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Chapter Text

"Are we there yet?"

Steven was briefly tempted to ask Phoebe if her Drifblim wanted to practice its Hypnosis, but a single glance at Sidney's pale, sweaty face was enough to convert irritation to sympathy.

"About ten minutes," he said gently. He gave his friend a critical glance. "Are you sure you don't want me to call the steward?"

There was a snort from Sidney's other side. "And actually admit he needs help?"

Sidney scowled, but at that moment the plane banked gently to the left and his face turned an even more interesting shade of green. Phoebe shot Steven an exasperated look over their friend's head, and Steven shook his head. Sidney was very nearly as stubborn as he was, but he wasn't completely stupid. If he said he could manage, then Steven wasn't going to force him.

They were on holiday after all.

An excited gasp came from his other side. "Look at that."

Besides, it wasn't just Sidney he had to keep an eye on. Steven glanced past Wallace, ignoring the way the Water-specialist was practically vibrating with energy, and looked down at the rich blues and greens below them.

"Very nice."

Wallace tore his gaze from the oceans long enough to give Steven a scandalised look. "Nice? The unspoiled beauty of nature, the clarity of the water, the perfection of the waves, is nice?"

"I said very nice," Steven pointed out. He lived in Hoenn after all, he was hardly a stranger to the sea. Wallace, though, just shot him a disgusted look, and turned back to the window. Steven caught a mutter about rocks for brains and a diamond for a heart, and rolled his eyes. In hindsight, Alola might not have been the best idea.

The plane began to descend, and Steven allowed himself a slight smile. It was a little late for second guesses now.

To Steven's relief they landed without either Sidney losing his lunch, or Wallace exiting the plane prematurely, and it didn't take long for the four trainers to pass through passport control to the main airport terminal. Naturally, their luck could only last that long.

"Where's Wallace?"

Sidney, now recovered enough to have regained his natural colour, if not his smirk, shrugged. "Haven't seen him, Boss."

"Me neither," said Phoebe. She spun a Pokéballs expertly on her finger and caught it again. "Want me to send Mismagius for a look?"

"Not yet, thank you," said Steven quickly. The Ghost-type was very gentle, but also far more mischievous than he was comfortable with. Phoebe's grin told him that she was well aware of his thoughts, but she set the 'ball back on her belt and stood up on tiptoes to get a better look.

"Why is he even here?" Sidney asked. "We live in Hoenn, he can't need more Water Pokémon."

"Like you can't need more Dark-types?"

"Because he's wanted to visit for years and he was due some time off anyway," said Steven absently, as he scanned the crowd. Wallace rarely hard to miss, even when he wasn't trying to attract attention. It wasn't like him to disappear without warning either, which was a fairly good sign that he was planning something.

So Steven wasn't entirely surprised when an enormous straw hat was dropped unceremoniously onto his head.

"Thank you, Wallace."

Phoebe and Sidney both cracked up, and Steven tilted his new accessory up enough to see Wallace looking thoroughly pleased with himself. As Steven raised an eyebrow, his friend shot him a bright, innocent smile.

"Well, we both know how badly you burn, and I did promise your father that I would at least try to keep you out of trouble."

"It's a good look, Boss," Sidney managed between snickers. "You should totally keep it when we go home."

"I don't know if I'm keeping it when we get to the hotel," said Steven dryly, ignoring Phoebe's redoubled laughter. He took the hat off, refusing to acknowledge Wallace's pout, and winced at the bright pink and blue ribbons that decorated the top.

"They didn't have purple," Wallace explained cheerfully. "And I'm pretty sure you've got at least a couple of blue shirts with you."

Steven glanced at him, then at his two giggling colleagues, and then finally at the bright sun and sighed. "You could have got one that isn't going to fall apart in less than a day."

Phoebe and Sidney gaped at him, but Wallace just laughed. "I think you can afford a replacement."

Steven set the hat back on his head, ignored his still staring friends, and picked up his bag. "I will not be keeping the colour scheme."

"Maybe it'll grow on you," Wallace suggested, and Steven couldn't hold back his smile.

If nothing else, it was going to be an interesting holiday.

Chapter Text

Wallace loved Alola.

How could he not? Sun, sea, Water-types, sea, friendly people, sea… It was paradise. He'd managed to talk everyone into putting off any official business until after they'd spent a day at the beach, and after seeing how much Sidney and Phoebe had already relaxed he was very pleased that he had.

Of course, some people weren't getting into the spirit of things.

"How can you come to Alola and not want to go swimming?"

"Leaving aside the fact that I can't swim?" said Steven dryly.

Sidney goggled at him. "How did you grow up in Hoenn and not learn how to swim?"

"More to the point, how have you been friends with Wallace for so long and not learned how to swim?" Phoebe asked.

Wallace snorted. "Not for lack of trying. He can be rather stubborn."

"Pots and kettles," Steven murmured. He set his book down on his lap and looked up at his friends. "You don't have to go in the water to enjoy the beach, you know."

"It's still hot though," Sidney pointed out. "Last thing we need is you getting sunstroke."

"I'm in the shade. I'll be fine."

Wallace eyed him sceptically. Steven had swapped his usual casual outfit for light cotton trousers and a short-sleeved shirt in deference to the blazing sun, but he was still more covered up than anyone else on the beach, and was attracting some curious looks. Although that might just have been because he had let Cradily out to enjoy the sunshine. Apparently giant reanimated fossil-plant Pokémon weren't a typical sight on Melemele Island. Naturally, both Steven and his Pokémon were oblivious to the attention.

"You're supposed to be enjoying the sun," Phoebe tried.

Steven shot her a puzzled look. "I'm outside, aren't I?"

Sidney snorted, and Phoebe shook her head fondly. Steven gave her a small smile. "I appreciate your efforts, but I assure you, we are both quite happy where we are, doing what we are doing."

Wallace eyed him a moment to check he actually genuinely meant it, then let out an exaggerated huff and threw up his hands.

"Fine, but don't complain when you're the only one who doesn't come back with a tan."

Steven raised an eyebrow. "We all know that was never going to happen," he said dryly.

True, spending most of your free time underground didn't build up a good complexion for tanning, but that was beside the point. Wallace pouted, but Phoebe just smiled.

"Okay, but give us a shout if you get too bored."

Steven reached into his bag and pulled out another thick book about Alola's geological history. "I'm sure I'll be able to keep myself occupied."

Phoebe hesitated a moment, but Sidney just chuckled and walked down to the water to release Sharpedo. Wallace highly doubted they would see either of them for the rest of the day. Phoebe shook her head fondly and wandered over to where a casual, albeit enthusiastic game of beach volleyball was going on, and Wallace shot a final glance back at Steven.

"Not even just a tiny paddle?"

Steven rolled his eyes without even looking up from his book. "Go and have fun, Wallace." He settled back rather pointedly, but Wallace could see the faintest trace of a smile, and had to laugh.

"All right, all right. Keep an eye on him, Cradily."

He heard a disgruntled mutter under Cradily's chirp of acknowledgement, and Wallace headed down to the water with a spring in his step.

The next hour passed just as blissfully as Wallace had expected. He had released some of his Pokémon, and his friends were equally delighted by the chance to explore their new environment. Wallace was pleased to find that the locals and tourists were unperturbed by his admittedly enthusiastic Pokémon, and it reinforced the already very positive impression he had of the region. Humans and Pokémon seemed to live in perfect harmony here, and it was refreshing to see.

