Calem's Alola Adventure

Chapter 10

By: Gandire

Calem's sea sickness leaves him unable to keep pace with everyone rushing off the ferry onto Ula'ula Island. As a result, with Lana's support, he is one of the last to disembark. She then continues to support him up to the city gate. There, Calem, upon seeing the tiled roofs coupled with hanging lanterns, says, "This place is a lot like Johto." He sniffs the air, "Is this what their food smells like?"

"According to Mallow, it is. She says the food here has a strong Johto-Kanto blend."

Hau leans against the city gate. He calls out to them and grins once they turn around and spot him. "Hurry up you slowpokes. Calem, shouldn't you be fine now that you're on land?"

"Lana doesn't want to let go."

Lana turns red and breaks away from Calem. "You should have said something!"

Calem shrugs. He did, she just didn't believe him.

Hau says, "Well, whatever, now that we're here, let's battle! I want my pokemon to get a deep breath of this fresh air!"

Lana responds before Calem can answer. "No way, that's completely unfair! Calem battled an Ultra Beast and then suffered an entire hour of sea sickness while you're in perfect condition. Save it for tomorrow!"

Hau chuckles at her glare, finding that her anger only makes her look cute. He wraps his arms behind his head while saying, "Alright, alright, fine. Sheesh, I was just asking."

Lana maintains her glare, "Professor Kukui said he'd be waiting at Malie Garden. Well, let's hurry, today is almost over."

Calem wants to stop and admire the garden as they walk, but Lana shoves him from behind. "We shouldn't keep the professor waiting any more than we already have. We can take our time seeing everything after talking with him."

Hau laughs and says, "Oh, just the two of you? You mean for a date?"

Lana shakes her head, "No, no, no, no! Obviously I mean with those other two we saw at Akala Island as well. Their names were…"

"Lillie and Serena? Are you sure you want to invite an extra pair of girls with you? Calem's really close to both of them, especially Serena."

"I just said it's not like that!"

They find Professor Kukui sipping tea in a pavilion near the back of the garden. His relaxed demeanor and tranquil expression is a strong contrast to his usual upbeat and energetic self. Calem says, "Are we sure that's him and not a ditto?"

Lana covers her mouth as she giggles. "I'd believe it."

Professor Kukui hears them and waves. "Lana, you're here too, cousin. What's going on with you three? Your eyes shine extra bright today, yeah. Did something big happen, woo?"

Hau says, "Only something amazing! You've gotta hear this! The ultra wormhole opened up, like, right in front of us, and there really are Ultra Beasts in there! You've gotta tell Professor Burnet, too!"

Professor Kukui says, "Woo! You got to see the ultra wormhole and an Ultra Beast? That is amazing, oh yeah!"

Lana says, "You should have seen Calem. When the Ultra Beast appeared, we were all too terrified to move. But Calem, Calem stood up against it in battle until it left!"

Professor Kukui says, "Amazing, sounds like an even better reason to train hard, yeah, on your island challenge! Then, maybe someday, we'll all be able to go through the ultra wormhole! Alright, Calem, Hau, your next trial is up on Mount Hokulani! The last bus there left an hour ago, but they'll start up again early in the morning, yeah."

Hau says, "You guys can go ahead without me, Professor. I'm gonna find myself a hot date first! Finding one on each island is my own personal island challenge, yeah?"

Professor Kukui nods and turns to Calem, "Then I'll see you tomorrow morning, Calem." After agreeing to a meetup time, he leaves.

As the three walk out of the Garden, Lana says, "So, Calem, do you know?"

Hau says, "Of course he knows. We all know"

Calem says, "What am I supposed to know?"

"Well… you see…umm…." Hau chuckles and says, "What exactly is it that we know?"

Lana sighs, "There's an observatory on top of Mount Hokulani. They always send out messages whenever we can expect to see a comet or even another planet in the night sky."

Calem says, "I'll have to keep my ears open for them."

Hau chuckles, "Yeah, they do do that. Rotom will let you know when they send a message out."

Rotom says, "I szzzure will!"

Hau chuckles again and says, "Well, I'm out! I need to start searching for a malasada dinner date before it gets too late. Bye!"

Once Hau is gone, Lana turns to Calem with an eager smile, "The best place to watch the night sky is out in the middle of the ocean away from all the lights." Her eyes widen as she realizes what she's about to say and clears her throat, "Anyway, it's getting late… We should probably check in at the pokemon center?"

As they walk back, Calem says, "Why did you want to come to Ula'ula Island?"

"I'm a trial captain, but after everything that's happened, I realized I don't really know all that much about Alola or the world. The best way to learn more about this world we live on is by visiting the library and the best one in Alola is in Malie City."

