Sun stared at his mother spreading her arms wide basking in the warm glow of the sunset, she looked like she was t-posing without anyone to assert her dominance over "What a stunning sunset!" she enthused. "Alright, today's the day that I finally unpack-"

And, just like the day before, the doorbell rang setting in motion the events of the evening. "Was that the doorbell?" Andrea Ray asked. "Go see who it is, Elio."

"Okay, Mom," he agreed, with a strange sense of déjà vu. Stepping off the balcony, and back into the house he whistled for Nero, who was playfully roughhousing with Meowy. At least, Sun hoped it was playful, he didn't want his partner fighting with his mom's after just one day. "Come on buddy," he told the kitten. "Let's go see who came to visit!"

"Litten lit," mewed Nero, jumping up into his arms and settling himself against his partner's shoulder, purring gently.

Elio felt a stronger sense of déjà vu when Kukui stepped inside before he'd even opened the door. "Hey there, Sun!" the buff man greeted. "It's about time we set out for the festival, yeah! But first…"

"But first?" Sun asked in confusion.

"Now that you're a real pokémon trainer with your own pokémon and all," the professor explained, "I've gotta show you something. Come with me out to Route 1!"

As he made to follow Kukui out the door, Meowy came running up, closely followed by his mom. "Have fun at the festival, Sweetie!" his mom said, kissing him on the cheek, much to his embarrassment since the professor was watching. "I'm sure you and Nero will have a great time!"

"Thanks, Mama…" he said sheepishly, rubbing his chin gently.

"Meowy and I will be sure to unpack every last box here, you'll see!" she enthused, much to his and the professor's amusement.

"Mreee!?" protested Meowy. It was clear that despite his mom's plans, her Meowth had very little interest in helping unpack.

Sun chuckled and patted Meowy gently. "Take care of Mom for me, okay?" he asked the normal type.

"Meowth meow," Meowy grumbled mutinously.

"Sun!" called Kukui from a bit further up Route 1. "Hurry it up, cousin! Pretend you're a pokémon and use your Agility!"

"Coming, Professor!" Sun shouted back, then breaking into a run and catching up to the older man at the top of the hill.

"So, you know that wild pokémon will sometimes jump out at you in the tall grass, yeah?" he asked.

"Yep," Sun affirmed, "it's one of the first things we teach kids back in Kanto. 'Don't go in the tall grass without a pokémon or someone that has one.'"

"Well," Kukui said enthusiastically. "Now that you've got Litten there," he pointed to Nero on Sun's shoulder, "you can fight wild pokémon, and…"

The teenager beamed. "I'll be able to catch 'em, too!" he cheered.

Kukui chuckled. "You sure will, cousin," he agreed. "Now, do you need any help doin' so?"

Sun shook his head politely. "I'm good, Professor," he said. "I was taking a bunch of classes back in Kanto to prepare for when I could be a trainer. Or rather… I will be good, once I get my hands on some pokéballs. Can't really catch a pokémon without them."

"Oh yeah!" Kukui face palmed. "I meant to give these to you the other night, but here they are now, cousin! Some pokéballs and potions to get you started out!"

He put a hand out for Sun's bag and, after it was handed over, tossed in ten pokéballs and five potions before giving the boy his bag back.

Sun's whole body was trembling with excitement. "I have my first pokémon…" he whispered, and Nero mewed from next to his feet. "I have pokéballs… I'm finally a trainer… I can't thank you and Kahuna Hala enough!"

Kukui patted the boy on his shoulder. "Well, seeing as how you're a trainer and all now…" he mused. "Why don't you have a little adventure of your own on the way to Iki Town, yeah? Take good care of Sun, Nero!"

"Mrar," Nero replied, as if offended it could ever be in doubt.

The professor and Sun waved their goodbyes, and the older man went on his way. Sun however… "Let's see, let's see," he said looking through the tall grass. "Any pokémon want to come out so I can catch you?"

"Lit, lit, ten!" mewed Nero, also calling out for wild pokémon.

Eventually, they spotted one hopping about in the grass.

