The next morning, Peter and Whitney slowly woke beneath the warm sunlight.
Their eyes met at close range.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then both smiled.
As if remembering something, Whitney's cheeks gradually turned pink. She puffed her face and complained in a soft voice:
"Hmph… stupid Honey… you're the worst… it's all swollen…"
"Really? I heard saliva helps reduce swelling…"
Peter said with a mischievous grin.
Whitney froze.
Then the blush instantly spread from her face all the way down to her collarbone.
"Ah…"
"N-no more! I-I'll just get up and exercise a bit!"
Embarrassed beyond words, Whitney quickly tried to get dressed.
Unfortunately—
Peter had already found her weak point.
With one smooth movement, he flipped over—
and dragged her back beneath the covers.
The thin blanket hid most of the snowy scenery—
leaving behind only the scattered syllables escaping the girl's lips.
Short version:
The bed rated the performance highly.
…
Several hours later—
Peter and Whitney finally came downstairs hand in hand.
He casually asked Nurse Joy for the breakfast, and the two headed toward the eastern side of the island—Mount Mahalo.
As for why they only ordered one breakfast…
Only the bed knew.
…
Riding on Braviary—
the two arrived directly at a mountain stream.
In the distance—
at the end of the mountain path—
stood a cave.
They had arrived.
The Ruins of Conflict.
A sacred place dedicated to the guardian deity Tapu Koko.
Before undertaking the Grand Trial—
both the challenger and the Island Kahuna were required to pray here and seek the guardian's blessing.
This was also the only way to gain recognition from Z-Power.
Hala, who had been waiting for some time, led them into the inner sanctuary.
The walls were covered with patterns matching Tapu Koko's body.
Ancient.
Majestic.
Solemn.
At the end of the chamber—
several cushions rested before a simple altar.
Hala gestured for them to sit.
Closing his eyes, his expression grew serious.
He began to pray.
"Today…"
"I will conduct the Grand Trial battle with challengers Peter and Whitney…"
"O Tapu Koko, guardian of battle…"
"Grant us the strength of Alola's islands…"
Peter and Whitney exchanged glances.
Then closed their eyes together.
"We pray here…"
At that moment—
the world seemed to grow quieter.
Peter and Whitney felt their awareness expanding.
The entire island seemed to appear in their minds.
The sea breeze.
The crashing waves.
The mountains.
The forests.
People.
Pokémon.
A natural tranquility filled their hearts—
returning them to peace and calm.
After a long while—
the three opened their eyes.
Hala nodded.
"It seems your prayers have received Tapu Koko's response."
"Next…"
"…comes the final Grand Trial."
"Follow me."
A short while later—
they arrived at an open-air arena outside the Ruins of Conflict.
The battlefield was built from special stone.
Strange ancient patterns were engraved across the surface.
Four stone pillars surrounded the arena.
Just standing there—
one could almost feel the fierce battles that had once been fought here.
"You two will each challenge me in a 2-on-2 battle."
Hala stepped into one trainer's position.
"So then…"
"Who wants to go first?"
Peter glanced at Whitney.
Then stepped forward.
"I'll go first and learn from your strength."
Whitney smiled.
"Then I'll be the referee~!"
Soon everyone took their positions.
Phone Rotom also started the livestream.
The comments exploded immediately.
"I was wondering why Professor Peter hadn't streamed lately—turns out he took Miss Whitney on vacation!"
"Long-jumping inside a toilet. Absolutely outrageous!"
"+1!"
…
Whitney raised her hand.
"Then!"
"By Melemele Island's Island Kahuna, Mr. Hala, and challenger Peter of the Island Challenge—"
"The Grand Trial battle…"
"BEGIN!"
Hala threw his Poké Ball.
"Crabominable!"
"Prepare for battle!"
Peter smiled.
"Lopunny."
"I choose you!"
Two flashes of light appeared.
One—
a large crab covered in thick white fur.
The other—
a tall, elegant rabbit Pokémon.
Rotom immediately began commentary.
"Crabominable—the Woolly Crab Pokémon, Rotom!"
"It's said that long ago, while trying to climb mountains, they accidentally ended up on snowy peaks! To endure the cold, their fur continuously grew, and even their claws eventually turned into giant fists, Rotom~!"
Whitney blinked.
Looking carefully, she said:
"That's true…"
"So it's an Ice/Fighting-type combination?"
Peter nodded.
"That's right."
"But I heard its claws are supposed to taste really good~"
"Crabo!!"
Crabominable immediately waved its massive fists angrily.
Clearly offended.
Hala looked amused.
"You seem very relaxed…"
"But a Normal-type Lopunny challenging my Fighting-types…"
"…won't be easy."
"Crabominable!"
"Use Bulk Up!"
Peter immediately responded.
"Lopunny—Copycat!"
Both Pokémon made identical strengthening motions.
Attack rose.
Defense rose.
One stage each.
Hala smiled.
"If you don't attack…"
"…you won't win."
"Crabominable!"
"Rush in and use Superpower!"
Superpower—
A Fighting-type physical move.
Power: 120.
After attacking, lowers the user's Attack and Defense.
"Crabo!!"
Energy surged around Crabominable.
It charged forward—
its huge fists glowing fiery red.
Closing in—
it leapt.
Its enormous fist smashed downward.
Peter's eyes sharpened.
"Dodge!"
"Then use Copycat!"
Whoosh—
Lopunny disappeared.
In a flash—
she appeared behind Crabominable.
Superpower had already been copied.
BOOM——
Crabominable was struck directly in the back.
The powerful blow launched it forward.
With +1 Attack—
and double effectiveness—
even Crabominable couldn't take it comfortably.
Hala remained calm.
"Use Avalanche!"
Avalanche—
Ice-type physical move.
Power: 60.
If hit first, power doubles.
"Crabo…"
Crabominable raised both fists.
Snow and ice gathered above Lopunny's head.
Peter immediately responded.
"Use Dig!"
"Lopunny!"
Lopunny instantly burrowed underground.
The boosted Avalanche struck nothing.
BANG—
The ground exploded open.
Lopunny burst upward—
landing a clean punch on Crabominable's jaw—
then instantly retreated.
The fire in Crabominable's eyes only intensified.
As a power-focused Pokémon—
its speed was lacking.
Against agile opponents like Lopunny—
it struggled badly.
Peter watched the heavily breathing Crabominable for a moment.
Then suddenly withdrew his Poké Ball.
"Come back, Lopunny."
"Braviary."
"Prepare for battle!"
"SKREEEE——!"
A sharp eagle cry echoed through the mountains.
The dark-blue eagle spread its wings.
Hala raised an eyebrow.
"Avalanche!"
Peter gave the command immediately.
"Use Acrobatics!"
A Flying Gem emerged from Braviary's body—
and the next moment—
it transformed into a streak of light.
Acrobatics—
without a held item—
its power doubles from 55 to 110.
Combined with Flying Gem—
the attack's destructive output reached 143.
Massive chunks of snow rained from above.
Yet Braviary moved gracefully—
like an aerial performer.
Threading through impossible gaps.
Every dodge—
precise.
Perfect.
Elegant.
In the blink of an eye—
it arrived directly in front of Crabominable.
And then—