Here we good. Most of Ula Ula is gonna be a challenge but I'm up for it...I hope. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 15-Reunited
When the boat docked in Malie City, Collin couldn't be more than happy to be off the boat. Hau was still his happy-go-lucky self as he got off.
"What's up cousin? Sea sick?" asked Hau.
"There's a reason why I don't like boats and I'll leave it at that." said Collin. "So, where is it that Kukui asked us to meet him?"
"He said Malie Garden. I looked at the map and it's close by. When you get your land legs, I'll see you there okay?" said Hau as he wandered off again. Collin took a breather for a while and began to think about Aether again. His mind was trying to join the dots, but for some reason nothing was connecting. He needed a few more clues before he could be sure about Aether. Once he was ready, he made his way from the docks and into Malie City itself. As he walked along, Rotom jumped out of his bag and made him jump.
"PROFESSORZZ!" he cried as he floated over to a man who, to Collin, looked exactly like Professor Oak from Kanto, only difference was that he was dark skinned. There was only one possibility.
"Oh Rotom! I didn't expect to see you so soon. And I suppose that mean you are Collin, am I right?" said the Professor.
"And you must be Samson Oak, am I right?" asked Collin.
"Ah you're quite correct my boy. My cousin has told a lot about you, from traveling to different regions and helping him fill up Pokedex's."
"Yep, been a few years but I've done it." said Collin. "By the way, did you create the Rotom Dex?"
"Yes I did. When Professor Kukui told me about adding Rotom to the Pokedex, I couldn't help but imagine the possibilities! So after a few months of tinkering and brainstorming, I managed to allow Rotom to fuse with a Pokedex to help trainers out!" he said with a smile on his face.
"Yep! And I'vez been helpingz Collin out a lotz. Haven't I?" said the Rotom.
"Yes...yes you have." responded Collin, still unsure of him since meeting him. "I assume not all trainers have one though."
"Sadly that's the way things are. Realistically, we can't have a ton of Rotom in everyone's Pokedex because we just don't know how many there are in the world." confirmed Samson.
"So why was I given one? I'm sure someone else could benefit from it." asked Collin.
"Ah yes, but you've experienced so many things Collin and this is a first crack at a longer use of it. So be proud in stepping into a evolution of technology." said Samson. "Also, I have to asked, have you come across any Alolan varieties of Kanto Pokemon?"
"Yeah I have actually. Can you send that info to your cousin in Kanto please? He begged me to do it when I first came to Melemele Island."
"Of course. Just let me download the data." he said sticking in what looked like a USB stick into the Dex.
"HEY! THATZ HURTZ!" shouted Rotom.
"Sorry buddy!...and done!" he said taking out the stick. "I'll send this off to cousin as soon as I can. Anyway I best be off. If you need to send more data, visit me at the library here in Malie."
"I'll do that. Thanks Samson!" said Collin as he continued to make his way into Malie City.
Just as he got to the entrance of Malie Garden, he looked at the sign off the Garden that read;
Malie City. Based off the land from the far East. Garden is based off Ecruteak's Bell Tower Garden.
"Ah, no wonder why this place reminds me of Johto." said Collin to himself. Suddenly, his vision went dark as a pair of hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who!" said the person behind him. Collin stopped panicking and smiled. He slowly removed the hands from his face and turned around, only to be hugged by Lillie. "Collin!" she cried.
"Arceus Lillie! You act like I haven't seen you in years!" he said, but returned the hug anyway.
"I'm sorry but...it felt lonely without you." she whispered, slightly embarrassed about it as they got out of the hug.
"Well I'm here now. Professor Kukui is in the garden right?" asked Collin.
"Yeah. Said he was meditating or something. He should be finished now so you and Hau can see him." Collin nodded and they entered the garden. Collin felt like he was transported back to Johto as soon as he walked in. He already spotted Hau looking at a statue.
"Hey Hau, any sign of Kukui?" asked Collin.
