Chapter 38: Keahi

  "Keahi? She's here?" Plumeria asked in shock.

  "Well, she's banished from the island by Tapu Bulu," Leilani explained. "But she's allowed on Breakwater Isle, and there she has dwelled since this all began. I ask that no one reveal her presence here to the rest of the island. She doesn't exactly have a lot of fans on the island anymore."

  Ian realized his mouth was open and promptly closed it. Keahi… She's here? Or at least we have the ability to talk to her? Ian's initial excitement was suddenly quashed as a sudden realization hit him. She's the former Kahuna, and there are people on this island who think I'M in line to be the next one. Something tells me she might not be too happy to see me. The initial excitement to ask questions to likely the most knowledgeable source on the island quickly turned to nervous dread.

  Ian remained silent as Leilani led them down to the marina and coincidentally found Rapp. The group marched single file to a dock where a man lounged on a chair reading a book with a collection of beer cans on the table to his side.

  "Melville, you ready?" Leilani called out casually as she approached.

  The man flailed in his seat, startled and dropped his book on the dock. "Whoops, didn't think I'd be going back to Breakwater again so quickly, Leilani," the older man with a grey beard said, bending over to get his book and whincing, having seemingly lost his place. "I suppose I'll get that later," Meliville grumbled.

  Leilani sighed. "Everything's still prepared though?"

  "Yes indeed," Melville grumbled. "Even got the hydrosonic emitter ready to go. There's been a Wailord sighting and I don't want it getting too friendly with the White Wake."

  "White Wake?" Selene asked.

  Melville pointed to the sail boat at the end of a nearby dock. "That there boat we're taking."

  Ian looked to Plumeria and cleared his throat. "What was that hydrosonic thing he said?"

  Plumeria smirked, seemingly remembering how little Ian actually knew about the world. "It helps keep dangerous Pokemon away from boats using sound waves."

  "Neat," Ian said.

  After getting aboard and helping push off from the dock, the group was sailing. Ian's curiosity got the better of him and he made his way to the sailboat's wheel, where Melville stood slightly unsteadily. He did have quite a few beer cans on that table. Wonder how many of them were empty?

  "You're Melville, right?" Ian asked.

  The older man nodded. "That's me."

  "The emitter you were talking about-"

  "The hydrosonic emitter? What about it?" Melville grumbled.

  "What Pokemon around here does it keep away?" Ian asked.

  "Mostly Gyarados, Sharpedo, and Wailord. Sometimes we'll get Alpha Tentacruel or a particularly aggressive school of Wishiwashi, but those aren't too common," Melville explained. "Only thing it doesn't work on is an Alpha Gyarados. Those things will get so riled up it'll attack whatever the source is."

  Ian's mind pictured the cracks in Wartortle's shell for a moment before he spoke again. "Are there any Alpha Gyarados nearby that you know of?"

  "Oh yeah, a real feisty one just off the coast from you guys," Melville said. "I warned Sinclair about it the last time he came through, but he didn't seem too worried about it. If it's still there, it's a nice bit of defense for you guys."

  Ian grimaced. Maybe they neutralized it? "They don't come around here though?" Ian asked.

  "Every so often, so that's why most ships' crews have an Electric Type Pokemon," Melville continued. "They don't teach that in Unova?"

  Ian grimaced. "Something like that."

  "Well, best keep your mouth around Ms. Keahi, she's not a big fan of Unovans," Melville said.

  Great, please don't be another Hyde.

  Minutes later Melville had the boat tied to Breakwater Isle's shoddy dock. Ian noticed a steep pathway of stairs carved into the rock running along its face, leading up to the top where Keahi's cottage sat.

  "Be careful going up the stairs!" Melville warned as he whipped out a folding chair and a beer can he had hidden.

  Leilani led the way, with Hyde on her heels. He'd been notably quiet since getting disqualified from consideration from Irida's hand, so seeing him with a spark in his step made Ian optimistic his former hater might still remain a former hater. Ian's stomach grew increasingly fluttery with every step closer they got to the cottage. He picked up the rear of the party, now dreading the interaction with the woman whose presence was felt across the island, even though she hadn't been on it for a number of months.

