Pokémon Radiant Sun


Howdy folks! Welcome to another chapter of nonsense! I bet you weren't expecting such a quick update!

Thankfully this past week or two have allowed me to get ahead of my writing for the first time in a while. It's a great feeling to finally be on the road to some truly awesome stuff with the main plot of the game at long last. That may have involved coming down with a nasty summer cold, but thankfully I'm on the mend. So let's get to it!

Shoutout to the legends who reviewed since the last update, which includes Oragonking, Dklett and Muramasa96. Thanks for the support and feedback!

Now then, let's meet our newest member of the cast. Sun's sixth and final Pokémon.

Enjoy!


Chapter 141: Smile


Malie Garden

Later That Night…


Demi walked into the warmly lit Malie Garden with a looming sense of doom hovering over her. She was back in her Team Skull uniform, her hair styled like normal and her face covered once again.

"It's gonna be okay…Just got to talk with him and be honest. Guzma hates liars." Demi thought to herself as she approached the famous tea shop in Malie Garden. Guzma was waiting right where he said he would be on the phone. The Boss of Team Skull was lying down on a bench, his Snom lying down on his chest with his eyes closed.

"Um…Boss?" Demi asked, causing the man's left eye to twitch open. He calmly put the snapping Snom back into his hair and sat up.

"Come on, kid. Let's take a walk." Guzma said as he hopped off of the bench, smirking as Demi started in surprise. Demi nodded silently, walking alongside the Boss of Team Skull as he made his way towards one of the nearby bridges overlooking the water.

Inside her head, Demi was almost screaming in terror at the implications of being alone with Guzma in a place where there were no witnesses. She didn't even have her Pokémon out, and she had informed her father and Gladion not to back her up in Malie Garden despite their concerns. It would only cause more trouble.

"He could kill me right now…I've heard so many rumors about the Boss and people he's dealt with in the past. Is he going to kill me for helping Gladion?" Demi thought as they walked down the gently lit path, with Guzma's long strides forcing Demi to basically speed-walk to keep up with him.

"So, what were you doing in Malie anyway, Boss?" Demi asked Guzma, giving him an odd look.

"Had to stir up some trouble. The Captains on Ula'ula are preoccupied with their duties, so I was able to snag some more Buginium Z from some helpless dorks." Guzma responded with a shrug, not particularly bothered by the question.

"I see…We've got a lot of those, don't we?" Demi asked Guzma, receiving another nod.

"Yup. So, let's cut the awkward small talk and get down to brass tacks." Guzma said, his sharp gaze turning to Demi. "You've gotten pretty chummy with Gladion. Part of that was by design, since I like screwing with the kid, but then things escalated. You got friendly enough with him to actually help him escape from the Bone Brothers a few weeks back. That's something I didn't expect. Wanna explain yourself?"

Demi shivered at the intense glare Guzma was giving her. She swallowed nervously and thought about the answer she had prepared beforehand to give him, since she had known that this was what this meeting would be about.

"I was staying with Gladion still, just like you told me too. Even after he left Team Skull, I still can't go live in Po Town thanks to my…condition." Demi replied, thinking briefly about her intense fear of the rain. "The Bone Brothers hurt him really badly. They hurt me and the rest of Bone Unit 71 badly too. And then they suddenly come knocking on Gladion's door out of nowhere and saying they 'want a few words' and other crap like that? I just…I didn't want them to do something worse to my friend. Is…is that wrong?"

"Nah. Not at all." Guzma remarked, surprising Demi as the man snorted with amusement at the stunned expression on the girl's face.

"R-really?" Demi asked, completely taken aback.

"If Team Skull left their friends high and dry in tough moments like that, then we'd deserve to be called the scum that the Alolans say we are. You stuck by your friend. I respect that." Guzma remarked, scowling despite his words. "I was gonna have a conversation with Gladion, but he slipped through our fingers. I know you're still in contact with him. And I'm pretty sure I could make him come to us if I was willing to put you in harm's way. It's pretty obvious you two are getting…close, as they say."

Demi froze where she stood at those words, slowly reaching for one of the two Poké Balls clipped to her belt. Guzma put a hand on her shoulder, grinning wolfishly at her.

"It would be so goddamn easy to lure Gladion into an ambush. He's really not as clever as he thinks he is. But I'm not like those backstabbing Captains and ignorant Kahunas. You're still Team Skull, kid. And we look after our own…So I'll lay off of the kid." Guzma said as he removed his hand from Demi's shoulder and began walking down the path yet again.

"Wait, what?" Demi whispered as Guzma walked several steps ahead of her. Guzma glanced back with a knowing smirk. Demi jogged back to the Team Skull Boss' side, both afraid and curious now. Guzma was completely right in that she could easily be used to get Gladion to come to the Team Skull Boss. So why was Guzma not going through with it? Was it really just the fact that she was a Team Skull member and that Gladion was her friend?

"You know why I let you in Team Skull, kid? Despite the fact that your piece of shit father is one of the big honchos of Alola's even shittier government?" Guzma suddenly asked Demi, who slowed her pace as she considered that question.

Demi didn't realize until that moment that Team Skull had to have known who her father was. Or at the very least, Guzma had to have known. And yet they welcomed her into their ranks with open arms.

"I don't know…It's obvious looking back that you knew Councilman Palena was my father. But Team Skull welcomed me anyway." Demi said quietly, reflecting on her decision to join Team Skull in the first place. She thought about Axen, Kayla and Kevin. She even thought of poor Tim, who had been murdered by Roran Rubinara. They were her closest friends, next to Gladion. They had become like brothers and sisters to her.

"That's what Team Skull is all about, kid. Bringing together all of the outcasts in Alola and giving them a place to belong. A place to be themselves. This society doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone who doesn't conform to their beliefs. If you're not down with the Island Challenge and Alola's culture, you're worth less than nothing." Guzma remarked, a frustrated sigh escaping the man's lips. "Someone has to give a damn about the forsaken kids of these islands. Protect them. That's where I come in."

"I know…Team Skull is the only place I've ever felt like I belonged." Demi admitted quietly, causing Guzma to snort in amusement.

"That was the point. And when you came to us, alongside one of our weakest units of Grunts, I was prepared to use you to score some easy cash from the Alolan Council of Cunts. But then I heard what happened to you…And decided against it." Guzma said as his mouth twitched into a furious scowl, his fists clenching beside him. Demi shivered at the waves of rage that were now suddenly radiating from her leader.

"You let me in Team Skull because my parents turned their backs on me?" Demi asked Guzma, who sighed and seemingly released the rage that was coursing through him right then. The Team Skull Boss glanced at Demi, his gaze narrowing.

"Nope. That Captain's negligence and that Water Trial got your Pokémon killed. Nearly got you killed. And then for your folks to turn their backs on you…That's unforgivable." Guzma explained, shaking his head in dismay before turning his gaze to Demi.

"But…I'm not the first person in Team Skull that's happened to though." Demi pointed out to Guzma, who nodded in acknowledgement.

"You're right. Doesn't make it any less fucked up though. But when I heard your story, I didn't really have much of a choice. Couldn't leave you high and dry after everyone turned their backs on you. Especially since that's a tune I've danced to myself. I'd never be able to forgive myself if I let someone else suffer what I went through alone." Guzma said bitterly, a terrible grin coming to his face as he looked up into the black sky. Demi stared at her leader for several seconds before a cold revelation settled over Demi like a blanket of snow.

"You…you mean what happened to me…Happened to you?" Demi asked in a whisper, her voice terrified at the thought. Guzma simply nodded, looking down at the girl with that same terrible grin.

"I was never good enough for my parents and their damn traditions. But despite that, I gave the Island Challenge my best shot. Way back then, I even had a traveling partner. A friend so precious to me that he was my brother in all but blood." Guzma said as Demi stared up at him with wide eyes of understanding.

"Professor Kukui…" Demi whispered, shivering with fear as Guzma's grin twisted into a scowl.

"Yeah…Me and Johnny Boy were thick as thieves. The best of friends. Always having each other's back, even though he was the prodigy and I was just the kid who was never good enough." Guzma said as he looked forward once again, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "We promised to take Alola and make it a better place for everyone. And then I ran into some trouble at one of the Trials. Back then they were even tougher than they are today, and with a hell of a lot higher body count."

"Trouble…You lost a Pokémon to one of the Island Trials? Like me?" Demi asked Guzma, who didn't respond right away. Instead he crossed his arms, deep in thought.

"Yeah…I lost a Pokémon. There's a reason that Melemele Island only has one Trial these days, kid. After what happened…" Guzma trailed off, staring up into the sky in silence. Demi watched the Team Skull Boss as he got lost in his own bitter memories for several full minutes, both concerned and stunned that Guzma of all people had known exactly the kind of turmoil that Demi had been through.

"Keep clear of Po Town for a few days. Maybe stay clear of Ula'ula altogether." Guzma warned Demi, looking at her finally with a grim expression. "Shit's about to hit the fan. Go somewhere nice with Gladion, I don't care where. Just stay away from Po Town and the routes nearby."