Wallace could quite happily have stayed in the water all day, but he didn't trust Steven not to get distracted by something shiny and wander off, and while his friend was more than capable of looking after himself, he was also very capable of getting into trouble. He waded back onto the beach, and was halfway back to where he'd left Steven when he spotted something that made him pause.

Wallace had seen a lot of Water Pokémon, but he'd never seen anything like this. The creature was oval-shaped, and about a foot long. The pink spikes on its back were a sharp contrast to its black body, and Wallace couldn't help crouching for a better look. The Pokémon completely ignored him, seemingly content to just lie there, and Wallace had to grin. This was exactly why visiting new regions was so much fun.

"It's a Pyukumuku."

Wallace tore his gaze from the Pokémon to find a young boy standing in front of him. He couldn't have been more than ten, and his teeth flashed in a bright grin as he met Wallace's gaze.

"They're really cool Pokémon that are only found in Alola," the boy continued. "Professor Kukui says they're," his face screwed up in concentration, "specially adapted for this habitat. And they attack by spitting out their organs!"

Wallace blinked. That was a new one on him. "I see. I've certainly never seen anything like them."

The boy's grin widened, then he crouched and carefully picked up the Pyukumuku. "We're supposed to chuck them back in the sea if we find them on the beach," he explained. "They're too lazy to do it themselves, so they starve otherwise."

Wallace nodded as he watched the little Pokémon vanish into the water with a splash. "That's very good of you." He held out a hand. "My name is Wallace, by the way."

The boy blushed slightly as he shook it. "I'm Hau. Nice to meet you." He cocked his head to one side. "So what sort of Pokémon do they have where you come from?"

"Well, I'm from Hoenn," Wallace told him, "so we've got a lot of Water Pokémon." He was about to elaborate, when Hau's jaw dropped. Gasps and exclamations sound around them, and Wallace knew what he was about to see before he even looked round.

Wallace could understand the awe. Unlike Cradily, Milotic both acknowledged and revelled in attention, and she was going to make the most of having a whole beach full of strangers to enchant. The rainbow scales on her tail shimmered in the sunlight as she swam lazily back and forth, and every now and then she would let out a low, melodic trill that sent shivers down the spine. Wallace could see how much she was enjoying herself, and it made an already glorious day all the better.

"Woah," Hau breathed.

"Gorgeous, isn't she?" said Wallace proudly. "I take full credit and blame for her tendency to show off."

Hau tore his gaze away from the spectacle to stare at him. "She's yours?"

"She's my oldest and dearest friend," Wallace corrected gently. Steven was different, and your first Pokémon was always special. Hau nodded in understanding, his attention back on Milotic.

"I guess Pokémon are amazing wherever they come from."

Wallace smiled at him. "I couldn't agree more."

They stood watching the display, then the silence was broken by the rumbling of Hau's stomach. The boy coughed, and gave a sheepish grin. "Sorry. I'm meant to be meeting Gramps. We're going to get malasadas!"

Wallace chuckled. "I won't keep you, then. Thank you for telling me about Pyukumuku."

"No problem. Thanks for letting me see Milotic!"

"It was our pleasure," Wallace chuckled. "We'll almost certainly be back some time this week.

"I'll keep an eye out," Hau promised.

He waved and dashed off along the beach. Wallace watched him go with a smile, before shaking himself and heading back to where Steven was sitting. His friend was still engrossed in his book, and Wallace felt his grin turn evil.

Really, what was he supposed to do in this situation?

Wallace crept forward, silent on the warm sand. Cradily glanced over, but Wallace placed a finger to his lips and he could have sworn she smirked before returning to basking in the bright sunshine. Wallace crossed the last few metres, then caught his friend up in his most exuberant, soaking wet hug.

"Did you miss me?"

"Wallace!"

Wallace really loved Alola.

Chapter Text

Sidney couldn't help but whistle as he made his way along the Hau'oli seafront. He'd spent a very pleasant evening exploring the bars with the others, but unlike them he'd had no desire to return to their hotel. It was a perfect night, warm but not stifling, with a light salty breeze coming off the sea. The beach was filled with people, tourists and locals of all ages, and Sidney basked in the relaxed atmosphere.

Absol let out a low hum of agreement, and Sidney scratched her head fondly.

“Yeah, I like it here too.”

Alola was awesome. He’d never admit it, but he was glad Phoebe had talked him into coming. It was definitely more fun than going to Sinnoh like Glacia would have been, let alone staying in Hoenn with Drake.

Or he could have gone off on his own, but hey. Alola was awesome.

Sidney was just debating whether or not to start heading back to the hotel when Absol suddenly stiffened. Sidney paused and looked down at her.

"What's up?" he said quietly. He'd learned to pay attention when she acted like this. Absol had a natural sense for disasters, and his partner was one of the best.

Absol remained still for a moment, then let out a low growl and dashed off. Sidney swore and took off after her, easily weaving in and out of the light crowds as he pushed himself to keep her in sight. His PokéNav bumped against his leg, but he left it where it was. He could always call Steven for backup later, but he was a member of the Elite Four. He could handle himself. Absol darted down an alleyway, Sidney close on her heels, and then stopped short.

Sidney took in the situation at a glance. Three teenagers, all wearing baggy clothes emblazoned with a skull, and bandanas over their faces, surrounded a small red and black Litten. The Fire-type was in bad shape, and Sidney didn't have to look any further than the grunts and their Pokémon before fury overwhelmed him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Absol!"

Absol snarled and launched herself forward, and the gangsters scattered with satisfying yelps. Sidney planted himself firmly between them and the injured Litten, and folded his arms. "You don't hurt Pokémon," he growled. "What is wrong with you?"

Two of the grunts actually looked uncomfortable, but the third puffed out his chest. "Hey, we're Team Skull! We do what we want, yeah!"

"Never heard of you," said Sidney flatly. He heard a soft whimper from the Litten, and his anger spiked again. "Now scram, before I make you."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

One of the other grunts scrunched up his face. "Hey wait a sec, I've seen him on TV. He's one of the Sinnoh Elite Four!"

"Hoenn, actually," Sidney snapped. Honestly, that was just embarrassing. "Again, get out before I lose my temper."

Sure, it was a bit late for that, but hey. At least he was trying not to jump straight into pounding them. Steven would be proud.

The loudmouth was still glaring at him. "You don't tell us what to do, and we're not going anywhere without that Litten."

"Yeah," one of the others shouted. "We found it, and we fought it, so it's ours."

Litten hissed, and Sidney's hands clenched into fists. "Not three on one," he snarled. "And not when you've beaten it so hard it can barely move."

He didn't try to keep his fury from his voice, and a wary look passed between the quieter grunts, but the one who fancied himself leader was still glaring and Sidney knew exactly how it was going to go down. His lips stretched into a savage smile, and Absol tensed, her body humming with anticipation.

He'd show them what happened to anyone who hurt Pokémon.

Sure enough... "We're not backing down!" the grunt yelled, and two Makuhita joined the Machop and the other Pokémon. "You can't take us all on!"

