In a forest that was forever blocked by the trees. Pipi and Janine were alone and ready to begin stealth training. Janine closed her eyes to lighten the mood for the next lesson. "Congratulations on your paper."
Even poison types can be among the friendliest, most affectionate of pokemon if approached with respect and with open arms."
Pipi giggled and tilted her head back and forth at the pleasant day of school. "The other kids are jealous that I have five pokemon already, even if Hachi isn't meant to stay."
She listened to the forest and loved the sight of it. "Ilex Forest is a pretty place mother, do we have to get started now?"
Janine looked at the sights and found it breath taking as she kept herself the stern teacher. "It is an wondrous place and the surroundings are vastly superior to the... home bound territory you are use to. When you come to understand the forest, it would be that of nightmares for the unaware foe!"
The sound of Hoothoots and Noctowls filled the daughters ears as she imagined why. "There is so many places to hide that they won't see you coming until it is too late and even if they do, they have all this to figure out."
She was about to run into the woods as Janine continued to lecture. "Which is why you should make those discoveries. Remember, this forest is home to Weedles, Kakunas and Beedrills, flee if you hear the buzz of the Beedrills and watch where you place your hands. If you get lost, make as much noise as you can and even have Muchi out so I can find you."
She turned around and closed her eyes to initiate the beginning of the lesson. "You have until I count to twenty. One, two!"
Pipi squeaked and dashed into the woods to find the variety of trees to make good cover, she looked behind her to find foot prints and slight damages to the plants from her stomping. There was another advantage her mother has to track her down and she will not make the same mistake she made before. She took two small stones and placed them behind one tree and violently shook a bush a few feet away. By the third tree, she stepped behind it to hide and took off her sandals. She dashed towards a tree on the right and let out a Combee, Zubat and Poipole. "Hachi, go hide near the tree to your left. Komo, sneak around a bush and be very still until you see her. Sutikki, try and hide near my sandals, when she looks there that is when all three of you are be the loudest you can be!"
The trio of pokemon flew to their duties as Pipi waited. With the sound of Caterpies, Pinecos and oddly enough an oinking sound, she laid out her trap. She lost count in how long she waited until she heard a Zubat shrieking wildly and an off balance foot step, Janine was near. The foot steps faded and Pipi knew her mother was in the area, an other worldly giggle caused a variety of hoots and skitters to go wild. The aspiring ninja counted to three and took a sneak around, finding her mother looking frantically and towards a buzzing of a Combee, by the tree where she left her shoes behind. Pipi took the chance and tip toed a dash as her mother looked to be in a moment of panic. Poke!
Janine felt her thigh was given a sharp jab and nearly leaped as she turned around, the daughter whispered in victory. "Tag! Your it mother!"
The mother was breathing heavily and tried to calm herself down as a Combee flew down from the tree, chewing on something as a Zubat was guiding a scolded Poipole to the two humans. Pipi looked up at her mother and feared she done something she shouldn't have. "M...mother, was there something I did wrong?"
Janine tried to regain her ability to speak and shook her head in an attempt to keep her daughter proud. "N..No! You took the lesson to heart and used what you have to distract me."
Pipi looked at her sandals and put them on as she realized the extent of what she done. She felt her hand being held as she rephrased she was taught. "When I come to understand the environment, it becomes a place of nightmares for my target. I did it too well?"
Janine nodded and felt peckish as she lead to a familiar shrine that marked the way. "Not that what you done was incorrect, fear... is a very powerful weapon that comes in many forms. Even the most hardened hearts are left crippled when faced with something that leaves them terrified. It does require you knowing your foe in advance."
Pipi frowned and asked. "I...I was the reason you had that fear?" Janine cringed and answered hastily. "No, no you were not! You are our joy and that will not change, it is just... I thought something happened to you when you were more hidden than I realized."
Pipi felt guilty and looked around the forest. "This is why we didn't think about coming here sooner. At home, you know I am safe if not in an awkward place. Out here where we have wild pokemon, disappearing means a lot more."
The mother knew she was heading to an argument and agreed with her daughter. "And other unsavory things that can be dangerous for anyone. Perhaps... it is time to learn of another way to keep your foes distracted, when you don't the time to find something to exploit, it would be a time to make one!"