"Piki, pek, pek, pek!" it tweeted. It was a small, avian pokémon with a red plume and otherwise black and white feathers. And was, in Sun's humble opinion, kind of cute. This would be his first catch ever.

Sun raised his pokédex up to it, intent on analyzing it before battling it. "Pikipek, the Woodpecker Pokémon," the device chirped. "A normal and flying type. It can peck at a rate of sixteen times a second to drill holes in trees. It uses the holes for food storage and for nesting. This pokémon feeds on berries, whose leftover seeds become the ammunition for the attacks it fires off from its mouth. More data will be available upon capturing this pokémon."

Sun turned to Nero, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Alright, we're gonna catch that Pikipek!"

"Litten lit!" Nero agreed with equal excitement to his trainer, already shifting into a more aggressive stance.

"Use Scratch!" Sun ordered, slashing his hand towards the wild pokémon.

Nero rushed at the little flying type ready to pounce and rake at it with his claws. But the small bird anticipated the attack and pecked at him with its sturdy beak. "Litten!" Nero yowled in pain.

"Pikipek!" chirped the woodpecker pokémon fiercely. Its blue eyes gleamed with a battle frenzy, and it repeated the cry in challenge.

And Sun? Well, he'd been reaching for a potion to heal Nero, but he watched as his first partner staggered to his feet, the kitten pokémon's fur covered in leaves and dust. But the Litten was smiling.

And if he was still itching for battle? Well, who was Sun to deny his buddy that? "Nero, use Ember," Sun declared, punching a fist forward.

Nero spat an Ember-hairball at the Pikipek whose eyes grew very wide as it approached, dodging it for the most part, but getting clipped just slightly. "Pikipek!"

"Alright," Sun muttered. "This is it… Go, pokéball!" The new trainer threw the red and white sphere at the woodpecker pokémon, praying that it worked. It collided with the little pokémon, shaking once, twice, and…

The Pikipek considered his options from within the pokéball. The trainer he had just met, and the boy's Litten had put up a good fight. And, in fairness to their somewhat sneaky first attack, it had been clear their goals had been to capture him from the start, not to eat or harm him. Should he entrust himself to this new trainer? Coming to a decision, he let the ball capture him. He would let the new trainer prove himself.

No sooner had the ball captured him, did the Pikipek feel it release it's hold on him, and suddenly he was flying before his new trainer. "Pikipek!" he greeted cheerfully.

"Hi there," his new trainer greeted warmly. "I'm Sun and this is Nero."

"Litten lit," the Litten, which the Pikipek now knew to be called Nero, greeted respectfully.

"Since you've joined our squad," Sun began, "we were thinking about giving you a name of your own. Is that okay?"

The Pikipek considered this. He'd had no name of his own in the wild, but humans tended to have special names for everyone. The Litten was even called Nero, after all. And so, he nodded.

"Awesome!" his trainer cheered. "I'll make sure it's a good one. Hm… How about… Baron? It sounds kind of like berries, which I know you like, and there was a baron known for his flying skill, which you're definitely good at."

The Pikipek tilted his head back and forth… The name sounded fierce and imposing, so it would still be fitting as he evolved. And praise for his flying abilities, something that neither his trainer nor his new comrade Nero possessed… Yes, this was a good name! "Piki, piki, pek, pek pek!" Baron chirped in happy agreement.

His trainer pulled out a spray bottle. "I'm glad you like it," Sun said. "Now, this might sting a little, but let me spray you with this so I can heal you, okay?"

Baron chirped his approval and flew down onto his trainer's arm, allowing himself to be sprayed. As per his trainer's warning, it did sting a little, but as the stinging faded so too did the fatigue from his battle with Nero.

"Okay, Nero," Sun said, after he'd finished healing Baron, "your turn."

And then, much to Baron's amusement, after he was done spraying the fire type to full restoration, he started combing the Litten's fur to remove all the grass and leaves stuck in it after their battle. "Mrowr!" complained the fire type, squirming in embarrassment.

"I know it sucks, I know," Sun agreed, "but you'll feel better once they're off, so stop squirming!"

