Lillie wondered how the usually short trek through Mahalo Trail suddenly felt like an eternity.
Maybe it was because of the marching footsteps digging on the soil and wooden planks. Perhaps it was because of the eerie silence over their group under the bright Alolan sun. The tension was palpable, even more so around her older brother. Gladion sent an urgent message to Hau last night, in which he explicitly told Champion to keep between him and the Kahuna of Melemele Island. Lillie was only informed earlier that morning, and she has to persuade Gladion to let her join them. After a short discussion, the three agreed to check on the situation, while Hala notifies the other Kahunas regarding the matter. Should things turn for the worse, they will have people to back them up.
"Hey, Glads." Hau's voice pierced through the silence. "Are you sure we should trust Sun? I mean, he is Sun. You know, your probably-not-archnemesis and someone-not-planning-something-evil?"
There was an annoyed sigh in front of Lillie. "I don't know," Gladion answered. "I know we can't trust him, but we can't ignore his message either. That's the reason why we're going. If it is a trap, then we'll fight back."
And it is not the first time. Lillie could almost tell Gladion's thoughts at this time. The Aether siblings have yet to tell the Champion about what happened the night before her match against Sun. It was Lillie who insisted not to tell. She did not want to worry Hau any further - the Champion has a lot on his plate right now behind that easygoing façade. The higher-ups are all spread thinly – with the League searching high and low for Guzma. At the same time, the Kahunas led the frontlines of the Ultra Beast crisis together with the Aether Foundation. The Trial Captains had to take over some of their Kahunas' duties to manage their respective islands. All of those while cleaning after Team Skull's mess, holding the Island Trials, keeping a vigilant eye on any Ultra Beast or Team Skull sighting, and juggling their lives outside their Island duties.
"Well, that escalated quickly," Hau muttered. He tried to sound light, but Lillie could see his hand resting already on the Pokéballs latched on his waist. "Anyway, I got some news from Miss Olivia. They already interrogated the Team Skull members they arrested. Big Sis Plumeria said that Mister Guzma never told them to wreck the stadium yesterday. She and the grunts were on their way out when it happened. They followed Mister Guzma, who was chasing Sun after the match."
Gladion paused and glanced over his shoulder. A frown creasing his features. "What? Is she saying that it wasn't them who did it but someone else?"
"Weird thing is that," Hau said. "Big Sis Plumeria might be telling the truth. The cameras might have been broken, but the recordings were still intact. They checked the video feed, and it matched with her statement. They were already out of the stadium when 'Team Skull' appeared, and they got caught in it. As if -"
"As if they were used as a scapegoat." Gladion pinched the bridge of his nose. "But that isn't enough. They have to prove it wasn't them."
"Imagine if there were actually two versions of them. That would be crazy!"
Hau meant it to be a joke, but Gladion had a strange expression on his face when he said it. The blond did not say anything and continued moving forward. Lillie and Hau exchanged worried looks as they caught up to the long strides of the older Trainer. If there is anything they learned about Gladion for the past five years, he tends to be really quiet and keeps things to himself if something is bothering him. Usually, they would start egging him to spill, but it seemed now would not be a good time for that.
"Uhh…so," Hau started again after a minute of awkward silence. "I'm surprised you want Aether Foundation out of this? You usually inform Miss Wicke first about things like this. Did something happen?"
"…Nothing," Gladion answered after a beat of silence. "Just a small family spat."
That made Lillie more worried. Shiron seemed to share her thoughts and bumped her head against her arm. "Did you and Mother fight? I know you don't always agree with Mother, but -"
"It's nothing big, Lillie." Gladion tried to reassure her, but there was an edge in his voice. "I'll fix it." He clenched his fists. "No matter how long it takes."
Lillie pursed her lips. It has been so long since Gladion got in an argument with their mother. It took a while before Gladion finally forgave Lusamine and longer for them to mend their shattered relationship, but they have been getting along well since then. Though most of their interactions have been professional rather than familial, it has been relatively peaceful between them. Lusamine has been trying her best to become the mother they deserved, and Gladion has learned to let his guard down around her and accept her affections.
Although he interacts with her less than Lillie does, their family is slowly progressing back to what it used to be before Mohn disappeared. Their father might have lost his memories of them, but they make it a point to visit him occasionally in Poké Pelago and see how Moon's Pokémon have been doing. Their mother might have accepted Mohn's situation years ago, but Lillie still hopes their father will recover his memories someday. Whether entirely or not, as long as he remembers his family, Lillie would still be happy either way.
