EPISODE 12: Challenge Accepted

Today's the day. The day I challenge the Kahuna of Mele-Mele island. Even if we are not in the Alola region, Kahuna Hala allowed me to participate in the island challenge or in my case... the region challenge. I couldn't sleep because of enthusiasm and eagerness. My mind was filled with ideas and thoughts of how I and Riolu could defeat Hala's challenge. The grandmaster warned that island challenges require not the art of battling but the use of critical thinking.

Once I pass the Kahuna's challenge, then that's the time I can battle a Totem Pokemon, a Pokemon almost two times its size! During a match between a totem Pokemon and a trainer, the bond and trust a trainer has to its Pokemon is placed under fire and tribulation!

And lastly, the moment me and Riolu trained for, the grand trial... A battle between a Kahuna and a trainer, in this last challenge brute strength and battling strategies, is tested.

And if I won and surpassed every challenge or trial, then that's the time I get to have a Z-crystal and a Z-ring.

I and Riolu woke up early again just like in the past days. We were thinking of strategies and battle ideas to defeat Kahuna Hala's intimidating Hariyama. A Pokemon born out of power and skill!

"You got this... You got this..." I said to myself all over again as I looked in the front mirror.

My determination and confidence was boosted to a hundred percent. Then I did the last recall on Riolu's moves, just to make sure that I know what I'm doing and saying in the challenge, because when it comes to anxiety I'm top 1. Every time I get worried I tend to forget things, and forgetting things in the middle of a challenge would put me in a tight spot.

"Riolu are you ready for the challenge?"

"I am Kalem! I'm so pumped up, I could eat a thousand of Aguav berries!

"Haha! very funny Riolu, but I know you hate Aguav berries!"

"Come on! It was just an expression Kalem!" Riolu intoned as he jumped on my shoulder.

"I know..." I said in a monotone voice.

As we were about to leave, I heard something very familiar... very very familiar.

"Kalem... Kalem..."

"Who's there!" I quivered as I slowly looked back at my room

"Kalem... Kalem..."

The voice, the voice that kept on calling my name has returned. But it seemed to be coming from the egg.

"Kalem... Kalem..." the voice continued.

As I walk towards the egg slowly by slowly as if I was being possessed or controlled by a supernatural being.

But as I reached the egg, the voice suddenly disappeared into thin air.

I woke up from the strange spell that controlled my body to walk towards the egg, and I also noticed that the veil of darkness from the egg was getting thicker.

"Kalem are you alright?" Riolu queried.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine Riolu, let's go and eat breakfast shall we?"

"I must have been worried... that's why I could hear stuff, maybe it has something to do with anxiety." I whispered to my mind as I and Riolu walked towards the dining hall.

"Hey what's up Kalem, ready for your challenge?" someone from behind me called my name.

"Oh hi Zhery... Yeah I'm ready, I just feel a little bit scared that's all!"

"Are you sure? You look like a worried Mankey " Zhery queried.

Another person from my left called me and said,

"Sup Kalem, ready for the challenge!"

"Oh Glade, nice to see you..." I looked and turned my head down.

"Hey what's bothering you Kalem?" Glade asked.

"Yeah, Zhery's right, I'm so worried sick right now! I think I'm going to experience anxiety again!" I fretted.

"Look Kalem, you and Riolu trained hard for this, I know you can do it!" Zhery appealed.

"Zhery's right Kalem, there's no need to become worried as long as you trust Riolu and Riolu trusts you" Glade affirmed with Zhery's statement.

"But what if I lose?" I questioned them.

"Then you stand up, identify the mistakes, learn from the mistakes, then try again! That's what my mother always said to me every time I participated in Pokemon contests." Zhery appealed.

"A loss against a trial is a failure but quitting? That's the time you lose. I know that you won't quit right Kalem!" Glade persuaded.

"Well thanks a lot for cheering me up guys... I feel a little bit confident now!"

"That's the spirit!" Zhery exclaimed.

"Just remember Kalem, we'll be cheering you on until the end!" Glade exclaimed.

After breakfast, everybody was asked to go to their classes except for me... I was asked to go to the headmaster's office.

"Well Kalem, good luck on your challenge!" Glade avowed.

"Just remember to stay calm... don't lose your cool when you get frustrated or something!" Zhery added.

"Thanks for cheering me up guys... I'll be going now the headmaster and the Kahuna is probably waiting for me already."

"Break a leg Kalem!" Glade and Zhery said before they parted ways with me.

