Who I Am - Lightning99

Chapter 5:

The First Sign

Ash dashed up the hill towards the voice, climbing the wooden steps two at a time and skidding whenever he had to make a turn along the zig-zagging path.

A gorge lay atop the hill, cutting through the mountain, and a rushing waterfall cascaded into a river hundreds of feet below. At the base of the drop, rocks shaped like thick spearheads poked out of the water; some of them were larger than trees and reached as high as some of the mountain ledges halfway up, cloaked in vines and ferns.

A loosely fixed, shoddy wooden bridge that swayed against the gentlest breeze connected the cliffs on either side of the gorge. The wooden handrails were snapped in sections, the boards underfoot were crooked and splintered, and the rope securing it was frayed. It looked more than precarious, yet there was more activity on the bridge than Ash thought it could withstand.

A flock of Spearow was perched on the loose paling. Some more circled in the air, surrounding a different Pokémon that cowered against the cracked boards, its cloud-like, purple and blue body quivering. A girl lay a few metres out on the bridge, too, tucked in on herself, clutching the railing. She was trembling even more than the Pokémon.

"I'm coming!" Ash called, understanding the situation from that fleeting glance.

Ash hadn't been himself since his old friends had eradicated his desire for adventure, confidence, and happiness, but his compassion was a constant, pure, impulsive trait. No matter how much he wasn't himself, when the girl's blonde-haired head shot up upon his call, when he heard a frail cry whimper from her lips and saw the helplessness shimmering in her teary green eyes, and despite its fragile state, Ash darted onto the bridge as he had run into the submerging Temple of the Sea.

The holes between the planks enticed Ash to look down, but he focused on the girl. Every step, the bridge groaned, creaked, and shook, and tiny chippings of wood plummeted into the river. The bridge itself sagged, and the faint sound of something ripping through the earth suggested its structural stakes were slowly being uprooted.

Taking in all of those factors, Ash quickened his pace, deciding that speed was the only way they would get off safely. He reached the girl after a few more tentative steps and crouched by her side, muttering short reassurances to calm her, automatically scanning her for injuries. Tears peaked through her eyelids that she had clamped shut again, and her trembling was unrelenting. She was uninjured but more than terrified.

"It's ok," Ash said softly, "I've got you."

Ash cautiously placed his hands onto the girl's shoulders, intending to help her to her feet. She flinched at his touch and jostled the bridge. It swayed left and right more than it should have, making Ash slightly unbalanced. The girl whimpered, strangling the wood tighter with her left hand while her right moved to do the same to Ash's top.

Taking a moment to re-balance himself, Ash slipped his hand into hers, taking it from his shirt, and squeezed. She looked up at him, eyes open, eyes proving just how terrified she was.

"I'm gonna help you up, ok?" Ash said. He stood in a crouch and reached out his second hand. The bridge creaked again and sagged a little more, but he waited, patiently, for her to release the bridge and take his second hand. "I've got you," Ash repeated.

A heartbeat later, using Ash's forearm as her crutch, the girl crawled to her feet. Ash waited until she balanced herself, then he guided her forwards one step. She faltered and fell onto the boards again – he caught her. The bridge staggered some more, but again, Ash remained patient and calm against the alarm of his accelerating heart and his sound judgement telling him they had to move. He adjusted his hold on the girl and took another step. The cliff edge was five steps away. Four steps… three… two… one.

When the girl's first food touched solid land, she fell onto her side and released a heavy trembling breath as if she had not breathed during that entire rescue. She gave a final whimper, sniffled, and spun around, her eyes pleading.

"S-Save Nebby! Please!" she said.

Ash whipped around too. Back on the bridge, the Spearow flock were enclosing on the cloud-like Pokémon, swooping in and squawking, jabbing their two-pronged talons in torment.

"Stay with her, Pikachu!" Ash said, dashing onto the bridge again. Pikachu leapt towards the girl but stopped, looking confused, when she scurried backwards.

Ash carefully avoided the Spearow on the railing, ducked beneath the pecking ones, and covered the Pokémon with his body. He swatted at the birds with his right hand while he scooped Nebby into his chest with his left and began to shuffle backwards on his hands and feet. Then, Nebby emitted a cry, and Ash's world turned purple and blue. Ribbons of light exploded into a sphere around him, scattering the Spearow into the air, and the bridge finally collapsed under the blast's power.

