1. Ash's Story (Part 9: Alola)

Chapter 86: Lanakila Conference

The days after Meltan joined us did not slow down. Pokémon School kept filling our mornings with lessons, classmate goals, and Alola traditions as the League drew closer. Part of me wanted to laugh at how normal that felt after Rainbow Rocket.

Sophocles was the first one pulled into something bigger than classwork. He entered a Vikavolt race with more confidence than he admitted, while his Vikavolt hovered beside him like a charged battery waiting for a starting signal. Horacio arrived with his own evolved Vikavolt, and Sophocles's shoulders immediately tightened.

"You can still win," I told him.

"I know," Sophocles said, though his hands twisted around his gloves. "Knowing and breathing are becoming separate problems."

The race began with a bright signal and a roar of wings. At first, Sophocles and Vikavolt flew smoothly through the outside gates, using the wind and the terrain exactly the way they had practiced. Then the route entered a cave, and the darkness swallowed the cheering crowd behind us.

Sophocles froze at the cave mouth. Vikavolt drifted back toward him, sparks glowing gently instead of impatiently. Its wings lowered until its eyes met Sophocles's. Its meaning was steady and warm. "I can fly through this if you hold the path with me."

Sophocles swallowed hard. "Right. If you can keep going, so can I."

Team Rocket tried to interrupt the race inside the cave, because apparently even a racing event looked like an opportunity to them. Vikavolt tore through their net with a burst of electricity, and Sophocles kept guiding it despite the darkness. When they reached daylight again, his voice sounded stronger.

The final stretch was so close that nobody breathed. Vikavolt surged past Horacio's partner by less than a wingbeat, and Sophocles stumbled forward when the victory light flashed. Togedemaru rolled straight into his legs in celebration, knocking him down while everyone cheered.

Hapu presented the Z-Ring after the race, her expression serious but kind. "You faced fear without pretending it was gone. That is worth recognizing."

Sophocles accepted it with both hands. The Buginium Z shone beside the ring, and Vikavolt lowered its head proudly. I saw more than a prize in Sophocles's smile. I saw a Trainer who had stepped through his own dark cave and come out flying.

Mallow's next busy day began with a problem that sounded much more like her. The Family Restaurant needed Big Mushrooms, so she visited Oranguru's forest café for supplies. By the time we caught up, the quiet place had become crowded with Pokémon customers.

Oranguru handed Mallow a tray as if it had planned the whole thing. Mallow stared at the waiting Pokémon, then rolled up her sleeves. "All right. If everyone is hungry, we are doing this properly."

She cooked until the air smelled like berries, herbs, and warm soup. Tsareena helped carry plates with graceful steps, Shaymin guided tiny Pokémon to open seats, and Oranguru mixed drinks with calm perfection. Mallow glowed brighter with every grateful customer.

Then Tapu Koko arrived without warning.

Nobody needed to shout or explain. The forest itself seemed to notice. Tapu Koko watched Mallow work, not as a judge looking down from above, but as a guardian seeing how she fed the island without asking what the island would give back.

Mallow prepared a special dish with shaking hands. When Tapu Koko accepted it, electricity danced gently across the clearing instead of striking. The guardian left behind Grassium Z, while Oranguru offered Mallow a Z-Ring with quiet pride.

Mallow held both treasures against her chest. "I wanted to help because everyone was hungry."

"That is why it mattered," Lillie said.