There wasn't that much to do on my list, but there's a surprising amount of stuff to see scattered around here. I didn't think I'd have to, but we're not making it to Hano in this update.
First order of business is to check in with the story-important character.
There's a bit of an issue here that isn't obvious at first glance, but becomes more apparent when you think about a problem the game has later (well, actually, it's suffering this problem now, it's just not obvious how). Professor Burnet having an item here is a sign that the game has no more use for Burnet in the story. I just... she has such an important role as a character, it's amazing to think they never try to do anything else with her.
To add insult to injury, it's not even a good item.
The Reveal Glass is the item that grants the owner the ability to transform the Forces of Nature between Incarnate and Therian forms. Since she's the character who first introduced us to the Therian forms, it makes sense she'd own this, although she's not the one who gave it to us in B2W2. Really, we just get it because inventory junk, and it wouldn't have been that bad if Burnet gave this to us later. Especially when you learn what Kukui's keeping from us because he's still a plot character...
That is a problem, Burnet, and it tells me you work way too long hours.
Mum's not saying anything. I suppose we're past the point where she will...
Now that we've completed Olivia's trial, restaurants go up in value tremendously. Or at least... they would had the game been differently designed.
There are four Z-sets on offer. In normal gameplay, they're all functionally identical, but after beating Olivia's Trial, one of them gets a special quality.
I'll take the special, thank you, ma'am.
She doesn't stop us too much.
And as we enter, Olivia comes in and makes her own order. As far as I'm aware, Hala has no equivalent to this mechanic.
Olivia simplifies her dining experience by just declaring she'll just append hers to ours.
The dinner itself is pretty mechanically (and considering Pokemon isn't a franchise good at animations, visually) worthless.
...Home cooking? Olivia, I'm not sure what you're talking about.
A bit of a stranger addition they went for is that apparently Bethany doesn't actually like the special Z-sets? None too surprising, by my standards, but not something I'd have expected to see represented in-game.
At least someone had a good time.
Olivia: "Sweet, free leftovers!"
This whole thing about the player not enjoying the meal clashes horribly with Olivia's post-meal message. Still, at least she covers the bill.
The true purpose of the restaurant is to give away 2 Heart Scales per meal. If Olivia joins you for a meal, which she does once a day when ordering the Special set, she will not only comp the monetary cost, but give you her Heart Scales too.
Were this a game that had a Move Reminder available at a normal time (which, when considering the levels at which you often encountered a Move Reminder in classic games, should be around now), this would be fantabulous. Instead, we're getting virtually nothing out of it. The knock-on effects of this issue are still being felt.
Didn't make sense the first time, doesn't make much sense the second time.
In USUM, we got something nice from this police station as soon as we arrived. In SM, we have to wait until after beating Olivia to receive it.
The policeman jumps out of his chair when you talk to the Snubbull. This apparently shocks Bethany so much that she leaves the conversation, standing here blankly until you start inputting controls again.
...I want to know what the hell you're talking about, so close enough.
You ought to feel damn lucky there's no real crime in this town.
SM still gets the Focus Band. Much like the Expert Belt, this is a nifty bonus obtained after a kahuna in SM, shifted before it in USUM. I don't think this pattern continues, but it was funny.
Ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work.
...I prefer to think that's all gone into the Pokemon Centre system.
Since it's been some time since we showed this lady Paul, it seems a good time to show off what happens afterwards. Seems she has gone and caught her own little Diglett.
She's caught it, but it doesn't want to reciprocate that feeling. Can't relate, but might have something to say.
Dugtrio takes one look at us and goes...
Very slightly insane. It's either at a rock concert or has an itch on a part of its body it refuses to mention.
Somehow, I'm going to go with no.
Somehow, the stylist has a theory...
Eeyup. In order to complete this sidequest, your hair needs to be honey blond.
I decided on making Ray honey blond and using a Dugtrio completely separately, with the latter coming second (and somewhat post-dating Ray first getting the chance to catch Diglett significantly) and the former being done to try and most easily distinguish the four protagonists while flattering their skin tones (that's why Ailey flirted with a lighter hair colour, before settling back on a more natural black).
The fact Ray landed face first into solving one of the most restrictive sidequests in the game is absolutely hilarious, but I'm glad I didn't have to dye someone's hair just to see this.
