Okay, I admit... I am really furious right now.
In less than a single minute, I had a chance to learn how to go back to my own world and lost that chance because of a 'festival'... I bet I could give a punch in anyone, even that guardian Deity of them.
"Are you okay...?" Lillie asked some good steps away from me, which is probably a good decision.
I was not really angry with her, but with this 'festival' I can say I am since for some reason everyone seems to think I am the main star of the show. I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself a little.
In the end, I think I just want to find something or someone to blame.
Two kids and a Rockruff were playing and running from one side to the other, the few houses that here exists are pretty big when comparing to Kukui's lab.
"The Alola region is made up of four islands," Someone suddenly spoke to me, and I saw Hala walking in my direction with a different expression from yesterday. "Each island has its own guardian pokemon. Our festival today is made to express our thanks to these great pokemon guardian Deities for always remaining by our side... Well, we call it a festival, but it's just that little thing you're seeing here."
I looked around, and indeed, there is not much to be seen but some small food stalls and that huge ring in the middle of the Town... But more importantly, there is no apparent reason for him to explain that for me and Lillie... Unless...
"That Kukui does not know how to keep his mouth closed, does he?" I asked with a sarcastic grin.
"Luna?" Lillie does not seem to have understood what I meant, but Hala definitely does.
"Don't blame him, I think he just wants you to enjoy as Alola as much as possible," Hala said giving some small slaps on his own belly... Maybe this is an old custom of his. "But I think it's time to change the subject, please come this way, Hau is already waiting for you."
"Why?" I asked.
"Hold on, Didn't anyone explain to you about tonight?" Hau's voice reached my ears with the same enthusiasm as always.
"Oh, yeah, right on time," Kukui was the next one to come.
"Right on time for what exactly?" Lillie asked as Nebby was again trying to break free from the bag, but this time she was doing a great job holding him inside it... Surprisingly.
"A full-powered festival for pokemon battling," Kukui put his hands at his side with a smile. "We battle in name of Tapu Koko, pitting our best moves against one another in friendly battles, woo!"
"So, you two are taking part in this battle?" Lillie asked looking at me and Hau, that had his hands on the back of his head with a giant grin. "I don't like seeing pokemon fighting since they so often end up getting hurt... But I'll be sure to watch you both!"
"Your pokemon have fought for you up to now, so please show this same loyalty to your pokemon too," Hala reentered the conversation. "Are you sure they are up to this challenge?"
"Well," I grinned with anger, which makes everyone give a step behind... Interesting to see that after all those years I still can intimidate the others. "I really wanted to take away my frustration, and a pokemon battle may be exactly what I am needing!"
I turned to face Hau directly.
"It's just me or it's getting colder here?" He asked avoiding to look into my eyes...
Yeah, I think this will be fun.
The fire crackled on the burning torches around the arena in which we would fight.
"For all life on our islands, and for those that undertake the island challenge with joy in their hearts," Island challenge? That is the first time I heard this term. "We pray for their protection, for them and all Melemele. May this pokemon battle be an offering to our guardian!"
I stood out of the ring, just waiting for my part.
"Hum, Luna..." I turned to see Lillie by my side while Hala finished the formalities. "I don't know what happened down there, but since I dragged you here, you seemed really angered, so... I'm sorry if I did something wrong."
Damn, it is really hard to stay angry with her.
"Do not worry, I will go easy on Hau for you!" I joked.
"Before you, stands Hau, grandson to the Kahuna!" Hala said out loud for everyone to listen. The boy climbed the stair with his usual humor.
"Let's have fun with this, Litten!"
"And before him, stands Luna, the one that met with Tapu Koko!" I listened to some murmurs while I climbed the stair, people talking about how rare that event seems to be.
"As long as we both have a good time, I think we both can call it a great battle, eh?" Hau asked smiling.
"Do you think I will go easy on you because of that?" I teased him.
"NOW, LUNA AND HAU, BRING FORTH THE POWER OF YOUR POKEMON, IN A ONE VS ONE BATTLE!" Hala yelled announcing the beginning of the battle.
"As you wish," I said taking my first Pokeball.
"If you say so! Go Pichu!" Hau stretched his arm and send out his pokemon, which for my surprise was not Litten.
"Midnight, I am counting on you!" I said sending out my new partner.
Soon after that I was sure that I had done the right decision. That Pichu is obviously an electric type pokemon, which means my rock type Midnight is the best choice.
"Now, use Charm!" Hau ordered.
Obviously, the boy learned a thing or two from our last battle, since instead of a direct approach he decided for a more strategic one, even if I have absolutely no idea what does this 'charm' do, but two can play that game.
"Midnight, use sand attack!" Midnight did just what I said and trowed sand on the poor Pichu's face, the little mouse tried to clean up his face, but I would not give it such privilege. "Now, crunch!"
Suddenly, just like when we first met, some kind of 'second mouth' was made from thin air and Rockruff used this chance to bite Hau's pokemon with all the strength he could muster, and when he finally made contact I thought that the battle is already over, but that was a mistake.
