“Pfft Hehehehehe!” I laughed as everyone looked around. “That… Was not what I was expecting!” Lillie called out, the girl was definitely annoyed. Flicking the water from her hands. All of us were completely soaked. The wave of water had come down, and washed us all out. “Seriously.” Kiawe grumbled, although considering he ran around without a shirt on it wasn’t like he was all that wet. “That was certainly a Watergun to the face, wasn’t it?” Kukui offered as he pulled his hat off his head and flicked it around, trying to get the water out of it. “I’m sorry, but Hehehehehe!” I just laughed all the louder. “What’s up with her?” Mallow asked as she seemed to realize I was giggling like crazy. “Did you plan this as a prank?” Lana demanded puffed up but I shook my head. “No no! Hehehe! It’s not like-Hehehehe!” I giggled more then pointed to the sky as I was laying flat on my back laughing. Way above, among the clouds Blue Heart streaked around doing spirals and rolls. “Look at how happy he is!” I gasped out. “Huh.” Kukui offered as he shaded his eyes as he looked upwards. “He does look happy.” “He was laughing all the way up the spiral, and I felt it…” I gasped out, fighting off the giggles that felt like they were infesting me. It just felt so ticklish. Blue Heart had great laughter. “He does look like he’s having fun.” Lillie offered after a few moments most of her previous anger gone. “Yeah. He sure does.” I whispered smiling as he seemed to just be enjoying being in the sky. Blue Heart was such a good boy. “So yeah. It was a bit of a thing.” I explained to Mama and Papa after returning to the beach. It had taken a while for Blue Heart to finally come down, and I’d said my temporary goodbyes to everyone at the Poke School while I waited. “That sounds terrifying.” Mama said bluntly, and then just nodded, turning away from the discussion entirely. “I’m glad you had a nice time with your Alolan friends, and this Water Z move sounds terrifying.” “You’ll have to show us someday, but for now, don’t forget to enjoy your last day of vacation. Is there anything you want to do?” “Well, I thought about going to visit Poni Island.” “Not sure you have enough time for that. Vicky.” Papa offered and I nodded. “But I don’t think I have enough time to really explore it… So I figure I'll just spend the day on the beach, and then visit some of the shops! I haven’t picked up any souvenirs for everyone back home. I figured I should get something for Gram Gram, at least.” “That’s a good idea.” Mama said, returning to the conversation by shifting back and facing me again. “How about we go shopping together?” “Sure! Want to go now? I think if I start going into the ocean again I’ll probably be busy for a while.” “Sure, come on Trouble.” Mama said as she rose up and Papa was smart and just waved us off, as he settled in the sand with Rockruff. He knew if he came he’d be carrying bags. Smart guy, Papa. We wandered through the main street of Mele’mele. Stopping at random shops, some of them very touristy sort of places, but some were full of hand crafted stuff. While exploring I ended up finding the perfect gift for Gram Gram. A pottery place that had cute little hand painted images of pokemon. I quickly snatched up an Alolan Persian looking cozy curled up. “Will absolutely hate it!” I agreed, almost giddy! The look on her face would be so good! Mama rolled her eyes. “Make sure you get something she might actually like too.” “I will!” I agreed and we wandered around the little shop for a while. I found a Lurantis that had a bunch of Fomantis that I picked up as well for Ivy. She actually didn’t know what Lurantis would look like, so it’d be a neat gift for her. I even found a cute Lycanrock that I’d get for Kiba. With that all packed up in bags and little styrofoam cases to keep them safe during travel we continued on. I checked out all the shops, even walking into a Stone shop. There were sections that had Ice Stones, but there was a note saying they weren’t selling them to non-natives. “Neat!” I couldn’t help but mutter as I looked over their array. Some of the Ice Stones looked super pretty, practically sparkling! “Ah, the lovely Alolan Ice Stone! You won’t find anything like it anywhere else!” The shop assistant offered, the woman walking over and looking proud. “Yeah, they’re really pretty.” “They are. Unfortunately, they can’t be sold unless you’re an Alolan.” “Oh, I am, technically.” I offered, showing her my Z Ring which had her blink in surprise. “But I don’t actually need one. Ninetales already gave me this.” I said pulling out the Ice Stone that I’d gotten. “Oh that’s a lovely stone.” The shop