Pokémon Radiant Sun
Over 300 reviews…in ten months. And two and a half of those I was totally inactive.
Just…Thank you all so much. The love this story gets and the support you all have given me is just incredible. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Back to business. This was originally supposed to be two chapters, but I'm impatient and just want to get to Akala Island sometime this year. So I'm condensing stuff. Huzzah!
The following chapter is pretty much one of the few places in this story where there's an actual beach you can walk on, so this is about as good a place as any for a beach chapter. I don't know if I'll do another one, but I figured why not have one here?
And yes, I'm aware there are some reservations as to how this'll play out. I think I handled things rather well, considering how the characters are regularly and how they'd react to hanging out at the beach. I got some inspiration from the anime, which I seriously need to get back to this weekend because I saw the clip of a certain someone reuniting with another someone and the confrontation they had was…interesting to say the least.
Also, I'd like to make an admission as to why I'm looking forward to Akala Island so much.
Team Skull.
I plan on expanding a lot on Team Skull, just because the backstory and the potential for them is so great. And I think that a lot of people want to see more of them not just because they're hilarious, but because people sympathize with them. Some of my most anticipated scenes I want to do with this story involve Team Skull, Gladion, and of course the man who beats you down and beats you down and never let's up…
Ya boi.
GOD I'M HYPED. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU ALL WHAT I HAVE PLANNED. LIKE, THE FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS ALONE OF THIS ARC DO A CRAPTON OF STUFF AND EEEEEEEEEEEEE!
But anyway, shoutout to the fantastic folks who reviewed last chapter, which includes Madame Rodoshe, a Guest reviewer, BouncingFish, Cottonmouth25, AKhaos, Ignaci0, Gokan123, Ways, BraviaryScout, as well as a new reviewer known as Xehanorto, who also happens to be one of my good friends from the Freelancer Collaboration. Thanks for the tremendous amount of support and love folks. It means the world to me, it truly does.
Major shoutout to Ways, who's rapid-fire reviews of the past few chapters made him the 300th review for this story. Thanks for supporting me in the past and continuing to support me in RS!
Also, let's play spot the cameo. No it's not a major one, but it's something. Considering this is one of my favorite character's in the game couldn't find a real spot for them in the story. Maybe I'll find something down the road, but for now…
Enjoy.
Chapter 34: Life's a Beach
Thankfully for the crew of children, Professor Kukui was fine with them having fun at the beach for the day before they set out later that evening. He had managed to wrap up the boat repairs and was keen to take an afternoon off himself before they arrived at Akala Island that night. So with that said, the next morning Sun and Hau went down to the beach along with the Professor.
Sun simply wore dark grey swimming trunks with a Poké Ball design on the sides, with a simple white T-shirt and black sandals. When asked, Sun explained that he didn't tan. He burned. Hence why he was taking the extra precautions with a shirt and liberal amounts of sunscreen. Sun knew he'd still end up roasted, but at least he had tried.
Hau had forgone a shirt and simply wore a bright orange pair of trunks with yellow flowers on the sides, remarkable similar to the pants he usually wore. He of course kept his sandals, because why would he not?
And Kukui wore his usual attire. Which confused Sun.
"Professor, I thought you would have your bathing suit here." Sun stated as they continued walking down the path that led to the beach.
"Oh no, I don't go swimming in my swimsuit. That uh…wouldn't be a good idea." Kukui chuckled, grinning at the two children.
"Nah, I'd feel pretty bad if you didn't get to have fun in the water as well. Besides, you're Professor Kukui. With abs like yours, you've got to have a swimsuit." Sun said to the man, grinning at him.
"I mean, I do have one. I was just planning on swimming somewhere away from you kids. I don't think you two are old enough to handle it and not scream in horror." Kukui said completely seriously, which made both children exchange a bewildered look.
"I'm sure we can handle it. We faced down a psychopathic assassin survived and I beat the Kahuna. How bad could you in a swimsuit be?" Sun laughed. Kukui shrugged, grabbing his backpack and walking into a nearby changing tent.
"So…What kind of swimsuit do you think Kukui has?" Hau wondered, crossing his arms.
"Probably something super colorful and ridiculous. Like a leotard with Charizards on it." Sun snickered, making Hau giggle as well. Suddenly the tent flap flew open and Professor Kukui walked out, making Sun and Hau scream out in horror…
What else do you expect two 11-year olds to do when the Regional Professor of Alola walks out in nothing but a white speedo?
"OH GOD MY VIRGIN EYES!"
"BLEACH! I NEED BLEACH!"
"See, this right here is why I don't swim. People just can't handle me at my best. I used to be the best swimmer on my team back at my old university." Kukui bragged, taking a moment to strike one of his trademark poses from his…other job. Rotom suddenly flew up to the Professor, flailing its arms.
"Zzzt! Professor, for the love of Arceus put some pants on!"
"Fine! Jeez, you all are so immature."
Five Minutes Later…
"I think my innocence was ruined."
"Sun, as Pokémon Trainers, we must overcome any obstacle. No matter how awful and horrifying."
"Kids, seriously…you're kinda starting to hurt my feelings…"
Sun and Hau gave Kukui glares of fury before Kukui laughed and said, "I think I'll go somewhere else for a bit."
Hau and Sun released all of their Pokémon, making Kukui take a step back in horror as the children gave him looks of the childish rage. Both boys pointed at the Professor, who gulped nervously as he slipped his coat back on, having changed back into his regular clothes.
"Oliver. Use Leafage."
"Duke. Electro Ball."
Kukui screamed in horror as a sadistic Dartrix and a Pikachu chased the man down the beach, lobbing the attacks at the man. Sun grinned as Penny and Brago barked and chirped encouragement to Oliver as Cassy fired a Water Gun into the air and Hau began washing his face and eyes with the water his starter was providing for him.
"Good Giratina, I'm gonna need eye soap for a month. UUGGHHH!" Hau moaned, shutting his eyes and shuddering. Sun turned to his Pokémon, with Oliver returning with a smug look on his face. Duke just let out a happy cry and circled Hau's legs.
"You three can go off wherever you want. Just stay out of trouble and have fun, okay?" Sun said to his trio. All three of them nodded and dispersed. Brago went to hang out by the umbrella where all of their stuff was, sitting next to a certain Alolan Vulpix who brightened up at seeing the Growlithe coming her way. Penny soared out towards the water while Oliver flew with a few nearby Wingulls.
