Vikavolt wasn’t slow; it was actually an incredibly fast Pokémon. With powerful wings and an innate levitation brought on by its Electric Type’s magnetic control, it could accelerate to supersonic speeds and become an almost unavoidable threat. But, therein lied the problem: Vikavolt needed to accelerate, and it needed to charge to unleash its most powerful attacks, too. While Pokémon battlefields weren’t necessarily small, they were still constrained, and that restriction—albeit minor—made Vikavolt move significantly slower on a field than in the wild.

It was a paradoxical Pokémon in that it was both the fastest Bug Type around but also one of the slowest when used in an official match. As a result, it was the perfect sparring partner to give Cutiefly that one last push he needed before he evolved.

“Fairy Wind, Cutiefly, all around you!” I yelled.

Our opponent was a young but intelligent boy who stared at Cutiefly with a pudgy face and sharp eyes. He grabbed his white graphic tee in thought as his Pokémon, Vikavolt, did its best to maintain a decent speed over the field.

“Spark,” Sophocles said.

Despite Vikavolt having more powerful, special Electric Type attacks in its back pocket, Sophocles was the observatory’s Electric Type Trial Captain for a reason. He knew when to have his Pokémon hold back, especially when fighting at such a difference in strength.

Vikavolt snapped its railgun-like jaws to follow Sophocles’s order, and the impact of those two pincers caused them to spark with electricity. It started to move downwards, almost resembling the straight, frictionless motion of a maglev train. While slow, its constant motion made it appear inevitable. Cutiefly really needed to dodge this move.

“Back up!” I shouted, and Cutiefly did his best to escape.

The small bug conjured several chained Fairy Winds to leave “pockets” of damaging air between him and his opponent much in the same manner that Florges frequently did to attack. He tried to create as much hostile space as he could, but Vikavolt proved that effort to mostly go to waste.

With its body charged with Spark, the Fairy Wind popped against it with little effect. It continued approach, unimpeded, and it was soon on top of him.

“Now Bug Bite!”

“Pollen Puff, do it!”

Vikavolt’s large mouth closed in around Cutiefly, and he rushed to pour all his effort into a recently learned move. A stream of pollen rushed out from the fuzz on his body, combining into a shape that was almost a ball. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to use the attack fast enough before Vikavolt managed to bite down and lock him in place. Grabbed with Bug Bite, he squeaked with pain, and then a following, weak Spark sent electricity coursing through his body.

“You can do it! I believe in you!” I yelled.

Vikavolt’s Bug Type meant it resisted Grass Type energy, but Cutiefly’s Absorb still gave him some health to ensure he’d stay up. The Spark ended, Vikavolt pulled back up into the air, and Cutiefly tried once more to create a Pollen Puff in an attempt to escape.

I could hear him scream his name from here. Through the damage that he had taken, he poured as much energy as he could into his growing move. Except, no ball of pollen formed for an attack. Instead, like a spark of ignition, his body began to glow with white, as he finally, finally, began to evolve.

His new form wasn’t much larger than he was now, but it was enough growth to make a difference. His small, yellow body extended out a bit further, and his wings elongated to resemble a shape more akin to a butterfly’s. The small proboscis on his face also shifted inwards and was replaced by an actual mouth. His eyes, too, enlarged, likely giving him a much wider view of the world.

Then, as one last change before the light broke, his front legs moved forward to now serve as tiny arms, and he gained a natural, brown scarf around a Bug Type’s equivalent of a neck.

Ribombee was still being squeezed by Vikavolt when his evolution finished, but the change in size and shape meant he had space for his front limbs to move around. He took advantage of that as quickly as he could, holding them forward in the air.

With that, Ribombee once more shouted to conjure a Pollen Puff. Dust streamed from his fuzz much faster than before, and the attack formed in a single second rather than several, and he needed to expend proportionally less energy than before.

He cried out when the move finished, and he slammed the ball right into Vikavolt’s eyes. The stronger Pokémon reared back from the impact, releasing Ribombee from its grip, and he buzzed down to hover a few feet above the field. Vikavolt moved down to float across from him.

“You did it! You evolved! How does it feel, Cuti—Ribombee?”

Ribombee turned around, looked down at his own body, and he gave me a wide, proud grin.

