Even though its strength recovered quickly, Tapu Koko only shut its eyes even tighter, despairing.
Being defeated by your own trained human is an expected shonen plot beat.
But to fly all this way from Melemele Island to cause trouble, get thoroughly beaten, and then be caught like this by Tapu Lele of all 'colleagues'— Tapu Koko could already imagine Tapu Lele innocently telling all the others about its embarrassment at future Tapu meetings.
While Tapu Koko's confidence crumbled, Lucas watched the approaching Tapu Lele warily, edging away from the drifting scales.
To him, though these scales did heal and restore stamina, exposure to too much could cause the body to break down.
Safer to avoid.
Fortunately, Tapu Lele just flitted around, circled Lucas once, nodded to Tapu Koko as if to say "noted," then flew deep into Akala Island.
As it left, a crystalline gem fell at Lucas's feet.
He picked it up, surprised—a silvery diamond-shaped Z-Crystal.
"A Normal-type Z-Crystal?"
What was this? A "reward" for watching the show?
With Tapu Lele gone and Tapu Koko almost fully recovered, it flew up to Lucas.
"Pu-ka-lo—"
From the reopened shell, a yellow diamond-shaped Z-crystal dropped neatly into Lucas's palm.
This time—an Electric Z-Crystal.
In the back, Gladion—already stunned by Tapu Lele's "interference"—watched in disbelief as two Tapus handed "spoils" to Lucas.
It was the first time he'd seen the guardian deities gift Z-crystals personally.
Even his own Z-crystals had come from completing island trials and Island challenges.
"...Are these for me?"
Lucas caressed the faintly warm Electric Z, looking to Tapu Koko in confusion.
Got beaten up and still dropping loot? Tapu Koko's really generous?
"Pu-ka."
Tapu Koko nodded, adopting a rare air of gravitas befitting a guardian deity.
Just as it loves battle, it never hesitates to reward a worthy challenger.
Its gaze fell on Mega Swampert, now reverted.
With its earlier peeking—er, observing—it knew Swampert could already use Groundium Z, and Lucas had a Z-Ring, so there was no need to steal one from the local island kahuna.
It had wanted to give a Waterium Z, but only had Electricium Z left—and, after observing Lucas's squad, guessed he had another mysterious Electric type.
The Electric Z should do well.
Lucas wasn't the shy sort. Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko had both handed these over; why refuse?
"Alright, then, I'll accept these. Thank you."
Tapu Koko nodded, losing any urge to forcibly send Lucas to another world for now.
No need to risk being chased down for that.
Besides, as long as it could keep in touch with the other self in that world, it could always send someone later.
Tapu Koko readied to leave.
But Lucas called out:
"Wait!"
"Tapu?"
Tapu Koko paused, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
Was this human really so sharp? Did he guess Tapu Koko planned to get some rest, maybe borrow local specialties from the island kahuna and Totem Pokémon, then return for more battles later?
But when Lucas stated his actual reason, Tapu Koko relaxed.
He just wanted Tapu Koko's help in seeking Tapu Fini.
But then, Tapu Koko's eyes narrowed.
A Guardian's competitive heart—it wanted to know why Lucas needed Tapu Fini and not it.
But after Lucas laid out two reasons, Tapu Koko fell silent.
Yes… Only that colleague could fulfill those.
"To see a deceased loved one through mist" and "to grant pure water capable of cleansing all impurity"—only Tapu Fini could do that.
Alas, Tapu Fini was now elusive.
It could at most guide Lucas to Tapu Fini—whether he'd get his wish depended on Tapu Fini.
With Oranguru interpreting, Lucas understood Tapu Koko's meaning.
"As long as you take me to Tapu Fini, that's enough. The rest is not your concern."
Possibly impressed by Lucas's character, the moody Tapu Koko now showed generosity and patience remarkable enough to stun even island kahuna Hala.
Lucas left Oranguru at the villa to await the others, told Gladion he could seek Oranguru's help if needed, then summoned Dragonite and, with Tapu Koko leading, flew toward Poni Island in the far west of Alola.
Poni Island was the least developed of the four Alola islands; tourism never took root here.
Most of the island remains untouched, as if some mysterious force prevented human development.
Lucas felt this stemmed from Tapu Fini's philosophy.
As a Guardian, Tapu Fini couldn't abide human development.
To it, humans were destroying the natural landscape and building over ancient burial grounds.
No wonder Poni Island had so little developed land.
But Poni boasts important sites like the "Vast Poni Canyon," "Altar of the Sunne," and "Altar of the Moone," along with the "Battle Tree," which Lucas was keen to visit—just not today.
