Prelude: Reunion, End

The day after that horrific festival, Maple finally found herself on Poni Island, she'd dust herself off as the Ride Pokémon dropped her off.

"I made it back, I wasn't able to stay long the last time, but now that I am Champion of this place, no one can drag me around any longer."

Placing her hood back onto her head, making absolutely sure it covered everything, the only visible part would be her mouth.

"I'm coming now!"

She dashed off, each step got lighter and lighter, her excitement was unmatched, she held her head up and didn't stop for a single person.

"Excuse me!"

Oh no… hearing a voice she turned.

"Hi there! Welcome to Alola's one and only Poni Island! Now I'm afraid I can't let you through unless-"

Without saying a word, Maple flashed her passport to the man rather quickly, just long enough for him to read Alola's first Champion. The man gasped, but Maple couldn't care less, as soon as she was done there, she sped off once more, through the Poni Wilds, having many repels on hand, as she would not want to be distracted or stopped any further, dodging the prying eyes of eager, high ranking Trainers, who are ready to strike at any time.

Maple Valentine, Alola's newly crowned Champion, didn't even really care that she was theirs, she came here on a mission, she had only one thing in mind when she reached Alola, and that was to see Them, just one more time… it's been fifteen years… thinking about Them, being able to see Them after so long… why, she nearly cried at the notion of it, wiping away some tears that had fallen, she would continue her trek, eventually… it all culminated, this final stretch of desolate land… it will not be much longer until she can smile again.

"I… I made it, no, no no, WE made it! Guys!"

She excitedly whispers to her companions in their Pokéballs, her six wonderful friends who had stuck with her since she had arrived in this hellish region. She stepped out from the tall grass and emerged to see…

"OH C'MON!"

A lot of other Trainers… all lined up and ready to battle as soon as she'd step into their line of sight. With an annoyed sigh, she knew there was no other way around it, as there was only one path to follow.

"Of course…"

And so, she did, she battled every joe she'd come across, there were at least seven, maybe eight people all lined up on different parts of the path! Most made their typical comments about How strong their first Champion is or How unbelievably amazing and awesome it is to meet their Champion so soon! All Maple did was roll her eyes, she had no time for anything else, after about an hour of distractions, (Fights) She was there…

She couldn't believe her eyes, after the overly long and arduous hike, there it end of Poni Gauntlet. The entry to Alola's Battle Tree. She swallowed her fear and stepped forward, her palms sweaty, legs feeling like jelly, but she did her best to keep herself as calm as possible… that's when it'd happen.

"Yo!"

Her eyes light up as an all too familiar voice would greet her. As if on command, she picked her head up.

"You're Maple, right?"

"Yes! Yes I am! My name is Maple Valentine, newly crowned and first Champion of the Alola region!"

An enthusiastic boom to her voice, and a spark in her eyes.

"HAHA! See that, Red? I told you I still got it!"

Red's expression was that of Are you serious right now?

"Heh heh! I'm Blue, this guy over here is Red! Don't mind him, he's a little bitch who barely likes to talk, ain't that right?"

As Blue said that, both of them looked over to Red, who seemed mildly annoyed with Blue's words.

"Ahhh don't mind him! He's always got a stick up his ass! Well, anyway! We were both called here to be the Bosses of Alola's brand new Battle Tree! See, we were both Champions back in the day! Which brings me to a question… Maple, since you're the Champion of Alola, which one of us would you like to face?"

As his words settled in her mind… she'd point to Blue.

"You, I wanna fight you…"

With a smug and confident grin on his face, Blue readied his Team.

"Haha! Hell yeah! That's what I like to hear! Come at me, Champion of Alola!"

Maple would send Magnezone into the fight first.

"Go, show him our power."

"Go, Alakazam!"

Blue sent his first Pokémon out to the field.

"By my command, levitate and avoid all Ground-based attacks."

Maple ordered her Pokémon to use Magnet Rise, it obeyed.

"Well, aren't you smart? But not smart enough! Use Psychic!"

Blue remarked as he barked out a command, it'd land a direct hit, but Magnezone was trained well and took the blow.

"Now, Lock-On target."

Maple's natural charisma led the Electric-Steel type to follow through swiftly.

As the two's battle had only just begun… Red couldn't help himself, his eyes were glued to the two as sparks, literally and figuratively flew from both sides.

"Alakazam! Use, Shadow Ball!"

Another hit, but they weren't down yet!

"Magnezone! Zap Cannon!"

A direct hit on Alakazam as it fell quickly.

