I'm in! is the first thought that skates across my brain, the very first thought in my mind to mark a new morning. My first morning in Alola! I think.

The first thing I do besides let that thoughtful float about is taste the inside of my mouth. Sleeping with it wide open is too gross for me (if I can help it), but sleeping with it tight shut only allows the contents of my closed mouth to get all stale and yucky.

I sigh and yawn at the same time, and instead of relaxing with the blankets draped over my entire body, I yank them away and inspect the room.

Vulpix had been sleeping at my side, or at least pretending to until I fell asleep, which would allow her to sneak out and crash with Renee. Judging by the slightly cracked open door, I take it she did just that.

Pulling the blankets away from my bare legs, I slip out of bed. My feet lightly reach the maroon carpeting of the hotel room, and I take my time getting up so as not to make too much noise.

I take a look back at the window screen, the golden light of dawn casting a dim orange light on a quarter of the room. Looks like it's not even 6 a.m. yet. One thing I remember reading about Alola is that the sun is believed to be up at full charge when the clock reaches six, and by the looks of the sky I take it that six is at least half an hour away.

With a grin I turn back to the door, opening it as slowly and carefully as Vulpix must've done. The first time we came to this room, the door had a creak loud enough to wake up someone in a coma.

The door opens just widely enough for my to slip through it with near silence. Success! I take my time to cautiously roam the halls, peeking into any door that's open just the tiniest bit. Hey, if the door is open even a little, then that technically means that whatever's going on on the other side is open to the public.

"That's the argument I provided to my parents, after all," I mutter, talking to myself as I usually do when no one else is around.

As my nosy eyes wiggle their sight into the room, I notice just how vacant they seem with no one inside. If I remember correctly, this room should have Brian in it. Shortly after becoming a member of this group, I learned everyone's names, although truthfully I only had to learn two, the names of the siblings Brian and Lia. Boy, do their names fit them.

Shrugging all that away, I stop sneaking around and search for Renee. Seeing as how she's the only one that's fully accepting of me on this team, it makes complete sense for her to be the one I want to talk to, right. Then again, I could also check out where Rowan is...

"No, that won't work yet." I haven't had breakfast yet, and haven't even shared a meal with him, so these pestering thoughts have no place in my mind right now. And if it's true that the way to a guy's heart is his stomach, then that means that I have to be a pleasant eating buddy!

"Are you finished skulking around?" A sarcastic voice holding pretend curiosity sounds beside me, and what I get afterwards is an eyeful of an evil doll.

"I just wanted to see if anyone was up," I mutter, going to no further lengths to justify myself than that. I wasn't doing anything wrong, after all.

Ignoring Lia, along with the reason she'd even be up this early, I trudge back to me room, where I get dressed and prepare for the day. With toothpaste and mouthwash, hold the floss for now, being my aids against my morning breath soon afterwards, I put on my jacket and keep it on as I head out.

No one except the poor staff populates the lobby by the time I make it down the stairs, so I guess the nosy porcelain doll went back to her room. "Melemele Island, huh," I mumble randomly, wiping the remaining crust from my not entirely awake eyes.

The group is supposed to be on its way to Iki Town starting today, to meet the Professor Kukui or something, but from the sound of what was explained, I think it's more of a meet up instead. I'd better ask Renee.

Using that as my excuse to go and see her, I leave the hotel to check out the battlefield that's next to it. On the short walk there I begin replaying the past few days on and on in my head, these long thoughts enough to charge and wake up my brain.

"Should this really be an excuse, though?" After all, we are teammates, but I want to be friends. Sure, I don't fit in anywhere in particular, and just sort of hang back, but how much good am I doing putting myself on the front lines all the time. Thoughts like these exhaust me, but they're in every way necessary for me to progress, and these past couple days are the only real progress I've made in the span of my fifteen years of living.

"You're up." Renee notifies me of her presence with her lax voice and a wave, stopping me in my tracks. Any negative thoughts I had are overlapped with good ones, uncertain yet positive, lost, yet home. I'm already starting to get the taste of friendship before I've placed a hand on it.

"You're up early," she says as soon as I jog over to her.

"You, too." Maybe it's the rising sun behind us, but she certainly has that bright look about her today. Maybe she's glad to see me, or maybe she's been up way longer than I have.

"Meow!" I'm startled by the sound of a cat Pokemon, and my eyes trail down Renee's side to the little black and orange creature beside her.

"He's growing up to be an eager one," Renee comments, sounding almost as if it were my Pokemon she was talking about. She bends over to scoop it up, turning to me with the cutie snug in her arms.

"It's a Litten!" I marvel, realizing the fact as soon as I see its face. Almost like a permanent scowl, I observe.

"Yep. Got it from Professor Kukui."

"And it still hasn't evolved?" With Renee being such an elite Trainer, I'd expect her to be merely holding onto the unevolved Pokemon for someone else, kind of like pokesitting, but she shakes her head.

"I only got it recently," she begins, "Lia and I got starters despite not being new Trainers, although hers came from an egg."

"Rowlet?" I've only seen the little Grasstype a few times, and that was only when Lia brought it out to spoonfeed it.

