The next day has arrived, Niku was cooking breakfast for himself and a few of his Pokemon he brought him but sent some back for reasons. Niku looked at the time seeing it was time to visit the school so he headed outside with Eevee jumping on his shoulder ready to head out. Niku and Eevee were enjoying the scene walking when all of a sudden.
Eevee: Eevee!
Niku: Hmm? What's up?
Niku looked in the direction where Eevee was look and saw Lana and her Popplio, as it was blowing large bubbles.
Niku: Wait that's Lana.
Lana heard footsteps to see Niku and Eevee walking to her.
Lana: Oh, Niku. Alola.
Niku: Looks like you've been busy making balloons.
Lana: Yeah, were practicing. This is our spot.
Niku: What do you mean by that?
Lana: This is where I met Popplio. Popplio was being bullied and left her exhausted. She was deeply hurt and I didn't want her to hate humans. So I chose her to be my partner.
Niku looked down at the Eevee and Popplio but with Eevee standing still looking at Popplio wanting to play with her but she turned her head ignoring her.
Niku: Must've been hard for her to endure that pain. Almost to how I met Eevee.
Lana: Really?
Niku: Yeah... Eevee was with me every step of the way. She never left my side since then...
Lana: What happend with her?
Niku had memories of that day and looked away with sadness.
Niku: That's something that you don't need to know.
Lana: Oh, sorry I didn't mean to...
Niku: No, no, it's fine. So what are you trying to do with those huge balloons?
Lana: To ride inside it.
Niku: Is that so?
Lana: I have a dream. I want to enter a gigantic balloon, and go into the sea... Go anywhere and everywhere... If i do that, I'm sure I can meet some deep sea Pokemon nobody has seen before. And what I saw yesterday was a good example.
Niku: Well now, a nice dream there. I get the feeling that is a dream only you can accomplish. So good luck to you Lana.
Lana: Thank you. But what about you Niku? Do you have any dreams?
Niku: Honestly, I don't have any dreams or goals. I already completed mine where I'm from. I just do things to pass time and get stronger at the same time. Still learning and adventuring.
Lana: Oh ok, it must be easier for you not to have much on your plate. Wait... Oh no we gotta get to the school.
Niku: Ok but why are you in such a rush? I'm not a student. I'm just a spectator.
Lana was giving Niku a pouting look, but she grabbed his hand but Niku let it go and she was surprised.
Niku: Hand's off. Understand?
Lana: Sorry, sorry! Come on you'll miss the event.
Niku: What event?
Timeskip
As Lana and Niku went to the school property, suddenly the sounds of party poppers and confetti came out and Niku wasn't surprised.
Everyone: Alola Surprise!
Niku: Huh? What's all this about?
Eevee: ...-_-... Vee.
Mallow: It's about time you got here.
Lana: Sorry we lost track of time.
Kiawe walked up to Niku.
Kiawe: Hey why aren't you surprised?
Niku: I'm not the kind of person who reacts to everything. So please tell me, what's this all about?
Mallow: Since you are visiting today, we decided to throw you a thank you party for helping us yesterday.
Niku: A party for that? But I didn't do anything, my Pokémon did the work. So why bother going with this?
Mallow: Dont say that. You were there when we needed help. So please accept this!
Niku: ...-_-... Sheesh. I guess there is no way of getting out of this. Right Eevee?
Eevee: ...-_-... Vee.
Ash: Great! They did this for me when I first joined, it's actually really fun.
Pikachu: Pika!
Mallow: This was just your first surprise.
Niku: "First"?
Suddenly, Sophocles pointed at Niku.
Sophocles: Niku! The second will be a challenge from the two of us, me and Togedemaru!
Niku: Hm.
Ash: He's right. Now get ready!
Niku was led over to a stack of balloons, he's thinking clearly of what this challenge is.
Eevee: Vee?
Niku: So this is the second huh?
Mallow: Yo! Explanation time! This is a game where the first team to pop all the balloons win. Oh and it doesn't matter if it's human or the Pokemon that pops the balloon.
Niku: I thought so.
Eevee: Vee!
Once explaining the rules, Niku and Sophocles got in position to start.
Kiawe: Ready... Start!
Once starting, the four of them ran to the balloons, Niku and Eevee made it to the tub of balloons but waited to see how his opponent did it. It would appear as he thought it would be. Sophocles and Togedemaru were popping at a rapid pace using the quills on its back.
Niku: I figured as much. Using quills can be pointy enough to pop them.
Lana: Niku, what are you doing?
Ash: Come on do something!
Pikachu: Pika! Pika!
Lillie: You can utilize Pokemon moves if you want to!
Niku: I know I was just observing. Eevee, Iron Tail go!
Leaping in the air, Eevee used Iron Tail, smashing all the balloons in the tub.
