During a Tuesday morning. Elio woke himself up and was preparing himself for the big day. The all night meeting with Professor Oak had allowed Manaphy to meet Lillie's pokemon and play with them fully. Gladion's Weavile and Lucario didn't mind Manaphy too much, though Tyranitar was not interested. Like normally, Silvally is at the foot of the bunk bed while Lillie has a Mew and Leafeon in a bed with her. Elio whispered to the stirring Rotom Dex. "Come along Dex, let's let all of them sleep."

On leaving, Elio heard a voice squirming out, Manaphy slipped out of Gladion's arms and stared from the upper bunk. "Papa... where are you going?"

Elio smiled and whispered. "I'm going to catch a bug type. You fell asleep before you got to meet any of my pokemon, you sure brightened Gladion's day."

Manaphy blinked and asked. "Can I come?"

Elio shook his head. "No, from what I know the objective of the bug catching contest is to have the pokemon be at it's best condition during capture... in addition to what pokemon it is. This might be the day you finally get to meet Surfer."

Manaphy was about to pout, he saw a face that already made up his mind and frowned. "...I'll tell Papa and Auntie."

Elio whispered even softer. "Do that when they wake up. They enjoyed their time with Oak and they should enjoy their day."

Manaphy's frown is shifting a sweet smile. "Okay Papa."

As Elio left, Gladion was the first to stir and see Manaphy staring at a closing door. "Good morning Manaphy."

Manaphy turned around to see Gladion waking up and giving a calm frown, Manaphy smiled and responded. "Good morning. Papa's going to a bug catching contest... what kind of pokemon is he going to catch?"

Gladion was getting up to stretch and yawn. "It depends on what isn't seen on Alola."

Lillie stirred in her sleep and over heard. "H...he already has a lot of bug types. It has to be something he would take an interest in that he doesn't already have."

Manaphy asked with a bubbling smile. "Are we going to watch him?"

Gladion closed his eyes in a calm answer. "It's a contest so there is an audience. Silvally, do you have any objections?"

The Silvally was slowly waking up and yawned that he didn't, Gladion was about to climb down and help Manaphy get down when Lillie was about to prepare herself for the morning. "Afterwards we can spend some time at the beach. There is a few more pokemon you should meet soon."

Manaphy clapped and was about to go to Lillie. "We are going to see Ghorchi again?"

Lillie nodded. "Him as well as Nanny, Onua and a few others!"

While the siblings were preparing.

Elio had his team switched, with an empty spot prepared for the inevitable capture, he sent out his Alolan Raichu and asked. "Surfer, would you help me catch a pokemon?"

The Raichu sat on his board like tail and smiled a yes, Elio petted him and asked that he follows him north to the parkl already there was a line of participants with a pokemon chosen to be their partner standing at the gate. Elio took out his Rotom Dex and asked. "Any pokemon at this time of week we should catch?"

The Rotom Dex buzzed and showed the pictures. "BZZT! You still have that Butterfree and that Parasect. You sent Scizor and Pinsir back home to teach the others what you taught them. BZZT! Morpha is a Venomoth that you have... it makes catching a Venonat pointless. BZZT!"

Elio sighed. "Saturday and Thursday would have had something a bit more different... but I heard good things about one particular."

The Rotom showed a picture of one pokemon, a brown larva with a nose on it's face, a spike on it's head and a spike on it's rear. "BZZT! Weedle, the hairy bug pokemon! It's has an extremely acute sense of smell and can distinguish the leaves it likes from those he doesn't like. BZZT! It also has a very powerful poison in it's stingers, sending many new trainers into a hospital! BZZT!"

Elio notice the waiting line was getting shorter. "By itself, it is another pokemon that evolves to it's final stage early. As a Beedrill it is a little special in that it is capable of mega evolving. I need to get this pokemon as well as a Beedrillite."

The line became short enough that he was able to see the sign up station; signing up the name of him and his partner. The man at the station prepared a small case of twenty odd looking pokeballs with an s marker. "You seem to know the rules, only one pokemon per trainer can come with you and you are to only use these sport balls."

Elio's smile flashed determined. "Only one bug at a time and if it is one I think is good, keep it for the judges!"

