"Riooo!" Riolu shouted as she went head to head with a familiar Machop, and I grinned, sure, she was still getting her ass kicked, especially when the Machop pulled out a funny move.

Grabbing her by one of her wrists and just using it to drag her in and bludgeon her in the face.

Sure, I was amused at her getting beaten up, but more importantly? She reacted quickly instead of flinching. Ducking the punches, and slamming her paw forward into Machop's wrist. Breaking free.

She slipped backwards, arms up to guard her face which kept her from taking another hit as she made space.

She was learning. Luey, had definitely done wonders with just one session.

Unfortunately, one battle wasn't enough. One afternoon of practice wasn't enough, and more importantly, Riolu was a bit tired, even Riolu's famed stamina didn't match up against so many battles back to back.

Machop once more dived in, using a sweeping motion with his back to get in close as Riolu's fist only whiffed air before a glowing fist slammed into her, and she was done.

Was that Dynamic Punch? Yikes, that little Machop was a real monster.

"Maaa-Chop!" He roared to the sky and the other pokemon that weren't battling roared for him.

I hurried over and despite the win he looked at me rather thankfully as I healed them both up.

But while I healed them both up, Riolu was just staring up into the sky.

"Rio."

"Yeah getting your ass kicked hurts." I replied to her whine, and she huffed at me, which made her flinch, so I focused on her ribs, yep, that punch must have hurt.

"Rio… Riolu."

I stalled for a moment, and then felt my smile stretch across my face.

"It was a good fight, and you'll get him soon.." I said confidently, as I sprayed a bit more potion on her side.

"Rio?"

"Mhmm. You're learning a lot, you broke his grab didn't you? He was about to seismic toss you before you did that."

"Riolu." She offered raising up her fist and looking up into the sky with it raised.

Looks like Riolu was feeling that push with every loss… Good.

My job was to keep the losses from breaking her spirit, because if she made it through loss after loss, it would refine her spirit into an unbreakable desire to win in every fight.

That's one of the advantages I was hoping to give my baby team. Forging an unbreakable foundation for them to grow from.

Well that, and the skill to use special attacks… I waited a while for whatever Riolu was going through to end. Her fist dropped and only then did I critique.

"You know… You can use Vacuum Wave." I pointed out the one move I'd pushed her to use over and over, since Aura Sphere would be her bread and butter when she evolved.

She instantly puffed out her cheeks at me.

"Rio."

"Uh-uh. C'mon." I reached down and grasped her forearm, and with an easy move pulled her up and onto my back. She squirmed a bit before settling in. She didn't weigh anything really. Well, I mean compared to Gravity. So it wasn't hard, I secured her butt with one hand, and grabbed my Potion bottle with the other. This one was getting low too.

Need to stop at a shop in the morning for sure.

With that I walked off, ignoring her whining in my ear about being carried, as I headed to check on everyone else.

This night was going about the same as the last. Sure my team was doing better. The fact was, as young as my team was, every battle was a drastic change to their growth, but it wasn't enough to overcome pokemon that came out and battled if not every night, as often as they could.

Jangmo-o's Dragon Pulse kept him going, and he gritted through a few more attacks before he was knocked out.

Dratini added a nice Twister into his attacks, using the move to disrupt his enemies view so a Dragon Pulse would plow through, an awesome combo move, but not enough as he was knocked out after his opponent recovered.

I'd have to talk to him after, he seemed a bit down at his loss.

And then, there was Brave.

I grinned as her battle continued. The Sableeye she'd battled the night before and her had singled each other out, and were going head to head.

Goomy were considered the weakest Dragons. That might be true, but as always even the weakest pokemon could overcome the strongest with the right moves, or skills.

And right now, Brave, despite being scratch up and Dirty, was bouncing around, using her own Dragon Pulses to help her move around, and combining that to shield against attacks. The Sableeyes Power Gem was blasted back by Dragon Pulse Area, and at the same time as she used it to shield, and move around, she was also moving into position for an attack!

Brave cried out, and a Dragon Pulse Control shot out, the Dragon faced beam didn't travel for the Sableye.

Instead as Brave was still in the air it shot around her like a spiral, and the Sableeyes next attack was deflected by the burning swirling Dragon energy…

And then Brave rode that energy down, roaring like a dragon all the way down until both the attack and Brave herself smashed into the Sableye, which hadn't moved quick enough!

