Chapter Text
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"Flight 107 to Alola is now boarding!"
A small grin stretched on your face, excitement coursing through you. In hand, you dragged your suitcase towards the respective door, walking through the crowded airport. People's conversation overlapped, some hurried towards the respective doors as some waited for theirs.
Pokemon happily chirped or growled to their partners, looking around the building in awe. The trainers made sure they placed them in their pokeballs before heading to their flight, making sure they followed the rules.
Your single pokemon was in their pokeball already, wanting to keep them safe when arriving at the airport. Since you weren't a trainer, you didn't have to stress yourself on battles and helping your pokemon recover from fights.
As a child, everyone wanted to become a pokemon trainer, it was practically their dream. But there were some that decided to keep their only pokemon as a buddy, which you did. Maybe when you return home, you could find them a friend.
Walking through the cold halls, you glanced towards the respective doors that led you to the plane, giving the receptionist your plane ticket before heading inside. A low hum coursed through the giant vehicle, followed by footsteps of others that were muffled against the carpet ground.
Heading to your seat, you noticed you were shaking. It's been a decade since you've been back home, missing it with all your heart. You've been travelling with your family, some from Kanto, Unova, and Sinnoh. But being a homebody, you find yourself coming back home after so long.
Currently in Alola, besides your parents, you only had one family member who lived there. Your cousin, Kukui. Your parents were currently in Kalos for travelling.
Placing your luggage in the storage compartment above you, sitting down on your seat, you took out your pokeball. "C'mon, little one." you uttered gently, releasing your pokemon. They happily uttered their name, looking around the foreign and cool scenery.
They sat down comfortably on the seat cushions, looking out the window that was next to you. In the meantime, other passengers began to make their way inside, sitting in their respective seats.
Some of them let out their pokemon, a Togepi sleeps soundly on one's lap, someone's Haunter floating over the passengers seats as a Squirtle ran through the aisle with excitement. Reaching through your small bag, you grabbed yourself a snack.
You've been waiting on your plane for a couple of hours, wanting to be there on time, not minding yourself sitting in the main area for a bit.
Humming at the flavor, you reached into your bag once more to take out a macaron. "Here you go." Handing them the treat, they smiled before digging in, happily chattering their name with joy at the sweet flavor.
Looking out the window, you watched the people that worked the airlines move away, signifying that the plane was about to take off. Getting comfortable, the intercom came on, gathering everyone's attention.
"Flight 107 to Alola is now departing! Please stay seated, thank you."
The people chatting grew a bit quieter, the hum from the engines growing louder as the door closed. Humming, you began to think to yourself. 'It's been so long, I hope he's still there' you were thinking of your childhood friend, remembering all the times you spent together before you left the region.
The sandy beaches, the beautiful blue water, and the fun activities of exploring the tropical islands that were near each other. The slow movement of the plane didn't interrupt your thoughts, it only just made you excited that you were returning home.
Right now, you were currently leaving a small and quiet land that was away from the Johto region. Travelling was exhausting, so you decided to stay there for the time being until the time was right.
Your body leaned back when the airplane took off, hearing other pokemon cheer for liftoff. Clouds slowly went by, followed by flocks of different flying pokemon that flew past the airplane. During the flight, you just stared out in the window, glancing towards the water.
Placing your head back against the seat, you closed your eyes, mind running with memories of your childhood. When you and your parents would spend countless times at the beach, where you read in your room for some quiet time.
Then, other memories began to form, ones that consist of Guzma. You were probably the only one that managed to get through him, even when there were times when you didn't mean to. Around that time, you were his only friend, and you both were inseparable.
He had a rough childhood, and you were always there for him when he needed it. You just hoped that he was the same as before, loving bug pokemon and acting like his tough self, even though he's softhearted when it comes to you.
You do know about Team Skull, a team that was built from the ground of ones that were like him. But you weren't worried about that right now, as long as he's there, you'll be happy. With your eyes still closed, your cheeks faintly pricked with heat while slowly falling into a nap.
Your pokemon sat in their seat, deciding to take a nap until the flight came to an end. For the rest of the flight, everything was peaceful. The temperature had noticeably shifted, feeling a bit warmer than before. Clouds barely littered the sky, the sun now fully present while shining down on the multiple islands.
