Melemele, the quaint island where all Alolan Trainers begin their Island Challenges. In the middle of the island lies Iki Town, a relic of Alolan ancestry and tradition where the people regularly host festivals that have long been forgotten in other parts of Alola. Here, the scent of adventure wafts down from the presiding mountains, drifting between the worn-wood houses, mingling with people's hearts. Many famed battles in Alolan history have taken place at the arena that sits at the very heart of the town.

To the north of Iki Town is Mahalo Trail, a rugged path that leads to the Ruins of Conflict, where the island deity Tapu Koko is said to sleep. Along the trail is a great chasm, spanned by a lone bridge that is said to have been crafted by the town's first settlers. Rising up towards the mountains, here the air becomes cool and begins to tingle with an unsettling electricity that races across the skin. The tingle, perhaps, of legend.

"Nebby!"

The girl's cry cut through the night sharper than the scythe of the moon and into the soil beneath my feet, forcing me to move. I dashed past her gaped eyes and onto the bridge crossing the ravine ahead. Rickety, it shook harder than the waves breaching below.

Right in the middle of the bridge was where 'Nebby' cowered. The creature was one I had never seen before, with the body of a violet floating cloud and a pair of indigo wisps for arms. A Pokemon native to Alola, perhaps. With its face peeled to the floor and its arms over its head, all the creature could do was shiver, tormented by a flock of three Spearow twice its size that were utilising their beaks to great effect. Diving through their formation, I braced myself over Nebby and shoved a hand over my head, waving the other wildly through the air.

The squawks of the Spearow intensified. I felt their claws and beaks nipping at my bag, cap and hair, each strike a needle, and their wingbeats at my eartips. The brine stench rose from the flows beneath, cornering me. Sneaking a peek to the right, I saw the girl on the cliff, all dressed in white, hands clasped over her lips as she stood just before the bridge, knees trembling. I prepared myself to shout at her to call for help, but before the words could emerge, I was shut off by an unfamiliar hoot-like cry.

Woosh-woosh!

A striking sound, followed immediately by an agonised yelp, followed by a thud as one of the Spearow hit the ground next to my cheek. Bouncing back onto its claws, it aimed a skyward glare before shooting off again. Its cry of fury was accompanied by the cries of its brethren as I felt the pressure on my back alleviate. Cradling Nebby, I made a dash for the cliff and dropped the tiny creature into the girl's arms before bending over, heaving.

"Um!"

I didn't need her reminder to spin back and look at the bridge.

The three Spearow were floating in the air, taking turns to strike at an owl Pokemon I had never seen before. It was ball-shaped, with tea-coloured plumage and a two-leaf bowtie. From the glowing leaves it was tossing I guessed that it was a Grass-type. And though it was fighting ferociously, I could tell that it was struggling to maintain its position. The combination of the three Spearow was simply too intensive. Two would distract the owl with feint movements while a third struck with Peck from behind. And that was bad news for a Grass-type. As a bolt of lightning laced down the back of my neck, I somehow found my soles striking the planks of the bridge once again.

I lashed out wide, forcing two of the Spearow to disperse. Just then, the third's eyes gleamed as it folded its wings behind the owl.

"Behind you!"

The owl swivelled its head back sharply at my words. It swerved out of the way just as the last Spearow zoomed in for a Peck and launched a barrage of fresh leaves. The Spearow faltered as the speedy projectiles met their mark.

As a buzzing pressure formed and rose in my chest, I thrust one palm outward and, though I had never done so before, imitated the style of Trainers I had seen and yelled:

"Tackle!"

The owl replied with a chirp and rammed into the Spearow with a mighty flap, slamming it into the ground. The once-ferocious bird Pokemon yelped from the impact and unfolded its wing as its eyes transformed into dazed spirals.

But just as the owl was catching its breath, the other Spearow snuck in from behind and unleashed a double Peck.

"Kroo!"

I leaped forward, catching the owl as it fell. Together, we crashed into the ground. It was only from that distance that I noticed the many wounds marking its feathers and body. Both its eyes were as good as shut, squinting, as a meek cooing spilled without pause from its beak.

