Moon's promise to return to Lillie and Hau kept her awake far longer than she intended, eventually driving her to leave her bed behind and seek her mother's door. It was only the second night back home, back with her mother on Melemele Island, but already Moon felt the need to return.
She couldn't bear to be apart from them for too long.
Jewellery understood. The way Moon spoke of them, spoke of spending her time with them, spoke of her excitement to keep going with them, it was clear she'd found the people she'd spend the rest of her life with if she could. Jewellery was excited for Moon. Thankful for her daughter's friends, those who she'd connected to so deeply. Back in Kanto Moon had been sociable enough with others, but she'd always had that quiet and distant air. Yet speaking of them, of Lillie and Hau, Moon shone with vibrant happiness. Who could deny that?
"We'll have you on your way back to them tomorrow."
Moon embraced her mother with the fullness of her love.
The next morning they spent together: watching the sun rise with their Pokemon, sharing a meal, Jewellery taking Moon into the city at a slower pace than one racing for the docks. Moon showed no complaint, happy to spend these last hours with her mother, but happy too that she was on her way back to Ula'ula. Back to Lillie and Hau. Lillie who had her journey to Poni Island. Hau who had his fifth Trial. And Moon who had her third Grand Trial. Each of them had their goals. Each of them had places to be. And each of them would help the others get there. That motivation, the more time they spent together the more it set deep within each.
A momentum built of supporting one another, rather than competing as Melemele and Akala had been, would take them so much further than anyone could believe.
Aboard the ferry, just past mid-morning, Moon set off for Mahihinu once more. Her mother had promised to let Captain Ilima know – and through him Captain Acerola – so that the Captain, Hau, and Lillie might meet Moon at the docks of Mahihinu upon her return. For now Moon enjoyed the ferry trip, the shake of the waves, the sights of the docks of Heahea and Konikoni. The Aether Paradise, which many dressed Aether Foundation workers both boarded and alighted at, drew a slight pause from Moon, but it was more contemplation than judgement. The after-effects of the Aether President Lusamine's actions still overwhelmed Moon to think about, but beyond her everything Moon had seen from the Aether Foundation was good. A benefit to Alola. So just letting her complicated feelings fade out again, Moon continued her trip.
Back on Melemele, as Jewellery reported to Captain Ilima that Moon was returning to Mahihinu, the young man let his shoulders slump with a rueful smile. He really wasn't getting that Pokemon Battle any time soon, huh? Jewellery smiled widely in response. Patience would only do him good, she quipped. There was little Ilima could do but accept that. Moon was now in the hands of Ula'ula's Kahuna, and soon enough Poni's Captain. He'd just have to wait.
Even if he didn't want to.
At the docks of Mahihinu two figures awaited, notified by Captain Acerola that Moon was inbound. Acerola herself had gone north earlier that day, seeking the Kahuna to organise Moon's Grand Trial, while Kahili checked in with Kukui atop Mount Lanakila, her flying Pokemon capable of bringing her anywhere in Alola with ease. That left just Lillie and Hau, who'd both jumped at the call from Acerola informing them Moon was returning, and raced down to the docks to wait for her.
In the shadow of buildings nearby, a figure watched over the pair as well, waiting for her chance.
And then the moment came. Just past the peak of the day, the bright light of Alola's sun coming and going in waves as haphazard clouds marched across the sky, the ferry arrived. Moon disembarked. And oh how she smiled to see Lillie and Hau waiting for her. Oh how they smiled back. These three, each with their own drives and goals, travelling together and sharing their experiences and support, how closely they'd come to rely upon one another. Just these two days apart, the last time being when Acerola fetched Moon for her sixth Trial, the time before that the month where Moon had been with the Dragon Tamers, had felt off to the pair.
It really was only right when all three were together, each decided. More and more, an intensity to ensure they could remain that way settled within them.
Each soon to put the other two before them without care.
"Hey Moon!"
"Welcome back!"
Hau and Lillie's twin calls were echoed by Moon returning to them, Poipole always with her racing for Lillie's bag, the girl having to spin around with it until Moon could intercept and grab hold of the laughing Ultra Beast. Her lecturing went ignored as it made grabby hands at the bag again, Hau joking that maybe Moon just needed to get her own bag for the Pokemon. Moon strongly considered finding somewhere to store it.
