Chapter 6
"Flint?"
The beaches of Hau'oli city always had trainers present, even late at night. Having spent ample time at these beaches and in the town itself, Giselle grew accustomed to hearing English spoken with an Alolan accent or the native language. So, when she heard a trainer barking out orders in a more urban dialect that she knew from Vermilion City, Giselle had to see who the 'foreigner' was. Lo and behold, it was a friend and old rival, Flint!
The acting referee of the battle declared that Yungoos could no longer continue, and he motioned to Flint and Chimchar as the victor.
"Great work, Chimchar!" Flint said proudly as he approached his partner. Chimchar leaped up to give Flint a high five, and the two wore matching grins.
"Man, that's eight in a row!"
"Who is this guy?"
Giselle listened to the murmurs from the crowd. Win streaks weren't very common on these beaches since the level of competition was pretty even for the most part. Hearing that Flint won eight battles was no small feat. It certainly explained why nearly everyone gathered at his battlefield.
"He was battling with a Magmar earlier, but after six battles, this guy switched to battling with his Chimchar."
"I heard he beat Ilima too. This guy is no joke."
Ilima chuckled as he scratched the back of his head. He was an impressive trainer, but his reputation often preceded him, perhaps to his detriment at times. His skills paled in comparison to the praise he received.
"Well, Cubone, are you up for a battle?" Giselle asked as she looked down at her partner. Cubone raised his bone with an eager nod.
"So, is there anyone else that wants to take us on?" Flint asked the audience.
"We'd like to take a shot at you!" Giselle called out. When Flint turned, he furrowed his brow and eyed the woman who challenged him.
"Giselle!?" He exclaimed. "Is that you?"
She shot him a grin of her own as she set her bag down on the sidelines and stepped out onto the battlefield beside Cubone. There was a reaction from the audience. Whispers of her status as the battle instructor at the Pokemon school propped up the probability of her winning this contest.
"It's good to see you too," She remarked as she raised her hands to tie her hair back into a ponytail using her wristband. "There are all sorts of things I like to ask you, but I feel I'll get most of my answers in a battle."
There was a glint in Flint's eyes as she made this statement. "I wouldn't have it any other way!"
The trainers took their spots at the edge of the field while Cubone and Chimchar met at its center. The Pokemon exchanged a handshake as a greeting, and then the referee called for the contest to begin.
Cubone didn't need a command to start. His bone club gained a bright blue glow as it extended in length. Cubone then pointed it at Chimchar as he settled into a fighting stance. Chimchar answered by igniting the flames on his backside. The fire roared as it eclipsed him in size for just a moment, then it shrunk back down to its standard height.
Without a word, the two Pokemon engaged each other. Cubone lashed out with his Bone Rush, expertly handling his club as he attacked. However, Chimchar's agility was on full display. He ducked and weaved through the attacks, performing backflips and handstands to evade each blow. Chimchar was smiling as he moved, having fun with his latest opponent. Cubone narrowed his eyes as he heard Chimchar's laughter, so he aimed low on his next swing at him. Truthfully, he wasn't going for Chimchar but the sand at his feet. As Chimchar bounded away, Cubone club threw a mound of sand at him.
Chimchar shrieked as sand went into his eyes, and he stopped moving to try and clear the sand away. Cubone used this opportunity to land the first clean blow of the battle. Chimchar was knocked off his feet with a thwack that caused the entire audience to cringe. He hit the sand and rolled twice before he came to a stop. With a groan and a shake of his head, Chimchar got back onto his feet. He used his arm to wipe at his eyes again and cleared his vision enough to squint through. A brown blur was approaching, and he hastily dropped to the ground just in time to avoid a second clobbering from Cubone's club.
"Get outta there, Chimchar!" Flint hollered. Chimchar took a page out of Cubone's book and punched his arm down into the sand. Then he lifted with all of his might to throw up a dusting of sand between himself and Cubone. It forced Cubone to stop for a few moments in favor of maintaining his vision, which bought Chimchar the time he needed to gain some separation. "You've got to be careful, Chimchar. They're a lot slower than you, so they're going to do anything to find a way to slow you down."
Chimchar glanced back at Flint and nodded. His trainer's advice held true throughout his brawl with Cubone. It was almost as if Cubone was fighting dirty, especially since he had a weapon in hand, but Chimchar handled himself well. He buried his frustrations from being tripped and repeatedly having sand hurled in his face. There was a point when Cubone was trying to pin Chimchar down against the sand, but the primate managed to get his foot under the tip of Cubone's mask. With a kick, Cubone's mask was removed from his head, and Giselle laughed as her partner abandoned the battle to retrieve it.
Flint raised his eyebrows as he saw Giselle laughing at Cubone's expense. The old Giselle never laughed during a battle, and the sight of her now put a smile on Flint's face. Once she had her fill and Cubone regained his composure, the focus returned to her eyes. She and Cubone invited Chimchar to attack again, and the battle resumed.
Despite his best efforts, Chimchar's knee was struck by Cubone's weapon, and his mobility was hampered by the damage done. Cubone had free reign from there as Chimchar could not create the separation he needed, and Cubone dragged him into a wrestling match. With Chimchar pinned against the sand with Cubone on top of him, Giselle gave the call for their finishing attack, Bone Rush.
Cubone raised his club, and it glowed blue before it doubled in length. Chimchar flinched in preparation for the attack, but it never came. Flint stepped out on the field to concede the battle, and their audience cheered for the show put on by both Pokemon.
