Pokémon Radiant Sun
You all have no idea how good it feels to be able to update this story again.
Seriously, like...my god. I can have my soul back!
Kidding, kidding...mostly.
But seriously, I'm back now. Sorry for the delays and delays on top of the delays. Only just got my laptop back this week and wrote a fourth of this on my phone just so I could get it done by this weekend.
So yeah, Basic Military Training (BMT) was a thing. Nine weeks of training in the glorious heat where I was whipped into shape and taught discipline. All in all, I can say it was one of the toughest things I've ever endured. Thankfully the instructors I had were fantastic and my fellow Airmen motivated me and supported me during the stressful times, so I managed to get out of the experience everything I wanted to and more. I am so proud and happy to be part of the United States Air Force, and to be serving alongside the men and women I regarded (and still do) as heroes. I've stated it once before in another story and I'll state it here. I have the utmost respect for those who put their lives on the line for this country, and I am honored to be wearing the uniform that they do.
Now, as for why this chapter came out as late as it did. It would've been out sooner if I hadn't run into some problems that delayed me getting my laptop and other things that kept me away longer than anticipated.
I'm just glad I managed to meet my deadline, even if it was on the last day.
And even so, the next few chapters may be a bit rougher than usual. Getting back into a writing groove after so much time away from the computer isn't easy. Especially since the next few chapters don't involve long-awaited story events and I haven't had a chance yet to reread this story and refresh my mind on events that have happened in it. So please bear with me while I get back into the swing of things, and I'll try as hard as I can to maintain the standard that you all have come to expect with this fanfic.
I am glad to be in Tech School and have that part of my life over and done with, though. And I'm even more excited to have some of my stuff back so I can do stuff like write this story again. I had a good while to plot and scheme while I was away, especially for the Akala Island Arc (Totally just called it that on the fly), so I'm hoping that with this update I can return to a regular weekly schedule and get this story rolling again.
However, I will be busier than ever, so we'll see. I should be able to juggle both this and Tech School as long as I can keep the chapters at manageable lengths, which should be easy because I have all the time in the world now with no stupid deadlines to stress out about.
Shoutout to those who reviewed last chapter, which includes Cottonmouth25, Madame Rodoshe, BouncingFish, BraviaryScout, Raikou927, NullSilver2005, Martial Arts Master, Gokan123, Sai Og Sus, Ways, bigboy9969, as well as two new reviewers known as Adrian Freelancer and Latias876. You all are the best, for real, yo.
And I'd like to say thanks to every single one of you who has wished me well on my journey to get to this point in my career, which has really only just begun. It wasn't easy by any means. It pushed me to my physical and mental limits time and time again and I'll admit I had a really rough time of things...
...But here I am, triumphant and victorious as an Airman of United States Air Force.
And on that second patriotic note, I welcome old readers back to the story and say greetings and salutations to my newer readers joining us.
Now let's get down to business. Time to get a name for Sun's newest Pokemon, sort out some plot, and have other things happen too! Let's find out what, shall we?
Enjoy.
Pokémon Radiant Sun
Act II
Repercussions
Chapter 29: Fearless
Amber walked through the forest path with a small frown, in deep thought.
While she hadn't entirely recovered from the events that had taken place on Melemele Island, she could not get them out of her head. The final evening in particular stuck out, of course.
It was the closest she had come to death in years. And it drove an excitement through her that likes of which she hadn't felt in since she and Wes had battled last. He nearly killed her then, and once he failed to do so, regretted it dearly. In a way she missed the fool. Tormenting him had become a hobby of hers. Terrorizing others and inflicting as much pain as possible was one of the few things that actually made her feel something.
Amusement.
And while it wasn't joy or happiness, it was something.
While she was recovering, the desire to return to the islands of Alola was tempting. Plenty of exotic Pokémon for her to add to Cipher's ranks of Shadow Pokémon. Plenty of annoying people to mess with and annoying children to kill. And if that Tapu Koko thing was anything to judge by, the legendaries in the region were notably fierce. Exactly what they needed.
Especially if they were serious about certain projects moving forward.
While Amber didn't necessarily disagree with the Umbral Project, she certainly was wary about furthering it. The last time the project had made any significant headway, the resulting mess ended with an entire compound getting slaughtered and several months of headache for all of them.
