In a peaceful dream about a hut on an island, Gladion stared down at a cozy basket with a protective smile, by his side was a black hair woman with grey eyes that wore an orange Alolan top and white shorts. She had two pig tails and dangled them down at the basket as she rocked it gently, with in the basket were two black hair babies, twins. They showed green eyes that were closing for a blissful sleep, the woman hummed a lullaby to them, one that Gladion was familiar with. When the twins fell asleep, the woman kissed the one on the left. "Rest up Penio, you and your sister are the lights of our world!"
She kissed the baby on the right with as much affection. "You too Epiphany, once you two are big enough, you will get to meet Aunt Lillie. She does nothing but talk about you!"
With them sleeping, Gladion kissed the back of the woman's head and whispered to her ear. "Thank you Selene, to think this is what they are dreaming about."
Selene nodded as Gladion took his turn with keeping the babies comfortable, his children who despite bringing abrupt nights, have brought him nothing but happiness. "When they wanted to come out, they came out! Right on Lillie's birthday... even when staying at home would have been better, you three held on long enough for her to get that party! Here they are now, safe, calm and... give it a couple months, much more active. I... mean to ask you, since that girl has done a lot to help at home, how long do you think you have until you have to go back to work?"
Selene raised three fingers and answered. "Three months from the heavy stuff since my mom said that child birth has really messed up my insides," She felt her large breasts and considered her blessings. "Though, the damage from child birth isn't all bad. We will talk about these once Penio and Epiphany get big."
Gladion rolled his eyes as Selene shook her breasts to tempt, he followed his instincts and had a squeeze, blushing red at what seems to be bigger than what he was use to. "...It's no wonder they are always on those! You missed out on an adventure yesterday, but you said it as much as the others. That Prehistoric Park was an accident just waiting to happen and that girl has done quite a lot."
Selene took a deep breath at the mention of Tammy. "I still can't believe you forgot about that Keystone and... she forgot about it."
Gladion puffed his cheeks and was embarrassed by his carelessness. "We were busy and she done nothing but help you get by your day. Speaking of that Keystone, I... think we gave her an idea of getting something to go with that hairpin. Most Coordinators tend to dress the part and that kimono isn't going to last forever."
Selene guessed the look that would also be fitting. "She dresses up like a pop star, she needs to find a way to keep up because... Pamela did something few people have done, least of all dream of."
Gladion felt the memory shine, though part of him found it a new discovery. "Confirming the existence of an unknown pokemon. Pamela has beaten Tammy at that Grand Festival in Johto, has been her rival over the span of months and now that happened. Of course she would be jealous, but... do we have to bring the knowledge of this pokemon to the Aether Foundation? It is going to get annoying and I would rather put up with these two at there worse."
Selene rolled her eyes and agreed as she focused on the babies. "A couple of babies that do not know any better and only have one way of telling us what is wrong is different from a bunch of grown ups that will have a field day in studying when they know better. Whether we tell them or not doesn't matter when they do find out, the Dex info should be enough so they don't mess around with the unknown! Lillie has Rotom at the moment so you should ask her before you try this. I think you also have a meeting with that Aura Reader to test it to its fullest capabilities so you might as well kill the birds with one stone!"
Gladion accepted the fact and rocked the cradle in peace. "We might as well do that. Thank you!" He felt Selene's arms wrapped around him and saw she was going in for a kiss on the lips, he closed his eyes and awaited the affection as a buzzer rang.
BZZZZZ! He woke up on a bed and by his side was a brown hair woman that turned the alarm off. She opened her blue eyes and rubbed the sand off as an Emolga flew in with a communicator and a phone. "Err! I'm up already! What you got?"
The Emolga showed a message from someone about an important meeting, the woman got up and revealed black under garments. "...Huh! We should talk to Sophocles about a way to track those guys if any are hidden in Alola. Morning Gladion!"
The man forced himself up and found that he was without a shirt as he embraced a new day. "Morning Madison, what happened this time?"
