Chapter 2: The Ceremony


"I'll tell ya, the one thing folks don't get about Alola is that it ain't the mainland. They don't want it to be the mainland, either. Some people just can't grasp that man, they think it's personal. Hey, maybe it is to a small few. Old history and bad blood takes time to die out, you know; a whole culture shifted and changed to appeal to tourists. Bigger prices, less housing, the works. I'd be mad too, maybe. But mostly it ain't that the locals don't like you, it's that one fat entitled tourist who comes and mucks it up for everyone, littering and not respecting the land or the 'mon. A respectful, normal human being who comes and appreciates the land, and the culture? A few months in and they'll see you as one of them, man."

~ Tristan Padletski, Regional Hiker ~


Alola was very much different from Kanto. Moon knew that well enough by her first morning on the islands, and by her third month in she could've probably written a good couple of pages for an essay on the vast differences between the two. Yet even after all that time, she was absolutely certain that she had not begun to scratch the surface of Alola's culture and why it acted as a sort of black mareep to the rest of the world.

There were similarities of course; so much of Alolan cuisine featured pieces that she had grown to love in Kanto. There was rice with almost every other meal, and always shoyu to go with it. It was customary to not wear shoes inside, something she was also used to doing by second nature. Family was pivotal, and there was usually a festival going on somewhere if you waited a week or two. Moon never found the chance to go to one however.

But the differences started as soon as she got up in the mornings. Summer vacation in Kanto usually involved Moon getting up at an ungodly hour, usually with a plate of rice and an egg that her mother had prepared for her before heading off for her real estate job, and Moon would be left with the day to do some chores and relax a little. Maybe she'd focus on her studies, or help prep the laundry for her mother, or play a video game if she had the time until her mother came back home.

Summer in Alola lacked consistency, but not structure. When she awoke, her mother was usually out on the veranda reading, and the two of them would spend a little while making breakfast together. Then they would go out together, usually into Hau'oli proper to pick out some furniture, buy an outfit or two to adjust to their new climate, or just discover somewhere new to have lunch at. Her mother seemed keen to spend time with her, especially since her new job allowed for such flexible hours, and Moon was delighted to partake.

She would drop Moon off at home before noon to go into the mechanic shop, and Moon would have the world before her. Something about Alola called one to go outside, no matter how comfy an air conditioned bedroom seemed. The weather seemed determined to be inviting, and there wasn't a day where Moon spent most of her free time out roaming her new neighborhood, or visiting the beach.

The interactions she shared with others was something she struggled to adjust to. It wasn't that people in Kanto were unsociable, there was simply a level of social etiquette that implied you kept to yourself to avoid burdening others in your day to day. In Alola, silence was seen as rudeness. If she passed someone who was out for a walk with their pokemon, there was always an exchange of some sort; a smile and a nod, the thumb and pinky extended into a shaka, or even just a simple "Alola". There was always a sense of levity and general friendliness wherever she went.

So it was that when she arrived at the beach, Moon would have her own little routine that she adopted to branch herself out more amongst her new neighbors. She would put on her swimsuit (and usually a button-up since her skin wasn't as adjusted to the sun's rays in Alola), grab her ukulele, and swing down by the juice bar on the boardwalk to grab herself a cone of shaved ice drizzled in rawst-berry juice and filled with mochi balls.

The owner of the juice bar, Ms. McConnell, would give her a half-off discount if she took a cone to her son who was stationed as a lifeguard down along the beachfront. Her son, who she learned was named Kai, was only a few years older than her and volunteered as a junior-ranger and lifeguard during the summer months. In exchange for the cone, Kai would give her advice on Alolan life, such as to never turn her back on the water since waves could easily break one's neck if they weren't careful.

Some days, he would even throw in a free lesson on the best insults in Alolan.

There was also the Ohtoris, a young couple who were also from Kanto that stayed along the beachfront where Moon liked to practice. In exchange for a small bag of the apicot berries that grew outside of Moon's house, and a bit of conversation about life back in Kanto, Mrs. Ohtori's wife would teach Moon how to play her favorite melodies on the porch. If the mood was right, Mrs. Ohtori herself would even play accompaniment from the piano while they strummed.

Then of course there was Professor Kukui and his wife, Professor Burnet. At least once a week, after Moon had her fill of the sun and the beach, and her mom had come home covered in grease but still smiling, they would cook a traditional Alolan dinner and invite the couple over, who would usually bring a side to compliment whatever was being served that evening. Professor Burnet and Moon's mother would often discuss local conservation efforts regarding the building of the Alolan League, while Professor Kukui would tell Moon various stories about his work at the lab.

All of these interactions and experiences with others were enjoyable to Moon, who had never had a problem getting along with others in her life. And yet she preferred keeping these relationships at a comfortable distance. It wasn't that she didn't like other people; she cared for them all quite a bit more than they knew in fact, it was just that was how she preferred to keep things. It made it easier on her end to not stick her feet too deep in the water, no rudeness or disrespect intended. Not everyone saw it like that however.

This was why she felt a sense of anxiousness whenever Professor Kukui mentioned his new assistant at dinner. It wasn't often, but Moon had heard enough to know it was a girl about her age, and that her mother lamented that she had never taken up the professor's offer to join their little dinner gatherings. To Moon, it sounded like she didn't like to meet new people. A part of her was glad for that, as she knew her mother and the professors would likely try and get the two to be friends, and the fact that she was glad also made her feel just as guilty.

She knew there was nothing fun about being singled out. What kid didn't?

So it was only natural that as time went on, her ability to avoid being coerced into friendship by outside forces was whittled away like the little totem statues they sold to tourists. It was still early afternoon when Moon packed up her things and decided to head down to the gas station down the street from the beach; her stomach had a craving, the kind that only overpriced gas station food could satisfy. The glowing violet sign bearing the letters "GP" in the shape of a grimer was her star compass, and unhealthy refreshments were her only destination.

Besides, something about the beach just wasn't doing it for her today. The beaches in Alola were lovely, but they had started feeling like a distraction after spending all day every day along the shores. Her music felt flat, and she realized with a pang while looking through her music journal that her to-do list was still pitifully unfulfilled.

~ Go back to Alola!

~ Eat native cuisine!

~ Convince mom to get a native pokemon!

~ Participate in a cultural event of some kind! Or multiple! Or all of them!

~ Ride a pokemon! (Meowth does not count; you will crush him.)

This didn't quite feel like living.

