Author's Note: Before you guys/gals read the next chapter I want to give a heads up on how I will update this story. The goal is ultimately to update every 2-3 days. I am currently on Chapter 17 at this point, because I can't stop writing. So I have 12 chapters left to publish so that will cover me until the end of the year. However, this may change if I decide to combine chapters into one if the chapters are small. Although, I think 1800-2000 words, or anywhere near there, for a chapter is fine. I don't want to have more than 3,000 words in a chapter unless you guys want that. If you do then let me know.
Anyways, I don't have any clue how long this will be. I'm possibly 1/5 of the way done at the end of chapter 17, but who knows. Will this finish at Chapter 85? Maybe, maybe not lmao.
After my defeat to Castor I became reticent to going on this challenge. I have this problem where I tend to talk myself out of things. I get caught up in the negative aspects of my life and let it control me.
For instance 6 months ago, in Hoenn, I was asked to go to the Battle Frontier with my friends. Carl was trying so hard to get me to go but I chickened out. My brother was going to be there and competing.
Okay, maybe I should give you context. Um. Almost 11 months ago my father died. I'm not going to go into detail about his death except for saying he died. He was a Pokemon trainer. He used to be the gym leader at Petalburg but he retired. My dad owns a couple records at the Battle Frontier. For instance, he defeated 104 trainers in a row at the Battle Tower and 89 at the Battle Factory.
Going to the Battle Frontier would've been a stark reminder of my dad. Watching my brother try to break his records would've compounded it. So yeah, I talked myself out of it because of that. I was trying to ignore things that reminded me of my dad.
"Come on, Cam. This will be good for you. Not everything about your dad has to be bad. Look at your brother, he's celebrating your dad by competing. You should celebrate who he was too."
Carl was...is my best friend. He was always there for me when I needed him especially after my dad died.
"I can't Carl. I'm sorry," I had said to him. I remember feeling so guilt-ridden for going back on our plans. Thankfully he was going with a group of our friends.
He had smiled at me and nodded. He understood, as usual.
I've talked to him a couple times since moving here. Saying goodbye to him was the toughest things I've ever had to do. He and I have been friends since we were babies. We were neighbors. Carl, to me, is what I wish Aaron was. He is supportive, kind, and uplifting. I don't know why he is the way he is but I'm pretty lucky to call him my friend.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't dread talking to him because he reminds of home and reminds me of what I miss so much. Anyways, Carl is actually completing the Hoenn League. He's finished his first couple of gyms at Rustboro City and Dewford Town.
I look over the clock and see that I've been napping for a couple hours. The Sun was beginning to set causing the sea to look like it was on fire. There was this immense color of orange and red in the sky. It was beautiful.
Skitty was sleeping on the window ledge, something he likes to do at this time. He doesn't really look outside but I think he just likes the ambiance of it all while he sleeps. Rowlet is wobbling and hopping around joyfully, fully healed it seems.
I'm supposed to meet up with Caleb in about an hour at Hau'oli City but I'm going to head out now to the city. Want to get a feel for it on my own, plus I'm not sure what he has planned for us.
My mom is watching television on the couch sipping on some local tea. Hoenn didn't have a lot of variety in tea so she either purchased them from other regions like Sinnoh and even Alola, although Alola's were a bit expensive. My aunt always sent some tea over from Kanto though.
I reached into my bag and grabbed a biscuit that I got earlier at the cafe and handed it to her. She looked at me, smiled and thanked me.
Things between us have always been shaky, more so since dad died, but for however tough it has been for me I can only imagine how tough it has been for her. And with Aaron always out, she must feel lonely from time to time.
I didn't bring Skitty with me, figured he'd could keep my mom some company while I head out with Rowlet. He seemed to be okay with that when he plopped himself up on the couch beside her. He's done more walking today than he had since I found him.
I exit the my house and within 5 minutes I notice these black little Pokemen running about. They look like Rattata but are bigger and, well, black. Rattata, a Kanto region Pokemon, are small and purple.
This must be an Alolan variant, like the Meowth Caleb caught. I wonder how many Alolan variant Pokemon there are here. Caleb wants me to be surprised but I kind of want to know now. Maybe I'll ask Kukui next time I see him.
Hau'oli City is beautiful at this time. The setting sun glistens off the glass panes on the buildings, especially the mall. The mall is located in the shopping district. I dropped quite a bit of cash there on new clothing and the backpack I have. The backpack was just for the Island Challenge, however.
The people and the atmosphere is so much different here than in Hoenn. People in Hoenn are rigid whereas folks here are so laid-back. From Kukui, to Caleb, to Illima, and even Hala there is this don't take things too seriously attitude that I kinda enjoy. It's sort of a breath of fresh air. Speaking of fresh air; the air here is so much cleaner than Hoenn.
I walk down the street as kids stroll by on roller blades and bikes. Wingulls and Pikipeks fly about as stray Pichu walks along the sidewalk. There are Yungoos and Meowths loitering about in the patches of grass. There are also Magnemites that are levitating about.