  Upon reaching the top, Leilani made the group wait as she walked solemnly to the door, knocking on it. "Some former Cinders of yours are here to see you." Ian expected the door to open from the inside, but Leilani opened it herself and entered, closing it behind her quickly.

  Ian took a look around the top of the rock that was Breakwater Isle, noting a gaunt, aged tree made of pale wood, leaning over as if a strong breeze would finally knock it over. How a tree sprouted up here is a mystery to me, plus I haven't seen a tree that looks remotely like that since I arrived in Alola.

  Ian's focus on the pale tree was interrupted when Leilani re-opened the door and signaled the group to enter the little cottage. Ian felt his heartbeat quicken as he followed his comrades into the small cottage. The inside was decently illuminated, with a few windows and a fireplace in one corner, a flame Ian recognized as made by a Pokemon keeping it passively burning with no fuel. Like the streetlamps in Makamae Town and torches in Fort Acuity the Pearl Clan use. A large green armchair faced the fireplace, with a wooden loveseat opposite the armchair but facing the flames as well. A few cabinets seemingly functioned as a kitchen, and on the far side of the house was what looked to be a single bed, with dozens of plastic water jars at its foot.

  "Welcome, friends and strangers," a deep, feminine voice called out from the green armchair.

  "Keahi…" Plumeria said weakly before losing her will to speak.

  Keahi tittered in her chair as Leilani stepped past Ian and made her way to Keahi's chair. The older sister rose from her seat and took her place beside Leilani. Where Leilani's tunic was blue with various flowers, Keahi wore a deep green dress with bright red and yellow flowers dotted across, each flower sticking out like a flame on the material. Keahi's face was the spitting image of Leilani's just a decade older, more weathered with wrinkles, and with sad, orange eyes. "Barely seven months and you have all changed so much," Keahi observed as she stepped to the squad.

  The six squad members instinctively lined up side by side, with Ian at the far side while Keahi went to Plumeria first. "Plumeria, you've done so well. Better than I even hoped you would do," Keahi said, embracing the squad leader. Plumeria tensed up, but quickly returned Keahi's affection.

  Next she came to Hyde, making Keahi tittered knowingly. "Hyde, ever the protector. Every group needs its skeptical cynic."

  Hyde nodded respectfully as Keahi put her hand on his shoulder, seemingly blessing him. She stepped to Tupp and Rapp, smiling proudly. "Tanner, Seraphine, my how you've grown."

  Tanner? Tupp's real name is Tanner? Ian almost facepalmed. Jeez, he's my best friend and I didn't even know his real name. I'm the bad friend here. "Good to see you again, Keahi," Tupp stammered nervously.

  "Yeah…" Rapp echoed.

  Keahi outstretched her arms for both of them, having both of them rest their heads on her shoulders for a few moments before withdrawing and moving to Selene. Ian gulped nervously. I'm next.

  "I don't believe we've formally met," Keahi said.

  "We haven't, but I saw you once. I was on an Island Challenge before things went bad, and you greeted some of us in Malie City," Selene explained. "You were really kind and welcoming."

  Keahi smiled knowingly once more. "And what was your name, dear?"

  "Selene," she said.

  "Oh. Kukui's cousin," Keahi said. "It's a shame we didn't get to meet until now. He raved about you all through your challenge, you know."

  Selene giggled. "Yeah…"

  "Have you been able to inform him you're safe?" Keahi asked.

  "I wrote a letter and gave it to the Driftwood Guild, telling them where I was and that I was safe," Selene said. "I should send another one though."

  Keahi nodded. "My little sister might be able to help them get a letter back to you at some point. I'm sure your family misses you dearly."

  Selene nodded. "I miss them too…"

  Keahi nodded, putting her hand on Selene's shoulder as well, seemingly blessing her. Keahi then took a deep breath and stepped to Ian, her fiery orange eyes probing his form. "And you…" Keahi said intensely.

  Ian gulped, remaining silent.

  "You are the one with the blessed Sawsbuck?" Keahi asked grimly.

