Hey, everyone. Guess it goes without saying that this isn't another lemony one-shot, rather a sequel to one, perhaps one of my favorites and one got me started into writing these Pokémon stories. In this case, I'll be taking a look at the…ahem, fallout from one of them. It's a request from a reviewer that caught my eye and thus here we are. Figured no better a place to start than on Father's Day and going into this admittedly chaotic and unpredictable summer. For those of you who haven't read Sunny Side of the Rocks, I'd encourage you to give it a read, but I'll do my best to fill in the holes with this story here. I hope you all enjoy this little story!
I do not own anything.
Chapter 1-Little Light in the Making
Olivia had gone on many dates thus knew there were many different types of activities couples could indulge in. Naturally, there was battling, but one could only do so much of that. As a rule of thumb, she tried to avoid guys who preferred to spend all their time battling, especially when it came at the expanse of actually spending time with her. From time to time, she found that some men simply weren't able to handle the fact that when it came to Pokémon battling…well, Olivia was no slouch. She wasn't an Island Kahuna and Elite Four member for nothing, a fact that more than a few potential suitors found out all too well.
Of course, sometimes, when it wasn't battling it was something else. Ultimately, it all came back down to the same thing, holding one's interests. If they couldn't happen, then the date failed, and if the date failed than odds were the relationship was going to fail as well.
That was not the case with Sun. He certainly held her attention, as did the activities he sometimes partook in.
Gambling had a way of holding anyone's interest, even if there wasn't any money at stake, it was just the sheer excitement of it. In order to succeed at it, it was often said one needed a good poker face, which Olivia found was true. Of all people, she quickly discovered that Sun was one of those people, and he ahd it in spades…along with an absolutely mind-boggling grasp of numbers. She'd watched him before, but not since they'd started dating was she able to truly be at his side whenever he took to playing a game, either professionally or just for fun as they were now. The same eyes that she saw following every move in battle were falling every card dealt, and watching the faces of his four opponents with razor-sharp interest.
"Well, you see…I guess it all started when I was a kid. My granddad taught me, even though it definitely wasn't what my mom wanted. She was worried I'd grow up to become a gambling addict. Hehe, instead of gambling, it's Pokémon battles."
"Doesn't mean you don't know how to make yourself a pretty buck with numbers, Sun. In fact, from what I've seen, you've already used those counting skills to make yourself a nice little bit of money, which I might add, you use rather responsibly. Hehe, I'm almost a little curious as to what would happen if we sat you down at a poker table and made that your way of life instead."
The irony of that statement made two years ago was enough to make Olivia laugh. It broke the tension at the table as several others laughed as well. No doubt because they could see how this little game was going to end. The persona beside her, her boyfriend, her man, laughed as well while never diverting his eyes from the cards in his hand. She knew for a fact that he held a winning hand, which was no doubt the envy of his opponents. Just like in a battle, Sun was cool and calm, knowing what he had to work with, and planning to get all that he could out of it. What he had was more than enough to secure him victory. Olivia looked forward to being there to celebrate the victory as they left the-
Oooh, dammit, not this again! She was beginning to wonder exactly what it was she'd ate that was causing her stomach such discomfort. Whatever it was, she vowed she'd swear off it for the next few days. Or perhaps even weeks at the rate this was going. She'd felt it in the morning and now here, hours later as her date with her boyfriend was about to enter its final phase. This pain had come to her two times before, specifically after they'd finished eating dinner. Olivia had been able to force back the pain, but not anymore, not this time. "I-I'll be right back, Sun. J-Just do your thing, alright?"
Finally, his concentration broke. His bluish-gray eyes swerved to her, watching her depart with a slight open mouth. She could hear her name rising up in his throat, finally escaping as a whisper; that's what caused her to look back.
"I've been with plenty of guys, and I can tell you compared to you they've all come up short. Know why? Because all they saw were a nice pair of legs, breasts, and an ass they'd love to squeeze. They didn't care one bit about the person they belonged to. All this time I've been next to you, the one person who saw all of that, but loved me for me." Those were the words she'd spoken to him almost three months ago when they came together to talk about the "accidental" one night stand they'd both shared. The day after it had come their join confessions of dormant feelings, the acceptance of those feelings, and the beginning of their still-prospering relationship. Looking back on it, Olivia liked to think her words had helped energize Sun; he'd returned the favor in kind by telling her that he'd looked to no other woman but her, that he admired none more so than her. Those words had made her heart flutter at how genuine they'd been. Such things had remained even now, months later as their relationship became more…well, public.
When Sun looked back at her, his eyes shined with concern for her wellbeing. The card game was forgotten about and all of his attention was on her. Olivia always loved such attention from a man, but it was when her health was in question did she find out how genuine that attention was, and if the care for her wellbeing went along with it. As she'd always known, Sun had both, especially when it came to her safety. Biting back the rising bile in her throat, she flashed him an inspiring grin and even a peace sigh. Mouthing the word, "win", she sped off to the bathroom, pushing past anyone who got in her way. The churning in her stomach grew worse.
Miraculously, she made into an open stall before it could all come gushing out. As soon as she was above the swirling toilet, she let it all out, vomiting practically everything that she'd eaten over the last couple of hours. Sun had taken her out to eat at this place, a bar worthy of three stars were the owner the sort of person who cared for that sort of thing. Instead, he simply cared on making sure his patrons could have a good time. Olivia could say that he made good on his word, especially in managing to keep a small gambling section running and relatively peaceful. The presence of a trained Machamp on the sidelines probably helped. While they'd been dining, Olivia could have sworn that she also saw some ( ) hanging in the shadows running extra security. It was a smart move.
The music and shouting outside was background to the vomiting that she continued to suffer through. Olivia could feel time slipping away as she did so. She hated it, not just for the pain, but for the memories it brought back. While she'd wondered close to the line of being a "party girl", she liked to think that she never fully crossed it. If anything, she'd helped others, her friends, when party fever got the better of them. Oddly enough, some of her fondest teenage memories were of her hunched over alongside them, helping them bad hangovers. She could only imagine what they'd have to say about her now.
