Creig noticed Rosa go stiff at the aura being given off. "It's unlikely he's here for you, I'm sure he'll wait for me to put my stuff down" Creig put only the essentials away properly, and changed to clothes he didn't mind getting damaged. He bounced a bit to make sure he was loose when he came outside, Rosa was somewhat hiding behind her front porch balustrade.

  "You're perceptive, that's good, Hahahaahaa, I'm first to get insights on a foreign worlds martial arts!"

  "You're lucky I know some and am a bit of a practitioner, I could've been an office worker" Bruno blinked

  "I didn't even think of that"

  "Not even everyone in this world is a martial artist, why assume it even exists in others?"

  "Uh..., irrelevant, I would have been disappointed, but that's not the case, obviously, lets spar!"

  "Obviously, there's a weight class difference between us, in pure force you could probably overwhelm me, if you want to see some things don't get too excited."

  No more words were spoken, both took stances, Bruno a forward facing, Creig a side stance. Creig began the engagement, switching sides, testing Brunos' reactions. Bruno blocked several moves, but it didn't have the mitigation Creig would have expected from a practitioner, he found openings and got past Brunos' guard a few times, but Brunos' bulk prevented him from taking much damage, even for a spar. Then they switched, Bruno attacking while Creig defended, the fact that in this world MA was based on pokemon moves became apparent, dodged, deflected, or stopped before momentum could be created, not just with blocks, but with attacks as well, Creigs flow overcame Brunos' bit of stiffness. Creig didn't do any thing fancy, a yellow belt would be as trained as what he used, it was just a slight difference in technical skills, and a good amount of Creig being able to predict what came next from slight movements in his opponents body.

  The spar lasted about an hour, Nate and Hala had shown up about halfway through, Creig could have nearly sworn Tapu Koko had also been watching from a hidden spot as well. Bruno had started to get a feel for Creigs MA but long years of rigid training in his own style hampered him, and Creig was starting to worry about how bruised he would be. Both wanted to fight more. They didn't. Hala was nodding faintly, solidifying his mental notes, while Nate seemed to be taking physical notes so as to make a report to interpol on Creigs' fight style. Rosa had retreated inside at some point. A bunch of pokemon were around too, Hala and Brunos' fighting types studying as much as the humans were. Toboggan was sitting with Shrift the egg, his eyes looking at his trainer in wonder. Pam brought out a medicine bag that was similar to a tea bag for Creig to use in the bath, for all the bruising he was going to have.

  After Creigs' bath Hala hadn't actually left. "What's up?"

  "Hm, oh, yes, the Island trials are starting soon, for you specifically we hoped you could assist Kakui while he guides"

  "That shouldn't be a problem, will we be going out early to check on the Totems"

  Hala nods "probably, I don't know Kakuis' plans, The kids will be participating" Hala gestured towards Nate and Rosas' dorms. "Those two are a breath of fresh air to the mindset of the villagers".

  The next bit was MA practical, theoretical, and philosophical discussion, Creig went to bed late, when Hau came and got his grandpa.

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  There were multiple totems and partners, except for Ula'ula where they decided to start from this year. Guzma managed to become an emergency trial captain, bonding with a totem Ledian, he had planned to do the trials himself, but he had this responsibility now. Creig and Kakui congratulated him, it spoke well of the changed future. The next was a Banette with a young Joy from the island, the teen Joy was less mentally stable than the ghost, but she was safe enough, especially for beginners. The location for the ghost was the problem, eventually they chose a beach, aiming for sunset going for a remembrance feel rather than haunted house. Half the Island was shut down for even local visitors, so as to not disturb Tapu Bulu or put the recent tragedy in peoples face. Regular check-ups for the Joy. Nanu was holding the grand trial at the entrance to Haina desert.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Akala was the next island, lots of farms and ranches in the south and wilds in the north. A farmer kid and a Mudsdale who had been part of his farm for a long time were the third. They created a trial where people would have to do chores on farms to earn passage farther, Creig and Kakui would double check to make sure the chores weren't unreasonable, separated by age group. The wilds part ended up being represented by a Toucannon and a wilds photographer, they were doing an annoying hide and seek. Akala had so many tourists that a place for the grand trial was hard to find, they eventually settled on a remote area of the volcano.

