A/N:
Alola everyone! Welcome to Chapter 25 of Aloha Alola, this chapter is going to be an interlude chapter, taking place in the Aether Paradise. It's a bit longer than I had planned, in fact some of the chapters after this one may tend to be on the longer side. But that's because I usually get carried away and don't notice how much I've written until I look at the page count. Last night I had to split Chapter 28 because It had 54 chapters, but at least I was able to get a chapter out of it and still focus on chapter 30 afterwards.
The next leg of Jack's journey is going to be a little bit different. Everything of course will be explained in Chapter 26 of the story, which will begin the new arc. I've already thought of a name but I'm not going to say it until I actually post it. I want it to be a bit of a surprise, since for the next chapter I'm doing something a lot different than what I had originally planned for the story.
I'm not sure if I will include Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon stuff into the story, as that series was changed a lot more than the originals. It's all up in the air if I'm being honest, so I might just stick to the regular Sun and Moon stuff. I'm also having issues with the placement of this story, I want this story to take place in the anime world, but also for it to take place canonically. So if anything this story takes place after the XY and XYZ arcs of the anime. But also did say that this story would be taking place between I choose you and what is now known as The Power of Us. So I will explain how the plot works as of now.
This story still takes place after XY and XYZ, but Ash decided to go back to Kanto and travel around on his own with his older Pokemon. It leads to the events of I choose You, but of course the events are different. I was honestly debating on having Ash catch Ho-oh since the ending of that movie was kinda bullshit. I want to keep Ash as a strong trainer, so coming off the Kalos League, he decides to go back to challenge the Indigo League, and then the Johto League since he's still the Orange League Champion. So the plot of this story still takes place after X and Y, and I can take all of the liberties I want. As for the movies...let's just say those won't be canon since this is in the I Choose You Pokemon Universe, meaning the anime events happened but the movie events didn't, so new continuity same bullshit. Confused Yet? Because I'm trying not to be. Just...just ignore most of this stuff, the placement of this story doesn't really matter, but it is important to some degree...maybe.
So with this, I leave you with this chapter. Sorry for the authors not being so long, but I thought I would explain a few things about the continuity of this story. Also, I don't mean to bash the Sun and Moon anime, but I just do like it as much as I did XY and XYZ. The art style is still something I'm getting used too, and while I do like the characters, I feel some are being ignored more than others, and the awkward faces are just...hard to digest to be honest. Ash using Z-moves and Lillie are honestly the best part of the anime. At least Edge Lord Gladion isn't as Edgy in the anime. Anyway, see ya!
Pokemon: Aloha Alola
Chapter 25
The Aether Paradise (Interlude)
The Aether Paradise was a lot bigger than Jack had been expecting. The floating white building was at least three stories tall, and half an acre big. It was completely white in color, the top part being covered by solar panels. There were even three large wind turbines coming from the top of the building, blowing moderately fast in the wind. The waster was crystal clear, the Water type Pokemon happily swimming around. He could see several lush green trees being planted around the outer parts of the island, near the railing that overlooked the ocean. Bird Pokemon were flying around the island, Wingull and Pelipper flying in circles, looking for good places to build nests. Jack could see an entire fleet of boats moored to the side of the island, all of them being emblazoned with Aether's symbol. There was a Ferry that traveled to Ula'ula Island, as well as one that went to Akala. All around, Jack could see people and pokemon milling about.
"Welcome young trainers to the Aether Paradise, home of the Aether Foundation. It is here that we bring all of the research gathered around Alola to find ways to save Pokemon. Pokemon that are left behind by trainers, attacked in the wild or abandoned, are brought into our care. We have a natural habitat that is tailored to each Pokemon that may potentially stay here." Faba said, as the boat headed straight toward the hangar.
"It's a lot bigger than I had ever imagined." Cynthia said, stars in her eyes. Jack snapped a picture of the island, just before they went inside.
"It was a very expensive project that took years to complete. The Aether Paradise features state of the art technology. We also have personal chefs for the Pokemon as well as Nurse Joys who run the Pokemon Care Center. There's a hotel here as well for guests who wish to stay the night. Will you be staying as well?"
"Sorry Mr. Faba, we're gonna head out to Ula'ula as soon as we can. My uncle is waiting for us, so we can't really waste a lot of time." Jack said, lowering his camera.
"I understand, you are welcome to comeback at a later date if you wish. Now that you are here, I will give you a tour." Faba said, a smile on his face. The boat pulled up to a dock, which was quickly moored to the pier. Jack looked around, seeing the large metal freight containers, all of them emblazoned with Aether's crest.
"Wow...they're all so neatly stacked." Cynthia noted, carefully stepping off the boat. Jack tapped her shoulder, pointing to the Machamp that were moving the containers.
"Those Machamp there probably stack them up. I'm sure this is all of the supplies they need to stay in operation. It's a lot bigger in here than I expected." he said.
"I see you are all very amazed. As I said before, the Aether Paradise is a place where we take care of pokemon. One floor below us, are our scientists, working around the clock on new Pokeball designs. We wish to have the very best Pokeballs to facilitate the capture of injured Pokemon. It's all for the conservation of Pokemon, if you all follow me, I shall guide you to the first floor." Faba said, gesturing for the three trainers to follow.
The three trainers followed along, taking in the sights around them. Though they only consisted of large metal crates rather than anything interesting. Jack reached into his pocket for Doku's Pokeball, wanting to try something out. With Faba's back to him, he pulled out the minimized ball, pressing the center button. To his surprise, the Pokeball didn't expand, remaining in its minimized form. He pressed the button a few times, but was unable to make it expand.
"My apologies, it seems I forgot to say this. The Pokeball Management System does not function in the Paradise. In order to prevent potential thieves, we jam all incoming signals. That way no Pokemon can be called and used for battle, and no Pokeballs can be used to capture the Pokemon kept here." the man said, causing the boy to stop.
"What if one of the Pokemon goes on rampage? Or someone invades? Do you have trained Pokemon that can battle those invaders?" Jack asked firmly.
"Members of Aether Foundation have special Pokeballs that bypass the jamming signal. For regular trainers however, all Pokeballs are jammed, I do apologize." the man said.
