Elio and Lillie traveled through Route 17 on the back of a Mamoswine and took some sights on Anistar City, another city by the sea. Its high light being a pink crystal that also serves as a sun dial. Lillie took a closer look at the sun dial in wonder to how it is connected to the mega stones as Elio used the Rotom Dex to see if the particular cap was on sale.

He found it was and bought a purple knit cap along with blue cuffed jeans while Lillie was lost in thought in anything that might change her style. "...Nothing that matches what I want."

She put some thought in some jeans the Dex showed her until Elio quickly finished his clothes shopping. "The rest of my set is in Snowbella city... anything that caught your interest?"

Lillie snapped out of the thought. "Something I wanted to change into is at Snowbella and Cyllage city... some of them won't be available for the next two days."

Elio listened. "Not stopping you, your going to look great no matter what you pick."

Lillie blushed as she purchased pink ribbon purse. "The set I have planned is going to be used for when we are out in another region."

After a small clothes shopping the duo traveled to Route 17, not much took their interest save for a flowing river and an abandon mine Elio asked the Rotom Dex about the mine. "BZZT Terminus Cave! It use to be a mine until the miners were scared off by a monster! BZZT!"

Elio's eyes widened. "What are we talking about with the monster?"

The Rotom Dex smirked and showed a picture of an quadruped metal creature with blues eyes. "BZZT! Aron the iron armor pokemon. It usually lives deep within mountains. However its hunger may drive it to eat railroad tracks and cars because of that delicious iron! BZZT! It can demolish a dump truck and later eat it! BZZT!"

Elio knew the Dex was joking as it changed to a more larger lizard like creature. "BZZT! Lairon, the iron armor pokemon. It feeds off of iron contained in rocks and water, it makes its nest in mountains where iron is buried. Think this is the pokemon that scared off the miners? BZZT!"

Elio sighed bored. "Doubt it. What of it's final evolution, Aggron?"

The Rotom Dex changed the picture to a much more menacing metalic pokemon, with iron horns on its head, a larger tail and an iron jaw. "BZZT! An alpha may have evolved and kept this as its territory! Since the miners gave up on coming back. BZZT! Aggron the iron armor pokemon. It claims an entire mountain as its own. The more wounds it has, the more it battles. It mercilessly beat up anything that violates its environment and patrols its territory at all time...BZZT! You know boss, if this pokemon is still in the cave, we might do something about this! BZZT!"

Elio began to smile at the thought of catching an Aggron as Lillie worried. The Dex changed the picture to another pokemon, Tyranitar. "BZZT! Or our culprit is this guy! As a Larvitar it is born deep underground. It must eat its way through a mountain of dirt to reach the surface and meet it's parents. BZZT!"

Elio stopped the Rotom Dex. "Judging from the Tyranitar Gladion has, it is a pokemon that is ridiculously powerful, Since both it and Aggron may live in those mines... what is the difference besides typing?"

Lillie answered Elio in even more fear in her voice. "A wild Aggron from what I know, likes to preserve its environment. A wild Tyranitar would not care so long as it finds something to fight! Elio are you sure it's a good idea to go bother this pokemon?"

Elio frowned in acknowledging Lillie's concern. "I should go catch an Aron instead of encouraging an Aggron to chase me out?"

Lillie nodded as she prepared a pokeball. "Lola, you think we should explore this cave?"

The Vaporeon stared and smiled at the sense of adventure, Elio tossed a master ball. "Isaac... you think going in is a good idea?"

The Mew came out and glowed, he smiled as he sent a telepathic message. "Pop's, Mum's... I think there is someone else who might be in this cave."

Lillie wondered. "Who?"

The Mew sighed as he meowed to the Rotom dex to show a green serpent; it's head and back are black and it looked rather strange in comparison to what Lillie had seen; Elio recognized the pokemon. "Zygarde! Legion told me he normally lives in Kalos unless he senses something that might harm the ecosystem. Once I gathered the five cores and all ninty five of his cells he became very grateful that I made him whole. He is a nice guy once you get to know him."