Finally. He worked so hard for this.

“I’m proud of you,” I said.

Instead of facing his opponent, Ribombee fluttered to fly closer to edge of the field.

“Are we calling the battle here, Alex?” Sophocles shouted out once it was clear Ribombee was not going to continue to attack.

“Yes. You were a big help. Thank you!” I replied.

I specifically requested Sophocles’s assistance because I wanted Cutiefly, now Ribombee, to have a chance to train with a fellow Bug Type. We’d already tested Sophocles’s team of Pokémon, which meant there wasn’t much reason for the battle to continue to pass.

(Yesterday, Hope and I found that Sophocles was around the same level as Kiawe, Mallow, and Lana. All four were approximately the same age, and that apparently meant they were at the same level, too. He had a strong set of Pokémon, but Sophocles just needed a bit more practice to gain that final push. I could tell he would be a solid Gym Leader, but he needed time to train just like the rest.)

With both the battle and his evolution concluded, Ribombee actually flew to the side of the field first, wanting to celebrate with a friend. Florges had been sitting on the side, alongside both Eevee and Togetic, and his flight brought him right up to her with a cheer.

Then, he did something that made me laugh. In a rather similar reaction to how Florges acted after she reached her final form, Cutiefly rushed all the way up to her and clutched her chest in a hug. Florges blinked, then she smiled as she lightly hugged him back. Even with his increase in size, he was still able to find a flower in her mane to nestle in afterwards, too.

The pair of them smiled at each other. Beneath, Eevee bounced around Florges, both cheering on Ribombee and failing to hide his jealousy.

With Ribombee’s evolution, there were three Pokémon left to evolve on my team. All Togetic had to do was touch a Dawn Stone when she was ready, but, after a bit more training, Eevee would need to be judged by a professional to check he’d become a Sylveon and not an Espeon or Umbreon when his Everstone was removed, and all Tinkatuff needed to do was perfect her hammer and increase her physical strength. Her requirement in particular would be a lot easier with our recent purchases of scrap.

“Thank you again for the help, Sophocles. I really appreciate your willingness to help Ribombee evolve.”

The boy chuckled as we finished shaking hands, and he scratched his cheek.

“I thought... Well... You gave me so much advice and Dedenne is helping me with my own...”

I shook my head at that thought. As it stood, Dedenne was in another room, demonstrating everything he could use to the Electric Type Pokémon here. I knew it was discussed as “training,” but, knowing that not-so-little rodent, he was probably just using this experience to show off to a crowd.

“The Electric Gym Leader in Hoenn—Wattson—actually helped me out a bit when I first started training Dedenne,” I said. “I haven’t talked to him in a while, but if you’re interested, I could give you his number so you two can exchange advice.”

“Really? You’d do that?” Sophocles looked so thankful moisture started to build in his eyes.

“O-of course,” I said quickly. “Knowing Wattson, he’d be overjoyed with the chance to talk with such a knowledgeable Electric Type specialist like yourself.”

Steven would have probably saluted me for trying to build closer ties between Alola and Hoenn, but my intentions weren't anything political like that. I just saw a chance to help, and I was willing to try.

Once I finished talking with Sophocles, Florges finished checking over Ribombee and gave him a clean bill of health. Nothing had gone wrong with his evolution, so I returned him and everyone else on the team. Eevee stayed out, though, bouncing along my side as he loudly daydreamed about and pretended to have already evolved into Sylveon.

After I collected Dedenne as well, I moved outside, where Lillie and Hope were hanging out. In the field in front of the observatory, a few newly fallen Minior had already shown up, and Lillie and her Pokémon were running around with them as both Hope and Molayne watched off to the side.

“Did it work?” Hope asked right when I arrived.

“I’d show you, but Ribombee would probably like to rest after his battle with Vikavolt,” I replied.

She grinned.

“That’s great! Ugh, I want him to get even stronger so I can battle him with my team!”

Of course she wants to fight at a disadvantage. Bug Types are strong against Grass.

As I shook my head at that thought, Molayne turned to the two of us, and he awkwardly adjusted his tie as he seemed to struggle to find his words.

“So you all are leaving, now?” he asked.

