A/N: Yes, I'm back with another attempt at the Ultimate Journey. This time, I've created an entire super-continental Region with separate Leagues. There are also new Form variations based on habitats in each District. I decided to change it up because I wasn't going anywhere with the old version, but I think I did a little better this time around even without the Team Magma intro. I figured it would be easier bringing in Team after Team with each Region. Please enjoy and review with any criticism. Just remember I'm out of touch with my writing ability, so my ego is pretty fragile right now lmao. Please enjoy, I'll have Part 2 up as soon as possible.
Prologue
A New World Pt. 1- Festivals and Attempted Theft
The Gran Yarosch Region, a region bigger than any other in the Pokemon world. Composed of eight smaller 'Districts' and governed by a Board of Governors, one for each District. Each District has it's own Pokemon League, the rules and manner of which vary as much as the landscapes of the Districts. Also, the Districts all have a Pokemon Research Professor in charge of various aspects of the Pokemon world. Each District, though connected to each other, have their own ecosystem as well, meaning Pokemon such as a regularly Electric Pikachu growing up on the plains would be different than the Fire and Electric breed living in the boiling heat of volcanoes. Forms like those shared between the Kanto and Alola regions are thus proven evidence of how different ecosystems affect the Pokemon population.
In Seadawn Town, a usually sleepy little harbor town on the eastern shore of the Ecruseam District, new Pokemon trainers begin their journeys during the Spring Festival, where an exhibition match of the Contest Road Tour is held. Under the guidance of Professor Jasper, these new Trainers, and all the friends they meet in their journey to conquer all eight Districts, will make their names. Overcoming whatever comes their way, this is The Ultimate Journey.
Seadawn Town, Spring Festival Day 1...
Eighteen year old Nick Negron opened his eyes to the sounds of tents being pitched in the meadow and on the beach by the harbor. "Yes! The Spring Festival is here!" He exclaimed, opening his window to let the warm breeze blow into his room. "Today's the day the class receives their first Pokemon." He went over to his dresser and grabbed the outfit he had picked out.
Minutes later, Nick was dressed in a thin navy blue hoodie adorned with a large Poke Ball on the back and dark gray cargo pants. Turning to leave the bedroom, Nick plucked his hat up and placed it on his head, the Gran Yarosch regional symbol of a spiral that alternated into eight different colors, one for each District. As he closed his bedroom door, he heard a small "Ruff!" Coming from downstairs.
Nick whistled and, almost instantly, a small brown dog with rock-like tufts of fur bounded up to him. "Hey, Rocky, morning. I told you I wouldn't sleep in today. Too much excitement to be had!" He laughed as the Rockruff hopped up and down, following Nick down into the kitchen, where there was a plate of breakfast on the counter, but no sign of Nick's mother. "Did she go ahead to help set up the festival?"
"Ruff! Rockruff!" Rocky barked in the affirmative. Nodding, Nick grabbed the plate and began eating. When he had finished, he opened the door and turned back to the small Pokemon.
"Alright, Rocky. We'll be home soon. Watch the house." The Rockruff sat at attention, making Nick smile as he closed the door and started heading for the Jasper Pokemon Research Center.
Walking past the house next door, Nick heard voices calling out to him. "Nick! Wait up! We live next door, too!" Turning toward the voices, he saw it was his best friend Elliot Tyno and their friend- and Nick's crush since they had been five- Sarina Rodriguez.
"Sorry, guys. Just excited. We get to choose our very first personal Pokemon today. And we get to do whatever we want when it comes to the Festival games." Nick pointed out, making the other two nod.
"All valid points," Elliot said. "But, don't forget that even while we travel, we may encounter Pokemon that no one has seen before. Gran Yarosch is a big place."
"True," Nick agreed, but Sarina continued Elliot's words.
"And don't forget the regional variants that spring up everywhere because a population gets uprooted somewhere they usually wouldn't be."