Falling through the air, Ash hugged the Pokémon tighter to his chest and turned his back to the river, suddenly hyperaware of the sharp rock blades waiting to catch him.

Ash hadn't expected to escape that time he had leapt off of Lumiose Tower, but now, he was certain he wouldn't escape, that his Arceus-gifted luck had ended. He shut his eyes, hugged the Pokémon tight, and thought what might be his last thoughts, but all that came to mind was how his friends betrayed him, how his Pokémon betrayed him, and how alone he was.

Then Ash remembered Pikachu, he remembered his mother, and he even remembered his father. And all he could do was apologise to them.

As Ash surrendered his life, a figure zapped into the air from the trees atop the cliff. It plunged into the chasm in a streak of electricity. Using what appeared to be two shields, it batted away the spectating Spearow, swooped below Ash, and caught his body as they aligned. The figure ascended again as fast as a lightning bolt, landing back on the clifftop and placing Ash beside the girl dressed in white before he even realised what had happened.

The figure flipped over Ash and the girl, twirled in the air, sparks of lightning cracking around its body, and stared straight at Ash with curious ocean-blue eyes, bounding side-to-side like a poised boxer. Ash stared back, studying the figure in awe.

It had a slim black body and arms and large, pincer-like hands. Two yellow wooden shields patterned with symmetrical markings of a bird's face were attached to its hands, which acted as the beak to the bird design. Its lower torso was orange and had four feather-like projections, each a different size. White markings covered its chest and face, and on its head was a tall, saw-shaped orange mohawk tinted yellow at the tips that cut down the middle of its face, shaping its beak.

Immediately, Ash knew it was the Guardian Deity of which Samson had spoken. Tapu Koko. It looked too unique to be an ordinary Pokémon.

Ash continued to stare back for a few seconds, curious whether meeting the deity was as easy as that. Knowing his luck meeting Legendary Pokémon, he knew he shouldn't have been surprised.

Tapu Koko bellowed a thundering cry, discharged a wave of lightning, dropped two objects into Ash's hands, and shot into the sky, disappearing as fast as it had appeared.

After a moment of silence, the girl said, "That was Tapu Koko."

Regaining his composure at the sound of her distant, awed voice, Ash turned towards the girl.

"Are you alright?" Ash asked.

"Me? A-Are you ok?!" she countered.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ok. I've handled worse. How about you? You looked scared out on the bridge," Ash said.

"Oh, of course! Yes, I'm ok. Thank you for helping me. I-I knew the bridge was unstable, but I didn't think it would collapse." Her eyes moved down to the Pokémon in Ash's arms. "Oh, Nebby, you tried using your powers again, didn't you? You know what happened the last time you did that." Nebby gave a feeble cry of protest, and the girl sighed. "I know you were trying to save me last time. Thank you, Nebby. A-And, thank you again–"

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pal–" Ash stopped himself and shivered despite the heat. After everything that had occurred, mentioning his home made him think of the disheartening events instead of imbuing him with pride. He suddenly didn't want to use that catchphrase anymore. "And this is my partner, Pikachu."

"Then thank you, Ash. My name is Lillie, and this is Nebby," Lillie said, and she smiled brightly at Ash.

Ash smiled back, and he saw her fully for the first time. She was a slim and elegant girl; her fair skin contrasted the Alolan native's tanned sheens. Her eyes were as emerald as the gleaming forestry. Her long blonde hair dangled down her back and over her forehead, stopping at her midriff, with two professional plaits over her shoulders contouring the sides of her pretty face. Her large white sunhat slightly shaded her face when she looked down. Ash thought she was beautiful.

"This will sound weird since I just introduced it to you, but… please don't tell anybody about Nebby. It's supposed to be a secret, but Nebby keeps jumping out of my bag and causing problems."

"It's alright," Ash said, readjusting his hat that had magically stayed on his head throughout the ordeal, "I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you!" Lillie nodded bashfully at Ash, smiling. She turned to the cloud-like Pokémon. "Come on, Nebby, into the bag." After whining a cry that sounded identical to a complaint from a reluctant child, Ash released Nebby, and it bobbed towards the bag. Lillie zipped it back up when Nebby was comfortably inside, leaving a gap.

As she dealt with Nebby, Ash picked up the items Tapu Koko dropped and stood up, offering his hand to Lillie. She took it with a grateful smile, and Ash helped her to her feet. Lillie patted the frills rimming her sundress, brushing brown blemishes of dusty dirt off the white fabric.

