The Pokémon School Challenge

by Jeanette Lane

  Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Sneak Peek

  Copyright

  Yippee! Whoo!” Ash yelled. “AWESOME!”

  Ash grinned as he gazed out at the wide, blue ocean. He felt a splash of water on his face. Melemele Island, one of several islands in the Alola region, was the perfect place for a vacation! He had Pikachu, his best friend and beloved Pokémon, on his shoulder. The island sun was warm and bright. What could be better?

  The answer: zipping over the waves while riding a super cool Sharpedo! Sharpedo was the famous Alola Pokémon jet ski. Instead of a machine with a motor, it was a fabulous Water- and Dark-type Pokémon with super speed.

  “Full throttle, Sharpedo!” Ash directed. With several strong flips of its powerful tail, Sharpedo zoomed ahead.

  This thrilling Sharpedo ride was just one of the amazing activities Ash could enjoy on Melemele Island. The Alola region was a tropical paradise, and it had all kinds of unique Pokémon. Even though Ash and his mom were on vacation, he was still thinking about Pokémon.

  Anytime he was encountering new Pokémon, Ash was having a ball. It was his goal to become a Pokémon Master. He had traveled to many regions on his quest to compete at top Pokémon Gyms, but he already knew that his time in Alola would be special.

  While Ash and his mom were on Melemele Island, they had an important task. Professor Oak, the famous Pokémon professor who lived in Ash’s hometown in the Kanto region, had asked them for a favor. Professor Oak needed them to deliver a Pokémon Egg to his cousin, Samson Oak. It was a mysterious Egg, and Ash knew it was a very important job.

  To get to Samson Oak, Ash and his mom took a taxi. But it wasn’t just any taxi.

  “My first Pokémon taxi!” Ash declared from the comfortable seat of a cart pulled by a strong Tauros. “This is the best EVER!”

  Ash was thrilled. Pikachu made a happy squeak, and the Tauros replied with a friendly grunt. Also along for the trip was Mr. Mime, Ash’s mom’s Pokémon companion. Mr. Mime, a Psychic- and Fairy-type Pokémon, had actually won the tickets for their big island getaway!

  “Here in the Alola region, we use the power of Pokémon to go anywhere and everywhere,” the taxi driver explained. “We refer to these Pokémon as Ride Pokémon. When you travel on land, you take a Land Ride Pokémon. When you want to fly, you take an Air Ride Pokémon. On water, a Water Ride Pokémon.”

  Ash found it all fascinating. He loved learning new Pokémon facts!

  His mom was more interested in the exotic fruit at the local market. She wanted to buy some berries, so the taxi driver pulled Tauros to a stop.

  As Ash got out of the cart, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. It wasn’t fruit.

  “It’s a Pokémon,” Ash murmured, rushing over to investigate. The Pokémon was halfway underground, with its tan-and-orange striped head poking out. “So cool! I wonder what its name is!”

  Ash leaned down, and the Pokémon reached out and pinched his nose with its strong pincer-like jaws.

  As soon as the Bug-type Pokémon let go, it dove underground and dug an escape tunnel. “Okay, let’s catch it, Pikachu!” Ash cried, holding his nose.

  In an instant, the two friends had rushed off into a nearby forest, leaving the market—and Ash’s mom—far behind. They raced after the speedy Pokémon.

  However, once they were deep in the forest, the Pokémon had too many places to hide. Tall, leafy trees rose high overhead, and lush plants grew all over the forest floor.

  “Guess we missed it,” Ash said, panting to catch his breath. Ash looked up and realized that he didn’t know where he was. He thought about his mom. “Where were we supposed to take that Egg again?”

  The shadows of the forest were a great place to hide. A mysterious Pokémon with large, curved wings floated high in the branches, watching Ash and Pikachu. It stayed out of sight.

  Just then, another Pokémon appeared. It was almost twice as tall as Ash and nearly three times as wide. And it was very, very pink. “Oh, wow,” Ash said with a gasp.

  “Pika!” Pikachu chirped in agreement.

  The pink-and-gray Pokémon began to wave its large, loglike arms.

  “Look! It’s waving!” exclaimed Ash, approaching slowly. “You sure are cute.”

