During an otherwise average morning in Aether Paradise, Elio and Heidi were organizing a series of files and reports on any Aether Stations that are located around the world. Hoenn and Kalos are stuck in a constant cycle of maintaining the damage between Seviper and Zangoose, a small partnership in Kanto for the care of the pokemon stored in the P.C that to Elio. "This helps these pokemon out a lot, but it isn't what we are looking for."

He found Sinnoh to be particularly interesting in how a similar establishment formed where the pal park was in addition to a research station regarding Sinnoh's legendary pokemon that also assist with maintaining the Great Marsh, Heidi whistled in her mind and found the reports to be repetitive but a message that all is well with the world, she found a report from Orre to be annoying. "We have small time poachers sneak in with equipment to try and steal those Grimers, when will they get the idea that those pokemon are there so we can keep the species alive, not make a Safari Zone of them?"

Elio had no clue and clicked to find any reports from Johto. "No idea, it is Team Snagem doing... business and due to a deal I made a nearly a decade ago, I am to leave them alone. Besides them, Orre seems about as quiet as the others, I am going to give a recommendation that Aether puts in more people to that region, due to the Grimer theft being a repeated case."

Heidi hoped so and read about Johto with Elio, nothing too out of the ordinary save for generic poachers. Elio read it and analyzed. "Okay this might explain why someone would be worried about Johto. A report on the frequent amount of poachers that tend to use fighting types to wrangle Miltanks in the area," He found more reports on pokemon trafficking that Heidi found alarming as she read how it would drive into extremes. "There isn't much stopping these poachers unless a trainer is on the marker to stop them. Some guy named Morton was sent to Johto years ago and has a small station near Cianwood City and has been studying about why certain pokemon in the region are incredibly rare."

She blinked and asked her working partner. "If it helps these pokemon without messing nature up, I don't got anything to complain about. You think this is what the boss needs to know about?"

Elio think it is so. "If this guy has a Swoobat, then he is definitely the cause of that Miltank. Do we have a report on her kind being a repeated case?"

Heidi had a chart on the population of certain pokemon. "This started up a couple years ago, Miltanks in that region became more common along with Marill, Dunsparce and a few others. The guy isn't a jerk and the latest report says that he is about done in Johto, would any of us be worried if the end results help these pokemon?"

Elio found the last piece of information and hummed. "...Not really, he does what a lot of trainers that are into breeding pokemon for tournaments would do. The problem is how even a small change can alter an eco system and how the more extreme egg moves can make a pokemon more dangerous for the environment. Like any pokemon that has acid spray bred into them can kill a lot of plants."

He took out Rotom Dex and asked. "You know anything specific on Swoobat that might give us a clue on how a Miltank with those genes MIGHT behave differently?"

The Rotom Dex showed a picture of a blue bat and buzzed. "BZZT! Swoobat, the courting pokemon, a psychic and flying type! Anyone who comes into contact with the ultrasonic waves emitted by a courting male experiences a positive mood shift. BZZT! Their pre evolution evolves into this when they have developed an affectionate bond with their trainer, much like their cousin Golbat. BZZT!"

Heidi scratched her head and thought the puzzle together. "A friendly psychic type that changes your mood for the better, passing down a psychic mood like this to a normal type. This is subtle in what it can do to Miltank, a pokemon known to be friendly themselves, it can result in big things happening."

Elio agreed and felt tired at the implications. "The boss needs to know about and maybe it will be on him to figure out the details," Heidi had the files placed away as the Alolan Champion yawned. "Things like this happen when you least expect it."

Heidi agreed and was ready to get back to work. "They are, thanks for clearing this up. You call the boss and work at the Conservation Deck for the day."

Elio winked in obedience. "Sure thing."

Near Mahogany Town.

Tammy was in a corner as her Snubbull was confused and about to fall over after being struck by a Marrill's aqua jet charge "Come on use lick!"

The Snubbull licked the Marrill paralyzed and struck with covet, leaving Marrill exposed and for the girl to toss a net ball for capture, it fell near the river and shook three times. Gladion was puzzled by one of the moves and turned around towards his destination. "That Marrill had two egg moves, what are you going to do with him?"

Tammy let the ball go into the P.C and answered as she carried her Snubbull. "Keep him and train him into an Azumarrill, he can be handy for self protection if I am going into a dangerous place. This is the second time we seen a pokemon like this and we hear those Marrills all around us!"

