On an innocent day in the Alola region, an relatively big heat wave toasts the islands and its sparkling waters. Air conditioners blowing and gulping down ice cold beverages, swimming pools in homes and hotels were crowed. Few people had the idea of cooling down with a tasty and creamy treat of course being ice cream. Ash and Mallow happily walked the sidewalk to the mall in search for the ice cream stand.

"So than Philip Coppens said that he found a slab of stone carved with a carving of the exact same illustration of the aliens on... well! Aliens! The ones with the big heads! Those!"

Ash explains the mumbo-jumbo seen on an episode on Ancient Aliens, where Mallow takes whatever he just said with a grain of salt. She'd buy the argument on the heat getting into the boy's mind to spill such nonsense about a show.

"Umm yeah... how discovering... Perhaps an ice cream cone will snap you out of the heat. You could also use it for the hard work you have provided too. But Bounsweet out of everyone here especially deserves it!"

She couldn't help but nuzzle hug Bounsweet just like a young child would do to a stuffed animal.

"You guys should've seen my little helper yesterday! It piled over 10 plates over its head and not a single one of them scratched before settling into the dishwasher! That has gotten itself a delicious ice cream cone from Hau'Oli city's mall!"

Mallow picks up her Pokémon in the air as it giggles as if it was being tickled on the spot. Stars shine in Mallow's eyes as she remembers she wasn't the only one to catch the whole show, when people within the restaurant even clapped for Bounsweet and its accomplishment. Ash couldn't help but water his own mouth to a chilling touch of an ice cream cone on a day of heating temperatures, but of course congratulating the grass type as well. Rotomdex was simply up for a day to find something interesting, a day under the Alolan sun! Even if it couldn't physically enjoy an ice cream cone along with Ash and Mallow.

"Sometimes I even wonder what ice cream could taste like, you wouldn't mind describing how it feels in your mouth right Ash?"

The device/Pokémon asked while Ash flicked his Pokémon to a turned on standing point.

"You bet buddy! Off we go now! I'm not getting any younger!"

He speeds his pace, while forcing Mallow to do so just to keep up with Ash's childish eagerness to sample his cone before the line at the mall could get any longer, but to their surprise, the stand was empty. No customers in line, no lights in the stand were on, and no tubs of ice cream were displayed. Ash's heart sunk to know that he won't be getting a cone to cool him down anytime soon, but Mallow was a different story. What looks to like an employee of the stand stood in the center of the room sweeping up the little bits of dust on the ground, somewhat bothered in a "can't fight back" way rather than the face of vengeance. Without saying a word, Mallow approached the young man a year or two older than she was, with a question about the closed stand.

"Excuse me? Why isn't your stand open?"

Her face frowned in a fading way, as the teenager loosened his grip of the broom and shrugged, not even he knew what was going on.

"The manager said that the shipment of his secret mix to his ice cream never showed up for delivery. Don't worry tho, we'll get to the bottom of this and reopen asap,"

He speaks in a voice balancing confidence and doubt, while he still kept the same beaten face of his.

"It just... Brings me down to see all the people who want a cone for themselves forced to find something else to saver their sweet tooth."

Ash and Mallow trade the same look the employee gave them, as they turned around and went out of their way of the mall, back onto the street of Hau'Oli City. The sun beats down Ash as if he was being kicked when he's been down, literally and figuratively, it was just unfair.

"I'm starting to melt as if I was an ice cream cone myself... Please tell me there is another ice cream store around here please?... Please Mallow...?"

The two sigh, walking in the shade of an Alolan Exeggutor who simply enjoys the sight of the sparkling blue ocean. Ash and Mallow couldn't even notice all the other people who seem fine without a delicious creamy ice cream cone, but at the same time, Rotomdex does.

"Zzzzay guyzzz, if you want an ice cream cone szzzo bad. Why not go to that stand right their?"

The Pokémon points to a newly maintained stand that's been settled right on the sidewalk that almost reaches out to the sand by the name of "Alola's Winter! Soft served ice cream!" . The two couldn't even ignore the long line of customers who savored their runny soft serve ice cream with what looks to be a literal mountain size of toppings piled up on a durable waffle cone. Bright smiles and fruit punch colored tongues fell in love with this new ice cream cone, which definitely pulls the two in at the beginning of the line.

"Thanks Rotomdex! It was too quick of me to think that this day would tumble down into the water! Oh man I can't wait to try some ice cream! Can't you Pikachu??"

"Pika! Pika-chu!"

Lips curling and eyes shining, the two waited patiently for a minute at the back of the line, which a familiar face follows them right in front of them. A voice that couldn't been ignored.

