Chapter 21
Matthew watched the sea as the ocean danced in the brilliant oranges of the setting sun. Of all the places in Alola, he found that this particular spot was one of his favorites. Situated just outside the Ruins of Life on Akala Island, Matthew had found this small secluded palm tree grove to be the perfect place to watch the sunset and enjoy a freshly harvested Pinap Berry.
Six months had passed since the final battle with Team Rocket and Giovanni, yet even now the world was still healing from the wounds they had suffered. Matthew's final battle against Mewtwo had taken a great deal out of him and Espeon leaving them on sabbatical for a month. Luckily, no one was eager to try and challenge the man who had brought down Team Rocket. Left unconscious by Espeon's attack both Mewtwo and Giovanni were quickly taken into custody. Matthew had chosen to stay out of the global war for who decided Giovanni's fate though the decision would ultimately come down to Lance and Diantha, both representing regions who had suffered the most under Giovanni's wrath. Diantha had called Matthew every day over the past few weeks as the two regions courts fought over Giovanni's fate. Meanwhile, the Team Rocket leader was kept in a secret prison, the location only known to the League Champions.
The rest of Team Rocket had fallen like a house of playing cards the moment Giovanni was confirmed captured. Diantha had ensured that none of the higher ranking Rocket officers had escaped from the hanger leaving only two unaccounted for. The final two both had been killed during the final battle, Lorelei on the decks of the Team Rocket warship, and Archer who was found dead hooked up to the machine used to control the hybrids. Volkner had determined that the device could not handle the pressure of connecting to so many minds at once and had shorted out, electrocuting Archer in the process. With their leadership, either captured or killed, Team Rocket grunts across the globe had presented themselves to the International Police or had been arrested by Agent Looker's special task force.
After the battle, Cynthia, Steven, and Iris had worked to release the Legendary Pokemon who had been enslaved by the Team Rocket technology. Excluding Deoxys, all of the Legendaries had chosen to go back into hiding once again fearing the ignorance of mankind. Matthew had watched Latios and Darkrai be released only for them to quickly sense the death of their trainer, Tobias. Darkrai had slunk into the shadows though Matthew had colleagues keeping an eye on the Pokemon's movements, Latios, on the other hand, found a new home in the Alola region, often seen skimming the waters along the smaller island chains. Diantha had wondered why Matthew had not chosen to catch Latios to add to his team. Though a powerful Psychic-type, Matthew believed that all Legendary Pokemon should be free and was merely happy to have gained a new friend and guardian to Alola.
Unlike the other Legendaries, Deoxys was not released into the wild. After it was defeated by Iris and Cynthia, the team determined that the Pokemon had acted of its own free will showing no signs of Team Rocket technology or being captured by a trainer. Deemed a risk to people and Pokemon, Champion Steven had captured the defeated Pokemon and secured it in a location within the Hoenn Pokemon League.
Reconstruction efforts were underway across the globe in the regions which had suffered Team Rocket attacks. Later this month Matthew would attend the Indigo Plateau Conference and the unveiling of the rebuilt Indigo Plateau. Over the past 6 months, Matthew had split his time between Alola and Lumiouse City where he worked with Diantha, Steven, and members of the Kalos League to aid the rebuilding efforts. The city had taken time to rebuild, but Matthew knew that the wounds left by the attack ran much deeper than anyone could possibly see. His first priority was Diantha who had struggled to keep herself together now that they no longer had an immediate enemy to focus on. Without a mission or an impending threat, Diantha had been faced with the stark reality of her region. In her short tutelage as Champion the region had suffered two major and devastating terrorist attacks, the second leaving hundreds dead and thousands displaced. Kalos as a region was no stranger to war, having suffered a history of bloody conflicts and revolutions, yet those battles had been fought a millennia ago. Faced with a modern threat and recent loss the region had become quickly divided. An increasingly growing group of trainers had demanded that the current Kalos League including Diantha be removed from their positions to allow for a new group of trainers to be chosen. While this idea had yet to take root, the number of supporters continued to grow every day. However, at the moment the vast majority of Kalos felt that Diantha should be given more authority to help increase security and rebuild the region. This group led by the Gym Leaders of Kalos had refused Diantha's initial offer of resignation. Lumiouse City was expected to host the Kalos League in 3 months to officially reopen the city and confirm Diantha as Champion.
