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Belle was awake, all night, in fact. She was under her blankets, her pillows were perfectly fluffed, and her fan blew on her warm body. The night was still, not a sound to be heard from anyone in the house, nor on the streets. Maybe she was the only soul awake? She always had trouble sleeping, she reminded herself. This was just another sleepless night, maybe she was stressed about her morning. That must be it. Everything in her rucksack was packed. Wasn't it? She was sure.
Belle jolted up in her bed, her eyes scrambled to the tiny light emitting from her monitor. Maybe she hadn't packed everything. She turned on her lamp, and sprang out of bed and dived for her rucksack by the door. The maps were there, all her money, her Pokemon, canned food, water bottle... It was all there. So why couldn't she sleep? "Nervous?" her inner voice asked of herself. She tried not to answer, not to dwell.
"Right," she whispered to herself. Belle left her bedroom, tip-toed down the stairs and into the kitchen, she reached for a glass in the darkness from a cupboard above the sink.She poured herself a glass of water, the tap seemed so loud when it was this late. As she drank, she thought of how tomorrow morning might look. In five hours’ time she would be leaving her family for three months to battle in the Alolan league. The league was only set to begin tomorrow, but she was certain she could be crowned champion in three months time at the closing ceremony.
First, she would have to defeat the seven trials dotted around Alola. Each trial would be in two parts, or so she read. First, she would have to help the trial captain accomplish a task, although these tasks were a complete mystery. Once she had passed, she would then battle the trial captain, and she didn't want to lose. She couldn't. Belle didn't want the glory or fame as much as she needed the prize money. Sixty thousand was enough to help her family, enough to justify her travel.
Belle wandered around the kitchen and picked up a framed photo of her family. Her mother and father were by her side, smiling. The years had passed, but the smiles still felt fresh. Her brother was stood in front of her mother, taller than Belle, but not as tall as their mother. Belle's family all had the same tall, dark look, all except her father who was squat and grey. Her brother, Anthony was also competing, but would be starting on a different island. Alola was a small nation of islands clustered south of its closest neighbour, Hoenn. There are eight islands used in the challenge, four of which were the biggest of the region, one uninhabited by humans, one far, far out to sea, and the tiniest was where Belle slept, Kaloon.
Vol-Vol-Vol-Torb! The alarm sounded, Belle sprang up and slammed her alarm into her sock drawer. She had all her clothes laid out for her, and she very quickly showered and dressed. She had chosen her pair of favourite jeans, and a slim T-shirt with a design of her favourite Pokemon, Ponyta. Belle’s father had grew up on a ranch catered to Ponyta and Rapidash, and it was one of his foals that he had given Belle for her tenth birthday, almost six years ago.
Ponyta was not the only Pokemon she cherished, she loved her first captured Pokemon, Cubone. Belle’s Cubone had been captured one year ago at the peak of the Alolan Volcano, this Cubone had been one of the few Cubone left in Alola after the peak began to spill lava on to the surrounding area. So many Pokemon perished, as did the rangers atop the peak. No evidence was recovered, but it became a widely held belief that the volcano was forced to erupt by a criminal gang of scientists, the so called Magma Corp.
It was approaching three in the morning. The sun was begging to dawn, and Belle was finally asleep. Her mind was finally a blank slate, she could sleep peacefully without a worry or thought to interrupt her rest. As the sun cracked through the curtains and the world started to start another day, Belle slept.
Her alarm went off at eight, unfortunately buried under socks in a closed drawer. As the sun finally hit her face she woke slowly. Her eyes opened slowly and independently, and she began to stretch in bed. Mid-stretch her mind finally caught up with her body. She was very, very late.
"Oh no!" she cried. She scrambled herself through to the bathroom, and then back to her closest, ran down the stairs, found her keys and locked the front door! She ran eastward to Kaloon city without a backwards glance. She ran and ran and only stopped when the strap of her bag began to cut itself into her shoulder. Belle took off her bag and withdrew her phone. She was very, very, exceptionally late, but maybe she could call Professor Kukui to hold a Pokemon for her.
Professor Kukui is one of the three Pokemon Professors of Alola, alongside his wife, Professor Burnet, and the esteemed, Professor Oak. The three of them where traveling through Alola to distribute Pokemon to beginning trainers like Belle, and to provide essential items for the challenger's travels; Pokeballs, to capture Pokemon, a PokeDex, used to document and research Pokemon, and a map of the trial sites.
"Hey, hey good buddy! I thought you were pulling out!" Belle almost screamed, but within an instant regained her composure and asked the professor if he still had any Pokemon. "Ah, Belle, I'm 'fraid I don't have any of our promised starter Pokemon, but I could trade you one of mine."
