Selene’s quest to get her memories back found a new obstacle: the Guardians were aware of her ‘visits’. That meant Tapu Bulu and Tapu Fini, the Guardians of Ula’Ula and Poni Island respectively, probably expected the girl would go after them. Given that possibility, the professor suggested not doing anything for a while. If those Pokémon were on guard, they could prepare a new fight or maybe even hide in a remote place. In that case, the best strategy was lying low for a little while until they lowered their guards. Everybody agreed, especially Selene. Although she felt closer to solve that mystery, she also wanted to relax after the events in Akala Island. Also, now that Haki had evolved, she wanted to share some time having fun with her partner and learn more about her.

Thus, for a couple of weeks, the children from Melemele went back to their usual lives. Going back to school, playing with their Pokémon, hanging out after class, just having fun… Maybe their adventure in Akala was short, but it was so intense that they all had the sensation the last time they did things like that was like a distant memory. Even though Selene kept having those dreams, now showing Tapu Lele clearly, she focused on the moments she was sharing with all her friends. It didn’t matter how hard that quest could be or whether she could find answers or not, she felt an immense happiness every time she was with her friends. She even felt closer to Lillie since they both opened up a bit more. They spent more time talking, with Lillie teaching Selene curiosities about Pokémon while both of them enjoyed other things together like fashion. Mallow and Lana weren’t left behind: the girl also found new ways of bonding with them, whether it was cooking with Mallow or fishing with Lana. Selene was so worried about her memories recently that she had forgotten how much there was to do in Alola and how much fun she could have with her friends.

After those weeks, Selene felt refreshed and with renewed energy to tackle whatever challenge appeared in her road. The professor and all the children prepared for their new destination: Ula’Ula Island. This island was mostly known for two reasons: Malie City, the most popular touristic spot for those looking for a Kantonian experience in the tropical islands, and Mount Hokulani, the highest mountain in the whole region and the only location in the whole region with snow and Ice-type Pokémon. Not everything was pleasant at such a place, since Ula’Ula was also home for Po Town, the headquarters of the mischievous Team Skull. Even with all those attractions and dangerous places, the group had their goal set in their minds: the Ruins of Abundance, home of Tapu Bulu. And the best way to get there was thanks to the help of the Kahuna, a somehow apathetic old man called Nanu. They were all supposed to meet at the port of Malie City, and Selene was curious about this man from the things Kukui had told her. Instead, the person waiting for them at the port was a young girl with purple curly hair tied up in a pigtail on the top of her head and a dark dress made out of remains from different cloths. Her gloomy appearance didn’t match at all with her happy personality, greeting everybody with a wide smile.

“Hi everybody! I’m Acerola”, greeted the young girl. “Nanu asked me to guide you to the ruins. He said something about being busy, but I’m sure he’s just sleeping in his office. Whatever, it’s better this way! I’ll get you there safe and sound, promise”.

Although tempted by the distractions and attractions from the city, the group focused on their quest and departed as soon as they all met. Taking into account the layout of the island, the only way to access the Ruins of Abundance was by following the path that surrounded the mountain and go through a desert that connected directly to the location. However, according to Acerola, there was a shortcut through a forest, but nobody dared to use that route anymore. The girl didn’t say why at first, making everybody worry. It was only when they later arrived to the entrance of such forest that Acerola explained to them:

“This forest is said to be connected to the other side. If you walk deep into the mist, you’ll probably see strange beings. Be careful and remain together, got it?”.

That warning in itself was worrisome, but seeing the girl saying that with calm voice and a smile had an extra chilling effect that made everybody shiver. They try to laugh it off, although with broken voice, but they weren’t sure if that was just a joke or if their lives could actually be in danger. However, as long as everybody remained together, nothing would go wrong… right? With that thought in mind, Selene and the rest walked inside the forest.

In a similar fashion to Akala Island, the group was engulfed by the lush vegetation that barely let any sunlight reach the ground. They didn’t found any beautiful flowers around them, just big bushes and logs that strictly limited the narrow path ahead, almost indiscernible for everybody except Acerola, who seemed to know how to navigate through such an eerie place like if it was her own home. If the road ahead was hard to walk through, the growing mist around them only made the situation worse. The more they progressed, the thicker the white mist turned, and at one point, they could barely see the figures of the rest of the group, filling their hearts with anxiety and worry.

Leading the group was Acerola, acting as the guide, with Kukui immediately behind her to detect any possible danger ahead. Then there was Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, Sophocles and Lillie, leaving Selene right at the end. The girl put all her attention on not losing sight of her friends, making sure she followed the same path as them. She even felt tempted to grab Lillie from a fold of her dress or her bag, but she was embarrassed of doing that, considering it too childish. ‘There’s nothing to worry about’, she thought to herself. There shouldn’t be any dangers in such a place.

Suddenly, Selene heard something behind her, a long distant sound. It wasn’t exactly a roar, but it sounded like something a Pokémon would make. The girl remained in place and looked behind. That sound echoed again, but there was nothing to be seen. Still, the girl felt some kind of presence. Could it be a Pokémon? Could it be Tapu Bulu lurking around? It didn’t matter how hard she sharpened her eyes, she couldn’t see anything at all because of the fog. It had to be her imagination, or so she told herself. The girl turned around to follow her friends until she found herself alone. There was nobody around her at all and the fog was very thick to see anything. She looked around her frantically, her heart beating faster by the second, feeling it harder to breath.

