"Go Rowlet!" I yell as I throw my pokeball. The Yungoos is staring at me after I approached him.
Caleb and I got an early start on the day. We were both excited to get me ready and going for my first trial. First step was capturing my 2nd Pokemon. Well technically my 3rd but as I've said before Skitty will not be used.
Rowlet came out of the ball and appeared right in front of the Yungoos who stood on his hind legs to intimidate. Rowlet turned his head around 180 degrees and looked at me. Then he looked back at the Yungoos and back at me and finally back at the Yungoos.
Caleb laughed.
Caleb was sitting down on a patch of grass with my Skitty on his lap.
"Rowlet, Razor Leaf." Rowlet makes a childish sounding noise and sends leaves flying at the Yungoos connecting with it.
The Yungoos recovers and charges at my Rowlet. My mind goes empty for a moment, but then I yell out "dodge it!" It was too late.
Rowlet stayed on his little feet and dusted himself off. That got another chuckle out of Caleb. Rowlet, without my order, charged towards the Yungoos and hit it with his beak. As the Yungoos attempted to counter attack Rowlet hopped over it's head landing behind him with it's back facing the enraged Yungoos.
Yungoos growled and again charged Rowlet. "Jump to the air, Rowlet," I order. Rowlet hesitates, turns his head backwards looking at the charging Yungoos upside down. When the Yungoos gets close, Rowlet jumps. "Tackle!"
Rowlet adjusts in midair and sends himself straight down into Yungoos head first. He connects with Yungoos' head and deflects off landing a couple feet in front of me.
The Yungoos struggled to get up. I reached into my pocket and grabbed a Pokeball and tossed it at the Yungoos. Except I missed it.
Caleb laughed. Rowlet turned his head back 180 degrees again and just looked at me.
I chuckled and tried again. This time the Pokeball connected with Yungoos' abdomen and I waited as the ball jiggled. When it stopped and clicked this wave of joy surrounded me. I had caught my 1st wild pokemon by battling it.
Caleb got up and walked over to me with my Skitty in his arms.
"See, that wasn't so hard!"
I sent Rowlet back to his ball and placed him and the pokeball with Yungoos on my belt.
"Although, maybe I should help you out with your aim," he joked with a cackle.
"Shut up," I say back.
We walk back to Hau'oli city and go to the Pokemon Center where I hand off my two pokemon to the nurse at the counter. She hands them off to an assistant who walks to the back. On the other side of the Pokemon Center is a cafe of sorts.
"Here in Alola, we believe that having a cafe at the Centers is relaxing for the Trainers as they wait. It was also a way to battle the influx of foreign business. As foreigners came, so did big competition. It forced the locals to adapt. We did with these unique Pokemon Centers. Pretty neat?"
Caleb seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about Alola. He has clued me in on some of the nuances and traditions of the region. If I'm being honest he makes me feel welcomed and as if I belong here or at least he wants me to feel like I do.
We walked over to the man heading the cafe. He was an elderly man, wore a patchwork shirt and cardigan pants. When he spoke there was a roughness to it but he didn't seem rough, so to speak. Caleb got us both a Tapu Cocoa. The man gave us both and my Skitty a biscuit, on the house, something he says is part of the tradition in Alola. However, there was a tin with the biscuits nearby on sale for 50 Pokedollars, which was pretty cheap.
I bought 10.
We hung around near the cafe as we waited for the nurse to come back with my Pokemon. Caleb took this time to teach me about type matchups. I knew most of them, because I studied when my brother competed in the Hoenn League. My dad helped me. However, I haven't exactly paid it much attention in the last year or so.
Caleb also talking a little about tactics. He told me the most important thing is to know the strengths and weaknesses of your own Pokemon. Then take that knowledge and see how the opponent deals with your Pokemon. Use their tactics against them.
