Chaoter 4 - ESCORT MISSION
You jumped right off the ledge towards the sand, the thrust you got from running throwing you 2 feet into the beach. You panted heavily, it had been a while since you last did some kind of cardio exercise, you were definitely out of shape. But somehow you'd won. You threw both of your fists into the air.
"TEN YEARS LATER, I'M STILL THE FUCKING BEST!" You shouted, falling in the sand on your back, still breathing heavily. You looked up at the ledge, Guzma was staring down at you also panting. He was frowning.
"Of-fucking-course you won, you took off before I had time to react. You had at least 10 feet of advantage on me." He said. He seemed annoyed – far too annoyed for what was supposed to be children's play.
The night was quiet. The only sound you could hear was the ocean waves and the cries of distant Pokemon. The soft breeze coming from the ocean was cooling off your body. Guzma took a deep breath and came down to the sand through the stone staircase, sitting right next to you on the sand.
None of you made a sound. Somehow this was oddly comforting, How many times did both of you stood side by side like that on that same spot? Countless nights spent just enjoying each other's company as the waves crashed in the sand and the breezes ruffled your hair. It felt as if nothing had changed - that nothing had to change. Maybe if both of you stayed quiet the sands of time would stop moving and you'd both stay stranded in this quiet moment forever.
"Why are you here."
Guzma was the first one to break the spell.
You sighed, sitting up. The reality of the situation slowly creeping back into you.
"Kukui's been building a Pokémon League here in Alola." You answered not looking at him. "Invited me to be part of the Elite Four."
He chuckled – a malicious tone in his laugh.
"Of course he'd invite you." He said. "Summoning someone all the way from Johto to be part of the Elite Four instead of finding someone 'round here."
You raised an eyebrow at him, he was staring at the horizon. Was that an edge of disappointment?
"Well I'm from Alola." You said. "I was simply away from here, but I'm as alolan as you are."
"Oh come on." He barked right back at you. "You're a Champion. That's why he summoned you. Being from Alola was just a convenience."
You looked at him surprised. So he knew you were a Champion? Did he keep track of you? You shook your head – the media made such an uproar in Johto when you became Champion, some of it must have hit Alola for sure, especially because you were alolan.
"Y'know, maybe you could try to beat me in the Elite Four?" You said calmly. "Maybe even become Champion… You know, since you don't have to beat the Island Challenge to go to the League and…"
You stopped talking, realizing you said too much. Guzma was looking at you with a mixture of an angry and pained expression – he probably wasn't pleased to know that you knew he couldn't beat the Island Challenge.
"I don't need your fucking pity." He said angrily. He got up, turning his back at you. "That Champion bullshit really got to your head, huh?" He said. "Ya think anyone would be dying to bask under the light of your title, like you were some kind of fucking demigod."
You stared at his back with your mouth agape. This wasn't what you meant at all. Looking down on Guzma was definitely the last thing you wanted to do. This whole conversation was going down in shambles.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound condescending at all!" You tried to defend yourself.
"No?" He asked, turning his head to look at you. "How about trying to take Team Skull head on by yourself huh?"
"I…" You started.
Why fucking not? I'm the damn Johto Champion.
The exact words you said to Kukui to justify your actions back on the night you arrive at Alola echoed in your mind. Maybe he was right. Maybe deep down you let the whole being Champion thing get in over your head and you didn't really realize it. Maybe you were looking down on Guzma.
You looked at his back again. He was tall – taller even than Kukui. And he was strong – not gym-rat kind of strong; rather he was large, his body more rectangular than an inverted triangle. His neck was thick, and so was his well-shaped arms – his wrists were at least two sizes larger than yours and you were sure he could easily cover your entire face easily with those big hands. He definitely grew to be quite the man.
You blinked. What the heck were you thinking in such a crucial moment? You slapped yourself mentally as you cleared your throat.
"I'm sorry…" You muttered.
"Whatever, I don't give a shit." He answered. "I'm onto bigger things now."
You sighed, hugging your knees. This whole situation was really overwhelming. You ached for a past that obviously didn't exist anymore. Guzma was a gang leader, Kukui was a Professor with his own Research Lab and even yourself was not a mere trainer anymore, you were a Champion. So why did you feel like pressing on?
"I guess I wished things would be the same once I got back." You said. He turned to you, resentment in his eyes.
"They aren't." His answer feeling more like a threat. "You better get fucking used to it."
"If they aren't, what did you come home for?" You snapped right back at him. "You were obviously arguing with your folks when I saw you."
He seemed taken aback by your question for a moment, but he soon took his disdainful look back.
"I left something behind and needed it back, that's all." He replied. "You still love to meddle on other people's business huh?"
"And you're still as lovable as ever." You barked right back at him.
He chuckled, shoving his hand in his right pocket. He pulled out some rectangular device, taking a round object from inside of it. He lifted the round object into the air. Soon, a Charizard came flying down on your direction with a saddle on its back. The Charizard landed right in front of Guzma, lowering its body. Guzma turned at you.
"You better stay out of my way." He warned you. "Team Skull is planning big things with Aether Foundation… Unless you want some debris to hit that pretty face of yours, you better fucking mind your own business from now on, Champion."
He hopped on the Charizard and both promptly took off. You hastily got on your feet.
"Wait! GUZMA!" You called out, reaching for Stonehead's Ball, but it was nowhere to be found. You were still in only your pajamas and didn't bother to bring your backpack along – all your Pokemon were at the Motel room.
