Alola Adventure

Chapter 6

By: Gandire

Rotom wakes Calem up the next morning by buzzing around his head. "Come on, let'szzz go! Seemzzz like Wela Volcano Park lies off route 7. Careful you don't end up in any hot water, pal!"

Calem gets a quick breakfast at the café, stocks up on some supplies at the market, and leaves Royal Avenue. A sign post on the side of the road directs him to Wela Volcano Park. Looking up from the mountain's base, the hike will be a lot easier than he anticipated. Some spots on the trail even have railings. As usual, he runs from wild encounters and ignores fellow trainers. He only stops twice, the first for lunch and the second to set up camp for the night.

He could go a bit further, but "Amateur mistake." The survival skills he developed during his first adventure were reinforced and improved upon after Kalos fell. The times he was forced to camp out with his friends where a pain, but became useful experiences a year later. "I wish I never had to learn these skills…"

Calem hugs his violet pokemon egg to himself as he leans against a rock. He breathes in the aroma of berries and meat he's stewing over a fire; he's doing it just how he was taught, but, "Nothing." At the very least, "it'll be healthy," sans the excess salt used to preserve the meat.

Calem glances towards some bushes while Mawile and Cutiefly jump to attention. A crunching twig and rustling branches tell Calem everything he needs to know. "Join me if you want."

A girl with a red beanie and Munchlax with a strange stone around his neck appear from the sea of tall grass. "Phew, really? Thanks! I was planning to wait a bit more before setting up camp, but then the night just feel on me."

She's a year younger than him by most. "First time adventuring?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Just about everyone makes that mistake. Next is finishing your preparations before the sun finishes setting."

"Bleh, any others?"

Calem settles the egg between his legs and passes her a plate of his berry and meat mix along with some bread. Cutiefly settles herself on the girl's shoulder as she accepts the plate. "Scavenging and cooking."

"Thanks," she makes a sandwich with the meat and dips it in the berry sauce. Her glee upon biting into it must mean it tastes good. She notices him staring, and with berry sauce covering her face, asks, "What?"

"Just seeing if you like it." Calem says while taking a bite from his plate. "I'm Calem, she's Cutiefly, and she's Mawile."

"Mahina," she says while dipping her sandwich into the sauce. "And he's Munchlax." She speaks fast and takes another bite of her sandwich. She then lifts her head to puff in and out. Finally, she downs a mouthful of water and sighs out in relief. The way she eats… She's just like Tierno.

Mahina has a happy carefree personality. At least, that's what Calem judges as he waits for her to finish eating. It's a lot like theirs were when they first set out. He glances towards Munchlax who's pulling out berries from his fur coat and recognizes his stone as a Z-crystal.

"You're a trial goer?"

Mahina, who even cleared the berry sauce off her plate, still has her mouth full when he asks. She waves her hand and hurries to swallow.

"Oh, sorry. Take your time."

She swallows and despite her face being covered in sauce, gives a bright smile. Her teeth are stained purple. Exactly like Tierno's. "No, no, I'm just a normal trainer. Or, was. A pair of trainers I met the other day, Dexio and Sina, entrusted me with a special mission." From her bag she pulls out an emerald green decahedral with a Z on it. She holds her head up with pride as she says, "To collect the hundred Zygarde cells and cores scattered throughout Alola and gather them into the Z-cube."

Mahina's smile breaks from Calem's lack of reaction. "I guess you don't really care…"

"My face isn't very expressive." Calem reaches for his bag and pulls out some green slug like hexagons. He found them during his travels and was going to ask Professor Kukui about them, but this solves that mystery. They fly from his hand and meld into the Z-cube. "Dexio and Sina are friends of mine. They must have a really high opinion of you to entrust you with this mission."

Mahina shrugs, "Munchlax and I beat Sina in a pokemon battle?"

"Pokemon battles can be windows into a trainer's heart and soul if you know how to look. Then again, some people are good at hiding their true nature. So, did they tell you Zygarde's story?"

"There's a story? Sina said Zygarde is a legendary pokemon that protects the land of Kalos. Right now the pieces are scattered across Alola, but once they're gathered together again, Kalos will be restored."

