I clutched quietly to the Salandit egg as we walked back to the Ancient Poni Path. Hapu was chattering, nose to the grindstone, as she worked out her kahuna duties. First came her explanations to the League and International Police, which shifted from Hapu's sober retelling of events as the poor person taking the call freaked out, to an action plan for being the new kahuna discussed with the higher ups that took over the call. Then it was onto local authorities and those in charge of different aspects of festivities. Even with such a tall tail, at no point did anyone question Hapu's testimony or her new position as kahuna.

"I need to focus on the end of festival season.", she said to the chief of the Seafolk Village, "The Tapus are strong, they will make it. And if we want to release the guardians from their capture, we require a coordinated assault of many high level trainers, which we do not have at this time. If I am to be absent during the opening of my first island challenge season as kahuna I will either need to tell the people why, which will cause an uproar, or I'll be seen as another Nanu." This was not the first time she had to explain this, and at no point had it been easy. I just kept my head down, projecting the same energy as all those rides on Mahā back in the day.

We traveled west, through the east side of town beyond which my hovel lay. We passed the occasional Team Skull grunt, attempting to hide and make it back to Po Town to live another day and forget this failure had ever happened, before we made it to the familiar ruin walls and fences of Hapu and Hama's ranch. Hapu rushed to the end of her current call with a representative from the Battle Tree, shot a text to Hama, then slapped the skull cap from my head and flicked the chain into my chest.

I took the hint, removing the accessories marking me as a definite member of Team Skull. Still, with the colored hair, tattoos, piercings, and all black and white clothes it wasn't really doing much, especially on a 10 year old girl. They're not really the target demographic for that stuff usually. "I guess you'll go back to calling it Kahuna Ranch huh?", I asked as I stuffed the offending items in my pants pockets. "I guess so.", she replied distantly. All cleaned up, Hapu looked at me and straightforwardly asked, "Are you ready?" I nodded, bringing the egg in close to my chest as we approached the door. "Hapu? Can you explain why you're back so late? It's just a routine prayer, you should've been back an hour and a half ago.", came Hama's voice from down the hallway.

I paused in the short entryway. Seeing the house I spent so much of my life in, I was filled with ennui. In spite of the overwhelming air of regret the whole morning had carried, I didn't regret what I did here. Frozen, staring down the hallway as Hama walked toward us, I only wished I had let myself enjoy those times instead of focusing entirely on the tomorrow. In that moment, Hama had the same expression as she stared at me.

"Kau'i.", Hama said, like my presence there was as certain as snow on Mount Lanakila, "How have you been?" "I could've been better.", I said, honestly answering her thousand little questions. "Well you're here now.", she replied succinctly. I wasn't the most emotionally intelligent, but I knew Hama well enough and Hama knew me well enough. There was no need to spell out the subtext. "Let's sit down, we'll talk about what happened.", Hama invited.

And we did. Hapu quickly explained what had happened from her perspective, the grunts coming in to overpower Tapu Fini, fending them off for a time, seeing me in Team Skull uniform, and being struck by Salazzle's attack. Then, the reins were handed to me.

"I should start a bit earlier. Team Skull wasn't this bad when I joined, just misfits working together to carve out a place for themselves. The Team changed when the League arrested Lusamine, she was funding the Team and without that money alot of the grunts started going hungry. Me and my friends helped with that in our own way, but Guzma was pissed about it. Just as we had adjusted to making do without the money and the mood started to turn up, in walks Lusamine's son, Gladion, to give us a plan for revenge against the League and join the Team."

Hama and Hapu were both hanging on every word. I cleared my throat nervously, then continued. "Over the last few years, Team Skull has planned out the attacks that happened this morning, as well as stealing as many Z-Crystals as possible. This didn't happen just before the change of seasons, when the League, trial captains, and kahunas would be busy with holiday preparations, for no reason, and us grunts didn't call it the plan for nothing. By taking the guardian deities and the League's Z-Crystals, the League would be left without any protection, just like we were. That sort of thing is exactly what most Team Skull members were getting away from by joining."

I stopped myself briefly. "No offense.", I said lamely, having realized the implication about Hama and Hapu from what I had just said. Hapu urged me to go on with a twirl of her hand, and so I did. I explained my side of the day's events, from the early rise up until Hapu's Kahuna ceremony where I motioned for her to take over in turn. I would not break the news for her, that was her right. "Of course.", she said to me, accepting the role of storyteller again and continuing on.