It was just as she reached the sidewalk that the doors to the gas station opened, and out huffed a girl wearing a sun hat with a brim so wide that it seemed more fit to call it a small umbrella. It flopped as she stomped across the parking lot, glaring with clenched fists at a familiar white truck parked across from her.

"Professooooor!" She whined, cheeks red from what was clearly embarrassment. "They said you were pulling my leg, that blinker fluid isn't even real!" Moon followed her line of sight and saw Professor Kukui in the driver's seat of the truck (Her mother, true to her word, had gotten her license within their first week.) in a state of hysterics so bad that he was leaned against the window. The girl stepped up to the driver's side window, which the professor rolled down as he tried and failed to stop from wheezing.

"Did… did you at least get the pokeball grease?" He asked with a face scrunched from suppressed laughter. The girl crossed her arms, and Moon had the strangest suspicion that she had not in fact obtained any pokeball grease.

"They said that wasn't real either! Go in and tell them it's real, professor, they don't believe me!"

Moon had stopped to watch the small display, grinning as the professor was stricken silent by the sheer weight of his laughter, but realized too late that she was within his direct line of sight should he recover, and she knew that would lead to an introduction. Too little too late, she tried to cross the parking lot only for the professor's voice to call out to her.

"Moon? Hey, Moon!" Professor Kukui was leaning out of his white pickup, waving her down in a way that nobody with their natural senses intact could reasonably ignore. The girl turned too, and Moon lamented her failed stealth mission all the more as she tried to act as though she was surprised to see them, rather than slightly disappointed. She approached the truck at a respectful distance, hands in the pockets of her button up, and smiled. She didn't have to fake that too hard, admittedly.

"Alola, Professor." Moon greeted, throwing her hands in the usual arc. She had gotten pretty good at the hand movements over the past three months. "I thought I recognized your truck. What's up?" She glanced over at the girl to smile a silent greeting, but her hat was tipped just enough to block her face from view, and it seemed she was suddenly incredibly interested in the blacktop beneath their feet regardless.

"Ah, just picking up some last minute supplies for the ceremony. Got one up in Iki Town for the start of the trials." The professor turned and lifted a bundle of plastic bags from the passenger seat, moving aside a white duffle that Moon could have sworn shifted as he did so. "The kahuna's tasked me with providing the pokemon we're gonna be bequeathing to the trial goers, and I gotta make sure the little guys are all clean and preened for their new partners!"

Moon raised an eyebrow. "You're bathing them in blinker fluid? Dude, I don't even own a pokemon and I know that's unhealthy." She shrugged into a grin as Professor Kukui nearly buckled down in laughter again, but at the girl's pout that was forming beneath her brim he managed to contain himself. Instead he motioned over to where she stood, glancing between her and Moon.

"Aha, no, I actually Puff-N-Preen but that's not important." He explained, leaning out of the truck window. "Moon, this is my assistant, Lillie! I don't think you two have been introduced yet, which is wild considering you two are practically neighbors! Lillie, this is Moon. You know those leftovers me and Burnet bring home on Thursdays? The lady who cooks all of that is this girl's mother, and her name is Moon." The professor looked between the two and Moon could tell that the man's expectations for this introduction were not realistic whatsoever.

Lillie remained where she was, merely waving her hand in such a minute way that she may have only raised it, and her nerves were causing it to shake. A hushed voice came from beneath the hat that mumbled what sounded like an "Alola.", and before Moon could decide to expedite the introductions to save the poor thing, she turned and fast-walked to the other side of the truck where she quickly clambered into the passenger seat. The professor gave Moon an apologetic smile.

"Yeah, she gets along well with pokemon a bit more than us. Little surprising, considering humans don't light you on fire nearly as much as torracats do, but I get where she's coming from." He whispered, though Moon knew there was no way Lillie couldn't hear from their close proximity. Kukui scratched his head, and seeming to understand that the battle for his assistant's social confidence was a lost cause for the day, asked a new question. "Anyway, what are you up to? Figured you'd be down at the beach, yeah? Got the weather for it."

"Ah, yeah… the beach is nice." Moon said lamely. "I was gonna grab some mochi and head home for the day, I'm just uh, not really feeling the beach today, I guess." She shifted her ukulele against her hip, shrugging slightly as she looked away. "Too much of a good thing, you know? Kinda burning myself out on it." The professor, to his credit, seemed to know where Moon was coming from because he gave her a very serious nod.

"Maopopo iaʻu. That picturesque Alolan lifestyle kinda grating on you? It can do that after a bit, you know, once the vacation sensation kinda simmers down. Tourists don't really get it, they just see the pretty beaches and the… you know, the lūʻaus and think 'Oh, they must be so lucky to live there!' and then after the excitement they go back to the mainland." He gave a dismissive wave with his hand, throwing the concept aside. "But don't feel bad, everyone goes through that initial wave where the excitement of being somewhere new peels away, cause then it just means you're home, ahaha."

Moon thought about it for a second, glancing back towards the beach she had been spending the past few weeks at. It wasn't that she didn't like Alola, or its beaches, or its weather, or its oversaturated paradisiacal attitude, in fact she loved Alola very dearly. It was because of how much she loved the region, wanted to truly love it, that she found herself unsatisfied with her current day to day life here. Because this was not Alola.

She wanted to learn the history of her home, not just whatever watered down version an overpriced tour guide could give her. She wanted to know how the original wayfinders located the islands, of the legends of the ancient pokemon who lived in tandem with her people. She wanted Alola's culture served to her in a hand-carved bowl, fresh off the fire, as opposed to the purposefully showy dinnerware that they dressed up with pretty flowers and paper umbrellas.

The Alola of crowded beaches and piña coladas (Not that her mother would ever let her have one.) was a front for the thousands of tourists who flocked here seeking paradise and exotic pokemon. Moon was not a tourist.

"I… I think I want that, like, 'vacation phase' to peel away." Moon finally said, thinking of her list. "The weather's great, the beachers are fun, but like… that's not all Alola is. It's way more than that, I know it is from everything mom told me growing up. I want to learn about my culture, even if my culture is more than the showy tourist attractions." She paused, trying to think of how to properly convey her feelings. "It's like… like a messy family showing their guests their clean and tidy living room, and how polite and well-dressed their kids are. I want to see beyond all that, I want to see the real house."

From inside the truck, Moon saw Lillie raise her head towards her out of the corner of her eye.

Professor Kukui lowered his head for a moment, chuckling softly. When he raised it there was a glint that shone straight through his sport shades and into Moon's soul. "Man, are you Leilani's kid or what? That's some real Alola spirit right there, oh yeah. Gets me fired up enough I could go blow to blow with a slaking!"

