Brave New World

by ComanderSprings

When Juliette Ronson, a teen born in Kalos, moves to Alola she believes her chances of living exciting adventures are over. The thing is, she is very far from the truth! Thanks to her grandma, Juliette discovers she still can chase her dream of encountering the Legendary Pokémon she admired ever since she was a little girl. Will she take the chance?

6. Chapter 5

Chapter 5: An invitation

I can't believe it's Friday already! Juliette told herself with a faint smile as she walked out of the school's building into the crowded campus. Cheerful chatter from lingering groups of students in the courtyard drowned out any other possible sounds Juliette could possibly pick up. She couldn't fathom why any student would stick around after the final bell rang, much less on a Friday. However, that wasn't the only thing that went beyond her comprehension.

Her first week as a student in Alola went smoothly as far as social interactions were concerned, mostly because she still had no trouble with anyone. Kiawe and Luana's presence in class made things easier for Juliette, considering she was familiar with them already. Despite the small familiarity, she was still iffy to the idea of approaching them by herself. She had much more trouble talking to the rest of her classmates and would only do so if they addressed to her first. At least it's a small progress, she'd think every time it happened.

The only ones Juliette couldn't bring herself to like even a little bit were Telford and Chaos. Every waking moment around the two brought fear into her, thinking that they would start picking on her at any given time. Sometimes these thoughts would distract her in class because she can't stop thinking about everything that could possibly happen to her if she rubbed them the wrong way. In a matter of days, Juliette noticed that Chaos was the most dangerous one out of the two. He had a very short fuse, just as he presented on Juliette's very first day. They were the only thing that kept her from being able to say—for the first time ever—that she wasn't afraid of going to school.

As Juliette made her way towards the exit, she couldn't help but notice that her father's car was nowhere to be seen. It was normal for him and Édith to arrive a few minutes after the bell rang, but Juliette wished they would be punctual so they could make it home as soon as possible. She had a set plan for the afternoon: relax in her bedroom, listen to music, and possibly doddle whatever comes to mind in her sketchbook. However, for better or for worse, her plans were about to change drastically.

"Hey there, Juliette!" an already familiar voice called for her. It was Luana. She was accompanied by Kiawe.

"Hey," she greeted back. The girl tried not to sound dismissive as she replied, "How are you?"

"I'm fine! How about you?" Luana's signature smile brightened up her face as she spoke.

"I'm doing well, I guess. I'm just happy it's Friday already…" Juliette muttered the second half of the sentence, making sure both Kiawe and Luana didn't hear her.

"What are your plans for the weekend?" Kiawe joined the conversation. His question was aimed at Juliette, who didn't know what to answer with.

"Plans? Uh, I don't really have anything in mind, no." Juliette smiled sheepishly. She hated to admit it, but she almost never had anything noteworthy to do. Staying in her bedroom for most of the day didn't sound like something worth mentioning to her.

Luana shook her head and grinned confidently before saying, "How about we change that?"

"What do you mean?" The other girl tilted her head ever so slightly to the left.

"Well—, I was wondering if you could come over to my house! I've been thinking about it throughout the week and every time it crossed my mind I get so excited! You could even spend the weekend with me!" Luana's smile grew even larger, scaring Juliette for a moment.

"Wait what? Are you really inviting me over to your house?"

"Of course! I could show you Hau'oli City as well while we're at it. What do you think?" Luana shot a Rockruff eyed look at Juliette.

She was at a loss for words. "You see, I-I'd have to ask my father and grandmother first. They should be here already…" Juliette turned around in hopes to see the family car, but it still was missing in action.

"I don't think they'll quibble about it. They're pretty cool!" Luana exclaimed.

That's something I can't deny! Juliette chuckled to herself.

"Besides, I could always talk to them," Kiawe said, "However, I can't stay the night. I might visit tomorrow if I get the chance."

This time Luana addressed Kiawe. "Don't worry, Kiawe! You know you're always welcome."

A few minutes went by and the conversation grew more trivial. It helped Juliette relax. However, just as she was starting to feel at ease, the familiar sound of a car horn startled her. Juliette turned around and as she suspected, the noise came from her father's car. About time! She told Luana and Kiawe to wait a minute and approached the vehicle as fast as lightning, sporting a relieved smile.

"Sorry for the delay! The road was a bit busy. You can clearly tell it's Friday," Mainard apologized.

"I lost count how many cars had surfboards on their luggage-racks on the way here," Édith said. "Well, are you excited for the weekend, Julie?" The woman reached for the car's door in order to let her granddaughter in, but Juliette stopped her.

"I have to say something first," Juliette began, scratching the back of her head. "Luana just invited me to her house to spend the weekend and I was wondering if you and Dad would be alright with that."

Silence enveloped the family. Mainard and Édith's eyes were wide open and their faces were locked in an unreadable expression for a few seconds until the former finally broke the silence.

"Did you just say that one of your new friends invited you to spend the weekend over at her house? That's...fantastic!"

"Of course we're alright with that! That's great news, Juliette." For a moment, it almost looked like Édith would burst into tears of joy.

They're more excited about it than I am. It's so endearing. The teen looked at them affectionately before speaking again, "Kiawe will be there with us for a bit, but he won't be able to stay over for long."

"Understandable. He must be busy with his farm duties, after all." Édith craned her neck, realizing that her granddaughter's classmates were standing just a few meters away. "Why don't you invite them to carpool with us? You'll have to pack up a few things, right?"

Juliette nodded and turned around to motion for Luana and Kiawe to come their way, but she changed her mind at the last second. "Wait, what would Mom say about it? I won't be there when she comes home. Shouldn't I ask her too?"

Mainard answered, "Don't worry Juliette, your Grandma and I will tell her. I'm sure she'll be happy about it too."

"Alright then..." With a sigh of relief, Juliette waved at the duo. They soon made their way to the car.

Édith opened the door next to her and left the vehicle. "I'll sit in the copilot's seat so you can be with your friends in the back!"

"Thanks, I guess..." Juliette muttered the last half of her sentence.

Juliette sat in the middle seat while Luana sat to her left and Kiawe to her right. There she was; sitting in between the two individuals that her father and grandmother already celebrated as her friends. Unlike them, Juliette thought it was too soon to call them that. She was afraid of things turning ugly like the many times in the past when people would pretend to be her friend for a little while, only for them to reveal their true colors in the end.

In spite of that, Luana and Kiawe didn't give those vibes and she wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt. To her, they seemed genuinely nice. I don't think Luana would invite me to spend the weekend with her as a joke... At least I don't think she'd do that.

---

Packing up her belongings didn't take long for Juliette. She only grabbed the basics for a two day stay away from home. However, she did pack her sketchbook in case she managed to get enough alone time to sketch something. Although with Luana being her host, gaining time to herself will be very complicated.

The group had just arrived to Heahea City's ferry terminal. During the car ride on the way there, Luana informed Juliette that they will be taking Lillie's boat to reach Melemele Island. I definitely wasn't wrong. Lillie sure is rich, Juliette told herself after hearing that bit of information. Not only she was being invited to spend the weekend in someone else's house, now she was about to ride on a classmate's private ship. I can't think of a more extraordinary way to spend this Friday.

"Just call us if you need anything. But above all, have fun with your friends!" Édith spoke to Juliette excitedly after she, Kiawe, and Luana left the car.

"What your grandmother said. Don't worry about anything and have a good time!" Mainard looked at his daughter with fondness. This will be the first time Juliette spent more than a few hours away from home and that made it a big event.

"Alright," Juliette answered, "Please tell Mom to call me or send me a message when she gets home…and take care while I'm out."

"Oh Juliette, what did I just say? You don't need to worry! Just enjoy the weekend ahead of you, d'accord?"

"D'accord..."

"Oh how I miss sleepovers!" Édith beamed. "When I was your age I participated in them all the time…"

"Grandma…!" Her granddaughter contained a nervous laugh. "We must go now. I'll send a message as soon as we are at Luana's."

"Okay. Be careful in the boat, you all!" Mainard waved goodbye as he spoke. Édith copied the gesture, albeit in a significantly more frantic way.

"We will! Thank you for allowing me to invite Juliette over," Luana thanked the two adults. "I promise she will be cared for." Luana bowed her head in respect.

"Oh, what a courteous girl! We're sure she will. Now go!" Édith encouraged the three teens with a smile.

"Goodbye!" The trio waved goodbye at Mainard and Édith as they approached the terminal's door.

Édith and Mainard watched as Juliette and her group crossed the automatic doors that led them into the building. Now there was no turning back, for better or for worse.

"Do you think she will be alright?" Mainard clutched the steering wheel rather tightly, eyeing his mother from the corner of his eye.