"But why?" Demi asked, confused at the sudden warning.

"Because I said so." Guzma said simply, raising an eyebrow. "Don't question it. Now…get the hell out of here before I change my mind and drag Gladion back to Po Town by his emo-looking hair."

Demi stared at Guzma in bewilderment before the full implications of what he had said and his warning clicked in Demi's mind. Within seconds she was running away from Guzma, who watched her depart without moving from the path.

"Guzma…What is wrong with you!?" Guzma snarled to himself, shaking his head as he watched Demi sprint away. After a moment of lingering on past regrets and painful memories, the Team Skull Boss pulled out his cell phone and scrolled down to a certain number, dialing it.

"Yes?" came a pleasant woman's voice from the end of the line. A voice that never failed to send shivers down his spine.

"We're all set here. Plumes knows where the brats will be for the next few days, leaving that House unguarded at different times. Given what we know of Borlaths' brat, he'll come running to stop us on his own just like we want. And that's when we strike." Guzma said to the woman, causing her to laugh lightly. "If you can get the Aupuni brat away from the house for a few hours, we can begin our big plan. He won't suspect a thing if it's you asking to see him."

"So underhanded! Well done, Guzma. You and your followers have gone above and beyond my expectations." The woman's voice purred into Guzma's ear, causing his frown to curl into a pleased grin. "Soon enough nothing will stop us from reaching a place beyond any of what these fools could ever dream of. And you will receive everything you deserve, my dear."

"Of course, Madam Prez. Just leave everything to ya boi Guzma. I've got everything under control." Guzma said as he walked out of Malie Garden, his grin wide as he considered just what it would be like…to finally be acknowledged for his strength.


Meanwhile…

Haina Desert


"SO. THE STAR-CHILD THAT I HAVE SENSED FOR SO LONG. IT HAS BEEN MANY MOONS SINCE I LAST BEHELD YOUR KIND…AND NOW YOU HAVE COME TO GREET ME IN THIS DAY AND AGE." Tapu Bulu intoned, drifting closer to Lillie and Nebby with a questioning gaze. Lillie flinched at the presence of the God of Abundance, but Nebby remained completely silent, staring at the Tapu with an awed expression.

"Well isn't that a curious statement." Colress remarked softly, grinning as Sun and Hau watched closely, ready to step in should Lillie and Nebby be in any danger.

"WELL? I'M WAITING, STAR-CHILD." The Tapu said as its tail swished below, disturbing the loose sand beneath it.

"Nebby?" Lillie said quietly, jostling the Cosmog in her arms and snapping him out of his surprise at the Tapu, as well as the strange feelings welling up within him that he couldn't place.

"I…don't know." Nebby said in a confused voice, causing Tapu Bulu to snort with amusement.

"A MYSTERY THEN…YOUR KIND ARE ABLE TO THRIVE WITHIN THE REALM BEYOND AND IN THIS WORLD AS WELL. PROTECTORS WHO EMBODY THE RAGING HEAT OF THE SUN AND THE SERENE GLOW OF THE MOON…THOUGH IN OUR WORLD, THE SUN REIGNS SUPREME." Tapu Bulu replied, drifting slightly to the left.

"I CANNOT FATHOM HOW YOU HAVE COME HERE, LITTLE ONE…IT HAS BEEN AGES SINCE WE TAPU HAVE BATTLED YOUR KIND. EVEN CHILDREN SUCH AS YOU HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN IN CENTURIES. WHY ARE YOU HERE?" Tapu Bulu asked, its tone curious as it tilted his head. Nebby simply stared at the strange creature that knew of him.

"What is Nebby? Where did he come from? Please, I have so many questions! Help us, Tapu Bulu." Lillie practically begged, holding out Nebby to the God of Abundance, who simply stared down at the two of them.

"THERE IS MUCH HURT IN YOUR HEART, MY CHILD…" Tapu Bulu said to the girl, its tone gentle as Lillie recoiled in surprise.

"I…what?" Lillie whispered, bewildered at the seeming random observation by the Tapu. But the God Abundance had turned its attention back to Nebby.

"AS FOR YOUR STAR-CHILD…HE IS FAMILIAR TO ME. HIS KIND ARE KNOWN TO ALL OF THE TAPU, AS WE BATTLED HIS KIND IN AGES PAST. THEIR NAMES…ESCAPE ME AT THE MOMENT. MY MEMORY IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT ONCE WAS."

"You all battled Nebby's kind in the past?" Lillie whispered, frowning as she thought about that.

"YES. OUR BATTLES WERE LEGENDARY. THE GUARDIAN OF THE SUN BECAME REGARDED AS A DIVINE FIGURE ALONGSIDE US IN ALOLA AND GIFTED US WITH GEMS THAT COURSED WITH POWER. IT ALLOWED US TO UNLEASH OUR GREATEST STRENGTH. THEY BLESSED THIS WORLD WITH MANY STAR-CHILDREN, WHO EVENTUALLY DEPARTED FOR OTHER WORLDS. IN TIME, THEY ALL LEFT THIS WORLD…I MISS MY OLD FRIENDS." Tapu Bulu said as it closed its eyes, its tone so genuinely sorrowful that the children felt the desire to comfort the Legendary in some way.

However before they could do anything, the Tapu opened its eyes and continued speaking. "THIS IS A SIGN. SO I SHALL ASSIST. THERE IS PERHAPS A WAY TO BRING THE STAR-CHILD HOME…IN TIMES LONG PAST, THE POWER OF MUSIC WOULD ALLOW THE STAR-CHILDREN TO GROW IN STRENGTH FURTHER. SEEK OUT THE SACRED FLUTES HIDDEN AWAY WITHIN THIS LAND. THEY SHALL CALL UPON THE ENERGIES OF THIS WORLD AND BEYOND TO FOSTER GROWTH AND UNLEASH THEIR TRUE FORMS."

"The sacred flutes?" Colress murmured, astounded by what he was hearing. His fingers swiftly tapped away on his keypad, transcribing everything that the Tapu was telling them.

"You're saying Nebby can become stronger? But…how?" Lillie asked the God of Abundance, who didn't respond right away.

"THIS CHILD IS TOO WEAK TO BECOME WHAT HE MUST…ONCE HE HAS EXPERIENCED HARDSHIP AND GROWN, HE WILL BE READY FOR THE FINAL STEP. AND BECAME A RADIANT SUN THAT WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PROTECT EVERYTHING WITH HIS LIGHT." Tapu Bulu explained before drifting into the air and turning towards its sanctum, floating away.

"W-wait! I still have questions!" Lillie yelled out, causing Tapu Bulu to turn its head ever-so-slightly.

"I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS YOU SEEK, MY CHILD. FOR THAT, YOU MUST SEARCH FOR THEM ON YOUR OWN. SEEK OUT THE SACRED FLUTES AND GROW THE STAR-CHILD'S STRENGTH…THEN, AND ONLY THEN, WILL HE BE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO WHAT HE MUST. THE REST HE HIMSELF WILL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN." Tapu Bulu said to Lillie, its tone one of finality. The glow around Sun's Z-Ring faded then and Tapu Bulu departed, leaving Lillie with more questions than answers.

"Fascinating…" Colress murmured as he finished tapping the keypad that was fastened to his arm. Sun and Hau looked to the scientist who was grinning with excitement.

"I mean, yeah, it was interesting. But that certainly didn't answer all of Lillie's questions. We were really banking on Tapu Bulu to help explain some stuff in a way that wasn't cryptic gibberish." Hau said to Colress, who chuckled.

"One cannot expect the Guardian Deities to hold all of the answers we seek. According to everything we've researched, Nebby is a creature not from this world. The fact that the Tapu have been able to tell us more about Cosmog than some of the books within the Forbidden Archive is extremely interesting and gives credence to certain theories that the Tapu…" Colress trailed off, shaking his head. "Sorry, I was rambling again."

"No worries." Sun said with a grin, turning towards Lillie who hadn't moved from where she stood in the past minute. She still held Nebby in her arms, an unreadable expression on her face. Sun walked over to his friend and placed a hand on her shoulder, snapping her out of her reverie.

"You okay?" Sun said quietly as Lillie looked at him, a frown on her face. She then sighed and looked down at Nebby.

"Not really. I'm more confused than anything. I can see so many different threads weaving around in my mind, but I can't make sense of them. Can Nebby become something else? Magical flutes? Lands beyond our own? What does this all mean?" Lillie whispered, her expression troubled as she hugged Nebby close to her chest. Sun put a comforting hand on her shoulder, earning a grateful smile from the girl.

"The fact that we can just casually talk with the Gods of our islands is something I simply cannot fathom…" Alastor remarked, shaking his head in dismay. "As much as I bemoan my status as a Trained Pokémon…I have to admit such an experience does have benefits I could have never imagined."

"I knew you really liked us!" Oliver said cheerfully, earning an ominous glare from the Alolan Golem that had no effect on the Decidueye.

