The Lapras slowly carried the small boat towards the concrete dock, and after looking around for an empty spot it unhurriedly made its way over.

Now with the boat only a few steps away, Bane and Kukui grabbed their individual bags and hopped onto the low-lying concrete walkway, while Jared continued looking around in fascination.

The Lapras glanced over at Kukui, and with a knowing smile, it nodded. Kukui smiled too before reaching into his bag and pulling out a red and white ball.

Jared keenly watched in anticipation.

Angling the metal ball in his hands, he clicked something on its side, and then a red beam of light shot out from it!

Struck by the beam, the lapras began glowing red before suddenly vanishing!

(Even if I knew this might happen, it is still a shock seeing that massive creature suddenly vanish before my eyes...)

Noticing Jared's lack of action, Kukui reached out his hand and smiled in encouragement.

Locking hands with his sunburned friend, he effortlessly hoists him up from the boat.

The three then made their way along the concrete dock with their destination being a walkway leading further in.

Every person that passed their way seemed to know Kukui and gave him a wave, or stopped for a chat.

Bane muttered to himself with a sigh, "Still as popular as ever aren't you Kukui? but we're gonna be here all day at this rate..."

Jared ignored Bane's complaints and continued to look around in abject happiness, not at all bothered by the delay.

Thirty minutes later, a gloomy Bane, an energic Kukui, and an ever-curious Jared finally began making their way up the long stone pathway. A stream of people pass them either going down or up, but they don't stop to greet Kukui, much to Bane's delight.

A few minutes later, a huffing Jared stomps up the step while questioning his life choices.

(Ugh god, it's only been five minutes and my sedentary lifestyle is already catching up with me...)

*Huff huff* (Weird, I'm out of breath, but my asthma isn't bothering me though, is it due to the lack of pollution? strange.)

Too tired to think further, he just kept telling himself to keep one foot moving in front of the other.

Kukui found the time to glance back periodically to check on the struggling man, and he gave him a few words of encouragement from time to time.

The three soon arrived at the peak.

Seeing Jared's pitiful demeanor, Kukui wisely suggested that they take a small rest.

Finally catching his breath, Jared looked up to see a sprawling paradise.

He saw dozens of neat rows of brightly colored homes and businesses, tidy pruned gardens along with rows of colorful flowers arranged in a beautiful assortment could be seen! And of course, the many people and pokemon going about their day.

The concrete sidewalks and roads that separated the buildings also appeared to be well maintained, and the sidewalks were lined with methodically placed coconut trees that acted as a picturesque but ineffective barrier between the sidewalk and the road.

(...That's weird, where are all the cars?)

The three soon resumed walking, but when they pass by a certain cafe, Jared stopped in his tracks when he notices a Mr Mime acting as a waiter.

From his vantage point, a smiling Mr Mime could be seen happily served guests some refreshments on the Cafe's shady outdoor patio.

With a widening grin, Jared quickly caught up with his escorts.

(This is a paradise, a paradise!)

After traveling for another twenty-five minutes, the three found themselves outside a building with a cursive sign, which read *Tapu Village Police Station*

Kukui and Bane walk straight in, but Jared remains outside for the moment in thought,

(I feel a bit jittery at the thought of talking to the cops, and whether it's this world or the last one for whatever reason I don't like them, but then again I don't like a lot of things... oh wait, if this is like the anime then won't the police station have officer Jenny's working here?!)

At that thought, Jared walked in.

The interior was nice and cool despite the hot Alola sun just outside. The building was large, but the reception area was somewhat small. The walls were painted white, and various writings and degrees line the walls. They were all sealed by glass. It gave Jared the impression of visiting an art museum rather than a police station.

The rest of the building was partitioned off, and the only access being a single door behind a long service counter. Sitting behind that counter were two men.

(Something tells me there is no officer jenny working here...)

Seeing his two escorts nearing the counter, Jared broke from his musing to catch up.

To the left sat a middle-aged man with a mustache, and on the right was a younger clean shaven baldy.

