Remove ads

Pokemon Waxing Moon

Created
Status
Ongoing
Watchers
5
Recent readers
0
Threadmarks
4
Lillie Aether has fled. Fled the Aether Foundation, fled the only home's ever known, fled her mother. Two kind people take her in, and for the first time in years she feels at home. She's going to keep Nebby safe, no matter what it takes.

Elio "Sun" Ray is finally moving to Alola, after years of hearing his mom talk about how amazing Alolan pokémon are. He can't wait to get his first pokémon and travel throughout the region. But, more importantly, he's getting out of Kanto, and away from the shadow his family's sins have cast over him since childhood.

Lillie and Sun want nothing more than to be free of their families' darkness, but, even under the warmth of Alola's sun, they can't quite escape it alone. Perhaps together, however, they won't merely escape it, but overcome it?
Threadmarks
Reader mode
Remove ads
Prologue: Endings and What Comes After
  • Threadmarks
    • S

    sonofthetrigod

    Lillie rapidly looked back and forth, scouting the hallway. This was it. She'd been planning this for days. To leave Aether Paradise. It's scary, she reflected, leaving the only home I've ever known, but then, this hasn't been home in such a long time. Not since Father… And then Mother had… She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She needed a clear head for this, even with all the assistance Wicke had given her. "I can make sure the Cosmog isn't guarded," the young scientist had promised. "After that, head for the docks. Your mother's boat can get you to Melemele Island. Look for Professor Kukui, he'll help you."

    And so, here she was breaking into Aether Paradise's labs to rescue a pokémon. Punching in the access code supplied to her by Wicke she opened the cryostorage chamber. "Pew!" the little pokémon squeaked in greeting.

    She still remembered the first time she'd witnessed her mother's experiments on the little creature. How it had writhed as energy was drained from it… How she'd screamed for them to stop… How her mother had struck her…

    "Hi, Nebby," Lillie whispered to the pokémon she'd nicknamed, holding the duffle bag where she'd packed what few possessions she'd deemed worth taking, along with whatever money her mother wouldn't miss. "Get in the bag, okay? We need to go."

    "Pew," the little creature cooed, and, though with some reluctance, did as told.

    "ALERT! ALERT!" shrieked the alarm system. "SUBJECT COSMOG HAS ESCAPED! ALL AETHER PERSONNEL ARE ORDERED TO APPREHEND IT!"

    Lillie bolted for the elevator, planning to put the input for going down to the docks but no sooner had she stepped on then it zipped rapidly upwards to the conservation floor. … Right in front of her mother's waiting employees. She cursed silently. Of course, Mother implemented further security after Gladion got out with one of her Type: Null. Why wouldn't she? Cursing her own thoughtlessness, Lillie ran. Nebby stared out of the bag taking in the world around it, with curious eyes. The little pokémon had only known the white walls of Aether's labs and the cold of the cryostorage chamber for the past five years so anything and everything, even the carefully cultivated environment in the conservation room, was a new wonder to it.

    "Stop!" shouted one of the employees, but Lillie only spared him a brief glance, far too focused on her escape attempt. To escape to somewhere, anywhere, that wasn't this place. To protect Nebby.

    So focused was she on escaping that she didn't realize that there was an employee waiting in front of her until she was cornered. There was nowhere left to run as employees moved in from all sides. There was nothing she could do. All this, Nebby saw. And the little creature got angry. It wanted to be safe. It wanted to be free. And, perhaps most of all, it wanted to help the nice person who had helped it. Nebby screwed it's face up in concentration, and blue energy began to emanate from its tiny form. The blue energy aura grew and grew, until it fully swallowed Lillie and Nebby. And then, while the Aether Foundation employees were still rubbing the spots from their eyes, the girl and the pokémon vanished.


    Lillie woke up to the sound of crashing waves and felt utterly drained. "Hey," an unfamiliar voice said. "Are you okay?"

    Lillie groaned and shook her head. She felt dizzy… and wet. "Where…?" she mumbled blearily.

    The voice sounded closer now. "Are you alright, miss?"

    Lillie looks up and stumbles back. "Wh-Who…?"

    Stood over her is an unfamiliar woman in a lab coat with white hair and a kind, if concerned, expression and an outstretched hand. "My name is Burnet. Can you tell me your name?"

    Lillie took Burnet's outstretched hand and is pulled to her feet. "I-I'm Lillie… Can you tell me where I am?" she asked nervously.

    "You're on Melemele Island, Hau'oli Outskirts to be precise," Burnet says causing Lillie to take a deep breath in relief.

    "I… I made it… Oh, thank the tapu. We made it, Nebby!"

    "P-Pew…" the Cosmog squeaked weakly, greatly drained from using so much of its power.

    "O-Oh Nebby, what's wrong? Did… Did you hurt yourself, bringing us here? Oh no, it's… It's all my fault."

    "Miss Lillie, why don't you come with me? If your pokémon is hurt, my husband may be able to help. He doesn't live too far from here."

    "Th-Thank you, ma'am but I need to find Professor Kukui… I was told he m-might be able to help Nebby."

    The pale young woman expected disappointment, or even anger, already flinching back on reflex, but to her shock Burnet just chuckled, amused. "Well then you really must come see my husband. Professor Kukui is my husband, after all."


    Burnet, who as it turned out was a professor herself, wasn't joking about Kukui living close by. The lab where he worked and lived was, at most, a two-minute walk from the shore. They didn't push her for answers immediately, despite her expectations, and instead urge her to wash off the salt water and change into some dry clothes. After she steps back out into their living room, she's presented with a warm mug of tapu cocoa, a seat on a couch, and a blanket. Despite enjoying the warmth after being chilled in the water, she couldn't keep herself from asking, "Wh-Why are you helping me? You don't even know me."

    Professor Kukui gave her a warm smile. "If you see a person or a pokémon who needs help, you just help them… Right, Honey?"

    Professor Burnet nodded and rested a hand gently on Lillie's shoulder who flinched slightly at the contact. "Of course. And something tells me you're in need of our help, Lillie. So could you explain a bit about what's going on?"

    Lillie nodded, and she launched into her story. Her father's disappearance, her mother's descent into madness, Nebby, and their eventual flight from Aether. The two professors' eyes go wide with shock and outrage. "Well…" Kukui began, "I think it's clear what we need to do."

    Lillie worried, briefly, that she's about to be sent away or Nebby would be taken or any number of horrible results, but Burnet cuts of her worries, "There's a loft in the lab, Lillie. We'll get a bed up there for you, but for now there's only a futon."

    "You'll… let me stay here?" she asked, confused. Is this what mainland Alolans are like?

    "If you don't want-"

    "No!" she exclaims. "I… I mean I'd be most grateful to you for letting me stay here. If there's anything I can do in return, I'd be happy to repay you however I can."

    "You don't have to do anything," Burnet assured her.

    But as he looked at her, Kukui found the look in Lillie's eyes very familiar: the fear of being cast aside. He hadn't been able to do anything for his old friend when he'd had those same eyes. He would not fail this young lady. "Like Burnet said, you don't have to do anything. But if you want to help out, I've been looking for an assistant, yeah!" the buff professor offered. "The pokémon research institute hasn't assigned me an aide yet, so I could use a Helping Hand caring for the lab and such, oh yeah!"

    "I'd be happy too!" Lillie exclaimed, grateful for the opportunity to do something to repay their kindness.

    Nebby slipped out of her bag, glancing about the lab with curious eyes. "Pew!" Nebby squeaked happily.


    Three Months Later…

    ​
    When Elio "Sun" Ray was asked, much, much later where his journey to champion began, he would forever say, with an odd smile on his face: "It began with beeping." And indeed, it did. The beeping of his computer marked the beginning of everything that followed. Amidst the beeping an electronic voice chirped, "You have a message from the Alola region's own Professor Kukui!"

    Selecting the video call Sun cautiously said, "Hello?" as a buff man slowly came into focus on the video feed.

    "Hang on, now," the man greeted warmly. "Gimme just a sec…"

    "No worries," the teen said, scratching his head awkwardly.

    "Hey there!" Kukui smiled and waved amicably. "Good evening!"

    "Nice to meet you!" Sun said, his nerves eased somewhat by the professor's friendliness.

    "So," Professor Kukui said, "the day has finally come that you're moving to Alola."

    Sun grinned eagerly, "I've been looking forward to it since Mom told me about the move! She still talks about the pokémon from Alola you showed off when you visited Kanto."

    "Alola is a region made up of several islands," the professor explained. "That could be the reason the region is chock full of nothin' but rare pokémon, yeah!"

    "I heard there are versions of pokémon that we have here in Kanto but they're different types in Alola, is that true?" Sun asked.

    Kukui nodded. "We call 'em Alolan Forms. But even aside from them, there's no shortage of cool pokémon out here in Alola!"

    Sun beamed. "I can't wait to meet all of them!" he exclaimed excitedly.

    The professor tossed a pokéball into the air which caused it to unleash a brown, very cute puppy-looking pokémon, "If you're planning to meet all of 'em you're gonna have to explore all over: In the grass, in caves, in the sky, and in the sea…" He petted the puppy pokémon which wagged its fluffy white tail happily. "Although I'm sure you'll meet some just by meeting their trainers. Just like all over world, we here in Alola we love our pokémon, and we depend on them heaps, too."

    Sun didn't say anything, too entranced by the adorableness of the puppy, so he just nodded absently.

    "Some of us even battle with 'em," the professor continued, "if we call ourselves pokémon trainers!" There was a passion aglow in the older man's eyes as he spoke of battle and the puppy yipped.

    "Then… is there a Pokémon League in Alola?" Sun asked eagerly. Before the move had been announced, he'd planned to challenge the Indigo League, and give it his best shot at becoming champion.

    It had been his dream for most of his life, ever since he'd watched Red Tajiri and Blue Oak face off for the title of Kanto Champion on his grandparent's small television screen with starry eyes.

    Of course, following in the footsteps of one of Kanto's greatest heroes wasn't the only reason why. Standing as the greatest trainer in Kanto would've been his best chance to escape the shadow his uncle had cast over him.

    The professor's smile shrank, but only slightly. "A Pokémon League? Like your Indigo League? I'm afraid not, cousin."

    Sun's smile faded. "Oh…" This was the first he'd heard of Alola lacking a league. So much for being like Red Tajiri. At least his uncle's shadow wouldn't extend into Alola. He hoped.

    "But hey, don't sweat it, cousin! If it's traveling with pokémon you want, you'll have your opportunity, I can promise you that much!" Professor Kukui said warmly, trying to cheer the boy up. "In fact, I'll see what I can do about hooking you up with a pokémon when you arrive, yeah!"

    "Thank you," Sun told the professor appreciatively. While no force on earth would've been able to keep him from traveling with pokémon now that he was sixteen, it felt good to receive support for his plans.

    The brown pup snuggled against the professor. "Rockruff!" he chided gently, "Can you wait until I'm done talking to play?!" The creature jumped down, seemingly off an unseen table.

    So that was a Rockruff, Elio noted to himself. I'll definitely catch one when we get there.

    "Alright," Kukui said, "I gotta ask you some questions about yourself so I can introduce you to everybody! This is the photo for Trainer Passport, right?"

    The image of Elio in his dad's old cap his mother had submitted for him appeared on screen and he nodded. "That's me, alright," he agreed.

    "And could you spell out your name for me?" Kukui asked. "I think I have it right, but just to be sure.

    "No problem," Sun said. "It's Elio Ray. E-L-I-O R-A-Y.

    "So, you go by Elio?" the professor asked, merely out of formality.

    "People I'm close to call me Sun," the young man offered. "I'm told it's easier to say."

    "10-4, good buddy!" the professor cheered. "I'll let everybody out here know you're on your way!"

    "I can't wait to meet you in person, Professor!" Sun said enthusiastically.

    "Elio… Sun…" the professor mused as he was joined by an unfamiliar flying pokémon and rejoined by his Rockruff, the cute creature licking his cheek. "Yeah, those are names that hit you like a Thunderbolt out of the sky! WOO! Can't wait to see you in person either, cousin!"

    The two waved goodbye and Elio logged off his computer.

    "Sun!" his mother called from downstairs. "Come help me with these boxes!"

    "COMING, MAMA!" he shouted down the stairs.


    Andrea Ray watched with fond amusement as her son bolted down the stairs of their home, taking the steps three at a time. "He's just a bundle of energy, isn't he Meowy?" the brown-haired woman asked her Meowth.

    The normal type purred in agreement, as she watched the Machoke and Vigoroth they'd hired haul most of the boxes into the back of a moving van. There were a couple that contained items too precious to let leave their person, so those would be flying with them on the plane.

    As Sun finally reached the bottom of the stairs, he made his way over to them. "What do you need help with?" he asked her with a slight twitch of excitement. Her son's eyes were bright, and emanated excitement.

    "I just need you down here so that once the pokémon are done packing up most of our belongings, you can help me put the boxes containing clothes and the like in the rental car," the Ray matriarch explained. "I take it by your expression the conversation with Professor Kukui went well?"

    Sun nodded vigorously. "It sure did!" her son agreed. "He even told me he would hook me up with a pokémon!"

    "That's excellent, my little sun!" Andrea said cheerfully. "I know how much you wanted to challenge the Indigo League, but at least you'll be able to challenge Alola's league instead." To her surprise however, this made her boy's expression fall slightly. "What's wrong, Elio?" she asked in concern.

    "It's not that big a deal," Sun explained slowly, "but Professor Kukui told me that Alola doesn't actually have a league."

    Andrea winced. Sun had talked about challenging the Indigo League so many times the past few years and trying to become Kanto's champion. Or, failing that, to at least take on the minor league of the Orange Archipelago. Before they'd been taken down in preparation for the move, his walls had been covered in posters of Red Tajiri's pokémon team, and Ash Ketchum's as well. She'd been particularly proud of the poster she'd managed to get him of Ash Ketchum's team from when he became champion in the Orange Archipelago, because that had been a limited run. So, hearing that Alola had no league to try and overcome had to have been disappointing for her little sun.

    "But," Sun continued, expression brightening somewhat, "there will be four whole islands to explore. And at least no one will be comparing me to Uncle in Alola."

    While that thought seemed to make Sun happier, at the mention of her brother and how his actions had affected Sun, Andrea's eyes went misty. That had been part of the reason for this move, after all. "Sun, I-" she began.

    "Macho!" rumbled one of the moving pokémon, interrupting her thoughts. The Machoke handed her a clipboard, with an inventory of all the boxes that had been stored in the truck.

    "Thank you for your hard work, Machoke, and you too, Vigoroth," Andrea said. "I trust you'll get these transported to Alola safely?"

    "Vig!" the Vigoroth squawked in agreement.

    The moving pokémon waved a farewell, before they returned to the truck which drove away.

    Sun looked at his mother expectantly. "Is it time for us to go now?" he asked, twitching with excitement. "It's time to head for the airport, right?"

    Andrea giggled, amused by her son's enthusiasm. "Yes," she told him. "Just help me get the special boxes and our luggage into the car, okay?"

    Much to her further amusement, Sun grabbed two of the biggest boxes and lumbered with them out to the car. "Sun is so much like his father," she mused. "Come on, Meowy, let's get some of the luggage packed before he bites off more than he can chew."

    "Meow?" Meowy mewed incredulously, but reluctantly fell into step with her trainer. It wouldn't do for their boy to get hurt before they got on the plane after all.


    In no time at all, they were flying out of Vermillion International Airport, and were headed for their new lives in Alola. While Sun looked over everything with excitement at first, over the course of the long flight, the young man grew sleepy. When they finally landed in Alola, he was too tired to take much of it in and collapsed into his new bed as soon as they arrived.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter One: Of Cats and Cosmog
  • Threadmarks
    • Andrea Ray took in a deep breath of air, enjoying the salty tang of the ocean breeze. "Ahhh…" she sighed contentedly, closing her eyes. "Could anything be more soothing? The first evening spent under Alola's calm moon…"

    Next to her, her Meowth purred in agreement staring up at the countless glittering stars of Alola's night sky as the moonlight glistened off the charm on her head.

    "I feel like I could stay out here all night," she smiled. "But… that's enough of that for now! Time to unpack all these boxes!"

    "Meow meow?" questioned her Meowth, seeming skeptical.

    Andrea rolled her eyes fondly. Her longtime partner knew her far, far too well. "Meowy? Go get Sun for me, would you?"

    "Meow?" Meowy asked, already turning to head for her trainer's sleepy boy's room.


    As her trainer had expected, their Sun was still snoozing away on his yellow bed spread. Their poor boy had seemed so exhausted when they'd landed in the New Place. He hadn't even gotten under the covers in his bed, so tired that he had passed out as soon as he'd flopped down on it. "Meow, meow!" Meowy mewed, trying to wake him up gently.

    "Five more minutes…" Sun mumbled sleepily, attempting to pull a nonexistent blanket over his face.

    Clearly, stronger methods would be necessary. She jumped up on his bed next to his head and crouched next to his ear. "MRRRRAWWWWWWRRR!" screeched Meowy.

    "GAH!" Sun squawked leaping out of bed and crashing onto his face on the floor. "C'mon Meowy, did you have to do that?"

    "Meowhehehe," Meowy giggled.

    Pushing himself to his feet, Sun sighed. "Mom told you to wake me up, huh?" he asked, patting the mischievous Scratch Cat Pokémon on her head.

    "Mrow!" confirmed Meowy. She jumped up on his shoulder, and together they headed out of his room. Her boy was getting very big, and the resemblance to her trainer was getting more and more obvious as he got older. She nuzzled against him, enjoying their closeness and he made a sound that made the Meowth think he was purring. They'd already left their old lair in the Old Place, and she'd bet all her treasure that her boy would be leaving this lair to spread out into the New Place and grow, very, very soon. So, she would enjoy whatever moments she could, for now.


    Sun glanced about the new living room and kitchenette of his new home. The walls were a nice shade of baby blue, his mom's favorite color. He could understand the appeal, he supposed. It was a relaxing color and being able to relax was part of the reason she'd upended their lives to move here after all. Kanto was all hustle and bustle and "the Scratch Cat Girl" had made their family more than enough money in tournaments and sponsorships to live comfortably elsewhere. A fresh start in a new region… No family history casting a shadow over either one of them… Yeah, Sun appreciated his mom's logic.

    "Mama," he called, not seeing her about, "I'm up!"

    His mother stepped in from the balcony off to the right. "You were out like a light, weren't you?" she teased by way of greeting. "You ought to be full of energy by now!"

    Sun smiled at his mom. "Yeah, that rest was exactly what the doctor ordered. Although," he said, with a playful glare at Meowy who jumped off his shoulder, "Meowy could've been gentler about waking me up."

    "Meowhehehe," the mischievous pokémon in question laughed.

    Andrea laughed gently; it always warmed her heart to see her son so affectionate with Meowy. "So, Sun…" she began. "Are you pumped to meet some Alolan Pokémon?"

    The effect was immediate. The minimal signs of fatigue remaining on the teen's face evaporated and his small smile broke into a wide grin. "Of course! I've been looking forward to it for months! It's all I've been able to think about since you told me about the move! Like the type of Meowth only found in Alola, or Rockruff like Professor Kukui showed me, or-" he rambled excitedly before realizing what he was doing and cut himself off.

    But his mother only laughed warmly, long since used to his excitement when it came to pokémon. "That's right!" she encouraged, with a grin as big as his. "I want to hurry and meet some, too! We're living in the Alola region now! The beautiful islands that everyone wants to visit!"

    Sun nodded enthusiastically. "I'm sure the pokémon living in a place like this must be friendly, right?"

    Before his mom could reply, the doorbell rang. "Was that the doorbell?" his mother asked. "That's gotta be Professor Kukui. Why don't you let him in, Sun?"

    "Okay, Mom," Sun said, trying to stay calm, but he was trembling with excitement. If the professor was here, it wouldn't be too much longer until the teenager had a pokémon of his own. And so, taking a deep breath to calm himself as best he could, he made his way to the door.

    He went to open the door, but before he could, the professor had already made his way inside. "Hey there, Sun!" the buff man greeted warmly. "The name's Kukui. Good to finally meet you in person, cousin!"

    "Y-You too," Sun stuttered, nerves and excitement gripping the teen as he shook the professor's hand.

    "You gotta be tired after that long trip all the way out here to Alola! You feelin' any jet lag?" Kukui asked, with surprisingly sincere concern.

