Pokémon Radiant Sun
Holy freaking crap, game releases are kicking my butt!
Between Destiny 2's Into the Light and the release of the Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door Remake, this month has been a battle of attrition on me being able to focus on actually getting writing done. But I must continue to fight the good fight, so here we are with the final Totem Battle of the story!
As a sidenote, welcome back to those who finally got email notifications from this site again. God forbid this thing works properly or anything. This is what, the third time since October that email notifications stopped working?
Anyways, shoutout to BraviaryScout and Oragonking, who are both legends and totally rock for reviewing the last chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter 176: Totem Battle! Guardian of the Altar!
Sun and Lillie watched the massive dragon as it shifted before them, clanging scales ringing throughout the cave. Rotom Dex popped out of Sun's backpack, and with a glance and a nod from Sun, the haunted device pulled up the appropriate entry.
"Kommo-o. The Scaly Pokémon and the final evolved form of Jangmo-o. Its rigid scales function as offense and defense. In the past, its scales were processed and used to make weapons and other commodities. When it spots enemies, it threatens them by jingling the scales on its tail. Weak opponents will crack and flee in panic." Rotom Dex explained as the mighty dragon growled menacingly, its tail swishing behind it in a clearly challenging manner. The aura around it crackled harshly, warping the air and suffusing it with warmth.
"I can practically taste that Z-Power. That's intense." Sun muttered as the Tetra slowly crouched, preparing herself to spring forward as Kommo-o got into a proper combat stance. That was when Rotom Dex informed Sun of something very important.
"Bzzzt! All of its stats just skyrocketed! Be careful, pal!" Rotom Dex warned Sun as the boy adjusted his cap.
"Alright then. Tetra, let's go! Dragon Claw!" Sun shouted as Tetra's claws exploded with draconic flames. The Garchomp kicked off of the ground with a savage growl and sped towards the Totem Pokémon as a purple blur.
Kommo-o reacted even faster, throwing up its arms and summoning a familiar-looking barrier. Tetra's Dragon Claw connected with the Protect, which absorbed the attack directly despite the cracks the shield sustained from Tetra's mighty blows. The larger dragon seemed to take note of the Garchomp's power and smirked, its tail jangling several times behind it before the Scaly Pokémon let out a loud echoing roar. To Sun's annoyance, a small scaly dragon leapt into the fray right at Tetra, only to be backhanded a second time by the Garchomp.
"It summoned a Hakamo-o!" Lillie cried out as Tetra eyed the smaller dragon, which was now crouched on the ground and ready to pounce. Sun frowned as he realized that the match was now a two-on-one. Even worse than that was the fact that even though Tetra had an advantage against both dragons, they had the same advantage against her.
"I have to make a judgment call here. Those SOS Pokémon are going to be nothing but a nuisance, but if I take my eyes off of the prize here, Totem Kommo-o might overwhelm Tetra." Sun considered the situation carefully, but realized that he may just have to take the gamble.
"Tetra, use Dragon Claw on Hakamo-o!" Sun called to his Garchomp, who ignited Dragon Claw once again and rushed at the smaller dragon, easily knocking it out with a powerful swipe. However this put her in the perfect position for Kommo-o to attack by crossing his arms, which glowed a bright blue color as energy quickly built up.
Totem Kommo-o swiped its arms outwards, creating a massive soundwave of energy that exploded forward into Tetra, who screamed in pain as she was sent hurtling backwards. Sun and Lillie both cried out and clutched their ears, even as Tetra slammed hard into the rocky wall nearby.
Kommo-o sighed as a faint blue glow enveloped the dragon, but it was now smiling as its tail swished expectantly. Meanwhile, Tetra tore herself out of the wall and collapsed onto the ground, noticeably shaking in pain from the devastating move. Sun and Lillie stopped holding their eyes, wearing pained expressions.
"That had a lot of power behind it…Tetra, are you okay?" Sun asked his dragon as she got back up, wincing in pain from the super-effective attack. The Garchomp nodded, a faint growl of anger escaping her as she glared down the Totem. She then grinned fiercely at the Kommo-o, who nodded in approval. "Then hit it with a Flamethrower!"
Tetra opened her maw and let loose a torrent of flames at Kommo-o as the Totem rushed forward, delivering a Sky Uppercut to Tetra and knocking her high into the air. The Garchomp flipped in midair and hovered, catching the Kommo-o off-guard.
Tetra smiled as Sun called for Dragon Rage, with Tetra letting loose a green fireball that knocked Totem Kommo-o to the ground. The Garchomp dove downwards as Kommo-o got back up, ramming hard into the Scaly Pokémon with Bulldoze and slamming it into the floor. Tetra grinned as she landed on the ground, her razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the daylight pouring in from up ahead. Totem Kommo-o rose back to its feet, spitting out a globule of blood before staring down the young, but powerful, dragon before it. The Totem Pokémon inclined its head for a moment, seemingly acknowledging Tetra's power, before returning to a fighting stance in a way that reminded Sun of Finn.