  Ian nodded. "Yes ma'am," he said nervously.

  Keahi shook her head before turning away and stepping back to Leilani. "Tapu Bulu blesses a Pokemon often found in Unova for Unovan trainer. How funny," Keahi said, with no subtle bitterness in her tone.

  "Keahi," Plumeria spoke nervously. "Ian's not like most Unovans."

  Keahi turned to Plumeria, the room tensing. "I shall be the judge of that, Plumeria." Keahi cleared her throat and faced the rest of the group. "Friends, I do apologize for the lack of courtesy, but I must speak to Ian alone."

  Plumeria began to protest but stopped, waving the rest of the squad through the door they'd entered, leaving just Keahi, Leilani, and Ian. "Dear sister, that means you too."

  Leilani gasped. "Sister-"

  "Alone," Keahi said deeply, authoritatively.

  Leilani hmph'd but did as her sister had bid, opening the front door and slamming it. Ian felt nervous beads of sweat begin to drip down his forehead and back before realizing Keahi had taken roost in her green armchair. "Come closer to the fire, Ian."

  Ian gulped nervously, stepping slowly as his heart pounded. This must be what if feels like to be on trial.

  "Have a seat," Keahi said coldly, her hand gesturing to the rug. Ian eyed the loveseat now behind him, but did as the former Kahuna directed, taking an uncomfortable seat on the rug. "You are afraid," Keahi observed. "I'm sure you're aware you are in no physical danger, as the bonds with my Pokemon have been severed, and they no longer take my commands. The fire is a friend's Pokemon's."

  Ian nodded. "I think I'm afraid of disappointing you, which I feel like I already have."

  Keahi tittered before firing back with intensity. "Why would a Unovan care about an Alolan being disappointed in them?"

  Ian shook his head. "It sounds like the Unova I'm from is a bit different than this world's Unova. From what little I've heard, Unova has mistreated Alola for a long time."

  "Ignorance can only excuse you so much," Keahi stated. "But I shall humor you." Keahi paused, then smiled, seemingly amused by something. "Plumeria came to your defense. How well do you know her, young Ian?"

  A myriad of memories flashed before his eyes, with Plumeria's sobs and her desperate plea for him to stay with Team Skull echoing in his mind. "Pretty well…"

  "Then you understand that her coming to your defense is the greatest endorsement one can receive in your situation?" Keahi asked.

  Ian nodded. "Yeah."

  "Explain to me how you know," Keahi ordered.

  "Uh, sure…" Ian said nervously, feeling her piercing orange eyes investigating every muscle in his face for a sign of dishonesty. "Po Town took me in even though I have a Unovan accent and Hyde even thought I was a spy, and our food was running low. The next Ultra Storm we went to investigate, a little girl named Rylee appeared in it. She's only seven years old and would just be another mouth to feed, but it wasn't a question. We were gonna take her in," Ian explained. "I've been around Po Town long enough to know that's a policy Plumeria does not negotiate on, and it sounds like she got it from the Cinder- Your Cinders, I mean."

  "Hmm…" Keahi began, sounding pleased. "You are correct. It took her some time to get comfortable enough to join the Cinders, but when she did, I didn't reach out to her to mentor her very much."

  "Can I ask why?" Ian asked.

  Keahi smiled warmly. "There was little for me to teach her. I had little time to waste then, and I knew Plumeria would carry on the legacy of the Cinders when I was gone."

  Ian nodded. "Gone… So did you know you were going to be exiled?"

  Keahi shook her head as she tittered loudly. "For what I was about to do, I figured I would be dead."

  "Oh…" Ian said.

  Keahi exhaled. "Well young Ian, let's make a deal. Tell me the story of how your Sawsbuck became blessed, and you may ask me any question you desire."

  Ian nodded. "That'd be great…" When was the last time I told this story? I think it was Mina? Yeah… And before that it was Colress. A shiver went down Ian's spine at the thought of the sinister scientist likely from beyond the Ultra Rift. Maybe I should tell her there's something suspicious about him before I leave.