Nodding, Nick fell in step next to his friends as they approached the Jasper Research Center. The JPRC looked like a regular lab, if regular research facilities looked giant mechanized Pokemon. Jasper's was the mascot Pokemon of Seadawn Town, Lapras. But, the Professor had explained it once as an Ecruse Lapras, which was actually a Grass and Ice type, due to more dangerous Pokemon living in the oceans driving Lapras onto land, thus changing their typing from Water and Ice, to Grass and Ice.
It was a beautiful building, a Lapras that was a few shades from forest green instead of a regular Lapras' normal blue coloration. On the shell on it's back grew a thin layer of moss, and the usually short horn on it's head had grown longer, to better protect itself as the Lapras population living on land were threatened to the brink of extinction. Professor Jasper had two of what she said were the last living Ecruse Lapras as far as her research into regional variants was concerned. She believed that every variation of Pokemon should coexist in the world together. And as the trio walked into the lab, it was obvious that something big had happened.
Research assistants were running in so many directions it seemed impossible. But, there was no sign of the Professor. Sarina saw the head RA, Marin Lee, hunched over a desk with her hands on her head. "Marin!" Sarina called.
Turning around, Marina looked at the trio and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Arceus! The Professor has been expecting you, but something happened right after she reminded me of your coming. She told me to bring you to the back labs, she wants her favorite three students to see what's got the lab in such a frenzy." Marina pointed at a couple of RA's across the lab, both talking hurriedly on phones. "Those two are calling the other main Professors about what's happened. This is that important."
"Well then, show us what's up!" Nick exclaimed, going for the doors leading to the first set of labs. "This is gonna be awesome."
Sarina blushed a bit at Nick's childlike attitude while Elliot shook his head. "Such a kid sometimes, how is he usually the leader of our little group?"
The blush disappeared almost as quickly as it had come. "I really don't know, honestly. I just go with the flow." And you're totally into Nick, so you keep him anchored to being serious when it counts. Said a little voice in her head. Shaking her head, she started following Nick, Elliot and Marin right behind her.
As the group entered the back labs, usually off-limits to the students the Professor mentored (like Nick, Elliot and Sarina), they knew what must have happened. They saw a large enclosure with two Lapras that looked exactly like the lab itself, with the Professor petting the both of them with the biggest shit-eating grin the teenagers had ever seen. As she saw they had come in, she motioned for them to come into the enclosure through the side door.
"You're way too excited, Professor Jasper," Nick said as he walked in after Marin and gasped. "They had eggs?! A lot of eggs, too.. how'd they go to the brink exactly?"
"You'd be surprised how some forms of modern medicine have come about," Professor Jasper said darkly. "But, it's no matter. We can build a sanctuary with this many Ecruse Lapras. But, being my best students, I decided I'd give you an extra treat. Other than the things I have to give you, like regulation starters and whatnot."
Elliot was the first to speak then. "Wait. You're going to just give us three of your Ecruse Lapras eggs just because we've been good students?" Professor Jasper nodded. "The shit?"
"Oh, calm down Elliot. This is pretty cool, you know? We get to be some of the first to ever catch an Ecruse Lapras in known history, just because those eggs will hatch quicker out in the world with us than being stuck in the lab." Sarina explained.
"Right on, Sarina. And of course, it benefits you otherwise as well, like having an incubator for any future eggs that may come your way." Professor Jasper had a glint in her eyes that suggested she might further give the group eggs of Pokemon they may have never seen before. "Think of it as expanding the Pokedex further than ever before."
Laughing, the trio shook their heads. Leaving the enclosure with the eggs in their own incubators, Professor Jasper lead them to her office, closing the door behind them. "Alright, now to get down to real business. First order, one by one to the computer to register for the leagues and whatnot. Your Trainer Card allows you to participate in gym challenges and the Contest Road Tour, but they usually issue a different license for that anyway. But, it keeps track of the most important milestones for each of you..." As she droned on, the trio all went t the computer and put in their information, grabbing the newly printed Trainer Card from the card printer next to the terminal. ".. And there's also the bandits on Route Nine."