Twisting my head, I spotted the Spearow lining up for another assault and pulled the owl closer to my chest. The Spearow rushed forward. Just then, a full, well-bodied voice rang out from the direction of the cliff.

"Crabrawler! Rock Slide!"

The next thing I knew, a ring of coconut-sized boulders came crashing all around us. The Spearow spread their wings immediately to halt themselves in mid-flight and, swinging their necks around, began darting through the barrage in a desperate attempt to evade them.

The rocks fell with perfect precision, raining slightly angled such as to form a cone-shaped area of effect with the tip anchored in the air. They fell either above the ropes suspending the bridge or through the gaps between them, slipping into the swells with a splash. The ropes and the planks remained undented.

Unable to turn fast enough, one of the Spearow was smashed in the back.

"Kaw!"

Crashing, it fainted.

The last Spearow cast an anxious glance at its fallen companion as it narrowly evaded one of the boulders. It glanced at the owl in my arms, then to the suspension ropes. A glint. Diving towards the base of the bridge, it suddenly swerved to face the oncoming boulders, spread its wings wide, and flapped, unleashing a Gust with all its strength.

Caught in the rising winds, the falling boulders began to waver.

"Oh no!" said the full-bodied voice.

The rocks spun out of their trajectories and, almost instantly, one slammed the Spearow in the face. The shadow of a second loomed towards me. Flipping over, I glued my back to the planks, all the while clutching the owl close to my stomach. The boulder sliced through the air right over my nose, barely touching.

"Kroo…" it cooed softly.

Patting the creature on the head in an attempt to soothe it, I said, "Don't worry. I'll protect you."

Pssh!

The bridge lurched.

"Wha-"

Pssh!

Grabbing one of the planks, I pulled myself up slightly to examine the situation.

The ropes keeping the bridge afloat had been ripped through at parts. Two holes sullied the nearby planks.

Pssh!

A boulder pummelled through the wood right next to where my fingers lay. The bridge was hit by a tremor.

Snap!

Without warning, the weight in my hand vanished.

"Ah-"

The incessant roar of the surging waters beneath rose up to swallow me whole, drowning out the world except for the whoosh of the wind streaming against my eardrums. My right arm lay stretched out above, fingertips grasping at nothing. At one point, the wind stopped screaming, leaving me with nothing but a drug-like emptiness. The owl's cooing reached me from below but the sound trickled slowly, arriving in separate, broken bits.

Bits of brine splattered against the bottom of my chin. Gravity was my only shackle, tugging at my feet with all the languor of a Snorlax. My mind went soft, swaying in the air's cradle. But just then, shooting through the air like a bullet, a buzz came to me. I felt my neck slowly rotate through the viscous wind, eyes rolling upward to catch sight of a lone spark in the distance. The owl's cooing came louder and clearer.

The buzz intensified, the spark boomeranged through the air, enlarging into a bolt of yellow crackles. A gold flash. It cleaved through the stagnant air, shattering the fog of silence that had taken control of my world. The roar of the waves returned, dancing amongst the seethes of the wind. And as the beam rushed towards my face, I caught sight of twin circles within the dancing lightning. Two bright circles of shining azure blue. They stared.

Boom!

A thunderclap shook me, forcing me to strengthen my grip around the owl. Consumed by gold light, I felt the might of gravity disintegrate almost instantaneously around me as a new force grabbed me in its palm and thrust me in one swift, curved motion. My bones rattled as the blood at my feet rushed to my head.

Then, emptiness once more. I was falling through the air like a feather. Amidst the soft vibrating of my head, the thumps of my heart came as rhythmic, bursting gongs. The owl's cooing returned, ethereal as before. Rock spires rose to consume the boundaries of my field of vision.

Bang!

"Russ!"

Led by Professor Kukui's cry, all sound came flooding back into my head at once, culminating in a sharp explosion at the back of my skull. I choked, throwing my chest upward. The owl squeaked as I bumped into it. From behind, echoed footsteps. From the front? A familiar buzz.