The three were together and the day was theirs. Hau was quick to suggest heading down to the beach, eager to show Moon the Pokemon Surfing he'd been taught by Grimsley. Wasn't that one of the Trainers taking part in the League, Moon queried. "Yep!" Hau confirmed, "that's him!" As they walked Moon recounted another meeting with one of the confirmed participants, Asuka of the Pokemon Schooling System. Hau stuck his tongue out as Moon mentioned the discussion of further schoolwork.
"Boo," he ignored Lillie rolling her eyes at his rejection of the proposed courseload, "study's no fun, we're on Pokemon Journeys! We're meant to be out there seeing Alola and meeting new people and Pokemon! Why've you gotta study?"
"You should be doing schoolwork too, Hau," Lillie added in, "education is important."
"Pfft," Hau waved a hand, "I did enough of that at home, I'm good!"
Lillie strongly doubted that.
"Anyway, Moon," she turned to her, "I would be happy to assist you with any of your studies – working together we can easily stay on top of your work." Moon nodded quickly, the thought of studying alongside Lillie appealing. She'd enjoy that a lot.
Hau remained uninvested. "I'll pass," he waved a hand, the concept of study and schoolwork unable to capture his interest no matter what form it came in, "you guys can have fun on your study dates I'll be getting stronger for my Trials!"
"Honestly Hau," Lillie, successfully annoyed by Hau's disregard for learning, turned on him. "It's very important to maintain an education even as a Pokemon Trainer! Surely you understand that the learning opportunities provided by the schooling system are-" Lillie continued her lecture unabated, Hau smiling through it having successfully poked at her preference for bookwork. Moon just stayed silent.
Was that... what it would be?
Hau casually glanced around as Lillie continued. Then paused.
"Hey isn't that Riley?"
Indeed it was, the older teen girl with a thick mass of curling pink hair lurking nearby, out of Team Skull regalia once again. She looked much like she had when Hau had run into her in Malie City – a white sports cap instead of skull beanie, no silver 'S' pendant, no bandanna over her mouth. Though even if she were wearing the bandanna it would still be obvious what her expression was. Her frown stretched to every corner of her face with ease.
Spotted, the Team Skull Grunt stood up a little straighter from her slouch, glanced around, then waved an arm, as if beckoning towards the trio. Hau and Moon glanced at each other. That was weird, right? Yeah, that was definitely weird. They stayed there agreeing how weird that was long enough for Riley to sigh, huff, then walk right up to the group and grab Hau by the wrist. "Come on already!" And tug decisively at his arm.
Riley of Team Skull was not a particularly strong individual.
"Are you serious?" She threw her arms up into the air after letting go of Hau, who had not budged, this entire affair incredibly rude. "I'm asking for you already come on and get over here!" Turning and storming off, Riley spun around after a few steps and gestured again. Hau looked for Moon's attention. Then shrugged.
"Auntie Rosie did ask us to be nicer to her."
She had... Moon glanced back to the more and more furiously gesturing Riley. Well... she looked back to Lillie, who remained cautious behind them, and smiled to reassure her. They'd be okay. That promise stilled Lillie's nerves enough for her to nod.
The trio made their way over.
"Unbelievable I cannot even begin with you so rude," Riley had worked herself up into a peak rant by the time the three younger children gathered before her. "Here's a girl just asking for a moment of your time but nooooo you make me have to basically prostrate myself before you oh great Trainers please grant me an audience I am but a humble girl just trying to live my life I hope I'm not bothering you too much I guess if I am I can just go walk off the docks over there would that make you happier? Huh? Would it?"
Hau, choosing to ignore Riley's entire diatribe, smiled wide.
"Hey Riley, how're you doing?"
Riley genuinely had to pause after he asked that.
"Okay." Putting her fingers to her temples for a moment before drawing them apart again, Riley fixed Hau with a strong look, one that did little to shake him, "don't ever, I mean ever, act all buddy-buddy with me again. You think you get to be nice to me once or twice and then I'll say 'oh I guess we're friends now'? Get real. That's not what this is."
Hau showed little concern at Riley's rebuke, but Moon had a problem. Riley was being rude to her friend. She stepped forward and asked her to stop.
"Depends," Riley settled her gaze onto Moon, focusing on the impossible girl with the incredible Pokemon, "if you help me out I'll consider it. See I've got a problem and you, you've got a solution. Actually it's a problem for you too, so you'll doubly want to help me out, got it?"
Moon stood there, silently watching Riley. She took that as an opportunity to continue.