Sophocles: What the?!
Mallow: Niku and Eevee have won the battle!
Niku: Well done, Eevee.
Eevee: Vee. Vee!
Sophocles: Man, I really thought I would win this one...
Lana: Niku?
Niku: Hmm?
Niku looked over and saw Lana and Popplio walking up to him.
Lana: The third is a battle against us.
The third battle was race against Popplio in a Pokemon Aquathlon, Popplio maybe in an advantage in water, but during the race Eevee spinned her tail in rapid speed and made it before Popplio. Popplio looked shocked that a land Pokemon defeated her.
Niku...-_-.. Figured she would do that.
Lillie: I know Popplio swims at 40 kilometers per hour, but to think Eevee defeated it by using it's tail.
Niku: Yeah, Eevee developed it a long time ago.
Eevee got out the water and shook the water off, with Niku kneeling down to dry her off with a towel.
Niku: You're really clever aren't you Eevee?
Eevee looked at Niku and made smile and jumped on his face nuzzling him.
Niku: Ok, ok I get it! You can stop now!
Next up is Niku vs Kiawe in a Tauros race, with Niku dominating him with no struggles.
Kiawe: I dont get it! You defeated Sophocles and Lana and now me. Just who are you?!
Niku: Hehe... Even I ask that myself to. I can't help but wonder if I was born to conquer many challenges. I'm not to be cocky about winning every challenge that I face. But this was fun to be honest.
Next up, Ash walked up to Niku.
Ash: And now it's my turn!!
Niku:..-_-.. Obviously. Let me guess, you want to battle?
Ash: You bet! I've been dying to have rematch with you for a long time.
Niku: Of course you'd say that. Well let's get to it then.
When they were leaving, Niku looked up and saw something flying by them and smirked knowing someone want to appear.
Scene Change
Upon agreeing to fight Ash, everyone went to the battlefield, with Niku and Ash on opposite ends. As they did, Kukui walked out to join them.
Kukui: Ah, they're battling already?
Mallow: We were going to save the battle for last...
Lana: But Ash couldn't wait any longer...
Kiawe: This will be a one on one battle. The match ends when one side is unable to battle.
Ash: Alright Pikachu, I choose you!
Pikachu then jumped off Ash's shoulder and onto the field.
Pikachu: Pikachu!
Niku just stood there but didn't make any movements.
Ash: Hey Niku, what's up?
Lillie: Is everything ok Niku.
Niku: Hehe... No it's nothing. But well have to take a rain check Ash.
Ash: What?! Why?!
Niku pointed up.
Everyone looked up at sky wondering why he's pointing up when all of a sudden a shadow came down in front of Pikachu and looked at Niku.
Kukui: Wait... That's...
Lillie: Why is the guardian of another island here?!
Mallow: And did it follow Niku here this whole time?!
Niku: I had a strong feeling you'd appear to challenge me, Tapu Bulu.
When the figure came down, it revealed to be one of the guardian deities of Ula'ula island in the Alola Region.
Ash: Wait is that a Pokemon from one of the islands in the region?
Pikachu: Pika?
Kiawe: Yes, it's Tapu Bulu from Ula'ula Island, but why did it come here?
Niku: So you want to have a battle dont you?
Tapu Bulu: Tapu!
Kukui: Wait how does Niku know Tapu Bulu?
Tapu Bulu made a cry meaning it wanted to battle.
Niku: Very well then. You've got a deal! Eevee, stand by!
Eevee: Eevee!
Eevee jumped down his shoulder and Niku put his hood down prepared for battle.
Niku: Sorry Ash, let me have a battle with this one.
Ash and Pikachu ran away to get out of the battle that is to come.
Tapu Bulu: Bulu!
Suddenly, the entire area was covered within a grass field, Niku recognized this ability.
Niku: Interesting, Grassy Surge.
Lillie: Niku! This ability increases Grass type moves within the area!
Niku: I'm aware, but thank you Lillie.
Tapu Koko charged in using Horn Leech.
Niku: Dodge it now!
The hit missed and Eevee jumped over on Tapu Bulu but it turned around and hit Eevee back and made a harsh landing.
Niku: Eevee are you alright?!
Eevee: Vee!
Lillie: Tapu Bulu cound sense where Eevee was?!
Kiawe: Never underestimate a guardian of Alola.
Niku: Tapu Bulu isn't called the guardian for nothing. Multi Shadow Ball let's go!
Eevee shot out multiple Shadow Balls from its mouth but Tapu Bulu moved over and grabbed a tree and it grew longer and knocked away the Shadow Ball's in one swing. Niku was more impressed with Tapu Bulu. But after the move was destroyed Eevee dissapeared to the side but Tapu Bulu's great sense saw Eevee and whacked her. Eevee landed down but made a smirk.