“We’ve been here for a few days now, but we should start moving on. Lillie got her Z-Crystal, and we’ve tested both you and Sophocles. There’s more to see on Ula’ula. I don’t want us to have to rush later on.”

He nodded and reached into his pockets.

“I’m bad at saying goodbye, so here.” Molayne pulled out a pair of identical stones and held them in his hand. “Take these.”

Right away, I recognized the gray objects as Z-Crystals, and with Molayne presented two of them, Hope and I each took one. I held mine up to the light to better see how it shone.

“I try to give these out to people who beat Sophocles since the island doesn’t have a Steel Type Island Trial. We have a ridiculous number of these left over from when I was the Trial Captain here, and the locals still send any extras they find my way.”

Huh. I wonder what kind of effects Z-Steel Roller might have.

“Thank you,” I said. Hope hummed in thanks as well. “Did Lillie get one?”

“She did, alongside almost every other trainer who comes here.” He paused and gave us an awkward smile. “I, uh, forget sometimes.”

It was a little unfortunate, but I did laugh slightly at that.

We said our goodbyes—us to Molayne, and after a shout, Lillie to the wild Minior—and we moved to begin descending the mountain.

“So, to the south of Malie city?” Hope asked.

“Yup. And from there, to Haina Desert. Ryuki should be training within,” I replied.

Traveling to Haina Desert was peaceful, which was bewildering to experience. There was no pressing criminal organization, no major battle held over our heads, and no dangerous encounters along the way.

I still trained my team, as I had promised, and I helped Lillie, too. It was just weird to walk and not have anything that important going on. It was as relaxing as it was strange.

Regardless of my feelings, we continued to move south uneventfully, taking a bus down from Mount Hokulani back to Malie City before heading onto Route 12 on foot. The route was pretty empty, lacking both foliage and, at times, spaces to move.

Route 12 stretched around the mountain range that made up central Ula'ula. It was right on the island’s east-to-southeast coast, where cliffsides rose up above the water. Wild Pokémon hid among the rocks, occasionally poking up to glance our way. There was actually a natural electric field here, too, one that both attracted wild Electric Types and allowed Pokémon like Nosepass and Magneton to evolve.

Once in a while, the Ground Type mule, Mudbray, would pass us, the equine Pokémon easily moving up and down the impassible rocky terrain like some kind of acclimated goat. Other times, there would be a human on a Mudsdale's back—Mudbray's evolved form—that passed us with a trot. There was even the occasional wild reptilian Helioptile, which I hadn't even realized was present in Alola. Those tiny lizards would skitter away when we got close, or small groups of them would ignore us as they sunbathed on nearby rocks.

Since the environment was so rocky and we had no need to rush, it actually took us a while to get through. The total time spent on Route 12 was just under a week, with us taking frequent breaks to both exercise and practice with our teams.

Ula’ula’s next, southernmost route came after Route 12, and it was much, much different. It was significantly shorter—practically only consisting of a single, coastside oasis turned into a settlement-slash-camping ground.

"Looking at the map," Hope said as we moved past several trailers and even a small motel, "Route 13 is technically a short crossroads more than anything else. There's Route 12 to our east, a short trip to reach the ruins of Tapu Village to the west, and then there's a hike to reach the valley desert just to our north."

She paused for a moment as we all looked around. Lillie spoke up in addition.

"There’s a beach to our south, too!”

We looked to our left, as the curve of Route 12 had effectively brought us to the bottom of the island. There, where Lillie pointed, was a beach, but it could only be called a beach if we were being generous. That section of this area consisted of a rocky pier with a small few boats docked to it. A dirt slope served as the only way to reach it, but there was no sand to stand on—only gravel and rocks.

"That's pitiful," Hope said.

"Let's not go there," I added.

"Aw. But I wanted to use the waves for Shiinotic to practice his Rain Dish! It's not anywhere near as bad as a desert," Lillie said with a huff.

Hope shrugged, and I relented, so we sent out Pokémon to protect Lillie as we explored. Hope's Sunflora took up a position to serve as a guard, and Ninetales moved to watch at a range.

When my starter appeared, the Ice Type shook, a little unhappy with the warm weather. However, so close to the ocean, it was more tolerable here than elsewhere as the coastal breeze ensured things didn't get too hot.