"Stone Edge!" Sun shouted Tetra stomped a foot down, launching a stone pillar at Kommo-o. The Totem Pokémon thrust its hands forward and summoned a glowing blue barrier once again, stopping the attack in its tracks. The Totem Pokémon dispelled the shield and rushed forward, quickly closing the distance and lashing out with another Dragon Claw. Tetra withstood the attack and delivered a Dragon Claw of her own.
Sun and Lillie simply watched as the two mighty dragons brutally tore at one another for what seemed like an eternity, but was but a matter of seconds for how quick and ferocious it was. Finally Tetra got the upper hand and curled her claws into a fist, punching the Kommo-o in the chest hard enough to crack its scaly armor and send it flying backwards. The Totem fell into a crumpled heap on the ground.
Tetra dropped to one knee, bloodied and shaking from the sheer damage she had taken. As powerful as she had gotten, Sun could tell that this Totem Pokémon was a clear step above all of the others he had encountered. Disciplined, powerful and cunning…and all without needing a Captain to guide it.
"Let's keep up the pressure, Tetra. Dragon Claw!" Sun commanded her Garchomp as she got back up, nodding as her claws became wreathed in emerald flames. The Mach Pokémon was grinning with joy at the feeling of battling with her full-power alongside her beloved family against a mighty foe.
Totem Kommo-o hopped to its feet with a snarl as Tetra flew at him, drawing back her flaming fist and punching it right in the face. Kommo-o recoiled in agony with a loud snarl, kicking Tetra away violently as it staggered backwards. The dragon frantically shook its head, as if to clear it, before baring its teeth at Tetra and then letting out another echoing roar that pierced the heavens.
Sun glanced around the cavern warily, knowing full-well that such a cry meant that Kommo-o would be getting some backup in this battle. Sure enough, a red-armored bug Pokémon appeared at the lip of the cliff that hung over the battlefield and dove down towards them, flipping in midair and landing dramatically beside Kommo-o.
"Zooor!" the Scizor cried out, its wings buzzing quickly as it readied itself for battle.
"Not again!" Sun sighed as Tetra glanced back and forth between the two Pokémon, seeing that once again a choice needed to be made. She could eliminate the backup and leave herself open to an attack, or try to finish off Kommo-o once and for all.
"Go for the Scizor! Flamethrower!" Sun yelled as Tetra nodded, opening her mouth and releasing a torrent of flames from her mouth. The Pincer Pokémon let out a small shriek of terror before being incinerated by the flames, the powerful move easily knocking out the Bug/Steel-type in a single shot.
But it came at a cost, as Tetra was put into the perfect position for Kommo-o to counterattack with its strange clanging attack once again. The Totem Pokémon crossed its arms before throwing them apart and letting out a fearsome roar, the scales smashing together to create a powerful blast of raw draconic energy that struck Tetra directly.
The Garchomp crashed onto the ground hard and rolled a few times before she stopped moving. Sun watched as Tetra struggled to get back to her feet, only to collapse onto the ground. After a few moments of groaning she fainted, having no energy left to continue.
Sun felt bad that Tetra's first big battle since she had evolved resulted in a loss, but she had greatly weakened the Totem and took care of its backup. It was now just a race to see how long the Totem would last against the rest of his team.
"Good work Tetra…we got rid of its help. Now we focus on the big one." Sun muttered as he returned his Garchomp, sending out Penny. The Toucannon landed on the ground and leveled a harsh glare at the Kommo-o, who weathered her silent anger without issue.
"Sun, watch out for that move! Clanging Scales is the signature move of Kommo-o, and it dealzzz a bunch of damage at the cost of weakening it'zzz physical defense. Zzrzzzrt!" Rotom Dex alerted Sun, who made note of that. This Totem was definitely a powerful foe to be able to weather Tetra's immense power and still have plenty left in the tank.
"Drill Peck!" Sun commanded as Penny took flight with a flap of her wings, spinning rapidly in midair and becoming a whirling force. Totem Kommo-o threw up its arms once again and summoned a Protect, blocking the attack with relative ease. As the shield faded and Penny tried to fly away, Kommo-o lashed out with another Clanging Scales.
Penny screeched as the powerful blast struck her directly, throwing her through the air and causing her to land harshly onto the rocky ground. The Toucannon got to her feet, chirping angrily. The Kommo-o eyed the Toucannon carefully, it's tail twitching behind it as Penny flared her wings.
"Hyper Voice!" Sun called as Penny opened her beak, releasing a harsh blast of sound that forced Sun and Lillie to cover their ears. Totem Kommo-o didn't even bother dodging, and instead charged right through the attack like it was nothing, drawing back a fist and slugging Penny in the face to send her flying into the rocky wall.