Absol's tail flicked angrily, but Sidney frowned. Absol was more than strong enough to win the fight, even outnumbered six to one, but she didn’t just have to win. The Litten was shaking with pain and exhaustion. If it got caught up in the battle it wouldn’t stand a chance. The thought made Sidney grit his teeth, and he grabbed another Pokéball.

“Give us a hand, Mightyena,” he growled.

The sooner they finished this the better. Mightyena landed next to Absol, teeth bared in a vicious snarl, and Sidney was vindictively pleased to see the grunts exchange wary looks. Wrenching his anger under control with an effort, he folded his arms and gave them his best smirk.

“Still wanna try to take on one of the Elite Four?”

He realised a split-second too late that taunts probably weren’t the best way to go. That thought was confirmed when the biggest of them shot him a deadly glare. “You’re just like all the Kahunas,” he spat. “Think you’re all so special.”

Sidney had no idea what a kahuna was, but the gangster didn’t give him a chance to interrupt. “Well we’re sick of it! There’s three of us, and we’ve got four Fighting-types and you’re going down!”

The other grunts shouted their agreement, but Sidney just rolled his eyes. Honestly. Did people think he didn’t know his own specialty? "Show 'em what we think of type advantage, guys."

Mightyena crouched, a snarl rumbling through his body in agreement. Absol just flicked her tail at Sidney, but he recognised the confirmation for what it was. He turned back to the grunts, and let his own teeth show in a sharp grin. “Good luck.”

The grunts frowned, but then Absol and Mightyena were upon them.

The ensuing fight was just a little bit one-sided.

"Y'know, it helps if the super powerful Fighting-type moves actually hit," Sidney drawled, as Absol moved an inch to the side and the Force Palm that had been aimed at her instead sent some weird Alolan ‘mon with a blond stripe flying backwards. On the other side of the field, Mightyena was trading blows with two of the Machop and the other Makuhita, and Sidney knew both his Pokémon well enough to know that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

At least, they would be in any other circumstances.

Speaking of which… Sidney took advantage of the chaos to finally turn to the little Litten. The feline hissed at him, but fell back after only a moment with a soft yelp of pain. Sidney swallowed and knelt next to it.

“Hey,” he said gently. Litten’s ears lay flat, and he held up his hands. “I’m not gonna hurt you, okay? I just want to make sure you’re all right.”

Litten’s eyes narrowed, and Sidney attempted a smile. “I’m not going to catch you,” he promised. “And I’m definitely not going to let those guys anywhere near you.” Very slowly he held out a hand. “Will you let me take you to a Pokémon centre?”

Fierce yellow eyes darted to where Absol and Mightyena were taking out the trash, before locking on Sidney’s with burning intensity. Sidney held its gaze, and forced his muscles to relax. The little Fire-type needed treatment, and to do that Sidney needed to earn its trust. It was the sort of thing Steven and Phoebe were good at, not him, but a Pokémon was hurt and so Sidney wouldn’t, couldn’t, do anything else.

Slowly, very slowly, the Litten padded forward to brush Sidney’s fingertips. Sidney let out an explosive sigh, and very carefully lifted it into his arms. “You rest now,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”

He couldn’t be sure, but he thought he felt the tiny body purr. Sidney looked back in time to see the defeated grunts take off, and met his triumphant Pokémon’s eyes, and nodded.

That was more like it.

Chapter Text

Phoebe whispered a final prayer and opened her eyes. It was early enough that Hau'oli Cemetery was deserted, and she preferred not to attract attention when paying her respects. There was a time and a place for being recognised, and this wasn't it.

Sableye shifted slightly, and Phoebe gave her a small smile.

"Yes, I'm finished, and we've got plenty of time before we meet Steven at the caves."

Sableye gave a soft, satisfied croon, and scrambled up onto Phoebe's shoulder. Phoebe chuckled and stood up, one hand raised to steady her partner. She turned to leave the cemetery, only to stop short.

Standing in the middle of the path was what had to be the largest Tauros she had ever seen. Phoebe tensed automatically, but although the Tauros kept its gaze on her, it made no threatening moves. Phoebe took a step closer, and when it only flicked its tail lazily, concluded that it was used to people. Smiling, she reached up to stroke its neck.

"Hello, there," she said softly. "Did you come to pay your respects too?"

Tauros snorted softly, and Phoebe reached into a pocket for some Oran berries. The large Pokémon accepted the offering gratefully, snorting up the berries in one mouthful and butting Phoebe gently with its head. Sableye chittered plaintively, and Phoebe gave her a soothing scratch before returning her attention to the Tauros.

"So, where did you come from?" she mused.

Tauros let out a deep rumble, but before Phoebe could try to decipher anything a booming voice rang out.

"Looks like you've made a friend."

Phoebe glanced round and saw an old man watching them. He looked to be around her grandmother's age, but was in far better shape. There were deep laughter lines creasing his face, and Phoebe liked him immediately. She took away from the Tauros and made a polite bow.

"They're very rare back home," she apologised. "I couldn't resist."

The old man chuckled, and patted the Tauros' flank. "Well, this fellow seems happy to meet you too. I doubt he's ever met a member of the Hoenn Elite Four before."

Phoebe blinked, and his eyes twinkled as he moved closer. "We might not have a League of our own, but we do try to keep an eye on our neighbours. Even the more distant ones." He held out a hand. "I am Hala."

Phoebe blinked as she recognised the name, and smiled as she shook his hand. "It is an honour to meet you, Kahuna."

"I see I'm not the only one to pay attention." His dark brown eyes twinkled as they looked her over. "You're a long way from Hoenn."

"A few of us were due a break," Phoebe told him. "And we'd heard a lot of good things about Alola."

"Hoho, I'm glad to hear it." He gave her and Sableye a considering look. "Ghost-types, I believe?" At her nod, he smiled. "We've got a few interesting ones here in Alola."

"That's one reason I wanted to come," Phoebe admitted. "I'm looking for a Mimikyu."

Hala chuckled. "They certainly are fascinating Pokémon." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Talk to Acerola on Ula'ula Island. She's always happy to help a fellow Ghost enthusiast." He laughed again. "Actually, she's happy to help out just about anyone."

Phoebe smiled. "I'll be sure to visit. Thank you, sir."

Hala waved a hand. "Call me old Hala, everyone does." He shot her a knowing look. "Titles take up too much time."

"I couldn't agree more," said Phoebe fervently. They did deserve the respect they had earned, but they were on holiday. She and Sidney had been as relieved as Steven to leave the titles behind for a few weeks. Hala smiled, and walked up beside her to look out over the cemetery.

"No need for it here." He glanced at her. "Even if this is hardly typical tourist spot."

Phoebe caught the unspoken question and shrugged. "My grandmother lives on Mount Pyre. She raised me to respect the dead." Sableye crooned, and Phoebe rested a hand on her head. "I still have much to learn."

Hala's eyes softened, and he gave her a gentle smile but said nothing.

They stood in silence, watching the sun rise over Melemele Island, but after a minute Tauros raised its head and snorted. Phoebe turned, and felt Hala tense next to her, but a single glance down the path relieved her fears.

"It's all right. He's with me."

Sidney joined them a moment later, and held up a hand in a lazy salute. "Knew you'd be up here," he greeted her. He shoved a paper bag into her hands. "Knew you wouldn't have had breakfast either."

Phoebe's stomach rumbled on cue, and she smiled at him. "Thank you." She turned to Hala. "Sidney, this is Kahuna Hala."

