Welcome back to PokéPocket Week! Leftover sales for PokéPocket are happening until July 31. I highly encourage you to pick up everything and enjoy not only my work, but all the incredible pieces of art, highly desirable merch, and wonderful short fics contributed by dozens of artists from around the world!

Day two's entry is based on Rowlet, perhaps my favorite starters ever! It's a bit of a toss-up between my perfect owl son and my perfect fox daughter, Fennekin... But still. This story is available through the PokéPocket digital-only PDF.

The Alola region is known far and wide for its natural splendor. Vacationers descend upon the archipelago to chow down on malasadas under foxtail, Mantine Surf past the rocky shores of Poni Island with schools of Bruxish, or catch moonlit Marowak performances while hiking Wela Volcano.

However, one of its most popular destinations is far from natural.

The fifth largest island in the chain is no island at all, but rather a cold, pearlescent man-made headquarters taking root in the warm Alola seas. Funded by their President's deep pockets, Aether Foundation scientists put their hearts and souls into developing a perfect Pokemon atop this dirigible VLFS (or, "very large floating structure"). Yet the only creatures living in this glorified terrarium are those brought to it – barring the rare migrating Flying-type.

Aether Paradise residents are often rehabilitating. One such recent arrival is a lone Corsola, now hobbling across the pebbles of a shallow riverbed on the south side of the Conservation Area. Gauze wraps around a snapped-off branch on its head, and the coral Pokemon winces when it puts weight on its scarred right side; bleached a deep violet.

Classic signs of Mareanie activity.

Ignoring the marbled observation platforms, this environment has the same briny smell and atmosphere as Brooklet Hill. However, that familiarity does little to brighten Corsola's spirits. The aching crackle of recent Toxic exposure tells Corsola it has a long, long road to recovery.

A shadow passes as something descends from a gap in the glass skylight, pulling the weary Pokemon's gaze upward. It finds an odd new addition to the curly tree planted on a nearby faux island.

One of the branches hanging over the water now hosts a beige egg with orange claws.

Corsola is visibly confused, weakly calling out to the stranger as it balances on its good side. The egg's upper-body rotates a full 180, leaving its legs and base steady.

"Roo."

After only half a moment to gauge the Pokemon's leafy bowtie and deep black eyes bulging out of a white mask, it turns its head back. Corsola looks no less confused.

Then the little Rowlet rotates its head again, landing in the same spot. It was as though a machine controlled the swivel.

"Roo?"

Back and forth it goes again, this time greeting Corsola with a mimed smile.

"Roo-oo-oo!"

And again, contorting its face into tragic despair.

"Rowwow…"

Corsola cracks a smile. Seeing this, Rowlet hops up off the branch, letting its lower-body snap around to face Corsola before digging back into the wood. The owl stretches its slight wingspan as far as it can, and then takes off.

It flies corkscrews around the branch, trilling and clicking its rounded beak. Corsola starts bouncing like a tricked-out car, splashing against the pebbles in its closest approximation to clapping. Rowlet, encouraged by its audience's laughter, launches a few leaves out from its wings. It pulls a sleek aerial maneuver to catch their stems in its beak, and then dive-bombs the riverbed.

Rowlet pulls up before hitting the rocks and glides past Corsola, one wing splitting the water. With one last enthusiastic "Roo!" it circles around and flies off toward a distant end of the sanctuary.

Corsola gasps as something lands on its head. One quick glance at its reflection (once Rowlet's ripples clear) shows a lovely crown of leaves wreathed around Corsola's forward horn.

It smiles and sets off on its journey again, chipper footing all-but ignorant of the dull ache from its injuries.

Distant cawing lets the Corsola know its friend's work is just getting started.