I look outside the window of my new home in Hau'oli Outskirts. The ocean is as blue as can be, glistening as the sunlight hits and reflects off it. The water is even bluer than then in Hoenn.

I grew up in Petalburg City and right now I miss it so much.

My Skitty jumps up on the window ledge and rubs up against me as I continue to peer outside. A few Pikipeks fly by the window causing my Skitty to jump up. He looks at me as if I was supposed to grab one of them for him. I look at him because he jumped, doing the most exercise he has done since moving here.

He's a lazy skitty. Eats and sleeps and to be honest he actually looks like he is sleeping when he eats sometimes.

My mom, older brother and I moved here last week. My brother, 17, has already become accustomed to new area as he has already made a bunch of friends. I really hate Aaron sometimes. He is capable of fitting in while I mope about struggling to find anyone who wants to talk to me while not making fun of me.

From the first day since being here I've been picked on by the local kids my age. Mostly it was because I made an absolute ass of myself when I fell over during moving day, but then at the park my pants ripped at the crotch area.

Yeah real immature crap, and it got me the nickname "Splits." Whatever.

The main bully is Castor Reigns. He is this tall, skinny guy who always wears a tank top. Mostly bright colored ones. He walks around with a group of other boys and girls as if they own the island.

Someone knocked at the door and a few seconds later I hear my mom call my name, "Cameron!"

I looked at my Skitty and sighed. Turning around I walk to my dresser and pick out a shirt, nothing in particular, and throw it on.

I walk outside and see my mom talking to this tall man I have seen around the area. He is wearing a lab coat, which is completely unbuttoned, and a sports cap.

"Oh, Cameron, this is Professor Kukui."

I glance at her and then Kukui who smiles radiantly and holds out his hand inviting me to shake it. So I do.

"Alola! I've been meaning to visit since you arrived but I've been rather swamped researching Pokemon moves. Nevertheless, here I am."

Right off the bat I can tell he only knows how to smile. I should be thinking he is weird but actually it's quite warming. I guess. I don't know.

"Alola?" I say unsure why he said that first. In fact I've noticed people say it a lot.

He smiled wider as he rubbed the nape of his neck, "Alola means hi and bye. And yes, it's strange that Alola is also the name of the region."

Makes sense.

"Anyways, I want to welcome you and your family, especially you, to the ceremony tonight. 2 of our own will be setting forth on the path to complete the Island Challenge."

I've heard about this Island Challenge thing. I have no clue what it is to be honest but I know it involves using Pokemon.

Meanwhile, my Skitty finally made his way here from my room. Kukui acknowledges him, bends down, and rubs under his chin.

"This is a Skitty, right?" he asks. I nod. "You've ever had a Pokemon battle, before?"

"No. I only have this Skitty because I found it hurt outside of Rustboro City," I say remembering that day.

It was a rainy and just an overall terrible day. I was at Rustboro City because my friend's dad worked at Devon Corp. It was supposed to be a good day of learning what Devon Corp. does but some gang came in and caused havoc. When it was done a storm blew by ruining my bike. I told my friend, Carl, to go back home while I went to Maulville and get my bike repaired.

Once it was fixed I made my way back and when I was just outside of Rustboro I saw this Skitty lying in a puddle. He was barely breathing. I immediately wrapped him in my sweater and went to the Pokemon Center in Rustboro. After a couple hours he was healed and ready to leave.

Now, I've never had a Pokemon. Aaron was the Pokemon Trainer. He and his Blaziken had made it to the Quarterfinals in the Pokemon League Tournament. I just admired them, afraid to do what my brother did so well. Plus, his lack of support didn't help. "You'd never be as good as me, so don't embarrass the family name."

Brotherly love.

"Ah, a caring person I see. Well, maybe you will change your mind after tonight. Please come to Iki Town at 7PM. It'll be good to meet everybody in the area."

I was already saying "No thanks" in my head but his endearing tone and smile convinced me to, at the very least, check it out.

My mom didn't need convincing. "We'll be there," she said thinking she can speak for me.

Professor Kukui exited the home leaving me and my mom in an awkward silence. I looked at my Skitty who was still overjoyed by the attention he was paid by a stranger. I went back to my room where I tried to talk myself out of going to the ceremony tonight.