  The Pokémon appeared to be walking toward them with a friendly grin. Then, all at once, it began to whirl around, breaking tree limbs with its gigantic paws. It let out an angry, high-pitched squeak.

  “Move it!” Ash yelled, and he and Pikachu ran with all their might. They leaped over bushes and dodged trees until they came to a small clearing.

  “What was that thing?” Ash wondered out loud. The super-sized Pokémon had seemed so happy to see them at first.

  Luckily, Ash didn’t worry about it for long. It was only seconds before another Pokémon distracted him. He noticed a Charizard flying high above—with a person on its back!

  “A Charizard? Must be an Air Ride Pokémon,” Ash decided. “That’s awesome! Pikachu, let’s follow it!”

  Ash and Pikachu chased after the Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon. They soon emerged from the trees.

  Ash stopped and took in the sight. Before him was a large field with a track around it. There were several grand buildings with thatched roofs and outdoor walkways. The grounds also included a lake and lots of tall palm trees. It was beautiful! And the best part? There were Pokémon everywhere.

  Ash stepped forward in awe. He didn’t look before he crossed the track, and three racing Tauros came barreling full steam ahead, nearly trampling him!

  A girl with long blonde hair hurried toward him. “Are you okay?” she asked, worried. Pikachu rushed forward to check on him, too.

  Ash laughed it off as he stood up. “Actually, I’m good at dealing with Tauros. See, I’ve caught some.”

  Soon, all the Tauros and their riders joined them, too. They all looked concerned.

  “What is this place?” Ash asked.

  “It’s the Pokémon School,” said a girl named Mallow.

  “The Pokémon School,” Ash repeated. “Wow!”

  I’ve heard of the Pokémon School! Whaddaya know? This is it.” Ash said.

  “I’ll show you around,” Mallow offered. She grabbed Ash by the hand and tugged. On her shoulder she had a small round Grass-type Pokémon called Bounsweet. It had a green stem on top of its head and gave off a deliciously sweet smell.

  Mallow practically dragged Ash into one of the big buildings. All around, there were kids and Pokémon studying or playing games. Ash could hardly believe it when Mallow took him into a large room filled with ancient Pokémon skeletons. There were flying Pokémon skeletons hanging from the ceiling; and there were other Pokémon skeletons, built bone by bone, on display on the wooden floor.

  “This is great!” Ash exclaimed. “Where am I again?”

  Mallow giggled. “I told you. It’s the Pokémon School. It’s a place where Pokémon and students all study together.”

  Next Mallow knocked on a closed door. “Principal, sir?” she called out. “I brought a new student.”

  Ash didn’t have time to explain that he wasn’t a new student before the door opened. Inside the office Ash saw … his mom!

  “Ash! You finally made it,” his mom said.

  Ash realized that his mom had come to the school, too, on their errand for Professor Oak.

  “Alola, Ash!” s
aid the man who looked very familiar. “Welcome to the Pokémon School, home of Solrock and roll!”

  Ash was confused. “Professor Oak,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

  The man laughed out loud. “People tell me we look alike. I guess that’s why you recognized me. The name is Samson Oak.”

  This man was Professor Oak’s cousin—the person who was expecting the Egg that he and his mom had brought all the way from Pallet Town.

  “He’s the Pokémon School principal,” Mallow explained.

  “Nice to meet chu!” Samson Oak said, making eye contact with Pikachu.

  “He always makes jokes,” Mallow said, slightly embarrassed. “He’s always playing around with Pokémon names.”

  “We all need a little fun.” Principal Oak said.

  He set out to contact his cousin, Professor Oak. He wanted to tell him that the Egg had arrived safe and sound.

  “Say, Principal Oak, sir?” Mallow began. “May I show Ash around the campus?”

  Ash held his breath, feeling hopeful.

  “Of course! PoryGON your way …”

  Ash was already getting used to the principal’s odd way of putting Pokémon names into everything he said. Porygon was a Virtual Pokémon from his home region of Kanto.

  “Now this is our classroom,” Mallow pointed out as they entered a gigantic room with high ceilings and windows open to the tropical air.