She wondered if he thinks the same way or if it is just her who believes so. She wanted to reassure him that things would be all right, but she felt hypocritical. She felt guilty hiding that she struck a deal with Sun and kept the documents about Moon to herself. She has already received the records for the second and third years last night but has yet to read them. Maybe she should tell him now...
She opened her mouth to call his name, but Gladion stopped abruptly on his tracks right as they arrived at the Plank Bridge. Lillie peered behind her brother and felt her breath hitch. Standing just at the end of the bridge with his back turned to them was Sun. They could not see his face, but he seemed to be gazing at one spot on the bridge. He turned to them at the sound of their footsteps. "So, you've arrived…."
Gladion's voice was eerily calm. "Sun."
Sun's eyes roved behind him and landed on her and Hau. His face was terrifyingly unreadable as he sized them up. "…And you brought company just like I told you. Good." He nodded approvingly. "If it's the Champion, I'm sure we can get by."
"What do you want?" Gladion interrupted. "You messaged me last night out of the blue. What do you mean by protecting Tapu Koko? What did you do?"
"I did nothing," Sun answered, crossing his arms. For some reason, he seemed offended by the notion. "It's more of….they are about to do something." He shook his head. "Look. I know we're on bad terms right now -"
"That quite generous," Gladion remarked sarcastically. "Saying we're on bad terms."
"' Kay. Really bad terms." Sun supplied, rolling his eyes. "But now is not the time for that. When I said 'protect Tapu Koko', I meant it. The guardian deity of Melemele Island is in danger."
"And why should we believe you?"
"Why?" Sun parroted. "Because we have a deal, Gladion, and I intend to see to it."
Gladion looked taken aback. It is the first time that Sun has referred to him by his first name. Something about how he said his name felt uncannily familiar, but he could not put his finger on it. "And how are you going to do that? The stadium's busted, and the tournament's postponed. Unless you messaged me just to challenge me to a battle, I don't think I would ever believe you."
Sun stared at him hard. His eyebrows creased with what Lillie thought to be irritation. "Do you know what day it is today?"
"What does it have to do with -"
"Today is the First Champion's birthday." Sun cut in. His red eyes challenged Gladion to interrupt him as he gestured at the bridge. "And do you know what happened in this place seven years ago? No? Then, perhaps Miss Lillie could enlighten us considering she was there."
Gladion and Hau turned to Lillie, who fidgeted on the spot. "I…um…" What happened here seven years ago? What is Sun talking about…? "Ah." She met Sun's intense gaze in shocking realization. How did he even -?
"That's right, Miss Lillie." Sun nodded as if reading her mind. "This is the place where the former Champion protected Cosmog and was saved by none other than the island guardian deity itself." He said. "This is the place where everything started seven years ago…and the place where they plan to end it all."
"What do you mean?" Gladion asked. "Who are they? What plan?"
"Ultra Team Skull, that's who," Sun answered as he turned sharply. "And they're here."
Just as the words left Sun's mouth, a familiar group clad in black and white made their presence known at the other end of the bridge leading to the Ruins of Conflict. Leading right in front of them was the wanted face since yesterday - Guzma. "Well, well. Who did yer boy catch? If it isn't Sunny boy!" Guzma announced loudly. "Didn't I tell ya' to keep guard?"
"I don't remember giving you permission to boss me around." Sun scoffed. His eyes flitted to the group as if searching for something. "Seems like you didn't find the guardian deity in the ruins."
"Heh!" Guzma grinned. "That Pokémon must have heard 'bout ya' boi and scampered away like a Rattata. A deity? Hah! More like a scaredy-Meowth."
The grunts snickered and jabbed at each other, praising their boss like a flock of Trumbeak. Sun huffed and muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Gladion to hear. "Idiots. You know nothing about Tapu Koko's real power or any of the Tapus in that matter."
Gladion opened his mouth to speak, but Hau beat him to it. "Wh-What's happening here?" Hau looked back and forth between Sun and Team Skull with bewildered eyes. He pointed at some of the grunts. "You guys are in jail! What are you doing here? And Mister Guzma -"
"That isn't the Guzma that you know."
Hau looked at Sun in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"That isn't the Guzma from this world." Sun clarified, scowling at Team Skull. "That is another version of Guzma. The Guzma from a parallel world."
"Wait…WHAT?"