No. They didn't need another Jojo.
"But again I get ahead of myself...we've got an operation here. Why would I need to go back there when I'm needed here? Even if Colress, and I imagine his band of idiots, are over there, what use is there for me to dwell on it? They're not major threats to us at this point. Borlath needs me here to neutralize anything that stands in our way. And even if I want something, I can't say no to Borlath, now can I?" Amber mused as she continued her saunter down the forest path. She hummed a dull tune as she walked, killing the time before Avis returned to whisk her away to their next objective. With Celadon City crippled and the Kanto region on its toes, their next target had to be taken care of. It would take some time and doing, but soon another city would fall and Cipher would be one small step closer to world domination.
Amber stopped her humming as an Xatu flashed into existence beside her. Avis still looked worse for wear after her battle with Professor Kukui and Tapu Koko, but she was resilient like her. She would recover in time, just like the rest of her team. Though Amber still needed a replacement for her Infernape.
"Sorry for the delay. Scoping out the Vermilion City Gym was more tedious than I imagined it would be." Avis said dryly, landing on the ground and ruffling her feathers before bending her wings and regarding Amber.
"Better safe than sorry. We've got to be delicate with things before we tear everything apart. It makes things more interesting anyway. There'll be time for us to rest before we proceed." Amber replied with a casual shrug.
"Ever since Cipher changed its policy on how we operate and became more direct, you've definitely had a bigger hand in what goes on." Avis noted as she put a wing on Amber's shoulder and the two of them vanished. The duo reappeared on top of a small building in the middle of a bustling city with a marvelous seaport. On the surface, all was calm and well. But Amber knew that wasn't the case and in a few months' time, this city would be theirs. Amber cast a look at her starter, regarding her with a hard expression.
"That's because out of all of the Admins...I'm the only one who managed to get the job done."
"True. Though you didn't exactly kill Wes..."
"There are worse fates than death, Avis. Wes knows that and so does Aria." Amber said softly, her smile widening and gaining a familiar horrifying quality to it that had become almost routine over the years.
"I'm well aware of that fact, but I...I'm worried that you're being relied on too much. I don't want you to get hurt, Amber. I almost lost you back in Alola…"
"And I've almost lost you more times than I can count. I'm not reckless. But I'm also capable enough to handle whatever comes my way. Besides, we've gone over this before. If I die, I die. I'm not scared of it. I welcome it after everything I've gone through. But until that day I'll continue to be useful and help Borlath as much as I can. Maybe once everything is said and done, we can focus on fixing what's wrong with me." Amber said as her smile faded and she regarded the setting sun thoughtfully, even as the Xatu beside her looked at her nervously.
"I just...I'm…"
"Avis...Trust me. We'll be fine. I haven't led us astray yet, have I?"
"Yes! Many, many times!"
"And how many of those times have we escaped from certain doom and returned better than ever? How many of our enemies remain out of all of the ones we've faced?" Amber asked the bird, receiving silence in response. Despite everything they had been through, Amber had always managed to win in the end. Even against Wes. And yet…
"Despite all of that, I can't help but worry."
"Then stay worried. Someone has to be, between the two of us. Trust me to handle everything like always. Just watch my back, alright?" Amber said as she rested a hand on the head of the bird, patting her and making the Xatu shut her eyes and sigh softly. While the gesture did nothing for Amber, she knew her worried starter would appreciate it. With that, the two watched the sunset for a time before they vanished from the rooftops, to continue their dark mission within the seaside city.
Iki Town:
"Observe Sun. If you wish to use the Fighting-type Z-Power, move your arm like this…"
"Like this?"
"Yes, just like this. Then bend your hips like this and pose!"
"Feels only a little less ridiculous than it did last time…"
Hala chuckled at the remark as Sun demonstrated his ability to copy pose movements again. After a moment he said, "Now then Sun! With this victory you have cleared all of the Trials of Melemele Island, the first of Alola's Islands!"
"The Melemele Stamp is proof of your accomplishments. With it, Pokémon of a higher level and strength with recognize your own and obey you. Even those you have received from another Trainer in a trade." Hala explained with a smile as he pulled out a stamp from within his coat and pressed down on Sun's passport as he pulled it out of his backpack. Once that was done, Hala cast his gaze skyward for a moment. The old Kahuna seemed lost in thought.
