CottonMouth25: Whoops ^^;
It's edited now- "Carapace".
theoneandonlylordmonkeyknight: "Happy happy birthday, from all of us to you~ We wish it was our birthday, so we could party too~ Happy happy birthday, may all your dreams come true~ We wish it was our birthday, so we could party too~"
Gigarot: Thank you for your understanding.
The former Salon Maiden, one of the most powerful trainers in a world, seeks retribution- Arceus help those who stand in her way.
Can you say "Shoo out the Clowns?" But in all seriousness, they'll show up eventually.
Hapu's hand still clutched at the item at her chest, the indigo glow dying down and slowly becoming cooler- she had known this day would come, but she was not ready for it to play out. Even when he was slowly becoming weaker from age, even when he started coughing to the point his throat became ragged and bloodied, Hapu couldn't find it in herself to believe that he could die.
Iole, the kahuna of Poni for over fifty years, her grandpa and teacher, was dead and gone. Now, the responsibility of looking after Poni Island and everything connected to it, fell on her shoulders.
She gently arranged her grandfather on the dais- in death, he looked more peaceful than he had in life, even when asleep. The thought brought a fresh wave of grief to the girl and mucus joined the tears streaming down her face as she hugged him to her, shoulders shaking. She knew he would be protected here, in the most sacred place on Poni Island, but it didn't make it any easier to leave.
She got back on her feet and shakily walked to the dais before she saw three people and her Mudsale through tear-clouded eyes. Her gaze became sharp, already reaching for her poke-balls before Mudsale whined gentle and trotted over to the stairs. "Nii!"
Hapu wiped at her face, trying to clear her vision. "M-Mu-" she tried to speak but her throat closed up from the mucus building up.
She reached almost blindly to the ground horse as she reached the bottom of the dais and Mudsale lowered her muzzle to nuzzle at her head. She wanted to cry into her partner's chest, wanted nothing more to grieve.
I am the Kahuna of Poni Island. My duty is to protect the land and creatures inhabiting it, she kept repeating in her head. There will be time to mourn- just not now.
Hapu pushed herself off of Mudsale and wiped her face one more time before looking to the three- she recognized Lillie on the spot, albeit barely. This wasn't just because of the new outfit and hairstyle- even with her expression solemn, the new Kahuna saw that the blonde was carrying herself differently. It was as though she had cracked open the shell she had been hiding in before and was ready to go all out.
The two boys with her she wasn't familiar with but she could see they were familiar with Lillie- the older blond was probably a relative and the green-haired boy resembled Kahuna Hala. But Asalie was no where to be seen.
She took a shuddering breath to compose herself as the green-haired boy began to speak. "We're- we're sorry for intruding..."
Hapu shook her head. "Y-you had no way of knowing what would h-happen here," she got out, voice thick even as she tried to keep the same calm and relaxed tone from before. "Th-there is no need to apologize f-for... anything."
The green-haired boy nodded half in understanding while the blond was becoming more visibly uncomfortable.
"I was brought here to-to become Poni's Kahuna. To protect the land and all creatures who inhabit it," she forced out, trying to make her voice even even as her breath shuddered.
Hapu closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing before she looked up at Lillie. "Let's- let's go."
The now five left the Ruins of Hope behind and returned to Hapu's home- she met Hela's eyes and gave ajerking nod forward. The old woman pulled her granddaughter into a tight hug but the girl gentle pushed her away. "We have no time- we need to speak."
Hela nodded in understanding and gestured to the upstairs. "If you need anything, I'm down here."
They followed her to a room with a mattress on the ground, some bookshelves and a chair and desk with several papers on it. Gladion settled on the chair while Lillie and Hau took the makeshift bed. "It hasn't been very long since our last meeting, but you certainly look mighty different from last I saw you," Hapu remarked at the blonde.
"Yes. Many things have happened since the Ruins of Abundance," Lillie agreed, just as seriously before gesturing to the two boys. "This is my brother, Gladion. And my friend, Hau."
"Hi," Hau said with a tiny wave while Gladion remained silent.
Hapu nodded in acknowledgement before asking, "And might I ask where Asalie might be?"
Lillie's eyes closed for a moment, trying to compose herself- even with more company around her than usual, it did nothing to distract from the missing presence. After a few moments, Lillie told Hapu what had happened after she and Asalie left- from Hau being taken by Team Skull and herself being taken to Aether to the Asalie, Guzam and her mother disappearing into the Beast's World and fleeing from Officer Anabel.
