Chapter 12

Graduation

"Man… I can't believe I'm called to the principal, and on my very first day in school ever!" Mikey muttered on his way through the school.

"I, for one, find it hilarious!" Jun laughed. "It actually happened me once, too, in high school."

"Wait, what? Really?"

"Yeah, I got into a fight with the reigning school bully, sent him to the school nurse with a broken nose, and got myself sent to the principal. My parents were… well, they had mixed feelings about it, let's just say that much."

"Huh, no wonder you and Raph get along so well."

As he took the last steps up the stairs, he saw the female teacher waiting for him with a briefcase on the floor beside her.

"Moment of truth…" he gulped as he stepped up in front of her.

"Mikey… I can't believe that you…" she began, and Mikey was sweating bullets. What could he have done?

"Beat all of my students! Fantastic!" she finished and cheered.

"What?"

"After seeing such a performance, I think I'd like to battle you myself!"

"What?!"

"What do you say? Are you ready to take me on?"

"Uh… I guess? Sure."

"Good." she smiled widely, and readied a Poké Ball. "I heard about you from Professor Kukui. I'll be challenging you with a Pokémon that has a type advantage against that Litten you chose for your partner!"

She tossed up the Poké Ball, and it released a Popplio, the blue sea lion Pokémon that Mikey had seen with Kukui.

Jun instantly jumped into the battle, and opened with an Ember attack. But the fire spray did very little damage to the Water-type.

"Use Water Gun!" the teacher called out, and her Popplio spat a stream of water that hit Jun in the face, throwing him all the way against the wall behind him and Mikey with just one hit.

"The 'bleep' was that?!" Jun exclaimed as he tried to shake of the stars.

"Water beats fire, Jun! This is not a good fight for you!" said Mikey, grabbing another Poké Ball. "Come back! Chloe will handle this!"

Reluctantly, Jun followed Mikey's lead and hurried to his side while Mikey sent out Chloe

Popplio launched another water attack, but Chloe brushed it off far better than Jun did, and after exchanging Gusts and Water Guns for a while, the final wind tossed the Popplio to the side with swirly eyes.

"We won! Great job, Chloe!" Mikey cheered.

"Sensational!" The teacher praised, and gave Mikey a bit of money, just like any other trainer would. "Nice! Maybe you'd like to take over as teacher here for me!"

"Trust me, you don't want that." said Mikey and shook his head.

"Yeah, you'd ruin multiple generations." said Jun.

The teacher just giggled at Mikey's comment.

"All joking aside, thought, I do want you to take these from me… It's a little reward for beating me." She opened the briefcase, and handed five Poké Balls that looked different from the standard red or the white Premier Balls. They had a blue top with a thick, red line on the upper corners.

"They're Great Balls. Great Balls are better at catching Pokémon than normal Poké Balls." she explained.

"Know your Pokémon and know their moves. Those are the basic of being a Trainer!" an all too familiar voice said from the stairs, as Kukui walked up them, together with a boy in his mid teens.

"This guy is like a stalker!" Jun said, having jumped at his voice.

"How about it?" Kukui asked Mikey, but he was just confused.

"How about what?" He asked, instead looking at the boy that had accompanied Kukui, knowing that something was going on.

The boy had tan skin, grey eyes, and thick bright pink hair that was combed to the side, and wore white shoes, pants, and shirt, with a brown sleeveless sweater over the shirt.

"Greetings! Captain Ilima here." the boy introduced himself as. "I couldn't help but observe your battles. You looked so very delightful in battle that I had no choice but to summon you here."

"This is Mikey, who moved here to Alola from the Kanto region." Kukui explained. "He's got a real sense for how to use moves, and I think he's gonna go far as a Trainer, yeah!"

"What he said." Mikey agreed.

"I see! Then welcome, newcomer. I look forward to seeing the brilliance of your moves in my trial."

"Brilliance?"

"Guy's gonna be disappointed." said Jun. And Mikey nodded in agreement.

"Indeed! We captains are the ones who conduct the trials you will face on your way to challenging the island kahuna." Ilima explained. "My trial is held in Verdant Cavern. The trial of Captain Ilima. You can find Pokémon living everywhere, even in the patches of tall grass in Hau'oli City. Perhaps you'll want to fill out your team a bit before attempting my trial? I sincerely look forward to your challenge." Ilimia gave Mikey a wave and walked down to leave the school.

"Oh yeah!" Teacher suddenly exclaimed. "I reported to the folks upstairs about that Tauros blocking the road out front again."

"That guy's Tauros is pretty much a celebrity here on Melemele, you know?" said Kukui.