"I guess if it means protecting the Pokemon here, then it's perfectly fine for our Pokeballs not to work. I'm sure nothing is going to happen here anyway, it looks like a safe place." Hau said.
"Yeah, safe." Cynthia added, a bit distraught at being unable to call any of her Pokemon.
The three trainers and Faba slowly approached the triangular shaped elevator. It came down from one of the floors above, coming to a stop before them. Riding on it was a woman, another worker for the Foundation it seemed. She had poofy violet hair, and was wearing a large pair of pink glasses on her face. She was wearing a pink turtle neck sweater, with a white coat over it, which had a keyhole in it, her breasts coming through it, being covered by the sweater. She was wearing a pair of white stockings as well as knee length white leather boots. She bore a look of surprise as she saw Faba and the three Pokemon trainers.
"Oh, excuse me Faba."
"Yes, excuse you! I have a title for a reason, how else am I supposed to be addressed?" the man said firmly, causing the woman to nod.
"Yes, I apologize, Branch Manager Faba."
"Excellent, I must go speak with our President about our efforts in Akala Island. I leave these children in your hands, give them a tour and then have them meet the President." Faba said, stepping onto the elevator.
"I shall handle your request, Branch Manager Faba." the woman said, earning a sneer from the man. He said nothing as the elevator's railing came up, before the elevator moved to the next floor.
"Wow...what a douchebag." Cynthia said, earning a chuckle from Jack and Fay. The woman turned to face the children, a small smile on her face.
"Don't mind him, he's just got a bit of an ego. He makes everyone call him Branch Manager Faba, despite being one of three managers here. Welcome to the Aether Paradise, Jack, Hau and Cynthia. My name is Wicke, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Alola." Hau greeted, a grin on his face.
"How do you know our names?" Jack asked curiously, holding his camera closely to himself. The woman smiled.
"A little Fletchling told me of course! Now, I'm sure Faba explained a bit of what this place stands for. Many of our employees have told us about some young trainers who not only protect Pokemon, but are taking the challenge as well. Come, the entrance is one floor above us, I'm sure you'll enjoy this tour." she said happily. She swiped her ID card, calling the elevator down. The three trainers stepped on the lift, being slowly lifted to the next floor.
"This is the main entrance. As you can see, a great many number of Pokemon and people come to visit us daily. We've seen great many Pokemon, species that aren't even found here in Alola." Wicke said, allowing the three trainers to step onto the entrance lobby.
It was actually quite big, having two large desks at either side of the room. He spotted a Nurse Joy behind one, with a state of the art Healing Machine, as well as an Intensive Care Unit. She was accompanied by a Comfey as well as an Audino, a Pokemon he hadn't even seen in Alola. The other desk seemed to be a souvenir shop of sorts, as he could see tee shirts, mugs and other nick-knacks being sold to the public. Jack took a few pictures, kneeling down next to a Skitty and a Delcatty that belonged to some trainers.
"Um excuse me, do you mind if I take a picture of your Pokemon?" he asked, looking up at the two girls.
"Oh of course dear, take as many as you'd like. We're already pretty used to it." the first girl, a brunette said, a smile on her face. The boy lined the picture up, snapping one of Skitty, who was playing with Delcatty's tail, meowing happily as she pawed it.
"Why's that miss?" Cynthia asked, causing the blue haired girl to look up from her phone.
"We're Coordinators. We're on vacation in Alola, waiting for the circuit to restart for the season. The two of us tied for fourth place in the Sinnoh Grand Festival, and the prize for the top eight was an all expense paid trip to Alola. How could we refuse right?" she asked.
"I agree, I wouldn't be able to resist something like that if I were given the choice." Hau said, petting the Skitty, who purred happily at his touch. Jack snapped a picture of the boy, smiling as he gave the two Pokemon an Oran Berry.
"There you go, thanks a lot for the pictures. I hope you two win the next Grand Festival, oh and if you see a girl named Cerise, be careful. She's a really good Coordinator." he said.
"Cerise? As in Cerise Heartwood? She's back in the circuit?" the brunette asked.
"I can't believe it! I had heard of her going on hiatus for what that bastard Roy did in Kanto. But I wasn't aware she was back, oh this year is going to be amazing! Did you know she was voted most likely to become a Master Top Coordinator? That's a supreme honor, only one Person holds that title, a woman named Johanna Berlitz in Sinnoh!"
"Wow, that is a high honor. That must be some trophy though, I'd be lucky enough to even see that contest." Jack said happily.
"Hey Jack, stop flirting with the pretty girls, we gotta move on." Cynthia called out, flagging the boy. He flushed, giving them both a bow.
"I hope you enjoy Alola, it's a beautiful place. Might I recommend the Hot Springs in Akala Island?"
"Jack!"
"Alright, I'm coming! Alola!" he said, racing back to the elevator.
"I'll say, you have quite a way with people. Not a lot of people would readily agree to have pictures of their Pokemon taken." Wicke said.
"Well I am a Pokemon Photographer. People are usually okay with it, I've only had one person actually say something...that blond kid with the weird Pokemon." Jack said.
"Weird Pokemon? Where was I during this?" Cynthia asked curiously.
"You were there, you know that kid that me and Hau battled in the Battle Royale, what was his name again?" he asked, glancing at Hau who had a finger to his chin.
"Hmm...I think it was Gladion...and the Pokemon he used was one he called Type:Null." he replied. Wicke's eyes widened a bit, having heard this information.
"Oh yeah that kid...you know, he looked oddly familiar. Then there was that thing he said, that he was looking for someone important. Can't believe someone like that is an enforcer for Team Skull though." the blonde girl replied.
"A-anyway, you all must be having fun on your trials. I suppose you guys are around eleven years old right?" Wicke asked.
"I actually turned fourteen not that long ago...Cindy is thirteen and Hau is...actually how old are you, I never asked."
"Twelve, I was helping my tutu all of last year, so I couldn't head out with the other newbies. Besides it was better that I waited, I made awesome friends whom I'm having a wonderful time with!" Hau said happily, earning a giggle from Fay.
"Well said, I'm glad we're all friends too. We've all had quite an adventure so far." she said.
"Oh my, your Gardevoir can speak?"
