Grimsley returned to the Pokémon Center with Lillie and Selene later that night. The girls went to Nurse Joy at the receptionist desk and reserved rooms for themselves. Nanu wasn't in the lounge when they arrived, so he assumed either the kahuna was still away or went to bed early. He stayed with the girls for about an hour, and they promised they would eat breakfast together tomorrow before he too retired to his own room.
The next morning, Grimsley went to Nanu's room and knocked at his door. A disgruntled "What?" from him was shouted from the other side. Grimsley cleared his throat.
"I'm about to have breakfast with Lillie and Selene now. Would you like to join us?"
A moment passed until Nanu said, "Er, I'm not hungry right now. You guys can go ahead."
Grimsley narrowed his eyes and pressed his lips. "The girls and I didn't see you last night. Did you go to bed early?"
"Huh?" A long pause. "You can say that. Tired from going to that island and all."
Raising a brow, Grimsley somehow wasn't convinced that was the case. He decided to leave him for now and told him that he would be at the lounge if he changed his mind.
Shortly after, he and the girls ate breakfast together. While eating his pancakes and sausage, he listened to Selene talk about how she was able to defeat Guzma in their first battle.
"So after Meli defeated his Masquerain, he sent out his Golisopod again. The two had a hard-fought battle, but then I ended it with Meli's Z-Move! He was a sore loser after that."
"I wasn't a fan of Pokémon battles, but seeing Selene put her full trust in her Pokémon was a beautiful sight to see," Lillie said, and that made Selene blush.
"After seeing you go against Guzma back in Po Town, I can see why," Grimsley said with a chuckle.
The three ate the rest of breakfast in silence. Once they were done, Hapu and Mina entered the Pokémon Center.
"Alola, Alola!" Mina said and waved to everyone. "Are you all ready to go?"
"Ah huh!" Selene said, beaming. "Can't wait to see Tapu Fini!"
"I brought both my and my grandma's Mudsdale with me, so you girls can take hers while Grimsley will ride with me."
"And how about Mina?" Grimsley asked.
"I'll be riding on her Flygon," Mina said. "It'll be fun seeing you guys from above!"
Grimsley blinked, and then he grunted. He was only slightly taken aback by that response.
"You guys are going to see Tapu Fini?" someone asked. Grimsley turned around to see Nanu approaching them and scratching the back of his head.
Hapu nodded. "I'm taking them to the Ruins of Hope with me. I'm going there to seek Tapu Fini's approval to become Kahuna of this island."
Nanu flinched, and he furrowed his brow at Grimsley. "I thought I told you to not go see that tapu."
"I'm only coming with them to see the Ruins of Hope and Hapu becoming kahuna," Grimsley said as he crossed his arms. "Nothing more."
Nanu raised a suspicious brow, only to later let out a huff.
"As long as you don't do anything stupid." He jerked his head for a second. "Have any of you seen Agents Anabel and Looker? I checked their rooms, and they haven't returned yet."
Grimsley shook his head, and so did Lillie and Selene.
"Did something happen between you guys?" Mina asked.
"Kinda, but it's very personal and I can't say more than that. How about Wicke?"
"Oh, Wicke told Selene and I that she'll be at Poni Beach," Lillie said.
Nanu's eyes grew wide before his expression changed back to an indifferent one. "All right, I'll be heading there then. You guys have fun at the Ruins of Hope."
Grimsley blinked and stared off in the distance when Nanu left the Pokémon Center. So something did happen between Nanu and his friends last night and he was troubled by it. It must be serious if he was worried about them.
"Well, if all of you finished eating already we can head out now!" Hapu said, grinning.
Everyone hummed in agreement. After cleaning up the table with Lillie and Selene, Grimsley went outside with the others.
Now, to the Ruins of Hope.
Xxx
Connecting Ancient Poni Path and the Ruins of Hope was the Poni Breaker Coast, a cliffside beach with large waves crashing on the shore. Several geysers erupted like volcanoes and sprayed on Grimsley's face, causing him to spit out the salty water from his mouth.
