It's been a few days after Niku went to Treasure Island. Niku has trained and learned many new things on the way and right now he is in town shopping. During the shopping, he saw Ash shopping and they both shopped in the same market. On the way out, Niku was carrying less bags while Ash is carrying multiple bags, after going to the store to stock up in food for the house.
Rotom Dex: Ash, you sure bought alot. I will help carry it.
Niku: Uh... Rotom I wouldn't...
Rotom Dex: I'll be fine.
Rotom attempted to take a bag ans nearly fell to the ground with it, dropping a doughnut from inside, that was picked up by the old shop owner woman.
Shop Owner: Alola!
Niku: Alola.
Ash: Alola!
Shop Owner: Were you both shopping?
Ash: Yeah!
Shop Owner: Here.
As the Shop owner went to hand the doughnut to Ash, Litten jumped up and took it.
Niku:...-_-... Same old routine, Litten.
Ash: Litten! Long time no see!
Pikachu: Pikachu!
Litten quickly ran off, with Ash, Pikachu and Rockruff chasing it. Niku figured would be a good time to visit Stoutland after not seeing it for a while, so he followed them, where they made their way to the bridge Litten and Stoutland were now living at.
Niku: At least the place is still standing.
As the two of them watched, they saw Stoutland teach Litten Fire Fang.
Ash: That move...
Rotom Dex: It's Fire Fang!
As Stoutland used Fire Fang, Niku noticed a tree next them with very few leafs, along with one of them falling off, along with Stoutland coughing violently.
Niku:...
Amazed, Litten proceeded to try and use it as well, but couldn't do so. The two of them made their way down to greet them.
Ash: Stoutland! How have you been?
Litten: Litten!
Ash: Hey Litten! This time, you're practicing Fire Fang, huh?
Niku: It would seem so.
Stoutland then began coughing again and Niku calmed him down.
Niku: Take it easy, Stoutland.
Stoutland: Stout...
Ash: Oh, right! I brought berries. I'll share them with you.
Annoyed, Litten hit Ash in the face with Ember.
Ash: AHHH!
Niku: Litten what do think your doing?!
Stoutland: Stoutland!
Litten: Litt...
Niku: You alright Ash?
Ash: You're the same as always, Litten...
Eevee and Rowlet both walked up to Litten and thanked it again for helping them before.
Litten: Litten.
Litten ran over to the other side, wanting to continue practicing, but Stoutland again started coughing, which Ash now picked up on as well.
Timeskip
After seeing Stoutland, Niku followed Ash to his home to show a recording of Stoutland and Litten training together.
Kukui: It's unusual for Pokemon of different types to practice moves together.
Niku: It doesn't always have to be trainers to train Pokemon new moves, sometimes the Pokemon who knows the moves can teach it to some other types then itself. And if I remember correctly, you told me Rockruff trained with two Lycanrocs over at Clawmark Hill?
Kukui: Your right. I remember telling you that. Rotom, freeze the video.
Rotom Dex: Stop.
Rotom paused the video and saw Stoutland and Litten arching their backs.
Kukui: Look. See how they're both arching their backs? That's a trick for focusing energy.
Ash: Now that you mention it, they did strike that pose over and over.
Pikachu: Pikachu.
Eevee: Eevee.
Niku: Stoutland really cares about Litten, but there isn't much time left.
Ash: Huh?
Timeskip
It's the next day, and currently Niku came over to visit with his Vulpix to see he has been raising it well and Snowball was happy to see her doing well. After class, Niku and Ash were on the way to there homes from the school, when they unfortunately ran into Team Rocket.
Niku: ... -_-... Not you guys again.
Ash: What are you doing?!
Jessie: If you ask us "What are you doing?!"
James: Let us tell you what our names are.
Jessie: A flower's face and a willows waist, makes the moon abashed and flowers wilt, a lone flower of evil blooming in this ephemeral world, Jessie!
James: An eye for opportunities, valiant and heroic in bearing, an apostle of evil retaliating against this agonizing world, James!
Meowth: Sharing the same fate, splitting responsibility, a star of evil whose shines even on close friends, Meowth!
Jessie and James: Team Rocket is on the scene!
Meowth: Meowth, that's right!
Wobbuffet: Wobbuffet!
Without warning, the four of them were immediately hit by Litten's Ember, as it landed on the ground and ran towards Niku and Ash, distraught.
Ash: Litten?
Niku: What's wrong?
Litten: Litten! Litten! Litten!
Niku's eyes widened, remembering yesterday.
Niku: Wait, does that mean...?!
Litten: Litten!
Jessie: Come on!
James: Stay out of our way!
Meowth: Wait, that's the honcho?
Niku: We don't have time to waste on you! Eevee, Shadow Ball and Vulpix, Energy Ball!