...Why are you putting sand in people's hair? This isn't even the only place to get Soft Sand- at least give us a Stardust!
I should sure hope Paul isn't so picky.
Now then, we're going to have an extended sequence of things that are exclusive to the original SM: And not only that, but things that are version exclusive between that.
This event, in Lana's house, can be done by both Bethany and Noah. In fact, both of them made something of their time here.
Lana's siblings are of the variety that will make demands of your time with no respect for what you, personally, will have to do to satisfy them. Sometimes it's best to know when to fold.
Fortunately, I'm always up for a Doubles Battle.
Harper and Sarah are actual characters in the Pokemon Sun & Moon anime, where Lana was also a major character. There, they received mini-me designs of Lana, as well as distinct blouses patterned with Water Pokemon. Their personalities remained the same, however.
The anime more strictly enforces the "Trainers get Pokemon at age 10" rule, so the anime twins don't have anything.
I made a slight mistake, since I thought I'd have a bit more control than I wound up having. I wanted Oatchi on the left. No matter, I made do.
Zapple has learnt Volt Tackle, and the presence of Water types seems as good a reason as any to click it.
Sadly, the animation isn't all that. Zapple turns into a ball of electricity and slams into Luvdisc at high speed. The fact it's Pikachu's Final Smash in the Smash games kinda prepares you for something awesome, and it was pretty awesome in the 2D games, but it's lost a little something in 3D.
Ow, that smarts...
Oatchi's Razor Leaf finished things off.
...No? I mean, no recoil, but on the other hand, half the BP.
The Female Preschoolers always have an adorable loss animation.
Considering their sister is a Trial Captain and they haven't been out of nappies long enough to see many other people (except perhaps Olivia), I don't blame them for that assertion.
After that Multi Battle, Lana comes back to check in on the twins.
And there's no doubt her sisters love her. Perhaps too much, but...
They are both easy and terrifying to entertain. And I thought dealing with one of them was bad.
Case in point. The twins are ready to see Lana pull out all the stops against us directly.
...Are you trying to weasel out of this, Lana?
Yeah, that's dealing with tykes in a nutshell.
Lana just kinda saying "I don't think you've got any more choice in the matter, Beth."
Fortuntely, we were both open to giving it a go anyway.
(This was my mistake- saying yes here commits you to the battle. I thought I'd have another moment to prepare, heal Zapple, and shift Oatchi in front.)
Bring it.
Also because the series is a little inconsistent on whether or not it is polite/safe to battle indoors, presumably. Although Harper and Sarah had no issues with doing it.
And by "out front", she means "Brooklet Hill". I wonder if it'll be raining if the hour is right.
"Remember kids- if you promise to do something, follow through."
"And if you ever get challenged to battle, crush your enemy into a fine paste."
Only the best examples.
Although we didn't fight them during the Akala Island Challenge, there are battles prepared for all three of Akala's Trial Captains. Three Pokemon, and moderate difficulty- their levels are equal to Olivia's.
Chinchou is the leader, showing off the investment Lana uses. 31/15/15/31/15/31 IVs, 252 EVs in Sp. Atk and Spd, a Serious Nature, Volt Absorb for the Ability, and the moves Electro Ball, Bubble Beam and Thunder Wave. Electro Ball is a Special Electric move that increases in power the faster the user is, so it comboes nastily with Thunder Wave to cut your Speed in half. Without it, Chinchou's pretty lousy Speed prevents it from getting too much more powerful than 40 BP.
Chinchou has 64 Speed.
Zapple: Cannot do anything at all to Chinchou to turn the battle in my favour.
It's Oatchi's job to handle the Chinchou.
And it does it with gusto. You do know Electro Ball would've been neutral, right?
Shellder forms a pretty nasty opponent. 31/15/31/15/31/15 IVs, 252 EVs in Def and Sp. Def, Serious Nature, Skill Link for the Ability, and the moves Water Gun, Supersonic, and Icicle Spear. An automatic five consecutive hits of a 25 BP Ice move is what makes Cloyster so terrifying, and it's a definite relief that Shellder doesn't yet have the Ice STAB. But still, this is something that Oatchi wants to turn 540 degrees and run away from.
