Alola readers, Brav is here with another chapter! Really got little to say here other than hope everyone has a good Memorial Day. This chapter took a while to get finished since there were parts that kind of dragged on in terms of writer's block. In the end, with all the edits, I'm more pleased than I expected when this was finally finished.
I hope everyone enjoys the chapter.


Elio was fast to get back to the Malie Garden according to Professor Kukui. He's kind of like that in a hurry. Then there I was in the middle of Malie City not sure of where to go and who do I bump into? Heh...take a guess.

Sun's such a sweet boy and I feel so happy and excited whenever he talks to me. Would you believe he's gotten so much confident now? I almost want to say it's rubbing off on me.

Anyway he and Hau had a battle outside the garden before he ran into me. Hau keeps on telling me how exciting it was and he's honestly right. Maybe pokemon battles aren't all bad like I originally envisioned.


Elio knew right where he was going this time around, thanks to both Rotom 'Dex pointing out his course and faintly remembering its location relative to the pokemon center. Unlike the twisting and winding streets of some other cities; Malie was more "gridlike" with sectors and blocks holding buildings and using crosswalks in front of intersections for pedestrians to traverse across lanes. As he made his way past the Wo Fat district, the car traffic began to pick up as the mid-afternoon began to settle in and the pedestrian light timers had activated.

It was actually pretty astounding considering how bold some of the pedestrians were at least on his way up towards the outer cape. If there was only one or fewer cars moving on the road, people would often step out onto the street to cross over to their own car or a business on the other side. Now it appeared that everyone was strictly adhering to their particular sidewalks since both motor vehicles and ride pokemon were actively going up and down the streets.

He crossed another intersection with said sidewalk taking him all the way to the pokemon center close to the harbor.

The weather had cooled just a bit and he felt the flicks of a wet drizzle across his pale skin. Grumbling about rain, Elio figured that this wouldn't amount to require him in getting out his raingear. He had already put his clothes through the washer and dryer with no intent to do it again so early on.

Nobody had told him, but Malie City and the eastern part of Ula'ula Island was one of the wettest spots in Alola, receiving close to a hundred fifty inches of rain a year. With ominous gray to black clouds overhead almost on a daily basis, it was commonly known as the "rain capital of the world" since its numbers of annual rainfall competed with a handful of other urban areas for mass precipitation. He was pretty sure every business, restaurant and home in the area had ready buckets to contain leaky roofs. Another solid bet was that roof repair would always have good business from such a high demand.

Oh goodness I hope it doesn't dump buckets on me.

The misty drizzle faded away as he finally made it to the entrance of the Malie Garden. Both tourists and locals alike were coming in and out of the arched gateway, so he stepped aside so that he was not in the way of people.

Close to the harbor, he could see others wearing polo shirts with the logo of Malie City workers setting up portable metal barriers. Others were putting together skeletons of canopies which had yet to be erected.

I wonder if that's the Draconid Festivus Brady was talking about back at the pokemon center.

Close to the side of the buildings and the open ground of the garden were tall sinewy trees with stick limbs all clustered around a barely visible central trunk. They opened their leaves far above to provide shade, although that was redundant considering Malie's commonly overcast weather. However the branches on some had started to overlap, creating a botanic tunnel of sorts. Elio asked a passerby about the trees since he had never seen any others like it before. He learned that they were banyans and as one of the main streets leading into Malie City, this was known as banyan drive as each individual tree was planted at a different time by different people. Many of them were celebrities and it was always a tradition for the newly annointed kahuna of the island to add another.

Elio noticed a plaque engraved beside each plant, indicating the date the tree was planted and by whom. Some were actors, others lawyers, businessmen. There were a couple that were planted by commemorated champions such as Diantha Rousseau and Wallace Rain.

The line of banyans had not quite reached the area where Malie Garden was, but he thought it would be cool one day to see the whole one way street that led into the city as a large tunnel. Some boats on the Alola's ferry services were capable of carrying cars from island to island and thus would be one of the first things they would see when they entered town.

Each one was planted there as a representation of the Alolan god of abundance and fertility and the protecting Tapu of Ula'ula Island.

"Well it's about time you showed up! I thought Professor Kukui told you to use your agility!"

Elio whirled around and made a move to smack Hau upside the head, however the other boy was quick to react and spun away.

"Easy brah. I'm just playing around! Gee...can't take a joke huh?"

"You know what's a joke? Making me have to run back here because you couldn't wake up in time."

"Yeah," Hau scratched the back of his head in that familiar habit again. "I'm sorry about that. The good news is that I'm fully caffeinated and full up on malasadas to tackle this awesome day! We're going right back to our kūlana!"

Elio stared at him. "Malasadas again?"

"Yup! Got my fill at the local shop as always! They had a cocoa chocolate flavor!"

"Only you."

Hau decided to change the subject. "Wow...so this really is Ula'ula Island huh? It's like…a totally different place than Melemele or Akala huh? It's crazy to see how each island is different from the others!"

"Uh Hau." Elio reminded him. "We're here to see Professor Kukui right?"

"Oh yeah. And then we're having our battle!"

"Yeah...about that."

"What?"

He snorted but shrugged. "I kind of left Grimer at the garbage plant in the outer cape while I was exploring. Long story."

"What do you mean, did you release him?"

"No. I just took off since you called me pretty urgently. He looked like he was right at home eating up the trash with the others that live there, so I'm pretty sure that he won't even notice I'm gone until I go back."

"That means you have just five pokemon! So do I! Let's do a five on five match!"

After agreeing to that, both boys set foot into the Malie Garden. The hedge wall was about three times their height in a rectangular shape in a set perimeter around the area. It was a quarter mile long to the other end.

A sign was posted right at its entrance going over what seemed like a set of rules and regulations while within the premises. It had put emphasis on ride pokemon, prohibiting their use within the garden's borders with the exception of the Glide by charizard or other pokemon capable of flight. Battling was allowed, however both parties could be held responsible for damages to the garden's property. They lastly warned that wild pokemon inhabited the areas of the thicker grass and catching them was acceptable. Any non trainer or trainer wishing to avoid contact with the inhabitants was advised to steer clear of of the thicket as pokemon seldom ventured outside.

Below the metal sign was a slit locked box with a second one indicating that the garden's maintenance and funding came from donors of all kinds since it was envisioned as being permanently nonprofit. All of its caretakers were volunteers who took it upon themselves to make it as beautiful as possible. There was also a message from the land owner who hoped that it would be enjoyed by all, to be respectful to all others while inside.

Every little bit helps.

Nobody was obligated to leave any money, but Elio did. It just felt...right, even if the few dollars he slipped into the slot would be able to maybe be enough to buy a new rake or something. Hau saw what he had did and followed his lead. It actually felt pretty good when he saw that the donation box was quite full.

Maybe people are just that nice and compassionate while here.

The garden was a mix of many flower species, bamboo stalks and freshly cut grass that made different pathways accessible as they walked through. In one corner, he saw another one of those green and gold towers that looked similar to the famous Bell Tower in Ecruteak City.

Malie was said to be founded by a large number of Johtoans.

There was a lake in the center, but unlike the usual circle or ovoid shape he was used to seeing, this one snaked out almost in a serpentine pattern, meandering to one side and curving to the next. Small little blemishes on the otherwise smooth side sloped into the water that had a glassy smooth surface.

Part of it rippled and Elio watched as four small poliwag stumbled on the incline as they walked back up. They were accompanied by a larger blue poliwhirl with the same spiral pattern on its bigger belly. Underneath, he could see schools of bright orange magikarp and goldeen. He saw a pair of basculin as well, this time of the red striped variant. There was another white and orange fish pokemon with the same long horn as the goldeen.

