Pokémon Radiant Sun
Howdy folks.
So yeah, had to delay things a bit because of some schedule switch-ups at work and because I'll be out of the country again this weekend, meaning I won't be getting any writing done.
I'm still absolutely obsessed over Fire Emblem: 3 Houses, but thankfully the obsession isn't at Persona V levels. Mainly because this game is not nearly as long. I've also had some exciting things come up in regards to Air Force stuff, so that's also contributed to this chapter being delayed a bit. But that doesn't matter, because we're here with a new update!
Shoutout to those who reviewed since the new update, which includes Oragonking, a Guest reviewer, JayTheAltaria, Wan323, Doger 32, SonicIKE, and Guest 853435. Thanks for the fantastic feedback and support!
Here's the first of three chapters centered around the events of the Festival!
Enjoy.
Chapter 92: The Festival of Celestial Lights
Aether Paradise
"The only worthwhile thing I've gotten from reading Faba's research notes is that I'm pretty sure he's never had an orgasm is his entire life." Colress said as he set the book down, shaking his head. Wicke choked on her coffee, not having expecting that particular comment.
"Oh...sorry. I suppose I should have worded that a little better. That said, I think the comment is warranted. He just goes on and on and on." Colress said with a casual shrug as Wicke pounded her chest, trying to remember how to breathe without pain.
"And what makes you say that, Colress?" came a cool voice from the entryway. Both adults turned and saw President Lusamine leaning against the doorway, looking amused.
"I meant no disrespect...Well, maybe a little bit. But I only mean that Faba could learn to not boast so much in scientific reports. If half of what he wrote is true, then apparently he's the second coming of Arceus." Colress said with a smile. Lusamine sighed, but smiled as well.
"Faba is very proud of himself and what he does. He views his work for the Foundation to be some of the greatest he's ever done. And I can personally attest to his work ethic and the results he produces on a regular basis." Lusamine said as she walked into the room, sauntering over to Wicke and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright, Miss Wicke?"
"I'll...I'll be fine. Jeez...That's probably the best zinger I've heard in awhile." Wicke rasped, massaging her throat.
"I can imagine." Colress said dryly, though he wore an amused smirk regardless.
"As much as enjoy idle chatter, I did come here for a reason. Colress, you said the other night as we came back into the compound that the Purify Chamber was nearly operational?" Lusamine asked.
"All I need is a few test subjects, after the final checks with Faba. However, given that he's going to be at the Festival of Celestial Lights tonight, I doubt we'll have Shadow Celebi purified within the week or anything." Colress replied, with Lusamine frowning.
"A pity. Truthfully, I'd like the chance to communicate with it. The stories it could tell...the poor dear. We must save it." Lusamine muttered, crossing her arms. A faint beeping sound made the woman start for a moment before she reached into a pocket and pulled out a silver cell phone. Upon seeing who it was, she frowned.
"Something wrong, ma'am?" Wicke asked, seeing the concerned expression on her face.
"Yes. But it's not something I can't handle. Cancel my meetings for the day." Lusamine said briskly, stowing away the phone. Miss Wicke looked surprised, and somewhat alarmed.
"If you're not here and Faba won't be here, then I'm taking a night off. I may go to the Festival myself. I hear that a certain Guardian Deity may be attending tonight." Colress said as he stood up, taking note of the interested look on Wicke and Lusamine's faces.
"How would you know?" Lusamine asked, curious.
"Because I'm the one that supplied it the technology to change its appearance using hard-light. For what I gained out of it, it was absolutely worth the investment." Colress said as he walked past the woman, smiling at her as he passed.
"What I wouldn't give to understand how his mind works." Lusamine muttered, shaking her head as Colress vanished down the hallway.
"Ma'am?"
Lusamine turned towards Wicke, who was looking at her with some worry. Lusamine smiled softly at the younger woman and said, "I'll be fine, Miss Wicke. Simply a call from a friend who needs some help. It sounded urgent, and I know I've been neglecting my friends lately, so I'm taking some time to correct that mistake."
Wicke smiled at her and nodded, returning to her coffee as Lusamine walked out of her room. The woman's smile faded, replaced with a frown as she strode down the hallway, her heels clicking across the polished floors. Personnel here and there called out greetings to the President of the Aether Foundation, and she returned their greetings with a kind smile and a wave, all the while wondering what sort of mess she would have to deal with now.
The trek back to her mansion was a mercifully brief one, with the woman opening the doors and taking the path to her left. After going through a few doors, and opening a secret panel in the wall, she opened the door and found herself staring at a rather large man dressed in black, slouched over in a chair. Lusamine silently shut the door behind her, staring at the man in question.
"Guzma." Lusamine said simply, the man looking up at her. Lusamine blinked in surprise at the expression on the man's face. It was a far cry from the confident and smug man she had conscripted into assisting her. Right now he was none of that. His clothes were crumpled and dirty, his eyes were bloodshot and red, and he had a haunted look on his face. In his hands were four Poké Balls, which the man thrust towards her with a desperate look on his face.
"Help them. Madam Prez, they're too broken. I can't fix them! Save them!" Guzma said, his voice rising in hysteria before Lusamine slapped the man across the face, sending him staggering backwards as he tumbled over the chair he had been sitting in.
"Guzma!" Lusamine shouted, grabbing the man by the shoulders and shaking him roughly. Guzma seemed to snap out of it, taking a shuddering breath.
"Compose yourself. You're better than this." Lusamine scolded the man, who shakily nodded, taking a step back to run his hands over his face, exhaling hard. Lusamine could see how hard it was for the man to maintain any semblance of calm, but Lusamine needed him coherent so she could see how bad the damage control she needed to run was.
"R-right...Right, I should explain. Yeah, that makes sense." Guzma said to Lusamine, who nodded as the man sat back down in the chair. The room they were in was a small room designed specifically so Lusamine could escape the Foundation if need be. It was known to only three people. Herself, Faba, and now Guzma. And only she and Guzma knew where the teleporter back on the mainland was located.
After all, she couldn't have her partnership with the leader of Team Skull revealed so casually. The man had to lurk in the shadows for now. He was the ace up her sleeve, so to speak. And he was utterly loyal to her.
"What happened?" Lusamine asked, adopting a concerned frown on her face.
"Back at the stadium...When those Cipher freaks attacked. I heard that you got into a scrap with that Fontaine chick, so I decided to start cleaning house, but I couldn't find her. And then I hear some some of my kids started fighting her. So I stepped up to slap her shit. That...didn't go according to plan." Guzma breathed, shaking his head as he looked down at the floor.
"Amber Fontaine...She's one of the most dangerous Trainers on the planet. You actually tried to fight her?" Lusamine asked, raising an eyebrow.
Guzma scoffed, holding his head in his hands. "Guzma...what is wrong with you!?"
Lusamine sighed softly, marveling at the nerve of the man sitting down in front of her. "You fought her. And you lost-"
"Nah...I kicked her ass." Guzma breathed, looking up at Lusamine with a twisted grin. Lusamine blinked twice in surprise before she smiled at the man with a grin that made Guzma's heart beat erratically.
"Well done, Guzma. I'm very happy to hear this news. It's just like I told you. You're beyond powerful, my dear. You just needed the chance to prove your skills to the world, and you did just that...So, you managed to drive away Amber Fontaine from the stadium?" Lusamine asked the Team Skull Boss, who nodded.
"Yeah. She got teleported away before I could finish her off though. I killed her Rhyperior with some crazy Z-Move...But that's not important. What's important is my Pokémon got hurt and I can't heal injuries this bad at a run down Pokémon Center...I already lost Butterfree. You've gotta help them." Guzma practically begged the woman, who took his hands into her own.
"You were reckless...You knew how strong that woman was." Lusamine said quietly, with Guzma flinching.
"S-sorry, Madam Prez. Just...please. I can't lose the rest of them." Guzma begged the woman, who leaned forward and pressed her forehead against Guzma's and made a soft shushing sound.
