Gladion shields his eyes with his hand, protecting them from the harsh Alolan sunset as he strides down the cobble stone drive leading to the towering, white, mansion. Esteban takes his jacket and briefcase at the door, he opens his mouth to speak, but no words come. He watches the young man silently trot off towards the back staircase.

Upstairs, two nurses prepare Lusamine for bed. Her room has been converted into a medical care room of sorts. Her large, luxurious bed has been replaced with a single sized hospital bed, making the room seem bleak and empty. Monitors near the bed spring to life as they begin to record Lusamine's vitals.

Gladion enters just as the two nurses lift his mother from the wheelchair, placing her limp body into bed.

"We'll be out in just a moment," the nurse says as she adjusts Lusamine's drip.

Gladion watches patiently as the nurses tidy up their supplies before leaving him in private with his ill mother. Her eyes stare blankly into space as he crouches over her at the bedside. He removes the blond wig from her head, revealing her bald scalp. Purple incision scars crisscross the top, sides, and back of her skull.

"It's cashmere, I know you-" his voice trails when he remembers she can't hear him. He carefully slips the pink, knit hat over her head before kissing her on the cheek.

"I know things haven't always been good between us, but I want you to know I love you, and I forgive you," he whispers, taking her limp, cold hands in his.

He turns to look at her one more time before leaving, wondering if she is at least comfortable. Flicking off the light switch, he leaves the door cracked behind him.

Gladion groans when he looks at the clock on the wall in his room. Adding two hours to the current time would put him arriving at Iki Town right around midnight. He quickly slips into a black, long-sleeved shirt and matching, black, pants.

Despite the time and overwhelming anxiety, he decides to show his face at the champion's party.

_________________________________

I sneeze violently as Acerola runs her fluffy make-up brush over my nose.

"Hold still!" she exclaims, yanking my head back to apply some mascara.

"Thanks for doing this for me," I mutter as she holds the brush up to my eyelashes.

"Anytime! Now, make this face," she giggles, opening her eyes and mouth wide.

"Why?" I chuckle, not wanting to make that ridiculous face.

"Just do it, unless you want mascara all over your eyelids!"

I'm so glad I don't have to do this every day. It just seems like so much work for someone like me, who can barely be bothered to get my bangs trimmed.

I shoot up in the chair when I hear the knob of my bedroom door turning, it must be Lillie.

"Moon!" Lillie shrieks as she barges in.

"Lillie!" I scream, rushing over for a hug.

Lillie stops dead in her tracks when she sees me, she snorts before bursting out into laughter.

"What?" I peep, feeling suddenly insecure and completely out of the loop. I turn to Acerola for clues, she just scoffs and shakes her head.

Lillie looks at me once more, clutching her ribs as she rolls with laughter. Acerola forces a mirror in my hands and I reluctantly take a peek. A large gob of mascara is smeared between my eye brows, forming a thick, black, unibrow.

"I think we're going to have to start over," Acerola groans.

"I missed you guys so much!" Lillie chirps from the edge of my bed as she watches Acerola remove my lovely unibrow.

"How was Kanto?" Acerola asks, roughly scrubbing the make-up from my face.

"Stressful! I'm so glad to be home," Lillie yawns.

"Have you seen Hau yet?" I ask.

"Naw, he's busy setting up for your party. Soon though!" She replies, checking her phone for texts, "By the way, I invited Gladion to your party. I hope you don't mind, I wasn't really thinking when I mentioned it."

"Do you think he'll come?" I ask, cringing at the desperation in my own voice.

"He better! He's running out of excuses now that it looks like the company will pull through."

"I hear it may even be doing better than before!" Acerola chimes in.

"It probably will. Gladion has really dedicated himself to this, it's amazing what he can do when he puts the effort in."

I laugh inside my own head. How I miss his touch, his smile, his body against mine. I bite my lips, recalling the times we spent together.

I groan loudly as a news van barrels down the road to Iki Town. Acerola and Lillie shoot me a confused look when they hear me snarling under my breath.

"Should I not have invited him? I can tell him to stay home!" Lillie gasps, her wide, green, eyes dart to the floor in guilt.

"No! I want him to come, I just saw a news van headed to Iki Town. I bet they will be covering the party, you know how much I hate that crap!"

__________________

"Cut!" yells the camera man as my interview comes to an end.

"Thanks for doing this on such short notice," says the reporter as she reaches over for a handshake.

"No problem." What I really meant to say was don't do it again.

"Well, just in case we don't bump into each other again tonight, it was a pleasure to meet you!" she exclaims, exposing her overly white teeth with a large smile.

"The pleasure was all mine," I groan.