"A seaking." Elio remembered seeing them in aquariums. Although they were notorious for breaking through glass, tamed ones by trainers were favored for their vivid coloring.

"New pokemon detected! Updating databazzze! Bzzt!" Rotom said as he catalogued the new encounter. "Seaking. Goldfish pokemon. It is the evolved form of goldeen. When the weather grows cold, its whole body flushes red. This serves as a poetic reminder heralding the arrival of autumn. Males dance on the lake and ocean floors using its fins to attract females, who gather around the one who dances the most gracefully. Seaking is a water type. Additional information is available upon catching this pokemon."

"They're amazing." Hau whispered, leaning over the railing with him to admire the fish.

"They really are. I used to see them all the time back in Kanto." A common gathering in Cerulean City during the beginning of the fall equinox was when the schools of seaking would migrate to the southern warmer waters via the sea for mating season. They would flow along the rivers and channels of northeast Kanto in such large numbers that the bodies turned orange. Every beginning of autumn, thousands of people would come and line the riverbanks to witness the migration spectacle.

Directly in front of them was a long arch bridge made of wood and a metal frame. The planks clinked sturdily as they made their way across. Going up a little taller in height gave a little more perspective. They could see more bridges further in and another shorter tower in similar shape to the other one off at the garden's eleven.

On the largest patch of land with flower lined pathways was a small stand that had tables in front, each with black umbrellas hanging above to protect patrons from an unexpected shower. Two employees with aprons were tending to a line of patrons with various drinks.

Elio recognized them as bubble tea, a popular eastern beverage that was often sweetened with black pearl boba, a topping at the drink's bottom of chewy ball-like treats that were sipped through wide straws made of tapioca. Bubble tea shops and stands were recently a rising trend, showing up on menus in cybercafes and popular shopping centers.

"Hey, want a bubble tea?" He asked Hau. The other boy nodded and since neither of them had spotted Professor Kukui yet, opted to get a drink while they waited. They both bought a regular sized milk tea and retreated to one of the outer tables sipping thoughtfully.

"Well how about that! You did a lot of acrobatics to beat me here!"

"Professor!" They exclaimed, looking up to see the familiar man in an open lab coat pull up a chair from a nearby empty table to join them. He too had a milk tea in hand.

"Did you two use mind reader and get the same thing as me?"

They laughed. "I swear we were here first!" Hau said.

"It isn't every day I find two familiar boys just a few people in front of the line! You both looked like you were having too much fun so I passed on trying to get your attention!" As Kukui took another sip, they saw some of the black boba orbs pass through the straw. "Both of your eyes are shining extra bright today! Did something amazing happen?"

"Yeah you could say that." Elio really didn't want to share the details of the ultra beast attacking him, but he didn't have much of a choice at the moment.

"Professor, you gotta hear this!" Hau's bubbliness was just as much as the tea they were drinking. "We were at the Aether Paradise and the Ultra Wormhole opened up...like right in front of us and we got to see an ultra beast up close!"

Too close.

"You gotta say that to Professor Burnet!"

Kukui's eyes went wide with excitement. "What? Woo! You got to see an ultra wormhole and an ultra beast? That is cool oh yeah!"

"They were strong." Elio added, finally deciding to speak up a little more. "Hau and I battled it after it started to be a little hostile to everyone where it freaked everyone. It's got power that's on a whole entire level of its own."

"That sounds like an even better reason to train hard, yeah? Mega punch that Island Challenge outta the park! Woo!" He paused to think for a moment. "You know, maybe someday we'll all be able to go through the ultra wormhole!"

"I think I'll pass on that one." Elio held up his hands to show his backing out. "You can say I'm wimping out and all, but I'd rather stay away from places and things that are trying to kill me. If that beast is any indication of what lies over there, it makes the Outback look safe in my eyes."

He again had no intention of actually going to the beast's homeworld, wherever it was. "But I am here for more on the island challenge. What's up next for me to crush?"

"That's the spirit cousin!" Kukui pumped a fist. "Your next trial is on top of Mauna Hokulani! It's a bit of a hike, but there's a bus service that you can catch to get up there!"

"Well," Hau started. "You two can go without me Professor! I've got a hot date with the malasada bakery tonight!"

Elio wasn't sure whether he was joking or serious. "Didn't you already have malasadas for breakfast or lunch today?"

"Yeah so? I need another one."

"Eating away your worries huh?" As Hau wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion, Sun added onto that. "I'm not exactly sure Leilani is going to appreciate an extra roll on you once she's able to walk again."

He instantly regretted the words as soon as they left his lips. That wasn't the message he was trying to send.

Hau bowed his head. "I know...eating too much is bad and I've probably gained a little bit of weight from them. Okay...I guess so. Tonight and then I'll stop after a while."

"I'm not trying to tell you stop eating them for the rest of your life. I like them too you know, just...be mindful. One of my favorite things to always eat was this chocolate tuxedo layered cake. My dad's buddies would make it and he'd take some of the leftovers home. I kind of helped myself every night when my parents weren't looking. And then my mom caught me and has always said it goes from the lips to the hips."

"Yeah. Just visiting all the malasada shops I can is my own personal island challenge!"

"There's quite a lot of them!" Kukui agreed. "You'll be hard-flying-pressed to hit them all!" He stood up and finished his drink, before using just one hand to toss it towards a nearby wastebasket.

Elio's eyes went wide as it sailed through the air, straight through the opening without a hit on the can's rim.

"Wow...that's like a three pointer."

"You think you're the only one who played basketball here?" Kukui's mouth twitched into a smirk as he headed for the exit. "We can head up tomorrow morning if you like."

"That works for me Professor." Elio said. "Wait...where's Lillie?"

"I was wondering when you were going to ask that." The smirk returned to his features. "She's around yeah. I'll definitely make sure you two can spend some time together before you leave for your trial."

Now it's like everyone knows I have a crush on her.

"Hey...hey Elio. Did you know?"

"Yeah of course I did."

"I didn't even finish talking. Are you spacing out thinking about Lillie again?"

"Yes I am. Is that a problem-UGH!" Elio yanked his arm away from the table and clutched his head as the familiar and unpleasant sensation of liquid ice seemed to tap itself into his head again. His hand almost knocked over their drinks in the process.

"Sun!" Hau's expression immediately went to concern as he went over to his friend's side. "Sun, are you okay?"

"Yeah...yeah I'm okay." Elio waved off a couple other people who were responding to the commotion. "Just dizzy."

The kahuna's grandson didn't look convinced. "That doesn't seem like dizziness to me. You were screaming like you had a migraine or something. Are you sure you're fine?"

"No. I feel better now."

"As long as you know your own limits brah. Anyway, there's an observatory up on Mount Hokulani! And you know what they do at an observatory right?"

"Yeah. Look at stuff."

"I sure as heck have no idea." Hau dusted his shirt off. "Say how about you and I get that battle out of the way?"

"You've waited this long. Prepare to lose again." Elio grinned like a maniac. "Let's not do it in the garden. I know the pokemon center has an arena we can use."

Fortunately for them, it was not occupied when both boys left the garden and made their way back. Elio rechecked his room and decided to book it for one more night before he headed up the mountain. He did get a message from the new director at the garbage plant saying that the cleaning supplies had just arrived and ready for pickup.

After this battle, I'll go and do that. Will probably need a ride pokemon to help me since there's so much of it.

Each pokemon center had at least one room set to the standard battle dimensions. The walls and ceiling were enclosed in the Ward technology to shield both the structure and humans inside when it concerned powerful pokemon attacks.

