He stood in an isolated cave, strange gemstones protruding from the walls and a narrow path leading up towards another enclosed space with just a single shaft of light penetrating the alien environment around him. He felt urged on to run towards that light shaft and embrace the moon's light, but as he neared it, something unearthly appeared and struck.

"Mrowwrr!" He awoke with a start and breathed heavily as he realized that it was all just another nightmare. Turning to face his mother's Meowth, he calmed himself and slipped out of bed, getting dressed into a navy blue gingham shirt with a pair of denim blue cargo pants. After having dressed himself, he stepped out of his bedroom with Meowth to find his mother unpacking the last couple of boxes left from the move.

She had bright red, wavy hair that clashed with the dim night light outside the windows. As she took notice of him, she set down a bronze star ornament and looked at him with round, jubilant green eyes. "Morning, sleepy head!" she greeted.

"Morning," he responded drowsily, trying to make it seem like he was still waking up from a good rest. "Only a few left?"

"Yep! I'm pretty sure the only things still packed are house ornaments," she confirmed, waving him over to her side. He followed her out onto their house's side porch, looking across the horizon, a distant sea shining in the moonlight. "What a beautiful place," she sighed.

"Yeah, it looks great at night," he agreed, letting a small smile spread across his face.

"So, are you excited to see some new Pokemon?" she asked him.

"Oh, uh, I guess…?" he said with uncertainty. He honestly wasn't certain about this, but both his mother and father were experienced trainers themselves and if his mom was letting him do this, maybe it'd be alright.

Mary sighed and shook her head casually, muttering, "My goodness, I wish you'd get more excited sometimes." As she smiled and prepared to say something, the doorbell rang, interjecting in the conversation. "Come in!" she called to the front door.

A brown-skinned man wearing a pair of shorts, a cap, an open labcoat with literally nothing underneath stepped into the house. "Yo, Mary! I'm here, and hello there, cousin!" He looked to Jacky who seemed a bit uncomfortable with the unnecessary abs game he was bringing. "You must be Jacky, huh? I gotta tell ya, that's a name that'll really strike like a Thunderbolt!"

He snapped himself out of his discomfort daze and said, "O-Oh, thank you! And you are...Professor Kukui, right?"

"Right you are, oh yeah!" he cheered. "So, are you ready to get your Pokemon from the Kahuna?" He smiled brightly upon the child as Jacky slowly nodded his head.

"Yeah, I think I am…"

Kukui's smile dropped as he looked down at Jacky for a moment before he raised up a smile again and looked to Mary. "I'll keep an eye on him the entire way to Iki Town, Mary!"

"Thanks, Kukui, you two be safe out there! Jacky, don't forget to put on your jacket before you go, and make sure to grab something from the fridge while you're at it." She pulled her son in for a hug, squeezing him tight for a moment before sending him off to his room.

Jacky opened his closet and pulled out his black utility jacket and pulled it on immediately. Even if it wasn't currently Winter, he'd have brought this jacket out with him regardless. His mom found it funny how often he wore it, sometimes calling it his safety blanket. Maybe she was right or maybe it was just habit. Either way, he was ready now.

Jacky grabbed a cold cut sandwich and left the house with Kukui, the two heading out onto Route 1. "You know, Jacky, having a Pokemon won't be so bad," he said. They headed up the hill and found two people battling with their Pokemon. It seemed relatively tough, but simplistic, and the two trainers seemed to be having fun. Even their Pokemon had a passion in their eyes. "Pokemon can open your eyes to so many new ideas and perspectives."

The boy felt Kukui's hand on his shoulder, a small comfort to try and help him feel a bit better about this new responsibility he'd soon have. He nodded and gave the professor a slight smile. "But first I need to be open to it, right?"

"Yeah, that's it, Jacky, yeah!" he concurred joyously. "That's what you need! So, are you open to it?"

He took a deep breath and smiled just a bit wider before looking to Kukui and nodding. "Of course! It's only the very least I can do!" He wasn't entirely sure if he'd be good at this, but this was only the first time he'd ever been an actual trainer. Besides, at the very least, taking care of his own Pokemon shouldn't be too hard, right?

"Alright, then let's get going to Iki Town! We're almost there!" Kukui declared, heading off through an archway, Jacky following close behind. The two passed through the archway and into Iki Town proper, heading up another incline towards what looked like a sumo arena. Kukui looked around the area, but frowned. "Where are they? They were supposed to meet us right here! Maybe they got caught up…?"

"Why don't we wait around? I could see the town," Jacky suggested. He looked towards a series of steps towards a canyon and found his curiosity rising. He'd read a brochure of MeleMele Island during the flight and he knew what that would lead to. "I'll be at the ruins, okay?"

"You got it, cousin! I'll come get you when Kahuna Hala arrives!" Kukui replied as he headed for the arena.

