Alolan Adventure

Chapter 4

By: Gandire

Calem sits up on his bed upon waking up the next morning. He rubs the pokemon egg he's holding as he sits in place and reflects on the previous day. Those battles were too reckless. How stupid can he be? A small slip up during any one of them would have been disastrous… Except, they weren't because he didn't.

Calem clenches his fists. That's the mind set he needs to get back into, even if it is dangerous. If not for himself, then for Mawile. She wants that for him as well, even if she might get hurt in the process… He takes a deep breath and also reminds himself, one mishap and I'll lose everyone, again.

His mother knocks on his door, "Calem, are you up? Lillie is outside. She said something about a grand trial."

Calem finishes getting changed when his mother enters the room, "Calem? Say something if you're awake."

His tone is still expressionless, "I'll be just a minute."

"Today's your grand trial. From its name, it's obviously a huge event. You should smile; ever since the festival, everyone's been wondering if you're some sort of delinquent. Now is your chance to show them wrong!"

Calem finishes preparing by tucking his mega-necklace underneath his shirt. "Sure…"

Outside, Lillie says, "I'm not a trainer, so I'm sure I don't really understand how hard completing your first trial must have been, but I do think it's a great achievement."

"Pew!" Lillie jumps at the shaking of her duffle bag. Once Nebby settles down, she says, "I'll watch your battle today, so good luck."

Professor Kukui meets them at the entrance to Iki Town. "The Melemele Kahuna is strong, cousin. I'll eagerly await to see what moves you and your pokemon pour your souls into. Be careful, though. Kahuna Hala is a trainer who can use fighting type pokemon to the fullest, yeah."

Rotom says, "A pokemon battle against big Kahuna Hala! I'm tingling all over- almost like I'm electric!"

Calem finds Kahuna Hala waiting on the plaza stadium. Hala says, "Congratulations on clearing your trial in Verdant Cavern. Good work. I suppose you're here to battle the Kahuna?"

"Yes."

"Hmmm, it isn't by much, but your eyes have changed. I look forward to seeing the extent of this transformation first hand." Kahuna Hala stomps his feet and assumes a sumo stance. "Allow me to properly greet the young adventurers embarking on their island challenge. I am Hala, the Kahuna of Melemele Island. Your final trial here on Melemele Island will be a pokemon battle against me, the Kahuna! It is known as the grand trial. Calem, you have been entrusted with the sparkling stone by Tapu Koko! Now show me your's, Mawile's and the rest of your team's power! Old Hala here will also be going all out! Let the grand trial begin! Mankey!"

"Cutiefly, stun spore!"

Mankey dodges by rolling to the side. "Fury swipes!"

"Dodge it!" Cutiefly's small size gives it a huge advantage in avoiding Mankey's attacks. In some cases, she literally slips through Mankey's fingers. With the right timing, it's a simple maneuver to pull off, but Mankey can just as easily counter it by closing his fingers. No, the fighting pokemon has a short temper and will neither put that much thought into his action nor use such a dexterous technique. Although, Mankey could be faking his anger as a lure into false confidence for a sneak attack. If so…

Calem needs to tell Cutiefly to create some distance. Nothing comes out. His voice… Just like when he battled Hau, it's gone, again. He clutches his throat. What should he do now? Cutiefly's waiting for a command, one he'll never give.

Kahuna Hala says, "Karate Chop!"

Calem gargles a sound out of panic and swings his fist. He doesn't know what he was trying to say, but Cutiefly's movements become precise. The bug pokemon slips around Mankey's palm and uses fairy wind.

An idea cross Calem's mind as he sees Mankey open his shoulders. Yet, instead of it, he makes a frantic struggle to speak. "Urgh, ung, unf, up!"

Cutiefly stops spreading fairy dust with its wings, but instead of escaping, lets herself be squished between Mankey's two hands.

"Cutiefly!"

Mankey, instead of release Cutiefly, trembles and falls over. From the fighting pokemon's palms buzzes Cutiefly. She must have used draining kiss the moment she was caught between the two hands. She drained Mankey's health faster than he could clap his palms.