"Son, I understand how you feel. It's her first sleepover, after all. But I can tell Luana is a good person. She won't hurt her." Édith peered at the ferry terminal with a slight smile and then looked back at her son. "How about we go home and prepare ourselves some crêpes?" Mainard stared onward with a saddened, blank look on his face, as if he was in deep thought. After a few moments and a sigh, he slightly smiled.

"That sounds like a plan. Let's go!" Having said this, Mainard started the engine in the blink of an eye. Now the two adults were on their way back home; this time without Juliette.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned was still processing the situation she ended up in. This is really happening, huh? When the trio entered the building, they found Lillie, Gladion and Hau. The former was currently talking to the ticket agent; identifying herself so she can grant them access to where the ships were docked. As for Gladion and Hau, Luana called them during the trip to Paniola Town and informed them that she will be bringing some friends along with her on the trip to Melemele Island and to wait for them.

"Alright, everything's in order! You may pass," The ticket agent said as he deactivated the barrier for a moment so Lillie and her friends could walk through it.

"Thank you very much," the blonde girl thanked with a slight bow.

"No problem." The agent closed the barrier again, waiting for the next passengers.

As soon as the group left the gateway behind, they found themselves outside of the building and in front of a large pier of boats. There were many kinds: humble little sailboats, a couple of very colorful banana boats, a friendship sloop, and a couple of yachts. But the most spectacular boat of them all, without a doubt, was a big ferry located in the farthest part of the dock. A long line of people waited to board it.

"That's the biggest boat I've ever seen…" Juliette marveled in a low voice.

"Yes. That ferry transports people and Pokémon between the different islands in this region," Kiawe explained as he took a few steps forward, getting a better look at the ship.

"Oh you heard me?" Juliette chuckled nervously. "I guess many move in between islands everyday, at least going by how many people are waiting to get in the ferry."

"You're not wrong. Many people go to a different island often either because of their jobs, the Island Challenge, or simply because of leisure."

"I see…" Juliette smiled sheepishly.

"That's our boat over there," Gladion made himself heard out of the blue, pointing at one of the yachts. "Why don't we just get on it already?"

"Oh Gladion, don't be so impatient!" Luana scolded him playfully. "Won't you let Juliette take in the view of the harbor? The weather today is so sweet!"

"It's okay, I think I've seen enough!" Juliette's nervous chuckle made an appearance again. She actually agreed with Gladion. Why couldn't they just go to Melemele already?

On the other hand, Juliette admitted to herself that Luana was right. She had never been to a place like this and it was indeed a beautiful view. The girl had before her eyes the bluest sea she had ever seen; it was calm but the breeze raised tiny waves that rocked the smaller boats from time to time. Flocks of Wingull and Pelipper flew across the completely clear sky every now and then. It was like being inside a postcard.

"Let's get going then," Lillie said clutching her bag tightly. "If my brother and I don't get home soon, Hobbes might get worried."

Watch Hobbes be their butler. They were born with silver spoons in their mouths!

Juliette followed her companions quietly as they all made their way to the yacht that belonged to Lillie and Gladion's family. She prefered to be the last one to embark; watching how Luana and the others climbed a few steps to access the boat. Now they were all on the deck, which was quite wide. Even after seeing them make it safely, Juliette hesitated a bit because of how the ship rocked from time to time. What if I try to climb the steps at the wrong time and I fall into the water? I'd be their laughing stock for quite a long time.

Luana leaned on the rail. "Do you need help, Juliette?"

"Are you okay?" Hau joined.

"Y-yes and no, I don't need help! I'm okay!" Juliette took a deep breath and stared at the white steps. Partly thanks to the pressure of knowing they all were waiting on her and her wish of being over with that as soon as possible, the girl finally climbed up the stairs...albeit with hesitation.

"Awesome, you're finally there!" Luana held her hands and shook them excitedly.

"Yeah, great…!" Juliette kept her hands stiff. All she wanted was to be swallowed by the yacht's floor, especially after hearing the hearty chuckles of other people on the boat.

"Now that all of us are here, I'm going to let the pilot know." Lillie disappeared into the cabin and reappeared about twenty seconds later. "Alright, everything is ready!"

"Should we hold onto something before the boat starts sailing?" Juliette's question earned her more amused laughs from her schoolmates. Needless to say, that didn't settle well for her.

Lillie smiled kindly. "It's not necessary, but we can go into the cabin if you want to."

"I don't want to bother anyone…"

"Come on Juliette, don't be so hard on yourself," Kiawe comforted her. "It's the first time you've ridden on a boat before so it's understandable for you to feel unsure. I was like that the first time I rode one, too."

"Kiawe is right, don't worry about it. We're here to have a good time!" Luana wrapped her arms around Juliette's shoulders and led her into the cabin. The others followed them shortly after. Just as they entered the cabin, the boat finally departed. Huh… It's not as bad as I imagined!

However, Juliette did hold back an exclamation upon seeing the interior of the boat: The walls were paneled with shiny, white wood that appeared to be expensive; white ceramic tiles of the same color lined the floor, so shiny that it emitted reflections; and white furniture such as loveseats and armchairs were placed in all corners of the cabin. The only color that stood out from the rest was a pink blanket that was folded neatly on one of the couches along a window.

"If you're wondering why everything is so white," Gladion started as he approached Juliette from behind, scaring the living daylight out of her, "it's because this ship was lent to me and my sister by the Aether Foundation."

"The Aether Foundation?"

"The Aether Foundation is awesome!" Hau chimed in. "They take in injured wild Pokemon and raise them in captivity before they're fully recovered and can be released. Although sometimes I do wonder why they decided to set up a branch in Alola…"

"Here in Alola, our installations are on a floating island. Maybe we could go there someday if Mother agrees." After mentioning her mother, Lillie had a sad smile on her face.

"Our? Are you and Gladion a part of the Foundation?" Juliette asked. Luana popped up next to her without warning, startling Juliette once more.

"You see, Lillie and Gladion are the children of the Aether Foundation's President! She's a very friendly woman and despite all the work she has to do, she's always looking out for her children. Really admirable. Not only that, she is also super pretty!"

"So she finds time to look out for her children despite how time-consuming her job is. Lillie and Gladion are so lucky…" Juliette glanced at Gladion and Lillie, but looked away immediately after catching a glimpse of the former's expression.

"She's definitely there with us all the time, yes," Gladion grumbled bitterly.

"How about I get everyone something to drink?" Lillie was quick to change the subject. "Maybe some lemonade?"

"Sounds good to me! I know whatever you bring will be great," Hau praised her as he made himself comfortable on one of the couches.

Juliette mimicked Hau and sat down on a seperate couch; the same one with the pink blanket on its back. She specifically chose this couch just so she can avoid making eye contact with anyone. Little did she know, Luana had a different idea in mind. The girl sat down next to Juliette with an eager look in her eyes.

"Say Juliette, this talk about the Aether Foundation made me curious. What does your family do for a living?"

Juliette scratched the back of her head and sighed. "It's not something too extraordinary compared to what Lillie and Gladion's mother does, just saying."

"Neither is working in a café, but it's still entertaining!" Luana smiled, shrugging.

"Alright…" She pondered for a second before speaking rather quickly. "My Grandmother says she's retired, even though she's still not old enough. However, she worked at a library when she was young. My Father has been a housekeeper for as long as I can remember. As for my Mother, she is an specialist in internal medicine for Pokémon."

"Wait, could you go a bit slower?"

"Oh, okay… I said that my Grandmother claims she is retired despite being too young to do so and that she worked at a library when she was young," Juliette repeated herself, this time at a much slower speed. Her rapid speaking was stemmed from wanting to be finished with explaining as soon as possible.

"What else?" Luana encouraged her to continue.

"My Father has always been a housekeeper and my Mother is an specialist in internal medicine for Pokémon."

Luana clasped her hands together and grinned widely. "That's actually really cool! I'm assuming your Grandma was a librarian in Kalos, right? She must have seen lots of interesting books!"

"Trust me, she did. She has always loved to read, but she doesn't do it as much nowadays." Juliette sighed.

"That's normal. Sometimes our interests shift over time."

Before the conversation pressed any further, the two girls spotted Lillie returning holding a tray with six glasses of lemonade. She approached everyone so they could each grab one glass until only Lillie's remained. Lillie placed the tray down on a white glass coffee table before sitting herself down next to Hau, after spotting him tapping the seat next to him frantically. Everyone sat around each other on the couches and socialized; all except for Gladion, who preferred staying on the deck and was simply leaning on the railing out on deck; staring out to the sea. Juliette observed him while taking a sip of her lemonade. And people call me the antisocial one...

---

In less than twenty minutes, the yacht ride came to an end. Juliette was convinced that reaching Melemele Island would take longer, given that it was a whole different island, despite belonging to the same region. It's not like Melemele Island is on the other side of the world... Besides, that yacht was rather fast!

