Pokémon Radiant Sun

The awkward moment when you forget to update on Wednesday. Whoops!

Greetings and salutations! Here's another chapter and I honestly don't have much else to say except that you people are all amazing! And why's that you may ask, my dear reader?

Radiant Sun just passed over 300,000 views.

That's just...mind-boggling. You all rock. Thank you, so so much. I don't really even know what to say except...thank you! I hope I can continue to entertain you all for many more years to come, and I appreciate every one of you.

Some other news I can comment on is that we got some awesome Pokémon news a few weeks back. I totally forgot to mention it then, even though my Discord crew already knows my thoughts on the latest batch of reveals from Game Freak.

Shining Diamond and Brilliant Pearl look pretty great. The chibi look is different and I'm always down for something fresh, and playing through Sinnoh again with a presumably revamped story (like they did with OR/AS by heavily expanding on it) will be loads of fun. I'm pretty excited for them.

As for Pokémon Legends Arceus, I am extremely excited for that. Not just because the three starters available are literally all of my favorites, but because the concept and look of this game look so fantastic that I can't help but be hyped. I really hope this becomes the start of something amazing for the series.

And as for Pokémon Snap, it looks like a lovely time and I look forward to playing it. Especially since I recently beat the original Pokémon Snap for the first time like two months ago. Honestly, I'm feeling very positive towards the next few games we'll be getting in general.

Shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, fatwhiteguy, Madame Rodoshe, and Oragonking. Thanks for the feedback and support, as always.

Enjoy.

Chapter 121: Homecoming

Many Years Ago...

Johto Region

Goldenrod City

"Please watch your step as you disembark and have a pleasant stay in Johto."

Ashton rolled his eyes as he walked through the airport, reclaiming his suitcase and calling out Damien. The Houndoom shuddered for a moment before yawning and following his Trainer. Ashton checked his watch and hummed in satisfaction.

"We actually got to Goldenrod on time." Ashton remarked as Damien looked around the airport in bewilderment, growling softly. "Yeah, I'm surprised too. We're definitely not in Alola anymore."

Going from Malie City to Goldenrod City was a massive shakeup in scenery to the pair. People, lights and sound assailed them from all angles even as they made their way through the airport, and upon leaving, stepping out into the city nightlife left the duo stunned for a few moments.

People's shouts carried through the air, mostly greetings or street food vendors trying to make a few bucks, while the streetlights overhead filled the roads with bright shining light. A massive department store towered in the distance, drawing Ashton's attention, before it was diverted by the sight of the famous Goldenrod Radio Tower. Ashton simply stared at the city for a few minutes, an excited smile on his face, until Damien nudged him and barked.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Ashton muttered, smirking at the Houndoom. "Can't be all amazed and stuff forever, huh? We've got things to do. Still…"

The duo began walking through the city, Ashton's suitcase rattling on the cobblestone as he carried it through the streets and looked back and forth, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells around him. The smile on his face never diminished as he simply absorbed the fact that he wasn't in Alola anymore and was in an entirely new region. And while it was noticeably different than what he was used to already, Ashton knew that this was only a positive thing.

"I feel like it's even more of a blessing, considering I'm as far as I can physically get from Ano Aupuni and all of the crap that surrounds Alola. Now, first thing's first. Food. Then a hotel." Ashton remarked aloud, earning a snort from Damien as well as some grumbling. "I'm not getting the suite. I'm not made of money, you mangy mutt."

Damien rolled his eyes, growling something unpleasant as Ashton glared at the canine. "Fine. We'll get the damn suite. But you're gonna win me some battles from the locals to help cover the costs." Ashton responded, causing the Houndoom to grin victoriously.

"Laugh it up, Damien. I only plan on using you to get money." Ashton grinned, making the Houndoom scoff at him. "Okay, I'll give you that one...You're more than strong enough to handle whatever riff-raff come at you. Though, to be honest, I don't really feel like battling anyone if I don't have to."

"Grrrr."

"If you want me to challenge Trainers and just let you do whatever, that works. Not like anything has actually knocked you out since…" Ashton trailed off, flinching at the memories of Roran. Blood. Pain. Betrayal. "A-a-anyway, you can handle yourself. We'll pad our pockets with some easy money if we need to, but if we want to recover from the trip in style, I think we'll be okay for a while."

Damien grinned at Ashton his tail wagging in excitement. Despite how dour the Houndoom could be at times, Damien really was quite the character. Ashton smiled in reply, patting his Partner on the head as they began their walk through the city. It took a bit of doing, but Ashton eventually found the hotel he was looking for after asking an old lady for directions. A few minutes after that, Ashton was surprised to get a phone call.

"Who on earth…?" Ashton muttered, shocked that anyone would be calling him. Flipping his phone, he saw that it was Lusamine.

"Lusa?" Ashton said as he placed the phone to his ear.

"You said you'd call when you touched down in Johto!" Lusamine cried out reproachfully, causing Ashton to laugh as he moved the phone away from his ear. Despite being on the phone, Ashton continued to make his way towards a large hotel in the distance that his travel agent had recommended to him for its comfortable rooms and privacy. Ashton didn't really care about that, but after the month-long boat ride out of Alola and then catching a five-hour plane flight from Olivine to Goldenrod City, Ashton was ready to simply itching to get to a room that was designed for comfort instead of function.

"Sorry, Lusamine. It's been a busy day. How's everything going with your therapy?" Ashton asked, dropping his voice a little as Damien glanced around while Ashton's attention was diverted. It was always important to keep up your guard, especially when you didn't know the area.

"It's...slow. They're upping my dosage for the time being since I've been so out of it lately. Depressed and anxious, nightmares, paranoia. I think some time focusing on my conservation efforts will keep me distracted from everything else." Lusamine said, her voice bitter with loss. Ashton couldn't blame her. Adele had been her first Pokémon. That carried so much weight with a Pokémon Trainer, especially once as seasoned as Lusamine. And to have Adele cut down by someone that they had all trusted so much…

"I'm sure it will. It's exactly the same thing I'm doing. I want to use what Tommy gave me to start fixing things. Invest the money and develop businesses that can change the world as we know it." Ashton responded, smiling as he thought about it. Yes, it was a pipe dream and he was naïve in the ways of the world beyond his tropical homeland, but he was willing to try his hardest anyway.

A world where anyone could be whatever they want to be. A world where people wouldn't be forced to go down the road of a Pokémon Trainer just because that was the norm. A world where people could simply be free. A world without criminals exploiting others for their insane schemes.

A world of peace.

"We can do this together, Lusa." Ashton finished, trying to put as much sincerity as he could in his voice. "You just have to hold on."

"Of course...I know that. It'll just take time. Thankfully I have a lot of support here in Kalos. Maybe me and Mohn can focus on building a foundation for our conservation group here. It has a long way to go, though. We don't even have a name."

"Oh god, I'm awful with names. Don't ask me."

"True. You named your Starter 'Damien' of all things."

"Grrr…"

"Oh crap, he heard that, huh? Sorry Damien!" Lusamine finally laughed, which was the reaction Ashton was hoping for. Damien huffed in reply, though his smile told Ashton that he was also relieved that Lusamine's mood was lighter now.

"He'll be fine. Mangy mutt convinced me to get the stupid suite at this hotel we're going to." Ashton remarked, causing Damien to roll his eyes.

"A suite, huh? Just be careful not to spend all that money Tommy gave to you. I know we taught you better than that." Lusamine said in a tone of disapproval, but Ashton shook his head. And then realized the woman didn't see that because they were on the phone, so he verbally responded.

"Trust me, it won't be a regular thing." Ashton reassured her, grinning now. The two friends talked of inconsequential matters as Ashton drew closer to his hotel.

"Well, I'll let you go now. Today's our day off from things and Mohn wants to go to this new music store that opened up on the other side of the city." Lusamine said with a note of exasperation tinged with amusement.

