Author's Note: The title is so accurate... Alondra is kind of taking the backseat here as Hala steps in to test his student. Biggest challenge was trying to rationalize barging into Guzma's room in these random strangers' house when he'd just left Team Skull! And he just seems to roll with it in the game, but seriously, what the heck?
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Alondra had succeeded in getting him to drink a mug of Tapu Cocoa and nibble at some toast before they headed out to the mansion's front lawn. There, Guzma took time to call out his Pokémon for a stretch, a bask in the sun, and a morning brushing. Even after the months they'd been 'together', Alondra was not sure how one brushed bug Pokémon, but Guzma apparently had it down to an art and did so religiously each day. As she hurried to the Pokémon center to double check that everything was in place, she couldn't keep a smile off her face as she thought about how Guzma was the world's biggest softie when it came to his babies. His creepy, crawly babies… No matter what they looked like or what people thought about bugs, she knew they'd been his constant companions through a lot of turbulent times in his life, and he probably viewed them as the only ones who had never hurt him or betrayed him or abandoned him. He always returned that loyalty ten-fold. Truthfully, the tender side he showed with his Pokémon was one of the big reasons she had feelings for him.
After a quick conversation with the ex-grunts working the counter and a final sweep of the center for anything missing or out of place, Alondra made her way back to the lawn, hoping she hadn't missed anything during her inspection. In fact, he was still where she'd left him, with Ariados climbing around in the trees, Pinsir soaking in the sun, Masquerain fluttering about the newly planted gardens, and Golisopod curled up and purring like Alondra's Meowth (which never ceased to amaze her). Guzma was leaned against Golisopod's hard exoskeleton deep in thought.
"Hey you, is everybody ready to go? They look like they're more ready for a nap!" she joked, settling in beside him. Golisopod was, by this point, no stranger to Alondra, and he took no issue with her being in his space, only shifting slightly and chirping even louder.
"Yeah. I, uh, thought something would have happened by now," he admitted nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Maybe instead of having an angry mob, nobody will show up…"
"You know, come to think of it, every time I ever challenged a kahuna, they were… let's see… Hala spent all his time chasing a Tauros around the island, Olivia was working at her shop, Nanu was…" she stopped, snickering. "Spying on you and offering to deliver my corpse back home…"
Guzma snorted. "Sounds like something that crazy geezer would say!"
"Hmm, and Hapu actually just followed me around the entire island waiting for me to be ready for a challenge. So, long story short, I guess none of the kahunas just sat around with a neon sign over their head that said 'battle me'."
"Yeah, but there's been a week hiatus while we switched over officially. SOMEONE should be waiting," he pointed out glumly.
Alondra wasn't sure what to say. It was true what he said. And gosh darn it, if no one came, would that be even worse than all the things he worried could happen? He'd be stewing in his anxiety for even longer, while even one battle would probably put most of his worries to rest.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through. "Ho ho! Ready and waiting, my boy?"
Both Alondra and Guzma gaped as they looked to the sky. A Charizard was lowering itself for landing in the large, spacious yard, and the rider was none other than perennially jovial Kahuna Hala, who beamed from his perch atop the Pokémon. The gusts from its wings set Guzma's bugs flying, and he quickly recalled them with a scowl. "Crazy old man…"
As soon as the giant flying lizard landed, the Kahuna leapt off and dismissed him with a pat on the nose. He waited until the Pokémon was back in the sky before attempting to communicate with his student. "I thought maybe you would sleep in like you normally do?"
Guzma rolled his eyes. "It's not like I'm avoiding morning mediation or anything."
Hala walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "So you skipped it, or did you get to it?"
"We've…had enough to worry about this morning," Alondra volunteered in Guzma's defense. He flashed her a grateful look.
"Hmm, I see." He thought for a brief moment, then the smile returned. "So then, boy, if you are raring to go, let's get started."
Guzma blinked. "What, you mean, battle you?"
"Kahuna against kahuna, the ultimate duel. It's time to see just how you've progressed. Now, where are you planning on having these battles?"
"Uh, right here on the lawn?" Guzma offered. When Hala looked at him skeptically, he raised his hands in defense. "Geez, ya know I hate all that ceremony and crap. We ain't building some ritual platform out here! Besides, the grass is more natural for the Pokémon, ya know? We got the yard lookin' halfway decent here…"
"Hmph," Hala chuckled, relaxing. "Just making sure."
