Today, Sarah and all the others were on Ula' Ula Island near Mount Lanakila. They were all wearing winter gear as they looked around at all of the snow. "So cool..." Sarah gasped in awe. Nebby happily babbled in her arms. The little pokemon seemed fine in the cold climate.
"This is Ula'Ula Island, where we find Alola's tallest mountain, Mount Lanakila. So, why don't we take a peek to find out just what our heroine and her friends will be up to this time?"
Everyone looked in awe as they took in the sight of Alola's winter wonderland. While the gang's partners didn't mind the cold, some of Sarah's Pokemon had scarves made by Nikki and Anela that helped them tackle the cold weather and make them look good. Hala was with them to help Professor Kukui give the students their next lesson on their Ula'Ula field trip.
Sarah smiled as she took in Mount Lanakila's beauty; the last time she went to Ula'Ula Island, it was to confront Team Skull and retrieve the Puppy Pair's parents with Tapu Koko's help. Now, with the Rock Type family back together, they were ready to experience the brighter side of the island, starting with Alola's tallest mountain.
"It's so white!" Mallow marveled. "That's because everywhere, there's real snow!" Lana cheered as she and Popplio played.
The other Pokemon enjoyed playing in the snow as well as they frolicked around. Snivy, Oshawott, and Tepig, in particular, are enjoying it the most as they played with Sylveon, Sliggoo, Aqua, and the other younger Pokemon in Sarah's family with Lolita and Noctowl smiling at them as they kept watch. Mudsdale, Silvally, Luna, Dusk, and Blitz decided to look around as they keep watch over everyone else.
"My dad took me here once when I was just a little kid," Sophocles boasted. "So, snow is no big deal."
Ash and Pikachu decided to have a snowball fight with him and cheekily threw a snowball at him which got a devious smirk out of the Electric Type student as he joined in.
Nebby and Snowy played together while Sarah, Lillie, and Professor Kukui watched.
"Snowy and Nebby seem pretty happy here," Lillie smiled getting a happy nod from Sarah.
"That makes sense to me. Snowy was hatched from an egg that was found right here, after all," chuckled Kukui. "On the other hand..."
Marowack, Steenee, Litten, Charjibug and Rowlet were all shivering from the cold while Sarah's other pokemon seemed just fine, even Snivy! "Guess they aren't fans of the cold, huh?" Sarah said.
Turtonator and Pyroar worked to help warm them up as the others watched on. Even Marowak, who was asked by Kiawe's parents to join their son and his fellow Pokemon, wasn't a fan of the cold as he and Tsareena used the flame on his bone as a campfire to desperately stay warm.
"They're all so cold," Rotom-Dex noticed.
"I guess Rowlet and Litten aren't used to cold climates," Ash said sheepishly.
"Okay then, come on back, Steenee. Let's get you out of here," Mallow soothed as she returned her Fruit Pokemon, getting a nod from her partner.
"Come on, guys, let's get you all back in," Kiawe smiled kindly as he returned his family's Marowak into his Pokeball and Sophocles and Ash did the same for Charjabug, Litten, and Rowlet.
"Hey, Sarah, how come you didn't return any of your Pokemon? They couldn't be used to the cold weather," Mallow asked Sarah curiously.
"Mom and Ms. Anela made some of them scarves when I told them about our field trip to Mount Lanakila and maybe the others are immune to it, I don't know," Sarah shrugged before a loud sneeze from Hala got their and Kiawe's attention.
"Kahuna, you'll catch a cold wearing those clothes," warned Kiawe.
"Are you sure you don't want to wear winter gear for this field trip like the rest of us?" Sarah asked, worried.
"I don't think I need to take advice from you on that, kids, watch this!" bragged Hala, much to Mallow and Sarah's skepticism. "If I beat my Belly Drum like Hariyama, my fighting spirit will drive away the cold!"
"Exactly! The fire in my spirit burns even brighter than a blast burn, I'm toasty warm!" boasted Kukui with a smile.
"And, my soul is burning brighter and hotter than even the most powerful of Inferno Overdrives!" Kiawe joined in before he, Hala, and Kukui were all exposed to a brush of cold wind and then they all sneezed, making the two girls sweatdrop at them.
"Boys will be boys," Mallow sighed with a grunt.
"They'll never learn," agreed Sarah, exasperated.
(Opening 3 – Rurouni Kenshin Opening 1 – Freckles (English Dub)
(The opening begins with a silhouette of a young girl with a Chinese straight sword sheathed in a gold scabbard sitting within images of Team Rocket, Team Skull, Guzma and Plumeria, the three mysterious grunts, and the grunts' leader before the image brightens and the girl is left alone)(The girl gets up and awakens to reveal herself as Sarah as she and her Pokémon are on a large boat as it sailed across the ocean to one of the other Islands of Alola. While some of her Pokémon are relaxing on the boat ride, Silvally, Lolita, Blitz, and Red Eyes look out into the ocean with determined looks on their faces with their trainer) I brush against the freckles that I hated so and life goes on but I heave a little sigh for you. It's heavy, the love that I would share with you. Then it dissolves like it was just a sugar cube!
(Ash and Pikachu were shown at the Pokémon School trying to practice the steps to a new Z-Attack until they missed or exaggerated a few steps and fell down on the ground. Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles, who were with them along with their Pokémon Partners, either laughed at or groaned at them. Ash and Pikachu smiled sheepishly as the scene pans from the school to the beach near the school) Now, the little pain sitting in my heart has shrunken a bit but it really does hurt me now. Those silly horoscopes, I guess I can't trust them after all~! If we could get further away~! I wonder what it would be li-i-i-i-i-ke, yeah~!
I'd be so happy inside my hea-a-a-a-a-a-art!(Sarah and her Pokémon are surrounded by mysterious grunts and a small team of people in white uniforms as she held a strange cosmic-like Pokémon in her left arm and the Sword of the Sun Lion on her right hand as she was then attacked by a mystery grunt's Houndoom and its Flamethrower attack) All the memories I have are beautiful in my mind! But, they don't feed the hunger deep inside my soul! And, tonight, I thought I'd be just sitting in my sorrow!
And now, I must wonder why, what did it really mean to you?(Sarah appears and opens her eyes as she saw her family and friends, humans and Pokémon alike, waiting happily for her to join them as she walks to them. The Season 2 titles appear just as the song ends) I just can't see it anymore~! I just can't see it anymore~! O-o-o-o-o-oh~! Pokémon Alola Journey – The Trials of Sarah
Later, the group were walking through the area together, "The snow is so soft.." Sarah said looking at the frost covered trees and ground. Oshawott was happily throwing snow up in the air and happily dancing through it. "Hehehe, looks like Oshawott loves the snow." Hala smiled.
"Indeed." Kukui added with a grin.
"Now, you guys will feel roasty toasty with these on!" Sarah told Hala, Kukui, and Kiawe as she and Mallow recently gave them their winter jackets to protect them from the cold weather.
"So, what do you think?" smiled Mallow.
"Impressive, girls! These new-fangled cold-weather jackets you brought from the cabin are both light and warm!" Hala smiled as he felt better already with his jacket.
Kiawe, on the other hand, wasn't so sure as he felt awkward having his coat on. "Though, they do feel kinda itchy," he griped quietly.
"I rather really liked mine," Kukui replied as he happily adjusted his warm jacket.
"Crab, Crab, Crab, Crab!" said Hala's Crabrawler as he marched at the front, leading everyone like a military drill sergeant.
"It's gonna be great to see Crabrawler finally evolve," Ash said as he and Sarah, along with their Pokemon, followed Kukui, Hala, and the Dark/Fighting Type from behind with the others trailing them.
"And, of course, that's why we came to Mount Lanakila in the first place," Professor Kukui told him before he turned to Sarah. "How's brighter side of Ula'Ula Island, Sarah? Much better than Po Town, right?"
"Yeah, I think my last visit was tolerable thanks to Nanu. Where is he, anyway?" asked Sarah, rubbing Nebby.
"Oh, he's fine last time I contacted him. Just trying to keep an eye on Team Skull, as usual. But, you'll meet up with him again someday, just not right now."
"Oh, look over there!" Mallow cried excitedly as he pointed to some Snorunt playing nearby as they passed. "It's a group of Snorunt!"
"And, a white Sandshrew!" "That's a new one for me!" Ash and Kiawe exclaimed as they spotted an Alolan Sandshrew.