Elio tuned the referee system and on the scoreboard overhead; their shots on their trainer passport were shown alongside five pokeballs. As they took their spots, other people were already drawn to the battle, standing outside or on the bleachers to look at the action.

"This is a five on five battle between the trainers on the red side and the trainers on the blue side." The disembodied female voice said over the hidden speakers somewhere above their heads. "Rules are standard exhibition sanctioned matches and the battle will conclude when the entirety of a trainer's pokemon party have all been defeated. Trainers on red side, do you accept these terms?"

"Yes." Sun said. Even though other terms such as "yeah" "okay" were acceptable, a verbal yes was required to proceed.

"Trainers on the blue side, do you accept these terms."

"Yes." Hau pumped a fist. "Let's do this!"

"Terms accepted." The referee said. "Red side has been chosen to select their first pokemon."

"I guess I'm up then." Elio's hand went to his right side where the six poke balls were at.

Guess I better move Grimer's to the left already. Save me the embarrassment of throwing an empty one.

"Rufflet, you're up first buddy!" He flicked the ball, activating it on a spin and releasing his small eaglet. He landed in front with eyes blazing for a fight.

Hau readied his own poke ball. "Oh this is gonna be good! Toast, let's go!"

The pokemon burst out of the ball; a light brown and white rodent like creature with glassy blue eyes. Two small electric sacs were on its cheeks. A long tail curled around to form a platform which it stood on with its furry feet.

That looks like a raichu. But not any raichu I've seen before.

"Rotom?"

"Oh yezzzz a new pokemon! Bzzt!" His 'Dex popped out and floated in front of him. "Raichu. Mouse pokemon. Alola form. It is the evolved form of Pikachu. It only evolves into this form in Alola. According to researchers, its diet is one of the causes for this change. It focuses psychic energy into its tail and rides it like it's surfing. Alolan raichu are commonly nicknamed "hodad" Alolan raichu is an electric and psychic type. Additional information is available upon catching this pokemon."

"It's a psychic type too?" I've never even knew that it and electric could be paired together! He clenched his fists. I'm already at a disadvantage here and I really don't want to force my hand into an early switch.

The screen began to blink green three times, indicating for the battle to begin.

You named your raichu Toast?

"Rufflet, begin with aerial ace!"

His eaglet looped in midair moving fast enough to nearly vanish as he struck Toast in the side. The attack didn't seem to do much damage, nor did it stagger Toast, barely wobbling it as he quickly righted himself up with perfect balance atop his surfboard tail.

"Use reflect!" As Toast waved his stubby hands to form a whitish wall of light in front, it followed up with a powerful thunderbolt. Rufflet skillfully rolled in midair to avoid it.

Elio had him go in again; using another aerial ace to move up close. While flying types were indeed vulnerable to electric type moves; the common one of thunderbolt that Hau used required a degree of accuracy to fire to bolt towards its target. By moving fast almost blindingly invisible, he was able to temporarily avoid that retaliation.

Gonna cause as much damage as possible. I'm relying on the element of staying afloat and keeping him on his toes.

Rufflet struck on ascension in an uppercut manner using his powerful wings and upon Elio's insistence, used his beak in a rapid fury attack.

However much to his dismay, Sun had forgotten about the reflect move that Hau set up, an energy shield wall on his side of the field that would half the damage received from physical attacks. It was only temporary, but often hampered with strategies if thrown up at the opportune time.

Of course there were ways around it, but as far as he knew, he had none.

Toast didn't even look any worse for the wear thanks to the reflect doing its job.

"Sorry Sun, but I'm about to wrap this one up! Use psychic!"

With a smirk on its features, Toast's eyes began to glow a bright white as a single ripple of energy emanated from them, homing straight on Rufflet's form. The eaglet squawked in surprise as the psychic power practically immobilized him.

"Get out of there!" Elio shouted. "See if aerial ace works!"

Toast gasped in surprise as his opponent suddenly shifted forward, vanishing for a split second again to strike up close again with his outstretched wings.

"Do another fury attack! Don't let up!"

Rufflet went straight to work, jabbing at the raichu's side while pausing just briefly to avoid another launched thunderbolt. Again the reflect barrier was still suppressing the full power of his physical moves. He wasn't sure about the length of its duration, but imagined that it couldn't be for much longer.

At the same time, a sound way around the reflect would be to insert a pokemon capable of using special attacks. However he was banking on the hypothetical question if Toast also knew light screen, the special attack counterpart of reflect.

Rufflet had gotten a lucky hit with his fourth jab in a blow strong enough to knock down Toast. As Hau was encouraging his pokemon to get back up, Elio saw his chance.

Let's get Rufflet healed and swapped with someone who can do better.

"Use roost buddy. We're gonna reset."

He cawed and landed on the ground before becoming surrounded with a green aura that began to replenish his health.

A thunderbolt suddenly lanced from the other side, hitting home and earning a screech of pain as Rufflet felt the full effects of the electric type move. Toast stopped and Elio's heart dropped as his first pokemon fell over on its side, knocked out.

"Red side. Combatant defeated." The computer referee declared. "Blue side. Combatant victorious. Blue side leads five to four."

"Return Rufflet." Elio picked up his ball to bring him back inside. "You did great."

Contrary to what he said, his own pokemon didn't win. Rufflet hated to lose and he knew that even a simple one in a battle against his weaknesses would be taken personally.

There was only so much he could do. But there was also a lot he could've done to make things more favorably.

His big concern was how fast the thing was. It moved quicker than almost any other pokemon he had seen and it had access to powerful electric and psychic type moves too.

Who knows what else? If I don't take care of it quickly, he's going to jump to an early lead.

An idea struck his mind and it would certainly catch Hau off guard. He slipped Rufflet's poke ball onto his left side and got his next combatant ready.

"Okay Nani, let's do this!"

True to what he was predicting, Hau was definitely surprised at Elio's choice. However he had not battled Nani yet...in fact, he had only faced Rufflet, Grimer and Torracat. Nobody else held experience against Hau's team.

"So this is your milotic?" The kahuna's grandson seemed intrigued and mesmerized by the slight glittering she gave off in her reflective scales. "Knowing you; you sent her out against Toast for a reason."

"You're not wrong." Elio grinned which in turn ignited the same fire in Hau's eyes.

"She is nani for sure! But that isn't going to help you!"

He wasted no time in acting as soon as the screen blinked three times.

"Use thunderbolt! We're gonna take you out in one hit!"

You've obviously never faced Nani before.

"Swing iron tail in front of you to take the thunderbolt!" She cooed in response, fanning her fins together in the honed edge and bringing it up to meet the advancing blast of electricity.

His smirk grew as she easily pierced through, dissipating it directly at the point and pushing through causing the thunderbolt to split apart like a flayed edge. As Toast looked on in surprise, she followed it up with a second swing; a swift slash through the center. Again, the reflect worked to reduce the oncoming damage that seemed to do rather little. The raichu spun on its tail, briefly out of control before achieving the perfect balance once again.

We can't let them rest. Elio pointed and called for a scaled as Hau went for volt switch. She missed her shot as Toast blazed right past and stuck her briefly before darting rapidly back to his own side of the field and almost jumping right back into Hau's pokeball in his outstretched hand.

Sun was already going for another scald attack as Hau quickly exchanged pokemon, going to use Acheron in Toast's place. The scald knocked the eeveelution back a ways, however it shook off the heated water droplets after receiving no damage at all.

That blasted water absorb!

"Well played Hau." Elio said the compliment with gusto. "You've actually got me thinking on my toes this time."

"I'm about to show ya what I've got!" He pointed at Nani. "Quick attack!"

Acheron darted forward with the same quickness as Rufflet did with his aerial ace to blindside Nani. She reflexively fired a water pulse that was harmlessly taken by his water absorb ability again.