Gladion listened to the bubbling and agreed. "I have someone looking into it. A warning... two friends of mine have recently called me they will visit Johto in a week, they came from a region that for your own safety, I don't recommend going to! Orre."

It was the first time Tammy has heard of the region, most that are far from the league system tend to have something more sinister hidden than the others. "Kind of like what I heard from the Sevii Islands, scumbags like to hide there, one of the Jenny's told me that trouble is frequent."

Gladion closed his eyes for a moment as Silvally saw an inconspicuous town that lead to two directions. "That is one thing that keeps those islands from becoming as dangerous as Orre, a police force that is competent enough to manage a threat on the spot. Orre, has no such luck and has gotten so bad in its police force that the people of the region often take the law into their own hands when they can. It can house some of the worse people you will meet and once upon a time was a base of operations for the people that resulted in Elio having PSTD when someone goes into detail about Shadow Pokemon."

The travelers reached Mahogany Town and Gladion had his sights on the Gym, with his team, he felt like he can manage what will be thrown, Tammy felt uncomfortable at what was being talked about and wanted to go to the pokemon center. "I'll get ready for tomorrow, I think I know some of the signs for when he is triggered. His humor goes and it looks like he isn't looking at anyone when he talks about the things he seen and knows."

Gladion remembered more alarming symptoms. "Distant from people, if it gets really bad... his tone becomes completely different, Lillie and I had to get him to tell us, it wasn't pretty."

Tammy took a deep breath and asked. "Why didn't he tell you sooner?"

Gladion thought back and remembered a pitiful word Elio called himself. "You know Lillie and I had too many family issues that resulted in things being as distant as it is. Elio was the one who went above and beyond to give us closure, that is something that can never be repaid. If he didn't tell you about what happened... I will. XD-002, at the cusp of his defeat, messed up Elio's mind to where he ended up in a coma for a week. When he woke up, he was crying badly out of sympathy for what that Mew had gone through and it didn't really get better until Mew had all that crap out of him. A few months later, those horrible people, had that very Mew subjugated into a shadow pokemon a second time and dragged Elio into a mental prison. In order to take down that corruption and free himself, he had to delve into a particular nightmare the Mew has had regularly for the first few months we knew him. The day XD-002 was created."

Tammy imagined what happened. "He had the power to stop those people, permanently. He didn't tell you or Mom because he was scared of what that turned him into and he let that fear build until it was starting to twist him into something... scary, thank you for getting him that help."

Gladion took it and head to the gym. "Only a handful of people know the details and it shows a lot that despite everything, he is still pressing on and eager to help others."

Tammy appreciate that fact. "It is, I'll see you when you are done with the gym."

She left Gladion to his own and went into the Pokemon Center for a trip to the P.C and a room. She let an Octillery, Pikachu and Snubbull out and fell on the bed to take a nap after such a tiring journey. She opened her eyes for a moment and found herself on a shore, her pokemon were peacefully asleep and was startled by two shades looking at the sun set, a woman in a long coat and a little girl. The woman took noticed and closed her eyes. "Greetings, the master does tend to have a few secrets. Those that you contemplate knowing?"

Tammy found the haughty tone annoying as the girl waved hello. "Don't mind Isabella, more people need to know about Daddy's issues."

She greeted her to introduce herself. "Name is Azalea, we know your name already, Tammy."

The trainer was baffled for a moment and asked. "How do you two know of Dad?"

Isabella chuckled for a moment and looked down on Tammy. "The master enjoys hearing that name from you, in a way, he is like that for me and my partner."

She pointed to Azalea in an introduction, the girl agreed. "We were all born from his mind. Which is why I call him Daddy, now... the cause of most of his troubles is right past that door!"

Tammy turned around and found an entry to a laboratory, she saw smoke coming out and knew better than to go in. "It's on fire. I'm not going in there!"

Isabella swayed her hair and smiled at her. "A wise move, but why is it on fire?" Tammy thought of it and sat down with her pokemon. "Was... it like that when he went down there?"

Azalea shook her head. "Not the first time he went there." The girl was lost in thought and closed her eyes in solving the problem.

At Mahogany Gym.

Gladion's eyes lightened at the sight of the gym puzzle, sliding on ice. "And I didn't bring the ice skates."

He fought through ice specialists and slide through the various ice puzzles until he reached to a chilly arctic arena that has an elderly man in a thick blue jacket, a white scarf that wield a cane with a keystone and glared at the young challenger. "Another trainer has come here for my badge?"