"Please don't."

Professor Kukui leaned back in the seat and bobbed his head in thought for a second. "Yeah, you know what? I got an idea. Not the slaking one!" He added at Moon's raised brow. "I was just thinking, well you got the itching for some genuine Alolan learnings, right? How abouts I take you to the Island Trial ceremony up in Iki Town later? It's a coming of age celebration for the trainers who take on the trials, and there'll be a boatload of locals telling stories, dancing, playing music. All the good stuff, cousin!"

Moon perked up at this. "Really? You mean it?" Now that sounded like her idea of a good time. There was a strange sense of purpose in participating in a local celebration, to learn from those who called Alola home. And it counted as a cultural event! "Is that even allowed? Like, I don't want to intrude on a private ceremony or anything, but… I do wanna go." As true as it was, she was willing to push that bit of courtesy aside if it meant she got to experience something so genuine and connected to her region. The professor nodded, tapping his earpiece.

"Shoots! I mean it's not one of those festivals you see on billboards or magazines; usually just Iki Town residents and family, but nobody will mind. I'll give your mom a ring too, make sure she doesn't mind." He assured her. He flipped the key to the ignition, and the truck rumbled to life as Moon stepped away from the car. "Yeah, I think she'll agree this is a good thing for you. I'll swing by about five, maybe five thirty if I get the go-ahead. Make sure you bring an appetite, there's always a communal feast and you know we don't skimp out in Alola!"

Moon couldn't contain the smile that lit up her face, and she returned the fist bump the professor held out for her. "Heck yeah, I'll be there! I'll uh, maybe I can get mom to come too! But yeah, I'll definitely be there! I'm gonna go home and shower, uh… what should I wear?" She called as the truck began to pull out of the parking lot.

"Whatever's comfy, cousin!" The professor called, throwing the shaka out to her. From inside the truck, Moon could hear the voice of the girl telling something to the professor in a worried voice, as well the professor turning back to her to ask, "Huh? What, he got out of the bag again?" Just as they pulled out into the road, a little bundle of violet and black smoke peeked out from the edge of the truck bed, catching Moon's eyes.

Moon smiled in bemusement, shaking her head as she turned back towards the grimer petroleum behind her. Who needed snacks when she had something this exciting to look forward to? She settled on a slushy to help fight the heat as she walked home, a bounce in each step as she passed by the various people and pokemon out enjoying Alola's weather. She had roughly four hours to kill, including the time it would take to get ready, and she hadn't the faintest idea what she would do until then.

She climbed up her stairs and threw open the door which had a scrap of paper taped to the front with the word "Paku'' scribbled on it. She hefted her beach luggage inside, throwing it on her bed beside a similar scrap that was taped to her headboard, this one reading "Moe". The paper tags were a suggestion from her mother, plastered all over the house and taped to every surface of every item, from the "kelewikiona" in the living room to the toilet in "lua", in an effort to help Moon learn the language easier through association.

Her room had naturally changed from the barren blank slate to an organized mess of her belongings. There were posters from various bands that she enjoyed, including a poster from a rock star in Unova that was signed, "Keep fighting the good fight! - Roxie". There was a desk with her laptop right in front of the window, scattered magazines and music sheets, and a string of photographs where she smiled back towards the unseen camera with her Kantoan friends beside her. She glanced at it as she passed.

She missed them a lot, more than she thought she would.

She poured some water into the hanging plant of daffodils that her mother had gotten for her, and slipped back into the kitchen. On the counter sat Meowth, opening a sleepy eye to Moon who nodded her respects to the family feline. She refilled his beloved little ceramic trays which had a piece of paper taped to it bearing the word "Pola", and meowed what she hoped were some loving insults at his fluffy self like any responsible pet owner would.

Moon shimmied into the bathroom for a proper pre-celebration clean up, grabbing her towel and phone on the way in. As natural as it was, sea water did not a good shampoo make after all. The warm water from the shower was such a nice contrast to the cool ocean, and with nobody but Meowth there to hear her, Moon could sing as loudly as she wanted. She didn't, though. Somehow she was too excited to sing; her mind wouldn't let her focus on the words.

How long had it been since she had been this excited? It was such a small thing, a festival, or a ceremony, but it felt important to Moon. It was, in her mind, the core of why she was in Alola to begin with. To live somewhere so deeply rooted to nature and to experience none of that was nothing short of a crime.

After a not-so-quick shower, Moon wrapped a towel around her head and shoulders just in time for her phone to ring on the edge of the sink. She didn't have to listen to the ringtone she had specifically chosen or look at the screen to know that it was a call from her mother; nobody else in Alola would call her, and nobody from Kanto was awake tocall her. Moon leaned against the sink counter and held the phone to her ear.

"Brother Billy's Roadkill Barbeque; hot and tender right off the fender, what're you ordering?" She asked in her most casual tone. The voice on the other end was not nearly as impressed.

"Oh real nice, Moon, for Aeceus' sake…" Moon could practically see her mother shaking her head, but she could swear she heard a smile in there too. "I just got a call from Kukui, about that ceremony up in Iki Town for the start of the Island Trials." Moon blanched. She had almost forgotten that the professor was calling her mother to ask for permission. She had been so focused on the upcoming celebration, that she had forgotten about whether she could even go to it.

"Yeeaaah, I uh.. I'd really like to go. Is that cool with you?" She asked. Her fingers tapped against the counter, wondering where her nerves were coming from. From the other end of the line, her mother let out a sigh and she felt the need to justify her longing. "I just, I really want to get out there and see Alola, you know? I want to know about who we are, aside from just the stories you've told me. I just can't keep myself… stuck here, doing the same thing every day. I don't want that again…"

"Oh Mahina, you have no idea how… how thrilled I am that you're taking an interest in our culture." Her mom told her. "Really, I… I have no problem, especially if- I want you to experience Alola. I want you to be comfortable with the islands and the people, I want all of that for you baby, I do. I just…" At this her mother's voice trailed off, and Moon sat against the counter waiting. She knew how her mother could get, how she needed the time to form her words when they approached subjects like this. "I wish I could be there with you, to experience these things. Like a mother should."

Moon let out a sigh, scratching at her towel. "Yeah… me too. But you're working! It's not like back in Kanto, at least now I actually get to see you throughout the day." Her mother chuckled on the other end, and Moon knew they were both glad those days were behind them. "I'll do this one with the professor, and the next one we can do together, okay? Maybe by then you'll like, have some vacation days saved up or something – however those work, I don't know."

