Gladion hates it.
He hates the repetitive beeping of the heart monitor, hates the intravenous line attached to Silvally's front leg, and most of all, really, really despises the fact that he could have done something to avoid it. He should have kept his head on the battle, should not have been distracted by Sun no matter how critical any information he spews out. He should have focused on keeping his partner safe, but what did he do instead? He damned his partner because of his obsessive pursuit of Sun!
You lost Moon. A traitorous voice jeered at the back of his head. Now, you are chasing someone else because you were a coward to chase after her!
He punched the wall beside the viewing window overlooking Silvally's room. A face that does not seem to resemble him at all stared back at him from the glass. The pale cheeks, the unkempt hair, and the dull, green eyes – are those really his? Frustration and anger bubbled inside him, but the ghastly apparition on the glass was devoid of those emotions. The Gladion staring back at him seemed younger - a hopeless runaway that almost abandoned everything and hid behind the outcasts of the region to escape the clutches of his mentally unstable mother.
Is the other him…the other Gladion has the same face? It was a fleeting thought, but a thought nonetheless. If Moon does not exist in that parallel world, does that mean that 'him' is still on the run?
He felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder, and he glanced up to see the reflection of the Kahuna of Melemele Island beside his. "Young Molayne has called for an emergency meeting," Hala said. "He's inviting you to join us."
Gladion shut his eyes and steadied his breathing. He peeled himself from the viewing window, though his eyes remained somewhat glued on Silvally. "...Okay." He replied curtly. "Right now?"
"Yes. He said he found something very important."
Gladion considered his words for a moment. "Sun…Sun said that Moon created an antidote. He said that she knows how to cure…." He glanced and gestured at Silvally. "This. He didn't elaborate, but…do you think it is possible to get ahold of her?"
Hala studied him but neither denied nor confirmed his question, and Gladion was relieved of that for some reason. "That is something I can't tell, child." He paused, and Gladion knew that the Kahuna was thinking of Tapu Koko, who is currently confined in a farther room. "But perhaps…we can try."
The words spilled out from his tongue before he could stop them. "You seemed to be at least certain that Moon will help us?"
This time, the Kahuna gave him a small smile. "Yes. I still believe in that kind heart of hers even after these years." He gave his shoulder a firm squeeze. "I think you should too."
Gladion wanted to refute that, but he did not have the energy or desire to argue with the Kahuna. That, and a part of him wanted to listen and believe in the older man's words. It was strange, really, how a little hope could change things around. He thought that Moon abandoned them, and why should not he? His only rival left without a word, without any indication of her plan to go beforehand. She never contacted them afterward, not even a one-word message of a Hello.
Then, after five years and getting involved in situations none of them wished for, someone said that the same person who left them has the cure to an unknown illness - the very same illness that is now affecting many innocent Pokémon. What else would he think? What else would he feel? He would hope to see Moon again, not just because she has something they need desperately. It is not just a simple crush. Those unspoken feelings - he is afraid that they will spill out the moment he gazes upon those bright, blue eyes, and he could not do anything to stop it.
A shallow cough caught their attention, and both men turned to see Sun standing not far from them. The red-eyed Trainer looked better than when Gladion saw him rushing to Route 1's Pokémon Center earlier with an injured Tapu Koko in his arms. His ripped jacket was draped over his shoulders, barely hiding the bandaged arms beneath it. A gauze was taped on his right cheek while the shallower cuts on his face glistened with ointment. His cap never left the nest of his unruly blond hair.
"Sorry. Am I interrupting something?"
It was an honest question, but that still made Gladion scowl at him. "What do you want?"
"I want to talk to you, Gladion." Sun glanced at Hala. "Don't worry. It won't take long, and I'll be sure to make it worth your time." He extended a friendly palm. "After all, I promised, didn't I?"
Gladion narrowed his eyes at him but threw a glance at Hala for approval. The Kahuna considered the red-eyed young man before nodding. "We'll be waiting for you. If you take too long, I'll send Hau to get you."
Gladion tried to hide the grimace on his face but failed. "Please don't."
Hala patted him on the back and lumbered away, glancing only at Sun with an inscrutable look as he walked past. The red-eyed Trainer did not seem bothered by it and stepped aside, letting the Kahuna pass by without accident. The two young men waited for Hala's footsteps to recede before Sun gave him a once-over.
"You looked like you got run over by a herd of Tauros," Sun exclaimed, not bothering to hide the amused smirk on his lips. "And I am the one who almost got sucked in by an Ultra Wormhole."
