{Present day, at night}

Nightraider and I sat among the trees just outside Cherrygrove City. Light breezes coming off the sea, mixing with the scent of flowers in the forest. This combined smell soothed us both as we waited.

After remaining perched for over an hour, Nightraider stretched his legs. [Remind me again why we're here?]

I sat on a neighboring branch, leaning back against the trunk. My hood covered the top half of my face. [We're waiting for Sensei to finish his walk.]

[Sure.] Two minutes passed. [I mean, why are we here? You mentioned doing one more thing before returning to the island. Then you said you wanted to detour to here. It's not even the same region.]

I shrugged. [Well, I wasn't expecting to do this either. But some asshole is creating poor PR for Team Celeste, and I can't let that slide for too long.]

[So this person lives here. Why don't' we both just go get him now?]

[We could. But I thought Sensei could scope out the city first better than either of us, and avoid any unwanted attention. You wouldn't exactly pass as a person.]

[I kinda doubt Sensei would be sneaky enough to pass as…]

[I'm back,] said a familiar voice.

Nightraider almost fell off the branch from the voice. [Geez, I'm still not used to you doing that!]

I chuckled and sat up. [I take it you had a nice walk, Sensei?]

I glanced downward to see Sensei coming toward us. His broad-shouldered body loomed larger thanks to his overcoat and wide-rim hat. [Indeed. Met an old man named Gent who was more than happy to show me around.]

Nightraider flew down to the ground near Sensei, while I climbed down the tree trunk. [Did he discover who you really are?]

[Almost. He's actually quite full of energy for his age. So much so that he hardly looked back to me. He did take pause at my concealed appearance on one occasion.] He chuckled. [But he was quite pleased that I could keep up with him for someone my age.]

I caught up to them. [So is it otherwise all quiet in Cherrygrove City?]

[Pretty much. Gent is the only other one who's awake at this hour.]

[Then that just leaves our lone target?]

Sensei mumbled. [His mind is distracted by his own thoughts. Quite agitated from what I could feel.]

I puzzled for a second. [Makes sense. He has no idea what he's stumbling into. Let's give him a taste of that, shall we?]

Nightraider stretched his wings. [Finally.]

I led Nightraider and Sensei out of the forest and into the city. It felt too small to be a city, but too large to be a town. It took us less than two minutes to reach the building where our target lived.

Sensei pointed toward a window on the third floor. [He lives in that apartment.]

I nodded. [Alright guys. Just like we planned.]

Nightraider went airborne. Then he gripped his talons around my arms and swooped us up quietly to the third floor window. Sensei stayed on the ground, looking around to make sure there wasn't any stray eyes our way. Thanks to the partial moonlight, I could comfortably peer through the window. I saw a large one-room apartment, with the furniture seen in a bedroom, kitchen, and living room mashed into one. It was completely dark in there, except for light coming from a computer monitor. A husky guy about my age hunkered over the keyboard, with his face up close to the screen.

"Hm." [Hey, Nightraider. Should we wait until he spots us, or just surprise him right now?]

[I don't think he deserves your courtesy. Let's just break in.]

I half-smiled. [Alright.] I lifted my right hand and focused on the open space in the middle of the apartment. My Unbound Rings glowed, creating a portal directly in front of me. The other end of the portal opened within the apartment, which spooked the guy. As Nightraider and I flew in through the portal, the guy fell out of his chair and clumsily hid under the computer desk.

"I knew it!" he screamed. "I knew there were aliens from the Uber Space! You've come here to snatch and replace me!"

The portal closed behind us and we just stared at the guy. "Mace…" I began.

He yelped again. "You know my name!" His legs shook as he stood back up. He leaned against the desk and pointed to his computer. "Stay back! Or else I'll let the chat room know of your existence!"

The two of us stared at Mace for another few seconds. Then I face-palmed. "Geez, he's a wreck."

Nightraider causally pulled a ghostly arrow from his wing and shot it at the keyboard. It exploded on contact, leaving the remaining desk area all smoky. [Try typing your way out now.]

