Alola Adventure

Chapter 8

By: Gandire

Lana walks a few paces in front of Calem with her fingers locked behind her back. She leads him to Olivia's house where a store aid tells them that Tapu Lele summoned her to clean the Ruins of Life. "You're certain you don't want to spend another night? My parents are okay with it and my sisters want to see us battle. You can come back after your battle with Kahuna Olivia."

Calem shakes his head. "Seeing all those pictures of my mother is too weird... and creepy."

"You're mom?", "Ryhorn Racer Grace is your mom?" A pair of voices pip up behind them. Lana's two sisters are spying on them from behind a park bench. "Does grandpa know?", "Why didn't you tell grandpa?" They then run off saying they can't wait to "Tell everyone."

Calem imagines how Lana's grandfather will react to the news as he watches them run down the street. First he'll have heart attack, then he'll run out the door to find him and demand to know why he didn't tell him. He brings out Ponyta, sets up the riding gear, and hops on. He extends a hand down to Lana, "Riding is faster than walking. We shouldn't keep the kakuna waiting."

Lana climbs up behind Calem while saying, "Kahuna," and wraps her arms around him. Calem pats Ponyta's neck and then takes the reins, "Let's go!" Ponyta neighs and dashes down the road. Lana's arms squeeze tighter the faster Ponyta runs. Calem, however, also makes sure to keep Ponyta's speed at a level Lana can handle.

A pair of Team Skull thugs and two Aether Foundation employees come into view just beyond the cemetery. The two thugs stand in front of a slowpoke. Despicable. "Lana, hold on."

Lana flinches at his warning and tightens her grip around Calem. She takes a breath and plasters the side of her face against his back. She close enough to hear and feel his heartbeat.

Calem directs Ponyta towards the Team Skull thugs, "Wild charge!"

The two Team Skull thugs scream at Ponyta's cries and scatter as he lands where they stood. One of the thugs says, "Yo, man! You trying to crush us here? You better not be underestimating us or we'll leave you hanging bone dry!"

Calem looks down at them from atop of Ponyta. "Get lost." Ponyta snorts to emphasis Calem's words. The second thugs says, "We don't need this pokemon anyway! Take it then! Good luck and good riddance!"

The Aether Foundation employee gives Calem her thanks while picking up Slowpoke. The foundation scientist says, "Yes, indeed. You are a trial-goer, aren't you? And the lass behind you, she's one of the trial captains, no? Well, what splendid trainers you are. I am deeply impressed! I'd like to reward you both by showing you something truly astounding. Once you have finished this island's grand trail, come to Hano Grand Resort and I will take you to see a wondrous place."

Lana says, "Excuse me, but I had nothing to do with this."

"Nonsense, trainers don't become strong on their own. He most likely wouldn't have come through here without your help."

The employee says, "I really owe you for this. If not for you, then I'd have had to fight those thugs. I'm so glad there are nice young trainers like you around. Good luck on your island challenge."

As the two Aether Foundation members leave, Rotom says, "I think I like that Aether Foundation lady… Did you see, zzt? Was she looking my way?"

"I don't think she noticed you." At Rotom's disappointment, he adds, "Then again, that one scientist wants to show us something. We might see her again."

"Then, hurry up! Let'szzz go, let'szzz go!"

Lana says, "You're plan to accept his invitation?"

"There's no reason not to."

Calem and Lana continue to Tapu Lele's ruins atop of Ponyta when a pink haired Team Skull thug calls out to them. She hops down from the rocks she's seated on and says, "So, you're the one Gladion was talking about? …Hmph. You don't look like anything special to me. I'm Plumeria. I help keep Team Skull together. I'm like a big sister to all these numskulls. You have realized what idiots all these guys are, right?"

"They're members of Team Skull."

"Punk, those are my cute, dumb brothers and sisters you're talking about. You picking on them really annoys me. Let's make him pay, Salandit."

Calem hoists his leg over Ponyta to slide off of him. His tone turns cold as it drops to complete loathing. "You people are no different than Team Flare. The world would be better off if you stopped existing."

"Wait!" Lana hops down from Ponyta and wobbles her way between Calem and Plumeria. "Calem, you're on your way to the Akala Grand Trial. Save your strength and leave this one to me. As one of this island's trial captains, I have a duty to keep this island clean. Isn't that right, Araquanid?"

