Test Drive Meme - January 2020!

[bestmomever]

January Test Drive Meme!





Welcome to Alola


Whether you fell through an Ultra Hole or came through an Ultra Hole while chasing some strange creature, you’re now in the sunny islands of Alola. Things might look peaceful, but you might just be accosted by strange men in armor, looking to take you in. Or maybe you’ll run into other Fallers who are more than willing to give you a hand. Normally the islands would be more welcoming. But arriving here, you’re given a guide from one of the teachers from the school. Brock, Misty, May, Gary, or any of the major professors after your encounter with the previous people.

Unrest

Upon arriving at the Visitor’s Center, the various people willing to give you a hand has diminished a bit as many of them are trying to calm a populace angry that otherworlders are trying to dictate what they should do and how to treat their visitors. You’re still welcome to get your bearings straight here, but it might be just a little empty. It might be a little easier to prove your worth by showing the people you’re one of the good guys.


Break Down the World

3) Guzma, head of Team Skull has given a warning to anyone who has decided to cause trouble in the islands: prove your strength. To this end, Team Skull has created a barricade in several of the ports and major parts of the islands, and has flagrantly set up banners declaring their intent.

You want to start trouble? You answer to Team Skull.


Divine Research

4) It seems like not everyone is causing trouble. In fact, Acerola and Cynthia have called many researchers to their side to comb the texts that were left over from the ancient days about the different stories. Some of them are strange, conflicting. But perhaps you might be able to shed some light on the subject. Most curious is an odd journal that Kahuna Nanu had managed to conceal from the interlopers, half torn apart but is written by a man named “C”.


The Hunt for Team Rocket

5) Not every hero wears a cape. Some heroes wear a giant R on their chest.

Exiled from their home, Team Rocket is on the run. Looking for them might bring you in good graces for the people who want to see them home safely… but there’s also Team Rainbow Rocket members who are also on the watch for them, with dangerous Pokemon partners. Track them if you dare.

The Grand Trials!

6) Not everything is trouble - wanting to keep a semblance of normalcy, the Kahunas are still running trials, still giving prospective trainers a chance to earn a Z-Ring and a Z-Stone. Flintheart Glomgold dismissed the power of Z in favor of his strange armor; it’s time to prove him wrong and train to get one.


The Pilgrimage of Compassion

7) Despite everything, despite the danger, the aggression, the frustration of the land, life will go on. And all it takes is one single compassionate reminder. January hosts the Pilgrimage of Compassion when people walk up the slopes of Wela, and offer gifts to the land. To remember that not everyone is without hope. Compassion is hope, and without hope, nothing is forsaken, lost.

Ohana. Family, and hope, is ohana. Ohana means, no one is left behind. Or forgotten. It takes one little thing, and the Kahuna will lead the people on the walk from Akala Port to the top of Wela Shrine in this Pilgrimage.

Comments

[acmellash]

"The Pokemon School is so much different than other schools!" Exclaimed Ash as their food came, pancakes piled high with fruit and syrup for all of them. "It's suuuuper fun, and I love it! It's the best school ever! I was planning on going home to start exploring the world but I'm here for another term and all. And I'm glad I am. The school has so many more fun classes this year!"

[snowpointzoey]

"Heh, just don't say that to Ms. Senior. You know how she is." Zoey laughed at the immense size of the pancakes before carefully cutting them diagonally for both herself and Glameow. "Exploring the world, huh? Sounds like you would've had a blast! Think you would've been recruited to be a Pokémon researcher? What kind of courses do you take?"

[acmellash]

"Cynthia recommended it to me, but I don't know where to start." said Ash, as he cut into his pancakes, giving Pikachu his own plate, knife and fork before digging in.

"Y'see," he added through a mouthful, "Professor Kukui offered to help me study for an actual uh, I think he called it vocation? But I dunno. Being a professor isn't really what I want to do still. I still want to become a Pokemon Master after all. Being a researcher is neat, but it's not something I want to spend all my time doing!"

