I woke up to my Skitty sleeping next to my chest and my Rowlet sleeping on my head. He thinks he's funny but I assure you he is not.

Okay maybe he is.

Last night was one of those scary but confidence building nights. Yes, I let the bullying get to me and cause me to react, but I think the reaction was positive.

I lost the battle with Caleb who started his Island Challenge a month ago. He had a Litten. After the battle ended I suspected he'd throw it in my face that he won, because that's what I was used to. He didn't.

"You did fine for a first-timer," he said with a half smile.

We talked for a bit to get to know each other. He has only completed the trial on Melemele Island. He is due to face off against Hala tonight. Also, he got a late start on the challenge because he got sick right after the ceremony. A bad fever supposedly, which kept him in bed for almost 2 weeks.

All in all he seemed like a pretty nice guy.

I got up out of bed and showered. When I got back my Rowlet was riding Skitty. Skitty didn't seem to care as he carried the cheeky little bugger into the living room.

I like them being out of their pokeballs. I feel like pokeballs are so confining to the Pokemon. It almost seems mean to me. Skitty hasn't been in his pokeball a lot. Only when he jumped into one to be officially mine and during the flight to Alola. Other than that he stays out.

I look at the two pokeballs on my dresser and contemplate my Island Challenge quest. Was I really going to do this? I don't know. My mom probably won't be happy. Which is annoying because Aaron started the Hoenn League a week after his 14th birthday. I turn 15 in a few weeks. Looking at the two pokeballs I decided I wouldn't use Skitty. I couldn't bare to see him get hurt again. I'll bring him along but he'll be a sightseer. Plus, I don't think he has the energy to even battle. Lazy fool.

"You are not going on this challenge or whatever," my mom says adamantly as we eat breakfast.

"Mom, are you kidding me?"

"Absolutely not." She doesn't even look at me.

I can hear Aaron chuckle as he eats his toast.

"Aaron was allowed to go out when he was my age."

"That was different, Cameron."

So annoying. "Yeah because Dad was there."

Both Aaron and my mom looked at me. Well my mom glared with disapproval and Aaron looked at me with a look saying, "Did you really just go there? Damn."

"No, because I knew Hoenn." What she really meant to say was that dad knew people around Hoenn to keep an eye on Aaron.

I shook my head in disgust and stormed out of the house. I walked past Route 1 towards Iki Town but instead went to Hau'oli City. I've only been here once before. It's really beautiful. There is nothing like it in Hoenn. Especially not with the beach.

There is something about Hau'oli City that strips away at the anger I have inside me. The sea breeze on the beach is calming.

As I sit on the beach a hand comes down on my shoulder. Caleb.

He's wearing a yellow and white striped tea with beige colored shorts. He sits besides me before saying Hi. Actually, he doesn't say hi or alola at all.

He peers out towards the bright blue sea and says "She's beautiful, huh?"

I tilted my head slightly at how he described the water as a she but I guess people do that. I mean people always call their boats by a female pronoun. I still think that's strange, but whatever.

"Yeah."

"Does it remind you of Hoenn at all?"

I never really thought about it, but I guess it does. "Sorta. Hoenn's water is not as clear as the water here though."

I watched as two Pelippers flew in the shy dipping down in the water to cool off. Back at Hoenn it was said that the mouth of a Pelipper can actual hold a small child. I don't want to see if that's true. It is also one of the few Pokemon here that are also in Hoenn. Almost makes this place seem more like home.

"I've always wanted to go to Hoenn," he said. I looked at him as he looked at the sea with this hint of bewilderment and excitement. "I've only been to Kanto. It was wonderful over there."

"I've never left Hoenn. So this is technically the only other region I've been to."

His face lowered causing his smile to vanish. "It must be pretty tough. Um, ya know like moving away from home, from your friends and everything that was just home and now you are in this new place with new people and new surroundings but it's supposed to be home."

Supposed to be.

"Yeah. It sucks, but what can I do. My mom got a good paying job here. I'm 14. I have no say," I say with a hint of sarcasm.

