Alex's POV
I sat next to Zeno's grave on Mahalo Trail. Hau and Lillie had already left for Iki Town, the only safe place left on Melemele, but Robert had stayed behind.
He knelt next to me. "How are you holding up?"
"It's been a week," I said bitterly. "I'm fine."
"Alex," he began, placing his hand on my shoulder.
I shrugged his hand off. "Go back to Iki Town Robert. I'll be fine."
He sighed but respected my wishes. After a couple more minutes, I stood. I made my way further up the trail until I reached the newly constructed bridge to the Ruins of Conflict.
I picked up a rock and flung it towards the Ruins. "WHY!? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HIM!?"
I picked up another rock, but I fell to my hands and knees, the rock slipping from my fingers. I dug my fingers into the dirt and let my tears fall.
"Why did you do it Zeno?" I sobbed. "Why did you go? Why did you leave me?"
He was thinking about me though, but he was also thinking about all of Alola, the world. He accepted his destiny and fought to save everyone, even if it meant his own death.
"Get ahold of yourself Alex," I said fiercely. "You have a job to do."
I stood and dried my tears. I let out Ninetales and felt comforted by the heat she gave off.
"C'mon girl," I said. "Let's get back to Iki Town."
…
Once back in town, I took notice of Zeno's Pokémon. Decidueye, Kabutops, and Mimi were helping with setting up more defenses around Iki Town while Gyarados and Lycanroc patrolled the area. Mahina was training with Gladion's Silvally off to the side, but there was no sign of Arcanine. As soon as he realized his trainer was dead a few days ago, he took off and no one's seen him since.
Someone came running into the village, shouting. "THEY'RE HERE!"
Immediately people began running into their houses as trainers of all ages stood their ground alongside their Pokémon.
I saw Hau and Lillie near one of the houses with Robert running to join them.
"Are you focused?" a voice to my right asked.
I turned and saw Gladion there with Silvally and Mahina.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I questioned.
He raised an eyebrow. "Just make sure to concentrate on the fight. Put everything else off your mind."
I clenched a fist. "Do you think-!"
The sound of crashing wood and beastly roars diverted my attention from Gladion to the Ultra Beasts breaking into Iki Town. A large, two-legged tree Ultra Beast with a gaping mouth, craggily, branches, vines, and no eyes tore up the ground with roots. There was also a large bulky humanoid figure covered in muddy water and seaweed close behind it.
"A Trearchy and Marsrush," Gladion said. "Multi Attack!"
Silvally and Mahina lunged at Marsrush, claws glowing.
I tossed out my Alolan Ninetales. "Flamethrower and Ice Beam on Trearchy!"
The combined moves from both of my Ninetales had Trearchy staggering backwards, but it stayed upright by digging roots into the ground. It roared, and several vines shot towards me.
"Power-Up Punch!"
A Lucario appeared in front of me punched away the attacks.
Gladion nodded at me. "I got your back."
I ignored him and tossed out Incineroar and Salazzle.
"Flamethrower!" I yelled, and my three Fire Types blasted the Trearchy with hot flames.
It roared in pain and ran out of Iki Town. Marsrush was close behind as Silvally and Mahina roared after it. I turned around to see Hau and Robert with Raichu and Muk beat off a Buzzwole.
Acerola came running up to me. "We received news from other islands."
"How bad?" I asked.
She grimaced. "The people of Akala are holed up at Hano Grand Resort. Malie City on Ula'ula seems to only be standing thanks to Lt. Surge. And Hapu's got the residents of Poni Island hiding in the canyon."
She sighed. "It's bad Alex. The Ultra Beasts are everywhere, and we don't even have Lunala to help us."
"I know," I said, remembering Necrozma and Lunala disappearing into a wormhole to heal. "But what about you? Are you okay?"
She smiled sadly. "Nanu and Hala have been missing for a couple days now. Though knowing Nanu they'll be alright."
"Knowing Hala," Hau said, coming to join our conversation. "They'll fight their way back. They're probably just hiding from all of the Ultra Beasts."
…
Hau'oli City
Hala peered through the boarded-up window, watching in silence as a Buzzwole flew by.
"Just a Buzzwole," Hala said. "Hopefully we can get out in the next few nights."
"Yeah," Nanu groaned, clutching a wound on his side. "Just as long as no more of those Predators show up."
"You'll be fine Nanu," Hala said. "Remember that."
"I will," he said grimly. "Because when this is all over, I need to promote Acerola. I'm going into retirement."
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, asleep.
"Rest well Nanu," Hala said, watching another Ultra Beast go by. "You'll need it."
…
Poni Island
Lusamine staggered through the Vast Canyon, her desire to see her children driving her on. After a while, she came across Hapu and the Seafolk Villagers.
