"Looks like we drew them in too."
Damian watched the two approaching Pokémon and smiled, not particularly surprised.
Caitlin walked over and also noticed the pair hovering above them.
"Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu, huh?"
She gazed up at the two island guardian deities—Melemele Island's guardian, Tapu Koko, and Ula'ula Island's guardian, Tapu Bulu.
Right now, the two guardians were staring at Lunala.
They'd picked up on Lunala descending into the real world and rushed over to celebrate.
Speaking of which…
Tapu Koko shot a look at Tapu Fini. As Poni Island's guardian deity, Tapu Fini was the one whose altar this was.
Lunala's appearance had Tapu Koko in high spirits, but the fact that Tapu Fini hadn't even noticed them left it distinctly annoyed.
They were all island guardian deities. Strictly speaking, there was no hierarchy between them.
But as the strongest of the four, Tapu Koko was the de facto leader of the guardian deities.
"Lunala?"
After sharing a quiet moment with Lillie, Lunala turned, its body slowly drifting upward as its solemn gaze swept over the four guardian deities.
With a subtle motion, it gestured for them to leave first.
All four dipped their heads in a small bow of submission. Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu retreated, preparing to depart.
But…
When they saw Damian and Caitlin pull out Poké Balls and recall Tapu Fini and Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko's mind just… crashed.
"???"
Three massive question marks might as well have popped up over its head.
Wait—when had Fini and Lele been caught?
How did it not know about this at all?
Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu traded a look, each seeing the same dazed confusion in the other's eyes.
But since Lunala had told them to leave, this clearly wasn't the time to start asking questions.
Tapu Koko just couldn't wrap its head around it.
After thinking it over, it decided to hang around nearby for a bit.
They were island guardian deities—had Fini and Lele really turned their backs on a guardian's honor?
It had to get some answers.
Damian, of course, had no idea what Tapu Koko was thinking. At the moment, he was just a little disappointed.
It was rare to have Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu show up together like this.
But trying to catch both of them, right in front of Lunala, after they'd rushed over to congratulate its evolution as subordinates… yeah, that would've been pretty messed up.
Even freshly evolved, Lunala's strength was clearly overwhelming—especially with how much power the Altar of the Moone had just poured into it.
"Lunala～"
After watching Koko and Bulu leave, Lunala drifted slowly down in front of Damian, its gem‑like crimson‑violet eyes still as stunning as ever.
"Congrats on your successful evolution, Lunala." Damian said with a warm smile.
Lunala—that was this Pokémon's name?
Caitlin was curious, subtly studying the magnificent "bat" now hovering close by.
Whatever the case, this Lunala gave her an intense feeling of power.
The pressure it exerted on her spirit was unlike anything she'd ever felt—not even Cynthia's ace Garchomp had given her this kind of weight on the soul.
This Lunala was terrifyingly strong.
"Lunala～"
A hint of a smile flickered in Lunala's eyes as it dipped its head closer to Damian.
It still remembered him—the human who'd always been so gentle with it.
"Already this big and still such a spoiled baby."
Damian's lips quirked upward as he raised a hand and gently stroked Lunala's face.
Lunala's eyes narrowed slightly in contentment.
So it had retained its memories from its Nebby days—and not just fragments. They were still crystal clear.
It might have grown more mature through evolution, but some of that childishness remained.
Which was honestly for the best.
Looking at Lunala up close, Damian couldn't help feeling a ripple in his chest.
This was the legendary "beast that calls down the moon"—Lunala.
One of the cover legends of Pokémon Sun/Moon—and one of the Pokémon standing at the pinnacle of the Pokémon World.
"Want a candy?"
After a moment, Damian pulled out a piece of candy and smiled at Lunala.
Lunala tilted its head slightly.
He unwrapped it and offered it up, placing it in Lunala's mouth.
Those jewel‑bright eyes curved into little crescent moons.
"So adorable～"
Caitlin's eyes lit up.
That soft, almost shy expression on such a regal, imposing creature… the contrast was way too cute.
Once it finished the candy, Lunala's body drifted back and rose slowly into the air.
"Nebby?"
Lillie jogged over, looking up at Lunala.
"Lunala～"
Its voice was still as low and gentle as ever.
"It says it's going to look for its teammates first. They've been waiting for it to come back all this time." Damian translated.
And the "teammates" Lunala spoke of were, without question, Solgaleo.
"Nebby… is leaving…?"
Lillie pressed her lips together.
She knew she should be happy for Nebby—but she still couldn't help the ache in her chest.
"I'll be back."
A graceful, mature female voice suddenly echoed softly in their minds.
"Telepathy."
Caitlin blinked, then immediately understood—this was Lunala's telepathy.
"Nebby?"
Lillie looked up at Lunala.
Her instincts told her this was its voice.
"Lillie and Damian are my teammates too. Once I find it, I'll come back to you both."
Lunala's tone was gentle.
"Yeah! Nebby will always be my partner!"
Lillie fought back the sting in her eyes.
"We'll see each other again." Damian said with a smile.
"If you ever need my help, just play the melody you used tonight. I'll hear it."
The Sun Flute and Moon Flute glowed with a soft blue light, then drifted down to land back in front of the two girls.
"Goodbye, Lillie. Goodbye, Damian."
A white Ultra Wormhole opened above Lunala.
Its figure shot up into the light and vanished.
The white Ultra Wormhole slowly faded, and the night sky grew calm once more.
"It's gone…"
Staring up at the deep, dark new moon, Lillie felt a welter of emotions churn inside her.
"Don't worry. Lunala said it'll be back."
Damian tried to comfort her—and truthfully, he felt a little regret himself.
He'd really wanted to catch Lunala.
But this Lunala was far too strong.
Even if Lunala gave him a fair shot, his chances of actually beating and catching it right now were pretty low.
Still, he'd managed to build a very good relationship with it.
He'd have another chance in the future.
And besides…
Damian thought back to the message Giovanni had sent him.
It was almost awake.
Once he wrapped things up in Alola, he'd head back to Kanto.
Even if it hadn't fully awakened yet, its strength would already be terrifying.
If he could persuade it to join him, he'd finally have a truly monstrous ace on his team.