"Dragon pulse!"

As Acheron took his place at his trainer's side again; Nani fired the gathered green blast. It caught the bubble jet pokemon in its blast and subsequently exploded with a loud bang. As part of her signature spin on the move, the explosion sucked its victim back towards the epicenter to combust in a second and third explosion. As the blast subsided, Acheron was tossed onto the ground, tumbling to a stop close to the field's center.

"Acheron no!" Hau cried out. "Can you stand?"

I'm making this even. "Dragon pulse again!"

"Move out with quick attack and hit it with an aurora beam!"

Elio snarled to himself as Nani's second dragon pulse missed its mark as the vaporeon rolled back onto its feet to dart away and spin around to shoot a thick rainbow colored ray in her direction.

"Split it with iron tail again!"

As Nani swung her sword again, it cleaved the energy in half as if it were made of a solid material. She brought her tail up again for another glancing blow only for the smaller pokemon to seemingly melt into a translucent mass.

Ah! Acid armor!

"Use double team!" Hau pumped a fist. Acheron jumped forward, before a pair of perfectly identical illusory copies of himself stood by his side. Elio knew that one of them would be the real one, but it had the potential to fire live attacks as if it was the pokemon in the flesh itself.

"Time for us to show off our new technique and move buddy! Stored power!"

Stored power?

Elio didn't have much time to think about it as he saw the Vaporeon gather a sphere of dark purple energy in its mouth and shoot it directly into Nani's side. She toppled over from the effects, struggling to get back up.

Holy...what does stored power do? How come I've never seen it before?

"While she's down! Stored power again!"

"Iron tail! Reflect it back!"

The two pokemon readied their attacks with Nani already bringing hers in front to guard as Acheon blasted a second sphere her way. This time she was ready for it; using one of her honed edges to deflect and shifting her angle just a slight bit along with some momentum to launch the orb right back at its user.

Neither Hau or Acheron were expecting this and yelped in surprise as it collided.

I'm not letting it rest! "Finish this with dragon pulse, every bit you've got!"

Nani twirled her head around her coiled serpentine body before gathering the power she needed to shoot one last huge glowing pulse at the downed Acheron. The attack threw up dust, churning it up two additional times before settling over on Hau's side. Both trainers peered through as it cleared, seeing that the vaporeon was laying on its back with head down and legs limp from exhaustion.

"Blue side. Combatant defeated. Red side. Combatant victorious. Sides are tied with four each."

"Acheron, come take a good rest buddy. You've earned it." Hau laughed as he returned his deateated pokemon. He still kept that contagious grin from ear to ear. "You've definitely gotten a lot stronger than when I last battled you! No wonder you're so far ahead on the Island Challenge! I bet you're gonna finish all the trials here first!"

Elio smiled back after his friend had stroked his ego. Despite it being a friendly bout, he wasn't about to let the praise get his guard down. After all, it wasn't just a bit of prize money that was being wagered, it was bragging rights between the rivals.

"Now it's your turn Noibat!" Hau put an extra spin on his throw and his tiny bat creature popped out, flapping its wings rapidly as it stayed just above the dirt.

"You still okay on being in Nani?" Elio got a slight nod from the milotic as the battle screen blinked to indicate for the match to continue. "Perfect, you'll stay in."

"You won't have much of a chance with that!" Hau gestured to Noibat. "Air Cutter!"

Oh wow, that has the potential to be a strong flying type move.

Noibat fluttered in the air before he brought his wings forward to launch a pair of white crescent shaped projectiles towards Nani. Thankfully it was still rather inexperienced in using the attack so they moved slowly; still far too fast for a normal dodge, but Nani gracefully slithered out of its way long before they hit where she stood.

"Dragon pulse!" Elio was already shooting for the gold, hoping the super effective move could take it out in a single shot.

As she retaliated with her own attack, Elio saw Noibat stop fluttering its webbed wings for a moment before it calmly drifted out of the way. Not used to having her opponents evade so deftly; she powered up an iron tail, swinging it like a boom. But again, he had simply ascended slightly to avoid the powerful attack.

Hau had another air cutter come their way, but this time one was launched right after the other. As Nani slithered to dodge the first, she was hit by the second and staggered back. She seemed caught off guard from the power of the blow.

"Now time for some tricks up our sleeve! Use tailwind!"

Noibat chirped quietly, somersaulting through the air and flapping its wings quickly to generate a slight breeze that came from behind him. Elio also noticed that the reflect screen had winked a couple of times before fading into the thin air.

Okay, now that's down, we can resume our normal schedule of physical attacks!

But now he noticed that Noibat didn't have to constantly flutter its wings to remain airborne. And the successive air cutter was powered by the tailwind's effect to accelerate at a much faster velocity. Nani was hit again, but she automatically sharpened her tail to swat away the delayed second blast.

Elio had her go in for a scald attack, however as she shot the stream of boiling hot liquid at her foe, the wind remained in effect, swaying it to the sides as if it were rogue spray from a fountain. She essentially just created a mess of steam that obscured the lower parts of their battlefield.

"Noibat return!" Hau unexpectedly called out as he brought his pokemon back. "Now it's your turn Dartrix!"

Should've seen this coming. Elio thought dryly to himself. Hau wasted no time on the other end calling for a razor leaf. Nani used a water pulse to intercept the majority of the sharp blade quill projectiles with the shockwave sending them flying across the side and embedding themselves into the ground.

Taking the initiative to go on the offense, Elio had her shoot a scald again, but this time it was done in a precision manner rather such as a focused water gun rather than a hose. Her stream managed to cut straight through the tailwind, hitting Dartrix across the chest and earning a pained screech.

"Ominous wind!"

Through his enduring of the boiling hot water; Dartrix's eyes snapped open and he waved his feathered wings together. Void energy formed behind him and as he flicked them towards Nani, it rushed forward in damaging waves.

She was unsuccessful in trying to dodge and battered down yet again.

"Razor leaf!"

Dartrix screeched loudly before he flipped in midair, spinning around and flinging his wings out in another barrage of blade quills.

Nani was still struggling to get back up, but as she saw the oncoming attack; Elio saw her contently close her eyes. She had accepted defeat...for now.

The leaves hit and caused dirt to erupt in the center, obscuring the field. When it finally began to settle; Nani seemed to uncoil herself and fall limply to the ground.

"Red side. Combatant defeated. Blue side. Combatant victorious. Blue side leads, four to three."

Elio was more surprised than anything. So far in the battle; Hau had outmaneuvered him with his ingenious setups of things like reflect and tailwind while playing to his advantages. Now granted that he had used pokemon at a disadvantage, but he was hoping that Nani could help him spur a comeback. He should've paid more attention to her well-being and maybe used recover.

So I know that Hau still has his raichu, noibat and now Dartrix. Acheron is out, so what's left. There's a fifth pokemon.

"You're getting really good Hau." Still, credit had to be given where it was due. Elio slipped her poke ball onto his left side. "I'll be honest in saying I'm having a hard time keeping up."

"Thanks! We've worked really hard!"

"I can tell. I'm winning the next one though." He had a suspicion that Hau was going to switch back to either Noibat or Toast to keep up his speed advantage.

Maybe I can use Torracat's flame charge buildup to keep up. He's definitely going to be substituting if I bring him out since he's an automatic advantage in terms of type matchups.

His intuition was right as Hau returned Dartrix and brought Toast back out as Elio used Torracat. The cat pokemon was a little surprised to see a far different form compared to the smaller pikachu he had battled previously. The two trainers had their eyes locked as the screen pulsed again for them to resume the battle.