A trade? Belle wasn't sure she could do that, Ponyta and Cubone were far too precious to trade for another. They were family. "I'm sorry Professor, I can't trade any of my own Pokemon.. they are just too special to me." The professor told Belle that that was fair and invited her to come to the Kaloon PokeCentre to talk before starting her journey. "Belle, how about I give you one of Pokemon if we battle for it? One of yours versus one of my starters, what'd'ya say?"
And Belle ran towards the city with the phone in her hand. "Yeah! I'll be there in three minutes!"
Belle jolted up in her bed, her eyes scrambled to the tiny light emitting from her monitor. Maybe she hadn't packed everything. She turned on her lamp, and sprang out of bed and dived for her rucksack by the door. The maps were there, all her money, her Pokemon, canned food, water bottle... It was all there. So why couldn't she sleep? "Nervous?" her inner voice asked of herself. She tried not to answer, not to dwell.
"Right," she whispered to herself. Belle left her bedroom, tip-toed down the stairs and into the kitchen, she reached for a glass in the darkness from a cupboard above the sink.She poured herself a glass of water, the tap seemed so loud when it was this late. As she drank, she thought of how tomorrow morning might look. In five hours’ time she would be leaving her family for three months to battle in the Alolan league. The league was only set to begin tomorrow, but she was certain she could be crowned champion in three months time at the closing ceremony.
First, she would have to defeat the seven trials dotted around Alola. Each trial would be in two parts, or so she read. First, she would have to help the trial captain accomplish a task, although these tasks were a complete mystery. Once she had passed, she would then battle the trial captain, and she didn't want to lose. She couldn't. Belle didn't want the glory or fame as much as she needed the prize money. Sixty thousand was enough to help her family, enough to justify her travel.
Belle wandered around the kitchen and picked up a framed photo of her family. Her mother and father were by her side, smiling. The years had passed, but the smiles still felt fresh. Her brother was stood in front of her mother, taller than Belle, but not as tall as their mother. Belle's family all had the same tall, dark look, all except her father who was squat and grey. Her brother, Anthony was also competing, but would be starting on a different island. Alola was a small nation of islands clustered south of its closest neighbour, Hoenn. There are eight islands used in the challenge, four of which were the biggest of the region, one uninhabited by humans, one far, far out to sea, and the tiniest was where Belle slept, Kaloon.
Vol-Vol-Vol-Torb! The alarm sounded, Belle sprang up and slammed her alarm into her sock drawer. She had all her clothes laid out for her, and she very quickly showered and dressed. She had chosen her pair of favourite jeans, and a slim T-shirt with a design of her favourite Pokemon, Ponyta. Belle’s father had grew up on a ranch catered to Ponyta and Rapidash, and it was one of his foals that he had given Belle for her tenth birthday, almost six years ago.
Ponyta was not the only Pokemon she cherished, she loved her first captured Pokemon, Cubone. Belle’s Cubone had been captured one year ago at the peak of the Alolan Volcano, this Cubone had been one of the few Cubone left in Alola after the peak began to spill lava on to the surrounding area. So many Pokemon perished, as did the rangers atop the peak. No evidence was recovered, but it became a widely held belief that the volcano was forced to erupt by a criminal gang of scientists, the so called Magma Corp.
It was approaching three in the morning. The sun was begging to dawn, and Belle was finally asleep. Her mind was finally a blank slate, she could sleep peacefully without a worry or thought to interrupt her rest. As the sun cracked through the curtains and the world started to start another day, Belle slept.
Her alarm went off at eight, unfortunately buried under socks in a closed drawer. As the sun finally hit her face she woke slowly. Her eyes opened slowly and independently, and she began to stretch in bed. Mid-stretch her mind finally caught up with her body. She was very, very late.
"Oh no!" she cried. She scrambled herself through to the bathroom, and then back to her closest, ran down the stairs, found her keys and locked the front door! She ran eastward to Kaloon city without a backwards glance. She ran and ran and only stopped when the strap of her bag began to cut itself into her shoulder. Belle took off her bag and withdrew her phone. She was very, very, exceptionally late, but maybe she could call Professor Kukui to hold a Pokemon for her.
Professor Kukui is one of the three Pokemon Professors of Alola, alongside his wife, Professor Burnet, and the esteemed, Professor Oak. The three of them where traveling through Alola to distribute Pokemon to beginning trainers like Belle, and to provide essential items for the challenger's travels; Pokeballs, to capture Pokemon, a PokeDex, used to document and research Pokemon, and a map of the trial sites.