Giselle and Flint met on the battlefield to shake hands, and with Flint now on the receiving end of a loss, the crowd gathered around to learn more about him and Chimchar. While Ilima remained among the group, Giselle separated from everyone, and Mina followed her.
"So, how do you know that guy?" Mina inquired.
Giselle gave a chuckle before she spoke. "We first met back in Kanto," She answered. "He's an old friend, and actually, he was the person who recommended that I visit Alola in the first place," Giselle offered a smile to Mina. "So, I'm grateful for that."
"Yeah, I don't know where we'd be without you as our teacher," Mina added before looking back at Flint. "But you know, sometimes I forget how good you are. That guy beat Ilima so easily, but you and Cubone didn't seem to struggle that much."
"Oh, I wouldn't put too much stock into our battle," Giselle said sheepishly. "Flint's signature Pokemon is his Magmar, and I doubt we would've beaten him. But his Chimchar seems to be very young. In fact, now that I think about it, Chimchar didn't really use any fire type attacks. The way he battled played to Cubone's strengths."
"That's right, they didn't use any fire attacks," Mina noted as she glanced at her Ribombee, who sat on her shoulder. "Right, Ribombee?"
The itty-bitty Pokemon offered a nod as her answer.
In time, the crowd around Flint dispersed, and he carried on with the rest of his day. As expected, he found Giselle waiting for him. Her students, Ilima and Mina, had already departed, leaving them to speak privately. Together they took shelter from the evening sun at a nearby bar. They were given an outdoor table that overlooked the beachfront, with an umbrella to provide shade.
A waiter approached them for a drink order, and Giselle requested a pair of pinap juices for them. He returned quickly with their drinks, served in coconuts, and left them to speak.
Flint leaned back into his seat and put his hands behind his head as he looked at Giselle. He recognized her instantly earlier, but now as he looked at her closely, he saw that she was different. Her hair was left natural, and she tucked a flower behind her ear that Cubone picked from a nearby pot. She smiled as her Pokemon offered the small present, and Flint raised his eyebrow. It almost felt like he saw Giselle smile more times today than all the other times combined!
"Well, look at you," Flint remarked as he took a sip of his juice.
Giselle furrowed her brow as she glanced his way. "Hmm?"
"It looks like Alola did a lot of good for you," Flint went on as he flashed a grin.
Giselle felt her ears grow hot, but she nodded. "Yeah, it has. I'm happy that I came here." There was a nod of agreement from Cubone.
"That's awesome. I'm happy for you," Flint added.
When Chimchar saw that Giselle shared her drink with Cubone, he immediately made the same request of Flint. However, his first taste of pinap juice turned into him gulping down the entire drink, much to Flint's dismay. Flint ordered two more this time to make sure his drink would be safe from Chimchar.
"Can I ask what you've been up to since I left Vermilion City?" Giselle inquired.
Flint rumbled his lips. "Phew, it's been like a year now, hasn't it?" He asked, and Giselle nodded. "Wow…yeah, I've been busy," Flint glanced at Chimchar. "We've been busy."
Despite his correction, Chimchar didn't even look in Flint's direction. He was too busy gorging himself on his second pinap juice. Flint made a face at Chimchar, which went unnoticed by his partner, but Giselle giggled.
"How did you meet this little guy?" She inquired.
Flint gave her a riveting tale of how he spent the last eight months in Sinnoh. Apparently, Flint ventured out into the forbidden lands around Stark Mountain to conduct some survival training. There were areas all over each region judged based on how the Pokemon influenced the environment. In most cases, a Route was evaluated as a place where travelers could experience safe passage between cities. But there were plenty of other areas with more hostile terrains that public officials advised against traveling through. Then some areas were considered forbidden.
Stark Mountain was regarded as such in Sinnoh, remembered only for the lives it took from those that ventured into its wilds long ago. But for Flint, the harsh environment would test him and his Pokemon for several months. It showed in his appearance. There were scrapes and bruises on his arms, his facial hair was rough and unattended to, but his eyes were focused.
Flint discovered Chimchar near Stark Mountain. The half-pint Pokemon was separated from his pack and attacked by a trio of Skarmory.
"It was kind of weird," Flint muttered. "I swear it was like I could hear Chimchar calling for help. I wouldn't have found him otherwise," He noted with a shrug of his shoulders.
Just as Flint and Magmar were about to come to his rescue, Chimchar unleashed a fiery inferno that startled even Magmar. That was enough to scare off Chimchar's attackers, but the little Pokemon collapsed from that display. Flint took care of him for the night and tended to his wounds. When Chimchar awoke the following day, he found Flint and Magmar standing guard for him in the same way his pack looked after their young.
While Chimchar recovered, he had the opportunity to observe Flint and Magmar as they practiced. Through his observations, Chimchar recognized the incredible abilities of Flint of Magmar, and he was inclined to join them going forward.
"Wait, you're telling me Chimchar wanted to travel with you?" Giselle asked before she shot a smirk at Flint. "I wonder what he saw in you."
"No need to be jealous," Flint retorted as he stuck his tongue out at her.
From that day forward, Chimchar was part of Flint's team. But Chimchar possessed one glaring weakness that Flint noticed immediately.
"He can't control his fire," Flint stated.
"Ah, that explains it," Giselle said. "I wondered why he didn't use any fire type attacks during our battle."