"Listen up," the teen folded her arms, "I'm Team Skull for life, yo, they're my family and I'm sticking by 'em, no matter what." Hau moved a little closer to Moon, the two of them occupying Riley's line of sight with Lillie, holding her bag tight, Poipole clutching onto Nebby through its outside, behind them. Riley continued. "But this whole thing going on right now, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't like where it's going. So I want you to make it stop."
Her stare was directly aimed at Moon. Moon stared back. Riley kept going.
"See there's this big deal going on about some rare Pokemon everyone's out looking for. Actually they found it. So now they just have to get it." Raising her head, Riley looked bluntly at Lillie, who gasped and stepped back, Moon and Hau moving backwards too to cover her. Riley shook her head.
"Like I said," she emphasised, "I don't like it. It's a bad idea, I can just tell. The Boss got this weird machine from somewhere, said it's the core of the plan. So if it goes, the plan goes, and everything works out, yeah? But I can't get at it without getting caught and I'm not leaving Team Skull no way no how. So I need someone else to get into home base and bust it up. Someone strong enough to push through without being stopped. That's why I need you."
Pointing at Moon, Riley interrupted both Hau and Lillie's attempts to reject the idea. "I've planned it all out, the way to get to Po Town, the way to get you into it without being seen, and the way to occupy Big Sis and the Boss. Then you've got a straight shot at that weird machine and can bail out. No more machine no more Pokemon stealing plan no more problem: for me or for your friend there, yeah?"
Riley's gesture at Lillie did not go missed by Moon. No more threat of Team Skull against Lillie? She contemplated it.
"This is ridiculous!" Lillie put her foot down. "Why should Moon do it? If you need a Trainer who cannot be stopped, then we will let Ms. Kahili know! You won't be seen approaching her, and she can dispose of that machine herself!"
Riley shook her head. "Nah." Lillie's noise of objection went spoken over again. "Listen: this plan's been in the works a while. You think Kahili can just run off to Po Town without being seen? That there isn't an emergency plan the moment she moves weird? There's Team Skull watching all the strong Trainers around here. That's why it's gotta be you." Riley's point at Moon earned only a continued cool stare in reply.
Hau glanced between the three around him.
"Uh," ignoring Riley's 'this isn't about you', Hau spoke his mind, "shouldn't there be someone watching Moon though? She's really strong." Riley laughed.
"Yeah. There is. Me."
Lillie frowned. "That's... convenient." Riley rounded on her with a far more disapproving expression.
"Yeah," she spoke sharply, "real convenient. So glad everything worked out so I could more easily betray my family. Whoopie."
Lillie went very still.
"Now here's my plan:" turning back to Moon, Riley put her foot down. "You've got that big water serpent, right? So head out into the bay, behind the little islands, and then around the west coast. Once you're past the meadow and can see Po Town's walls, you can land, and approach from the south. There's a hole in the walls I'll meet you at, and sneak you inside. That way you'll get there without anyone spotting you. From there we can get after that machine and put this all behind us."
"I dunno," Hau continued to speak his mind, "this all sounds really weird. We'll just keep Lillie out of Team Skull's way."
"Are you serious would you think for once?" Riley, frustrated, banged a fist against the wall of the building the four were beside, before hissing and clutching her now sore hand. "You gonna be on guard every hour hoping Big Sis or the Boss don't show up? You gonna stick around the big leagues every single day for things to work out? Gonna live your lives always looking over your shoulder? That's dumb as heck and I don't want my family plotting on some weird Pokemon for some weird plan that makes no sense! So gimme a hand here! Help me put this down and make things right! Please!" Clapping her palms together, Riley bowed her head. "I really don't want things to go the way they're going."
Moon and Hau glanced at each other. Then at Lillie. If... if this would make Team Skull leave Lillie alone, stop planning on taking Nebby, it would be worth it, right? Lillie shook her head.
"I don't agree," she continued to hold her bag close, Moon finally reaching over and prying Poipole from it. "We should inform Ms. Kahili of this and leave it to her."
"Yeah, I-" Hau glanced back at Riley, who still had her hands clasped and head bowed, "I feel bad but, we can't really do anyth-"
Moon would do it. Immediately Hau and Lillie told her otherwise.
"Moon, no," Lillie shook her head again, "this isn't for you to do."
"You shouldn't just go into Team Skull's base like that," Hau agreed with Lillie, "it's not safe!"
