"An Island Challenge?" Papa asked, looking between me and Hala confused.
"I accept." I said before anything else could be stated, because this was the entire reason I was here!
Well, that and the beaches!
Hala smiled at me, but looked at Papa.
"Unlike the mainland, we on Alola don’t have a League, or a Gyms. We instead hold Island Trials. Tasks that our young ones complete to learn about our home, your daughter has already completed one before ever stepping foot on Alola, this is a... Unique situation as we do not often offer them to outsiders. Because of this there has been some... Discussion about what to do. Now the Kahuna have convened and our discussion is complete."
"And what did you all decide?" Mama asked, her eyes sharp. She’d even stopped petting Meowth who was now watching everything with an irritated look.
"The decision was that since Victoria has completed a challenge, she would get the chance to take part in a challenge, and if she succeeds... Well, she would be considered an Island Challenger."
"If I succeed, will you give me a Z ring?" I asked, holding up my Kommonium Z in front of my face. The gem sparkling in the noonday sun. "I promised Kommo-o, I would learn to use the Z move with Jangmo-o."
Hala looked a bit surprised before smirking. "It seems you know even more than I expected. Yes. If you complete this task." And from his sleeve he pulled it out.
A Z ring.
"This will be yours."
"Then I accept. No matter the challenge. I’ll do it!" I said, determination flowing through me. I won’t fail! Not here!.
"Hmm. We shall see."
"Is it dangerous? Vicky! You don’t have your team." Papa said and I shook my head, at the same time as Hala.
"Island Trials aren’t just battles." Hala offered, but I added to it.
"That’s the trick Papa. The Island Trials are about learning, gaining an understanding of the Island and the Pokemon around it. It’s not about battles. In fact... I don’t think I’ll need to do much battling at all." I offered and Hala looked at me, and smiled.
"Did Professor Kukui tell you about the Island Challenges? Or someone else?" He wondered.
"Nope. I’ve just been listening." I told him and he looked pleased at my response.
"It is as Victoria says. Battle is not the answer to the Island Trial Although perhaps she will face a Grand Trial after?"
"That’s when I face a Kahuna in battle right? I’d love to!"
"Then the Island Trial begins. Come, I’ll show you your task."
"Yes Kahuna Hala! I’ll be back!" I called to Mama and Papa, both looked hesitant to let me go, but I was already jogging to keep up with Hala.
Time for something interesting!
—--
We walked for a while Hala, thankfully wasn’t quiet the whole time instead pointing things out and chatting about random stuff. That shop was good for this, that little grove is where the children played with wild pokemon.
Just neat Island trivia.
Then we walked down an old dirt path, and the sounds of Pokemon in the trees became more and more common, until suddenly it wasn’t. The jungle went quiet. I looked at Hala, but he looked grim.
"This is where your challenge begins." He said just as we rounded a bend, and a teenager was resting against a tree up ahead. He was... Pretty? He had that air about him. Slightly pink hair, very straight laced feeling pretty boy.
"Alola, Kahuna." He pushed off the tree and greeted us as we approached.
"Alola Ilima. Is the area still secure?"
"It is. I’ve got my pokemon keeping everything away... Is this really needed? I could handle this."
"Perhaps, but it is safer this way. Victoria. Recently a pokemon has come down not far from here. He is normally well known as a forest guardian. A safe pokemon for anyone that he meets... He is rampaging. Battling any pokemon nearby. This is one of the largest berry orchards on the island, he is stopping any pokemon from entering. Many pokemon are having trouble finding food."
"Oh no." I whispered, that could cause a lot of knock on effects. Starving pokemon stopped caring about things like humans when they started getting really hungry. Starving pokemon went for food, and humans had a lot of it. There could be a rampage, or worse. Massive migrations that shifted the entire ecosystem.
"Your task is to find out how to resolve this problem."