Ash: Pikachu! Electro Ball!
All three Pokemon used Shadow Ball, Energy Ball and Electro Ball, hitting the ground to create a smokescreen, and using it to escape. Following Litten, they made their way back to the bridge where it and Stoutland lived, only to find it on the ground coughing.
Ash: Stoutland!
Niku: Oh no!
Rotom Dex: It seems to be in pain.
Niku felt Stoutland and it's body is cold to the touch.
Niku: ( This isn't good!)
Ash: Litten, is this what you wanted to tell us?
Litten: Litten....!
Ash: Don't worry, well take it to the Pokemon Center right away.
Niku: Ursuluna!
Niku called out his Ursuluna, and looked down recognizing the Stoutland.
Niku: Yeah buddy, Stoutland needs to help to the Pokemon Center can you help us?
Ursuluna: Ursa!
Understanding what Niku needed, Ursuluna put Stoutland on it's back and carried it to the Pokemon Center with everyone following behind. Upon arriving, they immediately got Stoutland treatment, with everyone watching outside with Litten sitting on Ursulunas head.
Litten: Litten! Litt!
Ursuluna: Ursa.
Litten: ...
Niku stood by Ursuluna and Litten and was waiting for results.
Niku: ( To think Stoutland would live this long for Litten, and now it's almost over. I'm sorry Litten)
Eevee and Vulpix: Vee./ Vulp.
Niku looked down and saw Eevee and Vulpix with sad faces and so he sat down and they got in his lap.
Niku: I know, I know.
Nurse Joy walked out to speak with them, with Litten running into the room with Ursuluna behind it.
Ash: Nurse Joy... Is Stoutland alright?
Nurse Joy: You see... Stoutland isn't injured or seriously ill or anything like that... You see... Stoutland is...
Within the room, Litten was with Stoutland worried, as Ursuluna looked at the two of them. Outside, Nurse Joy had just finished telling them the situation.
Niku: So it's true, I knew Stoutland wasn't ill but think it'd be this bad... It was cold to the touch when I felt it earlier.
Ash: Does Litten know...?
Nurse Joy: It probably senses it...
Timeskip
After informing Kukui of the situation, Niku and Ash went to get food for Litten and Stoutland, but when they returned, they saw they were gone along with Ursuluna.
Rotom Dex: Oh no!
Ash: They're gone!
Niku: And so is Ursuluna. ( I bet they went back to bridge)
The two of them left the Pokemon Center to go to the spot they knew they be at, but were stopped by Meowth.
Ash: Meowth?
Niku: Stand aside!
Meowth: There's something I want to tell you guys.
Ash: Huh?
Niku: Say it.
Meowth: Litten is an extremely tenacious little Pokemon. I want you to look out for it.
Niku: What do you-
Meowth: That's all I wanted to say!
Meowth then ran off, leaving them, and elsewhere, Ursuluna had brought Stoutland back to where they lived and was watching Stoutland trying to teach Litten Fire Fang once again, but was unable to. After deciding to call it a night, the three of them all went to sleep, but Ursuluna was woken by Stoutland weakly walking away, leaving Litten.
Ursuluna: Ursa.
Stoutland looked back at Ursuluna, before looking back at Litten.
Stoutland: Stoutland, Stout, Stoutland...
Ursuluna: Ursa, Ursuluna, Ursa.
Stoutland: Stoutland, Stout....
Ursuluna looked back at Litten, before looking back at Stoutland again, nodding it's head.
Ursuluna: Ursa.
Stoutland: Stoutland...
After their brief talk, Stoutland continued to walk away, leaving Litten, as Ursuluna looked back at it, thinking back to when it met Niku when he was young boy, visiting him and giving food.
Ursuluna: ...
Timeskip
It's now currently the morning, and Litten had woken up, and noticed that Stoutland was gone and looked completely shocked.
Litten: Litt? Litten?!
Ursuluna looked back and saw it had woken up, as Litten ran up to it panicked.
Litten: Litten! Litt, Litten!
Ursuluna said nothing to it, and closed it's eyes, making Litten's eyes widened. Without warning, it ran off, as Ursuluna just watched.
Ursuluna: ...
After a while, Litten has returned, and was excited, thinking Stoutland had returned, only to mistake Ursuluna for it in it's desperation.
Litten: ...
Without any warning, the legs of the couch Stoutland would lay on gave away, as the couch fell to the ground, along with the final leaf of the tree falling off and landing on the couch. Litten walking to the tree, saw all the leafs were now gone and looking towards the sky, it began to rain, Ursuluna walked out, shielding it from the rain with it's body, as Litten began crying out in sorrow accepting the reality of the situation, with tears streaming down it's face.
