Back at home, Ash and Misty entered the new Ketchum residence where Delia was just finishing dinner.
"Welcome back you two!" She greeted. "So what do you think of Alola?"
"It's very interesting. Everyone's so nice." Ash answered with a smile.
"That's wonderful to hear. I know you and Gary had this friendly rivalry thing but I was worried he was taking it too far." Delia then noticed his water starter. "Oh, is that your new Pokemon?"
"Yeah, she's called Popplio."
"She's so cute!" She remarked, prompting Popplio to happily bark and clad her fins.
"Mr. Mime?" Mr. Mime walked to the Sea Lion Pokemon, inspecting the new add-on.
"The cool thing is is that she and the other reginal starters tried to save us!" Misty shared. "I was going to handle it but you know."
"How sweet and brave! Amazing! It must've been fate that you've met! I'm so happy that you have a Pokemon to protect you. Why don't we have dinner. I cooked some pork and rice, along with some regional poi, laulau and lomi lomi fish.
"What's all that?" Ash asked.
"Basically paste made from starchy vegetables along with taro leaves filled with fish or coconut cream."
"This will certainly be new for our taste buds." Misty nervously laughed.
"Don't worry Misty. My mom knows how to cook." As it would surprisingly turn out though, Ash is mildly allergic to coconut. He had to spend all night and most of tomorrow day recovering until he was good enough by sunset.
"Wow, what a stunning sunset! It's a good thing your allergy wasn't too bad Ash. Once again, I'm sorry."
"It's alright mom, I'm fine." The mostly OK, if still slightly nauseous teen reassured his mom.
"Besides, he might miss out on the festival." Misty reminded.
"Oh, alright. Just don't stress yourself. Get some of that fresh air into your lungs. Have fun at the festival sweetie!"
"I will." Her son replied as he and Misty left and went to meet up with Professor Kukui.
"Hey cousins! Sorry to hear about your reaction, yeah."
"Well, I'm almost as good as new. Having some festive fun ought to cure me." The teen tried to put up a face. The professor went along with it.
"Right on! So, before we go to the festival, there's something I want to show you first. It's part of your trainer training."
"Alright, what is it?"
"Well, I heard you had trouble catching some wild Pokemon at first, so I want to show you first hand how it's done. Two minutes later. "Alright, got myself a Grubbin! Wild Pokemon can be dangerous, but with Pokemon by your side, you can catch them and form a team that will be of great help. And if you get all tuckered out, just head home or to a Pokemon Center, yeah. Got it cousin?"
"Yeah, I believe I do." Ash nodded.
"Great. Here's some Pokeballs and potions to help you get started." Kukui handed Ash 10 Pokeballs and 5 potions. "Why not make yourself a team on the way to Iki Town? It'll help. You and Popplio take care now." Professor Kukui then walked towards the town.
"Okay Ash, let's see how good you can catch five Pokemon." Misty said. "If need be, I'll give you some pointers."
"Thanks." To Misty's delight, Ash was able to replicate what the professor showed him, and caught a Pichu, a Buneary, a Pikipek, which is a Pokemon woodpecker and a yungoos. To her dismay though, Ash also caught a Grubbin to complete his first six.
"Haha! I have my first full team! This is so great!" Ash was celebrating as he danced around, pulling Misty around by the arms, but the redhead was as festive as she pulled away.
"Ash, there's no need to tug me around! And why would you catch that bug Pokemon?!"
"What, you scared of bugs?"
"Bugs get me bugged out! Even when in Pokeballs it's like I can feel their grubby little legs crawling over me. Just keep it away from me!"
"Sheesh, when did a Weedle stick its horn up your butt?" Ash joked with a chuckle, but that just set her off even more.
"Listen you jerk! Everyone has things they find disgusting! For me, that's carrots, peppers and bugs! So respect that I don't dislike bugs and keep it away!"
"Alright, alright, I get your point! I'll keep bugs away. Just don't insult Grubbin when it's out, alright?" As Ash fiddled with his Pokeballs he grumbled to himself. "What's wrong with carrots and peppers? I like them." Gathering his six, Ash threw them into the air to let them all out. thus prompting Misty to run 50 feet away to hide behind a tree. "Okay then, you guys are my new Pokemon. Now Grubbin, Misty over there has a fear of bugs apparently, so interacting with her will be challenging. Otherwise, we're going to have an adventure together. Doesn't that sound fun?" All them responded positively. "Cool! Let's go!" On the way, Ash also caught a Caterpie before battling few trainers before reaching the festival. Or at least a couple of sci-fi looking people at the festival gate.
"According to these readings, the numbers here appear to be a bit high. What do you think Captain?" The woman of the two asked.
"What was what? Did you say something? I was certainly not distracted by this foolish display of festivity." They stayed quiet for a few seconds before she asked her Captain with a head tilt,
"You want to participate, don't you?"
