"Well sense anything? Or smell anything?" I asked as Riolu kept looking around. She sent me a look and I rolled my eyes and faux zipped my lips. She huffed and continued going… Around in circles.

That was literally the tree we crossed like ten minutes ago.

A good person would say something positive and get us on the right path, maybe something uplifting to make sure they'd know they hadn't messed up, and they just needed to practice…

"That's the same tree we crossed." I pointed out with a finger, and Riolu howled, slamming her paw into the floor a few times and then picking up a stick and throwing it.

I was just an okay person.

"Rio! Riolu!" She pointed at me, and I scoffed.

"Don't blame this on me! I literally asked if you could do it, and you said yes!"

"Rio!"

"Oh it's maybe now? Doubt. I'm doubting. This is my doubt face!" I yelled out, both fingers pointing at my own face.

"RIO!" She leapt about to attack me, but instead of hitting me she sort of just fell into me, and I caught her, as we both turned.

An explosion?

"Bingo?"

"Rio!" She cheered smugly, and I laughed, and I spun her around for a second before throwing her forward and then chasing after.

"Rio!" She grumbled at me as she hit the ground running and we both took off through the jungle of Melemele.

The only thing I'd remembered was that the wild pokemon battle arena had been close to Kukui's home. I'd started from there, and then ran around, hoping Riolu would be able to sense Aura.

I should have asked Lucario to help instead.

Oh well.

We'd probably found it. You didn't see so many explosions in the middle of the night for just nothing!

Of course instantly we both realized a problem, coming out of a jungle right up against a mountain of sorts.

"It's up there." I whispered absolutely sure. I could hear it now, multiple pokemon, and the noise of battle.

I grinned.

"Ready for a climb?" I asked, and Riolu scoffed before starting to practically bounce up the mountain.

Of course. I wish I had one of my big pokemon with me… But that was for another time.

I reached out and started climbing, monkeying my way up, until the very top. Riolu was already up there, I noticed getting some attention, but as I climbed up, there was already a battle taking place.

A Boldore was launching attack after attack at a flying Fearow.

Nice.

Of course my appearance got a lot of attention. The wild pokemon stiffened, but I just settled in, and I nudged Riolu, and she hesitated before sighing.

"Rio. Riolu. Rio." She called to the nearest, and they slowly relaxed, only keeping half an eye on me as we all watched the battle.

Yeah. This was definitely where I was meant to be.

I released my pokemon around me. Mimikyu, already hiding in my hat, was watching, but everyone but Gible was released around me, with her in my arms, holding her from running off, probably off the cliff as she looked for the ocean.

Soon she stilled as she noticed the battle.

In the end, the Boldore actually lost. The Fearow, dropping a powerful Drill Peck after lifting the Boldore up into the sky and then crashing it into the earth.

The Pokemon cheered, but more and more were noticing me.

"Hi! I'm Vicky." I called out, loud enough they could all hear me, and I was getting plenty of angry looks. "I'm not here to catch anyone! Or cause any problems! But my pokemon are looking for battles, just like you!" I waved at my team, even dropping a hand on Jangmo-o's head as he looked ready to start charging.

"Mag. Magmar!" The voice cracked out like a whip as a Magmar leapt up from somewhere behind some rocks and back lit himself. He glared down at me, and I knew he was one of the ones in charge here.

"Rio! Riolu. Lu!" Riolu called out in turn responding to whatever he had said, and he scoffed pointing at me.

"Rio. Riolu." She responded to me, and it took a minute before I got the idea.

"Why am I here then?"

"Rio."

"For this!" I said reaching into my bag and despite them tensing I pulled out a potion.

Then, I rose up still holding Gible in one hand. I walked down to the Boldore that was still roughed up and it responded hostilely. Glaring up at me, but I knelt down.

"This is Potion. It'll help those injuries… It'll let you battle again if you want." I told it, and then I reached out and carefully sprayed one of the scuffs on its shell. I held back any amusement at the poor Pokemons reactions.

Potions stung a bit as they healed, but only for a few moments before you were good to go.

It relaxed after a moment of cringing and wiggled around seemingly realizing it was okay.

I sprayed a bit more, covering its injuries and then nodding.

"I can make sure all of you are okay for more than one battle a night." I called out, and that got some interested looks as I returned to my spot. "So… Who wants to fight first?" I called out, and my challenge worked.