The explosion of the Dragon Pulse hitting it's target covered them both in dust, and then I waited with baited breath!

Then as it cleared…

"Goom?"

The voice was confused, like she couldn't believe it, like her victory was an impossibility in her own mind…

"Yeah! You did it!" I roared out, and even Riolu cried out weakly from my back.

Goomy looked confused, scuffed up and dirty as she stood up on top of Sableye's chest. Then she looked down, seeing her defeated opponent, and then the cheers hit her, not just from me, but the horde of pokemon around us. Warriors and battlers. Pokemon that even wild refused to stay weak, and wanted to grow.

And Goomy? My little Brave? She looked up to the sky and roared.

"Gooooooooooomy!"

And while she cried out, as she was cheered up, I noticed there were two that while cheering for her…

Dratini and Jangmo-o both watched scuffed up beside me, and I could see the look in their eyes.

They hadn't managed a win. They'd lost and now they saw one of their companions, one of their friends do what they couldn't.

And even in Dratini, my happy little guy, I saw that draconic pride rising up.

This… Was honestly better than I could have expected. Jangmo-o and Dratini had both seen Brave as a sort of rival to surpass, and once again she'd done what they couldn't faster.

I knew teaching her Counter Shield first was the right call, because for both of my dragon boys their will was hardening.

Their desire was growing.

And this would push them even harder. I'd just have to guide them to not lose their heart, but considering we were dealing with a couple Dragons that was unlikely. No, this was perfect.

—--

"'Ornin." I mumbled as I woke up to the sound of the TV playing. I blinked and remembered how familiar it felt. Like when I first arrived in Alola. Everyone was hanging around the room, either still napping, or slowly waking up. Jangmo-o and Riolu were both at the bottom of the bed curled up and watching the TV that Riolu had turned on.

I checked on everyone and smiled. They were all tuckered out enough they weren't causing trouble, which instantly made them all a lot cuter. Brave was still sleeping in the bowl of water, I'd placed for her, and she had a big snot bubble coming out of her face, which was actually a good thing. It means she had regained all the moisture she lost after the battle.

Mimikyu was rustling around in my bag under the bed if the sound was right, and Dratini was wrapped around me, sleepily blinking his eyes at the noise of the TV.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Gible… There was no Gible?

I sat straight up, adrenaline surging.

"Gible?"

I called out and looked around and everyone glanced at me, but no one responded except with sleepy eyes, and then…

I blinked.

No way.

I got up and clambered off the bed toward the faint noise…

Coming from the bathroom.

No. Oh no. No no no no.

I flicked on the lights.

"Gib."

"Oh no. Gible Gable." I whispered just taking in what I was seeing. Gible, sitting in the toilet happy as a… Well a Dragon I guess. Her little claws splish splashing in the water.

How long had she been in the toilet playing? Did she… Drink any of the water? Oh god. I took a breath. "Mimikyu! Can you get me my soap from the bag!" I called out, and then hesitated… "And a Camera."

If I was going to have to clean this up, I was going to enjoy the cute baby pictures later.

Only once Mimikyu scooted over, and I took a picture or two… Or twelve, cause it was cute, if disgusting.

"Okay you little Grimer. Let's get you in a shower." I muttered as I stepped in… Floors wet. I held in the sigh and just walked in, picked up Gible much to her displeasure, and noticed she'd actually been sitting with her tail right down the drain too. Eeew.

Also… I hummed, as I held her, she felt a bit cold. I'd definitely have to warm her up and get her to a Pokemon Center after a good bath.

I set her in the show which got a small reaction as she shifted slowly towards the shower head… Well at least she was getting responsive.

Tossing off my clothes I started the shower and settled in. Mimikyu ninjaing around the bathroom to avoid the water. He handed me the soap. "Thanks buddy."

"KuKkkKuu!"

Then as Gible was very distracted I prepared to get to cleaning.

A complimentary washcloth was perfect, as I grabbed the small bundle Mimikyu handed me. Popping it open well away from the water. Inside was a small row of metal shakers. I twisted the top and shook. The white flakes would sud up very well, and this was an antibacterial soap. Then I closed that up and grabbed the next, this was a scale polish and would help remove any stains from the scales, and reduce any irritation from the soap.

