Pokémon Radiant Sun
Alright, so first off, I'm gonna apologize for the ridiculous wait for this one.
Not only was this chapter deceptively difficult to write, despite it being one that I was very much looking forward to, but I also had an abundance of distractions over the past month or so. This came in the form of both "Doom Eternal" and "Persona V: Royal" coming out within the same update period. And as you all know, I'm a huge fan of Persona and have been waiting eagerly for this release.
On top of that, I had the pleasure of discovering two stories on this site that I'd comfortably call two of my top ten favorite stories I've ever read. They're fairly popular, so you may have heard of them. "Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin", a wonderful Harry Potter fanfic by The Sinister Man, and "Relic of the Future", a RWBY fic by Coeur Al'Aran that's just insanely good. I can't recommend these stories enough, they are both brilliant. I have them both marked as Favorites on my own profile, if you want an easy way to check them out.
In addition to all of these admittedly amazing distractions, I've honestly just been busy. After I finished a two week self-isolation period upon arriving in the country that I now live in, I had to do a lot of stuff to get settled into my new base and I'll say that also cut into my time even more.
On a brighter, note, now that I have much less distractions and I'm all set at my new base, I should be able to focus more on updates. I really want to focus on writing, since the next handful of chapters coming out will wrap up this Act and they're gonna be a blast. After this chapter, things are going to REALLY pick up.
That being said, shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes JDunk890, Defender31415, Shine376 (good to see you again!), sceptilezeno, BraviaryScout, fatwhiteguy, SonicIKE, and a new reviewer known as Dracus6. Thanks for the feedback and support, as well as your unending patience.
Enjoy.
Chapter 108: Save Me
Many Years Ago...
Alola Route 9
"Come on, Tommy! W-we're s-so close to Konikoni City."
"Brother, you don't...need to help me walk."
"W-when you c-can walk in a straight line again, you can have your walking privileges b-back!"
If anyone had been walking down Route 9, they would have seen quite the alarming sight. Two young men walking down the path, with the larger one leaning heavily on the other while cradling his arm that was a bloody stump.
The two best friends, Tommy and Ashton, had just made their way out of Diglett's Tunnel when they were attacked by the Ruby Raiders, who caught the two Trainers by surprise. The battle that ensued was vicious, with the two Trainers battling against four members of the Ruby Raiders.
Things didn't start off well when Ashton's Charjabug was killed by a Rhydon, which had made Ashton freak out and lose his composure. And while Tommy and Ashton were able to get the upper hand and knock out most of their Pokémon, Tommy ended up getting knocked down by one of the criminals. Who then promptly severed the young man's arm with his sword.
The thing that ultimately ended up saving the two teens was Damien's evolution into a Houndoom, which allowed Ashton to defeat their remaining Pokémon as well as severely burn the Ruby Raiders bad enough to where they were all unconscious from the pains of their burns. Ashton briefly considered the fact that the criminals were likely to die from their injuries in the middle of the wilderness, but Ashton realized he had other priorities.
"I still can't believe those Ruby Raider guys. They're…" Ashton struggled for words, trying to stay calm despite the situation they were in. Unfortunately, the only Pokémon that was actually conscious between the two of them was Damien, who was looking rather exhausted. Despite this, the newly-evolved Houndoom remained alert for any other incoming attacks.
"Assholes?" Tommy panted, a pained grin on his face.
"I was going to say f-freaks, but that works too. Akala Island definitely isn't what I thought it'd be." Ashton muttered, shuddering as he looked down at the blood coating his shirt. He was grateful that Mohn had taught him First Aid.
"Ash...Have Damien send out Flamethrowers into the air." Tommy suddenly suggested, with the boy looking at him in surprise. Tommy groaned, shaking his head as he fought to keep it clear. "It'll draw attention to us."
"A-alright. Damien, do it!" Ashton instructed the Houndoom, who responded by firing off a massive plume of flames into the air. The trio continued to make their way down the road until finally three police officers found the boys trudging down the path.
"Damn. Did those bastards get to you kids too?" the lead officer asked, a Dusclops standing beside him.
"Something like…" Tommy trailed off as he finally lost consciousness, with the officer and Ashton catching him before he fell. The two boys were quickly brought inside of the facility where they were treated for their various injuries and had their Pokémon healed. To Ashton's surprise, Lusamine and Kahuna Roran both came to the Police Station within the hour, despite how late in the day it was.
"Thank you, Commander Jackson. You and your boys did great tonight." Roran praised the officers in the area with a salute, which made some of the men and women within the building cheer in response. Commander Jackson, also known by Agent Jackal of the International Police, didn't so much as smile at the Kahuna. Instead he regarded the man with suspicion, with his Dusclops looking back and forth between the two with confusion.
Ashton didn't really understand why any of them were happy, considering that his Charjabug was dead and Tommy had lost an arm. He had only just stopped crying outside, cradeling the ball that held the slain Battery Pokémon within. Lusamine held the teen close on the couch, concern visible on her face as Roran turned to them. The Kahuna kneeled down to Ashton, looking him right in the eyes.
"You did great tonight. Be proud that you saved your friend and kept him alive through such a terrible time." Roran said before patting the boy on the head. To Ashton's surprise, he didn't even shudder in response.
"T-thank you, Roran. I'm just...I don't know what else I could have done. I let Sparky die and T-tommy…" Ashton trailed off as Lusamine shushed the boy. She had only just returned to Alola from her honeymoon with Mohn, and she was disappointed to see that Ash still couldn't escape from hardship during the two years she had been away from Alola.
Roran scoffed at that, drawing their attention. "There's no use lingering on what-ifs, Ash. Only preparations for what to do for next time. Always have a backup plan. A way out. That's why I have a Pokémon with Shadow Sneak and another with Teleport. It's why it's always helpful to have Repels as well as Escape Ropes. Preparation is essential in all things. So don't worry about what you could have done. Instead learn from the past, so you can prepare for the future. Focus on what you'll do next time to make sure you come out on top. And when you do that, you'll be able to put those fools in their place."
Ashton stared at the Kahuna in astonishment before slowly nodding. He saw the man's point, and realized that this was definitely something he could do. Become not only a stronger Trainer, but a more practical one. The boy then managed a weak smile as the Kahuna grinned in approval.
"T-thanks, Kahuna Roran. I'll work on it. I'll make sure I get strong enough to stand up to those jerks for next time." Ashton said as his smile turned into a determined scowl. "Thanks for snapping me out of this funk."
"I'm a Kahuna, Ashton. You can always count on me to protect you, whether it's from the Ruby Raiders or your own thoughts. I promise that'll never change." Roran said with a warm smile before turning to address the police officers once again. Ashton closed his eyes as Lusamine hugged the boy close, worried about what sort of effect the traumatic events of the night would have on Ashton in the future. She could only hope he would be able to put this event behind him and continue on his path.
Present Day
Kanto Region, Celadon City
Cipher HQ
How?
That was the question that was repeating through Borlath's mind, repeating infinitely as his grip on reality shook. How? How? How? How? How?
How could the man who set all of this in motion be back now...to continue to ruin his life?
"You look so upset to see me, Ash. That hurts. I thought we were friends?" Roran asked softly, his voice not hinting at any possible unease about having a gun jammed against his head.
"Borlath, who is this guy? Or should we skip the backstory since this guy is obviously some kind of major threat." Amber asked Borlath as the man continued to try and reclaim some semblance of being calm. In the end it was Damien who snapped Borlath out of his trance of sheer horror by growling loudly, fury pounding through the voice of the Houndoom. Borlath winced and his eyes flickered to gray once again, with his face becoming a scowl.
"Damien, kill him!" Borlath snarled as the Houndoom grinned, padding forward and barring his teeth. To their surprise, Roran didn't seem the slightest bit alarmed. He looked like a man who held all of the cards and was just waiting for the chance to play his winning hand.
"Time to make up for past mistakes." Damien snarled as he leapt forward, pinning the former Kahuna to the ground as Amber moved away, smirking as Damien's mouth filled with fire.
"Fine then, Ash! I hope you picked out of a coffin for your son!" Roran laughed as Damien raised his head, preparing to unleash his flames upon the man who had betrayed them all. Borlath's eyes went white, and Damien hesitated.
"Hold, Damien." Borlath spoke, his voice cold.
Roran's grin widened victoriously, knowing he had played his ace.