Pipi blinked and saw the exit in sight. "Like... a trap? Kind of like what I was doing?"
Janine saw the gate and answered with a malicious smirk. "Except it will be much more deliberate. Think of it like a strategy you learned from school, an infamous one trainers do when they-" Pipi's eyes widened and smiled back with mischief. "Tee hee! Set up toxic spikes and use venoshock or hex! It hurts them and when they are poisoned, there is nothing they can do about it but pray. That is why Acanci is going to be mean when I get that weakness policy," The mother agreed and let her daughter finish the thought. "They get caught and while they get themselves out, I go in to get what I need and get out."
The group found themselves out of the forest and found Goldenrod City in sight, the mother smiled at a good student and watched the Combee enjoying herself. "That will be part of tomorrows lesson before we try this again, making a trap. Do you remember why you caught Hachi?"
Pipi does and was ready to call the tiny bee back. "Hachi, its time you take a trip to that region I told you about! Are you ready to go?"
The Combee looked at her encouraging companions and sighed at the times being at an end as she buzzed in a moody manner and tapped her bottom face on the sports ball, being called back as the girl sighed. "I guess she is."
She pressed a button to deactivate the ball and placed it in her bag. "I will have this, the shiny stone and an envelope in postage. They will be on Alola in a couple days and would be the perfect present for Tammy while Rachael and Pamela are given some lure balls!" The mother watched her daughter look forward to a thankful friend as they approached the city that had snow falling, such a lovely holiday.
On Orre.
Gladion felt himself in control of the motorcycle and drove into a forest. He found a white lab with a poke ball logo at the top. He parked himself and took off his helmet to have a view of the place before he walked in with the box, to his surprise, there were trainers and scientist sleeping. He sent out his Silvally and cautiously approached to find that who ever broke into the H.Q lab was there for something. "We have just ran into trouble once more!"
The Silvally caught a familiar scent and growled suspiciously, he reached for a disk case and was asking the trainer for something. Gladion took out a series of memory disks and asked. "You know what we are going up against?"
The Silvally nodded and stared at a pink disk labeled fairy, Gladion placed it in the synthetic pokemon's cheek. He realized the wording of the incident his mother mentioned and scratched his head as he sneaked in. "...Why would Legion help someone do this?"
The Silvally agreed that it was the most puzzling aspect of the whole mystery and followed towards the elevator. It seemed functional and they went in for a trip to the second floor, where they watched a Glalie blow freeze drying wind at a Kingdra for a k.o. They found a tan black hair woman that looked to be in her forties. She wore a cloak with large black scales, a sleeveless black shirt, dark shorts and grey open toed boots. The strange anklet revealed a keystone as the woman looked to be in an unusual, crouched battle stance as she called the Kingdra back and was in what looked like a crazed smile as she sent out a Tyrantrum that barely fit the room. "Hah! Use stone edge and smash that Glal-"
She felt something tap at her leg, Gladion and Silvally noticed a small pink pokemon that was whispering something, its ears covered holes on its head. A Whismur that muttered. "M...Mum!"
The woman turned around and noticed intruders, she was quick to pick up the Whismur and slowly approach a window. "Good hearing my sweet Aster." She saw the box and licked her lips as the Glalie and a man with red spiky hair, green eyes, a yellow shirt and blue pants approached, the later gave a warning. "This turned around for the worse, call your pokemon back and we can talk about this!"
The woman slowly readied a ball as the Tyrantrum growled stubbornly. "The tower closest to the sky. That is where you will see!"
She called her pokemon back and listened to a crack caused by green specks. SHATTER!
The window was broken open as the woman jumped back. The Silvally charged and saw the woman landed on a black and green canine that was ready to dash toward the south east. Gladion was about to get on his Silvally when the man called him to stop. "Don't, let her go!"
The visitor from Alola turned around at the spiky hair man and asked him. "Michael, why? She is trouble and this is only going to get worse if she isn't stopped!"
Michael took a deep breath and wanted to check on the ones the woman knocked out. "She called herself Zinnia and something is going on that she isn't telling me! I... think she is taking her plans to Realgam Tower. What ever it was, it involves a Snag Machine!"
Gladion's eyes widened as he looked at the box he has. "She mugged someone for an invitation and she broke in for one of those?! That's insane!"