Gladion posed and felt the frigid wind sooth his muscles. "Yep, Pryce? It takes a lot to manage being an ice specialist."

The gym leader confirmed the question and readied a poke ball. "Don't mistake that or my age for weakness young one. I have been doing this since before you were born. I, Pryce-the Winter Trainer- shall demonstrate my power!"

Vs Gym Leader Pryce.

Gladion tossed a poke ball and shouted. "Go Lucario, break the ice!"

Pryce saw the Lucario with a life orb and smiled. "Jynx, lets show him we are more than a match!"

Out of the ball came a Jynx with a psychic gem, Gladion was impressed for a moment and ordered. "Lucario, use flash cannon!"

Pryce ordered back. "Use lovely kiss and then psyshock!"

The Jynx puckered her lips and attempted to embrace Lucario when the challenger leaped in the air, glowed with the orb and shot down for a one hit k.o flash cannon. Pryce called the Jynx back and sent out a Dewgong with wide lens, Gladion in wild abandon ordered with something charging. "Use aura sphere!"

The Lucario shot at the Dewgong for super effective damage, Pryce slammed his cane down, giving the pokemon the order to let loose a blast of absolute zero cold, Lucario got hit in the paw and froze solid. K.O!

Gladion blew warm air from his nostrils on observing the move and called Lucario back for another pokemon. "Sheer cold? Go Silvally!"

The Silvally enter the battle with an orange hue, his claws glowed with a fighting spirit as his trainer clawed the air. SLASH! Dewgong was knocked out, Pryce sent out a Froslass with an icy rock and ordered. "Use hail and confuse ray!"

The Froslass blew a hail storm and disappeared as Gladion ordered. "Use iron head and finish her off with crunch!"

Silvally rammed into the Froslass and was dazed by light, he growled and bit into nothing as the Froslass spun to giggle, Pryce kept the chill of battle alive. "Blizzard!" The Froslass blew frigid air at the Silvally that charged through, he crunched into her with his maw, knocking her out for a k.o and pressuring the gym leader to switch into a Glalie with a particular stone.

Gladion swallowed hard and switched Silvally for a Porygon-Z as Pryce activated a keystone on his cane. "Mega evolve and use double edge!"

The Glalie bathed in energy, grew and had his jaw broken open to spew ice. "GLALLLLLL!"

He charged at the Porygon-Z for a refrigerated one hit k.o, Gladion switched to a Tyranitar that blew in a sand storm to block the hail out. He flashed a key stone to mega evolve the Tyranitar as Pryce stopped him with an order. "Glalie, use explosion!"

The mega Glalie glowed and explode in force of ice, sending Tyranitar flying into a wall, reverting back as fast as he mega evolved and knocking him out. Glalie reverted back and fell in a thud, Pryce and Gladion switched their pokemon, the challenger sent out a Marshadow as Pryce sent out a Weavile with a dark gem as Gladion tossed a dusk ball. "Marshadow, we just need a little more time!"

Marshadow entered Gladion's shadow and was ready to strike as Weavile glowed from his gem, Pryce shouted. "Night slash!"

SLICE!

Marshadow was struck for a critical blow and jumped behind an ice pillar as Gladion ordered. "Force palm!"

Marshadow charged through the dark and showed green as he knocked Weavile into the ground with the palm of his hand, ice cracked all over and Weavile was out. Pryce called him back and took out an old, grey ball that had a red screw, he twisted it and aimed it to let out a Mamoswine. "You are quite the trainer and I didn't expect you to lead me to doing this!"

Gladion knew only a fool will let a fighting type have the first move against an ice type and ordered. "Use shadow sneak!"

Marshadow extended his shadow, red eyes glowed from under neath the twin tusk and punched him in a delicate rib. "Mamo!"

Pryce watched his pokemon back away and ordered. "Finish him with ice shard!"

Mamoswine froze the air between his tusks and shot out tiny shards that knocked Marshadow out, Gladion switched back to his Silvally with the fire in his heart burning. "Finish it!"

Silvally's claws glowed as the Mamoswine shot another barrage of ice. RAKE!

Silvally struck with a fighting type multi attack and caused Mamoswine to bellow as he tilted to his side and on the ground. "MAMOOOOOOO!"

THUD!

Gladion flashed a battle happy smile and cheered with Silvally. "YES! Good work all of you!"

Pryce approached the Mamoswine to comfort him and showed a badge that resembles a snow flake. "Your prowess is impressive. With your strong will, I know you will over come the obstacles you will find in life. You are worthy of the Glacier Badge!"