"As I was approaching Kau'i and that Plumeria lady to give them a talking to, Tapu Fini stopped me." Hama looked between us, shocked but hesitant, already guessing what had happened but wanting Hapu to say it in full. "They guided me to the altar, and produced this for me.", Hapu said, pulling out the sparkling stone. Hama smiled a brilliant white, getting up from her chair to lean down and hug Hapu. "Congratulations, Kahuna Hapu.", Hama said clearly, even as her eyes frosted over with tears of joy.

At that, Hapu seemed to let out all the excitement, relief, and accomplishment she had been holding back. Her bulwark defense crumbled to soft powder as she held Hama tighter, tearing up, laughing, and bursting with the occasional whoop of victory. I had been told that Hapu was different when I was around, less stiff, less elderly in her manners. I guessed then that Hama had a similar ability to affect her so thoroughly. While I put her on the offensive just by hanging around, Hama could tear her guard down entirely whenever she wanted to, which she rarely did.

"Sofu would be so proud.", Hama whispered into Hapu's ear as their embrace loosened. At the mention of her grandfather's name, Hapu's tears finally streamed down her dusty, determined face. "He would be.", Hapu said appreciatively. "Kind of a moot point since he would've had to die either way for you to become kahuna, but yeah, he'd be proud.", I interjected, clapping the tiny kahuna on the back. "This is not the time! Plus, you wouldn't even know! You never met him!", Hapu shouted, beginning to chuckle again.

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"Pull Toma! Pull!", I shouted to the Spinarak. The face shaped pattern on his back was in the usual cheery smile, with angry eyebrows added to show his effort, as he gripped tightly to the thread that dragged the stage equipment behind him.

We had worked on Toma's aim while I was in Team Skull, and I was sure he had fully developed his hidden ability, Sniper, but his physical strength had taken a backseat. I had learned in training his other ability, Swarm, that bug-types tended to be extreme team-players, and with Toma's jolly disposition this was doubly true. And so I was using the social event as an opportunity to train Toma even harder with the added motivation of helping people have a great day.

We were preparing the stage and surrounding area for Alola Day, the grand event that marked the end of festival season and the beginning of the island challenge. Already, children near my age were practicing for the various games that would be played. In the old days, the games had higher stakes and were much more dangerous, but now they were simple affairs. Trophies and prizes were up for grabs for swimming, wrestling, battling, Mantine surfing, and a dozen other things. Apparently other islands with more volcanic terrain even had lava sledding. There were challengers for both the child and adult competitions vying for each and every prize. For every competition that had existed for a thousand years, there was one that had been introduced in the last fifty to keep the newer generations engaged with the tradition. Poni Island's Alola Day festival was the least changed from its ancient form, but some adjustments are inevitable.

Least changed of all were the mental games, challenges of wit and memory that had been proffered to the people of Alola for a millennia. In the betting pools I had helped set up, Kahuna Hapu was the clear favorite for winning all of these, so much so that her position of kahuna had been used as an excuse to place her in the adult competition, to give the other kids a chance. Her overwhelming knowledge of Alolan history, literature, native pokémon, and religion had been clear since before I could remember. The only mental game anyone had a chance against her in was the riddles.

I had no inclination to participate in any of it. Maybe I'd do some pokémon battles this year, but the other kids hardly deserved some weirdo sweeping through the entire competition at what would be the first opportunity for battling for many of them. Most of my time would be coordinating with Kawami to stock up on as much festival food as possible for our approaching journey.

Finally, Toma had got the crate in the right spot. "Aaaaand done! Great work Toma, let's take a break."

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As the sun was setting, the crescent moon just a small ways higher in the sky, Hapu and the chiefs of the villages of Poni pushed a canoe filled with offerings to Tapu Fini adrift out at sea. As the crowd watched their boat return to the humble beach where the festivities were held, everyone held their breath. Hapu placed her foot back on solid ground and my team and I immediately tackled her. The chiefs were all dogpiled in a similar manner. Of all the traditions, this one I would never miss out on. Originally, people had their pokémon send attacks at the returning chiefs. To make it through was proof that they deserved to rule. That original intent was very stupid in my opinion, but I couldn't be happier with how it had been adapted as I gave Hapu an affectionate noogie under the mass of bodies.

Upon the meat cluster breaking apart, Hapu headed again for the stage, while I headed back to Hama at our table. We watched as a few lucky new trainers were given the option of a Mudbray, Crabrawler, or Exeggcute as their first ever pokémon. Each one was ecstatic. I gave Kawami some ear scritches in appreciation of everything she'd done for me as we both held onto the egg. Once the last of the newcomers had received their starters, Hapu prepared for another stint at the podium.

