The morning sun rose high on the Alola Region, signaling another fine, sunny day as the Pokémon and humans stirred from their sleep. Trainers and non trainers alike flew from their houses, ready to take the day by storm. One such house, however, stayed surprisingly quiet. At least, until the side porch door opened to reveal a woman, a Meowth trotting along beside her. The woman, named Sarah, took in a breath of the (slightly salty) Alolan air.

"Isn't it lovely Meowth, we only moved to Alola a few days ago and yet I can't get enough of this beautiful sunrise!"

"Meow?" The Meowth purred.

"Seven months of preparation, and attempting to convince Moon why this was a good thing, and we're finally here!"

"Meow?"

"Speaking of Moon, Meowth, would you be a dear and go wake her up? You know how she likes to sleep in."

"Meow Meowth!" The Pokémon responded, turning and running back into the house. It trotted towards one of several doors, opening it and moving inside. There was a bed with a young girl of about eleven years old sleeping on it. The girl had shoulder length black air hidden under a red hat. The Meowth hopped onto the bed, then onto the sleeping girl's stomach.

"Meowth?" The sleeping girl didn't stir, so the Meowth nudged her. She still didn't wake. Finally, Meowth unsheathed its claws and used Scratch on the girl's face. She woke up screaming.

Moon finally sat up, glaring daggers at her mom's Pokémon.

"Are you out of your mind!?" The girl practically shrieked.

"Meowth?" The Pokémon turned and trotted out of her room. Moon groaned, getting out of bed and following Meowth. She stormed out onto the porch where her mother still stood. "Mom! Can't a girl get some sleep around here!?"

"Come on honey, lighten up a little. Look at this beautiful sunrise." Moon rolled her eyes at her mother's antics. There was a knock on the front door. "Can you get that honey?" Moon sighed, walking into the house just to see Meowth next to a man she hadn't seen before. The man seemed interested in the Kanto Pokémon.

"Mom, Meowth is letting strangers into the house!"

"Alola!" The man greeted.

"Yes strange man we're in Alola."

"Actually, in this region, Alola is both the name of the place, as well as a greeting." The man said. "Oh, sorry, I should introduce myself. I'm Professor Kukui, I'm Alola's regional professor.

"Just like Professor Oak? Well, until he got arrested and Professor Sorrel took his place."

"Exactly, minus getting arrested. You must be Moon, just moved here from Kanto right?" Moon gave a weary nod. "Ah, and this must your mother." Kukui continued as Sarah stepped into the room.

"Yep, that's me! Hello, to what do we owe the pleasure mister..."

"Kukui, Professor Kukui. And I heard about your move from Kanto, as well as that your daughter didn't have her own Pokémon yet. I figured that she might like an Alolan starter Pokémon."

"That sounds wonderful! Isn't that nice Moon?"

"I guess so..."

"Wonderful!" Kukui cheered. "Moon, if you'll follow me to my lab. It's pretty close by."

"Fine." Moon huffed. "Mom, if I don't come back, I blame you." With that, Moon followed the man she barely even knew out the door. After about ten minutes of walking, the two came upon a house located on the nearby beach. Standing in front of it were two kids about Moon's age. One was a girl with purple hair tied in pigtails, wearing a green top and a green skirt. The other was a boy with orange hair, wearing a white T-shirt with a black vest, as well as a necklace bearing the image of a X shape Unown.

"Ah, Moon, this is Selina and Cross." Kukui introduced. "They're also getting their first Pokémon today."

"Alola!" Selina greeted cheerfully. Cross just ignored her. Kukui unlocked the front door, allowing the three kids into the house/lab. Kukui pulled out a briefcase, opening it to reveal three Pokeballs.

"Now, I figured that since Moon here is new to Alola, we can allow her to choose first." Moon blinked, stepping forward hesitantly. Kukui pulled out a Pokeball, opening it to reveal a small owl. "First, the Grass Type Rowlet." He opened a second, revealing a cat. "Second, the Fire Type Litten." He opened the third, revealing a sea lion. "And finally, the Water Type Popplio. Now, take your time and choose Moon." Moon looked at the three Pokémon carefully, trying to decide.

"...Hurry up will you." Cross groaned after several minutes. Moon shot him a look, before turning back to the Pokémon. Rowlet looked curious, Litten looked annoyed, and Popplio looked... Aggravated? Moon bent down in front of Popplio, locking eyes with the Water Type. For some reason, she felt some sort of attachment to the little Water Type.

"Uh, hi there?" Popplio tilted its head. "Do you want to be my Pokémon?" The response she got was a Bubblebeam to the face, knocking her to the floor.

"Why does that Popplio already know Bubblebeam?" Cross asked.

"Because he's been returned more times than I can count." Kukui huffed.

"But why would someone return a starter?" Selina asked.

"That Popplio doesn't trust humans." Kukui explained as he turned to Moon. "I hope you understand what you're getting into Moon."

"I'll be fine." Moon chirped as she stood back up. "How hard can it be?" Kukui bit his lip.

"If you insist..." With that, Moon scooped the Water Type into her arms.

"Don't worry, me and Popplio will be best friends before you know it!"

"Lio!" The starter protested.

"Then I'll choose Rowlet!" Selina chirped, picked up the confused owl.

"Hmph. I wanted Litten anyway." Cross grumbled, picking up the cat.

"In that case, let me give you your Pokedexes and extra Pokeballs." Kukui announced, pulling three devices and three sets of Pokeballs from a drawer and handing them to the kids.

"Uh professor, how come my Pokedex looks different?" Moon asked as she held a squirming Popplio in one hand and the Pokedex in the other.

"Glad you asked." Kukui cracked grin. "I figured that since you're new to Alola, I 'd let you be the first to try the newest model of Pokedex. But first, to activate it."