"That's why we came to Alola," Flint went on. "To don the Wela Crown."
"The Wela Crown?" Giselle repeated in question.
"It's part of a ceremony to help fire type Pokemon understand how to wield their flames," Flint explained. "It's to protect both the environment around them and themselves. I first heard about this two years ago from a girl named Candela who I met in the Sevii Islands. We've tried conventional training with Chimchar, but I think he needs more help to tame his fire."
"And that's why you're here in Hau'oli City," Giselle concluded.
Flint chuckled as he scratched the bridge of his nose. "Yup. We just got here today, and when I saw some battles down on the beach, I couldn't resist," He gave her a nod. "I'm glad I did. I'm not sure if I would've run into you otherwise because…admittedly, I kind of forgot you came here."
Giselle scoffed. "Well, it's not like I should've expected much from you," Giselle decided to focus on what he mentioned earlier. "So where is this ceremony held? This is the first I've heard of it."
"Uh, the ceremony is held on Akala Island. Have you been there?" Flint asked, and Giselle shook her head. "That might be why you don't know about it."
Giselle pursed her lips. After a year in Alola, she was familiar with some of the traditions, but this was a new one, and she was curious. Would it be similar to the ancient trial on Poni Island? She wanted to see it for herself, and perhaps there was something new there for her and Cubone to obtain.
"Can Cubone and I tag along?" Giselle asked.
Flint replied without a second thought. "Sure, I wouldn't mind having a familiar face with me."
"Great! So, what's your plan for all of this?"
"We'll head over to Akala Island tomorrow morning to meet with the Island Kahuna. It should be some old guy named Kalama if I remember correctly," Flint explained.
"Do you know how long we'll be there?" She asked. "There's still two more weeks before school closes for summer, so I can't afford to miss any classes."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm an instructor at the Pokemon School here," Giselle stated, and Flint's eyes grew wide.
"You became a teacher!?"
Giselle laughed at his surprise. Those details aside, Flint did want her to tag along on this little adventure to Akala Island. "How about this? We go for the weekend to check things out, and if it can't be done before Monday, we can move things back until summer vacation starts."
Giselle stifled a laugh. "When did you become so accommodating?" She asked him.
Flint glanced at Chimchar, who was slurping down his third pinap juice. "This little bugger has forced me to since he's still so young," Flint commented as a smile formed on his face. "But I'm glad I've got him now. I'm learning new things thanks to him."
Giselle looked toward Cubone, who stood at the edge of the seating area where he could practice his swings without the danger of hitting someone. "Yeah, I know what you mean."
"So, we're doing this tomorrow?" Flint asked her.
"Definitely!"
Saturday, June 2nd (1404)
Giselle packed a bag to take with her for the weekend, consisting of a spare change of clothes, walking boots, a pair of Potions, and some boxed meals that Anela helped her prepare. With everything carefully tucked into her backpack, and Cubone at her side, Giselle set off for a new adventure.
It was just after sunrise when Giselle left Anela's house, and she traveled down to the docks of Hau'oli City. The skies brightened considerably by the time she got there, and as expected, Flint was there waiting. He was on the sand with Chimchar and Magmar, stretching to start the day. When Giselle and Cubone approached, they were greeted kindly by Flint and his companions. Magmar and Cubone exchanged a short greeting of nods, but Chimchar was more affectionate. He tackled Cubone to the ground in a hug.
Cubone wedged his club between them and used it to pry Chimchar off of him, but the little fire Pokemon insisted on the close contact. Flint commented that Chimchar could be clingy, especially when he admired someone. Chimchar respected Cubone in his own annoying way.
"Like a little brother," Flint commented with a grin.
Giselle snorted as she watched Cubone try to separate himself from Chimchar again. Flint then motioned out to the docks, where their water taxi was waiting. Giselle recognized it as the same watercraft that had taken her to Poni Island last summer.
That thought brought back the memories of her ancient trial. The time she spent in Vast Poni Canyon was an exciting experience. It was her only experience outside of Melemele Island. The anticipation of possible adventures on Akala Island caused Giselle to bite down on her lower lip. They boarded the water taxi their travels began.
The time it took them to reach Akala Island passed in a flash. Flint used the time to ask Giselle more questions about her time in Alola. He wanted to know all about her responsibilities as the battle instructor of the Pokemon School. What was it like as a teacher? How many students did she have? What hours did she work? Did that give her more time to practice as a trainer or less as a battle instructor?
"Well, folks, we'll be docking in Heahea City shortly!" Their captain announced. Flint, Giselle, and their Pokemon all looked out across the water to their destination. Akala Island possessed its own sort of beauty centered around the volcano at the island's heart. Lush plant life and greenery filled the coastal areas, the low lands, and even the foothills of Wela Volcano. Heahea City sat at the junction between a secluded peninsula and the central portion of the island.
"Wow! Candela wasn't kidding! This place is beautiful!" Flint exclaimed as he raised his arms over his head, and Chimchar mimicked him.
They thanked the boat captain for his service and disembarked. It was just past eight o'clock in the morning when they entered Heahea City, and one of the locals, a man named Abe, showed them the best spot to get breakfast. Oddly enough, the place he recommended was the restaurant he worked at.
Abe was the sous chef in the kitchen, and he gladly served them a breakfast of buttered hotcakes topped with berries and whipped cream. As they spoke over breakfast, Abe revealed that he was trying to open a restaurant of his own back on Melemele Island since that was where his wife and son lived. He made the trip to Akala Island five days a week for work, but he would prefer a commute to work that didn't involve so much water travel.