  “Hi!” said a young man. He had on a lab coat, board shorts, and a baseball cap. “A big Alola to you all!”

  “Professor Kukui!” Mallow looked happy to see him.

  “Professor?” Ash mumbled. He didn’t know any professors who wore a lab coat—without a shirt.

  “Yeah, he’s our teacher! Professor, I’d like you to meet Ash,” Mallow said.

  “Principal Oak just filled me in,” the teacher said. “Hi, Ash and Pikachu. I hope you enjoy your visit here!”

  Ash was pretty sure he would. “Thank you!”

  When Mallow, Ash, and Pikachu went outside, they noticed the same Charizard that Ash had originally followed out of the forest, and the guy who had been riding it was there. “That’s Kiawe!” Mallow said. Kiawe and Charizard were students at the Pokémon School, too.

  Soon they were joined by the same group of students that Ash had met when he first arrived on school grounds. Mallow introduced Lillie, the girl with the long blonde braids who had first approached him; Lana, who always carried Popplio, the Sea Lion Pokémon, in her arms; and Sophocles and Togedemaru, the Roly-Poly Pokémon. It looked a lot like its human friend.

  With Kiawe and Mallow, that was the Pokémon School class! Professor Kukui had come down to meet his students.

  Ash noticed a cool band around Kiawe’s wrist. It contained a crystal.

  Professor Kukui explained that the band was called a Z-Ring. It was made of square metal plates, with a crystal in the center of the largest plate. Kiawe had earned the Z-Ring in a ceremony called the Island Challenge, and now he and his Charizard were able to do an epic, overpowering move called a Z-Move.

  There was so much to learn about the Pokémon of the Alola region. Ash hoped he and Pikachu would have enough time on their vacation to learn it all.

  Ash was listening to the students outside the Pokémon School when he saw something flash by in the air. It was colorful, with bright patterns, and it was fast. The sight of it gave him a thrill. Then it disappeared behind a cluster of trees.

  “Who’s that Pokémon?” Ash asked.

  “Pokémon?” Sophocles questioned, looking all around.

  Mallow shook her head. “I don’t see anything.”

  But Ash knew he had seen it. It was odd, but he felt sure that the Pokémon had been watching them, observing them. “It was just there,” he insisted. “It was a Pokémon for sure! It was yellow, about this big.” Ash motioned with his arms. “It had a big orange crest on its head.” He could still see it in his mind.

  The rest of the group looked skeptical, uncertain of what Ash had just seen.

  Professor Kukui frowned and then said, “That sounds like—”

  “Tapu Koko,” Kiawe finished.

  “You saw Tapu Koko? Guardian of Melemele Island?” Lillie questioned, sounding amazed.

  “Wow. A guardian? That’s what that was?” Ash replied. He sounded equally stunned.

  Little did they know that Tapu Koko had been watching Ash. Earlier that day, Tapu Koko had seen Ash in the forest. It was interested in Ash’s fascination with Pokémon. But why would the Guardian of Melemele Island be so curious about Ash?

  * * *

  Later that night at the hotel, Ash and his mom were having dinner with Pikachu and Mr. Mime. The restaurant was on the main floor. They ate on a terrace with an amazing view of the ocean.

  “Anything interesting happen today?” Ash’s mom asked, but Ash was lost in all his incredible memories from that afternoon. “You seem a little distracted this evening,” she added.

  Just then, Ash heard a trilling coo. Pikachu heard it, too. Ash knew at once what it was. He rushed to the balcony’s railing.

  He saw a flash of yellow and orange—and the striking triangular marking on its wings.

  “Yup, that was it!” Ash confirmed and then leaped over the railing and took off.

  “Where are you going?” his mom called.

  Pikachu bounded behind Ash as they tracked down the flying Pokémon. Ash spotted it high above, so he climbed a tall staircase that wound up around a lush hillside. At the top, Ash found an empty plaza. Tapu Koko hovered above the plaza.

  Ash was in awe. Tapu Koko floated in the air without flapping its wide, curved wings.

  The Pokémon looked at Ash. Its markings made it look like a warrior, bold and proud.

