Calem's Alola Adventure

Chapter 20

By: Gandire Alea

Calem recalls Noivern, "You did an amazing job. Mawile, let's finish this."

"Maw!" The pokemon says upon bursting from her premier ball. She glares at the aura clad Bewear in an attempt to intimidate him, but the normal pokemon is unfazed. His expression remains as indifferent as Lusamine's previous pokemon. They've completely lost their senses of self…

"Maw!" Mawile cries out as a rainbow light surrounds her for her mega evolution. Mega-Mawile's two mouths snap at Bewear as the light fades.

"Iron head!" Even though Calem prefers the taunt then sucker punch tactic, it doesn't mean he and Mega-Mawile can't take the initiative and attack. Right now, they have no choice but to do so. Lusamine's pokemon are unresponsive to everything except her commands. Baiting them into attacking is impossible. "Fire fang!"

Bewear lets Mega-Mawile's mouth clamp his arms. "Let him go!" Calem's warning is too late. Bewear uses Mega-Mawile's grip against her by pulling her overhead and slamming her against the ground.

Mega-Mawile's fangs remain lodged within Bewear's arms despite his makeshift seismic toss. Bewear drags her towards himself and raises a foot. She can't escape in time. "Flash cannon!"

Mega-Mawile shoots a bright sphere of light from her forehead towards Bewear's eyes.

Lusamine shouts, "You think something that pathetic will harm us?"

It won't even penetrate Bewear's flaming aura. Calem grins despite those thoughts.

Although Bewear doesn't recoil at the light, his stomp makes a crater next to Mega-Mawile's head. Mega-Mawile gives Bewear an innocent smile and, from her position on the ground, flings the normal pokemon across the field and into one of the crystal embedded walls with seismic toss.

Bewear gets up despite the pile of rocks that collapsed on top of him and trudges towards Mega-Mawile. Mega-Mawile roars out at Bewear, but the normal pokemon ignores her. He instead raises his paw with the intention of using hammer arm.

Mega-Mawile will faint if it hits. "Mega-Mawile!"

"Maw!"

If it hits. Mega-Mawile's sucker punch is more than fast enough to redirect the blow. The hammer arm could be a bluff, but neither Lusamine nor Bewear are in the right mind to come up with such a plan. All Calem has to do is find the timing, "There!"

Mega-Mawile strikes Bewear's shoulder. His attack drops down, but angles outward to brush over the steel pokemon's head and create an opening, "Play rough!"

Mega-Mawile pounces atop of Bewear. She pins the normal pokemon's arms with her own and smacks down on his head with her mouths. Bewear struggles to get up, but is unable to break free from Mega-Mawile's hold. Not once does Bewear cry out.

Calem takes a breath. Lusamine's pokemon may have gotten stronger during their time here, but they also became weaker. He would have had a much harder time if they were the same as when he faced them with Serena.

Lusamine writhes and screams inside of Nihilego upon recalling her pokemon. Lillie finds courage within herself upon seeing her mother's pain and says, "H-help us! Please, Lunala!"

Lunala appears at her side with a "Pew!" and from the third eye on her forehead emits a beam of blue light. Nihilego releases Lusamine and disappears within a beast ball. Lillie runs forward and catches her mother as she drops to the ground. "Mother!"

Lusamine blinks as she opens her eyes and stares into Lillie's. She reaches up to stroke her daughter's face, "Lillie… Heh…" Lusamine pokes Lillie's nose and says, "When did you… start becoming beautiful?" With that, her arm falls limp at her side. She wears an expression of tranquility as she falls asleep.

Calem almost falls over as the world begins to shake. Guzma runs up to them from where he was watching, saying, "What now? What's going on? And just when things were getting good!"

A pod of five Nihilego appear. The anger in their chirps berates Calem and Lillie for what they've done.

Lillie looks around and says, "There are so many Nihilego!"

Calem reaches for his black pokeball, but Lunala's sharp "Pew!" draws everyone's attention. It wraps its wings around everyone, and when it releases them, they're back on the altar.

Lana is the first to notice their return, "You've returned! Are any of you hurt? Did you succeed in you tasks? Did-"

Serena places a hand on her shoulder. "You are supposed to say, "Welcome back." Not bombard them with questions."

Calem takes off the champion's mantle and returns it Serena. "We're back."

Serena says, "Any trouble?"

Calem grins and turns towards Lillie and her mother. Both of them are being surrounded by Hau, Acerola, Hapu, and Mahina. Hapu soon turns to Guzma and orders him to carry Lusamine.

Serena smiles and re-drapes her mantle over her shoulders. "We get a happy ending this time."

Lana says, "What happens now?"

Calem chuckles and says, "Nothing. It's a strange feeling, isn't it? Everything we've gone through, but life goes on like nothing happened."

Serena gasps and says, "You are laughing again."

"Yeah. Maybe I should say, "I'm back," too?"

