A Warm Heart For Hoenn (Part 2)

Rescue Nebby, Steven!

We walked through the Alola region and went past many buildings and structures. I already saw them all but I still like the feel for it. I just hope Tapu Koko is not being a freaky stalker and watch us from over here.
He did the first time...and he told me about it once through telepathy. It scared me a little.
Whenever we pass by a new Pokémon, Iris catches it before Hau could say anything and it'll immediately be added to the box. So far, it was Haxorus, Hydreigon, Turtonator and Jangmo-o.
She wanted all the dragon types in the Alola. We turned the corner and walked back out on route one where Professor Kukui's house was very likely by the shore. Steven wasn't all that lucky in finding Steel Pokémon and he needed help with that.
"Where do they all disappear to?" He groaned.
"There are certain areas that I'll show you later," Hau said.
Apparently, anyone with green hair and Grass Pokémon immediately becomes Cilan's best friend because I saw these two way up front, talking about different regions. At some point, Cilan brought up Hoenn and I groaned internally.
Wally...man I wish he was here.
"Okay you guys, this is where the Professor lives so I hope you're ready for all knew Pokémon!" Hau began after a while.
"I don't need a starter," Iris told him.
"You do if you wanna stand a chance against Ultra Beasts," Hau reasoned.
Everyone looked at us weird then at me so me and Hau said at the same time: "Pokémon ridiculously powerful that when you see them remember to tuck, roll and hide in the clear."
We fist bumped and Iris nodded, like: yeah, what they said.
We walked down the steps and hopped into the sand going up to Kukui's house. It has been a while since I was there. This is where I met Cutifly and Rockruff. The moment Hau knocked, I was uneasily tensing.
The Professor loves his students and that included me. So I had to brace myself for the big deal. Not his hug but Emolga's shocker. I know that she'll give it to us bad.
Rockruff barked inside, scratching the door and Kukui opened it.
"Alright, alright I'll open the door!" He told Hau, "Why are you in such a ru—"
There was a pause that made me regret everything in my life. The Professor silently eyed Emolga, who was taking her time in storing that electricity of hers, then pulled me into a tight hug.
"You really did come back huh?" He said quietly.
"Since when do I break a promise?" I shrugged and put my arms around him, "I missed you."
"I did too."
Emolga got on Kukui and Iris grabbed Hau and Cilan backwards as the whole place blew with electricity.
"EMOLGAAAAAAAAAAA!" Kukui vibrated, "STOP!"
To wrap this electrifying reunion up: me and Kukui were covered in dust, Cilan was covering his face, Hau almost died of laughter and Steven didn't really know what to say.
"Well I didn't know you brought more faces here!" He sighed letting us come inside.
"Yeah this is Steven, this is Cilan, you know Iris and—" something picked me up and tossed me into a hug making me barely choke, "INCINEROAR!"
My Incineroar grinned and I hit him in the side so he'd get the message to put me down. By the way, note for the ones who have no idea how hugging an Incineroar feels like: it barely breaks your back.
I tried it once when he evolved but I immediately regretted that.
"Hi buddy, how is it with the rest?" I patted his head and Emolga glided onto his shoulder.
He smiled and sat in front of me.
"Don't worry your other ones are fine, I keep them upstairs so they won't make a mess with my work," he assured me.
"LYCANROC! KOMMO-O! GOLISOPOD! SANDSLASH!" I called up the stairs.
Without even a hesitant thought, I found my Lycanroc all over me, bouncing up and down the stairs.
Playing barrel-of-monkeys with your Pokémon (your seven ton Pokémon) is not something fun. Especially with Incineroar up front and Golisopod out back.
"Wow! What kind of Sandslash is that?" Cilan asked, "It's blue!"
"Yeah! This Sandslash is in Alola Form, making it not a Ground Type but an Ice and Steel type," Hau explained.
He gave Professor Kukui a look like did I say that right?
"Yeah you got it right," Kukui nodded, "Alola Forms change the typing and looks of the Pokémon depending on the surroundings like the Oricorio. On every different Island, it comes in a different form and a different type."
"I have to catch all the Oricorios!" Hau confirmed, "I wanted that since the very first time I saw one!"
"Well I want some too!" Iris high fived Hau and the two of them said in the same time: "Let's go catch some!"
"Not yet you two," Kukui chuckled, "Steven and Cilan still need their starters, right?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Hau sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
Kukui walked us outside and flung three Pokéballs in the air. Rowlet, Litten and Popplio—the three starters of the adventure—landed on the ground and stared up at us.
"Alright you guys, are you ready?" I asked them.
Steven looked at them all and didn't have a lot of positivity on it. Cilan was all over Rowlet though, and I immediately knew that things were going to go down the Grass type road again for him. Classic.
"I want this one!" He pointed at Rowlet.
"But don't you ever get bored of grass types?!" Iris groaned, "Change it up a little!"
"But I like grass types..." Cilan paused.
"What Iris is trying to say is that you should sometimes go down another road and see where it takes you," Kukui shrugged, "It never hurts, right?"
Wow Professor, that is very poetic.
"Okay then maybe I'll be a 'Cress' for a day and go for Popplio," Cilan shifted with his feet and Popplio gave him a smile.
I knew that he was going to fall for him immediately. So Cilan picked Popplio only because he didn't want Iris mad at him for always choosing Grass types. This reminds me of a movie...
"ROWLET!"
Steven made us all jump as he dove for the tiny Owl and hugged it. I did not know his mood was going to change that fast. Litten looked pretty depressed but Kukui picked it up and put it on his shoulder.
"I'm sure the next trainer coming here is going to love you," he assured it making Litten give a 'meow'.
"You guys go on ahead and I'll find some Steel Types," Steven said.
"I'll come with you," I told him, "You never know what can happen in under a minute."
"Are you guys sure? This is the way to the wild spots. If you are lucky you won't find any crazy Pokémon out there," Hau noted.
"Don't worry, Hau. I'll be there with him," I assured Hau, "Emolga, let's go."
"Emo!" Emolga agreed floating down on my shoulder.
Me and Steven silently walked around and looked for Pokémon. Our first was an Alolan Sandshrew which was part Steel as well as Ice. We caught one at Route 14 and kept moving. Then we caught Togedemaru at Blush Mountain (I know so Ironic). We were going to continue the hunt of the Steel types of it weren't for another encounter we had.
And it was Diglett.
Emolga flew down the hole Diglett made and blew the fuse, electrocuting it and scaring it away.
"Whoa quite a rush huh Steven?" I looked around and possibly the worst happened.
He was gone. Disappeared into nothing.

