Yesterday did not end well to any of them. There was a lot to unpack from everything revealed last night, and none of them is taking it well. Lillie is not taking it well. Knowing that Moon left the region because of reasons to protect the region was one thing. Learning that her best friend and one of her Pokemon almost died without any of them knowing was another. She can understand the former, but the latter...she was not able to eat dinner last night. She did not have much appetite for breakfast this morning either. Her mother, no, the other Lusamine called her, and Lillie has to feign ignorance that the person at the other line was not her mother at all. It would not come easy to her, lying like that, in normal circumstances, but the lies came smoothly out of her mouth and Lusamine did not suspect anything at all. She wondered if she already knew their involvement to yesterday and was just going along with it, but it sounded like it was not the case. Or that, Lusamine wanted to keep an eye on them to make sure they do not interfere with her plans.
There was another meeting this morning, but Lillie did not attend. Gladion just messaged her that he divulged to everyone what was going on in Aether Paradise and everything else that was left unsaid last night. She left the makeshift conference room first and ran out the Pokémon Center with no particular destination in mind. Her feet led her to the Selene-san and Elio-san's doorstep and when the door opened, she fell into a sobbing mess in the arms of Moon's mother. The older woman, whom she has regarded as like an aunt and a mother, gently ushered her inside the house and sat her down at the dining table. Her Kantonian Meowth climbed on Lillie's lap and purred to calm the crying girl as Selene worked at the kitchen. The questions did not come until Lillie has her fill of Selene's own version of Tapu Cocoa, dried her tears and snot with the towel Meowth retrieved from Selene's room, and eased down just enough to speak coherently.
Selene held the young girl's hands, rubbing her knuckles with utmost care and gentleness, as Lillie recounted the day's events. The younger Aether sibling nearly choked in tears as she confessed everything discussed in the meeting – about how Shiron was taken away, Elio being kidnapped along with the others, the contents of Moon's adventure notebook, and the revelation Nanu made. She expected Selene to be shocked upon hearing the heart-wrenching news about her daughter, but the older woman simply squeezed her hands and gaze at her eyes with emotions that only a loving mother would understand their depths.
"I know." The admission was not something Lillie expected. "Moon told me four years ago, from that phone call. She didn't want anyone else to know, not even her father given that he's a worrier. I know for a long time now but hearing about from anyone doesn't make it less painful. It will never be for any parent. I'm sorry all of you have to know about it this way."
"I..." Lillie sniffed. "I...I should have known. I should have known that something is wrong. I'm her best friend, but I..."
"Lillie..." Selene said softly. "Don't blame yourself for what happened. It isn't your fault nor Moon's. For what it is worth, it is mine. I know she is a strong and independent person, but it is still my duty as her mother to watch over her. I am her mother, yet I failed to protect her."
"That's not true!" Lillie shook her head vigorously. "You're a wonderful mother to Moon, Selene-san! I'm sure she'll agree with me. It's not your fault either. She's..." She extracted a hand and wiped the incoming tears on her sleeve. "She's doing her best as Champion. She's just trying to protect Alola, even though she knew the stakes. Moon is strong, really strong, Selene-san. I look up on her, just like everyone else. She's so amazing that I want to follow her footsteps. That's why I decided to become a Pokémon Trainer, so that I can show her that I can stand on my feet like her, that I am not the same person I used to be, that she can be proud of me as her best friend."
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The Guardian of Alola
FanfictionShe was the First Champion and Hau is the next. She was her protector and now Lillie is the one who protects. She was once at his reach but now Gladion can only chase after her phantoms. Two years they spent growing together and five years spent mou...
