So, I've gotten my thoughts sorted so far, please keep in mind that this is 100 percent NOT the greatest chapter of all times… X(
Chapter Nine.
Hau's POV
The next day, we set out to the Altar of the Sunne and Moone, which I personally think they should rename it to 'the Altar of the Eclipse,' but anyway.
Well, I mean, technically we were going to Exeggutor Island and then the Altar of the Sunne and Moone, but you get what I'm saying.
We were taking one of the foundations boats, with the employees driving. Gladion and Moon had been awfully quiet for the trip and Lillie was in non-stop nervous chatter, mainly to herself.
I tried to break up the tension a little bit. "So," I said. "Which Legendary do you guys hope we'll get to see?"
"I've always been fascinated with Lunala!" Lillie put in straight away. Moon nodded in agreement, while Gladion just shrugged.
"Oh, come on guys! What's wrong?" I asked, officially sick of how everyone had been acting.
"I… I guess I'm just nervous," Lillie admitted. Couldn't have guessed that one.
"I'm just tired," Moon said reasonably. She looked tired, but I suspected she was using it as an excuse.
Gladion didn't answer. I didn't expect him to. I mean, normally the moody teenager wouldn't admit anything about his feelings, and now taking into account what had happened yesterday… Yeah, he was definitely not going to budge.
"Gladion, you didn't answer," Moon said, poking him. I bit my lip anxiously. Sometimes Moon could just be a little pushy and Gladion was clearly not having it and sometimes he could be pretty harsh aaaaaaaaaand… well, I didn't want their absolutely adorable relationship to be broken just by Moon's over-confidence.
"Maybe just leave him," I said after a moment of Moon staring grumpily at Gladion. "We're all tired and we're all nervous and we all act upon these emotions in different ways."
"You're so very wise," Lillie laughed.
"I think I am!"
"Sure, okay."
We all laughed (except Gladion) and started talking (except Gladion) like we would do at a café before all this (except Gladion). (Wow, now the word 'except' has lost its meaning.)
Anyway, we arrived on Exeggutor Island half an hour later.
"Let's split up and find the flute," Gladion said. "It's a small island, so just yell out if you're in trouble that you can't get yourself out of."
"Okay," Lillie and Moon agreed.
"Let's go find this Moone Flute!" I cried, being the first to turn around and walk away.
Lillie's POV
I walked away from Moon and Gladion, who had decided to search the cave systems, and Hau, who was looking through the tall grass and bushes.
The island was practically a sea of Exeggutor, so many in every direction. I decided to walk past them and climb a small rocky hill.
My skirt was definitely not going to be white again, which I didn't like. Mother would be so annoyed…
Mother wouldn't care! We're rescuing her! Lusimine… that wasn't Mother, Mother wouldn't be so preoccupied with beasts, loving them over her own children!
For most of the journey, I had been trying to convince myself that Mother still loved me and Gladion. Speaking of, I'd wanted to ask him about what he thought about the whole situation but… My brother's so sweet, so kind, but Gladion… was so distant and cold. I just couldn't see him as the same person I'd known two years ago.
I mean, Gladion had been keeping a secret from me for four years straight! Brothers generally don't do that! Right?
My whole family was so broken now; my father disappeared, my mother is so… obsessed, and my brother is just… not my brother! I feel sorry for dragging Moon and Hau into our family business, but I really appreciate their help. When I ran away from home after discovering the truth about Mother, they were the first kind people I bumped into. And after spending a little time away from home, I finally realised why Gladion had to run away too.
But he got away earlier! And didn't take you, Lillie! What kind of brother does that? Mother was so horrible to me after he left!
But, Lillie… you weren't the one that had been locked up in a lab with scientists doing experiments on you for... how long? Maybe his reasons were… reasonable.
Anyway, I finally reached the top of the hill and saw ruins.
"Moon, Hau, Gladion! Come quick! I found it!" I called and my friends were there in an instant.
The Moone Flute was sitting on a stand surrounded by ancient carvings of the moon and Lunala.
