Pokémon Radiant Sun


So last chapter had my first notable change from the original game. In the games, the festival honoring Tapu Koko was the day after the MC gets their Pokémon. For the sake of the story, however, it will be one week. It's just a bit more realistic and gives the character time to bond with their Pokémon to the point where they're good enough to be considered worthy of battling in the ceremonial battle at the end of the festival.

Also, I wanted to actually share with you all a fun fact about this story. As I write it, I'm doing a run-through of Pokémon Sun where I catch the same Pokémon and make the same choices as Sun does in this story. Just something fun that I'd mention. What happens in this playthrough may have an impact on the story, but we'll see on that one.

Speaking of, I'd like to answer the question on the status of Sun's team. Yes, I have already decided what Pokémon are joining his team. I'm trying to keep a lot of factors into account while creating a viable team that can handle the forces that Sun will have to deal with in the story. I believe I have done just that, but you'll have to read on to find out more.

And to answer another question. Why didn't I just make Sun older if I wanted a mature character? Because the characters in the game are 11. Making them older would mess with that, even if it would make more sense and be more realistic. Plus, I liked the idea of writing for a mature and snarky 11 year-old that has to deal with the wacky characters and events in this story. I wanted to have a character that was fun for me to write, you know? And I am having fun with this and writing this story. And, as you'll see later on, Sun isn't nearly as mature as he believes. As I said before, he's still a kid.

Onto some other topics. I am aware that the backstory to Sun and his mother moving to Alola is vague at best. Trust me, I know. But since this is a story about the character's journey through the region, I decided to delve into any and all possibilities for a family to head to a brand-new region. Those of you who have experience with the spin-off Pokémon games may recognize a few familiar names down the road.

Anyway, shoutout to the wonderful folks who've reviewed since last update, which includes Dunka99, Tomoe Mami, Sai Og Sus,Cottonmouth25, and a new guest reviewer that goes by the name someone.

I will admit, this chapter will be one either people dislike or enjoy greatly. I had some trouble with it, but I think it came together in the end. The character that appears in this chapter was always a hard one to write for, just because her personality is…well, I'll let you all see it.

Either way, here it is. Enjoy.


Chapter 5: The Violin Girl


The trek back to Sun's new residence was a rather pleasant one. Kukui led the way, strolling down the road ahead of Sun and Lillie while keeping up a constant chatter about this and that. Meanwhile, Sun and Lillie were watching Oliver the Rowlet hop from one of their heads to the other, hooting every now and then. If Sun knew better, he would have guessed that the bird was playing some kind of game.

"You having fun there?" Sun asked the Rowlet from atop Lillie's hat. The bird's head turned his way, hooted at him in reply, before rotating around in the other direction.

"I'll take that as a yes." Sun said dryly, shaking his head as Lillie laughed quietly. The girl had been fairly quiet since they had left, but then so had Sun. He was surprised at how well his earlier interactions with Hau and Lillie had went earlier. He usually wasn't very good with interacting with children his age too well. Adults were a bit easier, for some reason. He blamed his father for that.

"So…Sun?"

The boy was snapped out of his reverie by Lillie. Oliver chose that moment to fly over to the boy, landing on his head as the girl watched the bird warily.

"How's it feel? Being a Pokémon Trainer?" Lillie asked haltingly.

"It's…I don't know. I shouldn't feel any different, but just the thought that I have a Pokémon of my own feels weird. It feels…right. I really don't know." Sun admitted, looking up at Oliver, only to see two black eyes and an owl-ly head looking back at him, making him flinch.

"Ah…I'm not sure I could do it." Lillie said quietly, looking away from the boy and out towards the setting sun.

"Do what?"

"Be a Pokémon Trainer. I hate seeing Pokémon getting hurt, see…I was raised to help protect Pokémon however much I could. To keep them safe. It just feels wrong, thinking of myself in that position…But…" Lillie trailed off, shaking her head.