"Keep an eye on her, yeah?" I asked Ninetales.

She snorted, as if the request was obvious.

Seeing that we had sent our Pokémon out, Lillie smiled and rushed to the shore, obviously looking forward to training her Grass Type in a new and weird situation.

"I can’t wait until we have actual plants around us again," Hope grumbled.

"Honestly, same," I said before looking north. "There's an entrance to Haina Desert just up ahead. When we passed it earlier, there was a bit of a crowd. Want to check it out?"

She hummed.

"A crowd? Well, we’re here to find Ryuki. Maybe he’s around there."

Again, this place was comparatively tiny to just about every other Route I'd seen. It was like a sort of permanent settlement made up of temporary buildings, as strange as that seemed. The place was absolutely filled with caravan campers and tents. However, what stood out the most was a large crack in the cliffside to the north, which opened up into a path that consisted of nothing but sand.

Moving closer to the desert’s entrance, we saw the exact group of people I'd noticed earlier situated nearby. It was more spread out than I thought and was almost too orderly to be called a crowd.

The tents here were set up in greater numbers than everywhere else. At least a dozen trainers were out practicing with strong-looking team members. I saw a Machamp, an Araquanid, an Electivire, and even the pseudo-legendary Salamence. These trainers were tough, and it was unusual to see so many around. For some reason, something about this situation felt familiar.

Quickly, my eyes locked onto a person standing right at the very edge of the desert. More specifically, a short girl served as a guard next to a hulking Mudsdale. The horse Pokémon was an incredible specimen, significantly larger than others like Rapidash and Gogoat. I could tell it was one of the strongest Pokémon here, even if it didn’t have any obvious strengths outside of its raw, brute force.

As we approached, Hope let out an approving whistle as she took in the Mudsdale, and the girl standing next to it turned her gaze to us as well.

"Impressive Mudsdale. I haven't seen one this large before," Hope said.

"Thank you.” The girl’s eyes flicked between us. “He is of the same line my grandfather sourced his Mudsdale from. We have been partners for the past several years."

The girl's response made me blink for two reasons. First, she spoke like an old woman. She couldn't have been over sixteen at most, yet her entire demeanor made it feel like she was older than us.

Second, I recognized her. The way Hope's eyes lingered on the girl told me Hope recognized her as well.

This girl was dressed in a heavy, tan rider's uniform with a purple hat and large bow tie. Her expression lacked any emotion outside of stern focus, and her eyes almost seemed to pierce through us with their gaze.

"I am Hapu, the Kahuna of Poni Island," she said to introduce herself.

"Hope. Wandering Elite."

"Alex. Same," I followed up.

In response to us dropping our names and titles, the girl grunted in acknowledgement and crossed her arms.

"Professor Kukui informed me of your coming, and I have seen the news reports regarding your presence. I have to ask—is it true you plan to test Team Skull's Guzma’s strength?"

She turned to me, her short stature bearing the presence of an elite trainer. I couldn’t decipher her thoughts on the matter; I had thought that after Phoebe, my poker face was good, but Hapu's flat expression was the most unreadable I'd ever seen.

"I do. He might be a bit abrasive right now, but I know he has potential."

The Mudsdale next to Hapu chuffed.

"Abrasive. An interesting choice of words," Hapu said. She then closed her eyes before relaxing her expression, her gaze somewhat softening but not losing its emotionless property. "Have you come here for the same reason as everyone else?"

"Same reason as everyone else? What reason is that?” Hope paused. “Hold on, you're the Kahuna of Poni Island, not Ula'ula. Why are you here?"

“Nanu asked me for assistance, and I obliged,” Hapu replied promptly. “I am assisting him in a manner he deemed necessary. Tapu Bulu has once more begun accepting challengers. I am here to ensure no one gets unnecessarily hurt.”

Tapu Bulu is accepting challengers?

Seeing the blank yet surprised looks on our faces, Hapu nodded as if she suddenly understood.

“I see. This meeting is just a coincidence,” she said. “I will leave Mudsdale to guard. Please, follow me to my camp.”

The girl patted her Mudsdale on the side—or, at least attempted to, as she only reached the lower half of its massive legs—before striding off to where a small tent was set up at the base of a cliff. Hope and I followed, and Hapu pulled out two spare stools from her tent to give us all a place to sit down. A moment of silence persisted as we got ourselves situated, and Hapu glanced between us before Hope finally spoke.

