//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: Wela Volcano Peak Trial! // Story: Journey through Alola // by darkmage1997 //------------------------------// Walking along the coastal shoreline was the only way for our heroes to reach the Wela Volcanic National Park, "This looks like the place," Will commented. "Are we really going to hike up THAT?!" Lola exclaimed, looking at the towering volcano. "Relax Lola. By the looks of it, there are plenty of volcanic vents that allows pressure to be reduced, thus stifling any chance of an eruption," Lisa explained. "Right you are. It's all thanks to the efforts of Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio," Rotom added. "Wait, you said 'Alolan Diglett and Dugtrio.' Does that mean what I think it means?" Will commented. "What does it mean?" Leni asked. Her siblings all slapped their foreheads at Leni's blatant question. "It does. Diglett, and it's evolved form, Dugtrio, Alola Form. Both are Mole Pokémon and are Ground and Steel Types. The golden hairs on these two Pokémon are actual metal whiskers, which act as sensors. It is said that possessing one of these whiskers brings great misfortune," Rotom said, displaying a picture of two mole Pokémon. One was a lone mole with three hairs, while the other was a cluster of three moles with three different hairstyles. "Wow, that Dugtrio Pokémon has such nice hair. I'm almost jealous," Lori commented. "So if that's the case, we don't have to worry about this thing blowing it's stack," Will added, as they entered the park. Inside, they all many of either Fire, Ground, or Normal Type Pokémon, ranging from a bunch of Salandit and smaller versions of Magmar, to giant kangaroo Pokémon. "Kind of expected the Fire Pokémon, but kangaroos don't exactly scream 'volcano'," Toby commented, as they hiked up a path. They were stopped when a small, brown Pokémon wearing a skull and holding a bone came out from the grass. "Oh hey, a Cubone!" Will exclaimed. "It wears a skull, and carries a bone. Wicked," Lucy commented. "Cubone, the Lonely Pokémon, a Ground Type. Whenever it looks to the moon, all it thinks of is it's dead mother. As a result of this, it cries from loneliness," Rotom said. "That's so sad," Lana commented. "What are you guys talking about? It just needs to toughen up," Lynn retorted, as she approached Cubone, making it cower. "No Lynn," Will said, holding the athlete back, "That's not the way one raises a Cubone," Will said. "Oh yeah? Then enlighten us!" Lynn snapped. "With pleasure," Will said, not even flinching from Lynn's attitude. He then carefully approached the Cubone, "Hey there little guy. There's no reason to be scared of us," Will said, extending his arm to Cubone, who flinched at the gesture, but quickly calmed down, as it felt how gentle Will's touch was, "See? I'm not a bad guy," Will said, giving Cubone a Pokebean. It seemed to earn Cubone's trust, as it took the bean, and began eating it, "See Lynn? Not every challenge demands force. It's important to take into account the feeling of others, and rather than forcing something, it's best to earn the rewards. In this case, I was able earn Cubone's trust," Will explained, as he took out a Nest Ball, "Cubone, do you want to come with us?" Will asked. Cubone looked up, with sparkling eyes, and whacked the Nest Ball with it's club, encapsulating the Lonely Pokémon. The Ball rocked three times before clicking. it then teleported away. "Whatever, I still think it needs to be toughened up," Lynn muttered. "What was that?" Lincoln asked, as he held the rubber mallet before. The four sisters that took their turns whacking Lynn were also holding the items they used to smack Lynn with. "Nothing!" Lynn quickly shot out. "By the way, why was it carrying a bone, and wearing a skull?" Lori asked. "Well, Rotom may not have said it, but that skull and that bone were originally those of Cubone's Mother, a Pokémon called Marowak," Will replied. "I see. So, they're like mementos?" Lincoln asked. "Exactly. Though, I only learned the full story behind Cubone when I was in Lavender Town, during my trek through Kanto," Will replied. "Something tells me we're not going to like it," Lola commented, sensing oncoming dread. "And you'd be right to. Sometime before I got to Lavender Town, there was a Cubone, who lost it's mother Marowak to Team Rocket," Will began. "Who is Team Rocket?" Luan asked. "Bad guys. Kind of like a Pokémon Mafia. Anyway, they were poaching Pokémon from nearby areas, including a baby Cubone. Team Rocket thinks Pokémon are something that can be bought or sold, that they're nothing more than tools of war, or a get rich quick scheme. And, according to what I heard, Team Rocket was planning to sell of the baby Cubone they were about to steal, because baby Cubone fetch