  He began the story, mentioning it was only his fourth day in Alola and how he saw Surge's Zapdos, and then somehow the convoy sniffed them out. Keahi seemed particularly interested in how they were found out, which Ian had no clue since he was dozens of feet up a tree. When Ian recalled Hyde was the first one running away, she stopped her line of questioning though.

  He continued on to the frantic chase, where the man known as Wayne followed him instead of Tupp and made mince meat of his team except for Deerling, but Ian lost its Heal Ball in the commotion as he fled to the Lake of the Sunne. Then came the pivotal moment where Wayne had Ian cornered, Deerling's leg was snapped, and he faced certain execution, only to be saved by Tapu Bulu's appearance.

  "I didn't realize Tapu Bulu was there, at the moment all I cared about was checking on Deerling," Ian recalled. "So when Tapu Bulu let out its shriek I realized I was dead meat. One of its hands turned green, like it was about to use Leaf Blade to execute me…"

  "Mmmhmmm…" Keahi affirmed.

  "...but then Deerling, his leg snapped, in agonizing pain, pleaded for my life. A Pokemon I'd known for two days, looked a Legendary Pokemon in the eye and pleaded for my life to it, in a place I knew I wasn't supposed to be…" Ian paused, processing the full emotions of the act. "I'm not sure what I did to deserve Deerling's loyalty. I mean, sure I saved it from Guzma's Alpha Ariados, but it's not the same level, you know what I mean?"

  "Maybe," Keahi offered, clearly captivated by the story.

  "Well, Tapu Bulu's green hand turned into a swirl of colors, and Deerling started floating and began to glow and…" Ian paused, picturing the moment his blessed Sawsbuck had appeared from the glowing light of the blessed evolution. "...I didn't realize it at the time, but blessed Sawsbuck appeared. I bowed my head and thanked Tapu Bulu, but it wanted us to leave, which makes sense. We did, and when Tupp found me and Sawsbuck, Tapu Bulu appeared, returning Sawsbuck's Heal Ball. It was the only way Tupp believed I encountered Tapu Bulu."

  Keahi tittered. "Have you seen Tapu Bulu since?"

  Ian nodded. "We were in the Haina Desert, I was training while watching the camp when Tapu Bulu appeared. I think it wanted to battle Sawsbuck, but Sawsbuck was still wounded from the day's events."

  "What happened there?" Keahi asked bluntly.

  "Breon's goons abducted Rapp, and Sawsbuck and I went in pursuit. Sawsbuck fought off two adversaries by itself, and saved me from a Manectric's Thunder Bolt a little while later," Ian said.

  "So, Tapu Bulu's new chosen," Keahi said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I suppose some intelligent Unovan has come here to show us primitive Alolans what a real Kahuna should be like?" Keahi accused.

  Ian grimaced. "Not at all ma'am… I'm an infant in this land and in this world. Sure, Ted Beaumont of the Rough Raiders seems to think I'm next in line to be the Kahuna, and he suspects the Driftwood Guild was trying to help me at one point. Thanks to their bounty on me I don't think they are anymore. But ultimately, I haven't heard where Nanu is, so he's likely the Kahuna, and even if he weren't, I'm in no way fit to have that title."

  "Then what was the meaning behind Tapu Bulu's blessing?" Keahi asked, her tone quite different from her prior accusation.

  "Well, maybe it just wanted to help a poor trainer and his wounded Pokemon…" Ian said. "Grassy Surge helping us grow food is a great byproduct of the blessing. But thanks to Sawsbuck, Po Town isn't starving, neither is the Pearl Clan, and Sawsbuck has been instrumental in winning a number of battles where lives were at stake."

  "Interesting…" Keahi said. "So what's stopping you from taking this gift from Alola and maximizing its ability? Why aren't you going to Malie City to make a profit off of Sawsbuck's ability, which you surely could?"

