As the group walked along the docks of Seafolk Village, seeing a Slowpoke and Corsola which Misty adored, someone called to them.

"Welcome!" They turned to see a woman on the roof of a building. A woman with straight dirty blonde hair past her shoulders and a big tie-die shirt.

"Oh." Lillie was surprised to see someone just casually standing there as the woman sat down to slide off the roof and onto the dock, though her landing was a bit wobbly as she tried to not fall over or crash on her butt. "Who might you be?"

"I'm... Mina. I'm the local... captain." The visiters weren't sure, but she seemed... spaced out from the way she seemed absent minded and her eyes just stared into nowhere in particular.

"Captain Mina? It's nice to meet you then." Looking between the four of them, Mina asked,

"So, let's get down to things. Which one of you is here for my trial?"

"Oh, no that's not why we're here!" Lillie told the captain. "I mean, you're not entirely wrong, Ash and Hau here are in the middle of their island challenge, but we're here to meet the Kahuna of this island!"

"Yeah, and if we have time then either one or both of us can definitely get those challenges it!" Hau grinned.

"The kahuna? Oh... I see. Maybe you should talk with Hapu?"

"Oh! So Hapu lives here on Poni Island? Thank you very much Captain Mina! Let's go guys! It'll be good to see Hapu and Mudsdale again!" Lillie began to run off, sort of leaving the others behind but never leaving their line of sight.

"She sure is much more confident, isn't she?" Misty chuckled.

"I'll say." Hau agreed happily. "I could already tell when we first saw her wardrobe change that she was someone different, but now she's really flexing that confidence! So Ash, what happened up their in the sky with you and Lillie?"

"Oh. Well, Salamence took us real high in the sky, before dive bombing towards the ocean! He leveled out at the last second."

"Wow, that sounds like something out of a roller coaster." Misty was pleasantly shocked to hear that they went through something extreme like that.

"Yeah, and then we went up high again, so high in fact we could touch the clouds."

"The clouds?!" Hau gasped. "What did they feel like?!"

"Well, I didn't touch them, but you can ask Lillie since she did."

"Aahh, no wonder the two of you hugged like that. Flying in the skies over the vast ocean? That sounds so romantic." As Misty gushed over about the romantic side of the story which Ash tried to deny with awkward laughter that nothing happened up there, Hau started to become sort of depressed that Ash got to experience that with Lillie. He's happy for his friend, but he wished he was in Ash's shoes. Shaking his head and steeling himself, the native boy suggested,

"Let's keep going. We don't want to lose Lillie." As he pressed on, Ash and Misty were confused by his shift in behavior.

"What's up with him?"

"I don't know." Misty shrugged. "He's acting similar to when we waiting for you at the Aether House. He said it was nothing, but I think he's hiding something."

"Well, it doesn't seem like that big of a problem. He's still happy most of the time, so let's ask him if this keeps persisting."

"Alright." Catching up with their friends, Lillie made sure to spray each of them down with Max Repels so that no Pokemon slowed them down. However, that didn't mean that it stopped Pokemon trainers slowing them down. But with the help of Salamence and Noivern, battles never lasted long. Eventually, the group reached an ancient path where there was a large house made from mud. A Mudsdale was seen, though not Hapu.

"Hi Mudsdale! It's nice to see you again!" Lillie greeted the Draft Horse Pokemon when it neighed at them. "You look to be in fine form. Wow, Pokemon trainers really do amaze me. It seems like a hard path to walk, but even so, none of you let yourselves be held back by the fear of seeing your Pokemon friends get hurt. You all just keep striving forward together."

"Yeah, it is a lot of hard work, but it's so much fun!" Hau laughed as he placed his hands behind his head. Hapu then came out and was surprised for a split second before a smile graced the girl's face.

"Oh! It's been a while for you folks!"

"Good to see you too Hapu." The blonde girl returned said smile. Hapu then noticed Lillie's change of clothes. "You look different. Like you're ready to go all out in something now."

"Thank you Hapu. I've finally discovered what I need to do. This is my Z-Powered Form!"

"Ho! Then do your best Lillie! No one could ever call you Lily-livered!"

"Yeah!" Lillie cheered with a double fist pump, though the others just sweated from the unusual pun. "Um, so Hapu... do you know where we can find the Kahuna?" Hapu's smile dropped.

"The kahuna? Hmm. There isn't one right now." That shocked everyone.

"What?!"

"Now what do we do?!" Lillie cried out to no one in particular.