"You thought I was bein' lazy, didn't ya?" Guzma retorted in annoyance, hand finding Golisopod's pokéball. "I'll show ya just how lazy I've been old man!"
"So be it. Three on three?" Hala took a battle pose as he reached for his own Pokéballs.
"You bet! I hope you won't throw out your back goin' all out, gramps!"
Even though his words might sound disrespectful to some, Hala wasn't offended in the slightest. Alondra knew he expected it from his pupil after all these years, and it was the closest to a term of endearment Guzma had for his mentor. However, that wasn't all; both Alondra and Hala recognized immediately that there was no mention of crushing, beating down, or destruction as the battle began. A year ago when Hala took him back as an apprentice, he'd made it clear those expressions of Guzma's showed his heart was not in the right place when it came to battling. Actually, she hadn't heard him say any such thing since that battle on the Hau'oli beachfront. Some might say it was the day Guzma's heart was finally moved to change…
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
The rain came out of nowhere, an apparently typical summer shower. Alondra had been heading up Route 2 on her way to visit the cemetery when it began without warning, sending her scurrying to the nearest shelter. That shelter happened to be the house of a couple she had met months earlier on her initial trek up the road, and even after all that time she still wondered absently as she knocked on their door if their prodigal son had ever returned.
The woman answered, and quickly allowed her to rest inside until the rain stopped. She seemed just as fidgety and flighty as before, hurrying to the kitchen to pour her a drink. Her husband didn't stir from his spot in front of the television. As the woman worked, Alondra's eye was drawn once more in idle curiosity to the framed pictures of their missing son. However, unlike the last time she'd studied them, things were different. Her eyes widened in shock as she realized that the boy in the pictures, sturdy and tall, bleached white hair with a dark undercut and deep gray eyes, looked just like someone she knew. Sure, seeing the kid look so happy with a radiant smile as he clutched his trial amulet was hard to comprehend, but the Wimpod on his shoulder made it even more obvious.
Alondra's heart thundered in her chest. Risking a glance at the couple, she noted both were otherwise occupied. Curiosity drove her to the breaking point. She slid over to the bedroom door, still clearly labeled with a sign that said 'Keep Out', and this time instead of obeying the message, she cracked open the door. The person behind it nearly gave her a heart attack.
"I thought I told ya to…what the hell?!" Guzma had been flopped on his bed until he noticed Alondra was definitely not one of his parents. Once that registered, he bolted up. "What are ya doin' in my room?!"
If it were possible, her jaw would have hit the ground. "G-Guzma?" she stammered. Clues she'd at least expected, but having him actually there behind the door was another thing entirely.
"You nosy brat! Can't ya read the sign? I don't know what you think you're doing here, but…" he seemed to think for a second. "I actually needed to talk to you. Get your rear to the Hau'oli City Beachfront!" Jumping up, he grabbed his bag from his dresser and stormed out of the room. She could hear the front door slam behind him.
Mere seconds later, Guzma's mom burst into the room. "What happened?"
"Guzma…lives here?" she gasped, still trying to wrap her head around it. Big Bad Guzma actually had parents. A home he could have gone to. Somehow she never imagined that sort of life for the leader of a gang.
"Oh, you know our Guzma!" the woman brightened a bit. "It's so nice to see our boy made some friends! Why didn't you mention anything?"
"What the hell, woman!" The voice of Guzma's dad suddenly cut through over the din of the television. "Did that LOOK like friendship to you? He probably pissed her off like he does everybody else and stormed off like the snot-nosed brat he is."
"N-no, I'm sure he…"
"Actually, we were just going to go meet up at the Hau'oli beach. He was so excited he just ran off," Alondra attempted, feeling super awkward at his father's outburst. "I'd better go catch up; he's such an impatient guy!" With a nervous laugh, she made a break for the door, withering a bit under the man's suspicious glare. He'd become downright toxic as soon as Guzma had been mentioned, enough to give her a knot in her stomach.
As soon as she made it outside, she realized his mother had followed her. "Wait, Alondra, was it? You forgot your snack!" she insisted, holding out a hastily bagged treat.