"Hey, um…Don't stress out about it too much. No one's pressuring you to become a Pokémon Trainer. You could do something else." Sun said to the girl, making her look back at him in surprise.

"There's all sorts of stuff out there for people that love Pokémon. Coordinators. Performers. And those are just the popular ones in the other regions. You can be whatever you want to be." Sun said with an encouraging smile. Lillie looked at him oddly for a moment before returning his smile with one of her own.

"Thank you, Sun. I appreciate that."

"You're welcome."

The pair shared a silence for a time before Lillie said, "What are you going to do next?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, you have a Pokémon now. Are you going to train? Explore the island, now that you can navigate it safely?" Lillie asked Sun, whose expression became troubled. Lillie raised an eyebrow as Sun shook his head.

"I honestly don't know…I mean, I just got here. I haven't even had a chance to get used to this. If I just started exploring, then I'd be leaving my new home. My Mom. Meowth. It just…feels weird even thinking about it. But on the other hand…I'm so curious about what this place has to offer. I could learn so much. I want to explore this place, Lillie, but something is holding me back. It's a really confusing feeling." Sun explained quietly, looking away from the girl and out towards the path ahead of them. Now that the question had been asked, he now felt a new feeling bubbling within him. He felt torn between wanting to stay home and get comfortable with his new life in Alola…and learning about the island by trekking around it. The feeling within him continued to grow, and with it a feeling of discontent, now that he had realized it.

"You sound like you need time to think." Lillie noted after a few moments, to which Sun nodded.

"It's a lot to take in at once. Once you get a Pokémon, everything changes." Sun remarked as he gestured to the bag Lillie was holding. The girl nodded in understanding, smiling slightly at that.

"I do have another question though." Sun said to Lillie. "How did Hala understand what Oliver was saying back there? When the Kahuna asked why he attacked me."

"Oh! I can answer that. Um, apparently over time, some people are able to understand Pokémon speech to a degree. It tends to happen to people who spend a lot of time with any one kind of Pokémon. They recognize patterns in a Pokémon's speech over time, gradually allowing them to more or less understand what they're saying. That said, it takes a great deal of time for someone to naturally begin understanding what a Pokémon says," Lillie explained to Sun as the boy looked at his starter.

"So…Since Hala probably spends a lot of time around the starter Pokémon of the region, he can understand them fairly well." Sun concluded, making Lillie nod in confirmation.

"That's really cool. I wonder if someday I'll be able to understand what Oliver says." Sun wondered aloud as he looked at Lillie.

"That's something the Professor and a friend of his from Unova are working on right now, actually! Professor Kukui has been developing a special device that allows a Pokémon to talk to humans through the Pokédex. And the Professor's friend helped create a Pokémon translator over in the Unova region that allows us to understand Pokémon speech." Lillie said with a small grin, excitement on her face.

"Really? That's incredible! Man…isn't science something?" Sun mumbled in wonder, amazed at the thought of being able to communicate with Pokémon in such a manner.

"It'll be a long time before they become available to the public. They're incredibly expensive to develop, from what the Professor says. Only a handful of Pokémon Trainers have them at the moment," Lillie said to Sun, her smile fading somewhat. Both of them were snapped out of their conversation when Oliver let out a hoot, surprising them. Oliver took that moment to then flutter ahead of Sun and fly off towards Kukui, who was on hour 3 of his monologue that Sun and Lillie had not been paying attention to. Sun because he was too busy trying to take in the beautiful nature path (now that he was armed with a Pokémon and felt no fear whatsoever), and Lillie because she had heard most of the Professor's ramblings on this path before.

"So what's it like?" Sun asked as his new home came into sight.

"What's what like?" Lillie asked.

"Working with the Professor. I mean, he's a bit weird, but he seems really nice. Do you learn a lot from him?" Sun asked the blonde-haired girl. Lillie opened her mouth to reply when she was cut off from the man in question.

