Alex and the girls returned to the Battle Tree and set up the portable home for the evening once they were done dealing with Orvan Kestrel and his Pokémon. As for his base, there really wasn’t much there since it was merely a hideout rather than a proper base housing personnel, so they took no interest in it at all and left the women to sort themselves out.

By evening, they met up with Marlo and his group at the Battle Tree, as both groups exchanged stories over dinner. Understandably, they were quite shocked that Alex and his group had spent their afternoon in a dangerous Champion ranked battle, while all the girls recounted their exciting first experience using guns to defend themselves. The shooting range was nothing new to them, but the sense of purpose when they opened fire during a real battle was enough of a thrill that they could understand the appeal of keeping firearms around and training with them.

Lyra and Mika pouted that they had missed a good opportunity to let loose but relented, considering their children were at the table. Vera wasn’t too pleased that they had run into danger and practically made a day out of it, but ultimately understood the necessity when she saw Rhea’s far more relaxed expression.

Alvera, meanwhile, pouted because she had missed the brutal sight of the waves smashing weak Pokémon against the jagged cliffs. It had been such a good photo opportunity that she had missed, and she promised herself that she would eventually return someday to photograph nature’s rare display.

Marlo’s group recounted their own day as well, complimenting the food the Battle Tree had available for viewing guests, along with the level of battles they were able to witness across more than a hundred screens. Malia and Nohea, meanwhile, recounted their own battles and the fact that they had managed to reach 5 consecutive victories, only to usually lose on the 6th due to a lack of power rather than combat experience. After all, their Pokémon were only at Expert rank and needed more Elite ranked meat to break through.

The next day, they set off as one group again and rode on Mantine while flying south along the east coast. Their first sight seeing destination was the Poni Gauntlet just east of the Battle Tree.

The group took in the Poni Gauntlet as they arrived, their eyes scanning the lush coastal field where dense green grass stretched toward the sea. Several small waterfalls spilled down rocky slopes, feeding into the ocean below, while narrow wooden bridges crossed the clear freshwater channels cutting through the terrain. Warm sea winds rolled constantly through the area, carrying salt and mist inland, and the distant crash of waves never really faded from the background.

The area had a reputation as a gathering site for some of the strongest Trainers, a place where people came to train, battle, or test themselves against the harsh natural terrain. Combined with the fact that the Battle Tree was right beside it, people often took advantage of the nearby dangerous environment to prepare, feed their Pokémon, and even gather materials or goods to sell at the market.

Powerful wild Pokémon weren’t uncommon here either. The group spotted Dragonite high above the coastline at one point, gliding with slow, controlled movement before disappearing into the clouds near the cliffs. Talonflame cut across the sky in sharp, fast arcs over the grasslands, hunting in bursts of speed that matched the wind. Togekiss were rarer, but they still caught glimpses of them near the waterfalls, drifting through the sea breeze currents and gliding quietly above the streams during the calmer stretches of the morning.

By noon, the group continued further south toward Poni Coast, where the lush greenery, high cliffs, and cool flowing waters gradually gave way to dry rock and loose ground. The number of Trainers thinned out significantly here, replaced instead by a steady flow of sightseeing travelers drawn to the coastline’s open views.

They moved through Poni Coast, a rocky, barren stretch marked by uneven terrain and narrow, winding paths. Despite its harsh, stripped-down appearance, the area still drew steady attention because of its coastal position. The elevation changes and open sightlines toward the ocean made it a common stop for both native Alolans and foreign sightseers who came to take in the contrast between sea and stone.

In recent times, the entire area had effectively been taken over by Alolan Dugtrio, whose presence was so widespread that they dominated much of the terrain. They were often seen emerging from the rocky ground in groups, leaving disturbed soil and collapsed patches in their wake. Their sheer numbers made travel through Poni Coast noticeably more difficult than its geography alone would suggest, as they occupied both the open paths and the edges of the rocky formations.

By the afternoon, instead of continuing along the coast toward the Poni Plains, the group turned west and flew over the mountain range. After a long stretch in the air, they began their descent into a small, hidden valley known as Poni Meadows.

From above, the group saw only a thin layer of fog covering the valley below. As they broke through it during their descent, the pocket of green was revealed beneath them, tucked between brown, weathered mountains on all sides. Tall grass spread across most of the valley floor, broken up by sparse clusters of trees that gave the area a more natural, untouched feel. Several large ponds were visible throughout the meadow.

