After an interesting day of festival festivities, everyone is fully energized and ready for another day in the Alola Region! Scratch that, everyone but Team Rocket, a group of no good bandits were kept inside a large old tree-stump by the same Bewear who kept the two adults and the three Pokémon cradled and fed honey on the daily basis. The current morning was different. Bewear had a big dinner of berries and appeared to be sleeping off the entire meal, which was the perfect chance to sneak out for some fresh air, which lands this group to a diner.

"I didn't know that too much healthy food can really make a bad difference..."

Meowth had a jet-lag sluggish feeling being cooped up in a small space of room for several days straight. James and even Wobbuffet had a familiar feeling, who felt like they had just woken up from the hard rugged floor.

"You're right... I'm not saying I'm cutting myself from healthy food for good, but a break doesn't sound so bad right now..."

James muggy eyes tried to say awake, as he tried to stay awake for the order made for some coffee.

"Wooo-buffet..."

The Pokémon acts just as the other two, not having the energy to pick itself up from before. Jessie, the only woman in the group, didn't have the same lacking goto attitude as the rest were portraying. Instead of waiting for coffee just like the other two, after finally getting some coffee into her system, she was instantly healed.

"Why are you three acting like a bunch of Mary Sues when there's work to do and Pokémon to steal? Being cooped inside that tree has me itching for some action!"

Despite sipping the same brand of coffee, the lag partially remained within. Which annoyed woman for the lack of spirit, so she stood up and reminded everyone;

"Shape up bendy straws! I'm not going to waste our opportunity of freedom by watching you slumber like most lazy people! We're on a mission for the boss! Now get up!"

The words of encouragement picked the remaining back up into the same posture as before.

"Yeah! A day to really make a difference to the boss!"

Meowth stretches its paws and backs up James attitude.

"No more slacking off! It's time to turn up the heat! For the boss!"

Throwing in their hands in the air, the three yelled, "For the boss!" As loud as they can, while Wobbuffet does the same thing.

"Wooooobuffet!"

Meanwhile elsewhere on the island, the Pokémon school had its own thing going, which centered around Bob, who showed off his black Z-Ring to everyone, everyone was bewildered on the unusual design of the accessory, which really concerned Bob.

"I'm no expert on Z-Rings, but don't they usually come in white?"

Ash asked, standing around, hoping no someone could answer his question, but Sophocles made an assumption as best as he could.

"I've never seen a black Z-Ring before... I'm wondering if it really matters in this age or time..."

Kiawe looks at Bob, who had an gazing look in his eyes as if he was looking at the celestial night sky at the highest peak of the world first hand.

"I don't know about you, but I think this is just my kind of watch! I love the idea of it standing out from many of the other watches I see others have! I really do feel like I stand out from the ordinary crowd!"

Bob kicks back with a pack of powered donuts in his lap, only to return in a proper position when Kiawe walks up to his desk with a serious face.

"May I remind you what you wield is not a watch, nor in fact a toy. What you wield is called a Z-Ring. Something that is to be used when a trainer and their Pokémon are brought together by strands of bonds to unleash a power like you've never seen before!"

Hearing him say such a serious matter coming out of Kiawe's mouth, Bob returns his spine back to a proper position as he took another gander at his Z-Ring.

"It's quite alright Bob, it is really something on how you do stand out from the rest of the crowd! You're really something!"

Lana smiles as Bob flopped into the ground as if he took an arrow to the heart, but Lillie's quick senses picks him back up as soon as he did fall right down.

"Bob! What is the meaning of you hurting yourself like that??"

Picking himself up from his first position, he thanked the girl for her assistance, but something did spark up in his mind as he took a thump to the ground.

"Well... Thats not important! Speaking of Z-Rings, how do these things even work?"

Inspecting the device, Lillie took a seat right next to Bob and took out a few notes she's written about the functions of the ring.

"According to some notes I have taken, you must use an item you can only find in the Alola region called a Z-Crystal. There's a crystal for each and every type known so far, and-"

Before she could wrap up, Professor Kukui walks into the room and snatches the spotlight from Lillie.