"I was simply commenting on how wondrous it is to be in the presence of our gods. Do not mock me." Alastor snapped after a few moments, causing just about everyone to smile at his response.

"Well, the Tapu are very important." Brago responded, smirking at the Alolan Golem.

"Imagine doing a story like thizz and not featuring the Guardian Deitiezzz until it'zzz way too late. Bzzzrt!" Rotom Dex chimed in, causing everyone to look at the device in bewilderment.

And so the night went on. The group chatted well into the night, discussing what had transpired between them and Tapu Bulu. Lillie was noticeably subdued, and as a result Hau and Sun would continually go out of their way to cheer up their friend. Before too long they were asleep within their pods, with those Pokémon who were comfortable within the desert staying out to keep watch.

Our heroes woke up early the next morning before the sun had fully risen over Alola. To their surprise, waiting for them in the lush field of grass they were sleeping in was a large mound of berries and fruit.

"I bet this was Tapu Bulu's doing. Guess it's a better host than I gave it credit for." Sun mused with a smirk as he sank his teeth into a Pecha Berry, savoring the sweet taste. After eating their breakfast, the group was ready to head back to civilization. Though not before Sun had to stop Hau from trying to cut open a cactus to try and drink some of the juice within.

"Dude, this isn't a cartoon! That stuff's gonna make you sick!"

"B-but Sun!...It's the quenchiest!"

"...Hau, you can drink the poisonous cactus juice. Sun, just make sure to take pictures."

"Are you three always this grumpy in the morning?" Colress asked, bewildered at the exchange between the three teenagers. After finally convincing Hau to not pull a Sokka and start seeing magical friendly mushrooms, the group finally finished getting ready to leave the Ruins of Abundance.

"We could easily just use the Poké Ride system and get back to the Aether House in like, a half hour." Hau pointed out to them as they began to walk, causing Sun to blink in surprise and stop moving.

"I mean, we could do that. We could have the Ride Charizard fly us back there really quickly. Good thinking Hau." Sun said as he pulled out his Ride Pager, but he was surprised to see a strange message displayed on the screen.

"'Poké Ride Services are currently limited due to a system outage. Please contact your local administrator for assistance.'" Sun read aloud, looking at his friends with confusion.

"That happens every so often. Sometimes they do updates for the Poké Ride network and have to take the system down. Or at least, that's how it was when the Poké Ride Services were just starting out. They improved the service over the years and haven't had an outage in almost two years now. I wonder if something happened." Colress wondered aloud, frowning with consternation.

"Oh well. We can walk it. Should be easier since we're not actively looking for the ruins. Getting out of this dumb desert should go way quicker." Hau said with a cheery grin as he put his hands behind his head.

The group then collectively shivered as a familiar presence settled over all of them. Sun and his friends looked up to see Tapu Bulu descending from the sky, a soft bellow escaping the God of Abundance.

"Thanks for the fruit, Tapu Bulu!" Hau said merrily, waving a banana that he had saved at the Guardian Deity.

"And for your help! I appreciate your assistance with helping Nebby get home!" Lillie called to the Legendary Pokémon, receiving a nod from the Tapu before its gaze turned to Sun.

"MY CHILD...A WORD, IF YOU WOULD. ALONE." Tapu Bulu's voice spoke from Sun's Z-Ring as the Guardian Deity of Ula'ula Island descended from above, its tail touching the grass below it.

"Um…yeah, okay?" Sun said uncertainly, with the others looking on in confusion.

"We'll be right around the corner." Colress offered, walking out into the desert. Hau and Lillie looked at Sun, who nodded at them, and the two teens followed. Sun turned to the God of Abundance expectantly.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Sun asked, curious but also concerned.

"YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW WHY I DID NOT…" The Tapu then surprised Sun by hesitating, looking away from the boy for several moments before speaking again. "WHY I DID NOT ASSIST WHEN RORAN RUBINARA ATTACKED THIS ISLAND FOR THE SECOND TIME."

"Um…I don't think I've thought about it since the day of his attack. We kind of had other stuff going on at the time. You know, us dying and being brought back to life by MissingNo., Hau getting kidnapped, the League attacking my Dad. So…" Sun trailed off, wondering why the Tapu would be bringing this up. "Why? Why didn't you help us that night?"

The Tapu bowed its head, a shuddering breath coming from its mouth. "SIMPLY PUT…IT WAS SHAME."

"...Shame?" Sun repeated, confused by the admission.

"YES. I WAS ASHAMED AT MY MISTAKES WITH BOTH ASHTON AUPUNI AND RORAN RUBINARA, AND AS SUCH CHOSE NOT TO INTERVENE WITH THE RECENT CLASH ON THIS ISLAND. I BELIEVED…THAT MY PRESENCE WOULD ONLY MAKE THINGS WORSE." Tapu Bulu admitted to the stunned child, whose jaw was agape in shock.

"I guess even Legendary Pokémon have doubts…" Sun thought, frowning at the words of the Pokémon in front of him.

"ONCE UPON A TIME, WE WERE HUMAN LIKE YOURSELF. WE GAVE UP OUR HUMANITY TO PROTECT THOSE PRECIOUS TO US…BUT ALL BEINGS ARE CAPABLE OF MISTAKES. REGRETS. AND THE DESIRE TO SIMPLY DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE. I AM ONE OF THEM. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR CAUSING HARM TO YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS THROUGH MY INACTION."

"I forgive you." Sun said immediately, surprising the ancient Pokémon and causing it to jolt upright. Sun smiled warmly at the Tapu, adjusting his hat. "I forgave my father for a whole lot worse. Just…try and do better in the future. Everything worked out in the end and we saved the city."

"I…I SUPPOSE SO." Tapu Bulu remarked, its tone awed at the child's kindness. The Tapu then snorted softly and closed its eyes. "KOKO CHOSE YOU WELL. AS BEFITTING OF ONE AS CHAOTIC AND FICKLE AS THE GOD OF CONFLICT, HIS CHOSEN EMBODIES EMPATHY AND KINDNESS, WHILE ALSO POSSESSING A STRENGTH OF HEART THAT ECLIPSES ALL OTHERS. I HOPE SOMEDAY I CAN CHOOSE ANOTHER WHO FOLLOWS YOUR EXAMPLE."

"Um…I really don't know what to say to that. Thanks?" Sun said with a smile, flushing at the praise from the God of Abundance, who simply nodded.

"WE TAPU CHOSE TO EXILE OURSELVES FROM MANKIND LONG, LONG AGO DUE TO THE WARS THAT BOTH OURSELVES AND HUMANS CAUSED. WE BECAME GUARDIANS OF SORTS, AND WERE WORSHIPED FOR OUR POWER…BUT AS OF LATE, WE HAVE RARELY BEEN THE PROTECTORS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. NO LONGER…YOU HAVE HELPED US SEE THAT WE ARE NEEDED IN ALOLA, AND THAT OUR RECLUSION SHOULD END." Tapu Bulu explained to Sun, with the God drifting backwards for a moment as it crossed its arms.

"FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CENTURIES, THE TAPU ARE COMING TOGETHER. WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR FAILINGS HAVE NEARLY CAUSED THE UPENDING OF THE WORLD. THANKS TO THE BRAVERY OF YOU AND YOUR ALLIES, THE WORLD'S DOOM WAS STOPPED…BUT IT MAY HAVE SIMPLY DELAYED THE INEVITABLE." Tapu Bulu warned Sun as the boy frowned at what he realized was a warning.

"Tapu Koko said something similar. We'll keep our eyes open and keep working hard." Sun promised the Tapu, pumping a fist with a grin. "Just make sure you and the other Tapu do the same. We'll protect the world together."

"REST ASSURED THAT WE WILL NOT FAIL OUR PEOPLE AGAIN…NOW GO, WITH PEACE IN YOUR HEART. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, MY CHILD." Tapu Bulu said to Sun, bowing its head to the boy. Sun bowed back in a show of respect for the Guardian Deity, who suddenly flew off into the sky. Sun's eyes followed the Tapu until it was out of sight, and the grass and trees all around them began to wither away almost instantly. Sun smiled to himself for a moment before turning around and walking out of the clearing, rejoining his friends after a few moments.

And not seeing that once again, he was being watched.

A certain Absol stared at the boy as he began walking with his friends again, and as soon as he was out of sight the Disaster Pokémon fled the area.


Several Hours Later…


"What on earth is this doing here?" Sun asked, looking at the strange statue that was standing before them. Within the statue sat a familiar-looking crystal, shimmering with a purple twinkle in the bright sun. Sun walked forward and grabbed the gem, admiring it for a moment.

"A Z-Crystal. How curious. I wonder who left it here and why." Colress remarked, smiling as he put a finger to his chin. "Perhaps this was part of an ancient Trial Location in the past. I know that they get shuffled around a little bit depending on what the Captain's specialty is and whether or not a location is viable. But I think there's a bit more to it."

