Moon Version, Part 13: New Friends
- Nintai3301
- Dec 23, 2016
- 5 min read
As Hau and Nuztai walked on, they passed construction workers at the base of Mount Lanakila. Hau mentioned that they must be working on the new Pokémon League, and began asking Nuztai tons of questions about what they’re like. Nuztai was happy to share knowledge with a young, curious mind. It’s the culture of the Pokémon world to entrust knowledge to exploring young children, after all.
They chatted on so distractedly that Nuztai tripped over something oddly cold. He turned to see what it was and discovered an Alolan Sandshrew. Nuztai eagerly captured the Pokémon as his area catch, naming him Raphael. Nuztai waved goodbye to Hau as went ahead, and Nuztai stayed behind to catch another for his living ‘dex, as well as anything else he may come across.
After training with Uriel the Flareon a bit more, Nuztai trekked on to the Aether House. Inside, Hau introduced the child residents and their Pokémon. Even though the children were too young to be official trainers, their Pokémon had bonded with them well, and were great listeners. Hau and Nuztai played with the kids until a young girl in a ragged purple dress came in. She seemed only slightly older than Hau. She introduced herself as Acerola, Captain of the next trial, that would be held at the old, abandoned Thrifty Megamart at the end of Route 14. Nuztai was so pumped, he ran right out the door.
Outside, Lillie stood at the bottom of the steps, holding her bag that hid Cosmog as a punk from team skull inched closer as if to take it. Nuztai jumped to the bottom of the steps, landing between them. After a short battle, Nuztai successfully ran the thug off. Lillie thanked Nuztai for his help, and was instructed to go inside the Aether House and stay safe with Hau. Acerola came out after the commotion had ended and agreed. Acerola and Nuztai then went to the Thrifty Megamart.
“I’ll be staying here” instructed Acerola, “for when you come running out screaming.” Acerola let out a loud laugh. “But seriously, if you leave, you fail. As with your other trials, your endgame is to find and defeat the totem Pokémon. But here you’ll need to lure it out. Use your PokéFinder to take pictures of the ghosts haunting the Megamart. That’ll get them riled up and lure out the Totem Pokémon!”
“That is, single-handedly, the most straightforward any Captain has been about a trial yet.” replied Nuztai. “I don’t trust it at all.”
“HA! You probably shouldn’t.” laughed Acerola as Nuztai went inside.
The inside of the Megamart was dark and shadowy, lending to the creepy quiet atmosphere. Every step seemed to echo as Nuztai crept inside. Clink! A bottle fell over near the registers! Nuztai spun around with the PokéFinder and snapped a picture. As the picture cleared, Nuztai was shocked to see a Ghastly appear on the photo… then THROUGH the photo! Nuztai had Uriel battle the Ghastly with it’s Shadow Ball attack, and made quick work of it.
As the battle ended, Nuztai saw a shadow zip by in the corner of his eye. He chased after it with Uriel and came on a shopping cart rattling on it’s own. A quick photo revealed a Haunter, that manifested and attacked, only to be blasted by Uriel’s Shadow Ball. After the battle, Nuztai saw a Pokémon run by just out of sight. A pikachu? It certainly looked like one…
Nuztai chased the Pokémon, only to come across a bin of stuffed Pokémon dolls that began levitating before his very eyes! Nuztai fired up the PokéFinder and snapped a picture, revealing a playful Gengar that manifested and attacked. Gengar and Uriel traded Shadow Ball attacks, Uriel just barely dodging them, eventually defeating Gengar. Uriel had taken a hit, but was still in good fighting shape. Nuztai saw the Pikachu-like shadow again dart toward the back of the store. He gave chase, coming across a closet door.
Nuztai reached out slowly to try the knob, but the door was locked. Yet, as soon as he let go, he heard a click of a lock. After of moment of consideration, Nuztai tried the door again. It was unlocked! A beeping sound from his bag nearly scared him half to death. His PokéFinder had booted itself up! He pulled it out and got it ready, entering the empty closet. Inside were pictures of a Pikachu pasted all over the walls and the back of the door. Nuztai began to look through the PokéFinder, slowly looking around until… a Pikachu!
“Seeee meeee!” cried the Pikachu, as it’s form faded into a doll-like mass that looked like it was made by a child. The Pokémon attacked, and Uriel struck it with a Shadow Ball. But to Nuztai and Uriel’s shock, the Pikachu-like head of the doll merely slumped over unharmed. The creature cried out for help, and a Haunter appeared. With a Sucker Punch from Haunter and a Shadow Claw from the Pikachu ghost, Uriel was shredded and blasted into the corner of the room.
Nuztai’s fear became overcome by his anger, and called forth Rufus the Stoutland. Haunter’s lick had no effect on Rufus as he charged through it and Crunched Haunter into dust. The Pikachu ghost attempted to shred Rufus with a Shadow Claw, but, Rufus ran through the ghostly attack unphased and Crunched the ghost, causing it to flicker and fade from existence. Nuztai ran to the door of the Megamart with Rufus, busted outside and told Acerola to come help. Confused, she ran inside and followed Nuztai back to rear of the store.
“I don’t understand it!” exclaimed a shocked Nuztai. “There was a door here! Uriel was inside and he was hurt!”
“Stop trying to scare me, Nuztai!” yelled Acerola. “You won’t get out of the trial like that! Did you get a photo of the Mimikyu or not?”
“A photo?” Nuztai asked puzzled. Oh, of course! “The PokéFinder booted itself up and I snapped this. It’s not very good.” Nuztai handed over the PokéFinder, showing Acerola the blurry photo of the Mimikyu.
“That’s Mimikyu, all right.” said Acerola as she examined the photo. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. This is actually a really good photo considering how hard Mimikyu is to get a picture of at all.”
“But, look at the room it’s in!” shouted Nuztai “That’s the closet that I found it in! That Uriel is in!”
“Look, Nuztai.” Acerola replied sternly, “I don’t exactly know how to tell you this, but that room doesn’t look like any that I’ve ever seen here, and I’ve explored every inch of the place. I’ll accept this photo as proof, but stop trying to scare me. I guess Uriel must have just run off. It’s a scary place…”
Nuztai walked out feeling dumbfounded. In his hand was Uriel’s Pokéball. He was so young. Suddenly, Nuztai caught a pikachu run by out of the corner of his eye. He spun around quickly to try to see where it went, and in the window of the Megamart saw a Pikachu and Flareon looking out at him for a moment before looking at each other and turning around to go play.
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