Moon Version, Part 23: Progress
- Nintai3301
- Feb 15, 2017
- 5 min read
The world around them began to quake with intense ferocity. Guzma ran up and the group huddled together. Lunala covered them in its wings, and in a flash, they were back on top of the Altar of the Moone, greeted by Hapu. They lifted Lusamine onto Hapu’s Mudsdale and the group in large prepared to head to town to treat her, so she can free Lillie. As they began to leave, Nuztai stood atop the Altar. He watched them for a moment trek down the steps, and then turned to Lunala.
“Nebby, we can’t very well leave you here.” He said, “But we can’t just take you into town. Will you do me the honor of letting me capture you? To me, you’re Lillie’s Pokémon, and if she takes you when she awakens, I won’t say a word. But the world could learn from you. I’d be honored if you join my ranks. I haven’t caught a Pokémon from the Altar, although, I’m not sure it really counts.”
With a loud cry, it was obvious Lunala had accepted. Lunala and Nuztai battled spectacularly, and the others stopped their decent to watch. But after a couple tries, Lunala was finally caught in Nuztai’s Ultra Ball, and zapped away to the Pokémon storage.
“We’ll check on Nebby in town.” Nuztai called out as he began to descend from the Altar. “For now, let’s deal with her.”
As the group was leaving Vast Poni Canyon, Kahuna Nanu was waiting outside. The group continued to town while Nuztai stayed to talk to Nanu.
“You’ve completed the seven Trials as well as the four Grand Trials.” explained Nanu. “That normally means we get to have a Final Trial, where you consecutively fight all four Kahuna.”
“I sense a ‘but’ coming…” added Nuztai.
“BUT, with the completion of the Pokémon League, we’re doing things a little differently this year.” elaborated Nanu. “So when you’re ready for your big challenge, come to Mount Lanakila and make your way to the Pokémon League.”
“That was completed pretty fast for a construction project on a mountain top. How quickly do I need to head over?” inquired Nuztai.
“No rush.” answered Nanu. “They’ll be expecting you there next week. A nuzlocker for our first challenger. How crazy is that? But I suggest leaving the Aether President and Lillie to the others for now. You need to be in peak shape…” Nanu looked at Nuztai with a creepy grin and stared for a moment. The silence was overwhelming until it finally hit Nuztai.
“PEAK shape…” said Nuztai. “Cause I’m heading to a mountain… Good one…”
Nuztai used the time to train, catch more Pokémon for the living ‘dex, and use some of his reserves in training that he hadn’t before. He even found a trainer with an Alolan Vulpix he could trade his Alolan Sandshrew for. He took his first journey to the Melemele sea, where he added Cain the Tentacool to his reserves. After making great strides in such a short time, the moment eventually came for him to make his way back to Tapu Village.
Nuztai entered the Pokémon Center and healed his Pokémon in preparation for the journey up the mountain ahead. He wondered if it would be as dangerous as Victory Road in Kanto. He accessed some TMs and trained his Pokémon with new moves and techniques. This was it. The final test for a normal Nuzlocker. The climb to the Pokémon League and test to become a champion. But Nuztai knew it would only be the beginning of his challenge as a Dexlocker. After all, by this point there was still 40 more Pokémon he needed to complete his Living Alolan Pokédex.
No sooner than Nuztai had stepped foot on Mount Lanikila did it begin to hail. As he approached the a control panel to summon the lift to the bottom, it began to descend. Gladion came riding down and called out to Nuztai.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Gladion announced. “To thank you. For helping me. Lillie has been thawed and is recovering well, thanks to your help. And mother… She’s being appropriately charged for her crimes. Including the child abuse. Seems the statute of limitations doesn’t begin until the child is eighteen, which Lillie and I are not. I… truly am grateful.”
“This is a long way to come to tell me that.” Nuztai responded. “You could have waited until I was done and saw you again at Aether Paradise.”
“That’s because… well,” Gladion reached to his side and grabbed a Pokéball, “the only thing I can offer in thanks is a great battle. So I’m going to show my full power… My real full power this time! With the Z-Ring that old man gave me!”
“Wait, what old ma--” Nuztai was cut off by Gladion sending in his Crobat. Nuztai responded in kind by sending in Gadreel. Crobat was fast to hit Gadreel with Acrobatics, but Gadreel shattered it’s mind with a Psychic attack. Crobat held on, only barely, but enough to use Cross Poison to further damage Gadreel. Gadreel charged and blasted a Shadow Ball, sending Crobat flying into the side of the mountain.
Gladion sent in Silvally, the freshly evolved form of his dear Type: Null. Silvally launched a Multi-Attack, doing great damage to Gadreel, who stopped the assault with his Psychic powers. Nuztai swapped Gadreel for Whirly, only to find that Multi-Attack was super effective against Whirly as well. Whirly survived the attack, but Nuztai had to think quickly to determine who to swap to now. There are no moves that are strong against both Psychic types and Fighting Types. So it must be a move strong against Water! That leaves Electric and Grass, both of which are not very effective against…
Nuztai swapped to Bouncee! It worked, the Multi-Attack barely did anything. Bouncee landed a Trop Kick, only to learn it wasn’t effective either, and that Silvally also could use X-Scissor. Bouncee took the hit well, and responded with a Stomp. Silvally was weak, but so was Bouncee. Nuztai pulled a Hyper Potion and Silvally continued to hit with X-Scissor, but Bouncee finished Silvally with another Stomp.
Gladion sent in Weavile, and Nuztai swapped to Whirly. Nuztai took a moment to spray a Hyper Potion on Whirly, giving Weavile a chance to hit with a Night Slash. Whirly brushed the attack off and charged in with a Wake-up Slap that hit Weavile so hard it tumbled along the ground before smashing through a nearby boulder. Gladion recalled the unconscious Weavile.
All Gladion had left now was his Lucario. Lucario immediately began blasting Whirly with its Aura Spheres, but Whirly ran headlong into the assault as if it had no effect and arrived in Lucario’s face with a Wake-up Slap that felt like a déjà vu, as Lucario went tumbling into the mountainside, unconscious. Nuztai had won.
Gladion took a moment to compose himself, then smiled at Nuztai. “You’ve got good Pokémon. We’ve been through a hell of a journey. Lillie wanted me to tell you something. She wanted me to tell you… that you’re the best Pokémon Trainer in the world, Nuztai, and that she can think of no one better to keep Nebby. Hau is working to get stronger, too. Seems to think he’ll impress her by beating you. I suggest keeping a lookout. Hmph. If you two are going to get even stronger, I won’t let my guard down. I know we aren’t friends. But we aren’t enemies anymore eit--”
“Screw you, Gladion.” interrupted Nuztai. “We’re friends and rivals! And don’t you forget it!”
“Keep winning. Maybe I’ll see you again if you do… Friend…”
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