"It's her special ability. She's able to communicate via Telepathy, she usually has snarky comments for me. But she serves as a Pokemon Translator whenever I wish to take photos of Pokemon." Jack said.
"Not just that, I was Jack's first Pokemon and his number one partner. We've been together since I was a baby Ralts, it's been one heck of a ride...one that's still going." she said.
"Yup!"
"I couldn't wait until I was old enough. I grabbed my things, and headed out when I could. I wanted my own Pokemon so I could be strong enough to beat my tutu. He's way too strong though, but I'm sure one day I'll be able to beat him!" Hau said happily.
"I left on my journey from Celestic Town in Sinnoh. I wanted to go somewhere exciting for my first journey, so I flew here to Alola. I've been with these guys ever since." Cynthia said, earning a nod from Wicke.
"Well, usually trainers travel through their home region, but I guess we're all free to choose. Incidentally, you look very familiar...have we met before?" she asked. Cynthia shook her head.
"No ma'am...this is our first meeting. I get confused for someone else a lot, hehe."
"Hmm...I suppose all children yearn to leave home one day. Then again you aren't just children anymore, you are parents to your Pokemon. Hau, Jack, Cynthia would you like to visit the Conservation Area upstairs?" Wicke asked, earning eager nods from the three.
"Yes of course! I wish to see just what kind of Pokemon are cared for here!" Hau said happily. She nodded, pressing the panel behind her. She typed in a code, the elevator lurching upward. Jack glanced over his shoulder, seeing what looked like a mansion before rising toward the next floor.
"Excuse me, Miss Wicke? Was that a mansion over there?" Jack asked, earning a nod from the woman.
"Indeed, that's where the President lives. She decided it would be best for her to remain on the island at all times. So she commissioned a house for her and her family to live in."
"The President has kids? I wonder what kind of person he is?" Cynthia said, a look of curiosity on her face. Wicke held back a laugh, she had toyed with the idea of telling them the President wasn't a man, but she figured it would be better if they found out for themselves.
Reaching the final floor of the Paradise, the three trainers looked around, eyes widening at what they saw. They saw a large conservation area, which looked more like an indoor forest. Three paths split up from the center, heading into the Conservation Area. Each area was tailor made for each the Pokemon that inhabited it. There were pools of water filled with Water Pokemon, dry areas filled with sand for desert dwellers and even a marshy area for swamp dwellers. Jack walked over to a nearby pen, seeing it was filled with Corsola.
"Oh wow, look at these cute Corsola! I've never seen so many in one place like this." he said, snapping a few pictures of the Pokemon within.
"These Pokemon are our priority here in Aether. As you might know, Marenie and its evolution Toxapex like to eat the coral that grows from Corsola. Often times they will consume these Pokemon entirely. So in order to save them, the President made it her top priority to save as many as she could." Wicke said.
"Um...wouldn't taking large amounts of Corsola from the Alolan Oceans mess with the balance of nature? I mean what if the Marenie start dying because they cant find Corsola?" Cynthia asked curiously.
"Well, it's thought by some...that those Pokemon are more of a pest than anything else." Wicke said, a frown on her face.
"Marenie aren't pests. I have one of my own, and I may be terrified of Poison types, but I wouldn't call her a pest. They eat Corsola, yeah it's messed up but that's the circle of life. It's nature, and there's nothing we can do about it. Taking out the Corsola will just make Marenie starve to death until they die en masse. Then what will you do? Save them and throw these Corsola back?" Jack asked curiously.
"Yes, the President knows this as well. We're currently working on a way to feed the local population of Marenie with the coral bits that the Corsola here shed. That way they won't prey on them too much, but we've had zero success." the woman replied.
"Well, it this place isn't much different than the Safari Zones in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh." Cynthia said.
"I'm not too fond of the Safari Zones either. They transfer Pokemon from various regions, taking them out of their homes and dump them in a new place. Not just that, the Safari Zone prevents you from attacking with your Pokemon but instead gives you Pokeballs, Bait and Rocks. That's just egging on an attack." Jack said.
"It isn't that bad Cousin! I'm sure the Pokemon there don't mind it much." Hau said.
"You won't be saying that when a Rhydon drives its spinning horn right up your..."
"Alright, enough of that. As you can see, this place is a paradise for all Pokemon. We save Pokemon from Team Skull here, and provide protection to certain types of Pokemon as well. Which is why the use of Pokeballs is strictly prohibited."
"I suppose so, but nature does have it's cruel side. My tutu is always saying that, but he also told me it gives us blessings. Can Aether really protect all of the Pokemon that're our there?" Hau asked curiously, earning a confident nod from Wicke.
"Yes of course. I agree with what you said, nature does have its own balance. I'm not sure if we as humans have the right to judge what Pokemon do, but we can at least protect as many as we can." she replied.
"That is admirable, the Aether Foundation sounds like an awesome place!"
"I agree with Cindy, but what drove you guys to open a branch here in Alola of all places?" Jack asked curiously. He grabbed a hold of Star, who was trying to jump into a nearby Grass type Pokemon pen, having seen Bounsweet, other Steenee and even a Tsareena.
"I haven't the foggiest. It's hard to know what our President is thinking sometimes. If you'd like to meet the President, they're around here somewhere. Feel free to explore all that you want, you are welcome here any time." Wicke said happily.
"Okay, how about we take a look around? We can see some Pokemon we haven't seen yet." Jack said.
"Sure cousin, let's go talk a walk. I want to see more of this awesome place." Hau said, picking a path at random. Jack and Cynthia followed suit, with Fay and Star following close behind.
"This seems like a really legitimate place, the Pokemon look happy here." Cynthia said, earning a nod from Jack.
"You're right...but I can't shake the feeling that something is off here. Lillie wouldn't have ran out of here is this place was truly heaven. Despite it being called a paradise, it might just be smoke and mirrors." the young trainer said, hold his camera tightly in his hands.
"Calm down Jack. You're worry is sky rocketing, just take a deep breath and relax. The last thing we need is you passing out here, I wouldn't let you live it down." Fay said, a smirk on her face.
"Pfft, you'd probably be happy. Then you'd have photo evidence of me passing out like a sissy. That's something I don't want on film." Jack replied.