"Hau, do you want this?" Sun asked his friend, showing him the Z-Crystal. To his surprise, Hau shook his head.

"Nah. You found it. Besides, Tutu has a handful of old Z-Crystals he was planning on giving me once I beat his Grand Trial. He's got a Psychium Z in his collection, so you can have that one." Hau said brightly, grinning at his friend.

"It's amazing what you can find in the desert. Items and Z-Crystals, an ancient Pokémon's home. What else is hidden beneath the sands?" Lillie wondered quietly as they began to make their way out of the clearing.

"Who knows? There's so much history and knowledge tucked away within every corner of the world. I spent many years traveling and trying to understand what I encountered. I haven't succeeded yet." Colress laughed lightly, though he winced when a sudden gust of wind kicked up around them. Within moments the sand was howling and pelting them from all angles.

"Agh! Another sandstorm?" Hau grunted as he shielded his eyes.

"I hate sand. It's rough. It's coarse. And it gets all in my feathers." Oliver hooted with annoyance, shaking his wings futilely as the sands swirled around them all.

"Be careful everyone! Our vision will be obscured for some time." Colress warned them, slipping on some goggles as the children cried out as the winds picked up even more. It was at that moment a familiar snarl erupted from the ground.

"We've got company!" Penny chirped, landing on Brago's back as she eyed a shape moving through the sand.

"Alright! Time to prove myself!" Alastor yelled out, advancing towards the snarling sound while Sun groaned internally. This was not the time to try and fuel Alastors ego.

"Saaaandile!" the Sandile cried out, snapping its teeth as Alastor staggered forward, throwing a rock directly into the face of the other Pokémon. The Sandile cried out in pain and hit the side of the nearby crag.

"Will you listen to me for once?" Sun demanded of the Alolan Golem, who grinned back at the boy.

"I could. But this is a matter of pride, human. Now stand back and watch!" Alastor said as he turned back around, electricity crackling within his claws. However, his moment to speak to Sun was all the time Sandile needed to gather its wits and let out an echoing cry for help.

"Alastor, would you just…Dammit." Sun muttered under his breath, crossing his arms and exhaling with frustration. To Sun's surprise, no Pokémon seemed to arrive in response to the Sandile's call. At least, right away.

After a few moments, a head wriggled its way out of the dune's and peered up at Sun with a surprised look on its face. It was a bluish shark-like Pokémon that Sun didn't immediately recognize. He did notice that the Sandile seemed to sigh with irritation, as if it's hoped help didn't quite arrive.

"Interesting. You usually don't see Gible around these parts. Gabite can be found here, but not their pre-evolved forms." Colress remarked, intrigued as the dragon dug itself out of the sands and glanced around. It then spotted Alastor and Sun, as well as the large group behind them. To their surprise, the dragon suddenly gave them a bright smile.

"Gi gible!" the shark-like Pokémon greeted them cheerfully. Sun couldn't help a smile at the unexpected display, crossing his arms.

"Well hi there! Aren't you a cheerful one?" Sun asked the beaming shark-like Pokémon, which replied with a joyful cry.

"RAAAH!" Alastor snarled as he let loose with a Rock Blast, knocking out the Sandile with ease since it too was distracted by the unexpected appearance of the Gible. Alastor smirked with triumph, and turned to deal with the dragon next, but he was surprised when the dragon made its way over to Sun instead of focusing on the battle.

"You don't seem like you want to fight, huh?" Sun asked the dragon, who nipped at the air in front of it and let out another joyful cry. Sun broke out into a grin as Oliver approached the Gible, leaning forward.

"She's wondering what humans are doing out here in the desert. She says it's been a really long time since she's seen one." Oliver translated, receiving a nod of acknowledgement from the Gible.

"We were exploring the desert trying to find Tapu Bulu." Sun explained to the dragon, who's expression turned to confusion. It was at that moment Rotom Dex popped out of Sun's backpack and upon seeing a new Pokémon, popped open its Pokédex entry.

"Gible, the Land Shark Pokémon. It lives in caves warmed by geothermal heat. Even so, when the weather gets cold, it will huddle close with others of its kind. It skulks in caves, and when prey or an enemy passes by, it leaps out and chomps them. The force of its attack sometimes chips its teeth." Rotom Dex explained as the cheery dragon chomped down on Oliver's wing, earning a screech of surprise and pain.

"Owww! Get her off!" Oliver screeched, flapping his wing hard back and forth while the others laughed at his expense, the Gible remaining clamped onto the owl's wing as she was flung away through the air. It was at that point that Brago seemed to realize something that none of those present had pointed out.

"She's very young. I'm surprised her mother is not out and about." Brago noted, glancing nervously around the desert for a furious land-shark dragon that should have come to protect their offspring. It was at that point Oliver glared at the Gible and bent down until he was snout-to-beak with it.

"Please let go of my wing." Oliver asked politely, and to everyone's surprise the dragon released Oliver's wing and took several steps up.

"Gi gible!" the dragon cried out as Oliver winced in pain.

"Thank you. Now then. You're all terrible for not helping me and I'm pecking you in your dreams tonight." Oliver hooted as he glared at them all, with Hau paling in horror as Sun and Lillie whistled innocently.

"Pretty sure there's one of us that wouldn't mind that one bit-ACK!" Brago tried to say with a smug grin, only for Penny to suddenly fire off a Rock Blast into his side to shut up the canine.

"Good. Now that we're all done staring at the cursed thing. I'll…pummel this little dragon into submission!" Alastor bellowed, rage burning in his eyes as he stomped forward. It was at that moment Sun noticed something about the Gible. Something extremely concerning that made his blood run cold.

"Wait, stop Alastor!" Sun called out, but Alastor ignored his command and rolled forward with Rollout. The Gible let out a terrified shriek and threw apart its arms, causing a whirlwind of sand to envelop Alastor and cause him to shriek in pain.

"Yep, there's Sand Tomb. Sun, you might have to take out a loan or something to afford more supplies once this dork drains your bank account dry." Hau remarked as Sun face-palmed, watching as Alastor struggled out of the sands and threw a Thunder Shock at the Gible, who was completely unaffected due to her being part Ground-type.

"I won't…give up!" Alastor roared as he held out his hands, preparing to use Rock Blast. However the Gible dove into the sands, allowing it to dodge the attack right as Alastor fired it.

"Stop it, Alastor! There's something you're not-" Sun began to say, only for Alastor to give him a harsh look.

"I understand that I need to listen to you. But you should understand that I can't let this desert beat me! If I can't beat that dratted little thing, then what use am I?" Alastor snarled at Sun, who was taken aback by that response.

"I guess his pride has taken quite a pounding in the past few days. I should've seen this coming." Sun thought to himself as the Gible emerged from the sand behind Alastor, its eyes wide with fear.

"G-Gible?" the dragon asked, with Alastor whirling around with a wide grin of malice.

"There you are! Prepare to-" Alastor began to say, only for the Gible to open its mouth and charge up a sphere of pulsating energy that then fired at Alastor. The Alolan Golem shouted out in surprise before the blast detonated, knocking him out.

"That was Dragon Rage. Which would have made short work of Alastor either way, since it ignores defenses and does a set amount of damage." Colress remarked, unable to hold back a chuckle of amusement.

"That never ceases to make me smile." Oliver said with a wide grin, basking in Alastor's suffering because that's just who Oliver is and we love him for it. Penny sighed and shook her head while Finn crossed his arms.

"Now that we're done laughing at Rock-Face over there, please tell me you all see those too. Look at her!" Finn said as he pointed at the Gible, who finished crawling out of the dune and shook the loose sand from her body. Once it had done that, everyone took a moment to realize in horror why Sun had suddenly tried to keep Alastor from fighting the Gible in the first place.

Various half-healed injuries covered its entire body. Its top fin was torn apart, with several large gouges in it. All of the Gible's teeth were almost entirely chipped and shattered, and its right hand was sticking out at a strange angle as if it was broken. Scars littered the body of the small dragon that stood in front of them as well as strange darker splotches across its legs and back. However, it was the fear in the young Pokémon's eyes that made them wonder what on earth happened to it. While injuries were old, they were certainly still causing the dragon some trouble. Sun was amazed that the Pokémon was able to walk, let alone battle.

"Look at her…she's really badly hurt." Lillie whispered, her hands going to her mouth as she stared at the dragon with horror. Inside her mind she thought about some of the injured Pokémon she encountered before fleeing her home. "It looks like she was beaten within an inch of her life."

"She's weak." Colress noted as he walked forward, quickly typing something on his datapad as he inspected the wary Gible. "Those kinds of injuries would make it difficult to hunt. She's likely starving to some extent from the looks of it."

"We've got to do something. Come on." Sun said as he walked over to the dragon, who took several steps back with an expression of concern on its face. Sun knelt down into the sand and pulled out a Sitrus Berry, offering it to the dragon.