True to his word, once the fire type ceased thrashing about, he quickly finished his work. "What about you, Baron?" he asked, glancing the Pikipek over. "Do you need a combing, or to be brushed?"

Baron looked himself over too, but he didn't see any need for grooming right now. "Piki pek pek," he declined.

Sun nodded. "Fair enough," he agreed. "Alright, let's make tracks for Iki Town.

"Pikipek/Litten!" Baron and his new comrade cried in agreement.

It didn't take long to reach the steps leading up to Iki Town; there weren't many trainers on Route 1, and the few that could be found were little kids playing with their pokémon and not interested in battle. So, while Sun did practice working with Baron a bit, and the Pikipek was responsive to his commands, they were still working on getting in synch with each other when they'd neared the steps, only to find them blocked by two bizarrely dressed strangers, both facing towards Iki Town. They were in what appeared to be… blue and grey space suits?

"Measuring the aura readings here…" one said, the voice's pitch leading him to believe the speaker was a woman. "The numbers appear to be a bit high. What do you think, Captain?" she asked, turning to face the other.

"Hm? What was that?" the apparent captain asked, voice suggesting he was a fairly old man. "Did you say something? I was… Well, I was certainly not distracted by this foolish display of festivity."

Yep, Sun thought wryly, definitely an old man.

"So," the old man continued, "there are aura readings in this place… Perhaps it may be the effects of that one they call the island kahuna." He seemed to fiddle with something on his face before turning to face the other, causing Sun to realize he was fiddling with his ridiculously huge indigo mustache.

Sun snickered; he couldn't help it. The ridiculous space suits, the crochety grandpa talk, and now this bizarre mustache? He snickered quietly; it was such a ridiculous image.

"But everything is so bright in Alola…" weird mustache man mused. "Far brighter than we'd been told it would be. I find it loathsome, this awful brightness."

The woman's hands clenched into fists. "Even though this is the light we have sought for so long?" she demanded angrily.

"Y-Yes," weird mustache man agreed awkwardly, "I suppose you are right… We must carry out our investigations to return light to our own world as well. Before the Blinding One can awaken…"

"'Our own world'?" Sun wondered aloud in confusion. "'The Blinding One'?" What were these weirdos talking about?

They turned to face him for the first time and to his shock he noted their skin was a pale blue. "You," the woman said, staring at him. "You are not native to Alola either, are you?" She nodded, as if affirming something to herself, "You seem to have come from far away…"

Before Sun could say… explain he was from Kanto, or ask who these strangers were, or anything, they both gave him one last searching look and walked away. He stood there for several moments, frozen in shock at what he'd just witnessed. "Mrow?" Nero asked, rubbing up between his legs, eyes begging to know if his trainer was all right.

"I… I'm okay, buddy," Sun said shakily. "I just… don't know what to make of those two."

Baron glared in the direction the pair had gone, seeming displeased by the distress they'd caused in his trainer. "PIKIPEK!" he screeched.

"Easy, Baron, easy," the teenage trainer soothed, sucking in a deep breath himself and taking in the comforting scent of burning torches. "They didn't seem to be doing anything bad. They just startled me is all."

But his newly acquired pokémon still seemed very angry. "PIKI PIKI PIKIPEK!"

"Okay, Baron, that's enough," Sun scolded, much more serious. "Get back in your pokéball."

The bird pokémon was not pleased but he did as his trainer instructed. He was clearly still angry, as the pokéball shook viciously after he was inside it.

"We're going to be battling my friend later," Sun said sternly as he settled Baron's pokéball onto his belt. "If you're still in a bad mood when it's your turn, you can work out some of your anger then." The pokéball rattled once more, but Baron didn't try to escape either, so Sun considered that good enough for now.

Making his way up the stairs with Nero at his heels, Elio took in the torches set up throughout the town. Their distinctive scent made him feel oddly nostalgic. The scent reminded him of Lavender Town, his home when he'd still lived in Kanto, when they would light fires in prayer for the spirits of departed pokémon to find peace. According to his mother, the ceremony had been held in the graveyard tower before it had been torn down and been replaced by the radio tower, but nowadays it was usually held in the middle of town and everyone in town came together to comfort those left behind in their grief.