"I have to work for a year before I get vacation days, until then I can only take unpaid leave." Her mother explained. Moon personally thought that was a class-A jip right there. "And normally I wouldn't mind, but everything in Alola is just so damned expensive, plus the moving fees on top of the… well, let me worry about the money. You worry about being a kid, and enjoying the celebration. Be safe, make friends, try some of everything- oh! Take some tupperware, I want to get something out of this when I come home tonight."

Moon giggled at that. "Yeah, I got you covered. I'll be with the professor, can't get much more safe than that… granted the man purposefully gets socked by hariyamas in his spare time, but I think I'll be alright." Her mom echoed her laughter, likely knowing the professor's hobbies all too well.

"Oh I know, but I have to worry regardless. That's kind of like, half of a mother's job, you know?" There was the sound of a car horn going off in the background on her mother's end, and a familiar sigh of exasperation met Moon's ears. "Told that dipstick not to mess with the panic button, now look. Ugh, anyways, I know you'll be fine dear. It's not like you're the one taking the trails. Grab a snack before you head out in case you have to wait for the feast, alright?"

"Gotcha. I love you, I'm gonna get ready now and let you go. You mind if I have that last malasada in the fridge?" Moon asked as she strolled into the kitchen, propping the refrigerator open with her foot.

"Take it, those things are too sweet for me. Just make sure to heat it up in the microwave, okay?"

"I'll think about it." She would not think about it. "Have a good shift, I love you, buh-bye!"

"Mahina Kanoa, you'll ruin the taste! Don't you dare eat that food cold or so help me I will-" Click. Moon smirked and set her phone aside, taking a bite out of the chilled malasada as she returned to her room. What to wear to such a traditional event? The professor had said something comfortable, but Moon had the feeling that was his usual response to clothing based inquiries. She had some button-ups, a few dresses, a polo or two that didn't look too thick, and even a boho shirt that she thought looked a bit gaudy.

Eventually she settled on a white tank top, a loose cream colored shirt that was littered with pink and yellow flowers and had belonged to her mother once upon a time, and some teal shorts that might've been too short, but damn it if it wasn't a scorcher out there. Her shoes and purse went without saying. The shirt hung a bit too loose for Moon's taste, and after realizing that it would come out of the legs of her shorts if she tried to tuck it in, she resigned to simply tying it at her waist.

The last addition she pulled from a box beside her door; a red toque that was shaped like a hibiscus bearing the stitching of a pokeball. She held the hat in her hands for a few seconds, inspecting it. It had been a welcoming gift from the professor when she had first arrived in Alola, when his wife had taken Moon clothes shopping. It was a sentimental sort of gift, and although Moon hadn't found the occasion to wear it, what better time than at an event as a small way of appreciation? He was the reason she was going after all.

She worried about the heat, but the material was light and airy like cotton, fitting perfectly right on top of her head. A quick hairbrush over her bangs in the mirror, and Moon was just about ready to go. She stuffed her ukulele in her purse; she never knew when inspiration might strike her with lyrics, and a celebratory ceremony seemed like just the place for her to pick up some new melodies and tricks.

After a few hours of laying around, watching television, and tuning her ukulele for the tenth time, she heard the familiar noise of a truck pulling into the driveway. A quick glance past the tag that read "puka makani" revealed a white pickup truck idling outside, and Moon couldn't withstand the glee that was starting to leak from her smile. She gave their lounging meowth a quick kiss and a goodbye, "See ya, stinky!" before leaping out the door and down the steps.

Then she climbed them again and locked the door behind her, because her mom would eat her alive if she didn't.

Professor Kukui greeted Moon with a two finger salute as she moved to the passenger side. She didn't see his assistant, Lillie, inside the truck, but this didn't surprise her. The girl hadn't seemed the most socially confident, so a public event like this might've been too much for her. It was hard to feel bad as she hopped beside the professor, who seemed to really like wearing his open lab coat and shades all day, every day.

She was pretty confident she had never seen him with a shirt on. Perhaps he just didn't like doing a lot of laundry. Or maybe he just liked showing off his toned physique. Moon thought about it as she buckled up and realized that his wife, Professor Burnet, was likely the enforcer behind both of those reasons.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road." He mumbled as he threw the gear into reverse and turned to back out. "You ready for some authentic Alolan festivities, cousin? May be a bit different than what you're used to." Moon grinned in the affirmative. The more different, the better. They began the drive down the street, opposite of the way to Hau'oli City, and a reggae track began to play from the radio that both driver and passenger began to tap their fingers to. "Iki Town ain't too far, could probably walk if we had a head start but those errands kept me longer than I had expected."

"So, how different are we talking?" Moon asked. "In Kanto, kids go to school until they turn eleven and then they choose whether to become a registered trainer and train a pokemon, or to keep pursuing their education." Moon had personally chosen the latter, not because she didn't like pokemon, but because she found the idea of applying to schools a little more reliable in the long term when it came to being financially stable. Some days, however, she wondered.

The professor nodded, turning down the radio so that Moon could hear. "Sheesh, so young. In Alola we're… well, I guess you could call it old fashioned. A long time ago, fourteen was when a kid went from being a keiki to a kanaka makua- adulthood, you know? 'Course, back then that meant becoming a warrior for your tribe, becoming one with the world and the pokemon around you, giving your body and soul in conjunction with the Tapu."

"Tapu?"

"Oh for sure. Your mom hasn't mentioned the Tapu?" The professor asked. "Ancient island deities, very important to Alolan history and culture. Each island has one, and they're seen as the spirits of the islands themselves personified – the soil, the trees, the mountains, all of it – into pokemon. So, to pray and give tribute to the Tapu was our way of showing respect and thanks to the island for giving us bountiful harvests, good health, all that stuff."

Moon tried to think back to the stories her mother would tell her at bedtime. "Uh, I think I remember… something about a bird? A yellow bird that watched over the island." The professor laughed and nodded as they turned onto a main road.

"ʻAe, cousin. That would be Tapu Koko, Melemele's island deity. Fickle guardian, that one. Doesn't show himself often, likes to keep to himself, only really makes himself known when there's trouble. The kahuna can usually catch him for a word, if he wants one, but you'd have to be very lucky – or unlucky, depending on the circumstances – to see him." The professor shrugged and glanced over at Moon, giving her a grin. "Who knows! Iki Town is small, more like a village than anything, but it sits right at the base of Tapu Koko's heiau- I guess what you would call a temple."

Moon's face slowly dripped from enthused interest to mild confusion, and then flat out uncertainty.