Gladion took the badge and kept a smile at the shine. "Thank you, these challenges can be a lot of fun. See you later, come Silvally." The synthetic pokemon followed his trainer to the ice way back, leaving Pryce to appreciate what a generation has to bring.

In the Dream.

Tammy finished thinking about what happened in the lab and why it is burning. "That was the nightmare Dad went down to in order to save Isaac and he make a stupid choice to get through it. You two have been down there and you saw him at his worse, why didn't you two stop him from doing that?"

Azalea whimpered in bad memories and pressed her fingers together. "There wasn't any way for him to get through without him going nuts. He told you how much Shadow Pokemon and the concept of it can set him off."

She tried to back away as Isabella calmed her down with a comforting hug. "The monsters down there deserved no mercy and the pokemon trapped in that nightmare were still a priority to save. To smite evil and protecting the innocent was the two things on his mind."

Tammy agreed and felt something soft around her. "That was the most important thing and anyone that horrible deserved what was coming to them. I am not asking how long this lab," She pointed at the smoke and the door glowing brighter. "has been burning, it was a long time ago and it keeps burning for a reason. I wonder how Uncle is managing the Gym Challenge."

Isabella sighed and gave a small smile as Azalea blinked innocently. "He is going against an ice type specialist that knows how to cover for the big weakness that type has. I met some pretty strong ones, Vanilluxe is especially chilly."

Tammy felt annoyed by the mention of that pokemon. "I don't like the way it looks and I don't like how people underestimate it at the same time. I'll go ask him when I wake-"

She felt her vision shift and realized she was awake, her Pikachu woke up with a yawn and wanted to go out for a stretch. Tammy felt it was needed and went out to find Gladion finishing a conversation with a rather tired expression. "I heard of him and I doubt anyone cared about the means, I'll check Cianwood when I get there and see why he is doing this."

Tammy heard a familiar voice agree to the plan. "I asked Wicke, our guy addressed to her the issue going on and said that he was going to brain storm a way to solve it, followed by a small report on the steady progression of each of the pokemon species that are of a concern. The end results of the report show the pokemon are benefiting and if the trainer thinks outside the box, they will have an interesting capture, like Tammy and that Marrill. I'm not bothering asking Lusamine questions on this because she either knows as much as Wicke and will have me second guess everything for kicks or she would know even less and it will be another thing she will look at far too late to do anything. Tell Tammy I wish her good luck tomorrow!"

The girl approached to tell Elio. "Thank you, I will knock their socks off!"

The Alolan Champion hoped so as Gladion gave his goodbyes and disconnected. Beep! He felt tired from the burden to come. "It looks like by the end of these travels, we will have business with the Aether Foundation. Some guy is going to the extreme of breeding to have the population of wild pokemon in the region defend themselves. The intentions sound good, but that means and reason I don't trust."

Tammy blinked and snapped her fingers at how it can be a bad thing. "That delicate system a pokemon has in the environment will be altered permanently depending on what is put in them. Thankfully it seems our buddy focused mostly on pokemon that are threatened by bad people, if I catch a Teddiursa that has metal claws, I'm going to have a word with him myself!"

Gladion rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "Metal claw is actually an egg move Teddiursa can learn, but what type of pokemon would really be a threat to them?"

Tammy didn't want to answer that and asked. "Probably something strong enough to take down an Ursaring. You want to compete against me during the contest tomorrow? Manaphy by himself will wash over anything I have."

Gladion refused and had a temptation for something else. "No, but I would do the one in Blackthorn city in a heart beat. What do you have for that one?" Tammy listed her three. "Fearow is my first one, his speed and double team can be effective as you saw. I have a Dragonair that... I'll show you him, then there is Cutlass who likes to show off."

Gladion growled in annoyance at the mention of the last one. "That Ultra Beast? You have that thing listening to you?"

Tammy answered yes in respect. "Yes, he is loud but he is a nice pokemon as long as he isn't near fire, anything rain related or windy. Then he gets spooked and will try getting out of there by going into the ball."

Gladion found it fair and wanted to change the subject as he took a poke ball and dive ball out. "I'll give you that much, I'm going to the Lake of Rage, you want to come?"

Tammy refused and heard scratching from the room in the back. "I need Snubbull and Miltank to have some bonding exercises with Octillery along with a few others. I hope I get to impress you with my pokemon come tomorrow!"