Their concern Moon appreciated, but... doing this would make things better. Then they could go on with their Island Challenges, and Lillie's journey, without a worry. If Lillie and Hau stuck by Acerola and Kahili until Moon got back, then everything would be fine! She could make all of this right.
Riley, with hopeful expression, raised her head at last. Lillie was giving her a dagger stare.
"Moon don't do this." She knew that if Moon chose to do something there would be no way to stop her, but still Lillie tried. "This isn't a good idea."
But Moon wanted to help. Lillie absolutely, keeping her safe. But also now... she looked at Riley. Rosia had said only a few people in Team Skull caused harm. So if Moon stopped that, wouldn't that help them all? The things they'd done, the trouble they'd caused, if she helped to stop that... then things would be better. For everyone. For Alola.
The Sixth Precept. Moon and the power she could command had been called on to help another. She should. Hau and Lillie glanced at each other now, hearing Moon speak of her training with the Dragon Tamers. Even still...
"But Moon, didn't you say you weren't made a member of the Dragon Tamers? Their precepts aren't rules you have to follow." Lillie glanced at Hau for help. He was looking contemplative. "Hau?"
"I dunno," he was seriously thinking deeply, rubbing at his head, "It's... Alola, right? Reaching out to one another? Moon do you... really think you should?"
She nodded, resolute. She could make things right. And make sure that what was next for all of them was better. She wanted to go. She wanted to do this.
Hau saw that there was no changing her mind.
"Okay, then, let's go!" He nodded at her, Lillie's gasp of his name not stopping him. "We'll bust up that weird machine Team Skull's got and make sure they can't take Nebby!"
Riley stuck a hand right between the two.
"Point of order," she waved her outstretched arm up and down, "I'm sneaking Moon into our base. You know what you do when you're sneaking? You're quiet. I've never seen you be quiet once in your life."
Hau's complaining at Riley went rudely interrupted by Moon actually having the gall to laugh at him for that. He looked at her betrayed, the expression only deepening when Lillie couldn't help but giggle as well despite the tension of the situation. Riley smiled to have gained this effect.
"Seriously, this is a one person mission. She needs to sneak in, bust the machine, then get out again while the Boss and Big Sis are busy. More people more chances of getting caught more chances of everything going wrong. You stay put. The both of you." Riley's glare levelling on Lillie caused her eyes to widen, the thought of going along not even once crossing her mind. There was nothing she could do if she went. But even still...
"Moon," Lillie made one last attempt, "are you sure you should go? It doesn't feel right." Moon stretched out an arm to rest a hand on Lillie's shoulder. If she went she could make things right. That was the core feeling inside of her right now. She wanted to do this more than anything. Please trust in her. She'd make everything better, she promised. That much reassurance, that much confidence, wore down Lillie's own misgivings. She still doubted but... she believed in Moon more than her own self. So she ignored her doubts to favour Moon's belief.
Moon nodded back to Riley. She'd go. The Team Skull Grunt grinned wide.
"Yes!" It was, without question, the most honest happiness she'd ever shown to Moon or Hau. Both felt it. Maybe it was okay... Riley moved past the group. "Okay," turning back, she nodded at Moon, "I'm going to head back – if you take off in like an hour, that'll be perfect. I'll see you at Po Town. Remember: south side of the wall there's a hole, and keep out of eyesight. You'll see me."
She would. Moon, Hau, and Lillie all watched as Riley disappeared off to the north, a real spring in her step. Well, that had happened. Hau and Lillie both turned back to Moon.
"Moon are you sure?"
"Are you really going alone?"
She was, Moon confirmed. She'd need Hau and Lillie to stay here, with Acerola and Kahili, until she was back. Then everything would be okay. Her determination, her sheer belief that this was the correct path, finally convinced the other two. They nodded, trusting in her.
Things would work out.
And so in an hour's time Moon raised a Net Ball and manifested the Tender Pokemon Milotic, the cream-scaled with pastel red and blue features serpentine Water-type Pokemon, into the waters of Mahihinu Bay. Once settled onto the Pokemon's back, Poipole floating above her, Hau and Lillie on the shore watched Moon go, having promised to keep the mission silent as best they could. Each had their misgivings, but Moon's raw confidence had pushed them down. She'd be okay.
That, each member of their trio believed.
Moon sailed on into the waters of Ula'ula Island's western side.