"What?! No! Only some juvenile kids would want to participate in something so flashy and stupid and... sort of exciting. Sort of fun... but that's not what we're here for! There's aura readings in this place. Perhaps it may be the effects of that one they call the Island Kahuna. But everything is so bright here in Alola. Brighter than we've been told. I find it loathsome this level of brightness."
"Even though this is the light we have sought for so long?"
"Yes, I suppose you're right." The Captain sighed dejectedly. We must carry on our investigations to return the light to our own world as well. Before the Blinding One can awaken.
"You know, all this light stuff reminds me of this arc of an anime I watched as a kid. I think it was called Yugioh GX."
"You were a Yugioh kid? Ha, that's the lamest card game I've ever known! That Pokemon card game is where it's at!"
"But Pokemon merchandise are everywhere! I appreciated anything that wasn't-wait. Is that a Dark Magician card sticking out of your pocket?!" The Captain hastily scrambled to shove the plastic covered card back down his pocket while his subordinate started laughing her butt off.
"Now you quiet down! You're on thin ice!" That was when he noticed Ash and Misty, staring at them very weird like. "Hey, don't you tourists know it ain't polite to eavesdrop!"
"We're technically tourists too Captain. We're just not here for tourist purposes. But yeah, don't listen to conversations you're not supposed to." The two then walked off.
"I wonder what that was about? Yugioh? I was always more of a Gundam Fighter fan myself.
"Yeah, Bakugan was for me." Misty agreed as they continued on their trek to Iki Town. That was when they met Hau and his Litten.
"Ho! Howzit guys?! Man, I thought you'd never make it! I was especially worried about Ash and his allergy attack."
"Thanks Hau."
"Yeah, I spent all day helping his mom with the unpacking of their stuff." Misty said with pride as she rolled her shoulders. "It wasn't too bad."
"Oh yeah! Right on time!" Ash and Misty turned to see Professor Kukui and Lillie arriving.
"But to what exactly?" The blond asked, before she had to quiet Nebby in her bag.
"A festival for Pokemon battling! We battle in the name of Tapu Koko, pitting our best moves against one another in a friendly competition to please our guardian. Woo!"
"So will you three be taking part?"
"I'd like to, but I'd probably cream Ash with my superior experience." Misty replied with a haughty tone while crossing her arms with a smug smile. "He has a full team but my Staryu could beat all six of them anyway. Don't want to crush him and take all the glory when he's so new to this."
"Oh yeah?!" Ash responded with an indignant response. "How about if I win then we have a match afterwards?! Just to show you that I'm not some push over!"
"It's a deal then." The two shook on it.
"I'm going to participate too!" Hau spoke up. I wish I could battle Misty during it but this battle competition sounds like fun!"
"I don't like seeing Pokemon fight one another, since they so often end up getting hurt." Lillie said with a frown, but then shook her head. But I'll be sure to watch you both."
"Let's get you both ready then." Kukui suggested.
At a later point of sunset, Kahuna Hala stood on a stage with a ring within it.
"For all life on our islands, and for those who undertake the island challenge with joy in their hearts... we pray for your protection. For them and all of Melemele. May this Pokemon battle be an offering to our island's guardian deity, Tapu Koko!" Everyone cheered. "Before you stands Hau... grandson to the Kahuna." Hau walked onto the stage with his starter walking beside him.
"Let's have fun with this Litten!" The Fire Cat Pokemon meowed with agreement.
"Before him stands Ash, the one who has met with Tapu Koko." As Ash walked up on stage, he could hear the natives whisper about him.
"Don't worry Ash! Just do your best!" Delia yelled in encouragement.
"As long as we both have a good time, I think we can call it a great battle, eh?" Hau inquired of Ash.
"Ye-yeah." The trainer replied, uncertain how this will go down this time.
"Ash, Hau! This will be a two-on-two battle! The one who can't continue wins! Bring forth the power of your Pokemon!"
"Pichu, let's go!"
"Buneary, I choose you!" An electric mouse and a fuzzy rabbit. Let's see how this goes. "Buneary, use Frustration!" Growing all agitated and glowing red, throwing a temper tantrum until she jumped and slammed her feet into Pichu so hard it flew right into a tree. With a cry of pain, it was down already.
"Pichu is unable to battle! Buneary wins!" Hala declared. Hau was flabbergasted his Pichu didn't even get to get a turn.
"Well that was easier than I thought." Ash uttered, not expecting that.
"Pichu, return! Alright Ash, you may have gotten the drop on us, but we're expecting you this time! Litten, let's go!" The Fire Cat Pokemon strolled onto the field, adamant he will win.