"Sounds like fun! I always wanted to pick up an instrument myself. Maybe a clarinet. Or a flute." Ashton remarked, laughing a little.

"Really? Maybe we can send you one as a birthday present!" Lusamine laughed again, though she got herself under control after a few moments. "Have a good night, you brat. Be safe out there, okay?"

"When am I ever not safe?"

"Literally anytime ever." Lusamine responded dryly over the phone, causing Damien to chuckle in amusement while Ashton smirked.

"Trust me...I'd like nothing more than a simple life, Lusa. That's why I moved." Ashton said as he entered the hotel, smiling as the air-conditioning washed over him and the faint tinkle of piano music drifted to his ears. "If I never have to battle again, it'll be too soon."

"I know the feeling...Anyways, I'll talk to you soon. Take care, okay?"

"You too, Lusa. Tell Mohn I said hi."

"He'll already be cranky that I called you without him being here. Hehehe!" Lusamine giggled before hanging up the phone. Ashton's smile slipped away as he entered the hotel proper, more than ready to finally sink into his new life.

And leave Alola and its misery far, far behind.

Present

Aether Paradise

"Branch Chief Faba...Status report."

The man in question straightened his lab coat at being addressed, smirking as he stepped forward. Miss Wicke and two seemingly nondescript Aether Foundation members stood beside her, though if one had been paying attention, they would have recognized one of them as Jack Knight. And if one was paying very close attention, they would have seen through the guise of Jack Knight and saw Cipher Admin Dawson.

Doctor Colress stood nearby as well with Dusk the Absol standing by his side, the scientist's expression one of veiled amusement. Lusamine leaned back in her chair as Faba cleared his throat and began to speak.

"We've stepped up security measures. Based on Borlath's declaration, he could arrive in Alola at any time, and have expanded our efforts to lock down the facility should Cipher breach Aether. We've also stepped up training procedures with our staff and the Aether Protection Team in terms of self-defense and routine battling drills. If he comes, we'll be ready." Faba briefed Lusamine, who nodded in satisfaction.

"How about our...assets? Have we beefed up security in safeguarding those?" Lusamine asked, with Faba frowning at the slight subterfuge. But he knew that Miss Wicke and Colress was not privy to all of the research being performed at Aether Paradise, so he decided to be discreet while answering.

"It would take someone personally taking the override elevator code from myself or you to get through to the sub-labs in the event of a facility lockdown. The only keys to access your private quarters are also kept on my person in a secure pouch only I can open, so even if I were to be attacked, our enemies would not be able to reach your home." Faba continued, grinning now. "But that's only if Cipher does come. Base-wide defenses are running at full capacity. It would take some incredible levels of luck and surprise for them to get the drop on us. Anti-air defenses are able to be initiated with the touch of a button and the only way to enter the facility at that point would be by boat."

"Which can be easily monitored, since the only ferries we allow into the building are owned by myself anyway. Excellent work, Faba. Your ingenuity serves us well." Lusamine purred, causing the man to puff himself up with pride.

"Of course. Our work on the Purification Chamber and the Ultra Space Initiative are paramount to the betterment of humans and Pokémon. Such a task is befitting of a noble man such as myself, so I shall defend it with pride." Faba boasted, grinning widely after speaking. "As the Aether Paradise's last line of defense, I myself shall take to battle myself should it ever be necessary."

"Very good, Branch Chief Faba. I seem to recall you once challenged for the Championship in Kanto and Johto when you were younger." Lusamine recalled, shutting her eyes for a moment. Faba nodded, his smile becoming less smug.

"Yes, back when I was a teenager, I was quite into the battling scene. After my...failures to become Champion, I devoted my life to scientific endeavors and found my true life's calling. That being said, I do keep my Pokémon in shape should the need ever arise for me to battle." Faba explained as Lusamine hummed in satisfaction.

"As have I, since the Royal Avenue attack. Excellent. I'm impressed, Faba. Keep up the excellent work." Lusamine praised the man before turning to address the personnel in the room. "Protection detail, you're dismissed until your next shift. Please, enjoy the time to yourselves."

The group of Aether Foundation members left the room, wishing the higher-ups a good day. Wicke pretended not to catch the wink from Knight as he passed by, but was distracted by Lusamine's next words.

"Branch Chief Faba...Please allow me some time with Miss Wicke. We need to discuss some matters that are between the two of us. In the meantime, could you perhaps help Colress with some of the final adjustments to the Purification Chamber? I'd like a proper demonstration of its properties by the end of the day." Lusamine said to the man, who hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Very well, President Lusamine. I'll return to the Labs. With luck we'll be able to have everything running for you by the time you come down. Please, excuse me." Faba then made himself scarce, leaving the two women standing alone in the office.

"Ma'am? Is something the matter?" Wicke asked carefully, knowing full well that Lusamine was a powder keg right now, just ready to explode. Over the past few weeks, the President of the Aether Foundation had become increasingly paranoid. She had stopping speaking to several of her associates, and even children like Sun and Hau had been ignored in favor of focusing on the Ultra Space plans.

"Miss Wicke...Are you with me? Or against me?" Lusamine asked, her voice deadly quiet as the Assistant Branch Chief's eyes widened in surprise, mostly at the level of coldness the President was speaking with.

"I-I...Of course I'm with you, Madam President. I want to do what's best for your family and for the Aether Foundation." Wicke responded, bowing to Lusamine, though she couldn't hide how shaken her voice had become.

"See to it that you do, Wicke. I want no further distractions or hindrances. And the price for disloyalty will be met with…" Lusamine's smile curled slightly, twisting into something terrifying. "Swift, certain, and severe punishment. You know how much these plans mean to me."

"I…I-I…" Wicke swallowed, almost able to feel the terrifying aura emitting from Lusamine as the woman's awful smile widened at Wicke's fear. "Of course, ma'am. I understand."

"Good. Now leave me. I need to think." Lusamine muttered, leaning over her desk as she looked down at the Ultra Sphere resting in a small pedestal on her desk. Wicke bowed once again and walked out of the office, where she managed to get ten steps away before she began to hyperventilate from the overwhelming fear she felt. Knowing full well she was on camera, she quickly made her way out of Lusamine's corridor and deeper into the Paradise itself, into an area she knew was more private before she succumbed to her panic attack.

The woman shook with fear as she recalled the malice within the words of a woman she had once known as a loving and doting mother. A Champion in every sense of the word, someone who embodied all that was good in the world.

Now reduced to a scheming woman of such ambition that she would burn the world to ashes and sacrifice her children's wishes for otherworldly whims. Whims that could damn the entire planet should they reach fruition.

"I need a vacation." Wicke sighed as she walked down the hallway, rubbing her forehead as she finally regained control of herself, taking time now to slow her breathing and to center herself.

Between being concerned about Lusamine's schemes and worrying about Lillie and Gladion, Wicke nearly forgot about the looming threat of Borlath returning to Alola. The fact that the man in question was coming to Alola for retribution was beyond terrifying to Wicke, especially considering what he had done to his enemies thus far.

And then...there was Lusamine. Who had clearly descended much deeper into her madness ever since her confrontation with Roran Rubinara. Lusamine had become much more focused on her efforts to reach the Ultra Space, even going so far as to send out squads to the different islands to search for Lillie. Wicke tried her best to hide where she suspected Lillie actually was, but her efforts had begun to get noticed.

Hence Lusamine's threat, and Wicke's terror. Because if things had gotten to this point, it meant that the President was getting more and more desperate. And people did terrible things out of desperation.

"I don't know what to do...I c-can't save everyone." Wicke whispered to herself as she leaned against the wall, shutting her eyes as tears threatened to spill from them. She really was on her own here.