...
In hindsight, what convinced me Dottie was the answer? She's weak to Ice!
Fortunately, Shellder seems to have forgotten that too, going for Supersonic instead. Dottie manages to finish it before I am reminded of my mistake.
The non-Totem Araquanid as Lana's ace. She's not the only one planning ahead for USUM, either. 31/31/15/15/15/31 IVs, 252 EVs in Atk and Spd, Serious Nature, Water Bubble for the Ability, and the moves Bubble Beam, Bug Bite and Bite. And yes, she's holding a Waterium Z. Fortunately, Araquanid's "I'm not actually an attacker" stats and its dependence on using Special Water moves handicap its true power, but with a natural Special Defence as high as it is, you might find yourself on the wrong side of a Hydro Vortex if you don't plan carefully.
Araquanid has 53 Speed.
Fortunately, there's something else I wanted to show off, and this has given me the perfect target with which to do so.
Zapple is going to evolve as soon as it hits level 29 and learns a key move, so this is more or less the last proper chance to fire off the Pikanium Z.
The Pikachu Z-Moves (both Catastropika and 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt) are the only two Z-Moves to have special poses, not using the as-yet unlearned Electric pose. Not that not having learned the standard pose will stop us using special Z-Moves.
The choreography of this Z-Move is that Bethany and Zapple, in synch, move their hands in a thunderbolt pattern in front of their face, put their hands over their head to mimic Pikachu's ears, pinch their cheeks around where their electric sacs would be, and then conclude with a final second Pikachu ear pose. Pikachu's also doing a few "Pi-pi-pi" noises in between moves.
You may fire when ready.
No, seriously, something about the unique Z-Moves proves a little too intensive for the 3DS at times, and there's a noticeable loading lag after that textbox before the animation for the actual Z-Move is performed.
Oh yeah, this bit. I will say, the still I caught of the "Zapple jumps into Bethany's arms" is adorable.
But this is a joke that requires a lot of explaining. What's going on here is that, in an episode of the anime titled "Pikachu's Goodbye", the episode has a heartwarming ending where Pikachu falls from the sky and lands in Ash's arms, causing him to spin around as he catches him. There's a meme that reverses this footage, causing it to appear like Ash spins around and shot-puts Pikachu into the air with a joyous expression on his face. This is a pretty good approximation of that reversed footage. All that's left is asking why.
Once airborne, Pikachu rolls up into a ball, winding up for a barreling rush down.
Exclusive Z-Moves typically include one more scene where the protagonist directs the action- in this case, thrusting her right fist forward to mimic Pikachu shooting that blast of electricity and mouse down on Araquanid's head.
A Gigavolt Havoc off Volt Tackle is rated at 190 power. That was 210.
Either way, Araquanid's a Special tank, not a physical one.
And no recoil, either!
Thought I'd show off a bit for the kids, you know?
No problem for me!
Hm... maybe your team could use a little... shoring up?
...I'll admit Catastropika was overkill, but really? That boring?
Gottem.
You're welcome. Although I'm sure it won't be a likely repeat occurrence. Tykes.
Freebie Muscle Band for SM. We'll get USUM's later, while SM remains bereft of Wise Glasses.
Lana's going to continue not being a plot character so she can go do her actual paying job- fishing in the family trade.
...Considering her dad's luck, she may actually be the breadwinner here.
Another of those notices. And still no close to cluing in to what they're for.
Harper and Sarah now recognise us, but little else changes in the household. Now then...
I promised a little Noah action, and since Ray and Ailey are passing on this battle, we'll just plonk it here. You see, Noah has a new evolution.
Lilligant (Moon): As soon as it finds a male to be its partner, the beautiful flower on its head darkens, droops, and withers away.
...Jokes the devs totally committed to. Lilligant is Nimue's evolution, achieved by use of a Sun Stone from Poke Pelago. This gives it a massive buff to its stats- +200 BST, with +40 in Sp. Atk and +60 in Spd. We're still missing a key piece of the Lilligant Cannon Arm, but we have the budget equivalent, so now seems as good a time as any to show it.
Step one: Sleep Powder.
...Step 1.5: Ask yourself who gave Lana Full Heals.
Step 2: Leech Seed.
