Lusamine sipped her tea as she went over the report for the fifteenth time. She sent Wicke and Faba to Akala Island once the authorities deemed it safe to travel again. Memorial Hill is still prohibited from any civilian while the investigation is underway. The only ones allowed are the members of the Alolan League, the Aether Foundation, and those authorized to be within the premises. She stared at the paper containing the only firsthand account of the whole ordeal. Her son's handwriting is neat and professional – years of grooming into the role of the next Aether President finally bearing fruit. Yet, she could not shake the memory of anger in his eyes as he dropped the paper to her desk before flying back to the sacred hill. It was not any anger; it was of disappointment, of regret, of hate.

To whom was that emotion directed? Was it to me? Or was it…?

Her eyes drifted to one of the framed photographs propped on her desk - four young Trainers squeezing in for a shot. They all looked happy, and they deserve it for the one and a half years of struggles that no one of their age should have experienced. That was five years ago. One of them has decided to move on and never look back.

A knock caught her attention. "President?" Wicke's voice called from the other side of the door. "It's me, Wicke. May I come in?"

"Go ahead." Lusamine straightened as the branch chief stepped inside. "How did the investigation go?"

"It's still ongoing," Wicke answered as she offered a labeled folder to her boss. "We have the investigation team working tirelessly on the field. According to Professor Burnet, the instruments recorded an abnormally high reading of Ultra Aura within the area. However, it seemed to be different from our records. She is still trying to map it out based on the readings."

Lusamine flipped the folder open. "How about the police? Did they find anything?"

"No." Wicke shook her head. "But they were searching for the young man that the Young Master spoke about before the Ultra Wormhole opened. If it is as the police thought, he might know a thing or two about the incident."

"I see…"

"Ah, and there's another thing."

Lusamine looked from the new report. "What is it?"

"It's about the Young Miss," Wicke said. "It seemed she has not told anyone else yet but, she told me of a strange occurrence during the battle."

The Aether President placed the folder down. "Is it about what Gladion was telling me? His report told me of the strange appearance of the Ultra Wormhole, as well as the unusual behavior of the Ultra Beast. I believe there is also something about the Beast Aura, but…."

Wicke shook her head. "Ah, no…well, it's a bit different. Something that only the Young Miss witnessed." She clasped her hands as she recounted their conversation. "She said that during the fight, one of her Pokéballs was moving wildly."

Lusamine frowned. "Moving…wildly?"

"Yes." The Branch chief nodded. "It was as if that the Pokémon inside was sensing something amiss."

The President leaned forward. "Which one?"

"That's the problem," Wicke said. "The Pokéball that was reacting strangely...the Pokémon within it is none other than the Legendary Beast of the Moone, Lunala."


Just as news spread fast like wildfire in the regions of Alola, it also sputters out like a burning candlestick during a storm. In the next four days, Memorial Hill has opened again to the public after the investigation yielded only as much information as the authorities could get. The Aether Foundation assigned a few employees to assist the head professor on the case while the young man the police were searching for had yet to be found. They found no existing records of the person, concluding that he was not a local. There is only a handful of surveillance cameras installed during the festival, and only two of them caught the individual on tape. There was nothing unusual about it except the person himself. Both of which have little use to them.

Now, Alola is preparing for the much-awaited League championship. It has been years since the event was last made public for viewing - the past years have been a private affair. Challengers come and go to the League, and how the battles go was known only to the League members and the challengers. The news of an open League championship sent the region of Alola to a buzz, and the roster was filled just on the first day of the registration.

"Fifty-six?" Olivia raised an eyebrow at her fellow Elite Four. "Are you sure you counted right, Molayne?"

"Of course." Molayne smiled. The spark of enthusiasm in his eyes has not gone unnoticed to the Kahuna of Akala. "It's twice as many, yeah, but I supposed it's because some of them are repeating challengers."

