Sweat beads down my face, dripping off of the tip of my nose. The jungle here is absolutely sweltering, the humidity feels like it's literally crushing me.
I'm looking for a very small Pokémon, one that can only be found in the Lush Jungle on this island. I had put a lot of distance between myself and the hut, realizing that I'd probably scared away most of the wild Pokémon in the area.
My feet hit a marshy area and I feel excitement racing through me. This would be a fantastic location to find the Pokémon I'm looking for. "I choose you!" A hot beam of light reveals Ninetails, she shakes herself and looks at me expectantly.
"Help me find this Pokémon," I place my finger, which is covered in mucus under her nose. Flames creep out of the sides of her mouth and she inhales. Eyes sharpening, tails standing straight up, she plunges into the brush.
I race after her, heart drumming against my chest. "When you find it, point!" I call out to her, as if on command she freezes. Lowering her head she lets a grumble build deep within her throat, more flames peek out from around sharp fangs.
"That's it!" I whisper, hands trembling I wipe them on my dress and edge forwards. "I don't want it to run, so I'm gonna have to stun it." I look over at Ninetails, who has her eyes on the Pokémon intently. "When I stun it I need you to do the same. It's bound to be low leveled." She nods in understanding.
I dash forwards, grab the Pokémon by it's horns and toss it into the air. "Goooo!" It lets out a surprised yelp.
Ninetails reacts quickly, leaping up and smacking Goomy with her paw.
"Pokèball go!" I launch a pokèball at the twirling Goomy and it immediately gets absorbed. Thunk! The ball hits the ground, shakes once… twice… a third time… maybe it wasn't as low leveled as I thought… ping!
"I did it! I caught it!" I shout, jumping into the air.
"Tails!" Ninetails beams proudly from beside me as I lean to pick up the pokéball, running my finger over it as it shrinks.
"The first Pokémon I've ever actually caught myself," awe bubbles within me, mixed with pride. "Ninetails thank you so much for your help, return." Joy tingles down my spine as I race towards the hut.
Back at the hut I sit down upon the wooden couch and pull out Goomy's pokéball, handling it momentarily before calling Goomy out.
Materializing in front of me was the first Pokémon that I ever caught. "Gooom?" Goomy looked around the hut in curiosity.
"It's nice to meet you," I crouch down, extending my hand towards Goomy. It approaches slowly and rubs it's sticky face over my hand. I hold back a shiver, it feels cold and slimy.
I pull out my Pokédex and do a quick scan. "Goomy, the Dragon-slug Pokémon; It uses its horns to check out it's surroundings. They're very sensitive, so if you grab them, it will feel a strong shock and be unable to move." Chirps Dexter in his classic, robotic voice. "Level 35. Gender, male. Ability Sap Sipper." Dexter finishes.
Pleased I put the Pokédex onto the table and admire my Goomy. Opalescent purples bubble together inside it's dripping body. For a slime ball he's fucking cute.
"I'll have to travel to another island for your final friend. I plan on having you help me catch it, then we can all get stronger together." I gesture towards Goomy, who looks up at me with eyes as black as night. Determination glints there and I know I've chosen the right Pokémon to be my fifth partner.
"Tomorrow we travel to Melemele Island. The ferry leaves at dawn so we better get some rest. You can sleep with your new friends tonight." I toss my remaining four pokéballs into the air, releasing my team.
"Goooooom!" A jubilant hum from his jiggly body and I drift into sleep
"Rrrrroooowww!" I wake up with a start, the hut is still dark and I sit up, waiting for my eyes to adjust. Arrow is looking at me, stretching his wings and clicking it's teeth.
"Ah, you woke me up so we can catch the ferry." I hate waking up before it's actually light, but I can sleep on the ferry if I want to. Most of the islanders use either the Ferry service or the Poké Ride to get from one island to the next. I refuse to climb onto a Charizard at this point and time and that's what would fly me to Melemele Island, so I'll pass on that. Blending in means using the local means of transportation, so Ferry Service it is.
I retract my Pokémon; hook my belt around my waist, shove my Pokédex into the small Dex pocket on the skirt of my dress and run out the door.
Salt air struck my face as I leaned out on the bow, hair in tendrils around my face. This is what life should be like. Not locked in a basement room, away from the sun. Alola was a wonderful choice.
"Off the port side you'll see a cluster of Lanturn. It's mating season so you'll notice they're flashing their lights in a different and whimsical display. Locals like to say this flashing of lights brings serenity and good fortune." A speaker drawls information that I'm drinking in. So many Pokémon that I've never seen in nature before.
I pull out Dexter and scan, "Lanturn the Illuminating Pokémon; when the bacteria living inside its antennae absorb Lanturn's bodily fluids, a strong luminescent effect is produced." I close the Pokédex and put it away.
"Melemele Island stop in six minutes!" The same man's voice drawls over the speaker. A flock of Wingull dipped down over the water, scooping up aquamarine droplets and spattering them into the sky. Sunlight sparkles off of them before they land back into the vast sea.