She isn't going to show. I told you we should have just waited back at the beach.
Espeon, must you be so cynical all the time? She called us here, there must be a reason.
You Alolans put too much stock in these Guardians. They are just Pokemon.
You realize that you are an Alolan, right?
How dare you! I was born and raised in the Sinnoh Region. I am a Sinnoh Pokemon regardless of where you drag me.
Espeon flicked him with her whip-like tail to emphasize her indignation but did not move from his lap where she was curled up. She did have a point though. While Matthew loved this spot he would have much rather been on the beach with his friends including that new boy. Despite their best efforts, Lucian and Matthew had quickly realized that their flirting did not translate into a healthy or thriving relationship. Their brief attempt at romance had fizzled out though the two would always remain close friends and friendly rivals. Since then, Matthew had grown close to a new employee of the Hano Grand Resort. The young trainer named Chance had moved to Alola from the Unova region. Matthew was enjoying a perfect day on the beach with Chance and friends when he received an unexpected call.
It is good to see you Champion, I apologize that it has been so long.
The voice inside Matthew's head was utterly unique from that of his Pokemon. Even his newest addition, a small Pichu he had rescued from the Team Rocket facilities had a voice radically different than the one he heard now. This voice was melodic, high-pitched like a child singing a nursery rhyme. Though he had only met the Guardians of Alola a few times he would never get accustomed to their voices which tended to echo their unusual nature. On the surface, one could hear a playful tone but like a radio struggling to find a station the darker more violent tone often hid beneath the surface. Slowly, Matthew rose to his feet and turned towards the small clearing outside the Ruins of Life. There floating in the fading light was Tapu Lele, the Guardian of Akala Island.
Hello Tapu Lele. It has been a very long time since we have spoken. Where have you been?
Searching. Traveling. Exploring the world I had never seen.
You have missed much during your time away.
It seems, as usual, you have handled things without the need for guidance. I did an excellent job picking you to be our new Champion!
With this, the bright pink Pokemon floated towards Matthew and gave him a soft and playful pop on the nose. Her movements sent flutters of scales to the ground giving life to new flowers beneath them.
Why have you called me here Tapu?
Something is wrong on the islands. Tapu Fini has sensed a great darkness, she sent Pokemon to find me and bring me home.
What kind of darkness?
We do not know. We have each searched all of the islands and have not found anything. Yet, even now I can sense that something is coming. Tapu Fini has had a vision, a great shadow that engulfs the four of us, the people of Alola crying out in fear, Pokemon screaming in Agony.
While each of the Tapus was strong in their own way, Tapu Fini of Poni Island was the only one with the power of premonition. Wrapped in her cocoon of water, Fini could see flashes of the future though the details were often hard to grasp or translate.
Lele that sounds like the first time the Ultra Beasts attacked. When the four of you summoned Solgaleo and Lunala. That can't be possible, we sealed the Ultra Beasts away and have set up ways to detect Ultra Wormholes. If something had gotten through we would know.
The dimensions exist like sheets. The border between our dimension and the dimensions beyond is thick but that does not mean it is indestructible. More dangerous creatures exist beyond the veil than those you have already faced. That is why we fled to Alola.
Giovanni. His machine used technology to rip Ultra Wormholes into this dimension. Could this have damaged the veil?
Tapu Lele looked to the sky which had turned light purple as the early moments of night crept in. Together, the Tapu, Matthew and Espeon starred up into the sky as the stars began to slowly materialize above them. In the distance, the trio heard the sounds of Murkrow calling and Lycanroc howling at the rising moon. Kahuna Hala referred to this time of day as the Moonlight Symphony, a time when the daylight Pokemon gave the world over to those who lived in the dark.
"How much time do we have Tapu Lele?" Matthew spoke out loud his voice echoing through the open clearing and pushing out to the moonlit sea.
I do not know my Champion. But when the veil falls, this world will need to be ready. This is not a fight for glory, it is a fight for survival.