"Hey, Girl! You're not too shabby!"

Don't let it distract you, Maple… it's what he wants.

She shook her head.

"Hey, thanks! But this isn't over yet!"

"I like your spirits…! Arcanine!"

Out came the fiery dog letting out a battle cry.

"Go Arcanine, use Flare Blitz!"

The Fire type rammed right into Magnezone, taking it down finally.

"Alright, Primarina! Go!"

Maple had sent out one of Alola's starters to go against Blue's Arcanine. It sang a lovely tune as Maple released it from it's ball.

"Primarina! Z-Move!"

A power surrounded the Soloist Pokémon, it stands up and bellows a powerful melody, a gigantic orb of ocean water formed and started making its way toward the other Pokémon. Ever so slowly yet each inch felt like it grew stronger.

"NOW! Unleash your song!"

Maple raised her arms into the air, which encouraged Primarina to unleash its full force Z-Move!

Ahhhhhhhh!

Shouted the starter as a torrent of rain fell onto Arcanine, nearly taking it out.

"IT LIVED!?"

Shouted Maple in shock.

"Hahahaha! Thunder Fang!"

At his command, the dog bit down hard on Primarina with a thunderous strike!

"DAMNIT!"

Maple shouted, as her Pokémon was taken down to critical health.

Maple was stuck now, the next attack was surely going to be Extreme Speed…

If I heal now… she won't faint on the next turn, but if I do… screw it!

Maple used one Full Restore on Primarina!

The next turn, her hunch was correct, it was Extreme Speed, which took her Primarina's health down just a tad.

"Use Sparkling Aria!"

Aaaaaaaaaaa!

The final hit landed as Arcanine fell to the attack.

"Huh…"

Blue began to think to himself.

This fighting style… the slight hesitation on that girl's part… why does it feel like I've seen her before? That's… not right, is it?

He snapped out of it for the time being.

"Whatever… Exeggutor! Go!"

Blue's final Pokémon for the match.

"I see…"

Maple's eyes narrowed.

"Use Ice Beam!"

A sharp glacier blast made contact with the Coconut Pokémon, knocking it down to slightly above half HP.

"Say Goodbye! Exeggutor, Leaf Storm!"

A barrage of leaves struck Primarina as it too has now fainted.

"One more…"

Maple sent out Decidueye, her first Partner in this region.

"You can do it."

She gave it a confident push.

"Spirit Shackle!"

A sharp and pointy feather loops around the battlefield before striking Exeggutor! Brought down to close to critical HP.

"Sludge Bomb! GO!"

Blue shouted as a ball of poison made contact with Decidueye, it was then poisoned.

"*GASP* NO!"

Maple screamed out.

"...it really is anyone's game now…"

Red spoke softly to himself.

"There's something about her… who is she? Maple? Why does that name sound… vaguely familiar to me? I don't recall knowing anyone named that…"

As Red mumbled to himself, both Blue and Maple were in tough spots.

"Decidueye…"

Maple called to it.

"Please win, you have to, I know you can! We've been in spots like this before, just like with Totem Mimikyu!"

Maple's pleas made Decidueye focus very hard, one more hit for either Maple or Blue, and the victor will be decided.

Both Blue and Maple glaring at each other, tense looks from both Trainers locked their eyes across the battlefield.

"I gotta say… you're really not too shabby, Girl."

Blue's words along with his serious gaze shook Maple just a bit, even with a hood covering the majority of her face, she felt his gaze on her.

"I wasn't raised to be a chicken."

"I can definitely see that much from you, whoever you may be…"

The Trainers' still having locked eyes onto one another, no one was giving orders, not yet…

Red too was watching closely.

What did she say her name was…?

Red thought.

Maple Valentine…?

Shifting over to Blue, he was wondering the same thing.

Maple Valentine? I mighta heard of someone called Maple… the first name is strangely… yet oddly comforting…

"Decidueye!"

Maple snapped back first.

"Exeggutor!"

Shortly followed by Blue.

"SPIRIT SHACKLE!"

"SLUDGE BOMB!"

The two's voices crossed over both Pokémon, both of them charging at another at the command of their Masters. A gigantic puff of smoke engulfed them both as their attacks collided with each other. Both Trainers now anxiously waited for it to clear and to see who came out on top in this intense fight.

Coughing is heard, the dust settled, Decidueye standing, just barely coming out on top.

Maple gasped in excitement and rushed over to her Pokémon, rubbing its head and cleaning off its feathers.

"Good Arceus, you did it! You really did it! Good boy!"