The baldy's eyes squint as the trio move closer, and with a professional tone he asked " Hello there, how can I help you gentlemen?"

Kukui is the first to speak, "Hello sir, me and my friend here found this man stranded in the middle of the ocean off route fourteen without any clothing, so we saved him and brought him here."

Fishing out his trainer's license from his bag, he flashes it.

(I didn't think Kukui was lying when he said it, but seeing that trainers really do act as unofficial police is still mind-boggling to me... Still... can you imagine some irresponsible kids running around with the power to arrest people? It seems a bit... dangerous.)

Kukui continues to chat with the bald officer about Jared's circumstances. Bane looked fed up.

(Now that I think about it... Is he in a bad mood, or is that just how he naturally looks?)

Having concluded his report, Kukui pats Jared's back with a smile and slips him a piece of paper with his number on it.

"It was nice meeting you Jared, and I'm glad we could help you out, but I have some business to attend to with Bane, so we will part ways here. These officers will take it from here, and make sure you are taken care of. Uhm, when you get a phone, be sure to let me know how you are doing alright?"

Nodding, Jared stuffs the paper in his pocket.

While walking out with Bane, Kukui gives one last wave and a shout "You're gonna be alright Jared!" then he disappears through the automatic sliding glass doors.

(If I had met a few kind people like him back on earth, I wouldn't be the wreck I am today, but I imagine he has a few screws loose to be this kind to a total stranger... or maybe I'm just narcissistic... probably the latter)

Sighing, Jared shakes his head, (I hope I run into more people like him...)

"Sir, this way please"

Jared followed the bald man down a long white hallway, and unlike the reception room, the walls were bare.

After a few twists and turns, the officer ushered him into a small brightly lit room with one table and two chairs. He then politely told Jared to take a seat.

(Well, it's no smoking hot officer Jenny, but he looks like a good sort...)

Taking a seat opposite to him with a creak, the bald officer introduces himself properly, "Hello Mr Jared I am officer Brian, I heard about your story from trainer Kukui, but I would like to ask you a few more questions if that is alright with you?"

(...You ask it like a question, and it's not like I want to refuse or anything... being in a small room with a big bald police officer doesn't bother me at all, DAMMIT HANDS, STOP SHAKING.)

While waiting for a reply, the bald officer pushes himself further in with the chair before pulling out a small notebook and pen from his shirt. He then neatly folds his fingers together on the table.

Quivering out some words, Jared replies "Ye yes sure, wha what do you want t to know?"

(I swear I don't have a stutter okay? Oh god, I'm writing novels to the fake audience in my head again, this is a bad sign, bad bad bad, let's try to stay focused, yes! focused, I'm now focused and not paranoid! STOP SHAKING ALREADY ARMS AND LEGS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOCUSED NOW... I hope he doesn't notice me shaking like an old man with Parkinson's disease...)

(He probably does)

"You are from Pallet Town correct?"

(Oh god, Jared you paranoid bastard, your lies are already catching up to you!!! If they attempt to confirm this what am I going to do? If they have a birth record and don't find me on it... well, there's only one thing that can cover up my lies, and that's more lies.)

"Y-Yes, I'm from Pallet t-town"

*Sweating intensifies*

Brian takes a moment to scribble some words into the notebook before continuing, " What kind of work did you do there?"

(Hah... it just gets worse and worse, why didn't I think up an answer for such an obvious question when I had the chance? Now I have no time to think!... oh actually I know what to say!)

"Uh, I, walked people's pokemon for them, I-I was a pokemon w-walker"

(Oh god, why didn't I say something more believable like a pokemart clerk? It's all going downhill now, and the blisters all over my body aren't helping either.)

(He's going to write this in the notebook again, isn't he, oh god oh god, he is, he's writing my lies into his book, ahh ahhhh...)

Jared's mind began racing a million miles an hour, but although he does his best to keep a straight face, he doesn't notice his blistered face getting redder and redder by the second.