Oh, this is just going to make my life that much harder, hm?
Right, back to sleep.
That damage from, I believe, Bubble Beam got fully healed by Leech Seed + Big Root. Now then, at last...
Step 3: Spam Growth until sufficiently high. Lilligant learns a better move at level 28, but Nimue hasn't quite got there yet.
Step 4: Click Giga Drain until problems no longer exist.
Step 5: Goto 4.
Lana caught on, and went for her powerful Bug type, to hit Nimue in her weaker defence.
Nimue deals half HP back and heals herself back up to... well, not safe numbers, but...
Just high enough that Nimue squeaked by with 3 HP to spare.
...That's another SE move in the back pocket... and I'm paralysed...
But really, I'm just fishing for Amulet Coin making this switch. I think that Shellder is slow enough that Nimue could've outsped.
That's the power of Skill Link Icicle Spear... running off no STAB and hitting a resist. It's still pretty powerful for a Pokemon not specced for Atk, and had it been stronger, it would have oneshot PRNDL, since it breaks Sturdy.
Shame about Charge Beam missing the KO.
Fortunately, I hit the +1 Sp. Atk, so the second one pulled it off.
Sadly, PRNDL's dealing with issues with this too, same as Zapple.
That was fun. Now then... the other two.
Starting off in Kiawe's house, and remembered to check his bed. I was expecting he tracked volcano soot in the house, this is... something else.
Kiawe is in his other bedroom, practicing his fire twirling.
Take note: This event occurs only in Pokemon Sun, and only during night hours.
As you enter the room, he starts off screaming his head off. I missed that out of surprise to find him, despite knowing he was here.
I mean, "don't practice with live fire" seems like a pretty reasonable suggestion. Especially when you live in a wooden house.
Repetition to get good + live fire hazard = obvious problems. No shortcuts to solving that issue, though.
Kiawe got so soaked up in his practice that he lost track of time and realised he had something important to be doing.
...How much do fire twirlers get paid?
For some reason, the end of the event spawns you here. Perhaps because that's the door they expect you to enter through?
We can encounter Kiawe outside the Megamart, speaking to someone who Kiawe looks absolutely out of place next to.
We only catch the second half of the conversation, but I I think we understand what the first half is all about here. As tragic as the implications of this conversation are for Kiawe, though, I greatly appreciate the manager's motivations for choosing Kiawe as compared to literally anyone else on staff. When the time comes to make layoffs, there are far worse methods to make cuts than "lay off the people with the best resources to survive a sudden firing first".
This is an actual plot point that comes up later, but I wasn't aware it happened so recently. Well, OK, maybe there was some time between the guardian deity destroying the last one and this one opening, but still.
And Kiawe even gets severance! From a layoff, that must be quite the risk on the part of the manager.
Studying dance abroad? Wonder which school he's eyeing there.
Ambitious dreams, running a value store.
All in all, that conversation could've gone a heck of a lot worse.
...It could also have gone a heck of a lot better, but such is life.
Yo. Feelin' K, mate?
Kiawe needs to pause and take his feelings out on someone who'll speak to him on his level.
Three Fire types to deal with this time. Sadly, because of the timing of his boss fight, he does not use the same ace he carried in the anime, Turtonator.
Now, weirdly, Kiawe's sets on the datamine only list one EV at 252, which strikes me as odd when his counterpart has two. I'm not sure if Kiawe is actually a mistake, the datamine is mistaken or it is accurate, but for the fact that the datamine is primarily focused on Moon and thus Kiawe's data is less complete as a result. It presents an interesting look at development if that were true.
His lead is this Growlithe. 31/15/31/15/31/15, 252 EVs in HP, Serious Nature, Intimidate Ability and the moves Bite and Fire Fang. I never considered using Growlithe as a tank- it's more offensive than defensive- but Growlithe could probably make some decent tracks matched against the right opponent.
Which is why I denied it that and pit it against Flambebe.
Sure, Murphy plods on like a truck, but he's hit by Intimidate. It'll be tougher to chew on this fight with that under his belt.
And Flambebe could take the hit. Helps Growlithe isn't planning on being big on offense.
So long to that guy.