I looked. And it was only after I looked that I noticed the sound of crackling creeping through the air towards me. The sound tugged at the surface of my skin and tickled the blood beneath.

Boom!

After what looked like a thunderbolt pulling itself out of the ground and regressing to the heavens, the yellow bolt that had rescued me cast aside its mantle of lightning. At the same time, the voices and footsteps from behind me froze, diminishing to breaths.

It was a Pokemon, that much was certain. But its name I didn't know. It was black, but looking at it as a whole, no one would call it that. Boasting a mohawk that resembled a jagged orange broadsword, the space around it was dominated by a pair of shells strapped to its arms at the wrists, one on each arm and both as yellow as the lightning that had masked it. The markings on the shells were of a similar style to the carvings on totem statues I had seen around the island. All the while, the owl had its eyes trained on the creature, refusing to budge.

"What's your name?"

Those were the words I had in mind as I raised an arm and opened my mouth to speak. But just as I did, the creature slammed its shells togetherand sprung to the clouds with a thunderclap. All that remained was the glimpse I had caught an instant before its departure, its form with its shell pulled over: the scowl of a vicious bird.

The next thing I knew, my vision rippled like water that had been struck through the middle with rain. Gravity heaved. I fell.

The last thing I felt was the owl hopping on my stomach, hooting desperately…

#

"Ow!"

A Peck to the cheek dispelled the shroud of darkness wrapped around me. Above, the sky was dark.

"Kroo! Kroo!"

Grabbing the owl like a ball, I pulled it away from my face and placed it next to my lap on the wooden stage where I was lying. The Iki Town arena. I knew where I was.

"You alright, cousin?"

Professor Kukui approached me donning his signature shades. Behind him were two people: the girl whose Pokemon had been attacked by the Spearow, and a stout, sturdy-looking old man. Like the Prof's, his skin was chestnut brown and he donned a jacket with bright floral prints over a blue shirt. In contrast, the girl's complexion was lighter even than mine, blending in with the white hat and dress that bound her skinny frame such that she felt almost mist-like, invisible.

The girl remained one pace behind as the Prof and the other man stepped closer. I hopped off the wooden stage to greet them but, landing weakly, I stumbled. Before I could hit the sand, however, the older man grabbed me by the wrist and straightened me out with the weight of a tree trunk.

"Woah there, take it easy, son," he grinned through his greying moustache.

Professor Kukui smiled. "Russ, this man is none other than the Kahuna of Melemele Island: Hala."

"Kahuna?" the word shot out of my mouth before I could think, and the force shoved me backwards.

The Kahuna chuckled. "No need to be afraid. I'm much more gentle than I look."

Sticking my arms by my sides like a pair of chopsticks, I bowed until I could see through the gap between my legs behind me.

"It's an honour to meet you, sir!" I said.

A moment of silence. Then, uncontrolled, hearty laughter.

"Sir? My, I can't remember the last time someone called me that!" Hala said between pockets of chuckles and wheezes.

"Come now, cousin," Professor Kukui tossed a tear away from beneath his shades; one arm on his stomach. "Oh well, guess I can't blame ya since ya just came over from Kanto and all."

"This is how we do things here in Alola!"

With those words, the Kahuna stretched his arm out and offered me his palm. Cheeks still red, I took his hand and he shook it. It was a firm, kind shake.

"Good to meet you, Russ!" he bellowed.

"I-it's nice to meet you too, sir!"

Once again he broke into laughter. "Enough of that. Hala will be just fine. Or Kahuna if you have to."

The next thing I knew, the sturdy man stepped forward, grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug. Patting me twice on the back, he released me and, keeping both hands on my shoulders, he nodded.

"Welcome to Alola!" he bellowed.

"Thank you!"

"And," Professor Kukui said. "This here's my assistant Lillie."

The blonde girl moved a half-step towards me and bowed so slightly it could have been mistaken for a nod.

"N-nice to meet you," she said. "a-and… thanks for saving Nebby!"

"Don't mention it," I smiled. "How's he doing?"