Lillie stared in curiosity. "Okay, we will search the mines... just be careful about looking for that Aggron."

Elio nodded. "It shouldn't be too much of trouble to find a Lairon or Aron."

The duo and their pokemon entered the mines and found it rather barren of wild pokemon; Lillie wondered what happened to the pokemon until she noticed a Lairon going through a burrow. "Are they avoiding us?!"

Elio saw it as well. "Looks like it, lets keep going down the mine and see if..."

He noticed some parts of the cave were blocked by large heavy rocks, he sent out his Bibarel. "Could you move these rocks out of the way?"

The Bibarel sniffed and shoved with all his strength; he was unable to do so. Lillie puffed up her cheeks annoyed. "These pokemon really don't want to get caught."

She wandered off with her Vaporeon and found more rocks in the way, Elio turned around the way he came and found it was blocked before telling Lillie. "It's worse than that, they don't want us to leave!"

Both felt a rumble as they saw a horde of ten Aron; none looked friendly as one approached to growl.

The Rotom Dex translated. "BZZT! What are you doing in Iron Dad's mountain? BZZT!"

Elio answered. "Trying to capture one of you!"

The Aron stood firm as he and the horde roared. "BZZT! You want to do that, you are going to talk to iron dad himself, you want to get to him, you need to go through us! BZZT!"

Elio was prepared to fight as Lillie stopped him. "Let me and Lola handle this."

She ordered her Vaporeon calmly. "Use surf!"

The Vaporeon splashed a surf wave and knocked out six of the ten with ease, the four remaining Aron held on with their sturdy bodies and pelted the Vaporeon with a rock slide. Lillie sighed. "Again."

The surf sent the remaining bunch sliding across the cave wall, the Aron horde was scurrying toward a passage way as Lillie asked the leader. "Could you tell me what this is about?"

The Aron struggled to get himself up and scoffed. "BZZT! Iron Dad took these mines three years ago, he was doing good job even when pushing back a strange rocket that came out of a hole. He became much stronger since that day! BZZT!"

Elio flinched. "That Aggron fought back a Celesteela and became a Totem pokemon?! Lillie we just walked into a trial!"

The Aron smirked as he limped to where his kin were. "BZZT! It seems to be, we clear way; go deeper! BZZT!"

Lillie put together why the blockade. "They blocked the way we came so we don't leave this trial unfinished..."

Elio agreed and prepared to call the Mew back. "Our only shot of getting out of here is to give this Aggron a piece of our mind! Let's get going, Isaac come back! Sharp Scale... I need you out here to deal with this."

A shiny Garchomp emerged from the quick ball and roared as Lillie checked on the blockade; she saw an Aron burp and scurried away. "Let's see what the next part of the trial even is."

Deeper in the mine is even more of a maze, being blockaded by a Lairon.

Lillie stare at Elio silently, he understood. "I'll take these guys on, SHARP SCALE... USE EARTHQUAKE!"

The Garchomp nodded as he slammed to the ground.

BOOM!

The Lairon was knocked out, the trainer duo descended deeper into the maze to find two Lairon blocking; Elio sighed and shouted loudly. "USE EARTHQUAKE TO CLEAR THEM OUT!"

The Garchomp roared and slammed into the ground, causing the two Lairon to be sent flying; one held on with its sturdy body and rushed at the Garchomp with it's iron head, it felt pain from the Garchomp's rough skin and ran whimpering.

Lillie had worry of what the trial is. "Are they going to come after us in double the pokemon?"

Toward the right, they see a passage leading deeper with four Lairon ready to block the way, Elio guessed. "They are using this tactic to hope they will win by sheer numbers, the ones with sturdy take a while to knock out."

Lillie agreed. "Which is why you have a pokemon with surf or earthquake to manage the numbers. Elio silently ordered the Garchomp to use earthquake on the wave of four Lairon, two were knocked out and countered with an iron head, both fled when they felt pain from the rough skin. By the time they found the entry way down, they found a horde of eight Lairon that were beaten by the same tactic.