I pull out Dexter and he chimes, "Wingull the seagull Pokémon; with its long, thin wings, it catches updrafts and flies like a glider high up into the sky." I'm thrilled to see so many Pokémon here, living unhindered in this stunning place.
"Docking!" The man over the speaker actually has some inflection this time. I scurry towards the exit on the side of the Ferry so I don't get swept up into the crowd, I want to get off first.
We dock and I rush down the walkway, my feet hit wood and I look around. Awe brims inside of me, this place is stunning!
"You look like you know what you're doing!" A man's voice boomed behind me.
I whirled around; fingers on my pokéball belt, locking eyes with the man. Hala stood a few feet away, squinted eyes beaming in the harsh sunlight. I recognize all of the top trainers in the world. I didn't go to school but I studied plenty for myself.
"Hala," I wave as if we're old friends meeting again. "I'm honored you would acknowledge me so abruptly!" I chewed on my words, nervous of how this was going to play out.
"What brings you to this island?" He's smiling as he walks towards me.
My nerves flare up, why do all the locals want to know what I'm doing here? Paranoia started to swell and I shove it down again. "Actually I'm looking for a particular Pokémon to catch. So that's what brings me here."
"How many do you have now?" He inquires.
"Five, so this Pokémon will finish my team." I look around to find an excuse to break away from the conversation.
"Find me after you catch your new friend, if you ask around the townsfolk will point you in my direction." His eyes glinted, "you can show me what you're made of!"
A thrill shot down my spine, Hala would be an actual challenge. Which is essential to me getting stronger, if I'm fighting punks like Blue Hair I'll never get any better.
"I would be honored!" I bow to him, trying to keep the redness in my face hidden.
"It's settled! I'll see you sometime soon!" He laughs as he walks away.
Ten Carat Hill looms ahead of me, as I hike down the trail. I would have to rent a Tauros in order to get where I needed to go. Everything has to be so difficult without just flying on Arrow.
I go to the small ranch and choose a Tauros, a kind fellow who nuzzles me when I approach. Together with Tauros I walk up to pay for his rental.
"Oh yer chose a good one yer did!" The man crows when I arrive at the outdoor desk, "that'n likes to thrash abert! Breaks rocks up like nobody's business! Li'l bit of a loner too!" The man slaps the desk jubilantly. "How long yer rentin' him fer?"
The man's odd way of talking took me aback, "erm, how long does it normally take to just scour the nearby grass?"
"Yer gonna want about an hour to get that dern!" He exclaims.
"Great, I'll just rent for an hour then." I offer an awkward smile, having no idea what I'd gotten myself into. "I've never ridden a Tauros, is it hard?" I hand over a few hundred pokédollars.
"If yer ridden another kind a Pokémon this'n I recon 'll be easy for yer!" He jabs his finger towards a shaky looking gate, "head that way and I'll see yer in'n hour!"
I hoist myself into Tauros' saddle and gasp, his fur is coarse but soft at the same time. He lets out a breath, waiting for my command.
"Oh… uh? Let's go, slowly though!" He shakes himself and begins to trot forwards. Relief washes over me, I had ridden a Rapidash before and this was even easier.
He tromps through the gate and we make our way up a winding path that bleeds into green wild grasses. "We're headed towards that grass," I point to where I'm talking about.
"Mrrrrnnn!" He shakes his head, lowers it and starts to Head Charge forwards. I brace myself as we collide with a massive stone. It turns to dust under Tauros' mighty horns. He raises his head pridefully as we make our way over the rubble.
I ask to be let down and Tauros folds his legs, the ground feels wobbly underfoot after riding for the past twenty minutes. Plunging into the wild grass I start seeing Pokémon rush away, some of them attempt to intimidate me.
"Goomy come on out!" I toss my ball into the air and he emerges, dripping.
"Gooooom!" He says playfully.
"Shh, we need to stay quiet. I'm looking for our last partner and I need your help to catch it." I crouch down, listening.
Goomy watches me closely and slithers into the grass, searching. At last I hear a start from him, "Goom! Goo!"
I hurry over to where I heard his cry and see him engaged in battle with a Grubbin.
"Excellent work, Goomy! That's exactly who we're looking for!" I rush over and ready a pokéball. "Goomy use tackle!" I shout, pointing towards his opponent.
Goomy barrels towards the Grubbin, sending it flying. Grubbin fires a Sticky Web attack which hits Goomy square on.
"Don't give up, Goomy!" I shout, this time use Dragon Pulse.
"Goooo!" Out of the tiny body shoots a massive, dragon shaped beam of light.
Grubbin attempts to dig away but the Dragon Pulse collides a moment before it could conceal itself.
"Pokéball, go!" I toss the red and white orb into the air, it arcs up and hits the knocked out Grubbin. The ball wiggles one time and then ding! "We did it!" I pick up Goomy and spin him, droplets spattering the foliage around us.
I make my way back to where Tauros is lying in wait for me. I climb onto his back and we saunter towards the ranch.
I return my Tauros and ask the man at the counter, "where can I find Hala?"