"Also, if your opponent figures out what you are doing and adjusts, then you must adjust too. If you show you can adjust that mentally helps defeat our opponent. That will trickle down to the Pokemon when it sees that it's trainer doesn't have confidence."
One of the things I've noticed about Caleb is that when it comes to being a Trainer he can be pretty focused and serious. He is normally very easy-going but he is different right now. I mean he still has that infectious smile but there is conviction in his tone and words as he speaks about type matchups and tactics. And yesterday during the battle with Hala, same thing, there was confidence in conviction with him. It's like he becomes a different person.
With my Pokemon healed and ready to go we decide to head back and call it a day, for now. Caleb has to do some chores but he wants to meet up with me later tonight at Hau'oli City. When we arrive at the fork to Iki Town and the Outskirts we say goodbye.
I walk on home, sorta dreading it.
Before I can see my home though I am stopped by Castor and his girlfriend, Iwika. I try to ignore them and walk by them but Castor trips me and laughs. Skitty growls at Castor as they laugh. I get up off the ground and wipe away the dirt.
"Where are you going, Splits?"
"My name is Cameron," I say with a shaky voice. Caleb scoffs at me.
"Splits. That's your name."
I try again to walk by them but they don't let me. Castor places his hand on my chest and pushes me back.
"We are going to battle right here and now."
He grabs a pokeball, one of 4 on his waist, and throws it. A Pikipek comes out. I hesitate and then grab one of my own pokeballs.
Rowlet.
Yes, I am at a disadvantage but I want to prove that I can win even with it.
Castor laughs at my Rowlet.
"Rowlet, razor leaf!"
Castor tilts his head and chuckles. "Wing Attack." I watch as the Pikipek flaps it's wings send a whirl of grass and dirt towards Rowlet's razor leaf, decimating it. Then it heads for Rowlet and connects.
That hurts.
"Pikipek, Fury Attack now!" Pikipek barrages through the air towards Rowlet and lands on his head. He begins to peck away at Rowlet furiously.
"Rowlet, shake him off." As Pikipek continues to peck away, Rowlet runs around shaking it's head trying to get the annoying bird off of him. When he approaches a tree I get an idea. "Rowlet, headbutt straight ahead!"
Rowlet charges straight ahead into the large tree in front of him sandwiching Pikipek in between. He backs up freed from Pikipek's talons, but he is breathing heavily.
"Use Peck attack!" I order him. Rowlet hops towards the dizzied Pikipek as Castor orders Pikipek to dodge.
Pikipek dodges.
"Pikipek, Gust attack!"
It's super effective. Rowlet is done.
Castor and Iwika laugh. Castor calls back his Pikipek and walks towards me. He shoves me down to the ground again when I hear someone yell. "Enough!"
Illima.
He walks towards me and helps me up, ignoring the fact that Castor is standing right next to him. He asks me if I'm okay. I just nod. Then he turns to Castor and his face contorts.
"There is no need for that, especially after a good battle like that."
Castor doesn't say anything. He just smirks.
"Now move it along. I'll deal with you later I assume."
Castor laughs and walks away.
Meanwhile, Rowlet gets up off the ground and saunters toward me. I bend down and pick him up.
"You did well, buddy." I reach into my the side-pocket of my backpack and grabbed a biscuit that I got from the cafe and gave it to Rowlet. His face glowed as he bit into it.
"Let your Pokemon rest at home. He'll be fine by tonight," Rowlet said in a comforting tone.
"Thank you, Illima."
"Mhm. People like Castor shouldn't have Pokemon. He's a bully and I hate bullies."
I nod my head and walk off.
"Oh. Next time, try and use that Yungoos you have. Or even Skitty." I look down at Skitty and he looks up at me.
"Okay."
He waves as I head home feeling defeated. I hate losing and I just lost to the bully that made me want to do this Island Challenge. Meanwhile, I have come to the realization that Illima has been keeping an eye on me. Does he do that with all of his future opponents?
Nevertheless, I plan to face his trial sooner rather than later.