"What do you mean by that, Roran? Sun's safe in Alola, and all Cipher personnel have been ordered to leave him alone. I spoke to him just the other day." Borlath said as Damien's eyes narrowed. All the while Roran just continued to smile at them. It was a terrifying smile that had haunted Borlath's nightmares for over 20 years. It was the smile of someone who knew that they had won. The same smile Roran wore when Ashton learned the truth about the leader of the Ruby Raiders.
The smile Roran wore on that fateful day onboard the AFPSO Endless, over twenty years ago. When Ashton had learned the truth about the evil of the world.
"You really think I was going to listen to something you said? Your precious little boy is currently being tracked by my personal hit squad. They're my insurance policy in case you tried anything like this. If I don't check in with them once a day, around this time coincidentally, then...Well, Sun gets to find out what getting sniped through the forehead feels!" Roran said merily to Borlath as his eyes slowly turned a strange mixture of pink, which Amber had never seen before. However, she knew that white meant fear and red was anger. This must have been a mixture of both emotions.
"You wouldn't dare...Cipher is loyal to me!" Borlath boomed, stepping forward as Roran barked out a laugh.
"Very true! Or at least, it was true. But it's a shame you've been so averse to going to Alola all this time. And I've had plenty of time to win over the loyalty of the forces Greevil had stationed there. I allowed you to entertain the idea that you've been in control of the operation there, but in reality the forces there are mine. And they'll be invaluable in making Alola bend its knee to me once again." Roran said with open amusement as Borlath's eyes widened in horror.
"You forget, Ash, that I once had the entire nation eating out of the palm of my hand. I'm more of a charmer than you ever will be. I was manipulating people before you were even born, boy! And unless you want to lose your son, I'd recommend backing off." Roran threatened Borlath, who grit his teeth as his eyes burned red.
"You're bluffing. You're good, but you're not that good. Sun's-" Amber began to say, but Roran cut her off.
"Currently staying at the Hokulani Observatory, having completed his Electric Trial. He actually just left the Pokémon Center about ten minutes ago, and is making his way down the mountain while riding his Arcanine." Roran remarked, catching Amber and Borlath by surprise. Roran's smile darkened. "As I said before, your little boy is my insurance policy. If I die, so does he. And we all know that Sunshine Smiles is your weakness, Borlath. Your love for your son trumps all else. Even your common sense."
"What are you scheming? And how did you even survive that night at the Highborn Production Plant?" Borlath demanded as Roran gave him a bored look.
"Release me, and I'll happily explain. And call off your damn mutt." Roran said easily, as if he wasn't completely surrounded. Borlath gave him a look of loathing and sighed, looking down.
"Damien...release him. For now." Borlath muttered, with Damien's jaw dropping at the command.
"Ash, you know this monster wouldn't hesitate to kill us all! Especially now that we know his secret! We have to deal with him now! Or do you want him to slip away again!"Damien barked at his Trainer, which made Amber's eyes widen in surprise. Damien was incredibly obedient for such a high-level Pokémon.
"I'm well aware. But I'm also aware that if anyone's going to follow through on a threat when it comes to a child, it's Roran Rubinara." Borlath said quietly, glaring at the ex-Kahuna as the man beamed at him.
"Ash...are you sure?" Damien asked slowly.
"Yes. Release him, Damien. We'll hear what this monster has to say before we do anything else. He knows exactly how to get to me, and I'm not stupid enough to think he won't try and have Sun kidnapped so he can harvest his organs." Borlath spat, which made Amber give him a surprised look.
"You flatter me. I've only improved, by the way. I know even more ways to tear a person apart. I can even keep them alive during the dissection." Roran purred, with Damien snarling in anger. With a scoff, the Houndoom hopped off of the man's chest. Roran relaxed slightly, his smile widening.
"Idiot. You shouldn't wear your weaknesses so openly." Roran said as he began to stand up, wincing in pain. "Rough an old man up, why don't you...Hmm. Alright. So I'll answer the first question, since it's simple enough. After getting shot by Agent Jackal and hitting knocked out of that window thanks to…" Roran glared at Damien, "Someone's Flamethrower, I was thrown out of a window and off a cliff. I landed in the ocean, where I should have died from the pain and drowning in the water, since I was clearly in no shape to swim to safety. But despite my injuries, I was saved by Shellder in the water, who carried me to a small cave at the base of the cliff."
"You have a Cloyster on your team. I'm assuming it's the same Pokémon?" Amber asked, earning a nod from Roran.
"I wasn't out of the woods yet, but I managed to keep myself alive thanks to a combination of drugs and...other things I keep on my person." Roran waved a hand dismissively, frowning. "Not important. Even after that, I was badly injured from my burns and had lost a lot of blood by that point. I captured the Shellder and used my Ariados to escape from Ula'ula Island before the International Police, or any of the other members of your little gang, could find me. After that I went into hiding. I've always been adept in acting, so creating a persona to hide my true self was child's play. I have spent more than twenty years hiding in Alola under a false identity, waiting for my moment to finally strike back at Alola for what it's done to me."
"Which would be?" Amber asked, sounding genuinely interested now. Borlath didn't hold the same interest, trying to think of a way to kill this man and keep his child safe from retribution.
"For the sake of simplicity, let's just say that I was the former Kahuna of Ula'ula Island before Nanu Nokoa was chosen. For years I led Ula'ula Island as it's leader, and spearheaded a popular movement to modernize the country and bring it into the future. Most of what you see in Alola today was possible only because of my efforts." Roran explained, his smile fading away. "I was also the leader of the Ruby Raiders, who tore apart Alola on my orders."
"You're also responsible for countless deaths in Alola, robbing the very people you swore to protect while taking advantage of them at the same time. You're a murderous psychopath at best and a deranged pedophile at worst." Borlath snarled as Roran flashed him an unnerving smile.
"It's just like you, Ash, to insult what you don't understand. While what I did to those people, especially the children, was beyond terrible, it wasn't for anything...of that nature. It was for another purpose. If you studied your history, you'd understand. It's a shame that out of everything I taught you back them, you never took my most important lesson to heart." Roran said as his smile faded, replaced with something more serious.
"History always repeats itself. If you can't learn from the past and prepare yourself accordingly, you're doomed to repeat it. I know where I went wrong, and I have learned from my mistakes. And just like I told you all those years ago, I have backup plans and failsafes. That's why I killed Dawson at Aether. That's why I just ruined whatever trust Lusamine had in you. And that's why I'll ensure your child is within my sights until my plan is complete. After that, well...I don't care what happens to him." Roran said with a small shrug.
"I don't believe that for an instant." Borlath said coldly, with Roran chuckling at the response.
"And that's where you go wrong, Ash." Roran said, his voice sounding almost kind. All of them knew better of course, but for a moment it felt like those old days in Alola before the truth came out.
"You could be so much stronger than you are right now. You could have the entire world eating out of the palm of your hand. You made an empire and furthered so many advances in the world, not unlike how I did in Alola, Kanto and Hoenn. But the fact of the matter is that you still operate by this righteous manifesto that you're in the right. That this is all for the greater good. To make the world a better place." Roran said as he shook his head in disappointment.
"If you could simply forsake the love you have for the very same family that turned their backs on you, then you could have conquered the world! If you completely abandoned your morals, you could have toppled the Pokémon League when you took control of Unova. Instead you're trying to destroy all of the evil in the world with your own personal brand of evil? That's...beyond idiotic. It makes my plans look mundane in comparison." Roran let out a harsh laugh, sounding a mixture of disappointed and irritated. "You shun the power you hold because you're scared of the monster you could really be. Release the beast, Ash! Let it out! Show your real darkness! It's liberating to damn the consequences and let it all burn. Let your true self free...spread your wings and sing, Little Monarch."
"I'd rather die than sink to your level. They may not love me anymore, but you wouldn't know anything about how love can motivate a man. So long as Laura and Sun live in the new world I create and are happier for it, then it'll all be worth it." Borlath responded, causing Roran to roll his eyes.
"And that's what makes you so damn easy to manipulate. You had me at your complete mercy. But all it took was a threat to Sun and you're nothing to me. So let me leave you with this last bit of advice...Discard your morals, and you will be open to a new world of possibilities. Give up the last vestiges of love within your heart, and you will make this world yours. If you don't...then I'll keep walking over you. It's as simple as that." Roran said softly to Borlath, making the Cipher Master's eyes flicker a darker red color.
