Chapter Text
Acerola’s earliest memories of her father had always revolved around the various books he owned about the Guardian deities, the Island Kahunas, and Legendary Pokémon throughout Alolan history.
Before she was able to read and write, she recalled the evenings spent where he would read her bedtime stories to help fuel her active imagination. Stories that included their ancestry to the Alolan Royals of the past and inspired her to follow his passions in books and storytelling. To dream of growing up as a keeper of knowledge so that she could preserve history and ensure that it wouldn’t be forgotten to changing times.
That was what eight-year-old Acerola always desired and it was her life’s goal to achieve it by following in her father’s footsteps. She wanted it more than even the Island Challenge and with each new year, she would help her father find more stories to add to their growing collection for future generations to read as well.
Malie Library was therefore her favorite location to visit whenever her family went into the large coastal city. She and her father would always lose several hours in the expansive library to the point where her mother would lure them out with promises of malasada treats.
It was fitting that her father’s books would be donated to the Malie Library’s Collection as it’s what he would have wanted as his last wishes. She didn’t want them to get damaged so having them here would ensure that they were preserved and safe.
It’s what she kept repeating to herself the heavier her heart was with each cardboard box brought inside the once special place she shared with her father.
It’s what she forced herself to accept with each book and memory she had to let go.
With the last cardboard box dropped onto the wooden table, Kahuna Nanu groaned and ran a hand through his grey hair out of breath and exhausted. Wearing his black police jacket over a plain burgundy shirt with black pants and worn sandals, he passed for any ordinary Alolan resident on Ula’ Ula Island. He was nothing like the heroic Kahunas that were depicted in her father’s books and, no matter how hard she tried, Acerola couldn’t figure out why Tapu Bulu picked him as Ula’ Ula’s Island King.
Island Kahuna’s were supposed to be awe inspiring figures revered by the people and entrusted with Sparkling Stones that proved their worthiness to the Guardians of Alola. In her father’s book, The Tapu and the Island Kahunas, it said that that the reasoning they used wasn’t apparent to observers but, even after spending time with Nanu, she still didn’t get it. She once tried asking her parents if it’s possible that Tapu Bulu made a mistake, but her father just laughed and promised that Kahuna Nanu made a good Island King.
She just had to take the time to see it for herself.
That was one of the last conversations she had with her father before she learned about the fire that took her parents lives later that day. Kahuna Nanu was the one that delivered the news when she was never picked up at the Pokémon School and was the only adult that answered her questions regarding the accident. He said that the police reports had confirmed that it was caused by a loose gas pipe and that the fire grew too fast by the time help had arrived to extinguish it. With condolences he managed to locate her father’s books along with a few other possessions that were stored in the family safe, but he said that everything else was unfortunately destroyed in the aftermath.
It was a heavy realization that left her emotionally numb by the time the funeral had passed.
It remained even after she was standing in front of the Aether House Orphanage, with nothing but her memories left to remember her parents by.
In four months, her life became a broken mirror that made it difficult to fathom how it could be pieced back together. Her new home consisted of a small bedroom at the Aether House that was as barren and empty as she felt. Solid white walls with only bare necessities as its décor, it reminded her of a blank canvas without any painting on it to make it special. Her plain lavender dress wasn’t even hers since the Aether House had to provide her with donated clothes to replace the ones she had lost in the fire.
Nothing in this new place felt like home and it only brought her more anguish the longer she dwelled on it. She just wasn’t sure what to feel and the uncertainty of it all made it more suffocating with each new worry and thought. In an endless cycle that wouldn’t stop.
Before she could get lost any further in the whirlwind of her emotions, Acerola felt someone gently poking her forehead and realized that the Island Kahuna was trying to get her attention. For a moment, she couldn’t decipher what expression he had before he sighed and reverted to his usual indifference. At this point she noticed that all the cardboard boxes had been moved and that he finished his discussion with the Librarian while she was distracted.
As if this day couldn’t get any worse.
Now she was mortified for standing here looking like an idiot.
“Finally, back amongst the land of the living.” Nanu drawled. “About time. If I had to wait any longer then we would miss out on the sweet deal that the Sushi High Roller has before the dinner rush. You ready to get going?”
Glancing down at the floor, Acerola nodded before the two of them walked out of the Library entrance. “…Sure, but aren’t the prices always the same regardless of the time of day? They don’t even do lunch specials…”
“Well that’s because you haven’t realized how the special discount works. As the Island Kahuna I’m entitled to some perks and one of them includes the discounted prices after we receive the check. The fact that it’s at my favorite high-class restaurant is just a bonus.”
“But…being an Island Kahuna isn’t about looking for the perks people give you. That doesn’t have anything to do with your responsibilities.” Acerola chastised.
Chuckling, Nanu glanced down at the pouting child and met her disapproval with a growing smirk. “Nonsense, with everything in life you always have to look at the silver lining. If you take everything seriously then you’re not giving yourself time to enjoy the things that matter most.”
“…And what does that mean? Being chosen as the Island Kahuna is a huge honor! It’s meant to be taken seriously.”
“…It’s a job kid, and no fancy title will change that. What I’m trying to say is that you’re still young. Doom and gloom aren’t your style so…start thinking about stuff that can be turned into something positive. Like how nice naps are on a warm summer day. Or how good a nice order of Ronin Sushi is when you’re not forced to share it with pesky freeloaders that bug you for your food all the time…”
“…Those are all things you enjoy, Kahuna Nanu…and you shouldn’t talk about the Alolan Meowths like that.”
“Eh, they’re not here to hear it. Plus, you never know you unless you try it. Maybe I can convert you into a mini-me given some more time.”
The souring expression on Acerola’s face was enough to elicit more chortles out of the Island Kahuna by the time that they had arrived at the Sushi High Roller Restaurant. Inside the restaurant, Acerola looked around and saw part of the Sushi Bar expanding out from the transparent screen that directed its customers towards the front of the house.
The restaurant was divided by two separate sides and had a small red bridge arching over the Zen garden décor that they had partially sinking in beneath the elevated floors of the main dining areas. On the left side, where they had walked in, were where the customers sat at the Sushi Bar to watch their orders made directly in front of them by the chefs. While on the other side of the bridge, on the right, was the larger dining area where customers sat and placed their orders to the waiters.