"You two have fun too. Just be careful." Hau said to his duo, who both gave him goofy salutes before scampering off. Hau shuddered and said, "Thank goodness Pokémon would make nothing out of what just happened."
"Seriously, like…I did NOT need to see that." Sun shivered as well, trying to repress the memory even as it was being burned into his mind. The Kanto-native looked at Hau and said, "So what now?"
"Well, there's a volleyball game going on over there. Or we can play in the water. Or wait for the girls." Hau suggested, each of the ideas having merit. Lillie and Demi had urged them to go on without them, saying they would catch up later for some reason.
A sudden explosion cut off both boys' trains of thought and they whirled around to see a small crowd gathered down the beach, cheering and whooping and very into the ongoing bout. Sun and Hau exchanged a quick glance before charging ahead, eager to see what the fuss was about. They managed to nudge a few people aside and got towards the front, where they saw some familiar faces in a Pokémon battle.
Noah and Hugh stood apart from each other on the beach, Samson the Samurott on one side and a massive Machamp on the other, much larger than the one Sun had seen in Ilima's house just yesterday. Vivian stood in the middle of them, obviously playing the referee. The beach itself was completely torn up and the Pokémon on both sides were sporting obvious damage, but both looked very strong and very ready to keep brawling until the other was unable to continue. Hugh was grinning, excitement visible on his face as he shifted his stance in the sand, his crimson eyes twinkling in the sun.
Noah, on the other hand, looked…alive.
Each and every time Sun had encountered the young man, Noah had been in medical scrubs and had a sickly look to him. Subdued yet cheerful, polite yet restrained, so to speak. However Noah was now wearing a bright red vest and a bright white dress shirt, complete with black slacks and dress shoes. A fedora was on the boy's head, tilted to the side just so. He wore a fierce grin on his face, full of life and excitement. Certainly not the kind of Pokémon Trainer Sun imagined the teen with leukemia was. It was like he was seeing the young man for who he really was for the first time.
"Samurott, use Hydro Pump!" Hugh barked. Samson nodded sharply before opening his maw and firing a massive burst of water at the Fighting-type he stood apart from.
"Jump into the air and use Flamethrower!" Noah shot back, making Hugh blink in surprise as the Machamp leapt into the air, dodging the pressurized blast of water. Machamp opened his mouth and spewed forth a raging blast of flames that enveloped Samson, making the Water-type growl in pain before it engulfed itself in water and shot into the air without waiting for a command.
"Aqua Jet!" Hugh yelled as the Samurott's speed tripled and slammed into the Machamp even as it breathed fire onto him. The two Pokémon tumbled through the air and crashed into the sand. Samurott got underneath the Machamp and threw its head up, tossing the Machamp into the air and crashing back down into the sand.
"Max, you feel like the warm-up is over?" Noah asked his Machamp. In response, the four-armed Pokémon cracked all four sets of his knuckles, grinning now.
"Use Focus Blast and follow up with Submission." Noah commanded the Superpower Pokémon, who nodded and charged ahead fearlessly as Samson lowered his head in anticipation. Hugh's grin turned feral with excitement as he threw his arm apart.
"Not a chance! Use Ice Beam!" Hugh yelled, his Samurott crouching low onto the ground before snorting and charging up a ball of light blue energy at the tip of his horn and firing it, the beam sending a chill of power through the air. The Machamp let out a yell as a ball of energy quickly formed within its palms and fired off to meet the beam of icy energy directly, creating a wicked explosion of mist and smoke.
"Megahorn!" Hugh bellowed as Samson launched himself into the smoke, even as Max charged straight ahead. The a loud booming sound echoed out from the smoke, dispersing it within moments and revealing a Machamp slamming the Samurott into the ground with a yell, even as the Water-type rammed its glowing horn into the chest of the Machamp.
"Low Kick to separate, follow up with Dynamic Punch!" Noah yelled out. Machamp nodded and savagely kicked Samurott in the chest, making the Pokémon cry out in pain as it fell away. Samurott growled as Machamp rolled to its feet, its fists charging up with energy before it charged ahead.
"Counter with Razor Shell!" Hugh called out, with the Samurott leaping back and drawing its blades, both of which gleamed with blue watery energy as the Machamp sprinted forward. Both Pokémon exchanged furious blows back and forth, and it was obvious despite the ferocity that the two were evenly matched.
Sun was in awe. He knew he was a good Pokémon Trainer, he wouldn't have defeated a Captain (twice) and the Kahuna. But this…was something else entirely. These two were on a whole other level.
An explosion rocked Sun out of musings, with Machamp skidding through the sand with a yell while Samurott dropped to the ground, shaking its head as if trying to clear it. Machamp stumbled to its feet, panting heavily before throwing out its arms.
"Use Bulk Up!" Noah cried out, with Machamp screaming out as a crimson aura engulfed it and increased its strength.
"Heh. Two can play that game. Work up!" Hugh yelled out as Samurott gained awareness in its eyes. The Pokémon let out a roar, working itself up into a state where its strength would increase as well. On top of that, Sun saw an aura of blue light began to glow around Samurott.
"That's Torrent." Hau said, his eyes catching what Sun's did. "Every starter in each region has the same ability. All water-type starters have Torrent, and it strengthens Water-type moves in a pinch. This thing is just about done."
"Use Waterfall!" Hugh roared, throwing a fist forward. Samurott bellowed as it crouched low, water engulfing it as the Pokémon rushed towards Machamp. Noah's grin was almost Cheshire as he threw apart his arms.
"Show them our strength, Max! Meet him head-on with Cross Chop!" Noah yelled out, with his Machamp crossing all four arms into a wicked X that burned with energy. The Superpower Pokémon rushed forward and slammed into the Formidable Pokémon, both Pokémon colliding with enough force to create a shockwave of force that blew sand all around them and throwing both Pokémon apart, sending them crashing into the sand. Noah and Hugh both yelled out in concern, but after a few moments of stirring it became clear that neither Pokémon would be able to rise again on their own power.
"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Therefore the match is a draw!" Vivian declared, throwing up her arms. Both Noah and Hugh healed their Pokémon with Revives and Max Potions and returned their Pokémon. The two young men walked towards each other as the crowd cheered them on, with the two friends shaking hands.
