A/N: I'm sorry this is so late. I've been prepping for moving to my first apartment the past several months and that's been really stressful, thus decreasing my creativity. Chapter title comes from Under the Alolan Sun. I hope you all enjoy.
Gladion watched as Silvally threw itself at Nero. Whenever Team Sun had trained over the past week, the fire cat and the chimeric pokémon had fought. But it seemed that breaking free of the mask had helped his partner master its power, because unlike the early days there were no bursts of uncontrolled power or rage. Their training bordered on playfighting and would have been playfighting if they hadn't been practicing their techniques. In the two years he'd trained it, he'd never seen such light in Silvally's eyes.
He looked over at his sister who directed her new Clefairy in battle with Hau's Pikachu. Her posture was confident, and excitement danced in her eyes. When he'd left Aether Paradise, she'd been so timid, always looking to Mother for direction or reassurance. But here she was helping Sun aim for the top of the region. As her big brother, he felt pride mixed with a bit of guilt. Pride for how strong she had become. Guilt for leaving her behind in the first place. He'd believed he had to at the time. He left originally because he wasn't strong enough. He'd sought a way to become strong enough to protect his entire family but ironically, in that time when she'd clearly become strong enough to protect herself on her own.
"Whenever, wherever we meet you," a familiar voice crowed. "Team Skull don't even greet you!"
Gladion smirked as the alphabet trio swaggered up, but it was Sun who ran to greet them. "Hi A, B, C," the boss of Team Sun said, giving each Skull Grunt a smile in turn. "You guys here for business or are you here for a battle?"
B bumped fists with Sun. "We're here on business today, bro," he said. "Team Sun, allow me to present you with Team Skull's Admin, and our big sister…"
"Me," Plumeria said, stepping in from behind the trio. "Gotta be honest Gladion, I wasn't expecting you to recommend us working with these guys. I know my dumb little brothers did, but they're numbskulls."
Gladion shrugged. "My boss," he said, jerking a thumb in Sun's direction, "has big plans. I'm just vouching for him here."
Plumeria took Sun in. "Sooo… you're the kid Faba was worried about?" she drawled, seemingly unimpressed. "You don't look so tough."
If the boss was angered by her words, he didn't show it. "You wouldn't be the first person to underestimate me," was all Sun said.
"Gladion and my little brothers tell me you've got big plans, but without the power to back it up, it's all just talk," Plumeria said, reaching for one of the pokéballs at her belt. "If you can beat me in battle, I'll hear you out. What do you say?"
Sun whistled for his pokémon who all came running. "We accept your challenge," he said. "How many pokémon will we be using?"
"A one-on-one battle, we get two pokémon each," Plumeria said. "Come on out, Golbat!"
The large, blood-sucking bat emerged from its pokéball. "Gol!" it cried, baring its fangs.
"Lycan," growled Sun's Wolf Pokémon as he took his place on the field.
"You want to fight them?" the boss asked his rock type, though he didn't seem very surprised. "Alright Caligula. I choose you."
"Ladies first," Plumeria said. "Golbat, use Poison Fang."
The gargantuan bat lunged at Caligula, the poisonous aura emanating from its razor-sharp fangs. Neither Sun nor Caligula seemed particularly concerned, however. The manic wolf even made a "bring it" gesture with his forepaws, his muzzle split in a savage grin. But just as Golbat got within range to bite, Sun shouted, "Now!"
Rocks materialized in the air above Golbat, and despite the Bat Pokémon's attempts to escape, it was far too close. "Bat!" it screeched as the jagged stones smashed into it from all sides.
"Roc roc," chided Caligula mockingly, waggling one of the fingers on his hand-like paws.
Lillie watched as the battle raged on, Plumeria directing her Golbat to knock the rocks away with Steel Wing so it didn't remain trapped. Sun and Caligula kept smashing the bat down no matter what it tried and the ominous red of Caligula's eyes seemed to glow as the Midnight Lycanroc grew more and more savage. Oh, he was listening to Sun's directions perfectly, there was no doubt about that, but each time he took a hit and returned another his howls grew louder and his strikes grew more ferocious.
"Sun and Caligula really are a perfect fit for each other," her brother mused, gaze set on the battle. "Sun's battle style is all about domination, and Caligula wants to crush every foe it has." He turned to Lillie. "Did he raise Caligula from an egg?"