    "Not as much now," Sun admitted. "I fell asleep when we got here yesterday, and only just woke up."

    The older man nodded. "We sure are a long way from Kanto out here in Alola. It's still nighttime out here, yeah!" Sun wondered how he could say such a simple thing with so much enthusiasm, but it did wonders to ease the teen's nerves.

    The Ray family matriarch and her Meowth made their way to her son and their guest. "Hello, Professor Kukui! Yes, we just arrived yesterday," she explained.

    "Hey there, Andy," Kukui greeted. "I just let myself in. Oh, and just call me Kukui, would you? Welcome to Alola!"

    The elder Ray smiled. "Of course," she said warmly, "I still remember seeing you battle the Indigo Gym Leaders back in Kanto all those years ago, you know!"

    "Mom still talks about how cool Alolan Pokémon are," Sun noted enthusiastically. "Ever since I was little, I've wanted to meet some. And we're finally here!"

    Kukui chuckled warmly, his whole body shaking with the laughter and knocking his cap and sunglasses slightly askew. "Hahaha! I was supposed to be there to research Kanto Pokémon, moves and all," he reminisced. "I thought I knew a thing or two about battling, but those Kanto Gym Leaders sure proved me wrong!"

    Sun's smile shrank, just a little at the mention of the Gym Challenge. He hadn't forgotten Kukui's words that there was no Pokémon League in Alola. Even though he was still excited to become a trainer and meet pokémon it just… didn't feel quite the same without the ability to shoot for a championship.

    Noticing the change in the young man's expression Kukui energetically piped up, "Hey now, Sun! Let's get a move on to the next town over, cousin! Time for you to meet the Island Kahuna and get yourself a pokémon, yeah!"

    And, easy as that, Sun's smile dramatically increased in size. "I'm going to be able to get a pokémon? Right now?!" he crowed. "AWESOME!"

    Kukui nodded, happy to see the young man ecstatic again. "Yeah, sure," he explained. "The kahuna who lives in Iki Town is always happy to give any kid who wants to have an adventure their first pokémon, yeah."

    "Oh man… I've been waiting my whole life for this!" Sun exclaimed excitedly.

    Kukui chuckled. "But," he cautioned with some amusement, "don't try taking on the kahuna yourself! The kahunas are crazy-strong pokémon trainers. They're unbeatable for folks like me and you."

    Sun barely heard him, far too starstruck at the idea of a pokémon of his very own. He loved Meowy, of course, but she was his mom's partner. This… This would be different. His own pokémon. His first partner. To grow strong alongside… His entire body shook with excitement, which his mom and Kukui noticed with fond amusement.

    "They'll simply give my boy a pokémon?" Andrea asked, settling her hand under her chin in thought. "Then those kahunas really are worth meeting! Hurry up and get ready, Sun! The gear we bought you before we left are all in that box in your room, I think."

    Sun nodded, already bolting for his room to grab his stuff. "I think Dad's old hat is in there too. I didn't wanna risk losing it in the move!"

    Kukui grinned, thumbing the white cap on his head on its rainbow pattern. "Ooh, I bet you've got a stylin' hat that'll match mine, yeah?"

    If Sun heard him, the sixteen-year-old never acknowledged it, too focused on grabbing his gear so he could go get his own pokémon.

    Back in his room, he found the box his mother had spoken of. Pushing through the packing peanuts he grasped his hat and bag, placing it on his head and tossing it over his shoulder respectively. He loved his father's old cap, truly he did, but his mind was far more preoccupied with getting a pokémon to put much thought into that fondness.

    Already dashing back the way he'd come, his mother laughed as he nearly bumped into her. "You look ready for anything, now," she cheered. "Have a good time out there! I'll be sure to have everything cleaned up and put away by the time you come back with your new pokémon!"

    "Meow meow," mewed Meowy doubtfully.

    "Woo, that's a stylin' hat, cousin!" Kukui enthused.

    "Thanks," Sun replied. "It was my dad's, back when he was a trainer."

    "Your mom there…" Kukui started. "She's sure looking forward to you getting your first pokémon, yeah?"

    Sun laughed. "Probably because it's almost all I ever talk about. I've wanted to be a trainer my whole life," he explained. "When I found out we were moving to Alola, I put getting one on hold so that my first would be native to this region."

    Kukui nodded in understanding, a smile on his face. "So, let's get going to Iki Town! Time for you to get a real nice pokémon from the Island Kahuna, oh yeah!"

    And with that, he strode out the door, with Sun chasing after him.


    Kukui led Sun up a path to the left, with the young man doing his best to keep up despite not being used to the heat. It was oppressive compared to Kanto, even with the sun down. "Now this is more like it, yeah!" he cheered. "Welcome to paradise, cousin!"

    "I can't wait to be able to travel and see everything Alola has to offer," Sun said, equally enthusiastically.

    "You can go anywhere, yeah, as long as you've got pokémon with you to watch your back," Kukui affirmed, leading him further up the path. "And that's why we're off to Iki Town, to get you to the kahuna to get you one of your own, yeah!"

    "I'll follow you," Sun confirmed, following just behind the professor.

    As they walked through the path that signs labeled as Route 1, Sun drank in the palm trees and flower bushes, so like and unlike back in Kanto. They were all so vibrant and alive here, much healthier than the plants of Kanto which were suffering from the industrial smog as much as the people and pokémon.

    He was so preoccupied with taking everything in that he didn't notice Kukui had stopped until he almost bumped into him. "So, Sun!" Kukui asked, grinning at the teen's excitement. "You're lovin' Alola already, yeah?"

    "Yeah!" Sun agreed immediately with great enthusiasm. "So far, it's been everything I've hoped it would be."

    While that was a slight exaggeration, he hadn't even met any pokémon yet after all and there would be no Pokémon League, Alola definitely lived up to the hype. The casual kindness of people, the beauty that he was just getting to know… It reminded him of stories his grandparents had told him about Kanto before Team Rocket had wreaked havoc on the region.

    "That's what I like to hear!" the professor enthused. "The more you love Alola, the happier I'll be!"


    They made the rest of their way to Iki Town mostly in a companionable silence with the professor occasionally pointing out things of interest. "And we're here!" Kukui said, cheerfully, and in truth Sun was starting to wonder if there was anything he didn't do cheerfully. "This right here is Iki Town!"

    It reminded Sun a little of Pallet Town back in Kanto. Trees, just a few houses, and a welcoming atmosphere. He hadn't been to Pallet Town too often, only a couple of times, but this place had a similar vibe and… well, he would've gotten his first pokémon in Pallet Town if he hadn't moved and he would be getting his first pokémon here. Now, hopefully.

    "This town is where folks come to worship the pokémon that watches over Melemele Island," Kukui explained.

    Sun rested his hand under his chin in thought. "There's a pokémon that does that?" They hadn't really had anything like that in Kanto. Oh, there were those that prayed to Arceus of course, but it hadn't seemed to do much good when the Rockets attacked. Even the Beasts of Johto, which weren't even truly considered divine, had sought heroes to serve when the villainous organization had risen again in that region.

    Kukui nodded with a small smile, "Tapu Koko keeps us all safe and happy, see!"

    "I wonder if I'll ever get to see it…" the younger man mused.

    Kukui seemed distracted, however, suddenly looking all about. "Huh? What's going on here?" he asked of no one in particular. "We were supposed to meet everybody right here, yeah."

    "Maybe there was some kind of mix-up?" Sun offered, twitching slightly at the idea of not being able to get a pokémon after coming all this way.

    "Maybe," the professor admitted. "Or maybe they're all back there on Mahalo Trail. That's where the ruins of our guardian deity, Tapu Koko, are, yeah…"

    "I could help you look for the kahuna," the would-be trainer offered. While Sun did genuinely want to help Professor Kukui as thanks for showing him around, he also hoped that finding this "kahuna" person would help him get his pokémon faster. He'd waited sixteen years to have his own pokémon, and he didn't want to wait a second longer than he had to.

    "That sounds like a good plan, yeah," Professor Kukui agreed. "I'll wait around here to make sure we don't miss each other."

    "How will I know the kahuna when I see him?" Sun asked. How will I get a pokémon?

    "The Island Kahuna?" Kukui asked. "You can't miss him. He looks just like a kahuna!"

    What does that even mean? Sun wondered, but he headed for Mahalo Trail all the same.


    At the same time Sun was having his adventure with Professor Kukui, Lillie was dealing with a rapidly shaking bag. "Really?" she asked. "You want to go up to the ruins? I don't know what you hope to find there…"

    "Pew!" retorted Nebby.

    Resigning herself to the whims of the little pokémon, Lillie made her way up to Mahalo Trail heading for the Ruins of Conflict.

    It wasn't a particularly long path, to be honest. While mostly dirt, it was well worn by the footsteps of countless generations of worshippers coming to pay their respects and offer thanks to Tapu Koko. Nebby was particularly restless as she made her way down the trail, shaking the bag and trying to get out at any opportunity. "You can't come out!" she hissed to the little troublemaker. "We'll get in trouble if anyone sees you."


    Sun stared after the strange girl with the large hat and pretty dress, wondering what was up with her. Clearly there was a pokémon in her bag, and clearly it didn't want to be in there. Why use a bag to hold a pokémon when pokéballs were much more effective and designed to be comfortable for the pokémon inside?

    Deciding he'd get no answers just standing there the teen followed her up the trail. He was supposed to be checking if the Kahuna was up this way, anyway. Maybe this was some kind of test to prove he deserved a pokémon?


    As Mama Lillie finally reached the end of the path, Nebby finally escaped the bag! Its tiny eyes were wide with glee and its little mouth smiled widely. Waving its little appendages about, the tiny pokémon seemed to bounce through the air heading straight for the Ruins of Conflict. It was almost there, almost to the place that had been calling it since Mama had freed it from the cold, white place. Mama was yelling at it to stop, but the little nebula cloud just couldn't bear to go back in the bag, not now! Smiling mischievously, the Cosmog floated over the bridge and would've continued to do so except suddenly a flock of Spearow swarmed in clawing and pecking at it, forcing it to land on the bridge, and make itself small as possible. Nebby didn't understand, why were the bird pokémon being so mean?

    But suddenly, Nebby sensed a new presence. It wasn't Mama, or the mean Spearow, or itself. And while Mama had always warned Nebby to be careful to not be seen, this presence felt… warm. Like the light that made it grow. So, it shielded itself as best it could and waited for the warmth to help.

    The warmth came closer, Nebby could feel it near Mama. "Ah…" Mama mumbled staring at the source of the new warmth.

    "What's wrong?" the warm stranger asked, smiling gently at Mama. Despite the current situation, Nebby liked that smile. It reminded Nebby of Mama's back before she'd become so sad.

    "H-Help…" Mama pleaded. "Save Nebby!"

    The mean Spearow raked at Nebby with their claws, and it cried out in pain, "Peewww!" Its face contorted in an ugly expression, but it couldn't help it. The claws attacking it hurt so bad, far worse than even the cold back in the cold and white place.

    "Those Spearow are attacking it!" Mama explained. "But… But I'm too afraid to go out there… My legs feel like they might give out…"

    The warm stranger didn't hesitate, he, as Nebby could now tell the warmth was a human man like the nice lab coat man and the big man Tapu Koko liked, ran straight for Nebby. Nebby could feel it getting closer on the bridge even as the bridge shuddered underneath them both.

    "HEY, LEAVE NEBBY ALONE!" the warmth shouted at the Spearow whacking at them with his human limbs as he got closer.

    Unfortunately, all that managed to do was anger the Spearow into attacking both the warm stranger and Nebby. But the warm stranger tried to protect Nebby even still, shielding it with his body even as they were divebombed by the Spearow. "Don't worry little one," the warm stranger whispered, trying to keep them both calm, "I won't let them hurt you."

    But the damage the warm stranger was taking was clearly adding up. Red was coming off him where the Spearow were scratching and pecking him and as more came in to attack them again. Nebby felt an emotion rare to it, so rare in fact that it had only felt it once before when Mama had been cornered trying to set it free: Anger. That emotion had saved Nebby and Mama Lillie then, maybe if it drew on the power that anger pulled out it could save itself and the kind warm stranger, too! So, it screwed up its eyes tight and unleashed all the power it could to warp itself, and the warm stranger that came to save it, away!

    Blue light erupted from Nebby's body, but it didn't warp away the warm stranger and the Cosmog like Nebby had expected. It didn't even warp away the mean Spearow! Instead, some of the bridge vanished from underneath them! The warm stranger, who still clutched Nebby to his chest protectively, fell uncontrollably even as the Spearow rushed at them both. But just as it seemed human and pokémon were both doomed, the air crackled with electricity and Tapu Koko appeared! The island guardian blasted away the Spearow with its electricity and swooped down, catching both Nebby and the warm stranger just before they hit the river.

    It rushed them back to ground level, setting them with surprising gentleness at Mama Lillie's feet. "Who… Who are you?" the warm stranger asked staring up at Tapu Koko with awe.

    "KOKOKO!" crowed the guardian of Melemele Island, before flying away in a blast of lightning as both humans and Nebby gazed after it, all of them utterly awestruck.

    The warm stranger staggered to his feet, gently setting Nebby into the air to float unimpeded.

    "Oh…" Mama Lillie choked out. "Oh, thank goodness!"

    "Pew!" Nebby squeaked trying to get Mama to calm down.

    "You…" Mama mumbled. "You tried using your power again… didn't you? Oh, Nebby… You know what happened last time you used it. You couldn't move for ages after that. I don't want to see you like that again!" she exclaimed, clearly distraught.

    Nebby floated over to her, nuzzling her to try and calm her down. "Pew pew…" Mama shouldn't be sad! The warm stranger had saved it, and then Tapu Koko had saved them both! This is a good day! Mama should be happy!

    She smiled a little. "No… I shouldn't say that," she apologized. "I'm sorry, Nebby… I know you were trying to save me that time… And I couldn't even help you in return…"

    Something near Mama sparkled and Nebby floated closer to take a look. "Pew!" Nebby squeaked trying to draw the humans' attention to the sparkly black rock.

    "What… What is that?" Mama asked, staring at it intently.

    "Pew pew!" Nebby exclaimed. Silly Mama, couldn't she tell that Tapu Koko had left the sparkly rock for the warm stranger who had come to its rescue?

    "A sparkling… stone?" Mama mused over the stone. "It feels almost warm, somehow…"

    "Please, forgive me…" Mama said, finally turning to the warm stranger who had been standing there patiently the whole time. "I am so grateful to you for helping us out of that dangerous spot."

    "Are you the kahuna?" the warm stranger asked eagerly.

    The warm stranger was so silly; Mama wasn't the kahuna! The kahuna was the big man that Tapu Koko liked!

    Mama giggled and shook her head. "I think this stone must belong to you," she said and gently placed the black sparkling stone in the nice warm stranger's hand. "Please…" Mama requested, "Don't tell anyone about this… About seeing Nebby… Nebby… Nebby's a secret, okay?"

    The warm stranger just smiled. "Of course," the words came so easily, so gently, that Nebby felt safe. Nebby liked this human. He needed a better name than "warm stranger", but human names were strange and Nebby didn't know his human name yet. Nebby would wait until he knew the warm stranger's human name to call him something else.

    "Come on," Mama Lillie said turning to Nebby, "Into the bag, Nebby."

    "Pew…" Nebby pouted, but ultimately did as Mama said. "Pew…"

    "Um…" Mama began, once Nebby was safely in the cozy bag. "I'm worried we might get attacked again. By some wild pokémon… or something. I know it's too much for me to ask, but… Do you think you could see us back to town?"

    "It'd be my pleasure," the warm stranger said. "If you see pokémon or people that need help, you help them, right?"

    And with that easy decision out of the way, the three of them made their way back to Iki Town.


    "Hey, Elio!" called Professor Kukui as Lillie and the boy who had saved Nebby made their way back into town. "Looks like you missed the kahuna, yeah? But you found my assistant, oh yeah! Looks like you already met, but just in case, this is my assistant!"

    "Oh… um… yes!" Lillie said, turning to the unfamiliar boy who had saved Nebby. "You can call me Lillie."

    "And, Lillie, this here is Elio," the professor introduced. "He just moved here, to Alola! Take good care of him!"

    "So…" Lillie began, looking more directly at the unfamiliar boy, taking in his heavy tan, and brown hair and eyes, "You're also one of the professor's acquaintances? It's nice to meet you."

    "You can call me Sun, if you want," the young man offered. "All my friends do. And it's a bit easier to say."

    Before she could say anything more, some of the residents of Iki Town began to speak. "The kahuna is back! Kahuna Hala has returned!"

    "Our guardian's chosen one is back!" another cheered.

    "Only one of the strongest pokémon trainers in all of Alola, yeah!" bragged a third.

    Making his way to the three of them, Hala looked over Lillie, Sun, and Kukui and asked, "Have I missed something?"

    "Naw," Kukui drawled, "but where'd you go off to, Kahuna? I thought we were meeting here."

    "I am kahuna of this island, after all," Hala said. "Whenever there is a problem on this island, it is my duty to resolve it." He shook his head as if to clear it. "Sorry, Lillie. What were you saying before? For some reason, I thought I saw Tapu Koko flying about…"

    "O-Oh, um…" Lillie stuttered, uncomfortable now that the Kahuna's attention was on her. "Yes, Kahuna Hala… Nebby was being attacked by Spearow on the Plank Bridge, when Elio here helped it get away…"

    "I was happy to help," Sun offered, smiling at them both.

    "But… But the bridge collapsed, and I thought both of them might fall to the bottom of the ravine. And that was when the island's guardian deity swooped in to save them!"

    Kukui looked impressed. "Woo! That's something you don't hear every day!"

    Hala chortled, seeming impressed and amused in equal measure. "Ho! Though it is said to protect us, our Tapu Koko is a rather fickle creature," he explained. "Yet our guardian was moved to save you." He turned from the pair of teens to the professor, "Kukui, my boy, I think we have cause to celebrate! It seems I should entrust this brave and kind young man with a pokémon of his own. We'll make a fine trainer out of him!"

    From her vantage point beside him, Lillie noticed Sun start to quiver, was he not feeling well? "Th-Thank you, sir," he stammered. "I… I've wanted to be a trainer m-my whole life!"

    Hala gave him a very warm smile. "I'm glad to meet you, child," he said. "I am Hala, the kahuna of Melemele Island. Welcome to Alola! Young Kukui had told me of your coming. I'm glad we got the chance to meet today."

    "It's my pleasure, sir," Sun said, and while he looked slightly uncomfortable at the attention, the joy on his face was entirely genuine.

    Hala turned away, facing the center platform in the middle of Iki Town, and tossed two pokéballs high in the air. "Come, my pokémon! Let's have a look at you!"

    Lillie watched Sun as he watched Hala's pokémon, utterly enraptured. This was clearly the happiest day of his life, his eyes aglow and his smile stretched wide. She was too busy studying him to realize that Hala had already introduced both pokémon. "So," Hala asked bombastically, "which of these pokémon will you choose as your partner?"

    Lillie didn't know why at the time, though it would be clear in days to come, but no sooner had Hala posed the question than Elio responded, "The fire-type, Litten," with undying joy in his voice. The little fire-type purred and licked its paw staring up at Elio.

    "Only when you have both chosen each other can you truly call each other partners," Hala explained, gently urging Sun up onto the platform. "So, let us see if little Litten there also decides to choose you!"

    Sun's eyes betrayed his excitement, but he crouched down and gave the Litten a gentle smile. It was so unlike the brave boy who had recklessly rushed into danger to save a pokémon earlier and the shy boy she'd been getting to know the last few moments that it confused her. He clearly expected the Litten to choose him in turn, even if he was nervous. The Kitten Pokémon studied him curiously, purring lightly, before eagerly making its approach and stepping between his hands, allowing itself to be picked up. He lifted it up gently, his smile as bright as the sun as the fire type purred and nuzzled against him and sniffed at his face. "You're so warm," Sun whispered softly, so softly Lillie almost missed it.

    Lillie was surprised, despite herself. She knew Litten as a species to be quite standoffish and to see one so eagerly claim a trainer was a rare sight.

    Hala beamed at Elio and his newly acquired Litten. "Ho!" he cheered. "So little Litten has accepted you as well, Elio!"

    Kukui clapped a hand on Sun's shoulder. "Having accepted one another, you'll surely be friends for life!"

    "I'm gonna call you… Nero," Sun told his Litten, as he gently stroked its fur.

