The New Kapu Islands are located on the equator, a site specifically chosen by the relocated residents of the original Kapu Islands.
This is because the island group has four unique islands that are almost identical in position to the original Kapu Islands, all revolving around a central island and distributed in the four cardinal directions: southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest.
When Fu Peiyao and Mu Li arrived on the island, it was already dawn, and the islanders were beginning their work.
The Tapu Guardians concealed themselves and followed behind Mu Li and Fu Peiyao; their most important purpose in coming this time was to observe the new island group and its people.
The old Kapu Islands used to be very lively; due to the presence of the Tapu Guardians, the surrounding villages would hold corresponding events every year and invite the Tapu Guardians to join in the fun.
Except for Tapu Fini, who preferred solitude, the other three Tapu Guardians often went out to interact with the villagers.
Tapu Koko is the Tapu Guardian who controls lightning; he is very curious about everything happening around him and loves to appear in front of people, and he also gets angry easily when he encounters bad incidents where Pokémon or humans are bullied.
However, his temper flares up quickly and subsides just as fast; he adjusts himself very quickly.
Tapu Lele controls natural energy and is known as the embodiment of nature; she has a naive and romantic personality and often appears before humans and Pokémon in distress, and the scales scattered from her body can help humans and Pokémon heal their injuries quickly.
However, although Tapu Lele is innocent, she abhors evil and will severely punish villains who harm the island or nature, and she was even once sought out by Jenny for killing humans who damaged the island and wantonly hunted Pokémon.
In contrast, Tapu Bulu has a much better temper, but his good temper stems from his laziness; Tapu Bulu can control plants to bind enemies and also possesses immense strength, able to wield large trees at will.
His lazy nature always inclines him to avoid battles, but when he truly fights, he is incredibly brave.
As for Tapu Fini, she is the quietest of the four Tapu Guardians; she likes quietness mainly because the dense fog she generates can easily cause accidental harm to humans or Pokémon, but it is also because of this energy that it is said people can meet those they wish to see with Tapu Fini's Helping Hand, so many people brave the danger to meet her, hoping to see deceased loved ones.
In this city, composed of numerous islands, the citizens have erected giant statues of the four Tapu Guardians on four different islands.
This was also one of Mu Li’s group’s objectives; they went directly to Tapu Fini’s statue.
The statue is built inside a park, and interestingly, one side of the park borders the ocean, allowing one to see Tapu Fini’s statue from afar, seemingly gazing at the sea horizon.
There are many people strolling in the park, mostly elderly individuals.
Perhaps seeing Mu Li and Fu Peiyao, two strangers, these elders warmly greeted the two.
Even a white-haired elder stopped and chatted with them.
“Are you here for tourism?” the elder asked.
“We came because of its reputation, specifically to see the four Tapu Guardians,” Mu Li replied.
“To see the Tapu Guardians…” When the Tapu Guardians were mentioned, the elder’s eyes seemed to hold a complex mixture of nostalgia and regret. “It’s a pity, now that you’ve come, you can only see the statues of the Tapu Guardians.”
“Elder, did you move here from the old Kapu Islands?” Mu Li asked curiously.
The elder’s eyes lit up, seemingly surprised: “You’ve heard of the old Kapu Islands?”
Mu Li nodded and said, “I went there before; that was six or seven years ago.”
“At that time…” The elder sighed, “There were hardly any people left on the island, right?”
“Indeed,” Mu Li replied, “When I went, most of the residents had already left, and it was far less lively than the New Kapu Islands.”
“Lively? Perhaps…” the elder mumbled, “But this is still not the original island.”
Mu Li asked curiously, “Why do you say that? Is it because living here isn’t as comfortable as the previous place?”
The elder laughed, “What comfort? We’ve been living here for so many years, we’ve adapted no matter what; the only change is that there are no longer four Tapu Guardians here.”
A hint of nostalgia flashed in the elder’s eyes: “I still remember when we were on the Kapu Islands, every year we would welcome the Tapu Guardians, and seeing them appear on the island would bring peace to our hearts.”
“We don’t know why,” the elder explained, “The public order in this city is very good now, but without the presence of the Tapu Guardians, we always feel like something is missing. If I had to describe it, it might be a sense of belonging.”
“Have you seen the four Tapu Guardian statues?” the elder suddenly asked.
“We only had time to see Tapu Fini’s statue; we haven’t seen the others yet,” Mu Li replied.
The elder smiled, then sighed: “If you go see all four statues, you’ll notice they all face the same direction—that’s the direction of the old Kapu Islands.”
“Why was it designed this way?” Mu Li asked, “Is it to commemorate the four Tapu Guardians?”