  Melemele ended up being third in line, due mostly to the Poni Kahunas' advanced age. A showy Raichu and surfer bro lifeguard showed why they should be the next pick, chasing of a hungry swarm of sharpedo. Creig froze the ocean under his feet to walk over and talk to him, that was fun for Creig. The sixth was a bit hard, concerningly it ended up being a salamence, partner pending. Hala was just doing the grand trial in the center of Iki town as usual.

  The Poni trials would be different this year, being that tradition had been broken, both in betterment, and in violation, the whys were extra important. A Pokémon that represented history, a relicanth became the seventh, to swim through old wrecks, foreign and local. An experienced archaeologist intern became relicanths' partner, she felt complicated by the extent of what was asked, but understood, especially with the Kahuna taking responsibility. A retired police Crabrawler picked a cadet and insisted its way into being the eighth Totem, he was a good representation of a guardian warrior, what should have been.

  While that took care of the primary trials related to knowing the islands they still needed reps for six more types, fire, steel, grass, psychic, poison, fairy. It took an extra week to find proper totems, the most amenable were an Oranguru and a Ribombee, both on Melemele. Back on Akala they found a Toxapex who ended up being willing after they helped tourist proof a series of caves. Further caves had them contact a Dugtrio to be the steel totem with the help of Tapu Fini. A reluctant Incineroar took on the duties for fire types. The grass types were all trying to run away or hide, eventually they found a Shiinotic who was too large for a mushroom and couldn't run to take on the final totem position for the trials.

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  Shrifts' egg started shaking, Creig didn't show it but he was excited. Unfortunately for Rosa, she was still doing her apprenticeship with Nurse Joy at this time, Nate was more interested than he tried to let on, Nate was only half reading his book on international law interactions and rulings. Hala got lucky, looking for Kakui and snuck in to watch even as the first cracks occurred. With the spirit energies withing coalescing Creig directed some of his to give a boost, big cracks appeared, quickly followed by the normal glowing. The light shifted, the temperature dropped, a small yip, and an alolan vulpix now existed. -She, jumped off the picnic table and out the gazebo to a practice field, then started yipping at toboggan who took position on the other end.

  Creig snorted in amusement at the sight "well you were born just in time shrift, with the trials beginning soon you'll get plenty of battles."

  Shrift started hopping side to side in excitement, Toboggan started doing defense curl, he still had trouble chaining it but got off two before Shrift engaged. Shrift blew powder snow at Toboggan, while it bypassed the raised defense Toboggans' ice/steel typing made him double resistant. Creig realized that this was a new born wizard against a novice tank. Toboggan waddled after Shrift for a while, letting Shrift try different things, before just going for rollout. Shrift stayed just ahead for a little before exhaustion got to her and Toboggan gave her one good blow ending their spar for the day.

  Creig made sure of what Shrifts' injuries were before applying a basic potion for the scratches and bruises. She fell asleep before Rosa arrived, who was excited to see the newborn and was shocked at hearing the little tyke was a battle junkie. She also watched as Creig had Toboggan practice using rollout in tandem with powder snow, in one way to change the field, the other to get extra speed. Foongi jumped from Rosas' head to the ground using the picnic table as intermediary and took to another part of the field to train, thinking it needed to be stronger to overcome for Rosa. Rosa stayed and cheered Foongi on for a few minutes, but was too tired to stay. Creig went about an hour after. Next on the menu for the next week: helping Kakui hand out starters/ make sure people had starters for those participating in this years' island trials. In order they would do: the school, Melemele, Akala, Ula'ula, and Poni, then the week after was the start and the first battles Creig would have. He was also preparing a list of mon he should keep an eye out for that were available on the islands, with two of the three unique ice types to the Islands there wasn't much point telling him not to catch other pokemon that could be found in other regions. With that on his mind he fell asleep, planning his future.