The woman showed Gladion the message from a phone, it was from Elio. "Boss, we got a new pokemon that was uncovered yesterday. Should we tell Miss Wicke about this?"
The man felt a case of deja vu and asked his fiance. "Madison, I know it is your job as a Pokemon Ranger to maintain the peace with nature. Is there something about this pokemon we need to know?"
The Ranger nodded and got up to change out of her garments and into her uniform, not noticing her fiances arousal. "It's magnetic and if what Oak said is true, it attracts those of its kind and evolves into something stronger that can also create metal from nothing. This means everyone is going to be rushing for that discovery."
Gladion agreed and got up, his Silvally woke up from his large dog bed as a Herdier snored peacefully. "Then we should stem the Aether Foundation's craving before they cause problems. I'll see you after this is over!"
Madison got in a uniform with a red vest, a white shirt and black shorts as she flexed. "We are counting on you!" Smooch!
She kissed him on the nose and went out with her Emolga, Pikachu and Genesect, Gladion put on his usual black clothes and had his Silvally's ball ready. "Come, we will train the others for that sandstorm team shortly after this!"
The Synthetic pokemon approached the ball and tapped on the button with his metal beak for a call back, giving the man a clear goal as he left his house on the farm like town of Panolia, he saw Madison having a brief conversation with a brown hair girl in a striking outfit. A white designer top with a green ribbon at the chest, a mostly white bordered flare skirt with a green zig zag strip in the bottom and green, over the knee socks that lead to blue sporty sneakers. Complimenting it was a hair style with a thick, knotted pony tail that dangled down the girls back and on the right side of her hair was a golden pin with a particular stone. The Ranger gave the girl a thumbs up as Gladion recognized who was before him. "Tammy, what are you doing here?"
The Coordinator spun to give the critic a view and posed cutely with a lure ball in hand. "I thought it change up my style for when I finally make that trip to Hoenn! What do you think?"
The man took a deep breath and gave an honest opinion. "You certainly got the style to look the part. It is much more casual compared to that other dress you wore and... it fits you. Those two finally let you have that Keystone?"
Tammy nodded and puffed her cheeks at the town behind her. "And none of these Wimpods want anything to do with Vicky! Dad is heading to Aether Paradise and your suppose to have a scheduled routine with that Porygon?"
Gladion does as he called a pager for Charizard. "The people of Alola are scared of mega evolution. Your going to have to find different ways to master it beyond just practicing, maybe find different ways to make that appea-" He thought of an idea that made Tammy smile. "Mr. Kumu might help, it isn't out there for two pokemon to work together and Vicky looks the part already."
The Charizard landed as Gladion gave his goodbye to Madison. "I'll see you later. Tammy, if Vicky mega evolves and that Oranguru gets creative... it will look like something unlike any other. But... don't practice that in public, not yet!"
Tammy forced the temptation out, placed the lure ball on her belt and called a pager for her own Charizard. "Fine, Smasher needs to be use to a lot of people surrounding him, he is friendly once he gets it through that thick skull of his where he is. I got his moves organized enough; rock slide, earthquake, thunder punch and zen headbutt for when a fighting type user think they are funny! Sheer force leaves a lot to mess around with."
Gladion was about to fly off when he warned her. "Don't practice that wildly and this trip will be over soon! See ya there!" SWOOP!
At a Lab with a code locked box in Aether Paradise.
Elio answered a question from a purple haired woman in a lab coat, a pink turtle neck and glasses that was blushing with him. "Daphne was feisty in my arms while Leon can't get enough of that Skitty's tail. Lillie works harder each day than I have been doing in the past few months! It sounds like you and the others are going to push that Aura Reader to its absolute limit tomorrow night, Miss Wicke. Maybe to spice it up with the other dark pulse user... Crylate has that move to make this game of tag more believable as a life threatening scenario!"
Wicke didn't mind and requested from the Alolan Champ. "Master Gladion's awareness will make this simulation be treated like the real thing if he has to fight Shadow Pokemon in the future. Be here tonight or we will start without you! Now, what pokemon was discovered that we need to know?"