"Professor, we're done. Can we keep going with getting our things together? We want to be able to attend some of the festivities tonight."
"Watch that cheek, Negron!" The Professor said sternly before turning her attitude around yet again. "But you're right. Next is receiving your Pokedex! Now, the new models around here are pretty advanced, even by RotomDex standards. But, instead of having a living Pokedex, we were able to replicate every single function and modify it for more. It's now a radio player, tablet computer for ordering any supplies you need in a hurry, and more that I think I'll let you tinker with instead. Now, you three know that anyone who leaves from my lab get's a Pokedex in their favorite color. So, the gold and purple one is Nick's, Sarina's is the hot pink and navy blue and Elliot had the black and red, although that's really original." The sarcasm was evident in Jasper's voice.
"Whatever. Now what? Starters?" Elliot asked, crossing his arms.
"Yes, starters. Now, I don't have all of the starters available at the moment. We're missing Bulbasaur and Turtwig, I'm waiting for them to be sent over from Knollson District's Professor Redwood. First to pick will be Elliot."
"You better have a Torchic." Jasper laughed as she handed a Poke Ball to Elliot, the teenager releasing the little Chick Pokemon.
"Torrrchic!" Cried the Fire type as it hopped around.
Sarina was next, picking up a Poke Ball from the Professor's desk and releasing a Popplio. "I knew it!" Sarina exclaimed, petting the Sea Lion Pokemon. "Popplio!" It created a bubble and rolled on it across the floor.
Nick was the last to pick his starter, but he knew exactly who he wanted to help make a name for himself in the Pokemon world. "Where's my Rowlet?" Jasper handed him another Poke Ball, Nick releasing the Grass Quill Pokemon.
"Row?" Rowlet looked around, focusing on Nick as the bond between Trainer and Pokemon began to form.
"You're all so cute." Said Professor Jasper as the teenagers looked at her. "Well, now you all have everything you need other than the regular supplies you all have in your travel packs at home. Thanks for coming by, and don't forget to stop by again before you all leave town."
"Well that's a fine 'get the fuck out' but it's whatever." Laughed Elliot. "Love ya, Prof!" He called as he was already out the door. Nick shook his head as Sarina took his hand and almost dragged him out of the lab.
"Hey! What was that for, Rina?" Nick asked when they were outside and Sarina had let him go, causing Nick to fall onto her, positioning himself awkwardly while bringing her down to the ground as well.
"Just to get out of the Professor's hair. She has a lot to do right now." Her voice suggested that Sarina didn't mind having Nick's face basically in her boobs at all, or it just wasn't something that bothered her. "Besides, we're going to be leaving home in a couple days after the festival. We should spend all the time we can together."
"But, we're sticking together outside of home. Unless you and Elliot plan to separate from me at some point."
"No, of course not. At least, I'm not. I plan to stick with you for the long haul." She smiled. And longer, if you're willing.
Nick blushed. "Sarina.. I.." He began as Elliot stumbled upon them.
"Come on, slowpokes. Aren't we trying to go to the festival too?"
Sarina and Nick pulled away from each other and nodded. "Yeah, you're right, El." Elliot turned away as Nick grasped Sarina's hand gently. "This conversation isn't done, Rina. I promise. We'll talk later." Nodding, Sarina followed Elliot, Nick following behind with his head held down.
Entering the meadow where the main tents were being pitched, Nick found his mother. "Hey, mom!" Rhiannon Negron turned toward her son and smiled seeing the Rowlet on his shoulder.
"Hey, honey. It's great to see you with your very first Pokemon. Did you decide to nickname it?"
"I haven't fully decided, but probably not. Chances are I'd nickname two different Pokemon the same name and forget which is which." Nick laughed.
"Probably better that way." Rhiannon laughed along. "So, you going to invite Sarina to attend the play tonight?"
"Mom! Why are you on me about this so much?"