Gladion and Lillie were children, and were in too much danger to be of any help. Colress was an option, and a powerful ally, but he was in too deep with the Purification Chamber project and Wicke didn't want to distract him from that. Anyone else outside of Aether was a no-go, since that'd only draw more attention.

And thanks to Lusamine's manipulations, most of the staff was completely brainwashed to obey her. Wicke didn't have any proof of that, but it was the only explanation for the sudden increase in almost god-like reverence Lusamine had at the Aether Paradise over the past three or four years. What she really needed was just someone to confide in who hadn't been exposed to Lusamine's machinations.

Much to Wicke's surprise, life had a funny way of working things out.

"Whoa, you okay?" came a familiar voice, causing Wicke to gasp in surprise and look up.

Jack Knight was looking at her with concern, his Manectric looking at her with a matching expression of worry. Wicke realized quickly how much she had let her distress show, and with a fortifying intake of breath she quickly straightened her outfit and opened her mouth, only for Dawson to raise a finger.

"No need to explain. Not my business. Are you gonna be alright, ma'am?" Knight, known to some others as Cipher Admin Dawson, asked with concern.

"Yes. I'll be fine. It's just...been a long day." Wicke admitted, pressing a hand against her head. She really did try not to let her frustrations or concerns show around the others, but Knight had proven to be exceptional by Aether Foundation standards and someone she allowed a bit of leeway when it came to their interactions.

"Understandable. You kinda do have to deal with a lot of crap. On that note, some of us on protection detail got an early release today, sooo...Lunchtime margaritas?" Dawson offered, half-jokingly as he gestured down the hallway. Wicke rolled her eyes and walked past him, even as Dawson grinned. She wiped her eyes and kept walking, fighting off a smile as she completely regained her bearing. She was a professional, after all.

"We have work to do, Knight." Wicke said as Dawson caught up with her, grinning still. "Or at least, I do."

"~That wasn't a nooooooo!~ Dawson sang in reply, causing Wicke to look over at him in consternation. As much as she wanted to just go back to her room and think of some kind of plan against Lusamine's schemes, she honestly needed a small break from things. Maybe this was fate's way of telling her to take a step back and breathe.

"You're just the...You know what? Fine. But you're paying." Wicke added after the fact, causing the smile to finally fade from Dawson's face.

"Aww. Really?"

"Yes. I think I'll order an appetizer there as well." Wicke added, causing Dawson to sigh as he adjusted his cap. Wicke then blinked as a sudden realization occurred to her, but Dawson threw his hands up dramatically.

"Fine! Let no one ever say that Jack Knight wasn't someone who knew how to treat a lady." Dawson said as he flashed Wicke a grin. He then realized the woman was staring at him intensely, causing him to take a step back. "Uh, Miss Wicke? You good?"

"Sorry, I was...just lost in thought. I'll meet you at the docks in ten. I need to run by my office. I think you have the right idea, so long as we don't go overboard. No one likes to deal with a Drunk Joe." Wicke reminded Dawson, who simply groaned.

"Joe...Please don't remind me. That's one adventure I don't want to relive. See you in ten then, Miss Wicke." Dawson said as his revoluted look returned to his usual charming smile as he turned around and departed, leaving Wicke to her thoughts.

"Now...that's a thought." Wicke thought with a small smile as watched Knight leave, the man himself now whistling a merry tune. Knight may have been an Aether employee, but he wasn't one of those who had fallen under Lusamine's influence quite yet. He had only been there a month or so, and most of that time had been spent working with the main staff or with herself and Faba. If anything, she considered the man at the very least a good friend by now.

Meaning that it was entirely possible that Lusamine hadn't corrupted him like the others.

"I wonder if I might actually be able to make Knight an ally of mine...If anything else, having someone to confide in might be nice." Wicke mused, glancing at the back of the man as he walked down the hallway and out of sight. Wicke smirked then, realizing that she actually had a very good idea as to how to test the man's loyalties. The Assistant Branch Chief walked off in the other direction, feeling a bit more hopeful than she had just a few minutes prior.

Because while she was completely overwhelmed at the opposition facing her and the children who she strove to protect...She wasn't about to give up on any of them!

The Next Day

Alola Region

Malie City

"This is a lot of people for a girls day out, Mallow."

"And the problem with that is…?"

Lillie simply sighed and hung back further, with Acerola giving the blonde a sympathetic look. At the moment Lillie was part of a large group that consisted of Lana, Mallow, Acerola, Marnie and Gloria. Mallow had organized a large shopping trip for all of the girls for some reason Lillie didn't quite understand. Unfortunately, she also had a problem with saying no to people, hence why she was walking down the sidewalk instead of in Malie Library.

"Seriously, I can't be the only one hyped about this. It's been ages since I had a shopping spree with you!" Mallow said as she hugged Lillie, beaming happily as she let go of her friend and skipped ahead, turning around. "Now come on! I heard they had some killer deals going on about two blocks away."

"I still need to get souvenirs for the dorks back home. They'd be pretty mad if I forgot." Gloria remarked with a smirk, glancing over at Marnie and the small Morpeko on her shoulder. The girl from Spikemuth simply shrugged.

"I did want to spend a bit of time shopping…" Marnie admitted quietly, causing Gloria to grin at her. "But I could do without the enthusiasm. People are staring…"

"It's kinda hard not to draw a crowd when Mallow is out here living her best life." Lana remarked ruefully, grinning at them as they finally caught up with their friend.

After about half an hour, and several purchases later, the girls ventured towards another boutique down the road, where they lapsed into conversation. Lillie was pouting, trying not to let her displeasure at having her day taken away by Mallow to show.

"I honestly wanted to get back to reading today. Between doing research on Nebby and helping Sun out with…" Lillie trailed off, not wanting to explain things that weren't anyone else's business. "Things, I really don't have time for this."

"You need a break, Lillie." Lana chimed in, grabbing the girl's hand. "After everything that's happened, you've been working really hard. Just one afternoon with your friends won't hurt."

"Besides, it'll be a few days before we can get ahold of that Mega Evolution book, since it's coming from Kalos." Acerola piped up, causing Lillie to flinch.

"For someone in charge of a secret library, you're really bad with things that are supposed to be secret." Lillie muttered, making Acerola laugh nervously. "But fine. You win."

"Huzzah!" Mallow declared from some ways ahead of them. Marnie and Lana rolled their eyes in sync while Acerola chuckled. Gloria dragged Mallow towards a hat stand in the street, where the group spent a solid twenty minutes trying out hats. Acerola attempted to convince Lillie to buy a new one, but she refused politely.

"Piers might appreciate this one!" Gloria proclaimed merrily, sporting a pink and black hat with several exotic-looking feathers in it. "Speaking of, where is your brother, Marnie? I haven't seen him since yesterday."

"My brother had an argument with Chairman Rose last night and now he's out trainin' out on one of the Routes. Honestly, he's been worryin' me lately." Marnie remarked, biting her lip as Gloria gave her friend a look of concern. "I...I think the job is really botherin' him."

"Who's Chairman Rose?" Mallow asked, confusion evident as she walked back over to them. Marnie looked at the girl in surprise, crossing her arms as her mouth twitched upward ever-so-slightly.

"Can I go live in the cave you crawled out of?" Marnie asked, causing Mallow to cross her own arms and huff.

"Well, fine then! Don't answer my question! Instead, we shall go check out the swimsuits! Gloria my dear, let us go!" Mallow said, holding out her arm to the other Galarian girl, who beamed and took it. The two girls skipped off, leaving them behind.

"What the heck did I just witness?" Marnie asked, her voice tinged with confusion and bewilderment.

"Mallow doing Mallow things. Honestly? You get used to it. Now, let's keep moving! You two are leaving soon and there's so much in Malie you haven't had a chance to check out!" Acerola chirped, running after the two prancing girls. Lana was sympathetic at least.

