In five years a region could grow calmer, inhabitants would grow older, and hearts would be healed of all wounds.
Or so Moon thought.
Because as she stared wide eyed into the green ones she used to adore she felt emotions bubble inside of her. Emotions she didn't want to feel and through hundreds of imagined scenarios where Moon forgave and forgot she now found herself unable to formulate words. This wasn't a random encounter full of shock and unease. This wasn't a planned event full of regrets and clarity.
No, this was an attack on the walls she worked hard to build. Her eyes narrow as her demeanor shifts in a fraction of a second. The normally warm and welcoming Champion was now cold and distant.
But what did Gladion expect? To be welcomed with open arms?
Not a chance.
"I'm sorry Lillie, your battle is going to have to wait," Moon says she walks away from everyone at the entrance only to stop on her side of the room. "But don't worry it won't take five years."
"Moon you don't have to-" Lillie begins to protest but the Elite Four next to her all shake their heads. Moon had made up her mind and by then Gladion had already walked up the stairs. Moon's Decidueye and Silvally were the first to step in front of their trainer, their low growls in protests said everything loud and clear. Gladion was not to be trusted.
"So what brings you back?" Moon asks haughtily, but before Gladion could even open his mouth Moon lifts a single finger shushing him in the process. "I take it back I don't want to know. Decidueye you're up."
Silvally steps back to join the rest of her Pokemon. They were all on edge as they watched her her starter stand on the battlefield alone. It's focus undeniable as Gladion sends out his first pokemon.
A Venasaur.
Moon feels the anger boil inside of her as she stares at the Kantonian Pokemon. Of course, he would find a roundabout way to answer her question, but what pissed her off more was that he had the nerve to run away to her home region. Moon gives Hala a quick nod and he takes apprehensive steps forward. It was rare for a spectator to be in the Champion's room, let alone the full Elite Four, but they would do anything to support their Champion.
He gives her one last concerned look before lifting his hands. "To my left Champion Moon. To my right Challenger Gladion. Last one standing wins." He sees Moon smirk.
"Begin."
"Brave Bird" Moon says almost instantly, giving her opponent no time to react.
"Venusaur, dodge" Gladion sputters out, but it was too late for the heavier Pokemon as Moon's nimble bird had already made direct contact, causing it to fall almost immediately.
Hala lifts his hands as he grants Moon the win. "Venusaur is unable to battle."
Decidueye sqwaks angrily in Gladion's direction before Moon recalls him.
Moon chuckles as she sees Gladion tsk and send out a Crobat. "You should've said hi to Red and Blue for me," Moon says as she stares at the friendship evolved Pokemon. Truly, an unsurprising choice. "But I guess you of all people wouldn't consider little pleasantries like that necessary" Moon murmurs meanincingly as she gives her Raichu a single look. Her Pokemon now wordlessly lunging forward with charged cheeks as it locks onto its target.
Gladion calls out some command that goes over Moon's head. Everything was starting to become white noise around her as she felt herself overcome with pent up anger.
"But you know what is necessary, Gladion ?" Moon spits out as she sees Raichu stand in the middle of the battlefield; his Crobat zips around trying to evade the upcoming attack. "Wiping out your team like old times" the coldness in her words sends chills down everyone's spine, but it's a passing reaction as she commands Raichu to attack with a powerful thunderbolt.
The bright lights surrounds them as everyone closes their eyes to block out the shine. Hala, Gladion, and Moon however stare ahead, waiting patiently to see the outcome.
The purple Pokemon laid fainted on the battlefield.
"Crobat is unable to battle. Send out your next Pokemon."
Everyone knew their Champion wasn't vindictive in any way whatsoever, but for once she had more on the line than just a Championship title.
"The Challenger's Pokemon are unable to battle. Champion Moon is the winner."
Hala's final words reverberate through the glass room; the tension rising as the silence settles in. Moon recalls her Silvally without a noise as she stares across the way trying to read Gladion's expression. His eyebrows were furrowed, his lips thinned into a simple line and his fist was opening and closing like he usually did when he was mulling over what to say.
Moon hated that she could still read him.
"I didn't just come here to battle," he says quietly, but it was loud enough to rile up a response from Moon.
"Get out," Moon snaps as her intense gaze meets Gladion's shocked expression. What once was a joke about their first few meetings was now just a bitter phrase that he recognized very well.
"Moon-" his begins only for his voice to get caught in his throat.
Moon feels the tears begin to prick her eyes she tries to not lose her composure. To not be influenced by hearing her voice on his lips after so long. She drops her gaze and bolts directly towards the exit, leaving everyone else in the room behind her.
"I always thought you were smarter than this Gladion"
Gladion turns around and sees his sister angrily looking at him. Her arms crossed in a huff as the Elite 4 decide it was best for them to leave the siblings alone. Murmurs of 'Moon' and 'checking up on her' could be heard as they made their way down the path their Champion went.
As soon as they exited Lillie went off.
"FIVE YEARS GLADION. FIVE WHOLE YEARS."
Gladion winces at his sister's scolding. "Lillie I can-"
She lifts a hand, forcing him to stop his sentence halfway. "If you're going to give me excuses don't bother. I need apologies and groveling and everything that has happened to be magically fixed. Can you give me that Gladion?"
