Chapter 38 - "Kala Made Stew."


Kala's heart fluttered. The timing was too perfect. She let go of Mrs. Kokura and then raced for the front. She grabbed the door and flung it open, her wide smile immediately fading away once she found Professor Kukui at the door.

"Hello," he said. "Can I come in?"

Kala nodded and let the man in. She wasn't unhappy to see Kukui, but she was hoping that by some miracle Cyan had returned. Kukui entered the home, and he took off his hat, putting it on the coat hanger.

"Anything happen?" Kala asked.

Kukui sighed, and he looked at Mrs. Kokura. "As far as that front goes, no."

Mrs. Kokura continued to look into her stew.

"But I do have news as far as the league goes, and I think it's important that we talk about it. Cyan was a big part of the conversation, and I think it's fair that I come to you two with the news."

"Please sit down," Mrs. Kokura said softly. "Kala made stew."

Kukui did as he was told, and Kala made him a bowl of stew. She wasn't sure how long he had planned on staying, so she only gave him a little bit. He sipped on the bowl with a smile on his face.

"What's the news?" Kala asked.

"Well, I've gotten permission to start a league in Alola."

"That's good news."

"Yeah, and we're going to be holding a small tournament in a couple of months to find the first champion. I wanted to invite you to enter it, Kala."

"Me?" Kala asked. "I haven't even done the Island Challenge yet. What makes you think I should try to become the champion?"

Kukui nodded. "I know all of that. But I wanted to extend the offer anyways. You have such a strong connection with the people on the island. I think you'd be a perfect addition to the tournament. You helped save Alola."

Kala was silent for a moment. She did her best to avoid Kukui's gaze. "I'm not sure."

"Why not?"

"At the Altar of Sunne and Moone… I was the weakest link," she said softly.

Kukui folded his arms. "Well, I don't believe that. I heard that there were Team Skull members there."

She shook her head slowly. "When Cyan, Lilo, Emma, and Guzma were fighting their hearts out to save us, I couldn't do anything. We fought, but we weren't nearly strong enough. I'm not even close to the same level as they were."

Kukui smiled and he lightly touched Kala's chin, making her look up. "None of that matters right now. Your Pokémon are very strong. You are very strong. Without you there, they wouldn't have been able to fend off whatever came from the other side."

"I haven't trained in two months," Kala added, looking for any excuse at this point.

Kukui sighed. "Well, you can start training now. A lot of your friends have been feeling the same way. Even Lilo didn't want to enter right away. But this is something that's necessary for the growth of Alola."

"I think it sounds wonderful," Mrs. Kokura said silently. "I'm sure Cyan would have loved to be a part of it."

"That's the thing," Kukui started. "With your permission, Mizuko, I wanted to ask if Kala could participate with Cyan's Pokémon? Cyan and Kala were essentially a team when it came to his Island Challenge, and I'm sure people want to see the Pokémon that saved Alola."

It looked like Mrs. Kokura was holding back tears again. She sat back in her chair and sniffled before looking at Kala. "Something I've learned over the past few years, is that everything must continue. Cyan would be very angry with me if I said no."

Kala paused. She looked towards Cyan's room where Oranguru was laying down. He was looking back at her, and he nodded, seemingly giving her permission.

"I'll do it."

For the first time in two months, Mrs. Kokura smiled, even if it was only slightly. "Thanks."

"But."

"But?"

Kala stood up. "When is the tournament?"

"In two months," Kukui answered. He started to finish his stew.

"That's more than enough time."

"For what?"

Kala paused before taking a deep breath. "I have an Island Challenge to do."


Since Kala had already watched Cyan go through the trials, and because she had done her fair amount of studying, Kala knew what to expect when it came to her own Island Challenge. In preparation for her trial, the captains and kahunas made a few slight changes to make it more challenging, but Kala had very few problems.

She walked through the cave and battled Gumshoos and his partners with no fear on her face.

Her battle with her grandfather was a challenge, but she pulled through with Litten and Jangmo-o.

Although it took a lot of time, she was patient, and she battled Wishiwashi with all her heart. The battle was close and tested her resilience, but she managed to get through it.

The Wela Volcano challenge had changed considerably, but she remained calm and observant. She battled a fierce Salazzle, but her experience with Plumeria prepared her properly.

In the jungle, she learned a new recipe to rejuvenate her Pokémon's health. Lurantis reemerged to fight, but Litten was able to overpower it despite her size.

Olivia's grand trial wasn't easy, but Dartrix gave her a certain type-advantage that helped her through to the end.

Despite the darkness, she managed to get through the maze. Sophocles had installed tasers on the wall that prevented Kala from using Cyan's technique, but she still used her other senses, and she made it to the end.

Kala was never going to be afraid of the haunted market, and getting the picture of Mimikyu was easy enough. After her experiences with Solgaleo and Necrozma, the Ghost-type didn't scare her.

She battled with Nanu, and when she won, he handed over the Incerneroarite. But it looked like Litten had simply chosen to not evolve, so she used it as a pendant for a necklace.

Her mother's Kommo-o was difficult, but Kala pulled through. From her experiences with her team and the intense training that she had undergone, she was able to defeat Kommo-o with only her three Pokémon. Afterwards, she enjoyed a nice dinner with Kommo-o.

Then came her final challenge. It was the one challenge that Cyan did not complete, but Kala was still prepared.

Down to one Pokémon each, Kala knew that she was only a few minutes away from winning and then earning the right to say that she was on the same level as Lilo. She had finally gained the confidence to battle. She grew alongside Cyan, and she knew that she had to keep winning for him.

