A.N. I'm back with chapter 2. Sorry I meant to post this yesterday but I was busy on Thursday and I used yesterday to update the other story I'm working on along side this. The story will begin properly here. The last chapter was more of a setup than an actual chapter. Enjoy.

CHAPTER 2

Positive and Negative.

Lillie and Elio started going out the next day, which Elio announced to the public a month into their relationship. It wasn't long before they became something of a Power Couple in Alola not long after. Elio began to lighten up thanks to her reappearance in his life. Soon his constant winning no longer left him in a bored stupor, and he began to enjoy them again, even the ones that were piss easy. Soon enough, he began to enjoy his title of reigning champion again.

All of Elio's friends were grateful for Lillie's return. They were growing increasingly concerned with how depressed Elio was becoming and were close to staging an intervention when she returned. Kukui particularly grateful for Lillie's return, for two reasons. He was very glad to have his old assistant back, when she wasn't busy in Aether Paradise of course. But the biggest reason was the effect she had on Elio.

Not many knew about this, but Kukui had Elio and Hau search through Ultra Wormholes for research purposes and to see what kind of pokémon they could find. They took an expert with them every time, someone who could track wormholes according to Hau. After a while it became increasingly obvious that Elio was doing incredibly reckless things while in the wormholes. Sometimes nearly life threatening. Kukui noticed that after Lillie returned, Elio's reckless habits in the Wormholes stopped very quickly.

Eventually, five years on, Elio rarely went on those trips anymore, since he spent so much of his spare time with Lillie. So, Hau and their mysterious expert were left to research the Ultra Wormhole phenomenon by themselves. Although Elio was positive that neither of them minded very much. He refused to clarify what that meant to Lillie or the rest of his friends when he was questioned about it. All this good in their lives eventually built to what was supposed to be the greatest night of their lives. But thanks to a madman's actions, it quickly turned to a night of despair.

Lillie arrived at Elio's apartment, dressed in the nines for the big day. That night, the Island Kahuna of MeleMele, Hala, was retiring, and his grandson Hau was hopefully going to be selected as his replacement. That was, if Tapu-Koko chose him to be it. Both Lillie and Elio were excited for their friend and wanted to be there for him. So, they decided to show up together. Despite going out for five years at that point, Lillie always had her breath taken by her boyfriend's handsomeness. Tonight, was no different. His short-sleeved tux made him look amazing.

"You look very handsome" she told him as he approached. Elio couldn't help but blush at this. "Thank you," he signed in response. "You look really pretty." Lillie couldn't help but giggle at that. They took each other's hands and headed off for Iki Town where the ceremony was going to be held. The whole Town was decorated similar to the festival that was held when Elio first arrived to Alola ten years earlier. The big stage was set up to have a podium for Hala and Hau to stand upon, with many small flags surrounding them. Several stalls were set up all over the main street, each containing either food or games.

The hubbub died down when the main features of the night arrived. Kahuna Hala was dressed in his usual outfit, but Hua was dressed in a tuxedo similar to Elio's. He looked visibly nervous about the prospect of becoming the Kahuna, but also very excited. Kukui approached them both. He made sure everyone could hear him before he started the ceremony. "People of Iki Town!" he announced to everyone. "We are here to witness the ascension of a new Kahuna." Everyone began cheering. "But first," Kukui went on, "We must see if Tapu-Koko accepts Hau as the new Kahuna. In order for Hau to prove himself to Tapu-Koko, he and Hala must battle! If Tapu-Koko then decides to accept Hau, he will give us a sign. Does everyone understand this?"

After receiving verbal confirmation that his words were understood, Kukui smiled then stepped off the platform. "Then without further ado, let their battle commence!" he yelled. Then, Hau and Hala pulled out their pokémon and began their battle. Despite wanting his grandson to take his place, Hala didn't want to go easy on him. Lillie and Elio had full confidence in their friend's ability, and as the battle wore on, it became clear that their confidence wasn't unfounded.

