I sat stiffly on my seat, around the meeting table were some of the most important people in the world and Alola. To my right sat Hala, Kahuna of Melemele Island, to his right sat Nanu, Kahuna of Ula'ula Island, to my left sat Kaeo, Kahuna of Akala Island and grandfather of my student Kiawe, and to his left sat Sofu, Kahuna of Poni Island. Next to Sofu sat Lusamine, followed by the Kojiro couple, Madelyn and Martin, who had been kind enough to sponsor such a big event. Next to Nanu sat Champion Lance (for some reason both of them were quite uncomfortable with such seating position), next to him was Champion Chyntia, and between her and Martin, sat Champion Wallace.
Even I, as carefree, as I am, found it quite intimidated.
"Madam Lusamine, the news of Faba has reached me, my condolences. If you would like I request Gym Leader Sabrina to come and aid your family in your recovery." Champion Lance was the one who finally broke the silence.
I winced at the topic of conversation he had chosen. The kahunas and I grimaced at the reminder that an Alola citizen had committed such a horrifying crime. Especially when our culture preaches about friendship and harmony. How dare he do something like that to someone who had treated him like family?!
"Reached you? Don't you mean you found out when Ace Ranger Ketchum gave you his report?" Lusamine chuckled humourlessly, making the three champions and the Kojiro couple tense in wariness. My heart ached at the usually cheerful and upbeat Lusamine, was so down. "Relax, my family owes Ash a debt that we will never be able to pay back. Also, I know what his duties as a Kanto Ace Ranger entail, he had warned me he will need to report what might happen to you, Champion Lance."
"He is very straightforward and honest," Champion Lance replied with an easy-going smile, his posture relaxing when he realized Lusamine was not about to diss Ash.
"Why don't we start discussing how the Press Conference will be organized, as it is the first thing on the schedule for the week," Champion Chyntia advised.
"Shouldn't Ace Ranger Ketchum be present for this?" Hala inquired, crossing his arms over his chest.
"He told us to tell you that being here wouldn't be of any help," Martin explained. "He said that his experience on Press Conferences equals one. He is already uncomfortable with the idea of participating in one, the thought of planning one terrifies him." He said making us all chuckle.
"Not to mention, he is training his pokemon and readying them for the Saint Festival," Madelyn continued for her husband.
Right, The Saint Festival, the event that has the whole of Alola, not to mention the whole world, buzzing with excitement and anticipation. The Saint festival is a charity event sponsored by the Kojiro couple. They used the already planned press conference in Alola, to get their event known. The Festival consists of various lottery tickets being sold to trainers in the regions of Alola, Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, and Hoenn. Those lucky to have a winning ticket will be given free transportation to and from Alola and paid hotel rooms, for the duration of the event. All so they can compete in a televised event in the newly opened, thanks to the Aether Foundation, Manalo Stadium. Gym Leader Sabrina allowed her Alakazam Teleportation Service to be borrowed, it was her way to contribute to the charity event. Also, many hotels in Alola gave out free rooms for the ticket winners as well, then again, Alola was about to gain a lot of money from people all around the world that were coming to the Islands to observe the event live. The money gained just by the trainers buying out the lottery tickets to gain a chance to fight against The Saint, hit the roofs. Not to mention the ticket sells from the Manalo Stadium itself... they were sold out in a matter of minutes.
The Festival is a competition of double battles against Ash, for the chance of winning a weekend training camp with him, an evolution stone of their choosing, and an elite travel kit (with potions, antidotes, ultra balls, etc). They will only get one chance, one double battle each. The battles will be divided into Beginner, Advanced, and Ace Stages, with 30 participants in each stage, divided into two days. Just the other day we were informed of the pairs chosen by Ash to participate in the event: In the Beginner Stage, he will use Plusle & Minun, Ninjask & Shedninja, and Grandbull & Kricketune. In the Advanced Stage, he will use Espeon & Sylveon, Altaria & Vibrava, Zangoose & Hitmontop. As for the Ace Stage, he'll use Tauros & Muk and Pidgeot & Snorlax. However, we are the only ones that know. The trainers participating will be in the dark about the pairings that Ash had chosen.
