Evening had set in with the darkness lit up by traditional Alolan tiki torches that dotted the boardwalks that made up most of Humilau. Dancers in grass woven hula skirts and beautifully patterned red blouses weaved their way around on the grand wooden stage placed in the center of the city, the platform legs disappearing into the ocean below. Firebreathers expertly performed around them, performing their own dance along with the women. Huge bonfires on each corner of the stage kept both them and the audience warm as they performed one of Alola's many fire ritual dances.
"Welcome welcome, to the Grand Alolan New Year's Festival!" Hau welcomed Alex and I with open arms and his traditional wide smile. He wore an orange floral patterned coat over his usual yellow Alolan shorts and black shirt. He wiggled his eyebrows. "Did ya miss me?"
"Hey, Lillie!" Alex pushed past him as she ran to meet the blonde, who was watching the ongoing performance. She wore a fluffy Aether coat, her hair spilling out in waves rather than her usual ponytail. "Look at your hair!"
"Why does this always happen to me?" Hau complained from the ground.
"Just like old times," I chuckled as I helped him up. "It's good to see you again, Hau."
Hau gripped my arm, giving me a grin. "It's good to see you too, old friend. Good job by the way. I hear you three had one heck of a time in this region."
"You could say that."
"Say, where's Rob?" Hau glanced behind me.
"He'll be here," I assured him. "But he's coming all the way over from Nuvema Town. Professor Juniper's lab is there, and he's her assistant."
"So he's got his life finally figured out," Hau nodded appreciatively as we walked together, the wooden boards beneath our feet creaking as the water lapped gently below them. "How about you? Any big, life changing plans? Maybe even a-" He glanced around quickly. "Wedding?" He asked in hushed tones while smirking.
"What was that?"
"GAH!" Hau yelped as he scrambled behind me away from a smiling Alex. "Where did you come from!? I didn't even see you!?"
"Oh Hau," her voice was sickly sweet. "I'm always here~"
"You got your hands full with this one," Hau said below his breath.
Two seconds later Hau was busy drowning in the ocean.
"How do you and that brainless fool stay together?" Alex asked Lillie as we rejoined her at a table.
Lillie chuckled softly. "I wonder."
"Not cool!" Hau's voice came from somewhere behind us as he splashed his way to the boardwalk. "So not cool!"
"Zeno."
I glanced over my shoulder, grinning as I recognized the other blond. "Gladion."
Dressed in tattered jeans and a worn black coat with deep red claw marks, Gladion seemed older than before. He carried himself differently. Less of a slouch from before, and more of confident walk as he came over and gripped my shoulder. "You, me, battle. For old times sake."
"First, maybe," I said, glancing at his head. "Second, what did you do with your hair!?"
"I actually like it," Alex said. "And I'll be real honest here, I didn't think you'd actually pull off that sort of hairstyle."
"You should see the amount of ladies he's been attracting lately," a soaking wet Hau complained as he squelched over.
"I had Lillie do it," Gladion looked uncomfortable, running a hand through his hair. The sides were faded while the hair atop his head was swept backwards.
"Don't do that," Lillie slapped his hand. "You'll mess it up."
"Good," Gladion grunted.
"He's lucky he already has a girlfriend," Hau rolled his eyes.
"The one you all found while in Ultra Space?" Alex asked. "Is she here?"
Gladion shook his head. "No, she stayed back in Alola. Along with mother and father, to watch over Aether. Meanwhile Lillie and I here get the honorable position of watching over this hooligan."
"Says the kettle to the pot," Hau remarked. "Anyway, if anyone's gonna battle Zeno, it's going to be me!"
"In your dreams, Hau."
"Hey-!"
"How 'bout the both of you shut up while I battle Zeno, and you two get to watch," a third person broke into the argument, looping both arms around their necks. Hoop earrings danced as the person currently choking out both boys grinned at me with black lipstick. "Yo."
"Well, look what the Liepard dragged in," Alex smirked. "Been a bit, Clara."
