Moon Version, Part 20: The Poni Island Kahuna
- Nintai3301
- Feb 3, 2017
- 5 min read
“The books describe the guardians as… capricious.” explained Gladion. “Encounters with them don’t always go as planned. I’m banking on your being a nuzlocker and having shed so much blood for them that Tapu Fini will restore Lillie’s Cosmog.” Gladion and Nuztai walked into the Ruins of Hope’s rear chamber and saw the girl from before at the top of the altar. A brilliant light was emanating from a stone floating in front of her. She reached out and grabbed it.
“I give my thanks for your blessing.” She said clasping the stone tightly. “I, Hapu, will do my best to serve the people and Pokémon of Alola.” Hapu turned around, and realized she had been watched. She smiled down smugly at the two. “So you two were watching?”
“We just walked in.” replied Nuztai. “Did we just witness the next Poni Island Kahuna get chosen?”
“The sacred guardians choose the Kahunas here.” She explained “Yes, they chose me this time. It is no surprise really, given the recent battle.”
“Then please, Kahuna Hapu…” Gladion spoke with an oddly formal tone, “Tell me about the Legendary Pokémon!”
“Do you mean Lunala, whom we pay tribute at the Altar of the Moone?” Asked Hapu.
“My mother disappeared into the beast’s world…” answered Gladion solemnly. “I know that she was a terrible person, but she holds the key to saving Lillie. That’s why I want to ask the Legendary Pokémon for its help… The Legendary Pokémon is the only one who can go back and forth between worlds!”
“Well…” Interrupted Nintai. “The only one in THIS region anyway… Err, that we know of.” Gladion slowly turned his head toward Nuztai and glared at him. “What? It was kind of my specific field of study for a while…,” Nintai responded.
“The world of beasts, eh?” Hapu spoke quietly to herself. “Is that what that thing was that came to Poni Island? A beast? Tapu Fini and I tried to fight it, but it nearly did us both in. We did not stand a chance. I imagine the other island guardians had better luck having had a nuzlocker visit them tributing energy.”
“What was that, Hapu?” Inquired Nuztai
“I will tell you what I know.” Hapu answered. “But what I know is not much. Just that there is a ceremony held for the Legendary Pokémon at the altar. One that uses two particular flutes to somehow give the Legendary Pokémon power. One is said to be held on Exeggutor Island.”
Gladion and Nuztai made short work of the trip to Exeggutor Island, getting the Moone Flute and an Alolan Exeggutor for the living dex as well. They trekked back to Poni Island and headed to Vast Poni Canyon, but their journey was stopped by a group of Team Skull grunts sitting at the entrance. As they approached, one of the grunts stood up.
“Gladion, do you really know a way to save our boy, Guzma?!” The grunt asked eagerly. “We can make you talk, even if we have to cut you to the bone!”
The grunts all sent out Pokémon, a Fomantis, Salandit, Haunter, Raticate, Golbat, and Mareanie. Nuztai sent out Mary the Gyarados and Gladion sent out his Golbat. Gyarados used its Hydro Pump to clear out Haunter and Salandit. Gladion’s Golbat wiped out Fomantis with its Acrobatics and battled furiously with the enemy Golbat. Gyarados whipped up a Hurricane that finished the Raticate and Mareanie.
“We won’t give up! We can’t!” cried the grunt.
“That’s enough. No one wants to see a sore loser.” The voice came from somewhere behind Nuztai and Gladion. They turned to see Plumeria perched on a ledge.
“Plumeria! The president’s little errand girl!” Hollered Gladion. “You here to fight us, too?”
“No, you idiot. I…” Plumeria hung on her words for a moment. “I came to apologize.” Both Gladion and Nuztai stood shocked as Plumeria jumped from the ledge and walked over to them. “I treated you both pretty badly. I was just doing what the president said, but I still feel pretty bad about about what’s happened.”
“You mean when you kidnapped my sister and froze her into ice!” Screamed an angry Gladion.