"I'll keep that in mind if I ever want to become a complete waste of a human being. Now, I'm assuming your plan for Alola is different than the one we originally had for Ula'ula." Borlath said coldly to Roran, who chuckled in reply.
"Naturally. Your plan was too slow, and there were far fewer casualties than I would've liked. My plan will see that every single person on Ula'ula Island will be wiped out. But that's simply a test run! If my plan works, I'll destroy all of Alola with ease. So just sit back...relax...and allow me to fulfill both of our desires, Ash." Roran said quietly as he adjusted his cloak. Borlath knew what that meant and drew his sidearm, but Roran reacted quicker.
The Admin threw open his cloak and tossed two canisters at the ground. The two glass containers shattered on impact, creating a wall of flames that erupted from the glass containers. Roran called out his Cloyster while returning Claydol as Damien leapt through the flames, only to let out a howl of pain as ice suddenly spread across his body and immobilized him. Amber and Borlath opened fire with their weapons, though Closyter moved in front of Roran to block the shots. Avis teleported past the strange flames, only to be hit with a well-timed Hydro Pump that sent her flying into the icy flames. Roran scooped up his mask, holding it tauntingly as Amber and Borlath reloaded their weapons.
"Like I said, Little Monarch! Always have a backup plan. And always have a fallback plan in case your backup goes wrong!" Roran cackled before teleporting on the spot with his Cloyster, leaving them behind.
"Damn it!" Borlath roared as he violently punched the nearest wall. He sighed angrily before quickly turning his attention to Damien and Avis, who were frozen solid as the strange flames around them died.
"That was something our R & D team was developing." Borlath muttered as he returned Damien, with Amber doing the same with her Xatu. "That bastard must have been prowling around in the Aupuni Industries Technology Division. I wonder what else he stole."
"I thought we didn't perfect the Freeze Fire grenades?" Amber asked Borlath, who nodded.
"We didn't." Borlath growled, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter. Roran wants to keep to Alola, so we'll let him. Cease all communication with him."
"I wasn't planning on trading beauty tips with him." Amber said dryly, with Borlath shutting his eyes and sighing deeply. He thought back to all of his previous encounters with Mask. Were there any signs he could have spotted that hinted at Mask's true identity?
There was the use of a Claydol as his signature Pokémon and, before it was killed on Akala Island, his Ariados. And the fact that Roran referred to Ashton as "Little Monarch." As well as the cannibalism, but Borlath had hoped that was a side-effect of the drugs the madman had jammed into his bloodstream.
Still, this was just about the worst case scenario for how this could have gone.
"So what's our game plan for dealing with this? You know he's a complete liar, so he's still going to be keeping an eye on Sun and wouldn't even hesitate to capture the kid." Amber pointed out as Borlath opened his eyes, with them both being a pale white color.
"I'll think of something. I always do." Borlath said quietly, a shudder running through him that he couldn't help. Memories that he had spent over twenty years failing to suppress hit him like waves now. Finding Tommy on the ship. Hina's untimely arrival. A sobbing Lusamine clutching a bleeding Delphox as it barely clutched to life.
Borlath snapped out of the memories with a soft snarl of anger. "I refuse to let that monster continue to ruin my life. I've done terrible things, but there's a difference between me and Roran."
"And that is?" Amber asked.
"He didn't have to do any of what he did. But he chose to do it because he enjoys it. He gets a thrill out of killing others, just like he enjoys ingesting blood and flesh like some sort of deranged freak. And I refuse to let him threaten my son or the plan. It's an insult to everyone that man has hurt over the past three decades!" Borlath shouted at Amber, with the assassin staring at him for a few moments before nodding, seemingly satisfied.
"So what's the plan?" Amber asked as Borlath's eyes returned to gray. Borlath turned around and began walking down the hallway as the assassin trailed behind him, calling in a cleanup crew to clear the ice and remove the fragments of the Freeze Fire Grenades and bring them back to the labs.
"The plan is to continue on as planned, but begin moving all assets to the Salvation. It'll set us back further, but my goal is to have that monster dead before we proceed. Killing that man before he either sabotages our efforts or makes a move on Sun is top priority. We'll still contact the League in a few days as planned, but no major attacks until this has been sorted out." Borlath said as he continued walking, his eyes flashing several different colors in rapid succession before landing on gray again.
"First thing's first...We have to figure out what he's planning. The timeline and the plan has changed with Roran cutting us out. We adjust and come up with a new plan. We'll ensure the Salvation is secure and go from there." Borlath instructed Amber, who sighed at that. "What?"
"Nothing important. I'm just annoyed that I'm probably not going to get to kill that man myself." Amber remarked, which made Borlath smirk despite himself. Yes, he knew exactly what Amber meant.
Roran would die by his hand, and his alone. That much was certain. But for now it was a race against the clock to see who could outsmart the other in a battle of wills. Two businessmen with darkness in their hearts set against the other with a hatred that burned like a supernova.
And only one of them would come out on top.
The Next Day…
Alola Route 8
"You don't have to be such an asshole, Gladion…"
"I'm fine, damn it!"
"Obviously not, since there's more bandages on your arms!"
"Worry about yourself! I'm strong enough to get through this, just like I'm strong enough to stop Mother on my own!"
Type: Null winced at the raised voices, as well as the anger laced in them as Demi and Gladion shouted at each other. It had been like this for the past few days. Gladion's mood as of late had taken a turn for the worse, with the teen becoming angrier and more sensitive to just about everything.
Normally Demi would simply leave the hotel room for most of the day, after these fights, and then return later when Gladion had cooled down. But today that wasn't possible, due to the harsh thunderstorm raging outside. Due to Demi's condition, she still couldn't go outside while it was running. Even when she was using an umbrella or wearing a poncho the girl would be prone to fainting if she was caught in the rain. So she was forced to stay indoors on days like this. Meaning she was subject to the fully brunt of Gladion's implosion.
"I said, butt out! This is why your parents dropped your ass as soon as you lost to that stupid bug!" Gladion shouted at Demi, who recoiled as if she had been smacked in the face.
"W-w-what?" Demi whispered, but Gladion wasn't done.
"It's so fitting that you fell in with Team Skull. You know why? Because you're just like them! Someone who can't get a goddamn clue! You're annoying, weak, and useless! I don't need someone constantly hovering over me, making sure I'm okay! Because I'm fine! And I don't need your help!" Gladion screamed at Demi, who looked at Gladion with a very hurt expression.
"You...y-you don't mean that." Demi murmured, with Gladion facepalming. "Gladion, I think you need to just-
"You really can't take a hint. I'm trying to be as clear as I can be!" Gladion barked at the Team Skull Grunt, who took a shaking breath before she looked away from him. Gladion could see the tears in her eyes and felt a sort of vicious satisfaction.
"I was just trying to help...I owe you so much. I honestly thought trying to support you w-was the best way to repay you for your kindness." Demi shook her head, trying to force herself to remain calm. A tear still ran down her face.
"See how well that's worked out for you. You're forced to live with me and we're at each other's throats all the time. Looks like you failed at that too!" Gladion snarled at the girl, who looked away from him. Until finally…
"Alright. Fine. You win."
Gladion blinked at that, surprised at the quiet response. However, Demi suddenly whirled around and slapped Gladion in the face, sending him staggering to the floor. Gladion looked up in surprise and anger, and saw tears streaming down Demi's face.
"I know you're going through a lot right now. I get that. But you don't have to take it all out on me! I'm just trying to help you! I thought you were a friend! But I guess I was wrong about that too! You're just an asshole!" Demi screamed at Gladion, who got to his feet with a scowl.
"Get out." Gladion hissed, with Demi glaring at the boy for a few moments before grabbing her backpack, returning Scorch, and opening the door. The girl winced as the cold wet air rushed into the room, especially as a thunderclap took that moment to echo across the island.
"Well?" Gladion said coldly, knowing full well that Demi wouldn't go outside. She was rather intelligent, despite being in Team Skull, and wouldn't dare do something so-
Demi bolted into the storm, making Gladion's jaw drop in shock.
The teen watched Demi run out of sight and sagged slightly before shaking his hard sharply and slamming the door. "Good riddance...I don't need anyone." Gladion muttered, sighing deeply as he turned around. He took a step back in surprise as he saw Type: Null glaring at him through his helmet. The creature began to growl softly at his Trainer, which made Gladion shiver, his arm twinging in pain at the memory.
"You're allowing the darkness in your mind to cloud your actions, words and judgement." Type: Null growled at Gladion, who frowned at the Pokémon.
