Pokémon Radiant Sun
Here we are, at the end of a journey that has spanned over a decade for me.
It feels…humbling, in a way. I had given up hope years ago of being able to tell this story properly. But then came Pokémon Sun and Moon, which intrigued me enough for me to begin writing a novelization of the story. And then came the inspiration to incorporate my own original storyline into the mix, changing my life forever.
Thank you, everyone. All of you who've reached this point in the story, put up with all of this madness to see just where it lead…Thanks. This story wouldn't be what it is without your support.
And that's it really. Short and sweet AN for this one.
Shoutout to the legends who reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, Oragonking, Nate of the Fossils, PigniteGamer29, Augar, Muramasa96, and ConnivingG. Thanks for your support, you all kick butt.
The battle theme for this chapter is "Friends" from the "Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth" OST. You can find an hour-long extension of the song by ShiranuiNightmare on YouTube, which I highly recommend for this chapter.
Enjoy.
Chapter 136: Harbinger
Borlath stared across the battlefield, almost unable to believe what he was seeing. The beautiful shining light pouring from his son's Z-Ring, the fierce gaze of the Dartrix that stood beside him, and the flowing energy that seared through the both of them. It was something very familiar to him, both as something he had faced once before and something he himself had channeled so many years ago.
Radiance. The power of those Chosen by the Tapu. Only the strongest of Trainers among the select few handpicked by the Gods of Alola could harness the true power of the Sparkling Stones gifted to them by the Guardian Deities. And call upon the deepest of connections between Trainer and Pokémon.
"This power is incredible…Before it felt like I was standing by a campfire." Sun spoke in an awed whisper, closing his eyes and focusing on how he and Oliver felt. "Now it feels like my entire body on fire, but in the best way possible."
"It does feel amazing. As if I could soar across the entire planet without ever stopping." Oliver agreed, turning his head to beam at Sun. Sun grinned back at his Partner, feeling the joy the Dartrix was experiencing now. Sun wasn't sure how, but he somehow knew that Oliver had finally overcome the mental block within his mind. Whatever doubts or insecurities had been plaguing the bird were now gone, and as a result…both Sun and Oliver were now truly in sync.
Nothing would ever hold them back again.
"What a tragedy…To think that my son has become the very thing I turned my back on." Sun turned back towards his father, who had regained his composure and was glaring him and Oliver down. "I will cast aside this terrible world, Sun. Not you or that bird or the Tapu will stop me from making all of this go away!"
Sun stared at his father for a moment, considering his words. The boy then shook his head, saying, "I don't think you really feel that way, Dad."
"What?" Borlath hissed, irritation in his voice. "How would you know what I feel? How would you even begin to understand?"
"I think on some level, you're really proud of me. You just can't understand that because of how much hate you've surrounded yourself with. It's like a shield, protecting you from getting hurt." Sun said as he stepped forward with a fierce grin. "You turned your back on the Tapu and Alola, yeah, but you know that this is proof of how strong me and my team have become over our journey. And we're not done yet. Not even close. We'll keep growing and learning and become even stronger."
Borlath scowled, clenching his fists. "Sentimental tripe, Sun. You don't-"
"Pokémon Battles are one of the truest ways for Trainers to understand each other in our world. That's something you told me a long time ago." Sun said to his father, who fell silent and tilted his head slightly. "Professor Kukui's told me that too, and I've lived through that Dad. Every time I battle someone, I see a little bit into their heart. And they see into mine too. You know exactly what I'm talking about…don't you?"
Borlath remained silent, but Sun could see the madman's body shake for a moment as Sun offered a somber smile to his father. And so he continued.
"When I battle Hau, I can feel how much he enjoys our matches. How much fun he's having with his team. Whenever I battle Team Skull Grunts I can feel something from them too, whether it's anger, sadness, jealousy or something else. But I can feel these emotions when I battle them. All Trainers can do this on some level." Sun went on, smiling at his father still. "And as much as you don't want to admit it, you do too. You can feel everything I feel…and the reverse is true."
"Sun, stop talking." Borlath said quietly, the flames around the man flaring slightly. Sun refused to listen and continued talking.
"Even the Cipher Admins I've battled were like this. I could feel how strongly Dawson believed in what he was doing. He was so confused and hurt, though, not knowing if what he was doing was truly right." Sun continued, ignoring his father's words as he thought back to that showdown in the Battle Royal Dome. "But in the end I think he realized something important. That's why he attacked Deoxys and saved me. That's why he helped me save Hau."
"I said shut up! Damien, Flamethrower!" Borlath roared as the Shadow Mega Houndoom howled, releasing a deadly plume of flames directly at Sun and Oliver. Oliver took flight and soared into the air while Sun wordlessly reached out a hand to Lillie, and within moments she had Nebby teleport them away from the flames. Sun reappeared, his gaze resolute as he stared down his father and Oliver readied himself in midair to fight.
"When I battled Roran, I could feel nothing but his insanity. He was so furious at everyone and everything around him, especially after the Tapu cursed him. He was so completely broken by his madness that the memories of battling him will probably scar me for the rest of my life…" Sun admitted quietly, causing Borlath's hands to clench around the chains.
"Stop it!" Borlath hissed as he looked down at the ground, lowering his arms and exhaling raggedly as Shadow Damien growled in anger at the boy. Sun wasn't done though.
"But you…Before you became this, I could feel so many different things. I could feel your sorrow and hatred at this world, yeah. But I could also see how scared you were." Sun said to the man standing across from him as Borlath looked up, the madman's eyes narrowing as his child kept speaking.
"I could see how much you cared about us. Me and Lillie, and your Pokémon and Mom…Damien and even Amber Fontaine! I could see how much pain you were in, Dad, and how upset you were that I came aboard this ship to stop you. But…But I could also tell that you were really proud of me." Sun said with a tremble in his voice. The boy continued to smile at his father as a tear rolled down his face, causing Borlath's eyes to flicker blue for a brief moment. "And then after you became a monster, casting aside everything but your hate for this world. But despite all of that, I think some part of you deep down wants me to beat you. To prove you wrong and show you that there's hope for the future. That we don't have to wipe the slate clean. That there's something left of you and this world that can be saved."
"Sun…" Lillie whispered, looking at the boy with awe. She had always heard from Professor Kukui how Pokémon Battles were a way for Trainers to truly understand one another. A way to solve arguments or get points across in a way that few other things could match. This confrontation between father and son, with everything on the line and filled with so much emotion, made her realize how right the Professor was.
"Is that so? Well then…prove it." Borlath responded coldly, thrusting his hand outwards. "Because you're still down to just that Dartrix, and I'm not done yet!"
"Let's show them our true strength. No holding back, Sun!" Oliver hooted, kicking off of the ground and taking flight.
(Begin playing "Friends" from the "Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth" OST)
"Oliver, let's go! Razor Leaf!" Sun yelled as he thrust out his hand, more rainbow-colored light pouring into Oliver as the bird swung his wings outwards. Borlath's eyes went wide when instead of spinning leaves, shining star-like streaks soared towards Shadow Damien with almost blinding speed, slashing into the corrupted Houndoom and causing him to snarl in pain as his blood spattered the ground.
"Oh my…was that actually a Razor Leaf?" Lillie asked, confused as to how a Grass-type attack could do so much damage to Shadow Damien. Rotom was the one to answer the question as Sun continued to battle his father.
"From what we've seen, Radiance allowzz a Trainer to use their own strength to bolster that of their Trainerzz." Rotom Dex explained as Oliver flew towards Shadow Damien as the monstrous Houndoom he faced slowly moved forward, hindered by the paralysis it was under. "Bzzzrt! This can be used for immensely powerful Z-moves, but also for just regular attacks. That'zzzzz how Oliver was able to hurt Shadow Damien and use a Protect with none of the issues he was having before."
"Together we can't be stopped." Sun said fiercely as his eyes narrowed with determination, standing tall against the man who had raised him. Who had taught him. Who had hurt him. And who had now awakened an inferno within the boy's soul. "We'll take you down. And anyone else who stands in our way! We're going to save everyone, Dad, and there's not a damn thing you can do to stop me!"
"Shadow Fire!" Borlath roared as Shadow Damien's body shuddered, the paralysis taking effect and forcing the canine to remain immobile.
"Grass Knot!" Sun yelled out as Oliver's feet shined brightly, with the owl slamming his talons down into the battlefield. Shadow Damien roared as massive sprouts of glowing grass and roots erupted from the ground, somehow not burning away from the blistering flames and heat burning off of Shadow Damien, and throwing him up into the air before slamming him hard back into the ground.
Lillie watched the bird and his Trainer with an expression of wonder, though she soon noticed something concerning.
"Sun looks like he's really winded…I hope he's okay." Lillie thought worriedly, seeing how out of breath Sun was, even as he smiled at his father with a determined gleam in his storm-gray eyes. Sun didn't even seem to notice, completely focused on the battle at hand.
Borlath watched in disbelief as Shadow Damien rose to his feet, trembling slightly as the monster growled with anger. The Grand Master of Cipher regained his bearings and thrust out a hand towards his child.
"You think you're something special? You're nothing! Shadow Fire!" Borlath snarled as Shadow Damien fired off a purple fireball at the Dartrix speeding towards him.
"Pluck! Full-power!" Sun focused on his Z-Ring, feeding more power into it. Oliver's own strength increased and the shining beak burned with rainbow-colored energy. As the flames came closer, the Dartrix flapped his wings hard and dodged the Shadow Move at the last moment, spinning in midair with a hoot. The owl then slammed into the hellhound with a piercing screech and succeeded in knocking him to the ground, much to the amazement of Borlath. Shadow Damien whined softly, struggling to rise as a result of the damage he had been taking through the long showdown between father and son. Meanwhile Borlath was simply staring at his child in amazement.
"That much power…How? It's just an…" Borlath began to say, but he noticed Sun's body seizing up, the boy going stiff as a tremor roiled through him. Some small flicker of concern crossed Borlath's mind, but it was swiftly snuffed out.
"Sun!" Lillie cried out, moving towards the boy as he began to cough violently. Oliver looked towards Sun with worry in his eyes, though after a few moments he realized what was happening. And so did Borlath.
"Radiance is a very powerful force, Sun. But so much power comes at a price. The physical toll of using your own power to bolster that of your Pokémon, especially enough to damage Damien, is quite a lot." Borlath remarked, watching with hidden amusement as Sun caught his breath. The boy's breathing was ragged, but despite that the boy continued to smile.
"Yeah…I kinda figured there was a reason Roran struggled so much to use this power before. Z-Moves require you to use a lot of energy, and this isn't much different than that, huh?" Sun said with a weak chuckle.
Borlath barked out a dark laugh, yanking upwards with the chains to force Shadow Damien to his feet once more. "This just got interesting. Not only is this a battle between our last Pokémon, but a battle to see if you can even last that long while giving your Dartrix a fighting chance!"
"Really…Well, you're not doing so hot yourself, Dad." Sun spat back in reply, straightening up and punching forward as his Z-Ring shined even brighter, the child's gaze never wavering despite the growing weakness in his body. Sun then swiped his hand through the air, with Oliver mimicking the motion and launching a single shining blade quill at Borlath faster than he could react.
The blade quill brushed against the left side of the melted crystal mass that was covering Borlath's face, slashing against it and cutting right through the helm. Borlath staggered back in surprise, his hand going to where the blade quill slashed against his helm, and he was surprised by what he felt.
"How!?" Borlath snarled as flecks of the crystalline helm on the left side of his face splintered off, revealing a sliver of Borlath's face beneath. The madman's bare skin was coated in crimson fluid.
"I remember your lesson on intimidation tactics in the boardroom." Sun said as Oliver preened his feathers, looking particularly smug. "After everything you've done tonight, you can't blame me, can you?"
Borlath had no response to that, but Sun wasn't done yet. "Oliver, let's go! Razor Leaf!" Sun shouted as Oliver took flight once again, releasing a barrage of streaking leaves through the air. Borlath shouted for Shadow Damien to dodge, but thanks to his paralysis, he was unable to avoid the move that tore through Shadow Damien once again and spattered the battlefield with blood.
