Pokémon Radiant Sun
Alrighty, so things have been insanely busy lately for yours truly. Don't see that stopping anytime soon, but I'm going to at least attempt to keep things on schedule as we roll into spooky month. Wish I had something planned, but sadly I don't.
Oh well.
Shoutout to Oragonking and BraviaryScout for reviewing since the previous update. You both are legends!
Enjoy.
Chapter 164: The Lost Kahuna
Sun and Lillie woke up the next morning and quickly got their things ready to go. The two of them tried their best to not disturb the sleeping Pokémon, particularly because Oliver had his wings wrapped around Penny and they found the sight absolutely adorable. Soon enough they were downstairs and eating a simple breakfast of fruit and cereal from the Pokémon Café on the bottom floor.
"Hau says Lana and Mallow are doing well." Lillie said with a smile as she popped a slice of orange into her mouth. She showed Sun a picture that their friend had sent her of Hau giving the peace sign next to an embarrassed Lana who was sitting by her two smiling little sisters, Sarah and Harper. Mallow was waving to the camera with a bright smile, which in turn made Sun grin at the sight.
"I'm glad Hau's checking in on everyone. I feel kinda bad that we didn't spend more time with the others before heading here." Sun said sheepishly, with Lillie shaking her head at Sun's words.
"Don't feel bad. We all have things we need to do right now." Lillie remarked, giggling for a moment. "I think in a few years, Hau would make a good Kahuna."
"I think so too. He puts the needs of others above himself and he has the right attitude." Sun agreed before eating another spoonful of cereal. "Acerola should be out of the hospital soon too, right?"
"She sent me a text this morning, actually. The doctors are going to run some more tests today, but if they like what they find she'll be cleared tomorrow morning!" Lillie said brightly to Sun, who grinned at the news. The two of them continued to discuss how things were going better now that the region was recovering from the most recent bit of trouble, and when Sun and Lillie left the Pokémon Center to head out towards the Ancient Poni Path, they were both in high spirits.
However, the two children did not see that they were being watched.
A Trainer that they both would have recognized on sight scowled with irritation as he glanced at the two children before the doors closed behind them. The man stood up abruptly, wincing as he glanced down at his arm in pain before looking up again. The Trainer threw up his hoodie to cover his rather distinct pink mohawk before walking over to the front counter of the Pokémon Center.
"Are my Pokémon healed yet?" the teen asked Nurse Joy in a terse tone. The woman shook her head in response, a concerned expression on her face.
"No, they'll require another few days of treatment. The injuries most of your team has sustained typically require long-term care, due to the fact that they went untreated for so long. May I inquire as to how they got those injuries?" Nurse Joy asked, raising an eyebrow of suspicion.
"I got them from a Trainer who was pretty hard on his team. Said he had no use for them, so he gave them to me. I don't have the money to get them properly treated, so this is what I've got to do." The man lied effortlessly, with Nurse Joy nodding after a moment.
"Well, be that as it may, it will be a few days before I'm comfortable clearing them for battle." Nurse Joy said before she returned to her work. The man snorted with derision and stalked back to his chair, fuming silently but unable to do much more than wait impatiently.
And ruminate on past humiliations and the pain he would share, given time.
Poni Wilds
Sun and Lillie made their way out of the Seafolk Village and eyed the vast stretch of land in front of them, with the route seemingly branching out in various different paths.
"Looks like to the west we've got a big stretch of beach, and a bunch of grassy areas full of strong Pokémon. According to Chief Banjo we need to head east. We can ride on Brago for a good while to save time, but I'm gonna want to try and get some training in with Penny, Finn and Brago as we go." Sun said to Lillie, who nodded in understanding.
"Oliver and Tetra may need another few days to be back at 100% after that battle with Mother. And Alastor…he needs more time." Lillie said gently as Sun glanced down at the Ultra Ball he was holding in his hand.
"What I've learned after all this time, Lillie, is that your family…Your true family doesn't have to be bound to you by blood." Sun said quietly, looking towards the sky and reflecting on what had gotten him so far.
His bonds with his Pokémon and his friends. Hau and Lillie and the Captains and Kahunas, the Unova Crew and their allies, as well as the supportive adults like Kukui and Burnet and especially his mother and Ollie and so many others. They had all been there for him while he was battling against the darkness within his own mind, as well as the fears of Borlath and the twisted Admins of Cipher.
