Chapter 1: Alola Alola

The sun was so bright coming up from below inside the ship that all Brendan Birch could see was making him want to white out. It was almost so blinding he considered going back down to his room aboard the ship and waiting until they reached mainland. Alas, the whole purpose of this trip outside of work was for Brendan Birch to get out of his slump and back in the game... of life, that is.

Looking for work outside of being a trainer had been difficult for him after college level courses in it deemed him, a Champion of Hoen, not good enough... even after beating all of their courses and "finals" (Pokemon battles that honestly felt more intense than the Elite Four with their hyper-competitive weather strategies). It was a struggle, but like anything worth doing, Brendan just assumed it came hand in hand with what he was destined to do. If anything, it was to weed out those few who would skate by.

"Ugh!" Brendan sighed under his breath to himself, shielding his eyes from the light. "'Go follow your dreams!' they said. 'It will all be worth it!' they said." Yeah, worth it for them to get his money and get rid of him! There were times as a trainer he was tough, but now of all times from trainer schooling, like many instances before, he felt more like crying. His tears forming along with the salty air fild his sinuses, as he felt himself clamp up.

"Swamp-ert."

It's amazing sometimes how animals like Pokemon can say so much in their affection, tone and posture without saying more than what identified their name. Swampert, Brendan Birch's starter, had been through this all with him. He was literally on the front line alongside him from the beginning at the Pokemon Research Lab in Newbarktown with his dad, to the end facing the head of the department and putting the final nail in each other's coffins (the chairman more literally). It was Swampert as well as his other Pokemon specifically bred for these test that took him so far. Brendan could not help but wonder if he failed them.

Swampert was always nervous about letting his team... his family down. Brendan... Mr. and Mrs. Birch... his other Pokemon companions of past and present... How could he compete with such perfectly bred and trained Pokemon. Still, if it didn't involve a grass type, he was pretty darn good, especially with Steven Stone's gift and special training. Even after Brendan became a champion, he was still there to help. Grant it, this could be determined to be him defending the league and making sure he nor Hoen looked like pushovers, but call it what you will. In the end, Brendan and Swampert together seemed to do the impossible!

...which is exactly why he was denied his degree.

"Just a fluke?" Brendan remembered those heinous words. "The grades and battles don't matter; it's all about how you do it and being approved BY US!' Sounded more like B.S., which sounded too much like "T.S." as it was called in this world. A world inhabited by wondrous creatures...

Actionsparda presents...

Swampert, feeling like he should know better, still placed his flipper-like hand on Brendan's shoulder from behind. Normally, Brendan hated being touched as of late. All the stress and years of trying coming up empty having taken its' tole. Yet, he held it against him, crying now with a smile.

"Thanks Swampert." he said to his partner Pokemon's shock. If it were any other Pokemon, even a legendary, he would probably have been mad at this point. But not Swampert... not only was he loyal, putting his own health on the line, but he could read Brendan like no one else could and defend him when he could not do so himself. They looked out for each other. That was the way it was. That was the way a trainer and its' partner were meant to be! Partners known as...

Based on the popular franchise of Game Freak

Bravely, with Swampert to lean on for comfort, the two walked back up the staircase into the sunlight to see the unknown for the first time... "Hello Alola..."

Pokemon: Brendan and Co.

*intro theme*

Heh, it seemed kind of redundant when he thought about it. Here, the name was based on the traditional form of greeting someone or saying goodbye. Brendan had essentially said "Hello Hello." or rather "Alola Alola." if you would. "Sounds like a pop song." He muttered under his breath, making Swampert laugh!

*cue music*

The ocean air was even stronger here than back in near-tropical Hoen! At least he shouldn't have to compensate for it in his travels with his Pokemon, according to folklore and rumors, as well as in the brochure from his last employment. Ironic, and yet you could argue it was part of that sappy "Everything happens for a reason." saying. More T.S.

As he adjusted to the climate, the two began to do some classic exploring and talking with those around him, something only Pokemon seemed to be able to help him do to bridge the gap, as they so often help do with most people and their pet companions.

Brendan looked out to see towards their destination. A wondrous world full of unknown challenges they would have to face together head-on!

"Just like old times..." Brendan thought.

*end music*

"Ahoy Brendan!" he heard an older man call out.

Brendan looked up the stairs leading up to the bridge of the ship to see good ol' Mr. Briney walking down to greet him for the first time today. Or rather, "Captain Briney."

"Excuse me sir!" Brendan said with a slight smirk on his face as he went to meet him halfway on the deck. "This boating is so long and bumpy! Who is the captain here!?"