  Ash felt a connection. “How come only I can see you? Is there something you want to tell me?”

  The majestic Pokémon cooed again. Then it released something from its wing. It was a band with a brilliant crystal at the center.

  “Whoa, that looks like what Kiawe was wearing,” Ash said. He looked up at the Spirit Guardian. Tapu Koko gave a small nod.

  When Ash reached out and grabbed the band, it sent a rush of electricity through him. A gleaming light circled all around the Z-Ring.

  Ash could tell it was powerful, but he didn’t fully understand why. He had many more questions, but the Spirit Guardian gracefully flew away, leaving Ash and Pikachu alone.

  After that experience, it wasn’t surprising that Ash wanted to stay in Alola to learn more about Tapu Koko and all the other new Pokémon there. As soon as Ash told his mom, she helped make the arrangements. She knew her son well, and she had a feeling he would love the chance to be a student at the Pokémon School.

  One of the best parts was that Ash would be able to stay with Professor Kukui, and he’d be with Mallow, Kiawe, Lillie, and the others in Professor Kukui’s class. It was such an amazing opportunity. Both Ash and Pikachu were excited for all the adventures they’d experience in Alola.

  Professor Kukui’s classroom was in full swing before Ash and Pikachu arrived on their first day. Mallow and Lillie were working together to develop a new recipe for Pokémon food. Mallow’s family ran a local restaurant, and she had grown up creating all kinds of tasty food, so she knew what ingredients would make a Pokémon meal super delicious. With Lillie’s incredible knowledge of Pokémon, she knew just what foods and vitamins would make a healthier snack.

  “If you added Mago Berry or Aguav Berry, the food would be better balanced,” Lillie suggested.

  “Lillie, you’re just the best!” Mallow exclaimed. “I’ll try it now. Thank you!” Just then, Mallow’s companion, Bounsweet, jumped gleefully onto her shoulder. Lillie cried out in surprise.

  “It’s such a shame,” Mallow said. “You know so much about Pokémon, but you can’t touch them.”

  “I can touch them,” Lillie insisted. “I theorize that it’s only a matter of if I want to touch them or not.”

  Almost everyone in
the classroom found it curious that Lillie did not like to touch Pokémon. It was clear that she was fascinated by them! During a lesson, Lillie always politely raised her hand and could answer almost any question Professor Kukui or Principal Oak asked. She devoured Pokémon facts like a Snorlax taking on its favorite snack. But she most enjoyed Pokémon in a book or on a computer. If she encountered one in real life, she would yelp and jump back. She couldn’t help it; it was a reflex.

  On that morning, Sophocles was working on a project with Togedemaru, his loyal Roly-Poly Pokémon. With his mechanical mind, Sophocles often tried to figure out how things work, and Togedemaru was a willing helper. Sophocles scratched his head and then aimed for one last key on his laptop.

  “Togedemaru, charge program,” Sophocles announced. “Execute!” He hit the final key, and Togedemaru jumped on a spinning wheel. Within seconds, the motion of the spinning wheel had created enough energy to power up a lightbulb! Sophocles liked classroom time, where he could be in charge of experiments. He didn’t have nearly the same energy for fieldwork and catching Pokémon in the wild.

  “Popplio, make a balloon!” Lana directed. She and Popplio, the Sea Lion Pokémon, were just enjoying each other’s company. Lana was working with Popplio on blowing giant bubbles from his round, bright-pink nose. With each of Popplio’s tries, she would shield her face as soon as the bubble burst, and then giggle.

  Kiawe was one of the last to arrive. He had already taken care of a delivery job that morning, all the way to Ula’ula Island!

  “That’s far away,” Sophocles said.

  “With my Charizard, it takes no time at all,” Kiawe admitted as he took his seat and faced the front of the classroom.

  It was clear that all the students at the Pokémon School were devoted to Pokémon. They all wanted to learn more about how people and Pokémon can work together. Ash and Pikachu would fit right in.

  “Alola!” Ash called as soon as he entered the room.

  “Alola,” the other students responded.

  “Starting today, Ash will be joining us at the Pokémon School,” Professor Kukui explained. “If he has any questions, please don’t hesitate to help him out.”