Chapter 0781: Natsume Comes to Alola to Battle the Rookies!(Two-in-One)

The Alola Region is made up of four tropical, resource-rich main islands and one artificial island—Aether Paradise.

Each island boasts sweeping beaches, its own guardian deity, and unique festivals. As a vacation paradise, Alola draws countless visitors each year.

To the northwest, the island known as Melemele Island is guarded by Tapu Koko.

Melemele Island is home to Alola’s largest and most vibrant city, Hau’oli City.

Hau’oli City is divided into beach, commercial, and port districts—making it a famous seaside city. On its outskirts lies the Pokémon School, as well as beaches, bushes, and conservation areas that host a thriving Pokémon habitat. The environment is lush and perfect for travel and holiday getaways.

Hau’oli City, Beachfront

Sun blazed down, palm trees rustled in the breeze, Lapras traced lazy circuits across the sea, and snow-white Wingull glided overhead.

At a secluded, private beach separated from the city by a sea bluff, waves washed over the sand in peaceful rhythm. Cynthia and Natsume-sensei’s Pokémon basked in the sunlight, carefree.

Two beach chairs faced the ocean, shaded by parasols. On one reclined a snow-white Sylveon, baby-blue eyes behind sunglasses, radiating top-tier Sylveon sister energy.

On the other, long pale legs stretched out beneath the umbrella. Cynthia, dressed in a sky-blue blouse, sipped iced fruit juice with elegance, lowering her tinted glasses to gaze out at the sea.

High above, Latias soared like a jet, trailing a white wake across the sky.

On the limitless ocean, a small yacht motored along. Gengar wore a crisp white sailor’s cap, hands confidently on the wheel. “Gengar!”

Behind the yacht, Natsume rode a surfboard, slicing through the waves with superb balance—riding the crests to perfection.

“Avoid the Lapras up ahead!” Natsume reminded.

“Gengar~” Gengar spun the wheel with a flourish.

Lapras glanced back anxiously at the boat. Suddenly, a Mantine soared from the water, leaping alongside Natsume as if racing him.

“Lapras aren’t rare here in Alola like they are on the Sevii Islands,” muttered Natsume, watching a small island on the horizon. “Overprotection’s actually made them too common.”

Exeggutor stretched its giraffe-neck to munch on palm leaves; a tall Toucannon hammered a tree trunk with its blazing red beak; beneath the shade, a Crabrawler pounded a trunk, hoping berries would fall.

“Alola’s ecosystem really is its own system… I recall Gumshoos even preys on Rattata and the like.”

Natsume was full of admiration. He called, “Gengar, let’s head home!”

“Gengar~” Gengar tapped his sailor’s hat and guided the yacht and board back to shore.

Natsume unclipped the tow rope, rode a final wave in, stepped up on the sand, and took an icy cola from Meloetta. Laughing, he said, “Thanks, Meloetta.”

“Meloetta~” Meloetta grinned.

Sylveon on the beach chair blinked, glanced around, then with a flourish of its ribbon, sliced a “Magical Leaf” at a coconut tree.

Rustle, rustle. The leaves swayed.

“Sylveon~” Sylveon lifted a fresh coconut with its ribbons, offering it to Natsume-sensei. “Sylveon! o(′^｀)o”

This coconut just happened to fall down!

Natsume hesitated, then accepted it, gently patting Sylveon’s head.

“When did you learn to surf?” Cynthia asked, curious.

“On summer vacation—my dad taught me here in Alola.” Natsume spooned coconut flesh with a casual answer.

Cynthia touched a hand to her chin, nodded, then lazily stretched and rolled over to sunbathe on her back.

Natsume: “Want me to help you put on sunscreen?”

Cynthia replied lazily, “Togepi will handle it for me.”

Natsume glanced back; Togepi was busy building sandcastles with Tyranitar and Victini.

Their sizes were vastly different, but the three little ones played together in perfect harmony.

“Togepi’s playing in the sand,” Natsume reported.

Cynthia blushed, closed her eyes, and whispered, “Well… be gentle…”

“Don’t worry, I actually have a Massage Therapist Trainer License!” Natsume declared with authority.

Natsume’s fingers glided over her smooth back, and since this is a kid-friendly anime, the scene jumped forward to dusk.

The sun was melting into the ocean, bathing the water in gold. As Alola’s gentle night fell, the two drove back to their estate on Hau’oli City’s outskirts.

Natsume, riding in the passenger seat and gazing out at the winding coastal road, mused,

“Tomorrow, I go to register at Trainer School.”

“The Trainer School in Hau’oli City?” Cynthia’s profile was elegant as she stared at the road ahead.

