Chapter 2: Homecoming

Satoshi breathed the fresh air of Melemele island and gazed at his home region and its natural beauty.

"Ahhh, it's so good to be home!"

"Grauuu!"

"Grouuu!"

"Gatr!" Satoshi's Pokemon born there also cried.

Sceptile, Abol, and Pigdeot also looked upon Alola with wonder and excitement for what was to come. Satoshi did much the same, as an almost child-like enthusiasm appeared on his face.

"This is it! Our journey to becoming masters is at hand! Jack, come on!" Satoshi shouted back into the airport as another young man, perhaps eighteen or so, came out. He had fair skin with short messy brown hair, dark-blue eyes, and a semi-muscular build. He wore a black and blue jacket fashioned to resemble Lucario, blue jeans, and black/white running shoes.

"Satoshi, I still have jet lag!" Jack sounded slightly annoyed while coming out of the airport with a Lucario and Hisuian Zoroark beside him.

"There's no time for that!" Satoshi almost shouted while placing his arm around Jack's shoulder and emphasizing the island with his other hand.

"Our chance at becoming a champion awaits us, my friend!" Jack slowly smiled with a similar passion.

"Hai! It is!"

"Then let's not just sit around!"

"Huh, ahhh! Satoshi, wait!" Jack and his Pokemon sweatdropped when they saw the Aura warrior and his Pokemon raced ahead and began acrobatically leaping off building sides and trees until they reached the top of Hau'oli City.

"And there he goes...'Sigh' come on, we don't want to fall behind."

Satoshi and his Pokemon arrived at the top of the city's tallest building and stared out at Melemele island as their eyes flashed blue together.

"Our time is now, and we'll become champions together!"

"Grauu!"

"Gatr!"

"Sol!"

"Ot!"

"Tile!"

"Grouuu!"

Eventually, Satoshi returned his team and rejoined Jack as they walked through the city towards route 1. Both gazed at the gleaming Viren tower and equally impressive Viren Stadium.

"Just a few more hours." Jack sounded giddish, particularly when he saw a few dozen trainers of clear renown gathering in the city like them.

"Alola!"

"Alola!" The locals greeted them and their Pokemon with their renowned friendliness.

"I sometimes forget how nice people from Alola are. I remember the first time my family visited here. My mom's Piplup apparently thought they were in awe of such a famous coordinator team. The look on his face when he found out they're friendly to everyone!" Jack laughed.

"Hai, that's why mama always loved living here. Mama." Satoshi's excitement faded slightly as he thought about his mother. He'd tried to call the previous night several times to let her and the others know he was on his way, but no one answered. After several more attempts, his father finally answered but sounded harsher than he'd ever heard him before.

Satoshi still remembered the brief conversation.

"She's not able to talk right now." Ash said coldly and hung up. However, just before doing so, Satoshi remembered hearing something, or rather, someone, his mother crying. He'd never heard her cry like that before, and it haunted Satoshi.

He needed to know what was happening.

"Ahhh, the conquering league winners finally arrive!" A familiar voice laughed.

Satoshi's spirits instantly lifted when he saw none other than Lei before them.

"Alola!"

"Lei! Alola!" Satoshi rushed over to greet the young man.

"It's been too long. I heard you were coming back for the event."

"Hai! My team and I are gonna make history!"

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Jack retorted with a cocky smile.

"Ha! I'm glad you two are in the spirit. But don't forget, you're both going to have to get past me on Poni island." Lei said with a particular smile that made the younger men slightly nervous.

"Well, there's no rush to Poni island." Jack muttered.

"I'm glad I ran into you, Satoshi. You're not the only one who's come home."

This caught his attention.

"What do you mean?"

Lei smirked again.

"You'll see! Just make sure you're on time for the event tonight!"

"No problem!" Jack shouted back.

Satoshi's expression turned slightly anxious as he approached Lei.

"Lei, have you heard anything about my parents. I tried calling them last night, but-" Lei's expression turned incredibly nervous, and his eyes darted away evasively.

"They, uhh, well. They're fine, I mean... You know, you should talk to my parents! They're very close with your parents. I'm sure they talked about it!" Lei rushed off, making Jack sweatdrop.

