After Alola
Chapter 7: The Ceremony
Note: Hi everyone! Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy. I do not own Pokemon.
"Faster, Faster!" The teenage boy cried out to the Tauros underneath him, who was panting hard as it bobbed and weaved with incredible speed, trying to evade its pursuer. Unfortunately, the attempt was futile.
With a well-placed Fire Blast, the Tauros was knocked off its course and onto its side, throwing the boy fifteen feet from the crash site. Luckily, he was wearing the necessary protective gear, preventing him from breaking multiple bones.
"Congratulations Mikey, you lasted a whole thirty seconds longer than the sixteen trainers before you." Blue praised the teenage boy, offering a hand to help him up. He couldn't help the twitch that tug at the corner of his mouth as the boy groaned in pain. Improvement hurts, get used to it kid.
"Did you have to hit us so hard?" The boy complained as he went to check on his Pokemon, who was slowly regaining his balance on all four limbs.
Blue rolled his eyes at that. "Tauros will be fine. Arcanine is the king of control. In fact, you should be thanking my Pokemon for only knocking your bull to the ground." At the mention of its name, Arcanine happily bounded over to the crash site, planting a slobbery kiss across Blue's face.
"Dude, gross." He sneered, and took the sleeve of the whining kid to wipe his face.
Blue could safely say that he was ready to go back home to Kanto. While being in Alola had been kick-ass because him and Red got to spend time with Moon, he missed the colder climate of his home region. He didn't mind the heat while he was enjoying the beach with his friends, but intense training under the Alolan sun was something he was looking forward to kissing goodbye.
Gramps called on Monday to let him know that he and Red were needed back home at the end of the week, something about the stirrings of a certain old organization that Blue thought was dead and buried. Blue was disappointed that he and Red didn't get as much time training the Battle Tree recruits as he wished, but they had really worked overtime to try to prepare them as much as they could.
Every morning at seven o'clock, Red's monster of a Charizard acted as the world's scariest alarm clock and all fifty of the recruits would stumble outside, releasing their Pokemon. Red and Blue would divide them up randomly and focus on particular aspects of training, such as speed, strength, focus, etc., then the groups would switch after lunch. After a thirty-minute break after dinner, the recruits would reconvene for a two-hour training period of offense and defense with limited visibility. While it was a grueling time, Blue was happy to report a dramatic increase in the recruit's abilities.
While he knew none of them could hold a flame to a Champion-level team, they were all on the right path towards improvement. After training with Red and Blue, he wouldn't be surprised if the recruits could give even Sabrina a run for her money. As he thought it, Blue felt a painful tug within his mind, and immediately kicked himself. I meant they could give Blaine, or Surge a run for their money. Blaine or Surge. The presence seemed content with his response, and left him alone.
Looking forward to seeing you too, dear. He mused to himself.
"Blue! Earth to Blue!" A familiar voice shook him from his mental conversation, and he turned to see a pair of bright cerulean eyes staring back into his.
XX
"Moon!" Blue cheered, wrapping Moon into a tight hug. She laughed at his clearing eyes, and knew that he was probably communicating with Sabrina somehow. Moon had always heard that she was one of the most powerful Psychics in the world, and couldn't wait to meet her one day. She also suspected that Blue was one of the only people whose iron will could stand up against Sabrina. They probably balanced each out well.
"It's great to see you! I'm really sad to hear that you and Red will be leaving today." Moon couldn't keep the disappointment out of her voice. Blue and Red had done wonders for the Battle Tree recruits while she was trying to settle into her role as Champion, and she was going to miss having their help, as well as their company.
"Aw, don't be upset Moon! We will see each other again soon, and it will be your turn to come visit Kanto!" Blue countered, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "I'm almost done with the Speed Evaluations, why don't you go check on Red and I will meet you inside for some lunch? He should be finishing up with the Strength Evaluations." Moon nodded her agreement, and left Blue alone to finish torturing the recruits.
She made her way around to the other side of the Battle Tree, enjoying the view along the way. The mammoth oak tree loomed over even the peak of the Vast Poni Canyon, and the charcoal-like exterior created an ominous vibe. While the tree itself wasn't scary by any means, the ancient olive colored vines wrapped around it seemed to demand respect and attention. All of this, along with the carved wooden columns at the entrance screamed a very clear message: Enter at Your Own Risk.
While the idea of the Battle Tree was relatively new, the builders intended it to be a place where only the strongest trainers of Alola could hone their skills. The location they decided on created the atmosphere for them, and now it was the League's job to make sure the trainers within the Battle Tree were strong enough to help protect Alola if ever needed.
Moon heard the second group of recruits before she saw them. She could hear the loud hoots and hollers, which she assumed were being used to cheer on whoever was being evaluated. When she turned the "corner," she found her suspicions were correct. A teenage girl, probably a year or two older than Moon, with a backwards blue cap, black yoga pants, and long-sleeve blue sweater was in the middle of the semi-circle crowd of recruits, jumping up and down excitedly to encourage her Machamp, who was lifting one of the giant boulders from Vast Poni Canyon.
The girl's Machamp grunted loudly as it threw the boulder forty feet towards a clearing. The crowd cheered, but stayed in place. Moon finally spotted Red making his way towards the boulder with Pikachu on his shoulder and a can of red paint in his hand. Once they made it to the boulder, Pikachu scurried off Red and dipped its tail into the paint, then traced a line into the grass to mark the distance. Red pulled out a clipboard from his backpack to write down the results, then cleaned Pikachu's tail off with a towel.
"Sarah, congratulations. Machamp has improved by at least twelve feet." Red announced in an even tone. The crowd cheered again, clapping Sarah on the back. Moon met Red over on the sidelines while the next recruit released his Pangoro.
"Hey Red! That Machamp is pretty impressive, huh?" Moon questioned while giving him a quick hug.
"I would say it's definitely improved. I wouldn't use the word "impressive" on any Pokemon that can't do that." Red assessed while directing Moon's attention to his Charizard, who picked up the boulder as if it was a pebble and placed it neatly into position in front of the Pangoro.
Moon just shook her head as she watched the crowd begin to cheer again. "I wish you didn't have to leave so soon. I'm not sure what to do with these recruits once you and Blue go back to Kanto." She expressed with a small smirk.