"Well, I guess it's time that we dismiss you from school, Mikey." The teacher continued.

"Attention, all students…" the loud speakers chimed to life. "Mikey has completed his lesson at the Trainer's School!"

"Finally! Graduation!" Mikey punched the air in celebration.

A little while later, Mikey stood outside on the parking lot. Gathered there were Kukui, Lillie, the teacher, and all the trainers that Mikey had beaten during his short time there, each giving him their best wishes.

"Be good to your Pokémon!" said the youngest boy. "And try to follow through with those status conditions, too!"

"Good luck with your island challenge!" said the girl.

"Have fun! And give your Pokémon any berries you find!" said youngest girl.

"Mikey!" The teacher said. "Enjoy you island challenge, and be sure to use the skills you learned here at Trainers' School! Good luck, future champion!"

"Make sure you use that TM! Make your Pokémon the strongest!" said the boy.

"Show'em what your're made of, Mikey!" said Kukui, giving Mikey a thumbs up.

"You seemed to be in perfect sync with your Pokémon, weren't you?" said Lillie. "Um… since we've come this far together, why don't I show you some more of the city? Come on. There's lot to see."

As the others waved good bye and wished Mikey good luck with his challenge, Lillie walked on ahead of him and waited a bit further down the road.

"Mikey! Over here." she called out once he got out on the road.

She smiled as Mikey joined her and they walked down the road.

"You know… I was really impressed seeing how you battled with your Pokémon at the Trainers' School… It feels like you're really giving it your all for your Pokémon's sake… I think that's why you were able to save Nebby that time, Mikey." She looked ahead and came to a stop. "Oh! I forgot about Tauros!"

They could see that Tauros was still in the middle of the road, with Hala and Hau trying to calm it down. It didn't really seem upset or angry though, just excited.

"Ho! If it isn't Lillie and Mikey." Hala said when he saw the duo. "Sorry for scaring you, friend. I guess it's time I get old Tauros back home. Oh, but I've got an idea… Why not give him a little pat, Mikey?"

"Um… sure?"

"Zzrt?! Are you going to pet that big ol' Tauros?! I bet my chassis is a hundred times smoother!" Rotom buzzed in.

"And not likely to gore you!" Jun added, looking worriedly at the horns of the bull Pokémon.

Mikey approached Tauros very cautiously, carefully reaching out with his hand, letting it hover a bit over the head before gently petting it. Much to his relief, the Tauros didn't seem to dislike it, and it soon pushed into the palm of his hand, wanting more pets.

"Ha ha ha! You see that? This rascal already loves you!" Hala laughed. "Pokémon become happier when we show them some care. Wa ha ha! Oh the places you'll go, child!"

Hala patted Tauros on the side and they began to walk back home. "And as you do, you will surely meet more Pokémon and people who will enrich your life."

"The kahunas sure are something, eh?" said Hau as he watched Hala walk away with the Pokémon. "Able to calm a raging Pokémon without even needing to battle… Now that's something! I mean, I like Tauros plenty and all… but it is pretty scary! I don't want to ride on it! So where are you two off to now?"

"I was thinking I should show Mikey around Hau'oli City a bit." Lillie explained.

"Nice idea! You're always on top of things, Lillie! Mikey just got here to Alola, huh?"
"Yeah, pretty sure we've said that plenty of times." Mikey groaned.

"Then let me tag along, too! I wanna go get something good to eat!" Hau added.

"A guy after my own heart!" Mikey said, his mood switching instantly.

"Stomach, more likely." Jun added.

"All right. Let's all go together." Lillie said.

"Then what're we waiting for! This way! Come on!" said Hau, leading the way excitedly, until he ran ahead.

"Oh, Hau…" Lillie sighed. "I guess we should go catch up with him before he gets too far, Mikey. Hau'oli City is the biggest city in all Alola."

It was a big city indeed, at least for the area. There were large beach areas, plenty of palm trees, even lining some of the streets. Some buildings were tall and multi-storied, probably five or six stories at most. Not exactly the kind of skyscrapers from New York or Chicago, but still impressive compared to the rest of the city. In the distance, there was a harbour area, and there were many areas with tall grass behind low fences.

As Mikey walked into the city, he could see Hau down on the beach, jumping up and down.

"Beach time! Yeaaahhh!" the boy was heard cheering.

A local girl, around fifteen years or so, spotted Mikey and approached him. She had half long brown hair, pale gray blouse, short blue shorts, and yellow shoes.

"Hey, you… You've come to Alola from someplace far off, haven't you? I can tell!" She said.

