'Why would Tapu Koko reveal itself to me...?' Jason asked himself, forcing himself to remain calm as he rested his hands reassuringly on Ren's shoulders.
"Jason...?"
Confused by Jason's actions, Ren leaned her head back to stare up at him from below.
"It's okay..." Jason muttered, holding Tapu Koko's gaze as he stated, "We haven't done anything wrong, so he shouldn't be here to attack or punish us..."
"Tapu ko..."
Using its beaked left hand, Tapu Koko pointed in the direction of a forest at the base of the path.
"Is there something—" Jason started, his words cutting off and his body briefly tensing as Tapu Koko disappeared from view, scattering a powerful gust of wind in all directions.
"I guess he wants us to meet him in the forest..." Jason muttered, his hands and core trembling with suppressed anxiety.
"S-Should I contact the President and request backup?" Dex questioned nervously, causing Jason to momentarily tense up as he wasn't expecting the phone-sized Pokémon to speak to him from his blind spot.
"If he intended to harm us, he could have done so without revealing himself..." Jason reasoned, unsure if he was trying to convince Dex or himself. Then, shaking his head, he decided, "For now, Ren and I will follow him. You will hang out near the top of the cliff and watch over the forest from above. If we don't return within half an hour of entering, then you can call for backup."
"Are you absolutely certain...?" Dex questioned, revealing, "Because there are reports every year of Trainers going missing or being found dead after being seen with one of Alola's Four Guardian Deities."
"..."
As he had read multiple accounts detailing Trainers who had perished after failing to overcome the challenges and trials foisted upon them by Tapu Koko and its kin, Jason couldn't refute Dex's words. On the other hand, so long as you clearly surrendered or submitted, there were even more reports of Trainers being permitted to withdraw.
"We'll go..." Jason decided, staring intently in the direction of the forest while strengthening his hold on Ren's shoulders. He didn't believe that Tapu Koko would approach him without a reason. So, before anyone else could get involved or be implicated, he needed to learn what it wanted or expected from him.
"Ren will go..." Ren affirmed, placing her paws atop Jason's hands and gripping them supportively. Dex tried once more to convince them that going was too dangerous, but Jason had already made up his mind. He would never be able to obtain the strength to protect others if he never took chances or challenged himself. Thus, even if Tapu Koko was calling them over for a trial battle, he was determined to see things through to the end...
...
..
.
Following a sound akin to a high-voltage generator, it didn't take long for Jason and Ren to reach the clearing where Tapu Koko awaited them. The Pokémon's ability to remain completely motionless in the air was uncanny, stirring Jason's curiosity. But instead of focusing on that, Jason placed his right hand over his left breast, bowed his head slightly, and stated, "Jason Springfield and his partner, Rennae, greet the Great Guardian of Melemele Island..."
pwip
In response to Jason's greeting, Tapu Koko unleashed a pale blue pulse that reverberated through the air, producing a crisp sound akin to a drop of water landing in a pond.
'Was that Calm Mind...?' Jason asked himself, his body filling with tension as the Pokémon Power in question boosted the user's Special Attack and Special Defense, suggesting Tapu Koko was preparing for battle.
pcha
Instead of attacking, Tapu Koko caught Jason off guard by establishing a telepathic link with him and Ren, stating, 'Be at ease. Though you are not of this world, we have observed that you hold no enmity in your heart...' in a soft-spoken, masculine-sounding tone.
"Then, may I ask why Lord Tapu Koko deigned to approach us...?" Jason questioned, his fear giving way to relief and curiosity.
'Tell us, human from another world. What is your dream? And does it give you the conviction to face and overcome any obstacles that might appear before you...?' Tapu Koko questioned, giving the impression it was just as curious as Jason.
Shaking his head, Jason confessed, "I don't have a dream of my own. But there are many I would risk my life to protect."
'So you have chosen to live for others...' Tapu Koko concluded, his voice gaining a hint of solemnity before he turned his gaze to Ren, asking, 'And what about you? What is your dream...?'
"Ren will protect Jason..." Ren responded, zero hesitation in her tone or body language as she stood at the ready, primed for a battle to break out at any moment.
"Ren..." Jason muttered, feeling both touched and conflicted. It had never been his intention to train Ren to be his protector. Rather, as her surrogate parent, he viewed it as his responsibility to protect her.
'The bond you share is clear and strong...' Tapu Koko expressed, nodding approvingly before appending, 'But you are presently too weak to protect yourselves, much less others. If you do not become stronger quickly, you will lose everything.'
"We know that. That's why we train and work hard to become stronger with each passing day," Jason asserted.
Shaking his head, Tapu Koko left Jason at a loss by plainly stating, 'Your efforts are not enough...'
Meeting Jason's gaze, Tapu Koko explained, 'Others may have the leisure to increase their strength slowly, but not the two of you. Your existence in this world is unnatural. You distort the fates of those around you and draw those with similar natures to you. And as you are, you lack the strength to oppose them.'
'So my existence really is polluting this world...' Jason noted, feeling a mix of guilt, shame, and frustration wash over him like a cold tide. Instead of mulling over his negativity, however, he focused on Tapu Koko's reference to those with natures similar to his, prompting him to ask, "Has Lord Tapu Koko encountered others like me?"
