Ash had practically been bouncing up and down all throughout the flite.

After the nightmare that happened in Sinnoh, the young trainer was elated that their next research assignment was in Alola! When Ash heard that it felt like Arceus was finally giving him a break for once. He was being handed a vacation! Even if it was for work!

Alola held a special place in Ash's heart when compared to all the other regions he traveled, and it wasn't just because he had won his first league championship there. Alola had been a much-needed break from his previous travels. Especially after everything that happened in Kalos. The region was just much more laid back then the other places that Ash had visited.

Sure, that didn't mean there hadn't been any type of drama, but it was rather peaceful overall.

The islands were each distinct and beautiful. Each of them full of their own mini adventures...huh...in hindsight, Ash now had a reason as to why he didn't see Lucario or Sir Aaron in Tapu Fini's mist. That day, when he got lost in that fog, he kind of hoped it had been to reconnect with someone he had lost, but in the end, it was for torracat. Not that Ash was upset with that, his Pokémon deserved to get closure with her mentor. Still...some part of Ash had hoped to see someone...maybe meet a face he'd should've known but never got to.

Eh! Didn't matter now!

He had been so excited exiting off the plane, he tripped and fell down the stairs. Well, at least no one made fun of him for it. Professor Kukui was there to greet them and give them a ride. Ash gave him a giant hug. Sure, they'd face-timed each other at least once a month, but it was nothing compared to seeing each other in person.

Kukui seemed to hit it off with the others as well. Goh, after he had gotten over the awkwardness, he usually had with people of high praised in the Pokémon research communities, was quickly asking about all the local flora and fauna of Mele Mele. Sir Aaron was also enjoying the scenery, apparently this was one region that he had never been to even in his days of travel. And Lucario and Umbreon were trying to keep the smaller Pokémon from falling out of the car.

Amanda? Amanda had been weird lately. Ever since her deafness was revealed to the others her behavior towards them had shifted. While before she'd engaged in sarcastic banter, with one-liners that would make his ten-year-old self proud, jumping right into the thick of conversation with her own two-cents. Now, however, she fluttered around interactions. Hesitant to put anything into communication pool. Only speaking when spoken too. Like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It was worrying.

However, all worries left Ash's mind once he reunited with his Alola team, and Professor Burnet. And of course, meeting, baby Lei. Ash had known about the baby since Professor Burnet first knew about it. She and Professor Kukui had called him the moment it had been confirmed and sent no less than a hundred pictures since Lei had been born.

Ash was currently bouncing the Baby watching as Riolu, Pikachu, and Pichu were socializing with his Alolan team. Sir Aaron and Kukui were talking in the Kitchen, Goh and Burnet were prepping a bag for something, and Ash and lost track of where Amanda went, but with Pichu still there she hadn't gone far.

"So, the class at the school has planned a welcome back party for you," Burnet said.

"Really?" Ash said.

"Yes, but it's not supposed to start for a few hours," Burnet said, walking up and taking Lei into her arms, "So you boys can hang out on the beach until then."

"I can get some documentation done!" Goh said with excitement.

"If you're going to go, I suggest you get moving," Kukui said, "I doubt you'll have much chance to do this again soon."

"I'm afraid the professor is correct, go on and frolic lads," Sir Aaron leaned over to Lucario, "Make sure they don't die."

Ash and Goh were running to the door when the sound of the bathroom opening caught the attention and Goh let out a startled yelp. Emerging from the threshold of the bathroom, was what Ash thought was his cousin. It was honestly hard to tell. The girl was the right height and build, but she wasn't dressed like Ash knew Amanda's style was. The navy-blue competition suit, and flip-flops revealed more of her body than ash had ever seen before. She wore a very large black sun hat and a pair of what had to be prescription sunglasses. It was just how pale she was that threw Ash off.

It took a moment for him to realize that she wasn't sick or anything, she was white from how much sunscreen she was wearing. It was like someone had dipped her into a jar of mayonnaise, and then stuck clothes on her.

"What happened to you?" Goh asked.

"I put on appropriate clothing?" Amanda said.

"Did you use a whole bottle of sunscreen?" Ash blurted.

"You might tan in this weather Ketchum, but I burn."

Lucario stood at his post on the small hill next to the sand dunes. His eyes, ears, and other senses were on full alert. Protection was a familiar duty. He had done this many times. Nobles, wealth, villages, and homes he had done it all. A few children didn't make him worry. His skills were well enough to protect them.

But the pup. Curse his instincts. The little one was making his nerves fray and spasm. He wasn't even Lucario's pup! But for some reason, ever since the night in the makeshift den, he was suddenly hyper aware of the little one's movements.

Riolu wasn't even in danger! The pup was merely playing on one side of the beach. Near some toys for human pups, that someone had left. It was just little red plastic shovel...that was attached to a very large aura underneath the sand...that had a very large mouth...

Lucario darted over, scruffing up the pup.

Alright, maybe he needed to move the pup to a safer part of the beach...

"So, you've never been to Alola before?" Professor Kukui asked.

"No," Sir Aaron shook his head, and taking a sip of some kind of drink that was both sweet and sour at the same time, "I was well traveled in my youth but islands such as these, were usually out of reach."

"Couldn't afford plane fair?" Kukui asked.

"Something like that," Sir Aaron chuckled.

The knight was quickly finding a friend in the Professor. Kukui was a kind young many who seemed to share in Sir Aaron's values of family and adventure. He was glad that Ash had such a person to care for him during his stay on this island paradise. It felt like a shame that the knight couldn't be completely honest with the professor yet. Once day when it wouldn't mean putting Kukui in danger, he would know the full truth, but not now.