The group took their first steps into Hau'oli City after leaving the ferry terminal, which was nearly identical to the one in Heahea City. However, the cities themselves had substantial differences that could be noticed at first sight.

While Heahea City is mostly focused on tourism with its various hotels and resorts, Hau'oli City appeared to offer even more. The first thing that caught Juliette's attention was the presence of a police station. She didn't recall seeing any of them in Akala. Next to it was a very colorful building. A Machamp with a publicitary sign hanging from its neck waved at the people walking along the street. Curious, Juliette was about to ask Luana what it was about, but the latter took the initiative with a different subject.

"Juliette, did you know Hau'oli City is the biggest city in the Alola region? Think Lumiose City, but not as convoluted," Luana explained as she gestured towards their surroundings.

Juliette took a quick glance around her. "Yes, I can tell! Imagine how easy it would be for someone to get lost there."

"If only you knew how often I had to help Lillie find her way around when she first came here!" Hau said. He noticed Lillie giving him a look and was quick to continue. "But it's not like it bothered me or anything," he added with a smile. Lillie smiled at him in return.

"It's true. I get lost easily, so getting around this city was a bit of a trouble for me." Lillie bowed her head. Her sun hat almost covered her face completely.

"Hey Juliette," Hau shifted his attention to her, "speaking of getting around, did you get to visit any of the Trial Sites in Akala yet?"

"Trial Sites? They are associated with the Island Challenge, right?"

"Exactly," Kiawe intervened. "In Akala there's three Trial Sites. They are located in Brooklet Hill, Wela Volcano Park, and Lush Jungle."

"The names do sound kind of imposing, to be honest."

"Juliette, did you know that Kiawe's grandfather is a Trial Captain?" Luana said loudly as she playfully poked the aforementioned.

Juliette raised an eyebrow and looked at them in silence for a moment. "Are you two trying to fool me?" She sounded more serious than she intended, earning her a confused look from Luana and Kiawe.

"No, why would we do such thing?" Kiawe inquired. "In fact, the day you and your family came for dinner, my Grandfather was absent because he was tending to his duties as a Captain."

"Oh, I see." As they walked, Juliette lowered her gaze in shame. "I'm sorry if I sounded like I was doubting you both. It's just that people told me wild stories and facts in the past to see if I fell for them or not."

"It's fine. I see what you mean," Kiawe reassured her.

Luana put a gentle hand on Juliette's shoulder. "You don't need to worry, we would never play that kind of trick on you."

"However," Hau chimed in after some time walking–under Gladion's watchful eye–alongside Lillie, "Lana loves to lie about having seen cool things, but she doesn't do it with malice."

"I see…" Juliette nodded at him and then turned her attention back to the city in front of her.

The police station and the flashy building had been left behind a while ago. Now they were walking past various kind of shops. One of them in particular caught Hau's attention powerfully.

"It's Hau'oli City's best Malasada Shop! Can we go in?" He gave both Lillie and Luana a Rockruff-eyed look, but to no avail.

"How about we go there tomorrow for lunch? I think Juliette will love it," The latter said with a big grin.

"I would love to go but…" Lillie looked over at Gladion. "My brother and I should be heading home now."

"Aww man! Maybe another time," Hau said with a slight shrug.

"I guess this is goodbye for now. We'll see each other another day." Without further ado, Gladion turned around and began to walk away. Lillie looked at him and then at the group. It looked like she wanted to say something, but she opted for just following her brother.

However, Luana wouldn't let them leave like that. "Hey Gladion! At least let me say goodbye to you two properly." She approached the siblings and gave a hug and a kiss on each cheek to the two of them. Then Luana went back to the group, "See you soon!"

The four of them watched Gladion and Lillie go, waving goodbye at them as the duo returned the gesture. When the siblings were far away from them, the bunch resumed their walk towards Luana's house. Juliette observed how they were approaching a neighbourhood with expensive looking houses and cocked an eyebrow, wondering if Luana lived in one of these houses or not. Wait, is Luana rich too? This can't be Gladion and Lillie's neighbourhood. They left in the opposite direction. Whatever, I just want to sit somewhere and hopefully be able to let my guard down...

Luana was now engaged in a lively conversation with both Hau and Kiawe about Mantine Surf. Juliette limited herself to listen, her head hanging low and walking a few steps behind them. They're having so much fun. I wish I could join their conversation, but what am I going to contribute? I have no idea how Mantine Surf works and I might just end up making myself look stupid. Why do I have to be so boring? They probably wouldn't care about the one thing I could spend the whole day talking about. Why can't I—

"Here we are!" Luana's enthusiastic voice made Juliette snap out of her thoughts. As she had imagined, Luana's house looked like it escaped from a magazine.

The first thing that caught Juliette's attention was the light blue color of the panelling. If it wasn't because of the dark brown roof and the trees that seemed to peek from behind the construction, it could very well camouflage with the color of the sky. The house was surrounded by a white and light blue banister with short iron spindles on the top. It was clear that whoever was in charge of designing the house had excellent taste.

"Lua, I'm sorry to spoil the moment but I have to leave now. My Tutu is waiting for me," Hau said with an apologetic smile.

"Aww really? I hoped you could maybe stay with us for dinner," Luana pouted.

"Don't worry, maybe I can come by later!"

"Good! Please do not hesitate to come over. If you can, of course." Luana hugged her friend briefly yet tightly. "See you!"

"Bye Lua! Bye guys!" Hau said before departing from the group. Now it was just Juliette, Luana, and Kiawe.

"By the way Luana, I don't think I will be staying for long either," the latter announced. "Although I'd love to."

"Don't sweat it! Do what you need to." Luana put her arm around Kiawe's shoulders and then looked back at Juliette. "Let's go inside!"

As they approached the house further, Juliette caught sight of a well-cared for porch. Why can't the new house have one of these? Almost everyone else in Paniola Town has a porch. A cozy-looking light blue and white loveseat swing-set contrasted with the dark wood paneling of the floor.

Luana opened the door to her house. The living room and dining room could be spotted right away. "Mom, Dad, I'm home!" The trio led by Luana entered the house, which was silent. The girl gently closed the main door. "Maybe they aren't home right now…" Luana then turned her attention to Juliette sporting an hospitable smile. "Would you like a tour of the house, Juliette?"

Juliette was busy typing up a message for her grandmother like she said she would do, but she still made sure to answer to Luana's proposal. "Uh...I mean, sure. Go ahead!"

"Perfect! Let's start with the living room."

Again, Juliette was impressed by what she was seeing, especially because of the plasma screen TV, which sat above the entertainment center in the living room. But the plant pots themed after the Bulbasaur line that sat on either side of the entertainment center managed to briefly put a smile on her face. She even felt like letting Poppy out to see her reaction to them. Of course, she wanted to do the same with Halbert. But would Luana agree to that?

"Luana, can I release my Pokémon here?" she asked, not looking into the girl's eyes.

"But of course! Besides, I think they'll love hanging out in the backyard. We'll go there later."

"Thank you!" Juliette quickly retrieved Halbert and Poppy's Pokéballs from her bag. "You see, I spotted those plant pots next to the entertainment center and I thought that Poppy might like them."

"Because the patterns are based on the Bulbasaur line? That's cute! I'm sure she'll love them." Luana smiled.

As soon as Juliette released her Pokémon, Halbert and Poppy examined their surroundings with wide open eyes. The former silently walked around the living room area, careful not to alter anything. As for Poppy, like Juliette imagined, her attention was immediately drawn to the plant pots. The Bulbasaur squealed in glee upon recognizing the patterns on the vases. Juliette smiled at the sight and approached Poppy to pet her head.

"Your Bulbasaur is beyond ecstatic!" Kiawe said with a chuckle.

Luana clasped her hands over her chest. "Aww, look at her! What a happy girl."

"Maybe she is just happy to see her kind receive some love," Juliette murmured, now looking at the plant pots closely. The silhouettes of Bulbasaur, Ivysaur and Venusaur were graciously represented on top of a light green background. After that, Juliette's relaxed mood was suddenly broken by her own thoughts, What if Poppy accidentally breaks something? Luana would be so angry at me… Maybe Halbert and Poppy should go to the backyard. Although Halbert is being pretty careful...

"Is everything alright?" Luana asked, noticing Juliette's thoughtful stance.

"I was just thinking…maybe it would be for the best if Halbert and Poppy went outside just in case they break something on accident."

"I see. I'll open the door to the backyard." Luana walked over to a door on the side of the living area and opened it. Juliette caught a glimpse of lush vegetation in the backyard from were she was standing.