a high price on the black market," Will continued. "That's not nice!" Leni said, appalled by what she and her siblings were hearing. "Being 'not nice' is too nice of a phrase to describe Team Rocket. When Marowak went to save it's baby, some of the grunts murdered Marowak," Will said in disgust. His friends from Ponyville and Royal Woods were all shocked to hear this, "But it was thanks to the efforts of a man named Mr. Fuji that Cubone was able to trust humans again," he added, remembering the kind old man. "Mr. Fuji sounds like a wonderful person," Fluttershy commented. "That doesn't even begin to describe him! Mr. Fuji turned his home into a shelter for injured or abandoned Pokémon. However, when I went to visit him, I learned that he went to the Pokémon Tower, which is a grave sight for Pokémon that have passed on. I went to go talk to him, but I found that Team Rocket had taken over the tower, and were preventing anyone from even visiting the graves of their Pokémon," Will continued. "That's terrible!" Lola exclaimed. "Does any member of Team Rocket have a heart?!" Lincoln yelled. "Apparently not. Anyhow, Team Rocket wasn't the only thing keeping people away. Apparently, the ghost of Marowak was still lingering in this world, still worried about it's child. It was furious at Team Rocket, and wanted them to leave. However, when Marowak was reunited with Cubone, it finally found the peace it desperately sought, and moved on. After that, I drove off Team Rocket, and I have not heard anything about them attacking the tower, ever since," Will finished. "That, was literally heartbreaking!" Lori said, her mascara running from her crying. "Well, thing have been peaceful in Lavender Town, thanks to Mr. Fuji," Will said. "He sounds like a true hero, among the people," Lincoln said. "That he is, Lincoln. Well, in any case, let's continue on," Will said, as they continued hiking up the mountain. They eventually came across a cave entrance, "Huh, wonder where this leads to?" Will wondered. They all took notice of a sign that said "To The Peak." "Well, that's handy to know," Silver Spoon commented, as they entered the cave. Walking though the cave was giving the group all manner of chills. They stopped walking when they saw something very big. It looked to be a giant red turtle with spikes on it's shell. "Whoa, that Pokémon looks cool!" Lana exclaimed. "Turtonator, the Blast Turtle Pokémon, a Fire and Dragon Type. The spikes on it's back are highly explosive. it got this way from a diet of explosive materials, such as sulfur," Rotom explained. "If it's a Fire Type, then I want to try and catch it," Toby commented. "Go for it. However, given how big it is, you may need to battle it first," Will explained. Toby nodded, and approached Turtonator. "Go, Braixen!" Toby said, sending out the Fox Pokémon. Turtonator took notice, and engaged Braixen, "Quick, use Psybeam!" Toby instructed. Braixen then fired Psybeam, which seemed to damage Turtonator. However, the Blast Turtle retaliated, by firing Flamethrower at Braixen, who tanked the attack. "Even though Braixen doesn't take a lot of damage from Fire Type Moves, that still looked to pack a punch," Will commented. "Now Braixen, use Psybeam, once more!" Braixen once again fired off Psybeam, which seemed to make Turtonator struggle a bit with standing, "Now's my chance!" Toby said, chucking a Dusk Ball at the weakened Pokémon, encapsulating Turtonator. It rocked three timed, before clicking. It then teleported away, "I definitely want to train Turtonator," Toby commented, as he spayed a very grateful Braixen with Super Potion. "It would be a good idea to get in touch with different Pokémon of similar types. The only Dragon Pokémon you have is Noibat," Will said, as they continued onward. Exiting the cave, they found themselves at the very top of the volcano. "Well, this is about as high up as we can get," Luan commented. "Look! Captain's Gates!" Toby said, pointing to a pair of gates, similar to the ones found at the previous two trials. "This definitely looks to be the place," Will said, as they all passed through the gates. They hiked up a smaller incline, until they reached the summit. There, they saw a large, stone stage, surrounded by torches. On the stage was a dark skinned boy, wearing only a pair of shorts. His hair looked similar to that of a fire. "So, you've all arrived," the boy said, approaching them, "I am Kiawe, trial captain of Wela Volcano Peak. My Marowak and I are students of the traditional fire dances passed down in Alola for generations. Here's how the trial works. Two groups of three Marowak will perform a dance, and do the same dance again. The one thing to know is that the second dance is different from the first dance," Kiawe said, as three, blackish purple Pokémon