"It didn't even phase it! What the heck?" Sun asked as Penny tried to break free from the wall, only for a pulsating beam to form within the claws of the Totem Pokémon. Kommo-o fired off a Flash Cannon at the trapped Toucannon, freeing her from the wall but dealing significant damage to the bird.
"Supersonic!" Sun shouted as Penny landed on the ground, releasing another harsh wave of sound at a higher frequency. Kommo-o smirked with amusement before casually raising its claws and blasting Penny again with Flash Cannon much to Sun's surprise, since Supersonic seemed to have no effect on the Totem Pokémon.
"Bzzzt! Sun, it lookzz like that Kommo-o has the ability Soundproof! Sound-based attacks are useless against it!" Rotom Dex warned Sun, who gritted his teeth in annoyance.
"That would've been helpful to know two minutes ago!" Sun called out, mentally kicking himself now. Penny had taken a lot of damage because he was wasting his time with moves that weren't going to work.
"Return!" Sun called as Penny glowed bright white, flapping her wings and surging forward. She slammed into the Totem Pokémon and sent him skidding backwards across the cave, snarling in pain at the strength of the move before falling to all fours. Kommo-o hissed at Penny, who smiled at the Totem.
"Take that, you jerk!" Sun shouted before punching a fist forward. "Rock Blast!"
Kommo-o dashed forward, firing off another Flash Cannon that Penny dove underneath to dodge before firing off bullet-like pellets of rock towards the Totem Pokémon of Vast Poni Canyon. The dragon hissed as the four waves of the attack struck it, with the Pokémon throwing up its arms to try and block the onslaught with limited success.
"Drill Peck!" Sun called as Penny twisted in midair, spinning into a whirling drill that dove at Totem Kommo-o. The Scaly Pokémon hissed in alarm and threw out its hands, quickly summoning a barrier to block the attack yet again.
Penny swooped through the air with a screech of annoyance as Kommo-o dropped its shield, growling angrily as it began to stomp on the ground several times. Sun recognized this move immediately.
"Work-Up…it's boosting its attack power." Sun muttered as he watched the dragon gleam a faint red color before it faded. It then flung out its arms as Dragon Claw erupted at the ends of them, with the dragon lunging towards Penny.
"Charge and brace yourself!" Sun shouted to his Toucannon as her beak began to quickly heat up, reaching an extremely high temperature right before Totem Kommo-o lashed out with Dragon Claw. Penny opened her beak at the last second, unleashing Beak Blast directly into the face of the dragon.
That got a reaction from the Totem, with it howling in agony as it was flung backwards onto the ground. Penny fell to the ground as well, twitching in pain from the powered-up strike from the Totem as well as all of the other damage she had withstood. The Toucannon was the first to rise, sheer determination forcing her to stand again. Kommo-o was slower to get to its feet, panting softly as burns coated its arms and chest.
"Kooooooo!" the Totem Pokémon bellowed furiously, shaking the cavern with its rage. Sun grinned and thrust out a hand, knowing that he could probably take down the Totem with a final strike. He decided to make it a good one.
"Use Fly!" Sun called to Penny, who took to the skies and soared high above the battlefield. Kommo-o stared up at the airborne Toucannon…and smiled. Sun looked confused by this, and Lillie looked back and forth between her boyfriend and the Totem Pokémon.
"Why does it look…amused?" Lillie wondered in her head before she saw the Totem Pokémon crouch low. To the surprise of Sun and Lillie, the dragon suddenly kicked off of the ground with tremendous force and rocketed upwards at Penny over a hundred feet in the air. Sun screamed out a warning to the Toucannon, who noticed what was happening a moment too late and let out a screech of surprise at the dragon speeding through the air towards her.
Totem Kommo-o pulled back its right hand as it glowed a bright blue color and lashed out with a brutal Sky Uppercut, made even worse by a flash of white light that Sun recognized right away as the fist struck Penny.
"A critical hit...what a move." Sun murmured as Penny fell to earth, completely knocked-out by the brutal punch that she hadn't expected. The Toucannon hit the ground and remained still, forcing Sun to recall her. Kommo-o landed on the ground and swept out its legs, crouching and staring at Sun expectantly.
"So much for that. Sorry Penny, that one's on me." Sun apologized to his bird as he returned her, frowning at his own lapse. He stared down the Totem Pokémon, who had weathered two of his Pokémon so far and seemed to be wearing down. Sun vowed that his next Pokémon would finally defeat this obstacle once and for all.
"Brago, come on out!" Sun called upon his Arcanine, who landed on the ground with a growl and crouched low. Kommo-o stiffened as Intimidate struck it, but the Totem Pokémon of Vast Poni Canyon roared out a challenge in return to the Arcanine.
"This one is proud. I will be happy to humble it." Brago said as Sun grinned, punching out with his fist.
