It took a little bit to get Dratini to properly get the move copied to the TM maker. But once he got the hang of it, things started flowing and soon enough we had four TM’s with no idea if they were actually different or not.
"Alright! Now comes the interesting experimental part!" Kukui said as he pulled out a Pokeball and released a pokemon outside.
"Exeggutor!" It rumbled a bit, and I looked up and up as the incredibly tall Pokemon towered upwards.
"Oh! A Dragon Type Exeggutor!"
"Hah! A Lock On! They can’t learn Dragon Pulse naturally. So they’re the perfect tester" Kukui said with a smirk.
"They’re perfect!"
"Glad you think so. I caught this one this morning while figuring everything out. He’s agreed to help us out for some food."
"Nice." I couldn’t help but look over the massive Exeggutor, which was a Dragon Grass type. I bet Ivy would love this guy.
I laughed at the idea of giving one to Ivy and her just having this giant palm tree hanging out in her backyard.
"Alright, like we planned Exeggutor. We’re going to test this out okay?" Kukui called out and it just rumbled a bit.
Kukui returned the pokemon and then attached the TM reader to the pokeball, then slipped in the disk.
I could hear it spinning around for a minute and then it finished, Kukui pulled out the now blank disk.
"Go!" Kukui called out a moment later and Exeggutor appeared once more. "Okay try it now! Dragon Pulse!"
A moment later Exeggutor’s face lit up and a beam of energy blasted from its faces.
Yep, that was Dragon Pulse Pierce.
"Okay buddy one more!" He called out holding his pokeball to return it.
As Kukui took a second to once more copy the second TM into Exeggutor, He was actually writing down what was happening on a pad.
Right. Difference between science, and fucking around was just writing it down.
Once again the super tall pokemon was released.
"Okay buddy! It’s the real test now. Dragon Pulse!"
"Eeeex!" It called out as a Dragon Pulse Pierce once more was fired.
Huh.
"Okay try it again, Try to control it this time!" Kukui called out, and the Exeggutor once more roared out.
And a straight Beam shot out.
"Interesting." I muttered, was the first TM locked in so he couldn’t learn more, or did the TM fail because the move was already installed, or... Was he just kind dumb?
"Let me try." I told Kukui. I’d taught my pokemon the differences after all, let’s see what I could figure out. "Dratini you’re up. Let’s show Exeggutor what we mean!"
—--
"Okay so... Results?" I asked the older man.
"Inconclusive." Kukui responded, but even with that he was still excited and smiling.
In the end no matter what we tried it was always that first Pierce style Dragon Pulse.
We’d used all three TM’s testing it, but that first install was the only method Exeggutor seemed to want, or know how to use.
"We need another Pokemon to test it with." I said and Kukui nodded.
"I know, I’ll have to head to Exeggutor Island again. Ah, sorry I’ll have to go alone, it’s a nature preserve."
"I get it! Still, that was interesting. That’s really strange, it’s almost like... The TM couldn’t overwrite the move? Or maybe it couldn’t teach it again?" I muttered rubbing at my chin.
"Hmm. That’s an interesting point. I’ve never heard of anyone trying to teach a Pokemon the same move from a TM like this multiple times. It really might be something that even the designers of the TM might not have thought about! I’ll finish this report. Thank you for assisting." He said almost formally, and I just waved my hand.
"Pshhh. It’s fine. Besides I was interested too, but I think we can say pretty confidently that if you want your pokemon to learn multiple forms of a move it’s probably best to teach it to them normally."
"Yeah! Talk about a Bulldoze! This report might be actual proof that TM’s aren’t as foolproof as they like to say! Hah! You sure you want your name on it, the big corps that make TM’s might be pretty upset." Kukui broke into laughter after but he was obviously joking.
"Let them come!" I said and he nodded, but patted my shoulder.
"I’m sure it’ll be fine. But this is really something. I feel like an Eruption is happening!"
"Hehe." I just laughed at his move usage. "Well then.. Break for tomorrow?"
"If Tomorrow works, that’s perfect. I’ll catch another... Well maybe a couple Exeggutor for tomorrow. They’re pretty laid back so it’s not a huge deal."