  Ian grinned, remembering Ingo's guiding words. "I'm a Faller as you know, and I was able to meet someone who was a Faller as well, but they'd been in their situation much longer," Ian explained. "He was lucky enough to meet someone who had a lot of experience with Fallers, away from their place, away from their time. He got some great advice from them, advice that comforted him in his darkest times, and he was able to pass that on to another Faller and then to me…" Ian said, closing his eyes, trying to imagine the turmoil Rei, the Legends Arceus protagonist, had endured to necessitate Ingo giving the advice.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "And what was this advice?" Keahi asked curiously.

  "Go to where your heart leads, and once there, do the most good you can," Ian said. "Sure, Po Town isn't the most comfortable, and we're at war, and there's all this bullshit going on…" Ian paused. "...but I've made friends I already know I'll have for life. Tupp wants to get matching tattoos saying 'Bros for life,' even," Ian said as he chuckled at the thought. "I think I'm in love this girl, that helps-"

  "Plumeria?" Keahi asked curiously.

  Ian felt his cheeks warm as he tensed. "No, but I admire her deeply."

  "And if these people were to leave Po Town, would you stay?" Keahi asked.

  "I think I would," Ian said. "We're doing good things in Po Town, I have a greater purpose there than I've ever had. Plus we take in the outcasts, the Fallers from other worlds. I'm a Faller myself, yes, but I'm from a very different world from this one. And there's a little girl, only seven years old who's from a very different world from this as well, and when she's older she's going to have problems reconciling that. It's gonna really mess with her. But if I'm around, she'll know she's not alone, and when she's older she'll understand someone else was going through the same thing, and if I'm okay, that means she'll be okay…" Ian paused. "It's not something I can walk away from easily."

  "Hmmm…" Keahi hummed pensively. "Po Town's lucky to have someone like you looking out for it."

  Ian bowed his head graciously for a moment, waiting on Keahi's next words.

  "As far as Sawsbuck's blessing, has it used any special moves?" Keahi asked.

  "Special moves?" Ian asked.

  "Pokemon blessed by Legendaries usually inherit a power from that legendary," Keahi explained. "For Pokemon blessed by Tapu Bulu, it would be Nature's Madness, although I'm not sure how Sawsbuck would use it. Maybe it will learn something more fitting…"

  Ian nodded. "I'll keep an eye out for it as Sawsbuck and I grow."

  "I've heard what I've needed to hear from you," Keahi asked. "I take it you have questions for me?"

  Ian nodded. "Yeah, quite a few…"

  "Then let's be quick about them," Keahi said.

  Ian cleared his throat. "Why did you attack the Lake of the Sunne? I've gathered it had something to do with Alola's 'Original Sin' as you called it-"

  "It had everything to do with it," Keahi said.

  "Plumeria said that what little she knew about it, she believed it was the cause of Alola having Ultra Wormholes long before the Ultra Rift occurred," Ian said.

  "You have sharp ears, young one," Keahi said. "Alola's 'Original Sin' is not something I disclose lightly, even for trainers recognized by Tapu Bulu, as it is a very dangerous secret."

  "Yet you declared it," Ian said, realizing he was a bit more blunt than he'd anticipated.

  "Just its existence," Keahi replied. "Finally you speak to me without fear."

  "So Keahi… You were going to destroy the Original Sin, so Alola knowing about its existence wouldn't matter. It would've been a moot point… But you didn't succeed."

  "I did not," Keahi said. "Which is why it must remain a closely guarded secret," Keahi said.

  "Your top four Cinders knew, didn't they?" Ian asked.

  Keahi's eyebrows rose. "Very sharp ears."

  "Rook told me that," Ian said.

  Keahi grimaced. "One of my mistakes, that man. I was afraid you might be similar to him."

  Ian shook his head. "I'm certainly not that." Ian paused, getting back to the original point. "But why destroy the Original Sin? Did you lose someone, like Plumeria did?"

  Keahi's head lowered. "Yes, I did. My sister."

  Leilani? Wait-

  "Nalani," Keahi said, emotion bubbling up in her tone. "Older than Leilani, she went missing in an Ultra Wormhole."

  "That's horrible," Ian said.