Kukui: After all that Eevee wont stand down.
Ash: Just how tough is Eevee?!
Pikachu: Pika?
Mallow: But Niku doesn't seem to shocked.
Everyone: Huh?
Everyone looked at Niku and shows no panic or any shock at all like he was expecting this.
Niku: First Horn Leech and now Wood Hammer. You're really powerful Tapu Bulu. Eevee can you stand?
Eevee: Eevee!
Tapu Bulu: Tapu Bu!
Tapu Bulu ringed the bell on it's tail and it's horns turned green and it was Horn Leech.
Niku: Alright, it's time now Eevee! Quick Attack now!
The deity and Eevee clasehed into eachother and were pushing eachother but Tapu Bulu turned and Eevee swinged and landed on the field and ran around it. Tapu Bulu charged energy and was ready to fire a Solar Beam.
Niku: That's Solar Beam. Quick dodge it!
Eevee jumped over the beam and spinned around and stared at Tapu Bulu.
Niku: Now Iron Tail!
Eevee: Vee!
Eevee turned it's tail into iron and was gonna hit Tapu Bulu but then it shielded itself by using its arms to form a bell like appearance and bashed the deity and sent it back into the forest.
Kukui: I don't believe it Eevee managed to hit Tapu Bulu!
Niku looked over and saw the dust cloud of where the guardian landed.
Niku: Well that was a good hit... But... I know that will not be enough.
The dust cloud cleared and Tapu Bulu emerged and flew up high and made a clap with its hooves for hands with a happy look.
Tapu Bulu: Bulu! Bulu!
Ash: What's with Tapu Bulu?
Kiawe: Looks like it acknowledges Niku and Eevee for what it was expecting of them.
Tapu Bulu flew towards Niku and got it front of him. Eevee jumped on his shoulder incase.
Niku: Will that suffice Tapu Bulu?
Tapu Bulu: Tapu.
Tapu Bulu put's a hand out a something surpising came it was Darkinium Z crystal.
Niku: Wait is that....?!
Everyone looked over and saw the crystal handed over to Niku.
Lillie: Is that a Z Crystal?!
Kiawe: It is...
Ash: But why? Niku doesn't have a....
Mallow: Wait look...
Everyone looked and saw Niku lift his right arm long sleeve and saw a decvice.
Kukui: A Z Ring?!
Lana: They are used for Z Moves but when did Niku get one?!
Niku took the z crystal and smirked over at the guardian.
Niku: Thank you Tapu Bulu. Hope we can see each other again soon.
Tapu Bulu: Tapu.
Tapu Bulu flew away with Niku and everyone and else watching.
Niku: We'll there it goes.
Eevee: Vee.
Kukui: Niku!
Niku turned around to see everyone coming over to him and shocked on what he encountered.
Ash: How did you know Tapu Bulu?!
Kiawe: And when did you get a Z ring?!
Niku: ...-_-... Eevee... We got alot of explaining to do...
Eevee: ...-_-... Vee.
Short Timeskip
Niku went over to the school to tell his story about meeting the deity and what he did before encountering it.
Kukui: So you went Ula'ula Island first and then on night before you left you met Tapu Bulu?
Niku: Right. During my time on the island I spent time training and even helped a Pokemon sanctuary that was being destroyed by rogue Pokemon. I had sense of being watched and read about the guardians. I didn't think Tapu Bulu would watch me and would follow me here.
Kiawe: That's very rare. Even for you.
Ash: Yeah. It's amazing compared to Tapu Koko.
Niku: You mean this island's guardian?
Ash: Yeah Tapu Koko was interested in me when I came to this island. It even gave me the Z ring as well.
Lillie: Speaking of, how did you get your Z ring?
Niku: Oh, when we left yesterday. When we were heading back to the house I found the Z Ring on the table. I've read about these and to think I would get one. I know who made these but never thought a guardian would give me one.
Mallow: Yeah, but I never thought Tapu Bulu would give you a Z Crystal.
Kukui: It must think you are worthy to take the Island Trails.
Niku: You mean the 4 Island challenges around Alola?
Lana: Yeah, there are 4 Guardian Deities. And only those who have participated in the ceremony known as the Island Trials can use Z Moves.
Niku: I see. Well who am I to refuse a task from the deity. I will take the challenge. What do you think Eevee?
Eevee: Eevee!
Ash: Alright, now we'll take the challenge together!
Kukui: That's great to hear! Will you show up to class tomorrow Niku?
Niku: Dont worry about that I will. And I'm sure things will get more interesting. Oh and Ash? Well battle some other time. See ya.
Niku walked down the pathway and vanished out of know where with Eevee staring at them and jumping on his shoulder.
Ash: Aw man... I really wanted to face him again.
Pikachu:...-_-.. Pika