Sono Hanabira – A Pokemon Journey Through Alola Chapter 2
I saw trailers of the new Pokemon UltraSun and UltraMoon and just wanted to announce that even though I haven´t played it yet, I know that the story of these games are probably gonna be in here, too because it just already looks awesome and seems like a really cool story. But that´s not really that important since we´re still at the beginning xD Now, here´s a little bigger chapter since it took a while to write this...also for Christmas!
Now, enjoy :D
/Nanami´s POV/
He actually wanted us to have a battle already?! But we just got our Pokemon.
,,But, isn´t it a little too soon to already battle with them? We just got them.´´, I said and looked at the Professor a little panicked, mostly because we didn´t have any experience.
He just laughed and told us to get our Pokemon out. Sara and I did just that and then looked back at him, silently asking for answers.
,,Now, Nanami! How about you start? Don´t worry, I will instruct you. Now, your little partner already knows some attacks. How about we start with the most basic one, scratch? Just tell Litten to use Scratch on Popplio.´´
At first I just stared at him, but then quickly did what he asked me to.
,,Um, alright then. Litten, use Scratch.´´
The little kitten immediately jumped to Popplio and scratched it in the middle of it´s face. Somehow I don´t like it that they are hurting each other...
,,Great. Now Sara, let Popplio use Pound on Litten.´´
,,Gladly! Popplio, use Pound!´´, Sara yelled and Litten was about to get hit before I yelled:
,,Litten, dodge quickly!´´
And Litten ran to the side before Popplio could hit him. Instead of being confused, the professor clapped his hands and walked towards us.
,,Nanami, that was great. Reacting fast enough to not let your pokemon get hurt is one of the basics to know as a trainer. And it seems that I didn´t need to tell you this. So - ´´
Before he could continue to speak, I interrupted him.
,,Professor, why exactly are we letting the pokemon fight each other? Is there a reason? A reason why we get them into this situation of getting hurt and maybe worse, defeated?´´
Maybe Onee-sama was right about this world...Maybe I should just leave and apologize to her.
,,Well, not everyone uses their pokemon to fight. A lot of people just live with them and have a good time, just like family. If you´re not a friend of seeing them fight, maybe you should do something else? There are other routes you can take.´´
,,Well, that doesn´t answer my question. Why?´´
The professor sighed, let Sara join us and sat on the ground.
,,Pokemon are like wild animals. At least 80% of them just have the urge to prove themselves in a battle. Of course, some just like to live a peaceful life and they will get it. We trainers are the pokemon's friends. Of course, when you have a team, you want to be the best and prove that your team has the upper-hand. That´s basically what drives us to battle, but never against the pokemon's will. But...there are people, or more groups, that use pokemon like slaves, toys for their profit. People who think like that should be stopped, but it´s not always that easy.´´
When he finished his lecture, I realized how complicated everything was. It really was the decision of the humans here and fate would decide where the pokemon would land.
,,Were there...situations where pokemon attacked humans because of this?´´, I asked. The pokemon had to have feelings too. I´m sure some tried to attack somebody.
,,Yes, there are many situations like that. The police in each city do their best to help and almost every time there are not many injuries.´´
I decided to ignore the "almost" in the sentence. But now I knew what Onee-sama meant by her statement. She was scared of this world because of those problems. And now that I thought about it, I was, too. But it was too late to turn back. I made my mind up!
,,Well, if my pokemon are ready to fight, then I won´t be a spoilsport. But I will do my best to treat them like friends and family. I won´t force them to do anything they don´t want to or use them in any way possible. Of course I want to prove myself, but I won´t reach that goal by mistreating them. I´ll give them all my love I have to give!´´
After I held my speech, Sara came up to me and hugged me from behind, catching me off guard. For some reason she seemed kind of touched.
,,Sorry, but I had an overwhelming urge to hug you. Nanami-chan, you´re so goodhearted!´´
She started to squeal and hug me even tighter while the professor nodded at me with a proud look.
,,Nanami-san, this is the best way to think! But if you really to come out on top, you should be careful to not disregard the training at all.´´
,,But...do I have to come out on top? I think it´s not that important! I want to explore this region, meet new people and do other kind of things while I´m here. Fighting is definitely not my top priority.´´
,,Of course not! If that´s what you want to do, then do that with your heart. Then you can´t do anything wrong. Maybe I can interest you in something else then only fighting. Come with me.´´
He took my hand, taking me back to his laboratory. There, he gave me a devise that looked like a touchpad completely in red.
,,This, Nanami-san, is a pokedex. With that devise, you can learn everything about the pokemon you meet. A lot of information are in there to each one, so that you know exactly what you deal with. You just have to scan it and voilá, you got a new entry.´´
Now that was something even more interesting. Data of all pokemon that existed?!