He and Hapu rode on Bricks, her Mudsdale. They led the way while Selene and Lillie on Eli's Mudsdale were behind them. The horses' hooves smacked hard on the black stones stuck on the ground. He was reminded of when he rode on a Mudsdale to the Ruins of Abundance, the horse Pokémon able to get through the sharp stones with ease. Mina was up in the air with Hapu's Flygon, the Mystic Pokémon shrieking and circling around.
"Oh I'm curious, what are your Flygon's and grandmother's Mudsdale's names?" Lillie asked.
"My Flygon's name is Buttercup while my grandma named hers good ol' Marie. All three Pokémon had been with my family since my grandparents were trainers."
"So is it just you and your grandmother together, then?" Grimsley asked, noticing how much she praised her grandparents.
"Yes. My pa left when I was a youngin while my ma passed away, so Grandpa Sofu and Grandma Eli watched over me instead."
"My mom and I are my only family too after my parents separated," Selene said. "Mom is going back to school and I'm proud of her for that!"
"Speaking of which, do you still have trouble with the assignment Ms. Emily gave you?" Lillie asked, and Selene groaned.
"It's not hard, just that the short stories she assigned were boring. Hau thought the same."
Lillie pouted and said, "If I were you I would finish those after we finish with the Ruins of Hope today."
"Cheren, the gym leader in Unova I told you about before, would say the same thing if he were your teacher," Grimsley said. He had been in Cheren's classes a few times before, his teaching style firm but flexible. Selene probably wouldn't survive in his class.
Eventually they stopped at a large body of water, resembling a small lake. Everyone hopped off the Mudsdale and walked to the edge of it. At that moment, Mina and Buttercup landed on the ground and joined the group.
"Okay, so we're ready?" Mina asked with a clap of her hands.
"Wait, so where are the Ruins of Hope?" Selene asked, tilting her head. "Don't tell me it's below that lake!"
Mina nodded, her bangs bobbing with her head. "Ah huh. However, wait and watch."
Grimsley, Lillie, and Selene stood still and waited a moment until the water was slowly drained out. Down below, beautiful coral reefs of different colors were in front of the Ruins of Hope entrance. Grimsley's eyes grew wide while Lillie and Selene gasped in amazement.
Hapu closed her eyes and inhaled. "All right, let's go."
Everyone followed her down the steps and into the Ruins of Hope. The first room was similar to the Ruins of Abundance but with rushing water instead of sand. A Wailmer and a Clawitzer popped up, splashing the floor a little. The group moved forward.
The next room also bears some resemblance to the Ruins of Abundance. They were in the middle of the wooden floorboards and the altar with the totem on top stood in front of them. More waters surrounded the area, and a light mist rolled in.
"You should bring Nebby out," Selene said.
Lillie hummed and opened her bag. She pulled out Nebby, sleeping in her palms.
Grimsley gazed up and watched as Hapu took the stairs up to the altar. She bowed down in front of the totem.
"Oh Tapu Fini, guardian of Poni Island and the waters. I've traveled through all of Alola, fought against the Totems, and was tested by the Tapu-all so I can be by your side. Show yourself so that I may be chosen as the next kahuna and follow in my grandpa's footsteps!"
Several seconds passed with no response. Hapu lifted her head and her eyes flared.
"Why?" Hapu cried out. "Why aren't you giving me your blessings now? Am I not strong enough yet? Did I do something wrong? Please answer me!"
No response once more. Grimsley narrowed his eyes and swallowed, the air growing thicker. He glanced to see Lillie, Selene, and Mina frowning.
Hapu came down the stairs, her head hanging down. Mina patted her shoulder when she joined back with the group.
"Maybe Tapu Fini is waiting for the right moment to see you like Tapu Bulu," Mina said, trying to sound hopeful.
"Perhaps." Hapu sighed and dropped her gaze on the floor. "I thought Tapu Fini would choose me the moment I returned."
"Nebby isn't responding here either," Lillie said in a concerned voice. In her hands, Nebby was still sleeping.
"Can Tapu Fini do anything to help it?" Selene asked.
"I'm not sure. I just thought it was worth a shot." Lillie gently put Nebby back inside her bag and closed it. "Perhaps going to the Altar of the Sunne might help."
"Is that where you girls plan to go next?" Grimsley asked with a raised brow.
