Pokémon Sun and Moon: Champion of the Stars- Volume 2 -ULTRA BEAST MISSIONS-

30. A Kindling Kiss for an Awakening, Another for Easing the Mind

Narrator POV

Before they could report back to Looker, who was waiting for their return, Luma and Gladion had flown toward the stairway leading to the Altar of the Moone via Charizard. This was as far as Charizard could take them as it senses a great and powerful force beyond those steps. Reluctantly, they hopped off from their ride and started running up the stairs, with each step making the broken Z Ring react more and more as they got closer to the top.

"I'm not too sure about this... I feel a little nervous," Luma had muttered, only for Gladion to glare at her gripping his wrist.

"Now you're unsure about glowing stones leading you to places?" He had asked.

"Well, Uh... This is different. It's a Z Stone. We're almost at the top, so let's... whew... keep going!"

With a couple huffs and heavy breaths, the two trainers had finally reached the top. When they did, the Island Guardian of Melemele, Tapu Koko, had patiently waited for them. But it wasn't alone. The other guardians; Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini had gathered along with it, looking down at the shattered Z Ring in Luma's hands. All that Luma could do was look at them and back at the broken Z Ring puzzling together her own theory.

"Oh this is divine punishment, isn't it?"

"What?" Gladion had muttered witnessing her bit of hysteria.

"Ohh I'm so sorry! I should have been more careful... What's going to happen?"

"Luma. Control yourself... Let their actions speak for themselves."

Luma had followed Gladion's instructions and kept her eyes toward the Island Guardians that had gathered before her. The shattered Z Ring had ascended from her hands and into their clutches, still leaving the Fairium Z and star crystals she had collected among the rubble in the palms of her hand. Tapu Lele had approached Luma, pecking the girl's cheek activating Draining Kiss, a surge of power being drained from her onto Tapu Lele, who had transferred the power onto the Z Ring, enveloping it in a ball of light and causing the girl to fall on one knee.

"Wh-Draining Kiss?"

With that power, each of the Tapus had initiated their own ritual, passing the Z Ring toward one another doing what seems to be a sort of dance with the Z Ring in their possession. It really confused the trainers who had witnessed what was occurring. After Tapu Fini had it in its' possession, the Z Ring was completely engulfed in a bright light descending onto Luma, who had caught the slowly diminishing light, revealing a newly formed Z Ring. It was colored black as night with the usual symbols engraved on the stone and slot. It seemed familiar yet so different at the same time... She wasn't so sure what to think but was still grateful toward the Guardians, bowing to them and giving her thanks. She looked back toward the newly formed Z Ring placed in her palms.

"Woah... It this some kind of upgrade or something?" She muttered, slipping the Z Ring on her wrist and placing the Star shaped crystal back into her bracelet, and her Fairium in her bag.

"Okay, let's get going! Looker will panic if we stay too long. I would prefer that he doesn't send yet another person for us, yeah?"

Gladion acknowledged and followed close behind as she had brought out her Charizard, albeit he was silent. It was almost as if he was jealous of how much she was acknowledged by not just the Guardians, but Lunala as well. He wasn't so sure what was so special about her that she catches the eyes of not just the Legendary Pokemon, but everyone around her, including him. But it still made him feel jealous.

"Hmm? What's the matter? Wanna take the scenic route instead?" Luma had asked, tilting her head toward Gladion, who seemed to be deep in thought.

"The sooner we get back, the better," Gladion had responded, mounting the Charizard and helping Luma up, allowing the two of them to fly back to Seafolk Village and back to the restaurant, where Looker was waiting for them.