  "She'd wanted to visit the Aether Paradise, she'd always been fascinated by the foundation itself. Our tour guide had us meet Mohn, the president of Aether. He'd just come back from paternity leave, his youngest daughter had been born. Nalani had won a prize for answering a question and was on stage with Mohn when something appeared behind them, a crack in reality. Before I could realize what was happening, Nalani pushed Mohn off the stage, but she was taken into the Ultra Wormhole that had manifested. I never saw her again."

  "I'm sorry to hear that," Ian said.

  "So was Mohn. He wanted to honor her, start a scholarship fund for kids from Ula'Ula in her name. He wanted to comfort my family, he needed to comfort my family…" Keahi explained. "But I was angry. Every time I looked into his joyful green eyes I would become enraged…" Keahi paused. "It didn't dawn on me until recently that Nalani didn't want a little baby girl out there to lose their father to the great beyond…" Keahi paused, Ian watching a tear drip down from her eye. "It was so like her…" Keahi wiped the tears from her eyes and shook her head. "I was so upset I had lost my sister, I couldn't be comforted. I needed to do something…"

  Ian nodded, trying to show he was still listening attentively.

  "So I trained my Pokemon hard. Harder than ever before. Po Town had always been a place where trainers on their Island Challenges could get stuck, lost, or hurt, so forming the Cinders and making Po Town a haven for outcasts made sense. I suppose building that community and becoming that strong made me worthy to become the Kahuna, so when Lord Tapu burned its seal into my palm…" Keahi raised her hand, showing a tiki-like design on her right palm. "...and I was told why my sister was taken, it re-ignited those fires in my veins. And that rage drove me to bring my inner four Cinders to the Lake of the Sunne and try to destroy the altar at its center." Keahi paused, taking a deep exhale. "Even now I would drift back to my dreams of how Alola would be if Nalani and Mohn had switched places, if it was Mohn who went away."

  Ian gulped nervously. So that's what sets this world apart from the Sun and Moon games. Wow…

  "Do you have any questions not pertaining to the 'Original Sin,' young Ian?" Keahi asked.

  "Kinda," Ian said. "You've been more than accommodating, Keahi," Ian paused. "But the other three Cinders who went to the Lake of the Sunne with you, what happened to them?"

  Keahi sighed. "I instructed them to follow the next Kahuna, whoever it was, and help support them. The Ultra Rift had just appeared, and I was no longer the island's Kahuna."

  Ian nodded. "So they went to Nanu?"

  "Yes," Keahi said.

  "And Nanu disappeared…" Ian said, realizing Keahi likely knew what really happened.

  "He didn't abandon us," Keahi assured him. "He did what he thought could solve the problem."

  "Which was?" Ian asked.

  "He went to the Ultra Rift itself," Keahi said. "My three Cinders watched him get absorbed into it… He has yet to return. If the Ultra Rift ever fixes itself inexplicably, we'll know he succeeded," Keahi said bluntly. "If he's still alive, I know he's working on a way to fix things. We just have no way of knowing…"

  Ian nodded. "So I gotta ask. What happened to the Cinders? The other three in your main group."

  Keahi tittered knowingly. "Nothing gets past you, I'll give you that, young Ian," Keahi said. "They're supporting the island in a different way now. Maybe one day you will run into them."

  Ian nodded. "I'll tell 'em you said hello."

  Keahi laughed harder, a bit more knowingly. "Is there anything else I can answer for you, Ian?"

  Ian wracked his brain. Sure he wanted to pick her brain on the war with Sinclair, or about Rook's true intentions. Her praising Plumeria and trashing Rook should be all I need to know from her on that though. If time's an issue, there's only one thing I can say to her.

  "Have you heard of a man named Colress?"

  Keahi nodded. "I have, he was a new Aether Foundation scientist when I met him a few months before the Ultra Rift opened up."

  Ian nodded, taking a deep breath. If there's anyone who will understand, it'll be her. "When I was in Makamae Town, underneath the Ultra Rift, we met Colress, although he said he was a Faller," Ian began. "He seemed pretty fishy, he had loads of treasure and resources as well as extremely powerful Pokemon. He said he came from an Ultra Wormhole but he had his memory, and I remember him not knowing what an Ultra Storm was, so he couldn't have come from one of those either."