"It'll be alright, Guzma. Thank you for coming to me. I will happily help you." Lusamine said quietly, moving away from the man and cupping his cheek with a hand. Guzma stared at her in amazement. Lusamine smiled inwardly, seeing how she had the man basically eating out of the palm of her hand.
"Y-you will? T-thank you, Miss Lusamine. You're a lifesaver." Guzma breathed, shutting his eyes with a relieved laugh. "Damn it...I haven't lost my composure like that in a while. Sorry you had to see that."
"That's alright. I know how much it hurts to lose a Pokémon partner. Your grief and distress are completely understandable, Guzma. And I will do everything in my power to heal your team. How bad is the damage?" Lusamine asked, accepting the four Poké Balls from the man.
"Scizor, Pinsir, and Masquerain all took major damage. I don't expect them to do much for a few months, even with the Foundation's fancy tech. Golisopod took a really bad beating, but he's always been quick to recover. I wouldn't be surprised if he could fight again in a month. Ariados is the only lucky one." Guzma said as Lusamine looked at him in confusion.
"You mean that Spinarak you kept in your hair finally evolved?" Lusamine asked.
"Yeah. It took a while, but I actually managed to take down Fontaine with his help. Nothing works better to surprise someone than pulling them towards you with a String Shot and then hitting them with a dropkick." Guzma said, perking up a little as Lusamine chuckled softly.
"Truly? I...Huh. I guess I owe you a drink. I didn't think you'd win that wager." Lusamine said with a shrug, not expecting the man's unorthodox strategy to work in such a manner. "It will take time, but I promise you that every one of them will be able to fight by your side again. I will say though, you did an excellent job putting an end to Fontaine's reign of terror at the stadium. Not even the Tapu could put her down. You might not care, but you saved many lives and possibly the city itself. You did a wonderful job, Guzma. If Alola wasn't aware of your strength now, then they're definitely taking notes now."
"Heh. Yeah...I took down the nastiest piece of work Cipher had to offer. Mighta took a huge toll on my team, but it's worth it to make sure all my boys and girls are safe. That bitch can fight me and those stupid Captains all she wants. But the moment she messed with my kids is when Cipher crossed the line. Team Skull is gonna get their payback, mark my words." Guzma growled, punching his fists together. Lusamine nodded, catching the man's attention.
"While I admire that drive of yours, never forget that finding Lillie and Cosmog are our number one objectives. Now...I have a new assignment for you, my dear. I know things will be difficult to do for some time while your team recovers, but I know you can manage it." Lusamine said to Guzma, who nodded after a moment.
"Yeah, I've...Heh. I've got it covered, Prez. What's the deal? Some fool you need ya boy to smash up?" Guzma asked, standing up as his usual confidence seemed to return. Lusamine chuckled as she leaned against the wall, a simple act that allowed her to hide the wave of vertigo that had suddenly just hit her. The woman managed to force a smile as she struggled to remain standing, and when she glanced down at her arm she saw a crimson vein pulse across her elbow. Guzma noticed none of this.
"I'm unwell...But like Guzma, I cannot falter. Not when the Sharpedo are closing in, and we're so close to our goal." Lusamine thought with as her smile became something twisted.
"Soon...nothing will stop me from reaching the Ultra Space. Not Lillie. Not Gladion. Not even Cipher. And I'll destroy anyone who gets in the way of me uniting with my wonderful Ultra Beasts."
Gladion shivered.
"You good?" Demi asked as Gladion crossed his arms. The blond-haired teen remained quiet for a moment, unsure of how to respond.
"Yeah...It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Gladion muttered as he rested his chin on his knees, shutting his eyes. Demi watched him worriedly from her air mattress on the floor before sighing. Zorua sniffed him a few times before slowly worming its way into his lap, allowing Gladion to pet the Tricky Fox Pokémon.
"You wanna talk about it?" Demi asked, trying not to comment on how adorable Gladion and Zorua were. Her eyes flitted over to where Type: Null was resting on a massive cushion with a Riolu covered in bandages sleeping against it. Golbat was perched on the heater in the room, napping as well.
"No. I'll be fine. Just...I don't know." Gladion muttered, his eyes still closed.
Demi looked at where Type: Null was watching impassively. "Does he always act like this when he's upset?"
"Yes. He does other things you'd likely not approve of that I won't speak about." Type: Null said dully, with Gladion opening his eyes and giving his Partner a sharp glare.
"And you'll continue not to speak of it. How I handle my problems is no one's business." Gladion snapped, making Zorua flinch and Riolu jolt awake at Gladion's raised voice. The teen seemed to realize this and said, "Sorry, guys."
"If you're sorry, then try and get some of what you're feeling off of your chest. Talk to me, man. I'm all ears. It's the least I can do for you helping me out." Demi said, propping her elbows up on Gladion's bed. The blond-haired teen sighed and rubbed his face, muttering incomprehensible things under his breath.
"I'm worried I won't become as strong as I need to stop my mother. When I was fighting back at Royal Avenue, I didn't even slow Amber Fontaine down. I've got to do better." Gladion murmured, shaking his head.
"Yeah, because we're totally not talking about the chick that beat the hell out of Guzma and Professor Kukui at the same time. And you know, Tapu Lele. You're way too hard on yourself, man." Demi said as she sat down on the bed, making Gladion give her a glare.
"I'm not. I've got too much riding on this. You know that, Demi." Gladion said to the girl, who nodded.
"That's true. But you're still working hard. You're getting way stronger with every day! That's kinda why…" Demi looked away, blushing slightly. Something Gladion noticed.
"What?" Gladion said to the girl, who crossed her arms.
"I was going to ask if you could help me become better Trainer." Demi mumbled, with Gladion staring at her in surprise.
"Ask me to train you? You mentioned that before, but you're still on about that. I'm still trying to get stronger myself. How would I be able to actually help you?" Gladion asked.
"You're a lot more skilled than I am. Despite how much you put yourself down, you're really talented. And you've got four Pokémon to my one. I think it's a win-win situation. You get someone to train with and I can help Torch get stronger." Demi said to the teen, who scowled at her logic. Demi smiled as Gladion hung his head.
"...fine."
"Awesome! Thanks Gladion, you won't regret it!" Demi squealed, throwing herself at the teen and hugging him tightly. Gladion stiffened at the contact, but thankfully Demi let go a few moments later.
"Sorry. I got a bit...excited there." Demi said with a grin, moving away from the teen. "I forgot you don't like people touching you."
"It's not that. I just...I'm not used to it." Gladion muttered, with Demi nodding.
"Yeah. Though I noticed you had no problems hugging Lillie when you two reunited." Demi pointed out, making Gladion's features soften.
"I guess. It was...really good to see her again. She's really starting to grow up." Gladion said quietly, a note of pride in his voice as he smiled.
"You said she took command of your father's old Pokémon and helped fight back Amber, right?" Demi asked, making Gladion nod. "Yep, that girl is definitely learning a few things from Sun and Hau. I bet she'll only become more badass in time."
Gladion nodded, his smile widening a little. "Maybe after all this is over she can go through the Island Trials herself. She seemed a bit scared at first, but I think she really showed some talent as a Trainer."
"You know...she really does miss you a lot. We talked about our families a lot before I split off from the group, and she mentioned how much she missed her brother repeatedly." Demi said to Gladion, who's smile vanished.
"We were...close, growing up. After Father vanished and Mother started to lose her mind, all we had was each other. I'm not surprised that she misses me as much as I do her." Gladion remarked, scowling now. He really didn't want to talk about this anymore.
"Then why the hell did you run away after the fight? Lillie was so confused as to where you went, and I couldn't answer her either." Demi asked Gladion, who growled in frustration.
"Because Team Skull is looking for her. There was so much chaos going on that none of those Grunts realized that they let one of their big targets get thank god Guzma hasn't caught wind of that, because otherwise she'd be in Po Town by 's also because I'm also beginning to suspect my mother is keeping tabs on me somehow. I can't be anywhere near Lillie, because if they get her then it'll be...really bad for her. She can't protect herself if someone tries to kidnap her. I've got my team." Glafdion said firmly, with Demi crossing her arms.
"And me." Demi muttered under her breath, looking away.