As he devoured Abe's meal, Flint assured the man that he would make a killing at his own restaurant. In fact, Flint assured him that he would come back to see if Abe opened his own restaurant, and they shook hands as an agreement. After breakfast, Abe gave them directions to the office where they could obtain a pair of Ride Pokemon to make the trip to Paniola Town. Thanks to their Ride Pokemon, what would ordinarily take a day to travel on foot would be completed by noontime.
Giselle was less than enthused when they called upon their Ride Pokemon, and a pair of Tauros took shape. They didn't smell very…pleasant. According to the clerk at the office, the Tauros were returned late the previous night, so they didn't have an opportunity to take a bath. Flint didn't care, and since he insisted they get moving, Giselle would pinch her nose for the journey. She never imagined herself riding a Tauros, but as Ride Pokemon, they were outfitted with seats and handlebars for their riders. They were given a map of Akala Island's Route 4, and they set out!
The Tauros respected Heahea City as they walked through the quiet streets. As soon as they reached the forests beyond the city limit, both Tauros ramped up their pace. They galloped, and Giselle's knuckles turned white as she gripped the handlebars of her seat. Cubone was tucked into the back of her chair, but he still clung to Giselle's shirt for safety. While Magmar was returned to his Pokeball, Chimchar traveled outside, perched on Flint's shoulder. He loved feeling the wind in his face, to the point where he released his hold on Flint to stretch out his arms.
Cubone pointed this out to Giselle, and both of them watched as Chimchar lost his footing and went tumbling off of Flint's shoulder. Both Flint and Giselle pulled on the handlebars of their seats as a signal for the Tauros to stop. Cubone snickered as they watched Chimchar scurry back to them while Flint berated him. Chimchar was then squished into the back of the seat behind Flint in the same position that Cubone was in with Giselle.
Route 4 was a steamy jungle, so the Tauros needed to take a break every half an hour. Fortunately, they found watering holes, rivers, and streams to take a break and stay hydrated. The sun was beating down on them when they reached Paniola Town, and Giselle was grateful for the straw hat she had brought along. Flint was drenched in sweat to the point where his afro was depressed.
Paniola Town was a rustic little village, almost like an old cowboy movie scene. They traveled through the main road into the town square, and locals they passed would tip their caps and nod. According to Flint, the Island Kahuna often spent his weekend visiting his family at the ranch just outside of Paniola Town, so they made their way to the edge of the town.
The ranch was extensive, featuring a variety of Pokemon such as Mareep, Miltank, Mudbray, and many more!
"Apparently, this ranch is famous for the ice cream they make," Flint noted.
"I would kill for some ice cream right now," Giselle said.
As they continued further into the ranch, one of the workers watching over a field of Miltank directed them to the primary office where the owners lived. A bell chimed when they opened the front door, which gained the attention of a man who was seated behind the front desk. He was dark-skinned, and he pushed his glasses back up his nose to look at them.
"Ah, welcome to the Paniola Ranch!" He exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. "What can I do for you today?"
"My name is Flint, and we're looking for the Island Kahuna. I heard that he usually visits this ranch on the weekends," Flint explained.
"I'm Rango, and you're looking for my father-in-law," He replied with a nod. "He is here for the weekend, and last I checked, he was helping my wife at one of the stables. I can go get him for you," Rango took a gander at them before he pointed to the mini-fridge in the corner. "It'll take me a few minutes, so feel free to help yourself to some water bottles."
"Thank you!" Giselle said kindly before Rango departed.
She gave a sigh of relief as she obtained a cold bottle and placed it against her neck. Giselle and Flint grabbed a pair of bottles and went outside to douse themselves and Cubone. Chimchar paid no mind to the heat, his interest placed firmly on a flock of Trumbeak that flew overhead.
Rango soon returned, though he had extra company. Rango was accompanied by an older gentleman and a tall woman. Around her torso was a garb that functioned as a holster for her child. The group met outside of the office, and the introductions began.
"So, as I was saying before, my name is Rango. This is my wife, Sima," Rango motioned to the woman beside him. Her hair was dark brown, but it possessed fiery red highlights that Giselle found charming. Both Sima and Rango looked at the baby held in a makeshift sling. "And this is our son, Kiawe."
"Say hi, Kiawe," Sima said as she motioned to their guests, but baby Kiawe continued to nibble on his fingers. Sima giggled before she gestured to the oldest person present. "And this is my father, Kalama."
All eyes went to 'Kalama,' the Island Kahuna. He stroked his beard, which shared the same red highlights as Sima's hair. His gaze was locked onto Flint, and a smile broke out on his face.
"My my, it's been some time since I've been visited by someone like you," Kalama remarked as he stepped forward. Flint grinned in reply, and they locked arms at the elbow as a greeting. "To what do I owe this honor?"
Giselle furrowed her brow as she looked between them. Flint? Honor? She didn't know what to say, so she listened.
"I met a trainer in the Sevii Islands a couple of years ago. She told me about a ceremony here that helps fire type Pokemon tame their flames," Flint explained to him.
"It's not often that a foreigner comes to Alola to do this," Kalama noted. "But I also see that you're not the average trainer."
"Bah, there's no need for all that," Flint interjected. "I'm nobody special."
"Those wings of yours say otherwise," Kalama stated before slapping Flint's shoulder. "So let me see your Pokemon! Which one will be taking part in the ceremony?"
