With Lunala gone, Damian and the others didn't plan on lingering at the Altar of the Moone.
However, before they could even take a step to leave, two Pokémon blocked their path.
"Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu… they don't look very friendly," Lillie said cautiously.
In front of them, Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu were standing their ground, looking aggressive.
"Did they wait for Lunala to leave before coming over to interrogate us?" Damian chuckled, not particularly surprised.
"—!"
Tapu Koko stared hard at Damian and Caitlin, letting out a low, sharp cry.
"We captured Tapu Fini and Tapu Lele fairly," Damian said with a calm smile. "No tricks."
A scowl—almost human—creased Tapu Koko's face. If it really had been a clean capture, it didn't have much room to argue.
Still, if Fini and Lele were gone… what happened to Poni Island and Akala Island in the meantime?
"Caitlin, let Lele out," Damian said, seeing Tapu Koko still wasn't convinced.
Caitlin nodded and pressed the button on her Poké Ball to release Tapu Lele.
Nothing.
Caitlin: "…"
Apparently, Tapu Lele simply didn't feel like coming out.
"Lele, come on out," Caitlin murmured to the ball, then offered Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu an awkward but polite smile.
"—!!"
Tapu Koko's expression twitched. The air around it practically crackled with irritation.
Finally, the Poké Ball clicked open in a flash of white light. Tapu Lele appeared in front of Caitlin, cute as ever, and waved at Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu like she was saying hello.
Tapu Koko shot Caitlin a look, then turned and fired off a demanding question at Tapu Lele.
It wanted the truth. How had Caitlin caught her—straight-up defeat, or something shady?
As the three Tapus began to talk among themselves, Damian let out a long stretch.
"Damian, what are Tapu Koko and the others doing?" Lillie asked curiously.
"They're worried about Lele and the others," Damian replied with a smile. "They've been guarding Alola together for ages."
But Tapu Lele had followed Caitlin because she lost a bet fair and square, so there wasn't much to worry about there.
The real issue was Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu. If they were smart, they wouldn't keep pestering them.
With Lillie present, Damian didn't want to leave his "precious daughter" with the impression that he was a man who took things by force. He was willing to let Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu go.
Truthfully, Damian didn't have much interest in Koko or Bulu anyway.
That said, if Tapu Koko tried to play hardball and force Damian or Caitlin to release Fini and Lele, Damian wasn't going to be polite.
But it seemed… they were starting to argue among themselves.
Damian looked toward the Tapus, puzzled. Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele were in a heated argument, while Tapu Bulu tried to act as a peacemaker—only to get ignored by both of them.
The Tapus were actually having an internal conflict.
"Damian, what are they talking about? Why did it turn into this?" Lillie was utterly bewildered.
Caitlin was also confused, already considering whether she should release her Metagross to back up Tapu Lele.
"…How should I put this?" Damian's expression turned strange.
If you translated the conversation between Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko, it would go something like this:
"You're leaving with a human? What about Akala Island?"
"I don't know. I've been caught, so there's nothing I can do. Why don't you help me watch Akala, Koko? And Bulu can take a look at Poni."
"…" Tapu Bulu.
"That's your island! Why should I be the one watching it for you?" Tapu Koko was so angry it started laughing.
"We've been old friends for so many years. What's the big deal if you help me out for a hundred years or so?"
"A hundred years? Are you messing with me? How about I have your Trainer catch me, release you, and then you watch over Melemele Island for me?"
"And what am I supposed to do then? I can't just go back on my word. I've got a reputation to uphold. Let me tell you now—if you try to use force against my Trainer, I won't go easy on you."
Tapu Lele huffed, clearly past caring.
"Anyway, for the next hundred years, I'm off the clock. If you've got a problem, come and try me."
"Lele, have you no shame?! You're going off to travel and enjoy yourself with a human, and you're dumping all the work on us?"
Tapu Koko was literally trembling with fury. They were Guardian Deities who had protected these islands together for years, through wind and rain, without ever taking a vacation.
And now two of its colleagues were jumping ship—for a hundred years. Not only was it not getting a break, its workload was about to double.
What kind of absolute bastard would do something like this?
"Alright, alright, stop fighting," Tapu Bulu sighed, playing the mediator as it grabbed Tapu Koko and began dragging it away. "Koko, don't be so angry. Lele and Fini didn't do it on purpose."
"I just can't accept it!" Tapu Koko said. "Why do those two get to go on vacation?"
"And besides, in what way am I inferior to Fini or Lele? Why didn't those two humans try to catch me? Is it just because those two look a bit better? I'm clearly the stronger one!"
"Yes, yes, you're right," Tapu Bulu said, nodding along as it dragged Tapu Koko away by one arm. "Just stop talking. Things are already like this. Let's go back and sleep."
Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu departed. From now on, the two of them would have to guard two islands each at the same time.
Needless to say, Tapu Koko felt like life was a total scam.
"Die-die~"
Seeing her former colleagues leave, Tapu Lele happily flew down and began circling Caitlin. She then reached out to wrap her arms around Caitlin's neck, nuzzling her while letting out a joyful cry.
She was in a great mood.
"Tapu Lele is so cute!" Lillie's eyes sparkled. Tapu Lele really was adorable!
Tapu Koko must have been too mean earlier, that's why Tapu Lele got so angry.
Yeah, that must be it.
"I suppose it's not a bad thing to leave Koko and Bulu behind," Damian mused.
He had overheard the entire conversation between Lele and Koko, and he figured this outcome was for the best.
After all, Ultra Beasts occasionally appeared in Alola, so the region really did need some guardians to look after it.
If Alola's popularity were to suffer because of Ultra Beast attacks, wouldn't that eventually hurt Team Rocket's interests too?