"What was that?" Gladion asked with a raised eyebrow
"Gah! Um, I said nothing!" Demi said frantically, waving her hands back and forth as her cheeks became tinged with pink.
"Right..So that's how it stands. I can't have anything to do with her until after this is dealt with. I hate having to do it, but this makes sense. It helps keep her safe." Gladion said to Demi, who frowned pulled out her cell phone.
"Dude, you know I've got her cell phone number, right? I can call her up any time and you can talk with her on the phone." Demi pointed out, but Gladion shook his head.
"No...It'll just keep her hopes up. And it'll distract me. I miss Lillie a lot, but I can't afford distractions when so much is riding on me becoming stronger." Gladion responded, making Demi glare at the teen.
"Yeah, and I saw how happy Lillie was to be with her big brother again." Demi said hotly, stepping up to get in Gladion's face. Gladion poked her in the forehead, making her jerk back in surprise.
"Trust me. I'm very aware that hurting Lillie by doing this. If I had my way, we'd both be as far away from Alola as possible and I'd be in a rock band like I've always wanted to be. But I can't risk her getting captured by mo...Lusamine. If you don't understand where I'm coming from, then that's your problem. Lillie will just have to deal with it, just like I am." Gladion shot back at Demi, who stared at him with an expression of disbelief on her face for a few moments before she sighed.
"One of these days, you're going to have to make a choice between what makes things easier for you...and what's right." Demi said as she walked to the door with Torch trailing close behind. "I'm gonna go grab get some food. I'll be back in a bit."
"Sometimes making that choice isn't easy." Gladion murmured as Demi opened the door, leaving the room before she closed the door behind her. Gladion leaned against the wall with a sigh. Type: Null shook its head as the boy rubbed his arms, hanging his head as he whispered, "I guess no matter how strong I get, I'll always still be weak…Damn it."
Gladion got up from his bed and walked over to his backpack, quickly digging around inside for something that the Pokémon couldn't see. Gladion stuffed it into his pocket before going into the bathroom, leaving the team bewildered and confused.
"Moooooom, hurry up!" Sun called impatiently, looking down at his phone that told him that they should have left ten minutes ago. The sun was beginning to set, casting a wonderful array of colors across the sky.
"I know I left it in here somewhere!" Laura called back.
"Maybe you wouldn't be looking for your fancy purse if you unpacked all those boxes in the living room!" Sun called unhelpfully, making Hau and Hala chuckle beside him.
"Touche, sweetie. But we're still not leaving until I find my purse. It goes so well with my outfit!"
"Cut her some slack man. This is her first date in over a year or so. I think." Hau remarked, putting his hands behind his head with a cheesy grin.
"Yeah, and I've got my first date ever! That kinda trumps this."
"Well yeah, but...um...Well, crud."
"What?"
"I can't figure out a way around your logic. It was pretty solid."
"I know. That's the point."
"It's good to see you boys in such high spirits. Your outfits are quite interesting as well." Hala rumbled, crossing his arms with a small smile.
Both Sun and Hau had decided to go as ancient warriors from Alola's past, wearing skirts made of long leaves with several different symbols painted across their bodies and warpaint across their faces (though they wore black gym shorts under the skirts). Both boys wore their Island Challenge Amulets around their necks, thread through by a simple cord. Sun had the addition of wearing a small crown made of feathers and blade quills on his head, thanks to Penny and a very reluctant Oliver.
According to Lana, this idea was something that had been done many times before, and Hau had even gotten a few history books to make them as authentic as possible. Due to a lack of any other ideas, him and Hau went with it.
"It feels weird going shirtless." Sun grumbled, crossing his arms.
"Nah. It feels nice. I can see why Kukui does it." Hau said cheerily, laughing after a moment as he pretended to flex.
"I never did have the specifics about why it's cool to dress up for The Festival of Celestial Lights, Kahuna Hala." Sun said to the older man, who sighed. He himself was wearing a formal-looking martial arts uniform (a Gi if Sun remembered correctly) with a flower-like sigil on the front of it. Sun wondered if Hala had learned to fight at a dojo in Alola somewhere.
"Simply put, it began as a tradition almost two hundred years ago by the Kahuna of Akala Island at the time, Mianas. A very serious woman who tended to be fairly boring to those who knew her, and her abrasive personality usually grated on the nerves of those she interacted with, as the story goes. However, when the festival of Tapu Lele came around, she would attend the celebration every year wearing an exotic outfit she had made herself. The crowd would always be in awe of her new look for the evening, and it was said that she dressed that way in honor of Tapu Lele."
"I just did this because it seemed fun. How does dressing up honor Tapu Lele, though?" Sun asked.
"There are many aspects of life, Sun. And many facets to a person. In the same vein, there are many parts of a person that are not always shown or obvious. She wanted to embody that concept for the night everyone paid homage to the God of Life. While she may have been blunt and rather boring most of her time as Kahuna, she had an artistic side she kept secret...except for one night of the year. She said it was to show off a side of herself to the world, forgetting her reserved nature out of respect for Tapu Lele. She did this for many years, and in time others emulated her in wearing costumes or dressing up for the occasion. It soon became its own thing."
"Of course, many people fought against such a change to the Festival. It's not mandatory by any means, but there will always be people who are resistant to any kind of change. But something Mianas was adamant on is that in time, life will change. And we should embrace those changes. And so we have. Alola is slow to adapt at times, sadly, but sometimes even we realize when we're being stupid about something. I personally enjoy dressing up in my old uniform out of respect to Tapu Lele." Hala explained, smiling at the two boys.
"It's not often I see you bust out your old Gi, Tutu. I'm surprised it still fits you!" Hau laughed, earning a cackle from Hala as Sun snickered.
Just then the front door finally opened, revealing Laura Smiles brandishing a sparkling purple purse. The woman herself was wearing a long and equally sparkling purple dress, with a light blue flower made of sequins on her left shoulder. Her makeup and jewelry, which Sun hadn't seen her wear since Laura had divorced Ashton, was masterfully done as well.
"So? How do I look?" Laura asked, carefully stepping down the steps in her heels.
"Quite a dazzling dress. I approve." Hala grunted, nodding at the woman.
"You look great, Miss Smiles!" Hau said cheerily. Laura looked to Sun for approval, with the boy grinning at his mother as he gave her a thumbs up. Laura giggled as she walked over to the two boys and Kahuna, who stood beside two very impatient Charizard.
"Thanks for waiting, boys. This party is a lot bigger than the little celebration we had for Tapu Koko in Iki Town, so I wanted to get fancy." Laura said as they all got on the Charizard. After a few moments, the Flame Pokémon both took off towards Akala Island.
The group of four landed just outside of Konikoni City just after sunset. Sun and Hau thanked the Charizard for ferrying them to the island, offering them Poké Beans before the tired Pokémon flew off into the night. Sun looked around and spotted their friends, some of them wearing their usual clothes while others had dressed up.
"You're late!" Mallow declared, stomping towards them with Lana in tow. Both Captains had chosen to wear kimonos to the Festival. Lana wore a light blue-colored kimono with a water lily adorning her hair, while Mallow wore a forest-green kimono with her hair tied up in an elegant bun. Hau seemed stunned for a moment, but Sun had no problems complimenting the girls.
"Nice kimonos. You both look really pretty tonight." Sun said with a smile to his friends as Mallow beamed at him.
"Wow...You two look awesome!" Hau said with a wide grin, making Lana blush furiously as Hau put his hands behind his head.
"You boys are sweet. See Lana? I told you they'd appreciate it. You worry too much." Mallow said as she patted a very flustered Lana on the back.
"M-maybe. Some of the others are already inside. We decided to wait for you all, though Professor Kukui, Burnet, and Lillie have yet to show up." Lana explained as Sun frowned at the news.
"Johnny does like to be fashionably late sometimes." Laura remarked before she started, grabbing her phone out of her purse and reading a text.
"What's up, Mom?" Sun asked.
"Looks like Ollie's here. Sweetie, I'm going to go on ahead." Laura said, walking over to her son and kissing him on the cheek, making Sun blush from embarrassment as Mallow smirked at him.