Rotom-Dex was only too happy to brief them, "Sandshrew (Alola Form), the Mouse Pokemon. An Ice and Steel Type, their armor is like steel, preventing them from rolling up into a ball."
"There aren't that many places in the Alola Region where one can expect so many Pokemon living in a snowy habitat," Kukui noted, smiling.
"Vull..." Sarah turned and saw a small Alolan Vulpix, like Snowy... but... something was wrong. "Vul..." it cried before it collapsed on the ground!
"Vulpix!" Sarah cried as she ran over to the ice type Fox pokemon.
"What happened?" Ash asked. The Vulpix had scratches on its body, like it was in a fight or something.
Everyone turned to the Alolan Vulpix Sarah was running to and gasped along with Ash. Snowy was also surprised to see another Vulpix like her but she was shocked when she saw how battered and bruised it was in when she noticed the scratches. She went to the wild Vulpix and licked and nuzzled her, trying to get her fellow Ice Type to wake up. But, it was out cold.
"It's another Alolan Vulpix!" Lana cried in shock.
"What's with all the scratches on it?" Lillie asked, concerned for it as Sarah held the wild Fox Pokemon.
"This is definitely an Alolan Vulpix," Rotom-Dex deduced as he observed the little Pokemon in Sarah's arms. "But, it's obviously not Snowy. It looks like it's in bad shape if those scratches are any clue, I think it must've gotten those wounds in a fight."
"Mallow, did Olivia let you keep any revival herbs from the Akala Curry ingredient hunt back at Akala Island?" Sarah asked the Grass Type student.
"She did let me keep a few but I left them at home," Mallow sadly said as she shook her head.
"Oh no, I don't think we brought anything that can heal Vulpix's wounds," Ash fretted as the students checked what they brought with them.
"And, we don't know where the Pokemon Center is so it'll take us a while to find it," Sophocles added worriedly.
Everyone was worried, they have a badly wounded Alolan Vulpix on their hands and they don't know what to do now to help it.
Ponyta and the Espurr pair called out, "Wait.. let Ponyta and the Espurr help her, remember they know Heal Pulse." Rotom Dex reminded everyone.
"Of course! Ponyta? Espurr Pair?" Sarah asked. Ponyta and the Espurr pair nodded and Sarah gently laid the wounded Vulpix on the ground. Ponyta glowed and used Heal Pulse while the male Espurr used Helping Hand and the female Espurr used Heal Pulse on the little Vulpix pokemon.
Slowly but surely, the Espurr Pair and Ponyta used their healing moves and Helping Hand on the wounded Ice Type as the scratches on it started to vanish. Everyone waited with bated breath as the three younger Pokemon finished their task and moved back to see if there is any change.
Seconds later, the wild Alolan Vulpix started to stir as everyone awed at it. Sarah took the initiative to move in closer to the little Pokemon and soothe it as the white Fox Pokemon slowly opened its eyes and saw her through blurry eyes. "Vul..."
"Vul, Vulpix...?" Snowy asked as she and Nebby joined Sarah to see her wild counterpart. The Vulpix' vision blurred as it tried to get its bearings until it started clearing and she finally saw Nebby, Snowy, and Sarah, all looking at the Ice Type with worry.
"Vul...?" the wild Alolan Vulpix gasped softly as it looked around and saw the others and the rest of Sarah's Pokemon looking at it before it shrieked in surprise. Sarah immediately took it in her arms as the fully healed Pokemon tried to squirm out of her grasp, whimpering.
"Shh, shh, shh, it's okay..." soothed Sarah as she held the scared Ice Type. Nebby and Lolita came to give her a hand as Lolita soothed and Nebby babbled happily to it as he started to make funny faces to make it laugh.
The wild Vulpix started to calm down as it squirmed less and stopped to see the baby and Scratch Cat Pokemon soothe and coax the little fox into relaxing. It cooed at them curiously before Snowy stepped up to help them as she smiled at her fellow Ice Type before she nuzzled it with her nose.
The small wild Ice Pokemon slowly returned the nuzzle with its own nose as it started to smile and coo at Snowy, happy to see somewhat of a familiar face while Lolita and Nebby continued to comfort it. This brought a small smile of satisfaction to Sarah's face.
"There, there," she cooed quietly as she rubbed the Alolan Vulpix in her arms. "It's alright, you're gonna be just fine..."
"Vulpix..?" the little Vulpix looked at Sarah and blinked innocently. Nebby flew over and babbled at the little fox. "Vul..?" the little Vulpix looked at Nebby, who nuzzled against the little Ice type fox.
He babbled to it again, saying in his own way that the wild Ice Type can trust his human mother. The Vulpix cooed curiously as it blinked again while Sarah gave him a scratch, making him giggle again under her touch.
The others, Professor Kukui, and Hala looked on and smiled. Sarah truly had a knack for caring for all kinds of Pokemon better than they ever could, even small, frightened ones.
"That's our Sarah," chuckled Kukui as he and Hala watched the scene, the Melemele Kahuna nodding in agreement.
"That's it, there you go," Sarah cooed again as she gently scratched the Alolan Vulpix's chin and the little Pokemon cooed in delight as it accepted her touch and smiled while Snowy, Nebby, and Lolita felt happy for the wild Ice Type.
"Wow, Sarah does it again," smiled Mallow in awe as she continued to watch.
"I can't understand it sometimes," Ash said as he looked on enviously. "Sarah just seems to be able to sweettalk a Pokemon and get them to trust her with little to no effort, she makes caring for Pokemon like that look so easy."
"She did say she's a Pokemon mother and much of her team think of her that way," Kiawe mentioned.
Then, Snowy felt something as she sniffed around. As she sniffed, her nose continued to prick and pipe up, as if she recognized the scent she was whiffing. "Vul!" she cried as she went to find what she sniffed, surprising Lillie as she caught her attention.
"Snowy, where are you going? Come back, wait for me!" she called to her partner as she ran. The others were surprised but Sarah decided to follow Lillie to make sure she doesn't land herself and Snowy into trouble.
"Come on, guys, after them!" she called to her Pokemon who nodded and agreed. She then turned to the Alolan Vulpix in her arms, "Hang on..." Holding the Ice Type in her arms, she and the rest of her Pokemon rushed off after Lillie and her partner to make sure they don't run into trouble.
The others quickly went after their friend and her team to do the same.
When they found Snowy they found a sled going towards Snowy and Lillie, "Ninetales, you're up!" The women said and her Ninetales jumped off and landed in front of Lillie and Snowy and called out majestically, "Niiiiiinne..." and it created what looked like an aurora borealis around the two and the sled slid right overhead of Snowy and Lille and landed on the ground.
"Woah..." Ash gasped. "Check it out.."
"Pika.." Pikachu gasped. The sled landed on the ground and the women and Ninetales got off, "Hello there." the women greeted.
"Thank goodness, are you alright?" the woman asked Lillie. It turns out that after Lillie found Snowy, the two of them were almost run over by the woman and Ninetales riding their sleigh so the evolved Ice Type had to use a defense move it knows called Aurora Veil to avoid them and a good thing it did.
"Oh, yes, we're fine" Lillie said as the woman took off her goggles and apologized. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't think anybody would be out on this trail."
"It's alright but it was Snowy who-" Lillie began but trailed off when she saw Snowy getting to know the Alolan Ninetales.
"Wow, what a beautiful Ninetales!" she awed, the woman chuckling from her surprised reaction and Snowy's happiness from seeing her evolved form. Lillie smiled brightly as she realized something, "I get it, Snowy came all this way because she knew your Ninetales was nearby! Do you two know the name of that move your Ninetales used?"
"That move that shielded you and your Vulpix was Aurora Veil," the woman answered while Lillie gasped in amazement, she was wondering if Snowy could learn that move to better defend herself if she gets into any danger again. She turned to her partner, having made her decision. "Snowy, would you like to learn how to use Aurora Veil?" she asked her Vulpix, who chirped happily.
"That kid's gotta be crazy not dodging out of the way before she and that fox of hers were nearly crushed," quipped Silvally as the group watched Lillie and the woman talk.
"At least they're in one piece," whispered Sarah to her Synthetic Pokemon.
Sophocles took a look at the woman and he gasped. Somehow, he seems to know who the woman Lillie was speaking to was, "No way! Are you really her, your name's Sarah, right?"
The woman, now known as Sarah, chuckled at Sophocles, "That's right."
"No way! It is you, this has gotta be my lucky day!" he cheered as he shakes her hands in delight.
Sarah gasped in realization before she smiled, "Oh, I get it! You're the Pokemon Sledding Champion!"