"What're these?" Ash asked, inspecting one of the items Tapu Koko had left. It was a coal-black rock, and etched into it was a white boomerang-shaped ridge, below which was an odd hole, almost like a side-ways diamond with two rotated squares on the ends. A white Z was painted over the top of it. He brushed the incisions and engravings with his fingertips, turning it over in his palm, then looked at the second stone. That one was an electric-yellow, diamond-shaped crystal with a lightning bolt marking, like Pikachu's tail, embedded in it.

Ash had seen a lot of strange stones – the blue and red orbs, mega stones and their counterpart keystones, the different evolution stones – but they were different. They felt warm against his palm, a strange warmth he had felt before. He could not recognise where from, though.

"I'm not sure what they are," Lillie said, looking only at the black stone. "Are they yours?"

"Apparently. Tapu Koko gave them to me."

"That's strange. Tapu Koko is known to be curious, but Kahuna Hala said he rarely goes near people other than the Kahuna himself," Lillie said.

"Kahuna?" Ash asked, pocketing the stones for later inquiry.

"Yes," Lillie said. "Umm, they are important figures on each of the islands that oversee the Grand Trials and protect the islands. Oh, and the Tapu chooses them."

"Uh-huh," Ash muttered. Alola was starting to sound more than interesting. What were the Grand Trials? Who were the Kahunas? From all the information he had compiled so far, Alola appeared a different world from anything he had experienced before. An enthralling one, even. "Lillie, were you heading to the ruins too?"

Lillie nodded her head. "Nebby seems to want to go there, so the Professor allowed me to come and have a look. I-If I'd known we had to cross a bridge over the gorge, I never would have come."

"You're afraid of heights, aren't you?"

"Yes, terrified! When Nebby ran onto the bridge and was attacked, I tried to help, to be a bit braver, but I couldn't do it. My legs collapsed, and I couldn't move," Lillie answered, her eyes quickly growing dispirited.

"You know, going out there even though you were scared shows that you're brave."

Darting up to meet Ash's, Lillie's green gems flared joyously. "Really?!"

"Yeah! I know lots of people who wouldn't be brave enough," Ash said.

"That makes me feel better."

Lillie smiled again. She turned towards the path Ash had run up, then back to Ash.

"Umm, I know this is too much to ask, but I need to get back to Iki Town. Do you think you could walk us back in case any more Spearow attack us?"

Ash smiled, "Yeah, of course. I need to go to Iki Town anyway to meet Samson."

"Thank you so much! It's just down Mahalo Trail."

"Lead the way!"

They descended the trail at a comfortable stroll, the birds chirping in the trees and the bushes rustling around them, all of their earlier tension dissipated into the air.

The sun seemed to bake the earth in the early afternoon; Ash could almost smell the smoky whiff of it burning. Alola's weather was hot but not draining. Strangely, he felt charged with energy.

"Professor Samson Oak, you mean?" Lillie asked.

"That's the guy. I met him earlier and need to check something," Ash said. "That Pokémon's species name isn't Nebby, is it?" Ash asked as they rounded a bend.

"Oh, no, it's just a nickname I created. The species is known as Cosmog, the Nebula Pokémon, which is where I got the name," Lillie timidly explained. "According to another Professor, Cosmog is a very rare Pokémon. That is why we are keeping it a secret."

"Ah, that makes sense," Ash said, and they settled into light chatter as they walked down the trail.

At the bottom of the trail, Ash and Lillie ambled out from beneath the shade of two overhanging trees that made a tunnel and stepped into Iki Town's plaza.

Iki Town was more a settlement than a real town. There were four houses in all, constructed with the bark yielded from the trees cut down to clear the land. It was sectioned off into two levels connected via stone staircases. In the centre of the uppermost plaza stood what would have been a square wooden platform if not for the cropped corners that made it octagonal. It had white tribal-like markings around the inner edges. Opposite, a lone house overlooked the stage like an umpire's throne. An arched entrance sign at the bottom of the steps and wooden fences enclosed the whole settlement.

Lillie was relieved to be back in town, despite her gratitude to Ash for helping her. She thought then of the incident and how Ash had stayed calm even while plummeting down the cliffside. It made Lillie wonder whether her fright and nervousness were childish for her age. She quickly decided that it was not her but Ash that was different. The way he handled the situation was mature. It was as if he had experienced something similar before. Lillie guessed she and Ash were the same age, but he seemed a decade wiser in experience.