And Sun had come such a long way since those first days. He had saved the day several times and even prevented his own father from ending the world as they knew it. Sunshine Smiles owed his growth as a person and a Trainer to them all. His found family who had supported him and helped him become the young man he was now.
"I agree…When I fled the Paradise, Professor Kukui and Burnet became the parents I wish I had. I lost Father so early in my life and Mother had gone insane…I almost forgot what it was like to be loved." Lillie said softly, a gentle smile on her face. "And then I met my friends. I met you. And I learned what it meant to be brave. I learned what it meant to care about myself as a person…I'll never forget the people who showed me love, even when I didn't love who Lillie was."
"Bzzzzt! You two kids are gonna make me cry!" Rotom Dex beeped from Sun's shoulder, with Sun patting the device gently before giving it a smile.
"And we can't forget my faithful Pokédex, who's been showing me where to go since the beginning! Thanks Rotom Dex. You're a real pal." Sun said grateful to the device, who beeped with a wide smile on its screen.
"Friendship given is equal to friendship received! Zzzz-zzz-rrt! I've got your back, my friendzz! We're not done yet!" Rotom Dex declared as Sun and Lillie grinned at the Pokédex, feeling excited to get on the road.
"That's right. Let's power through the Poni Wilds and get to Hapu." Sun said as he called out Brago, Penny and Finn.
"I'll do my best to keep up, Sun." Lillie said as she did a fist pump, nodding as Sun glanced at her.
"Make sure we go at your pace, Lillie. This place is rough, even by the standards of the Wilds." Sun said to the girl, who's expression became determined.
"I'll be fine! I've got Max Repels with me." Lillie said before smiling happily at Sun. "And I've got you, too…"
Sun flushed at the way Lillie had said that, especially seeing the smiles that Penny and Brago were giving him. Sun assumed Finn was also smiling, considering the Poliwrath was chuckling to himself. Lillie walked forward and grabbed Sun's hand and with that, the two of them began their trek through Poni Island.
"It feels good to be on the road again. I don't care much for being in one place too long." Penny admitted as they walked along the paths that cut through the thick trees and allowed them progress. Sun avoided the long grass as much as he could, simply for the sake of Lillie's safety.
"Yeah! Our big fight with Team Skull in their rainy town feels so long ago." Finn said with a huff as he shadow-boxed the air before letting out a booming chuckle. "Can't wait to see what kind of trouble we get into out here!"
"If we're going to be dealing with Lillie's mother again, and the Pokémon that supported her, we'll have to get stronger." Brago muttered with a small exhale, flames trickling from his mouth.
"So you're looking forward to a rematch?" Finn said with a laugh, causing Brago to grin.
"Of course. She'll pay for those she hurt. Especially our Alpha and Lillie." Brago growled as Lillie rubbed the side of Brago's head.
"Such a good boy. And thank you all! It really does make me happy knowing how much you care about me." Lillie said happily to the trio of Pokémon. She then turned to Sun and said, "They all have such colorful personalities, don't they? And I've gotten to watch your team grow and expand too! It's amazing to see how stronger they've become over these past few months."
"I know what you mean. And I'm proud of them." Sun said as he reflected on how far his Pokémon had come over the course of his journey. The group lapsed into a comfortable silence as they traversed the wilds, with only the odd Pokémon encounter to break up the monotony.
"Poni Island…It's a completely different kind of island, isn't it?" Lillie remarked after some time had passed. At this point, Penny, Finn and occasionally Brago were attacking any Pokémon that crossed their path, and while it did slow their progress, it was also necessary. Whatever lurked within the Ultra Space was likely to be powerful, and Sun's team needed to be at their absolute best for what was to come. And that meant battling a lot in a short amount of time.
"Yeah. We're basically alone out here, except for the odd Trainer here and there who want to train in isolation. If we run into any trouble, the only help we might get is from the Seafolk Village." Sun replied with a shrug. Lillie hummed in response, stopping to watch as Penny began to battle a wild Pelipper that was flying a little too close to the group.