Mace put his hands to his head. "My computer!"

I sighed. "Your monitor is fine. And you can just get a new keyboard. Now just hear us out…"

"No way!" He rushed over to the kitchen area. He forcefully opened a drawer and pulled out a camera. "Now, I…"

Just as he raised the camera, Nightraider shot another arrow. The arrow flew through the camera, whipping it out of Mace's hand before exploding midair. He smirked. [This is fun. What else as he got?]

"My camera!" Now angry more than scared, he went through another drawer and pulled out a butter knife. "You'll pay for…!"

Now it was my turn to make a move. Using my Kineti-Pack, I closed the gap between me and Mace in a second. Startled, he tried to thrust the knife in an overhand arc. "Heh, he thinks I'll stay airborne." I mentally turned off the Kineti-Pack. I suddenly dropped to half my height. His swing continued downward, but I was ready. I held up both my arms to block his arm near his wrist. Then I punched his shin. He winced in pain, but while his grip was loose I whacked his hand with the knife, forcing him to drop it.

Now Mace started backing away against the wall, babbling incoherently. He had a real fear of look in his eyes. "You…I…you…"

"You…" I pushed him against the wall with one hand and covered his mouth. "Shut up…and listen! Got it?"

He nodded furiously. So I let him go while he caught his breath.

Nightraider stood down. [Not bad for taking down someone over your weight class. Though you'll have to show me your moves on someone better than this low life.]

I walked back to Nightraider. [Unfortunately, he isn't the lowest common denominator.] I stood next to my partner and turned to face Mace. "Look here. I'm a busy guy. With bigger fish to fry. But frankly, you've been posting shit for some time now, and I just can't ignore it any longer. So you're going to give me some answers."

Mace frowned while catching his breath. "And then what? You silence me for good and report to the Alchimian Society?"

"Maybe yes…and hell no. I am not part of the Alchimian Society…"

"Then what about Team Celeste?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of group is that?"

"It's a secret organization offshoot of another secret organization. Their goal is to control life itself?"

"…how do you know that?"

He started to feel at ease, and get more excited as he spoke. "Well, a friend of a friend of another person in the chat room overheard a team named after the starry sky. That got me thinking of the myths in Alola. Solgaleo is one such mythical Pokémon that is sometimes known as 'the devourer of the sun'. Other theorists in the chat room have noted symbols all around Alola that represent alchemic symbols for life. So this Team Celeste would revolve around harnessing life. And this friend of mine has a brother who has a friend who heard about some plans of theirs. Creating Pokémon. Fusing Pokémon together. Giving humans abilities only Pokémon used to have…"

I had one hand pinching the bridge of my nose. "Okay…" I raised my other hand to signal him to stop talking. "…this sounds ridiculous."

Mace grew annoyed. "But it's true! I've been hiding here nearly all day, every day so they don't find me out and steal my information."

Nightraider just stood there dumbfounded. [I can hardly speak my mind at how stupid he sounds. Can you speak for me?]

I gave Nightraider a joking glance. Then I focused on Mace again. "Look, you clearly have eaten up too many rumors."

Mace's face turned red. "Oh yeah? Then who profits from increased housing development after the destruction caused by multiple evil teams? Why has businesses been changing hands faster than normal? Why has there been multiple legendary Pokémon sightings in a span of a few years? There must be an evil team behind all of this…"

I inched a bit closer to Mace. "Will you cut that crap? There is no 'end of the world' conspiracy. And there is no super-secret organization. All you've done is make up lies that distract and discredit everything the justice system is really trying to pursue. So what if just one of your hair-brained theories has some truth? That means nothing if everything else is a shit-faced lie, and all credibility in anything related to your conspiracy becomes null!"

"What do you know about justice? You broke into my house!"

Nightraider turned his back. [This seems to be going nowhere.]

I face-palmed. "Just….stop pursuing any conspiracies, or else you could get yourself into some real trouble."