"Sometimes you just have to accept the weirdness that comes with your friends. And goodness knows that nothing short of the infinite power of Arceus itself can control the unrelenting horniness that is Mallow…" Lana muttered the last part to herself as the girl in question happily skipped off with Gloria while Marnie did her best impression of a Shuckle and made herself look smaller. Lillie honestly felt kind of bad for her. At least Lillie knew everyone present. The other girl was clearly uncomfortable.

"I don't know if I'd call the chick that. I'd say she's a bit too...forward." Marnie muttered, causing Lillie to nod in agreement. Lana flushed at the comment, not thinking that she had been heard.

"Yeah, that's Mallow. She means well, though." Lillie offered, causing Lana to laugh and Marnie to hum thoughtfully.

"Whoa! Check this out!" Mallow suddenly called out, looking over at Lillie, Marnie and Lana. The three girls joined Mallow and Acerola while Gloria hung back, looking nervous.

Curious, the trio joined Mallow at the window and noticed her staring at a small white sofa that vaguely resembled an Audino, except that it was all-white. The "Cinnamoroll Sofa" had two cinnamon roll-shaped pillows lying on it and two blue eyes staring at them with bright pink cheeks decorating the couch itself.

"That sofa wasn't in the window ten seconds ago." Gloria remarked, sounding confused.

"Weird...For some reason I'm getting terrible vibes from that sofa. Like, really bad vibes." Acerola remarked, sounding genuinely surprised. "I've got a knack for sensing Ghost-types, and the waves of evil coming from that sofa are insane."

"Is it cursed?" Lana asked, sounding concerned.

"Who cares!? It's so big! And fluffy!" Mallow breathed, her eyes wide with excitement as she pressed her face against the glass. Marnie and Lana both took two steps back from the window while Gloria, Lillie, and Acerola stepped forward.

"So is Sophocles, and I don't see you ranting about him."

"HUSH Lana! I must admire this!"

"It's a sofa."

Lillie opened her mouth to speak, but then noticed the sound of singing in the distance. She glanced around the street, but couldn't tell where it was coming from. When Lillie turned her attention back to the shop window, the blonde noticed that the sofa was now surrounded in a circle of heavenly light.

"What's with the singing?" Acerola asked, glancing around in confusion.

"Did that sofa just blink?" Marnie asked, pointing at the strange-looking sofa that was indeed now blinking at them.

"It's like Arceus has appeared before us…" Mallow whispered with reverence in our voice. "I want to buy 20 of them!"

"It's literally a sofa!" Lana exclaimed again as Mallow turned towards her with narrowed eyes, putting her hands on her hips.

"Do not insult the Overlord who rules over everything! Soon we shall all know the truth of its fluffy glory!" Mallow declared as she attached herself to the glass once more while everyone wondered what on earth was happening.

"I think we should leave now." Lillie said quietly, backing away from the strange sofa on display, which had stopped glowing with white light. Everyone but Mallow nodded, and the Grass Trial Captain had to be physically dragged away by Lana before they could continue on their way. Mallow broke free and ran back to the window, her expression pleading.

"But...but! I need it! It's so fluffy! I must worship our new Overlord!" Mallow protested, causing everyone to exchange looks. In the end, Marnie grabbed Mallow by the ear and pulled her from the window while the Captain whined in pain.

"Down girl...Or I'll have Morpeko crawl into your shirt and shock you until you learn to behave." Marnie said as she dragged Mallow away, causing the Captain to let out a cry of despair while the other girls laughed.

Lillie decided she rather liked Marnie after that point.

Lunch was an enjoyable affair. Acerola knew the best places in town to eat, so the girls stopped by a sandwich store and ate their fill. Tea was served and Mallow eventually recovered from whatever the hell happened with the Cinnamoroll Sofa. Oddly enough when the group walked back by the store the sofa had vanished, which somehow was more terrifying.

A few hours later, the group decided to take another break in a small park on the eastern side of the city. Despite not being nearly as famous as the Malie Garden, the area the girls found themselves in was quaint and peaceful.

To Lillie's surprise, she noticed two of her friends sitting within the park. Noah and Vivian were sitting on a stone bench towards an area surrounded by flowers, with a morose-looking Vivian being consoled by a concerned Noah. Lillie walked over to the couple, with Noah noticing Lillie's approach.

"Hey there. Good to see you all again!" Noah said with a friendly smile. Lillie gave the sickly man a wave, though her attention soon turned to Vivian, who looked up at her.

"Good afternoon, Vivian. How are you feeling?" Lillie asked. It had been a few weeks since MissingNo had rewound time at the cost of its own life, and Lillie knew that Vivian was still taking the loss of her friend hard. Lillie wondered if there was more to this, though. Grief was a terrible and painful thing, but Vivian seemed to be particularly distraught over this.

"S-sorry...I've just been in a really bad place lately. I'll be fine." Vivian offered a watery smile at Lillie that she didn't believe for a moment. Sun had told her about the events surrounding the Anomaly's demise, and that it had sacrificed itself to rewind time and to save countless lives from Roran's mad scheme. It had saved the city and prevented thousands upon thousands of deaths.

"You're not fine. But that's okay...Take as long as you need, sweetheart." Noah said comfortingly, running a hand through Vivian's long black hair.

"You really took that Anomaly thing dying really badly, huh?" Mallow asked quietly. Vivian gave a shaky sigh, ignoring the annoyed look Noah was giving the Captain.

"No...What's got me so messed up is that at the end of the day, MissingNo suffered so much and had to give up what little it had left just for me. It isn't fair. Why did it have to make that choice? Because some asshole decided it would make things more interesting…" Vivian scowled and spat on the ground in anger, though her anger soon gave way to despair. "And b-b-because such power had a cost...Soon enough, I'll have to make a sacrifice of my own." Vivian admitted, causing Noah to look at her with alarm.

"What did you...what are you sacrificing?" Noah asked Vivian, who smiled at her boyfriend. It was a smile that was broken, but a flicker of determination crossed into her gaze. "Vivian, what's going to happen?"

"Wouldn't you like to know? I made my choice. I chose to help save the world and keep my friends alive. After how many mistakes I've made and how many people I've hurt, I knew that this sacrifice was worth it...I've seen what will happen. Soon enough, I'll have to face the consequences of what I chose to do." Vivian responded quietly, her smile slipping away.

"It...sounds like this was a really big decision. Is there anything we can do? You chose to save everyone with MissingNo." Lillie asked Vivian, who smiled a bit more sincerely at the blonde-haired girl.

"You're sweet, Lillie, but no. I'll have to face...what's coming, alone." Vivian took a shaky breath to compose herself, standing up suddenly. "MissingNo showed me what was to come. It showed me the future. And it's a future worth sacrificing for."

"But what did you sacrifice? Power like that comes at a cost. And if you're this upset, it has to be bad." Acerola asked with concern, causing Vivian to look at her.

"What do you fear the most in this world?" Vivian asked, offering them a terrible smile. The smile of someone who knew an awful truth, and had now accepted it. Lillie thought about it, as did the other girls. Marnie and Lana visibly shuddered.

Lillie knew that her mother capturing her and Nebby, and murdering the Cosmog in order to unleash monsters upon the world was her biggest fear. One she was determined not to let come true.

"I'll have to face my greatest fear. That is my sacrifice. But I'm scared. Terrified. I've always been a coward, even around people like Wes and Aria who are so damn brave and dashing and it's so cliché but it's true. And then there's me…" Vivian's calm broke as another tear ran down her face, her expression crumpling. "I'm sad. I'm scared. I'm angry. And I don't know what to do except wait for what comes next."

Everyone remained silent at that, thinking on Vivian's words. The violinist and MissingNo had chosen to make a sacrifice of sorts to rewind time and save countless lives. But a price had to be paid and it seemed like Vivian would have to pay up soon. And judging from how upset she was about MissingNo's demise and what fate inevitably awaited her, it was no surprise the violinist was so distraught. Vivian sat back down as Noah wrapped an arm around her, with the violinist breaking down into tears again.

