Pokémon Radiant Sun


This past week has been an emotional nightmare.

I wrote most of this chapter in three or four days, and while I won't go into the details, I was debating going on a brief hiatus to get my mind back on straight. But then I kinda got my shit together and hammered out a chapter and I feel like I can breathe again.

Thankfully, I'm slowly but surely getting myself on track life-wise and I'm hoping a month from now I'll be in a far better place physically, emotionally and mentally. But we'll see, as always.

Shoutout to the fabulous people who reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, Madame Rodoshe, Oragonking, Anonymouse, a new Guest reviewer known as Zephyrain, BraviaryScout, a new Guest reviewer known as Lyall, and a new reviewer known as Nate of the Fossils. You lot are truly the MVP's of the story and I thank you for your time and feedback.

Actually, as of late there's been an uptick in new reviewers and some of my older reviewers returning to drop some feedback on the story, and that's honestly so uplifting to me. Even though I'm incredibly proud of how far this story has come, I still have moments where I doubt myself and the storyline I've created.

Reviews and feedback are the lifeblood of any story on this site and I cannot thank you all enough for taking time to let me know what you thought of a chapter. Sometimes I'll get a review on a bad day and it'll give me the boost I need to power through and keep marching on.

Also, gonna give a shoutout to my buddy BraviaryScout who's restarted his "A Hui Hou Kākou" story just the other week. It's a fantastic Sun(Elio)/Lillie fic and a truly wonderful in-depth tale that brings Alola to life in ways that I've never seen before as a writer/reader. I cannot recommend the story enough to those who enjoy this story. Check it out!

Now then, we've got a Trial to get to.

Enjoy!


Chapter 126: Ghost Trial! An Abundance of Frights!


Many Years Ago…

Celadon City


"I'm worried about her, honey. Poor Amanda feels so...off, some days." Laura Aupuni said to her husband, sighing with relief as she sat down on the loveseat in the main living room beside Ashton. It had been a long day today, and she hadn't been feeling well lately. She wondered if she was pregnant. Either way, the head of Aupuni Industries gently wrapped his wife in a hug, causing her to smile softly in Ashton's embrace.

"I am too. She's been through some terrible ordeals. I'm hoping taking her under my wing will help her adjust." Ashton responded, sighing as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"What kind of ordeals has she gone through?" Laura asked, and Ashton hesitated.

"I really don't want to say, dear. It's pretty gruesome, and I don't want to tell anyone else unless Amanda okays it." Ashton replied, wincing slightly as he recalled the monstrous Hazel and what she had done to an innocent girl. Amanda Faerun, the woman who would become the infamous Amber Fontaine, was still emotionally crippled. Amanda may now be able to pretend she was a normal person, but she still felt nothing in the way of love or kindness.

"Is that why you had her take acting classes, like the ones you went to before we started dating?" Laura asked, curiosity in her voice.

"Yes. However instead of learning how to portray confidence in board room meetings, she's learning how to not act totally dead to everyone she encounters. She's adjusting a little more every day, but I fear she'll never recover from the hell she went through. I plan to let her stay here as my assistant for as long as she wants. She doesn't cause any trouble and she's fiercely loyal to me." Ashton responded, nodding as his wife smiled.

"You're a good person, Ash. Don't ever forget that." Laura said as she rested her head on her husband's shoulders.

"I appreciate the reminders, honey." Ashton said fondly, pulling Laura back and kissing her deeply on the lips, pulling her close. This would've continued for several more minutes had they not had a most unwelcome interruption.

"Sir!" Amanda came bursting into the room, her expression neutral at first, though it slipped into one of alarm upon seeing Laura was with the man who had saved her. "We've got a phone call from the Saffron City Police Department."

"What happened?" Ashton said as he got up, with Laura's face becoming one of concern.

"There's been a situation in Saffron City. Here." Amanda offered Ashton the phone, which he grabbed out of her hands.

Ashton answered the phone and his expression darkened, his eyes flickering to white before drifting to red. "Those bastards...What're the police doing? The League?...What do you mean they haven't come up with anything!?"

Laura's expression of concern grew worse, and Amanda explained the situation to her after being asked by Mrs. Aupuni.

Team Rocket had taken over the Silph Co. building in Saffron City, and was holding both the employees and the President hostage. Ashton visibly seethed in fury over the audacity of Team Rocket to do such a thing in broad daylight. What made matters worse was that the President of the company being held captive by Team Rocket was a good friend of his.

Not to mention the countless innocent employees that were in danger now. Ashton continued to find out more and more information through the phone, including the galling fact that the Pokémon League had not acted at all whatsoever. The police had surrounded the building, of course, but none could go inside due to fear of endangering the hostages.

The hostage situation would continue for most of the day, but during the night a miracle occurred. A rogue Trainer would infiltrate the building and not only manage to stop the head of Team Rocket, who was still an enigma to the authorities, but save the hostages as well. Ashton talked to the President of Silph Co. and visited the man in the hospital and received the full story. Ashton also made a point to visit the hostages who were admitted to the hospital as well (those who were roughed up by Team Rocket or in some cases, beaten brutally.)

However, as Ashton returned home and told his relieved wife that everyone would make a full recovery, his thoughts turned to other matters. Why had Team Rocket targeted Silph Co.? Who was the unknown leader of Team Rocket? And most importantly...

Why did an 11-year old boy have to save the day?


Present

Aether Paradise


"So what do have to say for yourself?" Lusamine said with surprising calm to the only other occupant in her office.

Julia Wicke sat uncomfortably in her chair, but refused to look away from the insane gaze of Lusamine. It had been over a week since Cipher had attacked the Aether Paradise, only to be driven off by Lusamine's overwhelming display of force.

Dawson's death via Ultra Wormhole served to be just enough to undermine Ashton's...No, Borlath's confidence in himself and retreat. Lusamine was simply grateful to be rid of the man. However, to Lusamine's frustration, Borlath couldn't leave well enough alone.

By some strange set of circumstances, Aether Foundation personnel managed to encounter Lillie roaming around Malie City at night, and had actually captured the girl...Before she was saved by Amber Fontaine, followed by Borlath himself appearing out of nowhere. Another team managed to track them down in the city, but they were soundly defeated by Borlath. Even without his old team at his disposal or factoring in the Legendaries loyal to him, Borlath was still a Champion-level battler, so that was a given in Lusamine's eyes.

Borlath had then apparently went and did what he arguably should have done years ago and murdered his parents, though naturally there were no witnesses that could have pinned the blame on Borlath. Needless to say, Lusamine was stressed and needed to figure things out. Which led her to this current conversation...

"I have to say that you killed my friend, ma'am. Killed him because he simply wanted you to realize the truth of your actions." Wicke said softly, her tone almost pleading. Lusamine had the audacity to chuckle with amusement at the comment. She allowed Wicke to sweat for a week before bringing the Assistant Branch Chief into her office and confronting her about what happened with Dawson.

"Your friend was a well-known mercenary and murderer, an Admin of Cipher and a blight on society. He was an enemy, and you allowed him to infiltrate our facility and compromise our mission." Lusamine said mildly, her eyes narrowing ever-so-slightly to show how truly displeased she was.

"I had no idea he was a member of Cipher until he flat-out told me just a few days ago, though I had my suspicions." Wicke remarked calmly, still looking Lusamine in the eye. "You say I let a Cipher spy into our midst? I say I made use of a valuable ally that you murdered before I was able to use him to figure out what Borlath was up to."

"My, my...How pragmatic of you." Lusamine purred, her eyes gleaming with barely concealed malice.

"Maybe so. But after everything Cipher has done, I refuse to take any chances. I may not agree with what you've done, ma'am, but I am still loyal to the Aether Foundation and your family." Wicke said sincerely, drawing herself up proudly. It was very convincing.

"Miss Wicke, however did you get so good at lying?" Lusamine wondered to herself. She debated having some of the APT members corner her in a hallway and ensure Julia met a tragic end, but decided against it. Wicke was an insignificant spanner in the grand scheme of things. Besides, once upon a time, they had been close friends.

"Very well, Miss Wicke. I'm a forgiving woman and your rationale was sound, even if you got too close to a Cipher Admin for my liking." Lusamine remarked, smirking after a moment. "He was very fond of you as well, from what Faba tells me. Were you two seeing each other?"

Wicke's eyes narrowed at the accusation, a touch of annoyance in her voice now. "Ma'am, it's rude to speak ill of the dead. Also, I am a professional. I haven't dated since we began our association."

Lusamine's smile widened at Wicke's annoyed response, with the President of the Aether Foundation leaning back in her chair with exaggerated slowness. "True. Hmm...Wicke, how do you feel about taking a vacation?"

"V-vacation, ma'am?" Wicke asked, confused.

"Of course. Not for too long, maybe a few weeks at one of those resorts in mainland Alola. Maybe go home to spend some time with your family. I think taking some time to get your head on straight and for me to calm down from recent events." Lusamine's voice took on a harder edge, but only for the briefest of moments. "Perhaps that will allow us to start anew and focus properly on our goals."