Hau went straight for the offensive, calling for a thunderbolt. In response, Elio had Torracat rush forward using flame charge that was fast enough to dodge the loosely aimed discharges of electricity. He became an orange blur, trailing off tiny sparking embers in his wake.

"Psychic!" He shouted just as Torracat jumped off his hind legs to lunge for the mouse pokemon.

Toast smirked as his pale eyes began to glow and emit a single pulsewave that suddenly caught him in midair. He growled in protest, flailing his limbs to no avail.

"Thunderbolt!" After time of mastering both the electric and psychic type moves, this particular one was beginning to become one of Hau's favorite combinations.

Electric sparks danced across Toast's form as he launched another jagged thunderbolt at Torracat. The fire dissipated around his lean body as he gave out a pained yell of protest. He bared his fangs in determination, not wanting to give in.

Elio had to think of something fast. "Quick, use overheat!"

His mouth was already opened, but he managed to gather together enough energy to launch the uber attack. It launched separate from the arcing thunderbolt and struck home, which was exactly what he was aiming for. Most psychic type pokemon with the titular move were immensely powerful, however they were only able to focus on one thing; the pokemon itself or a projectile of some sort. Switching priorities meant that it would have to disengage on its current.

Which was how Torracat found himself free once again. Sun had him close the distance, building up some additional speed with a second flame charge that knocked Toast back. He gave it no time to rest, following up with a fire fang in which he clamped straight down on the surfboard tailpiece. With a fling of his head to the side, Torracat had thrown the larger pokemon to the ground.

Hau's own expression turned to worry as Toast got back up to move away, but now Torracat's built-up speed allowed him to quickly catch up and even overtake the normally blindingly fast electric type. He felt no more breeze; Noibat's tailwind had petered out.

I got to get it back up. Elio's going to take away Toast's only advantage!

"Use volt switch!" He yelled.

Elio's eyes flashed, an indication that something was playing right into his hands. Everytime he had that look on his face it made Hau nervous in his next actions in terms of a battle.

Oh no you don't!

Torracat closed back on him with flame charge and Hau knew that if it hit, Toast wouldn't last another. He had already built up a charge of his own with electricity and lashed it out like a whip.

At the last possible moment; the two attacks collided. Torracat flinching, but continuing on his normal path to smash into Toast's side. The raichu spun about, righting himself on his surfboard tailpiece, clearly worn but still standing.

WHAT?

Hau smirked as he returned Toast and the newly established reflect barrier shimmered from the blazing heat. "Gotcha!" He threw out his next contestant; Noibat again.

Elio knew where this was going. He's going to try and set up another tailwind to keep the speed advantage on his side.

"Use tailwind!"

Crap.

As Noibat spun around and flicked his wings to bring the prevailing winds blowing against Elio's side, Torracat kept his offensive barrage up. However even with the boosts from his flame charge, it felt like charging straight against an invisible current that made him look like moving in a slow motion capture video.

"Keep it going Torracat, maybe we can stall him until it stops again!" He got an affirmative purr from the feline.

"That's not going to happen! Use echoed voice!" Noibat opened his mouth, releasing a short bursted shout that shot out a single damaging soundwave. Aided by the wind, it traveled at a much faster velocity and sent Torracat tumbling back yet again. Sun knew that the echoed voice move was a helpful early-on kind which got stronger the more it was used in succession.

"Again!"

"Overheat through it!" Elio commanded. As the two pokemon fired their attacks, the white hot fire easily passed through the invisible sound, giving the small winged pokemon a glancing blow that disrupted Hau's attempt to get a third one off.

"Ember! One last time!" They had to be almost done by now.

He shot out a tiny ball of flames from the big orange bell on his neck that splashed over Noibat's fur and singing it. He fell out of the ar and tumbled onto the ground.

"Noibat!"

"Good job Torracat." Elio knelt down as his starter retreated to his side and gave it a pat on the head. "You've done awesome today."

"Blue side. Combatant defeated. Red side. Combatant victorious. Tie match. Three to Three."

Hau saw Noibat open its eyes slowly and blink a couple of times as if it hadn't remembered something.

"Thanks for all your hard work Noibat." He got a squeaked chirp from him as he began looked a little better and more encouraged by his trainer. "We'll win this yet."

Back on Elio's side, he opted to return Torracat. It would neutralize his speed boosts from the flame charge, but he had used overheat a couple of times already. While it was a powerful fire type move, the special attacking effectiveness drained every time he used it. He knew that there were other moves with similar perks and effects, dealing massive damage but often having a proverbial thorn in that the user would suffer in some way.

It's a risk. I know that, but I'll need Torracat to take on Hau's Dartrix and he's the only thing able to stand up to Toast. I don't think anyone else can.

"Let's put someone new in here." Elio thumbed his next contestant. "Charjabug! Go!"

His battery pokemon materialized on his side, twitching her small mandibles.

"It's my turn to choose!" Hau threw his own onto the field.

The pokemon was buglike in appearance with a brown lower body and white fur covering its head. Five curled orange horns surrounded the top like a crown and it stared curiously at Charjabug with bright blue eyes. Even more curiously were the wisps of glowing flame that flickered for moments around the horns.

Wow, that's a pokemon I've never seen before. It looks like a fire type, yet it's a bug. Usually those two don't mix well.

"Rotom?"

"I'm here! Bzzt! Bezt to get thizzz over with before the battle beginzzz!" He flashed his screen to a standing image of the pokemon. "Larvesta. Torch pokemon. It protects itself with flames. Long years ago, ancient people believed that the larvesta came from nests on the sun. Larvesta is a bug and fire type. Additional information is available upon catching this pokemon."

"Where did you catch that one?"

"The lush jungle." Hau said proudly. "I just found her."

So it's a she…

"Well cool pokemon. I can't wait to see how she battles!"

"Allow us to show you!" Hau raised a hand just as the screen flashed for the match to resume. "Flame charge!"

As one, the glowing horns on Larvesta's head burned even brighter when fire grew around her body, cloaking her and she rushed forward, smashing to Charjabug's side. It went even faster than Elio expected thanks to the tailwind still up.

Elio had her respond with a spark and she tackled the other larvae pokemon in kind. The two bugs softly hissed at one another. Upon breaking off; Larvesta shot up into the air, shooting a volley of embers that Charjabug countered with charge beams. None of them got through and she launched a signal beam that caught her foe in mid air.

"Spark!"

As Larvesta fell to the ground, Charjabug rushed forward to meet her. The collided, throwing up a combination of embers and electric sparks.

Kind of strange how I would find two caterpillar type pokemon battling one another entertaining.

It was far from the usual youngster trainers pitting their caterpie against one another with repeated tackles.

"Use mud shot Charjabug!" She flung globs of it that hit and did some damage, but it also covered the field, preventing Hau's own bug from moving so quickly. However the kahuna's grandson had caught onto what Elio was trying to do.

"Flame charge! Burn it all away!"

He sensed that he didn't have much time left on the tailwind and wanted to build up her speed before it finally ended.

As Larvesta gathered more fire around herself and tried to wiggle free from the mud puddles, it didn't have the effect he was hoping for. Instead of burning away the mud, her fire had turned it into baked clay-dirt that trapped her small feet inside, effectively immobilizing her.

No! Why did I think of that?!

On the other side, Elio couldn't believe his luck as an easy win.

"Spark again!"

"Use take down!" Hau had no idea if she could still go, but he at least wanted to give it a try.

Charjabug lurched forward, eyes focused as she powered herself up with electric energy. On the other side; Larvesta was still trying to wiggle herself free, still mired in the muck.

She got closer, even more ready to finish this battle for her trainer.

