The adventure will now take a break as we meet another old friend and Collin finally opens up to Hau and Lillie.
Chapter 10-Ultra Reunion
It was a long trek, but Collin finally made a loop around Akala Island and got back to Heahea City. After asking around, he found out where the Dimensional Research Lab was and made his way towards it. Just as he was about to turn the corner, he heard a familiar voice.
"Nebby! Use...Splash!" said Lillie. Nebby, of course, didn't do anything.
"Pew?" it cried out.
"Sorry Nebby. I just wanted to be like Collin. He's so cool in Pokemon battles. Maybe one day you'll be able to defend for yourself."
"PEW!" cried Nebby, looking behind Lillie to see Collin and floated towards him. "PEW!" he cried and jumped into Collin's arms.
"Hey buddy! Been good for Mama?" asked Collin.
"Pew." he said, as a yes.
"Has he been good Mama?" he asked Lillie, thinking he wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Oh he has. He's only been coming out of the bag when I tell him to now. Though I think he missed his "Dada"" she said, giggling.
"I bet he did. So, you were training him huh?"
"Y-You s-saw that?" Collin nodded in response. "Well...kinda. It's just...I wanna be a trainer. I've been watching so battles online and they looked so cool. I was afraid that Pokemon would be hurt in battles but after doing research and watching you and Hau battle, I found out that it's not the case. But...I don't think I'll be able to be a trainer." she confessed. Collin put Nebby down and walked over to her.
"Hey, there is loads of time to become a trainer. You don't need to rush into it. Some people start at ten, some start at thirty. Just take your time and one day, you'll be a trainer." he said with confidence.
"Would you help me when that day comes?"
"Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world." he said smiling. This caused both of them to blush. "Ahem. So this is the Dimensional Research Lab?"
"Y-Yeah. Um...Professor Kukui is already inside. Shall we go in?" The two made their way into the building. The receptionist seemed to know Lillie and allowed her to use the elevator to get to the top floor. The floor was full of researchers and scientists, all looking at massive screens that Collin, if giving time, could understand. They spotted Kukui and walked over to him.
"Alola honey!" he cried. He turned around to see Lillie and Collin. "Oh hey Lillie, Collin. Glad you can make it." A tan woman was now making her way to the group, a woman Collin knew all too well. "Collin, I'd like you to meet-"
"Professor Burnet!" said Collin, holding his hand out to shake.
"Collin Clarkson!? You didn't tell me you were here!" she said shaking his hand.
"Oh? You two know each other?" asked Kukui.
"Back in Unova, Collin helped me with research. Remember when I told you about that trainer that helped me with the breakthrough?"
"THAT WAS HIM?!" shouted Kukui. "WOO BOY IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I'D PRAISE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU!"
"W-What?" asked Collin.
"Because of her research, we met at a Professors Conference. Three years later, we married!" said Kukui.
"WAIT THE TWO OF YOU ARE TOGETHER!?"
"Yep!" said Burnet.
"Oh Arceus, this is already a good start." said Lillie, sighing at how over the top everything is.
"Anyway, is Hau not here today?" asked Burnet.
"You know Hau, he does his own thing. But he's determined in what he does. He'll be a Kahuna no problem, probably even take over for Hala in the future." said Kukui just as the elevator doors opened.
"YOU MEAN IT?!" asked Hau, finally joining the group.
"Well, I do actually." said Kukui. "So honey, mind telling everyone why we are here?"
"Of course." Burnet straighten herself out and prepared her speech. "Here in the lab, we research rips in time and space. Dimensions that we once thought impossible. However, we've discovered something massive that is only taking place here in Alola. ULTRA WORMHOLES!" she shouted.
"Ultra Wormholes?" asked Lillie.
"Yes. These rips in space are said to lead into another dimension or more. As of now they are only myth and legend, but I think there is evidence of them being true. Not to mention the Tapu's of each Island were said to battle creatures known in those legends as Ultra Beasts."
"Ultra Beasts?" asked Hau.
"Powerful creatures that were said to attack people and Pokemon alike. Until the Tapu's defeated them and drove them back into the Ultra Wormholes. Again, only myth and legend for now, but the idea isn't out of the question. Right Collin?" she said, turning to Collin. Everyone turned to Collin, making him flustered.
"Um well, when I helped Professor Burnet in Unova, we found out about the Interdream Zone. A pocket dimension that had a lot of rare Pokemon and the Pokemon Thundurus, Tornadus and Landorus in there Therian Forms." explained Collin. Hau and Lillie looked stunned.
"Wow! That's so cool!" said Hau. "You've really done a lot in the past huh?"
"More than you think." he said vaguely.
"Also there is information of many Pokemon traveling through dimensions in the Pokedex and books. We just need solid proof of the Ultra Wormhole and we'll be at a breakthrough. Collin, feel free to have a look around while you are here." Collin did just that. He walked around the lab, finding old books about Pokemon, talking with researchers and looking at the figures on the screens. He then turned to Lillie, who was looking at Professor Burnet.
"You know her too?" asked Collin.
"Yeah. She found me washed up on the beach three months ago with Cosmog. She was the one who let me be Kukui's assistant. Without her, I don't know where I'd be. She's like a mother to me." she confessed.
"You don't have a mom?"
"I do but...I'd rather not talk about it if that's okay." Collin understood and dropped the conversation. "Hey, I was wondering. If you don't have a place to say during the week, why don't you and Hau stay in my hotel room?"
"You sure? I mean I don't want to impose." said Collin.