Sun watched with amusement as children chased pokémon throughout the town, and then gawked at what seemed to be… a really big Exeggutor?

Holding up his pokédex to scan it, the device chirped, "Exeggutor, the Coconut Pokémon. A grass and dragon type. Because of its blazing sunlight, Alola is the best environment for this pokémon. Local people take pride in its appearance, saying this is how Exeggutor ought to look. As such, its image is carved into historical buildings and murals throughout the region. As it grew taller and taller, it outgrew its reliance on psychic powers, while within it awakened the power of the sleeping dragon."

Sun beamed. "That's so, so cool!" the teen exclaimed. "I knew about Alolan Meowth, but from the pictures it didn't seem so different. The Exeggutor back in Kanto look nothing like the ones here."

An elderly man standing beside the Exeggutor chuckled. "New to Alola, are you lad?" he asked in a friendly tone. "If you're this excited after just meeting one Alolan form, just wait until you get out into the region a bit more. Are you a tourist?"

"No, sir," the teen explained politely, "I just moved to the region a few days ago with my mother."

"Well then, welcome, my boy!" he said, clapping Sun on the shoulder. "I hope you enjoy the festival!"

"Thank you, sir," the teen said, giving him a friendly smile before whistling for Nero and making their way further into town.

He eventually made his way to Hala, who inclined his head in greeting. "Good of you to come, child," Hala said.

"Thank you for inviting me, sir," Sun replied, shaking his hand.

"The Alola region is made up of our four islands," Hala said, and while Sun didn't know where he was going with this, he let him proceed figuring there was a point. "And each island has its own guardian pokémon."

Sun nodded in understanding. "A tapu for each island?" he asked.

"Exactly!" Hala said with a big grin. "Our festival today is to express our thanks to these great pokémon guardian deities for always remaining by our sides."

Sun smiled. "I always loved festivals back in Kanto. It's wonderful to see people and pokémon gathered together and happy."

Hala chuckled. "Well, we may call it a festival, but it's just this little thing you see here. There may not be many of us, but at least every last one of us goes all out!"

Walking together for the platform at the top of the town, they stopped after they ran into Hau. "Ho!" Sun's new friend cheered. "Howzit, Sun?"

Deciding to set aside his unease with the strangers he'd met earlier aside for the time being, Sun gave him a wide grin. "Pretty good!" he replied. "Been training with Nero and a new friend. You'll meet him when we battle later. How are you?"

Hau laughed, though not unkindly. "Sun, 'howzit' is another way to greet people around here. Like 'hello' or 'alola'."

Sun flushed in embarrassment. "Oh… uh… sorry, man," he said, very sheepish.

But Hau just smiled, assuring Sun it wasn't a big deal. "But to answer your question," he said. "I thought you'd never make it! Me and Bowtie have been waiting for ages!"

"Hoo!" the Rowlet agreed.

"Waiting for what?" Sun asked curiously, Nero mewing his agreement.

"Hold on…" Hau said, confused. "Didn't anyone explain to you about tonight?!"

Sun shook his head. "Your grandfather asked me to join you all for the festival, but nothing specific."

"Oh yeah," a familiar voice called from behind them, "right on time!"

Hau and Sun turned around and sure enough there was Professor Kukui, with Lillie close behind him.

"But to what, exactly?" Lillie asked, tilting her oversized hat up so that she could see better. Sun gave her a shy smile.

"Pew?!" cried Nebby from within her bag, causing it to shake rapidly in its excited curiosity.

"A full-powered festival for pokémon battling!" Kukui explained enthusiastically. "We battle in the name of Tapu Koko, pitting our best moves against one another in friendly competition to please our guardian. Woo!"

Lillie's mouth widened in surprise. "So, you two will be taking part in the battle?" she asked Sun and Hau.

"Apparently," Sun replied, trying his best to seem calm, but the way his eyes gleamed, and that his body trembled betrayed his excitement.