"Halbert, Poppy, go out there." She gestured towards the door Luana opened. Halbert swiftly hopped towards the door, but Poppy hesitated a bit. That was only until she heard several Pokémon cries. Then she reached for the door almost as fast as her friend did. "Are there any large Pokémon out there?" Juliette furrowed her brows as Luana closed the door.

"There's quite a few out there, yes. But don't worry, they would never hurt anyone. Halbert and Poppy are safe." She smiled reassuringly. "Now, how about we continue with the tour?"

---

The tour around the house left Juliette even more impressed; each and every one of the rooms in Luana's house were exquisitely decorated. Some of the rooms, like the kitchen, had elements inspired by Kalos that stimulated Juliette's nostalgic side. She wasn't ashamed to admit to herself that she felt nostalgia over a region she left only thirteen days ago. However, besides those melancholic feelings, something else occupied Juliette's mind while Luana—along with Kiawe—showed her what her house was like. In those thirteen days, two of her classmates had already invited her to their respective houses, even if one of them did so before she knew they went to the same school. While this is normal for nearly every other person my age, it feels so unusual to me. I wonder if I will come here more often in the future...

Now the three of them were in the living room again. "Without further ado, it's time to show you the backyard!" Luana opened the backyard door. She waited until Juliette and Kiawe went outside before doing the same herself and closing the door behind her.

One of the first things that stood out in the backyard were the lush trees that surrounded it and the shed near the back of the yard, where several Pokémon rested in the shade. When Juliette looked in the direction of said shed, she soon noticed Halbert and Poppy happily running towards her.

"Looks like they missed me!" Juliette was unable to contain her smile as she hugged both of her Pokémon.

"Your Pokémon are very loyal to you, I see. That's so cute!" A voice unknown to her resonated.

Luana quickly turned towards the owner of the voice. "Mama!"

A tall and slender woman accompanied by a Greninja stood closer to the house. Her black hair reached her shoulder blades and slightly puffed outwards. Her hair was also held back by a green and white bandana. Her side swept bangs ended right above her blue eyes, which stood out compared to her pale skin. She wore a long sleeved blouse in the same colors as the bandana, a white skirt, and white sandals. The woman hugged her daughter affectionately. "Say Lulu, did you make a new friend?" she inquired, discreetly glancing at Juliette.

"Yes! Let me introduce her to you." Luana beckoned for Juliette to approach, which she did so, albeit with a bit of hesitation. "Mama, this is Juliette. She came here with her family from Kalos not too long ago."

"Kalos, eh? My home region. Enchantée, my name is Alisanne; Luana's mother." Alisanne greeted her young compatriot with a kiss on each cheek, a common thing in Kalos that Juliette never got used to.

"E-Enchantée! It's nice to meet more people from my home region," she answered bashfully.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Kiawe intervened, "but if I don't go now I might be late."

"You have to go to the supermarket already? It's fine. Just be careful on the way there, alright?" Alisanne approached him to say goodbye.

"Supermarket?" Juliette asked.

"Yeah. I have a part time job at the supermarket in Royal Avenue."

As Kiawe spoke, Luana gave him a goodbye hug. "You better come by tomorrow, then."

"I will, hopefully." After returning the hug Kiawe approached Juliette. "See you tomorrow."

What am I supposed to do now? Juliette pondered which would be the most appropriate way to say goodbye. She didn't feel a hug would be called for since she didn't know him as much as Luana did. She knew, however, that if she didn't act quickly Kiawe would be late to work and it would be her fault. "Yeah… See you tomorrow!" Demurely, Juliette hugged Kiawe like Luana did but in her case, the hug was short-lived. The touch of his bare skin felt awkward to her. I hope this was right. Dieu, why do I have to be so weird when it comes to physical contact with people?

Kiawe said goodbye to the three females and left. Alisanne noticed how Halbert was observing her Greninja with great respect. She also happened to notice the scar across his left eye.

"How did your Frogadier get that scar?" Alisanne asked as she crouched next to Halbert.

Juliette lowered her head, recalling how anxious she felt when Halbert got injured. "It was during a battle with a schoolmate's Garchomp back in Kalos. He didn't win that battle, but he did evolve and that made me very happy," she sighed, "but I'm even happier that the wound didn't affect him badly."

"Poor thing! Luckily he has a good Trainer by his side."

Juliette shook her head. "I wouldn't say I'm a good Trainer. We don't even battle that much anymore."

"But Juliette," Luana intervened, "being a good Trainer is not just centered around battling! It's also about how you take care of your Pokémon."

"Luana is right. As long as you take good care of your Pokémon, you can call yourself a good Trainer."

"By the way Mom," Luana addressed to her mother, "where's Dad?"

"Oh! He went shiny hunting. He'll be back later," Alisanne answered as she filled a bowl with Pokémon food. A Talonflame landed next to it shortly after and began feeding from it.

"I see." Luana then directed her attention towards Juliette. "Would you like me to show you my Pokémon? They probably snuck to the front yard."

"If you are up to it, sure!" Juliette nodded weakly.

"Great!" Luana turned around to face her mother. "Mom, if you need something don't hesitate to call for me."

"Don't worry Lulu, I'll be fine! Have fun with Juliette. I'm sure she will like to see your Pokémon."

"Alright. Let's get going, Juliette!" Luana held Juliette by the hand without warning. The girl almost lost her balance as she was nearly dragged across the property to the front yard.

To Juliette's relief, Luana let her hand go shortly after. It didn't take long for the duo to reach the front yard either. A somewhat large group of Pokémon were there to greet them. However, Juliette only recognized two of them: Luana's shiny Lycanroc, Pohaku; and the Vaporeon that she frequently brought along to school named Momi. Juliette kept her distance from the group; intimidated by a large, reptilian Pokémon covered in scaly armor.

Luana soon caught on to her fear. "There's no need to fear this boy!" She approached the Pokémon and scratched his chin. The creature was as happy as a Clamperl. "This is Alemana. He's a Kommo-o that has been with me for a long time."

"I see… When did you get him?" Juliette approached Luana and Alemana slowly while Poppy rushed to greet the other Pokémon followed by Halbert.

"It was when I reached the Dragon Trial. I really needed a Pokémon that could take out other Dragon types, but the only one that could do that wasn't too well." Juliette nodded, silently encouraging her to continue her story. "I searched for a Pokémon that I could use for the Trial for a while. Thanks to the information from my Pokédex, I caught a wild Hakamo-o—the previous evolutionary stage of Kommo-o. You see, I intended to have him only for the trial but when it was over and I tried to release him, he decided to stay with me instead. I won't lie; I'm glad he stayed!" Luana said scratching Alemana's chin once again.

"What happened to that other Pokémon you mentioned?" Juliette asked curiously.

"Come with me." Luana approached a beautiful white Pokémon that greatly resembled a Ninetales. "This is Kona, my Alolan Ninetales!"

"An Alolan variant, huh? I knew it reminded me of Ninetales!" Juliette looked in awe at the Ninetales, blown away by the immaculate whiteness of its fur.

"Isn't she pretty? I always wanted an Alolan Vulpix because of how cute they are! I spent a couple of days in a place called Tapu Village looking for one, but I had no luck. Can you guess what happened next?"

Juliette shrugged. "Uh… I don't know?"

"The day I decided to leave, it started to snow and when I was trying to to reach the next route, surprise! I came across a Vulpix. Sadly she could barely walk since one of her legs was injured from an attack. I picked her up and rushed her to the Pokémon Center in the village. Nurse Joy did a great job and nursed her back to health, but a scar on her back left leg remained. You still can see it." Luana pointed at one of Kona's hind legs. "When we left, I asked for her to stay with me so I could protect her from being attacked again. Thankfully, she agreed." The girl threw her arms around the Alolan Ninetales who nuzzled her face in response.

"She is so beautiful! What about your other Pokémon? How did you get them?"

"Let's see… You already know Pohaku, but I never told you how I got Momi. I got her in Paniola Ranch. I went to visit the Daycare and the owner allowed me to pick up an Egg a Trainer never reclaimed. When she hatched into an Eevee, I was on cloud nine! I love Eevee and all of its evolutions!" Luana then approached a different Pokémon. It was tall and avian-like. It wore a short and green hood made of leaves. "This one is Makani; my Decidueye. I got him from Hau's grandfather when I visited Iki Town."

Juliette whistled in surprise. "Are you saying that you got a Pokémon from the Kahuna himself? How lucky! I got mine from the Professor in Kalos…"

"Here in Alola it's a bit different. It's not rare for the island's Kahuna to be the one to give new Trainers their first Pokémon. Isn't that interesting?"

"It is interesting, indeed!" Juliette noticed Halbert having a staring contest with Makani. However, since it looked like there were no hostile intentions, she just left him be.

