"Are you sure you want to leave without Greninja?" Gramps asked when we finally returned to Ninja Village. I was sitting outside of his house with both him and Weavile. Pawniard and Greninja played with the village children. They climbed on Geninja and some pulled on his tongue. The youngest copied their favorite pokemon or chased each other around pretending to be them.

I nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. I have other pokemon to take care of anyway. Greninja is strong enough without me."

Weavile shook his head with a quiet chuckle.

"What?" I challenged.

Weavile informed me that Greninja was different now since coming with me and that it was a good thing. He suspected there was something I must've done to help him open up as much as he did.

"I think he was just angry at something," I looked at Greninja. "I mistook him for Oaky because I thought Oaky was a male Froakie but I found out that wasn't the case. But they do look similar. I did eventually find Oaky, but she's staying here in Kalos too." The two nodded in understanding, probably noticing the tone of my voice.

I looked down at my pokeballs and brought out Decidueye. "You ready to go home?" I asked him.

He nodded, happy to see that I was allowing him to stretch out and walk around again like I used to.

Greninja, Weavile, and Pawniard all escorted us out of the village. I knew the first place to go was to Alola, and from there…well who knows.

The waves bumped up against the boat harshly for the third day again, forcing my head and half of my torso over the edge of the boat again for the third day in a row. I still HATE the ocean more than any pokemon. I was smart enough to put it up in a topknot while I tried not to puke.

I groaned and put my forehead against the rail of the boat. "Why? Why did I have to take a boat? Why can't Professor Kukui just send over a charizard?"

Decidueye responded with a tilt of his head. He, at least, seemed fine.

In the distance I saw a familiar face. I smiled and waved at the dark skinned, goofy boy jumping up and down. "Hau!" I yelled as the boat got closer and when we docked I half jumped off the boat. Hau had been my friend since I met him at Professor Kukui's. He was goofy but very sweet, almost naïve.

"Wow, Decidueye, you look great!" Hau tugged on the pokemon's wings and ran around him. Decidueye looked only a little annoyed. "Where's Oaky? I was hoping to battle him?" He looked disappointed.

"Oaky…Oaky is back at Kalos. She's happy there."

Hau's brown eyes widened, "She?"

I nodded. "I'd been mistaken. Oaky was female. But that's okay that I left her because I have a new friend. The Froakie attacked me while I was coming home so I caught him."

His bright eyes sparkled when he smiled. "Well, come on! Everyone's waiting for you!" He pulled me along and I couldn't help but laugh. He pulled me up the hill to Iki Town. Decidueye ran to keep up with us.

"Wait, Hau, I need to go home and change! The air here is kind of sticky, nothing like Kalos."

Hau stopped and grinned. "That's okay. I don't think they're ready yet anyway."

Ready for what? I didn't ask, I didn't want to. We detoured back down the hill and toward the ocean where my house sat. It was the only house, the closest neighbor being Professor Kukui's house right at the beach.

I changed into a loose top that exposed my belly and baggy shorts. Alola was sticky because we were surrounded my salt water but I loved the stickiness as long as I had loose clothes too.

Hau finally didn't drag me as we made our way up the hill to Iki town. I abandoned my pack at home, taking only the pokeballs with me. I could always give them to Professor Kukui if I needed to trade out my pokemon.

The sunset here was unlike Kalos. The sun often lit the sky on fire in brilliant oranges and pinks. Apparently, everyone waited for my arrival so they could throw a party and have one more reason to battle. Hala challenged that anyone come and defeat him. Of course Hau was first up.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Where's Oaky?" Everyone continued to ask me.

"At Kalos," I continued to answer everyone.

Late into the night I slipped away into the dense forest and made my way across the bridge that may or may not hold up my body weight. Decidueye, like always, was right by my side never once skipping a step. I walked to the stone statue that depicted Tapu Koko, the Guardian of the island, and I touched it.

"Tapu Koko," I whispered to the stone, "I'm back."

I heard it answer with a screech but it didn't show itself. I nodded and left an offering of a few different berries and went back to the party. The Tapus and I had a long history with each other. I battled every single one of them. You don't become the Champion of Alola without each of the Tapu's blessings after all!

The party was still more than lively when I came back. Professor Kukui waved me over when he saw me. "Good to have you back, Cousin!" He grinned. "How was Kalos?"

"Pretty dreary. Not as colorful as it is here. I think…I think I'll stay here for a while." I nodded and smiled up at him. "Oh, I have some new pokemon too." I called out Froakie and Treecko to show off.

Professor Kukui knelt down with a curious gleam and nodded. "They look like fine pokemon. Raise them well."

I nodded. "I will. Are the rest of my pokemon still with you?"

He nodded as he stood. I called the two pokemon back. "And they can't wait to see you again. Especially rotom," he laughed. "He's been tearing up my lab since you left. I didn't bring him with me so you'll have to go straight to my lab before going home."

I smiled and looked at the sky as the fireworks started.

"Everyone is happy to have their Champion back," Kukui claimed. I looked around at all of the smiling faces. Sometimes I wish I didn't waste my life trying to find Oaky. Sometimes I hope I'll be able to do a better job raising Froaky. Sometimes I'm more than confident in my skills as Alola's Champion.

Here in Alola the bond between pokemon and trainers are different. I think it's something in the air, or maybe it's simply the people themselves but everyone here is livelier. The world could end and our solution is to throw a party. Whatever it is it's a place everyone flocks to for vacation but not me. I think I'll stay and defend my title until the Tapus pass their blessing to someone else, which won't be for a very long