"Be safe, and let me know if anything happens. And make sure to be a perfect gentleman for Lillie, okay?" Laura warned Sun, who grinned at her.
"I wouldn't dream of being anything less. You and Ollie have fun!" Sun replied, with Laura smiling down at her child. After a brief hug, Laura called out Meowth and made her way towards the gate and into the city proper.
"I wonder if something happened to Kukui. I know the Professor been kinda out of it lately." Sun said worriedly, crossing his arms.
"Wooo! Who's outta what now, cousin?"
The group turned around to see Kukui wearing, to their immense surprise, a black and red tuxedo. The shirt and coat seemed just tight enough to show how ripped the man was underneath. Beside him was Professor Burnet, dressed in a shimmering green strapless dress.
"Wow, looking good Professors!" Mallow cheered as the two of them approached, holding hands. Sun smiled upon seeing the Professor wearing his usual grin. It was a relief to see he was doing better.
"How're you doing, Professor? We've heard you weren't doing well lately and-" Hau was stopped when Kukui burst out laughing.
"Aw, that? It's nothing to worry about. After what happened at the Tournament, I was kinda down for a while. But now it ain't nothing but Sunny Days ahead! Ain't nothing to worry yourself about at all, cousin. Though I appreciate the concern." Kukui said with a grin, patting Sun and Hau both on the head affectionately. "Digging the costumes, everyone. Sun and Hau, you're looking like some of the ancient warriors back in Alola's ancient days. Pretty cool stuff!"
"Thanks! We figured it'd be a cool idea, and we didn't have much time to figure anything else out." Sun admitted with a sheepish grin, making Burnet chuckle.
"I can see you two didn't have that problem." Mallow said with a grin as Kukui took that moment to cross his arms, making his shirt tighten against his rock-hard chest.
"Ah, well, this is a bigger celebration than the one we had in Iki Town. Konikoni City is a much bigger place and has a history of making a big festival out of this. Besides, I love seeing Madeline in her favorite dress." Kukui admitted as he pulled his wife in for a kiss on the cheek. Burnet blushed slightly, laughing at her husband's display of affection while Mallow and Lana both went "awwww".
"Well, I don't see why we're just sitting around. Let's head in there!" Mallow declared, turning around and prancing forward with a wide smile.
"She's excited, hehehe." Hau chuckled before turning to Lana. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go Lana!"
"Um, right!" Lana said as Hau began to head towards the massive gate, though they noticed Sun was lingering behind. Mallow stopped in her tracks alongside Hau and Lana.
"You coming, Sun?" Mallow asked Sun, who shook his head.
"I'm going to wait for Lillie. You all go ahead." Sun said to the trio, who collectively shrugged. Lana and Mallow suddenly latched onto Hau and dragged him off into the Festival. Sun made note of the fact that Hau wasn't struggling at all, instead wearing a massive smile on his face. Hala chuckled deeply, slowly walking after his grandson.
"What a kook...Professors, I do have to ask. Where is Lillie? Didn't she come here with you two?" Sun asked the two Professors, both of whom laughed after a moment.
"Heh. I was wondering when you'd ask. Lillie, that's your cue!" Kukui called out. Sun stared at the man in confusion before Sun saw someone step out from behind one of the pillars. Sun's jaw dropped as Lillie walked towards him in her own costume, wearing a little smile on her face as Kukui and Burnet beamed like proud parents. As the girl approached her date for the night, Lillie carefully shut Sun's gaping mouth before taking a step back, laughing softly as Sun continued to process what exactly his best friend and crush was wearing.
Lillie, as it turned out, was wearing a modified version of her usual fancy and lacy dress. It had been dyed jet-black and was now adorned with tasteful white ribbons along the length of it, with the girl also wearing black leather boots and matching tights as opposed to her usual footwear. Lillie's hair now had several blue and pink highlights in it and was not in its usual braids, allowing the girl's flowing blonde hair freely drift in the night's wind. Perhaps the most striking thing about the girl was the fact that her eyes were bright red now, as well as the matching red lipstick she had on, as well as the white mask she was wearing that Sun vaguely remembered her getting as a birthday present from Sina and Dexio. Sitting in a tasteful black purse was Nebby, who looked to be sleeping peacefully and dressed in a completely adorable white cloud costume.
"Well...H-ow do I look?" Lillie asked shyly, doing a small twirl for Sun as the boy just stared at her, too surprised for words. Lillie frowned, seeing Sun's stunned expression. "Um...Was this too much?"
When Sun didn't reply, Lillie's expression fell, a hurt expression appearing on her face. "You don't like it, do you? I knew it...I k-knew this was too much. It's just like mother always-" Lillie was cut off when Sun suddenly stepped forward and hugged her, making the girl squeal in surprise. After a few moments, she melted into the hug and returned it happily.
Unbeknownst to them, Kukui and Burnet shared a fist bump.
"Sorry, Lillie. I wasn't expecting...this! You look wonderful! I really like the hair! It's so colorful." Sun said to the girl as they separated, with Lillie thankful that the mask she was wearing hid some of her blushing.
"T-thanks. Mallow and Acerola were really helpful. And the mask Sina and Dexio got me for my birthday really brings the whole outfit together. The contacts were Professor Kukui's idea." Lillie explained as she stepped back, allowing Sun a better look at her costume. It was such a change of pace from what she usually wore, and Sun couldn't help but be proud of his friend for taking such a step out of her comfort zone.
Lillie saw the way Sun was taking in her new appearance, his expression of approval and happiness made Lillie's heart soar. While Sun usually complimented her and made her feel like a princess, there was something about the earnest way Sun was surprised by her costume that made Lillie feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. Like she was the only girl that mattered to the boy who had become such an important part of her life.
"I can't believe Mallow was right...Making a boy speechless is really satisfying." Lillie thought as Sun nodded, glancing over at Kukui and Burnet.
"So why have Lillie hide in the shadows like that?" Sun asked them, making both adults chuckle at him.
"We wanted to wait until you were alone before surprising you. And it was totally worth it." Burnet said proudly, stepping forward to hug Lillie. The girl returned the hug happily, though when they separated Lillie laughed slightly.
"They wanted to be dramatic about it. It's really silly, honestly." Lillie admitted, with Sun snickering in response.
"Well? What are we waiting for? Can't let Mallow and the others hog all the fun!" Sun said with a wide smile, offering his hand to Lillie. The girl laughed softly as she reached out and grabbed Sun's hand, and with that the two children made their way into Konikoni City, where the Festival awaited them. Kukui chuckled as Burnet leaned against her husband, watching the two children as they excitedly ran off, holding hands.
"Reminds me of us, don't you think?" Burnet said quietly.
"They do. Lillie and Sun have grown so much in these past few months. I can see it...Those two will go far in life. Especially if their bond continues to grow." Kukui replied, wrapping an arm lovingly around his wife before the couple slowly made their way into the festival that was well underway.
Konikoni City was typically a calm and relaxing city, a center of culture for Akala Island and a place where many of the great leaders of the island grew up. It was the home of many past Captains and Kahunas, including Lana, Mallow, and Olivia.
The rich culture of the city mainly came from the fact that it was populated by the descendants of merchants who came from other regions who traded with the ancient Alolans for various fruits, rare stones, and even Pokémon unique to Alola. Even to this day, the city housed many different businesses that offered many interesting, useful and sometimes downright odd items to those looking for a special purchase. All in all, the city was an interesting place to live, full of possibilities and promise.
Tonight the city embodied that concept.
Bright lights shone down from floating lanterns that were high above the city, illuminating the the ocean-side city with a myriad of colorful lights of white, purple, pink and other floral colors. The lights from above cast a wondrous glow onto the people celebrating the God of Life, creating an otherworldly atmosphere that made everyone seem to glow. The streets had been decorated with flowers and banners and ribbons and streams, all a sign of reverence for the Guardian Deity of Akala Island.