[snowpointzoey]

Zoey swallowed before answering; were Dawn with them, she most likely would've chided Ash for speaking with his mouth full. "You'll figure it out, but it's nice you're sticking with your dreams no matter what."

Zoey handed Glameow a plate of Miltank milk that she'd ordered along with her meal. "Professor Kukui's the main professor for the Alola region, isn't he? What's he like? I'm sure he's quite different from Professor Rowan."

[acmellash]

"Well, he's not really really the main professor for this region," said Ash thoughtfully, taking another bite and swallowing this time. "There's no trainer system here in Alola like other regions since there's no actual Pokemon League until last year. Pokemon in this region are more like family members than they are partners actually."

"But as for Professor Kukui... he's really energetic. He's a great teacher, and he teaches everyone in class a whole bunch of subjects! I'm always interested in the source material, even if I sometimes struggle with it. And he always takes the time teach me things like PokeBase, PokeGolf, and we go on field trips all the time, and then he even fights as a Pro Wrestler named Royal Mask! He's the coolest."

[snowpointzoey]

"Huh. That makes sense, considering you just said Alola didn't have an actual Pokémon League set up until last year. Almost curious to see who'll follow in your footsteps and become the 2nd Champion!" Zoey took a few more bites and swallowed before continuing.

"Talk about a really focused professor! He's got more jobs than Nando has Ribbons or Badges! ...Then again, maybe they're tied." Zoey laughed lightly while nodding her approval. "You said the Pokémon here in Alola are like family. That's the same with the people too, isn't it?"

[acmellash]

"Yeah he's really talented, and Professor is what I call him but he's kinda like my dad in a lot of ways." said Ash with a fond smile.

"Alola's a lot about family, and... to be honest, it was a hard decision to leave Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet. They're really basically my other family. But when everyone started appearing, I couldn't just leave them like that. So I stayed. And now I've got all these responsibilities? It makes me worried, but I hope everyone will get through it."

[snowpointzoey]

Zoey nodded, understanding quite well when it came to responsibilities. "Hey, remember what Dawn says: 'no need to worry!' And I'm sure you remember the tale of when I met Glameow. I had to undergo a huge amount of responsibility at a really young age, even with Ms. Senior's help! Just keep doing what you've been doing, and take things one day at a time, one step at a time."

Zoey was about 1/2way through with her pancakes at this point, taking a few gulps of her own glass of Miltank milk and wiping away any mustaches before going on. "From what you've told me, whoever's arrived just needs a bit of help in getting used to life in Alola. I just arrived with my Pokémon and already you made sure I'll have somewhere to stay and get settled while I decide how I can help out. Seems like you've done a great job already, Ash."

[acmellash]

"They do. We want to get them all home, and Santa helped alleviate their fears and worries, so I hope everything will be all right in the end. I just really hope everyone will be okay." said Ash with a small smile.

"Thanks Zoey, I just really needed to hear that."

[snowpointzoey]

Santa? Zoey responded with a smile and a bit of laughter, but it wasn't belittling in anyway. She would most likely see some unique events herself the longer she was here.

"Anytime, Ash! It's what friends do for each other, no matter what." Family, too.

[acmellash]

"Yeah thanks Zoey! Man, it's so great to see some old friends and faces around again. Alola's been a real helping relaxing vacation and it's actually starting to feel like a visit all over again." said Ash.

[snowpointzoey]

"Heh, glad I could help out!" Zoey finished her pancakes, and any leftovers she might've had was put in Glameow's plate. "What else is there to see? We have a while before I need to go get settled in right?"

[acmellash]

"You know, since we're on the subject of things? I want to show you the Pokemon School." said Ash. "It's not the most tourist-trap like place, but it's like a third home for me. I spend a lot of time there and I love it there."

[snowpointzoey]

"I was wondering when you would suggest that." Zoey noted with a smile. "Sounds great! What kind of lessons did you learn last semester?"