"Nonsense. There's way too much room for just one person. It's been rather lonely these few days without the two of you."
"Well...okay. I'll ask Hau about it." Of course, Hau agreed to staying with Collin and Lillie. After a few hours pasted, it was evening and the trio made they're way out of the lab.
"Bye Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet!" shouted Hau.
"Bye you three. Happy to see you again Collin!" shouted Burnet at them.
"You too!" The three exited the lab and made their way to the hotel.
After ordering take out, the three entered the room and began there feast. They talked random topics, looked at videos online and other things. Then all of a sudden, there was a slap. Lillie and Collin to see Hau with his hand on his face.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T NOTICE!" he shouted.
"Notice what?" asked Collin. Hau sat up and took a deep breath.
"Okay, your full name is Collin Clarkson right?" asked Hau.
"Yeah. What's wrong?"
"Corrected me if I'm wrong, but are you the same Collin Clarkson who took down Team Flare in Kalos?!" Lillie's face went from confused to shocked in a matter of seconds.
"NO WAY! YOU CAN'T BE!" she shout, her hands covering her mouth. Collin was now kicking himself thanks to Burnet saying his last name. He looked annoyed.
"Ugh, guess the cat's out of the bag. Yes, I am that Collin Clarkson." The room as silent, say for Hau who was almost squealing like a school girl.
"Oh my Arceus! I can't believe I'm in front of the hero of Kalos! If they didn't blur out your face on the TV I would have totally lost it!"
"So you really did save Kalos? It must have been dangerous." said Lillie.
"I've been through worse." he said without realizing.
"How could there be worse?" asked Hau. "You stopped a laser from destroying the world!" Collin was now kicking himself harder. His head was split in two.
Should I tell them? Do I trust them enough to keep it to themselves? he thought. With a long and heavy sigh, Collin looked at the two. "Okay, what I'm about to say cannot, and I mean cannot, be said to anyone. Swear to me you will never say this to anyone."
"I swear to you on every Malasada in Alola." An odd swear but Collin knew he meant it.
"I swear on my life to never tell anyone." said Lillie.
"Okay. I haven't just taken down Team Flare. In every region I've been to, there has always been an evil team. You know that right?" asked Collin.
"Yeah like Team Plasma in Unova." said Hau.
"And Team Rocket in Kanto." said Lillie.
"Among others. Everyone of them has been taken down by someone. That someone is me." Collin confessed.
"WHAT?!" shouted the two other teens.
"Yeah. You name it. Team Rocket, Aqua, Magma, Galactic, Plasma, Neo Plasma and Flare. Everyone of them was taken down by me. But that's not the end. Remember when Kukui brought up Groudon back in Iki Town?" he said turning to Lillie.
"Yeah I did." Lillie then pieced two and two together and her eyes widened. "Don't tell me you've-"
"Yes. I've faced Groudon. And many others. Name any Legendary Pokemon and I have faced it. I never catch them, but I have their data in my Pokedex's to prove it."
"No way." said Hau, speechless. "Wait, when you say every Legendary, does that mean Mythical Pokemon too? DID YOU FACE ARCEUS?!"
"Yes." The room was silent again, waiting for a response. "It's a long story, but I faced him and defeated him. It's something I'd never want to experience again."
"You really have been through a lot, haven't you?" said Lillie, concerned.
"I've been to places no trainer has ever been. I've almost died many times. I've kept my face away from the public when it comes to this stuff. Only a few people know what I've done and they've kept quiet so far. Kalos was the first time I was known, but I asked for my face to be blurred on TV. The Leagues also keep quiet, which is why Poke Centers never bring attention to me." Collin was almost out of breath, everything was just crashing down on him.
"Arceus...you okay Collin?" said Hau. Collin was looking down on the ground as tears began to form.
"I've traveled for so long. My mom supported me through it all. Then one day, I come home from a visit to Hoenn and there she is, on the ground, not breathing." The tears started to fall faster. "I moved here to Alola to relax and get away from it all, but now I'm stuck doing this stupid Island Challenge!" He punched the wall, sending a sharp pain through his hand. Hau and Lillie didn't know what to do. "I miss her so much!" The waterworks were now flowing. Without a second wasted, both Lillie and Hau were by his side, hugging him for dear life.
"Collin, it's going to be alright." said Hau holding his arm.
"Let it all out. Please, it's been in you for so long and it's time you let it out." said Lillie, rubbing his back for comfort. Slowly, Collin recovered and looked at the two with a tear stained face.
"T-Thank you. Seriously, thank you." he said hugging them both. "I didn't mean to get that emotional."
"Don't be like that! It's okay to say these things." said Hau.
"Yeah. You've helped a lot already, now let us help you." said Lillie, smiling. Collin's face became red, looking at Lillie's face when she smiled.
"How about you tell us other things that happened on your journey?" said Hau. Collin let out a yawn in reply.
"Honestly Hau, I'm tired after all of that. Tomorrow okay?"
"Okay. I can't wait!"
"I guess we should all go to sleep. It will be best for us. I'll be in my room, night boys." Lillie left the main room and into the bedroom. The two boys set up temporay beds out of the couch and let sleep take them. Collin was now feeling better from telling his friends about his time fighting evil teams and Legendary Pokemon and about his mom's passing, let sleep take him away for the night. He needed this week break just as much as anyone else.
Cat's out of the bag now! Anyway, reviews and comments of any nature are welcomed and as always, I'll see you in the next chapter. Cheerio!