"Rock Polish, Tackle and Bite," mumbled Jude with his red pokedex held pointed towards his rockruff. "Go forward with another Tackle!" Jude and Veera walked casually up Route Two while Rockruff charged ahead with a tackle. She charged for about twenty feet before stopping and looking back at Jude happily, wagging her fluffy tail. "Good job girl!" Rockruff waited patiently, sitting on its back legs, while Jude and Veera caught up. Grubbin was chilling on Jude's shoulder, on top of his blue t-shirt. Jude had taken off his grey hoodie, it was pretty warm. Early afternoon had hit and the bright Alola sun was in full swing. Though Veera was still wearing her thick looking olive green jacket. The strange looking dragon Jangmo-o was striding alongside its trainer. His little legs made quick steps so he easily kept up. They had been walking for a couple of hours now and that quick pace was just now looking to wear the little guy out.

"So you said you had already traveled Unova, had a full team and did the challenge there. Why start over again?" honestly wondered Veera. Her purple hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her voice was a mixture of smooth and rough.

"It is fun. I like raising pokemon up, seeing them reach their potential. And showing off my skill as a trainer. Taking wild pokemon and making them legitimate threats. I'll probably settle down after Alola, I just had one adventure left in me," replied Jude casually. The two humans were walking side by side, keeping up a good pace. "Why do you want to do the challenge with just Jangmo-o?"

"My dad said I couldn't," spat Veera. Jude just nodded. He bite his tongue to hold back any comments about baggage or anything mean. "I had a very abusive dad, verbally abusive I should say. He never hit me. But he was an asshole. I've had Jangmo-o since I was twelve. And he always trashed my little Jangmo-o. Jangmo-o was incredibly weak, like even for a young pokemon. But he is my best friend. And I need to do this to show my dad Jangmo-o and I will make it just fine in this world." Veera made some disgusted faces but she overall looked like she was in a good mood. Occasionally a hum sang from her lips.

"Man you are very open," mentioned Jude, still biting his tongue. Rockruff was now trotting at Jude's side, bouncing with every step. "I get it though. My father was pretty awful. That was part of my reason for taking on the gym challenge in Unova, to prove to him that I am strong, despite having him be no help during my upbringing.'

"I see." Cutely Veera let out a little giggle. Jude curiously glanced over to her. "Sorry if my laughing looks rude. I just think it is funny how both of our first adventures started because of our crappy dads and now we are traveling together." Jude just nodded along and smiled.

"It is a bit funny."

"Did your relationship get any better with your father after your journey? Did he recognize you as a strong person?" asked Veera curiously. She looked forward but occasionally glanced over to her new friend.

"He did actually." Jude's eyes flashed back with memories and his expressions went flat. Not unhappy, just flat. "I guess since I'm not in Unova I don't have to hide it since his name means so much less here. But my father is Alder, he is the Champion of Unova." Veera was interested but she didn't look surprised or as intrigued as anyone from Unova would've been. "I kept it to myself in Unova because I didn't want to be seen as the champion's son. I wanted to be seen as Jude, a pokemon trainer. Anyway after you collect all eight gym badges they hold a tournament full of people with all eight badges. The winner gets a chance to challenge the Elite Four and the champion. Which I did win. I handled two of the members of the Elite Four in six on six matches, pretty easily, not to brag. So I, a little cocky brat. Wanted to just skip the last two matches, and I challenged my dad for my third match. He accepted. Before the match he congratulated me on my accomplishments, words that felt real. I know that man well, he was actually giving me props. He then of course went on to absolutely clobber me in battle. I was able to take out only half of his team. So all in all our relationship is a little bit better, but it isn't good."

"You are very open yourself," commented Veera with a sly smile.

"Hey you started it," joked Jude. "Anyway that's enough serious conversation. Shall we take a lunch break? Jangmo-o looks like he could use the rest and my stomach could use the sandwich."

"Ruff ruff," chirped Rockruff eagerly.

"Yes girl, you'll get food too."

"That sounds good. We are making good pace. We can make it by nightfall. There is a pokecenter by the cavern so we can stay there. And in the morning your first Alolan Challenge. Are you ready?"

"Hell yeah. I mean I have two very new pokemon but, I already believe in them. We're going to come out victorious!"

"Grub grub!"

"So his Yungoos is pretty quick and he hits pretty hard but their style thrives off hit and runs. So if you can catch him before or after he hits then you can throw their groove off and punish it for heavy damage. Well, if you have a heavy hitter. Your teams moves don't inspire confidence," mentioned Veera. She talked with her hands, waving them frantically like a maniac as she talked. The two were back on the road, cruising threw the dirt road of route 2. An occasional trainer or trainers were hanging out but it was mostly pretty empty. Of people that is, of pokemon it was full. A lot of Yungoos slithering around and Spearow flying overhead. Occasionally Jude would see the blink of an Abra teleporting around, but nothing caught his eye. And most of the pokemon were in groups. Jude does not steal pokemon from their family. He always picked the loaners.