They took the time to look at some of the habitats. Jack managed to get some good pictures in, especially of the Alolan Variants that seemed to be living there. There was an icy area filled with Alolan Sandshrew and Sandslash. He had thought the Sandshrew were little igloos until one of them started moving. Cynthia had almost jumped into the pen to pick one up since it was in her words, "Totally Adorable". The claws on the Sandslash made Jack swallow hard. They looked like sharpened curved Ice axes, and he didn't want to know how sharp they were. They saw some Alolan Meowth and Persian, along with some Alolan Geodude who were arm wrestling with each other, the tops of their heads sparking with electrical energy.
"I didn't think Geodude were electric types here, that's so sick." Cynthia said, watching on in awe.
"Yup, I heard there's a Power Plant on Ula'ula Island that's maintained by Alolan Golem and Magneton. It's a natural habitat for electric type Pokemon as well, but it's normally off limits to trainers." Hau said, disappointment on his voice.
"They just don't want us normies getting in the way. There might be a shiny Golem in there some where. The king of the hill, the one that no one can defeat, the uncaptured electric god." Jack said, an ominous tone in his voice.
"Well...I wouldn't doubt seeing a Shiny Golem in there somewhere. Aside from Hibiki's Dedenne and Cynthia's Eevee, I've never seen a wild Shiny Pokemon."
"Jack did, he saw a Shiny Zubat in Ten Carat Hill but someone ended up scaring it." Fay said, glancing at Cynthia who looked away from the Embrace Pokemon, a flush on her cheeks. Jack was about to say something when a small explosion rocked the area. He broke into a sprint, without hesitation, heading toward the place that had rising smoke inside.
Reaching the railing, he noticed he had arrived at another habitat. This one was filled with fire types. He saw three large Arcanine, along with several Growlithe inside. He saw some Ninetails and Vulpix as well as some other fire types. Upon closer inspection however, he noticed a small bundle of white fur, laying on the dirt, covered in dust and soot. His eyes widened a bit in shock.
"That's...an Alolan Vulpix." he said.
"What? But Alolan Vulpix are Ice types, what's it doing in the Fire type habitat?" Cynthia asked.
"Some idiot probably put it with the other Vulpix thinking they were practically the same. It happens a lot here in Alola, more often than you think." Hau said, a frown on his face.
Jack saw the Vulpix pushing itself to its feet, looking around in fear as it was surrounded by the other Growlithe, who were growling at it. It scurried toward the fire type Vulpix, but one of the Ninetails stood before it, glaring at it in an attempt to scare it off. It was obvious to Jack what was going on, the Alolan Vulpix wasn't being accepted by the other Vulpix, so the Ninetails was pushing it away. The Growlithe wanted to attack it, because it was threatening its territory. The fact that no one had noticed this was something else that angered the boy. He unclipped his camera from his nylon strap, handing it to Hau as he vaulted over the railing.
"Whoa, Jack what are you doing?" Cynthia cried out, falling on deaf ears. Just before the Growlithe were to attack, Jack stood before them, holding his hands out.
"Hey, didn't anyone ever tell you not to attack other Pokemon? Shame on you! This is supposed to be a paradise for all of you, not a battlefield." he snapped angrily.
"Grow Grow Growlithe."
"Oh can it fire breath, you and your buddies think your so cool for picking on an Ice type. No that was not a pun, don't start laughing Magmar, I see you!" the boy said, glaring at the fire type who quickly shut up. Jack knelt down, picking the Vulpix up from the ground, walking toward the railing. He looked down at it, giving it a smile.
"Hey, don't be scared, I got you out of there and you don't look hurt. You could use a bath though." he said. The Vulpix licked his cheek happily, settling into his arms. He easily jumped over the rail, just as some members of Aether and Wicke showed up.
"What happened to that Vulpix?" Wicke asked, shocked at the condition of the Pokemon.
"Some idiot put this Alolan Vulpix in a pen filled with Fire types. Fire types are strong against Ice types, if I could figure out who did it, I'd freeze their nuts and smash them with a hammer." Jack snapped angrily.
"What if they are a woman?" Hau asked. Jack turned to him, giving him a smirk.
"Use your imagination."
"We apologize young man...we've been getting a lot of new recruits. Perhaps they assumed since it was a Vulpix, it would be okay to be put with its fire type counter parts. If you allow use, we'll take it to its proper habitat." a man said, reaching for the Pokemon, only for Jack to turn away from him.
"No, I'd like to speak with your President, I have some words for them." he said firmly. Wicke nodded, taking the lead.
"Right this way please." she replied, leading them down the path. Jack remained silent, holding the Vulpix in his arms. It reminded him a lot about Snowball, Lillie's Vulpix. It reminded him of how lovingly she treated the ice type, seeing this one with mattered fur and covered in dirt angered him.
They finally reached the back of the Conservation area, where a woman was, speaking to some members of Aether. She had long blonde hair that seemed to fall down her back like a curtain, almost reaching the floor. She wore a sleeveless white dress, the skirt fading into a bright yellow. She wore a pair of tight fitting leggings, which were black and white in color. She wore a pair of matching heels, which had no visible strap to them. She was rather beautiful, having slightly sunkissed skin with bright yellow-green eyes. Jack noticed the odd diamond shape pin attached to the dress, which was a dark emerald green in color. This woman was no doubt the President, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity in her.
"Miss Lusamine, we have some guests here that would like to speak with you." Wicke said, causing the woman to look up at her. She dismissed the employees she was speaking with, looking over to the trainers. Her eyes widened a bit when she saw the Vulpix in Jack's arms.
"Oh my, what happened to that poor Pokemon?" she asked, a look of shock on her face.
"Well, it seems one of your rookie employees put this little one in a literal fire pit. It was being attacked by Growlithe, and the other Vulpix were ignoring it. I thought this place was meant to protect pokemon, no one was doing anything. There were employees all around us, but no one did anything." Jack snapped at the woman, an angered look on his face.
"My apologies, it's been quite hectic here for awhile. We've been sending out a lot of our more experienced employees. That leaves us with no choice but to recruit new people, and some of them aren't well read on Pokemon yet. If you allow me, I'll see to it that this little one is healed, bathed and fed." she said, reaching for the Vulpix.