"Pokemon Sledding Competition, what's that?" Ash asked.
"Pikachu...?" Pikachu questioned.
"You don't know what the Pokemon Sledding Competition is, Ash?" Sophocles asked incredulously.
"It's a huge sled jumping competition that's held every year for trainers and their Pokemon to demonstrate their moves on a sled off a ramp over a great distance like a ski jump! Sarah's the greatest Pokemon Jump Sledding Champion and she's going to appear in the next competition!" Rotom-Dex snapped at him, making Ash and Pikachu flinch as he got in their faces.
Lillie gasped as well and smiled, now knowing she met the champion herself, "Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea you were here!"
"Yeah, forgive us for not recognizing you right away, Sarah," Sarah said politely with a bow before joining her and Lillie. "My name's Sarah and these guys behind me are my Pokemon."
Her Pokemon greeted Sarah and her Ninetales warmly with nods and happy greetings, much to Sarah and Ninetales' delight as they giggled. Obviously, there were two Sarahs but one of them's a champion while the other is a student.
"These two are Sophocles and Ash and their partners, Togedemaru and Pikachu. And, over here is Rotom-Dex. And, this cosmic cutie with me is my little Nebby," she continued directing towards two of her friends and their Electric Pokemon that caught up with her, Snowy and Lillie, the living Pokedex, and Nebby as he babbled happily.
"And, I'm Lillie. Snowy here is my partner," Lillie introduced herself as Sarah petted her.
"That's such a cute name," she smiled. She then turned to the Alolan Vulpix in the kid Sarah's arms as she petted it, too, much to it's delight. "Wow, is this little beauty yours?"
"Well, technically, it's a wild Pokemon but three of my Pokemon healed it and we're just getting to know it," the younger Sarah told the sports champion. "She is pretty cute and I think she found a friend in Snowy, Lolita, and Nebby along with me."
"That's adorable," the older Sarah chuckled.
"An Alolan Ninetales, radical..." Ash awed as he petted the older Sarah's Pokemon partner.
"Vul...?" The wild Vulpix in Sarah's arms cooed.
"Hmmm... now that I think about it, I think I've seen this little girl with two more pokemon around here." Sarah stated, rubbing the Vulpix's head.
"Really, which pokemon?" Ash asked. Sarah chuckled, "Two pokemon who you definitely won't believe live here on the mountain."
"Which pokemon would that be...?" Sarah asked confused, looking at the Vulpix in her arms. Then, two more cries came out, "Naiiiir..." "Zwei! Zweilous!"
"What was that?!" Sophocles asked, as everyone jumped at the cries and looked around.
"Naiiir..." "Zweilous! Zwel, Zwel!" The cries from before rang out once more but nobody could see who was making them. The older Sarah wasn't worried and neither was her Ninetales, they both winked at each other as if they knew who was coming towards them.
"Could that be trouble?" Silvally asked as the younger Pokemon, barring the Alolan Vulpix and Nebby in her arms, crowded around the younger Sarah's older Pokemon for comfort and protect, if needed.
"If it was trouble, we'd already be blasted off our feet," Sarah responded. "But, who could've made them?"
The older Sarah chuckled again as she saw the wild Vulpix perking up and a smile growing on its face, "I bet the little girl in your arms will know who they are, kid!"
"Vulpix..! Vul...!" the little Vulpix cried and out of the snowy bushes came a familiar serpentine dragon Pokemon and one Pokemon with two heads and four legs.
"Dragonair and Zweilous?!"Kukui exclaimed in shock. "Dragon types usually don't live in cold climates."
The Vulpix in Sarah's arms called to the two dragon type pokemon, "Nair?" Zweilous?" The wild Vulpix leaped out of Sarah's arms and ran over to its two friends.
"Nair, Nair, Dragonair?"
"Zweilous? Zwei?"
"Vulpix Vul..." the wild Vulpix replied with a smile. Professor Kukui and Hala, along with Kiawe, Lana, and Mallow and their partners and Crabrawler were in complete shock as they finally caught up with the rest of their party and saw the three wild Pokemon.
The wild Dragonair and Zweilous smiled at the Vulpix and nuzzled the Ice Type in relief as they babied it, sounding like they were deeply worried for the Fox Pokemon.
"Does not compute, does not compute! This is impossible! Dragon Types are not compatible with Ice Types, they're usually weak to Ice Type Attacks and they prefer warmer climates as opposed to this harsh environment! Or better yet, how come they're both with the wild Vulpix and how do they know it?!" Rotom-Dex cried, unable to comprehend the scene in front of him.
"Yeah, those three surprised me too when Ninetales and I first came across them," smiled Sarah. "But, from what I can tell, this Vulpix was also hatched here on Mount Lanakila but it didn't know who its parents are so it was an orphan. And, as for Dragonair and Zweilous, I don't know how long they've been here but what I do know is that they've somehow adapted to living in this weather and when they came across the little girl, they became her adopted parents and have been raising her since."
"Whoa..." Sarah was amazed as she watched Zweilous and Dragonair continue to nuzzle Vulpix happily.
Sarah then looked at her watch and she realized she was running late for something, "Oh! I gotta get back to the track right away, sorry."
"I hope you'll do very well," Lillie encouraged.
"Give everybody else coming to the competition the Alola Sledding One-Two from all of us," the kid Sarah agreed.
"I sure will. Hey, you know what, kids? There's a Pokemon Sled Jumping event tomorrow, why don't you and your friends come and attend? You could enter if you wanted to, I know you'll have lots of fun. Gotta run, hope to see ya later!" And with that, Sarah and her Ninetales got on their sled and raced away, leaving the group with Vulpix and her family.
The wild Vulpix looked very happy with Dragonair and Zweilous. Nebby babbled happily and floated over to the trio, "Nebby wait!" Sarah called.
Vulpix heard Nebby as she turned and cheered as he joined the little Ice Type, much to the surprise of her adopted parents. They stared at the newcomer as the little baby Pokemon played with his new playmate as they ran around, playing Tag. The two Dragon Types continued to watch the young Pokemon playing before they smiled just as Sarah had come to take back Nebby and meet with the two Dragon Types.
"Sorry, Nebby's my Pokemon, he's obviously found a new friend in your child," she apologized to the Dragon Pokemon.
"Air?" Dragonair cooed curiously, a female at that.
"I hope you didn't mind but when we found your child before meeting you and the Pokemon Sled Jumping Champion, my Ponyta and Espurr Pair took the liberty to heal Vulpix up. It was the only thing we could think of when we found her badly wounded."
Zweilous and Dragonair raised their eye brows in surprise as they looked to their child for confirmation and she nodded before they smiled softly and nodded to the girl in thanks for their adopted child's well-being and perfect condition.
"Hey, kids! Get back here, we got something big happening!" Kukui called from a distance as he noticed Hala and Crabrawler doing battle with a wild Sneazel with the others already back to see it happening when they got the word.
"Crabrawler's about to battle!" Ash gasped as Hala and his Dark/Fighting Type prepared to fight. "Crawbrawler, Power-Up Punch!"
By Hala's command, Crabrawler unleashed a Power-Up Punch that got him an instant knockout from the Sneazel and soon after, Crabrawler evolved into a Crabominable, which Rotom-Dex was once again all too happy to brief everyone on. "Crabominable, the Woolly Crab Pokemon. A Fighting and Icy Type, the white fur on its coat allows Crabominable to withstand the coldest weather."
The newly-evolved Crabominable did a victory dance, celebrating his win and evolution as the wild Vulpix and her adopted parents, who came with Sarah to see what the fuss is about, looked on in awe.
"Nair..."
"Zwei..."
The wild Vulpix smiled happily. "Vulpix..."
"So kids, are you all gonna participate in the Pokemon Sledding Competition tomorrow?" Hala asked the group.
"You bet!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika!" Pikachu agreed.
"Count me in!" Kiawe added.
"Me too!" Lillie said.
"Hmm... Nah, I think I'll get to know these three a little more," Sarah said looking at the three wild pokemon.
"What?!" Ash and the others gasped.
"Come on, Sarah, can't you at least try the Pokemon Sled Jumping event, anyway?" Mallow begged.
"It'll be lots of fun!" Lana agreed.
"You can't chicken out on us," Sophocles pleaded in a panic. "Not after Sarah the Champion personally asked you and Lillie and the rest of us to attend!"
"Maybe later, I need to get to the wild Vulpix and her adopted parents more. I'm quite curious about them myself."