Serena lunges forward to hug Calem, but stops. With so many people watching, such a sight would be too unsightly for her position. She takes a breath and she settles for punching his shoulder. She puts up a strong front, but cannot stop her tears from rolling over her smile. "Everyone… Everyone will be so happy to hear this." Lana looks to the two of them with confusion, but refrains from speaking.

An echoing "Pew!" draws Calems, Serenas, and Lanas' attention. Lillie looks at Lunala with a bright smile and says, "You want to keep on traveling together with us… is that it?"

"Pew!"

Lillie giggles and says, "Looks like I was right! Of course I was… After all… We've been together so long." Sadness creeps into her voice as she continues, "We're family now, aren't we? Of course I can tell how you feel! Because I feel the same! We met so many people as we traveled around all of Alola's islands: Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet… Kahuna Hala and his grandson Hau… The trial captains Lana and Acerola… Hapu… Mahina… Serena… and the hero who appeared to save you from those spearow, Calem. And so many other people too… I don't know what the world you came from is like, but Alola is pretty great, too! Of course you want to see it all! It's just like Kahuna Hala told us… You can go to so many places and meet so many pokemon and people, and they will enrich your life."

"Pew!"

Lillie shakes her head, "I'm not a trainer, Nebby. I can't take you on the adventures you want. I can't give you the fierce battles you want."

Calem walks up to Lillie, "Quit being such an idiot, you're smarter than this."

Lillie's eyes and mouth open as she stunned into silence. Not just her, but everyone grows quiet at Calem's words. Serena slaps Calem's back and, ignoring that he tenses up and cringing, says, "What Calem is failing to say is you have accomplished more than what the average trainer ever will." Both she and Calem hold out a pair of pokeballs towards Lillie. Serena says, "You are not a trainer? Then, this here is your first step."

Lillie hesitates, but accepts the pokemon Calem and Serena offer. Calem then hands her the master ball Gladion gave him. He says, "First, weaken your opponent in battle, then, throw your pokeball."

Lillie takes a breath and nods. Serena nudges Calem's side with her elbow as they return to the side lines. She snickers and says, "First, she has to weaken her opponent?"

Mahina says, "What's wrong with that? That's the truth, isn't it?"

Lana says, "Calem gave Lillie a master ball."

Hau is the only one who doesn't nod his head in understanding. "What difference does that make? Is its capture rate really high or something?"

Mahina face palms as she says, "Only the best. A master ball always succeeds in capturing its target, even without battling."

Calem shushes everyone, "Not so loud, keep it down."

Lana says, "Calem's right. Instead, let's support Lillie in her new endeavor." Everyone exchanges looks at her words and begin to cheer Lillie on her first battle as a trainer.

Lillie takes a breath and throws her first pokeball. From it appears Meowstic. Serena says, "Meowstic is a psychic pokemon!"

Lillie nods and says, "Meowstic, psychic!"

Lunala takes the hit, but isn't bothered much by it. Lunala cries out and flaps her wings to use air slash. Lillie panics as Meowstic is sent tumbling back.

Serena says, "Don't scream! Get up, think of a way to defend yourself!"

Lillie stutters a few syllables, but manages to say, "Light screen!" Meowstic creates a psychic shield that deflects most of Lunala's night shade.

Calem says, "Now, fight back! Don't forget, Serena trained Meowstic! She isn't just limited to psychic attacks!" As Lillie says "Thunder bolt!" Calem turns to Serena. He says, "Speaking of which, was that some sort of test? Lunala's part ghost. She resists psychic attacks."

Serena giggles and says, "Of course. What better way to learn about type advantage than in a battle you cannot afford to lose?"

Lana says, "The wisdom of a champion?"

Calem scratches the back of his head as he says, "Well, I won't deny learning the value of type advantage after our first battle…"

Lana giggles at Calem's grumbling, but then points at the battle. Meowstic was hit with shadow ball so Lillie is calling her back. From the pokeball Calem gave her appears Sandslash.

Lillie says, "Sandslash, icicle spear!"

Calem says, "Lillie, if you see an opening, make sure it isn't a trap to bait you in and then go for it!"

Hau says, "Dude, it's her first battle. That type of intuition takes time to build."

Calem glances at Hau before looking back at the battle. He says, "Posture, muscle tension, the flow of the battle, and mood of both the trainer and pokemon; pay attention to that and it's obvious."

Serena shakes her head as she says, "Only you can see all that, Calem. Hau, you are absolutely right. Learning to read the flow of battle and developing your instincts takes time to build."

Calem says, "You're just not paying enough attention."

Mahina says, "Say, I've been wondering since Aether Paradise… Calem, are you stronger than Serena?"

Calem says, "Serena's the Final Champion of Kalos."

Lana's gasp cuts off Mahina's reply. Everyone's attention returns to the battle. Lillie recalls Sandslash and throws her master ball. The ball captures Lunala, falls to the ground, and shakes three times before growing still. Before anyone can run out to congratulate her, the master ball shines and changes color. It goes from being purple and white to becoming the same as a starry night sky.

