A.N

I decided to work with actual languages though I will not be writing in any languages I have not studied it should work fine though. Steven could easily be a linguist I feel. There is only one place in Kalos Steven would want to visit, though I tried to make it a little unpredictable. Enjoy I am quite happy with how this turned out sincerely 4Coyote. Disclaimer all rights belong to their respective holders I am not one of those for pokemon sadly I do not own that successful franchise.

Second Stop Kalos

Kahili has been on over every inch the ship in her time on the vessel, she is beginning to wonder what the attraction of the S.S. Anne was, there were cabins the main deck and a dining hall. No pool or activities, not even a bar. Thus, most of her time was split between the deck the dining hall and her cabin, it was going to be a long trip. Her father could easily improve on the formula, set by the ship. "I should focus on the crew perhaps the service was the source of the liner's success." She did have a task that would allow the staff to flex their skills. The man who dealt with her first complaint would be the perfect test case. She found her target supervising the preparations for the next meal even Kahlili had to admit the staff was hustling through clearing the tables, replacing the tablecloths and sweeping the floor, even her father's staff was not this well put together. The man she sought had a lot to do with that he was everywhere pitching in occasionally when one of his charges needed assistance. His short bristly mustache stuck out at odd angles but everything else was neat and prim, even Kahili was surprised by the formal white gloves he was wearing. A gold pin with the name Armand written on it in a neat cursive completed his attire. The man was quite tan from his duties aboard the luxury liner. "Miss Kahili I am afraid the dining room is still being prepared, bear with us for a tad longer and you can enjoy our fine cuisine." Armand pauses expectantly truthfully; he was poised for the usual question about that morning's course.

"No Armand, you can help me with another matter, one of the guests is pestering me for an autograph I would like to know more about him I do not hand those out to just anyone." In reality she is quite liberal with her autographs, but Armand did not need to know that. "Of course, miss what is the guests name or perhaps you know his cabin number? Kahili was not going to make it easy on poor Armand. "I know he told me I think it started with an "S" he was a young man with silver hair." Looking slightly relived Armand discreetly wipes brow with a gloved hand before answering, "That would be Mr. Steven Stone heir to the Devon corporation but, he is not one of those old money types he is quite an accomplished pokemon trainer." Armand refrains from a full explanation so Kahili can sweat a bit. "I bet he runs the local Devon sponsored pokemon trainer school." Kahili returns vehemently she had known a few of what Armand called the old money type none had carried any commendable quality that she was aware of. "No mam he has been the Hoen League champion for a couple years now. CRASH SHATTER is the sound of several plates contacting the ship's floor and Armand has disappeared. "Even an Abra's teleport is not that fast, hmm he did not really explain why Steven would spend so much time in caves though. His being Champion and a future CEO does explain how he got a ticket." The inquisitive golfer thinks to herself bemusedly. I will have to ask Mr. Stone myself then. Today they would anchor in Kalos and she had not yet worked on her French she needed at least the basics before they stopped. She retreats to her cabin to prepare for the next stop. She was excited maybe she could trek to Lumiose city and see its famous tower.

Steven had spent the entire day arranging a few of his favorite pieces from his collection in small display cases around the room. Really it was a practice run for how his Villa would look when he arrives there. Once the lodging was to his satisfaction he brings up a Kalos map on his Pokenav the ship would dock in Coumarine City the swanky town was much too developed for a key stone to be there. While the Pokenav had route numbers it did not have any descriptions of them he would have to settle for looking in towns. After surveying the region's various settlements Geosenge town was the obvious candidate, "It would be nice to see unique giant stones, this is supposed to be a vacation." Looking out of his porthole he can see the beautiful coastline of Kalos grabbing his satchel and poke ball belt Steven leaves locking his cabin behind him.

With a small book of French Kahili is sitting down beside the cabin wall her Toucannon dutifully next to her looking relieved to be outside. She hears a smattering of the language she is studying before she notices a shadow falling on her book. By redirecting her gaze toward the source of the obstruction she sees Steven, clad in a suit of an indeterminate dark color. "That would be a no then, I could help you learn, I know several languages, I had a very classical education."Steven a=says by way of translating the french he had just used "That will not be necessary I just need to know how to ask directions to Lumiose tower." Following Kahili's bidding Steven tells her enough French to ask where something is even bookmarking the appropriate page in her little linguistic assistant.