Lillie sighed. "I don't like seeing pokémon fight one another, since they so often end up getting hurt…" she said, but then she gave Sun a shy smile. "But it seems like this is an important event, so I'll be sure to watch you both."

Sun felt his heart flutter, "Th-Thanks, Lillie," he said, staring at the ground.

Professor Kukui chuckled quietly at the pair.

Nero stared up at his trainer in confusion. Why was his trainer turning red? Was he evolving into a fire type?

"Mrow?" Nero asked, nuzzling his trainer.

Sun opened his mouth to say something, but then Kahuna Hala, who had cared for him before Sun had entered his life, spoke up, "Your pokémon have fought for you, so show them the same care in return, Elio. Allow me to heal them for you this time."

Nero purred as a pulse of healing aura washed over him. He had been in perfectly fine shape beforehand, but now he was at 110%! Completely and utterly ready to battle!

"Hau, Sun, are you both ready for this battle?" Kahuna Hala asked.

"I'm so excited for this battle that I think I might seriously explode!" Hau cheered. Bowtie hooted his agreement.

"MRAR!" Nero roared his approval.

Sun grinned. "Well," he said, whole body twitching with excitement, "if all my buds are raring to go, I can't exactly disappoint 'em, can I? LET'S DO THIS!"

"Then let's begin!" declared Hala, leading them all to the platform where Nero had first met Sun.

Sun and Hau took their places on opposite sides of the platform as Hala opened the ceremony. "For all life on our islands…" he began gravely amidst the crackling of a bonfire. "And for those who undertake the Island Challenge with joy in their hearts… we pray for your protection… for them and all Melemele. May this pokémon battle be an offering to our island's deity, Tapu Koko! Before you stands Hau, grandson to the kahuna."

Hau calmly made his way onto the platform with a solemn smile on his face.

"Before him stands Elio, one who has met with Tapu Koko."

Amidst calls of disbelief and amusement, Sun and Nero made their way onto the platform.

"Nero!" his trainer's mother called. "Take care of my little sun!"

"Mama…" his trainer groaned in embarrassment, amidst the chuckles of several in the audience.

"Sun," Hau called, getting the boy's attention on him, his easy going smile relaxing Nero's trainer somewhat. "As long as we both have a good time, then I think we can call it a great battle, eh?"

Sun smiled. "Well, you're not wrong," he replied, nodding at Nero to step forward.

"Elio! Hau!" Kahuna Hala declared. "Bring forth the power of your pokémon!"

And just like that… the battle began.

"Let's do this, Nero!" Sun declared.

"Mrar!" Nero confirmed stepping to the center of the platform.

"Come on out, Puka!" Hau shouted, tossing a pokéball in the air and releasing a Pichu.

"Pichu!" he cried happily, stepping in opposite Nero.

"Nero, use Ember!" shouted Sun, chopping his hand towards Puka.

Nero launched a fireball at the electric mouse intent on claiming victory. He would show everyone that they were no match for the awesomeness of Nero!

"Puka, dodge it, quick!" Hau shouted.

Unfortunately for Nero, and fortunately for Puka, the little mouse was much faster on his feet than the cat despite being smaller.

"Now, use Thundershock!" Hau ordered.

"Pi… Pi… chuuuuu!" squeaked the little electric type unleashing a burst of electricity towards Nero.

"Dodge left, Nero!" encouraged Sun, and while the Litten did as instructed, it wasn't quite quick enough and the electricity struck Nero, staggering him.

"Lit-ten," groaned the fire feline, stepping back slightly as the jolts flowed through him.

Strangely, so did Puka despite not taking a hit. "Pichuuu…" he whined falling back.

Nero was confused, but fortunately his trainer understood, the young man's eyes widening in realization. "Right, Pichu haven't mastered their electric abilities yet, so when they use them, they also shock themselves. Nero use Ember in a circle around Puka while he's stunned!"

"Mrar!" Litten roared in agreement rapidly spitting fire as Hau begged his Pichu to get out of there.

Hau looked at Sun in surprise. "How… How did you know that?"