In the deepest part of the cave, they found two things; a stone in a corner and a rather large Aggron that was glaring at the challengers, he roared. "BZZT! So you actually came this far in! What's this I hear about catching one of my clan! BZZT!"

Elio shouted with his Garchomp at his side. "BECAUSE ARON IS A POKEMON I HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?"

Aggron grunted. "BZZT! My problem?! The last trainer I knew never considered what I am good at. He didn't even know he needed a keystone to mega evolve me and still blamed me! BZZT!"

Elio didn't calm down. "You had a bad trainer, not every one is like that!"

The Aggron kept his stare and snorted at the challenger not backing off. "BZZT! I still want to see if your a trainer who is actually worth letting the little one's run off to. BZZT!"

The Aggron roared as his totem aura flared, his defense and Special defense has sharply increased.

Lillie backed away, called the Vaporeon back and watched. "I know you can beat this pokemon Elio, show him what you are!"

Elio nodded as he ordered his Garchomp. "SHARP SCALE, USE EARTHQUAKE!"

The Garchomp slammed to the ground as the Aggron ate a yellow berry, it glowed as it braced for impact.

BOOM!

The Aggron grunted as he rushed to the Garchomp with an ice punch.

POW!

Super effective!

The Garchomp crashed to the ground from a frigid upper cut, k.o.

Elio called the Garchomp back. "A Shuca berry and an ice punch?! Good work Sharp Scale, BLATTRON LETS TAKE THIS AGGRON DOWN!"

A Genesect with a shock drive leaped out of the net ball and saw the Aggron grunted from a scratched hand.

The Genesect cackled as he downloaded a special attack boost. Elio sighed as he pointed at the Aggron. "Not bad of a strategy. BLATTRON FLASH CANNON!"

The Genesect shot a beam of light from its gun at the Aggron, knocking it back; the Aggron rushed the Genesect into it's horns and smashed into a wall with it's head.

The Genesect struggled to pull itself out, Elio saw the Aggron back away for another ram and ordered. "FINISH IT WITH A TECHNO BLAST!"

The Genesect's shock drive glowed, the gun on its back crackled electricity as the Aggron was rushing in.

BOOM!

A laser shot out and hit the Aggron; dust was scattered as the Genesect pulled out. The Aggron was on it's back and caused a skid mark from being knocked back; it tried to get up and failed.

K.O!

Elio petted the Genesect on a job well done, it was on it's knees shacking as it asked. "Boss... can I lay down?"

Elio prepared the net ball and approached. "Sure, take a good rest in here."

The Genesect tapped ball and let itself as Lillie saw the Aggron get himself up, giving an honorable grunt; Lillie asked. "One of the Aron mentioned you fought against a strange pokemon and was exposed to a hole's energy. Where did you even get the idea for this trial?"

The Aggron roared. "BZZT! Got it after the force of order told me about a far away region that does something like this. Anyone who can beat me has enough of a brain that my kin won't have problems. BZZT!"

Lillie blinked. "Force of order?"

The Aggron nodded. "He is made up of many cells and has five squishy cores that call on them."

Lillie flinched. "Zygarde?!" The Aggron sensed something and tensed up. Lillie and Elio was startled by a strange bark, they turned around to find a green and black dog with it's neck having a core that mixes green, blue, red, yellow and white.

Elio smiled and wave. "It's been a long time Legion!"

The Zygarde approached and licked Elio's face in a greeting, Lillie approached to pet the Zygarde as the boy was laughing. "This looks different from what Rotom showed me."

Elio calmed down and apologized. "There is another form Legion uses for quick travel. This is his 10% form."

The Zygarde barked as the Dex translated. "BZZT! My apologies for Aggron's over protective behavior, the mines were scared off long ago because the miners dug too deep and found me. Since then the mountain had long returned to nature. BZZT!"