Calem rubs his pokemon egg while looking up to the stars, "This actually starts some thousand years ago; there was a terrible war in Kalos fought by both human and pokemon. Of those pokemon who gave their lives was Floette. When her owner, AZ, received a tiny box with her body, he set off to build a machine to revive his treasured pokemon. He succeeded, but his rage still burned. AZ, unable to forgive the word for taking his beloved pokemon away, converted his machine into the ultimate weapon. One shot was all he needed to end the war. His pokemon, Floette, realized that many other pokemon had to give up their lives for hers to return. The sadness that knowledge burdened her with made her leave AZ. She'd actually return to fight alongside one final time…"

Calem glances toward Mahina. She and Munchlax sit at rapt attention. They don't say anything, but their eyes urge him to continue. "A few years back, Team Flare appear in Kalos. Much like Team Skull, they stole and caused petty crimes, but in time, their actions grew bolder. At one point they even took control of a pokeball production factory." Calem pauses for a moment as he recalls the annoying conveyer belts he had to manipulate to get past the security. "Team Flare's goal was to use the ultimate weapon to wipe out all life on the planet. Their leader, Lysander, was convinced that was the only way to end the mistreatment of pokemon by human hands. Only he and his chosen few would survive.

"Just like with Floette's revival, the ultimate weapon needed a lot of energy to function. Team Flare, for this end, searched out the two other legendary pokemon of Kalos, Yveltal and Xerneas. But, their spy on the Elite Four, Malva, she slipped up right at the last minute. With Team Flare's ambitions discovered, everyone: the champion, the elite four, the gym leaders, and trainers fought to stop it. Two trainers pushed ahead, broke into Team Flare's hideout first, and managed to rescue Yveltal and Xerneas, but not before the ultimate weapon finished charging. Diantha, Wikstrom, Drasna, Siebold, and Professor Sycamore gave their lives to try and stop it from firing. It would have been in vein if Zygarde hadn't appeared. It smothered the ultimate weapon and absorbed most of the blast with its own body. The world was saved, but Kalos fell."

Mahina speaks with awe, "The Last Night of Kalos… The entire planet shook that day. It was right before my 11th birthday, right when I was getting ready set off on my trial challenge. My mother was so scared that she made me delay my journey until now. But you… you were there…"

The gentleness within the smile Calem gives Mahina reflects everything he's experienced since then. He and Mahina just met, she's a complete stranger, yet, I'm completely exposing everything to her. His mother doesn't know even know all of this. "A lot of people and pokemon died that night… I lost almost my entire team: Greninja, Charizard, Lucario, Aegislash, and Tyrantrum. Mawile is the only one left. Even more died during the nightmare that followed… A good friend of mine among them.

"Anyway, this brings us to the present. The first issue, why is Zygarde here of all places? Second, the current Kalos Champion, Serena, is in Alola."

"But, you just said the previous champion-"

"In Kalos, to become champion, you had to overcome the Elite Four and then defeat the current champion. Back then that was Diantha. Afterwards comes a ceremony where the previous champion passes on the mantel. Serena defeated Diantha the day before everything ended. Diantha did pass on her mantel at the last minute, but officially, she died with her title. Now, as I was saying, Zygarde, Serena, and even Yveltal and Xerneas have gathered in Alola. This is just a feeling, but something may be happening here now too."

Calem puts out the fire with some dirt he set aside earlier and lies down. "Well, I'm going sleep. See you in the morning."

"Just like that?"

Calem shrugs, "This is all just paranoia and speculation. You don't have to take it seriously."

Mahina lays down as well. With her backpack as a pillow, she stares at the stars. After a few moments, "Hey, Calem?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for telling me that story."

Calem feels a smile spread across his face. If he were Tierno, he would say, 'Don't worry about it.' He, however, isn't Tierno. He's avoided thinking about him for years. "Thanks for listening."

"G'night."

Calem wakes up the next morning feeling refreshed, better than he has in years. Mahina wakes up while he's fishing out bread to eat with the left overs. Cutiefly is still perched on her shoulder. Finding some, he makes a sandwich. An explosion of sweet bitterness goes off on his tongue. He's so shocked, he almost drops his breakfast.