I honestly can't wait for it to start! I am so excited that I feel I'm back to being a kid. Since the day I fought him during the Alola Festival I was astonished. I had never seen anyone rush forward against a Z-move as he and Pikachu had done. Wonderful! And when I found out about him using Snorlax I was giddy, I can't wait for him to use the Pulverizing Pancake! Especially, after seeing his Snorlax fight against Tapu Lele, who would have thought a Snorlax could be that fast! Ash truly takes speed to a whole new level. The fights I've seen from recordings have left me speechless, he was surprising you at every corner, using moves in a way you would have never thought and using the other's attack to his advantage...
I was not even surprised when I discovered that he is at the top of the Terrain Masters at the moment.
We then proceeded to finish organizing the press conference. Surprisingly it went quite smoothly, the champions did not try to push their ideas and views into us and accepted our requests. But you could clearly see a divide in the table: the Kojiro couple and Lusamine on one side, the champions on the other, and finally the Kahunas and I. It was a bit jarring for me but it went much better than I thought it would, so I was not complaining. Once the meeting was over the Kojiro couple and Lusamine stood and left while discussing the Saint Festival's preparations. They were soon followed by the champions who were going to pay a visit to Ash. I rapidly bid the kahunas goodbye and followed the champions outside the meeting hall.
"Professor Kukui, is something wrong?" Champion Wallace asked me.
"No, I just wanted to pay Ace Ranger Ketchum a visit myself," I answered honestly. "I would like to ask him how his Z-move training is going and about the Alola egg he had received."
"That's right, he had received Rowlet after defeating you," Champion Chyntia commented excitedly.
"That sleepyhead came from you?" Champion Wallace inquired surprised.
"So it ended up being a Rowlet," I murmured to myself, a little bit shocked that everyone knew about a pokemon he had only received recently. How much does he get involved with champions?
Champion Lance looked at me... more like glared at me, as an overprotective brother would do. I don't know what he was looking for, but he seemed to find it and nodded his head. "Then follow us," he said releasing three Dragonite and Champion Chyntia releasing her Garchoomp. I followed Champion Wallace's lead and got on one Dragonite. The flight was quite the experience, and the view of the mansion from above was breathtaking. "Dawn, Riley, Lucario," Champion Lance greeted the young man and girl enjoying the pool in the backyard. The girl had a Rimbombee on her head and a Piplup swimming around the pool. "Where's Ash?"
As Champion Lance asked the question a loud noise came from the beach below the mansion. The power of the attacks clashing could be felt from all the way here, the ground shaking by the force.
"I honestly pity those competing in the Ace Stage," Dawn commented with a sigh, making the champions chuckle. "He's been at it since sunrise."
"Well, then he won't mind a break," commented Champion Wallace, making Dawn and Riley exchange a look. "What?"
"He's been nervous about the press conference..." began to explain Riley, who was soon interrupted by Champion Lance.
"So, this is his way of letting off some steam. Don't interrupt him until he wants to stop... you won't like the result otherwise."
"Is he really that nervous about a simple press conference?" I asked, still surprised by the fact that the same guy that faced off against the Tapus would be afraid of some journalists.
"They are blood-sucking demons!" I jumped startled at the sudden exclamation behind me. I turned around, only to find Ash standing there with his pokemon at his back. I am man enough to admit that the scene was quite intimidating. Those were some well-trained and powerful pokemon. Not to mention that Ash's clothes looked as if he had gone through some rounds as well. Did he train alongside them? I asked myself. Maybe even against them... he is an Aura Guardian after all. "They follow you everywhere, hunt down your family and friends, insult your pokemon, and try to dig out your secrets. Why is it that no one can see that?!"
"Now that you mention it..." Champion Chyntia said with a thoughtful expression.
