The blonde girl in the long white dress ran along the platforms under what seemed to be a glass biome. She looked desperate. She had a large duffel bag with her that she was holding onto for dear life.

Almost every corner she turned, there were multiple people wearing white work clothes. The men and woman were dressed similarly.

"Give it here!" shouted one of the men.

"Never!" the girl yelled.

Suddenly, eyes from the duffel bag could be seen blinking. Then, it started shining. The light enveloped the girl as if she were evolving. The light died down, and she had disappeared.

"Where'd she go?!" shouted one of the men.


Penguinja presents:

Pokémon The Journey: Sun and Moon

Based on the story by Game Freak


That's the dream I've been having recently. It's weird, I know.


Chapter One: Alola to Alola!

Location: Home

"Elliott!" Mum shouted. "You okay up there?"

I was so lost in thought about the dream I had. I had only been living in the Alola region for a fortnight, but the dream had been constant. Was it a warning? I had never seen that girl before in my life, and it's been scientifically proven that faces you see in your dreams are ones that you've seen before.

Silly me, I haven't given my introductions. My name is Elliott Mitchell. I recently moved from Celadon City in the Kanto region to Melemele Island in the Alola region. I was excited to move; new faces and new places excite me.

So why Alola? Well for one, the weather is amazing. Alola is the most popular region for tourists in the Pokémon world. The sun always shines, most of the people are friendly and the environments are varied. Shame I hadn't seen much of it; I'd been too busy unpacking. But this morning, I finally unpacked the last box in my room.

"Yes Mum!" I shouted back.

"We have a guest," she replied.

I got up. I was wearing the perfect clothes; white and blue stripy shirt, black shorts and a black baseball cap to cover my blonde hair. The perfect apparel for a tropical region.


I walked downstairs. Our Meowth came up to us, excitedly.

"Calm down," I said. "Does your charm need polishing?"

"Alola!" Standing in our room was a man wearing shorts and a white labcoat. Undershirt? Nope. He had a short-black beard and green shoes. He seemed like a laid-back guy. Upon greeting, he seemed to make a circle shape with his hands. As he said the name of the region, he made a circle shape with his hands.

"Hello?" I asked. "Why did you just say the region name to me?"

"It's the traditional greeting," he replied. "You try it!"

I did. I made a circle shape with my hands. "Alola?" I said.

"You got it!" he said. "My name is Professor Kukui. I specialise in researching Pokémon moves!"

"Great topic!" I replied. "I haven't got to see Alola that much. We've been so busy with getting the house ready."

"Well cousin," he said. "That's about to change! How would you like to come with me to Iki Town? It's just north of here!"

I looked at Mum. Whenever I would try to go out for a walk or something, she would usually give me another thing to do. By the time we had done everything for today, I was too tired to go out and would usually just put the TV on.

"Go ahead," Mum said. "You deserve it!"

"Thanks!" I said. "But get home before the Murkrow fly!"

"Then let's go!" shouted the Professor.


Location: Route 1

I stepped out. The warm weather, the lush plant life and the blue sea could be felt all around me.

"Iki Town huh?" I asked.

"That's right," Professor Kukui replied. "We'll take the long way. The short way is filled with tall grass. You have no Pokémon on you, aside from that Meowth of yours. So, it will be much safer."

We started walking along the path. There was a short slope we walked up to.

"You know," said Professor Kukui. "I had a journey in the Kanto region. I got to the Indigo League, but Lance was a tad too strong for me. His Dragonite swept my team."

"Do people go on journeys in Alola?" I asked.

"Yes!" said the Professor. "And they battle to!"

We saw a Youngster and a Preschooler having a battle with their Pokémon. One was brown with a yellow fur line running down the back of its body. The other was a Rattata. At least, it looked like one. It was black, standing on its hind legs and had what looked like a small black moustache.

"Tackle Yungoos!" one of the Youngster's shouted as it charged into Rattata.

"Use Tackle Rattata!" The Rattata lookalike charged into the other Pokémon.

"Professor," I asked. "Not to be rude, but what's wrong with that Rattata?"

"Nothing is!" he said. "You see, the climate of Alola is quite different to Kanto, so many Pokémon from that region have adapted to better survive. Case in point, Rattata over here became nocturnal after Yungoos arrived in Alola. Therefore, Alolan Rattata are part Dark Type."

Amazing. Pokémon evolving in more ways than one.


Location: Iki Town

Iki Town was a circular town with some unlit torches, a few wooden houses and a wooden stage in the middle of it. It was nice and quiet, with people and Pokemon just being themselves.

"Amazing," I said. "We don't have places like this in Kanto. It's all so noisy and urbanized."

Professor Kukui smiled. "Wait here for a bit," he said. "I need to check and see if a friend is here."

With that, the Professor walked off. I sat on the battlefield and looked out at my new home. In the distance, the high-rise buildings of Hau'oli City could be seen in the distance. I enjoyed the quietness. In Celadon City there was so much gossip and noise that you could rarely get your head straight.

"Alola," I said to myself, just as I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw… a blonde girl in a white dress with a duffel bag. "Could that be?" When the girl noticed that I had seen her, she ran off down into the forest. "Wait!" I said, running after her.