"You're alive," Hapu exclaimed in surprise.
"Indeed," Lusamine said in a hoarse voice. "The poison within me however, is doing its best to kill me."
She glanced around. "Where are they? Lillie? Gladion? My children?"
Hapu shook her head. "Not here. They're on Melemele Island in Iki Town. That's the last safe place on that island."
Lusamine looked surprised. "Last safe place? What's going on!?"
She collapsed to her knees and coughed up a horrible smelling purple liquid.
Hapu looked at a villager. "Get her water!"
He rushed off and Hapu knelt next to Lusamine. "You don't know?"
Lusamine could barely shake her head.
"Hundreds of Ultra Beasts have invaded Alola," Hapu explained. "We're barely surviving as it is."
The former Aether President's eyes widened in alarm. "No! it can't be!"
Hapu shook her head. "I'm afraid so."
Lusamine found the strength to stand but staggered backwards.
She held onto the side of the canyon. "This is all my fault."
"Where are the Tapus!?" Lusamine asked wildly. "Why aren't they doing anything to help!?"
"No one's heard or seen the Tapus for a long while," Hapu said sadly. "I'm afraid they've abandoned us."
"Then it's up to me," Lusamine said quietly.
Before Hapu could ask what she meant, a collective scream rang out.
"The Ultra Beasts are back!"
"Mudsdale!" Hapu yelled and her steed galloped up to her. "Prepare for battle."
Several Nihilegos were floating towards the large group and Hapu yelled, "Stay back everyone!"
But Lusamine wasn't listening. She stepped towards the leading Nihilego, arms stretched wide.
"Come to mother," Lusamine whispered. "Come to mother."
The Nihilego engulfed her and together they transformed into the Mother Beast.
Lusamine felt a new surge of strength, but this time a different fire burned in her eyes. "COME MY CHILDREN! COME TO ME! TOGETHER WE WILL PURGE ALOLA OF THE ULTRA BEASTS!"
…
The Prowler joined her brothers in a forest.
The Breaker pounded his chest. "We are nearing full strength! Why do we not go after the Tapus!?"
"Because," the Prowler snarled. "We need our power back. Our original power!"
The Stalker's eight eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting we purge ourselves of our darkness!? This is us at our full power! We were weaker before the Tapus changed us!"
"No," the Prowler said, shaking her head. "We weren't. Don't you see? Our darkness gives us strength, but if we really want to reclaim Alola from the Tapus, we need to turn that darkness into light. Only then can we become the gods the people of Alola need."
Her black fur shimmered from black to gold, her purple spots changing to brown.
"If I learned anything from the Hero Born of Darkness," the Prowler said. "Is that one's past does not define who you are."
"But he died," the Breaker argued.
"Yes, he did," the Prowler admitted. "But he died taking out the Shadow. He saved Alola because it was right."
"How can we call ourselves the better Guardians of Alola if we only wish to kill the Tapus for our own personal gain!?" the Prowler growled. "We aren't doing this for ourselves! We're doing this for the one's we've sworn to protect! The people of Alola!"
"You're right," the Stalker sighed, and he returned to his normal forest green color. "We're doing this for the people."
The Breaker pounded the ground and returned to his normal black and red colors. "Very well. What about the Crusher?"
"I've already convinced her," the Prowler purred.
"Now," she said, getting serious. "We must proceed with the next phase of our plan."
"Are you sure though," the Stalker clicked worriedly.
"Yeah," the Breaker agreed. "That plan is highly dangerous."
"We have no choice," the Prowler said. "We must be ready to do anything for Alola."
She looked to the Moon. "Let it begin."
…
"They're breaking in!" Lillie cried.
I let my Ninetales back out and saw several Celesteelas breaking through our barriers. Explosions rang through the air as they fired their cannons.
Gladion's eyes were wide. "We're not going to win this one!"
"We have to try!" I yelled, running onto the battlefield with my Pokémon.
"Alex! WAIT!" I heard Robert yell.
Time slowed as I came to a sudden stop. A Celesteela was taking aim at me and I froze as the energy began to build up. It fired and I closed my eyes at blinding light, bracing for death.
"INCINERAZING ARROW!"
I was knocked back as an explosion ripped through the air, but I wasn't badly hurt. I whipped my head around and gasped. Standing at the forest's edge, flaming bow and arrow in hand, Arcanine at his side, was-
"Zeno," I whispered.
He grinned as his trench coat billowed in the night air. "Did you miss me?"
Oh my God would you look at that! He's alive! It's a miracle! This is absolutely wonderful….. You know, I'm going into hiding before one of you readers finds me and murders me. Toodles