"Honestly, I haven't been looking. Oh hey Lillie!" said Hau
"Hey Hau. You seem cheery...well more than usual."
"Yeah because me and Collin saw something amazing! But I wanna wait till we see Professor Kukui to tell the whole story." said Hau jumping up and down.
"Speaking of Kukui, I see him there." said Collin, pointing at a bench by some stalls. Kukui was sitting on the bench with his eyes closed, seemingly lost in thought. The three made their way towards him and he instantly woke up.
"Oh, hey there Collin, Hau, Lillie. I just finished my meditation. Need to do it if I want to take the force of powerful moves!" explained Kukui, making Collin wince at the idea of what he took in the past. "Anyway Hau, you seem to be glowing. Was Aether Paradise as amazing as you thought?"
"It was but that's not the big thing! We saw an Ultra Wormhole AND and Ultra Beast!" shouted Hau. Collin faced palmed but couldn't be mad at Hau. Lillie on the other hand looked worried.
"Oh wow! Now that is something to be exitced about. Did you get any evidence of it Collin?" asked Kukui.
"Not really. They asked us to keep everything hush hush." he said, narrowing his eyes at Hau. Hau only mouthed "sorry" and turned back to Kukui.
"Oh well. Maybe one day I can see one for myself. Anywho, you two ready to take on the next Trial?"
"Actually, I'm gonna take a break from the Trials?" said Hau.
"How come?" asked Collin.
"Well I feel like my team could use more training. Also I'd like to explore the Island first, then do the Trials. Does that makes sense?"
"Yeah I get you. I mean they did say you can take your time with the Trials. One thing I hated about Gyms was that you'd have to been there on time or no Gym battle for the day or even weeks. So count yourself lucky Alola isn't like that." said Collin.
"Yeah cousin, those Gyms are strict but they offer great challenge." said Kukui.
"You've been to other regions Professor?" asked Lillie.
"Only to Kanto back in my early twenties. Wanted to see what it was like. I was so close to becoming Champion but man, Lance does pack a mean punch with his Dragons."
"You mean three of the same Pokemon?" said Collin, smirking.
"Yep!" laughed Kukui. "Well it's all in the past now. Collin, I assume you are still on the Island Trial?" Collin nodded. "Great, your next Trial is on Mount Hokulani. You can take the bus on Route 10 to get up there. I'll meet you at the bus stop, I have something to show you when we get up there. I'll see you there!" said Kukui, waving and walking out of Malie Garden.
"I wonder what Professor Kukui wants to show you." said Hau. "Okay, I'm going to hang around here for a while. There seems to be a lot of trainers and Pokemon to battle. Watch out Collin, I'm catching up to you!" he said wandering off.
"Do you think he can beat you?" asked Lillie.
"I want him to. It will make him happy and I'll feel proud he managed to train so hard. But I don't want to go soft on him, doesn't feel like a proper victory. You get me?"
"Yeah I do. That's really nice of you Collin." she said, smiling. "Collin do you mind if we go to the Library? I wanted to go to the Ruins here but it's in a desert and I don't want you or me to go through there. I hope you don't mind." she said, hopeful.
"Of course I don't mind. Do you know where it is?"
"Actually...I don't. The city is big and I'm too shy to ask anyone." she confessed.
"Well then we'll just keep looking then. Ready?" Lillie nodded and they linked their arms and exited Malie Garden.
The two friends continued to walk around Malie City, taking in the sights and sounds of the city itself. Suddenly, a massive horse like Pokemon came running towards the two.
"YEEK!" shouted Lillie and Collin got in her way to protect her.
"SLOW DOWN BOY!" shouted a female voice and the Pokemon stopped instantly. The woman who shouted came beside the Pokemon and began to pat it's head. "You need to learn how to control your speed! People are gonna get hurt." she said. "I'm sorry my Mudsdale scared you miss...?"
"Lillie. It's no problem at all." said Lillie, calming down.