"Really now? Because my thoughts are pretty clear. That I'm nowhere near strong enough to face Aether yet, and I've got people like Demi holding me back and...and I feel horrible all the time Null. But I can't do anything about it! I can't rely on anyone else and I can't trust anyone else!" Gladion practically wailed at the monster, who wasn't impressed.
"You trust no one because you choose to. You fight by yourself, save for us Pokémon, because you allow yourself to battle alone." Type: Null said to Gladion, who grit his teeth at the remark. Mainly because it was true.
Gladion chose to not trust anyone because he was paranoid that anything he did could leak back to Lusamine. That any moment now that woman would barge in through the door with a squad of Aether Foundation personnel and take him back to that gilded cage of a mansion for the rest of his life.
"You're weak." Type: Null grunted, sitting down on the ground. "And at this rate, we will not succeed."
"...what?" Gladion said quietly, shivering slightly at the firmness of his Partner's voice.
"I said that you're not going to succeed. You shun possible allies and push everyone aside, because you believe that you alone can defeat that woman. You think you can shoulder this burden by yourself and that sheer determination and drive can topple your enemies. But it won't." Type: Null continued, looking back at the remainder of the team. Gladion saw that they were looking at him with expressions of disappointment and, in the case of Zorua, fear.
"Just like with fighting, one Pokémon cannot defeat everything. Just as no one person can handle the weight of the world on their shoulders." Type: Null said, drawing Gladion's attention back to his Partner. "Because despite how strong you are...You are still weak where it counts." Null responded, raising a claw and pointing it at Gladion's chest. "And if you continue to go down this path, we will fail."
Gladion's eyes widened at the declaration from his Partner. Null continued to speak, however. "You continue to push others aside, even when it's against your own best interest. Demi has done nothing but been respectful and kind to you, even when you brush her off. But as your despair and pain grows, you've grown weaker. You need help, Trainer. And she can help you. But now you've sent her off to her doom."
Gladion looked away from Type: Null, and now that the heat from his anger had dispelled...Gladion felt nothing but ashamed of what he had said and done. Because he knew that both Type: Null and Demi were right.
His depression had worsened over the past few weeks. He had hit a wall of sorts with his training, and dealing with Team Skull so often had made Gladion begin to realize that they might have been holding him back. Demi being so close to him also annoyed him, mainly because he was someone who valued his privacy. This all mingled in with his worry of Lillie and his fear of Lusamine and what sort of danger she was to the entire world.
All of this had festered and grown worse and over the course of time, he began to lash out. Demi was the first target, and she had put up with it until tonight when he practically forced her out into a storm she couldn't handle. Gladion bit his lip, shutting his eyes as he imagined Demi staggering through the rain, dealing with whatever hallucinations her damaged psych conjured up for her due to her trauma.
"Null...I…" the words died in Gladion's mouth, with the teen running a hand down his face.
"You know what to do. Swallow your pride, Trainer. And learn from your mistakes. You can do better. I know you can. But first...You need to fix your mess." Type: Null said to Gladion, who took a few moments to think about what his Partner was getting at. Gladion finally nodded after about a minute and turned around, bracing himself for what came next.
Gladion opened the door and locked it behind him, throwing up his hoodie as he bolted into the storm. Type: Null bounded alongside him, splashing through the mud as the beast killer led Gladion down the path of Route 9. Type: Null could easily track Demi, and informed the boy that the girl wasn't too far.
Gladion found Demi about ten minutes down the path, kneeling in the mud and absolutely drenched in the howling storm. Gladion and Type: Null skidded to a stop near the Team Skull Grunt and Gladion felt a thrill of horror seeing the girl remaining still like that. The teen slowly circled the girl and his eyes went wide at seeing the expression of mute horror as her face, her eyes with a thousand-yard stare.
"Demi!" Gladion shouted, kneeling down into the water and mud and shaking the girl roughly, though to no avail. Gladion growled softly in frustration, as well as guilt. This was all this fault.
"All I do is hurt people." Gladion thought with a pang, hating himself for what Demi was going through right now. He couldn't even imagine the horrors her traumatized mind would be going through right now. He had done this to her, because he allowed his own troubles and problems to fester until they made him lash out.
"Null, help me carry her." Gladion instructed the monster, who simply nodded in response. With an effort, Gladion picked up the girl off of the ground, with her not responding in the slightest as she was moved onto the back of Type: Null. Gladion panted slightly from the effort, fighting off the urge to shiver as he looked into the sky. The clouds were pitch black, and it was obvious this storm wasn't letting up anytime soon.
"Come on, let's get back." Gladion said as he began walking down the path. Type: Null followed the boy, coming up alongside him. For a few minutes, there was silence between them, save for the storm raging around. And then…
"I'll do better."
Type: Null tilted its head slightly as it looked at Gladion, with the boy staring ahead with a determined gleam in his eyes. The teen's fists were clenched, and his head was held high.
"I can't keep wallowing in my own despair and anger. Even if I feel horrible about myself, that's no excuse to take it out on others. I have people I need to protect. I have to get stronger, not just as a Trainer, but as a person." Gladion said firmly, his gaze unwavering. However, the boy did reach out a hand and place it on Type: Null's helmet.
"I'm sorry I haven't been a good Partner to you lately, Null. I promised you that I'd free you from the damn device. I promised myself that I'd save Mother and bring Lillie safely back home so that everything would be right again. But I got overwhelmed by everything. My anger. My sadness. My fear. Being alone all this time, thinking it was me against the world." Gladion continued, scratching the creature's helmet after a few moments. Type: Null hummed in approval, making Gladion smile a little.
"I'm not entirely alone. I have you. I have Golbat, Zorua and Riolu. I have Miss Wicke and Lillie, even if I'm not able to be with them. And I know...I know my father's watching down on me with approval." Gladion said, his voice shaking slightly. He then looked at Demi, who was still catatonic.
"Demi's been supporting me for a while now. I keep brushing her off, but the fact of the matter is that she's someone I can rely on, even if it's hard for me to admit. She wants to keep Lillie safe and she's been putting up with my crap for months. I haven't been very good to her, lately. Or at all, really." Gladion muttered, feeling shame creep into him.
"You know I can tell when people lie. She's been nothing but honest since the beginning." Type: Null remarked, with Gladion hanging his head for a few moments.
"Like I said...I'll do better. That means apologizing to Demi and treating her right." Gladion replied as they neared his hotel room. The teen opened the door and the trio entered the room in silence, though Golbat, Zorua and Riolu all rushed to the door when they arrived with Demi's still form.
"It's fine, everyone. Just give me some space. Riolu, can you grab some towels?" Gladion asked the Emanation Pokémon, who nodded and limped to the bathroom. Even though the Riolu was still recovering from his time as Geoff's Pokémon, he was still nowhere near okay enough to battle. Gladion sat Demi on the floor and cranked on the radiator in his room, leaning her against it. Why there was one in a place like Alola, Gladion had no idea. But he wasn't complaining.
Riolu brought back several towels, which Gladion then used to dry Demi off and clean the mud off of her as best as he could. Then, for good measure, he grabbed a spare hoodie and managed to pull it over her, trying to warm her up further. After that, he simply watched her staring forward, her gaze still blank. Gladion sighed and sat down beside her, shutting his eyes. Type: Null snorted after a moment as the remainder of Gladion's Pokémon watched him and Demi for a while.
Finally the girl began to stir, after about an hour. The first sign of life began with Demi suddenly twitched, gasping violently as she gained awareness of her surroundings again. Gladion moved forward to see the girl's eyes darting everywhere in alarm before she shut them, breathing in and out a few times.
Type: Null looked at Gladion and said, "Comfort her. She's clearly awake and not in a very good state." Gladion hesitated for a few moments before he decided to just go with what his gut was telling him.
"I'm sorry, Demi. I didn't mean what I said...I'll make things up to you. I promise." Gladion said quietly, reaching an arm around the girl's waist and hugging her gently. It was the first time he had ever initiated any sort of friendly contact with her, especially a hug.
Demi didn't respond verbally, at least not at first. Still reeling from her hallucinations, the Team Skull Grunt continued to shudder uncontrollably. However, after about half an hour she slowly began to calm down and began to breathe normally. Finally, she leaned into Gladion and returned the embrace and turned into the boy's chest, letting out a shuddering sob as she hugged him tightly.
