š Evan's Training Journal š
Month 1, Day 24
Today's the dayāI'm finally heading to Alola.
I've been preparing nonstop these past few days. Thorn and Trixie are close to evolving; I can feel it. Maybe in a few more days, once we've settled into the region's environment, they'll finally reach that next stage. I'm eager to start training them again, to see how they adapt. But for now, all I can do is wait for this plane to land.
[Pokemon: Bug catcher]
(Evan's POV)
After what felt like an eternity in the air, we finally touched down.
Alola. The region inspired by Hawaii, sun-soaked and brimming with unique PokĆ©mon I've only read about until now. Standing beside Mr. Bramble at the terminal, we waited for the person he'd told me aboutāhis friend, and our local contact.
After about an hour of waiting, a man approached us.
He had a strong, athletic build with tanned skin and dark eyes. His long black hair was pulled into a neat man bun, and a small goatee lined his chin. He wore a white cap decorated with a rainbow design, green-framed glasses, a lab coat with the sleeves rolled up, and gray pants with green stripes. His green-and-white sneakers completed the easygoing tropical look.
Anyone who played PokƩmon Sun and Moon would know him in a heartbeat.
Professor Kukui. The man who helped establish the Alolan PokƩmon League.
"Hey, Richard! How was the flight?" Kukui greeted cheerfully as he shook Mr. Bramble's hand. Soā¦ Richard Bramble. That was his full name.
"All good," Mr. Bramble replied with a smile. "You haven't changed a bit, Kukui."
"Still rockin' the island life, you know how it is," Kukui laughed. Then he turned toward me with curiosity. "So, who's the young man?"
"He's a student of mine," Mr. Bramble said. "I brought him along as my assistant."
Kukui raised an eyebrow, surprised. Then he looked at me directly.
"What's your name, kid?"
"Evan Taylor," I replied, doing my best to sound confident.
"Well then, Evanāhow about we get you both settled in?"
Mr. Bramble nodded, and I gave a quick thumbs-up.
Thirty minutes later, we arrived at Professor Kukui's home.
The same beachside house I remember from the animeāwhere Ash once stayed. The view of the ocean, the warm breeze, the rustle of palm treesā¦ it was surreal being here in real life.
Kukui assigned us each our own room, and before long, we were sitting down together for dinner.
While we ate, I fed Thorn and Trixie their meals, carefully mixed with Bugforce. It's invisible to the human eye, but essential to their development. Kukui watched with interest as my PokƩmon ate.
His eyes widened slightly. "These two areā¦ huge," he commented.
Thorn, my Kakuna, was already three times the size of an average one. Trixie, my Metapod, was twice as large as normal. Both radiated a presence beyond their small frames.
"What are you feeding them?" Kukui asked, more curious than suspicious.
"Just some custom PokĆ©mon food I make," I said, keeping it simple. "My Aunt Rachel taught me. I also know how to make PokĆ©blocks, but I can only give them those once a weekā¦ budget reasons."
Kukui seemed to understand. He didn't push. Maybe he sensed that food alone wasn't the whole storyābut everyone has their secrets.
After that, we called it a night.
(Somewhere else on the island)
A lone figure stood on a cliffside, overlooking the lush forest below.
They narrowed their eyes, sensing something in the air.
'What was that auraā¦? So warm. So full of vitality.'
'Could itā¦ help my child?'
The figure looked down at the egg cradled in their arms.
'I don't have much time left. But maybeā¦ just maybe, I can ensure my child to be safe.'