Lillie shook her head. "No, in fact Caligula didn't join Sun's team until after his first Grand Trial," she said. "Apart from Nebby, who had at least been traveling with Sun and I since the beginning of Sun's Island Challenge, Caligula's been on Sun's team the least amount of time."
"It must've been fate," Hau said. "Like my gramps said, everything about our journey seems like it's been meant to be."
Lillie hadn't really thought about Hala's idea that they'd all been caught up in some greater destiny since the day Bubbly became her partner. She looked down at her Brionne, and then looked over at her boyfriend as he battled. If this really was all fate, and they were all somehow bound together then she was glad her fate was tied to his. Him, and the rest of Team Sun.
As she watched, Plumeria made a fatal error. She used Steel Wing on Caligula. While type matchups would make it seem like an ideal move, striking a rock type with a steel type move, Sun and Caligula had spent the last week honing a move that made it the close ranged move ill-advised at best to use on Caligula.
An aura of red blanketed Caligula, as the mad wolf's muzzle stretched in a savage grin. "LYCANROC!" he bellowed as he unleashed the energy back on his opponent two-fold, knocking it out instantly. Caligula spread his arms wide and howled his victory to the skies. "LYYYYYCANNNNROOOOOC!"
Lillie, already used to helping Sun's beaten and battered opponents after a battle, fished a hyper potion from her bag and began tending to the beaten Golbat.
"Not bad, kid," Plumeria said appraisingly, eyeing Sun and Caligula with more interest than before. "My boneheaded little brothers weren't kiddin'; your strength's no joke."
"Thanks," Sun said appreciatively, accepting the praise humbly. "And thanks to you guys too," he added, giving A, B, and C a thumbs up. "I appreciate you talking me up to your big sister."
"We call it like we see it, bro," A said, and his tone of voice made it sound like he was smiling beneath his face mask. "We're boneheaded, but our skulls aren't so thick that we can't notice skill when we see it, y'know."
"Alright, alright, enough being sappy," Plumeria said, though she was smiling. "We've got one more fight to go, so get your next pokémon ready."
"You heard her," Sun said to Caligula who gave a disappointed whine. "We need to let someone else have a turn. Let Lillie heal you up once she's done with Golbat, okay?"
The red wolf didn't seem pleased, but didn't complain either, giving Sun's face an affectionate lick before walking over to Lillie for healing. "Now then for our second battle I choose-" Sun said, before there was a flash of blue light.
A certain mischievous Cosmog appeared before Sun with a defiant "Pew!" as it stared down Plumeria.
"Nebby?" Sun said in confusion.
Nebby had watched excitedly as Caligula ruthlessly crushed Golbat. Papa Sun and Nebby's big brother had worked together flawlessly to defeat their opponent. To the core of its tiny being, Nebby knew it wanted to fight too. Papa Sun had been training with it for a couple of weeks now. It was ready.
"Nebby? Are you sure?" Sun asked. "You're ready?"
"Pew!" Nebby squeaked in agreement. It was ready. It had been ready for a while now.
"Sun, you can't seriously be thinking about-" Mama tried, but Nebby wouldn't stand for it. It had worked for this. It had earned this.
"PEW!" Nebby said angrily, glaring at Mama. "Pew pew pew!"
"Let Nebby have this Lillie," Papa said. "I don't think either of us can sway the little one, so let's just make sure we win."
Mama didn't look pleased, but she took a begrudging step back. Good. Nebby would use this battle to prove it was strong.
Plumeria eyed the little nebula cloud thoughtfully before reaching for second pokéball. "Come on out, Salandit," she called.
A black and grey lizard with red markings and purple eyes materialized on the field. It glared down at Nebby, but the Cosmog refused to quiver. "Sssalandit!" it hissed.
"Salandit, use Flame Burst," Plumeria commanded, pointing at Nebby.
"Andit," growled the Toxic Lizard Pokémon as it unleashed a burst of fire at Nebby. But the little Cosmog wasn't afraid. Nebby was sure it would win.
"Nebby, use Teleport!" Papa directed. And Nebby did, vanishing in a flash of blue light a safe distance away from the attack.
Nebby stuck out its tongue teasingly at the Salandit. "Pew!" The lizard would have to try harder than that if it wanted to beat Nebby and its papa!
"Dittt…" hissed Plumeria's Salandit in annoyance.
It went like that for a while. Plumeria calling for attacks, and Sun commanding Nebby to dodge them and wearing their opponents down. While Nebby didn't know what the ultimate plan was, the little pokémon was sure its papa had a great strategy in mind.