"How…How can this be happening!? You're just a kid! My little boy…How can you be strong enough to do this to Damien!?" Borlath demanded, a note of hysteria in his voice as he stared down his son, only to find a determined pair of storm-gray eyes staring back at him. "Flamethrower, full-power!"
"Stop underestimating us! Leaf Drive!" Sun shouted as Oliver released a shining whirlwind of leaves that he dove into, becoming a whirling mass of leaves that dove underneath the torrent of flames and slammed hard into Shadow Damien. Sun's breath caught as the beast skidded backwards, shaking in pain as his legs trembled before the sound of chains shattering filled the air once again.
Borlath screamed in agony as the fifth chain broke free from Shadow Damien, the sound echoing throughout the night. The Grand Master of Cipher staggered back and fell to all fours, his breath coming in haggard gasps. Sun was amazed to see wisps of purple flames vanishing from Borlath's body, even as a large crack on the madman's crystalline helm splintered from the spot Oliver had cut into with his blade quill before.
"No…Not after everything I've been through. I can't lose…to you." Borlath rasped as he slowly stood to one knee, his right hand tightening around the chain that connected him to Shadow Damien. The hellhound himself was visibly shaking now, riddled with chips on his bone-armor and with cuts that had been seared shut by the Shadow Mega Houndoom's own heat.
"Shadow Fire!" Borlath hissed as he slowly rose to his feet, eyeing his son with an expression of exhausted loathing. Shadow Damien grunted in response, slowly lumbering forward before firing off a dark ball of flames at Oliver.
"Leafage! Full-power!" Sun bellowed as he punched his hand forward, blinding rainbow light pouring outwards from the boy's Z-Ring as Oliver flapped his wings hard, screeching as he attacked with a shining whirlwind of leaves as the Shadow Fire raced towards them.
The two attacks connected, exploding in the middle of the battlefield as Sun stumbled forward, his vision blurring slightly as he felt his breath catch. Borlath was quick to follow up his attack, shouting, "Flamethrower!"
"Dodge it, then use Protect Charge!" Sun barked as Oliver soared skyward, with Shadow Damien's flames trailing behind the bird as it followed him in midair before diving downwards toward the hellhound, throwing apart his wings and creating a shining barrier as he fell to earth. Borlath grit his teeth in abject rage as Oliver slammed down into Shadow Damien, blocking his attacks and succeeding in pinning the hellhound onto the ground.
"Haven't you done enough!? Just give up!" Sun yelled at his father, who barked out a laugh as he raised a hand in the air…and then snapped his fingers. The chain shined bright purple as Shadow Damien let out an ethereal howl, opening his mouth and releasing a jet-black torrent of flames at the shield Oliver was still holding up. Sun grit his teeth as he forced more and more of himself into the Z-Ring, focusing his Radiance into keeping Oliver's shield active. To Sun's surprise, the flames were slowly pushing Oliver upwards into the air as he struggled to keep the barrier going.
"How much longer can you keep it up?" Borlath asked, laughing softly as he staggered forward, tugging on the final chain as Oliver's shield began to finally crack. Sun gasped as he fell to one knee, with Lillie putting her hands over her mouth in surprise and horror. Oliver's shield then exploded around him, finally failing as the flames slammed into him and sent him flying backwards through the air as the Dartrix screamed in pain.
"Oliver!" Sun yelled out, trying to get to his feet, only for the boy to fall to the ground with a pained yelp. Oliver crashed down hard just a few feet in front of Sun, his body twitching erratically as the light around him dimmed slightly.
"Even the power of the Tapu…It's not enough. Don't you get it!? I'm the only one who can fix things! So just stop fighting me and give up!" Borlath shouted, his eyes shifting from crimson to the colors of red, black and white that the children knew was when Borlath was most unhinged.
"I'll…never give up on the people who need me." Sun breathed heavily, crawling towards Oliver with a determined glare towards his father. "I'm going to keep learning. Keep living. And I'll save anyone who needs my help. Protect the weak from the monsters in this world…"
Sun then grinned at his father disarmingly. "That's what a hero does, right Dad?"
Borlath's eyes flickered to storm-gray as he gasped in surprise. Once again, Sun was turning his own words and lessons against him. And said them with such confidence too…And then then the madman's eyes shifted once more to a furious red, but not quite crimson like before. The color of anger, but not hatred.
"NO! LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE AND JUST…FUCKING…DIE!" Borlath screamed as he thrust out a hand, but Sun was surprised to see that his bright red eyes were shining with tears. "FIRE BLAST!"
"Sun!" Lillie screamed out as Oliver threw up Protect once again, the golden barrier flaring into existence before their eyes…only to fail.
"No!" Sun shouted as Oliver gasped in surprise, eyeing the burning star racing towards them with horror. Then, to Sun's shock, the Dartrix kicked off the ground hard and dove towards the almighty black star as it drifted closer. The bird hurled a shining Leafage at the flames right before they reached him, causing the hellstar to detonate and release deadly black flames all across the battlefield as the entirety of the Absolution shook violently.
"Oliver!" Sun shouted as his bird struck the ground, trembling in pain as he tried to desperately remain conscious. The boy himself felt himself grow weaker, his eyes drifting closed for a few moments before he pushed himself upright. Sun looked up and saw that Oliver had rolled onto his stomach and was slowly pushing himself up, much to the disbelief of Borlath and the children.
"Never again. I'll die before…I let them down. We're going to stop you. Make you understand." Oliver hissed, shaking as he stood and glared at the man behind it all. Borlath watched as Sun tried to push himself upright yet again.
"Sun, I'm so…No. It's too late for apologies." Borlath said as Sun fell to the ground in a heap, even Oliver barely remained standing with his entire body coated in ash and burned feathers. "I just hope…in the next life you're happy. And never again have to walk down this road of violence."
"This isn't what you wanted, but it's what you asked for. You wanted me to become strong enough to live in this world. To stand against everything that wished me harm! " Sun said as he got back to his feet, his legs trembling as his vision wavered again. The badly injured Dartrix flared his wings, even as Overgrow burned around the shining form of Oliver.
Borlath took a step back in surprise, seeing the exhausted determination of his son and his Pokémon. But then he grit his teeth in frustration as his addled mind tried to process what exactly what going on.
"It's been such a long and painful road. All of the death, all of the fighting, all of the heartache…Of course here at the end, it comes down to me and my little boy." Borlath hissed as he looked down at the final chain in his hand.
"We can stop this now Dad. I never wanted this fight. All of you have to do is give up." Sun said as Borlath's hand tightened over the final chain that connected him to the Shadow Mega Houndoom that he had corrupted with his own malice. The beast himself was barely standing at this point, having taken an incredible amount of damage over the course of the night.
"I will never give up on making a better world for everyone, Sun. Even if it comes at the cost of mine and your life!" Borlath boomed, punching a hand forward as he shouted, "Dark Pulse!"
"Dodge and use Pluck!" Sun barked as Oliver kicked off of the ground and then spun in midair, elegantly dodging the pulsating beam of darkness and diving down below, his beak burning with Z-Power as he slammed hard into Shadow Damien. The hellhound howled in pain, staggering backwards as the powered-up strike sent him reeling. Sun swayed on his feet again, letting out a pained gasp as his body continued to struggle against the backlash. He could taste copper in his mouth and knew it was blood, but he refused to give in.
"No wonder Roran kept jamming himself with drugs to stay standing. I feel like I'm going to collapse any second now…" Sun thought as his vision swam, only to hear a hoot from his Dartrix that galvanized the boy. Sun held up his hand, his Z-Ring burning even brighter. "Oliver use Synthesis!"
The Dartrix shut his eyes and began to glow, and with Sun feeding him his own energy through Radiance his various injuries and burns began to heal away. Sun stared down his father the entire time, even as the boy's eyes began to water as he felt his chest begin to hurt. "But I refuse. I refuse to believe that this world can't do better. That we still can't make things right so that everyone can have a better tomorrow. I refuse to let things end this way, Dad. I'm taking back our futures!"
"What future!? This world will destroy itself if I don't turn everything around! Just let me die! Just accept the end!" Borlath screamed at his child, throwing apart the chain as Shadow Damien released a deadly plume of fire at Oliver. The Dartrix dodged in midair and threw more star-like leaves of shining energy at Shadow Damien, who retaliated with a Flamethrower that incinerated the leaves.
"I won't give up the chance to save you! Because underneath all of that pain and sorrow and fire is a father who'd give up everything for the sake of others! I want my Dad back!" Sun shouted back, punching forward as Oliver flapped his wings hard to avoid the flames as they blasted past him in midair.
Borlath's mouth twisted into a hidden grimace, his gaze flickering to several different colors at once. "Overheat!"
"Protect Charge!" Sun barked as Oliver soared forward, throwing apart his wings and summoning a golden barrier around himself to block the enormous fireball as it smashed against the Protect. Oliver screeched with righteous fury as Sun swayed on his feet, gritting his teeth as he fought to remain standing as he began to cough painfully.
"Flamethrower!" Borlath shouted even before the Overheat had dissipated, right as Oliver's shield was wearing off. Sun's eyes widened in horror as the flames shot skyward and blasted past Oliver, causing him to screech in pain and plummet towards the ground.
"No!" Sun screamed as the bird fell from the heavens once more, smoking and covered in flames even as the wind blew them off of him. Lillie cried out as Sun ran onto the battlefield, diving forward to catch the falling owl in his arms before they both hit the ground.
"Oliver…are you okay?" Sun asked weakly, wincing in pain as his body ached from forcing it to move after the intense stress he was subjecting it too. Oliver didn't respond right away, instead slowly cracking open an eye.
"I'm a little c-c-crispy." Oliver managed to say weakly, twitching in his Trainer's arms as Sun held him. The bird's head turned towards Borlath, who was watching the two of them with burning eyes of fury.
"I don't know how you keep defying me. But it's game over. Damien, use Fire Fang! Tear them apart!" Borlath roared as he forced every bit of willpower into the single chain that connected him to the Shadow Pokémon. "Say goodbye to your futures!"
Borlath let out a breathless cackle as Shadow Damien lunged forward, hellfire pouring from his mouth as he bounded towards Sun and Oliver. The bird screeched as he forced himself to try to get up out of his arms, but his energy was completely spent, even with Sun trying to power him through using Radiance. It wasn't enough to stop what would certainly be a fatal attack-
"Big bro! Daddy!"
Oliver and Sun both jolted in surprise as a figure teleported in front of them. It was a small little Cosmog, eyeing the approaching hellhound with a focused expression.
"What are you doing!?" Oliver demanded, raw terror in his voice.
"Nebby! Get back!" Sun shouted out, gritting his teeth as he tried and failed to get back up.
"Sun's always stood by me…"
The boy in question looked to his side and saw Lillie slowly walking towards Borlath, her expression one of gentle determination. Fear danced in her eyes, her legs trembling with horror, but she still moved forward to stand beside Sun. "Without him, I would've given into despair so long ago. I believed so many lies about this world until Sun came into my life. Your son showed me how to hope again, Borlath. And because of that belief in Sun, and his team, I believe him when he says that there's still hope left in this world. That things can change."
"The world will never change! It only turns!" Borlath shouted back as he thrust out a hand towards Sun and Oliver as they struggled to get up. Shadow Damien continued to charge towards Nebby, who stood his metaphorical ground as Lillie pointed her finger right at the hellhound approaching.
"Use your power! Cosmic Burst!" Lillie cried out as the Cosmog shut his eyes, calling upon the strange power that the small Pokémon contained within. Sun felt a strange hum vibrate through the air, and Oliver watched on in awe as the defenseless creature he had taken under his wing faced off against the monster that had wiped out most of Sun's team with relative ease. Shadow Damien continued to lunge towards the Cosmog, with Sun screaming out in distress...but it was all for naught.
The little Pokémon opened his now-glowing eyes and let out an ethereal shriek, a glowing purple maelstrom of otherworldly power suddenly exploding outwards from the Cosmog as Shadow Damien drew closer, leaping into the air with a mouthful of black flames. The hellhound made contact with the strange whirling mass of energy released from the Cosmog…and was being held back!