with skulls for heads, and flaming bones leapt out from the shadows. "Whoa, never seen a Marowak with flaming bones!" Will commented. "Marowak, Alola Form, the Bone Keeper Pokémon, a Ghost and Fire type. Marowak is the evolved form of a Cubone that has learned to cope with the loss of it's mother. The flames at the tips of it's bone club are ignited by striking the scar on it's forehead," Rotom said. "I guess it is fitting for Alolan Marowak to be Ghost Types, at least," Will commented. "Now then, those who choose to face my Marowak, approach!" Kiawe demanded. Will, Fluttershy, Silver Spoon, and Toby all stepped forth. Wela Volcano Peak Trial: Trial Goers: Will, Flora, Sylvia, and Toby "Now then two of you will each take on a different trio of Marowak," Kiawe stated. Will and Silver Spoon approached one trio, while Toby and Fluttershy approached the second, "Now, observe the first dance!" Kiawe bellowed, as the two trios began dancing. The two groups both struck the exact same pose, "Now, identify the difference in the second dance!" he declared. Both groups went to do the same dance. However, in both trios, one Marowak was posed differently in each group, "Now, what was different in the dances?" Kiawe asked. "It's the Marowak in the middle!" Will declared. "For us, it would be the one on the right," Fluttershy added. "Very good. Now then, you must battle a Marowak!" Kiawe declared, as a second Marowak engaged each trainer, along with the one who posed differently. "Go, Corphish!" Will said, sending out Corphish. "Rockruff, I need your help!" Silver Spoon said, sending out the irate Puppy Pokémon. "Prinplup, I choose you!" Toby said, sending out Prinplup. "Now, Onix, let's go!" Fluttershy said, sending out the Rock Snake Pokémon. The Marowak facing Will swung it's bone like a boomerang. "Here comes Bonemerang! Corphish, knock it back with Crabhammer!" Will instructed. Corphish's claws then started glowing, as it swung the bone back at Marowak. "Onix, be a dear and use Rock Slide," Fluttershy asked. Onix then swung it's tail on the ground, sending massive boulders at the Marowak she was facing. It was enough to knock out the Marowak. "Now Prinplup, use Bubblebeam!" Toby instructed. Prinplup fired Bubblebeam at the Marowak he was up against, who was using Flame Wheel. it was enough to stop Marowak. "Now Rockruff, use Rock Throw!" Silver Spoon instructed. Rockruff then fired a bunch of rocks at the Marowak she was battling. Like the one Fluttershy was battling, this Marowak went down in one hit. "Once more Corphish, use Bubblebeam!" Will instructed. Corphish then fired Bubblebeam at Marowak, knocking it out. "Now Prinplup, finish up Marowak with Water Pulse!" Toby instructed. Prinplup then summoned a ball of water, and flung it at his Marowak opponent, knocking it out. "Hmm, not bad. Those Marowak just had to battle you guys. Now then, if you're ready, we shall begin the second dance," Kiawe said, as the Marowak began dancing again. This time, four hikers jumped out, and started dancing along with them. They then struck a pose, "Now, see if you can spot the difference in this second dance," Kiawe said. The Marowak and the hikers began another dance. The second time around, the difference was a little harder to spot, "Now then, what was different about the second dance?" Kiawe asked. "I think it's the facial expressions of the hikers," Toby replied, sounding unsure. "Now that I look closely, they have a different expression than the first dance," Silver Spoon added. "Well done. Now then, you face my hiker friends!" Kiawe said. "ALOLA!" the four hikers exclaimed, as they all released four different Fire Pokémon, ranging from either Magmar, Salandit, a little bird Pokémon, and a Puppy Pokémon. "Fletchinder, the Ember Pokémon, a Fire and Flying Type. Fletchinder gains more speed when the flame sac on it's belly get's hotter and hotter. Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon, a Fire Type. Growlithe are very loyal Pokémon, that don't make a move unless their trainer wants them to," Rotom said. "So, we're facing trainers this time," Will said, as he was squaring off with the Growlithe trainer. "This makes things a little harder," Fluttershy said, as she was up against the Magmar Trainer. "But we can pull through," Toby said, facing the Fletchinder Trainer. "Let's go Rockruff, use Rock Throw!" Silver Spoon instructed. Rockruff then started flinging rocks at Salandit. "Salandit, use Flame Burst!" Salandit's trainer instructed. Salandit then flung a few balls of fire at Rockruff, who skillfully dodged them. "Corphish, use Crabhammer!" Will instructed. Corphish swung it's pincers at Growlithe, who countered with a Flame Wheel. "You'll need to do better than that," Growlithe's trainer said. "Go Prinplup, use Whirlpool!" Toby