B-But…it's not like I've been drinking a whole lot, and I don't think that I've eaten anything too heavy. Sure, there were times she could be a heavy drinker, but those were few and far in-between. Not to mention Sun usually acted a limiter for her, before and after he became her boyfriend. Someone sure as hell hadn't messed with her drinks, or at least she hoped not. Her mind ran through the possibilities, all save for one. It was one that was most obvious, yet its mere existence terrified her. She vainly attempted to banish it away by reaching up and pulling the leaver causing the toilet to flush, taking her vomit down with it. As the water turned from murky brown back to clear white, Olivia felt her heart rate spike. While the toilet water returned to normal…something in her told her that her life never would. And neither would Sun's.
No longer was she able to push away the lone possibility that she'd been dreading, it was now burrowing its way deep into her psyche. There was no pulling it out now that it had taken root.
Before Olivia knew it, she began to laugh, half in shock and the other half in an almost self-mocking manner. Gradually, she rose, shaking her head and a steely resolve taking over her face. You're not doing this here, you're better than that, dammit! Olivia, you can do better than this, you will do better than this! Sucking in a breath, she pushed up the stall door and made for the sink. Before she headed out, she had to wash herself. Especially since she still planed on kissing Sun a few more times before this date was over with. It was certainly going to end with a bang…maybe, depending on how Sun reacted. Okay, try not to think about that, at least not right now. You've still got some time, hell, you don't even have to tell him tonight! Alright, that last part was tip-toing the line.
Looking back, she'd had these pains sporadically for the last two weeks. They all pointed in one direction, a direction that she'd been defiantly avoiding for as long as she could. As the cold water splashed her face, she acceptance that could no longer be the case. She'd never been one to run from her problems, Olivia hated that kind of behavior; preaching against it from others but indulging in it herself would be nothing short of seething hypocrisy. Olivia wouldn't stand for it, as she told herself, she was better than that. Sun and countless others admired her because she was better than that; in the case of the former, he loved her for it.
Would he still love her after she told him?
Shaking her head, Olivia banished the thought from her mind. She wasn't the type of person who had thoughts like this, they had no place in her mind. She and Sun had come this far in their relationship…which was still less than half a year old. Way less.
The thought remained in the back of her head, suppressed and docile, for now at least.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sun questioned her for what was by her count, the fifth time.
Olivia heaved out a sigh. "Yes, yes, Sun, I'm fine! Perfectly fine, just…well, let's say I've been eating some things that haven't been agreeing with me, that's all." There was a beat as she gave his hand a light squeeze. "That said…what I have been eating has been tasty, I just…haven't been able to hold it down is all." That seemed to placate, for now at the least. Sun in no way believed her, but he saw how eager she was to drop the issue thus humored her. Olivia was grateful for that and let it show in the way she leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. It was times like this she was immensely grateful for his growth spurt. Said growth spurt was just another sign of how much Sun had grown from a boy into a man, a very handsome and loving man whom she was happy was hers.
Likewise, he was happy that he was able to do this, walk hand-in-hand with a woman as amazing as Olivia. Not a day had gone by in the last couple of weeks when he wasn't happy or grateful for accepting his feelings.
"Hey, sometime in the future…can we go back to that place, Blue Mile?" Chirped the dark-skinned woman. "My stomach aches aside, the food was pretty good. I'd love to go back and eat there without having to run to the bathroom…and…watching you school a couple of guys at cards."
Sun laughed. "You can watch me do that anywhere." Olivia giggled as she leaned over and peaked him the cheek.
"True, but you have no idea how nice it is as an after-dinner treat, or better yet, watching you do it while I'm eating some damn good grilled salmon."
"Sounds like I'll have some good news to pass along when I'm able to talk to Akitoshi again." If there was one thing he knew about his mother's long-time friend, it was that he loved praise, especially from "big name" customers. Sun never thought that he himself would be counted in that club, but he was. The blue-haired Kanto-native had sat him down and told him so one evening after Sun had finished helping and decided to stay and help close up. Another sit down had come when he told him that he was dating a member of the Elite Four. Akitoshi had practically been over the moon to learn of the relationship, practically giddy at the thought of the two sharing dates at his bar. Well, they just had, and by all accounts, it had been a success, mostly.
Gradually, the cloud borne from Olivia's bathroom ventures faded, blown away by the cool seaside area. Distant in their ears was the sound of the waves. In them, there was a temptation to take one of the many roads down to the waterfront and gaze out upon the sea. It wouldn't have been the first time and they wouldn't have been alone. On a night like tonight, both Sun and Olivia knew that the beaches would be filled with a fair amount of couples out gazing upon the crescent moon reflected upon the ocean. Such a time would have been ideal for them as they wouldn't have attracted too much attention. That said, neither would be surprised if images of the two of them popped up on the internet by eleven o'clock tomorrow. It was something the young champion and Elite Four member had gotten used to.
But they didn't let it stop either of them, they promised each other they never would.
It had been Olivia who had helped Sun somewhat adjust to the weight of being Alola's first regional champion. She certainly did her part in making sure that aspiring trainers had to really push themselves to meet him in an official battle for his title. Not for nothing were rumors born that she was the strongest of the Alolan Elite Four. Olivia was always more than willing to let potential challengers test such a rumor, much to the amusement and sometimes annoyance of her fellow Elite Four members. Naturally, it made for quite the dish for the media to devour when the news finally broke. After all, it wasn't every day that a regional champion and an Elite Four member got together, especially when there was a ten year-age-gap between the two of them.
And yet, here they were, walking hand in hand down the street, just like any other couple. They had a destination in mind, one they had gone to many times before.