Huh. Odd. Marowak is his ace. It's running 31/31/15/15/15/31 IVs, 252 EVs in Atk, Serious Nature, Cursed Body for the Ability, and the moves Flame Wheel, Hex, Bonemerang, and Will-o-Wisp. Missing from its kit: Firium Z. Lana is the only Captain running her Z-Crystal- the other two don't. Presumably, that's why Kiawe is allowed to switch in Marowak when it's a better counter for Flambebe than his other mon.
Still, though, that Marowak is probably running a better kit than the Totem, despite its lack of Thick Club. Tread carefully about the things you choose to counter it with.
This seemed like a Murphy situation. Well, OK, it felt like a Kasplashle situation, but I was getting bored of clicking Scald to win serious fights, and I wouldn't be surprised if you were too.
I deserved that. At least it helps keep the edge closer than it would be had I deployed the school.
Although that Rock Tomb sure pulled its punch.
It got me the faster High Horsepower, although man that Burn stings.
At least Marowak isn't doing much better.
There we go. If nothing else, let that be a testament to the power of Burn.
Ah, yeah. Fletchinder. 15/31/15/31/15/31 IVs, 252 EVs in Speed, Serious Nature, Flame Body for the Ability, and the moves Ember, Quick Attack and Peck. I'd make a comment about the fact its 40 BP STAB moves no longer count as impressive, particularly when Fire is running off the inferior stat...
But K9 has already clicked Accelerock. Maybe you would have better luck being a Moon-exclusive boss fight, where the Accelerock user doesn't exist?
This was more stress relief than a serious battle. Don't stress it.
I haven't been showing builds, but everyone has packed the Amulet Coin for that nice +3K Poke per fight. This happened to be the first fight I did behind the scenes (having to find the time to play during the back hours can get a bit irritating), so this is the fight I showed that paycheck for.
Also, you know, mate, you just got laid off, that payout might cost ya...
And I didn't even use the Pokemon that won me your trial, even.
...Sorry. Why wasn't this conversation conducted indoors, again?
(If you say you didn't, he'll call you "too considerate" and proceed from here.)
Huh, you're actually going for professional fire twirler. I would've thought Hawai'i would already have the school you're after here.
...I understand you're hurt?
Yeah, I find it hard to sympathise. Your problem is with something a lot harder to deal with than your manager.
I'm not your therapist. I'm just a girl who doesn't talk much.
The only reward we got out of that one was the mysterious message. Fortunately, we will be seeing what we can turn these in for sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, for Moon players during daylight hours, Mallow will be available for challenge. Like Kiawe, she immediately lights up on seeing you enter the room.
...
OK, I probably shouldn't be saying this on a male file, but I can't not answer that top one.
...Not the response I was expecting. On the other hand, it's Mallow, so maybe...
I can assure you, this sentence is agnostic of which dialogue option you picked.
I maintain that the phrasing on this one needed some adjustments.
Mallow follows up on her "slightly insane" suggestion with something I'd more reasonably expect from a slightly insane woman in a Pokemon game. Do I know what she's up to? No. Does she? I doubt it.
Oh, you just missed her... somehow.
...Mallow, please tell me you used the stairs.
I suspect otherwise. Wandering off just came too naturally to her for it to be a first-time offense.
How urgent is it? At a restaurant, if Mallow suddenly skiving causes an ingredient shortage, that's starting to be a you problem.
...Can you excuse me for a second?
Slams head into Mallow's desk.
...We later learn that it's not necessarily the case that the two cooks are the same character, but you do manage to get two places at once- oh, right, SM hasn't dealt with the Ditto infestation.
Right, Lush Jungle. Fortunately, the Wimpod isn't hiding far.
Hi, Mallow. Do you have any of the permission to be doing what you are doing?
...I now have a completely different set of questions. OK, not completely different...
I'm still taking it at your word that you can cook! So far, you have failed to prove that you are doing the rest of your duties correctly. Honestly, organising the Totem Battle with Lurantis is the one thing you've been good at so far.
If Kiawe had weaker stats than Lana by design, since Lana is version-agnostic, I would expect Mallow to match. No, she has the two EVs too, but she does lack Grassium Z.
