Nighttime came again for Sarah and her family. While her Pokemon, James and Nikki, their partners, and the Lycanroc Couple were fast asleep as usual, Sarah took out her diary again under a lamp light on her desk and began writing again.

"My Pokemon and I have had quite a day. While I was giving them a bath, Silvally started to think about his brother belonging to Gladion," she recalled as she wrote. "I was amazed that I was finally able to see and meet Lillie's brother when Nebby teleported us to see him and his Pokemon."

She then thought back to their chat together and what they discussed about Lillie's past and everything else including their Double Battle,

"He told me everything that happened to Lillie from his viewpoint just as I let him in on a few things involving me. I was surprised to find out that he was responsible for Silvally's Memory Drives being given to me and even more so when he was asked by someone who knows me to do so." "His own Silvally was a formidable Pokemon despite still being a Type: Null and his Lycanroc is very loyal and a powerful fighter as he stood his ground against Dusk and my Silvally," she continued.

Then, she remembered the promise they made involving their planned reunion involving him and Lillie, "I understand that Gladion could be on edge over having him and his Silvally reunite with Lillie again after the trauma she went through during the Ultra Beast incident but I can't let them go on like this forever. I have to help them or they'll never move on from the pain they went through! It's a promise!"

Sarah nodded to herself over the promise she made to Gladion before she closed her diary and once again took the sleeping Nebby with her to bed, preparing for whatever lies ahead for them and their growing family. But, as they slept, Absol appeared outside Sarah's adopted family's house at her bedroom window watching them fall asleep. Whatever danger it senses coming to them, it only hoped it wouldn't make a beeline for them.


The Next Morning...

There wasn't any school today and Sarah decided to do some training with some of her pokemon, specifically, Dragonair, Zweilous, Trapinch and her Vulpix, which she nicknamed, Snowflake. "Alright you four, we're going to do some training to help you get stronger, okay?" Sarah told the family of four, who nodded in understanding.
The rest of her Pokemon were on the sidelines as they prepared to watch Sarah begin Snowflake, Trapinch, Zweilous, and Dragonair's training regime. They haven't seen more of Snowflake and Trapinch battling and their Dragon Type parents have yet to show what they were capable of.

"Trapinch, you and Zweilous pair up against Snowflake and Dragonair," she told the mentioned Pokemon. "we're going to have a Double Battle to test your skills and your teamwork." Snowflake cheered as she joined her adopted mother as she nuzzled her while Trapinch joined his adopted father with Sarah acting as their referee. Nebby floated over to Silvally as he was interested to see how his playmate and her family will fare in battle.

"Okay, you guys, ready?" Sarah called. Snowflake and her family nodded as they each got into a battle stance to begin their training match by Sarah's signal. "...Go!"

Trapinch and Zweilous started the first assault as they launched Rock Slide and Flash Cannon at their wife and sister. Dragonair quickly told Snowflake to get on her head as they used Powder Snow and Dragon Rage to slow the attacks down and nullify them before the Dragon Pokemon took out into the air.

The two female Pokemon looked down as they watched their husband and adopted brother from above, getting ready to strike when they least expect it. Zweilous smirked thinking he and Trapinch can also play their game as he ordered his adopted son to get on him and prepare to fly. Excited from the challenge his mother and sister set up for them, the Ant Pit Pokemon agreed and got on his father's back before the Dragon Type used Fly to catch up to them before using Crunch and Fire Fang.

"Snowflake, Protect! Dragonair, Iron Tail!" Sarah shouted as loud as she could. Hearing their trainer/aunty give her commands to them, Snowflake quickly blocked Zweilous and Trapinch's Fire Fang and Crunch attacks before Dragonair smirked and retaliated with her Iron Tail, disorientating them a little bit.

"Great work Dragonair..!" Sarah cheered. "You too Zweilous!"

Dragonair and Zweilous felt proud but they knew they and their children can do better as they continued their training fight. As she was watching, her mind returned to her first meeting with Gladion and recalled everything they discussed about the Ultra Beasts, the prophecy and the Memory Drives given to her, and the incident that caused Lillie's fear of touching Pokemon. But, more than that, it was the promise they both made to help Lillie remember everything and conquer her fear stemming from the incident. She knew she had to make good on their promise or he'll never forgive her for putting Lillie through more trauma than he would've wanted.

"Gladion, I promise I'll help Lillie remember the entire UB incident and get her to understand that your Silvally didn't mean to scare her as it did," she thought, remembering what he, Wicke, and Professor Burnet told her about the incident that inflicted a heavy mental scar on her friend. She was so busy thinking about Gladion and the promise they made while watching Snowflake and her family training that she didn't notice a familiar group coming towards her and her family's house along with two familiar scientists.

Silvally and Nebby felt the presence of their family's visitors and found Professors Kukui and Burnet with Ash and the others carrying backpacks and sleeping bags along with their Pokemon partners. "Sarah, your friends, teacher, and Burnet are here!" shouted Silvally before he was joined by Nebby's loud cooing, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Huh, you say something, Sil-? O-oh! Professor Kukui, Professor Burnet!" Sarah gasped as she turned to find her friends and the Pokemon professors coming to her and her Pokemon. Snowflake, Trapinch, Dragonair, and Zweilous stopped battling and came back down, surprised to have extra company. "Alola!" "Hi, Sarah, we're here!" the gang and Professor Burnet called.

"Are you ready for your first sleepover?" Professor Kukui added, smiling. Sarah was surprised by this.

"Sleepover?" She asked the Professor. "What's going on?" Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet smiled from Sarah's cat's curiosity.

"Since we have no school today and we decided to spend it together, I thought we could spend the day with you and your family," Professor Kukui noted.

"I've also come to see how you and Nebby have been getting on since I last saw you," Professor Burnet added.

She was also carrying a shoulder bag of her equipment to analyse Nebby and how he's been faring since he was left in the young girl's care. She let out a cheeky and giddy grin that Professor Kukui shared. "What's more, I've haven't had so much fun since my last sleepover and I'm free for the whole day so you guys can count me in!"

"How come I wasn't told about it until now?" Sarah asked as Nebby floated to her and rested in her arms, babbling happily that his babysitter and the rest of his mother's friends are coming to play. "Oh, we wanted this to be a surprise for you," smiled Professor Kukui. "Since you and your Pokemon went off on a private outing yesterday and you didn't come home until later, we thought we decided to spend the day with you."

"Plus, Professor Burnet's come with us to also give Nebby a thorough check-up," Rotom-Dex added. "We were worried that you didn't come to see us and you weren't around at the school so we decided to throw another homework party as well," Lillie added.

"You better not make those unexpected outings as common as you'd like or you'll be in a slump behind the rest of us," chuckled Kiawe with a fun-poking smirk.

"This is gonna be the best sleepover ever!" Ash cried.

"Thanks so much!" the gang shouted before they joined Sarah and her Pokemon inside the house.

"I'm sorry... For dragging you into this," Professor Kukui blushed at Professor Burnet as they went inside Sarah's house. Professor Burnet chuckled as she blushed, "Oh, no problem! A sleepover sounds like fun!" Sarah looked back and was surprised to see the two professors like this but she didn't question it.

Wooloo and Ponyta came bounding over along with Sarah's parents and the Lycanroc Couple. "Hi Professor, Hi everyone." Nikki greeted them with a smile.

"Hi, Nikki, James!" Professor Kukui smiled as he and Professor Burnet came to them. "I hope you don't mind having us for our homework and sleepover party for her."

"Of course not," James replied as he shook hands with Professor Burnet. "It's good to see you again, Professor Burnet! You're finally free to relax for a day, you should come and see us and the others more often." "I'll see what I can do," she laughed.

"How's Nebby been with Sarah since I last came here?" "He's doing great, still as peppy as ever! Never missed a beat with how energetic he often is around Sarah," James responded gladly.