instructed. Prinplup then summoned a whirlpool, that it flung at Fletchinder, trapping the Ember Pokémon. By the time the whirlpool dissipated, Fletchinder was knocked out. "Thanks Fletchinder, you did great!" the hiker said, recalling Fletchinder. "Onix, use Slam attack!" Fluttershy instructed. Onix then slammed it's tail against Magmar, sending it into a wall, knocked out. Magmar's trainer then recalled his Pokémon. It wasn't long before Will and Silver Spoon won their matches. "Nicely done. My Hiker pals just had to face you guys. Now, onto the third and final dance! For this one, you all will be examining the same exact group," Kiawe said, as he motioned them to come to the center. The Marowak then began dancing again with the hikers. They struck a pose, "Now, spot the difference in the second dance," Kiawe said. This time, when the dancers struck the pose, another, much larger Marowak appeared, "Now then, what was different about the second dance?" Kiawe asked. "That's easy. It's that bigger Marowak," Will replied. "Nice observation skills. Now, you face the Totem Pokémon!" No sooner than he said that, the Totem Marowak's aura flared to life. It once again used Bonemerang to try to a sweep of it's opposition. The four battling Pokémon were all hit, but only Onix was knocked out. "Thank you Onix! Rest for now!" Fluttershy said, recalling Onix, "Brionne, help our friends!" Fluttershy said, sending out Brionne, "Use Bubblebeam!" she instructed. "Prinplup, use Bubblebeam too!" Toby instructed. "You use Bubblebeam too, Corphish!" Will added. The three Pokémon then fired Bubblebeam at Marowak, who barely seemed phased. Marowak then used Flame Wheel, and smashed into the three water Pokémon, knocking out Corphish and Prinplup. "Thanks Corphish, you were great out there!" Will said, recalling Corphish. "You were too Prinplup," Toby said, recalling Prinplup. "Now, Buizel/Rockruff, go!" the two trainers said, releasing their respective Pokémon. Marowak was still using Flame Wheel, when it slammed into Silver Spoon's Rockruff. It was stomping down on the Puppy Pokémon, who looked to be getting more agitated. That's when it began to evolve, and force Marowak off. Her Rockruff had evolved into a Midday Form Lycanroc. "Amazing!" Silver Spoon exclaimed. The newly evolved Lycanroc then charged full force into Marowak, sending it back a few feet, "What was that?!" she asked. "That was Accelerock, Midday Form Lycanroc's signature move. A Rock Type Move that always goes first," Rotom explained. Lycanroc then slammed the ground with it's forelegs, sending up glowing blue, spiked rocks, which struck Marowak again, bringing the Totem Pokémon to it's near limit, "And that was Stone Edge! A Rock Type Move that has a high Critical Hit Ratio!" Rotom said. "Alright, here we go!" Fluttershy said, as she did the pose for Water Type Z Moves, "Now Brionne, use Hydro Vortex!" she exclaimed. Brionne then trapped Marowak inside the whirlpool Z Move. When it dissipated, Marowak was knocked out. "Not bad. To think, the vaunted Marowak that I trained so carefully to such a powerful state was defeated so easily," Kiawe commented. "I wouldn't say 'easily'," Toby commented. "Well, no matter. The point is, you pass the Trial, and the Fire Type Z Crystal, the Firium Z, is now yours," Kiawe said, handing out a red Z Crystal with a flame symbol, "And if you want to make use of a Fire Type Z Move, move your arms like so," Kiawe said, demonstrating the Z Move Pose. He raised his arms up, like a flame, then extended his arm, "This will allow you to use Inferno Overdrive. Now that you've cleared my trial, a couple of things. First, I'll register some Air Ride Pokémon to your pagers," Kiawe said, fiddling with the pagers, "And secondly, your next trial will be at Lush Jungle at the northern end of the island. Mallow will be waiting for you there. Also, try not to accept any of the Mallow Special. Trust me on this," Kiawe said. "Ok, thanks for allowing us to take the trial, Kiawe," Will said. The Totem Marowak then bellowed loudly. As soon as it did, a whole bunch of Fire Pokémon came rushing out. Among them included a pig Pokémon, a lizard Pokémon, a chicken, a sleek weasel like Pokémon, and a few others. "It would seem that the Totem Marowak has given each of you it's blessings to take on Fire Pokémon under your belts," Kiawe said. Each trainer took their time catching each Fire Pokémon, "If you take the side path down the Volcano, you'll be back at the base. Go through the tunnel, and take the northern coastal road, and you'll find a Pokémon Center near Lush Jungle," he added. "Ok. Thank you, Kiawe," Will said, as the group took their leave. "Even with a whole slew of Fire Pokémon, it'll all depend on their skills to defeat THAT Totem Pokémon," Kiawe said to himself.