"You got this Kalem!

You got this Kalem!" I tried to enlighten my mind as I walked through the walls of the orphanage going to the office of no other than the headmaster.

"Don't worry Kalem, you got this, just remember what our friends said!" Riolu advised.

"Yeah, thanks a lot Riolu..."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

My hands were sweating as they touched the door.

"Yes?" Ms. Cherry opened the door.

"Oh hi Ms. Cherry, I'm here for my island challenge with the Kahuna!"

"Oh... That's right, please come in and take a seat, the headmaster will be meeting you in a while"

"Just remember as long as you trust Riolu and Riolu trusts you, you'll surely pass the challenge!" I repeated what my friends said. I tried to get inspiration from them, but their anxiety was taking over.

"Good morning Kalem, ready for your island challenge or Region challenge?" the headmaster teased.

"Yes I am Ms. Beatrice, I... I just feel a little worried."

"You sure? Don't get intimidated by Kahuna Hala, he's a good guy... Just answer his question seriously."

"I got it!" I replied to her statement.

"Breathe in... Breathe out! Whenever your ready, the Kahuna will be right here in a second"

"W... Wait you're leaving Ms. Beatrice?"

"Of course, when having an island challenge... No one is allowed inside the room except for the trainer and the Kahuna. Wait for Kahuna Hala..."

Moments later after the headmaster left, the Kahuna came in... Walking slowly towards the headmaster's seat. He took a sip in his coffee before he began to sit.

"Good morning Kalem, feeling worried are you?"

"I'll be honest Kahuna sir, the truth is I'm so... so... scared."

"Don't be Kalem, do I look scary?"

"Umm, of course not Kahuna sir!"

"Then why would my questions be scary? It's all in the brain, do not be scared and worried Kalem, its just one question. When I saw your eagerness to help me catch that ditto I released-

"So you're the one who let ditto escape?"

"Yes Kalem, I wanted to test your eagerness towards helping the elderly, because if you know how to love your neighboring friends then you definitely know how to love Pokemon."

"When I witnessed your battle with the headmaster, although you may have lost but your skills and strategies are correct I would have done the same thing if I was battling Beatrice's Alakazam using your Riolu. It just needs some further improvement..." the Kahuna added.

"When I witnessed your battle with your friend Glade, I saw your optimism and Riolu's determination. That's what makes you and Riolu one! Observing this kind of behavior are the common goals of Kahunas. They must make sure that trainers are always working one with their Pokemon because in order to do a Z-move you need to be one with your Pokemon" the Kahuna continued.

"So no need to be worried Kalem. I know your strength, you just need a little room for improvement... So shall we start the island challenge?"

"Yes Kahuna sir! I and Riolu are ready for your question!" I was inspired by what the Kahuna said.

"Alright then let's begin..."

"Like a said... Z-moves requires you to work as one with your Pokemon. You must battle alike, and think alike! That's the purpose of the island challenge...

To see how you and your Pokemon could think alike.

Now... Let's give a situation shall we?"

"Let's say that an infestation occurred in one of the largest farms of this region. They were infested by a group of rattatas and Raticates. How could you shoo the rattatas and raticates from the farm and making sure that they won't return back to cause another infestation?"

"Oh no... That question's hard" I said to myself.

I thought hard and well. What would I do if there was a rattata infestation on my farm instead of the largest farm in this region?

"Kalem! Kalem! I have an idea!" Riolu told me.

"Huh what's that?" I asked Riolu.

"Why not ask another group Pokemon to shoo away the rattatas, a group of Pokemon who are rivals against the rattatas... Just like Sevipers and Zangooses." Riolu suggested.

"No... No... Riolu, where can we find a Pokemon which hates Ratattas? I know what to answer, don't worry!"

"What is it then?" Riolu ask.

"We'll just battle all the Rattatas! We'll knock them down one by one and from that, they won't return!" I suggested.

"But... That's tiring and fighting against a group of Rattatas against one Pokemon, the match wouldn't be fair!"

"Trust me Riolu!"

"No you must trust me, my answer is correct Kalem!"

"No I'm correct, just watch..."

"Alright..." Riolu said with disappointment knowing that my answer would be wrong.

"Kahuna sir!"

"So Kalem, do you have an answer?"

"We'll battle all the Rattatas until they all faint, then they won't return to the farm... As simple as that!"