Upon reaching the pokemon center, they find Lillie and Serena inside the café. As the four catch up with each other, Serena and Calem exchange glances and nod. It's their agreement to meet up an hour and 7 minutes after whatever they're doing ends. That is something they developed back when they were starting out in Kalos.

Hau soon appears with some girl, but sits at another table. Seeing him on a date is all the stimulus the four need to turn in for the night.

Calem goes to his room once he finishes washing. He reads a few pages from the book he was given in Aether Paradise to kill time until his meeting with Serena. Half an hour later, he marks his page, and steps outside. Serena is waiting on a bench across the street. "Je m'excuse."

"Ne vous inquietez pas. I just got here myself." They place some distance between themselves and the pokemon center and soon find themselves on the docks. The waves lapping against the cement structure creates a soothing atmosphere. Serena rubs Calem's side with her elbow. She smirks and speaks to him in their native tongue, "After everything that has happened, you finally decided to get a girlfriend? There will not be any problems in a few years, but you do realize she is a bit young now?"

"You mean Lana?"

"Quit messing around. I refuse to believe you of all people would fail to notice."

"It's nothing more than a crush born from a false impression." Calem explains how and why he placed himself in danger to face Wishiwash and then says, "She'll get over it once she learns what I'm really like."

Serena punches his arm. Her frown turns into a sly smile as she says, "I sincerely doubt that. If your determination against Wishiwash was even just a tenth of what it was back then… Well, trainers cannot see their expressions when they battle. Her judgment might not be as far off as you think." A sigh changes her smile into one of nostalgia, "Shauna and Tierno were a match made in heaven, but would have never happened without you." Serena then gasps and covers her mouth upon realizing what she said.

She gives a Calem a worried look, but he cuts her off before she can apologize. His tone is sorrowful and full of longing, but also calm with resignation. "The five of us survived the end of the world, but only four made it through the nightmare that followed." He takes a breath, "I meet a trainer the other day. She was just like Tierno… Even the way they sleep is the same, randomly sleep punching out towards the sky during the middle of the night."

Serena places a hand on Calem's shoulder and gives him a reassuring smile, "You know, I was actually a bit jealous of you two. No matter what happened, you would always had each other's backs. It made me feel left out a lot more than I wanted to admit."

Calem looks up to the sky, "The Aether Foundation is going to destroy the peace in this region. Their president, Lusamine, is just like Lysander. She's selfishly pursuing a vision for the future she decided as best. Well… that's the vibe I got after speaking to her."

"And Lillie? How does she connect to all of this?"

"Her daughter."

"You mean to say she ran away?"

"Lusamine would be a horrible parent. Those which she like have no need to think for themselves. They just need to be obedient dolls. Although, I don't think that's the real reason she, or Gladion if I'm right, would run away."

"Nebby, right? She is protecting Nebby."

"Yeah, but from what? Their labs weren't part of the tour, but the Ultra Beasts are definitely connected."

…..

Hau takes off upon waking up that morning. Calem sees him hurry out the door with eager anticipation all over his face. From the way he's dressed, He's going to the beach? While everyone else gathers for breakfast in the café, Lillie says, "Calem, would you mind helping me find a book in the Malie Library? Serena agreed to help, but it's a big library, so I would appreciate all the help I can get."

Lana says, "Really, what book? It might be one of the one's I'm looking for."

"It's a really old one full of myths and legends. The tales in it seem to suggest that Alola's legendary pokemon came from another world."

Calem thinks back to the book he was given at Aether Paradise. It's similar to Lillie's description, but from what he's read so far, doesn't mention the origin of the legendary pokemon. While he's thinking, Lana says, "Oh, that's one of them. I'm also looking for that book. How about we work together?"

Calem nods, "I'd like to hear about those origins myself."

"Thank you, both!"

A mudsdale sneaks up on the four of them as they make their way for the library. The ground pokemon places itself behind Lillie and snorts. She screams while Lana reaches for a pokeball. Calem and Serena, not picking up any hostility from the pokemon, remain calm as they turn around.

Hapu walks alongside Mudsdale and says, "Lana, been a while, friend. Here to check out the library?" She crosses eyes with Calem and turns to the others. "So, who might these two ladies be?"

"Oh! Hello… My name is Lillie."

"My name is Serena.

"My apologies if Mudsdale spooked you just now. Neither of you seem like trial-goers. What are you up to?"

Lillie says, "Oh, I'm actually, um, studying the tapu's ruins. For… various reasons of my own."

"Well, that's some fine initiative. I'd be happy to show you the way whenever you'd like to go. My Mudsdale here is as sturdy as all get-out. She can easily carry a few light weights like ourselves."