"Alright, then, Sarah," Professor Kukui smiled. "You can do that but it'll still be fun for you to attend the Pokemon Sled Jumping event if you like. You can show the champion what you're made of if you give it a try, regardless."
"I will but I can't make any promises. Hey, Hala, why did you want Crabrawler to evolve into Alola's own Abominable Snowman, anyway?"
"Well, I planned to enter tomorrow's Pokemon Sled Jumping Competition with Crabominable," Hala answered with a smile, getting the others even more excited. "Since Crabrawler and I heard about the event from the champion herself when we last came to Ula'Ula Island and met her, we decided to get him ready so we can sign up for the event."
"Okay, but it'll still be fun even if you don't come," Kiawe smiled before he looked to the three wild Pokemon. "You can bring them along to see or take part in the competition, though."
"It still would be fun for you to come with us, Sarah," Lillie replied with a sad smile. "It wouldn't be as much fun without you."
"I'll think about it but for now, I want to familiarize myself with Vulpix, Dragonair, and Zweilous," Sarah reassured.
The wild Vulpix nuzzled Sarah's pant leg, "Vulpix...!" she smiled happily. Wooloo gently came over and gave her a happy 'baa baa' in greeting. Vulpix nuzzled the little sheep pokemon, making Wooloo giggle.
"Looks like your little friend's got another playmate," laughed Hala as he watched before he remembered about the sled jumping champion. "That does remind me, though. The adult Sarah is invited as a guest to the competition, maybe you can enter with your little friend, should you choose."
"So, before you part ways with us to familiarize yourself with her and her adopted parents tomorrow, Sarah, why don't we all go and check out the track?" Kukui offered. "If you like it, you may come by and take a swing at the event."
"Okay. So, little girl, what do you say? Want to see the Pokemon Sled Jumping track before tomorrow?" Sarah asked the wild Vulpix, who chirped a happy "Vul!" from the Ice Type. She then turned to her Dragon Type parents who were surprised by their daughter accepting the offer from the human girl.
"How about you two? Would you like to see it with her?" Zweilous and Dragonair looked at each other before they looked down at their daughter giving them a sad puppy face, begging them to join her and her new friends and to let her try it out. They both sighed with a smile and nodded in approval, making her cheer louder.
Later...
The group and their Pokemon, joined by the wild Vulpix in young Sarah's arms with Dragonair and Zweilous alongside her, went to see the Pokemon Sled Jumping track before the event being held tomorrow.
As they entered, they could see a crowd of people watching a sled jumper and a Glalie take off from the ramp and use Double Team before landing on the ground and sliding off.
"Awesome!" Ash cheered as Lillie and Sophocles smiled with him. "Pokemon Sled Jumping is so cool!" Lillie gasped in amazement.
"It does look kinda cool..." "Vul, Vul!" Sarah murmured in awe while Vulpix cheered, reaching her paws out as if she wanted to try it herself while her adopted parents chuckled at her enthusiasm.
"Lillie, Sarah!" Everyone turned to find Adult Sarah and her Ninetales joining them. "Well, don't you think it looks like fun, guys?"
"A whole lot of fun, Sarah." Ash agreed.
"Yeah, Snowy and I wanna try it." Lillie stated.
"Great, Ninetales and I can show you all the ropes." Adult Sarah offered. "Nine." her Ninetales agreed happily.
"You can all rent a sled if you like and during the competition, it's as easy as pie." Sarah noticed the wild Vulpix in Sarah's arms reaching out for the ramp and cheering loudly and she couldn't help but giggle. "Looks like we got a Pokemon Sled Jumping contender already. So, Sarah, do you want to join the contest tomorrow?"
"I'd love to but I'd rather familiarize myself with this little girl and her parents tomorrow," Sarah declined politely. "But, I'll swing by and give it a shot, though."
"I understand but it'll be great to see what you're made of. You can sign up today and enter at anytime tomorrow, the planners are very flexible and they'll accept late entries if anything happens." Young Sarah nodded in agreement before she turned to Lillie, who looked at the ramp and started to get nervous as Mallow and Lana cheered her on.
"Go ahead, Lillie, you enter it tomorrow," encouraged Sarah to her timid friend. "I'm sure you and Snowy will do brilliantly with it. You two can show Vulpix how it's done, you might have a role model."
"Alright, then Snowy and I are in!" Lillie nodded in determination, convinced by Sarah's words and after seeing Vulpix give a happy chirp to her and Snowy.
"How about practicing? It's not until tomorrow, remember?" Professor Kukui reminded.
Adult Sarah then had an idea. "Hey! Why don't we all practice together?" she offered. Everyone cheered at the offer with Vulpix cheering the loudest of all, she wanted to do Pokemon Sled Jumping and the moment she saw the previous jumper, she was hooked, making Young Sarah chuckle as she rubbed her head.
"Looks like you want to give it a shot, don't ya?" she asked. "Vul!" cried Vulpix as she panted and hang her tongue happily.
After renting their sleds, the gang joined Adult Sarah as she lead them to her training ramp. "See that? That ramp is where I've been practicing since I was a kid."
Getting their sled in place, Adult Sarah and Ninetales began to train them, "First, we'll do a basic jump."
The two of them slid down the hill on the sled before going off of the ramp and into the air. The sled landed perfectly below and Adult Sarah stopped the sled. "There, now you try it." Adult Sarah encouraged.
"Me, me, me, me, me!" Ash begged as he and Pikachu went first. But, as they made their jump and landed safely, they cheered for their success but it was a hollow one since the Kanto trainer forgot to have Pikachu do a move. "YEAH!"
"Ash!" Sarah chastised with a disappointed frown, surprising the two Kanto natives as she came to their faces. "You forgot to make Pikachu do a move! It's not as simple as that. There will be a lot of people that will be expecting stuff like what Adult Sarah and her Ninetales and that jumper and his Glalie did with their jumps, you could get disqualified if you were in the competition tomorrow!"
"Oh, yeah... Guess I forgot, sorry," Ash apologized sheepishly, realizing his and Pikachu's mistake. Ash's Mouse Pokemon looked at Blitz as he shook his head with a disappointed frown as well and he also apologized with an embarrassed smile.
"You put in a really good effort for a first try," Adult Sarah complemented kindly, cheering Ash and his partner up. "So, now that you know what happens when you get disqualified by either crashing or forgetting a move, why don't we all practice jumping safely for now?"
Everyone agreed to the idea so they all took turns practicing jumping and landing on the ground safely with Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana and their partners doing well despite some difficulty in controlling their landings. Kiawe, however, decided to go with Turtonator but he was too heavy as they left the ramp and crashed soon after.
Soon, it was Lillie and Young Sarah's turn to take the jump. Despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach, Lillie insisted that she have her friend accompany her and Snowy on their attempt, agreeing to let Sarah and Vulpix go first before they followed. Dragonair and Zweilous watched from below as their adopted child got on the sled and Sarah joined her, hoping they don't get hurt.
The two rode to the end of the ramp and smoothly jumped. "Okay, Vulpix, go!" Sarah called and Vulpix performed an attack.
The wild Vulpix unleashed Power Snow, the same move the Snowy knows, into the sky, making it snow and the pair landed safetly. The wild Vulpix was leaping up and down happily. "Vulpix! Vul..! Vulpix...!"
"That was great, Sarah! You too, Vulpix!" Adult Sarah cheered. "Ninetales, Nine!" Ninetales agreed.
Dragonair gave her child a happy, relieved, and proud nuzzle as she and Zweilous joined her and Young Sarah. "Lous, Zweil! Zweilous, Zweil, Weil!" commended Zweilous proudly as Vulpix cooed happily.
"Thanks, it was a lot of fun," Young Sarah replied before the quartet turned to Lillie, who was still at the top and ready as she and Snowy got into position on their sled. "Come on down, Lillie! It's not as hard as hard as it looks!"
"You can do it, Lillie!" Lana cheered as she and Mallow joined her.
"Take it all the way home!" encouraged Mallow with a bright smile.
Gulping and steeling herself, Lillie pushed off as she and Snowy rode their sled down the ramp and lifted off but she panicked and screamed in fright.
"Lillie!" "Vulpix!" Young Sarah and Vulpix shouted in shock and worry.
"Keep your eyes open!" coached Adult Sarah and Lillie did so from Snowy's encouraging call. Unfortunately, as they landed, they crashed and were flung off as Snowy landed safely on her paws while poor Lillie flew head first into the snow, shaken but not hurt, thankfully.