"What's all that about?"

Satoshi remained anxious and looked over towards the Pokemon School in the distance.

"Jack, I think I'm going to make a trip to the Pokemon School quick."

"Huh? Why?"

"...I just need to talk to Professor Kukui about something."

"Alright. I think I'll come too. If all of the current Kahunas went to that school, then it might not be a bad idea to check it out."

The two made their way across route 1 and finally arrived at the Pokemon School resting near the island's edge. Satoshi looked around at the various buildings, yards, and racing track with fondness. He and his siblings all attended this school before turning ten and had many sweet memories of learning under professor Kukui.

"Wow, this place does look nice! You studied here?"

Satoshi nodded. His typical excitement was now hindered by the angst of what was going on with his parents.

"Ready, go!" Another voice shouted before the ground shook.

"Eh?" Both young men saw a small herd of Tauros racing across the track each with a child on their backs.

"Come on Tauros, we're gonna win!"

"Don't give up, Tauros!"

"Easy Mavis, don't push your Tauros too hard." The first voice said. Ash and Jack then saw her, a young woman, perhaps twenty, with tanned skin, orange eyes, and greenish-black hair done up in a ponytail.

She wore an instructor-esk outfit with a Pawmi on her shoulder.

"Orito, remember what we learned in class. Don't grab Tauros by the horns like that."

She had a kind but firm demeanor about her while instructing the students.

"She must be the new instructor." Satoshi said before turning back to the main building.

"Which means Professor Kukui must be inside, Jack-" Satoshi started before realizing his friend had gone still.

"Jack?"

The young man's face turned red, and he almost trembled while staring at the teacher with a completely smitten expression.

"Jack, oh Jack." Satoshi sighed while patting his shoulder.

"Why don't we go and say something to her."

"Hai! I mean, hai." Jack quickly composed himself and approached the teacher with Satoshi.

"Alright, good job, everyone, now let's reward Tauros with lunch and some water."

"Hai!" The students cried back while dismounting and petting the tauros.

"Alola." Satoshi said first, causing the teacher to turn towards them.

"ALOLA!" Jack straightened up and did his best to remain calm.

"Ohh, Alola, can I help you."

"Hai, I'm Satoshi, and this-"

"My name is Jack, son of Galar Champion Zach and top Sinnoh Coordinator Dawn! Winner of the Sinnoh League and Galar League!" Jack announced very officially making Satoshi sweatdrop.

"Ahhh, a pleasure to meet you both. I'm Instructor Nemona. What brings you to the school?"

"Hai, my dad knows professor Kukui, and I was wondering if he was in today."

"Si! The professor is in his office right now. I could take you there-"

"It's ok. I know the way."

"Hold on, you-"

"So, Nemona, did your students need any instruction on proper battling. I wouldn't mind showing them a thing or two."

"Well, that would be rather nice, actually. Students gather around. We have a multi-league winner here!"

"Really!?" Jack smiled grew when he saw the students surrounding him.

Satoshi took a moment to look around at the school and reminisce as he walked through it. Eventually, he reached the principal's office and knocked on the door.

"Yes, come in." Satoshi slowly entered, seeing Professor Kukui looking over some paperwork from behind his desk. The office held many notable decorations, including what looked like a wrestler's mask, several pictures of Kukui with his family, his students, and a few with Satoshi's father.

"Alola, professor."

"Satoshi, alola!" Kukui looked pleasantly surprised upon realizing who had entered the office.

Both clasped hands as Kukui came out from his desk and gave the young man a warm expression.

"I thought you'd get back today. I just didn't expect you to come here first."

Satoshi felt slightly guilty as the reason he'd come wasn't specifically to see his old teacher.

"Hai, I wanted to say hello." Kukui saw right through Satoshi but kept smiling.

"Really? Nothing else?" Satoshi took a deep breath.

"I ran into Lei. He said you might know what's going on with my parents." Kukui's smile vanished, and his expression mirrored Lei's.

"Ahh, right."