"If I know you-and I do, they are going to be wishing for the days Blue and I were here." He replied with a smile. Moon knew he was suggesting that she would be ruthless, and he was right. She needed a protection team ready to back up the League, and she wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than perfection. They wouldn't know what hit them.
"Jack is the last of my evaluations. After that, we can get some lunch."
While Pangoro didn't beat Machamp's distance, Moon was still impressed. Red said that it had improved by fifteen feet. Red gave a speech that was short and sweet, and dismissed the recruits for the weekend. Most of them returned their Pokemon and left quickly, but a few girls stuck around to chat with each other. Moon didn't really feel comfortable with the way their eyes darted back and forth between her and Red, so she ushered him inside.
The duo made their way into the small restaurant inside the Battle Tree (only to be used by League personnel) and found a table to wait for Blue, who joined them a few minutes later.
"Alright alright, all of my evaluations are finished, how about you Red?" Blue asked, settling into his wooden stool of a chair.
"All finished. Moon, all the paperwork will be waiting for you in the Champion's office. I think the recruits are off to a good start." Red informed her while pointing a finger towards the ceiling.
"Great, thanks guys!" She smiled back at the two. "When does your plane leave?"
Red reached around to give Pikachu a pat on the head and pulled out a piece of paper from his backpack. "Our itinerary says we need to be at the airport in Hau'oli City by two o'clock, and our plane will leave at three forty-five."
"Ugh, I hate airplanes." Blue groaned.
Moon rolled her eyes at that. "Blue, you guys are flying first-class. I think you will have a better experience than most. Plus, its way too far of a trip for your Pokemon to make."
Blue just grumbled under his breathe and ordered when the waitress came by.
"I wish you guys could stay a little longer, but I understand that duty calls. What exactly did Professor Oak say he needed you for?" Moon inquired.
"I really think its nothing, but Gramps sounded serious on the phone. He said that there have been a few reports of Team Rocket stirring up some trouble." Blue answered. "But, Red pretty much ran their entire organization into the ground a few years ago, so I'm not really worried."
"If Professor Oak wants us to check it out, then we will check it out. I haven't gotten a call from Lance, so it sounds like the League isn't too worried about it either." Red chimed in.
Moon just sighed. "Well I sure hope its nothing. I don't want you guys to be getting into any trouble."
The two boys shared a look and burst out laughing. "Moon, trouble is my middle name" Blue winked at her. "And nobody is getting past the two of us."
She smiled at their antics and tried to shake off the feeling that something was wrong. She knew that Red was probably one the most powerful trainers in the world right now, but after the Ultra Beast situation, she realized that there are forces out there that are difficult to understand. Moon just wanted her friends to be safe.
As the trio finished their meal, they reminisced on their time back in Pallet Town. The three of them had all come so far, and she was beyond happy she got to see them after so long.
"I think I need to leave to let you guys pack, because if I know you-and I do, it means that you haven't even started yet." She told them with a wink, to which they each gave her a guilty look.
"I'm going to miss you Moon. Come see us soon, okay? Sabrina would love to meet you." Blue mused, wrapping her into a tight hug.
Moon nodded her head against his chest, and tried to hold onto the moment. Blue stepped back and let Red take his place. Red and Moon were silent for a few seconds before Moon said, "Keep Blue in check for me." Red chuckled before releasing her.
"You bet. And Gladion seems like a good guy. Call us if you need anything, okay?" He said with a serious expression.
Moon felt her face flush at the mention of Gladion, but nodded her head. "Have a safe flight. I will see you soon!" She gave them both a wink before turning on her heel and heading out of the Battle Tree.
XX
Moon sipped her coffee and enjoyed the mixture of darkening colors of the sky while sitting in an outdoor café in Hau'oli City. Professor Kukui and Gladion sat across from her discussing a research something-or-another. To be honest, Moon had completely zoned out while watching the sky for planes.
May and Brendan were due to arrive in Hau'oli City in ten minutes, and Moon could barely contain her excitement, causing her pokeballs to wriggle as they fed off her emotions. Moon had studied every region extensively during her time waiting to become a Pokemon trainer, and Hoenn had stood out as the top region she would want to visit one day.
She knew that the pokemon Bagon had originated from Hoenn, and Moon was interested to see how Smaug compared to its far-away family. Other than her personal connection, she was extremely interested in the legendary Pokemon originating from each region, and Hoenn was home to Groudon and Kyogre. Well, "home" was a relative term. Of course, no one alive had actually seen the beasts, but there were primal cave paintings found in a town called Dewford that Moon had read extensively on. Besides that, Moon was more excited to see what Pokemon May and Brendan owned, and if they each owned a Pokedex.
"Moon, are you with us?" a voice asked next to her.
She blinked away her train of thought and focused on Gladion. "You bet. I'm just excited for them to get here."
He gave her a small, knowing smile. "I know you are looking forward to seeing what Pokemon they have. But before we corner them with a battle, maybe we can have dinner first at Aether Paradise. They need the weekend to settle in before going to work."
She rolled her eyes in response. "I know I know. But before we go to work, we should have some fun too!"
"Fun should always come before work, I always say!" Professor Kukui chimed in.
Moon chuckled before noticing the small plane entering the city limits. "Hey, look! There it is!"
The trio let the waiter take their empty coffee mugs and headed off towards the airport. Hau'oli City was the only place in Alola with an airport, besides the private hanger at the Aether Foundation. With one terminal, and a total of four gates, Melemele Islands' International airport wasn't exactly what you would call "big."
Thankfully, that meant it was nice and easy to spot May and Brendan as they came down the escalator towards the single baggage claim carousel. They each looked to be around her same age, Moon noticed in relief. May had on short white shorts with black biker spandex underneath, with a tight black and red tank top on. She sported a green and white bandana over her brunette mane that matched a fanny pack that she wore around her waist. May was a little shorter than Moon was, but seemed to make up for it in spunk. She bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet as they made their way down the escalator.
Brendan was a lot more calm, and was noticeably trying to get May involved in whatever conversation he thought they were having. He looked to be around the same height as Gladion and wore black and grey shorts with a grey shirt to match underneath a sporty red and white athletes jacket. His white cap had a green streak that matched his shouldered backpack.