Michael agreed and asked. "Just... follow me so we can take this to the office. I need to make sure everyone is alright. Anything you found out coming here?"
Gladion felt his hands twitching as he took the offer. "Zygarde is helping her for what ever reason. There is a bigger picture that we need to know about. I... need to talk to someone."
In Phenac City
Elio and a Mew were smiling widely at a poster for an upcoming event at the stadium. It showed a magnificent pink Vaporeon performing surf "So that is what they do off season, a Pokemon Contest!"
A gracious, blue ribbon was seen as a prize, the sapphire center, that is like the water that flows in the city, was something he most desired. He and the Mew felt like joyful children and heard a door open from behind him, a feminine voice asked. "Mr. Sun, what have you discovered?"
Elio turned around to find a curious Lusamine and got out of the way to show the poster. "Despite everything, this region normally has something to do. Your finished with the paperwork Ma'am?"
Lusamine took a deep breath and examined the poster for a moment before addressing to the man directly. "I'm not even a quarter of the way and it was far too quite in the Pokemon Center for comfort, thank you for staying close. This is why your acting like children drawn to something shiny?"
The Mew twiddled his tail in disappointment as Elio asked the woman. "It is a contest with two sets of an appeal round and a battle round and I have to use two different sets of pokemon. One of them is going to blow peoples minds. You want to join in the competition and try win the Sapphire Ribbon?"
Lusamine quickly refused. "I haven't had the chance to do that in decades. Just... what are you going to do that would... blow their minds?"
The Mew squinted his eyes at Elio, questioning if it was safe to say it. The man sighed and ordered the Mew. "Isaac, stay here and be the extra set of eyes while I get our extra hand over. It is easier if I show it."
The Mew rolled in the air to meow yes as Elio went to the Pokemon Center. Lusamine heard a voice in her head ask. "You like seeing pokemon dance while performing moves. Right Grams?"
The woman growled in annoyance and let out her Lilligant to prove a point with an in sync dance. "It is something Poppy and I do as a hobby. He does that for these contests?"
The Mew nodded and spun to mimic something, trying in vain until he glowed to share a vision of a white fur moth with fiery orange wings dancing with flames. Lusamine shook it off and had the idea of what the man does. "The fire dances as it burns what it can burn, is he going to bring something like that?"
The Mew tilted his head side to side. "Maybe, you don't really know who Peony is, Pops found him during a job he had to do here a long time ago. He isn't used often."
The Pokemon Center opened to let Elio out, he took out a luxury ball and sent out a poke ball colored Magearna that was in awe at the surrounding city and saw the poster. The man asked the artificial pokemon. "What do you think Aigis? Would you like to be a dance partner with Peony? I have something to say to Lost and Collector when I get the chance."
The Magearna saw the ribbon, clapped her golden hands together and beeped a cheer as a Rotom Dex escaped Elio's bag and translated. "BZZT! That looks so shiny on the picture! BZZT!"
Aigis jumped like a girl and asked her trainer in a beep, her red eyes glowed with her soul heart. "BZZT! Should we talk to Peony? He loves being this kind of show. BZZT!"
Elio took a deep breath and went towards the fountain without a care who was watching. Lusamine saw the man flash a beast ball, it was tossed to the air and revealed a clown like creature with pink and blue arms, its main body had the same stripes with an additional yellow. White feet, white hands and a white frill around its neck gave an otherworldly feel as a white head with pink and blue spots spun around and was bounced off to reveal pink and blue stars at the side, the yellow center blinked to reveal eyes as the creature spun, caught the head and leaped high to perform a mid air cart wheel.
The Alolan Champion saw potential and asked as the Ultra Beast landed. "Peony, could you stay still and listen? We got to take this city by storm."
He pointed to the poster that advertised the contest and asked him. "If you hanged around with Short Neck, Krustinal and some of the others with ribbons, then you might know what this beauty is and how you can earn that!" The creature leaped at the poster to have a closer look as Lusamine glared at Elio. "Mr. Sun, that is a Blacephalon!"