As some time passed, the intercom came on, pulling you out of your slumber. "We're preparing to land. Welcome to Alola!" About half of the passengers cheered while the rest sighed in relief for a safe flight. Stretching, part of you wanted to fall back asleep, but that was washed away with realization.
'I'm home... I'm finally home' as you felt the plane land, multiple passengers placed their pokemon in their pokeballs. Getting up from your seat, you made sure your pokemon was behind you as you grabbed your luggage from above. Slowly, everyone makes it out of the plane and into the airport of Melemele Island.
Music played faintly on the speakers, giving it a joyful atmosphere. You started to see alolan pokemon you hadn't seen in a while, which were alolan Meowths', Vulpixs' and Rattatas'. Your pokemon looked around, trying to get familiar with everything.
Once you stepped out of the building, you took a deep breath, taking in the salty smell of the ocean. Most of the people in Alola wore shorts and shorts, or sundresses with sandals. Some just wore normal attire, since it wasn't that hot in this region.
You knew the right path to take, but since it's been ten years, changes would be noticeable. On the path, you noticed more buildings had been built, statues of legendary pokemon that represent the gods of their region. The pokecenters looked freshly painted.
Glancing towards the small upcoming sign, a smile stretched on your lips. "Route 2." You muttered, gripping the handle of your luggage as you practically speed walked down the route. Your house was down the road, one house down from Guzma's.
Stopping, you took out your phone, texting your cousin. "Guess who's back in Alola!" As the message was sent, you received a reply so quick you nearly laughed.
"You're lying. Where are you?!" Texting him the address, he replied back. "Don't move, stay where you are." Placing your phone in your pocket, you rubbed your pokemon's head, watching it lean into the touch.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps can be heard coming from behind. Turning your head, you see a familiar tan-skinned man with his signature lab coat that was unbuttoned while wearing shades. A bewildered expression plastered your face, but it was immediately wiped away with a wide grin.
You could barely get out a laugh, as you were pulled into a tight and firm hug. His arms wrapped around your pudgy frame, followed by yours wrapped around his midsection. "Why didn't you tell me earlier that you were coming back, [Name]?!" He inquired, holding a bright grin. "How's my favorite cousin doing?"
"I'm doing alright, just on my way to my house." Your speech was muffled against his shoulder, patting his back before pulling away. "You still married to Mrs. Burnet?" He nodded, showing off his ring with a flustered smile. Their wedding was two years, having the time of their lives while in another region.
"So, what made you want to come back?" He questioned, you both starting to walk down the path towards your home. You told him that you wanted to finally come back home from traveling for a bit. Your pokemon happily chirped, earning a chuckle from Kukui.
Telling him about what you did in the different regions, showing him photos of the areas you've been to. What made you start travelling was because of your parents, wanting you to get out. There was nothing wrong with being a homebody, but they at least wanted you to get out of Alola.
"I've been to Kanto, Unova and Sinnoh. I like the weather there more than here." You hummed, earning an offended expression from your cousin that was mixed with playfulness.
"What? You don't like the heat here?" You both chuckled, continuing to converse. Eventually, you both stopped in front of your house. It was a one-story house, but it had plenty of space for a family of four to five people.
Small patches of paint chipped off from different areas, but that was just the structure. Reaching into your bag, you pulled out the key to your house. Inserting it into the lock and turning, you opened the door. Immediately, you both covered the lower half of your faces.
There was dust. Lots of it. Kukui flipped the main switch to the lights, watching the lights flicker. Your pokemon hid behind you, sneezing in the process. "Looks like I'm gonna have some work to do..." you uttered, closing the door.
Your cousin gave you a dismissing wave. "Nah, don't worry about it. Me and my pokemon will help clean up the place."
"Kukui," you chuckled. "You don't have to..." your voice trailed off when you felt him ruffling your hair, seeing that he was fine with it. Giving him a nod, you told him that you'd explore around for a bit, watching him grab your suitcase. Exchanging waves, you began to walk down the path of Route 2.
Your gaze landed on Guzma's childhood home. It was dark inside, signifying that no one was inside. Memories of him running out of his house so he could come to your house played in your head, humming to yourself.
'Maybe I'll come back later...' Continuing your walk, the sound of the waves crashing softly into the water, followed by laughter of children playing in the sandy terrain near the beautiful water. Some of their pokemon were building sandcastles, happily uttering their name.