"Come on back and rest, Cutiefly. That was amazing." She executed the command he refused to give. A pokemon that can see emotion… she understood him without having to hear him. "Really, you are amazing. Mawile, you're up."

"Maw!"

If Calem understands Hala's personality, he'll start soft and move on to his stronger pokemon. In that case, after taking his own problems into account, he should do the same and save Mawile for last.

Kahuna Hala says, "Makuhita!"

Calem says, "Fire fang!" His best chance at defeating Kahuna Hala lies in crippling his attack power. Solution? Combine Mawile's intimidate with a burn. Kahuna Hala even anticipated the tactic by given his pokemon a rawst berry.

The real problem is landing fire fang. Mawile and Makuhita have been exchanging attacks and she hasn't gotten a clean hit yet. Makuhita keeps redirecting her second mouth. The way Makuhita is moving… An attack is coming!

"Mawile!" Is all Calem can say. The possibilities on how Makuhita might attack are infinite. It will most likely come in angled from one of the sides, but that's not enough to tell her how to dodge. Even if he does see through the attack, it could just as well be a faint. Against any other pokemon, he'd say "sucker punch," but dark type moves are pointless against fighting types. It could work as a method to redirect or weaken the attack, but there's no way Makuhita isn't prepared for such a counter.

Calem grits his teeth as he gets ready to see Mawile knocked aside, but she surprises him by using sucker punch. The small opening she creates lets her slip behind Makuhita where she attacks with thunder fang. The fighting pokemon's knees give out as paralysis takes over its body.

Kahuna Hala calls back Makuhita and, "Crabrawler! Rock smash!"

"Thunder fang!" Calem's order escapes him upon seeing the water pokemon. The command comes from a memory. It's the same tactic Deino used to defeat Tierno's Corphish and Shauna's Krabby.

Crabrawler deflects Mawile's attacks by punching her second mouth aside, but takes damage each time. Even if attacks are redirected, the electricity flows. But, this exchange has gone on way too long. Kahuna Hala must have thought up a counter by now. Calem needs to try something else or risk Mawile getting hurt. He could always try sucker punching whatever Crabrawler uses, but there's a chance that will be used against him too….

"Crabrawler, that's enough!" Kahuna Hala recalls his pokemon. "Calem, well done, you've defeated this Kahuna in both strategy and strength. You never even gave me an opportunity to use my Z-power."

"What? How? There were dozens of ways for you to turn the battle around."

"Yes, I did think of a few, but your Mawile reacts much too fast. Have more confidence in your pokemon. She would have countered anything I could come up with. You may not have been battling these past few years, but your training as been top notch."

"Not train? We can't do that… Something might happen."

Kahuna Hala laughs and clasps Calem's shoulder. "I do not know what kind of trainer you were before, but I am certain you'll find yourself once your trial is complete."

"Tapu Ko-ko-ko!" A pokemon's cries echo from the sky.

Kahuna Hala says, "Ho! And our mighty Tapu Koko agrees! Perhaps Tapu Koko is hoping that a day might come when you will be able to battle against it on proper footing… Accept this Z-crystal, Fightinium Z. Observe Calem," Kahuna Hala crosses his arm, circles them to his side, and punches with both fists. "That is how you use this Z-crystal. Now then, with this victory, you have cleared all of the trials of Melemele Island.

"The moon in the daytime… The sun at night… Now to see if you can pour your heart into something that cannot be seen but is very much real. As you continue on your island challenge, consider what makes up the people and pokemon that you meet: both what you can see and what you cannot. You will surely meet Tapu Koko again someday."

Calem glances to the side and finds Ilima watching from within the shrubbery. The trial captain juts his chin towards Calem and turns his back towards him. The message is clear. "I do not accept you. Once we fight, I'll show everyone the kind of person you really are."

Professor Kukui says, "I guess it's time for you to move on to the next island. Make sure you tell your mother and then head on down to the Marina in Hau'oli City. Oh yeah! Come on, Lillie, I'll need your help in cleaning the boat!"