The Alolan Champion gritted his teeth and kept a smile. "He is also a smooth dancer with explosive moves. He has shadow ball, over heat, mind blow and soon, calm mind in exchange for explosion. Aigis really hates having to put up with a pokemon taking itself out and I would rather have Peony give something very lively to contrast to his partner, who is more robotic as she makes a light show with thunder bolt, flash cannon and fleur cannon."
The Blacephalon was in awe at the ribbon's blue cloth and reached to touch it as Aigis held his hand and stopped him with a beep. The Rotom Dex buzzed as Lusamine and her Lilligant backed away, it was hard to believe it. "BZZT! That is just a picture silly! If it even is real, there is only one way to find out. BZZT!"
Peony held the metal hand back and spun his head to the side at Elio, looking for guidance as the man took out a T.M labeled Calm Mind and placed it in a video like device. "Like I said, this is going to be how we are going to steal the show. Your in?" The Blacephalon watched the image of an Abra calming itself, it glowed as the Mew tried to get Elio's attention with a nudge.
The man turned around to ask and noticed Lusamien glaring at him. The Alolan Champ puffed his cheeks and called the Blacephalon back. "We will practice the dance moves later tonight."
The Ultra Beast limped backwards in disappointment and let himself be called back in the ball, Lusamine took a deep breath and smelled a soothing scent from Poppy. "Thank you for calling that thing back! It is obvious that you know what your doing since you and Lillie done these events several times. That is why that girl you adopted inspired down that path?"
Elio wasn't going to tell the woman about where his daughter learned about contest and confessed. "This where she got the idea to get creative from, as I said. Most of this performance is getting the dance right, I can do at my own time when I'm not keeping an eye out."
He thought of getting ready to look the part as the woman lightened her glare. "Indeed, the night time in this city should be perfect to do so."
The Magearna beeped a question that the Rotom Dex hesitated to translate. "BZZT! Eh! BZZT! Aigis, there is the reason why the Boss is stuck here! BZZT!"
Elio agreed and raised a finger to answer. "Orre is one of the most dangerous regions to be in. Lusamine is pretty important, so I have to make sure nothing bad happens to her."
He smelled the air as the woman smiled to a boring day. "I procrastinated long enough and the paper work is only the beginning. Come along Poppy."
The Lilligant held her trainers hand as the woman asked the man. "I don't think anyone is going to disturb the peace out here again, come inside soon Mr. Sun. I wonder, how are you going to have that Mimikyu and that Spiritomb work together?"
Elio shrugged and felt like watching some T.V. "Lost would do anything for me even if her life is at stake and while Collector is a sociopath that is at least loyal to me because he sees a lot of reasons in protecting me. Working together, they can be that of absolute terror, are you really sure you don't want to do this? Even Gladion can pull off some sick moves when given the chance and it might be fun for all three of us."
Lusamine was about to refuse as she thought a joke that would tease the enthusiastic man, she opened her mouth to say it when a rough sounding shout was heard. "Eiulans quis fornicariae! Quem semet redegit, non ad eius gremio canis?"
Elio looked like he had no idea what was said as Lusamine was left frozen with her mouth wide; she, the Mew and Lilligant faced towards the entrance way to find a man with black hair and a slightly grey beard in simple looking brown clothes. He was accompanied by two men that escorted him out of the city. The Rotom Dex translated and flashed an exclamation point as Lusamine ordered Elio. "Mr. Sun, come inside now! Please!"
The Alolan Champion blinked and realized what happened. "They were directing that at me?"
Lusamine nodded and felt what ever humor she had was soured. "If you understood Latin... you would have not let them get away with that. Do you want us to tell you what they said?"
Elio felt his heart racing and nodded. "What ever he said ticked you off?"
Lusamine turned around and opened the door to the Pokemon Center, her tone was unchanging. "I am absolutely livid and you don't deserve that treatment from anyone!"
At the Pokemon H.Q office.
Michael was impressed by the design of the blue and black Snag Machine the Aether Foundation worked on over the past couple months and the function. "This isn't considered finished?!" Gladion shook his head and petted his Silvally with a smile. "Miss Wicke, the Ultra Recon Squad and Colress put significant work into turning that rushed mess into this marvel."
Michael placed his own and another on the table and compared. "And to think that this is a prototype. It was a good thing you didn't come earlier, because Zinnia is after one for something and I fear the worse is coming."
