After that break, Collin will face the final Grand Trial before he is deemed worthy to travel into the Vast Poni Canyon. Can he beat the Trial?...maybe. Enjoy!

Chapter 24-The Final Grand Trial

Waking up on the rocky surface, Lillie couldn't help but noticed that her head was resting on Collin's chest. At first she didn't understand how, but soon the memories came back and a smile formed on her face. Sighing in content, she lay her head back down on his chest, as he opened his eyes.

"Morning beautiful." he said with a groggy voice.

"Morning." she replied, stretching her body. "I guess last night wasn't a dream." Collin responded by giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"I think it's safe to assume that it wasn't." He let out a loud yawn and slowly got up, grabbing Lillie's hand to pull her up too. "Come on, we better get that Sun Flute, wherever it is."

"Okay, lets do it!" she said. They packed up their things and made their way out of the small cave, greeted by the morning Alola sun. "It's weird."

"What's weird?"

"This is the first time I've ever slept in my day clothes." she said, checking out her outfit. "I don't know why, but it feels...refreshing and free."

"Guess being cooped up in a place like Aether would do that to you." He looked at her and aside from her hair being a bit messy, she looked amazing all the same, in his eyes of course. "You wanna get used to it though if you want to be a trainer."

"I'm sure I will!" The two finally made their way around the small Island, walking up a hill and spotting a pedestal with something inside a small gap. "Is that...?"

"The Sun Flute." said Collin walking towards the pedestal and slowly taking the flute out of it. "Arceus, if I've known the flute wasn't far we could have got it yesterday."

"True, but we'd miss out on a romantic moment." said Lillie, sighing about the memory.

"Heh, I guess so. Let's get off this Island and get to Hapu." Grabbing her hand, the two made their way back to the motorboat and departed from the Island. They road the waves slowly and finally docked back in Seafolk Village, where they were greeted by Chief.

"I see you two finally came back." he said as Collin tied the boat to the pole. "I assume the weather kept you there last night."

"Yeah. It wasn't too bad and we got what we came for." said Lillie just as Collin joined up with her.

"Good. If you ever need to rent a boat, come and find me and I'll happily lend you one." he said as he was about to walk away, but turned around to face them again. "Oh by the way, Hapu said to join her in the Vast Poni Canyon. Follow the signs and you should be able to find it."

"Thanks Chief. And thanks for the boat." said Collin and the two waved him off and made their way to Vast Poni Canyon.

They followed the path that lead them to Hapu's house, but instead of taking the right, they went up the path that brought them to the Canyon. However, their way wasn't so smooth, as Team Skull grunts blocked the way.

"Ayo! This is the fool who beat the boss!" said one of the grunts to the rest of them.

"He thinks he's so tough!" said another one.

"He couldn't survive a beat down by all of us!"

"Yeah! Let's get him all at once!"

"You're gonna be sorry for dissing Team Skull all this time!" The group of grunts slowly made their way towards Lillie and Collin, but Collin wasn't phased.

"Pfft. I can take on one of you with my eyes closed. Five? I'd need to put in minimum effort!" he said, laughing. This pissed the grunts off.

"OH YEAH?! WELL WE'LL AVENGE THE BOSS BY BEATIN' YOU DOWN! READY EVERYONE?!"

"YEAH!" shouted the grunts and they got their Poke Balls out.

"YOU DUMMIES!" shouted a voice. Whoever it was, it made the grunts stop. "They are trying to save the Boss. All you are doing is getting in their way!" Out of the shadows came Plumeria, walking past Collin and Lillie and talked with the grunts, which included a lot of berating and cursing. The grunts scrambled off, leaving only the three on their own.

"T-T-Thanks Plumeria." said Lillie.

"Lillie right?" said Plumeria, walking up to the two.

"You're not here to kidnap her again. Right?" said Collin, a hint of venom in his voice. All Plumeria did was sigh.

"Listen, I shouldn't have done that. I was following orders, even if they were wrong. I shouldn't have done that. Even if I apologized, I doubt you'd forgive me." she said, looking away from them.

"I forgive you." said Lillie. "You had no choice. I understand that and I forgive you. Really. It's my mother who is selfish. She only loves those who she believes are worthy, not caring if it's wanted or not. But she's my mother and I can't let her stay in there.

"Heh, you really are like your mother. Not exactly the same, but you have the same strength as her." Lillie looked embarrassed by the comparison, while Plumeria turned her attention to Collin. "Guzma...he likes the President. She was the only adult to see how strong he is."

"People don't see him as strong? I mean, he did almost take me down the first time we met." said Collin.

"Yeah. Collin, Lillie, I know you probably don't want to...but please save Guzma. He doesn't show it, but Alola means a lot to him. I don't think it would be the same without him." Collin looked away for a moment, thinking about Guzma.