"Hey there. Sorry we scared you. Alastor's kind of a jerk. Are you hungry?" Sun asked the dragon, who hesitated for a moment before slowly walking forward. As it approached Sun, it delicately sniffed the berry in his hands and then suddenly broke out into another bright grin, happily crying out before sinking its teeth into the berry and gobbling it down hungrily.

"See? We're nice." Sun said with a kind smile, patting the dragon on the head. The gesture made the dragon freeze for a moment, her expression seemingly unsure what to do about this. After a few moments, she seemed to relax.

"What happened to you, little one? Who hurt you?" Penny asked gently, her voice soft as the Gible suddenly stood upright, sniffing the air and backing away from Sun.

"Gi…Gi Gible." The dragon answered, shaking slightly before shaking its head and snarling at something nearby. The group looked in the direction the Gible was, but couldn't tell what it was looking at.

"She said that she's strange, and that's why she deserved this pain." Penny remarked, a troubled expression on the bird's face.

"That…is extremely concerning." Colress muttered, putting a hand to his chin. "Those injuries don't look like anything that could be caused by Pokémon in the Haina Desert. See those darker marks? Those look like faded burns. There aren't any fire-types in this place. How strange."

"Maybe she had a bad encounter with a Pokémon Trainer? It explains why she seemed so scared of us after Alastor went wild." Hau wondered aloud, with the others considering that fact.

"What I find most worrying is the state of her injuries considering how young she is." Brago remarked, growling softly with anger. "She can't be more than a few months old. She's barely a hatchling."

"She's that young?" Sun asked, surprised by this as he took a better look at the Gible. After looking at her for several moments, he realized that the dragon was a bit on the smaller side, and was not even a foot and a half tall.

"That and the malnourishment would explain her lack of size. She seems to have been struggling along for quite some time here. And yet she still managed to defeat Alastor." Colress chuckled after a moment, causing Sun to sigh as he considered the situation. He walked towards the Gible, who was currently biting at the air and crying out.

"She seems addled…Talking to something that isn't there." Oliver remarked, fluttering forward to join Sun as the boy walked to the dragon. The Gible tensed upon seeing them get close, but Sun knelt down to her level again and smiled.

"See? We won't hurt you. Sorry about all of that." Sun said gently, patting the dragon on the head. The Gible relaxed again, leaning into Sun's hand with a happy smile.

"How can she still smile despite the pain she's in-" Finn began to say, only for him to be cut off when the sands around them exploded violently. Sun and the others cried out as several spinning discs of air slammed into Sun's team, causing Oliver and Finn to scream in pain.

"What the heck!?" Sun yelled as he strained to see what was going on. Between the sandstorm and the sudden attack, it was difficult to see what exactly was happening.

That was when Sun spotted a blurry blue figure floating down from the sky, snarling softly as more spinning discs of air struck the ground around them. One of the discs struck the ground right next to Colress, blasting him backwards into a nearby pile of rocks.

It was then that the Pokémon revealed itself, swooping forward with a screech, and Sun realized that they were being attacked by a Golbat. What exactly a Golbat was doing here of all places was something Sun would figure out later.

"Everyone! Get that Golbat!" Sun shouted as Brago released a torrent of flames from his mouth and Penny and Oliver took to the skies. However, the Golbat released a screeching wave of sound against the two birds, causing them both to falter in midair and glance around the area with confused looks.

"That was Supersonic! Finn, use Psychic!" Sun shouted as the Poliwrath stepped forward, releasing a psychic blast of force that knocked the Golbat backwards through the sky. It then reoriented itself in midair and released another Air Cutter, blasting Finn and Brago on the ground and causing them to cry out in pain

And that was when the Bat Pokémon lunged forward, veering away from Sun and his team…and heading straight for Lillie and Nebby. The girl screamed out in horror, stumbling backwards into the dune as the rogue Pokémon descended through the air.

"Lillie!" Sun screamed out as the Golbat rushed towards the girl, its mouth opened wide as its fangs glowed bright purple. Oliver and Brago rushed forward as Colress called out his Metagross and Hau called out Duke, but the Bat Pokémon was nearly upon her within moments. The Golbat hissed as it dove down onto Lillie-

Before a shimmering sphere of energy suddenly exploded against the side of the Golbat, sending it hurtling through the air away from Lillie. The blonde-haired girl shrieked again, but then stopped when she realized that the Golbat was now lying stunned in the sands nearby.

"Where did that come from!?" Sun demanded, looking at each of his Pokémon. Each of them looked equally confused, as they were the only ones he could have attacked the Golbat. That was when Sun's gaze drifted to his right…and he realized what had happened.

The Gible that they had been battling earlier was standing on the nearby dune, its mouth open wide and smoking slightly. Her eyes were wide with surprise, as if she was shocked by what she had done. Sun realized that it had used Dragon Rage to save Lillie.

"Brago, Extreme Speed! Oliver, Shadow Claw!" Sun yelled out as his Pokémon took stock of what happened and focused on the Golbat as it flapped its wings hard and became airborne once more. Brago rushed forward and within seconds slammed hard into the massive bat, allowing Oliver to rake his shadowy claws against the side of the Golbat and knock it out. As the bird landed on the ground, he kicked some sand into the face of the Golbat with a furious expression.

"Bzzzt! Sun! Oliver just learned Sucker Punch!" Rotom Dex cried out, popping out of Sun's backpack with a cheery buzz.

"At least we got something good out of this mess. But what the heck…That's the second random Pokémon attack in two days." Sun muttered, crossing his arms and trying to figure out exactly what had happened. He then walked over to Lillie, helping her out of the sand and helping brush some of the sand off of her dress. Sun then pulled her into a tight hug.

"You okay?" Sun whispered.

"Y-yeah…thanks to you." Lillie replied back just as quietly, smiling weakly at Sun. The boy released his crush and took that moment to use a Revive on Alastor, who staggered upright with a pained groan.

"I'm not going to complain about the help, but what the hell was that?" Hau demanded, looking at the Gible with surprise. Sun turned his gaze from the small dragon to the large bat that had attacked them, with Lillie consoling a terrified Nebby from within his bag. Sun then smiled, walking over to the strange Gible who had helped them.

"Thanks for your help. You saved someone very important to me." Sun said gratefully, patting the dragon on the head again. The Gible looked up at Sun and broke into another bright smile, letting out a happy cry.

And then the dragon began to glow.

Everyone in the sands stilled as a familiar blue light swirled around the Gible, who remained completely still as her body began to shift and change.

"It's evolving!?" Sun yelled out in surprise as the dragon's glow illuminated the clearing. Slowly the dragon began to grow in size, her claws growing and her head shrinking as her body shifted into something new. Within moments the glow had faded, and a newly-evolved Gabite stood before them.

"Gaaa? Gab Gabite!" the Gabite cried out, beaming at them as it looked over its new body. To Sun's relief, the scars and half-healed injuries that had be present all over the Gible seemed to have been healed thanks to the effects of evolution, but they still troubled Sun.

"The healing properties of evolution will never fail to be fascinating to me." Colress remarked, eyeing the newly-evolved Pokémon with amusement. "However, I did take several pictures of the former Gible's injuries beforehand, so they can still be documented if need be."

"Bzzzt! I guess that's my cue, since I didn't get a chance to do this last chapter!" Rotom Dex beeped, flying forward and flipping to the appropriate Pokédex entry.

"Gabite. The Cave Pokémon. Shiny objects are its passion. It can be found in its cave, scarcely moving, its gaze fixed on the jewels it's amassed or Carbink it has caught. In rare cases, it molts and sheds its scales. Medicine containing its scales as an ingredient will make a weary body feel invigorated." Rotom Dex explained as the Gabite cocked its head at them with a confused expression.

"Excellent." Alastor breathed, clenching his fists with a satisfied grin on his face. "Now I can have no regrets facing you in a fight!"

"Alastor, let it go!" Sun yelled as Alastor stepped forward, unleashing a Rock Blast at the Gabite, who yelped in surprise and dove into the sands. That was when a wicked spiral of sand whipped around the Golem yet again, causing him to snarl in pain.

"That is the most stubborn Pokémon I've ever met." Lillie deadpanned as Sun face-palmed, not even surprised when the newly-evolved Gabite poked her head out of the sand and fired off a Dragon Rage, knocking out Alastor again.

"Part of me wonders if that stubborn fool wants to try his luck again." Brago asked, eyeing Alastor's immobile form with an amused expression.

"Gaaa?" the Gabite asked, breaking out into a bright smile again as she crawled out of the dune. The Gabite stepped forward, nudging Alastor a few times until he groaned in pain. Sun sighed and walked over to Alastor, shaking his head.

"According to my research, Alastor has a 99.8% chance of getting knocked out by that Gabite if you revive him, mostly due to his own stubbornness." Colress said as he held out one of his arms. Hau and Lillie looked down at his datapad and saw a wall of information, with a conclusion at the bottom highlighted in red that said exactly what Colress had about ten seconds prior.

"He's right. The math is totally sound." Lillie remarked, unable to help a smile.