Gladion guessed what and why. "Those same terrorist that attacked regions world wide gotten their hands on something and that woman knows more about what pokemon they have. It is expected to be a Shadow Pokemon and that is their tool to cause terror on Orre specifically?"
Michael feared it to be. "I don't know a whole lot about Zinnia, but she is a dragon type specialist and she was laughing about pokemon from different universes. Like fallers that spent a long time in Ultra Space Wilds, I think those lunatics are going to strike Realgam Towers."
Gladion closed his eyes and asked. "Realgam Towers has an event coming and you wouldn't be able to get those people out of there if you tried?"
Michael wished he was able to and pressed his hands together as he stared at the spare Snag Machine . "That was why that woman took the chance to run when she realized more help was coming. Rather than try and save the day on her own. What ever she is trying to do would stop these terrorist, but it confirms that innocents are going to be in danger. You say Elio is in the region on an important job, should it be asking for too much if he is supplied with the spare machine? We need all the help we can get."
Gladion took the offer without hesitation and found the plan most convenient. "He has a way to conceal that thing if he tries and now I need to find the other Snag Machine user... if he is even in this region!"
Michael knew who Gladion was talking about and had good news for him. "Wes and Rui are back on Orre and they have a pass time they like to do in Phenac City around the holiday season. By now, they are looking at the prize and seeing if it is worth trying to win it! You were using that city as a central hub?"
Gladion watched Michael place the machine in the box and smiled sarcastically. "I am now and those two will have a reason to stay put at the center. Given that they want an explanation to why my mother is in Orre and why Elio seems to be working for her when we all know that will never the case. To think this all started because of business!"
Michael agreed and gave Gladion the box. "Fate can be odd. I'll join up once we get the window repaired."
The two men shook on it, Gladion placed his Snag Machine away and was ready to leave with his Silvally. "Thank you, Elio is going to be in for a surprise in what he got himself into... again! Silvally, do you want to ride in the side car?"
The fairy infused synthetic pokemon barked with excited joy and followed his trainer out to an exciting misadventure!"
At Phenac City's Pokemon Center.
Elio stared at Lusamine with an astonished face, he was silent as his mind was unable to process a translated insult that was so foul, Aigis hid in her dress and the Mew huddled in Elio's bag. Poppy approached and gave Elio a whift of her flower, it was unable to snap him out of his expression as Lusamine written down her paper work. "Mr. Sun... Elio, I don't question your sex life. I know there is only one woman in the entire world that you offered your heart and soul to for."
Elio's eyes twitched as he regained his ability to speak. "Lillie and I have done all sorts of odd things. Sometimes we invite a friend to join in on the fun, its... healthy."
Lusamine didn't wish to know more about the details. "There are many things I would call you right now just from hearing that. A Reckless Stud, would be the absolute worse to call you."
Elio tried to laugh and spit out dry air in an attempt to joke. "Not even that. Ever since Lillie gave birth, the twins are close by because they need spot on attention. Lillie and I would be lucky to have time sleeping together and nothing else."
Lusamine nodded and tried to bring the sense of humor back into the man. "You are lucky that those two angels were the only darlings that resulted from your foolish actions!" She saw Elio blushed and continued. "You work and hands on approach with pokemon has delivered results to the Aether Foundation. Your sense of adventure delivered great knowledge to Alola and the rest of the world. That, is interesting."
The Alolan Champ glared at Lusamine. "We are ending this and I'm getting Lost and Collector out so I can talk to them about that contest!"
The Aether President smiled and focused on her work. "You just proven that those piles of garbage have spewed nothing but! Keep up the good work, my son should be back by the end of the day to keep things from getting boring."
Elio went to the P.C to switch a great ball and a poke ball for a quick ball and a dream ball. "I hope he never finds out about this, the last thing I need is to see him pissed off on the first day."
He let out a Mimikyu that heard water from outside and a Spiritomb with a purple essence and green spirits. The Mimikyu looked up at her trainer to ask something as the Spiritomb sensed a competitive essence of desire, the Alolan Champ sat on a chair and asked the two. "There is something we need to practice on starting tonight, when we don't have anyone getting disturbed by the fact I'm also bring Peony into this. We are not using any moves unless it is needed, but I am thinking of a super natural vibe. What can leave the audience spooked out from overwhelming darkness."
