Gamelover41592: Thanks
IllusionSign (Guest): Yeah, it's why I don't like him.
So, since you all liked it so much, I decided to bring back Fangirling Emma since you all seemed to quite enjoy her.
"This is the nicest place I have ever seen," Hau marveled as he and Emma walked into the Hano Grand Resort. After Emma finished her Trial, she had decided to both wait for Hau, as well as walk Lillie back to the lab.
"So, you've all arrived," The chief said. "Ah. But forgive me. I have yet to introduce myself. You may call me Faba. I told you before that I would show you someplace astounding, right? Well, that wondrous place is...Aether Paradise! Let me tell you about Aether Paradise. Just as the name suggests, Aether Paradise is a veritable paradise for Pokémon that floats far out in the sea surrounding Alola. It is an artificial island, made entirely by human technology, for the protection of Pokémon! Of course I'm an adult who keeps his promises. So I will prove to you that all I've told you is the absolute truth with a tour of Aether Paradise. You will come, won't you?!"
Emma began to squee. "Yes, yes, yes! I've wanted to work with the Aether Foundation!"
"We're interested too," Kitty said, much less excited then her sister. Hau just nodded.
"Well, it is always nice to meet a fan," Faba said with a tone that no one could if he was being smug or proud as he waited for Emma to calm down. "Then you'll come with me. Aether Paradise will amaze you."
"Good luck kids!" Kukui called out as he and Olivia walked in.
"Oh? Even Kahuna Olivia has to come to see you?" Faba questioned.
"As a Kahuna, I look after all the Trial-Goers who come to my island. They're like my own children," Olivia explained. "Not that I've got any-I've never even gotten married. Listen up, you three. Your greatest opponent is always yourself. Your greatest allies, the Pokémon besides you."
"Thanks!" Hau cheered.
"Are you coming too, dad?" Kitty asked.
"I've got my own business to attend to," Kukui replied. "You go see all the amazing tech that Aether's developing and tell me about it later, yeah? That's right. I'll see you on the next island...Ula'ula Island, yeah? Then let's meet up at Malie Garden!"
"Yup! It's good-bye, Akala Island!" Hau cheered. "Though I guess we can come back anytime we want to, huh?"
"Then let us enjoy an adventure upon the grand vessel that will take us across the high seas! By which I mean to say, the ferry." Faba announced. He then laid the kids outside to a sleek boat.
"Can you believe a big hunk of iron like Aether Paradise can float in the sea!?" Hau exclaimed.
"And it's because of all the Pokémon holding it up!" Emma quickly explained. "This is so cool! I can't wait to see the inside of this place!" She raced onto the boat, squeeing all the while.
"Is...is Emma going to be okay?" Hau asked.
"She's fine. She's just excited," Kitty explained as she followed her sister onto the boat, with Hau following her.
"Uh...Earth to Emma?" Kitty asked as she waved her hands in front of her sister's face. Once Aether Paradise had come into view, Emma had basically shut down, staring forward with an overjoyed expression on her face. Finally fed up, Kitty slapped her sister across the face.
"OW!" Emma cried out as she began to rub her now sore cheek. "What was that for?"
"You went into an Aether Daze," Kitty replied.
"Please slap me again if I do it in front of the president," Emma requested as she went to hop off the boat.
"That can easily be arranged," Kitty assured her as she hopped off the boat as well.
"Here we are, you three," Faba said. "This is Aether Paradise." He then turned to face an elevator, where a worker was taking a Sudowoodo and Yungoos into another part of the building. "Aether Paradise is a facility created for the conservation of Pokémon. It has been outfitted with all of the latest technology for this purpose. Downstairs, our teams work on developing new Poké Balls and more. Yes, all for the sake of Pokémon you will not be able to use any of your Poké Balls within Aether Paradise. A jamming signal is broadcast throughout the facility to prevent them from functioning." He then began to walk towards the elevator, with the kids all following them. It came back down, with a worker as well as an important looking woman on it. The woman noticed the group.