Looking up at the new guests, the waiter, with his white hair and white karate uniform, smiled brightly and walked around the main desk to greet them once the door shut behind them. Starting with the same routine that she had practically memorized by this point.
“Oh, Master Nanu! What a pleasure to see you on this fine afternoon.” He said enthusiastically. “Shall I seat you and your guest at your usual table?”
“Hey, Yuto, nice to see you’re doing fine as well. By any chance do you mind if we grab a seat by the Sushi Bar? I think the kid wants to see how the food’s made behind the scenes.” Nanu asked.
Staring up at him in complete shock, Acerola wasn’t sure what to make of this new development and neither did the waiter Yuto. Since knowing Nanu, every time he had taken her to the Sushi High Roller, he would always ask for his usual table on the right side of the restaurant with his usual order of the Z-Kaiseki: Ronin Set. There was a time early on when Acerola tried asking him if they could perhaps eat at the Sushi Bar for a change, but the Island Kahuna said that he’d prefer not to be surrounded by more noise than necessary.
He was adamant that his table was the optimal place to get the most out of the atmosphere and food that the Sushi High Roller had to offer. Even going so far as to take them between the lunch and dinner rushes, so it wasn’t even overcrowded by the tourists and locals when they arrived. So, to suggest something out of the ordinary…was bizarre.
Almost as disconcerting as encountering a Komala that never slept.
Once getting over his shock, the waiter nodded and grabbed them two menus before escorting them towards the empty Sushi Bar. With a halfhearted thanks, Nanu turned to Acerola and, with a raised eyebrow, indicated to the Sushi Bar with a subtle nudge towards one of the empty seats.
“Well you heard the man. Free pick of where we want to sit. Have any ideas which one looks best?”
Snapping out of her daze, Acerola glanced over the Sushi Bar quickly and looked back and forth between the left and right side. On the left, the bar had a glass wall to watch the chefs make the sushi and, on the right, they had the hibachi grill for making the hot entrees and appetizers.
“Umm…the right side should be fine. If that’s okay.” Acerola mumbled, glancing over at Nanu with uncertainty.
Nanu only sighed in response but didn’t complain as he walked over and chose the corner seat up against the wall. With some assistance, Acerola managed to seat herself up on the higher chair and was surprised at how far her legs dangled from the floor compared to the chairs on the other side in the dining area.
Everything felt so surreal that she barely remembered to utter a thanks to the waiter who gave them their menus. Her curiosity getting the better of her when she tried peering over the bar to see what was on the other side.
Until a sharp tug prevented her from leaning too far over. That had her realizing it was the Island Kahuna who was gently pushing her back into her chair. As Acerola flushed in embarrassment and hastily decided she was better off burying her nose in the menu to decide what to order. While Nanu didn't even glance at his menu and asked her a question during her brief distraction.
“…Oh, sorry Kahuna Nanu, what did you say? I uh, didn’t hear you.”
“…I asked if you had any suggestions for what we should order. Since we’re sitting in front of the hibachi grill, we’ll probably want to order one of the entrees listed here.” He said patiently, pointing a finger towards the bottom right of her menu.
Looking through the list of entrees, Acerola bit her lip and felt more pressure to pick something the longer he waited for her answer.
“…Yeah but…don’t you want your Sushi Ronin Set? I can order an entrée for myself if we really want to watch them make it in front of us…”
Scratching his chin, Nanu leaned back in his chair with a halfhearted shrug. “…I would love to, but our dear Tapu Bulu divines I must try something different. It’s a pain, I know, but as his servant I have to do what I’m told unless I want to face his wrath.”
“…Tapu Bulu wouldn’t attack you over a food order. That doesn’t even make any sense.” Acerola pointed out incredulously.
“Well, since when does anything in life make any sense.” He replied with an exaggerated sigh. “Plus, I’m not one to ask questions so guess all I can do is follow orders. Won’t you help an old man out in his time of need?” Nanu pleaded with feigned distress.
Knowing he accomplished his task when Acerola involuntarily felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips at the absurdity of it all. Shaking her head with a quiet laugh as the heavy clouds plaguing her mind start disappearing. At the precise moment the waiter returned to take their orders and they only had to wait a few moments before the chef appeared to start cooking their entrees.
Acerola had eventually settled on getting them two hibachi shrimp meals that were made in front of them with professional precision and fun entertainment. She loved when the Chef made the onions shaped like a mini volcano and how he lit it aflame to represent Wela Volcano Park on Akala Island. When he shaped the rice and noodles to form a couple of Luvdisc and had the tiny shrimps pretend that they were trying to flee. Before finishing off the silly performance by flipping the chopped off tails into the top of his chef’s hat. By the time the meal had concluded, Acerola could barely contain her excitement and made sure to thank every staff member once they left the restaurant.
She’s couldn’t remember the last time she had so much fun at the Sushi High Roller and wondered why Kahuna Nanu preferred being seated at his boring table after today’s events. Chatting excitedly about all her favorite moments during the meal, she didn’t even notice how far they had traveled until they arrived at the Charizard Ride.
On the ride that would take them out of Malie City and to the Aether House on Route 15.
Making Acerola’s good mood start steadily diminishing.
With her smile dropping faster than a school of Wishiwashi scattering to swim away.
A heavy rock weighted itself within her stomach and she felt consumed by a searing pain that wormed its way straight into her heart. The elated feelings she had moments before nonexistent by the time the Ride Pokémon landed in front of the tall white building.
After being helped down by Nanu, she stared at the orphanage with an overwhelming sorrow and glanced back over at the Island Kahuna that gave the Charizard money to take back its owner. Noticing that Acerola had stopped talking as he turned his attention back towards her with the same unreadable expression he had back at the library.
His brows pinched in what may have been mild concern.
“…Everything alright there, kid? I thought we agreed that doom and gloom aren’t something that mixed with your usual upbeat noisy demeanor. A few seconds ago, I couldn’t get you to stop chatting like a Chatot.”
Staring down at her feet, Acerola bunched the material of her dress into clenched fists and was unable to contain the trembling that shook her entire body. A wave of past recollections with her parents speeding through her mind like a video being fast forward with no one able to stop it. With one overlapping the next until a memory stood out among the others.