Mace's head swayed, as if disoriented for a couple of seconds. Then he shook his head. "N…no! I won't! The world must know the truth, one way or another!"

[Then perhaps you are unfit to be the messenger,] said Sensei's voice. I could hear it in my head from all the way outside. As can Nightraider…and Mace.

He rapidly pressed back against the wall, looking around rapidly for the source of the voice. "Who said that?! That sounded like it was in my head! Are you the ghost of maiden's peak?!"

[Let me speak to him directly,] Sensei said specifically to me.

I slightly grimaced. [You sure you want me to reveal the Unbound Rings in front of him, of all people?]

Nightraider faced his whole body toward me. [Who's going to believe a conspiracy nut? Just be discrete about creating a portal; I'm pretty sure he's too preoccupied with inner-voices to see what you're doing. Besides, that guy is able to withstand your 'persuasion'. Best to have our Sensei break this hard head.]

I nodded and sighed. Placing my right fist behind my back, I created a portal behind me and Nightraider.

Sensei stepped through it, cutting between us to approach Mace. [Look at me,] He said to him, keeping the telepathic link open for Nightraider and I to hear.

Mace clung to the wall, stammering. He noted the figure before him in a thick overcoat and a wide-rim hat covering his body and face respectively. "Holy Arceus! How did you get in here? HOW are you talking to me like that? You some overweight secret agent?"

[Quite the response coming from someone like you. My discipline has stuck with me into my old age; you have already given up.]

Mace blinked multiple times. "You…are a psychic?"

[I am partly that type. Otherwise I'm quite normal.]

He looked Sensei bottom to top. "Normal, huh? You're so normal you don't show your face, Mr…?"

[No 'mister'. Teacher. Which is what I hope to be for you tonight.]

Mace calmed down a bit. He sized himself up to Sensei. "Yeah, right." He pointed to me. "Your little stooge just threatened to shut me up. What makes you think you'll be any better?"

He sighed. [A teacher's job isn't to tell anyone what to do. I merely guide them in an appropriate path.]

"And what path is that?" he responded sarcastically.

[You seek the truth, yes? That isn't an easy task, and can often be harder to confront than fiction.] He paused, peering into Mace's eyes. [From what I gather, you have foolishly fell for fiction over truth.]

"Hey…!"

Sensei waved his hand toward Mace. [You've made up some single enemy to blame the world's problems on. You've conned innocent people to fight an enemy that either isn't there or they're sorely ill-prepared for. You've buried what is often a complex network of interrelated forces beyond anyone's control.] He grunted. [People; thinking they can control what they don't understand.]

"Oh, so you think you're such a person that's above the rest of us?" He yelled.

There was a second of silence. Then Sensei turned his back to him. [I have followed the path of truth and justice, along with my pupils before you.] He motioned to Nightraider and me. [But I don't think you, Mace, have what it takes to face the truth…]

I smirked. "Oh, he's pulling a similar test he did with me!"

Mace reached over and grabed Sensei's left arm. "Listen, you hypocrite! I can…" Suddenly, he pressed his free hand against his forehead, wincing in pain.

Sensei spun around rapidly to sucker punch Mace. Mace flew against the wall, almost knocking the wind out of him as he slid to the floor. At the same time, Sensei's hat fell off.

When Mace looked back up, his eyes grew wide. His mouth hung open. With the hat off, he now saw an Oranguru in an overcoat. "You're not a…you're a…a…!"

Sensei, that same Oranguru, stared down at him with brightly glowing eyes. [As you can see, truth is harder to witness than fiction. Now that you know my secret, you will show me yours!]

Mace screamed as he gripped his head with both hands. He kept squirming and pleading 'no' between incoherent babbling.

Nightraider turned back toward Mace, witnessing Sensei's work amusingly. [I sometimes forget what a scary teacher Sensei is.]

I half-smiled to him. [We kind of had a similar reaction when we first met him…]

{Approx. 10 years ago}

After fainting for the fourth time, Rowlet and I sat up. I rubbed the back of my head. "Ug. Is this mind reading over?"