“I didn’t even have to kidnap her! She knew she was cornered and came of her own free will!”
“Bullshit!” Interrupted Nuztai. “You roughed up Hau until she begged you to take her and leave him alone.”
“Fine…” Spat Plumeria. “You’re right… But I regret it. I’m… I’m sorry for it.”
“You think I give two shits about your apology!” Yelled Gladion.
“Hang on…” Nintai stretched a hand in front of Gladion. “There’s more here. Your grunts mentioned Guzma. He went into the beast world, too. You wanna save him, don’t you?”
Plumeria crossed her arms and turned away. “Guzma… He really likes the president. She’s the only adult who ever seemed to see how strong he was.”
“The president is a selfish jerk!” declared a still raging Gladion. “She only lavishes her love on those she deems worth of it, and doesn’t care if they want it. The only reason I will save her is to save Lillie! If that happens to save Guzma, too, then he’s lucky.”
“That’s more than I can ask. Bring Guzma back, if you can.” replied Plumeria, fighting her emotions in her voice. “I know you’ve got no reason to help… But no one can make up for what they’ve done if they’re gone.” Plumeria walked slowly up to Nuztai. “Here, this is my way of saying sorry, OK? Take it. It’s Poisonium Z.” She handed the crystal over to Nuztai. “I’m outta here.”
Gladion and Nuztai watched as she walked off, picking up her pace as she went.
Past the entrance of the Vast Poni Canyon, Kahuna Hapu waited for their arrival. There, she challenged Nuztai to his Poni Island Grand Trail. Hapu led with her Dugtrio, and Nuztai chose Mary to battle for him again. Dugtrio summoned a sandstorm, only to be blasted by Mary’s Hydro Pump and knocked out. Flygon came out next, launching a Dragon Breath attack at Mary. The storm hit Mary’s eyes just as she tried to launch another Hyrdo Pump, and she sprayed the side of the canyon. Flygon hit Mary again with Dragon Breath, this time paralyzing her. Mary still found the ability to launch a Hydro Pump, but it had little effect on Flygon.
Nuztai decided it might be best to switch to Raphael the Alolan Sandslash. Flygon’s Dragon Breath wasn’t very affective against Raphael, but it’s Earth Power destroyed it. Raphael was defeated. Metatron was sent in next, and though paralyzed by Flygon’s Dragon Breath as well, it still managed a Dragon Claw that finished Flygon off.
Nuztai switched to Bouncee to battle Hapu’s Gastrodon. Bouncee’s Leaf Storm decimated Gastrodon, leaving Hapu with only Mudsdale. Nuztai wasted no chance and triggered Bouncee’s Bloom Doom Z-Move, but to their shock, Mudsdale withstood the move with ease. It launched an Earthquake attack, knocking Nuztai off his feet, but Bouncee was relatively unphased. She launched another Leaf Storm, but Mudsdale withstood and responded with another Earthquake. As the ground shook, Bouncee lept into the air and came crashing down into Mudsdale with a Trop Kick. But Hapu had used a Hyper Potion, and Mudsdale was healthier than ever. Its Stamina ability was raising its defence after every attack, and Bouncee’s special attack was weakening with every Leaf Storm.
Nuztai thought quickly and recalled Bouncee, replacing her with Rufus. Mudsdale was ready to Counter a move, and wasn’t prepared for the change. Nuztai then swapped back to Bouncee, whose stats were back to normal. Mudsdale hit Bouncee with a Heavy Slam, and she was looking bad. Nuztai pulled a Hyper Potion of his own and healed Bouncee. She withstood the next Heavy Slam attack and launched a Leaf Storm. This time it was enough, and Mudsdale went down.
Nuztai received his prize, the Groundium-Z, but felt it less of a victory to have to bury yet another friend. “When would this bloody streak end?” he thought. Ever since he lost Bobby, he’s failed to catch a single Pokémon for his team either. He wondered if the canyon may finally present him with a new recruit.
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