"Vuulpix Vuul!" the Pokemon cried, burying its face in Jack's arms. Fay placed a hand on the small bundle of fur, a frown on her face.
"It seems she doesn't want to go with you. She said the Aether Foundation took her away from her home. That she wondered outside of her den in a blizzard and lost her way, and that she wants to see her mother."
"Oh...poor thing, how long ago was that?" Cynthia asked curiously, making sure her voice was soft and soothing. The Vulpix looked up, letting out a small cry.
"About six months now, apparently she's been all over the Alola Region. Being poked and prodded by different people researching Alolan Variations and how Climate makes Pokemon adapt to new areas." Fay responded, looking disappointed.
"Well...this little one must have been lost for awhile. I'm sure she comes from Mt. Lanakila...that's where Alolan Sandshrew and Alolan Vulpix live. But its been months, I'm not sure her mother will still be there." Hau said, sounding a bit dejected.
"It doesn't matter, I'll take her there. It's clear she doesn't want to be here." the boy said.
"I apologize young Jack. We cannot allow you to do that, it would be better if our employees took care of it."
"It's alright Wicke, I believe this young man can take this Pokemon back home safe and sound. Jack right? That must be short for Jackson I presume?" the blonde woman said, earning a nod from the boy.
"Yeah, but I dropped the last three letters of my name. It reminds me of a person who ruined my mother's life. So please, just call me Jack, it's nice to meet you Miss Lusamine." he said. The woman, Lusamine, gave him a smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too. I've heard quite a lot about you, and your Gardevoir. Members of Aether who stayed around Alola spotted you on your travels. They said you were a kind hearted trainer, not just that, they spoke quite well of each and everyone of you." Lusamine said, giving Cynthia and Hau a smile.
"Aw shucks...we're not that special." Hau said, a flush on his face. His smile was ever present however, betraying his statement.
"We're just traveling trainers, enjoying our travels through this beautiful region. We're bound to go everywhere, especially now that Jack and Hau completed their Grand Trial on Akala Island." Cynthia said.
"Hmm...all the more reason for Jack here to take care of this Vulpix. It's clear that she doesn't want to be here, Pokemon that cannot adapt, are released to the wild in time. If she wishes to see her mother, then I believe you should take her home. However, with the current construction on Mt. Lanakila, the mountain is inaccessible, you won't be able to head up there at the moment." Lusamine said firmly.
"Construction?" Jack asked curiously.
"I'd rather not spoil anything, something special is being built there. I'd like to formally welcome you to our private island. I'm happy to see travelers like you, who wish to learn more about Pokemon. But there are also those who harm and sell Pokemon for profit. For those that are harmed, I will take in and shower them with love. Even Pokemon from distant worlds and other regions deserve to be loved and have a home."
"Wow, I don't know how you do it Miss Lusamine. You aren't that much older than us, and here you are doing so many awesome things." Hau said, earning a genuine laugh from the woman.
"Oh you sweet boy! I'm already over 40!"
"What?!" Cynthia cried, jaw dropping at what she had heard. Jack gave the woman a closer look, brows raising a bit.
"Gotta admit, for someone over 40, you don't look a day over 24. you are very beautiful Miss Lusamine, you actually remind me of someone. A close friend of mine." he said.
"Aw, aren't you sweet Little Jack. I'm glad I remind you of your friends. The right style does wonders, your style is a little lacking though. I'll have to take you three out and buy you the perfect outfits!" she said happily.
"What...like what you are wearing? I don't think I can pull the look off...maybe Lillie could." Hau exclaimed.
"Pfft, I could pull off those leggings. My legs would look so sexy in them, but I'm not putting on the dress. Maybe the heels, not the dress." Jack said.
"I think you'd look quite fetching in a skirt Jack...you might be able to pull of the good old switcheroo." Fay said.
"Hur durr durr...absolutely not! While I would be totally cute as a girl, I love being me, nobody else. Still I do agree with Hau, I doubt anyone but Lillie could pull the look off." he replied. Lusamine's expression changed when she heard the name. She shook her head, adopting a firm stance.
"Worry not children, I'm sure you'd all look absolutely smashing in whatever I selected. Good children listen to adults after all...perhaps some suits for the gentlemen and a beautiful ballgown for the lady. Oh, this gives me so many ideas!" the woman exclaimed. All three trainers swallowed hard, not wanting to experience the hell Lusamine would probably put them through.
The area suddenly shook, causing the entire island to move slightly. The Vulpix in Jack's hands let out a small frightened squeal, climbing over his shoulder and into his backpack, which he had forgotten to zip up. The tremor settled down, causing everyone to look down aimlessly.
"That tremor, could it have come from the lower floors?" Wicke asked curiously.
"You uh...you aren't hiding a Deoxys in here or something right?" Cynthia asked curiously, earning a chuckle from Lusamine.
"Being able to see a Deoxys is a privilege, owning one would be an honor. Sadly we don't have one." she replied. Jack glanced around briefly, seeing the area before them literally crack. A swirling portal appeared in mid air, thick white lines pulsed as the portal widened in size. Cynthia backed away from it, hitting the railing behind her.
"No way...that looks...just like the portal that..." she remained silent after that. From the portal emerged a creature, one that had never been seen by anyone.
Jack swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes wide as he looked at the creature. To him it looked almost like a jellyfish. It's skin was almost clear white, with white star like markings all over its body. Long tentacle like appendages fell down around it, looking almost like hair. Fay snapped several pictures of the creature, having turned the flash off to get a more detailed picture. Star was too stunned to react, her hands shaking as she held onto her own camera.
"What in Arceus's name is that?" Hau cried in shock. It was most likely the same question everyone else was asking themselves.
"Did...you come from another world?" Lusamine asked, a saddened look on her face.
"Brr-brr-brr!" the creature cried. Its voice was high pitched, making those around them cringe from its sound. Lusamine shook her head.
"Oh, you poor creature."
"Step back Miss Lusamine, that thing isn't right!" Hau said, trying to protect the woman. The creature started moving forward, only for Jack and Fay to stand before the woman.
"You aren't getting any farther! I don't know who you are, I don't know what you want...but we aren't letting you attack anyone here!"
"BRR-BRR-BRR!" the creature howled, a crimson aura swirling around it. Jack narrowed his eyes, trying to see what it would do.
