1. This story is made up of elements from both the games and the anime. Thus, it will divert from the canon plots. I mean, what do you expect? This is fanfiction.
2. Note that this story will not follow the 4-moves format, just like in the games.
3. The personalities of the characters are based on my interpretations of them. The names will follow the default or canon format.
4. The two Moon(s) from the Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon games are the same. Eleven-year-old Moon has the default appearance from Pokémon Moon, while a year after, she took in the default from Pokémon Ultra Moon.
The Champion leaned against the cold throne, barely listening to the approaching footsteps of another challenger. The strongest Trainer in Alola has stopped counting since the first day the elusive title bequeathed to him. For him, it was meaningless. He might have tried so hard five years ago, but now, it was a noose – strangling him and killing the essence of what makes a champion. After all, what is the use of being the second Alolan Champion when he never got the chance of defeating the First?
For the five long years since that fateful day, he wondered why the First abandoned the hard-fought championship and left without an explanation nor a goodbye to the people she would be leaving behind.
Was she tired of being the one all of Alola depends on?
Has the burden of being the Champion finally broken her?
Or was it them being the ones to push her around?
He will never know the answer. She was gone, gone for five long years, and she brought with her the life of the region of Alola.
"Another long day?"
Hau turned to the Flying-type member of the Elite Four. Kahili walked out of her chamber just as the second Alolan Champion descended from the top. The dark green-haired young man gave her a half-hearted nod.
"I counted four." The golfer continued. "They're getting stronger. The island challengers, I mean."
"Or we're just getting older." A voice boomed in the polished chamber.
The two turned to see the Rock-type member of the Elite Four, and still the current Kahuna of Akala Island strode toward them. She brushed a stray strand of her hair as she regarded the two. "Acerola and Molayne went home just a while ago. I already told the guards not to let anyone in for today. Of course, there were protests from the challengers, but what can they do? None of them going to be Champion without battling us first."
"A rest is nice." Hau agreed as he stretched his arms. "My arms stiff from throwing Pokéballs all day. My team needs their rest too."
"I suggest next week," Kahili said, tapping her golden club on the glass flooring. "Open the League next week."
Olivia hummed. "Make that three weeks. Akala's festival for the Tapu is coming in a week, and we got to discuss preparation for the coming League championship. We will have our hands full by then."
"Got it." Hau nodded. "I will notify Molayne and Acerola tomorrow."
"You should come too," Olivia told him. "Having the Champion around will spice things up."
Hau placed his arms behind his head and grinned. "You mean bait crowds in?"
"The Tapu will strike us down if you don't come," Olivia warned, though the playful glint in her eyes had not gone unnoticed. "You know how Tapu Lele is."
Hau has yet to see the Psychic/Fairy guardian deity in the flesh. The only guardian deity he has seen so far was Melemele's Tapu Koko, and that seemed long ago during the battle against the Ultra Beasts six years ago. All he has were stories about the Tapu from Akala's Kahuna. "Alright. As long as there is malasada, I'm in."
"Ah, yes. Malasada. The only weakness of our great Champion!" Olivia mused. "The next time I challenge you for your title, I will bring malasadas with me. Let's see how long you will last."
"That will be a scene to behold." A small smile beheld the usually stern Elite Four member. "Though I doubt Old Hala will be as amused as any of us."
"Tutu might charge in here like a Tauros," Hau said as he adjusted his bag over his shoulder. "Speaking of Tauros, I promised to help in herding up the Tauros today. New challengers will be taking Tutu's Grand Trial tomorrow."
"Every batch gets more interesting," Kahili said, eyeing the Champion. "But your generation is one never to be forgotten."
"Ah…" Hau looked away. "Yeah. You're right."
Olivia coughed. Kahili gave her a stern look but relented. Even after five years, the wound still pains some of them. She swung her golf club over her shoulder. "I will go ahead." She said. "I still have a convention to attend tomorrow. I will see you then." She swiveled on her heels and strode toward her chamber. Without looking back, the doors shut behind her with a resounding SHINK!
Olivia put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't be too hard on yourself. She made her decision. You're the Alolan Champion now."
"It's just…it does not feel the right," Hau explained, visibly frustrated. "I mean, what's the point of being the Champion if I haven't defeated the strongest Trainer in Alola? I made a promise that someday I would defeat the person I looked up to. It will never happen now."
"She has her reasons. The least we could do was to respect them." Olivia said. "Though, I believe she may someday return."