He places his hand on my shoulder and gives me a reassuring smile and says, "Well you did get a Rowlet out of it. Also, you are going to do the Island Challenge. It'll be great."

I scoff at his attempt to boost my spirits. "Not if my mom has any say. She doesn't want me to do the challenge."

He sighed.

There was a rather long and awkward silence between us after that until he broke it. "Did you know some Pokemon here are originally Kanto Pokemon, but they look different?" I shake my head. He smiles and hops up to his feet.

"Well come follow me," he said reaching out to me. I took his hand and propped myself up as he pulled.

We walked through the city until we reached the exit of to the west and north onto Route 2. That is when I saw the Meowth playing with a Yungoos. It wasn't a Meowth that I knew from Kanto. No. It was a darker color and it's eyes were smaller.

"It's a dark type," Caleb said as if he was telling me a secret.

Meowth is typically a Normal type. I was baffled by this new form of Meowth. I looked over at him and he was just glistening.

Okay I may be hating Alola, or at least trying to, but Caleb is pretty cool. His smile and positiveness is infectious.

"Meowth isn't the only Kanto Pokemon to have a variant form here in Alola. I won't tell you which ones. Better if you are surprised like you just were."

He yelled out for the Meowth and tossed a pokeball. The ball opened and out came his Litten. His Litten was full of sass. It's like she is judging you with every look she throws at you.

And just like that his Litten took down a Meowth and he caught it. It literally began to lick its paws after the battle.

He put the pokeball in his pocket and looked at his watch. "Ah crap. I have to go home. I was supposed to be back 5 minutes ago."

"I'll walk back with you," I said with a tight smile.

When we got back to Route 1 we split off as he went to Iki Town and I went to the Outskirts.

"Oh, you should go see Kukui. Go get a Pokedex and get him to convince your mom to let you join me on the Island Challenge."

I was going to ask why he would want me to join him but his smile told me why. I gave him a thumbs up and we went our separate ways.

I dreaded going back home. Not being with Caleb left me feeling lonely and negative. I hate this feeling.

However, when I walked up to my home Professor Kukui walked out. He spotted me and waved, "Cousin!"

How awkward would it be if I yelled "Cousin!" as well?

I didn't. I just waved back.

My mom followed Kukui out of the home. She seemed cautiously happy.

"I was hoping you would come with me to my place so I can set you off on your adventure."

I didn't look at my mom and held in a snicker. "My mom doesn't want me to go." Just as I said that my Rowlet came outside and hopped up on the staircase railing next to Kukui.

"Ah, yes. I spoke to your mother about that. I told her that you would likely not be alone. People always complete the challenge with the friend. I'm sure a nice kid like you has gained a friend already."

I looked away unsure how to respond.

"Cameron, do you have someone you can go with?" my mom asks.

I contemplate on whether to mention Caleb. I don't know if he's my friend, but he's the only person my age to be friendly to me. When my mom's face drops, I mention him. Kukui and my mom's faces light up.

"Caleb, huh. Yes, he's a fine young man. I know his family and they are wonderful people. His sister completed the challenge 2 years ago. She'll be competing in the new Pokemon League we're establishing in a couple months."

My mom seems pleased to hear this. She tells me that I should invite him over for dinner one night. She thinks I don't know that she wants this just so she can investigate if he's a good person for herself.

But I do.

I roll my eyes and disregard her when Professor Kukui mentions that Caleb will be facing off against Hala tonight. Kukui invites my mom and I to come and watch. My mom gladly accepts the invitation.

"And you, cousin, please come by my facility by the beach later, say 5PM. I will give you a Pokedex and tell you what to expect on your quest to complete the Island Challenge.

That's when I hear a scoff behind me.

"Cameron is no trainer. He'll embarrass himself and the family."

Aaron.

He snickers as he walks past me. Kukui looks at me and winks. I just nod at him.

"I'll see you later, Cameron. Bring your Skitty with you, please." I didn't know why he wanted me to bring Skitty but I agreed to do so anyways.