"Nebby…" Sun whispered in awe of the little Pokémon's power. Oliver was now grinning despite the pain he was in, feeling a fierce rush of pride for the Cosmog. Lillie simply watched as her Pokémon continued to fend off the deadly monster that was on a precipice of killing them all.
But she had faith.
Despite how much she worried, Lillie believed in her Pokémon. Just like Sun had taught her, she would stand her ground and be brave despite the odds. Even if she was terrified…she refused to give up!
Meanwhile, Borlath was completely baffled by what was taking place before his eyes. "What on earth…It's holding back Damien!? How could a creature so small and fragile have that much power? No wonder Lusamine wants it so bad!" Borlath thought before realizing that Shadow Damien was faltering and that the Cosmic Burst was expanding ever-so-slightly. A few moments later the attack exploded violently outwards and released a massive wave of force that sent Shadow Mega Damien hurtling backwards with a pained howl.
Right towards Borlath.
The Grand Master of Cipher barely had time to react to the corrupted hellhound flying towards him before he collided directly into him, knocking them both senseless to the ground. Nebby swayed in the air and let out a small groan before falling, but not before Oliver swooped forward out of Sun's arms and caught the Cosmog on his back. Sun was once again kneeling, his hand outstretched and his Z-Ring burning with the light of Radiance.
"Good job, little bro. I'll take it from here!" Oliver hooted proudly to the exhausted Pokémon on his back as he flew back towards Lillie, who accepted the Cosmog from the shining Dartrix. Sun had gotten back to his feet now, panting heavily but recovered enough to stand. And seeing what Nebby had done and the state both Shadow Damien and Borlath were in, the boy knew now was the time for the final blow to be struck.
"Dad, I know what I have to do. All of this madness…All of the hurt you've caused. All of the scheming and plans have come to an end. You're through!" Sun shouted as his Z-Ring began to shine even more brightly with Radiance. Sun channeled every bit of strength he had left into what came next. One final move to end his father's schemes once and for all.
"You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it." Oliver said quietly, hovering in front of Sun and locking eyes with the madman as he struggled to move from the ground. "That means accepting what you've done…This world is ours. And we won't let you take our destinies away!"
"Oliver, let's go!" Sun shouted as he began to strike a series of poses. They were unlike any of the forms that he had learned from the Trial Captains or Kahunas when calling upon Z-Power before. This was something new to Sun, but he found he somehow knew exactly what gestures to make as he flapped his arms, making sharp movements as Oliver shot into the sky, the blackened feathers on the Dartrix falling away as he was engulfed with Radiance, the sheer power of his bond with Sun empowering him to shake off the pain and push forward.
Suddenly Oliver stopped flying, hovering high above the battlefield and resembling a shining star to those who looked to the sky above the Absolution. The owl whirled around in midair, tucking in his wings as Sun finished striking the final set of poses, tucking in his hands beneath his armpits with a wild smile on his lips. Oliver then swung his wings apart as Sun did the same with his arms, throwing them apart as a series of shining blade quills launched from Oliver's wings.
But instead of flying forward, they simply circled around Oliver, slowly growing in size as they too began to shine with fiery emerald energy. The blade quills flew around and around Oliver's body, rapidly elongating and becoming larger with each passing moment as a fierce hum filled the air. Soon the small quills had become something akin to missiles, massive spear-like objects that shined bright white and were covered in whirling leaves. After about ten seconds, the emerald energy around them soon shifted, shifting from looking like Oliver's Overgrow Ability to resembling something akin to flames.
Borlath slowly looked up into the sky and his eyes paled upon seeing the sort of power that his son had brought forth. High above him four burning javelins of raw energy crackled with emerald flames beside Oliver, and even from this great distance Borlath knew that getting hit with any of them would be the end of everything. He struggled to try and move Shadow Damien off of him, but he couldn't push the hellhound away.
"Get him Sun and Oliver!" Lillie cried out, beaming at her friend as she held Sun up against her, bracing the boy up so that he wouldn't fall, with Nebby resting on her hat with a tired smile on his face. Sun nodded as he continued to look skyward, grinning as tears streamed down his face. He then took a deep breath and looked forward, towards his opponent.
And with that, Sun finally named the Radiant Z-Move that would finally end everything.
"Oliver, channel everything we've got left…and use SCREECHING SALVATION SALVO!" Sun screamed with all of his might, bringing down a hand as if in benediction towards his father and Shadow Mega Damien.
Oliver mimicked his Trainer, the whirling feathers around him that had become shining javelins of raw energy slowly drifted backwards, white and green flaming light burning with the power of Sun and Oliver's bond made manifest through Radiance. Oliver swung his wing downwards as his Trainer did…and the Radiant Z-Move fired.
Borlath again lifted his head up to the sky to see the four streaking javelins made of feathers, leaves and energy coming directly at him. All formed with the hope of a Trainer and Pokémon who completely believed in one another in a way that Ashton Aupuni and Damien had never been able to.
And it was this realization that stopped Borlath from even attempting to counterattack in the few moments he had left before impact. So instead he simply closed his eyes, allowing a hidden smirk to flicker across his lips.
"Well then…I guess that's that."
Three of the javelins struck the ground in front of Shadow Damien and Borlath while one landed slightly further away behind them, but the moment the attacks struck the ground what followed could only have been described as momentous. The javelins exploded with a harsh blinding light, knocking the entire battleship violently in a way that hadn't been done the entire evening. Borlath heard a fearsome screech erupt across the deck of the Absolution even as the explosion of energy washed over him and Shadow Damien.
A clarion call of defiance to anyone and everyone who dared to stand against the future of this world.
The resulting explosion of sheer force erupted across the deck of the Absolution, throwing Sun and Lillie to the ground and even blowing away the Cipher Peons assembled on the deck who had been watching the battle take place. The referee was the only one smart enough to call out a Pokémon and use Protect to shield himself from the backlash of the Radiance-charged Z-Move. The battlefield on Borlath's side was completely destroyed, with the attack leaving behind a series of smoking craters in the hull of the Absolution.
"Bzzt! Whoa…" Rotom Dex beeped, eyeing the absolute destructive force Sun and Oliver had unleashed with awe. "I wazzz recording all of that and I can't believe what I just saw. Hey pal, you okay?"
Sun struggled to move from the ground, dazed and exhausted from using the power of Radiance for the first time and using it for so long. He desperately wished he could just take a nap. Instead the boy moved his arms underneath himself and used every bit of strength he had to push himself upwards, only for someone to grab the back of his shirt and haul him backwards into a sitting position. Sun looked up into the worried face of Lillie and offered her a tired grin. Lillie's face broke into a relieved smile and she hugged Sun tightly, practically falling into his lap.
"That was amazing. You and your Pokémon were incredible." Lillie whispered, squeezing Sun for a moment before pulling away from the boy.
"Are you okay?" Sun asked. Lillie nodded in response, but then seemed to remember something as she turned towards the other end of the battlefield. Smoke covered Borlath's side of the arena, so Sun wasn't sure what lay behind the veil. Oliver weakly fluttered to the ground, nearly toppling over but managed to keep his balance. He looked towards Sun and Lillie, and then to the exhausted Cosmog resting on Lillie's hat. The Dartrix smiled tiredly for a moment before turning around and preparing himself for whatever came next as the smoke began to clear.
To everyone's surprise, Borlath was slowly getting to his feet. Most of the flames surrounding his body were gone, as was a chunk of the corrupted Mega Crown around the madman's mouth. In his hands was the final chain connecting him to Shadow Mega Damien, clenched in a gauntlet that was cracked heavily.
"You…" Borlath rasped, taking a shaking step forward and dragging the chain alongside him. "You…Y-y-you…"
Borlath's mouth then twisted into a small smile. A true, genuine smile of joy as his eyes flickered to gold for the first time since his transformation. "I'm so proud of you, Sun."
With that statement, the final chain connecting Borlath to Shadow Damien shattered, dissolving into nothingness. Borlath howled in agony as he clutched his head, with the remnants of the Mega Crown suddenly shining a bright white color before exploding outwards, leaving Borlath's head covered in blood but otherwise unharmed. The Grand Master of Cipher staggered backwards, collapsing onto the ground beside Damien, who was currently a mass of roaring black and white flames. After several seconds of burning, the flames began to dissipate, revealing a Houndoom covered from head to toe in broken bones and cuts but somehow still alive. However despite this, Damien had most certainly fainted.
"They…they turned back to normal." Lillie whispered, her relief palpable in her voice as she looked at the two immobile forms across the battlefield.
"We…we did it." Sun breathed, amazement in his voice as he looked towards his father and Damien, who were both down on the ground and completely unable to fight any longer. That much was obvious. A voice then called out across the battlefield, surprising Sun.
"Ummm…Got it. I'll stick to the script." The Cipher Peon who had been refereeing the match said to himself as the shield surrounding him faded. He thrust up a flag in the direction of Sun and called out, "Houndoom is unable to battle. The winner of the match is Sunshine Smiles!"
"You did it, Sun! You won! You beat him!" Lillie cried out, tears coming to her eyes and she shook Sun with a joyous smile. The stunned boy looked to his best friend and gave her a wide grin, pulling her into a tight hug for several moments as he too began to cry.
Meanwhile, the flames that had been surrounding Sun's team had faded away completely. Lillie quickly ran forward with her bag, getting to work on healing them without Sun ever saying a word. Sun watched her apply a Revive to Penny, taking out a brush to help clean her off as the bird slowly came to her senses. The boy felt a rush of affection for Lillie, grateful for everything she did for him. Sun thought briefly about how he kissed her only an hour or two ago and blushed.
"Yeah…We're gonna have to talk about that." Sun thought to himself with a small laugh that hurt his chest. He then turned his attention to his Dartrix, who was staring at the fallen forms of Ashton and Damien with stunned amazement.
"You did it…Oliver. You won." Sun said with unrestrained pride in his voice as he staggered to his feet, limping towards the owl as Oliver turned towards Sun. Sun put a hand on Oliver's head as the bird closed his eyes, letting out a small sigh as his body relaxed.
"I'm just so happy it's over. I finally…I feel good. For the first time in so long, I don't feel so weird." Oliver remarked as he preened his feathers. They were completely out of place, but just as soon as the bird began to groom himself, he stopped. Sun noticed this and asked what was wrong.
"I don't know…It just doesn't feel important right now." Oliver remarked, shrugging to himself and acting as if he hadn't just said something that went against his very species. "You really felt like that towards me. Believed in me…to take down that monster. And we did it. We beat them together."
"Of course I did." Sun said as he kneeled down to the Dartrix, looking him in the eyes. Oliver remained silent at that, though he felt his eyes begin to sting as he looked back towards Ashton and Damien, who had been far stronger and more capable than Sun and his team, and yet somehow against all odds…Sun had prevailed.
"We beat him because I believed…" Oliver said quietly, looking back at his Trainer with teary eyes.
"I never doubted you for a second. Thank you, Oliver…for everything." Sun murmured to the Dartrix, his tears streaming down his face as he embraced the Dartrix. Oliver sobbed in Sun's arms as well, wrapping his wings around his Trainer. And for a few moments, the Trainer and Pokémon held onto one another sobbing with relief that they had finally won the battle. Borlath was defeated, their team had survived, and Cipher was over…
And then Oliver began to glow.
Lillie gasped in surprise at this sudden development, knowing full-well what it meant. Sun didn't even notice it at first, instead only becoming aware of this when Oliver stepped out of his arms and Sun opened his eyes, seeing a glowing form growing in front of him. Sun stared at Oliver with wide eyes…as he evolved.
Within the span of a few moments, the evolution ended and Oliver flared his powerful wings, dispelling the light with a flap of his wings, which had grown significantly in size and were now brown and tan colored, with the plumage on his chest becoming a white color. His larger white talons clicked across the ground as he adjusted his stance, the larger owl now standing above Sun in height.
His face was covered by an orange mask, further obscured by a leafy hood covering that was draped across his shoulders like a cape with two leaf-like drawstrings that hung loosely beneath his neck. Sun then met the orange eyes of the newly-evolved Pokémon, and saw that his dark green beak-like mouth was smiling much in the way that Oliver would whenever he was happy.