"Something hasn't happened between them, has it?" Satoshi sounded slightly afraid, and Kukui nearly jumped. While he had spent the last few years on Ora, Satoshi still made visits back home to see his family and made countless phone calls. During that time, he hadn't sensed any hostility between his parents. In fact, he never sensed any hostility between them. They'd occasionally had disagreements, but nothing serious. If anything, he'd considered his parents as models for two people truly in love with each other.

"Ahhh! No! Satoshi, it's nothing like that! Your parents are fine. Something did happen... It's just... It would be better if they told you."

Satoshi sighed and nodded. He wondered if he should call Yvonne and ask her if she'd heard anything, but the time difference in Kalos was too great, and she'd likely be asleep.

"They're already at Viren Tower. I was going to meet them tonight with Burnet and Lei."

"Hai, thanks."

Satoshi left the school and made his way to a nearby beach, where he took a deep breath and stared off into the distance. He wanted to be excited about the upcoming tournament, but anxious thoughts about his parents, particularly his mother, made this extremely difficult.

He tried a few Aura meditation techniques to limited success and decided on another method.

"Lucario!" Satoshi shouted while sending his Aura partner out.

"Grouu!" Lucario instantly sensed her trainer's anxiety and placed a paw on his shoulder. However, without a word, she understood what he wanted to do and nodded.

Satoshi whipped off his shirt, revealing his muscular chest.

Synching their auras, Lucario and Satoshi began sparring together with growing intensity. As a few minutes passed, both sensed several familiar auras nearby, auras they hadn't felt in years.

"Huh?"

"Satoshi! There you are!" He and Lucario looked over at a lovestruck Jack who ran over, still red in the face with a goofy smile.

"There you are!? You missed out, my friend. Nemona is amazing! She so smart, kind, and beautiful!" Jack's eyes turned to hearts causing Satoshi and Lucario to sweatdrop.

"I'm sure she is."

"It gets better! She's coming with Professor Kukui to the opening ceremony tonight! When I get the chance, I'm going to ask her to dinner!"

"Congratulations, I think."

"Ha! Young love, it's so beautiful!" Satoshi, Jack, and Lucario turned to the voice and saw two figures emerge from the treeline. The first was a Silvally followed by a very familiar young woman, who smiled brightly at him.

"Selene!"

"Alola, Satoshi. So good to see you again."

"Selene! Alola!" He raced over to embrace his old friend.

"Welcome home! It's been too long since we saw each other."

"Hai! I heard you've made quite a name for yourself in Unova, winning their league and the battle frontier there."

Selene stroked Silvally's head while beaming.

"I can't take too much credit. Silvally and my team did all the hard work. What about you? First winning the Kanto league, then the Sinnoh league, then disappearing for a few years."

Satoshi nervously placed his hand behind his head.

"Well, I wanted to master my aura."

"And who's your friend?"

"Ahh, this is Jack. His parents are friends with mine, kind of like how your dad is friends with mine."

"Kon'nichiwa!" Jack said in a friendly tone.

"Alola! A pleasure to meet you. I suppose you're competing too."

"Hai, and I'm gonna win!"

Selene shared a competitive smile with Jack.

"We'll see."

Satoshi's expression changed sharply when he came to a realization.

"Selene, you haven't seen-"

Satoshi's heightened senses warned him of the approaching danger, and he moved just in time to avoid a water polo ball as it flew past his head and hit the sand.

"Heads up!" A powerful voice roared.

"There she is." Selene giggled.

"Huh?" Jack muttered.

That's when Satoshi saw her. A young woman in the water with a Primarina, Blastoise, Milotic, Sharpedo, Vaporeon, and Golisopod all practicing water polo.

"Kalua!"

"About time you got here, Satoshi!"

Lucario smirked when she felt her trainer's aura spike and his heart race. Selene similarly giggled as she saw Kalua exit the water to greet Satoshi.

Kalua was slightly shorter than Satoshi, but her muscular body was on full display as she wore a two-piece athletic swimsuit virtually identical to the one worn by Galar Elite Four member Nessa.

It took a moment, but Kalua and Satoshi took each other in for the first time in years, both in a state of semi-undress. The young man and woman blushed heavily upon looking at each other, conversing only in letters for the last eight years.

