Scaling Walls Ch 7

"Are you ready, Pierre?" asked Ilima. "You won't be able to leave until the trial is finished, and Joel will have to wait here." I nodded to him. "Stakataka, I know it looks scary, but please come with me. I want you to watch!" I said. He whimpered and backed away from the entrance. "Stakataka, please. You'll be OK. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." Stakataka stared at me intently, and slowly tiptoed towards me. "That's it." I put my hand on his side and walked through the gates of the trial with him. "Pierre's Normalium Z trial has begun!" said Ilima, sealing the gate.

The darkness of the cave contrasted with the bright daylight outside. On the far end of the cave, I noticed an opening. But something for sure was staring at me. Yes, indeed. In the shadows was the beady eyes of a Yungoos. Stakataka, remembering the earlier aggressive Yungoos cowered behind me. The Yungoos jumped out behind me and hissed. "You don't have to fight, but please watch. For me?" I asked Stakataka, touching a panel. "Stataka..." he said, flipping a panel to observe the action. "Go, Pikachu!" I let out Pikachu who glared straight back at Yungoos. "Use Volt Tackle!" I said. Yungoos leaped out of the way and bit down on Pikachu's tail. Pikachu started running in circles as the latched on Yungoos refused to let go. "Pikachu! While it's still biting you, use Iron Tail and slam it into the rocks!" I said. Pikachu ran towards the cave wall and with a fantastic Iron Tail, he smashed the Yungoos head first into the rocky surface. The Yungoos was rendered unconscious.

"Good job, buddy! Take a rest. Your tail looks like it needs one!" I said, massaging his tail. I gave Stakataka a reassuring pat. "See? That's how it's done! There's nothing to be afraid of! You'd be able to knock them away with a flick of your foot!" He blinked at me "Sta... Staka!" he said, walking a bit forwards. A second Yungoos jumped out of the shadows and in front of Stakataka. He yelped and went into defensive mode. "Don't fret, Stakataka. I'm right here. Just trust me, ok? I won't let it hurt you!" I said. Stakataka calmed upon hearing my voice and stood up, to face the small rodent in front of him. I was ecstatic upon seeing Stakataka voluntarily fighting. Yungoos proceeded to tackle Stakataka's foot, which caused him to freak out and accidentally trap Yungoos inside of him. I heard a screech from within and Stakataka opened a side to let Yungoos practically Quick Attack in fear of the room of eyes out of the cave. "You won!" I said to Stakataka. He didn't really do anything, but he did win. "Good job! I'm so proud of you!" I said, giving him a big hug. His pupils dilated and he pushed himself into me, with many happy Statakas.

A rock slid across the floor and I looked up to see a large pair of glaring eyes. Stakataka got spooked again and hid behind me. "One step at a time. I'll let Tesla handle this one! You just rest, ok?" I said, giving him a pat. "Go Tesla!" I said. "Tesla, why don't you fight him in your standard form? Ghost types are immune to Normal type moves!" He exited his mower and taunted the Pokémon hiding to come out. A large flaring aura Totem Gumshoos jumped from out of the shadows. "Quick, use Electro Ball!" The Gumshoos wasn't quick enough to dodge it, but took the hit well. It attempted to use Hyper Fang on Tesla, but Tesla's ghostly plasma body was entirely unaffected by it. Startled by the lack of effect on Tesla, it blinked for a few seconds to try and process what happened. "It's startled! Use Electro Web!" Tesla trapped Gumshoos under a tangling mass of electric ropes. Struggling to get out of it, it called for help. A Yungoos appeared to assist it in battle. "Thunder Shock that Yungoos!" Tesla gave a powerful zap to the Yungoos, who scurried back into the wall, frazzled from the Thundershock.

"While Gumshoos is still trapped, Tesla! Electro Ball!" The pulsating orb of lightning struck Gumshoos square in the face. It broke through the Electro Web and used Bite on Tesla. "Zzzzzt! Freaki... wait Joel'szzzz not here... FUCK THAT HURT... roto!" he said, escaping the Bite. "Zzzt! I know Will-o-Wiszzzp too-roto!" he said. I suppose he must've learnt that through TM. "Use it, then! Burn it!" I said. Tesla proceeded to send whispy, ghosty flames towards Gumshoos, setting its fur on fire. It started to freak out and run in circles, trying to put out the flame. "Use Electro Ball while it's distracted!" Tesla hit Gumshoos in the back of the head with the Electro Ball, causing it to faceplant and get knocked out.

I ran up to Gumshoos and dug through my bag for some berries. I offered it a Rawst berry for its burn and a Sitrus berry, which it took and ate. It smiled at me proudly and walked towards the opening. I gave Stakataka a pat to get up and Tesla, back in the mower, started to follow Gumshoos. In the clearing was a pedestal that held a Normalium Z crystal. Gumshoos gestured for me to take it. I reached out to it and grabbed it. "Thank you, Gumshoos." I said. "Wow, I just got a Normalium Z!" I said, holding up the crystal. "I'm 10 years late to the party, but better late than never!" I grinned widely. Stakataka seemed proud of me too.

We walked outside, and Gumshoos gave a thumbs up to Ilima, and then disappeared back into the cavern. I held up my Normalium Z and Joel started to cheer. "Zzzzzt picture time!" said Rotom. "Come out Pikachu and Togedemaru!" I said, letting them out of their Pokéballs. They jumped on Stakataka and posed for a picture. Rotom snapped a photo and showed it to us. "Zzzt! Great work, everyone!" he said. Joel grinned. "I'm going to do mine later tonight!" he said. "Won't Gumshoos be tired?" I asked Ilima. He shook his head. "Gumshoos will be sleeping. Nocturnal Pokémon typically take over the task of night time trials. Alright then! How about we go to Hau'oli City first, before Pierre goes home and Joel starts his trial? We can grab some dinner before the sun sets! Dinner is on me!"