Chimchar wandered off onto the field to pursue a few Cutiefly that he spotted. Flint called out to him, and he scampered back to meet with Kalama. During that time, Flint also released Magmar for Kalama to inspect. The Kahuna took his time as he looked over each Pokemon. While Magmar stared back at him, Chimchar became unnerved under his gaze.
"How interesting," Kalama mumbled as he leaned in closer to look at Magmar. Ordinarily, a Magmar's fire varied between red, orange, and yellow. But specks of white and blue could be seen in the flames, and Kalama raised his brow. "This one has gained mighty flames."
Flint raised his brow. "How can you tell?"
"The color," Kalama said with a smile. "Your Magmar has exceeded his limits and discovered something new beyond his natural flames."
Flint beamed proudly. "Yeah, we've been calling it 'White Mode,'" Flint explained. "He did it once in a battle a little over a year ago, and we've been trying to learn how to control it, and it's not easy."
"Nothing great is ever easy," Kalama replied, and then he directed his attention to Chimchar. The little monkey fidgeted under his gaze, so Kalama sped up his inspection for Chimchar's sake. "And this one has remarkable potential…perhaps," Kalama paused for a moment as he took a step back from Chimchar and looked to Flint. "Perhaps this young one will be the one to help you master this…'White Mode,' as you put it."
"That's the feeling I get too," Flint explained.
"It appears as though your auras are interwoven, hopefully…"
Giselle tried to follow their conversation, but Sima invited her into the office. At the same time, Rango disappeared into the back of the house.
"I'm sorry, once my father starts to talk about fire type Pokemon, he just can't stop," Sima apologized with a laugh. Once they got inside, Sima turned to Giselle. "So, Giselle, can we ask why you're visiting us?"
Giselle paused mid-step. "Wait, how do you know me?"
"You're pretty popular around here with how often Olivia visits us," Sima replied. "And I'd say the trainers are pretty familiar with your name since Olivia has been crediting your class the reason for her improvements at the Battle Royal Dome."
"The Battle…Royal Dome?" Giselle repeated in question.
"It's a special kind of Pokemon battle. As far as I know, Alola is the only place where it's respected," Sima explained.
"I see," Giselle noted through pursed lips. "Well, I guess I'll have to speak to Olivia more about this when I see her in class."
"I'm surprised she's not here right now," Sima noted with a fingertip against her chin. "I'm sure she would've loved to see you here. She visits us frequently with my father."
Giselle tilted her head, but the pieces quickly came together. "That's right, she's in line to become the next Island Kahuna," Giselle blushed with a laugh. "She hardly mentions it when I'm around her, and I know she's young, but she doesn't give off that impression that I've gotten from some of the other Kahunas that I've met."
Sima gave a laugh. "I know what you mean," She remarked. "But Olivia has a good heart, and I couldn't think of anyone who could grow into the role better than her."
Giselle agreed, and then she asked Sima about their life on the ranch. Sima gave her the gist of it. The ground floor of their home was an office space for them and their staff, while their family lived on the second floor. Sima explained that she and Rango opened the ranch together a few years ago. Rango was an astute businessman who wasn't shy about claiming an opportunity if one was available.
Moomoo Milk was the only product they offered when they first started, but their demand was sky-high. They were forced to expand the ranch, and as they bought more land, the additional fields were used to grow fruits and vegetables. At first, they only supplied a shop in Paniola Town, but within a few years, they were sending shipments all over Akala Island.
"Truth be told, I never imagined our ranch becoming famous," Sima noted as they approached a picture that hung above the front desk. It was of Rango, Sima, and their entire staff. Well over a dozen people, all of which lived in Paniola Town and a bevy of Pokemon helpers. "But we have an amazing group of people and Pokemon working with us, so we've somehow kept up with everything."
As Sima finished their glimpse into the ranch's history, Rango returned with a tray of frozen delicacy. Flint and Kalama were
breathing down his neck as they reached for some, but Rango humorously used his foot to keep them at bay.
"Who's up for some ice cream?" Rango asked.
"What about us?" Flint and Kalama exclaimed together.
"Ladies first," Rango responded, which silenced them for the most part.
It only took one taste of this ice cream for Giselle to make her judgment of it. "This is the best ice cream I've ever had!" Her declaration was met with many agreements from Flint and their Pokemon.
As they all partook of some ice cream within the office, Kalama announced that Giselle and Flint would be spending the weekend at the Paniola Ranch. Flint came so that his Chimchar could don the Wela Crown, and Giselle was accompanying them. While Rango and Sima weren't against accommodating their visitors, they were unprepared. They didn't have any rooming available. Their guest bedroom was given to Kalama, and though he offered it to one of Giselle or Flint, both refused. They were content to accept the hammocks and a small space in the stables with the Pokemon.
"How soon will you be leaving in the morning to get to Wela Park?" Sima asked her father.
"Probably at first light," Kalama responded before looking to Giselle and Flint. "But these two look like they can handle waking up early," He remarked with a grin. "I already sent word to Olivia to begin the preparations, and she'll meet us there tomorrow."
They still had the whole day ahead of them, so Sima roped them into some good old-fashioned manual labor to pass the time. She promised to pay them with an Akala Island dinner they would never forget!