Larvesta's small foot finally freed itself and with a grunt, heaved itself out of the dried dirt. She lowered her head and charged straight to meet the rushing Charjabug. Inevitably, the two attacks collided, throwing up bits of dirt and dust that choked out the air.

Subconsciously, both trainers waited with their breath held before finally sighing as they heard two distinct thuds of both bug types hitting the ground. Neither of them needed the dust to clear to know what they both had fainted from the combined attacks.

"Both sides. Combatant defeated. Match is tied. Two to two."

Wow. I don't think I've had that happen against Hau.

Neither of them spoke as they returned their pokemon, but Elio did gently pat her poke ball as he put it on his left hand side.

Nice job.

They took out their next two pokemon and sent them straight into battle. Elio with Torracat again and Hau using Toast his Alolan raichu. As soon as they entered, they felt Hau's tailwind peter out again. As opposed to the last time they were brought out respectively, both combatants were heavily breathing and fatigued from their previous battles.

Without Noibat to bring it back, he would have to rely on other matters if it meant keeping the speed advantage.

The screen blinked, allowing them to begin again.

"Begin this with flame charge!" I'm not giving him a chance!

"Thunderbolt!"

Without the tailwind to impede his progress, Torracat was much faster in rushing forward wreathed in flames. At the same time, Toast shot his thunderbolt on a collision course with the feline.

Elio didn't know if he was able to withstand it. At this distance, he was able to break off and change his course if need be. The only reason he wouldn't do such a thing would be because he was confident he could tough it out.

One looking at the display would almost consider Torracat suicidal, but he didn't bother backing down even as he charged unyielding straight into the oncoming blast. The power from both attacks again threw up huge amounts of dust and dirt into the air, clouding the field and spreading over.

Elio felt the fine particles all over his face as he automatically brought his arms to cover his eyes and used the neckline of his shirt to filter his nose and mouth.

"Red side. Combatant defeated. Blue side. Combatant victorious. Blue side leads two to one."

Guess it's all up to you Akela. Elio thought to himself, returning Torracat and bringing out his final pokemon. He had to come up with a strategy against two foes with superior qualities. Toast in terms of speed and then Dartrix in typing.

Dartrix is part flying. So not entirely advantageous in Hau's side. One advantage he had was that he hadn't used his lycanroc yet in this battle. He was working with a fresh pokemon so to speak.

"It's up to us buddy." He got a growl of acknowledgement from Akela as he took his normal stance of crouching low with teeth bared. "Defeat Toast and then Dartrix and we win!"

"I won't let it come to that! Toast use psychic!" Hau commanded. Toast's eyes glowed bright again as he attacked Akela with a powerful psychic blast. The werewolf was lifted in the air much to his dismay before the wave closed in on his body and sent him flying back.

I'm surprised he didn't go for that thunderbolt combo.

Akela attacked with a rock tomb that hurtled boulders back at Toast. Hay shouted for them to be stopped with psychic and then sent right back. Toast moved to the most open area as he did so and aimed a thunderbolt attack straight downwards.

Hau had given him an opening as a deception. By using psychic to hurl the rock tomb back towards its original attacker, he covered his flanks well to leave the only opening for attack straight on...the one spot where he was throwing the thunderbolt.

Smart. Elio thought to himself and decided against using it as chance to counter anything. He still had to give credit to how tempting the bait was.

Akela growled again when he dodged yet another hurled thunderbolt. Elio was aware of how powerful Toast's electric type moves could be, but at the same time this was shining at his big opportunity to take it out. Toast had harassed a handful of his team already and it would be the end of him if he didn't end up doing something.

It's fast. We'll just have to hit it in a way it doesn't expect.

"Keep up the pressure of dodging Akela." He said calmly. "Use rock tomb to conceal your advance."

The werewolf pokemon nodded in understanding, spreading his arms and fists apart before forming the said large boulders above and hurling them straight at Toast.

Hau grew nervous. "Toast, use psychic to stop and throw the rock tomb back!"

Yes, that's our chance!

He had used the same setup, with the incredible warbling psychic power to hold the huge boulders steady that exposed a specific attack angle that he used to fire a thunderbolt.

"Now go through the rocks Akela. Sucker punch!"

He growled again, using his hind legs to jump atop a low hanging boulder and disappearing. Up above; Toast looked around confused at where his foe had went. Glancing up, he let out a cry of panic as the midnight lycanroc descended from above, having used one of the biggest boulders as a cover.

His fist glowing dark purple struck the raichu across the jaw, throwing it to the ground while the psychic attack faded from the rocks, allowing them to drop harmlessly.

"Blue side. Combatant defeated. Red side. Combatant victorious. One to one."

"Well I'll be." Hau laughed as he returned Toast back to its ball. "You're catching up. I know a comeback when I see one."

"We're both down to our last pokemon. May the best trainer win."

In reality, Elio was starting to get even more nervous himself. Hau may be his friend, but battles between the two were fought tooth and nail. It didn't matter if the two were on different skill levels; the intensity was real.

Dartrix had the advantage in his grass typing and he was going to be faster than Akela, however he remembered again that it was part flying and he could use that to his advantage with planning out rock type attacks like rock tomb.

"It's all up to you Dartrix!" Hau cried, tossing his final pokemon onto his side. The blade quill pokemon took an opportunity to preen his feathers before turning his attention to his opponent. Akela bared his teeth, ready to help his trainer.

The two pokemon launched straight into the fight as soon as the screen blinked again. Akela threw up a rock tomb which Dartrix nimbly dodged, weaving through to deliver a powerful aerial ace. It did little damage thanks to the typings, but Akela was able to get a bite off before it could peel away. Elio and his pokemon took the offensive, slamming a sucker punch in while moving out wide to avoid the retaliatory ominous wind.

"Aerial ace again!" Dartrix flipped in mid-flight, zooming forward.

"Quick, counter!"

Akela's paw reared back as he bent to take the brunt of the blow while both trainers saw the energy transfer towards it. He swung it back quickly, diverting all of the damage power it had received at the aerial ace at his avian foe. With a loud bang, he was thrown backwards.

"Can you go on?" Hau asked, earning a screech in reply.

"Don't let them get back up!" Sun shouted, "Bite!"

Across the field, Hau was giving him a knowing smirk. "Alright, now it's time to try out the new move we've been practicing! Use synthesis!"

Hau has a healing move?! What?

Dartrix spread his wings out as he began to glow a brilliant gold with a slight tingling sound coming from within. His wounds were rapidly healing from the counter as his energy got restored, even erasing the deficit of damage inflicted earlier.

Okay...Hau, you may be a goof at sometimes...but you're sly...probably one of the slyest trainers I've ever seen.

The move was commendable and even more so that Hau kept it to himself until he chose to show it at a time to almost seal Akela's fate. Elio had no recovery moves and now his only hope lied in that he would maybe be able to bring down Dartrix equally with rock type moves. Knowing his rival; he would do his best to avoid those and use aerial ace's nimble movements to his advantage.

"Rock tomb!" He was not going to give either of them a break or convey his surprise.

Hau raised a fist. "Charge through and use aerial ace!" Dartrix was already peeling up, screeching loudly and quickly going through the barrage of big boulders to close the distance between the two.

Just as he was about to hit; Akela powered up a sucker punch, swinging in a haymaker blow that disrupted the attack and pushed Dartrix to the ground with enough force to daze him.

"Rock tomb!"

Now instead of hurling the usual boulders, the lycanroc slammed both his fisted paws into the ground, causing smaller boulders to erupt out as if it were a giant wave. Although smaller in size, they made up for it in sheer quantity. Dartrix let out a sharp cry of pain as he was battered by the super effective attack.

