Pokémon Radiant Sun


I'm not gonna beat around the bush...This past week has been absolutely awful.

Truthfully, it's gone wrong at just about every turn it could have. Especially when it comes to writing this chapter. Even more annoying is that despite these chapters being much easier to do as of late, since they're much shorter than the Tournament chapters were, I still find myself struggling to adhere to my old schedule (weekly updates.) So...I guess I'll just keep trying.

But, as with all things, we must push ever onward. Yes, I know I should go slow and think of my own mental and physical health, so I'm planning on taking a hiatus in November to go back overseas to the US (I've been away from home for nearly a year and a half now) to recharge my batteries and maybe finally get that TV Tropes Page up for the story that I've been chipping away at.

More to come on that later.

Shoutout to those who've reviewed since the past update, which includes BraviaryScout, Oragonking, Ulysses Quanta, Ways, Anasazi Darkmoon, SonicIKE and two new reviewers known as SolanaLeonhart and noobl2. Some of these reviews have been absolutely amazing, and during weeks like these absolutely help make a hard day just a bit better. So thank you so much for the support and fantastic feedback.

I completely forgot to even mention a few weeks back, but Radiant Sun has officially crossed the margin of 1,000,000 words. That's...ridiculous. And amazing. And we're not even halfway done yet!

Ye gods...we're not even halfway done yet.

Oh well.

Enjoy!


Chapter 93: Oath to Order


Sina and Dexio stared down at the green and black sphere sitting on the bed as Hugh and Aria watched from nearby, patiently waiting for the two Kalosians to explain their findings.

"How odd...Zygarde truly is an incredible creature, is it not?" Dexio murmured, standing up after a few moments.

"Indeed. Each one of those Cells is alive in its own way, held together by the will of the Cores that allow them to bind as one into the Order Pokémon. It's full power is said to be absolutely incredible. A beast capable of standing above all others to protect the natural order of the world and those who threaten to upset the balance of the ecosystem." Sina said quietly, sitting down on the bed.

"I've managed to collect around 12% of the cells around on Ula'ula Island and Akala Island, including the small trips we've taken to your little lab. Sun said he has over 10%, right?" Aria asked.

"Yes. However we did not wish to bother Sun about Zygarde due to how upset he was about the Borlath revelation. However, with us flush with victory and during a night of wonderful celebrations, I feel now is the time to approach the subject and ask our young friend to help us bring forth Zygarde. He has acquired a Core, which is essential for reforming Zygarde's 10% Forme." Dexio explained as he delicately picked up the Zygarde Cube and held it out to Aria, who accepted the device.

"Well, last I saw he was still with Lillie. It shouldn't be too hard to track him down." Aria said as she gently placed the Zygarde Cube inside of her pack while Sina and Dexio grinned.

"Oh? Have those two finally realized their love for one another?" Sina joked, grinning at Dexio as he fired finger pistols at his partner and girlfriend.

"Not quite, but they're on a date with each other tonight. It's honestly the most adorable thing ever." Aria remarked with a grin, chuckling as she put her backpack on once again. Sina let out a squeal of delight while Dexio chuckled.

"C'est fantastique! Let's go find our little friend then, and quickly too. I want to get back to the festivities as quickly as possible." Dexio said as the group made their way out of the Pokémon Center room and out into the city proper. However, they were quickly waylaid by Noah, who was limping towards the building as quickly as he could.

"Hey man, we're looking for Sun. Have you seen him anywhere?" Hugh asked his best friend, who was wearing his usual dress shirt and slacks. The young man looked especially pale this evening, a concerned expression on his sickly face that the Trainers noticed after a moment.

"No, I haven't. But I've got a bigger problem. Vivian's gone and I have no idea where. She's not answering my calls either. I'm worried." Noah said as Hugh crossed his arms, frowning.

"It's not like her to do that. She's got a strong personality and can be a bit of a bitch sometimes, but she's nuts over you." Hugh remarked, making Noah sigh in annoyance at Hugh insulting Vivian. He was used to them constantly being at each other's throats though, so he pressed on.

"She's been off ever since the Tournament. Something really has her upset. I don't know what's bothering her, but she vanished while I was out getting lunch earlier today. I've been looking for her for hours." Noah said almost desperately, making Aria and Hugh exchange looks.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Aria asked, a note of concern in her voice now.

"Have you checked your phones?" Noah asked sternly. Aria blinked and shook her head while Hugh chuckled nervously. They had been so swept up in the celebration that they hadn't been paying attention to them. Both Trainers checked their phones to find a dozen missed calls and texts from Noah.

"Right. Sun can wait a little bit. Let's find our resident violinist." Aria said with a nod, stowing her phone away. Dexio took that moment to call out his Espeon, kneeling down to the Sun Pokémon.

"I need you to search for Vivian. I know we had a Mind Lock put on our friends here. Can you help?" Dexio asked his loyal Pokémon, who nodded once.

"It's a shame none of us have a Psychic-type so we couldn't do this ourselves." Hugh mused as the Espeon shut its eyes, turning its head around the area. After a moment the Sun Pokémon opened its eyes and nodded before bounding off down the road. With that, the group of Trainers made their way through the Festival in search of their missing friend. To their surprise, Dexio's Espeon led them outside of the city and towards Memorial Hill. It wasn't too long before the faint sound of violin music filled the air. The melody was somber, yet masterfully played and absolutely beautiful to hear.

"Oh god...she's playing the Respite of Regret." Noah sighed, running a hand across his face and picking up his pace.

"Is that bad?" Sina asked.

"It's the song she plays when she's at her absolute worst. The last time she played it was when Nimbasa City was destroyed and Wes went missing. She still blames herself for that...I wouldn't be surprised if that somehow relates to what's happening tonight." Noah explained as the group hurried into the graveyard proper. There were a few people lingering in the area, some dressed in fancy outfits from the Festival and paying their respects to the dead. They even spotted Olivia the Kahuna kneeling in front of a gravestone, paying her respects.

"It's uh...kinda spooky out here." Aria muttered, hugging herself as they brushed past the tombstones, a gust of wind whispering past them and making the Snagger shudder.

"Heh. Are you scared of ghosts, Aria?" Sina asked teasingly, making the Trainer scowl.

"Hell no. I'm just...not fond of graveyards. I don't do scary movies, and this feels like something right out of one." Aria muttered, with Hugh grabbing his girlfriend's hand.

"This is the same person who routinely gets in fights with the biggest terror organization on the planet, I'll remind you." Hugh said with a wide grin before getting punched in the stomach. The red-eyed teen sputtered and coughed while getting strung along by Aria, who seemed to be considerably more cheerful now as Sina and Dexio laughed. Noah's expression remained impassive and determined, especially as they ventured deeper into the graveyard and caught sight of Vivian.

The violinist sat atop one of the tombstones, playing her song with a look of absolute concentration on her face. To those who didn't know any better, like Sina and Dexio, it simply looked as though she were simply focusing on playing her beautiful song. To her friends, they knew this was a coping mechanism of sorts when she was distressed. She would simply throw herself into her music to escape her troubles.

Vivian had always been the oddball of their group. Wes had been the leader. Aria had been the youngest and the one learned from everyone else. Hugh was the emotional support. Noah kept the calm and maintained order. Vivian was simply Vivian, for lack of a better way to explain things.

The group approached the young woman as she continued to create a wonderful yet somber melody, her bow dancing across the strings in a way that seemed effortless. After a few minutes of simply watching her, the song ended and Vivian remained completely still as the sound of her music faded away into the night.

"Why are you here?" Vivian sighed, placing her violin into her lap as Hugh, Aria, and Noah stepped forward. Sina and Dexio kept their distance, not wanting to intrude on such a private moment.

"We were worried. Poor Noah's been looking for you all day." Aria remarked, crossing her arms. Vivian looked down at that, even as Noah sat down beside her.

"I wanted to be alone. God, I can't even brood in misery without you having to waltz on in and save the day, huh little miss Heroine?" Vivian muttered darkly at Aria, making Hugh grin.

"She's just that awesome." Hugh remarked, making Aria give Hugh an exasperated look. Clearly this wasn't the time for jokes.

"Knock it off, Hugh. Vivian, seriously. What's up with you?" Aria asked quietly, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"I...I'm a coward." Vivian whispered, shutting her eyes.

"What?" Hugh asked, confused. Vivian opened her eyes and glared at the young man, getting to her feet with a scowl on her face.

"I said I'm a coward! And I hate it! God, I'm surrounded by all you goody two-shoes heroes all the damn time! Always so brave and charismatic and dashing and...and then there's ME!" Vivian practically spat, her eyes burning with fury. Hugh seemed completely speechless and Aria and Noah just watched on in surprise.

"I'm nothing more than an oddity. The strange violin chick is all I ever have been. I'm a decent enough Trainer and I have plenty of confidence but when it gets down to it, I'm a goddamn coward! I...I don't belong in any of this. This fight against Cipher...I don't even know why I followed Noah and Hugh to Alola. What have I done since we got here? Nothing...absolutely nothing." Vivian whispered, sinking inward on herself.

"That's not true-" Noah began to say, but Vivian and whirled around.