People and Pokémon both wandered the streets, with some Trainers allowing their Pokémon to roam the streets unsupervised for the evening. Birds sat atop the rooftops, eyeing the crowds below while Water Pokémon played in the ocean, splashing alongside swimmers. Streets were full of people selling food, items, trinkets and everything in between. Music filled the air from different sections of the city as the strange lights from above the city continued to shine down on everyone, casting the city in an otherworldly glow.
"Wow...This place looks completely different!" Sun called out as he and Lillie marveled at the sights, sounds and smells around them. Sun's stomach rumbled slightly as he glanced over at where a street vendor was making fresh malasadas with local fruit inside of them.
"I bet Hau is going to have a field day with the food here." Lillie remarked with a giggle, glancing over at where a woman was selling diced vegetable skewers being cooked over an open grill, the sizzle of the grill barely audible over the rumble of the crowd.
"You want to grab some food? Or explore first and get dinner later?" Sun asked Lillie, who thought about it.
"Let's look around first. We might find something really good if we look around a bit more." Lillie reasoned, which made Sun nod. It was a very good point. With that, Sun and Lillie began to look around through the city, taking in the sights while rich music filled the air and a woman sang a song in Alolan from a small stand nearby.
Sun held onto Lillie's hand the entire time, keeping the girl close to him. Lillie, herself, was absolutely giddy about the fact that she was on a date with Sun. After everything he had done for her, and finding out he had feelings for her as well, being able to spend a night with him like this was nothing short of amazing for her. They weren't just hanging out or spending time together. They were on a date! And everyone could see that they were together and it was almost too much for the poor girl's heart.
Sun could see the almost unrestrained joy on Lillie's face, which made her even more beautiful in his eyes. The sheer happiness on her face made his own heart beat harder and faster, and he wanted to make sure this night was as fun as possible for her.
"Ooh, look at those." Lillie remarked after a few minutes of struggling against the crowds. Sun and Lillie pulled themselves over to where a stall was selling Poké Balls of all sorts. Some of them were ones Sun had never heard of. Lillie was pointing to a gray Poké Ball with small blue orbs on top of it.
"Hehe! You've got a good eye, little miss! That there is a Heavy Ball, made in Azalea Town by the famous Kurt himself! It's very effective on Pokémon that weigh a lot, so Pokémon like Onix and Snorlax are easy pickings for Trainers using these." The salesman said with a grin.
"That's so interesting. I've only done a little bit of research on Poké Balls. I'm guessing that this is only scratching the surface of what there is to know about them." Lillie remarked lightly, making Sun nod.
"Oh yeah. Some Poké Balls are more effective than others, and there's some that are completely useless in some situations. And some are just kinda novelties." Sun explained as the salesman nodded in agreement.
"The kid's right on the money. It's always handy to know what Poké Balls do what. Especially if you're hunting for a certain kind of Pokémon. On top of some of the specialties, I've got a few of the mainstream Poké Balls you can find in a lot of stores, too." The merchant said with a toothy smile, gesturing to several white, gray and red Poké Balls.
"Timer Balls are really handy for encounters that take a long time. Thanks to the internal clock inside of the ball, it becomes more effective that longer you battle a Pokémon you want to catch. Sometimes they can be even better than Ultra Balls!" The salesman explained as Lillie leaned forward.
"Interesting...Sun, did you want to buy any?" Lillie asked her date, who shook his head.
"After Finn, I don't think I'll catch another Pokémon for a little while. And I think I'm good with my current stock." Sun said with a shrug, though he did look at the salesman who looked a little put out at the statement. "I'll definitely point a few friends your way though. I appreciate you explaining some of the mechanics of Poké Balls to my friend, sir."
The salesman grinned at the boy and said, "It was nothing, kid. You two have a good night! And may the blessings of the Tapu light your way."
The children bid him farewell and continued on their way, hand in hand. After a few more minutes of taking in the sights, Sun glanced to the side and saw a large open area where people were dancing to an upbeat song being played on rather decorative drums. The two children managed to find a little section of garden nearby that was free of people, and took that moment to take a small breather.
Lillie pointed forward as they arrived in the small garden, and Sun saw Aria and Hugh were dancing side by side in the area ahead of them. It was obvious Aria was pretty bad at dancing just from watching several seconds of her dancing. Hugh wasn't much better, though despite this they seemed to be having fun regardless.
"Ooh...I haven't danced in years. I wonder if I'm still good at it." Lillie mumbled just quietly enough to herself for Sun not to hear.
Sina and Dexio could be seen talking to Korrina and Clemont, with both couples holding hands with their partners. Meanwhile Bonnie happily danced with an Espeon and Glaceon, with a yellow mouse that Sun didn't recognize sitting in her head.
"They're so happy." Lillie noted, making Sun glance at the girl. He was still a bit taken aback by her outfit, even after having been around her wearing it for a few minutes now.
"Yeah, they are. I think this was exactly what we needed after that Tournament mess." Sun agreed, smiling. He was surprised when Lillie linked one of her arms around his, holding his arm tight as her smile widened.
"We won...and we'll keep winning. Together. Right, Sun?" Lillie said to her best friend, who nodded in response.
"You bet. I'll keep working on my Island Challenge and you'll find a way to get Nebby home safely." Sun said to the girl, who beamed at him. As if on cue, a small yawn caught their attention and both children looked down at Lillie's purse and saw Nebby staring up at them.
"Pew pew!" Nebby cried out, floating upwards before Lillie snatched the Cosmog up in her arms. She hugged the little Pokémon, though she did adopt a stern look on her face.
"Now, now, Nebby. I'm giving you a bit of leeway tonight. While you're in disguise, I can't afford to not be careful with you." Lillie said to the Cosmog, who seemed to pout.
"If anything comes up, I'll protect you both." Sun said firmly, smiling at Lillie. "Besides, I doubt anyone will recognize either of you. Nebby looks more adorable than ever and I doubt even your mother would recognize you in that outfit."
Lillie looked down at herself, taking a moment to brush a hand against her skirt. "It was...a rather hard for me to wear all of this. I still find it really difficult to wear things that my mother wouldn't approve of. Mallow and Acerola were so understanding...They dyed one of my old dresses black and made alterations to it just so I would feel comfortable wearing something different for the Festival. They helped me highlight my hair and Mallow loaned me her boots and purse for the night. I'm so...I'm so lucky to have such wonderful friends in my life." Lillie whispered, tearing up slightly as she removed her mask and wiped her eyes. Sun leaned forward and grabbed both of her hands, smiling at her.
"And we're lucky to know you, Princess. So let's all agree we're all awesome and leave it at that. Okay?" Sun said to Lillie, who nodded. "Besides, I really do think you look wonderful." Sun said with a wider smile, making Lillie blush bright pink in embarrassment, though she did take that moment to lean against Sun and rested her head against his shoulder. The two children stood there, both of them a bit embarrassed about showing their growing feeling each other in public, but happy that they were with someone they truly cared about.
"Well...I think I'm very lucky to be on a date with the bravest, sweet boy I know. And I think you look rather dashing in your costume." Lillie said to Sun, taking that moment to hug him. Sun turned around and hugged Lillie back, and for a few moments the two of them held the hug and simply enjoyed the contact. They separated a moment later, with Lillie beaming at Sun in happiness before she put her mask back on.
"I'm pretty sure I'm the lucky one. I mean, I'm on a date with you." Sun said with a smirk, making Lillie giggle as she adjusted her mask.
"Nope! I'm the lucky one. I mean, I get to see you shirtless for the whole evening!" Lillie said with a laugh, making Sun look at Lillie in surprise as the teen giggled at him. After a moment, Sun crossed his arms over his chest and grinned at her. To him, Lillie definitely seemed a bit more daring this evening. Sun wondered if it was just because of the fact that she was in such a bold outfit, or because of something else. Either way, he liked seeing her like this. And he liked her complimenting him.
"I think Mallow would be proud of you, Lillie." Sun said, making the girl jerk back in surprise before bursting into laughter.
"Mallow? What's wrong?
"I don't know...But I'm really proud of Lillie for some reason. Like...she just did something I would do."
"...I think she's too young for anything that you would be proud of, Mallow."