Sun grinned at his friend. "I've been waiting to become a trainer my entire life! I don't know a lot about pokémon from Alola, but ones that also live in Kanto? Ohhh yeah, I know all about 'em. Now… Nero, use Ember!"

Cut off by the fire and staggered by his own attack there was no room left for Puka to escape. He took Nero's attack head on, knocking the baby pokémon out.

Hau pulled out Puka's pokéball recalling the electric type. "You did good Puka," he whispered, "take a rest now, 'kay?"

"Hau," called Sun, "that was awesome man! Your Pichu is super fast!"

Their opponent gave them a smile. "Thanks," he replied, "Nero did really well."

Nero roared his agreement. Yes! Acknowledge the awesomeness of Nero!

Sun crouched down to scratch him on the head. "He sure did." Nero leaned into the affection, purring contentedly.

Hau tossed another pokéball into the air, letting Bowtie loose in the air and Nero shifted from his affectionate mode back into an aggressive stance, but Sun shook his head. "Not this time, Nero," he said gently, grabbing Baron's rattling pokéball off his belt. "It's Baron's turn now.

Nero frowned but stepped back.

"Let's do this, Baron!" Sun declared letting his Pikipek loose.

"PIKIPEK!" Baron, clearly still angry judging by the glare in his eyes, screeched aggressively, taking his place in the air above the battlefield.

Hau looked up and grinned. "So that's your new pokémon, huh?" he asked. "Caught yourself a Pikipek!"

Sun nodded. "We haven't battled together much yet, but let's give it our best, yeah?"

Hau grinned. "Alright, Bowtie, let's start this off with Tackle!"

Bowtie gave a "Row!" and rushed through the air towards Baron.

"Baron, dodge the attack!" called Sun, but Baron didn't listen.

"Piki!" he declared lashing out at Bowtie with his gleaming beak.

His trainer groaned, and Nero hissed, the newest member of their crew wasn't doing a great job of listening. He paid for it though, when he took the Tackle straight on and didn't even manage to hit Bowtie.

"Pikipek!" Baron cried out, struggling to shake off the hit.

"Alright, Bowtie! Use Tackle one more time!" shouted Hau.

"Baron," called out his trainer, "are you okay?"

"Pikipek!" Baron declared, nodding eagerly.

"Okay then," Sun said, "if we're gonna win we have to be a team. Your moves and my direction can make an awesome combination. If you'll listen to me, we can do this together. Okay? Okay! So dodge right now!"

The Pikipek did as told and tried to dodge out of the way but was still clipped slightly by the Rowlet.

"Litten lit!" Nero called up to his comrade encouragingly.

"Okay, Baron, now use Peck to strike back!" Sun declared.

"Piki…" Baron's beak began glowing white and lengthening slightly.

"You use Peck too, Bowtie, and hold him off!"

The two flying types began jousting at each other with their beaks, jabbing back and forth letting loose excited battle cries.

Unfortunately, Baron's earlier over-aggressiveness was catching up with him, as Bowtie had essentially gotten a free hit and the smaller Pikipek was starting to tire. "Pik… i… pek…" he huffed, falling out of the air and into the waiting arms of Sun who had rushed forward to catch him.

"Hey buddy," Sun said. "You need to take a break now, okay?"

"Pikipek!" protested Baron, as Nero stepped forward.

"You're too hurt to fight," their trainer told the Pikipek gently. "You'll have more chances to battle in the future, I promise, but rest for now."

"Mrowr," Nero reproached his comrade gently, because he knew that this wouldn't be happening if Baron had just listened to their trainer in the first place.

"Piki pek piki pek pek," Baron agreed reluctantly, nuzzling their trainer in apology.

But Sun just smiled. "Hey buddy, it's okay," he promised. "We'll figure out how to work together better going forward. Now, Baron, return." Baron returned to the safety of the pokéball. "Nero, you're up!"

Nero spat a fire hairball at the ground and stepped into battle. This was no longer just a fight to prove the awesomeness of Nero. Now, he had to prove the awesomeness of their entire crew since Baron had needed to bow out.