Lillie frowned. "That happens, we should be gone from this place as soon as Elio catches something here."

The Aggron grunted, went to the stone on the corner and picked something up; it gave it to Elio, a white mega stone with a grey marking. "BZZT! Your welcome to these mountains at any time and you earned this more than the trainer I knew! BZZT!"

Elio obtained an aggronite as he thought of his schedule. "We have somewhere to be and this was too long of detour. I'll go search for an Aron later when I have time, after that, I'll leave you be. I'll still give my friends a warning about you. Lillie, the next town is Couriway and other than a railway, it has a water fall."

Zygarde barked a question. "BZZT! Where are you actually heading? BZZT!"

Lillie answered. "Snowbelle City. We need to wait there for a couple days and we have more personal reasons to go."

Zygarde nodded and lowered himself down, offering to take the two for a ride. "BZZT! I know a place very close to that city and know a short cut. Elio, you have done much to gather the whole; allow me to repay some of that. BZZT!"

Elio took the offer, placed the Rotom Dex in his bag and extended his hand to Lillie. "You want to take Legion's offer?"

Lillie thought of it while petting the Aggron and agreed as she approached to hold Elio's hand. "We should get going... Aggron, please don't be so over protective. Not every trainer is like the one you had."

The boy and girl got on the Zygarde, it barked a farewell to the Aggron and rushed out at high speeds.

Within an hour.

The Zygarde rushed past mountain ways, across the river until it stopped at a strange place with yellow flowers across the field. The duo got off to find the field inhabited by several pokemon that went to avoid them baring a Snorlax that was sleeping under a make shift tent.

Elio took the Rotom Dex to ask about the place. "This seems rather far away from civilization... Rotom do you know anything about this place?"

The Rotom Dex buzzed and described the place. "BZZT Pokemon Village. This is a place where pokemon come to live for many reasons... the most common is that they gotten away from sorry excuses for trainers that were not nice to them. BZZT!"

Lillie saw an Espurr and Furfrou hide in a tire, she frowned in sorrow. "That is why they ran from us when we came."

Elio agreed. "I hope they have a better life than what they had."

The Zygarde nodded. "BZZT! In the presence of nature, where the ecosystem is in balance, only a few human's ever come here. BZZT!"

This Elio flinched at one idea. "Hey Lillie, there is something very cool Legion can do. You are going to have to fight him though." Lillie wondered. "Are you challenging me to a battle?"

Elio nodded. "One thing, it's going to be a one vs three. You are going to need the advantage." Lillie agreed, Elio took out a green cube. "Okay Legion, are you ready to transform?"

The Zygarde nodded as the cube glowed, Lillie stepped back as she saw it's canine structure collapsed and reform into a serpentine form that towered her. "What form is this?"

Elio answered as the Zygarde slithered to his side. "50% form, it trades speed for more durability. Because he was complete... he has another form that makes this one look small! Are you sure you want to battle?"

Lillie glared in determination as she took out a luxury ball. "That makes me want to see it more. Seraph... lets do this!" She tossed the ball and sent out a Togekiss.

Elio and the Zygarde looked at each other until the trainer ordered. "LEGION USE DRAGON DANCE!"

The Zygarde danced as Lillie ordered. "Seraph use dazzling gleam!" The Togekiss spun and shot dazzling light on the Zygarde for super effective damage; it cringed in pain as it glowed. Many green cells emerged from the crevices and river to go into it's body; it grew and constructed itself into an even larger form. A humanoid giant with four worm like tendrils in it's back. The two tendril's on it's right side has blue stripes, the two tendrils on it's left side have red stripes; its chest look like that of a face.

Elio gave an apologetic frown before he shouted. "HE IS MANY, YOUR TEAM OF THREE WILL FEEL LIKE ONE. NOW THOUSAND ARROWS TO KNOCK THAT TOGEKISS DOWN!"