Starting off with, of all things, a purely defensive Phantump. 31/15/31/15/31/15 IVs, 252 EVs in Def/Sp. Def, Serious Nature, Natural Cure for the Ability and the moves Leech Seed, Confuse Ray, Feint Attack and Astonish. Despite being its STAB move, it's got like no incentive to click it. Leech Seed + Confuse Ray seems a pretty deadly combination, though, at least to things who think a Pokemon with 43/48 physical bulk can run bulky EVs.
A list of such things not including Taion, of course.
Taion is still here running underlevelled. Really, this says more about the Konikoni Fossils than it does about Taion.
...Unless I put a Berry on Taion, literally why am I not clicking Acrobatics? Acrobatics is the whole reason I'm deploying Taion, after all.
That's going to haunt me.
At least that was the STAB move hitting SE. Shadow Claw was just...
Ah, hello, Mallow's ace Steenee, the only one of the three to have the same ace between the anime and the games. Unfortunately for her, she's just a bit too early for Steenee to have its good stats. It's running IVs of 15/31/15/31/15/31, EVs of 252 in Atk and Sp. Atk (even the devs realised this thing wasn't scary enough), Serious Nature, Leaf Guard for the Ability, and the moves Teeter Dance, Rapid Spin, Double Slap and Magical Leaf.
...OK, seriously, I know you don't have much to work with, but couldn't you have come up with better? With its stats, it is actually running identical physical and special stats (both at a score of 51).
Successfully scared Taion. A particularly frail, -5 level Pokemon that was already slightly dented.
Most major Trainer's aces would finish the job with their best move running on STAB and neutral.
I think it says plenty that, despite being in Defeatist, Acrobatics still almost oneshot. I wouldn't be surprised to learn I lost a range.
Not staying in, I learned my lesson. I hope.
Things that Mallow continues to not have a counterstrategy for: Ethel. She's barely even levelled up since humiliating Lurantis, even!
That will likely be all the damage I'm taking.
Probably overkill, but I didn't really have much else.
Ahh, Shiinotic again. Also running Phantump's set of 31/15/31/15/31/15 with 252 Def/Sp. Def and Serious, this time Shiinotic has the stats to sort of use it. She packs Effect Spore and the moves Ingrain, Mega Drain, Sleep Powder and Astonish. Astonish seems a bit of a filler pick that I also don't see ever getting clicked (less sure why this one's even on there), but the other three moves spell disaster if you don't have something that can land a good, strong, physical blow that can bypass that bulk pretty fast.
Ethel: Is all of those things.
It's also weak to Fire, Steel, Flying and Ice, if you're wondering.
And yours seem a bit... half-baked, as it were?
Nothing in your team compares to your Trial. Maybe your ace when she evolves, but I fought a similar Shiinotic in your Trial and your Phantump is using a strategy that makes more sense on something else.
Thanks anyway. Now, about your, er... boss.
...Oh, we're continuing with this. Sure, I... I guess? Not sure I'd want that responsibility, though. Breaking Flame Clocks puts enough responsibility on my plate.
...Where did this come from, and am I OK with you continuing to be the one to ask?
This I've gotta hear.
...You mean to tell me that the youth of all the Trial Captains is enforced? How the hell does one keep up with Trial maintenance like this? What, does every Grass Trial Captain have to train their own Lurantis? How old do they start? This does at least explain why both Lana and Kiawe are worried about their non-Trial careers...
...Better keep practicing. And better keep doing the job you have now.
(This line is the main reason justifying why two cooks could be running around without a Ditto- the two men being the father and the brother, separate people).
Because right now, your father is certainly not likely to be handing over his restaurant to you.
No, I'm on your brother's side here.
She actually recalls the Wimpod here.
I feel bad for everybody involved here. Especially the Wimpod.
Our next stop will be in Hau'oli, and in USUM to boot. Ailey and Ray lost their Trial Captain matches, but they got a bit of post-Olivia content with miscellaneous stuff... on Melemele, for some reason.
Starting with Ilima eyeing a lineup of Hypno in a police station. I can see something has gone particularly awry here.
You're going to have to explain that one fast.
Thankfully, we're just dealing with assault and robbery.
...Is the suspect guilty of this crime guilty of battery? I presume no physical contact occurred on the Machamp here.