"It's great seeing you back in top form. Make you don't overdo it, alright?" Hugh said Noah, who chuckled.
"I try not to. My body however doesn't agree, sadly. But it was…wonderful being back on the battlefield. I'm looking forward to getting our Island Challenge back on the road." Noah admitted as Hugh clapped his friend on the shoulder. Vivian reached them and slipped her hand into Noah's, and with that the trio walked off, the crowd parting around them. Hugh caught sight of Sun and Hau and gave them a wave of greeting, but the two children were too stunned by the battle that just ended to return it.
"That was…incredible." Sun breathed, grinning with excitement.
"Yeah…makes me excited to get back on track with our little trip. One day…We'll be even stronger than them." Hau said with a chuckle, putting his hands behind his head. Sun simply nodded as the three teens released their Pokémon, though Noah handed one of the Poké Balls to his Machamp, who sprinted into the water and swam out into the ocean before releasing the Pokémon within. Sun was surprised to see a massive shadow suddenly appear within the deeper reaches of the water before a massive serpent's head emerged.
"Holy crap, he has a Gyrados." Hau murmured in awe before the beast sank into the water and shut its eyes. Sun shivered at the sight of such a powerful and wild Pokémon being around. Not any Pokémon Trainer could control a Gyrados, and yet the one in the water seemed completely calm as it rested in the water just a short distance away. Sun couldn't tell because of how much its body was in the water, but looked much bigger than he imagined the serpent Pokémon would be like.
"Probably a good call to release it out there. It'd probably terrify people beforehand." Sun mused before he heard a call from behind him.
"Hey guys! We're finally here!" Sun and Hau turned around and finally saw Demi jogging towards them. The girl was wearing a bright yellow two-piece with her hair tied into a ponytail, a tower tied around her neck and billowing behind her like a cape, with the girl grinning ear-to-ear.
"About time. You missed an awesome battle. Wait…where's Lillie?" Sun asked Demi, who sighed.
"She's the reason we're so late. She was really, really reluctant to come out here. I convinced her in the end, but she's kind of a wet blanket right now. She's trailing behind me now." Demi shook her head, but Hau frowned at that.
"I'm all for people having fun, but if she's not comfortable coming out here then…don't make her?" Hau suggested, earning an annoyed look from Demi. The girl then paused, her expression clearing before she put a hand on her forehead.
"Ugh…You're totally right. I was being pushy again and I probably made the poor girl even more reluctant to get out of her shell. I was trying to help…but probably just made it worse! Dang it…" Demi sighed again, looking rather upset that she had hurt one of her new friends. Sun opened his mouth to say something to comfort her, but then he spotted someone behind Demi that made his jaw drop. Hau chuckled and gestured for Demi to look behind her, and when she did the girl broke into a smile.
Lillie was walking towards them, her hat pulled low enough so that they couldn't see her face. She was wearing a white-ish blue, two-piece swimsuit with a small skirt attached, with of course her Poké Ball bag draped over her shoulder. Sun felt his face heat up and was glad he kept his hat on, hopping it concealed at least some of his blush. Hau just grinned, putting his hands behind his head as Lillie approached them. Demi just watched her approach with a guilty smile, realizing she had made a mistake.
"S-sorry about that. Just had to…work up the nerve to come out here." Lillie muttered, not meeting their eyes.
"You uh…UGHH! I'm sorry, Lillie. I didn't realize just how uncomfortable this would make you." Demi apologized, stepping forward. Lillie tilted her hat up, smiling a little.
"No I…I need to stop being so reserved. I can't keep hiding myself away from everyone and everything forever. That said…" Lillie shuddered and said, "It definitely feels weird showing this much skin."
"You can probably find some nice dresses around here just for the beach." Hau mused, grinning at his friend. "It looks good though!"
"T-thank you, Hau." Lillie said quietly, looking at Sun, who looked away from the girl. Lillie's head tilted in confusion, wondering what was wrong with Sun, before she caught sight of a bit of red on his face. Lillie's eyes widened in surprise and she was unsure if she wanted to ask Sun about that, but she was distracted by Oliver and Penny suddenly swooping down, chirping greetings to Lillie.
"So um…sorry about being so pushy earlier-" Demi began to say, but Lillie shook her head, making the other girl stop speaking as she pat Oliver on the head.
"It's okay. You're just trying to help me become more comfortable with myself. It's not your fault I'm so…shy, with some things." Lillie said quietly, lowering her hat as Nebby squirmed in her bag. "I think I'm just going to sit down and read for a bit under the umbrella. You all have fun."
Lillie walked off, sitting down underneath the umbrella and blanket in the sand that they had claimed as their spot, along with Brago and Winter, who greeted the young girl with a bark and a cry. Lillie patted Winter with a small smile, but it was obvious she was still not happy with how today was going. Sun wished he knew how to make her feel better about what was going on…
"That's a mood-killer." Hau remarked, crossing his arms. "But if she wants to be left alone, I won't bug her. I'm gonna play volleyball. You all should come with."
Hau walked off, leaving Demi and Sun standing in the sand and watching Lillie as she pet Winter and Brago, with both Pokémon shutting their eyes in contentment.
Demi put a hand on her chin, her expression thoughtful. "Sun, you're kind of a mellow guy. You wouldn't mind sitting down and being boring at the beach."
"Huh?"
"Go hang out with Lillie for a bit. Make sure she's okay. And you know…I'm sure Lillie would appreciate it if you gave her your shirt to help her cover up a little bit." Sun looked at her in surprise. Demi then leaned in and said even quieter, "She had nothing but good things to say about you the week I spent with her and Hau, Sun. You mean a lot to her. She's not happy right now, and seeing you look out for her would go a long way towards…well…"
Sun was surprised when Demi's grin turned mischievous and she winked at him. Sun then finally caught onto her meaning then blushed furiously. Either his attraction to Lillie was really, really obvious or people were much smarter than he gave them credit for. He hoped it was the second one.
"You like her, right? Go help her out. It'll mean more to her if it is you that does it. I know if I was upset and a cute boy gave me the shirt off their back, I'd think it was really sweet." Demi said quietly, her smile becoming softer before she turned around. Sun again blushed at the compliment. While he may have had his eyes on Lillie lately, getting complimented by another pretty girl was…oddly satisfying for him. He shook his head slightly, composing himself for the task ahead. He agreed with Demi's idea and was determined to cheer Lillie up.