The Zygarde raised his tendril's into the air and shot many green beams, Lillie ordered the Togekiss. "Seraph, dodge that and use another dazzling gleam!" The Togekiss flew around to avoid the beams and was struck down. She saw the Togekiss spinning down and shining again, the Zygarde braced the damage and shot again.

The Togekiss crashed into the ground and was trying to maneuver.

Pew, pew, pew, boom, boom, boom!

The Togekiss was pelted again for a k.o. Lillie called her back and tossed another ball. "Fridgette, we need one blizzard to end this battle."

A Glaceon emerged and froze the flowers in preparation, Elio ordered. "NOW OUTRAGE!" The Zygarde roared and rushed at the Glaceon, knocking her across the field of flowers for a definite k.o.

Lillie called the Glaceon back and sent out her next pokemon. "Lola, we need to stall for time. Use protect!"

The Vaporeon entered the battle and saw the Zygarde swing again, she protected herself as she saw the intense blow cause the flowers to sway from the force. The Zygarde was dazed and confused, Lillie saw her chance. "Now use ice beam!"

Elio shouted. "LEGION OUTRAGE AGAIN!" The Zygarde was disoriented and rushed at the Vaporeon's direction as she charged up a beam.

SWAT!

The Vaporeon was knocked into the river; a large splash of water trickled, the Vaporeon floated up dazed and knocked out. Lillie cringed as she called the Vaporeon back and saw the Zygarde flaying aimlessly.

Elio used the cube and shouted. "Legion, that is enough... go back to your 10% form and calm down!"

The humanoid form glowed as the cells dispersed, leaving behind a canine that was trying to focus back on what happened.

Elio apologized to Lillie. "Sorry about that, as 100% form Legion is powerful even for a legendary pokemon's level of power."

Lillie understood and frowned sharply. "Elio... you let a pokemon this powerful back home after you helped it?"

Elio answered in a calm frown. "Yes, he has better things to do than be stuck in a ball doing what ever I want."

Lillie raised her finger, wagging it as her frown gotten more tense. "You use that reason for Nebby and the Tapus... you spoil you pokemon way too much. You think your treatment of the Ultra Beast you have is what my brother is trying to tell you?"

Elio sighed. "I tried that, they refused so I keep them safe and hidden."

Lillie still frowned. "I know you treat them very well. I am also aware of the ones that are better off just staying with you due to how dangerous it can be for some of them. With how the Ultra Beast we rescued ended up back in this world again... they might as well have stayed. Could you please talk to the ones that really shouldn't be horded like how you are doing it?"

Elio was having doubt if they would listen and was hesitate to answer until Lillie continued with an assertive tone. "Can you keep having those pokemon safe with happy lives as it repeats? There is nowhere else for them to go besides home and as much as you provide... it isn't home to them." Her eyes widened at an idea as she approached with an idea. "Maybe since they understand you more, you might be able to have them convince the others of their kind to stay put when a wormhole opens up. They would come this world by accident less frequently and we won't have to worry about them getting into danger."

Elio flinched as he listened. "Where did you get that idea?"

Lillie answered in a firm tone and pointed at him with intense staring emerald eyes. "I hear more ridiculous plans every day since I been traveling with you. I thought of this one from how you normally rationalize your plans before doing what ever comes to your mind."

Elio felt the sting as he approached her, he closed his eyes with his lips ready. Lillie realized what she said and stopped him. "It is a plan that wouldn't amount to much and I doubt it would even work."

Elio was shaking nervously and blushed. "It is the best one we have, these guys really need to be back home. Lillie, may I please kiss you and hold on to you; at least treat you like the wise queen you are."

Lillie blushed sharply, licked her lips and kissed Elio in the lips. She felt him about to lean in exhaustion and helped him lay down to the flowers.

Both laid in the field until they broke the kiss. Lillie caresses her boyfriends cheek. "I know you mean well, you don't have to carry so much weight alone."

Elio agreed as he stroked Lillie's pony tail. "Despite how I won with Legion. Your a stronger than I am, don't ever let anyone tell you other wise."