"Alastor's got to learn his lesson sometime." Sun said as he applied the Revive, awakening Alastor from unconsciousness for about the 20th time since they entered the desert.

"You done making your point? Or do you want her to thrash you again?" Penny asked Alastor as he staggered back to his feet, electricity crackling at his claws.

"I won't lose again. Face me!" Alastor yelled out as he faced the Gabite, who shrank back at the yelling Golem.

"Some may wonder if they'll get tired of seeing such a defiant Pokémon get knocked out time and time again…However, I disagree. Have at it, Alastor!" Colress encouraged the Golem as he rolled forward with Rollout, getting blasted with Dragon Rage again and being knocked out again.

Alastor collapsed onto the ground in a smoking heap, to no one's surprise. Sun sighed and used another Revive on the Golem, rousing him again. However, the Gabite then got their attention by wincing as if in pain, clutching her head and letting out a snarl of irritation.

"She says that she can't hear anything because of the voices…what on earth does she mean by that?" Oliver asked, tilting his head slightly. No one had time to respond because Alastor rushed forward again, surprising no one. The Cave Pokémon noticed Alastor at the last moment and her body glowed bright white, colliding with Alastor and sending him reeling backwards with a pained howl. The Gabite winced as red static flickered around her, the recoil from using such an attack manifesting, but then charged up and fired another Dragon Rage which put an end to Alastor's attempted re-re-re-rematch.

"I'm surprised you're not even attempting to help Alastor. He's trying to get some training in, isn't he?" Hau asked Sun, who shrugged.

"If he's not going to listen to me, then he can face the consequences. Besides, I don't even want to fight the Gabite. She just helped us against that crazy Golbat. Besides, look at the smile!" Sun remarked, smirking as the Gabite began to poke Alastor's unconscious body, grinning happily and letting out a soft growl.

"I also like the part where he stops moving." Oliver said brightly, causing Brago to burst out into laughter while Penny shook her head, smiling despite herself.

"Is getting knocked out so many times good for him?" Finn asked, somewhat concerned for Alastor.

"Probably not. It builds character though." Sun remarked, shrugging as he used the last of his Revives on Alastor. The Alolan Golem rolled onto his side, shaking as he snapped back to reality yet again. He growled furiously at the nearby Gabite, who flinched and took several steps back from the irate Golem and hid behind Sun. Alastor took a single step forward, only for a hand to suddenly get placed on his back. He glanced backwards and saw it was Finn.

"Enough. Take a rest. You've done enough fighting." Finn said seriously, surprising Alastor and catching him completely off-guard. The Alolan Golem then sighed and nodded, shrugging off the Poliwrath's hand.

"I'm done for now. I…apologize for losing myself there. This desert frustrates me. I'm worse than useless here, and it's an insult to my pride." Alastor said through gritted teeth, hating every word that he had spoken. But it was the truth, and he felt compelled to explain himself considering how many times he had ignored Sun's orders even after telling his Trainer that he would listen from now on.

"Apology accepted. Just…listen next time. Okay? If you just took a couple of seconds to listen, there were ways to help you win some of those battles even with your type mismatch here." Sun said to Alastor, smiling at the Alolan Golem. The boy then turned to the newly-evolved Gabite, grinning at her.

"As for you…I like you. Do you want to come with us? I think we could use someone strong like you on the team. I have a feeling you would fit in with everyone else." Sun said to the Gabite, who tilted her head in confusion. Hau and Lillie gasped at the sudden suggestion.

"You want her to join you? Seriously?" Hau asked.

"Dragons are supposed to be very difficult to train Sun." Lillie remarked as she eyed the smiling dragon, who seemed confused.

"Ga…gab gab?" the dragon questioned. Alastor snorted with amusement at what she had said and stepped forward.

"She's asking if you're serious. She has concerns that she won't be strong enough and that her weirdness will make you abandon her." Alastor translated, causing Sun's expression to turn to shock. That was compounded when Alastor turned to the young dragon and said, "Worry not. This human would never mistreat you. If you come with us, he will help you learn and grow. Like he did with all of us. The decision is yours."

"Heh. I knew he liked us." Oliver whispered smugly to Penny, who fought back a smile.

The Gabite blinked at those words and frowned, looking down at the sands. After a few moments she looked up and nodded.

Sun smiled again and pulled out a Luxury Ball, walking over to the Cave Pokémon and pressing the ball against her head. The Gabite was sucked into the Luxury Ball instantly, and three shakes and a ding later, Sun now had his sixth Pokémon.

"We'll be a great team." Sun said quietly, smiling down at the Luxury Ball containing the young dragon. Sun was startled when Rotom Dex flew out of his backpack, beeping excitedly.

"Zzzzrt! The Gabite you caught is female and has the Ability Sand Veil. It currently has the moves Tackle, Sand Attack, Dragon Rage, Sandstorm, Take Down, Sand Tomb, and Slash." Rotom Dex informed Sun as he looked down at the Luxury Ball. Sun called the Gabite back out, where it appeared with a joyful cry. Sun couldn't help but smile at the sheer happiness on the dragon's face.

"Yeah, she's a keeper. Let's all make sure we all get along, okay?" Sun said to his team, earning a round of nods and a grunt from Alastor.

"What are you going to name her?" Colress asked, keeping an eye on the Golbat that had attacked them. Right now it was weakly stirring, but Colress' Metagross was currently glaring it down and was ready to attack the moment it proved hostile. It was an unnecessary gesture since as soon as the Bat Pokémon rose to its feet it weakly flew away from them. It was soon a distant figure on the horizon.

Sun hummed as he thought about it, looking at the Gabite as she looked at each of them in turn. She then winced and glanced to her left, seemingly fixated on something they couldn't see. Sun calmed the dragon by patting her on the head, a smile on his face.

"Tetra. I'm calling her Tetra." Sun said, surprising the others. "I had a name already picked out for my last Pokémon, depending on whether or not it was a boy or girl."

"Tetra?" Hau asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think I'm familiar with that name."

"I am. Sun, you're a total nerd." Lillie remarked, grinning at her friend as he blushed with embarrassment. "It's a good name though. I like it."

"What's the name from? Wait, is it from a video game?" Hau asked suspiciously, causing Sun to blush even harder as Lillie giggled at him.

"How about you, Tetra? You like the name?" Sun asked the Gabite, receiving a happy nod in response. Sun grinned and patted the dragon on the head again, receiving a contented sigh from her.

"Let's get to the Pokémon Center in Tapu Village. I want to make sure Alastor doesn't have any lasting damage and that Tetra's injuries actually got healed from her evolving. And to make sure there's nothing else wrong with her." Sun remarked, grinning at the thought of having another member of the team onboard. It also helped that she had a rather bright personality, which after dealing with Alastor's moodiness was something Sun was grateful for.

And so our heroes made their way back to civilization, with Tetra now joining the party. The entire trek back, the dragon couldn't stop smiling with joy, which proved to be contagious. Even Alastor couldn't help the small smirk on his face as they returned to the Tapu Village, even as the always-present storm clouds around this section of the island brewed overhead.


Route 9 Motel, Room 5

The Next Day


"It's so weird being on the other side of the coin and actually hearing this in person." Wes remarked as he leaned against the wall, smirking as Looker and Anabel simply stared at him. Zinnia sat against the wall with a bored expression while Mohn fiddled with the nearby lamp.

"You could've at least brought doughnuts and coffee." Zinnia grumbled, crossing her arms with a sour expression.

"We didn't even consider doing that." Looker said as he exchanged a glance with Anabel, who shrugged.

"It's not ideal, but we were hoping you'd still be willing to work with the International Police in an unofficial capacity." Anabel said to Wes, glancing at Zinnia and Mohn.

"So why am I here again?" Zinnia asked, sounding somewhat bored as she leveled a suspicious glare against both operatives. "Without breakfast, I may add."

"She's right. It's the most important meal of the day." Mohn said cheerily, causing Looker to roll his eyes and Wes to smirk.

"You both aren't exactly part of that deal, but Zinnia has earned some trust with the recent efforts against Cipher. We're hoping to get your help with some matters in Alola, to be totally honest. Whereas Mister Mohn here was part of the deal in getting Wes to meet with us." Looker explained to the Lorekeeper, who shrugged.

"I'd really not get involved with more of your drama. If I do help, it'll probably be on a case-by-case basis." Zinnia said bluntly, receiving two nods from Anabel and Looker.

"That's more than enough. We know your style and we're willing to cooperate for the sake of being able to maintain some sort of partnership with you and Zygarde." Looker said, though he furrowed his brow after a moment as if suddenly realizing something. "Which reminds me, what are your plans for Alola? Do you still plan on seeking out the remaining cells of Zygarde to complete it once more."

"Since you've been so honest with me…" Zinnia said sarcastically, leaning back against the wall. "Yes. I've already promised Zygarde that I'll help it achieve its full form once again. I'll remain in Alola for quite some time as a result, and I've already agreed to help Aria and Wes sort out any further Cipher nonsense."

