1. Ash's Story (Part 9: Alola)

Chapter 50: Perfect Move

The next day brought us back down from Mount Hokulani and into Malie City again. After Sophocles' trial, the night at the Pokemon Center had felt heavier than sleep. The Electric Trial was cleared, Alolan Dugtrio had settled into its new strength, and Electrium Z rested with our other crystals, waiting for the right moment.

Professor Kukui's Battle Royal mask also waited in Lillie's bag. Molayne had handed it over with a smile too innocent to trust, and none of us believed Kukui had simply forgotten it. Still, the professor had gone back toward Malie Garden, so that was where we headed.

Malie Garden looked calmer than the last time we passed through it, but the peace did not last. Voices rose near the bridge, rough and loud enough to pull visitors away from their tea. Professor Kukui stood facing two Team Skull Grunts, one hand at his hip and a grin that made him look more excited than worried.

"Yo, yo, yo! Hold up, yo, Mr. Kukui!" one grunt shouted.

"You say you wanna make a Pokemon League?" the other demanded. "You got rocks in your soul?"

Kukui's grin sharpened. "Four turns! Bring it on, both of you. I've been researching Pokemon moves, yeah, so I'm always ready. I'll take you both on in a Battle Royal, and you'll be down with just a Swift and Incinerate or two. You gotta beat the man to be the man, boys!"

The nearby crowd cheered for him. Some shouted encouragement, while others told Team Skull to learn their place. Kukui seemed to enjoy the noise, but I could tell his eyes were still measuring the grunts carefully.

A voice cut through the cheering like a blade through paper. "Battle Royal, huh? Nice idea there, Kukui. You can beat down three Pokemon at once, huh?"

My spine tightened before the man fully stepped into view. Lillie felt it too. She moved closer to me, and Snowy looked up from her arms.

Nate noticed immediately. "Ash, Lillie, what's wrong?"

I kept my eyes on the man crossing the bridge. "Team Skull's Big Boss. Guzma."

Selene stared. "That's the boss?"

Guzma walked toward Kukui with the swagger of someone who wanted every footstep to become a threat. A grunt shouted that the boss had graced them with his presence, and Guzma accepted the praise like it was the only natural sound in the garden.

"The hated boss who beats you down, and beats you down, and never lets up," Guzma declared. "Yeah. Big bad Guzma is here!"

The crowd's excitement changed shape. People still watched, but the easy cheering faded. Guzma carried a kind of pressure different from Totem aura or trial tension. It was human, angry, and hungry to break whatever stood in front of it.

He turned toward the public with a vicious grin. "Greetings, cowering public! We have an exciting bout for you tonight. In the opposing corner, the Pokemon professor Kukui! And in this corner, the boss of Team Skull and the hardest guy around, Guzma!"

Kukui's smile remained, but sweat touched his temple. Guzma leaned closer.

"Here we are, Kukui. Fellow rejects who never could become captains. Alola's got these moldy old traditions, kahunas and captains and all that garbage. It is about time we cut it out and make something new. Trust me, I get that."

Kukui's jaw tightened, but Guzma kept going.

"Do not get me wrong, though. We have no need for a Pokemon League. Everyone already knows who the strongest Trainer on these islands is."

Kukui straightened, and the pressure around him changed. "Speak for yourself, Guzma. It is not like I could not become a captain. I chose not to. I had other dreams, see?"