Lillie watched with trepidation. While she trusted Sun, and Nebby had yet to take a scratch, she couldn't see how this was a good idea. Nebby hadn't learned a single offensive move, and as much as its mastery of Teleport had improved over the weeks it had been training under Sun there was only so far that would take it.
She wasn't the only one who had realized it, it turns out. "Oi, kid," Plumeria said. "I get you wanted to give this tyke a chance to fight, but all it's doin' is runnin' away like a coward. You might as well just give it up now, and we'll call it a draw."
"Big sis it's not a good idea t-" B tried to warn her, but Lillie watched the excitement and battle mania leave her boyfriend's eyes and knew that it was far too late.
The twin glares Sun and Nebby gave could have frozen fire. "'A coward'…" Sun echoed quietly, voice frigid as Sheer Cold. "'Running away'… Y'know, I was trying to drag this out, because Nebby was having fun, but if that's what you think? We're crushing you now. Nebby, Teleport Salandit up."
Oh… Now Lillie understood, and by Gladion's smirk and Hau's wide grin they did too.
"Teleport only works on the pokémon that uses it," Plumeria said in confusion. "You can't use it offensively."
Sun still looked angry, but also darkly amused. "Most pokémon can't use it offensively," the Boss of Team Sun corrected. "But Nebby can, right little one?
"Pew," Nebby said, its tiny face contorted in a scowl. On most other pokémon it might have looked intimidating, but Nebby was too small and adorable to be scary. But intimidating or not, it was clear that Nebby was angry. This wasn't the angriest she'd seen the little pokémon, but it was close.
The telltale blue aura of Nebby's Teleport wrapped itself around Salandit. The glow grew more and more vibrant until Salandit disappeared. "Hey!" Plumeria shouted, but she sounded more worried than angry. "What did you do with my pokémon?!"
"Not to worry, your Salandit will be fine," Sun said, still in that frosty tone he reserved for when someone had truly offended him. "Look up."
They all did and there, twenty feet or so off the ground, was Salandit. The blue aura hadn't entirely faded so it wasn't falling just yet, but when it did it would hit the ground hard. Nothing so severe as to harm it more than a battle normally would, but enough that having been worn down by Nebby's constant evasions it would definitely be taken out of the fight. Plumeria knew it too, because she recalled it to its pokéball forfeiting the round. She looked at Sun, at Nebby, and then the rest of his pokémon. Really looked at them, like she was trying to find something. Then, she nodded, seeming pleased. "Sorry I offended you, bro," she said with surprising sincerity. "I wanted to see how you'd react if you got pissed off. Turns out you really are like us. My boneheaded little brothers were right. That skull tank suits you."
Gladion smirked beside her, and Lillie wondered if her big brother had known this was coming.
Sun offered Plumeria a handshake, but she offered him a fist bump instead. Sun returned it, and whatever iciness had remained in his and Nebby's expressions melted away. "Water under the bridge," Sun told her. "Are you interested in working with us now? Gladion told me he'd explained that I was interested in working with Team Skull."
"Depends on what you have in mind," Plumeria said with a shrug. "Gladi was kind of light on the details besides how you had big plans and were interested in an alliance."
Sun looked to Gladion with raised brows. "You're the boss," Gladion pointed out. "If we're going to be working with Team Skull you need to be the one to explain." Sun nodded conceding his point.
"Trouble's headed for Alola," Sun told Plumeria. "Like big trouble. We need all the help we can get dealing with it."
"What kind of trouble exactly?" Plumeria asked. "I'd need to know what we're getting into." Lillie could respect that. Sun had asked the same questions before agreeing to Team Skull's offer to work with them, after all.
"Cipher. The Rocket Syndicate. Team Skull wants money and respect, right? Well, I've got cash for you and if you help take down groups like them…" Sun trailed off letting the Skull Admin connect the dots.
"No one will ever treat us like a joke again," Plumeria said. "I gotcha. Any idea when we'll be getting involved?"
Sun shook his head. "Not yet," he admitted. "I'm hoping that my… connections will have more information for me soon, though. And there's a more immediate problem that Team Sun and I are looking to deal with in the short term anyway. If you and yours could help with that, we'd be grateful."
"Aether," Plumeria guessed and Lillie's expression must've been pretty priceless because she snorted. "Princess that lab coat Faba sent us after you and your boyfriend, remember? Seein' how strong you all seem to be, I doubt it's strength that's keepin' you from taking the fight to him. So, it's gotta be numbers you're lacking."