"Ash! You and your Pikachu look well and fit, even more tougher than the time I challenged you."

The man who pushes the new Pokémon trainers to their beginning limits stood the high and mighty Hala who approached the line, in the mood for a savoring ice cream cone.

"Oh! Alola Hala, great to see you again,"

Ash smiled to the man who watches the Island with his own surveillance.

"Have you gotten the chance to see Tapu Koko at all recently?"

The two spoke for a minute right before  a young man who's appearance appears as a young man, all geared up with the appearance as a police officer. Something about the look in his eyes seems that he had a rough day. His sagging gloom eyes will bring down the weakest of bodies, and a glistening white hair could be seen in the front of his hair.

"Kahuna Hala. I didn't expect you to be out for an ice cream cone."

The young man who actually looks like he just started to attend college and looks even more worn out than underwear that's been used for three days straight. Ash and Mallow turn their attention to the young man, on the case that this may be a friend of the Kahuna.

"Even I'm allowed to have an ice cream cone every now and again Officer Marcus. How are you and your position at the Hau'Oli City Police Department?"

Hala throws his name out just like that as the young man yawned, cracking his back to release any pain from his day. Which sounded like bone cracking rather than popping.

"You have no idea Kahuna Hala... It all started with endless paperwork, than I was asked to bring everyone coffee and donuts for the 5th time this week. Then I had Herdier and Stoutland training, which gotten antsy without any of my co-workers around, and-and-and my sisters Steenee wouldn't just-just-"

The more he rambled about his day, the more he sounded like he wanted to tear up from his day. But Hala urged him to keep his head up and to cool his brain down with a nice treat from the stand, which Ash and Mallow were up to order.

"Thank you young lads for your patience and I hope your ice cream cone will freeze your summer blues away!"

The ice cream cones were served by a man who had a charming smile which would really help bring in the business. The kids were served two big waffle cones with a mountain of toppings such as cooking dough, M&Ms, and even broken up Oreos, which the two kids and their Pokémon were lost in the icy flavor.

"MMMMMMMMMM!! Soooooo gooooooooooooood!"

In perfect pitch and harmony (Even for Ash) the ground feel in love with the ice cream that came right out of Alola's Winter. Pikachu and Bounsweet both licked and licked the vanilla cream off the top as the kids chomped the waffle cone, putting a satisfying face of pleasure.

"Oh man! You're missing out on some good stuff Rotom! That ice cream cone was surely something!"

A small burp came right after the silence, but Rotomdex tilted his head to his complete and high satisfaction.

"Now Ashzz, it'z not nizzze to point thingzzz out azz such. But I'm glad you enjoyed your treat!"

The sun began to set right after the group headed back on the trail, which the two crossed roads for the day. Ash explains the entire story about how delicious the ice cream was, which Mallow totally did the same, her dad even seemed fascinated by the way Mallow described the creamy treat to him. The two decided to have one more cone the next day before taking a break from it so they don't become addicts, not as bad as the ones on Breaking Bad, but kid friendly.

"Just one more ice cream cone from Alola's Winter and then we must take a break!"

Mallow huffed and informs a game plan so they don't end up blowing their allowance in one place. Ash nods with his back straight and ready to allow one more soft served treat before taking a break from it fir a while.

"Agreed! It's so good, you can't deny to have only one!"

Rubbing his tummy while training to the beachside, the two were set for another creamy treat on the new day. Making a turn on the end of the block, the group couldn't help but notice a group of four small children trying to balance a large box on a small wagon, which seemed like they were having a damn hard time trying to do so.

"Come on, come on, come on, puuuuuuush, move it!"

"I-I can't hold much longer Andy, try the left! Left!"

"I told you not to eat so many sweets Lolly! You'll never gonna become strong if you're not gonna eat your fruit!"

"This thing weighs a million pounds! I want my mommy!"

The box seemed a little too much for the children to handle, but they pushed their skinny short arms before making its contact into the ground. Watching these kids trying to keep whatever was within the box from collapsing from the ground was like a bunch of children trying to keep an infant from bursting into tears, they sweated, they urged, and they used maximum teamwork, only to know that it was beginning to slide off of the box. Ash and Mallow came to their aid to successfully balance the box right back on before any damages were made.

"Thank you so much, you really saved us back there,"

One of the boys who wore a T-shirt with a train on it heavily huffed off the effort of the box balancing.

"Our teacher would've been disappointed if our classroom's toys were scratched or broken apart..."

A girl with a pink dress dusted herself from any dirt that was on her arms, but proves to be a little too late to see that these four kids were covered in dirt and grim to begin with.