"That's what I want to hear. Fire Blast!" Sun shouted as his Arcanine dashed forward, opening his mouth wide and letting loose a massive star-shaped blast of flames. Kommo-o held out its hands again, summoning a barrier around itself just in time for the Fire Blast to connect with it.
Again the barrier cracked under the force of the powerful attack, but it held up against the strongest attack Brago had. Sun noticed that Totem Kommo-o was smirking now, which sent a twinge of irritation through the young Trainer.
"Alright, go for Extreme Speed!" Sun shouted as Brago grunted as Brago flickered forward, speeding towards the dragon and slamming hard into it. The dragon flew backwards before flipping in midair, landing hard on the ground with a furious snarl.
Kommo-o roared and flung out its hands, igniting them with Dragon Claw before rushing at the Arcanine. Brago howled in pain as the dragon raked its claws against his side before spinning around and delivering a harsh kick to the hound's side, sending him toppling to the ground.
"Get up, Brago! Hit it with a Flamethrower!" Sun ordered the Arcanine as he rose once more, baring his teeth at the dragon and letting loose a harsh stream of flames at Kommo-o. The dragon hissed with annoyance but held its ground, enduring the powerful fire.
The Totem Pokémon kicked off of the ground and leapt into the air, flames trailing off of it as it charged up another Flash Cannon and fired it off at Brago, who dodged the blast as Kommo-o landed a few feet away, scales clanging loudly.
"It knows that it can't spam Protect, so it attacks and then hides behind a shield." Sun remarked quietly, with Lillie smiling as she watched Sun try and figure out a way to defeat the crafty dragon before him. "Alright, then we'll keep up the pressure. Fire Blast!"
"Komoooo!" the Totem Pokémon snarled back, using Protect once again to block the powerful Fire-type attack as it was launched towards it. Sun frowned in thought, wondering if the Totem was trying to wear them down with Protect.
"Aerial Ace!" Brago sped forward with a streak of white light trailing behind him, crashing harshly into the Totem Pokémon. Kommo-o staggered backwards, letting out a howl of agony once again as it fell to the ground. It got back to its feet, a pained expression contorting its face.
"That got a reaction. That was super-effective…I bet it's Dragon and a Fighting-type!" Sun realized with a grin. That also explained why Beak Blast had such a strong effect earlier, just as Aerial Ace had a few moments ago.
"Kooooomomomo!" the Totem Pokémon snarled, firing off a Flash Cannon as Brago leapt to the side to dodge it, an explosion rippling through the cave and causing Sun to wince as the wave of force washed over him.
Totem Kommo-o hissed as it crouched low, lunging forward with Dragon Claw and missing Brago as the Arcanine leapt out of the way and blasted the dragon with Flamethrower again. Kommo-o cried out in pain before throwing up Protect again, and that was when Sun saw his chance.
"Push with Aerial Ace!" Sun shouted as the Arcanine grinned savagely, speeding forward with a trail of white light behind him. Kommo-o hissed with distaste and swept its arms outwards, sending out another powerful blast of raw energy towards the Arcanine. Brago noticeably slowed as the attack washed over him, but to the surprise of the Totem, the Arcanine slammed into it a second time. The force of the move sent it flying backwards with another pained howl.
Kommo-o dug its claws into the ground and threw itself forward, its hands exploding into flames with Dragon Claw. Brago was unable to dodge in time and tanked the strike.
"Fire Blast!" Sun shouted as Brago released the almighty fiery star, engulfing the Totem Pokémon in flames and forcing it back with a pained snarl. Kommo-o staggered backwards and swayed on its feet, panting hard from the burns coating its body and the damage it had taken. Brago was in a similar state, except the Arcanine was grinning with excitement. Sun wore a matching smile, because he had figured out the Totem's strategy and had a plan.
"Flamethrower again!" Sun called as Brago expelled a torrent of flames at Totem Kommo-o, who swiped its arms and unleashed another Clanging Scales attack, blasting apart the flames and hitting Brago directly.
"It's wide-open! Use an Aerial Ace!" Sun called out, causing Totem Kommo-o to hiss with annoyance and attempt to summon another Protect to block the super-effective attack.
As the Arcanine sped forward, the barrier sprang into existence…only to flicker and fade, causing the Totem Pokémon to let out a surprised growl at the hound racing towards it. Brago slammed into Kommo-o hard, throwing it backwards and causing it to bounce across the ground several times before it came to a stop. Brago slid to a stop, panting hard as Kommo-o rolled onto its stomach, glaring at him. The Scaly Pokémon pushed itself upright, snarling back at Brago and taking a shaky step forward as it raised a fist.
Kommo-o's body stiffened then, with its gaze losing focus. It then swayed on its feet as its body registered the damage it had withstood, with the dragon wobbling unsteadily. It took another step forward, glaring down Sun and Brago before slowly letting out a deep sigh.