"Wait, so like… these things are real? Like, these pokemon have been around since the islands first formed and are still around, to this day?" The idea was absolutely wild to her. There were myths and legends surrounding certain pokemon from region to region, but most of them seemed to be just that: legends. Folk tales to explain the weather, or where life and death stemmed from. Reports would crop up every few decades or so of someone claiming to be blessed by Ho-Oh, or a grainy photograph that could be the mythical Rayquaza or an exceptionally well-fed Dragonair.

Professor Kukui's voice turned surprisingly low as they slowed to a stop sign. "Moon, these aren't just fables we tell our children, they're a part of our life to this very day. People take their relationship with the Tapu very seriously, and wouldn't look kindly at assumptions of the island deities being seen as 'made up' or just 'local myths'." When he shifted his glasses, Moon could see he was giving her a serious look. "Whether you believe they're truly manifestations of the islands, or just exceptionally long-lived pokemon, I ask that you at the very least give them their just dues while on Alola should you ever encounter them. For your sake."

They continued their drive, and Moon tried not to look disconcerted at the change in tone. "O-oh, of course! It's just- you know, in Kanto- not that this is Kanto of course, I just assumed all-" This was not helping. She took a breath and relaxed, grabbing more than one thought at a time. "Yeah, of course. I didn't mean any disrespect, professor. Like I said, I'm here to learn, not to gawk." Yeah, that sounded smart and polite. What better time to reel the subject back in? "So, what exactly are the trials? Are they like, major tests of strength and wisdom?"

The professor smiled at Moon, and as he glanced over she followed his line of vision to a green sign bearing the words, "IKI TOWN - NEXT EXIT LEFT". It was closer than she thought after all.

"No harm done, cuz, no harm. I know you lived in a different region for a while, that's why I'm letting you know before you say the wrong thing to the wrong person." There was an underlying statement from the professor there, she could tell, but he continued on before she could think too hard on it. "Trials, aaah, the trials.. well, nowadays they're a lot less dangerous. We have captains who oversee each trial across the islands, and each one has changed with time with each captain. Traditionally there's some tasks, and then a mighty battle with the Totem pokemon that the captains train themselves."

Moon let out a small "Huh.", thinking about it. "That's… actually kinda interesting. It reminds me a bit of the Indigo League back in Kanto, but instead of just battling you're actually doing… things. Sounds more personal, I guess." The professor nodded at that, but his smile dropped somewhat just as soon as it had shown up.

"Mmh, yeah, we got a league of our own being built." He said as the truck slowed, turning up a dirt path that broke off from the main street. "I'm actually on the board of directors regarding the construction and installation… should've stayed to studying pokemon. The politics and the funds are just… gehena." Moon didn't have to pick apart the bitterness in his voice to recognize a sore topic; she'd overheard plenty about it during their dinners already. Mercifully, Iki Town was coming into view..

Professor Kukui had been right to call it little more than a village; there were maybe nineteen buildings within the clearing of trees that clustered the surrounding area in a dense wood, and who knew how many of those were actually houses? The sound of pahu drums and excited conversation carried in the air, and for as small as Iki Town was, there was certainly a large crowd that was bustling through the dirt paths. The truck wobbled as the professor pulled up to a spot in the grass not too far from the road, and smiled at Moon.

Moon didn't need telling twice. She opened the door and hung off the step, in awe of the sights and sounds before her as small groups and crowds shifted and moved around the truck, all of them following the path deeper into town. It wasn't just people either, there were trumbeak in the trees staring down with cocked heads at the commotion, rockruffs following their trainers and play-fighting with one another, and even a flock of spearow flying far over the treetops. People and pokemon, enjoying and celebrating in tandem.

It might've seemed like a pretty normal thing, having people and pokemon be so close and just living side by side, but in Alola everything just seemed more enthusiastic. There was a sense of connection, though Moon couldn't quite put a name to it, that just seemed to bind everyone and everything together in respect and harmony that she had never seen anywhere else. After all, she realized as she took a few steps onto the path and peered further into the town, you didn't see bonfires the size of a small house in Kanto.

Moon was bouncing on the balls of her feet, grinning a goofy grin as she watched the festivities. She felt a gentle push from behind, and saw the professor smiling encouragingly.

"What are you waiting for, cousin? I'm not your chaperone; go meet some folk and talk story, think there's even a few stalls folk got set up for some snacks before the feast." He hefted a box from the bed of his truck with the words "Trial Balls" written on the side in marker. "You got some spending money?"

Moon nodded, she didn't go anywhere in Alola without some cash after all

"Right on! Oh uh, let me know if you see the kahuna somewhere, yeah? Big fella, white hair, hard to miss. He's supposed to meet me here for these…" With that, the professor gave a simple jerk of the head towards the path and Moon happily merged into the throng of others gathering and moving as one towards the center of the town. The town itself was sloped somewhat, with several sets of stairs that ascended the hill that lead to the epicenter of the town. Nobody paid her any mind as she walked along, which she liked; she felt almost as one with the people of Iki Town at that moment; just another member of the community.

The top of the hill seemed to be where the ceremony would take place, as when Moon ascended the stairs she saw a large clearing amongst several buildings where a sort or stage had been constructed, stairs on opposing sides. The stage itself was clearly old and made of lama ebony wood that gave it a dark contrast against the lighter browns of the soil beneath it. As she got closer she saw the platform had been inscribed with white chalk that punctuated symbols and pictures in a ring around the center. People had gathered around the corners and were talking animatedly; Moon guessed the ceremony hadn't quite started yet.

That worked well for her, she wanted some time to explore. She saw several stalls selling various trinkets and talismans, some bearing similar symbols to the ones on her ukulele. There was clapping and jubilant whooping from the bonfire, which was easily thrice her height, as well as the source of the rhythmic drumming that she had heard. A group of boys her age and a girl sat nearby, eating bowels of poi and laughing together except for one boy, who seemed rather unimpressed with their conversation.

Moon's stomach grumbled; that single malasada hadn't exactly done wonders for her. She glanced around and sure enough there was a stand selling poi not too far from where the boys sat. She passed by, not noticing as one glanced up at her as she made her way over to the stall, where a large shirtless man with dark wavy hair was mashing taro root into a bowl. He leaned his head out and smiled down at her as she approached, holding her cash eagerly before her.

"Alola! Can I bet a bowl of poi please?" She asked. The stallholder nodded, setting the one he was working on aside for an already finished bowl.