"Tell us a story about MissingNo." Marnie suddenly said to the violinist, who looked at the younger girl in surprise. Mallow and Gloria nodded in agreement, sitting down on the ground in front of Vivian.

"I...Huh?" Vivian simply said in bewilderment. Lillie smiled kindly at her older friend, as she understood what Marnie had meant, due to what Vivian herself had told them about MissingNo and it's powers. The power to assume the form of characters from other worlds.

"MissingNo knew all sorts of characters...No, people from all sorts of different places. Sun told me about what it said during that big fight, and you told us more. The things MissingNo could turn into were all real people. And that only MissingNo knew their stories. And now you know them. Tell us, Vivian. That way we can carry on MissingNo's memory." Lillie said kindly as she sat down beside Vivian, who looked down as she thought about it. The tears never stopped, however, but a sense of strength came into her gaze as she slowly nodded, a heartbroken smile coming to her face for a few moments later.

"Alright...I can do that. T-there's so many I could do, but I'll start with one of my favorites. Of Agent Indiana, a hero from a world in the future." Vivian began haltingly, trying to compose herself. Noah brushed away Vivian's tears and hugged her gently, which gave her the will to continue.

Lillie and Marnie shared a smile as Vivian began to speak, telling everyone present the story of one Agent Indiana and the adventures that she went on as a part of Project Freelancer. It wasn't the ideal way for someone to heal from such a loss. MissingNo's life and death had been a tragic and miserable thing. But the most important thing one could do was remember. Because if you remember someone, and hold their memories close to your heart…

Are they ever truly gone?

Meanwhile…

Alola Route 11

"I'm not in trouble, am I?" Sun asked as they made their way onto Route 11, the road of Malie City giving way to dirt as they walked. Ollie chuckled beside the boy while Laura Smiles glared reproachfully at the man before turning her attention back to Sun, her expression softening.

"Of course not, sweetie. We just wanted to have one last talk before you head back out into the Wilds." Laura said as she walked down the path with her son and her boyfriend. Ollie held Laura's hand with a smile as he playfully ruffled Sun's messy black hair. Sun groaned and tried to move away from him, but was unsuccessful.

"What else did you want to talk about?" Sun asked his mother. After all, they had already talked extensively about what had happened with Roran and Borlath as of late. Ollie was against Sun going back out into the Wilds at all, but Laura was firm that Sun would continue on his Island Challenge. While she was worried for her child, she knew how important being a Trainer was to Sun. And if Borlath was returning to Alola, Sun needed as much training as he could get.

"Well...we wanted to ask you that. Is there anything you wanted to discuss before you continue on your journey?" Ollie asked Sun, who actually thought about it. There were several things he wanted to ask, but he couldn't decide what. In the end, he went with an issue that hopefully two seasoned Trainers could help him with.

"How can I get a Pokémon that hates humans to get along with humans and Trained Pokémon?" Sun asked the two adults. "Alastor obeys some orders but he's only doing it because he wants to get stronger. But he's a big jerk And threatens me on a regular basis."

"It's not completely unheard of for this to happen. It occurs mostly with traded Pokémon, but sometimes you'll run into Pokémon who just hate humans. Whether that's due to the environment they were raised in like your Alastor or due to a bad personal experience with a human can vary." Ollie explained, humming thoughtfully after a moment.

"So what should I do about Alastor? He's...pretty dangerous." Sun said nervously, causing Ollie to look at him.

"All Pokémon can be dangerous. It's up to their Trainer to teach them to use that constructively and be their best self. Alastor has proven to be dangerous and unpredictable, yes. But in your two battles with Roran he's shown to be shrewd and adaptable, which is something rather rare in Pokémon so soon after being caught. It's similar to Penny, actually." Ollie explained to Sun, who nodded in agreement. Penny was exceptionally intelligent and had a knack for innovatively winning battles, and Alastor was similar to her in that regard.

"So you think I should keep trying to get along with him? Also, I've got another question. How did a Self-Destruct even do so much damage to Roran? I get that it's a strong move, but Roran's Cloyster blew up and even though we weren't as close to it as Roran was to Alastor. Even though Cloyster was way stronger than Alastor, it wasn't nearly as bad. Why is that?" Sun asked the two adults, but it was Laura who fielded that question.

"Attacks like Explosion and Self-Destruct vary on power, from my understanding." Laura explained, crossing her arms as her tone switched to that of a teacher giving a lecture. It was one Sun was very familiar with, considering his mother was actually a teacher, so he paid close attention.

"When a Pokémon uses an attack like that, they have to put a certain amount of their own life-force into it. Attacks like those render the Pokémon using the move unconscious at the cost of incredible power. However much life force the Pokémon using it is willing to use will correlate with how powerful the move itself is. And the backlash on the Pokémon itself." Laura finished as Sun unclipped Alastor's Ultra Ball and held it up.

"So he had to have put a large amount of life force into that attack to have dealt the damage he did to Roran...And I put him up to it." Sun muttered, his eyes turning a darker orange. Sun was surprised when Ollie put a hand on his shoulder and knelt down.

"Sun...You may have made some comments that put the idea in Alastor's head and gave him permission to do what he did to Roran, but that doesn't make you someone like Amber Fontaine or criminal. I use Pokémon to apprehend suspects all the time, and there are occasions where force is necessary. Sometimes even to the point where suspects require hospitalization." Ollie said in a low voice, smiling at the boy.

"What Ollie is trying to say…" Laura interjected, reaching forward and brushing a lock of hair out of her son's face. "Is that we all make mistakes out of anger and frustration. You were put in a bad situation and you trusted your Pokémon. Thankfully everything worked out in the end, but this is a lesson for you as a Trainer. Pokémon grow and develop much like you do. Take this time to temper Alastor's behavior. You asked earlier if you should keep trying to bond with Alastor and make things work. I think that once you get through to him, you'll have an incredible Pokémon that will help you on your journey."

"It's also an important life lesson. You can't get along with everyone you meet. Sometimes you have to deal with people you don't like and find a way to get along regardless." Ollie adding, with Laura nodding in agreement.

"It's a lot harder than it was for everyone else though. Even Oliver came around pretty quick, and everyone else was terrified of him at first." Sun remarked, causing Ollie to frown after a moment.

"It's so weird to have a Pokémon named after me. It's incredibly flattering though." Ollie remarked, grinning at Sun after a moment. "Not all Pokémon are the same, Sun. From my understanding, the group of Golem your Alastor comes from are notorious for hating humans. Try to slowly break him out of his shell. Battle with him, bond with him, and in time you'll start to become closer. Go slowly. It won't be easy, but you're in this together now."

"Especially since he's not able to return to his clan even if you do release him." Laura reminded Sun, who sighed as he thought about it. That had to be incredibly hard for Alastor. To be snatched away from your family and be unable to return home. Sun may have done it in self-defense, but he did take Alastor away from his life and forced him into being a Trained Pokémon. He understood Alastor's frustration.

"I'll try and make him warm up to us. I guess in the grand scheme of things, Alastor's behavior problems are the thing I have to worry about the least…Though Oliver worries me too." Sun muttered, causing Laura to hug her son.

"Everything will work out. Just leave Cipher to the adults and the people who've been gearing up to deal with them. You explore. Train. We will deal with whatever your father has planned when he comes for Alola. But for now...enjoy yourself, dear. After the past few weeks, you deserve this." Laura said fondly, kissing her boy on the forehead before Ollie stepped forward, hugging them both.

"Besides, it's not like we're not going to be taking precautions." Ollie remarked happily, pulling out a small white device that looked like a remote key for a car, except it had two large blue buttons. The Captain of the International Police handed the device to Sun, who took it with a confused look on his face.