,,Maybe fighting is not your main goal on this journey, but something else can. If you complete the pokedex, go to different places, you can become a professional like me! But only if you want to. The important thing is to have a goal you want to reach with everything you got!´´
The professor grinned at me, possibly waiting for an answer. I have to say, his speech was really inspiring. Just thinking about it made me a bit excited. Getting to know every pokemon there is, getting information about it, maybe even study it.
,,I think it´s a great idea. This goal interest me way more than trying to be the strongest of something. That was never my style...´´
It really never was, but when you know me, you know that already. Pokemon are living things, and making it my goal to have the strongest team of all doesn´t really get me all that excited. Getting to know those creatures does.
,,Well, then you know what to do. But before that happens, how about we go back to the others? A little competition is starting soon. You and Sara were supposed to participate, but I don´t know if you are alright with that? Since it´s fighting.´´
He looked at me nervously, probably a little nervous that I´d be scared again.
,,No, that´s alright. I think Litten is already a little impatient since it´s fight with Popplio got interrupted by me.´´
I was sure of it since Litten was running around the lab, trying to get out, probably looking for it´s opponent.
,,You see, Nanami? Your Litten is a perfect example. He´s surely a type to fight, you can see it in
it´s eyes. So as a good trainer, don´t forbid it and participate in fights as well. Of course, you´ll have to take care of him afterwards.´´
I nodded happily and ran out of the house together with Litten. We had a fight to go to.
/3rd POV/
Sara was already standing on a little stage, probably waiting for her friends to show up. Other people from the town were there already, too. Sara was talking to some of the people before she could see a silhouette running towards them. It was Nanami herself, together with her Litten running as fast as they could.
,,Sorry for the wait, I´m here now!´´, Nanami yelled as she ran on the stage, looking at Sara and grinning at her.
Sara nodded at her, grinning too as she took out her pokeball with Popplio in it.
,,Nanami-chan, are you ready?!´´, she asked while almost jumping up and down, but still asking if she is alright just with a look Nanami recognized.
As an answer, Litten jumped on the stage as well and already purred impatiently. But before any of us could do something, Hala began to speak in a really loud voice.
,,Welcome everyone to this town´s yearly battle competition, to show our guardian deity Tapu Koko our gratitude, for that he protects us day after day. Today we have two newcomers here, let´s have a big applause for Nanami and Sara!´´
Everyone in the crowd cheered for the two girls. Nanami and Sara both bowed slightly and continued to look at each other, silently speaking to one another.
,,Now, I hope you all are ready for a fight you won´t forget that easily! Nanami, Sara, if you are ready, please begin!´´
Sara threw the pokeball up in the air and Popplio appeared. Nanami´s Litten just ran to him, more than ready to attack, it seemed. While they ran here, Nanami managed to look into the pokedex to see what other attacks Litten could do and what exactly those attacks were. Now she felt ready to do my best.
,,Alright Popplio, use Growl!´´, Sara began happily, watching as the little seal growled at Litten, trying to be intimidating, It was really cute actually...
,,Litten, try to ignore it and attack with Scratch.´´
,,Popplio, dodge it and use Pound!´´
This fight really just went on and on like that, the two girls trying to hit the other´s pokemon and win the fight with those beginner attacks. Eventually, the fight came to the climax.
Popplio was just using it´s Bubble attack, when Litten ran to the seal and managed to hit the oncoming bubbles with Scratch. Right after that, it used Ember on the water pokemon. Of course, it didn´t have a big effect.
(Oh now I get it. There is a system after all. Fire is not good against water, since water puts fire out. Then it´s no use to use that attack...or is it?)
While Nanami was still in her own thoughts, Sara began her next onslaught.
,,Popplio, we have to finish this now! Use Bubble, jump on one and use this to get to Litten.´´
Litten was surrounded with fire from it´s last attack, so Sara´s technique was really smart. But Nanami finally knew what to do to get the upper-hand.
,,Litten, wait for Popplio to get here. Please, just wait...´´
Litten looked at it´s trainer, a confused look on it´s little face, but then listened to her and waited. Sara grinned as Popplio was almost there and wanted to yell something, but Nanami was quicker.
,,Alright Litten, now use Ember. Just trust me on this one!´´
The cat did as it´s trainer asked it to, while the other people around them were a little confused. Sara started giggling and ordered Popplio to just get through with a few more bubbles. But before it managed to, Nanami was quicker again.
,,Now Litten, use Scratch.´´
What everyone didn´t see was that Litten stood right before Popplio, since there was steam around them. Just because Litten used it´s attack, the steam went off and a hurt Popplio was revealed. That was the moment where Nanami began to feel uncomfortable. People cheered because of the great tactic, but it didn´t help at all. Sara seemed to notice that her friend had the perfect chance to end it, but just couldn´t do it. Her pokemon sat before her, trying to catch it´s breath. That´s where Sara stepped in.