"Maybe. Maybe not. Oh hey, fresh candy! Let's go you two!"
"I don't know how to feel about this. Let's...let's change the topic, hehehe!." Lillie said with a tinkling laugh, making Sun shrug.
"Alright. What do you think about the Festival so far?" Sun asked his date, who took a moment to glance around the crowds and and sights around them.
Looking back at Sun after a few moments, Lillie said, "I love this. The crowds are a little bit too much, but I'm...managing thanks to being with you. Being in disguise helps." Lillie admitted, tapping her mask with a small smile. "I'm sure Tapu Lele appreciates all of this. And I...Wait, is that Kiawe on the center stage?" Lillie said, squinting slightly.
Sun followed the girl's gaze and saw Kiawe dancing on stage as a hundred people watched in awe of the young man's incredible fire-dancing skills, his team of Alolan Marowak dancing around him as the flames whirled round and round.
"Let's go get a better look. Come on, Lillie!" Sun said to his date with a wide grin, though it was Lillie who excitedly pulled Sun forward into the crowds, a bright smile on her face as they hurried forward with Nebby cooing softly beside them.
Speaking of the Tapu…
Floating atop one of the tallest buildings in the city, Tapu Lele watched the people from above. Beside her stood Zinnia, the Lorekeeper, with the woman glancing at the Tapu every now and then as they watched the people celebrating in the streets. Zinnia's eyes drifted to the large stage set up in the main square of the city, where Kiawe was doing a fire dancing routine with a trio of Alolan Marowak as the crowd cheered him on.
After some time, Tapu Lele finally spoke.
"It has...been quite some time since I last paid any attention to these festivities. I usually find them an annoyance but now...I feel humbled. All of this is for my sake." Tapu Lele said quietly floating beside Zinnia. Some of the people on the ground waved to the Tapu, letting out cheers and the like. But they always kept it at that, and respectfully allowed the Tapu to simply linger above them.
"They love you. They revere you. Even after centuries of cruelness from you, they still worship you for being their protector, even though you barely considered yourself this. We all make mistakes, Tapu Lele, god or not. What matters is how you fix those mistakes going forward." Zinnia said quietly, with the Guardian Deity looking at her.
"Perhaps." Tapu Lele replied, and with that the two lapsed into a silence that stretched on for a few minutes. After a time, the Guardian Deity twitched upon sensing something. It cast its gaze downwards, seeing two children holding hands walk through the crowds below and stop at the stage. One of them was wearing a Z-Ring on his wrist that made Tapu Lele's eyes widen in surprise. The God of Life could feel a strange power emanating from the ring, and it caught Tapu Lele off guard.
"What is it?" Zinnia asked, sensing something was amiss.
"That child...I sense something within him. He's been Chosen." Tape Lele murmured, its voice lowering slightly.
"Oh, you mean Sun. Yes, apparently he was hand-picked by the God of Conflict, according to the whispers I've heard. For what exactly, I'm unsure. But considering he was responsible for stopping that attack the other day, I can tell he's definitely someone to keep an eye on. He reminds me of May, in a way." Zinnia remarked, crossing her arms with a faint smile.
"Sticking their nose into things way above their station and winning despite that?"
"Yep. It's a little annoying to be totally honest."
"Hmm...Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really."
"It's not healthy. You helped me realize some harsh truths about myself, Zinnia. As your friend, I would like to do the same." Tapu Lele said, floating in front of the Lorekeeper. Zinnia smiled at Tapu Lele, taking a moment to turn and bow respectfully to the Guardian Deity.
"Perhaps another time. But I appreciate it regardless, my friend." Zinnia said as she straightened up, making Tapu Lele laugh after a moment.
"Maybe I'll have to convene with the others. But for tonight, I'll observe. Perhaps even take part in the festivities." Tapu Lele remarked, watching Sun and Lillie as they cheered on Kiawe. Sun happened to look up and saw the two of them overhead. The boy waved at them, making Zinnia give him a small wave back.
"I feel much from his mind. Such a pure soul...He reminds me of his father. Tapu Koko...what were you thinking when you chose this child to bear your power?" Tapu Lele said quietly, earning a look from Zinnia.
"His father?" Zinnia asked. The Lorekeeper felt a pulse of sorrow from the Guardian Deity, who averted its eyes.
"He too, was a child who suffered too much in too small a time span. Powerful and kind, he was twisted by the darkness of the world until he became the monster that I spoke to at the Stadium. We failed him, as we did many others, and now the world is paying the price of our mistakes…" came the whisper in Zinnia's mind as Tapu Lele sighed internally. "Tonight, we revel in our victory. Tomorrow, we will discuss more on how to stop the growing evil in this land. Now...leave my presence. I wish to be alone."
"Of course. I'll find you if anything comes up. Especially if the Anomaly makes an appearance." Zinnia said before she walked over to the edge of the building and leapt off of it, making several people down below scream as the woman dropped five stories. Tapu Lele's eyes flashed blue for a moment, ensuring the woman made it to the ground safely, before releasing its powers.
"Little Draconid...Despite your wisdom, you are still far too foolish. You can't run from fate." Tapu Lele said to itself, nodding once before vanishing in a flurry of pink glittering scales.
"Woo! Go Kiawe!" Lillie called as her friend bowed to the cheering crowd after his performance, grinning at them and waving to everyone. Kiawe made his way down the stairs and noticed Sun and Lillie, walking over to them after a moment. He did a small double-take at Lillie's outfit, but smiled at her.
"Good evening, you two. Having fun on your date so far?" Kiawe asked. Lillie and Sun both blushed at the mention of their date, but the two of them nodded.
"Yep! We're still looking around, though. How about you? That performance was great!" Sun said to his friend, holding out his fist. Kiawe grinned at the praise, tapping the boy's fist with his own.
"Thank you. I've been practicing this routine for a few months. To see that it made so many people smile is...more uplifting than I can expect." Kiawe said with a wide smile. Sun then noticed that Kiawe hadn't really dressed up for the event, and was wearing his normal clothes.
"You didn't dress up?" Lillie asked, as if sensing what was on Sun's mind.
"Not really. What's the point in getting dressed up when I'm already wearing the optimal gear for dancing? Besides, these pants are my nicest pair." Kiawe remarked. The two children couldn't tell the difference, so they both shrugged. "But enough of that. The night is young and I'm going to go get some grilled fish. They were selling some towards the docks. Have a good night you two. Enjoy your date."
The two children bid their friend farewell, and after a few moments Sun turned to Lillie. "Let's explore some more. We kinda just headed straight into the middle of the place, didn't we?" Sun said with a small laugh, making Lillie giggle as the boy took her hand and began to lead her through the crowds. They didn't get too far before Sun and Lillie stopped at a small stall that was selling glass and gemstone figurines of various Pokémon.
"Wow...so pretty." Lillie gushed, seeing the wonderful statues and marveling at the skills on display. One of them in particular showed a strange deer-like Pokémon that neither of them recognized, drawing their interest.
"What's this one, Sun?" Lillie asked, pointing at it. Sun frowned, unable to recognize the Pokémon depicted, with its strange horns and odd colors. The woman at the stall was too busy with other customers to help them.
"Maybe Rotom Dex can shed some light on this mystery?" Lillie suggested. Sun nodded and sat down his backpack, pulling out the powered down device and turning it on. Rotom floated into the air, turned its screen on, and took that moment to let out a high-pitched beep that alerted everyone to the angry Pokédex's presence.
"BZZZZT! STOP TURNING ME OFF AND FORGETTING ABOUT ME!" Rotom Dex practically screamed, zipping around through the air as Sun and Lillie ducked for cover. Meanwhile passersby moved away from the furious device as it discharged electricity and made a loud buzzing sound.
"I'm sorry Rotom, a lot of stuff keeps happening!" Sun called out, which didn't help Rotom's angry mood.
You can't help the fact that the author keeps forgetting you.
Everything stopped.
Sun and Lillie both watched as the world around them slowed. People passing by remained frozen in place. The air itself seemed to have lost its warmth. Even Rotom, who had just been flying by, was halted in midair.