"This is a Location Trace. It's linked into a global satellite that the International Police are hooked into. With it, we can keep tabs on your location at all times." Ollie explained, pointing to the larger of the two buttons on the device. "Press this if you run into anyone from Cipher. It'll alert me and my team right away and we'll head straight to your location. Keep that thing safe, okay? And make sure to keep in touch daily."

"Gotcha." Sun replied with a grin, pocketing the device. "I guess I should be heading out now. I want to get at least a few hours of traveling in before sunset."

"Take care, kid. You got this!" Ollie said with a fist-pump while Laura gave Sun a smile.

"Go get 'em, sweetie. I love you." Laura said to her son, who's smile faltered as he stepped forward and hugged his mother tightly. Laura wrapped her arms around Sun and held him for a moment before releasing her child and patting him on the head.

"Take care, Sun. Make sure to call, okay?" Laura said to her child, who simply nodded. With that, Sun began walking down the path as Ollie and Laura watched him go. Soon enough, the couple were flying away on Ollie's Braviary while Sun thought about their conversation. One of the many that they had had over the course of the past few days. Sun called out Oliver and Penny and prepared himself to start giving out instructions, when to his surprise he ran into another familiar face.

It was a tall teen with an ugly scowl on his face, his clothing stained with dirt from being out in the Wilds for an unusually long amount of time. His bright pink mohawk was what let Sun recognize him immediately. However, Sun's gaze was drawn to the right arm of the young man, which was hanging limply at his side and clutched by his left hand.

The older Trainer walked down the road with anger flashing in his eyes at the sight of Sun, who simply watched him approach. When Sun and the Trainer were a mere ten feet away from each other, the new arrival stopped in his tracks and stared right back at Sun.

"You…" Sun muttered as Geoff simply stared at him. He eventually winced, his limp arm hanging at his side obviously causing him some pain.

"Out of my way…" Geoff snarled as Sun, who was all too eager to move from the older Trainer's path. Geoff made his way down the road out of sight, but Sun's thoughts lingered on the older Trainer. Partly because of his annoyance at Geoff's attitude, but also because he remembered vividly the things that the older Trainer had done in the past. Abandoning his Pokémon and leaving them to die in the wilderness and abusing them.

"What a jerk." Oliver remarked idly, landing on the ground and preening his feathers. Penny nodded in agreement, causing Sun to smile.

"Maybe. But sometimes we've got to deal with jerks in our lives and roll with it." Sun said with a smile as he looked back down at Alastor's Ultra Ball before clipping it to his belt.

"Isn't that the truth?" Penny laughed, looking at Oliver as the bird stopped preening to stare right back.

"Hey, even a Pokémon as stunningly handsome as myself can admit when he's being, as Professor Kukui puts it, a 'little shit'." Oliver demurred with an amused hoot, causing Sun to roll his eyes. "I'd like to think I'm a lot better than the Rowlet that constantly pecked you, Sun."

"Come on, you two. Let's get some training in before we set up camp. I've got Lillie doing some research for me, so in the meantime we can work as hard as we can." Sun said to his two birds, who both nodded and took flight.

Sun smiled as he watched them both soar off and continued down the road to the next step on his Island Challenge, the Ghost Trial.

Meanwhile…

Akala Island Coastline

"It's been so long…"

"That means nothing to you though, does it?"

"No...If I had my way, I'd never see these shores again. But life has proved to not give a damn about what I want. So here I return, to where my journey began...So that it may end on a proper note."

Borlath's jet-black eyes regarded the distant Konikoni City with bitterness as he stared at the glittering city lights. If he recalled, this was a city where the Kahuna of Akala Island usually lived, though this was not always the case. According to his knowledge the current Kahuna, Olivia, was a popular and powerful Trainer who operated a jewelry and stone shop within the city.

Borlath also knew that she had battled his son twice. Meaning that he had lost to her once, before defeating her at the Festival of Celestial Lights. It had apparently been quite the showdown.

However...instead of pride, all Borlath could feel was despair.

"It shouldn't have been like this. How did I let all of this slip away from me…?" Borlath thought to himself, leaning forward to grip the railings, inhaling the salty sea air as his eyes flickered red with anger. Sun was supposed to be safe from all of this. He was supposed to walk down his own path, one where he could be free of the tribulations and dangers that the Trainer lifestyle was filled with.

Instead, he had embraced it. And all Borlath could think of was all of the horrible things that lurked within the depths of Alola from his own days as a Trainer. Scheming politicians, deadly Pokémon, and the Island Trials that the culture of Alola regarded more highly than the lives of the children it forced into them. Damn the consequences and damn those whose families were torn apart by Alola's traditions.

Thankfully for him, he and the remainder of Cipher would remain undetected for the forseeable future. For now they sailed towards their destiny aboard the rather aptly-named Salvation, where everything would fall into place at last.

The Salvation was, for all intents and purposes, Borlath's secret weapon and ultimate fallback plan in case things went south with Cipher and he needed to destroy the organization. Paranoia had served Ashton well, and he was grateful for his foresight and investment in such a vessel. The Salvation was an enormous armored battleship capable of withstanding just about anything that could be thrown at it. On top of that, it also contained enough armaments to level entire cities should Ashton so desire.

It was also designed to be a mobile base of operations in case the main headquarters of Cipher in Celadon should ever fall. Equipped with some of the latest technology at the disposal of Aupuni Industries, it was capable of remaining cloaked as it sailed through the waters of Alola, as well as being able to house more of their development efforts with the Umbral Project.

Which had once again borne fruit, with a Cipher's fifth, and likely final, Umbral Pokémon.

Thankfully, the Salvation was only known to a top-secret team of Cipher personnel who Borlath kept on a separate payroll from his normal staff out of paranoia over Greevil. Amber was the only Admin who knew of the existence of the battleship, and knew that it was something used only in absolute emergencies. Considering the loss of their forces, and more importantly Borlath's sharp downturn in sanity as of late, this definitely qualified as one.

"It'll be interesting to see how this goes down." The Cipher Master turned his head slightly to the left, regarding Amber Fontaine with a nod as she joined him at the railing. "This region is interesting...It'll be even more interesting to see where it ends up at the end of whatever your current scheme is, sir."

"My 'current scheme' is to finally be done with this. I'm tired, Amber...I'm tired of this life. I'm tired of Cipher. I'm tired of constantly ruining everything in this ill-fated attempt to make amends for my mistakes. So now I'm going for the direct approach to satisfy my ambitions." Borlath said evasively, causing Amber to raise an eyebrow.

"If you're so sure of success, then why didn't you do all of this at the beginning?" Amber asked Borlath, who's eyes flickered black.

"Because I was afraid...I swore to never come back here. To never tread upon these shores again and make a better life elsewhere, away from it all. And because somewhere deep down I always hoped that at the end of this, I could fix things with my family. That I would have something to come back to when we reached the light at the end of the tunnel. But no...This plan will end in my death. That's why I had to try other schemes before now." Borlath explained, crossing his arms, his tone eerily calm. "Because of what I stood to lose, and because the memories were too painful. But now that I've been betrayed by the person I cared about most in this world, and the second-most terrifying person I ever knew is dead by my hands, I no longer care about such promises or memories. To hell with them all. I care about results. I will fix the damage I have done to the world, while also ridding the world of my existence as well."

"Second-most terrifying? Roran was only second?" Amber asked, confused.

Borlath offered her a small smile. "My father will always dominate my nightmares, Amber. Betrayals of the family always hurt the worst, and as bad as Roran was...Ano Aupuni never received judgement for what he did to me."

"...And what exactly did he do to you?" Amber asked, causing Borlath to lean forward and place his hands on the handrail.