"I wish. I want to show her how strong my team and I have gotten since our last battle. Then, I will defeat her and finally grant my promise."
"The two Alolan Champions pitting against each other…." Olivia mused. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"It will be the biggest event in Alola!" Hau beamed as he spread his arms wide. "Bigger than the future Aether President going against Masked Royale!"
Olivia laughed. "I got to say. That kid, Gladion, has guts. Didn't expect that from him."
Hau crossed his arms over his chest and placed his right palm over his face. A serious look on his face as he imitated the two-year older blond boy. "Hmph! Aren't you getting old for this, Masked Royale? Why don't I show you how it's done?"
Olivia guffawed. "Good one!"
Hau grinned. "I'm looking forward to their next showdown. Anyway, I got to go. Tutu might already be looking for me."
"Take care."
Hau waved. "See you at the festival!"
DING DONG DING!
"Calling Miss Lillie to the conservation area. Professor Burnet is looking for you."
A blonde-haired lady of seventeen years looked up to the nearest speaker attached to the wall. The Rockruff in her arms barked happily, its tail wagging energetically.
"Young Miss, it looks like you're being called." The purple-haired woman beside her said. "Leave these Rockruff to me."
"Please look after them, Miss Wicke." Lillie handed the Rockruff to the chief branch officer of Aether Paradise.
"Don't worry, Young Miss." Wicke chuckled as the Rockruff wriggled in her arms and licked her cheek. Another barked at her feet as it chased the tail of one of its brethren. "I doubt they will give me trouble. They are all good boys."
Lillie smiled as she shed her pristine lab coat and slung it on the crook of her arm. "They are. Just make sure they don't go near the candied berries. We don't want a repeat of last month."
Wicke winced. The memory of sugar-initiated hyperactive Rockruff was something that a member of the Aether Paradise could not easily forget. "That didn't turn out so great."
"I'll be back soon." Lillie waved and crossed toward the open gateway of the first floor of Aether Paradise.
The receptionists greeted her, and she smiled back as she wove her way toward the lift. With a few taps and a scan of her palm, the platform whirred to life and ascended toward the glass-domed conservation area. The Alolan sky was clear and blue, and warm sunlight streamed through the glass panes, illuminating the lush, artificial forest that the conservation area houses. Lillie crossed the white walkways toward a small shed under one of the largest trees in the area. Surrounded by a flock of Pikipek was Professor Burnet, one of her mentors.
"Professor, you called for me?" Lillie called out as she approached the white-haired professor.
Burnet beamed at her apprentice. "Lillie! Oh yes, I did. I would like for you to run an errand for me. I ordered a box of specialized wax for the bird Pokémon from the Pokémon Center last week. Today's the day it will arrive in Hau'oli City. Could you get it for me?"
Lillie nodded. "I will, Professor."
Burnet stood up and dusted her pants. From her pocket, she pulled out a slip of paper and gave it to Lillie. "Here. This is the receipt. Just give this to Nurse Joy, and she will give the package to you."
"Got it." Lillie took the paper and slipped it inside her skirt's pocket.
"Oh, and come by my house and tell my husband I'm going home late. I need to do a checkup on the Pichu. They're due to be freed to the wild tomorrow."
Lillie nodded. "I'll be back soon."
"Take care!"
The ride to Melemele island took more or less fifteen minutes. Her Ride Pokémon, Altaria, soared above the Alolan sky gracefully. Its thick, fluffy feathers melded with the clouds dotting the sky. The air was exceptionally crisp and cool; this month, the Alolan temperature is cooler than usual. Below them, waves lapped against the shores, and flocks of Wingull accompanied them in their flight. From their right, she could see the island of Akala and the plumes of smoke rising steadily from the mouth of the Wela volcano. Ahead of them, the lively city of Hau'oli came into view.
Tapping the side of Altaria's neck gently, she directed the Humming Pokémon toward the Pokémon Center, and they landed down in front of the red-roofed building. Lillie climbed off her Ride Pokémon and thanked it before it took off back to the sky. The young apprentice crossed the automatic glass doors of the center and headed straight to the reception where Nurse Joy was returning a trial goer's fully-healed team. Judging from the look of the eleven-year-old kid, he has yet to pass Hala's Grand Trial.
"Good morning, Nurse Joy!" Lillie greeted. "Professor Burnet sent me on an errand to get a package for her." She took out the receipt and showed it to her. "The professor gave this to me."