"The moon in the daytime…the sun at night…"
"Mister Hala?"
Hala snapped out of his reverie with a smile, looking down at Sun with respect in his eyes. "Now to see if you can pour your heart into something that cannot be seen but is very much real. As you continue on your Island Challenge, consider what makes up the people and Pokémon that you meet…Both what you can see and what you cannot…do you understand, Sun?"
"I…I think so." Sun replied slowly, earning yet another joyful laugh from the Kahuna. The old warrior calmed himself after a few moments as the crowd dispersed around them with some calling out to Sun and the Kahuna. Laura and the others were waiting nearby, though Colress had vanished from what Sun could tell from a quick glance off to the side. Hala caught Sun's attention by speaking again.
"You will surely meet Tapu Koko again someday. It has shown itself to you far more times than anyone I can recall in my time protecting Melemele Island. You and the Guardian Deity share a bond of sorts, Sun. It has seen something truly special in you, and I cannot wait to see what you become in the future my boy." Hala said with a smile that wrinkled his mustache. He then turned and began walking down the steps, where the others were waiting for him.
"Moo-aaarrr!"
"What the…" Sun trailed off as a familiar Pokémon suddenly burst into the city, snorting and crying out as it made its way towards the center of the town. Sun actually recognized it as the Tauros that Kahuna Hala had been placating and travelling with all over Melemele Island.
Hala stepped towards the bull Pokémon and held out a hand, saying, "Whoa there, Tauros!"
The bull Pokémon threw its head forward with another loud cry as the group approached Sun and Hala, eyeing both the young Trainer and the newly arrived Tauros. Hala then snapped his fingers with a laugh.
"I've got an idea!" Hala said after a moment.
"Kahuna, the last time you said that you wound up the hospital." Kukui remarked with a chuckle.
"If I recall Kukui, so did you. And I still won the bet." Hala replied, making the Professor tip his head slightly before nodding, a small sigh escaping the Professor as he seemingly admitted defeat.
"So what's your idea, Kahuna?" Kukui asked as he crossed his arms, smiling again.
"Well, my idea was for Sun here." Hala turned to face the boy in question. "How about I set you up so you can ride my Tauros whenever you'd like? After all, there's no reason why he shouldn't get to enjoy the Island Challenge, too!" Hala asked Sun, making the boy blink with surprise for a minute before he grinned. Tauros let out another bellow, as if agreeing with the Kahuna's words.
"Yeah, that's great. But uh…don't you have to set up stuff in order to ride Pokémon around Alola? Is Tauros a Ride Pokémon now?" Sun asked the Kahuna. Hala saved his hand dismissively.
"I'll take care of all the little things you'll need in order to ride a Pokémon, Sun. First off, take this." Hala dug into one of his many pockets and pulled out a yellow device of sorts.
"This is a Ride Pager." Hala explained before gesturing to Hau, who was now holding a small brown box with a wide grin on his face. Sun didn't even notice him leaving and returning with the item.
"And in Hau's hands is the special equipment required for using Ride Pokémon. Not only does it allow you to make the most use of the Ride Pokémon's abilities, but it also ensures your safety while using Ride Pokémon." Hala explained as Hau handed Sun the box. Sun opened it apprehensively and examined the outfit within and saw that it was mostly black, white, green and yellow. A bright red helmet and backpack were also within the box.
"Go ahead and get changed while I finish setting Tauros up." Hala instructed the boy. Sun sighed inwardly, but obliged the Kahuna.
With one off-screen wardrobe change taken care of, Sun crossed his arms as Hau smirked at his outfit and Lillie smiled at him.
"What do you both think?" Sun asked his friends.
"Eh, could be worse. I think I can probably pull it off better than you though, Sunshine." Hau gave Sun a massive grin as the boy scowled in annoyance at the use of his first name.
"Note to self. Shove Hau down a hill when no one's looking." Sun thought dryly before he looked over at Lillie, his annoyance fading away a bit as he regarded the blonde-haired girl. "Lillie, what do you think?"
"It's not exactly stylish, but it'll keep you safe, which is the most important thing. I like it." Lillie said diplomatically. Sun nodded at her words. That worked for him.
"I think you look adorable sweetie!" Laura cooed from the side, wearing a proud smile. Sun blushed in embarrassment and looked away as the others laughed at the outburst.
