Sun had been at home when the sky tore apart. He and his mother had sat in the living room, staring out the window as a rift in the sky opened up over Iki Town. Sun had wanted to help, but his mother had whispered, "Sorry, Sun. I don't think you're strong enough to fight that creature all by yourself. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

Sun knew it was true, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

Sun was an obedient boy--- he had sat still in the living room of his house, and hid like a coward as he watched Kahuna Hala battle the beast from the hole in the sky. "You did the right thing," his mother later said. "You would have been in over your head if you fought it."

Still, the guilt kept coming.

It didn't help that three days later the newspapers announced that his sister had saved the world, while Sun had just sat there, on his own Mount Silver. In that moment, Sun felt like his sister has become a childhood idol, while he'd become nothing.

It was kind of disquieting.

-----------------------------------------

Sun went home with a heavy tread and a heavy heart. Hau and Moon were out playing at the Battle Tree, where he couldn't follow. He hadn't completed his Island Challenge yet; the coward that he was, he had given up just before reaching Poni Island. Then he'd gone home, left Moon and his friends alone, and watched from safety as his sister risked her life to save the world.

"I'm home!" Sun called through the half-open door of his house.

He heard a crash from somewhere inside and winced. His mother was still unpacking the last of the moving boxes. He hoped she hadn't dropped anything valuable.

Nervously, Sun entered his house. He made a few steps before collapsing into a kitchen chair. Gladion was visiting Melemele tomorrow. He knew he should be excited, but Gladion wasn't really his friend. He was his sister's friend. A friend of a friend, at best.

Sun sighed, letting his head fall onto the table. He probably wouldn't show up tomorrow when Gladion came. He'd pretend to be sick, and then spend the day practicing his battle skills with his Pokemon in the yard.

He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder; he screamed. "Oh, sorry," said his mother. "I didn't mean to startle you, Sun."

Sun grunted in agreement.

His mother barreled on, regardless of his annoyance. "So, did you tell Moon and Hau that Gladion's coming tomorrow?"

"Yes," Sun muttered into the tabletop. It tasted like wood and varnish. Gross.

"Okay! I'm so excited to meet this boy at last. He seems like such a nice boy!"

"I wouldn't exactly call him 'nice'."

Sun's mother chuckled nervously. "Um... alright. He seems interesting, Sun. I've heard a lot about him from Moon and Hau and they really seem to like him. So... Sun, when are you going to Poni Island to finally complete your Island Challenge?"

Sun groaned. "Never."

"Sun, look at me." Sun buried his face farther into the kitchen table. "Look. At. Me." Sighing, Sun lifted his head and turned to look at his mother. "Sun, you're a good trainer, no matter what you might think. I think you deserve to complete your Island Challenge. I think the next time Moon goes to Poni Island, you should go with her and do the things on that Island you need to. Look at it this way! If you complete your Island Challenge, you'll be able to do multi-battles with Moon at the Battle Tree!"

Sun sighed. He didn't want to do multi-battles at the battle tree with Moon, and watch her beat everyone while he failed. He was jealous--- he'd be the first one to admit it. But as Sun looked at his mother's face, shining with hope and determination for her son to succeed, something inside him changed. The switch that had turned off his dim light was flicked on again. "Fine, Mom," he said at last. "I'll do it."