" Lumiose tower is a little too romantic for my taste I am heading to Geosenge town,to take in some of the history." "You must really like rocks, or ancient cultures, at least I can get a Lumiose Gallete if the tower is a disapointment. " Steven laughs his teeth shining, "You are One for of two there, I do love rocks, I am hoping to acquire a key stone for my collection." "A Key stone?" Kahili looks at Toucannon as if the bird pokemon would have some idea of what the stone-collector could mean. "Well you obviously know about regular evolution, I am guessing your impressive friend there is a fully evolved pokemon, imagine if it could temporarily evolve during battle and you get an idea of what the key stone can do, it enables this phenomenon known as mega evolution. Kahili is intrigued she had never heard of this before. "Have you done it Steven?" In answer he pulls a stone out of his bag a clear sphere with a line through it, Kahili is reminded of a cat's- eye marble. Yes if my Metagross holds this and I can trigger it with a keystone. "Forget the tower I have to see this mind if I accompany you to Geosenge Steven?" He glances down at the sitting trainer she was ecstatic; her hands were trembling she was so thrilled. " I cannot remember the last time I had company on stone collecting trip, if you promise to battle me so I can test out the keystone you have a deal." The new companions shake on it. Steven is surprised a new aspect of battling could excite the girl so, she must love the sport.

Coumarine was a much different port than Slateport it was what Slateport would be if contests had made the town whole town more luxurious, rather than merely beautifying a section of it. Steven had never seen so many yachts, none of the other ports he visited compared in that regard. Steven while admiring the ships had lost sight of Kahili, by spinning himself around in a deliberate circle he spots her gazing at a large building. Kahili notices Steven as he materializes behind her or seems to. "Oh! there you are Steven. What is this place I cannot read the sign, but I hear two Pokémon battling it is not a stadium for battle royales it is way too tall. " This is a pokemon gym have you never seen one? Most regions have a gym challenge, I assumed Alola was the same. "No we have the island challenge it is an old coming of age ritual anyone can attempt. Tell me about it while we make our way to Geosenge we will have plenty of time." Steven pleads with her as he ushers the Alola native away from the gym and out of the city.

Kahili explains the island challenge to the Hoen Champion, detailing the various aspects of the ordeal ranging from the logistical nightmare of island hopping, the existence of the super powerful totem pokemon, the narrative takes her back to her own challenge.

A younger Kahili is nervous she is waiting on the four island kahunas she would finish her trial by fighting every single Kahuna in a row the four protectors are meeting to decide who she would face first. If one trainer had qualified the order was up to the challenger this year three had passed every trial thrown at them. Kahili was exhausted making the crossing from Poni island after enduring a trek through barren, hilly terrain had taken its toll. Her team of three bird pokemon are roosting in a tree recuperating from the long day. It was only her and the boy under the tree who were going to actually attempt the final battle. For some reason the two boys had ignored her deciding amongst themselves to face off for the right to battle the Kahunas. The victorious challenger sits under that tree he is a quiet boy with glasses. The other boy's ace Lycanrock had struggled against the steel types of the winner. Kahunas Hala and Nanu emerge the first takes Molayne on and Kahili is left with Nanu. When Kahula Hala exits the bungalow Kahili knows she will contend with him last. his fighting types should have a difficult time against her flying types. If she can reach him she can win. All goes well for Kahili, Nanu seems to be disinterested, Molayne is utterly decimated by Hala it is not close keeping Kahili from seeing the full team. The Poni Island Kahuna uses ground types a careful air game keeps her Toucannon safe. The next fight is not easy the Akala Kahuna's water types are formidable his Wishiwashi takes an exhausted Toucannon and the ace Toxapex outlasts Mandibuzz. She is surprised by Hala's Crabominable as his fifth pokemon the only Ice fighting type she had seen. Luckily Oricorio was her last pokemon if Hal had been first she would have lost at least Toucannon. Oricorio manages to take it with Fiery dance and Kahili has won the island challenge. The whole island challenge came down to which form she used of her last pokemon.