Sidney straightened from his slouch and inclined his head politely. "Pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine." He glanced down, and his eyes twinkled. "I see you've been making friends."

Phoebe followed his gaze, and blinked at the sight of a small red and black Pokémon watching her curiously from behind Sidney's ankles. "He stayed?"

"Oh, yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "Nurse Joy healed him up. I told him he could do whatever, but he decided to stick around."

His shrug was deliberately casual, but Phoebe saw the delight in his eyes and had to smile. "He's got good taste." Sidney swelled up proudly, and she added, "For a future Dark-type."

Sidney deflated with a scowl, but Hala let out another booming laugh and clapped him on the shoulder hard enough to send him staggering. "You'll have to meet Nanu when you visit Ula'ula," he said. "He trains Dark-types also." His eyes twinkled. "I suspect you will get along."

Sidney's frown faded at that, and disappeared completely when Litten rubbed against his ankle with a purr. "Sweet. Been a while since I had some sane conversation."

"Wonder why that it is?" said Phoebe as sweetly as she could.

Sidney pulled a face at her, but Hala forestalled any bickering by crouching to pet Litten. The Fire-type let out a contented purr, and Hala smiled. "You must have impressed him. They are notoriously picky about who they choose to travel with."

Sidney ducked his head, but not before Phoebe saw his cheeks blaze red. She gave him a gentle nudge. "Told you he had good taste."

Litten purred agreement, and Sidney smiled, a proper smile, not his usual smirk. "Thanks." His smile faded slightly. "Still wish I'd been able to catch those jerks. No-one should treat Pokémon like that."

Hala's eyes narrowed. "Team Skull, I presume?" Both Elite Four trainers nodded, and his scowl deepened. "They're getting bolder. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you," said Phoebe gratefully. The last thing they wanted was to have to deal with those idiots.

Hala nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "If you could keep an eye out, I would appreciate it," he said. "A lot of young trainers begin their trials on this island, and Team Skull know it."

"We're happy to help," said Phoebe immediately. "We're meeting Steven and Wallace soon, and they take quite a dim view on this sort of thing too."

Sidney snorted. "Understatement of the century."

Phoebe let her smile turn sharp, and Sidney met her gaze in perfect understanding. At his feet, Litten flicked his tail to the side, his green eyes very bright. Hala just looked at them, and nodded.

They wouldn't go too hard on any troublemakers though. After all, they were on holiday.

Chapter Text

Steven eased himself down onto a rock and let out a long breath. As excited as he was to be exploring Alola, and Ten Carat Hill in particular, he couldn't ignore the effects his recent illness had had on his body. He was over the virus now, but being effectively bedbound for a while had taken its toll.

A Pokéball twitched on his belt, and Steven smiled at the echoing concern in the back of his mind.

"It's nothing," he said softly. "Just a little tired, that's all."

The 'ball remained still, but Steven knew better than to think Metagross was content with that. Sure enough, a moment later another 'ball opened and Steven smiled as Aron appeared next to his feet.

"Good morning," he murmured, bending down to rub the steel head. Aron crooned at the attention, but then he caught the scent of the new rocks and ores surrounding them and was off.

Steven watched his youngest friend scurry from one outcropping to the next, and had to chuckle. It had been too long since they had last had a chance to relax. It was early enough that the sun wasn't too hot, but it made a pleasant change from the chill of the caves.

He was just debating whether the clearing was large enough to send out more of his Pokémon when the quiet of the morning was interrupted by a sudden howl.

Steven was on his feet immediately, his weariness forgotten. This was not the sort of environment where one ignored the sounds of an upset Pokémon. Even a weak attack could all too easily cause a rockslide, or worse. The howling was followed by a series of roars, and Steven grabbed a Pokéball from his belt.

"Skarmory, find out what's going on!"

Skarmory took to the air with a shriek of his own, and shot off in a blur of silver. Steven glanced at Aron. "We'll explore later, all right?"

Aron let himself be returned without any fuss, and Steven took off in the direction of the commotion. The ground shook under his feet, but years of Aggron's Earthquakes served him in good stead and he kept his balance, instead increasing his pace. Skarmory knew better than to dive straight into any trouble, but Steven still wanted to be on hand in case there really was something wrong.

A minute later, Steven was breathing heavily, and deeply regretting taking Wallace's advice to wear sandals instead of his usual boots. His feet and ribs were beginning to burn and the dust in the air was making his eyes sting, but he could hear the clash of bodies and attacks and forced himself on. He swerved around a tree, and skidded to a halt as he found himself at the top of a sharp incline. Heart pounding from the exertion and his near fall, he stared down at the events below.

The slopes around him formed a rough bowl-shaped arena, and standing at the edge Steven had a perfect view of the chaos below. It took him a moment to sort out what was happening, and another moment to recognise the Pokémon involved.

"So that's what Alolan Graveler and Golem look like."

The variation in Alola really was fascinating, but another howl effectively diverted Steven's attention from the novelty. The dozen or so Rock/Electric types were roughly gathered at one end of the clearing, and at the other were two lupine Pokémon that were clearly different Forms of the same species. Though heavily outnumbered they were clearly preparing to attack. Steven swallowed, grateful once again that he had bothered to read up on Alolan Pokémon, and looked up just as Skarmory swooped down to hover next to him.

"Where are they?"

Skarmory jabbed his beak past the two Lycanroc, and Steven gritted his teeth at the sight of three tiny bodies attempting to hide in the bushes. Sometimes he hated being proved right. There was only one reason why two vastly outnumbered Pokémon would make a stand instead of running, and it made the whole situation exponentially more serious.

Steven didn't have time to think about it though. Several of the Golem and Graveler were already preparing fresh attacks, and both Lycanroc had already taken heavy damage. Steven grabbed a Pokéball from his belt and scrambled onto Skarmory's back.

"Drop me at the bottom, then protect the Rockruff!"

Skarmory clacked his beak in clear concern but didn't argue. He dived for the impromptu battlefield, and Steven jumped off and flung the Pokéball at the same time.

"Stop this!"

None of the Pokémon paid the slightest bit of attention. They continued to ready their attacks, and only the Midday Lycanroc spared him even a look.

Then half a ton of Steel-typed Pokémon landed in between them with a crash that made one of the Graveler fall over, and all movement died rather quickly.

Metagross gave a threatening growl and turned to the Graveler and Golem, and Steven took the opportunity to approach the two Lycanroc. Both bared their teeth and snarled, but Steven stopped well out of reach and raised his hands.

"It's all right," he said gently. "We're friends. We just heard the battle and wanted to help."

The Midnight Lycanroc's snarl deepened and she took a step forward, but her mate glanced back at their den. Steven knew better than to take his eyes from the female, and he didn't need to look to know that Skarmory had followed his orders and the young ones were safe.

Sure enough a little of the tension left the male's body, and the glare he turned upon Steven wasn't quite as antagonistic as it had been. Steven was careful to keep his body language open and non-threatening, but just as he was opening his mouth there was a sudden flicker of warning, and he glanced back at his Starter.

"Metagross?"

Metagross didn't move, but Steven saw the problem instantly. The Graveler and Golem seemed to have recovered from their surprise, and none of them looked particularly happy with the situation. Growls from the Lycanroc confirmed that they hadn't missed the change, and Steven bit his lip. As much as he wanted to keep the Rockruff and their parents safe, he didn't want to hurt the Electric types either.