"But if you battled the Rattatas, wouldn't your Pokemon just get tired? You're battling against a group not just one Pokemon... Think harder Kalem"

"See I told you!" Riolu argued.

"Oh... Now I know!"

"What's your idea Kalem?" Riolu queried.

"We'll just close the farm and build a new farm with thick walls built with thick bricks!"

"But Kalem, Rattatas can still go in the new farm with or without a wall, they could dig you know?" Riolu argued.

"Trust me on this one, this time we're correct!"

"Kalem why won't you trust me?"

"Riolu of course I trust you but your answer is surely wrong," I said boastfully.

"Kahuna sir!"

"Another answer my dear Kalem?"

"We can just close the old farms then build new farms, but the new farms will have thick walls to prevent the Rattatas from entering"

"If we build thick walls, Rattatas could just dig their way through the walls by passing underground. I'm giving you a last chance, think harder Kalem... trust your Pokemon as your Pokemon trusts you!"

"Oh I forgot" I said to my mind.

"The purpose for this island challenge is to see if you and your Pokemon would think alike" I recalled what Kahuna Hala said.

I looked at Riolu, he seemed to be angry at me... I totally forgot that we must cooperate and trust each other if we want to pass the trial.

"R... Riolu, I'm sorry I didn't listen to you" I apologized gravely.

Riolu wouldn't pay attention to me, he was still mad at me ...

"Riolu, I should have listened to you... I remembered that, we must trust each other in order to pass the challenge, so Riolu, would you give me a chance,"

"You know better, right Kalem?" Riolu chastised.

"No Riolu... we know better, not I not you but we. Please Riolu we need to cooperate in order to pass!"

"Alright, but you promise to listen to me ok Kalem?"

"With full heart! I promise!"

"So this is what I was thinking Kalem, why not send Pokemon to chase away those Rattatas. In order for them not to return, we let the Pokemon roam free... But the Pokemon we must choose to chase away the Rattatas, must be a Pokemon which doesn't eat wheat, so that the Pokemon chosen to drive away the Rattatas would only chase them away, and not eat the wheat which could cause another infestation."

"Wow... I've never thought of that Riolu!"

"Kahuna sir!"

"So... You've thought of a final answer?"

"Yes Kahuna sir!"

"May I know your answer?"

"Our answer is, to send Pokemon to chase away the Rattatas, in order for them not to return, we would let the Pokemon to roam free, but the chosen Pokemon must be a Pokemon which does not eat wheat so that it wouldn't cause harm to the crops just like what the Rattatas did."

"Hmmmmmm...." The kahuna thought of our answer.

"Please say we passed...Please say we passed!" Me and Riolu hoped.

The kahuna stood up and glared in our eyes, then suddenly...

"Congratulations Riolu and Kalem! I don't like your answer, I LOVE it!!! You two definitely deserve to battle a totem Pokemon, Both of you are correct, and what would be the chosen Pokemon to drive away the Rattatas? Its Gumshoos! Later after lunch, I want both of you to go to Emerald forest, I instructed the headmaster to allow you to go to Emerald forest in case you passed. From there, you'll be battling the Totem Pokemon!"

"Yes! We did it Riolu!" I burst in happiness as I and Riolu gave each other a high five!

"You may now go Kalem... Good luck with the totem Pokemon!"

Me and Riolu thanked the Kahuna and rushed out of the room we jumped for joy knowing that we passed. While walking, I saw the headmaster, she asked "How did things go with your challenge?"

"We passed!" I shouted.

"Me and Riolu disagreed sometimes with each other but in the end, we began to trust each other!" I explained to the headmaster.

"That's the spirit young Kalem! Go now and eat your lunch, you still have a totem to defeat!"

Me and the headmaster were interrupted by Glade and Zhery as they came to ask about the challenge.

"So, did you pass the challenge?" Zhery asked!

"I did! if it wasn't for Riolu, we would have failed."

"You mean, if it wasn't for us!" Riolu corrected.

"You two really are close!" Glade said.

"Next, you'll be battling a Totem Pokemon right Kalem?" Glade asked.

"Yes we will, and yes we'll win!" I said with confidence.

"I guess your confidence was boosted a lot," Zhery said.

"Now you three run along and eat your lunch in the dining hall, especially you Kalem, you must be pretty hungry after that challenged."

Challenge one was a success, and we're sure that me and Riolu can ace challenge two, battling a totem Pokemon! Afterward, it's off to the grand trial!!! A fight against me and Kahuna Hala!