"Use your imagination…" Borlath responded coldly, his eyes burning crimson with hatred. Amber felt a cold shiver roll down her spine as she did exactly that. The implications were very, very grim. She thought horror was beneath her at this point, but she supposed that the Curse of Life had changed things. "Now then, I don't want any misguided efforts to prematurely end things getting started. I want this. Please respect that."

"Are you actually concerned I'm going to stop you?" Amber asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

"I'm concerned that once the Curse of Life kicks in, you'll stop me from ending my own worthless life in an attempt to fix this disaster. I will fix this mistake, Amber. I will make this world into a peaceful place...And then I will be no more." Borlath spoke quietly, gripping the railing tightly as Damien looked away. "In the end, I have to die for my sins. There's no escaping fate."

"You once told me violence is a cycle. That it can be met by only more violence." Amber said slowly, looking away from Borlath. "If this is your way of stopping the violence, then...Do whatever you think is right, sir. I'll follow you until the end. Hopefully once I regain my emotions, I'll continue to believe in that. But you deserve some peace."

"Thank you, Amber. Between you and Damien, I don't think I have anyone else in this world I can actually trust anymore." Borlath said, his tone tinged with barely suppressed anger. Amber knew he had taken Sun's disregard for his own safety and Borlath's wishes very personally. The assassin didn't blame him.

The boy had been given everything he had wanted out of his father time and time again, only to throw back in Borlath's face. This latest instance was the biggest insult of all. All Borlath had asked was for Sun to stay out of Cipher's affairs and let Borlath personally handle Roran. And for good reason, because the madman had been far more dangerous than even Borlath had speculated.

In return for this, Sun had been given Borlath's blessing to become a Trainer. And Borlath promised that he would begin working with the Pokémon League in earnest and, once certain steps had been taken, would surrender to them and shut down Cipher.

Instead, the Pokémon League attacked the Cipher HQ directly, killing at least a quarter of their forces and hundreds of innocents who had nothing to do with Cipher. This stopped Borlath from halting Roran's scheme in time, and allowed the madman the time he needed to fully realize the Ritual of the Lost God.

And on top of that, Sun not only got involved in the rescue mission to recover Kahuna Hala's grandson from Roran's clutches, but personally battled the madman despite Sun's promise to his father.

"I never imagined I would live out something from my own worst nightmares...It was a miracle that those three escaped from the Magma Chamber alive." Borlath thought, hating the fact that he was only able to hack into some of the machines in the room to help the Trainers battling Roran to give Amber enough time to intervene.

"But the fact of the matter is...I'm tired of this. And I've finally reached the point where even my love for Sun can't outweigh how much I don't want to live in a world like this." Borlath thought, his eyes flickering to black yet again. "So I will return home. I will stake my claim. And I will make them submit before the end."

"Um...Excuse me, sir?"

Borlath's eyes snapped open and he turned around to address a Cipher Peon who was standing at attention behind him. "Sir, I've finished your...uh, 'special project'." The Cipher Peon spoke to Borlath, who smiled after a moment.

"Excellent. Bring me to it." Borlath said as the man nodded and hurried off, with Borlath's long strides allowing him to easily catch up with the Peon. Amber followed, curious as to what the leader of Cipher was up to. It didn't take long for them to reach their destination, which was a dark room filled with equipment Amber didn't recognize, but what did stand out right away was a long object wrapped in white cloth that sat on a table in the middle of the room.

"I made it exactly to your specifications, sir. Please, take a look." The Peon instructed the Cipher Master, who picked up the object with reverence before looking down at the weathered book that sat nearby. A book that Borlath had given to the Peon to help him create the object in his hands.

"Roran...To think your terrible schemes would help me finally right the balance." Borlath thought as he remembered where he had acquired the ancient book from, unraveling the object held within the cloth with care.

It was a wooden staff. Or rather, a spear of sorts. Carefully crafted by the Cipher Peon in question, it was meticulously detailed in flowing designs of flowers and imbued with different colors. Yellow, pink, red, and purple. Spiked designs began at the bottom, flowing up into the middle of the spear, where four faces were depicting strange-looking expressions, but was also where the staff was supposed to be gripped. The top of the spear was the thickest point, embedded with gleaming metal spikes and ending with a black metal tip, though also carved into the wooden spear was a small hook of sorts. Tangled within the wooden hook was an item that most people in Alola would've recognized in an instant.

An Island Challenge Amulet.

"Perfect...more than perfect. Excellent work." Borlath said as he held the weapon up, admiring the craftsmanship. "Usually Sharpedo teeth would be used, but I prefer the modern mixed with ancient touch anyway."

"The book you provided was very helpful with the details." The Peon confirmed as Borlath swung the spear experimentally in the air, exhaling softy with a smile on his face. "It's as close to the genuine article as I could make it sir."

"Very good. You're dismissed, soldier. Thank you for your time and patience. Expect a bonus for sure." Borlath said as the Peon grinned, bowing slightly to his boss for a moment before leaving the room.

"So...what's with the spear?" Amber asked, curious as to what Borlath had in store for them all. He was rather tight-lipped on his plan even now, and Amber knew that this was leading up to something.

"I'll let you know when you need to know. Now then, we have some training to do. My new team is severely lacking in experience and now's as good a time as any to get them some. You're going to accompany me through some of Alola's scenic routes as well." Borlath said, gesturing to the six capsules clipped to his belt.

"You have Damien, though. Isn't he clocking in around level 80 these days?" Amber asked Borlath, receiving a nod.

"83, actually. But I can't rely on Damien for everything. My old team was much more powerful than my current one is, even if Damien is still around." Borlath explained, looking out into the distance, his eyes darkening to black. "The only two things you need to concern yourself with is being able to serve as a distraction when I need you too and to help me train my team as quickly as possible."

"If I'm going to confront the Guardian Deities of Alola. I will have to be at nothing less than my best. And considering the first target is the God of Life…" Borlath trailed off as Amber winced, knowing full well what Tapu Lele could do. "Exactly. We're going to spend the next few days training before we begin. After that, well...We'll see whether it's enough to topple the gods themselves.

Amber nodded in agreement, walking alongside Borlath as they made their way into the depths of the ship. "I still don't know why you're bothering. No one in Alola could take down you and the Legendaries at your disposal. And it's not like the League are dumb enough to start throwing their best Trainers at Alola and risk an all-out war."

"It's best not to tempt fate, Amber."

Meanwhile…

Kanto Region

Viridian City

"Damn it, where's my charger…"

"..."

"I know I put it around here somewhere. Have you seen it?"

"...?"

"Seriously, man. The mute thing's getting old."

Blue crossed his arms as Red stared at him blankly for several seconds before slowly smirking at his best friend and longtime Rival. Red then leaned backwards until he fell onto his bed, causing Blue to shake his head in bemusement. Red then pointed at Blue's bed in the hotel, causing Blue to blink once and then shrug, walking over to the bed in question.

"Whatever. I-Oh hey, here it is. How'd it get here?" Blue asked as he reached down and pulled the phone charger out from underneath his own bed and shut his eyes, sighing deeply as Red coughed a laugh at his expense. Blue shrugged again a moment later and walked over to his suitcase, tossing the charger into it. With that, he zipped the suitcase shut and crossed his arms.

"That's that, then. Just gotta get up in the morning and be on our way. Man, we haven't been traveling in a while, huh? What do you think Alola will be like?" Blue asked Red, who opened his eyes and stared at Blue. "It can't be a total shitshow."

Red sat up and put a hand to his chin in thought before signing a few gestures. Blue nodded, leaning against his suitcase.

"At least you're choosing to communicate today, ya jerk." Blue remarked, grinning at his Rival. "But nah, you got a point. I think we'll have a few days of calm before things get exciting. Hopefully this big plan of Leon's pays off."