They all tried again but Lillie was now unsure of doing it again after failing the first time as Young Sarah and Vulpix comforted her and Snowy, commending them for their first try. As everyone watched Ash do his next jump right but got shocked and crashed as a result, Sarah decided to speak to her timid friend.
"You okay, Lillie?" she asked kindly as their two Ice Type chirped, wanting to do the jump again.
"Snowy and Vulpix are ready to go again," Mallow smiled.
"What about you and Sarah?" Lana asked Lillie, who was hesitant to answer.
"Does jumping scare you know?" Adult Sarah asked, knowingly. "I know I can jump! Well, at least theoretically, I can. I just have to put my mind to it, I guess, well..."
"A fall can put fear into your mind and sometimes, it's the first thing you feel," soothed Adult Sarah.
Lillie sighed, "You know I had the same fear too.." Adult Sarah added, surprising Lillie.
"You did?" she asked. Adult Sarah nodded and explained, "It was when Ninetales was still a Vulpix. When I was younger, my mother wanted me to take piano lessons, but when I saw a friend of mine doing the Pokemon Sledding Competition, I wanted to try it myself, but after a bad fall, I wanted to give but.. after some encouragement from Vulpix, I decided to try it again."
Sarah recalled her time when she was a child and was trying out Pokemon Sled Jumping against her mother's wishes. But, when she made her first fall, she cried sadly from being hurt and failing and wanted to stop. However, her partner, when she was still an Alolan Vulpix, saw the sadness in her face, she encouraged her human partner to give it another go. So, she did and with the Ice Type's help, she was able to land her jump perfectly and feel free from it. It was a moment that changed the two of them forever, and definitely for the better.
"I've never felt so exhilarated in all my life when we tried again! And, by the middle of that jump, I got the sense that my Vulpix and I were feeling the same way," she finished, to Young Sarah and Lillie's surprise.
"Wow, you were like Lillie back then," Sarah gasped.
"Really, you both felt like that?" Lillie breathed in stunned silence. Snowy cooed again, asking if Lillie will still be up for it and sure enough, she agreed and the two girls, along with their two Ice Types continued to practice until into the night before everyone parted ways with Adult Sarah and went back to the cabin to rest up for the competition tomorrow. Young Sarah also said goodbye to Vulpix and her parents as they left to go back to their old home but not without promising to meet each other again and familiarize themselves with one another.
The next morning...
Young Sarah and her Pokemon were wide awake and were accompanied by Dragonair, Zweilous, and Vulpix. They were still at the cabin as the others, Hala, and Professor Kukui made their decision to join Adult Sarah at the Pokemon Sled Jumping Competition. They did convince her to join but she also recommended that she'll come in her own time on account of her original decision to bond with the three wild Pokemon, which they didn't complain about.
"Okay, you three, so how did you guys come together in a place like this?" Sarah asked with Silvally joining her to translate for the three Pokemon.
"Nair.. Dragonair.. Nair..."
"Zweilous Zwei.. Zweilous Zwei..."
"They said Dragonair, back when it was a Dratini, was left here by her orginal trainer cause he claimed that she was too weak to do battle and she kept losing every battle so he saw no reason to keep her anymore. Zweilous, back when it was a Deino, refused to leave her alone in the snowy environment so he stayed with her, forcing their original trainer to abandon them both..." Silvally started.
Sarah was stunned and outraged, this was another case of a trainer abandoning his Pokemon out of spite just because he thought Dragonair was weak as a Dratini. Hearing this brought back bitter memories of Aqua and Milotic's old trainer before and after she claimed them as her own when they were abused and threatened just for disobeying his stupid orders. The two mentioned Water Pokemon frowned sadly, sympathizing the two Dragon Pokemon as kindred spirits while Vulpix nuzzled her parents, being their only sense of comfort after such a harsh time.
"That's cruel..." Sarah said as her face darkened, mentally cursing Dragonair and Zweilous' original trainer.
"Zwei, Zw, Zwei, Zweilous, Lous, Weil, Lous, Lous," Zweilous continued as he and his mate accepted their adopted child's comfort.
"After they were abandoned, they lived here together for a while until they came across Vulpix when she was just an egg," continued the Synthetic Pokemon. "They had no idea what happened to it or where its original parents are and when it hatched, the little squirt saw them as her parents, being the first Pokemon she saw. She was very young as a baby and since then, they've been raising her as their own."
Sarah was in awe from this, two abandoned Dragon Types had taken on the role as Vulpix's adopted parents after she was found stranded or abandoned as an egg? And, more than that, they raised her since she was a baby with no experience as parental figures whatsoever? And, they did it all while surviving in such a harsh and unforgiving climate?
"Whoa..." Sarah gasped at last. Even her Pokemon were surprised and stunned into silence from the story.
"Zweilous, Zweilous..."
"Zweilous said, so far the little fox only knows Power Snow and Protect." Silvally added.
"Vulpix.." Vulpix stated.
"Hmm... but why was she all covered in scratches?" Sarah asked.
"Vulpix, Vulpix.. Vul..."
"She said she tried to take on a small ant with a big head but lost..? Small ant with a big head? What pokemon is that?" Silvally asked.
"Sounds like a Trapinch to me." Sarah said. "But Ice types have an advantage over Ground Type pokemon, so how did she lose?"
"Vulpix Vul..." the wild Vulpix pouted.
"It knew Rock Slide!" Silvally exclaimed. "And that explains alot." Just then... "Trapinch...!" The group turned and saw a familiar Ant Pit Pokemon, staring at the wild Vulpix.
"Vulpix!" Vulpix gasped as her dragon parents shielded her and glared at the Ant Pit Pokemon.
"It's the Trapinch!" Sarah yelled in shock as she and her Pokemon got into a battle stance. "But, what's it doing here after it whomped Vulpix up badly?" Silvally pondered as he glared at the little Ground Type.
The Ground Pokemon smirked as he chattered at Vulpix, causing the little Ice Type to growl as she was mocked at, forcing her Dragon mother to soothe her.
"Sounds like it wants to play with her again. But, I think he's looking for another fight with her just to prove how superior Ground Types are to Ice Types, or that's what I heard him say," Silvally snarled.
"Man, Trapinch, that's not only stupid and stereotypical! That's low!" snapped Sarah as she joined Dragonair and Zweilous in protecting their daughter.
The wild Trapinch laughed as it acknowledged Sarah and her Pokemon and chattered at them, mocking them as if it was proud of having to beat Vulpix using a Ground Type move it knows without taking account of the Pokemon Type differences.
Sarah snarled again and this time, she didn't need Silvally to translate since he knew what they were thinking about. "Oh, so that's how you want it to go down..." she growled.
The wild Vulpix pouted at the little Trapinch, "Vul...!" and dashed from her two dragon type protectors, "PIIIIIIIIIX!" and used Power Snow on the little Ant Pit pokemon but it used Dig and dodged it. Vulpix landed on the ground and the Trapinch came up and used Rock Slide, launching boulders at the Fox Pokemon but she used Protect and protected herself from the Rock Slide.
"Sarah, she can't keep using Protect against that runt! It'll get weaker the more time she uses it to protect herself from Rock Slide, then it'll be like our first encounter with her all over again!" Silvally warned as he kept a watchful eye on the Ant Pit Pokemon.
Trapinch charged at Vulpix again as it jumped towards the little Fox Pokemon before opening its jaws using an attack that looks like Bite but stronger as dark energy appeared from it.
"Vulpix, dodge it!" Sarah called, causing the little white fox to jump back in time before she could feel the bite of her enemy's Dark Type attack before she traded another Powder Snow attack towards the Ground Type. "Are you kidding me?! It knows Crunch as well!"
"Why do they always want to do this the hard way?" groaned Silvally.
"Vulpix..." Vulpix growled, wanting to beat the Ant Pit Pokemon this time. The Ant Pit pokemon scurried towards Vulpix with a Crunch attack ready, but a certain sheep pokemon curled up and rolled over the tiny pokemon, pinning it with his body. "Baaa baa..."
"Trapinch!" Trapinch struggled to get out from underneath the sheep but Wooloo wasn't letting up. "Baa baa..."
"The tiny sheep said spill why you're after Vulpix, bumb." Silvally stated, eyeing the Ground Type Pokemon.
"Trapinch Trap!"
"What do you mean, Ice types are the reason why you're all alone here?" Silvally translated.
"Trapinch, Trapinch, Trap."