Lillie nodded. "We have to go through the Vast Poni Canyon first, though. I heard the PokéRide service isn't used as much here."
Selene turned to Hapu and Mina. "You think you two can help us through there, then?"
"Bricks and I are more than happy to lend a hand," Hapu said, smiling. "We can set out there tomorrow morning since it'll be a long trek."
Mina wore a similar expression. "Of course. It's not everyday you get to see a legendary."
Selene and Lillie giggled and grinned at each other.
"I wish all of you a safe trip." When Grimsley looked up at the altar, his smile faded. He was disappointed that Tapu Fini didn't appear and use their powers, but perhaps it was for the best.
Xxx
Nanu usually avoided Poni Beach whenever he visited the island, but this time he went there to find Charlotte. A few Mantine surfers were hitting the waves, attempting several complicated tricks. The sunlight hit his face, and the warm sand got stuck in-between his toes.
He remembered how the sun was low and the sky a swirl of orange and purple. How light Anabel was when he picked her up. How the smell of her blood clung inside his nostrils.
Charlotte stood at the edge of the shore, her voluptuous hair swaying with the ocean breeze. She turned her head and smiled at him.
"Sana always loved beaches. We would hold hands and walk along the shore."
"I don't know why people think that's romantic. You get sand in your shoes, bad sunburn, and water Pokémon bothering you." Nanu then said, "This was where Looker and I found Anabel."
Charlotte gasped, and she frowned. "I recall you telling me she was badly injured."
"Mhm. She was taken to the Hau'oli City Hospital and we were by her side while she recovered." He snorted. "You should've seen Looker. He didn't take his eyes off her for one second."
Charlotte chuckled. "Sounds like you two really cared for her."
Nanu swallowed hard. He remembered Anabel sleeping on the hospital bed with slow breaths and Looker holding her hand. When she woke up, she only remembered three things: her name, Hoenn, and a tower.
She mentioned a nightmare of a burly creature chasing her and felt as if that had happened before.
"Speaking of which, have you seen either of those two?" he asked, and Charlotte shook her head.
"I haven't seen Anabel returned yet, and I'm not sure where Looker is. They probably need some space at the moment. I hope that they're okay."
"Me too." Nanu stared off at the ocean, the Mantine surfers still riding the waves.
"Yo, Officer Nanu!" a female voice shouted. He turned around to see the Team Skull punks Dennis and Felicia approaching him.
"What are you two fools doing here?" Nanu asked in a stunned voice.
"We came here with our big sis and the rest of the gang," Dennis said, gesturing his arms. "You then popped up here too."
Charlotte blinked in confusion. "You know these two?"
"Kinda. They're a couple of kids from Team Skull who've been bothering me recently."
Felicia glared at Nanu, her hands on her hips. "What you and your crew did in the Shady House was whacked, embarrassing our boy Guzma like that."
"Hey, you guys distracted me and stole a kid's Yungoos. I wouldn't call that chivalry."
Both grunts sneered, and then Dennis said, "We only did what we were told to do! And right now we want some payback!"
As Felicia and Dennis stepped forward, they pulled out their pokeballs. Charlotte flinched and tugged at Nanu's sleeve.
"You sure about this?" she whispered, but Nanu ignored her question. If they wanted payback, he was going to give it to them. He grabbed a pokeball of his own and was about to press the button-
"Why are you numbskulls bothering the officer?"
A young woman stood in front of everyone with her arms crossed. She wore black clothing and a necklace with Team Skull's symbol like the other grunts, but had long pants on and the team's symbol tattooed on her stomach. Her pink and yellow hair was tied in four ponytails. Dennis and Felicia flinched upon seeing their big sister, Plumeria.
"Big sis!" Felicia called out. She and Dennis bowed their heads at her. "Officer Nanu went to the Shady House with some backup and defeated Guzma."
"Yeah!" Dennis followed up, raising his fist. "We were about to show him who's boss."
Plumeria narrowed her eyes at them. "That won't be necessary. I'll take things from here."
"Are you gonna kick his butt for us then?" Felicia asked, and Plumeria shook her head.
"Just trust me on this. Now leave before you make things worse."
The two grunts shook at Plumeria's raised voice, and they rushed off. She sighed and dragged her hand on her face.
