards over once you’re ready, because I already am.”
“Ohh!” Alice’s eyes widened in a playful show of surprise. “Already trying to psych us out!”
“As Kahuna it’s my job to be ready for any trial-goer who reaches this point in their journey, and now that you have, I will be waiting for you there.”
Sam nodded. “Sounds good. Alright Alice, we can probably do all our Pokémon at once since we didn’t lose that many.”
“Liking the way you think, bro!” The two began to walk up north toward the Pokémon Center.
Hapu then turned to the south and walked in that direction with her Mudsdale toward a tall, narrow boat shaped like a wide-eyed orange carp. Seeing an older, overweight man with long black hair and a goatee wearing a blue blazer on its deck, she waved off to him with the intention of using his services.