Prologue: An Interrupted Vacation
Marcus Ashbrook stretched as he stepped out of the airport onto the streets of Hau'oli City.
"Hello, Alola!" he said, chuckling, "All right, come on out, everyone!"
His cloak swirled as he reached down to his belt and tossed his Pokéballs into the air. They opened with a pop and a fizzing sound, the energy they released resolving into his team.
"Welcome to Alola, everyone," Marcus said, smiling as he took them in.
Forest the Sceptile, his first Pokémon and his strongest. He'd recieved him from Professor Birch the day he'd set out on his journey, years ago. He had two red fang marks just beneath each eye, and wore a Sceptilite in an ornate black pauldron on his left shoulder. Currently, he had his arms spread wide, revelling in the warm tropical sun.
Margras the Salamence, the bold warrior of the team and a loving father. A lucky find early in his career, Marcus had befriended Margras as a Bagon. Margras had then chosen to go with him in order to grow stronger and evolve so that he could fly. He wore a scarf around his neck, with an amulet carrying a Salamencite beneath it. Flaring his wings, he rumbled and gave his mate an affectionate nuzzle.
Skystrifer the Hydreigon, Margras' mate and a loving mother. Very calm for her species, and with an endearingly quirky personality. Marcus had bumped into her while making his way to the Pokémon League in order to watch a challenge. She had followed him for a while before he realised that she wanted to join him. She had later fallen in love with Margras, something Marcus had supported whole-heartedly. She wore a blunted Skarmory wing feather in her mane and a scarf identical to Margras' around her neck. She nuzzled her mate in return, gently wrapping her secondary necks around her child and pulling him close.
Nightscream the Noibat, Margras and Skystrifer's adoptive child. An adorable little thing that had hatched from an orphaned egg Marcus had rescued from poachers. He was incredibly sweet, but also very curious, and that sometimes got him into trouble. He wore a scout's kerchief around his neck, although due to his size, it was actually made from a handkerchief. He let out a happy coo as he snuggled into his mother's chest.
Mirai the Goodra, the team's newest member bar the infant Nightscream, and something of a tank. She was quiet-natured, but friendly, and loved to give hugs, requiring Marcus to keep a few changes of clothes at the ready because of her slime, although thankfully it didn't stain. She had faint markings around her eyes that resembled eye shadow, and wore a small blue flower on her left antenna. She purred happily, delighting in the moist, tropical air.
Sousuké the Delphox, the team's secret weapon and a devastatingly powerful ranged specialist, despite his calm and relaxed nature. He had joined the team as a Fennekin because he had decided that he liked Marcus when the trainer had helped Professor Sycamore with his Mega Evolution research. Sousuke's fur was trimmed so that it more resembled a flowing mage's or monk's robe than a furisode. He also wore a deep crimson cloak (although he never raised its hood) and a scarf for a belt, and carried a crystal-topped staff. He adjusted his cloak and looked around with his usual relaxed curiosity even as he established a telepathic translation link with Marcus.
In many ways, these Pokémon were more than just his team. They were family.
"Oh, yeah, that sun feels so good," Forest announced, "How are you handling this heat, Mirai?"
"I'm fine," Mirai replied, "This air is nice and humid."
"Makes me glad I keep a variety of clothes, including a light cloak," Marcus commented, tugging on the lightweight, snowy-white cloak hanging from his shoulders.
"Yes, you do love that particular look," Sousuke said dryly.
"Hey, this is the official Dragon Tamer uniform," Marcus shot back, mock-indignantly, earning laughs.
There wasn't actually a true "official" Dragon Tamer's uniform, but a very high proportion of Dragon-specialist trainers (especially those who had undergone the rites at the Dragon's Den in Johto) copied Johto Champion Lance's signature look.
Marcus had done so himself, to a point, wearing a cloak, typically deep blue, flicked back off one shoulder, over a blue-grey longcoat and grey slacks, with a pair of Go-Goggles around his forehead, black demi-gauntlets on his hands, matching greaves on his shins, and, hidden beneath his cloak, an ornate, black metal armband on his left arm, into which he had mounted one of his most prized possessions; a Keystone gifted to him as a symbol of his bond with his team.
He wasn't wearing his coat at this point, however; instead swapping it for a loose, long-sleeved white shirt and blue jeans beneath his lightweight white cloak to accomodate the tropical climate.