"Do you think there'll be any further 'Cipher nonsense' happening, Wes?" Anabel asked the former Snagger, who frowned as he considered it.

"Not in any organized capacity. Cipher has been completely stamped out in Alola. And thanks to Ashton's change of heart, we've been able to seize all of Cipher's assets. The Aether Foundation is helping make heads or tails of most of it, which helps us when correcting all of the damage Cipher caused. The real issue is Cipher's efforts abroad."

"Yes…primarily in Kanto, where they were most stationed before they began to focus on Alola." Looker agreed with a nod.

"Also in some of the other regions where their influence was small or not concentrated. We're hoping these Cipher members either give up and quit now that their leadership is gone or simply get assimilated into the criminal underground of whatever hole they're hiding in." Anabel remarked, sighing softly. "We really need to step up recruitment efforts. There's just not enough of us to sort all of this out."

"I'm sure you guys are already scouting out a few possible operatives to recruit. That's why you've got a personable guy like Ollie leading the show here in Alola, right?" Wes asked, flashing them a knowing smile. Looker and Anabel exchanged a glance before nodding at the former Snagger.

"Yes, Ollie's presence is more well-known across the official channels than myself or Looker. He's also just a lot better with people than we are, which is why we're letting him handle things while we support him." Looker admitted, laughing softly.

"So my question is, what have you been up to while we've been running around ironing out this Cipher stuff?" Mohn asked, finally speaking up and drawing the gaze of everyone.

Anabel sighed in response. "Honestly? Trying to figure out what the Pokémon League is playing at and making sure they won't do something they don't regret."

"Which means…?" Wes asked pointedly, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Turns out they're wanting to manipulate Alola and take advantage of the fact that it's not nearly as developed as some of the other regions, especially since it's recovering from the recent attacks under Cipher. Rose has openly commented on it at meetings that Olivia, Kukui and Hala are not present at." Looker responded dryly.

"It's stunning to know that despite the Champions being reasonably good people, they're still manipulative bastards at the end of the day." Wes remarked with some amusement in his voice.

"That's politics for you." Zinnia said with a chuckle, making Mohn frown at the comment.

"Well, most of them are against trying to move against Alola at the moment. They're really just antsy about Ashton Aupuni being in the region and effectively safe from being punished by them because of the Tapu." Anabel responded, placing a hand on her hip. "Really, it's just Chairman Rose who's making all of the really interesting remarks."

"He strikes me as a good man." Wes remarked, having met the Galarian League Chairman once or twice. "Very personable and generous."

"He's got a good poker face, I'll give him that. If I didn't hear the words he spoke, I would've never guessed he wanted to keep Alola under the League's thumb more than join the group as an equal." Looker remarked, humming softly after he spoke.

"He cares about his region more than anything else. Galar's future supersedes everything else to him. The well-being of his own people matter more to him than the standing of a backwater region like Alola that's only recently become a tourist trap in the past three decades or so." Zinnia remarked, drawing everyone's gaze. She noticed the looks she was getting and flashed a menacing grin. "I'm very well-traveled and have met a lot of different types of people. Theodore Rose is a good man, but he's also the head of Galar's government. He's got different priorities and goes about them in a different way."

"You're surprisingly insightful." Anabel remarked, smiling at Zinnia. "I'd like to chat with you more about some of those insights sometime."

"I'm partial to tea and muffins. Banana nut muffins, in particular." The Draconid remarked, smirking with amusement at the bewildered expression of Looker.

Anabel cracked a smile at that. "Very well. Once we both have a bit more time on our hands we can meet up to talk more. Over breakfast, if you wish. Considering the history that the Draconids know of, there's all sorts of discoveries we can sniff out."

"I'll have to get back to you on that. It's hard to tell where the winds will blow these days, especially with the nonsense happening in Alola." Zinnia said with a laugh, knowing full-well that was a lie. But she didn't want the International Police knowing more than what they needed to know.

Wes fought the urge to smile. He instead said, "Since we're on the topic of Alola, I haven't seen much of Ashton Aupuni. Are there any plans that you know of to try and persecute him further?"

"Ahh…Well, about that." Looker sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Unfortunately, I had to finally come through on a promise I made to an operative that got reactivated. It's probably a good thing that Ashton is effectively immortal right now."

"What kind of promise?" Zinnia asked, tilting her head in confusion. Anabel grimaced and Wes narrowed his eyes suspiciously, only for Mohn to speak.

"Sounds like it wasn't something you didn't exactly want to do, but didn't have much of a choice in the matter." Mohn remarked, earning two nods from the operatives.

"Yeah, we really didn't want to do this. But Agent Volk is currently too useful not to have on our side, so we pulled some strings and got him what he wanted." Anabel remarked, crossing her arms with a rueful smile. "Right now I imagine he's having a very interesting reunion."


Malie City Jail

Maximum Security Block


"So what you're saying is that you all used to be humans?"

"Yes. Though only Bulu and Fini remember those times with any clarity."

"Amazing. Any stories you feel like sharing?"

"Not right now. We've got an eternity to get to know each other better, Ash. It's best to keep some secrets handy for a rainy day. Or whenever they let you out of that cell."

"If it wasn't for the fact that I literally have nothing to do all day but talk to you all, I'd be more annoyed. So what kind of positions did you all hold as humans?" Ashton asked the Tapu present in his head, earning a chorus of laughter while the Aupuni rolled his eyes.

It was at that moment that the door to the padded cell that Ashton was presently in opened. The former Grand Master of Cipher sat up, flashing a grin to the guard who had come to deliver his evening dinner through a small grate that was mostly blocked off by iron bars.

"Are you still talking to yourself, Borlath?" came the familiar drawl of the prison guard who normally stood outside of his cell all day.

"Of course. No one else is going to listen to my bullshit." Ashton responded with a laugh, causing the guard to scowl in annoyance.

It didn't take long for Ashton to realize that the Tapu had done quite a bit more than curse him with immortality and tether him to Alola forever.

After the first few dozen times he was killed by the police, Red and Blue, and at least eight different assassins who were quickly captured and silently killed themselves by the International Police, Ashton was finally thrown into a cell and more or less left to his own devices. It was an abandoned block of the prescient in Malie City that was used for more dangerous criminals, and in the eyes of the world he was the most dangerous man alive.

"Cut the act, Borlath. Eventually you're gonna snap again, and when you do you'll be begging for them to figure out how to kill you." The guard snapped at the criminal, who simply chuckled good-naturedly.

"I haven't done any acting in years. Not counting the times I pretend to enjoy your company." Ashton shot back, grinning at the guard through the small hole in his cell that allowed him to see the man scowling at him.

"You're lucky I value my job more than your life." The man responded dryly, pushing the tray unappetizing prison food through the grate. "Otherwise I'd shut you up for good. You've got twenty minutes to eat."

"Thank you, kind overlord." Ashton stood up and walked over to the tray, grimacing at the slop that had been given to him. The man was tempted to skip dinner, but starving to death was a miserable affair and he didn't want to piss off the prison guards more than he had already. So he quickly shoveled down the food and placed the tray on the other side of the grate, stepping away so that the guard could take it away.

The grate then closed, and Ashton was left to himself once again.

Solitary confinement was something that the Kahunas and what remained of Alola's former leadership had agreed on would be best for the Cipher Leader at the moment. The fact that he had been cursed by the Tapu with immortality was something kept as a secret by only a handful of people who weren't present at the Hau'oli Pier.

The Aupuni grinned to himself, amused at the fact that the League couldn't actually do anything to him at the moment. That hadn't stopped them from trying, of course, and Blue and Red had both attempted to kill him twice each before admitting that they were unable to bypass the Tapu's curse and bring him down.

Funnier still, the League couldn't openly admit the current legal limbo that Ashton Aupuni was in. The man physically couldn't leave Alola and killing him had no effect whatsoever since he would always come back. It would simply cause chaos and it was a problem no one had a solution for. So they simply decided that for now Ashton would rot in jail.

The frustration of the Pokémon League had been something heavily stressed by Blue and the International Police, and in response Ashton simply smiled and shrugged at them.

Inwardly the former Cipher Master knew that it was wrong to get amusement from the suffering of those who he had wronged, especially because it was partly their job to ensure that the wicked were punished. But having worked with them before stripped him of much of the compassion he should have had for them.

Also the fact that they destroyed his building back in Celadon. Killing several hundred innocent people along with several hundred Cipher members while also allowing Roran to almost get away with murdering his son still left him very bitter towards the Pokémon League.

Thankfully, the couple of phone calls he made to his legal team and his acting heads of Aupuni Industry (who had nothing to do with Cipher but helped keep the business running while he was out committing crimes) before politely walking into the arms of the Alolan Police Force were more than enough to start raising all sorts of hell for the Pokémon League to deal with.

Best yet, the Aupuni Industries Alolan Branch was already finalized and everyone associated with the business in Kanto who wasn't dead was already moving to the tropical region. He was pretty confident his business would bounce back from the Pokémon League's actions and help Alola's economy, as well as the Alolan Pokémon League.