"Since I won no other trial runner has managed to defeat the challenge and some of the parents are calling it too dangerous, add to that the death of one of the Kahunas and there is a lot of pressure to change it." Kahili falls silent Steven knows she does not want the event to end. Seeking to change the subject Steven asks about a detail of her story "What are Z crystals?" Kahili puts him off kindly not wanting to discuss anything else at the moment, I will show you when we arrive at Geosenge. The pair silently progress toward their destination drinking in the beautiful countryside.

No view compares with the unique site that is Geosenge town's sprawling rock monuments Steven is oddly unimpressed, and the reason did not immediately occur to him. Kahili's wonder filled attitude helps him to see. He simply knows that the site is an artifice much like his cabin these stones were artfully placed to convey a message or to fulfill a function, Steven dislikes it he feels as if he is trespassing. Trampling over someone's carefully, cultivated, creative, rock garden not finding his own souvenir to put in his own artificial display. "We will not find a keystone here, only one kind of rock will be here we should go," Wait what is that man doing?! She declares in a whisper pointing to an odd figure crouching behind one of the larger monoliths.

The figure has a small magnifying glass and is peering through it at various stones paying no heed to anything outside of the device's purview. He has doffed a black paperboy cap with a gray cardigan sweater adorning his torso, it was an odd look, made stranger with a fact going unobserved. If the man were to remove the neat, cap his bald top with several small scars dotting the hairless skull would be visible. "No I should have known another collector would be here, why did it have to be him? That incurious thing is Mr. Fallow a collector from Unova." Judging by the hard line of Steven's mouth Kahili reckoned that was all Steven would say about the man. Though at least a Unovan collector would speak English, and her broken French would not darken this lovely afternoon. Unfortunately, Fallow turns presumably upon hearing his name and approaches the whispering duo in a slow shambling, creeping walk.

"Steven you have not returned any of my calls I was hoping your new position would change your mind, keep you too busy to enjoy those fine specimens of yours. Kahili was never mentioned referred to or addressed, she was unsure Fallow had noticed her. "Alola Mr. Fallow was it? I perceive You are from Alola did you bring any Z crystals young lady? Collectors always have to be on the look out I am still missing some of those pesky move types. Steven is growing annoyed leave it to Fallow to know all about Z- crystals while Steven had never heard about them till this afternoon, a least Khalili was unimpressed with Fallow. "Well miss what do you say do you have any crystals, I really must know." "Mr Fallow my name is Kahili and I do but we should be going. Steven and I have stayed overlong already" "Nonsense who says no to easy money name your price it might save me a trip to Alola eh Hilly." "We do not need nor want your money Fallow now we really should be leaving our boat is." He got no further the Hoenite was interrupted "Steven is right what we do need is a Key stone I could trade a Flyinium Z for one of those." "Deal" thrusting one into her hand the collector ambles off his head bent back to the ground. "Steven I need to apologize I thought you left a bad first impression but that man was so mechanistic he could not even learn my name or stay after he got what he wanted. Now I want to see this bauble in action." a flourish of the keystone accentuates her statement. "Sure we do not have time for a full battle so Toucannon better be ready for my Metagross.

Metagross was impressive a four-armed floating metal mass yet intelligent looking then it mega evolved and the claws became larger and that intelligence devolved into fury. Toucannon begins beak blast the massive beak glowing a bright red. Giga Impact utters Steven and almost before he finishes Metagross crashes into the toucan pokemon. While burned Toucannon is barely standing, "Rock Blast" shouts Kahili and from a now cooling beak five rocks shoot towards the metal pocket monster not denting the beast. "Drill Peck now it has to recharge." Tanking the free hit Metagross responds with Psychic and the battle was over. They hurry back to Coumarine's pokemoncenter where Steven asks Kahili a question that ends their time together for that day. "Why did you love the Island challenge?" "It made me believe I could do anything the next day I decided to become a pro golfer."

Author's note 2

My head cannon for the Akala Island Kahuna is whoever sets up Mantine surfing, they retired to do that and Olivia took over from there, age wise it works and no way Kahili beats that rock team.