The Mimikyu thought of something as the Spiritomb questioned how it would be done. Elio asked the two. "Collector you are already a bunch of spirits, you wouldn't be in too much danger from hiding under a Mimikyu's cloak. Lost, what say that?"
The Spiritomb hissed at the idea as the Mimikyu extended her tendrils, Collector hesitated and sank into the stone. Lost crawled on top of him and glowed in purple energy, she hovered from the Spiritombs power and her tendrils extended to purple claws. Elio clapped and ordered. "Both of you, use shadow sneak and see how well this can go!"
The duo's shadow expanded all around and caught the Nurse's attention, Lusamine caught a sight in the corner of her eye, shining eyes were seen in the darkness as a wicked green smile formed as many green spirits formed all around the floor and left Poppy nervous. The Rotom Dex spun and took pictures of the scene as the Mew popped his head out of the bag and was spooked, Elio felt a shiver and called a time out. "This is a start, but this isn't the place to continue, stop it right now and get off of each other!" The Spiritomb's energy left the Mimikyu's tendrils, the shadowy imagery receded and the form landed on the ground, Lost got off and watched the Spiritomb pop its head out to smile at a clever plan.
Lusamine refused something written down and was disappointed that such a stunt was to end. "An amusing preview. Keep working on it."
Elio pretended to have ignored the comment and thanked his two pokemon. "Collector, Lost, this is going to be the start of something spooky!"
He called the two back and was unaware of the door opening. "This killed time and got a reaction from even you. That is a good sign of what is to come and this is what I want to ask anyone who watched, what would that become?"
The amused nurse answered with a smile. "A horror show! I wish this contest happens more often, it is different from the usual Colosseum matches around here!"
"Gonzap has a goon that is an expert in this and those sapphires can be worth a pretty amount." Elio turned around to find a tan man with grey hair and yellow eyes, the familiar man wore a blue jacket and had a glove like device on his left arm. By his side was an orange hair woman with blue eyes that wore a blue jacket with pink high lights, she had a purple top and a white shirt as she asked the man. "Should we try to stop them, those ribbons are too pretty for a thug to take apar-" She was the first to notice a familiar man with a Mew in his bag and a Rotom Dex. Elio gave the waved his hands together like a forming rainbow and cheered. "Alola Wes! Alola Rui!"
Wes wondered what the Alolan Champ was doing in Orre when he saw a blonde woman he was familiar with sorting paper work. He glared at the woman and asked Elio. "Give me a reason why I am seeing this?"
The Alolan Champ answered bluntly. "We have an incident with rejected Colosseum prizes and Lusamine came here to personally see something done to soften the damage done to those pokemon. When an Amaura is among those pokemon and got sent all the way to Alola because there isn't any place for her here, then we seen enough. I'm here because it is dangerous around here, where we were not even in this city, a crime happened at around five minutes when we arrived. Gladion is in Orre for his own reasons with... the you know whats and he will meet up with you shortly."
Wes took a deep breath as Rui pitied Elio. "The odd job right before Christmas. Some one has to do it."
Lusamine tried to ignore them as Elio smiled at some remedies. "Gladion had the both of us sign a contract so we don't get at each others throats. I over heard what you said about those ribbons, so it is true about the gem piece?"
Wes smiled and answered. "Yes! Every single one that was won is an actual gem. This became a minor scheme that Team Snagem pulls for a quick buck, if you see a goon that is more silent than the rest. He goes by the name of Urvole and he isn't half bad in that gig!"
Elio gritted his teeth at such an act. "And that is why they want the ribbons? That can't be allowed to happen."
He puffed his cheeks up as Lusamine signed off a small series of sheets, the older duo went to ask the nurse to heal their pokemon as Rui agreed with Elio. "Any pokemon you plan to bring to this? We need someone other than them winning."
The poke ball like machine shifted to reveal a Megearna as Elio answered. "My two duos is Lost and Collector for the initial game of horror, while Peony and Aigis will be for a light show. If you two remember, you know who I am talking about!"
PFFFWH!
The Megearna beeped and saw a tired out Gladion with two boxes and a biker helmet in his hands, he smiled at the convience and broke the monotony. "Just as I hoped! We have more going on in this region than we realize!"