A trivial one of Nanu hanging out with her father that was the last straw before everything collapsed.
Once the dam broke and released all the water it held back.
“…Why do I have to go back here every time we’re finished for the day? Why, can’t I go back with you?” Acerola shouted in anguished despair.
Now that the floodgate had opened, the small child couldn’t contain her sobs and was barely able to wipe away her tears fast enough to see beyond her blurry vision. She thought she heard Nanu take a cautious step closer, but she backed away out of his reach.
She wanted answers and was tired of always feeling uncertain about everything.
She had to hear the truth before she fell into the drowning waters threatening to overtake her.
“…Is it because I’m not good enough? I know that dad was your friend…but I thought you liked me too. I won’t even take up any space! I don’t mind if you have me sleep with Alolan Meowths just don’t…don’t make me go back there, please…why won’t you just take me home…”
Continuing to cry her heart out, she doesn’t hear Nanu make any further attempts to approach her. In his deafening silence, she felt the overwhelming urge to escape and ran blindly back towards the cold lifeless building without turning back. In her haste she thought she heard Nanu call out to her, but Acerola no longer wanted to hear his response. The silent rejection piercing straight through her fragile heart and shattering it into several tiny fragments.
Like the fire that had taken her parents had returned to burn her alive next.
By the time she reached the room provided to her by the Aether House, she slammed the door shut before rushing onto the bed to sob into the nearest pillow.
She silently prayed that this was a nightmare she could awaken from.
She pleaded desperately for anyone to just bring her parents back.
Over the next few days, Acerola hardly had the energy to leave the bed and, during this time, she hadn’t seen or heard from Nanu. His absence being the last nail in the coffin that intensified the throbbing pain radiating from her already broken heart. Making her feel uncertain if there was any light in sight of the endless tunnel placed before her.
Distantly she heard an Aether Foundation Employee knocking on her closed door, but Acerola didn’t care to utter any vocal response. Despondently she listened as she heard the employee open the closed door and saw that he tried offering her a reassuring smile upon entering inside.
Reinforcing her hate towards all the pity people gave her now.
Another thing that she despised about the situation.
“Acerola? I have a tray of food here left over from dinner earlier. I’m going to leave it here for you to eat, alright? I’ll put it on the table next to the door.” The young man offered kindly.
Taking her small nod as an answer, the Aether Foundation Employee left the tray before leaving and closing the door behind him. Just as she was about to listlessly doze off, she overheard some noise outside her room. A discussion that the employee from earlier was having with someone else nearby.
With a small trepidation of hope trying to blossom, Acerola silently slid off the bed and carefully pulled the door open by a small crack. Outside in the hallway, she noticed that there wasn’t anyone around except for two people. To her disappointment it wasn’t Nanu the man from earlier was talking to but instead another Aether Employee inquiring about her wellbeing.
“…Yeah, poor kid doesn’t even smile anymore. It’s going to take a miracle to even get her out of the room at this rate. She hardly responds to anything.” The young man stated sadly.
Shaking her head, the female employee only shrugged in response. “Well can you blame her? By now everyone knows what happened between her and Kahuna Nanu. Rejection like that would hurt anyone. Especially a recently orphaned eight-year-old.”
“But didn’t Kahuna Nanu try to apply for guardianship? It’s not his fault that the application got rejected.”
“No but he shouldn’t toy with the kid either if he can’t take her in. It’s not fair for Acerola to have her feelings strung around by someone who barely has a handle on his own issues. You heard the rumors…”
“You know we’re not to supposed to talk about that during work hours.” He chastised. “Come on, let’s just go and get back to work. I’ll check on her again tomorrow morning…”
The conversation trailed off after two Aether Foundation Employees walked away, but Acerola heard enough. Once she closed the door and leaned back against it lost in thought.
Nanu had tried, during the past four months, to apply for guardianship so that he could take her in temporarily. Without even telling her, he had attempted something that no other adult had since coming to the Aether House and still came to visit her even after he was denied. If that was the case, then why didn’t he say anything when she had demanded answers? Why wouldn’t he tell her that to begin with so that she knew it was a big misunderstanding?
A small bang against the bedroom window startled her abruptly out of her thoughts. Furrowing her brow in confusion, she noticed a rock being thrown at the glass a second time as she crept carefully towards the closed window to peer outside. From where she stood, she could make out two silhouettes in the evening light that appeared to be some wild Pokémon. Apprehensively, Acerola couldn’t decisively make out which Pokémon they were, but the smaller form was jumping up and down waving its little purple claws trying to get her attention.
Route 15 had some wildlife that consisted of some Pokémon like Alolan Raticates and some lazy Slowpokes at night, but neither of the two shapes matched any of the Pokémon that the children were cautioned to stay away from. Pursing her lips, she stole one last glance at the closed door before reluctantly opening the window to peer outside at her hopefully friendly guests.
But upon leaning forward, a small shadow leapt onto the open windowsill and caused Acerola to withhold a startled scream. Forcing her to quickly scramble backwards in attempts to get away from the sudden threat as she heard mischievous laughter in response to her actions.
Cackling in its small claws, the Sableye appeared to take great amusement out of her fright until a giant black wing smacked it off its precarious perch and into the bushes below. The loud shrieks confirmed that the Sableye was fine but was now busy screeching at its hidden companion behind the outside wall. Rubbing her arms anxiously, Acerola gathered her courage to inch back towards the window and saw that her mysterious visitors were a Honchkrow and a Sableye.
Unlike the Sableye which looked like a typical wild Pokémon, this Honchkrow appeared older with black feathers having lost some of their lustrous shine. On the tips of its feathers Acerola saw that they were fading into a darker grey and even its beak had dulled in color to signify its old age. She had only heard about these two Pokémon being sighted on either Melemele or Poni Island but never around Ula’ Ula. The Honchkrow, despite its aged appearance, showing signs of great care and love that only a trainer could provide. To help give her confirmation that they likely belonged to someone and that they couldn’t be any wild or orphaned Pokémon roaming in the area.
Not when they appeared too well trained for that to be the case.
“Umm…excuse me… What are you doing out here by yourselves?” Acerola inquired in a curious voice.