"Activate?" Kukui typed in a few things on his computer. After several seconds, the screen began to glitch violently. After several more seconds, a small light burst out of the computer, zipping around and slamming into the tablet in Moon's hands, nearly blinding her. After blinking the stars out of her eyes, she looked at the screen...

And right into the electronic eyes that adorned it.

"Hi!"

"AAAHH!" Moon dropped the Pokedex, only for it to float in the air, suddenly spawning a pair of paddle like hands and stubby feet.

"The Rotom Pokedex." Kukui explained. "Rotom is a Pokémon capable of living inside of and taking control of certain machinery. This Pokedex was made to accept Rotom." Rotomdex floated back over to Moon.

"Username please!" Rotom chirped.

"Uh... Moon."

"Registering User: Moon. Registration complete! Congratulations Miss Moon!"

"Uh, you can just call me Moon."

"In that case, you can just call me Rotom." Moon shrugged.

"I gues it is less of a mouthful..."

"That's the spirit! Now..." He floated down to Popplio. "Popplio, the Sea Lion Pokémon, a Water Type. Popplio are playful Pokémon, and will often practice making balloons from bodily fluids it snorts from its nose."

"Okay, ew." Moon inturrupted.

"This Popplio is a male." Rotom finished, only to be blasted by Bubblebeam. "AAUGH! AND HE'S NOT AS PLAYFUL AS THE OTHER POPPLIO I'VE MET!" Selina snapped her fingers.

"Hey Moon, why don't we have a battle, that way you and Popplio can get used to eachother!"

"Good idea!" Moon cheered, following Selina outside where the two stood apart from eachother.

"Alright you two, this is your first battle, so take it easy." Kukui explained as Cross seemed uninterested. Rotom popped out.

"Rowlet, The Grass Quill Pokémon. A Grass and Flying Type. Rowlet stores energy using Photosynthesis to gather energy during the day, becoming more active at night. This Rowlet is a female."

"Alright Rowlet! Use Leafage!" Selina commanded. Rowlet sent out a burst of leaves.

"Quick Popplio, dodge and use Bubblebeam!" Popplio just huffed. "Please?" Popplio gave her the equivalent of a middle finger. It was at that point the attack struck Popplio in the chest. The Sea Lion Pokémon snarled at the owl.

"Now use Tackle!"

"Popplio dodge!" Moon pleaded. Popplio merely sat there. When Rowlet got close, Popplio slapped the owl hard, sending her careening into a tree before she plopped onto the ground.

"Rowlet! Are you okay!?"

"..."

"I think she's asleep." Kukui said as he inspected the Starter. "Rowlet do tend to do that a lot." Selina sighed.

"I guess you win Moon."

"Not in the way I would have wanted." Moon huffed as Popplio stuck his tongue out at her.

"Don't worry Moon." Kukui began. "Maybe a little bonding time and Popplio will warm up to you... I hope..."

"I guess." Moon sighed, picking up the annoyed Water Type.

"Well, let me get you kids some empty Pokeballs, and then I will see you kids tomorrow at the festival!"

"Festival?" Moon questioned.

"The Iki Town Festival!" Selina chirped. "It'll be awesome! You're coming right?"

"Y-yeah, I guess so."

"And I expect to see you there Cross." Kukui explained as he handed out empty Pokeballs.

"Hmph." Moon sighed, hoping that this would be the start of a grand advent-

"OW POPPLIO BIT ME!"

"Pop!"

Sigh...

"You're a piece of work, you know that?" Moon muttered as she walked along the trail home, Popplio sitting on her head as his way of annoying her. The Water Type merely glared, rolling onto his back to take a nap. Moon sighed, contiuing on. As she walked, a pair of eyes stared at her from the trees. The eyes glanced down, spotting a lone Grubbin. The eyes narrowed, and their owner slowly picked up a rock. The being in question moved abruptly from the trees, appearing only as a yellow blur as it chucked the rock, striking the Grubbin in the head. The Pokémon jerked, trying to regain her bearings. She looked around wildly for the culprit. All she spotted was Moon walking into her house. Grubbin chittered angrily, moving up to the side of the house in order to wait for when Moon would come back out.

"Mom I'm home." Moon called, Popplio snorted, waking up and glancing around the house. Sarah walked out of the kitchen with Meowth by her side.

"Hi honey. Oh my gosh, is this your new partner?" She bent down to inspect the Water Type.

"Yep, this is Popplio, a Water Type."

"Well hello there Popplio. I hope you and my daughter turn out to be great friends." The response she got was a Bubblebeam to the face. She blinked, stunned and dripping wet. "Oh my..."

"Professor Kukui said Popplio doesn't trust humans..." Moon explained sheepishly. Rotom popped out from behind Moon.

"Greetings miss! I am the Rotom Pokedex, and I am here to ensure that Moon has a reliable source of information on her journey!"

"Well it's lovely to meet you Rotom!" Sarah greeted as she took out a Pokémon treat and held it to Popplio. "Popplio, would you like a treat?" Popplio sniffed at the treat, the grimaced, making a noise of disgust. "Uhhh..." Moon stared in confusion.

"Did the Professor forget to tell you Moon?" Rotom inquired.

"Tell me what?" Rotom cleared his throat.

"I've lived in Kukui's lab long enough to know that Popplio refuses to eat Pokémon food of any kind. He'll only eat human food."

"He doesn't trust humans, yet all he eats is human food?"

"I don't understand it either. But, every Pokémon is unique." Moon sighed. Sarah stood up.

"In that case, how about I cook us all a nice meal to celebrate Moon getting her first Pokémon?" Moon noticed that Popplio actually smiled at the prospect of a nice meal, though only briefly. Moon sighed. She hopped to earn Popplio's trust at some point...