"I mean, that was the plan. I may not know him much, but he is family." he said. Plumeria raised an eyebrow for a second, until she realized what he meant.

"Should have seen my face when he told me you were his son. I think he wants to be apart of your life. Please, for his sake and yours, have him try." she said, almost sounding like begging.

"I guess I could. But he's gonna have to make up for all those years." Lillie held Collin's hand and slowly rubbed her thumb across his knuckles.

"Please Collin, when this is all over, open up to him. You never know, he might be way better than Giovanni." she said. Collin turned to her and she gave a warm smile.

"I hope you're right." he said. "I guess we better get going, no point wasting any more time." The two began to walk off before Plumeria stopped him.

"Wait, take this Poisonium Z. It might help you...or not. Your choice. That Z-Ring is special, you're special. You are a Trainer. And a Trainer is only a Trainer when they have Pokemon that care for them by their side. Don't forget that, or I'll rain Tapu's wrath on you." she said with a smirk across her face.

"I'll be sure not to."

"You better. I'm off." she said walking away. Just before she left completely, she turned around. "Thank you." she said, before disappearing from their line of sight. Lillie turned to Collin and smiled.

"I guess Team Skull isn't all that bad." she said. "You gonna try and patch things up with Guzma?"

"I'll try. Come on, we better not keep Hapu waiting." The two followed the path and made their way into Vast Poni Canyon

When they entered the Canyon, they were amazed by the size of it. It felt apposing and unable to be scaled, even though there was a path leading into the cave. Before the cave itself, they saw a massive tree that had no leafs on it and at the base, stood Hapu, waiting. The two wasted no time and walked up to her.

"Did you get the flute?" asked Hapu.

"Yes we did. But we kinda needed to camp out on the Island, it rained while we were there." said Lillie. Hapu studied the two of them and noticed that they were holding hands, tightly. She smiled as she realized what it meant.

"Heh, judging by your hands, I guess it was good it rained." she said with smirk. Collin and Lillie were confused at first, until they looked at their hands and blushed. "Great that you two finally got together. I could see the love in your eyes the first time I saw you two. We all need someone to help us. Same goes for Pokemon. At least that's what my grandfather told me."

"Ahem." coughed Collin, still blushing. "So, what is it that you wanted us for?"

"Well I am a Kahuna now. And because there isn't really any Trial here, you now have to face me!" she said with gusto. "I may be young, but I will not be outdone by the other Kahunas. My Mudsdale and the rest of my team are just as strong as ever!"

"You're really fired up. I like it!" said Collin, smiling.

"Of course I am, this is my first Grand Trial, same as your Final Grand Trial. You will face me, won't you?" she asked.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. My team is ready whenever you are." he said. Before they started, Lillie kissed him hard, making him breathless.

"Good luck, I'll be rooting for you all the way." she said. She moved out of the way to give them space.

"Ahaha, young love. I'd love to see how well you battle, the battle that makes Lillie smile so." she said before taken a deep breath. "I am Kahuna Hapu, and with my new Z-Ring given to me by the Tapu of this Island, I challenge you to a battle!"

"Bring it Kahuna. Don't hold back!" said Collin, getting his Poke Ball ready.

"A Kahuna never backs down! I'll give you everything I got!"

"GO DUGTRIO!" shouted Hapu, throwing out her Pokemon.

"GO EMPOLEON!" Empoleon came out of it's ball and sharpened it's wings, ready to battle. "Let's start this off right! Use Aqua Jet!" Empoleon was covered in water and rushed towards Dugtrio, who failed to dodge the attack.

"Use Sandstorm!" shouted Hapu. The battle field was covered by a large sandstorm, making it almost impossible for Empoleon to see. "Now use Iron Head!" she shouted. Dugtrio digged underground and came right from under Empoleon, with a head of pure steel. The attack sent Empoleon flying in the air, however Collin didn't look phased.

"Come on buddy." he said to himself. When Empoleon came back down, instead of landing face first, he landed back onto his feet, ready to battle. "YEAH! USE AQUA JET AGAIN!" he shouted. With the water surrounding him, Empoleon managed to burst through the sandstorm and hit Dugtrio, knocking him out.

"Return! I'm impressed Collin." said Hapu as Dugtrio returned to the ball. "Let's see more of that strength. GO GASTRODON!" she shouted as the slug Pokemon came out of the ball.

"Heh, I had a Gastrodon back in Sinnoh. I know exactly what to do with you." he said, returning Empoleon to it's ball. "GO DECIDUEYE!" Out came the bird Pokemon, rubbing the side of it's wings as if it was a bow. "Let's make this hard. Spirit Shackle!" he shouted. Decidueye pulled back it's wings and used an arrow to shoot Gastrodon, damaging it and preventing it from returning.