"Don't even try to lie to me, Noah! I haven't done anything since we got to these islands! Sure, I've been involved with this mess. But it's all been about Aria and Hugh running around gathering data or collecting Zygarde Cells. You've been doing the Island Challenge and getting stronger, even though you're so sick. But what have I been doing? Nothing! And...and I don't know what to do anymore!" Vivian practically screamed, looking beside herself with despair and fury as tears glistened in her eyes. The clearing was silent as the grave, befitting their location, until Hugh spoke up.

"Why are you just now losing your shit over this?" Hugh asked, confused and bewildered by this. Vivian's fury was quickly overwhelmed by shame and sorrow, with the woman looking down at the grass beneath her feet.

"During that mess at Royal Avenue...that awful attack by Cipher. I...When Amber started laying waste to everything with Umbral Rhyperior. Hurting all of those people. I ran into her...And I ran away again." Vivian hissed, not even bothering to wipe away the tears that were beginning to break through, dripping down her face. Hugh and Aria remained silent, unsure of what to say. They had never seen Vivian so upset before, and had no idea how to react.

Noah frowned as he recalled the events of that fateful night. With Amber striding through the streets shooting innocents and Umbral Rhyperior destroying everything in sight. Noah had been lucky enough not to encounter the assassin. And he knew that Vivian had seen Amber, but not anything like what she had described. Noah didn't know that once again Vivian had chosen self-preservation over attempting to stand up to Cipher's Angel of Death.

"She remembered me. She reminded me how she shot me in the shoulder...And then she asked if I was going to try and save the people she was trying to kill. Or if I w-was going to r-run away again." Vivian whispered as Noah stepped forward and finally embraced his girlfriend, who completely lost her composure.

"I f-fell t-to my knees...and I grabbed Decres. And I t-teleported away. I r-r-ran away again. And left you all behind. Again…J-just like I did in Nimbasa. Before our b-big fight. When I messed everything up and got us in this mess to begin with!" Vivian sobbed as Noah held her tight, rubbing her back as the violinist poured her heart out.

It was a very difficult thing to try and comfort the violinist on. Nearly a year ago, Vivian had gotten cold feet before the final battle against Neo Team Plasma back in Unova and fled during the final preparations. She had been in possession of a Master Ball, the centerpiece of their plan to stop Ghetsis and Perfect Kyurem. Because she ran away, Wes was unable to stop the group and Cipher quickly amassed more power than ever. Unova fell soon after.

And Wes was never seen again.

The group knew Vivian harbored feelings of guilt over what happened, and some of their friends never did forgive Vivian for what she had done. It was why she and Hugh frequently got into arguments, after all. But they had never known the extent to which it bothered her. This was clearly something that had been eating away at her for a while now.

"You have no idea what it's like being surrounded by so many amazing, wonderful people...and realizing you're nothing but a spineless weirdo! Aria's so determined, Hugh is so brave, and Noah...You're the best person I know." Vivian's words were a frantic hiss of emotion. "And I'm nothing...nothing but a coward who ruined everything." Vivian sobbed, falling to her knees as she openly cried without caring anymore. Noah continued to hold the woman he loved, trying to convey his feelings without words as Vivian lost herself in her sorrow.

The graveyard was silent for a time, save for the sobs of Vivian as she despaired over her failings. Failings that had gotten so many people killed and ruined so many lives. No, she wasn't the one who had hurt them directly. But she had been the one who had foiled their attempts to stop the bloodshed.

Eventually Aria stepped forward, kneeling down and looking at Vivian as her sobs began to quiet down. The Snagger put a hand on the violinist's shoulder and spoke, her voice soft.

"Vivs...We don't blame you for any of that. Not anymore, anyway. You've made some really bad mistakes, but what matters is how you bounce back from them. Even if you're not exactly the bravest or most courageous out of everyone, you're still our friend. You matter in this fight." Aria said to the young woman, who didn't respond as she continued to cry quietly.

"You royally piss me off all the time...But even then, you're still my friend." Hugh sighed, shaking his head. "You know, bravery and courage isn't an easy thing. It takes a lot to pull that power out of yourself. Sun told me about how Brago used that power against Dawson, and Lillie even made a stand against Amber." Hugh said quietly, looking up. "If it was easy, everyone would do it. It takes some serious willpower."

"Vivian...You don't have to fight. Not everyone has to. You supporting us while we work to fix this mess is just as important as fighting itself. There's no shame is being scared, or running away to save yourself. But at the end of the day...What do you fight for?" Aria asked her friend, who had calmed down somewhat. The violinist simply stared at Aria for a few moments before shutting her eyes.

"What do I fight for? I…" Vivian thought about for a moment before she muttered. "I just want this world to be peaceful again. I want to be able to...to walk through the streets and simply play my violin. I want to fill the world with music like I used to before Cipher. But must importantly...I w-want my friends to be happy."

"Then do that. Help us help the world. You're important to all of us. And none of us hold any grudges for your moments of weakness...except Hugh, but he's petty as hell so that's expected."

"Hey!"

"We all have those moments, Vivs. What matters is what you learn and how you build yourself up from them." Noah said quietly to the woman, gently kissing her on the lips before he separated from her. Vivian blushed and looked away, thinking on his words. After a moment Vivian began to ran her hands across her face, wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath.

"I'm so stupid...Why did I even think I could get depressed about anything with you motivational doits hanging around?" Vivian sniffed as Hugh chuckled in response.

"Because it's a very real thing to beat yourself up about. We all have moments of weakness, don't we? Shit, remember how awful I was to Sun a few weeks back? I was too scared and angry to even think straight. And it made me turn my back on my friend." Hugh said as he frowned, not proud in the slightest over how he acted towards the boy in question. Aria wrapped an arm around his shoulder and grinned at him.

"True. You did act like a complete moron." Vivian agreed, making Hugh scowl at the violinist. However the glare from Noah kept the Trainer in check.

"But at the end of the day, you did make amends for it. Maybe someday I can find a way to fix the mistakes I've made. I know I'll never truly be able too but...I have to try. Right?" Vivian asked in a small voice. Noah took that moment to wrap his arms around her shoulders, pressing his head against her own, making Vivian blush bright pink.

"I think this is a big step forward for you. Now, let's enjoy the Festival a bit, hmm? We won, Cipher got routed, and we can take just this night to celebrate." Noah said quietly to his girlfriend as he released her and walked in front of her, extending a hand out to the woman.

Vivian smiled at that, grabbing Noah's hand and allowing herself to be led back to the city. The others began to chat among themselves in a considerably better mood, discussing Zygarde and what it would mean for the fight against Cipher. The entire time, Vivain was in thought.

She, like anyone else, could grow from her mistakes. Perhaps Vivian wasn't exactly hero material, but to her friends that didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was their friend and they wouldn't give up on Vivian despite her cowardice and mistakes.

And that meant the world to her.


"This feels wonderful…" Oliver crooned, shutting his eyes in delight as Rotom sneakily took a few pictures of the raving owl in such a relaxed state. Meanwhile Brago, Finn, Lillie and Sun all snickered.

"Your Dartrix seems to have quite a bit of built-up stress. Thankfully, a Lomi lomi can fix all of that." The woman preforming the massage explained as the owl shuddered in pleasure.

It was all quite interesting to the two children, who were intrigued by the stand as they passed by. Sun had noticed the stand before the Festival (as a permanent fixture of the city rather than one of the stalls that had appeared because of the Festival of Celestial Lights), but had never gone to it himself. Now he regretted that completely upon seeing how relaxed Oliver was.

The Lomi lomi massage, which included a combination of using the oils of various nuts and even some berries as a moisturizer of sorts, was apparently an ancient tradition that was centuries old. The woman conducting the massage had begun with a prayer in Alolan that none of them understood before launching into the massage itself, and soon Sun and Lillie were watching in awe as the woman rubbed the battle-weary muscles and feathers of the unusually relaxed Dartrix.

"Bzzt! I know a bit of the history behind these massages! According to my data, the precise and long strokes of the massage-lady's fingers and hands help release tension in the both the mind and the body! Hence, the rubbing motion of the massage incorporated into the movementzz!" Rotom explained cheerily as the woman nodded.

"Yes, that is correct. Lomi lomi actually means "rub rub" in Alolan, as you may or may not know. Those like me who practice this particular style of Pokémon massage believe that not only does the mind contain memories of stress and strain, but the very cells of our bodies do as well. Thus, the Lomi lomi massage seeks to help the body forget old patterns and behaviors through the movements I am preforming now. See?" the woman said as she carefully yet firmly rubbed Oliver's back, making the owl sigh in delight. Considering his sometimes ridiculous behavior, seeing him so content was almost as funny as it was pleasing to Sun. Rotom Dex quietly snagged a few pictures of of the silly faces Oliver was making.

"Can I get one next?" Finn asked excitedly, hopping up and down on Brago's back and earning an annoyed look from the massive canine.

"I'm sorry, but I have other customers who are waiting for a turn." The woman said, gesturing to a woman and a man standing behind Sun with a Furret.

For some reason Sun imagined the Furret walking to a very catchy tune.

The boy turned back around and all too soon (at least to Oliver) the Lomi lomi massage was finished. Oliver's feathers looked distinctly ruffled, but he looked very much at peace and let out a happy yawn.