“No,” the elder denied, “The reason it was designed this way was because we wanted them to see that we were here, welcoming their arrival. However, so many years have passed, and the original island has already sunk to the bottom of the sea, but we have never seen them.”
Unbeknownst to him, the elder’s eyes began to mist over.
“Perhaps you don’t understand the significance of the Tapu Guardians to us old people,” the elder choked up a little, “We also know how much the four Tapu Guardians loved that island, but the island eventually sank to the bottom of the sea, yet we all hoped that the Tapu Guardians would not sink with that island.”
“This is also the meaning of our re-establishing the New Kapu Islands. In the past, the Tapu Guardians protected us; now we also want to do something for the Tapu Guardians, even if we know that no matter how good this island is, it cannot replace the original Kapu Islands.”
“But the old has passed, and we can only choose to start anew. We also hope that the Tapu Guardians, like us, will let their stories continue to be passed down.”
“But the result, as you can see, is that although the New Kapu Islands have been established, they are far less lively and attractive than the previous Kapu Islands, because the Kapu Islands lack their soul—the four Tapu Guardians.”
By the end, the elder choked up again: “I’m very afraid that after our generation of elders dies, no one will remember them anymore. This island might be abandoned, and the Tapu Guardians will completely disappear from this world.”
The four Tapu Guardians listened silently to the elder’s narration, not making any sound.
For the rest of the time, Mu Li’s group explored the entire New Kapu Islands.
Just as the elder said, all the Tapu Guardian statues faced the same direction, and below the statues was an inscription: “Welcome to the New Kapu Islands.”
They visited the city’s museum, which displayed many items related to the Tapu Guardians, and the islanders also created various Tapu Guardian merchandise; even if these items didn’t sell well, they always occupied the best spots in the shops.
Statues and drawings of the Tapu Guardians were everywhere in the streets and alleys; the entire city seemed to be calling for the arrival of the Tapu Guardians.
Mu Li’s group walked around the Kapu Islands, listening to elders tell children stories of the Tapu Guardians, and listening to children praying to the Tapu Guardians, and also saw some tourists who came because of its reputation, arriving with hope but leaving somewhat disappointed.
Just like that, the sun was about to set, and the sea horizon was dyed orange-red.
Mu Li, Fu Peiyao, and the four Tapu Guardians stood at the end of the pier, looking out at the entire New Kapu Islands.
“We want to try staying here,” Tapu Koko said, “This city seems pretty good.”
“Let’s try it first; if it’s suitable, we’ll stay here permanently,” Tapu Bulu echoed.
“The natural environment here is too poor; it still needs me to protect it,” these were Tapu Lele’s words.
Only Tapu Fini remained silent, simply gazing at Mu Li.
Mu Li smiled and said, “You stay too; this is the most suitable place for you.”
“But if I leave, what about you?” Tapu Fini asked with some concern.
Mu Li smiled, feigning ease: “Don’t worry, I still have everyone around me; they will all protect me well.”
“But you’re so clumsy and not very good at swimming; besides me, you don’t even have a single Water-type Pokémon. Without me, how will you go out to sea? Without me, you can’t even catch fish. Without me, no one will help you create smoke and illusions during performances. Without me…” Tapu Fini couldn’t continue, and large tears streamed from her eyes.
Mu Li felt like crying, but he didn’t want to shed tears at that moment, because he knew that once he cried, Tapu Fini would be even more reluctant to stay.
“It’s okay, isn’t there still Lugia?” Mu Li forced a smile and said, “What’s more, isn’t Magikarp still with me? When he grows up, he can carry me out to sea. Then, I’ll bring him to see you.”
Before Mu Li finished speaking, Golden Magikarp jumped out of its Poké Ball, and Tapu Fini skillfully used a Water Sphere to envelop Magikarp.
Magikarp also seemed to have heard their conversation; he quietly swam to Mu Li’s side and earnestly nodded at Tapu Fini, as if saying, “I’ll take care of things from now on.”
Gardevoir also revealed herself at this moment, saying, “Don’t worry, I will definitely protect A Li and not let any Pokémon or human harm him.”
Tapu Fini smiled and nodded at Gardevoir, then looked at the other three Tapu Guardians, seeming to have made a decision.
A swirl of mist enveloped the entire pier, and a magical power surged from Tapu Fini’s body.
Mu Li had never seen this power before, but he could feel an ancient yet awe-inspiring aura from it.
“This is the power of an ancient deity!” Gardevoir couldn’t help but exclaim.
At the same time, the other three Tapu Guardians exchanged glances, and the same power surged from their bodies.
These four streams of power surged from the four Tapu Guardians, converged in mid-air, and then shot directly towards Golden Magikarp, and a dazzling white light appeared on Magikarp’s body.
