There was an art to approaching a wild pokemon. And like all arts, it changed depending on what you wanted.

A capture battle? Sneaking was the wrong approach. You wanted to be straight forward, the pokemon that ran meant it had no interest in a battle, no interest in a trainer.

But what if you wanted something else from a pokemon?

Well then it depended on the pokemon, and as I approached through the grass trying to be quiet, I ran through all that I knew about Leafeon in my head, one thing stood out to me the most.

Leafeon… Might not actually need to eat normal food. They photosynthesized, hence why this one was out on a rock in the sun. A pokemon that didn't need to eat berries was… Probably my weakness to be honest, as that was my main approach.

So what else did this pokemon want? To be left alone…

Well that wasn't going to work. So I did the only thing left to me. Get close and just be blunt. While I tried to be quiet, so I could get closer, I didn't hunker down, or try to hide.

I wanted to look reassuring, and not like I was sneaking up on the Leafeon. Sneaking up on a pokemon would definitely trigger instincts I didn't want to deal with. So back straight and step carefully through the grass.

I avoided the Fomantis in the field with practiced ease. Really you just made sure your shadow didn't fall over them, they didn't care about anything else.

And then I was getting close. Leafeon was just resting on the rock, its big cute ears twitched, and I stopped moving, and spread my legs so I didn't look like I was walking towards it.

"Hello." I called out, just loud enough to reach, but hopefully not startle it, and those big brown eyes opened up.

It looked at me still curled up, and I held in my hands some berries, but no pokeball or anything.

"Hi there. Can I talk to you? I promise I won't-" It stood up and hopped off the back of the rock.

Fuck it. Plan B.

"Hey wait! Please!" I yelled as I dashed forward, I made it to the rock in time to see the Leafeon stopping for just a moment at the edge of the forest, giving me a look before disappearing into the brush of the forest…

"Okay Plan C." I muttered and put both berries away while I tapped on one of my pokeballs.

"Rio?" Riolu appeared looking around confused, and I pointed with a finger, snapping how it was meant to be, and giving the order.

"Scent." I called out, and Riolu nearly jumped to move before she stopped and pouted at me.

"C'mon Riolu, this isn't the time. I need to find this pokemon, it's important. Should smell like leaves. Back me up here." I pressed on her, and she looked at me for a moment sort of judging whether she wanted to comply or not, but eventually, she turned, I could see her nose wiggling. She walked over the Rock and started scenting it.

"Vicky!"

"Mama!" I called back as Mama was yelling from the Tauros. "I'm going to chase after the Leafeon! It ran off!"

"Alright! Hold on!" She yelled, and then climbed off the Tauros… Huh.

She sent both Pokemon back down the road, and then started striding across the field without a care…

"Mama! Careful not to overshadow the Fomantis!"

"Right!" She called out, and I relaxed as she did in fact avoid disturbing them, although I noticed they hadn't liked the yelling either.

Mama caught up and looked at Riolu with a smile. "She's going to track it?"

"Yeah."

"Good job Riolu." Mama said and Riolu perked up at that. And actually looked more invested.

That little brat.

"You want to come?"

"Chasing after a practically unknown pokemon into the wild jungle of Alola? That's a better time than sitting on a Tauros and waiting." Mama offered, and I noticed she actually looked rather excited for it.

Heh.

I nodded, and we both looked at Riolu who jumped off the rock and headed towards where the Leafeon had disappeared.

"Alright, let's follow." I said and Mama and I both headed deeper into the Lush Jungle, of Alola.

Riolu moved quickly at first, before slowing down, and I very pointedly didn't sigh when I realized she was struggling with following the trail. This couldn't be easy and I wasn't going to blame her for losing it.

Leafeon was famous for smelling like leaves, and we were in a jungle, the math was obvious.

Eventually even she couldn't hide the fact she had fully lost the trail and looked at me with an unhappy face.

"Rio."

"Yeah. It's hard. Can you sense its aura?" I asked, and Riolu looked awkward for a moment before closing her eyes, seemingly giving it a try.

Considering how bad this had gone the last time we tried to use her aura sensing, I wasn't putting much hope in it.

But… Ugh this was so annoying! A Leafeon! If it could lead us to the Moss Stone, I could get proof of its evolution!

Finally Riolu opened her eyes and pointed. Then stomped off into the brush…

I gave it a low chance she had found it, but I shrugged and followed. We trundled on, and Mama did slow down a bit as we went, but honestly Riolu wasn't moving very fast so it wasn't an issue to slow down a bit more so she could keep up.

"Don't give me that look. It's been more than a decade, and a whole kid since I've stomped through a jungle."

"Heh." I laughed at Mama's snark.