"Kahuna, I... I protest." Ilima said, looking from Hala to me. He didn’t glare, and even looked a little apologetic, but he continued. "This is a serious issue. I don’t know if trusting a foreigner is-"
"Ilima. I understand your concern, but Victoria needs a trial, and the Kahuna have agreed. Besides, she will be safer doing this task than you."
The pretty boy looked away but didn’t argue anything further.
"Then Victoria. Know that Island Challenges are not battles." To my surprise Hala put a hand on my shoulder. "Go use your experience to help heal the island."
"I will Kahuna." I started forward, although I noticed Hala did follow, but far behind. Watching but not interfering.
I came down the little dirt path into a sort of dip, the grass was tall and fluffy as I stepped down, and I think there might be a small swamp here, feeding the many many trees in this section of the jungle. The whole place was humid, but... Nice. A breeze blew among the trees keeping it from being too much.
As soon as I stepped down I heard it. The grumble and the sound of tearing at food.
Was it a pokemon that was starving?
I pushed onward. I crept along quietly, using the trees as cover, and noticed Hala was standing up just before the dip, settled among the bushes with a few branches held over his head...
It actually worked pretty well to hide him, even if it looked silly.
"Drrrr!" A growl broke out and I felt it.
A prickle in the air, a scent that I recognized, and I ducked.
In the air. Too far upwards to have hit me even so, a beam of energy arced out and burned through the air with sickly power.
Dragon Pulse.
Ah, no wonder they’d given me this task. I looked up.
"Drraaaaaa!" The Pokemon roared as it had definitely noticed me. I rose up enough to see...
"Drampa?" I questioned why was probably the most gentle of Dragon types down here acting like this?
He saw me, and I saw him, but I took it all in. His fur around his wings was matted. His hair looked messy, and his eyes...
They weren’t normal, but shimmering with angry red energy.
He shook his head as he saw me, and yet, started charging another Dragon Pulse.
I could hear Hala, and maybe Ilima behind me make some noise, an aborted warning, but I was focused. This was wrong. Drampa didn’t act like this, they loved children, enough that the Pokedex noted they’d go destroy the houses of bullies that were mean to the children they liked.
I traced the angle of his neck. Where his eyes glared, and didn’t move, as he blasted another Dragon Pulse, it went well wild, doing nothing but fluttering my hair as I watched.
He tried to stop himself, but couldn’t? He didn’t want to hurt me.
Well that was something I could deal with.
I stepped back, hands raised, and he seemed to fight with himself, but didn’t attack me again.
What was going on? I took it all in, piles of food, eaten up and discarded in a mess. Messy eating? Why?
Hmm. Lots of Chesto, and Rawst, and Aspear berries with a bite or two but also crushed around the floor...
Why eat those? Why not finish them? I quickly did a side roll as another Dragon Pulse shot towards me. It still wasn’t close, but... It had been closer.
What was going on? Something super weird for sure. Didn’t Drampa prefer Haban Berry? Why eat all of- I stepped into a berry. A Rawst... Bending down doing my best to keep an eye on Drampa as he seemed to growl and stomp the floor around him while keeping an eye on me. His rage was...
The Berry hadn’t been eaten. He’d bit into it and spit it out, or just tore it apart... Why?
I looked up. The trees were all sorts. I knew that because I was the daughter of a Berry farmer.
I could see the trees with the different types all around, but...
There were a lot of Oran Berries, but every berry on them had been eaten. Not a single sign of them left.
Injury? Oran Berries tended to restore health to pokemon. Was Drampa injured?
Well actually that made sense. Berserk. Drampa’s ability activated at half health. It made their special attacks stronger.
I once more shifted watching as a Sickly aura’d Dragon Pulse was shot out, a faint explosion behind me telling me it hit the earth.
The strange aura around his eyes was probably the tell sign for Berserk.
So we had a Berserk Drampa, that... Couldn’t stop berserking? Why? He didn’t look injured. No blood, or anything like that. He looked... Messy. Like he hadn’t been taking care of himself.
