They of the Sun
Chapter Thirty-Six: Nova

      "Acro! Tear them up!"

      My Bagon's small, yet deadly sharp, claws grew in size with blue light as it rushed towards Hapu's Flygon. I could hear the skin-crawling sound of the slash ripping through the thin membrane on it's wings. It returned to Hapu in a flash of light, her hand on her hip. A hearty laugh left her chest, "Man! You're really showing me up already? I guess I have a helluva lot more to grow on as Kahuna."

     "Kahuna," Hau murmured, his eyes full of admiration. The same adoring look he wore for his grandfather back in Iki Town. I'm glad somethings didn't change... It gave a minute sense of stability that I couldn't get too attached to. Outside the sky was grey, clouds growing heavy with rain, threatening to pop at any moment. Having abandoned many of my things once I joined Team Skull, meant I no longer had my Pager. Neither did Lillie, so at least I wasn't alone on that front. Reluctantly, I grabbed Sen's hand, allowing him to lift me up into the saddle behind him. He threw me a mischievous smile over his shoulder as I wrapped my arms around his torso. This is stupid.

     Why are my cheeks hot?

     With no warning, Charizard lifted itself into the air, spiraling into the sky. I squeezed my eyes shut. The last time I had gone flying it was to escape... to run away. Little did I realize I couldn't escape. I had been relying on Gladion to keep me away from them. Now I'm relying on Sen to not drop me into the ocean. All those times I had imagined jumping it into the ocean to end it, I take back. I wasn't ready to end it all... I could feel the movement of Charizard's lungs against my knees, the ends of my hair lashing at my cheeks, and Sen's heartbeat in my ears. The moment felt surreal. It was new... 

      I would've thought this was a load of Taurosshit not even a month ago... I still do. I opened my eyes to see Hau hollering and waving to Sen, Lillie strapped to his back as she stared up into the sky with wonder- blond hair shimmering like unfiltered sunlight around her even without any sun. For a moment everyone looked carefree and the smell of salt wasn't so harsh. I ached to be a part of that. The ride back was over all too soon... I hurled myself onto the docks and off of Sen the moment we touched something other than air. Sen laughed, "Did I smell that bad?" 

      I shot him a glare, which shut him up quick, rolling my eyes away to look for the Magikarp-shaped ship.  A man in a navy blue jacket with gold trims stood in front of it, a pipe sat loosely between his bearded lips. Hapu approached him first, gesturing to us as she explained the situation, and before he could question what authority she had, she had drawn out the Sparkling Stone. His eyes widened before settling into a smile. 

     "I noticed the ocean anxious for something today," he chuckled, patting his boat. "I can take ye... But I can only take two." 

      "I want to go!" Lillie piped in, her cheeks flaring red once all eyes shifted their attention to her. She looked as if she wanted to apologize, but instead she straightened herself up with confidence. The rest shrugged in agreement. I already knew the other person was me... Why wouldn't it be? I am the one with the experience on these things. Albeit not by a whole lot more than the others. 

      "We can figure out where to go from here next," Sen stated, before resting  a hand on Hapu's dainty shoulder. "We do have the Kahuna on our side."

      Hapu's eyes glimmered with pride as she stared up at Sen as he was a good head or two taller than her. She gave an assuring nod, "I am here to help in anyway you need." 

       And like that we were off into the ocean again, the waves swaying us gently as sprinkles of rain began to drum on the roof of the ship. The clouds grew darker with the setting sun behind them. I glanced to Lillie beside me, her head stuck inside her bag with an upset expression. Or maybe it was confusion. It was hard to tell in the dimming light. She covered Nebby back up and slouched in her seat with defeat. 

      "His energy changed," she said softly, "But he hasn't moved. I was hoping that... Maybe... Something would happen on Exeggutor Island."

      "It could," I state bluntly. Comfort was not my area of expertise.  And that was probably what she needed. I'm not sure how she had gotten Nebby, but he seemed to matter enough for her to spend her every waking moment worried about him. Even before he had become Cosmoem, as Dulse called him the other day, she was always watching. I was reminded of the way my mom would scold me, a smack on the top of my head when I misbehaved, but when she could tell something wasn't quite right... She would hover over me, silently and forever watching like a Talonflame on the hunt for a hint. I turned my head away to fight the sudden prick of tears. Why...  

      The Captain helped us off the ship with rough hands, warning, "Careful up there, the Exeggutors be agitated... Might be the Tapu. I will wait here 'til ye be ready."