Elio was eager to show Wicke the Dex information, unaware that someone was entering the room. "I hope Gladion doesn't have to do that since even an Ultra Beast at its basic would be preferable to a Shadow Pokemon!"
A familiar man behind him agreed with him. "And I wish I can argue on that! The feeling gets worse when we know those pieces of garbage will prioritize corrupting them into actual evil! Miss Wicke, only share this information when it is needed!"
Elio had the Rotom Dex show Wicke the image of Meltan and Melmetal on the order of Gladion. "BZZT! Meltan, the Hex Nut Pokemon! It melts particles of iron and other metals found in the subsoil, so it can absorb them into its body. BZZT!"
Wicke was taken aback by the imagery and description as Elio gave his description of Meltan's behavior. "Meltan is a mythical pokemon... this would mean any attempt at studying them is going to be put on hold unless someone finds a Meltan to bring it here, which will result in more of them trying to come here."
Wicke written down the information and guessed about Melmetal. "The other one is its evolved form and it is a mystery in how. Unless... it is connected with the many Meltans that are out there."
Gladion found it odd and question the fact. "The two mythical pokemon that are like this are Manaphy and the offspring Phione that can never evolve. How can a mythical pokemon like Meltan become Melmetal?"
The scientist put together the puzzle and pressed a few buttons on the Dex, showing the image of a green and black humanoid with four tendrils on its back. "Could it be like how this legendary pokemon." Blop! "Is many of these with cores controlling them?"
The two men saw the image of two green cells; one looked to have dull eyes, while another had more active eyes and a red core, Elio took the Rotom Dex and switched to a blue, metal arm with a single red eye. "Zygarde is a good example. Another one is Beldum and its whole evolutionary line being fusions. Two Beldum fuse into Metang when they are ready!" The Dex switched to a saucer like pokemon with two metal arms. "Then those two Metang, when they are ready fuse into a Metagross!"
The Rotom showed a spider like robot with an grey x on its face as Gladion found it a possibility. "Meltan absorbs metals into its body... which is metal, maybe they absorb each other and become this. Hmm! Perhaps if we ever have the chance."
He shook his head in refusing an idea of his as Elio advised against the effort. "As far as we know, only one trainer has a Meltan. To become a pokemon like Melmetal, who can create from nothing... it requires a lot of Meltan, taking that girls time, right now, would be a waist."
Gladion blew his disappointment out as Wicke finished writing down her notes. "I will have this information stored at once! You never know when it will be needed!" Both men agreed with her, Gladion appreciated the benefits to having the knowledge present itself. "If someone brings home an odd pokemon that looks like a Meltan, we will know how to take care of it without having to bring it down here. Ms. Wicke, how is the Aura Reader coming?"
The scientist looked at the lock box and reported. "We added some improvements that will be tested tomorrow. How is the Snag Machine? It has been almost a week!"
Gladion answered with an estimate on the machines capabilities. "It still runs and we will bring it back here once it reaches its limit! Mr. Sun, your backyard again?"
Elio didn't mind and opened the door for him. "No one but the residents will know and they understand why Porygon is going through with this. He doesn't seem to mind this as long as we use a pokemon that would be on par with him or less than that. He must like being a challenge."
Gladion found it a possibility and took the offer. "Porygon, by himself, is a weak pokemon and those that are much stronger will give him problems and put him in a fight he would have no chance of winning. He knows this and it is something I won't allow to happen. Perhaps if you ask Sparkums to provide that challenge."
Elio blinked at the mention of that pokemon. "Lillie's Pikachu? I'll ask her if it is okay since he is a Libre and has a fighting move."
Up at the Conservation Deck.
Tammy watched a black Hippowdon grazing as her Rampardos talked with an Aggron. It seemed to be a pleasant conversation until she over heard a man and woman talking. "He is taking those ideas to heart! That is going to be a fine park once it is finished I tell you what!"
"To think that many will be able to witness just what it was like ages ago. But haven't they gone extinct for a reason?"