"You two haven't been paying attention to me at all, have you?" Kukui asked, standing much closer to them now and looking amused.

"…I blame Oliver."

"Sun, how is it the Rowlet's fault?"

"Because…reasons."

"Reasons?"

"…Yes?"

Lillie looked back and forth between the two males, wondering just what was going on. Oliver chose that moment to land on Sun's shoulder and then peck him in the head, making him yelp in pain.

"I don't think Oliver agrees with you there, cousin." Kukui chuckled, watching Sun glare at the bird. Oliver hooted innocently as Sun shook his head in dismay.

"I'll chalk this one up to you both having had a really exciting day. Next time…just let me know. I'll save my oxygen." Kukui said with a laugh, turning around and continuing his walk towards Sun's house. The trio arrived a few minutes later at their destination.

"So, are you two going to go back to Iki Town now or…?" Sun trailed off, unsure.

"Oh no, the Professor's lab is about an hour's walk from here, down by the beach." Lillie answered, shifting her bag to her other shoulder.

"Yep. No finer place to learn about Pokémon, if you ask me. Anyways, Sun, it was nice meeting you in the flesh. You rest up so you can Tackle tomorrow, alright?" Kukui held out his fist, which Sun stared at for a moment before slowly raising his own and tapping it hesitantly. Kukui grinned in response to that, making Sun grin as well.

"Can do, Professor. And thanks again for everything." Sun looked over at Lillie and said, "It was nice meeting you, Lillie."

Lillie smiled at that and said, "Likewise, Sun. Thanks again for your help back on the bridge."

"It was nothing. I did what anyone else would have done in my position." Sun said dismissively, though he smiled a little wider at the praise regardless.

"Maybe. But you still helped saved Nebby, and that means a lot to me." Lillie replied, extending a hand to Sun. The boy took the hand and shook it, and with that the trio went their separate ways.

"Have a good night!" Sun said to the duo as they waved him off, making their way down a path facing away from his house.

Sun turned around and knocked at the door and heard his Mom reply, "It's open!"

"Welcome back, Sun!" Mom said cheerfully as the boy entered the room. Sun saw his Mom dancing slightly as she made her way through the kitchen with a practiced ease as she prepared dinner. "So! What kind of Pokémon did you get? Don't keep me waiting!"

"Kooo!" Oliver hooted a greeting, his head spinning around and taking in the new environment. Sun noticed with a bit of amusement that not a single box had been unpacked in the time that he had been gone.

"A Rowlet? That honestly doesn't surprised me. You've always had liked birds, huh?" Mom asked her son as he shut the door behind him.

"Absolutely. Say hi to Oliver, Mom. Oliver, say hi to Mom." Sun said as the bird ruffled its feathers for a moment, considering its actions before it flew over to Sun's mother and landed lightly on her outstretched arm.

"Aww! I think I'm falling in love! So why did you choose this little sweetheart?" Mom cooed, giggling as Rowlet nuzzled her face with a cheerful hoot.

"That bird is evil one minute and a sweet little angel the next. What did I get myself into?" Sun wondered for a moment.

"I guess because it was cool. It really chose me, rather than me choosing it." Sun remarked, gesturing to his face and the bandages covering his cuts.

"Well, you certainly chose right! Because I'd say that this little charmer right here is definitely cool! And so cute too!" Mom laughed as she ruffled Sun's hair affectionately. Oliver took that moment to flutter down to the ground, where our Meowth had been watching the proceedings with interest.

"The two of you really do look great together though. I feel so much happier just looking at the pair of you." Mom said with a wide smile as Meowth and Oliver greeted each other with a meow and a hoot respectively.