The receptionist nodded and smiled. "It should begin in a few minutes, good luck!"

Elio's determined smile spread to his Raichu as the two tried to find a corner to stand in, they noticed the door opening. Coming through the door was Lillie with an Audino, Gladion with a Silvally at his side and a Manaphy in the carry harness.

Elio asked. "You just got here, anything you two got an interest in?"

Lillie politely refused. "None for me thank you."

Gladion wasn't even interested in capturing anything. "I came because Manaphy wanted to watch, anything you want done before you head in there?"

Elio took an Apriblender out. "This should be at it's best!"

Gladion was given a container of light purple aprijuice. "Save some for Surfer, but it has quite a flavor last time I tasted it!"

BUZZ!

Elio flinched and prepared to start. "Wish me luck!" The siblings saw the boy leave as Manaphy saw a T.V broadcasting the event. Lillie had her Audino ready. "In case someone gets hurt you will be ready for heal bell!"

Gladion gave the Manaphy the drink and sat down. "This is how Elio normally captures pokemon... let's see if he goes the extra mile.

Ding!

Elio and his Raichu rushed to one of the first patches of grass in the park. "If it isn't a Weedle, ignore it!" The Raichu saluted and spun around, he noticed something rustling through a bush. "Weedle, Weedle, Weedle dee!"

A Weedle the size of Elio's arm, it was bloated with leaves as it slumped out to give an innocent look from it's eyes. Elio gasped. "A nice big Weedle already! Surfer use..."

"Go park ball!" A youngster with a Donphan tossed a park ball at the Weedle, dragging him in.

Shake...shake...shake... click!

Elio frowned sharply as he saw the youngster caught the Weedle. "Shoot! Come on Surfer we still have time."

It took much searching, shooing away a Paras, Venonat's and a Butterfree that blew an angry raspberry to the Raichu. The Raichu ignored the Butterfree as Elio saw a yellow cocoon clinging to a tree. "A Kakuna... lets do..."

The Kakuna glowed, it's back split open to show a Beedrill crawling out; it stretched it's wings and noticed a black hair woman with a hair bun and wearing a lab coat. BZZ!

It rushed at the scientist, ready to sting her as she had a Vileplume ready. "I was going to study that as a Kakuna... Vileplume use stun spore!"

The Vileplume shot a yellow powder at the Beedrill, it struggled to move and landed in front of the scientist with a park ball. Shake...shake...shake... click!

Elio was about to pout with his cheeks puffed up. "S...Seriously?!"

The woman adjusted herself in apology. "Sorry about that, everyone has a bug to capture in this park and I didn't see you!"

Elio sighed and was about to take his leave. "It's a contest, this is going to happen."

The scientist shrugged and smiled at him. "We still have time, good luck!"

Elio and his Raichu tried again, he saw a Scyther and allowed an energetic red haired girl in brown clothes, with a Noctowl to go after it.

The Dex showed the available time is becoming less and less. "BZZT! We are at the five minute mark and it looks like we are having luck on every other pokemon but Weedle! BZZT!"

Elio gritted his teeth until he noticed an odd sight sniffing a flower by it's lonesome; a green Beedrill with blue eyes. It's forearm stingers being large, it's wings giving a faint buzz. Elio's heart leaped. "Tha... SURFER USE THUNDER WAVE!"

The Beedrill flinched at the sound and saw the Raichu crackling. It buzzed loudly to the forest behind it before feeling a thunder wave hit, it's lings and limbs struggled to move as it landed to the ground. Elio took a sport ball and shouted. "GO SPORT BALL!"

The ball tapped the struggling Beedrill, dragged it in and fell to a thud on the park grown. "Shake...shake...shake... click!"

Elio panted and smiled before rushing at his capture. "I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it, I don't believe it! Is this Beedrill a..."

He picked the ball up and was jumping in excitement. "We did it! Now lets turn this one I..." Bzzzzzz!

The smiling Raichu cringed and was shouting. "RAI!"

Elio turned around to find the buzzing becoming more numerous, the Rotom Dex was shivering behind Elio. A large swarm of Beedrills emerged from the trees, they all stared at Elio in fury. The boy shouted sprinting for his life. "RUN!"

At the Gate.