Continuing your walk, a sweet scent fumed faintly in the air. It caused you to stop, turning towards the heart of the smell. There laid a small stand that was selling your favorite pastry, malasadas. Without a thought, you made your way towards it, the smell growing sweeter with each step.
Stopping at the stand, you waited patiently for the person making them. "Alola, my keiki. What would you like?" They greeted with a friendly smile.
"It's been so long since I had some." a wave of nostalgia and awe formed in your tone, feeling your mouth water. "Do you still make the big malasadas?"
"Of course! That's still our specialty!" Grinning, you ordered your usual favorite flavor, watching them place the warm pastry into a colorful bag. You asked your pokemon if they wanted one, earning a frantic nod from them.
Ordering one that was specifically made for pokemon, you thought about your childhood friend. 'Maybe I'll get him one' you ordered a big malasada for Guzma, getting the bitter flavor he preferred. You then ordered a small sweet one, just in case.
Totaling up the order, you paid for the sweet treats before thanking them. Walking away from the stand, you gave your pokemon their malasada, chuckling at how they nearly finished it in two bites. Grabbing the one you ordered for yourself, you took a bite.
Your eyes slightly watered, savoring the sweet and warm flavor. You held yourself back from turning around and buying more, not wanting to spoil your appetite. Sitting down on a bench near the beach, you took another bite while you texted Kukui.
A few calm minutes slowly passed, your pokemon was currently resting on your plush lap. Your palm soothed their head, hearing their light snores. Suddenly, your pokemon's nose twitched, eyes opening fully as they sat straight up. "You okay...?" you uttered with puzzlement.
They barked their name, pointing towards a specific direction. Blinking, you slowly sat up, making sure you had your things with you. "What do you smell?" You questioned again, watching them head towards a specific direction. Following at your own pace, you still see them in front of you.
They led you through a sandy terrain, where more palm trees became present in the area. The place looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a while. Trash was scattered around, the salty smell of the sea became potent. Your footsteps were muted by the grainy ground, followed by some rustling in the bushes.
Your pokemon came to a stop, tilting their nose in the air to sniff the scent they were focused on. Shouting their name, they led you deeper towards the desired location. Coming to another stop, you see a person walking around.
It was a light-skinned and lean woman, having pink and yellow hair that draped down her shoulders. She held a resting face, having a dark pink tattoo on her stomach. Taking in her appearance, your eyes widen with realization.
"Plumeria?" you uttered loud enough for her to hear, your tone now slowly holding shock and familiarity. She sharply turned around, wondering who was calling her name in the semi-dark place.
"How do you know... my..." her firm question trailed off slowly, her movement stopped when she took a look at your appearance. Her eyes widen, matching yours in the sudden moment. "...[Name]?" as soon as you nodded, she jogged towards you to pull you into a firm hug.
Her arms wrapped around you firmly, yours doing the same with wide grins. "Please tell me I'm dreaming..." she muttered against you, hearing you laugh as you pulled away. You told her that you were here, back in Alola. "Where have you been?! The grunts missed you so much!"
A shy smile landed on your lips. "Are you sure they remember me? They rarely see me hang out with you or Guzma." you both stood at the same height, catching up with her after a long time. "So how's everyone? I haven't seen any team skull grunts yet."
"Most of them are at the base, getting on my nerves as usual. We really haven't been causing anything lately. But they're my family." Her lips then formed into a teasing smirk, gently pinching one of your cheeks. "Guzma is gonna flip when he sees you."
Your cheeks dusted with a pink color, the shy smile growing bigger. He was probably still upset with you, but now that you're back, you can predict that Guzma is going to have you by your side at all times. "Is he doing alright?"
Plumeria stated that he's been doing alright, still getting into trouble as usual. Thankfully, he hasn't been dealing with your cousin, knowing how they had a few problems with each other in the past, but you were glad Kukui had placed that behind him.
"C'mon, let's get you to the hideout." you pokemon agreed as well, seeing that they were excited to see Team Skull again. Their hideout was located near the outskirts of Po Town on Ula'ula island, which was a bit far from here.
Nodding, you both traversed out of the area. She informed you that she was just taking a break, having to train some of the grunts a while ago. Then, she smelled something sweet, glancing towards the bag. "Are those malasadas?" she uttered, watching you smile faintly while nodding.
