A cool evening breeze signaled that Lunala had teleported everyone back to the altar. Darkness had fallen and the entire canyon was illuminated by the brilliant moon. The tension Luna felt in Ultra Space immediately melted away, and she could finally breathe again.
"I'm sending out an emergency ride Pokemon beacon to pick up Mom and Guzma," Gladion said as he rushed over to his former boss. Guzma ceased his shaking and took calm, controlled breaths.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Lillie knelt next to her mother. "She's not opening her eyes anymore, but she's still got a pulse. I think we need to send them directly to the hospital in Hau'oli City."
Gladion nodded in agreement. "They look okay, but who knows what the beast did internally. Best not to take any risks. Do you feel like you could ride a Charizard over to Melemele Island? And can you take care of Lusamine on the way over?" he asked Guzma.
"Yeah, I think so. I feel a lot better already. But I'm still not quite right."
"I know. We'll get you both fixed up," Gladion said.
Lillie lovingly brushed the hair out of her mother's face, then turned to Lunala.
"Thank you, Nebby. You saved her from the beast," she said as she approached the Pokemon. It gently descended to her, resting its forehead against hers. Lillie closed her eyes. "All I ever wanted was to help you get back home, and all you have done was help me over and over again. Thank you."
Gladion stepped away from Guzma and over to Luna. "And thank you for your help battling Mom." He spoke softly enough that only she could hear him.
Luna shook her head, staring at her feet. "I'm sorry I was so scared. I don't know what came over me, but I just felt this impending sense of... I can't even describe it."
"I know. I felt it too. But you pushed through it, and you battled extremely well," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I only pushed through it because of you. I was a cowering child, but it didn't even faze you. You and Lillie are a lot stronger than me." She refused to make eye contact with him, embarrassed at how she had frozen in fear.
"Stop."
Luna slowly lifted her gaze to Gladion. His brows were furrowed and his lips were curled into a frown.
"Stop selling yourself short. You do that too much. If you could just see how amazing you are-"
Luna's heart thumped wildly. Gladion's expression turned soft as cut himself off. He didn't need to say anything else. His strong hand moved from her shoulder to her neck, and he grazed her jaw with his thumb. She could have sworn she felt her body begin to melt.
"Luna?" Lillie called, snapping her out of her catatonic state.
Gladion placed his hands in his pockets and turned away, hiding his reddish cheeks.
"I think Nebby wants me to ask you something," Lillie continued.
Luna stepped over to the grand creature as is gently fluttered its sparkling wings. Its eyes were kind and shone like stars in the sky.
"What is it, Nebby?" Luna asked, smiling at the Pokemon. It gave a sweet chirp.
"Nebby and I, we've been together for so long. We've met so many wonderful people and seen amazing places. I know she wants to go on adventures and have great battles... But not with me. I can't give that to her. I could hardly handle her when she was just a little Cosmog..." Tears started to trickle down Lillie's pale cheek.
"Luna, I want you to catch Lunala. I know you will treat her to all the adventures she wants to have. You're the best trainer I've ever seen," she said, wiping away her tears and smiling.
Luna's heart shattered. A lump formed in her throat and tears prickled at the corners of her own eyes.
"But Lillie! Nebby adores you! And you want to be a trainer, right? You should catch her! Let her be your very first Pokemon!" Luna pleaded.
Lillie shook her head. "She's far too powerful for a novice like me. It wouldn't be fair for me to start off with a legendary Pokemon. I want you to give her a ball to call home."
Tears falling freely from her eyes, Luna protested. "I can't-"
"Please, Luna. I know this is what Nebby wants." Lillie took her friend's hands into her own.
Luna bit her lip to keep it from quivering, and she stared into Lillie's lovely, tearful eyes. "If I catch her, you have to make me a promise. You have to promise me that you will become a trainer. An amazing trainer. And someday, when you're ready, I'll trade her back to you."
Lillie smiled. "Fair enough." She embraced Luna tightly for several moments.
"I promise I'll take good care of Nebby," she whispered.
"I know you will."
As Luna stepped away, she examined the massive creature. Lunala's beautiful song filled the air and sent a wave of tingles down Luna's arms. She took a few steps back and reached into her pack for a Pokeball.
Luna held a pink and purple ball in her hands, staring at the distinctive "M" on the front. There could be no Pokemon more special than Nebby for such a ball. She launched the Master Ball at Lunala with all her might. With a ceremonious array of shimmering light, the Pokemon was taken into the ball. It fell to the ground with a ping and began to shake. Once. Twice. Thrice. Click.
She breathed a deep sigh as she picked up the Master Ball. It felt warm in her hand, and she held it close to her heart.
In the distance, two Charizard roared. Gladion held up his emergency pager and the two Pokemon descended to the altar. He turned back to the group.
"Guzma, take Lusamine and fly straight to Hau'oli City Hospital. Lillie, you take the other Charizard and follow them. Make sure they get there safely. I have to go back to Seafolk Village and get the boat, but I'll meet you there as soon as I can."