Steven's P.O.V:

I don't know why but I randomly wandered off, just letting my legs take me to where I did not want to go. Sooner or later I will get lost, my subconscious told me. And I did. Amy was gone and so was Emolga, leaving me at the mercy of the Alolan forest.
What was very uncomfortable was that the pairs of eyes watching me. They would go everywhere I go and it would get my nervousness started.
I wandered around, noticing the slight change of the surroundings and walking into a path. On either side of the path, there were statues and I followed them to some steps.
"Amy?" I called, noticing a girl on the road.
But it wasn't. The girl was blonde with a white hat and dress. Amy wore cargo shorts and so far never a dress.
The wind rushed through the trees and the girl clutched her hat walking on forwards with difficulty.
I was about to go help if a Pokémon didn't burst out of her bag and give a cheerful whoop. The girl yelped after it and held out her arms so it would come back.
Instead, the galactic like Pokémon flew to the middle of a bridge and took in a deep happy breath.
I get its feelings right now. If I was trapped in a bag all day, I would not hesitate to break out into the real world.
The Pokémon looked up and saw a flock of three Spearow coming its way. The girl gasped and helplessly called the Pokémon back. The galactic Pokémon covered its face as the Spearow started to mercilessly peck at him, trying to rip it apart.
I had to help in some way. Besides Rowlet needs training. I ran up the steps and got to the girl, holding her steady from the wind by her shoulders and she looked up at me.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Ah! Oh...h-help! Please! Save Nebby!" She pointed at the Pokémon and I nodded, "These Spearow are attacking him! But I'm not a trainer...I can't—"
"I'll help him and you stay here," I said, "Rowlet here we go!"
Rowlet, my sleepy bed head Owl, popped out of its ball and shook itself awake. One of the Spearow flapped its wings and came at me. Here we go.
"Rowlet use Leafage!" I yelled.
Rowlet gave an angry whistle and flapped its wings more intensely and released two waves of sharp leaves at the first. The Spearow used Lear and lowered my defense.
"Now use Tackle and finish it off!" I ordered.
Rowlet gave a powerful kick and knocked the Spearow away. The girl sighed with relief and gave me a thumbs up. I winked back and Rowlet flew down to my shoulder.
"The rest are still hurting him!" She screamed.
"I'm on it!" I yelled back.
I ran unsteadily over the bridge and fell to my knees in front of the Pokémon. Using yourself as a shield against wild Pokémon is not fun and very painful and scary but I had to do it if this Pokémon was ever going to survive.
I fell in my hands and used my body as a shield, Rowlet copying and spreading its wings as well. A Spearow scraped its talons against my back and I took in a sharp breath. Their scratches really hurt.
Then, the Pokémon, Nebby, started to glow, shining with light and ready to blow. I held on tight and before I knew it, the whole bridge exploded and I brought Rowlet and Nebby close to my chest, making sure that if I die, at least they will live.
"NO!" The girl screamed from above.
The Nebby thing started to cry hysterically and I looked down, seeing the sharp rocks at the bottom of the waterfall. Well my buddy Steven, looks like this is it.
I closed my eyes tight and braced for the impact. But it never came. Lightning flashed across the sky and something dove for me, the yellow Crest on its head flashing in the sun and it scooped me up.
It flew high and threw me onto the ground as gently as possible. Which I admit was not that gentle whatsoever. When I groaned and turned around, a tattooed face got near mine and I yelped, backing away.
"Wow what type of Pokémon are you?" I asked.
It gave a call similar to a bird's and blasted off in a flash of lightning.
This was going to be hard to explain to the rest.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You saved Nebby!" The girl cried, hugging her Pokémon, "Oh right...my name is Lillie, you?"
"Steven," I smiled, "Any chance you know where Ma—uh...?"
"Mahalo trail?" She asked.
"Yeah, you know where that is?" I asked.
"Of course! Come with me!"