  "Odd," Keahi said, reserved.

  "I think he came from the Ultra Rift itself," Ian said. "He was like a walking red flag. He saw Sawsbuck when we first met and tried to get me to go with him to civilization," Ian continued. "At first he said he came to this world by accident, but near the end of our time escorting him to Malie City, he implied he had friends in the city who would help us."

  "You're right to be skeptical," Keahi said.

  "But he finally unmasked himself before he left…" Ian paused, a shiver running down his spine as he remembered the intensely malicious look on the scientist's face as he gave Ian his parting speech. "He showed me a picture of something called Cosmog-"

  Keahi gasped, causing Ian to stop. "Cosmog… Are you serious?"

  Ian tensed. "Yes. This Faller Colress showed it to me on this device he had with him. He had a picture of it and a Pokedex entry," Ian said. It's not a lie but it's not the entire truth. "He said he was looking for it, it and a certain object as well."

  "Object… like an instrument?" Keahi asked cautiously.

  "No, it was some orb… He called it the 'Master Orb. Said it could bend any Pokemon to the holder's will, even Legendary Pokemon," Ian said. "He told me if I could bring either of those things to him, the reward would be beyond my wildest dreams."

  "Temptation…" Keahi said stoically.

  Ian shook his head. "I don't know what his plans are, but whatever they are, nothing good is going to come from them," Ian concluded. "I'm not sure how much you'll be able to do with this-"

  Keahi held her hand up to halt him. "I will be able to use this information, Ian," Keahi said. "I can tell the truth of your words by how gravely serious you are when you speak them. Now I must ask you, who else have you told about this?"

  "I told Plumeria about Cosmog, but that's it," Ian said.

  "And she knows not to disclose its existence to anyone?" Keahi asked.

  "Basically… I can reconfirm that though," Ian said.

  "Do so. As for the Master Orb…" Keahi paused. "...do not speak of it to anyone. If what that Faller Colress says is true, it's something that must be destroyed on sight."

  Ian nodded. "Got it. I haven't told Plumeria about that one. It feels like cursed knowledge…"

  "It is," Keahi said, getting up from her chair. Ian watched her green dress seemingly drift over the wood floor as she made for her bedside table. Ian heard a drawer open, and Keahi returned to him. "Rise, young Ian," Keahi ordered, holding something in her hand.

  Ian did as ordered, still quite unsure of what Keahi had planned. "Hold out your hand," Keahi ordered. Ian did so, and she grabbed his palm as her other hand placed a bracelet on his wrist. Wait, is this a Z-Ring?

  "K-Keahi-"

  "Sssshhh," Keahi sounded as she latched the bottom of the Z-Ring into place.

  "Keahi, I… I don't know what to say," Ian mumbled.

  Keahi eyed him, her fiery orange eyes reflecting the glare of the fireplace, making her irises seemingly dance. "I have no use for this. And while no Kahuna protects this island, use this Z-Ring to protect Po Town, to protect my friends."

  Ian gulped, nodding stiffly.

  "Now go. And keep that blessed stag of yours safe," Keahi commanded with a proud grin.

  "Yes ma'am," Ian said seriously. Ian bowed his head respectfully and turned for the door. As he opened it to the brighter Alolan sun, he remembered something. I never referred to Sawsbuck as a "blessed stag" to her, did I?

  The people outside of Keahi's cottage had circled around Leilani as a garbled message from a walkie talkie she held up to her ear came through. Ian approached slowly, and Ian noticed a lot of tense faces.

  "Oh Ian, you're back," Selene whispered, pointing at Ian.

  "What's going on?" Ian whispered back.

  "Weather forecast," Selene said.

  They're this serious about a weather forecast? The fuck?

  "...the storm has officially been downgraded to a category one hurricane as it approaches Poni Island, but a storm of that intensity will be extremely dangerous, according to the Alolan Weather Service," the garbled voice from the walkie talkie finished.

  "So what are they recommending we do?" Leilani said.

  "Stay away from the coast for storm surges, but stay away from elevated terrain since there'll be a high risk of landslides," the male voice said.