Lillie waits for everyone to leave before talking to Calem. "Um… I actually wanted to ask a favor of you first. If that's all right?"

"What is it?"

She turns to Nebby who's floating next to her. "You see… Nebby… Its real home is far away from here. And I want to help it get home. It's like I told you before… Nebby saved my life once when I was in trouble. Now I want to save it! I feel like there's not much I can do on my own, since I'm not a pokemon trainer… But if I had a real trainer like you helping me, Calem, then maybe… But I probably shouldn't ask a near stranger to help, right? I know it's just my own wish and it has nothing to do with you…"

An adventure with friends, this is almost like back in Kalos all those years ago. This is when Tierno said, "Mizzy, let's show the world what we're made of!" Calem's flat tone hide his inner thoughts, "It's fine. We have to help one another if we want to survive in this world. Besides, traveling is more fun with company."

"Oh thank you so much. I'm so- Calem? What's wrong? You're crying…"

Calem brushes his cheeks. They're wet… "It'll pass… Sorry, I'll meet you at the Marina." He walks off before Lillie can say anything else. He's crying? Because this adventure restarts the one stopped at Kalos? Tears of joy? Remembrance? Sadness? All of the above? He shakes his head. Once the tears pass, he'll go home and tell his mother what he plans to do.

A small, well used, sail ship is docked to the Mariana. Professor Kukui and Lillie work on the final touches as Calem approaches. Hau watches them from the side and says, "Hey, Prof, are you sure this old thing's really seaworthy?"

"Hey now! Don't you go calling my boat old! She's… classic. Well seasoned, yeah?"

Calem says, "A reminder of times long ago."

Professor Kukui says, "Hey!"

Lillie says, "I quite like that it has a sense of history…"

"Pew!"

Professor Kukui shakes his head and says, "Well, since you're all here, let's get sailing, yeah!"

Lillie asks Calem as they board, "Are you… feeling better now?"

"I'm fine."

Hau asks, "Did something happen?"

"No."

"You look like you were crying."

"Shut up."

"You were crying! Were you so moved by winning that your water works started flowing? Man, you're so sensitive."

"… I am going to push you off the boat."

Hau laughs and runs off to the front of the vessel.

Ten minutes later, Hau is laughing and fist pumping on one of the two bows. "We-e-e are off! Come on, grandma! Kick it up a notch!"

Lillie stands near the middle of the boat, one hand on her hat and the other keeping her dress down. "If we push the boat much harder than this, we may all end up at the bottom of the ocean."

Hau laughs, "You're just worried your silly hat is gonna fly off! Actually, you should've changed into a bikini. You're totally wasting the opportunity!" Lillie frowns and covers her chest by folding an arm across herself. Hau continues, "Hey, Calem, weren't you gonna push me off?"

Calem sits curled in a ball while hugging his bag to himself on the opposite bow. He glares at Hau, but then covers his mouth. He rode Greninja out to sea multiple times before and never felt anything like this. Pokemon truly are irreplaceable.

"What's wrong? I'm waiting! Come get me!"

Calem tries to speak, but again covers his mouth. He calls Mawile from her premier ball and gestures to Hau. He tries saying something, but is again forced to cover his mouth to Hau's amusement.

Mawile runs up to Hau and whacks him off the boat with her second mouth. She then holds up her head, and with her hands on her hips, says, "Maw."

Hau leaps off the ship. His clothes dried with the breeze kicked up from sailing. He stands proud with his arms at his side. "Land ahoy! All right! Akala Island, get ready cause here I come!"

Lillie makes a face. "Isn't it a bit late to declare 'Land ahoy' after you've already arrived onshore?"

"What a stick in the sand! Help me out here, Calem! It was funny, right?"

"It was supposed to be funny?"

Hau's jaw drops. He turns to Professor Kukui, "Come on, Professor. You though it was funny, right?"

Professor Kukui grins. "The land is certainly ahoy, oh boy!"

Lillie falls speechless as her eyes and mouth turn round from shock. Nebby appears at her side with cries of joy.