The girl turned around to find a middle age man with short blonde hair, a straw hat, a white sleeveless shirt, green scarf and green pants enjoying his time with a middle age woman with long blonde hair, wrinkles, a white dress with yellow highlights, black and white leggings and high heels. Tammy was about to say her opinion as the Rampardos roared and charged at the two, knocking them down and brushing up to them in affection, the girl cringed and pushed Smasher off. "Smasher, you don't do that to strangers!" The Rampardos blushed embarrassingly as the girl tried to help the startled couple up. "Sorry Mr. Mohn, sorry Ms. Lusamine. You might have known about that accident that brought that Park to the attention of the authorities."
Mohn was use to being given friendly tackles from larger pokemon and didn't mind as Lusamine helped him up. The Aether President regained balance, looked at the Rampardos and dare not say the reason for his behavior. "Your... bringing him here because in a contest, he would have to manage worse with people. Is this correct miss-" She saw the new look and found it hard to believe that she was talking to the same girl her daughter adopted months ago. Tammy swayed her pony tail and revealed a keystone on a hair pin. "Yep! Smasher is a bit different from other pokemon I had a problem with, but he has quite a bit to show that need to be tuned out."
Lusamine took a deep breath and looked at the child as someone that was growing up. "Compared to a pokemon that is more powerful than you expected, one that is dangerous no matter what you do to tame it or one that is bitter from a history of being betrayed, a Rampardos if I heard correctly is... thick headed, literally."
Tammy puffed her cheeks at the woman and forced a smile. "It doesn't matter how anyone says it! I don't like having my pokemon get insulted like that, even if it is true and you do have a point. Once I shown Smasher who is in charge, he is pretty loyal. I also got plans for my Blastoise and Oranguru, if I'm mega evolving Vicky... she needs a partner and maybe a new gimmick besides spinning."
Mohn guessed what the gimmick was, he has had experience with an Oranguru and they are more intelligent than people. "The Oranguru is going to be a tank commander while Vicky becomes the tank?"
Lusamine had the image envisioned and gasped. "Goodness that would compliment a Mega Blastoise! Instruct right after any of those moves would give the feeling of rapid fire if used at the right time!"
Tammy agreed with the woman as her Rampardos heard an inviting grunt from behind. "Mega launcher helps make aura sphere and dark pulse do more, put that together... pow! How is Libya and Polly doing?"
Lusamine was curious of the later as she saw the Hippowdon talking with the Rampardos. "Libya is doing quite lovely as usual. That Wormadam however, last I checked was napping in the forest exhibit. You didn't came here just to help your Rampardos focus, have you?"
Tammy shook her head and focused on the Rampardos getting along. "Dad and Gladion are busy with something important and will be up here soon."
Mohn heard two men talking to each other, his usually cheerful mode became a hidden frown of regret. "Those two are working on that... project, while you do your own task." Tammy sighed and corrected the man. "It's a bit more than that. A friend of mine found a pokemon that you may have never heard of before. It's called Meltan."
Both adults were unaware of such a name as a cheerful voice said hello. "Alola! If you want to know more, go talk to Wicke!"
The husband and wife turned around to find Elio being wide eyed as usual and Gladion with a sleeping Wormadam in his arms. Gladion saw the Rampardos running out of things to talk about and asked the girl. "We're heading home to finish our routine, are you done here?"
Tammy turned around and saw the Hippowdon satisfied with a simple talk as she called her Rampardos to her. "You look you had a good time Smasher, it is time to go into the ball for now!"
The Rampardos walked to his trainer with a smile and let himself be called into the ultra ball as Gladion gave the sleeping Wormadam to Lusamine with a half smile. "Tomorrow, have Mismagius ready for... that! Elio is going to bring Crylate to make this more interesting."
The woman was about to agree as she and her son cringed at where they were doing it. "...Are you sure the labs is a good idea?"
Gladion was about to say yes when bitter memories caused him to back away from his mother, his half smile became a scowl of contempt at the thought of hiding down at the lab. "...No! Absolutely not!" Mohn thought about another suggestion. "How about... Isle Aphun. That island has a whole maze in the caves!"