Lillie's heart was racing in worry as she was holding onto her Audino. "That one was part of a swam!"

The Audino felt pressure as the Manaphy shivered in Gladion's arms. "Papa caught a Beedrill... other's are mad!"

Gladion gave the Manaphy some juice and stared bored. "He dealt with worse things than a Beedrill swarm and this should give him a reason to make it..." The door was forced open to let Elio, an Alolan Raichu and a Rotom Dex in.

SLAM!

The Raichu used his psychic powers to keep the door closed, it was pushed by the combined effort of the Beedrill swarm.

Elio saw the receptionist and turned in his prize. "I found a good one and I stirred a Beedrill's nest."

The receptionist told Elio to wait with the others. "When you anger one, you anger them all. The catching should end right around..."

BZZT!

The Beedrill's were driven off by the loud speaker, announcing that the catching segment is finished.

The judging segment was underway, many trainers had their catches judged. Earning third place was a brown hair beauty. "Becky with her beautiful Venonat!" Becky was smiling at a blue eye Venonat.

Lillie and Gladion flinched at the capture, Manaphy stared to ask. "Whats... whats wrong with that Venonat?"

Lillie struggled to breath in astonishment. "Nothing, that Venonat is very rare!"

Earning second place was a red haired girl in brown clothes. "Theryl with this magnificent Scyther."

A Scyther with massive talons and a growl to match showed himself off.

First place, the announcer was having drum roll prepared as he coughed. "Elio with his marvelous Beedrill!"

Elio flinched as his green Beedrill was glaring at him, feeling a numbing pain just trying to stand up. "...Wow! They sure liked you."

The Beedrill was trying to move as Elio gave it a cheri berry. "Sorry about that, this should make you feel better."

The Rotom Dex scanned the Beedrill that was slowly eating the fruit; he whistled. "BZZT! Whew! This one was a catch, it's also a female so if you were going to find a name for..."

Elio saw the Beedrill eat the berry and started to move better, the boy asked while slowly petting her. "You like the name Megan?"

The Beedrill buzzed in approval as a man with a box came to present to Elio his prize; a sparkling green dawn stone.

The boy placed it in his back pack and was tackled to the ground by a worried Lillie. "Never get yourself that close to a Beedrill's nest again!"

Elio had the wind knocked out of him and was constricted by Lillie's embrace as the Beedrill shook her head in frustration, Gladion was cradling the Manaphy and feeding him the aprijuice when he ordered his Silvally. "Help the Raichu break this apart!"

Silvally barked loudly to startle Lillie from her constriction as the Raichu used his psychic power to separate the duo.

The Audino used heal pulse to heal both trainers of their bruises, Elio was blushing as he asked the Beedrill. "Megan... if I introduce you to some pokemon, would it make you feel better?"

The Beedrill sighed and was willing to listen, Lillie blushed even more red and asked. "You mind if I go get things for a picnic? The beach south of Goldenrod should be... lovely this time of day."

At Goldenrod Beach, past noon.

Lillie had a colorful purple picnic blanket spread out in the sand, Elio was holding the basket awaiting orders. "It was awfully nice of Gladion to gather more apricorns while we do this. It should be long enough for us to set everyone together."

Lillie agreed as she asked for the basket. "Help me set the food and then you can bring out the pokemon you want."

Elio began to set out the wrapped sandwiches, the bottles of soda and vegetables for the side. "Now that the bug catching contest is done... that Phione migration should be another thing for us to go to soon."

Lillie nodded as she helped set out the plates and bowels. "It happens in the evening tomorrow and I want to see one in person."

Elio flinched. "It's that soon? Anything else you want to do before the apricorn balls are finished?"

Lillie took a deep breath and answered. "The Ruins of Alph... it has a pokemon I want to at least study... the Unown."

Elio thought of the pokemon as he and Lillie laid out a near perfect picnic, Elio prepared the net ball and sport ball. "Bumbo, Megan... you two come out to this!" Out came a Golisopod and a Beedrill; the Golisopod sensed the sands and began to crackle a question to the Beedrill, calming her down for both to stare at the shore.

Elio took a deep breath to ask the Golisopod. "Bumbo, I would like you to meet a pokemon Gladion and I have been raising. It is a Manaphy and you would be a good lesson in how friends come in all sizes and forms. Megan... your new so just enjoy the company!"