Calem turns away as Hau and Professor Kukui laugh from the bottom of their stomachs. From the wharf's side he's hit by the bright smiles people and pokemon playing on the sand and goofing around in the ocean. How nice… That's when he spots a blond girl sporting a red bikini with black frills. "Serena?"

Hau slaps Calem's back. "What, you recognize someone? Wow, she's a total babe. Do me a solid and introduce me to her. Hey, Serena! Up here!" He waves his arms and, once he catches her attention, points to Calem.

Serena's confusion gives way to a bright smile. She jogs over and takes the stairs four at a time up onto the wharf. She goes to hug him, but stops short by just grabbing his arms. "Mizzy! Your mother told mine you moved here, so I was wondering when we would run into each other. We were worried we might have lost you, but seeing you outside… I am glad, you are doing better than we though. How are you holding up?"

Calem ignores Hau's, "Mizzy?" comment and, taking Serena's hand, breaks away from the group. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I tried getting in touch with all of you, really. It's just… I can't touch my holo-caster." He looks down at his left hand. "It makes them tremble. But, what about you? Why are you here? How are the others?"

Serena sighs out. "I guess you have yet to hear, but as of last month, the Kalos region was declared abandoned by the Pokemon League. Soon after you left, for some reason, the wild pokemon really started attacking people. They went so far as to invade the few cities we managed to restore. All we can do now is let nature heal the scars we humans created. I came here, Trevor went with Clemont to Hoenn, he's now Professor Rowen's assistant, and Shauna is with her family in Unova." Serena leans closer towards Calem. "Listen to this, her voice finally came back. Two days before she left, during dinner, she asked me to pass the salt."

A fragile smile spreads across Calem's face. "That… that's great." He glances towards his shoulder, remembering the people he came with to Akala Island. Lillie is struggling with her bag. She must have hidden Nebby while he and Serena were talking. "Right, come on, I'll introduce you." He gestures to each person in turn, "Lillie, Professor Kukui, and Hau. Everyone, Serena is-"

"The final Kalos league champion. I've been keeping an eye out for you." A woman interrupts. She and a girl with green hair walk up to the group. "Anyway, still haven't managed to find a shirt that goes with your lab coat, hmm, Kukui? I've told you you're going to scare off strangers looking like that… Hello there, nice to meet you all- I'm Olivia."

The girl with her says, "Hey! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Mallow, one of the captains here!"

Olivia says, "I ran into Mallow here on my way to see who was pulling into one of my ports."

Mallow says, "My trials will let all the ingredients that make your team shine. Especially you two!" She beams a toothy smile to Hau and Calem, "Your pokemon look ready to cook with gas!"

Hau grins with anticipation, but Calem's face remains indifferent.

Olivia says, "You kids better be ready. Mallow isn't my only captain here. You should join in too, Serena."

Serena shakes her head. "Oh, no, maybe in the future. We just arrived yesterday, so right now, my pokemon and I just want to relax."

Olivia chuckles. "I'll be waiting. It isn't everyday a person gets to fight a champion. You kids better not let this opportunity slip past you either. Okay then, until we meet for our battle. Let's go, Mallow."

Mallow gives a radiant smile as she waves goodbye to everyone and follows Olivia. Not once did she look Calem in his eyes.

Professor Kukui cups his chin and begins, "I'm sure she wanted to come to make sure you arrived alright, but she'll never admit it to you," and ends with a laugh. "That's Olivia for you. She's a kind Kahuna, deep down." He turns to Hau and Calem. "There are three trials here on Akala Island. If you two decide you want to take on the trial straightaway, head up route 4 there and keep on goin' until you get to Paniola Town."

Hau says, "Shoots, I know where I'm going first, and that is straight to the pokemon center! Serena, come with me. I'll treat you to a malasada."

"Sorry, I already ate."

Lillie says, "Maybe I'll see about some shopping of my own… And I should find out about the ruins for Nebby's sake too…"

Serena says, "Ruins? I am very curious about them too. How about I join you?"

Lillie looks to the side. "I don't know… I don't really want to trouble you."