The Konikoni City Lighthouse was one of its most iconic landmarks. Like many of the city's residents, it had been a part of Olivia's childhood and remained a part of her life here in the city. It was perhaps because of that fame that it was still in operation even though other technology advancements had made it somewhat redundant. Without a doubt, it certainly wasn't going anywhere soon, especially as it brought in quite a bit of tourism every day.
They could hear some of that tourist chatter as they took their seat on the park bench. To their far left stood the lighthouse while to their right stood a natural sloop leading down to the beach, at their front, pushing in and out, were the waves of the sea. Its soft melody whispered to the couple, who leaned back and lost themselves in it. Olivia happily made herself comfortable crux of her boyfriend's outstretched arm. In her entire twenty-seven years of living on the island, she felt like she'd finally found paradise, which was exactly how Sun felt.
"So…I hear that your mom and dad have been…talking." Olivia started. Almost immediately, she kicked herself. Of all the topics for her to bring up it had to be his family, and at what a time! "That's…good I suppose."
"Yeah, I mean, it's not like I've got my hopes up…but they're trying. Heh, even though I'm saying that, I'm being pretty optimistic in hoping that my dad will be alright with moving here to Alola." Replied the blue-gray-eyed teen with a humorful laugh. It was one that Olivia joined in, showing her support of his optimism. Sun wondered if his relationship with her marked some sort of cosmic turning point; if so, he'd be laughing his ass off for a number of reasons. "I want him to come visit Alola, see it, see what me and mom have come to love about it. Maybe I'm hoping for too much but…"
"Sun, maybe you are, but I won't say that it doesn't hurt to hope." Came the gentle admonish, and support. That was Olivia Lychee, truthful to the point of being blunt as the rocks she was associated with, but also gentle and comforting. Sun had always been drawn to that, and basking in both sides when they came out. That hadn't changed now that they were together, and he hoped it never would. "Without hope, well, hope keeps us going, even if it can be a bit scary. Hehehehe, all things considered, I kind of feel like I have to stick up for hope because mine has been rewarded, in spades." Leaning up, she placed another kiss on him, this one on his lips. As she pulled away, she saw the glint in his eyes, the temptation he was holding within him. Olivia's eyes held the same glint, her heartbeat kicked up as she thought of turning the kiss into something a little…more.
Sun beat her to it. He took her into his arms and brought her into a passionate yet gentle kiss. The Rock-type specialist absolutely dove into her, throwing herself onto his lap in seconds. Her hands were upon his young face, gently caressing his cheeks while their lips and tongues pressed against one another with fervent desire. Such desires would have continued, blasting at full power had they not been interrupted.
Bing! Bing! Bing!
Olivia pulled away, a giggle on her lips while her boyfriend sheepishly blushed.
"Curfew, I take it?" She inquired pulling away from him to return to her original place by his side.
"Hehe, kind of. Tomorrow I have some deliveries to make…and a practice match in the afternoon so…I'm going to be kind of busy." Explained the gray-haired trainer with a sheepish smile. All Olivia did was continue to smile and giggle, gradually, she nodded in acceptance that they wouldn't be seeing each other tomorrow. That said, they would still be hearing each other's voices, no doubt at the end when they were back in their respective homes, exhausted from a long day's work. It was something they could both look forward to.
Olivia's luck continued as she got to see an old friend as Sun readied to take his leave. In order to get home, he was going to have to move islands; he had the perfect partner for that.
Decidueye spread his wings out in a proud display as he was released from his Pokéball. The Grass/Ghost-type seemed to take great joy in the nightly air that blew across the cliffside, just what the owl-type Pokémon wanted. Quickly taking stock of the world around him, he quickly deduced what his chosen task would be; he turned to his trainer with an affectionate glint in his eyes. That same glint shined brighter as he turned his attention toward Olivia. The Rock-type master stepped forward and affectionately stroked the bird's hood-covered head and beak.
"Be careful on the flight over, you two, and Deci, make sure he gets to bed safely." Olivia added with a wink that made the avian archer bristle with amusement. His trainer looked at him, and his girlfriend, with a minor cross stare. Laughing as she looked out over the sea, she judged the winds to be fair enough for traveling, especially for a seasoned flier such as Sun's Decidueye. "I guess I'll see you in two days or so…or rather, I'll call you tomorrow."
The fully evolved starter had been amongst the first to know the blooming relationship between the two trainers. Matter of fact, he'd been predicting it for several years. It hadn't been that hard to see his trainer, his closest friend, had been pining for the dark-skinned Island Kahuna; a sigh of relief had been breathed when he along with the rest of Sun's Pokémon and Olivia's own were informed they were now "dating". Frankly, Decidueye turned his mind to the next big question, when would the couple start producing young? Based on the kiss that followed, a kiss that the avian ghost grew somewhat uncomfortable watching, likely soon. At heart though, he could hardly wait for such a day; he looked forward to carrying his trainer's young on his back just as he'd learned to do with him. Just as he was about to do that.
Just because the owl had lost its Flying-typing didn't mean it had lost its ability to fly. Oh no, Decidueye could fly just as well as he could in his pre-evolved stages. Flying from island to island was his, their way, of making sure that ability never grew stall. The teenager mounted himself atop the owl's back, waving goodbye to his lover before taking off into the night.
Olivia stared at the shadow of the combined two, watching them like a star shooting off into space. They might as well have been. As her hand fell, Olivia took in a breath that led her to looking up at the actual stars that dotted the clear night sky.
"I…guess it gives me a few days to tell him, or figure out how I'm going to tell him." She mused feeling a mixture of relief and sadness as she found herself alone atop the cliffside overlooking the water and standing in the shadow of the lighthouse.
On the walk home, the feeling of loneness persisted as the absence of her boyfriend once more made itself known to her. Olivia tried not to be a clingy person, especially when it came to boyfriends. With Sun though, it was a tad…different. He lived up to hi name, being a warm and comforting presence that brought light and hope wherever he went and to whoever he was with. Olivia had only just recently realized that light was to be cradled and loved with all that she had. The question was…was she prepared to spend the rest of her life doing that? Would Sun be accepting of that?