"I have two left, one of them is for Guzma." Grabbing the smaller malasada, offered it to her. "Here, I already had one." Earning a thankful smile, she takes the treat, humming at the sweet flavor.
You both conversed with each other, walking down the sidewalk that entered Hua'oli City, specifically the shopping district that was near the beach. Cars can be seen driving at a decent place, kids laughing and having fun at the arcades while adults spend time at the beach.
Up ahead, you see a few team skull grunts loitering around, either conversing with each other or just staring out in the open. One of them noticed Plumeria first, jogging towards her. "Yo, Plum," they greeted, their voice slightly muffed from the black and white bandana they wore. "Who's that?"
"This is [Name]. Most of you probably haven't seen them in a while." she placed her arm around your shoulder, your own hand raised just a bit to give them a small wave. "From now on, you'll show them the same respect as you do me and Guzma."
You blinked, a faint smile stretching on your lips. "Plumeria, you don't have to do all that." she just chuckles, patting you on the back. The grunts nodded, seeing you were part of the family. Some of them introduced themselves to you in their own ways, forming a warm and comforting moment.
In the meantime, you all began to walk towards the beach, seeing a small ferry already parked on the water, one that can hold up to twenty people. "C'mon, let's get ya to Guzma." getting a flustered chuckle from you, she sat down on one of the seats on the edge, followed by you and some of the grunts sitting down.
The driver, who appeared to be an older team skull grunt, turned towards the SIC. "Where to, Plum?" they questioned, turning the key to start the vehicle.
"Ula'ula Island. We got a special guest for the boss." Once your pokemon settled onto their seat next to you, the vehicle began to move. The engine rumbled, making everyone tremble slightly.
You all conversed for a bit, talking about how much the team has grown slowly in different ways. They still caused trouble, but they seemed to have stopped trying to steal pokemon, or at least some of the members of the team.
Your body rocked from the movement of the boat, watching the water being pushed away. Plumeria still had her ace, Salazzle, holding the pokeball that contained her inside. Looking ahead, you see the respective island come into view, the grip on your bag tightened.
Eventually, the ferry came to a stop, parking it in place as everyone got out. The smell of the sea was saltier than before, followed by a smokey smell that came from the large mountain miles away from the shore.
Pointing your gaze towards the left, you see that abandoned mansion on top of the large hill. It still had its eerie appearance, but it was home to Team Skull. Taking out your single pokeball, you reached it towards your pokemon. "Wanna get some rest? I know we've been walking for a while."
They nodded, body glowing in a white hue before heading inside the small object. Placing the pokeball in your bag, you walked side-by-side with Plumeria, the grunts slowly following you guys from behind.
Wild pokemon can be heard in the distance. Ghastlys slowly roamed around the misty area of the woods, Littens and Meowths cautiously looking for food while hissing at each other. "Exegg...!" a lazy, trio-toned roar from an Exeggutor can be heard in the background, camouflaging with the trees.
Slowly walking up the hill, more skull grunts can be seen hanging around. Some conversed, loitered while listening to rap music, or some just arguing to be arguing. "Even when they're older, they always stick together." you hummed.
"Yup, that's basically all of Team Skull. We've got each other's back, no matter what your background is." the pink-haired SIC replied with a proud yet nostalgic smile, waving to some of the grunts that noticed them.
The atmosphere changed the further you walked up the hill, but you were used to it. Dark clouds loomed over them, guessing that it was about to rain soon. Finally, you come across the gates of the town, seeing some grunts guarding the area.
"Yo, let us in." Plumeria demanded with her usual strict tone, watching them open the gates. They didn't question your appearance, guessing that you were a guest, which was rare to have at the base.
Walking down the path, you finally come across the doors of the mansion. A light yet shaky sigh fluttered from your lips, a nervous feeling slowly swirled in your head. 'I wonder what he's like now... I hope he remembers me'
Your thoughts were broken away when you felt Plumeria's hand on your shoulder. "It's goin' to be alright, dude. I'm telling you, he's going to flip." giving her a thankful smile, she opens the wooden purple doors to the base, the creaky hinges echoing inside.
Immediately, multiple eyes from grunts landed on you, making you tense up a bit. The SIC reassures them that she knows you. Taking in the information, they all gave you a single nod, seeing that they respect you like a higher up.