It didn't work.

Here I am, walking around this large wooden platform or stage which is surrounded by a couple dozen people laughing and talking. So many people overcome with happiness. My mom is talking to the elderly lady about who knows what. I abandoned her the moment we arrived. She'll just embarrass me.

Meanwhile, my brother is hanging out with a couple older kids near the Malasada Bar.

Nearby I see Castor and his girlfriend, Iwika, talking to each other. Iwika has this, in my opinion, disgustingly bright pink hair that comes down the left side of her head and face. She actually brings all of her hair to that side leaving the right side looking bald.

I avoid them with all of my power.

Professor Kukui appears near me and welcomes me to Iki Town.

"Glad you came, cousin."

Cousin is something the locals call their friends or people they are friendly too. I caught onto that when I told the mailman that he wasn't my cousin.

"Same," I lied.

"The Kahuna, Hala, should be here in a hot moment. He's going to hand out 2 Pokemon, we're going to watch a fantastic battle for our guardian and enjoy the beautiful night away," he said laying out how this ceremony was going to go.

Not a second sooner did this large and older man appear. He was very broad and looked strong. His smile and candor towards the children conflicted with how he appeared.

"Welcome to the ceremony, where we will send 2 new young people on the quest of completing the Island Challenge."

"Hey, Splits," a crooked voice says behind me sending a chill down my spine. The person walks next to me, opposite of Kukui, and smirks.

Castor.

I ignore him.

Kukui takes a peak at Castor at the corner of his eye, but his smile stays he same. I wonder if he knows.

"So, will our two brave young challengers approach me," I hear Hala say with a booming voice.

I watch as Castor and his girlfriend walk up to Hala. I immediately feel bad for those poor Pokemon. These two don't deserve Pokemon. Terrible excuses for people.

Castor picks Popplio after Iwika picks Litten.

I want to leave but Kukui's presence keeps my feet planted where they are as Hala talks about the Guardian Deity, Tapu Koko, watching over us. He rambles on about it and then tells us Castor and Ikiwa will now use their new Pokemon in a battle to pay respect to the Guardian.

The battle was whatever. The townsfolk enjoyed it. Kukui enjoyed it.

Castor won.

He looked at me and mouthed, "Splits."

So pointless, but it angered me.

I didn't think. I just did it. I walked up to the platform and approached Hala. "Excuse me," I said with a shaky voice.

Was I really going to do this?

"Yes?" he says nicely.

"Can I have the other one, please?"

He looks over my shoulder at Kukui, who nods, and then back at me. He places his hand on my head and reaches for the pokeball on his belt. He lets the Pokemon, Rowlet, out of the ball.

The crowd has gotten silent, that's when I realize everybody, including Castor, is looking at me and Hala. I can feel my heart trying to beat out of my chest.

Hala tells me to stand a few feet from Rowlet and see if Rowlet picks me like I picked him.

I look into the eyes of the beige furry Pokemon. His eyes are big, almost too big, but cute nevertheless. After a few moments of staring the Rowlet hops towards me and makes an adorable sound causing Hala to laugh with his deep voice.

"It seems this Rowlet has accepted you as his trainer."

Everybody claps and cheers for me as I hold Rowlet in my arms. I'm unsure of how to react when I look at my mom who seems a mix of happy and worried. I glance away.

Professor Kukui is smiling. He gives me a nod, boosting my confidence as Hala remarks that he wasn't planning for this. Hala then asks for a volunteer to battle my Rowlet and I as to uphold tradition.

This young boy, who looked to be no older than me, offered. He had short, dusty brown hair. He wore this graphic tee with a beach on the front. It included this large tree in it, but it kind of looked like a Pokemon I've never seen before. He walked up to the platform and nodded.

"I'm Caleb, nice to meet you."

A/N: I decided to use Alola because it's the new region and I think it's just fantastic. I will obviously be using character from the games in this fanfiction cause that is just good sense. However, I will do away with a few for the sake of the story.

At the time of publishing I have done 15 more chapters. So this month is set for updates. The goal is to have a new chapter up every 3-5 days, but don't fret if it takes a week for me to update.

If you have any comments or questions or even suggestions please feel free to leave them.