"Well, do not be distressed. I wouldn't say I know nothing of this. Alright, let's proceed to the ruins. You bunch better stick with me." Mudsdale lowered itself so that Hapu and Lillie could get on while Ash brought out his own Mudsdale to that he, Misty and Hau could ride along side them. "That be a pretty well maintained Mudsdale you got." Hapu complimented Ash's Pokemon. You done raised her good."

"Oh, thanks." Ash nodded.

"Wait there." An elderly voice called out to them, stopping the Mudsdale. From behind a corner an old woman stepped out.

"Hey Gran. I'm taking these trainers here to the ruins."

"I see. So you must be the friends Hapu's been talking about lately, hanging with my girl."

"Oh, yes. Nice to meet you." Lillie said with a nod, along with the rest.

"Hohoho! Traveling around, making new friends, you kids are luckier than you know. But before going to the ruins, how about you help an old gran out? I could use some young hands and strong backs to help. Don't worry, helping will make your journey to the ruins much easier."

"Sure, I don't mind helping!" Hau nodded.

"Thank you. Now, as you go to the Ruins of Hope, you'll come to Poni Breaker Coast. You'll know by the soil-black as pitch. You manage to clear everything up there and you'll reach the ruins. Machamp will come with you." A grey humanoid Pokemon with four muscular arms stepped forward as he flexed.

"Machamp!" It exclaimed.

"Thank you so much." Lillie told Hapu's gran, and she nodded before heading inside the home. "The Ruins of Hope, that's where the guardian of Poni Island will be. That is where Tapu Fini lives. Let's go." Going down the mud path, it didn't take long before the brown dirt turned into black soil. Recalling both of their Mudsdale, Lillie stared intently at the opening of the ruins. "The Ruins of Hope. What is this place? The air feels so oppressive. But if we go in there, maybe Nebby will return to normal. The people that believe the guardian deity of these ruins, Tapu Fini, can wash away any impurities with its mystic water."

"That sounds really cool." Misty liked the sound of that. "Makes me think of those filters that make sure you get pure water."

"I'd imagine that it can do more than that, but I'm going to give it my all to return Nebby back to normal!" (Oh poor Lillie and her ignorance on what happened.) "Come on, let's go!"

"That's the spirit Lillie!" Hapu laughed. Going in, they saw that there were cube shaped rocks likely weighing dozens of tons which blocked the way. "Alright Machamp, solve this puzzle for us." Cracking its knuckles, the Superpower Pokemon effortlessly shoved the rocks like they were nothing. As it worked, Lillie continued as she further said,

"I've read about them you know. Alola's sacred ruins... and the guardian deities worshiped within them. They go wherever they want, so it's not easy to meet them, according to the books. But if they are summoned at the ruins, they do sometimes appear." Lillie opened her bag to let Cosoem to float out. "The books say that they are all, well, capricious. Encounters with them do not always end as you hope they will. Maybe that would explain why even coming here to these ruins hasn't evoked any response from Nebby." As she gazed worridly at the little Pokemon before placing her bag around it again, Hau put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Lillie. We haven't explored all our options yet, and we've certainly haven't exhausted them all yet. I'm sure we'll wake Nebby up again." The blonde girl smiled sadly at him.

"Thank you Hau." She then frowned as she remembered something, then, "Hau, I'm sorry I made you feel helpless when I went with Team Skull. I was just simply trying to protect my closest friends. You do understand why I did it then, right?"

"Yeah, I know. I just wish I was strong enough to do more though. I don't like feeling helpless when my friends are in danger. I want to do all I can to help you Lillie. Whatever it takes." Lillie smiled again, but big and genuine this time.

"Thank you. So much."

"Machamp!" Their conversation ended when the fighting type cleared a complete path now, which Hapu nodded to with a smile.

"Right, let's get going then. The alter is just past there." She and her friends went deeper into the ruins until they found an elevated alter, which Hapu climbed up. Taking hold of a sparkling stone, she held it to her heart. "I give my thanks for your great blessing." She prayed. "As kahuna, I will do my best for the people and Pokemon of Alola." Smiling, the girl walked down the stairs, and explained to them. "The kahunas are chosen by the Pokemon we worship here in Alola. Our sacred guardians. They are chosen from among the people living on the island each guardian watches over. Ash, Misty; Lillie told me you two were new to Alola, eh?"

"We're still new, considering we still haven't explored everywhere yet and not even two months have passed." Misty chuckled.

"Yeah, we came from Kanto because I had a bad start there, and came here because the easy experience would help. Misty came along on a deal that if I get her a bike then she'd teach me how to be a trainer."