But it looked like the Lycanroc had been there for some time and the pups were in danger, and that made his decision. Still keeping his eyes on their opponents, Steven spoke in a low voice,

"Metagross. Bullet Punch."

He felt the warm rush of agreement, then Metagross launched itself forward far faster than any of its targets would have expected.

The next few seconds were very, very loud.

But it was over quickly. The last Golem fled, and Steven hurried to his partner's side.

"Are you all right?"

Metagross gave a reassuring rumble that held more than a little satisfaction, but under the circumstances Steven could hardly fault them for that. He checked his friend over and let out a relieved sigh.

"That was amazing," he said quietly. "Thank you."

Metagross leaned into his touch for a moment, but then their red eyes flickered in the direction of the Lycanroc and Steven nodded.

"Good point."

He straightened up, and turned to find the Midnight Lycanroc staring at the two of them. The Midday one had gone to their pups, and Steven was relieved to see that Skarmory had retreated to a nearby tree rather than interrupt the reunion. The Rockruff were already spilling out of the bushes, any fear apparently forgotten, and even as Steven watched the Lycanroc raised his head and barked.

At that signal the Midnight Lycanroc finally lifted her gaze from Metagross and turned to her children, and Steven let himself relax against Metagross' side.

"Well done."

Metagross hummed in acknowledgement, and Steven felt their contentment echo in his mind. The young Rockruff were safe, and the parents relatively unharmed, and as the two of them watched the family of Rock-types disappear into the rocks Steven could only smile.

Skarmory let out a soft caw, and Steven nodded.

"Yes, we should leave them in peace," he murmured. His Flying-type flew down to land next to him, and Steven fed him a berry before returning him to his Pokéball. He took a final look at the Lycanroc and Rockruff, but as he turned back to Metagross something made him pause.

It wasn't anything he saw or heard. It was a feeling in the air; the sting of ozone before a Thunderbolt, and the moment when nature held its breath before a summer storm. It was the almost tangible feeling of being watched by something with incredible power. It left Steven frozen where he stood, every sense straining for something that was just out of reach...

"There he is. Hey, Boss!"

Steven spun round so fast he almost fell over. The near suffocating aura vanished, and Steven would have thought he had imagined it but for the fierce unease he could feel emanating from Metagross. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of yellow and orange, but when he turned he met only concerned brown eyes.

"Steven? Are you all right?"

Steven blinked, and finally pulled himself together. "Yes, fine. I just thought...Never mind."

Phoebe did not look convinced. Neither did Sidney, but the elderly Alolan man they were with just gave him an appraising look.

"You'll see some strange things around these parts," he said. Then he grinned and held out his hand. "Kahuna Hala. Heard a lot about you, Champion Stone." He looked round at the battlefield and shook his head. "And I thought they were exaggerating."

Steven winced. Metagross hadn't done all the damage. Just a lot of it. "It's a pleasure Kahuna, and please call me Steven." He paused, but the memory of that unearthly presence as too strong, and he couldn't help himself. "When you say strange things..."

Hala's dark eyes twinkled. "Local legends. Maybe you'll get a chance to learn more about them."

Steven frowned, but something in Hala's expression made him let the subject drop. If it was a local legend he would have plenty of opportunities to investigate for himself. A soft yowl provided a distraction, and Steven looked down and smiled.

"So he did decide to stay."

Litten spared him a single glance before disdaining him in favour of climbing Sidney's leg. The Dark-type specialist winced. "Yeah, he's gonna be sticking around for a bit." He gathered into the feline into his arms and flicked him lightly on the nose. "No getting holes in my clothes, okay?

Litten did not look convinced, and Phoebe looked like she was trying to hide her laughter. Steven shook his head. "I had similar problems with Skarmory when he first hatched." Razor sharp feathers did not mix well with even the thickest clothing.

"Just keep him away from Wallace's Contest outfits," Phoebe chimed in.

Steven imagined the resulting carnage and winced. "Yes, let's avoid that if we can."

Hala chuckled. "I've seen your friend on television. Most impressive."

"He's the best," said Steven with a smile. Though Lisia was improving rapidly. He had a feeling the Hoenn Top Coordinator title was going to be staying within the family. "He came to Alola with us."

"Oh, I know," said Hala. "My grandson bumped into him the other day." He paused. "I now know exactly how cool Hoenn-native Water Pokémon are. All of them. In detail."

Sidney snorted. "Now why doesn't that surprise me?"

Steven shook his head fondly. Wallace would never change. Hala just laughed.

"It's good for Hau to know more about other Pokémon," he said. "He'll be getting his own partner soon." His eyes twinkled. "Though if he asks for a Feebas I will have to talk to Lana, of Akala Island. I was always terrible at fishing."

Phoebe glanced at Steven. "Didn't Wallace say he wanted to go to Akala Island next?"

"Indeed he did," Steven confirmed. "We'll spend a few days there and then head to Ula'ula Island."

Hala nodded approvingly. "I'm glad to see you want to explore our islands fully. You will see things in Alola that you will never see anywhere else." He glanced at Steven. "But I would like to ask one favour."

"Name it," said Steven immediately.

Hala smiled at him. "It would be interesting to see how a Kahuna fares against a League Champion."

Steven brightened at the idea, and Metagross let out a deep rumble of agreement. Hala turned to the Steel-type and nodded. "It would certainly be an interesting battle." He glanced back at Steven. "Perhaps when you return from your tour?"

"I look forward to it," Steven replied. A glint at the Kahuna's wrist caught his eye, and he couldn't help himself. "And if I might ask a favour of my own?" Hala inclined his head, and Steven grinned. "Might we make it an all out battle?"

Hala looked at his Z-Ring, and then at Steven's Key Stone, and an answering grin lit his face. "I would expect nothing else."

"This is gonna be awesome," Sidney breathed.

Steven had to laugh.

"There you all are!"

For the second time that morning Steven nearly jumped out of his skin. This time he turned to find an irate Top Coordinator glaring at him.

"You all left without me!"

"You were asleep," Steven pointed out.

"You could have woken me."

"You threatened to have Milotic soak the next person to walk through the door."

Wallace folded his arms with a scowl, but the boy by his side just laughed. "She totally would have too, wouldn't she?"

Wallace's frown vanished in an instant, and he beamed at his new friend. "Of course. My darling always knows exactly what I need." He scowled up at the sky, and moved so that he was in the shadow of the rocks. “Besides, you should be appreciating it in this weather.”

Hala chuckled. "Thank you for showing him the way, Hau."

The boy's brilliant smile somehow got even wider, and Steven could see the family resemblance. "That's what we do in Alola, right, Tutu?"

Hala laid a fond hand on his shoulder. "It is indeed."

"And we appreciate it," said Phoebe with a smile.

Wallace wandered over and flung an arm around Steven's shoulders. Steven rolled his eyes and shoved him off, it was far too hot for that, but his friend just smirked. "I like Alola," he announced. "Wonderful people, fascinating Pokémon, and I'm assuming interesting rocks?"

Phoebe snorted. "Sableye was very happy in the passages coming here. What about you, Steven?"

Steven rubbed the back of his head. "Well, Aron was enjoying himself, but then I'm afraid we got a little distracted."