"Perhaps you're right, ma'am." Wicke conceded after thinking it over for a few moments. The two women discussed other managerial matters for a few more minutes before Wicke bowed and departed the office. Lusamine was slightly proud of herself for not murdering her friend in cold blood, just as Wicke was proud of keeping her cool in the face of danger.

However, now that Wicke was dealt with...Lusamine reached into a small drawer at her desk and pulled out a plain cell phone, regarding it for a moment with a soft frown before sighing. She opened her contacts and selected the only number within it, pressing the button. It rang twice before Lusamine spoke.

"Guzma." Lusamine uttered into the phone, causing the man on the other hand to gasp softly.

"Y-yeah, Madam Prez? What's up? You need Guzma to beat down some fools?" the Boss of Team Skull asked, his tone eager. Expectant. He knew that Lusamine contacted him whenever she needed help with things that Aether couldn't do. Without looking shady, of course. Thankfully Guzma was plenty shady and more than willing to do her bidding in exchange for the promise of power and some reassurances.

"Perhaps. You mentioned the other day that my wayward son departed Team Skull. Recent events have made me concerned for his safety, as well as my dear Lillie's well-being. Could you be a dear and send some of your Grunts to track him down?" Lusamine asked sweetly over the phone, knowing full-well the man would say yes. Lusamine had him wrapped around her finger.

"Gladion, eh? Yeah, I can send some of the boys to bring him in. Don't you worry 'bout a thing." Guzma said with his usual air of confidence.

"Excellent. Thank you, Guzma. As always, you're always so reliable." Lusamine crooned, her smile twisting into something far more sinister. "And if you or any of your little friends happens across my darling little Lillie, ensure she learns a lesson in disobedience before you drop her off to me, okay?"

"No worries, Prez. Team Skull knows how to rough up fools, but not too badly. Just enough for them to learn a lesson in respect, yeah?" Guzma remarked, chuckling darkly. Lusamine couldn't help a giggle herself.

"Faba is reviewing the information you helped acquire from that Aether Base, as well as his own findings after our investigation. Be prepared to visit the Paradise in the next few days. Depending on how Borlath acts, we may have to put him down ourselves." Lusamine mused aloud, shutting her eyes. To her relief, there was only the slightest bit of remorse she felt in her words. But Lusamine wasn't the person she used to be, and neither was Borlath.

"Of course. Just keep me posted. Now, if you will excuse me, my lady...I've got some work to do." Guzma said in what might have been a charming manner but sounded extremely cheesy. Lusamine laughed lightly anyway, knowing that Guzma would appreciate the gesture.

"Of course, Guzma. Go and take care of business in the only way that Team Skull does." Lusamine said before hanging up the phone, her smile fading away as she held her head in her hands. A shaky sigh escaped the Aether President as she shut her eyes.

"Soon, my lovely beasts...soon." Lusamine whispered, even as the pressure in her head increased, giving her a mild headache. Her darling Ultra Beasts began to plead for her to save them, and it broke Lusamine's heart not to be able to do just that. Lusamine cursed Lillie and Gladion for breaking her heart and ruining her plan, and promised herself she'd make them suffer.

Lusamine was so distracted by the voice of the Ultra Beasts that she didn't hear the light footsteps retreating from her office door, the owner of which having heard every word she had spoken to Guzma.


Meanwhile…

Alola Route 15


Oliver sighed, adjusting his wings ever-so-slightly over the ocean breeze that drifted past him. The salt on the air, the water below, and the chirps from his fellow birds out in the distance made days like this very nice indeed. Though, the Toucannon flying alongside him certainly helped.

"You seem troubled. Are you...sure you're okay?" Penny asked, soaring closer to Oliver as the bird shut his eyes. He didn't want to see the look of worry on her face. She had been his closest friend for a long time now, and he didn't want her to see him like this.

"No. Losing to Cascade the other day...It's a testament to my failures as of late. How far I've fallen." Oliver responded, bitterness in his voice. "What's wrong with me...I don't get it."

"It doesn't matter what's wrong with you. We'll get you through this. We're a team. No, more than a team. A pack. A family of sorts." Penny said soothingly, her voice gentle as Oliver opened his eyes.

"And I was the first. I'm Sun's Partner. I should be the most reliable one amongst us, but I've let Sun down more than any other. The Kahuna battle. The Ultra Beast. The Totem Bug. Roran...Especially with Roran." Oliver's voice broke then, and Penny completely understood his distress. Watching Sun's life end right before their eyes was something Penny would never forget. But Penny also knew that Oliver's connection to Sun was on a different level than her own, even though they had been with Sun for nearly the same amount of time.

Sun had chosen Oliver.

The journey that all of them had become a part of began with a Trainer and his unruly Rowlet. The Dartrix had even explained to Penny how much being chosen by Sun mattered to him, after an entire lifetime of being ignored by other Trainers and treated with scorn by Kahuna Hala and Professor Kukui. Oliver had admitted that he definitely acted out, and that it hadn't helped his case, but it still had an effect on him. It was why he took protecting Sun so seriously.

"But now...Now I can't do anything right! What good am I? I can't even seem to evolve!" Oliver screeched, his frustration mounting.

Penny remained silent at that, unsure of what to say. Oliver had never been the same since Aether Paradise. Her Trainer was convinced it was a reaction to the poison commanded by the Ultra Beast, and Penny agreed with that assessment. It was also strange the bird hadn't evolved yet, which made Cassy's recent evolution a massive slap to the face for the Dartrix. The fact that Oliver was having serious confidence issues was not helping things out all, nor was Alastor being a complete jerk.

"Even if I do understand his anger, that doesn't excuse it." Penny thought, narrowing her eyes slightly as she remembered how the Alolan Graveler attacked her friend. She snapped out of her anger a few moments later, returning to the present and situation at hand. Oliver was simply soaring listlessly, trapped in his own thoughts. A dangerous pastime at best.

"Then believe in me, Oliver. You're going through a rough patch, and will only fly higher at the end of this. You trust me, right?" Penny asked the Dartrix, who finally looked at her with some surprise in his eyes. As if Oliver couldn't believe that his closest friend would still be willing to support him.

"Of course I trust you. More than any other Pokémon I know." Oliver replied immediately, causing Penny to nod as she considered her next words carefully.

"Then trust me when I say that your time will come. Have faith, my friend. Faith in yourself. Faith in your Trainer, who has never once not believed in his Pokémon. Have faith in me, and that I'll always soar alongside you." Penny said to Oliver, who looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to the Toucannon. Penny was smiling at him as much as her fully-evolved form would allow her to. There was nothing but warmth and kindness in her eyes.

"Thank you, Penny. I can't...I can't tell you how much your support means to me right now. My instincts are rebelling. My heart yearns to tear and crush everything in the ways of the wild. My heart is...unsure. But knowing I still have you beside me is reassuring." Oliver said slowly, smiling slightly as Penny laughed beside him. She felt a warmth spread throughout her body at her friend's words, bringing a strange sense of happiness and satisfaction with it.

"Good. That's what friends are for, you idiot. Now, onto other topics, do you see that down below?" Penny asked, gesturing with her beak. Oliver's eyes snapped to the direction she was pointing and he noticed what she had been talking about. A vaguely familiar man was walking down the road towards the Aether House, an Absol beside him.

"Let's go talk to Sun. Warn him, just in case." Oliver said as he flapped his wings hard and rushed back towards the beach alongside Penny. He spotted Alastor napping in the warm sands on the beach and Finn swimming laps around the area, warming up for their Trial later on in the day. Meanwhile, Brago was napping on the beach behind Sun and Lillie, who were sitting on a beach blanket while discussing a large book they were reading together. Rotom Dex was hovering over their shoulders for some reason. As much as Oliver didn't like intruding on Sun's time with his mate, this could be important, so he flew close enough to hear them talking.

"So I was thinking that I could just stall him out. Penny has Supersonic, Finn has Hypnosis and I think Alastor might be able to pull off a Paralysis." Sun said to Lillie as she nodded in agreement. The girl pressed herself against Sun as she pointed down at something in the book. Oliver and Penny could see that the boy was now flushed in his face and Lillie hadn't noticed that she was invading Sun's personal space. They also both knew that Sun didn't mind this one bit.

"According to Professor Kukui, it's a strategy many top-level Trainers use, though it's certainly a risky one." Lillie responded, her voice carrying a note of worry. "Setting up Sunny Day will only make him stronger, even if it's central to the plan. I know we're planning for the worst case scenario, Sun, but-"

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think we've got company." Oliver hooted, landing on the towel that Sun and Lillie had been sitting on. "The man with the weird hair is coming this way."

"...Gonna have to be a lot more specific." Sun said to the owl, who rolled his eyes. Lillie took that moment to place a bookmark within the large book she had brought with her, before putting it in her bag.