You looked at the Charizard as it disappeared. You sighed. So much for a happy reunion.
The next day Kukui knocked on your bedroom door before you were up, saying he was takin
g the day to check on the constructions works of the Pokémon League in Ula'Ula Island. He thought you might want to tag along, so he dropped by the Motel in Route 2 before taking the ferry to Ula'Ula. Despite already having your fair share of Ula'Ula, back when you went to Po Town, you decided to go. You wanted to share last night's events with Kukui anyway.
"The Elite Four Quarters are going to be amazing!" He was talking his heart out excited about how things were coming off. "You see, we're trying to keep it all thematic like the other Leagues, so we're trying to make each room with the Trainer's Team type as their theme!"
You nodded more than answered throughout your conversation – Kukui was far too excited about the Pokemon League to try and maintain a proper dialogue. But you didn't mind, it felt good to see him so happy about something.
As you reached the Pokemon League Summit, you both decided to enter the Pokemon Center. Kukui forgot to mention how cold it was going to be up there, so you needed to gear up before you got frost bite. Good thing the Center was already up and running.
As you left the Mart area in a nice and warm set of coat and jeans, you looked for Kukui. He was sitting at a table near the Café area, having himself a nice hot drink. As he saw you, he chuckled.
"You look like a marshmallow." He said, pointing the cup in his hand at you.
"Oh, shut up." You replied. "I can't understand how YOU aren't cold."
You sat down on the chair in front of him.
"Want some?" He offered.
"Nah, I'm good."
"They have Roserade Tea here." He said. "Didn't you use to love that stuff?"
"Roserade Tea…" Yes. You used to love Roserade Tea. Everytime you three stopped by a Pokemon Center, you made sure to get a cup of the drink before leaving. Kukui and Guzma used to tease you about it since, to their child minds, it was an 'old-people-drink'. Maybe a cup wouldn't be so bad… Specially because it was cold.
"Yes, yes I want some!" You answered. Kukui smiled, turning to the bartender at the Café.
"Could we have a Roserade Tea over here, please!' He said. The bartender smiled and nodded, getting right to work. Since the path to the Pokemon League was still blocked and only the people working on its construction could access that Pokémon Center, the place was practically empty. Empty enough for the bartender serve us at our table.
Kukui's excitement about the Pokémon League had almost calmed down. Almost, because you could see him checking all the stuff he needed to do on a tablet he brought along. Things were calm enough for you to speak up.
"What do you know about Aether Foundation?" You asked him.
He looked up from his tablet, a bit of shock on his face.
"Where did you hear about them?" He asked.
The bartender came, placing your steaming tea in front of you. You adjusted yourself on your chair and quietly thanked the man. Kukui kept staring at you. As soon as the man made his way back to the Café, you continued.
"I met Guz last night." You answered.
Kukui straightened his back on the chair, slowlt raising an eyebrow at you.
"You went to Po Town again...?"
"No no, listen." You replied. "He came to his old house in Route 2. We met by accident."
Kukui frowned.
"And…?"
"Well, we talked…" You didn't think you needed to go into your conversation with Guzma so much. You actually didn't want to. Somehow, that exchange felt really private, so you decided to cut it short to where it mattered. "And he mentioned Team Skull teaming up with that Aether Foundation. Something about big things about to happen… You know anything about this Aether Foundation?"
A shadow crossed Kukui's expression for a moment. He stared down at his tablet with a worried expression, as if trying to figure something out.
You took the Roeserade Tea in your hands, taking a sip. Your eyes aware of Kukui's every moment. It tasted just like you remembered, but you couldn't quite savor the taste – the tension brewing in the air wouldn't allow it.
Suddenly, Kukui started to hastily type on his tablet. He would scroll up and down, type something out, scratch his beard in what seemed confusion and start the cycle again. Annoyed, you cleared your throat.
"Kukui, answer my question. What is Aether Foundation?" You said.
As if noticing for the first time, Kukui looked at you with concern.
"Well… They are an organization whose goal is to shelter and take care of hurt Pokémon." He answered in a sigh. "Specially from threats like Team Skull."
"Wait…" You said. "So, they're like Team Skull's antagonist?"
"Yeah, sorta like that." Kukui replied.
"That doesn't make any sense!" You said, placing your cup back on the table.
"Yeah, but that isn't exactly why this might be bad…" He said, looking back at his tablet. He started typing again, you sighed.
"So what's the deal…?" You tried asking.
"You'll understand it later. Right now, I need you to do something for me." He said, not looking up from the screen. "I need you to find Hau and the others."
You raised an eyebrow at him.
"Why?"
Kukui turned his gaze to you again.
"I need you to keep them safe." He said. "Team Skull and Aether Foundation might mean they are in danger, specially Lilie."
He went back to his tablet.
"Here, there's their location right now." He said, pointing at his screen. "If Skull and Aether are really teaming up, the kids will be in danger."
You took the tablet from his hands, taking a look at the location. They were still in Ula'Ula, so it wasn't far from where you were.
"Please, Mags." Kukui pleaded. "You're a way stronger trainer than I am."
You gave him back the tablet, nodding.
"Of course I will, it's Hala's grandson after all."
You drank the last of your Roserade Tea before turning to the exit, reaching out for Stonehead's Ball. You really hoped you wouldn't have to defend kids from Guzma.