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The glory of sunrise and the melancholy that comes when the sun sets, like the end of a tale. The end of this hero's journey. The vast ocean offers solace to the unwanted, happiness for some is sadness for others. The tourists were there to escape their lives but locals didn't get to enjoy that luxury, they were stuck on these shores, with old scars and unspoken pasts. Traditions were upheld as they worship the emotionless Tapu Koko statue, prayers with tears have left unheard by the masses.
Exeggutor eyes observing it all, blending in with the sleeping flora of the island.
Selena looked up towards the moon, her namesake, as Lillie sat beside her for what could be the last time, their hands were slightly touching, Lillie's hands were soft and warm, Selena's was calloused and cold. The wind danced with their hair and their clothes, Lillie's emerald eyes glistening in the reflection of the crashing waves. Selena's heart almost beat out of her chest, their love, their relationship.
Lillie would go to Kanto the same way Selena escaped that place to live in Alola, it almost came full-circle, almost. Selena almost wanted to burst out laughing in irony, but the pit in her stomach and the tremors in her sweaty palms told her to shut her mouth tight.
"Am I dreaming? I would always dream for a time like this." Lillie says, voice cracking.
Selena didn't know when her grip tightened slightly, before releasing the tension, it was reassuring, at least, that's what Selena hopes it was.
Lillie chuckled, a quiet and somber noise.
"I'm still fighting, Selene."
A nickname, always savoury sweet coming out of the blonde girl's mouth, now slightly bitter given the situation.
Selena nodded, speechless, as she usually was. She felt stupid, inadequate, her voice wouldn't come out no matter how many times she tried, like a stubborn mental block. Selena never said a single word ever since she came to Alola mainly because her Alolan was really terrible and she didn't want to make a fool of herself. She could understand it but she couldn't speak it, her Kantonian tongue wasn't built for it and she was too afraid to try making conversation with the locals around here.
Selena grinded her molars in frustration, breaths were getting quicker.
"Hey, Selene, did you know that 'Alola' could also mean '愛'?"
Selena's eyes widen, since when did Lillie learn Kantonian? No wonder she was the professor's assistant, Selena thought fondly.
"Nau ko`u alola."
Lillie's words flow like honey, her sweet smile was addicting, and with tears they parted. Selena wished that she could walk on water and chase the cruise ship heading to Kanto, that old and disgusting place. Selena tried to escape Kanto the same way Lillie needed to escape Alola.
"I'll go try out some of those foods you liked!" Lillie laughed, as if her heart wasn't breaking into pieces. Selena's vision was blurring, goosebumps on the edge of her fingertips. She save Alola for Tapu Koko's sake, she went to alternate dimensions, defeated enemies, dictators, cult leaders, then why is she obstructed by her own miniscule insecurities.
Selena forced her mouth open.
"愛してる!"
The words came out abrupt and sharp, loud enough to be heard from oceans away.
Lillie's eyes widen as pink slowly tinted her cheeks, did she understood that? Did she understood the longing, the love, the adoration Selena has for her with all of her heart?
The sun rose, a new story had begun.