Location: Mahalo Trail

I walked down the path, or should I say up it. It was quite sloped and bendy. If it weren't for the wooden slates on the floor, it would be a bike riders dream. I heard Pokémon chirping in the undergrowth, but something about being there felt relaxing.

I finally caught up to her. She was standing in front of a rickety bridge over a chasm.

"Excuse me," I said.

She turned around. "What do you want?"

"Nothing," I said. I wanted to tell her about the dream, but there was something on her mind. Plus talking about my dream would make me look more looney than a Lapras. "Is something the matter?"

The girl pointed to the bridge. A small-purple Pokémon was looking around cautiously. It was round and gaseous.

"Wow, an Alolan Gastly!" I said.

"It's not a Gastly," she said. "What am I to do?"

"I'll save it," I said. Upon closer inspection though, I could see how damaged the bridge was. I gulped.

"Please be careful," the girl said. I didn't know if she was more worried for me or the Pokémon.

I slowly walked along the bridge. Every step I made another bone-curdling screech emit from it. The Pokémon looked at me. It was worried.

"I'm not here to hurt you," I said, just as I heard something crowing above me. They were brown, feathery and looked angry. Spotting us, they darted down.

"Spearow!" the Girl yelled.

"Don't worry," I shouted back at her. I covered the Pokémon as the Spearow started using Fury Attack on me. "Don't worry, I've got you!" The small Pokémon curled up in fright.

However, the impact of the Spearow made the bridge weaker and weaker. One last bash from Spearow and the bridge gave way. "No!" the girl yelled.

I fell, hanging onto the Pokémon all the way. Tears seemed to fly up into the air…

All of a sudden, something yellow appeared. It was covered in electricity and saved me and the Pokémon, bringing us back to surface. I got a better look at the Pokémon. It had an orange crest and black body, and its "wings" seemed to have a face pattern on it. Before it disappeared, it left a mysterious stone that I picked up.

The Pokémon went to the girl, and she hugged it. "Nebby, don't go running off like that?"

I looked back across the now wrecked bridge. "What was that?" I asked.

"I don't know," she replied back. "I should introduce myself since I can trust you. My name is Lillie, and this is my partner Cosmog. But I call in Nebby."

Nebby gave a small yelp.

"You're so cute!" I said. "Can I pet it?"

"No," she said. "We can't have Nebby going too far, isn't that right? Now back in the bag." Nebby reluctantly went into Lillie's duffel bag. "Sorry if that seemed rude."

"Not at all!" I replied, remembering the dream I had. If people were indeed after her, and potentially Nebby to, then I understood the reason to keep a low profile. "Hey, we should head back to Iki Town. Professor Kukui might be worried."


Location: Iki Town

Upon arrival in Iki Town, Professor Kukui was waiting for us. With him was a large man with a tan. He was wearing an orange flowery shirt, a red undershirt and had a white sumo haircut.

"Professor," I said. "We have so much to tell you."

"Indeed," the large man said, noticing my stone. "My name is Hala. I am the Kahuna of Melemele Island. Professor Kukui has told me a lot about you."

"I… need to go," said Lillie.

"Shall I walk you to where you need to go?" I said.

"No no, it's fine," she said. "Nebby, Teleport!" With a light just like in my dream, she disappeared.

"Well, I see you've already made friends with Lillie," said the Professor.

"You know her?" I replied.

"Yep! She has nowhere to go, so she lives with me!"

That made sense. Professor Kukui seemed like the nicest guy ever, so having a father figure would be great for that paranoid girl.

"Elliot," said Hala. "Is it alright if I have a look at the stone that Tapu Koko gave to you?"

"That's its name?" I asked. "Tapu Koko?"

Hala nodded and held out his hand. So, I gave him the rock. "Tapu Koko is the Island Guardian Pokémon of Melemele Island. There are four main islands in the Alola region, each one with its own Island Guardian. The protectors also choose a Kahuna on the island, and I was chosen to be Melemele's Kahuna."

"Kakuna?" I asked.

"Kahuna. You see, Alola has no Gyms. In fact, our Pokémon League is only under construction. Instead, we have the Island Trials. I will explain more tomorrow if you want to take them on of course."

My eyes shone. "Really? Wait, I don't have a Pokémon."

"You will now!" Professor Kukui said. "Hala? Care to?"

Hala nodded. "Okay, come on out!" Hala sent out three Pokémon onto the battle platform. The first was a round feathery Pokémon with a green bowtie and wide black eyes.

"If I may," said the Professor.


Rowlet (モクロー)

#001

Grass/Flying Type

Grass Quill Pokémon

1'00" (0.3 m)

3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)

Silently it glides, drawing near its targets. Before they notice it, it begins to pelt them with vicious kicks.


Next was a black fluffy Pokémon with red stripes all over it. It had wide-yellow eyes.


Litten (ニャビー)

#004

Fire Type

Fire Cat Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

9.5 lbs (4.3 kg)

Its coat regrows twice a year. When the time comes, Litten sets its own body on fire and burns away the old fur.


Finally, was a blue-blubbery Pokémon with a pink noise.


