Vast Poni Canyon

Lillie and I head off to the Altar of the Moone, but before we can actually enter the Vast Poni Canyon, a group of Team Skull thugs block our path. 

I thought I was done with them? 

They ask me to save Guzma for them, and then all six of them battle me. Way to get me to do what you want...

And of course Big Sister is watching 

Plumeria arrives and scolds them for their stupidity. To be fair, they are all named Grunt, thinking isn't in their wheelhouse. Anyway, she also asks to save Guzma, and apologizes for the Grunt's behavior. In a lesson that all former bad guys could learn when asking the hero for help, she gives me a gift, Poisonium-Z before heading on her way. 

Venturing further into the Canyon, Lillie and I run across Hapu, and are shortly joined by the Ultra Recon Squad. 

And that glorious, glorious mustache 

After a quick battle against the Squad, Hapu says that we will help them in their fight against Necrozma, and I have an odd feeling that by "we" she means me. After the conversation, Lillie and I explore the Canyon. During the exploring and battling, I caught a Golbat and traded it for a Salandit, and Shelgon evolved! 

Salamence in da house!!!! 

At the end of the Canyon, I reached the Trial Site, and with no Trial Captain to oversee it, I guess it just runs on the honor system. Reaching the end is Totem Kommo-o. 

Battle of the Dragons! 

This is another thing I want to mention about these games that still gets me excited after all of these years. When I was a kid, I imagined epic battled between Pokemon that the few pixels my Gameboy Color couldn't even dream of. But it didn't matter and I think it is part of the reason why Pokemon has not only lasted, but thrived. Even as the games and the handheld consoles have become more powerful and graphically better, you just can't replace imagination. The two pictures above perfectly embody what was going on in my head when these two where on screen and I was selecting my attacks. 

After defeating the Totem Pokemon, Lillie and Hapu arrive and together the three of us look up at the Altar of the Moone....

On to Poni Island

So after the zaniness at the Aether Paradise, we arrive in the nice, quiet Seafolk Village with Lillie.

Since the Island Kahuna uses ground type pokemon, and I don't currently have anything with an advantage over ground, I swapped Heliolisk for Petilil, in order to catch it up for the trial. 

Lillie and I meet Mina, and are told that Hapu went to see Tapu Fini in the Ruins of Hope. 

Which isn't at all an ominous name 

On the way, I pass through the Poni Wilds, Ancient Poni Path, and the Poni Breaker Coast. I caught a Furfrou in the Wilds and an Inkay on the Ancient Path. I traded them for an Alolan Grimer and a Cubone. 

Arriving at the Ruins of Hope, we see Hapu in the middle of her ritual to become the Island Kahuna. 

Good for her! 

Returning to the Seafolk Village, Lillie congratulates Hapu on becoming the Kahuna, and we talk with Mina again. She informs us that the flute we need (I missed when that was mentioned earlier) is on Exeggutor Island, and that she knows just the person to take us there! 

How convenient! 

He informs us that the Exeggutor are on edge for some reason and that only experienced trainers are currently allowed. So its off I go to figure out what is bothering the Exeggutor, and find a flute. 

Boy, is this island rainy! First thing I do is talk to an Exeggutor, and ask how its feeling, when a Pinsir attacks! 

Talk about a lice problem 

After catching a Pinsir and scaring off the other two, a grateful Exeggutor lifts me up to the altar where the Flute of the Moone sits. After grabbing it, its off to Seafolk Village! Again! 

I did just want to say that a cool little touch to the island, is that it's shaped like the Alolan Exeggutor. I think its just a cool little touch and attention to detail that makes these games special. 

It even has the tail! 

Back at the Seafolk Village, Mina informs me that the flute belongs at the Altar of the Moone, which is beyond the Vast Poni Canyon! 

That can't be right...

From the Pokemon Pelago, I got a Natu and a Comfey. Along with Pinsir I traded all three of them for an Alolan Meowth, a Mankey, and a Skiddo.