Once that was put away I grabbed a small brush that had some firmer bristles than I'd normally use, good for scales this one.

And worked it into the cloth building up suds and combining the soaps.

Once I was done I adjusted Gible a bit out of the water, but she was happy just wiggling her feet and claws into the water splashing.

Then the scrubbing started. The brush ran over her, and only when the bubbles started flowing did she even seem to notice.

Claws reaching out to touch the bubbles foaming around her butt, she squeezed at them for a while before deciding it wasn't as interesting as just water.

"Gib."

"Is that so?" I responded instantly as I turned her around.

"Gib… Gib."

"Mhmm. It sounds like you had fun." I muttered.

"Gib."

I smiled, despite the early morning… Well it was probably late afternoon by now, but despite it all, she was growing well, so that was… Good.

Good enough to make me let the irritation go.

Once her crest was nice and polished and clean I worked down, her horns which did distract her a bit as they were a bit more sensitive, but she actually seemed to accept the feeling once she got used to it, and was happily just lolling around with her mouth open as all the sensations washed over her.

She was growing into a good girl…

Now I just had to figure out a way to keep her out of the toilet.

Well at least we were having a nice moment of skinship.

"Do you like this?" I asked her as I scrubbed and after a while, I just heard a quiet.

"Gib." In response, which honestly could mean anything, but I'll take the wins I can get here.

By the time I was done, I noticed the floor had towels laid over it. Mimikyu had obviously been trying to help. So I flashed him my brightest smile.

"Thank you." I whispered just for him, which he practically burst with love in return. "Okay. I need to take Gible to the Pokemon Center… If you promise to be good. You can stay and watch TV." I said and eyed Riolu up firmly, and sent me a look as she moved from TV to me…

"Rio." She nodded and then flopped back onto the pillow, my pillow, she'd stolen and was resting against.

Yeah I figured.

"Jang! Jangmo-o-o!" I got an excited little dragon bark as well, and I smiled at him.

"Alright. How about you Brave?"

"Goom." She yawned in her bowl and slipped down deeper.

Yeah she was tuckered out after last night. Okay. Mimikyu before I could speak leapt up and onto my shoulder, I noticed only a moment before it happened what he was up to and giggled as he started running a comb through my hair.

"Hehehe! That tickles! You're going to help me are you?"

"Ku! Kukuu!"

"Thanks Mimikyu." I yawned a bit but settled Gible down and returned her so she wouldn't rush back to the bathroom, and then finished getting dressed again and headed out towards the pokemon center.

—--

"Welcome!"

"Nurse Joy!" I called out as I rushed up to the front desk.

"If you have any pokemon that need healing, place them here."

"Ah well… It's not a battle issue." I explained and she nodded looking serious.

"What's wrong?"

"So I found my Gible this morning… Playing in the toilet. I don't know if she drank any water from it, but she was in there for a bit."

"Oh."

"If it helps, I've used a disinfecting and scale soap?"

"Oh. That does help."

"Hehe! Blissey helped me pick out the right soaps."

"That's… A relief actually." Nurse Joy offered with a slightly tired sigh. "Why don't you come along, I'll have a antibiotic for her to eat, and that should handle that, but a trainer is usually best to offer food."

"I can do that!" I said confidently, and she guided me into the back as a Chansey took her place at the front desk.

She guided me to a little back room, and I released Gible who blinked and then looked around before just sort of zoning out since there wasn't any water for her to get distracted with.

Nurse Joy went through a cabinet and passed out a pill that… Well it was kinda large, and looked like something you'd see right out of an anime.

"That's a big pill."

"Dragon Types Antibiotics have to be robust. She just needs to eat this."

"Can I put it in a Berry?"

"Yes." I reached into my pack and pulled out whatever Berry I grabbed first, since Gible was more than happy to stuff anything down her throat and then walked over and offered it to her.

A moment later Gible reached out and grabbed the berry swiftly, but not as aggressively as she had done when I first met her. And stuffed it into her mouth… Then she continued to chew seemingly on her own claw.

"Some things never change with you huh?"

"She does have an… Interesting personality."

"She's kinda like that." I answered Nurse Joy, but I reached out and scratched along Gibles fin until she was more than happy to waddle closer and curl up against me. "She was cold when I got her out of the toilet, but I warmed her in a shower…"

"That's fine. Dragons might be weak to Ice Types, but they're quite resistant to chills. She's healthy, so any chill she might have taken will be washed away by her own internal energy… And a bit of warm sunlight."