I rose up and faced the older man.
Hala’s face broke into a gentle smile. "Bravery. Wisdom. Kindness. You faced down a rampaging Dragon, not as a foe, but as a friend. One you’ve never met. You discovered his woe and rectified it. Putting yourself at risk to do so. And, you did it alone, you never released your pokemon."
"They would have just angered Drampa. It was safer without them."
"Yes, it was the wise choice. I see now that the Kommo-o off the Island were wise to entrust both their future, and their hope to you."
Hala pulled it out. The Z Ring!
"Take this. Tomorrow you will face me in a Grand Trial. I will-" He had placed the Z ring into my hands and I stared down at it. Cool to the touch, not heavy, but not light. Just heavy enough to remind you that it’s there. That you hold so much power at your wrist.
As Hala reached into his pocket, I caught the glint of a Z Crystal, but-
"Drampa." Suddenly Drampa shuffled into his feathers and then dropped a Z Crystal into my palm.
"Dragonium Z!" I gasped out as I realized I was bouncing and shaking and practically squealing!
Dragon Z move! Dragon Z move!
"Drampa!" I cried out in tears and leapt at the Pokemon wrapping around his neck in a big hug.
"Dra! Drampa!" He chuckled at me as he accepted my hug.
"Ah." I heard Hala say almost forlornly. "I was going to give you this Normalium Z."
"That’s great too!" I cheered but no way was I using a Normalium Z when I had Dragonium!
"MWAHAHAHAHA!" I cackled wildly as I thrust my two fists into the sky, still half hugging Drampa. "Dragon power!"
—---
I was practically vibrating as we all headed out of the Jungle. Drampa was coming with us. To stop at the Pokemon center for a checkup, but I could barely tear my eyes away from it!
Dragonium Z.
Sure Kommonium Z was cooler, but I couldn’t use that until Jangmo-o evolved. This? Everyone but Riolu could use it! And Hala had given me the Normalium Z as well! So Riolu could use a Z move too!
But let’s be honest. Devastating Drake was going to be flying soon!
"I suppose, I should say. Congratulations." Ilima said as we finally made it through the Jungle. He was looking at me, and his previous difficult look was gone. "You proved you’re worthy of it. Maybe I’ll see you again. Alola."
"Alola!" I cheered as he and Drampa headed off to the Pokemon center. Drampa looked backwards which I waved at him happily so he’d keep going and get himself checked out.
"I ask that you be careful with using any Z move." Hala began quietly. As we watched Drampa and Ilima walk away." They’re given to us to protect Alola, to protect our family and home."
I looked up at the Kahuna and gave him my most determined face. "I won’t abuse them. I promise. I’ll use them with all the respect they deserve. Z moves are... The bond between trainer and Pokemon. Our strength, together."
"Yes. Exactly right." Hala said looking very pleased. "I’d suggest practicing it lightly tonight, if you want to use it for the Grand Trial. I will leave you here... Alola Victoria Ferrous, and be welcome here."
I blinked at the depth of what he’d just said and nodded, bowing a bit. "Thank you Kahuna Hala."
He walked off and then... I turned and rushed as fast as I could with flop flops to the beach! I had to try it and I wanted to show everyone!
Z ring on my hand I was still practically buzzing in excitement! This was it! A Z move! One of the cool gimmicks of pokemon!
I mean, it wasn’t Mega Evolving which was pure bond, trainer and pokemon empowering awesomeness. And way cooler, but Z moves were easily number 2 on the coolness factor.
And I had the Dragonium Z!
I made it to the beach, out of breath and toes a little scraped from running in flip flops, because I could resist, but there was Mama and Papa!
"I did it!" I called out as I skidded in the sand before them.
"Whoa, Trouble!" Papa called out as he took in my appearance. "You did the trial thing?"