"Because I can see you're not the only one who has eyes on the other," Rhiannon said sneakily. "But either way, you probably should ask. So, I hear something important happened over at Jasper's lab."
"Yeah, her two Ecruse Lapras had a giant clutch of eggs. Professor Jasper gave Sarina, Elliot and I each one of them."
"Well that's cool. Alright, you need to go find Sarina and confess your feelings. No better time than before you all leave home." Nick smiled at his mother, she always knew what to tell him.
"Alright, mom, alright. I'll go find her," Nick turned and took a couple steps before turning back and giving Rhiannon a hug. "And thanks, mom. Love you."
"Always, Nicky. Now go get her." Grinning, Nick ran off, looking for Sarina.
After minutes of searching all over the meadow and harbor, Nick found Sarina playing with her Popplio on the wave break rocks. Sarina had changed out of the checkered tank top she had been wearing at the lab into her swimsuit, or at least the one she had bought before the summer. Nick poked his Rowlet, sending him over to play with Popplio. Flying over as silently as Rowlet can, Nick crept up and placed his hands over Sarina's eyes. "Guess who."
"Well, you're not black so it's not Elliot, and the hands are too masculine to be Juliana or Candace. So.. Is it Nicky?"
Nick chuckled as he spun her around. "Good guess, Rina. So, you doing okay?"
Sarina brushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah, I'm okay. I do have a few things on my mind, though."
"Really? Like what?"
"Promise you're not gonna laugh?"
"Why would I laugh? Just tell me, hmm?"
Sarina nodded. "Alright. Well, first thing is.. I have feelings for you, Nick. Strong feelings.. I can't take keeping it in anymore," Nick could see tears starting to form in the corners of his best friends' eyes. "I can understand if you don't feel the same way. I mean, I'm no Jasmine or even Juliana."
"Stop that sentence. Neither of those girls are even attractive to me. You, on the other hand, are gorgeous. Most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my life. That's why saying I have feelings for you too really shouldn't be that much of a surprise." He grinned as Sarina looked at him and smiled. "What else is on your mind, Sarina?"
"I'm scared of leaving home. Everything we've known will become the past, and who knows what kind of shit we'll get into out there."
"Valid point. But, we can't let that stop us from doing what we want. This journey is partly for us to be independent. Not to mention no parents around is every teenager's dream, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. Thanks, Nick." Sarina leaned into Nick, more than content to stay in his arms like that for the rest of the night. "So.. What does this mean for the two of us?"
"That we should take a chance and be together maybe? I know, for a start, you could accompany me tonight to the Festival. As my date, of course. If we're going to start any kind of relationship more intimate than our friendship already is, then we might as well start dating."
Sarina giggled. "Yeah, that makes sense. I'd love to go with you to the Festival tonight. Have they changed the event line-up or is it the same as it's been the last ten years?"
"I think I heard mention of a small change, but I know the play is still tonight. Wanna see the show with me then? I know you love a little theater in your life."
Sarina nodded happily. "Sounds perfect. How is Elliot going to react about us, though? He's been our best friend for most of our lives."
Nick sighed as he leaned back against a signpost with a nautical speed limit printed on it. "If he's anything like my mom is when it comes to perceptiveness, he already figured it all out ages ago. He probably made a bet with someone about it, too. Don't worry, we can deal with Elliot."
"Deal with me about what?" Came Elliot's voice from behind the couple, making Sarina jump up and out of Nick's arms, a somewhat embarrassed expression on her face. "Oh, I see what happened. It's about time. I was starting to wonder whether or not you two would ever realize anything."
"Fuck off, Elliot. It's our business." Nick said, glaring at Elliot with enough killing intent to send a Kangaskhan to an early grave.
"Alright, fine. I'll just leave you too Luvdiscs alone then to finish up. Meet me by the Ride Registry in about a half hour, if you can finish talking by then." Chuckling, Elliot walked off and left Nick and Sarina alone once again.