"Yeah! Frustration, again!" Once again glowing red, she moved at a speed, in which even though the fire type was faster than Pichu, he couldn't make a quick enough counter and thus was kicked hard against the ground, hissing from the pain. However, he was able to get up from the attack.
"Yeah, we got this! Use Scratch!" Extending his claws, Litten went on the attack.
"Dodge and use Frustration!" Hopping up over the attack, the Rabbit Pokemon still let her anger run rampant as she went in for a kick dive.
"Counter with Ember!" Spewing some hot embers, Buneary was hurt by the attack, but it barely slowed the normal type down as she crashed into the fire type while also breaking part of the stage. Buneary jumped off and cooled down while Litten moaned from being defeated.
"Litten is unable to battle! Buneary wins, and the winner is Ash Ketchum!"
"What?! It's already over?!" Hau gasped. Everyone else either clapped or cheered with disinterest, due to how quick and one sided the battle was.
"Whoo, way to go honey! I knew you could do it!" Delia cheered for her son.
"Mom!" Ash complained.
"Aha, another great battle this year! I bet Tapu Koko liked it too!" Hala declared, although everyone thought it was OK at best.
"Well, that was cool anyway Ash! You beat me so quickly!" From out of nowhere though, a cry was heard that perked everyone's interest.
"Ko-ko-koooo!"
"Ho! You heard it yourself! Tapu Koko's song of approval! Oh, and I nearly forgot Ash! I think it is time you take this." Hala gave Ash a wrist band called a Z-Power Ring which was made from the stone that the Kahuna worked on.
"Your Z-Power Ring, a mysterious armband that can draw out the power that lies deep within Pokemon. It can bring forth their Z-Power!"
"Z-Power? Doesn't that sound a little gimmicky?"
"Yes, but it brings better attraction. We Kahunas can make these rings using stones like the one you received from Tapu Koko. Though you will need to undergo the island challenge and collect Z-crystals for yourself, if you wish to draw out their power. And yet you already received a stone. It seems Tapu Koko took a liking to you. Or perhaps it has a mission."
"Well, I guess you should get started on the Island Challege, yeah!" Professor Kukui spoke up. "If you visit every island, maybe you'll figure out what that mission is. Four Islands! You'll travel to each. The Island Challenge is that you have to be the strongest trainer!"
"Oh, like a Pokemon Champion!" Ash gasped.
"Sounds great, right?" Hau laughed. "I can't wait to have a real adventure!" After having the rules explained to Ash, he and Hau both got amulets showing they were allowed to partake in the challenge. Ash was talking to Misty and his mom.
"Oh, I'm so proud of you! Your first competition and you won so easily!" Delia proceeded to hug her son.
"Mr. Mime!" Mr. Mime said with the same enthusiasm.
"Thanks mom." Ash chuckled.
"Well, I guess a deal's a deal then." Misty said. "When we get to your place, we're going to see if your full team can handle my Staryu."
"Yeah!" Ash agreed.
"Ash?" A femimine voice called his attention. He turned to see Lillie.
"Oh hi Lillie. What's up?"
"Tapu Koko is amazing, isn't it? I hope I can meet it again and thank it for saving Nebby... and you." She blushed at that.
"Yeah, I'd like to thank it to." Ash nodded. Nebby agreed, though Lillie had to hush it.
"Even though you're a stranger, it must've saw something special in you."
"Hey, suppose it's time to get you kids back home, yeah?!" Professor Kukui called to them.
"Nebby, Alola is full of all kinds of wonders, isn't it?" Lillie asked her Pokemon before following the professor.
"Well, let's head on home and have some dinner as well." Delia recommended, to which Ash and Misty nodded. As they walked home, the sci-fi people came into view.
"I was able to detect high levels of aura at this full power festival. I suppose you would..."
"According to our research, it seems that the Z-Ring and this Tapu Koko creature are bathed in a great deal of light."
"Alola overflows with the light that was released by the Blinding One. I find myself rather envious." The woman then faced the Captain.
"I wonder if we can't find some way to use the great power that fills Alola for ourselves?"
"That's what the Ultra Recon Squad is for." He then pointed outward in the direction he was facing. "Onward! There is still so much of Alola we have not seen! And we must investigate everywhere!"
"Whatever you say... Dark Magician." The woman snickered as the Captain fumbled.
"Sh-shut up!"
A/N: Hey. So I read about the reviewer that thought it was interesting that the Pokemon card game was in this, and I thought, why not go along with it as an extended joke? I especially thought of Yugioh when the mention of light and these brightly colored people reminded me of that season of GX, and I ran with it. Thank goodness I didn't have our heroes like Digimon, that would be sacrilege. Haha. And if you're wondering, yes, Digimon is a thing in this as well. Anyway, Buneary is a good Route 1 Pokemon. It's not going to be in the final six Pokemon team I have in mind but it's certainly good for such an early stage. What fun.