#lilluna

HALLOWEEN BROWNIES RECIPE

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SNOWBALL COOKIE RECIPE

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“You don’t have to do this if you’re scared”

Lillie shook her head quickly, her hand curling a bit tighter around Solgaleo’s Pokéball.

“No, no. I want to.”

Sure, just the thought of getting close to an Ultra Beast was terrifying to her after what happened with her mother all those long months ago, but things were different now. She was an accomplished trainer with five Kanto badges under her belt, a full team of Pokémon, and more experience than most kids her age had. She’d faced her abusive mother. She’d sat down and had a much-needed talk with her once-estranged older brother. She’d been able to let go of the past enough to accept a new family in the form of Professors Kukui and Burnet. And she’d even had the courage to confess her crush to Luna shortly after returning to Alola. This was the last loose end that needed tying up. If she could just face an Ultra Beast, then maybe she could finally feel completely at peace with everything that had happened to her.

Luna and Wicke were clearly still worried, but they didn’t protest further. The Ultra Beasts had made a lot of progress with accepting their new reality and were almost, dare they say, docile. Besides, there wasn’t much any of the alternate dimension creatures could do in the face of Alola’s legendary Pokémon and resident Champion.

Wicke punched in the code for the conservation area and the elevator began to rise. Soon enough, they were let out into the lush paradise of a floor. It was empty at the moment, but that would soon be remedied as Wicke pulled out a Beast Ball.

One by one, Lillie met the Urtra Beasts. The first was Kartana - she was careful not to touch its sharp little body as she cupped her hands beneath it. Next was Buzzwole, and she couldn’t help giggling at its various show-offy poses. Xurkitree’s wriggling arms were adorably fluid and its static energy made her hair stand on end. Celesteela was huge, but awfully polite and gentle - a far cry from how it had started out, according to Wicke. Guzzlord was one that they had all worried about. It seemed to be constantly hungry. And, as a result of that hunger, constantly grouchy as well. But it thankfully behaved itself and they were able to move on.

Pheromosa came as a shock. It was so easy to see where her mother got the inspiration for her clothes that Lillie had to pause for several long moments and remind herself that this was not her mother. Her mother was dead and gone and this was simply a facet of the woman’s obsession... Unfortunately the quiet self-reassurance did nothing to stop the tears welling in her eyes. But the last thing she expected was for the Ultra Beast to reach out and wipe those tears away.

Luna and Wicke gasped in unison.

“Pheromosa hates touching anything if they don’t have to...!” Wicke explained, her voice quiet in her awe.

A moment passed, and Lillie managed a quivering smile.

“Thank you, Pheromosa.”

The last Ultra Beast was her greatest challenge. Her mother had dressed her up like it. Countless of its species drifted throughout Ultra Space. Lusamine had allowed it to merge with her and attacked them without mercy.

And then it was floating before her, looking just as uncertain and afraid as she felt.

“Nihilego... this is Lillie...” Luna said, speaking slowly in the hopes that it would help ease the tension in the room.

“Lillie... Nihilego.”

Lillie nodded feebly, hands frozen at her sides.

All the memories were rushing back. All the stories she’d heard from Wicke, too - about its potent neurotoxen, about the various effects it had on its hosts, about the leftover damage its kind had done to Guzma’s mind... It was more terrifying to her than she’d expected it to be. And with that terror came guilt and frustration with herself. She was stronger than this...! She’d proven as much! So why was it still so hard...?!

Luna reached out, taking hold of her hand.

“You still don’t have to do this...” she murmured.

“We can stop...”

Lillie wanted to protest. Wanted to say she was fine. But that would be a lie.

She nodded, trying not to cry as Wicke recalled the Ultra Beast.

On the ride back down the elevator shaft, Luna leaned close, planting a tender kiss on her girlfriend’s cheek.

“You did great, Lillie... You should be proud.”

Lillie smiled, a light blush coloring her cheeks.

NO BAKE PUMPKIN PIE RECIPE

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FALL APPETIZERS

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