"Calem?"

He takes another bite, chews, and swallows. He can taste again…

"Calem, what's wrong?"

A weak grin spreads across his face. Looking at Mahina, he's reminded of his encounter with Tapu Koko. That pokemon stopped to look at him before flying off. That's what that meant. Calem takes off his Z-ring and lobs it towards Mahina. "There's a pokemon on Melemele Island waiting to meet you."

Mahina catches the Z-ring and points at herself, "Me?"

"Hold him for a sec," he passes her his pokemon egg. He steps back while saying, "Tapu Koko gave that to me with the intention that I'd pass it to you. Your second task is to face the Kakuna and master Z-power."

"It's pronounced Kahuna, but more than that, I don't even know the first thing about Z-power!"

"Really, Munchlax already has Z-crystal. Here, watch," Calem crosses his arms to make an X, makes a circle as he spreads them, and shrugs. "Then you do some sort of ritual thing. I can't really use it, myself. A trial captain could probably explain it a lot better. Demander a l'un d'entre eux."

"What about you?"

Calem hooks his thumb underneath his shirt to fish out his mega-necklace. "I'm from Kalos. I have to reclaim mega-evolution. Beside, even Cutiefly agrees."

Mahina blushes upon realizing that Cutiefly is still perched on her shoulder. "This isn't- I'm not- I mean…"

"Cutiefly was only attracted to me because of my aura, a very negative one at that. If my aura is no longer to her tastes, then that should mean I've become more positive. Well, that or your aura overshadows my negativity…"

"I'm starting to feel like I'm some sort of thief…"

"There's a saying, 'Don't say hello unless you're prepared to say goodbye.' I already accepted that something like this would happen sooner or later." Calem turns to Cutiefly, "Don't you go running off on her like this."

Cutiefly nods.

Mahina takes a breath and punches Calem's shoulder. "Then you better make sure you reclaim that mega-evolution thing like you said you will!" She then pushes the egg back into Calem's arms.

She so much like Tierno it's scary. Calem's arms are even starting to shake. No, that's not why his arms are shaking. It's hatching! Scratches come from inside it. Then, cracks appear around the egg's top. They grow wider and deeper from the pressure being applied upward. A pair of large, violet ears break through the shell. The top of egg rises as a furry head of violet and purple with yellow eyes looks into the world. "Noi!"

Calem holds Noibat to his face, "Congratulation on hatching. I've been waiting years to meet you."

Mahina hops in place and claps her hands together. "Congratulations, your egg hatched!" After a few moments, they begin to clean up their mess from camping. Once they finish, Mahina says, "I guess I'm off to see Kahuna Olivia and start my island challenge."

"I'll be continuing forward to resume mine."

Calem turns to leave, but Mahina stops him with a sudden hug. She grins while saying, "Thanks, really… and good luck."

Calem is at a complete loss on how to respond. He raises his free arm with some hesitation and closes it around her with some awkward stops in between. He's also clueless as to the amount of pressure to use or for how long to hold the position. He settles for letting go the same time she releases him.

Mahina looks up at him and says, "You don't hug all that much, do you?"

Calem shakes his head. "Nope, I forgot people do that."

Mahina giggles as she steps back. They exchange good-byes once more and go their separate ways.

Rotom says, "And thatzzz a new friend for you! Don't worry, if you ever want to call her, I have her number."

"You're also a phone?"

"That'zzz right… Hey, hey, you look happier. Did meeting her really change you that much? Bzzzt!"

"Like a lock has been removed from a chain." Calem stops outside the entrance to Kiawe's trial. He places a hand over his heart. A stead beat follows the previous one. "Still, that's only one lock. There's a lot of keys left for me to find." He takes a breath and continues up to the mountain peak.

Kiawe and three marowak stand on a stone platform surrounded by tiki torches. He notices Calem and says, "Your spirit is different today. Perhaps today you'll present a better version of yourself. My marowak and I are students of the ancient dances that have been passed down in Alola for generations. The trial of Kiawe… You will find that it is a bit different than the trials you have face thus far. Are you ready?"

"Not like I came here for the sights."