"I see- the monster my grandfather, Tapu Fini and I fought from before must have been an Ultra Beast," Hapu said. "But why come here?"
Lillie pulled out the book and turned to the page with the Sun and Moon flutes. "We're looking for this," she explained, pointing to the orange instrument. "Legends say that these two flutes can summon a Legendary Pokemon."
"'The Beast who Devoured the Sun and The Beast who Called the Moon,'" Hapu recited offhandidly.
"Miss Wicke said there was a legend that said the Legendary Pokemon can open Ultra Wormholes!" Hau jumped in. "If we can use the flutes to call them, we can go to Ultra Space!"
"But if you open another wormhole, it could invite more Ultra Beasts here- even with Tapu Fini by my grandfather and I, we barely stood a chance against that creature," Hapu pointed out. "While I would like to save Asalie as well, it would not be worth it to bring more of those creatures- especially if it means that this Guzma and Lusamine can return here."
Lillie knew that Hapu made solid points- the same ones Officer Anabel was right in bringing forward- but she kept her gaze forward as she said, "If the Ultra Beasts stay here, then they will hurt and even kill others. If we can use the Legendary Pokemon's power, we can send them back to their world where they can't touch us."
"And you're not just saying this so you can have an excuse to go there ans save them?"
The blonde held Hapu's gaze, refusing to back down. Finally, Hapu closed her eyes. "Apologies. Of course you wouldn't. Keeping creatures from their home is detrimental to all in the long run."
"Then you'll help us?!" Hau exclaimed.
"I will certainly do what I can."
The green-haired boy cheered happily and Gladion breathed a sigh of relief before saying, "Back to our question, can you tell us what you know?"
"I know that at the Altar of the Sky, two flutes are needed to be played in order to summon the Legendary Pokemon. This gives the legendary Pokemon power but whether Solgaleo or Lunala is brought forth is unknown," Hapu replied.
"That's why we gotta find the Sun Flute as fast as possible!" Hau put in before admitting with some fear, "Though I'm not really keen on fighting Officer Anabel to get the Moon Flute back- she's gonna be super mad if she finds us..."
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Gladion stated, though he looked just as thrilled about the prospect as he gestured to the page in Lillie's book that showed the two flutes, gesturing to the orange one. "So, have you heard or seen anything like this?"
Hapu examined it carefully before she snapped her fingers at the Moon Flute. "That looks like the flute that used to reside at the lake on Ula'Ula," before gesturing to the Sun Flute. "And the other is said to be held on Exeggutor Island- though for the life of me, I do not know how it got there, only that it's been passed down there enough so that's where it most likely is."
Lillie had read of the island, where Exeggutor from the Kanto Region were left there and how those with thinner and longer necks eventually survived longer than the bulkier and shorter grass/psychic types and eventually took on a dragon secondary type to survive. It was an uninhabited island off the Poni coast. "We can ask Chief Lapis if he can take us there."
"Then let's get going!" Hau declared, getting up onto his feet and rushing down the stairs, Gladion following at a more restrained pace.
Lillie looked to Hapu and smiled gratefully. She was about to thank the girl before she finally saw the stone she was holding and her eyes widened. "Hapu... that stone-!"
Hapu looked down at the stone with a solemn expression. "The mark of a Kahuna, chosen by the Guardian Deity that watches over their respective islands."
The blonde looked at the girl in wonder. "You're not that much older than me or Asalie..."
"Age matters not. Gender, class, race your place of birth, none of it matters before the Guardian Deity," she seemed to recite from memory, gray eyes staring ahead. "My grandfather has looked after Poni Island for decades, but illness took it's toll on him- even Tapu Fini could only hold it off for so long."
Her hand clenched around the stone. "I tried to prove myself worthy, but Tapu Fini would not choose anyone and remained with my grandfather. So I set off on my own Island Challenge to prove myself worthy to Tapu Fini- to prove I had whatever it took to take up the mantle of Kahuna and all of it's blessings and burdens."
Lillie knew that the kahunas were chosen by the Guardian Deities of the islands but that's not why she had noticed the stone.
"I've seen that stone before, not just on the other Kahuna, though. I saw it-"
"- on your Asalie's wrist," Hapu finished with a nod. "Despite her being a newcomer to Alola, Tapu Koko saw fit to give her a stone befitting a kahuna. She must have really impressed Tapu Koko despite her being a stranger to our shores."
Lillie smiled at this- of course she had impressed Tapu Koko. Even though she had been scared, Asalie had still risked her life to help someone that had been a stranger to her. How one couldn't admire that, she didn't know.