"There we go! Now Sun, why don't you hop on there?" Hala said as he finished setting up a strange green harness of sorts around the Tauros. Sun nodded, feeling a little bit silly in his outfit, before he pressed the Ride Pager a second time. The harness attached to the Tauros shuddered for a moment before a seat sprang out of the device, complete with a handlebar-like grip for Sun to hold on too. Sun took a calming breath before walking over to the Tauros and hopping on top of the mighty Pokémon's back.
"Wow…this is…pretty awesome." Sun said with a wide smile, looking down at the others from atop the mighty bull Pokémon. Tauros was a Pokémon he was fairly familiar with from back in Kanto, so getting the chance to not only ride one but also share the massive Pokémon's strength was even more exciting to the young boy. Sun grinned down at everyone while Laura pulled out her phone and took several pictures of her child.
"Heh! Even if I'll never do that myself in a million years, I've gotta admit, Sun. That looks awesome!" Hau said with his usual grin as his friend surveyed them all from atop the Tauros.
"It is pretty cool." Hugh admitted as he crossed his arms, looking impressed as Sun reached down and patted the Tauros on the head, making the bull moo for a moment in pleasure.
"Make sure to take good care of Tauros while you're riding around Sun. He may be strong, but you also can't overdo it. Okay?" Lillie said to Sun, who gave her a nod and a smile in response.
"That is correct." Hala chimed in, nodding in agreement. "Here in Alola, Pokémon lend us their strength and let us ride about on them. While you can ride a Pokémon anywhere, it is here in Alola where the true power of cooperation between human and Pokémon is shown."
"Now, let me explain some of the features of the gear I gave you, Sun." Hala said to the boy before launching into an explanation about how the Ride Gear worked. Professor Kukui chimed in every now and then as well. According to the two of them, Ride Pokémon could be identified by the equipment that they wore on their bodies, and could be called with a press of a button. Ride Pokémon could be found out in the wild on the Routes within Alola, and could be contacted through the Ride Pager if a Trainer needed assistance.
As Hala wrapped up his explanation, a familiar voice called out to the group.
"Ah, it seems I was too late to see the conclusion of the battle. Nevertheless I predicted the outcome anyway. Congratulations, Sun!" Ilima said as he sauntered into Iki Town, flashing the group a smile.
"Hey there Captain Ilima. How'd you know I'd win?" Sun asked the young Captain, who chuckled and tossed his long hair back.
"Captain's intuition." Ilima gestured to the Tauros Sun was riding on and said, "I hope you find your Ride Pager useful. I worked on developing it with a friend of mine."
"You helped make the Ride Pager? That's awesome!" Hau exclaimed excitedly, making Ilima chuckle again.
"You bet. Ilima here works with a few of the other Captains on small projects here and there. One of them was helping set up the Ride Pokémon equipment." Kukui explained cheerily as he stepped forward, wincing slightly as he moved.
Ilima looked at Sun atop the Tauros and said, "Sun. Let's have a Pokémon battle the next time meet!"
"Sounds good to me. You better bring your A-game Captain!" Sun replied with a wide grin, making Ilima's smile widen as he turned around.
"Excellent. Well, I must be off. Good luck on your Island Challenge my friend! May the future bring you happiness!" Ilima departed with a small wave as he left, leaving the group behind.
Hala broke the small silence first.
"All right, Sun. With the help of Tauros, you should be able to explore more areas of the Island that were previously inaccessible to you. I believe that the big rocks that are on Route 1 will be no match for the power of you and Tauros." Hala said to the boy, whose smile turned into a devious grin at the thought of smashing a bunch of rocks with a semi-wild bull. Kuku interrupted the segment with an excited yell.
"All right! I got a little something for you, too!" Kukui pulled out a small white disc out of his jacket and tossed it up to Sun, who caught it.
"Is this a TM?" Sun asked.
"Yes. That's TM 54. False Swipe. It's a move that will leave your opponent with a small bit of health when you attack. It's perfect for weakening a Pokémon for that perfect catch!" Kukui replied as he crossed his arms. "Keep on catching more and more Pokémon, yeah? That way Rotom can learn more and so can you!"
"Bzzzt! I already know everything, but you know, I'll humor you." Rotom said as it floated over to Sun's head and buzzed merrily. The Tauros snorted as it moved forward, making Penny and Oliver flutter backwards. The Growlithe, however, remained still and as the bull inspected him.
