Poni Island, Alola Region.
Poni Island sits in the western reaches of Alola, a rugged place defined by sweeping canyons and sheer rock faces. It was exactly that terrain Steven and Cynthia had come for — specifically, the Vast Poni Canyon.
On Professor Kukui's advice, they stopped first to meet Hapu, the Island Kahuna of Poni Island. She was a striking figure: compact in stature, carrying herself with a quiet authority that made her seem considerably larger. When Steven and Cynthia explained they were hoping to find a Jangmo-o, Hapu pointed them toward the Vast Poni Canyon without hesitation.
The canyon was one of Poni Island's trial sites, she told them — home to a powerful Totem Pokémon. A Kommo-o.
Whether they'd find a Jangmo-o or Hakamo-o along the way was another matter, and largely down to luck. Hapu had one condition: the Totem Kommo-o itself was not to be caught. It was needed for the trials that followed.
They thanked her and set off.
"Steven, are you sure Kommo-o lives around here?"
Cynthia had her arm through his, her eyes moving across the canyon walls with open curiosity. The place was vast and still. Not a single Pokémon had appeared since they'd entered.
"I'd assume so," Steven said, though he had to admit the quiet was unusual. Was the whole canyon Kommo-o's territory? That would explain it.
"Cynthia — over there."
She followed his gaze. At the base of a stone wall ahead — constructed from grey brick and built flush against the canyon rock face — there was a door. Carved into it was the image of a sun.
In front of the door stood three small stone statues. Behind each one, a symbol had been carved into the ground.
"Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio," Steven said. "Alola's starter Pokémon."
Cynthia crouched down to examine the layout more carefully. "Do you think we need to push each statue onto its matching symbol to open the door?"
"Possibly." Steven paused. "Let me try something first."
He released Metagross.
"Metagross — push the Rowlet statue forward. Use Iron Defense on your arm first, and take it slowly."
He didn't know what kind of mechanism they were dealing with, and the arrangement looked just deliberate enough to warrant caution.
"Metagross." It nodded, its foreleg taking on the darker sheen of Iron Defense as it extended slowly toward the statue.
It pushed.
Bang.
The moment the Rowlet statue reached the symbol, iron spikes burst upward from the floor with a sharp clang.
Metagross yanked its arm back, staring at the row of spikes with something that looked genuinely surprised.
"A trap?" Steven stared.
He turned to Metagross. "Are you alright?"
Metagross inspected its arm and shook its head — no damage. The Iron Defense had held. Still, had Steven not thought to take precautions beforehand, the outcome might have been quite different.
Cynthia had been studying the door quietly. After a moment, she stepped up onto the platform in front of it and gave it a light push.
It swung open.
"...So it was unlocked the entire time," Steven said flatly.
He stood there for a moment, looking at the iron spikes, then at the statues, then at the open door.
The mechanism was actually quite clever, he had to admit. A false puzzle, a punishing trap for anyone who tried to solve it — and the real entrance sitting right there in plain sight. He and Metagross had nearly been taken in completely.
He recalled Metagross, took Cynthia's hand, and followed her up the stone steps into the passage beyond.
"Do you think it gets more dangerous further in?" Cynthia asked. "We came here on a whim — I'd feel terrible if something happened because of it."
"It might." Steven thought for a moment. "Here — take Togepi with you."
He released the small Pokémon from its Poké Ball and held it out.
The logic was sound enough in his head. A Togepi that could use Metronome and theoretically call up almost any move in existence was not the worst travelling companion in uncertain territory.
"Togepi will bring you luck," he said instead, which was both true and considerably easier to explain.
"Togi~!" Togepi waved its stubby arms the moment it appeared, looking absolutely delighted to be anywhere at all.
Steven watched it carefully. That cheerful arm-waving looked a lot like the start of Metronome. He held his breath.
Nothing happened.
He exhaled slowly. Good.
Cynthia cradled Togepi against her chest and hooked two fingers around Steven's sleeve.
Whether it was the route ahead being genuinely clear, or Togepi's Serene Grace doing something inexplicable in the background, they passed through without incident. The dark cave gave way to a heavy door, which they pushed open together.
Beyond it was a wide stone chamber, open enough overhead for light to reach the floor. The flagstones beneath their feet were laid in a broad circle, and the walls on either side were rough and uneven — riddled with crevices and outcroppings.
Steven recognised the layout immediately. Back in the cave near Lili Town, Riolu had emerged from exactly that kind of rocky wall. Something was in there.
"Steven." Cynthia tugged his sleeve and tilted her head toward the far side of the room, where a stone staircase led upward through another doorway. Pale light spilled down from outside.
"Looks like the way out," Steven said. "Let's go."
They stepped forward together.
"Togi~!" Togepi threw its arms up with enormous enthusiasm.
Whoosh — whoosh — whoosh.
Pokémon poured out from the crevices on both sides.
Some moved on all fours, their bodies plated in overlapping scales of different sizes. A single broad scale sat across the top of each head, dividing the eyes — heart-shaped along the crown, teardrop-shaped along the back and tail.
Others stood upright on two legs. Their head scales were teardrop-shaped, though faint heart-shaped patterns ran through them. These ones carried far more armour than their smaller companions — scales layered across their arms from shoulder to wrist.
"Jangmo-o and Hakamo-o." Steven took them in at once.
"There are so many of them," Cynthia said, looking around at the dozen or more Pokémon that now surrounded them.
It was remarkable. Pokémon with late-stage evolutionary lines were typically uncommon — even the Dragon's Den in Blackthorn City didn't have Dratini in these numbers.
"Hold Togepi for a moment?" Cynthia was already passing the small Pokémon into Steven's arms before he could answer. She stepped forward, a Poké Ball in hand.
"I'll handle this myself."
"Togi~!" Togepi waved from Steven's arms, apparently in full support.
"Be careful," Steven said, with a quiet smile.
She was the Sinnoh Champion. She didn't need his advice. But he said it anyway.
Cynthia's expression shifted — sharp, focused, utterly at ease.
She drew back her arm and threw the Poké Ball.
"Garchomp — let's go!"
…