Chapter 32 - "Can I Sit Down?"
It had been a few days since Cyan's battle with Kommo-o. He decided that the best way for his Pokémon to prepare for the battle with the Island Kahuna would be with a long rest. The battle with Kommo-o had done its damage, and although they were able to win with Salazzle, the battle was still too close for Cyan's comfort.
The two trainers and their Pokémon spent time at the Pokémon Center near the docks of Poni Island. Lycanroc and Litten relaxed together. Jangmo-o sparred with Salazzle. Venusaur took in the sun and was often joined by Dartrix who had started to calm down considerably. Graveler played pranks on Oranguru who would then scold the Rock-type. This was only seen as an invitation for more hazing. And Primarina enjoyed swimming through the Alolan ocean.
"We're almost done," Kala said. "What's your plans for after you finish?"
Cyan grinned and held up a peace sign. "I'm going to Johto!"
"Do you think you'll take on the league?"
"I'm not sure. I have someone I want to meet."
"And what about when you're done with that? What is Cyan Kokura's ultimate goal?"
Cyan thought for a moment. "You know, I've never thought about it. I want to see the world. I don't care about ever becoming some kind of big champion or anything. I just want my mom and my Pokémon to be happy. That's not to say that I won't continue competing."
Every trainer that Kala had met up to that point had big aspirations to become something greater. Lilo wanted to become a champion in a former land, and Kala herself wanted to become the Island Kahuna for Melemele Island. But Cyan, as talented as he was, just wanted to enjoy the journey.
"I really admire that," she said.
The walk to where the Island Kahuna was was familiar to Cyan. It took them through the path of the other trainers that were practicing, and they were headed in the direction of Vast Poni Canyon.
"Do we have to go back through?" Cyan asked as he pointed towards the large area. "I'm not battling another Kommo-o, right?"
Kala laughed. "Nah. Do you remember any of the buildings we passed by the other day?"
Cyan shrugged.
"Alright. Well, that's where we're going. Don't worry. We'll be there in less than an hour. You should really pay more attention to your surroundings."
Sure enough, within an hour, the two were standing at the end of what looked like a small village with small houses built from a brown clay. The place was so unassuming that Cyan hadn't paid it any attention the other day.
"This place is so small, it doesn't even have a formal name," Kala said. "But it's home to the Island Kahuna. She's bound to be around here somewhere."
"The Island Kahuna lives here?" Cyan said as he stepped into the small village. He looked at the clay houses, thinking that they're not the kind of place that he would enjoy living in.
Cyan's thoughts were then interrupted by a nearby explosion which shook the area. Without having to think twice, Cyan and Kala ran from the village and towards the sound. What they found was a big cloud of smoke, indicating that there was a battle happening, which was not irregular on Poni Island. But what stuck out to them were the trainers who stood on either side of the smoke.
With her usual floral print shirt untucked from her jean shorts, Lilo stood on one side, intensity in her eyes and sweat drenching her forehead. And on the other side of the field stood a small teenager, someone that Cyan was familiar with, but he wasn't sure from where.
"Looks like Lilo beat you to the Island Kahuna," Kala remarked.
"The Island Kahuna?" he wondered while he looked at Lilo's opponent. While short in stature, the cool look on her face did tell Cyan that she was an experienced trainer. She wore brown farm clothes and a purple bonnet over her thick black hair that she had pulled into two giant pigtails.
When the smoke had dissipated, it then became clear where Cyan had seen the girl. Standing on either side of the field was Lilo's Decidueye and the kahuna's massive Mudsdale. He remembered the girl and her Mudsdale from an encounter with them on Akala Island.
"Mudsdale, use Heavy Slam!" the girl ordered, her voice much deeper than Cyan would have guessed from her tiny body.
Mudsdale neighed before she lifted her massive front legs into the air directly above Decidueye's head. The Grass-type looked up, and although he was clearly worn from the battle, he didn't appear intimidated in the slightest.
"Leaf Blade!"
Moments before Mudsdale could come crashing down, Decidueye twisted his body around. He slashed with green energy, stopping Mudsdale in her tracks.
"And now, Brave Bird!"
Mudsdale, stunned by the super-effective blow, was stuck in her stance while Decidueye retreated. A white energy exploded from Lilo's starter Pokémon before he bounded forward. He crashed into Mudsdale, and somehow, the massive Pokémon was flung backwards. Mudsdale's giant body collided with the ground before the Island Kahuna, shaking Poni Island.
But the Island Kahuna remained calm. The battle had concluded, and even in her loss, the kahuna appeared okay. In fact, she looked proud. She withdrew Mudsdale into her ball and then walked onto the field to meet with Lilo and her Decidueye.
"Well, Lilo. You've done it," she said. "I expected nothing less from you after hearing about your journey from the other Island Kahunas and Trial Captains. I'm sure you've made them all proud."
Lilo smiled, and she reached into the inside of her leather jacket, pulling out her wooden amulet. The Island Kahuna took the amulet and stamped it, completing Lilo's Island Challenge.
"Thank you," Lilo said. "Thank you so much, Hapu."
"It was my honor to battle with you."
Lilo was almost in tears, but she held them back, and because of the intensity of the battle, she hadn't even noticed Kala and Cyan standing to the side. That wasn't until Hapu had looked towards them.
"Kala? Cyan?" Lilo wondered. "I did it!"
"I'm so proud of you!" Kala squealed. She ran onto the field and embraced her friend while Cyan slowly followed. Hapu had kept her gaze on him, but he was slightly intimidated and did his best to avoid her eyes.