Jacky smiled and ran for the steps, rushing up them, eager to see the ruins that supposedly house MeleMele's legendary guardian deity, Tapu Koko. The steps led to a huge swerving hill path, which then gave way to further steps as the climb got steeper. As he finally reached the top, he spotted someone ahead. Another tourist, maybe?

He continued onward, focused on seeing the ruins. However, as she became alerted to his presence and turned to face him, everything else seemed to fade out. Her white hat and dress, and even her blonde hair seemed to glow under the moonlight. Her pale skin and round green eyes made her seem almost ethereal.

"Ah...Hello...?"

As if snapping him to attention, his face flushed as he declared, "I WASN'T STARING!" Louder than usual, as he'd realize far too late. However, before he could try to rectify this with a quick lie or perhaps an apology, something seemed to interject.

"Pew!" Something shot out of the bag she'd been holding to her side, what looked like a miniature galaxy floated happily in the air. Was that a Pokemon? It wasn't any that Jacky had ever seen before!

The tiny thing floated off over the bridge, heading for the ruins, but the cawing of a small flock of Spearow stopped it in its tracks long enough to see them coming in from above. The three bird Pokemon dove in and attacked with their talons, scratching at the little guy again and again.

"Nebby!" the girl cried in distress as she watched the poor thing get hit again and again. She looked to Jacky and grabbed his sleeve. "Please, save Nebby!"

Jacky looked back towards the defenseless Pokemon being grouped up on by the three Spearows and then to the bridge. It looked like it'd seen better days, but as he looked back between the girl and the small Pokemon, he came to a decision. Taking a deep breath to steel himself, he took his first step onto the bridge, holding onto the rope tightly as he steadily made his way towards the attack.

After finally getting in close enough, he reached down for the little guy before a pair of talons came down and slashed his forehead. Instinctively, he threw himself over Nebby and kept himself as low as he could. As the attack continued, he heard a small hum beneath him and suddenly a wave erupted from Nebby, pushing back the Spearows and destroying the bridge below them. The two were now in freefall and all Jacky could do was hold the little Pokemon close to him. However, coming in from above, something dove down, smacking the three Spearow away with an electrified swat, and swooped in just in time to save the two from a terrible fate.

Jacky was deposited back on the cliffside next to Lillie with Nebby tucked in his arms. Landing just a few feet away from them was the guardian himself, Tapu Koko. The electric deity of MeleMele Island. It was quite astonishing, seeing him so close, it was astonishing to have been saved by him! However, before anything could be said, Tapu Koko flew off out of sight.

"Are you alright?" This snapped Jacky out of his revery as he looked upon the girl again.

"Uh, yeah. I'm...I'm alright," he said slowly. With time to process what had just happened, his legs began to shake and he soon found himself falling back on the ground. "Wha- Are you okay?"

"L-Lugia's tides, that was mortifying…" he exhaled heavily. He seemed to be panicking despite the catastrophe having already come and gone. The little Pokemon that the girl called Nebby floated over to his face, looking upon him with a smile. "H-Hey, little guy. You alright?"

"Pew!" It sounded happy enough, so he took that as a yes.

"Oh, Nebby, you tried to use your power again, didn't you? The last time you did that, you couldn't move for ages!" she laid in. "I don't want to see you like that again!" She sighed and took a breath. "No...I shouldn't say that. I'm sorry, Nebby…" She looked back to Jacky and held out a hand for him, which he took gratefully, helping him to his feet. "Thank you so much for helping us out of that dangerous spot."

As he dusted himself off, he sighed and said, "No, I didn't really do that much…" He wished he could've done more, but that cut threw him into a panic. Speaking of that cut, it was now bleeding, which is what now threw her into a panic.

"Oh my goodness, you're bleeding!" She reached into her bag and pulled out a handtowel and pressed it to his forehead, making him wince as he felt the sting. "I'm sorry!" she said quickly as she held the towel to his cut.

"It's okay," he assured her. "So, if you don't mind me asking...who are you?"

She seemed hesitant as she pondered that question for a moment. "I'm Lillie…And you?"

"My name's Jacky," he answered.

She smiled a bit and guided his hand to hold the towel up before stepping towards Nebby. "Alright, Nebby, back in the bag. We can't have anyone seeing you." Nebby seemed perfectly fine with that, flying into the bag hanging from her shoulder. She looked back and asked, "I hate to ask more of you, but would you mind keeping Nebby a secret? I don't want too many people to know about him…And would you also be so kind as to escort me back to Iki Town…?"

He seemed to be at pause for a moment, but agreed to both. He wasn't certain why Nebby had to be kept a secret though. Maybe he was a rare Pokemon and she didn't want anyone stealing him? Well, either way, it didn't matter right now. As Lillie headed towards the hill, he noticed something peculiar on the ground and kneeled down to pick it up. It was an oddly-shaped Sparkling Stone. It was warm at the touch, as if someone had been holding onto it not long ago...did Tapu Koko leave this for him…?