Chereads / Pokemon: The Chosen Ranger / Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Farewell, Alola

Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Farewell, Alola

On the night of Tapu Lele's awakening, a grand festival was held on Akala Island. The people, free from their pain, danced with their family and friends, enjoyed delicious food, and expressed their gratitude to the guardian deity and the warriors who had fought for them.

The joyous celebration of the miracle was short-lived. That day, Silver intentionally abstained from drinking fruit wine. He pulled Summer into his room and took out a delicate wooden box from under his bed, then opened it.

Gold and jewels lay inside, glittering. Silver solemnly pushed the box toward Summer and said, "Please accept this, Summer. It is your well-deserved reward."

"No, I don't want it."

"Huh? Why? Don't you like these treasures?" Silver asked, looking flustered. "Then, Summer, what do you want? I'll get it for you. Anything that exists on this island, or even if it doesn't, I'll find it!"

"I only want three things." Summer smiled, holding up three fingers. "The Z-Crystals for Fire, Grass, and Water types. I want to commemorate the trials I went through with my partners, and the power contained in them can help me."

"Is that all? But those are the rewards you won through the trials."

"Yes, it's enough. By the way, I hope you can return the remaining Z-Crystals to Tapu Bulu. This is the agreement I made with the Pokémon." Summer said.

"Of course, that's no problem. But Z-Crystals need to be used with Sparkling Stones, don't they? In that case, Summer, please take this Sparkling Stone as well." Silver went to fetch the Sparkling Stone from the table.

"That won't do."

A clear, lively voice echoed in their minds. Tapu Fini suddenly descended from a large hole in the roof, landing between the two.

"Guardian deity of Poni Island!" Silver Birch exclaimed.

"Yes, it's me. How could the child I favor use Bulu's Sparkling Stone? Naturally, he should have mine."

Tapu Fini handed the Sparkling Stone to Summer, then smiled and patted his head.

No wonder Tapu Fini had taught Summer so much; it had acknowledged him long ago. It wasn't surprising since Summer was quite remarkable, Silver thought.

Summer looked at the Sparkling Stone in his hand. Unlike the previous ones, this Sparkling Stone had a blue Z-mark, giving it a feeling of the ocean.

"Thank you, Tapu Fini. I will cherish it," Summer said.

"A polite child, very good," Tapu Fini said, patting his head again.

What was this motherly radiance? Silver Birch thought, then said aloud, "I'll go get the Z-Crystals. You two take your time."

"Let's head outside too. It seems you're about to return to your original time. Call your partners," Tapu Fini said, retracting its hand.

"Got it."

Summer and Tapu Fini left the small house. Summer called his partners, Rillaboom, who was playing the drums, and Corviknight, who was lying on the ground. The two Pokémon quickly joined him, looking surprised at the smiling Tapu Fini.

Why was the guardian deity of Poni Island here again, and with Summer? Hmm, I understand; it's because Tapu Fini recognized him, they thought.

The two Pokémon reached different conclusions. Corviknight noticed Tapu Fini staring at it with a cold, almost angry, motherly expression.

Gah! Mother! No, my mother wouldn't look like that. It's all an illusion!

"What's wrong, Corviknight? Why are you shaking your head so violently?" Summer asked.

Corviknight resolved not to let its thoughts wander in front of anyone who seemed to read minds.

"Summer, here are the Fire and Grass Z-Crystals you wanted. Sorry, but we don't have a Water Z-Crystal right now," Silver said, handing two Z-Crystals to Summer.

"No problem, I have the Water Z-Crystal," Summer said, pulling out the blue crystal, also a reward from Tapu Fini.

"Does that mean, Summer, you've completed all the trials?" Silver asked, astonished. But thinking of how easily Summer had passed two trials, completing the third wasn't surprising.

"Yes, Silver. It looks like we have to say goodbye here."

Summer's body began to turn translucent, as did his Pokémon.

"It's such a shame. I haven't shown you all the beautiful sights of Alola," Silver said regretfully.

"It's enough, and we'll have another chance to visit Alola. Then we can savor the beauty in detail." Summer smiled and waved, disappearing with his Pokémon.

"Will you come back? I understand. We will protect this beauty, Summer," Silver murmured.

At the history museum in Heahea City, a blue-haired girl stood before an exhibit. She carried a golf club, giving her an unusual appearance.

"Kahili, I didn't expect the first place you'd visit after returning to Alola to be the history museum. I thought you'd go to the golf course."

Next to her stood a tall man wearing sunglasses and tropical attire, looking like an ordinary tourist. If you didn't know him, you'd never guess he was the owner of the Hano Grand Resort.

"Hey, if you're puzzled, let your father explain." The man smiled.

"Father, why does an ancient Alolan wood carving depict a Corviknight, which isn't native to Alola?" Kahili asked.

"This carving is of a Corviknight? Haha, I didn't recognize it due to its age!" The man laughed awkwardly, embarrassed in front of his daughter.

"Yes, I've seen this kind of Pokémon. They are very charming. It's odd; someone so talented should have left more works." Kahili said.

"High praise indeed!"

"Yes, if this was done in their youth, it could rival my achievements in golf." Kahili said seriously.

"Cough, cough," The man tried to regain his lost dignity. "These carvings were passed down in Akala Island households and have a long history."

"How long?" Kahili asked, looking very interested.

"Well, probably from a time before the island trials existed?"

"Why the uncertain tone? If that's true, these carvings must be significant. Wood carvings don't preserve well in Alola's humid climate." Kahili said, admiringly.

"Indeed. By the way, Kahili, our ancestors were once the island kings of Akala. Want to see?"

"I didn't know that." Kahili was surprised.

"Let me show you."

The man led Kahili to a wall with portraits of past island kings. The current island queen was Lillie, and the previous king was a young man with dark skin and red-black hair.

Walking further, they stopped before the portrait of an elderly man with blue-gray hair, with a Toucannon on his shoulder, a Trumbeak on the other, and a Pikipek on his head.

"That's him, Island King Silver Birch!" The man spread his arms.

"I didn't expect our ancestor's interests to be so similar to mine." Kahili nodded.

"Moreover, Alola welcomes all guests warmly, now and forever. That's his famous saying!" The man said proudly.

"What is this..."

Kahili noticed something familiar. The elder in the portrait held a wooden carving, the same one she had seen earlier. Were they from the same era?

(End of Chapter)