"Where were we?" Nick asked once Elliot was definitely out of earshot. Sarina giggled and sat back down in front of Nick.
"I think we were just about.. here." She said, her face leaning towards Nick's. Nick grinned before leaning in himself, his lips meeting Sarina's in their first kiss.
After what seemed like a lifetime, they broke away from each other and Sarina lay her head on Nick's shoulder. "Thank you, Nick. Today just seems like a dream."
"A great dream, though. One I wish wouldn't end," Nick paused for a moment. "Of course, it technically isn't just ending. This, us, is part of our life now." Nodding, Sarina began to stand up, her boobs bouncing a bit from how fast she stood up. She held out her hand, Nick taking it and standing up himself.
"Rowlet! Return." Nick called, returning the Owl Pokemon back to its Poke Ball as Sarina did the same with Popplio. The couple walked towards what Elliot had called the Ride Registry, which was where all new Trainers got their Ride Pagers for when the landscape called for a Pokemon's unique touch. As Starting Trainers, they wouldn't have access to any Ride Pokemon until after receiving a Gym Badge or some other achievement. Elliot was standing there, eating a plate of deep-fried cookies and looking like a fatass.
Noticing his friends, he waved them over. "It's about time. Did you both get enough of each other's mouths?"
"Seriously, Elliot. You keep this shit up on our journey, I will castrate you," Nick said, pointing his thumb at Sarina. "And she'll skin you alive and dump your body somewhere the Pokemon will eat your bones and never find the body otherwise."
Elliot looked between his two best friends. "You are both seriously dark and twisted sometimes. Fine, I'll stop, mostly. Now, let's get our Ride Pagers. I sort of hate that we can't just allow our Pokemon to use moves like the Ride Pokemon do. I wonder what happened to change that?"
"The hell knows? Either way, it's impossible to use what we used to call the Hidden Techniques without a Ride Pager these days, simple as that." Nick said, linking his arm with Sarina's and talking to the man in charge of the little booth.
Karn Village, Northern Ecruseam District...
In the basement of a small business in Karn Village, two people stood in front of a dimly-lit desk, where a man with gravity-defying balding hair sat down, holding a photograph. "You're sure?" He asked, his gravelly voice booming in the small space.
Both agents fidgeted before the girl on the right spoke. "Yes, sir. We have confirmed reports that Professor Jasper not only has a large selection of Ecruse Lapras eggs, but she handed those three teenagers eggs of their own. Our parabolic also picked up that in the future, she may hand more eggs to them, as Professor Jasper is playing favorites with them over her other students."
"Hmm. Alright, you two have permission to go and capture Ecruse Lapras eggs, either from Professor Jasper's labs or these children. But, defeat is not an option, so don't come back unless you have something useful to make Team Rocket the force it once was."
The boy on the left spoke this time. "Of course, sir! For Team Rocket!" He saluted the boss along with the girl before they both turned to leave the room.
Once they were outside, still dressed in their Rocket uniforms under thin jackets, the boy turned to his partner. "My parents were always failures when it came to plotting and stealing Pokemon. The best they did was capture several uncommon Pokemon in each region. Their true goal was a man named Ash Ketchum's first Pokemon, a Pikachu that always exceeded the power the species usually showed."
The girl's eyes softened as she had a soft spot for her partner, not that she ever told him. "Liam, it's alright. That was your parents. From what you've shown on our missions before, you're ten times the Rocket agent either of your parents were. Plus, that special Persian of yours is something Rocket can never take away from you about them."
Liam smiled. "Thanks, Karin. Yeah, Persian has a loud mouth though. Why do you think I keep him hidden when we're reporting? He'd boast about all the stuff him, my mom and dad would do on their adventures. Then someone would find out and probably get me kicked out."
"I wouldn't let that happen. You're my partner, and no one could ever replace you," Karin smiled at him. "Now come on, let's go. We're after an Ecruse Lapras." She turned and walked toward their little vehicle. Honestly, though, this isn't the life your parents would want you to have Liam. That's why I vow to always stay with you, even if it means leaving Team Rocket. Then, a plan started to form in Karin's mind. Something that could help her and Liam leave and not be hunted by the cruelty that Rocket was known for these days.
