Pokemon School (Day)
The smell of smoke filled Dominic's nostrils as he raced against Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles on his Tauros. Unlike the ones his classmates were riding, Dominic was using his Paldean Blaze Breed Tauros. As he learned after accessing Kukui's computer, he could use his PC Link to bring his Pokemon to this version of Alola. While the race was going on, Lillie was standing on the sidelines with Mimikyu, Mallow's Bounsweet, Lana's Popplio, and Sophocles' Togedemaru. It worried him that Lillie in this dimension couldn't physically touch any Pokemon. But as of now, he couldn't do anything to help.
Dominic was brought out of his musings when a boy with black hair and a red cap wandered onto the track. "Get off the track!" he yelled. It was at this moment that Dominic learned that Paldean Tauros don't brake well. Its hooves trampled the boy before it stopped running. He quickly got off of the Wild Bull Pokemon and rushed to the boy. "Sorry about that. Once Tauros gets running, nothing can stop it." he said, holding out a hand for the boy to take. A Pikachu ran to the boy's side as well, likely the boy's partner.
"Are you okay?" Lillie asked, walking to the newcomer as Dominic helped him up.
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." the boy said. "Actually, I'm good at dealing with Tauros. You see, I've caught some. But I've never seen a black Tauros before."
"That's 'cause this is a Paldean Tauros. You won't find it anywhere else in the world." Dominic said, putting a hand on the Pokemon's fur.
The boy's Pikachu got close to Lillie, causing the girl to yelp and jump back. "Hey, you're kind of acting like you're scared of Pokemon." the boy said.
"I am not scared." Lillie said. "I love Pokemon, at least, from a research point of view."
After a few seconds, Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles arrived to meet the new kid, each of them holding on to their Pokemon. "See, Lillie can't touch Pokemon." Sophocles explained.
"I can touch them! Theoretically, that is! If I really really wanted to!" Lillie said. "I just choose not to!"
"Don't worry. Don't get all frustrated and one day you'll be able to. If you want." Mallow said.
"That's right." Lana said.
"You!" the boy said, pointing at Lana. "I saw you at the ocean, fishing."
"For Bruxish." the girl said, starting to remember.
"So you know this guy?" Dominic asked, picking up Mimikyu.
"I'm Ash Ketchum." the boy introduced. "I come from Pallet Town in the Kanto Region. And this is my good buddy Pikachu. Nice to meet ya!" His Pikachu introduced itself as well. "So, what is this place?"
"It's the Pokemon School." Mallow explained.
"I've heard of the Pokemon School." Ash said. "Whaddaya know, this is it."
"Did you get lost in the forest?" Dominic asked.
"I guess." the boy answered.
"I'll show you around." Mallow said, taking Ash's hand. Cheerfully, Bounsweet used Sweet Scent, captivating his Pikachu.
"I'll go too. Something tells me that things are about to get interesting." Dominic said, joining up with Mallow.
Pokemon School (Day)
After showing him around the main building, Dominic and Mallow brought Ash to the principal's office. Knocking on the door, Mallow spoke up. "Principal, sir? I brought a new student."
"A new student!?" Ash said, surprised. Before he could object, the door opened and a Mr. Mime wearing a green shirt and sunglasses greeted them.
"Ash! You finally made it." a woman with brunette hair said, walking behind the Mr. Mime.
"It's my mom!" Ash said.
"Alola, Ash." Principal Oak greeted. "Welcome to the Pokemon School, home of Solrock and roll!"
"Professor Oak, what are you doing here?" Ash asked.
'I still don't get how people can mistake the two.' Dominic thought to himself.
"Hahaha! People tell me we look alike. I guess that's why you recognized me." Principal Oak said, laughing. "The name is Samson Oak!"
"He's Professor Oak's cousin, as well as the principal of the Pokemon School." Dominic explained.
"Nice to meet 'chew!" Oak said, putting his hands together to make a psuedo mouth.
"Nice to meet you too." Ash said, confused.
"He always makes jokes, playing around with Pokemon names." Mallow explained.
"We all need a little fun." Oak said. "A little dose of levity and laughter is what 'my rant is for'!"
The group went into Oak's office, and Ash got to explain how exactly he got to the Pokemon School. While he did this, Mr. Mime was playing with Mimikyu, Bounsweet, and Pikachu.
During the conversation, Oak got up and turned on the TV, causing his cousin to appear on the screen. "Hey, Samuel, it's me! I got your Egg safe and sound." he said.
"Excellent, Samson. That's what I like to hear." the Professor said. "Thanks to you, Delia."
"It's my greatest pleasure." Ash's mother said.
"Say, Principal Oak, sir. May I show Ash around the campus?" Mallow asked.
"Of course. Porygon your way!" Oak said.
Pokemon School (Day)
"This is our classroom." Dominic said as he, Mallow, and Ash entered the room. Almost immediately, the newcomer rushed to the balcony, where he could see the whole campus.
"And that's not all." Mallow said. "There's also the field where you met Tauros, and there's the lake, and the campus is huge and we learn all sorts of amazing things."
"Hi! A big Alola to you all!" Kukui said as he entered the classroom.
"Alola, Professor." Dominic greeted.
"Professor?" Ash asked.
"Yeah. He's our teacher." Mallow explained. "Professor, I'd like you to meet Ash."
"Principal Oak just filled me in. Hi, Ash. Pikachu." Kukui said. "The Pokemon School is a wonderful place. I hope you enjoy your visit here."
"Thank you." Ash said.