"Wow," Moon breathed. "The Moone Flute… it's so…" Moon reached out to touch the flute, as though in a trance.
As soon as her fingers brushed the artifact, it glowed for a second, Moon gasped, and collapsed.
"Moon!" Gladion cried, catching the girl before she hit the ground. "Are you okay?"
"Um… define okay…" Moon said, shaking her head as Gladion helped her up.
"What happened?!" Hau and I asked in a rush.
"I… I don't know…" she said, still leaning on my brother for support. His green eyes were fixed in a worry, much like mine. "I was just… reaching out to touch the thing, and then, suddenly, Lunala appeared—and so did Solgaleo! And-and I saw them making the flutes!"
"Whoa, really?" I asked in awe.
"Was it… some sort of vision?" Gladion said softly.
"I don't know," Moon confessed. "Maybe if someone else tries to touch it…?"
I leant forward and brushed the surface of the flute with my finger. I braced myself. But nothing happened.
I carefully lifted the flute from its stand, running a hand down it.
"Seems fine to me," I said.
"Maybe its because… Moon is… Moon? Like, you were technically named after Lunala, therefore the flute," Hau said. "Maybe that's got something to do with its powers."
"Then you should be the one to wield it," I said, holding out the flute to Moon.
She took it, this time without passing out, and nodded.
"It feels like it was meant for… me," she said, smiling. "Well, Lillie, I think you should use the Sunne Flute then!"
"R-really? Me?"
Gladion and Hau nodded.
"Yeah, you'd be great Lills!" Hau said, smiling broadly.
"Thanks, you guys!" I took the Sunne Flute from Gladion, who offered it to me. "Now let's go to the Altar of the Sunne and Moone!"
Moon's POV
We arrived at the Altar on Poni Island an hour later, after getting a ride from the newly appointed Island Kuhuna, Hapu.
"Okay… now what?" I asked, looking at the sun and moon symbols blankly.
"The legend says that both the flutes need to be played at the same time," Gladion told us.
"Okay then, Moon and Lillie, you're up!" Hau said enthusiastically.
"Hold on," Lillie laughed. "Moon, you stand over there on that thing surrounded by water, and I'll stand on the one opposite."
"Okay," I agreed. I walked over there, flute in hand, and dragged Gladion with me.
"Moon, what are you doing?" he asked. "Only one person needs to play the flute."
"And that one person needs moral support!" I protested.
"Okay, okay." Gladion rolled his eyes at me as I walked onto the stone in the centre of a pool of water, leaving him to watch.
I lifted the Moone Flute to my mouth. One the other side of the ruins, Lillie did the same. And we played. The sound of the old flutes synchronized with each other perfectly, and the melody was hauntingly sweet, it was so beautiful. I closed my eyes, feeling the strong power of the moon surround me. The ground began to shake, but still I played, the flute taking over every fibre of my existence.
Gladion's POV
I watched in awe as Moon and my sister played before me. Moon was so lost in the music… she didn't even notice the ground shaking and the pools around her and Lillie glowing.
The light travelled up the small river and shot up the ruins, the middle of them opening up into a glistening sharply golden light.
I gasped, and even though the light being admitted was blinding, I was unable to take my gaze off it.
Hau cried out from somewhere, and I saw him shielding his face out of the corner of my eye.
Then the light shot out of the Altar and hit the centre of the ruins in which I was standing on, creating a sort of bubble with it.
Nebby floated out of Lillie's bag and into the light… evolving…
And suddenly, Lunala was before us, shortly joined by Solgaleo.
Moon and Lillie stopped playing, eyes as wide as mine when they saw the legendary duo before us.
"Nebby?" Lillie was the first to speak.
Lunala screeched and dove down to meet Lillie. The girl began laughing sillily as the Pokémon tickled her face.
"Gladion?" I turned to Moon, who was beaming at me. "That was amazing."
"It was," I agreed, smiling.
Then Moon reached up and kissed me. My cheeks burned as I kissed her back.
No Authors Note to add here. I guess just keep being the awesome people you are!