"Thank you very much."

Hapu nods, strokes her pokemon, and walks off. Once she's out of earshot, Serena turns to Calem, "What happened?"

Lillie says, "What do you mean?"

"That person… er, she never introduced herself…"

Lana says, "That's Hapu. Right now, she's a trial captain, like me. Although, there are some complications…"

Serena says, "Thank you. Anyway, Hapu, what does she have against you, Calem? She looked ready to fight the second she saw you."

Lana claps a fist into her palm, "That's right, Ilima called all the trial captains a bit back. He wanted to warn us about a rude and nasty trial-goer."

Lillie gasps, "You mean Calem?"

While Lana nods. "I completely forgot about that."

Calem says, "Hapu also thinks I'm part of Team Skull."

Lillie says, "Aren't you going to correct her?"

Lana says, "You're the person she was talking about?" Upon receiving looks from everyone, she says, "She called all the captains the other day to warn us that one of the trial-goers is a member of Team Skull and that we should be careful with him. I never once suspected she could be talking about Calem."

Calem shrugs, "Well, let's go find that book."

Lana says, "Wait, you're just going to let it go?"

Lillie says, "That's right! You should correct her before this misunderstanding gets worse."

Calem says, "I'm pretty sure my reputation has already hit rock bottom. More than that, it doesn't really matter."

Lillie says, "Serena, aren't you going to say anything?"

Serena says, "He is right, though. A silly thing like this is not that big of a deal. The truth will come out eventually. Back in Kalos, those able to find food, water, and shelter garnered the ire of everyone else. Compared to that… Let us just say those days were terrible…"

Calem and Serena enter the library. Lillie and Lana enter after thinking over Serena's words. The four search around the upper floor when a girl wearing a dress patched together from rags offers to help. Despite that, she's very cheerful. She's maybe a year younger than Calem.

Lana says, "Acerola, thanks."

Acerola says, "Lana, of course. Friends of yours are friends of mine."

Acerola had been reading the book they're looking for earlier and left it on the table. "Is this what you're looking for, Princess? Give it a read."

"O-of course!"

Lillie says, "It's titled the Light of Alola. I'll just… um… read it aloud:

The empty sky broke asunder,

A hole appearing where had been none.

A single beast appeared from in it:

It was named the beast that calls the moon.

The king of Alola bowed before it:

The beast that stole all heavens' light.

The island guardians fought against it,

But in the end lost the fight.

Then did the beast that brings the dark

Cast its pall on the line of kings.

So would the beast that had won

Mark that path for all such finished things.

Beast of sun and beast of moon.

Through their union, they brought new life.

A fragile heir in Alola born

That island guardians would keep from strife.

The ancient kings sand their thanks

For Lunala with song of flute.

Two tones rang out across the altar-

A perfect pair, even after mute.

Calem says, "So, the Tapu are babysitters?"

Acerola chuckles and says, "That's one way to look at it." She then puts on a proud smile, "But isn't it great? My dad's books are all great!

Lillie says, "What? I mean, yes, it is. But when you say your father… Isn't this book very old?"

Acerola nods, "Yeah, it belonged to my dad. I know I don't look it, but my family used to be pretty much royalty. I had to have all my dad's books moved here so they didn't get ruined by the pokemon. I can tell you lots of other old stories about Alola, too! Are you interested?"

Lana nods, "Yes, please, hearing that would be a big help."

Acerola says, "Lana, you've always just looked up books about the ocean, stars, and navigating. I'm so glad you're finally showing an interest in Alola's history."

Lillie says, "I would be delighted if you did as well." She then turns to Calem, "I think I'll stay here… but you came to Ula'ula Island to undergo another trial. Good luck with it, Calem."

Serena gives his shoulder a light punch, "Do not go losing now."

Lana says, "Be careful."

A gentle smile crosses Calem's face as he says, "Merci." He leaves the library and city for route 10 where he meets an elder lady panicking by the entrance. Her 8 stufful ran off on her and are now lost within the route. Without any pokemon, she can't safely enter to search for them either.

Calem is in a hurry to reach the meetup point with Kukui, but shrugs. I'd be a failure of a human if I just walked off. Finding them and getting them back to her is easier than he anticipated. The eight are just lazing around out in the open and upon being spoken to, run back to her in fright. This is kinda fun.

Calem's lighthearted mood sours upon reaching the bus stop. Two Team Skull thugs are squatting there trying to dig it out. The first thugs says, "What, you never seen someone take a bus stop to go, before?"

Calem cuts off the second thug. Although he wonders why anyone would want to steal a bus stop, he instead says, "I've told you to quit Team Skull… Forget it, Noibat!"