"The one who smiles a lot. Strong. Wears what you humans call a coat, I believe." Oliver corrected himself, which made more sense to Sun and Lillie. Within moments, the identity of the man that was drawing closer to their location became apparent.

"Doctor Colress? We haven't seen him in quite some time." Lillie noted as Sun and Hau (who had been building a sandcastle with the kids and Acerola nearby) walked over to the enigmatic scientist, who was approaching with his Absol, Dusk. He reached the facility with his usual smile on his face and walked down the path to greet them on the beach.

"Hello there." Colress said cheerfully to everyone, clapping his hands together as he walked forward.

"General Kenobi!" Rotom Dex responded suddenly, earning a round of confused looks from everyone present. "Bzzzt! You people have no taste!"

"Right. Anyway, I got an update on recent events from Aria and her friends and came to give you all an update of my own." Colress said to the younger Trainers and Lillie.

"What kind of update?" Hau asked, curious.

"We have officially completed the Purification Chamber at Aether Paradise and are ready to properly field test it. Calibration was rather tricky, and recent events have diverted our attention to make things take longer, but we're ready to test on an actual Shadow Pokémon. Aria will be coming over to Aether Paradise later today." Colress said to the children, receiving excited smiles all around.

"That's fantastic news! We can start helping all of those poor Pokémon." Lillie said happily, clapping her hands together.

"Indeed. The Aether Foundation is also continuing to sort through what they've come across at the Cipher Base, though progress is of course slow. President Lusamine wishes to be thorough, and has assured me that she'll be keeping everyone in the loop if they find anything dangerous." Colress said, glancing at Lillie for a few moments before he opened his mouth to speak. He was interrupted by a nearby rumble of thunder and a raindrop hitting him on the nose.

"Aww, it's raining again!" Kylee groaned as she grabbed Hunter's hand and began to drag the boy inside the Aether House to get rain gear while Acerola nodded in approval. The Ghost Trial Captain pulled out a black umbrella with Gastly's making silly faces on it and opened it. Lillie did something similar with a white parasol. Colress simply tapped a few buttons on his keyboard-arm-thing and a blue field of energy erupted around him, causing the rain to simply part around him.

"Showoff." Hau remarked as he walked over to his backpack and pulled on a poncho. Sun scowled, crossing his arms.

"Whelp, I guess I'm glad I'm wearing a bathing suit. I don't have a spare umbrella since, you know, my old one got destroyed." Sun glared at Alastor, who glared right back at him as he and Brago made their way towards the party. Lillie began to rummage around in her bag, allowing Nebby to leap out of it with a happy cry.

Colress chuckled as he held out a hand and the Cosmog nuzzled it happily. Lillie rolled her eyes fondly at her Pokémon's antics before pulling out a travel-sized umbrella and handing it to Sun, who regarded it warily. While he was grateful that Lillie had given him an umbrella to use, he was less than pleased about the color.

"Is pink the only color you have?" Sun asked, trying not to sound disappointed. Lillie stuck her tongue out at Sun as he opened the umbrella, not quite willing to turn it down at the risk of upsetting Lillie.

"Are you all aware that an Absol over there is preparing to lunge at you?" Dusk asked all of a sudden, pointing a claw towards a tree about a hundred meters away. Everyone turned around and looked in that direction just in time to see the other Disaster Pokémon leap away.

"That's odd." Sun remarked, scratching his head. "I never would have noticed. I wonder if that was the Absol we battled the other day?"

"Absol are known to visit humans in times of disaster. It's rather appropriate." Colress remarked as he patted Dusk on the head. "Dusk has kept me abreast of disasters striking the Alola region. The fact that we've managed to avert so many as of late is nothing short of remarkable."

"Considering what my Dad is trying to achieve, maybe it really is a bad omen." Sun remarked, shivering slightly as he considered the situation. Lillie placed a comforting hand on Sun's shoulder, her expression sympathetic. Even if Borlath had done unspeakable things in the name of peace, Sun still loved his father.

It had been three days since Borlath had briefly kidnapped Lillie and murdered his parents, with Amber Fontaine entrusting the girl with the knowledge of Borlath's plans and asking her to help stop the man who had truly descended into the depths of his own madness.

The Kahunas and Captains were now preparing to organize some kind of defenses for the two Tapu that remained, Tapu Bulu and Tapu Koko, though the former of the two was far more difficult than it seemed. Tapu Bulu and the Ruins of Abundance resided within the Haina Desert, as opposed to Tapu Koko who's Ruins of Conflict were a mere half-hour's walk away from Iki Town. Meanwhile Aria and her group were preparing themselves for a showdown with Borlath's forces, almost expecting some kind of attack to come any day now.

However, Lillie and Sun were the most deeply affected by the recent events. Lillie was troubled by learning that her mother had murdered someone while Sun was worried about his father's mental state.

While it was a good sign that Borlath had protected Lillie from whoever had tried to kidnap her (Lillie refused to tell him) and even took time to calm her down in the midst of an anxiety attack, he was still incredibly dangerous and had murdered his parents in cold blood that same evening. Even worse was the information Lillie had learned from Ano Aupuni about why he had abused his son so horribly, as well as Lillie's concerned suspicion that Ano's true crimes against his own child were discussed after she had been escorted away from the home.

"You really were trying to protect us, all those years. Alola wasn't safe for either me or Mom with Ano Aupuni around." Sun had said aloud when he was told this, rubbing his neck as if remembering the phantom pain of Ano Aupuni strangling him.

"Perhaps. I believe we'll be able to stop Borlath in time, with some luck. I'm rather grateful in this instance that I'm literally incapable of not being worried." Colress remarked with a casual shrug, reaching into his coat. "Truthfully, the main reason I wanted to come by and visit was to offer Lillie a gift."

"A gift?" Lillie asked curiously. In response Colress pulled out a collar that all of them recognized as a TACV, the translator collars that Sun had all of his Pokémon using to communicate with him.

"In the past few months, I've been able to market these in the other regions, all the while improving on the design. And I believe I've finally nailed down a version of the TACV that's strong enough to work on Nebby." Colress said as he tapped the collar several times, shrinking it down in size to where it could fit on the Cosmog before handing it to Lillie. "I'd like to give this to you, Lillie, as thanks for trusting me with all that you have."

Lillie nodded mutely, speechless at being given such a gift, before walking over to Nebby. Sun watched all the while as Lillie struggled to fit the collar on Nebby, with the device beeping audibly as it attached to the creature.

"What is this? It feels weird, Momma!" a rather childish boy voice cried out from Nebby instead of his trademark "Pew!" sound, and Lillie's eyes went wide. Doctor Colress had indeed found a way to translate Cosmog's speech in a way that allowed her to understand her precious Pokémon. Lillie also registered what Nebby had called her, and her eyes teared up as she realized that her Pokémon thought of Lillie as his mother.

"Nebby, I can understand you!" Lillie cried out happily, hugging her Pokémon tightly. Nebby looked noticeably confused at that, though it seemed to understand what Lillie was saying because it's expression became one similar to hers.

"You can understand me? Really?" Nebby asked, wriggling within heis caretaker's arms. Lillie nodded as she released Nebby, who promptly flew around all of them, taking a moment to nuzzle Lillie's face as she let out a laugh.

"Yay! Yay! I can talk to everyone!" Nebby cried out as he zoomed around the area, his joy audible through his newfound 'voice' as everyone watched on with smiles. Even Alastor couldn't manage a frown while watching the little Pokémon fly around happily. Nebby flew into Sun's arms, allowing Sun to hug the small Pokémon. Nebby rubbed his face against the boy's neck and looked up at Sun with a hopeful expression.

"Can you understand me now too, Papa?" Nebby asked, causing Sun to blink several times in confusion before he processed what Nebby had called him.

"Awwww! He thinks you two are his mommy and daddy." Acerola gushed as Lillie and Sun exchanged looks, a blush rising to both of their faces. Nebby wriggled out of Sun's arms and laughed giddily as he flew around all of them, excited at the possibility of being able to talk to the humans that had been so kind to him and his 'Momma'.

Nebby flew over to Oliver and rubbed against his side, calling out, "Big Bro, look! They can understand me now! I've always wanted to be able to talk to them and now I can! It's so great!"

"See, I told you they'd figure out something eventually. You just have to be patient." Oliver said warmly to the Cosmog as it nuzzled Oliver for a moment before soaring into the air.

"That's right, Big Bro! You were right! Hahaha!" Nebby cried out, flailing happily above Oliver as the Dartrix watched on with a pleased expression. Sun blinked once more in surprise at Nebby's comment, however.

"'Big Bro?'" Sun said with a growing smile. Oliver looked away, embarrassed, while Penny and Finn laughed beside him. Lillie started bouncing up and down, grinning ear-to-ear now with excitement.

"Well, isn't this the most wholesome thing ever?" Acerola said as Nebby soared away from Oliver and flew around and around Lillie.