As the sun finally makes it's way below the horizon I see this strange colorful ooze seep out from the sewer grates. It glides across the ground eating the junk the citizens may have dropped or thrown. I take out my Pokedex and focus it on this colorful looking Pokemon.
Grimer. Alolan Variant.
"Quite the looker, huh?" A soft, yet familiar voice said. His sandy brown hair blows lightly in the wind. His bright blue eyes pierce through the air as he looks at me. The smile, full of warmth, aimed towards me.
"Hey, Caleb."
"Grimer like to come out at night. The Janitors here actually own some Grimers to help them clean. Melemele Island isn't home to janitors though, they come from Ula'ula Island."
The Grimer slid away in between a couple buildings where I'm sure it'll find more garbage to eat. I was just amazed with how it looked.
"I saw a Rattata earlier," I said to Caleb.
His eyes widened a little, "Ah, another variant. What'd you think?"
"They definitely scarier than the Kanto one. We have them in Hoenn and they are small. These ones can stand on their hind legs and are fatter."
He chuckled. "Yup they sure can be fat. You should see a Raticate." He chuckled again.
"Where's your Skitty?" he asked with a tilt of his head.
"Ah, I left that lazy bum with my mom." He looked slightly disappointed but then told me how sweet he thought Skitty was. I have a feeling Skitty is going to like Caleb more than me eventually.
We didn't speak about the Island Challenge all that much. He asked if I was nervous and I said that I was a little nervous. I didn't mention how I nearly talked myself out of it earlier.
Most of what we talked about surrounded Hoenn. Caleb was so interested in Hoenn, so much so that he wants to visit Hoenn. I may or may not have promised to take him there and give him a tour. I said it in the heat of the moment as a good gesture, but I didn't really mean it. However, I likely will if I do go back and he comes along.
We walked down the pier where there was a commotion. Now, I've been here few almost 2 weeks and I've never seen one bit of crime. The police must be bored, although I guess that's a good thing.
There was one cop holding this girl and they were being harassed by these 3 guys wearing black clothing. Their shirts had what looked like a skull on it.
Caleb and I quickly walked towards the commotion breaking from the small crowd that had grown. One of the thugs walked up to us. He had a bandanna covering his face and a hat or helmet on covering his blue hair.
"Yo, what do you want?" he said with a brutish voice.
"What's going on here?" Caleb said.
"None yo business, kid. Now mind yourself before you wreck yo-self, bro."
Caleb looked at me and nearly chuckled.
"He stole my Pikipek!" The young girl wailed. That's when I looked at Caleb, reached to my waist and pulled out my Pokeball.
"Give back her Pikipek, now!" I exclaim as anger floods my blood.
The grunt looked at me and laughed. He whistled and another grunt came out of the building at the pier. Then one of the grunts near the cop and the little girl walked over. The 3 of them drew pokeballs and threw em. Yungoos, Zubat and Drowzee appeared in front of us.
Caleb and I sent out our starter Pokemon, Litten and Rowlet, out.
One of the thugs cackled. "You fools are outnumbered. Better save yourself the embarrassment ,yo."
"Yeah! Go home to your mommy!"
I laughed as Rowlet kept spinning his head around and around. He certainly wasn't worried.
"Go Fomantis!" A young girl yells out from behind us. I turn around and see a girl wearing an orange shirt and beige pants walk towards us. She looked at me and winked. "Now it's even, Team Skull."
"Yo, these kids think they can take us," one of the thugs said to the other.
"Yeah, well we'll teach these scrubs." He looks towards me with a glare. "Zubat, air cutter on Rowlet."
Litten jumps in front of Rowlet and takes the hit. Rowlet hops on top of Litten and jumps off and lands on Zubat. "Peck!" I yell. Rowlet pecks away at the wings of Zubat, his weight bringing Zubat down to the ground.
The young girl tells her Fomantis to use Leaf Blade on Drowzee while Litten headbutts Yungoos.
We make quick work of the thugs and their Pokemon right before more officers stroll into the area. The thugs were able to escape on a boat.
"These damn Team Skull hooligans. Coming to this Island causing mayhem amongst our people," bellows the police captain who is clearly annoyed. He pulls at the messy gray hairs above his lip as he breathes deeply.
He walks over to us and takes another deep breath. "Jeffrey tells me you guys battled those hooligans."
"Yes, it was my friend's idea," Caleb said tilting his head in my direction. Okay, I guess it was my idea since I grabbed my Pokeball first. "We weren't going to stand for thugs stealing a little girl's Pokemon," he continued.
The Pikipek that was stolen was now in the little girl's arms. Seeing her smile as she cried made me happy.
"You have my deepest gratitude for your actions today," the cop said.
We spoke with him some more telling him what we saw and sharing who we were. The young girl who helped us said her name was Lana Manao. She disappeared before I could get to talk to her.
Once we were let go, Caleb and I decided we had enough fun for the night. Tomorrow we were going to meet up bright and early as I start my Island Challenge.
I think he was more excited than I was.