"And some of those crystals are even made for specific Pokémon as well!"

Kukui waves a gentleman's greetings while his other hand is in his lab coat pocket.

"Excuse me Lillie, I didn't mean to interrupt you."

Lillie stood up and shook her head to the professor, who was totally okay with his conclusion. Taking their seats for the daily lesson, the man walks right up to Bob and hands him an amulet of some sort to him.

"Here, you'll need this if you want to compete in the island's challenge."

The mentioning of this concept also rose a few questions onto Bob's mind when everyone kept bringing up their traditional ideas.

"Speaking of the Island Challenges, Z-Rings and crystals... What is exactly the challenge and where will we go to do so?"

A long pause filled the entire room, everyone expecting the professor to answer the question, who puts his hands on his hands and spoke,

"That's an excellent Bob! I could easily stand right here and explain just where to go, when we can easily visit one of many destinations for the challenge!"

Pumping everyone one up except the one girl who doesn't know the true definition of involvement, Saki ignores whatever was going up and resumed to play with Akemi's Pikachu ears, who loved the attention.

"As long as it get us out of this place, I guess it's an acceptation..."

Everyone headed outside, just exiting the Pokémon School, Saki was far behind the rest of everyone, who couldn't help but chatter away. Until at least the professor was received a phone call.

"Alola!... Yes... Well... I'm kinda busy right now- Okay okay... Don't cry, if it's TRUELY an emergency, I'll talk to Samson to see if he can help too... Bye Bye~"

Getting off the phone, the leading man stopped in front of the children as he took a sighing breath.

"Sorry kiddos... Change of plans... I got to help my... "friend" with something apparently important... Can one of you lead the class to Verdant Cavern please?"

Kiawe took a step forward as he raised to volunteer.

"No worries Professor Kukui. I'll lead the way."

With a good way wave from both sides, the professor left the kids as they were alone.

"That professor keeps going on about this friend of his and won't even spare us a name... Doesn't anyone find that fishy at all?"

Sophocles grows a concerned on his little squeezable face cheeks, as Ash butted in with the small boy.

"You're telling me! He's left me alone at his place twice because he was "out" with his friend... I think we have a mystery on our hands-"

Before Ash could finish, Rotomdex zoomed and plugs the boy's mouth from speaking.

"Sorry Ash! Zzt! Wrong show pal! This isn't a good time to install myzteriez right now! Verdant Cavern is about-Bzzt bzzt! Half a mile from here!"

Rotom zooms right towards the direction of the way to the cavern, which lead to a fork in the road. Kiawe instantly took the path on the left, where the participating class took as well, but Saki found this the perfect opportunity to escape without alarming anyone, so she instantly took the path on the right, snickering once to fool them so easily.

"Heh, suckers. Cmon Akemi... Let's go get you a treat."

Finally bestowed with the chance of peace and quite, Saki continues to walk down the trial back into the city for the Pokémart for goods. What the girl wasn't aware of were four arrowing eyes that followed her, and the poor sight of Akemi.

"There it is! Pikachus just resting in those arms! I know it's them!"

Meowth locked his eyes through some binoculars, as Jessie, James, and Wobbuffet readied themselves for some action.

"Alright you two! It's showtime!"

Springing out of the very bush, poses were shot right in front of Saki, starling Akemi, who zoomed behind her leg.

"Wha-what is this? Where are the other twerps?"

James looks around, but no one else could be seen or heard. Jessie looks at Meowth, who accidentally splotched mud all over the binoculars before the mission started, ruining the focus.

"Come on Meowth! You were supposed to keep these clean AND to keep the look out for the twerps!"

Jessie scolds at Meowth, who wasn't gonna sit there and take the blame.

"It's not my fault that Mimikyu looks exactly like Pikachu... It looks identical... Like a creepy, possessed Pikachu..."

Meowth shakes his jibber off of him, Saki blinking three times.