Metagross’ deep grumble vibrated through his body, and he patted his partner’s head. Sidney stared at them, then rubbed his ear. "Wait, say that again?"

Litten mewed a protest at the lack of attention and Sidney quickly turned back to scratches, but Phoebe too was eyeing Steven in open confusion. "You got distracted from rocks? New rocks?"

Wallace just folded his arms and glared at him. "You managed to get into trouble here?"

"It's not completely unheard of," Steven protested. "And it wasn't much trouble."

A chorus of mingled exclamations met his words. Hala and Hau didn't even bother to hide their amusement, and Steven leaned back against Metagross with a smile.

This really was turning out to be an excellent holiday

Chapter Text

Wallace had loved Melemele Island. He had been fascinated by the Pokémon, dazzled by the beautiful surroundings, and charmed by the friendliness of everyone they had encountered. Steven, Phoebe, and Sidney had enjoyed themselves as much as he had, and knowing that his friends were able to finally relax properly had only added to his own happiness.

Still, he had been excited to move on to Akala Island. Hau had been only too eager to tell him about the other islands, and his tales of the cascading waterfalls to the north of Akala had quite captured Wallace's imagination. He had no doubt that his Pokémon would enjoy themselves there, and he had been looking forward to the chance to meet new Water types and trainers.

Then he had met Lana.

"You caught what?"

Lana's clear blue eyes widened in complete innocence. "A Shiny Gyarados," she repeated. "It was so huge it nearly broke my rod, but I did it."

Under normal circumstances, Wallace might have believed her. Shiny Pokémon were rare, but certainly not unheard of. However...

"Was this before or after you fished up the giant Omastar?" Steven inquired politely.

He was the only one keeping a straight face. Phoebe had had to leave the room after a suspiciously timed coughing fit, and Sidney had hurried after her muttering something about needing fresh air. Lana beamed at Steven, but her friend just rolled her eyes.

"Don't mind her," Mallow said. "She just really loves her Water Pokémon. How's the food?"

Steven was quick to take the subject change, and he and Mallow were soon engaged in conversation, but Wallace wasn't quite ready to leave the subject of his beloved Water types.

"And you're the Trial Captain of Brooklet Hill?"

Lana nodded and gave him another bright smile. "Would you like to see it? I know it better than anyone."

That Wallace was slightly more willing to believe. He briefly weighed the benefits of her clearly considerable local knowledge against her...interesting stories, but there was never really a choice. Steven caught his eye and smiled.

"Remember that we're meeting at the Tide Song Hotel at six."

Wallace raised an eyebrow. "When have I ever forgotten such a thing?"

"When you got into a debate with that diver over the relative merits of Huntail and Gorebyss, when you and Luvdisc got distracted by the types of shells that best matched your eyes, when-"

"You of all people have no right to complain about me getting distracted!"

Steven was getting a lot of practice at keeping a straight face today. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

Mallow laughed, and Steven's eyes twinkled. "Go on. I'll see you later."

Wallace took an inordinate amount of pleasure of pushing his friend's hat down over his eyes as he left.

Lana was surprisingly quiet on the short walk to Brooklet Hill. Wallace was too interested in the new island to pay much attention, but after the fourth time he caught her watching him out of the corner of his eye he had enough.

"Why yes, I would be delighted to help your hair achieve the same lustre as mine! Unless there was something else on your mind?"

Lana blinked twice, then gave him a rather sheepish smile. "I'm not being a very good host, am I? Sorry. I was just thinking.

"About Legendary Pokémon?" Wallace asked dryly.

To his surprise, Lana coughed and looked away, but not before Wallace caught the flush spreading across her cheeks. Wallace came to a halt and folded his arms.

"Lana?"

Lana hesitated, but then set her jaw and looked up at him. "You are from Sootopolis?"

"I am," said Wallace slowly. "What of it?"

Lana shifted slightly, but didn't reply. Wallace stared at her, then everything clicked into place and he smiled. "The Cave of Origin truly is an incredible place."

Lana's eyes widened. "Then…the legends are true? You've seen…" Her voice trailed off, but there was no hiding the longing in her eyes.

Wallace understood, but he said nothing. Memories of that day filled his mind, the day he had been confirmed as the Guardian of the Legends of Sootopolis. It was an honour bestowed only once a generation, and only on those who had the strength of will to guard their city's secrets with their life. For a single unforgettable moment he had stood before the Leviathan of the Sea in all its power and sworn to serve.

It had been like a speck of dust facing a tsunami.

"Wallace?"

Wallace tore himself from the memory and turned to find Lana watching him hopefully. Wallace let out a deep breath, and tilted his head back to soak in the afternoon sun.

"Words cannot describe it," he said simply. He wouldn't know where to begin. Lana's face fell, and he offered her a slight smile. "But perhaps you might experience it for yourself one day."

Lana smiled back, a very different smile to her earlier innocent grins. "I would like that very much," she said softly.

Then her blue eyes gleamed with mischief. "Did you know that the Guardian of Poni Island is a Water type?"

Wallace's eyebrows shot up, but before he could decide how to reply his attention was diverted by a shout of laughter from up ahead.

"Make it do it again!"

Wallace glanced at Lana in time to see her grin fade into a frown. They shared a look, then headed as one in the direction of the ruckus.

Turning the corner brought a sparkling blue lake into view, but for once Wallace spared no attention on the water. Instead he focused on the group of youths at the water's edge, and the small blue shape that could just be seen past them. Next to him, Lana drew in a sharp breath.

"That's a Brionne."

Wallace's memory supplied an image to match the name, and he shaded his eyes to get a better view. It was impossible to tell if the Pokémon's trainer was in the group, or if it even had a trainer, but something about the laughter ringing in the air rubbed him up the wrong way. Even as they watched, one of the trainers yelled something at the Brionne, which promptly blew a brilliant stream of multicoloured bubbles. Wallace's jaw dropped, but Lana frowned.

"What's going on down there?"

Wallace shook his head, focusing on the Brionne. The species might be new to him, but Wallace knew Water Pokémon, knew their innate grace and beauty, and something about the performance made his stomach churn uncomfortably.

"I think we need a closer look," he said.

The nearer they got, the more Wallace's unease grew. Up close, the laughter sounded suspiciously like mockery, with Brionne performing trick after trick to an audience that had no appreciation of the effort it was expending.

Then one of the trainers threw something that was definitely not a Pokéball at the poor Pokémon, and Wallace lost all sense of self-control.

"What do you think you're doing?"

The trainers spun round, and the laughter shifted to panicked shouting. Wallace took a step forward, Milotic's Pokéball in his hand, but Lana blocked his path with an outstretched arm.

"No. I will deal with them."

Wallace hesitated, keen to offer his help, but something in her voice stopped him. The quiet, mischievous girl he had met had been replaced with a cold-eyed Trial Captain who was more than capable of dealing with a few thugs, so Wallace forced his anger back and just nodded.

"I'll see to Brionne."

Lana gave a curt nod, and set off after the teenagers, a Pokéball clutched tightly in her hand. Feeling no doubt whatsoever about her ability to handle the situation, Wallace crouched down a safe distance from the still trembling Brionne and offered a gentle smile.

"I apologise for my species," he said softly. "We can be a rather despicable lot."

