The Kahilis turned to walk back down the hill, and Azophi threw one last glance back at Hala as he muttered to his Hariyama before following them. So maybe the Kahuna didn’t approve of them, but he had let them take their pokemon. Azophi could worry about the rest later. Right now they had to… Yeah, they hadn’t really planned this far. Jirachi bless them.

“So… now what?”

“We should go register at the PMC!” Makani said cheerfully. “And I could tell you a little bit about your Popplio if you want.”

Azophi frowned down at the rotund pokemon in their arms. It just smiled goofily back. They thought about putting it down, but they weren’t so sure it could really walk with those big clumsy flippers. “Did you have to take the coolest one, Hau?”

Hau scratched his perfect starter under the chin. “Yes.”

“But it’s a black felid that breathes fire!” They couldn’t help but whine. “I want one!”

“There’s nothing wrong with Popplio.” Easy for him to say! Suddenly Hau’s placid demeanor was kinda infuriating.

“They’re really good!” Makani chimed in, bouncing forward to draw Azophi’s glare away from his brother. “They start learning fairy moves early on.”

“You could have at least left me the owl. That’s an aesthetic I can get behind. This thing looks like a clown.”

“Teapot! You know Rowlet is my favorite pokemon!” The Rowlet nuzzled him again. “Besides, she already knows me.”

Azophi pouted. “Fine…” It was tough to be annoyed with Makani, so they settled for being irritated with the whole situation. “He’s so heavy.”

Hau ignored that completely. “What do you think you’re gonna name him?”

“Oh, I hadn’t really thought about it.” Hadn’t had time more like. “How do most people name their pokemon?”

“Well, there’s lots of different styles.” Makani adjusted his snapback, which had become slightly crooked from his pokemon’s affections. “Some people just go with whatever pops into their heads. Other people have naming themes. Some trainers wait a while and try and pick something that really suits the pokemon. I’ve heard that in some regions, if you’re aiming to be a professional, you pick auspicious or intimidating names.”

Azophi loved Makani, really they did, but that didn’t narrow it down at all. “What are you going to do?”

“I think I’ll stick with Alolan names.”

“And Hau named his Donut.”

“Darn skippy!”

“Is that part of your theme, Sunspot, or is it just the first thing that popped into your head?”

“My naming theme is desserts!”

Azophi gave him their most withering look. “Bless your heart.” Hau smiled even wider if possible. Gods, was this one hard to mock. Of course the Kahilis couldn’t really be blamed for not understanding southern Unovan “politeness” so Azophi had to console themselves with the knowledge that they had a way to call Hau a dumbfuck to his face in front of Makani. “Hmm. I guess I should come up with a theme too. I don’t want to look like a complete rube next to you two. And Ren had a naming theme,” they muttered under their breath. “I could do Unovan literary characters. But I think it might be tempting fate to name a pokemon Gatsby or Holden…”

“What about flowers?” Makani suggested. “You always have flower symbolism in your fics and you lectured me every time I misused them in mine.”

“I just didn’t want you confusing your readers,” They answered as they considered.

“And remember it took us ages just to whittle it down to your top four favorites? We talked about it almost every day for weeks!”

“You don’t think maybe it’s a little overdone?”

“Well, I know you. You aren’t going to pick the obvious ones.”

“True,” Azophi signed. They held out their Popplio to get a better look at it, and it burbled. A bubble came out of its big nose and went back in. “Maybe Oleander cuz your stupid nose is pink. I don’t know if I like the sound of it though.”

“Maybe another common name?” Hau suggested. “Or a genus?”

“Hrm.” That wasn’t half stupid. “What is the genus name again? Uh… Neria? Nerium! Yeah, that’s better.” They held the Popplio at arm's length. “How do you like the sound of that, ya goofy little thing? The Popplio laughed and honked. “Yeah? Good, you’re Nerium now.”

“So what’s the symbolism behind that?” Makani asked with a sly little smile. Damn him.

“Everlasting love,” they muttered, earning them a frankly ridiculous chorus of awws. Their ears burned. “Shut up!”

The Kāhilis just laughed, and Azophi resorted to pouting again for near a minute to show their disapproval. They adjusted Nerium in their arms so that they could look at the Island Challenge amulet instead. Nerium burbled and snuggled against their chest as they pondered it. It was simple, but the shape and colors were striking.

“Man, this Island Charm is really sick. It’ll fit in perfectly with the rest of my omamori…” Then it hit them. “My omamori!”

“Oma-what?” said Hau.

“My charms! I won’t be in Johto when they expire!”

Now Makani was confused too. “Wait, they expire?”

“They’re only good for a year and then you have to take them back and burn them and get another or you get bad luck!” They didn’t have time to explain! This was a disaster! Like their life wasn’t hard enough already! “Giratina dammit! I’m so fucked! This can’t be happening! What am I gonna do?!”

“Just calm down.” Makani looked alarmed but not nearly enough. “Maybe you could burn them here?”

“That’s not how it works! You have to return them to the same temple!” Makani deflated at that, but then Azophi had an idea. “Wait, I could mail them to Johto and have someone return them for me.” They muttered to themselves. “Who can I bribe or blackmail to do it? Toya is too much of a flake… Umi would be great if she wasn’t coked out all the time. Maybe Shizuku? She does owe me, but she wouldn’t understand how important this is…”

The brothers shared a look and Hau uttered a bemused “what?” but Azophi wasn’t really paying them any mind anymore. They were mentally scrolling through their contacts list.

Azophi snapped their fingers. “Kikyō!” They pulled out their phone and called immediately.

“Moshimoshi?” A groggy voice mumbled.

“Higurashi-san! The Lord of the Rainbow claim their reverence!”

“Torikabuto?”

“This is an emergency!”

“Then why are you calling me? Aren’t you on the other side of the planet? I just fell asleep.”

Makani and Hau stood there like stooges, as the rapid-fire Kantogo washed over them without comprehension. So much the better that Azophi could explain their dilemma to Kikyō without further interruptions.

Once she had woken back up and sobered a little, she understood the magnitude of the problem and agreed to help on the condition that Azophi mail her omamori from all the Alolan shrines and any really cute exclusive swag they came across in their travels. That was fair and Azophi ended the call very satisfied with their new arrangement.

“Crisis averted?” Makani queried as they stowed their phone.

“Hai! We may proceed without unpaid debts to ancient gods hanging over us.”

“Good to know,” Hau chuckled.

Azophi found it in their heart to forgive him just this once.