[acmellash]

"Well I had to do a lot of reports like normal school, but it was on fun stuff like life in Alola, Pokemon and human interaction, but then there was also pokemon math, religion, sciences... I actually learned a lot from Professor Kukui, and he always made it actually really fun even when we got into loud debates about the silliest things like if a legendary liked to be scratched under the chin or something." said Ash with a grin.

"And then there's all the field trips, school activities outside the school too, the exercise and the Z-Move and battle training, and we get to play with Pokemon all the time! Sometimes we had to stop though in the middle of class because a Ultra Beast showed up in the middle of school, so we had to be deployed so I'll show you the secret base under the classroom."

[snowpointzoey]

"Oh, yeah! Z-Moves are all the rage in Alola aren't they?" Zoey had told herself if she ever came to the Alola region she would do her best to obtain a Z-Ring. "Maybe Ms. Senior could sub for a class someday and see how things are done here." Candice still hardly gets any challengers for the Snowpoint Gym, if one were to ask her.

[acmellash]

"It's more than just a rage, it's hard to put it into terms but..." Ash got a faraway look on his face. "When you perform a Z-Move, you're the closest you've ever been to everything. Like a bang and zoom, you've felt the closest power of the land, sky, sea, and your pokemon's heartbeat singing in time with yours. Every thought, moment, and memory is within your soul and you unleash it with the Z. Its... very spiritual."

To hear Ash talk so reverently about something like a Z-move was astounding to say the least. He had grown up a lot since his days with Dawn, and yet, nothing had changed.

[snowpointzoey]

"Heh, pretty awesome! Just as close as the connection you have with your Pokémon if you hold a Key Stone and your Pokémon has the corresponding Mega Stone." Zoey was impressed to hear Ash speak so eloquently but also still be totally Ash.

"Speaking of Mega Stones..."

[acmellash]

"Oh! Oh yeah I noticed that. When did you get it?" asked Ash curiously. "Misty and Brock use one now, and so does Gary."

[snowpointzoey]

"Ha, Brock uses one too? Small world!" Zoey was impressed, but she went into a semi-explanation about when she got it.

"It wasn't too long ago but it feels like much longer. Ms. Senior and I went into the Snowpoint Temple to see if there was any residual damage from Pokémon Hunter J's attack. There wasn't, and we didn't disturb Regigigas' slumber, but after going further down the path we found a Key Stone! Didn't take too long after that to find the Mega Stone."

Zoey finished up her glass of Miltank Milk, just to catch her breath, before finishing up. "We had to get in touch with Professor Rowan, who contacted Professor Sycamore in Kalos, so we could figure out which Pokémon it resonated with most." She waited a beat, or two, before adding. "It's not Glameow."

[acmellash]

"So who does it resonate with the most?" asked Ash curiously. "There's only a few Pokemon who we've got documented Mega Evolutions with, though I've been known to break some boundaries with Bond Evolution."

[snowpointzoey]

Zoey’s answer? To toss one of her Pokéballs upward; instantly, Gallade appears with a Mega Stone worn like a necklace. “I heard that the Kalos League Champion’s Gardevoir can Mega Evolve too, so the chances of Gallade doing likewise is pretty high.”

[acmellash]

"Mega Gardevoir? Yeah that should have come to me instantly. Diantha's Gardevoir is real strong since I've seen that first hand." admitted Ash with a chuckle. "I'm glad to see you again, Gallade! Do you think she'll evolve soon?"

[snowpointzoey]

“Of course! Well, actually Ms. Senior challenged us to show off our ‘Kiya’ the second we found out Gallade could Mega Evolve.” Zoey’s expression was slightly sheepish at the memory. “She said it was a fight between 2 Mega Evolved Pokémon midway through the match!”

Long story short, Candice had also acquired a Key Stone which Zoey was getting to.

[acmellash]

"Sounds like Candice! She's never been one to hold back in anything." said Ash with a sheepish grin as well. "Did you have fun at least?"