"Speaking of which, you've certainly impressed me," Hapu remarked. "You look so different from last I saw you- like I'm looking at a new you."
"Thank you, Hapu," the blonde smiled gently. "I've just discovered what I need to do. So, I guess you could call this my Z-Powered form!"
A startled laugh came from Hapu's chest and she gave a true smile. "Well, you do your best, Lillie!" and slapped her on the back. "I'd like to see the fellow who tries to call you lily-livered now! Now, let's get cracking!"
Aether Paradise's infirmary was packed to the brim with injured employees, but with the medicine and resources the artificial island had at it's disposal, it served a purpose of healing those hurt.
Apart from them, Astin Nalani laid on a gunnery, his limbs strapped in place and an oxygen mask over his mouth and an IV strapped to his arm as the heart monster beeped lazily. His skin was inflamed from the ice beams he took directly and parts of his body, including half of his face, were covered in dull green and black scales.
This didn't stop Sina from tapping at his face while taking notes. "These have the same hardness as the cells in the Zygarde Cube," she remarked while Dexio looked over the monitor- the cells inside the container were pushing against the glass, trying to get to the unconscious young man.
"They're reacting the same way when we gathered them up in the first place, trying to join with the rest of the cells," Dexio remarked, frowning as he looked at the dull scales on Astin's face. "But the cells on this man's body aren't reacting at all."
Kukui was silent throughout this, eyes locked on Astin's form. He had so many questions, he didn't know which ones to try and find answers for first. But when he looked at the young man laying there, his mind just blanked. Nothing he had encountered or seen thus far could have prepared him for something like this.
Just then, he heard a startled shout outside. Kukui went out to see an officer pulling out a Growlithe by another officer with a drowsy looking Musharna hovering next to her. The professor followed his line of sight before blinking owlishly at the sight of Asalie's sopping bag dragging against the ground, a crackling inside. He opened the zipper out and Rotom burst out, nearly smacking Kukui in the face.
"BZZZT-BZZZRT-BZZZZ!" they shrieked, twitching erratically as they looked around.
"What the hell is that?!" the officer exclaimed, his Growlithe sniffing curiously at Rotom before Kukui gentle set his hands between the Plasma Pokemon. "Hey now," he murmured soothingly, trying to calm them down.
Rotom seemed to slow a little at hearing the professor's voice but they kept buzzing with energy and looking around. The officer gingerly put on gloves and examined the bag and it's contents while the other officer quickly went on her way. The pokedex itself was in pieces, shards of plastic and metal stuck in the fabric of the inside. While the bag itself was waterproof, the damage inside had turned it's contents smashed and damp.
"Aw geez, you must've been plenty scared," Kukui murmured as Rotom slowly calmed down, twitching becoming weaker.
"Byyyzzzrt- zzzz Zzzzzzlie? Zzzzzzlie!" they sounded out, looking around worriedly.
The professor schooled his expression not to give away any more upset.
"ZZZZZ ZZZZZZLIE?! BZZZZ ZZZZZLIE! ZZZZ-zlie...!"
The electric-ghost type suddenly flopped on the ground, panting harshly before becoming limp. Kukui quickly scooped them up and pulled out an electric charger, setting the Plasma Pokemon gently onto it. Sina and Dexio quickly looked back to their work, trying not to look awkward before the former asked, "What's that?"
Kukui followed her line of sight and saw something crumbled up on the ground. It was a picture with special coating so it was waterproof and creased- unfolding it carefully, Kukui saw six people on it albeit one crossed out harshly. Turning it over he saw five of the six names and his eyes widened.
Looker rubbed at his temple as he looked over the information having gathered from Aether, anything that hadn't been destroyed.
He had heard of Aether Foundation being the bastion of Pokemon conservative efforts and medicine. With their resources they helped save entire subspecies from going extinct, from Corsola to Farfetch'd to Dratini. Their medicine advances had been brought in by Pokemon Centers across the league-associated regions. They had even helped stop the efforts of poachers and those of the Black Market from creating mills to sell rare Pokemon.
He had seen much in his time as an officer- traveled across the regions, seen many kinds of people. He had learned far too much of the world but still had hope when seeing the efforts of those like those of Aether having such a positive impact on so many. But having proof of corruption here, in the heart of the place that had helped so many, made Looker's heart heavy and his head came to rest in his hands.
When did it begin- and why?
He looked up as the door slammed open, one of the younger forensic officers- Lien- holding several discs. She was about to salute before she accidentally dropped two of the disks- luckily, she scooped them back up before setting them on the desk and quickly straightened herself out.
