Pokemon Trainer Vicky

"Okay I'll keep an eye on the transfer device. Heh. I'll get Elizabeth to settle them, there won't be any issues with them? Surprised pokemon can react badly."

"No. I explained to Ninetales that I'll be away for a few days, but my family will be there to help him get settled in… Thanks Grandpa Roy, I wouldn't even know where to start on setting up a chilled room for them."

"Oh it won't be too hard, underground refrigerated areas are fairly common with certain industries. It's not usually used for Pokemon, but well, money can handle minor difficulties."

"Thanks again Grandpa Roy. We'll be home in a few days, and I'll stop by as soon as I can. If there are any issues… Well."

"We'll handle it. Your Aunt Katie has a Ninetales, so we do have someone that knows how to handle them. It'll be interesting to see this Alolan Ice Type Ninetales."

"They're really pretty, and fluffy! But very chilly."

"Sounds interesting." He offered with a chuckle. "Alright I'll be sure to grab them as soon as they finish transferring."

"Right expensive calls. Thanks Grandpa Roy. Say hi to everyone. Bye!"

"Goodbye."

The phone call ended and I relaxed. Now I just had to wait for the transfer process, that slow process that made me nervous every time.

I shook it off and looked back at Papa.

"All done."

"I heard. C'mon Trouble, why don't we head back to the Mele'mele, that way we'll be back with your mother when your pokemon are transferred back."

"Oh… I guess that makes sense." I accepted and left the Pokemon Center, and only after being super sure that Nurse Joy would transfer the Pokeball to the Mele'Mele Pokemon Center did I reluctantly head back to the Poke Ride Station and get a Sharpedo.

—--

"Then Ninetales was like. Paw to the face! And I was like, what!? And he was like. I accept your offer of being my new Trainer along with my lovely family, please take care of us and love us lots. And I was like, duh of course I'll do that. Then I explained what they should expect, and captured all of them."

"I'm sure that's exactly what happened." Mama replied back joking, and I smirked at her.

"It's what his heart was telling my heart!" I argued and Mama just smiled and reached out patting my head.

"Sure it was. Didn't I tell you, you should just capture them?" Mama teased, smirking at me. "But I'm sorry you didn't find your Icy Rock."

"Ice Rock… Well it would be if I found it so I got to name it. But that's what it is!"

"Mhmm." Mama said, and then reached out and patted my head. "I'm sorry you couldn't find it, but hopefully someone else will."

"Yeah." I said then shrugged. "It's fine." I leaned back into the beach chair and considered what the current situation was.

I had another day or so before we left and honestly? I still had some stuff to do.

The Rematch with Hala. Olivia had offered me a Grand Trial, as well.

Plus I still wanted to just hang out on the beach and say goodbye for now to everyone.

Ugh.

I sat up.

"I'm going to go get some stuff done before we leave!" I decided and Mama gave me a look, before nodding.

"Alright. Have fun, and don't forget to relax!"

"I will once I'm done! Thanks Mama!" I called out and raced away… Then I grinned and turned around, rushing right for the ocean. "Go!" I roared, and threw the sixth Pokeball on my hip, and a moment later, a roar echoed out, and Blue Heart appeared.

He blinked looking around and then spotting me.

I grinned up at him arms spread as he leaned down and I jumped into his big cutey face!

"I love you!" I told him, and he gave that clacking noise of happiness he did. "Come on, let's go for a fly, I want to talk to Hala about that rematch! He's not escaping this time!" I called out as I climbed up onto Blue Hearts horns, and laughed as he started preparing to fly.

—--

"Kahuna Hala! I've come for a battle!" I called out, legs spread and arms crossed.

"I see that." He muttered looking up and up at me, as I was backlit by the setting sun. "You didn't crush my car did you?"

"Nope! I made sure Blue Heart came down nice and gentle!" I said turning around and seeing Hala's little compact car, gently avoided by Blue Hearts girth.

"Ah, that's good then… A battle? Are you prepared?"

"I am! Riolu and I won't lose!"

"Very well! Come let's battle!" He called out sounding excited, so I climbed down Blue Hearts face, stopped to give him a big hug and a kiss.

"We'll fly later okay? Rest for now." I returned to him and grinned at his happy face.

It looked like his normal angry face, but his eyes were happier.