"...I forgive you. J-just...don't go. D-don't let me d-d-drown...please..." Demi's voice sounded so small and weak. Gladion couldn't even think of telling her no.
"Alright. I'll stay right here. Okay?" Gladion said gently, with Demi nodding as she huddled against the teen's side. Gladion sighed tiredly, but rubbed the girl's back for a few moments. He was surprised when Type: Null walked over to where they were sitting in front of the radiator and decided to lie down right beside them. Zorua and Riolu joined them, with the two of them deciding to cuddle with Gladion. Golbat, being a bit more chivalrous, decided to wrap his wings around Gladion and Demi in a rather batty blanket of sorts. Though in reality, he wanted to be able to press himself against the radiator.
"Well...Looks like we really are all in this together." Gladion remarked, as he shut his eyes, leaning back. Demi finally opened her eyes a little, and saw that the boy was smiling for the first time in weeks. Demi managed a tiny smile of her own, glad that, despite the demons that still plagued her mind, Gladion was feeling a bit lighter today.
Meanwhile…
Mount Hokulani
Sun sat upon Brago's back, enjoying the view from the mountain path. Being able to talk to his Pokémon was something he realized that was a precious luxury many Trainers didn't have, and so he chose this opportunity to bond further with his Pokémon.
Once again, Penny and Oliver were soaring overhead together. Sun looked upwards as his two birds suddenly dove at a nearby Fearow, easily knocking it out within seconds thanks to two Plucks. Sun smiled with pride as the Fearow dropped out of the sky and Penny and Oliver let out chirps of triumph.
"At least his skill hasn't suffered during his change." Brago noted as Sun looked down at his Arcanine, a frown crossing his face.
"So, you both can tell? That something is wrong with Oliver?" Sun asked, glancing over at Finn as the Poliwhirl sat behind him.
"Something's not right with him. Even I can tell that much." Finn remarked, crossing his arms as Sun listened intently, nodding after a moment.
"I'm worried. Even he doesn't understand what's going on. He hasn't had any problems since my last battle with Hau, but I don't know how long that'll last." Sun admitted, with Finn patting the boy on the back.
Situations like this were why Sun sort-of wished that Zinnia could have accompanied him back to Malie City, but she was currently being held up by something back at Mount Hokulani. He had no idea what it was, but apparently was of the utmost importance, so Sun went on ahead. The boy worried about what was going on, but if it was none of his business, who was he to interfere?
"Oliver's a smart Pokémon. Maybe not Penny smart, but pretty smart. But he hasn't been fighting smart ever since we fought that weird Pokémon back at that weird place." Finn said, snapping Sun out of his thoughts.
The Poliwhirl shut his eyes, thinking hard. Sun realized he was talking about the Ultra Beast battle back at Aether Paradise. "It's like he's...going back to basics. Like a Wild Pokémon."
"He was poisoned by a Pokémon we know nothing about. I was hoping the poison's effects would lessen in time." Sun said quietly, with Brago looking back at Sun.
"We don't know anything about that poison, Alpha. What if he never recovers? What if he gets worse?" Brago asked Sun, with the boy looking down in thought for a moment before looking back up at the canine. His expression was resolute.
"I won't give up on him. I'll never give up on any of my Pokémon, now or ever." Sun said firmly, which made Brago smile in warm approval. The group continued their trek down the mountain and a comfortable silence enveloped the trio, with Oliver and Penny circling overhead.
A few hours later, the Trainer and his team were making their way down Route 10 in good spirits. The group had trained against the local wildlife, and Sun had spent some time revising his team's moveset. He taught Penny the move Fly and Finn the useful move Psychic, and made sure the two of them got to practice with it against the wild Pokémon. Sun was already developing some new strategies with Finn for Psychic's use, but he needed more time for them to become more concrete things.
Despite dealing with a rainstorm, Sun was feeling pretty positive after he stepped off of the bus. He had conquered another Trial and while he was still trying to figure out his feelings towards his father, he felt more comfortable knowing that Borlath...or rather Ashton, didn't resent him. Sun wasn't sure why his Dad's approval mattered so much to him, but at the same time did make him feel a little better.
What also did that was the sight of a familiar trio waiting in the middle of the path to Malie City. One of whom excitedly waved to Sun's small group as they approached before running towards him.
"Lillie!" Sun shouted as the girl ran towards him, with the boy hopping off of Brago and spreading his arms wide, allowing his best friend to crash into him with a flying tackle hug, which was practically her signature greeting at this point. Sun thankfully managed not to fall over as Lillie laughed in delight.
"It's only been a few days!" Sun laughed as Lillie squeezed Sun tightly, letting out a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry! I've been really worried. Those earthquakes keep happening and you're on top of a mountain. Plus with everything going on with Team Skull and Cipher…and what happened at Aether..." Lillie trailed off as she pulled away from Sun, her joyful expression falling. Sun wasn't having any of that, so he pulled the girl into another embrace.
Word had quickly spread about the horrific attack on Aether Paradise by Cipher. Admin Mask had been a one-man army, killing over 25 members of the Aether Foundation and injuring another 47. President Lusamine was thankfully unharmed, but according to Aria, Shadow Celebi had been executed and had been their primary target. As a result, the Aether Foundation had increased its presence on Melemele, Akala, and Ula'ula Island and was openly assisting in the fight against the group. This also had the effect of positively boosting their reputation across Alola.
Sun felt a ripple of fury within him at Cipher, and wondered how his father could do something so terrible. He was tempted to call the man and yell at him, but he decided against it. Instead he focused on cheering up an upset Lillie, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
"I'm fine. I'm strong, and so are my Pokémon." Sun said as Lillie happily sighed in his arms. For a moment, the two children held each other, and they would've done so much longer if not for a rather loud cough coming from behind them.
Sun and Lillie turned to see Hapu standing there alongside her Mudsdale, looking awkward. Surprisingly she was also standing next to Kahili, who looked very amused. The children separated from each other as if shocked, with the two of them blushing. Hapu chuckled, walking over to them both as Kahil followed, her smirk not fading in the slightest.
"Hey Miss Kahili, Miss Hapu. Fancy meeting you here." Sun said as the Kahili snorted in amusement.
"Trust me, it wasn't in my plans for the day. Hapu offered to escort Lillie around and I happened to be in the city on business for my father. She's an old friend, so I decided to tag along. Your girlfriend here talked Hapu into coming out onto the route to greet you." Kahili explained, glancing at Hapu with a teasing smile. "You never could turn down a pretty girl in need."
Hapu rolled her eyes, saying, "We both know I'm way too old to even entertain that thought of Lillie, Birdbrain. Besides, I prefer red-heads."
"I feel like this is a conversation we shouldn't be hearing." Sun said to Lillie, who was blushing bright pink in embarassment.
"See Lillie? Thizz is what happenzz when you're the best girl! Everyone wants you!"
"Rotom, if I put you in battery-saver mode would you tone down on the snark?"
"Brrzzzt! Absolutely not!"
"Had to try." Sun sighed as Kahili walked over to Sun's Pokémon, inspecting them briefly before going to Sun's two birds standing side-by-side. Hapu looked amused, as if this was something she had seen hundreds of times before. Little did Sun know this was true.
"Looks like you're doing well for yourself. Molayne sent me footage of your Totem Battle, and I have to admit your talent for adaptation is above what is typical for Trainers with your experience." Kahili said with a nod, her expression not changing despite this as she looked over Penny. Sun wondered why Molayne had done such a thing, but he filed that away for later. "She's gotten much stronger. Grown into her new form. She'll probably grow quite a bit more in size over the next few years, but she's healthy. Keep up the good work."
She then went to Oliver, who was preening. With the owl's permission Kahili inspected him, examining his feathers and blade quills with interest. The Flying-type expert took much more time looking over Oliver, which Sun also made note of. She also grimaced as she brushed her hand against the scar Oliver had from his battle against the Ultra Beast.
"Your little owl has definitely had a rough time of things lately. That scar might be with him his entire life, even with Pokémon's innate ability to heal." Kahili said as she stood up, looking over at Sun as the boy's expression turned to one of concern. The golfer smiled at that, glancing down at the owl who was looking at the ground with an ashamed expression. Kahili patted the Dartrix on the head, getting his attention.
"You'll recover. When a Pokémon evolves, many lingering injuries and markings fade due to the healing properties the change brings. Besides, you're his Starter. And I can tell he relies on you the most. Keep it up." Kahili said to Oliver, which earned her a nod from the Dartrix. Kahili patted the owl on the head once, her smile returning for a moment before she returned her gaze to Sun.