As they got closer, Pokémon became easier to spot. Cottonee floated just above the grass like drifting seeds, while Petilil moved in small clusters near the water’s edge. Ribombee zipped between flowers and tall grass in quick, erratic paths, and purple Oricorio moved through the open areas.

In the water, Gyarados and Dragonair could be seen swimming in loose groups beneath the surface and occasionally breaking it. Even from a distance, the group kept their awareness up, knowing that while the Pokémon here appeared calm, approaching too closely or provoking them could easily trigger a violent, frenzied response.

They landed and set up the portable house before having dinner. It was as good a place as any to stay for the night, and the group relaxed as they recounted their day.

Early the next morning, they flew over the southern mountains before crossing into the Poni Plains, a vast stretch of open grassland broken up by low hills, scattered rock formations, and long wind-swept paths of tall grass. From above, the terrain looked uneven but open, with patches of dense greenery giving way to flatter grazing areas where Pokémon moved in loose groups.

Below them, the largest variety of Pokémon that could be seen anywhere, spread across the plains. Gumshoos and Alolan Raticate moved along the grass edges, occasionally pausing near burrows and rocky outcrops. Mudsdale and Miltank grazed in the open fields, while Tauros moved in small, steady herds across the flatter sections of land. More mobile species such as Hariyama, Primeape, Emolga, Scyther, Braviary, Mandibuzz, Crabrawler, and Conkeldurr were also present, either patrolling the air, moving between patches of terrain, or training against the landscape itself.

The influence of Tapu Fini was evident in the general calm of the area, with most Pokémon showing little sign of aggression and continuing their routines undisturbed. Despite their numbers and strength, they behaved more like a tamed nest than aggressive, territorial wild Pokémon. The League had also officially designated the plains as off-limits for development out of respect for Tapu Fini, leaving the area in its natural state.

They continued flying south along the western edge of the Poni Plains, where the open grassland gradually gave way to denser vegetation and scattered tree cover. As they approached Poni Grove, the terrain shifted into thick tall grass broken up by clusters of trees and uneven patches of soil, with narrow natural clearings forming paths between the vegetation.

A small number of Trainers were already present, moving carefully through the area or pausing near clear sightlines to avoid disturbing anything hidden in the grass. The deeper they went, the more concentrated the wild encounters became, with Pinsir emerging from the thicker brush, Lucario observed moving along the treeline in short bursts of speed, Chansey seen near quieter clearings, and Electross occasionally surfacing near damp ground or shaded water pockets between roots and stones.

By afternoon, they pushed further south and reached Poni Breaker Coast. The landscape changed again into a harsh coastline made of dark, jagged stone where constant wave impact had carved out natural holes and tunnels in the rock. Seawater surged through these openings at irregular intervals, sometimes bursting upward when incoming waves forced pressure through the gaps. The sound of crashing surf echoed across the area, and the footing looked uneven even from above due to erosion and fractured stone.

In the waters below, stronger marine Pokémon occupied the coastline. Sharpedo moved in fast, predatory patterns just beneath the surface, while Gyarados were seen further out in deeper channels. Wailord surfaced occasionally offshore, displacing large volumes of water when it rose, and Golisopod could be seen closer to the rocky edges, clinging to submerged surfaces or emerging briefly onto wet stone before retreating back into the surf.

The group turned back as the sun began to set and headed northwest toward Ancient Poni Path, aiming to settle there for the night. The terrain gradually shifted into packed dirt roads that cut through low, uneven ground, with occasional stretches of tall grass growing closer to the shoreline where salt wind had not fully dried the soil. The air felt more exposed here, with fewer natural windbreaks and a clearer view of the fading horizon.

Near the entrance to Ancient Poni Path, several ruined stone walls came into view, partially collapsed and worn smooth by time and weather. The layout suggested they had once been part of a larger structure or settlement, though now only scattered segments remained standing. Despite the signs of past heavy use, the area was sparsely populated in the present, with long stretches of open path between the ruins and little sign of recent construction or permanent habitation.

The group settled in for the night and released their portable home. Tomorrow, they would continue their tour of Poni Island, moving from the sparsely populated wildlands toward its most inhabited settlement, Seafolk Village.