Unfortunately it wasn't much of a battle. The Pelipper tried to keep using what Rotom Dex identified as Spit Up, but without using Stockpile first. So Penny was able to beat the tar out of it within the span of a few seconds.
The Toucannon had more of a battle against a Granbull that rushed out from the grass a few minutes later, attacking with Rage. Penny countered with Beak Blast, not only burning the angry Granbull but also dealing serious damage to it. One Fly later (which let Penny dodge the Play Rough that nearly hit her) and the Granbull was unconscious.
A loud hiss alerted Penny that she had a new challenger, and the Toucannon turned around to see a Gumshoos charging at her. The Toucannon smirked and flew high into the air as the Gumshoos missed completely with its charge. As Penny swooped down to connect with Fly, Gumshoos retaliated with a Take Down, which did do decent damage to Penny. However, the recoil ended up knocking out Gumshoos.
Things continued in his fashion for the better part of a half hour while Sun and Lillie rode Brago through the Poni Wilds, with Finn sitting atop Brago as well and chatting amiably with the Arcanine as they watched Penny battle. After about a half-hour of picking fights with Wild Pokémon, Penny returned to them with an exhausted smirk on her face.
"Penny, I think that's it for today. Good work out there." Sun said to the bird, who began to preen her feathers.
"The Pokémon are strong out here. They're good for training." Penny said tiredly, catching her breath. Rotom Dex then beeped from Sun's shoulder, catching him by surprise.
"Bzzzt! Hey buddy, looks like Penny just learned Feather Dance!" Rotom Dex informed the young Trainer, who smiled as Penny stared at the device before chirping softly.
"I'm not messing with my feathers right now." Penny remarked as Sun and Lillie giggled at her response, with Rotom Dex beeping loudly a moment later.
"I bet you'll dance for Oliver though!" Rotom Dex teased Penny, who's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"This sounds like a good time to have some lunch." Lillie interjected brightly, with Sun nodding in agreement as Penny glared at the device.
Sun was happy that Lillie had made that call, since they had been walking for about three hours now and Sun was starting to get a bit tired anyway. Sun asked Finn to gather up some sticks, calling out Oliver and Tetra to help him do so. The boy also called out Alastor, who remained curled into a ball and refused to move or speak.
"If it wasn't for the fact that Colress and Wicke assured me that Rock-types can go months without eating if they needed too, I'd be even more worried about him." Sun thought to himself as he placed a hand on Alastor's side for a moment. After no response, Sun removed his hand and began setting up a temporary camp for them to enjoy the outdoors and relax a bit before continuing on with their journey.
Lillie rummaged through her backpack, carefully taking out Nebby and handing him to Sun so she could pull out some item capsules. A minute later Lillie had an outdoor cooking set ready to go. The girl also set down a picnic blanket and a pillow down for Nebby to float over, just in case. Sun and Penny sat down on the blanket as Lillie quickly set about making a soup for lunch. Sun meanwhile pulled out his Pokémon Refresh Kit.
"In retrospect, we should have gone shopping at the Seafolk Village." Sun remarked as Lillie dumped several pre-prepared containers of diced vegetables into the large pot she had set over a fire. Lillie shrugged before turning to Brago, who was observing quietly, but before the girl even asked the Arcanine he breathed some fire onto the unlit campfire that Sun had set up thanks to the sticks his Pokémon brought back. Sun set some extra sticks aside, just in case he needed more for the fire later.
"Brago, you want to sniff out some Pokémon for a bit? Get some training in while we cook lunch?" Sun asked the Arcanine, who flashed him a smirk before letting out a fierce howl that echoed around the plains.
"Let them come. I'm ready for a fight!" Brago barked as a Granbull suddenly burst out of the grass. Brago charged at the Granbull, a wraith of flames coating his body as he slammed into the other dog Pokémon.
"Were you planning on having Oliver and Tetra train a bit later on during this trip?" Lillie asked Sun as he ran a comb smoothly through Penny's feathers and he fed her a blue Poké Bean.
"Once we've got a better idea of what our plan really is. Beyond finding the Kahuna, we've got nothing." Sun answered Lillie, frowning after a moment. "Tetra and Oliver can have a few more days to rest so we can make sure they're able to battle safely again. I don't want to rush them. Same goes for Alastor as well."