"After Makani," Luana continued with the introductions, "I got this girl here. She is an Alolan Raichu. Her name is Nanea! I got her as a Pichu in Route 1 as I made my way to Iki Town for a festival. Of course I caught her because she's super cute, aren't you, Nanea?!" Her Alolan Raichu shrilled in response and spun around them as she levitated in the air on her tail.

"A festival?" Juliette asked.

"Yes! It's a festival held every year to thank the guardian deities from each island for always watching over us. In fact, the next one will be happening in a couple of months. We could go together!"

A festival to thank the guardian deities? There's bound to be a lot of people there, Juliette thought. "I'm not a fan of big crowds, but I don't think going there will do any harm, haha."

"It's a beautiful Alolan tradition. I think you will like it!" Luana then glanced at her Pokémon and chuckled. "Look at my Salazzle!"

A thin dark grey Pokémon with markings resembling the suit of a gymnast was trying to get Alemana's attention by sitting close to him. Sadly, that wasn't working so far. "Doesn't it look like that one has a-"

"A crush! Yes," Luana interrupted Juliette. "That's Waka. I found her when she was in her previous evolutionary stage. When I was going to the site for the Fire Trial, she was being pursued and attacked by a group of Magmar. Imagine how scared the poor thing was! So I released all of my Pokémon and I fended off her attackers. Then I went on my way but when I finished the Trial, I found the same Salandit waiting for me. She ran to me and latched onto my legs! It was so cute I couldn't resist catching her!"

"All of the stories of how you got your Pokémon are so interesting," Juliette said with a hint of jealousy, wishing she would have such fascinating things to tell.

"Some of them are pretty incredible, yes." Suddenly, something went across Luana's mind. "Wait! I still need to show you another one!"

Luana left the yard for a moment, but returned shortly after with a large cat Pokémon that looked similar to a Persian. She was holding the creature in her arms.

"Let me guess, an Alolan Persian?" Juliette asked.

"Bingo! This is my pet Pokémon, Anu. I had him since I was seven."

"How did you get this one?" Juliette looked at the Pokémon, endeared by his chubbiness and the more than apparent fluffiness of his fur.

"I was going to the Pokémon School in Hau'oli City back then. One day when I was going back home from school an Alolan Meowth followed me home. When I was going to enter the house, the Meowth meowed from behind me on the doorstep. It wasn't until then that I noticed how hungry and skinny he was! Me being young, I let him in and fed him Pokémon food. I fell in love with how cute he was and I asked my parents if I could keep him. They said yes!"

"I wish Pokémon followed me home rather than classmates back when I was in Kalos," Juliette murmured, looking away from Luana and Anu. She then focused on their conversation again. "He does look well cared for now."

"Right? You can pet him if you want to; he is very meek," Luana said as she steadily approached Juliette; encouraging her to pet Anu.

Juliette was always reluctant to interact with Pokémon that were being held by their Trainers, in fear that they would snap at her for no reason. She knew some people disliked having their Pokémon touched by strangers. But this time, it was different. Juliette reached for the Persian's head and an exclamation of surprise escaped her.

"He is so soft and...fluffy?" She was somehow convinced that if she reacted too enthusiastically, she would come across as creepy. Because of that, instead of enjoying the present moment, Juliette began brooding over unrelated matters. Everything I do can potentially push people away from me.

"Right? I always bathe him once a week and I make sure to brush his fur at least twice a day. Uh, Juliette?" Luana noticed the other girl looking like she was far away while petting her Alolan Persian. "Is everything alright?"

Juliette was slightly startled by Luana's voice. "Yes, it is! You brush Anu twice a day, right? I mean, that's a lot of fur to take care of." She forced out a laugh and mumbled, "I doubt I'm making any sense."

"Don't worry Juliette, you're right. Taking care of Pokémon with long fur takes more work than, let's say, taking care of Halbert and Poppy's skins." Luana put Anu down on the ground. As soon as he noticed the aforementioned Pokémon, he went to greet them.

"Well, look who it is." A new voice emerged. Both girls turned around in the direction of the front road.

"It's you!" Luana ran excitedly past the open gate and hugged the newcomer.

The individual Luana just greeted was a tall and slender boy around her age. He had tan skin and bright blue eyes. His pink hair was gathered in a small, low ponytail to his left. His clothes—a white shirt, a tan and brown vest on top, white pants, and moccasins that matched the vest's color scheme—denoted a high social status. He was accompanied by an Eevee and an Smeargle.

Juliette furrowed her brows. "Who's the frat boy?"

"Juliette! Come here!" Luana called for her. As soon as she had her closer, she started talking. "This is my friend Ilima. We went to the same school together when we were kids and we've been close friends ever since. Now he serves as a student teacher in the same school!"

"Alola!" Ilima greeted, "Your name is Juliette, correct?"

"Alola. Yes it is." As always, Juliette didn't know what else to say afterwards. Despite the fact that she could so easily introduce herself, she could not bring herself to do so.

Luckily for her, Luana did the honors for her. "She moved here from the Kalos region not too long ago. She also started school earlier this week!"

"Really now? I spent a couple of years in Kalos myself. I studied in Lumiose City. Which part of Kalos are you from?" he asked with a gentle demeanor.

Juliette's face lit up. Nearly everyone she has come across seemed to have some sort of past with Kalos and she was beginning to wonder if it was just coincidence or something more. "I'm from Anistar City. I was born and raised there."

"Anistar City is truly wonderful. I went there once with the intention of painting the Sundial. The same painting is now currently hung up in my home. Maybe I could show you someday?"

"A painting of the Anistar Sundial? That must be beautiful!" Juliette smiled brightly. "I must have drawn it myself a couple of times, but I don't think mine looks that good."

"You are an artist as well? Looks like we have a couple of things in common." Ilima's Eevee squealed happily, underlining his Trainer's words in a way.

"Wow Juliette, you never told me you like to draw!" Luana's eyes sparkled. "I'd love to see your drawings someday."

"I don't tend to tell many people," Juliette chuckled; slightly looking away from the duo.

"Oh by the way, Juliette," Luana put a hand on her shoulder and gestured towards Ilima, "Our friend here is not only a student teacher, but also a Trial Captain! He specializes in Normal types."

"I-Is that true?" Juliette automatically gave a couple of small steps back, intimidated by learning Ilima's role.

"Indeed it is. I hold my Trial in Verdant Cavern; located in Route 2. Not many are allowed to access the area."

"Really? Why is that?" Juliette asked.

"Only participants of the Island Challenge are allowed to access Trial Sites," Luana explained, "but there's exceptions, of course."

Ilima cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to say this, but I just looked at the hour and I need to leave right away. Although I would love to stick around for a bit more."

"Aww, what's with everyone having to leave today?" Luana pouted briefly. "It's alright. We can always meet some other day. Juliette will join us, of course!"

The alluded girl just nodded and smiled. She could have asked first… Nevermind, Ilima actually looks like a good guy. Hanging out with them both should be nice.

"That sounds like a lovely plan." Ilima smiled. "I have to get going now. See you!"

"See you!" Juliette and Luana waved goodbye to Ilima and his Pokémon.

When the boy was far from them, Luana turned around to face Juliette. "How about we go inside and hang out in the living room? There's a good show starting soon."

"What is the show about?" Juliette asked as they began walking towards the house.

"It's called Toddlers and Ribbons. It's about preschool aged children who participate in Pokémon Contests. Although sometimes it's a bit saddening to watch, with how some of the participants react after losing and all."

"Aww, poor things. At least they get to do something they like, right?"

Luana shrugged. "People who dislike the show say they are there to accomplish their parents' unfulfilled dreams. I think that would be a cruel thing to do, but the children seem to be happy with what they do for the most part."

Juliette remained silent, not knowing what to add. She knew very well that some people were forced to do things they didn't want to take part of. Going to school was one of these things for her. Back when they were about to leave Kalos, she assumed Dad and Grandma would homeschool her. After all, her mother finding a job in Alola wasn't the only reason why they were leaving Kalos behind. But no, they signed her up for a new school as soon as they could. However, if they didn't sign her up, she probably would have never met any of her classmates. They all seemed to be decent people—excluding Telford and Chaos—and besides that, there was her Grandma's cryptic promise. Why am I even complaining then? I should stop.

The two girls returned to the living room. Juliette sat down on one of the loveseats as Luana turned on the TV, sitting right by her side. Anu had followed them both inside the house and lied close to his owner's feet. The preview for today's episode of Toddlers and Ribbons was starting; it opened with a little girl getting frustrated over her Furfrou refusing to get his hair trimmed to resemble the girl's dress. "Will Katrina and her Furfrou get over this setback?" the show's narrator asked the audience in a rather melodramatic tone.

