I've been thinking about changing the name for this fanfic series. Ever since I started posting here, the series has been called "Path of the Chosen." The name is so old that it belonged to a previous rendition of these stories, and it hasn't really been relevant to what actually happens. I'm not sure why I didn't change it back then. Maybe I didn't realize how much it would change from my first ideas (which weren't good ideas anyway – just tacky XD). But it's been bugging me since I picked up the Kalos arc. I'd love to change the name. But it feels weird, because there are people that remember it by that name?

I'll probably have to change it eventually. The name doesn't feel like it benefits the whole. And names can be important. But if you have any thoughts, let me know!

Polaris-Ponyta, Shira-Reshiram, Mia-Cubone, Marin-Primarina, Zetty-Rotom Dex

Chapter 3: Giant Rats

I pulled the pot off of Kukui's stove and poured hot water into a mug. The herbs released their scent, and I inhaled it, smiling. Marin hummed a crooning note of anticipation.

"Not yet, Marin. It has to steep a bit. Then you can drink it." Primarina need their throats taken well care of, or the power of their singing suffers. "Give it a couple minutes."

I added a dollop of honey to the cup and stirred it in. Then I flopped down in one of Kukui's armchairs to wait. The others were working on their projects downstairs. I was taking a break, reading one of Kukui's books. It was about evolution. And it was fascinating. They'd recently discovered a couple variations on mega evolution. Or at least that's what they seemed to be. There were temporary shifts to a Pokémon's form that granted power boosts. "Break evolution" was one, where the Pokémon was covered in energy that made them look like solid gold. And then there had been some reports of Greninja briefly changing appearance. But before I could read how these were triggered, there was a knock at the door. Since the others were busy, I went to answer. It was the island kahuna.

"Good afternoon," Hala said.

"Hello! Come in. Do you want me to get Professot Kukui?" I strained out the tea leaves and handed Marin the mug of tea. He started drinking.

"Actually, I'm here to see you."

"Oh! The passport!"

Hala nodded and pulled out a package. "As you complete the trails across the Alolan Islands, you'll receive stamps in your passport. They're sort of like gym badges. When you complete the trials of one island, you receive the stamp that lets you continue to the next island. All four stamps will give you the right to challenge the new Elite Four. And this amulet identifies you as a challenger. Traditionally it was younger trainers embarking on these challenges. But as we open it up as an official league challenge, we'll increase the difficulty for older entrants." He held out the last item. A bracelet. "Here's your Z-Ring. Made from the stone Tapu Koko gave you. This will be how you activate your Z-Crystals when you start earning them."

"Wow, thanks." I took the bracelet and slipped it onto my wrist. My hand slid up to touch the pendant on my necklace – the one that triggered mega evolution. It was amazing how Pokémon could draw out different powers. "I'm going to start the challenge tomorrow afternoon. I'm giving a lecture in Hau'oli City in the morning."

"Kukui told me about that. Unfortunately I can't make it. But if I know anything about Trial Captain Ilima, he'll be there to watch."

"Great! Maybe he can get me started on my trial once I'm done with the presentation."

"I look forward to battling you."

For the rest of the day, I helped Kukui work with Shira. I was starting to realize that I was the least important person in the lab. Ben could help with the Rotom Dex. Hari could talk to the Pokémon (since he wasn't trying to hide that fact, and I was). Besides, Shira could talk to humans and didn't even need a translator.

The next morning our whole group rode to Hau-oli City. Ben, Hari, and Kukui were coming to help with my lecture, but then they were heading back to the lab. My friends would be helping Kukui while I finished the trials on Melemele Island. It would be strange going by myself. Ben and Hari always came with me for gym battles. But they wouldn't be allowed in the trial dens with me.