"Yes! Well I’m going to have a Grand Trial Tomorrow with Hala, that’s like a Gym challenge! I’ll fight Hala! But but!" I held up my wrist showing my Z ring. The Bracelet was beautiful, just the right weight on my wrist, and it practically sparkled in the sunlight.
It was going to be awesome!
Lance was going to lose his shit!
"That’s... Nice?" Papa asked looking to Mama, and she looked confused too.
"It’s pretty?"
"It’s a Z ring!" I said and again just blank looks.
"Okay I’ll make you understand!" I grumbled a bit and walked down the beach. "Just stay right there and watch! It’s amazing!" I yelled out pointing at them.
Now... Who do I do this with? Dratini? We definitely had one of the strongest bonds, but... I fingered Jangmo-o’s ball. It would mean something to him more than the others.
I hit the trigger. Jangmo-o popped out barking happily and then stilling as I kneeled down and showed him the Z Ring. "Jangmo-o."
"Jang!?" He looked from the ring to me, up and down.
"Yeah. It’s a Z ring. I finished the Trial and the Kahuna gave it to me. So now..." I showed him the Z crystals that were locked into the side of the band. First the Kommonium Z. "We can’t use this yet. Yet." I shifted showing him Dragonium Z. I pulled it out and inserted it into the top.
"But this one we can. Are you ready for some training? We need to sync our moves."
"Jang!" He barked and I nodded before stopping.
I released everyone quickly, Riolu running to say hello to Lucario before wondering what was happening and I looked over my team.
"Okay everyone! I need you to learn what I’m teaching Jangmo-o, then you can do it too! But this is to show everyone!" I called out and Dratini looked interested along with Brave...
"Gible, it’s not swim time cutie." I told her as she started seemingly quite happily toddling off towards the water. "Can you keep an eye on her Dratini?"
"Tini!" He confirmed coiling around her a bit hesitantly at first, but she didn’t bite and instead since she couldn’t move just plopped down and rubbed her hands in the sand.
"Right. Jangmo-o! Here are the moves." I raised my hands up over my head, crossed. And then brought them wide. Double punch forward with wrists crossed. I felt it then already building up despite not even activating the Ring, and Crystal.
Bring hands back into almost a Kamehameha, but then thrust forward fingers like dragons fangs and bring it open into a massive maw!
Then power stance to let the power release.
I was practically gasping just doing the moves. I could feel something rising up in me, but it dissipated since it wasn’t in sync.
"Let’s practice together." I told Jangmo-o who barked and turned away from me facing the ocean.
Wide power, Double punch, Dragon Maw, Power stance.
"Again."
Wide power, Double punch, Dragon Maw, Power stance.
"Okay we’re close. Breath together."
Wide power, Double punch, Dragon Maw, Power stance.
"Okay." I fixed my body and brought up the Z ring, and flipped it. Instantly it burst into light and I could feel it.
I could also hear Mama and Papa gasp but I brought it up, and then.
Wide power, the light flowed through me, rising up.
Double punch. Our connection locked in.
Dragon Maw! We weren’t just people! We were Dragons! Competition and force was in our blood!
Power stance! The power flowed through me, bursting into an aura around us both flowing into Jangmo-o. His stances were perfect. Of course they were, he’d probably practiced the Kommonium Z stance under his elders since he was born.
And then.
"Devastating! Drake!" I roared. The purple energy around him rose up, he opened his maw, pink energy formed, coalescing, I could feel him struggle, and then I was helping our shared connection both controlling the move! It finished, gathered the energy together and then burst forth in the shape of a flying dragon! It flapped shifting left and right under our control as it burst away!
"Together!" I called out feeling the connection and trying to guide it towards the ocean.
"Jaaang!" Our move shifted, flowed and smashed into a wave.
The explosion blew sand and water onto me even from so far away, Jangmo-o nearly tilted over entirely, but managed to plant his feet.
"Yeaaaa-" I cried out jumping into the air and then fell face first onto the sand all the energy in my body leaving me in a rush.
"Vicky!"