The Zygarde over heard and barked before leaving the two alone. "BZZT. When you need a ride to Snowbelle, let me know! BZZT!"

The duo thought more as they healed their pokemon and looked at the river, Lillie asked. "We should relax a little longer. You mind having a swim?"

Elio thought of it. "After everything... sure." The duo separated to change into swim wear, Elio's was a simple red swim trunk; Lillie's was a blue two piece swim skirt, her hair was down as she looked at her boyfriend in a mellowed smile.

Elio sent out a Bibarel, Genesect and a Garchomp. "Bob, Blattron, Sharp scale... you earned an afternoon off."

Lillie tended to her Togekiss, Vaporeon and Glacion before sending out the Mew. She asked. "Lola, Isaac, Fridgette, Seraph, do you want to swim with us?"

The Bibarel, Genesect, Garchomp, Glacion and Togekiss rested by the flowers as the Vaporeon and Mew answered Lillies question joining the two trainers splashing water together. It lasted for the entire afternoon until Lillie swam closer to Elio and went back to kissing him. They pushed each other toward the water fall, it was tempting them to go deeper in bliss until the Mew meowed loudly and sent a telepathic link. "Pop's, mum's. We know you two had an argument but we need to get going before it gets dark, that and not everyone is sleeping!"

The duo were blushing as they realized most of their pokemon fell asleep or with the Togekiss, was smiling at the romance. They got out of the river, dried themselves up and went back to their usual wear, Lillie readying her hair back to a pony tail as she called the Vaporeon, Togekiss and Glaceon back, she whispered to the Mew. "Thank you, we needed to relax after spending most of our travel in this region chasing that Kartana. We need to get back to the road."

The Mew understood and hugged Lillie before being called back, Elio yawned as he found the Zygarde enjoying the breeze on the field. "Legion, we are ready to get going."

The Zygarde let the trainers on his back and bolted out of the Pokemon Village, the travel to Snowbelle was show as the Zygarde only had to travel a short way.

Elio waved the Zygarde goodbye. "Don't be too much of a stranger Legion, see you again soon!"

The Zygarde barked, broke down into a squishy cell like creature with a multi colored core and slivered into the unknown. Lillie looked in amazement at the sunset in the snow blown city.

The Rotom Dex buzzed. "BZZT! They say the gym to is to thank for some of this. It specializes in ice types. BZZT!"

Lillie agreed as she asked Elio. "Anything you want to do before we go to the pokemon center?"

Elio shook his head. "No but we should spend the next few days clothes shopping. You think we should surprise Hau and Gladion?"

Lillie held his hand. "We should."

The duo traveled to the pokemon center and used a room for the night. Elio had the Clefairy doll in his arms as he wished Lillie a good night; Lillie had the Mew in her arms and was staring at Elio until she had a text from her brother. "Hau and I finished checking out the lost hotel and will be heading to Anister City tomorrow. How are you and Elio doing?"

Lillie texted back. "We made it to Snowbella after taking a detour and meeting a pokemon Elio is friends with."

Gladion asked. "That Zygarde?"

Lillie answered. "Yes, there is more to it than meets the eye. I talked with Elio more about going through with... getting those Ultra Beasts back home."

Gladion texted. "You had to use that Zygarde as an example? He was let back home easily but not with the Ultra Beasts. Elio has to be more assertive with getting it through them... what happened after you told him?"

Lillie looked at Elio sleeping peacefully. "I think he is respecting me even more when I called him out."

Lillie was blushing at Elio until she felt a ring. "Don't celebrate anything just yet, he is the one who has to make that choice and go though with it in the end."

Lillie frowned as she texted. "Elio and I will be in this city for at least two days, take your time traveling and watch out for Terminus Cave."

Gladion texted back. "I know the people in that mine were driven off by Zygarde, that was how it was discovered in the first place. Since then nature took over once again. Stay safe until we can get to town."