"We should be returning to the city soon. Come along." Kahili said to Sun, walking down the path with her golf club over her shoulder.
"Has she always been so…?" Lillie trailed off. Hapu chuckled softly, patting her Mudsdale.
"Always. It's part of her charm. Kahili is one of the most blunt individuals you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting. But she's also one of my best friends and someone I'm proud to know." Hapu said simply, smiling as she followed the famous golfer. Sun returned his Pokémon and followed the two Trainers, with Lillie walking alongside him and chatting about her time in Malie City.
According to Lillie, she and Acerola had been investigating the Malie Library for any hints regarding the Ultra Space as well as shopping daily. They had found a few promising leads, though Lillie suspected Acerola was holding out on her.
"What makes you think that?" Sun asked, surprised. Lillie grabbed Sun's hand and slowed him down a little, allowing Hapu and Kahili to move further away. She then spoke in an undertone.
"Because she let slip that there's a secret part of the library that's off-limits to everyone. And I have reason to believe that it contains books that the Alolan Regional Council don't want to see the light of day. Or maybe it's for someone else, I don't know for sure." Lillie said quietly, making Sun raise an eyebrow. "When I pressed her, Acerola said she swore an oath to never speak about what's hidden down there."
"Secret books? That's weird." Sun admitted, with Lillie nodding in agreement.
"I don't want to pry, but I also can't help but wonder if there's something in that library that could help Nebby." Lillie said, earning a cry from within her bag. Lillie unzipped the bag and pulled out the squirming puffball, which cried out happily upon seeing Sun. Lillie smiled and handed the Cosmog to Sun.
"Hey, Nebby! Have you been good for Lillie?" Sun asked the Pokémon, who wriggled within his grip and nuzzled his chest as the boy hugged him. Lillie smiled warmly at the sight, moving closer to Sun and bumping against him.
"He missed you too, you know. We worry about you when you go off on your own. Especially when you were so upset earlier. You didn't answer any of my texts or calls." Lillie said quietly, her smile fading a little.
"I'm fine. I just...needed to think about all of that. I'll tell you more about what happened earlier, but I actually got a little bit of advice from an unexpected source. I just need a bit more time to get my thoughts together." Sun explained to Lillie, receiving a nod from the girl. Sun grinned at her and said, "I'll be fine. I'm sorry for worrying you though."
"Can you promise not to run off like that again? I always get so worried when you do that." Lillie said quietly, which in turn made Sun squeeze the girl's hand.
"I promise." Sun said to the girl, making her smile once again. "Is Kukui still in Malie Garden? He mentioned that he'd be there the other day if I needed to talk to him, and Molayne asked me to drop off something to the Professor."
"Professor Kukui's been holding Q and A sessions in Malie Garden for people interested in the Pokémon League that he's setting up." Lillie answered Sun, grinning rather adorably now. "I'm so happy he can finally announce it. I've known about it for months. The Professor is putting his heart into this and I hope it works out for everyone!"
"Me too. I'm excited for this. I'm going to make sure my team is the best possible to become the Alola League Champion!" Sun declared with a laugh, making Nebby coo supportively.
"Well, me and Nebby will keep rooting for you. Do you want to head straight to Malie Garden, Sun?." Lillie said, spotting the setting sun in the distance. Sun shook his head, surprising Lillie.
"Not right away. How about we get some dinner and then meet the Professor afterwards? Maybe you can call Acerola too and we can all eat together?" Sun suggested to his crush. Lillie agreed and sent Acerola a quick text, though after a moment she realized something.
"I do feel a bit bad making the Professor wait." Lillie remarked, biting her lip nervously. Sun gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze, calming her down as she drew closer to him.
"Eh, I'm sure he can wait. Besides, it's not like he's gonna get jumped by Team Skull or something." Sun remarked, earning a giggle out of Lillie.
"That's true. Team Skull may be scary, but they're definitely not stupid enough to pick a fight with someone as strong as the Professor…" Lillie trailed off for a moment before glancing at Sun.
"Right?"
Two Hours Later…
Malie Garden
"Yo, yo, yo! Hold up, yo, Mr. Kukui!"
Professor Kukui put his hands on his hips, smiling a little as the two Team Skull Grunts approached him. Though Kukui knew there were a few more of the teens lurking in the grass and even a few scattered about the crowd wearing hoodies and disguises.
Professor Kukui had made the official announcement for the Alola Pokémon League just two days prior, and offered those who wanted to ask questions a chance to meet him in Malie Garden. The Professor should have known that Team Skull would want a chance to cause some trouble. The crowd jeered at the two boys that had walked up to the Professor, but the man seemed to take it in his stride.
"Well, what's on your mind, young man?" Kukui said calmly, knowing full-well where this conversation was going. Bone Unit #71 didn't fail to disappoint.
"You say you wanna make a Pokémon League? You got rocks in your skull?" Axen asked hotly, putting his hands on his hips. Kukui rolled his eyes, though he took that moment to notice that the crowd was quickly growing. He spotted Sun and Lillie within the midst of the crowd and smiled, thankful that the boy was back in the city where it was safer and that Lillie was with him. Kukui turned his attention back to Team Skull.
"Four turns!" Kukui declared, holding up four fingers. The crowd that had formed began to cheer, with some of them knowing that particular line being one that the Masked Royal was famous for. Sun smirked from within the crowd, with this becoming more concrete proof that the Masked Royal and Johnny Kukui were the one and the same.
"Huh?" Kevin asked, glancing at Axen, who's eyes narrowed.
"Bring it on, the both of you! I've been researching Pokémon moves, yeah, so I'm always ready, oh yeah!" Kukui boomed, putting his hands on his hips and beaming at the two teenagers. Sun fought his way through the crowd and walked over to the Professor, though he stayed a few steps away, not wanting to butt into the Professor's fight.
Kukui's smile widened as he continued. "I'll take you both on in a Battle Royal, and you'll be down with just a Swift and Incinerate or two! You gotta beat the man to be the man, boys!"
"Bzzzt! Man, isn't the Professor cool?" Rotom cheered from Sun's shoulder, wiping away an electrical tear...somehow. "Ric Flair would be so proud!"
"Who?"
"No Sun, no who. Woooooo!"
"Yo, for real?" Kevin muttered, taking a step back as his eyes widened. Even Axen looked a bit rattled, though he seemed more determined than Kevin as he called out his Drowzee.
"F-fine! You asked for it!" Axen growled, clenching his fists. "Kev, watch my back!"
Kevin seemed to snap out of his fear of the Professor and nodded, stepping up alongside his friend and calling out his Tirtouga. Kukui seemed surprised at this, his eyes widening in recognition of the rare Fossil Pokémon.
"Are you the kid that Sun gave that Fossil to?" Kukui asked, surprised.
"Yeah, you're damn right! That kid's got some tough bones and I owe him, but we're still Team Skull, yo! And we ain't gonna let you disrespect us!" Kevin yelled at Kukui, who sighed and shook his head. His smile returned a few moments later.
"Get 'em good, Professor!" a man in the crowd shouted at the two teens, who both turned their attention to the man and glared at him.
"You numskulls should learn your place!" a woman shouted, making Kukui's smile fade a little.
"Picking fights with kids, Kukui? That's low even for you."
The Professor's smile vanished completely when he noticed a very familiar figure walking towards him from behind the two Team Skull Grunts. The crowd noticed the man approaching from behind Team Skull as well, with some of them shouting in fear and others jeering hatefully. It was at this time that some of the crowd began to notice that the number of Team Skull members in the area was increasing by the minute. Some pushed through the crowds while others teleported in or stepped out of the shadows, with all of them glaring at Professor Kukui.
The Professor only focused on the man in front of him. A man who he knew so well, andwho's presence filled his heart with a variety of conflicting emotions. Anger, shame, guilt, pity, fondness, and sorrow.
The man himself was tall and powerfully built, with white hair and gray eyes the color of hardened steel. His clothing was an odd ensemble, with the man wearing a stylized black jacket and baggy pants with a white tank top and sneakers. He wore a golden locket designed with the symbol of Teal Skull, as well as a golden pair of sunglasses (with one of frames seemingly dented) and a fancy gold watch. A tattoo of the Team Skull symbol was etched onto his left arm.