    The Litten, now known as Nero, purred in approval licking his paw.

    "Nice to meet you Litten, er Nero," Lillie said warmly, smiling at the pair.

    "Pew!" Nebby greeted with a smile, welcoming a new friend into the fold. Wait a minute…

    Lillie glanced down at the duffle bag escapee. "Oh!" she cried. "When did you get out again?"

    Nebby smiled up at her, entirely unrepentant and Nero scrambled down from Sun's arms to inspect the newcomer, sniffing at Nebby vigorously. "Mrawr, lit?" Nero queried.

    "Pew pew," Nebby replied. The two little pokémon rubbed their faces against each other playfully. It seemed they were becoming fast friends.

    "Awww…" Sun cooed. "They're so cute…"

    Despite her internal agreement, Lillie still saw the need to reprimand Nebby for slipping out again, "I know that Kahuna Hala and the professor will keep you safe from any harm, but you should still stay in the bag and out of sight. It's safer that way." Looking over at Sun who was still cooing over how cute their pokémon were she said, "I think you chose a wonderful pokémon. Please take very good care of it."

    Sun smiled. "There's no way I wouldn't take good care of Nero," he promised. "Being a trainer, raising a pokémon… It's been my dream forever. I'd never waste it by being unkind to him. Right, buddy?"

    "Mrawr, lit-ten," affirmed the little fire-type.

    Kukui smiled proudly. "That's it, Sun!" he agreed. "Now that you've got a pokémon, you're a real pokémon trainer, yeah! And here's a lovely gift from me to help make it more special, cousin." And so saying, he pressed a red metallic device into Sun's hand.

    "This… This is the latest model of the pokédex, right?" Sun asked in shock. "Th-Thank you so much!" His arms were twitching, and Lillie had a sneaking suspicion he wanted to hug the professor in thanks.

    The professor just smiled. "Your new partner is already registered, oh yeah, so check it out!" He pressed something else into Sun's hand. "And this is a Trainer Passport that I had put together for you."

    "What's this for?" Sun asked, confused.

    "Most regions have a Trainer Card, marking you as an official trainer, the Trainer Passport serves the same role in Alola," Lillie explained on the professor's behalf.

    "Ahhh…" Sun nodded in understanding before he slipped the passport into the front pouch of his backpack.

    "Now why don't you go introduce your new friend to your mom, Sun?" the professor suggested.

    "That makes sense," Sun agreed stepping down from the platform and heading for the road.


    But the young lad was brought to an abrupt halt when an unfamiliar boy ran up to him and shouted excitedly, "Hey! You and me! Let's have a pokémon battle!"

    "Uhhh…" Sun said intelligently. "Who are you?"

    The others came up behind him with Hala laughing heartily. "Dahahaha! Where's the fire boy?" he asked jovially. "And what kind of a pokémon battle would that be where you don't even give a name first, eh?"

    "Fair enough. Then I'm Hau," the boy now known as Hau said warmly. "And my partner's Rowlet. Your Litten looks really cool, too!"

    "I'm Elio," Sun said, offering Hau his hand to shake though they really only gripped each other's hands a moment without shaking. "Though you can call me Sun if you want. I guess you already know who my partner is. You like pokémon?"

    "Yeah!" Hau said excitedly. "So let's battle! I couldn't wait for you to find your way to Iki Town, so I've been looking all over for you!"

    This puzzled Sun briefly, how did this stranger know to look for him, but seeing his familiarity with Kukui and the others, he probably learned of him from Kukui the same as Hala did.

    "Um…" Lillie said awkwardly, "I don't really like to see pokémon battles where pokémon can get hurt… but I'll watch for you two." She was smiling by the end of it and Sun gave her a bright grin in turn.

    "Oh yeah," Kukui cheered enthusiastically, "your first battle already! Just have your pokémon dish out some moves and see who wins. WOO!"

    Hala gave both boys a smile. "I appreciate you being willing to take on my grandson here," he said politely. "I expect a no-holds-barred battle from the both of you!"

    "You will battle me, right?" Hau asked enthusiastically. "I know you will! Right?"

    "Nero, what do you think, buddy?" Sun asked his Litten with a grin. "Are you up for this?"

    The cute kitten had already shifted into a more aggressive stance, "MROWR!" he roared enthusiastically.

    "Alright, I guess that settles it!" Sun said with a grin. "We accept your challenge, and we won't lose!"

    "This is gonna be great!" Hau said with an equally large grin, unleashing his pokémon from his pokéball, a round little owl with leaves styled like a bowtie. "Let's do this! Come on out, Bowtie!"

    "Very well, then!" Hala intoned. "Let the pokémon battle… begin!"

    "Alright let's see…" Elio said, glancing at his pokédex for knowledge of his Litten's moves. "Use Ember, Nero!"

    Nodding in agreement, the fire feline spat a hairball of fire at the little grass owl.

    "Bowtie," Hau shouted to his partner, "try to fly up out of the way and then counter-attack with Leafage."

    Give the little grass-type credit, he tried. But he didn't quite manage to dodge and ultimately had to settle for launching the attack after taking the hit. "Rowww," the Rowlet hooted as it launched leaves at Nero.

    Unfortunately, this didn't do much to affect the fire-type, and receiving a nod from his trainer, Nero blasted the leaves away with another hairball-Ember. Hau and Sun grinned at each other over their pokémon, Hau and his Rowlet only had one real shot at this, and both teens knew it.

    And so, Sun let Hau take that shot, knowing it was also his own best chance for a flawless victory. "Bowtie," Hau called, "fly down at him and use Tackle!"

    Noticing his opponent zipping down towards him, Nero tilted his head and stared up at his trainer.

    "Wait for it… Wait for it…" Sun cautioned his new little partner, as Bowtie zoomed towards Nero. It was almost in striking distance when he shouted, "NOW!"

    "LIT-TEN!" Nero roared and spat an Ember-hairball that was much larger than the previous one at his opponent. Bowtie tried to dodge but it was too late, getting so close to attack had left him wide open to Nero's fireball.

    "Row… let…" groaned Bowtie as he fell out of the air and into Hau's waiting arms.

    "Good fight," Hau said softly, patting his pokémon on the head and returning him to his pokéball. "Get some rest, buddy."

    "Litten lit?" Nero asked curiously turning to gaze up at his trainer.

    Sun quickly crouched down, gently stroking his partner's fur. "You did great!" he said ecstatically. "Our first battle, and first win together. We're gonna go far together, yeah?"

    "Litten!" affirmed Nero. His eyes were aglow with passion. This was his first battle and it seemed to have awoken something in the young pokémon.

    "Hoo-ee!" cheered Hau, exuberantly bouncing up and down despite his defeat. "That gave me chicken skin! Sun, right? Your Litten was awesome!"

    Sun grinned. "Your Rowlet was cool, too! We definitely have to have a rematch sometime!"

    "Now that settles it!" Hau declared exuberantly. "I'm going all out tomorrow!"

    As if in response to that declaration and the excitement it kindled in Sun, the black sparkling stone in his bag danced with light. Hala stared at his bag curiously. "Hm?" he hummed. "Sun, would you be so kind as to give me a look at that sparkling stone you have there?" He put his hand out, and fearing he'd committed some faux pas, Sun handed it over without comment. "Could it be?" Hala mused.

    "Tutu," Hau asked, staring at the sparkling stone in wonderment, "isn't that…?"

    Hala nodded in response to his grandson's unfinished question before turning his gaze on Sun. "You were rescued by Tapu Koko at the bridge, isn't that what I heard, my boy?"

    Sun nodded uncertainly. "Yeah, it rescued me, and it left that stone behind afterwards," he explained. "Nebby pointed it out to us, but Lillie thought I should be the one to hold onto it."

    Hala nodded, seeming to confirm something with himself and looked pleased. Sun let out a quiet sigh of relief, it seemed he hadn't accidentally stolen something from the island guardian or something equally negative after all. "So," Hala mused, "it even deigned to give you a stone… Perhaps you are here in Alola, Sun, because this is where you are meant to be. Allow me to borrow this stone for now."

    "I didn't do something wrong by taking it, did I?" Sun asked. He was pretty sure he hadn't, but these near strangers had already done him such a kindness by giving him Nero, and also been so welcoming, and he had no desire to repay their kindness with disrespect to them or their traditions.

    Hala gave him a very kind smile. "Fret not! No harm has been done," he assured Sun. "In fact, I'll be returning it to you tomorrow evening."

    "Thank you, Kahuna Hala," Sun said, both grateful and relieved.

    "It would seem you have the makings of a brilliant trainer, my boy," the kahuna said warmly. "I can see the same light in you as Hau. You must both do us the honor of joining in our festival tomorrow!"

    "I'd be glad to-" Sun tried to say before cutting himself off with his own yawn, much to his embarrassment.

    "First I'll make sure you get back home safe today, though, Sun," the professor spoke up, removing any attempt at awkward apologies from Sun. "Lillie, you two should come with us, too, yeah. Wouldn't want to go losing you twice in one day."

    Sun shot Lillie a teasing grin, "Yeah, you or that precious pokémon of yours!"

    "Yes," Lillie agreed with a blush. "I will keep an eye on-"

    "Pew!" chirped Nebby cutting of her claims of doing a good job watching the mischievous creature.

    "Oh, you!" Lillie groaned parentally. "Would you try not to escape as soon as you're told not to wander off!?" Lillie pouted at Nebby but everyone else chuckled as they split off to go their own ways.


    Nero liked his new trainer and liked his new name. Sun had explained as they trekked back to his house that it meant black, in honor of his fur… and also admitted that it just sounded cool, which the Litten couldn't help but agree with. Battling Bowtie had given the fire-type an experience he had never known in his very young life. Before meeting and choosing Sun to be his trainer, the Kitten Pokémon had mostly played around in Iki Town with Bowtie and Popplio under Kahuna Hala's watchful gaze, but now the Litten had tasted real victory for the first time, and Nero had found that he loved the taste. He wanted more. That would come tomorrow, his trainer had promised, but Nero wanted it now.

    So naturally, when Sun opened the door to his home to his mother's greeting, Nero had hoped he'd be getting a battle sooner than later.

    "Welcome back, my little sun," his trainer's mother had said.

    "Hi, Mama," Sun said, warmth in his voice at his mother's greeting.

    "So!" she'd asked eagerly. "What kind of pokémon did you get? Don't keep me waiting!"

    And so, Nero had put his best face forward, "MRAR!" he had roared, announcing his presence fearlessly to any and all who might be in the house.

    His trainer's mother had beamed at him. Well, it wasn't quite the intimidation he had hoped to achieve but adoration akin to his trainer's was a very close second. "Oh, I think I'm falling in love!" his trainer's mother declared, stroking Nero's dark fur. "So why did you choose this sweetheart, Sun?"

    "Because he's cool!" Sun had stated ecstatically, and Nero had nuzzled him. Because hey, you have to reward the humans for making good decisions, such as praising the coolness of Nero.

    "Well then," Sun's mother said, "you picked right… because I'd say this little charmer is definitely cute and cool! But tell me, Elio… was that your only reason?" She had a strangely knowing look on her face.

    His trainer had blushed a little. "It was the main one, honest. But at the same time… I am the son of the Scratch Cat Girl, after all. I should train a cat or two of my own, right?"

    Nero didn't really know what that meant but it sounded praiseworthy, so he nuzzled Sun until he picked him up. His trainer cradled him in his arms and hummed a tune while doing so.

    "The two of you look great together…" Sun's mother cheered. "I feel happier just looking at the two of you!"

    A Meowth ran up and jumped up on his trainer's shoulder. What was this pokémon doing on his territory? Nero opened his mouth to use Ember, but Sun shook his head. "Mrrrr?" purred the Meowth nuzzling his trainer, his Sun, but Sun gave Nero an amused look.

    "Sorry buddy, but Meowy's been part of the family since before I was born. She thinks I'm one of hers, so you'll just have to learn to share. I mean, when we catch more pokémon for the squad, you'll have to share me with them, right?"

    Nero grumbled, "Mrar!" but ultimately accepted that his trainer had a point. The Cosmog with the big-hatted girl had clearly been fond of his trainer for saving its life… If this "Meowy", that Nebby, and other pokémon they'd meet as they tried to get more victories liked his trainer… Well, Nero supposed he wouldn't be able to fault them for their good taste.

    And so, with all that said and done, Nero and his trainer retired to his trainer's bed for the night. Or, well, Sun did. Nero curled up on his trainer's chest, nestled in, and the Litten too settled in for a night's sleep.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Two: Festival Time
  • Threadmarks
    • Sun stared at his mother spreading her arms wide basking in the warm glow of the sunset, she looked like she was t-posing without anyone to assert her dominance over. "What a stunning sunset!" she enthused. "Alright, today's the day that I finally unpack-"

    And, just like the day before, the doorbell rang which caused the events of the evening to be set into motion. "Was that the doorbell?" Andrea Ray asked. "Go see who it is, Sun."

    "Okay, Mom," he agreed, with a strange sense of déjà vu. Stepping off the balcony, and back into the house he whistled for Nero, who was playfully roughhousing with Meowy. At least, Sun hoped it was playful, he didn't want his partner fighting with his mom's after just one day. "Come on buddy," he told the kitten. "Let's go see who came to visit!"

    "Litten lit," mewed Nero, jumping up into his arms and settling himself against his partner's shoulder, purring gently.

    Elio felt a stronger sense of déjà vu when Kukui stepped inside before he'd even opened the door. "Hey there, Sun!" the buff man greeted. "It's about time we set out for the festival, yeah! But first…"

    "But first?" Sun asked in confusion.

    "Now that you're a real pokémon trainer with your own pokémon and all," the professor explained, "I've gotta show you something. Come with me out to Route 1!"

    As he made to follow Kukui out the door, Meowy came running up, closely followed by his mom. "Have fun at the festival, Sweetie!" his mom said, kissing him on the cheek, much to his embarrassment since the professor was watching. "I'm sure you and Nero will have a great time!"

    "Thanks, Mama…" he said Mareepishly, rubbing his chin gently.

    "Meowy and I will be sure to unpack every last box here, you'll see!" she enthused, much to his and the professor's amusement.

    "Mreee!?" protested Meowy. It was clear that despite his mom's plans, her Meowth had very little interest in helping unpack.

    Sun chuckled and patted Meowy gently. "Take care of Mom for me, okay?" he asked the normal type.

    "Meowth meow," Meowy grumbled mutinously.


    "Sun!" called Kukui from a bit further up Route 1. "Hurry it up, cousin! Pretend you're a pokémon and use your Agility!"

    "Coming, Professor!" Sun shouted back, then breaking into a run and catching up to the older man at the top of the hill.

    "So, you know that wild pokémon will sometimes jump out at you in the tall grass, yeah?" he asked.

    "Yep," Sun affirmed, "it's one of the first things we teach kids back in Kanto. 'Don't go in the tall grass without a pokémon or someone that has one.'"

    "Well," Kukui said enthusiastically. "Now that you've got Nero there," he pointed to the Litten on Sun's shoulder, "you can fight wild pokémon, and…"

    The teenager beamed. "I'll be able to catch 'em, too!" he cheered.

    Kukui chuckled. "You sure will, cousin," he agreed. "Now, do you need any help doin' so?"

    Sun shook his head politely. "I'm good, Professor," he said. "I was taking a bunch of classes back in Kanto to prepare for when I could be a trainer. Or rather… I will be good, once I get my hands on some pokéballs. Can't really catch a pokémon without them."

    "Oh yeah!" Kukui face palmed. "I meant to give these to you the other night, but here they are now, cousin! Some pokéballs and potions to get you started out!"

    He put a hand out for Sun's bag and, after it was handed over, tossed in ten pokéballs and five potions before giving the boy his bag back.

    Sun's whole body was trembling with excitement. "I have my first pokémon…" he whispered, and Nero mewed from next to his feet. "I have pokéballs… I'm finally a trainer… I can't thank you and Kahuna Hala enough!"

    Kukui patted the boy on his shoulder. "Well, seeing as how you're a trainer and all now…" he mused. "Why don't you have a little adventure of your own on the way to Iki Town, yeah? Take good care of Sun, Nero!"

    "Mrar," Nero replied, as if offended it could ever be in doubt.

    The professor and Sun waved their goodbyes, and the older man went on his way. Sun however… "Let's see, let's see," he said looking through the tall grass. "Any pokémon want to come out so I can catch you?"

    "Lit, lit, ten!" mewed Nero, also calling out for wild pokémon.

    Eventually, they spotted one hopping about in the grass.

    "Piki, pek, pek, pek!" it tweeted. It was a small, avian pokémon with a red plume and otherwise black and white feathers. And was, in Sun's humble opinion, kind of cute. This would be his first catch ever.

    Sun raised his pokédex up to it, intent on analyzing it before battling it. "Pikipek, the Woodpecker Pokémon," the device chirped. "A normal and flying type. It can peck at a rate of sixteen times a second to drill holes in trees. It uses the holes for food storage and for nesting. This pokémon feeds on berries, whose leftover seeds become the ammunition for the attacks it fires off from its mouth. More data will be available upon capturing this pokémon."

    Sun turned to Nero and both of their eyes gleamed with excitement. "Alright, we're gonna catch that Pikipek!"

    "Litten lit!" Nero agreed, already shifting into a more aggressive stance.

    "Use Scratch!" Sun ordered, slashing his hand towards the wild pokémon.

    Nero rushed at the little flying type ready to pounce and rake at it with his claws. But the small bird anticipated the attack and pecked at him with its sturdy beak. "Litten!" Nero yowled in pain.

    "Pikipek!" chirped the woodpecker pokémon fiercely. Its blue eyes gleamed with a battle frenzy, and it repeated the cry in challenge.

    And Sun? Well, he'd been reaching for a potion to heal Nero, but he watched as his first partner staggered to his feet, the kitten pokémon's fur covered in leaves and dust. But the Litten was smiling.

    And if Nero was still itching for battle? Well, who was Sun to deny his buddy that? "Nero, use Ember," Sun declared, punching a fist forward.

    Nero spat an Ember-hairball at the Pikipek whose eyes grew very wide as it approached, dodging it for the most part, but getting clipped just slightly. "Pikipek!"

    "Alright," Sun muttered. "This is it… Go, pokéball!" The new trainer threw the red and white sphere at the woodpecker pokémon, praying that it worked. It collided with the little pokémon, shaking once, twice, and…


    The Pikipek considered his options from within the pokéball. The trainer he had just met, and the boy's Litten, had put up a good fight. And, in fairness to their somewhat sneaky first attack, it had been clear their goal had been to capture him from the start, not to eat or harm him. Should he entrust himself to this new trainer? Coming to a decision, he let the ball capture him. He would let the new trainer prove himself.

    No sooner had the ball captured him, did the Pikipek feel it release its hold on him, and suddenly he was flying beside his new trainer. "Pikipek!" he greeted cheerfully.

    "Hi there," his new trainer greeted warmly. "I'm Sun and this is Nero."

    "Litten lit," the Litten, which the Pikipek now knew to be called Nero, greeted respectfully.

    "Since you've joined our squad," Sun began, "we were thinking about giving you a name of your own. Is that okay?"

    The Pikipek considered this. He'd had no name of his own in the wild, but humans tended to have special names for everyone. The Litten was even called Nero, after all. And so, he nodded.

    "Awesome!" his trainer cheered. "I'll make sure it's a good one. Hm… How about… Baron? It sounds kind of like berries, which I know you like, and there was a baron known for his flying skill, which you're definitely good at."

    The Pikipek tilted his head back and forth… The name sounded fierce and imposing, so it would still be fitting as he evolved. And praise for his flying abilities, something that neither his trainer nor his new comrade Nero possessed… Yes, this was a good name! "Piki, piki, pek, pek pek!" Baron chirped in happy agreement.

    His trainer pulled out a spray bottle. "I'm glad you like it," Sun said. "Now, this might sting a little, but let me spray you with this so I can heal you, okay?"

    Baron chirped his approval and flew down onto his trainer's arm, allowing himself to be sprayed. As per his trainer's warning, it did sting a little, but as the stinging faded so too did the fatigue from his battle with Nero.

    "Okay, Nero," Sun said, after he'd finished healing Baron, "your turn."

    And then, much to Baron's amusement, after he was done spraying the fire type to full restoration, he started combing the Litten's fur to remove all the grass and leaves stuck in it after their battle. "Mrowr!" yowled the fire type in complaint, squirming in embarrassment.