And with that, the family and its newest member settled in for the night after dinner. Mom inspected the injuries that Sun had received earlier, and while alarmed that he had been in such danger, was glad that he was taking the injuries like a champ and made sure that the wounds would heal properly. She was surprised that Oliver had been the one to attack his face, but Sun explained that it was because it was trying to show how good of a partner it could be. Mom didn't quite agree with that, but her resolve broke when Oliver landed on the kitchen table and hooted triumphantly.

Sun may not have liked the owl's methods…But they got results.

The boy didn't stay up for much longer than that. Sun collapsed onto his bed, threw his covers over himself, and was asleep instantly. Oliver was given a makeshift bed of cushions, which the bird nestled down into for the night. The bird watched his new slumbering trainer for a while before shutting his eyes and falling asleep himself. The newly formed team slept quietly and soundly, exhausted by the events of the day…


Sun woke up with a slight groan, his eyes edging open as he tried to cling desperately to sleep. The boy tossed and turned in his bed, attempting to get into a more comfortable position so that he could drift off once again, but he found that he couldn't do it on account of a faint noise that could be heard just within his range of hearing. It bothered him just enough to where he couldn't fall back asleep.

Sun slowly sat up, groaning and he shook his head. He looked over at the small pile of cushions across from the room and could make out the form of his starter sleeping soundly…or so he thought.

"Coo."

"Woke you up too, huh?" Sun muttered as Oliver opened both of his eyes in the dark, the whites of his eyes gleaming. Sun rolled out of bed and fell onto the floor with a grunt. The boy took a moment to push himself to his feet before he shook his head to wake himself up more. As he did so, he began to pick up on the sound that had awoken him…

"Is that…a violin?" Sun muttered, confused at the sound and becoming a bit more aware now as his interest was piqued. He may have been still learning how to play a flute, but a violin was something he had envied other people for being able to play. To him, it seemed like such a challenging thing to play on, as opposed to the flute. Curious, the boy flipped on a light in his room and got dressed. He slipped out of his room, with Oliver fluttering up to his head and landing on his familiar perch.

Sun crept through the house, careful not to make a peep while he maneuvered through the living room. The sound of the violin was much louder in here, and seemed to be coming from somewhere outside. Sun nodded to himself after a moment and made his way to the door, opening it and stepping into the night air.

Sun found the violin player not twenty steps away, frantically slicing into the instrument as though their life depended on it. Despite the moonlight shining down overhead, Sun really couldn't tell much about the violinist from this angle other than that they were a girl and that they were facing away from him, towards the ocean. Sun took a step forward, but then caught sight of the ocean and remained still for a few moments. He took about a minute to enjoy the view of the ocean at night, something he hadn't seen in years. The moon overhead reflected on the inky black surface, making it glimmer as the water flowed beneath it, giving it a strange beauty in the night. Sun tore his gaze away from the water and made his way down the steps, and began walking towards the girl when she suddenly spoke.

"Hello there. Nice night, isn't it?" the girl said without so much as a glance in Sun's direction, stopping abruptly in her song. She continued staring out at the ocean when the breeze suddenly picked up. Sun winced slightly as the cool wind hit him, but he moved forward and walked up beside the girl regardless. Sun was about to speak up when the girl suddenly whirled around, putting a finger to his lips, before pointing at the moon. The girl turned back around and continued to look out at the ocean and the moon, with Sun blinking in confusion before shrugging. The pair of them silently watched the moon slowly rise in the night sky, illuminating the island below. After a time, the girl spoke again.

"You're the new kid, right?" the girl asked Sun. "I've only been around a few hours and I've had to have heard about the new kid on this island about three times now."

"Um…Yeah. I'm Sun. You are…?" the boy asked. The girl took a step back and turned to face him, looking him up and down for a second. Sun saw that the girl was a quite a bit older than him, probably about 18 or so. She had long, flowing dark hair that trailed down to her hips and she had expressive, gleaming sapphire-colored eyes. She was slender, with snowy white skin and dressed in a rather expensive-looking black trench coat that covered her entire body, save for her neck up. She held herself elegantly, but she gave off a vibe that Sun couldn't explain.