Once they reached the bottom floor, Moon, Gladion, and Professor Kukui made their way over to them.
"May and Brendan?" Professor Kukui asked, holding out a hand for them to shake.
"Yes sir, you must be Professor Kukui. It's great to meet you sir." Brendan replied while shaking the offered hand.
"Yes sir, thank you so much for having us." May responded, shaking his hand as well.
"Welcome to Alola! Let me introduce you to Moon, Champion of Alola, and Gladion, President of the Aether Foundation."
"Future president, but it's great to meet you both." Gladion cut in, shooting an eye towards the Professor.
Once the introductions were complete, we showed them towards the carousel to wait for their bags.
"How was your trip?" Moon asked.
"Fine, thank you. Traveling first-class is very exciting!" May replied with twinkling eyes, and Moon got the idea it was probably her first time.
"Yeah, it was great until you started snoring. Woke up the whole plane." Brendan joked, effectively earning himself a punch in the arm.
"Anyway, I hope its okay that we brought a lot of luggage. It sounded like we are going to be here for a while, so I didn't want to forget anything…" she muttered as five giant suitcases made their way towards the group.
"By the way-only one of those is mine." Brendan snorted. Professor Kukui and Gladion gave each other wide-eyed looks, and everyone each took a turn grabbing a suitcase from the carousel.
Once they had dragged the insane amount of luggage outside, Professor Kukui released an Alakazam. "Alakazam here will transport us to the Aether Foundation, where we can drop off your suitcases." In a bright flash of light, the group was seamlessly transported to the entrance of Gladion's mansion.
"Woah, Professor, that was a smooth Teleport!" Brendan marveled.
"Thanks Brendan, Alakazam is the official League transporter, if you happen to prefer it to flying." He explained, shooting a look towards Moon.
"Anyway, here we are. Come on in." Gladion interrupted, leading them inside. Moon could hear May and Brendan gasp in surprise, but she was trying to contain her own wonder. She had been here plenty of times before, but Moon never got tired of the view.
They were standing in a massive white marble foyer with columns aesthetically placed around the room. A set of mahogany double doors were placed on either side of them, leading to the impressive library to the west and to the kitchen and master dining room to the east. Past the double doors were two grand staircases, each leading to a separate wing for guest rooms. On the far end of the foyer was a set of mahogany double doors under an archway. Intricate forged metal encased each side of the doors, giving the impression of a medieval time period. Above them hung an antique masterpiece of a chandelier, which brought crystal-like streams of light into the foyer.
Moon loved it here.
"Gladion…this is just…wow…" May mumbled, taking everything in.
Gladion coughed uncomfortably, "Uh, thanks. May, you have a suite prepared in the East Wing, and Brendan in the West Wing. Mrs. Wicke and Heidi will show you to your rooms." At the mention of their names, the women each appeared from the dining hall with an Abra at each of their sides. They gave a short bow in greeting, then instructed the Abras to teleport May and Brendan's luggage to their rooms.
"This way, Miss May." Heidi called, leading May up towards the East Wing, and Miss Wicke leading Brendan towards the West Wing.
"Gladion, what exactly are you going to do with all of this space?" Professor Kukui asked with a hint of awe in his voice.
He just shrugged. Moon knew Gladion didn't really like being here if he could help it. There was just so much space for one person, and it just reminded him of how his family was no longer there to occupy it.
"I'm just hoping that one day I won't be the only one living here." He muttered, trying not to make eye contact with Moon. Her face flushed and she suddenly because very interested in the artwork hanging on the walls.
"Man, this place is just awesome! Thank you so much Gladion for letting us stay here!" Brendan's voice rung out, breaking the tension. Him and May bounded down the steps at the same time, meeting in the middle on the marble floor. Moon noticed they shared a familiar look before meeting them in the foyer.
"You are very welcome. If you'll excuse me, I need to go check on dinner." Gladion told them and slipped behind the door that led to the dining room.
Before Moon could stop herself, she asked, "So, guys, what kind of Pokemon do you have?" The Professor laughed while May and Brendan's eyes flashed with excitement.
"Well I have-"May began.
"The first course is served. Please convene to the dining room." Miss Wicke announced, holding the doors open for the group.
Moon winked at May, "Later."
The dining room table could easily fit twenty-five people, but Gladion motioned for them to join him towards the side closest to the windows. May and Brendan walked around towards the other side, and Brendan took a seat next to Gladion with May next to him. Opposite the newcomers, Professor Kukui took his seat two chairs down from Gladion's, and Gladion pulled out Moon's chair for her before taking his spot at the head of the table. Mood saw May lightly smack Brendan in the arm and motion towards Gladion as if saying, "Dude, why can't you be a gentleman like him?"
Once they were settled, five servers came around to fill their glasses with water before bringing out a small bowl of steaming soup that smelled delicious. As they dug in, Moon spoke up. "Gladion, May and Brendan were just going to tell me what Pokemon each of them had."
"Oh yes! I would love to hear what kind of Pokemon you each have been training." Gladion responded, sounding like an excited kid.
"Me first!" May squealed, shushing Brendan. "My starter was Torchic, who is now Blaziken. Then I have a Raichu, Wailord, Breloom, and Swellow!"
"Mudkip was my starter, who's now a Swampert. I also have a Macargo, Manectric, Roselia, and Slaking!" Brendan finished.
Moon was beyond herself with glee. She loved the three Hoenn starters, and she had the chance to see two of their fully evolved forms in person! "How cool! I can't wait to meet them!"
"Yes, me neither. Maybe after dinner we can have a meet and greet with all of our Pokemon before bed." Gladion suggested.
"That would be so cool! I've always wanted to meet a Champion level team!" Brendan gushed, making the heat in Moon's face rise.
"Hehe, yeah sure!" She said nervously, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment. The gesture made her remember that they were missing someone.
"Oh! Gladion, let's call Hau after dinner and tell him to meet us here too. I think he should be done with Hala by then."
Gladion nodded and turned towards May. "Hau is one of Moon's best friends. He has a Raichu also, so I'm sure they would get along great."
May gasped, "An Alolan Raichu? Oh, I've always wanted to meet one!"
"Then today is your lucky day." Moon responded with a wink.
