Chapter 64: The Tapus Are Fighting!
With Lunala gone, Mammon and the others had no reason to stay at the Altar of the Moone.
But before the three could leave, two Pokémon blocked their path.
"Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu... they don't look too friendly," Lillie said cautiously, sensing the hostility in their stance.
"So the moment Lunala leaves, they rush over to interrogate us?" Mammon chuckled, unsurprised.
"Ming?"
Tapu Koko glared at Mammon and Caitlin, letting out a sharp, low call.
"We captured Tapu Fini and Tapu Lele fair and square—no tricks involved," Mammon said with a cheerful smile.
"Ming…"
Tapu Koko's expression twisted into a very humanlike frown. If they had truly been caught legitimately, there wasn't much it could say.
But still—Fini and Lele were caught. What about Poni Island and Akala Island now?
"Caitlin, let Lele out," Mammon said, noticing Tapu Koko's lingering doubt.
Caitlin nodded and activated the Poké Ball to release Tapu Lele.
But when she pressed the button, the ball didn't open at all.
"…"
Right. Tapu Lele didn't want to come out.
"Lele, come on now," Caitlin said with a polite yet awkward smile toward Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu, speaking softly to the Pokémon in the ball.
"MING!!"
A thick black "#" seemed to appear on Tapu Koko's forehead as it called out, suppressing its anger.
The Poké Ball burst open in a flash of white light, and Tapu Lele adorably appeared in front of Caitlin, waving innocently and cheerfully at Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu.
"Ming?!" Tapu Koko glanced at Caitlin, then questioned Tapu Lele directly.
It wanted to know—did Caitlin really defeat Tapu Lele in battle and catch her properly? Or had she used some underhanded method?
As the three Tapus started chatting among themselves, Mammon stretched with a long yawn.
"Mammon, what are they talking about?" Lillie asked curiously.
"They're probably worried about Lele and Fini. After all, they've been partners protecting Alola together for ages," Mammon replied with a smile.
But Tapu Lele had joined Caitlin of her own free will, fair and square. So there was really nothing to worry about.
The issue lay with Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu. If they were smart, they'd just let it go.
After all, with Lillie present, Mammon didn't want to leave a bad impression—as if he were snatching and coercing Pokémon. He'd be fine letting Tapu Koko and Bulu leave.
He hadn't had much interest in them anyway.
But if Tapu Koko tried to get aggressive and force them to release Fini and Lele, Mammon wouldn't hold back.
Though... it looked like they were starting to argue among themselves?
Mammon tilted his head, puzzled, watching the scene. Sure enough, Tapu Koko and Tapu Lele were having a pretty heated argument, while Tapu Bulu tried to play mediator—but neither Koko nor Lele paid him any attention.
The Tapus were fighting!
"Mammon, what's happening? Why are they suddenly arguing?" Lillie asked, stunned.
Caitlin looked confused too, already considering whether to send out Metagross to support Tapu Lele if things escalated.
"Uhhh… how should I put this…" Mammon's expression turned oddly complicated.
A rough translation of the Tapus' conversation:
"You left with a human—what about Akala Island?"
"I don't know, I was caught, there's nothing I can do. Why don't you watch over Akala for me? Bulu can take care of Poni."
"…" Tapu Bulu.
"That's your island—why should I be the one to cover for you?" Tapu Koko was fuming.
"We've been friends for so many years! What's the harm in watching over it for a hundred years?"
"Are you kidding me? How about your Trainer catches me, releases you, and you take care of Melemele Island for a hundred years?"
"So what do you suggest? I can't just go back on my word. Don't I have any pride? Let me be clear—if you try to force my Trainer, I won't go easy on you."
Tapu Lele huffed with a "what are you gonna do about it?" attitude.
"I'm not working for the next hundred years. If you've got a problem, hit me!"
"Lele, have you no shame?! You're off gallivanting with a human and dumping your work on us?!"
Tapu Koko was so furious its hands were shaking. They were all island guardians, working through storms and sunshine for years without a break.
And now two coworkers just bailed—and for a whole century?! Not only would he not get any vacation time, but now he'd have double the work?
What kind of garbage situation was this?!
"All right, all right, no more fighting. Koko, don't be mad. Sigh… Lele and Fini didn't mean to cause trouble," Tapu Bulu said, sighing as he tried to pull Tapu Koko away.
He was genuinely worried Tapu Koko might explode and attack Lele. Koko's temper had been getting more volatile lately, and it wouldn't be surprising if things got physical.
Better to keep things civil between colleagues.
"I'm just pissed off! Why do they get a vacation?!"
Tapu Koko's heart was full of resentment.
"And how am I worse than Fini or Lele?! Why didn't those two humans come catch me?! Sure, they're prettier—but I'm stronger!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Koko. Let's just go home and sleep," Tapu Bulu said, pulling Koko along, nodding.
And so Tapu Koko and Tapu Bulu left. From now on, they would each have to protect two islands.
Yeah… Tapu Koko felt seriously screwed.
"Diedie~"
With her former colleagues gone, Tapu Lele happily flew down and twirled around Caitlin, then hugged her neck and nuzzled her cheek, letting out a cheerful chime.
Happy~!
"Tapu Lele's so cute!"
Lillie's eyes sparkled. Tapu Lele really was adorable!
It must've been Tapu Koko's fault earlier—he was just too mean and scared Lele!
Yes, that had to be it.
"Maybe it's not such a bad idea to keep Koko and Bulu around," Mammon mused.
He'd overheard the entire argument between Lele and Koko and found it rather amusing.
Besides, Ultra Beasts occasionally showed up in Alola, and having guardians around was still necessary.
Otherwise, if Ultra Beast activity scared people off, it'd hurt Alola's popularity—and that, in turn, would affect Team Rocket.
(End of chapter)