"Oh wow, I actually forgot about the bike." Misty gasped. "I was following along because I liked the friends I made here and was helping save people and Pokemon from Team Skull."

"Eevee!" The Evolution Pokemon popped out to agree.

"Hmph, there must be something real special about you lot then. Especially Ash. I've heard how you've recieved a sparkling stone from by Tapu Koko, even as a stranger to our shores. My grandfather..." Hapu paused as she steeled herself, confusing her friends before resuming, "...My grandfather was also chosen for this honor. The honor of being this island's kahuna. But he died years ago, and Poni was left without a kahuna for some time. I tried to follow in his footsteps, but I was not chosen by the tapu back then. So I set on my own sort of island challenge, traveling Alola and trying to grow stronger." Hapu smiled. "Lillie, the kahuna you have seeked for is standing right before you." Her friends gasped.

"Oh! So you must be Kahuna Hapu by title then! So please, if you can, tell us about the legendary Pokemon!"

"So you want to know about Lunala, who we pay tribute to at the Alter of the Moone?"

"I must go after my mother! She disappeared off into some far-off world. And a fearsome creature lives in that world. A Pokemon called Necrozma. That's why I want to ask the legendary Pokemon for its help. The legendary Pokemon is the only one who can go back and forth between worlds!"

"A world where beasts reside, eh? I reckon that must be the kind of world you find on the other end of those holes that open up in the sky, just as my grandfather once described. Alright, I'll tell you what I know, but what I know isn't much."

"Thank you Hapu, anything will be of great help."

"There is a ceremony held for the legendary Pokemon at the alter. A ceremony that uses two particular flutes to somehow give the legendary Pokemon power."

"Oh, I have this." Lillie brought out the sun flute Gladion gave her. "Gladion gave this to me. It seems that my mother had it."

"Ah! That looks to be the flute that used to reside at the lake on Ula'ula. The other is said to be held on Exeggutor Island."

"They have their own island?" Ash wondered how that was.

"Yeah. I don't know why there of all places, but it has been passed down that that's where it belongs."

"I think I've read about that before." Lillie vaguely remembered. "It's an uninhabited island of the coast of Poni, isn't that right?"

"Yes, so no reason to dally here. Let us go and speak with Mina. We shall proceed to Seafolk Village!" Heading on over to the village, that's where Hapu and her Mudsdale had to depart the group for now.

"Thank you Hapu and Mudsdale!"

"That's what friends do!" The two girls laughed.

"Friends... it's the most wonderful thing to have." The blonde girl sighed with content. "I'm so glad I've gotten to meet everyone here!" All her friends smiled and/or chuckled from that.

"Yeah. To get to Exeggutor Island, you should speak with Mina. She can arrange a boat for you. I shall be wishing for your safety!" Mudsdale neighed to show its support before the two left.

"Can't wait to see her again!" Hau laughed. "She's so cool!"

"Yeah. To be a kahuna even after failing before... she's dedicated." Misty nodded.

"She'll make for a good match when I have my grand trial with her." Ash said with anticipation.

"I bet Primarina will make it a clear wash victory." Lillie giggled. "Now let's go find Mina."

"Find Mina for what?" Mina's voice asked behind them, startling the group when she came behind them without making a noise.

"Oh, Mina! Guess we didn't need to find you." Lillie laughed nervously. "We need a boat to Exeggutor Island."

"Exeggutor Island?" Then she remembered. "Oh, where the flute is, right!"

"Yeah, and that's not all. Hapu was made the new Kahuna!" That made Mina's eyes open wide.

"Little Hapu was?! We've been having old man Nanu look after our own Grand Trials up until now. Heh, now we have our own little kahuna. That's great!"

"Yes, Hapu will do her best for her late grandfather, as I must do my best for my mother's sake. And for Nebby as well." Mina smiled while she placed her hands on her hips.

"In that case, we'd better get the chief."

"Did you call me?!" Everyone turned to see a man on the roof with a Pelliper flying beside him. "Nice to meet you! Ha!" Jumping off, Pelliper provided help such as allowing him to grab hold of its feet so that he could slowly fall to the dock without splashing into the water or hurting himself. "I'm the chief of the seafolk."

"Wow! What an entrance!" Hau gasped with impressed excitement.

"Thank you. I couldn't help overhearing what you said. So why don't I get you to Exeggutor Island?"

"Oh thank you!" Lillie nodded enthusiastically.