"I think I remember hearing that something had happened to the Poni Island Kahuna way back, but I can't remember what." Lillie remarked, closing her eyes and thinking back. "Something about a rock slide, maybe? I do know that they're the grandfather of Hapu. She mentioned it once when we were having dinner together."
"Well, whatever it is we need to find him quick. Who knows what Lusamine's up to in the Ultra Space?" Sun muttered under his breath, rolling his shoulders and wincing. He was definitely feeling better after a few days of rest and medical treatment, but some of the soreness lingered. Lillie noticed and frowned with concern, but before she could say anything an explosion of flames erupted from somewhere in front of them.
Brago roared with triumph as three Granbull crashed senseless onto the ground, the trees around them coated in flames as a fourth Granbull charged at Brago and hit him with a Take Down. The Arcanine snarled in pain and dashed away, only to retaliate by firing out a star-shaped burst of raw flames that Sun and Lillie recognized as Fire Blast. Needless to say that Granbull was knocked out within moments as more flames erupted around the Arcanine. Brago howled to the skies, a wild grin of triumph on his face.
"Finn, can you send over a Rain Dance or something over there without dousing us? I don't want to start a wildfire." Sun asked the Poliwrath, who nodded and jogged over to where Brago was and started putting out the flames with several bursts of Water Gun. "Brago, tag out! Finn, once you're done putting out the fires, show them your moves!"
"Pfft. Calm down there, Captain Falcon." Lillie teased Sun, who leaned back and stuck his tongue out at Lillie. Meanwhile Finn charged right into the grass and cries of pain almost immediately erupted from them.
"You said that me and Tetra weren't training today, Sun?" Oliver asked his Trainer with a tilt of the head, with Sun nodding in response.
"Not today. Maybe tomorrow. We're not in a huge rush right now, and you and Tetra took way more of a beating from Lusamine's team than the others did. I want to make sure you and Tetra are completely good before we jump into training again." Sun explained to the Decidueye, who nodded after a moment's thought.
Sun turned to Tetra and asked, "Are you okay with that, Tetra?"
"Yep! My arms don't hurt anymore, but if you want to be safe, then I won't complain!" Tetra said happily, though her smile faded after a moment and she sighed. "The dumb voices in my head say otherwise, though. It's super annoying."
"We should probably figure out what's going on with that." Sun remarked, crossing his arms. "I wanted to before, but we got sidetracked with what happened with Team Skull and the Aether Foundation. How long have you heard voices, Tetra?"
Tetra thought about it for a moment. "As long as I can remember. My old Trainer kicked me out of his team because I had trouble focusing and didn't like fighting. I've gotten better at ignoring what the voices are saying, but they still make me feel sad."
"That honestly sounds like schizophrenia. I've read that Pokémon can also suffer from many of the same psychological and mental disorders that humans do." Lillie supplied as Tetra looked at her with surprise. "The fact that you've dealt with it all on your own all this time is really impressive, Tetra."
"If you want, I can ask Wicke and maybe Colress about possible treatment. I'm sure there's a way to help with the voice thing. But it's up to you, okay? I won't force you to do anything you don't want to." Sun said to Tetra, who considered it with a pensive expression for several long moments.
"Can I think about it?" Tetra asked tentatively.
"Of course. Just let me know whenever you decide on something. Okay?" Sun said as he smiled at his Gabite, who returned his smile with one of her own.
The group remained there for another few minutes, calling over Finn and letting him recuperate from his training and to eat before the group packed up their things and continued on their way towards the Ancient Poni Path. Brago, Finn and Penny continued to take down any wild Pokémon that dared to stand between them and their objective.
As the sun began to sink in the sky and the late afternoon rolled on, Sun and Lillie began to see a series of old ruins dotted around the plains. The duo glanced around, surprised at how old many of the pillars and stones that rose out of the ground seemed. Even more surprising was what looked like a large home a short distance away made of those ruins, which somewhat confused the children.
"Does that Mudsdale look familiar?" Sun suddenly asked Lillie, who perked up and leaned forward to get a better look at what Sun was pointing at. Sure enough there was a large Mudsdale standing in the path about a hundred meters away. With a surprised gasp, Lillie hopped off of Brago and ran towards the Pokémon, with Sun following a moment later.