Later That Night, Seadawn Town...
Nick and Sarina stepped to the front gate in front of her house. "Tonight was great, Nick. Thanks."
Nick smiled at her. "Of course. Tomorrow's exhibition tournament is going to be cool. You and Popplio going to be alright or do you want me and Rowlet to help you train in the morning before the tournament starts?"
"No one ever said a little training was a bad thing. Tomorrow morning, early, meet me in the woods outside town. Deal?"
"Deal. Night, Rina." He leaned in.
Sarina finished the lean-in, giving Nick a small kiss on the lips. "Night, Nicky. See you in the morning." She turned to walk into her house, giving him a last wave before he started walking back to his own house.
Walking in, Rocky was waiting for Nick in front of the door. "Hey, Rocky. Come on, let's go for a walk before bed. You can play with Rowlet." At Rocky's confused look, Nick laughed as he released Rowlet and the owl and puppy sniffed at each other and began playing as the two ran out of the door with Nick following.
Unbeknownst to Nick, a fairly shy Pokemon watched from the shadows, interested in the young trainer and his Rowlet. Letting out an unusual warbling cry, it flew off towards the woods.
Spring Festival, Day 2...
Nick walked out of his house and approached the woods outside of town to meet up for training with Sarina. He stopped close to the entrance, noticing the woods were covered in what seemed like a thick fog. Bringing his Pokedex out, which now also functioned as a phone, he texted Sarina asking if she was out in the woods already. Seconds later, an affirmative text made him walk in and begin looking for her.
After several minutes of walking, Nick came upon a clearing where Sarina sat on a large rock with Popplio out already, practicing its Water Gun attack on dead branches of trees. Nick let Rowlet out of its Poke Ball and let it run and surprise Popplio. Nick, meanwhile, snuck up on Sarina who jumped in fright. "God, Nick, don't scare me like that. You ready to train? I figured the fog would only help with accuracy."
Nick nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Rowlet, come on. It's time to battle for real. Training time." He put his hat back and stood at one side of the clearing, Sarina on the other with Popplio.
Sarina had a determined look. "Popplio, use Pound." Popplio rushed towards Rowlet, it's forehead glowing slightly.
Nick smirked. "Rowlet, dodge over Popplio and use Tackle." He ordered, the owl hooting in response. Rowlet jumped up over the sea lion Pokemon and then swooped back in close, hitting its foe in the back.
Popplio skidded across the forest floor, getting right up and giving a determined cry. "Give him a taste of your Water Gun, Popplio." Sarina called, knowing Nick wasn't going to make even training easy.
"Rowlet, use Leafage." As Popplio released the stream of water, Rowlet unleashed a barrage of leaves that cut through the Water Gun and only managed to scratch by Popplio.
"Popplio, use Pound, and make sure you hit him this time." Popplio rushed Rowlet again, this time much faster than before as the attack made contact with the grass owl. Rowlet let out a cry as it skidded across the ground, hooting in denial. It got back up and ruffled its feathers, sending another Leafage attack. This attack got the better of Popplio as the sea lion landed back with its eyes closed.
"Oh no, Popplio." Sarina ran up and scooped the little Pokemon in her arms. "It's alright. You did a good job," She turned to Nick. "Couldn't make it easy for me just this once?"
"Nope. We're all going to lose on this trip, whether we like it or not. The good thing about that is that we learn from our mistakes. Also, you had the disadvantage so the match probably would've gone to me anyway." He stuck his tongue out at her.
"Whatever, Nick. Come on, let's get back to town. We can practice some more at the training field." Nodding, Nick and Sarina left the clearing, with whatever Pokemon that watched Nick the night before still watching, keeping its interest in the young trainer. Warbling, it flew off towards Seadawn Town.