He was relieved when Brionne let out an amused huff, but before he could say anything else the Water type visibly pulled herself together. The shaking vanished, and she went up on her tail and offered him a beaming smile. She seemed none the worse for her ordeal. Even as he watched, she blew a stream of brilliantly coloured bubbles into the air, and looked at him as if for approval.

Wallace just sighed. His smile faded, but he held her gaze.

"You remind me of a friend of mine," he said gently. "He is also very good at smiling while breaking apart on the inside."

Brionne's eyes widened, the smile fading abruptly. She shot a quick glance at the water, and Wallace swallowed. The last thing he wanted was to scare her away. He waited, but although she continued to watch him warily, she made no move to leave. Wallace didn't waste the opportunity. He shuffled a little closer and sat down just out of reach, giving her a small smile at the same time.

"It's okay to be upset, you know. They had no right to treat you like that."

Brionne gave a slight shrug, but otherwise didn't respond. Wallace chewed on his lip for a moment, then dug into his bag and placed a Sitrus berry on the rocks between them. He leaned back against the rocks, trying to keep his body language as open and non-threatening as possible.

"Here. You must be hungry."

Brionne hesitated a long moment, but just when Wallace thought she was going to retreat, she darted forward and snatched the berry up. She promptly slipped back to her former position, one flipper wrapped protectively around her prize, all the while keeping her eyes on Wallace.

Wallace just smiled, and pointedly closed his eyes and rested his head back. The gentle sounds of the streams soothed his troubled heart, and he let himself concentrate on the warmth of the sun, and the soft sand under his fingers. The people of Alola could be cruel, just as they could in Hoenn and Sinnoh and everywhere else Wallace had ever been, but he breathed out his frustration and let it go. Lana would see that they paid.

Then something cool and damp touched his hand, and Wallace opened his eyes to find Brionne looking up at him. Her eyes were still wary, but she touched his arm very lightly with a flipper, and Wallace gave her a warm smile.

Together they sat and watched the water.

Chapter Text

“And then we just add the Revival Herb and leave it to simmer.”

Sidney took an experimental sniff and immediately had to bite back a sneeze. “Kinda bitter, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Mallow admitted cheerfully. “But Lurantis likes it that way.” 

Sidney nodded, then spotted Litten creeping along the counter and scooped his new partner into his arms. “You like bitter stuff too, huh?”

Litten twisted into him with a soft yowl. Sidney shifted him into the crook of his elbow and used his free hand to snag a leftover Rawst berry from the bench. The speed with which it vanished left no doubt as to Litten’s preferences, and Mallow giggled.

“I’ll set some of the stew aside for him when it’s done.”

Litten started to purr, and Sidney smiled. “‘Precciate it.”

Mallow beamed back, but whatever she was about to say was cut off by a sharp bark from Absol. She didn’t move from where she was basking in the afternoon sunshine, but Sidney immediately ran for the oven. Litten jumped down onto the floor and peered through the glass until Sidney gently nudged him to the side.

“You can taste it in a second, but I swear it’ll be nicer if it’s not burned.”

“I don’t know,” said Mallow, who had followed him over and now handed him the oven gloves. “Kiawe’s Salazzle refuses to touch anything that isn’t charcoaled.”

Sidney pulled a face. “Fire-types are weird. Not that that’s a bad thing,” he added hastily, with a glance at Litten. Said Fire-type scowled and stalked off to curl up next to Absol, who cracked open one eye long enough to nudge him into the sunlight and then went back to sleep again. Sidney chuckled to himself, and returned his attention to his cake. The top had turned a perfect golden brown.

“Huh,” said Mallow. “I wonder if Nanu’s Absol ever helps him like that. Though he doesn’t exactly cook, so maybe not.” She paused. “Come to think of it, I don’t think he even owns an oven.”

Sidney grinned at her. “Maybe not then. She doesn’t mind though. She started it actually. Honestly, you burn one pie one time and no one ever lets you forget it.”

Mallow laughed. “Tell me about it! At least Salazzle made sure mine didn’t go to waste.” Her smile widened as Sidney set the baking tray on a clear surface. “But she would hate this one. It looks fantastic.”

“Thanks,” said Sidney.  The familiar mix of spiced berries brought back memories of cooking with his grandmother, and he had to smile. “Old family recipe.”

“Those are the best,” Mallow agreed. “When my parents opened the restaurant, my mom’s old recipes were the first things on the menu.” She looked down, her smile fading slightly. “We don’t do those ones any more though.”

Sidney’s stomach clenched. “I know the feeling,” he muttered. There were some things his grandmother didn’t cook anymore either. He hesitated, then patted the younger trainer awkwardly on the shoulder. “Sucks, right?”

Mallow let out an odd half sob-half laugh. “It really sucks.” 

Her Tsareena looked up from where she was mixing the icing, and the sweet smell of an Aromatherapy drifted through the room. Sidney took a deep breath, and felt the tension drain from his muscles. Maybe he should see if Shiftry could learn that. Mallow crossed the room to give her partner a hug.

“Thanks,” she mumbled.

Tsareena let out a soft croon. A lump rose in Sidney’s throat, then a rough tongue licked at his hand and he glanced down to find Mightyena watching him in open concern. Sidney shook himself, and stroked his partner’s fur while he tried to work out what to say. He had never been good at this feelings business. Not for the first time he wished Steven was here. The Champion always seemed to know exactly what to do.

But Mallow was upset, and growing increasingly embarrassed about being upset judging by the flush spreading up her neck, and Sidney had to do something. Mightyena gave a soft huff and nudged him in Mallow’s direction, and Sidney took a deep breath.

“Grandma didn’t cook any of Ma’s favourites for a year after she died,” he said softly. “I didn’t understand, kept asking for ‘em. She finally gave in, and we baked that cake together.” The memory made him smile, even as his heart ached. “She cried, and I cried, but it helped.”

Mallow sniffed, and looked up from Tsareena. “Really?”

Sidney nodded. It hadn’t been easy, but it was the first time he had acknowledged his grief, and the fact that she was gone. “It hurt,” he admitted, “but in the good way, y’know?”

“Not really,” Mallow said. Tsareena patted her on the back, then made her way over to the sink to pour a glass of water. Sidney sighed, wished once more for Steven, and pushed a stool over to her.

“Do you ever cook with your dad?”

“All the time,” she said, and this time she managed a watery smile. Unfortunately it faded just as quickly. “Just not anything that Mom used to make.”

Sidney bit his lip. He could understand where her father was coming from, but it seemed like Mallow still had a lot bottled up. Mightyena padded over, a second stool dragging between his teeth, and scowled at Sidney until he finally sat next to Mallow.

“Do you ever want to?”

The question came out a bit more bluntly than he had intended. Mallow’s eyes widened, but after a moment her expression turned contemplative. “I don’t know. I guess I never really thought about it.” She looked at her water for a moment. “I do miss her saimin. The version Dad put on the menu is different.”

Sidney hesitated, but both Mightyena and Tsareena were watching him and he couldn’t help himself. “Wanna make it now?”

Mallow’s jaw dropped. Sidney fought down the urge to fidget, and did his best to keep his voice casual, “No pressure, obviously, but hey. It might help. I dunno.”

He bit his lip before he could start rambling. Tsareena was still watching him, and Sidney had seen how tough the elegant Grass-type was. The last thing he wanted was to get on her bad side. He probably shouldn’t have said anything, he had known Mallow for less than a day and he was being way out of line…

“Why?”