"Our daughter and him are tighter than two finely tied knots on a single strand of rope put together," Nikki added as she watched Sarah looked over Nebby as he played with Wooloo and Ponyta.

"I can see that. I hope you won't mind me checking up on him," replied Burnet as she set down her equipment while Ash and the others got their stuff together.


(Opening 3 – Rurouni Kenshin Opening 1 – Freckles (English Dub)

(The opening begins with a silhouette of a young girl with a Chinese straight sword sheathed in a gold scabbard sitting within images of Team Rocket, Team Skull, Guzma and Plumeria, the three mysterious grunts, and the grunts' leader before the image brightens and the girl is left alone)

(The girl gets up and awakens to reveal herself as Sarah as she and her Pokémon are on a large boat as it sailed across the ocean to one of the other Islands of Alola. While some of her Pokémon are relaxing on the boat ride, Silvally, Lolita, Blitz, and Red Eyes look out into the ocean with determined looks on their faces with their trainer)

I brush against the freckles that I hated so and life goes on but I heave a little sigh for you. It's heavy, the love that I would share with you. Then it dissolves like it was just a sugar cube!

(Ash and Pikachu were shown at the Pokémon School trying to practice the steps to a new Z-Attack until they missed or exaggerated a few steps and fell down on the ground. Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles, who were with them along with their Pokémon Partners, either laughed at or groaned at them. Ash and Pikachu smiled sheepishly as the scene pans from the school to the beach near the school)

Now, the little pain sitting in my heart has shrunken a bit but it really does hurt me now. Those silly horoscopes, I guess I can't trust them after all~!

(Kiawe was there with Pyroar and Turtonator as he commanded a Double Flamethrower and gave a satisfied smirk as his partners landed on either side of him as he then looked to his right)

If we could get further away~! I wonder what it would be li-i-i-i-i-ke, yeah~!

(The scene pans to Lillie looking out her backyard from her mansion with Snowy as she had a happy look on her face before they turned to their left in surprise)

I'd be so happy inside my hea-a-a-a-a-a-art!

(Sarah and her Pokémon are surrounded by mysterious grunts and a small team of people in white uniforms as she held a strange cosmic-like Pokémon in her left arm and the Sword of the Sun Lion on her right hand as she was then attacked by a mystery grunt's Houndoom and its Flamethrower attack)

All the memories I have are beautiful in my mind!

(A Thunderbolt appears and blocks the Flamethrower to reveal Zeraora as the Thunderclap Pokémon shielded her)

But, they don't feed the hunger deep inside my soul!

(Silvally, Lolita, and the Puppy Pair use Tri Attack, Dark Pulse, and Double Rock Slide to beat their foes getting to Sarah)

And, tonight, I thought I'd be just sitting in my sorrow!

(Ponyta and Wooloo attack together with Electro Ball and Moonblast while Aqua and Milotic use Bubblebeam and Dragon Pulse before Candy and Blitz joined forces to use Thundershock and Signal Beam at their own enemies)

And now, I must wonder why, what did it really mean to you?

(Sarah appears and opens her eyes as she saw her family and friends, humans and Pokémon alike, waiting happily for her to join them as she walks to them. The Season 2 titles appear just as the song ends)

I just can't see it anymore~! I just can't see it anymore~! O-o-o-o-o-oh~!

Pokémon Alola Journey – The Trials of Sarah


Soon, she began Nebby's test as she, her parents, and all their Pokemon watched and waited anxiously to see if Nebby's still doing okay under Sarah's care. Rotom-Dex was with them as he wanted to help monitor Burnet's tests. After several minutes of analyzing and complicated, scientific calculations, the tests came out positive and Professor Burnet was satisfied.

"There, I'm all done," she sighed happily. "And, that concludes the tests!" Rotom-Dex added in confirmation.

She then turned to Nebby, smiling at him, "You did very well, Nebby, thanks for your help." Everyone gathered around Professor Burnet sighed with relief as he floated to her and cooed happily, thanking her for checking him up. It seemed that because she had proven herself trustworthy and she helped his human mother uncover the secrets to his big brother's past, he's grown to like her more and more.

"Wow, looks like he's taken a shine to you as well, Professor Burnet," Sarah smiled.

Professor Burnet chuckled, "Yes he has." Nebby happily babbled and cooed happily. Nebby then spotted Lillie and carefully floated over to her.

"Oh hi Nebby, what is it?" Nebby looked at Lillie's empty arms and cooed at her. "I think Nebby wants you to hold him, Lillie." Sarah guessed.(

Lillie was surprised but then she smiled at the little Ultra Beast/Pokemon cooing at her with a smile. "Alright, Nebby, come here," she coaxed happily to the delight of Sarah's youngest Pokemon as he rested on her arms and sighed contentedly.

Even though she was afraid of Pokemon touching her still and despite the panic attack she had when he touched her, there was something about Nebby that always drew Lillie to him like he was a close friend despite everyone's short time with the little guy. She had gotten so used to him being around her and her friends while under Sarah's love and care, she had begun to touch him even though the others didn't know yet.

Sarah, so far, was the only one who noticed. "Wow, Lillie, I'm surprised you were able to touch him," she remarked. Even Lillie was taken aback by this but she smiled softly, "Yeah, I'm surprised by this. But, it's almost like something connected me to Nebby, like we were old friends somehow." Sarah nodded but Once Nebby had settled into his babysitter's arms and she decided not to question it further,

Lillie and the others looked around Sarah's house since they didn't get to last time. It was modest and large at two stories with a large basement on the lower level, not unlike several suburban houses in a suburban neighborhood, even sturdy enough to hold many Pokemon at once. Lana was amazed by the view from the backyard and the street corner they're in, living close to the ocean near a cliff on the right side of the island.

"What a beautiful view of the ocean!" she awed as she looked at the sea in the horizon. Sophocles was even impressed by the size of the backyard huge enough for Sarah and her parents' growing Pokemon family.

"What a backyard, you can fit at least 35 Pokemon here!" he said as he and Ash observed.

"It's a nice place, Sarah, very cozy," Kiawe complemented as he looked around the kitchen with Mallow. "It's not much but it's home," Sarah nodded in thanks.

"It's brilliant," Lillie told her.

The gang's Pokemon partners even got to spend some time to hang out and talk with Sarah's Pokemon again.

They also wanted to see how Snowflake and her family were getting on in their new family and life with Sarah, her parents, and their Pokemon.

Snowy, in particular, was elated to see Snowflake again and the two of them started to tussle and play happily. Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet decided to talk with James and Nikki while the kids enjoyed themselves. "So, you and your parents have this place to yourself?" Mallow asked as she and the others joined Sarah.

"Yeah, we got several rooms here and there and we sometimes have guests and a few friends of my parents over whenever possible," she replied. "Your room was pretty large when we came to see you after you got sick," Lana said. "Do you think it can hold all of us?"

"I have room for you, Mallow, and Lillie, Lana. But, the others would have to make due with one of or some of the guest rooms. My Pokemon can sometimes occupy them since they needed a place to sleep while Silvally and Mudsdale sleep outside due to their sizes."

Nebby babbled and laughed again as he floated around Sarah and tried to pull on her arm. "Gosh, I wonder what Nebby's saying or thinking about," Mallow pondered as they watched Nebby beg his mother and her friends to play with him now.

"I think he wants to play some games with us and he wants me to play with him. That's what you're thinking, right, Nebby?" asked Sarah as Nebby cooed again, elated that Sarah got his thoughts right. The others were interested, too. "Well then, if that's what he wants, let's play with him!" Lillie decided, smiling. Everyone agreed.

"What game do you and Nebby want to play first, Sarah?" Kiawe asked curiously. Sarah turned to Nebby, deciding to let him choose.

