Pokemon Island Sun (on hiatus)

[EmeraldSky]

Interlude: Christmas in Alola

Dear Serena,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas (or as they say in Native Alolan, Mele Kalikimaka.)

There are, in fact, Christmas trees out here, but they have to be ordered and shipped here well in advance. If people don't want to wait that long, they just wire Christmas lights around palm trees.

That's exactly what Professor Kukui did this year rather than wait for the Christmas tree ships. (when they arrive, all the harbors are packed--it gives "I saw three ships come sailing in" a whole new meaning.)

We did receive some Christmas gifts from our Alolan friends--flowery shirts for everyone, and candy and malasadas galore (Hau even made them all festive with beach-going icing Delibirds). Popoki got some catnip toys, and Tarina got a picture guidebook to the region. She was oohing and ahing over all the pictures all day--Brock assured her that yes, we would be going to many of the places in the guidebook.

With everyone else cooking up food for a massive Christmas luau, I decided to read up on what to expect in my trial in the Verdant Cavern (like the Gyms at home, the trial sites are closed down for the holidays--we'll get our first trial done after the new year).

One thing all the trials have in common is what's called a Totem Pokemon--a larger and more powerful version of a Pokemon. Depending on how many people are facing it, it will adapt its tactics accordingly.

Verdant Cavern is unique among the trials in that depending on when you decide to challenge the trial, you may face a different Totem Pokemon. Go in during the day, and you'll face a Gumshoos. Go in at night, and you'll see a Raticate. Given the choice, I'd much rather face the Gumshoos--Hikina says that the Rattatas and Raticates are Dark type, and given I have no Fighting types currently with me, that would be a very difficult, if not impossible, trial.

If we win, we can earn another Z Crystal--I learned the one Samson gave me is officially called the Pikapaz (Pikachu and Topaz--clever name if you ask me) Tintri's been very protective over his Pikapaz, but Mahina was nice enough to get it made into a necklace for him-and he hasn't taken it off yet!

Remember I said I'd bring back a ukulele for Bonnie when I left? Well, I ended up getting a ukulele of my own from Mahina. She's offered to give me lessons while we travel, but right now, I'm just trying to translate what I know from guitar to ukulele. Brock says that its easier if you think of guitar chords a fifth upward, it's easier. (or so he read in one of the lesson books.)

At the moment, I only know three chords, but Mahina assures me that "three chords and the truth" also works on the ukulele--but we'll see once I get C, F and G7 down.

Popoki and Alegria are very patient with me trying to practice. Alegria doesn't seem to mind my constant going back and forth between chords, but every time I sit down to practice or have a lesson, Popoki gives me an annoyed look--as if he's saying "Are you gonna actually play a song rather than plunking on the same three chords all day?" I guess some Pokemon don't realize that if you want to do something well, you practice.

Mahina did tell me that "Happy Birthday" uses the three chords I know--so maybe I'll surprise someone on their birthday by playing that while everybody sings. The closest birthday I know about is Bonnie's in January--so if you can get her to join you for a video chat on her birthday, we'll have a little surprise for her (I should have that and a few songs down by then)

For now, I can only play something that only vaguely resembles "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". (much to Popoki's chagrin)

Tuning the little guy was probably the hardest part so far--but Mahina told me that I can still use an E note as a reference--luckily, Brock was already in tune, so I just used a guitar's high E as my reference. (a ukulele's third string is the E, if you're curious. From there, you tune the fourth string (A), then go back and tune the first string (G), then finish with the second string (low C). If you did it correctly, it should create a little melody one can remember by the sentence "My Litten has fleas" (this really got Popoki mad--he was protesting that he did not have fleas for about five minutes until Mahina assured him it was just a memory aid)

Misty found Popoki's offense to "My Litten has fleas" bemusing. Tarina's already talking about when she can sing along with me (she actually sounds very nice for a Pichu), and Mele and Kia'i don't mind listening to me practice.

I only forced him to listen for only a few minutes after I finally got in tune and Mahina taught me my first three chords. As I said before, it's a bit of a learning curve, and it's definitely a little scary not having the two extra strings a guitar has, but thanks to Mahina's patient guidance, I'm getting the hang of it.

So for now, we're enjoying what's left of the Christmas luau--there's still plenty of kalua Tepig and shoyu Combusken--enough for all of us to have plate lunches for the next year.

Lillie did come by with more of her Pinap and coconut bread, and she got a kick out of my new ukulele too. I joked that so far, the only song I knew was "My Litten has fleas", which got everyone laughing (and annoyed Popoki).

As much as I hate to bother Popoki with my practicing, it is a nice way to pass the time until we can hit the road for the trials--so I'll go practice now while he's outside playing with everyone.

Until next time,
Ash