Briskly, I stride to the other end of Iki Town, searching for a quiet place to hide.

"Eat!" Hau exclaims, forcing a large plate of food my way.

"Oh wow! This looks excellent!" I say, looking around for a place to sit.

"It's Hala's secret recipe. This is the reason why I used to be such a little chub!" Hau chuckles, rubbing his now lean and toned stomach.

We sit down at a nearby table, watching the people dancing. The party is mostly X-Skull members and locals, but a few big-name people have showed. They seem to be stopping by to make an appearance, but very few of them have stayed much longer than an hour.

"So, how does it feel to be Champion?" Hau mutters, before stuffing his face with more food.

"I don't know yet! It's barely been twenty-four hours. So, when are you popping the question???"

Hau sighs as he glances over at Lillie in the crowd, "I'd do it right now, but I don't want to take the attention away from you."

"Don't be silly! If it feels right tonight, do it," I say, nudging him in the arm, "Make it an extra memorable night."

"I know it's not very romantic, but I don't think I can hold it in anymore. I want her to know just how much I love her," Hau sighs, slipping his hand into his pocket.

"Listen, they are playing a slow song. Go dance with her," I insist, pointing to Lillie as she searches for a place to sit.

Watching Hau take Lillie's hand as he leads her out to dance makes my chest flutter. Their bodies become two, black, entangled, silhouettes as they pass in front of the leaping flames of the fire. If anybody deserves a happy ending, it's them. I pick up the faint smell of incense as Acerola takes a seat next to me, the brightness of her phone blinds me for a moment.

As the bright, rectangular, chunk of light fades from my retinas, I notice Hau and Lillie have stopped dancing.

"Shit! Acerola, film this. Quick!" I exclaim, pointing at Lillie and Hau.

"What?"

"Lillie and Hau. Just do it!"

Acerola squeals as we watch Hau get down on one knee in front of Lillie, I can feel my knuckles growing white as I clutch them nervously under the table. I don't breathe until I see Hau slipping the ring onto Lillie's delicate finger.

I stand to my feet, watching as Hau scoops Lillie into his arms. Her feet dangle as their lips lock in a long, tender, kiss. The by standers cheer and clap as Lillie raises her hand in the air, showing off her engagement ring.

Acerola roughly grabs my upper arm and drags me towards the happy couple. For a split second, I think I see Gladion peeking out from behind a tree, but it's probably wishful thinking. Before I have a chance to take another look, I find myself wrapped in Hau's arms.

"Thanks for everything, Moon. Would it be weird if I asked you to be my best man?" he chuckles with happy tears in his eyes.

"I'd be happy to!" I cry, burring my face in his chest.

After a moment, I peek past his arms to the tree. It's leaves rustle in the breeze, the space around it filled with nothing but lonely darkness. I wish Gladion could be here for this. What he did to me was inexcusable, but perhaps I should be the bigger person and just reach out, I know he won't.

____________________________________

The thorny bushes tear into Gladion's clothing as he runs through the underbrush, away from Iki Town. Bursting out onto Mahalo Trail, he tumbles to the ground. Laying in the darkness, he listens to the churning of the waterfall.

He considers going back to confess his love, but it wouldn't be fair to Lillie and Hau. Imagining the upset he would cause if he was unwanted brings bitter tears to his eyes, they bring a salty flavor to his lips.

Pulling himself to his feet, he stares up at the ruins. Without thinking, he dashes to the wooden bridge. Mist from the waterfall clouds the path ahead as the damp wood creaks under his weight, followed by the wet crunching of gravel as he lands on the other side.

Gladion comes to a stop when he reaches the entrance of the Ruins of Conflict, his emerald eyes peer wearily into the chamber ahead of him. Thick vines scale the ancient stone walls around him, he senses as strange presence, as if someone was watching him.

He quickly turns, but no one is there.

Carefully, he approaches the second chamber, the heavy scent of incense and moonflower hangs in the air. He runs his fingers along the golden archway, this is the temple of Tapu Koko. Maybe, he can find answers here.

Gladion takes a long bow in reverence before climbing the rickety, wooden staircase to the top of the shrine.

The eyes carved deep into the ancient, stone, statue seem to be boring holes through him. Cautiously, Gladion places his large, scarred, hand onto the cold stone, opening his heart to the island guardian.

Nothing happens...

"Please," he pleads under his breath, "give me a sign. Anything. I'm so lost, I need your guidance."

Nothing happens...

Removing his hand from the statue, Gladion somberly exits the chamber. His heart aches. But still, that presence, it's even stronger than before.

He takes one last look into the chamber, his eyes, searching for a sign.

But Nothing Happens...