Alice Fern
Melemele Sea -> Hau'oli City

Alice stood at the prow of the ship. The wind whipped her shoulder-length hair into her eyes, but she didn't mind at all. On her right shoulder, Plume clung to her coat, her claws wrapped tightly around a small leather strap Alice had sewn on after the Archen had destroyed five other coats with her sharp talons. Plume squawked happily as the gusts blasted the pair, wings spread wide as if she was flying. Alice laughed, eyes closed, one hand clutching the metal railing to stop her from falling. It had been a long journey from Pallet Town, Kanto. She had taken a train, a plane and now a ship to reach Alola. The fresh air and bright skies woke her from her travel-induced stupor. Alola was supposed to be beautiful. Though she was here for serious reasons, she would try and enjoy it.

As the ship pulled into the Hau'oli City Marina, Alice scooped Plume off her shoulder with a well-practiced hand. The bird squawked in protest, but quickly quieted down when Alice began combing her messy feathers back into their usual positions. "You love flying, don't you?" Alice grinned. She had installed a tyre swing in the backyard of the laboratory at home, for Plume to swing around on. The bird never got tired of swinging through the air.

Alice joined the rest of the passengers disembarking from the ship. It was only a smallish vessel, and the hundred or so people were mostly tourists come to soak up some famous Alola sun. She joined the throng of people heading into the city proper, eager to find something to eat. As she walked the streets, she saw numerous banners advertising a Natural Order rally, set for the next day. Perfect timing, she thought. The rally would be a good way to get more information, at the very least.

Alice found something to eat in one of the many beach-front restaurants. While she ate, she flicked through the latest news on the Poketech she wore around her wrist. Nothing major seemed to have gone down since she had left Kanto, which was definitely a good thing. Before switching off the smartwatch, she sent a quick message to Ben back at the lab, letting him know she had arrived safely. Her assistant would be running things while she was gone, with the help of a few Pokemon Alice had left behind. She had told him it was a research trip, but he seemed skeptical at the time. She trusted him, but wouldn't get him involved until she knew what was going on. The lab Pokemon needed one of them, at least.

Alice paid for her food and left the restaurant. It was getting colder as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Alice pulled the collar of her long white coat up higher around her ears. Plume was subdued on her shoulder now, eyes closed and resting on her leather perch. Alice was always amazed that the bird could retain her balance so well when sleeping. The past days' travel catching up to her, Alice yawned and headed off in search of somewhere to sleep for the night.