Chapter Text
Everybody on Ula’Ula’ knew about Acerola. The cheery, happy-go-lucky Ghost-Type trial captain of the abandoned Thrifty Megamart. They knew about her sweet heart, and how she cared for the children of the Aether House, and the Pokémon they brought with them. They also knew about her… questionable parental choices. Ever since anyone who knew Acerola could remember, she had called the Kahuna of the island her uncle. Now, this wouldn’t be so bad, if the Kahuna was anyone other then Officer Nanu. His lazy nature made people believe was far unsuited to be called anything more than an acquaintance to such an energetic child, but she loved him, and even if he didn’t show it, he loved her.
And for good reason. He was the only parental figure she had left, after the death of her parents, and she… she just existed, and made everything better, in Nanu’s mind.
It was sunny, for a change, on Ula’Ula’, and Nanu was taking his niece somewhere special. That only he, the Kahuna of Melemele, and a deceased friend, knew about. Acerola was a bit confused, but also highly intrigued, when they reached the location, to say the least. It was a simple grove, with a large lake and a few old handmade boats sitting on the shore, fishing supplies littering the insides. She went over to investigate the boats, before finding something a bit odd on the inside, “Hey Uncle! This has your name on the inside! Did you make it?”
The old cop chuckled at her call, before padding over to check out her findings, “Yep. Me, Hala, and your dad. The three of us put together boats. Then we’d come out here and fish the day away. Or… do whatever dumb stuff we did back then.” His chest tightened as he spoke. Your dad. That’s dead. He shouldn’t be… but his daughter deserved to know. “You like it?”
Acerola’s eyes practically sparkled, “I love it, Uncle! This place is amazing!” She had to look around in wonder at the little grove, before turning back to her uncle. Her grin quickly dropped at something she saw behind him, but when it reappeared, she waved at… something. Nanu had to turn to see what was behind him, and immediately had to keep a straight face. It was him. Watching them. Smiling. He didn’t look sickly for once. Ace had turned her back to investigate her uncle’s old boat further, so Nanu smirked, and gave his old friend a half salute with two fingers. And then he was gone. The smirk remained, but the friend did not. Still staring ahead at where his friend used to be, he called back to his niece.
“Hey, Ace?” the girl perked up at the sound of the officer’s voice, “How’d you like to build your own boat, huh? I can show you how.” She nodded eagerly, and Nanu knelt down beside the boat, ready to explain all the work they were about to do. She was happy, and so was he. Nanu wondered if her dad was still watching them, if unseen. He wondered if he enjoyed the sight of his daughter and old friend having fun at their fishing spot. He hoped so. He hoped he was happy here. Arceus knows he used to be. The three of them used to be.
Acerola snapped him out of his thoughts by beginning building according to her uncle’s instructions, “How’s it look so far?” her grin spread from ear to ear, “Just like you told me to!” She’d let out her Palossand, Nanu noted, and she was off on the beach leading into the lake, probably looking for shells, as her trainer told him she liked to do. And the girl herself had not done bad, considering her uncle's vague directions before he'd spaced out. It just needed a bit of work.
The cop smiled for once, before kneeling down beside the trial captain, “Lookin’ great, kiddo. Now lemme show you something…” and so he did. And he showed her one hundred other things, for the rest of the day.