Nodding, Tapu Koko revealed, 'Forces spurred by your ilk have begun to invade this world. We do not know their aim, but they have targeted our kin with powers not of this world. We thought you were one of them, but while you might not originate from our world, it is clear that you care for those who live here. That is the reason we have approached you.'
Pointing at Jason with its beaked right hand, Tapu Koko emitted a wave of electrostatic pressure and telepathically exclaimed, 'Grow stronger, Jason Springfield! Strong enough to protect those you care about and this world you have become a part of! Become a Hero!'
Ding!
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[The Path of a Hero: Guardian of Alola]
Rank: S~SSS [Linked]
Description: You have earned the recognition of Tapu Koko, the Guardian of Melemele Island. Prove yourself worthy of his trust by overcoming the trials that he and the other Guardians will present you. Succeed, and you will obtain great strength. Fail, and remain a burden to all those who have given you their love and trust.
Objective(s): Complete the Grand Trials of Alola's Guardian Deities(0/4).
Optional Objective(s): Challenge and Survive the Grand Trial of Light(0/1), Travel Through Ten Unique Ultra Wormholes(0/10), Befriend and Capture an Ultra Beast(0/1)
Base Reward: 1,000,000 AP
Optional Reward(s): Originum Stone(0/1), 100,000 AP, ????
Notice: This Quest will have a monumental impact on the Aspirant's future path and opportunities.
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Taken aback by Tapu Koko's brain-tingling exclamation and the Quest window that had appeared before him, Jason found himself at a loss for words. He didn't consider himself particularly heroic, but if he were forced to choose between being a hero or a villain, he would naturally select the former.
"I understand..." Jason forced himself to say, his brain pulsing with the beating of his heart as he proclaimed, "I will take on the Grand Trials of Alola's Guardian Deities and prove myself to be an ally to this world and its inhabitants..."
"Ren will fight too...!" Ren exclaimed, clenching her paws into fists and pumping them resolutely.
'That's good. For you will need each other if you are to succeed...' Tapu Koko stated, opening his beaked hand to reveal what Jason recognized as a Z-Ring, colored in the distinctive cobalt-blue, black, and beige hues of a Lucario.
As the Z-Ring floated toward him, enveloped in pale golden light, Jason extended his hands to accept it in his palms. There were plenty of stories of Tapu Koko and the other Island Guardians gifting Trainers Z-Rings, but he never expected to receive one himself. The majority were conferred by Island Kahunas, specifically after Trainers had completed their first Grand Trial.
'That Z-Ring is special. When you begin your Island Challenge, the trials you face will be far more difficult than normal. Steel yourselves for when that time arrives...' Tapu Koko warned, his tone serious as he lowered his arm and prepared to leave.
"Lord Tapu Koko! Please, wait...!" Jason exclaimed, his voice coming out more panicked than he intended.
'If you would ask about your future trials, we cannot reveal anything...' Tapu Koko questioned, half-turning to face Jason with an expression that resembled a frown. Due to the unique structure of his face, it was difficult to tell.
Shaking his head, Jason stated, "It isn't that. I wanted to ask about the others you've encountered like me. Please share what you know so I can relay it to the Aether Foundation and the League. Mine and Ren's strength may be lacking at the moment, but they will fight to protect Alola."
'We are already in contact with the one called Iris Dragernes. We do not require you as a proxy...' Tapu Koko revealed, catching Jason by surprise. He was aware that Iris was in contact with the Island Kahunas, who had been appointed to their positions by the Island Guardians, but he wasn't aware of the specifics of their correspondence.
"Then, until we next meet, I shall pray that you and the other Guardians continue to triumph against Alola's enemies..." Jason expressed, closing his eyes, cupping his hands, and inclining his head and body respectfully.
Seeing Jason bow, Ren followed his example, cupping her right paw with her left and bowing low. She was somewhat disappointed that Tapu Koko appeared to be in the process of leaving—which suggested they wouldn't be battling—but she did her best not to let it show.
'It will not be long before our paths cross again,' Tapu Koko stated plainly, punctuating his words by turning around and flickering out of existence as if he had teleported.
'There he goes...' Jason sighed, both internally and externally. At the same time, his legs abruptly gave out beneath him, causing him to fall backward onto his butt and palms.
"Jason? Are you okay...?" Ren questioned, turning on the pads of her feet to stare at Jason with concern. Her fur was slightly damp with sweat, but Jason looked like he had just gotten out of the shower.
"If anything, I feel great..." Jason exhaled, his voice tinged with a weary laugh as he lay back and let the remaining tension in his body melt away like a warm ooze. The pressure exerted by a Legendary made the tension he experienced during the WCS feel like a warm shower. Then there was Tapu Koko's speed. It wasn't his first time seeing a Pokémon disappear in a burst of speed, but Tapu Koko was on a completely different level...
"Cool down..." Ren muttered, snapping Jason out of his reflective, closed-eyed reverie by abruptly sitting atop his stomach and placing her paws on his chest. Then, using Life Dew, she expelled the weariness from his body and cooled him down using Water-Type Energy.
"Thank you, Ren...you really are the best partner I could have asked for..." Jason expressed, re-closing his eyes and sighing. He couldn't help but be cognizant of the sensations and weight pressing down on him, but instead of focusing on them, he considered how he was going to explain what had transpired without sending Lillie into a panic...
...
..
.