"Someone found Tapu Fini's location."
"That fast?"
Caitlin was genuinely surprised. Born in the Sinnoh Region, she was no stranger to myths and legends.
Especially with Cynthia being a mythology nerd who loved archaeology and studying the Legendary Pokémon in old stories.
So, just by being around her, Caitlin had picked up at least some understanding of Legendary Pokémon.
Mysterious and powerful—that was the most straightforward way to describe them.
Caitlin knew that the Tapu in Alola were different from Sinnoh's enigmatic Legendary Pokémon, but still… to find Tapu Fini in just a few days felt a bit too fast.
"The Tapu aren't that wary of humans. It's not that surprising." Damian shook his head.
The speed at which Tapu Fini had been located didn't surprise him at all.
"Let's go. To Poni Island."
Damian and Caitlin set off for Poni Island.
Poni Island was the western island of the Alola Region, and Tapu Fini was its guardian deity.
It was also the only island currently without an Island Kahuna—something Damian, who'd played the games, obviously knew.
Hapu had once traveled around, honing herself in order to inherit her late grandfather's position as Island Kahuna, and was eventually chosen by Tapu Fini as Island Queen.
But unfortunately, in this world, that future probably wasn't happening.
They arrived at a beach on Poni Island.
"Young master! Lady Caitlin!"
Seeing Damian and Caitlin, two Team Rocket members—one fat, one skinny—hurried over.
"Where's Tapu Fini?"
"Right over there, young master." The skinny grunt pointed toward a violet shell floating on the sea.
"Tapu Fini doesn't like humans getting too close, so we've just been keeping watch from a distance."
The skinny one was a local from Poni Island, so he actually knew a bit about Tapu Fini's temperament.
"Good. Nice work. Go see Plumeria later and collect a thousand merit points."
Damian praised them lightly.
"Thank you, young master!"
The skinny one and the fat one were both thrilled. A thousand merit points was no small reward.
Damian took out a Poké Ball and slowly walked toward Tapu Fini's direction. Caitlin followed lightly at his heels.
The skinny grunt had been right: Tapu Fini was indeed floating on the water, apparently sunbathing.
Its violet shell gleamed in the light; inside was a black, mermaid-like body with pale blue hair.
"Fini?"
Hearing the unhidden footsteps from the beach, Tapu Fini slowly turned its shell. Its gaze landed on Damian as he approached.
"Hey there, Tapu Fini."
A slow smile tugged at Damian's lips as he greeted it.
"Fini?"
Tapu Fini stared at him calmly, letting out a puzzled cry.
In the games, most Legendary Pokémon were genderless, and Tapu Fini was no exception. But in the anime, its voice—and Tapu Lele's—did sound feminine.
"It's nothing complicated. I just feel like you and I are meant to meet."
Hearing Tapu Fini silently ask his purpose, Damian's grin widened.
"So how about becoming my partner? Tapu Fini, I'm actually pretty fond of you."
"…"
Tapu Fini gave Damian a long, speechless look. If not for the oddly familiar, almost gentle feeling this human gave off, it wouldn't have bothered acknowledging him at all.
As Poni Island's guardian deity, Tapu Fini's duty was to protect the island. Over the long years, plenty of fools had come chasing after its power.
By now, Tapu Fini was sick of them. So much so that it rarely appeared in front of humans anymore.
"Fini~"
Tapu Fini shook its head in refusal and let its shell rise, ready to leave.
"Pretty cold of you. You won't even hesitate before turning me down?" Damian raised a brow, not particularly surprised.
"But since I went to all this trouble to find you, I can't just let you leave that easily."
A surge of black light suddenly flared around Tapu Fini. Feeling itself restrained, it whipped back around, its icy gaze locking onto the human boy.
Ke-ke-ke~
A low, sinister chuckle sounded as crimson eyes gleamed to life. Gengar rose from Damian's shadow, baring its teeth in a wide grin.
Shiny Gengar's Mean Look—normally used to keep opponents from returning to their Poké Balls, but with a slightly different effect on wild Pokémon.
Tapu Fini wouldn't be able to leave for a while—unless it took down Shiny Gengar.
Wow.
Caitlin glanced at Damian and Shiny Gengar. This was seriously brutal. Tapu Fini had to be furious right now.
"Fini!!"
Sure enough, Tapu Fini's voice grew much colder, laced with anger.
"No need to get so worked up. Try to see it from my side, yeah? I like you this much, and you won't even give me a chance to catch you?"
Damian shamelessly shifted the blame onto Tapu Fini, still wearing that bright, sunny smile.
"Fini! Fini!! (Well, I don't like you, human!)"
Tapu Fini almost snapped. Just because you like me, I have to respond?
If I had to acknowledge everyone who liked Tapu Fini, I'd be circling Poni Island for the rest of eternity.
"If you got to know me a little better, I'm sure your impression of me would change."
Completely unbothered, Damian rolled the Poké Ball in his hand. He wasn't in any rush. He had plenty of time today.
"How about a battle? If I beat you, you become my Pokémon. If you win, I let you go."
He honestly felt he was being perfectly reasonable.
"Fini!"
Tapu Fini's answer was a massive Hydro Pump—aimed not at Damian, of course, but squarely at the Shiny Gengar in front of him. Even as a guardian deity, Tapu Fini wasn't about to directly attack a human first.
It was very, very annoyed. Especially at that smug grin on the chubby ghost's face.
"Sucker Punch." Damian said with a quiet chuckle.
Black light flickered in Gengar's eyes as its body blurred into a gray streak, slipping past the oncoming Hydro Pump. In the next moment, Sucker Punch connected at Tapu Fini's flank.
Dark claws raked across Tapu Fini's body, making it sway slightly—but that was about it.
A Dark-type Sucker Punch.
Tapu Fini resisted Dark, and its defenses were excellent. The attack barely scratched it.
But…
"Gengar~"
Gengar just grinned wider, swaying side to side, then stuck out its long tongue and waggled it right in Tapu Fini's face.
The problem was, that tongue was so close it almost touched Tapu Fini.
Tapu Fini immediately drifted back, shell pulling away. It clenched its teeth as a dark "#" mark practically popped onto its forehead.
"See that, Tapu Fini? Gengar's being really passionate. It likes you a lot, too."
"Fini??"