  Leilani gave a frustrated sigh. "We're stuck between the coast and a mountain, so do we just hunker down and take it?"

  "Seems like the only way, unless you wanna ask Malie City for refuge," the voice said.

  "No can do," Leilani said. "Maybe we can arrange for our sick and elderly to temporarily be placed there, but anything more than that will have Surge on our ass."

  "We could always ask Driftw-" Leilani pressed a button on the walkie-talkie, covering the transmission with annoyingly loud static. Leilani turned to Plumeria and shook her head. "He doesn't know about that incident."

  Plumeria nodded sternly.

  Leilani turned off the forced static and smiled sweetly. "Sorry Tibs, I'm still with Team Skull out here and I don't want any strategic information getting out."

  "Shit, sorry Leilani. That's all I got," the voice said before cutting out.

  Plumeria sighed loudly, her resting scowl face twisting even more intensely. "This storm's really on track to hit us?"

  "Yeah," Leilani said. "It swerved at the last minute and now is coming straight for Alola. I know you guys will have it even rougher than we will."

  Plumeria nodded. "Yeah. Luckily there's only so much that the storm can damage."

  "Better hope it stays safe then," Leilani said with a nervous grin. Leilani then turned to Ian. "I see my sister's done with you?"

  Ian nodded. "Yeah…"

  "No way, is that a Z-Ring?" Rapp demanded.

  The group gasped, and Ian noticed Plumeria's jaw dropped.

  Leilani was the first to speak. "Is that-"

  Ian nodded stoically. "Yeah… She gave it to me."

  "She approves of you," Leilani commented. "Surprising."

  Ian smiled nervously. "I had a really good endorsement," he said as his eyes drifted to Plumeria, who let up her scowl if only for a moment.

  "We goin' back to Po Town to do this storm prep?" Hyde declared loudly.

  "Yeah, we ought to get going," Plumeria said.

  ***

  The ride down the road to Po Town was pretty smooth, with Rapp proudly announcing she'd found a boat mechanic that could likely help them. The wind had calmed to an almost eerie degree, almost reinforcing that a major storm was headed their way. When they got off to take a break near Litleo's Hollow, Ian took Plumeria aside.

  "Selene told me some troubling stuff while you were in the bike shop," Ian said grimly.

  "What?" Plumeria asked.

  "She said Rook's been acting really suspicious," he replied.

  Plumeria grimaced. "Probably just bitter."

  Ian shook his head. "I'll tell you more when we're alone, but there are some things I noticed that aren't lining up," Ian began. "I think he might've hid the key to opening the front gate on the night we were attacked by Sinclair."

  Plumeria's eyebrows rose. "That's a hefty accusation."

  Ian nodded. "I know, but all I'm gonna say is watch him closely. He's got his little group, and Selene says he's lowering hours for loyalists and upping hours for people on watch duty who aren't in his 'in' group. I want to verify things myself, but you'd be able to find more out I reckon."

  Plumeria nodded. "Okay… I'll look, but we gotta be discreet about this. Most of the Team Skull members from the Cinders days think highly of Rook. We'll be making Guzma look insecure if he finds out what we're doing."

  Ian nodded. "I know Selene's not the most reliable source-"

  Plumeria shook her head. "No, it's something I've noticed but didn't want to consider as a possibility. With all of the storm prep we'll have to do, I should be able to get a decent read on things without drawing too much attention."

  Ian nodded, holding his fist out, which Plumeria pounded.

  "And don't tell Rook that you met with Keahi," Plumeria added. "It'll make things awkward."

  Ian nodded, then remembered what Keahi had told him to tell Plumeria. "Will do. And Keahi wanted me to tell you something too."

  "Oh?"

  "That Pokemon that evolves into Lunala?" Ian asked. "Cosmog? Don't mention it to anyone. Keahi got deathly serious about no one else knowing about it."

  Plumeria nodded. "Gotcha Coogz," Plumeria gave him a pat on the shoulder and a subtle wink before turning away. "Break time's over, we got shit to do when we get back to Po Town!" Plumeria barked.