"Shuah ting sistah, wat you like wit dat?" He asked. Moon thought about it for a second, and tried to glance around for any condiments.

"Uh, do you have shoyu sauce?" She checked, a bit hesitant. The man chuckled and pulled out a small black bottle that he began to mix into the bowl.

"Eh, you like shoyu?" The bowl turned from a light purple to a dark violet as the sauce mixed with the poi. "Fo' shua! Enjoy sistah!" Moon grinned, sliding her money over and eagerly accepting the bowl as she wandered away and back towards the edges of the bonfire. The poi was tart and sweet, but the soy brought out a wallop of salty and umami flavors that reminded her of Kanto. She never thought she'd reminisce over Kanto of all things, but the flavors brought back memories.

As Moon stuck another spoonful in her mouth, she glanced around at the various groups of chattering attendees and stalls and realized she wasn't quite sure what to do next. What she wanted, looking back at the music coming from the bonfire, was to learn more about Alola. Storytelling and music often went hand in hand with such things, and so it was that she wanted to go and ask to partake in the music, or to join in on the telling of history and fable, but she couldn't quite bring herself to.

Moon was by no means an introverted girl, in fact she had often been accused of being too outgoing, never quite picking up on boundaries or social cues. Yet here, at this moment, she was bitten by a pang of hesitation. Nervousness. Why? She wasn't quite sure, but it felt like something both obvious and mysterious. Maybe if the professor or her mother was here…

I'll never get anything done if I stand here and do nothing, she thought to herself. Steeling her resolve, she decided the best course of action was to find a middle-man, someone who could help introduce her rather than just barging in. She eyed someone who was watching the performance and recognized him as one of the boys who had been eating poi earlier. She smiled and approached from the side, poi in one hand and ukulele in the other.

"Alola!" She greeted. The boy's tanned skin clashed with the lighter colors he wore; a bright blue tank top and white trunks, and he stared at her from between the curls of black that hung around his face. He didn't smile. "I uh, I was wondering about the bonfire. Or well, the singing and dancing around the bonfire. I'd really like to learn how to play more traditional songs, and I wanted to know what the best way to uh, do that was… by asking them, I mean! I don't want to interrupt them, ahaha."

The boy looked at her for a second, blinking a few times as though he was having to process something absurd. "This ain't no lūʻau." He muttered and then turned back to the bonfire. Now it was Moon's turn to blink in uncertainty.

"Oh, I know! I'm just kinda unsure about- like, I want to learn about Alola. Like, really learn. I play the ukulele and-" As Moon motioned with her instrument the boy rounded her again, this time with a visibly clenched jaw as he spoke.

"Stop, just- stop. This isn't a place for you to just come and dance around like an idiot, yeah? This isn't those tourist celebrations they throw on the beach, this is a big part of our history and our people, not some mainlander birthday bash with tiki torches and leis." He glanced off and down towards the ground for a minute as though wrestling with what he was saying. His accent became more pronounced as he spoke. "Do- do you even know wat dis is, like da entire ceremony?"

Moon was caught off guard. Her mouth suddenly felt very dry despite the poi and she tried to find a proper response as she felt her cheeks voluntarily flush with embarrassment. "I- no, that's why I want to learn- I mean, I know a bit about the ceremony, Professor Kukui-" But the boy cut her off again.

"Course you don't. Dis, is a celebration of our warrior spirits – da pride and wisdom we have as kanaka, as servants of da land and people of da Tapu. Da way we put the land and people before us." He took a step forward. "Our communion with pokemon." Moon took a step back. "Our bravery!" He took a step forward once more, breathed through his nose, and ran a hand through his hair. "But whatever. You want to eat poi and pretend you're at a resort? Fine, just shut up and be respectful." He turned and looked away from her, back towards the fire without a second though.

Moon stood there for a moment, stunned. She felt in a sort of haze, only briefly recognizing the words that left her lips as she turned away from the boy.

"Yeah, I understand. Sorry."

Dimly she walked away from the bonfire and felt a shameful burning against her cheeks as she both looked around and tried not to do so visibly. Had anyone overheard? Was anyone staring at her? She didn't dare meet anyone's eyes, couldn't bring herself to if she tried. She wandered away from the music and the dancing, away from the gathering of people and from any prying eyes, nearly tripping over a pikachu as she did so. Her cheeks were still tinged from embarrassment, and she absolutely hated it.

The poi didn't taste as good anymore, and she returned the bowl absently as she gave a quick glance around. Suddenly the lack of lingering eyes felt less like a sign of conformity, and more of a purposeful disregard. Was that what it was? That prickling sense of nervousness, anxiety welling up inside her made sense now, and she understood as clear as day something that she hadn't been able to quite put her finger on earlier.

Moon did not look Alolan. Despite having been island-born, despite her mother's indigenous upbringing, Moon looked much more like her Kantoan father. And that made her stand out.

"Alola, sister!"A voice greeted her from the side. She jumped; she didn't like being so lost in thought that she could be snuck up on. Most of the time it was her who did the sneaking and startling. She had walked to the edge of the clearing without realizing, and against the backdrop of a wooden sign leaned another boy roughly her age. What at first appeared to be black hair was actually a dark seaweed color, loosely tied into a short tail. His eyes were the color of a stormy sky, but calm and gentle as opposed to the harsh coolness one might have expected. His smile was no less warm, and he looked rather comfortable in a slate t-shirt and bright orange board shorts.

Not wanting to be rude, but also wanting to avoid another verbal lashing, she returned the gesture and made to walk past him.

"Alola. Don't mind me, just wanted to get a look at the…" She leaned forward, trying to peek at the words on the wooden sign he leaned against. "Mahalo… the 'Thank you' trail?" She mumbled aloud before she could stop herself. She didn't realize how… touristy that sounded until she had said it, and resisted the urge to pinch her nose. She was pretty sure she recognized him as the disinterested boy sitting with the other, and expected a familiar response. The boy however, who looked familiar now that she looked a bit closer, laughed. It was a kind, jovial laughter, rather than a demeaning one.

"Heha, yeah that's a fair translation." He nodded. "But actually, mahalo is more than just how you might say 'Thanks'. It's gratitude itself, respect and admiration towards those around us and the land. A lot of Alolan is based on the nature of a thing rather than what it physically is, and that goes for more than just the language!" He lifted an open hand, motioning towards the celebration. "Heck, even all of this is really just our way of celebrating the nature of growth and change, rather than just some kids turning fourteen. So, really, I guess the best translation would be, 'The Trail of Gratitude and Praise'."