"What...What's going on?" Sun asked quietly as Lillie tightened her grip on Sun's hand. The girl moved closer to Sun before she gasped and pointed ahead of them. Sun followed her gaze and saw a Heliolisk sitting on the stage, staring right at them as its body shuddered.
Fascinating...You truly don't understand the position you're in. Do you?
The Heliolisk vanished from sight, and like that the world reverted to normal. The heat of the night smothered them once again, though Sun shivered despite that.
"S-sun...What was that?" Lillie whispered, scared of the sudden strange turn the night had gone. Sun looked at the girl, seeing how frightened she was, and didn't know what to tell her.
"I don't know...But something tells me that thing isn't normal at all. We should be careful if we run into it again." Sun said quietly as he wrapped an arm around Lillie's waist, pulling her close to him. Lillie smiled and hugged Sun back, feeling better already.
"Bzzzt! My sensorzz are all outta wack! Woe iz Rotom! First ignored, and now I'm dying! Someone replace my batteriezzzzz!" Rotom declared as it slowly floated to the ground, beeping sullenly.
"Rotom, did that actually hurt you at all? Everyone else seems to have not noticed what happened." Sun asked the device as it lay down on the front counter, not moving at all.
"Bzzt! I'm totally fine! But I still sensed zzzomething really strange! That's about it, honestly!"
"Um...Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Lillie asked the device, who beeped as it floated off of the table and into the air..
"Zzzt! I'll get over it. I just need to be dramatic first." Rotom Dex assured Lillie before continuing to fly around the Sun while making an angry buzzing sound.
"Rotom, if I said you could be our official camera...Pokémon for the night, will you calm down? I'm sorry I keep forgetting to keep you powered on." Sun asked the device, who stopped in its tracks.
"Maaaaaybe. Zzzzt! I've got a few upgradez from the pictures I've taken. I've been itching to try them out! Now quickly, pose you two!" Rotom commanded the children, who both smiled and leaned against each other. Rotom snagged a picture and giggled.
"So adorable! I'll make a killing off of adorable postcardzz for Konikoni City!" Rotom Dex declared, making the children give it an annoyed glare. "Okay, that's less cute. I give that a 7.8 out of 10. Too much water."
"Come on, you. We've got more of this city to explore." Sun said to the device, who flew to Sun's shoulder while Lillie grabbed Sun's hand and began to lead him forward. Sun allowed this, liking this slightly more confident side of Lillie.
It wasn't long until they ran into some familiar faces. Aria and Hugh, who were both wearing regular Pokémon Trainer clothes, and Acerola...who seemed to be wearing a very odd outfit indeed. It was a very fancy pair of white dress pants and a white dress shirt with red and pink accents. It resembled something a prince would wear in a fairy tale, and it looked distinctly too big for the Ghost-type specialist.
"Well, if it isn't Lillie and Sun! How're you two lovebirds doing?" Aria asked cheerily as she walked forward with Hugh.
"They're providing me with enough photozz for their eventual wedding! Rotom is the best friend ever! Hooray!" Rotom cheered as Sun and Lillie blushed in embarrassment. Meanwhile, Acerola cackled with delight and Aria and Hugh smirked.
"It's going great! We're just looking around right now. How about you three?" Sun asked, grabbing Rotom Dex as it giggled beside him.
"We've been sampling some of the food. Like...wow. You people can cook really, really good." Aria practically gushed, with Hugh snickering beside her.
"Besides that, we saw a really cool duel with spears and stuff earlier. I'm actually enjoying all of the culture shows and history lessons around here. There's a lot to learn." Hugh remarked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Hehehe! You can learn a lot from the past, don't you know?" Acerola chirped, bounding forward as she hugged Lillie. She broke apart from the Princess and patted Sun on the head.
"I have to ask though...what's with that outfit? That doesn't seem like something you'd wear at all, Acerola." Lillie asked the young woman, who gave her a wide grin.
"You're absolutely right."
"Um...care to explain?"
"Nah. You'll find out soon enough. He's got to come out sometime."
All four of them exchanged confused glances. Hugh spoke up first. "Um...I'm really confused now."
"You know what would help with that? Buying my stuff." came a familiar voice from beside them. Sun and Lillie looked to see a man wearing overalls with a wide grin on his face, his orange eyes gleaming in the light from above. Sun shivered at the man's intense gaze, but stepped forward to the counter. The others followed suit.
"You...I'm surprised to see you here of all places." Sun said as the Fossil Man chuckled, leaning backwards in his chair with a crooked grin. On display were a variety of old Pokémon Fossils, as well as various tools and instruments made from Pokémon bones and the like.
"Zzzt! What's more surprising is that I don't sense any abnormal behavior." Rotom Dex remarked, landing on top of Sun's head.
"Nah, you forget that I'm the head honcho of fossils in Alola. My dream of filling this world of Fossils with Dream Park is still in progress! And with all of these tourists out and about, I've got a chance to make quite a bit of money here." Fossil Man remarked, a mischievous glint in his orange eyes.
"You're not going to expose yourself or something, are you?" Hugh asked dryly, with the Fossil Man sighing deeply.
"No...I'm on probation. But give me a few more months, and I can-" the Fossil Man stopped suddenly before suddenly waving a hand. "Oh hello there, Officer. Can I get you stoned- I mean, offer you some stones?"
The group glanced backwards and saw a burly police officer glaring at the fossil man. The officer just shook his head in disgust and walked away. Acerola rolled her eyes and said, "I don't believe it, Fossil Man. You don't seem like the guy to get shot up in an airport bathroom on meth or whatever."
"Surprisingly inaccurate conclusion. However I'm too important to go to jail for long, hehehe. Besides, I'm afraid of needles. So I don't use meth like that." The Fossil Man remarked, crossing his arms.
"Oh. Well, there goes that-"
"I consume meth in other ways, silly. And other really fun drugs. You want some?"
"...How the hell are you still allowed to walk around?" Hugh asked, stunned at the man's behavior.
"Maybe we should go." Aria said uneasily, with the Fossil Man shrugging.
"Do whatever you wish. Just stick around for my little performance later on, at the main stage. I made sure to stay clean this week so I could practice." The Fossil Man said as he lifted an ornate lantern into view. It looked ancient, but it was beautifully made and looked as if it was polished and cleaned regularly. Several glittering gemstones adorned it, gems of yellow, pink, red and blue. Inside of it was two darkened spheres about the size of an apple.
"That looks familiar…" Acerola murmured, leaning forward. The Fossil Man laughed as he jerked it away from the Captain.
"In my line of work, you'd be amazed at what you find lying around. Now shoo, little kids. Have a fun night and try not to get caught with your pants down in public. It raises awkward questions." The Fossil Man said as he put the lantern away, making Acerola pout before she shrugged. With that, the group began to wind through the crowds yet again and walked away from the Fossil Man.
"He's a nutcase…" Sun muttered, shivering slightly. Lillie nodded in agreement, though Acerola once again shrugged.
"Maybe. But he's been around for years and years. No one really questions him or his methods, because he's the only person in Alola with the ability to restore Fossils. Not even the Aether Foundation has that kind of pull." Acerola said as she pranced forward, making Sun frown.
"So even though he's insane and regularly does illegal drugs, you all just ignore it?" Sun asked, crossing his arms. Acerola shook her head.
"Not at all. The reason he's not in jail right now is mainly because he's good at hiding any evidence of drug use. He's been investigated time and time again, but they never find anything. And when they come to check on him, he's totally clean. I honestly don't believe the rumors myself. I just think he's crazy." Acerola said before pointing forward. "Ooh, cotton candy!"
The hyperactive young woman bounded forward with a laugh while Lillie chuckled softly. "I guess you sort of just have to deal with some craziness in Alola no matter what, huh?"
"I guess...Lillie, you want some cotton candy?" Sun asked his date, who smiled and nodded. With that, Sun bought a large pink cotton candy for him and Lillie to share. Meanwhile, Acerola and Aria were having a sword fight with their sticks of cotton candy, with Hugh taking small nibbles from his own every now and then as he directed Rotom to take pictures of them.