"Salandit, dragon rage!"

Araquanid skirts around the attack with her long, thin legs. She maneuvers herself behind the fire pokemon and, "Bug bite!"

Salandit thrashes with his head and tail. Unable to break free, he spews out smog to envelop himself within a toxic cloud. Araquanid leaps back before she's covered up and, "clear it away with bubble beam!"

Salandit dives underneath the bubble beam and scurries up towards Araquanid to spit a glob of poison at her. Lana smirks, having anticipated as much, and does the waterium Z-dance. She finishes waving her arms to say, "Hydro vortex!"

Araquanid tears through Salandit's attack and knocks out the fire pokemon. Plumeria grunts in frustration. "Go ahead and hide behind that girl today. But keep messing with anyone in Team Skull, and I'll show you how I am when I get serious."

Calem says, "You held back against a trial captain?" Plumeria turns her head and leaves. Calem turns to Lana, "Thanks, but you didn't need to. I could have-"

Lana's hair sways to the said as she shakes her head. "Nmm," she places a hand over her chest and says, "Like I said, I'm a trial captain. Helping others and keeping the peace is one of my responsibilities. Seeing you to your grand trial is another."

A smile eases across Calem's face. "Then, let's get going." He places a hand underneath Ponyta's jaw, and with some clicks of his tongue, guides him along. They hear clapping as they approach the ruin entrance. Kahuna Olivia says, "Well spoken, Lana. That was really well spoken. You're every bit deserving to be a trial captain."

As they get closer, Lillie, Serena, and Professor Burnet surprise everyone by emerging from the ruins. Professor Burnett speaks first, "Good to see you again, Calem. I'm glad to see that you're doing better than when we last parted."

Lana says, "Did something happen?"

Calem says, "A thoughtless remark."

Serena clicks her tongue at Calem's comment. "That puts it mildly."

Professor Burnett chuckles and says, "Well, I've gotta go. The Masked Royal has a match, and there's no way that I'm missing it!" She walks off saying, "I just wonder what he looks like under that mask."

Serena says, "Calem, did you tell Professor Burnet you would be challenging Kahuna Olivia today? She called earlier saying she wanted to join us on our expedition to the Ruins of Life, but the way she spoke, it is as if she knew you would be here by the time we got out."

Calem shrugs, "I don't even know her number." He glances to Lana who shakes her head.

Kahuna Olivia laughs and says, "It's her researcher's intuition. You'd be surprised at how often she's been able to know where someone is based off a whim. Back when she and Kukui were dating, she'd go out to see him all the time regardless of where he was or what he was doing."

Lillie says, "Serena and I have been coming here everyday for the past few days. Though, in all honesty, Serena's the one who's been bringing me here. Within these ruins waits the guardian deity of Akala Island… This is Tapu Lele's ruin."

"Pew!"

Lana gasps upon noticing Nebby floating on the ground by Lillie's feet. She drops to her knees to get a better look, "How cute!"

Lillie gets worried at first, but Calem says, "Lana's a trial captain and a good person. You can trust her."

Lana covers her mouth as she giggles. "I once reeled in Lugia on my lure. Do you know what they say? Lugia only let themselves get caught by honest people."

Lillie's eyes sparkle as she says, "Really?"

Calem and Serena, their tones flat, speak in unison. "How amazing that you actually caught one then."

Lana sticks out her tongue and giggles.

Lillie, relieved, that Lana isn't untrustworthy, turns to Nebby. "You! I know you tried to drag me along to the Ruins of Conflict on Melemele Island, too… Why are these ruins important to you? What do the guardians mean to you?" Nebby stares up at Lillie with a smile, but doesn't answer. "You don't know, do you? Just think what would have happened to you if Calem hadn't been there back then…"

Lana turns to Calem, "Did something happen?"

Calem says, "Some wild spearow attacked."

Kahuna Olivia says, "Tapu Lele summoned me to do some cleaning, but I'm starting to suspect that reason was secondary." She looks Calem over, "So, I can assume you passed all three trials?"

Lana says, "He was amazing." Realizing that she said that out loud and now has everyone's attention, she turns a bright red. She glances to the side as she speaks in a softer voice, "Well, it's true… The way he cleared mine and Mellow's trial… Calem's really cool."