"Thank you ma'am, but you didn't have to…"
"I'm so glad Guzma has a friend! People have been spreading all kinds of nasty rumors about him since he left home, but I know none of that is true. It's a relief to know someone else realizes it too."
Incredible. Guzma's mom was not even aware that her son was the leader of Team Skull? No, that wasn't right; she had to be aware but had such a powerful sense of denial that such a thing was impossible to her. Not that she was going to argue the point with this woman… "Well, what can I say? He's not afraid to say what he thinks. But as I've gotten to know him, I'm starting to see he's not all that bad." Considering his dad spewed venom about him and his mom pretended her family was perfect, Alondra was actually starting to believe the bad in him WASN'T just coming from him.
"Thank you for that. Now, you two go have fun!" She waved with a warm smile and disappeared back inside the house. So. Strange. She'd have to think more on it later. Right now, she apparently had a date with Guzma on the beach. If she knew him as well as she thought she did, it was going to involve a beat down, so she'd better prepare a strong team of Pokémon…
...
"So, you showed up," he mused, hands stuffed in the pockets of his sweatpants and slouching as always. He'd picked the far corner of the beach far enough away from the swimmers and playing children. This, she noted, was probably for the better considering the dirty looks everyone on the beach seemed to radiate in his direction. Honestly, if he wanted to go unnoticed it would be better to get a different jacket rather than simply put a big red 'x' over the Team Skull logo!
"You seem surprised. You don't think I'm curious enough to take the bait? Especially after running into you like that?" she retorted.
Guzma grunted. "Forget about that. I've got more important things to worry about."
"Like…"
"Well, Alondra, it's time to battle your boy!" Before the sentence was half out of his mouth he had a Pokéball in hand.
Ah, so predictable. Of course, he'd always been so close to beating her it probably drove him crazy. "All right, I figured as much. I don't want you holding anything back!" She took a few steps back to leave some room for the combatting Pokémon.
"Ya think I would do somethin' that stupid?!" he huffed, looking insulted.
"You've tried to battle me with only two Pokémon in the past…" she pointed out.
"Yeah, well, this is to make up for when I had to disband Team Skull! Just so you know, I'll never change!" He narrowed his eyes. "Wanna see what destruction looks like? Here it is in human form – it's your boy Guzma!"
In all honesty, Guzma should have won. He had done an excellent job raising his Pokémon, and knew just the right moves to give them to compensate for their weaknesses despite all being of the same type. Even in the heat of battle, Alondra suddenly thought that he'd make a killer gym leader back in Kanto. Could he do that? How did one become a gym leader? The fainting of her Carlos snapped her out of her wandering thoughts, replacing them with guilt. She was letting her Pokémon down by being so distracted. But he was so passionate! It was like the first time they'd battled back in Malie, when he had no grudge against her and nothing to prove, when he was simply battling as a trainer and not as an enemy. The intensity this time was not tainted by malice, and oh how she wanted him to be rewarded for that!
Still, she couldn't throw a match in good conscience. He'd never forgive her if she did, that was for certain. As it was, when the dust (or sand, as it were) settled, all five of Guzma's Pokémon had fallen with her on her sixth and last Pokémon, extremely beat up. Shoot, so close! If he'd just gotten a critical hit or something… "Dang it, if you'd had a sixth Pokémon…"
"Guzma, what is wrong with you?! This outcome hasn't changed at all either!" Her words died in her throat as this familiar pattern repeated, the pain written all over his face. What could she say to him that he would listen to? Despite the incredible battle they'd just had, he was angry at himself for failing. Any compliment she could offer would be deflected when he was in such a state.
Just then, a shadow was cast over their battlefield in the sinking sunlight. Both participants quickly turned their heads to see the bulky form of Kahuna Hala standing near them, chuckling deeply. "Well played, Alondra."
Guzma scowled and lowered his head. "You came all the way here just to watch me lose, huh? Must be nice to be a lazy old island kahuna with nothing better to do." Despite the cutting words, his slouching posture and averted eyes conveyed his sense of defeat.
Hala either didn't notice or simply brushed it off. "What a high opinion of yourself you have. Ha! I just happened to see Alondra here so I thought I would come over."
Guzma clenched his fists defensively. "You wanna get beat down old man?"