"I'm gonna go hang out with Hau. When you two feel like it, you should join us. It'd be nice to have us all play around a bit before the day is done." Demi whirled around and shoved Sun towards Lillie before running off to play with Hau. She rejoined the cheerful boy, who gave her a questioning look.
"What's going on?" Hau asked.
"Helping Sun with Lillie. He totally wants her, she totally wants him. So I gave him a helping hand." Demi said with a grin, making Hau pout.
"That's unfair. How I'm supposed to win her heart with Sun getting help?" Hau complained, only for Demi to chuckle at the reply.
"Dude, you do know there's plenty of girls out here in Alola, right? Plus, you're super nice. And cute, mind you. You would have no problem getting a girlfriend in these islands if you set your mind to it." Hau blinked at the compliment, noting that Demi was blushing a little bit before continuing to go on. "Instead of focusing on just one girl, you should broaden your horizons. Keep your eyes out for other ladies that interest you and are interested in you and…I dunno."
"Well…I mean…if you wanna hang out a bit…" Hau remarked, smiling a little wider before casting a glance at Lillie. His best friend and the girl of his admiration for so long. But…he couldn't deny that Demi had a point. Lillie hadn't come around after a good while of being his friend and making his feelings about her known in all ways but flat-out telling her. Maybe if he backed off a little bit, spent time with other girls and showed her how awesome he was in other ways…
Then maybe things would work out for him and Lillie. And if not…at least she had someone else that he knew would be there for her. In the short time he that had gotten to know Sun, he knew that the boy would never let a friend down if he could help it.
So with that, Hau gave a shrug and walked ahead of Demi. The dark-skinned girl grinned widely and did a fist-pump. She looked back at Sun in the distance, the boy slowly approaching Lillie, who had her face in book now. Demi grinned at the sight.
"Sun…That girl's an absolute sweetheart. You better take care of her." Demi thought as she turned around and jogged after Hau.
Sun took a deep breath and exhaled, steadying his nerves. His blood was pumping and he felt so anxious. He was annoyed at that fact, considering this was Lillie, his closest friend next to Hau. But…Lillie had always managed to stir up odd feelings within Sun that confused him. And seeing her in something different, after seeing her in white dresses for so long, kicked everything into overdrive.
"Sun?"
Sun snapped out of his daze as the girl he was thinking about looked up at him in confusion. Sun could see the discomfort on her face, the curiosity in her gaze, and something else that seemed familiar as she looked up at him.
"You okay, Lillie?" Sun asked quietly, crossing his arms. He was glad he kept his voice steady, and tried to keep himself from focusing on any part of Lillie in particular, so he just looked at her bright green eyes.
"Not…really. But don't let me ruin your guy's fun. I'm really okay over here. Brago and Winter are keeping me company!" Lillie said as the Alolan Vulpix and the Growlithe let out cries in response.
"Good boy." Sun said to Brago, reaching down and scratching the dog behind his ears. Brago shut his eyes and sighed happily as Sun smiled at the dog. Sun found it rather humorous that the fierce and brave warrior that was Brago was so easily influenced by things like that. He needed to experiment with this further.
"So please, go have fun. I'll talk to you later." Lillie said to Sun, making a shooing motion and giving him a faint smile. She was admittedly happy he was checking on her, and was glad he cared so much. But she was worried about how he was reacting around her. She was a bit worried about how he and Hau would react with her wearing something like this, but she had hoped that being around other girls on the beach, who were prettier and more outgoing than her, would distract them from this.
"But what…" Sun chose his words carefully, crossing his arms. "If I wanted to spend time with you instead? Are you okay with some company?"
"You'd…really just sit here with me instead of having fun with the others?" Lillie asked quietly, shocked at the mere suggestion of it. Sun replied by walking over to her and sitting down next to her.
"Oh yeah, and take my shirt. Seeing you pout like that is driving me nuts. This'll probably make you feel a bit more at ease here." Sun couldn't help a smile as Lillie pouted at his words, looking adorable as she did so.
"Yes…Lillie is adorable. She's pretty. Very, very pretty. And that's alright to think, because she's my friend." Sun thought as he took off his shirt and handed it to the girl, who looked at him in surprise before she shook her head. Sun smirked before he suddenly tossed it into the girl's face, making her yelp and tumble over as Brago laughed at the display.
"Too late, you already have it. Looks like-"
"Yeah, yeah, you're so clever." Lillie grumbled as she ripped the shirt from her face. She held it up for a moment before putting on the shirt, sighing with relief as she adjusted it. She felt far less vulnerable now, and she was grateful for what Sun did.
"At least I can say now I have a friend who would give me the shirt off their back." Lillie said after a moment, making Sun burst into giggles. Lillie smiled, the first real smile she felt all day, at the sound of her friend's laughter. After everything he went through, he was still so strong. It was nice seeing him happy and smiling and…with her. Lillie blushed despite herself, glad that her hat and the shade of the umbrella hid the redness of her face. It didn't help now that Sun was shirtless, allowing her to see a bit more of him than she was used to.
"Uh, Sun?"
"Yeah?"
"I have a question for you." Sun gave his friend a curious look, surprised to see her suddenly looking so nervous. Even he could spot how red her face was getting.
"Do…H-how do I look?" Lillie blurted out, looking at Sun for a moment before looking away. Sun blinked, taken aback by the sudden question before he thought about it. Truthfully he thought Lillie looked as she always did, exceedingly pretty. He also admired her for going out of her comfort zone and coming out to the beach in a swimsuit despite not really wanting to. Sun realized that his words now would have a lot more meaning than usual, since it seemed to Sun that Lillie didn't have a high opinion of herself in something like what she was wearing. He wanted to tell her the truth, but he didn't want her to figure out his attraction towards her when even he hadn't sorted out the details of the odd feelings the girl gave him. He decided to, in the end, go with the truth but not the whole truth.
"I think you look great. You really do, Lillie. You don't have anything to be embarrassed about." Sun said honestly, giving his friend a warm smile. Lillie looked over at Sun, her blush growing but an embarrassed and bashful grin on her face regardless.
"T-thank you, Sun. Same to you as well." Lillie stammered out, making Sun's smile turn into a playful grin, even as his own blush returned to his face.
"Well, even if we don't feel like playing with the others, at least we know how to make being socially awkward in swimsuits look good." Sun joked, making Lillie burst into laughter. The awkward tension between them faded away, replaced with a comfortable silence as the two introverted children simply enjoyed each other's company.