"Thank you!" Champion Wallace exclaimed in happiness. "Finally, someone who sees it!"
It seems that being famous comes with its issues...
"Ok, enough!" Champion Lance stopped them. "Ash, the Press Conference will be tomorrow. We will all be there, so you won't need to worry. They'll mostly ask you about how you felt about the trials and Faba's arrest. But they most likely focus of the Kahunas and us, champions, and our thoughts about you and all that's happening."
"Well, that's a relief," Ash sighed. "By the way, hi Professor Kukui! Thanks for Rowlet! He is a wonderful addition to the family."
I smiled at the pure happiness and honesty he showed in his smile. The way he could turn from scary to adorable is astounding, but so much like the Ash, I've been hearing about lately. But I'm just happy that little egg found a good family.
"You're welcome," I replied. "If I'm being honest I came here for your help. I've been trying to make an Alola League for years, but only now I can see it becoming a reality. All thanks to you and the publicity from the Tapu Trails."
"At least, something good came out from all of that mess." Ash sighed, making me wince slightly. All that publicity might have been good for me... but it was not for Ash. "Was this why you asked me to think about possible ideas on how to make a League in Alola?" He turned to ask Champion Lance.
He knew I was going to ask Ash?! I exclaimed in my head.
"Maybe," Champion Lance simply said with a sly smirk.
"Whatever," Ash scoffed, shaking his head. "First I would not mix the Island Trails with the League, or use them as ways to gain entry into the League Conference. That would just send the wrong message." I nodded my head, agreeing with him. The Island Trials are something sacred for us in Alola, the people would react badly if we tried to mix it with something new. "Maybe have the Kahunas be the Elite Four of the League, they should be that strong to be Kahunas in the first place."
"Really? Then why are there so many people that have passed the Island Trials so easily?" Dawn asked him confused.
"There are not many that had passed the trials really," Ash replied. "But those who did pass the trials did because the Kahunas did not go all out. You know that the Gym Leaders are the pillars of the regions and the ones that keep the cities safe. They must be very strong, otherwise, chaos would reign. Then how is it that there are so many people that won badges and got to the League Conferences?"
"Because the Gym Leaders did not bring out their A-game to the battles," Dawn answered, realizing what Ash meant.
"Well, neither do the Kahunas during Island Trials." Continued Ash, taking a seat. He looked exhausted. "So, Kahunas as the Elite Four, I'm sure they'll say yes from what I've heard from them. You already have the Manalo Stadium, so that's another thing to take out of the list. As for the gyms... you will need to find Gym Leaders. Make it two per island and maybe add some Alola traditions to the whole thing, make them do some trial to show that they deserve to have their Gym Battle. Maybe have them be trainers that have passed their Island Trail Challenge."
"Those are some good ideas," I commented impressed. How is it that I have not thought of it before? I thought shocked. I was so focused on bringing a Pokemon League to Alola that I forgot about the fact that we already have some amazing traditions that should not take a step back for something new. "A perfect mix of Alola tradition and Pokemon League."
"As for the Manalo Conference... the preliminaries can be all of the participating trainers competing in a Battle Royal, refereed by the four Kahunas. Only the last 16 whose Pokémon remain standing at the end advance to the next round. The top 16 can be three-on-three single battles and the rest can be six-on-six single battles, just like other Pokemon Leagues." Ash continued. "The winner will have a chance of battling the Elite Four and then facing the Champion for the title. All you would need to do now is find the champion, the gym leaders, and build the gyms. Then publicize the whole thing, but with Madelyn and Martin thinking of making The Saint Festival an annual thing, that might not be so hard. In a couple of years, you might have it all ready to start." He stood up and groaned. "I'm sorry but I am in need of a shower. We can meet another day to go over this in a more precise form."
I stared at him in silent shock, did he just give me the answer I've been looking for, for over a decade on a silver platter without wanting anything in return? He truly is a Saint...
Well, at least, I already know my next step. I thought stunned, as I watched Ash and his pokemon head straight towards the mansion. What had just happened?