Would he be accepting of raising another human being? With her?
Those were the thoughts that swirled in her head as she returned home, heading up the stares of her jewelry shop to her apartment. She was grateful for all the time had passed, her stomach didn't rumble in unease or ache in pain in some areas. Perhaps they were just being saved for the morning. A sigh escaped her as she laid flat against her bed, the same bed that she and Sun had made love it, once, twice, and as of now, four times. Olivia toyed with the possibility that two additional times could have been when it happened.
Her hand went to her stomach. All this speculating…I…I should at least confirm it all, make sure it's really instead of just my paranoia…or my hope.
Two Days later…
Olivia never liked questions whose answers were clear as day. If you knew what the answer to a question was, that was that, everything else was just extra. Growing up, she'd learned that life was for better or for worse full of instances like that. With teachers and parents and superiors who led one to a certain place and patiently waited for them to reach the inevitable conclusion. She at least had enough shame to say that she was guilty of it now that she had reached a position being a "senior".
And as she'd just learned, she'd likely hold the right to continue to do so as a parent.
"I…take it you already knew?" Came the soft voice of the doctor who'd returned with her test results. Olivia looked up to said doctor with a small smile. He laughed as he took a seat directly in front of her. Randall "Randy" Rubens had been one of her closest friends growing up. A transfer student to the trainer school she attended from Unvoa, he'd at first struggled to fit in until Olivia had reached out her hand in friendship to him. The end result had been several long years of lasting friendship that allowed for her to sit in front of him in his office, having just received the most shocking news a woman could imagine. A hand ran through his ginger red hair as he himself digested the news in front of her. "Sun's the father?"
"Wasn't that hard to figure out, was it?" Half-joked the black-haired woman with a slight uptick in her smile.
Green eyes cackled with joy, and relief. Randy was a good friend, but he had a tendency to be a tad protective. Such a trait wasn't exactly unappealing, quite the opposite based on the fact that it had landed him quite a devoted girlfriend. Now, that protectiveness was geared toward her. "Well, since you two got together, I imagine he's the only one you've had intercourse with. For the sake of my mental health, I won't go further than that." Both laughed at his statement. Once the laughter died down, an uneasy silence fell over them. "I'll…do you want me to get you something to drink?"
"Some water would be nice." Olivia answered.
She'd been in his office before, sometimes for medical check-ups and other times to simply come see him as a friend. It was a place of peace and calmness in which she could be left alone with her thoughts. Needless to say, Olivia had quite a bit of think about in the few minutes in which she was alone.
I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant…with Sun's child. Her hands drifted over to her stomach, now covered thanks to the blouse that she wore. She now knew she'd have to dress a tad more…cautiously in the future. Clothing shopping was definitely going to be on the menu over the next couple of months, lots of it if she were honest with herself. Though jewelry was her favorite type of shopping, Olivia knew there wouldn't be any of that for a few years, not until her child could tell the difference between a gem and an ordinary rock found on the road. Excitement bubbled through her at the thought of such a thing, what she would teach her child. It grew tremendously as she imagined Sun alongside her.
When Randy returned, he remarked how happy she seemed to be at the news. Olivia smiled at him and said she was…but she was also completely scared out of her mind.
"I've wanted to get married and settle down for so long…but…this…" She started taking a sip of her cup, hands practically trembling as she did so. "A case of be careful what you wish for?"
"Something like that. Life rarely turns out like we planned." The green-eyed doctor pointed to himself with a light smile. "I honestly didn't think I'd be here, as a doctor. I thought I'd be flying rockets into space."
"Oh yeah, I definitely remember you talking about that." Replied the Elite Four member with a cheery grin. "You kept on talking about how you wanted to colonize distant worlds, put a flag with your face on it and claim them for planet Earth."
"Yeah, I did." Admitted the redhead with a hearty laugh. Those memories sometimes seemed distant, but at times like this, they were clear as day. Such light-hearted school days were always fun to look back on, especially when in the company of those who were there for them. Randy's eyes met Olivia's, "Halting that dream was me looking around and realizing that there were people on this world who needed my help. People like a certain someone who tried to grab what she thought was an emerald stuck up on a hill but really turned out to be a piece of colored tin foil." It was now the master-class trainer laughing nervously while the doctor chuckled in amusement. "Following that there was a baseball playing friend of ours who accidentally pulled his arm and I had to treat it. Those things kept on piling up until I realized instead of exploring distant worlds…I wanted to do my part in helping the people on this one. Heh, and I just learned the population's about to grow by one."
Both of her hands were now on her stomach, as if she were trying to feel the life slowly taking shape within her. In time, she would, and she was sure that others would be eager to feel it as well. Olivia's face went from joyous to nervous, a change that didn't escape Randy's observant eyes.
"I don't want to sound rude but…when do you plan on telling Sun?"
"…As soon as I can work up the strength to. Randy, we just started dating barely a month ago." Now that she had the confirmation, she could place more stock on the possibility that the child growing within her had been conceived either on their one night stand or the night after. Personally, Olivia hoped it was the latter instead of the former. "I…I don't know how to tell him this, I'm-"
"Scared? Olivia, there's nothing wrong with that." As a doctor, Randy had seen a great many different things. Even the strongest of people and Pokémon could be brought low and made vulnerable by the most unsuspecting of things. Likewise, the eye-opening job of parenthood had a tendency to invoke the softest sides of normally strong resolute and even cold people. An Elite Four member was no exception. "You're going to be a mother and Sun's going to be a father."
"At sixteen-years-old." She muttered, slightly clenching at her sides. The whole thing was almost comical to think about, only growing more ludicrous as she thought of it. "It feels like I'm forcing this on him."
"You're not, and he won't see it that way, I promise you." Assured her old friend.
