In response to Naija, Hapu explained some of the nuances of her home. "Mudsdale is my partner Pokémon; a draft horse of the finest caliber," Hapu replied. "As for kahuna... those are the people chosen as liaisons for the guardian deity Pokémon. They are to oversee the protection of the islands and appease the mighty land spirits. In the case of my island, I am the humble servant of Tapu Fini, and therefore the servant of Poni Island, my proud home."
Hapu frowned. "As for those few whose ill spawns from goodwill... there was an incident in another region in the world of Pokémon about five years back. A group named Team Plasma. To help the creatures we call Pokémon... they have hurt not just people, but the very creatures they sought to protect. Blindly following the orders of a corrupt sage."
Hapu held out a hand. "But that is all I have heard; I was very young then. As I am now; and undoubtedly, I have much yet to experience. But here comes our briefing."
Hapu folded her hands and listened intently to the briefing (giving a somewhat aghast look to Mario as he plopped himself in between her and Samus, but being the youngest and newest kahuna she was used to condescension). It was a lot of information to process, but she recognized that it was all quite important, and thus, she paid the utmost attention.
"A world of magic, hm?" she remarked to herself. "Mudsdale doesn't fare well in the face of special-type attacks. I will have to be on my guard, for my Pokémon's sake..."
Thus came the time for Hapu's and Mudsdale's vaccination. Hapu stoically took her shot, and helped calm Mudsdale down enough for the horse to get its vaccine.
"It's okay, Mudsdale," Hapu said, stroking her horse's muzzle. She patted the horse's muddy hair as the doctor performed the procedure, and then Hapu returned the horse to its Poké Ball.
"Thank you very much," Hapu said, dusting off her lap. She immediately made haste for the portal; this was a crisis. No time for dallying. The Ultra Beasts did not wait for anyone, and Hapu conjectures that whatever this "Mugen virus" is, it would offer no better concessions to the game worlds.
She went over who she was assigned to; she was amongst the ranks of Luigi and Samus, but other than them, she was not quite sure who the others were.
Hapu was not quite used to Guile's military tone; hailing from the decidedly laid-back Alola region, the drill sergeant was not an archetype the kahuna had witnessed (though she was certainly aware of the man known as the "Lightning American" in the Kanto region). Whatever her thoughts, one thing was certain: it was time to get down to business.
"Mudsdale, we're going into a world to where we've never been!" Hapu declared, holding her Poké Ball in her hand. "No fear, partner! This is our duty, for if such a threat exists, then it isn't just Poni Island we must stand for!"
Hapu peered into the clear red case, watching the miniaturized draft horse Pokémon nod in agreement.
Good, he is calmed; the mere pinprick is nothing to the mighty earth, she thought.
She tossed the capsule into the air, and it sprung open, releasing the brown-and-black horse in a flash of light. The mighty animal pawed the ground as Hapu climbed aboard. Despite being almost half the Pokémon's size, Hapu quickly saddled up and spurred Mudsdale onward. Mudsdale snorted and trotted forth, disappearing to worlds unknown, to the land of Raganival.
Mudsdale snorted and stomped on the loamy forest earth. Hapu was met with a fresh, deciduous air much different from the tropics of Alola. "Whoa," Hapu said to Mudsdale, to calm the horse Pokémon down.
Through the trees, Hapu could make out the dim silhouette of a castle. The trees were lush, the soil firm... and yet, Hapu knew if they were called to this place, there was sure to be the underlying danger. Of course, it was outlined in the briefing that danger
was present...
Hapu decided it was best to wait for the assigned leader, Edward.