The son was quick to agree. "Just... anywhere but that lab! Thank you for the suggestion father. Elio, Tammy, we are done here!"
The Alolan Champ knew what happened and sighed as he agreed to follow. "It was better we find a better place to do this than in a place that might bother you." The two men left for the elevator in a hurry, Tammy gave Lusamine a pitiful glance and followed with them. Leaving the Aether President with a head ache of regret as her husband tried not to say anything, she whispered to him. "Thank you. He... doesn't need to lose that smile!"
At the Champion's House.
Lillie took a light ball away from a Pikachu that was dressed in an orange luchador's outfit, annoying him as she explained what she is doing. "Sparkums, Gladion's Porygon is weak and he needs to put up some fight. You will have this back shortly, I promise!"
The Pikachu sighed as a trio of Charizards landed to drop of an expected trio of trainers, the mother readied herself as Elio found a basket for him to tend to and a Glaceon watching over the contents. "I'll go watch Daphne and Leon, we really need to get this over with!"
Lillie agreed as Tammy felt quiet about what she is to witness and was given a box from Gladion. The woman took a black Snag Machine with blue highlights out of the box and put it on her left arm as she asked her brother. "Shall we begin?"
Gladion nodded and tossed a repeat ball, he doesn't want to recall how many times the Porygon has changed home ball to home ball. "Beta, its time to continue this project!"
Out of the ball came a naive Porygon that said hello to the Pikachu, the Libre crackled his cheeks as foes walked to one end of the yard. "Let this begin!"
Lillie raised her right hand in the air and ordered. "Sparkums, flying press!"
The Pikachu leaped into the air and flipped in a tough style, he dived down and posed for a coming kick right before landing the blow. POW! The Porygon was pressed into the ground as Gladion ordered. "Use recover, we got a surprise for this pokemon particular!"
The Porygon glowed and felt refreshed as the Pikachu flipped a landing and glowed his tail, Lillie nodded and roared. "Now use iron tail!"
Sparkums charged at the virtual pokemon and swung, Porygon backed away for a dodge as Gladion smiled in mischief. "Use conversion! They won't be using flying press again after this!"
The Porygon altered his color to a purple as the Pikachu swung again, striking him back and exposing him as Lillie placed a heal ball into the Snag Machine, charged it and tossed it. "Go Snag Ball!"
A hand emerged from the ball and yanked the Porygon inside, it rolled onto the grassy field and shook. POP!
The Porygon broke out as Gladion pointed at the Pikachu. "Use shadow ball!"
The Porygon hummed and charged a black blob that knocked the Libre across the grass as Lillie charged another heal ball into the machine. "Again!"
The Porygon was astonished by the next hand and was yanked into the ball, the Snag Machine's glow flickered out as the ball landed. Shake...shake...shake... Click!
Another test was conducted and Gladion saw the Snag Machine to lose its light as he picked up the ball. "...Looks like we found the power limit!"
Lillie thought it so as she took the machine off and placed it into the box. "At least this can stop for now. Send it to Miss Wicke and tell her the overall results!"
She hugged her brother to calm his nerves and was hugged back, Elio rocked the cradle and understood what the siblings were feeling. "And once that is done, neither of you will have a reason to go back down there."
The siblings agreed and let go, Gladion took the box and placed it in his bag as a waiting Charizard lowered himself. "I'll also ask in regards to that Aura Reader experiment! I'll see you two tomorrow!"
He placed the Porygon's new ball on his belt and got on the Charizard for a flight to his day. Leaving sister to wonder what happened as she was ready to give the Pikachu his light ball back. "Did you two have a bad day over there?"
Elio sighed and answered. "Lusamine of all people had to bring up it up that using the Aura Reader for a hide and seek game in the labs is a bad idea, because it might bring back bad memories. It doesn't help that he hates every bit of this project besides the end result!"
Lillie figured as Tammy hoped for the best. "He just needs to give Wicke that machine and get out of there."