Once the group was finished with their first course, the servers came to clear their plates and place the main course in front of them.
"This smells delicious!" Brendan exclaimed before digging in.
During dinner, Professor Kukui asked questions about the newcomers lives in Hoenn. May and Brendan were both from a small town called New Bark Town. Brendan's father was Pokemon Professor Birch, and the two of them worked as traveling research assistants for him. Moon's father was a gym leader in Petalburg, and he took Brendan under his wing to help train his Slaking. While Brendan was an avid battler, May focused on Pokemon Contests.
"That sounds so exciting! I always wondered what one is like." Moon said.
"They are actually pretty cool, and May is really, really good." Brendan observed, and May glowed with pride at the compliment.
"It's sort of my niche. I can never seem to beat Brendan in a battle though, he's so good! He almost made it through the Elite Four his first year as a trainer!" May gushed, causing Brendan to turn bright red.
"Yeah…Phoebe and her Ghost types crushed me. But we will try again eventually." Brendan muttered, a little embarrassed at the attention.
Once dessert was finished, Moon excused herself to call Hau on her Rotom Dex, and confirmed that he would meet them outside in ten minutes. Back in the dining room, she joined in the conversation about Alola, promising to take them on a tour tomorrow.
Miss Wicke appeared to inform them that Hau had arrived outside. When they went out to meet him, he was finishing up on a call.
"Yeah, yeah! I'll let them know you said hi. I'll tell Moon to call you tomorrow. Uh..yeah…I miss you too Lillie. Bye!" he mumbled, hoping his companions wouldn't hear.
Gladion crossed his arms in an angry fashion. "What do you think you're doing telling my sister that you miss her?"
Hau's face turned bright red as he stuttered, "I-I-I d-d-don't kn-o-ow…."
Gladion's entire demeanor changed as a grin swept across his face and he clapped Hau on the back. "I'm just messing with you. How is she doing?"
Hau let out a sigh of visible relief. "Don't scare me like that, man! She's doing good. She says that Bill is a little strange, but she thinks he will be able to help Lusamine."
Gladion's left eye twitched at the mention of his mother, but he nodded a response. Moon picked up on the tension and quickly tried to change the subject.
"May, Brendan, this is Hau! Interm-Kahuna of Melemele Island, and one of my best friends." She introduced.
Hau shook both of their hands and transitioned into his overenergetic self again. "I heard you guys are from Hoenn! I'm dying to see your Pokemon!"
They all chuckled, and Brendan said, "You bet! Come on out guys!" and released his Pokemon onto the empty space next to him. May was next, "Yay! Let's go!" and released hers as well.
Hau, Gladion, and finally Moon followed suit, and before they knew it, twenty-four powerful Pokemon surrounded them outside of Gladion's mansion. May and Moon kept Wailord and Lunala inside their pokeballs for obvious reasons, but promised to show them off later.
"What a great looking group of Pokemon you all have there! I am looking forward to spending some time with them all at a later date. I'm afraid I have to head back home to my wife, but I will see you all on Monday!" Professor Kukui bid them all farewell and released Alakazam before disappearing in a flash of light.
Hau, Gladion, and Moon introduced their Pokemon to May and Brendan's and let them be. Marowak and Silvally stuck close to Moon and Gladion's sides, but other than that all their Pokemon seemed to be fairly social.
Moon observed that Primarina seemed to be extremely interested in Brendan's Swampert, while Hau and May's Raichu chattered away with Brendan's Manectric. Gladion's Crobat and Weavile were trying to torture/wake up Hau's Komala and Brendan's Slaking who had fallen asleep immediately off to the side. May's Blaziken and Gladion's Lucario were exchanging soft blows of fighting techniques, while Vikavolt buzzed around a huddle of Hau's Leafeon, Brendan's Roselia, and May's Breloom.
Moon wasn't surprised that Smaug and Hau's Incineroar grumbled menacingly at Gladion's Porygon-Z, who aimlessly floated around the duo. They weren't exactly the most social creatures. She was thankful that Dugtrio could make friends with anyone, as evidence by its happy coos to May's Swellow and Gladion's Crabonable.
All in all, Moon decided that the meeting went over with flying colors. May gushed over each of their Pokemon's shiny coats, describing the excellent condition they were in. Brendan was slowly trying to inch his way over to Smaug and Incineroar to get a better look at the beasts, while Hau and Gladion calmly chatted away next to Lucario and Blaziken.
"Moon, you must think about entering Primarina into a Pokemon Contest. I'm sure you guys could run circles around anyone in the Normal Rank!" May beamed, patting a very pleased Primarina.
"If I ever visit Hoenn, I might have to do that! I'm sure we could come up with a killer routine!" Moon responded, letting the idea blossom in her head. She would visit one day, but they would need to be ready.
The group carried on like that for a little while longer before Moon couldn't help but let out a yawn. Gladion wrapped his arm around Moon's shoulder and asked, "Getting a little tired, huh? I think that's our cue to head to bed."
"Sorry guys, it's been a really long week, and I'm a wimp when it comes to staying up late. I promise that we can go on a tour of Alola tomorrow though." Moon mumbled, trying to keep the yawning to a minimum.
"Yay! I can't wait to explore!" May let out an excited squeal before returning her Pokemon in a flash of scarlet light.
"Sounds good. We will see you tomorrow." Brendan nodded before returning his Pokemon as well.
"Go ahead in, guys. I'm just going to say goodnight to Moon." Gladion motioned for the newcomers to go inside without him. He returned his Pokemon as well and wrapped Moon in a tight hug. "Goodnight, Moon." He whispered, giving her a swift kiss on the lips before heading inside.
"Oh sure, no goodbye for me!" Hau complained before a look from Gladion shut him up. Hau returned his Pokemon and turned to Moon. "Hehe, mind if I catch a ride back to Melemele Island?"
Moon shook her head and returned everyone except for Smaug. "Climb on up, buddy!" The duo held on tight while Moon's dragon took off into the night.
XX
Six months later…
"Five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Happy New Year!"
Cheers, hoops, and hollers resounded throughout the decorated foyer of the mansion as the crowd watched the New Year's Eve Ball Drop in Lumiose City in Kalos from the big screen above the grand doors leading to Gladion's room.