Each lecture I gave was a little more popular than the last. My first lecture in Kalos had maybe a couple dozen people. And I was up to a whopping… forty. I never felt like the lectures were mine. It felt like I was speaking for the Pokémon. And the original idea had come from N. Oddly enough, that made it easier for me speaking in public. I talked to people about how to catch Pokémon in the best way. Not kidnapping Pokémon that didn't want to be caught, but by finding Pokémon that were willing to join a trainer. There were plenty of those. And far too many people believed that they could take any Pokémon they laid eyes on. I suspected that some people only came to my lectures to see Shira. But if that drew a crowd, then that was good too. Shira liked to be at my lectures to add her own spin on things. And the rest of my Pokémon and my friends' Pokémon would work with the audience, helping them understand a Pokémon's body language and expressions to see if they were willing to get caught.

The lecture went well. Once it was over, a boy came up to meet me. "That was great. Thanks. I wish they covered more of these topics in the trainers school. I'll have to talk to the principal."

I grinned. "That would be great! You're the captain, right?"

He nodded. "Yes, I'm Ilima. It's nice to meet you."

"You too!"

"I thought you might want a breather before your trial. Once the stage is cleaned up, do you all want to join me for malasadas?"

"What?" Ben asked. "salads?"

"I suppose you might say they're like donuts. They're popular all around Alola."

"Sure!" I always loved trying new foods – most of the time. "Shira, do you want to come?"

Ilima tilted his head. "Her name's She-Ra? Like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power?"

I gaped for a few seconds, then burst out laughing. "No, it isn't! I do love that show, but I only saw it after I met Shira."

…

We stepped out of the malasada shop. I bid Ben, Hari, and Shira farewell, though just for a couple days. Ilima remained to lead me to the trial site. It was a little ways outside of town, so we were going to ride. But before we could get our Pokémon prepared, a pair of people stepped around the corner and blocked our way. A guy and a girl, each dressed in black, with beanies and skull-shaped medallions around their necks. Their faces were half covered in black masks.

"Yo!" The guy said in a voice made to sound deep and intimidating. "You think you're so tough, talking about how to be nice to Pokémon?"

"I've got a better idea," the girl said. "We'll just take your Pokémon for ourselves!"

I stared at them, irritated. Without responding, I sent out Marin. He gushed a torrent of water, knocking them off their feet and flushing them half way down the block. I returned Marin, and let out Polaris. Ilima climbed onto a Tauros, and the two of us rode away.

Ilima laughed once the two people were well behind us. "That was Team Skull. They're a gang that makes trouble all around Alola. It looks like they didn't bother you too much."

"Depends on what you mean," I sighed. "Of course they bother me. I'd love to lock up every person who threatens to steal Pokémon." Sometimes I was tempted to do worse than that, at which point I had to remind myself that violence never actually solved a problem. And just randomly locking people up didn't help much either. "But I've faced so many people that were much worse than those losers. They're not even worth my time."

"It's hard to disagree with that." Ilima said. "Still, keep an eye out. Not all of them are such pushovers."

"Yeah, where's the police department? I want to make a report before we head out." No one else should have to deal with people like that.

That done, we rode on. Ilima told me a little more about Melemele Island. I'd mostly been on Ula-ula. My family had only visited a small corner of Melemele, so it was good to learn more about it As we drew near the trial site, he started explaining the rules.

"You'll go in alone. Make your way to the back of the cavern. Once there, you'll collect the Z stone and face the totem Pokémon. Totems are larger and stronger than others of their kind. And other Pokémon will come to their aid in battle. That's pretty common in Alola - Pokémon here are very willing to help those that need it."

"Really? That's cool! I wonder how that came about."

Ilima grinned. "You're the one who can talk to Pokémon. I'd love it if you could find out!"

I laughed. "Well, to be fair if you asked a person why they acted nicer than someone else, they probably wouldn't know how to answer." I decided not to mention the stereotype that Alolan people were supposed to be extra nice.

"Good point. Ah, you can see Verdant Cavern now." As we turned a corner, the dark entrance of the cavern loomed out of the hillside. Polaris and Tauros stopped and we dismounted. "Well," Ilima said. "This is where I leave you. Once you clear your trial, you can battle the island kahuna, Hala. Then you'll be onto the next island. Are you ready?"

I nodded. "Thanks. I'll see ya on the other side."