Calem says, "Serena is one of the strongest, bravest, and most trustworthy trainers I know. She had just become league champion, but really stepped up to her role during the Last Night of Kalos."

Serena clicks her tongue at Calem's introduction, but doesn't comment.

Lillie says, "Well… if you're going that far to vouch for her, then… I'll be grateful for your company."

After the two make plans to meet later, Serena pulls Calem to the side. "Listen, it belon-"

"Stop, that match wasn't official. You're the one who overcame the elite four to reach her. Besides, I'd be a failure." Calem's hand slides over the black pokeball on his waist. "I lost everyone, but Mawile."

Serena squeezes his hand. "I really hope you find what you're looking for on this adventure." She then wraps her arm around his back and turns him to face everyone. "Meeting all of you was really great. Please look after Mizzy for me. He might not show it, but he's a real trouble maker." She and Calem exchange kisses to the cheek and with an, "Réunion de vous tous a été un plaisir," walks away.

Hau slaps Calem's back. "What the heck, you didn't say she was your girlfriend! I thought she and I could have had something."

"Serena and I aren't dating."

Lillie, her hands covering her burning red face, says, "Bu-bu-but, the two of you… you ki-kissed."

A "Pew!" comes from her bag.

"That's how we greet each other in Kalos. Or, did..." Calem sighs. "Je vous verrai tous plus tard. I'm going to walk around town."

His Rotom-dex zips up to his face as he steps off the pier. "You've made it to Akala, big boy!"

"Ne m'appelez pas comme ça."

"This means a whole new Island Pokedex, zzt! I'll try to keep you up to date on all the new pokemon you uncover, Mizzy! Zzzzzt!"

"Mizzy died three years ago. My name is Calem."

"If you say so, zzzzt! But, this is Heahea City? I can see the sea! Let's give this place a good search before we go!" He then flies back into his pocket.

After walking around for a bit, he finds Lillie looking into clothing boutique's window. "Looking for new clothes?"

"Ah, Calem… I was just thinking how nice choosing my own clothes might be… But, something like that… just isn't for me…"

"Pew?" Nebby tilts its head in concern at her side.

"Oh, but don't worry about me… I'm meeting with Serena and someone very important to me at the Tide Song Hotel. It's that building down the road, so there's no way I'll get lost. I think."

Nebby hops and cheers "Pew!"

Calem says, "If anything, Nebby believes in you."

Lillie turns to the pokemon, "And you! I'll have you stay in your bag, mister."

Nebby floats up to Calem, turns to face Lillie, and frowns while crying out. Lillie puffs her cheeks and shakes her head. Nebby laughs and then allows itself to be placed within the duffle bag.

Calem notes that Lillie still looks at the clothes inside the store. "We could make a quick stop inside."

"No, no… I'm fine. Listen, I've heard that there's a terrible group of people stealing pokemon called Team Skull. We need to be careful if we want to escape the notice of such a collection of villains…"

Calem's frown terrifies Lillie. His normal flat tone takes a dangerous edge, "Escape? No, I'm going to crush them."

…..

Serena washes the sand off herself and her pokemon in one of the public showers before wrapping a towel around her shoulders. She then grooms her pokemon and finishes by brushing absol's fur. "Come on, it is almost time to meet Lillie."

On the way back to the hotel, she finds Lillie hesitating outside a boutique shop. "Do you want to buy some new clothes?"

"Ah, Serena, no, no… I'm not good at that sort of thing. Besides, there's still someone I need to meet at the hotel soon."

"Then, how about we go back together? Once we finish with the ruins, can I accompany you for some shopping?"

As they begin walking towards the hotel, Lillie says, "O-oh, you really want to? I won't be a bother?

"Do not be silly, it will be fun. I also need some new clothes. We can start by getting a new bag for your pokemon to hide in."

Lillie eyes and mouth turn into O's as she stops. "Ca-Ca-Calem… he-he…"

"No, no, I saw you hiding it back on the pier, sorry. That little guy is the reason you are interested in the ruins, correct? Our adventure to uncover the secrets of mega-evolution was similar."