"You look very content, Oliver." Penny noted with a smile.

"I feel like a new Pokémon. I didn't even know how her strange powers work, but they work really well." Oliver hooted happily, shivering in delight. He did take a moment to properly glance over himself before flinching.

"Your feathers are a bit out of place though." Brago noted, smirking a bit.

"No worries, Oliver. I can use the Pokémon Refresh to spruce you up a bit." Sun said to his Partner, who smiled gratefully at Sun before the boy thanked the woman for her services, taking care to drop a tip in the woman's jar. Lillie did the same, just because she enjoyed watching the process.

"I wonder how Nebby would like a Lomi lomi massage?" Lillie asked, picking up Nebby out of her bag as the Cosmog wriggled happily in her grasp.

"Pew pew!"

"Well, maybe once the stall clears up we can have that lady give Nebby a Lomi lomi massage." Sun suggested, with Lillie nodding happily as Nebby cooed in her arms.

"Bzzt! Actually, those massagezz aren't just for Pokémon. There are many who practice it on humanz as well. I've even heard you can have special sessionz set up where you and your entire team can get massagezz!" Rotom explained to a very interested Lillie.

"I wouldn't mind a massage. Goodness knows I'm stressed out enough to where I could use it." Lillie laughed quietly as the group made their way a somewhat-free area. Oliver landed on a nearby bench and Sun took that time to slowly groom the Dartrix. Sun hadn't done this nearly often enough lately, and even made sure to get feedback from Oliver about how and what he was doing as he brushed and combed the bird back to pristine condition. Sun even had invested in a small hand mirror a few days ago so that Oliver could better keep himself groomed. Once Sun had finished, he allowed the owl to see.

"You look wonderful, Oliver!" Lillie gushed as the Dartrix admired his reflection.

"It's a massive improvement. Not only do I feel better, but I look better! Haha!" Oliver proclaimed, flaring his wings. "That Kahuna and her mud-slinging rock-monster won't know what hit them!"

"If she uses Boldore again in our battle, then I'll send you out against it. That way you can prove yourself against it." Sun said to the owl, who nodded resolutely.

"Just make sure not to get hit by mud again. Your vanity was your undoing last time." Penny said to Oliver, who flinched rather harshly. That particular failure stung still.

"You know…" Lillie mused aloud, putting a finger to her chin. "I think there's a good way to get around that problem even if Oliver does get hit with Mud-Slap."

"What do you mean, Lillie?" Sun asked. In response, Lillie turned to Oliver.

"You know how that massage you had just now felt really good, right?" Lillie asked the Dartrix, who nodded. "Well, I've also heard that it's not uncommon for some masseuse to use mud for their massages."

"W-what? That's…" Oliver trailed off, confused by this knowledge.

"Bzzt! It's true! Mud has all sortzz of nutrients in it, depending on where it comez from. It can be good for the skin and even hazz anti-aging propertiez, according to What Women Want Weekly!" Rotom proclaimed, earning a surprised look from Sun.

"Wait, how do you know that?" Sun asked

"How else am I supposed to keep this figure? I've been subscribed to their online articlezz for months! They're a great read! Zzzzt!"

"I...You...This raises more questions than answers!"

"Then don't think about it! Everyone winzz!"

"I better not be paying for this subscription. Otherwise I'm trading you in for a 3DS at my Gamestop."

"Sun, you just know they're only going to give you like...five dollars for it. It's best you just keep it for now or sell it on eBay." Lillie reminded the boy, who sighed and shook his head. Oliver flapped his wings, getting everyone's attention.

"Okay, okay, I get it! I'll...try to wrap my head around it. If anything, just promise me you'll have Finn wash me off afterwards. I hate being dirty more than I hate getting my feathers messed up." Oliver grumbled, with Sun nodding in response.

Suddenly a loud growl pierced the night, making Lillie glance at Sun in response. The boy blushed, grinning sheepishly. It was now a few hours into the night, and they hadn't had dinner yet.

"I am getting pretty hungry myself...Let's get some dinner and keep exploring!" Lillie suggested, with Sun happily nodding in agreement. They had only eaten a cotton candy so far, after all. So with that, the two friends began to search for a place to eat. Sun had Penny and Oliver fly into the air to search out a suitable place, though in the end it was Brago's sense of smell that led them to a small stall selling all sorts of authentic Johto-themed cuisine.

What mattered to them was that it smelled amazing, especially to the massive canine that was practically drooling at the smell, and so the two best friends sat down and ordered their food. Sun made sure to order some sweet and sour Combusken for Brago and Oliver while feeding Poké Beans to Penny and Finn.

"It smells wonderful. I wonder how everything will taste." Lillie remarked as she glanced over at Sun, who shrugged in response. The teenage girl debated it for a moment, but then slowly reached out and grabbed Sun's hand. The boy blushed slightly as his eyes met Lillie's, but the boy grabbed his date's hand and gave it a small squeeze as he shifted closer to his crush.

Which allowed Rotom to take a cheeky pic of the two of them.

Sun wasn't amused.

Lillie definitely was though, and kept giggling as Sun argued with Rotom Dex about embarrassing photos to share at Professor Kukui's Christmas Party. Sun was surprised when Rotom Dex cut itself off mid-sentence to inform him that he was repeatedly getting texts on his phone. Sun dug into his backpack and pulled out his phone and saw that the device was telling the truth.

"What happened?" Lillie asked.

"Sina and Dexio want to know if I can meet with them later to reform Zygarde." Sun said, looking at Lillie. "This is your date, Lillie. Do you mind if we make a detour to meet up with them later?"

"Of course not. The Zygarde mission is incredibly important. I don't mind meeting up with the others for a little bit." Lillie said quietly, smiling as Sun as she removed her mask for a moment.

"I can't get over how pretty you look in your outfit. I never thought about how good black would look on you!" Sun said to Lillie, making the girl squeak in response as she flushed red. Lillie looked down, embarrassed, but Sun simply moved closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"You okay?" Sun asked quietly.

"S-sorry...I'm still getting used to being complimented like this. And even this outfit...it was really hard to gather the courage to go out like this. If my m-mother saw me in this, she'd lose her mind…" Lillie murmured, thinking to herself. "Even more than she has already. She'd probably hit me again."

"Lillie…" Sun breathed before the girl shook her head, her hair gently flowing behind her.

"No. I'm...I'm sorry. I can't let my low self-esteem keep ruining our date. Thank you for the compliment, Sun. I really appreciate it." Lillie said as she smiled at her closest friend, returning Sun's hug at last. "Truth be told, I quite like your costume as well. It's not really that original, but you pull off the look well."

"And you like the shirtless thing too." Sun teased Lillie, who surprised him by suddenly pushing him over and pinning his arms to the bench. Lillie smiled mischievously at the boy, taking that moment of surprise to sit down on top of Sun's chest. Lillie stared at him with almost smug amusement through her mask, grinning adorably at Sun as the boy's face lit up bright red in embarrassment, though he was too stunned to move.

"Yes. I like the shirtless thing too." Lillie admitted quietly, laughing softly. "You know, you're really quiet, Sun. I might actually be able to pull off the whole 'hold you down and kiss you' thing off after all!"

Sun grinned at Lillie, leaning slightly up to the girl's surprise and snatching her in a hug. "Oh really? Who said I'm not gonna fight back, Princess?"

"Ahem."

Both Sun and Lillie looked up to see the chef looking down at them with a disapproving look, though after a moment he smirked and held up two plates of steaming hot food. Both children slowly sat up, blushing bright red as Rotom Dex and Sun's team laughed at them.

When it came to what the two children had ordered, Lillie had ordered Ecruteak Grand Dumplings, made in the style of the famous city in Johto that was home to many fantastic legends. Sun, meanwhile, had ordered standard Chow Mein and a side of white rice. With some application of soy sauce, the boy eagerly dug into his meal while Lillie slowly enjoyed her dumplings with a happy expression on her face. Nebby emerged from Lillie's purse and Lillie fed him small chunks of her dumplings, much to the delight of the adorable cloud-like Pokémon.

While the two humans ate, the Pokémon chattered amongst themselves. Finn talked with Oliver and Penny while Brago simply lay on the ground beside them and dozed. All the while Sun and Lillie ate their dinner peacefully, their shoulders touching as they simply enjoyed each other's company on such a beautiful evening.

"Oh wow, look at this place, Lyra." Spoke up a nearby voice from behind them just as they finished eating. Lillie jumped slightly in surprise and quickly set Nebby in her purse, closing it slightly with a hasty apology.

"Ethan, we should try other things! Not the first thing that reminds you of home!"

"I can't eat an entire city, though."

"Coulda fooled me…"

The flap behind the two children fluttered open and two adults sat down beside them. Sun recognized Ethan, the former Johto League Champion, right away. Lillie took a moment to recognize Lyra, the woman who had helped her escape the Aether Foundation back at the Stadium a week ago. Her kicking Faba in the groin had made her day.

"Oh, hello! You don't mind, do you?" Lyra asked Lillie, who shook her head. "Wow, your costume is so adorable! You look wonderful little miss!"

"T-thank you." Lillie mumbled, embarrassed at the compliment. Sun meanwhile was grinning as Ethan glanced at him.