“So the Grass Type Tapu Bulu is accepting challengers,” Hope said with a hum. “I don’t suppose anyone can challenge it, or is there some kind of test that has to be done?”

“There is no test. Simply enter Haina Desert and reach the Ruins of Abundance,” Hapu replied. “However, as the desert is harsh and is constantly shifting, you may consider reaching the ruins to be the prerequisite challenge.”

She paused, and I used this moment to look at the other trainers here. They were all excited, yes, but there was also an underlying sense of both focus and dedication. I finally recognized what was so familiar about this situation: all the trainers here were training as if preparing for a Gym Challenge, except their fight would be against a Legendary Pokémon instead of a full, elite team.

Honestly, I couldn't blame anyone here for taking up this challenge. Not everyone had a chance to train their team against Pokémon of Legendary power, which I had gratefully abused back when I was in Sinnoh.

“I take it that you two do not know the full story,” Hapu eventually said as neither Hope nor I spoke.

“The story?” I asked.

“The story of Tapu Village and the reason why Tapu Bulu is accepting challengers like this.”

We shook our heads, and, seeing that, Hapu cleared her throat.

“Very well. Let me share it with you,” she began. “Keep in mind that this story serves as both a warning and fact.

"Just over a decade ago, the area to the west used to be a small but thriving village. It was sacred land, filled with those who revered the Tapus, which earned it the name ‘Tapu Village.’ It sat here for hundreds of years with little change and little development. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever.

“In recent times, with the different regions coming closer and the formation of the Pokémon League, there has been a large push for modernization across Alola’s islands. Despite the relative sacredness of the land, developers began to move into the area to increase the quality of life of the people living in the village.

“At first, it was nothing special. More comfortable abodes. Access to cheap amenities. A store or two—nothing that would aggravate the Tapus. However, as construction progressed, those within Tapu Village began to be filled with greed, and they pushed to expand to encourage others to ‘experience the joy of standing on sacred ground.’ They charged, of course.”

I couldn’t help but to chuckle at the abrupt comment.

“Plans for hotels sprung up,” Hapu continued. “Large apartment complexes required the jungle to be cleared. Those who wished to remain in an unchanging village were pushed to its edges, and that drew Tapu Bulu’s ire.

“It all came to head when the very first of the grand construction projects was completed: a new branch of the Thrifty Megamart. The very second the ribbon was cut, Tapu Bulu made its presence known, and the error of those who sought to profit off of the Tapu’s sacred land wrought catastrophic results.”

Hapu went quiet, and she gained a faint, solemn gaze as she stared into the ground.

“Tapu Bulu.. destroyed Tapu Village?” Hope asked.

“Not all of it. Not the small houses along the edge that remained. Not the Pokémon Center that sprung up and treated those who required healing for free. Not the wells, or the water tower, or even just the short walls that warded more dangerous wild Pokémon off. However, each and every bit of the greed-fueled investments were destroyed, and the land they abused was turned back into its initial, natural state.

“Now,” Hapu said, “the years have passed, and Tapu Bulu has grown bored with its new, relative isolation. Each season, for a period of several months, Tapu Bulu declares that anyone who reaches it will be granted the right of challenge. Before, Tapu Village handled finding people that would challenge it. Those responsible are now gone.”

We went quiet, considering her words.

“So that must be why Ryuki came here,” I mumbled. “You know, I guess it makes sense why Tapu Bulu is opening itself up for challenges now, of all times, too. It’s trying to capitalize on the relative lull of the midseason.”

“Indeed,” Hapu replied. “However, Tapu Bulu is not a threat to be taken lightly, and the desert itself is exceedingly dangerous. Entering it, you will find yourself in a shifting maze stuck under permanent, harsh weather. Not only that, but the powerful winds around the cliffs make flight near impossible. It is not a challenge to be taken lightly, and I serve as a gatekeeper to ensure only the powerful enter during this period.”