"Hey, hey good buddy! I thought you were pulling out!" Belle almost screamed, but within an instant regained her composure and asked the professor if he still had any Pokemon. "Ah, Belle, I'm 'fraid I don't have any of our promised starter Pokemon, but I could trade you one of mine."
A trade? Belle wasn't sure she could do that, Ponyta and Cubone were far too precious to trade for another. They were family. "I'm sorry Professor, I can't trade any of my own Pokemon.. they are just too special to me." The professor told Belle that that was fair and invited her to come to the Kaloon PokeCentre to talk before starting her journey. "Belle, how about I give you one of Pokemon if we battle for it? One of yours versus one of my starters, what'd'ya say?"
And Belle ran towards the city with the phone in her hand. "Yeah! I'll be there in three minutes!"
Belle, with seconds to spare, arrived at the Kaloon PokeCentre. This was a place for trainers and their Pokemon to rest, eat, trade and buy supplies. The Kaloon centre was fronted by a team of medical staff as well as merchants, researchers and many students looking to work with the service. As she walked in, Belle felt a strange mixture of excitement and nausea, she had very nearly stepped in Pokemon droppings. Dark green ooze seemed to cover much of the PokeCentre, filling the place with the aroma of rotten eggs and freshly-laid tarmac.
She gingerly stepped over the green puddle and approached the counter fronted by a young woman in white talking on the phone.
"Um, hi." Belle looked towards her but received no sign that she was heard. Belle, at first, gave her a feeble death stare. Perhaps this would be an effective strategy, stare at her long enough that she’ll come off the phone and help her. Belle stared and stared and absolutely nothing happened. “Okay. I’ll just have to talk louder”, she thought to herself.
“Excuse me!” she half-shouted. “I need to see the professor! Professor Kukui! It’s urgent!” The receptionist looked scandalised, and almost tearful. “I… I, I’ll g-get the professor at once, ma’am. Why don’t you take a seat?”
As Belle took a seat she stepped over more of the green muck and sighed heavily. She was beginning to feel ashamed. She looked towards the receptionist who was trying hard not to look at Belle, but as Belle caught her eye, she mouthed how sorry she was. There was a shared nod of understanding. This didn’t let Belle stop thinking she was an idiot, but at least she was forgiven.
A very important looking man walked towards Belle from one of the hospital wing doors. He wore a white lab coat that was very slightly scuffed and marked. In fact, he looked a little scruffy all over, like he had just come back from a weekend of camping. “Belle!” Belle got up quickly to finally meet the legendary Professor Kukui. So quickly that she stumbled into the Pokemon droppings, her hands were covered in the filth. Her favourite jeans were undoubtly ruined and she could’ve sworn both the receptionist and a trainer’s Grimer were chuckling. Belle wanted to cry, but held back the tears, she couldn’t be seen to cry in front of the professor.
Kukui extended his hand to help her out, she felt just a little better. He was willing to get his hands dirty just to help her up. “Nasty fall you had there, but not a worry, not a worry. You see Grimer may be Poison Pokemon, but their sludge droppings are actually where we get things like detergent and deodorant from.” He moved his filthy hand towards his nose and sniffed in deeply. “Horrible smell, but that same smell destroys all other smells around it, it’s actually really clever stuff. And it’ll wash off with a bit of soap and water.”
Belle looked at him, she wasn’t completely sure all he said was true, but she knew she felt a lot better. “Come on, let’s get washed up and have a little battle.” Belle washed her hands thoroughly and wiped as much of the mess from her jeans as she could. The jeans were definitely ruined, where she had come in contact, the jean’s denim had turned white.
The trees waved in the wind and she could hear the waves bashing against the rocks. Perhaps tonight was going to be stormy. But none of that mattered, she had a far more pressing matter at hand; beat Kukui and get her starter Pokemon.
If she could see herself now, her hair blowing in the wind, and her skin pockmarked with goosebumps, she might have said she looked nervous, but she could see from inside her mind, and it was her mind that told her she looked confident. She was determined and sure she would win this battle.
“Belle, send out your Pokemon, and I’ll show you your new partner.” Kukui had this grin of pride and excitement that any other day Belle would have swooned at. He was rather handsome, but right this second he was the enemy.
Belle sent out Cubone!
A little brown monster poked out of its Pokeball. Cubone wears a skull as a helmet in battles, and wields a bone to protect itself from poachers – a heavily hunted Pokemon like Cubone would often see violence in its early years due to medicinal properties Cubone is thought to Posess. Cubone have already been hunted to local extinction in Hoenn, where myths of its medical properties still fuel poaching.