"Ni-iiii!" Rolf the Mudsdale neighed loudly, clopping towards the group as Lillie and Sun slowed to a stop. Lillie gave the massive horse a wide smile and patted him on the snout.
"It's good to see you again, too, Rolf! You look to be in fine form." Lillie said happily as Mudsdale nuzzled her palm, making Lillie giggle before looking towards Sun. The Kanto-native pulled a Poké Bean out of his bag and handed it out to Mudsdale. Rolf gladly nipped the bean from Sun and chomped down on it before nuzzling Sun's face, making the Trainer laugh with delight.
"Wow…Pokémon Trainers really do amaze me." Lillie remarked as Sun looked at her with surprise. "It seems like a hard path to walk, and even so, you don't let yourself be held back by the fear of seeing your Pokémon friends get hurt…You just keep striving forward together."
Suddenly the door to the home beside them opened and Hapu walked right on out, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of the two familiar children patting her Mudsdale.
"Oh! Been a while, Sun. And you brought Lillie along, too?" the short Trainer asked as she walked over to them.
"Yes. It's good to see you, Hapu!" Lillie said as she walked over and hugged the shorter young woman, who returned the hug with a laugh. Hapu then took a step back and gave Lillie a once-over, nodding after a moment with what seemed like satisfaction.
"You look different…like you're ready to go all-out in something now." Hapu said to the girl, who grinned and did a fist pump.
"Thank you, Hapu. I've finally discovered what I need to do. So this is my Z-Powered form!" Lillie declared to Hapu, who glanced at Sun and saw his proud expression. She chuckled before giving Lillie a thumbs up.
"Then you do your best, Lillie. No one could call you lily-livered!" Hapu said with a wicked smirk, causing Sun to burst into laughter while Lillie gave her a thumbs up right back. Lillie then remembered that there was a reason for them to come here and that they had found who they were searching for.
"Um, so, Hapu…do you know where we can find the Kahuna?" Lillie asked the short Trainer, who blinked twice at the sudden question.
"The Kahuna? Hmm. Don't have one here on Poni." Hapu admitted, putting a hand on her hip and a hand to her chin. "They've been gone for a long, long time. My grandfather passed away after a natural disaster on the island while he was attending one of the Totems. His grave isn't too far from here, actually."
"What?!" Lillie yelped, horror on both hers and Sun's faces as they exchanged worried glances. "Now what do we do, Sun…?"
"I have no idea. I'm not sure who else would know about the other flute, Princess." Sun admitted, sighing as he considered the problem. He didn't have any ideas, though, and time was of the essence.
"Hmph…Well, I suppose the time might be right now…" Hapu murmured as she closed her eyes, thinking hard as she considered the situation her young friends were in. "Fate does work in strange ways. I already finished up my battle against that odd little thing that appeared out of the sky…maybe now I can see if I'm worthy."
"What does she mean by that?" Sun asked Lillie quietly, with Lillie shaking her head in response. Hapu sighed and punched her fist before putting her hands on her hips, smirking at the two of them.
"All right. Let us proceed to the ruins. You stick with me, you two." Hapu said as she walked over to Rolf the Mudsdale, who neighed loudly as she hopped effortlessly into the saddle. "Come on, you two. We're off to the Ruins of Hope!"
"Well be right behind you…" Sun trailed off as Hapu rode off on her Mudsdale, leaving Sun and Lillie behind. "Wait a minute…"
"Why didn't we ride with her?" Lillie asked Sun, who opened his mouth for several long seconds before sighing and shrugging his shoulders. Lillie giggled at Sun's disappointed expression before she said, "Sun…We just have to keep going, right?"
Sun smiled at that, and Lillie went on. "But then again…you are a Trainer, aren't you? I suppose you always keep moving forward! So that means I have to as well!"
"Wait there."
The voice spoke out of nowhere, surprising the two children. Sun spotted an older woman with darker skin looking at them from a few yards away and pointed behind a confused Lillie. The girl turned around to follow where Sun was directing her attention.
Lillie screamed in surprise at the woman's sudden appearance and clung to Sun, who stared at the strange old woman who had apparently been spying on them from within the nearby hole in the wall. Brago growled softly at the woman, who chuckled softly as she approached them.