He raised a hand in farewell. I returned Polaris and stepped into the dark mossy tunnel. Cracks in the ceiling cast a dim light, and made the shadows seem even deeper. Dark nooks and corners were filled with restless rustlings. As my eyes adjusted, the cave took on a quiet beauty. Dust motes shimmered in the bright streaks of air. Moss clung to the ledges, adding soft green highlights that glowed in the scattered sunbeams.

When I reached the end of the tunnel, half a dozen Rattata scampered out and blocked my path. They weren't the Rattata that I was used to, but the dark-colored Alolan variety. The Rattata gnashed their teeth at me, and chattered threats. I'd have to get past them to reach the Totem Pokemon. I sent out Polaris, and with one wave of fire, she chased them away. After all, they were just Rattata.

I returned Polaris and stepped out of the cave into a pretty little grotto. Directly ahead of me was the pedestal that held the Z crystal. I stepped toward it, glancing around in anticipation. A shadow fell across me. I looked up just as something huge leapt off of the ledge above. I threw myself backwards and it slammed into the ground inches from where I'd been standing. I was facing the biggest Raticate I'd ever seen. It was nearly as tall as me, and like all Alolan Raticate, it had black fur and round cheeks. It looked far more menacing than the Raticate I grew up around.

The totem Raticate gnashed out a challenge, and several more Rattata zipped out from nearby crevasses to join their leader. I swallowed, and sent out Marin. Raticate threw back his head and snarled. A flaring aura burst up around his body, visible even to the normal eye. I shivered and took a step back. Why did that energy feel familiar?

Marin wasn't intimidated. He stood his ground, glaring at his opponent. I snapped myself back to attention and sent him into battle. Marin blasted out a wave, washing the Rattata away. With the smaller opponents distracted, he followed up with Bubblebeam. The attack hit, but Raticate lunged forward and bit Marin. He yelped, turning the cry into Disarming Voice. The attack made Raticate loose his grip. Marin wriggled free, but then the Rattata were all over him, nipping and scratching. Marin tried to flail them off, but they clung on. He sent out a stream of bubbles, concentrating on each bubble so that it engulfed a Rattata and carried it away. But this required all of his concentration. Raticate seized his distraction and pounced. Double-Edge knocked Marin out.

I sent out Mia – the Cubone I'd found in Kalos. She looked around, curious, and her eyes fell on the giant Raticate. She took a startled step backwards.

"You got this, Mia! Marin weakened him, and the Rattata are out of the way!"

She steeled herself, and when Raticate lunged, she jumped and landed on his head. She started smacking with her club. Raticate tried to throw her loose, but she clung to his fur. She gave one more good smack with her club. In frustration, Raticate tried to smash her against the grotto wall. She jumped at the last minute, landing on the ledge. He spun in confusion, then spotted her and snarled. He leapt, and Mia jumped again. This time she landed on Raticate's face, right next to those dangerous teeth. He bit her, but she raised her club once more and brought it down with all her strength on Raticate's forehead. The totem Pokémon staggered and crashed to the ground.

I gathered Mia up in a hug. "Nice work, Mia! You were great." The two of us turned our attention to the pedestal. I reached in and took the Z Crystal. It was a blue shard with a circular pattern inside it.

"Whoo, impressive!"

We looked up to see Ilima standing in the tunnel.

"Congratulations! You just completed your first island trial! Your reward is the Z crystal Normalium Z. Your Pokémon holds the crystal, and you wear your Z-Ring. The two link and power up any normal type move. I'll demonstrate the motion that goes along with it." He threw his arms out to the sides, one higher than the other. Then he bent his elbows so his arms made a Z shape.

"What is that?" I asked.

"That's how you trigger your Z-Ring."

"Why?" I couldn't picture doing something like that in the middle of a battle. It looked… silly.

"It helps the two of you sync up. Z-Moves combines your energy with the energy of your Pokémon. It takes a lot of focus and energy, so you'll only be able to use it once per battle."

It helped us sync up. Well, that made sense. In Ferrum, trainers and Pokémon battled by moving in time together. "Thanks. We'll try it out!"

"And I'll be seeing you soon. I don't want to miss your battle against Kahuna Hala."