"Spot on," Sun confirmed with a nod. "What do you say? Interested in working with us?"
"Why are you doing this?" Plumeria asks him, surprising Lillie. "You have the same eyes as Guz, our boss, does. And I saw it in how you fight. So give it to me straight, why do you want to crush Rocket and Cipher?"
Sun's eyes went wide, and Lillie wondered if she'd need to step in on his behalf. Outside of her, her brother, and Hau he hadn't told anyone about his deeper connection to the Rocket Syndicate. But just as she opened her mouth to tell Plumeria off, Sun started to laugh. It wasn't mirthful, not exactly, but it wasn't bitter either. "You're sharp," he praised. "And don't get me wrong, I do want to protect Alola, my new home. But the man at the top of the Rocket Syndicate, I want to beat him." Sun started to twitch, ever so slightly, and there was the manic gleam in his eyes that she'd also seen in Caligula's. "I want to crush him. Beat him down so hard that he never rises up again."
Plumeria grinned, showing all her teeth. "You sure I can't convince you to join up with Team Skull in a more proper way?" she asked. "That kind of spirit would make you an admin like me in no time."
Sun is mine, Lillie thought possessively. You can't have him. She's a little embarrassed by how she sounds, even in her own thoughts, but she doesn't feel guilty about them, either.
"I appreciate the offer, but I've got my own ambitions," Sun said. "And it would be weird if Team Sun didn't have its namesake as a member. Who knows, maybe someday it'll be me asking you guys to join up with us."
Plumeria laughed, taking both the refusal and his suggestion in good humor. "Well, either way I'm fine with my brothers and sisters workin' with you," she said. "If you want an official alliance, or as official as it ever gets with us, I'll have to talk to Guzma."
"Yeah," C said. "Honestly, I think you'll interest the boss, bro. I don't think you'll have much to worry about when it comes to that alliance. I mean he might make you battle him first, but I'm sure it'll happen."
"We'll keep in touch," Plumeria said. "Gladion can get you guys in contact with us if it becomes necessary."
A, B, and C fist bumped Sun as they left and without turning back to look at him Plumeria threw something back to Sun. He snagged it out of the air before Lillie could get a good look at it. "I don't really have any use for that," Plumeria drawled as she continued to walk away. "But you should get some use out of it with your Z-Ring and that Grimer of yours."
Sun opened his hand to reveal a dark purple Z-Crystal. "The Poisonium-Z," Lillie noted with surprise.
Sun smiled as he placed it in his backpack with the rest of his Z-Crystals. "Team Sun, things are going our way," the boss declared. And Lillie couldn't disagree. So far, despite some minor setbacks, everything had gone according to their plans.
All this Lilith saw. Her Lee-Lee had tasked her with watching Team Sun today while he was working on other business, and she had to say she was impressed. The Lee-Lee that belonged to the other her… Well… He lacked the razor edge hers had developed, but he had the same bloodlust that lurked just beneath the calm façade. But there was still a light in his eyes that she'd never seen in her Lee-Lee. Maybe if her Lee-Lee hadn't been raised by that bastard, hadn't been forced to be ruthless just to survive, he'd be able to smile at her like the younger Lee-Lee smiled at the other her. But then he wouldn't be the Lee-Lee she loved so much. He wouldn't have been able to free her.
She honestly envied the other her, though. It had been… what, two years from now in her world when Lee-Lee came and set her free? Before the monster who'd called herself her mother had- Lilith shook her head and lightly slapped her cheeks. There was no since getting caught up on that now. The bitch was gone and good riddance to bad rubbish. The other her is so much lighter, closer to still being innocent, compared to the madness her mother had stained her with. But she'd been pleased to see that brief flash of possessiveness when the Skull girl had implied she might take the other Lee-Lee. The other her wasn't quite as pure as it seemed at first glance. Good. If she wanted to survive, if she wanted her Lee-Lee to survive, what was coming she'd need the madness they'd both inherited. It was what made them so strong and it was what made them so useful to Lee-Lee. She was suppressing it for now, but she'd come to understand in time. And Lilith would be happy for her other self when she did.
A/N: We've all got things we're working towards, right? In addition to making this story as good as possible my dream is for it to one day have a page of it's own on TV tropes. I hope some day it earns its place there. I hope you all enjoyed and please feel free to leave feedback.
