The class was disappointed when Ash had to return to the Orange Islands. But who wouldn't be, right? Having a champion like him teach us? It was an honor. We were all throwing a little internal pity party, but you know, grateful as well.

However, my disappointment did not last long, because soon after Kahuna Olivia called me for a conversation. A conversation about my big brother! She informed me that he had already breezed through Akala Island for his Island Challenge. I'm like, "What? Seriously? He did not tell me!" Olivia's got this huge grin on her face, probably reliving the whole battle. She started going on about how she had this face-off with Gladion's Weavile and Lucario. Olivia was all smiles, describing how Gladion's Pokémon were throwing down some serious moves. You could tell she was impressed about his win. It's wild hearing about Gladion taking on Kahunas and leaving his mark. Makes me very proud.

We shared a laugh about how the double battle went down, and Olivia was, like, "Your brother's a force to be reckoned with." I couldn't agree more. Gladion's got that cool, mysterious vibe, but deep down, he's got the Pokémon skills to back it up.

Anyway, it was an incredible chat. One that unfortunately did not last long. Then again, I had promised Lana to go fishing with her. Who wouldn't wanna hang out with Lana? She's got this super chill vibe and knows her stuff when it comes to water Pokémon. Plus, I was low-key excited to spend some quality time with her.

So, there we were, all set to cast our lines and have some fun, when this old man showed up, calling himself the "master fisherman." Like, really what? He started laying down these crazy rules, saying we need his blessing or whatever to face the lake's Totem Pokémon. I'm rolling my eyes so hard at this point. But then he went into full drama mode, spinning this wild tale about his epic battle with the Totem Pokémon and showing off this obviously fake scar. Lana's not buying it either; I can see her trying not to laugh.

Then comes the kicker: he told us we had to catch a Feebas if we wanted to fish there. Like, as if! But leave it to Lana – she's a pro. She tosses in her line and, bam! She reels in a Feebas right away. The dude's jaw dropped to the floor, and I'm trying not to cheer too loudly. Classic Lana, making things look easy.

After that, he's all, "Guess you're worthy," or whatever. We swap the Feebas with him to rent this tiny boat he insists we'll need.

I shot Lana a look, "Are we seriously doing this?" but she just grinned back, all excited. Honestly, I'm also pumped too. The whole thing felt like some sort of adventure, and with Lana by my side, I know it's going to be epic.

The boat ride with Lana was wild from the start. We hadn't even set off when Lana spotted this poor Wishiwashi stuck in a tiny patch of water. I could feel my heart squeeze because, seriously, who could leave a Pokémon in pain like that? Lana, being the water Pokémon whisperer she is, tended to their injuries and sent them back into the lake with a soft smile. It's moments like these that remind me why I love hanging out with her – her kindness to Pokémon is just next level.

So, we finally get on this rickety boat, and I'm trying not to think about how it might fall apart any second. We paddle out into the middle of the lake, and I'm getting all excited about what we might reel in. But, oh boy, did I not expect a Magikarp to come splashing out. I'm thinking, Okay, not the most exciting catch, but it's a start, when that silly fish started slapping me in the face! Lana's cracking up, and I'm just hoping nobody caught that embarrassing moment on camera.

Then comes the big moment – Lana sensed something huge, and I'm ready for some Legendary Pokémon or something. But no, it's this massive Wishiwashi, and they're not playing around. Great. Just great. Meanwhile, Lana's fighting to keep our boat from becoming a jetski with this crazy Pokémon on the line. The next thing I know, we're careening into this island in the middle of the lake. Lana's handling it like a pro, but I'm basically doing my best impression of a flying Magikarp.

And then, of course, the drama doesn't stop. I managed to land on the island, but Snowy, my sweet Alolan Vulpix, is doing a doggy paddle in the lake. Wishiwashi's closing in, and I'm in full panic mode. But Lana, always cool under pressure, called out Popplio. That little water type zooms in and saved Snowy just in the nick of time. I'm relieved, soaked, and half-expecting Lana to burst out laughing any moment.

But you know what? Even with all the chaos, it's a day I won't forget. It's like Lana turns every little thing into an adventure, and I'm just glad to be along for the ride.

Okay, so we're stuck on this island with a colossal Wishiwashi pulling us around like some overenthusiastic water skier. Lana's doing her best with Popplio, but this Totem Wishiwashi is giving us a run for our Poké Balls. Popplio's Bubble Beam doesn't seem to faze the Wishiwashi.