"Mudsdale, use High Horsepower!" Hapu commanded.

Kala stood without fear. "Litten, use Outrage!"

Litten roared, and her body became covered in arcane energy. She bounded forward and then crashed into Mudsdale. There was a small explosion of smoke, but Litten chose not to stop her attack. She continuously rammed her body into Mudsdale, and she slashed with her sharpened claws and would sink in her fangs with every opportunity.

"Heavy Slam!" Hapu called, desperate to not lose.

Mudsdale backed away a few feet, and then she launched herself into the air. She jumped in between Litten and the sun, making it impossible for the Fire-type to see.

But Kala kept on. "Put it all you got into a Fire Blast!"

"Mrrreow!" the Pokémon called while she formed a ball of fire in her throat. She launched it up towards the falling Mudsdale, and although the Ground-type was extremely heavy, the fire was powerful enough to send her off course. Mudsdale's focus was broken, and she fell straight towards the ground, landing a few feet away from Litten. Her eyes were clamped shut, and the battle was over.

Hapu stared on in shock. The unevolved Litten was able to beat her Mudsdale despite the type-disadvantage and size. But her expression soon changed, and she smiled before lifting her Poké Ball and retrieving Mudsdale.

"We did it," Kala said. For the first time in months, she smiled. "We actually did it."

"Mrrreow."

"Well, Kala. I'm not surprised," Hapu said. She slowly walked over to Kala who was now holding Litten in her arms. "You, Emma, and Lilo. You've all beaten me now. You three are incredible, and I'm looking forward to how far you get into the tournament."

"I'll do my best. I'll be using Cyan's Pokémon, and we're hoping to win it all."

Hapu reached into her pocket, and she pulled out the small piece of wood that Kala had become familiar with. Kala removed her amulet from her belt and handed it over, letting Hapu give her the fourth and final stamp.

"Make us proud, Kala."

That night, Kala stayed at the Poni Island Pokémon Center. As soon as the sun had risen into the sky, she slowly walked her way over to Vast Poni Canyon. Being on the island made her nervous, and she continuously shuddered as she thought about what had taken place only a few months ago. But she pressed on, and she walked through Vast Poni Canyon until she reached the stone steps that lead to the Altar of the Sunne and Moone. Every step felt like it took a minute. As she got higher and higher towards the altar, her heartbeat increased, and she could hear the blood flowing through her ears.

Then, she reached the top. The scars of the battle from before were still abundant. A lot of the stone had been carved in from Necrozma's attack, but a lot of the grass was growing back naturally, and the natural water source refilled the ponds which had been evaporated by the literal heat of battle.

Kala slowly approached the area where Cyan disappeared into, stopping only a few feet away from where the portal once was. One by one, she released the four Pokémon that Cyan had given her: Lycanroc, Salazzle, Oranguru, and Golem. She bawled her fist, and looked forward.

"Cyan, there's going to be a tournament soon. I'm entering with your Pokémon, and we're going to win it." She looked down at the ground, feeling tears starting to swell up. "I promise you."

Cyan's Pokémon had done enough crying over the past few months, and it was as though they could no longer could. They knew that they had to stay strong for one another, so they all fought back any and all tears.

"If you can hear me, Cyan. I want you to know that we all miss you, and we're never going to give up on you coming back. I know you're still with us. I know you're out there."

...

"Please come back soon."


AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Updated a bit earlier, because I work at a special needs hospital tomorrow, so I won't have time to post before I go in.

I wanted to originally have Chapters 37 and 38 be one chapter, but the tones are totally different, and I think I needed to give you guys some time to process Cyan's disappearance before returning to battles. That said, we'll be starting the tournament in Chapter 39, and it'll conclude in Chapter 41. I read something awhile back about how the world would just keep going on if some kid disappeared on their adventure, and I kind of wanted to play with that, so that's why we're jumping into a short tournament. Kukui is one step closer to achieving his dream of a Pokémon League in Alola. Awakening Alola will conclude in Chapter 42, and then I have something planned, because there will be a few unfinished threads.

REVIEWS:

pokemonking0924 - "Kala is taking good care of Cyans Pokémon and mother. Everyone has been affected by his disappearance, his mother especially. She has however been talking to Kala about Aoi and the reason she decided to move to Alola. Now who is knocking on the door? Cyan, Aoi, or some sort of messenger with a message from the former two (got this last one from Back to the Future 2)" - Part of me really wanted to write Aoi just showing up, but that doesn't feel earned.

wisdom-jewel - "I think it is sweet that Kala is staying written Cyan's mom. His mom must be very depressed after losing another child. Part of me wants Cyan to show up and his mom goes on "Anger born from worry" scream fest. His friends might do the same. And Guzma might have a gentler form of it. Or he can show up again a few years later. Best wishes for the next chapter." - I kind of think it'd be touching to have Guzma cry if Cyan ever returned.

CrescentApple - "Um... I dunno what to say. Everyone is so distraught... was Guzma this noble in the games? I only ever got as far as facing the jellyfish looking ultra beast in the aether institute before i lost my charger. But damn everyone was really affected. Even Cyan's pokemon. I don't know what you say. This was a touching emotional chapter." - Guzma has some noble traits in the end of Ultra Sun and Moon which have inspired my take on the character. And as someone has said in a past review, Guzma maybe sees some of Cyan in himself. I think Cyan's mom and Pokemon have been affected the most.