Kommo-o then collapsed onto its knees, its head lolling forward before the Totem Pokémon of Vast Poni Canyon toppled over onto the ground with a deafening thud.
The cavern was silent once more.
"And that's that." Sun sighed with relief as Brago let out a howl of victory, with Lillie doing a fist pump as she ran forward. The girl then tackled Sun in a hug before kissing him on the cheek.
"You did it! You were all so great!" Lillie cheered before running over to Brago, who was happy to receive several headpats from the girl from his position on the cave floor. The poor dog had collapsed from the immense damage it had withstood trying to finish off the savage dragon.
Sun then noticed that while this was happening, Totem Kommo-o was slowly dragging itself upright. The Totem Pokémon of Vast Poni Canyon locked eyes with Sun for a moment…and then slowly nodded in approval.
Sun smiled and waved farewell to the Totem as it fled deeper within the valley, soon vanishing from sight. He then reached back into his pocket and pulled out the Z-Crystal he had received from the pedestal. The Dragon-type Z-Crystal, Dragonium Z, was now Sun's to use as he saw fit.
"You cleared another Trial!" Rotom Dex cheered, floating above Sun. "But the real Trial liezzz beyond this, I think!"
"Sun! Look!" Lillie suddenly called out, causing the boy to turn around. To his surprise, riding atop a familiar-looking Mudsdale was Alola's newest Kahuna, Hapu. She offered the two of them a friendly smile before hopping down from her Partner with ease. Lillie waved happily to their friend while Sun held out the Dragonium Z he had won from the Totem Pokémon, earning a smile from Hapu. The Kahuna walked past Sun and Lillie, beckoning them to follow her through the cave's exit.
The couple followed their friend and entered the daylight once more, flinching at the light for a few moments before their eyes adjusted…and allowed them to see that their goal was looming right in front of them.
An enormous flight of stone steps led up to an even bigger monument that rose into the air like a mountain. A intricate sun-like sigil was affixed to a stone circle, and that was all Sun was able to make out from the bottom of the steps.
"Our history tells us that the Vast Poni Canyon Trial was the very first Trial ever to be held. That Z-Crystal tells me that even Totem Kommo-o could not stand against your might. You did a fine job of clearing it, just as expected, Sun!" Hapu praised the boy, causing him to rub the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"It was a tough battle. It seemed quite a bit smarter than the other Totems we faced." Sun remarked, with Hapu nodding in agreement.
"You've cleared all seven Trials of Alola's Island Challenge now! That's wonderful!" Lillie cheered excitedly, bouncing up and down on her feet and clapping with joy. "You've pushed yourself beyond your limits and really become a great Trainer, haven't you?"
Lillie then realized something, because she suddenly stopped bouncing. "But you wouldn't have gotten this far without your team. Let me heal everyone real quick!"
"Look at the two of you. I think this might just work out." Hapu muttered, smiling warmly as Lillie quickly healed Sun's team. "No, I'm quite sure of it!"
Rolf the Mudsdale neighed in agreement, causing the trio to laugh. Once Lillie had finished healing Sun's team, she cast her gaze up towards the altar that awaited them. "The Sun Flute…and the Moon Flute…If we sound both together…"
"We'll finally get our answers, won't we?" Sun finished, glancing at the girl he loved. Lillie smiled back at the boy and grasped his hand with her own.
"Let's go, Sun!" Lillie said to Sun with a bright smile, her eagerness to finally reach their goal palpable.
"You know…parents are people, too." Hapu suddenly remarked, catching their attention. Her expression was thoughtful, a hand on her chin. "Then again, so are their children. They should both be able to tell one another how they feel."
"It was like that with Dad." Sun responded, his voice quiet as he thought back to that terrible night in Hau'oli City. Dueling with his father onboard that battleship, a lifetime of pain shared between two Trainers. But that terrible showdown had allowed Sun and Ashton Aupuni to convey their pain and emotions, between a father and his son, and find understanding between one another.
Sun considered that for several moments before turning to Lillie, who had remained silent.
"I managed to get through to my father in the end, but it took battling him with everything I had. It might take the same to get through to Lusamine, Lillie. Even more if the Ultra Beasts have poisoned her like Wicke and the others were saying." Sun said to his girlfriend, who nodded with a determined expression.
"Whatever it takes, I'll make her see reason. I won't let her fall any deeper into her own madness. I'll reach her somehow." Lillie said adamantly, with Sun smiling at her. Hapu nodded in approval of the girl's words.
"The Altar awaits…make your offering and see if Solgaleo will heed your call." Hapu said quietly, gesturing towards the steps. Sun and Lillie both faced forward and began to walk up the steep stone stairs, treading the ancient steps that countless others had.
It took the two of them the better part of five entire minutes to make their way up the steps to the Altar. By the time the duo had reached the top, the two of them were panting hard and their legs ached, especially after nearly two weeks of trekking through the canyon. Finally, they reached the altar proper and immediately felt a strong warmth radiating from the platform that they were now on.