"But won't everyone else?!" So far, she'd done a good enough job of keeping her emotions under control, but now, that control was slipping. Emotions running high, she bit her lip in a mixture of fear and irritation. Always the social-minded, Olivia could see the news media getting wind of this. She and Sun had only just begun to regain their privacy; all that was going to be dust in the wind once news of this got out. "His parents are in the midst of reconciling, and then there's mine…"
"Who will no doubt be fully supportive, along with I'm sure, the other Island Kahunas and Elite Four." Randy added, eager to subdue her rising panic and fear. As a doctor, he too saw this as part of his job. It was a conversation and reassurance he'd had to do before, particularly with pregnancy reveals. He had to admit, he never thought he'd be doing it for Olivia of all people, but she was one of his oldest friends, and he'd be there for her. Likewise, he was sure that the father of the child currently growing inside of his childhood friend would be just as supportive. Speaking of which, that the topic he felt he had to get them back on. "Olivia," Randy started. "Sun should probably know by the end of the week."
"Which is in two days." Olivia drily remarked. The coming weekend would have no doubt been ideal as both of their schedules would be free. Telling him on the weekend would definitely give him some time to digest the news. Sucking in a breath, she stood up straight, tall and proud as she usually was. "Alright, I'll tell him. Next time, hopefully, it'll be both of us coming to see you for a checkup."
"I'll be looking forward to that visit." Randy laughed.
The visit wrapped up shortly after that. It had accomplished its goal, and maybe a little more than that. Olivia came in knowing she was going to be walking out shaken and looking to an uncertain future. She hadn't been off the mark; she'd been completely right. As she headed toward the double doors, she clenched at her purse. Her gaze moved around the lobby area she'd previously been waiting in. It was an ordinary day in late August; absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. Parents and children were there, no doubt for checkups as school would be starting back up in about two weeks or so. For them, these were the last days of their summer break; naturally, some were a little dismayed about having to spend it at the hospital. Others were simply making the most out of the time, playing with themselves, their siblings, and their parents, who very much did what they could to make the impeding check up feel less threatening.
Yet again, Olivia pictured herself being one of them.
Stepping into the late summer area, she looked up at the still blue sky. "Alright, now what do I do? I've pretty much got the rest of the day to myself?" She could go back and personally manage her jewelry shop in the city. Last she heard everything was running smoothly. There was always the possibility of heading online and seeing if new orders could be placed for new merchandise. Last she heard, over in the Galar region, mining had yielded some new previously buried minerals, minerals that were now being refined into jewelry. That would certainly been something to take a like at…likewise, diving in and seeing if those rumors of new Mega Stones were true. Regarding the former, she'd gotten in on the "Mega Wave" as it'd been called in ensuring her precious store sold the stones as well as any other gem and mineral-based accessories.
In accordance with that, her mind wondered off to "bond training" with her recently caught Tyranitar. It tied into the other possibility of how she could spend her time-checking in on the Konikoni City Gym.
Construction on it had only begun about two years ago, yet she was sure it was only half-way toward being completed. Shutting her eyes, she could picture the half-completed building, no doubt because she'd been in it several times, helping supervise its construction. Stopping by to check on it wouldn't be a-
Bing! Bing!
"Ah, and what a perfect time to call." Mused the Elite Four member reaching into her purse for her Holo Caster. Within seconds, a holographic image of her boyfriend was smiling at her. Olivia smiled back. "Here I was thinking about you and wondering what to do with the rest of my day."
"Heh, well, I can think of one idea. Olivia, could you come to the Altar of the Sunne?" Asked the holographic projection of Alola's first and still reigning Champion.
His request threw her for an instant loop. "T-The Altar of the Sunne?" Olivia repeated in naked shock. "Y-You want me to come there? O-On this kind of short notice?" It wasn't like it was out of her ability. She was not only an Island Kahuna but also a member of the Elite Four…and the girlfriend of the Alolan Champion who was also responsible for saving the whole region with the help of the Pokémon whom the altar had been constructed for in the first place. For that matter, a part of her was surprised that Sun hadn't seen his Solgaleo to pick her up, though knowing him he was polite enough to wait for her reply.
Speaking of her boyfriend, his face fell as he realized how out of place it all sounded. "I can understand if you don't want to. I can tell you some-"
"Don't worry, I'll be there." Winked the Rock-type trainer. A mixture of relief and anxiety fluttered about in her stomach as she realized the opportunity she'd been hoping for had just landed in her lap. Practically from the sky almost to the point she wanted to laugh, she would when the call ended. "I…I'll see what surprise you have for me when I get there."
"Great! Meet me there in about forty minutes!" With that, the call ended.
Olivia bit her lip in anger at herself. Oh, and by the way, there's something I need to tell you. Surely it wouldn't have been that hard to tell him that, but she'd froze. She could only hope that wouldn't happen when she got there, or that Sun's surprise for her didn't wipe her mind clean of the fact that she was carrying his child and needed to tell him. What better place than one of the most sacred sites in all of Alola? Finally, she let her head cock to the side and laughed at the symbolism of it all. Maybe it's all a sign, a positive one, I hope.
Of all the islands of Alola, Poni Island was one that tended to attracted quite a bit of attention, and for rather good reason. The Altar of the Sunne was a national landmark that hundreds, thousands, made the journey to visit every year. Tourism had certainly kicked up a notch several years back when Ultra Beasts began pouring in and Sun and Lillie's sweet little Nebby evolved into the proud and majestic Solgaleo, whom now faithfully served under Sun. It was all so surreal to think about, yet it had all happened; the entire affair was now a part of Alola's deep and every increasing history.
Like many islanders, Olivia took a great deal of pride in that history and the traditions that came with it. Granted, she knew that the sentiment wasn't universal. There were those who wanted to break from it all, a key reason being the pressures that came with the traditions. Not all could live up to them, and not all wished to carry them. Olivia bore those people no ill will; she believed everyone had a right to live their lives as they wished.
Ironically, what lay inside of her, growing inside her, was something that was likely going to challenge that notion.