"Well, well, well...ain't this a surprise." The new arrival spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He walked past Axen and Kevin, who moved aside to allow the man through, expressions of reverence on their face.
"Stand back. I'll handle him." The man spoke, his voice low and carrying unmistakable authority. Axen and Kevin nodded in unison, though the new arrival's eyes never left Kukui's face. He then snapped his fingers.
"Give me a beat, boys!" the man demanded, with a third team Skull Grunt jogging over to them with a massive boombox sitting on his shoulder. With a chuckle, the teen pressed a button and a rather intimidating track began to play as Axen began to beatbox and rap incoherently over the music. Sun shuddered slightly, wondering just what sort of man this was.
"You have some nerve showing your sorry ass anywhere after the shit you pulled at Royal Avenue. I could've killed that murderous bitch right there and then. But no, you just had to be noble about it." The strange man growled as Kukui sighed, shutting his eyes.
"I couldn't stand back and watch you become a killer, Guzma. You're a lot of things, but you haven't crossed that line. I owe to the man who I called my brother, once upon a time." Kukui said gravely, with Guzma letting out a bark of laughter.
"An eye for an eye. Amber killed my Butterfree. That Cipher Admin threatened my family. And that bitch insulted my pride. If I ever find Fontaine, I'm gonna tear her apart." Guzma warned Kukui before poking a finger into the man's bare chest. "And if you ever think of butting into my business again, old friend, I'm gonna do worse to you."
"Big talk, coming from you, Guzma." Kukui said with a smirk of sorts, though it was clear that Guzma's declaration unnerved him.
"Nah. It's what makes sense. You don't mess around with people like her, Johnny. If you do, they'll just keep killing. And I'll be damned before I let someone like her hurt one of these kids." Guzma spat at Kukui, who looked away. Guzma shook his head in disgust, throwing aside his hands.
"You gotta move with the times, Professor. It's every man for himself and I'm not gonna let something like petty morality keep me from protecting the only family I've got. If you can't respect that, then you're an even sorrier piece of shit then I thought you were." Guzma said to Kukui, whose eyes shot up and narrowed at the man. Meanwhile Team Skull roared with approval at their beloved Boss' words.
"I do respect that. But there's better ways than stooping down to her level, Guzma. I thought you were above that." Kukui remarked, making Guzma bark out a laugh.
"No you fucking don't, Johnny boy! Hahahahaha! You and your little cadre think I'm scum, plain and simple. But that's fine. I'm already well on my way to making my mark on Alola in the best way possible. And what do you do, huh? Promote new ways to battle Pokémon, right?" Guzma asked, with Kukui raising an eyebrow.
"You mean the Battle Royal." Kukui said stiffly, his voice lacking much of his enthusiasm from earlier.
"Battle Royal, huh? Nice idea there, Kukui. You can beat down three Pokémon at once, huh?" the man said as he walked straight up to Professor Kukui until they were mere inches away from each other. The two men stared each other down, neither one daring to blink.
"Who is that guy?" Sun asked Rotom Dex, slightly confused. The crowd, however, helped answer Sun's question as they muttered to themselves at the spectacle before them.
"It's Guzma…"
"Traitor!"
"That disgrace is back. Just great!"
"Don't let him hear you say that! He's one of Alola's strongest Trainers!"
Sun focused his attention on Kukui and Guzma, who were still staring each other down. Guzma grinned as Axen and Kevin, in addition to several other Team Skull Grunts, drew closer.
"The Boss has graced us with his presence!" Kevin shouted to everyone, earning a roar of cheers from Team Skull. Plumeria rolled her eyes from nearby, keeping a hand on her hip and the other resting on the head of her Salazzle. She was of course ready to step in if need be.
Guzma chuckled under his breath at the proclamation, looking towards the crowd. He spotted a few of his kids in the crowd, which was expected. But he was surprised to see the main target of President Lusamine standing beside the Ghost Trial Captain. Guzma scowled in annoyance that he couldn't grab Lillie Jardin right now, since there were far too many witnesses. But Guzma made a mental note that Lusamine's daughter was friends with Acerola. The President would reward him for such important information.
So for now, he turned his attention back to Kukui and the pathetic crowd of sheep behind him. Guzma crossed his arms, his grin widening as Kukui's eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"The hated boss who beats you down, and beats you down, and never lets up...Yeah, Big bad Guzma is here!" Guzma shouted, making several members of the crowd fidget nervously as Team Skull cheered in the background.
"You never could resist a chance to show off." Kukui muttered, which made Guzma scoff.
"You think that was showing off? Please, bitch. This is showing off!" Guzma said as he took a few steps back, drawing a Poké Ball out from his jacket and tossing it skyward, calling out the Pokémon within. Sun's eyes widened as a Pokémon emerged from the device and let out a roar that carried across the entirety of Malie Garden.
It was a large arthropod Pokémon covered in silver armor plating, with a purple mask-like face with two antennae sticking out and two black eyes with gray pupils. The creature had six arms, with the two on the outside much larger and far more formidable-looking than the rest, resembling massive claws. Sun got the impression that this Pokémon was incredibly powerful and was definitely not one to trifle with.
The effect it had on the crowd was immediate though, as some of them screamed in fear and fled the scene while others shuddered uncomfortably. Sun grit his teeth, fighting the urge to shiver. Guzma grinned maliciously, cupping his hands to his mouth.
"Greetings cowering public!" Guzma shouted, moving his hands away from his mouth as his Pokémon hissed softly behind him. "We have an exciting bout for you tonight! In the opposing corner, the Pokémon Professor Johnny Kukui! And in this corner, the Boss of Team Skull and the hardest guy around, Guzma Kahananui!"
"You really shouldn't say things your battling can't back up." Kukui said, his expression hardening. "After what Amber did to your team, I can't believe you're trying to pick fights. Can Goliath even battle right now?"
"Oh, he can fight. He's the first of my team on the mend, as expected, so he'll be the first of my team to throttle you in front of this live crowd. Sounds like a blast, eh?" Guzma remarked, chuckling darkly as he shook his head. He knew that Goliath was still badly hurt, but he also knew his Partner was strong enough to handle any one of Kukui's Pokémon. "Here we are Kukui...Fellow rejects who could never become Captains."
Guzma shut his eyes, breathing in and out. Kukui's nose wrinkled in disgust at Guzma's bad breath, but the Team Skull Boss barely noticed. Instead he said, "We've got all these moldy old traditions in Alola - the Kahunas, the Captains...It's about time we cut out all that silly garbage and make something new for ourselves. Trust me, I get that."
Guzma's eyes snapped open. "Don't get me wrong though, Kukui. We've got no need for a Pokémon League. After all, everybody already knows who the strongest Trainer is on these islands!"
Kukui's mouth twitched into a smirk at that, and Guzma's smile faltered slightly. The Professor leaned back on his heels for a moment before his smirk became a familiar, easygoing smile. "Speak for yourself, Guzma. It's not like I couldn't become a Captain. I chose not to. I had other dreams, see?" Kukui then turned away from Guzma and walked away. Guzma's eyes widened at the slight and he was about to shout at Kukui when the Professor spoke again. "I wanted to figure out what moves would be strong enough to beat old Hala...and I finally found what I was looking for."
"What was that? Your goddamn brain?" Guzma deadpanned.
"The strongest moves you can use are the ones a Trainer and their Pokémon choose together...in the heat of the moment, when it really counts." Kukui said, his eyes opening again as he turned back to face Guzma, only now his eyes were burning with excitement.
"That's when I knew I had to make a Pokémon League, yeah, to give everyone a chance to be pushed to the limit with their team and find that perfect move!" Kukui declared, with several people within the crowd letting out cheers.
"Let's see it, Guzma! Show me your moves and prove you aren't just all talk! If you really can, that is…" Kukui said, his mouth curving into a grin as he stepped back a few steps and suddenly clapped Sun on the shoulder. "Right, Sun? Don't you agree?" Kukui asked Sun, who looked confused. Guzma's gaze snapped to the boy, recognizing him from Team Skull's target wall.
"So you're one of the kids on his Island Challenge. You don't look like Hala's grandson." Guzma remarked, seemingly puzzled. Kukui glanced towards the man, grinning still.
"This here's Sun. He just moved to Alola recently. Discovery! New experiences! Adventure! He's loving every minute of it! Sun and his team can unleash some real powerful moves. He even took down one of Cipher's prized Admins, and a Shadow Articuno to boot! So if you think you're the strongest Trainer on these islands, Guzma, why don't you battle him?" Kukui challenged the leader of Team Skull. Sun's jaw dropped at what he had just been roped into out of nowhere.