A Machop stepped out, as Riolu was puffing herself up and roared flexing his biceps, and Riolu growled.

I stepped back.

"Riolu… Battle well."

"Rio!" She scoffed, raising a fist like this would be a cake walk. She charged first, and the pokemon around the arena roared as the battle was on.

I settled back as the others gathered around me, even Gible was focused on the battle happening in front of her, as Riolu instead of staying back like I'd trained her rushed right into close combat.

And started getting her ass beat.

Machop was fast, and unlike Riolu his form was solid, he was fighting like a fighter, and not just a fighting type pokemon.

I wonder where he'd learned that? One of the older pokemon? There were a surprising number of fighting types.

Either way Riolu was a strong amateur in that sort of combat, and it showed, her punches and kicks were easily avoided and the retaliations were brutal. But…

I grinned. Maybe getting her ass kicked was exactly what she needed. Because Riolu was gritting her teeth, and I could see how quickly she was adapting. Learning, her guard was up more, she was actually doing more than just throwing haymakers already.

But…

Heh. She went down to a nasty Cross Chop, which was a brutal move for a Machop to have.

And I walked up even as Riolu struggled a bit to sit up, and I sprayed her with a potion. Without a word, I went over her injuries, healing her up until she was sore, but not hurting, and I looked at the Machop with the bottle. He waved me off, acting cocky as he sauntered back.

Heh. Riolu was not reacting well. But I nudged her up and guided her back.

"Jangmo-o. Your turn." I told my little Dragon and raced forward yipping the whole time before sliding into the center and roaring as loudly as he could. It really just came off cute, but that was okay.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Pan! Pancham!" Another voice called out and a swaggering Pancham walked out, chewing on his leaf and looking like he was ready to kick ass.

"Jangmo-o! Battle well!" I called out, and unlike Riolu he nodded, seeming to listen to the actual instructions.

The battle began, and Jangmo-o arced to the side already gathering energy and starting to blast the area with Dragon Pulse.

But the Pancham wasn't idle, he picked up and threw rocks, or blasted his own Dark Pulses out to block. Jangmo-o was doing a great job though. Keeping up, and sticking to distance, after realizing up close he'd be in just as much trouble as Riolu.

But that couldn't work forever, and so he learned a different lesson from Riolu.

He began blasting Dragon Pulse Area to push the charging Pancham back, or switching to

Dragon Tail when the Pancham was too close.

The two went at it, until Jangmo-o slumped to a hammering blow onto his back. The Pancham to my surprise didn't try any cheap attacks or anything, once it was sure the battle was over it stalked over to me, and puffed up.

"To the victor." I accepted his obvious demand and potioned him first, before hurrying to Jangmo-o. Who looked a little disheartened. "Come on buddy. You did great, and this is a great learning experience. Just trust me. I know losing sucks, but I'll make it better soon."

"Jang." He huffed as I picked him up and carried both my little dragons back to my group.

On and on. Soon the one V ones, wasn't enough for the wild pokemon, more and more pokemon began battling around us, and I helped all of them that ended up injured, earning myself a sort of odd place in the Wild Pokemon Dojo.

But while I did that, my Pokemon found their opponents.

Brave took part, fighting a Sableeye.

Dratini battled with a Spinda.

Loss after loss.

Gible I kept back for now, and then it was Mimikyu's turn, and for once the battle shifted.

He didn't go easy on the Mankey that challenged him, and with a nice combination of moves Mankey was knocked out, leaving Mimikyu untouched.

The others looked on in shock and I couldn't help but grin, even as I kept my laughter inside. Did most of them think Mimikyu was weaker?

He's the ace of the baby team.

"Mimikyu, great job! Come back." I called out, as I rose up and healed up his opponent. Then when I returned, my little guys were mostly disheartened.

Good.

"It's tough huh. Fighting for real?" I looked at my team, as Jangmo-o and Riolu both sent me pouty looks. But this was the opportunity I knew I had to take advantage of. Each of my team was different. Each would respond differently, but they all had to learn.

"Losing sucks huh? Fighting against a more skilled, stronger opponent, and having to learn to adapt, to grow in the heat of the moment to try and overcome, and even then failing?"

"Rio. Riolu." She huffed at me, grouchily.

"Giving up already?"