His hands tremble at his sides as his sister's words sink in.
"Gladion answer me!"
"I can't do that Lillie" he yells back, the emotions finally riling up out of him.
But the disappointment was written all over his sister's face. "Then you better find out how before any of us let you talk to her."
Gladion lets out a huff of air. He was frustrated at his sister, at the situation, at himself…
"I'm not happy under these circumstances" Lillie murmurs "but it's nice to see you're alive and well."
Gladion says nothing in response, already knowing the how his disappearing act impacted Lillie.
"Mother will be happy to see you."
A tsk escape his lips.
"Excuse me, mister. You have no right to be mad at mother after all that you did" Lillie says absolutely appalled, but it triggers yet another response out of the stoic blonde.
"I'm not the one that almost destroyed a region. I didn't cause the wormholes that involved Mo-" He doesn't finish his sentence, instead deciding to turn away and walk towards the exit. Lillie says nothing as she hears his footsteps descend the steps. Her fingers drum silently on her arm as she mulls over her own thoughts.
When the panels at the bottom swing open she finally opens her mouth.
"Find a place to stay before Sun gets his hands on you." She gives him a half hearted smile, as if that's the most she can muster for her brother's return.
Moon is nowhere to be found by the time the Elite 4 makes it outside. "She probably went home," Kahili murmurs, but Olivia and Hala share a concerned look. Acerola was the first to press her pokedex against her ear. If anyone needed to know about this, it had to be Sun.
"Sup?" she hears from the other side of the receiver, but she already knew his carefree persona was going to do a complete 180 at the news drop.
"Sun, I need you to listen to me."
A chuckle could be heard on the receiver. "Arceus for you to sound this serious-"
"Gladion is back."
Silence.
"Su-" Acerola begins, but the brand new background noises cut her off. Sun probably left one of his manybusiness endeavors.
"Where's Moon?"
Acerola looks back and sees everyone still standing around. "We-we don't know. She left the League."
"Where's the asshole?" Sun demands, never shy about his disdain for their former friend.
"You can't start a fight here, Sun" Acerola begs, but he only laughs.
"It won't be a fight if I hit him first…"
"Don't you-" Acerola pulls away from her dex. He had hung up on her so with a huff she turns back to everyone, this time seeing Lillie walk out by herself.
"Where's Gladion?" Acerola asks almost immediately at the sight of her.
"I told him to find a place to stay," Lillie whispers, "five years later and our mother is still a sore subject."
Sympathetic looks get tossed around. Olivia, however, can't hold back the scoff that escapes her. "Gladion shows up unannounced and Sun wants to beat the crap out of him. You would think that the 30 year olds would know better."
"Age has nothing to do with maturity" Hala adds as everyone silently agrees with his statement.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
The scream could be heard right before the slamming of a door. Sun stood outside on Moon's porch banging on the wooden frame. His sister was a grown adult, that he understood. But his concern as an older brother was never going to fade, especially when a certain blonde has made his appearance.
"Moon, I'm not here to baby you. I swear...I'm just concerned"
Moon abruptly pulls the door open just wide enough for him to get a glance. She looked aggravated, but he couldn't decipher if it was because of him or Gladion. A small internal sense of relief filled him, however, when he confirmed that she wasn't crying. "I. AM. FINE." She says in a staccato before forcing a grin onto her face. "Anymore questions, big brother ?"
Yup, her anger was definitely at him.
"Moon just let me in…"
But once again the door shut tight, giving Sun enough motive to leave and try again later.
Moon leans her forehead against the door, waiting to hear the sound of a Charizard taking her brother away. Her hand shakily lets go of the doorknob as she takes deep breaths in an attempt to recompose herself. She clenches her eyes tightly to fight back the tears she didn't want to fall.
"I'm strong enough to deal with this" she murmurs.
She couldn't talk to Sun. He would go on and on about getting his revenge.
"I don't need pity"
She couldn't talk to Lillie. She was probably dealing with the fact that her brother was back.
"I just need time…"
And for once she didn't think Hau was in on anything, but it wouldn't be long before he would find out and try console her.
She keeps her head propped against the door as she clicks the Pokeballs on her waist.
"You all believe me if I say I'm fine, right?" she says quietly, but the sad coos and whimpers are the responses she dejectedly accepts.
Of course her Pokemon wouldn't accept her blatant lies either.
"I can assure you, young trainer. Tapu Koko can't wait for the day you two will share a battle"
The young boy bounces up and down on his heels. "Thank you Kahuna Hau" he cheerfully exclaims before booking it to the nearby route. A warm chuckle escapes Hau when the sound of approaching footsteps calls his attention.
"I'm a man walking with a bounty on his head."
Gladion declares, getting straight to the point as Hau stares at him wide-eyed shock. The Kahuna blinks once, twice and then proceeds to rub his eyes repeatedly as Gladion walks closer.
"I'm really here, Hau" Gladion murmurs, but Hau's brain still can't find the proper words to say. Does he greet him? Does he yell at him? Who knows of his arrival?
"Lillie's already scolded me...I'm hiding from Sun...I couldn't speak a word to Moon…" Gladion's eyes lock on the floor.
But Hau was always the second best at reading the older Aether sibling. This was his own cry for help, and Hau couldn't turn him away.
"Follow me."