"I can feel the strong power of the sun…" Lillie murmured, smiling as she closed her eyes for several long moments.
She opened them a few moments later and whispered softly, but intensely. "Nebby…I'm going to make my mother wake up and see reason before I send you back to your old world!"
Sun could see the determination in the girl's eyes. The emotion in her voice. Lillie had gone through so much, endured so much pain and torment at the hands of her own mother. Only to find the strength to reach out and save the woman who had raised her despite that. Like Sun, she had chosen to give her abusive parent a chance to make things right. But the hard part would be making the Aether President understand.
"I'm going to make her hear me…I'm going to tell her how I feel!" Lillie vowed to the precious Pokémon slumbering away within her backpack. The little one she had saved from Aether Paradise and who had accompanied her throughout her own journey alongside Sun. "Even if I'm not a Trainer, I can still do that much!"
"And me and my team will be with you the whole way." Sun promised, smiling at his girlfriend with a pride. In the light of the sunset, Sun saw how Lillie carried herself now that she had finally become the person she had always wanted to be. Free of the shackles Lusamine had placed upon her, she had bloomed into a determined young woman who was becoming stronger as a person with each passing day.
Sun never felt more in love with her than did he at that moment.
While Sun was staring at his girlfriend with lovestruck eyes, Lillie had extracted the Moon Flute from her backpack and was holding it reverently. "The Moon Flute…It feels like it was made to fit in my hand. I think I can play it…"
Lillie then smiled at Sun, who quickly set down his backpack and pulled out the Sun Flute, which he held with equal care. The two of them quickly cast their gaze around the platform, hoping to puzzle out what exactly they needed to do.
The main platform that the monument loomed over, and that Sun and Lillie stood upon, was smooth and looked almost untouched by time itself. The sun sigil was carved delicately into the center of the Altar itself, and was where the sun's power could be felt the most intensely. Dotted along the edges of the Altar were vibrant green bushes, with water flowing down the mountainside monolith. Pools of crystal clear water formed around strange square platforms, with one platform on either side of the Altar. That immediately stuck out to Sun and Lillie, with the latter pointing it out to her boyfriend.
"Sun, you should stand over there." Lille instructed Sun, who nodded and quickly hurried to the opposite end of the Altar.
"The time hazzz finally come!" Rotom Dex cheered as Sun walked over to the spot Lillie had indicated to him. "Make sure to sound your flutezzz at the same time! Bzzzrt!"
Soon Lillie and Sun stood upon their platforms, with the Sun and Moon Flutes carefully held within their hands. The young couple glanced at one another, and at Lillie's signal, and two of them began to play the ancient melody. The one used to pay respects the Alolan God of the Sun, and the only one who could assist them in their quest.
The melody was smooth, resounding through the sacred instruments with a power that seemed to allow the melody to carry farther than any normal instrument could ever reach. Past the Altar of the Sunne, through the reaches of Vast Poni Canyon and even out to the Seafolk Village. The duet of Sun and Lillie as they called upon the beast that devours the sun.
As the song ended, Sun and Lillie lowered their flutes in unison. To their surprise, the entire Altar began to rumble violently, causing the young couple to rock back and forth on their platforms as an ethereal light shone out from the water surrounding them.
Soon the light let out a wondrous chime and continued along the opposite path in which the water flowed, rising up alongside the monolith and carving around the enormous sigil of the sun. With another mighty quake, the monolith slowly shifted…and began to open.
Glorious sunlight poured from within, sparkling with a power that made the temperature of the surrounding area rise several degrees. Hidden within the monument was a gleaming jewel, sparkling with power. Soon, energy quickly began to build up within the jewel, forming a sphere of otherworldly power that erupted outwards and struck the center of the Altar. Sun and Lillie winced at the blast of sheer power that washed over them with a heat that made them almost immediately begin to sweat.
Lillie then gasped, feeling her backpack moving of its own accord. Suddenly it flew off of her, rising high into the air. The girl let out a cry of surprise and raised a hand to try and stop it, but it quickly soared over to where the blast of energy was hitting the Altar and flew into it.
The backpack slipped down to the ground, revealing Nebby in his dormant form. Slowly the Pokémon began to rise within the sphere of power, which began to let out a disturbing hum that rose slowly in pitch. Lillie watched on with her mouth wide in awe and fear, wondering what would happen to the Pokémon she cared for so dearly.
Soon a harsh multicolored fire engulfed Nebby, bathing the Altar in its glow. Lillie and Sun both shielded their eyes in surprise as the blast of raw light erupted outwards from Nebby. The two of them peeked past the light as it slowly morphed into a golden fireball, which slowly coalesced into a Pokémon. The beast let out a mighty roar as it hovered in the air, a defiant clarion call to all that opposed it. Lillie lowered her hand and a joyous smile blossomed across her face as the strange Pokémon dove forward and landed with a thunderous impact on the Altar.