    "I know it sucks, I know," Sun consoled, "but you'll feel better once they're off, so stop squirming!"

    True to Sun's word, once the fire type ceased thrashing about, their trainer quickly finished his work. "What about you, Baron?" the young man asked, glancing the Pikipek over. "Do you need a combing, or to be brushed?"

    Baron looked himself over too, but he didn't see any need for grooming right now. "Piki pek pek," he declined.

    Sun nodded. "Fair enough," he agreed. "Alright, let's make tracks for Iki Town.

    "Pikipek/Litten!" Baron and his new comrade cried in agreement.


    It didn't take long to reach the steps leading up to Iki Town; there weren't many trainers on Route 1, and most of the few that could be found were little kids playing with their pokémon who weren't interested in battle. So, while Sun had practiced working with Baron a bit, and the Pikipek had been largely responsive to his directions, they were still working on getting in synch with each other when they'd neared the steps, only to find them blocked by two bizarrely dressed strangers, both faced towards Iki Town. They were wearing what appeared to be… blue and grey space suits?

    "Measuring the aura readings here…" one said whose voice's pitch led him to believe the speaker was a woman. "The numbers appear to be a bit high. What do you think, Captain?" she asked, turning to face the other.

    "Hm? What was that?" the apparent captain asked, voice suggesting he was a fairly old man. "Did you say something? I was… Well, I was certainly not distracted by this foolish display of festivity."

    Yep, Sun thought wryly, definitely an old man.

    "So," the old man continued, "there are high aura readings in this place… Perhaps it may be the effects of that one they call the Island Kahuna." He seemed to fiddle with something on his face before turning to face the other, causing Sun to realize he was fiddling with his ridiculously huge indigo mustache.

    Sun snickered; he couldn't help it. The ridiculous space suits, the crochety grandpa talk, and now this bizarre mustache? He snickered quietly; it was such a ridiculous image.

    "But everything is so bright in Alola…" weird mustache captain mused. "Far brighter than we'd been told it would be. I find it loathsome, this awful brightness."

    The woman's hands clenched into fists. "Even though this is the light we have sought for so long?" she demanded angrily.

    "Y-Yes," weird mustache captain agreed awkwardly, "I suppose you are right… We must carry out our investigations to return light to our own world as well. Before the Blinding One can awaken…"

    "'Our own world'?" Sun wondered aloud in confusion. "'The Blinding One'?" What were these weirdos talking about?

    They turned to face him for the first time and to his shock he noted their skin was a pale blue. "You…" the woman said, staring at him. "You are not native to Alola either, are you?" She nodded, as if affirming something to herself, "You seem to have come from far away…"

    Before Sun could say… explain he was from Kanto, or ask who these strangers were, or anything, they both gave him one last searching look and walked away. He stood there for several moments, frozen in shock at what he'd just witnessed. "Mrow?" Nero asked, rubbing up between his legs, eyes begging to know if his trainer was all right.

    "I… I'm okay, buddy," Sun said shakily. "I just… don't know what to make of those two."

    Baron glared in the direction the pair had gone, seeming displeased by the distress they'd caused in his trainer. "PIKIPEK!" the Woodpecker Pokémon screeched.

    "Easy, Baron, easy," the teenage trainer soothed, sucking in a deep breath himself and taking in the comforting scent of burning torches. "They didn't seem to be doing anything bad. They just startled me is all."

    But his newly acquired pokémon still seemed very angry. "PIKI PIKI PIKIPEK!"

    "Okay, Baron, that's enough," Sun scolded, much more serious. "Get back in your pokéball."

    The bird pokémon was not pleased but he still did as his trainer instructed. However, the bird pokémon was clearly still very angry, as Baron's pokéball shook violently after he was inside it.

    "We're going to be battling my friend soon," Sun said sternly as he settled Baron's pokéball onto his belt. "If you're still in a bad mood when it's your turn, you can work out some of your anger then." The pokéball rattled once more, but Baron didn't try to escape either, so Sun considered that good enough for now.

    Making his way up the stairs with Nero at his heels, Elio took in the torches set up throughout the town. Their distinctive scent made him feel oddly nostalgic. The scent reminded him of Lavender Town, his home when he'd still lived in Kanto, when they would light fires in prayer for the spirits of departed pokémon to find peace. According to his mother, the ceremony had been held in the graveyard tower before it had been torn down and been replaced by the radio tower, but nowadays it was usually held in the middle of town and everyone in town came together to comfort those left behind in their grief.

    Sun watched with amusement as children chased pokémon throughout the town, and then gawked at what seemed to be… a really big Exeggutor?

    Holding up his pokédex to scan it, the device chirped, "Exeggutor, the Coconut Pokémon. A grass and dragon type. Because of its blazing sunlight, Alola is the best environment for this pokémon. Local people take pride in its appearance, saying this is how Exeggutor ought to look. As such, its image is carved into historical buildings and murals throughout the region. As it grew taller and taller, it outgrew its reliance on psychic powers, while within it awakened the power of the sleeping dragon."

    Sun beamed. "That's so, so cool!" the teen exclaimed. "I knew about Alolan Meowth, but from the pictures it didn't seem that different. The Exeggutor back in Kanto look nothing like the ones here."

    An elderly man standing beside the Exeggutor chuckled. "New to Alola, are you lad?" he asked in a friendly tone. "If you're this excited after just meeting one Alolan Form, just wait until you get out into the region a bit more. Are you a tourist?"

    "No, sir," the teen explained politely, "I just moved to the region a few days ago with my mother."

    "Well then, welcome, my boy!" he said, clapping Sun on the shoulder. "I hope you enjoy the festival!"

    "Thank you, sir," the teen said, giving the elderly man a friendly smile before whistling for Nero and making their way further into town.

    He eventually made his way to Hala, who inclined his head in greeting. "Good of you to come, child," Hala said.

    "Thank you for inviting me, sir," Sun replied, shaking the Kahuna's hand.

    "The Alola region is made up of our four islands," Hala said, and while Sun didn't know where he was going with this, he let him proceed figuring there was a point. "And each island has its own guardian pokémon."

    Sun nodded in understanding. "A tapu for each island?" he asked.

    "Exactly!" Hala confirmed, pleased by how quickly Sun had picked up on what he was saying. "Our festival today is to express our thanks to these great pokémon guardian deities for always remaining by our sides."

    Sun smiled. "I always loved festivals back in Kanto. It's wonderful to see people and pokémon gathered together and happy."

    Hala chuckled. "Well, we may call it a festival, but it's just this little thing you see here. There may not be many of us, but at least every last one of us goes all out!"

    Walking together for the platform at the top of the town, they stopped after they ran into Hau. "Ho!" Sun's new friend cheered. "Howzit, Sun?"

    Deciding to set aside his unease with the strangers he'd met earlier aside for the time being, Sun gave him a wide grin. "Pretty good!" he replied. "Been training with Nero and a new friend. You'll meet him when we battle later. How are you?"

    Hau laughed, though not unkindly. "Sun, 'howzit' is another way to greet people around here. Like 'hello' or 'alola'."

    Sun flushed in embarrassment. "Oh… uh… sorry, man," he said, very Mareepish.

    But Hau just smiled, assuring Sun it wasn't a big deal. "But to answer your question," he said. "I thought you'd never make it! Me and Bowtie have been waiting for ages!"

    "Hoo!" the Rowlet agreed.

    "Waiting for what?" Sun asked curiously, Nero mewing his agreement.

    "Hold on…" Hau said, confused. "Didn't anyone explain to you about tonight?!"

    Sun shook his head. "Your grandfather asked me to join you all for the festival, but nothing specific."

    "Oh yeah," a familiar voice called from behind them, "right on time!"

    Hau and Sun turned around and sure enough there was Professor Kukui, with Lillie close behind him.

    "But to what, exactly?" Lillie asked, tilting her oversized hat up so that she could see better. Sun gave her a shy smile.

    "Pew?!" cried Nebby from within her bag, causing it to shake rapidly in its excited curiosity.

    "A full-powered festival for pokémon battling!" Kukui explained enthusiastically. "We battle in the name of Tapu Koko, pitting our best moves against one another in friendly competition to please our guardian. Woo!"

    Lillie's mouth widened in surprise. "So, you two will be taking part in the battle?" she asked Sun and Hau.

    "Apparently," Sun replied, trying his best to seem calm, but the way his eyes gleamed, and that his body trembled betrayed his excitement.

    Lillie sighed. "I don't like seeing pokémon fight one another, since they so often end up getting hurt…" she said, but then she gave Sun a shy smile. "But it seems like this is an important event, so I'll be sure to watch you both."

    Sun felt his heart flutter, "Th-Thanks, Lillie," he said, staring at the ground.

    Professor Kukui chuckled quietly at the pair.


    Nero stared up at his trainer in confusion. Why was his trainer turning red? Was he evolving into a fire type?

    "Mrow?" Nero asked, nuzzling his trainer.

    Sun opened his mouth to say something, but then Kahuna Hala, who had cared for him before Sun had entered his life, spoke up, "Your pokémon have fought for you, so show them the same care in return, Elio. Allow me to heal them for you this time."

    Nero purred as a pulse of healing aura washed over him. He had been in perfectly fine shape beforehand, but now he was at 110%! Completely and utterly ready to battle!

    "Hau, Sun, are you both ready for this battle?" Kahuna Hala asked.

    "I'm so excited for this battle that I think I might seriously explode!" Hau cheered. Bowtie hooted his agreement.

    "MRAR!" Nero roared his approval.

    Sun grinned. "Well," he said, whole body twitching with excitement, "if all my buds are all raring to go, I can't exactly disappoint 'em, can I? LET'S DO THIS!"

    "Then let's begin!" declared Hala, leading them all to the platform where Nero had first met Sun.

    Sun and Hau took their places on opposite sides of the platform as Hala opened the ceremony. "For all life on our islands…" he began gravely amidst the crackling of a bonfire. "And for those who undertake the Island Challenge with joy in their hearts… we pray for your protection… for them and all Melemele. May this pokémon battle be an offering to our island's deity, Tapu Koko! Before you stands Hau, grandson to the kahuna."

    Hau calmly made his way onto the platform with a solemn smile on his face.

    "Before him stands Elio, one who has met with Tapu Koko."

    Amidst calls of disbelief and amusement, Sun and Nero made their way onto the platform.

    "Nero!" his trainer's mother called. "Take care of my little sun!"

    "Mama…" his trainer groaned in embarrassment, amidst the chuckles of several in the audience.

    "Sun," Hau called, getting the boy's attention on him, his easy going smile relaxing Nero's trainer somewhat. "As long as we both have a good time, then I think we can call it a great battle, eh?"

    Sun smiled. "Well, you're not wrong," he replied, nodding at Nero to step forward.

    "Elio! Hau!" Kahuna Hala declared. "Bring forth the power of your pokémon!"

    And just like that… the battle began.

    "Let's do this, Nero!" Sun declared.

    "Mrar!" Nero confirmed stepping to the center of the platform.

    "Come on out, Puka!" Hau shouted, tossing a pokéball in the air and releasing a Pichu.

    "Pichu!" he cried happily, stepping in opposite Nero.

    "Nero, use Ember!" shouted Sun, chopping his hand towards Puka.

    Nero launched a fireball at the electric mouse intent on claiming victory. He would show everyone that they were no match for the awesomeness of Nero!

    "Puka, dodge it, quick!" Hau shouted.

    Unfortunately for Nero, and fortunately for Puka, the little mouse was much faster on his feet than the cat despite being smaller.

    "Now, use Thundershock!" Hau ordered.

    "Pi… Pi… chuuuuu!" squeaked the little electric type unleashing a burst of electricity towards Nero.

    "Dodge left, Nero!" encouraged Sun, and while the Litten did as instructed, it wasn't quite quick enough and the electricity struck Nero, staggering him.

    "Lit-ten," groaned the fire feline, stepping back slightly as the jolts flowed through him.

    Strangely, so did Puka despite not taking a hit. "Pichuuu…" he whined falling back.

    Nero was confused, but fortunately his trainer understood, the young man's eyes widening in realization. "Right, Pichu haven't mastered their electric abilities yet, so when they use them, they also shock themselves. Nero use Ember in a circle around Puka while he's stunned!"

    "Mrar!" Litten roared in agreement rapidly spitting fire as Hau begged his Pichu to get out of there.

    Hau looked at Sun in surprise. "How… How did you know that?"

    Sun grinned at his friend. "I've been waiting to become a trainer my entire life! I don't know a lot about pokémon from Alola, but ones that also live in Kanto? Ohhh yeah, I know all about 'em. Now… Nero, use Ember!"

    Cut off by the fire and staggered by his own attack there was no room left for Puka to escape. He took Nero's attack head on, knocking the baby pokémon out.

    Hau pulled out Puka's pokéball recalling the electric type. "You did good Puka," he whispered, "take a rest now, 'kay?"

    "Hau," called Sun, "that was awesome man! Your Pichu is super fast!"

    Their opponent gave them a smile. "Thanks," he replied, "Nero did really well."

    Nero roared his agreement. Yes! Acknowledge the awesomeness of Nero!

    Sun crouched down to scratch him on the head. "He sure did." Nero leaned into the affection, purring contentedly.

    Hau tossed another pokéball into the air, letting Bowtie loose in the air and Nero shifted from his affectionate mode back into an aggressive stance, but Sun shook his head. "Not this time, Nero," he said gently, grabbing Baron's rattling pokéball off his belt. "It's Baron's turn now.

    Nero frowned but stepped back.

    "Let's do this, Baron!" Sun declared letting his Pikipek loose.

    "PIKIPEK!" Baron, clearly still angry judging by the glare in his eyes, screeched aggressively, taking his place in the air above the battlefield.

    Hau looked up and grinned. "So that's your new pokémon, huh?" he asked. "Caught yourself a Pikipek!"

    Sun nodded. "We haven't battled together much yet, but let's give it our best, yeah?"

    Hau grinned. "Alright, Bowtie, let's start this off with Tackle!"

    Bowtie gave a "Row!" and rushed through the air towards Baron.

    "Baron, dodge the attack!" called Sun, but Baron didn't listen.

    "Piki!" he declared lashing out at Bowtie with his gleaming beak.

    His trainer groaned, and Nero hissed, the newest member of their crew wasn't doing a great job of listening. He paid for it though, when he took the Tackle straight on and didn't even manage to hit Bowtie.

    "Pikipek!" Baron cried out, struggling to shake off the hit.

    "Alright, Bowtie! Use Tackle one more time!" shouted Hau.

    "Baron," called out his trainer, "are you okay?"

    "Pikipek!" Baron declared, nodding eagerly.

    "Okay then," Sun said, "if we're gonna win we have to be a team. Your moves and my direction can make an awesome combination. If you'll listen to me, we can do this together. Okay? Okay! So dodge right now!"

    The Pikipek did as told and tried to dodge out of the way but was still clipped slightly by the Rowlet.

    "Litten lit!" Nero called up to his comrade encouragingly.

    "Okay, Baron, now use Peck to strike back!" Sun declared.

    "Piki…" Baron's beak began glowing white and lengthening slightly.

    "You use Peck too, Bowtie, and hold him off!"

    The two flying types began jousting at each other with their beaks, jabbing back and forth letting loose excited battle cries.

    Unfortunately, Baron's earlier over-aggressiveness was catching up with him now, because Bowtie had essentially gotten a free hit and the smaller Pikipek was starting to tire. "Pik… i… pek…" he huffed, falling out of the air and into the waiting arms of Sun who had rushed forward to catch him.

    "Hey buddy," Sun said. "You need to take a break now, okay?"

    "Pikipek!" protested Baron, as Nero stepped forward.

    "You're too hurt to fight," their trainer told the Pikipek gently. "You'll have more chances to battle in the future, I promise, but rest for now."

    "Mrowr," Nero reproached his comrade gently, because he knew that this wouldn't be happening if Baron had just listened to their trainer in the first place.

    "Piki pek piki pek pek," Baron agreed reluctantly, nuzzling their trainer in apology.

    But Sun just smiled. "Hey buddy, it's okay," he promised. "We'll figure out how to work together better going forward. Now, Baron, return." Baron returned to the safety of the pokéball. "Nero, you're up!"

    Nero spat a fire hairball at the ground and stepped into battle. This was no longer just a fight to prove the awesomeness of Nero. Now, he had to prove the awesomeness of their entire crew since Baron had needed to bow out.

    "Sorry about the hold up," Sun told everyone, but his gaze was purely focused on Hau and Bowtie. "Let's get back to the battle!"

    Hau grinned. "No problem!" he declared. "Bowtie, use Peck again!"

    Nero pawed at the ground, waiting for his rival to come into range for an Ember, but Sun called, "Nero, jump up on top of Bowtie and use Scratch!"

    Hau was confused, and so was Nero, but Nero responded more readily. He pounced on Bowtie and scratched at him with gleaming claws. "LITTEN!" he cheered, digging into his opponent and sending him down onto the platform.

    Hau's eyes widened in disbelief as he understood Sun's plan. "Bowtie, get out of there!" But, just like Baron before him, Bowtie was too worn out to keep flying. Not too tired to fight, not yet, but too tired to fight and stay airborne. So, Hau changed his methods. "Bowtie, use Tackle at close range!"

    "Nero, get out of there!" Sun shouted anxiously, but it was no good. Being atop Bowtie as the attack came made dodging the little owl's Tackle essentially impossible.

    "Lit… ten…" Nero groaned, trying to find his footing, but… well… as tired as he was something in him felt like it was sparking, and he let a fierce cry as a primal fire roared back to life inside him. "MRAR!"

    "Of course…" Sun whispered. "Nero's getting worn out, so Blaze has activated! Okay partner let's wrap this up! Use Ember!"

    Nero spat the biggest Ember he'd ever fired at Bowtie, the fire attack amplified by Blaze's boost, and… well, Bowtie was already worn down from fighting with Baron. As the attack hit home, Nero knew… It was their win!

    "Hoo-ee!" called someone from the audience as Hau and Sun stepped forward to recall their pokémon and shake hands. "Another great battle this year!"

    "I bet Tapu Koko liked it, too," agreed another.

    "Phew…" Hau said with a tired smile. "That was awesome, Sun!"

    "Thanks, buddy," Sun replied. "It was a lot of fun battling you, right, Nero?"

    "Mrar!" the Litten cried in agreement with his trainer. They'd had a fun battle, and Nero had defended their awesomeness!

    "Row!" Bowtie hooted in agreement catching Sun's attention.

    Sun squatted down, picking up Hau's partner pokémon. He dusted ash from the owl pokémon's feathers brushing it gently. "You doing okay Bowtie? We're all still friends, right?"

    The Rowlet blinked as owls are known to do, then smiled at the kind pokémon trainer. "Row, row," it answered with a nod, then flew from Sun's hands back to Hau, perching on his shoulder.

    "That was a really great battle!" Hau enthused. "I had a blast fighting you!"

    "We're fighting again sometime," Sun told him eagerly. Nero mewed his agreement and Baron's pokéball rattled in seeming agreement.

    "It was a good battle," Kahuna Hala agreed proudly. "With this, even Tapu Koko…"

    "Ko-ko-kooo!" crowed Tapu Koko from somewhere out of sight.

    "Ho!" Hala laughed. "You heard it yourselves! Tapu Koko's song of approval!" The heavy-set man made his way to Nero's trainer who turned from Hau to face him. "Oh, I nearly forgot!" Hala exclaimed. "I think it is time you take this, Sun." He slid a black bracelet seemingly made of stone over the teen's wrist.

    "What… What is it?" Sun asked. Nero sniffed at it.

    "Child that is your Z-Ring, a mysterious armband that can draw out the power that lies deep within pokémon…" Hala explained. "It can bring forth their Z-Power!"

    His trainer just seemed confused, but Nero was excited. He didn't understand quite what it meant but he understood the promise of power well enough!

    "We kahunas can make them by refining special stones; like the Sparkling Stone that you received from Tapu Koko," Hala continued to explain. "Although until you collect Z-Crystals during your Island Challenge, you will not be able to draw out the Z-Power of your pokémon."

    Sun's confusion still hadn't abated. "So… I can't use this right now?" he asked uncertainly.

    Hala nodded. "To give it to you so suddenly…" he mused. "It seems Tapu Koko took quite a liking to you… or who knows… perhaps it has a mission for you."