Hala turned to face him and him alone for the first time, his smile now more sympathetic than beaming. "Oh Guzma, when will you understand? Only when you respect your opponent's skill will it bring out the best in you. You miss the true meaning of battling! The goal is not to beat your opponent down, but for both trainer's to grow stronger."
This seemed to strike a nerve with Guzma, as if Hala had just told him a huge lie. "I don't care what you say to me, yo! Beating people down is all I know."
"But the battle I just saw seemed a bit different. While you may say you're only interested in crushing your opponent, I sensed a desire to defeat Alondra deep in your heart."
Guzma turned away roughly, hands on his hips in defiance, but both Alondra and Hala could see he was shaken by that observation. "What do you know, old man?!"
"If you continue on this path, you will never be able to defeat Alondra. Guzma, admit the worthiness of your opponents! Only then can you become even stronger than you already are! Allow yourself to know the people and Pokémon you encounter, and look deeply into your heart."
When Guzma answered, the bitterness in his voice was evident. "You're still trying to front like you're my master, huh? I gave up on you a long time ago." And like that, a piece of the puzzle was made clear for Alondra. She knew he and Kukui were connected, but Hala was apparently the linking piece. Guzma had once studied under the kahuna? They'd had some sort of falling out? It seemed Guzma still held onto some resentment towards the kindly man, for what she could not imagine.
Now, Hala turned his attention back to Alondra. "Alondra, allow me to handle this foolish young man. I will make a fine trainer out of him yet, or I am not an island kahuna! I hope that can be considered penance for the wrongs he and Team Skull have committed."
"Tch," was his only remark to that proposal.
"Oh ho ho, the two of us will go many places together! And we will meet more people and Pokémon who will enrich our lives!" With that, he began to walk off, still chuckling to himself.
Once he was out of earshot, Guzma's posture finally softened, shoulders slumping. "Master…" Alondra blinked, though kept her mouth shut. Could it be that Guzma did want to fix things between him and Hala deep down?
Suddenly, he turned to address her. "I ain't never gonna ask you to forgive me, so don't get it twisted – this is no apology. But shut up and take this!" Digging in the front pocket of his bag, he withdrew a Dawn Stone and pressed it roughly in her hands. For the first time, she realized just how big his hands were, and chilled too despite the weather. "I got it for my first ever victory, and it's always been like my lucky charm." Zipping his bag back up, he slung it over his shoulder and faced the ocean looking thoughtful. "Who knows what the Alolan winds will bring? Next time we meet, I'm counting on you to test how strong I've gotten."
Her heart skipped a beat. He intended to see her again? And a strange part of her ached to think it was only so he could defeat her. Well, it wasn't as if she'd been overly chatty with him…why should he care a lick about her beyond her skills as a trainer? And why should she even care what this ex-criminal thought of her? Suddenly, spurred on by the mass of confusing emotions spinning in her chest, she shouted at his back as he began walking away, "I won't leave it to chance! Travel wherever with Hala, but I will find you again, that's a promise! And… for crying out loud, get a sixth Pokémon on your team or next time I'm going down to five, got it?"
He didn't stop walking, but he craned his head to look back at her in surprise. What must she look like, standing alone in her corner of that busy beach, strands of dark hair billowing in the breeze and the bizarre and unwanted glimmer of tears in her eyes? Yeah, she wasn't usually one for outbursts like that, and her gut reaction made no sense to anyone, not even herself. Slowly, a smug smile crept across his face and he flashed a thumbs up.
She returned the smile weakly, and once he was gone for good, she sighed and looked to the sky. Not only that. Before I see you again, I won't just find you; I'll find the REAL you.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Caught in her memories, the battle was over before she knew what was happening. Hala, as a fighting trainer, struck hard and fast, and Guzma was certainly the definition of impatient, especially in a fight. It also helped that both combatants were extremely familiar with their opponent's Pokémon and had clearly developed strategies throughout their many battles. In the end, the last blow belonged to Hala's heavily poisoned Primeape, whose rock slide finally managed to hit Ariados despite its agility. Both parties had suffered nearly equal losses, a testament to how evenly matched they were.
When Ariados fell, Alondra was suddenly hyper-aware of Guzma's reaction. Honestly, she hadn't seen him battle seriously since that day on the beach, and there was no telling how he'd changed, if at all, under these circumstances. He was a kahuna now, and she prayed silently that he'd be able to handle the pressure with some restraint.