Red nodded, signing more with his hands as Blue nodded in agreement. "He's really torn up about that attack on Aupun Industries. I mean, we got a lot of the bad guys, but we killed civilians by attacking that building. I'm not okay with what we did either. It's...still something I'm trying not to think about. Honestly, if this Battle Tree thing goes well, I want to use that as an excuse to get away from the League officially. You know? We've been their attack dogs for way too long."

Red nodded again in agreement, causing Blue to sigh in relief. The duo had known each other since they were babies, and had been bitter Rivals until well into their teenage years. It took Red finally losing a battle and Blue becoming a Gym Leader for the two longtime Rivals to finally reconcile and become the best friends they always should have been.

Kids were stupid about things sometimes.

"I guess we'll see what happens when we get there. Like, I get why it was all necessary, but did we really need to go that overboard? Especially since that Borlath guy seemed pretty happy to be able to finally stop all this crap...Guess we'll never know-" Blue began to say, only to be stopped mid-sentence.

BOOM!

"What the hell!?" Blue yelped as he stumbled in surprise by the loud slam that came from their door that reverberated through the entire room. Red's eyes were wide with surprise as Blue righted himself and glared at the door.

"Were we compromised? Damn, looks like-" Blue began to say, worried about a possible threat like Cipher attacking them. What it ended up being was so much worse than that, however.

"You two really thought you could leave without me!?" came a shout from the other side of the door, one that the two men knew very well. Red shivered as his eyes went wide in terror while Blue visibly blanched.

"How did she find us!?" Blue whispered, a notable tremble in his voice as Red grabbed a Poké Ball and called out his Charizard, who looked at him in confusion. Another boom racked the door, causing the mighty Charizard to realize what was going on and take a step forward, flaring its wings and preparing to attack.

"BLUE! RED! GET OUT HERE YOU COWARDS!" screamed a voice from the other side of the door, one that Red's Charizard recognized immediately and caused his pupils to shrink with fear. The Flame Pokémon took three steps back, grabbed his Poké Ball off of the table and tapped the center button, returning himself to the ball.

Red simply stared at the ball for several moments as it dropped onto the table before looking at the door with the expression of a man walking to the gallows.

"Well...shit." Red muttered, causing Blue to grin widely and fist pump in triumph.

"HA! I knew it!" Blue suddenly yelled out before clamping his hands over his mouth with wide eyes in terror. The door suddenly glowed bright blue and the lock suddenly turned. The door slowly opened and Blue grabbed his friend and pulled Red in front of him, intending to use him as a human shield.

Standing in the doorway was a woman in her early twenties, wearing a dark blue blouse with black flowers adorning the sides and a mid-length red skirt. She had long brown hair tied into a ponytail and brown eyes narrowed in anger at her two childhood best friends, even as the Clefable standing behind her lowered its glowing hand with amusement.

"H-hi there, Leaf. Um...Long time no see?" Blue tried, causing Red to facepalm just at the attempt. Leaf growled in annoyance as she walked into the room, returning her Clefable and then kicking the door shut behind her.

"So, going on a life-changing trip to Alola without bringing me along, eh?" Leaf said brightly, skipping forward as Red and Blue both backpedaled. "Just like the last three times you guys went on vacation together. Without me. Despite allllll the times I bring you guys along on my business trips to Kalos and Unova."

"N-n-now w-w-w-we didn't leave you on purpose, Leaf! The League wants us to go set up some training facility and keep an eye on Cipher in Alola! It's not just a vacation! We might be there for years!" Blue tried to explain, causing Leaf to narrow her eyes.

"You still could've told me! What if Red sneaks off and hides on another snowy mountain again?" Leaf demanded, causing Red to cough in embarrassment.

"That's...actually a fair point." Blue admitted, causing Red to roll his eyes before getting a glare from Leaf.

"You both are soooo deep in the doghouse. I should uppercut you both right now...But. I'll be nice. So...Where's my ticket?" Leaf breathed, causing Blue and Red to both shiver as if they had both been hit by an Ice Beam. Blue frantically whipped out his phone, holding it out to Leaf like a glove of garlic to a vampire.

"I-I-I can probably add a ticket to the travel package Steven got for us! So please don't break our limbs. I need those…" Blue pleaded with his best friend, who snorted in amusement but crossed her arms.

"You best get to it then. I'll go grab my bag." Leaf said smartly, smiling brightly at her friends and giving them both a warm hug before scurrying off to get her things. Red and Blue both let out sighs of relief, with Red's sounding almost like a dry sob of terror.

"That was terrifying! I nearly crapped my pants!" Blue wheezed as Red walked to the hotel's fridge and pulled out a beer. To Blue's surprise, Red popped the cap off and chugged the beverage in a single go. "See, you've got the right idea…"

Red dug out another beer and tossed it to Blue, who sighed as he popped off the cap and pulled out his phone. Red grabbed a second bottle of booze and took a draught from it as Blue growled in annoyance. After all, he had an extra plane ticket to buy and an annoying extra best friend to tow along on this peace-keeping mission.

Leaf skipped back into the room as cheerful as can be, towing along her own suitcase and now sporting an adorable blue sunhat. "I wanna fly first-class too! That won't be a problem, will it Blue?"

"Just dig the knife in a little deeper, will ya…" Blue muttered under his breath, but not quietly enough because Leaf quickly rounded on him.

"WHAT WAS THAT, MISTER!?"

"You know what I said, you psycho!"

"Hmph." Leaf pouted as Blue finally got ahold of the airline and asked if an extra ticket could be added to their travel package. Leaf smirked in triumph as Blue accepted the extra charge and made all of their seats first-class. Professor Oak's three prized proteges were heading to Alola together, in style, and both Blue and Red knew that the region wasn't ready to handle Leaf.

NEXT TIME: Gladion confronts Sun and Hau, Wicke and Dawson have lunch, more squabbles, and Borlath has a...life-changing confrontation.

Q & A

From: Solana Leonhart

One thing I'm confused about, I don't know if I missed a point where it was mentioned before but when did Gladion find out about Guzma working with the Aether foundation? Or how did he for that matter?

Sun and Lillie are as adorable as ever. I kinda expected something like this with Brago and Winter, surprised it hadn't happened before-seeing what they're like and all.

As always, brilliant work.

It was hinted at in the last chapter, but will be explained in detail in the next. But he found out very recently offscreen. The confusion is totally understandable.

From: fatwhiteguy

Bravo you scamp! We all knew it was coming! Also when is Sun getting his Trapinch? I really really hope that his last pokemon is a Trapinch

I shall not confirm nor deny what Sun's last teammate will be. It's not too far off though.

From: Madame Rodoshe

Will there be a chapter where Ashton meet his parents in person? Is Ano a powerful Trainer? Do majority people of Alola afraid of Ano? I get he's an abusive father and has mental issues. Bonus questions, what are your thoughts of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl? What starter will you choose for the Legends of Arceus?

1. Can't say, spoilers.

2. Ano was a powerful Trainer back in his Trainer days and before his mental issues began to break him down to the point where he had to retire. He was a widely-liked and charismatic political figure in Alola for most of his life, which comes with a wide-range of benefits and a great deal of respect. He was also very good at having friends to cover up any hiccups and could manipulate people very easily, a trait Ashton would also come to learn. And most people in Alola don't fear Ano, but recall his days as a leader in Alola fondly.

3. I've already given my thoughts on BD and SP, but I'll say again that I'm very excited for them both. And I have no idea which Starter I'll pick. The three to choose from are literally my three favorite Starters. I'll guess we'll see!

What do you think of the games we'll be getting in the next year? Leave your opinions, speculations and thoughts in the review section below! (This goes for everyone.)

And that's all for now! Please make sure to review and leave your feedback on the chapter if you've enjoyed reading it. As always, favorite and/or follow the story if you want to get updates, and if you want to ask a question do so in the review section below. Discord invites are available if you PM me.

Take care and stay awesome.

Until next time, FlygonNick out!