Noticing her presence, the Honchkrow glanced over with a deep caw and ruffling of feathers. Shoving at its still angry companion, it used its sharpened beak to force the Sableye to turn its attention towards the window so that both Pokémon were staring at her intently. Hissing in warning at the black avian, the Sableye climbed back onto the windowsill and leaned in closer with a wide grin that caused Acerola to recoil back instinctively.
Before Acerola could inquire what it wanted, the moonlight shone off a dark gem that hung loosely around the Sableye’s neck separate from its body. Showing her a darkinium-z that she gently lifted between her fingers. While she was unable to contain her awe at the z-crystal that she was now holding in her hands for the first time.
“This is…so you two have a trainer that’s part of the Island Challenge? Then why are you…”
The Sableye’s blue gemstones bled into a deep ruby red that gazed directly at Acerola with such intensity that she felt it piercing her very soul. Without warning, its clicks and chattering started turning into actual human words that were straining to be heard amidst the Pokémon noises. It should have caused Acerola to run away in fright, but this didn’t feel like the Sableye had any malicious intent. It wanted to be heard so Acerola swallowed back her trepidation to listen carefully to the broken language she could barely decipher.
“…Ace...’ola…you…come…we…bring…to…Na…nu…”
“…Nanu, you two are Kahuna Nanu’s Pokémon?” Acerola asked surprised.
With the two eager nods, Acerola shook her head and backed away from the Sableye hissing in distress. She already felt the lingering pain resonating from the memory of their last encounter and thought back to his absence over the past few days. When he didn’t even try to see her again after she took off. “…If that’s the case then why couldn’t he come here himself? Why did he send you two as messengers when he hadn’t…?"
Leaping into the room, the Sableye hissed at her and started insistently tugging at her clothes towards the open window. For such a small Pokémon, the little dark ghost had surprising physical strength that Acerola had difficultly struggling against. Once it leapt onto the windowsill where the Honchkrow was waiting.
“Oww! Will you stop—let me go! What are you even—”
Undeterred by her attempts to break free, it kept insistently speaking in its broken use of human dialect. With another strong tug, it repeated the same thing over and over with increasing urgency in its voice. Its words becoming more disjointed and shorter the longer it continued speaking.
“You…come…with…us…”
“What? No—”
“We…go…now…”
“What are you—I can’t understand what you’re saying. Just stop pulling—”
“…You…help…”
“If you don’t stop—I’ll scream even louder! I said I don’t want to go!”
“…Na…nu…need…”
“I…I don’t care! If he needed me then he would be here right now!” Acerola shouted in annoyance. “Why can’t anyone just be straightforward about what they want? I’m tired of not knowing what’s going on anymore!”
With a firm push, she finally managed to wrench herself free from Sableye’s grasp and fell backwards onto the floor wincing in pain from the abrupt impact. Now fighting back tears, she gingerly rubbed her bruised arm before warily looking back towards the direction of the two Pokémon. At the Sableye who gazed back at her miserably with similar emotions of helplessness and sorrow.
Appearing much more despondent than their initial meeting, the Sableye’s entire demeanor wilted as it made no attempts to grab her again. Watching it sadly hold up the z-crystal in its tiny claws, it felt like she was looking into a mirror staring at her own reflection. As if this Sableye was standing before her as the living embodiment of her own emotional turmoil. With its hisses and foreign voice sounding lost, the Sableye’s pale blue gemstone-like eyes turned towards her with its face expressing raw desperation. Extending its claw hand weakly towards her fallen form.
“…Ace…’ola…help…Na…nu…please…”
A few years ago, when she was at the Pokémon School, Kahuna Nanu was scheduled to talk to the kids of Ula’Ula Island about relationships between trainers and their Pokémon. When one of the kids raised their hand and asked if Pokémon really understood them, Nanu replied that they could understand their trainers on a deeper level and that not all intelligence needed to be communicated by words alone. Even if she couldn’t understand Sableye’s broken dialect entirely, she started piecing the puzzle together through its actions that it was conveying in front of her.
Something was greatly troubling Nanu’s Pokémon to the point that they actively sought her out at the Aether House. Now suspecting that they had done this without Nanu’s knowledge, she felt a different uneasy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. A hollow numbness that she hadn’t felt since Nanu had delivered her the news regarding her parent’s deaths.
With a deep breath, she carefully stood up and calmed her disjointed emotions so that she could start thinking more clearly. Up until now she felt like there was a Banette pulling the strings and controlling her like a little marionette. For the first time in four months, this wasn’t something where she thought she was just reading the next chapter in a story that was already written. In a book where the ending had already been decided. This was something that she believed she had control over, and it helped lessen the utter helplessness that attempted to weigh her down. A life preserver was being thrown to keep her afloat the mentally sinking ship and Acerola clung it with small but rekindling determination.
It was time that she had an overdue talk with Ula’ Ula’s Island King.
“…If I go with you,” Acerola said in a cautious but gentle voice. “…Will you take me safely to where Kahuna Nanu is?”
Perking up, the Sableye gazed at her sharply with its blue gemstones seeming even bigger on its small purple face. With a tentative smile, it nodded quickly in visible relief while the Honchkrow outside cawed in affirmative agreement. Deciding that she needed new clothes for this trip, she asked them to give her a minute before pulling out a purple flower-printed top and a pair of white capris from the dresser.
Then, once she got dressed, she ran out of the adjoining bathroom and slipped on her sandals situated by the doorway. With an old black sporty backpack secured, she followed the two anxious Pokémon and climbed out window on the first floor into the late moonlit night. Sneaking out and making her way stealthily towards the path leading to the shoreline that separated Route 15 and Route 16.
By now the moon has settled high amidst the night sky where hardly anyone was around this late in the evening. As she followed the flying Honchkrow, she noticed that even the wild Pokémon were sleeping with the Alolan Region and that everything was strangely quiet on their short walk to the small beach. Reaching the shoreline, Acerola frowned at their newest dilemma when the Ride Lapras was absent from the usually active transportation stop. Hissing in concern, Sableye jumped off Honchkrow and started frantically looking for any other ways to get across the deep water.
A task that Acerola knew wouldn’t yield much success to the dismay of both agitated Pokémon.