    "In other words," Kukui cut in, "it's time for you to get out there and start your Island Challenge! If you visit every island, maybe you'll figure out what that mission is."

    "What is the Island Challenge?" Sun asked. "You guys have been mentioning it all night, but I don't know what it is."

    "Four islands!" the professor explained, holding up four fingers. "You'll travel to each of the four islands here in the Alola Region. The Island Challenge is about aiming to become the strongest trainer – the Island Challenge Champion! Woo!"

    Nero's trainer seemed to have frozen in euphoria, a humongous smile etched upon his face. And while he was still frozen, Hau said, "Sounds great, right? I can't wait to have a real adventure!"

    "An adventure…" Sun whispered, awed. "Through the whole region… The Island Challenge…"

    Everyone got a warm chuckle at the awe in Sun's tone. "I'll explain more about the Island Challenge tomorrow!" Kukui promised. "Right now, you and your friends should enjoy the festival together."


    Sun agreed that this was a perfect idea and asked Hau and Lillie to join him for some food and games. Hau joined in eagerly enough, and, while initially reluctant, Lillie eventually caved to both boy's pleas. For someone who wasn't a trainer, she sure had a good throwing arm, easily beating both boys at cornhole, and walking away with a Clefairy Doll which she tucked in her bag to keep Nebby company.

    When they reached the area where food was served, Hau introduced Sun to pokébeans, a special type of bean that only grew in Alola, which all pokémon loved. With Hau's help, Sun carefully picked out the beans that were appropriate for his duo.

    Baron got chuckles from all three teens when, having eaten through his share far too rapidly, swiped one of Nero's only to instantly spit it out since the ones suitable for a fire type were far too spicy for a normal and flying type.

    Sun slipped some beans suitable for a psychic type in Lillie's bag when no one else was looking, figuring Nebby shouldn't miss out on the fun and yummy grub just because it had to stay hidden, much to the Cosmog's joy.


    As the stars further spread out into the sky, the festival died down and Lillie and Sun bade farewell to Hau and the kahuna. As they made their way down to the lower part of Iki Town Lillie said, "Tapu Koko is amazing, isn't it? I hope I can meet it again someday and thank it for saving Nebby…"

    "Pew!" Nebby cried from her bag in agreement, causing it to thrash about wildly.

    "Me, too!" Sun agreed easily, rubbing his Z-Ring.

    "It saved you as well, didn't it?" Lillie asked. "And left you with that Sparkling Stone…"

    "Yep," Sun agreed, staring at the Z-Ring that had been forged from it.

    "Even though you're a stranger to this place," Lillie pointed out. Then she flinched, realizing that could've been taken as an insult.

    "It doesn't make sense to me either," Sun admitted easily, either missing her flinch or choosing to ignore it, "but if the kahuna is right, and Tapu Koko has some mission for me, well, I'll have to figure it out, won't I?"

    Kukui walked up waving. "Suppose it's time we get you kids home, yeah?"

    Lillie let out a tired sigh. "Then I suppose this is good-bye…"

    "Good night, Lillie," Sun said. "Don't let Nebby run off."

    She gave him a gentle smile and they parted ways for the night.


    Sun made it home to find his mother playing with her Meowth.

    "Oh, Sun!" she cried. "You're back already? I thought you'd want to stay in Iki Town longer…"

    "I would've," he replied, "but most of my new friends had to get back home themselves, so I headed home, too."

    "Your battle was great!" his mother praised. "Ooh, I was just captivated to see my boy fighting in such perfect synch with his pokémon!"

    Baron's pokéball shook, emanating a guilty feeling. "Okay," she amended with a laugh, "in perfect synch with Nero, at least."

    "We'll get there," Sun promised Baron, gripping his Pikipek's pokéball gently.

    "Maybe it would be a good idea for you to try that Island Challenge thing…" his mother mused with knowing eyes. "It's something you can only do in Alola, right?"

    "There's no way I wouldn't!" Sun promised.

    "But," his mother said with amusement, "right now I've got a date with my bed. I danced my feet off at that festival! Night-night, sweetie. You get some sleep, too!"

    "Good night, Mama," Sun said, and they split off to head to bed.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • sonofthetrigod said:
    "Alright, today's the day that I finally unpack-"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    You can't unpack. Someone would have to switch out a few sprites on your current map and it's easier to just leave it the same for the entire game.
    sonofthetrigod said:
    "Meowy and I will be sure to unpack every last box here, you'll see!" she enthused
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    No! Will nobody think of the budget? With that money, we could make an extra streetlamp in the starting town or mess with that bit of long grass in the bottom left corner that somehow looks a little odd.
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter Three: Class is in Session
  • Threadmarks
    • "What beautiful weather!" his mother said the next morning, once again relaxing on the balcony. "I wonder what today will bring us?" And, furthering Sun's growing sense of déjà vu, for the third day in a row the doorbell rang.

    "A visitor!" Sun said. "If it's Kukui, he'll probably let himself in without even waiting for us to open the door!"

    His mother laughed and gently pushed him towards the door to see who it was.

    Discovering there wasn't a buff professor waiting for him inside, Sun stepped outside into the morning sun. And standing there, oversized hat, pretty dress, Nebby-holding bag, and all, was Lillie.

    "Good morning, Lillie!" Sun greeted cheerfully. "Here to pick me up?"

    "Oh. Um… The professor said," Lillie said awkwardly, before giving a nigh on perfect impression of Kukui. "'Hey there, Lillie! Bring me that great new trainer. Woo!'"

    Sun couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "Oh… Oh man, that was great, hahaha," he chortled, gripping his sides.

    The white clad girl smiled at him. "So, I'm here to show you the way to his lab, if you'll come with me. It's, um…" She pointed south from Sun's house. "It's this way."

    Sun nodded and was making to release Nero and Baron from their pokéballs so they could follow her down to the professor's lab when he heard the front door open. "Sun!" his mom called.

    "Did you need something, Mom?" he asked politely, though he really wanted to get a move on already and shot an apologetic look at Lillie.

    "Here," his mother said, pressing a few bills into his palm. "A little pocket money for you. Don't go wasting it on anything too silly!"

    "Thanks, Mama," he said, cheeks warm. His mother really was too nice.

    Unfortunately, it was at this moment that his mother took notice of Lillie. "Oh, well done Sun," she said. "You're already making friends, aren't you? And what a cute friend you've found!"

    "Mom, stop!" Sun groaned, blushing red in embarrassment. She wasn't wrong, Sun did think Lillie was cute, very much so. But didn't his mom know you didn't say that to people you'd just met!?

    "I knew Alola would be a great place for us," the Ray matriarch said, as if her son hadn't even spoken. "We just keep meeting wonderful people here!"

    At this point, Lillie was blushing as much as Sun, her paleness making it that much more obvious. "M-Me?" she asked, glowing red. "W-Well, thank you… My name is Lillie, it's very nice to meet you, Mrs.…?"

    "Ray," Sun's mom said warmly, "but you can just think of me as Sun's Mom." She turned to her very flustered and still blushing son. "Looks like it's finally your time to shine, Sweetie! We always knew you would, it's why we named you Elio, after all. Enjoy yourself out there with Nero and Baron. And don't be gone too long!"

    "I'll be back before you know it," Sun promised.

    His mother gave him a hug, gave Lillie one last smile, and stepped back into their new house.


    Lillie stared towards the house, where Sun's mother had gone. "You…" she began. "You have a very nice mother, don't you?"

    Sun smiled widely, fondness and exasperation mixed together in his expression. "Yeah," he agreed, "I sure do."

    Lillie tried not to, but she felt a pang of envy at how easily he could say that. Trying to tamp it down, she asked, "And your father?"

    Sun's smile instantly shrank, and Lillie felt awful. "Dad works in Galar at the moment," her friend explained, his tone sad, "we all keep in touch as best we can, but my dad spends most of his time away from Mom and me because he's busy with work."

    "O-Oh," she stuttered, trying to recover from her faux pas. "U-Um… Wh-What do your parents do?"

    Sun's smile regained a bit of its previous size. "Well Mom was a professional battler for a long time," he explained. "She's kinda famous back in Kanto."

    Lillie smiled. "She was famous, huh?"

    "Mmhm," Sun affirmed proudly, "they called her 'the Scratch Cat Girl,' because she was a Meowth specialist. She was never Indigo League Champion, but she placed highly in a lot of local tournaments, and earned all eight Kanto gym badges… All while using a full team of Meowth… Mama's amazing."

    Lillie was awed. As cute as Meowth was, it wasn't a particularly powerful species of pokémon, so to be recognized as a powerful trainer using only Meowth was indeed, amazing.

    "Wait," she said, "you referred to all that in the past tense. What did your mother do before you moved? She didn't battle anymore?"

    Sun shook his head, though his smile didn't falter. If anything, it seemed to still be growing. "When I was born," he started, "Mama wasn't able to travel as much, and it was around then Dad started having to work overseas. At first, I would stay at home with my grandparents when Mom hit up a tournament or whatever but when I was eight, they built a radio tower where we lived. At first, Mama was only on as a guest interviewee, she was a bit famous in all of Kanto, but locally she was a celebrity, and they found she was a natural radio personality, so they offered her a job as a DJ." Sun laughed. "Can you imagine? My mom selecting songs to play all throughout Kanto?"

    Lillie chuckled. "And your father?" she asked.

    Sun's head tilted in thought, but he didn't seem dismayed by the question, rather that he's pondering exactly how to answer her. "You know how you're the professor's assistant?" he offered.

    Lillie nodded. "It's nothing truly official," she explained, "but it's the least I can do since he lets me stay with him."

    "No offense intended, but I kind of figured. You see," Sun explained, "my dad is a member of the Pokémon Global Research Organization. He's what amounts to a certified Professor's Aide."

    "But isn't there a professor in Kanto?" Lillie asked in confusion.

    Sun nodded. "Professor Samuel Oak, to be precise," he confirmed. "Unfortunately, since my dad is an employee of the Pokémon Global Research Organization, and not any one professor, he has to go where he's assigned. He's not even native to Kanto, actually, he was just serving his apprenticeship with Professor Oak when he met my mom."

    "Well," Lillie said thoughtfully, "Professor Kukui is always looking for help with his research. Maybe he could see if we could get your father transferred to Alola."

    The look of pure gratitude Sun gave her in that moment would be something she would be unable to forget for the rest of her life. "Th-That… That would be amazing," he choked out, eyes misty, but tone joyous. "I… I know you can't promise anything, but… But would you talk to the professor about it with me? If I could have my family together again, maybe even for a long time…" His expression grew wistful. "Well, that would make me very happy."

    The pokéballs at his belt shook, though not violently, it was clear that the pokémon inside wanted to comfort their trainer.

    Lillie gave him a gentle smile, but it felt bittersweet. He still had that option while her father was lost and her mother had lost her mind, but well, maybe she could help reunite one family. "I'd be glad to, Sun." But then, she realized how long they'd been standing there talking and gasped. "We should get going. I'll show you the way to the Pokémon Research Lab."

    She led him down to a grassy field. "You can only reach the professor's lab by treading through the tall grass here. He says he can research moves better when he is so surrounded by pokémon," she explained. "Since I'm not a trainer, though, I have to rely on using repels all the time."

    Sun nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense, repels do a pretty good of warding pokémon off."

    "And keeping them from attacking," Lillie agreed. "A-And about Nebby… Oh, I mean… Cosmog."

    "Hey," Sun said gently, "there's nothing wrong with calling a pokémon by the name you gave it. I mean we all call my two by the names I gave them, right?"

    Lillie smiled gratefully. "Well, Nebby's species, Cosmog seems to be a very rare pokémon," she explained. "It came from far, far away."

    "Pew!" Nebby chirped in agreement from her bag.

    "Nebby seems to have a very strange power," Lillie continued, "and it used that power to save me once when I was in danger."

    Sun crouched down and faced the bag as if to talk to Nebby. "Thanks then, little one," he whispered. "It's thanks to you I got to meet Lillie in the first place!" Lillie felt herself blush, just a little, at his words.

    "Pew pew!" Nebby cried from within the bag.

    Sun stood back up and looked to Lillie. "Sorry," he apologized, "you were saying?"

    "Oh yes," she mumbled, before speaking more clearly, "Some… other people want to use Nebby for its power." She liked Sun, and she felt like she'd be able to trust him, but she wasn't ready to explain about her mother or the darker secrets of the Aether Foundation, not yet. "That's why only the professor and Kahuna Hala and other people I can trust know about it… Can you keep a secret? Can you not tell anyone else about Nebby, or what happened on that bridge, please?"

    Sun gave her a reassuring smile. "I won't tell anyone," he promised, and Lillie believed him. He glanced down at his pokéballs. "That goes for you guys too, okay?" he said with a gentle grin. "No drawing any more attention to Nebby than absolutely necessary."

    "Thank you," she said and led him further to the professor's lab.


    Sun is definitely a trainer after the professor's own heart, she reflected wryly as she watched him eagerly battle yet another trainer on the path to the professor's lab. Back when she'd lived at Aether, she'd always seen battling as a bad thing, because it always seemed to get pokémon hurt, and she hated seeing living things, people and pokémon alike, in pain. But seeing Sun battle, seeing how his pokémon threw their everything into the match with the same glee as him, was starting to make her wonder if she'd jumped to conclusions. It wasn't just his pokémon that he brought out the excitement in, it seemed to extend to their opponents as well. Even Hau had seemed more fired up than normal last night, and if there was one thing that could be said for Hau, it was that he was always raring to go.

    "Alright Nero," Sun called, oblivious to her reflections, "finish off that Wingull with Scratch!"

    "Litten!" affirmed the little fire type, claws gleaming as he dealt the finishing blow.

    "That was a fun battle," Sun told the girl who had challenged him, "here's a potion for your Wingull, so make sure to heal her up!"

    "Sun, over here!" Lillie called waving, seeing he looked confused about where to go now.

    Whistling for Nero to follow, Sun dashed over to her. "Sorry about the hold-up, Lillie," Sun said Mareepishly. "We just can't pass up a battle, right buddy?" Nero mewed his agreement.

    They approached the lab, only to hear the rambunctious sounds of battle coming out of it. "OH YEAH, ROCKRUFF!" Professor Kukui shouted from inside the lab. "GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT! MY BODY IS READY! WOO!"

    "Ahh…" Lillie moaned miserably. "There they go again…"

    "Is that…" Sun began awkwardly, "normal?"

    "Yes," Lillie said with a nod. "The Pokémon Research Lab has its own unique charm, as I think you'll come to agree."

    Sun nodded, but he still seemed a bit bewildered. "I suppose…"

    "I've…" Lillie said hesitantly, "I've actually been, um, imposing on the professor here for the past three months. I'm not much of an assistant, and certainly not an official aide like your father, but it's the least I can do to pay him back for letting me stay." She sighed and turned towards the lab, keeping the last thought to herself, Maybe I'd be more help if I were a real pokémon trainer, too…

    "Lillie, if you need any help-" Sun began before being cut off.

    "RAAAA-OOOOOOHHH! RAFF RUFF!" cried Rockruff aggressively from within the lab, further sounds making it clear it was attacking the professor as he'd instructed.

    "The professor…" Lillie said awkwardly, turning back to Sun. "He never stops researching moves. Not even… inside the lab itself. Looks like we'll have to patch the roof, again. And I had just washed his lab coat and finally gotten it clean, too. Now it'll be in shreds… And I'm no good at mending clothes… so he'll just have to buy another new one…"

    She expected dismay on Sun's face, perhaps even second thoughts about the idea of his father working for Professor Kukui, now that he'd gotten an idea of what he was like as a researcher. But, to her shock, Sun looked even more excited than before now that his confusion was lifted. "My dad would love this guy," he whispered, seemingly to himself.

    "Be that as it may," Lillie said in amusement. "We should probably go in before he does any more damage…" And with that, the pair headed into the lab.


    Sun stepped into the lab just after Lillie, and noticed with amusement that Lillie had been correct, the professor's lab coat had indeed been reduced to tatters. With a sigh, Lillie grabbed a broom and began sweeping up the aftermath of the battle. The professor, however, was laughing cheerily with the Rockruff he'd just instructed to attack him. "Hey there, Sun!" he called, noticing the pair step in. "Thanks for getting him for me, Lillie! Rockruff's moves were just so stylin', and I was making good progress with my research."

    "Of course," she agreed easily. "Any way I can be of help, I am supposed to be your assistant, right? And speaking of assistants, I think Sun has something he'd like to discuss with you," she suggested helpfully. She glanced meaningfully and tilted her head toward the nervous trainer.

    "What's up, cousin?" Kukui asked, looking back to Sun. "Seems like you've got something on your mind."

    "Well, you see Professor," Sun began, twitching a little from nerves, "I was wondering if you could help me out with something." And for the second time that morning, Sun launched into an explanation of the situation with his father, noting the way Kukui's brows furrowed in thought.

    "Hmm…" the professor mused thoughtfully. "That does sound like a complicated situation, yeah." And Sun's heart sank. "But," Professor Kukui continued, "my lab is relatively new and I could use some more help. Especially since Lillie will be setting out soon, yeah?"

    If Lillie was surprised or bothered by what the professor had said, she didn't show it. So, Sun just nodded in acceptance. "I understand it isn't all up to you," he said politely, "but if you can pull something off, I'd be eternally grateful."

    "No problem, cousin," Kukui said easily. "I'll keep you posted, you and that mother of yours. But enough of the serious stuff, yeah? Let's move on to something more fun!"

    Lillie gave Sun a reassuring smile, so he nodded his assent. "Sounds good, Professor!"

    "So, Sun, lemme see your pokédex for a sec, yeah?" Kukui asked stretching out a hand for the device.

    "No problem," Sun said, handing it over and Kukui went to work, fiddling with it.

    "I'm curious," the professor asked still tinkering with the pokédex, "what do you think of the lab? Not bad, right?"

    "Nope, it looks great," Sun replied earnestly, taking in the pokémon whom the professor allowed to freely roam about and the aquarium in the back. He was certain his dad would love the chance to work here. Between Kukui's friendly nature and enthusiasm for research, the lovely set up of the lab, and the fact it was a two-minute walk from their family's home? His dad would probably be crying tears of joy at how perfect it was.

    "But that's not why I called you here, eh?" Professor Kukui said with a sly grin. "Here! It finally arrived!"

    "'It'?" Sun asked in confusion.

    "Lillie," the professor said, turning to his assistant, "don't make me do all the talking, yeah? See there's this pokémon in your pokédex called a Rotom, Sun."

    "Really," Sun asked in surprise, "a Rotom?" He'd heard of that species of pokémon before, but they were supposed to be really rare, and he hadn't studied them much since they weren't native to Kanto.

    "Oh," Lillie said with a smile. "Yes, I can tell you about Rotom. It's a peculiar pokémon, with a body made up of a substance similar to electricity, because of that it can take up residence in certain types of machines."

    "Yeah, buddy!" Professor Kukui agreed enthusiastically. "And to put that crazy skill of Rotom's to work… Well, that pokédex of yours is the next generation of pokédexes, but they're only complete once Rotom has gone into this body specially developed for it!"

    "That's amazing," Sun said eagerly, staring entranced at his pokédex.

    "It's a whole new way for people and pokémon to communicate," Lillie explained.

    "And," Professor Kukui pointed out, "there's only a few of these beauties out in the world so far! And now if I power up your pokédex with the parts I just got in…" There were a few clicks and beeps and a Rotom zipped out of Sun's pokédex.

    "Kzzzt!" it exclaimed, clearly startled.

    "Whoa…" Sun breathed.

    "Hey now!" Kukui greeted the electric ghost. "Sorry 'bout that, Rotom. Guess I surprised you?"

    "Zzzt?" the Rotom asked, taking in the unfamiliar people.

    "Rotom!" called the professor, bringing its attention back to him. "Here buddy, I powered up your favorite 'dex! Give Sun here a Helping Hand, yeah?"

    "Kzzzttt!" it cried swooping into the pokédex.

    No sooner had it inhabited the pokédex than it floated over to Sun, "Uh, hey there!" Rotom greeted in the mechanical voice previously used by the pokédex when it was giving information. "P-Pleazure to meet you! I'm not nervouz or anything, okay?"

    "See, Sun?" Kukui said with a grin. "Now Rotom can talk right to you! From what I can tell, it looks like Rotom has taken a liking to you, yeah!"

    "Nice to meet you, Rotom!" Sun said, smiling at his new friend.