While Flint was taken away with Kalama, Giselle was taken under Sima's wing for the afternoon. Together, they supported one of Sima's staffers in washing down the Mudbray on the ranch. It was a dirty job as they were sometimes forced to pursue the Mudbray that lacked interest in a bath around their muddy fields. Giselle fell more times than she cared to share, and in each of those instances, she could hear either Cubone or Mudbray laughing at her. Thankfully, she brought a spare change of clothes, and she was more than pleased to take a bath herself when the job was done.
As the sky turned dark, torches were lit in the yard behind their home on the Paniola Ranch, and a feast was laid out for everyone. There was a vegetable stir-fry, roasted corn, fried rice, macaroni salad, berry kebabs, and their signature ice cream was served as dessert.
Before they ate, Kalama gave some opening words. It started with thanks to both Wela Volcano for the bounty that it provided to Akala Island and then to the island's protector, Tapu Lele. Giselle furrowed her brow at the mention of this, Tapu Lele, and she would have an opportunity to learn more during their meal. The soft lighting and intimate conversation created a cozy atmosphere where Gisele, a total stranger, felt comfortable talking.
"I'm just curious," Giselle began as she looked at Sima, who sat across the table. "But why would you thank Wela Volcano?"
Sima giggled before she answered. "It might sound strange at first," Sima remarked. "But Wela Volcano isn't an active volcano that poses the threat of erupting. But it does eject ash which fertilizes the soil around the island, which we credit for how much food we can grow…" Sima smiled before she added. "With the help of Pokemon, of course!"
Giselle raised her brow before she glanced at Wela Volcano, which loomed over them in the distance. "Wow," Giselle muttered in a whisper.
Giselle was among the last to eat dessert, so she was seated at the table by herself. Rango retrieved a ukulele and strummed a fantastic tune as Sima, and the others began to dance. Little Kiawe was left in the hands of his grandfather, Kalama, and the two of them took a seat beside Giselle at the table. Since arriving in Alola, Giselle heard Kalama's name come up in different conversations, but this was their first official meeting. Based on her past experiences with the other Kahunas, Giselle expected him to be elderly, but unlike Hala and Sofu, he was surprisingly fit!
"You know, I've been looking forward to meeting you," Kalama noted as he rested Kiawe on his knee and gently rocked him.
"Really?" Giselle asked him.
Kalama nodded. "I've heard a lot about you over the past year from Olivia, and I thought it was unusual that a mainlander would come to live here. Still, you've built a fine reputation since coming here," Kalama smiled as he watched Sima dance alongside Rango. "I've come to have a great deal of respect for you because of how highly Olivia speaks of you."
At times, Olivia could be a motormouth, so Giselle could imagine her bombarding poor Kalama with her, sometimes, endless blathering.
Giselle laughed weakly. "Well, I'm glad she has good things to say about me. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing since I came here."
"But the effort you put in has been noted," Kalama said. "Your students have been paying close attention, or I should say Olivia has."
That statement put a smile on Giselle's face. "I'll be sure to thank her tomorrow," Giselle said before taking in another spoonful of her ice cream. "If you don't mind me asking, what do you think of Olivia becoming the Kahuna?"
Kalama raised his brow at her. "Why the interest?"
"She is one of my students," Giselle retorted. "I see her working hard all the time, but I'm not very familiar with the process, so I thought it would be worth hearing your opinion."
Kalama nodded slowly. "That's fair," He said, and then he looked down at Kiawe. "If I had to be honest, I would've preferred to keep the title in my family. My father passed the title on to me, and I wanted to give it to Sima, but she never had much interest in it. She wanted to raise a family, and I wouldn't stop her," Kalama explained. "She and her husband put off having a child for a few years, so I'm afraid I'm too old now to wait for Kiawe to be of age. So, I selected Olivia to be the next Kahuna…though I'm sure she will be an excellent one."
Kalama turned Kiawe around to face him, and he raised him up.
"And perhaps, one day, Olivia will pass the title on to you," Kalama continued with a broad grin. "Maybe I'll still be here to see it."
Kiawe kicked his feet and reached out for Kalama's beard. However, Kalama knew better than to let Kiawe get a handful of his beard and set the boy back down on his knee.
"As my opinion of Olivia," Kalama went on. "There is no one more suited for the job than her. Olivia was born with a gift to communicate with Pokemon, and I'm sure that she will be able to support Tapu Lele with it."
Giselle was glad to hear Kalama had such high regard for Olivia. But that pride was short-lived as curiosity took its place.
"Who is…Tapu Lele?"
Kalama gave a large grin before they plunged into the subject of the Island Guardians. According to the old legends, each island of Alola had a special Pokemon that served as its protector. In the past few centuries, strange and powerful beasts would appear in Alola that only the Island Guardians could contest. As a result, these guardians would occasionally participate in four-way contests to sharpen their skills. Their battles were observed and later appropriated into a contest that trainers in Alola referred to as the Battle Royal.
Tapu Lele was the protector of Akala Island. This free spirit could often be seen flying around the island during the twilight hours of morning and night. She was a fearsome battler who was happy to face any opponent, though she was well-known to be the most ruthless of the four Island Guardians.
Dinner passed by in the blink of an eye, and Giselle didn't realize it until Sima called her into their house. Since they lacked rooming accommodations, Sima offered them the next best thing. A hammock and a place in the stables to hang them. Their Ride Pokemon, the Tauros, also slept in these stables with glistening fur since they received a bath courtesy of Giselle.