Renee nods in reply. "You're smart."

The compliment makes me nervous, and my eyes resort to staring down at me shoes. Old-timey running shoes. "We're not with the others, so you don't have to lie."

I start at the feeling of a hand placed on my shoulder, and look up and see honesty in its finest. "I don't lie, especially when I say you have potential."

Even though I know she means well... I still can't believe it. "Whatever you're seeing, me and the others just be completely blind to it."

"You're right." Will my morning of surprise ever end with what I expect? Renee removed her hand, placing it on her hip while Litten digs its claws into the bare skin of the other wrapped tightly around it to avoid dangling.

"I'm right?"

She quietly nods, then gently places Litten on the barren ground next to her. "You'll see, we're close to Iki Town."

"What about it?"

"Wouldn't it be great to get a new Pokemon?" She smiles, and I can't help from doing the same.

"Yeah, but-"

"Then let's get to it, after I wake the others," Renee cuts in before returning her Litten to its pokeball. She starts walking away from the battlefield, and before I run after her I take a look back. The sunrise. Ever since I've arrived to this region, everything seems to be balanced between the sun and the moon. When the latter is up, it's like I'm in a nostalgic dream, but when the glistening orange sun takes it place in the sky, it's like I wake up, with new hopes and dreams worth holding onto or something.

But Renee's always there... "Are you coming?" Either way, I can't waste time on something I'm bound to just be over thinking.

"Yep!" With that, I pick up the pace.

All the warm friendliness is sucked out of the air between the five of us as we set out towards the next town. We don't have that long a walk, but some casual conversation wouldn't hurt.

That's why I'm almost that thankful when Rowan begins speaking. Almost. He turns to Brian, and the two of them are soon locked into deep conversation about battle strategies or something.

I haven't known these guys for long, but all I've heard from them talk about is the same old thing. Battling like this, battling like that. Surely Pokemon battle strategies aren't too vital?

And what started off as a simple, mildly pleasant walking trip to our destination quickly became a inner battle fueled by doubt. Plunging myself deeper into my thoughts, and with Renee and Lia entering a conversation of their own, I think about my own battling ways.

I'm in Alola now, and what with all the things that've been going on lately, I never once thought about what I'm supposed to be doing here. Alola has no Gym system, but it does have trials. That I know, but it's how I'll beat them that concerns me. And with who?

Such a question continues to plague me, ever more frequently whenever I look down at Vulpix, who's giddy as usual around the only person in this world she cares about. This is probably why I don't get much respect around here. But just how in the heck would I fix something like this?

  With my mind drawing blanks, unable to put together a solution, I place my eyes on something other than my own two feet. I get to see all the beautiful scenery, the tall and calm palm trees one of the very symbols that define this tropical region. Dealing with all this mess in my head has only blinded me to it. Seriously, what do I do? But just as it was all easy to block out, staring at the pretty trees and the bright, blue ocean don't give me any help.

  "Alright." After their conversation ends with that word from Renee, both her and Lia break away and fall back into their own thoughts. Seeing the perfect opportunity before me, I step closer to Renee.

  "So what do you think would help boost the bond between me and my poke?" Popular Kanto slang is a must, even in Alola. Just wish I didn't sound so strange.

  "Did you try blending your powers?" The first place the question strikes me is my mind, in a very odd manner.

  I'm slow to reply, unable to find the right words at first. "Um, no?" I'm not sure on how that would work, and the whole topic brings me to my history of not knowing. I never had a full understanding of powers in humans in the first place, only knowing enough to realize as a kid that this was common knowledge, but being the touchy subject it was, I never got the chance to learn more about it in school. It's sort of like that book that tells you that everybody in the world poops, but no one ever talks about poop because it's inappropriate. Same with baby stuff.

  "I'm not really for keeping quiet about this sort of thing, so you're free to ask me whatever you like."Renee's offer hits me sideways, right while i'm deep in the midsts of stuff I shouldn't be thinking about while others are around....

  "So you don't mind?"Maybe people in Alola have different mannerisms than in Kanto. Even so, it's still kind of hard to take in.

"Hm."For a second I hear Lia let out a tiny sigh, but when I glance over my shoulder to confirm that it was her the posh girl keeps her gaze on the road ahead without a single peep.

"Anyway,"I begin again, drawing my attention back to Renee,"I don't know know so much about it myself, but sometimes I get the feeling that I should try to get answers. Or something like that."Then I find myself trying to drop the whole conversation as soon as I start sounding idiotic. Maybe Renee actually would mind talking to me about this, and maybe she's just being nice. And just like that, with no regard for a simple, quick, and precise "yes" or "no", I shrink back being forced to take "maybe."

  Yet somehow, Renee takes no heed to that. Instead, she shakes her head and resumes the conversation. "I was like that when I was younger. Instead of just accepting what I'm told, I thought about it, and soon I started questioning everything just for that sake."

"And that sake is?"

"For the sake of knowledge, in my own right." Wow. I sure wish I could sound that cool. And smart.

  "Why just accept the way things are, obeying all the rules,"Renee continues, her pace getting faster,"when those rules...."She had started going so fast that now she almost stops, walking at normal speed once more. Instead of directly following up on her sentence, Renee takes a different yet similar approach. "It's just a flawed world."