"So…How did you even get here anyway?" Sun asked the Growlithe, who was in a stare-down with the massive Tauros. It seemed despite the difference in power and size, the Growlithe wasn't intimidated by how close the massive bull was to him.
"I requested that two of your friends assist me in coming here. I wanted to see for myself what kind of person you were. And in my eyes, the best way to see the heart a person has is on the battlefield." The Growlithe grunted, his dark eyes flitting over to his new Trainer.
"Meaning that you pretty much shattered like…all of the protocol that hospital has on Pokémon there." Kukui noted dryly, making the Growlithe look at him for a moment before shifting his eyes to Sun as he hopped down from the Tauros and jumped to the ground.
"And I'd do it again in heartbeat. You humans have many annoying rules." The Growlithe replied dismissively before Kukui snapped his fingers.
"Oh yeah! Sun, we should probably come up with some kind of game plan for you. You've got to get to the next island for your Island Challenge right? So you can pass a few more Trials and get to thrown down with another Kahuna?" Kukui said to Sun.
"Well…yeah."
"Fantastic, cousin! Well, I've decided to accompany you to the next place you'll be heading, since my wife happens to have her lab there. Lucky for us, I've got transportation all handled. See, we can set sail out of the Marina in Hau'oli City and I've got a little boat that'll help us to where we need to be. Should be a fun little adventure, oh yeah!" Kukui replied, his smile widening in excitement.
"Professor, if you're leaving in your boat, it um…I think it…" Lillie shook her head and Kukui suddenly blinked in realization, understanding what Lillie was saying.
"Oh yeah. Dang thing got trashed a few weeks back, didn't it? Uh…Lillie, you gonna help me clean it?" Kukui asked sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
"Of course Professor. It's my job, isn't it?" Lillie replied quietly, smiling wanly at Kukui.
"I'll help you both," Sun offered.
"Me too!" Hau chimed in, not willing to let Sun one-up him.
"That's the spirit boys!" Kukui said enthusiastically.
"Professor Kukui, you're way too good at getting children to do your chores for you." Hugh noted dryly, making the Professor actually give him a glare in response. Hugh shivered under the intensity of the stare for a moment before the man swung back around with a cheery smile and slamming a fist to his chest in excitement…
Kukui then doubled over, his eyes wide open and his mouth twitching slightly. Hala and Lillie face-palmed while Sun and the others watched on in mild horror.
"Professor…Did you seriously just hit yourself in the place you got stabbed?" Hau asked incredulously.
"Uh…maybe just a…little bit."
"Kukui, I worry about you sometimes." Laura said with a small sigh, shaking her head.
"So does my wife." Kukui admitted before he stood back up and wiped away a single manly tear from his eyes.
"I have no idea what's going on anymore, zzt!" Rotom puzzled aloud, buzzing next to Sun's head.
"Me either. Just keep playing along." Sun whispered to Rotom.
"Right-o. Bzzt!"
"You three should meet me at the Lab in two days. By then I should be recovered enough to start preparations and we can get this fun trip underway, Sun." Kukui said to the boy, receiving a thumbs up in reply. Sun may have enjoyed the past few days of relaxing with Lillie and his mother, but he yearned to resume his journey. Especially now that he had a new Pokémon travelling with him. Sun was snapped out of his thoughts by a bone-crushing hug from behind.
"I am so, so proud of you. You were amazing out there!" Laura gushed as she turned her son around and hugged him a second time. Sun returned the hug with a smile, feeling elated that his mother had got to see him triumph in his biggest battle to date. Oliver and Penny soared over and joined in on the hug, chirping happily. Even the Growlithe joined in, though it was a few moments later and he simply put a paw on Sun's leg, but it still counted. The group broke apart, smiling and happy as Kukui began talk of throwing a party later to celebrate, but Sun tuned it out as an unwelcome thought suddenly broke into his mind.
"What would Dad think if he saw me right now?" Sun wondered, feeling an icy cold pang roll through him and extinguish all of the joy he had felt at winning. A few moments of thinking on it made him feel guilty. He knew exactly what his Dad would think. He'd be angry. Furious that his only child had gone against his wishes and became the very thing he wanted him not to be. This battle was a milestone in a Trainer's journey through Alola. This was a slap in the face to his father.