Moon was almost as energetic as Hau tonight, which was probably thanks to the three glasses of champagne she had just downed. As she watched the joyful crowd celebrate around her, she couldn't help but think back to all the great things that had occurred over the past six months…
After working extensively with the Ultra Recon Squad, the League and the Aether Foundation had finally discovered the specific type of light energy Necrozma was attracted to. It's funny, the break in the case came about two months ago when Moon had dropped by to check-in on the research after a Z-Move training session with the Battle Tree recruits.
While the normal Alola trainer owned one or two, Moon held seventeen Z-Crystals. Moon was very protective over her them, and normally kept the crystals in a vault within the League for safe-keeping when they weren't draped around her Pokemon's neck. However, after a training session out on Poni Island, she had them on her person. As soon as she stepped through the double doors in the lab area, the Ultra Recon Squad's radar equipment from Ultra Megalopolis sounded off like an angry Noivern.
After testing and researching the Z-Crystals, they discovered a strange connection with Necrozma. The Prism Pokemon, as the locals from Ultra Megalopolis called it, shared an incredible amount of properties with the energy radiating from the crystals. They hypothesized that when Necrozma awoke, they could potentially lure it to a specific spot in Alola, rather than it popping up somewhere random and terrorizing the people there.
After some thought, Moon decided the best place for Necrozma to appear would be the Alter of the Moone on Poni Island. For one, the island was the least populated, and the alter itself was miles away from the Seafolk Village. The researchers from the Aether Foundation discovered it was the ideal spot for a wormhole to appear as well. Something about physics this and physics that, Moon wasn't particularly interested in the how or why. She just wanted to know when.
When was a super-powered Pokemon from another dimension going to awake after completely absorbing the light from a world where people and Pokemon flourished together? It was only a matter of time, and she had to be prepared to protect Alola from whatever challenge Necrozma would bring.
However, the Necrozma project was not the only research that was being completed. May and Brendan continued to work side by side with researchers from the Aether Foundation on the study of regional variances of Pokemon found in Alola. One of Moon's favorite places to visit in Alola was the Conservation Area, where all the Pokemon participating in their study could be found. She loved how closely each one of the Pokemon were looked after, and any residual fear of Lusamine's treatment of Pokemon was wiped away.
Moon smiled as she remembered May and Brendan's attempt at a date a few months ago. While May was bright and excited, Brendan was nervous and downcast. They had been friends since they were kids, and trying to transition into a relationship was a lot harder than they thought. Eventually, they decided they worked better as friends.
Moon honestly couldn't say that she was surprised. Brendan had never seemed comfortable with the idea, and she thought he was trying to force his feelings so that he wouldn't hurt May. But, it all worked out in the end. May was disappointed at first, but Moon encouraged her to just be herself, and to move past this little bump in the road. It took a few weeks, but May and Brendan returned to being friends and working together smoothly.
Speaking of relationships, apparently Hau and Lillie were still going strong. The thought of her best friends so happy warmed Moon to the core. While it was hard living so far apart, she knew that they talked every day, and that Lillie was planning on visiting Alola soon. Lillie was happy that her mother was showing signs of improvement, albeit small.
Red and Blue had taken it upon themselves to look after Lillie, considering she was Moon's best friend. Lillie wasn't used to the attention, but they had set her up with her own Pokemon, a Clefairy. From there, Lillie had caught a cute Nidoran and Poliwag. Moon was over the top excited that her friend was training and developing her own team of Pokemon. Lillie was no longer the shy, defenseless girl who relied on others to protect her. She was becoming her own woman, and Moon knew that Hau would treat her the way she deserved to be treated.
And then there was Gladion.
Her now full-blown boyfriend was making his way through the crowd. Once he reached her, Gladion scooped Moon into his arms and twirled her around, effectively clearing enough space for the two of them. "Happy New Year, Moon." He told her before planting a soft kiss on her lips.
"It will be the best one yet. All thanks to you." She replied sweetly, reaching her arms around his neck and pushing her forehead against his. Moon wanted to relish in the moment, remembering every second they had spent together over the past six months.
Tomorrow, everything would change. Gladion would officially be named as President of the Aether Foundation, and his duties and responsibilities would increase three-fold. Moon had begun to worry about the amount of time they would be able to spend together, but Gladion never gave any indication that he shared her concern, which she found comforting.
Moon had worked with Miss Wicke for weeks to plan a special ceremony for Gladion tomorrow. The massive garden that served as the connector between the Aether Foundation's building and Gladion's mansion would be able to hold all the Aether employees, along with a massive stage set for a press conference. She had arranged for all the League members to attend the ceremony, as well as every news outlet in Alola.
"Happy New Year, guys! I can't wait to see what it has in store for us!" Hau cheered, shaking Moon from her thoughts about tomorrow.
Gladion and Hau raised their glasses to toast. "Moon, did you see who made it?" he asked, pointing towards a pair of trainers chatting away, their eyes darting towards Moon every now and then.
She rolled her eyes. Out of the ten trainers who had completed their Island Challenge within the last six months, two had made it past the Elite Four and challenged Moon for the title of Champion. Neither of them had gotten past Marowak, and they didn't exactly take the loss well.
"Ace Trainer" Joel and "Rising Star" Dylan huddled together before pushing their way through the crowd towards Moon.
"Joel, Dylan." Moon nodded a greeting.
"Happy New Year, Champion Moon." Dylan responded venomously with a tight lip.
"Enjoy your time as Champion while it lasts. New Year, new me. You won't know what hit you when we come for you." Joel hissed while puffing his chest out.
Gladion's eyes darkened at Joel's threat, and he tightened his grip around Moon's waist. "This is my house, and if you can't learn to treat your Champion, and my girlfriend, with respect, then get out. Now."
Their eye's widened at Gladion's expression, and they mumbled an apology under their breath before turning on their heels towards the door. Moon stepped out of Gladion's tense embrace to look him in the eye.
"I could have handled that, you know." She told him with a smile playing at her lips.
He didn't return her gaze until he watched the boys slip out the door. "I know. But nobody talks to my girlfriend that way."
"Way to scare the pants off those guys, dude!" Hau cheered, patting Gladion on the back.