"It sure as hell has," she pushed both boys aside as she hugged Alex. "Saw the tournament battles. Fine job, both of you." She nodded to me. "Good job on winning. Now, what the actual hell was up with that water whip thing you and Greninja did!?" She gripped my shoulders, shaking me. "You held out on me! I demand payment!"
"Uh-"
"Don't 'UH' me! Battle me!"
"You could always ask me to battle," Alex said dryly, yet she grinned at my plight.
"Nope, sorry, I get dibs!" Hau butted in to face me, a confident smile stretching across his features. "After all, this is the Alolan Festival. And we should start the night off right with a battle that'll remind folks of Alola's very first Pokemon League Tournament. Don't you think so, Zeno?"
"That confident, huh?" I gripped his hand. "I wonder, just how far have you come since then?"
"Much further since our last bout," Hau said, his gaze set. "Trust me, Zeno. My Pokemon and I, we've come a long ways since then. So, let's battle, Zeno!"
"Let's battle, Zeno!"
I was reminded of our first meeting. How he'd instantly taken to being my friend, journeying alongside me, and filling the hole in my heart in way I never truly had before. He wasn't just my friend. He wasn't my rival. He was my brother in all but blood. We'd watched one another progress during our journey together, and while I had to overcome my past and learn to forgive myself, Hau dealt with feelings of inadequacy and weakness. He worked hard to overcome that, proving his worth time and time again. And it all showed in our final battle back in Alola, where he beat me and took the championship title.
There was only ever one answer I could give him.
"You're on, Hau," I repeated the same words I had spoken the day I met him with a grin wider and more true than the one I had worn back then.
"Welcome one and all to the Grand Alolan New Year's Festival!" Hau announced as he took center stage. The city's inhabitants had all gathered, including many from both around Unova and beyond. "I'll admit, this is a bigger turnout than I thought we'd get! But first, let me thank the man who helped make this possible! Your former Gym Leader and resident member of Unova's Elite 4, Marlon!"
The crowd cheered as the tanned man made his way onto the stage, smiling and waving at the crowd. He wore his usual half diving suit, but atop he wore a fluffy blue coat. "Alola! It's a pleasure to have you all here and my distinct pleasure to cohost this event. After all, Alola is my home region, and it would've been downright shameful of me to not accept Hau's request. Now, that's enough from me, let's hear it from Alola's Champion himself!"
The crowd clapped and cheered once again as Hau retook the mic. "Now, I'm sure you all are wondering why we've mostly stood around talking for the last hour. Well, the actual festival isn't supposed to start for another few minutes. Y'all were early!" He laughed with the crowd. "Now, we will have stalls where you can find many of Alola's delicious delicacies, or try your hand at some of our totally not rigged games. But! Most importantly, we are going to start this festival off right with a battle between none other than myself, Alola's first ever Champion, and the one who nearly took that honor away from my grasp! Give it up for the runner-up for both Alola and Kalos' League Tournaments, and the winner of this year's Unova League Tournament! ZENO!"
I broke from the crowd as they cheered my name, Alex's voice the loudest of them all, followed by the rest of my friends. Marlon took his leave, but not before winking at me and mouthing, "Good luck."
I took my place opposite of Hau just a few feet away. We both grinned and turned 180 degrees and marched to the ends of the large wooden platform. The bonfires provided enough warmth to fend of the biting chill of the cold December evening, but soon enough this battle would get hot enough to keep us more than enough warm.
"Zeno, I hope you aren't planning on holding back, because I sure as heck ain't!" Hau held up his wrist, his Aloraichium-Z gleaming from his white Z-ring. "Me and my Pokemon have been ready and waiting for this day for a long time!"
"For you, Hau, I would never hold back," I responded as I slid my black Z-ring onto my left wrist, slotting the Arcanium-Z into place. I grabbed and enlarged my first pokeball, gripping it tightly. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Always," Hau laughed as he hurled his ball at the same time as me, both Alolan Raichu and Arcaneis appearing on the battlefield. We began our respective dances at the same time, energy flowing between us and our Pokemon.