Lillie and Sun eventually adjusted their seating position so that they were both lying down and Lillie was reading aloud from her book while using Sun's stomach as a pillow. Sun closed his eyes with a smile on his face, trying not to fall asleep while Lillie read him a chapter from her book on Alolan culture. Nebby slipped out of its bag and slept nestled between Lillie and Sun, knowing that between the two of them it was safe to rest outside of the confines of its bag. Sun briefly wondered where the Cosmog had come from and how Lillie had gotten it, but then realized that those were subjects to pursue at a later time. For now, he was content to spend time with Lillie and consider their relationship as friends as he struggled with his emotions, trying to piece this puzzle together.
A few hours later, the two antisocial children were all but dragged away from their umbrella by Hau and Demi and forced to play with them. Sun was all for it, especially since his Pokémon had been wanting to play with their Trainer. Lillie was surprisingly okay with this as well, and surprised Sun by taking off the shirt he had given her and handing it back to him. Sun give his friend a look, but then he saw her expression was resolute as she continued walking ahead of him. Sun slipped his shirt back on, smiling with pride at his friend before jogging after her.
The quartet of children arrived at the water's edge and were greeted by a shimmering bird, but this one was much larger than Sun remembered Demi having.
"You remember Feya, right Sun?" Demi said as the bird chirped a greeting to him. Sun didn't have Rotom Dex on him, the device was currently babysitting Nebby for some reason. Luckily Demi explained in his stead.
"My Fletchling evolved into a Fletchinder shortly after we last saw each other. Hala wasn't too hard to beat after that happened." Demi said happily, petting her shiny starter on the head. Sun then noticed a large black and cream-colored Pokémon prowling around the girl's feet and a small white and purple floating candle staring at Sun.
"You've got a Quilava too! And a…" Sun trailed off, unsure what the strange candle was.
"Litwik." Demi finished, grinning. "These are my awesome babies and they're gonna lead me to victory."
"So, do you specialize as a Fire-type Trainer then Demi?" Sun asked, surprised at this. The cheerful girl never struck him as one to specialize in one type.
"Oh yeah. I've always adored Fire-types. I'm working on trying to get more that help me cover the weaknesses such a team has, but it's kinda hard. I'll figure it out though!" Demi proclaimed, grinning at them.
"OI!" Sun looked to his right and saw Hugh walking his way, grinning at them. The group turned around to face the older Trainer, who couldn't help a small laugh in amusement.
"Heh. Figured you guys would be hanging out here before heading out to Akala. You up for a game of volleyball? We managed to find a few people and Pokémon who were down for it." Hugh asked them, pointing to the area with a net a short distance away. Each of the children agreed, so the group ventured off to the next and began to play. Hau and Demi got on one side, alongside Vivian, Professor Kukui (who had returned and was giving Oliver a very dirty look) and a few other Trainers and Pokémon. Hugh, Sun, and Lillie took the other side. Lillie looked at Sun nervously, but Sun grinned as Brago barked at the other side. Oliver and Penny let out chirps, making the Pokémon on the other side cry out in response.
"You all ready to lose?" Hugh called playfully, earning a rude gesture from Vivian. Demi snatched the ball from the violinist, surprising her.
"BRING IT!" Demi yelled, with the girl leaping into the air and spiking the ball downwards. Hugh charged forward and knocked the ball back towards the other side, only for Hau to head-butt the ball back to their side. Sun exchanged a quick glance with one of the nearby boys, a young man with snow white hair and icy blue eyes. When asked for a name before the game, the boy called himself Wally. A stoic and powerful-looking Gallade stood beside him, unnerving Sun and reminding him of Mister Oliver's Gallade back in Kanto.
Wally gave Sun a smile before both of them looked ahead, with Sun running ahead and swinging upwards, knocking the ball skyward. Wally met the ball with a punch, sending it careening past a surprised Hau.
"Laaaame!" Hau whined, grinning as he retrieved the ball and handing it to his Brionne. Cassy the Brionne let out a cry as she shot the ball ahead with a blast of water, but it was intercepted by Oliver, who tackled the ball downwards. Demi's Quilava leapt into the air, smacking the ball to the other side and allowing Lillie, surprisingly, to make the save. The girl fell into the sand, but was able to save the ball from scoring into their side with a smack upwards from her palms. Wally's Gallade jumped into the air and spiked the ball past the group, scoring another point for them. Sun helped Lillie up, grinning at his friend as she smiled at him.
"Now that's one strong Gallade!" Kukui praised, giving Wally a thumbs up. Wally chuckled at the other man, giving him a thumbs up in return.
"FOR HONOR!" Hau bellowed, tossing the ball into the air before Duke suddenly slammed into it from below with a Quick Attack, sending the ball hurtling into the air. Oliver cried out as the ball slammed into his chest, knocking him down a few feet from the air but causing the ball to score on them.
"It's on now, Hau!" Sun called as Lillie retrieved the ball. The girl looked over at the other side, taking a shaky breath to calm her nerves. She then tossed the ball into the air and hit it to the other side. Professor Kukui hit the ball with surprising intensity, sending it soaring into the sky. Hugh gave a feral grin in response and threw out a hand.
"Samson, use Aqua Jet!" Hugh barked, with the Pokémon in question rushing skyward in a plume of water and slamming into the ball, making it rocket down to earth. Kukui chuckled as the others retreated from the ball's path. The Professor kicked off of the ground and punched the ball as hard as he could, surprising everyone and sending the ball back towards the other side and clonking Sun right in the head, knocking him into the sand senseless.
"Sun! Are you okay!?" Lillie yelled out, scrambling towards her friend as he stirred weakly in the sand.
"I…I think that's it for me coach." Sun mumbled, trying to blink stars out of his eyes. Lillie sighed before shooting Kukui a glare, but the Professor simply whistled and walked off of the court. The game ended shortly after, with Kukui having won the other side the game. Wally bid the group farewell, shaking Hugh's hand and handing him a small business card before walking down the beach with his Gallade, whistling a familiar tune.
Lillie fussed over Sun as the boy walked back towards where their stuff was under the umbrella, his Pokémon circling him to make sure that he was okay. Sun assuaged their worries and sat with them under the umbrella, rubbing his head and waving off Lillie's offers to get him things to make him feel better. To no one's surprise, Demi joined them a few minutes later, her Pokémon trailing behind her, obviously wary of the water nearby.