"Silvally, what is it saying?" Sarah asked.
"It's sayin that its trainer tossed it to the side after losing a battle... and guess what pokemon type it lost too...?" Silvally stated.
Sarah thought back to the story Dragonair and Zweilous told them about their being abandoned and when they found Vulpix alone as an egg. Her mind suddenly clicked as she realized that Trapinch had lost to an Ice Type Pokemon of all Pokemon types and what's worse, it was yet another case of Pokemon abuse and abandonment in the hands of a trainer. Because it lost to an Ice Type and after it was abandoned by its own trainer, Trapinch had been training itself to not only take revenge on its trainer but also to take its anger out on any and all Ice Types it comes across. Unfortunately, Vulpix had been one of its victims that suffered its wrath.
"Oh... I see..." Sarah said quietly. She then walked over to the pinned down Ant Pokemon as Wooloo did his best to hold it down as she glared at it with a mother's love and care.
"I know you are angry," she began firmly. "And, I'm sorry you had to go through such a thing. But, that doesn't excuse you for attacking Vulpix like that."
Trapinch chattered angrily, still edging on beating Vulpix again in order to restore its own pride.
"I know, I know," Sarah continued. "But, you must trust me that anger will never solve your problems. Nor does it grant you the right to take out your anger and frustration on all Ice Types."
The Ant Pit Pokemon finally settled down as it took in the stern words Sarah's telling him and looked at her in the eyes as she continued to speak to it.
"Look at yourself, Trapinch. You may have had it with your old trainer and Ice Types when you were beaten and he or she dumped you but you attacked an innocent Pokemon that is not the Ice Type that caused your current predicament. You attacked an adopted child belonging to two Dragon Types that have also been abandoned by a selfish and worthless trainer that saw no family value in them just because one of them lost a battle and the other didn't want to leave her. How can you live with yourself being like a monster towards their daughter, huh?" Trapinch thought about what Sarah was saying and... he felt ashamed of himself. Wooloo carefully got off of him and Trapinch looked very ashamed, "Tra... pinch..."
"That's fine but I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," Sarah nodded before she turned her head to Dragonair, Vulpix, and Zweilous. They were all still either glaring at or eyeing him suspiciously, not sure if he's genuinely sorry about what he's done.
Slowly walking towards the trio he offended and assaulted, Trapinch apologized to Vulpix and her parents for his shameful behavior and said that he had a grudge against Ice Types after he was beaten by an Ice Type Pokemon that was stronger that it and that it was abandoned by his former trainer for losing against the Ice Pokemon he was hunting for.
He even told them that they're free to punish him as they see fit after giving a final apologetic bow to them and holding it in submission to them.
Needless to say, the trio were surprised that Trapinch was going through the same predicament as they had but in a different way that made them less different from each other. Although, they were still concerned that he hasn't seen the error of his ways despite the sincerity of his apologies.
They looked to Sarah, mentally asking her for permission since she talked him down and she was the one they trusted the most after familiarizing themselves with her.
Finally, Vulpix was the one to take up the offer first as she slowly came up to the Ant Pit Pokemon and held up a paw. Trapinch was surprised but he knew better than to assume that everything between him and her and her parents would be fixed with this simple gesture. He looked at her skeptically as he tilted his head until the little Ice Type smiled softly at him.
Finally, he gave in and slowly took her paw, returning her smile and nodded slowly. This got some satisfaction out of Sarah as she watched the whole thing and nodded before she turned to Dragonair and Zweilous, both still rightfully concerned. "Good on you two. Now, Dragonair, Zweilous, are you going to try and be civil to Trapinch as Vulpix has?" she asked the Dragon Types.
Dragonair and Zweilous looked at each other, "Nair..?" Dragonair asked her mate. Sarah could tell that Zweilous was one of those 'protective' father figures to the little Vulpix, but the look from his mate and the puppy face from Vulpix helped make his choice. "Zweilous." it nodded.
At last, the two Dragon Types decided to give Trapinch another chance. While they were still concerned about Vulpix and wary around the Ground Type, Zweilous especially since he was an especially loving father to the Fox Pokemon, they ultimately decided to trust him by Sarah's good word and Vulpix's cuteness coupled by her own choice to trust him.
Sarah and the rest of her Pokemon nodded, smiling as the four Pokemon started to get to know one another better. Even Nebby was happy for his playmate and her family as he laughed, babbled, and clapped happily.
The happy moment, unfortunately, was cut short when they all heard a loud BOOM and jumped back terrified! Everyone looked and saw that it was coming from the Pokemon Sled Jumping track and saw something bombarding towards them while screaming. The object landed with a crash just a few feet from them and they all looked to see a familiar raven-haired boy and Mouse Pokemon groaning as they twitched in pain.
"Ash, what happened to you?" Sarah asked, surprised to see the Kanto trainer and Pikachu. Suddenly, Sarah saw the sled and she realized what was going on.
"The Pokemon Sled Jumping Competition!" she gasped in horror as she looked at Vulpix and her family. "Oh, god! I completely forgot, I promised Lillie and the others I'd join them later after I familiarized myself with you guys! Come on, girl!"
"Vul!" Vulpix gasped, remembering the competition and joined Sarah as they raced to Silvally and got on him, hoping to get back to the competition before they were kicked out.
"Let's go, guys!" she called to her Pokemon, Dragonair, and Zweilous. She then turned to Trapinch with a smile. "Come on, Trapinch, you too!"
"...Tra, Trapinch!" Trapinch was surprised but he smiled and saluted as he quickly joined his new friends and they all raced away with Sarah's other Pokemon and Vulpix's parents close by, taking Ash and Pikachu's sled and leaving them behind.
Lillie and Snowy practiced the move Aurora Veil for the Snow Competition multiple times with Adult Sarah's Ninetails. "Now Aurora Veil will only work when its snowing. Does Snowy know any moves that can make it snow?" Adult Sarah asked.
"Well, Snowy knows Powder Snow and so does the wild Vulpix with Sarah. Right, Snowy?" Lillie noted as Snowy agreed with a happy "Vul!".
Adult Sarah nodded as she gave her final piece of advice, "Excellent, and with how much you practiced, I'm sure you two can learn Aurora Veil on your jump."
"Oh, Lillie! We're ready for ya!" one of the competition staff at the ramp called.
"Okay!" Lillie called back. The staff was ready for Lillie to take her turn for the competition jumps but the member calling her also wanted to make sure they didn't leave anybody that entered out. "Are you and Snowy the last ones, Lillie? We didn't leave out anybody else for the last jumps, right?"
"Lillie, Snowy! Hold on!" Silvally cried as everyone (despite them hearing only grunts from the Synthetic Pokemon and not English as Sarah can) looked in surprise to see him, Young Sarah, Vulpix, Trapinch, Vulpix's parents, and the rest of her Pokemon racing to the track. "Don't go yet!"
"Sarah!" "Vul!" Lillie and Snowy gasped in surprise as the group pulled up to them and joined her, Adult Sarah, and their Fox Pokemon.
"Hey, kid, you made it!" "I thought you weren't going to come after we began, you would've been disqualified for not showing up!" smiled Adult Sarah and Lillie, relieved to see that they came for the competition.
"Yeah, sorry, took longer than I thought to familiarize myself with my wild friends," Young Sarah apologized as she turned to Trapinch coming to them with a smile. "We got ourselves an extra passenger who's in the same pickle as they were."
"Wow, a Trapinch!" gasped Lillie, surprised to see a Ground Type with her friend. "How did you guys come across such a Pokemon?"
"Long story, I'll tell you later when we're done. But, enough about that. Is the competition over?"
"No, Snowy and I are up next and you and Vulpix are the last ones," smiled the timid girl. "And, guess what, we're going to try Aurora Veil!"
"You are?!" Young Sarah asked, perplexed.
"Mm-hmm, and we're going to do it!" Lillie replied with a determined smile. Snowy agreed as she cooed at Vulpix and Sarah, sharing her trainer's determination.
"Vulpix?" Vulpix asked, a little surprised by her counterpart willing to do Ninetales' move.
"But, did you practice learning it? That's a tough defense move for Snowy to pick up," said Young Sarah, worried. "I'm sure Vulpix can learn it herself but only after much training and after evolving into a Ninetales as Sarah's partner had."
"That's not going to stop us from doing it, we've been training really hard and with all our practice, I'm sure we're ready to learn it!"
Young Sarah looked at Lillie in the eyes and saw the fire burning in them along with Snowy's. They were indeed determined to learn and use Aurora Veil on the jump and they were going to go all out and learn it or bust.