"LET'S GO, STOKED SPARKSURFER!" Hau roared as I fired the flaming arrow, yelling, "INCINERAZING ARROW!"
Both Pokemon, wreathed in violent energy, collided, rattling the boards beneath our feet and threatening to give way as the water below shot off in all directions, spraying the crowd with a fine mist.
When the smoke cleared from the explosion of the two moves clashing, both Arcaneis and Raichu, bruised and battered, continued to stand as they turned to face one another once more.
"A battle between Champions!" Hau could barely contain his excitement as he pumped his fist. "It doesn't get any better than this!"
"Careful, Hau!" I grinned as I thrust out my hand. "This battle has only just begun!"
"What'd I miss-oh they're already at it," Robert noted as he slowed to a stop behind Alex and the others. "Oh, hey Clara."
"Robert," the punk girl nodded to him. "They're already halfway through their Pokemon. You know, I had my doubts, but Hau is actually pretty strong."
"Man, I remember when he used to be the weakest link," Alex sighed dramatically.
"Was he though, was he really?" Robert asked with a smirk.
"Shut it," Alex made a half-hearted swipe at his head, which he easily dodged.
"Alright, shut up all of you and focus on the battle," Gladion said, crossing his arms as he grinned. "It's really amping up now."
Gigantic pillars of ice shot up from all sides, several of which nearly hit Mawile. Baring her teeth in a snarl, she leapt off one into another and jumped off that, cracking the ice in the process. She twirled in the air, her back jaw glowing as she bashed through the pillars with ease. Eyes glowing and a pink wind rushing around her, she spun even faster as she came down, the harsh fairy winds flattening Glaceon into the ground. Mawile finished her off with a brutal swipe with her back jaw, sending the Ice type sliding towards Hau's feet.
"Two left," Hau noted as he returned his Pokemon. "Job well done, Glaceon."
"Return, Mawile," I held out her pokeball. "You did great."
"Is it finally time for Greninja?" Hau asked, as he rested his fingers on a pokeball clipped to his belt. "Or..." He grinned, grabbing a different pokeball instead. "Is it time for that?"
"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised," I smirked as I went for a pokeball.
"Primarina!" Hau yelled, sending out the Soloist Pokemon.
"Let's do our best, Joltik!" I shouted, sending the small Bug/Electric type out.
"Oh?" Hau raised an eyebrow. "Let's see what you got then!"
Primarina let out a melodic cry as blasts of water assaulted the arena. Joltik weaved his way around them, but one of the splashes nearly wiped him out. He skidded along the wooden surface, legs frantically trying to find purchase before he was sent into the ocean.
"String Shot now!" I shouted and Joltik blindly shot it out and it connected onto the deck halfway across the arena. He yanked himself forward and slid across the battlefield.
A blur of movement shot through the webbing and Primarina skidded out of her Aqua Jet as Joltik went tumbling. But as she primed a Moonblast and shot it at him, Joltik shot another String Shot and flung himself towards her, successfully dodging the Fairy attack. Electricity sparked along him as a ball of energy shot from him and struck her in the middle. Using those precious few seconds where he wouldn't be attacked, Joltik swung himself around and landed on her back.
Eyes going wide, Primarina tried striking him with her limbs, but to no avail. Being so small and landing on a spot on her back where she couldn't reach him, he was untouchable. Screeching, Joltik let loose a small burst of electricity that instantly paralyzed her. Eyes narrowing, Primarina fought past the paralysis and blasted forwards in an Aqua Jet, dislodging the smaller Pokemon as she flipped around and shot more bursts of sparkling water at him.
Joltik charged, firing String Shot after String Shot to dodge the incoming attacks, sliding along the arena like an ice skater. He tugged on the string, drifting around Primarina as she blasted where he'd just been with a sonic attack. Two Electro Balls were fired, each one striking her and making her weaker. As she turned to go into another Aqua Jet, her body seized up as sparks of electricity danced across her skin.