Honestly, just Tapu Bulu alone made me hesitate. While it might have been considered one of the “weaker” Legendary Pokémon when compared to the likes of Rayquaza or Kyogre, it was still a Legendary Pokémon. Not only that, but it had spent years challenging tough trainers and battling Ultra Beasts. Unlike most other Legendary Pokémon, it had actually taken the time to hone its power to a point rather than solely wielding raw power without a greater strategy.

I sat back and considered how worthwhile this challenge would be. Hope made the decision I would have come to eventually.

“I’m going to challenge Tapu Bulu, and I’m going to win,” she declared.

“Unlikely. No one has beat Tapu Bulu in years,” Hapu quickly replied.

Hapu’s warning had the opposite effect on Hope. It didn’t diminish her determination; instead, it fueled her fire.

“In years? Who beat it last?” she asked, grinning.

“If I remember correctly, the small number includes both Kahuna Hala and Professor Kukui.”

Hope turned to me, and I could tell her mind already made up. Sure, we needed to find Ryuki in that desert, but it seemed we would push all the way to the desert’s end as well.

I nodded to show my acceptance.

“Let’s do it,” I said. “We’ll challenge Tapu Bulu.”

At my words, Hope stood up and cheered, pumping her fists into the air.

“Yes! We’re going to beat up a Legendary Pokémon!” she shouted.

Hope’s starter, Cherrim, released herself to cheer alongside Hope at her feet. Her declaration was loud, and it started a chain reaction from the other trainers in the area. Hearing her voice, they all cheered as well, one-by-one, shouting their intentions to beat Tapu Bulu before resuming their training with a fervor not there before.

At the sight, Hapu finally gained the first significant sign of emotion on her face; she gained an amused yet exasperated smile.

“You are allowed in, as is everyone else. The only thing I ask is that you have beaten two Kahunas in the past, or that you have six of Alola’s seven Trials.”

Hope’s smile dropped. It was like a bucket of water was splashed over her head.

“So Lillie wouldn’t be allowed in,” she said.

“Your traveling companion? Unless she completes her journey to Poni Island, then no, she would not.”

Hope sat back down, one leg crossing over the other and her chin resting on a first. I fell into deep thought as well for several long seconds before my eyes flicked up to Hapu.

“Hold on. You’re a Kahuna. Aren’t you supposed to be taking on challengers?” I asked.

Hapu nodded, her slight smile still remaining .

“Unlike the others, I only accept challengers in the final month of the season,” she replied. “As for my test, simply pass through Poni Canyon. It is the same trial I present to everyone who takes on the Island Challenge.”

That gave me an idea, and, given our circumstances, I didn’t wait to ask.

“We need to reach Ryuki as part of our jobs, but we can’t bring Lillie with us. Instead of waiting until she’s completed the Island Challenge, would you be willing to keep an eye on her as we head into the desert? It should only take a few days at most.”

“A few days to get through Haina desert? You must think highly of yourself,” Hapu said, sounding like she was holding back a small laugh. “However, I will do as you ask. The Ghost Type trial is nearby, so she will have ample reason to stay here to train, regardless.”

“We’ll still need to ask Lillie what she thinks of this, but now’s the best time to head into the desert given both Ryuki and Tapu Bulu are there,” I said to Hope.

Her smile returned, albeit, a little hesitant, and Hope nodded her head after thinking about my plan.

“I don’t like leaving Lillie behind, but as long as we leave some of our team members here, she won’t be in any danger if she stays near Hapu.”

Hapu nodded as her expression leveled out again. She stood up as if to end the conversation, but she spoke one last time before she left.

“I know of the legends involving Cosmog. I understand the importance of this task. You may put your faith in me to ensure neither her nor her Pokémon will come to harm.”

“Thank you,” I said.

Hope thanked her as well.

“Perfect! We’ll just talk to Lillie, and then we can head straight in!” she said after Hapu left. “Ugh, I can’t wait to fight Tapu Bulu. Just imagining a battle against a Grass Type that strong...”

Hope’s wide grin filled me with concern, and she laughed when she saw my face.

“Oh, don’t make that expression, Alex. Don't you want to find Ryuki? I mean, with the two of us, nothing can possibly go wrong!"

“Why would you ever say that?” I groaned.

Hope just cackled madly at my complaint as I rubbed the side of my head. Honestly, I was thankful Lillie wasn’t here to see this. Hope was a bad influence more often than I’d like.