"People of Poni Island, from your new kahuna, welcome to Island Challenge Season 2017!", Hapu announced. Rising out of the waves to watch the event was Tapu Fini. The crowd cheered, all ages of people shouting out to greet the new season. Despite my usual aversion to cheering, I joined in, even if it was just for myself. Then, Hapu left the stage and returned to sit with us while Tapu Fini swam idly above the grounds.

"Kau'i, I hope you understand the weight of taking on your island challenge. It will not be easy.", Hama said once we were all focused again on eachother. "I don't expect it to be.", I replied flatly. "You shouldn't.", Hapu butted in, "I've spoken with Nanu to arrange a team of Meowth to follow you and ensure that by no means do you leave Poni Island before you've done all there is for a trial-goer to do here."

"So what are your plans then, knowing that?", Hapu asked me. "I think I'll train in the Vast Poni Canyon, take on the trial there, and come back ready to impress for Mina's trial. Then I'll beat up your team Hapu, and move on to Melemele. I wasn't going to skip Poni Island anyway, so you can call off the cats.", I explained. Hapu looked at me amusedly, saying with just her face, 'I don't trust you for a second without those Meowth.'

"Kau'i! The Vast Poni Canyon is incredibly dangerous, fearsome pokémon live around every corner, and there's no access to a Pokémon Center for miles. The Dragon-Type trial at it's deepest reaches isn't staffed by a captain, and the totem pokémon is not fond of kids wandering thoughtlessly into his den. It shouldn't be any trial-goer's first trial.", Hama insisted.

"Good thing I'm prepared for all that. An incredibly dangerous area, with fearsome pokémon around every corner, no access to a Pokémon Center, trials with no guidance, and places I should never be caught in? When you're a criminal, that's just how you describe every city. Plus! There'll be plenty of weaker wild pokémon to train with, which, due to my experience going without professional healing, I can do without permanently injuring the wild pokémon! It's a win-win."

The kahuna and her grandmother just glared at me. "I also stocked up on potions," I excused, "just in case.", I added in a joking tone. I carefully pulled a potion from my bag that didn't still have an antitheft clip on it to prove my point. They were unimpressed, stone cold solid. "Well if you have a better plan, do go on.", I mocked.

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I checked my bag one last time. All my travel stuff, hammock, potions, etcetera, etcetera… Check! No holes in the bags or my pockets… Check. Finally, I went out to the bathroom to check myself in the mirror. My face was as clean as it had been for years, a glistening and slightly scarred oval shape. My cheeks were perpetually speckled and a bit flushed. I had taken the opportunity to mooch, so my hair was freshly washed and dyed cyan and magenta again, though it was only a matter of time until it was a mess again. I had in my trashiest can tab earrings, the two studs in my left ear were a skull and crossbones respectively, and I had opted for spiky ends on both the center and left nose ring.

I wore no skull cap or chain, and the crossbone strip tank top was partially covered with an ancient olive-brown aviator jacket with fluffy white trim. I hadn't stolen the jacket, but I bought it from a secondhand store for so cheap it might as well have been stealing. As much as I loved the long white dress Toma had spun for me, with the hiking we'd be doing I had reached instead for the pair of old black and white sweatpants another grunt had handed down to me that had been handed down to her before that. All the tag said on it was "grunt", which was completely unhelpful in deciphering its origins beyond the grunt that gave it to me. My tattoos were almost all covered up, except the piece on my collar bone of a cartoonish trash can and a practice piece on my neck. Thankfully it was not Rich's practice piece.

I adjusted the shoulder bag, since I couldn't hang the strap across my chest with the backpack on as well, and then I was off. I pulled Toma out of his newest project and attached him to the back of my backpack, whistled for Kawami to get out of the kitchen, and lifted the Salandit egg into my arms. With the whole team present, I entered the dining room. "I'll be going now.", I said to Hama. "Wait just a moment Kau'i, I have something for you.", she replied.

She shoveled through a few drawers in the corner of the kitchen before wrapping her fist around something and moving to stand in front of me. I set the egg down on the table, and she set a crystal gently in my hand. I gave it a thorough inspection, recognizing it as Icium Z. The Z-Crystal stuck to my hand as I raised my head to meet Hama's gaze. "For everything you've been through, Kau'i. Best of luck on your journey, and take care of yourself, yeah?", Hama requested. "You got it, grandma."