“Hello? Where are you? Mallow! Professor! Lillie!”.

No matter how loudly she screamed their names, nobody answered back. Selene didn’t know what to do. Should she run? But the road was gone as well. Or was it more intelligent to remain in that place and wait to be found? She tried to walk a few steps, although it was hard with her legs trembling out of fear. She sharpened her eyes, trying to distinguish something between the fog, still calling her friends out loud. Then, she finally glimpsed something, a small figure crouched on the ground a few steps away from her. Smiling nervously, she sped up to reach that figure, but the closer she got, the more she knew that was not any of her friends. She began slowing down her pace, her eyes opening widely, when she noticed the figure was indeed just a figure, a gray blurry entity in front of her. It was surely human, there was nothing in it that resembled any Pokémon.

That strange being, that sort of a ghost, remained crouched on the ground. At first Selene was shocked, but at no point she was frightened. Instead, the more she looked at the figure, the sadder she felt. It wasn’t her own sadness though, but the figure’s. There was something that made the figure sad and, although the girl didn’t know what it was, she could understand, as if she had felt that sadness before. However, she couldn’t put her finger on what that could be.

Suddenly, other figures appeared around her. They were also blurry, but they stood up. They walked around or made happy or excited gestures. They were happy. They had that thing in common with the crouched figure, but they were happy instead. As if she could hear them, Selene understood: the crouched figure was sad because they couldn’t show that thing in their heart, that very same thing the other figures could freely express and made them happy. She could understand both that sadness and that happiness, and still, she didn’t know what that thing was. The only thing the girl was sure about was that thing was actually a good thing, but not letting it out was painful.

Then, at the distance, another figure appeared. However, this one was not human. It looked from like a strange cloud or fire, much darker than the other figures. It swayed violently. Selene could feel intense negative emotions coming out from it. Suddenly, other gray figures appeared in front of it, facing it directly, holding their ground. Hatred. Selene knew that black thing was made out of hatred. It hated the figures for… just having that thing and expressing it. Contemplating it from the distance, her eyes glued on the dark being, she muttered:

“Why… why do they hate… us?”.

Selene was so absent-minded that she jumped and screamed the moment something caressed her hand. Looking at her side, she found little Acerola with her usual smile, this time accompanied by a Mimikyu with a bow on its head.

“Found ya! You got us worried, ya know?”, said Acerola jokingly.

The relief of seeing a familiar face was enough for the girl to calm down and sigh. She held her hand on her chest, feeling the fast heartbeats slowing down a bit. Selene looked around them. All the figures and the black thing were gone, leaving as fast as they first appeared. Only Acerola and she remained in the middle of the fog.

“You saw that?”, asked Selene nervously. Although she expected a negative answer, Acerola nodded in agreement. “What was that?”.

Placing her hand in her chin and closing her eyes, Acerola hummed, meditating about the answer. Even if she tried to look serious, Selene thought she was making a cute gesture.

“Well, this forest has mysterious powers. Some say you can see your lost ones, but they didn’t feel like ghosts”, explained Acerola. “I think… the forest was showing you something you experienced in the past. Any clue?”.

“I… I’m not sure. I mean, it felt like… I didn’t know that people, but… at the same time, we were… similar… And there was that being that hated us… But I don’t get it”, explained Selene, trying to order up her messy thoughts.

“Well, whatever that thing was, rest assured: nobody hates you here”, said Acerola to cheer Selene up. Then, she offered her hand and said: “Follow me. Everybody’s waiting for you!”.

Acerola’s words were so comforting that Selene finally felt the last bits of nervousness leaving her body and mind. That young girl was right: that thing didn’t seem to belong to Alola, the place she knew and loved. Without nothing to fear, Selene held the girl’s hand and they walked together among the fog, guided by Mimikyu. After some minutes, the fog began to dissipate, the girl finally distinguishing trees and bushes around them, until they reached an opening, the exit of that strange forest. And right there, her friends and Kukui were waiting with worried faces. That was until the group saw Selene and Acerola coming out between the trees.

“Selene! Are you alright?”, asked Mallow.

“Yeah, you got us worried!”, exclaimed Sophocles.

Selene had never felt as happy as at that moment, seeing the people she loved running towards her. But when she spotted Lillie among the group, she felt the impulse to rush forward and hug her.

“Se- Selene!”.

Lillie exclaimed her friend’s name nervously, her face as red as a Tamato Berry. At that moment, Selene didn’t care if that looked childish. She couldn’t even think at all. She just wanted to stay close to her friend. On her part, Lillie could feel Selene’s arms surrounding her, trembling nervously. She never expected her friend to be that frightened about something, but she knew that was not the moment for inquiring more about that. Instead, Lillie hugged her back, whispering “It’s okay now”. Was she saying that for Selene or for herself? Not that it mattered too much. What mattered was that they were all together again.