"uhh.." Briney said, at first taken back but now playing alng with Brendan's oddly more jovial than usual nature. "That would be me sir."

"Wha!?' Brendan acted in fake shock. By now, Swampert had moved on to conversations with other trainer's Pokemon, knowing that this was all a ruse without the need to ask. ...or the ability to truly ask for that matter. "But...but... If you're here...WHO IS DRIVING THE BOAT!?"

A few People actually looked alarmed at first, since Brendan said the punchline a little too loud. Fortunately, the two laughed it of fast enough to put everyone's mind at ease, as well as avoid mass panic.

The honorary Captain looked forward at the young man with confidence, his Swampert looking off to the side happily and the two looking like the trainer with the Zangoose or any other normal team on the ship. He hadn't seen him this happy since...

"Well," he began, ending his train of thought aloud "We're almost to the docks of Melememe Island!" Wow, these names were a mouthful! "We've actually just now entered Alola's borders, and I came to tell you we are officially there despite our location in the middle of the water still."

'Does this mean I'm being cut adrift sir?" Brendan teased

"NAH!" the Captain teased "I don't want to risk my first continental trip as a Captain to end in a mutiny!" Briney smiled, reminicing with a twinkle in his eye. "Besides," he continued "knowing you and that Popeye Swashbuckler Swampert of yours, you could get their safer and faster than Michael Phelps on a Kyogre!"

Now THAT resulted in the first heartfelt laugh in the longest time for Brendan in front of someone. IF only he caught Celebe or Dialga to keep going back to it... let alone to undo his mistakes.

"Well," Brendan laughed "I hear that shouldn't be a problem around here." He still wasn't sure how he felt about using other people's "riding" Pokemon. Something just felt more natural about teaching his team to do it, s well as the nostalgia of flying on Swellow or diving with Swampert. Ah, the nastalgia of searching for treasure was soothing for him... save for one very huge exception... the day he touched that orb again... for the first time in years... that he prayed to Arceus never to see again.

He could still here the distorted roars scarred into his brain.

"So," after an awkward uncomfortable pause to Brendan's reaction "are ya ready for your first day of work in a foreign country?"

"Yeah," Brendan nodded, exhaling nervously "at least the language barrier is never an issue outside of names." Good thing virtually all regions spoke and wrote the same dialect. "Thank you again for doing this for me Captain." Brendan smiled "Are you sure I can't reimburse you for all the..."

"Nay lad!" he insisted "You hold onto that well-earned money! Peeko and I have all we need for the rest of our lives! You get out there and get the same!"

Swampert came up to them after he finished flexing for some females, nudging not for awareness Brendan had, but rather just out of affection. "Thank you sir," the duo bowed together in respect. "I'll try to do your charitable service good."

"Ya already have lad," he said walking away "you already have."

It really donned on him for the first time that for all he knew this could be the last time he saw Mr. Briney. He was getting up their in age, despite his carefree tough-as-steel-type attitude. Yet, like so many trainers, much of his family had deceased. It was a small miracle in itself he still had his dad left!

Most well-known trainers seemed inspired in there biography's by their father's absence to take on the Pokemon League.

"At least that shouldn't be a problem here." Brendan told himself. Despite being known for very exotic versions of Pokemon, Alola was very traditional and had no intention for the longest time of having an actual league there. So, that should be one less distraction from work. Besides, there would still be plenty of trainers. If he and Swampert decided to engage for extra money, new Pokemon or fun, and work would be taxing enough on the both of them! Plus, being here on work with just his service Pokemon on hand, he could not be officially challenged simply by locking eyes with another trainer. Of course, he could not do so with anyone he pleased either without their permission. His Swampert had the I.D. to prove he was a"service Pokemon." They just had to come through here to make it official. After that, if all went as planned... which it never does... he should be able to use his "Ace in the Hole" to go to and from regions at jet speed.

Brendan felt in his backpack. His faithful traveling bag, now much smaller with no need to camp out or train, contained his two most treasured items. Both gifts from Steven, his Mega Bracelet would not old power his Pokemon for work, battles or emergencies, but it would also allow him to utilize his second item. A flute he received after virtually saving the world, it could call his legendary Pokemon Latios to fly him wherever he needed to go no strings attached and no moves or other equipment needed, so long as he could Mega Evolve it with the bracelet to get where he was going.

...and clothes.

Finally, after arriving on land (dock), his new journey was about to begin, one like no other Pokemon trainer journey, for he was about to embark on receiving his third gift from Steven: employment!