The Pokémon resembled an enormous lion, with shining white armor covering its entire body save for its sun-like mane that was actual white fur, with streaks of orange and yellow that resembled jewels embedded within it. It had formidable black paws and a white tail with a black orb towards the end, with a yellow tip surrounding it. Its bright blue eyes gleamed with ferocity and intelligence in equal measure.
Sun stared at the majestic lion-like Pokémon with awe, its raw power radiating outwards as a wave of warmth. "Solgaleo…the beast that devours the sun. The same kind of Legendary Pokémon that battled the Tapu, all those years ago."
The mighty beast let out another roar as Sun and Lillie raced off of their platforms to approach the Pokémon. Lillie's eyes began to water as they drew closer, with the girl wiping them with a shaky smile.
"Nebby…th-thank goodness…you're all right…" Lillie whispered, smiling a little wider as Sun reached over and wiped her eyes. "Please don't ever do that again! You made me worry so much! And I never imagined that sounding the lutes would give you so much power…or let you evolve into the Legendary Pokémon!"
Nebby responded with a mighty roar, shaking the Altar once more. Sun grinned at Lillie and said, "He really did grow up, huh?"
The mighty beast answered with another roar, but this time padded towards Lillie. The girl fearlessly walked up to the enormous lion before holding out her hand to him. Solgaleo sniffed it for a moment before the lion nuzzled Lillie's hand, with the girl suddenly hugging her precious Pokémon.
A faint clicking sound caught Sun's attention, and the boy glanced towards Rotom Dex, who happened to be floating above his head. The device had snapped a picture of the scene, which had also caught the Legendary's attention and caused him to slowly raise his head to properly look at Sun and Lillie both.
"Mama…Papa…You saved me."
Sun and Lillie both blinked in surprise at the deep and powerful voice that rumbled within their minds. It was mighty, but the warmth and affection within it was unmistakable. Nebby had spoken to them with telepathy.
"I can feel the power thrumming within me. I have become what I was destined to become. You both have protected me all this time. Safeguarded me when I was weak and lost. Now I am the sun, and I am now strong enough to protect those I love." Solgaleo intoned within their mind, causing Lillie's eyes to water once again with emotion. Sun stepped forward and joined her in hugging the beast's side, fighting back tears.
"I'm so glad you're okay, little guy." Sun whispered, rubbing his face within the mane of the beast. It was even warmer than Brago's fur, but was slightly less fluffy. The Legendary Pokémon began to purr, a gentle vibration within the air that conveyed its affection for them both.
"I sense you both have struggled to reach this place. This sacred Altar build to honor others of my kind, and a place where barriers between worlds are at their thinnest. What would you ask of me?" The Legendary Pokémon asked the two humans who he considered his parents. Sun picked up Lillie's backpack and handed it to her, with the girl numbly accepting it and putting it back on. Sun also made sure to safely secure the Sun and Moon Flutes as well, just in case they were needed again.
"Not in all of my reading…Never did I ever come across any hint that you would evolve into the Legendary Pokémon…" Lillie murmured, looking down at the ground as she tried to fully process this sudden development. "Please, Solgaleo…"
Lillie then shook her head. "No…Nebby. Please. I need to see my mother! She traveled into Ultra Space! I want to bring her back!"
Solgaleo growled softly in anger at the mention of the woman who had tortured him for years. But upon seeing the pleading expression on his mother's face, the Legendary Pokémon knew that he could not deny her wishes. The lion let out a roar to the skies before turning its gaze towards the girl to whom it owed so much.
"If that is what you wish, then I shall help however I can. Ride upon my back, and we shall traverse dimensions until we find her." Nebby intoned, his tail swishing several times before slowly lowering himself to the ground. Lillie beamed at Solgaleo, nodding at him before she and Sun got atop the mighty beast. Nebby rose to his full height and turned towards the monument built to honor his kind.
The Solgaleo lowered its head, and on its brow a strange eye-like symbol flared into life, thrumming with power. Nebby let out another mighty roar as its body suddenly glowed brightly with sunlight, illuminating the valley with its radiance. As the Legendary Pokémon's body shined an almost golden color, a strange familiar shimmer warped the air ahead of them.
I can see it. Solgaleo is tearing apart the barriers to traverse dimensions. The ones that keep our world separate from others.
The comment from Dizz was said right before Nebby suddenly leapt several hundred feet into the sky, causing Sun and Lillie to scream and hold onto each other tightly. Solgaleo hung in the air, suspended by the otherworldly powers at his disposal as a strange sun-like rift of raw power opened from behind it. The rift shot a beam of pure sunlight forward, enveloping the three of them in its power and striking the strange shimmer below.