Sidney blinked. “Huh?”

Mallow swallowed, but didn’t look away. “You’re one of the Hoenn Elite Four. You’re one of the best trainers in the world. Don’t you have more important things do do than make soup?”

Sidney didn’t need any help on that one. “Nope. So, what goes in your mom’s version?”

Maybe he was making this up as he went along, but if the shy smile spreading across Mallow’s face was anything to go by then maybe he wasn’t doing such a bad job after all.

Chapter Text

With the very notable exception of Mount Lanakila, Alola couldn’t really be described as cold. Even in the depth of winter it was unusual for it to exceed mildly chilly. Phoebe knew tropical weather, she had been born and had grown up in Hoenn after all, and even she had to admit that Alola was warm. Not that she minded in the slightest, unlike some of her colleagues.

At the present moment, however, she was glad of her light jacket. The breeze at the top of Wela Volcano was decidedly fresh, and it didn’t help that the sun had set some time ago.

And of course there was the minor matter of the disturbed spirits to deal with.

A faint howl made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. The giant Marowak next to her shifted, but stilled when she laid a hand on his arm.

“It’s all right,” she murmured. “We have it under control.”

The hard part was done. None of the spirits surrounding them had been actively malicious, just lost, and easily soothed by the old ways learned at her Grandmother’s knee. Now all that remained was to ease them back to their rest.

Phoebe gestured, and Sableye and Banette slipped back into the shadows, their parts done for the night. It was Drifblim and Chandelure who floated forward, and Phoebe quietly passed Marowak a Chesto berry. The Totem Pokémon hesitated, but then the haunting refrain started to echo through the rocks and he grabbed the berry without further prompting. 

Blue witchfire flickered in the night sky in a captivating counterpart to the music, and Phoebe tore her eyes from the display before she ended up joining the ghosts. Not that either of her partners would allow such a thing, but Grandmother would never let her live it down.

Next to her Marowak let out a plaintive growl, and Phoebe patted him on the back. It wouldn’t be much longer.

Sure enough, the shrieks and howls slowly started to fade away. The icy chill was lost in the balmy Alolan night, and Phoebe turned back towards the summit and smiled.

“Thank you.”

Chandelure crooned, blue flames more subdued now, and Drifblim floated over for a hug before both returned to their Pokéballs for a well-deserved rest. Sableye climbed back onto Phoebe’s shoulder, wrapping her hair around her like a blanket as she chattered softly to herself, and Phoebe gave her a grateful stroke. 

“Stop that, Banette,” she added, without turning round. 

The Ghost sniggered as Marowak spun round, club raised, and retreated back into her Pokéball before the Totem could retaliate. Phoebe rolled her eyes. One would think several hours of settling restless spirits would be enough to keep them busy, but oh no. Sidney had clearly been a bad influence.

A footstep surrounded behind her, and Phoebe turned to see two tall figures approaching. She smiled and waved.

“All done!”

A relieved smile spread across Kahuna Olivia’s face. “I’m glad to hear it. Thank you.”

Phoebe waved off the thanks and turned to Kiawe, who had gone straight to Marowak’s side. “No problem. He’s going to need to rest for a while; this sort of thing isn’t easy for Ghosts, even when they’re not the focus of the session.”

She would really have preferred to work alone, but the Totem Pokémon had been adamant on helping defend its territory. At least she knew it would be in good hands, judging by the look on Kiawe’s face.

“I’ll make sure of it,” he promised. He rubbed his friend’s skull, expression softening. “Looks like our next performance will have to wait a while, my friend.”

Phoebe glanced at him. “Performance?”

Kiawe raised his chin proudly. “We have been studying the traditional fire dances of Alola,” he said. “One day we will share them with the whole world.” His cheeks darkened, and he ducked his head. “That’s a long way in the future though.”

Olivia slung an arm around his shoulders. “You’ll get there,” she said. “And sooner than you think, I bet.”

Phoebe nodded. “That sounds like a wonderful dream.” She watched the way Marowak lightly butted his head against Kiawe’s ribs, and smiled. “I don’t know much about your traditions, but I can see how much Marowak trusts you. I am sure you will succeed.”

“Thank you,” said Kiawe. Marowak leaned into his hand for another scratch, and Kiawe sighed. “I still have much to learn though.”

Marowak snorted, and Olivia chuckled. “Listen to your partner, kid. You’re doing just fine.”

Kiawe nodded, a slightly sheepish smile touching his lips, then he blinked as Marowak yawned. “You need rest.”

Sableye muttered an agreement from Phoebe’s shoulder, and she covered a yawn of her own with a hand. Olivia frowned at the them. 

“I think you all do. Come on, I’ll see you back to your hotel. Kiawe?”

“I’ll fly back in a bit,” said Kiawe. “I want to make sure Marowak is settled first.”

“He should just need some sleep,” said Phoebe, “and maybe take it easy for a day or two. I don’t know exactly how your Island Trial works, but it would be better if you could delay any challenges for a bit.”

“That won’t be a problem,” said Kiawe, with a nod. “Challengers understand that Totem Pokémon need rest like everyone else. If they really want a fight I can send them on to Mallow or Lana.” A quick grin touched his face. “Or battle them myself.”

Olivia grinned. “I think they’d rather face Marowak.”

Kiawe’s grin widened for a moment, then his expression turned serious and he turned to Phoebe. “I understand that you are on holiday, and you have already done more than I could have hoped for, but I would appreciate any advice.”

Phoebe blinked. Marowak looked equally bemused, turning a frown on his friend, but Kiawe held Phoebe’s gaze without flinching. “I have lived with and worked with Fire-types all my life, but that is only part of Marowak’s nature.” His mouth twisted into a self-deprecating smile. “As my inability to handle this matter myself demonstrates.”

“You’re not being fair to yourself,” said Phoebe, shaking her head. “You recognised the problem immediately, and asked for help. I’m sure that you had a plan in mind even before you knew I was on the island.”

“I was going to send a message to Acerola,” Kiawe confirmed. “But I should have been able to do something myself.”

Phoebe shook her head. “Ghosts are tricky,” she said. “If something like this happens, consulting an expert is always the best option.”

“And exactly the same could be said of any other type specialist,” said Olivia. “If a Fire-type is in trouble, I’m calling you before anyone else.”

Kiawe ducked his head, and Phoebe gave him a warm smile. “Marowak trusts you,” she said. “If you want some tips on working with Ghost-types then I am more than happy to help, but you don’t have anything to worry about. The two of you are doing just fine.”

Marowak nodded firmly, prodding Kiawe with his club, and the teen let out a long breath and looked up. “Thank you,” he said. He patted Marowak on the back, and looked back at Phoebe. “And thanks again for your help. If you need anything while you’re here, just let me know and I’ll be right there.”

Phoebe considered that, then nodded. “I can think of one thing, if you really want to pay me back.”

“Name it,” said Kiawe immediately.

Phoebe looked at the two of them, and her smile widened. “When Marowak is fully rested, show me one of these fire dances of yours. I’d love to see the two of you doing what you love.”

Kiawe blinked, then his face broke into a broad grin. “It would be our pleasure.”

Marowak barked his agreement, spinning his club in brilliant circles around him in his glee, and Phoebe let out a contented sigh. This really was the best holiday ever.