assistant gushed, and I nodded happily. “Yep! I’m going to keep it until Vulpix is ready.” I offered, although not mentioning I wasn’t sure which Vulpix would end up with the stone. I had to spend a lot more time with the foxes to figure that out. “Well if you already have a pokemon in mind for it. I won’t ask if you want to sell.” The woman offered with a wink. “Are you looking for something in particular?” “Not really. Mostly just browsing, to see if I can find souvenirs for everyone back home.” “Oh that’s sweet, and I see you already have some things. Well I’d definitely suggest taking a look at our jewelry section!” I hummed and did just that, letting the lady lead Mama and I around the entire shop showing off expensive pieces but, eh. None of it was cute Milotic scales so I was pretty uninterested. Nothing else caught my eye either, but it was just the fun of shopping with Mama that I really enjoyed. “Let’s gooo!” I called out in delight as I held on tight. “Gib.” I heard from Gible as I held her under one arm, while the other held onto Blue Hearts crest as suddenly we surged forward. Since this was the last ocean day, I of course had to take Gible out to play. Blue Heart split the waves and Gible was looking around as a wave of water flowed over our heads before we were under, it was a burst of bubbles and white water, before it cleared and there was just nothing but open blue seas. Still holding on tight to both pokemon, I looked down and saw Gible was wiggling in my grip, but not to escape. She was moving like she was swimming! Then we rose back up and as we burst free I took the chance to catch my breath, and I could hear Gible doing the same. Just before we flew down and sank once more beneath the waves. I leaned out a bit letting Gible really feel the water flowing past her, and that made her little attempts to swim grow stronger. She definitely liked the feel of water flowing past her. Then we broke the surface again and I laughed once I caught my breath. Gible was looking around wondering where all the water went. “Let’s stop here Blue Heart!” I called out, and he started to slow, until he was basically circling lightly and I held out Gible and then leapt. I canonballed into the ocean, with Gible in my arms, and then as we stabilized, I mostly just let her go just keeping her balanced with a free hand. She looked around, as she floated around. Blue Heart circled close, deep enough I could climb out onto him if I needed, and kept us safe, as Gible had a chance to really see how deep the ocean went. I giggled when I brought her under the water, she just reached out for the depths, and made her little grabby hands. Yeah. Someday for sure my little Gible. But first? Let’s see if we can teach you how to really swim. Up until now Gibles ability in the water was… Questionable, but that was what we were out here for. Not just her though. I grabbed her and brought her back to the surface, and she made a cute little noise as she reached the surface and exhaled and started sucking in air again. I crawled up onto Blue Heart, and then tapped my pokeballs at my waist. Jangmo-o, Riolu, Brave and Mimikyu all popped out on top of Blue Hearts scales. “Alright everyone! I know not everyone likes it, but I want to make sure you can all swim.” Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. “Jaaaang.” Jangmo-o instantly whined but I shook my head. “Nope! Everyone has to swim around a little at least! Even you.” I demanded pointing right at Mimikyu who was trying to hide on top of Blue Hearts crest. “Eh eh eh! I already thought about that. Which is why I found… This!” I pulled out a piece of cloth. One I’d went exploring to find, and then just cut a few holes in. “Hehe! It’s a Mimikyu swim suit! I know you don’t want to get your disguise wet, so you can slip this on, and leave the disguise in my bag, until we’re done.” The Polka dot piece of cloth with two eye holes was once something else, but now with a bit of work, it made a perfect bathing suit for my Mimikyu. “I’m sure! Try it, for me?” He slumped, and reached out to take it, and I watched as it brought it inside, his disguise wiggled around a bit and then reached up and slipped it off. The swim suit didn’t have a cute Pikachu, or Milotic theme, it was just a sort of ball shaped with the bottom tightened with scrunchy material… It actually let me see Mimikyu’s shape nearly clearly for the first time, and he was obviously uncomfortable. “Come here.” I offered arms wide and he leapt over after a moment's hesitation. I hugged him tightly as he fell into my arms. “I love you Mimikyu, and this is just a fun disguise so you can go swimming. You don’t have to wear it for long if you don’t want. Okay?” ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽 “So let’s go swimming okay?” I asked him, and he looked towards the ocean, where thankfully some of my friends had already jumped in. Riolu was doggy paddling around, Brave was just floating, but she’d sort of spread herself out on the water… Well she looked like she was okay so I’ll just leave that. “Jaaaang!” He whined his feet tippy tapping on Blue Hearts scales as he sort of looked at the water but refused to jump. I sighed, as I looked over everyone. Thankfully Mimikyu jumped a moment later, and hit the water with a splash, and soon I noticed he was sort of wiggling around in the water getting some motion. Now it was Jangmo-o’s turn. Gible was thankfully more than happy to sit on Blue Heart’s scales half in the water and play for a bit. “C’mon Jangmo-o, I need to know if you can swim for emergencies. Just a little bit.” “Jaaaang!” He whined and I rolled my eyes as I headed over. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?” “Okay I’ll hold you okay?” He hesitated a bit looking at the water, but still started tippy tapping his feet. He didn’t want to admit to being scared huh? I reached out and picked him up, which he side eyed me, as if he expected me to just jump in. Instead I sat down, slipped my feet in the water and kicked a bit. “It’s not scary. Look at everyone here.” “Just a little, I’ll be right here, and I’ll even swim right with you the whole time.” His feet flapped a bit as I held him to my chest until finally he made a whine noise. “Jang.” That was an okay. I grinned as I slipped a bit further down the scales, and soon his tail touched the ocean- “Jaaaaaang!” He whined his tail whipping out of the ocean and he flinched. “It’s not scary. Look.” I reached down and cupped the water. “It’s just water. You drink water all the time.” “Jang!” He whined so I reached down and moved his tail a bit until he was in the water… “Jang Jang.” He muttered. “See no issues.” Then I slipped a bit more off Blue Hearts scales, reaching up to hold myself on, I was basically floating now and Jangmo-o reacted flinching at first, as the water flowed around him, but he calmed down after a moment. “Yep. Now let’s do some swim practice. I’ll hold you, but try to float on your own okay?” I asked and he nodded slowly, as I reached under his barrel, and let him just float on the water… Heh. He wasn’t too bad. His limbs doggy paddling just like Riolu, and soon he seemed to get the hang of it, even able to do it completely without my help, not that I stopped. I didn’t want him to be afraid, I wanted to build his confidence. And with that. Everyone was able to play. Soon Jangmo-o slipped out of the water, but he ended up resting on Blue Hearts flared out tail fin, slightly in the water, but mostly out of it. While that was done, I focused on Gible. “Okay, just hold your breath okay? We’re gonna go under.” “That’s not holding.” I reminded her as I held her out, and I waited for a few moments, for me to feel her inhaling, and then holding it, before we dropped. Gible was basically like a big air bag in the water. It meant she sort of floated, but not really in a controllable fashion. Her horns I think were partially air filled, or hollow, probably hollow. But they left her a bit unbalanced in the water, and sort of floating wrong. But, a little actual training should help and if it didn’t, Gible liked it, so it was all well worth the time. We stayed out there on Blue Heart Island for hours, swimming around, until everyone got tired. But as we lay on Blue Heart, everyone soaking in the sun, I felt it was a perfect end to the last day of fun on Alola. Tomorrow would be the flight home, and from there? “Do you have everything?” “You checked under your bed, we aren’t going to be able to get anything back if you leave it.” “I checked every inch of the room, since I wasn’t sure if some of my pokemon might have left something somewhere. It’s clear.” I offered, throwing a thumbs up. “Good, good.” Mama said relaxing. “Yes.” She said, reaching up and stroking Meowth's chin. While Mama had gotten permission to own Cabbage, Meowth was sort of a grey area, so I was still going to send them home the other way. I held out a pokeball and Meowth looked at me, almost scoffing before leaning down and letting herself be captured. “Oh is it time?” Papa asked, coming out of his room, with his bags, and Rockruff padding at his side… Rockruff had been sleeping in Papa’s hotel room hadn’t he? I rolled my eyes at my parents, not even trying to hide their claiming of new pokemon. “Yep. Come