"Well, what do you want to play, Nebby?" she quizzed him before he used his wisps to cover his eyes as he closed them and looks around blindly before he coos happily as he opens them again.

"Hide and Seek, huh?" Sarah asked as Nebby nodded with a big smile on his face. "Okay, we'll play. You hide somewhere in the house and we'll all come and find you but when you hide, think about somewhere in or around the house and only in and around the house." Nebby nodded to his mother's orders, promising not to teleport anywhere else but anywhere in their family's house.

"So, we're playing Hide and Seek with Nebby, huh?" Ash puzzled. Sarah nodded as Nebby smiled, "Yeah, Nebby will think of a place to hide in the house and he will hide there until we find him. He'll get a ten-second head start so he can figure out a place to hide but I told him only somewhere in or around the house and nowhere else so he'll make it easier for us."

"That's a load off our minds, especially since we had a lot of trouble finding you, Nebby, and Silvally after you disappeared on us for too long," Sophocles sighed with relief. "I did say sorry, didn't I? Besides, I was only at the Aether Foundation for just a talk with Wicke and Professor Burnet, as I told you," retorted Sarah.

She turned to Nebby as she smiled to him, "Okay, Nebby, you hide and we'll count to ten but remember what I said about teleporting somewhere in or around the house." Nebby babbled as she nodded before his human mother and her friends closed their eyes and counted while he looked around and teleported.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10!" the kids all called before they opened their eyes. Sarah called out to Nebby after he found his hiding place and quietly laughed, "Ready or not, Nebby, here we come!" The kids looked around for Nebby with help from their Pokemon partners.

Even Snowflake, Wooloo, Ponyta, Trapinch, Aqua, Sliggoo, the Unova Starters, and the Espurr Pair got in on the fun while the rest of Sarah's Pokemon, the Lycanroc Couple, Dragonite, Lucario, the professors, Nikki, and James all watched in amusement.

Suddenly, Lana gasped and raised her hand to everyone, "I think I know here Nebby is!"

"Wow! You guessed where he's hiding that fast?" Sophocles replied, a little baffled. Lana looked towards any of the gang's backpacks but she found only their stuff and Rowlet sleeping in Ash's backpack.

"Oh! Guess not," she said, a little embarrassed. The gang and Sarah looked again as they chuckled a little before Kiawe thought Nebby could be in the laundry room.

"I know where Nebby could be hiding! I've been playing Hide and Seek with my brother and sister for so long, I got his hiding place down to a science!" he shouted gleefully before he opened the door to the laundry room but didn't find Nebby, much to his own embarrassment as he gave a sheepish chuckle.

"Nebby, come out, come out, wherever you are~!" sang Mallow as she looked around the kitchen while Nikki, James, Professor Kukui, and Professor Burnet giggled. Mallow looked around until she thought she could see something fluffy, blue, purple, and yellow hiding under the dinner table as the grown-ups' legs shielded it from view while it giggled. Mallow smiled slyly as she crept over to the little giggling object.

"I see you, Nebby~!" she called before she crouched down and found Nebby before she touched him. "Tag! I found you!" Nebby laughed before he teleported again, baffling Mallow as she saw him escape from view,

"What?!" The Professors, Nikki, and James couldn't help but laugh at Mallow's misfortune as Sarah went to her.

"I think Nebby's added a little twist to the game, Mallow," Sarah replied with a sheepish smile. "He wants us to find AND catch him if we want to win."

"Oh, wow! I never thought he'd be so crafty," awed Mallow in surprise. "I think he got that from you." The kids, with Sarah's younger Pokemon and their Pokemon partners, continued to search for Nebby, having too much fun to care about how tedious it was becoming.

"They look like they're having fun," Professor Kukui said with a sheepish smile.

"Of course, that's a good thing!" Burnet chuckled as Nikki and James giggled.

"Nebby!" Lillie called as she and Sarah looked around the living room again. "Vul!" Snowy called as she and Snowflake looked at Lillie's hat on the coffee table, curious as to whether or not it could be Nebby's new hiding place. "What is it, Snowy? Did you and Snowflake find where Nebby is?" she asked. "Vul, Vulpix, Vulpix!" Snowflake smiled with glee to Lillie as she nodded her head towards her hat. Lillie looked carefully at it and lo and behold, to her surprise,

Nebby popped out and landed in her hands as she held the little Pokemon. She was baffled by this until her fear of touching Pokemon took hold of her again and she froze until...

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"


Once everybody calmed poor Lillie down and reassured her that things will be alright and she won the game, she, Mallow, and Lana joined Sarah in her bedroom for a bit of Girl Time with Tsareena, Popplio, Snowy, and Sarah's younger Pokemon joining them. Sarah had Nebby in her arms again as she held him closely to make sure he doesn't trigger Lillie's fear of touching Pokemon again.

"Wow, your room looks really nice, Sarah!" Lana gaped excitedly as she looked around it and everything she owned in their places.

"You even got video games for us to play and TV to watch shows on!" Mallow cheered as she saw her TV and video game consoles from a Nintendo Switch and Wii to a Playstation 4 and Xbox 360 with a collection of video games next to them.

"It's so high up when you look out the window!" Lillie gasped as she saw the view from Sarah's large bedroom window with the bench on it.

Sarah came over and looked at the view, "Yeah, it is pretty peaceful here..." she smiled. Nebby looked out the window too and babbled in delight, loving the view from outside.

The boys, on the other hand, were checking out some of the other rooms on the second floor. "These rooms aren't too bad," Sophocles said as he looked around one of the other bedrooms with Kiawe and Ash.

"They all look comfy, I envy Sarah. She and her parents got this place to themselves," Kiawe smiled as he looked through the room. While the others continued to marvel at the rooms in Sarah and her family's modest but humble home, Lillie looked outside and mused on what went on back at her family's mansion at Hau'oli City.

Before she came to the sleepover and homework party and and the rest of the gang planned for Sarah, she got into a fight with her mother, Lusamine, over how excessively she'd been babying her and it got on her nerves. Despite how rationally they tried to settle things, the argument went badly and created a small rift between them.

Now, she was regretting having lost herself and snapped at her own mother since she knows it was her own way of showing her love for her. She gave a sorrowful sigh as she held Snowy, who cooed softly for and nuzzled her, offering her human partner comfort.

"Want to talk about it?" Sarah asked as she came alongside her friend to her left with Snowflake taking her favorite place on her right shoulder and Nebby still in her arms.

"...Just thinking about my mother," Lillie sighed sadly as she hesitated. "Earlier today, we got into a fight when Hobbes was filming me during breakfast and I was getting sick of her babying me when I was growing up."

"Sounds to me like you both had it rough with each other, especially with how much you've changed before her when she saw you again when she came to speak about Nebby and the Ultra Beasts."

"Well, she can drive me crazy with how she loves me whenever she checks to see how I've been getting on. It's like she feels completely responsible for what's happened to Gladion and I during the UB incident..."

"I see..." Sarah replied as she placed a reassuring hand on Lillie.

"Gladion... told me. He felt so helpless during that incident and that's why he became a Pokémon trainer. To defeat Ultra Beasts and to protect you, Lillie..." Sarah told her. Lillie was shocked and in awe at her brother, "He really said that?"

Sarah nodded, "In fact... he has the Pokémon that saved you... another Silvally."

"There's another Silvally?" Mallow questioned.

"Yes, he might be my Silvally's brother but he still has the control mask on him. Gladion and I talked yesterday. I said that since you're used to having my Silvally around... maybe you could see Gladion's Silvally...?" Sarah proposed to Lillie.

Lillie hesitated; she was conflicted over whether to confront her past and try to remember the whole UB incident that caused her to experience the trauma that led her to developing her fear of touching Pokemon. "I won't force you to come but I did promise your brother that we would explain everything," Sarah soothed. "I know you think it may have hurt you but Gladion's Silvally was the one who saved you when you were captured by UB-1. We'll explain more when we meet him, I promise... That is, if you'd like."