"Alola."

"Alola." They muttered bashfully while attempting to look away. Selen had to cover her mouth while Jack looked slightly uncomfortable.

"So, you finally decided to come home. Hmp, about time, magic boy."

"I've told you a million times. It's Aura, not magic!" Satoshi roared furiously, his teeth sharpening.

"Hmp, well while you were training on how to use your blue 'Aura' I was busy training with two of the best water trainers in the world! Master Misty and Nessa have taught me things you couldn't possibly imagine, right guys!" Her team shouted back with similar enthusiasm.

Satoshi smiled back confidently before letting the rest of his team out.

"Grauuu!"

"Gatr!"

"Sol!"

"Ott!"

"Tile!"

"We've trained pretty hard ourselves!"

"Hmp, you think just because your dad is the Kaiser that you'll be us!" Kalua chuckled while moving closer to Satoshi.

Satoshi didn't take the bait and kept smiling while stepping closer.

"My dad is the Kaiser, and I have learned from him. You should be fearful of that."

Kalua scoffed while taking another step closer.

"Bring it on, 'Aura' warrior. My team are Water champions! Alola is a water region, and its next Champion should be as such!"

Satoshi now stood directly in front of Kalua, whose smile wavered into slight angst as he looked down at her.

"I am happy to see you again, Kalua."

Satoshi's warm voice made her more bashful, and Kalua tapped her fingers together.

"Yeah, well I only had letters all these years, and you were probably seeing a much of those Aura Guardian girls!" Kalua sounded more pouty and jealous than anything.

Satoshi, however, kept smiling.

"I haven't been with anyone, and I must say, you've grown into quite a beauty."

Kalua nearly jumped before her face erupted into a fiery rage.

"Don't try and distract me like that! You and I are rivals, you hear me! I'm gonna become the next Alolan Champion and send you to the bottom of the ocean!" Kalua pressed her finger against Satoshi's muscular chest and, without realizing it, soon rested her entire hand against it.

"This is precisely what my team and I have trained for all these years, and if you think I'm going to just let you get in my head, you're dead wrong Satoshi!" Jack winced as he saw Kalua move both hands behind Satoshi's head and, without warning, pull herself in to kiss him.

"Nani!"

Selene giggled louder while Kalua's Pokemon sweatdropped. Satoshi's Pokemon, by contrast, cheered, Charizard in particular. The two remained locked in a kiss for some time, both closing their eyes and savoring each other's presence.

Satoshi placed his hands around Kaula and held her close, the young woman letting out a soft noise of happiness as their kiss went on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they withdrew, but only slightly. Both keeping their faces close to each other.

"I missed you too."

"Hold on. You never told me you were dating someone!" Jack shouted.

"Ahhh! We're not dating!" Kalua yelped with an extremely embarrassed expression.

"Nani?"

"Don't deny it, Kalua." Selene laughed.

"I'm serious! Satoshi is my rival, not my boyfriend!" Kalua insisted, while Satoshi merely remained sill with a confident smile.

"Well, that's good. I'm sure a lot of girls here will be happy to know he's avail-"

"Ahhh!" Kalua roared a fiery aura surrounding her as he seized Satoshi with both arms and pulled him over.

"No one touches my Satoshi-kun!"

It wasn't a moment later that Kalua's face turned bright red, and she trembled, though she didn't let go of him, even as Selene burst out laughing.

"I suppose your relationship is complicated then!"

"Hai." Kalua muttered, leaving Jack utterly bewildered.

"Ok, we should probably get going to Viren tower." Jack said.

"Hai, come on." Satoshi was about to lead the group on when he leaned closer to Kalua.

"I'm excited to finally face you too, don't disappoint." Kalua was about to retort when she felt his warm lips press against hers, and she melted away. Selene kept giggling when she saw Kalua hold Satoshi's hand as they walked and eventually rested her head against his shoulder.

"Don't even think about leaving Alola without me either! You hear me! You don't go anywhere without my permission!" Kalua kept up similar harsh words but kept holding his hand.

"Of course, I'm not going anywhere. My future position will require me to be here for a while."