And yet, as we followed Riolu, we passed so many pokemon. More Trumbeaks in the branches ahead of us. Passimians hollering all over. A small group of Butterfree that noticed us and flew higher to avoid us.

I could hear Bounsweet calling in the distance through the forest, their cute little voices adding more ambiance. And even angry growls from what I was pretty sure was a Pinsir.

Then Riolu stopped and I met up with her, she was once more sensing, but…

I could practically feel her frustration. She had lost it, or maybe never had it to start. So I reached out. I could feel her spiraling a bit. "Good job." I told her instead, disrupting her focus, as I pulled her into a one armed hug. "This place is so full of pokemon, I knew it was a longshot. But you tried anyway. Thanks Riolu."

"Rio." She grumbled at me.

"It's okay. We just keep searching around for now. If that's okay?" I turned to Mama, and she smirked, even if she was catching her breath.

"Don't count me out yet." She said and we both nodded in time. Alright. This hunt was still on!

Just much harder.

"Let's keep going. Maybe we can find some clues. Keep your nose out Riolu."

"Riolu." She agreed and then preened under Mama's proud look.

Of course.

We continued moving, exploring around, and soon it was less of a hunt, and more just the three of us exploring a cool locale.

"Oh what's that?" Mama asked and I looked up, in the branches of a tree above us, a Comfey was sleeping, seemingly hooking itself on a branch and just napping away.

"Comfey. They pick flowers, and then stick them to their body. It actually heals the flowers. They smell really nice."

"Oh nice!" Mama gushed a bit. "I wonder if they can do that with Berry Tree Flowers! I bet they'd help pollinate the trees, if you get some Beedrill, or Combee! It's hard to get male and female trees properly pollinated sometimes." Mama started going into the idea, and soon I was staring at her, and realized.

Ah, that's right. Mama is a Berry aficionado. As much as I was obsessed with Pokemon, she'd literally gone on her journey just to find all the berries she could and bring them home to start planting new trees…

"Berry crazy."

Mama puffed up a bit and glared at me. "I'm not Berry Crazy!"

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"Mhmm."

"And what does that make you, huh!?" She demanded reaching over and running a fist over my head.

"Ack! Mama!"

"No Mama, here, only Berry Crazy Woman! Isn't that right? Does this skull have a new berry type, Huh!?"

"Nyooooo!" I whined as she continued to noogie me while I was trapped. "Riolu! Help!"

"Lulululu." She giggled at my fate and I knew she was evil!

Eventually Mama let me go with a push, and I turned and glared at her, and totally wasn't half way to crying.

Mama just smirked at me, as if she hadn't just tortured me!

She was a Dark Type.

Maybe Dark Grass. Considering her Berry craziness.

"I feel like you're asking for more." Mama said and I shook my head quickly to deny it. I definitely didn't want more!

"Lulululu."

"Okay! Enough laughing. Let's keep exploring." I called out, and Mama nodded nudging me as she walked past with a wink, and I smiled and followed.

We continued on, and I kept my eye out for a rock covered in moss, but the jungle was large, and I was exploring it for the first time. We did eventually seem to get a bit lost, and I had to pull out a compass to get us back in the right direction, eventually we exited the Jungle onto the road that ran up Route 6.

"Well. Do we keep going, or head back?" Mama asked, pointing down the road, and I shrugged.

"Probably head back. We can get some Ride Pokemon again instead of walking."

"Hmm. I could use a meal." She said and I saw Riolu perk up. Ah yeah that's fair.

"Okay let's head back. I need to contact Professor Cer-Well… Professor Kukui first, I guess. But I have these Leafeon pictures which will be valuable on their own."

"Alright! Let's get walking… This is one of the few times having Arcany, or your Arcanine around would actually be useful. Rather than walking. Don't tell your father I said that."

"Of course I will! Mama is melting by Arcany's love! Are you becoming a dog person?"

"Don't even joke. I still pull dog fur out of every load of laundry." Mama growled, and I couldn't help but break out into giggles at that.

"Not cat fur? Meowth Sheds."

"Pfft. Only on the curtains now. He's been hiding up there to escape the Pups."

We both laughed at Meows suffering.

Our hike through the jungle switched to a peaceful walk down the side of the road back to the city. Mama and I just chatted away, enjoying each other's company, while we walked.

Then we came out from the jungle, to that same field, we'd seen the Leafeon in, and as my eyes glanced over at the same rock I went still.

That.

Little.

Shit.

"Mama." I growled out and pointed and Mama looked over and she went still as well.

"It was messing with us." Mama said, and I nodded.

The Leafeon was back on the same rock happily napping away.

"Riolu… Rio, Riolu lu." Riolu growled. She looked at me and held up a fist.