A man Lillie recognised ran towards them as they stepped further into view, his expression tender and concerned. His outfit, on the other hand, was an alarming assortment. He wore a white lab coat, a baggy pair of grey calf jogger shorts, green shoes, and a white cap with a rainbow on it. The aspect of his outfit that would be deemed improper in most regions was his lack of a t-shirt that he bared his muscled, six-packed torso, his sides hidden by his open lab coat. But in Alola, some women sauntered the streets wearing bikinis, and some men strolled in shorts alone. Alola's culture wasn't shy of the skin or timid to show it.

"Lillie! Are you alright?! I heard an Explosion level crash! Did something happen?" he asked, his head darting over Lillie like a scanner, then Ash. He was a handsome man, with black hair pulled back in a bun, a beard restricted to his chin, and deep brown eyes.

"Nebby and I are alright, Professor. On our way to the ruins, some Spearow attacked Nebby, and the bridge collapsed, but Ash here saved us," Lillie said, gesturing to Ash, who awkwardly flicked his hand up.

"Ah, I get it! Glad you're ok, yeah!" he said, grinning. He turned to Ash. "I gotta thank you then, cousin! The name's Kukui, and I'm a Pokémon Professor here in Alola. Thanks for savin' my assistant. I'd be a mess without her, y'know."

"I-I'm only learning at the moment. There's so much I don't know," Lillie whispered, looking down with pink cheeks. She could not believe the Professor acclaimed her knowledge like that and to a stranger no less. She found herself wondering what Ash would think.

"You'd be a great special attacker with that modesty," Kukui said. "Anyway, nice to meet you, Ash! You don't seem like you're from around here. Did you come to Alola from abroad? On holiday maybe?"

"Ah, yeah, something like that. I came from Kanto," Ash replied, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"Woah, Kanto? Awesome! I went to Kanto to take on the Gym Leaders, yeah, but I couldn't beat 'em all at the time. They're pretty strong. 'Specially that Rock guy, Flint. Phew, good times!" Kukui shook his head, a fond smile gracing his lips.

"Alright, Lillie, since you're already acquainted, and he's new here, why don't ya help Ash find his way around for a few days? Get him used to the sights, the culture. It's a lot different than Kanto out here, yeah."

"Me?" Lillie asked, surprised. She was hardly qualified to teach somebody about Alola. It may be her home, but she hadn't seen a lot of it herself. "I-If you'll let me," Lillie said to Ash.

Ash smiled softly. "Sure. I'd like the help."

"You'll have to give him a run-down of the region sometime! For now, we've got a festival to help set up," Kukui said to Lillie and folded his arms across his rugged chest.

"O-Ok. Come and find me whenever you have time," Lillie said, feeling a sudden rush of excitement that Ash needed her knowledge. She had always thought she was overly studious. While her childhood classmates had been fascinated by different Pokémon, types, moves, and information on battling and performing, Lillie had always been more focused on the lore of the Pokémon world. She had liked and still liked reading about Pokémon natures and backgrounds, the small details people her age would not usually consider. She had felt alone at times, but knowing it was paying off now made her smile.

"Ya hear that, assistant? It's all down to you!"

"P-Please don't put pressure on me!" For the first time Lillie had heard, Ash laughed, and she joined in too, despite feeling that added pressure.

"The Kahuna is back!"

Over by the steps, a stout man stomped into the plaza, a floral-print yellow jacket loose on his shoulders, his stocky build protruding from his t-shirt. He walked towards the trio at the stage, each step of his powerful thighs and sandaled feet thumped against the dusty earth. His face was stern with squinted eyes and brows tilted inwards. He had a white moustache, and he had his white hair tied up in a bun. A Tauros trotted at his side, compliant to his rein.

"Have I missed something? I was out searching the forest, stopping this rampaging Tauros, when I heard a loud crash. For some reason, I thought I saw Tapu Koko flying about," The Kahuna said.

"Oh, umm, yes, Kahuna Hala. Nebby was attacked on our way to the Ruins of Conflict. Ash here helped protect it, but the bridge collapsed as a result. I thought both of them would fall to the bottom of the ravine, but Tapu Koko swooped in to save them," Lillie explained.

"Woo!" Kukui exclaimed, placing his hands on his hips. "That's something you don't hear every day!"