"Oof, playing hard huh? Mud Bomb!" shouted Hapu. Collin was caught off guard when Decidueye was hit by the ground type move, until he remembered.

"Oh yeah, Ghost Type...sorry Decidueye!" said Collin.

"Koo!" cried Decidueye, cleaning the mud off it's wings.

"Ahahah! Your cockiness is getting the better of you! Muddy Water!" A wave of water covered in dirt rushed towards Decidueye.

"DODGE!" shouted Collin. At the last moment before the wave hit him, Decidueye dodged the wave. It finished just before it could hit Collin or Lillie. "Phew. Okay, Leaf Blade!" Decidueye rushed towards Gastrodon with it's sharpened wings, slicing at the Pokemon and knocking it out in one hit.

"Return." said Hapu and Gastrodon returned to it's ball. "Go Mudsdale! shouted Hapu and her Pokemon came to her side, ready to battle. "This is my last Pokemon, and it won't be easy!" she said.

"We'll see about that. Decidueye, Leaf Blade again!"

"Earthquake!" shouted Hapu. The ground began to shake, which put Decidueye off balance and failed to attack. "Now's our chance! UNLEASH Z MOVE!" She twisted the Z-Crystal and preformed the dance that hand her hand on the ground, looking like she was ready to attack. The aura surrounded Mudsdale and was ready to attack. "TECTONIC RAGE!" Without warning, the ground opened up from under Decidueye and he fell in. Mudsdale dug underground and rushed towards the Pokemon, causing a large explosion to happen. When the smoke cleared, Decidueye was back on the surface, fainted.

"Return!" shouted Collin. "Woo boy that was some Z Move." he said, looking at Hapu who looked tired.

"I-I wasn't expecting that." she said, breathlessly. Collin took this time to get his Poke Ball ready. "GO EMPOLEON!" Empoleon came out of the ball, confused. "I know you want to rest, but it will be quick! Trust me!"

"Empoleon!" cried the Pokemon, ready to battle.

"Okay, Metal Claw!" he shouted, as Empoleon sharpened his wings and rushed towards Mudsdale.

"D-Double Kick!" stuttered Hapu, still tired from the Z Move. Mudsdale used it's two back legs to attempt to kick Empoleon, however it was tired from the Z Move as well and missed the kicks, allowing Empoleon to hit it with Metal Claw.

"Nice! Okay, get ready!" said Collin as Empoleon came back to his side. "UNLEASH Z MOVE!" Collin twisted the Steelium Z and pounded his fists together. Aura surrounded Empoleon and was ready to attack. "USE CORKSCREW CRASH!" Empoleon jumped into the air and began to spin rapidly, so fast in fact it was like a bullet. The spinning Pokemon rushed towards Mudsdale and clashed with him, sending it flying into the back wall, where it fainted. "YES! Well done Empoleon! Return." Empoleon returned to the ball, proud.

"Return Mudsdale." said Hapu, slowly getting up. "Man, those Z Moves take a lot out of you." she said, sitting down on a rock.

"Trust me, I know." said Collin, walking up to her. Lillie followed behind, giggling.

"He fainted after doing his first Z Move." she said.

"Thanks Lillie." he murmured, still smiling at the little jab. "You'll get used to it though."

"I hope so. Still, you one fair and square and with that, you've beaten the last Grand Trial!" she said. "As a reward, here is the Groundium Z." She walked up to Collin and handed him the Z-Crystal. "Also, this is how you activate it." She preformed the dance that she did during the fight.

"Thanks Hapu. You really did great for your first battle as a Kahuna." said Collin.

"Yeah! It was an amazing fight! I hope to have a fight like that someday." said Lillie, smiling. Hapu began to blush at the praise she was getting.

"Oh you guys." she said. "Lillie, you picked a great Trainer to be with." Lillie looked at Collin and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm lucky I have him by my side. But one day, I want to battle you when I have my own Pokemon! That goes for you too Hapu!" she said with confidence. Collin couldn't help but land a kiss on her lips.

"That the spirit! And I'll look forward to the battle!" he said

"Same for me! It's gonna be great!" Hapu looked at the entrance to the cave and sighed. "Welp, the only way to get to the Alter of the Sunne is through that cave. You'll find other trainers and Pokemon along that path, so it's gonna be tough. But I think you guys can managed. And if you need any help, give me a call and Mudsdale and I will come to help."

"Thank you Hapu." said Lillie before running off to the entrance. "Come on Collin! Let's get going!" she said. Collin chuckled and walked towards her.

"She's got the spirit of adventure in her already." he said under his breath, as the two walked into the entrance of the cave.

Not as long as before, but I hope you enjoyed it all the same. Reviews and comments of any nature are welcomed and as always, I'll see you in the next chapter. Cheerio!