"So, feeling better?" Demi asked Sun.
"Yeah, a lot. I just needed a few minutes." Sun said with a nod. Demi gave Lillie a smirk, receiving a small shake of the head from the girl. Demi sighed inwardly, but her smile widened.
"Yeah…Bet that has to do with your lovely guardian angel being nearby though." Demi laughed, making Lillie hop to her feet.
"There's nothing wrong with making sure your friend is okay!" Lillie shot back, unable to help herself. While she appreciated the girl's efforts to make Sun notice her, she was once again going a bit too far. Sun watched the display with confusion.
"Suuuuuure, Lillie. Sure."
"And I'm not Sun's guardian angel!" Lillie protested hotly as Demi continued to tease her. Demi giggled at Lillie's indignation, leaning forward and hugging the girl and surprising her. Demi let go of Lillie and hopped backwards, flipping her towel-cape behind her with a flourish.
"You two are so adorkable! I'll tease you both more later, but for now let's get some water on our skins, folks. We don't have much sun left before we get going!" Demi said to the two children, who exchanged a quick embarrassed look before shrugging. Demi sprinted off after Hau, who was already in the water with his Pokémon.
"We should probably indulge them." Sun remarked, getting up and stretching. Lillie watched him for a moment before looking away, smiling a little.
"Yeah…I think Professor Kukui would be disappointed if we didn't have some fun in the water before we left." Lillie remarked, though a moment later her smile turned into something mischievous. "Let's dunk Hau under the water."
"Lillie, that's an awesome idea and you're amazing for thinking of it." Sun chuckled darkly, holding out his hand to the girl. Lillie hi-fived him and with that Sun sprinted out towards Demi and Hau. Lillie giggled and chased after the boy, only for two birds to suddenly join her as she chased after her friend.
"Get him!" Lillie commanded Penny and Oliver, pointing at Sun's back. Both birds nodded and, surprisingly enough, obeyed the girl's command and began harassing their Trainer, ending with Oliver knocking Sun into the water. Sun emerged, sputtering indignantly before giving Lillie a hurt look.
"Sun, you're a fantastic Pokémon Trainer, but you're still wet behind the ears." Lillie joked as she entered the water herself, with Demi and Hau laughing at the scene before them. Sun choked out a laugh, forcing water out of his lungs.
"Oh yeah? Well to that I say-" Sun was cut off by a Dartrix suddenly grabbing Sun by the back of his head and dunking him under the water, leaving most of the boy's body flailing above. Lillie felt a bit of worry in her, but she reasoned Oliver wouldn't hurt his Trainer seriously…
Right?
"Is it normal for a Trainer to get water-boarded by their starter?" Demi asked, trying not to laugh as Oliver continued to mercilessly dunk Sun under the water.
"Oliver is…special." Lillie said diplomatically, earning a happy hoot from the owl.
"No, Oliver is evil." Hau answered, getting a dark look from the Dartrix. "Hey, it's not an insult. Um…Evil is uh…cool sometimes!"
"Dar dar trix." Oliver replied, pointing a wing at Hau and implying that he was next after he was done…playing with his Trainer. Suddenly Oliver let out a shrieking cry and was pulled into the depths of the water. Sun burst out of the ocean, gasping for air while he held his unruly Dartrix under the salty depths of the water, trying not to be salty himself.
"That…little…jerk." Sun panted, letting go of Oliver and taking a few steps back. The water exploded underneath them as Oliver broke free from the ocean, shrieking furiously and soaring back to the shore while Penny laughed at the other bird. Sun chuckled before he suddenly felt a blast of water hit him from behind. Sun slowly turned around and saw Lillie giving him an innocent look, and the boy narrowed his eyes.
"THEN ITS WAR!" Sun declared, moving towards the girl who gulped in nervousness. She hadn't thought this through, now hadn't she?
"Protect the Princess!" Sun heard from Hau, which confused him for a moment. Sun then yelped as Demi broke out from the water underneath, grabbing Sun from behind and dragging him underwater. Sun broke away from the girl, coughing the water free from his lungs and swiping at the water, blasting Demi as she emerged from the water, making the girl sputter.
"Agh! Two can play this game!" Demi declared, only for Hau rise from the watery depths behind her and dunk the girl with a diabolical smile on his face. Sun gave his friend a thumbs up before he felt a weight crash down on top of him and send him back into the water. Whoever had forced themselves on him was now clinging onto his back, making it harder for him to move. Sun forced himself back up above water, hearing the sound of Lillie giggling right into his ear, her breath sending a shiver down his spine.
"I didn't know Sun was giving Mankey-back rides. I want one!" Demi declared, climbing on top of Hau.
"Bring it! Me and Lillie are more than a match for you two!" Sun shot back as Lillie adjusted her position on Sun, giving them a wide smile as she rose on the boy's shoulders.
At least until Oliver suddenly hit the quartet with a Leafage, dousing them all with leaves and water and making the girls scream in surprise.
"You and that owl, Sun!" Hau whined.
"I'm sorry! I can't help it he's such a…a…"
"Prick?"
"Thanks Demi. Yeah, a prick."
"You all look like you've had fun." Professor Kukui snickered as he beheld the four children looking worn out. Oliver was giggling the entire time at them, even after Penny slapped him four times with her wings. Brago had joined them again, trying and failing to hold his composure at the sight of his haggard-looking Trainer.
"Shut up Professor." Lillie said as she trudged back to where their stuff was. Kukui chuckled before a sudden force knocked him into the sand, and when the Professor gathered his wits and looked up it was revealed to be a certain Dartrix giggling as he swooped past his Trainer.
"That damn owl…" Kukui thought darkly, wondering why he didn't convince Sun to just take the Popplio instead. With that humorous incident behind them, the group quickly packed their things and left the beach, changing into their proper gear and grabbing some food from a nearby street vendor before heading to their boat, the sun beginning to dip low in the horizon.
"Hey, Prof, are you sure this old thing's really seaworthy?" Hau asked, grinning at the repaired boat as they approached it from a distance.
"It better be after the money I sank into it." Kukui thought, but he replied with, "Hey now! Don't you go calling my boat old! She's not old…"
"Then what would you call it? The rust stains on that thing were older than me." Sun stated, making Lillie and Hau giggle behind him. Demi just straight-up laughed.