The Beedrill buzzed as she stared at the water, Elio prepared a dusk ball and pokeball. "Guppy, Nathan... it's your turn." An Incineroar and Lairon found themselves at the sand, both went to their trainers side and understood what was to happen.

Elio smiled at his pokemon and took out a dusk ball and quick ball. "Thank you, I'm sure Manaphy will learn a lot from you all. Lost, Surfer I want you to meet someone as well!" Out of the ball's came a Mimikyu and Alolan Raichu. Both heard the sea, the Mimikyu hissed a question as the Raichu mentioned something. The Mimikyu's tendril was at the fake Pikachu head, trying not to laugh as she crawled to Elio's side.

Lillie saw the variety and let her Audino out. "You did this so that way when Manaphy see's the scary looking pokemon, he wouldn't be startled?"

Elio agreed as he saw Lillie send out a Gogoat and Golurk. "It's the plan, Bumbo normally fights by acting big and scary."

Lillie sent out her Vaporeon, Hydreigon and Rotom. "Manaphy and Ghorchi get along, Troy should help with the fear of electric types."

The Rotom crackled in it's oven form, Lillie sighed. "No you will not! I'll have all your food ready shortly."

The Vaporeon saw a familiar figure approach from the distance; Gladion smiling, a Silvally looking like it was smiling with him and a happy Manaphy. "Whitney's Wigglytuff is very soft!"

Gladion agreed almost in a cheerful tone. "There fur is like that."

He noticed the large amount of pokemon, Manaphy slipped out of the carrier to approach. "The...these are papa's pokemon?" The Golisopod turned around to bubble something, the Mimikyu was hissing a hello.

Manaphy nodded. "You two are?" The Golisopod waved a hello with his large menacing claws, the Alolan Raichu cheered that he comes over to play. Gladion saw the Manaphy join the group of pokemon, laughing at a good time.

He noticed Elio and Lillie prepared some bowels for his pokemon and sighed in defeat. "You two always make me feel at home. Crobat, Weavile, Lucario... Tyranitar, lets enjoy this off time!"

The Manaphy felt a tremor from the indifferent Tyranitar and waved. "Your going to actually play?"

The Tyranitar growled and walked over to a bowel next to the Hydreigon to sit down.

Thud!

The Gogoat was enjoying the sunlight and was talking to a hungry Weavile about something, irritating him to the point that he chilled his food. The Rotom took a poffin and stuffed it in it's oven body for the sake of burning it. The Golurk sat next to the Tyranitar and Hydregion, startling both with a more intense thud. The Crobat perched on the Golurk, Lucario was sitting next to the Silvally and Golisopod to enjoy the tranquil silence.

The three trainers watched their pokemon enjoying themselves in silence for a moment until Elio broke the silence. "As soon as the apricorn balls are done... Manaphy should be ready save for a few lessons."

Gladion see's the Manaphy giving as much caution to the other pokemon as he is in companion ship. "... What exactly is there left?" Elio counted two more. "He needs to learn more battles, the more... scary things about what is out there and we need to think of something so Manaphy doesn't have to be out there alone. If we don't find someone we know... he wouldn't want to leave."

Gladion scoffed at the idea. "If that is even a bad thing anymore."

Elio knew what Gladion meant underneath the facade. He is growing attached to Manaphy where it is becoming hard for even him to let go. "We did agree to this. I know someone Manaphy might want to talk to soon... Isaac knows a lot of pokemon that can help Manaphy more."

Gladion's frown faded to something more reluctant. "... It would work." Elio patted Gladion on the back and asked about the Phione event the next day. "It isn't much, but do you want to come with us to watch some Phiones?"

Gladion agreed with a small smile. "I wouldn't mind, it sounds like it will make tomorrow more fulfilling."

The boys agreed as Lillie requested. "We will talk to the Nurse about what are the best spots."

Elio agreed and saw the Manaphy asking the Mimikyu about something. "What's under here?"

Elio froze in terror, the Mimikyu backed away at high speeds and Gladion shouted. "Manaphy, be careful about what's under that cloak... it's more dangerous than Raikou!"