"Sun? What's the matter, dear?" Laura asked as she looked into the face of her child, confused as to why his previously joyful expression changed to a downcast one.
"I just…I wonder if Dad would be proud too." Sun said quietly, looking at his mother. Laura frowned and stepped forward, hugging her child again.
"Despite everything, I think he would." Laura said softly, holding the embrace for a few moments before releasing her child.
"What's going on here?" Hugh asked, confused as he crossed his arms.
"Sun's father wasn't exactly supportive of him becoming a Pokémon Trainer. He outright stopped Sun multiple times from leaving on his own journey. Sun's wondering whether or not his father would be proud of him for winning a Pokémon Battle against the Kahuna. Despite him not being in our lives anymore, Sun still regards his father's opinions highly." Laura explained to Hugh, making the young man nod in understanding.
"My friend Bianca went through a similar thing. Her Dad really didn't want her going on a journey. It took her friend and a Gym Leader to convince him to back off." Hugh remarked, smiling a little before looking over at Sun. "Hey man, you shouldn't worry about it. If he approves, he does. If he doesn't, then oh well. Your Mom is proud of you and so are we."
"It's so stupid though…I shouldn't think of Dad and get so down about him. I hate it." Sun muttered as Lillie made a move to step forward, but Hau stopped her with a look and a shake of the head. Lillie stepped back, biting her lip in worry, though she relaxed as Hugh put a hand on Sun's shoulder.
"Getting hung up on the past just kinda happens. No one expects things to hit them as hard as they do. I mean, take me for instance." Hugh pointed at himself as his smile became rueful.
"I used to call Aria's phone every single day after she went missing. For two months straight I got her voicemail, and I'd just break down after that. Every single day for two months, I was stuck in a depressed cycle. That's how hard it hit me when I…when we lost her." Hugh explained as Sun examined the teen's face, seeing how genuine he was being.
"I just want to put him out of my mind. Me succeeding with my team doesn't deserved to be ruined because of what my Dad might think. He's gone now." Sun replied as Mom watched the exchange worriedly. Thankfully, another distraction came along in the form of everyone's favorite Malasada-obsessed Pokémon Trainer.
"Hey Tutu?" Hau said suddenly, making the Kahuna turn to towards his grandson.
"Yes, my child?"
"When can we have my Grand Trial?" Hau asked, surprising everyone around them but the Kahuna himself. The man only laughed good-naturedly and regarded Hau with affection.
"Hau, you are an eager one. But yes, we should not delay. While Sun has emerged victorious from his battle with me, you too are growing stronger every passing day and have earned your shot at a battle with the Kahuna of Melemele Island. Allow me to heal my team and I will face you on the field of battle in a short while." Hala responded to Hau, his tone becoming more formal and powerful. Hau shuddered visibly for a moment before nodding. Hala's mouth twitched into a smile for a moment before it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, the man turning around and walking off.
Sun opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Vivian and Noah teleporting into existence in front of them with an Alakazam standing behind the two of them. A very annoyed-looking nurse that Sun recognized from the Hau'oli Medical Center was standing beside the couple.
"You!" the nurse cried out, pointing at the Growlithe sitting at Sun's feet. The dog rolled its eyes in response to the verbal outcry, which didn't do much for the mood of the nurse.
"I've been looking everywhere for you, mister! And just when I'm about to faint from the stress of not being able to find a critically injured Pokémon, I find out these two grossly irresponsible kids let you not only get out of the hospital but also observe a very intense battle that could have had a variety of responses on your comprised system. You could have…" the nurse trailed off, shaking her head as the Growlithe cocked his head at her.
"I apologize for upsetting you, but I did what I had too. You wouldn't understand, being a human, but we Pokémon form special bonds we take very seriously. I wanted to make sure this boy was someone I could stand being attached too." The Growlithe looked over at Sun and gave him a smile, showing off his sharp teeth.
"You have the soul of a warrior, yet you care for and support those who follow you into battle. I'd be honored to fight alongside someone with such a fierce heart." The Growlithe finished as it got to all fours and winced, making the nurse step forward.
"Alright, alright, I get it. But that doesn't mean you're not going to be coming back with me so you can finish your treatment. You haven't been officially released yet and you definitely shouldn't be attending anything like a Grand Trial." The nurse said sternly to the dog before pulling out a Poké Ball.