Lillie thought for a moment. It had been some time since she last saw Gladion and she hasn't heard from him since his return to Melemele Island and their first reunion in a while. Sarah sadly frowned, she knew that if what Wicke, Burnet, and Gladion told her was true, she would still find a way to understandably weasel out of her offer and not want to remember that horrible day. Finally, after much thinking, Lillie reluctantly agreed but only on one condition.

"...Alright, but I want to go see him tonight, after we finished our homework." Sarah nodded reassuringly, "That's all I ask, Lillie. It's what you and Gladion want; it's the first step for you to overcome your fear but to also help you two put what happened that day behind you for good."

Lillie nodded with a determined frown; she knew she would have to overcome her lingering fear of touching Pokemon and remember the truth about what really happened to her and Gladion's Silvally ever since Sarah told her about its and her Silvally's origins and of Wicke and Burnet's side of the UB Incident. Tonight would be the night she and Gladion would start putting everything to rest.

When they rejoined the others, everything went on as normal. Lana and Mallow were asked to keep themselves and the boys in the dark about what she told Lillie to ensure that she doesn't have a meltdown on her fear.

"Since everybody's here, how about a game of Z-Move Pose 1-2-3?" Burnet offered as she held Nebby.

"What's that game about?" Sarah asked.

"You'll find out once we start playing, just follow our lead," Professor Burnet smiled to the clueless Sarah. Everyone cheered but are also curious as to whether or not the adults will be playing the game with them.

"Will you guys, Nikki, and James be playing as well?" Lana asked hopefully.

"Sure we can, got a problem with that?" chuckled Burnet, to the kids' delight. "Wow, this is gonna be fun!" Mallow cheered. Before long, everybody got themselves into position while their Pokemon became their audience spectators to judge whether or not they land the correct Z-Move poses after Rotom-Dex makes the call. He offered to be the head judge along with Mallow's Tsareena, Dragonite, Dragonair, Mudsdale, Silvally, and Blitz being the voluntary judges for the game.

"Alright, gang! Everybody, ready?" the Living Pokedex asked as he looked at everyone.

"All set!" Ash replied. Sophocles turned with a smug smile, confident that he will win.

"Get ready to lose, Professor Kukui," he challenged his teacher. "Good, be confident while you can," Professor Kukui smiled back, accepting the challenge.

"Okay, Sarah, are you ready? I'll be calling every pose while you and the others do them. Think of it as Follow The Leader or Simon Says but with Z-Moves and you'll have to do them three at a time, the first one to get the most poses right and last longer than everyone else wins!" Rotom-Dex briefed.

"I guess so," she said as she gulped. Rotom-Dex nodded and starts the game on his signal, "Now then, let the games begin!"

"Yeah!" everyone cheered. "Alright, here we go! Grass, Water, Water!" said Rotom-Dex as he called the first three poses. Everyone followed perfectly on the first three poses impressing their Pokemon judges as they grunted and cooed in approval.

"Nicely done, keep up!" encouraged Rotom-Dex as he starts to select the next Z-Moves. "Winning this game will be a breeze," Sophocles remarked.

"Hey, I think I'm getting the hang of this now," Sarah commented, smiling.

Nebby happily babbled seeing his mother playing with her friends.

"Water, Water, Grass!" Rotom-Dex announced as he picked the next three Z-Moves. Everyone followed easily as the Pokemon watched; some of them curiously eyeing them, others simply uninterested, and the rest who smiled from how much fun their trainers are having. Aqua even played along from her spot in the Pokemon audience while Milotic giggled at her Water Type sister. "Grass, Water, Grass!" called Rotom-Dex for the third round. Everyone followed but unfortunately, because they were having too much fun, Lana and Popplio forgot to do the Grass Z-Move poses.

"Lana, did you forget the other two Grass Type poses?" Sarah asked, surprised that her Water Type friend flunked on the third go. "Oh, whoops... I guess I did forget that," she said, feeling embarrassed along with Popplio.

"Yeah, me too," Sophocles added, realizing he made the same mistake as well. "Well, that means you and Sophocles are out, Lana," Rotom-Dex noted as he got back into position. Ash laughed seeing how he and the others stayed on track, "how easy can it get?"

"We'll win next time, Popplio," Lana comforted her partner as Aqua came and hugged the Sea Lion Pokemon.

"Grass, Grass, Grass!" Rotom-Dex spoke, calling out the next three moves. Everyone followed again but Ash forgot to state the Z-Move. "Incorrect, you're out," he spoke to Ash, who was immediately baffled that he was booted off as well. "When all three poses match, you have to state your Z-Moves," Mallow reminded him.

"Well, well, 'how easy can it get?' he says," snarked Sarah with a sarcastic and sly smile at Ash. "You took your eye off the ball," Kiawe remarked, unimpressed.

Ash blushed as he sheepishly smiled, "Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot..." Silvally and Nebby laughed at Ash for failing all three Grass Z-Move poses along with Sarah's sarcasm towards the Kanto trainer and even Blitz couldn't help but chuckle at him for messing up. Tsareena, Dragonair, and Mudsdale could only shake their heads at them with amused smiles.

Nebby giggled happily at his mother. Wooloo gave a happy 'baa' and joined Sarah by her side, "Aww.. Wooloo wants to play too.." Lana cooed at the tiny sheep pokemon.

Sarah crouched down and looked at the smiling Sheep Pokemon, baaing at her.

"So, you want to try your hand at this game, Wooloo?" she asked. Wooloo nodded eagerly, wanting to play along. "Okay, but try and keep up and don't lose the poses," Sarah agreed as Wooloo got ready with a determined smile.

"Get ready, everybody. With three of our competitors down, we're going straight to our speed round!" Rotom-Dex announced as he reminded everyone that they'll be playing the game faster as he chose the next three poses. "And... Water, Grass, Fire!" The others continued playing, doing their absolute best to keep up with Rotom's combos while Silvally, Dragonair, Mudsdale, Tsareena, Blitz, and Dragonite continued to give grunts and coos of approval for every pose combos done right.

Amazingly, Wooloo was able to keep up as he was having too much fun playing around. Ponyta cheered for her older brother as she watched him play and match every pose with their human mother. Ash, Lana, and Sophocles, however, were shocked to see their friends and the adults keep up the pace as they did their moves. Everything was going well, until they reached a combo Rotom-Dex would regret calling out...

"Fire, Fire, Fire!" "Inferno Overdrive!" everyone called as they announced the Z-Move but that turned out to be a huge mistake as Kiawe activated the Z-Move. "Alright, Inferno Overdrive!" Kiawe shouted as Turtonator used his Z-Move attack but Sarah's Pokemon panicked and they all ran for cover with the other Pokemon joining them, their feelings mutual.

"AH, KIAWE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Sarah screamed in panic as Snowflake and Luna quickly rushed to her side and used Protect to shield her and her parents as they joined them.

Turtonator fired the Z-Move in Sarah's adopted family's house as everyone screamed in panic and were burnt to a crisp. "That was a little too explosive," Ash remarked as Pikachu agreed before they fell back from the pain.

"I'm sorry," Kiawe apologized in regret.

Oshawott sarcastically sprayed the two with Water Gun. "Oshawott..." he deadpanned.

Snowflake and Luna called off their Protect attacks and when they saw Sarah and her parents in one piece, they both sighed with relief. "Thanks, you two, I owe ya," Sarah sighed happily as she rubbed them. "Vulpix!" "Lycan!" Snowflake and Luna smiled, accepting her thanks.

Nebby thought it a great joke as he laughed, wanting to play too.