"Oh it's quite nothing-"

Ash and his good soul self chatters to the kids, but Mallow couldn't help but raise her curiosity about the kids hygiene and their toys.

"True, but where may your teacher be? It's a little rude and dangerous to leave you four alone in the city,"

She looks around in search for anyone who may resemble a teacher who is in search for their students, while the children act like they don't even know what Mallow is doing by looking around doing nothing.

"Well umm... You see, eerrrr..."

"He's.... He's not here because....."

"He was bitten by a Sandile!"

"Yeah! So he ran to his mommy and daddy's house to get it healed!"

Large toothy grins were made, but a few holes to their defense left them a bit suspicious. Mallow leaned into the kids with a look of concern and asked,

"and how come you're all covered in dirt?"

The kids now began to throw an onslaught of answers, but it was at this point they didn't have a clear answer that they could all agree on.

"Where covered in dirt, well... Umm... Because-"

"Oil slick!"

"Dumpster Diving!"

"The sand castle playing game!"

Ash himself now began to question what was going on, and just as he began to sharpshoot an eye of suspicion, the kids all flee forward several directions, which startled both the two.

"What was that all about...?"

Ash watched one of the directions of children who fled out of suspicion, who then turns turns to the same box they totally left deserted on purpose.

"I don't know, but why-"

Questions upon questions were finally toppled over as a car right behind him backed up against the tree making a thumping car sound. Jointing their heads towards the sound, the vehicle was no ordinary car, but a police car. Which involves the same cop who Ash recalls him as a friend of Halas, and a new Pokémon he hasn't seen in the front passenger seat. A long moan of agony and mercy reeked out of the window as he turns to the new Pokémon and said,

"Why can't the lord Arceus make Steenees without that high pitched annoying sound?"

He said in a way that he would regret saying at a later date, but sticking it enough to say it out loud.

"Steeee?"

"NO! I don't want a hug!"

The two step out of the car to check the damages, as the cop held his face before it collapsed. A gash in the rear bumper could be seen, which he immediately thinks that would be the beheading of his career, the thing that ended it all.

"Are you two okay? No need for assistance?"

Ash and Mallow couldn't help but spring in case Marcus or this new Pokémon were in any harm. He flicks his head sideways and squinted his eyes open, tears could be imagined if only he could speak his next words.

"My dream... Its over... If they see I wrecked public property, I'll lose my job!-You two... Haven't I seen you two at the ice cream stand yesterday?"

He thought he's seen familiar faces, and so did Ash and Mallow. Thus, quick and easy introductions were made. The Pokémon who stood behind Marcus' leg seemed pretty identical to the girl, who couldn't but lighten herself of its appearance.

"Oh my! Is that a Steenee? Oh gosh, that one is super adorable!"

"Why yes! That's my sisters Steenee! The little one just loves to tag along my shifts, even on the most boring of days flooded in paperwork!"

The small Pokémon twirled, couldn't help itself but to come into close range with Mallow and her own Bounsweet, who played around to know that each are very friendly towards one another.

"Steenee...?"

Ash wasn't exactly aware of this new Pokémon, but that's why good ol' Rotomdex is there, to accompany him on anything Pokémon related!

"You just leave that to me Ash! *Beepbeepboop*Steenee, the Fruit Pokémon, the evolved form of Bounsweet! This Pokémon is always bouncing around energetically. Other Pokémon are attracted by its lively appearance and pleasant aroma!"

"Oooooh! So Bounsweet evolves into Steenee! What a surprise!"

Just as before Ash could reel in any more of the learning moment, he nor Mallow didn't forget the mysterious box that the children left behind a minute ago. The three took a close gander at the box itself, but nothing more than ordinary cardboard... on the outside!

"Stand aside citizens, I got this covered!"

Grabbing his police baton, he nails a hit right on the top, but to his surprise, nothing happened. Blushing like a madman, he switched gears and did what a normal person would with the authority of investigation, he opens it to find dozens of white boxes labeled in black ink, "ice cream mix".

"Ice cream mix? Those kids had vanilla mix this whole time? But why did they weigh a ton for?"

Ash checked his muscles in concern of his body, but Mallow and Marcus could both agree that even they had a question that fits the description.

"What were those kids planning with an entire delivery of ice cream mix?"

The answer hasn't been fully thought about because Pikachu, Bounsweet and Steenee found some more inked writing on the very bottom corner on the box, not just a written address, but a clue! Marcus couldn't help but to believe that this certain case was just the thing he's always been dreaming of the job he's always wanted. The two kids couldn't help but to gland a sweatdrop of his dramatic joy, but decided to stay quite for the sake of his own enjoyment.

