Battle for the Z-Ring Read online

  “Thank you very much, sir,” Ash replied.

  “Pika pika chu!” cheered Pikachu.

  “As far as your Z-Move?” Hala continued. “It overflowed with the joy of accomplishment. I marveled at feeling your youthful, yet experienced, aura.”

  Ash smiled. The kahuna liked to speak in flowery language, but Ash could tell it was a supreme compliment.

  “So, as the Melemele Island Kahuna, I hereby proclaim that Ash Ketchum has passed the grand trial!”

  “All right!” Ash exclaimed with a clenched fist.

  “Good for you,” the kahuna said. “But please don’t forget to take this.” Then he held out his hand, and Ash caught a glimpse of a Z-Crystal. “It’s your Fightinium Z. With this Z-Crystal, you’ll be able to use the Fighting-type Z-Move.”

  “Awesome! Thank you!” Ash replied.

  But before he could take the Z-Crystal, a high call trilled over the trees and there was a rush of wind that whooshed all around.

  “What was that?” Ash wondered.

  “Could that have been … Tapu Koko?” Professor Kukui said.

  “It was so fast, I have no data,” Rotom Dex stated.

  When Kahuna Hala looked back at the crystal in his hand, it had changed! “It can’t be!” he said.

  “An Electrium Z?” Ash said, looking at the gem. “That looks just like the one I got from Tapu Koko!”

  “Fascinating!” Hala exclaimed. “In all of my experience, this is the first time Tapu Koko has taken so much interest in a challenger. Eventually, I’ll learn why. For now, I believe that this Electrium Z belongs to you. Take this Z-Crystal and use it with wisdom!”

  “I will,” Ash promised. “This Z-Crystal is all mine! An Electrium Z!”

  That night, Kahuna Hala hosted a grand celebration for Ash and his friends from the Pokémon School. After all, without their help, Ash might not have learned the secret to banishing the Rattata and Raticate. That had been just one stage of his Island Challenge. Each accomplishment had been part of the adventure. And with each step, Ash was discovering more about all he would learn on his journey to becoming a Pokémon Master!

  Turn the page for a sneak peek at another Pokémon story, Adventure on Treasure Island!

  It was another beautiful, sunny day in the Alola region. Ash and Pikachu were enjoying their time on the tropical island of Melemele, which was covered in lush forests and golden beaches. There were all kinds of things to do—and so many new Pokémon to meet. Which was why our heroes were spending the day at … the mall?

  “What’s that?” Ash asked his friends from the Pokémon School. “Is it candy?”

  Rotom Dex was always ready with an answer. The device knew nearly everything about Pokémon. “It’s a kind of Pokémon food called Poké Beans,” Rotom Dex explained.

  The Poké Beans came in all sizes and colors. “Look, Steenee!” exclaimed Mallow, one of Ash’s classmates. “Steenee likes these floral-patterned Poké Beans.” Mallow’s partner, Steenee, had recently evolved from Bounsweet.

  The rest of Ash’s classmates were there with their Pokémon, too: Lana, Sophocles, and Kiawe. Lillie had also joined them with her newly hatched Pokémon, Snowy. Snowy, with its bright blue eyes and thick, wavy, white tail, was an Alolan Vulpix.

  “This Pikachu-colored one might be good,” Ash said, picking up a mustard-yellow Poké Bean. “What do you think, buddy?”

  “Pika, pika!” Pikachu approved of its best friend’s choice.

  While it was fun shopping for tasty treats, Ash wasn’t so sure he wanted to join Mallow, Lana, and Lillie when they went to another store—in search of jewelry and other accessories. “The jewelry is made out of Heart Scales that wash up on the beach! And Corsola branches,” Mallow explained. “Everything is amazing and completely natural!”

  Kiawe, Sophocles, and Rotom Dex all thought of good excuses to head home, but Lana, Lillie, and Mallow convinced Ash and Pikachu to come with them.

  Ash wasn’t interested in the items inside the store, but outside the store was another story! He walked out the back door and onto a long balcony. It overlooked the ocean, which was a particularly bright blue that day with calm waves.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” came a voice from behind Ash.

  When Ash turned around, he saw the manager of the store.

  “It’s wonderful to be able to look at the ocean while I’m at work,” she said. “Can you make out that little island over there?”

  “You bet!” Ash replied, eyeing the little island. He could see a sandy beach and tall palm trees.

  “That’s known as Treasure Island,” the store manager explained. “I go there sometimes to find materials to make my jewelry. But I really do it for fun, because I get to see a lot of wild Pokémon.”

  Ash’s jaw dropped. The wild Pokémon were one of the best parts of the Alola region. Ash’s goal was to become a Pokémon Master, and he had learned a great deal since coming to the tropical islands. Observing Pokémon in nature was fascinating!

  “I want to go to Treasure Island, too!” Ash declared. He looked at his partner. “What do you say?”

  “Pika, pika!” As usual, Pikachu agreed with its Trainer.

  “You’re welcome to borrow my kayak if you’d like,” the manager said.

  “Kayak? Really?” Ash could hardly believe his good fortune!

  “Of course,” the manager responded. “I’ll lend it to you as my little gift.”

  After a quick good-bye to Lana, Lillie, and Mallow, Ash and Pikachu set off across the bay. Each thrust of the paddle propelled them closer to the small island on the horizon.

  “Ocean to the right … ocean to the left,” Ash said, pausing to take a deep breath of salty sea air. “Ocean everywhere!”

  Pikachu breathed in, too.

  “The sky’s almost as blue as the ocean!” Ash listened to the gentle waves on the side of the thin boat. “It almost feels like we’re the only ones on the planet. Weird, but awesome!”

  After a peaceful moment, Ash was ready for action again. “We’re almost there. Let’s step on the gas!”

  Using all his strength, he tugged the paddle through the water, one side and then the other. Water-type Pokémon rested on the rocks, taking in the sun. Others swam in schools around the kayak.

  Soon, the boat’s pointed bow ran into the soft, wet sand at the edge of the beach. Ash jumped out and pulled the boat from the water. “We made it!” he yelled to Pikachu.

  They’d reached Treasure Island!

  ©2021 Pokémon. ©1997–2016 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. TM, ® Nintendo.

  Published by Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  First printing 2017

  Cover design by Carolyn Bull

  e-ISBN 978-1-338-80070-8

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