He was a man of odd appearance, gaunt, and almost as tall as the doorway. His eyes were shielded by shades that shone brightly from the sunlight they reflected. Atop his head, he showed off a hairstyle that demanded the attention of any who saw it. His hair was arranged into an afro four times the size of his head, split down the middle between two colors. To one side, it was the deep crimson of rubies. On the other side, his hair was a pure, clean white. Behind him stood two Ludicolo, nearly still, but nervously twitching their feet as though wishing to move. He looked as though he were barely human, and had an odd aura about him. Sun was expecting Looker, but this man did not match any expectations. Being in his presence induced a strange sensation of rhythm, as though listening to loud music, but unable to hear it. He wouldn't be easy to forget.
He came demanding to take Lusamine with him. He said that she had committed a crime against humanity, and that she would need to answer to her actions when she recovers. She would be safe, he assured them, but she would not escape due process. Her trial will take place once she has recovered. The sentence, he said, would likely mean that she would not see the outside world for many years. He wheeled in a cot, refusing to take "no" for an answer, and left with the former Aether Foundation president.
He had long since left. Now, the man was gone. Now, Lusamine was gone. Now, Lillie lay in the bed that had held her mother. Sun sat beside her.
"Bill…" she muttered.
"It's not his fault," responded Sun. "That place was full of computers, Interpol probably was listening through one of them." She didn't respond.
The two of them were silent as they occupied the oppressive room and its still atmosphere that stagnated like a marsh in Summer. As the sun set, the light streaming through the window became weaker and weaker, and the room got darker and darker. Though the room fell totally dark, no one turned on a light.
Day had become evening, and before long, evening had become night. The room was dark, and still, no one moved. Eventually, when no light remained, Sun stood up. Carefully, he placed a hand on Lillie's shoulder, who was still lying still on the bed. She was facing the wall against which the bed was pressed, away from Sun. There was no telling whether or not she was still awake. Sun arched his back, leaning down to position his face near hers.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. She still didn't respond. Sun pressed his lips against her cheek for a moment before pulling away. "Sleep well." He lay on the floor, beside the bed.
Sun opened his eyes to find the room filling with the dawn's golden light. Looking around, he recalled what had happened the day before. He stood up to find Lillie lying exactly where she had been, showing no signs of stirring. Now, with the sun illuminating her face, Sun could see that she was asleep. She lay in the same spot, appearing to have not moved at all throughout the night. Sun sat down on the edge of the bed next to her has he had the day before, and he waited for her to wake up. One could count the moments that passed before Lillie opened her eyes to be met with the same sight that greeted Sun when he had woken up. She looked around a little before turning onto her back to face up at Sun.
He locked his eyes with hers and waited for her to speak. She did not. "Lillie," Sun uttered, barely audible.
"Sun…" she replied, "what do I do now?" A momentary silence followed before Sun twisted his trunk and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"You said you were traveling to Kanto to become stronger," Sun spoke louder now, "that's what you do."
"But…" Her voice had become unsteady.
"When we were on Exeggutor Island, taking refuge from the rain in that cave, I remember you said something to me. You told me that you were impressed that I would do something when you felt stuck. When you said that, I was impressed. I was impressed by how you continued to see the good, no matter what. How you always looked forward. If what you said was true, then do something."
"What do I do, though?" Her voice had become more engaging, as though she were now a more willing participant of the conversation than before.
Sun paused to think for just a moment, then spoke. "If there's anything we can learn from your mother's actions, I think it's that we can only go forward. Trying to go backward will lead us to ruin. I know that you can go forward from here." He moved his hand in order to touch the two gym badges Lillie was still wearing. "You already won against two gym leaders. I know you can beat another six." Lillie raised her hand to clasp Sun's.
When he finished speaking, the Pokéball in his bag burst open, revealing a grand feline creature that barely fit in the room.
"LA-LIONA!" Solgaleo would not let the conversation exclude him.
Lillie looked at the Pokémon she had rescued months ago and said to him, "Nebby, I'm sorry if I'm disappointing you."
His heart began to beat faster and faster. His mind started to work quickly, too. Sun thought, going over the situation in his head multiple times each second before deciding that this would be as good a time as any for him to speak.
Sun opened his mouth and, after a quiet second, forced out the words he wanted to say. While still looking Lillie in the eyes, he said, "I love you."
At hearing his confession, Lillie sat up on the bed, forcing Sun's hand, which was still on her badges, upward. In response, she said, "when we first met, all three of us, by the bridge, I remember feeling the same way. I remember feeling that I wanted to be with you. I remember feeling the same way I do now." She crossed her arms around Sun's back and then continued to speak. "I will become stronger. I will become the champion."