"Hmmm…" Olivia leaned against the railing of the audience side. Below, hired workers were hauling in new materials that would be used to refurbish the battlefield below. The Manalo Stadium had gone unused for five years since its construction six years ago. The stadium was built after Professor Kukui suggested holding an open championship for the second anniversary of the Alola League. It has only witnessed one grand championship, and one alone before the battles were closed again from the public eye. It felt strange and nostalgic at the same time, standing on the floating structure once again.

"What do you think?"

Molayne looked at her with confusion. "About what?"

"All of these." Olivia gestured at their surroundings. "This place, its history…what do you think? Why do you think we're doing this? Allowing this to happen in this very same place on the very same date?"

"We're doing this for the people of Alola."

"Do we now?" Olivia faced him. Molayne recognized the hardened shell of a true veteran – the same façade they had all been wearing. "Or are we doing this to forget?"

Molayne took off his glasses and wiped the lenses. "She has quite the impact in our lives. Five years has not been enough to erase it all." His smile has faded into a paper-thin line. "Perhaps, we're trying to forget. Perhaps, we're just running away from it all."

Olivia sighed. "Those kids…I doubt they will ever move on."

"They stuck together like a school of Wishiwashi." Molayne nodded. "But even so, they will eventually have to drift apart. She already did. She always is the one to take the initiative."

"And if she returns?"

"That is something I have no answer for," Molayne answered. "What happens is in the will of the Tapus. If they will that she returns, then so shall be it."

Olivia smirked at him. "For someone dedicated to science like you, you sure have a firm grasp of traditional beliefs."

"I have my reservations." Molayne smiled. "Otherwise, the Tapus might have already struck me down a long time ago. Besides, Acerola is around to keep in my toes."

"Ah, yes." Olivia chuckled pleasantly. "The perks of having a fellow Elite Four that commands Ghost-types."

Molayne shook his head, but his lips remained quirked in a smile. "So…who's your bet for this year? Do you think Hau will finally get dethroned?"

"Don't jinx him!" Olivia laughed. "I doubt Hau will let go of the title that easily." She opened her palm as her smile turned into a grin. "Not until he gets to face her again. As for who gets to battle our Champion, we got a good roster of candidates this year. I can't wait to see my Trial Captains on the center stage again!"

Molayne placed his hand on his chin in a thinking pose. "It's too bad that Gladion will not be participating."

"Oh, he can be persuaded, alright," Olivia said. A wicked grin on her lips. "We never said that there's a specific deadline for application. All we said was that until before the official competition starts."

"I can't believe no one questioned us about that!"

"They probably didn't notice." Olivia shrugged. "Even if they did, it will be too late. Even Kahili was on board with the idea." She placed her hands on her hips. "Anyway, there are still a lot of things to be done. I'm going to check the Pokémon Center if Nurse Joy has finished with her preparations. I'll see you later, yeah?"

Molayne nodded and watched her disappear to the exit door. He turned back in the direction of the battlefield and pulled out his phone. A small green light blinked on the top that indicated a notification. When he unlocked it, a news article popped into view - the headline sprawled out in large, bold letters.

"If she returns, huh?"


"You never know when to give up, don't you, kid?"

Gladion crossed his arms and glared at the Kahuna of Ula'ula Island. It has been four days since that attack on Memorial Hill, and none of those days had proven to be productive enough. Professor Burnet has yet to come up with satisfying results regarding the strange Ultra Wormhole and the strange behavior of the UB Assembly. There have been no leads regarding that guy in the festival, and if, somehow, he is involved with this mess, they have to get their hands on him without question. The sooner, the better.

He has tried contacting Looker and Anabel regarding the matter, but only the recorded message seemed to greet him every time he tried so. He has yet to receive a response from either one, and it is making him anxious. Because of that, he decided to take matters with his own hands.

"You're one of the Kahunas," Gladion said. "Shouldn't it concern you as well?"

