My Pokémon Adventures

Chapter I: The Struggles of a Champion

Upon arriving on Ula'ula Island, Roark and I snuck out the Corviknight taxi and handed the taxidriver enough Pokédollars to cover the expenses of the ride as well as a little extra.

"Thanks for using the taxi services, Champ!" the man said gladly, but I quickly gestured for him to be shut his mouth. "Shh! Be quiet, will you? How many more times do I need to explain?" Roark smiled apologetically at the taxi driver.

I sighed and walked over to the Corviknight, running my hand across its chest and smiling softly. "Thank you so much for the ride," I said. The large bird Pokémon cocked its head, almost like a respectful bow, and I chuckled softly.

I had loved Corviknight ever since I first set eyes upon one; large powerful majestic Pokémon like them are right up my alley. I love my own two, one I'd caught as a Rookidee and trained it up myself. It had helped me through many of the Gymbattles as well as the fight against Leon.

Oh, that fateful fight...

The other I'd gotten as a present. It's terribly strong, G-max too, and not to mention, a shiny. I love shiny Pokémon, I adore the challenge of finding those incredibly rare mons.

Of most Pokémon I have, I have a shiny variant as well. They weren't very difficult to obtain after becoming Champion of Galar. I could just put out a notice and anyone who has one is usually happy to trade it with me for an autograph or another Pokémon.

But more than anything I love the thrill of seeking shinies, so more than a few I actually found and caught myself. Nothing, absolutely nothing compares to the excitement of finding and capturing shiny mons. Though most of mine were traded to me or gifted by fans, there are always shinies to go after. I found one just the other day, actually. A Cryogonal I'd been looking for ever since I gained access to the Crown Tundra two years ago. I'd started looking for a shiny Piloswine there as well, but I have yet to find it.

Man, the Tundra... What a wonderful place. So few people, so much to explore... Its landscapes and weather reminded me of Sinnoh, which had compelled me to go home for a little while and hunt some shinies there.

I had met with Professor Rowan, my old friend and mentor. He'd given me my first ever Pokémon, my beloved Turtwig-now-Torterra. Because of the restrictions set in place by Galar's Chairman, I hadn't been able to take my darling with me on my journey throughout the region. Back in Sinnoh, it felt amazing to see all my friends again, it had been far too long.

A lot has happened since I started my Pokémon journey. I was reminded of my first battles and humble beginnings as Rowan and I talked, and I felt compelled to revisit the places where I had found my first Pokémon partners and best friends. I had decided to find six shinies to commemorate my experiences; I would recreate my very first team, but this time, all shiny.

Rowan enjoyed my idea very much and decided to give me a hand. He showed me where to find Turtwig and after roughly twenty hours of hunting near the lake, I finally found him. After that it was onto fishing for Magikarp, leaning against the very tree I sat by all those years ago when I found my own Magikarp-now-Gyarados, one of, if not the best Pokémon I owned. He had helped me so, so much in my original journey through Sinnoh, alongside Milotic. I was very glad to have been able to take both of them to Galar, despite the Chairman's annoying rules.

Only a select few Pokémon species were allowed in Galar. This was to combat invasive species taking over the Wild Areas, supposedly. I never really understood, no other regions had these issues, but alas, there was nothing I could do. I had tried to bargain with the Chairman after becoming the Galar Champion, but he would have none of it. Nothing I could say would allow me to take my beloved Torterra with me.

For now, at least, there was nothing I could do. Looker was on the case, however. After our adventures at the Ilse of Armour where we apprehended Cyrus together once again, he had begun his investigation into the Chairman since he, according to Cyrus, had provided Team Galactic with the funding they needed to not only invent but also build the machine they used in their attempt to extract energy from my poor Kubfu and reopen the portal to the Distortion World.

I wonder whether the ban on certain Pokémon had something to do with Cyrus. It might very well have been influenced by him; I like the idea that Cyrus was so afraid of me and my Torterra that he begged the Chairman to prevent any and all Torterras from stepping foot on Galarian soil. At least he was safely behind bars now and Looker was on the Chairman's trail.

Despite its many perks, I dislike being Champion more than I ever could've imagined. It was all fun and games when I beat Cynthia for the first time. Back then it was still all about battles and becoming the very best trainer. But now, after becoming not just the Sinnoh and Alola, but also the Galar Champion, I can't go anywhere without being recognised and absolutely swarmed by people. I hate it, so much! There is no casual battling for me anymore, because every time I even reach for a Pokéball everyone gathers and films and it becomes a huge event in a matter of minutes! There is no quiet shiny hunting either, I can't sit anywhere to peacefully cycle through encounters, because there is always somebody who knows me and where there's one, many more follow soon after. The Crown Tundra and the Isle of Armour were safe for a while, but as soon as word got out that the Champion was training there, both places were overrun. Good for the local economy, but awful for my mental health.

That is exactly what happened when I was just quietly fishing for my shiny Magikarp. One trainer recognised me, then another, then another, until I was completely surrounded and backed into a corner. I suffer from a panic disorder and I had to utilise every technique in the book to prevent a panic attack. I was able to fly away on my Gyarados to safety, but it was close...

Some of the paparazzi magazines have already started publishing articles about my supposed mental instability and that I am unfit to be Champion. I can't say it's been fun having my mental breakdowns documented and published for everyone to see.

At least Roark still treats me like a normal human being. I instantly clicked with him when I first met him way back when I challenged him for my first ever gym badge and we've been great friends ever since. After that whole disaster I fled straight to Oreburg and he and I hid in his gym for a while. It had been a while since I saw him in person and it was so, so nice to finally talk face to face again. We both decided my shiny hunting would have to wait since now all my spots in both Galar and Sinnoh had been discovered.

I felt so downcast, I wasn't sure what to do. I thought about throwing during the next Pokémon Leagues and letting others take over for me. I was just not cut out for the Champion lifestyle. But Roark had another idea.

"How about we head on over to Alola and pick up Guzma? Maybe he and Team Skull can help. They might be able to function as a sort of guard, keeping people out is sort of their specialty. Remember Po Town? If they were able to accomplish even half of the things you told me they did there..." he suggested. "Oh my gosh, you're a genius! We can hide with them!" I exclaimed. "Oh, eh, I mean I can hide with them." Roark chuckled at my crestfallen expression, I didn't want to go alone and apparently it was rather obvious. "Hey, I'll come with you! My dad's been running the mines here anyway, there's very little for me to do. And the Sinnoh League won't be open for another couple months. I could use a little vacation!"

And so it was decided. We packed our things and left in a Corviknight taxi as quickly as possible, arriving in Alola only a couple hours later. Finally we were there. Roark and I got to our hotel and changed, since Alola's climate is a lot hotter than Sinnoh's. It would take me a while to get used to it again, but it felt good to be back. I couldn't wait to see Guzma again either, it had been entirely too long since we'd last seen each other.

I hoisted my bag over my shoulder and exited my hotel room, finding Roark already standing in the hallway dressed in a tank top, shorts that were too large for him, sunglasses that were far too cool for the rest of his outfit, and flip flops. I couldn't help but laugh, the fact that he hardly ever encountered weather above 15 degrees was painfully obvious. Roark pushed my shoulder playfully to get me to stop laughing as we left the hotel and stepped into the hot Alolan sun.

I took a breath.

Here we go again.