"My trial will test your powers of observation!"

"I stand corrected."

"There will be a dance… and then another. Your task- why do you now make such an expression? Do you find my trial lacking?"

"My expression?" Calem hands rise to his face as it shifts from disillusionment to curiosity. "For years, everyone's been telling me my face died. Is it… really different from when we first met? I've been stuck with-"

"Enough, I will not have my trial insulted. Find the differences!"

He beats on some drums and his three marowak spin their clubs around while walking in a circle. They then stop and strike a pose. They then resume their starting positions, do the same pattern, and strike another pose. Kiawe says, "Well then, what was different?"

Calem points to the marowak on the right. "He held his club closer to the center on the second attempt which in turn let him spin it faster. His steps were also a bit smaller the second time around." He then points to the marowak on the left. "She went through her routine faster the second time and finished sooner than the others. The flames from her club were also brighter and hotter. As for the middle maro-"

"Stop, stop, I mean at the end. How do the endings differ from one another? That is the trial."

"Why didn't you say so? The middle marowak struck a different pose."

Kiawe averts his gaze and says, "Did you see any other discrepancies while he danced?"

"First you don't want to know, now you do? Fine, whatever, there weren't any. His moves were exact replicas of themselves."

The three marowak attack Calem. They form a line and rush him. He acts on instinct, "Mawile, sucker punch!" She stands between the marowak and Calem, taking out each one as they reach her. Each one attacks by swinging their club, but Mawile hits them before they can finish their attacks.

Kiawe laughs and says, "The marowak were so pleased by your criticism that they simply had to battle you!"

"That's not a demonstration of happiness."

"Onward to the second dance!" He beats on some drums and his three marowak spin their clubs around while walking in a circle. They then stop and strike a pose. They then resume their starting position, do the same pattern, and strike another pose. "So, do you see the difference?"

Calem points at a hiker posing with the marowak, "You mean beside that guy?"

"Spectacular! And to add to the spectacle… Come my fine hiker!"

The hiker takes a deep breath and, "Alola!"

As the hiker sends out Magmar, Calem wonders if he can somehow skip this Z-crystal. He doesn't really need it anymore now that the Z-ring has been given to its rightful owner.

"Mawile, thunder fang or play rough… Just… just end this, please…"

"Maw!" She ducks underneath Magmar's flames and slams her second mouth into his stomach. Then, as he bends over, she finishes the match with thunder fang.

Kiawe says, "My hiker friend was so pleased by your right answer that he simply had to battle you!"

"You're not bothered that he interrupted their dance?"

"Onward, to the final dance!" He beats on some drums and his three marowak spin their clubs around while walking in a circle. They then stop and strike a pose. They then resume their starting positions, do the same pattern, and strike another pose.

The hiker is again posing with the marowak. "I'm going to take a guess here. Is she the totem pokemon?"

"Incredible! Come, totem pokemon!"

Salazzle takes a breath and, "Salaaa!" Flames burst from her tail as she drops down onto all fours. A burning aura surrounds her as she roars once more.

The ridiculousness of Kiawe's trial leaves Calem unable to comprehend that Mawile is fighting against Salazzle until after hearing her cry out. Salazzle released a toxit spit and, seeing that it had no effect, now prepares a flame burst. Mawile can't do anything about it either because she's busy fighting a salandit. Salazzle then releases her flame burst at Mawile's exposed back.

He rebukes himself. He never would have let himself get so caught up in the moment and distracted or muddleheaded before. But, now that he's here, what should he do? Salazzle is the more dangerous pokemon, more so when her ability to call for help is considered, so she should be defeated first. Should Mawile go to her, or call her over? Both methods could end in disaster.

"Maw!" Mawile cries out as she takes another hit.

Mawile won't be able to shake off Salandit to attack Salazzle, therefore, "Taunt!"

Salazzle, enraged, pounces for Mawile. Mawile, understanding Calem won't be able to make his next decision in time, knocks Salazzle aside with iron head. She then scoops up Salandit while he's still surprised at what just happened with vice grip and throws him aside. She then lures Salazzle in again with taunt and defeats her with sucker punch.

