Chapter 30: Fini, You Wouldn't Want Poni Island to Sink, Would You?
Caitlin felt like she was seeing the world in a whole new light today.
It wasn't that legendary Pokémon trainers didn't exist in this world. There was Steven's father in Hoenn — Mr. Stone — who was said to have caught the legendary Regirock. And there was the Galar region's former-former Champion Mustard — the most famous legendary-holder of the previous era — who, together with his partner Kommo-o, had set an unbroken record of 18 consecutive years undefeated.
Those two were the most well-known legendary-Pokémon trainers in the world. As for any others, Caitlin had never heard of them.
But today, she was about to witness the third.
Although…
"Ultra Ball number 49."
Caitlin silently watched as Mammon threw another Ultra Ball. This was the forty-ninth attempt.
That's right — every single one of the previous forty-eight Ultra Balls had been broken out of by Tapu Fini.
Caitlin knew catching legendary Pokémon wasn't easy, but she'd genuinely never imagined the Poké Ball step itself could be this difficult.
Sure, some particularly stubborn wild Pokémon might break out a few times — that wasn't unusual.
But "a few times" meant three or four, not nearly fifty!
This was beyond absurd.
Mammon, for his part, wasn't particularly surprised. Legendary Pokémon had outstanding willpower, and their subconscious resistance ran deep.
The Ultra Ball traced a perfect arc through the air and struck Tapu Fini. Tapu Fini dissolved into red light and was absorbed inside.
Tap~
Tap~
The Ultra Ball hit the ground and wobbled twice.
Will it work?
Caitlin watched the Ultra Ball with a hint of nervousness. Just one more…
Tap~
The Ultra Ball wobbled a third time, the red indicator light still flashing on and off.
Click~!
With one final crisp chime, the Ultra Ball locked.
It worked!
Caitlin's pretty face broke into a smile. She was happy for Mammon — he'd finally done it.
"Not bad. Tapu Fini — caught."
Mammon walked slowly forward, picked up the Ultra Ball, and tossed it a couple of times in his hand, thoroughly satisfied.
"Keh heh heh~"
Shiny Gengar floated over, circled around Mammon clapping its hands in celebration, thrilled to have another teammate.
"Congratulations, Mammon." Caitlin walked over as well.
"Thanks. Come on out then, Tapu Fini." Mammon opened the Ultra Ball.
White light spilled onto the ground. Tapu Fini sat inside its shell wearing a thoroughly defeated, soul-crushed expression, staring blankly at the sand.
I really got caught by a human. Seriously…?
"Don't make such a gloomy face, Tapu Fini. Sticking with me won't be so bad."
Mammon offered consoling words.
"Qi?" Tapu Fini shot Mammon a sidelong glance, asking a single hopeful question.
"Let you go? Not a chance. That is absolutely not happening." Mammon refused without hesitation.
After all the trouble it had taken to catch Tapu Fini, let it go? Dream on.
"QI! QI-QI!!"
Tapu Fini grew agitated. Protecting Poni Island — that was its sworn, lifelong duty!
"Fini, what era do you think we're living in? How are you still so pure-hearted?" Mammon tilted his head.
Thanks to his Power of Viridian, he could clearly understand what Tapu Fini was trying to express.
"?" Tapu Fini stared at Mammon. It felt like it was being insulted.
"Nobody is irreplaceable to anyone else. Not you, not Poni Island. Are you and the island truly necessary to each other? Does the bond really have to be unbreakable?"
Mammon asked.
"..." Tapu Fini froze.
"The truth is, no. Would Poni Island really not survive without you? You have to give the island a chance. Maybe — just maybe — without you, they could live even better lives."
Mammon coaxed smoothly.
"Qi… qi…"
Tapu Fini fell silent for a moment, then let out two soft, unwilling cries.
"Don't worry, Fini. You still have a future." Mammon wore a gentle smile.
"You may have lost Poni Island, but you still have me! You can just treat me as your new 'Poni Island.'"
Mammon's tone was perfectly righteous, his voice ringing with moral conviction.
Caitlin froze at those words, shooting Mammon a distinctly odd look.
Why exactly did Tapu Fini "lose" Poni Island? You're completely glossing over that part, aren't you?
Tapu Fini's eyes went wide with shock as it stared at Mammon. Was this human even speaking human language?
Who taught you to talk like this?!
"Regardless, you're my Pokémon now. From here on out, let's cooperate properly, and I'll take you to the peak."
Mammon smiled as he spoke. He felt he was being extraordinarily sincere.
"Qi-qi…"
Tapu Fini let out a resigned cry. Even if it refused, there was no way out — this human was never going to let it go.
Tapu Fini was deeply troubled. Why am I so charismatic? Curse it!!
Being naturally gorgeous was, at times, a real burden. Tapu Fini just happened to be this irresistibly likeable.
"Very good." Mammon was thoroughly pleased.
"From today onward, we're partners. I look forward to working with you, Tapu Fini."
"Qi-qi~"
Tapu Fini's response was utterly listless. Its condition was already rough, and now it had been forcibly kidnapped on top of that. It would be strange if it did have any energy.
"Come back and rest for now. I'll take you to get treated in a bit."
Mammon recalled Tapu Fini into its Ultra Ball.
"Tapu Fini doesn't seem very willing."
Caitlin's elegant brows furrowed slightly. She was starting to worry whether she'd run into the same problem when she eventually caught Tapu Lele.
"It's been serving as an island guardian for who knows how long. Suddenly being caught is bound to leave it a bit lost — that's perfectly normal." Mammon answered matter-of-factly.
"In this kind of situation, it comes down to us trainers. We just have to win them over slowly."
"And if they still refuse to cooperate?"
Caitlin asked curiously. She'd never personally encountered the situation, but she'd heard of it.
Some wild-natured or proud Pokémon wouldn't listen to their trainers even after being caught — some would even deliberately slack off in battle.
"Then you just have to use slightly special methods to get them to cooperate at first." Mammon's tone was unhurried and completely composed.
Caitlin was curious.
"Let's take my Tapu Fini as an example."
Mammon and Caitlin walked side by side across the sand, leaving pairs of footprints trailing behind them.
"Caitlin — what do you think Tapu Fini cares about most?"
Caitlin thought for a moment.
"Poni Island, I'd imagine?"
"Exactly. For the Tapus, what they care about most is the island they guard. They're land-guardian Pokémon, after all."
Mammon nodded with a smile. All four Tapus were classified in the Pokédex as land-guardian Pokémon, without exception.
"So it's very simple. If Tapu Fini still refuses to cooperate with me going forward, all I have to do is say one single line."
The corner of Mammon's mouth slowly curved upward, thick with malicious intent.
"Tapu Fini — you wouldn't want Poni Island to sink, would you?"
Tapu Fini: (°⌒°)
Caitlin's expression cleared. Oh. She understood now.