Nanu leaned against the counter of the police station. "No, not really."

Well, that is great. Gladion scowled. He hoped to get some help from the Kahuna, seeing that he is also a police officer. It seemed he made a big mistake coming here. No wonder he turned down being part of the Elite Four. That really confirms how Team Skull took over Po Town without much resistance years ago.

Nanu tucked his hands inside his pockets. "Listen, kid. The person you're looking for has no records here in Alola. Either he came in the region under a different name, or you just imagined him." He eyed him uninterestedly. "If I were you, I'm going to catch some sleep and move on. Do whatever stuff you Aether people do."

Gladion narrowed his eyes. "I know what I saw." He said firmly. "If that guy is a threat to Alola, I will catch him."

"Eh." Nanu strode away toward the back of the station. "Keep your obsessions to yourself, kiddo." He waved him off. "And don't come back."

Gladion shoved his hands in his pockets and stormed out of the police station. The door shut closed behind him with a loud THUD! From the windowpane of the door, Gladion could see Nanu now tending to his clowder of Alolan Meowth. He cannot believe it! Is that guy really a Kahuna? He is starting to question the Tapus' judgment.

He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "If she sees me now…." He paused and staggered away from the door like it shocked him. He leaned against the wall, just under the shadow of the navy blue building. The Alolan sun beat down on him despite the much cooler month they are in now. From where he is standing, Mount Lanakila loomed like an impenetrable fortress that reaches the heavens - a fort home to the best Pokémon Trainers of Alola. It was her castle back then before she decided to abandon it all.

Gladion decided he did not like it one bit. It was just a mere conversation (or argument, for that matter). Something he is used to having but never liked anyway. Why should he remember her now? It was just a talk, a request, for Arceus' sake!

He knows why; he always has known. She is everywhere. The memorabilia, the gossips, the memories…she was not known as Alola's Sweetheart for nothing. Just like how he and Lillie were labeled as The Aether Prince and Princess. Her presence is palpable – an unexpected storm that swept across Alola and the remains left from its wake still linger on – and for those who have grown close to the young Champion, a part of them she has taken with her, leaving them hollow and lost.

And that…Gladion hated. He hated himself for speaking to her in Route 5 in the first place, rechallenging her like a fool he is, and losing every time. Despite that, he enjoyed and learned from all of it at the same time. He despised having to deal with the gossips about her sudden resignation, having to lie that she has an urgent business to attend in Kanto and has to, unfortunately, hand over the title, and having to worry over her mother's safety as reporters and journalists flocked her home. He hated the pitying looks that Lillie, Hau, Wicke, and even his mother would give him when the topic, any topic related to her, was accidentally broached. He hated enjoying every moment spent with her yet craving for more.

Most of all…he hated himself for falling helplessly in love with the person whom he had considered as a worthy rival and a close confidant.

It was as if the Tapus had decided to punish him for sticking with Team Skull – a lifetime verdict he can never escape. It was infuriating, saying the least, and more so that it would remain bottled up because she was gone and would never be coming back again.

He shielded his eyes, glaring at the sun that suddenly decided to get even brighter just to mock him — his shadow a tad bigger and taller than he saw a while ago.

"If you really want to catch me," A voice spoke above him. "You should first get your head out the clouds, Mr. Future Aether President."


Instead of taking in the same number of participants in the anime, I decided to cut it down significantly. I wanted to incorporate passing the Captain Trials and Grand Trials as the essential requirements in challenging the League. Of course, not every trial goer emerges victorious from those trials, and almost all that have finished have to challenge the League repeatedly because they received quite a beating. This adds a degree of difficulty in getting into the League and showcases the importance of the Alolan traditions.

Also, Trial Captains are allowed to participate in the League championship but not the Kahunas. I wanted to observe the lifetime vow the Kahunas have once the Tapus chose them. However, they can become part of the Elite Four should the current Champion requests them and their island deity allows it.