"Oh come on! Isn't this just fantastic! The moment where I thought I could get some peace and quiet to myself, I get another interruption by a group of clowns and their... Talking Meowth??"

Before she could say something else about Meowth and his ability of speech, she was caught in something Jessie never wanted to hear.

"What's up with your hair lady? It looks like it can stab someone to death with it. It's ridiculous."

If there was anything to know about Jessie, she took insults towards her style and looks personally, who fired back.

"Ridiculous? My hair is not ridiculous you little brat!"

She took a step forward, which took James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet from the focus of the mission to trade concerned looks at each other. Knowing that something bad is about to happen.

"I'll have you know not only I am a mastermind at thieving, but I am also a genius in fashion! And you look like a mess with those baggy rags on!"

Blood deep down began to boil Saki up real easy, knowing that she wasn't gonna take this from the likes of Jessie.

"Who do you think your calling a brat and a mess? Look at yourself! At least I don't look so trashy! Don't you Mrs. Crop top and short skirt! Just tell me, where's your dignity?"

Jessie at the point of steaming up like a teapot fresh off the stove. James and Meowth wanted to do anything to keep her from exploding, but it was no use. They could only watch.

"Where's my dignity?? Where's your dignity?? You can call me what you want! At least I don't look like a pile of janitor rags with a misplaced bow! Of all the things to go to! I'd rather put it on a Magikarp!"

A pause went in the air, Saki huffed, then spoke. Her face reddened, her fists tightened, Akemi stepped back from its boiling trainer.

"You know what? Maybe I should put my bow on your face because that reminds me of a Magikarp! And by the way, you might want to get rid of those earrings too, they're as ridiculous as your hair!"

Jessie stomped her foot, demanding for an apology, but there was no way Saki was taking anything of hers back.

"That's it! It's about time I just show you know you're messing with! And I think I'll take your Mimikyu too!"

Throwing a Luxary ball into the air, Jessie's own Pokémon comes out, the moment it did, Saki felt a strange sense as it was nothing like Akemi. she stepped back, but didn't run away.

"I never considered having two Mimikyus, but I'll gladly take yours for my own doings!"

James wanted to speak so badly about his own need for a Pokémon, but Meowth nor Wobbuffet would let him say anything for the most part. Saki was disgusted to hear someone like Jessie speaking of stealing something that actually makes her lighten up, so she wasn't budging.

"As if I'd let someone as sadistic and Dad take away my Akemi... Sick'er!"

Akemi froze, it didn't know what to do, neither did Saki for the most part. Jessie couldn't help but laugh at her embarrassment.

"Pathetic! You call us the clowns and you pull off something like that?? Let me show you how it's done! Shadow Ball!"

Within seconds, Mimikyu attacked with a shadowy blob, Akemi was too frightened to move. But before it was hit, Saki jumped in just in time to sponge the attack, taking quite the blow. A screech of pain could be heard over the forest, alarming the class of Sakis disappearance.

"S-Saki?... She's in trouble! Come on!"

Mallow dashes the other way back to the fork in the road, while being tailed by the others to find her.

"The trip is postponed! We have to save Saki!"

Kiawe took a dash into the other direction, as the rest of the class tails after him.

"Don't worry Saki! We're coming!"

Ash calls out, the class not slowing down for anything to come.

"You... You jerks!..."

Sakis red ace held back the pain, Akemi leaped from her arms and aimed for a inaccurate Thunderbolt. Problem was that Jessie's Mimikyu had much more experience in battle, it dodged the attack rather easily, and aimed for a Shadow Claw. Just like before, Saki stepped in and took the attack.

"Still think clowns now?? HUH??"

Despite everything that was going on, she stood up, her spine felt like it was gonna snap like a picture on Snapchat, but she huffed, she held back the tears from the pain.

"No matter what... You're all nothing but clowns... You're nothing but clowns!!"

She yelled, little tears came falling out, which didn't really bother Jessie. James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet didn't step in to laugh, or say anything at all.

"Well I better wrap up now, say goodbye to Mimikyu number two! Shadow Ball!"