Elio couldn't believe that Akela had learned rock slide, but this wasn't a time to celebrate or comment on such a thing. Hau's Dartrix was still a strong pokemon and he didn't want to give it any advantage.

"Go, finish this with another rock slide!"

Hau was shouting something intangible from the loud sound of the boulders crashing against one another, but he saw Dartrix weakly get back up on his feet before pulling his wings across his body as if forming the X arms like a Z-move.

Elio's eyes darted to Hau's Z ring, but it remained dormant and Hau wasn't in a particular dance pose to initiate the ultimate attack.

Dartrix waved his wings forward, unleashing a fine barrage of razor leaf quills that shot out like bullets. Each one was needle thin and about the length of his middle finger, but they were aimed with such precision at a fast pace that their path traveled straight through the gaps of the rock slide's boulders. Others behind it managed to stop some of the quills, shattering into powder but a handful got through.

And embedded themselves into Akela's front. He howled in pain, forced to his knees.

"Akela!"

Dartrix flapped his wings and flew upwards, spinning around in his usual fashion for a second barrage of razor leaves at the defenseless Akela. More dust was thrown up obscuring the field as the quills hit their target.

Through it all, Elio heard a snarling and felt a rush of hope that he had survived the attack. His heart lurched when it cleared, showing Akela's fur tattered and a few visible wounds suffered. A half dozen quills were embedded in his long white mane and shoulders.

Akela's snarling abruptly halted as he took a step forward, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

"Red side. Combatant defeated. Blue side. Combatant victorious. Red side is out of useable pokemon therefore blue side is the winner!" Having finished its job, the screen displayed a message "Thanks for participating! Good match!" before winking out and the lighting of the battlefield returning to normal. Elio glanced around, now seeing that quite the handful of spectators had gathered to watch ranging from small children, sightseers and even some of the older folk.

He did see a familiar bandanna and dark tanktops on a couple well-muscled figures. They didn't say nothing, but merely stared at him with a gleam in their eyes as if jeering.

Team Skull.

His mind went elsewhere, feigning that he didn't see them and realized that Akela was quietly whining on the field as it got back up. Hau had returned Dartrix, ecstatic that he had won and crossed the field.

Akela refused to meet his eyes as he knelt down beside him.

"We can't win every battle. But you still went out there with everything we had."

He huffed.

"Don't be like that. You just learned a new move to replace rock tomb. A little bit of practice and before you know it, we'll be able to perfect it like pros."

Akela seemed better encouraged by that before he slowly stood up. Elio reached over and gently plucked a couple of the quills out of his arms. The canine leaned back to sniff Elio's bag, right at the spot where he was carrying the egg.

"Yeah I know. It's gonna hatch really soon. You ready to babysit too?"

"Wow! Oh my goodness I won! I won!" Hau was practically skipping in his walk over. "That was probably the best I've seen you battle!"

Sun knew the high praise was to help cheer him up and truth be told, he found himself not as bitter over the loss as he expected. Sure it was disappointing to not win, but just like how he had told Akela...they wouldn't be able to win them all.

"Great match brah!"

"Yeah." The two trainers brought one another in for a firm handshake before doing their customary slap on the back. "Great match."

"That wazzz amazzzzing! Bzzt!" Rotom said in a sing-song voice as he floated between the two. "But that machine doing the referee izzzz doing a horrible job! Why use that when you can have a professional? Like moi? Bzzt!"

"Yeah I agree. These referees are like robots." Hau said. "I'd rather have us battle under the watch of a talking cellphone."

"Excuzzze me?!" Rotom's eyes flashed red. "Did you juzt compare me to a primitive lower life form?! Bzzt!"

The kahuna's grandson waved his hands, "Nononono! That's not what I meant."

"Okay. Apology accepted! Bzzt!"

I swear I'm going to rip this 'Dex in half. It's a sassy bipolar machine spouting stupid pokemon information at the strangest of times that's driving me nuts.

But I have to admit that I've gotten a little bit attached to him. He's helpful...that's for sure.

"Anyways, look at you Elio! I'm so glad I'm your friend!"

"Yeah me too."

"I'm acutally kind of hungry." Hau rubbed his stomach. "You want to get some lunch?"

"Actually, that would be great. But I gotta take off afterwards. The garbage plant wanted me to bring some paint removal supplies."

"For what?"

"Graffiti that Team Skull painted on the side of the building. Then I'm going to take on the next trial, wherever it's at."

"Good luck man. I'm hoping to see you at the Festivus here in a couple of days though."

"Festivus?" He remembered Brady Wainwright mentioning that as well.

"Yeah, the Draconid Festivus that celebrates the Draconid people's heritage and praise to their deity. I've never been to the one in Alola, but it's here in Malie City. Heard it's a lot of fun."

"Then I'll have to be back in time." Elio and Hau shook hands again. "I'll see you later?"

"For sure. Alola!"

"Alola!"


Elio's team required a quick healing from the pokemon center's machine and had no serious needs for additional treatment. He strolled out of the center and back down the streets of Malie City. The clouds overhead had begun to clear up a little, showing small patches of bright blue through the rather gloomy overcast. People were also a little bit more cheery, offering greetings and just simple smiles as they passed by on the sidewalks. It was close to mid-afternoon, so he saw a handful of restaurants at a dead pace on the dining area. He was pretty sure the kitchens would be bustling like a beedrill hive for the dinner rush in a few hours.

It seemed that when the sun peeked out from the cover of the clouds, everyone's moods lifted a little.

Talk was abundant with the people he passed about recent news and much of it was also towards the Draconid Festivus which would be held at Moku'ola Park which was a U-shaped road that looped into the ocean and sat across Banyan drive from Malie Garden. The big event at the Festivus was when night would fall and people would light kites of various flying dragon pokemon and release them into the sky. After reaching a certain altitude, they would be set ablaze in a gift of appreciation and thanks to their deity; the Sky High legendary pokemon of Hoenn, known as Rayquaza.

I wonder if I can get a kite to fly. It would be a huge honor to participate in it.

The paint shop was in sight, close to the Wo Fat district and he kept to the covered canopies that were lining the streets. Many were too as the clouds began to move in again, blotting out some of the blue sky patches to threaten with more rain.

"Hey Profezzzor!" Rotom suddenly exclaimed as he whipped himself out of Sun's backpack again.

Looking around, he saw an older man with weathered tanned skin just a few paces away from coming out of an antique store ahead of them. He heard the voice and turned in their direction.

Sun recognized the face almost immediately and the resemblance was uncanny.

Professor Oak?

"Well Alola to you too Rotom!" The older man chuckled and waved his hands in the traditional greeting. "You look very well. Feeling nice and comfortable in that 'Dex of yours?"

"Battery iz powered to one hundred perzzzent! Bzzt!"

"I'm very happy to hear that." Professor Oak was dressed in a teal blue Alolan shirt with khaki shorts and sandals, standing. He brushed something off the fish design before addressing the young trainer. Elio was starting to get more and more curious on how the two knew each other.

"I apologize keiki." Oak flushed just a little bit but extended his hand out, which an awed Sun shook with what vigor he had. "I'm Professor Samson Oak."

Wait...Samson Oak? His excitement deflated like a saddened drifloon.

He was more wanting to meet the renowned Samuel Oak, a world famous professor based in the Kanto region who made multiple groundbreaking discoveries on pokemon behavior, battling and the overall advancement on research.

Perhaps among the most famous alumni of Saffron University, Samuel Oak had traveled the world to conventions and conferences, giving off lectures that had spurred a huge increase in students majoring in pokemon research. If one didn't find a niche in pokemon battling, everyone else wanted to be the "next Samuel Oak"

Elio's own mother Elaine had received a pokemon as a starter from him and it had been a longtime goal of his to one day meet the famous professor.