The red-eyed Trainer turned to Gladion. His eyes seemingly bore through his soul. "You already met one of them, didn't you? The other President…or should I say, the other Lusamine."
If Hau could get any more shocked, his jaw might have already been on the dusty ground by now. Lillie looked at her brother in disbelief. "Big Brother...? What…What is Sun talking about? Mother is -"
"Lillie." The said girl flinched when Sun called her name. "Remember what we talked about in that restaurant nights ago? The woman you saw back then when you tried to follow me…." He looked at her. "Your assumption was right. It is Lusamine, but not the Lusamine of this world. She is the Lusamine from a world where the First Alolan Champion doesn't exist and is overrun with Ultra Beasts. A world where your mother successfully created her ideal paradise."
"No…" Lillie looked distraught, and who is Sun to blame her? He just dropped a series of bombs that shattered everything they believed in up to this point and revealed the actual magnitude of the situation that they and Alola are in. Anyone would feel the same way as her, but for Sun, such a feeling will have its time later. "T-Then, our mother who has been with us…."
"No." Sun shook his head. At least, he could tell her something to relieve the pain and frustration temporarily. "That was the real Lusamine. The other Lusamine didn't take her place until the day of our match."
"How did you even know about this?" Gladion exclaimed angrily. "Don't tell me that you're working for her?"
He expected Sun to deny it just to save his hide, even if the truth was rearing its head right in front of them, but he did not. He seemed contemplative for a moment before answering. "Hmmm…was working would be right words, and I was not working for her. It's more of with her. Though at the same time, it isn't with…hmmm…?"
"Are ya' done chattin' like annoyin' housewives there?" The quartet turned to Guz – the other Guzma - who seemed annoyed for being ignored for a few minutes. "I dunno what yer babblin' there, but seeing Sunny boy there gettin' chummy with ya' three means only one thing." He jabbed an accusing finger in Sun's direction. "Yer a traitor!"
Sun has the audacity to look scandalized. He placed a hand over his chest and spoke in an overdramatic tone. "Oh my Arceus! I got caught! What should I do now?" He dropped the act and placed a defiant hand on his hip. "What makes you think that, Guzma? That I am a traitor?"
Guzma's ears reddened. "What do ya' think? Are ya' blind?"
Sun scoffed as he crossed his arms. "A traitor is only a traitor if they actually betrayed people that they get along or worked with without any ulterior motives opposing to theirs before." A sneer slowly crept their way on his lips. "Too bad I didn't qualify to that, meaning I never betrayed you or anyone else in that matter."
"You -!"
Sun stuck his tongue out childishly. "If I were you, I would give up and crawl back to the Alola you came from. I'm warning you. I'm not as forgiving as you think I am."
The trio could not process what was happening right now. The proud, ruthless, and apathetic Trainer that they thought was Sun has suddenly shown more emotions and engaged in a childish mockery against someone foreign to this world. Guzma stared at him before laughing. "Showin' yer true colors now? Ya' think that's gonna stop us? Ya' boy gotta lot of plans in this noggin'. If plan A fails, we'll go to plan S. So, screw ya!"
The Ultra Team Skull boss snapped his fingers, and the grunts sent out their Pokémon. Sun surveyed the scene before him, counting and taking note of the soon-to-be-battlefield in front of him. Let us see…Alolan Rattata, Alolan Raticate, Alolan Grimer, Drowzee, Golbat, Salandit, and Fomantis. It seemed Guzma brought most of his grunts here. Sun smirked. Good. It looks like everything is going according to plan.
"One against thirty-seven. Seems fair enough." The red-eyed Trainer pulled out a miniature Pokéball which grew on his palm. He stepped forward on the bridge and called out Cinderace. "I hope you don't regret this. I'm quite fond of Team Skull, you know. "Sun smiled haughtily. "The Team Skull of this world is much, much better than you guys."
Guzma snarled at him. "Ya' grunts! Show this cocky kid how it's done!"
"GOT IT, BOSS!"
The grunts called out, and their Pokémon surged forward toward the bridge. Under Sun's command, Cinderace raced ahead to meet with his opponents without any hesitation. He evaded a Golbat's Wing Attack and kicked an Alolan Raticate right on the face. The Mouse Pokémon flew back toward some of its teammates, knocking them out like pins in a bowling session. A Fomantis tried to sneak behind Cinderace with a Razor Leaf, but the latter simply jumped up and struck down an approaching Golbat with High Jump Kick. The Golbat slammed down against the Fomantis, causing both to fall to the rushing river below. Cinderace struck a Drowzee, preparing to use Hypnosis with a Pyro Ball, and nimbly dodged a Sludge Bomb from a Grimer. One by one, the Team Skull's Pokémon fell, and none could land even a graze on the agile and powerful Striker Pokémon.