A few minutes later, Turtonator and Kiawe decided to apologize to everyone by carrying towels for them to wash and dry themselves with while their Pokemon watched. The two felt very ashamed of their stunt, even if it was an accident. Sarah and her parents helped them with Oshawott and Aqua providing extra assistance with their Water Guns. "Well, that was heated," Rotom-Dex quipped, now feeling embarrassed.

"Well, we would've all been in one piece if you haven't called for Fire three times," Nikki reminded him as he sweatdropped from his own mistake. "Right, uh, sorry..." "I never ever thought I'd experience an actual Z-Move before," Mallow remarked. "I'm really, very sorry," Kiawe apologized again.

"There we are, Lillie, good as new," Burnet told Lillie as she finished combing her hair. Lillie smiled, "Thanks, Professor, that's very kind of you."

"Don't mention it, now that that's settled, I think it's time I help make dinner," Professor Burnet said as she got up. "But, you're a guest and an honored one, too!" Professor Kukui tried to object.

"Professor Burnet, please! You don't have to trouble yourself with such a thing," James agreed. "It's the least I can do in light of your family's generous hospitality and that of our friends, James," Professor Burnet reassured before she turned to Kukui with a bright smile. "I'm sure I would've done the same for you, Kukui." "There's truth in that," James nodded. "What do you think, Kukui?" Kukui hummed as he considered the case despite his hesitation, "Well, if you insist-" "Great! I do!" Burnet replied happily.

"Wait... WHERE'S WOOLOO!" Sarah exclaimed in horror, noticing the tiny sheep pokemon missing.

Everyone looked around with horror, not seeing Sarah's Sheep Pokemon with them until they heard a 'Baa' coming from the bathroom along with a neigh.

"Wooloo, Ponyta?!" Sarah cried as she rushed to the main floor bathroom and saw Wooloo in the bathtub with Ponyta joining him. They were taking a bath to help Wooloo get some of the soot stains on him from Kiawe and Turtonator's Inferno Overdrive. He had taken cover from under the dinner table and while it held firm against the blast, it didn't protect from some of the soot that got on his wool. Sarah sighed with relief from seeing Wooloo in one piece but she also gave an amused smile from their bathroom antics.

"Here, Wooloo, let me help you two with that," she told her two Galar Pokemon as she helped to wash the Sheep Pokemon before she dried them off and brought them back out. "I guess those cuties had to take a bath, huh?" Professor Burnet laughed.

Sarah chuckled as she, Wooloo, and Ponyta rejoined everyone, "Yeah, that's the idea." "Then, I guess I should get started now that everyone's present and accounted for. Any volunteers to join me?" "Professor, may I join you?" "Ah! I like to give you a hand, too!" Mallow and Lillie replied, wanting to help Professor Burnet. "I wouldn't mind helping out as well. Even Ponyta and Wooloo can be a big help," Sarah offered as Ponyta and Wooloo baaed and neighed in agreement.

Professor Burnet obviously couldn't saw 'no' to the three girls so she agreed, "Then, you three are my official helpers, ladies." Professor Kukui had no further objections as he smiled before he sheepishly looked to the living room and the dining room. "Okay, while you're doing that, the rest of us are on housekeeping duty.

After all, we can't have a relaxing dinner without the room and possibly the house in this condition," he said. And so, it was arranged. While Mallow, Lillie, and Sarah, joined by her Wooloo and Ponyta, help Burnet with dinner, the others started to clean up the house.


In no time at all, the house was clean again and Professor Burnet had made dinner for everyone.

"You look like you've done this before, Mallow," Burnet replied as she set everything down with the girls helping her. "Many, many, many times," she told the Professor, thinking back to her family's restaurant business and her cooking. Wooloo and Ponyta came with two of the finished dishes and they called to Professor Burnet, who saw them coming to her and offering her the dishes.

"Oh! Thanks, you two, you're such adorable little helpers," Burnet cooed as she took the plates and set them on the table. The two Galar Pokemon beamed with pride.

"There, good work everyone," Professor Kukui complemented as he and the others looked at the house being all neat and tidy again. "It's so sparkly again!"

"Glad we're finally done with that," Lana and Sophocles said, relieved to be done and delighted that it looks so new again.

"I'm sorry I blew up your house, Nikki, James," Kiawe apologized again.

"Now, now, Kiawe. It's all well and good," Nikki reassured the Fire Type user with a smile.

"You and Turtonator just got caught up in the moment during the game, that's all," agreed James.

Blitz smiled and looked at the table... only to see Muchlax chomping on the food! "PIKA!" he cried in horror.

"Blitz what's-Bad Munchlax, that food's not for you!" Sarah scolded the feeding Normal Type pokemon.

"Uh oh," Professor Kukui gasped, seeing the Normal Type Pokemon scarfing down everything on the table. Everyone saw what happened and they all groaned and screamed in exasperation while the Alolan Professor chuckled sheepishly, having forgotten about his Munchlax and the possibility that it followed him from his house for the food.

"MUNCHLAX!" Sarah exploded as the Normal Type looked at her and paled as she glared at it. It chuckled sheepishly at her before she took a deep breath and relaxed before she glared at it in disappointment and pointed to the couch.

"Couch. You're sleeping there. No more food until then. The whole night," she said bluntly. Minutes later, the kids gathered around along with their Pokemon, still exasperated from Munchlax's stunt and feeling more hungry than ever.

"Aw, man! What a time to be hungry!" Sophocles whined as he laid down on the ground.

"No kidding, unlike Munchlax," Kiawe agreed with an angry scoff directed at the sleeping Big Eater Pokemon on the couch. Sarah turned to Nebby as she brought out her Sugar Star popper, "Hey, Nebby, are you hungry? Got your favorite sweets right here! Open wide!" Nebby babbled happily as he opened his mouth wide and she popped a Sugar Star into his mouth and he ate his favorite treat before he settled into his mother's arms with a happy sigh. "Glad you still like them but save some room for dinner," she smiled at the baby Ultra Beast.

"She's right, Nebby. The professors and her parents will be back from shopping any minute," Mallow agreed. As Mallow and Lana's stomachs growled, causing the two trainers to blush from their hunger.

Lillie heard the back door open and she turned to see Trapinch, Snowflake, Dragonair, and Zweilous, joined by Ash's Litten and Lycanroc, going to the backyard. They took up separate spaces as they began their training matches with Litten and Lycanroc duking it out while Snowflake and her family trained in the same manner as they were in earlier in the morning.

Trapinch scurried towards Little with a Crunch attack and Litten countered with Fire Fang.

The gang and the rest of the Pokemon went outside and observed them from afar. "Wow, look at that! Those guys are training well into the night," Sophocles observed.

"Are Snowflake and her family really doing a Double Battle?"

"Yeah. That's how we did things earlier before you guys came along for the party," Sarah confirmed. "My other Pokemon and I wanted to see them put through their paces so they can be ready for any future battles coming their way."

"Same here," Ash agreed. "The two of them have always been like that. Even back when Lycanroc was just a little Rockruff." "We should do that, too," Kiawe decided as Pyroar and Turtonator picked an empty spot on the backyard to begin their own training spree while the others decide to watch as Ash and Sarah tended to their own Pokemon (Nebby wanted to stay with Sarah for obvious reasons).

"I would like to do that kind of stuff," Sophocles mused. "I wouldn't mind trying that out, you know, seems fun."

"Alright, how about it? Continue our training and prepare for what we'll experience on our school's 20th anniversary field trip," Lana offered and clarified. "That sounds like a great idea!" Lillie agreed, liking the idea.

"Yeah, why don't we all? After all, we can forget that we're even hungry while preparing for the big day," Mallow joined in. Before long, everyone began training to improve themselves and their Pokemon, trying to forget their hunger and to prepare for their school's field trip for its 20th anniversary.