"Hold on there little lady!" Mina called out. "Only trainers are allowed on the island. And even then it's discourage to go there if you don't have easy means of dealing with the place."

"Ha, that's true! There are some crazy critters on that island!" Lillie was crestfallen to hear that.

"But... Ash..."

"Don't worry Lillie, I've got this." Ash assured her. "With Muk and Hawlucha on my side, there's no way Exeggutor will get the best of us!"

"Yeah, and my Incineroar plus Noivern will provide back up if they need it!" Hau laughed.

"I'll keep you company Lillie." Misty told her fellow female friend. "All of my Pokemon are water type, so even if they're well equipped they might have trouble surviving there."

"You're... you're right." Lillie nodded, putting on a brave face for the boys. "I'm sure you two together can handle it better than anyone else could! I'll wait for you two here to come back! For good luck..." Lillie then did two things. She gave Hau a hug, and a kiss on a cheek for Ash. Ash was blushing wildly while Hau was in pure white shock followed by depression he tried to cover up, while Misty inwardly squealed, Mina chuckled and the chief whistled with an approving nod.

"While we're waiting for the boys to come back, I'll make you two models for my painting." Mind told Lillie and Misty.

"Well, hop aboard you two." The chief told the two boys.

"Yes sir." Ash and Hau, either excitedly or depressingly, complied as they got into a Magikarp boat and started to go to the island.

By the time they reached Exeggutor Island, it was becoming sunset while clouds rolled in for a rare case of rain. Reaching the island, Ash was taken aback by the Coconut Pokemon's... long necks.

"Wow, they're much taller than the ones back at Kanto." The Kanto born boy stated.

"You'd better believe they're taller than the regular ones!" The chief laughed. "Nearly six times taller at nearly 36 feet!"

"No way!" Ash was even more amazed by that fact they were as tall as a four story building.

"Yeah way! And here we are on Exeggutor Island!" They all reached the island by a small dock to which Ash and Hau got off. "I heard this place used to be a trial site, though that was a long time ago. Huh, looks like they're even more worked up than usual for some reason." Indeed, for he observed the Coconut Pokemon were shaking their heads around wildly like flowers being blown by wind. "Well, they're always a noisy bunch. It's probably fine. You two go on. Good luck!"

"Thank you." Ash said as he and Hau made their way, sending out their Pokemon. "Hawlucha, I choose you!" Ash sent out his prized fighting/flying type, while Hau wordlessly sent out Incineroar. "Alright, clear out those Exeggutor!" Ash ordered, while Hau just nodded glumly. Nodding, the two Pokemon went to basically beat the grass/psychic types back with no sweat. Walking now, Ash asked his friend, "Alright, what's the problem?" Hau, realizing he's been noticed, tried to brighten up and smiled.

"What problem? I'm fine."

"You're obviously not." Ash retorted. "Ever since we left for here you've been unnaturally quiet and even sending your Incineroar out you haven't said a word. As much as Gladion may like this silent you, I more prefer you being loud and excitable as you normally are." Hau gave a half-assed laugh at that.

"Ha, thanks. I guess you know me too well. The truth is... I envy you."

"Huh?"

"You're better than me. You almost always win, even when the odds are against you, and you seem to have Lillie's heart. I can handle not winning as much as you but... I like Lillie too. Even... love her... actually." Ash was surprised that he's been giving Hau a problem or two without even realizing it. "Before the Grand Trial after I beat you, I've felt insecure about my ability to perform as a trainer since I could never beat my grandfather. I'd train and I'd train, but he'd always beat me. And when I do beat him, that was my moment of glory before you and eventually Gladion stepped on it. And then with how I was unable to help Lillie when Plumeria ambushed us, it's like even when I win, I'm not good enough."

"Oh, I'm sorry Hau. I didn't realize that I was making you feel bad." Ash tried apologizing. "And I'm still not entirely sure why Lillie likes me so much. Sure, I'm good at solving problems around us but I'm not that special of a person."

"Not that special?!" Hau questioned, becoming outwardly mad as he pointed at Ash. "You help everyone out! You help them feel better! You make any situation become better by just doing what you do, even if you don't realize what you're doing! Lillie likes you because you do everything in your power to make her happy! Well thing is I've been trying to do the same for three months before you came along and she always blocked me!" The native boy began to cry. "I try and I try but she wouldn't acknowledge anything I did aside basic politeness! But you come along and she's smitten with you in pretty much no time at all! I mean, what's wrong with me?! I can't win battles when they matter most, and the girl I really like doesn't return my feelings and never will because she gave you a destiny knot, showing she most likely loves you! I just..." Hau started grumbling and mumbling to himself as he fell to his hands and knees in frustration, leaving Ash unsure how to respond. The two just stood there in the rain. All that Ash could do now was pull Hau aside and they both sat down under a tree. Eventually, Hau resumed. "I really thought that if I just focused on the fun, then everything would just go smoothly. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do anything if I set my mind to achieving my dreams if I just stayed positive while pursuing my goals."