The gap between the power of one Cinderace and the discordant teamwork of thirty-seven Pokémon was too much. Gladion, Hau, and Lillie could only watch in awe as Sun and Cinderace battled in perfect synchrony, to the point that Sun did not even need to give a command for Cinderace to move. It was as if they trusted each other so much that words were no longer necessary, and they could thoroughly read each other's thoughts.
Gladion understands now that Sun's smug confidence was not because he thinks highly of himself, but because he believes and trusts his Pokémon completely like how they trust him. The way he battled reminds him of Moon. No, it is exactly like hers, if not more refined. With one final Pyro Ball, Cinderace took down the last of his opponents, forcing the grunts to call back their fainted Pokémon and backed toward their boss like kicked Rockruff under the rain.
"Boss, what should we do? He's too powerful!"
"He's mockin' us, Team Skull!"
"Do somethin', boss!"
Sun huffed. He expected this much. Once the grunts get a beating of their lifetime, they will hide behind Guzma. They only show their dull fangs to those weaker than them, but when faced with a formidable opponent, they will run away with their tails tucked between their legs. "Are you done?" He called out.
Guzma turned to him with a face red in anger and humiliation. "Ya' brat! How dare ya'!" He stomped and pointed at the remaining three grunts who had yet to fight. "Ya' three! Bring out yer Pokémon NOW!"
Three flashes of blue revealed a Salazzle, an Alolan Muk, and a Crobat. From the pocket of his baggy pants, Guzma called out Golisopod. "I'll show ya'." He pulled a black Z-Crystal with a crazed grin. Sun immediately tensed up at the sight of the crystal.
"You-!" Sun exclaimed angrily. "Don't do it! If you do that, Golisopod will -"
"SHUT UP!" Guzma shouted. "I'm the hated boss who beats you down, and beats you down, and never lets up! I'm Big Bad Guzma and a twerp like ya'," He inserted the Z-Crystal on a Z-Power Ring on his right wrist. "I'm gonna pound to dust!"
Light pulsed around Guzma and the three grunts and was absorbed into their Z-Crystals. It infused to the four Pokémon in the form of a purple aura. Now, he has finally lost it. That idiot sacrificed his partner for temporary power. Sun clicked his tongue and reached for his pocket but paused when Cinderace glanced at him behind his shoulder. There was a moment of understanding between the two, and Sun looked at the trio standing not far behind him.
"Are you guys going stand there or what?" Sun called out. "You got intruders from another world plotting to wreck this world, and the future Aether President and the current Champion are just standing behind me like a pack of Slowpoke? Gee! No wonder they got here in the first place."
Gladion scowled at him. "Don't tell me what to do." He stepped beside him and called out Silvally. "I'll be helping you this once, but don't think I'm going to let you go after this. I got a lot of questions, and you're answering all of them."
Shiron jumped next to Silvally as Lillie and Hau slid next to Gladion. The Champion sent out Decidueye with an excited grin. "Count us in! It's been a while since the three of us teamed up like this."
"Oh? Sunny boy callin' for backup? Now's that somethin'!" Guzma laughed. "Don't tell me yer 'fraid of fightin' me solo?"
Sun looked back at him. "You know, Guzma, I'm an idiot." The trio whipped their heads toward him with faces that clearly said, Did I just hear that right? The red-eyed Trainer simply ignored them and continued. "Back then, I thought I could do everything, have to do everything, without anyone's help. Why? Because there are very, very high expectations I need to achieve."
He sighed, and there was an almost nostalgic tone in his voice. "Turns out I'm just the one who made them. There are expectations, yes, but they are not far-fetched as I once made them out to be, and that bit me back real hard." He groaned frustratedly. "Honestly, I want to hit my younger self at the head. I'm really an idiot. The worst idiot in existence. I'm even worse than Gladion here in his dumb and emo days."
"HEY!"
"But that was a long time ago," Sun said, tugging his gloves. "Now, I'm here, and I finally got a 'go' signal after waiting for four annoying months. I can finally let loose and kick your ass," He cracked his knuckles and grinned a bit too enthusiastically for anyone's taste. "Without anyone telling me to hold back."