He just rolled his eyes in response. "Let's find the others, and get a drink. We've got a lot to celebrate."
Moon shot Gladion a wide grin and gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. "Lead the way." He offered her his hand, nodded towards Hau, and led them towards their friends.
XX
Moon's alarm clock shook her awake as the sun was beginning to rise. She groaned in exhaustion, rubbed her eyes, and tried to find her bearings. She was back in her room at home on Melemele Island with Marowak still sleeping beside her.
She slipped on her running shorts and shoes and slipped out the door. As Moon tore through her usual route, she ran through a mental checklist of what she needed to get done before Gladion's ceremony. She needed to brief a few of the Battle Tree recruits she enlisted in acting as security today, and check-in on the projects going on at the Aether Foundation.
Moon tried to shake a sense of dread that passed through her. From the communications the Ultra Recon Squad had with their people from Ultra Megalopolis, Necrozma was slowly stirring. Moon thought they had a little bit more time to prepare, but she knew a battle was coming soon.
As she rounded the corner leading back to her house, she noticed her mom standing outside waiting for her.
"Mom?" Moon asked, confused as to why her mother was awake at this hour.
"Honey, Professor Kukui called on Rotom. He asked for you to head to the lab area of the Aether Foundation as soon as you can." She sounded a little worried, and Moon couldn't blame her. The Professor never called this early.
"Okay, thanks Mom. I'm going to take a quick shower then head over there." Moon took the stairs two at a time and returned Marowak in a bright flash of scarlet light before heading into the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, she was showered and dressed. She decided to go with her light jean shorts with her red and black blouse. Since Moon didn't have time to fix her hair, she threw on her stupidly expensive white hat with a red ribbon tied around it to match her shirt.
"Bye Mom! I'll see you there later!" She called out before closing the front door behind her.
Miss Wicke was waiting for her as Smaug touched down by the docks of Aether Paradise. "Champion Moon, I was asked to escort you to the lab area as soon as you arrived." That sense of dread appeared in the pit of Moon's stomach again as she followed Miss Wicke down the elevator. What is going on?
It was chaos when Moon entered through the lab doors. Fifteen researchers were rushing around the room, scanning through book after book. Psycho and Soliera were huddled around a set of three computer monitors while Dulse and Zossie whispered in hushed tones with Professor Kukui. When he noticed Moon, he ushered her over to them.
"Professor, what in the world is going on?" He exchanged nervous glances with his companions and turned towards Moon.
"Well…early this morning, Psycho received a message from Ultra Megalopolis. Necrozma has been showing increased levels of activity. But it doesn't seem to be fully awake yet."
"We can just be prepared, right? After the ceremony today, we can head to the Alter of the Moone and get set up." She expressed, the knot in her stomach getting tighter and tighter.
He gave her a grave look. "There is something else you need to know, Moon. In an attempt to gather more information, the Squad operating at their home base used a Pokemon called Poipole to get close to the beast. Poipole was about fifteen feet from Necrozma when a flash of light enveloped the area. Poipole was gone when the light dimmed."
She tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean, it was gone? Where did it go?"
Psycho stepped in then, "As far as we can tell, the Prism Pokemon absorbed the light from Poipole, and infused it within itself."
It did WHAT?
"Are you telling me that Necrozma has the ability to fuse with other Pokemon? Or absorb them completely?" She asked, completely dumbfounded.
Professor Kukui placed a hand on her shoulder. "That is the current hypothesis. We are frantically looking for any mention of any record of a Pokemon fusing with another to try to get our heads wrapped around this. If its happened before, maybe it has also been separated."
Moon's mind raced, trying to recall anything about Pokemon fusion. She groaned when she came up with nothing. Maybe her friends had heard of something like that.
"Professor, I am going to make a few calls. I'll see if I can come up with anything." Moon left the lab area and called Gladion on her way up to the Conservation Area.
"Hey Moon-"
"Gladion, I'm on my way up. Please find May and Brendan for me. It's important." She hung up as soon as she got the request out. This was something you could only discuss in person.
Once she recited the Ultra Recon Squad's findings, her friends all broke out in panic at once.
"Are you kidding-"
"How in the world does that-"
"How can we stop-"
"What do we-"
She held up her hands and waited for them to get their frustrations out. "Guys, we are trying to figure out a way to prepare for this. We don't even know if Necrozma will try to do something like that. But we are looking for any proof of one Pokemon fusing with another. Have you heard of anything like that?"
Her heart sank when each one of them shook their heads. Gladion pulled her into a tight hug. "It's going to be okay, Moon." She struggled to believe him.
He released her, but stayed close. "Hey, why don't you call Red and Blue? Maybe they know something." Moon nodded her head and tried to look optimistic.
"I'll let you guys know if I find anything. Try not to worry about it until after the ceremony though." She tightened her hold on Gladion's hand before letting go and heading back down the elevator.
Red picked up on the first ring. "Moon."
She couldn't help but smile at his official greeting. "Red, I have a problem here. Have you ever heard of a Pokemon fusing together with another Pokemon?"
He was quiet for a second. "Has something happened?"
"Well, not yet. Not here anyway. More of a preemptive measure."
"I might have heard something about that happening in the Kalos region. Let me make a few calls."
Moon's heart pounded with possible relief. "Thanks Red. How are things in Kanto? What did your investigation into Team Rocket produce?"
Red sighed. "They are definitely back. But something is strange about their return. I've seen reports of them popping up in Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Kalos. It doesn't make sense for them to be able to travel so quickly."
The sense of dread Moon had been feeling all morning spread throughout her stomach. "Something is happening Red. I can feel it."
Red was quiet for another few seconds. "We will fight whatever is coming. I'll get back to you once I make a few calls." The line went dead.
Moon went back to lab area to let Professor Kukui know that she might have a lead. "Once he calls me back, I will let you know. Until then, I need to go to the Battle Tree. It will keep me busy."
She bid him farewell and released Smaug by the docks. Her faithful dragon roared its greeting, and her tension released a bit. Being close to her Pokemon always made her feel better. She checked the time, Eight-fifteen. If she hurried, she could spend some time at Poke Pelago before the ceremony.
Moon knew that she should probably stay close in case something happened, but she needed some time to prepare with her Pokemon. She climbed onto Smaug's back and raced towards Poni Island.