Kalua narrowed her eyes at him, and both gave competitive smiles.

"Hmp, that's if you can beat me!"

Jack leaned closer to Selene.

"Have they always been like this?"

The young woman nodded with a gleaming smile.

"Hai! I think it's adorable!"

"...That's one word for it."

After a few hours of catching up in the city, including getting lunch and gathering some supplies for their eventual journey across Alola.

When evening finally came, they'd arrived at Viren tower, or rather the pool area where a large party/ceremony awaited them. Dozens of trainers older, younger, or the same age as the group gathered there. Many came from around the world, but the majority were from Alola, some of whom the group recognized.

Much to Satoshi's delight, Kalua wasted no time and quickly challenged a notable water trainer from Sinnoh to a battle. From there she jumped into the pool with her Primarina and began a fierce battle against the opposing trainer's Empoleon.

Near the end of the battle, the Sinnoh trainer Dynamax'd his Empoleon, but Kalua smiled just like Satoshi.

"Let's go, Primarina! Hydro Vortex!"

"Prim!" Holding up her Z-Ring, Kalua performed the right motions with Primarina just as Empoleon came in for a move. Primarina let loose a colossal water spout that enveloped Empoleon.

"Ahh, that's it Kalua!" Satoshi half-laughed, half cheered. The rest of the audience watched in similar awe as Primarina swam through her vortex until she reached Empoleon's face.

A sharp whiplash sound followed, and water flew in every direction.

"Oh boy." Selene ran for an umbrella-covered table, but Satoshi, and his Feraligatr, who'd come out to see the battle, remained where they were and didn't flinch even as they got soaked.

Nearby, Jack had found Nemona and started flirting with her to some success. However, in doing so, they hadn't paid any attention to the battle and only heard the burst.

"Eh?" Both lurched when the water hit and drenched them.

Jack looked over at the pool with an irritated expression, at least until he heard Nemona laugh a little. He too soon lightened up and quickly snatched a pair of towels, offering one to her.

"Arigatō!" She giggled, blushing slightly.

Satoshi looked as if nothing had happened and cheered for Kalua.

"Ha! That's how we do it, Primarina!" Kalua beamed as she swam over and embraced her first Pokemon while Empoleon and his trainer both floated with swirled eyes.

Satoshi was about to go and congratulate her when suddenly he and Feraligatr both sensed several familiar auras.

"Nite!" Satoshi tried to move but was too late and found himself picked up off the ground by the crushing embrace of a very happy Dragonite.

"Gaaah! It's good to see you too, Dragonite." Satoshi muttered.

Moments later, the rest of his team emerged from their Pokeballs and came out over Satoshi, who'd just gotten up.

"Dragonite, if you're here, then mom and dad-"

"Satoshi!" Serena quickly took over for Dragonite and ensnared her oldest son in a fierce hug, even as tears swelled her eyes.

"Grauuu!"

"Grauu?!" Charizard yelped when he saw Charline flying towards him, tears in her eyes like Serena. The female Charizard followed her trainer's example and wrapped both arms around her son tightly.

"Grouu!"

"Gatr!" Lucario and Feraligatr eagerly saw their approaching fathers, as well as her mother in Lucario's case.

"Mama! Papa!" Selene cried when she saw Gladion and Moon approaching from another direction and quickly raced over to meet them.

"I missed you, Satoshi." Serena didn't stop crying and held Satoshi particularly tightly. He sensed something was wrong by how his mother's aura felt. Immense pain and loss afflicted her.

"Satoshi." Before he could even ask, Satoshi saw his father and grandparents close behind.

"Dad!" Serena slowly let Satoshi go so Ash could hug him, Charline doing the same with Charizard and his father.

"Grauu."

"Grauu!"

"Look at you, a real aura warrior now." Felix chuckled.

"Hai! Orahaoya was a great teacher! I'm going to miss her and the others."

"Well, I'm glad you're back." Delia said, perhaps harsher than she intended. Unlike Serena, Ash, and Felix, she'd never quite forgiven Orahaoya for briefly taking Satoshi as a baby.

"Are you ready for what lays ahead, Satoshi?" Ash asked, earning the same confident smile from his son that he'd used countless times in his life.