"So what's our plan?" Margras asked, "There aren't any Gyms to challenge in this region."
"Yeah, no Gyms for us for a while," Marcus replied, "After the League, I think we're in need of a vacation."
His team all nodded in understanding. Marcus had entered the Pokémon League for the first time in the most recent Kalos League tournament, and had made it all the way to the Quarter-Finals. Given that Nightscream was too young to battle, especially not in League matches, he had been given permission to use his inactive Pokémon, his Flygon, Miriallia, as a substitute sixth team member. These battles had been extremely intense, and he believed that he and his team both deserved, and needed, some time off.
"A vacation does sound good," Mirai commented.
"Meema? What's a vacayshun?" Nightscream asked.
"It's when you take a break and visit some sites, little one," Skystrifer explained, "You usually travel somewhere nice to have one."
"We're having one right now, son," Margras added, gently rubbing him on the head with his wing.
"Oh, OK," Nightscream replied, purring as he pushed his head into the contact.
Marcus smiled. Adorable moments like this made him truly glad he'd become a Trainer. And that he'd remembered to pack his camera.
*Ka-click*
:::
Jade Flaren hummed to herself as she walked down the street, carrying two large bags of groceries, trailed by her Shiny Typhlosion, Flarina, who was carrying another bag.
"Thanks for helping me with this, Flarina," she said happily, adjusting her grip, "I think we can look forward to Mom's berry pie for desert tonight."
"Typh!" Flarina cheered; Amber Flaren's homemade Oran Berry pie was one of her favourite treats.
Jade smiled. Flarina was her only Pokémon, as, while she was a licensed Trainer, she hadn't been able to travel due to needing to stay at home to help at her mother's bakery. She cherished the Typhlosion dearly, Flarina being like the sister she had never had.
Now that they had moved to the Alola Region, though, she had been able to join Pokémon School, and even had the opportunity to do the Island Challenge... although she had to wonder how they would deal with a Trial-goer starting with a fully-evolved Pokémon.
Smiling, Jade turned her attention back to the road, only to raise her eyebrows when she saw a group of six Pokémon from outside Alola clustered together next to a teenager wearing a cape. As the young man lowered the camera that had obscured his face, Jade's eyebrows shot upwards.
"Isn't that-?" she asked.
"Phlo," Flarina agreed.
Grinning, Jade made a beeline towards the Trainer.
"Alola, Marcus!" she called, causing him to turn in surprise, before his expression brightened.
"Jade!" he called back, stepping forward to meet her, "It's great to see you again. Did your mother's bakery take off or something?"
"Kinda; enough that we moved here after Mom bought a new bakery here in Hau'oli City," Jade replied, "Aunty Ems took over the old one. What brings you here?"
"Vacation after the recent League," Marcus replied, "I'm guessing you caught it on TV?"
"You bet I did," Jade said, grinning, "You guys were awesome. Especially in that quarter-finals match."
"I'd never have been able to do it if I haven't been permitted to bring in Miriallia," Marcus informed her humbly, "One of my team is still an infant. That reminds me, I need to introduce you to the new team members."
He turned to his team and smiled.
"You've met Forest, Margras, and Skystrifer," he said, indicating them, "And these are Sousuké, Mirai, and Nightscream. Guys, meet Jade, a friend of mine from home, and her partner Flarina."
"Alola," Jade said, "It's nice to meet you."
"Typh," Flarina agreed.
"Phox."
"Goo."
"Chirrr."
Marcus smiled, before turning to Jade.
"So, how's Alola been treating you?"
Jade grinned.
"It's amazing here, Marcus," she informed him, "The Pokémon are fascinating, and the people are so friendly. I love it."
Marcus nodded.
"I'm glad I came, then," he said, before glancing at the bags in Jade's grip, "And I think I've held you up long enough. You need to get those home, don't you?"
Jade jolted, eyes widening.
"Oh, shoot! That's right!"
She stepped past Marcus, before pausing and turning back to him.
"You should come with me," she said, "Mom will want to see you, too."
Marcus blinked, before smiling.
"Right. Come on guys, let's... Guys?"
Marcus turned to find his team and Flarina slumping against each other. Concern spiked through him, then Jade slumped against him, her groceries spilling across the ground as her arms loosened.
"What's... happen...ing?" he trailed off as darkness took him.
"Rest now my children, for when you awake a whole new world will be your home."