"Okay, I don't have the Pokedex to help me this time. But this thing has to have a weakness...but what is it? It looks like a Pokemon...is it a Pokemon?" he thought to himself.
"Watch out, it's going to attack!" Cynthia cried, causing Jack to snap out of his stupor. Fay jumped out of the way, avoiding the violet ooze that had been launched at her.
"Venoshock?" Hau asked, glancing closely at the poison.
"Of course! It had to be a freaking poison type...ugh, quick Fay, use Psychic!"
"Garde!" she cried, holding her arms out. The unknown creature howled in pain, as a light bluish pink energy started to compress it. It growled angrily, launching another Venoshock at Fay, who easily avoided it.
"You gotta watch out Fay. That poison hits you and you could get seriously hurt." her trainer said. She gave him a nod, her eyes narrowing at the creature.
"Might I recommend giving me a boost in power?" she asked, glancing back at Jack. He smirked, giving her a nod.
"You got it, Fay it's time to Mega Evolve!" he cried, pulling his camera strap from around his face, having activated his Keystone. He held it up, watching the golden tendrils of light erupt from it. Fay's stone glowed brightly, four blue beams of light connecting with Jack's. Within seconds, she was in her Mega Form, the glowing Symbol of energy briefly flashing before her. Lusamine's eyes drifted over to the young trainer and his pokemon, looking rather impressed with his skill.
"Alright Fay, hit it with Shadow Ball!" he called out. Fay flashed forward, forming several balls of shadowy energy around herself. She launched them forward, striking the creature with ease.
It let out a screech, zooming forward with great speed, hoping to ram into Fay. She moved out of the way, launching a Moonblast its back. It quickly whirled around, attacking Fay with another Venoshock.
"It seems like Venoshock is the only move it can use. That aura that flared up, it looks just like the one the Totem Pokemon undergo during the trials." Cynthia said, earning a curious look from Hau.
"You know, now that you mention it...it does look similar." he said, taking note of the glowing red light. They watched as Fay kept attacking, each Shadow Ball doing more and more damage to it then before. She held her arms above her head, forming another Moonblast which she tossed at the top of its head. The ball exploded, causing the creature to screech in pain.
"Nice Job Fay, get ready for containment. I'm sure my Aunt Burnet will want to study this thing." he said, earning a nod from Fay. She was about to launch one final Shadow Ball at it, the creature started to disappear. It flashed in an out of existence before finally disappearing from sight. Fay looked around for a few moments, holding the Moonblast in her palms before finally letting it fade away.
"It...got away?" Cynthia asked.
"The wormhole is gone...it must have went back to where ever it came from." Hau noted. Lusamine remained still, focused on the spot where the creature had appeared.
"So...it seems I still need that Pokemon. I need to get it back, I need to see that creature again." she muttered.
"Huh? Miss Lusamine, did you say something?" Hau asked, earning a small smile from the woman.
"It's nothing Dear Hau...it's been quite an unusual day hasn't it? I certainly wasn't expecting an Ultra Beast to show up here, that's for certain." she said.
"Ultra Beast? Is that what that thing was?" Jack asked curiously. Lusamine nodded, glancing back at where the beast had appeared.
"They're creatures that live in another dimension, in a world of their own. That's the first I've seen though, there's a lot more research to be done." she said excitedly.
"I believe this has been an interesting experience for all of you. I'm quite glad the three of you came to visit today." Wicke said happily.
"Yeah, it certainly has been an interesting day for us." Cynthia added, still a bit shook up from the Ultra Wormhole appearing before them.
"Come, I shall explain a few more details about Ultra Beasts. I think you all should know about these beasts, in case you run into them again." Lusamine said, leading the three trainers away from the center of the Conservation area.
xxx
Jack and the others had reached the elevator. Lusamine had explained a great many things to them about the Ultra Beasts, including their behaviors. They were all theories of course, but now that she had seen a real one, she would begin studying them. The woman grew more and more excited as she spoke. She stopped once they reached the elevator, a smile on her face.
"Thanks for coming here today children, I hope you've had an eye opening experience. I also sincerely hope you understand what we do here and aid us in the future. All I want is to nurture and protect injured and abandoned Pokemon." she said.
"No problem...we'd love to help out, especially if it comes down to Pokemon." Cynthia said happily. Lusamine nodded, turning to Wicke.
"These trainers are still in the middle of their island challenge. Would you see to it that they're delivered to the next island?"
"Yes of course! I've already arranged for a luxury ferry to take them to Malie City." the woman said happily.
"Hey wait...what happened to that Vulpix? I thought you were gonna take it back with you." Cynthia asked, causing Jack to grab his bag straps.
"She jumped in my backpack when that Ultra Beast appeared. She's probably still in there, scared to death. I plan to give her a bath when I get to Malie City. She deserves it after being bullied by those Growlithe." he said, opening the bag. Vulpix stuck her head out of the bag, tilting her head in confusion.
"Vul?"
"It's alright little one, that beast is gone. We're leaving Aether right now, bound for Ula'ula Island. It might be awhile until we can reach Mt. Lanakila, but I will take you how. Until then, what do you say? Would you like to join my team?" he asked.
"Vul!" she cried happily, shifting around in his bag.
The Ice Fox suddenly yelped, shivering in shock as her body started to glow. She ended up jumping out of the bag, her body growing in size. Her legs became longer and thinner, her neck grew longer, her snout rounding out a bit. The tuft of fur on its head grew longer, forming an almost snowy tail that flowed down. The six bushy tails grew longer, three more growing in its place, turning almost into a flowing snow pile. She expelled the last of the energy, looking around in confusion.
"Nine?"
"Um...did you know she was close to evolution?" Hau asked.
"Hau dear, Alolan Vulpix evolve when exposed to an Ice Stone." Lusamine replied, making Jack's eyes widen in shock. He dug his hand into the pack, rummaging around for a few seconds, before finding a still glowing Ice Stone.
"Whoops...I probably should have put that in a box or something." he said. He knelt down to the newly evolved Ninetails, placing a hand on her snout.
"I'm sorry...I'm sure you didn't want to evolve right? It doesn't matter...I'm sure we'll find your mother on Mt. Lanakila. She'll be happy to see you, even if you aren't her little Vulpix anymore." he said.