Kahuna Olivia chuckles and says, "Did you really just bring Calem here because of your duty as one of my trial captains? Should I be thinking that maybe, just maybe, you have a hidden agenda?"

Lana shakes her head, "No, no, no, no! I'm here according to my duty as a trial captain and friend to the challenger, nothing more!"

Kahuna Olivia, Serena, and Lillie laugh at Lana's embarrassment. Calem and Kahuna Oliva lock eyes and separate themselves from the group. Kahuna Olivia says, "Alright then, get ready for your hardest battle yet, the grand trial against the Akala Island Kahuna- me! My adorable, rugged rock type partners are giving this everything we've got! Right, Nosepass?"

"Ponyta!"

Calem's choice shocks everyone. Hau sudden appearance, however, is what makes everyone but Serena jump. "A fire type! What's he thinking?"

Serena says, "He is not. Pay closer attention. Ponyta is the one who wants to battle."

Lana's "look" returns everyone's attention to the battle. Blue flames dance around Ponyta's body as he weaves between the rocks thrown at him. Some rocks get close enough to blow gaps open within the fire, but none reach his body.

Ponyta hops over Nosepass's face to get behind the rock pokemon. "Low kick" knocks the pokemon off balance leaving an opening for "Double kick!"

Kahuna Olivia recalls Nosepass for "Boldore!" To destroy Ponyta's "footing," she has her pokemon attack with "mud-slap" and "rock tomb!" Ponyta evades them with ease, but the attacks aren't well aimed.

Calem gasps when Ponyta reaches Boldore. Those attacks were meant to lure in Ponyta. "Bounce!" Ponyta jumps to the sky, but not fast enough to avoid a "rock blast" from gashing his underbelly. As Ponyta keeps rising, Calem says, "Sunny day, flame wheel!"

Boldore keeps launching "rock blast" at Ponyta, but no one knows if any are direct hits. Sunny day makes looking skyward difficult and the flame wheel makes pinpointing Ponyta's body impossible.

Calem, expecting a trap, says "Don't land anywhere near Boldore!" Once Ponyta reaches the ground, "Double team!" Calem racks his mind for a way to fight back as Boldore hurls rocks through Ponyta's after images.

Ponyta, growing tired of being on the defense, neighs from atop of one of the surrounding hills. The blue and white flames blazing from his body mix with the sun behind. To everyone watching, Ponyta transforms into a star. As Boldore takes aim for "Rock blast," Ponyta releases solar beam.

With Boldore defeated, he trots over to Calem. Calem rubs his neck, "Looks like there's still a lot more to learn about you." Ponyta neighs and lets himself be returned to his pokeball.

Olivia has Midnight Lycanroc by her side as she waits for Calem to send out his next pokemon. "Mawile!"

"Maw!" The steel pokemon emerges from her primer ball with both hands up and ready to battle.

"Taunt" enrages Lycanroc into attacking despite Kahuna Olivia's calls to stop. Mawile cuts Lycanroc's attack short with "sucker punch," and while he's still recovering from the blow, "iron head."

Kahuna Olivia laughs as she recalls her pokemon. "After that second bout, I was really expecting a much more vigorous final match."

Serena, in the midst of the congratulations, marches up to Calem and slaps him. "Are you an idiot? You know better than to have let Ponyta fight a second match. Why do you think you struggled so much? Skilled trainers will develop counters after seeing a strategy once! You of all people should know that. You let your anger blind you!"

Calem clicks his tongue. Before Serena can retort, Kahuna Olivia interrupts. "Now, now, no need to get that angry. He did win. Although, I am curious. Did your encounter with Team Skull rile you up that much?"

Calem shrugs to which Serena says, "Shape up. My rival is someone who rises above to control his emotional outbursts and uses them as guidance. He is not some petty slave to them."

Hau says, "Wow, just a minute, hold up! Your rival? But, aren't you like, the Kalos Champion?"

Lana gasps at his outburst. "The champion!"

Calem says, "We started at the same time. Although, out of all our matches, Serena has the better score."

Hau laughs and crosses his arms behind his head. "Well, if you put it like that, then doesn't that mean I'm strong enough to challenge a pokemon league? I've beat Calem in every match we've had after all."

Serena gives Calem a cold, disbelieving, look. One that reads, You lost against him?

Calem rolls his eyes. The glance he gives her says. My condition, remember?