"I am Vivian Elise Delacourt. My friends call me Vivian…If I had enough friends for that to happen." The girl thought about it for a moment and said, "Well, I guess you can call my current crop of 'associates' friends. Even if they bore me sometimes."

Sun debated asking this girl what on earth she was talking about. He considered himself a pretty smart kid, but this older girl was…weird. He had no idea how to respond to her. Which, coupled with his lack of people skills, didn't help matters. He wondered briefly how exactly to reply to the girl, but after a few moments of silence couldn't come up with anything.

"Um…Nice to meet you?" Sun replied to the young woman. Vivian simply nodded and with a flick of the arm, prepared herself to play on her violin yet again. Sun's eyes widened as the bow hit the violin, suddenly moving against the instrument and swiftly beginning what seemed like an intricate solo piece, a symphony in its own right being created then and there by what Sun realized was a master in her craft. Sun stood there, transfixed, as the strange girl played her instrument, and for another long period of time the two stood there under the moon, one of them playing and the other listening.

"Same to you." Vivian replied, halting in her song once again and glancing at Sun, her blue eyes shining with excitement. An eagerness that didn't quite fit the situation. "I have to say, the people here are way warmer than I expected…no pun intended. I expect you'll like it here."

Sun couldn't help but smile at the unintentional joke, but replied, "I hope so. It looks like a really nice place to live. The locals are nice, the area is really nice. It's just…nice."

"Nice? You seemed like such a smart kid, too. Why would you describe this place in such a boring way? Nice...Blegh!" Vivian made a disgusted noise, though she seemed to be enjoying the conversation by the way that her smile widened. Vivian then looked up at the Pokémon on Sun's head and said, "So, what's the little birdie on your shoulder? I've never seen anything like it before."

"It's a Rowlet. The Alolan Grass-type starter Pokémon." Sun replied, reaching up and petting the owl on the head. Oliver had been staring down Vivian ever since they had gotten outside, strangely not making a peep. Sun wondered if his partner was as confused as he was by the weird girl.

"It's adorable. I've got my own bird, but it's always nice to see other people embracing them. They add a special little something to a team, I've noticed." Vivian opened her coat slightly, revealing five Pokéballs clipped to the inside. Sun couldn't help but feel impressed at the number.

"My starter was a bird too. A Chatot. My parents thought it was appropriate." Vivian said with a small chuckle, crossing her arms and leaning against the nearest tree, her long hair blowing slightly in the faint breeze.

"I don't know much about Chatot, but from what I do know it's supposed to be a musical Pokémon. I'd say it suits you," Sun replied.

"Absolutely. So, since you just got here, and I know that your Rowlet is native to just this region, I'll assume you just got it. So, how's being a trainer?" Vivian asked Sun.

"Honestly, it's…really exciting. I was in a Pokémon battle earlier and I felt so…alive. Just having a Pokémon of my own makes me feel happy. Content, I guess. I'll admit, I would rather just hang out around home and train as much as possible with Oliver, but…despite that, I kind of want to explore the island. On my own. I'm curious about this place and want to learn more. It's just…" Sun trailed off, unsure of how to word his thoughts. His earlier conversation with Lillie had helped bring these thoughts forward, but sleeping on them hadn't helped matters. Vivian nodded in understanding regardless.

"Ah. Comfort zones." Vivian remarked casually, grinning at Sun's confused expression. "It's a situation or place that one feels comfortable or safe in. You're certainly out of your comfort zone, coming here. You'd be even further out of your comfort zone if your started travelling around. You're torn between wanting to stay home and get settled in your new home, or satisfy your curiosity and explore while giving up the chance to get situated. Is that it?"

"I…Yeah, I think that may be it. It's just…I don't know. I'm excited to be here and it'll nice getting a fresh start in Alola. But I feel…"

"Out of your element?"