"This is...nice. Being here, surrounded by all these people and with friends. I feel at peace. Don't you?" Sun asked Lillie, who nodded.
"Yes. It's nice to not have to hide for once. Nebby's nice and safe...and I'm with you." Lillie said quietly, blushing slightly as she leaned against Sun. The boy smiled and wrapped an arm around Lillie's shoulders, and the two silently ate their cotton candy, with Lillie feeding some small chunks of it to Nebby.
"Hey...you see what I see?" Lillie asked after a few minutes, nodding forward. Sun's gaze darted around the crowds before he spotted a familiar Heliolisk watching the crowds from atop a vendor's stall, a smirk on its face. After a few moments it phased out of sight, only to reappear on the bench opposite of them, its eyes flashing as time slowed to a crawl around them once again. Sun and Lillie stared at the creature as it smiled at them, unblinking.
I feel as though you have something to say to me.
Sun and Lillie both shivered at the mental probe contacting their minds. It was unlike anything they had ever experienced, an indescribable feeling of pure chaos gently brushing against their mind. The two of them stood up, taking a few steps away from the creature as it stared at them in amusement.
"I remember seeing you at Ten Carat Hill. Right before that Necrozma thing attacked from that Ultra Wormhole." Sun said to the creature, who grinned at him.
Yes, that was my doing. Making that particular world fall apart at the seams was definitely one of my more interesting forays through what you humans call the Ultra Space. I felt I needed to bridge the narratives, so to speak. Besides, you survived, didn't you?
"Sun, you actually recognize that thing? It's...definitely not a Pokémon. Even if it looks like one." Lillie said quietly, making the monster ahead of them smile.
That's not entirely true, child. I am what was left. Or maybe I'm all that ever was. You may call me Dizz, little Protagonists.
"That's a really weird name." Sun remarked as the Anomaly laughed from within his own mind. The Heliolisk extended its neck out six feet, making Lillie gasp and take a step back in surprise. Dizz's head cackled with delight, twisting around like a snake before returning to normal and retreating back to its body with an abnormal snap. The Anomaly blinked twice before grinning at them. Lillie hid behind Sun, shaking slightly in terror as the strange creature chuckled ethereally.
Perhaps. But it's the name I would have given myself in the other story, had I only the chance to truly appear. I would caution yourself against saying it aloud, however. Not unless you wish reality itself to shudder and give myself even more power over the world.
"So...Why would you tell us that? You seem more...chaotic than evil." Sun asked Dizz, who shrugged.
I've been good. I've been bad. I've been a monster. I've been a hero. You wouldn't understand, little Protagonist. But perhaps soon you may.
"Really? How do you mean?" Sun said as the Anomaly shuddered, twitching before turning its head.
I sense a disturbance. An Ultra Wormhole on Poni Island? Hmm...I'll go investigate that. Enjoy your little date mini-arc nonsense. I'll be looking forward to when your friend gets kidnapped and you get to be the big hero.
"Wait, what?" Sun asked, but Dizz simply smirked and faded out of reality, leaving Sun and Lillie behind with confused looks on their faces.
"What...was that exactly?" Lillie asked softly.
"I don't know...but whatever it was, we really shouldn't get on its bad side. What was that about you getting kidnapped?" Sun asked. Lillie put a finger to her chin, just as confused as Sun was.
"I don't know. But...I think it's not something necessarily to worry about right now. That thing didn't seem entirely sane, and it's possible it was just trying to get a reaction out of you. Besides, I know my friends are looking out for me. And...I'm with you. And that means no one can hurt me." Lillie said as Sun smiled at her. The boy reached forward, grabbing Lillie's hand and giving it a small squeeze. The girl smiled at her date and with that, the two children began their walk through the city anew as the lights of the night shone down on them.
The Anomaly watched from the sky, floating in its Heliolisk form.
Fascinating...So this is your latest hero, huh? How...expected. Ah well. I have other fish to fry. So I'll let you have this night, Protagonist. But I'll be coming by soon. And I hope you're ready to entertain me when we meet again.
The Anomaly laughed as it faded out of existence, but not before a red-eyed woman managed to record the entire thing, lowering the small camera she had in her hand.
"That's the first time I've managed to get physical evidence of its existence...Now I have it. I must say, the Anomaly is getting bold. I hope it really doesn't plan on bothering that kid. He wouldn't stand a chance against it." Zinnia murmured, stowing away the camcorder in her cloak. The woman stood tall, her hair blowing slightly in the night breeze as she gazed out over the city, the sound of music and laughter rising above.
"Run all you wish. But I'll catch you and end your little game, once and for all." Zinnia said as she leapt from the rooftop and onto the ground, with the Lorekeeper silently vanishing into the crowds as the festival continued.
"I can't let you destroy this world like you have all the others."
Part 1 of the Festival is done! Two more to go!
Q & A
From: Oragonking
And one last thing... What was that in the middle of the story? It sure isn't part of it.
Can you be more specific? I don't know what you're talking about.
From: JayTheAltaria
On a side note, good luck with the tournament thingy, and when exactly are Penny and Oliver going to start rolling out little Pikipek babies? I'm assuming they're Pikipek, anyway, seeing as the offspring is the mother's species unless the mother is a Ditto.
Spoilers, can't say.
From: Doger 32
As for my question, will Sun's teams feature any mega evolutions? If so any hint at what it will be?
Considering that if I answered yes, it'd drastically narrow down the list of Pokemon that Sun's remaining team will be, I'm going to have to pass on that.
But Sun may or may not be getting a new teammate sooner than you expect.
From: Guest
Before I forget, I have a couple of questions.
1.) Now that I know ASHton's name origin and the fact that he has a Greninja was already confirmed in Kingslayer (Chapter 65/66)... Can his Greninja go Ash-Greninja?
2.) Is Team Rocket going to go Team Rainbow Rocket here?
3.) Is Mina's trial going to show up in the MAIN story and will it be SM or USUM?
4.) Why did you create Oliver (human), and base Sun's hometown in Celadon City?
5.) Since Mega Evolution is a thing, and you essentially created Umbral Pokemon already, are we going to get any fanmade Mega Pokemon?
6.) Could a Shadow Pokemon use some sort of "Shadow-type" Z-Move? In the strictest sense, since Shadow Pokemon can't truly bond to people, not merge feelings and hearts like what your Z-Moves imply, so...
Bonus.) If Brago and Finn were Flying-types, what Pokemon would they be?
1. We'll only have to wait a little long to find out.
2. See above.
3. No, her Trial will be nonexistant, like it is in S/M. However she will have a slightly bigger role in the story.
4. Ollie was a character I've had in mind for a while as Laura's love interest and someone for Sun to look up to as a father figure, since his real father has become evil. He also allows me to expand on many aspects of the plot, including elements of the International Police.
As for Celadon City, I chose that as Sun's home in Kanto because I liked the idea of Sun being a city boy before coming to the nature-focused Alola region. And because it's the most heavily-populated city in the Kanto region and was an ideal location for Ashton to base his business in, as well as raise a family.
5. No, otherwise I'd have done Mega Flygon already. I'm still hoping for it.
6. No. Shadow cannot use Z-Moves or Mega Evolve. And depending on how Dynamax works, probably not that either.
Bonus: I'll do you one better. If I stuck to Sun being a Flying-type specialist, here's what his team would be.
Decidueye, Toucannon, Talonflame, Pelipper, Archeops, Salamence.
That's where I leave you for now, my friends. And there may be a slight delay in regards to next week's chapter, because once again, I'll be heading off on vacation! Looking forward to experiencing more places and things, but understandably I might have to upload next Monday as opposed to the usual weekend stuff. Or I might wait until Wednesday, and then upload the following weekend. Hmm...We shall see.
In the meantime, please show your support by leaving a review in the section below and sharing your thoughts. I've noticed a sizable decrease in reviews lately, so please take a moment to share what you think of the story as it progresses. (Favorites and/or Follows, as well as questions, are also definitely appreciated.)
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Take care and stay awesome.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