Rowlet screeched and flapped his wings again. [You did it again! You're in my head!]

I quickly grabbed him, using my hands to keep his wings against his body. "Okay…stop…" [I don't want to faint a fifth time. And I don't think you do either?]

His breathing took a while to slow to a moderate pace. [Okay…okay…okay…I think I'm good.]

I let go. [Okay…so, how are we doing this?]

He shrugged. [Don't look at me; I'm not a Psychic-type in any way. Maybe it's you.]

[No way…] "Wait…my mom's a psychic. Did she mention having telepathy? Did I get that from her?!"

[Oh, your mom's a Psychic-type? I thought all humans were non-type.]

[Well…ug, my brain hurts. Are we…going to be talking in our heads all the time now?]

He shrugged warily. [I don't know. A bit too curious on talking to humans like this at the moment.]

[…same,] I nodded. [Hm, how about we try to see if we can turn this mental talking off. I'll think of something, and you guess what it is in a minute. Once you guess wrong, we know we have our mind link disconnected. That sound like a good plan to try?]

Rowlet blinked a few times. No response.

[Alright?]

No response. No voice in my head.

I gave him a perplexed look. "Alright?"

Rowlet perked up a bit. [Okay, you can guess now!]

I looked slightly shocked. [Wait, guess what? What do you mean?]

Rowlet tilted his head. [You stopped talking in my head. So I decided to think of something to test if that was still the case…]

[Oh, it worked?]

[Well, how should I know? You haven't guessed what I was thinking yet!]

[You were wondering how weird it would be if Will was talking while thinking,] said a third voice in our heads.

Both of us jolted to our feet. Or rather I got to my feet and Rowlet sprang a few feet into the air. [Who said that?] we both think simultaneously.

[I did,] said the deeper voice again.

Somehow, we felt the voice come from behind me. Rowlet noticed something from that direction first and tucked himself into my arms. I slowly turned around, equally fearful. [Who's there?] I asked again.

A dark, wide-framed figure stepped through the trees toward us. I hardly recognized who it was until the figure crossed into the same opening as us. [No need to fear me. I come in peace,] said the figure.

Rowlet and I still shook in fear, as the figure stood taller than me. "An Oranguru!" [You can talk to me telepathically?]

[And me!] Rowlet peeped.

[To us telepathically.] I put a hand to my head. [How…am I doing this?]

[Actually, I am the one doing the telepathic talking to the both of you, Will,] said Oranguru calmly.

I put my hand back down to hold Rowlet. [And how…do you know my name?]

He smiled slightly. [Oh, I've been keeping an eye on you, the both of you, for quite some time.]

I turned from fear to surprise. [So you were the one who was spying on me? Giving me that uneasy feeling like I'm being watched?]

He nodded. [For a time. Apologies if you felt too uneasy. Although I did get some extra help to keep watch…]

Just then, Zorua came out of the bushes. At first, he gave me an apologetic, sad look. Then quickly switched into a mischievous grin.

"You sneaky little…"

Rowlet squeezed out of my arms. He angrily hooted at Zorua. [I knew it! You said you wanted to help guard us as an apology for my abuse…and look it here! You still have ties to your posse.] He perched on my right shoulder and gave Zorua a dirty look.

Zorua shrugged indifferently. Then he turned to Oranguru and barked a bit.

Oranguru nodded to him. [You were right. This is such an occasion.] He turned back to me, stroking his chin. [Zorua is my most trusted pupil. I merely tasked him with keeping a close eye on you until he either felt you were ready, or a major predicament occurred.]

Rowlet and I looked at each other. [Ready…for what?] I asked Oranguru.

He closed his eyes. [Perhaps a bit of both?] He opened his eyes and turned the way he came. [Follow me. I'd like to show you something.]

Rowlet and I looked at each other again. [I've got an uneasy feeling about this,] Rowlet said to me, burying his beak into his body.