...Why do you have that authority? We just learned you're 20 years old or less and will lose your authority on a calendar date. I understand maybe the Kahuna having this power, but the Captains?
Hey, that's how you get problems that never get solved. Even if they don't have culpability, they do require investigation and confirmation.
I'm sure he is.
More interesting, but that's usually for buffing Sp. Atk... which might've been useful for attacking a Machamp, yeah.
Pretty mundane utility, there, although it would minimise fingerprints...
This is a bit of an interesting question- both because there is no narratively correct answer, but also because of the way the game is set up, there is a mechanically correct answer.
Hypno (Moon): As a matter of course, it makes anyone it meets fall asleep and has a taste of their dreams. Anyone having a good dream, it carries off.
No matter which Hypno you accuse, you will get into a fight with a single Hypno. This is a wild Hypno, and because we are not in a Trial, we are allowed to catch it if we so desire. I believe Ray doesn't even own Drowzee yet.
The Hypno you accuse will know the move that Ilima mentions it possesses, in addition to the moves it is normally entitled to. As a result, the mechanically correct option is Nasty Plot. Hypnosis can be found on freshly caught Drowzee from Route 2, while Psychic can be learned from a TM we will find soon. Nasty Plot is learned at level 53, so it is the hardest move to come by on a home-grown Hypno.
You and what Dark- Raticate, right. Still, thanks for the help. Only needed one Hypno for the log.
That was your take-away? Hm, I can't say it's a terrible takeaway...
Ilima proceeds to, with several camera pans, strike the pose. He is quite the dramatic one, isn't he?
...What powers do you think the position of Captain bestows upon you, and how different is that from the actual powers bestowed on you by the title?
So Ilima declares all of them guilty. My faith in you has fallen to an all-time low.
Can't tell if that's them assenting or disagreeing.
Hypno (Ruby/Sapphire): Hypno holds a pendulum in its hand. The arcing movement and glitter of the pendulum lull the foe into a deep state of hypnosis. While this Pokémon searches for prey, it polishes the pendulum.
That would be the Hoenn region.
...Tilts head Is that what we're using it for? I'd think a Nugget too clunky for such purposes.
This sounds like a bad idea on multiple accounts. Both on "will they comply" grounds and also on the basis that I'm not 100% sure Nuggets can be shared. You sell them.
The Psychic guy doesn't seem too amused. I wonder who was planning on being awarded the profits of this arrangement had it worked as planned.
Or if the Hypno even thought that far.
All in all, I grade your handling of this process at a D-. I'd give you an F, but that would give you this power for longer than you really earned.
At least we get to partake in the profits, to the tune of 20K.
So long, Ilima.
Not even the police can explain what just happened. Usually a bad sign.
Of course, it could also mean the cops are useless, but I think the last thing we want is both facts being true at the same time.
Next order of business, Hau'oli City Mall, specifically during daylight hours, in order to see a show. In order to see this show, you must have seen the Alola Ride Pokemon Show we saw after defeating Hala.
So then... What exactly is a Bewear costume show, anyway?
And if a Pokemon character is calling a Pokemon dangerous, that's how you know it's dangerous. Ray has Pokemon in his pocket more dangerous than most live animals I've seen in a shopping mall.
...OK, not right now.
People inside Pokemon costumes and real Pokemon tend to use the same models and animations. Not sure if that's a comment on that fact or not.
This seems to be a show about making Bewear as adorable as they look.
...I'm worried about making them too attractive for children to approach, but I'm Australian.
...Oh great. This is either unscripted or about to go really badly.
This puts points in "unscripted", and that is not a great reaction to seeing a Bewear where you didn't expect it.
I dunno... I'd sooner put my money on "Bewear doll". Although that raises the question of how it got here. And whether Bewear dolls have the same uses as Stufful ones.
To make it clear in-game, the real Bewear's movements are punctuated by its cry. Considering its cry sounds like this- and the music has also cut out- it gets kind of terrifying in its own way.
Which is good, because the staff don't exactly help.
An appropriate reaction to the sudden appearance of Bewear in a public place.
Ray decided against it.
...Bewear?
Bewear (Moon): This Pokémon has the habit of hugging its companions. Many Trainers have left this world after their spines were squashed by its hug.