"Call her a classic. Well-seasoned, yeah?"
"Well…I quite like that it has a sense of history…" Lillie mused quietly, smiling and trying to throw Kukui a bone.
"Pew!" Nebby agreed.
"All ready to set sail!" Kukui declared as they approached the Marina again. To their surprise, however, a small farewell committee had formed behind the vessel they would be leaving in. Mainly Laura Smiles, Colress, Hala, Hugh, Noah, and Vivian.
Sun gave Professor Kukui a curious glance, and the man shrugged. "I thought you all would appreciate it. They were all more than happy to come."
"We just figured we'd send you off." Vivian said as she walked forward, giving Sun a fist-bump and grabbing Lillie in a bear-hug, making the girl yelp in surprise. Vivian set down Lillie, adjusting her crooked hat, before Lillie flicked the woman on the nose and made her stumble back in surprise as everyone laughed, with Lillie and Vivian grinning at each other.
"Clever girl. But I shan't be defeated this day!" Vivian declared before bursting into giggles.
"Goodness, you're silly today, aren't you?" Noah remarked, chuckling at his girlfriend's antics. He regarded the quartet of children and said, "Be safe and have fun. Akala Island is different from what I hear, so be sure to give it all you've got. And if you need anything, we're a phone call away."
"Yeah. You three keep safe, alright?" Hugh said to them, a grin on his face as he shook Hau's and Sun's hand. Lillie gave Hugh a hug, surprising the young man, but he returned the embrace with a smile. Sun looked over at the Kahuna, his expression almost sad.
"It's been a long, long time since you've left this island, Hau. Your home. You were just a baby then. But you are growing up, my boy. This is your journey and I can already see you becoming a stronger person, and that fills my heart with joy, even as it fills me with sadness that you are leaving my watchful eye. Train hard, Hau, but have fun as well. Balance the two and you'll shine as bright as the sun."
"I kinda have goals to shine brighter than Sun, actually." Hau remarked, giving the boy in question a grin. Sun face-palmed at the cheesy joke, unable to help a smile as Demi and Lillie laughed. Hala chuckled as he stepped forward, the massive man towering over his grandson with a gentle expression on his face.
"Well…Ahem. Anyways, have a safe journey my boy. And know that no matter what, I am proud of you." Hala and Hau embraced, and the group could plainly see how much love the Kahuna had for the boy who idolized him so. He truly wanted Hau to grow into the powerful young man he knew that he would become, and it showed that even the mighty Kahuna of Melemele Island could cry as a single tear run down the face of the old man.
"E aloha mau wau iāʻoe, e kaʻu moʻopuna." Hala murmured to Hau, who tightened his embrace.
Aloha wau iā ʻoe kekahi. E hoʻi hou ana au i ka ikaika. Nāu." Hau whispered, trying not to cry himself despite the happy smile on his face. Hala stepped away from Hau, breaking the embrace but not making an attempt to wipe away the tears now dripping down the old warrior's face. Hala extended a hand forward, ruffling Hau's hair affectionately, before rejoined the others.
"If I may?" Colress interjected, feeling somewhat uncomfortable for interrupting such a tender moment.
"By all means, Doctor." Hala said to the Unovan scientist. Colress stepped towards Sun, giving the young boy a bright grin.
"I have a gift for you, my young friend." Colress said as he reached into his coat and pulled out a small flash drive.
"This is a very special update for Rotom Dex. I think it might prove helpful down the road, should certain hazards show themselves." Colress explained as Rotom floated over to the Professor's outstretched hand.
"What does it do?" Sun asked, curious at the scientist's gift.
"It is a special system I've spent nearly a year developing back in Unova, and finally finished here in Alola. It allows any Pokédex to detect Shadow Pokémon. With it you could detect every shadow Pokémon on Melemele Island if you wished." Colress explained, making Sun's eyes widen in amazement.
"On top of that, Rotom can identify any Shadow Pokémon that comes within 50 yards of him. Regardless of which Shadow Pokémon variant you may encounter down the road, you won't be caught unprepared. I thought you might find it helpful." Colress explained with a shrug as he inserted the drive into Rotom Dex, whose screen flashed green as it quickly downloaded the update. Rotom suddenly beeped and then dropped down lifeless, but Colress caught him.
"It was finished long before it would have been truly useful, but maybe it'll help you, concerning recent events in Kanto." Colress explained as he handed the Rotom Dex back to Sun. "It'll awaken in a few minutes. Don't you worry."
"Which reminds me, we need to get our gear updated with that feature." Hugh reminded Colress, who nodded.
"We'll likely be a week behind you five. After I leave William behind to take care of the lab I'll be heading to Professor Burnet's lab by the end of the week to hand over to the other Professor what we learned regarding the energies around Verdant Cavern…" Colress shook his head. "Rambling again. My apologies."
"It happens to the best of us." Demi grinned at the scientist, who chuckled in response. Laura Smiles stepped forward, giving her child a bone-crushing hug. Sun couldn't help a small laugh.
"I love you Mom." Sun said to his mother.
"I love you too, dear. Please be safe out there. Call me every other night and have lots of fun. And know that if you ever need anything, I'm here for you, rooting you on the entire way." Laura said to her boy softly as Sun returned the embrace just as tightly, trying to convey the appreciation and love he had for his mother. The knowledge that she was supporting him and cheering him on every step of the way meant so much to him, he couldn't even convey it to her. The two separated, and to everyone's surprise Laura walked over to Lillie and hugged the young girl as well.
"You too, Lillie. Keep an eye out for my little boy and stay out of trouble, okay?" Laura said to Lillie, who nodded slowly as she returned the hug, still stunned by the gesture from the older woman.
"Thank you for having me over and looking after me while Professor Kukui was hurt. I can't ever thank you and Sun enough for letting me into your home and protecting me." Lillie said sincerely to Laura, gratitude evident in her voice. Even now, Lillie was amazed by the sheer kindness that was abundant in the people she had met. Sun, Hau, Laura, and even new friends like Demi, Hugh, Noah and Vivian. She was even more motivated to keep trying on her own little journey, to help Nebby return home safe and sound and prevent those with evil intentions from misusing its powers.
"It was my pleasure dear. If you ever need anything, you let me know, okay?" Laura replied as she stepped away.