Decidueye coos as Maple fed it a treat. She got off her knees to face Blue, with a smile on her face.

"That was one hundred percent insanity!"

Throwing her arms up into the air as she exclaimed with excitement.

"Y-yeah… holy shit…"

Blue now looked directly at her in surprise and awe, Red approaching the pair, equally in surprise.

"... who are you?"

Red finally spoke up.

Maple, ginning, unhooded herself to them.

"I'm Maple."

Now that they could both see her face, their eyes widened.

"No way… Red, is she…? Is that?"

Red went close to Maple's face.

"Is it… is it you?"

"I can prove it…"

She rebuttal in a low, solem, yet happy voice, as she reached into her bag, pulling out Red's old hat. He'd gasp in surprise.

"I…I lost this so many years ago, when… it happened… Maple?"

"FOR REAL!? IT IS HER!"

Blue screamed in shock and joy.

"It's been fifteen years…"

She slowly approached them both and gave them a hug. While she wasn't making noise, she was indeed crying, she'd lift her head up to look.

"I…I can't believe… Maple, I thought you had died."

Red would say as he embraced Maple in return.

"No way, I-I thought you and Blue were dead, Red…"

She replies in a soft and sad voice, still crying.

"W-wait a second! Damn! It really is you, Maple! Oh God!"

Blue shouts in excitement, he too now hugging her.

The three of them standing huddled together.

"I can't believe it…"

Maple said in a low tone.

"They were right… I saw the reports on 's TV when I was in Lavender Town… I nearly fainted when they showed you both in Alola…"

Sniffling, she continues.

"I…"

"That's enough, it's ok now."

Red would stop Maple from speaking, as he rubbed her head. As the three were happy to see each other again, there was a rustling sound. Maple turned, ready to attack. Letting out a growl on instinct. Out came Lillie, tumbling out of a bush.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEK! Maple! I'm sorry! I had to follow you!"

Lillie bowed politely.

Maple approached her.

"It's fine, really it's ok, I'm happy now."

As Maple said that, Lillie looked up at her.

"I… I have never seen you smile like this before…"

The smiles Maple usually made were that of the smug and I told you so sort of look, a face she often made when someone got Maple's way or underestimated her strength. This smile however… was a genuine and happy one, one filled with joy, not hint of malice or smugness is present.

"Here…"

Maple held her hand out to Lille to help her stand up. Lille took her hand and got back on her feet.

"Thank you… um…"

Lillie looke to Red and Blue.

"You must be the people she was looking for… nice to meet you both!"

Lillie shook her head shyly.

"I met Maple a few weeks ago, she's done a lot to help me, so… I wanted to follow her here because she seemed to be in a big rush, I understand why now though, she wasn't rushing, she was overjoyed…"

Lillie stepped forward.

"Maple, if this was your end goal… what are you gonna do now?"

Maple closed her eyes and pondered.

"You know, Lillie? I'm not too sure. *Giggling* I'll figure something out…"

She turns to the other two.

"So, what's the plan, guys?"

"Well like Blue said, we were gonna be the Bosses of the Battle Tree… but you know what?"

"W-what?"

Maple's hesitant and excited tone was evident.

"I think… we could do better, you're done in Alola, yes Maple?"

She shook her head quickly and happily, giving herself a small headache.

"Absolutely positively!"

"Great, Blue. We're leaving."

Blue threw his arms into the air.

"OH THANK GOD! This place sucks anyway! Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

He shouted as he picked Maple up and put Maple on his shoulders.

"We outta here! See you bitches later!"

"Lillie… wait, Blue."

Before Blue ran off, Maple had looked at Lillie, still smiling, hood off.

"I'm sorry, and thank you, thank you for bearing with me and my rudeness, my impatience, and everything else in between."

Lillie shook her head one last time.

"No, Maple… I should be thanking you, you really don't need to apologize to me, I completely understand now…"

A soft smile from Lillie as a booming and naggy voice was heard approaching behind them.

"EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME! YOU CAN'T JUST RUN OFF!"

"Aw shit, Maple, we gotta go."

"Ok, Blue! Lillie, I promise we'll meet again!"

Red began to run as the receptionist of the Battle Tree was making her way out.

"CMON BLUE!"

Red said as he sped off.

"YEAH YEAH, freakin' bitch…"

Blue took off as well, Maple looking behind as she sat on Blue's shoulders, waving goodbye to Lillie, a person of Alola she truly came to care for, both her and Lillie, smiles on their faces, finally went their separate ways after so many weeks together.