Bewear (Ultra Sun): It waves its hands wildly in intimidation and warning. Life is over for anyone who doesn't run away as fast as possible.
I'm not 100% sure if running (both narratively and mechanically) actually gets you out of this, but this is another wild Pokemon: a wild Bewear! In the world of Pokemon of Pokemon that can generate earthquakes, sonic booms and melt rocks, it turns out the thing everything's actually scared of remains the wild bears. And they are right to- this is Lord Huggington's evolution, a huge tank of high HP, high Atk, and tough Defence. It will wander into places, and just by existing, cause such massive and untold damage to life and property that merely approaching it is best left to professionals. And we can't forget a good ol' bear hug pun.
Lord Huggington will evolve itself while fighting some generic Trainers in Hano. We're that close to it.
Parasect is not what one would call professional, but it is good for weakening it to catch one for its Dex entry. On Ray's file, anyway- Bethany wouldn't need it even if she could do this event.
I don't think Ray is a professional, but at this point, he's gone far enough on his Island Trial that he can actually go toe to toe with one with a completely naff team that only catches Pokemon.
But he's the one we had, so he'll do in a pinch.
Not even our first one of those. We can buy those with BP if we wanted. Most items with utility purposes tend to be a bit disappointing, I guess...
I'm more concerned about how it got here. Bewear don't live on Melemele.
Continuing along the theme of using Ailey, we're going to finish up the final Vulpix visit.
After being fed and played with, it is now time to take Vulpix to its natural habitat, the snowy mountains of the region.
Because such a place is likely to contain Ice types, you would not be unreasonable for assuming this is a lategame location. And it is.
Well then. That might be a little tricky, owing to circumstances, but...
...
Actually, you know what would be really cool? If this unlocked a Fly point up to where this Vulpix goes. We can't do anything meaningful up there without Event Flags, and it would unlock a facility that players have been upset over losing access to in the original SM.
It'll be a long trek, but it'll be that much more worth it to see you up there.
...If Vulpix were not a version-exclusive encounter, I'm sure we'd probably have made it a team member. Which would be an equally viable reward considering how much further until we catch one for ourselves.
See you there. Ailey won't have a Vulpix of her own, either.
Well, unless she trades one in...
Also remembering to turn this one in.
...I'm fairly sure real snails do this too. Really, the thing that's more surprising, unless you're really looking for it, is that the Goomy line is based on snails. It's more obvious in their later Hisuian redesign.
Honestly, not sure the 5K was worth Ailey going through the torture of hunting Goomy without reliable weather. I really need to learn the times of day Lush Jungle rains during night hours.
Also while clearing stuff up, I decided to turn in the Job for Salazzle here. We're not quite at level 33, and while there's a way to get it more easily in Ultra Moon, this seemed as good a time as any, since I've been spamming Poke Pelago like mad.
...A fascinating design philosophy. I can see your market, but also that's a phrasing.
Healthy paycheck, though.
...I wonder who it would look better on, Bethany, Ailey or Ray.
Also on the subject of "~level 30 evolutions Heahea asks for", Ailey has also evolved up a Magby for this guy. I believe Noah found one by S.O.S., but his catching team at the time couldn't handle it and actually wiped. (Fire Spin prevents you from running.)
...If you're going to fade to black, at least show the Magmar. I guess they didn't want to worry about it being Shiny?
Your boss suggested it, incidentally. Now then... why?
...
...So which of you two do I feel more annoyed with for that pitch?
Quite frankly, I am impressed that they supported you on your career as a bellhop. I thought most mothers would think of bellhops as one of those careers too undesirable to encourage your kids to pick up. Not that I'm saying this man isn't paid well, but it's about the prestige.
Sounds less like we solved the issues, and just solved the symptoms. Not that I want to be involved in solving that issue.
Remember how they took away the Charcoal in Wela Volcano Park for USUM? They moved it here. What did Fire types ever do to you, USUM!?
Ray's mostly doing this because I didn't fully realise there was new dialogue in time for Ailey, and sadly, he does not repeat it.
...Perhaps you ought to tell him that. It'll be easier for him to get a job at Hano if he's got your stamp of approval. It's the selfishness of keeping him on staff, isn't it?
Next time: We go to Hano instead.
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