"Still, at least your boyfriend here was ready to protect you." she said. Lillie's face went full flush and so did Collin's.
"B-B-Boyfriend?! We are just friends!" shouting Collin.
"Oh...sorry. I assumed. Anyway, name's Hapu." she said.
"Collin. And sorry for the shouting."
"Ah it's no big deal. So what are you two up to?" she asked. Lillie finally calmed down from Hapu's comment and cleared her throat.
"Well we are looking for the Library. I want to do some research on somethings because I can't go to the ruins here on Ula Ula." said Lillie.
"Well only those who are brave enough to go through a sandstorm would dare go near those ruins. You're better off using the Library. It's the big building just north of where we are." said Hapu.
"Thank you so much!" said Lillie.
"Not a problem. And you Collin, you're on the Island Challenge right?"
"Yeah? What's up?" he asked.
"Well when you beat the Trial on the mountain, come meet me by Route 11. I might have something that can help you travel." she said. "Well I best be off. I'll leave you two lovebirds to your date." she said, riding on her Mudsdale with a smirk across her face.
"W-W-W-WHAT?!" shouted Lillie, flustered again. "Um...wanna go there now?"
"S-S-Sure." stuttered Collin. The two walked in and the were amazed by the amount of books there was. They reached to the top of the roof! Lillie already began to look around but she didn't seem to find what she is looking for.
"I guess we have to go upstairs." she said. The two walked up the stairs and were greeted by more books as fair as the eye could see. "The book I'm looking for is very old. Professor Burnet said that it should contain information about the Legendary Pokemon that are said to protect Alola. It also said that they are not from our world."
"Wow. You'd be surprised how many Pokemon that are said to protect our world aren't from our world. Makes me wonder why they bother." said Collin.
"I guess that's more to the mystery. I feel like the book might give me an answer to where Nebby comes from. It must be very valuable too, so I better not leave with it." she said. From the corner came a young looking girl who looked like she was wearing nothing but patches. In her hands was a book, a rather old looking book.
"Hey, is this the book you are looking for Princess?" asked the girl. The two looked at her, confused.
"Princess?" asked Lillie but her eyes looked at the book in her hands. "Oh! That's the one! Thank you." said Lillie as she took the book off her.
"No problem. My father used to own this book but it's great to know others are interested in it's contents." said the girl.
"Light of Alola...huh...this must have something I'm looking for." said Lillie and she practically buried her face into the book. Collin chuckled and turned to the girl beside him.
"Sorry, but do you mind telling me who you are?" asked Collin.
"Acreola if you please. I'm the Trial Captain of the Ghost Trial." she said. This sent chills down his spine.
"G-G-Ghost Trial?" he stuttered out.
"Yes. But you can't do that till you finish the Trial on Hokulani which judging by your Z-Ring, you haven't done yet." she said. "And who is this Princess?"
"That's Lillie, she's a friend of mine. Why do you call her Princess?"
"Well she does look like one. The dress, the hair, her looks. She looks just like a Princess. Wouldn't you agree?" she said. Collin looked at Lillie after what Acreola said honestly, he had to agree with her.
"Yeah...I guess you're right." he said turning around to see no one beside him. A sudden chill went down his spine, fearing whatever she had in store. "Lillie, why don't you stay here and read? I'll go do the Trial." suggested Collin.
"Oh! Um, just give me a few more minutes and I'll join you at the bus stop. You go on ahead if you like!" she said getting her head back into the book.
"As long as you're sure. I'll see you at the bus stop." Lillie waved at Collin and he exited the Library. Collin's thoughts were flip flopping all over the place. Between what happened in Aether and his on going theory and the feelings he had for Lillie, he felt like his mind was going to crack until one of these thoughts are sorted out.
So how was that? I'm taking another day break because I'll be busy tomorrow. So no chapter. But still I hope you enjoyed that. Reviews and comments of any nature are welcomed and as always, I'll see you in the next chapter. Cheerio!