"I know that look." Ethan said with an amused smirk. "And I recognize you too, kid. You're the one who stopped that Dawson guy last week. You're the big hero the news stations keep going on about."

"Y-yeah, that's me. I heard that you were there too, sir." Sun said to the man, who shrugged.

"I helped out where I could. You all had things in hand by the time I made it there, though. And that fight against that evil Articuno..I .gotta say, for a kid your age that's a massive accomplishment. I don't think I could have done that when I prowling through the Johto Gym Circuit." Ethan praised a blushing Sun as Lillie smiled at the boy.

"It was really thanks to my team. They're the ones who stuck it out and made it all possible." Sun protested as Brago smirked and Oliver puffed out his chest (before Penny casually smacked him with her wing).

"Maybe so. But I saw the battle myself, and that kind of fierceness and determination in a team comes from a Trainer they trust." Ethan said with a confident grin. "You're selling yourself short, little guy."

"The man speaks sense." Brago remarked from his position on the ground. "It was my anger at Dawson for belittling you, someone that was so kind and courageous, allowed me to reclaim my fire. It was the bond we share that inspired me to fight with everything I had. That power you hold became my own, and that was how we won."

"Looks like you do have a strong bond with your team. You Alolan Trainers really do have powerful connections with the Pokémon around them." Lyra mused before opening the menu and glancing over everything. "Thank goodness this thing is in Common. Ooh, that looks tasty."

Ethan didn't even bother with the menu as he turned forward.

"I'll take one of everything!" Ethan declared, with Lyra face-palming at her boyfriend.

"Ethan, please no…"

"ETHAN, PLEASE YES!"

Sun and Lillie exchanged a quick look of confusion before Rotom beeped and yelled, "You all are really odd humanzz! This callz for a picture." Ethan and Lyra shrugged, but went along with it and smiled for Rotom as he took a picture of the four of them, with Ethan giving Lyra bunny-ears as Lillie gave Rotom Dex a thumbs up. When everyone was smiling Rotom Dex snapped a picture.

"My boy izzz growing up so fast!" Rotom cried, hugging the back of Sun's head.

"Thanks for humoring Rotom Dex, sir." Sun said as he paid the bill, earning an annoyed look from Lillie. Ethan waved his hand dismissively, grinning at him.

"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty happy I got to run into you, actually." Ethan admitted, earning a look from Sun.

"What do you mean?"

"Well..." Ethan leaned in conspiratorially. "I'm looking around for talented Trainers on a job for Pokémon League back in Johto. And meeting the kid that saved Cynthia and drove Cipher out of Royal Avenue...Well, let's just say you've got a lot of interested parties keeping an eye on you kid. Keep up the awesome work and don't neglect your training." Ethan said with a nod, though his attention was diverted by the arrival of several plates of food. Ethan let out what could only be described as a battle cry and dug in while Lyra waved farewell to the two children. Sun and Lillie made their way out of the stall and back onto the street, with Sun deep in thought about what Ethan had said. After a few minutes saw sight of Lillie glaring at him.

"What?" Sun asked. Lillie huffed and turned away, ignoring his question. Sun felt a pang and his expression dropped. Why was Lillie mad? Lillie began to walk down the road without him, but was stopped by Sun.

"Lillie, what happened? Why are you suddenly mad?" Sun asked the girl, who sighed and hung her head, her annoyance mostly vanishing.

"Because you paid the bill...I wanted to cover it." Lillie mumbled, a bit embarrassed and annoyed at the same time. Sun shook his head, grinning at the teen.

"Of course I covered the bill. There's no way I'm gonna make you pay the dinner bill on your first date!" Sun protested, with Lillie giving him another annoyed look, even going so far as to put her hands on her hips and pout.

"After everything you've done for me, I was hoping to at least repay the favor by paying for our dinner tonight. And now I can't even do that for you." Lillie replied as Sun raised his hands placatingly. He sensed the girl was really irked about this, and thought quickly about how to placate Lillie for now.

"Then...How about this? I take care of the bill this time around...And next time we go out, you can cover it?" Sun said to Lillie, who looked surprised for some reason. Even a blush crept into her cheeks.

"I...Are y-you asking me out on a second date?" Lillie sputtered, looking very surprised. Sun blinked before he blushed as well, not realizing he had done just that.

"That depends. Do you want to go on a second date with me, Lillie?" Sun asked the girl before she happily threw herself at the boy, hugging him tightly in a way that he should have seen coming.

"I find your enthusiasm awesome, Lillie."

"To answer your question...Yes. Absolutely yes!"

Rotom snapped another picture, a small heart on its screen as it giggled overhead. Meanwhile Penny and Oliver did a high five with their wings as Brago and Finn smirked at the two humans. Lillie separated from Sun, her cheeks still bright pink before she grabbed his hand and led him back into the crowds for the festival.

Sun didn't stop smiling the entire time.


"Ha! I win!" Mallow cheered as she pumped her fist into the air. Lana sighed before she smiled at her friend, who accepted her prize from the dart-throwing context.

"You always were better at these kinds of games." Lana lamented as Mallow snuggled her stuffed Buneary.

"No worries, bestie. We'll find a game you rock at soon!" Mallow said encouragingly to Lana, who chuckled in response.

"~I'm baaaack!~" sang a returning Hau, who was holding a paper plate of steaming hot malasadas drizzled in chocolate sauce.

"Hau, spending time with you really has taken a toll on my diet. You really should try other foods." Mallow complained as she crossed her arms.

"'kay." was the response she got, making Mallow's eye twitch. Lana rolled her eyes and grabbed one, sinking her teeth into the delicious dessert. Hau grabbed one as well, letting out a small moan of delight as he ate his favorite treat. Mallow sighed before grabbing one as well, and with that the trio continued down the path.

"This year we've had quite the turnout. Usually there's a considerable lull in people presenting their preformances and songs and dances and stuff. But having the actual Guardian Deity present at the Festival for the first time in hundreds of years is making a lot of people want to show their stuff. Especially after how Tapu Lele saved so many people back at Royal Avenue." Lana explained to an interested Hau, who swallowed his malasada and reached for another.

"So what's with the performances?" Hau asked.

"They pay homage to Tapu Lele, Hau. This Festival celebrates many things regarding the Guardian Deity, and as a sign of respect we preform songs, stories, and other performances in the name of our protector. Just as those on Melemele Island celebrate Tapu Koko through battle, we celebrate Tapu Lele through our own little ways as well." Lana replied quietly, glancing towards the lanterns floating above them.

"Though we usually include a Grand Trial battle as well. Sun's the lucky Ducklett this year." Mallow grinned excitedly, clenching her fists. "I can't wait to see that boy in action."

"He's only gotten better since his last battle with Olivia. And from what we saw from his battle against Dawson, he's only getting better every day. Not many can claim to have taken down a Legendary Bird." Lana remarked, licking her fingers in a manner that caught Hau's attention for a few moments. Mallow caught sight of that and smirked.

"Lana, we really do need to set you and Hau up on another date." Mallow remarked, giggling after a moment.

"I can't help that Lana appreciates me for who I am. As well as my unquestionable charisma and charm." Hau lamented, making Lana smirk in response.

"Can you even spell charisma, Hau?"

"...there's a K in it, right?"

"Point proven."

Lana face-palmed for a second time, wondering how she was developing feelings for such a goofball. Said goofball slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug after noticing said facepalm, which quickly made Lana flustered. This fluster amplified tenfold when she realized she was pressed against a shirtless Hau, her face burning bright red.

"Look Mommy! Sissy is with her boyfriend!" shouted a voice the three Trainers knew well. Lana's eyes darted to the side, where she spotted both of her twin sister's ,Harper and Sarah. The former of whom was pointing at the two of them, wearing a wide smile. Lana's mother was smiling at Lana and quickly beckoned the twins on, winking at Lana as she departed. Lana's face turned into a shade that Mallow could have sworn was legitimately glowing.

"Oh Tapu, please strike me down." Lana thought dejectedly, only to remember that she was pressed up against her crush in a very nice way. She had to stop her thoughts from getting too far out of line, but thankfully Mallow was able to distract her.

"Man, you two are really just too adorable. Makes me kinda wish I had something like that." Mallow remarked, her tone a little bitter despite herself.

"You act as though we're dating." Hau remarked, his arm still wrapped around Lana's shoulder as he said those words.

"Didn't you two agree to go on a second date to the beach?" Mallow quipped, making Lana blush bright pink. "Exactly. It's clear Lana really likes you, and you like her enough to go on a date with her."

"I really don't know much about how all of this works. I just know I like being around Lana, that she's got the hots for me, and that going on a date with her was a load of fun...before Lillie started being terrifying." Hau shuddered for a moment as he remembered how the usually adorable blonde had went off on him. It was one of the only times he had remembered her ever getting genuinely angry.

"Still counts, Hau. And maybe you don't completely reciprocate Lana's feelings, but you're at least giving her a shot and you're getting awfully snuggly with her." Mallow said, calling him out. In response Hau simply smirked and wrapped his other arm around Lana, making the poor girl blush even harder.

"Lana, feel free to tell me to stop any time you want me too." Hau remarked smugly.

"G-got it."