“…I’m sorry you guys, but I don’t think I’ll be able to go tonight. Can we wait until tomorrow to see Kahuna Nanu?” Acerola inquired.
Shaking its head vigorously, Sableye kicked some sand up and screeched across the still water with a loud cry that was laced with pain and aggravation. While Honchkrow, who wasn’t as vocal as its companion, stared down at the ground in silent dismay.
Due to its size, she could already tell that Honchkrow wouldn’t be strong enough to carry her across the short distance and that it was far too dangerous for her to attempt to swim across. Feeling sympathetic towards the despondent Pokémon, Acerola was about to decide to take the risky swim across until she saw something bubbling across the water’s surface.
With a cerulean blue color that contrasted against the dark waters, a lone Jellicent surfaced with only its red eyes peering out to stare at them in curiosity. Startling both Sableye and Honchkrow as they took defensive stances to protect the unguarded child. Contemplating the new development, Acerola gripped the shoulder straps of her sports backpack before deciding to stride confidently towards the edge of the shoreline. Feeling Sableye trying to grab at her capris to pull her back, until she gently shushed the concerned Pokémon.
To rely on her gut instinct that told her this was their solution to getting across the large body of water.
“…Alola!” Acerola greeted, while cupping her hands together to form a make-shift cone around her mouth. “…We have a friend that we need to reach on the other side where Route 16 is at. Can you please help me get across? It’s really important that I see him tonight.”
Blinking slowly, the wild Jellicent’s response was to form some more bubbles across the water’s surface by its mouth. This time Acerola was prepared and listened intently for its broken human dialect. Unlike her conversations with Sableye, this speech had a muffled echo reverberating behind each syllable. Deeper in tone, it felt as if she was conversing with her head completed submerged beneath the ocean water. With the voice sounding ominous yet also mildly fascinated at the child conversing with it.
“…Help…you?...You…different…help…yes…come…with…me…”
Deciphering the gist of the message, Acerola nodded and shouted a thanks before quickly removing her backpack and sandals. Placing the sandals into the front pocket as she turned to Honchkrow and placed it on the ground by its sharp talons.
“Can you please carry this across with you? I’m going to figure out how to get to the wild Jellicent. I think if I swim towards it that should be alright…” She trailed off.
Staring at the water where the wild Jellicent floated a bit closer to the shallow waters to allow her to climb on top of its large gelatinous umbrella-shaped head. Unsure of how to proceed until Honchkrow cawed to grab her attention. Waiting patiently for Sableye to climb up Acerola and situate itself on her small shoulders before it decided to act.
With its red eyes glowing in a luminescent pink light, Acerola and Sableye were telepathically lifted in the air much to the young girl’s surprise. Feeling almost weightless, she watched as Honchkrow lifted her to land gently onto the wild’s Jellicent’s head. With her safely secured, the black avian grabbed her backpack by the handle before soaring into the night sky to fly in the direction of Route 16. Following Honchkrow's lead, the wild Jellicent let out a low cry as it glided gently across the water transporting its two passengers safely towards the opposite shoreline.
Out on the water, Acerola watched the moonlight reflecting off its glittering surface with soft waves crashing gently in beat with its own quiet melody. If she squinted her eyes, she could faintly discern the shapes of what seemed to be some Tentacool and Finneon swimming beneath the ocean waves along with the faint sounds of some Pelipper that could be heard flying above.
By this time Honchkrow had flown the distance to the new beach where it landed with one of its talons resting atop Acerola’s sporty backpack. Waiting until the wild Jellicent had reached closer to the swallow waters, it used Psychic again and lifted her and Sableye onto the new shoreline without issues. With a relieved smile, Acerola gently stroked Honchkrow’s feathered shaped fedora before turning to the retreating wild Jellicent and waving it a quick goodbye and thanks.
Grabbing her sporty backpack, she then knelt to put her sandals back on while Sableye climbed down off her shoulders to pull itself back on Honchkrow’s winged back. Her backpack secured, Acerola stood back up and the small group resumed their journey towards the next route.
Suppressing a tired yawn, Acerola continued to diligently follow the dark avian that was scouting the areas up ahead. While she pondered the long trek towards the direction of Kahuna Nanu’s home.
She knew that he didn’t always take the Charizard Ride to meet her at the Aether House but to walk this long distance just to visit her couldn’t be an easy feat for the older man to continuously take. The fact that she saw him as frequently as she did, made Acerola reconsider things that left her feeling guilty about her doubts towards the Island Kahuna’s intentions.
The fog within Ula’ Ula Meadows was thick but thankfully not enough to completely obscure her vision entirely. Still able to discern the soaring Honchkrow, she kept her eyes on the wooden bridge path, surrounded by the patches of red tropical flowers, and continued walking straight with one foot in front of the next at a steady pace.
She knew from her parents, that up ahead was Route 17 where it was renowned for its unpredictable downpours and being the headquarters of the notorious Team Skull. Although not the most diabolical criminal organization, Team Skull still caused trouble and was labeled by the people of Alolas a public menace.
Now approaching closer to their territory, Acerola put on a brave facade and hoped that she didn’t come across any of their members when entering into Route 17. Where up above, the sky was considerably darker in this area with black storm clouds obscuring the moonlight. Making the visibility here worse than the fog in Ula’ Ula Meadows.
Honchkrow had now flown to a lower altitude so that it was gliding a bit closer towards the ground a little above her head. With thunder rumbling ominously in the distance, Acerola hastened her steps before running frantically into a nearby Police Station that the black bird was taking her to as their intended destination. Just as the clouds opened with a torrential downpour, Acerola managed to sprint inside thanks to Sableye who had opened the door by leaping off Honchkrow to grab and turn the outside doorknob. With a tumble she wound up tripping on one of the small steps outside, before regaining her balance last minute and successfully beating the rain.
Panting, she bent over with her hands on her knees while listening to all the Alolan Meowths moving about the dark room with curious meows. As Honchkrow landed on the countertop shaking its ruffled feathers and Sableye swung inside to close the door behind them.
Now regaining her breath, Acerola noticed that there weren’t any lights on and that the entire building was pitch black with its only light source being the stray lightning bolts that flashed amidst the dark sky. Along with the several glowing eyes that were the Aloan Meowths scattered in various places all throughout the room.