"Nine!" she cried happily, giving the boy a lick on the cheek, making him shiver from the cold.
"The boat is going to leave soon, let's go. You won't be able to capture Ninetails here until you leave Aether." Wicke said, earning a nod from the trainers.
"Thank you Lusamine, for allowing us to come here. Don't worry, I'll bring Ninetails home." Jack said, earning a nod from the woman.
"In your hands I leave her homecoming. You children are welcome here anytime, in fact I encourage you to come back soon." she said, giving them a wave as the elevator started moving downward.
Once in the hangar, Wicke guided them toward the Ferry, which was preparing to leave for Ula'ula Island. People were already boarding, everyone abuzz from the Aether Paradise, their travels and the Pokemon they had seen. Hau was among them, walking happily toward the boat, hands behind his head.
"You know, I never once thought I would see an Ultra Wormhole in my life. We should tell Professor Burnet right away!"
"One step ahead of you Hau. I already transferred the pictures to my Pokedex and sent them her way. She's gonna freak when she sees them!" Jack exclaimed, rapidly tapping on his Pokedex screen.
"Hmm...I wouldn't call what happened today an accident, I am glad that you told her. She is the leading expert in Dimensional Research, so she might be able to help us achieve an end. Regardless, I wish you luck on your future trials. Before you go, I have some parting gifts for you. Some Big Malasadas for you Hau, someone told me you like them a lot." Wicke said, handing the boy a bag filled with his favorite pastry.
"No way, thank you so much Miss Wicke!" the boy said happily.
"For Cynthia, I've got some Max Revives. I hope these become useful on your journey sweetheart. You never know when you might need them." the woman said, handing Cynthia six Max Revives. They were tan, diamond shaped reviving items, capable of fully reviving and healing a fainted Pokemon. She smiled, gratefully accepting them.
"Finally for Jack, I have a gift that comes straight from Miss Lusamine herself. She was saving these for someone, but that person isn't with us anymore, so she has no further use for them. It's a set of Pokeballs made by the famous Pokeball Maker of Azalea Town, in the Johto Region. She bought them thinking they could help the one that left, she hopes you'll put them to use." Wicke said, handing the small box of Pokeballs to Jack, who looked at them in awe.
"Wow...this is amazing, I've never seen the whole set before. I only have the Friend Ball that Fay was captured in. But seeing all of these...it's surreal. They're so well made too." he said, placing a hand on the glass case over the Pokeballs.
"Um...what makes these Pokeballs special?" Hau asked curiously.
"Well, before the modernized Pokeballs, the only capture devices that existed were made by hand. They used to have this twist top cap at the top, that you would have to twist in order to release your Pokemon. As technology improved, people designed better devices. A man named Kurt, who lives in Johto, started growing Apricorns, a fruit that grows all over Johto. He would hollow them out, place the device in, and he'd have a Pokeball. Depending on the colored Apricorn, you'd get a different Pokeball. Like the blue ones, you'd get Lure Balls, which make Pokemon captured by fishing rod easier to catch." he said.
"Not just that, the Love Balls are used to catch Pokemon of the opposite gender to yours. Friend Balls make Pokemon friendlier toward their trainer, Heavy Balls capture heavy Pokemon with ease. Moon Balls are used to catch Pokemon that evolve with a Moon Stone, Level Balls make Pokemon easier to train, and Speed Balls are used for agile Pokemon. They use a special mechanism that hones in a Pokemon's heat signature, and will follow it where ever it goes. It's really interesting stuff." Cynthia added, earning a nod from the boy.
"Yes, they are amazing devices, which is why Miss Lusamine decided to pass them to you. Now hurry along, before the boat leaves. I hope to see you again real soon, Alola!" Wicke said happily, sending the three trainers off.
"Alola!"
They quickly headed inside the Ferry, finding three empty seats near the back. All around, people and Pokemon could be seen, wearing shirts with Aether's symbol on it. They were talking about their experience in the Paradise, and some that were present, were speaking about the Ultra Beast they had witnessed. Fay and Star sat across from Hau, Cynthia and Jack, lost in conversation about the experience. Ninetails remained sitting on the floor, next to Jack. She placed her head in his lap, looking up at the trainer.
"What's wrong Ninetails? Are you sad about evolving? If so then I'm sorry...I truly didn't mean for that to happen." Jack said.
"Ninetails nine." she replied, shaking her head.
"She said she's alright with her evolving. She's just a bit melancholic...she's been in Aether for awhile. Yet now that she's able to leave, she won't be able to head immediately home." Fay explained, earning a nod from the boy.
"Wonder what they're building in Mt. Lanakila that all foot traffic is halted? Ah...it doesn't matter. My heart's still kinda racing you know? Ultra Beasts are real, and so are Ultra Wormholes, the world is just so big you know?" the olive haired boy said, earning a nod from Jack.
"Yes...I at least know what was responsible for bringing me here. It was one of those Ultra Beasts. I bet you there was one near Mt. Coronet back in my Sinnoh, and I ended up falling through that hole all the way here. Perhaps if I get close to one, I might be able to get home." Cynthia said, a longing tone in her voice.
"I dunno Cynthia...I know you want to go home, but those things are dangerous. We should let my Aunt investigate before we do something drastic like capturing them. You never know what might happen." Jack said, earning a sigh from the girl.
"I know...you're absolutely right."
"Ah don't be sad...we're finally heading to Ula'ula! We should all be happy. We're gonna have lots of new adventures...and if we're gonna keep exploring, we might as well do it with full energy. It's Malasada time!" Hau said happily, handing Cynthia and Jack one of the pastries from his paper bag. He gave one to Fay and Star, who both gave him cries of thanks. The final two were for himself and Ninetails, who sniffed the pastry curiously.
"Thanks Hau, I'll buy you a bakers dozen when we reach Malie City...I owe you after all." Jack said.
"You don't owe me anything cousin! We're friends, besides Malasadas taste better when you share them with friends!" he said happily, taking a bite from it. He groaned happily, the powdered sugar covering his lips.
"These are awesome...they're made with Pecha Berries!" he said. Cynthia and Jack shared a look, both digging into their Malasadas.
"You're right, these are amazing!"