Kukui sent out Litten!
Unlike Cubone, Litten used all four of its limbs to walk. A black feline Pokemon, Litten is a fire-breathing Pokemon capable of power embers. Litten are a common Pokemon of Alola, often seen owned by young trainers due to their independent nature and great levels of personal hygiene. Litten are one of three Pokemon to have been given out by the three Professors at the start of the competition, alongside Popplio and Rowlet.
Belle looked at her Cubone, and he looked up at Belle. It was that look that let Belle know that Cubone was ready. She breathed in, held that breath, then exhaled. Her nerves were forced out of her system, and now she was ready.
“Cubone, use Bonemerang!”
Cubone gripped on to his bone, pulled back, then flung it at the Litten. The bone smacked Litten right on the nose. As the bone whirled back round to Cubone, Belle’s mouth hung open. Cubone had never delivered such a blow in any other battle. With his bone back in his hands, Cubone prepared himself to defend.
“Wow, Belle, I didn’t think you would have such a strong start! Okay, Litten, look sharp and finish this thing with an Ember attack!”
Litten run up to Cubone, pounced on him and let out a small burst of fire. Cubone’s skull was scorched and soot-ridden. Lying on the ground, Belle run up to her Cubone.
“Oh no, Cubone! Wake up! You aren’t beat yet!”
Cubone remained still, it’s eyes opened and he seemed to take in his surroundings. After a moment he stood back up, using his bone to prop himself up. With some effort Cubone was back in the fight. Cubone looked at Belle and nodded.
“Cubone! You can do it! Use Headbutt!”
His head lowered and his skull helmet tilted downwards. Cubone braced himself then ran towards Litten. Cubone accelerated towards his target, and within one blink had run into Litten, and with a bash of his skull, Litten landed far back and was knocked out. Belle had won.
“Belle, you have well and truly got some battle skills! I didn’t think your Cubone would be so strong!” Kukui laughed to himself in astonishment, whilst Belle felt a little taken aback. Was he just being friendly, or was she already on the path to being a strong trainer?
Kukui opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead, without a word, handed Belle a Pokeball. “What is this?” asked Belle. “Well…”, began Kukui, “This Litten may have lost the fight, but I think she’s been waiting for you to come along. I’ve handed out scores of Litten today, but this Litten chose you from the second we battled, I know it. Belle was a little confused. “How do you know Litten will obey me?” With some concern in his voice, Kukui told Belle that this Litten chose to enter the Pokeball, she was not pre-caught.
“Wow. So Litten is my new partner?” Kukui nodded. “And, she was also your first trial, or rather I was. We kept it secret, but my wife, Professor Oak and myself are all Trial Captains, we are everyone’s first. So tell me, where do you plan to go from here?”
Belle paused for a moment, as if she was considering everything that she had just been told. “I’m.. I’m not sure. I think I’ll keep walking.” She laughed to herself a little, and Kukui joined in. “That sounds as good a plan as any, friend.”
She gingerly stepped over the green puddle and approached the counter fronted by a young woman in white talking on the phone.
"Um, hi." Belle looked towards her but received no sign that she was heard. Belle, at first, gave her a feeble death stare. Perhaps this would be an effective strategy, stare at her long enough that she’ll come off the phone and help her. Belle stared and stared and absolutely nothing happened. “Okay. I’ll just have to talk louder”, she thought to herself.
“Excuse me!” she half-shouted. “I need to see the professor! Professor Kukui! It’s urgent!” The receptionist looked scandalised, and almost tearful. “I… I, I’ll g-get the professor at once, ma’am. Why don’t you take a seat?”
As Belle took a seat she stepped over more of the green muck and sighed heavily. She was beginning to feel ashamed. She looked towards the receptionist who was trying hard not to look at Belle, but as Belle caught her eye, she mouthed how sorry she was. There was a shared nod of understanding. This didn’t let Belle stop thinking she was an idiot, but at least she was forgiven.
A very important looking man walked towards Belle from one of the hospital wing doors. He wore a white lab coat that was very slightly scuffed and marked. In fact, he looked a little scruffy all over, like he had just come back from a weekend of camping. “Belle!” Belle got up quickly to finally meet the legendary Professor Kukui. So quickly that she stumbled into the Pokemon droppings, her hands were covered in the filth. Her favourite jeans were undoubtly ruined and she could’ve sworn both the receptionist and a trainer’s Grimer were chuckling. Belle wanted to cry, but held back the tears, she couldn’t be seen to cry in front of the professor.