I gave him a pat on his head. [Well, can't be any worse than the storm we just got out of. Don't worry; I'll keep you safe.]

Rowlet gave an assured hoot. [Thanks, Will!]

We followed Oranguru a few paces behind him. He led us through the dense forest at a leisurely pace. Zorua somewhat followed a figure-eight path around Oranguru and I, frolicking.

[As you probably noted, this island is quite inhospitable, despite its outward appearance,] Oranguru said to us as we were walking. [As long as we all can remember, the flying Pokemon have been hostile to just about everyone who's not part of their flock.]

[Super territorial, right?] I said.

[That's possibly part of it. But they attack at just about any moment we're in the open, on any part of the island. Territorial is one thing, but the whole island can't be selfishly blocked off. As far as I've looked, I have not seen any nesting grounds for them, or particularly private sanctuary.]

[So…that must mean there are other islands nearby? Or a mainland?] I started to get excited.

[Likely.]

[So…there is hope for escape?]

[No,] he said darkly. [For one, the next visible island is off the rocky half of the island. We don't go there anymore. Second, even if we could go on any part of the island, the flying Pokemon won't let us.]

I turned crestfallen. [Oh.] I looked down at Rowlet, who seemed a bit squeamish as we talked about the flying Pokemon. [You know anything about them?]

[No,] he replied quickly. [I was just passing through after a storm.] He noticed Oranguru glancing back at him over his shoulder. [Honest!]

Oranguru turned back straight in front of him. [Strange, isn't it? They act like they don't want us here…yet don't allow us to leave. Clearly, some greater force is at play…]

We reached a clearing in the forest that I'd never been to. Largely because the land-based Pokemon seemed to congregate around this area of the forest the most. Now I could see why. This large clearing was shaded by thick branches overhead, concealing them from above. Nests of all kinds scattered along the ground. I spotted groups of Bellsprout, Marill, Patrat, Zigzagoon, Sentret, Yungoos, Sewaddle, Oddish, and Mankey in the campment. The Sneasel I saw before stuck with the Mankey, proudly acting as their de-facto leader. There was also a Tangela, two Ratatta variant to each other, a Jangmo-o, and the Machop that helped me with the raft earlier. Zorua joined his Rockruff companion, who was also in the area.

Oranguru motioned to all these Pokemon. [What you see here is most of my team. These are my surviving students. We make do with the space we can claim. We keep watch for each other's safety. We scavenge for berries, providing for the weaker among us.]

I noticed how glum the Pokemon looked overall. Like a shroud of despair hung heavily just over their heads. [Oh. Is…the berry situation that bad?]

Oranguru narrowed his eyes. [Indeed. The ripest berries tend to grow from the tops of the trees. Of course, the flying Pokemon heavily guard these spots. The only berries we can dare to gather are the ones unexposed to the sunlight. Hardly ideal, but we make due with…limited resources…and shrinking demand…] He bowed his head a bit on his last sentence.

I got a guilty feeling beating through my chest. [I…didn't know competition was this bad.] "I'm…sorry if I seemed adversarial toward you over the food." I spoke the last bit toward the whole group of Pokemon, since most of them looked my way uneasily.

Oranguru looked back to me. [It is what it is. Life moves on. You two are quite like one of us, after all. In the same boat, as humans sometimes say.]

Rowlet flapped a bit. [Does this mean…we're a part of your team?]

[I never said that,] Oranguru eyed Rowlet, then looked at me. [And it depends on how open you are to working with others.]

I stepped back a bit. I felt like I was caught in an unwanted spotlight. [I…lost my parents and home over a year ago. I'm still getting used to things here, and have found some things to keep me occupied.] I looked back to Oranguru. [But if you'd have me, I can work something out with you.]

He stroked his chin again. Then he took a few paces away from us, telepathically talking with his back turned. [You two are quite the survivors, and could make a good addition to the team. But…much like the group in the rocky area, we don't just take anyone in freely.]

Rowlet looked to me. [There's always a catch.]