The azure seas of Alola welcomed travellers readily, whether they be swimming, travelling with Pokemon, or transported via ship. No matter the form by which one might cross the water, the water supported them, and all those who bore witness to it saw beauty. The roll of the waves. The leap of Pokemon from beneath the ocean's surface. The pulse, rhythmic, that could so easily reveal the song to those who listened. For those with Pokemon of their own who could travel these waters, it was all but impossible not to hear the song once they were out there. Out on the water with only their Pokemon and Alola around them.
Were Lana more the type and Kiawe less, Brooklet Hill would become the place to hear the song of Alola, instead of Wela Volcano. Though all three Trial Sites of Akala provided an opportunity to see, and hear, Alola in a different way. All of Alola did. That was its magic, and a core of the Island Challenge. Seeing, and taking part in, everything that Alola was. It was a truly welcoming and embracing place to call home.
He appreciated it.
Grimsley's relocation to the Alola Region had been to get away from it all: the busyness of Unova, especially as a member of the Elite Four, finally wearing him down. It didn't come as much of a surprise to his fellows that he was bowing out, which he would've taken as fairly insulting if they hadn't been completely correct. All that hustle and bustle, not to mention the responsibility, was a little much for his taste. He'd done his time. Now he was retired. For however long Alola kept him, at least.
It had made a pretty strong play by its waters inviting him to take up Pokemon Surfing, and the offer to be a member of the first Alolan Pokemon League was quite flattering too. Marshal had nearly stormed out to Alola when Grimsley had let his former cohorts know to ensure he was still up to scratch for representing Unova abroad. It had taken some serious work to get the Fighting-type expert to chill and leave Grimsley be. Honestly...
Well, he was quite looking forward to this League, he had to admit. There were some real impressive and interesting Trainers here in the Alola Region.
Speaking of, here was one now.
"Man oh man, here's a surprise."
Moon, upon her Pokemon's back, looked up in shock as the voice came from just nearby, a tall man garbed in a white and black-hemmed kimono standing atop a Pokemon just cresting the water's surface. A Sharpedo. Moon glanced from it back to him. He gave a nod.
"Grimsley."
Oh! Moon nodded, aware now who he was. The slight relaxation of her posture, the acknowledgement of his name calming her tension, amused Grimsley so. She was a careful one – probably had to be: all the stories were that she'd been hounded from the day of her first Grand Trial. Then a little over a week ago made a big enough splash to cause everyone to think maybe they shouldn't bug her instead. He looked at her closely.
Yeah, that was what he'd heard, couldn't tell a thing about her Bonds. Just a sheer wall, no definition that made sense. A sensation unlike anything he'd ever seen before. He grinned. Awesome.
"You seem busy," his Sharpedo was keeping pace with Moon's Milotic, who was continuing to head north, the two being out past the islands that dotted the bay of Mahihinu. "Going somewhere?"
Once again Moon's posture and expression changed, caution and reservation setting back in. Hmm, seemed she was up to something. Fishing in a sleeve, Grimsley withdrew a silver coin, the sunlight breaking through overhead clouds glinting from it. Waving it a little got Moon's attention fully. The tall man smiled.
"Time for a game at least?" He flipped the coin through the air, catching it with ease. "You guess heads or tails, and depending on how it goes, you take a break to chat or go on ahead. Since you've got this far, I bet you're feeling real confident about your Pokemon and your abilities, but somewhere deep down you probably still realise you can't keep up with the bigger challenges. You're trying to ignore that and pretend going ahead and doing your own thing will always work out, but you're still doubtful. The only thing that'll really shore up what you lack right now is luck. Feeling lucky?"
Moon stared. Grimsley... was right. She was pretending her confidence, to a degree. She knew her Pokemon were strong. And that she could do incredible things. But the Team Skull leaders, Plumeria and Guzma, she still didn't want to see. Was trusting in what Riley had said, that there'd be an opportunity for Moon to avoid them. For that to work... she did need luck.
So she nodded to this too. Grimsley smiled wide. And flipped the coin high.
"Call!"
There was a wave incoming. She hadn't been looking in that direction, both she and Grimsley focused upon the spinning coin. But the message, the sense, came to her. Milotic was watching the waters and acknowledged the wave, the thought coming to Moon's mind too. They were about to be shifted. In that case...
It wouldn't be either.