Meanwhile, Professor Kukui, Professor Burnet, Nikki, and James were on their way home from shopping for more food to prepare dinner, holding several bags full of whatever ingredients they can use.

"Sorry for all the trouble I caused," apologized Burnet as they walked.

"No trouble at all, you're a really big help," Kukui assured to her as he smiled.

"Hey, where'd the kids go?" Nikki asked, seeing the group missing from the table. Kukui noticed them outside and the training session too and chuckled, "Looks like they're watching the Pokémon train each other."

"Besides, I think you did a world of good for them since I saw you again. Even Nebby's taken a shine to you for how kind and loving you are, especially when you came to see how he's been getting on under Sarah's care. Remember how happy everyone was when they said you'd stay?" Burnet chuckled as she, Kukui, Nikki, and James begin to set everything up again, knowing that it's true.

"They're very wonderful kids, you know?" she asked Kukui as he nodded with a knowing smile. "I do."

"I wanted to thank you, Kukui. I feel like just like a kid again, I can't remember having this much fun since you held one of our last sleepovers before we parted ways on separate career paths," she smiled, blushing. Kukui was surprised as he blushed, too.

But, he smiled, "Uh, gee... Well, nice, I guess... Carefree days of our youth," he replied. Nikki and James looked at them and they smiled knowingly to each other before they nodded; they decided to leave them alone for a bit as they continued preparing dinner with the two professors. Before long, dinner time had finally come and this time, with no more interruptions and surprise snack attacks from Kukui's Munchlax. A huge spread of some of the dishes that Professor Burnet made during her lifetime was laid out for everyone and there was more than enough for everyone. Even the Pokemon's own food was lovingly prepared as everyone's mouths watered in excitement.

"Okay, kids! Professor Burnet's High Speed Cooking Specialties are done and ready!" Burnet announced. "I'm sorry we're eating so late."

"It's nothing, we were kinda busy while you were gone," Sarah reassured. "We were all so busy training that we forgot the time and didn't know you were back until you called us," Ash added. Burnet was curious as she smiled at them knowingly, "Training, like in battles?"

"Uh, you could say that," Mallow put in. But, Sophocles wanted to eat now, "I can't wait anymore, I'M STARVING!" Burnet laughed, "I don't blame you. Okay, dig right in!"


Throughout the night...

Everyone ate happily and chatted endlessly over whatever was on their minds. Lillie, however, ate her dinner slowly. It seemed like this family and friend dinner with everyone had her thinking about her own family including what Gladion and Lusamine are doing right now.

Sarah noticed this and frowned sadly, knowing that it was time for her to reunite Lillie and Gladion and help them put the past behind them. That night, after dinner, everyone was now sleeping peacefully. Nikki and James resided in their own bedroom while Ash, Professor Kukui, Sophocles, Kiawe, and Professor Burnet occupied some of the guest rooms on the second floor.

The Pokemon were all sleeping peacefully in the living room and dining room while Mudsdale and Silvally decided to sleep outside as usual. Mallow, Lana, and Lillie along with their Partner Pokemon occupied Sarah's bedroom with Sarah herself resting on her bed. But, she couldn't sleep, she was still thinking about Gladion and his Silvally. She knew it was time for her to help him and Lillie get over the past and help the Ice Type student overcome her fear of touching Pokemon and regain her lost memories.

Lillie woke up, having the same feelings as her as she woke up and looked to Sarah. They both nodded as they quietly crept out of their bed and sleeping bag and tiptoed towards the door, without waking up anybody.

Well... Almost everybody; Snowy and Nebby heard them leaving and quietly decided to join them as they walked and floated away. Professor Burnet, in her and Kukui's guest room, woke up to see Lillie and Sarah and their two Pokemon silently walking through the hallway from the crack on their door and was a little surprised from their leaving.

They went to the beach near Professor Kukui's house and the entrance to Ten Carat Hill and sat as they watched the ocean under the Alolan moon. Silvally was with them since Sarah had asked him to come with them for her promise, which he clearly remembered.

As they sat in silence and she began petting Snowy, Lillie thought back to her childhood when she and Gladion were happily living with their mother before the Ultra Beast incident took place. She thought about how happy they once were as a family even after their father either went away or died. She could remember playing with her mother's Clefable when it was still the adorable Cleffa she knew, the times when Lusamine would teach her how to cook in their mansion's kitchen, even their family dinners together.

She felt terrible for how she behaved towards her mother earlier in the morning and wanted to apologize to her and make things right between them again. Sarah knew that it was time for her to help her friend and her brother overcome their past and move on from the trauma inflicted on them but she didn't know how without triggering her fear of touching Pokemon and giving Lillie a serious memory whiplash.

"I love the sound of waves on a clear night," replied a familiar voice, surprising the two girls and their three Pokemon.

The group turned and saw Gladion standing a few feet away from them.

"Gladion!" Lillie replied, surprised and happy to see her brother again. He had a calm and cool smile on his face as she ran to him and gave him a hug, surprising him but making him gently return it.

"I'm glad to see you're getting better, Lillie," he said to her before he turned her to the sea. "The quiet and peaceful sound of them crashing against the shore on a full moon soothes and calms the heart. My Pokemon and I often come here to find solitude and peace on nights like this." Sarah joined them along with Silvally and Nebby as Lillie voiced her thoughts. "But, if things get too quiet, we start to remember things," she mused.

"Really, what kinds of things?" Gladion asked, deciding to be generous to his sister. "Actually, Gladion... You might not like this but I had an argument with Mom this morning, she was treating me like a baby again when I'm clearly a teenager and all grown up."

Gladion wasn't mad however. He just smiled, remembering how much their mother would baby her ever since the UB incident at the Aether Paradise and Faba's lab and with them both when they were kids before then. "Yeah, I remember those times well. She always loved to shower us with love as any normal parent would. Even if we won't know what happened to Dad, I'm sure he would've wanted us to live out our lives with Mom happily to the fullest. Even if it can get a little grating..." he agreed.

Lillie smiled, fondly remembering the fun times her family had together and had to admit that he had a point, "Yeah, it wasn't on anything big, really. It's just that I get a little annoyed since she keeps on doing this to me when I'm clearly fine." Sarah wanted to say something to cheer her up but she decided not to, wisely knowing that this conversation was between her and Gladion alone. Lillie then frowned, thinking about what could've changed in Lusamine.

"The thing is, recently, she seems to care about no one else but herself. I wonder when Mother started doing that," she mused.

[8:32 PM]

"Our mother's a very busy woman, Professor Burnet and Wicke can vouch for that. I guess it means that compared to other children, you and I had to go through so much more than what anybody else can go through," Gladion reassured as he gave a neutral look. "I'm not sure if Mother's been able to tell you this while she was away at work but judging by the sound of it, it's clear she still loves us more than anything," he continued. "And, if there's one thing that she's been afraid to lose, it's losing us."

"I wish I could be sure about that..." Lillie sighed, still not convinced. As she watched Lillie and Gladion talk, Sarah had no idea that Professor Burnet had snuck up behind them and began watching the trio from a distance, amazed to see Gladion again after so long.

"You know Professor Burnet and Wicke both work for the Aether Foundation, right, Lillie?" asked Gladion. "I heard from Professor Burnet that while she was there, she would come in with new reports on how the Pokemon there were doing to her. And, when she would enter the room, she would notice Mother lost in happy thoughts about us before she spearheaded the group." Lillie was amazed as she soaked the revelation her brother gave her in.

"You think so?" she asked curiously. Gladion nodded as he turned to her and smiled again. "She might not admit it but I think Mother would much rather be spending more time with us instead of being the leading Chairwoman of the Aether Foundation," he revealed. "She loves us more than anything and it would be crazy for her to keep being away from us for so long. Even I'm starting to feel like I should pay her a visit and let her know how I'm doing."