"Like a turtle wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the forehead." Jun said, pointing fun at the fact that no one could notice that Mikey wasn't human.

"You ain't wrong." Mikey said, both to Jun and to the girl.

"Then let me teach you the proper way to greet someone in Alola!" the girl said.

She held up her hands, palms facing Mikey, and she started at her chest, moving them both in a half circle to her waist, palms always facing Mikey, making a complete circle. "Alola!"

"That's it? I was think a secret handshake or something." Mikey said, scratching his head.

"You give it a try, too! Just like that: 'Alola!' You'll make more friends if you say it!"

"Okay, thanks a lot, dudette!"

As he walked further into town, he pass an older man, and decided to try the greeting. The old returned the greeting with a big smile.

"Hey! It works!"

"Good for you. Maybe now you won't get into trouble." said Jun.

"Meh, that finds me all the time."

"He-e-ey! Mikey! I thought I recognized the sound of those feet!" they heard Hau shout from nearby.

"I see what you mean." Jun sighed.

"So what do you think? Hau'oli is something, eh?" Hau asked Mikey. "Alola's gotta be the best place ever to live!"

"Looks pretty cool, yeah."

"Oh yeah!" Hau snapped his fingers and looked at a nearby building. "Hey, Mikey. Come in here with me. I've got a good idea of something you could do!"

Led by Hau, the group entered the building, which was the tourist bureau for the region. It was mostly a large open room with a large flower print on the wooden floor, with several cushioned benches, lots of leaflets, signs, and posters about Alola. Some infomercial was running on a screen on a wall, and there were plenty of souvenirs for sale.

Hau and Mikey went up to the counter, and Hau asked the young woman working there.

"Hey, miss. Is it true that you can get some kinda special gift if you have a Rotom Dex?"

"My goodness, you get the news fast!" she answered surprised, adjusting her red apron. "Hardly anyone has a Rotom Dex, but it is true that we have a special item to go with it. It's our very own Poké Finder! Here you go!" She reached into a drawer on her side of the counter and placed a USB stick on it.

"Awesome!" Hau cheered. "Isn't that awesome, Mikey? You've got a Poké Finder!"

"Yeah!" Mikey agreed. "What is that?"

"Um…" Hau turned back to the woman. "So, like, what's a Poké Finder?"

"Tweedledee, meet Tweedledumb." Jun rolled his eyes.

"The Poké Finder is a tool that lets you take photos of Pokémon." she explained

"So… a camera?" Jun said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Man, that Rotom Dex is cool!" Hau said as the woman connected the USB to Rotom for it to download the new function. "It's like a whole nother partner, Mikey! I mean, on top of your Pokémon partner! Oh, but I guess since it's a Rotom inside… it pretty much is a Pokémon partner? Either way, you're pretty darn lucky. Meet you outside when you're done in here!"

With that, Hau hurried outside again, just as installation was completed, and the woman disconnected the USB stick.

"The photos you can snap of Pokémon with a Poké Finder… They are simply too cute to resist!" she said.

"Who-hoo, I've got the Poké Finder now! I just love the feeling of having new featurezz added!" Rotom cheered.

"Thanks a lot for this!" Mikey said, and he and his team left the tourist bureau, only run into not only Hau waiting outside, but Lillie as well.

"Mikey, Hau… Did you visit the tourist bureau? How was it?" Lillie asked.

"Check it out!" Mikey held up Rotom, both of them beaming with pride.

"We got his Rotom Dex upgraded! Now it can take pictures, too!" Hau explained.

"Yup! Zzzt!" Rotom buzzed.

"Like any phone nowadays." Jun sighed.

"What a wonderful helper you are, Rotom!" Lillie praised. And as all of them gathered around to look closer, Rotom jumped into the air and quickly snapped a pic of all four.

"Huh?" Lillie gasped surprised.

"Ahahaha! What was that for, Rotom?" Hau laughed. "Go and put that little trickster back in your bag, Mikey, and follow me! Enough feasting for the eyes… It's time we take care of our stomachs!"

"Best idea ever!" Mikey agreed. With a grin and a nod, Hau ran ahead.

"Maybe Rotom wanted to get your attention, because it wants to take photos with you." Lillie mused.

"Nah, I think it's just a bit of a jerk." said Jun.

"I think I'll go stop by the apparel shop to do some shopping of my own…" Lillie said before walking off into another part of the city.

And Mikey made it through school, possibly with flying colours. Can't imagine his brothers would have guessed that, I know he wouldn't have.

Feels like we're finally getting somewhere, but I had seriously forgotten just how many cutscenes this generation of Pokémon games had. This will take a while to get through.