The mother agreed and was tempted to do something as the sound of babies crying caught her attention. "It takes much more than that, it is rare my brother is ever in such a bad mood."
She saw a duo of hungry babies and wished to take them to the back room for their feeding as Elio thought of how to cheer Gladion up. "We got an hour before lunch and I know how to cheer him up!"
Tammy knew it involved a masalada and offered to go with him. "A masalada and... a show?"
The father snapped his fingers to a great idea as Lillie approved. "Those two would make him feel better, make sure it is a surprise!" The adult and child smiled widely at the idea of Gladion's cheerful face as they followed Lillie into the house, getting ready for another adventure.
At a living room in a country house during an afternoon.
Gladion was laying on a couch with his Silvally, Herdier and Porygon as Madison listened to his story. "That is her fault all that happened and it stinks the things you have to put up with it!"
The man agreed with his fiance as a Pikachu and Emolga snuggled up to him. "That is the worse part, those memories would have came back then instead of much sooner. I get so angry remembering."
Madison rubbed her fiance's twitching wrist in an attempt to calm him down. "And it is going to be a while before you have to go back down there. We should use that time to settle down."
Gladion wanted a normal week, far away from Aether and far away from the growing conflict. Knock! Knock!
The Genesect beeped and went to get it. Creek! "Hello Sir and Madam! Do you have an appointment?"
A bag rustled as a familiar man answered with joy. "I got a dozen pecha and cinnamon masalada for Madison and Gladion. Tammy also has something for the both of you if you want to watch!... It isn't tested, but she sounds like she has an idea!"
Gladion wanted to tell the two to go away and dragged himself out of the couch to humor them. "It isn't like most of her stunts were bad and he gotten the ones we like! Should we?"
Madison didn't find it a harm and lead the way out. "I want to see what Tammy is doing and you need to take your mind off of those hard times! Do you want to see it?"
Gladion does and followed his fiance out, Silvally and the others stayed behind to let the two talk it out. Outside, Elio was sitting at the front porch with the masalada bag and offered the two a seat. "Thank you, the show is going to be short, but it will snap you out of your worries... or smash them to bits!"
Gladion and Madison sat by the man to sandwich him in and watched Tammy observe her environment with an ultra ball on hand. "As long as I aim over there, Smasher shouldn't bother anyone!"
She saw the audience were ready and she sent out her Rampardos. "Thank you for coming, we are happy to be here! Smasher, are you ready?"
The Rampardos roared ready as Tammy stomped the ground. "Charge up a thunder punch and hit the ground to cause an earthquake!"
Smasher's head crackled in electricity, he channeled his fury and slammed his skull onto the ground to cause a rumbling, electrical shock wave that made the audiences hair stand, Tammy spun with her last order. "Now use your tail and spin yourself to fling a rock slide over at that empty lot!"
Smasher sank his tail into the ground and done as ordered, he spun and yanked four large boulders out of the earth and tossed them over. The sheer force created a brutal impact, Gladion felt himself smile as the girl took a bow to tell them she was done. "Thank you! Smasher, we are finished!"
The trio of adults clapped to her as the Rampardos realized the show was done. "Ram?"
Tammy petted him on the back and smiled. "Yes! We done good and with proper timing, that will win the hearts of many!"
Gladion and Madison invited the two to have some masaladas with them, what was lingering trauma was replaced with an optimistic hope for a playful week.
Elio patted Gladion on the back in good will. "Now that your feeling better, anything about that performance you want to speak of?"
The man has a few criticisms, none were harsh or negative. "Due to the nature of those moves, they can only work in short bursts rather than something long and grand. However, that is exactly what an audience would adore if they are looking for something like it. This will take time to master, but not long."
Madison agreed with a nod as Elio admitted to the power. "He also has enough for him to cover his weaknesses to water, steel... and you told me he has zen headbutt for the fighting types. As long as he gets that hit, he will hurt."
Tammy blushed as Gladion offered a spot for her. "We have a dozen of these things, do you and Smasher want some?"