    The Rotom-Pokédex floated back and forth in the approximation of a nod. "You too," it chirped. "But call me Dexter, okay?"

    "Dexter it is!" Sun cheered.

    "But Sun having a Rotom-Pokédex will help how exactly?" Lillie asked the professor curiously.

    "Sun hasn't been here in Alola too long yet," Kukui explained. "So, I decided to give him this special Rotom-Pokédex to help him navigate around.

    "Thank you very much," Sun said, as much to the Rotom-Pokédex as the professor.

    Kukui nodded. "You can see where you're headed just by looking at Rotom," he explained, "and if you give it a little tap, you can even check out the map."

    The door opened and in stepped Hau. "A-lol-a!" he greeted. "The salty breeze sang to me and brought me here to you!"

    "Good morning, buddy!" Sun greeted, bumping fists with his rival.

    Nero and Bowtie greeted each other, and began running about the lab, taking playful swipes at each other.

    Hau looked about the lab, taking in everything before rushing to the back of the lab. "Is that an empty loft?!" he shouted. "That's awesome!"

    Faster than Sun had ever seen her move, Lillie dashed in front of Hau, blocking his path. "No, it's not!" she shouted. "It's private!" Perhaps realizing she'd overreacted a bit, her voice grew softer. "The professor has been kind enough to let me use it…"

    Kukui clapped her on the shoulder gently, but Sun noted a slight flinch. "If you see a person or a pokémon who needs help, you just help them," he said easily. "Right, Sun? Hau?"

    Hau nodded and he and Sun voiced their agreement, "Absolutely."

    "And that's why I'm letting Lillie stay up there in the loft," the professor said. "Besides," he added with a gentle smile, "with all she's been doin' as my assistant, she's been huge help to me, yeah. And the pokémon in the lab just love her." Lillie colored.

    "Anyway Sun, back to business. I'm leaving this Rotom-Pokédex in your hands! Dexter, you look after Sun, yeah?"

    "Yezz, zzir!" Dexter said, from where it was floating next to Sun.

    "So that's the Rotom-Pokédex, eh?" Hau mused. "It's kinda cute."

    "Th-Thankz," Dexter stuttered.

    "Alright, Sun, there are some important things you need to know about the Island Challenge," Kukui said, turning somewhat more serious.

    Sun nodded, lips twitching towards a grin. "I'm all ears," the teen said.

    "The Island Challenge is your chance to become the strongest trainer around," Kukui explained, "the Island Challenge Champion. Woo! It's a great adventure for you and your pokémon to go on together!"

    "There are four main islands that make up Alola, and a kahuna for each one of them," Lillie explained. "If you wish to be recognized by the kahunas as worthy, it's said you must clear seven trials."

    "I want you and Nero to go out there and give it a shot, Sun!" Kukui explained excitedly. "You were able to fully use your pokémon's moves in your very first battle, so I think you must have a talent for drawing out your pokémon's strengths, yeah!"

    "I've been wanting to go on a pokémon journey ever since I was old enough to understand what they were," Sun pointed out. "And I still need to figure out what Tapu Koko wants me to do. So yeah, I'll do it! I'll take the challenge, go to every island, and meet a whole bunch of pokémon!"

    "Oh yeah!" the professor cheered. "As someone who's dedicated my life to studying pokémon moves, I really want to see you meeting all kinds of pokémon on your Island Challenge! Here!"

    Sun accepted a strange looking amulet that resembled four triangles stuck together: one yellow, one red, one pink, and one indigo, with beads of the same colors dangling from it. "What's this?" he asked.

    "Everybody on the Island Challenge gets one of these Island Challenge Amulets," Professor Kukui explained. "Hook it on your bag so everyone knows you're an Island Challenger."

    "I got one from my gramps, too!" Hau cheered, showing the one on his own bag.

    "Alright then, Sun! You too, Hau!" Professor Kukui ordered with a smile. "Get a move on!"

    "Okay!" Sun exclaimed too excited about getting his journey started to think about the fact the professor hadn't explained where he'd be going.

    "Your first stop is the trainer's school, right here on Melemele!" Professor Kukui explained. "Before you can fully set out on the path to being Island Challenge Champion, you've gotta show you know the basics by battling there. What about you, Hau?"

    Hau gave an easygoing grin and rested his hands behind his head. "You all go ahead, I'm good for now," he replied. "I'll catch up before Sun starts his first trial, yeah? For now, I just wanna play with my pokémon! I mean, uh, train with them. Right!"

    "The Island Challenge…" Lillie mused. "So this is how the people of Alola connect with the world around them."

    The professor turned to address her, "You take care of Sun, yeah, Lillie?" he requested of his assistant causing both teens to become very flustered, staring at the floor. "Until he gets used to Rotom, help him find his way around!"

    "If you need any help, feel free to give me a little tap," Dexter chirped. "Juzt not too hard, okay?"


    Everything arranged as best they could, the teenagers departed Professor Kukui's lab with the man himself in tow. Hau waved his goodbyes, reaffirming that he'd catch up with them later before rushing down to the shoreline.

    As they headed down the path, Sun slapped a hand to his forehead. "I almost forgot to ask," he said, rubbing at the back of his head Mareepishly. "Where's the nearest pokémon center and pokémart? I need to stock up on some supplies and pokémon chow."

    Lillie couldn't help herself, she burst out laughing with the professor joining in. "Sun," she said, between giggles, "the pokémon center is practically right next to your house. You didn't notice?"

    Sun blushed. "I was pretty tired when we moved in," he admitted, "and the past couple days have been pretty crazy, as you'll recall."

    "Well, cousin," Kukui said with a relaxed smile, "you're in luck because not only is the pokémon center practically right next to your house… It's only a Rock Throw from there to the Trainers' School!"

    "That's grea…" Sun started to say, only for him to fall silent as his eyes widened in shock.

    The source of his shock wasn't hard to pin down, either. Just a moment ago, the world had been bright with sunlight, the warmth of the morning sun shining down on all three. But now… Now everything had fallen into a chilling darkness. It was like a moonless, starless night in the dead of winter.

    Nebby trembled in her bag, very afraid. "Pew…" it whispered.

    "What's going on?" Sun asked, staring at both her and the professor with wide, terrified eyes.

    But no sooner had he spoken, then did the light and warmth return. He blinked, still staring at her and the professor in confusion.

    In response to their trainer's distress, Nero and Baron leapt at Sun and began nuzzling him, trying to reassure him. Sun's eyes softened from their previous terror, taking in the warmth and affection of his pokémon.

    "Pew pew!" cried Nebby, straining against the bag, and whether the little Cosmog was still afraid or wanted to go comfort Sun itself, Lillie wasn't sure. Perhaps it was both?

    Deciding that Sun's pokémon had her new friend handled as far as being comforted went, she turned her attention fully to Nebby. "Don't worry Nebby, it's okay," she soothed. "That must've been what they call a solar eclipse. It happens when the sun gets covered up."

    "Mrar?" Nero asked, coming up to sniff at her bag. She looked over to check on Sun, seeing him approach and crouch before her bag.

    "See? It's okay, little one," he whispered to Nebby. "Lillie sure is smart, huh? We were both freaking out, but she kept her head."

    "Pew!" Nebby chirped happily, straining against the bag to press up against Nero.

    "Mrar lit!" the Litten said agreeably, tolerating getting bumped by the bag, only getting annoyed when Baron chirped with mocking amusement. "MRAR!" the fire kitten roared lunging at the Pikipek, who unfortunately for the fire type flew up too high for him to reach still chirping mockingly.

    Lillie giggled, watching them all. This… This was wonderful. She'd never have gotten to see something like this living at Aether Paradise, even before her mother had lost her mind, this beautiful chaos wouldn't have been suitable for the sterility and organization of that place.

    She was so caught up in watching Sun's pokémon play fight with Sun and Dexter jokingly impersonating announcers for their "battle", that she barely noticed when Professor Kukui mused, "Was a solar eclipse forecast for today?" with uncharacteristic seriousness. "I'll have to talk to Burnet about this…"

    Looking up from where his pokémon were roughhousing, Sun offered, "Maybe it's some kind of good omen for the Island Challenge."

    Despite realizing he was trying to reassure himself as much as them, she still had to ask, "An omen? You think something good will happen?"

    Before he could answer, Professor Kukui did. "I think Sun's right, yeah! A long, long time ago Alola was cloaked in darkness," he began, "but people say that's when Alola's people and pokémon blasted all that darkness away with light!"

    Sun rested his hand on his chin in thought. "So defeating the darkness brought Alola's people and pokémon together…" he mused, and Lillie wondered if he was remembering a story he'd learned in Kanto.

    "Exactly, cousin," Kukui confirmed. "They also say that was why people started gathering Z-Crystals, and, over time, that custom evolved into the Island Challenge."

    Lillie nodded in understanding; she'd read about that in some of the books Professor Kukui had provided her when she'd began her stay in the loft above his lab. He had claimed it was to help her serve as his assistant, but she believed that it had been more in service of making her comfortable in her new home than anything pragmatic.

    "So, Sun, I think that eclipse was a sign that you'll go far in the Island Challenge, yeah!" the professor cheered. "With those pokémon of yours, and that Z-Ring, I hope you collect a lot of Z-Crystals!"

    Sun pushed himself to his feet with a smile and whistled for his pokémon, causing his Pikipek and Litten to stop their playful fighting to rush over. "We sure will professor," he cheered. "Right, guys?"

    Sun's duo cried their agreement, "Litten!/Pikipek!"

    Kukui smiled at the trio's enthusiasm. "That's exactly what a move researcher like me needs to uncover new secrets!"

    Lillie chuckled. "Now professor," she chided jokingly, "that's not why he's supposed to be doing the Island Challenge."

    "It's not?" Sun asked in mock surprise. "I thought the whole reason I was here was to further the professor's research!"

    By the end of that all three humans and all three pokémon were laughing, Nebby and Sun's unease at the eclipse long forgotten.

    "Come on, Sun," Lillie said. "I'll take you to the pokémon center."


    True to her word, Lillie led Sun to the pokémon center. It was larger than the ones Sun was used to seeing in Kanto, but that didn't surprise him much. Alola was a region well known for its tourism, so their pokémon centers would certainly need to be larger to accommodate trainers from outside the region, rooming in a pokémon center was a cheap substitute for using a hotel, after all.

    The professor split off from them at the entrance. "Go ahead and get everything you need, yeah," Kukui said. "I'll be waiting for you at the Trainers' School. Lillie make sure he gets there, yeah?"

    Sun looked around. "Where's the pokémart?" he asked in confusion. Most places in Kanto, you could find one with the other and on the rare cases you couldn't it was a pokémon center stationed around isolated routes in case of emergencies.

    Lillie looked at him confused. "What do you mean?" she asked. "This is a pokémon center. The pokémart is inside."

    Sun's confusion increased. "Wait, what?"

    "Is that not how it works in Kanto?" Lillie asked. "Come inside and you'll see, this is perfectly normal in Alola."

    She headed in and he followed her, taking in how the pokémon center smelled of hot cocoa. "Mmm…" he hummed.

    Lillie chuckled. "I see you've noticed the café," she said, pointing to the left where a barista was tending to his customers. "You can get the pokémon chow you were looking for there, as well as a meal or drink for yourself."

    "And the pokémart?" Sun asked curiously.

    "Just go to the right," she replied. "And well, I'm sure you can see where you need to go to check in to get your pokémon healed," she said with a laugh nodding to the nurse with her healing machine right in front of them.

    Sun laughed with her. "Yeah," he agreed. "Thanks, Lillie." He dug a few bills out of his pocket and pressed them into her palm. "Grab yourself something to eat and drink, okay? I'm going to be taking a while."

    "Y-You're most welcome," Lillie stammered, "but treating me is entirely unnecessary."

    Sun gave her a bright smile. "Even if it is, you deserve it," he retorted kindly. "Get something and relax for a bit."

    "If you insist, Sun," she gave him a shy smile, "Thank you very much."

    After that, they parted ways. Lillie headed over to the café and Sun approached the counter to get his pokémon healed. "Okay guys," he said looking down at his duo, "return for now, okay?" His Litten and Pikipek pouted. "We need to get you both at 100% before we get our journey under full swing." His Litten and Pikipek still didn't seem pleased, but ultimately accepted returning to their pokéballs.

    "Hello," he said to the nurse holding his pokéballs in his hands, "I'd like to heal up my pokémon, please."

    "Good morning," she said, "and welcome to our pokémon center. You're here to have those two pokémon healed, correct?"

    "Yes ma'am," he said politely. "My Litten and my Pikipek."

    "Are they in need of any major healing? Severe injuries or the like?"

    "No," Sun replied, "they're in pretty good shape. This is just to keep them in perfect condition."

    "Very well," the nurse replied. "I'll set them up in the healing machine. The healing mist will have them ready to go in just a few minutes."

    "Is it all right if I go and buy some supplies while they're healing?" the trainer asked.

    "Go right ahead," she replied warmly. "I'll call for you when their ready."

    Thanking her, Sun made his way over to the pokémart side. With the money his mother had given him, he had enough money to stock up on some additional pokéballs and potions, and still buy some chow for his pokémon.

    "Elio Ray," the nurse called over the PDA, "your pokémon have been fully restored."

    Heading back to the nurse, he reclaimed his pokémon and let them loose again. "Hey guys," he greeted, "Ready to get some grub?"

    Nero jumped up on his shoulder and purred his approval, while Baron just made a beeline for the café, clearly attracted by the scent. "What about you, Dexter?" Sun asked his Rotom-Pokédex. "Do you need anything?"

    "I'm alright, Zun!" Dexter replied slipping out of Sun's pocket. "I abzorb electricity from the air. Az long az I don't let my charge get too low that'z enough, zzzt!"

    Sun nodded. "As long as you're happy, buddy," he replied. "If you do need anything, don't hesitate to ask, okay?"

    "Roger, roger, zzzt!" the Rotom-Pokédex replied, going back into Sun's pocket. He seemed to prefer being in there, as opposed to being loose like Sun's duo which was fine by the teen. As long as his crew were happy, right?

    Stepping up to be served, Sun took in the menu. All of the drinks listed were largely unfamiliar to him and the food offered for people seemed to mostly be sandwiches.

    "Welcome to our café," the older gentleman serving as a barista said warmly. "What can I get started for you today?"

    "Um…" Sun said shyly. "This is actually my first time at your café, and I'd originally planned to just pick up food for my pokémon. What would you recommend?"

    "Welcome then, if this is your first time with us," the old man said cheerfully. "As for recommendations, might I recommend Tapu Cocoa? Assuming you like chocolate, it would be my first choice."

    Figuring that had been the lovely scent he'd been smelling all this time, Sun smiled. "Alright then, one Tapu Cocoa, a chocolate croissant, an order of pokébeans suitable for a fire type and a flying type, and likewise the same two types of pokémon chow."

    "Oho," the old man said, knowing eyes twinkling with amusement, "is this your first stop before the trainer's school?"

    "Why yes, yes, it is," the Island Challenger replied, surprised. "What gave me away?"

    "We get a lot of people picking up things for their pokémon headed that way," the old gentleman explained. "It's been the first stop of Island Challengers on Melemele for years, after all."

    Sun chuckled. It was pretty obvious when laid out like that, he supposed.

    "Go take a seat, lad," the old barista said kindly. "We'll have your food to you shortly."

    "Thank you, sir," Sun said, paying the amount requested along with a generous tip. "And thank you for being so helpful."

    Ignoring the flummoxed look on the old man's face, Sun sought a seat and found one when Lillie waved for him to join her. "Sun," she called, "over here!"

    "Hey Lillie," he greeted. "Thanks for saving us a seat."

    She smiled. "It was no trouble," she replied easily. "I figured you and your partners would be hungry once you were done shopping."

    "What did you order for yourself?" Sun asked curiously, seeing the bottle still in front of her.

    "Oh, I got a bottle of Moomoo Milk," she replied. "When you're trying to relax, the only way to drink it is frosty."

    Sun tilted his head. "Moomoo Milk… As in Miltank milk?" he asked, slightly surprised because he hadn't seen it on the menu. Moomoo Milk was pretty easy to find in Kanto, as a frequent trade good from Johto, but it was expensive.

    "Oh, yes," Lillie replied. "It's not on the menu, but they use it in a lot of their drinks, so if you ask, they'll serve you a frosted bottle. It's quite tasty."

    Once again, Sun was surprised by the Alola Region's differences. "But… how'd you afford it?" he asked in confusion. "I gave you some money, but not that much."

    Lillie was clearly equally confused. "What do you mean, Sun? Moomoo Milk doesn't cost much at all. In fact, it probably cost less than whatever drink you ordered."

    "Wait…" Sun said thoughtfully. "Are there native Miltank in Alola?"

    Lillie nodded. "Most of them are raised on Akala Island, as I understand it. Are there… not in Kanto?"

    Sun shook his head. "Nope, none that are native. I'm sure a few people have passed through that raised them, but they're native to its sister region, Johto. Moomoo Milk is expensive in Kanto."

    "Here's your food, lad," the old man said, suddenly standing behind the teen causing him to jolt backwards slightly in surprise. The old man chuckled. "Sorry to startle you, but here's everything you asked for. Plus a little something extra on us, as thanks for the tip." He winked before walking away.

    Setting bowls of pokébeans down on the floor for his pokémon, Sun studied the extra. "Let's see…" he mused. "These look like pokébeans suitable for poison and dark types, going off what Hau told me the other night."

    Lillie snapped her fingers in realization. "There'll be pokémon of those types at the Trainers' School, Sun!" she exclaimed. "They're used to humans so they're easy to raise and considering what you've told me…" She got a mischievous smile on her face. "Well, I'm sure you'll want to raise at least one of them."

    "What?" Sun asked. "What does that mean?"

    Lillie's mischievous smile didn't falter. "Finish eating, so we can get over there and you'll see."

    "Yeah, Zun!" Dexter chirped from Sun's pocket. "I've already marked the Trainerz' School on your map. Let'z get thiz show on the road! Zzzt!"

    "In case you two troublemakers forgot," Sun glared playfully. "The rest of us still have to eat."

    "Litten!/Pikipek!" Sun's partners cried in agreement.


    Lillie waited patiently for Sun's pokémon to finish eating before finally leading him to the Trainers' School. "Here we are," she said. "You see the Trainers' School is-"

    "TAUROS!" roared a pokémon from out of sight.

    "What in the world?!" Lillie exclaimed, turning to face where the sound was coming from.

    Not much farther down the road was a large, brown bull pokémon. Lillie sighed. It seemed the kahuna's Tauros had gotten loose again.

    "It's… It's a Tauros?" Sun asked, confused.

    Lillie nodded. "He's one of Kahuna Hala's pokémon," she explained. "He's quite restless, so he runs off whenever someone isn't keeping a close eye on him. Best to leave him be, the kahuna will come and get him soon enough."

    Sun nodded in acceptance. "Well," he mused, "it looks like we won't be going that way until Kahuna Hala comes to get his Tauros."

    Lillie shrugged. "We were only planning to go as far as the Trainers' School anyway. Come on."

    "So iz a Trainerz' School where trainerz go to learn?" Dexter asked from Sun's pocket. "Or do trainerz teach there?"

    Sun shrugged. "Both?" he guessed, not really knowing either.

    As they stepped onto the grounds of the Trainers' School, they found Professor Kukui and an unfamiliar woman in glasses waiting for them. "Hey there!" the professor greeted. "You two sure kept me waiting!"

    "Sorry, professor," Sun said. "I just wanted to stock up a bit, and then we realized we were hungry."

    "No worries, cousin," the buff man replied. "Welcome to the Trainers' School, the place to learn how to be a pokémon trainer!"

    Lillie noticed that Sun didn't seem pleased to hear that, but considering he'd mentioned taking classes back in Kanto, she supposed that wasn't too much of a surprise. He'd clearly been wanting a real adventure, and this must've felt like just another thing in the way of it.

    "Professor Kukui!" the glasses-wearing woman said. "Is this the young man you told me about?"

    "Yeah! Put him through the wringer, Teach!" he replied enthusiastically.

    "What do I have to do?" Sun asked, clearly trying to sound enthusiastic but falling a bit short.

    "Four trainers!" Professor Kukui said, holding up four fingers. "You've got to beat four trainers here at the school, Sun!"

    At the mention of battle Sun's feigned enthusiasm became genuine. "Four battles, huh?" he asked. "I think we can handle that, right guys?"