"Mega-evolution?"

"Calem never mentioned it?"

"We only just met a few days ago. But, I don't think he wants to talk about his past. Every time Hau asks, he changes the subject…"

"Pew!"

Serena laughs at Lillie's attempt to calm her "duffle bag." She looks ahead and spots a familiar blonde and black haired duo. They are handing a green decahedron to a person hidden behind some trees and waving good bye. "Dexio! Sina!"

Serena takes Lillie's hand and runs up to meet them. "It has been so long! Why are the two of you here? Have you also decided to settle here?" Once they get closer, "Lillie, Dexio and Sina are the late Professor Sycamore's laboratory assistants. During our adventure in Kalos, they would always appear to help or provide advice."

The blonde says, "I'm Dexio," and the black haired girl says, "I'm Sina, a beautiful name for a beautiful lady."

Dexio says, "We're here for a couple reason, but the main one is probably the same as yours."

Sina says, "Alola is a nice region for starting over. It's so diverse that some places even have a Kalos flavor."

Serena says, "Then, with you two, that makes four. I saw Mizzy earlier."

Sina says, "Really? Is he alright? How is he?"

"A lot better than when he left. He is even taking the island challenge. Right now, he is on this island, so you might run into him. Sorry, I would love to stay and talk longer, but we are in a hurry."

Lillie says as they walk off, "Their bracelets looks a lot like your necklace…"

Serena cups the rainbow colored stone hanging around her neck. "The results of our adventure. This stone, when the bond between trainers and pokemon peak, lets the power of mega-evolution shine."

"Mega-evolution? I've read about it once… but the book wasn't very cle- Oh, no!"

"Yo, yo, yo, girlies! Team Skull is here to take yo pokemon."

Serena's towel flutters as holds out an arm to cover Lillie. Her smile sours into a glare at the two approaching thugs. Team Skull, she was warned about them the other day, but seeing them now… The way they shake their arms and make symbols with their hands is supposed to intimidate, but for her serve to irk her ire. "You are curious about mega-evolution, would you like to see it?"

The key-stone in Serena's hand shines as she throws a pokeball. Absol is enveloped within a bright light to become mega-Absol. "Absol, night slash!"

The two Team Skull thugs fight back with a drowzee and zubat, but are defeated in seven seconds. Despite trembling with fear, they talk tough, "We got beat here, but the two of you'll be hanging off our arms soon enough!" and, "Once we get serious, the two of you will be all over us!"

"Absol," The pokemon barks and chases the two Team Skull thugs down street.

Lillie says, "It transformed!"

"Pew!"

Serena releases her anger with a sigh. Team Skull might just be a nuisance now, but so was Team Flare at first. "That is mega-evolution, the shinning release of a pokemon's full potential." Serena's glances downward, "Your pokemon escaped."

Lillie bends over toward Nebby with her hands on her hips. "Oh, you, not again! How many times do we have to go over this?"

They continue to the hotel once Absol returns. Serena leaves Lillie in the lobby and continues up to her room. Her parents have a house, but right now she wants to be on her own. She will return home in a week once the lease expires.

She hangs her towel in the shower and sheds her swimsuit for a black blouse and red skirt. After brushing her hair, she places her six pokeballs onto her waist. The final one glitters like a rainbow. She then walks out the door while draping her champion's mantle over her shoulders. The emblem of Kalos, a wide shield covering a fasces and decorated with oak and olive branches, is embroidered on the white cape's center in bright blue, silver, and red.

Lillie sits on a lobby sofa with her face cupped within her hands. "Thanks to Team Skull, I missed my meeting…"

A/N: Finally, we start the real story. This is where the differences will really take effect. But, about this chapter. The "land ahoy" scene is what inspired this entire story. I already had the idea of Calem being the main character and coming to Alola because of something bad happening, but then I got to that section in Moon and everything really just clicked. I just imagined him running into Serena there and poof, story born. Anyway, I hope you all like it.

Please, tell me what think in your reviews,

Gandire