“Mhm.” Natsume nodded, feeling mixed emotions.

Hopefully it wasn’t the same school Ash and his friends attended.

If he took the principal job at that school, the Ultra Beast invasion couldn’t be far off…

The villa, prepared by butler Jervis, stood atop the northeastern cliffs of Melemele Island—a private, tranquil residence.

Whether traveling by Arcanine, Latias, or Rotom Bike, it was perfectly convenient.

Natsume remembered Alola’s special “Charizard riding gear”—full-body protective suits, saddles, and safety harnesses—about as safe as adding guardrails. He needed to get his hands on a set soon!

……

The next morning, following arrival tradition in a new region, Natsume decided to pay a visit to the local expert—Professor Kukui.

Cynthia stayed in, absorbed in Alola mythology or, in her downtime, gaming with Togepi.

“Alola has its own mythology?” Natsume asked, surprised.

“Of course,” Cynthia explained. “Solgaleo, Lunala, and the guardian deities of the four islands—all are part of Alola’s legends.”

So they must be: Solgaleo and Lunala—the sun lion and the moon bat. Both are legendary beasts from the Ultra Wormholes arriving in Alola.

For these friendly visitors, Natsume felt it was best to return them to their home world.

Leaving the villa, Natsume hopped on his Rotom Bike. “Rotom, navigate to Kukui Research Institute!”

“Beep… Calculated shortest route. Wild Pokémon encounter possible, please travel safe, Rotom~!”

Natsume: “…Thanks for the warning. Wild Pokémon average level 5 here on Hau’oli City’s outskirts…”

Alola’s lush sunlight, forests, and thriving bushes surrounded Kukui’s lab, perched near the shore.

Dressed in an Alolan short-sleeve and knee-length shorts, Natsume pedaled his bike downhill, eyeing the heavy-fruited trees all around.

“Hm… Quality’s as good as any berry stall.”

【?】

“Wait, you’re still alive?!” Natsume gasped.

The notification tone faded; Natsume-sensei figured it was some sort of scientific device.

Just like Devon Corporation’s ‘Infinity Project’—capable of transmitting items or even pulses to Mega Blastoise… In the end,

“Science really is amazing!” Natsume exclaimed.

“Hey, you on the bike—big brother!”

A slightly nervous call echoed from down the road; a girl in a short skirt watched him, clutching a Poké Ball.

“I’m out here to catch Pokémon… You’re a rookie trainer too, right? Come on—Pokémon battle!”

Natsume paused, then heard the girl insist,

“When eyes meet, you have to battle! It’s the rule!”

With a complicated smile, Natsume replied, “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure!” The local girl lifted her chin, regaining her confidence. “I’m the top student at the local Trainer School!”

Natsume pursed his lips, stopped his bike, and said, “If I lose, do I have to give you spending money?”

“Nope!” The girl beamed. “It’s just a friendly battle for practice—please, go easy!”

Natsume nodded with a serious face.

Such spirit deserves respect.

In that case, let a Battle Legend give you some true guidance…

“Go, Pikipek!” the girl cried.

She tossed her Poké Ball, then ran to fetch it. “I haven’t mastered the rebound technique yet—that’s high-grade stuff!”

Red light flashed, Pikipek spread its wings, trilling with sharp-eyed confidence.

Natsume checked his Poké Balls. Erm… Rotom’s in the car, so my weakest Pokémon would be…

“Go.” Natsume tossed a Dusk Ball. “Tyranitar!”

“Banji!”

Tyranitar roared, stomping down, raising a sandstorm until gloom covered the sky.

The girl: “…”

Natsume: “…Don’t cry, okay? Hold on! I’ll show you weather strategies seriously—don’t run away!”

The match ended with Victini teaching Pikipek the move “Sunny Day.”

“I’ve never seen that Pokémon before…” the girl stammered. “And weather strategy—that’s for upperclassmen, right?!”

“Too bad you met me,” replied Natsume. “If you’d met another Champion, he’d have given you an item.”

“What item?”

“Mega Stone and Key Stone,” Natsume answered.

The girl looked puzzled, then declared, “Strategy seems a lot more useful!”

“Right? I think so too.” Natsume laughed.

After this travel adventure, a rumor began to circulate in Alola of chance encounters with the Champion.

It’s said this Champion will recommend the right strategies for your team—like a professor.

As upright and passionate as the island guardians, Tapu Koko, running into the Champion was considered a sign of good luck…

……

Melemele Island, Kukui Research Institute

Knock knock, a sharp sound at the door. Kukui—goggles, open lab coat, tanned abs, white cap—called loudly,

“Coming, coming!”