Now snuggled into her hammock with Cubone resting beside her, Giselle looked upward. She could see the starry skies through and opening the roof, and even after a year in Alola, this sight still caused her chest to swell. Everything about Alola was appealing. Despite the free spirit of these islands, there was a sense of order to it all. The environment provided for the people and Pokemon, who did well to take care of it in response.
And then there were the Island Guardians.
"Tapu Lele…well, all of them act as peacekeepers on the islands. Those of us who are chosen to become the Island Kahuna act the bridge between people and Pokemon, working in tandem with our respective guardians," Kalama explained.
These islands were rich with culture and folklore, and Giselle couldn't wait to see Chimchar's ceremony tomorrow!
Sunday, June 3rd
They woke up bright and early the following day. In fact, the entire ranch was up bright and early! Sima, Rango, and their staff got to work at the crack of dawn, but not before they said goodbye to the trio of Flint, Giselle, and Kalama. With that, they forged ahead on their trek to Wela Volcano.
Flint and Giselle left their Ride Pokemon back on the ranch since Kalama informed them that it was roughly a four-hour hike to reach their destination. Since it was so early in the morning, they would enjoy cooler air for most of the trip, but returning to the ranch would be done under the assault of the afternoon sun.
They first started by getting to the foothills of Wela Volcano, and they traveled around the base of it each search of Route 7. Once they reached this area, Giselle quickly realized why Kalama preferred that they didn't bring the Tauros. It was a rocky area littered with fumaroles that vented hot gas and vapors into the air, producing sweltering heat. Giselle didn't like this area, and she wished she had the appropriate undergarments to shed her shirt the way Flint and Kalama could. But she would survive.
"Are we going to the top of the volcano?" Flint inquired as he looked ahead to Kalama.
The older man was leading them along a narrow incline. Their elevation was slowly increasing to the point where they now had a view of Route 7 and the southern portion of Akala Island. Cubone and Chimchar continued to peer over the edge of the pathway they were using, which led to constant reminders from Giselle for them to be careful.
Kalama chuckled before he replied. "Not a chance. We're actually headed for a shrine within Wela Volcano. This ceremony is usually held as part of a festival for the fire type Pokemon of the island, but we're making a special exception for you," Kalama explained with a glance back at Flint.
Just as he said, they arrived at a plateau decorated with stone monuments. At the heart of the area was a stairway that led to a tunnel, which was the shrine's entrance. Giselle raised an arm to shield her face as they neared it. The heat coming from this tunnel was intense!
"Oh my god," Giselle muttered.
"Don't worry about the heat," Kalama stated as he looked around. "You won't feel it as much once our escort is here," Kalama then cupped his hands and hollered into the tunnel. "Olivia!"
It took some time, but eventually, the person in question came out of the tunnel entrance. Olivia was accompanied by her Lycanroc and another Pokemon that immediately gained Cubone's full attention. An Alolan Marowak.
Marowak walked with his bone held about his head, twirling it in one hand. Giselle could feel the heat shifting in the air around them as he did this. He was bending the hot air to create a pocket that was a more comfortable temperature for them.
"Hi, Giselle!" Olivia exclaimed. "I never would've expected to find you of all people here if Kalama hadn't told me."
Their conversation was cut short by Kalama, who announced that there were other Pokemon within the shrine waiting for them. Together, they all went into the tunnel lit by several torches that hung on the walls. As they walked, Giselle couldn't help but notice that Cubone's gaze was fixated on the Marowak that led them. This wasn't the first time he'd seen an Alolan Marowak, but this was the closest he'd ever been.
Soon enough, they arrived at the chamber where the ceremony would be held. There was a small stage at the center of the room, and waiting on it was a total of four fire type Pokemon. A Turtonator, Magmar, Torkoal, and Pyroar. They all looked to Flint and his Pokemon as they entered the chamber. With everyone present, Kalama took charge of conducting the ceremony. There was a small pedestal at the back of the room, and resting on it was a blackened crown. The Wela Crown.
Kalama collected the item and returned to Flint and Chimchar. He kneeled down to place the crown on Chimchar's head, and then he instructed the small Pokemon to stand at the center of the stage. Each of the fire type Pokemon stood at the perimeter of the stage and waited for Kalama's signal.
"May the great mountain of Akala oversee this ceremony," Kalama began before he joined the others at the room entrance.
"Just stay relaxed, Chimchar," Flint called out to his partner. "You'll be fine!"
After Flint's words, Kalama nodded to the Marowak on the stage, and the ceremony began. Marowak raised his bone club, and the protective bubble he made around the group faded. Giselle felt faint as she felt the actual temperature of the room. Thankfully, Flint's Magmar took charge of maintaining a small bubble for them where the heat wasn't stifling.
Each of the fire Pokemon on the stage gave a roar, which concluded with the Pyroar's. Her roar echoed through the tunnel, and the edge of the stage became lit with flames. They were small at first, but they grew in height with each passing moment. Marowak twirled his bone, and the fire around him was snatched into a whirlwind that he commanded, guiding the fire around the stage. It circled around Chimchar, who looked around nervously at the surrounding flames.
Chimchar shrunk as the flames grew closer, and he wrapped himself in his arms. Flint knew that look in his eyes.
"Chimchar, don't be scared!" Flint hollered. "You can do this; I know you can!"
Chimchar could hear Flint's voice, but the flames had already reached a height where he could no longer see past them. He lowered his body to the ground and cowered.