I trotted after Hala towards his little arena area out behind his home, and quickly took my position.

"Riolu!" I called out, and she appeared looking around before nodding at the situation. She shot me a look, but I just nodded back.

She'd gone through a lot of training. We were ready this time.

"I see! You both have grown closer, and your spirit burns bright! Yes I am happy to see such growth!" Then he grinned and released his pokemon.

Hariyama slammed into the arena and settled itself, the large pokemon was strong.

Very strong.

"But that does not mean you will win this battle! I will not go easy!"

I reached out and swapped the Z Crystal in my Z ring, purposefully letting Hala see me switch to the Fightium Z.

"Neither will we!"

"Rio!"

Riolu was still a brat. We still might not entirely get along, but she'd grown a lot with the late night training.

I don't think she'd ever really had battle training before. Lucario probably babied her a bit.

And me only training with Special Attack, trying to improve on that aspect of my training, had probably left her feeling… Yeah.

Alola had been good for both of us.

She still wasn't a physical powerhouse, but she didn't need to be.

She'd lost this battle last time, and it had ignited some fighting spirit in her. Her night training at Clawmark Hill had turned that desire not to lose, and hardened it.

"Then let this Grand Trial… Begin!" Hala called, and I threw out a fist.

"Vacuum Wave! Show your strength!"

"Riooo!" She shouted, leaping to the side, and instantly launching the attack with nearly no build up, just shifting and firing.

Only Hariyama shifted, and…

"Fake-Out!" Hala called, suddenly Hariyama looked like he was reaching out to block Vacuum Wave, but a moment later he blurred past and slammed a fist into Riolu.

She flinched at his sudden appearance, jerked as she was slapped to the side.

"Arm Thrust!"

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"Riolu! On your feet, weave through! Watch the pattern!" I called out, and Riolu rolled a bit after being hit, did slow, regained her control and rolled into a flip.

Hariyama was charging forward. Its massive hands glowing it started attacking, and Riolu, ducked the first attack, rolled to the side, for the second, she regained her feet just in time to see the third coming and this time she brought both fists forward.

"Riooo!" She shouted, as Vacuum Waves gathered, the Massive Arm Thrust was stalled out, hitting the growing wave and then both were staggered back.

"Alright! Again! Don't let him set the pace!"

"Rio!" She gathered her attack and launched it out, moving forward as she fired off the wave, instead of standing while she attacked.

Hariyama without a word, launched another Arm Thrust, and smashed into the Vacuum Wave. The attack's connection caused an explosion of wind that sent even my hair fluttering where I was standing.

But Riolu was there.

"Get him Riolu!" I called out, knowing she already knew what to do.

She charged in, and as Hariyama continued to Arm Thrust, she juked in, until she was right next to the much larger pokemon, and then gathered a Vacuum Wave in her fists.

"Riolu!" She called out and started slamming her fists into Hariyama's belly.

The hit caused a crack-like noise, as the Vacuum Wave exploded out, rippling Hariyama's plump belly.

But even though the attack definitely hurt, Hariyama wasn't going to let that stop it, and Hala spoke. "Heavy Slam!"

"Get out of there!" I called out, but it was too late. Riolu had stayed in planning another strike, thinking she was too close for Arm Thrust to hit her, and then her fist with Vacuum Wave slammed into Hariyama, and she yelped a bit.

Hitting what probably felt like solid steel.

Then Hariyama just fell forward, and Riolu couldn't dodge.

Like a wall coming down on her, that was all it took.

The pressure wave of the attack hitting the floor washed over me, and I winced.

That would hurt.

Hariyama pushed itself back onto its feet with a single movement, and Riolu lay there on her back…

"Riolu! You okay!?"

"Rio." She gasped out, and I winced. Crushed into Hala's little arena, she even had a little contour of her body as she'd really been smashed down into the ground.

I realized that Riolu was fairly close to throwing in the towel here, that hit had definitely knocked the fight out of her…

"Is that it? Rioluuuu! Stand up! You aren't going to let that hit defeat you are you?" I called out, throwing my fist out. "Come on! You've trained so much! You aren't done yet!"

"Riolu." She grunted and reached out and pulled herself out of the hole she'd been knocked into. "Rio… Lu." She grunted as she rose up. Yeah that attack had been…

Hala wasn't holding back. I looked at him, and he was sending me a look. As if asking if I expected him to go easy on me.