Grimsley looked at Moon in shock and in that moment the wave passed them by, both Milotic and Sharpedo adjusting for its movement, Moon grabbing on to her Pokemon's neck and Grimsley having to focus on maintaining his balance. He never even raised his arm to grab the coin.
It disappeared beneath the sea.
Quiet moments followed the wave's passage before Grimsley raised a hand, pressing it against his forehead. And laughed.
"Hah! Hahahaha, astonishing, truly astonishing." Shaking his head, he couldn't help the mirth. "It seems Alola is caring for you, Moon, so it's hard for me to find fault with your decisions. A loss is a loss, so I suppose I'll see you again in your own time. Come join me with your buddy Hau again, I'll teach you the art of Pokemon Surfing too. It'll be fun."
Moon, pleased that Grimsley seemed to have accepted things the way they went, nodded back to him in response. She'd enjoy that. Their Pokemon began to drift apart. Grimsley called out one last time.
"If you're really heading north, take care. Team Skull are all around Po Town, so you're going to get into a load of trouble unless you're the real clever type. If you can't afford to lose, remember that the best option is simply not to play, got it?"
Moon nodded affirmation, Grimsley's advice odd and needing her to think on it. She wasn't really sure what to make of it at all.
But it stuck with her as she continued across the waves to Ula'ula's north.
A quiet cove ringed by heavy tree growth awaited Moon as she guided her Milotic towards the sandy shore, a singular path winding from beach to the east, the high walls of Po Town visible in the distance towering over the forest around. Following Riley's directions, Moon knew now she'd have to head north, towards the south wall of Po Town where a hole Riley would be waiting at could be found. So once on her own two feet Moon ran her hands along her Pokemon's scaled hide, words of thanks and praise responded to by pleased trills, the Tender Pokemon delighted by her touch. Moon returned it to its Net Ball.
Time to move on.
Poipole, who'd happily alternated between floating through the air and resting on the Milotic's head during their trip, made a high-pitched warble that drew Moon's eyes, first to it, then in the direction it was pointing. Towards the path into the trees.
Towards the figure who'd just emerged from it.
"Weird place to end up."
By first impression to Moon this grey-haired man seemed... disinterested. The passage of his dark eyes over her and Poipole never really lingered, the slouch he stood with, hands in the pockets of his black trousers, showing a lack of care. He wore a vest of dark navy blue patched with the symbol of the Alolan Police Force over a deep red tee, and a pair of sandals besides that. Unlike when he'd appeared before Kukui a few weeks prior, today Kahuna Nanu had neither his Z-Ring nor Z-Crystal on display. For all the world he was just some random police officer.
Just the way he wanted it.
"I'm not about to ask you what you're thinking," he stood in the middle of the path, the way Moon was to go, "just go back. You go any further and it's Po Town and Team Skull ahead. Worse still they've been antagonising the local Pokemon for years, and it's looking like things are finally about to break real bad. No-one should go walking into that. Turn around, girl. You don't belong here."
She had business. Nanu cocked an eyebrow at Moon's retort. Honestly, what was this kid doing with that much attitude? Felt like she was trying to pressure him out of the way. "Alright kid I see you've got a reason to be up to this, but I'm still getting in your way. So you're either going back the way you came or through me, one or the other. Which are you feeling?"
She didn't like either. Getting into a fight would waste time and her Pokemon's strength should she need to defeat any Team Skull members, or use their power to escape Guzma or Plumeria. Whoever this man was, he'd offered her a terrible set of choices.
So just like Grimsley had taught her, she simply wouldn't play and instead take a third option. The flash of a Pokeball was Decidueye appearing behind her, Nanu shaking his head at her raw ridiculousness. Honestly, this kid. "Alright," he took a step forward, pulling out a Pokeball of his own, "let's stop this here."
Decidueye wrapped both wings around Moon, who held on tight to her Pokemon's chest, and leaped, bouncing from tree-trunk to tree-trunk before settling into the branches above and taking off. At that speed, with that agility, Moon quickly disappeared from sight carried by her Pokemon, Poipole flying after with a loud complaint at needing to keep up.
Nanu, who hadn't been expecting that, stared in the direction Moon had gone. Seriously? What was that kid up to? He shook his head and sighed, before pacing in the direction she'd gone. Spotting that girl on the water from his station had let him catch her, but still she'd taken off. This was way more trouble than he needed right now. He pulled out a phone and made a quick call.
He was really the last person who should be dealing with this.
