Pokemon Moon: Adventures in Kalos

Chapter One

"Aw, man! I lost!"

The boy standing a few feet away from me slumped his shoulders in defeat. Taking out a Pokeball from his bag, he recalled his fainted Pokemon. "You tried your best, Arcanine," he told it. "Get a good rest."

His kindness toward his Pokemon made a smile grow on my face. If only all trainers in the world were this compassionate with their Pokemon... Unfortunately, there were people out there that treated their Pokemon partners like they were nothing. Which was why when I came across trainers like this boy, I found myself grateful for them.

A midnight Lycanroc, one of my beloved Pokemon, stood panting on the battlefield, looking worse for wear. He was only the third Pokemon I'd had to use in this battle, but it had still been hard to defeat all the boy's Pokemon. It was clear to me that the trainers of Alola were getting stronger, and at younger ages, too. Walking up to Lycanroc, I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Nice work, Lycanroc. You did great out there."

Lycanroc turned and looked at me with tired but triumphant eyes, growling his agreement as he smiled. I held up his pokeball and said, "Return so you can rest."

After putting Lycanroc's pokeball back into my bag, I faced the crestfallen boy who had challenged me. "That battle was amazing," I complimented him. "Your skills as a trainer are quite impressive, I'll admit."

The boy's head shot up instantly, and a wide smile grew across his face at my words. "You...you really think so?"

I nodded. "I know so! In fact, if you keep training and working hard, you might be able to beat me the next time you challenge me."

"Really?!" he exclaimed. The boy did an excited little dance, which I thought was adorable. "Alright, then! I'll keep training hard, and one day I'll come back and beat you!"

I giggled. "I'll be looking forward to it!"

The boy gave a little bow. "Thank you for letting me battle you, miss Champion! Bye for now!" He turned around and ran excitedly down the stairs from where he came, waving back at me all the way.

I waved back and called after him, "Bye! And you can call me Tori, you know!"

After the doors closed behind him, I giggled to myself. Such a passionate and determined boy. He'll no doubt grow into a really strong trainer. Sometimes, I questioned my logic in encouraging challengers to grow stronger. It was as if I was asking them to beat me. Then I pushed the silly thought away. Doesn't matter if they beat me. Since I was the first-ever one to become Champion in Alola, I'll still be the main Champion even if someone beats me! That's how it was in other regions, anyway.

Speaking of other regions...I'd always wondered what it would be like to visit one.

A massive yawn escaped me as I started walking toward the exit. I'd been defeating challengers all day, for the past four days in fact, and it was really wearing me out. I knew I could halt the Championship challenges for however long I wanted, but I loved battling. Still, it was becoming ever more...routine.

After a quick goodnight to each member of the Elite Four, I exited the magnificent League cavern and stepped out into the cold, snowy summit of Mt. Lanakila. Surprisingly, the chilly air didn't really bother me, despite my usual outfit of green shorts and a blue tank top. When I walked into the Pokemon League, I would sometimes catch people looking at me in bewilderment, obviously wondering how the heck I didn't get cold.

It was a gift, I guess. Either that, or my Kanto heritage.

My strange immunity to the frosty atmosphere still didn't mean that I wanted to stay here for long. Immediately, I brought out my ride pager and called Charizard. The saddled dragon appeared only a minute later, swooping down and catching me as I hopped onto it.

"My house, please," I stated, smiling down at Charizard's face. The Pokemon returned the friendly gesture and began zooming toward Melemele Island.

The night breeze whipped through my hair as we flew, and I enjoyed it so much. Sometimes, I wished that I could fly, myself. It gave me a unique thrill that I didn't get from anything else. I always became so absorbed and lost in the joyful feeling of flight that I never sensed the time going by. As Charizard neared Melemele, I wondered where that time had disappeared to, for about the hundredth time.

Charizard landed, and I climbed off, scratching its chin in thanks. The Pokemon growled affectionately before taking off into the starry night sky once again. I turned around, facing the steps of my house, and admired the warm glowing windows as I walked inside.

As I closed the door behind me, Mom turned her head to face me from where she sat at the couch, watching TV while our Kanto Meowth slept at her feet. "Welcome home, Tori! Wow, you look tired."

I chuckled. "I am tired, Mom. Being at the Pokemon League all day is more exhausting than it should be."

"I'm still not used to hearing you say things like that," Mom told me. "What I mean is, I still can't believe that my daughter is the Champion of Alola."

Trudging over to the kitchen area to grab a glass of water, I found myself chuckling again. "Believe me, Mom; I can't believe it, either. Neither can Hau, really." But Gladion can, a small voice inside my head pointed out.

My mother stood up, switching off the rambling news channel she had been watching. Meowth sat up and stretched, then immediately headed for Mom's room, sleepily nudging its way past the door. "Well, you get some rest, honey," Mom ordered, slowly following in Meowth's pawsteps. "Sleep in as long as you need to tomorrow."

Setting my empty water glass down on the counter, I nodded. "Oh, I will. You can be sure of that." I heaved up my weary legs, coaxing them to take just a few more steps toward my room. "Night."

"Goodnight, Tori."

After I entered my cozy room, shutting the door behind me, I instantly went into bedtime mode. Delirious with fatigue, I deposited my bag on my desk chair, changed into my pajamas, and brushed my teeth, all in one blurred sequence. I quickly brought out each of my Pokemon that had been injured earlier today, and healed them all before finally collapsing onto my bed.

As I reached over to switch off the lamp next to my bed, my eyes caught sight of a picture frame. It was a Rotom Dex picture of me, Hau, and Lillie, when Hau and I had first started our Island Challenge. I was wearing my old outfit, including the red hat that I never really wore anymore, while Lillie was wearing her old sun hat. I smiled sadly at the memory.

It's been a long time since I last saw her. A year, I think. Last I had seen of her, she was headed for the Kanto region, intent on starting her own Pokemon journey as well as helping her formerly evil mother, Lusamine, heal. I wonder where she is now, and what she's doing? I knew that I would see her again someday. That didn't stop me from missing her...

At the same time, Lillie's own trip to another region had left me wondering what it would be like if I visited another region temporarily. Of course, I had already seen Kanto, my home, and now Alola, my new home. But, to my surprise, I was starting to grow serious about traveling to another region.

With one final glance at the picture frame, I switched off the light, plunging my room into darkness. It was then that I gave into my fatigue at last, falling asleep seconds after nestling into the pillow.