Continuing up the steps, she could see the summit coming into sight. A wave of joy, anxiety, and fear washed over her, carried by the windy air of the rocky valley dotted with rocky hills and mountains. She felt like she were ascending upward into the heavens, a sentiment that was rather popular amongst the people. Waiting for at the top was the sun itself.
"Surprised that I came all the way up her?" Inquired the dark-skinned woman with a hand on her hips and sultry smile on her face. "Isn't not like I'm one of those delicate ladies who'll be huffing and puffing after the first ten steps."
Sun laughed at the memories she was invoking. Admittedly, when he, Hau, and Lillie had made the track up the Altar, they'd groaned at what they thought was a never-ending series of stairs. He and Lillie had sighed in relief when they finally reached the top, Hau had been too blown away by the view offered from the top of the altar to care much for the exhaustion. That same view was now a private showing for the couple, who stood side by side at the summit of the mountain, basking in the breathtaking view of the canyon.
"You know, I always like coming up here when I need some peace and quiet, or just when I want to put my thoughts together." Began the teenager with a carefree smile on his face. "Do you think it's a little selfish of me using a sacred place like this as a private little getaway, even if I am the Champion?"
Olivia wrapped an arm around his waist. "Nope. The Altar of the Sunne is a sacred place, but it is also a public place, especially to us islanders." Fully facing him, Olivia reached up with her left hand to cradle his cheek. Sun had grown so much, figuratively and literally, since he first ascended to the top f the altar. He'd first done so as a boy, but now, he was a man. "As far as everyone, as far as I'm sure the Guardians and spirits of Alola are concerned, you're one of us, Sun." Next came the kiss, one that they both threw themselves into with all of their being. Olivia moaned in heartfelt joy as she felt her lover's arms wrapping around her.
The summer wind caressed the bodies of the two trainers. Deep in the background, seemingly out of their reach, the sun had begun its slow descent toward the horizon. Blue skies were gradually turning orange, a color that was slowly coloring the valley and surrounding land. It was a time when Poni Valley was perhaps at its most stunning. Yet again, the couple sat down on the steps and looked out to the landscape. This was one of their favorite hobbies, including ways to spend their dates. Sun had been told he'd get bored of the sight seeing in Alola, but here he was five years going on six after his original arrival in the island region, and he was nowhere near bored.
Sun was reluctant to have the moment end, but eventually, he found the strength to do so. At the very least he had something on hand that he hoped would attract Olivia's attention; he was almost certain of it.
And he turned out to be right as he held out the glittering rough oval-shaped stone that he'd brought with him, that had been the reason why he'd called up to the Altar in the first place. He leaned back and watched with a smirk as his girlfriend's eyes lit up; she'd practically snatched the stone from his head and was now examining every inch of it. Sun didn't blame her, if the average person would have been impressed by the near ethereal glow of the bluish-gray rock, then a gem enthusiast like Olivia was utterly captivated by it. He knew she could find more details than he possibly could from a mere glance. She was definitely getting more than that in as she turned it about in her hands.
Finally, she looked back to him with a cheeky grin. "Let me guess, this came from Ultra Space?"
"Yep, a souvenir from a little journey I took through there!" Answered back the teenager with a grin. Now he was the one practically bouncing where about. "It was amazing! I went with the Ultra Recon Squad to explore a newly identified area called the Stone Ocean, it's…Olivia, I gotta show it to you."
"Stone Ocean, huh? Sounds like something I'd love to see." Began the Elite Four member. Just as the gears began to turn, a cog was thrown into them. Her once racing heart grounded to a halt. Focus, Olivia! You have to tell him, you-
"Speaking of which, I've been helping them map out more of Ultra Space." Sun's voice penetrated the recesses of her mind. Pulled back to reality, Olivia looked up and saw Sun had stood up and turned back to the altar. His eyes were focused and distant. No doubt he was recalling all that had happened there, how he'd jumped atop a Legendary Pokémon and rode it into another world. Sun reached out his hand, as if he could still feel the whipping winds borne from the literal hole torn in space. He could, and he doubted the feeling would ever leave him, the memories would never leave him. "It's…it's all a lot to take in. There's so much of it I want to explore, that I'm still planning on exploring."
Her heart jumped in her chest. "Still planning? Sides like you're certainly making the most of your time."
"Well, to be honest all the focus is on me since I've had more experience than most when it comes to Ultra Beasts and Ultra Space." Neither of them could deny that. When trainers set out on their journeys, they fully expected to discover the strange and mysterious secrets of the world of Pokémon. As it had now widely been accepted, their world wasn't the only one. That fact was hammered in as they stared up at the massive circle crafted in the likeness of the sun. Some writer of fantastical fiction would have looked at it and said it would have made for a good doorway into some otherworldly realm filled with inhuman and mysterious creatures. Not only was such a thing possible, but Sun had seen it happening, as had Olivia when wormholes in the sky opened up and Ultra Beasts were deposited across Alola. Were it not for Sun, things could have been much worse. "Olivia, would you…be angry if I told you that I felt like it's my responsible?" Came the question that had been building in the teen's throat.
She looked to him with a sharp but compassionate gaze. "Sun…you're one of the most dedicated and kindest people that I've ever met. You're the type who can't walk away when someone's in danger, and an entire region…" Olivia could feel her heart beginning to race. While she'd only been to Ultra Space twice, those times were enough to leave her wide-eyed and somewhat weary of what she saw. Especially the ruins that pocketed the alternate world. She'd never been particularly keen on Sun, a teenager at best, exploring it, or worse, having to spearhead that exploration when a team of perfectly trained experts existed for such a task. "Saving a whole region…Sun, such things are better left to us grownups…but you went out and did it. We're all grateful for that, especially me." Her hand reached up and caressed his cheek. She had his attention, that should have been a signal to get it over with, but Olivia found herself lost in the pools of bluish-gray that were Sun's eyes. "Even now, years later, you're still being asked to safeguard us all. It's…it's…it's not fair."