Riley of Team Skull smiled wide behind the bandanna covering her mouth as Moon emerged from the tree-line south of Po Town, just a little ways from the secret entrance into the Team Skull base. For as much as 'ignored' and 'slated for repair but no-one ever did it' counted as secret. Mostly it was for people to wander out through and head down to the beach to slack off. A lot of Team Skull culture was built around slacking off.
Preferably outside of Po Town's embrace.
Moon, looking up, marvelled at the clouds overhead. They covered the sky now, compared to the patchwork they had been earlier that day, and rain was falling clearly just before her. Seemed she was on the very edge of a rainstorm, one pouring fully upon Po Town ahead. It almost seemed like the town itself was the target of the storm.
That was ridiculous though. Right?
"No-one saw you?" Riley's question was met with a shake of Moon's head, a mention of Grimsley on the water, and a police-officer on the shore. Riley frowned at both. Not ideal. But... "Let's just hurry up, I've got a place for you to hide out inside the walls. Then I can get the Boss and Big Sis outta the way and let you know. Keep behind me and watch for my signal."
The plan continuing smoothly Riley strode back into Po Town, not even flinching as a deluge of rain settled upon her shoulders. Anyone staying at the base of Team Skull got used to it pretty quick. Moon, not nearly as prepared for this, held her dragon shawl over her head, Poipole clinging onto her to keep out of the water as best it could. It didn't work very well.
Each time Riley waved Moon forward she moved. They paused, waiting under awnings, hopping from place to place across the streets of Po Town, various other members of Team Skull hanging about but never paying too much mind to anything else. Until, eventually, Riley opened the door of a dilapidated building and ushered Moon inside.
"Okay," she hissed from the doorway, "there's a stack of towels back there, hang out until I let you know, alright? It'll take a bit, so don't go anywhere. This is gonna work. It's all going according to plan. Stay there." Moon nodded back. She would. Settled into the towels Riley had given her, running one over Poipole before wringing out her red shawl. Maybe she could at least get a little dry.
Riley, outside, closed the door. Honestly, she felt bad about this, this whole plan. Moon had trusted her so fully. That kind of thing was... weird. She shook her head and clicked the padlock on the door, sealing its occupant within. Anyway, that was the bait got.
Just as planned.
There were two messages awaiting Captain Acerola as she returned to Aether House, Hau and Lillie in tow after she'd found them gathered outside. The first was from Kahili, expressing that she was heading back down to the Aether House now. The second was from Kahuna Nanu, which frustrated the Captain greatly. She'd spent a good portion of her morning trying and failing to find the Kahuna and now he'd gone and left a message for her.
The few moments of annoyance as she listened to the message he'd left quickly morphed into something else as she stared blankly at Hau and Lillie, who had just finished telling her Moon was out exploring the islands in the Mahihinu Bay.
That was not where Moon was at all though.
"She's what?"
Quickly once confronted Hau and Lillie explained everything Riley had said to them.
Tense minutes of waiting passed, Acerola knowing her flying Pokemon would never make it to Po Town as fast as Kahili's. Soon after the Flying-type expert walked in the door. The mood of the room and expressions on Acerola, Lillie, and Hau immediately told her something was wrong.
"What happened?"
Moments later she and Captain Acerola were on the back of one of her Pokemon heading north to Po Town. Team Skull might be punks and troublemakers, but walking into their home base was still actually dangerous. Moon going there was... a disaster waiting to happen.
The two disappeared into the sky at full speed.
And from the shadows of a nearby building Plumeria, big sister of Team Skull, stepped forth.
Four years of tension had mounted. Members of Team Skull were always quick to take their Pokemon and make a mess wherever they felt like letting off steam, but close to their home base of Po Town it was the worst. The local Pokemon populations were first driven further into the mountains east of the settlement. Then picked on when seen. That this new pressure would change the population went ignored by those it would soon concern. More peaceful and non-combative Pokemon moved away.
More conflict-seeking and aggressive Pokemon moved in.
Again and again there were push-forwards and backs. The walls of Po Town's east side showed heavy damage from skirmishes and clashes. The attempted move to Malie had been to ditch this entire mess behind them. Even the Boss was sick of dealing with this.
But today was the last day it would happen.
Packs of Pokemon had banded together, one specific leader with the strength to command them beginning their march. This battlefield, this territory, they would take, as was their nature.
The Great Battle of Po Town was about to begin.