I nodded in agreement, then took a step toward Oranguru. "So, what do the two of us have to do to join your team?"

Oraguru stopped in the center of the clearing. He turned to us, with a small smile on his face. [Well, as captain of this team, I have the right to approve who passes as an ally to us. You two will have to pass a trial. And given where we are, it simply cannot be just any trial. It will be…an island challenge!]

Rowlet and I looked at each other. We shrugged and looked back to Oranguru. I raised a casual fist. [Alright. We accept your challenge. What'll it be?]

[Will and Rowlet,] he said in a louder telepathic voice, as if making sure all the other Pokemon nearby heard his thoughts, [this island challenge has one goal, with no time limit to completion. You will have to face me in a Pokemon battle…and win. Your trial starts…now!]

{Present day, at night}

After lots of squirming and pleading, Mace finally passed out. Sensei stood upright, then walked to us. [It is done. He will no longer be a nuisance to us.]

[That's it?] said Nightraider. [We're not going to destroy any evidence he has or anything like that?]

[There's no need for that,] I replied. [That'll only delay the inevitable for him. Right, Sensei?]

Sensei nodded, [I've peered into his memories enough to see that he's persistent…regardless of how unhinged his information is.]

[And given the telepathic probing Sensei gave him, he'll likely try to report on us.] I finished with a grin. [But all he'll be given is some public shaming on how outrageous his conspiracies are. We'll be long gone without a trace by then, allowing him to rave on ninja people and talking Pokémon all he wants to himself. Then that will be the last we ever see or hear from him again.]

[Okay,] Nightraider continued, [but won't someone come up soon after hearing him scream like that? Or will anyone care to notice?]

[Given his history,] said Sensei, [he has cut ties with his family. And his neighbors have reported…episodes of theory ranting and unusual behavior. They'll likely believe this to be yet another night loon again.]

He shrugged, [We'll if that's it, then let's go. I believe Will has other things to do?]

I gave Nightraider a slightly peeved glance. [Alright, alright, I got it. No more distractions for me.]

[Speaking of which,] said Sensei, [I wish to take a look at a pond northeast of here. I heard from the city-folk here that that pond is relatively untouched by prying eyes. I bet there's a natural beauty to behold there. Just a short walk.]

Nightraider sighed, [Fine. Been a while since I had a causal night prowl off our island.]

I closed my eyes and thought of the Cherrygrove City entrance sign. Then I held my right hand and summoned a portal. Sensei picked up his hat and put it on before taking the lead. The three of us walked through, leaving the apartment and walking our way out of the city.

[So other than thwarting a poor-man's whistleblower,] said Nightraider, [did we get anything of value from him? I mean, we determined all his facts are wrong…]

[Not necessarily,] said Sensei gravely.

[He wasn't completely baseless,] I added. [Conspiracies always have a bit of truth hidden within the mountain of inaccuracy. I can check with Sensei another time, but I'll bet Mace was on to something Team Celeste is planning…]

{Present day, ? perspective}

My Xtransceiver rang. I reluctantly picked it out of my short pants' pocket and looked at the caller. "Oh, come on! What do they need me for now? Don't they remember what I told them?" I sat in a chair of my motel room and answered the call.

The video feed lit up on my Xtransceiver screen. "About time you answered!" said a woman in a lab coat.

I sighed as I leaned back in my chair, balancing on its hind legs. "Mom, we talked about this. I was going to call you guys back when I finished my work. Couldn't wait a week after I left?"

"Now, listen here!" She started to grow red in the face. "Your father and I are very busy running numerous projects and keeping our organization secret. You are still supposed to be keeping any busybodies from uncovering our operations."

I crossed my right leg over my left, letting my upper body lean the chair against the wall behind me. Then I twirled one of my twintails in my fingers. "I am. You know how I like to do my work," I replied coyly. "Not my fault you bore me with easily manipulative targets."

My mom grumbled, "I see you still dye your hair pink. Pan, I swear you find a more obnoxious shade each time I see you. And could you get more…modest look?"