"Tell me Juliette," Luana spoke, "I'm curious. Did you ever challenge a Gym Leader when you lived in Kalos?"

"No, I never did. I've never been interested in that, honestly."

"Really? I've never met anyone who wasn't interested in collecting badges! Even people I've spoken to on the islands want to try it someday!" Luana exclaimed with her eyebrows raised.

Juliette shifted in her seat ever so slightly. "I guess I'm some sort of oddity."

"No, it's alright. It's not like beating Gym Leaders is the only thing to do out there." Luana paused for a moment; taking a look at the events on the screen. "Since you only have two Pokémon, have you thought about catching more here in Alola?"

"Catching more Pokémon?" Juliette never considered the option. She was doing just fine with Halbert and Poppy, but deep down she envied those who had large teams. Luana's stories of how she met her Pokémon only helped rekindle that feeling. "It would be nice, but if I were to try to catch a new Pokémon, I wouldn't know where to start looking."

"You could look anywhere, really. No need to worry about that!" Luana smiled. "One of these days we could even go on a trip so you can catch yourself a new Pokémon. Just the two of us."

Juliette chuckled. "I'm sure you have better things to do."

"Don't say that! I think it's a great idea! My aunt and uncle wouldn't mind if I took a day off."

"If you say so, then it has to be…"

The Toddlers & Ribbons show was getting interesting. One of the contestants was struggling against being put in time out by her mother. The girl was throwing a hissy fit over her dress being way too frilly and puffy for her taste. In the end, she and her mother came to an agreement thanks to the girl's Leavanny, who fixed the dress so it was less puffy while keeping the frills.

---

About an hour and a half went by since the show started. Luana encouraged Juliette to comment with her the different things that happened; from the cute performances to the temper tantrums thrown by both the children and their parents. I never thought I would enjoy a show of this kind, much less talking about it with someone outside of my immediate circle.

Another episode of the show was starting when someone rang the doorbell. Alisanne—who was still working in the backyard—appeared in the living room shortly after. "I'll get it!"

When she opened the door, a deep male voice could be heard. "I'm home!"

"Papa!" Luana jumped from the couch and dashed towards the door, hugging a tall and slightly pudgy man with a skin tone similar to Luana's.

The man's hair and eyes were dark brown. His hair was slightly side swept to the left and it barely reached his jaw where a five o'clock shadow beard grew. His outfit consisted of a buttoned up black shirt, a gray and blue accented sports coat, rolled up gray pants and gray slip on shoes. A loose belt that held his Pokéballs was around his waist. Meanwhile, a feline Pokémon that was roughly the same height as him stood close by.

"How have you been today Lulu?" he asked with a big smile.

"I've been great! Today I brought home a new friend from school." Luana turned around and motioned for Juliette to approach them.

She approached with slow steps; this time she wanted to try to be the one to introduce herself. "Alola! My name is Juliette. I started going to Luana's school just recently. I come from the Kalos region."

"Alola Juliette! I'm Luana's father. My name is Kealohi, but you can just call me Mr. Paoa! I'm a shiny hunter. This is one of my partners, Incineroar." The Pokémon roared as a form of greeting.

"Papa, did you get to catch anything today?" Luana queried with a sparkle in her eyes.

Kealohi shook his head. "I didn't see any today either. I must be patient. I'm sure a new shiny shall appear before me soon!"

"I'm sure of it, Papa. Can I go with you next time?"

"Well, you know what they say: two heads are better than one." Kealohi then addressed his wife, "By the way girls, look who I came across on the way here!" Having said this, Kealohi motioned for his companions to come inside.

Alisanne and Luana gasped when they discovered their identities and proceeded to greet them loudly afterwards. One of them was Hau and the other was a male unknown to Juliette.

The man—corpulent and surely older than anyone else in the room—was chatting with Alisanne. His hair—which was partly gathered up in a ponytail—and mustache were grey. He was wearing an orange and white kimono like jacket over a blue shirt. He wore a white rope belt that held a strangely shaped fan. He also wore white bermuda shorts and slippers. He put a few shopping bags down on the floor.

Hau approached Luana and Juliette with a wide grin. "See? I told you I'd be back for dinner!"

"Yay! The more the merrier!" Luana hugged her friend briefly then faced Juliette. "Juliette, do you want to say hello to Hau's grandfather?"

"The Kahuna?" Juliette drew closer to her, speaking in a low and tremulous voice. "You want me to talk to the Kahuna?"

A hearty laugh escaped Hau. "You don't need to worry! He may be a Kahuna, but my Tutu is very nice."

"Hau is right. Let's go!" Luana grabbed Juliette by the hand, drawing her in closer to where the man was. He was currently talking to Alisanne and Kealohi.

"Tutu, a new friend of ours wants to introduce herself."

"I see!" His words boomed across the room, almost making Juliette jump back. "What's your name, child?"

"My name…?" She looked at Luana, then to Hau, and then back at Luana. She barely dared to make eye contact with the Kahuna, so she awkwardly stared at his mustache instead. "My name is Juliette and I come from the Kalos region." She forced a smile. How many more new people will I have to come across today?

"Oho, Kalos, you say? How interesting! What do you think of Alola so far?"

"What do I think of Alola? So far I think it's a nice region to live in and..." Again, Juliette looked at Hau and Luana alternatively, struggling to complete her sentence, "...it has nice people, I think."

"Dahahaha!" Hala left out a rambunctious laugh while slapping his belly. Juliette lowered her head, already convinced that she said something wrong. "You're right girl, this is a great region and our people are very welcoming. You must have come from Kalos recently, correct?"

"Right." Juliette nodded.

"Then I sincerely hope you soon feel at home here in Alola!"

"Thank you!" Juliette smiled, sighing in relief afterwards. I didn't mess up in the end. Hoorah!

"Alisanne," Kealohi spoke, "can Hau and Hala stay with us for dinner today? Since we came here together I think it would be a good idea."

The woman smiled brightly. "Sure. They are more than welcome to stay. In fact, I was going to prepare dinner in a little bit."

"Mom, can I help you prepare dinner? Please!" Luana gave her mother the most irresistible Rockruff eyed look, clasping her hands together and all.

"Sure thing Lulu! I could use a helping hand, we'll get to have dinner sooner." Alisanne approached her husband, who was starting a new conversation with Hala, and tapped him on the shoulder. "Lulu and I are going to prepare dinner. It will be ready soon."

"Alright! We will be waiting in the living room," Kealohi answered.

Meanwhile, Luana was with Hau and Juliette. "Do you guys want to come with us to the kitchen and watch us cook dinner?"

"It will be fun! You can fill me in what you've been up to these past few hours and I can do the same!" Hau grinned widely with his arms behind his head.

"Sounds like a deal! Can't wait to hear what you have been up to. Right, Juliette?"

The girl barely heard what Hau and Luana said just now. She was too caught up in her own thoughts. Why are they treating me like family? Is this normal? Why has this never happened before? It's unbelievable.

"Juliette?" Luana called for her, finally bringing her back to reality.

"We are going to the kitchen now?" Juliette smiled halfheartedly. Although she was scolding herself internally for getting distracted so easily.

"Yes!" Hau answered. "Let's see who makes it first!" With that the boy dashed towards the kitchen, running right past Kealohi's Incineroar.

"Not fair, you cheater! Wait for me!" Luana began to run right after. Juliette, on her part, wasn't feeling it and prefered to just walk to the kitchen.

"Juliette, you're last!" Hau announced as the girl walked through the large white archway that gave access to the kitchen.

"Let her, she must be tired from the boat trip and all." Luana elbowed him playfully. She then proceeded to set two chairs for them to sit on afterwards.

Alisanne entered the kitchen as well shortly after. She put on a white and grey apron with the silhouette of Lumiose City's Prism Tower on the bottom right corner. "Alright Lulu, start getting the ingredients, please." Alisanne then faced Hau and Juliette with a kind smile. "I see we have an audience! I hope watching us cook is not too boring for you kids."

Hau smiled back at her. "Don't worry! I'm easy to entertain. By the way, what are we having for dinner?"

"Cajun style Magikarp fillets with buttered brown rice and steamed broccoli!" Alisanne announced with a grin.

Hau suddenly jumped on his seat, earning himself a befuddled look from Juliette. "That's sounds delicious! I bet it will taste great. Can't wait to give it a try!"

Alisanne laughed. "I'm glad you are so enthused about the menu."

During that brief period of time, Luana had diligently gathered all the ingredients and placed them all on one of the counters. She had brought out multiple Magikarp filets, a variety of spices like garlic powder and ground paprika, a bag of rice, and various vegetables such as cut broccoli and bell peppers. "Where do we start?"

"We will start with the filets first. The rest we'll start as we go." Alisanne was setting up some pots and pans as well as other cookware.