Kahuna Olivia clears her throat. "Here, the rock type Z-crystal, rockium Z, is yours! This is how you use it. Watch carefully, hip movement is crucial!" She crosses her arm, brings them around, squats down, jumps up with her arms at her side, and then lunges to her right to again bring her arms around out to her side. "Use it well, or so I'd like to say, but you've seem to have lost your Z-ring."

Calem looks to his wrist. "I passed it along to its rightful owner."

Nebby floats up to Calem and Kahuna Olivia, "Pew!"

Lillie says, "You look very pleased, don't you?"

Kahuna Olivia says, "By the way, Lillie, this might be a weird question, but why even come to the Ruins of Life if you're not a trainer?"

"Oh, because of Nebby… It's not originally from here, and I want to help it get back to its home… But I don't have any idea on how to do that… It seems fond of the ruins for some reason, so I keep visiting them and hoping that maybe I will find some clue to help it…"

Kahuna Olivia says, "You certainly don't see pokemon like that every day."

Serena and Calem exchange glances before Serena says, "No, you really do not."

Kahuna Olivia says, "Tapu Lele may be called the guardian deity of our island, but it can also run wild at times. Regular pokemon normally avoid the guardians at all costs… Unless they are strong enough to face the tapu themselves, that is."

"Pew?"

"Wait, that can't be right… I think your journey will hold many surprises. And I hope it holds many joys. Lillie, you're doing all you can for your pokemon even though you're not a trainer. Serena, you're doing your best to help Lillie despite all you've achieved. I like people like you. If you ever run into trouble, keep in mind you can always turn to me."

Hau says, "Kahuna Olivia, I'm Hau from Iki Town. You've gotta let me battle you, too!"

Lana says to Calem, "Then I suppose we should get going to Hano Grand Resort."

Hau says, "What, you guys met that weird green guy, too?"

Kahuna Olivia says, "Ooh, the Aether Foundation? You may as well. Finding out what they want with you might be pretty interesting."

Lillie says, "The… the Aether Foundation…? I think I'll stay here. I'd like to see how Hau's battle goes, too."

Hau fist pumps, "Thanks, Lillie. You're the best! Just watch how much stronger I've become!"

Calem and Serena exchange glances at Lillie's reaction and nod. Calem will go investigate the Aether Foundation and Serena will watch over Lillie. As he and Lana separate from the group, they hear Kahuna Olivia say, "Well then, Hau. Show me what you've got!"

Rotom says, "You do know how to get to the Grand Resort, right? Bzzt! It'szz only like the most popular hotel in Alola!"

Ponyta gets them to the Hano Grand Resort in record time, but they receive an apology at the door. The scientist who invited them says, "We're still waiting for one more trainer. Until then, please, just relax and enjoy yourselves. If you want anything to eat or drink, consider it on the house."

Lana rubs her stomach. "It has been a while since we've eaten." She soon regrets the decision. Hano Grand Resort, being a high class hotel, enforces a strict dress code. Both she and Calem are fitted into rentable clothing set aside for such situations. The staff even takes advantage of the situation to give them a matching dress and suit respectively.

The dark blue gown they provide Lana with is tight around her waist. The limitations it places on her body movement combined with the fact that she's never worn heels before makes walking on her own impossible. She doesn't just need Calem to help her up from the sofa, she needs to cling to his arm the entire way into the dining area least risk falling over. If he weren't there to help her, she might have been too nervous to even enter. "I'm a fisherman, I don't belong in fancy places like this. Doesn't being here bother you at all?"

"A friend once wanted to take ballroom dance. He didn't want to go alone, so he forced all of us to go together with him. Dressing like this was required to attend the monthly dance parties that he made us attend too. Although, to be honest, after everything that's happened, all this formality and setup is annoying."

He pulls out the chair for Lana and sits down opposite of her. Lana's eyes budge upon glancing down. "Why are there so many forks?"

Calem waits until after the waiter places the napkins on their laps before pointing to each fork while saying in turn, "Salad, fish, dinner." He then points to the two utensils at the top of her plate, "dessert." Finally, he points to the spoon and knives, "soup, salad, fish, and dinner. Easy trick, start from the outside in."

"How do you know all this?"

"Education in proper dining etiquette was required in Kalos."

Lana glances down. "Sorry…"

"Not your fault."