"They definitely are!" Jack said, a grin on his face. The Ferry finally took off heading straight toward Ula'ula Island, barely visible in the distance.
"Hey, we're away from the Aether Paradise. I think you should capture Ninetails now." Cynthia said, having finished her Malasada.
"You're right. Hang on a second, I gotta transfer a Pokemon back to the lab." he said. He reached for his Pokedex, hitting a few buttons on the screen. He initiated the transfer, causing Doku's Pokeball to fly out of his hand, disappearing into thin air.
"Whoa...I didn't know you could do that." Hau said.
"Technology here is so advanced. Back in my world, you needed to head to a Pokemon Center to do it manually." Cynthia said, earning a smile from Jack.
"Yup, thanks to the world wide Pokemon Storage System, Pokeballs are able to sync into the transfer signal. They'll be whisked away to your regional laboratory. Which is why you should be careful when capturing more than six Pokemon. Especially you Cindy, if the Professor Rowan of this world gets your Pokemon, then I'm sure he'd want to ask some questions."
"That wouldn't be good...I'll have to talk to Professor Kukui so that my Pokemon go to his lab instead." she said.
"Well you're in luck...we can take care of that in Malie City. Now come on Jack, capture Ninetails already! I wanna see what Pokeball you'll capture her in!" Hau said. The boy rolled his eyes, opening the set that Wicke had given him. He looked at each one for a moment, noticing something among them. He reached for the Pokeball at the end of the box, in the final compartment, pressing the center button.
"Oh my Arceus...this is...a Luxury Ball. These Pokeballs are the best of the best, and are said to give the Pokemon inside the most luxurious experience. They retail for like, a thousand Poke dollars."
"A t-t-thousand?" Hau stuttered, looking at the black, and gold Pokeball in the boy's grasp.
"There's only one...so that means it's a special ball, a special Pokeball for a special Pokemon. I think it was destiny." Jack said, a smile on his face.
"Or...and this is a big or...maybe its just a regular old Luxury Ball in a set of Pokeballs, that someone bought for someone else." Fay said, earning a glare from Jack.
"Way to ruin the moment Fay!" Cynthia exclaimed, earning an eye roll from the Pokemon. Jack placed a hand on Ninetails's snout, a heartwarming smile on his face.
"I'm not sure how long it'll be, but I will get you home. Until then you'll be a part of my family, is that alright with you...Crystal?"
"Nine?" the icy fox cried, tilting her head. She blinked a few times, giving him a nod. He tapped the Pokeball to her nose, calling her into the device. It gave little resistance, snapping shut a second after.
"Man...what a way to leave Akala huh? I wonder if our journey through Ula'ula will be the same?" Hau said, a grin on his face.
"It will, and it'll be even more awesome than our trip through Akala. I'm sure of it, I dunno why but I feel like we're about to go on a big adventure!" Cynthia said, an equally big smile on her face.
"I'm sure of it. It'll be our greatest journey yet, I already have my Ula'ula Island album ready. Get ready Malie City, because we're coming straight for ya!" Jack said, holding his hand high into the air.
With their trip to Akala finally over, Jack and his friends were moving onto their next adventure. Little did they know, it would be one of their greatest ones yet. The winds had begun blowing for them, carrying their promise of a new tomorrow.
Current Pokemon:
Jack:
Fay (Gardevoir) Female: Held Item: Gardevoirite: Known Moves: Moonblast, Psychic, Thunderbolt, Shadow Ball
Artemis (Primarina) Female: Known Moves: Sparkling Aria, Acrobatics, Bubblebeam, Aqua Jet
Melody (Meloetta)Female: Known Moves: Unknown
Star (Steenee) Female: Known Moves: Payback, Fairy Wind, Solar Beam, Magical Leaf
Ruffy (Dusk Lycanroc) Male: Known Moves: Rock Throw, Stone Edge, Accelerock, Dig
Crystal (Alolan Ninetails) Female: Known Moves: Aurora Veil, Ice Beam, Zen Headbutt, Moonblast, Dazzling Gleam
(Z-Cystals)
Z-Move: Breakneck Blitz: Normalium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Gigavolt Havoc: Electrium Z (Status: Destroyed)
Z-Move: All Out Pummeling: Fightinium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Supersonic Skystrike: Flyinium Z(Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Hydro Vortex: Waterium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Splintered Stormshards: Lycanium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Inferno Overdrive: Firium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Bloom Doom: Grassium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Continental Crush: Rockium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Guardian of Alola: Tapunium Z (Status: In Use)
Cynthia:
Gabite: (No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Dragon Rage, Sandstorm, Dragon Claw, Dig
Shellos (West Sea)(No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Mud Slap, Water Gun
Eevee (No Nickname)(Shiny)Male, Known Moves: Swift, Dig, Tackle, Helping Hand
Comfey (No Nickname)Female: Known Moves: Draining Kiss, Magical Leaf, Synthesis, Flower Shield
Shuppet (No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Night Shade, Shadow Ball, Lick, Shadow Sneak
(Z-Crystals)
Z-Move: Devastating Drake: Dragonium Z (Status: In Use)
Z-Move: Bloom Doom: Grassium Z (Status: Unused)
Lillie:
Nebby (Cosmog)Genderless(Prefers Female Pronouns)Known Moves: Splash
Snowball: (Alolan Vulpix)Female: Known Moves: Roar, Icy Wind, Confuse Ray, Ice Shard
Fletchling: (No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Flame Charge, Tackle, Wing Attack, Peck
Wimpod: (No Nickname) Male: Known Moves: Struggle Bug, Spikes, Metal Claw
Hau:
Pikachu: (No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, Iron Tail, Sweet Kiss
Torracat: (No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Flame Charge, Flamethrower, Shadow Claw, Acrobatics
Leafeon: (No Nickname)Male: Known Moves: Magical Leaf, Energy Ball, Swift Quick Attack
(Z-Crystals)
Z-Move: Breakneck Blitz: Normalium Z (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Hydro Vortex: Waterium Z: (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Inferno Overdrive: Firium Z: (Status: In Use)
Z-Move: Bloom Doom: Grassium-Z: (Status: Unused)
Z-Move: Continental Crush: Rockium Z: (Status: Unused)