"Nebby has been calling Oliver that for a few days now. The little one has taken a shine to him, and looks up to Oliver like he does those two. We're all one big family to the little one." Penny remarked as Lillie hugged her Cosmog again, a massive smile of joy on her face.

"I love you, Nebby." Lillie whispered as she pressed her forehead against the Cosmog's face, earning a nuzzle in response.

"I love you too, Momma!" Nebby replied cheerfully, causing Lillie to properly start crying tears of joy. Sun walked over to the girl and wrapped an arm around her shoulder while Hunter and Kylee were trying to chat with Cosmog as well, which simply added to how adorable the whole scene was. Hau was simply taking discrete pictures on his phone, fully intent on sharing them with their other friends later.

Colress took that moment to turn to Sun, his smile never wavering. "Now then, I believe you have a Trial to get to, Sun?" Colress asked the Kanto-native, who nodded. Acerola would be leaving with him in about a half hour from now. "Then I wish you the best of luck, my friend. I've got to check in on a few things, but I imagine you'll see me sooner rather than later."

After a few more minutes of chatting with the eccentric scientists, Colress and Dusk departed and Acerola and Sun got properly dressed for an Island Trial. Sun reviewed various strategies as he got ready before hugging Lillie, Nebby, and exchanging a fist-bump with Hau.

"Bye Sun!" Hunter, Kylee and Lillie waved to the other boy while Hau gave him a thumbs up. Sun waved to them as he and Acerola departed down the path. As he and Acerola chatted, Sun spotted the Absol from earlier eyeing him from quite some way up the mountain. Sun wondered if it was a sign of things to come.

Soon enough, after Sun had healed his team at the Pokémon Center and stocked up on healing items, he and Acerola made their way over to a dirt path that led to the beach.

"The old supermarket where I hold my Trial is right down this way. Down Route 14!" Acerola chirped before skipping off, ignoring both Sun and his bright pink umbrella. Sun sighed and made his way down the path carefully, not wanting to slip down the soaked dirt. Sun was surprised at how ominous the stormy beach was.

According to Hau, this section of Route 14 was almost famous for its distinct black sand and almost year-round rainy weather. Much like Po Town, it experienced thunderstorms and rainfall for most months of the year, and Sun was grateful for the umbrella he had as bands of rain smacked against him. The boy had called out Finn since he knew the Poliwrath would enjoy the weather, and he was not disappointed.

"WOOOO! I just did a flip!" Finn cheered as he popped out of the waves after jumping out of the water and doing a backflip through the air. Sun smiled at the display, thankful that Finn had so much energy. That really was what he brought to the team, and Sun was grateful for the Poliwrath's endless enthusiasm.

"Not bad. I'll give it an eight out of ten!" Sun called to the Poliwrath, wincing as the storm's wind whipped against him. Sun was really glad he didn't wear glasses. That would really suck.

"Is that a good score?" Finn asked as he effortlessly walked through the water and onto the black sands once more.

"Yes."

"WOOOOOO!" Finn cheered, immediately running out back into the waves as Sun chuckled at his antics. Sun made small talk with the few fishermen out on the beach as well, and even got into the never-ending debate on whether waffles were better than pancakes. Based on his conversations, Sun still didn't have a concrete answer. Perhaps the world would never know.

Opinions in the review section, please!

"Here we are! Climb up these steps and my Trial begins!" Acerola said merrily as Sun finally reached the young woman. Sun tried to speak, but the Captain decided to ignore Sun and his very pink umbrella and scampered up the steps, causing Sun to shrug his shoulders and continue his trek towards his next objective. Thankfully, she did wait for Sun halfway up the steps, allowing the boy to catch up to her. The two Trainers reached the top of the steps, and a vaguely familiar building was soon standing in front of them both.

"The time has finally come, Sun!" Acerola said merrily, even as a rumble of thunder in the distance made Sun flinch. Acerola smirked, crossing her arms. "So I guess I should explain what kind of Trial this is, huh?"

"That'd actually be really helpful. Thanks."

"Sassy...This old building is full of lots of Ghost-type Pokémon. Did you know?" Acerola asked Sun, who shook his head, even though he suspected that was the case. Acerola explained the history of the Trial Site. A location known these days as the Abandoned Site, but was once upon a time a Thrifty Megamart.

The Thrifty Megamart in Royal Avenue was, in actuality, the second one built. Several years ago, the owner of the store had bought and constructed a store on Route 14 due to the lack of civilization in this section of Alola, making it a prime location for travelers and those who lived out on the route to go to for goods.

It didn't last a week before Tapu Bulu descended upon Route 14 and destroyed the area, cursing it with its powers. Little did anyone know that the site was once one of the original locations that Tapu Bulu had battled with the Ultra Beasts of old. By building upon a place that Tapu Bulu had deemed sacred to it, the owner of the Thrifty Megamart had invited its vengeance upon the property and forced the owner to relocate his business.

The store had become abandoned as a result of Tapu Bulu's anger, but oddly enough, the site had become a haven for Ghost-type Pokémon. And once Acerola had become Captain, she chose this location as an Island Trial location because of the very fact that it was sacred to Tapu Bulu.

Acerola had even gotten her hands on a Totem Pokémon that had gained a reputation for being particularly brutal to take down, at least according to what Hau had heard from Lana and Mallow. This Trial had a high rate of failures from challengers, and Team Skull especially despised this trek of the Island Challenge because of the strength of the Totem that dwelled within the Abandoned Site.

"Here's where the Trial part comes in. You've got to find the Totem Pokémon of this site and snap a shot of it with a Poké Finder!" Acerola explained, gesturing towards the rather creepy building. Sun wasn't exactly someone who was afraid of ghosts, but this sounded like it was going to be a test of courage more than anything else.

"The Totem is a bit of a trickster, and it likes to play hide-and-seek and mess around. If you take pictures of the other Ghost-type Pokémon inside, it'll definitely come out to get in on the fun and have its photo taken, too!" Acerola continued merrily, ignoring the uneasy look on Sun's face or the excited noises coming from Rotom Dex, who was peeking out of Sun's backpack.

"Thizzzz is gonna be a blast!" Rotom Dex cheered, vibrating now with sheer joy.

"I don't think it's gonna be like that one game Lillie showed me where you throw apples at Pokémon to take better pics of them. Especially since I don't really have any good counters for Ghost-type Pokémon." Sun remarked, crossing his arms as Acerola giggled.

"I think it'll be good for you. Real character building, you know?" Acerola said as she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet. "So, if you see something weird happening inside this old place, try to check it out. I bet you'll find a Ghost-type Pokémon causing the mischief, so get its photo before it's gone!"

"Got it." Sun nodded as Acerola walked over to him.

"I'll just borrow your Poké Finder for a sec." Acerola said as she grabbed Rotom Dex, who giggled along with Acerola as she fiddled with the device.

"Bzzzzzt! Yikes! Watch where you're touching! I need an adult!"

"I am an adult...Sort of. Almost. I'd get Uncle Nanu, but that'd require him to get out of bed and stop being such a lazy bum. Now sit still, you rascal." Acerola giggled as she continued to work. "And your Rotom is a Ghost-type, too! We just do this, and...There! I've set it up to use a special shooting mode just for this Trial."

"Oh wow, that's cool." Sun said with a small smile as he grabbed Rotom Dex back from the Trial Captain, looking over the device. A purple transmitter of some kind was attached to Rotom Dex's Poké Finder, a smiling ghost face emblazoned on it.

"You'll only be able to use it at this site, though." Acerola warned Sun, stepping back as she beamed at him. "As soon as you enter the building, your Trial will begin. Got it? And you can't catch any of the Pokémon, either. And you can't leave without giving up, too, so make sure you're ready for anything!"

"No worriezz, Sun! We've got thizzz!" Rotom cheered as Sun smiled back at his ghostly companion.

"Of course. We've been training hard for this. Let's give it everything we've got." Sun said as he walked towards the building in question. It looked even more sinister up close.

With a shaky breath, Sun walked over to the front doors and pushed them open, entering the haunted building and beginning his Trial.


Meanwhile...

Ruins of Abundance


"SO YOU'VE COME."

"Flamethrower!'

Tapu Bulu snorted in annoyance as the raging flames rushed towards it, with the Tapu retreating within its shield to block the attack from Damien as Borlath stood behind his Partner, his eyes burning with hatred and hurt and unrelenting rage. Borlath called out Creed and Puffy, who both stood beside Damien as the Houndoom let out a howl.

Their arrival at the Ruins of Abundance had not been a quiet one. Yes, it seemed as though the local Kahuna had stationed security around Haina Desert, and had several Pokémon on the lookout in the local area as well as Trial Guides and police officers.

Amber disposed of them with ease, and Borlath proceeded to confront the god that had turned its back on him. Tapu Bulu had been resting within its inner chambers, and had greeted its long lost champion, the one it had Chosen some years ago.

It wasn't surprised one bit when Borlath had immediately attacked him.