Once his two main goals in Alola were done, maybe he'd pay a visit to the future island queen Hapu, and buy wild Poni Radishes.
If all went well, he might get seeds and cultivation tips—take them home and plant them for spring!
Tapu Koko clearly knew where Tapu Fini usually stayed—once within Poni Island's borders, it flew straight southeast.
Now and then, it paused to make sure Lucas and Dragonite hadn't lost their way. Responsible indeed.
In the southeastern corner of Poni, there's a ruin once called "Place Where Life Ends" by the ancient Alolans.
Just like Tapu Bulu's Ruins of Abundance, Tapu Koko's Ruins of Conflict.
This Ruin was both Tapu Fini's occasional home and the altar for Poni's kahuna during ceremonies.
Lucas knew that much—he could probably find it alone, given time.
But even if he did, if Tapu Fini didn't want to appear, it would be next to impossible to find her in all Alola's seas.
And trying to chase her down would only backfire.
"Bo—wu…"
Dragonite's nerves grew the closer they got.
Now, right before meeting Tapu Fini, Dragonite actually felt some fear and reluctance.
After almost a year, its mother's condition had improved greatly.
Though she always seemed to have an invisible "human" nearby, and extra food was always prepared, she was starting to connect more with the outside world—and even helped deliver MooMoo Milk to the farm with her three surrogate moms.
What if, instead of getting better, this trip somehow made things worse?
Maybe that's what "worry for gain and loss" means.
Once, Dragonite hoped Mom would recover; now, it almost wanted to retreat.
At that moment, a gentle hand soothed its back.
Dragonite turned to see Lucas's reassuring smile.
"It'll be okay. Trust me."
Years of trust instantly calmed Dragonite's heart.
Soon, their destination was in sight.
The endless pounding waves crashed against the cliffs, sending foam spraying into the sky.
If Lucas remembered right, beneath these raging cerulean waters lay the final trial site for generations of Poni's kahunas and trial-goers.
This was Poni Breaker Coast. Deeper in was the cave housing the Ruins of Hope.
"Pu-ka!"
Tapu Koko paused, hovering, and called for Lucas and Dragonite to follow closely.
Lucas glanced ahead—and sure enough, saw a hidden cave entrance.
Tapu Koko flew inside, Dragonite close behind.
Inside, the sound of waves faded; silence fell.
After a while, they reached a water-surrounded altar, overgrown with rare, brilliant coral, ancient and mysterious.
"This is Ruins of Hope—"
Lucas kept Dragonite out, looking around to confirm their location.
Tapu Koko hadn't visited in a long time, so after stealing a few pretty corals, it got to business.
Lucas: "…Your little guardian hands sure aren't very clean."
But the next moment, he had no time for that.
Tapu Koko called out shrilly.
"Tapu—ko!"
The still water shook instantly—a presence raced up from beneath.
In moments, with a burst of water, a black shadow broke the surface.
Long, flowing blue hair; a mermaid-like black body inside a clamshell—
It was Tapu Fini, Poni Island's guardian.
Summoned by Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini appeared before Lucas.
She noticed the human instantly. Wariness flickered in her eyes, but with Tapu Koko present, she didn't leave—just questioned Tapu Koko sharply.
"Pu-ka-lai—"
Facing its colleague's challenge, Tapu Koko narrowed its eyes, and through the Tapu-only language of the ancient ritual dance (i.e., awkward "cringe-dance"), communicated everything to Tapu Fini.
While watching two legendary Pokémon dance like this was nearly comedic, after understanding, Tapu Fini turned to Lucas.
Lucas immediately spoke:
"Honored Guardian, Tapu Fini, please grant my request—let one seeking a loved one see them again through mist, and bestow the pure water that cleanses all curses and desire."
Tapu Koko quietly turned away.
(So fickle, this human! How come you never spoke so respectfully to me?!)
Understanding Lucas's plea, Tapu Fini didn't respond at once. She closed her eyes—perhaps communicating with someone.
A human powerful enough to defeat Tapu Koko. Maybe another herself, in another world, would need him.
After a pause.
Tapu Fini opened her sky-blue eyes, voice gentle and loving.
"Lai-si—"
She agreed to help.
But—Lucas would need to complete a task for her first.
Only then would she summon the Mist Where One Sees the Departed and grant the Pure Water to cleanse all filth.
"A task?"
Muttering the words, Lucas narrowed his eyes—surely there was some pitfall ahead.
After thinking, he still nodded:
"I accept. What must I do?"
"Pu-ka-lai."
Tapu Fini smiled, opening her hands.
Once they arrived, Lucas would know.
As Tapu Fini moved, milky white mist, as if linking to another world, spread and cloaked the entire Ruins of Hope.