"With this victory, I can actually go and travel the world now," Lilo said. "I can make something of myself and become a champion, Kala!"
Kala's eyes started to swell with tears, but she choked them back. "I'm so happy for you, Lilo…" She brushed Lilo's hair before giving her one more hug.
"And I take it that you're the boy that everyone has been talking about?" Hapu asked, interrupting the two girls. "Am I correct in saying that you defeated Kommo-o?"
Cyan nodded. "Yeah. I'd like to challenge you for my final trial." He reached for a Poké Ball.
Hapu held out her hand. "I'll gladly battle you, but as you just saw, my Pokémon has taken quite the beating. Tomorrow, we'll battle right here."
Cyan paused. He was disappointed that he had to wait another day for his battle, but he nodded nonetheless and then smiled. "Sounds good to me! Gives me one more day to prepare!"
"Then it's settled, be here tomorrow by noon. If you're lucky, then your Island Challenge will soon be over."
The three trainers all returned to the Pokémon Center at the docks once again. Lilo had the Nurse Joy check on her Pokémon while Kala and Cyan sat in the diner and ordered food. After a few days of not battling, Cyan had started to become restless, and although he was happy for his friend's victory, he wished he had gotten there first.
It didn't take long for Lilo to get the process with Nurse Joy started, and she soon joined the two at their booth, sitting next to Cyan.
"It's been a crazy few months, hasn't it?" Lilo asked. "We've all gotten pretty strong, I think."
"It's weird to think that it'll all be over soon," Cyan said. "I wonder how all of the league stuff is going with Kukui."
"Kukui is a bit of an airhead, but he's determined to get the league going. He's gotta find the right people though," Kala exclaimed. "I think, once Cyan completes his Island Challenge, I'll start mine. It changes slightly every few months, so I'm excited to see what comes next for me."
"And I'm sticking to my plans to go to Galar!" Lilo declared. "You're looking at the next Galar Champion!"
"I'm curious about the strength of trainers from other regions," Kala said. "I hope that whatever it is that Kukui is cooking up, it brings a lot more strong trainers to Alola."
"You talking about strong trainers from other regions?" a voice asked. The three turned to find a familiar round face and almond eyes. It was Emma, and she was wearing her usual gothic getup. Her green hair had grown a little bit since the last time that they had met, revealing red roots. "Look no further."
"Emma!" Kala yelled happily.
"Can I sit down?" she asked, and Kala moved over without hesitation, allowing their friend from Unova to join them. She held her playful Eevee in her arms, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
"Don't tell me you've already completed the Island Challenge too?" Cyan asked.
She shook her head. "Nope. I'm heading to Vast Poni Canyon tomorrow to challenge the trial. I've heard it's rough."
The three trainers exchanged glances and laughed.
"It's not easy!" Cyan said.
"I'm excited for it," she said. "I like the challenge, but I'm a bit exhausted. I'm ready for it to be over."
They all were. The journey throughout Alola was an exciting one for all four trainers, but it was nonstop. It was only a taste of what a journey in another region could be like, and they were each ready to move on.
"How about we get some rest?" Kala asked. The sun had begun to set, and the sky was getting darker by the moment. Although she and Cyan hadn't done much that day in particular, she was still feeling the effects of non stop walking. "Tomorrow, Cyan has his battle with the Island Kahuna, and then we can go and support Emma?"
"That sounds fine to me," Emma said.
The other two nodded, they finished their dinner, and then were off to their rooms.
The next morning was quiet. The four were all up early, and they prepared breakfast at the center. It was a simple breakfast to get their day started consisting of toast with jelly, eggs, and sausage. Lilo retrieved her Pokémon, all with their health restored, and then they exited the center.
But something was off.
It was morning, but there was no light above the sky on Poni Island. It was pitch black, not even allowing stars to shine through.
"It is morning, right?" Cyan asked as he looked up. "We didn't get up super early?"
"It's morning," Kala muttered. She looked towards Melemele Island where it appeared there was some light.
Lilo pointed at the far off Ula'ula Island, where the sun lit up the oceans.
And Emma observed Akala Island from far away, bright as day.
"Something's wrong," Cyan mumbled. He looked towards the middle of Poni Island above the canyon where the darkness appeared to be the blackest. "Something is very wrong."
"I think it's coming from the altar," Lilo added.
Kala and Lilo glanced at one another, a look of dread coming over Kala's face.
"It looks like our trials will have to wait," Emma said. "This reminds me of the Broken Tea Cup incident."
There was no response.
"Now's probably not the time."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
So, now we start the most important arc for 'Awakening Alola.' Whatever happens at the Altar of the Sunne and Moone is going to have really big consequences for Cyan, Kala, and Lilo. I don't want to say anything too much, but a lot is going to change. Early predictions?
REVIEWS:
pokemonking0924 - "That training really paid off for Cyan, a bunch of powerful new moves, higher levels, greater teamwork, and a evolution. That last trial was tough and we learned Kalas mother was the dragon trial captain, interesting twist. Hope we get to meet her and I wonder what her reaction will be towards her daughters dragon type." - It kind of bothered me that there was no trial captain for the last trial, so I decided to make Kala's mother the captain. Even if she's absent, I think I can make it work.
wisdom-jewel - "Awesome. I enjoy the whole battle. I'm guessing Kommo-o is Kala's mother most trusted Pokemon. I wonder if Cyan will meet Kala's mother at any point." Kala's mother had a small introduction in one of the earlier chapters, but whether or not I'll ever have her make an appearance is kind of in the air. I really like the mystery. What I will say though, Logan and Luna do meet her when they go to Alola.