Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ryan is back home in Alola once again a mission, however one of lesser severity and of much familiarity. Professor Samson Oak, cousin to the much more famous Professor Samuel Oak, has requested from Snagem assistance in this year's Shellos study. For years now, as a sort of side project, Samson Oak has been observing local groups of Shellos and Gastrodon in the wild in the Alola region. The species is not originally native to Alola and were accidentally introduced into the region from Sinnoh long ago but have since established themselves off the islands just fine and now thrive. Samson Oak has always believed with enough time the species should develop into a new 'Alolan' variety. However his research has been very disappointing, research he has been conducting since he was a boy.

At this point in his research, which Ryan is familiar with, he has largely 'contracted' it out to the region's Pokemon Trainer's School. As part of the curriculum students go out on a field trip twice a year to observe the Sea Slugs and record any changes in them. This is a project they do from start to finish in the trainer's school. This year however Samson Oak is lacking an aid to assist him in this year's Sea Slug Field Study and has asked Snagem for a stand in. Of course Sub voluntold Ryan for this mission and so Ryan would find himself on Melemele Island as he works up the motivation to make way for the Trainer's School and deal with all the snot nosed brats he is sure to find there.

Ryan would make it to the school and as he passed through the yard he would see trainers battling each other on the various fields that dotted the courtyard. It was always nice to see the youth continuing the tradition of Pokemon battles. Eventually he would make it to the building proper and walk in where he would be greeted by the front desk receptionist, a young man who looked just a few years removed from this school himself.

"Hello! Welcome to Melemele Trainers' School! Can I help you?" He asked Ryan happily.

"Oh! Mister Caughtem! Alola to you too! You look just like how Professor Oak described you. Just head up to the second floor, first hallway on your right, third door down. Ms. Emily is expecting you. Also, good luck. This year's class is uh...motivated, to say the least." The man said to Ryan.

The door would open and on the other side Ryan would see a young girl, a student obviously. With the door open he would hear the roaring sound of about thirty unruly children but couldn't see the teacher on the other side trying to clam them down as the young student only kept the door cracked open slightly. Looking up at him as if performing this simple task killed her she let out a sigh before opening the door the rest of the way.

"It's some guy!" She shouted out to the teacher, Ms. Emily, who was currently trying to catch an Alolan Rattata that had gotten into the classroom, the teacher chasing it around as the kids either panicked way more than needed or decided to make matters worse and scare the already frightened creature. What a bunch of brats.

The sudden assault of frubbles would catch the rat off guard, it managed to avoid the first shot and the second but it was too slow to realize it had been corralled by the Froakie as the third shot nailed it, the led into a corner. Successfully trapped Ms. Emily would promptly pick up the rodent, it trying to flail around but the sticky bubbles prevented it from doing much. Opening up the window she tossed it out, the rodent landing in the nearby tree and scurrying away.

"Pests. Need to get Ilima back in here with his Yungoos..." She muttered to herself before approaching her savior. "Thank you for your help, and yours too." She said to Ryan and then Froakie respectively. "I take it you're Ryan Caughtem, the Water specialist I've heard so much about. Professor Oak highly recommended you for this field study. I would warn you about what you're getting into but..." She said, trailing off as she looked around at her students who were loudly talking among themselves, throwing balled up paper across the room, and other things. "You can see for yourself." Ms. Emily sighed. "Still up for it?"

One by one the children's attention turned towards the singing Brionne, looks of confusion and surprise quickly turning to ones of contentment and relaxation. It was as if someone had flicked a switch and turned their collective ADHD off. Ms. Emily smiled as the class started calming down and when she asked them to take their seats they all did! It was a miracle. Once they were all seated a few did shout questions at Ryan about his Brionne, many of the female students captivated by it, but regardless they were all still much calmer.

"I'm sure Mr. Catchem would be glad to answer all your questions but first why don't we let him introduce himself and tell us what he's here for today class." Ms. Emily said as she turned to face Ryan and gave him a little nod to proceed.

"Alola Mr. Caughtem." The class would greet Ryan in unison, then proceeding to listen to him with great intent. Once he was done speaking Ms. Emily would pat Ryan on the shoulder and then begin to address the class again. "Alright class, Mr. Caughtem will now be escorting you to the site so be sure to listen and mind. Do not stray from the group. Since this is an outing into the wild you may all take your designated Pokemon with you. Also don't forget your notebooks." With that said the students became noisy again as they excitedly began to move around, heading to the back of the room to get their Pokeballs out of their lockers.

"Mr. Caughtem, do you remember where the site is? Slug Isle, it's that one small island off the beach south of here, not far from Ten Carat Hill. Do you need help ferrying the children across the ocean? Your leader claimed you would have the means." Ms. Emily asked.

"Oh heaven's no, I got plenty to do here." Ms. Emily said with a giggle, one could easily tell she just wanted to use this as a break from the kids. "Be safe though and have fun. I'll be here when you get back. Oh! That reminds me. Professor Oak wanted you to bring back a Shellos with you if you didn't mind. He said he was sure you would pick out a good specimen."

By the time Ryan was done talking to Ms. Emily the entire class had gathered up together behind him, almost thirty children in all, nearly sixty eyes staring up at him with excited intent.