  "Oh."I barely get that little exclamation in when Renee starts up again. I guess fire never gets tired, huh?

However, that fiery energy of hers almost fizzles out like a flame cut off from oxygen, and her face turns flat. "But nothing about this ordeal helps the fact."

This? "This?"Is this group secretly evil or something? Like mega, super evil, just like Team Rocket? Then again, there are groups terrorizing a region at least every year; not surprised that Alola would have one. But does something like that really cause so much of an ordeal? Surely all that can be gained from that is that the police are more useless than rookie Trainers. So guess who has a shot!

  Right before I'm about to fall victim to the abyss of my random thoughts, Renee pulls me out just in time with her words. "These powers."

  "So they're more like a curse?"I guess based almost solely on movies I've seen, since going off context, or near lack of in this case, wouldn't help out in the slightest. But judging from the affirmative nod I receive in return, I guess I'm right.

  "Everyone has to have them so long as they've been living in close proximity to Pokemon."An unexpected voice joins in, and that voice belongs to none other than the quiet girl, Lia. In honesty, she only ever opens her mouth to spite me, otherwise she's completely silent.

  "Exactly, but no one wants to acknowledge that fact,"Renee adds with a sigh. For a few seconds she slowly closes her eyes, as if her own words have wounded her. I look over at Lia, in an idiotic hope to be able to exchange silent words with her that can be said merely by certain looks, but she narrows her eyes and avoids any eye contact with me.

I guess it's up to me. This time I can't rely on everything else, anyone else, but I'm diving into something I don't even fully understand. Drawing my eyes away from the satisfaction they feel simply staring at the winding road ahead, since I doubt we'll suddenly arrive at our destination for my own convenience, I take a bold action and tap Renee's shoulder. A little contact couldn't hurt, right? After all, she did the same.

  "Hm?"Renee opens her eyes, and they widen when she glances at what's now resting on her right shoulder uninvited. Even Brian and Rowan, who had broke their conversation a while ago as soon as the talk about the world and powers came up, look over, and what's most embarrassing is Rowan staring at me, his eyebrow raising in question.

  "Oh!"My hand quickly slithers away to reside behind my back, where the other slaps it silly. "S-sorry,"I mumble, immediately getting red. Touching people that are hardly your friends is a big no-no.

  "It's fine."Renee makes the two words sound like a great wave of wisdom, and the only reason for that that I can fathom is the fact that my stupidness makes a big deal out of everything.

"Whoo! I mean, that's... fine."Sometimes I'm so stupid that it'd be better if I didn't speak at all. I look back down at my shoes, words of what should be waves of relief only turning into a storm.

  "It's fine, really,"Renee assures, smiling to make her words less damaging.

  "Thanks."I can't be content just yet, not like this, but if I can learn to just take it, I should be fine, like Renee. Even after meeting someone so amazing that outshines me in every way, I still can't wrap my head around what she could possibly see out of me. 

  "Anyway."This time Brian takes a hold of the almighty stick of bravery, pushing away this whole issue with one word and one push of his glasses.

  "Yes. Anyway,"Renee picks up the word, this time angling the beginning of the conversation to me. I'm getting a chance! I can't mess this up! Keine Schorge, Ganbare! I will do my best, so no worries for now!

  Before I get too caught up with my inner chantings of encouragement, I put all those nights of studying into good use. "It sure is something to see the Alolan Exeggutor."I say the words without looking like I've broken a sweat, making sure every one comes out as smooth as Melody's hums. I even push imaginary glasses up from falling off the bridge of my nose like Brian had done, who doesn't want to seem so impressed that I've said something not stupid.

I lightly smack my ponyta-tail away from my body with a whush sound, just like Lia who's always radiating grace and some kind of wealthy background, but I still retain the seriousness and hard-to-impress look on her and Rowan's face on my own. If I'm officially a part of this club, I can let everyone's amazing qualities brush off onto me! Soon I'll be better in conversation, languages, Pokemon, and will have mastered my powers in every way, shape, and form!

  "Good job,"I look back up to hear Renee's whisper, confidence and composure on her face at just about all times, while I can't keep any consistency with anything positive I do, if anything I've ever done is positive. But her I can't imitate; she's too great, too strong, and I'm not strong at all.

  "Thanks."I smile back as a heated talk about Alola and region variants is sparked throughout the air around the five of us, but everything I wear on my face now is faux. Random emotions, random thoughts, I can't save myself from any of it. Renee just smiles as if I'm going to go far, but I don't think she knows about this method of mine. Bothering to give me the time of day... I just can't believe it.

  Now every part of me feels dismembered. "We've arrived at the first checkpoint, where the grass gets taller and thicker,"Lia says, pointing out the shift in terrain, from barren road to grass-strewn earth. So she talks more than I thought.

"Ah, good."Rowan grunts in approval, and the group continues on without stopping. So does he. It looks like I'll have to do even more work.

"We're almost there, Glacia."Renee grins at me before chatting with Brian. Hm, him too.

"Cool."Even now, I just can't believe in anything.