Withdrawing Ariados with a quiet word of praise, his left hand found its way into his hair. However, this time, instead of pulling at his hair, he simply gripped it and took a deep breath. "Serves me right for not using Masquerain. I didn't take you seriously enough."
"I was wondering about that," Hala mused, likewise withdrawing his Pokémon after giving it praise. "Any reason for that in particular?"
"Hmph. Thought it'd be unfair to slice ya with flying moves being that your fighting is naturally at a disadvantage against my bugs. But I shoulda known better than to show you mercy!" His hand flexed in his hair, but remained in place. It seemed to keep him anchored without causing him actual pain. His expression still showed annoyance at himself, but he kept his thoughts in his own head.
"Guzma. Being polite." At that, Hala let out a full-belly laugh. Walking over, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "That's not something you would have done a year ago, my boy."
"I wanna beat ya fair and square!" he frowned. "I'm so close, but still…"
"Hey, I'm an old man, right? At least that's what you say," Hala reached up to put his other hand on Guzma's other shoulder. "I've been doing this for many, many years. The fact that one of my own students, such a young man, is nearly ready to overtake me makes me think it will be time to retire soon! But, there's something even more important you've shown me."
"If you start some mushy crap about being a nice guy, I'm gonna puke," Guzma warned, raising an eyebrow.
Hala laughed again. "Well, you'll never lose that rebellious edge of yours. But that's what makes you Guzma, after all. Really though, you were in control at all times today. That is what I was really here to check on."
"And he passed your inspection, didn't he?" Alondra finally cut in, beaming proudly. "Super tough and able to keep his cool! That's my boy!" She flashed a grin at Guzma, who turned bright red.
"Sheesh, Alondra, ya don't hafta put it that way… You're as bad as the old man!"
"Heh, well, I agree with her. To be honest, Guzma, people have been asking me how I feel about your appointment as kahuna, and I haven't given an answer yet. You know I don't lie, and I wasn't sure if you were ready for that kind of responsibility. You'd made great strides in the last year, but whether it was enough to handle this job, I couldn't say. So, I wanted to see for myself what kind of kahuna you'd be, so I could give people my answer. You're not stupid, Guzma. You know people have been apprehensive about your appointment by Tapu Bulu."
"Yeah, the Tapu who destroys a shopping center and sends torrential rains to drive people off picked a kahuna just as well versed in destruction," he sighed heavily. "Kinda hard to take a guy like me seriously all things considered."
"Well, I can tell you no one will probably come challenge you today. I told people to wait until I'd given my examination and provided the full report. However, once I elaborate on how ready you truly are, they will come. I'd be ready for some trainers tomorrow."
Guzma's eyes widened. "You'd…hype me up?"
Hala put his hands on his hips sternly. "You may be my pupil, but you know as well as anyone I don't baby you. Whatever words I have to say about you are earned, not done as any favor on my part. YOU…" he jabbed Guzma in the chest with his index finger, "…earned it for yourself. I'm just here to make sure people see when they would otherwise refuse to open their eyes. Now, I must be off." Hala pulled out his ride pager to summon Charizard, leaving Guzma to stare.
Alondra snuck up beside him. "Well, that solves a couple problems, don't you think? And now you get the rest of the day off!"
"I guess it does," he mumbled, fidgeting with his Pokeballs. "First things first, gotta get these guys to the Pokémon center…"
"No, BEFORE the first thing, you've got something to say to someone," she hissed, nudging him.
Hala was boarding the Charizard that had come to land, the elderly man still spry for his age. Before he could take off, Guzma hollered up at him. "Hey, old man!"
"Hmm?"
There was a pause, and Guzma's face was contorted as he grappled with his words. "Th-thanks." Not a phrase he used often, it sounded rusty from disuse. Despite its awkwardness, Hala beamed down.
"No problem, my boy. Now, with your extra time, get your morning mediation done, eh?" With a wave of his hand, he was off, Charizard flapping its wings mightily as it went airborne. He couldn't keep the smile from his face, though certainly hidden from view. His student that he'd feared he'd failed all those years ago, was back on track and heading for the top in the right way. And… He snuck a glance down and noticed Alondra had thrown her arms around him, holding him tightly. Ever awkward about displays of affection, Guzma was tentatively reciprocating. He was in good hands here with her.