"Officer Looker!" Lien declared too loudly before clearing her throat and continuing in a softer tone. "Many of the documents in the Secret Labs have been destroyed or partially destroyed. However, we were able to extract information from one of the employees that suggests the existence of a third Secret Lab that was walled off. We have also found several discs similar to the Elemental Plates."
Looker's eyes narrowed at this as he nodded and got up, following Lien to the basement. The news that several documents had been destroyed didn't surprise him but they could always extract information from the employees. As they went down further, they passed a few interrogation officers with Hypno and Musharna alike, the employees memories playing out from the latter's Dream Mist.
They arrived at the far right from Secret Lab B- right away, Looker noticed the subtle line of plaster that was the same height and width of the other two Secret Lab doors. Rapping his knuckle against it, he heard the faintest echo. He nodded to Lien and she brought out a Gurdurr and Gothorita, directing it to the wall. With a few solid knocks, it smashed the wall down while Gothorita kept the dust and debris from falling inwards.
Flicking on a flashlight, Looker saw the same layout as the other labs: bookshelves, a medical table, desk near the back- and faint patches of black and red caked into the walls, ground and table.
"Bring down Officer Detect- now!" he barked.
Hida panted harshly as he came out of his mega-evolved state and Anabel quickly brought him back while the Gengar, Audin, Heracross and Pidgeot followed his example. The Buzzwole was a twitching, smoldering mess on the ground, murky black blood trickling from it's corpse.
Part of Anabel- a rather large part- was gleefully, even sadistically, triumphant over their killing of the Ultra Beast. But she knew that this was only one of many monsters and that there were still so many left out in Alola. She had her officers collect the body in one of the Beast Balls before healing their Pokemon. As they left Melemele Meadow, the officer heard faint noises of combat further down the route.
Either Ilima or Hala are still fighting, she thought before declaring, "Move out! We'll rejoin the others and offer support!"
The officers nodded or voiced their agreement, albeit rather tiredly before following her. When they reached Verdant Cavern, they found Ilima laid out on the ground, panting weakly and the other trainers tending to their bloodied Pokemon while a few others sat facing away. Anabel's face softened at the grief on their faces.
The officer knelt by the Trial captain, noticing how pale he had become and how listless his eyes were. He tried to speak but coughed harshly before trying to catch his breath. One of the trainers knelt by them with a water bottle and placed it at Ilima's lips, helping him drink.
"We couldn't catch them," she explained, eyes wide. "We tried but it was all we could do to defend ourselves."
Anabel looked to where the twitching remains of the monsters smoldered and placed a hand on the trainer's shoulder. The noise of combat had died down at this point and had become quiet once more. Her eyes narrowed at this before glancing up- she saw no sign of Tapu Koko.
"Stay here!" Anabel barked the remaining officers as she brought Hida back out and leaped onto his back, the Salemance taking off.
We've got one Buzzwole and three Pheromosa. Worst-case scenario, Hala's fighting them both or-
"KO-KO-O-O-O-O!" belted out harshly as Anabel guided the Salemance down Route 3. She laid a hand on the side of his neck, feeling his pulse race. "Can you manage another?"
Hida gave her a bloodthirsty grin and she smiled grimly in return as the lip of her glove where her keystone lay embedded glowed brightly. As they cleared the trees, Anabel winced from the strain on her eyes before they widened- either the light was playing tricks on her eyes, or she was watching Tapu Koko hover before Buzzwole and Pheromosa while Hala and his trainers just stood by!
It took Hala, his team and the Guardian Deity everything they had just to fight off one of each! she remembered before barking,"Hida, divebomb with aerial ace now!"
She clutched Hida's saddle as his speed picked up and the light of Mega-Evolution shone around them. Buzzwole and Pheromosa looked up as the Salemance was right upon them, eyes widening slightly. However, the aerial ace never had a chance to land and Anabel was knocked off of her saddle and onto the ground when Tapu Koko fended off the attack before clothing themselves in red and blue light, smashing Hida backwards and away from the Ultra Beasts.
"What're you doing?!" she exclaimed before wincing as her head rang from the impact. "The Ultra Beasts-"
"Look."
Anabel turned to the scene and her eyes widened when she saw Tapu Koko appear to be talking to Buzzwole and Pheromosa- the two seemed angry but Tapu Koko continued to talk, even gesturing towards Hala and Anabel. A growl involuntarily slipped past her teeth as Buzzwole and Pheromosa looked at her before returning their gaze to the Guardian Deity, who then gestured the beast balls now cradled in their shield gauntlets.
