Chapter Two.

Hau's POV
Okay, I'll admit that I had absolutely no idea what was going on.

Moons words kept circling in my head, again and again.

I didn't know whether to believe them or not, though I was certain Moon wouldn't lie to me. Especially when she bought the ferry tickets back to Mele Mele in the hopes of finding some answers. I had quite a few questions myself.

Was Gladion seriously created? What about his Pokémon? Hadn't Moon said something about Guzma wanting to use Gladion as a weapon? What was going on?

I tried my best not to let my questions distract me from what Moon was saying, though I did a particularly bad job at it.

"…and then maybe… what if… So that's that, I…" Her words kept fading with every new wonder I had, and I only snapped out of my daydreaming state when we were already at the ferry terminal.

"Hau?" she asked.

"Hm?"

"You're awfully quiet back there."

"Oh. Um, I'm just thinking."

"About the whole…" Moon gestured around with her hands. "…situation?"

"Yeah."

"Mm, yeah, same." Then it looked like something caught her attention behind him. "Okay, um, don't look now, but I think Gladion's behind you."

Okay, I know she just said, 'don't look,' but whenever someone tells you that, you instantly turn around. Moon grabbed my shoulder.

"I said don't look just yet," she hissed. After a minute, she said, "Okay, he's turned around. That is him, right?"

I turned around. The same blonde we saw was crouched down feeding his Umbreon Pokébeans. I only recognised him because of his spiked hood, and maybe also the Umbreon.

"Yeah, that's the guy," I said, turning back to Moon. She nodded determinedly.

Once we were aboard the ferry, it was only about an hour until we reached Mele Mele Island.

Gladion's POV
I exited the ferry terminal once it reached Mele Mele.

Honestly, why did Guzma suddenly bring up that I was experimented on? Why was he being so unfair with me? Sending me away from the team, fair punishment. Paying me only once a week when the payments were so little? Did he want his half-Pokémon pet to starve to death?

I'm not a pet, I reminded myself sternly. Or a weapon. Or someone's property.

Not that anyone seems to care.

I made my way up to Sunshine Inns and, after collecting the key from the innkeeper, walked into my room. Umbreon bounded onto the bed, got comfortable, and promptly fell asleep.

I smiled warmly at the Dark Type before releasing my other Pokémon from their Pokéballs. Null decided to sleep next to Umbreon, and Lycanroc—typically—started punching the cushions of the couch.

"Lycanroc," I started. "You know that you can rest every once in a while."

"Pfft, says you," it growled back.

"Oh, be quiet." Lycanroc smiled. I swear it enjoys annoying me.

"Alright, well at least let me help you 'train,'" I told it, holding up a pillow.

The Midnight Form was very strong, I had to keep dodging its attacks if I didn't want to end up against the wall.

And it wasn't long after that when someone knocked at the door.

Moon's POV
"Are you sure this is the room?" Hau asked me yet again.

"For crying out loud, yes!" I insisted.

"Alright, alright, calm down."

Rolling my eyes, I reached up and knocked on the door.

Almost immediately, it swung open, revealing the tall blonde trainer, his green eyes glowering angrily at me and Hau.

"What do you want?" he demanded with (hopefully) unintended hostility.

"We came here to ask you a few questions," I said. Gladion went to slam the door in my face, but I stopped it with my foot. "I overheard the whole conversation you had with Guzma, so don't think you're getting out of it." I think I might've been a little smug about it, but whatever.

Gladion stared at me.

Gladion's POV
Please, Arceus, tell me I didn't just hear what I think I did.

How did she 'overhear'?

I was kinda happy she came to me to ask me—

GLADION. SHUT IT WITH THE FANTASIES.

Moon's POV
I stared back at him. Reluctantly, he sighed and gestured for us to go inside his room.

The first thing that I saw was Gladions strange Pokémon. It was staring intimidatingly at me and Hau as we entered the small-ish space. Umbreon was curled up next to it, and a Lycanroc was standing at its trainers' side, growling continuously at us.