"Sorry about the hold up," Sun told everyone, but purely focused on Hau. "Let's get back to the battle!"

Hau grinned. "No problem!" he declared. "Bowtie, use Peck again!"

Nero pawed at the ground, waiting for his rival to come into range for an Ember, but Sun called, "Nero, jump up on top of Bowtie and use Scratch!"

Hau was confused, and so was Nero, but Nero responded more readily. He pounced on Bowtie and scratched at him with gleaming claws. "LITTEN!" he cheered, digging into his opponent and sending him down onto the platform.

Hau's eyes widened in disbelief as he understood Sun's plan. "Bowtie, get out of there!" But, just like Baron before him, Bowtie was too worn out to keep flying. Not too tired to fight, not yet, but too tired to fight and stay airborne. So, Hau changed his methods. "Bowtie, use Tackle at close range!"

"Nero, get out of there!" Sun shouted anxiously, but it was no good. Being atop Bowtie as the attack came made dodging the little owl's Tackle essentially impossible.

"Lit… ten…" Nero groaned, trying to find his footing, but… well… as tired as he was something in him felt like it was sparking, and he let a fierce cry as a primal fire roared back to life inside him. "MRAR!"

"Of course…" Sun whispered. "Nero's getting worn out, so Blaze has activated! Okay partner let's wrap this up! Use Ember!"

Nero spat the biggest Ember he'd ever fired at Bowtie, the fire attack amplified by Blaze's boost, and… well, Bowtie was already worn down from fighting with Baron. As the attack hit home, Nero knew… It was their win!

"Hoo-ee!" called someone from the audience as Hau and Sun stepped forward to recall their pokémon and shake hands. "Another great battle this year!"

"I bet Tapu Koko liked it, too," agreed another.

"Phew…" Hau said with a tired smile. "That was awesome, Sun!"

"Thanks, buddy," Sun replied. "It was a lot of fun battling you, right, Nero?"

"Mrar!" the Litten cried in agreement with his trainer. They'd had a fun battle, and Nero had defended their awesomeness!

"Row!" Bowtie hooted in agreement catching Sun's attention.

Sun squatted down, picking up Hau's pokémon. He dusted ash from the owl pokémon's feathers brushing it gently. "You doing okay Bowtie? We're all still friends, right?"

The Rowlet blinked as owls are known to do, then smiled at the kind pokémon trainer. "Row, row," it answered with a nod, then flew from Sun's hands back to Hau, perching on his shoulder.

"That was a really great battle!" Hau enthused. "I had a blast fighting you!"

"We're fighting again sometime," Sun told him eagerly. Nero mewed his agreement and Baron's pokéball rattled in seeming agreement.

"It was a good battle," Kahuna Hala agreed proudly. "With this, even Tapu Koko…"

"Ko-ko-kooo!" crowed Tapu Koko from somewhere out of sight.

"Ho!" Hala laughed. "You heard it yourselves! Tapu Koko's song of approval!" The heavy-set man made his way to Nero's trainer who turned from Hau to face him. "Oh, I nearly forgot!" Hala exclaimed. "I think it is time you take this, Sun." He slid a black bracelet seemingly made of stone over the teen's wrist.

"What… What is it?" Sun asked. Nero sniffed at it.

"Child that is your Z-Ring, a mysterious armband that can draw out the power that lies deep within pokémon…" Hala explained. "It can bring forth their Z-Power!"

His trainer just seemed confused, but Nero was excited. He didn't understand quite what it meant but he understood the promise of power well enough!

"We kahunas can make them by refining special stones; like the Sparkling Stone that you received from Tapu Koko," Hala continued to explain. "Although until you collect Z-Crystals during your Island Challenge, you will not be able to draw out the Z-Power of your pokémon."

Sun's confusion still hadn't abated. "So… I can't use this right now?" he asked uncertainly.

Hala nodded. "To give it to you so suddenly…" he mused. "It seems Tapu Koko took quite a liking to you… or who knows… perhaps it has a mission for you."