They jump at Calem's sudden offense and send out Drowzee and Goldbat.

Calem has Noibat disorient the two pokemon with "supersonic." Then, while they're confused, hits them with "wing attack," and "bite." The two thugs call back their pokemon in less than three minutes.

The first thugs says, "Yo, think about the bus drivers! If we take this bus stop, they can all chill!"

The second thug says, "Oh, I'm over this! Back to livin' large at the mansion! Hmmph!"

Professor Kukui appears soon after the thugs run away. Calem had just finished brushing Ponyta and is putting on his brittle when, "Calem! What's going on? I saw some Team Skull punks talking about some strong trainer, yeah? I sure wish they'd challenge the League instead of getting up to no good all the time…"

"Alola has a Pokemon League?"

"Ho-ho! You'll find out soon enough! Just you wait, cousin. But first thing's first. If you want to head up to Mount Hokulani, we should take the bus. It should be here soon, yeah, but you seem to have other plans."

Calem gives a rare grin and pats the underneath of Ponyta's jaw. "A long open road? How could we take a bus?"

Kukui salutes Calem and says, "Well, I'll see you at the top, cousin! Yeah!"

Rotom, as Calem mounts Ponyta, says, "Gitty up, cow boy! Time to szzztart this rodeo! Yee-haw!"

Calem hoists himself on to Ponyta's back and relaxes his body into proper riding frame. He surveys the road ahead and clicks his tongue. Ponyta hops up onto his hind legs with a neigh dashes ahead. They're still picking up speed when a bus heading down the mountain passes them. Calem ignores it. The flashing sights, the wind in his ears, and the gallop of Ponyta's feet become his world. Everything else gets left behind.

Ponyta slows to a stop as they reach the observatory. With nothing to drink from, Ponyta lifts his head and opens his mouth so Calem can pour water into it from a bottle. The bus arrives while Calem feeds Ponyta some juicy berries.

Professor Kukui waves to Calem upon climbing off. He guides him to the side of the mountain and points at a snow covered peak off in the distance. Something can be seen being built on top of it. "Mount Hokulani is the second tallest mountain in Alola. The tallest is that majestic peak over there, Mount Lanakila. The highest peak in Alola! It's a sacred spot, yeah, the closet you can ever get to the legendary pokemon of Alola, said to be the moon and sun incarnate. That's it! Right there! On the peak of Lanakila! That's where I'll establish our Pokemon League!"

Calem gasps as he turns wide eyed to Kukui, "You're building the Alola Pokemon League?"

"That's right! We'll get everybody who's finished their island challenges, yeah, and up there on the peak of Mount Lanakila, they'll battle against the Kahunas to become the island challenge champion! I've always valued our old traditions here in Alola, but it's time to make a Champion the whole world will recognize! It's time to get our own Elite Four and make our own Pokemon League! To think that, someday, the kiddos in Alola will be able to go from being the island challenge champion to the world Champion! And then, when we have our own Champion, they can show the rest of the world what's so special about Alolan Pokemon and their trainers, yeah!"

"Building your own Pokemon League…" A chuckle escapes Calem. Then a second and a third. It gets louder and soon he's laughing loud and hard. The tone underlying it goes from shock and surprised to self-ridicule. Many people give him strange looks and Rotom starts taking pictures, but he continues. His laugh changes from being hollow to one full of anticipation. He grabs the guard railing as he stops laughing and says, "You're building your own Pokemon League. Where I'm from, the Pokemon League helped establish the regions. If the League leaves you, then that's it." He gives Professor Kukui a bright smile, "Je veux le voir!"

"Taking the island challenge really has done you a world of good, yeah! Your mother would have loved to see you laughing." He claps Calem's back, "Well, your next step awaits. You can find Sophocles inside the observatory, woo!"

A/N: Before anything else, I would like to dedicate this chapter to my darling, Leaf. Everyone, please wish my most important person in the world a happy birthday. In a long, twisting way, this story would never have happened if we never met. You're the best, Leaf! I'd say Leaf actual fanfic name, but that was forbidden. Anyway, now that the love of my life has been sufficiently embarrassed, this chapter.

Some of you may have noticed, but I've finally found a cover image. I wanted one that showed Calem on the beach, but that wasn't working. Then I came across this one of all five Kalos trainers and knew it was the one. The happiness it gives off really takes on a different tone once you consider everything that's happened.

Anyway, what do you all think about Hau? I wanted to give him more personality than what he had in the game and that's what developed. Oddly enough, he adds an unexpected flavor to this story.

Thanks for reading, leave a review,

-Gandire