"Y-you…Oliver, you evolved!" Sun cried out, grinning from ear-to-ear at the large owl in front of him, standing proudly before them all. Not a trace of damage lingered on the mighty bird, and Oliver looked over his body in wonder. Rotom Dex popped out of Sun's backpack, beeping loudly.
"Bzzzt! About time! It's been so long since you last evolved! I gotta make sure I get this right Zzzrt!" Rotom Dex beeped as it flipped to the appropriate entry.
"Decidueye. The Arrow Quill Pokémon and the final evolved form of Rowlet. Although basically cool and cautious, when it's caught by surprise, it's seized by panic. It fires arrow quills from its wings with such precision, they can pierce a pebble at distances over a hundred yards." Rotom explained as Oliver looked over his new body with an awed expression.
"I…I can't believe it. I'm finally…I'm actually a…" The large owl looked as if he was about to burst into tears again, but was only stopped when he heard Finn chuckling. Oliver turned around to see his teammates fully healed, though some like Penny and Finn looked badly roughed up. Everyone but Alastor was smiling at Oliver.
"Your new form looks tough!" Finn boomed, slamming a fist to his chest. Oliver looked to the Poliwrath with an amused smile, bowing slightly in thanks.
"Penny? What do you think?" Oliver asked as he looked at his fellow bird, ruffling his feathers. The Toucannon stiffened at the question, looking at Oliver for a moment intently before she turned away.
"It…um…I like it. It suits you." Penny said quietly, focusing her gaze towards the ocean and pointedly not at her friend. The Decidueye tilted his head slightly in confusion at the odd reaction while Brago smirked knowingly. Meanwhile Finn walked over to Sun and Lillie and helped the exhausted boy up to his feet while Alastor eyed the downed forms of Ashton Aupuni and Damien.
"Somehow, someway we overcame this. It doesn't make sense. I was sure that we were doomed. And yet I still fought. I gave it my best effort." Alastor muttered to himself, clenching his stone fists. "I don't fully understand."
"You don't have to understand it, buddy. You just got to roll with it." Finn said as he began to help Sun limp towards the other side of the battlefield, the boy's expression determined. Lillie walked alongside him, carrying Nebby and petting him gently. Alastor stared at the Poliwrath for a few moments before sighing, following behind him. Penny, Brago and Oliver followed their Trainer and soon enough they were standing beside the fallen leader of Cipher.
Ashton Aupuni was a complete mess. His body was covered in lacerations and burns, and the wound to his stomach was open again and spilling out fresh blood. The man's face was horribly burned by the crystal that had melted to his face, and his hands were in a similar situation. The man's shallow breathing was very slow, but his expression was one of exhausted peace.
"Dad…" Sun muttered, moving away from Finn to stand beside his father. It was clear that Ashton was barely clinging to life, already badly hurt before the showdown between the two of them. Getting hit with a Radiance-charged Z-Move on top of that meant that…
Ashton Aupuni was dying.
"This is all my fault." Sun said as he fell down to his knees beside his father. Ashton coughed weakly, a spray of blood erupting from his mouth as he shook his head.
"No…This was all my fault. I forced this…I knew I was pushing my limits. You did good, Sun. I…I feel better." Ashton muttered, his storm-gray eyes opening slightly so he could look at his child.
"I can b-barely put into words how proud I am of you. Y-you proved me wrong. You somehow did what not even the Pokémon League could do. You defeated Damien…You stopped me." Ashton rasped, laughing weakly as Sun reached out and grabbed his hand. "With the Mega Evolution canceled after Damien fainted, so too was that strange transformation over us brought to an end."
Lillie suddenly stiffened as a voice brushed against her mind, and she turned towards where the four Tapu were lying weakly in their containers, even though they were now broken from the sheer backlash Sun's Radiant Z-Move. Lillie quickly ran toward them while Sun continued to speak with his father.
"Your words…Our battle. Made me see…made me understand. And that power…I could feel all of your emotions. Your pain. Your determination. Your…hope." Ashton's breath hitched, a pained grin on his face as a tear leaked out of his eye. "It's as you said before, when you repeated the words that I and so many others say about Pokémon Battles. They are a strange, but effective, way for people to come to an understanding. To gain an insight into the hearts of one another. You s-saw into my heart…And I saw into yours."
"Dad…" Sun muttered as Ashton's grip on his hand tightened somewhat.
"Even through that…haze of madness and hatred I could feel your strength of spirit. And…So long as you continue to hold hope in that wonderful heart of yours, the world will shine brightly for you, my boy. I expect your futures…You, Lillie and everyone else will be something special." Ashton Aupuni coughed violently, turning away from Sun as more flecks of crimson erupted from his mouth. Ashton then turned his head back towards his child, the boy openly sobbing now.
"I'm going to die." Ashton murmured, gripping Sun's hand even tighter before relaxing his hold. "It's okay. Death is part of life, Sun. I just wish…I could've made things right. Save those I c-caused to die…"
"After everything w-we went through…to save you. How can you die now?" Sun asked through his tears, causing Ashton to smirk with amusement despite himself.
"You did save me…I thought I was beyond saving. That the hatred and sorrow etched in my soul meant that I would never be happy until this world was safe from harm. An impossible dream. B-but…You reminded me of the good. That there is. Sun…Please. Help this world. In your own special way…" Ashton rasped, his breath weakening into a painful rattle. "I'm so…proud of you, Sun. I will always love you. Don't blame yourself for my death…Be proud that you helped save me and this world before the end. I am and will…always be so proud to be your father."
"Dad…I'm sorry." Sun cried, lowering his head as his body shook with sobs. Ashton's hand gripped Sun's in response, but it was noticeably weaker than before. It was at that moment that Sun felt a presence touch his mind, four strange whispers rolling through his thoughts.
The boy turned his head and saw that the Guardian Deities of Alola were staring at him from nearby. Their injuries had been completely healed, and Lillie walked alongside them with a concerned expression.
"Tapu Lele told me to heal it. After about a minute or so, it used its scales to heal the others." Lillie explained as Tapu Lele hummed in response.
"Thank you for freeing us and for stopping the Aupuni child. Your strength and skill was something to behold. Koko chose well." Tapu Fini said gratefully to Sun, nodding its head towards the crying child.
"Perhaps now is not the time…My Chosen is dying." Tapu Bulu pointed out, glaring at Tapu Fini.
"Sun…You have a choice to make." Tapu Koko said within his mind, gesturing to the bloody mess that was Ashton Aupuni. The man's breathing was beginning to slow, his eyes drifting shut.
"A choice?" Sun asked, confused. The teary-eyed boy then blinked in surprise as a pink glittering scale materialized into existence beside Tapu Lele, floating towards him.
"This scale will heal those who touch it of all injuries. Observe." Tapu Lele said as it spread apart its arms, causing a cascade of glittering scales to appear and fly towards Sun, Lillie, Nebby and all of Sun's team. Their injuries completely healed the moment the scales touched their bodies, as if they had never been hurt. Sun felt a haze of dizziness wash over him for a few moments, but it soon passed. Sun then looked down at the scale in his hand in wonder.
"Ashton Aupuni has only moments before he meets his end. You hold in your hand his salvation. After everything he's done, he deserves to die. He deserves to face judgment…But you were the one who stopped his violent rampage." Tapu Bulu intoned, bowing its head slightly.
"And you were the one who, in the end, made him understand…You broke through his delusions of madness and hatred by channeling a power we thought was lost with Roran Rubinara. You succeeded where we did not." Tapu Fini remarked, shifting slightly in midair.
"Now, my child…Choose. Whatever your decision, know that the Tapu will stand with you." Tapu Koko said as it drifted onto the ground, moving towards Sun and extending a claw towards the boy, resting it on Sun's heart. "What does your heart say? Listen well, Sunshine Smiles, Chosen of the God of Conflict…And choose."
Sun didn't hesitate for a second, bending down and placing the scale on top of Ashton Aupuni's chest. It glowed brightly and the man's body began to shine, rippling with energy as Ashton let out a pained gasp. The ravaged skin of the Grand Master of Cipher swiftly knitted itself back together flawlessly, his burns and cuts and bruises all fading away within seconds. The man's face regained its color as his body convulsed and twitched on the ground.
"He's healed of all of his physical wounds." Tapu Lele remarked, earning a grateful nod from Sun. As an afterthought, Tapu Lele sent a scale towards Damien as well, healing the Houndoom of all of his injuries and restoring him to full health. He remained unconscious though, which Sun wasn't surprised by. It was then that something occurred to Sun, and as Ashton Aupuni slowly opened his eyes in surprise, Sun turned towards the Guardian Deities.
"That was a test, wasn't it?" Sun asked Tapu Koko, receiving an odd chirping rumble from the creature that Sun realized after a moment was a laugh.
"You are my Chosen, Sun. I have many tests for you in the coming years, should you continue down the path of your ancestors." Tapu Koko remarked fondly, gesturing towards Ashton Aupuni as he stared down at his healed hands.
"Why…I don't understand. Why couldn't you just let me die, Sun?" Ashton asked, looking at Sun with an expression of complete disbelief.
"Because killing you won't bring everyone back. It'll only cause more hurt." Sun explained, shaking his head. "Besides…despite everything, you're still my Dad. I hate what you've done, but I don't hate you. Not anymore. Not after everything I've learned and seen."
Ashton tensed at those words, his eyes tearing up as a broken sob escaped him. "You should hate me…I don't deserve any of this! I'm a monster…I'm a- "
"I believe you may require another dose of healing." Tapu Lele remarked as another pink petal flickered into existence before their eyes and flew forward, landing right between Ashton Aupuni's eyes. It glowed brightly for a moment before dissolving into his body.
And then Ashton began to scream in agony, clutching his skull and causing Sun to jump away in surprise as Ashton writhed on the ground. The man's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he thrashed on the ground, with Sun, Lillie and their Pokémon watching on in horror as the Tapu watched impassively.
"KILL ME!" Ashton screamed as he forced himself upright, tearing at his hair as tears streamed down his face.
"Not yet. We will heal the wounds of your mind before we proceed, Ashton Aupuni. This will only hurt for a few more moments. Stand strong." Tapu Bulu said slowly, casting a disapproving glance at Tapu Lele. After several long seconds had passed, Ashton finally stopped screaming and collapsed onto the ground, hyperventilating.
"D-Dad…are you okay?" Sun asked tentatively, causing Ashton to slowly raise his head in response with a pained sob.
"I have cleansed the darkness within his mind. All of the mental maladies that this child has suffered through that led him to make these monumentally stupid decisions are now gone." Tapu Lele said with some amusement as Ashton Aupuni continued to sob on the ground.
"Lele could have also made the process utterly painless." Tapu Koko pointed out, earning a glare from Sun and a horrified look from Lillie. The Tapu of Akala Island seemed to shrug in response.
"No one ever said a god had to be perfect. If I can't kill him, I can at least make the healing process hurt a lot." Tapu Lele responded in a tone that indicated it wasn't even remotely apologetic.
"So why is he crying? You healed his mind, right?" Finn asked, clearly confused.
"Simply because the amount of mental anguish he was in was so great that it required healing in the first place. While I primarily use my powers to heal matters of the flesh, I can also heal injuries of the mind as well. Ashton Aupuni's mental damage ran very deep…I expected nothing less out of him." Tapu Lele explained, drifting closer to the ground with a sigh. "Centuries ago we swore to remain detached and not interfere in the affairs of our Chosen, even as we watched over them."
"Ashton was our biggest mistake. Our powers and minds are fickle, and we do not always make the best decisions when it comes to the people we are supposed to protect." Tapu Fini continued, its voice gentle as it looked towards Lillie and Nebby. "We trust in their own strength. But sometimes even the strongest of souls require a helping hand."
"It was my mistake. Not yours…" Tapu Bulu said with a biting tone, regret laced in its voice.
"I should have spoken to him years earlier. Helped protect him. Taught him. If I had sought him out, and taken my duty seriously, then perhaps he wouldn't have suffered so much."
"Wallow in the darkness long enough, and the light will burn when you return to it, as they say." Tapu Fini remarked as Ashton Aupuni rested his face in his hands and began to weep.