"That's good. Thanks Nurse Joy."

The woman tittered. "As far as pokemon playing with Toilet water… Well, this was one of the least worst situations I've dealt with,"

"Oh no."

"Oh yes. Pokemon can be a bit silly. At least it's not a Grimer, or a Muk."

"Oh No!"

"Oh yes." We both laughed at that, and I picked Gible up, holding her on my side, as Mimikyu giggled from my shoulder a bit too.

—---

"Rio! Rio rio! Riolu! Riolu!" She chattered away, as I sat back with Professor Kukui. I'd headed to the Pokemon school once classes had been out, and he'd walked me to his home where we were now sitting on the porch, watching as my Riolu and his Lucario trained.

Riolu, if I wasn't mistaken, was showing how she'd lost last night, and was asking for ways to overcome it.

Luey, like a good sensei, was listening well, and then guiding Riolu. On both how to overcome those moves, and then teaching her how to use them as well. Gaining even more understanding.

"Luey really knows his stuff."

"Heh. He's one of my friends, and I do take training seriously, even if I'm a professor now."

"Hmm! You're strong!" I agreed without hesitation, and Kukui smiled at my words.

"I do wish Alola had a bit more of a culture for battles, Like your Kanto Gyms."

"They're fun. They teach a lot, how to train pokemon and deal with different types."

"Exactly! Sure our Island Challenge can be great, but…" He sighed.

"I don't think it's wrong though." I muttered as I watched our pokemon train. "It's less focused on direct battle, but that's not wrong… Why not both?"

"Hmm?"

"If you like Gyms Professor… Why not just make one?"

"What?"

"Mmm! Just make a gym, make a badge and pass it out to the island challengers. Heck, go around and find other strong trainers around the island, and get them on board."

"Hahaha! It's amazing you came to that so quickly! Just do it huh? Ah, it's not that simple."

"Why not?" I asked, and Kukui, usually so exuberant and happy was… Melancholy.

"Tradition… There are those that don't like the changes that have come to Alola. Our shift towards tourism, the change of our people with so many new cultures coming to Alola… Did you… Have you heard about the Thrifty MegaMart disaster?"

I hesitated, before nodding.

"A little. Tapu… Bulu?"

"Hey that's right."

"The Megamart was built on ground important to the Tapu, and she didn't react well."

"That's right. Alola loves the Tapu, and we are bound by the Tapu." He said heavily. "The Kahuna… They wish to grow too, but… The recent losses, the fear of angering the Tapu, have caused everyone to be… Wary."

"Ah. The Kahuna are worried it would be another cause for the Tapu to react violently, so they're saying no."

"Exactly."

"But… Doesn't Tapu Koko like battling? The fun feast! The one that they let me take part in. Tapu Koko responded."

"Sure, but it's not just Tapu Koko, and… The Kahuna are doubling down on the Island Trials as the way forward. Understanding Pokemon…" He leaned in. "Understanding the Tapu, has become more important than ever."

"Hmm." Was all I could say. I knew Kukui would get his Alolan League eventually, but… It did explain why it took him so long, and why he struggled for it. Ash coming through and doing his befriending the Tapu, and everything else, and didn't he help Hapu become the Kahuna as well? It probably settled a lot of peoples fears.

Heh. Ash was good about that sort of thing.

But… That was years in the future… Probably. Unless Ash showed up tomorrow, still ten years old, I wouldn't be entirely surprised if it happened.

But no, focus.

Kukui, and Alola in general had done a lot for me. Should I interfere? Some people wouldn't react well. I wasn't Ash, I wouldn't be staying here for years, truly becoming one of them. But… Could I just… Do nothing?

"Ah c'mon! Don't give me such a Tearful Look! Making a League here in Alola, growing our battle culture? That's my dream! I'm happy to keep working on it!"

"You'll manage it."

"Heh, You think so?"

"I know so. You have the fire of your dream making you stronger, and pushing you forward." I said confidently, enjoying being able to sound like the wise Master.

"Hah! Well c'mon! I'm all fired up and could use a good battle!"

"Pfft. You're talking to the wrong team, but I'll show you my little ones will grow to be champions!"

"That's the spirit!"