"I'M SORRY, MY CHILD...BUT WHAT COMES NEXT WILL HURT ME MORE THAN YOU. PLEASE FORGIVE ME." Tapu Bulu intoned as it floated into the air and emerged from its shield, with a pulse of green energy washing over the room and causing grass to grow within the chamber that they were in now.

"Get ready...Ice Beam! Toxic! Flamethrower!" Borlath shouted as the three Pokémon braced themselves and launched a wave of attacks. Tapu Bulu's eyes flickered green as its tail swished, throwing several large seeds towards the ground. The moment they made contact, a swath of massive trees suddenly took root and sprouted, becoming fully grown within moments. The attacks tore through the trees, with Damien's flames punching through them completely, but it was enough for Tapu Bulu to soar through the air and descend upon the trio of Pokémon.

Tapu Bulu let out a bellow of rage as it lunged at Damien with Megahorn, with the Houndoom blasting himself into the air with Flamethrower to dodge the move thanks to a swift command from Borlath. Creed blasted the Tapu with Toxic while Puffy fired off an Ice Beam. Tapu Bulu easily blocked both attacks by retreating into its shell and then swiftly moved forward, bashing Creed to the ground before opening its shell again.

"Puffy, use Protect!" Borlath shouted as Tapu Bulu charged forward with Wood Hammer, swinging its arms down right as Puffy called forth the shield. The Wigglytuff fell to its hands and knees, crying out at the sheer amount of effort it took to hold back the ridiculously powerful blows. "Creed use Toxic again! Damien, now!"

Tapu Bulu drifted to the right to dodge the Toxic, but was unable to dodge the Flamethrower that enveloped it from above, causing the Tapu to cry out as the super-effective attack struck it. Tapu Bulu retreated into its shell and soared upwards, crashing into a surprised Damien and sending him flying into the ceiling. As Damien bounced off of it with a yelp, Tapu Bulu emerged from its shell and charged up its hands, using Wood Hammer on Damien to send him back into the ceiling. Tapu Bulu's eyes flashed green and a mass of vines sprouted from the roof, completely covering the Houndoom. Within moments Damien was ensnared in a cocoon of vines.

"Dammit...Zorro! Puffy! Creed! Ice Beam and Sludge Bomb!" Borlath shouted as Zorro leapt out of his shadow and took aim, firing off an Ice Beam as his two comrades added their attacks to the onslaught heading towards Tapu Bulu. The God of Abundance sensed the attacks coming and swooped to the left, turning around to face those down below who posed much less of a challenge than the mighty Houndoom trapped above.

Tapu Bulu descended upon Borlath's team with a bellow of fury, even as Borlath swiftly commanded them to dodge the Horn Leech attack as the God of Abundance rushed past.

"Puffy, use Sing!" Borlath shouted as Tapu Bulu whirled around to attack again. The Tapu winced as a wave of song brushed past it, causing a familiar pall of exhaustion to creep into its weary bones. This allowed Creed to strike it with Acid Spray and Zorro to attack with Ice Beam, causing the Tapu to bellow in rage as it snapped out of its daze and release a shockwave of force across the sanctum and send all of them flying backwards.

Tapu Bulu raised both of its arms and summoned a Leafage, but one that was monumental in both size and strength, a maelstrom of leaves and wind that blasted Borlath to the ground and forced Puffy to hop forward with a Protect to keep Zorro and itself from getting knocked out. Creed, at Borlath's command, hit Tapu Bulu with a Shock Wave before getting struck by the attack and fainting.

The furious God of Abundance forced the wind to come to a stop and its eyes flashed green, causing a wave of vines to erupt from the ground and suddenly break through the barrier, ensnaring Zorro and Puffy and crushing them within the roots until they fainted.

"I WILL HURT YOU...AND THEN YOU WILL FIND RELEASE IN DEATH. I CANNOT MAKE UP FOR WHAT MY PREVIOUS CHOSEN DID TO YOU, MY CHILD. I ONLY HOPE ONE DAY YOU WILL FORGIVE US FOR OUR INACTION." Tapu Bulu intoned as Borlath staggered to his feet, his eyes bright red with hate.

"I won't die yet...Not when I can still fix this. Not when I can still make things right!" Borlath shouted, his eyes darting up towards the ceiling. Tapu Bulu's gaze followed his, and was surprised when a torrent of flames smashed into the God of Abundance from the ceiling. Tapu Bulu screamed as the flames scorched it, forcing it into the ground as Borlath ran forward, tossing out three Max Revives for his three fallen Pokémon.

Meanwhile, a massive Houndoom emerged from the cocoon of vines that had trapped him on the ceiling and leapt towards the ground, stopping his descent with a Flamethrower before growling softly at the Tapu. Damien crouched low to the ground, prepared to pounce.

"You won't hurt him. Not anymore." Damien said coldly, his eyes narrowing as Tapu Bulu rose from the ground, shaking in pain.

"I DON'T NEED TO. NOTHING I DO TO HIM COULD AMOUNT TO THE AMOUNT OF HURT HE CAUSES HIMSELF. WE ARE TO BLAME FOR SOME OF THIS, BUT NOT ALL." Tapu Bulu intoned, thrusting out its hands and firing off two Nature's Madness at once. Damien released a Fire Blast without being commanded, with the fiery attack connecting with the moves and creating a massive explosion of raw force that rocked the entire sanctum.

"Damien, Fire Fang!" Borlath barked as Damien lunged forward, his maw burning with flames as Tapu Bulu suddenly emerged from the smoke. Damien slammed into the Tapu with a defiant snarl, biting down hard and sinking his flaming teeth into the flesh of the ancient creature. Tapu Bulu bellowed in protest, but was thrown backwards by the strength of the hellhound as he twisted his neck. Tapu Bulu struck the ground twice before righting itself in midair, just in time to see Borlath step forward.

"Mega Evolve!" Borlath shouted as he thrust one hand forward while holding the other against his Mega Crown. Damien winced as the light burst out from his Houndoomite and the transformation took place, somehow still almost unbearable even after having done it many times. Damien nearly dropped to the ground, overwhelmed by the incredible rush of power flowing through him. He looked back and saw that Borlath had collapsed onto his knees, clutching his head with an agonized expression on his face.

"Something is wrong...This isn't supposed to be like this. The transformations are getting worse, for both him and me." Damien thought as Borlath slowly began to rise to his feet, a trickle of blood leaking down the side of his head. Damien's eyes widened in surprise, but he was snapped out of this by a cry from Tapu Bulu as it rang its tail bell, causing a wave of trees to sprout from the grass below.

The battered Tapu's eyes then glowed green, and Borlath and his team watched in awe as small motes of green light floated upwards from the trees and into the Tapu. Before their very eyes, the various injuries the God of Abundance had accumulated over the course of their battle healed before their eyes.

"It can command the very plants it creates, even using them as an energy source to fuel its own. I imagine it can heal and regenerate stamina like this. Clever." Borlath remarked, flashing his former God a smirk. "I'll enjoy this. Creed, Acid Spray!"

Creed leapt forward and released a purple spray of foul-smelling liquid that splashed against the skin of Tapu Bulu right before it managed to smack Creed with one arm and knock it out. It was then that Tapu Bulu's arms crackled with orange energy and it suddenly flung apart its arms, releasing a strange wave of energy that made the very air shimmer and twist…

Before every one of them vanished from the sanctum of the Ruins of Abundance, only to find themselves standing just outside of it as the sun blazed overhead.

"We're outside? How did it teleport us out of there?" Borlath questioned, glancing around at the sandy battlefield they now found themselves in, even as a wave of energy washed over the sand and grass suddenly sprouted around them. Tapu Bulu's body exploded with energy, a bright red aura of Z-Power billowing outwards as Tapu Bulu lowered its head.

"THIS IS ALL MY FAULT...SO I WILL END THIS." Tapu Bulu intoned as it suddenly rushed forward with Megahorn, smashing into both Zorro Puffy and knocking them both out instantly. Damien dodged the attack by leaping aside, firing off a Fire Blast that Tapu Bulu blocked by launching a Nature's Madness at the inferno, causing an explosion of force that knocked Borlath into the sand and made Damien grunt as he was forced backwards a step as smoke filled the clearing.

A roar of fury erupted from the smoke as Tapu Bulu emerged, flying at Damien and charging into the Houndoom, knocking him backwards into the sand before soaring into the air, thrusting out its hands and releasing a wave of raw force to further smash Damien into the sands. Tapu Bulu charged forward, its horns glowing bright green as it prepared to use Horn Leech.

Tapu Bulu was surprised, however, when a surge of flames struck it from behind. The God of Abundance cried out in surprise and pain before whirling around, snorting in anger as Borlath lowered a gauntlet-covered hand, which was now smoking slightly.

With his other hand, Borlath tossed a Max Revive at his Greninja, reviving it. Borlath tossed two Max Revives at the stirring Greninja, who Shadow Sneak'd off to do his Trainer's bidding.

