Work Text:
A flash illuminated the islands of Alola as a large figure pierced through the sky. The professor glanced up at the sight through his window and rolled his eyes.
“Great, this again,” Kukui sighed as he motioned toward his wife, who had been nonchalantly stretched out on the sofa. “Honey, could you sound the alarm?” Burnett, giving a similar reaction to her husband, got up to survey the scene. Sure enough, there were more aliens ripping the barrier between dimensions.
“Another wormhole? What a joke. We just did this last week.” Burnett walked downstairs to the lab while Kukui exited the house to warn the public.
Outside, townsfolk were scrambling every which way. Terrified screams came out of their mouths as they witnessed the horrors of the supernatural yet again. Even from Akala Island, Lana could hear the echoing sound of the alarm ringing from the professor’s laboratory. She had been having a relatively normal evening, sitting outside her house and reeling in a Wishiwashi as the scene began to unfold.
“Lana! Come inside!” Her mother beckoned from the front door, hands full with overly excitable Harper and Sarah. “We’re having another Ultra Beast invasion!”
But Lana didn’t flinch nor did she look away from the Wishiwashi she was now releasing into the ocean. “Mom, it’s fine! Remember when I traveled through time and space on the back of Solgaleo at the risk of my own life?
“Oh, yeah…” Her mother sighed. “Yeah, that did happen, didn’t it.”
“ULTRA BEASTS! ULTRA BEASTS!” The twins shrieked in delight, causing Mom to shoo them away.
“Well, uh, just be careful sweetie.” She said hesitantly before shutting the door once again.
Lana looked up at the sky, its color now a dark shade of purple. At that moment, she began to doubt herself. Who’s gonna stop the intruders this time? She questioned. If a bunch of kids were the strongest force Alola had against them, the region might be seriously screwed.
“Alola, Lana!” A jolly voice called from behind her. She could hear the clinking of beads and immediately clocked the situation she was about to be in.
Oh no.
Speaking of incompetent adults…
Lana so desperately wanted to run off and touch grass but she couldn’t be so rude as to dismiss the Island Kahuna, so she hesitantly turned around to meet her gaze.
“So… how’s helping the residents of the island going…?” She asked the woman sheepishly.
Olivia gave a wide smile as she stood there, passively, as the seam in the sky grew even larger.
“Great! I fed this Seel-thing a rock!”
Lana was then shocked to see Olivia cradling… something, but it wasn’t a Pokémon. It quite closely resembled something like a Seel or a Spheal, but it wasn’t either. If anything, Lana thought it was some strange hybrid of the two; White like a Seel and round like a Spheal.
“That doesn’t look like an Ultra Beast that I’ve seen before…” Lana remarked, getting a closer look at the thing in the Kahuna’s arms. “...But, it is pretty cute.”
“I know, right!” Olivia laughed.
“My Flipper!” A deep voice called suddenly, causing Olivia and Lana to turn around. A large man wearing a puffy yellow jacket came bolting in their direction. “You found my baby!”
Olivia handed the Flipper over to the man who let out a large sigh of relief.
“Oh, my dear baby! Still remember your flipper rolls?”
“Hai~!” The little thing squeaked.
“W-What’s going on…?” Lana asked. “Is that a Pokémon?”
“A Pokeyman? Dunno know what that is…” The man paused, his brow scrunching. “Does it have a sense of rhythm?”
“Uh… Well, I guess some Pokémon can have a sense of rhythm…” Lana considered. “But–”
“Wait!” Olivia exclaimed. “I know someone who knows more about rhythm who could help us out!”
After the Kahuna and squad climbed the entirety of Wela Volcano, they were able to confront the fire dancer himself. The man went on about not knowing what a “Pokeyman” was, as well as elaborating on his belief that rhythm was the most essential part of life itself.
“Hm… A sense of rhythm, you say?” Kiawe pondered, examining the man and his non-Pokémon. “So what would happen if, say, someone were to not have a sense of rhythm.”
“Easy!” The man’s face lit up. “They would die!”
“Straight to the point, huh.” Lana commented.
“Yeah…” Kiawe rubbed his temples in frustration. “I’m just gonna smile and nod and pretend I understand your deal.”
“By the by!” The man piped up again. “My name is Captain Tuck. Do you know how I can get home from here. I think I fell from up there.” Tuck pointed up to the still-growing crack in the sky.
“Oh, yeah, wait, I forgot we were supposed to be dealing with that!” Olivia laughed. “Okay, playtime’s over. Time to get serious. Why don’t we check in with Kukui and see where the most activity seems to be concerning the intruders. Maybe we can find some people that Tuck knows and help them get home.”
“Finally getting serious, are we?” Kiawe teased.
“Thank Arceus.” Lana sighed.
From there, Lana, Olivia, Kiawe, and Captain Tuck (with his Flipper) made their way down Wela Volcano, sights set on Melemele Island to gather more information about the invasion. But! Don’t think that you can predict what happens next, because the author doesn’t even know!
~AS THE JOURNEY CONTINUES~