"Get a room you two." Mallow then thought about it. "Actually, don't. It'd kinda be hot if I caught you two in the act and-"

"We are way too young for you to be going on about lewd daydreams, Lana. Hau's 12, if you recall, and I'm only a few years older than him." Lana shot back, making Mallow shrug.

"Besides, I'm sure someone like you will get a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, in no time!" Hau said far too loudly, making Mallow leap forward and clamp a hand over his mouth.

"Not so loud, you idiot!" Mallow hissed angrily, stepping back as Hau's eyes widened in surprise. "It's still a secret!"

"I don't see why. You shouldn't have to hide things like that, Mallow." Hau said seriously, with Mallow flushing as she crossed her arms.

"With the world the way it is, it just complicates things. There's so many people who can't accept things like that, Hau. It's better if I keep it on the down-low for a while. I told you because I trust you." Mallow muttered darkly as she looked away.

"And I appreciate that trust, Mallow. But you also gotta be open with yourself, you know? Besides, getting back to our point, I think you're worrying about nothing. You'll break your bad luck streak in no time!" Hau said with a wide grin as he put his hands behind his head. Lana seemed a bit put out that Hau wasn't wrapped around her anymore, but the bluenette nodded in agreement.

"I'm not not so sure…" Mallow said dubiously. It was odd seeing her so uncomfortable and unsure of herself when she usually portrayed herself to be the complete opposite.

"Have you seen any cute girls tonight?" Lana asked quietly, trying to be discreet for the comfort of her best friend.

"Y-yeah, but I'm...I'm too nervous to say anything. Besides, I have no way of knowing whether or not they're like me! It's so confusing!" Mallow lamented, shaking her head in despair. Hau smirked as Lana walked forward and patted her best friend on the shoulder.

"Heh, I bet one day the girl of your dreams will come walking up to you and you'll be totally speechless by the fact that we're totally right." Hau said bracingly, making Mallow smirk back at him.

"Fat chance. I can handle anything!" Mallow shot back playfully, hitting herself in the chest.

"Lana! Hau! Fancy meeting you here!" called a familiar voice. The trio turned around to see a pretty young woman with brown hair and purple eyes jogging towards them, wearing a simple green and white sundress with sandals.

"Oh, hey Jen!" Lana said cheerily as the teen waved back, her Petilil crying out happily from atop her head. As Lana stepped forward and hugged Jen, Hau noticed Mallow staring at Jen with a surprised expression on her face, as well as a faint blush that was rapidly spreading. Hau glanced back and forth between Mallow and Jen and his jaw dropped, with the boy looking down at his hands in amazement.

"Whoa...I say it...And it happens. I must use this power wisely!" Hau declared before clasping his hands together in prayer. "A remastered collection of the Paper Mario games will come out on the Nintendo Switch! A remastered collection of the Paper Mario games will come out on the Nintendo Switch! A remastered collection of the Paper Mario games will come out on the Nintendo Switch!" Hau muttered under his breath, over and over again to the confusion of everyone else.

"Hau, what are you chanting?" Lana asked curiously.

"Oh, nothing!" Hau said innocently as Jen just looked at all of them in turn with confusion on her face. After a moment the teen shrugged and accepted it.

"Good to see you two again! I didn't think I'd be able to escape before this thing ended." Jen lamented, laughing slightly.

"Why's that? Trouble back home?" Lana asked the teen, who shrugged again.

"Not really, but we got a shipment in of herbal medicine and we've been offloading and organizing it all day long. I threw on the first nice outfit I saw and rushed out to join the Festival as soon as Mom said it was alright." Jen explained as she hung her head. "It was so boring, Lana. Like, beyond words boring."

"Maybe some food and friends can cheer you up!" Hau said with a wide grin, making Jen look up and match his smile with one of her own.

"Damn straight!" Jen said, pumping her fist into the air. "I'm starving!"

Lana suddenly snapped her fingers, catching their attention. "I completely forgot to introduce you. Mallow, this is Jen. Jen, this is Captain Mallow, my best friend." Lana said as she stepped aside and gestured to a still-flustered Mallow, who hadn't taken her eyes off Jen.

"Hi there. I'm Jen. Nice to meet you! You look awesome in that kimono! It's super cute!" Jen said cheerily, extending her hand forward as Mallow's blush intensified. Lana seemed to catch onto what Hau did, glancing back and forth between the two as Mallow uneasily shook Jen's hand.

"U-um...t-thanks. You too." Mallow mumbled in reply, still unsure how to handle Jen's appearance. Hau had to admit the teen from Almia was definitely looking cute, but Mallow seemed to be completely thrown off her game. It was pretty funny to him.

"You okay? You seem...flustered, Mallow." Jen asked, tilting her head a bit on confusion before she suddenly broke into a wide grin. "Wait, are you so thrown off by my amazing presence that I've rendered you speechless?"

"N-no! I...I just...um…" Mallow seemed completely speechless, which made Hau grin. If only for all the times she teased Lana, Sun, and Lillie.

"Aww, what's wrong Mallow? Cat got your tongue?" Hau teased the Captain, who seemed to blush even harder in embarrassment. Jen laughed in response, grabbing her Petilil and holding it in her arms.

"Well, it's nice to meet you either way. Any friend of Hau and Lana's is a friend of mine." Jen said brightly, with Mallow slowly nodding in reply. Hau wondered if he had ever looked so weird when he used to ogle Lillie.

Hau suddenly felt a disturbance in the world. It made him shiver down to his core, and a glance at Mallow and Jen told him that they were similarly effected. Hau glanced around, since the awful presence of pure evil was right beside him.

His eyes landed on Lana, and Hau felt his eyes dilate in pure horror. The normally cute bluenette was wearing an expression that would have made anyone from Team Skull run away screaming. A smile of pure evil, spawned from the darkness beyond the depths, was adorning Lana's face right now at the sight of seeing Mallow embarrassed because of someone she might be interested in.

"Mwehehehehehe...Revenge is sweet." Lana whispered so harshly that Hau, Mallow and Jen took a step back from the Water Captain.

"Oh dear god, I always feared this would happen to us!" Mallow muttered, as Lana's demented grin deepened.

To their surprise, Tapu Lele suddenly appeared in a flurry of pink scales, making the crowd nearby gasp in surprise. Hau fell onto his butt in shock while the Captains gaped in surprise. Jen simply stared on with wide eyes at the appearance of the God of Life.

"I felt a presence of evil nearby that I...Huh?" Tapu Lele glanced around, confused as Lana stumbled backwards on the ground at having the god's gaze land on her. "I haven't felt thoughts so twisted in years. It was comparable to when the king's of old would declare war on their neighbors for the fun of seeing them scream in pain."

"Holy shit, it's the Guardian Deity." Jen said aloud in shock, earning a glance from Tapu Lele. "Um...sorry?"

"Oh, it's no bother. I was more concerned as to why I felt a presence of sheer evil coming from Captain Lana." Tapu Lele remarked, glancing back towards the surprised Captain. After a few moments, Lana felt an ancient tendril of thought touch her mind, making her shut her eyes. After a few moments, the Captain heard the laughter of Tapu Lele within her mind before the connection between them vanished.

"Ahhh...So that's why. Very well. I can see there's no problems here." Tapu Lele said as it floated into the air and away from the teens, leaving them all bewildered for several moments before Mallow turned to Lana.

"Okay, what the hell was with that evil laugh?" Mallow demanded, with Lana grinning widely in response.

"Why don't you ask Jen, Mallow?" Lana said to the girl, making her blush bright red. Jen glanced back and forth between them in confusion.

"Ask me? Why would...I'm so lost." Jen muttered, glancing down at her Petilil. "You have any idea what's going on?"

Petilil shook its head. Just then a loud growling sound pierced the night, and Jen began to laugh nervously. "S-sorry. Still starving. I'm gonna look around and grab some food, but we should totally catch up later."

"Sounds like a plan." Hau said, giving her a thumbs up as he leaned against Lana. The girl smiled ruefully, blushing as Jen grinned at her.

"Dude, you two rock. Take care!" Jen said cheerily, walking away with a wave. The trio watched Jen depart for a while before Lana and Hau turned to Mallow with matching grins.

"Okay, that's scary." Mallow remarked, taking a step back.

"Oh no, this has been a long time coming. Soooo...You got really flustered with Jen back there. Any particular reason?" Hau said with a raised eyebrow. Mallow blushed, scowling at him.

"She was really pretty, you dork. Of course I was a bit thrown off. Hell, these outfits are making everyone look hot. It didn't help that she totally wasn't wearing a bra under that admittedly cute dress." Mallow retorted, smiling to herself as she mused on that fact.

"How could you tell?" Hau asked, confused.

"Because Mallow was looking where it mattered." Lana snickered, making Mallow's cheeks burn dark red.

"S-shut up! It's just something I happened to notice. And what I mean is that my reactions are totally normal and don't constitute a crush or any of that crap." Mallow protested, which made both Hau and Lana exchange looks with one another.

"You're the one talking about the cute new chick's boobs, Mallow." Hau pointed out, making Mallow flinch. He had her there.

"Psh, you're the one to talk Mister Grass Skirt. Did you even think of poor Lana's heart when you decided to wear that?" Mallow shot back, with Hau grinning as he lifted up the skirt to reveal his black gym shorts.

