Soon me, Lana and Pikachu arrived outside of the Pokémon School.
'Everyone meets up here after we've finished with work,' explained Lana. 'At the moment, I don't think anyone's got anything to do.'
She flung open the doors. Instantly I was greeted with warmth as we climbed the stairs.
Upstairs, in the main teaching area, there were 4 others. I was filled with excitement as we drew nearer to them.
'Hi guys!' said Lana. 'Guess who I've found?'
Mallow, Lillie, Sophocles and Kiawe looked at me, did a double-take, and all made some sort of weird noise.
'Uh--'I began, but suddenly I was in an interrogation.
'Ash, is that you?'
'It's been so long!'
'You won't believe what's changed!'
'Hi guys!' I exclaimed. 'It's great to be back!'
'Right, calm down, everyone,' said Lana. 'Ash's here because he's investigating something.'
'Uh-huh, I'm a journalist now,' I explained.
'I'm on my way to becoming an astronaut!' said Sophocles. 'At the moment, I'm learning how to fly spaceships!'
'I've taken over my dad's restaurant,' said Mallow. 'It's a long story why, but there you go!'
'I teach here now,' said Lillie, 'and I'm on my way to becoming Professor Lillie!'
'I, myself, have become a sailor,' said Lana -- hence the sailor outfit.
'Wow, cool!' I said in response to all remarks, then Kiawe came up to me.
'Ash, guess what?' he whispered.
'H-Huh?' I began.
'I've become... the Island Kahuna of Akala Island!'
'Wow, really?' I beamed. 'That's amazing, Kiawe!'
'I know, right?' he said with a wide smile. 'And I'm hoping we can have a battle!'
'Well, I've not got a full team at the moment...' I began, then looked back at Pikachu, who was socialising with the other Pokémon - mainly with Togedemaru; 'but we can have a one-on-one match!'
Kiawe looked confused. But then he smiled.
'Alright then,' he said.
A while later, me and Kiawe and Pikachu were all stood in battle stance outside of the Pokémon School. Everyone else was spectating on a bench.
'Now, Pikachu, I choose you!' I said.
'Come on out, Talonflame!' said Kiawe. I thought, Talonflame?
Talonflame hovered above Pikachu. I snickered.
'Kiawe, you're making a mistake!' shouted Lillie suddenly. 'Talonflame's a Flying type!'
'Oh, this is no mistake,' exclaimed Kiawe. 'It's a full intention!'
'He's up to something,' I murmured.
'Ash, make your move!' called Kiawe. I nodded.
'Right, Pikachu, go straight in with a Thunderbolt!' I cried. Pikachu leapt up and began producing electricity from its cheeks.
'Talonflame, dodge and use Brave Bird!'
Talonflame had built up a lot of speed. It moved swiftly, and Pikachu's Thunderbolt was sent flying elsewhere. It then dived towards Pikachu, producing an orange aura.
'Wow, it's fast,' I muttered, then snapped out of it. 'Iron Tail, and aim for its beak!'
Pikachu whacked Talonflame's beak with Iron Tail. Talonflame bounced back, then shook its head, taking damage.
'You're fine, Talonflame!' groaned Kiawe. 'Sorry, Talonflame's a bit dramatic!'
'Kiawe can understand Fire-types!' explained Mallow.
I laughed.
'Right, use Steel Wing!' cried Kiawe. Talonflame, still shaking its head, snapped out of it. Both its wings turned white and it flew headfirst into Pikachu.
'Electroweb!' I said. Pikachu tried to launch an Electroweb, but Talonflame still hit it first!
Pikachu, taking damage, backed away. Talonflame seemed to laugh.
'You okay, buddy?' I asked. Pikachu squealed, as if saying "Yep!"
'Alright, use Thunderbolt!'
Pikachu leapt up once more, producing electricity.
'Talonflame, stop laughing and use Steel Wing to block it!'
Talonflame once more snapped out of it. Its wings glowed white, but instead of launching towards us, it sort of shielded itself. Pikachu's Thunderbolt did hit it, but even so, it hit Talonflame's wings and had no effect!
'Why is it so hard to land just a single attack?' I moaned.
'I learnt that from you!' chuckled Kiawe. 'All my strategies were from you!'
I grinned. 'Pikachu, Quick Attack!'
Kiawe also grinned. 'Counter with Quick Attack!'
The two Pokémon launched into each other, then bounced back, not inflicting any damage whatsoever.
That's when it hit me. It seemed to hit Pikachu too.
'Hey, Pikachu, you thinking what I'm thinking?' I suddenly said. Pikachu looked back and nodded.
'Right, use Electroweb on the wall!' I said. Pikachu did so. Talonflame looked back at the sizzling Electroweb, immediately distracted.
'What was that for--?' began Kiawe, also looking back.
'Now, Thunderbolt!'
In a series of rapid movements, Pikachu launched a Thunderbolt at Talonflame, who never saw it coming! It looked back, and BOOM!
There was a lot of smoke. Pikachu jumped back.
After the smoke had cleared, we could see that Talonflame had fainted.
'We did it!' I exclaimed, high-fiving Pikachu on the tail.
'You were great, Talonflame, get a good rest,' said Kiawe, recalling Talonflame. He then walked up to me and held out his hand.
'That was awesome!' he said. 'Just what I expected. A battle of wits, as well as Physical moves and no Status moves whatsoever!'
'Right. Thanks, Kiawe!' I said, shaking his hand.
It was now midday. Lana, as promised, showed me and Pikachu the way to Round Industries. We twisted through alleyways and ran through streets, until we reached a huge building with a Poké Ball on the top.
'This is it!' said Lana. 'Hope you find what you're looking for!'
'Thanks so much, Lana,' I said, mid-entering the building. 'Bye!'
'Bye!' She walked away.
When in the building, me and Pikachu found it hard to keep track of anything that was happening. There were conveyor belts everywhere, and I mean everywhere. There were billions of conveyor belts, but not a worker in sight.
'Hello?' I dared to call. 'Anyone here?'
'May I help you?' said a soft voice. Me and Pikachu spun round to see...
It was a man. He definitely worked here. He had black hair with red highlights, and parts of his hair was knotted with red ribbons. He also had a mini plait, and bright blue eyes.
We stared at each other, before screaming.