"I-I'm sorry, I don't think we've been introduced…" Lillie stuttered as Sun grabbed her hand, with Sun giving the older woman an unimpressed look as she continued to laugh at them.
"Ho ho ho! I'm Hapu's old gran. Call me Grandma Kai!" The woman explained, getting her amusement under control. "Are you two friends with my girl?"
"How did you guess?" Sun asked flatly, with Grandma Kai bursting into laughter again. Sun was weirdly reminded of the Fossil Man-
Sun immediately began suppressing that memory.
"Ho ho ho! You'd tease an old woman, eh?" Kai chortled as she glanced behind her, where a few Machamps happened to be resting on rocks. "Excuse me, dearies! Would one of you please come over here?"
To Sun and Lillie's surprise, one of the Machamp nodded and strode over to where they were standing. Meanwhile Grandma Kai looked to the children with a fond expression. "Traveling around the islands…making new friends…You kids are luckier than you know."
The Machamp had finally reached them and let out a battle cry, flexing its four arms. It was then Sun recognized a small bandanna around the neck of the Machamp that had the Poké Ride logo stamped on it.
"If you want to head for the Poni Island ruins, how about a bit of help from this old gran?" Kai said to the two of them, holding out her hand. "Here. Hand over your Ride Pager for a moment."
Sun stared at her for a moment as the woman tapped away at the pager before it beeped loudly. Sun was surprised when the Machamp suddenly walked forward and picked Sun up in a bridal carry. Lillie gaped at the sudden development while Grandma Kai laughed and tossed the pager back to him.
"You'll need to move some big obstacles to make it down the path that you two hope to travel." Grandma Kai said as Machamp set Sun down and stepped back, offering the old woman a salute. "Please head down to the Ruins of Hope, won't you dearie?"
The Machamp nodded before heading down the path that Hapu had rode down with her Mudsdale. Grandma Kai turned to the two of them and smiled warmly. "I wish you both a bright future."
"Thank you ma'am." Lillie said with a smile as Sun dusted himself off. Grandma Kai took a few steps away before stopping and turning around, as if remembering something. "My Hapu was heading towards the Ruins of Hope, wasn't she? Go after her. I already sent Machamp ahead of you to help out, so don't you worry."
"How exactly do we get there?" Sun asked.
"First, you'll come to Poni Breaker Coast. You'll know it by the soil-it's black as pitch. Go through there, and you'll find the ruins. Beware of the tides, though. You'll want to hurry before water floods the sanctum of the God of Hope." Grandma Kai explained as Sun and Lillie exchanged a glance of excitement with each other.
"Thank you very much, ma'am! You have been a great help!" Lillie called to Grandma Kai, who waved at them before heading back into her house. Lillie turned to Sun with a bright smile.
"The Ruins of Hope…that is where the Guardian of Poni Island will be. That is where Tapu Fini lives. Let's go!" Lillie said to Sun as the boy grinned at her, grabbing her hand. The group charged down the path together, following after Hapu as the Alolan sun began to sink lower over the horizon, casting the sky in shades of pink, orange and blue.
Meanwhile…
Mount Lanakila, Alolan Pokémon League HQ
"Alright, looks like we've got the funds to pay for the rest of the construction of the Victory Road that'll lead through Mount Lanakila." Kukui said as he sat down at the large table in the brand-new conference room.
The inside of Mount Lanakila had been turned into a makeshift hotel of sorts. It had taken a supreme amount of effort to build the location of the Alolan Pokémon League. The logistics behind ensuring that it was done in a way that didn't anger his fellow Alolans or disturb the Pokémon who lived there was a task that Kukui was proud to say he executed well.
It wasn't perfect, mind you. Most of the Victory Roads known throughout the world were seen as gauntlets of sorts. A Trainer's final test of strength, knowledge and fortitude before arriving at the Pokémon League and battling the Elite Four. The path that led up to Mount Lanakila was still under-construction, and would remain so for quite some time. But the living quarters for the League staff, Officials, Elite Four and Champion were complete on top of the actual facility for the Pokémon League. It was all suitably impressive but also unique for Alola.
If the Alolan Pokémon League was going to make a name for itself, it needed to be special. And so Kukui sat down in his chair at the end of the table in the conference room, sipping from his coffee for a moment before cracking a grin.