She unzipped her sling bag just a bit and the Pokemon from before poked the top of its head out. Spotting me, it smiled and squealed.

"Now," Professor Kukui interrupted us with a clap. "Back to the order of business."

I turned. "Business?"

Professor Kukui chuckled. "Come on, Russ. Did you forget, already? Your first Pokemon!"

"Oh!"

My first Pokemon. As those words digested in my mind, a pulse of excitement started rising up from the pit of my stomach once more.

"Indeed!" Kahuna Hala bellowed. "I've prepared three special Pokemon for you to choose from… is what I'd like to say. But."

Following the gazes of the two men, I turned in the direction of the wooden stage.

There stood the owl Pokemon I had rescued earlier. Watching the three of us watch it, it tilted its head at an odd angle.

"Kroo?"

"Pffft," came Lillie's voice from behind.

Kahuna Hala folded his arms over his belly. "It seems that Rowlet has taken a liking to you."

"Rowlet?" I said.

"That bird Pokemon over there," Professor Kukui answered. "Even amongst Alolan Pokemon, it's a pretty rare critter. No coincidence that ya encountered this one at Mahalo Trail though."

I looked at the Prof. "What do you mean?"

It was Kahuna Hala who answered. "We folks in Iki Town are rather well acquainted with this Rowlet. He always intervenes when he finds weak Pokemon getting bullied. A veritable 'hero of justice'. A number of Trainers have tried to tame him but even after getting captured in a Pokeball, he simply refuses to obey his Trainers' orders. All of them eventually gave up and returned him to the wild."

I turned back to the Rowlet. It looked so tiny and harmless there, perched on the edge of the arena. I watched as it plucked at a couple of its feathers. Grooming, perhaps? Noticing my gaze, it spun its head back to the normal position and blinked. At that moment, it was hard if not impossible to imagine it as a feisty creature that gave nothing but trouble to its Trainers.

"Is it really alright?" I said. "I'm just a new Trainer. If this Rowlet can give even experienced Trainers a hard time, should I really be-"

A hard slap on my shoulder. It was Professor Kukui's face I found when I looked back. He was staring straight past me, towards Rowlet.

"Ya know," he said. "Just cos yer a great Trainer doesn't mean that every Pokemon will listen to ya. Pokemon are no different from people, see. Just like how Trainers travel the world over in search of the perfect partners to add to their team, wild Pokemon won't settle for just anybody either. They look for someone that they believe will be able to bring out their fullest potential, someone that they can trust. Someone that they can call 'family'."

I gulped, swallowing each word.

"An encounter between a Trainer and a Pokemon is like fate," said Kahuna Hala. "A meeting of two wandering stars amidst the vastness of the galaxy. And out of dozens, that Rowlet has chosen you."

I stepped towards the petite owl. Standing right in front of it, the creature had no choice but to tilt its head slightly upward to look at me. It gazed at me expectantly.

I lifted it up with both hands and said, "Do you really want to come with me?"

"Kroo!"

With that one chirp, it hopped out of my fingers and landed on top of my cap.

"Russ!"

Turning, I caught the Pokeball that Professor Kukui had thrown to me. Hopping onto my arm, the Rowlet pecked at the button on the centre of the device. The device opened, swallowed the Pokemon in a flash of red light and closed shut with a click.

"My first Pokemon…" I said, rotating the ball in my palm.

"Congratulations, Russ!" said Professor Kukui, grinning with his hands on his hips.

I beamed at the Prof, then to Lillie, then to Kahuna Hala. My heart was throbbing in its cage, as if pounding in tune to Rowlet's cooing that I swore I could almost hear radiating from inside the Pokeball. The moon was bright; the wind chilly – coursing through me and my bones and soaring into the sky in a tornado, spreading alongside a world that was now beginning to unfold before me. It was a huge, wide world. A world yet unseen. Suddenly, I felt extremely small. But with Rowlet's Pokeball gripped between my fingers, that sense of smallness was accompanied by waves of a thrill that gushed forth from deep within my soul, waxing and waning. Aching.

My journey had only just begun.

TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 02: GIGABYTE

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