I put my hand on my exposed midriff. I shrugged. "Hey, I ain't changing a thing I pick! You do your look, I'll do mine. I'll have you know that I would never get as many men, or women, to follow my every whim than the way you had me dressed years ago. Clothes, accessories, and demeanor mean everything." I gave my mom a smug look. "You know…when was the last time dad ever looked at you the way I make my enemies do…"

Her hair started to stick out like static electricity, almost undoing her long ponytail. "Why I'll have you…!"

"Now, Kaylin…" I heard my father before he appeared next to her in the video feed. "…I'll take it from here."

My mom's face turned from red to deep pink. She hesitated for a second, flustered from the sudden close proximity to dad. I gave her one last smirk before she hurried away.

Dad turned to me. "You know, if it were up to me, I'd tell you to stay here."

I frowned. "Well, too late now, dad. And you know your little 'persuasion' trick can't work over the phone."

He sighed. "Regardless, we could use you at this time. Team Smear seems to have made more bold moves as of late."

I gripped my arm with my free hand. "We'll be fine, dad. As much as a nuisance Team Smear has been, they have never been able to slow us down. They hit hard, Team Celeste hits back harder."

"Good to hear," he replied indifferently. "Although our Dark Ball project has been greatly hindered, we are fast-tracking Project Absofusion to compensate. We will never be able to take control of the world without the best tools."

"So what does that have to do with me?" I asked flatly.

"I'm saying, Pan, I'll need all hands on deck. Otherwise I'm going to have to call in…outside help."

I paused for a second. "No way!" I replied gloweringly. "I told you how I want to make myself and my Pokémon stronger, and I'm not coming back until I do."

I could see my father barely holding back an angry shout. "Will would never be so disobedient…"

"Yeah, sorry to burst your bubble," I said sourly. "Got to go now talk to you when I'm done bye!" I hung up before he even finished his sentence.

I tossed the Xtransceiver onto the floor. "I should rip out the Distortion Transmitter from the phone; shit if they care!" I pouted for a few seconds before standing back up. "'Will this', and 'Will that'. Even after he's gone for good...my parents still never shut up about my brother. I'll always be their little 'disappointment'."

I shook my head. "No! Never again! I've come here for one reason, and one reason alone…"

I heard a tap on my window. I looked to see Swellow at the window, with a metallic bracelet in her beak. I grinned from ear to ear. "Perfect!" I went over to the door and quickly let Swellow fly in. She handed me the bracelet. "My very own Z-Ring." I gingerly slipped it onto my right wrist. Eagerly I stepped in from of a full-body mirror. I struck a pose, trying to mimic what I'd seen my brother do. Then I set my right hand on my hip, seeing how the bracelet meshed with my pink hair, black shorts, and white crop top with a shiny violet pendant at its center. "Hm, not bad. Though I think I'll have to ask Smeargle to give it a paint job."

I confidently looked at myself in the mirror. "My brother has humiliated me twice before. But after my trials, I'll be a better Z-move user than my brother ever was. I'll never be defeated again!" I looked to Swellow, who stayed perched at the foot of the bed. I took a Pokeball from my belt. "Good work today, Swellow. I'll certainly see you later." I recalled the Swellow. Then I shifted my fingers among my four Pokemon in their balls. I picked two of them. "Torracat, Lopunny, come on out!" Torracat and Lopunny appeared before me, eagerly awaiting my commands. "It is time to collect those Z-Crystals. Alola won't know what hit 'em!" I turned to Torracat. "We're gonna go through an evolution, you and I, and come out stronger than ever. Now…let's go training!" Torracat and Lopunny cheered as I led them outside. We walked behind the motel. I positioned the two to face each other in a makeshift battlefield in the grass. I stretched and took in the morning sunlight. "My parents may lament you, little brother. And if I'm honest, I kind of do, too. But only because you won't be around to see the trainer I'll become. In a few weeks, I'll be the fairest trainer in all the world!"