"…Maybe."

"Come on, spill it! It's better to lay it all on the table and vent." Vivian said to Sun, her expression brightening. Sun gave the girl a glare, clenching his fists in frustration.

"How do you do that? You just…know these things?" Sun demanded, feeling a flicker of anger burning with him, which surprised him. He wasn't one to get angry very often. He couldn't help it though. This girl was giving off that weird aura though, one that grated against his nerves, and she kept saying things without knowing who he was. She didn't know him. Why did she say such things?

"Because I just do…I always have. It's not as fun as it sounds, I assure you, being this clever. Being three steps ahead of everyone else. It's a curse more than anything else," Vivian replied with a small giggle.

"Why don't I believe that?" Sun asked, his anger fading as he crossed his arms.

"Because I have a habit of confusing people with my gibberish. Now that part is fun. Honestly, I'd say this whole little side adventure I took is paying off. You're not boring me! Be proud!" Vivian said as she patted Sun on the shoulder, almost mockingly, as she grinned at the boy.

"Just how long have you been standing outside my house again?"

"What day is it?" Vivian asked Sun, whose jaw dropped in response. He then realized what was wrong with that statement and realized the girl was messing with him. Vivian snickered in response, adjusting her violin so that it was resting on her back and so that her bow was clipped onto the back of the instrument itself.

"I'm kidding, Sun. I was really just passing through when I saw how nice the view of the ocean was from here. I've only been there for about twenty minutes. I'm surprised you heard me though. Sorry if I woke you." Vivian said to Sun, though with the way she was smiling it seemed as though she didn't quite mean it.

"It's alright, I guess. I'm not busy tomorrow, so I can sleep in." Sun replied with a simple shrug, smiling despite how tired he was. Regardless of his confusing thoughts and his slight frustration, he knew he had to try and keep smiling regardless. He'd sort his feelings about staying home or travelling out eventually.

"Ahh…I like your attitude! You'll be good company this fine night!" Vivian declared dramatically, hopping away from a bewildered Sun and whirling around, sticking her tongue out at the boy, her grin unsettling.

"Uh…I mean, I can stay out here a bit longer if you want." Sun said awkwardly, thrown off again by the strange girl.

"Splendid! So, what's the name of the little guy on your shoulder? I'm assuming its a guy, by the way." Vivian asked Sun, gesturing to Oliver. The Rowlet hooted softly at that, breaking his silence watching the girl carefully.

"Oliver. And yes, it's a boy."

"Seems like a fitting name. Why Oliver though?" Vivian asked.

"I used to admire a trainer back home named Oliver. This little bird reminded me of him. It just clicked," Sun explained as Oliver hopped down from Sun's head to his shoulder, where he winced slightly.

"It's a good name. I usually name my Pokémon after musical terms. I'm just weird like that though. I once knew someone who named all of their Pokémon after food."

"…Really?"

"You haven't lived until you've seen an Emboar named 'Bacon Bits' get sent out. I wish I was kidding." Vivian giggled again with mirth while Sun just smiled at the display. The girl calmed down a moment later, watching the ocean with a smile.

"Make any new friends yet?" Vivian asked Sun. The boy thought about it and shook his head slightly.

"Not yet. I've only been here two days, though." Sun said to the girl, however the look Vivian gave him in response made him flinch. It was a sharp, piercing gaze that seemed to cut through him like a knife.

"…Right, keep using that as your excuse," Vivian replied, looking away.

"Huh?"

"Never mind. Doesn't really matter. A kid like you wouldn't even know what to do with friends, now would you?" Vivian asked Sun, smirking as the boy looked at her with a bewildered expression. What was she talking about? Sun thought about it for a few moments before Vivian said, "You remind me a lot of someone I used to know, actually. Don't think too hard on it. We've all got bigger things to worry about."