I grinned, of course not!

"Riolu! Let's show them what we can do! Can you do it?" I asked, and she leapt, surprising me. Straight back she landed in front of me making lots of room between her and Hariyama and growling.

Yeah she wasn't done.

"Very well! Let's do it!" My Z Ring glowed as I brought it up, and Riolu shifted into position.

"Very well! Show me what you can do!" Hala roared out grinning and his own Z Ring began glowing…

Not good. Suboptimal, but you know what? Using up his Z move was worth it.

Just had to make sure Riolu survived the attack.

Hala and I both shifted, our leg soaring up into the sky before slamming down.

"Get ready Kahuna Hala! I'll show you our strength!" I roared as Riolu and I synced up.

Sumo stance, Riolu copying me, stomp, then arms up, and spread it out, let the power gather. Double punch forward, connection. Punch… Then punch again! And again! Not just in sync, but together, power gathered rebounding and growing!

I threw my palm forward. Riolu copying me just as Hala did the same, and the entire clearing lit up in power.

Hariyama glowed orange, like fire, but for me and Riolu it was different. Blueish, Like Aura.

And as my power jumped into her. As our spirits connected, there was no conflict.

We.

Would.

Win!

"All! Out! Pummeling!" I roared right as Hala did and Riolu surged forward.

"Rio Rio Rio Rio Rio Riooooo!" She shouted, throwing her fists forward, and in a surge the Glowing palm thrusts of the Z move exploded forward. Right into Hala's own.

The attacks instantly exploded over and over. The noise quickly washed over everything, but I kept my power flowing. Even as smoke and dust washed over me, blinding me, as the noise completely deafened me.

There was only Riolu and I, and our bond!

Then it was over. The connection stopped, not cut, or ended, simply, no longer pulling on each other, and I coughed a bit as the smoke finally cleared.

Hala stood opposite me, his arms crossed and a large grin on his face.

And Hariyama, so massive that he was easy to see even with the smoke, stood tall, in the same pose.

Then Riolu appeared. She was breathing heavily. Tired, but standing.

The arena was torn up, almost right to her. No doubt Hariyama's Z move had pushed hers back, and yet. She had kept it from reaching her.

An effective tie, if not a true one.

"I see! You have indeed grown!" Hala called out laughing and Riolu and I both raised our fists nearly in time.

"You haven't seen anything yet!"

"Riolu Rio Riolu!" We both shouted, and… Probably something similar to each other? Eugh. We really were too connected right now.

"Gross."

"Rio." We said to the other and then nodded.

We could mess with each other later. Right now was a battle.

"Alright Riolu! Let's show that this fight isn't over! Vacuum Wave!"

"Rio!" She gathered power, even as Hariyama rose his palms. But I noticed it, a flash as Hala shifted, and Hariyama noticed it, his eyes flashing sideways… Hearing? Ah Hala was doing something with his feet…

"Hey! What was that? Hala!" I demanded growling as my eyes narrowed.

"Ah, nothing. Simply adjusting my footing." He offered with a chuckle, and I scoffed, Riolu looked from Hala to Hariyama and scoffed as well.

"Riolu! Rio rio riolu lu!" She demanded, and Hariyama sort of shifted looking at Hala.

"Whatever that was Hala, forget it! Riolu and I will win or lose on our own efforts!" I demanded, and thrust my fist forward. "Riolu! Let's, GO!"

"RioLUUUUU!" She roared in time bursting forward, her paws darting across the stone arena. Hariyama shifted, and attacked, but there was hesitation!

"Go all out Hariyama! These children deserve our best!" Hala finally called out, and I grinned.

Darting across the stones, Riolu punched out, blasting one, then a second Vacuum Wave, but Hariyama smacked its palms forward, and each wave was blasted apart!

Powerful!

He was really showing off now!

"That's not enough power! Let's go Riolu! Full Power! Charge it and show them!" I called out, and Riolu, skidded across the arena, bleeding her momentum, but her hands shifted to her side.

Her move charged, I could hear the wind start howling, as she kept her paws close, and then she started shifting them, just a little, and with every shift the power in the growing orb of wind grew denser!