"Oh my gosh! This might just be the part of the job that I actually dreamed of! A real police mystery! My light finally came! Thank you!"

Right after the job soothing, the three had finally loaded up the ice cream packaging and the wagon that was also left behind into the car while jumping back in.

"Come on guys! We have a crime to bust wide open!"

The address written on the side of the box was the next hotspot to pursuit, hoping to lead them into something good, but after a 15 minute drive out of Hau'Oli City, the journey leads them to a warehouse facility, but looks as if it's been out of business for several years now, as the building seemed awfully filthy.

"Some place,"

Ash said stepping out of the car just as everyone else takes a closer look at the entrance. Strange thumping noises could be heard from within. Voices in working progress, shaking bags too, this all seemed way too much to turn back, with a single knock on the door, the thing itself collapsed from its rusted and weak hinges, the loud crash suddenly quieted all the noise that kept the house alive, to the threes reveal, it was much more than meets the eye. Factory machines fully functioned, piles upon piles of bags and boxes of ice cream ingredients and toppings in one part of this house, a Pokémon that resembles an ice cream cone itself called Vanillite seemed to chill up the place to keep the ice cream from melting and the most shocking factor, over 30 kids covered in dirt and ice cream were seen all at work.

"What in Arceus's golden birthday is going on here??"

The police officers voice echoes through the hallow room as the kids kept quiet, until one of them spoke.

"This isn't what it looks like!"

"Who invited the big kids??"

"I'm scared of the big kids!"

"We-we are just playing pretend is all!.."

"How are you playing pretend in a terrible place like this? And what are you all doing making... Ice cream??"

Mallow threw her questions without much context, until hearing her own words and possibly sums up a the possible reason of why the ice cream stand at the mall was closed for right after her eyes darted at opened boxes with the same logo as the same mall stand.

"Don't tell me... You-you stole the secret mixture didn't you??"

Right on their tails, the children were forced to shut down the warehouse, running into the two open exits, the three attempted to chase after them, but right at the open door entry, a couple of the same Vanillite froze the entrance with Ice Beam, trapping the group within as both entrances were sealed shut.

"Sorry! Nothing personal!"

One of the kids shouted before a few kids fled, but Mallow couldn't let go of the kids in this position, being apart of the restaurant business, she took this entire situation a bit more than Ash or Marcus would.

"Why?? Tell me why you would want to steal business that's not rightfully yours??"

The kids who didn't completely leave couldn't leave her hanging and just fed up.

"... Well... We need the money..."

"Yeah, if we stopped our production right here and now... We all would be in debt and our families would be doomed!"

Not completely understanding what these kids were trying to say, no one was left to question, leaving the three behind in the warehouse. Mallow slightly sighed from such a move made by children of all people, possibly being controlled and tricked by a greedy ringleader who wanted to make the quickest buck possible.

"Don't worry Mallow, we'll get to the bottom of this right after we find whoever is behind all this!"

Promising that he has her back, Ash and Marcus were now ready to smash the ice creating the blockade.

"Alright Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

"Steenee! Low Sweep!"

The small grass Pokémon leaped in and cracked the ice with its seemingly fragile legs, right before Pikachu leaped in the air and shatter it right all the way to the ground.

"Thanks for the hand Ash, now let's roll, we have a bad guy to capture for theft and disobeying child labor laws!"

Running back into the car, the police siren ignited as it rushed through the road, the less time it took to reach the destination they all had a guess where this once untraceablec crook could be, but he's just one scoop of ice cream away. Alola's Winter.

Driving the cop car right on the parking lot of the beach, Marcus and Steenee both bust open the locked door of Alola's Winter with a powerful force.

"Freeze dirtbag! Man that feels so good to say! You two have no idea!"

"Stee! Stee!"

The front of the stand seemed to be empty with a sign which says, "closed" also explaining why there are no customers to be seen. Noticing a slim, but rumbling sound of a working generator, Ash couldn't help but to enter the door of a rattling doorknob, to see a group of 10 children behind the same man who served them ice cream the other day.

"I'm sorry my children. I'm afraid I'm not hiring at the moment.  I've reached my maximum capacity, of employees and size of my pockets,"

The once kind hearted man for the second fanned himself with a stack of 20's with a large smirk on his face. 

"My charming children have warned me of your presence, and I already know you all won't be leaving anytime soon. The ice cream party has just begun!"

The door behind them suddenly slammed itself locked, from the kids outside of the room, as this greedy man couldn't help but giggle grime and wrinkles on his face.