     The island was a small hill with something glimmering up ahead, but still too far to tell what it could be. Scattered across the islet were tall ass Pokemon, their bodies low to the ground but their neck brought them up to the heavens. I had to lean a ways back just to catch a shadow of it's coconut shaped head. "Those are Exeggutors?!"

     Regional variants were something I had come across in Alola, but not as often as I'd originally thought. Exeggutor was just not one I imagined to exist. Their necks swayed slowly with each step they took, following the momentum. There was agitation in the stomps of their feet. Lillie and I took caution up the winding path, we feared that one of us would become one with the land. Literally. The raindrops began to get fatter and pouring down with a more consistent beat, Lillie took my hand and dragged me into a dry alcove midway up the isle. Shivering, she smiled at me, "Sorry, you looked a little miserable." 

       I am. But I couldn't vocalize that. I was now their fearless leader... or whatever. I had resigned my status as rebel, desperately trying to forgive and accept. Easier said than done when I didn't want to be chosen for this. How many people live their lives wanting to be the main character and they pick me? Laughable. There was no will there, no flame on the Charmander's tail. Beaten dead before my life had begun. 

     "You know," she said softly, sticking her fingers into the rain, her eyes trained on the water drops sliding down her elbows, "there was a time where Lusamine wasn't so bad. The more I think about it... The more I wonder how much she's lost to have to cling to what she has now... Th.. this is all my fault!" 

     There was nothing I could say that relayed the sympathy that formed like a replayed memory. She crouched down, doubling over as if she were a Sandshrew trying to protect itself. "I stole Nebby... If I had just left everything alone..." 

     If I had just left everything alone...

    I wondered that often myself. There was a noisy silence; the fat raindrops, the small tremors the Exeggutor's feet let off with each stomp, and Lillie's shaky breathing... Kneeling next to her, I stretched a hand out to touch her shoulder. Almost stopping myself from the unnatural feeling, I realized it was harder to reach out to someone rather than them reaching to me. That way I could smack them away. No effort.

    "I get it," I heard myself saying. "If we just went along with the destiny we're given... It might've been smooth sailing. But who cares about that?" 

    "Not you?" She looked up at me with swollen eyes and red cheeks.

    "Or you," I scoffed. "None of ask to be here, but here we are. And we either stay complacent with that... or decide if we have better places to be. It's cheesy, but... I think we have better places to be." 

    That's what I could tell myself now. I've made a new way for myself, even if the Tapu had pushed me in the direction, I ultimately made the choices from there on. Right? Pikipek chirps drew my attention outside, the island now lit up by the dim moonlight. Thunder rumbled on in the distance. Lillie stood first, dusting off her tennis skirt and adjusting her ponytail. She offered me a graceful hand for help. Without missing a beat I pushed it away in a gesture of familiarity and not annoyance. I was up with ease, kicking the mud off of my shoes. The mixture of wet earth and salt was pungent in the air; sort of fitting for the region we were in. 

       The Exeggutors still seemed agitated even after the bad weather passed, but it was easier to navigate without a downpour. Bushes rustled in the soft after-breeze of the rain. We made the rest of the way up in silence.

       An alter with emblazoned gold to depict the sun sat at the top of the island. The flute sitting on its pedestal shimmered even in the dark.  small droplets of water sliding off like little golden drops of sunlight. Lillie let out a gasp as she lifted hand to point at behind the alter. I twisted around to see the ocean rising, my immediate feeling was fear. Then confusion as I realized the ocean was not encroaching us in a tsunami, but rather it was moving very slowly in a momentum to keep itself up. A soft glow emanated in its depths in a familiar form. I could hear Lillie's breathing hitch as she began to tear up. The water began to recede once it held the creature right in front of me and without missing a beat, my arms were up reaching for it, unsure if it would continue to float or fall. A cry filled the air as the sea went back down with a splash. I looked up to see a stream of blue fly above us. 

      "Pew-aaa!" The Cosmog yawned, blinking bleary eyes open. 

      "It... looks like Neb... Nebby," she hiccuped, sticking her face over my shoulder. I glanced at her, peeking the wonder in her eyes. The familiarity. "What should we call her... Can we.. keep her?"

      I turned my attention back down to the Pokemon, thinking. I assumed it was Tapu Fini answering to me. This Cosmog and my stroke of luck were both very new to this world.

      Nova. 

     The Exeggutor calmed, becoming still to rest underneath the cloudy, crying sky.