Another Shadow Ball was launched, but was intercepted by a jolt of lightning, flying over Sakis direction. Ash and the rest where there, ready for battle just like Team Rocket are.

"It's the Twipes!"

Meowth said, pointing towards their direction, which they meant business.

"I didn't think you guys could get so low you would actually threaten to hurt the girl as well! You guys are monsters!"

Mallow tightens her fist in the way Saki did at first, surprising Bounsweet that she would this far to think for Sakis wellbeing. The rest of the class took a minute to see Sakis pain, and Mallows seriousness towards her safety at the crooks of the hour.

"Tell us something that's actually true! She's the one who made a complete joke of my hair! And her Mimikyu is mine! Shadow Ball again!"

Before Mimikyu could attack once more, Mallow stepped in with Bounsweet, which leaped in the air.

"Bounsweet! Use Sweet Scent!"

A delightful aroma waves through the area, distracting the crooks from moving a single muscle. The class on the other hand weren't lifted by its scent from being used to it.

"Thanks Mallow! I'll take it from here! Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

Zapping Mimikyu on the spot, the Pokémon rams into the crooks like newton balls except for it returning where it came.

"You ain't taking all the fun Ash! Houndour use Ember!"

Bob scooting forward for some action, Houndour unleashes a flurry of chars which singed the five in a critical hit, sending them running. At least until Bewear surprisingly ambushed from from the trees and took them right back to its stump in the forest.

"Team Rockets blasting off with a new bang..."

After a sweatdrop from the group of children watching Bewear take the crooks away for a second time, everyone looks at Mallow, who huffed the stress off of her fine chest.

"I never knew you had zzzuch a friendship with Zsaki Mallow."

Rotom breaks the silence, as Mallow blushed, but instantly realized that the girl was out from all the action.

"We have to take her to a hospital! I'll give her a lift with Charizard, meet me over the Pokémon Center right now!"

Kiawe sent out his Pokémon, places Saki and poor Akemi on Charizard as it took flight to the center, everyone following on foot. Several hours has passed as Saki finally woke herself up from her experience, wrapped in bandages in the places she took massive blows from.

"Look! She's waking up! Saki! You're alright!"

Lillie breathes in relief as everyone else around her smiles brightly for her recovery. All the eyes on her made Saki fell uncomfortable, so she tried to make as little as possible, which wasn't an easy task.

"Where's Akemi... Don't any of you tell me that jackass with the abhorred hair took it away!"

Her blood began to rise again, as everyone settled her down before she could do sprain her wounds.

"No! No! No she didn't! It's right here! See! Your best buddy!"

Ash picked at Akemi, which leaped onto the girl and snuggled into the bed and blanket Saki was currently tucked in. Now was the time to do the one thing Saki wasn't used nor liked saying to others.

"... Thanks... But why?..."

She asked under her voice, which no one heard.

"One more time? I think I heard a little thank you and-"

Before Bob could finish his teasing towards the girl, she yells inside the room out of nowhere.

"WHY?? WHY ARE YOU ALL SO KIND TO ME?? I'm rude and disrespectful to you all... And yet... you're all still... There when I needed it most..."

The clustered Saki faces the pillow and yells her stress out, while no one at all backs away.

"Saki, you have to remember that we're your classmates... We have to stick out for one another when we most needed it."

Sophocles tried to be as mature as Mallow just now, not delivering a horrible job.

"Saki... When Lana, Bob and I found you nursing Akemi in it's time of need, I was indeed right that even you have what we all have. A heart. You aren't any different from any of us, your not just a classmate, your also my friend... Our friend..."

Mallow comes in and hugs her, being joined by Lana and Ash, soon Kiawe, Bob, Sophocles, and even Rotomdex chimed in on a big hug, Lillie soon joined as she blushed deeply.

"... Y-You guys..."

Saki had even more tears streaming down her face, not so sure she ever felt friendship to this certain degree. Saki felt something deep within, along with her friends. That source, was friendship.