"Now, discharge!" Hau's order was listened loud and clear by his pokemon, that surprisingly could still keep up after Midnight's last attack, and countered by sending an unbelievable amount of electricity toward everywhere, hitting my pokemon and sending him back toward me, but since midnight is a rock type, he was not very impressed and stood up without problem.
"Now, finish this with another crunch!" I yelled but just when he started to run, some kind of strange electricity involved his body and he could not move. "WHAT?"
"NOW PICHU, DOUBLE SLAP!" Hau's smile was enormous, he obviously had predicted that.
His Pichu closed the remaining distance between him and Midnight with a speed only a pokemon could use and started to hit Rockruff a LOT more than two times.
"TACKLE!" Midnight makes what I ordered, but Pichu managed to avoid somehow and got out of reach.
"Now, what do you think?" Hau asked mocking me with a smile. "Way different from yesterday, isn't?"
"Certainly," I said calmly... And I just know what I have to do to win this battle. "However, some things never change!"
"Oh, yeah?" He looked at me in a challenging way. "Pichu double slap again!"
Pichu attacked fast like a lightning, he will become a really fast pokemon someday, but right now, this was his final mistake. He forgot that he got sand on his eyes just a minute ago, and now when the time is decisive... He missed.
"CRUNCH!" That was my final order when Pichu missed he simply got too close to Midnight, and without a way to avoid, the great cloud of sand that was lifted from the impact served only to make some suspense, but it simply could not hide the fainted pokemon forever.
"AND THAT'S IT! Another great battle this year!" Hala announced.
"Phew, That was awesome Luna!" Hau said scratching the back of his head with the same smile as always. I think he had just as much fun as me. "That was really a great battle, I had a blast fighting you!"
"I can say the same," I smiled back at him as he got a few steps closer.
"KO-KO-KOOO!" A really loud sound reached my ears, and everyone else's too.
"HA! As you can hear yourself, this is Tapu Koko's song of approval." Really? I would never have guessed... "And I almost forgot, I think it's time for you to take this!" Hala walked toward me and gave me a strange and black bracelet. "Your Z power-Ring, a mysterious armband that can draw out the power that lies deep within Pokémon... It can bring forth their Z-Power! We kahunas can make them by refining stones like the Sparkling Stone that you received from Tapu Koko. Although until you collect during your island challenge, you will not be able to draw out the Z-Power of your Pokémon"
"Wait, wait, wait," I said just after putting the 'Z power-ring' in place. "You know I have no Idea what are all those things you talked about, right?" But instead of answering me, he just looked at Kukui.
"In other words, is time for you to get out there and travel around the islands for your island challenge, yeah!"
"Island challenge?" I asked and he makes the number four with his fingers.
"You'll travel to each of the four islands here in the Alola region. The island challenge is about aiming to be the strongest Trainer— the island challenge champion. Woo! And maybe... You'll even find the reason you're here..."
"Sounds great, right? I can't wait to have a real adventure!" Hau said.
"Yeah, but I will let Kahuna Hala explain the details."
"The island challenge Kukui spoke of... Is a journey to overcome your own limitations," Suddenly with that simple phrase he got my total attention. "As you travel to the corners of Alola and meet with others during the journey. It is the great adventure that the children of Alola embark upon, along with their partner pokemon." He walked toward Hau and stopped in front of him. "Now, allow me to give you the Island Amulet!"
"WOW, Thanks Tutu!"
"PUF..." I turned away and used both my hands to try to suffocate the first real laughter I have in years... Tutu? Seriously?
"I'm gonna make it through the island challenge to try to become the island challenge champion!" Hau was literally bouncing in place. Luckily I think he did not notice that I had just laughed.
"And there is one for you too," He said and gave me a strange patterned amulet. "Please, do give the island challenge a try."
"Yeah, doing the island challenge is the best way to know all Alola!"
We were just walking toward Kukui's lab when Lillie got closer to me (With Nebby STILL inside the bag... A new record!).
"Tapu Koko is amazing isn't it?" She said looking down. "I hope I can meet him again, so I can thank him for saving my friends!"
"Friends?" Plural?
"Yeah, Nebby... And you," She said with her voice really low as if she is afraid I am going to turn her down. I looked away blushing a little, sure, I know the importance of friendship (Have you seen my school?) But is not part of personality to just open myself to someone I meet yesterday.
Luckily Nebby saved me from the situation since he tried another one of his many attempts to escape with his cute 'PEW'.
"Suppose its time to get you kids home, Yeah?" Kukui said startling both Lillie and me.
"S-Sure, let's go!" Lillie said walking ahead of me.
Luckily she could not see my smile.
"I was able to detect powerful auras from this 'full powered' festival."
"I suppose you would... According to our earlier research, it seems that the Z power-ring and this creature called Tapu Koko are bathed in a great deal of light. Alola overflows the light that was released by the Blinding One... I find myself rather envious."
"I wonder if we can't find some way to use the great power that fills Alola for ourselves?"
"That is precisely why we, the Ultra Recon Squad are here to make clear. Onward! There is still so much of Alola we have not seen, and we must investigate it all!"