here Rockruff. I need to capture you, and when you get back to our home, we’ll meet you there.” “Ruff!” He charged forward, much more accepting of me than Meowth, and nosed the Pokeball. Just like with Meowths ball it locked, and then teleported away. “Alright then, let’s get to the pokemon Center. You said the Kahuna would bring them?” “Yep. Hala mentioned that he’d bring any pokemon I happened to catch today to the Pokemon Center.” I said, grinning at how Hala had winked at me or at least tried to. The guy's eyes were barely open. And then all three of us were there. Ready to leave Alola. Mama was the first to react, actually sighing. “While I do want to go home, I’m going to miss this place. We’ll have to take another vacation here next year.” “Well maybe a year after that. This was an expensive trip.” Papa offered, looking a little nervous. “Oh please, with how many Milotic the clan has, that won’t be an issue… Or the fact our daughter just collected an entire pack of rare Pokemon.” “Skulk. Groups of Foxses are skulks.” Mama sent me a flat look that I just grinned at. “That’s right!” Papa agreed smiling. “Although they aren’t Canines, they are in-” “Yes my love.” Papa said leaning in for a hug and I noticed shutting up. “As I was saying. With the Vulpix breeding that I’m sure will start, the Milotic, and anything else our daughter thinks up. I expect it’ll be possible. Besides, look at her. She wants to come back.” “I do! I have to finish some more island trials, I only really did Hala’s but I still want to beat him with Riolu!” “There see, your daughter needs to finish her Island Trials.” Mama said, sweetly, like chocolate wouldn’t melt in her mouth. “Uh-uh, I’ll think about it.” Papa said, hiding laughter as he kissed Mama on the cheek. “Alright, let’s go.” I nodded, and we filed out. Dropping off our keys and things at the front desk and then heading to the pokemon center. We still had a few hours until our plane left, so we walked in and settled in to wait. Thankfully it wasn’t long. Hala stepped into the Pokemon Center, carrying two pokeballs, and instantly noticed me. “Ah, Alola Young Victoria, and Mr, and Mrs. Ferrous. I see you caught two completely random pokemon on your final day here Victoria.” “Yep. Totally random, they just wanted to come with me… New friends you know?” “New Family is important, yes.” Hala offered, smiling smugly. “Thanks Kahuna.” I responded much more seriously, then. “I do appreciate it.” “You are of Alola now, entrusted with much more than just two of our island friends. You have my faith.” “Thank you.” I whispered once again, touched with how open Hala had been with me. “Now let me get these two sent off. And let’s see… I should offer some wise words for such a parting… Hmm…. Always eat a full meal.” He said, and it took me a moment to realize he was either being serious, or showing no signs of laughter. “Good… Good advice Kahuna.” I said, trying not to laugh. And with that Hala turned, handed the pokeballs to Nurse Joy to be transferred to Kanto. I dropped off Blue Heart with her as well, as he couldn’t join us all on the plane, and Kahuna Hala said his goodbyes, his wide back blocking out the sun from the door of the Pokemon Center as he left before us, and that was it. The last time I’d see Hala during my Alolan Vacation. He’d been nice. It was sad. We left for the Airport, and soon we’d be back in Kanto. “Aaah It’s cold! Why is it so cold! Hurry!” I whined as I shivered running down the steps of the plane to get into the terminal. “Whew! That is cold! Breathe that air though! Ah, I did miss it.” Papa called out standing on the exit of the plane and just breathing in, only to get slapped by Mama behind him. “H-Hurry up- You-You dolt!” she stammered a bit. Even with our jackets on, it was still really cold compared to the warmth of Alola. “What? I can’t hear you over how amazing it is to be home!” Papa yelled out, almost embarrassingly loud, as he reached out and pulled Mama into a hug. “Wha-You- I said hurry not grab me!” “My lovely wife!” He called out teasing, and I realized he was purposefully messing with Mama and I. “I’m going inside! If you get sick, that's your fault!” I yelled out and raced for the building. I wasn’t made for the cold! There was snow on the ground and I was wearing Alolan summer clothes! I raced inside, and thankfully it was warmer, if not warm, but before I could stop and just start grabbing warmer clothes, I looked up and grinned. “There’s my granddaughter.” She called out. She’d been sitting at one of the seats, with Persian resting beside her waiting! Moments later I swept in for a hug and snuggled up.