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

Chapter 3: Shadows on Route 1

The Alolan night did not feel empty.

A crescent moon hung above Lillie's garden, thin and silver behind a veil of clouds, while the sea breathed beyond the mansion walls. Lillie and I sat outside with Pikachu between us, sharing a plate of cookies Mom had left behind after dinner.

The house had finally quieted after the hidden-room discovery. Mohn was resting, Hobbes had secured the basement, and Magearna remained safely inside. Lillie still wore her father's Z-Ring, though she kept touching it like she was afraid it might vanish.

"You have been staring at the moon for a long time," I said.

Lillie smiled faintly. "I am trying not to think too hard. Alola looks peaceful at night, but every peaceful thing here keeps hiding another secret."

"Then we will take the secrets one at a time," I said.

I reached for another cookie, but a dark blur shot out from beneath the veranda table. Tiny claws scraped the plate, a long whiskered face seized the cookie, and a black-furred Rattata darted toward the shadows.

"My cookies!" I gasped, nearly dropping the plate.

Pikachu sprang up with his cheeks sparking, while Lillie leaned forward in surprise.

"An Alolan Rattata," Lillie said. "They usually come out during the dark hours."

"Of course they do," I said. "Way back at the start of my journey, a Rattata tried to steal my lunch, and Serena ended up catching it. I am not letting this one escape after stealing dessert."

The Alolan Rattata paused beneath a garden bench and looked back with the cookie still in its teeth. It did not look frightened. It looked proud, like stealing from me had been a successful test.

Pikachu dropped to all fours, ready to chase.

"Careful," Lillie warned. "If it is sneaking this close to the house, there may be more than one."

The Rattata bolted before I could answer. Pikachu raced after it, and I followed across the moonlit garden, past the side path, and toward a small storage shed near the gate that opened toward Route 1.

The shed door had claw marks around the bottom.

"Hobbes mentioned some kitchen supplies were missing," Lillie said. "I thought he meant an inventory mistake."

The Alolan Rattata squeezed through a gap beneath the door. Inside, something rustled, and then several smaller shadows scattered across the shelves. They were not attacking us. They were raiding the stored berries and biscuits.

"So it is a food-theft problem," I said.

Pikachu looked at the first Rattata, who stood protectively in front of the smaller ones. His posture softened a little, but he did not drop his guard.

The Rattata bared its teeth and lashed its tail. Its meaning was sharp and hungry: "Food is food if we can take it."

"I get that you are hungry," I said. "But stealing from the house will get everyone in trouble."

The Rattata lunged anyway. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack, then hold back with Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu flashed forward and struck the ground in front of Rattata, forcing it to stop. The controlled Thunderbolt came next, bright enough to stun without burning the shed. Rattata dodged the edge of it, sprang from a crate, and slammed into Pikachu with Tackle.

Pikachu slid back, then caught himself. His tail swept low, and his look told me he was ready.

"Electro Ball, but keep it small!"