"I normally don't agree to battling wild pokemon for no reason… But this Leafeon is asking for it." I decided, and Mama smirked darkly as she nodded.

"Go get him Trouble."

"It's not getting away this time. C'mon Riolu!"

"Rio!"

I charged across the field, leaping over Fomantis as I did, Riolu right beside me, and as we got close I called it out.

"Quick Attack! Get behind it, so it can't run away!"

"Rio!" She called out, glowing white and then blurring forward.

The Leafeon jerked up and then noticed us charging and yelped. Springing up to its feet but Riolu was right there as it turned to dash into the forest. And Riolu tackled the Pokemon off the rock.

"Rio!"

"Leee!" It screeched in shock. And as they both rolled around in the grass I caught the glow just before Leafeon exploded in Razor Leaf.

"Riolu! Make some space, and blast it!" I called out, and Riolu did, escaping the flurry of Razor Leaf by leaping back and as she fell charging her Vacuum Wave.

"Leaf! Leafeon!" It screeched at Riolu and exploded in more Razor Leaf, shooting out from its large leaf on its head, but Riolu just thrust her gathered move forward, and the Vacuum Wave blasted right through the leaves smashing into Leafeon with a cry.

The Leafeon regained its feet, shaking for a moment before squaring up. Ready for battle.

Good. It wasn't running.

"Alright Riolu! Let's do this! Quick Attack right past it!"

"Rio!" She called out understanding instantly, and as Leafeon gathered up energy before sending out another flurry of Razor Leaf, Riolu blurred shining white she juked past the leaves, and then past Leafeon entirely.

As Leafeon turned, it came face to face with a Vacuum Wave already powered up and thrust right into its face.

The Leafeon couldn't dodge getting blasted back, rolling across the dirt. It managed to get its feet back under it and shook its head, glaring at Riolu.

Which is right when my Pokeball that I'd pulled out of my bag and chucked bounced off it's head.

"Le!?" It gasped and then disappeared.

I held my breath. The pokeball. Rocked. Obviously the Leafeon didn't want to be captured. Then again.

C'mon. C'mon!

I exhaled, and fell to my knees in relief. The third rock and then the Pokeball locked. The pokemon hadn't been strong enough to break free.

"Wow… I think that's the first time I ever captured a Pokemon like this." I whispered to myself, and then…

The pokeball teleported away….

"Oh crap! Did that go to the Kahuna, or back to Kanto!?" I gasped. I needed the Leafeon to guide me to where it evolved!

"The Kahuna for sure." Mama said and then dropped a hand onto my head. "Good job. That was a good battle, you tricked it into turning its back on you and got a good surprise catch. Well done."

"I've never captured a pokemon through battle before… I just kinda threw it." I couldn't help but reveal and Mama looked down at me…

"Aaaagh! Why!?" I whined as she started pressing her knuckle into my head again!

"Thsi is for all the hopes and dreams of a little Haruka that had to struggle for every catch!" She growled at me. Nooo!

—--

We ended up walking back to the city, and hitting the pokemon center, and once inside I approached Nurse Joy.

"Alola Nurse Joy! I captured a pokemon, and the pokeball teleported away. I know it's supposed to do that, but I'm from Kanto! So where did the pokeball go?"

"Alol-Oh my." She whispered looking at me. "That's not good. You can get in a lot of trouble for capturing pokemon here." She told me, and I blinked before rubbing at the back of my head.

I revealed my Z Ring. "I'm allowed, I just don't know where it went? Kahuna Hala said I could."

"Oh! You're Victoria! How lovely!" She seemed to relax from where she had been pulling up a phone receiver, and instead set it mostly back down. "We all got the alert that you were considered an Alolan citizen. If you caught a pokemon… Hmm. Did the Kahuna forget to set up a reserve for any pokemon you catch? Grr. That man!" She grumbled and I laughed as she pulled up the phone and started putting in a number.

Kahuna Hala was in troooouble.

Then almost in parody as Nurse Joy finished dialing a phone behind us started ringing.

"I suppose you were reaching out to me then?" Olivia offered walking in, and hitting a button on her phone that stopped it from ringing.

"Kahuna! I was just-" Nurse Joy started, but Olivia held up a hand.

"Yeah I figured, when I had this transfer to my home, I knew I'd have some work to do today." She offered, holding out a Pokeball. "It took me a moment to figure out what had happened. Caught a Pokemon?" She asked me and I nodded.

"It's a Leafeon!" I said and Olivia blinked and I could see how her fingers clenched around the ball for a moment.

"That's… You found one?"

"It was resting on a sunny rock on Route 6, when we were heading up!"

"Hmm. I've been hearing some rumors of people seeing one recently, but this is the first confirmed case, and you caught it." She mentioned, almost in shock.