Samson Oak chuckled. "I see you've got that starstruck look in your eyes keiki. I will go ahead and assume you are thinking of me as Samuel Oak. I'm sorry to disappoint, but dear Samuel is my cousin back in Kanto."

"Yes...I mean. Yes!" Elio figured that while not meeting the actual better-known Professor Oak was disappointing, it was still pretty awesome to meet a relative. "You two look so alike...and I bet you get that a lot too."

"Quite true. You must be Elio. Young Kukui mentioned you to me."

"Yeah that's me."

"I recognize that hat too." Samson smiled, gesturing to the Cerulean Hurricanes black and blue apparel atop his head. "You're a 'Canes fan too?"

"Heck yeah!"

"I also remember you being at the Pro Day on Akala with your childhood friend Edmund right?"

"That's right." Elio had just been so busy, he had neglected to hear about anything concerning Ed. A huge apology would be due later.

"Well you'll be happy to know that he was drafted fourth overall by our favorite team! They traded up to get him."

"Wait...no way. Ed's a 'Cane? YESSSSSSS!" Elio's outburst and jump for joy had earned him some attention from passerbys, but he couldn't care less.

Ed's gonna play for our hometown team! Oh my goodness! Praise the Tapu! Arceus! Whoever!

"We're gonna go to the playoffffffs!" Elio pumped both his fists and jumped upwards in a celebratory kick. "We're gonna go to the playoffffs! I can't believe it! It's really gonna happen!"

Samson Oak chuckled and turned to Rotom 'Dex. "Is he really this passionate about basketball?"

"I have a feeling that it'zzz one of hizzz three true lovezzzz! Bzzt! Another one z pokemon battling! Bzzt!"

"So what's the third."

The haunted 'Dex didn't reply, but Oak knew a smirk when he saw one...even on a machine.

Elio stopped his celebration and cleared his throat. "Sorry, I've just been really happy for Ed and the Hurricanes. They're getting once in a generation player who's gonna be the face of the franchise one day. Anyway, what are you doing here in Alola?"

"I've lived here on Ula'ula Island for quite some time my boy." Oak smiled. "And I am a professor after all...but unlike my cousin, I'm studying regional variants and subspecies that have developed in the Alola region recently. You may have some across some of them in your travels."

"Yeah I have an alolan grimer." That was another reasoning for Elio to return to the plant. In his haste to go back to Kukui and Hau, he had accidentally left Grimer back at the garbage processing facility where the sludge pokemon was likely happily gobbling down the waste blocks being delivered by the collector barges and trucks.

He probably hasn't even noticed that I left.

"Regional variants can even take on different typings and abilities. Make sure to explore and see what you can find! And Rotom, be sure to help this fine trainer around the islands yes? I'll be trusting you as well to keep it in tip top shape. The 'Dex was made by a young fellow from Kalos named Augustine Sycamore and he put a lot of work into it!"

"Yes sir." Elio said, a little too reverently for knowing. "I'll take good care of it sir. You have my word."

"If you ever need to speak to me, I'm often conducting research or helping students at Melemele State in the Malie Library. Feel free to stop by and chat at any time!"

He nodded in earnest. "I'll have to take you up on that one professor. Alola!"

"Well he seemed quite nice." Elio said as they rode the stoutland up towards the outer cape. The supplies were fashioned securely around the sides and back of the huge dog. He opted for the slower gentler ride knowing that a tauros would likely jar some of the lashed stuff loose in their eager rushes to dash wherever.

"Profezzor Oak izzz awezome! Bzzt! He may not be az well known az hizz couzzzin, but he izzz alzo a huge contributor to the Malie City community in helping educate the younglingzzz."

"That's great. I bet Kukui is going to work with him on getting that League ready."

"Who told you about the League? Bzzt!"

"Kukui. It's all in the island challenge. A new league would crown someone as the island challenge champion. I'm gonna be the first."

They passed a traditional johtoan building on the street and waved to several pale skinned woman in rather regal red and gold robelike dresses.

"Thozzze are kimono girlzzz. They are lifelong professional dancerzzz that help in keeping old traditionzzz alive! Some live here in Alola and help run an orphanage with their pokemon."

"Interesting."

Finally reaching the outer cape, the father and son were already busy at work, but came out immediately to help out Elio as he parked stoutland and unloaded the supplies of scrubbers and paint removal primers. He thanked his ride pokemon, sending it off with a couple beans from his kit.

"Grime."

"There you are!" Elio shook his head and crouched down to his sludge pokemon that slithered over to his side. "Did you have fun on your inadvertent leave of absence?"

"Grime."

"I bet you're ready to get back to work."

The son approached him from the side. "I tried to get you to stop after you dashed off earlier, but you left in such a hurry we had nothing for him to do but help the others break down the trash load. It was a little more than we expected, but he led the group in a really efficient task."

"Well I'm glad he could help."

"Yeah and thanks for getting us the supplies. I've already had my hands full in one day being the director, but...really there's nothing else I'd rather be doing."

Elio smiled at him, "You're most welcome." He looked back at Grimer. "Alright buddy ready to go?"

"Grime…"

"No?"

Grimer glanced back at its peers who all waved lazily about, but they seemed to have forlorn expressions on their faces.

Elio saw that he had bonded with the others during his brief stay. It was undeniable.

"What if I said you could stay? I know the plant is always looking for new recruits."

"Grime." His eyes lit up just a little, with a slight regret of having to leave his trainer.

"I can see you do good work around here. The plant director liked it too and although you're a tough battler, I know you can fulfill your part in other things besides fighting."

"Grime."

Elio nodded, feeling quite sad and knowing that Grimer had begun to drift in the direction of working at the plant before he even returned.

"If that's something you want to do, then I'm not going to stop you." He removed Grimer's poke ball from his belt, opening it up to remove the capture matrix. With the pokemon out of the ball, destroying it rendered the pokemon released and unconfined to that specific poke ball.

He held out a fist, which the sludge pokemon saw and then formed one of his own to gently tap his trainer's. The rest of Elio's team came out as well to say farewell. Rufflet perched himself on Grimer's shoulder and leaned into him. Charjabug waited until her feared bird had left before clicking her mandibles at his fingers and delivering a playful shock Torracat, Akela and Nani gave approving nods to his decision. There was no animosity for him wanting to walk away, but instead wishing luck now that he had found a path that couldn't fit all of them from here on out.

"You're going to do great work buddy." Sun wiped a stray tear from his eye. He was saying farewell to the first pokemon he ever caught. "I know it. And you bet I'll come and visit."

"Grime."

Elio opened the ball, pulling out the capture matrix and then crushed it under his shoe.

There. It's done. You're onto the next chapter. You'll do great things. I know it.


And that concludes this chapter. Grimer was definitely a good partner and I was very torn on letting him go. But we can't rest there! Plenty more adventures and things to do on this island! I'm particularly excited about the Festivus, Electric-type trial and the Malie Library, all of which will be coming up very soon.
Translations:

Keiki - Child

Kūlana - Adventure

Boba - While not a translation, boba are small chewy pearls made from tapioca (taro root) that is often boiled and sipped in sweet and herbal teas both hot and cold. They're often called "bubble teas" While originally from Taiwan, they gained popularity in mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan in small tea shops/cybercafe hybrids that have even started popping up in many western cities. "Boba" is Cantonese slang for "large breasts" referring to the tapioca pearls as well as the nickname of Hong Kong model/sex symbol Amy Yip.

As always, mahalo for reading and reviewing. You give my writing purpose.
Brav