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

Chapter 66: Before the Dragon Gate

Ancient Poni Path should have felt like the road toward the altar, but Team Skull had somehow found a way to make even sacred ground noisy. Grunts blocked the path ahead, their shoulders hunched, their hands shaking around Poké Balls, and their usual swagger cracked by something that looked too close to worry.

Lillie stepped forward with Nebby's case held firmly in both arms. "You are from Team Skull. What do you want from us?"

One grunt pointed at us with more desperation than threat. "We heard about you numskulls at Aether! Do you really know how to open an Ultra Wormhole and save our boy Guzma?"

Another grunt shoved ahead, eyes wet with anger he was trying to turn into a challenge. "Then let me see if you really are bad to the bone enough to save him!"

He sent out Ekans, and the small Poison type struck first, snapping forward with quick fangs. Bruxish flashed from the water channel beside the path, her teeth glowing with psychic force. She met Ekans head-on with Psychic Fangs, breaking the attack cleanly and ending the battle before the grunt could build another threat.

The grunt staggered backward. "Ow, that hurts! Even my heart hurts! No bones about it, you are way stronger than me!"

"Doesn't matter!" another grunt shouted. "We will come after you with all our Pokémon at once, little home slice! We will give five hundred percent to save our boy Guzma!"

The path filled with thrown Poké Balls. Team Skull Pokémon poured out in a messy wave, not coordinated enough to be a proper formation but desperate enough to be dangerous. I saw Zubat, Raticate, Golbat, Salandit, and Trubbish crowd the path while the grunts yelled over each other.

Their desperation made them harder to read than usual. They were not only trying to stop us. They were trying to convince themselves that blocking us counted as helping Guzma, because standing aside would make them feel useless. That kind of fear could turn a weak formation into a dangerous crowd.

Rosa moved first, sending Pawniard into the center before the chaos could reach Lillie. "Cut a path without losing control!"

Pawniard leapt into the swarm, blades flashing with tight discipline instead of wild slashing. A Golbat dove toward Nebby's case, and Pawniard crossed the gap instantly. It took the hit meant for Lillie's side, dropped to one knee, and rose with its blades trembling.

Rosa's voice softened but stayed sharp. "You do not need to prove you are dangerous. Prove you can protect."

Pawniard straightened. The light of evolution burst around it, stretching its body into the commanding shape of Bisharp. The new Pokémon stepped between Team Skull and Lillie like a knight carved from steel and shadow.

Bisharp's blades lowered in perfect control, its stern posture carrying the meaning, "Chaos ends here."

Rosa smiled, proud and almost surprised. "Then end it cleanly."

Bisharp moved through the swarm with precise strikes, forcing grunts back without unnecessary harm. Mandibuzz circled above Rosa and forced the flying attackers lower, while Nate's Braviary cut off the path before any grunt could circle behind Lillie. Selene kept Charjabug close to the ground, using sparks to split the swarm into smaller groups instead of letting it crash over us at once.

The battle still pushed around us, and I felt the Aloraichium Z warm at my side. We had obtained it in Seafolk Village, and this was the first moment that truly called for Alolan Raichu's own power.

"Raichu, let's ride the wave!" I called.

Alolan Raichu floated forward on its tail, electricity gathering around it like a golden tide. I moved through the Z-Move dance, feeling the rhythm lift like a current beneath my feet. The crystal flashed, and Raichu rose into the air on a shining electric surf.