"What's the meaning of all of this?? Why must you steal what's rightfully not yours and make these children go work through conditions only grownup should?"

Ash stomps a foot onto the ground, as the greedy man kept his big smile, the kids behind looked as if unhappy, but weren't willing to betray him any time soon.

"I have a dream of opening my ice cream restaurant, and I couldn't do so with today's prices of workers, materials, and machinery! I'd be just another restaurant in debt of realism, no room to grow. Nothin' personal, but cheap ice cream mix from secret markets and young works saves me some greenback!"

A cliched laugh was followed up, until Mallow took TWO steps forward, when it comes to the restaurant business, it was truly her place to shine.

"Now normally I'm not the type of girl who would step in after a customer breaks a plate in the kitchen, nor if they don't bother to leave a tip on the table, but you should be ashamed of all this!"

He words didn't even pierce through his earbuds which where rising piles of money in his pocket.

"Come on Pikachu, we have to stop this!"

Pikachu jumps right off, ready to battle this ice cream man. Instead of one Pokémon being sent out instead, there were two being Geodude and Graveler. Who definitely had different esthetic appearances to the boy's mind.

"No time to be impressed,
Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Already striking with a powerful jolt, the two rocky Pokémon weren't even phased, which Rotomdex had to break the ice.

"Warning Ash! Alolan Geodude and Graveler both share an Electric Type than Ground Type from its original counterpart!"

"Oh now you tell me??"

"Nice move little boy but I've got a business to run, go my rocky-road Pokémon, Smack Down!"

Both Pokémon lunged two hard stones at Pikachu, sending it right back to Ash who thumped into the door, Pikachu took a critical hit with those stones, but he tried to wake his Pokémon back up before the man could do any more harm to the group, but Marcus and Mallow stepped up as Bounsweet and Steenee took the place to fight this corporate faker.

"In the name of the law,"

"And through all restaurants who follow that said law-"

"You won't be getting away with this!"

Both of the characters said in a well synced statement as both Grass Pokémon leaped into the air, plundered  a Sweet Scent into the air after being called out to do so. The double sweet sent overwhelmed all the kids and the man, the Pokémon were simply lost.

"Magical Leaf now!"

Mystical projectiles hammered both Pokémon, which landed and damaged a big tank with premixed vanilla soft serve ice cream with in, really pissing off the ice cream man.

"Hey! Those metal tanks are expensive! No more playing arou-"

"No! This is it for you! Your thieving and child abuse is over! Bounsweet, Sweet Scent!"

Just as another scent sprung into the air, the small Pokémon twirled, creating a light. The Pokémon developed by growing longer legs and its leaves growing wider when they once were, it was to Mallow's realization that her little Pokémon has evolved into Steenee!

"Remarkable! Your Pokémon evolved Mallow! Now we're truly twins!"

Mallow couldn't help but glisten her eyes to see that her Pokémon has grown. Together, they were ready to kick ass.

"That means nothing! My rocks are still to strong for you! Smack Down and Charge Beam!"

Before any of the man's Pokémon  could even finish charging their attack, Marcus and Mallow already sprung another Sweet Scent into the air.

"Now Low Sweep!"

"Now-"

Markus' Pokémon went for its own move on Graveler, while Mallows Steenee whipped its leafy hair on Geodude as if it was the boss.

"Woah Mallow! I think Steenee learned a new move!"

Ash gets back on his feet as Pikachu regained consciousness, ready to finish the man after being double slapped by Steenee, a painful thunderbolt shocked him, throwing in the towel of the battle. The man was arrested after Officer Jenny showed up to end Alola's Winter for good and reopening the ice cream shop at the mall, returning the good old stand once it was and still currently.

"We're sorry we put you through all that... But if we don't have money of our own when we need it... We'll never be ready for the real world..."

One of the kids spoke for the entire group, as the three big kids shared a smallish laughter.

"Don't you see, that mean man has tricked you just to help him make money that doesn't belong to him. And please don't worry about making money right now, I'm sure your parents are already working hard to keep you all in school and NOT ending up like any criminals today, got it?"

Markus concludes his teachable moment for the day as the kids nodded high as they returned onto the sand to play tag. Ash and Mallow were happy to free these kids from the corporate shackles of that man, Markus too smiled.

"Thanks a bunch guys, you gave me a hand here... If you need anything from me, anything. You just give me a holler, or a stop."

Waving their goodbyes, Officer Markus and his sisters Steenee drove off under the Alola's sunset. Mallow looks at her own Steenee who smiled, knowing that they make such a sweet team.

"Steeneeee!"