Mawile walks back to Calem's side with her head held high. He rubs her head with a "Great going."

Kiawe says, "You have keen observations, yet hesitate in battle. Just like your attitude, your fire is weak! That is my observation. Still, the totem pokemon was defeated. She was carrying a firium Z. It is yours now."

Calem accepts the Z-crystal and watches Kiawe's demonstration. He raises his arms above his head, lowers them, and then raises them again so he can lower them into a fighting pose. Kiawe's parting words are, "My belief is that the secret of Z-power lies in dance."

Calem thanks Kiawe and leaves. His concept of dance differs on what he's seen on the island. Unlike the ridged and structured style he learned in Kalos, dance is much freer and relaxed in Alola. From what he saw at the festival when he first arrived, Everyone moves like water.

He shrugs and calls out Noibat. As a just hatched pokemon, he still needs to learn how to fly. He cups the flying pokemon and tosses him upward. The little bat flaps his wings, but can't catch any wind with them. Calem chuckles as he catches the pokemon. He waits for Noibat to get ready and he tosses him upward again. Once Noibat gets the hang of what he's doing, they'll be able to practice further distances. Their descent down the mountain side will provide many opportunities to do so.

Night falls by the time they reach the bottom of the mountain.

Calem wakes up the next day in one of Royal Avenue's, pokemon center's, trainer beds. He tosses the pillow within his arms aside and cups his head within a palm. After years of holding Noibat's egg, getting used to not sleeping with it is going to be hard. That problem, however, has nothing to do with his growing irritation. He cannot forget the dream he just had; Hapu rode off atop of Mudsdale.

He reaches for his Rotom-dex. "Rotom, were can I catch a ponyta?"

"Sorry, they're not native to Alola. Bzzt!"

Calem clicks his tongue. After a moment, he says, "Call my home…"

His mother answers a few moments later, "Calem? What's wrong?"

"I… Can you get me a ponyta?"

His mother laughs at the other end. "Finally coming back to racing, are you? That's great! You got bucked off and now you're finally climbing back onto the reins."

"Jamais quitte! I was just busy with other things…"

She laughs again, "I was worried at first, but this journey really is doing you good. Fine, leave this to your mother. You'll have the best steed by tomorrow!"

"That fast?"

"Of course! Who do you think I am? I'm Grace, Rhyhorn Racer Champion! I'll call you later tonight about the details. Bye!"

Calem hangs up with a, "Merci…" and gets out of bed. After a quick breakfast in the café, he proceeds for route 7 and then route 8. Although he still avoids trainer battles, he does stop to fight some of the wild pokemon. Lana's gift turns out to be very helpful. The magikarp it draws in from the sea make excellent partners for Noibat.

He stops at a mobile home belonging to the Aether Foundation for lunch. According to a person inside, the Aether Foundation, "Works to protect pokemon through conservation. We accomplish our goal by knowing as much as we can about them such as how they live. A lot of the pokemon here were hurt by Team Skull." She then gestures to a tailless slowpoke on an examination table.

He reaches route 5 and Lush Jungle a few hours later. Mallow waits for him with a smile at the entrance, "Thanks for stopping by! Welcome to Lush Jungle, the trial grounds for me, Mallow!"

"Stop, there's no one else around, quit pretending to be nice to me."

Mallow's smile falls flat. "You're more perceptive than I gave you credit. Fine, I'll admit it, I hate your attitude. You brushed past everyone who called out for a battle on route 8. Heck, you practically ran from that rising trainer. The only battles you fought were against magikarp. You're nothing more than a rude coward. Well? Say something."

Calem shrugs, "I can't really refute that…"

Mallow's hands move to her hips as her frown deepens. "I cannot understand just what Tapu Koko saw in you to warrant a sparkling stone. My trial? Find me a mago berry, a tiny mushroom, a revival herb, and a miracle seed in this forest. Shouldn't be too hard with those eyes of yours, right? You have until the sunset two hours from now. Go on! Shoo!"