"All things considered, this week's been what I'd call a win. Even after the insanity that happened at the Aether Paradise." Kukui added upon seeing Hala and Olivia glare at him.
"A win? Hardly, Professor Kukui. We're lucky there weren't more casualties. It's a testament to the strength of Alola in the face of crisis, and the strength of those children as they faced down Lusamine and her brainwashed minions, that the region wasn't annihilated!" Olivia said bitingly, leaning back in her chair with a frustrated expression.
"I can't believe the con that woman was running." Kahili practically spat, scowling furiously before catching herself and exhaling an angry breath. "Acting like a loving motherly saint while at the same time attempting to flood Alola with Ultra Beasts! Anyone even remotely familiar with the old legends could tell you why that's insanity!"
"I believe the point Councilman Palena stressed during his report was the fact that Lusamine could have been considered insane by the time Lillie was brought back to her unhappy home." Hala grunted quietly, his expression troubled. The Kahuna had been distraught when he had learned how badly Hau and his friends had been injured, even if realistically there was nothing the Kahuna could have done amidst the chaos.
The older Kahuna continued, his voice steady despite the intense emotion behind it. "I was relieved to hear that they escaped with just injuries after being put in harm's way again and again. According to young Gladion, Lusamine was quite willing to kill them all. She even attempted to kill Sun and Lillie multiple times before finally being defeated…Sunshine Smiles has come a long way since his Grand Trial with me all those months ago. Defeating two former Champions in a matter of weeks is simply remarkable."
"Don't forget that Hau managed to defeat Guzma. That's gotta feel pretty good, huh? Your grandson taking down your ex-student like that?" Kahili asked the Kahuna of Melemele Island, receiving a heavy sigh in response. He was slow to answer Kahili, but when he did Hala's words were careful.
"I take no pleasure from that news. But I am proud of Hau for how much he has grown." Hala rumbled, his mustache wrinkling slightly. Olivia and Kukui knew that the old Kahuna was smiling. But it was a somber smile, knowing full well that Guzma was well and truly lost to them now.
"Yes. Thankfully with some time to recover at Aether Paradise, the children will bounce back in no time." Kukui said with a sigh, rubbing the back of his head as he allowed his genuine concern for his assistant and the children that he had become so fond of to show for a moment. But a few moments later the Professor smiled bracingly at his compatriots. "Again, considering the damage done to the facility and the scope of Lusamine's madness we should be thankful that there aren't more deaths on our shoulders. I trust that with Lusamine gone and the Paradise returning to normal, we can trust our friends and allies to handle the situation while we work on the logistics of getting the League integrated and running!"
"You do realize that they're not telling us everything, right?" Olivia said to Kukui, catching his attention. "The League as a whole already suspects something is off, but is willing to accept our word for what's happening considering the sheer chaos that has been the past few months."
Kukui considered that fact for a moment. He did suspect that there was a lot he wasn't being told about what happened at Aether Paradise. He knew for certain that Sun and Lillie's injuries were being downplayed, as well as what happened in the main facility where the bulk of the damage took place to the Aether Paradise. Borlath's supposed death also raised major concerns. But at the same time…
"I trust that they'll tell us what they need to tell us. And that they can handle it." Kukui said firmly, offering them a smile. "I trust that they'll handle what's going on and keep us in the loop regarding what we need to know. Just like I trust Sun and Lillie to discover a way to get to the Ultra Space."
"And what about supporting them?" Olivia asked pointedly, leaning forward with a scowl. "Sending one or two of us to support them? Or are you content to let two children, no matter how talented or mature, hunt down the Legendary Pokémon of Alola and leap into the Ultra Space to confront a monster like Lusamine?"
Kukui actually scoffed at that. "Sun was able to defeat Lusamine, a Champion-level Pokémon Trainer, despite the woman basically knowing all of his strategies and repeatedly attempting to attack Lillie mid-battle. Any Trainer worth their salt is gonna work like mad to fix an issue like that and train themselves into the ground so that they're ready for what comes next. I'm not worried at all about them. Sun and Lillie can handle Lusamine. And so we have to handle getting the country back on its feet after all this insanity."
"You have that much faith in them, Kukui?" Olivia asked, surprised at the Professor's words. Kukui nodded, flashing her a grin.