"Chimchar!" Flint took a step forward to exit Magmar's heat shield, but Kalama immediately latched on his shoulder to hold him back. Flint looked back at him, and after a brief moment of eye contact, Kalama's eyes grew wide. Flint then shook himself free of Kalama's grip and stepped out into the scorched earth that the fire Pokemon created. He squinted as he felt the heat wave pummel his skin, but he proceeded to the edge of the stage. "Chimchar!"
Chimchar raised his head as he heard Flint's voice. It was so much closer now! He looked around, and despite the flames, he could see a shadowy figure at the edge of the stage that he recognized.
"I know this is scary," Flint continued. "This is a power that you don't understand, and it's scary to realize that maybe you're not powerless…but powerful beyond measure."
The memory of when Chimchar was attacked by those Skarmory was still fresh in Flint's mind. Chimchar's pleas for help still tugged at his heart. But when Chimchar realized that he was completely alone, he called upon something deep inside him. A power that required courage and resilience to master. It was something that Chimchar lacked at that moment, but it was also something he could gain through Flint.
The shadow he saw through the flames became clear. He could see Flint clearly!
"You may think that you're weak, Chimchar, but don't let fear and doubt hold you back," Flint continued. "You are powerful!"
Chimchar curled his hands into tight fists, and he pushed himself back up to his feet. The fire on his bottom sparked and then roared to life, nearly matching the size of his body. Marowak swung his bone around the air, and the wall of fire around Chimchar erupted into a cyclone of flames. It twisted and churned, becoming wild as it engulfed the entire platform. Flint could hear Chimchar whining from within it, but he could feel something welling up in his chest despite the heat around him. His heart reverberated in his ears, and the cyclone became a brilliant display of colors. Oranges, and yellows, with hints of blues and even specks of white, filled the room!
The flames dispersed, and Chimchar stood at the center of the platform, his fire still burning. He beat his chest and then opened his mouth to unleash a torrent of flames that demonstrated his power.
"Haha!" Flint exclaimed as he climbed onto the stage and hoisted Chimchar. "You did it!"
Once they were all back outside, the fire Pokemon that observed the ceremony congratulated Chimchar before they departed. Marowak was among the last to leave, and as he spoke to Chimchar, Giselle's Cubone stared at him intently. Marowak went shortly afterward, but everyone took some time to get rehydrated.
While they began to drink, Giselle saw that Cubone was practicing with his club. However, he was holding it differently. Cubone's club was narrow on one end, which fit perfectly into his tiny hand, but now he was holding it at the center…like the Alolan Marowak, and he spun his weapon above his head.
"Interesting," Kalama noted as he approached Gisele. "Does your Cubone want to become an Alolan Marowak?"
"Uh," Giselle hesitated. Evolution was always their goal, but they put that aside after a few months in Alola. Was Cubone considering it again? "I'm not sure."
"Well, compared to normal Marowak, Alolan Marowak developed a different battle style to better suit the conditions of Alola," Kalama explained. "I see that your Cubone is trying to mimic how Marowak was holding his hone, so I feel he's taken an interest in it."
Is that what Cubone wanted? To become an Alolan Marowak? Was that why evolution was always so difficult for him?
Maybe he wasn't supposed to take the conventional route to evolution… perhaps this was what he was searching for all this time! Giselle wasn't going to wait to find out, and she approached her partner immediately.
"Pssst," She startled Cubone with this as she kneeled beside him. "It's really hot. Are you sure you want to practice up here? I don't want you to get dehydrated."
Cubone's eyes remained sharp. "Cu-Cubone!" He continued to swing his club, undeterred by his current conditions.
"Well, I'm glad you're so determined," Giselle said. "Is it because you saw the Alolan Marowak earlier?"
That caused Cubone to pause, and he turned to look back at her. There were sparkles in his eyes, which was all Giselle needed to see.
"Do you…do you want to become an Alolan Marowak?" Giselle asked him.
Cubone raised his bone proudly and gave her a big nod.
He wanted to evolve!
Ua Ola Loko I Ke Alola – Love Gives Life Within
A/N
This is part of a two-parter, and the next one is already in the polishing stage so you should see it very soon. I have a habit of gushing about Alola, but I really do love this region! It's always so much fun to come back to this story, especially since I stepped away from it for several months to work on My Wings. I want to try to finish this story before the summer ends so that I can focus on another upcoming project. I won't reveal my secrets, but I'm definitely trying to avoid writing three ongoing stories at the same time.
In case you forgot, a lot of these characters have been de-aged. The older characters such as Olivia, Ilima, etc now match Ash's age in this universe, and the younger characters are…well, the only example is Kiawe who is currently a one-year-old baby. So maybe you might see what I'm doing, but if not, it's no big deal.
Also, for anyone who follows these stories closely, I will start attaching a year to the date to organize things a little better. This story takes place a few years prior to My Wings, so hopefully, this will help avoid some confusion between the two of them. Over time, I'll probably go back to older stories and make the needed corrections as well.
And my last point of discussion: 'White Mode.' Flint's Magmar was arguably my favorite opponent in Caged Wings with his whole Flame Charge power-up. White Mode is possibly the pinnacle of fire type Pokemon...I might be reaching when I say that, but anyway, it's an ace that I'm saving for something special in the future. In the meantime, I thought I would try to patent the idea lol. Ah, Who am I kidding? I bet plenty of writers already developed something similar.
Anyway, that's all I've got for the time being. Thank you for reading!