"Okay, just do your best out there, alright?" Young Sarah conceded. Lillie nodded along with Snowy, "Don't worry, just watch us do our thing!" "Vul, Vul, Vulpix!"
Vulpix was also worried for Snowy but she also conceded and gave Snowy a final nuzzle before she and Lillie went to the top of the ramp to begin their jump while the staff prepared for Sarah and Vulpix's jump, the last jump of the competition.
Taking their place with their sled, Snowy and Lillie prepared to jump. "Okay, Snowy, we can do it. Just remember, do it just as we practiced and let's not forget, Sarah and Vulpix along with Dragonair and Zweilous are watching us. Let's make them proud!" Lillie encouraged her Ice Type. "Vul!" Snowy cooed, determinedly.
Soon, they slid down the ramp and made the jump. When they left the ramp, Snowy first released Powder Snow but they started to lose their form.
"Lillie, Snowy, concentration! Remember your training!" "VULPIX!" Young Sarah and Vulpix cheered. Hearing their two friends cheering them on, Lillie opened her eyes and steeled herself. "Do it!" she signaled to Snowy, bracing herself for their big gamble.
Snowy howled loudly as she then produced a shiny, transparent veil of an aurora as everyone looked in awe. Young Sarah, Vulpix, and the rest of her Pokemon along with Dragonair, Zweilous, and Trapinch looked in amazement as they cheered for Lillie and Snowy when they made a safe landing. Snowy had finally learned Aurora Veil!
They quickly raced over to Lillie and Snowy as she and Snowy cheered for their own success.
"You did it, Lillie!" "Vul, Vulpix, Vul, Vul!" Young Sarah and Vulpix cheered happily as the wild Ice Type jumped in happiness and joy, making Lillie and Snowy blush with a bashful smile.
"Oh, it was nothing, it was all thanks to our training," Lillie replied modestly. "If anything, your cheering also helped us with our jump."
Sarah chuckled bashfully as the one of the announcers for the competition made the final announcement for the competition jumps, "We're onto the final stretch, ladies and gentlemen! Our final competitor will be the young girl, Sarah, and her Vulpix for the final jump of the competition before we move on to the exhibition jump by the Sled Jumping champion herself, let's get sliding!"
"Hey, that's you and I, Vulpix!" "Vul!" Vulpix and Young Sarah noticed as she turned to Lillie and Snowy, who gave them determined smiles.
"Go get 'em, we'll all be cheering for you," Lillie encouraged. "You know it, come on, Vulpix!"
Sarah rushed to get the sled she borrowed from Ash ready for the jump while Snowy, Dragonair, Zweilous, and Trapinch shared encouraging and loving nuzzles before she raced towards her sledding partner and friend and they got on the sled.
"Remember, Vulpix, no hard feelings. It's not about if we win or lose, it's how we play the game. So, let's give it our all and have fun," reminded Young Sarah to the wild Ice Type, who cooed in determination.
"You got this, Sarah!" "You can do it!" "Win it for Melemele Island!" "We're rooting for ya!" Lana, Kiawe, Mallow, and Sophocles cheered as they and Professor Kukui watched.
Young Sarah's Pokemon along with Trapinch, Dragonair, and Zweilous were all with Adult Sarah, Ninetales, Lillie, and Snowy as they watched from their spot. "Good luck, Sarah!" Adult Sarah waved. "Nine, Nine Ninetales!" cheered her Ninetales.
"Stay strong, Sarah! We're with you!" Lillie encouraged with a smile as Snowy cheered for Vulpix.
"Here we go, Vulpix. Let's ride!"
"And, there it is, folks! The big push off, Sarah and Vulpix have gotten off to a good start but can they maintain it as they make the jump off the ramp?" the announcer commentated as he watched Young Sarah and her Ice Type carefully as they went faster and faster, gaining speed towards the end of the ramp.
"If I wasn't watching, I would've made a much faster descent at a much better form," the second announcer the first announcer said with a scoff.
"This is it, Vulpix! Get ready with your Powder Snow and Protect!" Young Sarah called as the two saw the ramp fast approaching, their eyes fixed on it. Everyone watched with bated breath as they prepared to see whether or not Vulpix and Young Sarah will crash and burn or pull off a successful jump. "OVERDRIVE, ACCELERATE!"
The wild Ice Type and Young Sarah jumped off the ramp and took a leap of faith as they flew in the air as everyone gasped while Vulpix used Powder Snow and used Protect to generate a green shield around them.
"Holy fish paste! Are my eyes deceiving me?!" replied the first announcer, goggle-eyed. "It looks like Sarah and Vulpix have successfully made the jump and they unleashed a combo attack, similar to how Lillie and Snowy pulled it off with off with their own combo!"
The entire crowd looked on in shock and amazement as they watched Young Sarah and Vulpix fly and descend to the ground.
"They look pretty sharp, so far so good. Almost to the ground now, can they make the landing? Can they do it?" the announcer called as everyone watched to see if the last two competitors can make the landing. Until... "THEY DO!"
Everyone cheered as Sarah and Vulpix landed safely and smoothly without making a single scratch but said pair were shocked as they were able to make the jump just as Lillie and Snowy had.
Lillie and Snowy cheered the loudest as they quickly went to the wild Ice Type and Young Sarah with Trapinch, Dragonair, and Zweilous smiling brightly as they nuzzled her and even Lillie's partner gave her a congratulatory nose nuzzle.
"It's just in, folks! Little Sarah and Vulpix have done the jump and they've executed a combo attack and a perfect landing despite their slight mid-air stall!" the first announcer said as he smiled brightly at the competition's last competitors.
"Unreal! That's just crazy!" the second announcer replied in shock. "They've unleashed a combo attack and executed a jump and landing that should've taken years, months, or even weeks to perfect! It took me over 70 years to get that landing and the jump right even without the combo attack!"
"You did it, Sarah! That was a great jump!" Lillie cheered. "You're sure to win the competition!"
"Well, I'm sure you're going to win this one but I have you and Snowy along with everyone else to thank for our successful jump," Sarah replied modestly.
Everyone else smiled and continued to cheer for Sarah and Lillie, feeling proud of them for their jumps and what they did with them.
Finally, it was time for the exhibition jump featuring Adult Sarah and her Ninetales. Using Aurora Veil and Powder Snow, they've created one of their winning techniques for previous competitions called the Galactica Shining Star, to the cheers of everyone watching in awe, even Young Sarah, Lillie, and their Fox Pokemon.
Finally, it was time for the winners of the Pokemon Sled Jumping competition to be announced and everyone was waiting for the results to be announced.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this has turned out to be a fine competition and let's just say, some of the contestants really took us by surprise," began the announcer.
Lillie and Young Sarah turned each other as the latter spoke first, "Well, Lillie, this is it. You and I have to make either Third, Second, or First Place. That way, no matter who wins or loses, we'll use this experience to improve ourselves as trainers."
"Yeah, I'm glad that we'll be able to grow from there, especially Snowy and Vulpix since they'll be happy and feel proud," smiled Lillie.
Vulpix smiled along with Snowy as they stood with the two girls, Trapinch, Dragonair, and Zweilous, hoping they'll be in any place for all the hard work they've put into their jumps with their human partners.
"We're all very proud of our competitors for giving it their all and making some of the best jumps we've seen in Alola but only three of them have stood out and really impressed us. So, I'll hand it over to one of our judges to announce our winners!"
"Here they are, everyone, and we got quite a roster!" began the judge with the announcers. "In Third Place on the Pokemon Sled Jumping Competition, Lillie and Snowy! In Second Place, Little Sarah and Vulpix! And in First Place, our winner today for the best jump of the competition, Hala and Crabominable!"
The crowd cheered for the three winners together and Dragonair, Zweilous, and Trapinch were happy for the little Vulpix.
Lillie and Young Sarah were shocked when the results were announced. They thought they were not going to be in either Third, Second, or First Place but they reached their respective places in the competition along with Hala! Sure, he may have won but they wanted to make their Pokemon happy and proud of themselves no matter what place they land in and now, they did! This got a huge smile out of the two as they took their respected places on the podium with Snowy and Vulpix along with Hala and Crabomiable and waved to everyone as they accepted their respected medals for their jumps in the contest. Their friends and Adult Sarah, along with their Pokemon, cheered for their three friends and their respected partners, for winning the contest. Lillie and Young Sarah looked at each other and nodded, smiling. They may not have won First Place but they were proud of themselves and their Pokemon for the effort they've put into it after their training.