Litten: Litten...! Litten...! Litten...!
Not to far behind Niku, Ash and Kukui had all returned and saw Ursuluna covering Litten crying, but no sign of Stoutland.
Ash: Litten...
Rotom Dex: Where's Stoutland?
Kukui: I'm sorry.
Ursuluna then looked back Niku, as he did the same. His face looked down with sadness for this scene.
Niku: ( Rest in peace Stoutland).
Niku walked away with Eevee following him.
Timeskip
It's been over 2 days since the death of Stoutland, with Ash and Niku checking up on it, as it refused to eat, grieving. Ursuluna had chosen to remain there for the time being, watching over Litten. Currently Meowth had showed up and attempted to speak with it.
Mewoth: You can talk to me if you want. If you try talking about it, it'll make you feel a bit better.
Litten: ...
Meowth just sighed looking down.
Ursuluna: Ursa...
Meowth looked down and saw Ursuluna laying down near the couch.
Meowth: Wait, you again?! Why are you here?!
Ursuluna: Ursa.
Meowth looked at Ursuluna surprised.
Meowth: This isn't your first time dealing with something like this?
Suddenly, Meowth heard something and ran off, as Ash, Niku along with Pikachu, Eevee, Vulpix, Rowlet and Rockruff all walked up to it.
Niku: Still not eating, I see.
Ash: Litten! We've decided to stay here until you've eaten a decent meal.
Niku: Professor Kukui agreed with it. We'll stay beside you.
Niku looked at Ursuluna petting him on his stomach.
Niku: Thank you for keeping an eye on him Ursuluna.
Eevee: Vee!
Vulpix: Vul!
Ursuluna: Ursa.
After getting settled with staying with Litten, everyone had fallen asleep, with Litten just looking at them. As morning rised up, the leaf from the tree began to blow away in the wind. Seeing this, Litten attempted to go after it, only to be caught by Ursuluna, who is standing by Niku.
Ursuluna: Ursuluna.
Litten: Litt...
The three of them then looked up in the sky, seeing that the rain had stopped, along with a rainbow forming in the sky,
Litten began smiling happily,
seeing Stoutland within the clouds. It then looked over Ursuluna.
Litten: Litt.
Ursuluna nodded and let go of the leaf, and allowed it to fly off into the sky.
Niku: ...
Ash had woken up walked up to them, and as he did, his stomach started growling. Hearing this, Litten ran over and grabbed a piece of fruit for him, dropping it in front of him.
Ash: For me? You eat first.
Ash pushed the fruit to Litten, who pushed it back. This went on a few seconds, before Niku looked over to Ursuluna and gave him the gesture to use Slash to cut the fruit in half and each took a piece.
Niku: There, that will work.
The two of them looked at Niku and smiled, as Ash spoke up.
Ash: Hey, Litten, why don't you come with us?
Litten looked at Ash surprised.
Pikachu: Pika, Pika!
Ash: That Fire Fang... Let's get it mastered together! Join us!
Litten looked back at Niku who nodded knowing the choice he will make. Niku may have looked after Litten first but Ash has the potential to bring out Littens power. So Niku knew Litten would choose Ash as it's trainer. Litten smirked and looked at Ash, hitting with Ember, surprising almost everyone just not Niku and Ursuluna, as they both chuckled..
Niku: You know what that means. You have prove yourself worthy by challenging him to a battle.
Litten: Litt!
Ash: Right, I get it! Pikachu!
Pikachu: Pika!
After a brief battle between Litten and Pikachu, Litten feeling Ash is a right trainer for him, decided to allow himself to be caught by him.
Ash: I got Litten!
Pikachu: Pika!
Niku: Good job.
Ash: Come out, Litten!
Ash called out Litten to join the others.
Litten: Litt!
Pikachi: Pikachu!
Eevee: Eevee!
Vulpix: Vulpix!
Rockruff: Rockruff!
Rowlet: Rowlet!
Ursuluna: Ursuluna.
Ash: They'll be your friends too, Litten.
Litten: Litt!
Niku smiled at this and walked away with his Pokemon following him.
Ash: Niku wait!
Litten: Litten!
Niku heard Litten and turned back and saw ran to Niku's chest.
Niku: Good luck, Litten.
Litten then proceeded to looked at Ursuluna.
Litten: Litt! Litten! Litt!
Ursuluna looked at Litten and made a smirk.
Ursuluna: Ursa.
Ash: Wait what's going on?
Niku: Litten has watched Ursuluna for sometime before leaving and wants to be rivals with Ursuluna, right?
Litten: Litten!
Litten jumped down and ran back to Ash.
Niku: Raise Litten well Ash, see ya.
Ash and his Pokemon shouted to Niku and he gave a wave goodbye.