"Rio! Riolu!" She rose to her feet and I stepped right into her personal space.

"I've raised champions before. And I'll do it again. But I won't just raise pokemon that are strong. Or pokemon that coast on their strength…" Then I pointed right to the sky. "The Top! Not just half way, not high enough to be good enough! To the summit! I train the one in a million!" I roared and even the wild pokemon stepped back, even Riolu stepped back.

"You think that your mother asked me to train you to just be strong? She wanted you to be the best!" I yelled out, and then shot my eyes over my team, even Gible at my side was looking up at me at my shouting. "You'll struggle! You'll lose! And you'll learn how to win, even with a loss! You'll learn to get up, even when every part of you says you've lost. And then! Then you'll rise! Right to the top! And Win! Because you! YOU! ARE! THE! BEST!" I poked Riolu in her chest and she stumbled back shocked.

I looked and caught the eye of each of my team.

"If you don't have the will, to be that one in a million. To be the apex. I'll still love you. You'll always be my friend… But I don't think any of you lack the will to grow to be the strongest… Tonight is the start of that climb. It wasn't the training you've done so far. It wasn't the strength you've gathered before we met. It's now."

I shifted and pointed.

The wild Pokemon, many of them fighting types. The Magmar that ruled over them all. I pointed right at him.

"You're about to see the makings of the strongest that will ever be! That ever were! Congratulations! You'll be part of their legends that we will carve into the very stars themselves!" I shouted out.

I wasn't breathless. There was no doubt of the way forward. I wouldn't fail my team, my friends, and…

I grinned as Riolu stomped out past me, returning to the center, and then!

"RIOOOOOOOOOO!" She shouted and I could practically feel the Aura emanating off her.

Untrained untested, but she'd grow.

And a Primeape stepped out. I grinned as the much much stronger pokemon stood opposite Riolu's challenge, and my little Fighter just grinned, glancing just for a second back. As if seeing if I was watching.

Of course I was right now she was the star of the show.

Tonight was the start of her legend. I'd engrave it all into my heart.

—---

"You were out late."

"Blegh." I muttered blinking sleepily into my breakfast.

If you call staying up until the sun rises, up late, then yes.

I of course was tired, not stupid, I didn't say that.

"Training." I muttered and nodded that tended to cover a lot of things.

"Is this like the endurance training from yesterday?" Papa asked, and I huffed.

"No. Battle training." I said and looked at Lucario who was entering into the breakfast nook in the hotel. Mama had woken me up not long after I crashed this morning, but it was best they didn't know just how much I'd stayed up.

"Lu, lucario?"

"Riolu is resting… We had battle training last night. She's tired." I told her, and she blinked at me, then her eyes narrowed like she totally realized I was hiding something. But then I firmed myself up as I sat up a bit straighter. "She's getting stronger."

"Lu." She said with a single pleased nod and then settled in to eat breakfast, completely unconcerned about Riolu from then on.

Lucario had one goal for her child, to get strong. She'd followed that goal to even end up joining trainers, and living a completely new life.

I hope she loved her life, and I just had to fill in my side. Make Riolu into the strongest.

I yawned again, Nurse Joy had not been happy about my early morning visit to get everyone checked out, but she was also used to it.

"I'm going back to sleep." I finally said with another yawn cracking my jaw and killing my ability to eat.

"You shouldn't sleep in." Papa said, giving me a look and I shrugged.

"Sorry, but I need a nap."

"Alright, go on. It's a vacation, if you want to spend it sleeping in, then that's fine." He teased, and I grinned back before nearly yawning again./

Dangit.

I headed back to my hotel room and flopped into bed. Everyone was resting in their pokeballs rather than around the room. I'd really worked them all, but they'd all made a big improvement.

First they had to learn how to lose. Then when they knew how to push through even at a disadvantage, after they've built the skills from being weak, I'd make them strong.

—--

I stretched as I headed out into the sun and groaned.

Not enough sleep to completely catch up, but that was just part of being a trainer sometimes. I'd catch up later after dinner before we headed out for another visit to the wild pokemon battle club.

I clenched my fist and put it up into the sky staring at it, at how much my team had grown in just one night.

I'd have to buy more potions soon. I was actually using up a lot of it.

I wish Blissey was here, she'd love this.