The old police station had a strange scent in the air that Acerola vaguely recalled smelling like the drinks that her father shared with Kahuna Nanu during some of his nightly visits. When a flash of lightning emitted light into the room momentarily, she saw those bottles lying across the floor along with an assortment of trash and what appeared to be some overturned furniture.
The entire scene reinforcing that nothing felt right in this building.
As it only served to cement the dread that was returning from earlier with a vengeance.
“Kahuna Nanu, are you here? It’s Acerola! …I came here to talk!” She shouted in the large open room.
Aside from hearing the different meows and the pouring rain outside, there wasn’t any response or sign of Nanu’s whereabouts. Steeling herself, she made sure to feel the ground in front of her with the ball of her foot, before stepping over the stray Pokémon and whatever else was scattered on the floor. With slow, but steady, movements her hand eventually hit the countertop where Honchkrow was perched and Sableye had climbed atop it as well.
The journey to carefully reach what she assumed was a gap between the two countertops felt like she was stepping over a landmine of Charjabugs that could Discharge at any given moment. Her eyes slowly adjusting to the unlit room while she tried ascertaining where anything was in the disastrous mess.
Once reaching the gap, another burst of lightning provided her with light where she saw an Alolan Persian laying on the ground next to an old futon that showed Nanu sleeping on his side.
Relieved that she had found him, Acerola waited for her eyes to readjust to the darkness before carefully stepping towards the Alolan Persian that was barricading the path leading towards the futon up against the wall. With its ears twitching, it steadily lifted its head and stared at her with unwavering glowing eyes that reflected off its blue circular crystal on the center of its forehead.
Underneath its paws, was something with a black handle that was mostly obscured beneath the Alolan’s Persian luscious blue-grey velvet fur coated body. In the poor lighting, Acerola couldn’t make it out fully, but she sensed that whatever it had was something important as the Alolan Persian showed no inclination of moving.
A problem that the child had to address if she wanted to get to the futon where Nanu was lying down.
“…You’re one of Kahuna Nanu’s Pokémon, right? Can you please let me through? I need to talk to him if he’s awake.” Acerola asked in a pleading tone.
Flicking its tail, the Alolan Persian just titled its head while the rain’s downpour started intensifying with the sound of several bullet seeds hitting the rooftop all at once. Across the room, Sableye hissed at the large feline in irritation causing it to retaliate with its own at other Pokémon in annoyance.
Acerola heard the secret exchange between the two Pokémon go back in forth for a few minutes before Honchkrow cawed loudly to abruptly cease whatever argument they were having. With one last defensive growl, the Alolan Persian side-eyed Acerola with a distrustful glare, before slowly getting up and grabbing whatever object it was laying on with its mouth. Moving towards the back where it could still observe them in silence.
The path now clear, Acerola walked over to stand in front of the old futon where Nanu appeared to be resting right as another lightning bolt relit the room for a moment. The bright light allowing her to notice his disheveled appearance that was apparent from his wrinkled clothes down to the heavier bags beneath his eyes and unshaven face. Just before everything was submerged back into darkness once more.
Instead of trying to wake him up, Acerola forgone her initial plan and chose instead to situate herself on the wooden floor. Once seated, she rested her head into her folded arms and draped her upper body on the edge of the old futon near his chest. Lying in arm’s reach, she gently grasped one of his limp hands and felt every vein, crease, and rough callus briefly before quietly contemplating the individual that laid before her. While on the back of his hand, she brushed over what felt like deep gashes and grew more concerned when she felt a thick dark substance coat her fingers.
His hand was so much larger compared to her own and, with her adrenaline rush crashing, she allowed herself to finally succumb to the torrential emotions that she had been suppressing up until now. With a few stray tears starting to fall, she bit down on her wavering lip and clenched the limp hand tighter in her shaking grasp.
This time she closed her eyes so that her blurry vision wouldn’t distract her. The floodgates were trying to break apart once more, but now Acerola held them back with her own mental fortitude to take back control. She was the one in charge and she used the darkness to block everything out.
To help keep her grounded in the present with the person that needed to listen to what she had to say.
“…Ever since my dad introduced us, I never understood you.” She spoke quietly at his sleeping form. “…I couldn’t get why Tapu Bulu had chosen you to be our Island King and I don’t know what we are now that everything has changed…My dad always had faith in you though and told me that someday I would see why you were a great Island Kahuna too but…I realize now that I don’t want to know you as Kahuna Nanu…I don’t care about that anymore…I want to know about my dad’s friend who would always stop by and leave as quickly as the Island breeze. I want to know about the person who tried to help me in his own way. I want to know more about you…because you’re all I have left.”
Feeling the exhaustion settling over her, Acerola yawned but shook away the drowsiness to stay awake a little longer. Outside the rain had started slowing down and could be heard as a soft pitter patter over the rooftop and nearby plants. While above them the thunder roared in the distance less intense with the lightning flashing further away in longer intervals. Sounding soothing the longer she listened, and slowly luring her to sleep as she continued talking through another tired yawn.
“…I heard what you tried to do…and I just wanted to say thanks…I think…maybe I want us to try and be a family…if that’s okay with you…you don’t have to replace my parents…but we can be family in a nontraditional sense…so…please come back…I miss seeing you …Uncle Nanu…”
The last part trailed off in a soft whisper, when the blanket of weariness finally overtook her, and she dozed off into a light sleep. As she drifted off, she thought she felt someone gently squeeze her limp hand and heard rustling sheets moving in front of her.
Drowsily her blurry vision was obscured by a dark burgundy color as she felt someone lift her up and place her on something softer than the hard-wooden floor. Before she felt someone gently pat her head and walk away with quiet footsteps that lured her back into a dreamless sleep.
Until she woke up hours later and found herself lying on the old futon that she had seen Nanu resting on earlier. Slowly sitting up confused as the blankets folded back along with something else that was tossed over it. An object that was Nanu’s Police Jacket that he wore practically every day and was now left with her for unknown reasons.
Looking around she saw that the closed blinds only partially obscured the morning light filtering in throughout the large open space that she could view much better than last night. With the floor no longer having any of the empty bottles or trash that she had to navigate through compared to when she had first arrived.
