The sun was shining, the flying-types were singing. Arceus! Vacation was the best!
"Alright folks, right thing way!" the tour guide shouted, waving a little blue flag around, "It's about time we continue! Our next stop, the Ruins of Life!" A few people in the small group ooo'd and ah'd, a few grumbling about such a short lunch break. Getting to my feet I quickly packed everything back into my bag, making sure it was secured on my back before jogging over to join the group.
As we slowly walked through tall grasses and fields towards the temple they gave brief explanations of Alolan Pokémon we saw, we did stop for a moment to pay some respects at Memorial Hill. The little tidbits and facts were interesting, but nothing of note stood out to me until we made it to the entrance of the ruins. Taking out my Rotom phone and bringing up the picture of the ruins map, I waved goodbye to the tour group, after a few more pictures before making my way inside.
It was a beautiful sight, after a long hallway I walked into almost a shrine, decorated with flowers and palm leaves. Just to my luck my target sat on the throne-like shrine, Tapu Lele trilling inquisitively as I stepped inside. "Hello great Tapu," I said, stumbling over my words before quickly remembering to bow, "I mean Alola. I have a request to make."
With another trill I heard an echoing voice in my head, smelling of oran berries and sounding like a young girl. Speak, what is it you need.
Coughing slighting I held out three Pokéballs, the Tapu rose up at that, eyes narrowing slightly. "Wait! It's not what you think! My friends and I just wish to take some pictures," There was a pregnant pause, "We're on vacation you see an-".
The room was quickly filled with harmonic chirping laughter, You amuse me Hero of Galar. Most usually take their pictures and be on with their lives. Never have I had someone ask! Release your friends, I sense no ill will from them.
Happily obliging I throw my friends Pokéballs up into the air, each appearing in a flash of light within an instant. Before even having been fully formed Cinccino was rocketing towards Tapu Lee and her shrine diligently dusting the Tapu and the shrine in moments. At that point, what was supposed to be a sightseeing trip and the chance to take a picture with our third Tapu quickly became akin to a warzone. Cinccino blazed across the room trying to dust off century old rocks and packed dirt as Leavanny tried to stop them with Tapu Lee joining in, seeming to swap "sides" at random. All the while Aurorus stood idly by trying to keep as low as they could so their sheer bulk wouldn't destroy the ceiling.
It was a bit of a chore to get everyone to calm down, and explain yet again that you can't get dirt off of dirt. Getting everyone to line up and stay still was even harder but I eventually succeeded.
"Alright, when you think it looks good take a picture okay?" I said to Rotom before running back towards the group of Pokémon.
A la Hoopa Ring! And suddenly I was falling, I moved to catch myself. Instead of slamming face first into stone I was met with a surprise bath, gasping in surprise only to begin choking on the horribly salty water. I hacked and coughed as I fumbled around my belt, with a bright flash a huge claw gently closed around my waist and brought me to the surface.
"What the effen hell!" I roared, glaring at the giggling Genie Pokémon as it came out of a ring portal of its own, only prompting the giggles to turn to howls of laughter, "If I had an effen quid for every fucking tim- AGH!" I yelled out in frustration.
Got you good this time!
"Yeah and haha, now send me home," I growled, Clawitzer mirroring my aggression by clicking its smaller pincer.
Why should I? Hmmmmm?
"I'm o-" I was cut off as my mouth forcefully shut itself as Hoopa's eyes began to glow blue.
Nothing? Oh well, shrugging they pointed off into the distance, There is an island that way though! Just over the horizon! A la Hoopa ring! And with that Hoopa disappeared, the golden ring winking out of existence behind them.
With a sigh I looked at Clawitzer, "Wamma carry me there or…?" I left the question open ended as he shook his head, "Bike it is, lift me up please."
With a bit of trouble and a few angry looks from Clawtizer after dropping a few things on their head I assembled the bike into its water configuration. "Arceus above Rotom makes that look easy," putting my tools back into my bag and slinging it over my shoulder. I recalled Clawtizer after letting him have a little treat.
Maybe I should turn that into a kind of training, balancing most of his body weight over the water. Shrugging I started to peddle in the direction Hoopa had pointed, they had probably dumped me near Poni Island. Asshat.