"Ho, is that so?" Hala said, his attention switched on Ash. "Tapu Koko is a fickle creature, yet he saved you… It is rare for anybody to see Tapu Koko. Interesting. I'm glad we got the chance to meet today. I am Hala, the Kahuna of Melemele Island."

"Nice to meet you, sir. Since you're the Kahuna, if I may, do you know anything about these?" Ash brandished the two stones he received from the deity, and, seeing the second for the first time, Lillie recognised it immediately.

"Could it be?!" Hala exclaimed. "Tapu Koko rescued you at the bridge – isn't that what I heard, Ash?"

"Yeah. I guess I'm lucky it was nearby."

"So, he even deigned to give you a sparkling stone and a Z-crystal, hmm? Interesting. Allow me to borrow these stones for now. Fret not! I'll return them to you tomorrow," Hala said. Ash handed him the stones, which he quickly pocketed.

"Anyhow, that doesn't interrupt our plans tonight! We must begin preparations for the ceremony immediately! We have to be ready by dusk, haha!" Hala said, his voice authoritative. Lillie could see why he was chosen for the position of Kahuna.

Noticing Ash's Pikachu, Hala grinned. "I see you have a Pokémon, Ash. You are a trainer, correct?" Ash nodded. "In that case, how would you like to start off our festival tonight by battling my grandson, Hau? He is just getting his first Pokémon today, so it'll be a good challenge for his first battle. I would like to see why Tapu Koko seems to have taken an interest in you."

Ash looked surprised if a little panicked. "Are you sure? I, uh, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Oh, it'll be fine, don't you worry, my boy!"

"If you say so…"

"Pew, pew!"

Lillie flinched.

"Ah! Nebby! When did you get out again?!" The group of people surrounding them, excluding Ash, who, Lillie knew, was not accustomed to Nebby's sporadic wandering, fell into jovial laughter. Lillie sighed. Taking care of Nebby was a hassle. But she was happy at that moment. Things were starting to look up for her.

The afternoon burned away under the sun as the people of Iki Town set up for the festival. Resting under a tree while awaiting the arrival of the refreshments, Lillie watched the people moseying and fiddling, her eyes twinkling with joy. The pre-festive atmosphere was already bustling; people laughed and joked, working in harmony. She couldn't help admiring the collective effort, feeling the camaraderie in her heart.

"Whaddya doing, man?! Line up the torches evenly distanced, like a Mirror Move!" Kukui frivolously ordered a helper labouring to beautify Iki Town, his smirk a sly invitation for banter.

"Ah, my bad, boss!" the man countered, stabbing the three-legged torch into the soft earth. Leaning his builder body against the small frame, he quipped back, "Wear a shirt, why don't ya?!"

Kukui laughed, "Hah! Good work, yeah! This'll be an awesome festival!"

"You know it!"

The back-and-forth between Kukui and his friend brought an even wider smile to Lillie's lips. She had only learned about it recently, but that was a perfect example of how friendliness was the Alolan people's universal affinity. They were as close as siblings. They could walk the street and name every one of their passers-by and their ancestors, what type of person they were, and even anticipate their activities that day. Even the evilest minds, their devious actions antithetical to the majority's, were tight with their dodgy, conspiring circles. It was how people lived and thrived in Alola, the staple of their relationships and companionships. It was for that reason that Lillie knew the festival would be enjoyable.

For Lillie, though, her anticipation was deeper than the usual degree, even if that degree was deep already. This Festival of Honouring was the first public event she would attend since she was six years old. It was also the first event she was attending with her new friends, a memory she would treasure. The notion of watching the sunset sink behind the horizon like a fireball immersed in the sea, transfiguring the sky a warm colour comparable only to the fireplace in her childhood home, with her friends by her side, was one of her most anticipated desires.

The battles were her only worry. Seeing the Pokémon she studied daily getting hurt unnerved her, but it was the worlds' biggest sport, something she was newly keen to witness.

"The food and drinks have arrived!" a vibrant feminine voice called from the steps. Two teens entered the plaza balancing plastic cups and bowls, packets of food and bottles of drinks on trays between them. Lillie leapt to her feet and skipped to meet them at the tables set up alongside the wooden fencing.

"Mallow, Kiawe! Alola! You made it!" Lillie cheerfully greeted, relieved they came. Her hope for a memorable evening together would have been ruined if they hadn't.