Gladion glared at him. "Are you really here just to annoy me?" He growled. "Out with it. What do you want?"
Sun placed a hand on his hip and sighed. "Yeesh! You're as uptight as ever." It seemed that he meant it to be a passing comment, but Gladion heard it loud and clear. If looks could kill, Sun would have been dead ten times already. "Look. I'm just here to fulfill my end of the deal."
Gladion frowned at him. "But the tournament -"
Sun cut him off with a scoff. "Who cares about the tournament? I'm the one who made the offer, so I get to change it if I want to." He crossed his arms. "The information I promised, it's already in the hands of the Elite Four member, Molayne. However, that is just half of it."
He reached to his fanny pack and pulled out two brown envelopes. "These are the other half. Or at least, parts of it." He offered them to the older Aether sibling, who took them gingerly. "Your sister and I had a deal as well. I promised to give her information regarding the First Alolan Champion for the past five years in exchange for keeping quiet about what she saw that night she followed me. Those two are everything about the fourth and fifth years spent by Moon outside Alola. The remaining three were already in the hands of Lillie."
Gladion gaped at him. Lillie made a deal with him too? Why did she not say a thing about it? He stared at the two envelopes in his hands. These are Moon's…no, he got to be kidding him! He clutched the envelopes tight, almost crumpling them. "What are you playing at?" He asked angrily. "Why are you giving these to me?"
Sun dropped his arms to his side. "I'm not toying with you, Gladion." He answered. His voice was suddenly deadly serious. "Alola's isn't a safe sanctuary right now. You will need everything you can get if you were to fight back against the other Lusamine."
He slipped a hand inside his jacket and took Gladion's hand. He placed a miniature X-Snag Ball on his palm, except the design was almost similar to a Beast Ball. "It's the same as the X-Snag Balls I gave you, except it is modified a bit more. Inside it is one of the Buzzwole that attacked Ula'ula Island nights ago. I took the liberty to catch it. Perhaps, you could find a way to help it and the ones you just caught earlier. The antidote I told you about can only heal infected Pokémon from this world, but not Ultra Beasts nor the ones who went berserk." He shook his head. "At least, not yet."
This is strange, all too strange, that Gladion could not take it all in as fast as he should. "Why are you really -"
"I'm leaving Alola tonight."
Gladion could have broken his neck with how fast his head snapped up. "Leave?" It was supposed to be a question, but there was an edge on how the word left his mouth.
"Yeah. Leave." Sun nodded as if it was the most casual thing to say in the world. "You will not be seeing me again after this. Zilch. Nil. Nada."
Something about Sun's words infuriates Gladion. He could not believe he was hearing this right now after everything that had happened. The red-eyed Trainer did not just swoop in their lives out-of-nowhere but also played with them as if it was just a game of Meowth-and-Rattata. Gladion could not forgive him; he could never forgive him. He could have dropped everything Sun has given and punched the guy right on the face if Sun did not make his move first. The shorter guy grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to his level. It took Gladion a second to realize what was going on.
Sun is kissing him.
The envelopes and modified X-Snag Ball fell and clattered on the tiled floor as Gladion stumbled back when Sun almost pulled away immediately. He covered the lower part of his face defensively with an arm as his cheeks reddened in shock. "Y-YOU! What are you doing?"
The triumphant smirk on Sun's face was too wide to ignore. "A parting gift." He singsong. "Based on your reaction, it seems I'm your first. Good to know!"
Gladion gaped at him like a Magikarp. He wanted to say anything, do anything, but the realization and embarrassment of it all were making his head malfunction. Sun did not wait for him to do anything as he slipped his arms into the sleeves of his jacket. "Well then." He turned on his heel and waved at him. "See you never, Mr. Future Aether President!"
"W-Wait! You-!" By the time Gladion found his voice, Sun had already disappeared to the corner. He wanted to scream a hellish ton of choice words, but he doubted Nurse Joy would appreciate the not-so-ear-friendly noise. He was about to punch the nearest wall when his eye caught something...or someone.
Hau was standing at the end of the opposite hallway with a scandalized look on his face. His mouth was gaping wide as he made a noise at the back of his throat. Gladion almost jumped back when Hau regained his bearings and marched up to him. The Champion placed his hands on his shoulders and looked at him dead at the eyes. "Glads…since when are you gay?"
Needless to say, Gladion is going to kill a certain red-eyed Trainer if they ever meet again.