"The power of the Tapu is astounding. To think that they could heal such injuries even after being so badly injured." Brago remarked, sounding genuinely astonished but also a little horrified by the Guardian Deities.
"To think I'd be standing before the Gods of our islands in the first place." Alastor remarked, awe palpable in his voice as he stared at the Tapu. "Who would've thought that traveling alongside a human would allow me to experience such a thing?"
"Bzzrrt!" Rotom Dex suddenly beeped. "I think that's the closest that jerkzz ever gonna get to giving Sun a genuine compliment. Acknowledging for future blackmail."
Alastor blinked, realizing what he had said. "Wait, no, I didn't mean-"
"Bzzt. Too late. Compliment has been documented. The review section's gonna have a blast with this one." Rotom Dex giggled as Alastor glared hatefully at the floating device. Sun watched the interaction with bemusement as Lillie laughed softly beside them.
Meanwhile Ashton Aupuni had mostly recovered, his mind piecing itself back together after being healed by the powers of Tapu Lele. The man wiped his face and slowly took deep breaths, regaining his composure and addressing the two children who had stopped his plans.
"Sun…Lillie…I don't know how I can ever make things right between us." Ashton sighed, running a hand through his hair as the two children faced him once again.
"Hmmm…How do you politely tell someone that you want to hit them with a brick?" Lillie asked Sun, who looked at her for a moment with complete surprise on his face before bursting into laughter. Ashton looked scared for a moment, since Lillie resembled her mother when she was angry (and that brought back terrifying memories from his teenage years), but Lillie's smile soon showed that she wasn't being entirely serious. Ashton laughed nervously along with the two children as the Tapu observed around them, remaining silent as they talked telepathically with one another.
"I can't…I can't express in words how sorry I am. For everything…It feels like waking up from a terrible nightmare. I can see clearly in front of me for the first time in years." Ashton breathed shakily as he looked up at the two children in front of him. The two brave and wonderful children who had proved him wrong. That there was still hope left in this miserable world. That there was a future worth fighting for. That he could entrust that future to them…It made him smile.
"You certainly look happier." Lillie remarked, smiling at Sun's father as the man's eyes shifted to gold.
"I don't know if I can call this happiness. But it's a good feeling." Ashton said with a shaky sigh, looking down at the ground. "It's so strange, being able to think clearly again. I can see what caused me to become the way I did, but the feelings associated with the trauma are gone. It's incredible…simply amazing."
"Well, I am pretty great." Tapu Lele said smugly, chuckling softly.
"While it is good to see that you are well again, there is still the matter of your punishment that must be addressed." Tapu Fini chimed in, drawing the attention of everyone present.
"You chose to stand against us and all of life in your schemes. You must face justice for what you have done. The price for your numerous crimes must be death." Tapu Bulu intoned, raising a fist towards Ashton Aupuni as the other Tapu did the same.
Lillie looked away, her expression turning to one of sorrow. It was an awful thing to admit, but the Tapu were right. Ashton had committed countless crimes himself, the Cipher had committed many more. There wasn't anything he could do to make things right. The man had to face some form of punishment for his crimes.
"I…I accept this. I don't deserve the mercy of anyone I've wronged. Even though I don't want to die anymore, that doesn't make me any less deserving of this fate. End it…Avenge the fallen and all those I've hurt." Ashton said as he shut his eyes, opening his arms. "Turn away, Sun and Lillie. I don't want you to see what comes next."
Sun looked at his father. The man who had raised him. had molded him into the Trainer he was today, whether he realized it or not. The man who had frozen and burned cities and killed thousands and ordered the deaths of many more.
But also a man who had been twisted and warped by his parent's abuse. A man who was betrayed by his mentor, who was in reality the cause of most of his heartache as a teenager. A man who, at the end of the day, simply wanted a world of peace.
And the man who, at the end of the day, wanted to atone for what he did. Sun considered all of this, all of Ashton Aupuni's crimes and what he knew of his father's past and present, and decided that killing the man for his crimes was unacceptable.
With that thought, Sun ran forward and hugged his father tightly, much to the surprise of everyone.
"Sun? What…w-what are you doing?" Ashton asked, his voice breaking as Sun's arms tightened around his chest. "No. You c-can't…you can't do this. You won the fight. I'm done. Let the Tapu have me and be done with it!"
"No!" Sun said as he tightened his embrace, tears falling from his eyes as everyone watched on. "After everything you've gone through, it's not fair! The Tapu killing you is no better than you sacrificing yourself through a wish! Or letting you die from the Radiance attack! What's the point in killing you!?"
"I don't…I don't deserve this. Not your love. Not your mercy…Why? Why do you keep trying to save me?" Ashton sobbed, finally returning the boy's hug and holding him close.
"Because despite everything…You're my Dad. And even someone like you deserves a chance to make things right." Sun said through his tears, smiling through his sadness. "Forgiveness isn't something that I can give on a whim, you know. You hurt me. You hurt Mom. You tried to kill us. And you hurt so many people and did worse to others. I forgive you…because I know that in your heart of hearts you want to make things right. I still see that good in you, Dad. Even if you don't see that good in yourself anymore."
"Sun…" Ashton Aupuni whispered, stunned by his child's words.
"I forgive you, Dad…Because I know you want nothing more than to make things right. Because I learned just how much you went through and what made you become like this. I understand you…And I feel like there's another way. There has to be." Sun turned towards the four Tapu as they watched him intently. "Right?"
Ashton's breath caught at the boy's words. His tears became a stream as he held his son tightly to his chest, unable to fully comprehend why his child had decided to forgive him. Just that he had, and he felt as if a great weight had risen from his shoulders.
"I was so foolish…Foolish not to see how strong you really were even back then. I should've trusted you. Even without my efforts, you would've become strong. So strong…Not even the world could resist such a force of will." Ashton laughed weakly, rubbing his eyes and brushing aside the tears.
"You've certainly changed your tune." Oliver noted, a note of amusement in his voice. Ashton turned towards the large owl with a teary grin.
"And you've evolved. Decidueye is a versatile species with a very interesting typing. You'll be ruthless on the battlefield in the future, I imagine." Ashton remarked to the bird, who simply notched an arrow with blinding speed and aimed it directly at Ashton's head.
"Don't try to flatter me. Sun may have forgiven you, but if I had my way, I'd peck your eyes out and then shoot you in the heart." Oliver said cheerily, causing Sun and Lillie to stare at the owl in surprise.
"You sounded way too upbeat for saying something so…intense." Tapu Lele remarked uneasily, drifting slightly away from Oliver. Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini likewise seemed surprised, but Tapu Koko simply snorted in amusement.
"Good to see that you're back to your old self." Penny said dryly, shaking her head as Oliver laughed quietly, returning the arrow to his wing.
"I do feel amazing right now. Better than I've felt in a long time." Oliver hooted merrily as he looked up into the slowly brightening sky. Dawn was coming soon. "I feel like myself again. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, it actually does." Sun admitted, grinning as he stood and placed a hand on Oliver's shoulder. Ashton grinned at the sight of his child with his Partner, but the "tender" moment was interrupted.
"So death is off the table then. We will not be attempting to persuade you again, child." Tapu Lele remarked, drawing the gaze of everyone present. "The boy has gained the respect of the Tapu and we shall honor his wishes. Ashton Aupuni will not be executed for his crimes."
"So how do we proceed? We can't simply allow him to walk away from this." Tapu Fini asked its fellow god.
"True. We have healed your insanity and injuries, Ashton Aupuni, but you have committed grave crimes against not just us, but your own family and the world at large. You cannot go unpunished." Tapu Koko agreed, nodding at the God of Hope before turning towards the children before him. Ashton Aupuni nodded, knowing that no matter how he felt now, there was still judgment to be rendered.
"Wait, s-shouldn't he just go to the police? Turn himself in and let the law handle this?" Lillie asked, her voice nervous as the four Tapu floated around the Cipher Master until they were surrounding him. Sun shuddered at the sight, unable to shake the unease from his body.
"Even if he has been stopped and the darkness from his mind purged, he still committed grave sins on not just the world, but also in defiance of us as Guardians of these Islands. We cannot allow such an offense to go without punishment. It will be delivered here and now…There is no other way." Tapu Bulu responded, hunching over and starring Ashton in the eyes. "I am sorry, my child. But we must take action."
"If I have to atone for my sins with my life, then so be it. If you want me to submit myself to the authorities, then I'll do that." Ashton Aupuni said quietly, closing his eyes. A somber smile was on the man's face now. "I know that the future is in safe hands, after all."
"Dad…" Sun muttered as Tapu Bulu's eyes glowed, creating a barrier around the five of them (Ashton and the Tapu) as Ashton's eyes flew open in surprise.
"ASHTON AUPUNI…" All four of the Tapu intoned, their voices booming as they spoke in unison. "YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF NUMEROUS CRIMES AGAINST THIS WORLD. WHILE YOUR CHILD HAS SEEN FIT TO GRANT YOU MERCY, WE TAPU STILL MUST RENDER JUDGMENT."
"Do what you must…I accept whatever comes next." Ashton said quietly to his gods, looking at Sun and Lillie before closing his eyes again.
"EXCELLENT. THEN WE SHALL PROCEED." The four Tapu held out both hands as white energy crackled within the barrier that had been erected. Ashton Aupuni lowered his head, gritting his teeth and bracing himself.
Nothing could have prepared him for what came next.
The eyes of all four Tapu glowed brightly as they extended their hands outwards, their bodies engulfed with Z-Power before they each fired off a pulse of energy into Ashton Aupuni directly.
The Grand Master of Cipher threw back his head and howled in agony as his body suddenly burned with Z-Power as well, except that it was a shifting color of yellow, pink, red and purple. The man's body began to shine as threads of energy suddenly began to crawl across his eyes, tears streaming down his face.
"Dad!" Sun screamed, running forward and pounding his fist against the barrier that Tapu Bulu had thrown up. His efforts were in vain, however, as the barrier was too strong and Sun's Pokémon remained frozen in horror at the sight of their gods rendering judgment on the human who had stood against them all.
Ashton's screams of torment filled the night sky, and yet still the Tapu continued to punish him. Sun and Lillie could only watch on in horror, even as Ashton's eyes rolled into the back of his head, a stream of blood oozing from his mouth.
And then…the Tapu lowered their hands, and the lights faded away.
The Grand Master of Cipher collapsed onto the ground, groaning as he thrashed for several moments before going still. The Tapu shivered as one, with Tapu Lele letting out an exhausted sigh, but Sun and Lillie could somehow sense their satisfaction.
"JUDGMENT HAS BEEN DEALT…NOW RISE, ASHTON AUPUNI, AS THE INSTRUMENT OF OUR WILL." All four Tapu intoned in unison as Ashton twitched on the ground, his eyes shining white with energy. It only lasted a few moments before fading completely, but Sun and Lillie were still surprised and horrified by what the man had been subjected to.
"We delivered a new curse upon you…Considering all of the factors, I believe it was appropriate." Tapu Fini said with a note of smugness as Ashton Aupuni slowly sat up off of the ground, groaning weakly.
"What…w-what happened? What did you…" Ashton coughed several times, his voice hoarse due to the screaming. He looked up at the four Gods that had subjected him to some form of incredibly agonizing punishment. "What d-did you do to me?"
"As a result of your crimes against this world, we have decided on a…unique punishment for you. Your life will be spared." Tapu Koko explained, crossing its arms.
"In fact, we decided to go in the opposite direction." Tapu Lele said with a soft giggle, one filled with mirth.
"We have decided to punish you for your crimes…By cursing you with eternal life." Tapu Bulu explained, floating lower to look his former Chosen in the eyes. Ashton's face paled as he began to process what this meant, whereas Lillie gasped in surprise. Sun simply stared, bewildered by it all.
"Eternal life?" Lillie whispered, looking to Sun with concern before looking back to Ashton, who was quickly processing this information.
"So…he's immortal now?" Oliver asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Tch! How is that a punishment?" Alastor demanded, scowling in anger.
"What…you…How? Why?" Ashton asked, his voice quiet as he simply stared at the four Gods that were before him, shocked to his core that this was the punishment they chose.