"Sorry about that. They were pretty upset with what happened to Guzma."
"Is he the reason why you and your goons are here?" Nanu asked.
"Yeah. After Guzma and the president disappeared, we tried to find a way to get them back." She stared at Charlotte, raising a brow. "Aren't you from Aether? How come you're here?"
"Kahuna Nanu and I are past acquaintances. I'm here for some important business."
Nanu looked at Charlotte, and then at Plumeria. Thoughts of Guzma and her father rushed back at him. He turned back to Charlotte.
"I need a moment alone with Plumeria. There are some things I want to talk to her about."
"That's fine with me. I'll be around Seafolk Village if you need me." Charlotte gave him a small nod and headed out.
Nanu's sandals and feet got soaked as a large wave crashed onto the shore. He stared at Plumeria a moment before he cleared his throat and spoke.
"You knew about Guzma's connection to Lusamine and Aether Foundation," he said. Plumeria glared at him.
"I guess you would know sooner or later. But yes, the two were in contact for sometime. She was the first adult in a long while to take Guzma's strength seriously."
"Was she the one to order you to get Cosmog and attack Aether House?"
"The president wanted us to get that Pokémon while Guzma came up with the plan for that. I didn't know the reasonings behind it until we hit up Aether Paradise."
Nanu's mouth twitched. He still couldn't believe Team Skull had been played by Aether's own president. Such a mess.
"Selene, another trainer, and I went against Guzma a few days ago, who showed off his Mega Pinsir. Your father was the one that gave the both of you Mega Stones and Keystones, am I right?"
Plumeria's eyes grew wide with shock. She bit her lip and jerked her head away from him.
"He got the Pinsirite and Gengarite Mega Stones from training a lot in the Battle Tree and gave those to us as gifts. I despised Tapu Bulu for causing his death."
Nanu blinked, though he didn't blame her for holding a grudge for that long. He snorted and a smirk pulled on his lips.
"I felt the same way, and still am, after that tapu appointed me as kahuna. It's more of a punishment than a blessing."
Plumeria burst out laughing. "Guzma told me how you didn't care about being a kahuna."
"He's not entirely wrong. I'm now waiting until I turn to dust."
Plumeria narrowed her eyes and shook her head. She fixed her gaze at the ocean.
"You heard how Tapu Fini can bring back spirits, right? If my father were here today, what would he think of me?"
Nanu frowned. He recalled Grimsley going to the Ruins of Hope with the girls, still hoping he wasn't that stupid.
"One other person was seeking Tapu Fini for that purpose. Are you doing the same?"
Plumeria's shoulders jumped, and she turned around with a pensive expression on her face.
"I'm unsure. That wasn't my initial plan here, but I can't help but be curious…"
"I would advise you not to, but I'm not your babysitter." Nanu then said, "What will you do after you get Guzma?"
Frowning, Plumeria dropped her gaze on the ground. "I'm not sure about that either. Still be in Team Skull, I guess."
Nanu regarded her a moment. "You did the Island Challenge before, right?"
"I did, but then stopped when Guzma started our gang. Dennis and Felicia also stopped their Island Challenge."
Right, several of the Team Skull kids were trainers that were unsuccessful with the Island Challenge. Now all they did was pick fights and trash the mansion. Nanu grunted and rubbed his chin.
"I think you and your siblings should finish your Island Challenge, perhaps even join the Pokémon League once that finishes."
"I heard you turned down the Elite Four role, so it's ironic you would suggest that to me."
Nanu shrugged. "I don't care about being one, but I think the experience will be good for you."
Plumeria furrowed her brow, but she seemed to consider his suggestion.
"I'll think about it." She shifted her head for a second. "I need to go and make sure my siblings don't do anything stupid. Guess I'll see you later, Nanu."
Plumeria started to leave, Nanu watching her until he couldn't see her from a long distance anymore. He stared at the sky, the sunlight hitting his forehead and cheeks.
Nanu jumped when a shrill "Tapuuuu" came. Was that Tapu Fini? He whipped his head to see if they appeared, but only colorful sparkles were left behind. He raised a brow but grunted and left the beach himself.
Tapu Fini was close, he could feel it. He was sure that should cause some concerns.