"I SUPPOSE I WILL HAVE TO TEACH YOU A LESSON IN RESPECT BEFORE ENDING YOUR LIFE." Tapu Bulu snorted as it gathered energy from the grass above, causing the green to fade to brown and then black.

"In the end, it'll be the Tapu that learn their place...I'll save everyone. It's the only way I can make things right." Borlath responded quietly, stepping forward as the Tapu bristled with indignation. "By the way, you might want to look behind you."

Tapu Bulu's eyes widened just in time for a Fire Blast to explode against its back, filling the area with flames as the God of Abundance screamed in agony. This was worsened when a deluge of purple liquid splashed against the Tapu's skin while two Ice Beams struck it from opposite directions. Borlath grinned as his eyes gleamed with delight as he stepped forward, a flickering orb of raw energy forming within the palm of his other hand.

"Storing two moves right before coming here was such an excellent idea." Borlath thought before he slipped into his shadow, with Zorro pulling him out of the darkness behind a dune a short distance away from the battle as Creed, Damien and Puffy took turns battering away at the poisoned and charred Tapu. Despite the Tapu draining away life from the grass and trees it was growing around it, the damage was piling up. Whenever the Tapu would try to focus on one of its three assailants, the other two would team up to deliver an attack that forced it on the defense.

However, the God of Abundance refused to be cowed so easily.

"MOVE ASIDE!" Tapu Bulu roared, flaring open its shell and releasing a Whirlwind, blasting back Puffy, Zorro and Creed and sending them falling into the sands. Damien dug his burning claws deeper into the sand and endured the move and slowly began to move towards the God of Abundance, snarling as the winds continued to howl. Borlath shielded his face with his arms, anger flashing in his eyes.

Damien bounced forward, his strength allowing him to push through the winds as he used Fire Fang and jumped into the air, sinking his burning maw into the flesh of the Tapu and causing the wind to suddenly cut off as Tapu Bulu shrieked, drawing back a fist and punching Damien away.

The Houndoom crashed hard into the sand with an audible crack as part of his bone-like armor shattered from the sheer force of the blow. Tapu Bulu swayed in midair, purple liquid pouring from the bloody and burned wounds dealt to it, but the Tapu snorted and raised its head proudly.

"RISE, CHILD...RISE SO I MAY PUT YOU DOWN." Tapu Bulu intoned as Damien indeed rose back to his feet, a pained grin on the Houndoom's face.

"You can't stop me...No one can." Damien said with a shake of the head before firing off a Sludge Bomb at the Tapu, who released a Whirlwind to block the attack. Before Tapu Bulu could do anything else, Damien bounded forward swiftly, dodging two blasts of Nature's Madness before leaping into the air and unleashing an Overheat at Borlath's command. Tapu Bulu once again blocked by withdrawing into its shell, but several cracks appeared on the outside of the appendages of the Tapu as it endured the hellacious flames, and Borlath grinned with triumph.

Zorro used Shadow Sneak to transport Borlath to the battlefield, with the Cipher Master holding out his hand. Borlath grinned as he released the stored up Hyper Beam within his gauntlet right as Tapu Bulu opened its shell to face Damien, only to get hit by his Trainer instead. The attack struck the Tapu directly, blasting Tapu Bulu into the dunes and leaving a trail of destruction across the sands.

As the smoke eventually cleared, Tapu Bulu could be seen shaking in pain as it struggled to get up again. Borlath crossed his arms from across the sands, an annoyed expression on his face. "Is that it? I expected more from a god I was forced to pray to daily. Usually to keep my Father from beating me...Not that it actually stopped him."

"YOU FEEL FREE...KILLING YOUR FATHER HAS ONLY MADE YOUR HEART DARK. DARKER. YET DARKER STILL…" Tapu Bulu murmured as it siphoned more energy from the grass, allowing the battered Tapu to rise into the air again. Damien dashed at the Tapu, releasing a stream of flames at the God of Abundance as it flew through the air to dodge, seemingly doing nothing. As Damien leapt into the air yet again, Tapu Bulu floated lower to the ground, and Borlath's eyes went wide.

"Damien, go up! It's a trap!" Borlath shouted to his Partner, but it was too late. Tapu Bulu's glowing body briefly glowed a bright orange color, which Borlath realized was the move Superpower. A move that was super-effective against Damien, was immensely powerful, and was being used by a creature renowned for its incredible strength. Borlath watched on in horror as Tapu Bulu punched Damien in the chest with both fists as hard as it could, shattering even more of the reinforced bone armor that had encased the chest of the Mega Houndoom.

Damien was sent flying into the air by the super-effective attack, letting out a cry of pain. That cry became a high-pitched whine as Tapu Bulu flew right at the Mega Houndoom, its horns glowing brightly as they began to change. Soon they were three feet-long and sharpened to a deadly sharp point, making them perfect for impaling Damien in the chest.

"Damien!" Borlath screamed as Tapu Bulu floated there in the air, snorting as Damien hung there for several moments, unable to do more than choke on his own blood before Tapu Bulu whipped its head and threw Damien into the sand. The Mega Houndoom struck the ground with a soft thud, howling in pain and the crimson liquid seeping from its injuries. Tapu Bulu released a bellow of fury as Borlath clenched his fists, scowling in anger.

"You'll pay for that! Creed, Sludge Bomb! Puffy, Ice Beam!" Borlath roared as the two Pokémon rushed forward. Tapu Bulu thrust out its hands, only for a harsh blast of smoke to suddenly envelop the God of Abundance. Tapu Bulu looked around in confusion, only for the attacks to soar through the smoke and smash into it, sending the Tapu tumbling backwards through the air with a cry of surprise before a second Ice Beam from Zorro the Greninja struck the Tapu, freezing its tail solid.

"BEGONE!" Tapu Bulu snarled as its eyes flashed green, causing vines to suddenly wrap around Creed and Puffy, crushing them in a vice-like grip once again. Zorro leapt out of the way and hurled a wave of Water Shuriken at the Tapu as it relentlessly sent waves of attacks after the Greninja. Zorro was swift and able to dodge them all, but the Tapu was now enraged and soon its vengeance would be realized. Borlath knew that if even one attack struck Zorro, it'd likely be a killing blow.

"You're going to pay for that."

Tapu Bulu screamed as an explosion of flames engulfed its body, blasting it out of the air and sending it crashing down onto the ground. The Tapu rose into the air with a huff, wincing in pain as Damien lunged at it, sinking a Fire Fang into the Tapu before hurling it backwards with a shake of his head. The canine landed on the ground, four large charred and bloody holes within his bone-like armor that had been sealed shut and cauterized by the immense heat pouring off of the Mega-Evolved Houndoom.

"You deserve this hurt...You Tapu are supposed to be our protectors. Our guardians. Where were you when Roran destroyed Malie City!? Hours too late, and I still had to stop him myself anyway!" Borlath shouted as Damien growled in agreement. "Overheat!"

Damien howled as he charged up a massive glowing fireball within his maw that he launched at the Tapu as it got back up, blasting it backwards as it screamed in agony and hellfire filled the clearing and turned the surrounding sand into glass. Borlath watched as the grass on the ground swiftly turned black and died before his very eyes, with the vines that had ensnared Creed and Puffy withering away and releasing the two unconscious Pokémon and dropping them onto the ground. The Cipher Master grinned with delight as his eyes flickered to white, black and red.

"Where were you when we fought to bring down Roran? When that monster ate a man, that I considered my brother, alive right in front of me?! When I h-held one of my best friends in my arms as she d-died...Where were you, oh Tapu, when Roran was destroying the very islands you swore to protect?" Borlath asked mockingly, contempt and loathing dripping from his voice. "You were simply slumbering away within your Ruins."

"WE...DID FAIL YOU." Tapu Bulu wheezed as it struggled to get up from the spot it had fallen. "THIS IS NOT...HOW YOU FIND PEACE, MY CHILD. YOUR SACRIFICE WILL ONLY HURT MORE PEOPLE. INCLUDING THOSE WHO STILL CARE FOR YOU."

"You don't get to lecture me about sacrifices. I've given up everything for the sake of peace. While the Tapu are worshipped for the nothing that they contribute to these islands, everyone else suffers!" Borlath shouted at the God of Abundance. "You can't protect any of us. You never could. That's why you hide!"

"NO, MY CHILD...YOU WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND." Tapu Bulu said, almost pleadingly to the furious man who had come for it. Those very familiar eyes glared at him in a manner that almost made the Tapu nostalgic, if it weren't for the immense pain it was in. "GIVING UP YOUR SOUL...A SIMPLE WISH WON'T END YOUR PAIN."

"I don't think so. After everything I've lost, everything I've gone through...I want release. And you damnedable Tapu will give me exactly what I deserve. What this world deserves." Borlath said as he thrust out his hands, a dark grin leaping to his face. "I will protect everyone, even if it costs me what little I have left. Flamethrower!"

Damien roared as a jet of white-hot flames shot forward, hitting Tapu Bulu directly and scorching the Tapu further. The entirety of the Ruins of Abundance shook with the force of the shout from the Guardian Deity, even as it collapsed onto the ground with a faint groan.