"Ma'am, wait! I'll do it." Sun said to the woman, making her blink in surprise. The nurse smiled despite herself and tossed the Poké Ball to Sun, who paused for a moment.
"I need to come up with a name for you. Unless you already have a name." Sun asked the Growlithe at his feet.
"Within the pack I was called many names, some good and some not so pleasant. However the name I was known most by was Brago." The Growlithe said quietly as Sun bent down to dog Pokémon's level and extended a hand to him. The Growlithe smiled again and raised a paw and shook Sun's hand. Oliver and Penny flew forward and hooted and tweeted at him.
"Thank you both." Brago said quietly before looking towards Sun. "Alpha?"
"Yeah, Brago?" Sun replied, looking down at the Growlithe, whose eyes burned with some emotion Sun couldn't identify.
"Don't dwell on the past. You're better than that, I believe." Brago stated, making Sun smile finally. Despite everything, it did feel pretty good to hear that a Pokémon he just caught thought highly of him and was trying to help him like everyone else was. With an effort he pushed away the dark thoughts that had been troubling him. The child returned the Growlithe to his Poké Ball and looked down at it.
"Dude that Growlithe is beyond cool. It needs like, its own nickname." Hau said with a massive grin before he suddenly said, "How about Brago the Awesome? Or maybe Brago the Fearless? Ooh, that one's got to work, huh Sun?"
"Brago the Fearless…You definitely live up to that nickname, don't you?" Sun thought as he recalled the canine standing up to Amber despite her strength and battling alongside him when he was injured. He hoped that Brago enjoyed being with him and Oliver and Penny.
"Thank you, Mister Smiles. After today, he'll likely be within our care for another two days or so before being released. We'll contact you when your Growlithe is ready for pickup." The nurse said as she accepted the Poké Ball from the child and put it into her pocket.
"Alright, so now that we have the Growlithe, are we still in trouble?" Vivian asked the nurse, getting a glare in response.
"Of course you are! Now let's get back to the hospital. That paperwork isn't going to sign itself." The nurse remarked almost happily as Vivian let out a moan of despair. Noah just chuckled, offering the group a cheery wave before the lot of them teleported away. The group watched them for a moment before Laura spoke up.
"Well, this has been an amazing afternoon, but I do need to get back and prepare for dinner tonight. Sun and Lillie, please be back before sundown. The rest of you, have a wonderful night!" Laura said as she waved at the group. After a chorus of goodbyes and giving Sun another hug, Laura released her Pidgeot and rode off on him, buffeting the group with fierce winds as the massive bird took off. Kukui and Hugh decided to follow Kahuna Hala, leaving the trio of children to themselves.
"Alright then! Time to go strategize! I'm going to take down Tutu first! Then I'm coming for you, Sun!" Hau said loudly, pointing emphatically at Sun as he took off his helmet.
"Hau…I've beaten you three times. But go ahead and give it your best shot, man."
"I WILL NOT SURRENDER!"
"Turn off the caps lock, jeez."
"BLAME THE WRITING STAFF!"
"What…what writing staff?"
"…I DON'T KNOW!" Hau proclaimed before turning on his heel and marching off, though he did so with a massive grin on his face.
"Sometimes I can't tell when he's being serious or silly. Or when I feel like shoving him down a hill or shaking his hand. You ever feel that way, Lillie?" Sun asked the girl, who smiled back at him.
"Every single day Sun. He means well though, so I just go with it," Lillie replied quietly.
"Uh-huh."
"So…we're going to go support him, right? This battle means a lot to him, you know." Lillie asked Sun as he returned Penny and Oliver.
"We could do that. Or…we could head back home and practice that Johto Fire Duet again." Sun said to the girl, receiving a disapproving frown in response. Lillie's frown vanished when she saw Sun giving her a smirk, telling her that he had been joking.
"Let's go get a good spot. He's about to take on the man he looks up to more than anyone else in the world. I'm definitely going to have Hau's back every step of the way." Sun replied with a wide grin, making Lillie laugh softly. The duo quickly made their way over to the other side of the stage and waited in anticipation for the second Grand Trial of the day, with Sun wondering whether or not his friend could defeat the man he idolized his entire life.