Nebby suddenly dashed through the air, making a beeline for the shimmer. Sun and Lillie let out another scream of fear before Nebby slammed into the rift, tearing it apart and creating an Ultra Wormhole that they entered immediately.
Sounds. Colors. Sensations.
Many of these assaulted the senses of Sun and Lillie as Solgaleo tore through the Ultra Space, but it was too much for either of them to make sense of. All too soon, Nebby suddenly roared again and the world around them seemed to halt. The gleaming lion-like Pokémon stood tall within a dim cavern, and Sun and Lillie slowly dismounted from the beast.
Lillie stumbled forward, only for Sun to grab her arm and catch her before she fell. Lillie smiled at Sun gratefully, using him to steady herself as she looked around the cavern.
The massive cavern was gloomy, with faint streaks of light trickling in from above. Gray and blue stones covered the cavern, where large stone pillars rose upwards, many of them coated in strange plants. The world around them shifted and shimmered slightly, as if they were underwater but could move without issue. Sun hissed out a breath, struggling to inhale and exhale. He felt somewhat lightheaded, as if he was standing at the peak of a mountain and was unable to get enough air. He slowed down his breathing and calmed down, and soon the unease faded.
"How…surprising. It's more beautiful than I would have expected…but the air is so thick here…it almost hurts to breathe." Lillie murmured, grimacing as Sun slipped his hand into hers, squeezing it.
"You're right…this place feels so weird. So off. We're truly in a different world. The world of the beasts." Sun replied, with Lillie looking uncomfortable as she continued to gaze around the area.
"Do you think the Ultra Beasts really are Pokémon? I don't know what to call them anymore…" Lillie closed her eyes, doing as Sun had already done and calmed herself and her breathing. She then opened them and regarded her boyfriend with a determined expression.
"We should go…" Lillie said quietly, with Sun nodding in agreement. Suddenly, the Trainer tensed, feeling a strange sensation all of a sudden. It was one he had become attuned to over his time as a Pokémon Trainer.
"We're being watched." Sun muttered, a hand going to a Poké Ball at his belt.
"Freeze!" barked a familiar voice, causing the both of them to tense up in surprise. That voice didn't belong to Lusamine, as it was male, but it didn't sound remotely like Guzma. Those were the only two people known to have entered Ultra Space. "Don't you dare move! I'm armed!"
"Wait a moment…where have I heard that voice?" Lillie muttered, glancing at Sun. The boy's expression was one of genuine amazement, because he was able to recognize and identify the voice instantly.
"Turn around. The both of you. No sudden moves." The man ordered in a strained voice, and so Sun and Lillie slowly turned around and saw a man standing not five yards away, aiming a gun at them with a weary-looking Slowking beside him. Nebby growled threateningly, stepping in front of Sun and Lillie protectively. The man didn't shoot, but continued to aim his weapon at them.
"You…you're supposed to be dead." Sun whispered, staring into the eyes of a man he had last seen several months ago. And he had been given every assurance that he was dead and gone.
And yet there he stood.
Wearing the remains of a destroyed Aether Foundation uniform and covered in a thin layer of dirt and grime, his blond hair a wild mess. His green eyes glared at the two children with a wariness that bespoke someone teetering on the edge of violence, just barely held in check. His right arm was covered in scratches and dirt, an oversized pistol gripped tightly in his hand with a finger on the trigger. In his left hand was…nothing.
Because the entirety of his left arm was missing. A charred and mangled stump remained from the upper arm upward.
The man regarded them cautiously, aiming the pistol that Sun and Lillie recognized as a hand-cannon, nicknamed Justice, directly at them. Nebby growled softly, catching the man's attention, but he still held his aim for several long moments as he stared at the two children with an intense expression. He then sighed and lowered his weapon, muttering a curse as he ran a hand down his face.
"Sun and Lillie...it's actually you. Under other circumstances, I'd say it's great to see you again." Cipher Admin Charles Dawson finally offered the two children a twisted smile as he holstered Justice, a hollow and broken laugh escaping the man. "Welcome to my special hell."
NEXT TIME: Into the depths of Ultra Space…
One more chapter before the big showdown we've all been waiting for!
No questions this go around, so I'll end things here. That's the Island Challenge done! All Trials, Totems and Kahunas have been defeated! Now only Lusamine remains…
That's all for now, folks. As always, make sure to review, favorite/follow the story if you haven't already and show your support! I've been seeing a lot of new favorites and follows recently, and that's honestly pretty awesome for a fic as long as this.
If you're enjoying this fic and want more of stuff like it, then check out my Pokémon Scarlet fic known as "Pokémon Nuzlocke Novels: Ancient Scarlet" available to read on this site and AO3. It's set in the same universe as Radiant Sun, but a few years later. And I can confirm that there will be some fun tie-ins with RS for fans of this story. Any and all support from this story to that story is greatly appreciated.
Take care and stay awesome!
Until next time, FlygonNick out!