As she approached the Battle Tree, a group of ten recruits stood in formation. She would keep this brief.
"Recruits. My time is limited. I want you to arrive at Aether Paradise at eleven on the dot. Keep the crowd far enough away from the stage, and make sure nobody tries any funny is my boyfriend up there, and if anything happens to him, I will hold you personally responsible."
She allowed herself a mental smile when she saw the recruits flinch. When she took over the training from Red and Blue, she was limited in time. Due to her responsibilities as Champion, she could only train the recruits on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Friday mornings. However, this didn't mean that her training regimen was any less difficult than Red and Blue's-more so, in fact.
After her morning runs, she would fly over to the Battle Tree to begin the day. She didn't want the recruits to miss being woken up by a dragon on training mornings after all. Battle and battle strategy were her main focus. She believed you learned the best through experience, and competing in a real-life battle scenario against a Champion-level team was the best experience she could think of.
She felt a rush of pride as she thought of how far each of them had come. Red and Blue would be proud.
"Dismissed. Don't forget-keep him safe." She warned before climbing back onto Smaug.
"Let's go see Mohn, okay buddy?" Smaug roared in agreement and took off towards the bright, blue ocean.
XX
"Moon! It Is wonderful to see you. Your Pokemon sure are excited to see you." Moon gave her dear friend a tight hug.
Moon discovered this string of small islands while on a lazy flight with Smaug. She hadn't been going anywhere in particular, and was enjoying having Vikavolt buzz around her while the sun began to set. In the corner of her eye she had caught movement on the main island below them.
Smaug almost scared the daylights out of the strange man who was hammering together a few pieces of driftwood. Mohn had wild blonde hair that was covered by a thin straw hat, and his clear green eyes made her immediately feel at home. Of course, she had offered to bring him back to where he came from, but his eyes would fog over and he would get confused, so she just dropped it. If he was happy here on these islands, then she would let him be.
Even after spending only a few minutes with Mohn, Moon could tell that he was a good man. She offered to help him build a home here, which he was delighted for the help. Every week, she would bring Mohn more and more supplies such as wood, food, water, etc. It was only after he began planting a garden on one of the islands that she realized he was smart enough to survive on his own. However, she didn't enjoy the fact that he was out here all by himself, so she offered to leave a few of her Pokemon that she had caught there to keep him company.
He was wonderful with her Pokemon. Mohn had built play structures for her Pokemon to enjoy, and with the help of her Pokemon planted berries and trees that grew pokebeans, created a make-shift Pokemon spa, and prepared trails for her Pokemon to explore inside of a cave. They had grown quite close, and both Mohn and Moon enjoyed her weekly visits.
"Its great to see you too. I just needed a place to get my bearings…" she muttered, failing to make eye contact with him.
"Hey, Hey. What's wrong?" he asked with worried eyes.
"Somethings coming. A Pokemon that is ten times more powerful than we originally thought is going to come and threaten Alola, and I don't know if I will be able to stop it. Also, I have a bad feeling that something else is going on. I'm scared." Moon felt tears prickle at the edges of her eyes.
"Well, that does sound pretty scary. But you are a strong girl, Moon. I know that you won't rest until Alola is safe." He comforted her, wiping a fallen tear from her face.
"But Mohn, this is dealing with wormholes and different worlds, and I don't understand the first thing about any of that!" She cried, shaking off his hand. Moon immediately felt guilty when she saw the fog returning to his eyes.
"Oh no, Mohn, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to yell. Can I just see my Pokemon before I have to go back?"
The fog began to clear again, but the shocked look on his face remained. "Uh..yes. Please, excuse me."
That was weird, she thought to herself.
She tried shaking off the nerves and released all six of her Pokemon. They each chittered their hello before running off to find their friends. Moon tried to take her time to say hi to each of the Pokemon she kept here at Poke Pelgao, as she and Mohn called it. There was only a total of twenty-two, not counting her party Pokemon. Each one was dear to her heart, but they were more comfortable here than with her.
As she made her rounds, Lunala stayed close by, which was different. Lunala normally was the first to go find the friends it had made while it was a Cosmog, but today it hovered directly above her protectively. The sense of dread she was feeling completely washed over her as she remembered Lunala's connection to other worlds. Moon knew that it can create wormholes to other worlds, although she had never tried it out. It was just too weird to think about.
Lunala can sense something is wrong. How am I going to fix this? Moon sat next to her Poliwhirl and Growlithe and placed her face in her hands.
While she was wallowing, Rotom started buzzing. "Bzzzzzt. You are getting a call from Red, Moon!" She instantly snapped out of it and yelled, "Answer!"
Red's intense face appeared on the small screen in front of her. "Moon. I found what you were looking for."
Moon almost fainted she was so relieved. "That's great! Details."
"A trainer named White encountered a Pokemon in the Kalos region who could fuse together with another thanks to something called the 'DNA Splicers.' When she defeated the Pokemon, it didn't have the energy to hold the fusion in place."
She thought about what Red told her for a few seconds. "Red, send me White's contact information. I want her here. Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Moon, what is going on?" Red asked, concerned.
"Something bad. I don't know when it will happen though."
"Blue and I will be on the first plane out."
"Wait, Red no! You both have responsibilities in Kanto!" she argued.
"I have a feeling these things are connected, Moon. Stay safe until we get there." With that, the line abruptly went dead. Well, at least she now had some answers. She dialed Professor Kukui right away and relayed the message.
"I am going to forward you White's contact information. Do whatever you need to do to get her on a plane to Alola. Make sure she has those DNA Splicers, we need to do some research on them."
When she hung up, Moon whistled for her team to join her. "Alright guys, its time to go wish Gladion good luck. After that, be ready for a tough battle, okay? I believe in you." Her Pokemon roared their agreement, and disappeared in a bright scarlet light.
Moon turned to find Mohn still sitting in his raft hut looking confused. "Mohn...are you okay? I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier."
He looked up at her, and the fog seemed to clear away. "No no, that's quite alright Moon. It's just something you said seemed to jog a faint memory. It will take me some time to sort it out. Don't worry about me though, go on and save Alola-again!" He gave her a tight hug and sent her on her way.