    "MRAR!" Nero agreed fiercely, hopping from Sun's shoulder and spitting fire.

    "Pikipek!" chirped Baron, in slightly quieter but no less fierce agreement.

    Kukui smiled at their enthusiasm. "The experience will surely help you and your pokémon grow stronger, yeah."

    The teacher cleared her throat, drawing attention to her. "The trainers who will take part in this lesson may be inside or outside the school," she explained. "Normally I would advise you to visit our classrooms, but Professor Kukui has informed me that you were enrolled in a Trainers' School before moving to Alola, is that correct?"

    "Yes, ma'am," he replied. "They would've been mandatory to get a Trainer's Card, if I still lived in Kanto." His expression soured for a second, and Lillie wondered if there was a story there that she wasn't privy to.

    The teacher nodded. "Very well. Let the lesson begin!" And then, much to Lillie and Sun's confusion, she walked away.

    "She's just making sure everything is set up," Professor Kukui explained. "She may not look all that tough, but that teach trains her students right! One of the kids she taught is even a captain!"

    "What… What do you mean by a captain?" Sun asked. "Like a boat captain?"

    Lillie opened her mouth to explain the captains' relation to the island challenge, but Kukui shook his head. "Not exactly, cousin. You'll be meeting one soon enough, and he'll explain more then. But for now, get a move on, yeah!"

    "Sun, before you go find your opponents," Lillie said.

    "Hm?" the boy hummed, him and his pokémon turning their attention to her.

    "You can tell me anytime that you want your pokémon healed, and I'll heal them," she said, fiddling with her hat awkwardly. "I know your pokémon love to battle but seeing any pokémon in pain makes my heart ache."

    Sun gave her a bright smile. "Thanks, Lillie," he said. "Go on guys," he turned to his pokémon, "you thank her, too."

    "Litten lit," Nero agreed, rubbing up between her legs with a purr.

    "Pikipek!" chirped Baron, dropping an Oran Berry in her hand that he had procured from somewhere.

    "You're most welcome," she replied bashfully, tugging at her hat.

    Sun grinned. "Alright, guys now it's time to-"

    "Find those four pokémon trainerz!" Dexter cheered floating out of Sun's pocket. "Find 'em, battle 'em, and beat 'em!"

    "Yes," Sun agreed, annoyed at being cut off. "Yes, it's time to do that."

    Lillie and the professor laughed as Sun walked off, searching for his first opponent.


    "What do you mean you won't fight us?!" Sun demanded of the young man he'd found in a clearly marked casual battle spot.

    "I'm here because I'm the strongest of the four," he reiterated. "My partner and I won't face you unless you prove you're at least almost as good as us by beating the other three!"

    Sun groaned. He understood this guy was just doing his part in the lesson, really, he did! That didn't make the fact that he was keeping Sun and his crew from their adventure any less frustrating, though! "I'll be back," Sun swore, his pokémon chiming in with their agreement.

    To his surprise, the young man grinned. "Good," he said, giving Sun a thumb's up. "I'll be waiting."

    Making his way to a grassy area, Sun was stopped by a much younger kid. "You're the trainer we're supposed to be battling, right?" the boy asked.

    Sun smiled. "That's me," he agreed. "Call me Sun!"

    The kid took a deep breath, closing his eyes in seeming concentration. "I'll teach you the tactics I learned here at school," he said robotically, these were clearly rehearsed lines. "By beating you with them."

    Sun nodded, playing along. "Very well," he agreed, gesturing for Baron to be the one to battle. "Can I at least get the honor of knowing who I and Baron, my Pikipek, are having the privilege of battling?"

    "I'm Joey," the boy replied tossing a pokéball into the air and loosing the bug type inside, "and this is my partner, Metapod!"

    Dear reader, I would love to tell you that Baron and Metapod's battle was legendary, that it was a rough battle for both sides that went down to the wire… but alas, the Pikipek had the Metapod in two well placed Pecks. The type advantage didn't help the Metapod's position, but it mostly came down to Joey freezing up and not being certain how to direct his partner when things didn't play to the script he'd been taught. "I… I don't understand," Joey admitted. "How did you win so easily?"

    Sun rubbed his chin thoughtfully, trying to think of a way to explain it to the younger boy. He didn't want to hurt the kid's feelings, and he didn't want to make the woman teaching him look bad, either. Sun trusted Professor Kukui and he'd insisted she had a good track record. So, after giving it some thought, Sun spoke. "When we were battling," he began gently, "did you think about countering my Pikipek's moves?"

    "Wh-What do you mean?" Joey asked in confusion.

    Sun fought the urge to groan. What kind of Trainers' School was this? While the kid in front of him clearly hadn't been learning long, they'd still sent him out as part of the lesson to challenge new Island Challengers when he obviously wasn't ready.

    "What I mean is," Sun explained gently, "your Metapod learns moves other than Tackle, which is what you kept trying to use. I'm from Kanto, so I know that your Metapod at least knew Harden, too, right?"

    "Yeah…" Joey agreed, clearly still uncertain where Sun was going with this.

    "So, you could've had him use Harden, to fend off my Pikipek's Peck and then used Tackle," Sun pointed out. "It wouldn't have guaranteed you a win, there's no such thing as a guaranteed win in a pokémon battle, but it would've kept you both in the battle a bit longer."

    Joey nodded thoughtfully. It was clear the boy didn't really understand, but he was at least trying to. "Metapod," he said, turning to his pokémon. "We'll have to pay more attention in class, and try harder with our homework, okay? I want you to be able to evolve into a beautiful Butterfree, after all!"

    "Meta!" agreed the cocoon pokémon, with far more eagerness than Sun had ever seen from a Metapod. The bug type must really love Joey, to be showing that kind of excitement in its pupa stage.

    "Since the battle is over now," Sun said, clapping Joey on the shoulder, "you should probably go and get your Metapod fixed up. There's a girl with a really big hat by the entrance. If you ask nicely, she'll heal your partner up for you, so that you won't have to run all the way to the pokémon center."

    "Thanks for helping, Mr. Sun!" Joey exclaimed, moving to run off.

    "'Mr. Sun'?" Sun asked amused. "I know I'm older than him, but am I really a mister?"

    Not too far into the tall grass nearby, came the distinctive sounds of pokémon fighting.

    "Mrar?" Nero asked his trainer, looking towards where the sounds were coming from.

    Sun nodded. "Yep," he agreed. "Let's check it out! Maybe we'll find the pokémon Lillie was teasing me about!"

    "GRIMER!" shouted one of the pokémon. It looked like a Grimer; Sun supposed as he moved closer to get a better look at the pokémon and whatever other pokémon it was fighting. Very different from the ones native to Kanto, however. Green where purple should've been and what appeared to be teeth, when Sun was certain that he'd never seen a Grimer with teeth depicted during his schooling.

    "Dexter," Sun said quietly, still heading for the pokémon he intended to capture, "scan both the pokémon as we move in, please."

    "Grimer, Alolan Form. The Sludge Pokémon. A poison and dark type. Grimer, which had been brought in to solve a problem with garbage, developed over time into this form. It seems to relish all kinds of trash," Dexter revealed to the awestruck trainer. "The crystals on Grimer's body are lumps of toxins. If one falls off, poisons leak out. There are a hundred or so of them living in Alola's waste-disposal site. They're all hard workers who eat a lot of trash. Indeed, it has a passion for trash above all else, speedily digesting it and creating brilliant crystals of sparkling poison."

    "Well," Sun said to his partners, "we're definitely going to have to try and catch it. I wond-"

    Sun didn't have the chance to finish his thought, because in that moment it was answered for him. "MEOWTH!" shrieked the pokémon battling the Grimer. It was in that moment Sun knew he was very, very grateful he had stocked up on pokéballs and also why Lillie had been so amused.

    Standing opposite the Grimer was a Meowth. It was closer in appearance to the ones he'd grown up living with than the Alolan Grimer was to the ones he'd studied in school. However, because Sun had grown up surrounded by Meowth, the differences stood out to him more than they otherwise would have. Grey fur instead of tan, curved whiskers instead of straight… "I finally found one!" he cheered. To the people of Alola, this Meowth was an everyday sight. Many people trained them or raised them as pets or just passed them by in the tall grass without a second thought. But to Sun, scion of the Scratch Cat girl, this was his destiny making its move. "Dexter, analysis if you please!"

    "Meowth, Alolan Form. The Scratch Cat Pokémon. A dark type. Meowth were not originally native to the Alola region, but a royal house that flourished in the distant past brought them here from another region and thus, the species grew accustomed to luxury and very picky about food. Over time, their appearance changed to what we now see. Deeply proud and keenly smart, this pokémon moves with cunning during battle and relentlessly attacks enemies' weak points. When their delicate pride is wounded, or when the gold coin on their forehead is dirtied, they fly into a hysterical rage," Dexter explained, reading out Alolan Meowth's pokédex data.

    Sun's outburst had drawn the attention of the two wild pokémon, and they suddenly seemed more interested in fighting him than each other. The teenaged trainer turned to his partners. "Guys, I really want to catch them," he said seriously. "Will you help me?"

    Nero pawed the ground and spat fire and Baron gave a great cry. Simple replies but they were answer enough.

    Now, in fairness to Lillie's earlier claim that the pokémon of the school were used to people, despite clearly challenging Sun and his pokémon to a fight the pair didn't seem unduly aggressive. Excited, certainly, feisty even, but not overly aggressive. The wild Alolan Meowth lunged towards Nero, claws gleaming in preparation to unleash a Scratch. It was fast, but Sun was faster, "Counterattack with Scratch, Nero!" he called. "We're just trying to weaken it, not knock it out!"

    Nero mewed his understanding and slashed at the Alolan Meowth's claws with his own, doing slight damage to the little dark type. Watching them fiercely slash back and forth at each other, Sun smiled. The Alolan Meowth would be a good fit.

    Sun turned to give directions to Baron, only to find it chirping amicably to a smiling Grimer. "Piki pek pek," his Pikipek said happily.

    "Grimer!" the poison and dark type said, its body oozing up and down contentedly.

    "Do… Do you want to come with us?" Sun asked.

    "GRIMER!" it agreed emphatically. Sun held out a pokéball, and it approached, tapping a gooey finger against it, getting sucked inside.

    "Welcome to the crew," Sun whispered fondly to the pokéball. "I'm going to call you… Emperor, okay?"

    No sooner had he asked, than did his newly caught pokémon erupt from the ball nodding emphatically. "Grimer Grimer Grimer!" he, as having captured it Sun could now fully identify it, agreed happily.

    "Baron," Sun began, "take care of Emperor for now, okay? I'm going to help Nero with catching our other new friend."

    "Pikipek!" Baron saluted in agreement, already back to chirping away with his new friend.

    Seeing his Litten still in the middle of a truly impressive back and forth with the Meowth, Sun shouted, "Nero, use Lick to paralyze it!"

    Lashing out at the Meowth with his tongue, Nero did the best he could. When the wild pokémon froze mid-attack, Sun knew their plan had succeeded. "Alright buddy," he called, "get outta the way!" He grabbed a pokéball from his bag and, aiming carefully, tossed it straight for the Alolan Meowth.

    Please, he prayed to whatever was willing to listen. Please let this work.


    The Alolan Meowth thrashed inside the pokéball. He didn't mind being caught, least of all by this human who had the scent of Meowth brethren on him and the hunger of a conqueror in his eyes, but he would still put up a fight. No unworthy commoner was fit to be his trainer! If they couldn't capture him when he put his all into it, then they hadn't fought hard enough to prove their worth, that was all. He felt the ball he was within rattle once, twice, and, even as he struggled against it… a third time. Excellent, truly excellent. His new trainer and that Litten would be worthy retainers to him, he was sure.

    No sooner had the pokéball cemented his capture, did it unleash him. "Hi there," his trainer said, smiling.

    "Meow," the Alolan Meowth greeted.

    "My name is Sun," the young man explained, "and these are Nero, Baron, and Emperor." The Meowth's newest retainer presented the Litten, a Pikipek, and the Alolan Grimer the Alolan Meowth had been fighting earlier respectively.

    All three pokémon greeted the Alolan Meowth cheerfully, much to his pleasure. It was good to be properly recognized by his entourage, after all. "Since you'll be joining us," Sun continued, "we'd like to give you a name of your own. Is that okay?"

    The Alolan Meowth considered this. His new human was interesting. Clearly his new human was showing him the respect he was due as royalty, but also wanted to properly induct him into the group by giving him a name all his own. Yes, this human would serve as a worthy retainer indeed. And so, the Alolan Meowth crossed his arms with a nod. "Mrowr," he agreed. He would accept this human's show of comradery and take on a new name all his own.

    "Okay then," Sun said, clearly pleased. "Dexter said you used to live with Alolan royalty… so how about Prince?"

    "Mewhehehe," the Alolan Meowth giggled. He liked his new retainers, and he liked his name. Yes, all of them were truly excellent!

    "Good," his human retainer said with a smile. "Now come here, would you? I want to heal you up a bit."

    And so, Prince permitted himself be tended to. His human used his purple medicine stick to gently rub him all over until he was freed of paralysis. That was so much better.

    "Now," Sun said with a gentle smile, "let's go see Lillie to get you all fully patched up, okay?"

    Prince and the other members of his entourage nodded their understanding and followed after Sun. Prince didn't know who or what Lillie was, but if his retainers trusted it, he would trust in their trust.

    Lillie turned out to be a human girl dressed all in white, with a really big hat. "Hi Lillie," Sun greeted cheerfully. "Found the pokémon you were teasing me about."

    Lillie gave a troublemaker's smile, one that would've been at home on any Meowth. "Are you glad I kept it a surprise now?" she asked teasingly.

    Sun chuckled. "I suppose I am," he replied. "I've been dreaming of catching an Alolan Meowth since I heard about the move. This is Prince."

    Prince stepped forward, nodding his head in acknowledgement. "Mrow," he mewed respectfully.

    "And this," the young man said, pointing to his Alolan Grimer, "is Emperor."

    "Grime!" Emperor greeted cheerfully, waving at Lillie.

    "Could you heal up my crew?" Sun asked. "They're in pretty good shape, but we need to stay in top condition, if we're going to keep winning, right?

    Prince and his entourage cried their approval.

    Lillie nodded and began tending to all four of them. She did an excellent job, in Prince's opinion. He would have to see about getting his lead retainer, Sun, to get her to join his entourage.

    "Thanks Lillie," Sun said. "I really appreciate you healing them up."

    "It's no trouble," the blonde replied, as she finished tending to them all. "I suppose you'll be going on to your next challenge?"

    "Well…" Sun said with a teasing grin. "If I want to go ahead with the Island Challenge, I suppose I'll have to. What do you guys think?" he asked Prince and the pokémon members of his entourage.

    The quartet roared their approval, Prince and Nero in particular. After all, Prince reflected, how could they rise to the top, if they remained here?

    Lillie smiled. "Just make sure you aren't pushing your team too hard, okay?" she asked.

    Sun gave her a relaxed smile. "Don't worry," he promised. "I'm not planning to push them to do anything they can't handle.


    The trainers here still have a lot to learn, Sun thought to himself a little while later after beating both the second and third of the four challengers. They had been good kids, and definitely had real potential as trainers, but it was pretty clear they hadn't been taking classes long.

    He had expected a bit more challenge from his opponents and the ease in which he had beaten them was confusing him a little. He wasn't being taught much of anything. Quite the opposite in fact. And then, suddenly, the realization sank in; he'd been thinking about this all wrong. "Here in Alola, Island Challengers aren't sent to the schools to get lessons…" Sun mused aloud. "They're here to be the lesson."

    Nero, Emperor, and Prince rubbed up against his legs affectionately, causing him to realize he'd stopped moving. "I'm okay guys," the trainer promised patting them all gently. "Just thinking."

    Baron landed on his shoulder. "Pikipek?" the flying type asked, tilting his head.

    Sun chuckled, easily guessing what the Pikipek was getting at. "No," he assured his Pikipek with a smile, "nothing like the other day. Let's go battle the last guy, okay?"

    "You finally made it!" Sun's opponent said as they made their approach. "Dude, I thought you'd never get around to battling me."

    "Sorry to keep you waiting, but someone told me you wouldn't battle me until I had fought everyone else," Sun joked.

    The other young man laughed. "Touché, dude. Touché," he said with a grin, grabbing his sole pokéball from his belt. "You ready to do this?"

    "Yeah," Sun agreed, directing Emperor to take the battle position on Sun's side of the field. "let's do this… Uh, sorry, what's your name man?"

    "I'm Joseph!" the young man now known as Joseph replied. "And using an Alolan Grimer, eh? That's funny." Sun was going to ask what he meant, but he tossed a pokéball into the air releasing the same pokémon Sun was using.

    Sun grinned. "Oh this'll be fun!" he cheered, eyes gleaming with excitement. "No super effective hits, and no inherent advantages. Just a slugfest between our pokémon."

    Joseph nodded. "Let's do this, Grimer," he said. "Use Pound on his Grimer!"

    "You too, Emperor," Sun called, "use a Pound of your own to counterattack!"

    At first, that was all the battle was. A slugfest between two new trainers and their equally untested pokémon. Sun had just captured Emperor, and Joseph's Grimer was clearly not an experienced fighter, so their battle was mostly just them smacking each other back and forth. Both Alolan Grimer were getting tired, and Sun rubbed at his chin, trying to figure out how to claim victory with his new friend.

    Joseph wouldn't give him time to consider though. "Time to win, Grimer," he said. "Use Pound, one more time!"

    "Gri Gri!" cheered the opposing Alolan Grimer smashing a fist towards Emperor.

    Well, he sure as heck wasn't letting them win! "Emperor, use Harden to block the attack," Sun instructed.

    "Grimer!" Emperor said agreeably, crossing his arms and taking on as solid a stance as living slime could.

    Emperor slid back just a little at the impact, but the Alolan Grimer just smiled. "Grimer!" he called to his trainer, assuring him he was alright.

    Sun smiled in relief. They were too evenly matched to do more than bump each other. But… what if…? That's it! "Good work, now grab him!" the Island Challenger declared.

    Emperor grabbed his opponent with both hands, holding him in place. "Grimer grime!"

    "Use Bite on his hand to try and get away!" Joseph called to his pokémon desperately.

    Sun took a deep breath. "If we can't hit him hard enough ourselves, we'll hit him against something harder!" he declared. "Emperor, throw him at the ground!"

    Their opponent bit into his hand with a cry, but Emperor didn't give up and having used Harden had helped reduce the damage. "GRIMER!" Sun's Grimer shouted, putting all his effort into the throw.

    "Gri… mer," Joseph's Grimer groaned as it passed out, Emperor standing over it arms raised in triumph.

    "Return, buddy," Joseph said, calling his partner back as Sun patted Emperor on the head and brushed off debris. "That was so totally awesome man! How'd you come up with that strategy?"

    Sun grinned. "Well," he began, "it was pretty clear that neither of us were making headway using our attacks. So, I had to come up with a different way for Emperor to win. The Island Challenge is waiting for us, so we couldn't afford to lose here!" Sun's pokémon all gave cries of agreement.

    Joseph nodded. "Well," he offered, "for what it's worth, I think you're ready. It's not really up to me, of course, but you've impressed me, that's for sure!"

    "Thanks man," Sun replied with a smile, shaking his hand.

    "No problem," Joseph said, and fished something out of his pocket and handed it to Sun. "Also, here. This is a Technical Machine, or y'know a TM, for Work Up, we give 'em to anyone who beats all four of us."

    "Thanks," Sun replied eagerly, "now I just need to figure out which of my pokémon to teach it to… or maybe just save it… hm…"

    "What do you mean?" Joseph asked. "You can use a TM as many times as you want, on as many different pokémon as you want."

    "Really?" Sun asked in confusion. "The one's I heard about in Kanto were single use."

    Joseph nodded. "TMs used to be single use," he explained. "I'm guessing your parents told you about the ones they got attempting Kanto's gym challenge?"

    "Something like that," Sun replied, thinking about his mom's stories of the Indigo Pokémon League.

    "Anyway," Joseph continued, "it's not an issue TMs have anymore, so don't be afraid to teach it to all the pokémon you have that can learn the move, if you want to."

    "Sun!" Lillie called, coming up from behind him. "You beat all four of them, huh?"

    "Yep," Sun grinned. "Joseph and his Grimer sure gave us a run for our money, huh, Emperor?"

