But...
The Charmander in his arms had clearly been raised exceptionally well. Ordinary water poured over his tail could not put out the flame at all. He was purely a Pokémon placed there as a hurdle in the assessment.
After putting Charmander somewhere safe, Shen Qi checked in at the final Sensor Post. Next should be the Totem Pokémon's task assessment.
In a barren stretch of Poni Old Road, a giant, chibi-style bee floated quietly.
Totem Ribombee. Compared to the usual twenty centimeters in height, this one stood over half a meter tall.
In the games, Poni Island's Totem was either her or Kommo-o.
"Bee!"
Ribombee gave a sweet cry and approached Shen Qi.
She took a glass bottle from the flower basket she carried. It contained a drink made with Honey, meant to quench the thirst and ease the fatigue of Trial-takers who had trekked all the way here.
Accepting the honey water, Shen Qi marveled that Ribombee really was as cute and gentle as expected.
Over on Melemele Island, Totem Gumshoos looked downright fierce, not to mention old and stuffy.
"Achoo-"
In Verdant Cavern, Totem Gumshoos sneezed...
As he drank the honey water, Shen Qi sensed the aura of the Ribombee before him. There was still something vaguely familiar about it.
He had felt something similar when he first faced Totem Gumshoos during his trial on Melemele Island.
Before taking part in the Island Challenge, Shen Qi had never encountered any other Totem Pokémon. Logically, there should have been no sense of familiarity.
"Bee!"
Ribombee explained the task.
Shen Qi handed the mostly full bottle of honey water to Dodo. "What did she say?"
"Gujī!"
Dodo translated, saying there was an optional task.
During the Totem Pokémon stage, an optional task might appear. It was more difficult and