"Wow, I never knew she felt that way..." Lillie gasped again, in complete awe.

"Why don't you mention that to her next time you decide to talk with her? Let her know how you feel and ask her to tell you how you feel about coming home and being a family with us again?" Lillie was in awe from this and she didn't know what to think. While she did feel annoyed about being babied as she was before, she did regret lashing out at Lusamine when she was being a loving mother towards her daughter and she wanted to make amends with her for their previous argument.

Finally, she smiled and nodded as she turned to her brother, "I will, thanks, Gladion." Gladion returned the nod before he grew a serious face, knowing what he and Sarah would have to do next as he looked at the two girls.

"Now, Lillie, I talked things over with Sarah yesterday and I think it's time you remember everything, to know the truth about what happened that day," he began. "I'm sure Sarah told you earlier and of what Burnet and Wicke said to her, right?" "Yes, she did. I did suspect there was more to it than that but I didn't want to push and neither would she do the same to me," Lillie nodded determinedly.

Gladion nodded, satisfied from what he discovered. He then turned to Sarah, "Are you ready, Sarah? I want your Silvally out at all times if we're going to ease Lillie into this." Sarah looked to Silvally as he nodded, agreeing to help her, Lillie, and Gladion.

"We're ready, Gladion," she confirmed. "Good. Come with me," he called as he led the way towards Ten Carat Hill and the cavern where he, his Silvally, Umbreon, and his Lycanroc were staying at. When they reached the underground lagoon, Sarah and Lillie were asked to remain with Umbreon and Lycanroc while Gladion went to bring his Silvally over to them. Sarah was worried that things would go horribly wrong and was worried about how Lillie will react to Gladion's Synthetic Pokemon, she'd never forgive herself for what'll happen to her.

Finally, Gladion returned and carefully brought his Silvally, still in its Type: Null form, forward. Lillie's breath hitched as she looked at her brother's Silvally while Sarah's Silvally, Nebby, and Snowy gently nuzzled her and soothed her nerves as she froze. She could hardly believe it; she was finally face to face with the Pokemon that saved her from UB-1 after so many years.

"Lillie, this Pokemon here is my Silvally," Gladion began. "It was the very same Pokemon that rescued you from that Ultra Beast that attacked you. I know you think it attacked you but I assure you that it didn't want to harm you." Lillie was still stunned as Sarah gently walked her over to Gladion's Synthetic Pokemon with her own Silvally by their side to help her. As she was guided toward the masked Pokemon in front of her, Lillie started to recall bits and pieces of the incident and what she had to go through.

She remembered being at Aether Paradise with her family and playing with the Pokemon. Then, she recalled when the Ultra Wormhole first opened in Faba's lab and when she was caught in UB-1's tentacles and screaming and calling for help. Finally, she thought she saw Gladion's Silvally jumping towards them and forcing the Ultra Beast off of her, saving her from a terrible fate before it looked at her with soft eyes coupled with letting out a soft growl, as if it was trying to tell her if she's okay. Her eyes watered as tears started forming as she was brought back to reality and she had her hand on the Pokemon's mask and it relaxed to her touch.

"It was you... You're the Pokemon who I thought tried to attack me but... But, you saved me..." she muttered quietly, in a state of shock. "Do you... Really remember me, from all those years ago...?" The masked Pokemon nodded as it closed its eyes gently and growled again as it leaned its masked head into her palm, as if it was somehow relieved to see her again.

"Lillie, I know it's crazy for you but this is what you and Gladion really needed," Sarah spoke up as she and Gladion's Silvally turned to her. "What happened to you that day was an accident and it was the only way your brother could think of to save you before it got worse. His Silvally wasn't trying to hurt you, it saved and protected you from the Ultra Beast before it could pull you to its world."

Lillie was silent and so were the rest of the Pokemon with the trio and Gladion's large partner as they carefully watched to see if the young girl would have a memory overload and they would have to take action. So far, that doesn't seem to be the case but that didn't stop them from being ready for anything as Sarah continued to talk.

"It's okay for you to feel scared of touching Pokemon after the trauma you went through but even if it may not look like it, Silvally is genuinely sorry that it made you feel that way after it saved you from UB-1. Professor Burnet and Wicke told me everything and so did Gladion when I told him what they revealed to me about the incident and I can understand where they're going. But, if you two want to truly move on and you can be really happy again, this is necessary for you. Look into its eyes again and tell me, would it really attack you if it was worried for your well-being after you were attacked by the Ultra Beast?"

Lillie and Gladion's Silvally looked at each other in the eyes as they both recall the incident involving UB-1 and the budding of Lillie's fear of touching Pokemon from it with the masked Pokemon's presence. Slowly but surely, she started to see the incident and the reality of what happened and the aftermath were become clear.

Her tears streamed down as she held Gladion's Silvally's masked head in her hands and leaned towards it, sniffling quietly as she gave a soft smile. That was all Gladion and Sarah needed to hear and they smiled, like a great weight was now somewhat lifted off of his and Lillie's shoulders.

All too soon, it was time for Lillie and Sarah along with Snowy, Nebby, and Sarah's Silvally to leave Gladion and his Pokemon until their next meeting together. All three human trainers were smiling softly as they made great progress with helping Lillie remember some important bits of the incident to at least get a better picture of the story. Even though it's not much, it was enough for Lillie and Gladion to put some part of their past behind them.

"Gladion, thanks for everything tonight. I think I'm starting to remember what really happened that day," Lillie thanked her brother. "It's not much but it's a great start and I'm sure I'll remember everything by then."

"I'm just glad to help you put what parts you have of the incident to rest and we had a great deal of help from Sarah," Gladion nodded as he softly smiled at Sarah. "Sarah, I don't know how we can thank you enough."

"I'm just glad to help you two start putting everything about the incident behind you," Sarah modestly said. "You two needed this so badly and I was the one to give you two a nudge in the right direction, even our Pokemon had to do the same."

"Even so, you did us a good deed for the both of us and my Silvally," Gladion put in, still smiling. "I never knew how badly we needed this to happen and I can only imagine how better things would get for us all." "Then, I suppose you'll keep in touch with us more often than you'd normally like, right?" quizzed Sarah.

Lillie nodded in agreement, "Will you at least keep us updated with what you and your Silvally are doing while you're gone?" Gladion chuckled as he closed his eyes, still smiling.

"We'll see," he says simply. Lillie went over to her brother and gave him a final hug before they would have to return to Sarah's place and he returned it, knowing that everything will hopefully be fun for the two of them. "Goodbye, Lillie, Sarah," he told them as he and his Pokemon returned to Ten Carat Hill. Lillie and Sarah smiled happily for them.

As Gladion left with his Pokemon following him back to their cave at Ten Carat Hill, Professor Burnet watched everything and she smiled with a nod of approval before she returned to Sarah's house herself to go back to sleep. She didn't need to say anything, she knew that Sarah did a good turn for both Lillie and Gladion but promised herself to never let anybody else know about this. When Gladion and his Pokemon were out of sight, Sarah and Lillie turned to look at the ocean with their Pokemon as they held Nebby and Snowy in their arms again.

"Sarah, do you still think it was the right choice to do what you did to help me and Gladion?" Lillie asked curiously. "You two badly needed it considering how much trauma and pain you've been through and what you have to let go of," she reassured her friend and fellow student. "If anything, ever since my unexpected trip back to the Aether Foundation with Nebby and my Silvally and heard everything the first time from Professor Burnet and Wicke, I had planned to help you two with this from the start. I didn't want anything like that to happen to you two again, not after how far you've come to become friends with Snowy and everyone else's Pokemon, even mine."

Lillie was touched by this and without saying a word, she put down Snowy and surprised the young girl with a thankful and gratifying hug. Sarah was taken aback but she smiled as she settled into it and returned the hug, mentally telling Lillie that she would do the same if their roles had been reversed.