"Like?" Sun asked the girl, getting frustrated at her again. Vivian responded by shrugging her shoulders, but there was a stiffness to the movement that made it seem odd. Sun looked at her for a few moments and realized that the girl looked a bit uncomfortable, which drove away his frustration. Vivian looked as if she regretted bringing that last part up. Nevertheless, she continued her train of thought, speaking slowly as she looked back up at the moon.

"Things. Some good, some bad. You'll learn soon enough. Maybe. Keep an eye on things, Sun. Just because you escaped to this sunny paradise doesn't mean it's not like Kanto." Vivian said quietly, surprising Sun with the genuine note of sadness in her voice. The young woman looked at Sun and grinned at him a moment later, adding, "Ah well. I guess that's why I'm here bothering the locals in Alola. Keeping an eye out on things myself, you know?"

"I guess so." Sun said with a small nod, leaning against his mailbox with a sigh. He was really, really confused here, but was slowly piecing together what this girl said.

His dad used to tell him about the kinds of people he would encounter while travelling. For all of the kinds of Pokémon that there were in the world, there were just as many types of people that you could encounter as well. His father once explained a few of the types people that he would regularly encounter on his trips. There were people who wore their hearts on their sleeves. People who angered quickly, who were always calm, who were neither. Some people were unreadable, always throwing people off.

And then there were people like Vivian, who could read people like books. His dad had always warned him about people who could read and interpret other people's thoughts and expressions like nothing, and told him to stay far away from them.

Vivian was oblivious to Sun's inner dilemma, having continued talking despite Sun not paying attention. The girl had moved away from the tree and was walking ahead of him, wearing a lopsided smirk.

"-yeah, I don't believe that whole bit either. Honestly, I don't even know why I'm here. I can say that I'm trying to help all I want, but that doesn't mean I can make a difference. I'm not a hero." Vivian said as she spun her bow once again and began playing a fast-paced, energetic song that made Sun shiver for some reason as he was jarred out of his thoughts and forced to listen to the girl's melody once again. He could definitely appreciate the musician's skill. He had always wanted to become a musician himself, and it was part of why he had gotten a flute. But to see someone with so much talent just unleash it like that was…awing.

"You're really, really good." Sun complimented Vivian as she paused in her song, tapping her foot in a beat only she knew.

"Thank you. I can tell you actually mean that, though. Do you play an instrument?" Vivian asked Sun. The boy opened his mouth to reply but the girl held up a finger to silence him again before dashing her bow along her violin and creating a euphonious ending to her song after about twenty seconds of frantic playing. Vivian bowed to an invisible crowd before looking at Sun, who again was struck silent.

"You were saying?" Vivian said to Sun.

"Y-yeah. I started learning how to play the flute about three months ago. I'm not that great, but I practice every day," Sun said to the girl.

"Good! Keep practicing. Always practice, especially if it's something you really love." Vivian said to the boy as she put away her instrument once again, slipping both parts of it away and facing the boy properly, giving him her full attention again.

"Do you have the time, by any chance?" Vivian asked Sun. The young boy shook his head. He hadn't thought of bringing his watch or phone with him outside.

"Shame. I'm supposed to be meeting someone a bit later but if I don't have the time…Oh well. I'm sure it'll sort itself out." Vivian replied, her ever-present smile fading away and becoming something a bit more somber.

"So…Sun, was it?" The boy nodded in reply. "Let me ask you…Why move to a place like this? I mean, it had to have been expensive. A place like this in a paradise like Alola. A beachfront property on the outskirts of the biggest city on the island…Where did you move here from, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Kanto, in Celadon City. We lived inside the city itself, close to the Gym." Sun answered the girl as he shifted his position.

"So why'd you move?"

"We…" Sun trailed off, unsure of how to respond until the girl gave him a look.