"Well, you won't be disappointed in visiting I promise you that," Kukui said, "I know that the islands can be small and under-developed when compared to a modern city on the mainland, but we have our own charm."

"I could tell that the moment we got off the plane. I do enjoy the quaintness of this place. A simple peace, it reminds me of where I was born."

"Where's that if you don't mind me asking. I mean I know you're kantoian, with your accent, but isn't different then Ash's."

"That is a simple query with a complex answer. Originally, I was born on northeast coast of Kanto, but I was sent to what you could call a boarding school further inland and closer to Sinnoh. After spending most of my youth there, I traveled around the nearby areas and towards home. Eventually I settled in Rota once I had employment there."

"Rota? I think I heard about that place, one of the oldest cites in Kanto right? Big renaissance theme?"

"I could not tell you; I haven't been home in a while. A social conflict forced me to leave."

"Oh, Geez, I'm sorry to hear that. You, okay?"

"Do not concern yourself with it, it was hard, but I'm working through it."

Kukui nodded, "So how did you meet Ash again? I know your family, because he called here all excited about it, but never got clear story."

"Well, I didn't know about him until he came forward. Apparently, I'm related to his late father. But I hadn't had much contact with my relatives in years. Me and my sister had been close, but she passed away suddenly while I was on the move, and no one told me. So, learning about Ash was a welcomed surprise."

"And Amanda she's your...?"

"Niece, she's more closely related to my late sister."

"So, you were just living on your own, until Ash reached out?"

"Now, I had Lucario so I wasn't alone, but in a way I was without family. In some ways that was a good thing, my father and I didn't really agree over many topics."

"Oh, old man was a hard-case huh?"

"You could say that." Note to self, ask the children what a 'hardcase' is and if it's similar to a 'nutcase'. "He had what you could call very sets ideals on what roles me and my sister should've fulfilled."

"Traditionalist?"

"Extremely."

"Well, I don't envy you then."

"You shouldn't, but I am finding myself enjoying the company of the younger generation of my family."

Kukui huffed in humor, "Yeah, I'm sure those kids are giving you a run for your money. Ash was great when he was living here, but man did that kid give me a fright every now and again."

"Well, the thing about Ash is that...it would be rather hypocritical for me to reprimand his recklessness."

"No, are you saying you were a troublemaker as a kid?"

"Well, I certainly wasn't an angel."

"Worst thing you did?"

"Well, there may have been and incident involving me getting carried away by a beedrill after I ran off a cliff."

Kukui started laughing.

Amanda didn't like sunlight.

She had many reasons for this opinion. One, her skin was, on a good day, just a shade darker than egg-shell white, and would burn and freckle faster than a vampire would shrivel in the light. Two, her eyes had always been rather sensitive to it. Even before they started dying, she had always been squinting any time she was in direct sunlight. Three and currently the most annoying reason was that it screwed with her laptop. Be it by overheating the device or making it impossible to read what was on screen.

Honestly, why was she even out here? She needed to work to find Riley. Not sitting back with a drink in her hand on a tropical beach. Amanda groaned, pushing up her sunglasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. The soft roar of the waves smashing on to the shore in front of her drawing her attention.

It had been forever since she had been on a beach. The warm sand. The burning sun. The waves swelling and singing. The swirling breeze...she missed it. Amanda could admit that, but she couldn't let her longing get in the way of progress. No one achieved anything while slacking.

Screams and chirps of joy came from Pichu and Roserade playing in the waves just a few yards away. At least, someone could enjoy it.

"Hey."

Amanda tried very hard not to jump at the sudden voice. She turned to find one Professor Burnet standing behind her. The baby held securely on her hip.

"Professor," Amanda greeted plainly.

"Having fun?" Burnet said sitting down next to the 18-year-old.

"It be more fun if I actually made some progress."

"Oh, still working? I thought you'd be taking a break from lab work now that you're here?"

"Well, the others might, but I can't afford it."

"If you need more time, I'm sure Professor Cerise will understand. Discovery takes time."

"It's not Cerise I'm working for."

"Well then you might need to find a new employer if they're pushing you this hard."

Amanda didn't answer.

"Ash said you stared in Mele Mele Mermaids..." Brunet brought up.

Amanda tried not to groan. Really Ketchum? You had to mention that?

"Look," Amanda said, "That was a long time ago and I know it was mistake..."

"Why would it be a mistake?" Burnet asked.

Amanda paused, a little surprised that the Professor would ask that. Certainly, she understood why it was something to forget, but no Burnet just kept looking at her for an answer.

"Because it was a waste of time," Amanda finally said, "I could've been studying or working on something with actual meaning instead of that stupid show for little kids."

"Did you not have fun working on it? You seemed like you enjoyed being Mimmi on screen."

"No...I-I did enjoy it, but it wasn't worth it. It's not going to help people."

"That's not true. I know for a fact that there are people who love that show and find it comforting. That's helping them."

"Then they have terrible taste."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean the show is worthless or the passion you put into it went to waste."

Amanda paused. She had never thought about it that way. Mother always said it had been a waste of time, and Amanda had been too young and stupid to realize how right mother was. That show wouldn't save lives from disaster or disease. It wouldn't make the world a better place. But...did it really make people feel better?

Amanda didn't get to ponder long as one of the boys came running back to them yelling something about a cliff.

A/n:

I am so sorry this took so long! School started up and I had been dragged on to a weekend Ski trip that ended with me having a breakdown, so I've been really tired lately.

On a happier note, my birthday was last Wednesday.

And if it wasn't clear Ash was wondering if he could've seen in bio-dad in the mist.

Also apparently "scruffing" isn't a word according to my word processor.