Calem finds a tiny mushroom around the bend underneath some rocks. The foreign aid provided to Kalos after it feel was nowhere near enough for its remaining population. As a result, scavenging for supplies became a very common practice. Where certain things grow, what is edible, and how to prepare them, all skills he and his friends mastered. If only everyone could have embraced such an honest life style…

The final ingredient, at least Calem believes he's gathering ingredients for a meal, is a revival herb. He plucks it from the middle of a shaded field and returns to Mallow at the jungle's entrance.

Mallow examines the items and says, "Wow, that was fast, it hasn't even been an hour. I really want to accuse you of cheating, but these really are from the forest."

"I found Calem to be cool and focused, even if a bit quiet and abrasive." Lana says while entering the jungle. She carries a rocky helmet filled with water.

Kiawe is with her carrying a thick club and a rare bone. "My opinion is not so positive, or biased, but I found nothing with which to fault him as Ilima warned."

Mallow goes "hump," but smiles. "My observations weren't so positive. Still, time for the second part of my trial. Calem, we'll be cooking food to lure out the Lush Jungle totem pokemon." She proceeds to mix all the ingredients within the rocky helmet. She then passes the rare bone and thick club to Calem and says, "Pound everything to a pulp."

Calem looks at the two tools and begins to beat everything inside the helmet. After a few minutes, Mallow says, "Grind it," and Calem begins to grind the forming paste into goo. As a unique aroma wafts into the air, Calem tosses Mawile's primer ball over his shoulder, "Sucker punch."

"Lu-rahhhhh!" The pokemon cries out.

Calem turns around to find Mawile using fire fang against a giant Lurantis. Judging from the grass pokemon's arms, the way she can attack is limited to downward and diagonal slashes along with forward strikes. Then again, Lurantis could hold her arms that way to make him reach that conclusion for a surprise attack. Should he risk luring her-

"Taunt!" Calem surprises himself with the sudden order, but Mawile complies. The impulsiveness of his order leaves his mind exploring the various options of how to respond and what could go wrong with each one. Mawile could catch Lurantis's attack with vice grip to yank her off balance, but the grass pokemon might still be able to reach Mawile. Another method would be to meet the attack with ice fang, but Lurantis might be faster and hit Mawile first. The safest method is still sucker punch. Even if Lurantis can predict the attack, anything she does will be weakened by the sucker punch.

Mawile stands firm to take the attack with iron defense before Calem can give his order. Her action leaves him speechless. He wants to shut his eyes, but refuses to abandon his pokemon. He forces himself to watch Mawile take Lurantis's attack with her own body. Mawile, instead of being blown away, grabs Lurantis's claws with her hands and smacks the grass pokemon across the face with iron head.

Mallow says, "Wow, that was intense! You didn't even give Lurantis enough time to draw out her Z power..."

Kiawe says, "Agreed, your spirit today burned much brighter than during my challenge. Still, your flame isn't hot enough for the island challenge. You will fail if you stay as you are."

Lana says, "You should have seen him during my challenge. Remembering how he fought the wishiwashi I trained still takes my breath away."

Mallow says, "Despite my personal opinions, I acknowledge that you managed to clear my trial and have thus earned the grassium Z. This is how you use it." Mallow crosses her arms, brings them to her side, drops down, pushes her fist against her hand, maintains the tension while rising up, and then spreads them apart with a hop, "And that's it." She then looks down to the food she and Calem prepared. "No use letting it go to waste. Come on guys, let's dig in."

Lana and Kiawe run off screaming "water!" after two bites. Mallow looks Calem over with a click of her tongue, "The heat doesn't bother you? Oh wait, you can't taste anything, can you?"

"Spice isn't a flavor. Spice works by triggering pain receptors in the tongue while also releasing endorphins in the brain. It was one of the few things I could experience, so I've ended up building a high tolerance after leaving Kalos. Still, I'll admit that this dish is a lot more flavorful than what I'm used to."

Calem gets a phone call as he leaves the jungle. "Paniola Ranch… Tomorrow around noon? C'est rapide! Yes… thank you." He spends the night at the pokemon center and sets off for the ranch after a quick breakfast in the café early next morning.

He's in such a hurry, he almost crashes into Lana who is outside stretching. He encountered her while off to take a shower the previous night. Turns out both of them had decided to stay in the same pokemon center. She says, "Oh, good morning. You're up early."