"Nope! I'm feeling good today, and not missing anyone! They're home and relaxing and having fun, and I'll see them soon. Okay!" I called out and started to charge when I caught sight of someone I was surprised to see.

"Professor Kukui? Oh, Alola!"

"Huh? Ah! Alola Vicky! Good to see you!" He called out laughing.

"Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Normally! But there's a trip today. The whole class is visiting Akala, how about you? Aren't you normally on the beach?"

"Hehe! I stayed up late last night training, and so I'm getting a late start."

"Training?"

"Mhmm! Did you know there's a spot where wild pokemon gather not too far from your house, up on a big rock? I went there last night, and all my pokemon took part."

"Huh. I did actually. Clawmark Hill… It's a private spot. Humans aren't usually allowed to take part, it's something just for the wild battles here on Melemele."

"Well, offering them a bit of Potion between their battles seemed to earn me a place… I didn't mess up did I?"

"If the wild Pokemon let you stay, then I think you're alright… You said you battled them?"

"No, I let my pokemon battle. No orders. Just letting my team get some experience. Nothing better than a little head to head for young pokemon, to learn how to push through." I added, and Kukui smiled.

"I'm kinda jealous, that sounds like a real Blast Burn!"

"Hehe! Yeah it took a bit to get them engaged. Thankfully they didn't take their losses badly, and started pushing through… These lot definitely got it." I let my hands drift over my pokeballs, everyone was still resting, but I was feeling super proud.

Honestly the only issue was that as good as battle training was, they really needed more instruction as well, and I didn't have…

Well I had Lucario, who'd probably help.

Then I looked up and Kukui had a moment where he blinked and raised his hand and pointed at his face.

"Professor… Do you want to take part in some training?"

"Hmm. That's tempting." He said playing cool, but I could see the eagerness.

"You see, while my pokemon like my Riolu are growing stronger, what they need is more combat instruction. I have Jangmo-o, and Riolu, both fighting types, and Lucario was a wild pokemon, and never really did Fighting Gym Training."

"Heh, I see what you're asking… A Riolu huh? I saw your Lucario during the conference. She was strong. Overwhelming."

"Thanks! But she was a newer addition to my team, I didn't have as much time to really make her shine, and she only joined to make me agree to train Riolu."

"Really?"

"Hmm! They were both wild, and I impressed Lucario, she decided I'd make Riolu into the strongest… So that's what I'm going to do."

"Alright." He nodded, then a hand raised up and adjusted his hat. "You've got me feeling like I just used Burn Up! I got an idea. Bring your team and… Your Lucario?"

"Oh I can get her to come if it's for training Riolu."

"Definitely." He agreed and I smiled holding out a hand and he grinned and we shook on it. "Alright come by the Pokemon School, we can use the fields there."

"Perfect! I'll go get them! Thanks Professor!"

"Hahaha!" He laughed joyfully, as I raced off, and I noticed as I looked back he was racing off too.

Heh. He wasn't so calm as he liked to pretend, he liked battling and training too.

I raced to the beach and found everyone already out in our spot. Lucario was drinking from a straw out of a little coconut drink, and looking like the most relaxed pokemon in the world.

"Lucario!" I called out as I skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Lu?"

"Can I borrow you for an afternoon?" I asked, and she reached up and pulled down the cute silly sunglasses she'd been wearing. Definitely something Papa bought for her.

"Lu."

"It's for training Riolu!" I added and her denial shifted as she seemed to check to make sure I wasn't playing before nodding once.

"Ah you pulled the Riolu card." Papa called out and I grinned at him, but he looked at me. "What's going on Trouble?"

"I just ran into Professor Kukui, and he agreed to help with some training with my team! Kukui is an amazing battler. Probably the best battler in all of Alola. Riolu just had a bunch of battle training last night, and this is the perfect time to refine what she's learned."

"Lu. Lucario." She rose up, apparently sold, but then stalled and looked at Papa, who just grinned.

"You don't have to ask me. But… Mind if I come?" He asked and I blinked at Papa's words…

"Sure!" I agreed, smiling and Mama just waved at us from her chair, a book in her lap, and Meowth curled up and purring as she seemed quite content on the beach. "To the pokemon school!"

"Great. School, I hoped to never have to step foot in one of those ever again." Papa muttered, and Lucario and I both laughed as I started pulling him along.