"Great! Then I’m out of here. Have a nice night Professor Kukui!"
"You too Vicky! Make sure you don’t Sleep Talk!" I snickered as I headed out of the room and then into as fast a stroll as I could with my flip flops.
That was a whole lot of interesting stuff! TM’s weren’t perfect, and it might limit Pokemon’s control over the learned move.
It made me think of the TM’s I’d used on my team and... There was regret, but also I had needed them at the time. I’d just be real careful in the future if I ever used a TM again. Blue Heart might never become the true Electric Flying/Water type of his dreams if that was the case. Thunder might be locked in and set in his brain without any real control over it.
I shook off those thoughts and instead enjoyed the setting Alolan sun as I headed back to the beach. I bet Mama and Papa were getting hungry and I could definitely eat.
—--
The setting sun made a great backdrop as all of us were eating out on a terrace outside an Alolan restaurant. Food piled high and all of us were digging in as everyone looked warm and happy.
Remembering it was the middle of winter in Kanto made the warm sunset all the better.
Not that I hated the cold exactly, but sometimes you just wanted to be warm!
"So your research didn’t go well?"
"Well, when it comes to research a failure is actually good too. It means you learned something you didn’t know. If the results play out and TM’s actually stop a pokemon from being able to adjust a move, or learn variances in a move. It could do some interesting things to the TM business." I added as I bit into a warm honey bun. Yummy!
"Huh. That’s kinda crazy to think about. That you helped discover this." Papa offered with a proud look.
"That’s just how research is, I did something that most people don’t think about, and now we’re testing it and seeing what the results are." I shrugged it wasn’t that big a deal.
Learning that TM’s might limit a Pokemon’s advancement with that move wasn’t a huge deal, most trainers would still just use the TM as it’s faster, and they might not need or want to modify a move.
I mean, if I needed to teach a Pokemon a rare coverage move then a TM might work fine.
Dratini already was in the shower with me, he liked the water, and he giggled when the stream hit him.
Jangmo-o fought me, but I scrubbed him clean with a washcloth and then wrapped him up in a big fluffy towel, turning it into a burrow. That settled him right down.
Mimikyu was using the sink washing his disguise himself.
Brave didn’t mind although she’d avoided all the sand to start with, but she was happily enjoying the humidity of the shower, but then I brought in Gible.
She looked up at me, as I carried her over, and let her reach out and touch the water so it wouldn’t startle her, and then I settled her inside the stream.
"Gib?" She seemed to question as she looked up and then her mouth opened.
And just... Stayed open.
"Gible?" I leaned down to check and yep... She was just swallowing the water as it streamed into her mouth...
"Not exactly how you use a shower Gible Gable." I told her, as I grabbed the washcloth and stroked at her scales, the light salt residue and sand here and there came away with gentle strokes and other than making sure she wasn’t going to make herself sick by just constantly drinking water, she seemed quite happy with the shower.
Riolu was the longest, but she had the most fur as well, thankfully she also needed the least help. Other than an eye on her to make sure she actually washed up properly.
Once everyone was dried off, or in Braves case quite pleased with still being damp. I settled everyone around the room. Brave got the coffee table where a bit of water was poured into a bowl, and she was very happy to settle into it for the night to sleep.
Mimikyu of course joined me as a cuddle plush. Dratini was also gonna wrap around me in his sleep the cuddle noodle.
Gible I set up in the chair, with plenty of blankets giving her a little burrow, and almost before I moved away she was snoring.
Jangmo-o slipped under the bed with a pillow and his happy chirp like barks meant he was already dreaming.
And Riolu got the other chair curling up with a towel and snoozing off.
I looked around the room, good everyone was settled. I turned off the lights and instead of slipping into bed I pulled on my flip flops and headed downstairs. I already knew what I’d find.
The elevator opened and I walked across the lobby to the entrance, and then looked through the glass as Papa was already down here, a bowl full of berries and things set out before Rockruff, as Papa pet the puppy. His eyes lit up and his smile wide as his fingers ran through the pup’s coat.
"Predictable, he said he was going to check on you." Mama said suddenly appearing at my side, and I nodded at her.
"Yep you’re both totally predictable." I told her, pointedly as I looked behind her back where she had been trying to hide the tin of cat food.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about." She said lying terribly as she did.
