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Writer's pictureMichael Lettman

UM06: The Trial of Illma!

Updated: Jun 20

UM06: The Trial of Illma!

A Great Ball (with a newly-caught Pokemon inside)
A Newly-Caught Spearow housed in a Great Ball (for a Pokemon Trade).

Michael’s “Poke Problem”: Which is the Totem Pokemon that Michael faces in his first trial? Choices: Alolan Raticate, Gumshoos, Smeargle, Fearow (Answer Revealed Below) (Exp. Share: On)


UM06's Documentation ("Plot")

Before Michael prepares to leave for his first trial, he talked to a Hawlucha trainer named Hila who asked if Michael could catch a Spearow and trade it for her Hawlucha. At first, Michael had to say no because he wasn’t sure but he may think about it, so Hila informs Michael if he changes his mind then she’ll be waiting for him. Arriving at Verdant Cavern where Illma’s game counterpart is waiting, he asks Michael if he’s prepared and ready for the trial, which Michael answers yes as they head inside the cavern.


According to Illma’s game counterpart, Michael learns that he must defeat 3 Pokemon hidden in small dens before heading towards a back cave entrance to collect a Z-Crystal (which Michael began to think about). A loud Pokemon roar was heard, which surprised Michael as Illma’s game counterpart then informs him about the Totem Pokemon, which will be the greatest obstacle to face in the trial. As Michael was also informed of his first trial being one of eight trials to face in the island challenge, the Trial of Captain Illma has started. First Michael managed to defeat an Alolan Rattata with Litten then defeated another Alolan Rattata with Pikipek but he had to chase the third Pokemon all over the cave until he had to pause when Team Skull showed up (just as Michael remembered they would).


After hearing they were gonna mess his trial up, Michael got mad enough to make sure he puts a stop to their inference which he managed to have done so with Pikipek. After Team Skull retreated, Michael proceeded with his trial when finally found the third Pokemon to face, an Alolan Raticate, which he managed to defeat with Litten. After getting approval from a trial guide, Michael headed out the back cave entrance, which led to an outside area of Verdant Cavern. Michael discovers a crystal in a pedestal which his Rotom Dex explained it’s the Z-Crystal for him to collect. As Michael was about to pick up the Z-Crystal, an Alolan Raticate appeared right in front of him and it looked huge, which Michael was surprised and amazed with.


After a little learning from his Rotom Dex and remembering what Illma’s game counterpart informed him, Michael realized that the huge Alolan Raticate is the Totem Pokemon that he must face, which he began to battle with his partner Litten. Totem Alolan Raticate did call an ally for help, an Alolan Rattata, but Michael and Litten managed to defeat them both at the very end. Apparently it was thanks to gaining enough Exp. Points from defeating the Totem Pokemon, that Litten and Pikipek both evolved into Torracat and Trumbeak respectively, which made Michael surprisingly happy to have witnessed Pokemon Evolution twice as he is very proud of his newly-evolved Pokemon Friends.


Illma’s game counterpart arrived to congratulate Michael for defeating the Totem Pokemon and that the Z-Crystal is now his, which Michael happily picked up as his first trial was completed. Illma’s game counterpart explained to Michael the details of using his Normalium Z and showing the Normal-Type pose to do so which Michael finds very fascinating. Illma’s game counterpart then informs Michael the details about Totem Pokemon and how Michael shall be facing one in each of his upcoming trials. Not only Michael thanked Illma’s game counterpart for filling him in on that but remembering how he faced a very huge Alolan Raticate made him look forward to being ready to face opponents which are that strong.


Michael was then given a number of 10 Great Balls from Illma’s game counterpart to catch Pokemon in Verdant Cavern, which Michael denied as he likes for his Pokemon Friends to rest up after all their hard work, which Illma’s game counterpart then helped with their recovery. Before Michael was gonna head back out to the front entrance to meet up with Illma’s game counterpart, the 2 unknown strangers appeared towards him and were already aware of Michael recently receiving a Z-Crystal then they introduced themselves to Michael as Soliera and Phyco (which led to Michael now knowing their names). After they left, Michael is wondering a lot of what Soliera and Phyco had informed him, like how they might wanna work together with him in the future. Meeting back outside with Illma’s game counterpart, he informs Michael about the barricades that can be passed by trial-goers during their island challenge. Since the Trial of Captain Illma was completed, he allowed a barricade to be opened then reminded Michael to inform Kahuna Hala’s game counterpart about clearing his first trial.


Professor Kukui’s game counterpart showed up and was informed of Michael’s first trial victory in which he congratulated him. He then began to teach Michael the details about Z-power and even showed him the Normal-Type Z-Move: Breakneck Blitz itself (used by his Rockruff to defeat a wild Growlithe), which Michael was very amazed by.


From a few more details explained from Professor Kukui’s game counterpart, Michael knows that he’ll need to keep in mind about how a Z-Move can only be used once per battle and how a trainer’s feelings can be passed onto Pokemon through Z-Power.


Professor Kukui’s game counterpart then reveals that Lillie’s game counterpart is missing and asks Michael if he could spare some time to find her, which Michael can do after letting his Pokemon rest up a little after the first trial. Michael thanked Illma’s game counterpart for his teachings during his first trial then also promised to Professor Kukui’s game counterpart that he’ll search for Lillie’s game counterpart after he heads towards the next route as the official young trial-goer and the game counterparts of Illma and Professor Kukui departed from each other. After collecting a few berries, Michael felt so great about his first trial victory (which also included both his Pokemon Friends evolving) that he has decided to take care of a favor for a certain trainer by throwing a Great Ball to catch a wild Spearow without having his Pokemon friends do any battling after what they’ve done with him in their first trial. After collecting another Totem Sticker from outside the Pokemon Center, Michael went back to Hila and accepted her Pokemon Trade which made her very happy as Michael’s newly-caught Spearow was traded for Hila’s Hawlucha (nicknamed Cha). Michael was impressed to have experienced his first-ever Pokemon Trade as Hila happily promised to take good care of Spearow and Michael promised to do the same for Cha. After meeting back with Hau’s game counterpart, he congratulated Michael for clearing the trial and was impressed to hear that Michael’s 2 Pokemon friends both evolved as he’ll make sure that he and his Pokemon shall clear the trial as well.


While taking a break at the Pokemon Center Cafe, Michael finds himself to be in a great mood from remembering his recent experiences like clearing his first trial in the island challenge, both Litten and Pikipek evolving after defeating the Totem Pokemon, receiving his first Z-Crystal, learning about the usage of Z-Power, and trying out a Pokemon Trade which gave him his first-ever traded Pokemon friend. Michael happily brought out his 2 newly-evolved Pokemon friends and thanked them for their hard work in clearing the Trial of Captain Illma then introduced them to their newly-traded Pokemon friend, Cha.


All of Michael’s Pokemon looked at their trainer as he looked at his Normalium Z and informs his team that he’ll be looking forward to trying out a Z-Move with them as Michael is reminded by his Rotom Dex that they need to look for Lillie’s game counterpart when they proceed onto Route 3, which he still understood.

To Be Continued

(Next: UM07)


Answer: Alolan Raticate

Lesson Notes: Michael Lettman usually doesn’t accept doing any Pokemon Trade during his original journeys, which was why he was willing to accept experiencing it (once) for his final Pokemon journey within the world of the Nintendo DS family.

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