"Can you imagine what it would be like to live forever?" Penny asked Alastor, her voice tinged with pity for the man that had been punished by the Gods of Alola. "Watching those you love die while you live forever. Being forced to live for countless ages, unable to pass on. That's…I can't fathom it."
"You will never age again. You will be like we Tapu, and endure through the ages." Tapu Bulu explained, snorting softly. "Should you suffer through something that would normally end your life, you would simply heal and return to the state you are currently in."
"And for someone who wanted nothing more than to die and escape his sins, it's the cruelest punishment I can imagine." Lillie whispered as Ashton covered his face and released a ragged sigh.
"You cursed me with immortality. I can't die, but I can't be killed either. How…fitting. I deserve something like this." Ashton muttered, shaking his head. "Not even death can save me from facing what I've done to this world anymore."
"And we have ensured that you will have all the time in the world to make amends with those you have wronged. And that you have an eternity to try and make the world a better place, like you so desperately desire to." Tapu Koko retorted, looking towards the sky with a thoughtful hum. "While cruel, it was necessary. Your child desired us to spare your life, nor would it be right to kill you given our role in your fate…So we shall all walk down the road of betterment together."
"And what's stopping me from getting the out of this hellhole of a region at the first opportunity?" Ashton asked bitterly, causing Tapu Lele to laugh again.
"The second part of your curse, actually." The God of Life remarked, sounding even more amused than it did mere moments ago.
"Second…there's a second part to the curse?" Ashton asked, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Yes. In addition to the inability to die, we've also cursed you with the inability to leave Alola. The islands you were born on will be where you remain until the end of…well, everything I suppose." Tapu Koko said to the Aupuni, causing Ashton's eyes to flicker jet-black as Sun and Lillie gasped in surprise.
"Yes…We decided that it wouldn't be very good for you if you were given eternal life but the freedom to roam the world as you wished. It's better we keep an eye on you, at least for a few centuries." Tapu Fini responded lightly, shifting in its shell.
"After all, there are many in the other regions who would wish you were taken away from here to face justice. That much has been determined. If you are to ever venture too far from the waters of Alola, you will be returned to the islands and be teleported to the closest of the Ruins we dwell in." Tapu Bulu continued as Ashton's expression darkened with anger.
"Wow. So, now only did you guys make him immortal, but you also trapped my Dad in Alola. A region he hates because of the awful things he went through, for the rest of his eternal life." Sun summarized as Tapu Koko turned towards him.
"That's correct. Given his crimes, I believe the punishments are fitting. He wished to die, so we made him immortal. And he was so desperate to flee Alola, a region responsible for many of his troubles and bad memories, only to directly confront us the moment he finally came back. So now he may never leave. The cruelty of his curse is not lost on us. His crimes were great, and so too must be his punishment." Tapu Koko responded, making a strange shrugging motion as Ashton Aupuni snapped back to his senses.
"...You motherfuckers." was all Ashton said, gritting his teeth in fury.
"In our defense, you started it." Tapu Fini responded, a giggle in its voice.
"Dad…" Ashton looked at his son and saw that Sun was staring at him in surprise. Sun pointed to Ashton and quietly said, "Your scar on your neck is gone. The Aupuni symbol."
Ashton's eyes went wide and his hand immediately clamped down on his neck…he felt nothing but smooth skin. Unmarred by the scar his father had given him when he was only nine-years old. The physical representation of the horrors Ano Aupuni had put him through was gone now. Ashton moved his hand away from his neck and looked at Sun for a few moments as he considered this development before looking to Tapu Bulu with an unreadable expression.
"Why?" was all Ashton said.
"Your father's crimes have weighed heavily on you for the entirety of your life. If we are to walk down this path to a better tomorrow together, young one, then we should start with a clean slate…yes?" Tapu Bulu responded gently, offering its hand to the last Trainer it had Chosen all of those years ago.
Ashton stared into the eyes of the God of Abundance, the Guardian Deity who he had turned his back on. After everything that had happened, and now factoring in the curses the Tapu had delivered unto him, could he accept this?
Ashton lowered his head, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly…and then reached upwards and grasped Tapu Bulu's hand.
Sun smiled as his father was helped back to his feet by the God of Abundance, with the other Tapu humming in approval.
"For better or worse…We'll walk down this road together. If you have it in your hearts to let go of what I've done to you and give me the tools to make amends, albeit in a cruel manner, then I suppose letting go of my grudges towards you all would be for the best." Ashton said quietly, looking at each of the Tapu in turn as he spoke.
"We will attempt to dissuade the human authorities from doing anything too drastic. You have power and resources at your disposal and are driven enough to generate change. Too long have we Tapu allowed our people to languish. Together we will work towards brightening the future of Alola…and the world. And you will be our tool for that change! Or at least one of them!" Tapu Lele said as it rubbed its hands together. "Oooh, this is going to be fun!"
"You worry me." Tapu Koko remarked, narrowing its eyes.
"Now…is there anything else you wanted to say to the children who brought this about?" Tapu Bulu asked Ashton, who turned to Sun and Lillie. The man smiled at the two children, crossing his arms.
"You two make one hell of a team." Ashton remarked, grinning at them. "Seriously though, Sun, are you two dating or what?"
Both children blushed furiously at that and began to stammer out unconvincing responses, only for Oliver to step forward and say, "They're still figuring that out."
"I think we need to have a talk about where we're at. Considering that this Cipher stuff is over, we can focus on other things. Right Lillie?" Sun asked the girl, receiving a nod in response along with a shy smile.
"You should really sort that out. Life's too short to waste time on details." Tapu Lele remarked, causing Sun to raise an eyebrow in surprise as Lillie blushed even more.
"...I can't believe I'm getting dating advice from a Pokémon God. What is my life?" Sun asked no one in particular.
"Well, no matter what happens, I hope it all works out. Learn from my mistakes, Sun." Ashton said to his child with a warm smile. "Cherish the friendship you have now and if love blossoms, then so be it. Just make sure you take care of her, alright? I know we've had talks in the past about how you should treat a lady."
"He always treats me well. He's been my knight in shining armor literally since the day I met him." Lillie said fondly as she hugged Sun's arm, beaming as Sun blushed in response and lowered his hat with embarrassment. Ashton smirked at that, reaching forward and placing a hand on each of their heads.
"E hauʻoli ʻoe i nā makahiki e hiki mai ana." Ashton said warmly to the two of them, explaining a moment later. "May the coming years bring you happiness. Cipher will be disbanded, and I'll be spending the rest of my eternal life trying to make things right between us. It may be hard, but with a clear head and the Tapu beside me…maybe eventually I can find redemption."
"If I can learn to forgive you despite what you've done to everyone, then you can let go of the past and finally move on. Right?" Sun asked his father, who simply chuckled in response.
"Of course. It's time to finally move on…" Ashton then sighed, removing his hands from their heads and looking down at them with a kind smile. "I will never forget what you've done for me and the bravery you two have shown tonight. Forgiving me despite my endless sins, despite not deserving it. Should either of you two ever need me, I will help however I can."
"Of course, Dad. Though I think you'll kind of be preoccupied with jail and all that in a little bit." Sun pointed out, with Ashton shrugging in response.
"Maybe I can work something out." Ashton shrugged in response, not having a real rebuttal to that statement. Even if he had been punished by the Tapu and forgiven by Sun and Lillie, he still needed to face the law. He was fine with that though. He had all the time in the world now to fix his mistakes.
"So…is all well then?" grunted a familiar voice, causing the others to turn towards a familiar Houndoom that was padding towards them. Sun grinned at the sight of Damien, who wore an exhausted smile as he approached.
"I guess so." Ashton remarked, shaking his head. "Looks like I've got all the time in the world to make things right. Sun's forgiven me, the Tapu have cursed me and promised to help me fix things…"
"Sounds about right." Damien grunted, glaring at the four Gods of Alola.
"Damien, I can't expect you to ever forgive me. For everything I forced you to do. All of the death and pain and-" Ashton tried to apologize to his Pokémon, only for Damien to cut him off.
"We're Partners, Ashton. What else are Partners for except for talking sense into each other when they're being stupid?" Damien remarked, grinning toothily at his Trainer as Ashton's eyes flashed gold, tears forming within them. Ashton fell forward and hugged Damien tightly, causing the massive hellhound to sigh, as if expecting his overly emotional Trainer to break down.
"I'm sorry…I'm so so sorry…"
"...I forgive you."
"Just like Sun. And Lillie and the Tapu. H-h-how…after everything I did to you?" Ashton asked weakly, pulling away from the hellhound to stare him in the eyes, tears streaming down his face.
"Because if I wanted to give up on your sorry ass, it would've been when we were fighting that first Totem Pokémon twenty years ago. Now then, can we please move on? You're being a crybaby." Damien asked, causing Ashton to grin despite himself as he hugged his Houndoom tightly. Sun and Lillie shared a smile between each other as the Tapu hummed as one.
The next few minutes were a blur to Sun and Lillie, as Ashton ordered the immediate stand down of all Cipher members within Hau'oli City and quickly made some phone calls to set his affairs in order, as well as send a few texts that left the man smirking mischievously. When asked about it, Ashton simply responded that he was contacting his lawyers and a few contacts who would help everything go over smoothly. Sun knew his father well enough to know that he was probably better off not knowing for now.
Half an hour later the group, flanked by all four Guardian Deities, walked onto the dock of Hau'oli Pier to see Captain Ollie, Laura, Aria and Wes standing there with dumbfounded expressions.
"Ashton!?" Laura yelped, grabbing a Poké Ball with a horrified expression. She relaxed slightly upon seeing Sun and Lillie calmly standing beside the infamous criminal who she had been married to less than a year and a half ago, though she was baffled to see the Tapu surrounding them.
"Long story short, I kicked Dad's butt and made him stop being a total jerk. I think everything's going to be okay now." Sun explained with a grin as Lillie stifled a giggle at Sun's attempt at playing down what was a brutal fight to the death.
"Wait, wait, wait…You beat Ashton in a Pokémon Battle!?" Laura yelped out, a mixture of amazement and horror in her voice. "Was that what those black flames were?"
"It's complicated." Ashton said with a sigh, not really feeling like explaining how and why his Mega Crown imploded. "But yes, Sun managed to stop me and bring me back to my senses. I've ordered Cipher to stand down and I'm coming quietly to face the consequences of my actions."
"It was a lot more than that. We convinced Mr. Aupuni to surrender after Sun defeated him in a battle. The Tapu are also free and have already punished him for what he's done." Lillie added, causing the others to look at her for a few moments before returning their gaze to Ashton, who was now staring sheepishly at Laura Smiles.
"And I'd say it's good to see you again, but I'm pretty sure the feeling isn't mutual." Ashton said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head as Sun face-palmed.
"So that's where you get your awkwardness from, Sun." Ollie remarked, groaning softly as he pulled out a pistol and aimed it right at Ashton's head. The Grand Master of Cipher raised his hands in the air, smiling wryly. Wes aimed his crossbow at Ashton as well, gritting his teeth.
"We deserve answers, Mr. King. Or should I say Borlath?" Wes asked the man in question, who simply shook his head.
"I'm done with all of that now. Ashton Aupuni is who I am and will always be, forever." Ashton then smiled sadly at the two Snaggers, Wes and Aria. "I owe you both an apology. No…more than that. I betrayed your trust and friendship, and hurt you and your friends. Thank you for working so hard to stop Cipher, and for everything you've done. You have my deepest gratitude."
Ashton then turned away from the bewildered duo to his ex-wife. "Laura, I…I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am. I was a stupid, selfish maniac who became obsessed with making this world a better place for Sun at the cost of everything else. I let my past keep darkening my future, and in the end it was the world that paid the price. And I hurt you. I tried to kill you and I killed Padma. I ended so many lives and hurt so many others. I know nothing I do will ever make things right between us, but know that I'll work forever to try to atone for my crimes."
The group was surprised by how lucid and sincere Ashton Aupuni sounded. For Laura, it was as if she was speaking to her husband from years ago.