The two looked to each other, expressions almost pensive. Finally, Pheromosa reached out disdainfully and tapped the button on the beast ball, allowing itself to be sucked inside. Buzzwole flexed while Tapu Koko pressed the button on the other capsule and pulled it inside as well. Anabel stared stunned at the scene as Tapu Koko presented the two capsules to them.
However, she was not allowed to ask what the hell she just witnessed as her phone rang and she pulled it out on sheer instinct. "Anabel here."
["Chief, we got a distress call from Akala!"] the officer exclaimed. ["They say they're losing power and the message got cut off before they could finish!"]
Anabel's teeth gritted together before she declared, "We're on our way," before putting the phone away and looking to Tapu Koko.
Their blue multi-colored eyes seemed far too human as they bored into her own irises and Anabel forced her trepidation down as she took the capsules and put them away. She didn't bother meeting Hala's eyes and went to see Hida's condition- luckily, he was more surprised and confused than hurt and she boarded his back once as they went back to Route 3.
"We're heading to Akala- Hala managed to capture a specimen each," she explained and the officers looked torn between being relieved and disturbed.
They raced to the boat and Anabel transferred the Beast Balls to Officer Looker through the PC system they had on them. A half an hour later, they reached Akala Island and Anabel boarded Hida and flew above the island. There was no sign of power anywhere.
"Squawk!"
The officer looked up to see a Toucannon flying through the air, a young woman with periwinkle hair and golfer's gear clutching it's back. "Identify yourself!" Anabel barked.
"Kahili Myrtle, golfer and trainer, currently trying to find any other citizens of Akala that have not evacuated!" the woman declared.
Anabel gave a sort sigh and held her badge. "Officer Anabel of the International Police- here to assist in taking down the Ultra Beasts!"
Kahili looked immensely relieved at this before pointing to the southwest. "Kahuna Olivia has taken up a stronghold in Koni Koni City after driving off the Ultra Beast that had appeared from Memorial Hill. But we have yet to find it or any others like it."
She looked distinctly ashamed as she said, "I would help spearhead the assaults but my team would be crippled by it's electric power."
"We need your help in evacuating and protecting the people here- you're already doing a great job, leave the fighting to us," Anabel assured her.
Kahili nodded as she directed the Toucannon forward Route 8 but stopped and called out, "The fastest way to KoniKoni is through Diglett Tunnel- Arceus-Speed!" and finally left.
Anabel touched the ground with the officers and relayed the information she had gotten and made their way to the south of HeaHea City, finding the entrance. They flicked on their flashlights as they entered the tunnel, Anabel spraying max repels to keep the Pokemon from slowing them down. But even with the Max Repel, Anabel saw no sigh of Pokemon- not even the Zubats.
Just like at MeleMele Meadow, they can feel the presence of Ultra Beasts here, she thought with a frown.
They made it through with no problem and raced the entrance-
KRRZZSH!
A blinding flash of light that made Anabel's eyes sear as she recoiled back, already sending out her Snorlax. "Xiao Po, protect!" she barked, arms coming up to shield her eyes further before the light dimmed behind the normal type's barrier and knocked back the electric attack
Behind the blue screen, Xurtkitree wriggled like a Weedle from where it's wires reached deep within the soil around the police station, looming above them. Some of the younger officers shivered at it's faceless star-like head looming above them. Xiao Po's barrier held strong, his high special defense helping immensely.
Anabel's fist clenched tightly- this Ultra Beast had caused them so much grief. It cut off their power to communicate, heal and fight and in it's absence had caused people to riot from sheer fear and paranoia. So many lives were lost because it sucked the electricity out of anything it could find.
"Keep your heads- you saw what we did to Buzzwole. We can bring this one down too!" she barked to the officers.
This managed to bring them back and they brought out their Pokemon- a Steelix, Lopunny and Sceptile took to the field and their respective officers quickly mega-evolved them. Now, Steelix had a crown of steel darts around it's head, Lopunny had black guards on their arms and legs with their ears tied back and Sceptile had not only grown spikes and a larger tail but had also attained a secondary dragon typing.
Not a moment too soon as Xiao Po's protect ran out as Xurtkitree smashed down it's wires in an imitation power whip and the mega-evolved Pokemon leaped into battle.
... I'm sorry for the lateness of the chapter- I've helping my grandpa who is currently in hospice. It might be a while before the next chapter, but I'm not giving up this story.