Just as Lando is about to sit down with a steaming mug of Komala Coffee at the Pokémon Center to celebrate his victory, who should appear but Professor Kukui. Apparently, he and Lillie were out doing professorial stuff and she got herself lost... again. Looks like it's up to Lando to fish her out of the toilet... again. Ugh, naïve damsels in distress are more trouble than they're worth.
The first Route 3 pokémon to land on Lando is a sassy female Spearow with the Keen Eye ability. Since Spearows are typically portrayed as bully pokémon who travel in packs, 'tis only fitting to name this one Regina, after Regina George in the film Mean Girls.
Then, a Rising Star trainer and his Psyduck put Lando's team on the ropes with some serious speed and powerful Water Gun attacks. But WendyWhallop wins the day! You know, I've never really used a Makuhita much, if at all, in prior Pokémon games; but right now WendyWhallop is proving to be a great ally and embodies the spirit of what a Nuzlocke is all about. Lando just hopes Regina doesn't upset the dynamic of the team, since that sassy Spearow is most likely to mock bashful WendyWhallop's size and appearance.
Just off of Route 3 in a cavern called Melemele Meadow, Lando finds a frantic Lillie trying to coax a wayward Nebby back into her bag. So into the tall flowers Lando goes, to try and nab the little nipper. A sassy Petilil with the Own Tempo ability (my favorite ability) jumps the party and its moves literally drain Joey's HP down to 8 before it's caught. As a result of that battle, the Petilil is named Vampiris (a portmanteau of vampire and the iris flower). Lando has a team of 6 now! Yes!
To recap: Lando's team now consists of stoic tough guy Bam Bigelow (Torracat), shy sumo girl WendyWhallop (Makuhita), erratically loco Belfry (Zubat), the ever quirky and precocious Joey (Rattata), mean girl Regina (Spearow), and Vampiris (Petilil), who could easily be Regina's underling. Lando definitely has his work cut out for him with this motley crew. Looking back on the departed, Bennie was mostly harmless, and that rapscallion Pepper was a chip off the old block.
As soon as Nebby is recovered Lando and Lillie begin to leave Melemele Meadow, when Hau appears to challenge Lando to another battle. Even though he reportedly completed the trial with just his Rowlet and a Pikachu, he is no match for WendyWhallop and Bam Bigelow.
The next (and final) order of business on Melemele Island is to face Kahuna Hala in the island's Grand Trial. Lando needs to think about how to approach this one, because had he managed to catch that Abra in Hau' oli City, its Psychic typing would have been his ace against Hala's Fighting-type pokémon.
What to do...