Gladion and Guzma helped Lusamine mother stand up. She could hardly keep her eyes open and stumbled her way over to Charizard.
"What about Luna?" Lillie asked.
Gladion took a deep breath. "I guess this is where our paths diverge."
Luna was crestfallen at his words. She was not ready to say goodbye. Over the past several days, her respect and affection for Gladion had grown exponentially. He was a rough, yet kind young gentleman and a talented trainer. His intense love for Pokemon and their adoration of him made her only appreciate him more. She worried she may never see him again.
"I need to heal my Pokemon in Seafolk Village. We can ride Lunala back together," she suggested. Gladion nodded.
Lillie gave her brother a quick hug before doing the same to Luna.
"I'll see you again really soon, okay?"
"Count on it," Luna said confidently.
Luna and Gladion entered the Pokemon Center in Seafolk Village side by side and headed straight for the healing counter.
"That was a smooth, yet very chilly ride," Luna commented as she handed over her Pokeballs. Her fingers were slightly numb from the biting wind.
Gladion pulled his signature hoodie from his pack and handed it to Luna. "I'll go grab us something to drink from the cafe. Tapu Cocoa?" he asked.
She hesitated, but gladly took the sweatshirt. "Actually, I really liked that half-and-half you got me this morning." Gladion smiled and nodded.
Luna took refuge on a comfy loveseat by the cafe. She removed her pack and plopped it on the coffee table, then pulled on Gladion's hoodie. It immediately warmed her, inside and out. She smiled uncontrollably as she curled into the couch.
Her phone buzzed several times in a row, causing her thoughts to go back to her father in the hospital. A series of messages came through.
Mom: Hi honey. Just landed in Celadon
Mom: Almost to the hospital. I'll let you know how Dad is and what the doc has to say
Mom: Just got to Dad's room. He is awake and stable. He says hi and he loves you
Mom: Hi baby girl. Talked to the doctor a few minutes ago. He said we were lucky the attack was so minor, could have been a lot worse. They're keeping him here for one more night and discharging him first thing in the morning
The final message was a selfie her mother had taken, leaning over the hospital bed and giving her father a kiss on the cheek. Though he had oxygen tubes in his nose, he did not look sick. Luna grinned.
Gladion placed two cups of half-and-half on the coffee table and sat beside Luna.
"Your dad doing okay?" he asked.
"Looks like it. Mom sent me a picture." She leaned over and showed him the adorable selfie.
He chuckled. "That's pretty cute. You look a lot like him."
"I get that a lot. Guess I didn't have any phone reception back in the canyon all day. She sent this hours ago."
He took a sip of his drink, then stretched his arms across the back of the loveseat. "I suspect that's why I didn't hear from Guzma the other day, too. Can't have very good reception in Ultra Space."
The pair sat in comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company. Luna desperately wanted to snuggle up under his arm and into his chest, but she was content with wearing his sweatshirt for the time being.
"Gladion?" she asked quietly.
"Hmm?" He looked down at her.
"Are you disappointed that you didn't find your dad in Ultra Space?"
He took a deep breath, considering his thoughts. "Yeah. I'm not really surprised though."
Luna inched towards him and curled her knees into her chest. "Why aren't you surprised?"
He sighed and brushed his bangs with his fingers. "It was just wishful thinking on my part. I think I was so desperate to see him again, any possibility sounded good to me. Or maybe I just didn't want to consider that he may have just run out on us. I don't really know what it is... But now I feel like I can ask Mom about what happened. If she really has changed like it seems, I might be able to get a real answer out of her. But I just have to know what happened. It's eating me up inside, even all these years later."
He paused, then chuckled. "Geez, sorry about that. Just dumping all my thoughts onto you."
"It's fine. I'm glad you feel comfortable enough to talk to me about it. And I like listening to your thoughts," she said, emboldened by the warmth from his hoodie. She leaned against him, craving more of his warmth.
Luna caught Gladion blush out of the corner of her eye. He hesitated before allowing his arm to drape across her shoulders, bringing her even closer. "You're a good listener."
Trying her best to keep a goofy grin hidden, Luna lay her head on his chest. She heard his elevated heartbeat thrum and felt her face rise and fall with his every breath. Close to him was her new favorite place.
Luna allowed her eyes to fall shut, recognizing her exhaustion. Another high stress day behind her, she told her body to relax into him as much as he permitted.
As silence fell over the pair once again, Gladion began running his fingers through Luna's hair. Her eyes fluttered at his gentle touch, and she willed him to continue. Her scalp tingled each time his nails grazed over her. Only half conscious, Luna's knees fell onto his lap and she nuzzled into his shoulder. She cherished the Beautiflies fluttering in her stomach. Her quickened pulse finally returned to normal as she began drifting into sleep.
She could have sworn she heard the Pokemon Center pager buzz, but Gladion did not move. Perhaps it was just a dream.