"That's it! Compress it down! Power it up! Let's go!" I roared excited! Riolu wanted this. She wasn't playing but really fighting!

"Let's do it Riolu! All the power you can grasp!" I roared, thrusting my hands forward and Riolu roared back!

Her paws thrust forward, and the Vacuum Wave was released, a spiraling tornado that exploded out, sweeping over Hariyama nearly entirely, it was so wide!

And then…

Despite its power. Despite her struggle. Hariyama burst through the winds, his palms glowing and he thrust an arm forward, and Riolu vanished as she was struck.

She whined as she hit the ground a few times before rolling to a stop…

"Hah." I gasped, my heart beating hard but… "Good battle." I offered, as I stepped forward, my feet kicking rocks and bits of the stone arena as I hurried over and then plopped down next to Riolu.

"Riiii." She whined a bit.

"Yeah that looks like it hurts. You want to go back in your pokeball? Or some Potion for now?" I asked her, and she huffed, and I nodded, grabbing the Potion. She rolled over and I sprayed along her back. That's right she'd been smashed earlier it probably bruised up.

"Rio."

"Lower?" I asked before doing so, spraying nearly to her tail before she relaxed, with a groaning sigh. "Yeah that was a nasty hit."

"Riolu."

"Yeah." I looked up Hala had joined us, and Hariyama the big brute looked a little apologetic.

But I grinned.

"Riolu… We lost, but you know what? Look at Hariyama." I said and she rolled back over and looked up.

Hariyama was scuffed and worn. Her Vacuum Wave had hit him hard, and it showed.

"Rio."

"You left a mark on the big guy. You think he's weak or something?"

"Rio." She denied, and I grinned. "Last time we couldn't do much against him. We couldn't even use a Z move. Now look. We overcame his Z move. Battled it out, and even left our mark."

"Hari, Yama." He rumbled, which sounded like a pitiful noise.

"Hahahaha!" Hala laughed as he walked over. "It seems poor Hariyama wants to go to the pokemon center!"

"Hari." He whined at Hala and the Kahuna just laughed louder.

"See, look how beat up Hariyama is."

"Rio." She demanded pointing at herself.

"Yeah well we lost. Of course we're more beat up." I said and then as she was looking at me, I spritzed her nose.

"Rioooo!" She whined rubbing her nose.

Heh.

"Hmm. I would not call what you had today a loss… If this were a normal Trial, you would have won."

"I know. You were going to take a fall." I pointed up at Hala's stupid mustache!

"Hmm. I think of it more as assessing victory, and rewarding it."

"Pfft. I'm happy you went all out, and didn't just let us win. That was… Fun." I said and as I said it I realized it was true.

I didn't lose much, and when I had, it had been… Frustrating. I remember facing Koga. I'd been annoyed at my loss in some ways, even if I had decided to overcome it.

Surge had left me feeling like that too. Despite winning it hadn't felt like a win.

But now?

Who cares?

What was one lost battle? Or a hundred? It… Just wasn't that serious. Pokemon battles… Should be fun, and… I think I needed that. Kanto took battles so seriously, and not long into my Journey everyone had started putting expectations on me.

That I would face Lance, and win. That I would defeat him, and rebalance the politics of Indigo towards Kanto once again, but…

I wanted to beat Lance, because of what he'd said, which mostly was just to mess with him now, but…

Beating him, or just proving my words then… They were two different things. I'd dreaded actually dealing with it all, but now?

Who cares?

Win or lose, I just wanted to have some fun battles, and the expectations everyone else had, was a them problem.

Alola… It had definitely left a mark on me as a trainer, and as a person. I looked up, the setting Alolan sun beaming down. This place… It was special. Not just because of the Tapu, or the Z Rings.

Honestly I'd turn my Z Ring in right now, in exchange for everything else I've gained here on Alola.

"Kahuna… Thank you. You've helped me a lot. So thank you."

Hala took in my serious words with a surprised shift, but he then fell into a happy grin.

"I am pleased that my paltry teachings could help you. Come, why don't I drive us to the Pokemon Center?"

"Hmm?" I asked, and then grinned instead. "How about I fly us there instead? Ever flown on a Gyarados before Kahuna?" I asked, teasing, and Hala's face broke into a smile.

"Never, but I would love to experience it."

"Yeah! Come on!"