"That's it!" I shouted. "Now wrap her up!"
Joltik spun around Primarina, encasing her with webbing. Suddenly he began to move faster as electricity began pulsing from him. Energy shot up his web, electrifying it. Primarina cried out in pain as she was shocked, falling onto her side.
Breaking the web, Joltik skidded to a halt as he began charging up an Electro Ball. The ball of energy grew bigger and bigger as he put all his concentration into it. Grunting from the pain of being electrocuted, Primarina struggled against the webs before managing to break free. She let out a melodious cry, water bubbles emerging into existence around her, only to disappear the moment she was struck by the powerful Electro Ball. She fell backwards and couldn't get back up.
"Joltik!" I yelled out, catching him as he jumped towards me. I grinned at him. "Great job. I knew you could do it."
Joltik buzzed happily, wiggling around excitedly. I plopped him on my shoulder as I switched to a different pokeball. "Alright, Hau. Now it's time."
"Finally," Hau sighed in relief. "And here I thought you'd never bring him out." He opened his last pokeball, letting out his Passimian. "Let's see the strength of the so-called Kage-Shinobi."
Greninja stood after being released, his sleek black skin shining in the firelight. "With pleasure," I said as I felt my mind connect to Greninja's. Water burst around him before wrapping around him into his cloak. Twin black blades spun in his webbed hands before he crouched into a battle-ready position.
I raised my gaze, feeling Greninja's power coursing through me. With a yell that both he and I let out as one, Greninja shot forwards. Passimian ran to meet him as he hurled his hard berry at him. Greninja lashed out, one of his blades liquifying into a whip as it lashed around it and he swung it back. Passimian leaped over Greninja's head as he reclaimed his berry before spinning and shooting it into his back.
Landing, Passimian shot forwards and swept Greninja's feet out from under him. Going with the momentum, Greninja swung his cloak off and managed to snap it around one of Passimian's arms. Tugging hard, it blew apart with a burst of concentrated water and blasted Passimian across the arena. Greninja gave chase, his hands and feet glowing with sky blue energy. He delivered a downward kick before following up with a punch into the chin that sent his opponent skyward. He leaped up after him, only for the Fighting type to grab ahold of him and hurl him back down to earth, cracking the wood.
He hurled his berry into his chest and it bounced back up into his hand as he brought it back down and slammed it into Greninja. Gasping out, a smokescreen poured out from Greninja. It filled the arena and scuffling could be heard from inside. Greninja then appeared as he leapt skywards, twin black blades in his grasp. He crushed them in his hands, unleashing a dark wind that he swung downwards. It crashed into the battlefield, blowing away the smoke and crashing into Passimian.
Flipping onto all fours, a forest green energy blazed around him and he burst forward. Leaping, he slammed his body against Greninja, a leafy explosion following the attack. He kicked off him with his back feet and flung his berry against him and catching it as it rebounded.
Suddenly the water all around the wooden platform surged upwards, coalescing around Greninja and keeping him airborne. Greninja raised his hand, raised fingers in front of his face as the water bubbled all around him.
Passimian gave a bellowing call, a fighting aura blasting around him and cracking the wooden planks. His grip on his berry tightened as he bounded forwards. Letting out his own cry, Greninja surged to meet him upon a wave of water as the full might of the ocean shot ahead of him. With a final yell of defiance, Passimian leaped as he pulled back his arm. He shot the berry at full power and it blazed a path through the water. Just as the waves crashed into him, the berry punched into Greninja's stomach, knocking him out of the sky and onto his back.
The rest of the water came crashing down in a great deluge, splashing out back into the ocean as it rushed past our feet. Then a figure rose from the retreating water. He stumbled to his feet and raised his hand as it clutched the hard berry. He then tossed it and it rolled to land beside a fainted Passimian.
"Ahhh!" Hau sighed dreamily as he finished inhaling his plate. "Nothing like a good malasada after a fearsome Pokemon battle between Champions."
"I'm technically not a Champion."