"It doesn't really matter how sorry you are, Ashton. You're hereby under arrest." Ollie said as he stepped forward, producing a pair of handcuffs as Ashton held out his hands. The Captain secured the terrorist leader and said, "You've probably got a few days before getting shipped out of this region. Alola may have suffered some serious damages, but this is nothing compared to what happened in Celadon or Nimbasa City. You'll have to answer for the crimes you've committed against the world with your life, I imagine."
"Ahh…I was wondering when I'd have to explain that." Ashton smirked, glancing at the Tapu nearby. "See, I may or may not have been cursed by the Tapu about a half hour ago."
"Wait…cursed? Like Amber was? And Roran?" Aria asked, her eyes widening.
"Yes. Except that I was cursed by all four Tapu at the same time." Ashton responded with a dark smirk. "Because I despise these islands and wanted desperately to die in order to escape my sins, the Tapu decided to not only curse me with immortality, but have also prevented me from ever leaving these islands again."
The silence that followed that revelation was deafening. Ollie stared at Ashton with an expression of complete bafflement while Laura looked at her ex with what seemed like pity. Aria and Wes just seemed confused and horrified.
"Holy shit…that's twisted." Aria muttered, looking at Tapu Lele as it giggled with amusement.
"Meaning that if you want to hit me, now's your chance to-" Ashton began to say, only for Laura to suddenly move forward and punch Ashton right between the legs. Hard.
"A-alright…I deserved that." Ashton muttered several seconds later, curled up on the ground while Aria and Wes rushed forward and took turns kicking the man as hard as they could. Sun seriously considered stopping them, but then he realized his father was basically immortal now, so he could probably endure some physical pain that was very much deserved.
"It's a good thing I don't hold grudges." Laura muttered darkly as she moved to Ollie's side, grabbing her boyfriend's hand. Ollie watched with bemusement, not making a move to hurt Ashton further, but also allowing Wes and Aria to get their licks in. It was only the arrival of several police officers that stopped their assault of Ashton Aupuni, along with two surprise arrivals in the form of Red and Blue.
"I thought you two had died." Wes remarked to the two living legends, earning a shrug from Red. The two of them looked exhausted and were completely drenched from falling into the ocean, but they were very much still alive.
"Death's overrated. So, what did we miss?" Blue asked, seeing the twitching form of Ashton Aupuni on the ground.
"Long story short Amber's dead, Sun kicked Borlath's ass and made him stop being evil, and we've just taken the leader of Cipher into custody." Ollie explained to the two veteran Trainers.
"You beat Ashton Aupuni in a battle? He wiped out half the League just on his own! That's amazing!" Blue exclaimed, grinning at Sun with excitement. "Guess Kukui had the right idea starting a League here after all. You Alolans are something else."
Red snorted in amusement, though he extended a fist out towards Sun. The boy stared at the mute Trainer for a few moments before fist-bumping him.
Blue looked amazed to say the least. "Holy shit, the wonders don't stop today. That's the first time in years I've seen you do that." Blue remarked as Red gave him a dull look before shrugging. He then looked at Ashton Aupuni as the man slowly rose to his feet, groaning in pain. "So, how is he not…dying? Last I heard he was on death's door after being attacked by that Guzma guy."
"Let's just say the Guardian Deities have taken revenge on me and have ensured that I have all the time in the world to make amends for my crimes." Ashton said as he grimaced in pain. "And for what it's worth, I'm sorry for everything I put you all through. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make things right."
Blue scowled at those words, crossing his arms. "For however long your life is. Once you get extradited back to Kanto, you'll probably be executed for your crimes against humanity. The evidence against you is overwhelming."
"Heh…I knew we'd hit that snag." Ashton remarked, smiling despite himself. Blue's expression darkened at the amused tone in the former Grand Master of Cipher's voice.
"Snag? What snag?" Blue asked, frowning at the man in handcuffs. Ashton shrugged helplessly, glancing back at the Tapu floating nearby.
"See, I can't actually leave Alola to face my crimes abroad. If I leave the islands, I'll be teleported back into the waiting arms of a Tapu." Ashton remarked casually, enjoying the confused looks on Red and Blue's faces. "I'm condemned to remain in Alola for the rest of my life as a result of my crimes against the Tapu and the world."
"That's a lie! No way would these Pokémon do something so stupid!" Blue yelled out angrily, causing Tapu Lele's eyes to narrow with irritation.
Sun's Z-Ring glowed brightly, and Tapu Lele's voice boomed out, "DO YOU WISH TO TEMPT FATE, MORTAL?"
"Right…my bad. Gonna watch my tone." Blue muttered apologetically. "Well, what's stopping us from sending a team from the League to have you executed here in Alola for your crimes? You've committed plenty of crimes here in the region."
"Right…Well, I can't exactly be executed for my crimes either because, according to the four Gods behind me, I can't die anymore thanks to the Tapu cursing me with eternal life." Ashton explained to an utterly stunned Blue and Red, as well as every adult present who didn't know this yet. "I'm immortal now, with my life tethered to the Guardian Deities of Alola."
"You can't…die?" Blue asked, horrified at the news. Not out of pity for Ashton Aupuni, but because he knew that explaining this to the Champions and the Pokémon League would be an absolute nightmare.
Red simply looked annoyed, but was inwardly grateful no one expected him to report on any of this later. The perks of being a world-famous mute were amazing sometimes.
"No. But I think that's okay." Ashton looked down at the ground, sighing softly. "I've hurt so many people. I can't ever apologize enough times or bring back those who died because of me. All I can do is spend the rest of my new eternal life attempting to make things right. My head is clear for the first time in…I can't even remember how long."
"And how will you do that? Make amends?" Ollie asked, causing Ashton to smile wryly.
"I'd imagine some jail time would do me good. Let you guys figure out how exactly you'll punish someone who's stuck in Alola forever and whose death won't stick." Ashton said to Ollie before turning to Sun and Lillie.
"I've put some things into motion to help you and your mother should you ever need money or support." Ashton said to his child, kneeling down to look them both in the eye. Ashton then smiled kindly at the two of them, his eyes turning gold.
"Thank you…for believing in the good that I didn't know I still had left in me. Sun, keep fighting and growing stronger. Be the best damn Trainer you can be and don't let anyone stop you from chasing your dreams." Ashton said as his smile became one of fierce pride. Sun grinned at his Dad, adjusting his hat.
Ashton then turned to Lillie, his smile becoming a bit more gentle. "And Lillie…please take care of my son. He means the world to me and has a knack for getting into trouble."
Lillie smiled at that, nodding in agreement at that statement as Sun flushed. "I'll keep an eye on him, Mr. Aupuni. You can count on me."
"Thank you." Ashton said gratefully, laughing fondly at the two children for a moment before turning his gaze towards the police. To their surprise, Nanu suddenly stepped out of the lead cop car and limped towards them all. He took one look at everyone present, blinked at the four Tapu floating nearby, and then swore under his breath.
"Should've just stayed in the hospital…Alright, come with me, Borlath. Ollie, I'll be bugging you later. Get home and get some rest. I'll take over from here." Nanu said as he shoved his hands in his pockets, sighing as he looked towards Ashton. "Come on then."
"So…now what?" Sun asked Laura, who watched her ex-husband as he was escorted away by the former Champions and the police, as well as Kahuna Nanu. She then turned to Ollie and Sun, offering them a soft smile.
"Let's go home. I think after all of the excitement of tonight, we could all use some food and sleep." Laura remarked, patting Sun's head affectionately. Lillie cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Umm…Do you mind if I stay as well? After what happened tonight, I think I've got a fear of hospitals too and I'd rather not be alone at the moment." Lillie remarked weakly, causing Sun to smile understandingly at her and grab the girl's hand.
"Of course, you're always welcome at our place. Right Mom?" Sun asked his mother, who stared at her boy with an amused smile.
"I don't see any issues with that. Just make sure not to get frisky with her again! I don't want to wake up and see your head somewhere it shouldn't be." Laura said with a wink, causing Lillie to blush bright red and sputter something incoherently. Sun blinked a few times, trying to remember what exactly his Mom was talking about.
Then he remembered waking up one time with his face pressed against Lillie's chest and his blushing face soon matched Lillie's.
"MOM!
"MISS SMILES!"
Ollie and Laura laughed at the two red-faced children as they began their trek back through the city, skirting around the destruction. Despite their plans to go home and rest, the group was delayed as they helped out with some of the rescue efforts and helped clear out the final remnants of Cipher that had refused to stand down despite Ashton's proclamation.
Sun spotted many members of the Aether Foundation helping with the rescue efforts. He even encountered President Lusamine arriving on the scene to assist the wounded and take command of her forces. That didn't stop Sun from sharing a hug with the woman and assuring her that Ashton was taken care of. She apologized for not keeping in touch as of late and promised to contact Sun soon to get the details, beaming at the boy with pride.
To the group's confusion, Lillie had asked Wes and Aria to discreetly help her get past the checkpoint the Aether Foundation had set up. When Sun asked what was going on, Lillie dismissed his questions with a shake of the head.
Sun didn't pry further, but he was concerned to say the least.
It was a short time later the children found out about Noah, and the group was held up yet again as they mourned their friend. Sun and Lillie cried their hearts out upon learning about the brutal death of Noah, as well as processing the death of Vivian. All the while Laura stared at the frozen form of Amber Fontaine from where she was entombed for the time being.
After talking with Aria and Wes, who promised to assist with the efforts of helping the city get under control, Ollie took his charges towards a vehicle that was waiting for them right outside Hau'oli City Hall.
To their surprise, Shadow Perfect Kyurem, now under the control of Zinnia, watched over the city alongside Zygarde. The Lorekeeper was standing beside Mohn, who was sporting a few cuts but looked otherwise fine. The Draconid and the amnesiac offered Sun smiles as they passed by. Sun thanked them both for their help and briefly answered their questions about what happened on the Absolution, with promises to further explain later once things had calmed down.
Lillie still couldn't shake the feeling that she somehow knew the strange man from somewhere.
As the quartet got into the car and drove off towards Sun and Laura's house, Sun let out a sigh and relaxed in his seat. He was absolutely exhausted, even if Tapu Lele had healed his injuries. Ollie and Laura were quietly talking in the front seat as Ollie drove them back home, and so Sun turned his attention to Lillie, who's expression looked troubled despite their victory tonight.
"Are you okay?" Sun asked Lillie, who considered her answer for a few moments. There was a lot on her mind, and after the events of tonight she wondered if she'd ever be okay again.
"I think I'll recover…I think we'll all recover, in time. For now, I want to call Professor Kukui and make sure everyone in the hospital got out safely, and then take a nice long bath." Lillie admitted, with Sun smiling at her as he slipped his hand into hers. The girl flushed slightly, but squeezed Sun's hand gratefully.
"Mom's kidding aside, you're absolutely welcome to crash at our place. We can play some games to get our mind off things while the adults sort out the details, like Mom said." Sun offered to Lillie, with the girl biting her lip for a moment. Spending time at Sun's place with him and his Pokémon sounded like a wonderful time. The blonde-haired girl nodded gratefully, causing Sun to grin at her.
"How about you? How are you feeling?" Lillie asked.
Sun thought about it for a few moments. His mind was churning with many different emotions after finally confronting his father.
But a firm thought came to the boy as he considered the events of the evening and of the past few months. Cipher's actions, the fates of the Admins who led the group, and the crimes of Ashton Aupuni and what had led him to becoming a monster in the name of peace.
In the end, it was simple.
"I'll help make this world a better place. No one should ever have to feel the way Dad did. These islands are my home now…And I'll make sure these islands have a future worth protecting." Sun promised himself, speaking quietly but his voice holding a note of firm determination. Lillie smiled warmly at her friend, squeezing his hand tightly before shifting in her seat so that she was pressed up alongside him.
"I'll be with you the whole way." Lillie said softly, closing her eyes and resting her head on Sun's shoulder. The boy returned her smile with one of his own, sighing as he leaned back and relaxed in the seat alongside Lillie.
And so our young heroes continued their way through the city, eager to get some rest now that the battle was finally over. Cipher was defeated, Ashton Aupuni was in the hands of the authorities and the madness had ended. While there was heartache over those lost in the struggle and the cost of rebuilding would be great, for now at least the world could sigh in relief that its latest fight for survival was over.