Kukui extended his hand to help her out, she felt just a little better. He was willing to get his hands dirty just to help her up. “Nasty fall you had there, but not a worry, not a worry. You see Grimer may be Poison Pokemon, but their sludge droppings are actually where we get things like detergent and deodorant from.” He moved his filthy hand towards his nose and sniffed in deeply. “Horrible smell, but that same smell destroys all other smells around it, it’s actually really clever stuff. And it’ll wash off with a bit of soap and water.”
Belle looked at him, she wasn’t completely sure all he said was true, but she knew she felt a lot better. “Come on, let’s get washed up and have a little battle.” Belle washed her hands thoroughly and wiped as much of the mess from her jeans as she could. The jeans were definitely ruined, where she had come in contact, the jean’s denim had turned white.
The trees waved in the wind and she could hear the waves bashing against the rocks. Perhaps tonight was going to be stormy. But none of that mattered, she had a far more pressing matter at hand; beat Kukui and get her starter Pokemon.
If she could see herself now, her hair blowing in the wind, and her skin pockmarked with goosebumps, she might have said she looked nervous, but she could see from inside her mind, and it was her mind that told her she looked confident. She was determined and sure she would win this battle.
“Belle, send out your Pokemon, and I’ll show you your new partner.” Kukui had this grin of pride and excitement that any other day Belle would have swooned at. He was rather handsome, but right this second he was the enemy.
Belle sent out Cubone!
A little brown monster poked out of its Pokeball. Cubone wears a skull as a helmet in battles, and wields a bone to protect itself from poachers – a heavily hunted Pokemon like Cubone would often see violence in its early years due to medicinal properties Cubone is thought to Posess. Cubone have already been hunted to local extinction in Hoenn, where myths of its medical properties still fuel poaching.
Kukui sent out Litten!
Unlike Cubone, Litten used all four of its limbs to walk. A black feline Pokemon, Litten is a fire-breathing Pokemon capable of power embers. Litten are a common Pokemon of Alola, often seen owned by young trainers due to their independent nature and great levels of personal hygiene. Litten are one of three Pokemon to have been given out by the three Professors at the start of the competition, alongside Popplio and Rowlet.
Belle looked at her Cubone, and he looked up at Belle. It was that look that let Belle know that Cubone was ready. She breathed in, held that breath, then exhaled. Her nerves were forced out of her system, and now she was ready.
“Cubone, use Bonemerang!”
Cubone gripped on to his bone, pulled back, then flung it at the Litten. The bone smacked Litten right on the nose. As the bone whirled back round to Cubone, Belle’s mouth hung open. Cubone had never delivered such a blow in any other battle. With his bone back in his hands, Cubone prepared himself to defend.
“Wow, Belle, I didn’t think you would have such a strong start! Okay, Litten, look sharp and finish this thing with an Ember attack!”
Litten run up to Cubone, pounced on him and let out a small burst of fire. Cubone’s skull was scorched and soot-ridden. Lying on the ground, Belle run up to her Cubone.
“Oh no, Cubone! Wake up! You aren’t beat yet!”
Cubone remained still, it’s eyes opened and he seemed to take in his surroundings. After a moment he stood back up, using his bone to prop himself up. With some effort Cubone was back in the fight. Cubone looked at Belle and nodded.
“Cubone! You can do it! Use Headbutt!”
His head lowered and his skull helmet tilted downwards. Cubone braced himself then ran towards Litten. Cubone accelerated towards his target, and within one blink had run into Litten, and with a bash of his skull, Litten landed far back and was knocked out. Belle had won.
“Belle, you have well and truly got some battle skills! I didn’t think your Cubone would be so strong!” Kukui laughed to himself in astonishment, whilst Belle felt a little taken aback. Was he just being friendly, or was she already on the path to being a strong trainer?
Kukui opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead, without a word, handed Belle a Pokeball. “What is this?” asked Belle. “Well…”, began Kukui, “This Litten may have lost the fight, but I think she’s been waiting for you to come along. I’ve handed out scores of Litten today, but this Litten chose you from the second we battled, I know it. Belle was a little confused. “How do you know Litten will obey me?” With some concern in his voice, Kukui told Belle that this Litten chose to enter the Pokeball, she was not pre-caught.
“Wow. So Litten is my new partner?” Kukui nodded. “And, she was also your first trial, or rather I was. We kept it secret, but my wife, Professor Oak and myself are all Trial Captains, we are everyone’s first. So tell me, where do you plan to go from here?”
Belle paused for a moment, as if she was considering everything that she had just been told. “I’m.. I’m not sure. I think I’ll keep walking.” She laughed to herself a little, and Kukui joined in. “That sounds as good a plan as any, friend.”
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