"THINK OF YOUR CHILD...WOULD HE WANT THIS?" Tapu Bulu asked Borlath, who's eyes deepened to crimson as Zorro backed away from his Trainer, his hatred of the God of Abundance almost palpable.

"Leave Sun out of this!" Borlath snarled almost beastialy, stepping forward as Damien looked at him with a concerned expression on his face. "He made his choices! Just like I made mine!"

"YOU...WILL NOT SUCCEED MY CHILD. ONLY TRAGEDY...WILL...FOLLOW."

"Then so be it! If the world has to suffer just a little more before the end, then damn them all! Flamethrower!" Borlath shouted again as Damien released another blast of flames, striking the weakly stirring Tapu Bulu. The Guardian Deity of Ula'ula Island cried out as the flames scorched its already battered body but didn't move this time, and Borlath grinned wider.

"Again!" Borlath shouted, though this time Damien looked back at him with a sharp glare.

"That's enough! You weren't this gung-ho about tormenting the other Tapu. It's beaten. So just capture it already." Damien scolded his Trainer, who narrowed his eyes at the canine. After a few moments Borlath sighed and pulled out his Master Ball, chucking it at Tapu Bulu and striking it in the head with the ball, which sucked in the Tapu.

1...2...3...Click.

Borlath allowed himself a chuckle as he walked forward, scooping up the fallen Master Ball out of the sand and brushing off the small grains that clung to it. Damien reverted back to his normal form, shaking as he blinked away the daze and the pain that had come with the transformation. Borlath swayed on his feet, clutching his head as he fell to one knee. His hand brushed against the Mega Crown, which he was surprised was now chipped on its left side. Borlath wondered about this for a moment before shaking his head. He'd investigate further once he had a moment of rest.

"One more to go...We'll take a few days to prepare for the end." Borlath mused, reaching down into his shirt as Damien looked up at his Trainer with concern in his eyes. Amber teleported into the clearing with Avis, eyeing the destruction of the area up close.

"Where are we doing this ritual once we've defeated Tapu Koko?" Amber asked Borlath as he returned the exhausted Damien, rubbing his forehead as if to stave off a migraine.

"I can perform it onboard the Absolution, though it will require us to at least stay close to one of the islands. We can simply drop anchor in Hau'oli Bay and lock down the city to ensure no one interferes." Borlath responded tiredly, brushing his hands against Deoxys' pendant. The DNA Pokémon teleported to their location and took them away from the Ruins, just as another sandstorm began to brew.


Meanwhile…

Thrifty Megamart (Abandoned Site)


"How the heck is this place even more creepy on the inside?" Sun demanded, trying to ignore the creepy music that Rotom Dex was currently playing in his ear while lurking over Sun's shoulder.

The inside of the Thrifty Megamart was something out of one of those cheesy apocalypse movies that his Mom had made him watch once. Boxes thrown haphazardly around, display shelves turned over and a thick layer of dust covering everything in sight. Rainwater had seeped into the parts of the dark building, illuminated only by flashlight that Sun had aimed slowly around the area.

"Bzzzt...Afraid of ghosts, pal?" Rotom Dex sked cheekily, earning a glare from Sun.

"Don't make me throw you in the microwave to see what happens to you." Sun threatened the device, who would have gone pale if it wasn't a floating hunk of ghostly nonsense.

"Bzzzt! Okay, okay! I'll behave!" Rotom shrieked, diving back into Sun's backpack as he considered the next course of action.

"Now, what Pokémon do I want to use here? Brago might be good, but I want to save him and Penny for later since they're really the only ones who can actually kind of handle Ghosts. Hmmm...I guess I'll go with Alastor. I need to use him more anyway." Sun decided, drawing the Ultra Ball that contained the surly Alolan Graveler and calling him out. Alastor appeared in a flash of light, looking at Sun with a scowl.

His expression then became something more strange, as he took in the environment that they were now in. Sun was surprised by how taken aback the Alolan Graveler looked to be inside of the Thrifty Megamart and the darkness that had enveloped them.

"Where...where are we?" Alastor hissed, electricity crackling alongside his fingers.

"The site of my next Trial on my Island Challenge. I have to find the Totem Pokémon of this area and defeat it. I figured you'd be a good choice for this part of the Trial." Sun explained as Alastor looked around the area with an expression that actually made Sun feel a little better about being in the spooky place. He wasn't sure why that was.

"I...Know of the Totems. It'd be an honor to defeat such a mighty foe. Especially to showcase my strength and superiority further." Alastor said haughtily before something crashed down onto the floor from a shelf nearby, causing Sun to jump and Alastor to let out a yelp of surprise and whirl around, throwing a rock at the shelf and knocking the entire thing to the floor. The sound made from the shelf falling over was loud enough to echo throughout the entirety of the building, causing both Sun and Alastor to flinch.

"Okay, so how about we don't do things that make the ghosts mad, okay?" Sun asked Alastor in an annoyed voice, causing his newest teammate to glare at him.

"You're the one that dragged me into this mess! Agh, I can't stand places like this. Little visibility and hardly any room to maneuver. Grrr!" Alastor grumbled as he and Sun began to move through the store.

"Well, if you see anything weird, let me know. I need to get a picture of the Totem Pokémon. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can leave." Sun said to Alastor, who rolled his eyes in response.

All of a sudden, the conveyor belt at one of the check-out counters began to move on its own, causing Sun to gasp and surprisingly, caused Alastor to yell out. The Alolan Graveler threw a Thundershock randomly in the direction of the noise, but the attack struck a wall and dissipated.

"Bzzzt. Jumpy much?" Rotom quipped as Alastor glared at the device, not meeting Sun's questioning gaze.

"I don't like this place…" Alastor muttered, eyeing the moving conveyor belt with wide eyes. Sun slowly walked over to the conveyor belt in question, shuddering as a chill crept into him. He decided to fire up the Poké Finder and see what was going on.

Sun aimed the Rotom Dex upwards, looking through the device to spot a Gastly floating a few feet in the air nearby, laughing silently at Alastor who was warily eyeing the conveyor belt. He took a quick picture of the Ghost/Poison-type, the sound of the camera going off unfortunately being quite loud in the abandoned store.

Unfortunately for Sun, the Gastly noticed him and became visible with a haunting cackle, flying right at the boy. Sun dove to the ground and called, "Alastor, use Rock Blast!"

Gastly's eyes flashed bright blue and Alastor's body was enveloped in a blue glow. Alastor fired off two waves of bullet-like pullets at Gastly, who was thrown backwards through a shelf and emerged on the other side with a furious expression.

"That was Mean Look, but we've got it on the ropes. Thunder Punch!" Sun ordered Alastor as the Alolan Graveler walked forward, enveloping its hands in electricity as the Gastly soared forward for a Lick. Alastor decked the ghost in the face right as it reached him, knocking it out cold.

"Good work...Huh?" Sun noticed that as the Gastly faded away, the conveyor belt stopped moving altogether. Soon the only sound was the ever-present rainfall outside and the occasional rumble of thunder.

"Huh. Nothing seems to be wrong with the conveyor belt now." Sun remarked, tapping it a few times. The young Trainer shivered and hugged himself for a moment before regaining his composure. "Let's keep moving."

"You...Grr. Fine. Keep alert. I feel as if we're being watched." Alastor remarked, flexing his hands as Sun nodded in agreement, walking through the store via the nearest path that wasn't blocked by boxes or fallen equipment. As they neared what had once been a berry stand, the duo began to hear an eerie shaking sound that made the two of them jump.

"The shopping cart!" Sun yelled out as the rattling suddenly filled the entire store, echoing off of the walls. Indeed, the shopping cart off to the side of the wall and surrounded by boxes began to shake of its own accord.

"It's moving...on its own!" Alastor growled, launching a Thunder Shock at the cart. To Sun's surprise, it did absolutely nothing. Sun fired up the Poké Finder instead and gasped.

A large Haunter was soaring through the air, cackling with delight as it zoomed by. Sun had to wait nearly a minute before he was able to snap a picture that actually caught the spectre on camera. The Haunter appeared before their eyes with an annoyed growl, and Alastor stepped forward to battle the ghost.

Haunter launched a Hypnosis at Alastor, who ducked his head and at Sun's command, lashed out with three waves of Rock Blast at the Haunter, who by the end of the attack could barely hold itself in midair. It did have enough strength to lash out with a Sucker Punch that took both Sun and Alastor by surprise, knocking back the Alolan Graveler.

"Thunder Shock!" Sun yelled as Alastor unleashed a bolt of lightning at the Haunter, who's eyes widened in horror before it too was knocked grinned, doing a fist-pump as the defeated Haunter sank into the floor and Alastor chuckled deeply, pleased by the strong showing.

However, Sun spotted something small and yellow scampering past him right as Alastor finished laughing. He moved to the right just in time to see a familiar lightning bolt-shaped tail disappear between the shelves.