"Sit," Gladion told us, pointing at the couch. He pulled up a stool to sit in front of me and Hau. "What do you want to know?" It was a simple question, but I couldn't think of how to start answering. Beside me, Hau was dead silent, and so I knew he was also having the same trouble.

"Erm… ur… well, um…" Where should I start? My mind was racing.

"Okay, what did you overhear?" Gladion asked instead, his face neither openly aggressive nor welcoming.

"Um… all of it?" I tried. Gladion sighed.

"So you want to know what Guzma meant? When he called me a 'failed experiment'?" he asked. I nodded.

Gladion was silent for a minute. Sighing again, he said, "I've never told anyone before, so don't you guys start blabbing to other people, got it?" Me and Hau both nodded quickly.

"Ok. Well, my mother's the president of the Aether Foundation—"

"Oh! You must know Lillie then!" I gasped, making the sudden connection.

"She's my sister," Gladion explained. "Definitely do not tell Lillie. Anyway, yes, my mother is Lusimine. When I was little, my father disappeared through an Ultra Wormhole. It's like a portal that goes into another dimension, with incredibly strong creatures known as Ultra Beasts.

"Lost in grief, my mother realised a few years back that to get my father back, she would need to create a creature powerful enough to take down Ultra Beasts. The original plan was to make five of these creatures. One of the scientists, Faba, told Lusimine that to accomplish this goal, she would need human DNA.

"Yes, she chose her own son." My eyes widened. How could any one person be so cruel?

"Using a lot of…" Gladion closed his eyes. "…trial and error, Faba was able to create three of these creatures. Their names were Type: Full.

"But the real issue happened when they were making the fourth. Since I was the one that they were experimenting on, they would pass certain chemicals over me. The vial containing the injection for Type: Full's egg fell on me."

Gladion took a shaking breath in.

"I'll never forget the pain…" he said in a whisper. My hand flew to my mouth.

No…

"The next thing that I remember happening was waking up on the floor in my bedroom in my families Aether Paradise house. I had no idea how I had gotten there, but all the furniture was broken, and I was very scared for no reason.

"Lusimine decided that having Type: Full on the lose would cause too much inconvenience for her, so she ordered Faba to tightly conceal their power, renaming them Type: Null.

"When I ran away from home not too long after that, I stole one of the three Nulls," Gladion told them, beckoning his strange Pokémon over.

"That's Type: Null?" I guessed. Gladion nodded, patting the large creature.

"How did you end up in your room?" Hau asked next to me.

"What did Guzma mean by 'triggering it'?" I asked.

From the look on Gladions face, I could tell he didn't want to say anything further.

Gladion's POV
I looked at Null for help. How was I going to start explaining what I could do to them?

"Maybe just show them?" Null suggested. I wanted to answer it, but I couldn't with Moon and Hau watching me.

"Tell them how you told Guzma," Umbreon said, having been woken up by Null.

I nodded thoughtfully at its comment.

Moon's POV
Gladion nodded thoughtfully before saying, "If I tell you, will you promise not to tell anyone else?"

"Of course!" I said. Hau nodded.

"Especially Lillie," Gladion said, frowning at my enthusiasm.

"Yeah, okay," both me and Hau said. I was confused at his request—wasn't Lillie his sister? Did he not trust anyone?

"Okay." Gladion took a deep breath. "I… I'm going to be honest; I have no idea how to say this."

He paused.

"The chemical that dropped on me… er… it… how do I say this? It turned me… I'm just going to say half-Pokémon, since I'm lost for words."

"What?!" I asked, shocked.

"…Which apparently means I can understand Pokémon and turn into a Silvally at will," Gladion continued, his face full of uncertainty.

"WHAT?!" me and Hau said in unison, eyes wide. My heart was pounding.

"You can turn into a Pokémon?" I asked slowly. Gladion nodded. "That's insanely cool," I told him, a smile spreading across my lips.

"No, it's not," he said.

"How is it not?" Hau asked, eyes shining. "I'd love be able to turn into a… wait, what's a Silvally?"