"No, but I keep reminding you of it. I trying not to, but everything I've said so far-"

"Stop… Seeing my pokemon every day is a constant reminder to the Last Night of Kalos. Small comments like this, they remind me of all nights before that one."

"Then… while we wait… maybe you… could you… if you want… on the dance floor… dance with me?"

"You know how to waltz?"

"I can use the waterium Z and Kiawe has always says that Z-moves are like dancing. How different can it be?"

"It'll be easier to just show you…" Calem holds out his hand to Lana and walks her onto the floor. She breaks form after the first step which results with Calem crashing into her on the second step. "Yeah, that's what happens when you break connection with your partner. Keep your head up and close your eyes. That'll make this easier."

Lana almost loses balance with the pivot, but manages to stay on her feet. Then on her turn to walk forward, she hesitates and takes too small of a step. She tries to make up the distance with her second step, breaks connection, and ends up crashing into Calem. On her third attempt, she slips on the pivot and would have fallen over if not for Calem catching her.

She needs five tries before getting through the first two patterns, six steps. Then on the third pattern, she forgets to shift weight resulting in another crash. She slips as the recoil forces her back. Calem catches her, but to observers, it looks more like a low dip.

Lana, from her position two feet above the ground, trembles a bit as she says, "Maybe we should head back. The food should be arriving soon."

Calem and Lana head to the beach after dinner in their normal clothes. To pass the time, they accept work tossing pyukumuku back into the sea. Lana holds out her arms for balance as she walks on top of a low wall. "This is so much better than that stuffy dress."

That's when a hotel attendant runs up to them with their pay and a message. Their presence is requested in the hotel. Lana says, "Finally, what took him so long? Did he take a nap after his battle?"

"He probably stopped to go on a date with a random girl."

"Seriously?"

"We arrived on this island at the same time. There's a reason he waited so long in challenging Kakuna Olivia."

"Kahuna, not Kakuna… Are you doing that on purpose?"

They meet Hau and the scientist in the lobby. The scientist clears his throat and says, "Forgive the late introduction, but you may call me Faba. I told you before that I would show you someplace astounding, right? Well, that wondrous place is… Aether Paradise! Just as the name suggests, Aether Paradise is a veritable paradise for pokemon that floats far out in the sea surrounding Alola. It's an artificial island, made entirely by human technology, for the protection of pokemon! As an adult who keeps his promises, I will prove to you that all I've told you is the absolute truth with a tour of Aether Paradise. You will come, won't you?"

Calem says, "That's why we're here."

Kahuna Olivia and Professor Kukui catch up to them midway to the hotel's private docks. At Faba's surprise, Kahuna Olivia says, "As a Kahuna, I look after all the trial-goers who come to my island alongside my trial captains. They're like my own children. Not that I've got any- I've never even gotten married." To the trainers, "Listen up, you three. Your greatest opponent is always yourself. Your greatest allies, the pokemon beside you."

Hau chuckles and says, "Calem's greatest opponent is the ocean."

Professor Kukui says, "Go see all the amazing tech that Aether's developing and tell me about it later, yeah? I'll see you on the next island, Ula'ula Island, yeah. Let's meet up at Malie Garden!"

Hau says, "Yep! It's good bye to Akala Island for now."

Faba says, "Before I forget, Calem, Lana, these are for you." They accept the folders given to them and look inside. Lana, upon pulling out the contents, turns a bright red. "As today's VIPs, we made sure to capture your evening so you'll never forget it."

Kahuna Olivia looks over Lana's shoulder and smirks. It's a picture of Calem dipping her on the dance floor. "Oh, my. The two of you are getting along real nicely."

Lana shakes her head and shoves the pictures back into the envelope. "No, no, no, no! We're just friends. When did these happen?"

Calem, despite Hau's begging to see them, also puts his pictures away. "Probably that guy who was following us."

Faba says, "You noticed? The camera men are trained to be very discreet."

"Just something I picked up a bit back. It's something a lot of trainers learn to do sooner or later."

"Well, time to get going. The ferry awaits."

A/N: That wraps up chapter 8. This one had quite a bit of fluff. I'm embarrassed, but also very pleased with how it turned out. What do you guys think, it wasn't too much, was it? Actually, what do you think about Calem X Lana? None of you have said anything about it, so I'm curious to your reactions. What are they?

Thanks for reading and please review,

Gandire