"Grubbin's spark was decievingly strong. If I can trip him up with String Shot, that could be the way to go," replied Jude. This time Rockruff got to hang in Jude's arms, both arms worked to support the heavy puppy. Grubbin was having his turn at training while walking. String shots were being fired into nearby trees and Grubbin was rocketed forward. He repeated this action everytime Jude and Veera caught up to him. "Rockruff can resist his normal attacks too though, so I'm not sure who to save for Yungoos. Eh I'll wing it." Jude just shrugged and Veera shrugged back, not arguing. The two were working their way up a slight hill and they could hear a loud voice on the other side. Soon enough this loud, obnoxious voice had a face. A young teen, probably about fifteen with bright blonde hair and blue sunglasses. He was boasting about his strength but there was no one with him, he was talking to himself out loud. Veera grimaced with an annoyed face. His voice was so grating and loud and his words were stupid. But the two just kept walking, hoping to get away from this boy quickly.

"Man that Ilima, what a joke," the blonde boy started up again. Behind him was a little, floating ladybug pokemon, Ledyba. Ledyba was just dancing along as she flew, chanting a happy song. "I'm going to be the champion in no time. With my team of bug pokemon! Hey you two." Veera let out a long sigh as her pace increased while Jude just looked over to the boy with a sneer.

"What?" asked the Unova trainer with an annoyed voice.

"My name is Tito, the bug trainer. I'm going to become the champion of Alola, you do best to remember this moment," cockily shouted Tito. He flicked his long, fluffy blonde hair out of his eyes.

"Yeah whatever," grumbled Veera. She was still marching with a faster pace. But Jude stopped.

"Hey Tito. I challenge you. But if I win, you have to introduce yourself as Tito, the bug loser to the next person you meet after us."

"And if-"

"If you win Jude will praise your name to the next trainer we meet," added Veera with a smile. Jude didn't look upset at that deal.

"I was actually gonna say that," mumbled Jude under his breath.

"Deal," loudly replied Tito with a huge grin. "One on one?"

"One on one," Jude said. He slowly bent down to release Rockruff. "You game for this?"

"Ruff ruff!" eagerly chanted Rockruff.

"Hmm a rock type, Ledyba this will be a good challenge, let's go!" The trainers stood about thirty feet apart as they moved to the side so they didn't block the middle of the walking path. Grubbin was chilling up in a tree, just watching. Veera was watching with interest, she had yet to see her new partner in a battle.

"Alright the battle between Homesick Jude and Bug Loser Tito begins, now!" shouted Veera in an official voice.

"Let's go supersonic!" ordered Tito, throwing a skinny hand in the air. Ledyba was staying floating in the air. She opened her little mouth and a ray of circular rings fired towards Rockruff.

"Dodge right!" The rock pup followed well, bouncing off her four legs, avoiding the beam.

"Fire again!" Sure enough another ray of confusing looking circles shot out of Ledyba's mouth.

"Dodge left but start to advance!" Jude ordered calmly. Again Rockruff followed well, leaping to the side but also forward. The supersonic attacks pewtered into nothing a few feet past Rockruff. "Keep rushing forward!"

"Now Mach Punch!" yelled Tito with a grin. Jude and Rockruff opened their eyes wide in shock as Ledyba was suddenly in front of Rockruff, shoving a little white fist into the puppy's face. Rockruff was sent sliding back but she dug her paws down in the dirt so she only slide a couple feet. "Mach punch its side, knock it over!" Tito kept his same, cocky grin. Jude's shock had disapeared but he didn't look as calm. In a flash Ledyba appeared again, this time right at Rockruff's side. The bug's little white fist was pummeled into Rockruff, the attack was far too fast. As planned Rockruff was sent on her side, not being able stablize herself. The puppy slide a couple more feet as her legs frantically swung around, trying to get herself back up. "Now Psybeam! And the match is over!" Ledyba took a deep, slow breath and its mouth dropped open again. Her eyes flashed a dark pink as a beam of similar colored energy flew out. The beam was made up of waves of psychic energy which smashed into Rockruff, sending the pup tumbling father away, down the hill. The Psybeam was much wider than Rockruff so some energy hit the ground, causing a little dust pile to fly up. The dust only was a couple feet wide, but it covered up Rockruff's fate. Tito thought he won, as did Veera. But Jude could hear it, Rockruff's panting. Though it was faint.

"Alright girl, it is time for our counter attack." Tito just gave Jude a smirk.

"Even if she is still up, which is it not. There is nothing you can-" Suddenly the dust was blown to the side as a projectile flew through the dust cloud. It was a rock which was about a foot long in every direction. The rock soared towards Ledyba, slamming the unsuspecting bug right in the chest. Ledyba dropped to the ground faster than the rock came at her. Swirls replaced Ledyba's eyes as the bug was laying there, unconscious. The dust cleared completely to show Rockruff, covered in bruises, panting heavily, but still standing.

"And Homesick Jude is the winner!" cheered Veera. Jude jumped up happily as he trotted over to his pokemon. Tito dropped to his knees, biting his lips in frustration. After congratulating his pokemon and picking her up Jude marched over towards Tito. The blonde boy refused to look at Jude. A friendly hand was held out in front of the bug loser.

"Hey thanks for the match, honestly. It was fun," kindly said Jude.

"Yeah yeah," Tito mumbled. The bug trainer did grab Jude's hand and they shared in a handshake. Then Jude and Veera just returned to their travels up and over the hill.

"So uh, Rockruff knows Rock Throw now, that's handy," awkwardly commented Jude.

"Without it you would've lost," replied Veera in a stern voice.

"But we won, and now we have that toy in our arsenal." Jude was fully aware he should've lost, but he kep a happy smile. Rockruff especially looked very proud. "Ilima, here we come."