As if sensing their new guest was awake, an Alolan Meowth poked its head out, from an open doorway towards the back wall, followed by several more emerging with curious meows in her general vicinity. Unable to contain her amused smile, Acerola silently offered them a tentative wave in response to their curiosity. Only to shriek in joyous laughter when it was a signal for all the strays to run over. Each one trying to pile themselves on top of each other, in their competition to see who could reach the giggling child first. As she fended off the affectionate Pokémon until a flash of red on her right hand suddenly caught her attention. Causing her to examine it more closely and stare at the dried blood coating her palm and fingers.
Without any noticeable cuts or injuries to indicate where it had come from.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the front door open and the sound of crinkling bags following shortly after. With his attention directed at a Poké device, that was wedged between his ear and shoulder, as Nanu readjusted his hold on the grocery bags to close the door behind him.
Upon noticing his return, all the stray Pokémon ran over and forced Nanu to have to speak above the loud noises. Making it evident that he wasn’t pleased about the new development when the noise increased in a loud crescendo.
“…Will you all knock it off? I just fed you before I left…” He grumbled in annoyance, trying to navigate through all the persistent pawing and flailing limbs. Dropping the bags onto the countertop before he readjusted his grip on the Poké device and turned his attention to the person on the other end. The muffled voice sounding quite irritated about the interruption as Nanu winced at whatever was being spoken over the cellular line. “No, I didn’t mean you, sorry. I just got back home so I’m going to check on the kid…Yeah, I’ll bring her back to the Aether House before nightfall…Sorry about the misunderstanding…No it won’t happen again. I get it…I’ll contact someone when we’re on our way…Goodbye to you too.”
Ending the call, Nanu closed the Poké device with his expression reminding Acerola of the time she accidentally tried a sour Apricot Berry. With a tired sigh, Nanu pocketed the device and glanced over noticing that Acerola was now awake and watching him from over on the futon. For a moment neither of them seemed inclined to talk and not even the insistent cries from the Alolan Meowths broke through the awkward tension that was starting to build.
One of his features that Acerola liked best about Nanu, were his dark red eyes that differentiated him from anyone else on the Alolan Islands. They normally were reflecting his mood of apathy or weariness but, in the morning light, Acerola swore that they appeared softer than normal. That the dark red looked like it was just a shade brighter and that there were less wrinkles beneath his tired eyes and now cleanly shaved face.
It might have also been part of her imagination as it felt weird seeing him wear his burgundy shirt without his signature black jacket. Even his slouched posture seemed straighter than normal as if some invisible weight had been removed from his shoulders. It was all surreal for her, and Acerola wasn’t sure how to break through the silence that settled over them.
Not until she realized that she had started fiddling with his jacket subconsciously and decided to use that as an olive branch to start their conversation. Her face red in embarrassment as she extended the article of clothing towards his general direction. “Oh! Alola. You uh…this belongs to you. I think you left it here on accident.”
Faster than a Clamperl snapping its shell shut, Nanu coughed and quickly busied himself with grabbing the grocery bags off the countertop. His face appearing to be a little red in discomfort to match her own. “…Uh, thanks. Just leave it there or keep it for now I guess…I had to run out and restock the kitchen with food so uh, give me a few minutes and I’ll scrap together some breakfast. You can use the bathroom in the meantime if you want. It’s down the hallway on the right just past the kitchen.”
Nodding in agreement, Acerola climbed off the makeshift bed and unintentionally grabbed Nanu’s jacket in her haste to run ahead into the bathroom. Where, once inside, she heard Nanu holler outside the door that she could find a new toothbrush in one of the top drawers before she heard him enter another room to start emptying the grocery bags. Placing his jacket over a nearby towel rack, Acerola washed her hands and rushed through her morning routine. Deciding to eventually leave her purple hair looking like a prickly Jolteon after several failed attempts to straighten it out.
Finished for now, she turned her attention back towards Nanu’s jacket and, after some consideration, decided to wear it over her clothes. Due to her smaller size, the jacket fell at just knee-length while the short sleeves rested at three quartered length down her thin arms. She looked ridiculous wearing the oversized article of clothing and, after checking herself over in the mirror, couldn’t help but laugh as she smiled brightly and skipped out of the bathroom into the kitchen.
There she saw that Nanu was leaning against the counters suppressing a yawn while using a griddle to make them pancakes. With a raised eyebrow, he noticed that she was wearing the jacket but chose not to make a comment as he lazily gestured towards the small circular kitchen table for her to sit.
Once she was seated, he flipped the last pancake onto one of the two plates before carrying both stacks over towards the table. Giving her the smaller stack, he then sat down and motioned for her to start eating. Reaching over, to pour the bottle of syrup over his larger stack of pancakes.
“If you get syrup on that jacket, I’m going to send you the cleaning bill with added interest. I hear that child labor can be a new possibility if someone suggests it at the next Kahuna meeting.”
Giggling, Acerola just stuck her tongue out at him before biting into one of her pancakes. “That sounds like an abuse of power and I thought as an Island Kahuna you were only in it for the perks.”
“Perks don’t include free services, kid, and, out of the few possessions I own, I happen to care about that old thing. It was a gift from your father when I first visited Alola.” Nanu replied in a casual tone as if addressing the weather outside.
Pausing in mid-bite, Acerola stopped eating momentarily to look down at the jacket that she had decided to adorn. Placing her utensils down, she pulled at the front of the jacket and stared at the worn black material in the morning light. As if this was her first time seeing it with this new realization.
“…Your dad was the first person to ever welcome me to Alola and, for whatever bizarre reason, decided to stick around even after I had scared off most of the locals.” Nanu began explaining slowly. “At the time you had just been born, and the first thing you did was throw up on me after your mom asked if I wanted to hold you. I guess even then you just wanted to give me trouble, because that incident ruined my favorite leather jacket. So, your dad decided to apologize by replacing it with a new one he picked up in the local clothing store. He bet that I would wind up liking it better than my old one and he was proven right after I wound up getting the police patches sewn on the sleeves years later.” He concluded fondly.
Unable to hide the bitter sorrow laced in his voice as Nanu became lost reminiscing over fonder memories with her dad. Disclosing information that felt personal and something meant to be shared in a private moment between him and her father.
A moment that he had now chosen to share with her over their unfinished breakfast.