Moon managed a smile. This boy's correction held no scorn whatsoever, and was nothing short of encouraging after her last interaction. "Ah, sorry. I'm uh, still learning Alolan. I want to connect with the culture and the people, but I guess I feel sort of… unsure? Maybe… walking the trail would help? You know, get away from all the uh… noise." She patted her purse where the head of her ukulele stuck out. "Music is really important to me, so…"

The boy, who had yet to introduce himself, frowned for a moment. At first Moon thought she had said something wrong, but then noticed he wasn't frowning at her, rather he was frowning behind her at something – or someone. Before she could look behind her however, the boy was beaming at her once more, flashing her the shaka as he stood from the sign and began to walk off.

"Hey, there's no wrong way to connect to Alola. Music is a pretty good one though, you picked the right instrument to get in tune with the spirit of Melemele, and probably the Tapu themselves to boot!" He glanced back at her, nodding towards the entrance to the trail. "I hope you pick up some good vibes in there sister, that's what we're all about here. I mean it." With that he left her behind, arms lazily thrown behind his head as he returned to the festivities. Moon watched him go, and then remembering why she had been so keen to clear off in the first place, stepped onto the trail.

The first thing she noticed about the path was that it started to incline not too far in, and soon her knees were bending with a bit of effort to push herself along the hill. The trees swayed, plentiful and thick as she passed, like they were dancing to her walk up the path. The path curled up the side of the mountain, becoming craggily as she held her hands against the rock wall to support herself. A ledyba chirped at her as she passed, but she continued climbing.

Welp, guess everyone thinks I'm a tourist. It shouldn't have surprised her, but the fact was that it did. It surprised her, and it hurt, but it also made sense. She didn't look Alolan, her skin was ghostly, she was pretty scrawny for as much as she ate, and she only knew bits and pieces of her own language. Really, who wouldn't think of her as some bratty kid coming to play at the beach while her parents drank mai tais and watched hula girls?

She sighed and grabbed her ukulele, twisting the tuning knobs. The possibility had never even been there for her to consider that she'd be seen differently. Growing up, her mother had always told her she was Alolan. They were Alolan. Sure, at some point she'd looked at her appearance and demeanor and thought about how it was a little different than what her mother told her and showed her, but she had always brushed it aside because her heritage had been reinforced so many times.

"Yeah I'm still in Alola, and I can't write a single song…" She sang to herself, looking at a munchlax as it yawned against a tree. "I feel like a dork, thinking that I actually belonged in Alooooola, Alooooola." If the forest was supposed to grant her magical "vibes" then it wasn't doing a very good job, but she kept strumming regardless. It was something to do; an activity to distract her.

So what? Who cares if I don't look Alolan? That was a stupid question, because she cared. Part of the whole reason for coming back to Alola was for her to connect with the people and her home. She ignored the rock carvings she passed, trying to think of a better way to get around this problem in her head. Why was this getting to her so much? Was it just lingering embarrassment? She had been born here, even though she hadn't lived here – but what if that was what made someone truly Alolan? What if she was just a tourist?

Maybe these thoughts wouldn't have consumed her if she had been an adult. But she wasn't an adult. She was fourteen.

"... My heart is Alolan." She said, staring down at her ukulele. "That sounds smart, right? But what even is being Alolan?! I tried to ask and that jerk just yelled at me!" Everyone had seen so welcoming and accepting of her before, but was that just fake? Did everyone look at her like the outsider she was, and she just hadn't noticed? Why did this bother her so much? Maybe she should interact more with pokemon? Why did she still care?! She was so good at putting her problems behind her, at accepting things and moving on. If she could do it with everything that happened before they moved, why not with this? Why couldn't she even hear pokemon?

Moon paused. The ridiculous thoughts in her head stopped because she had noticed all of the noises outside of her head had stopped. She didn't hear any pokemon because there were none to hear. The forest was still, no longer swaying to the wind, no longer buzzing with bug-type pokemon. Stillness. Deathly. It was unnerving, as though she was treading on something she should not; approaching something that did not want her presence. Surely it wasn't her imagination, and the pokemon in the woods had sensed it too, right?

Moon glanced behind her, past the slope and over the trees where if she looked just far enough she could see the thin line of the ocean as it met with the sky in the horizon. It would have been beautiful if she hadn't felt so on edge. Perhaps, and she would only consider this later in the days to come, marching into a wooded trail on a tropical island without a pokemon was not the brightest of ideas.

Then she heard the cry, and the shiver it sent down her spine was enough to make her jolt. That was a very obvious sign to scamper down the path and go back the way she came; anyone with sense would have agreed that screams in the woods and lone fourteen year old girls did not a good combination make. The fact that the scream was close should have capitalized on this, but a second thought grabbed hold of her panic, soothing it like an upset child as it was tucked into bed.

What did she, of all people, have to fear?

Her feet carried her along the path, quickly but quietly as she held her heels out before her first to mitigate the thwump of her shoes. Years of sneaking mochi out of the kitchen had paid off well. To think she had been worried about what people perceived her as mere minutes ago! This was exciting, terrifying and probably dangerous, but oh how she liked it. It was so much better than being cooped up in a bed, or on the beach. She had meant to creep up behind a palm tree, survey the situation, but what she saw stopped her on the trail.

Ahead of her, at the edge of what looked to be a gapped clearing was a figure. The white of her clothes reflected brightly against the earthy tones of green and brown, and her blonde hair whipped back and forth as she flailed her duffel bag wildly. The sight was so unexpected, that for a second Moon wasn't sure what was happening. A bizarre dance? A frenzied attempt at breaking something in the bag? But then as she stepped closer she saw that it was not what was in the bag, but what was latched onto it.

"Creeeaaw!" A brown and red bundle of feathers had its talons sunk into the bag, and was flapping its wings wildly in an attempt to break free and attack the girl. She recognized the cry and sight of the spearow before she did the girl, because she had seen them hundreds of times before in Kanto. There they were less-than-affectionately referred to as "Mean-ass Birds". This was both because of their constantly hostile attitude and penchant for attacking random passerby, as well as eating the young of other flying-types just because it could.

They really were just mean-ass birds.

"Stop! Stop, get off, GET OFF!" The girl cried as she waved her bag frantically. The way her voice carried such desperation and defiance shook Moon from her stupor, and she found herself rushing forward. The spearow was snapping its beak at the girl, pecking at her wide-brimmed hat – wait, Moon recognized this girl! – and was screeching up a storm louder than the screaming fireworks back home.