Juliette observed the scene in silence; remembering the day they arrived in Alola. She and her mother were organizing the kitchen; putting everything on its respective places. They even worked together to attach a spice rack to the wall. Moments like those were scarce between them and Juliette couldn't help but feel jealousy threatening to show its ugly head upon seeing Luana and her mother cooking together. To avoid this, she did the very last thing she thought she would do.

"Hau, tell me. What have you been up to?"

"Nothing much, really!" The boy scratched his cheek. "I've been watching my Tutu and his Pokémon train together. I asked him if we could have a battle but he said he prefered to leave that for another day."

"But battling a Kahuna must be intimidating, even if it's just a friendly match."

"You're right." Hau's usual cheery expression suddenly changed to a determined stare. "He may be my Tutu, but we take our battles very seriously. I really want to beat him someday." He sighed and kept quiet for a moment before resuming the conversation, "Say Juliette, do you have any special goal?"

Yes. I'm devoted to seeing a Legendary Pokémon probably doesn't exist within this region. Juliette shook her head and shrugged. "No, not really. So far I just want to do well at school, I guess."

"Hey, that's a very valid goal! I wish you the best of luck."

Juliette smiled at the sincerity of Hau's comment. "Thank you very much, I wish you the same with your goal too." The two teens observed Luana and Alisanne working on their dinner in silence. Alisanne covered the Magikarp filets with a mixture of spices while Luana heated up a couple of tablespoons of butter in a frying pan. The smell of melted butter began filling the room.

"This scent reminds me," Hau spoke again, "after training we both got hungry and came here to Hau'oli City to buy something for dinner, but we came across Lua's dad and the rest, as they say, is history."

Not knowing what to add to the conversation anymore, Juliette nodded and turned her attention back to the two females in the kitchen. Luana was chopping a bell pepper that she then threw into a skillet, stirring it from time to time. Alisanne was still preparing the filets, covering the last ones in the same mixture of spices. When I go back home, I might ask Dad or Grandma if we can cook together someday, Juliette told herself with a small smile.

---

"Dinner is ready!" Alisanne said with a raised voice; walking briefly into the living room while drying up her hands with her apron.

"Should we help you bring out the dishes?" Hala—who was sitting on a couch with Kealohi—made a motion to stand up, but Alisanne stopped him.

"Don't worry, the kids are helping me. However, you two can go sit at the table." She went back to the kitchen and took her apron off.

Soon Alisanne, Luana, Juliette, and Hau left the kitchen carrying a couple of dishes full of food each. They placed them down on the table carefully and then went back to the kitchen to fetch a loaf of bread, a glass for each one of them and something to drink, namely water and mango juice. "My favorite!" Luana squealed when her mother got the bottle. Before finally going to the dining area, Alisanne and Luana went to the backyard to give all the Pokémon some food as well. Halbert and Poppy were still there, now accompanied by Kealohi's Pokémon as well as some of Hau's and Hala's.

With everything ready, everyone sat down at the table. Like the rest of the house, the dining area was decorated with excellent taste. The light brown wooden table, small and sleek, sat on top of a light blue rug. A Flabebe themed vase with several flowers sat on the middle of the table. Several white and brown wooden chairs were around the table. As Alisanne told them, Kealohi and Hala were already sitting down on opposite sides of the table. Alisanne sat next to her husband and in turn, Luana sat next to her mother. On the other side, Hau sat at his grandfather side and Juliette sat next to the boy.

"Bon appetit!" Alisanne exclaimed before taking a spoonful of rice.

"Bon appetit," Everyone echoed back.

All of them grew quiet for a moment as they savored the first few bites of food. It didn't take long until the silence was broken. "Luana, Alisanne, your cooking is delicious as always!" Kealohi praised.

"Thank you dear, I'm glad you like it!" His wife made a coy gesture with her hand, placing the other on her cheek. "What does everyone else think?"

"I agree with Dad, I think we did a great job!" Luana answered before continuing to cut off a piece of one of the seasoned Magikarp fillets with a fork and a knife.

Hau, Juliette, and Hala responded more or less in the same way, praising the flavor of the food. "Maybe it turned out great because we were there, Juliette," the boy joked.

Luana pretended to roll her eyes at the comment. "Yeah, that's probably why." Juliette just smiled and shook her head; taking a bite of a broccoli sprout.

"Hala, how are the preparations for this year's festival coming along?" Kealohi asked in between sips of water.

"They are going nicely so far. I think we will have a very good festival, especially if Tapu Koko is up for it."

Juliette snickered and almost choked on her food. "Tapu Koko? Koko? Why do I find the name funny? Anyway, I hope no one noticed I laughed! Wait, Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele… There must be a connection. Once free from a small onset of laughter, she decided to ask about it. "Who is Tapu Koko?"

"Oho!" Thanks to Hala's loud exclamation, this time Juliette did choke on her food. Fortunately the mishap was quickly solved by a few gulps of water. "Sorry about that, I tend to get too loud from time to time," Hala said apologetically. "Anyways, as I was about to explain, Tapu Koko is Melemele's guardian deity. Each of the four islands that make up Alola has its own guardian Pokémon."

"That means Tapu Koko is just like Tapu Lele in that regard, right?" Juliette inquired.

"Correct. Alola's guardian deities are also known as The Four Tapu, since their names start the same way. Who knows, maybe one day you'll get to see one of them!"

"Personally," Luana intervened, "I would love to see Tapu Lele someday! She is easily my favorite out of the four."

The way Luana's eyes sparkled upon mentioning Tapu Lele reminded Juliette of herself whenever she talked about Zygarde or someone mentioned him to her. Unlike myself, she doesn't get hell for it.

"Considering you have a Z-Ring, there's no doubt that you'll see one of them someday." Hau's words were aimed at Luana.

"I know, but I don't think that has anything to do with it." Luana glanced down at her Z-Ring with a sigh.

"They say impossible is nothing, don't they? Many people has seen the Tapu in the past, regardless if they owned a Z-Ring or not," Alisanne encouraged her after swallowing a slice of filet.

"I still remember how I felt when I found my first shiny," Kealohi said, recalling the distant memory, "I had to rub my eyes several times to believe it!"

"I can't wait until I find a shiny of my own, too!" Luana exclaimed with enthusiasm. "I believe Pohaku would like having a shiny friend, don't you think?"

Kealohi nodded. "Absolutely! And I'm sure you will make that come true sooner or later."

Following the conversation in silence, Juliette kept eating her food and drinking water from time to time. Unlike the day Kiawe's parents invited her and her family for dinner, her father and grandmother weren't here to encourage her to start a conversation. Juliette knew they did it for her sake and she wished she could talk more without her irrational fear of sounding ignorant, but it was difficult for her. At least I asked Hala about Tapu Koko, that must be something, she told herself. This kind of thing always goes one step at a time.

---

Dinner went by in between lively conversations and lots of laughter. Juliette even intervened a few times, especially when Alisanne started talking about her favorite landscapes in Kalos. Hau and Hala also named some of their favorite places in Alola—most of them in Melemele, like Melemele Meadow and the Berry Fields—and suggested Juliette to visit them when she had the chance.

Speaking of Hau and Hala, the duo left shortly after they were done with dinner. Hala explained he had to wake up early the next day. As for Hau, Luana invited him to come back the next day so they could go to the Malasada Shop for lunch, just as she suggested earlier in the day. Needless to say, he accepted the invite.

With all the dishes, glasses, and cutlery from dinner clean and in their respective places, everyone was finally ready to go to bed. Juliette had withdrawn Halbert and Poppy into their respective Poké Balls and placed them carefully inside her bag for the night. After Juliette and Luana said goodnight to the girl's parents, the two went to Luana's bedroom. She wasn't all that tired and neither was Juliette, so they agreed to hang out for a bit before officially going to bed. They were still dressed in their casual attire.

Juliette sat down on an orange bean bag chair situated in the middle of the room while Luana sat on the edge of her bed. Almost everything in the room was either orange or white: white carpet, orange and white walls, and orange and white striped covers complete with a white pillow. A wall décor featuring Rockruff's silhouette lined the top of the walls. A small nightstand sat right next to her twin sized bed with an Alolan Vulpix themed lamp, a picture portraying Luana with her family and their Pokémon, and an alarm clock. Many Pokémon plushies were stacked on a white bookshelf located on the right side of the bed. Juliette looked at them only able to recognize some of them such as Vulpix, Eevee, and Tapu Lele. A Rockruff plush was on the bed as well.

"Do you like my plushies?" Luana asked with a smile. The girl got up and walked over to the bookshelf. She grabbed the Tapu Lele plush and handed it to Juliette. "You can hold it if you want."