Popplio (アシマリ)

#007

Water Type

Sea Lion Pokémon

1'04" (0.4 m)

16.5 lbs (7.5 kg)

This Pokémon snorts body fluids from its nose, blowing balloons to smash into its foes. It's famous for being a hard worker.


"You may choose one," Hala said.

I looked at each. "Let's give Popplio a go."

"Then we will test the bond between you!" Hala said.

I got onto the platform. Popplio got a bit closer. It blew a bubble… and trapped me. I screamed, which didn't help because I would just be using up oxygen.

"Hold on," I heard Professor Kukui, albeit a bit distorted because my ears where in water. Using a pin, he burst the bubble."

"That wasn't nice," I said. "How about Rowlet?"

Rowlet got closer to me. It turned its head 180 degrees, and then back at me.

"This is going great," Hala whispered.

Suddenly, Rowlet flew up and started pecking at me. "Ow ow ow! First the Spearow and now this?!"

"That's enough," Hala said. "Litten is last. If it doesn't trust you, you can't go on a journey."

Realising this, I got down on both knees. "Come on Litten."

Litten started walking over slowly. I was prepared for a blast of fire to the face.

Instead, Litten got onto my legs and curled up! I stroked its fur. It felt warm. I had found my friend.

"Then it's decided!" Hala shouted. "Elliott Mitchell, your partner shall be Litten!"

"Thank you!" I shouted. "Litten, we'll be amazing together!"

"And here is it's Pokéball," Hala said, handing it to me. "We will hold a festival tomorrow night in honour of the two Trainers that will be taking on the Island Challenge!"

"Two?" I asked. "Who's the other one?"

"That would be me!"

A tanned boy in a black shirt, orange sandals and orange flowery shorts ran over. "Alola to you! I saw everything! You got Litten? Nice one!"

"Elliott, this is Hau," Hala said. "He's my grandson and the other Trainer starting his journey. He got Rowlet as his Starter."

"Yeah, but I haven't battled with it yet," Hau said, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Well then why don't you make me Rowlet's first opponent?" I asked. "We'll be battling tomorrow, I know, but hey! Practice makes perfect!"

"Wonderful idea!" said the Professor. "But not on the battle platform. That's for battles in festivals."

I got off the platform. "I will warn you," I said. "My Litten is a Fire Type. That means Grass Types like Rowlet are at a disadvantage!"

Doesn't bother me!" Hau said. "I don't battle for fame! I battle for fun!"


Elliott Vs. Hau

Hau threw a Pokéball. "Rowlet, go!" he shouted, sending out his spherical partner.

"Get in there Litten!" I said, as Litten ran into battle. "Professor, what can Litten use?"

"Ember, Scratch and Growl," he said. "Rowlet can use Tackle, Growl and Leafage."

"Thanks. Litten, use your Ember!" Litten fired a small flame at Rowlet. It was a Super Effective hit!

"Rowlet, Leafage!" Rowlet fired one of its feathers at Litten. It didn't do much at all.

"One more Ember!" Litten fired another flame at Rowlet. It was down.


"No biggie!" Hau said. "We'll just get stronger!"

"Great battle!" I said. "Litten, we're going to come across stronger challenges though in the Island Challenge!" I then stopped and thought. "But I have a bigger challenge than that first; I need to tell Mum."

"She'll understand," the Professor said. "I'll explain everything to her tonight."

"See you at the Tapu Festival tomorrow!" Hau said.


Location: Home

"Oh my," Mum said. "That's… quite a feat."

"But Elliott has potential!" Professor Kukui replied. "I believe that if he does well, we could be looking at Alola's first Champion!"

"Champion?" I replied. "That sounds exciting! Okay, I will be heading out the day after tomorrow!"

"Oh no you don't," Mum said. "We've discussed this already. You're doing a week of School first."

"WHAAAAT?!" I shouted. "No fair."

"Relax," the Professor said. "School in Alola is fun! We teach the usual stuff like Math and English, but also battle skills!"

Okay, now my interest had perked. They didn't have ANY of that at Celadon Elementary. Maybe because Hau'oli School was a Middle School as opposed to the Elementary School I went to over there? I didn't know. Honestly, I had completely forgot about it I was so busy unpacking. "I guess I'll give it a go," I said.

"Not that you have any say in the matter," Mum said, laughing.

"Oh, and stop by the Lab tomorrow morning," Professor Kukui said. "I have something to give you. I live on the beach."

"Thanks," I said. I looked at Litten. "We're going to be amazing. Return." I sent Litten back to its Pokéball.

That night, I looked into the sky. It was beautiful. The stars could be seen like little droplets on Moo Moo Milk. We don't get skies like that in Kanto; too much light pollution.

"Tomorrow, will be the start of something big!" I thought.


Professor Kukui's move Dex:

Elliott got his first Pokémon today; a feisty Litten. So today, I will talk about a Fire Type move called Flame Burst.

Flame Burst is a move that hits a primary Pokémon on a battlefield. However, the flames also do a bit of damage to the other Pokémon if it's a Double Battle.

Pokémon that can learn it include Growlithe, Magmar and Salandit!