Sun could not stop the smile ripping on his face. He placed his fingers on his lips, listening intently at the boisterous but hilarious banter between two close friends. Gladion looked so damn cute with that embarrassed face of his. It is rewarding to finally see that kind of emotion on his face and the uncharacteristic flush in his cheeks after years of what turned out to be apparentmutual pining.
He could have listened more, but he has other things that urgently need his attention. He walked past the short corridors of the Pokémon Center, only stopping for a moment in front of Tapu Koko's room. From the viewing glass, he could see the guardian deity lying on the bed. Its face contorted with a tortured expression. Sun has already seen it so many times, and each time his heart breaks for the suffering Pokémon.
He pressed a palm on the glass, barely paying attention to Nurse Joy bustling inside to attend to the Legendary Pokémon. It knows. There is no way it did not know. It was a very brief moment, but he was sure that his eyes met with the Land Spirit Pokémon when it swooped in to save him. He was convinced that Tapu Koko recognized him - the real 'him' - and gambled its life for his. It was a foolish thing to do - saving him, a human - but there will always be things he could not wholly comprehend about the Tapus.
Sun peeled his hand off the glass and forced himself to continue his way. His feet dragged him past the reception of the Pokémon Center and to the outside world. The sun was about to set - the Alolan sky now painted in hues of orange, magenta, and blue. He finds it really funny how fast time goes by when you are faced with a life-threatening situation. You became hyper-aware of significant things to you; your attention locked on them alone without regard to others. He could have remained standing there by the doors if it were not for Wicke calling his name.
"Mister Sun."
Sun looked over his shoulder and stepped aside to give the Aether Paradise Branch Chief way. He shoved his hands inside his pockets as he acknowledged her. "Sun is gone." He replied with the softest of sighs. "He's just a mask that has already served his purpose. It's about time for me to rip that mask off."
Wicke considered him with a fond expression. The cheerful child with hopeful eyes she once toured around Aether Paradise has grown into a strong and decisive person with a heart of gold. Despite that, there is still that twinkle of undying determination in those eyes staring right at her. "What are you planning to do now?"
"I'm going after Shiron," Sun answered in a heartbeat. "She should be where the Ultra Wormhole sent the other Guzma and his grunts. If I'm correct, I might be able to find the last piece needed to liberate the Solgaleo and Lunala of the Ultra Recon Squad." He lifted his eyes to look at the Wingulls flying overhead. "I'm now free to make my move. Mister Looker has already given me the 'go' signal. That is why I will be leaving things in your care, Miss Wicke."
He pulled out his phone from his pocket and swiped it a few times on the screen. He handed it over for Wicke to see. "Miss Anabel will deliver the antidote by tomorrow morning. I arranged them in different dosages based on your report, including those added in the tally today. You just have to administer it per the instructions I sent via e-mail. I trust you already read that, at least?"
Wicke nodded dutifully. "Yes, I already did. I also informed Nurse Joy and some of the most trustworthy doctors in the Foundation regarding it." She handed back the phone. "We'll start administering it as soon as it arrives."
"Good." Sun nodded. "The supply is exact. If more is needed, I'll be making it as soon as I return. Please continue watching the other Lusamine. The Guzma – our Guzma – should be on his way with the others soon. Everything is going as planned."
"Five years," Wicke murmured quietly. A sad look on her face as she gazed at him. "It took five years…."
Sun's expression softened to something akin to nostalgia. "Yeah. It has taken that long, hasn't it? It can't be helped, but at least, everything we worked hard for is now bearing fruit." He made a sound of annoyance as he rubbed his hand on the back of his neck. "Really! What a great eighteenth birthday this day turned out to be. Mister Looker and Miss Anabel better treat me with desserts after this!"
Wicke could not help but smile at his expense. "Happy Eighteenth Birthday." She greeted. "I hoped to give you your gift once you returned. So, please take care and come back safely...Miss Moon."
"Don't worry."
Sun stepped away from Wicke and removed her cap off. With her free hand, she tugged the wig of blond hair off, and long strands of raven black hair fell from her shoulders to her waist. Wicke could feel the intensity of her blue eyes hidden behind those red contact lenses as Sun, no, Moon looked back at her. There was a flash of blue light behind her as the white and gold visage of the Legendary beast of the Sunne made its presence known. The ghost of a familiar mischievous smile curving on the former Alolan Champion's lips as she peeled off the voice changer disguised as a choker from her neck.
"After all, I don't plan on making the same mistake."
Alternate chapter title: How to Steal Your Crush's First Kiss While Disguising as A Boy