,,Alright, I give up. I´m cleraly the one losing here and I think our pokemon need rest!´´, Sara yelled. It seemed that everyone agreed and clapped again. Only Nanami seemed a bit perplexed, but Sara just winked at her, knowing what Nanami was thinking.
,,And with that, the fight is over! Both of them did great! Let´s give them a last round of applause, everyone!´´, professor Kukui declared.
The two girls walked up to each other and hugged each other, congratulating them.
,,Sara-san, thank you so much. I didn´t know what to do anymore when I saw how Popplio looked. I hope it´s alright...´´, Nanami said, looking over the seal with a worried look on her face.
,,Nah, it alright. I´ll go to the pokemon center quick and it will be up in no time! See you later!´´
With that, Sara disappeared to the city not far away, leaving a confused Nanami.
,,Pokemon center?´´
/Nanami´s POV/
Atfer the battle was finished, the professor had to explain a few things to me I had missed. For example, what a pokemon center was. He wanted to show me, but we were interrupted by Hala-san.
,,Nanami-san, that was a great match. I wanted to talk to you because of the stone. I already managed to finish it and it´s ready to be used.´´
Before I could ask what he was talking about, he gave me a bracelet with a deepening in the middle. It looked like something could fit into there.
,,This is a Z-ring. With that, you will be able to do powerful attacks for all types there are. Of course, you´ll need a crystal for that, one for each type. You actually get it from me when you start your challenge, but it seems that Tapu Koko wanted to give it to you yourself.´´
I looked at the bracelet, which was pure white with black markings, and put it on my left wrist.
,,Excuse me, but what exactly is this challenge again? I know that the professor mentioned it in the speech at home, but not with enough details.´´
Hala-san wanted to answer, but the professor interrupted us by yelling.
,,Four islands! You'll travel to each of the four islands here in the Alola region. The island challenge is about aiming to be the strongest Trainer— the island challenge champion. The island challenge consists of a number of trials on each of the Alola region's four islands, with each usually headed by a Trial Captain. Trials are not limited to Pokémon battles; they may involve finding designated items or a test of knowledge, among other tasks. Trials are all difficult tasks that require Trainers to prove themselves. To complete the trial, the Trainer must defeat a Totem Pokémon. The final trial on each island is called the grand trial. In the grand trial, the Trainer must battle the Island Kahuna. If they complete an island's grand trial, they are recognized as having cleared all of that island's trials and can move on to the next island.´´
That was a lot of information, but helpful! It really seemed like a really hard task.
,,Well, that was certainly a great explanation. But one final thing. After each trail, no matter if it´s a normal trail or a grand trail, you get a Z-crystal as a reward. That´s basically everything you need to know.´´, Hala-san said.
,,That Tomoe girl didn´t want to stay here, got her ring, asked for the information she needed. Then she just left without saying goodbye. I have a feeling that she will be a strong opponent.´´
I decided that this was enough for today and asked the professor if I could stay one more night before I would leave. Sara-san wanted to go right now since she couldn´t wait to explore everything. But I was a little hesitant, but the professor was nice enough to let me sleep at his laboratory. Just as we were going to go, Lillie came up to us. Seemed like she was staying at the professor´s house too.
,, I've actually been, um, imposing on the professor here for the past three months. I'm not much of an assistant, but it's the least I can do to pay him back for letting me stay.´´, Lillie said in a small voice, smiling slightly.
,,Well, how come you weren´t at the battle between me and Sara-san?´´, I asked, confused why she wasn´t there.
,,I...I don´t like it, seeing pokemon get hurt. So I tend to do other things while other battle.´´
Seems like I´m not the only one thinking that way. What I didn´t like was that she was only 11 years old and almost as tall as I was. It was a little awkward...
,,Well, we´re here! Nanami-san, make yourself comfortable on the couch if that´s ok with you! Better get some sleep now if you want to leave tomorrow morning.´´
I nodded and let myself fall on the couch, not needing a blanket with this weather. After a few minutes, sleep finally caught up to me. Tomorrow would be exhausting.
Yay, I finally did something! Please don´t sue me :P I hope you all agree with my little decision there, about Nanami´s path in this journey. I just couldn´t see her wanting to battle with living things, she´s way too good for that. Going the "professor" route seemed much more logical to me. Of course she´ll still battle, but her focus is more on the exploring side. I´m pretty happy with it :)
Now, I don´t think there will be another update this year, but I´m pretty sure there will be next year as soon as possible. So, I hope everyone had a great Christmas, or whatever you celebrate, and I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!