"Hau... while that's a good mentality most of the time, there are times where it's okay to feel negative about something. If you bottle your emotions, you're just going to be sick and miserable all the time. My mom told me that a few times when I tried treating Gary bullying me as no big deal."

"It's just... no matter how hard I try... I never really seemed to be something of worth of my own. I was always seen as just the kahuna's grandson. I can't even get a girl I really like to like me back. She sees me as a friend now, but it was only when you came around. There are times... I wish I could be like Kukui... or you... because it's like regardless of the situation, the only thing you respond with is confidence and it always pays off, while it doesn't for me." Ash took time to process this, to take in that Hau has gone through some self-esteem issues that he's kept hidden down until now. When he composed his words, Ash said,

"I'm... not as special as you think I am. Gladion on Ula'ula called me a nobody that came from Pallet Town, and he was right. If there was anybody that was seen as special, it was Gary. Despite being a jerk, everyone loved him. None of the rest treated me bad, but it was like I was almost invisible, with mom the only one showing me the care that I wanted. I was alone, never appreciated since no one asked me for help or how I felt. It wasn't the worst life I could have, but it certainly wasn't great either. The thing is, all of you helped me become confident. You all helped me become strong. You all took the time to care for me and appreciated what I did. The constant support you all gave me made me feel like I could do anything, and I wanted to return that. I'm as confident as I am because all of you were confident I could become more than what I was. You were all confident I could be the best, so I give my best. And Hau, don't beat yourself up because things don't go your way. Even if Lillie didn't express it much to you directly, you have been helping Lillie just as much as me and Misty and the Professor and everyone else. She appreciates what you do, even if it didn't evolve into loving you. And that's okay, for I'm sure there's another girl somewhere in Alola, or somewhere else in the world that's a perfect match for you." Hau lowered his head in contemplation. "And you are a good trainer. A great one, actually. You've won all your trials so far, and even if you lose against Team Skull or me, you still bounce back, more determined to win than the last. Any lesser trainer would give up. You never give up. You're not bad because you're not who you could be, you're good because of what you have done so far. And even if nothing I've said has gotten to you, I can sum it all up as this old classic line: you're better than you think you are." After about a minute, Hau sniffed his nose than wiped it. Nodding, Hau gave Ash a bittersweet smile.

"You sure pulled out all the stops. I didn't think you were that good with words."

"It helps when the professor you live with is a poet who also encouraged and listened to me." Ash chuckled. The two boys lightly chuckled. Getting up, Hau gave Ash a bro-hug.

"Thanks Ash. I needed that."

"You're welcome." The Kantonian teen responded as he returned the hug before they separated and followed their Pokemon whom left everything except the Exeggutor defeated defeated in their wake, whom were now happy. "Guess we've been talking for a while."

"Yeah, you sure talked way too much." Hau laughed, getting a laugh back in return from Ash as they went deep into the island. Noticing that there was a large hill, the boys were surprised that Exeggutor were lending themselves as ramps that Hawlucha and Incineroar was running up. "Thanks Exeggutor!" Hau expressed gratitude towards them as the trainers climbed up as well, and eventually reached the alter where a blue flute laid. Ash picked it up, obtaining the moon flute. Suddenly the rain stopped, revealing falling meteorites. "Whoa, that so cool! How often do you see meteorites?!"

"Certainly my first time. Wow." Ash loved the sight as well. They soon returned to the chief and by nightfall, they came back to Seafolk Village.

"Welcome back." Mina said while smiling.

"Hey Ash, Hau!" Lillie ran up to them and hugged both the boys at the same time, both of whom chuckled from the interaction. "So you both got the flute?" She asked when she backed away.

"Yeah, we did." Ash replied with a smile.

"Now you've got to play those flutes up at the alter, I guess." Mina chuckled. "The alter can be found in the deepest part of the Vast Poni Canyon." With that said, the group made their way towards the canyon. But on the way, Misty asked Hau,

"So Hau, what else happened while you and Ash were there?" The native boy smiled to her.

"We worked things out. It was very good."