"Wait, did you see something just now?" Sun asked Alastor, who looked at him for a moment before shaking his head.

"No. I didn't. But we should continue to be wary. We still have more building to explore." Alastor remarked, though he smirked a few moments later. "I could always explode and bring this place down."

"Aside from that explosion probably killing us both, the ghosts wouldn't be affected. And the Tapu and Totem Pokémon would be really mad. Let's just keep going." Sun said as he continued to walk forward, sweeping his flashlight throughout the creepy store as they continued to progress.

Eventually the duo came to a section of the store that was wide open, with a side area leading towards what Sun assumed was the back section of the store where only the workers were allowed. Sun was grateful that he had been inside one of these stores before and was at least a little familiar with their layout after shopping at the Royal Avenue Thrifty Megamart.

As Sun moved out from behind one of the shelves, his flashlight caught something moving once again. After a few moments, he noticed what it was and shivered. Across from them, about twenty feet away, was a Pikachu and Marill doll...both of which were floating in midair all on their own!

"Another one! Quickly, human! Find that ghost so we can banish it!" Alastor called as he crouched slightly, all four arms ready to throw more electricity around the moment Sun gave the command. Sun fired up the Poké Finder and was at first surprised when he didn't see what was moving the dolls.

And then he heard a sinister giggle in his ear.

Sun screamed as he whirled and brought up the Poké Finder, snapping the blurry pic of the snickering Gengar as it loomed over him. Alastor threw a Thunder Shock at the spectre, which it dodged with ease and retaliated with a Shadow Ball. Alastor's eyes widened as the attack exploded against him, sending him flying into one of the shelves and crashing onto the ground, unconscious.

"How did that...knock him out?" Sun wondered before hearing the Gengar let out a cackle of delight, sticking out its tongue at Sun and throwing a Shadow Ball his way. Sun threw himself to the ground to dodge the attack, horrified that a Wild Pokémon was attacking him directly.

"Sun, call out a Pokémon!" Rotom yelled out, terrified for his Trainer.

"Penny, come on out!" Sun called as he scrambled with the Poké Ball and tossed it forward. Penny appeared in a flash of light, her eyes narrowed. The Gengar promptly took a step back in midair, its smile fading away entirely. Penny's eyes narrowed down to slits, an angry noise coming from the Toucannon.

Gengar swallowed nervously, and Sun grinned.

"Beak Blast."

Twenty seconds later, an unconscious Gengar was vanishing before their eyes and the dolls on the table stopped being extremely spooky and went back to simply being spooky.

"Nice work, Penny." Sun said to the bird, patting her on the head and making her ruffle her feathers slightly.

It was then that Sun spotted the strange yellow Pokémon for a second time, running along the back aisle that led to a door that no doubt led to some kind of back room. Sun frowned and fought back a shiver of fear before being snapped out of his thoughts by Penny speaking.

"Thank you. How's the challenge been so far?" Penny asked, eyeing the unconscious form of Alastor.

"He's...really not liking the ghosts. But he's been civil so far. I'll heal him and see about finding this Totem. We've nearly explored this whole building." Sun remarked as he set down his bag beside Alastor and pulled out a Revive and a Super Potion.

"Nasty trick. I won't let these ghosts get the drop on me again." Alastor grumbled as he pushed himself up, with Sun returning Penny.

"I don't doubt it. Gengar are sneaky. Now then...let's head to the back of the store. There's got to be something over there." Sun remarked as he and Alastor made their way deeper into the building. Sun's unease grew with each step, and to his bemusement the sound of the rain outside grew more and more faint.

Even worse, when they approached a door that seemingly led to the back of the store, the door suddenly clicked, as if someone or something had twisted the lock on the door to open it...from the other side.

"Hmm. Well, human, I will take a moment to collect my thoughts within my Poké Ball." Alastor remarked, reaching a hand towards his Ultra Ball on Sun's waist. He tapped the center of the sphere and it sucked him inside, leaving Sun standing alone in the store.

"Wow...Really?"

"What a scaredy cat. Zzzzt!"

"We all have things we're scared of. Not that he'll ever admit being scared." Sun said to Rotom Dex, who beeped as it floated over to Sun and landed on his shoulder.

"Well, I won't be leaving your side, pal! Now let's get some ghosts!" Rotom Dex said as Sun nodded, pushing open the door and entering a room that resembled a small concrete closet with no doors, windows or much of anything really.

The door shut behind him and locked with a click. Sun turned around and gasped, seeing that there was no handle or lock at all. The boy began to breathe hard, unable to help the fear creeping into his heart. The worst part was that he could feel a set of eyes on him, sizing him up.

"Sun, look around the room! Bzzzt!" Rotom cried out, sounding rather worried. The boy turned back around to face the wall, and was amazed to find that the wall that had been blank when he walked into the room was now plastered with papers. Some of them were clearly drawings made by children, but some were photographs or brochures.

And every single one was related to Pikachu in some way.

"This is...horrifying." Sun said quietly as he eyed the pictures with interest, trying to figure out what this meant. One in particular that stood out was a blurry photo of a black-haired boy wearing a blue jacket, with a Pikachu riding on his shoulder.

"That guy looks like a total dork." Sun muttered as he poked the picture. He then winced as Rotom shuddered and let out a scream of pain, and Sun was surprised when the Poké Finder suddenly turned on by itself.

"Rotom Dex? You okay?" Sun asked, worried about the device. To his growing terror, the friendly Pokédex was silent as the Poké Finder function continued to run. A soft growl suddenly came from behind Sun, who slowly turned around to see something that was truly the stuff of nightmares.

It was a Pokémon, just a little shorter than himself. It wore a yellow tattered rag over itself that resembled a Pikachu if it had been dragged through the depths of hell. Black eyes and red cheeks were badly scrawled in by what looked like crayon, and its body looked wrong in so many ways to Sun that he didn't even know how to process what he was looking at. Instead, he slowly lifted up the camera and took a picture of what was surely the Totem Pokémon of the Abandoned Site.

To Sun's amazement the creature's appearance began to flicker before his eyes, shifting between a Pikachu and what the creature actually looked like. It became obvious to Sun that this creature was the one that he had spotted earlier. The Totem Pokémon twitched violently as it remained in its true form, bright red eyes glowing from the lower part of its body.

"Seeeeee meee!?" the Totem shrieked as the entire building began to quake from the force of the shout. The Totem lunged right at the defenseless and screaming child, who felt his vision shudder and distort as the creature suddenly let out a bone-chilling laugh.


NEXT TIME: Sun battles a nightmare-fuel Totem, Gladion runs for his life, and Lusamine receives some very interesting information from beyond the grave.


Q & A

From: SolanaLeonhart

Okay, I know this is a spoiler kind of thing but I really want to ask, is Mohn going to meet his family again? It's just after seeing what happens in the game and in the anime, I can't help but wonder.

I've definitely thought about it. While Mohn has a bigger role in the story than he does in the original games, he still has a background role more than anything else.

But like you said, it's spoiler territory and I can't really give out that kind of answer now. I do have plans for most of the cast by the end of the story though, including a few fun surprises people likely won't see coming.

From: Madame Rodoshe

I have couple of questions related to this chapter. What is the origins of the human hating Alolan Golem and their evolution? Does Ashton has a soft spot for his mom? I noticed he killed her gently. Will there be more origins of Ano's clan in flashbacks? What Pokémon do Ano and Lahela had before they were killed by their own son?

That'll be explained in a future chapter. There is a reason for it, as well as why their territory was under protection by the Aether Paradise.

He did kill her more mercifully than his father. She was never outright abusive to him and still treated him with kindness and love, though she also did nothing to stop Ano from hurting Ashton despite knowing full-well what he was doing to his child.

I'm not sure whether you meant Alastor or Ano. If you're talking about Alastor's clan, we're not quite done with them yet. And if we're talking about Ano, he's going to have his crimes revealed eventually, but his character is done.

As for teams, Ano used an Incineroar as his Starter and has a variety of different Pokemon while Lahela's lead Pokemon was a Tsareena (she also used many Pokemon during her Trainer days).

From: Anonymouse

Also, judging by the fact that Tapu Village is up next and what Pokémon can be found there, what are the chances Sun's getting an Ice-Type?

Keep guessing! It's coming sooner than you all think, even though Alastor only joined the cast a short time ago. The fact Sun will have a full team by the time he reaches Po Town is the only hint I'm giving out.

I will say from this point on, including the last chapter, I'm going to give a shoutout to those who correctly guess what Pokemon it is.

A sidenote: Your username is the best one I've seen in a long time and made me smile the first time I saw it.

That's all for now, everyone. Thanks for reading! Feel free to review and leave feedback on the chapter if you've enjoyed reading it. And as always, favorite and/or follow the story if you want to get updates, and if you want to ask a question do so in the review section below. RS Discord invites are available if you PM me on this site.

Take care and stay awesome!

Until next time, FlygonNick out!