"Uh-huh. Night." I called out, turning to head back up to the room.
—--
"Rio rio rio!" A certain Hyena’s laugh woke me up as I pulled the blanket away from my face as I saw Riolu bouncing at the foot of the bed controller in her paw laughing at an angry Jangmo-o who was down on the floor.
"What are you doing?"
"Riolu! Lu!" She proclaimed, hand still raised to the sky with the TV controller. I looked at the TV and still had no idea what that was, but it was cartoons... Maybe.
"Stop teasing Jangmo-o. Share the TV." I told her and tried to roll back over, but Riolu the little brat of course started bouncing more on the bed.
War declared I grabbed a pillow and chucked it smacking her right in the back and knocking her off balance mid leap.
She went tumbling and I heard her yelp a bit as she hit the carpet, she’d be fine. But then she shrieked as she was within Jangmo-o range.
Heh.
"Don’t tease the others, or they might get revenge." I called out laying back and staring at the ceiling. I was gonna have to get up. No way I was getting back to sleep now.
Grumbling, I rose and headed to the bathroom ignoring how Riolu was struggling to keep Jangmo-o from biting her face off as they tumbled around on the floor.
Mimikyu I realized was attached to my shoulder as I hit the bathroom and I smiled at him sleepily in the mirror as I ran a hand through my hair.
Yep. It was a total mess. I hadn’t dried it off properly last night before bed... Considering I was going back into the ocean shortly...
I set Mimikyu on the counter, and just stuffed my head into the shower and turned it on. Wincing at the cold. I pulled my now damp hair and combed it enough to not look terrible and toweled it off for now.
Taking the time to brush my teeth, I poked my head out.
"Rioy-lu Teefbruff!" I barked at her mouth full of toothpaste and suddenly the fight between Jangmo-o and her ended as she hopped up and grumbled as she entered the bathroom. Watching her get her own tooth brush and start brushing had me nod, and we soon finished that task for the morning.
"I’m thinking Ocean again? Or do-"
"Gib."
"You want to see what else the island has to offer? Well I guess that answers that." I looked towards the nest of blankets that Gible was still inside, but her eyes were shining and her little claws were grasping.
"Well, Ocean it is then."
—--
After another morning swim with Gible, which tired her out, I settled into the sand once more next to where Mama and Papa were sitting. Of course they both had new guests. Meowth wasn’t even trying to hide it as the cat pokemon settled on Mama’s lap and was purring lightly, which would get louder if Mama stopped petting him.
What a demanding little pokemon.
Rockruff was playing with Papa. Papa had found a frisbee, and was throwing it between Riolu, Lucario, and Rockruff. The four of them having just a crazy good time running around in the sand.
"You’re both so predictable." I muttered at Mama as I watched.
"I don’t know what you mean dear, but little Meows here, the poor girl has an injured paw. I’m going to take her to the Pokemon center later, and have the Nurse Joys check her out. Find out if she’s already a captured pokemon. You know to help make sure she gets back to her owners."
"You’re not even trying to hide the lies." I told her without mercy, but Mama just smirked as she continued to pet the newly named Meows. Who was just looking at me with a smug grin as she was pet.
Mama had named her. She was definitely going to try and come with us. Ugh. Considering how many pokemon in Alola I’d love to make friends with, I expected that I would be the issue when it came time to leave, but no of course not.
It was my parents.
I was too busy playing with my friends to make lots of new friends, but my parents were snatching up Pokemon left and right.
Of course the peaceful morning was cut short as a familiar face approached.
"Alola." Kahuna Hala called out interrupting and Papa instantly realized who it was, looking a little bashful as Rockruff started jumping at Papa’s leg to get at the frisbee demanding more.
"Alola Kahuna." Mama greeted, doing her best to pretend everything was fine, and she wasn’t petting a purring Meowth.
"Alola!" I called as well, grinning, because this situation was hilarious.
"I was hoping I might speak to young Victoria for a moment?"
"Sure!" I rose up and brushed off the sand from my swimsuit. "How can I help?"
"Ah, that is the question isn’t it? I have come to offer you... An Island Challenge."