"Alola, Lillie!" Mallow, an alluring girl with long green hair tied in twin tails and a tanned, sun-kissed bodily complexion, said just as joyously. She stood a few inches taller than Lillie, whose fairer skin, like snow, seemed to glisten beside her. She slid the items she was carrying onto a tabletop and said, "We wouldn't miss it! I can't wait for everyone to try some new recipes from Aina Café!"

"Of course, we came. Melemele's festival is far superior to the others. I'd have liked to stop by Wela Volcano on the way, though, to pay my respects," Kiawe answered. He was a sturdily built boy with dark-wood skin and dark brown hair shaped like fire. Three tufts of red hair, also shaped like fire, were ruffled over his forehead and ears. He wore a medallion looped around his neck, something tribal, connected to two pieces of cloth that rested on his shoulders.

Kiawe heaved his load onto a table and wiped his forehead of sweat. "That's all of it."

"Thanks for the help, Kiawe," Mallow said cheerily, dusting her hands together.

"No problem. I'll be back in a moment."

As Kiawe wandered away, greeting Professor Kukui and Hala over by the overlooking house – an action Lillie knew he did out of respect – Lillie joined Mallow. She helped unpack the boxes, neatly arranging the snacks across the wooden tables. The delicacies ranged from magost berry crisps to honey slathered buns and fizzy drinks to sitrus berry juice.

"All of this looks amazing, Mallow!" Lillie said, personally knowing the blissful stupor Mallow's exotic concoctions instilled.

"Aww, thanks, Lillie!"

"I-I'm excited about this festival! I can't wait!"

"I know, it will be amazing," Mallow said, and she beamed at Lillie. "I've added a bunch of different recipes I came up with myself, so I'm a little nervous about what people will think of them."

"I'm sure they will love them; you don't have to worry," Lillie said with a smile as she neatly arranged three rows of cups.

When a sufficient amount had been unloaded, Mallow stopped unpacking and grasped Lillie's hands, her grass eyes sparkling with nervous fervour.

"So, guess what happened earlier?!" Lillie asked what, and Mallow sighed passion, "I saw the most handsome boy ever! I wish you'd have seen him! He came into Aina Café with Professor Oak and a Pikachu!"

Before Lillie could match Ash and Pikachu searching for Samson Oak to the flattering description, two short teens, a boy and a girl approached the pair from the rear. The girl was petite with ocean-blue hair cropped to her shoulders, held from obstructing her blue eyes by a net-styled bandana, and the boy was plump and baby faced. His ginger hair was left unbrushed, and he had a yellow scarf wrapped around his neck.

"Mallow, Lillie, Alola," the girl said.

"Lana, Sophocles, Alola! Ooooh! Come and try my new recipes! I need your opinions before anyone else!" Mallow jumped towards Lana, grabbing her shoulders to steer her food-wards.

"We haven't even been here five seconds, and you're already jittery?" Lana muttered.

"Don't you know, Lana? She only acts like a child when it's something serious," Kiawe said, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "And she takes her food very seriously."

At first, Lillie had found Kiawe's and Kukui's bare-chested attire alarming. But she had grown nonchalant to it to the point of normalcy, not that she had the confidence to show her own skin in public, unlike Mallow, who wore a pinky-red cropped top beneath her light-teal overalls. But Lillie had another reason, too.

Among the group, Lillie had quickly learned Mallow was scatter-brained, worrisome, but daringly confident, and Kiawe could either be as serious as the Kalos War or burning with a white-hot determination only a volcanic eruption could generate. Lana was quiet but secretly as passionate as Kiawe, and Sophocles was a whizz of all things technological, a rare area Lillie rarely read around. Of all their traits, Lillie wished she was like Mallow. She wished she had more confidence.

"Oh, be quiet, Kiawe! You're just way too serious for our age!" Mallow huffed, twirling around like a cheerleader.

"No, I'm mature," Kiawe sternly corrected.

"Yet you're a baby around your sister and pray to Wela Volcano in your spare time. Mature alright," Lana deadpanned, shaking her head. Lillie laughed with the rest of her friends, hers a modest giggle hoping she wouldn't damage Kiawe's bountiful, Pyroar's pride.

"Come on, Sophocles, back me up here," Kiawe said, only for the small boy to flinch away, dismissively swinging his hands in front of him like he was washing a Blastoise's shell.

"D-Don't look at me," he said, and the group laughed again, something Lillie found herself doing more often. She had seen significant, positive changes in herself over the past three months. Things were changing for her, for the better. Her current life was so much different than it had been. For that, she was eternally thankful.