"Well, I am the Champion, and that title comes with its perks…and its baggage." Answered back the teen, placing his hand atop of Olivia's. "I want to map it out so that when people start traveling into Ultra Space, it'll be safer, if only by a little bit. The things that are lurking around there…" He trailed off as a shudder raced through him. As always, Olivia was there for him, holding him as the fear ran its course. A second later and it was gone thanks to her. He murmured a thank you as he bumped his forehead against hers.
A brief kiss between the two ensued before they went back to holding one another. Sun now realized that Olivia was shaking. Without even asking, he held onto her tighter, pouring all that he could into her in an attempt to burn away her unease.
"You're one of those people who's taking care of others, even when you try not to act like it." Came the soft whisper. "That's admirable, but…oh, Sun, exploring Ultra Space…could you…would you be willing to just…let it go?"
"Olivia?" He questioned, now concerned.
"Look, I know it's a whole new world there, literally…but…think about here! Think about the people here in this world who need you more!" She thought she could keep control of herself as she confessed, but she couldn't. Call it selfishness, call it whatever one wanted, but Olivia let it all out in that instant. Her hands clenched at the teenager's back, as if she were trying to keep him held in her arms. In a manner of speaking, she was. "Hau…your mother…Lillie…me…I…I need you here, Sun, w-w-we need, we're going to need you."
The howl of the canyon winds surrounded them, as did the warm rays of the slow setting sun. At any other time or place, it would have been a prime time for romance. One could argue that it was as Sun continued to hold his girlfriend, whose emotional distress he'd come to recognize. He silently digested her words. Ultimately, he came to a single conclusion.
Cradling her by the back of the head, the young Champion said, "Alright, I'll cut back on the traveling Ultra Space." He leaned forward, leaning up a little, to plant a light kiss on her forehead.
It had Olivia's cheeks blazing red, but her heart continued to hammer in her chest. Even now, she knew she couldn't turn away. Sun may have gotten the bulk of her concern, but he'd yet to understand why she was so worried. She had to tell him. "I'm…happy to hear that, we both are…but we still want you to be careful. Sun, your life is…it's a lot more precious than you realize."
His eyes flashed as he finally picked up on the clues she'd been laying out for him. "We?" The gears in his head began to turn. Picking over her last few statements, he noticed how she kept on using that pronoun; Sun didn't believe it was referring to a broad category but a more narrowed one. "O-O-Ol-Olivia?" Stammered the sixteen-year-old.
Stepping away, partially to relieve her own racing heart and blazing nerves, the Island Kahuna slowly nodded her head. "Yes, Sun, I'm…I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant with your child."
She quickly braced herself, for what she honestly didn't know. Olivia was fully expecting her boyfriend to pass out from the shock of her statement. It would certainly be awkward, but from where she was, entirely in the realm of reason.
The short distance between them was closed as the Kanto-Sinnoh boy wrapped her in a sweeping hug. "We're having a baby! We're having a baby!" He cheered again and again as he began to swing her about. It took the Rock specialist a second to process what was happening, and Sun pelting her cheek with kisses, for his response to register. Quickly, her arms and legs were wrapped around him. Sun felt tears slipping form her eyes onto his face and neck. He accepted them, everything that came from Olivia, he'd accept, now including the child growing inside of her. Their child.
Not surprising, they ended up hitting the ground. Neither of them seemed to mind; their snuggling and kissing continued uninterrupted, dotted with their jubilant laughter which rung through the altar. There were quite a few, particularly the elderly, who would have found what they were doing scandalous at best and sacrilege at worst. The couple didn't care and simply continued on, headless of the hidden observer who watched them from beyond the veil of dimensions.
Gradually, the couple regained some measure of self-control. Sitting together on the steps of the altar, they stared out over the terrain, now bathed in a fiery orange hue. It was an ideal setting for such terrific news, also somewhat ironic.
"I'm going to be a dad." Sun repeated, still in disbelief over the fact. "I'm going to be a dad." Slowly, he looked down at his hands. They were trembling, from excitement and fear. What caused them to stop were the gentle hands of another, a darken pair with perfectly manicured nails. Immediately, his fingers closed around them. "And you're going to be a mom." He added looking up at the woman he'd admired and loved for so long, now carrying his offspring.
Olivia couldn't deny she relished the way Sun looked at her. Sure, he always looked at her like she was the only woman in the world, but now his admiration of her had increased threefold. "Yep, parenthood…the thing that I've…always wanted."
Sensing the particular choosing of her words, Sun held her hand in his. As it so happened, it was her left hand. "Yeah, parenthood…and marriage." The word seemed to hold a power over the two of them.
"Sun," Started the older woman, drawing his attention. Her dark-gray eyes were on him, tender and soft as always. Her hands gently rubbed his own, almost as if to bring him down from the cloud-level heights he seemed to be ascending to. She needed him back here down on earth, realistic and grounded. "Listen, I…this is a lot to take in. I'm…I'm beyond happy that you're accepting of this, that you're-mmmhhh. Mmmmhhh." And since he was back on earth, he took the opportunity to steal a kiss from her. What started out simply quickly evolved into a passionate make out that almost had Olivia on her backside, her boyfriend atop of her. She certainly wasn't opposed to the whole thing.
Breathless, he pulled away, looking her right in the eye. "Why wouldn't I be happy? Olivia…the day you accepted my feelings was the happiest day of my life, and you just one-upped that by telling me that you're…" He paused, the full weight of the situation at least caught up to him. Sun held her hands as he pulled her back into an upright sitting position. "I got you pregnant, so I have to, I want to take responsibility." His grip on her hands tighten, warm flooding into them from his very soul. "I want to be a part of your life…and our baby's."
Genuine, that was always the word she'd use to describe Sun. Every word he spoke, every action he undertook, those things born in his heart showed. They often appropriately succeeded in their chosen endeavors. It was a trait that Olivia hoped passed onto their baby.