"You bet! We're gonna take it all the way!"

"Grauu!"

"Grouu!"

"Ott!"

"Tile!"

"Gatr!"

"Sol!"

Ash and Pikachu smiled back proudly.

"That's my boy."

"...Dad, what's happened?" Satoshi asked after a deep breath.

"Something bad has happened. I heard you crying mom." Serena began tearing up again alongside Charline and Sylveon. Ash, Pikachu, and Charizard all looked furious, but Satoshi sensed immense pain inside them even as Delia and Felix tried to calm their son.

"...It's your brother." Ash muttered, his fist-shaking.

"Eh?"

Ash explained the situation, leaving Satoshi and Charizard speechless. However, it didn't last, and a fiery rage enveloped them both.

"Diago, you idiot!"

"Grauuu!" Charizard snarled with similar rage towards his own younger brother.

"Come on, let's not sit around, we'll-"

"Satoshi, it's alright. Your aunt May called us. She told me that he's safe and will keep an eye on him until we sort things out here. Don't let Diago's recklessness distract you from your goals." Ash said firmly while taking his son's shoulder.

"Grauu." Ash's Charizard said much the same to Satoshi's Charizard, and both sons nodded.

"Hai! Don't worry, mom, he'll be fine." Serena wiped a few tears away and nodded before hugging Satoshi tightly.

"Merci, Satoshi. Tomorrow morning I'm flying to Kalos to see your sister. I'll let her know the situation with Diago too."

Satoshi nodded with a growing rage towards his younger brother. How could he do something so selfish and reckless to their parents after everything they'd done for them. Though they were the only parents, he'd ever known. Satoshi couldn't think of more loving parents than his own, and to do what Diago did was nothing short of a betrayal.

"Ahhh! Kaiser." Kalua muttered, trembling as she approached Satoshi's family.

"Kalua! It's good to see you again! You've grown up." Ash said in a friendly tone.

"Hai!" Kalua bowed to the Kaiser while Serena giggled, particularly when she glanced at Kalua and her son.

"You look very beautiful, Kalua."

"Ehh?" Kalua muttered.

"Hai, I think so." Satoshi added while kissing her cheek. Kalua's face turned bright red while Serena giggled uncontrollably, and Ash blinked.

"Ahh, right, well, we're getting started soon. I better get to the stage."

"Oui! Us too!" Serena shouted, her sorrow finally ending.

The ceremony truly began with a breathtaking performance from Serena, which left the audience in awe and impassioned. Finally, Ash took the stage alongside Lei, Kukui, Kiawe, Mallow, and Hau.

"Alola, one and all! Visitors and locals alike, it's my pleasure to welcome all of you to Alola!"

"Pika! Pikachu!"

"Many years ago, when I was just fifteen years old, I'd become the very first Champion of the Alola region and have retained the title since then, even after becoming Kaiser. I've loved being the first Champion of Alola, but after all this time, I realize it's time for me to pass the title on to someone else."

The audience grew giddish in anticipation.

"This is where all of you come in. Each of you has emerged victorious in at least one Pokemon league. As such, you're all worthy candidates. However, to see who's most worthy, you must prove yourselves here in Alola. Either again, or for the first time."

Ash gestured to Lei, Kiawe, Mallow, and Hau.

"The for Island Kahunas of the Alolan league. Once you pass each island trial and overcome all four Kahunas, you will face each other on Ula'Ula island. The winner of this tournament will become the next Alolan Champion!"

The crowd erupted into overwhelming applause while Satoshi, Kalua, Jack, and Selene each smiled at each other.

"It's going to be me!" Each declared to themself.

Author's note

So the Alolan Champions tournament has begun!

I'm sorry if I scared anyone at some point with Ash and Serena. They're relationship is fine, no problems in their marriage, except for a recent incident with Diago, however, the two are still as close as ever

As to what Diago did, you'll find out precisely in his story, the third one

Satoshi, meanwhile has met up with his old friends and a few newer ones. Including Kalua.

Some of you wondered if she was a character's child, I'm afraid not. She's a new character

So until next time,

Please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)