The future looked brighter, even as warm rays of sunshine peaked over the horizon and as a shining yellow streak raced across the sky. Tapu Koko let out an echoing cry of jubilation before diving out of the heavens and into the Wilds below.
NEXT TIME: Ano Aupuni's crimes revealed, the fallout from Cipher's defeat and some tough conversations at the Pokémon League.
And that's the end of the Cipher Arc!
Wow, it feels so surreal to be saying that now after so many chapters and years of writing this story.
I'll go to questions before moving onto my closing remarks, but I sincerely hope you all enjoyed how this thing ended. I feel satisfied with it and feel like I finally gave the story I wanted to tell closure.
Q & A
From: Oragonking
1)I bet that Sun's Radiance surpasses Ashton's and Ronan's, because unlike them it's powered by hope and faith.
2)Will they get the Bond Phenomenom?
3)I still prefered that Damian and Padma are mates. Maybe in an alternate universe they are.( In back to the future the protagonist's Mom married a different man in an alternate time but still has him.)
4)Will a miracle happen that will undo all the horrible and idiotic things Borlath has done?
5)And this may be just me, but I kinda prefered that Sun had a shiny Oricorio. I get that he needed 2 Pokémon to begin his journey though.
Nope. Just the ability to use the sacred power of the Tapu. Sorry the Bond Phenomenon thing never worked out, but I still like to think this was a pretty cool payoff to Oliver and Sun's character arc.
See, while that would pave the way to a Golden Ending for the Cipher Arc to this story, that really goes against the entire point of the plot in the first place. Ashton wanted to reset everything to undo all of the pain and death he caused. If I somehow came up with a way for that to happen, then what was the point of trying to stop Ashton in the first place?
A main point of the Cipher Arc I've wanted to explore is accepting the things that have happened to you, even including traumatic events, and trying to move on. All of the Cipher Admins and Borlath himself were never able to move on from their past hurts and accept their pasts, which led to their downfalls in the story.
In the end, it took his own child becoming a powerful enough Trainer to stand against his hatred for Ashton to understand how he went wrong. However, I felt that killing him off also went against the point of the story…so I found another way. The Tapu cursing him in a way that went against everything he wanted, but also gave him a chance to make amends for everything he had done.
It's also the Tapu's way of taking responsibility for their actions, since by their own admission they haven't been the most proactive protectors of the islands. This was a way for everyone to not only move on from the events of the Cipher Arc that doesn't undo what's happened, but also allows those responsible to not get out of escaping the consequences of what they did.
Dawson was sent to another dimension. Roran was tortured and murdered by the one he was a mentor to decades ago. Amber was killed by the two people she wronged the most. Borlath was cursed by the very gods he despised so much and defeated by the son he strove so hard to protect, while also cursed with being trapped in Alola for all eternity and bonded with the Tapu. And all of the other Admins were killed by the Pokémon League.
I honestly feel like this conclusion, out of the many different paths that I've considered over the years, has the best closure for the arc and the characters within it.
Hopefully you all feel the same.
From: PigniteGamer29
Borlath's little speech there, the whole "I just want to reset everything. Your journey. Your friends. I'll send them all back to zero!". It's shockingly similar to Asriel's dialogue in his fight in Undertale. Is that intentional or no?
Nope, it was very much intentional.
As I've stated before, I'm a huge fan of stuff like Persona, RWBY, Kingdom Hearts and Undertale/Deltarune. So I've absolutely quoted or referenced those games throughout the story out of respect to the amazing games/shows that helped me stay inspired enough to finish this story arc and continue to write such a long fanfic.
In particular, the final showdown in the True Pacifist Ending of Undertale was what made me decide to go the "route" I did with Borlath vs. Sun. Because there were several different paths I planned on taking, several of which involved Borlath dying in some way to make amends for what he did or to stop him. But I didn't want that.
In the end, Sun showed his father mercy and forgave him for what he did to him. Sun understood where the man was coming from and even if that doesn't make what Ashton did okay or absolve him of his crimes, it's enough for the man to work towards making things right for the rest of his eternal life alongside the Tapu. Like I mentioned before, I feel like this particular ending is what brings the most closure in a way that doesn't make light of all of the death and pain caused throughout the Cipher Arc.
Also, Hopes and Dreams is still an amazing track. Especially the lyrical version done by Man on the Internet. Seriously, check it out.
That's all for now folks. For the Q & A, anyway.
Mainly because I'm announcing that I'll be taking a hiatus of sorts in the near future.
In a matter of days I'll be visiting home for the first time in two years and taking a vacation with my family. While I'll certainly be spending some time writing, I'm unsure if I'll be focusing on updating while I'm away from things. If I do update while I'm on break, it'll only be once or twice. I'll be returning to the story properly on May 27th, 2022.
Rest assured, however, that now that the Cipher Arc is over I'll be switching gears to the Aether Arc. We're not out of the woods yet, and there's still plenty of story left to go!
So on that note, thank you. All of you. Those who kindly reviewed the story, those who favorited and followed, and those who silently read and enjoyed in order to reach this long-awaited point. I have you all to thank for helping this arc reach its conclusion after a journey that's lasted over 13 years for me.
You followed Sun through his Island Challenge and watched as he braved the Tournament Arc, survived Roran's madness and withstood Amber Fontaine before finally saving Borlath and Damien in a fight to the death. It was a dark, violent and wild ride, as well as the single longest and most ambitious story I've ever told, becoming one of the longer Pokémon stories on the internet in the process.
Throughout all of this you stayed by me. So thank you for trusting in my madness and making it to this point. I couldn't have done it without your support.
But we're not done yet. Not by a long shot.
Take care and stay awesome!
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
Onboard the Absolution
One Week Later…
"Wonderful…Simply wonderful." Lusamine breathed, grinning widely as she slowly made her way through the hallways of the Absolution alongside Branch Chief Faba. The man seemed pensive as he limped down the metal corridors, his minor injuries from battling Amber Fontaine still healing.
It had been an entire week since the fall of Cipher and the recovery efforts were well under way. And in the midst of those efforts, the Aether Foundation rose to the occasion and had assisted in any and every way they could. Lusamine Jardin was being lauded as an international hero for her efforts in taking command of the relief efforts in Hau'oli City, as well as taking responsibility for Cipher's battleship and ensuring that no one would ever get their hands on the dark group's weapons or projects.
Only a handful of people in Alola objected to this, the Kahuna of Ula'ula Island the most vocal of which, but he had been unable to convince anyone else who shared his unease about the Aether Foundation gaining custody of Cipher's assets.
Lusamine considered not just her own actions from over the past few days, but that of Guzma and Faba as well. She had been pleased to see that Guzma had managed to nearly kill Borlath in a stroke of cunning, though she was disappointed to see that the Team Skull Boss was unable to finish the job thanks to Borlath's resourcefulness. Lusamine was sure to praise Guzma nevertheless and ordered him and Team Skull to remain on standby.
On the other hand, while Lusamine had been impressed by Faba's drive to assist the others against their final confrontation with Borlath, she was frustrated that the scientist chose to assist the civilians rather than help kill the Cipher Master himself.
She understood that not everyone was like her, and so elected to refrain from getting angry at Faba. Ashton Aupuni had gotten away for now and was currently in jail in Malie City, but Lusamine was looking to settle the score and wouldn't let something like the police or the Tapu get in her way. So she would bide her time.
Besides, she had other things to occupy her for the time being.
The duo took a detour into a side room that they had found earlier that day and mostly cleared out. Lusamine's heart had momentarily clenched at the sight of Ashton's former team mutated and mutilated by Cipher's dark experiments, but she hardened her heart and promptly had the test subjects terminated by her APT members who she had brought just in case. Now the room simply held empty chambers and walls of blank computer screens…and a strange vault at the end of the room that was Lusamine and Faba's main focus.
"It is impressive. Though I fail to see how taking custody of their ship and resources does us any good, ma'am. Nor how they can benefit anyone." Faba remarked, his voice tinged with distaste as he looked at the strange vault that stood beside them.
"Because Branch Chief Faba, who better than the Aether Foundation to seize the fruits of Cipher's dark labors and use them to benefit the world?" Lusamine asked, glancing over her shoulder and seeing Faba's expression become one of doubt. "Who else could we trust to be intelligent enough to treat all of this with the caution and care that a group like ours could?"
"I see…" the haughty man was unconvinced, Lusamine could tell. So she decided to switch tactics.
Lusamine turned around, opening her arms wide as a beautiful smile of warmth blossomed across her face. "Besides, there's a wonderful sense of irony to this. And I believe at the end of our efforts you will find some true closure to all of this if you take charge of studying Cipher's assets."
"Oh? And what irony would that be?" Faba asked.
Lusamine walked forward, her words almost a gentle purr. "How fitting would it be for one of the last bastions of the Orre Research Team to be the one to undo all of Cipher's crimes? You already helped by rebuilding the Purification Chamber with Colress. This particular honor, however, will be yours and yours alone."
"Mine…All mine. I wouldn't have to share this with anyone?" Faba breathed, surprised by the suggestion.
"You would be a hero." Lusamine said quietly, her tone then rising slightly. "An icon of science heralded for generations. This doesn't have to be a stepping stone for you, Elias Faba. Let your studies of Cipher's work to allow you to launch both the Aether Foundation and your career into the stars!"
"...Perhaps it's always good to have a fallback plan." Faba said as he gazed at the vault, allowing himself a small smile as he considered it. Lusamine grinned victoriously, knowing the man was back on board. Faba was just as easy to manipulate as Guzma.
With that she also turned her gaze towards the vault in the room, the thick and unbreakable glass containing only a single item.
A Poké Ball.
It was connected to a series of wires and plugs and glowing with an ominous jet-black aura. Branch Chief Faba looked over the vitals of what lurked behind the glass and shuddered. Lusamine simply saw what was within as a tool, and one she knew that she'd have to be very careful about using.
Or else the Umbral Medicham contained within would destroy her and everyone within the Aether Paradise.
"Though I fail to see what's stopping me from destroying some of the less savory aspects of Cipher's operation. The Umbral Project's notes and…byproducts should be burned to the ground. And this abomination should be put out of its misery." Faba said darkly as he reached towards a large red button on the side of the vault labeled "Terminate". The scientist scowled and extended a finger to press the button and mercifully end the life of the monster within-
Only for Lusamine to stop Faba's hand by grabbing his wrist, shaking her head slightly as the man looked at her with surprise. Her grip was alarmingly strong.
"Not yet. Again, Faba, please…Use your imagination." Lusamine chided the man, turning forward once more as a terrifying smile came to her face. One that promised deadly intent for anyone who stood in her way.
"M-my imagination?" Faba asked, surprised by the request. "I'd rather not think about what we could possibly need to use a monster like that for, ma'am."
"I believe we can get creative about what we can do with Cipher's resources. Use it to bolster our own forces and entice Guzma to get more serious. Develop weapons and devices that will allow us to expand our power while the world focuses on the fallout of Cipher's defeat." Lusamine said as she continued to walk through the hallways, not seeing Faba's expression of surprise. "The Umbral Pokémon stays alive. Simply ensure it is contained, and begin moving our new assets to the Paradise immediately. I expect a full account of everything by the end of the week, Faba. After that, you will get to work."
"Of course ma'am." Faba said quietly as he turned down the hallway, intent to explore more of the battleship now that he had been given free reign of the vessel. "Once we've transferred the equipment to the Paradise, what shall we do afterwards? Begin observing the captured Shadow Pokémon and begin purifying them? Study Cipher's notes?"
"Not quite. That is your project, my dear Faba. The Aether Foundation will return to its primary objective…I believe I'm long overdue for a chat with my dearest Lillie. Ashton shouldn't be the only one who gets to settle things with his child." Lusamine responded with a wide grin that Faba didn't see, but her tone was enough for the man to shiver in his boots as the President of the Aether Foundation strode away.
Lusamine's mind turned away from the ashes of Cipher and towards the Ultra Space. To those who awaited her beyond the shores of Alola.
Nothing would stand in her way. Not even her own children. Because unlike Ashton Aupuni…Lusamine wouldn't hesitate to act out of love.
"We're so close. My darling Beasts, just wait a little longer…Mother will save you all."