"In other words," Kukui cut in, "it's time for you to get out there and start your Island Challenge! If you visit every island, maybe you'll figure out what that mission is."

"What is the Island Challenge?" Sun asked. "You guys have been mentioning it all night, but I don't know what it is."

"Four islands!" the professor explained, holding up four fingers. "You'll travel to each of the four islands here in the Alola Region. The Island Challenge is about aiming to become the strongest trainer – the Island Challenge Champion! Woo!"

Nero's trainer seemed to have frozen in euphoria, a humongous smile etched upon his face. And while he was still frozen, Hau said, "Sounds great, right? I can't wait to have a real adventure!"

"An adventure…" Sun whispered, awed. "Through the whole region… The Island Challenge…"

Everyone got a warm chuckle at the awe in Sun's tone. "I'll explain more about the Island Challenge tomorrow!" Kukui promised. "Right now, you and your friends should enjoy the festival together."

Sun agreed that this was a perfect idea and asked Hau and Lillie to join him for some food and games. Hau joined in eagerly enough, and, while initially reluctant, Lillie eventually caved to both boy's pleas. For someone who wasn't a trainer, she sure had a good throwing arm, easily beating both boys at cornhole, and walking away with a Clefairy Doll which she tucked in her bag to keep Nebby company.

When they reached the area where food was served, Hau introduced Sun to pokébeans, a special type of bean that only grew in Alola, which all pokémon loved. With Hau's help, Sun carefully picked out the one's that were good for his duo.

Baron got chuckles from all three teens when, having eaten through his share far too rapidly, swiped one of Nero's only to instantly spit it out since the ones suitable for a fire type were far too spicy for any flying type.

Sun slipped some beans suitable for a psychic type in Lillie's bag when no one else was looking, figuring Nebby shouldn't miss out on the fun and yummy grub just because it had to stay hidden, much to the Cosmog's joy.

As the stars further spread out into the sky, the festival died down and Lillie and Sun bade farewell to Hau and the kahuna. As they made their way down to the lower part of Iki Town Lillie said, "Tapu Koko is amazing, isn't it? I hope I can meet it again someday and thank it for saving Nebby…"

"Pew!" Nebby cried from her bag in agreement, causing it to thrash about wildly.

"Me, too!" Sun agreed easily, rubbing the Z-Ring.

"It saved you as well, didn't it?" Lillie asked. "And left you with that Sparkling Stone…"

"Yep," Sun agreed, staring at the Z-Ring that had been forged from it.

"Even though you're a stranger to this place," Lillie pointed out. Then she flinched, realizing that could've been taken as an insult.

"It doesn't make sense to me either," Sun admitted easily, either missing her flinch or choosing to ignore it, "but if the kahuna is right, and Tapu Koko has some mission for me, well, I'll have to figure it out, won't I?"

Kukui walked up waving. "Suppose it's time we get you kids home, yeah?"

Lillie let out a tired sigh. "Then I suppose this is good-bye…"

"Good night, Lillie," Sun said. "Don't let Nebby run off."

She gave him a gentle smile and they parted ways for the night.

Sun made it home to find his mother playing with Meowy.

"Oh, Sun!" she cried. "You're back already? I thought you'd want to stay in Iki Town longer…"

"I would've," he replied, "but most of my new friends had to get back home themselves, so I headed home, too."

"Your battle was great!" his mother praised. "Ooh, I was just captivated to see my boy fighting in such perfect synch with his pokémon!"

Baron's pokéball shook, emanating a guilty feeling. "Okay," she amended with a laugh, "in perfect synch with Nero, at least."

"We'll get there," Sun promised Baron, gripping his Pikipek's pokéball gently.

"Maybe it would be a good idea for you to try that Island Challenge thing…" his mother mused with knowing eyes. "It's something you can only do in Alola, right?"

"There's no way I wouldn't!" Sun promised.

"But," his mother said with amusement, "right now I've got a date with my bed. I danced my feet off at that festival! Night-night, sweetie. You get some sleep, too!"

"Good night, Mama," Sun said, and they split off to head to bed.