A few tears and sniffled had to be sorted out before she could properly speak, and even then, her words were cut off by a soft purr that was a little too close for comfort. Turning around, Olivia nearly jumped out of her skin in seeing she was incredibly close to the Emissary of the Sun. A gasp of alarm exploded from her throat as she jumped up, nearly losing her balance. Sun reached out and caught her, holding her steady. Solgaleo cocked his head in confusion at the scene, or perhaps it was amusement. The solar-based Pokémon was more than capable of understanding human actions and words.
"Geez, two humans and a legendary Pokémon, not quite what I had in mind." Groaned the black-haired woman while her boyfriend merely laughed. He shot her a sideways look, silently asking the question of who the other human was. He probably already had an idea. "Randy, he…confirmed what I already thought."
"Your…uhm, bathroom trips and pains?" Sun inquired.
Olivia nodded. "First stages. He believes I'm about a month along."
Sun was silent at that, having already connected the dots. He casually stroked the head of the mammal-based member of the Light Trio as if it were a household Mewoth. It was a testament to just how close he and the Solgleo formerly known as "Nebby" were. Evolution and time had yet to break the bond the two held. Speaking of bond, the dual-typed Pokémon turned its pale blue eyes to Olivia. Thankfully, she'd grown comfortable enough to openly interact with him, albeit with an air of caution.
"Think he knows?" She inquired watching the mystical lion purr under her touch, yet its eyes never wavering from her stomach. Something told her that the answer to her question was a yes.
"Probably," Sun offered nervously scratching his head. "I mean, when you think about it, besides it evolutions, the Cosmog's…reproductive abilities."
"Still trying to wrap your mind around that?"
"Yeah, plus this big blue and white mass of cosmic power and light used to be an annoying little puff of cosmic dust that wouldn't stay in a bag." Sun quipped with a lazy smile. It remained even as he was the subject of a light growl and glare from the Steel/Psychic-type. The teenager laughed as he affectionately patted the snout of the beast, quelling its annoyance. "Suppose we've got a whole lot to think about…but first, how's about a ride?"
Olivia stood up straight, shocked and blushing. It wasn't like this was the first time she'd been offered a ride on one of the two legendary Pokémon of Alola, it would actually be the third. The first time had been before she and Sun were an item, the second had been during a date where he'd called up Solgaleo in what the equivalent of flagging a taxi. It was just another trait that made Sun arguable the most eligible bachelor in all of Alola, or rather, he used to be.
Taking his offered hand, Olivia squeaked in modest shock as she was placed on the back of the majestic white-bodied Pokémon. Getting used to riding Solgaleo was still going to take some time; luckily for Olivia, she had all the time in the world to practice.
"Since a trip to Ultra Space has been taken off the menu for a while, how's about a run through Poni Valley?" Offered the black-haired male with a grin that made Olivia's heart flutter in joy.
Wrapping both arms around his waist, she leaned against his back. "That sounds wonderful, Sun." She heard his hearty laugh, in it burned away the last traces of her worry and anxiety. It definitely burned away as she found herself the recipient of an unexpected but still very much welcome kiss.
"Thank you, Olivia." Whispered the Dex holder as he pulled away from her, a familiar blush coloring his cheeks.
"For what?" She asked.
"For…well, everything. Including now giving me the chance to be a father, to…start my own family."
Olivia kissed him, a short but still very sweet kiss, before resettling onto his back. Since dating, she'd found being arm-in-arm with each other was one of her favorite activities, no matter the circumstances. "I should be thanking you for that, for making my dream come true."
Solgaleo had been patient in letting the couple have their moment. At his old friend's soft kick, the dual-type Pokémon took off from the altar built in its owner. The white and blue and gold-lined body moved through the air like a leaf on the wind, temporarily guided by its own power until hitting the ground and kicking off yet again. A body strong as steel graceful sailed across the canyon, two humans rising atop it, their faces expressions of pure joy.
Little…one. Called the cosmic beast as it proudly carried the two across the landscape, now bathed various shades of orange from the setting sun. Olivia…is…carrying your…little one. Your offspring.
Yeah, pretty much. Sun answered, happy that the conversation was private between pair. She's…carrying my child, she'll give birth about a year from now…to a…little human.
You do not believe you are ready to take care a little human? Solgaleo responded, sounding seemingly confused.
Sun's expression fell, he was glad it was hidden from Olivia. Fatherhood...I honestly don't know if I'm ready for that.
There was a brief pause as the Emissary of the Sun touched down on a rocky hilltop. It didn't go unnoticed by either of its riders.
Sun, you were…good in…helping raise me. You have been good to your other Pokémon, all of whom look up to you. Most importantly, The kick off came, taking the trio high into the evening sky. It almost felt like they were flying. You have been good to Olivia, who has been an excellent mate to you, and shall be an excellent mother to your child. Likewise…you shall be an excellent father to your child, I'm sure of it.
Reassurance from the front came, and from the back. Sun wasn't surprised that Olivia had clued in on his unease. Even if she wasn't facing him, she could still see him, feel the emotions running through him. As always, she was there for him. Smiling, he murmured a thank you to both, and as he faced toward the setting sun casting its radiant glow across the land, he made a promise. A promise to the small life growing within the woman behind him.
He would show this beautiful sight to that life, hold them in his arms, and let them know that wherever they were, he would be with them, watching over them and pushing them forward.
And so ends the first chapter of this little story I've decided to put up for the summer. It's a bit of a blend between Sun and Ultra Sun since I couldn't resist taking a look at what sort of effects a young man fighting interdimensional aliens and exploration would have on the people around him. Sun's been given a pretty good reason to be more careful from now on, wouldn't you say? Given how times are, writing something positive can be very stress relieving, and there's nothing quite like writing fluff. The next chapter should be up in a few days to a week and will deal with the fallout as the pregnancy news begins making the rounds through Alola. I'm pretty sure you all can guess who'll be showing up in the next chapter. Until then, stay safe and healthy readers, and happy Father's Day!