When he opened the door, Professor Kukui froze in surprise:

“Natsume-sensei!?”

“Professor Kukui.” The black-haired young man smiled. “I came on Professor Oak’s invitation to serve as principal in the Alola Region. Just dropping by to say hello.”

“Haha, come on in!” Kukui’s hearty laughter echoed. “I’ve heard all kinds of Champion stories about you—and I remember you’re an expert in ancient languages!”

“Yeah, we actually met at a research conference once,” Natsume replied.

Kukui’s lab was homey and tidy, its old-fashioned wooden door adding to its resemblance to an ordinary cottage.

After inviting Natsume to the couch, Kukui poured a glass of Pinap juice and said,

“Professor Oak already told me about the Trainer School affair. I’ll take you there tomorrow.”

“Where is it located?” Natsume asked curiously.

“Just out on Hau’oli City’s outskirts,” said Kukui. “Only five students enrolled this year.”

Natsume sensed something was off and asked cautiously, “And who are those five…”

“They’re Trainers who specialize in four different types—plus my assistant, Lillie.”

Kukui smiled. “She’s out at the moment but she’s a very earnest and diligent assistant.”

Natsume’s face turned thoughtful.

So it really is Ash’s class year!

To be fair, all these students went on to become Alola’s junior captains—and Ash even became the very first Alola Champion… a real “golden generation.”

“Honestly, Natsume-sensei…”

Professor Kukui’s expression grew serious. “I’ve always dreamed of establishing a new league here in Alola—so I keep pushing myself as a Trainer. I’d love to hear your opinion.”

For a native of Alola, building a true regional league was Kukui’s lifelong dream.

With a “respected” Battle Legend arriving, Kukui didn’t hesitate to get straight to the point.

Strength-wise, Alola’s four island kahunas match up to the Elite Four, while Professor Kukui and Tapu Koko barely reach Champion level.

“Creating Alola’s first league, is it?” Natsume mused, then nodded. “I fully support it. Having a league and official tournaments makes it easier to develop Trainers’ strength and manage everything.”

Professor Kukui smiled wide, sharing his vision: “I want to build the league at Mount Lanakila, the highest peak in Alola… To prepare, I went to challenge Kanto, but ultimately fell to Lance… Still, battling Champion Lance taught me so much.”

Kukui’s strength was near Elite Four peak—top tier in Alola, yet the region as a whole still relied heavily on its guardians.

But that couldn’t last forever.

Natsume understood Kukui’s worry—Ultra Wormholes hung over Alola’s head like a sword.

“Having you as principal in Alola means a lot to me,” Professor Kukui said sincerely. “If you ever have questions about the Z Domain, I’ll do my best to answer.”

“Actually, I wanted to ask…”

Natsume hesitated. “Can Normal-type Pokémon also gain Totem aura?”

“Absolutely,” Kukui replied. “The aura comes from the island’s power—a blessing from the guardians to Pokémon with great potential.”

“There is another rare case,” Kukui explained. “Sometimes a Pokémon bypasses the guardians and draws on island strength itself… for example, through special evolution forms. I suspect the Kalos and Alola auras are related, but research is ongoing.”

Natsume’s eyebrow rose.

Sylveon had just mastered Geomancy—could it directly draw on Melemele Island’s energy?

Combined with the Totem aura, Sylveon’s “Pixilate” ability might even rival Xerneas’s “Fairy Aura.”

Illegally acquired abilities, at that!

Totem Sylveon… certainly fit the Sylveon sister attitude!

Maybe this was how Sylveon would achieve “Battle Legend” status.

“I should discuss this with Tapu Koko,” Natsume thought. “Let Sylveon absorb a little Melemele Island energy… and if I need to take care of any Ultra Beasts in return, so be it.”

Defeating Ultra Necrozma might be tough… but taking down a Guzzlord should be no problem.

“Oh, by the way, Natsume-sensei,”

Professor Kukui smiled, “Tonight there’s a Full Power Festival in Iki Town—care to join?”

“Full Power Festival?”

“It’s a huge event for Trainer battles.” Professor Kukui’s eyes sparkled. “The island kahuna—and the Masked Royal—will all fight…”

“It’s said Tapu Koko might even show up in person!” Professor Kukui added with a laugh.

Natsume: ……

Masked Royal… isn’t that you?

Some Trainers may be Pokémon Professors by day… but by night, become masked wrestling heroes.

Tapu Koko showing up was tempting for Natsume-sensei.

He nodded. “I’ll think about it.”

An Alola Battle Festival?

Isn’t that just beating up rookies?!