A video conference was underway.
Kukui had called in three Island Kahunas—Hala, Olivia, and Nanu—and he'd also invited Lusamine.
In Kukui's mind, Lusamine wasn't just another stakeholder. She was a pillar of Alola.
"So," Kukui said, rubbing his brow like it physically hurt, "what do you think? Do we agree to Damian's 'coexistence'?"
He looked worn out. This wasn't a debate he enjoyed.
Hala sat with his brow knotted, deep in thought. Nanu let out yet another long, tired sigh. Lusamine—joining a meeting at this level for the first time—kept her expression composed and said nothing.
"I don't agree."
Olivia spoke first, crisp and immediate. She didn't have a single warm feeling toward Damian, and to her, Team Rocket was evil. Full stop.
No amount of smooth talk changed that.
"Kukui, get your head straight," Olivia shouted. "Team Rocket is wanted by the Kanto League. How are we even talking about coexisting with them?"
"This is Alola. We don't need Team Rocket's 'help.'"
Her voice carried a clean, righteous anger—zero patience for compromise.
"And that Damian guy even captured Tapu Fini," she continued, jaw tight. "That's our guardian. Alola's protected it for generations."
Lusamine spoke softly, cutting in without raising her tone. "Olivia, it isn't only Tapu Fini anymore."
Olivia blinked. "What?"
"Aether Foundation intelligence," Lusamine said evenly. "Caitlin—one of Team Rocket's top executives—was seen on Akala's beach with Tapu Lele. It appears Tapu Lele has also been taken."
Olivia went rigid.
Her face flushed hot, rage rising so fast it almost looked like she might start shaking.
"That cursed Team Rocket!"
Tapu Lele was Akala's guardian. Olivia had been chosen by Tapu Lele herself to be Kahuna. This wasn't politics to her—it was personal.
Kukui glanced between the windows on the screen. "Hala. Nanu. Lusamine. What do you think?"
Olivia was clearly a hard no. That part was settled.
Hala hesitated, weighing every word. "I… I feel…"
Nanu leaned back like he wanted to be anywhere else. "I'll go with whatever you guys decide."
That was Nanu—checked out, detached, but still listening.
Lusamine gave her view as cleanly as a report.
"At this stage, going to war with Team Rocket is not wise," she said. "But letting the Alola branch grow without restraint is also not a solution. I'll follow the majority."
She aligned with Nanu's stance—vote with the room.
Hala finally spoke, voice heavy.
"I'll be direct," he said. "Right now, Team Rocket hasn't shown a direct threat to Alola. If they keep acting like this, coexisting for a short time may be a reasonable strategy."
It was a painful "if," and everyone knew it.
Olivia's eyes widened. "Hala?"
"Olivia," Hala said, tone stern, "a total war with Team Rocket right now is not simple. We can't afford that fight."
He didn't sugarcoat it.
"Damian is too strong. And now Caitlin has Tapu Lele. If a full-scale war starts, no matter who wins, Alola loses its peace."
Olivia bit her lip, fighting the impulse to explode again.
Hala continued, slower, like he needed them to understand the timeline.
"The Alola League is about to be established. We cannot fight Team Rocket during this period." He paused, then said what he'd clearly been thinking for a while. "We wait. We let the new generation grow."
He thought of Selene—monstrously talented—and his grandson, Hau, who had real potential too.
"When Selene and Hau become stronger," Hala said, "we won't need to fear the Alola branch."
A compromise now, for a better position later.
And there was another advantage he didn't hide: time bought observation. If the Alola branch stayed calm and truly cut ties with Kanto, coexistence could become something more than a desperate stopgap.
Kukui exhaled, the kind of breath that carried a decision.
"For now, we coexist," he said. "We watch their moves. And quietly… we limit their growth."
The Alola League came first. Everything else was secondary.
Olivia's voice cut in again, hard as stone. "I still don't agree. That guy isn't making peace because he suddenly grew a conscience."
Kukui's shoulders sank. "Then we vote. Majority rules."
The result was obvious.
Kukui and Hala voted for temporary coexistence. Nanu raised his hand without emotion. Lusamine abstained. Olivia voted against.
Olivia laughed—not because it was funny, but because she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Kukui," she said, voice tight with disgust, "you're definitely going to regret this."
"Olivia," Hala frowned, "be rational. The majority has spoken."
Olivia's teeth clenched. Then she ended the call.
In her head, the thought screamed loud enough to hurt.
Coexisting with an evil organization? Have they all lost it?
"Alright," Damian muttered to himself later, strolling through Hau'oli City with a bag of snacks like he didn't have a care in the world. "Now… what's the cleanest way to climb into the Boss seat?"
He was in a great mood.
Tapu Fini floated alongside him, happily licking a Casteliacone like it was the best thing she'd ever tasted.
She looked almost proud of herself—like she'd been upgraded from guardian deity to spoiled princess overnight.
Damian had already gotten Kukui's answer.
Approved—though Kukui had attached conditions.
Damian couldn't target Tapu Koko or Tapu Bulu. And Tapu Fini had to return to Poni Island and select a new Kahuna candidate.
Damian agreed to everything.
Alola was basically handled. For now, Kukui and the others wouldn't move against Team Rocket's front companies.
As for the underground side?
That went without saying. The Aether Foundation operations and the Pokémon Ride shops could keep expanding at full speed.
Sooner or later, Alola would start taking Team Rocket's shape.
And Hala's plan—betting everything on Selene and Hau?
Damian could only smirk.
The old man was dreaming.
Ula'ula Island.
"A delivery for you," an Aether Foundation employee said at Aether House, holding out two Ultra Balls. "Selene."
"Thanks—wait." Selene took them, eyebrows lifting. "Why are there two?"
She tilted her head, genuinely confused. Damian had told her there'd be only one.
"They must be something special," Lillie said, smiling gently. "Selene, open them already."
Acerola bounced on her heels, eyes shining. "Yeah, open them! Let's see what your boyfriend picked out for you!"
Selene giggled, walking outside like this was a fun little surprise and not a weird red flag.
"Okay, okay." She spun one of the balls in her palm, amused. "That guy… I'm already strong, and he still acts like I'm short on Pokémon."
She popped both open.
"~!"
"…!"
First came a clear, melodic bird cry—bright and clean.
Then came something else: a hollow, airy hum that sounded almost mechanical.
"Whoa!" Acerola's eyes went wide as she stared at the magnificent bird Pokémon on the left, its wings a sharp ice-blue.
But Lillie didn't react the same way.
She stared at the milky-white, jellyfish-like Pokémon on the right.
Her face drained.
Her lips pressed into a thin line as her thoughts spiraled, sharp and panicked.
Why would Damian have that?
No… don't tell me he's—
Lillie bit down hard, forcing herself not to show it, but her hands had gone cold.
Why is it like this…?