Moon couldn't help but wonder what was going through his head as she flew back towards Aether Paradise. She made a note to visit again soon to see if he remembered anything about his past.
XX
Thirty minutes later, Moon touched down at the docks, where Miss Wicke was waiting for her. She gave a short bow and let Wicke lead her to her boyfriend. "The Professor would like for me to inform you that he successfully contacted Grand Duchess White. She and her boyfriend, Master N, will arrive in Hau'oli City tomorrow at two-thirty p.m."
She let out a sigh of relief. "That's great. Thanks Miss Wicke."
Miss Wicke opened the doors of Gladion's mansion for her, and she slipped in. Moon knocked on his bedroom door and waited to be invited in. She was still intimidated by this place, and wasn't ready to start opening doors willy-nilly.
The grand doors swung open and she was pulled into the room. She was about to protest, but the sight of her boyfriend took Moon's breath away.
Gladion was dressed in sharp black slacks and expensive dress shoes. The sleeves of his fresh white shirt were rolled up twice, and his collar was popped as he attempted to tighten his tie. Moon's heart fluttered as she realized his tie matched the color of her eyes. Gladion's blonde hair had grown out a little since his last haircut, so it was gelled back neatly. All in all, he looked like a million bucks.
He was never one to flaunt how much money he had, and the way he dressed was no exception. His normal attire consisted of regular jeans and his favorite black hoodie. Moon never really cared about the way he dressed, but she could definitely get used to this.
"Enjoying the view?" He asked confidently with a smirk on his face. Moon would normally roll her eyes at that comment, but she just walked over and began helping him fix his tie.
"I think you look great Gladion." She replied shyly. He tipped her chin towards him so that she was forced to look him in the eyes.
"You look beautiful. I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you." He met his lips with hers, and she deepened the kiss. When the two broke apart, both were panting hard.
"You're killing me. I'm supposed to give a speech in ten minutes and my entire mind just went blank." Gladion growled, tucking a stray hair behind Moon's ear.
"Then I better not distract you anymore." She said with a wink. "You will be great. You deserve this, and I can't wait to see how things turn out."
Before Moon could turn towards the door, Gladion grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms. "Moon…I…Before I go out there..I just wanted to say…" he started nervously.
"What is it?" She asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I love you."
Moon's eyes widened, but she didn't miss a beat. "I love you too." They stared at each other for a second before breaking out into wide smiles. Moon had known how she felt for a long time, but was waiting for Gladion to say it first. Now that he had, she couldn't be happier.
He gave her another deep kiss before releasing her. "Now that that's settled, I have a Foundation to take over."
She shot him another wink before slipping out the door as he shrugged on his jacket to complete the look.
When she was outside, Moon took a deep breath and placed her hands on her knees. She was so unbelievably happy after talking to Gladion, but she couldn't help that same feeling of dread that found its way to her again. Something was going to happen, and soon.
Before she could spend too much time thinking, she boldly strolled up the stairs to the stage and found her chair next to Professor Kukui. Moon looked out into the large crowd decorated with people in suits branded with the Aether Foundation logo and her heart swelled with pride. Gladion would do well taking care of this place.
Moon noted four of her Battle Tree recruits scattered throughout the crowd, four lining the stage, and the last standing by the doors of Gladion's mansion. Good. Hau, May, Brendan, and the Elite Four were standing in the front row, giving her smiles and thumbs-up.
Miss Wicke stood from her chair near the end of the stage and made her way towards the microphone. She adjusted her purple glasses before speaking. "Ladies and Gentleman, thank you all for being here at Aether Paradise. Please let me introduce our respected Branch Manager, Joseph!" Everyone clapped as a grey-haired man approached the microphone.
"Thank you, Miss Wicke. And thank you to everyone who was able to be here with us today. I became Branch Manager a little over six months ago, after the incident involving our former President." The crowd noticeably hushed at the mention of Lusamine.
"Those were dark times, and many of us were scared, and nervous about who would take over. Over the past six months of working alongside Master Gladion, I can honestly say that there is no one else that I would want as our President. Gladion is bright, involved, and knows his way around a research lab. During his time at the Aether Foundation, he has blossomed into the man his father, the founder of the Aether Foundation, would be proud of. Without further ado, please let me introduce your new President, Gladion!" Joseph motioned towards the doors of the mansion and Gladion strolled out, and Moon drank in the sight.
The audience erupted, cameras flashed, and every news reporter there was asking a million questions and shoving their microphones in Gladion's face. He waved to everyone around him and followed the Battle Tree security up towards the stage. Gladion shook Professor Kukui's hand before giving Moon a big hug and kissing her on the cheek.
He made his way towards the center of the stage and greeted Branch Manager Joseph with a bear hug. They must go way back, Moon thought to herself.
He waved towards the crowd a little more before clearing his throat into the microphone, indicating he was ready to speak. The crowd went silent in anticipation.
"Thank you for that wonderful introduction, Joseph. Thank you all for being here, and I would also like to thank the people who got me to where I am today. It wasn't an easy journey, and many unexpected events happened that changed the course of each of our lives. Many of you were around when my father started the Aether Foundation, and when he disappeared, we all felt his loss."
A sad agreement passed throughout the crowd, and Gladion continued. "My mother tried her best to pick up where he left off, but her mind began to slowly slip away as she tried and failed to bring my father back. The fear and disappointment left her vulnerable to outside forces. But thanks to the Alola Champion, my wonderful girlfriend Moon, she was saved." Gladion motioned towards Moon, and the crowd erupted into cheers again before quieting down.
"Thank you to every person at the Aether Foundation who took the time to help me grow in spirit, knowledge, and confidence. Because of you, I am prepared to accept this position as President, and will work tirelessly to help the Aether Foundation succeed. Let's make Mohn proud, shall we?"
Moon's breath caught. While the crowd probably exploded in applause, she was completely deaf to it.
Let's make Mohn proud, shall we?
Mohn
No. Freaking. Way.
Before she could process this new information, Professor Kukui was shaking her shoulders. Her eyes cleared, and she was able to see the panicked look on his face.
"Moon, I just received an emergency alert from Psycho. Necrozma is awake."
XX
Note: And there is Chapter 7! Thank you for reading, and please let me know what you think!