    "GRIMER!" Emperor agreed emphatically, pounding his fist into his palm.

    "Here," Lillie said, "why don't I patch them both up?" The big-hatted girl began carefully spraying the pokémon with potions to heal them up, the poison and dark types leaning into the healing spray.

    "Grimer?" Emperor asked, offering his fist to his opponent.

    "Grimer!" Joseph's Grimer agreed, bumping fists with him.

    Sun couldn't help the huge grin on his face. The people and pokémon living in Alola really are the best. Plus, it's so nice I can walk freely with my buddies here, he thought. It's just like Grandpa's stories about Kanto before-

    DING-DONG! DING DONG! A loud bell rang, cutting off Sun's thoughts, which was probably the best considering where they were heading.

    "Oh, that's the school bell," Lillie said in surprise.

    Through the PDA came the voice of the teacher from earlier, "Attention all students… Would Elio please come to the office on the second floor? Elio to the second-floor office, please."

    Lillie turned back to Sun with an amused look. "What terrible thing did you do to get called to the office so soon?" she asked teasingly.

    Sun considered the pointers he'd been giving the students. "Well…" he began with a smirk.

    "So you did do something?!" Lillie asked in mock horror. "You'd better get up there, you troublemaker."

    "Zzrt!" Dexter chirped from Sun's pocket. "You were called up to the second floor already?! You'd better get going already, you naughty boy."

    Sun chuckled. "Very well," he said, lowering his voice in his best impression of a supervillain, turning to his pokémon. "Come Team Sun, let us go face down the authorities. That means you as well, Admin Lillie. You were in on my diabolical plans, after all!" He grabbed her wrist gently, tugging her towards the school.

    Lillie giggled. "Y-Yes, Boss! Anything you say, Boss!" she pretended to grovel.


    Lillie made her way with Sun up through the school, continuing with their playful banter. "And so," he explained in that ridiculously cheesy bad guy voice of his, "today I defeat everyone in this school and make them kneel before the glory of Team Sun, and then you will heal them so that they might become loyal to you. You who are loyal to me."

    Lillie had tried her best to stay in character the whole time, but that was too much she burst out laughing. "Ohhh… Oh Sun," she got out between giggles, "that was too good! You sounded like a Saturday morning cartoon villain! With a ridiculous plan to match! Hahahaha!"

    Now Sun was laughing himself. "Come, my loyal Admin," Sun said between laughs, though in his normal tone. "I see the authority of this place, let us see what she desires."

    "Y-Yes, Boss," Lillie giggled as they approached the teacher who had called for them.

    "You called for me, ma'am?" Lillie's "boss" asked the bespectacled woman politely.

    "Elio… I can't believe that you…" she began in a severe tone and Lillie was momentarily concerned on Sun's behalf, before breaking into a huge grin. "Beat all of my students! That's fantastic!"

    "Thank you, ma'am," Sun said. "Joseph was a challenge."

    "I also noticed that you tried to help the younger ones with their training, thank you very much," she continued. "That will definitely help with their growth."

    "I was happy to help," Sun replied. "They've got a lot of potential."

    "Zzt! They zure do!" Dexter chimed in. "And their pokémon zeemed really attached to them, too."

    "They're good kids," Lillie offered from her limited perspective. "They seemed to be taking good care of their pokémon."

    "You were most impressive Sun," she reiterated. "After seeing such an impressive performance, I think I'd like to battle you myself!"

    Sun's eyes sparkled and Lillie knew there was no way he would refuse. "We accept your challenge," Sun affirmed, with nods from his pokémon. "Prince, it's your turn!"

    "Meowth!" his Meowth agreed excitedly, stepping forward.

    "Come out, Magnemite!" the teacher said.

    "Magnemite," chirped the electric and steel type as it came out of its pokéball.

    "Prince, use Fake Out, okay?" Sun asked his Meowth.

    "Meowth!" shouted Prince, clapping his paws against Magnemite.

    "But why?" Lillie asked in confusion. "Fake Out is a normal type move, so it shouldn't do much damage to a steel type like Magnemite."

    To her confusion, despite seeming to not take much damage from the attack the Magnemite froze in fear despite being immune to paralysis as an electric type.

    "Prince, take advantage of the flinch with Bite!" Sun shouted excitedly, too lost in the thrill of battle to answer her and his pokémon instantly responded, gnawing into the little electric steel type with sharp fangs.

    Fortunately, Dexter could tell her what she wanted to know. "Fake Out guarantees a flinch, Lillie, zzt," the Rotom-Pokédex chirped from Sun's pocket. "It only workz at the ztart of battle, but it givez Zun and Prince a little extra room to ztrike. However…"

    "Magnemite, use Thundershock," the teacher ordered, but the Magnemite didn't listen it's one eye still wide with fear.

    "Bite haz a chance, zmall, but ztill a chance, of triggering a flinch," Dexter explained cheerfully. "And Prince juzt got one, zzt! Go Prince, go Zun!"

    "Go for it, buddy!" Sun shouted slashing towards the Magnemite with his hands. "Use Bite again!"

    "MEOWTH!" shouted Prince lunging at the Magnemite.

    "Magnemite, use Thundershock," the bespectacled teacher ordered.

    The little steel type hadn't flinched this time, and electricity burst from its body and filled Prince whose fangs were still against it. "Magne-mite," it droned.

    "Meow…" groaned Prince, electricity sparking from his coat, and he slumped over.

    Lillie gasped. "He's-"

    "Prince is paralyzed," Sun said, seemingly just to himself despite echoing her thoughts. "Prince, are you okay? Can you still fight?" he asked his Meowth, clearly concerned.

    "Me-owww," groaned Prince, but he still staggered to his feet and gave his trainer a nod.

    Sun nodded back, very serious. "Okay then," he agreed. "I need you to put everything you have into this Bite, okay?"

    Prince rushed to attack, but he was more sluggish than he had been before which gave the teacher plenty of time to give her own order. "Magnemite, use Thundershock again!"

    Both attacks landed simultaneously, Prince digging his fangs deep into the Magnemite and getting filled with electricity himself.

    "Magne…" the Magnemite groaned as it fell onto the floor with a thud.

    "Me-owww…" groaned Prince, victorious but still very worn down. He tried to raise his arms in victory, but instead just slumped over exhausted.

    "I'll take care of you both," Lillie assured them, tending to Prince and the Magnemite.

    "Thanks Lillie," Sun said, moving to stroke Prince's soft fur. "You did good, buddy."

    "I still have two pokémon ready to battle," the teacher said watching them all. "I suppose your Meowth will be sitting it out from here?"

    Sun nodded, still stroking the feline pokémon. "Mmhm," he hummed and when Prince mewed a protest, he gave the dark type a very kind smile. "You did great, Prince," he promised. "And I've been wanting you for my crew a long time. Still, we gotta let the other guys get some battles in too. It's only fair."

    Prince seemed to mull it over before begrudgingly nodding his assent.

    "Alright, Nero," Sun said with a grin, turning to his other cat pokémon. "You're up buddy."

    Nero spat a fire hairball and stepped forward. "Litten!"

    "You gave us a lot of trouble with that Meowth of yours," the teacher mused. "I think I'll take you on with my own. Go Meowth!" An Alolan Meowth erupted from a pokéball and stared down Nero. "Meowth, use Fake Out!"

    Lillie was surprised but felt foolish for it. If the Meowth Sun had caught less than an hour ago knew Fake Out, surely one that had already begun its training would as well.

    "MEOWTH!" shouted the teacher's Meowth, clapping its hands against Nero's face.

    Nero's eyes were wide with terror by the move's effect and that was all the opening the opposing Meowth needed to chomp down with sharp fangs.

    "Lit… ten…" groaned Nero, shaking a little.

    "Nero, I've got a plan buddy. I know it hurts right now, but you need to use Lick, okay?" Sun encouraged. "If you can pull that off, we'll win!"

    "LITTEN!"

    Nero began licking the Meowth with a loud slurp. It tried to get away, but Nero had taken Sun's words to heart and wouldn't let up. Nero kept going until, just like Sun's Meowth before it, sparks of static were spewing from the teacher's Meowth. Nero had paralyzed it!

    "Great work, partner!" Sun said proudly. "You took away its speed! Now, use Ember!"

    Nero was happy to oblige. "Mroar," he roared, blasting at the opponent who was stunned by his paralysis.

    "I'm surprised," Sun's opponent said, looking over her Meowth. "You can't have had your Meowth long. How did you know their strategies mostly rely on speed?"

    Sun gave a catlike grin. "My mom raised a lot of Meowth," he explained and considering what he'd told Lillie before, she figured that was probably a great understatement. "They're her specialty. I've spent my life surrounded by a whole bunch of Scratch Cats. The ones native to Kanto, yes, but they're close enough that strategy is the same between them and their Alolan relatives. Hit fast, hit hard, and press openings. If you take that advantage away… Well, let's show her Nero! Use Ember again!"

    Without his opponent having the advantage of Fake Out, Nero was almost as fast as the opposing Meowth, Lillie reflected. And with his opponent paralyzed, the advantage for speed was firmly Nero's. Sun really did understand cat pokémon.

    Nero's aggressive burst of fire hit the dark type square on for the second time.

    "Meeee-owww…" groaned their opponent as it fell over.

    "Lillie," Sun began, "could you-"

    "Already on it," she said, moving to heal the teacher's Meowth, gently spraying it down. But when she went to heal Nero, Sun shook his head to her confusion.

    "Not yet," he said to her confusion. "Nero's still in this fight, so using an outside source to heal him would be cheating. Right, buddy?"

    "LITTEN!" Nero agreed eagerly, practically glowing with excitement.

    The teacher smiled. "Well," the bespectacled woman said, "I respect your sense of fair play. But make sure you're still up for that when you see my next pokémon. Come on out, Popplio!"

    An adorable little sea lion pokémon erupted from the pokéball. Lillie squealed; it was so cute! Sun seemed to be fighting the urge to become equally starstruck, but Popplio's cuteness was combatting his battle mania.

    Nero seemed curious, however. "Litten?" he asked, tilting his head.

    "Pop pop popplio," the Popplio denied with a shake of its head.

    Nero seemed confused, but seemed to accept it.

    Sun voiced the question both teens were wondering. "Why did Nero seem confused?" he asked.

    "Kahuna Hala always gives out the same three pokémon to new trainers," the teacher explained. "He raises them together in the hopes that it'll help their trainers become friends and bond humans and pokémon closer together. Your Nero probably thought this Popplio was one of its old friends."

    "Hala only had two pokémon when I met Nero," Sun mused. "Was one already gone then?"

    "The Kahuna's grandson, Hau, got it," the teacher replied. "At the moment the Popplio he raised along with them is probably the only one of their trio left."

    Sun nodded, seeming to set a thought aside for later. "So," the young man said, turning to Nero. "You and Bowtie are old buddies, huh?"

    "Litten lit," Nero agreed happily, tail swishing back and forth.

    Sun nodded, refocusing on the battle. "Sorry about getting distracted," he said to Lillie's quiet amusement. "Let's get back to it! Nero, use Lick!"

    The teacher smiled. "Sorry, I won't fall for that twice," she retorted. "Popplio trap him in one of your bubbles!"

    "Wha… What?" Sun asked in shock as their opponent breathed out a huge bubble from its nose and engulfed Nero trapping him inside.

    Lillie laughed. She couldn't help it; it looked so silly. It was like Nero was trapped in a balloon. He was even starting to float away a little.

    Seeing his starter float up towards the ceiling, Sun panicked a little. "Nero, try to use Scratch to get out of there!"

    While this seemed like a sound plan there were two problems with it: One: The command reached Nero a little more slowly due to having to reach him through a bubble. Two: Even after Nero's claws gleamed, and he popped the bubble open he was still up in the air and falling rapidly.

    "Try to aim for landing on Popplio!" Sun called to his partner, unfortunately for Nero this was momentum caused by freefall and was harder to steer and second, it just made Nero an easier target for Popplio.

    "Popplio, use Water Gun underneath Litten," the teacher instructed.

    "Bwark!" the little water type agreed, giving Nero a good spritz but also slowing his descent to the ground.

    Nero came down more gently than he would've but still groaning. "Lit… ten…" he groaned, slumping down.

    Glancing over at Sun to make sure it was okay, and receiving a nod, Lillie approached the fire kitten and began spraying him with a potion. "I'll heal you up now, Nero," Lillie assured the little fire type. Sun was one to respect fair play, but Nero was clearly out of the battle now, so this wasn't cheating.

    As she sprayed him, Sun crouched down low to stroke his partner, and both teenagers saw how sad Nero's eyes were. "Litten lit," Sun's starter apologized with teary eyes.

    "Hey, it's okay," Sun assured him, gently stroking the fire kitten's fur. "This was our first loss together, and I should've made sure to know more about our opponent. Instead, I led you right into a trap."

    "Litten lit!" Nero protested, clearly not wanting his trainer to take the blame.

    "Like I told Baron the other day," Sun said with a smile at all four of his pokémon, "we'll get there eventually. Like that guy back in Kanto always said, 'Your pokémon will teach you, and you'll teach them.' So we'll keep learning and growing together. Our crew is headed for the top of this region, right guys?!"

    Sun's pokémon cried their approval and she heard a quiet, "Pew" from her bag. It surprised her how much of a shine pokémon seemed to take to Sun, after just a couple days of knowing him Nero and Baron seemed to love him. Emperor and Prince had only been with him a scant few hours, but they at least liked him. And Nebby? Nebby adored him. She supposed saving it had helped, but whenever his pokémon battled Nebby emanated happiness and she had to keep an eye on it to make sure it didn't slip out of the bag to watch the battle up close.

    Then, to her surprise, Baron flew to where they were battling with only a brief glance to get Sun's okay, which he gave with a nod. "Pikipek!"

    "That's right, Baron!" Sun agreed. "Nero helped win us the day when you fell, now it's your turn to pick up where he left off!"

    "PIK-I-PEK!" Baron screeched in manic agreement, rushing at the Popplio.

    The teacher sighed and Lillie understood her disappointment, despite the fact they were getting along better it seemed that Baron's aggression was still getting the better of him. "Trap him in a bubble, Popplio," the teacher called, sounding almost bored now.

    "Poppli!" it cheered, doing exactly that.

    But to Lillie's shock, Sun grinned. "Good job, Baron!" he cheered. "They took the bait! Now use Peck to get out of there!"

    It still took a couple seconds for Sun's directions to reach Baron through the bubble, but the flying type responded eagerly as soon as they reached him. The Pikipek's beak gleamed, and he burst the bubble in a split second. And, unlike Nero, he didn't fall into freefall. "Of course," Lillie said in realization, "even if he floats a bit, it doesn't matter because Pikipek can fly!"

    "Hit the Pikipek with Water Gun," the teacher ordered.

    Sun's smile grew as manic as his Pikipek. "Alright, Baron use Echoed Voice and don't stop, no matter what!"

    "Pikipek! Pikipek! Pikipek! PIKIPEK!" Baron screeched, loosing soundwaves from his beak that blasted the Water Gun away and slammed straight into the Popplio.

    Baron screeched repeatedly, the soundwaves he unleashed growing more and more massive with each one. The poor Popplio was overwhelmed and didn't know how to react, and the teacher was covering her ears to block out the sound damaging them.

    "Poppli…" the water type groaned collapsing under the barrage of soundwaves.

    "Baron, that's enough buddy!" Sun called up to his flying type who swooped down and perched on his shoulder with a nod.

    "Is that how you've decided to work with Baron, Sun?" Lillie asked curiously. "Let him run wild like that and then reel him in when it's time to end the battle?"

    Sun looked slightly offended. "Of course not," he replied. "We're still a team, y'know. But I have to work with my pokémon a way that suits them. Baron is all about strong, rapid strikes. Just like an Alolan Meowth like Prince needs to hit quick, get back, and hit again. It's all in what works for my pokémon and working with that."

    "But I saw!" Lillie protested. "Baron went in without you telling him too again."

    Sun looked genuinely annoyed now. "He listened to me, didn't he?" the trainer pointed out, and Lillie really couldn't refute that. "Baron likes rushing in. That means I have to make that work for us."

    Sun's pokémon, especially Baron, were glaring at her and she belatedly realized she had insulted her friend and his Pikipek. "I'm sorry Sun, and you too Baron," she said sincerely. "Can I patch you and Popplio up as an apology?"

    Sun nodded, and tried to give her a smile like always, but it looked a bit forced this time. Lillie sighed to herself; she'd have to make it up to him later but for now she could at least heal the pokémon.

    Baron wasn't even trying to pretend to be happy with her, but he still permitted her to heal him and offered an Oran Berry to the Popplio as Lillie tended to them which the water type munched on happily.

    "Well, regardless of what Miss Lillie thinks, Elio," the teacher said, "I think you've done quite nicely! Maybe you'd like to take over as teacher here for me?"

    Sun's forced smile turned awkward. "I mean I'm flattered, ma'am, but-"

    "Just joking," the bespectacled woman said with a smile. "But here are some Great Balls as a reward for beating me!"

    Sun smiled, genuinely now. "Oh, these are excellent. They're much better than regular pokéballs."

    The teacher nodded warmly. "I heard you talking about battling with your pokémon, cousin," a familiar voice said from behind them all. "Know your pokémon and know their moves. Those are the basics of being a trainer!"

    Sun smiled at the unexpected arrival. "Professor Kukui!" he greeted cheerfully, and then they all took in the unfamiliar young man with pink hair standing beside him. "I don't believe I know you, though," he said and offered him a handshake.

    "Greetings!" the pink-haired man said, shaking Sun's hand. "I'm Captain Ilima of Melemele Island."

    "Nice to meet you, Captain!" Sun replied. "I'm Elio, but you can call me Sun if you want. My friends all do."

    "I couldn't help but observe your battles," Ilima explained. "You and your pokémon looked so very delightful in battle that I had no choice but to summon you here."

    Yes, Lillie supposed she could understand what Captain Ilima meant. Sun and his pokémon seemed to shine during battle in a way they really didn't the rest of the time. Something crucial to them, wild and free, was missing.

    Wait… Had Ilima been hitting on Sun?

    And if she agreed with him… What did that mean for her? Her cheeks reddened.

    Thankfully it was at that moment the professor decided to speak up. "Sun just moved here from Kanto," the older man explained. "He's got a real sense for how to use moves, and I think he's gonna go far as a trainer, yeah!"

    "His pokémon love him already," Lillie offered in an attempt to contribute.

    "I see!" Ilima said with an eager grin. "Then welcome to Alola, Sun. I look forward to seeing the brilliance of your moves in my trial."

    "Are captains connected to the trials then?" Sun asked curiously, his pokémon other than Baron, who was still perched on his shoulder, crowding around his legs.

    "Indeed! We captains are the ones who conduct the trials you will face on your way to challenging the island kahuna," Ilima explained eagerly. "My trial is held in Verdant Cavern. The trial of Captain Ilima."

    "I need to make a stop at home first, but then we'll head straight for your trial, right guys?" he asked his team to their cheers.

    Ilima smiled. "I sincerely look forward to your challenge," he said. "I'm sure we'll be meeting again very soon. But for now, I bid you adieu." He bowed politely to all four of them and headed back downstairs.

    "What now, cousin?" Professor Kukui asked Sun. "We're still waiting for the kahuna to come get his Tauros, and I have to wait for Hau here until he's done at the school anyway."

    "Well," Sun said, "I need to run home for a bit. I caught an Alolan Meowth, so I wanna show off Prince here to Mama and Meowy." Prince mewed appreciatively.

    Kukui closed his eyes in reminiscence. "Mm, yeah. That mother of yours and her team of Meowth. They shook me and my team up good when we came to Kanto."

    Lillie expected Sun's smile to broaden at the reminder, but to her confusion it became very small and sad. "Yeah," Sun agreed, seemingly lost in an old memory, "her team was something else."

    "Go ahead, cousin, yeah!" Kukui enthused. "You go too, Lillie. Meet a Meowth from Kanto."

    Lillie wanted to say yes, but she hesitated. She knew she'd offended Sun earlier and she didn't want to step on his toes again by invading.

    To her surprise though, Sun gave her a mischievous grin. "Yes, come with me now Admin Lillie," he teased in his ridiculous cartoon villain voice. "To the Team Sun Base!"

    And in that moment, Lillie knew things would be okay between them. "Yes, Boss, as you command!"

    And with that, they headed back for Sun's place.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top