The group was interrupted by the sound of a Charizard roaring. "That was Kiawe's Charizard." Dominic said, rushing downstairs. When he got to the entry gate, he saw Sophocles, Lana, and Lillie hiding behind one of the arches. Kiawe was currently in a stand-off with three Team Skull Grunts. During his time here, Dominic learned that these specific Grunts were named Tupp, Zipp, and Rapp.
"If you can beat us in a Pokemon battle, maybe we'll let you walk away." Tupp said.
"Yeah, but if we beat you, then that Charizard of yours belongs to us." Zipp said.
"Kiawe!" Dominic said, running to his friend's side. "How about a Multi Battle?" he asked, smiling.
"Sure." the Fire-Type Trainer agreed. "You'll be sorry." he told Team Skull.
"Ha! We'll see about that." Tupp said, confident. Each Grunt threw out three Poke Balls each, making the fight nine vs. two. Tupp brought out three Salandit, Zipp brought out three Yungoos, and Rapp brought out three Zubat. "Now tell your Charizard to fight."
Suddenly, Ash and Pikachu ran between Kiawe, Dominic, and Team Skull. "Stop it!" he yelled.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Zipp asked.
"You're cowards! Ganging up three against one!" Ash said.
"Heh. What are you gonna do about it?" Tupp asked mockingly.
"I'll fight too!" Ash declared. "Are you ready?" he asked Dominic and Kiawe. "And you're..."
"Kiawe." the boy introduced.
"Pikachu, ready? I choose you!" Ash said, sending his partner into battle.
"Mimikyu, on stage!" Dominic shouted, doing the same with Mimikyu.
"Don't hurt yourself." Kiawe warned Ash as he got out a Poke Ball. "Now, Turtonator, come on out!" Throwing the Poke Ball, Turtonator appeared in a flash of light.
"Wow, totally awesome!" Ash said, awestruck. "So that's a Turtonator, huh."
"A Fire and Dragon Type. A strong and trusted friend. A wise one." Kiawe said, a faint smile on his face.
"Now, Salandit! Show them your strength with Venoshock!" Tupp commanded.
"Yungoos, use Bite!" Zipp said.
"Zubat, Leech Life!" Rapp said.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash called out. Faster than the eye could track, Pikachu dashed forward and attacked all three Salandit.
'Hmm, speedy.' Dominic thought to himself. "Mimikyu, use Play Rough on Yungoos!" Jumping forward, Mimikyu struck the Loitering Pokemon with its fists and tail, shrouding all four of them in a cloud of dust. After the attack subsided, the dust cleared and Mimikyu returned to its trainer.
Zubat used Leech Life on Turtonator's shell, causing Shell Trap to activate. All three Bat Pokemon were caught in the explosion, rendering their attack mostly worthless.
"What happened?" Ash asked.
"If something touches the spines on Turtonator's shell, they'll blow up." Kiawe explained, leaving Ash in awe.
"Quick, Salandit, use Flame Burst!" Tupp commanded, prompting the Toxic Lizard Pokemon to spew out embers that were aimed at Pikachu.
"Pikachu, dodge and use Thunderbolt!" Ash said. The Mouse Pokemon leapt into the air, avoiding Flame Burst, and unleashed a bolt of electricity that landed a perfect hit on all three Salandit. "Yeah, way to go!"
"I'll finish this." Kiawe said, crossing his arms in front of his chest. The bright light coming from his Z-Ring surprised Ash and Pikachu, and terrified Team Skull. "The zenith of my mind, of body, of spirit! Like the great mountain of Akala! Become a raging fire and burn!" Z-Power surged from Kiawe and into his partner. "Inferno Overdrive!" From its snout, Turtonator shot a gigantic ball of fire that engulfed all nine of Team Skull's Pokemon, knocking them out upon contact.
Frustrated, Team Skull sent all of their Pokemon back. "We won't forget this!" Tupp said as he, Zipp, and Rapp rode away on their motorcycles. "If you were going to use that Move, you should've told us!"
"Kiawe, what was that?" Ash asked.
"A Z-Move." Kukui answered, walking toward the trio.
"That's our Kiawe!" Sophocles said.
"You were both great too!" Mallow said to Ash and Dominic.
"You see, Z-Moves are special Moves that originated in ancient Alola." Dominic explained to Ash. "They represent the bond between humans and nature, which the Island Guardians of Alola protect."
"Island Guardians?" Ash asked.
"Alola consists of four islands, and each has its own guardian Pokemon." Kukui explained. "Only those who participate in the Island Challenge can use Z-Moves."
"Wow. Island Guardians, Island Challenge, and Z-Moves too!" Ash said, excited.
"Now that was a real Mega Punch level battle." Kukui praised. "Say Ash, you seem to enjoy a good battle."
"Yeah! I want to be a Pokemon Master!" Ash said.
"That's one lofty goal." Dominic said, not noticing the Citrus Berry that fell on Ash's head.
"Who's that Pokemon?" the boy asked, looking at the sky.
"What Pokemon?" Dominic asked, looking up as well. "There's nothing there."
"It was just there!" Ash insisted. "It was a Pokemon, for sure. It was yellow, about this big, and had an orange crest on its head."
"That sounds like..." Kukui said.
"Tapu Koko." Dominic finished.
"You saw Tapu Koko? Guardian of Melemele Island?" Lillie asked.
'If Tapu Koko showed itself to this kid, then maybe there's more to him that I'm not seeing.' Dominic thought to himself. 'Either way, things should get very interesting very soon.'