Walking down the dark halls, the wooden floors creaked with every step. Dark spots from the ceilings were present, drying up from the rain that probably occurred a while ago. Turning your gaze, you see the long and familiar hallway that leads to the heart of the base, or part of Guzma's room.
Blocking the door was a large bug pokemon, Guzma's ace, Golisopod. Its armored appearance blocked the way in, heavily breathing as its claws twitched on its sides. 'I haven't seen it since he was a Wimpod...' you thought, feeling its eyes meet yours.
The bug pokemon lets out a low growl, watching you slowly approach. Your footsteps were steady and calm, shocking most of the skull grunts who feared the looming bug. Plumeria watched with her arms crossed, standing on the sidelines in case something goes wrong.
When stopping, the pokemon obviously loomed over you in height, but that didn't bother you. Carefully, you lifted the back of your hand towards its mandibles, earning a low hiss this time. Your body was tense the entire time, hearing it sniff your hand a few times, familiarizing your scent.
Its dark pink eyes widen slightly, emitting a faint guttural hum. "Hey, big guy. It's been a while, hasn't it?" you muttered softly, earning a slow nod from Golisopod. "Is your trainer in there?" it nodded once more, turning around to bang on the wooden door with its large arms.
Then, a muffled voice replied. "What...?" your lips couldn't help but form a smile, as if you didn't have control over them. Footsteps slowly approached the door, hearing him speak again. "If ya got any questions, go to Plumeria! What are you idiots even doing?"
Placing a hand on your mouth to hold in your laughter, Plumeria spoke. "Don't worry boss, I'm right here. But someone's here to see ya." Her tone held a playful tease, hearing a confused noise emit from him.
As the doorknob turned, Golisopod stepped away as the door opened. Strands of his white hair were all over the place, as if he just got out of bed. He was wearing a white undershirt with black baggy pants and socks. Dark circles were present under his eyes, lacking sleep. "What are you on about, Plum?"
Then, his eyes landed on you, mouth agape with slow shock. There you stood, having a flustered smile on your face, cheeks flourishing with heat. His muscles tensed during the quiet moment, slowly stepping towards you.
You looked so soft, he thought, seeing how much you've grown throughout the years. Your form carried the familiar plushness, the sight alone nearly made him collapse. Stopping, his hands landed on your cheeks, kneading it while holding a wide-eyed gaze, seeing you blush at the gesture.
"...Are you real?" he inquired, his voice was low and hoarse, trying to hide desperation, needing your confirmation, hoping that this wasn't a dream.
"Yes, I'm real, Guzma." you replied, his shoulders relaxing at your voice, his eyes slowly becoming glossy.
"Prove it."
Without missing a beat, you pulled out the big malasada that was wrapped, still warm. You stated calmly that he was the very few people that liked bitter flavored malasadas, noticing how his hands trembled against your cheeks. Before you could utter a word, his arms wrapped around you tightly on your swell midsection, lifting you up slightly on the spot as your legs dangled just a bit.
His face was stuffed against your neck, slowly trembling when he felt your arms wrapping around his shoulders. "Plush," it was a nickname he gave to you when you were kids, feeling your eyes water. "It's really you. Where the hell have ya' been...?"
He placed you back on the ground, never breaking away from the embrace, relaxing against your soft form. "I've been all over the place, but I'm back now." Your voice began to crack, tone wavering.
His heartbeat pumped rapidly, matching yours. "You for real? You stayin' in Alola?" The grunts and Plumeria watched in silence, letting the reunion settle. It was rare for Guzma to be like this, smiling under their bandanas while witnessing this moment.
As you nodded, nuzzling against his neck, he silently breaks down crying, many emotions swirling in his head. Your hands soothed his back, feeling the muscles underneath the shirt. His Golisopod placed its head on its trainer, lowly emitting its name in a comforting way.
Plumeria tilted her head towards the main area, silently telling the grunts to let you both have this time alone. Whispering comforting things into his ears, one of your hands trailed downwards to entangle with his. "I'm home, Guzma. And I won't be leaving, I promise."
Sniffling, his tears drying on your shirt, he replied back. "Damn right, you're not leaving." you both let out wet chuckles, continuing to melt in the embrace. For the first time in a decade, he felt happiness.