"Silvally is the evolved form of Type: Null. And no, you wouldn't want to be struggling to contain it everyday of your entire existence," Gladion said, his face returning to its signature scowl. "When I say, 'at will,' I mean if I wanted to I could, but it also sometimes just happens, mainly when I'm experiencing a strong emotion. Hence why Guzma now knows."

"Can we see you as a Silvally?" I breathed.

"I'd rather not," Gladion replied, standing up and walking over to his bed. Flopping down, he picked up the book that was there and began reading.

Gladion's POV
After a moment of silence, and me trying to find which page I was up to in my book, Hau said, "Wow, I'd kill for a malasada right about now." I felt him looking at me meaningfully and ignored him.

"You'll always kill for a malasada, Hau," Moon laughed. "But, yeah, you're right."

She too looked at me with something on her face.

"What?" I asked, looking up. "I don't get paid until next week now." I returned to reading before I realised what I'd just said. "Actually, forget I said anything."

I could feel Hau and Moon staring at me with shocked expressions.

"You… you what?" Moon finally managed to say. "You don't get paid until next week and you're already out of food?!"

"I'm not even a member of Team Skull, and even members don't get paid well, plus Guzma's just reduced my payment," I explained, eyes on the page, but I was only pretending to read.

Gladion, get a hold on yourself and don't go saying foolish things like that ever again!

"Well, I'm going to go get some malasadas!" Hau declared. "I'll be back!" And with that, he ran out the door, hastily shutting it behind him.

Moon stood up and walked over to sit on the bed next to me.

"Gladion," she started, her tone worried. "When did you last eat?"

I shrugged. Stomach pains didn't affect me anymore.

Moon's POV
Gladion shrugged at my question.

No wonder he's so skinny, I thought, trying to process everything. Why am I so worried for a member of Team Skull?

Sure, he was interesting and has such a mysterious personality and the most greenest eyes ever—

I stopped my thoughts abruptly, not daring to venture into them any further.

"Gladion," I pressed. "Not trying to be a parent or anything, but you need to eat."

"I'm right," Gladion said, eyes still locked on the book in his hands.

"No, you're not."

"I am." His voice was calm, as if what he was saying was the simplest thing ever.

"Can you answer my question at least?" I asked. "When did you last eat?"

He sighed, closing his book. "I dunno. Two days ago?"

"What?!" I yelped. Did he not get stomach pains?

"Why do you think I didn't want to tell you?"

"I… but, still, if you don't get paid until next week and you haven't eaten in two days—"

"I've survived on less before."

"Are you serious?" I demanded. I don't think I could survive a day without eating, let alone an entire week.

"Why would I lie about it?" Gladion said as Umbreon jumped up onto the bed and sat half-on him, closing its eyes.

"I don't know. Hau is getting malasadas now, so—"

"I'll pass."

"What?"

"I said I'm alright, thanks," Gladion said coldly.

"No, you're not!" I exploded. "Now shut up with your damn pride and let me and Hau help!"

Gladion looked ever so slightly surprised at her tone. He rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever."

"Umbre!" Umbreon suddenly hissed at its trainer.

Gladion's POV

"Don't pretend you aren't hungry!" Umbreon told me aggressively. "I know you get us food before you get some! I know you always put others needs and wants before your own, but now it's your turn to let people help! This Moon girl has the right idea, listen to her and swallow your pride before you get hurt!"

Umbreon shocked me with its stern words.

"Alright, fine, maybe I'm overdoing it," I whispered.

"An understatement!" Lycanroc barked from where it was seated.

"How did you hear that from over there?" I demanded defensively.

"Wha… what?" Moon stammered.

GLADION! AGAIN! How many times do have to go through the same lesson? Keep your mouth shut!

"Didn't I tell you I could understand Pokémon?" I asked the girl.

Moon's POV
I suddenly remembered what he'd said earlier. "Oh!" I cried before realising something. "See? It's not all bad being able to turn into a Pokémon," I told the older boy, grinning.

"Shut up," he snapped.

That's all I've gotten through today, so, yeah!

Feedback is welcome, so please review!

Unicorn Cutie out!