"But you technically are at the same time," Hau reminded me with a wink. "Oh yeah!" He turned to the blond sitting beside him. "Glad you could make it, Robert."
"Glad to be here," Robert said as he finished his dessert. "Been kept really busy lately."
"Any breakthroughs yet on the stones?" I asked. Even though I had only been partnered with him for one short battle, I still kept the pokeball I had used to capture Zekrom in.
He shook his head. "No, not yet. I don't think any lab made machine is going to. I might have to-"
"Alola!"
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Hau screamed as he was confronted with someone wearing his face. "WHAT THE HECK!?"
"HAH!" Alex whipped off the mask. "I knew this would come in handy some day!"
"THAT'S SO COOL!" Hau snatched it from her and put it on. Standing on the bench, he struck a pose. "Man have I never looked so handsome."
Lillie snickered while Alex didn't look amused. Casually she struck with her leg and knocked him off the bench.
"The gang is all here," Gladion commented as he came back with a mug giving off steam. "Reminds me of the last festival we had in Alola."
"The dancing hasn't started yet," Alex commented.
"It will," Lillie assured her.
"Hey, where's Clara?" I asked, glancing around.
"Oh, she's at the game stalls," Gladion glanced back to where Clara was aggressively playing one of the ring toss games. "She's very competitive."
"Yeah, that tracks," Alex laughed.
"Robert, what were you going to say?" Hau asked as he came back up, lifting the mask to rest atop his head.
"Oh, nothing, don't worry about it," Robert waved his hand and gave a reassuring smile. "Let's just enjoy the festival, shall we?"
It wasn't until later that Robert took Alex and I aside to talk. The festival was nearing its end. I had joined Clara in a few of the stall games before Alex had drug me out to dance with her alongside Hau and Lillie. After that we all went as a group to explore some of the attractions the Alolan natives had set up, including some really well done paintings of the gods of Old by Mina herself.
"Oh yeah," Mina had said, producing a painting from her pile. "Here you two go."
It had been the painting she'd promised to make back in Nacrene City. While I hadn't really wanted a portrait about the 'Hero Born of Darkness' I had to admit it didn't look half bad. There I was, a slightly younger version of me in my old fitted trench coat, standing amidst the darkness. Black painted palm trees stood behind me while my Alolan Pokemon stood beside. Streaks of gold shot through the black, pooling around the feet of myself and my Pokemon before spreading outwards into the rest of the painting.
"It'll be the pride and joy of Alola," Mina had promised much to my embarrassment.
After that, it had been just Alex and I wandering around and enjoying the vibes until Robert decided to talk with us.
"I'm... going to be leaving."
Alex and I sat beside him on a bench overlooking the ocean. Robert leaned forward and clasped his hands together. "Professor Juniper, er, the elder Juniper, is going to be heading on an archeological excursion down South. And he invited me to go with him. I... I tried my best to figure out if there's way to bring back Kyurem and the others from the stones, but no experiments yield anything. So I'm wondering if a mythological sight or something may be what they need. So... archeological sites. You never know."
"Yeah," Alex said. She looked distant.
"Sorry," Robert said sadly. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I love travelling with you two, but now... I finally have a purpose. Something to strive towards. I know what I need, no, want to do." He closed his eyes. "Back in Kalos, I was going to split apart from you two to head here. I thought that was going to be our goodbye. But you two decided to come along with me. And I'm so grateful for that. But now... I have to do this. I'm sorry."
"Robert, you have nothing to apologize for," I told him, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing. "I'm happy for you. And as you said, this journey in Unova almost didn't happen. I'm glad it did though. One last hurrah with Robert Aspen."
"It certainly won't be our last anyway," Alex said, squeezing his other shoulder. "We have our whole lives ahead of us. This is just a temporary parting."
"Yeah, yeah I suppose it is," Robert smiled, wiping at his eyes. He grinned at the both of us. "I'm not leaving for a few weeks, so I guess we should make the most of our time together, eh?"
"Of course," I said, matching his grin. "We wouldn't have it any other way."