The girl must've heard Moon, because she turned and called out to her. "Please! Please help me, m-my pokemon is-" That one moment of changed focus cost her, as the spearow took its opportunity to snip at her ear and unleash small flecks of blood that spattered along her dress."OW! Ow ow ow!" Her hands went to her ear, dropping the bag and relinquishing the bird from its entanglement. It wasn't done yet.

"Creeeaa-THWACK!" The spearow's head jolted backwards as the base of Moon's ukulele smacked into it, knocking it backwards and tumbling into the dirt. It raised its head, stumbled forward, and proceeded to eat more dirt and lie still. Moon's breath was heavy, checking the bottom of her prized instrument for any denting or blood. She really hoped she hadn't killed it.

Our communion with pokemon, the boy had said. She had just attacked a pokemon. With an instrument that was an icon of the region. If there was a hell in Alola, she was pretty sure she had doomed herself to it.

The girl (Luna? Lilian?) turned to Moon, shock registering on her face and in her eyes that reflected back at Moon like an emerald sea. She clearly hadn't been expecting Moon to do that. To be fair, neither had Moon. Her shock quickly dissipated as she winced and clenched her ear, blood dribbling slightly from between her fingers. Moon instantly made to check on her, but the girl shook her head and pointed outwards.

"P-please, ow- oh Arceus that hurts, please help m-my pokemon." She hissed through clenched teeth. Moon glanced off and saw that beyond was a bridge, rickety and decayed with broken plants and frayed ropes that stretched all the way across the gap. She could hear the water rushing now, and a few steps forward revealed they were in fact above a river. It was currently being drowned out by the familiar screeching of three more spearow, all flapping around a little ball of cosmic fluff stuck shaking in the middle of the bridge. They were taking turns dive-bombing it, grabbing it with their talons and tearing fluffs of it away like cotton-candy.

"Nebby!" Lillie cried out (Was it Lillie? She was pretty sure it was Lillie.) with an outstretched hand. Moon had to admire her resolve; she stood from where she had fallen to one knee and tried to take a step out onto the bridge. It creaked beneath her weight, which judging by her slim physique couldn't have been very much, and she hesitated. Moon knew the smart option, the one her mother would probably say is the safest, was to take the girl back down to Iki Town and find someone who could probably handle this situation safely, with pokemon.

But the simple truth was that by the time they made it down there and got help, this pokemon would die. It obviously couldn't defend itself, and it clearly meant the absolute world to this girl. This girl who she didn't know, who she wasn't friends with, was helpless to fix something that was important to her. Moon knew that feeling all too well, the hopeless struggle against what couldn't be controlled by one's own hands.

What kid didn't know that feeling?

Moon handed her ukulele off to Lillie, who awkwardly held onto it as Moon stepped out onto the boards. If she took her ukulele with her, she was probably going to smash mean-ass birds with it until it broke, and she kinda liked the thing. They creaked, they groaned, but she didn't stop. Mostly because if she did she might lose her nerve. Lillie might've called out a warning of caution to Moon, but she was too focused on holding onto the rope. That and the spearow were ear-rakingly loud. Step by step, board by board. Was the wind always this strong?

"How the heck did this thing get out here, anyway?" Moon mumbled as she pushed herself forward. One of the spearow saw her and made a beeline for her, honing on her like a target. She imagined herself, cool as a cucumber, smacking the spearow deftly out of the way and continuing her path. Instead she flailed a bit, mumbled a few curses as it flew around her arms, and shoved it aside as she pushed up further. "Augh, get off you- ow! Mean-ass bird!" Soon another one joined in, and this was when Moon realized she had officially messed up.

"Ow, little- I'm gonna strangle- ow, ow holy hell!" Three of the spearow had focused in on Moon, which she supposed was a good thing in her goal to save the little pokemon. The problem was she couldn't properly walk and protect herself, and her willpower wasn't strong enough to continue without trying to swat at them or shield herself. The bridge was already swaying from the wind, and her balance was becoming more and more jeopardized as they took their assault to her. She hoped the little guy would run past her, or that Lillie would call for it, but neither did.

She was so close! She could see the bundle of fluff between the hail of feathers and talons, if she could just take one more step and pick it up she would be home free. Step. Creeeak.

"Oh, this is taurosshi-" Moon stumbled as her foot plummeted through the board, snapping it in two and knocking her prone against the bridge. Lillie cried out, the pokemon cried out, and Moon cried as well because now the mean-ass birds had seen their target fall. They swarmed her, raking their talons across her skin and pecking against whatever part of her remained exposed. Her scream caught in her breath as pain shot through her there really wasn't any other way to put it. It hurt. It stung like knives fileting her skin which wasn't something she knew from firsthand, but this was exactly how she imagined that overwhelming searing pain.

Stupid, I'm stupid, I'm gonna die stupid, Moon thought to herself as she reached over and pulled the little pokemon to her chest and held it beneath her. She had to get up, but her foot was stuck and the pain rendered her immobile. She had never felt anything like this before and it left her brain fuzzy. The pokemon was crying against her chest, and the blood was dripping down her back as her skin was opened again and again. It was just pain. Just pain.

If Moon hadn't been so close to going blind from the pain, she might've known that none of the pokemon were trying to slice her with talons. If she hadn't been so focused on protecting the little ball of fluff that she had only just met for a girl she didn't even know but whose eyes had made her shiver just a little, she may have seen the glowing blue aura that grew in a hazy sphere around the two of them. She may have heard Lillie gasp and cry out to her.

But she didn't.

The bridge exploded around her in a flash of light that she did not see, and when the only sound that remained was the sound of air swishing past her and the dark water approaching her, only then did she open her eyes and see the world fall away before her. It was all so sudden, she didn't even really understand what was happening in truth, but she didn't need to. In that instant, she knew what was about to happen.

Don't be scared. She wasn't scared, not of this. Was she scared of what her mother would think? Her mother who would've thought backing away and getting help the safest option, but going forward and trying to help the right option. Was she scared of how that Lillie girl would surely blame herself for what was about to happen? Nobody their age should have that on their shoulders, it was why she tried so hard to not get close. Would this little creature survive? Would it hate her if it did? Who knew? Not Moon.

She wanted more time to think, think about how silly her fears of not fitting in were, about how much she loved the island, about how much she had left to do, about how she would miss her mother so dearly, about everything. The world and its people, and how it affected her. But her brain was already running in overdrive, and the water was right there. There was no more time to think. She closed her eyes, calmly and prepared for the inevitable. The end of her song.

She hit the river with a mighty splash that she did not see, and then the darkness was all that she knew.