A while later, after Popplio and Rowlet had been healed up, the two Pokemon and their trainers left the Professor's lab, where the healing machine was located, they found the whole town enveloped in the same fog from the forest. "What the hell?" Nick asked. "Where did this fog even come from? It's always so clear here in town."
"I don't know, Nick," Sarina replied. "Something doesn't feel- AGH!" She screamed as a burst of wind blew through, an underlying electrical current present as well that made all the hair on Nick's arms stand straight up.
Suddenly, in front of Nick and Sarina was a Pokemon neither of them had ever seen before. Sarina had read about it, though. "That's... Tapu Koko, the guardian deity of Melemele Island in the Alola Region. How? Why is it here in the Gran Yarosch region?"
"Most Pokemon migrated here after the disaster twenty-five years ago, so maybe this area is Tapu Koko's new spot. Either way, it's staring at me and it's beginning to creep me- oh my Arceus!" Nick jumped back a step as Tapu Koko flew into his face, grabbing his hat and wearing it, turning the rim back like Nick had earlier.
"Nick, that's what you did at our training battle. You think Tapu Koko was watching us?"
"Maybe. I wanna see what the Pokedex has to say." Taking out his Pokedex, he pointed it at Tapu Koko.
"Tapu Koko, the Land Spirit Pokemon," Came the mechanical voice of the Pokedex. "Tapu Koko is a special Pokemon tthat protects the area where it lives. It's called the guardian deity of Melemele Island, one of the islands of the Alola region. Although it's known as a guardian deity, it's a surprisingly fickle Pokemon, and will not necessarily come to your aid if you need help. Despite that, Tapu Koko has a strong sense of curiosity. If it becomes interested in a person or in other Pokemon, it may come to play or battle with them."
Nick looked at Tapu Koko. "Huh. Well, Tapu Koko, are you here to battle me and my Rowlet? I don't think we'd give you much of a fight, we're still just starting out."
"Koko!" Came Tapu Koko's reply as he zoomed toward the far edge of the training field.
Looking at Sarina, she smiled at Nick. "Go ahead." Grinning, Nick released Rowlet.
"Rowlet, we have the disadvantage, so be careful." Rowlet hooted as Tapu Koko's ability, Electric Surge was activated, giving the entire field an electrified effect that would power up an Electric-type moves used.
"Koko!" Tapu Koko closed his wings and opened them again, sending a Thundershock attack whizzing through the air toward Rowlet.
"Dodge, buddy. Then try using your Tackle." Rowlet jumped, missing the Thundershock by mere inches before rushing close to the guardian deity. Tapu Koko was too fast, however, and was able to dodge. "Damn, can't just get in for an attack. Use Growl, then Leafage!"
Rowwwwwlet!" Rowlet let out a long cry, lowering Tapu Koko's attack, not that it would probably do too much. Then, the small owl released a barrage of its razor-sharp feathers at the mythical Pokemon.
Most of the feathers hit their mark, scratching Tapu Koko repeatedly. The guardian deity fell to the ground, huffing a little. Getting back up, it sent another Thundershock at Rowlet, this one too fast to dodge. Rowlet went thudding across the field, managing to land on its feet and huffing as well, shaking off what looked like a temporary paralysis as several small sparks flew off of its body. "Rowlet, we only have one chance, we have to make it count. Leafage, max power."
Hooting, Rowlet released a large barrage of arrow-like quills, much bigger than the first one. Tapu Koko tried t get out of the way, but the attack's cone of effect was too great and soon the Electric and Fairy type was overwhelmed by the attack. It fell to the ground, huffing intensely while holding up one arm-like wing in surrender. Nick came over and sprayed a Potion on Tapu Koko. "That was an amazing battle, Tapu Koko. Thank you for the opportunity to battle you."