"It's so strange…How after how much I despised my home, I've now come to accept that it's a place worth protecting." Ashton murmured, closing his eyes with a rueful smile. "I don't think it's petty of me to get some satisfaction from it. What do you lot think?"

"There's some weird irony to it. Truthfully we did not understand all of the implications our combined Curse would cause on the world at large." Tapu Lele remarked lightly, a giggle in its voice. "It's marvelous to see the world try and struggle with the complications it causes."

"Perhaps. But the close contact that I've been given with you all does leave me with some questions. I get that you four are originally humans who gave up their humanity to combat the Ultra Beast threat hundreds of years ago…But how are you all so different in bearing and personality if you underwent the same transformation?" Ashton asked the Tapu within his mind.

"Just because we ended up at the same place does not mean we walked the same path." Tapu Koko responded, causing Ashton's brow to furrow as he processed that.

"Meaning that some changes happened over time, and that it's likely due to your different personalities that you all came to embody different concepts like conflict, life and so on?" Ashton replied, causing several hums to echo within his mind.

"You're mostly correct. Our current personalities are the result of becoming Tapu, as well as the result of hundreds of years affecting our minds in the way that they would affect any being who lives longer than what Arceus intended." Tapu Lele said with the mental equivalent of a shrug.

"Tapu Koko has mostly given in to its wild side whereas Bulu and myself often remain still for decades at a time. Lele is the only one of us with any remote connection to the world of today. And even that was simply out of boredom." Tapu Fini remarked, amusement in its voice.

The God of Life hummed thoughtfully. "And to not lose myself to the ravages of time, like Koko has. We have lived for centuries, hundreds of years. Not all Pokémon were meant to endure for so long without losing something of themselves as time goes on."

"That does make sense, in a way…How would you even stop something like that?" Ashton asked curiously.

"Some Pokémon go dormant, slumbering away in their dens or sanctums. Some search for Trainers, allowing themselves to bond with others to experience love and companionship for a long period of time. I chose neither and allowed myself to simply…be." Tapu Koko remarked, sighing mentally. "In truth, I yearn for those memories of the days long gone by. These days I often forget what I once was. Did I have a family before I became a Tapu? My mind struggles with such thoughts…and so I let them go and simply allow my heart to carry me forward."

"I can't even imagine dealing with any of that…" Ashton admitted, sighing as he considered the implications of what it truly meant to live forever.

"And what of your own mind?" Tapu Fini asked the former leader of Cipher, causing Ashton to smirk.

"You mean how is the state of my mind after having a lifetime of depression, sorrow and anxiety purged? How can I even respond to that?" Ashton's words were light, but his smirk turned slowly into a scowl. "I don't even know who I am anymore…But the clarity I have now is something I could have never imagined and I have to thank you for it. I can see the truth behind what I've done and see how I can make things right. For now, I'll dance to the tune of the law. But once I'm free, I will make things right."

"After our failure to stop my previous Chosen…And for your crimes, of course, this was a fitting punishment. You will endure forever. But to keep the scars that you bore that turned you into Borlath would be foolish and truly cruel." Tapu Bulu said gently, even as Ashton grit his teeth in anger. He then sighed, allowing the emotion to fade.

"My scars are what made me Ashton Aupuni. My pain, my sorrow and suffering, turned me into the man I was. Now it's all gone. What's left? A husk, doomed to forever march on despite the ravages of time?" Ashton asked, his voice a whisper within the cell.

"That is for you to decide, Ashton Aupuni…" Tapu Koko chirped, though a few moments later the presence of the four Guardian Deities became stronger within the man's mind.

"We will be with you. Now and forever, we shall walk alongside you in this world and see what it will become." All four Tapu intoned within his mind, causing the man to shut his eyes.

"A world where everyone I know and love will eventually die, including my son and ex-wife, and I will endure. A world that I nearly destroyed in a fit of madness." Ashton responded with no small amount of bitterness.

Then, a certain memory came to Ashton and the anger faded completely.


"I forgive you…because I know that in your heart of hearts you want to make things right. I still see that good in you, Dad. Even if you don't see that good in yourself anymore."


"It's fine…" Ashton allowed himself a soft smile, lying down on the mattress that was on the floor. "Sun became stronger than I could have ever dreamed. I believe that he can make this reality whatever he wants it to be…And when he's gone, I'll be there to help protect the world he leaves behind."

"You've grown." Tapu Lele remarked, a warmth in its voice. Ashton snorted, shaking his head.

"Not really. I've simply been taught that some things cannot be no matter how much I wish otherwise." Ashton said quietly, his smile becoming rueful as he considered his fall from grace. Once the most powerful villain in the world, now stuck in a cage with his wardens haunting his mind. "I've gained the ability to actually see what things are, rather than what I wish for them to be. My son and his friends will take care of things…I have nothing to worry about."

"I met with your son yesterday, actually. Along with the girl who holds the star-child." Bulu spoke up, causing Ashton to bolt upright.

"Wait, you talked to Sun? How is he? Is he safe?" Ashton asked, his tone urgent and serious.

"Yes. Your son is doing well. The boy and his friends came to visit me in Haina Desert. We spoke of the past and what I knew of the star-child in the girl's care. Unfortunately many of my memories were lost to the ravages of time, but I did inform them about the Sacred Flutes." Tapu Bulu responded, causing Ashton to think on that.

"Reminds me of something from a long time ago…Didn't Lusa say something about finding a flute years back?" Ashton wondered to himself, frowning slightly. "I was so distracted with everything happening that I never mentioned any of Aether's wrongdoings to the police. Not that they'd actually listen to me."

"There's only so much you can do from here regarding your friend, Ashton." Tapu Koko chided the Trainer, who simply hummed in response. It was then that the former Grand Master of Cipher fell silent, content to simply reflect on things.

"Hey Borlath, you've got a visitor." Came the guard's voice from the grate some time later, earning a raised eyebrow from the criminal as he glanced up at the wall.

"Is it someone coming to test the theory of whether or not I can actually die? Because after the first dozen times it's gotten old." Ashton said dryly, sitting up from the padded floor with a smirk. It was then that the entire side of the wall that the grate was built into slid open, revealing the outside of the maximum security cell block that he was currently the sole occupant of. Standing beside the prison guard was a man that Ashton blinked twice at, as if struggling to remember where exactly he knew him from.

He was a tall and powerfully built man, dressed in cut-off jeans and a ragged T-shirt with a biker jacket slung over his shoulders. His scared face was twisted into a scowl, his eyes hidden behind a thick pair of sunglasses. Standing on his shoulder was Kecleon, a bandana around its neck.

The two men stared at one another for several seconds before the realization struck Ashton like a Thunderbolt to the heart, and the man staggered back in surprise as his face went pale.

"You…No way. You're…y-you're alive?" Ashton whispered, his voice shaking slightly with awe.

"You two know each other, Agent Volk?" the prison guard asked as he looked at the man glaring down Ashton behind the shades.

"Once upon a time I thought I knew him." Agent Volk responded, spitting onto the ground outside the cell before saying. "This block is clear, right?"

"Yessir. Got orders from the top to allow you as long as you want with Borlath here. This is entirely off the record." The prison guard responded, causing Ashton to raise an eyebrow at the exchange. "So how do you know this guy, Agent Volk? It's not like Borlath has any friends in Alola or anything-"

"His name isn't Agent Volk. Or at least, it wasn't when I knew him." Ashton cut the man off, earning him a scowl from the prison guard. He then looked at his old friend with a crooked smile that wasn't returned. "Commander Jackal…It's been too long."

"Howdy Ash. Guess you remember me after all." Agent Volk, also known as Caleb Jackson or Commander Jackal, said coldly to his former friend.

"Amber said that she killed you back at the Battle Royal Dome...I mourned your passing." Ashton said quietly, his eyes shifting white in both fear and surprise. The newly reactivated International Police Agent simply responded by leveling a revolver at Ashton's head as the door to the cell closed completely, locking them both inside.

"That red-headed bitch of yours killed Gretel and nearly got me too. But I didn't die…I endured. Now talk, Ash." Jackal growled in a tone that Ashton knew full well meant that the man was not playing around. "Because unless I like your answers, I'm gonna be testing your new immortality pretty goddamn thoroughly."


NEXT TIME: Jackal and Ashton have a very long overdue talk and Sun faces the main conflict of the story at last.


Happy Shark Week everyone!

Yeah, the timing on this particular chapter couldn't have been any better. Sun's final Pokémon is indeed Gabite. Definitely an interesting character to add to Sun's team. I can't wait for you all to get to know Tetra.

Massive shoutout Muramasa96and RC-DA who guessed correctly on what Sun's last capture would be!

No Q & A this time, since there weren't any questions!

That's all for now! Please leave a review, Favorite and/or Follow the story to show your support and stay updated. I also have a Discord server for the story and I answer questions in the review section below.

Stay safe and stay awesome.

Until next time, FlygonNick out!