By the time I got close enough to the island the sun was starting to set, "Definitely not Poni," I muttered, maybe it was the Orange Islands? Or some reenactment town? All the ships in Port were old, made of wood, they had sails and cannons even.
They seemed to recognize me though, as a small crowd was gathering to watch my approach. "Excuse me young man," one of the older men at the front asked as I stopped before the group, "But I must ask, how are you doing that?"
I raised an eyebrow, "Doing what?"
"Yeah, how are you riding on the water?" Another man asked.
"Oh! Mostly just specialized wheels," I said with a shrug, much to the disappointment of much of the crowd, "Mind giving me a hand up though, I'm a little lost."
After packing my bike back up I got to chatting while the older man, "So what were you doing coming from the Grand Line on a bike of all things?" He asked, only for me to give him a questionable look.
"Never heard of that place," Ignoring his shocked look I continued speaking, "I was actually on vacation before I got teleported here by a particular nuisance."
"You've never heard of the Grand Line?!" The old man exclaimed, "What kind of backwater island did you grow up on?!"
"Backwater?! This place is backwater you old git! Look at the ships yuh got, not a single motor-anything to be seen!"
"Hey calm down son! But really you haven't heard of the Grand Line? It spans the whole world."
I scoffed, "Now I know you're pulling my leg, I'm not an effen eejit."
"I wasn't but now I am!" The man yelled as our conversation quickly turned to a shouting match. It all culminated in us making our way to a cartographer and him showing me a map of the world.
"Now that's bullshit," I said, the wind being taken out of my sails, grabbing for my belt, flicking a ball out of the socket it was in and in a brilliant flash of light Medicham materialized.
What is it you need Victor? His voice echoed in my head, smelling like calm and sounding like gravel.
"Y-you're a- please! I'm sorry, do forgive me!" The man begged, dropping to his knees.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Raising my hands to show him that I meant no harm, "I'm not going to hurt you dude. I just called him out to ask a few questions. See?" I slung an arm around Medichams shoulders, "He's harmless!"
Do not worry sir, Medicham said, the old man jumping upon, most likely, hearing a Pokémon use telepathy for the first time in his life, While Victor is prone to outbursts of anger he would never stoop to lows such as harming those who cannot defend themselves.
"Hey! I wouldn't hurt anyone if I couldn't help it!" I said, trying to flick Medicham, only getting a stern glare as a reward.
Now back on-
"Excuse me, if you don't mind me asking," the old man asked, raising his hand like he was in class, "What the hell is that thing? And- and how is it talking in my head?"
I cursed a little at that, "Medicham here is a Pokémon," getting no reaction from that, I sighed, "They are like magical creatures, able to do all these crazy things. Such as telepathy, or the ability to shoot fire."
"As if they are Devil Fruit?"
"I have no idea what those are," I said flatly, "But from that description it's something that can do similar things to what I described?"
"Yes, exactly. When someone eats them they gain incredible abilities, like Capitan Smoker of the local Ma-" In the middle of the old man's explanation the front door of the shop was kicked open, Medicham quickly moving between me and whoever barged in.
"Stop right there!" It was a young woman with dark blue hair with a pair of black glasses on. Most importantly though she was holding a fucking sword and pointing it right at me, well Medicham, but me in extention.
This place must really not have Pokémon, Swords were usually just status symbols, or for fencing I guess. Still she held it with skill similar to that of a Sirfetch'd, both hands on the blade with a false rigidity, her stance making it easy to fake out an opponent with surprisingly quick movements.
"Your stance is a bi-"
"Quiet! I heard a report of a strangely dressed man threatening an elderly man!" Looking towards the elderly man and in a much softer tone she added, "Don't worry you're safe now sir, the Marines are here to help."
"Actually," the old man said, "It was all a misunderstanding, this young man was just asking their… friend? Friend here a question."
"Yeah, you can calm down Zacian Jr., I'm not in the mood to trash you right now," I said, tapping Medichams shoulder, who slowly moved into a more relaxed stance.
"Is that so?" Ms. Zacian Jr. asked, raising an eyebrow at the nickname. As soon as Medicham relaxed she lowered her sword, sheathing it in one quick motion, "I will still like to bring you in for questioning. Just for an incident report." I couldn't help but notice her eyeing Medicham.
Great, first day… wherever the hell I am, and I'm already in trouble with the police.