"And now I can find out where it evolved! I need to talk to Professor Kukui as well. Kahuna Olivia. There is something on this island that lets Eevee Evolve into Leafeon!" I gushed happily, and yet Olivia just frowned a bit.

"You think it's that simple?"

"I've done work with the Eevee Evolution Lab in Kanto! I have my own hypothesis regarding Leafeon, and now I can prove it! Think about it! Anyone with an Eevee could just come to Akala and evolve their pokemon."

"It sounds nice, but I'll need more than hopeful words… Let's call Kukui. I agree, it's worth exploring." She said and I grinned.

"Oh but, I already have six pokemon. Do I have to send one somewhere first?"

"Hmm… How about I handle Leafeon's Pokeball for now, and we can figure that out later." She asked, and I shrugged. Whatever. I only caught the pokemon because it was quick to run away.

But Mama I noticed was frowning, and Olivia showed no sign of backing down under Mama's glare.

Ugh. Politics, I could practically smell it, but opportunity smelled all the better!

—--

"Alola!" Kukui called out as he walked into the pokemon center, and I smiled and waved back at him.

"Alola! Professor!" We'd been waiting as Nurse Joy looked over the Leafeon. But she hadn't returned just yet. Kukui honestly had gotten here really fast.

"Olivia good to see you, I came as quick as I could. Vicky! Nice to see you again, I see you're in the middle of this. Ah, it was Mrs. Ferrous right? Nice to see you again."

"And to you Professor." Mama offered. Mama had been… Catty? Yeah best way to put it ever since Olivia hadn't given me Leafeon's Pokeball, and from her comments since Olivia had arrived, I think I see the issue.

Olivia didn't want me to have the Leafeon.

As Pinery had mentioned. Even just pictures confirming they existed were a recent thing.

I guess it made sense. Who would instantly think that a big rock nearby had anything to do with a pokemon's evolution.

Seriously, some evolutions were super obtuse.

"Victoria managed to capture a Leafeon." Olivia opened with, and Kukui, who had been walking over stuttered for a moment.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." Olivia replied and I grinned, throwing a thumbs up.

"That's amazing! Congratulations!" He offered to me, but I just grinned even wider, as I cut in.

"No, the best part is! I think we can use the Leafeon to find where it evolved! If it can lead us to the location where it evolved, we can find the environmental factor that caused the evolution! More Leafeon!"

"Hah! That idea makes me want to Explode! I see why you called me for an emergency."

"Indeed." Olivia offered. "The idea is appealing. Considering the circumstances. I'm requesting that you investigate this." She asked, and Kukui nodded instantly.

"I'm in. Principal Oak is already covering for my class."

"Oh, it's still school time… Sorry Professor."

"Haha! It happens! Nothing to worry about! Who knows if we find something good, maybe my next class will be all about a new discovery!"

"It will!" I agreed, excited and me and Kukui both shared wide grins.

I loved Kukui, he was the best.

"Ah, Kahuna. I've completed my examination." Nurse Joy returned with a tray holding the pokeball, and Olivia nodded, reaching out and taking the ball.

"Thank you Nurse. Kukui, I'm entrusting you with the pokemon for now. Please explore its origins and see what you can find out."

"Ah… Kahuna, didn't Vicky catch it?" Kukui asked, noticing the issue right away.

"She already has six pokemon with her." Olivia offered, as an excuse, and it definitely was considering the way everyone present looked at her. "I need to have a discussion with the Kahuna, but I'd appreciate it if you return to my home once your investigation is completed. No where else Kukui."

"Understood."

"Good." She said firmly, and then she finally looked away from Kukui, and looked at me. For a long moment she didn't move and then she spoke. "This capture caught us by surprise, but you should be proud… Let us adults handle any issues that come. I trust Kukui will be responsible for the pokemon you captured for now, I hope you will trust him as well."

"I do."

"Good. Then… I apologize for the awkwardness, this should be a happy moment. I hope you retain that despite everything. I have to go. Kukui."

"Yes Ma'am." He replied at her firm nod, an order for sure. Then she walked out

"Well that was awkward."

"She doesn't want to give you a pokemon you captured, despite the Kahuna's saying you could capture pokemon here." Mama said bluntly what the issue was, and Kukui winced, as Mama glared at him.

Yeah, that's what I picked up as well. But in the end I shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. I didn't capture the pokemon to join my team… I battle captured it, never did that before. I just couldn't let it run off again. So Professor. Let's see if we can find out where it evolved! That's what's important here!"

He looked at me, and then broke into that grin of his. "That's right." He agreed and still holding the pokeball looked at it. "I guess we need to say Alola."

Yeah. Hopefully it wouldn't be a troublemaker.