"Thank you." Juliette held the plush carefully, taking a closer look at it. She could understand why Luana liked this Pokémon so much. The plush portrayed the creature in an adorable manner. Its big pink and blue eyes seemed to have a curious expression in them.

Luana, who was again standing next to the bookshelf, retrieved a different plush off of it. "Want to know another one of my favorite Legendary Pokémon? Here."

She handed Juliette a plush depicting a bat like Pokémon whose head shape reminded her of a crescent moon. The doll had a serene expression that made Juliette spellbound for a short span of time. "Who is this?" she asked.

"That is Lunala," Luana answered. "She is known as the beast that calls the moon and has been honored as an emissary of the moon from time immemorial...and it's a really pretty Pokémon to boot!"

Juliette kept her gaze on the doll. "An emissary of the moon? I'm sure the legend behind that is really interesting."

"It sure is!" Luana nodded with a smile. "Do you have a favorite Legendary Pokémon?"

Tensing all of the sudden, Juliette looked up at Luana. She glanced down at the plushies on her lap, then further down below at her espadrilles. After a few seconds of awkward silence, Juliette looked back at Luana and gave her half a shrug. "No, not really. There's many interesting Legendary Pokémon out there, but there's none that stands out to me especially."

"But the pattern on your cap and shoes—"

"Oh, that?" Juliette abruptly interrupted the other girl loudly; louder than she intended to in the process. "It's just coincidence, really. My father gifted them to me when I turned thirteen and he probably didn't realize the pattern matched, haha."

"I see…" Luana raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by Juliette's answer. Since the topic of fashion had been slightly mentioned, Luana became absolutely enthused. "You know, I'm really into fashion! See that closet? It's huge! Want me to show you some of my clothes?"

"Sure, be my guest!" Juliette chuckled and then sighed in relief. She was glad that the Legendary Pokémon topic was quickly left behind.

As Luana walked towards the closet, Juliette gently placed the Tapu Lele and Lunala plushes back in their previous places. She then stood next to Luana as she opened her closet; revealing a plethora of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Everything within was neatly organized which reminded Juliette of a store. Wow, that's three times the amount of clothing I own! Why do other girls need so much of it?

"Look, this is one of my favorite dresses." Luana retrieved an orange dress with short sleeves that were adorned by a ruffle. "What do you think of it?"

Juliette tilted her head staring at the dress from top to bottom. "It looks nice but it's not my style. Sorry."

"No need to be sorry! Not everyone has the same fashion style." Luana hung the dress up and retrieved a different one. This dress was a baby blue one with a small daisy pattern printed all over it. A ruffle served as the dress' hem. "I bought this one a couple of years ago during a trip to Konikoni City, which is in Akala Island."

"How often do you go shopping?"

"Whenever I have the chance. Hey, one of these days we should go together! What do you say?" Luana inched forward with an expectant look in her eyes.

Juliette gave one step backwards to regain some personal space. "It would be nice to do that someday."

"Yes! Since you live in Akala we could tour all of the shops!"

"A tour of...clothing stores?" Juliette mumbled to herself before nodding at Luana with a faint smile. Her furrowed brows, however, gave away how she really felt about the idea.

The showcase of clothing and other fashion related articles continued for a few more minutes until a particular item in the room caught Juliette's attention. It was a cork board chock-full of pictures. All of them featured Luana and her friends; namely Lillie, Kiawe, Hau and others.

Luana approached Juliette from behind in silence. "There's lots of memories right there." The other girl shuddered at the sudden words and turned around abruptly.

"You are lucky to have so many of them," Juliette lamented with a hint of bitterness. "I never had anyone to take a picture with besides my family."

Luana approached and hugged Juliette without saying a word, much to her surprise. It took a couple of seconds to hug her back, but the gesture brought an immediate feeling of peace to her. It was a gentle and comforting hug; the kind of hug that only her father and grandmother—very rarely her mother—gave her. Despite this, Juliette herself was the one to break the embrace before it lasted way too long.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, Juliette." Luana's eyes glistened. "I had no idea. You don't have anyone back in Kalos?"

"You don't need to feel sorry, it's okay. As for your question, I don't think I can give a satisfying answer. I guess it's yes, but it's also no. It's hard to explain."

"I see. Let me guess...a long distance relationship perhaps?" Luana smirked; going back to her usual cheery disposition.

A slight blush crept on Juliette's cheeks. "Of course not! What are you getting at? All the boys in my school were so immature."

"I'm just kidding!" Luana laughed before giving Juliette a friendly pat on her shoulder.

A light silence fell upon the room. It wasn't awkward in the slightest; it was like a natural silence following the end of a conversation. However, it wasn't long until a new one was started. "Luana, how did you meet Kiawe and the others?"

"I met them in all sorts of places. For an example, I met some of them—Hau, Ilima, Gladion, and Lillie—while I was attending the Trainer's School here in Hau'oli City. Then I met the rest of them during my Trials Run, such as Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles. Then I met Kiawe during my first visit to Aunt Nohea and Uncle Makoa's home in Paniola Town. I can easily say Kiawe and Hau are my childhood friends. However, something strange happened near the time I graduated..."

"What was it?" Juliette asked as she took a seat in the bean bag.

"Hau and I thought Gladion and Lillie would join us, but shortly before starting our Run, they became distant until one day the both of them disappeared." Luana recalled with a sad look in her eyes. "I was looking forward to see them do the Island Challenge too after all the effort they put into class, but sadly that never happened."

"But now they're going to school again in Akala Island. What happened?"

"Shortly after Hau and I were done with the Challenge, we saw Gladion and Lillie again." Luana sighed, shifting her body to her left. "They were doing better and weren't as distant as they were the last time we talked to them. It was such a big relief!"

"So even after all that time without seeing them, they remained your friends? You're lucky." Juliette leaned forward as she spoke.

"All of us are lucky they even came back…" The girl murmured, looking at the floor for a moment before looking at Juliette with the brightest smile. "Being close to your group of friends is the best thing ever, don't you think?"

"I never had such thing, but I guess it is."

"But Juliette," Luana crouched in front of her, "now that you are in a new region, you will meet tons of different people and make friends. You seem really nice and I hope we talk more from now on."

Juliette's eyes lit up. "You really mean that?"

"Of course I do! Don't you see how many plans we made today?" Luana giggled. "Besides, I love making new friends. I'm sure the others feel the same."

"Eh, I wouldn't put words in their mouth," Juliette mumbled, "but hearing you say that makes me very happy. I'm not used to hear that from others." As soon as she finished her sentence Juliette yawned and politely covered her mouth.

"You are exhausted, aren't you? Do you want to go to bed?"

"Yeah, I think it would be the best." Juliette yawned again. "Is the guest room close by?"

"Yes it is. You only have to go across the hallway and you'll see the room. It's next to the large windows on the left side." Both girls got up and Luana accompanied her guest to the door. "Goodnight, Juliette! I hope you rest well, because when Hau goes to a Malasada Shop it's hard to keep up with him!"

Juliette smiled at the comment. "That'll be a trip. Goodnight!" The girl walked away from the door as Luana closed it slowly.

Following Luana's directions, Juliette made it to the guest room in the blink of an eye. The guest bedroom was rather simple. The carpet and walls were beige just like those in the loft. Two full sized beds sat on either side of the room up against the corner walls. Each of them had beige bedspreads and metal bed frames. There was a dark brown dresser along the left wall as well as a walk in closet in the entryway wall, located in the leftmost side. What caught Juliette's attention the most, however, was a particular painting that hung above the nightstand in between the two beds. It depicted a scene of Lumiose City at night with its famous Prism Tower lit up in the distance. The teen found herself running her fingertips along the glass that covered the image, hypnotized by it until a loud yawn reminded her what she came to do in the room.

She put on her black nightgown with hot pink polka dots and folded her clothes to place them into her bag. Before getting into bed she checked her phone in hopes of seeing a goodnight message from her mother, but there was none. Maybe she's still at the Pokémon Center. She must be having a very busy day.

After turning off the room's lights, Juliette finally got into bed and turned off the lamp on top of the nightstand. She checked her messages one last time and placed the phone next to her under the lamp. The sight of the floral themed ceiling fan above her distracted the girl as she tried to figure out which flowers were depicted. She could tell there were a couple of tulips by their characteristic cup shape and bright colors. There were a few lilies of various colors as well.

Despite the small distraction, Juliette still could not fathom the fact that she was in a bed other than her own. Her new room felt a lot more familiar than this, despite only being there for only two weeks so far. Enough of staring at the ceiling. I need to get to sleep soon or tomorrow I will look and act like a zombie! Doing her best to clear her mind, Juliette closed her eyes and took a deep breath in an attempt to relax and fall asleep. She didn't know yet, but a very wild day awaited her the following morning.