Brooklet Hill was a vast and beautiful network of cascading pools, wrapped in dense mist and layered with flowing water that descended from the heights in shimmering curtains. The entire hillside looked rich with life, almost dreamlike.
By noon, Peter, Whitney, and Lana finally arrived.
"There are actually a lot of people fishing here~" Whitney said as she looked at the anglers scattered around the ponds.
Lana nodded.
"Yep! This is one of Alola's most famous fishing spots."
A little later, the three rented a small boat and set off.
As the wooden boat drifted farther from shore, the water beneath them grew darker and deeper.
Lana rested her hand against her chin and said thoughtfully,
"At times like this… you need some bait."
Whitney blinked.
"Hm? But we didn't prepare any."
"Leave it to me~"
A strangely excited smile appeared on Lana's face.
"Wishiwashi in School Form should like this…"
Peter froze.
"Wait… don't tell me you're—"
Before he could finish—
Lana had already pulled off her sailor-style outer shirt, and her loose pants dropped to the deck.
"Ah—?!"
Whitney almost screamed—
only to realize she wasn't undressed at all.
Underneath, she was wearing a tight navy school swimsuit.
"Just don't miss your attacks later!"
With that, she jumped.
Splash!
Whitney stared blankly.
"…So she's using herself as fishing bait?"
Peter looked equally stunned.
"…I honestly don't know."
Soon, waves began spreading around the boat.
The two released their Pokémon and prepared for battle.
A blue dorsal fin surfaced.
The next second, Lana emerged from the water and shouted—
"Now! Attack it!"
Peter and Whitney exchanged a glance and nodded together.
"Braviary, Brave Bird!"
"Stufful, use Coaching!"
Coaching: Through tactical guidance, raises all allies' Attack and Defense by one stage.
"Nui~!"
Stufful clapped its little paws energetically.
Instantly, the blue flames around Braviary burned even brighter.
"SKREEE—!"
Wrapped in raging wind, Braviary shot forward.
The surface of the water split apart under the pressure—
and what emerged made everyone's eyes widen.
A dark-blue sea monster over ten meters long burst from beneath the lake.
[Wishiwashi Lv.59 (Advanced Gym-tier • Totem • School Form)]
Ability: Schooling (Can gather allies into a powerful form. Talent limit increased to 620.)
Description: The Wishiwashi guarding the Waterium Z. Possesses a special Totem aura that raises all stats by one stage and allows control over nearby Wishiwashi and Alomomola.
————
"ROOOAR—!!"
Seeing Braviary closing in, Wishiwashi roared.
Water surged around its tail before it whipped around violently.
Aqua Tail!
BOOM—!!
Brave Bird collided head-on with the torrent.
Braviary was blasted backward dozens of meters before stabilizing itself.
But thanks to that opening, Lana escaped safely and climbed back into the boat.
Peter stared ahead seriously.
"So strong…"
With the Totem aura, School Form, and complete home-field advantage—
it really deserved the title:
Monster of the Sea.
"ROOOAR—!"
Wishiwashi let out another cry.
The pond erupted.
Nearly ten more Pokémon surfaced.
Its allies.
Single-form Wishiwashi—
and pink heart-shaped fish—
Alomomola.
"Mamaaa…"
Several Alomomola began dancing together.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
Rain poured down instantly.
Stufful happily splashed in the water without a care in the world.
Lana frowned.
"…Feels like we can't win?"
Whitney smiled calmly.
"Just leave it to Peter~"
She looked toward the bow.
Peter's wrist lit up.
Braviary returned to its Poké Ball—
and then rapidly expanded.
A brilliant white flash exploded into the sky.
A colossal Braviary appeared overhead.
Dynamax vs. Totem Form!
Peter looked through the rain curtain and smiled.
"Braviary—Max Airstream!!!"
"SKREEEEEEE—!!!"
Braviary's cry shook the sky.
Air currents gathered.
A monstrous tornado more than twenty meters wide formed in front of it—
before crashing forward.
Wishiwashi opened its mouth.
A massive Hydro Pump erupted.
Combined with its allies' attacks—
it transformed into a towering water cyclone.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The collision shook the entire hill.
Even the distant fishermen turned to look.
Rain scattered everywhere.
Even Rain Dance was blown apart.
"Aaah~"
Indeedee used Psychic to stabilize the boat.
Only then could the three finally see clearly.
Under Max Airstream's enormous range—
all the support Pokémon had already floated belly-up.
Only Wishiwashi remained.
Its massive fish body had become visibly damaged—
yet it still held on.
Braviary wasn't in good shape either.
Its wings had been soaked through and every flap looked difficult.
Without Dynamax's increased endurance—
it probably would've collapsed already.
Peter raised his hand.
"Again—Max Airstream!"
Whitney immediately followed up.
"Stufful, Coaching!"
BOOOOM—!!
This time Wishiwashi barely managed to defend with Aqua Tail—
but under the roaring storm—
the entire school finally shattered.
Dozens of Wishiwashi scattered through the air.
Braviary returned to normal size.
[Ding! Cross-tier victory achieved. Reward: Universal Talent Points ×20.]
[Braviary leveled up to Lv.49. Additional talent points available.]
Peter threw a Rare Candy.
"Braviary!"
"Chee~!"
Braviary swooped down and caught it perfectly.
Peter opened the system panel and assigned all 20 points into Speed.
Visible changes appeared immediately—
Braviary's dark-blue wings stretched longer and looked noticeably sharper.
At that moment—
a tiny blue fish floated up.
"Yo…"
It opened its mouth.
Inside were two crystalline blue diamonds.
[Waterium Z: Contains Water-type Z-Power. When equipped to a Z-Ring, Trainer and Pokémon can unleash the powerful Z-Move: Hydro Vortex.]
Peter took both crystals.
Then he fed Wishiwashi a Pokéblock.
"Thank you, Wishiwashi~"
"Yo~"
The little fish nodded and disappeared beneath the water.
Peter recalled Braviary—
then handed one Waterium Z to Whitney.
At that moment—
Stufful, who had been watching quietly the entire time, tilted its head.
"Nui… Nui~!"
It suddenly jumped into Whitney's arms and pointed at her Poké Ball while gesturing excitedly.
Whitney blinked.
"…Wait… do you want to go inside?"
"Nui~!"
Stufful nodded immediately.
Whitney looked toward Peter.
"Honey…"
Peter smiled.
"If you want to catch it, then catch it~"
After all—
his goal had always been to eventually recruit the Bear God.
Having Whitney raise Stufful actually felt perfect.
Whitney gently tapped Stufful's nose.
"Then… from now on, I'll be your Trainer, okay, Stufful~?"
"Nui~!"
The little bear clapped happily—
and was pulled into the Poké Ball.
Shake.
Shake.
Shake.
Ding!
Capture successful!
Whitney raised the ball excitedly.
"Nice~! I caught Stufful!"
Watching from the side—
Lana's eyes filled with envy.
Peter smiled at her.
"Don't worry. You'll meet a reliable partner too~"
Lana nodded hard.
"Yeah!"