"I'm completely decent wearing these, smarty pants. That does raise the question, though...what do you have on under that kimono? Or rather, what are you supposed to wear?" Hau asked, making Lana chuckle while Mallow smirked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Mallow said, winking. Hau gave her a flat look.

"No duh. That's why I asked." Hau remarked, making Lana giggle softly in response. Mallow's eyes narrowed slightly before her mouth curled into a smirk.

"Alright, I'll make you a deal. If you give Lana a kiss on the mouth, I'll tell you what we have on under our kimonos. Deal?" Mallow said to Hau, extending a hand towards the boy. To both girl's surprise, Hau simply grinned and shook Mallow's hand.

"That's it? Man, you need to step up your game." Hau said as he walked over to Lana, whose cheeks were dusted with pink as her crush approached her.

"W-wait Hau are you really going to-" Lana began to say before she was cut off by Hau pressing his lips against hers. Lana's eyes flew open in surprise before she slowly shut them, losing herself in the kiss. Mallow quickly snapped a few pics with her phone before switching to record, mildly surprised that Hau was making the kiss last as long as it was taking. She could even hear Lana moaning in delight.

"Whoa...He didn't just go in for a kiss. He's straight up making out with her. I'm so proud of you, Lana." Mallow thought, doing a small fist pump as Hau finally separated from the Water Captain. Hau grinned at Lana, who seemed to be slightly dazed and sporting a massive blush on her face.

"That was really nice! I had no idea kissing was so...I don't even know how to describe it!" Hau remarked as it let go of Lana, though he quickly had to catch the teen because her legs had given out. "Whoa, you okay there?"

"Just...need a minute…" Lana mumbled, trying to process the fact that she had in fact made out with her crush.

"You kinda overdid it there, Hau. I think you fulfilled five of Lana's fantasies all in one kiss. And I say five because you didn't grope her or call her beautiful beforehand." Mallow said casually, earning a kick from Lana as the girl seemed to regain her sense of awareness.

"I mean, you can feel free to do all of that weird stuff. She does look cute with that smile on her face though!" Hau said cheerfully as Mallow grinned at him. Lana seemed to regain her awareness, taking hold of Hau's arm and standing on her own.

"Mallow, you're the worst. And H-hau…" Lana blushed even harder, unable to even look at the boy who was wearing a wide grin.

"In my defense, it was all part of the wager. And you can't even pretend you didn't enjoy it." Hau said with a small laugh, though he did step forward to hug Lana, making the shy girl squeak in surprise. "That said, I enjoyed it too! For my first legit mouth kiss, that was definitely fun!"

"You two should totally do it again sometime. I need more blackmail material." Mallow remarked casually, rewatching the video she had taken with a smirk.

"Don't make me call Jen back over here." Lana replied, making the smile vanish from Mallow's face as a faint blush crept onto her face. Hau grinned and held out a fist towards Lana, who casually tapped it.

"Agh, you guys suck!" Mallow growled before she stormed off, making Hau and Lana burst into laughter. The two Trainers began to walk down the path back to the Festival proper, and along the way Hau slung an arm back around Lana, who blushed at the close contact.

"You know, even if that was something that happened because of Mallow being a troll...it really was nice. Sorry I kinda just violated your personal space though, Lana." Hau apologized, not realizing he was sort of doing it again.

"It's alright, Hau. I um...Well, you know how I feel by now. I r-really did enjoy it. That was...that was m-my first kiss." Lana mumbled, her face burning like a bonfire.

"That being said...Um, I really don't know where any of this puts us." Hau admitted, with Lana giving him an odd look. "Like...I don't know, Lana. Don't get me wrong, I do like you a lot as a friend. And you're really pretty and I respect you a lot as a Captain. And I absolutely want you to be happy...but I honestly don't know if I like you the same way you like me."

Lana simply stared at Hau, unsure of how to respond to any of this. After a few moments she blankly asked, "Do you like me as much as you like Lillie?"

Hau frowned at that. "No...And that bothers me. I still have feelings for her. That crush hasn't gone away. And I know she doesn't like like me and that she really likes Sun, and I don't want to get in the way of that. They're my best friends, and I want them to be happy. And when it comes to you and your feelings it gets even more complicated! I want you to be happy too, because you're awesome! And...man, this is a mess, huh?" Hau muttered, looking down at the ground.

Lana couldn't help the ache she felt in her chest at the boys words. Despite the kiss they shared and him admitting how much he cared for her, he still was holding onto his crush on Lillie over any feelings for her. Lana was hoping that if she held on and continued to spend time with Hau, that eventually he would get over his feelings for Lillie. Especially since it became apparent that Sun and Lillie were slowly exploring their growing feelings for each other. It was definitely an odd situation. However…

"Hau, stop frowning." Lana said simply, making the boy look up. A sad smile was on her face now, but regardless of that she continued. "You can't beat yourself up over the fact that your heart still wants Lillie. I knew about this for a while, but I was just...curious, I suppose."

"I'm so sorry, Lana. I...I feel like I'm stringing you along or something. You deserve better." Hau muttered, with Lana shaking her head.

"Don't talk like that. You can't apologize over what your heart feels, Hau. You're a wonderful friend and I'm blessed to know you." Lana said quietly, reaching up to cup the boy's cheek. "So smile. You're so much more handsome when you smile."

Hau managed to crack a grin at that. Maybe things weren't as easy as they would've liked, but Hau and Lana still had a strong friendship. Only the future will tell where things would end up for them.


"Sun, look! The main stage is getting set up for something!"

"Whoa, slow down Princess!"

Lillie and Sun made their way to the main stage, where it became obvious that a massive showcase had just taken place as several performers holding instruments. The girl usually wore white every day except this one sagged with disappointment, with Sun patting her back a few times to console her.

"Oh well...we may as well watch the next few performances." Lillie said with a tinge of disappointment in her voice. Sun nodded, though he started in surprise when he saw that Tapu Lele itself was floating nearby, watching the stage with interest while a red-eyed woman spoke quickly beside it.

"That's Zinnia...We saw her earlier with Tapu Lele." Lillie muttered to Sun, before adding, "We should tell her about that thing from earlier."

"You mean Di-" Sun stopped himself, remembering the creature's warning about not saying its name aloud.

"Yes, that. Zinnia warned me about it the day I met on in Heahea City. We should let her know what's going on." Lillie said to Sun, who nodded in agreement. However, as they moved forward, a figure stepped in front of them. Sun looked up to see the Fossil Man staring down at him, a little smile on his face.

"Leaving so soon? I'm about to start my performance." The Fossil Man said quietly, hefting his strange lantern into the air. It pulsed purple, suddenly alighting with red and purple fire before the Fossil Man slapped it with a gloved hand as Sun and Lillie flinched at the flames. The man himself was wearing a strange hooded cloak over his usual outfit, a cloak that shimmered in the haunting lights overhead. The Kanto-native tell that the cloak itself was a bright deep red color, etched in archaic symbols. The Fossil Man walked up the steps as an announcer introduced him, and so Sun and Lillie settled in for his tribute to the Tapu.

Soon enough the Fossil Man was standing in the middle of the stage, staring at the crowd with amusement as he set the lantern on the ground. The Fossil Man stepped away from the lantern as more flames spewed from the artifact, filling the stage with multicolored fire of yellow, orange, white, and a deep red. The Fossil Man took several steps back, eyeing the lantern with amusement before drawing a long ornate saber from within his cloak that made the crowd gasp, his expression one of focus. The blade was a pale-white color, almost like a bleached bone.

"Cue the music, if you would be so kind." The Fossil Man said aloud, tapping the lantern with the blade as more and more flames poured out of it. Sun could see the two spheres held within the lantern glowing bright white within. A odd music began to fill the air, a haunting beauty to the tune that soon entranced the crowd and made them focus their attention solely on the man standing amongst the fire. After a few moments the lantern began to pulse in time within the melody being played, cued by the tapping of the Fossil Man as his sword conducted the fire. He didn't seem remotely concerned about the colorful blaze pouring from the artifact beside him, as he had a faraway look on his face and his eyes were shut.

And then...he began to sing, his voice holding a strange enchanting note to it.

When your whole world is going mad.

Just sit back and watch,

And it won't seem so bad.

Remember the love that once you'd known.

It helps pass the days,

And you won't be alone.

The Fossil Man tapped the lantern with his sword, sending more fire whirling into the air. The shadows the flames cast took form, creating children and adults of light dancing through the multicolored light as the lantern pulsed with a strange otherworldly power. Mixed with the lights of the Festival, it created an amazing sight.

A shine of the horizon.

Betrays the darkened sky.

But I don't dream of power,

Spending hours beneath lantern light.

Soon a lone figure stood apart from the rest of the dancing people of light. A small boy with messy hair, who soon turned to standing on their own apart from the others as the flames quickly twisted their features, turning them into monsters as the shadows encircled the child. The flaming boy shrank back, seemingly horrified, but despite that the monsters continued to grow as the flames fed their shadows.

And why do they fight?

Do they even know?

Since reason fell,

From out of season long ago.