"You were up before me."

Lana covers her giggle with a hand. "I come from a family of fishermen. Waking up early is a habit. What's your reason?"

A strange feeling creeps over Calem as he answers. The feeling is unsettling at first, but becomes soothing after a few moments as he recalls past experiences. A gentle smile comes to him. "My mother was a Ryhorn racer. She'd take me to the stables every day when I was younger. I eventually became a trainer, but then some other stuff happened so I still had to wake up early. Well, seeing the stars give way to the morning light has a charm to it."

Lana giggles again, "It does, one that you missed today. You appear to be in a hurry, headed to any place in particular?"

"Paniola Ranch."

She brushes some hair behind her ear while saying, "Ah, that's along the way to my home in Konikoni City. Would you mind if I accompany you?"

"Sure, although half my attention is going to be on this guy."

"Noi!" Noibat gives a sleepy cry as he's called from his pokeball. He climbs up onto Calem's shoulder and resumes sleeping.

"He's so cute."

A few hours later, Noibat lands on Lana's head. He grabs her headband to keep from falling. She laughs while cupping the little bat into her hands and tosses him upward the same way Calem has been doing. Noitbat catches the wind underneath his wings and glides circles above their heads as they continue for Paniola Ranch. He has to flap his little wings a few times every minute, but stays aloft.

Lana says, "He's gotten better."

Noibat stumbles on a sudden breeze and tumbles out of the air. Calem catches him before he crashes into Lana's head. He places Noibat on his shoulder, "And you jinxed it. Guess that's enough for now."

Lana stares at Calem's face. He matches her gaze and says, "What?"

"You're different from when we first met, and your Z-ring is gone too. I've been wondering, but is there a connection? At first I was worried you might have given up your journey, but that fear, I'm glad, was baseless."

Calem looks to his wrist. "I met its proper owner and passed it along. She… it wasn't intentional, but she helped me come to term with somethings. Well, you'll be meeting her soon enough yourself."

"Hmm, for you to go that far, she must be an incredible person."

"Maybe? It's not like we actually battled one another, but some friends of mine acknowledged her strength."

"You're not making any sense."

Calem gives a wry smile with a shrug. "Yeah, that senselessness is exactly what I'm trying to clear up on this journey."

"Ah, Paniola Ranch, looks like this is where we part. Well then, I hope you find the answers you're looking for. Farewell for now."

Calem waves goodbye and continues for the pasture. "Calem!" His mother waves him over from a stable. "Your timing couldn't have been any better." Inside is a ponyta surrounded by blue flames. The fire pokemon snorts, neighs, and turns his head. "This little spit fire arrived just an hour ago. His pedigree is guaranteed, but no one's been able to break him in. My old sponsors were all too happy to pass him along to me."

Calem picks up a brush and starts grooming Ponyta midway through his mother's introduction. Seeing his concentration, an expression different from the impassiveness he's been displaying for the past few years, relieves her worries. "I'll just leave the two of you to get acquainted."

Calem makes small talk with Ponyta as he prepares him. He brushes Ponyta's entire coat, cleans his hooves, and feeds him a carrot before prepping Ponyta's back for a saddle.

…..

Grace sits back against the pasture's fence underneath the shade of a tree. As expected, her son prepares Ponyta with a bitless bridle. After what happened in Kalos, his dislike towards bit bridles must borderline hatred.

Ponyta lets Calem mount him before leaping forward and kicking up his back legs to buck him off. Calem floats upward from his saddle, but keeps his hands on the reins and feet within the stirrup. Ponyta's bounds get higher and farther, but Calem keeps his hold regardless of the whiplash.

"I never realized Calem was your son when he stopped to help out, Grace. No wonder he could calm Tauros down like that." The ranch owner says.

"Oh no, I only taught him the heart to riding. Anything other than that is beyond me. I am a Ryhorn Racer, after all. My sponsors are the ones who took care of finding professional Rapidash and Ponyta race teachers for him. As for battling, that's something he learned on his own."

The ranch owner laughs and slaps his daughter's back, "That boy there is grade A material. Forget that other kid you saw the other day and try ta seduce him instead."

