The New Adventures of Raptor Trainer

The Dimensional Research Lab

It wasn't long until after everyone finished their dish that I noticed Lana and Kiawe's expressions begin to shift uncomfortably.

{Something wrong, you guys?}

"Phew...Is it me, or is it getting hot out here...?" the fire captain trailed off, beginning to sweat.

"That's the kick!" Mallow explained. "It comes pretty shortly after you finish it up!"

"I think this is a bit more than just a kick, Mallow..." Lana responded. "I'm afraid to see what you think 'spicy' is."

"Come on, you guys, it isn't tha bad. I mean, look at Echo. She isn't bothered by it...Are you?"

{There IS a bit of a warm feeling in the throat once it goes down, but it's nothing I can't...}

That was when the heat spread from the back of my throat up to my tongue. And it wasn't so subtle once it got there. I ended up having to open my mouth up in order to try and release some of the heat.

{Oh. Nope, never mind, it IS spicy. Too spicy for me. Maybe go a bit easier on the heat next time? This must be what Sassafras using Incinerate feels like...Hey, maybe she would like this better. You want my leftovers?}

She trilled gratefully, then grabbed the fork and dug in.

"Ha! A Pokémon using a fork...How polite!" Mallow chortled.

{She tends to take after me in a lot of ways, it looks like,} I explained. {She even stands on her hind legs to run instead of going on all fours...I swear that her dialect even has a few similarities to mine.}

"Wow...That is pretty interesting," she nodded. "...So, you've completed all three of the Akala trials! Now all you have to do is take on the Grand Trial against the Island Kahuna and you'll be able to continue onto Ula'ula Island! You excited?"

{I might decide to do some more training before I make my way over there; gotta make sure everybody is strong enough for the challenge ahead...Grace especially. My Eevee needs more catching up in strength out of anyone. But that doesn't mean she can't pack a punch already; she's even downed a few of her own kind already.}

"Good thinking. Kahuna Olivia's pretty strong; the Rock-Type might have a lot of weaknesses, but she knows how to use them REALLY well."

{Oh, wow...}

"She might have done good in this trial," Kiawe chimed in again. "But I do NOT recommend putting Sassafras up against the odds of Rock-Types. She'd be squashed!"

"Srr?"

She looked up from her eating, a look of worry in her face.

{I guess it's a good thing I had some more team-building in mind...} I gurgled. {That reminds me...Do you know where to find Pokémon Fossils? Rotom said something about someone who'd be willing to restore them back into Pokémon before I completed the trial here, but I'd need to find one first.}

"I know!" Lana replied. "There's someone who sells them in Konikoni City for 7,000₱ a piece. Only one of each kind per customer, though."

{7,000₱! I'd have to battle at least a dozen Trainers in order to rack up that kind of money...}

"Well, I guess it's a good excuse to train, isn't it?" Mallow suggested.

{...Good point. I guess I'll get on out there...Can't overdo it, though; the midday heat's not great for me. Come on, Sassafras, get back in your ball; we've got some work to do.}