Soon the monsters were nothing more than flames, having been consumed by the infinite shadows the flames had cast. Leaving the child standing alone against the darkness. Sun felt a strange connection to the boy. He could feel his loneliness, despite him not even being real. He was being drawn into the narrative being created by the insane man as he stood amongst the burning flames.

Here passes one more abandoned child.

And here stays a crooked man,

Smiling a crooked smile.

The Fossil Man cracked a terrifying grin before the flames swirled once again, obliterating the child and leaving only darkness as more blood-red flames poured from the lantern, spurned on by the song of the strange man standing fearlessly beside it. The Fossil Man opened his eyes, gazing upon the crowd as his orange eyes twinkled with savage intensity.

A shine of the horizon.

Betrays the darkened sky.

But I don't hope for power,

Spending hours beneath lantern light.

The music faded, along with the flames as the Fossil Man grabbed the burning lantern and whispered to it. The lantern pulsed one final time, a faint purple glimmer running along the sides of the artifact before it faded away. Soon the flames were nothing more than a memory and the Fossil Man was standing before them all holding the lantern aloft, wearing a twisted and maniacal grin that looked beyond horrifying in the dim glow of the lantern.

"Cast your eyes into the fire...And be reborn anew."

With that, the strange man walked off the stage with Sun and Lillie staring at him as he departed. Even Zinnia seemed taken aback, though Tapu Lele simply shook its head and looked to the next performer with some impatience.

"Who would have thought that such a weird guy had such a decent singing voice?" Sun muttered, with Lillie nodding beside him.

"The flames seemed as if they were alive. And those lyrics...I think he may be genuinely insane, Sun. Or at least, not all there." Lillie whispered as the man walked into the crowd, throwing his hood back over his head and vanishing from sight.

"You're telling me...That guy definitely has a few screws loose." Aria muttered, crossing her arms as Sun and Lillie glanced towards her in surprise. Not only was she standing beside them, but so was Hugh, Sina, Dexio, and even Acerola. The two children would have seen Vivian and Noah as well, but those two were currently making out in a garden about half a mile away.

"Aw, don't you two look totally adorable?" Sina cooed as Sun and Lillie both blushed. However, Lillie took that moment to move behind Sun and press up against him, making the older Trainers smile.

"Looks like S.S. Lillie/Sun has sailed off into the sunset! Huzzah!" Acerola declared loudly from behind everyone, scaring the living daylights out of Aria in particular.

"Gah! When the crap did you show up?" Aria yelped, clutching her heart in surprise. Acerola giggled, gesturing to the sky.

"It all began 17 years ago, on a night like this. My father took my mother and-" Acerola was stopped when a hand was suddenly resting on her shoulder. Behind her was a man with blonde hair with a strange blue cowlick, wearing a strange blueish-gray coat.

"Maybe you should stop, hmm? There are children present." Colress said, grinning at the group as Sun smiled widely at the man.

"Doctor Colress!" Lillie and Sun called out happily, with the man chuckling softly in response.

"It's good to see everyone again. I'm sorry I haven't been around much. Even with Faba's help, constructing a project that took years for a dedicated team to finish has been a challenge to say the least. I figured I could use a break." Colress said as Hugh exchanged a fist bump with the scientist. To Sun's surprise and Lillie's horror, Faba stepped out from behind Colress wearing a smirk of sorts.

"But soon we will have the ability to purify Shadow Pokémon at our leisure and can begin to erase Cipher's stain on the world. Hehehe...It'll be my grandest achievement yet!" Faba proclaimed, placing a hand against his chest as Sun chuckled. Faba grinned down at the young man…

And then his eyes met Lillie's.

"Oh no...oh no no no no no no no no! It's Faba! He's going to help Mother kill Nebby! I have to get away!" Lillie screamed internally, shaking in fear as she felt her legs trembling, threatening to give out completely. Faba's eyes narrowed slightly in confusion.

"Hmm? Do I know you? Are you that shaken by my incredible presence?" Faba asked with a chuckle, moving closer to Lillie. The scientist made the girl take a stumbling step backwards, clutching her purse with absolute horror in her eyes. Sun noticed this exchange and quickly pulled Lillie behind him, stepping in front of her protectively. Sun tried to think of something to distract Faba as the man's eyes widened.

"She doesn't do well with strangers. But I was going to ask, Mister Faba, if that offer of checking out the Aether Paradise was still on the table? I would really like to see more of your work firsthand." Sun asked Faba, thankfully taking his attention aay from a terrified Lillie.

"Oh. Yes. Of course, my young friend! Don't think I haven't forgotten how you valiantly came to that Slowpoke's aid. It would be remiss of me not to invite you to our little slice of paradise." Faba snorted in amusement at his own pun. "Besides, educating the youth on the important work we do at the Foundation would be quite a enjoyable task for...Miss Wicke." Faba quickly muttered the last part to himself before grinning again. "We'd be thrilled to have such a brave and skilled child visit our facility. I'll be operating out of the Hano Grand Resort for the next week, so you should come by there if you're still interested."

"Sounds good. With some luck I'll be able to see Celebi get purified too." Sun said with a grin, making Faba chuckle.

"Such enthusiasm. I commend it! Now, what brings all of you together?" Faba asked curiously.

"We're working on reforming Zygarde-" Hugh began to say before Aria elbowed him in the gut. It was too late though.

"Zygarde? The Guardian of Balance and the third Pokémon in the Aura Trio. Now I'm interested...hehehe...Perhaps it would be good if someone like me accompanied you. As a scientist of the highest caliber, I can be there to assist should something go wrong." Faba offered, stepping forward. Sun normally would have agreed to this, but seeing how nervous Lillie was around him made Sun reconsider that. Faba seemed to notice the girl's unease, turning his calculating gaze towards her again with narrowed eyes.

"Why do you react to me like that, girl? Do I have something on my face?" Faba muttered, scratching his chin. Lillie took another step back, her terror increasing rapidly. To her immense relief, Colress caught her eye, nodding in understanding after a few moments.

"Now now, Faba, I think we've got more important things to consider. Like that sushi bar! You were telling me just last night how you were craving some fresh sushi." Colress said as he placed a hand on the man's shoulder. Faba glanced towards the stall in question that Colress was pointing towards, scowling slightly. He opened his mouth to protest when his stomach began to growl loudly, making Sina and Dexio chuckle at the man. Faba flushed in embarrassment before sighing.

"Fine. But you're buying, Doctor Colress. I expect to hear about this later from you, young Sun. And don't forget my offer in regards to the Aether Paradise. It's not one I'd recommend you let slip by." Faba reminded Sun, who nodded.

"You got it, Mister Faba. You both have a good night!" Sun called to the scientists as they turned around and began walking away. Both Sun and Lillie caught the wink that Colress sent their way, making both children smile at the man.

"He's quite the fellow. But I feel as though his unchecked ambition will come back to bite him someday." Sina remarked with a small smile, making Dexio chuckle in response. Acerola simply rolled her eyes.

"That guy has an ego so big this island can barely hold it." Acerola remarked, shaking her head. Sun once again took note of the very odd outfit she was wearing. It simply didn't match anything the girl had typically worn up to that point. It reminded Sun of something royalty would wear, but it looked like it was made for someone other than Acerola, who seemed to be way too small for it.

"Lillie, you might want to keep Sun's attention on you instead of me." Acerola remarked upon noticing Sun staring.

"Sorry." Sun apologized, rubbing the back of his head. "It's just...that outfit seems off for some reason."

"He is right. It doesn't look like it was made for you at all." Hugh agreed, with Acerola beaming at them in response.

"You're totally right, Hugh. It wasn't! Mwehehehe!"

Everyone exchanged glances, generally confused. This confusion only increased when Acerola suddenly sank into her own shadow with a demented giggle that made Sun and Lillie shiver.

"I feel like we'll found out what she's up to soon enough." Sina mused with amusement before snapping her fingers. "But seriously! Back to the point!

"Oh right, Zygarde. Come, my friends. I've already managed to secure a place by the Lighthouse, if you'll follow me." Dexio said as he began to walk down the path with Sina quickly catching up, grabbing her partner's hand. Aria and Hugh shrugged before following them, also walking hand in hand.

Sun and Lillie looked at each other, a faint blush on their faces. Lillie extended her hand to Sun, who reached out and grabbed it before leading the way towards the distant lighthouse. Soon enough the group left the hustle and bustle of the Festival proper, and the only sound that could be heard was the dull crash of the ocean and the faint giggling someone out of sight. Sina scowled and said, "Hugh, can you stand guard? Make sure no one gets near us?"

"Yeah, no problem." Hugh replied, calling out his Samurott and Flygon before walking towards the entrance to the area. Sina and Dexio both reached into their pockets and pulled out an item capsule each. After a moment they pressured the triggers and out of a poof of smoke appeared a massive cylindrical machine with several monitors on it. They quickly hooked up the contraption and soon it was operational.

"The Zygarde Cube, if you please." Sina said seriously, with Aria and Sun nodding in unison. Both Trainers dug into their packs and pulled out the glowing halves of the device. After a few moments both halves were placed back together, becoming whole once more with a glow of green light. Dexio nodded and placed the device into the main console, causing it to glow once again before the Zygarde Cells and Core flowed out from the device and into the chamber, whirling around the cylinder several times as it glowed green. A shudder of energy ran from the device into Zygarde, who let out a strange warbling noise.