Their Pokemon didn't need to say anything as well as they all smiled; Nebby, Silvally, and Snowy knew exactly what their trainers meant to say. "With a great deal of help from Sarah, Lillie and Gladion were able to put a huge fraction of their traumatizing past involving the Ultra Beast Incident behind them and help her slowly overcome her fear of touching Pokemon but when will they cross paths again? It's a great mystery for them to unravel as the journey continues!"


After meeting with Lillie and Sarah again, Gladion was starting to feel better and felt like he could move on from a part of his and Lillie's past involving the Ultra Beast Incident thanks to Sarah and her Silvally.

The following night, he was on his way to a motel further up the northwestern side of Melemele Island where he was temporarily staying at in addition to the caverns at Akala Island and Ten Carat Hill with Umbreon and Lycanroc by his side. To make sure he was still discrete about his Silvally, he returned the Synthetic Pokemon to its Premier Ball, hoping that nobody would be after him for the masked Pokemon still. But when he got back to the motel, the motel manager noticed him coming and gave him his room key.

"Ah, good evening, young man," the motel manager greeted. "A member of your family arrived here just a while ago so I sent him up to your room to wait for you." Gladion was surprised as he took his room key that had a Slaking keychain card, he wasn't expecting someone to come and see him.

"My family?" he asked before he got an inkling of a feeling as to who would be wanting to see him after so long. He decided to head to his room to find out while Umbreon and Lycanroc braced themselves to defend their trainer and Silvally since they also had a faint idea of who could be after the trio. When he opened the door, Gladion looked around to find nothing amiss in his motel room...

Until, he noticed a familiar scientist sitting on the couch with a soda he had on the table. It was Faba, one of the Aether Foundation's chief scientists and the creator of both Sarah and his Silvally's.

"Young Master, welcome back," greeted Faba with a joyous smile before it melted into a sly sneer. "Faba, I thought it was you," Gladion replied, his eyes narrowing at the cocky scientist.

"I wasn't expecting you to be so welcoming, so I can thank you for that little greeting," Faba said as he gave a mocking bow towards the young boy and his Pokemon. "That was nice."

"What do you want?" Gladion asked, not wanting to be kept waiting for answers.

"Rumor has it that Lillie is starting to slowly open herself to touching Pokemon again and it's all because of you and that girl, Sarah, and a Pokemon that you both know very well," Faba told him as Gladion started to face him, not taking his eyes off of the scientist. "If my sources are correct, the reason that I came here is that I'm asked to retrieve your Type: Null. This task conforms to your mother's wishes and she'll be wanting young Sarah's Silvally once I've taken Type: Null."

Gladion was not one to comply to Faba's wishes, even if he was following his mother's wishes for his and Lillie's safety. "I refuse!" he fumed adamantly. "And, if Sarah were here, she wouldn't be so kind as to return her Silvally to you without a fight!"

"Don't be so angry, you're the one who took the little guy without permission the last time you came back to the Aether Foundation," snarked Faba. "And, even if it left on its own free will with Tapu Koko's help, that Silvally is still our property and who knows what'll happen if it goes out of control in Sarah's hands."

"You think I'd give my Silvally back to you? You, the one who promised you could take care of Silvally and then put it in chains?!" Gladion snarled as he got ready to fight. "Lycanroc, Umbreon!"

"Lycan!" "Umbre!" his partners called as they braced themselves for the fight to help keep their friend from Faba's hands.

"You're choosing to resist? Okay, then," Faba smirked as he sent out his Pokemon partners. "Go, Alakazam, Hypno!"

The two Psychic Types appeared and took on their own battle stances as they prepared to assist their master in his crazed goal to steal Gladion's Silvally. "Now, Lycanroc, use Stone Edge!" Quickly, Lycanroc punched the ground and sent glowing stones at Hypno, as both he and Gladion hoped to take out the Hypnosis Pokemon first.

"Quick, Hypno, use Reflect!" cried Faba and Hypno created a psychic aura that stopped the Stone Edge attack dead in its tracks. Gladion realized this and decided to try a different tactic.

"Umbreon, use Shadow Ball!" he tells his Moonlight Pokemon before she shoots the Dark Type attack at their second opponent.

"Alakazam, use Miracle Eye!" Faba sneered as his more powerful Psychic Pokemon's eyes glowed and it shatters the Shadow Ball with ease.

"Combo attack, Stone Edge plus Shadow Ball!" Gladion ordered, still determined to not let his Silvally fall into the wrong hands and his Pokemon complied, feeling the same way as they prepared their attacks.

"Alakazam, Hypno! Hypnosis plus Psychic!" shouted Faba, with Alakazam and Hypno unleashing a combo attack of their own as they succeeded in putting Gladion's Dark Type partners out of commission.

"Umbreon, Lycanroc!" Gladion shouted as Lycanroc went to sleep and Umbreon was knocked out. "It appears you're done resisting, Young Master," Faba sneered.

"Why don't you just give up?" Gladion, not wanting to give up for his sister's sake and Sarah's, took out his Premier Ball and prepared to summon his Silvally, "Never, I'm not done yet!"

"Sorry, I'm afraid it's time for you to take a little nap," Faba smirked again.

"Hypno, Hypnosis!" Hypno used its Hypnosis attack at full charge and as much as he tried to resist it, he fell asleep as he blacked out and dropped his Premier Ball, all while Faba gave a menacing smirk.

"Pleasant dreams, Young Master," Faba mocked as he then took the Premier Ball holding Silvally. It was clear that Gladion, Lillie, and Sarah's troubles were not over yet...


Sarah's Team:

1. Pikachu

Moves - Thundershock, Tackle, Thunderpunch, Double Team, Thunderbolt, Electroweb

2. Lycanroc (Dusk Form)

Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Rock Slide, Accelarock

3. Lycanroc (Midnight Form)

Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Protect, Rock Slide

4. Silvally

Moves - Crush Claw, Air Slash, Hyper Beam, Swords Dance, Dragon Claw, Multi Attack, Tri Attack

5. Mudsdale

Moves - High Horsepower, Double Kick, Mud Slap, Bulldoze

6. Wooloo

Moves - Wild Charge, Tackle, Electro Ball, Volt Tackle

7. Ponyta (Galar Form)

Moves - Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse, Psybeam

8. Meowth (Alola Form)

Moves - Thunderbolt, Scratch, Iron Tail, Dark Pulse

9. Brionne

Moves - Pound, Water Gun, Icy Wind, Bubblebeam, Aqua Jet

10. Milotic

Moves - Dragon Pulse, Ice Beam, Twister, Mirror Coat

11. Mareep (Shiny)

Moves - Thunderbolt, Confuse Ray, Power Gem, Signal Beam

12. Sylveon

Moves - Tackle, Tail Whip, Copycat, Shadow Ball, Light Screen

13. Sliggoo

Moves - Water Gun, Protect, Tackle, Dragon Breath, Dragon Pulse

14. Noctowl

Moves - Wing Attack, Foresight, Air Slash, Confusion

15. Espurr (Male)

Moves - Helping Hand, Psyshock, Light Screen, Future Sight

16. Espurr (Female)

Moves - Heal Pulse, Psyshock, Dark Pulse, Future Sight

17. Snivy

Moves - Vine Whip, Leaf Storm, Twister, Leaf Blade

18. Oshawott

Moves - Water Gun, Razor Shell, Icy Wind, Iron Tail

19. Tepig

Moves - Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Solar Beam, Rock Tomb

20. Vulpix (Alola Form)

Moves - Protect, Powder Snow,

21. Dragonair

Moves - Dragon Rage, Iron Tail, Ice Beam, Hyper Beam

22. Zweilous

Moves - Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Wing Attack, Flash Cannon

23. Trapinch

Moves - Crunch, Dig, Rock Slide