"You all take care. We'll see you soon, with any luck." Noah said to them, giving them a wide smile as Vivian grabbed his hand.
"Absolutely. Besides, I can't pester you all if I'm not there. And what fun would that be?" Vivian laughed as Hau huffed in annoyance.
"Well, enough stalling. Let's head on out, gang!" Kukui said as he hopped on the small boat. While still not in the best shape, it was definitely a fair improvement over what it had looked at before. It would at least allow them to get from point A to point B in one piece anyway. Hau, Sun, Lillie, and Demi hopped aboard and with a wave to their friends and family (in Sun's case), they were off!
"We-e-e!" Hau laughed as they sailed past the waves, speeding through the water at a speed that surprised the children.
"Come on grandma, kick it up a notch!" Hau called to Kukui, who laughed from behind the wheel. Sun grinned at Hau while Demi and Lillie shot Hau an exasperated look.
"If we push the boat much harder than this, we may end up at the bottom of the ocean!" Lillie yelled over the wind, making Hau laugh.
"You're probably just worried about your silly hat flying off!" Hau shot back, making Lillie frown at him. Hau then turned to Sun, grinning at him.
"I wonder what kind of Island Akala is, huh?" Hau asked Sun.
"We'll find out soon! We've got a few hours and then we're there from what I can tell!" Sun yelled back.
"Seeing all of Alola for myself is half the fun of doing the Island Challenge! Isn't this just the best, Sun!?" Hau cheered, throwing his arms apart at the front of the boat. Sun just laughed as Oliver and Penny soared ahead, with the boat continuing its trek through the sea.
Several Hours Later…
Middle of the Ocean
"Did he really have to do that scene transition?"
"Yes. The author wazz adamant about it. You know how he is. Zzzt!"
"Stop doing that you two! You know how that psychopath gets when you do that." Kukui warned Hau and Rotom, who both looked horrified.
"What happens when who does the what now?" Sun asked them, confused as he turned around from his position at the front of the boat. Kukui, Hau, and Rotom Dex looked disturbed for some reason and after a moment pretended to be nonchalant about whatever was bothering them.
"Uh…nothing. I'm not going to be the one that unleashes his wrath upon us." Kukui stated before he ducked back into the boat, leaving the children to their own devices. Sun shrugged and continued looking forward, eyeing the ocean as it sped by. Demi was currently clinging onto one of the rails for dear life, her Fire-types wisely recalled into their Poké Balls. Hau decided to take a nap on the floor, like he wasn't on a bouncing rickety boat speeding across the ocean. Somehow he fell asleep instantly, bewildering Sun further.
And of course, Lillie was beside Sun, a smile on her face as she watched the ocean alongside him. Sun tried to keep his eyes off of the girl, but he found that time and time again he was staring at her as she looked out towards the sea. Sometimes her gaze would catch his before she would look away, tilting her hat downwards so he couldn't see her facial expression. Sun almost asked her what was wrong, but his starter decided to choose that moment to greet him, stopping that idea in its tracks.
"Daaar!"
Oliver swooped downwards and landed on the railing, beaming at his Trainer, even as Penny joined him. Sun felt something warm and fuzzy brush against his legs and found Brago underneath him, gritting his teeth as he eyed the horrifying ocean all around him. It was obvious that despite his discomfort of the ocean, he still wanted to be outside along with his partners and Trainer. Sun crouched down and sat down on the floor of the boat, wrapping an arm around Brago to keep him more secure while Penny and Oliver chirped down at the dog. Brago relaxed visibly after a few moments, sighing and shutting his eyes for a moment before opening them again.
"It's so cute seeing them all getting along. I was wondering how such a strange addition to your team would work out, but it seems like they're all meshing together well." Lillie noted, joining them on the floor and spreading out her dress like a flower.
"I think it's because Brago is incredibly well-behaved for a recently caught Pokémon and Penny and Oliver have been trained for a while. It might just be because of their personalities too." Sun theorized, though he did grin up at his two birds.
"And it's because they're all awesome." Sun added after a moment, receiving a bark of agreement from Brago.
"Definitely looks like you four are ready for Akala Island." Demi noted, giving them a shaky smile before a spray of water rushed over her. The girl shrieked in horror, even as Lillie and Sun laughed at the display.
"I AM STILL NOT OKAY WITH THIS!" Demi screamed, clutching the railing even tighter and waking Hau up.
"Ugh…Are we there yet?" Hau asked, eyeing the sun slowly vanishing underneath the horizon.
"Actually yes!" Kukui called out, grinning at them all. "Heahea City is just 45 minutes away! You can see it in the distance!"
Sun turned around and squinted in the growing darkness around them. It was barely visible, but he could see a smudge in the distance that was undoubtedly their destination. Sun felt a fierce rush of excitement in him. With another Pokémon on his team and with friends at his back, Sun knew that it would only be a matter of time before he conquered the Island Trials on Akala Island and faced down the powerful Kahuna who stood in his path of being Island Challenge Champion.
Oliver let out a fierce cry out into the sky, a clarion call to those who stood in their way and the opponents they would face down the road. It was a challenge, a declaration that no matter what they would fight as hard as they would have to in order to emerge victorious. Penny added to that call a moment later with a cry of her own, as did Brago who howled as the moon gleamed in the darkening sky.
But were our heroes truly ready for what lay ahead of them?
Well…in time they would find out for themselves.
Howdy folks. FlygonNick here with a last second note to round off the chapter.
I hope you all enjoyed it. Next chapter is of course already being worked on, but I have run into a snag of sorts. I cannot for the life of me decide what course to take this next chapter, because either way I can work with whatever happened. And then I realized that I'm not the only person reading this and decided to leave the scene in the hands of the readers.
So as anyone who's played Sun and Moon knows, around this point in the game you run into two familiar faces shortly upon arriving on Akala Island. Normally in the game, you battle one of them and that's that. However…What if there was a Double Battle instead, but with Lillie battling alongside Sun using one of his Pokémon?
Like I said, I couldn't decide what to do. So I'm leaving it in your hands, my lovely readers. Make your choose via the poll on my profile, or leave a review stating what you want to happen. I do take suggestions and ideas into account. In fact I believe this idea was suggested in the past, but I was already considering it beforehand.
So yeah, that's that. Thanks for reading and supporting this story. Please show your support with a favorite, follow, or review in the section below.
Take care and stay awesome.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
