"Blu!" Peeko called as she flew down from the sky. She landed softly on the sand and looked at Blu with adoration in her eyes. "Blu, it's been a while since you were here last!"

"Hey, you know me, Peek," Blu replied, "I just go where my shell floats me." Blu meant to pat me on the back, but he hit me so hard I almost fell forward on my face. "This here's Stun, the Psychic Demon dude."

Peeko's eyes widened. "The Psychic Demon? The crazy-powerful Gallade?"

"That's me," I muttered, rubbing my aching shoulder.

"Yeah, he's cool though." Blu grinned. "Mesprit told me to help 'im out, so he's gotta be a decent dude. We were hopin' you might be able to help us out, actually, Peek."

"Anything for you, Blu!" Peeko smiled happily at the Blastoise, and I could sense there was some sort of attraction between the two.

To prevent myself from wondering how a relationship between a Blastoise and Pelliper would work, I spoke up, "We're looking for some friends of mine: a Raichu, a Lopunny, and a Gardevoir. They were captured by a Team Rocket grunt before they broke up. Have you seen anyone like that?"

Peeko frowned. "A Team Rocket member, huh? Ooh, that doesn't sound good at all. I don't think I've seen a Team Rocket guy show up, but I guess he wouldn't exactly where the old uniform, huh? Hmmm..." She paused for a moment more, before her eyes lit up. "Ooh! Wait, I know! There's been a buncha bad humans popping up recently, I wonder if maybe your guy would have joined them!"

Blu sat down in the sand and stretched. "Bad humans? Here in Alola? How could anyone be a jerk in this paradise?"

Peeko shrugged. "I dunno, they've just been popping up and stealing Pokémon for money or something. Sounds like something Team Rocket was into, too."

"That's right. Do you know where we can find these guys?"

"Um, not really," Peeko replied. "They just sorta show up and disappear randomly. They're not the most organized bunch."

I was about to reply, when I heard Professor Kukui a short distance away, talking to a younger human with dark hair.

"Now this is more like it, yeah! Welcome to paradise, cousin," he was saying to the boy. They were standing outside of a wooden house. "This is the Alola region! Folks here in Alola get along by living together with Pokémon and working together, too."

"Do you think that human, Kukui, would know where to find this gang?"

"Hey, yeah, maybe!" Peeko replied. "Professor Kukui is really smart and nice, like most people here in Alola. Maybe the humans would know where to find them!"

I watched the two of them walk away. "Who's that boy Kukui is talking to?"

"Oh, that's a brand-new resident! I saw him and his mom sail in, they seem pretty nice, I think."

"Well hey, let's follow 'em, I guess." Blu stood back up. "I don't usually go too far from my sweet li'l beach, but I guess it couldn't hurt."

I nodded and we ran after them.

...

The three of us walked into a small town and spotted the professor and the boy in the center.

"Sun! Do me a solid and go find the island kahuna! I'll wait around here to make sure we don't miss each other." The boy, Sun, nodded and walked past Kukui.

"Oh, hey, guys!" Kukui smiled at us and waved. I guess it wasn't too hard to spot the huge Blastoise. Note to self: if Blu is going to be traveling with me for now, stealth is going to be near impossible.

Blu waved back, and we approached him. There were a few other humans out, but surprisingly they were not paying much attention to us.

"Hello, Kukui," I replied telepathically. "I've heard that there has been a recent surge of humans stealing Pokémon here in Alola, is that true?"

Kukui's smile fell and he crossed his arms seriously. "...You must be talking about Team Skull. I'm afraid you're correct, yes. They're a bunch of hooligans, really, but they've been quickly increasing in numbers and causing problems all over Alola."

"Do you know where I can find them?"

Kukui frowned. "You want to find them? Why would you come to Alola just to look for trouble?"

I glanced at Blu, but he just grinned. "Man, you sure are suspicious, huh? You can tell 'im."

"My daughter and friends were captured by a Team Rocket member some time ago. We think he might have fled here and joined Team Skull. I want to find them."

"Hoo, boy, that sure is deep. Well... I heard that they recently they sorta took over Po Town and made it their base."

I nodded. "Thank you." I turned to Blu and Peeko. "Do either of you know how to get to Po Town?"

"I do!" Peeko said excitedly. "I can definitely take you there!"

I turned back to Kukui. "You've been very helpful. I'll be leaving for Po Town now."

He nodded somberly. "You be careful out there, Stun. Be sure to visit me when you're done, I'll be worried."