Nurse Joy took and examined it. "Ah, yes! She ordered a box of specialized wax from the Sinnoh region last week. I believe it's for maintaining the wing strength of bird Pokémon. Wait here. I'll go get it."
Lillie nodded, and Nurse Joy went out of the reception area and into the door behind. Lillie half-turned and looked around her surroundings. A few Trainers were seated by the waiting area – resting and tending to their Pokémon. Some were lining up at the PokéMart at the right corner, while a few were hanging by the café. Two Trainers whom she believed to be from another region were talking.
"Have you heard? A Pokémon went berserk and attacked a village this morning." One gushed. "It happened here in Alola. In Poni island, I heard."
"Man, that's scary! But why isn't it in the news?"
"Probably because it happened just earlier today. I heard the Kahuna of Poni island is on the hunt for that Pokémon."
A Pokémon going berserk? Lillie moved to the other side of the reception to hear more.
"You think the Champion's gonna get involved?"
"Most likely, though don't expect much. I heard that the second Champion didn't get his title by beating the first. The First Champion resigned and left Alola years ago. No one knows why, though."
"That sucks, man! Bet you that the First Champion is hella strong. The locals even call her the Savior of Alola, and I bet my money it's not for show."
"Nah, keep your money. I'm not gonna argue about someone who has defeated and tamed Legendary Pokémon from another world."
"Heh. Too bad we can't even get a glimpse of that powerhouse."
A soft Thump! snapped Lillie's attention away from the foreign Trainers. Nurse Joy has returned with a small box carefully sealed at the sides. "Thank you for waiting. Here is the package addressed to Professor Burnet."
Lillie took the package gratefully. "Thank you, Nurse Joy."
"No problem. Just make sure not to drop it. The contents are fragile."
Lillie nodded and waved goodbye. Tucking it carefully between her arms, she headed east of Hau'oli City, past the Trainers' School, and to the Outskirts. She paused at the painfully familiar blue house sitting just past Professor Kukui's house by the beach. The windows were opened, and a calm breeze moved past the curtains. Lillie should have gone straight to the professor's house, but her feet brought her to the porch of the former Champion's house. She knocked three times, and the door swung open.
The young apprentice expected to be greeted by her best friend's mother and her Kantonian Meowth, but instead, a black-haired man of mid-forties welcomed him at the door. He was handsome, and he donned his lab coat like it was made for him to wear. His platinum-blue eyes blinked at her through his rectangular glasses.
"Ah," He smiled. His eyes crinkled in warmth and slow recognition. "You must be Lillie. Are you perhaps looking for Selene?"
"Er…um.." Lillie shifted nervously side-to-side. Selene, she learned, was the name of her best friend's mother. It was rather an interesting wordplay that Moon's parents named her after the meaning of her mother's name. "Yes…."
The man scratched his head sheepishly. "Ah, I'm sorry. I haven't introduced myself. My name's Elio. I'm Moon's father, and I work as a Pokémon researcher in Kanto. I just arrived here yesterday."
Lillie bowed. A gesture she learned from Moon as a proper greeting in Kanto. "N-Nice to meet you, Professor Elio."
"No need to be so polite." Elio smiled. "It's the first we've met, but I heard lots about you from my wife and my daughter. Selene showed a few pictures of you with my daughter."
Lillie's eyes lighted up. "Really?"
"Yes." Elio chuckled. "Moon was really passionate about telling me about her adventures with her friends. She told about you, your brother Gladion, and a boy named Hau."
"Ummm…yes. We did travel together." Lillie shied a bit. "Moon was always the one to look after us."
Elio smiled. "That's very like her. Always putting others before herself." He shoved his hands inside the pockets of his lab coat. "At any case, my wife's not here at the moment. She's out to the market to do a bit of shopping. I apologized for keeping you long."
Lillie shook her head and smiled. "Not at all. I'm actually glad to meet you."
"So do I. Thank you for taking care of my daughter and, well, going with her crazy antics at times." He chuckled. "Though, I'm the one to blame. My girl got it from me, after all." He looked at his watch and jumped in surprise. "Ah! Is it already time? I'm going to be late!" He raised a palm apologetically to Lillie. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. It was nice meeting you, Lillie."
He held out a hand which Lillie took and shook. "Likewise, Professor Elio."
"Come back later. I'm sure Selene will be back by then."
"I will."