"Tch! This move fanatic is getting me all riled up!" Guzma snarled under his breath, though his rage stopped for a moment when he spotted the white Z-Ring on Sun's wrist. Guzma blinked at that before smirking. "You've got a Z-Ring, huh, kid?"
"I got my Sparkling Stone from Tapu Koko itself. And you know what...I'll take you on. I've been beating around Team Skull for a while now. If you're the guy in charge of them, I want to see what you're capable of. You're just another obstacle for me to overcome in my Island Challenge." Sun said calmly, stepping towards Guzma. The man seemed conflicted for a moment, his expression looking rather thoughtful as his smirk faded.
"Why even bother with the Island Challenge? What's the point of it?" Guzma asked Sun seriously, and the boy thought about it for a few moments. In the end, he just went with a simple answer.
"It'll make me strong." Sun replied, thinking of everything he had been through up to this point in his journey. He wanted to become strong enough to protect himself and those precious to him. Strong enough to stand up to the evil in the world. Alola had saved him from lingering on the darkness of his past, and he would see his Island Challenge through to the end for that.
"No it won't, you dumb kid!" Guzma spat back at the boy, giving Kukui a glare of loathing. "Just another brainwashed brat, that's what you are. Kukui's done what he always does. Get people's hopes up, thinking that they're gonna make a difference! That they're gonna become the next big thing! Well...newsflash, kid. You're not. You're a flash in the pan that these cattle won't give a shit about tomorrow. The world will never change. It'll only turn. And I'll prove it."
Sun clenched his fists in anger at the remark, but even more so when Guzma turned to Kukui and pointed a finger at him. "Watch closely, Kukui. Someday I'm gonna destroy you. But first, I'll destroy everything you care about!"
Guzma whirled back to Sun, grinning horribly as Team Skull let out a roar of approval. "Wanna see what destruction looks like? Here it is in human form - it's your boy Guzma!" Guzma bellowed, throwing apart his arms and letting out a mad cackle as Sun drew a Poké Ball and called out Oliver. The Dartrix landed on the ground, flaring his wings.
"Hold!"
Guzma and Sun turned to see Plumeria walking towards them, her Salazzle trailing behind her. The Team Skull Admin glanced at the two of them as she approached and said, "I'll referee."
"That's fine with me." Sun said with a nod as the crowd backed away and Sun and Oliver moved apart from Guzma until there was a considerable distance between the two of them. The crowd cheered for the boy as Kukui watched intently, a smile on his face.
"The following battle between Trainer Sun and Guzma will now be under way. First to run out of usable Pokémon is the loser! Begin!"
Sun blinked as the music that had been playing from the boombox earlier suddenly switched to something far more upbeat but no less intense track, with Guzma chuckling as he threw apart his hands.
"I have no problem tearing apart your dreams myself, kid! Let's do this!" Guzma shouted as the massive Pokémon beside him moved in front of his Trainer. Guzma crouched down on the ground, his gaze becoming more focused. "Goliath, get ready."
"Rotom, wanna give me a hand?" Sun asked the device resting on his shoulder, who beeped and flipped around to reveal Guzma's Pokémon's Pokédex entry.
"Golisopod. The Hard Scale Pokémon and the evolved form of Wimpod. With a flashing slash of its giant sharp claws, it cleaves seawater—or even air—right in two. It battles skillfully with its six arms, but spends most of its time peacefully meditating in caves deep beneath the sea." Rotom explained as Sun frowned. This Pokémon sounded like even more of a threat than it looked. But Sun wouldn't back down now that Kukui had put him in a corner like this.
"Oliver, this guy is tough. We're gonna hit him hard and fast. That big guy won't even know what hit him." Sun said as Oliver readied himself to attack.
"Battle begin!"
"Oliver, use Pluck!" Sun commanded the bird, punching forward with his fist. Oliver flapped his wings hard, soaring quickly towards Golisopod and Guzma, his beak shining with energy-
"First Impression."
Golisopod's body glowed bright green before the massive Pokémon suddenly lunged forward with incredible speed, drawing back a glowing white claw as Oliver soared towards it. Within the span of a single second, Golisopod had cleared the distance between Oliver and himself and was poised to attack. The Dartrix screeched in surprise before the attack struck him in mid-air, with Golisopod swiping his claw into Oliver and slashing the owl deeply in the chest.
"OLIVER!" Sun screamed as the Dartrix hurtled towards the ground and hit the grass hard, a massive gash now oozing crimson across his chest and left wing. Guzma let out a cackle as Sun ran over to the bird, fear and concern in his eyes. He then looked up at Guzma, who wore a sneer of contempt.
"Just because you can run roughshod over my boys and girls doesn't mean you can hold your own against me. I'm Guzma! Ain't nobody in Alola harder than me!" Guzma boomed as his crew cheered in agreement.
Sun returned Oliver, concerned about the intensity of the injury but knowing Oliver would be okay for the time being inside of his Poké Ball. With that, Sun focused his glare on the Team Skull Boss, who crouched low as his Golisopod let out a threatening hiss from behind him. The boy felt white-hot fury spike through him, his eyes flashing bright red.
"You talk too much." Sun growled as he readied another Poké Ball.
"Bring it on! Goliath, crush 'em!" Guzma boomed as his Golisopod roared, leveling a claw at Sun as the crowd cheered and jeered at the two Trainers. The match between Professor Kukui's prized Trainer and the infamous Boss of Team Skull was now underway.
We're finally here!
Next chapter, the long-awaited showdown between Sun and Guzma! Place your bets!
Q & A
From: Defender31415
Now I'm really confused about Ashton... is his whole thing a case of good intentions but bad methodology?
Looks like Sun is handling the Electric trial well.
One other question: you've mentioned that Persona was a big influence on this fic. Any chance of Life Will Change or Rivers in the Desert showing up, or better yet, a calling card? I can see that really applying well to Ashton.
As tempting as it is, I can't see a situation where that'd work out. That won't stop me from listening to the Persona soundtrack nonstop though as I write these chapters.
From: sceptilezeno
That totem battle was really cool though! It seems that Oliver is still struggling with toxic gamer poison... I can't help but wonder how it'll be cured. Evolution? Love? It was also really kind of Sun to befriend Soffy. And, as always, Zinnia is a badass. She really should hang out with Zygarde if she wants more of a purpose again. Why isn't Di- I mean the Anomaly messing with anything? What the heck are the Tapus doing? When Will Demi and Gladion finally hook up?
That's a very good question. The Anomaly definitely has the power to tear apart the entire world and completely derail things. However it knows that I won't let it do that, and it hates me for it. The Anomaly also knows that it's abilities come at a certain cost, which will come into play soon.
As for the Tapus, they're doing whatever they normally do in the games. Meaning not much. Tapu Bulu is going to have a very limited role in the story, as I honestly just don't have many ideas with it as opposed to Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele.
And that last one should be a bit more obvious. That one's on a slower burn than Sun/Lillie, but things have finally turned the corner for those two with this latest chapter.
From: fatwhiteguy
I KNEW IT! I CALLED IT! I'm surprised that Damien didn't immediately attack Roran after he revealed himself? Also I have a question when Damien mega evolved you said it caused him pain, shouldn't the bond they share of prevented that? I know Mega Evolution hurts the Pokemon during the transformation, but it shouldn't hurt the entire time! (At least according to the anime)
This is because of two things happening at the same time.
One is, like most Mega Evolutions, the Mega Houndoom form is painful to be in for Damien. The Pokedex entry from US states that "Its red claws and the tips of its tail are melting from high internal temperatures that are painful to Houndoom itself."
The other issue is one that I can't explain now, but is actually even more important than the previous matter. It'll be explained in a few chapters, and it'll make a lot more sense. But I will say that I got this idea from the anime more than the games. And it's a bit of an interesting twist on Mega Evolution that I'm proud of.
That's all for now, folks. I'm gonna get to work on the Guzma battle, because I've been waiting an eternity for this and damn it I wanna write this.
Please make sure to review the chapter and let me know your thoughts. Also, feel free to favorite and/or follow the story if you haven't already to stay updated. I also answer questions in the review section and I have a Discord you can join if you send me a PM requesting it.
Stay safe and stay awesome.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