"Interesting...Rotom, take photos!" Sun said to the device as it flew out of his backpack, already doing just that. To their surprise, the Zygarde Cells suddenly slammed into the glass, cracking it.

"Release the mechanism." Sina said to Dexio, who nodded and tapped a few buttons on his keyboard, which caused a small hatch on side of the cylinder to open up. The Cells and Core of Zygarde flowed out of the device and onto the ground, converging into a massive glowing blob of sorts that slowly began to take form. Soon enough a green and black canine was standing before them, looking down at the ground as its body continued to form. After a few more moments, the canine's eyes flashed white and its head lifted up, sniffing the air. By that point Sun and Aria had removed the Zygarde Cube and split it into two pieces again.

"Bzzt! I've never recorded a Pokémon like this! I'll have to write some data on the fly." Rotom said, setting itself to record as the canine sniffed and bared its teeth.

"It has been a long time since we held this form…" Zygarde uttered, the creature's odd voice bouncing around in their minds. It was as if many people were talking at once in slightly different voices.

"Wow...I didn't even know Zygarde could use telepathy." Sina whispered, in awe of the Legendary Pokémon.

Zygarde continued to sniff the night air, occasionally glancing around in jerky movements. "So many sensations. It will take time to process this. But that is for another moment. Why have you brought us together, humans?"

"Um...Hello, Lord Zygarde." Dexio said politely, bowing to the creature. "We've been working on trying to reform you for quite a while now. We've traveled all the way from your home in Kalos to here in Alola, trying to find all of your lost Cells."

"You did not answer our question." Zygarde noted, and with that Sina butted in.

"We need your help to end a war against a bunch of bad guys who have been threatening the planet. We've been trying to gather your cells to reform you so we could ask you to help us. We...we need your help to save this world, Zygarde." Sina explained, with the Order Pokémon nodding in understanding.

"We have seen as much. And although you have gathered enough of us to form this body, it is nowhere near our full power. You would attempt to reform our true self? One that hasn't been seen by this world for thousands of years?" Zygarde asked, its voice somewhat curious.

"Yes. Cipher has an army of corrupted Pokémon and Legendaries at their side. We need your help. Please, help us in the fight against Cipher. Help us in our battle against evil and to save this world from the darkness Borlath wishes to unleash upon it." Dexio pleaded with the Legendary Pokémon, who slowly looked at each of the Trainers and Lillie. Sun could almost hear the Pokémon thinking, its single Core processing the information being presented to it.

Zygarde gave its answer after a few moments of silence.

"Our answer is...no."

The silence was thick enough that you could slice through it with a knife. Aria and Hugh simply stared at the canine while Sun and Lillie glanced at each other. Clearly this wasn't part of the plan at all.

Had they even planned for the Legendary Pokémon to refuse?

"No? What do you mean, no?" Dexio asked, suddenly indignant. Zygarde turned to the masked vigilante, its eyes narrowed.

"We meant that we will not help you in your conflict. We will only obey one soul. And that is not any of you. So...no." Zygarde explained, glancing at each of them in turn.

"What do you mean...Like, we're not worthy or something?" Aria asked, sounding genuinely baffled. Zygarde snorted in amusement, shaking its head.

"We can sense forces of life in the world around us. Our Cells and Cores seek out information. Information that could help turn the tide against the ones who have desecrated the world with their evil." Zygarde began to say, but Aria cut it off.

"B-but you have to help us! We're trying to stop those guys! We spent so much time and effort to reform you! We need your help, Zygarde! You're one of the only Pokémon left who can possibly stand up to Perfect Kyurem! Please!" Aria pleaded with the canine, who took a few moments to stare at her before sighing.

"No. We will not allow ourselves to be a pawn in a war amongst humans. Especially not at this juncture and without more information. We are only at 10% of our true form. However...We will offer you an ultimatum." Zygarde said quietly, sitting on its haunches after a few moments.

"And...and that is?" Sun asked, attracting the canine's attention.

"Somewhere on this island is someone who is aware of our presence. They, however, are resisting our call to action. They are resisting their fate. Their destiny to walk alongside us and help right the wrongs of this world. If you were to convince this person to take a stand against your enemies, then we will happily join you." Zygarde said firmly, its eyes flickering green.

"Wait, you mean...You're waiting for a partner?" Lillie asked quietly. Zygarde nodded solemnly, raising to all fours.

"Yes. This human is strong and know what it means to command a being such as ourselves. We sense their resolve. It is exactly what we have been searching for. For a time, we have been aimless. Content to lurk within the earth. That time has come to an end. But we shall not walk the earth without a companion we are certain can bear our burden. We will fight...But only alongside someone who understands what it means to truly be alone, even in a world full of so much life." Zygarde said, its eyes flashing bright green as its entire body shuddered.

"Why can't we be one of people to lead you? I...I thought…" Sun trailed off, absolutely confused.

"Because, child, there is only a few beings left that can fully control our power and not be trusted to abuse it. A child cannot control our strength at its greatest, when we have the power to make the world tremble. And while the older human female has talent, we sense that she's carries immense power already. We will not risk corrupting another human with even more power over what you refer to as Legendary Pokémon." Zygarde explained, growling softly. Sun realized he was referring to the Shadow Moltres and Shadow Articuno that were clipped to Aria's belt.

"Please Zygarde, reconsider!" Sina asked the Order Pokémon, who simply shook its head.

"We shall watch and wait for the one who has waited for destiny to seek them out. Until next we meet again, young ones." Zygarde growled as it turned its head and began padding away.

"W-wait, don't go! We need your help!" Aria called out as the strange canine. Zygarde glanced over its shoulder and stared at her for several moments.

"We will be watching."

And with that, Zygarde charged down the path at an alarming clip. Sun and Aria just stood there, holding their respective halves of the Zygarde Cube as a deafening silence filled the air.

"That'zz quite a speed on that doggie! I clocked it at 63 milezz per hour! Bzzt!" Rotom proclaimed as it leapt off of Sun's shoulder and floated above him.

"What...what just happened?" Sun asked as Sina and Dexio both exchanged confused looks, staring off at the departing form of Zygarde as it dashed into the darkness, leaving them all behind as the Festival continued on…


That wasn't what they were expecting, huh?

What will our heroes do now? What did Zygarde mean? The answer might not be too far off…

The song that the Fossil Man sung was the arrangement "Deltarune the (not) Musical - Lantern (Seam's Theme)" by Man on the Internet. It's a fantastic little song based on a very interesting character that I felt connected a lot with the Fossil Man. I really reccommend giving it a listen.

Q & A

From: SolanaLeonhart

Very nice, I've been looking forward to this festival coming up since you mentioned it. It's especially good timing after that big battle and I really like Lillie's outfit. This story is great.

One thing, I'm sure you've been asked this before but I gotta say it, what the heck is up with this Anomaly? It's even more bizarre than before…

Let's just say things are gonna get more weird before they start making since. (Cryptic response is cryptic)

From: Oragonking

What is the cause for the Z-power of the Totem's to go corrupt? From what i've heard in the story, this has never happened in the past so what changed?

The Ultra Space becoming more active for one, but it should be explained later.

From: Oragonking

What is Dizz actually? It makes me think he's higher being in disguise while at the same time he's not. Will he create the miracle i've been talking with you about, or a disaster?

By the way, the last chapter shows what looked like authors talking to each other. That's the one that isn't part of the story.

And lastly, I liked Lillie's new look! I just wish if someone makes a drawing of it so everyone can see it! She must be very pretty then!

So that's what your talking about! Okay, so to explain, the scenes you've been referring to that don't seem like the actual story is basically a group chat the Trial Captains have with each other to communicate and/or socialize with each other. It was a fun little thing that I added for the sake of humor and for expanding on their interactions with each other because let's face it, after you've done their Trials they don't exactly have much else to do in the plot afterwards.

And as for your first question, that'll be explained soon enough. And it's gonna confuse the hell out of everyone except maybe one person, and even they have only an inkling of what's to come. I've had an interesting past few days to develop some major twists, especially in regards to Dizz.

From: Ulysses Quanta

Why do I get the feeling I'd know who the Anomaly is if I read your other stories?

Hi, I'm back, will try to keep up with the chapters if I can. Congrats on 1 million words!

...also, that's a giant hint as to who's next to join if I ever saw one.

Good to have you back! And thank you!

And that is a very interesting thing to suspect. Whether or not you're totally right is to be determined in the very near future.

From: Anasazi Darkmoon

Okay, what in the actual hell is Dizz? Is he some kind of eldritch abomination wrecking universes for shiggles? Or is he more like Q from Star Trek and just really enjoys fucking with people, but means well in the end?

Yes, kind of, and sometimes. It enjoys messing with the natural flow of things more than anything else.

That's all for now folks. I'm gonna pass the hell out and go to bed since I'm absolutely exhausted.

Please make sure to favorite and/or follow the story if you haven't already, and if you liked the chapter please make sure to review. As stated earlier, they really do help make the story a better experience and help motivate me like nothing else. Thanks for the support, as always.

Feel free to join my Discord and and chat about RS! PM me for the link!

Take care and stay awesome.

Until next time, FlygonNick out!