Despite having a bit of difficulty at the start, Hau soon got the hang of the battle and began to turn the tide in his favour. Soon enough, all of Hala's pokémon were defeated and Hau was declared the victor. There was a tense silence as everyone waited for Tapu-Koko's verdict. After a few minutes, they all heard his cry of approval. "Tapu-Koko has made his decision!" Hala called out. "Hau is to take over for me as the Island Kahuna!"

There was an explosion of cheering coming from the crowd. Elio and Lillie joined in as they rushed forward to embrace their friend. They chatted with him for a while as he gushed over how excited he was to be the new Kahuna. Elio was very supportive of his friend, but both of them could tell that the noise and crowds were starting to get to him. He was beginning to become a bit distant; a sign that he had his fill of a situation, and was close to a panic attack. "I'm going to take Elio away from here for a bit," Lillie told Hau. "When he's feeling better, we'll come back." Hau nodded, then went off to speak with other people.

Despite Elio signing to her that he was fine, Lillie led him away from the party. "I can tell that you can't handle these crowds anymore. Now, do you want to go home or somewhere else." Elio relented to his girlfriend's words, and pointed to the path that led to the bridge where they first met. Lillie blushed slightly at the idea. She figured that Elio had a specific reason for wanting to go up there. Her hopes were raised more as she saw him slip his hand into his pocket as they went.

They walked up to the bridge in silence, Elio getting visibly more nervous as they went. Eventually they reached the bridge. It had long since been restored since their escapade up there when they were 11. When they did, Elio positioned Lillie so her back was to the cliff. As she stared at him, he began to sign the words she always wanted to see. "Lillie," Elio signed, "Thanks to you I've long since fallen out of that slump that I was in before you returned. And I've made my decision on this…"

But before he could finish his sentence, Rotomdex interrupted him. "Elio!" he said, bursting from his bag. "Someone's trying to call you. Elio looked visibly annoyed at this, but signed to answer it. Then he pulled out his notepad and scribbled, "What do you want. I'm busy!" But when he turned around to see who was talking, Lillie noticed his anger turn into fear. And when the person on the other end started talking, she knew why.

"Ah, Champion Elio, still as mute as ever I see." Lillie gasped. It was Faba. Rotomdex floated up to Lillie so that she could see this as well. "Awww, looks like I've interrupted something," Faba taunted. "I'm deeply sorry. I'd like to say I'll leave you to it, but this is something I think you'll want to hear." Elio scribbled on his notepad again. "What did you do you diseased maniac!" he asked, visibly angry. Faba grinned. Nothing much," he said, "But I request to speak with you, now. Face to face." Elio wrote something else. "And what if I refuse?" Faba laughed. "take a look at Iki town" he replied.

The two of them turned and saw Iki Town. To their horror, they saw an Ultra Wormhole. Faba cackled maniacally. "Through that Wormhole there is a Guzzlord!" he told them. "If you don't come to speak with me in the Aether Paradise where you confronted Lusamine and Guzma ten years ago, you know the place, I'll drop it on Iki Town! So get over here quickly!" And with that, he ended to call.

Elio looked like he wanted to kick something. Lillie quickly headed over to him and embraced him. "It's alright love," she told him. "What did you want to tell me?" Elio pointed to the cliff behind her and handed her a small black box. Lillie gasped. On the cliff face was written, "Will you marry me?" Lillie opened the box to see a small ring. She gasped louder at that. "Sorry this wasn't more romantic" Elio signed, bowing his head. "That wasn't your fault love," Lillie replied, wrapping her arms around him gently. "And my answer is yes." Elio beamed at this and squeezed her tightly for a few seconds, before separating. Then, the two raced down the mountain to go and fetch Hau. They figured that as the freshly made Kahuna, he'd want to partake in the saving of Iki Town.

Due to it being Christmas, that took longer than I thought it would to publish this. I completely made up that ceremony for the Kahuna, as I've got no idea how it's actually done, I just thought a battle to see if Tapu-Koko approves was a cool idea. But still, I'll see you either tomorrow or Tuesday with chapter 3.