"Dad!" The pokemon breeder blushes a deep red.

Grace laughs and says, "I'm all for it if you can get him back to riding."

"There, see, even his mother approves."

The pokemon breeder says nothing as her face turns into an even deeper shade of red.

"Ah!" says a blue haired girl peeking out from behind a tree. Her shocked expression gives Grace an idea as to what happened. Sure enough, upon checking, Ponyta finally succeeded in throwing off Calem. Calem rotates his arms upon getting up and walks towards Ponyta's side. Ponyta snorts, but holds still to let Calem hop on again. The blue haired girl's bafflement to the unfolding scene makes Grace laugh.

She hops off from the fence and sneaks up behind the girl. "Curious about riding?"

"Ah!" The girl waves her arms out at her sides before bringing them back together before herself. "N-no, I- I'm just watching. Calem is a… an acquaintance of mine. He mentioned having business here, and I just happened to be in the area, so I just thought…"

Grace laughs and says, "That's alright, that's alright. You don't have to explain yourself."

"Ahem, thank you… There is one thing I don't understand. Ponyta let Calem mount him, but now tries to buck him off. Does Ponyta want Calem to ride him or not?" She winces as Calem is thrown off again.

"They're just testing each other out. This ponyta is pretty prideful, he refuses to accept rude, spineless, or weak riders. All Calem's got to do now is prove his strength."

The ranch head walks over with a, "Lana, what brings you here today?"

Lana flusters herself, "Oh, I was just nearby and- and, I'm also fri- I mean acquainted with Calem and- and- oh, he said that he had business here so- so I..."

Grace laughs and says, "What is your relation to my son, Lana?"

"Yo- you- your son! He- he came to my trial the other day. Se-see, I'm a trial captain and he, as a tr-trainer, na- naturally had to come challenge mine. I- I did think that he was really cool during my trial, bu- but that isn't-"

Grace cuts Lana of with her laughter and says, "Is that so? I always thought I'd be saying this to Serena, but maybe should I start calling you my daughter-in-law instead?"

Lana's arms wave at her side. "N-no, no, no! We- we're not like that. Re- really, we're not!"

The pokemon breeder comes to Lana's rescue by pointing at the field. "Ponyta's trying something else."

Ponyta's mane burns bright blue as he takes off at full speed. The flames lick Calem's arms, but spread out to blaze around his body. Grace says, "Ponyta must have realized he can't buck Calem anymore. All Calem has to do is take control here and it's over."

Lana says, "Umm, excuse me, but you're Grace, the Ryhorn Racer Champion, correct? My grandfather is a huge fan of yours… If you don't mind, could I have your autograph for him?"

"Of course."

"Lana?" Calem strolls up to them atop of Ponyta as Grace gives Lana her autograph. "Something wrong? I thought you already left."

"Oh-oh, no. No-nothing is wrong. There was something I forgot to do, that's all. I- I finished it and thought I'd stop by."

Grace and the ranch head exchange knowing glances at Calem's, "Oh." She says to her son, "So, you break Ponyta in? How is he?"

"Amazing, the speed he gets, it feels like we're flying."

Grace claps her hands together. "That's great! Then how about taking Lana for a ride after lunch? She looked really curious while watching you."

Calem turns to Lana who's holding her bright red face within her hands. "You really want to?" At Lana's shy nod, he dismounts Ponyta with a, "Cool, actually, we could probably give you lift to... Konikoni City, you said? "

"Tha-thanks."

Grace says, "Right, that reminds me. Calem, since you'll pretty much be lugging all the equipment yourself, I didn't bring you a saddle. You'll have to make do with that bitless bridle and a fastener around Ponyta's body to support the stirrup. Got that, Lana? There isn't going to be any support to sit on, so make sure you hold Calem really tight, okay?"

A/N: Chapter 6, my longest chapter yet, down. I'm not doing that again… On to the important stuff! See, I told you the story would be breaking away from the game. Although, when I first wrote this, I didn't anticipate Lana crushing on Calem. Maybe I should pursue this ship into Calna? I would be able to claim my fic is the first and potentially only Calem x Lana pairing on fanfiction.