"I trust that Sun is able to protect Lillie from whatever dangers they encounter. And I know that Lillie will be able to support Sun and get them to their destination." Kukui answered with an unmistakable note of pride in his voice. "They've both come so far. Poni Island is a true test of a Trainer's skill, and it's where many go to cultivate their power and shape it into something incredible. We've all been there and all became strong there. Sun and Lillie will be just fine."
The three Elite Four members exchanged a few glances before they smiled at Kukui. Olivia then said, "Well, I can't argue with that logic. I suppose we'll just have to have faith then."
"Exactly. Besides, we can take on a bit of the heat ourselves regarding the whole Ultra Beast mess! It's nothing we can't handle! After all, we've got three bonafide all-stars with us for the Elite Four!" Kukui proclaimed proudly, with Kahili giving the Professor a raised eyebrow in response.
"You mean the Elite Three, since there's only three of us. Or, did you actually get a positive answer from old man Nanu about accepting the post?" the pro-golfer said to the Professor, who's smile took a hit.
"Uh, no…But I'm sure he'll come around!" Kukui responded quickly, letting out a nervous laugh.
"Even though he's told you no about twenty times already?" Olivia asked Kukui with a small smirk. "You know, we don't have to get all of the active Kahunas involved. Kahili already breaks that precedent you were wanting to establish with old customs."
"If we're being completely honest, I'm not a fan of the Kahunas also doubling as the members of the Elite Four." Hala rumbled, earning a surprised look from Professor Kukui.
"What do you mean?" Kukui asked as Hala crossed his arms, thinking about it.
"In years past, the Island Challenge has always culminated in a showdown with all four Island Kahunas at the base of Mount Lanakila. If the Pokémon League is supposed to stand as a way for Alola to advance towards the future, should we truly adhere to the past in such a manner?" Hala asked Kukui, who looked thoughtful. "Truthfully, I think that there shouldn't be any overlap between those of us who are Kahuna and Elite Four."
"There's some wisdom in that. Pulling double duty for a Pokémon League seems like a really rough time. Hell, ask poor Larry." Olivia remarked, laughing softly.
"Who?" Kahili asked with a frown.
"I think that's a discussion for another day, Hala." Olivia said as she interjected again, realizing she had thrown things off course. "The point is that Nanu doesn't want to be part of this gig. And should we even keep trying? His temperament isn't exactly what we want for something like this. Should we keep bothering him about it?"
Kahili then chimed in with, "Nanu's not just the worst person for the job. He might be the worst mammal."
Kukui looked pained, knowing that the logic they were presenting made sense. But he still wanted to try at the very least to get the final Kahuna onboard with things. So he dutifully pulled out his cell phone and dialed Nanu's number while the other three Elite Four members smirked at him. As soon as the phone picked up, Kukui summoned all of his enthusiasm and decided to give this his best shot.
"Hey there, cousin-!" Kukui said brightly, only to be cut off almost immediately by the sound of a very annoyed sigh.
"Johnny Kukui. I have said it once. And I will have said it 21 times. No. I don't want to be a member of your goddamn Elite Four." Nanu practically growled at Kukui over the phone, who blinked several times in surprise. "I never even wanted to be a Kahuna, and I wouldn't be if it wasn't for the fact that Tapu Bulu got high one day and decided I should be the one to protect this shithole island."
"But what about-" Kukui tried to say, only for Nanu to cut him off.
"No. Figure something else out. I just want to live alone with my cats, you stupid bastard." Nanu went off, causing Hala to cough as he covered up a laugh. "I'm sure there's someone in Alola stupid enough to volunteer for you."
"I'll do it, Uncle Nanu!"
"Acerola, take your meds. Kukui, fuck off and don't call this number again. I can and will block your number." Nanu grunted before hanging up the phone, causing Kukui to wince at the sudden dismissal. The Professor stood there awkwardly for several long moments, with Hala and Olivia staring open-mouthed at the blatant disrespect Nanu had thrown at Kukui.
Meanwhile Kahili shrugged her shoulders with a smug grin on her face. "So, that's Plan A out the window. What's Plan B?"
NEXT TIME: The Ruins of Hope
No Q & A this time!
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Until next time, FlygonNick out!