After the awards ceremony, Lillie and Snowy looked at their bronze medal and award, still in amazement and disbelief that they actually won Third Place as they smiled. "Snowy, I'm sorry we didn't get First Place but it's amazing that we actually got Third! You must be really proud of yourself just as I am," Lillie said to her Ice Type partner, who cooed happily.
"Hey, Lillie," Young Sarah called as she and Vulpix, now riding her right shoulder, came to them with their own award and silver medal. "Great job for you and Snowy to win Third Place in the contest."
"Thanks! Congratulations on getting Second Place, Sarah," Lillie congratulated. "Sorry that you and Vulpix didn't win First Place as well."
"Ah, never mind, Lillie, but thanks for the compliment," Young Sarah brushed off. "Maybe when the next competition rolls, after we trained harder, we can enter and one of us can take First Place." Soon, Ninetales and Adult Sarah came to them, smiling, "Frustrated?"
"He-he, nope, not at all. It was fun," Young Sarah smiled. "Vulpix!" The Wild Vulpix cheered too.
"Yeah, I was a little frustrated but I still had fun and so did Snowy," Lillie reassured with Snowy giving a happy "Vul!". "That's how it should be but that frustration will turn into the determination you need to succeed."
"Yes. Sarah, thank you so much! It's such a joy to be participating in a sport that allows you to work with your Pokemon," Lillie thanked. Adult Sarah giggled, appreciating the thanks.
"Watching you two made me think back to my early days and all the great friends I made when I first tried out Pokemon Sled Jumping," she told them as they turned their attention to the rest of the gang and their Pokemon congratulating Hala for winning First Place. "Yes, that's true," Lillie smiled.
"The class sure had a lot of lessons to soak in throughout this trip. Class, we're heading back to Melemele Island faster than a Quick Attack!" Kukui mused and announced, to everyone's joy.
Young Sarah, however, thought it was bittersweet since she knew what this meant. She walked over to Dragonair, Trapinch, and Zweilous and set down Vulpix with them, much to the Ice Type's surprise. "Well, Vulpix, it's time to say goodbye," she told her as she petted the little Pokemon.
"Hopefully, you'll become stronger with your family and be ready to compete again when we meet. I promise I'll come and see you guys when I can. I had a lot of fun with you." She then turned to Trapinch.
"Trapinch, I'm putting you in your new family's care so listen to Dragonair and Zweilous as their new son. They'll raise you and your sister well." Trapinch chirped happily, not wanting to disappoint her. "Take care of them, Dragonair, Zweilous, I know they'll make you proud. Well, goodbye, guys," Young Sarah finished but as she walked off, the wild Vulpix gave off a sad coo as she watched Sarah leave and reunite with her friends and Pokemon. Dragonair and Zweilous comforted her but then they nodded, smiling.
Later...
The gang was ready to leave and Adult Sarah and Ninetales came to say goodbye.
"Hope to see you all again one day." Adult Sarah said. "Nine." Her Ninetails added.
"Sure Sarah." Ash stated. "Pikachu." Pikachu agreed.
Then, "VULPIX...!" Everyone turned in confusion and saw a familiar band of Pokémon running towards them. "Vulpix, Dragonair, Zweilous, Trapinch?" Young Sarah called confused.
"What are they all doing here?" Lillie asked, looking surprised. Even the others were taken aback by the wild Pokemon family approaching them.
Vulpix, however, jumped into Young Sarah's arms and nuzzled her chest, cooing happily. "Aww, she's so cute!" Mallow gushed as she and Lana watched and squealed.
"Vulpix, what are you doing? You should be staying with your family," Young Sarah asked, still confused. Vulpix shook her head as she nuzzled her head against her chest again, "Vul, Vul! Vulpix..."
Adult Sarah and Ninetales smiled, they knew why Vulpix was so insistent in joining Young Sarah and the others. "I think Vulpix wants to go with you, Sarah," she chuckled, smiling.
Young Sarah gasped as she looked at the little Vulpix, "Vulpix could really benefit from a trainer who knows and understands how she and her family felt and who could really give Dragonair and Zweilous' daughter the love and care she'll need," continued Adult Sarah.
"Then, that's settled," Professor Kukui smiled.
"It looks to me like Vulpix has decided to choose Little Sarah as her new trainer and her big sister in her family," Hala chuckled brightly, as the others gasped.
"Are you three okay with this?" she asked her Ice Type's parents and brother, hesitantly. The trio nodded, smiling happily. They did talk to Vulpix about it and they eventually encouraged her to live with her human partner and become a fine Ice Pokemon in their honor and memory. Vulpix jumped out of her arms and ran to her family to nuzzle them for the last time in a long time before the two Dragon Types gave her their blessings and along with Trapinch's as her adopted brother. "That settles that," giggled Adult Sarah and her Ninetales agreed.
"Go ahead, Sarah, Vulpix will be great for you. I'll make sure Dragonair, Zweilous, and Trapinch don't get into too much trouble and I'll phone your parents to be ready for them should they eventually join your family."
"Wow, thanks Sarah, that'll be great!" Young Sarah smiled brightly.
"Vulpix..." Vulpix was happy but... Sarah could see that she wanted something a bit more... "Let me guess... you want your family to come too, don't you little Vulpix?"
"Vul?!" Vulpix was shocked, Sarah guessed what she was thinking.
"Trapinch...?" Trapinch asked.
Sarah giggled, "You four can come too, can't separate such a special family, now can I?" The three pokemon smiled and they all joined Sarah's side. Vulpix was happy her family was coming with her to their new home on Melemele Island with Sarah and the gang.
"Take care of those four, Sarah." Adult Sarah said to her.
Sarah nodded, "You know I will, Dad's Dragonite will be happy to have two more dragon types in the house."
Vulpix cheered happily as she jumped up and down, making her one big family and Adult Sarah and her partner laugh before she got into her new trainer's arms and nuzzled her again, making Young Sarah feel very happy for her new Ice Type.
Now that Lillie and Sarah have strengthened their budding and blossoming bonds between Snowy and Vulpix, how will their misadventures during the Pokemon Sled Jumping Competition and with Vulpix's adopted family change the two as the Pokemon trainers we know and love? We'll see for ourselves what will ensue for them as the journey continues!
Sarah's Team:
1. Pikachu
Moves - Thundershock, Tackle, Thunderpunch, Double Team, Thunderbolt, Electroweb
2. Lycanroc (Dusk Form)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Rock Slide
3. Lycanroc (Midnight Form)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Protect, Rock Slide
4. Silvally
Moves - Crush Claw, Air Slash, Hyper Beam, Swords Dance, Dragon Claw, Multi Attack, Tri Attack
5. Mudsdale
Moves - High Horsepower, Double Kick, Mud Slap, Bulldoze
6. Wooloo
Moves - Wild Charge, Tackle, Electro Ball, Volt Tackle
7. Ponyta (Galar Form)
Moves - Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse, Psybeam
8. Meowth (Alola Form)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Scratch, Iron Tail, Dark Pulse
9. Brionne
Moves - Pound, Water Gun, Icy Wind, Bubblebeam, Aqua Jet
10. Milotic
Moves - Dragon Pulse, Ice Beam, Twister, Mirror Coat
11. Mareep (Shiny)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Confuse Ray, Power Gem, Signal Beam
12. Sylveon
Moves - Tackle, Tail Whip, Copycat, Shadow Ball, Light Screen
13. Sliggoo
Moves - Water Gun, Protect, Tackle, Dragon Breath, Dragon Pulse
14. Noctowl
Moves - Wing Attack, Foresight, Air Slash, Confusion
15. Espurr (Male)
Moves - Helping Hand, Psyshock, Light Screen, Future Sight
16. Espurr (Female)
Moves - Heal Pulse, Psyshock, Dark Pulse, Future Sight
17. Snivy
Moves - Vine Whip, Leaf Storm, Twister, Leaf Blade
18. Oshawott
Moves - Water Gun, Razor Shell, Icy Wind, Iron Tail
19. Tepig
Moves - Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Solar Beam, Rock Tomb
20. Vulpix (Alola Form)
Moves - Protect, Powder Snow,
21. Dragonair
Moves - Dragon Rage, Iron Tail, Ice Beam, Hyper Beam
22. Zweilous
Moves - Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Wing Attack, Flash Cannon
23. Trapinch
Moves - Crunch, Dig, Rock Slide