Gladion got the curious feeling out of his system and walked toward the front door. "I'm just an audience, not a judge!" The child and adult parted ways with visions of another day coming.

On Alola, in the Champion's house.

Lillie was forced to watch and judge at a pink, baby proof room and Elio adjusting a baby bed. With many baby blankets, clothes, toys and other various supplies, the Alolan Champ gave a graceful bow as he placed the bed close to the door, with the outlets plugged, the window being in such a way that it will not open easy and alarms for dangerous fumes, Lillie was satisfied as Elio asked. "My, queen, is there anything I need to know?"

Lillie swayed her pony tail and cradled her belly in pride. "Perfect. The doctor said we are doing an excellent job caring for them, I'm going to rest up."

She felt hungry and was craving something sour, she escorted herself to the kitchen and seized a nomel muffin. "MMM!"

Elio made sure one of the couches was comfortable as a Pikachu, Clefairy and Banette awaited Lillie to lay on it and took their spot, all three of them were in the woman's arms. Pikachu rolled his eyes to another sight, Elio rubbing his hands in oils and giving his wife a foot massage, Lillie felt like a queen she is and moved her toes in a tease. "Elio, your a very sweet husband. Kukui said that his research and assistance is going to be light for a while, so I have nothing to do besides be treated to this."

Her joy became one of feeling selfish and regret as Elio continued with pampering her. "I still have work and in three months... your going to hate me for everything. You need to be pampered as much as possible for when the big day comes," Lillie felt even more ungrateful as her husband continued to make her feel like a goddess. "In another month, we are to get ready for the Pokemon World Tournament and we are taking that hotel, Plumeria and Guzma unfortunately are unable to make it at this time. One has to teach and the other is bound to Alola, thankfully Hala and Nanu will fill in."

Lillie tried to take her mind off of what her husband is actually doing and put on a false smile. "It is good to be resourceful, Elio, are you sure there isn't anything you want me to do? You work everyday and besides that one time we had with Anabel, you never ask me of anything."

Elio shook his head as the Banette knew what was about to happen. "You being happy, makes me happy."

His wife's feet looked relaxed and he was about to get more muffins. "In case you want another, muffin, I go get the plate."

Lillie's eyes formed tears, she cried loudly. "Wh...why am I being so selfish?! You do all this for me and I g...give nothing back!"

Elio jumped up at the wife breaking down in tears as the Clefairy rubbed Lillie's back, the Alolan Champ stuttered for a moment and rubbed Lillie's hand like she is royalty, making her feel worse. "Lillie, you are not selfish, your working hard every day taking great care of Daphne and Leon," He kissed both sides of the belly as Lillie rubbed her eyes, he continued. "the fact you are doing that while making sure new trainers have a start they should have, while you help us discover more about Z moves and even saving the world a couple weeks ago, shows how much you are giving to everyone."

Lillie was calming down, but her green eyes glistened with tears. "Bu...but your the one who always gets hurt! Who keeps humiliating himself for my own sick amusement."

Elio blew at the air at what his wife is saying. "Going to the front lines has that danger and if you are talking about the... other things I do for you when you want to relax, I do it because I like it myself. If it really was humiliating, I would have refused right there. If anything, I'm the selfish one who got you in this mess in the first place."

Lillie's watery eyes shifted to a small glare, her cheeks puffed. "Your the one who put babies in me and you think doing all this will make that day less stressful?!"

Elio refused to be intimidated and kissed his wife in the popped belly button, making her kick in reflex. "Two babies that will be even bigger than they are now, coming out of you from that opening I messed around with. It is going to hurt and you can blame me when that comes, is there anything I can do to make that day... less painful?"

Lillie's pouty mood didn't change as she laughed sarcastically. "Keep kissing my belly button please and after dinner... you suggest what we should do!"

Elio stick his tongue out at his wife and asked. "Since I been a jerk that done this to you, I can take the punishment!"

Pikachu whistled as the Banette knew someone is in for a rough night, Lillie teased her husband on the word he used. "A punishment or a reward in disguise?"

Elio answered with a mischievous tone. "A jerk deserves punishment, no one rewards a jerk."

Lillie sighed and rubbed Elio's hair. "Then you shall be punished! Do you have to go to work tomorrow?"

Elio shook his head. "The kids at the Aether House have a day off tomorrow and besides a small inspection, I am free for a whole day."

Lillie thought of a small get together that can be arranged. "We haven't talked to Hau, Mallow and Conia in a few weeks, I wonder how they are doing?"