Hau says, "What just happened?"

Serena says, "You did not know? Some pokemon are so strong, they influence the pokeballs that capture them."

Calem claps his hands and says, "Pokemon trainer, Lillie!" Everyone else claps too as they begin welcoming Lillie as a pokemon trainer.

Lillie, despite her excitement, bows her head to them. "I wouldn't have made it this far if not for all of you. Thank you so much!"

Calem says, "So, do you think Nebby will just escape from its pokeball from now on?"

Lillie's face blanks at the sudden though. She holds up starry night ball and looks at the pokemon inside as she says, "You're not gonna do that, are you?"

While she's warning Nebby on what it can and cannot do, Nanu says, "Cripes, I hate this place. Climbing all the way up here is exhausting. At least you bunch gave me a good show."

Acerola says, "Uncle Nanu, what are you doing here?"

"The professor asked me to." He looks to Calem says, "The opening festival starts tomorrow and he wants to make sure you'll be there. You've finished your trials and grand trials, right? Usually, we'd have the final trial, a ceremony where you beat all four kahunas in a row. This year is different…" Nanu then looks to Mahina and Hau, "That means this is the last week for everyone else to finish their trials."

Mahina moans and grabs her head, "I'm barely more than halfway there."

Hau says, "I still need to finish up here on Poni Island."

Nanu turns to Lana and Acerola. "There are a lot of desperate trainers looking for you two. Well, that's that. See you all later."

"It was just a rowdy bunch of people battling, eating, and goofing around."

Lana sits on the grass in the final section of Brooklet Hill with a fishing rod in hand next to Calem. She nods and says, "None of the others were there?"

"Hau showed up right before I left. He went straight to the masala table where he began to flirt with some girls."

"Geez, that guy hasn't changed a bit."

Calem shrugs, but doesn't stop brushing Rapidash. "I showed up like Pofessor Kukui asked, but he never said I had to stay for the whole thing. The first day is good enough. Besides, everything should be fine as long as I return by the final day."

Lana giggles, "I too shall be leaving for Tapu Village on the final day for the opening of Mount Lanakita. That's the final day for everyone who wishes to participate in the league battles. Until then, I shall remain here and administer my trial to any who wish to challenge it without fail. Maybe we can… go together?"

"Better than going alone."

Lana fidgets with her fishing pole and says, "Hey… I've been wondering… but why did you come here? If you wanted company… wouldn't you rather be with Serena?"

"This place is peaceful."

Lana tries to hide her disappointment at Calem's answer, but her voice still trembles. "I- I see… I agree. Brooklet Hill is very tranquil as long as you're not a challenger…" After a few moments of silence, she says, "Calem, you still don't know how to swim… Would you… If you like… Only if you're interested… I… I can teach you?" Her face burns red and her voice grows quite towards the end. She pretends to focus on her fishing, but sneaks glances at Calem.

Calem stands up and strips off his shirt. Lana gasps at what he's doing, but doesn't comment. He says, "You'll teach me? Okay, what's first?"

Lana waves her arms and says, "Wait, wait, wait, wait! Let me get changed into my swimsuit first."

"Aren't you already wearing it underneath everything?"

"That's not the point!" She points to the entrance of the lake, "You look that way and tell me if anyone is coming!"

Calem hears a splash a few minutes later. Lana says, "Okay, come on in. The water here is shallow enough to stand. We can start with floating."

"Let me change too…"

Rotom flies out of Calem's pocket and says, "Swimming lessonszzz. I'll make sure to capture thiszzz moment on film for you! Bzzt!"

A few minutes later, Calem is neck deep in water. He stands on the tip of his toes while treading his arms back in forth in an attempt to float. Lana, atop of an underwater rock, stands in front of him to keep watch incase anything goes wrong. She says, "Floating is easy. Relax and it'll happen on its own."

"I am relaxed."

"Then you shouldn't be sinking."

Calem sinks underneath the water and hops up. By moving both his arms and legs, he's able to remain afloat for seven seconds before going under again.

Lana sighs and says, "How about we practice kicking your feet. Here, just take my… hands…" She blushes upon realizing what her invitation entails.

Calem, while hopping in place, reaches for her hands. Lana gives a small shriek when his hand presses against her stomach. "Sorry… Hold them up above the water."

A buzzing sound cuts through the air. Calem drops underneath the water and tackles Lana. Taken by surprise, she's unable to resist. As Calem pulls her to shallower water, something small cuts into the water where he was standing.

A/N: Surprise! There are still a few more things to take care of before the league battle. We may almost be done, but there's still plenty for you guys to keep coming back. You know, I've been bothered by what I've done to Lana since more or less her first appearance. I can't help but feel as though her character is defined by her crush. A lot of her appearances were motivate by it. Granted, that allowed her to display other aspects of her character, but at the core, that crush is a defining characteristic. Maybe I'm putting too much thought into this? What do you all think?

Thanks for reading, leave a review,

-Gandire Alea