Tapu Koko stared at Nick, its eyes seeming to bore deep into his soul. After several moments, Tapu Koko's entire body glowed, and suddenly so were Nick and Sarina's wrists. When the light had subsided, they were both wearing bracelets with five diamond-shaped depressions. Sarina looked shocked. "Z Bracelets? These are rare, only trainers from Alola have these. They allow a trainer and their Pokemon to unleash ridiculously-powerful moves if their hearts are as one." She explained, amazed. "Tapu Koko must think we're worthy. Elliot's going to be so jealous."
Nick laughed. "Yeah. Again, thanks Tapu Koko. We'll use them well. Now, as much as this fog is a welcome change to the usual weather around here, can we get the clear sky back? We have a little tournament planned for the whole town later on today."
"Koko! Tapu Tapu." Tapu Koko spun in a circle and suddenly the fog dispelled itself, the town around them becoming clearer once again. Once that was done, Tapu Koko placed Nick's hat back on his head before zooming off back towards the forest.
In the bushes nearby, closer to the lab which still had fog enveloping it, Liam and Karin had been watching the battle. "That kid's Rowlet is pretty powerful, able to take on an Island guardian of Alola and make it out on top even with the disadvantage. Maybe Professor Jasper was right to entrust him and the other two with those eggs." Karin stated.
"Yeah, sure seems that way. Are we sure it's the right time to try to grab one of those Ecruse Lapras eggs? This fog will be completely gone by the time we get out of that lab."
"Purr, don't complain, Liam. Your parents always went ahead with a plan even if they knew they weren't going to come out on top," Said Liam's Persian, his parents' old Meowth. "Not to mention with that tournament going on, the whole town will be watching that and not the lab. Karin, you have the schematics for the security systems, right?"
Karin put her hand in her pocket and took out a tablet computer. Swiping through screens, she held it up to her purple-haired partner. "Right here. It seems there's a maintenance hatch behind the labs that lead into the Ecruse Lapras habitat. That's probably our best bet at getting an egg." She twirled a few strands of pink-red hair around her finger, something she did when she was nervous, Liam had noticed.
"Sounds good, but are you okay? I can tell you're nervous." Liam asked.
Karina sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine. If you really don't want to do this anymore, you know I'd understand. I can't blame you."
"No, I have to do this. It's the only way I can redeem my family in the eyes of Team Rocket." He smiled softly, starting toward the back of Professor Jasper's lab.
Shaking her head, Karin followed after him, still unsure if being in Team Rocket was really for Liam, and beginning to think the same for herself.
Finding the maintenance hatch and getting it open was the easy part. The hard part presented itself as they entered the Ecruse Lapras habitat, noticing there were no Pokemon in sight. "Where are the-" Liam's question was cut off as alarms started blaring throughout the room.
Suddenly, several research assistants entered the room, Poke Balls in hand. "You there, stop! You're trespassing on private property." Said one as they released a Poochyena along with a Pidgeotto.
Karina smirked. "I don't think so. Pumpkaboo, go!"
Liam was next. "You too, Tyrogue!" In a flash, the small pumpkin and fighter Pokemon appeared, ready to take on the guards who stood in Team Rocket's way.
"Poochyena, use Bite." The small wolf Pokemon rushed forward, it's jaws open and ready to bite down on the enemy. With unnatural speed, it bit down on Karin's Pumpkaboo, tossing it to the side as Poochyena unlocked its jaw.
"Pumkaboo, no!" Karin screamed as her Pokemon was knocked out instantly. "Damn you!" She cursed the assistant as the Pidgeotto swooped down withut an orders, using Fury Attack on Liam's Tyrogue, having the same effect.
"Tyrogue, return." Liam and Karin both brought their Pokemon back into their Poke Balls, Karin throwing a smoke pellet down. As the room filled with smoke, the Rocket members fled out the way they came empty-handed.
In the meadow where the exhibition tournament was being held, an announcer spoke. "This year's exhibition tournament will now begin. First match is Elliot Tyno versus Lorelei Delgado!" Elliot and his opponent walked up to the stage, ready to start the tournament.
To Be Continued..