I'm all like, "Oh, come on, fish! Just chill for a moment!"

But no, this fish means business. Popplio, maybe sensing the overwhelming odds, decided to bail. It's a bit hilarious, but Lana's face says she's not amused. At this point, I'm ready to jump in and do something, but Lana responded with a, "Nah, I got this."

She's battling this massive Pokémon with everything she's got, but they're relentless. Wishiwashi's pushing her to her limits, literally on her knees and against a rock. I'm gripping my fishing rod, half-wishing it's some sort of magic wand that can make everything better. Then, out of nowhere, Popplio rallied. This little water type that moments ago was scared out of his wits decided it's time to be the hero.

"Okay, Popplio, it's your time to shine!" I shouted in encouragement.

Lana, on the other hand, is looking proud but probably wondering if she's in over her head. The battle raged on, and it looked like Lana's was turning the tide. But plot twist – a wild Alomomola showed up, ready to play the colorful knight for the Wishiwashi.

"Oh, great, just what we needed – a tag team match." I huffed.

Lana's was struggling, and I could see Popplio wanted to help but is hesitant. That's when I decide it's my turn to step up. With my trusty fishing rod in hand, I cast out and hooked that Alomomola. It took a moment, but I managed to reel her in. Snowy jumped into action and hit her with Powder Snow. The Alomomola isn't a fan of the icy surprise and decided it's better to swim away than deal with this unexpected chilly reception.

In the midst of all this craziness, I'm just hoping Lana's okay. But when I turned around to see how she was doing, my jaw dropped. They were doing incredible! Now, let me tell you, when Popplio pulled off that Aqua Jet move, it was like watching a water ballet of pure awesomeness. Lana was there, cheering Popplio on, and I'm pretty sure I'm doing a victory dance on that island with Snowy. Popplio just raced in front of that massive Totem Wishiwashi, zipping across the lake like a speedboat on steroids.

And then it happened – Aqua Jet unleashed. I swear, time slowed down as Popplio soared through the air, leaving this trail of sparkling water behind. Bam! Right into the heart of the Wishiwashi. It was like watching the grand finale of a fireworks show. The whole school of Wishiwashi got scattered, like they just remembered they had some very important fish business to attend to elsewhere.

I look over at Lana, and she's got this mix of pure joy and relief on her face. We might have had a close call, but we came out on top. Popplio was doing clapping his fins happily, and Lana's giving him the most heartfelt pat on the head. Then, out of the water popped out the Wishiwashi that Lana had helped earlier. They were holding this sparkling Waterium-Z in their mouth, like a treasure they wanted to share.

Lana, she was grinning from ear to ear, and I can't help it – we both burst into these girly squeals of delight. I mean, who wouldn't? We just took down a Totem Pokémon, saved a lake, and got ourselves a shiny new Z-Crystal. It's like winning the Pokémon lottery!

Oh, the Pokémon Center was buzzing with excitement when we got back that night! Lana and I, still riding high on our victory, were swapping stories with Kiawe, who couldn't wait to share his news. That guy burst in with this contagious smile, practically radiating triumph. I swear, you could feel the energy shift when he proudly declared he'd caught an Alolan Marowak. The cheers from our classmates were like a chorus of happiness. Kiawe, our fiery classmate, couldn't stop grinning. He's showing off his new Alolan friend like he's the crown jewel of his team – and, to be fair, it probably is. His Marowak probably felt like the king of the volcano, and Kiawe? He was practically the mayor of the happiness town that erupted in that Pokémon Center.

And then, Olivia, the island Kahuna, swept in. She handed Lana the finished Z-Ring, from the Sparkling Stone that Lana had found during the Akala Treasure Hunt, which Olivia had taken to modify into a Z-Ring. This masterpiece that practically screamed ocean life with its blue design. Lana, she had this gleam in her eye as she fitted her Waterium-Z into that Z-Ring. I'm cheering her on because that Z-Ring is a symbol of her triumph over that Totem Pokémon, a badge of honor.

But then, oh boy, Lana decided to mess with our heads. She cracked this joke about getting the Waterium-Z from a Mega Gyarados. I kid you not, the faces of Kiawe, Sophocles, and Mallow all drop. They were staring at her like, "Wait, what?" And then she just laughed, telling us she was kidding. I swear, they all facefaulted harder than a Snorlax falling from a tree.