Taking a long sip of his Komala Coffee, Nanu cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair while absently toying with the darkinium-z he had hanging around his neck. In the morning sunlight she saw the light reflecting off the dark z-crystal along with his black Z-Ring that rested on his left wrist. While on his right hand were thick white bandages wrapped tightly around it to cover the deep lacerations that were peeking out underneath.
“That man was unbelievably optimistic about everything and was probably the only person, aside from old man Hala, that believed Tapu Bulu’s decision to make me an Island Kahuna was the right choice. Not many people know this, but I asked Hala how I could change Tapu Bulu’s mind and I even went back to the Ruins of Abundance to yell at the stupid deity demanding that he pick someone else. Only to have that dumb bull smack me over the head with one its hoofs out of anger. As if I had offended him somehow instead of the other way around.” He finished with a silent laugh.
“Sometimes the reasoning the Tapu uses isn’t always apparent to observers.” Acerola replied after a few moments.
Scoffing, Nanu released the z-crystal and placed his arm back to rest behind him on the wooden chair. His expression showing a large amount of skepticism at her remark, until it cracked with a faint smile that broke through the bitter lament. “That sounds like the same sagely nonsense your father spewed at me after I finished ranting to him about the whole ordeal. He was always going on about all this tradition stuff that I still can’t wrap my head around. As chatty as a Chatot…A trait that I know you inherited from him, kiddo. So much unnecessary noise…geez.”
“Hey! Compared to your droopy demeanor maybe you need some more positivity in your life. It’s like you enjoy being as lazy as a Slowbro.”
“Least they can enjoy life without any unwanted interruptions. It’s not like they get disturbed in the middle of the night by traitorous partner Pokémon and a small midget being as loud as an unruly Yungoos.”
Flinching at the blunt accusation, Acerola stared up at the indifferent Nanu with pleading eyes and an apologetic expression. “…Please don’t be mad at them…they only came to get me out of concern. They were really worried about you last night…and so was I…”
“…Tch, relax kid you’re not in trouble. Just next time, when you run off, don’t get caught. I’m not going to cover for you every time I get bombarded with a bunch of angry phone calls.” He grumbled under his breath. “Also, try not to go off with Pokémon you don’t recognize. What if those two idiots weren’t friendly and wanted to eat you or something worse?”
“Sableye and Honchkrow would never do that. Well…Honchkrow wouldn’t anyway. He seems like he has too much class for such a morbid act and I think Sableye would just pretend to do it as a funny joke.”
“Well you’re not wrong there. Sable’s always had a more mischievous nature while Krow turns up his beak if you so much as breath in his general direction. He’s becoming more like a prima donna the older he gets. The stupid old bird could give Sierra a run for her money sometimes I swear.”
Giggling, Acerola barely suppressed her amusement at Nanu’s ongoing complaints and decided to finish her remaining breakfast. Not even leaving a single crumb behind when she took her empty plate over to the sink. As she finished washing both her and Nanu’s dishes before turning to ask the Island Kahuna for something. Only to find herself staring at an old Pokégear being held in front of her face once she turned off the water and dried her hands.
Unlike the newer Poké devices Acerola’s seen other trainers have, this one was a small grey circular device with a rectangular flip cover that protected its small screen. It fit snugly in between the two handle grips that had a small black dial with a singular green button fitted on the right side. While its grey color had a washed-out appearance with visible wear and tear marks all over it and a couple slots in the back that looked to contain two different card chips.
Flipping it open, the screen displayed a basic layout with the time and date centered on the default screen and four icons in the upper left corner that were a back button, a map, a phone, and a radio. It was clearly a preowned device, just by looking at its physical condition, but it looked so outdated that it had to be made years before she was born. If she had to guess it’s unlikely that it even originated from the Alolan Region.
“This is uh…a really cool thing you’re showing me. I’m surprised it still works…” Acerola trailed off weakly, while turning off the device and flipping the cover back up.
Shoulders shaking, Nanu suppressed his laughter behind a cough at the girl’s poor attempts of trying to sound polite. “It’s okay if you think it’s a load of garbage. That thing is as archaic as a fossilized Pokémon. It’s probably even older than you and your dad’s age combined if I had to take a wild guess.”
“So why do you still have it then if it’s that old? You have a newer Poké device to replace this old thing, so why haven’t you thrown it out yet?”
“I haven’t tossed it because it was one of the first things, I was given for my Pokémon journey in Johto.” He explained, looking awkwardly to the side. “I know it’s not the latest or the greatest but, since I’m not using it anymore, you may as well keep it to stay in touch. I stored my number on there so you can call whenever. Or, if I drop by, I can give you a heads up so you’re not stuck waiting around all the time. It can be a temporary thing until we get you something new to replace it…” He rubbed the back of his neck.
Unaware that Acerola didn’t hear whatever else Nanu was saying as everything sunk in the longer, he kept explaining what the device was intended for.
When she understood what he was actually offering her.
Clenching it in her hand, she threw herself at the Island Kahuna and hugged him around his waist hard enough to accidentally shove them back against the kitchen countertop. With his arms raised awkwardly, Nanu looked down at the trembling girl baffled by the sudden action and unsure of how to proceed. Before eventually settling on placing one hand on her shaking shoulder with the other coming to rest atop her purple hair.
The strokes starting off as short and jerky movements until they found a rhythm that were in sync with the happy tears he felt seeping into his shirt. Along with the gentle smile forming on his face upon rehearing his new honorary title that she had said last night before she fell asleep by his bedside.
Maybe they couldn’t be family in a traditional sense where he could adopt her and take her in as his own. Since this wasn’t a story that ended where the princess underwent a perilous ordeal to live a happily ever after being reunited with what she had tragically lost.
Acerola always loved the books her father owned and wanted to someday grow up being a keeper of knowledge and a well renowned storyteller. She wanted to write her own stories to regale to future generations as part of her responsibilities as the last living Alolan Royal left within the ancient bloodline.
This, despite all its rough beginnings, was going to be a different story then what she had originally envisioned but different wasn’t as bad as she had thought. She wouldn’t change it for anything in the world and she couldn’t picture starting her new adventure any better than alongside her ‘Uncle Nanu.’
Her last remaining family that she’ll love with all her heart and soul.