"Were trying to get out of Kanto before things went south?" Sun didn't answer, looking away from her. "Yeah, that makes sense. I'm guessing you saw some of what those monsters can do firsthand, right?" Vivian asked, her voice now devoid of all cheer and excitement and just sounding genuinely dead. Sun remained silent, unsure of what even to say. This girl had pulled a complete 180, and had gone from cheerful and teasing to bitter and cold within the span of a minute. It was…terrifying.

Sun remained silent, but the girl continued speaking regardless.

"Well…Be glad you're out of their path. They'd have no reason to come to Alola, even if we're here trying to recover. Unova is a war zone and Kanto's next. Alola though? Your criminal presence here is next to nothing. You're fine for now." Vivian said to the boy, who looked away from the girl's piercing gaze. He looked back at her almost a full minute later, where he saw that the girl's smile had returned.

"Someone's a bit coy. Maybe you know a bit more. Either way, I think my time here is just about up. Sorry I had to switch the topic to something that actually got me down for a bit. If we do talk again, we should absolutely discuss much happier things. Like pancakes. Pancakes are nice." Vivian rambled as she sauntered away, heading towards the cliff. Sun watched for a few moments before quickly shaking his head and running after her.

Suddenly a Pokémon appeared out of thin air in front of them, making Sun gasp and Oliver hoot in surprise. It was a yellow-ish humanoid Pokémon that carried a spoon in each hand. An Alakazam, Sun realized after a few moments. Sun watched as Vivian walked up to the Pokémon and chirped, "About time, Decres!"

"I apologize, Lady Vivian. But Noah was having some difficulty getting a living arrangement secure for everyone and I was doing what you instructed." The Pokémon replied, bowing to the Pokémon Trainer in response.

"True. I guess that means we're heading out?" Vivian asked her Pokémon as she bounded forward, hugging him tightly for a few moments. The Alakzam returned the embrace before the two broke apart.

"Naturally. I can wait until you're done speaking to your…associate, if you wish." Decres replied to his trainer, casting a glance at Sun. The boy had been watching the two with awe, having never seen an Alakazam in the flesh before.

"Nah, we were done. He should be getting back to sleep anyway. A boy his age needs all the rest he can get." Vivian said dismissively, much to Sun's annoyance.

"I'm eleven!"

"And?"

"I'm eleven. I'm a Pokémon Trainer. Why do I have to go back to bed?" Sun demanded, getting annoyed at the girl once again.

"Because you're getting cranky." Vivian shot back with a victorious grin. Sun deflated a bit when he heard a strange sputtering sound from above him coming from Oliver. After a moment he realized his starter was laughing at him.

"…You should probably be on your way. I really want to go back to bed now." Sun said tiredly, feeling rather defeated as Oliver calmed himself down.

"Please forgive her, young man. She can be awfully difficult at times." Decres apologized to Sun before turning his attention to Vivian. "We must go, My Lady." Vivian grabbed the Psychic's hand and turned around to face Sun, grinning widely. The boy was still watching them with a distant sense of wonder.

"I wonder what their story is…As much as she talked, there's so much she didn't explain." Sun couldn't help but wonder before Vivian spoke and snapped him out of his musing.

"Hey, Sun? You seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders so…Can I give you a bit of advice?" Vivian said to the boy, her smile becoming less pronounced and her expression becoming serious for the second time that night.

Sun nodded hesitantly, and Vivian said, "You're in a new world. Explore it to your heart's content and make some friends, even if you're not used to having them. Push aside those comfort zones and take the plunge."

The boy nodded in reply, wondering why she was telling him this, when Vivian continued. "And speaking of friends…once you've got a few, hold onto them tight. Don't let go, because you never know what might come along and tear them away from you. They help you grow and learn, and might just help you figure out just kind of path you should take." Vivian flashed Sun a brighter smile and said, "Again, this is just sappy advice from a seasoned veteran Trainer. Feel free to take it or ignore it. Thanks for keeping me company. See you soon!"

Vivian teleported away, leaving Sun behind to ponder her words and her warning.