Paths Crossing and Fates Colliding - A Gladion x Reader Story

Chapter Six: On the Way to KoniKoni

After talking to some of the trial guides, I made my way back to HeaHea City. According to the guides, the Kahuna lived in Koni Koni City, which was only accessible through Diglett's Tunnel--the entrance to which was in the southern part of HeaHea.

I let Banette out of his Pokeball and let him ride on my back as we made our way through the dark cavern. There was surprisingly enough light to see a little bit, but to make things easier, I used the light from the Pokedex that the professor gave me on Mele Mele to extend my range of sight. We were run in by the occasional (and annoying) Zubat, but overall the first half of our trek through Diglett's Tunnel was generally uneventful. 

Halfway through the tunnel, however, we ended up running into two people dressed in odd all-white outfits that were investigating the tunnel. They introduced themselves as employees for the Aether Foundation--a name I recognized from one of my dad's many rants. The Aether Foundation absolutely hated Team Skull and often told people around Alola how awful we were. I appreciated their conservation efforts for Pokemon, but I wished they'd keep their noses out of Team Skull business. 

Anyways, they claimed that Team Skull was disrupting the Diglett that live in the tunnel and warned me to watch out for both the aggravated pokemon and Team Skull grunts lurking in the cave. Once the employees left, I turned to glance at Banette over my shoulder. 

"Hey, Ban, we might run into a couple grunts here. Remember, you gotta act like you don't recognize anybody--you never know when Hau or Lillie or Kukui might pop up and if they see us being friendly with anyone from Team Skull, our whole charade is over."

Banette nodded to me and I adjusted him on my back, continuing on our way through the cave. We ran into a couple trainers and got the team up in strength and even found a few rare treasures from the mining areas that we could sell once we got to the Kahuna's city. It wasn't until the end of the cave that we finally ran into a little bit of trouble. 

Banette and I made the last turn of the cave and saw the light of the exit, but we also heard yelling and familiar voices the closer we got to the exit. In front of the cave exit, there were two Team Skull grunts making their gestures as they argued with Hau. 

I gave Banette a quick glance before rushing over to Hau's side. 

"(Y/N)!" Hau shouted as I came to his side, "These Team Skull jerks have been messing with the Pokemon inside the tunnel. Help me out here!" 

I nodded at Banette and watched as the small ghost type leaped over my shoulder and onto the ground in front of me. Banette growled at the grunts in front of us and one of them gave me a dumbfounded expression. 

"(Y/N)? Whatchya tryna do here?" He brought his arms up in surprise as he looked at me. 

I shot him a look of both fear and anger and the other grunt quickly jumped into the conversation, "Y-Yeah! Stupid kid! Why do you always have to mess with our business?"

Hau looked at me as he pulled out his partner's Pokeball, "You know these guys, (Y/N)?"

I bit the inside of my lip and glanced at the grunts, "Hardly, I ran into them on Mele Mele and stopped them from stealing some Pokemon." 

The smarter of the two grunts piped up again to make sure the other didn't give me away, "Hey! It's not stealing, it's taking them to a better team, yo!"

I scoffed, playing up my part, "Like Team Skull is a better team than a normal trainer. If that's how you think, then just try to beat Hau and I!"

-- After the battle --

The grunts called back their Pokemon after an easy loss thanks to Hau and I. Hau looked over at me with a bright smile as he also called his partner back to its ball, "Nice fighting, (Y/N)! You really showed 'em!" 

I smiled as Banette once again jumped on my back. I turned toward the grunts and glared, "You two get outta here! Leave these Pokemon alone or I'll bash your sk-heads in!"

The grunts ran off, yelling something about telling their boss as they left. I smiled as they mentioned their "boss", but I think Hau took it as a smile of victory. 

"Haha! Man, you've really got them good, (Y/N)! You can send them running with just a look." He beamed as he placed his Pokeball back in his pocket. 

I chuckled and shrugged, "It wasn't very hard. As much trouble as they cause, they're really not that much of a threat." 

Hau and I continued together toward the exit and continued talking about the grunts, "So you're not scared of them at all?" Hau asked. 

I shook my head, "Not at all. I mean, what's the worst thing they've done? They usually don't even succeed in stealing Pokemon when they try," I chuckled and shook my head, "They're just a little band trying to make themselves known on the island. Bad publicity is still good publicity after all."

Hau thought for a bit as we finally left the cave, stopping as soon as we were outside the cavern, "Huh, I guess you're right. If anything, that makes me kind of pity them instead of fear them."

I nodded, then smirked at him, "Don't tell them that though, that'll only make them even more riled up."

Hau laughed again and nodded, "Yeah, you're probably right! Anyways, (Y/N), are you here to challenge Olivia?"

I nodded, "Well she is the Kahuna after all. She's the last part of our trial on Akala."

Hau nodded before smiling brightly at me and placing his hands behind his head, "Well then that makes two of us! I'll make you a deal, let's battle, and whoever wins gets to challenge Olivia first. Deal?"

I smirked back at him and crossed my arms, "Okay, deal."

The two of us backed up enough to create space for the battle and called out our main partners. I had Banette jump off my back while Hau called out his Brionne, the evolved form of the Popplio he'd received from Kukui. 

We agreed on a one-Pokemon battle, to make things quick so we could get on with our Grand Trials. 

Hau decided to waste no time getting the battle started. He immediately sent Brionne out with an Aqua Jet. The move was too fast and hit before I could tell Banette to dodge, sending him flying back into the dirt. 

I gritted my teeth as I saw my partner struggle to regain its balance, "Ban, you okay?" 

Banette grunted its name back at me and I nodded, looking ahead to Brionne. 

Hau yelled out for Brionne to use another Aqua Jet, but this time I responded by telling Banette to use Phantom Force. Before Brionne's attack could land, Banette disappeared into thin air. Brionne, confused and on guard, searched the area for my partner--but had no luck. When Brionne had its back turned, Banette appeared behind it and launched a shadow attack at the water type, sending it face-first into the dirt and grass that made up our battlefield. 

Before Brionne could fully regain its stance, I called out to Banette, "Ban, use Knock Off!" 

Banette smacked Hau's partner back into the dirt with a large hand made of darkness, earning a yelp from Hau, "Brionne, use Aqua Jet! Get out of there!" 

Brionne attempted to turn in the dirt and launch an attack at Banette, but a well-timed Phantom Force made Brionne's attack hit nothing but air. 

Banette reappeared behind Brionne again, striking it from behind and finally knocking it out. 

Once Banette was sure that Brionne was down, it hopped back to my side, watching as a smiling Hau called Brionne back to its ball. "Man, (Y/N), you're just getting stronger and stronger. What a fun battle!" 

Hau walked over to Banette and I and handed me the prize money for defeating him, "I guess a deal's a deal," He smiled, "Good luck on your Grand Trial (Y/N)!" And with that, he ran back into Diglett's Tunnel--probably to continue training, I assumed. 

With that whole thing over, I picked Banette up and decided to carry him into KoniKoini City--unaware that two pairs of eyes were watching us from the shadows.