"Excuse me, Mr. Faba…" The woman began as she walked towards him.
"Yes, excuse you!" Faba snapped. "What is the meaning of that form of address? I have a title for a reason! How else will anyone know how important I am?"
"Yes...Branch Chief Faba.." The woman said, sounding somewhat strained.
"Now, I must go speak with the president about our conversation efforts on Akala…" Faba began. "Show these children around, and then take them to meet the president as well." Kitty gave Emma a preemptive slap at that line. He then walked onto the elevator and headed off.
"Phew…" The woman breathed a sigh of relief. "Welcome to Aether Paradise, Emma, Kitty and Hau. My name is Wicke."
"Wait? You know how we are? How'd you know that?!" Hau exclaimed.
"One of our employees told me about your meeting on Akala Island," Wicke explained. "And of course I heard how you protect the Pokémon there, too, Mr. Hau. Thank you all very much! Let me show you around. The main entrance is up above us." The elevator came back down. Kitty raised her hand already.
"Kitty, not now!" Emma snapped as they stepped onto the elevator. Kitty just snickered.
"Hey, here's a button...let's push it!" Wicke joked as she activated the elevator, bringing her and the three kids to another area of the building.
"This is the main entrance," Wicke began to explain once the group reached their destination. "You can have your Pokémon taken care of at the reception desk there, if they need it." She then turned back to the kids. "You all are Trial-goers, aren't you? Are you all hoping to become champions? I suppose...you must be around 11, then?"
"I'm actually 14," Emma admitted. "I wanted to wait so I could go on my journey with Kitty and Hau."
"And Kitty and I took the first chance we got to join in the island challenge once we turned 11!" Hau chimed in.
"You said it!" Kitty agreed.
"For me at least, I really want to be able to beat my gramps someday...but he's way too strong!" Hau admitted. "So for now, I'll just enjoy my island challenge."
"How...how lovely for you. I suppose all children must yearn to take a journey of their own choosing when they get to be about your age," Wicke said. "Though you're hardly just children anymore. Trainers are like parents to their Pokémon! Emma. Kitty. Hau. Would you three like to see the conservation area upstairs?"
"Yesyesyesyesyesyes!" Emma answered before Kitty or Hau could even get a word in.
"Someone's excited," Wicke noted with an amused tone as she activated the elevator again.
"Whoa…" Kitty trailed off as she looked around the conservation area. It was almost like a real Pokémon habitat. There were places for any type of Pokémon to make a home for themselves.
"Aether Paradise is a safe haven for all Pokémon." A loudspeaker announcement began. "For this reason, the use of Poké Balls is strictly forbidden within the conversation area."
"Wow!" Hau cheered as he began to jump up and down.
"We keep Pokémon that have been targeted by Team Skull here…" Wicke began to explain. "And we also try to protect Pokémon that need a little extra protection. Like Corsola, for example. They are quite terribly overhunted by Mareanie. I hope I don't you don't mind if I read you a passage from my old Pokédex. I traveled through Kanto before, when I was younger, you see."
"Not at all!" Emma replied. So she was a research nut. Could anyone blame her?
With a nod, Wicke pulled her Pokédex out and began to read. "'Corsola: In Alola, where their natural enemies Mareanie are plentiful, many Corsola have stubby branches on their heads.'" Kitty frowned and looked up at Emma. She hoped maybe she could do something about that one day.
"Yeah, my gramps is always saying that nature's got its cruel side, sure as it gives us our blessings." Hau noted. "But can the Aether Foundation really protect all the Pokémon out there?"
Wicke nodded. "Nature does have its own balance, of course. It can be difficult to judge how much we humans should try to affect that, can't it?"
"This place is even cooler then I pictured in my head!" Emma exclaimed. "The Aether Foundation is awesome! I just still can't believe you set up a branch in Alola!"
"I couldn't say why…" Wicke admitted. "It's hard to know for sure what our president is thinking sometimes. If you'd like to meet President Lusamine, she should be here in the conversation area now." With that, Wicke walked off.
"I'm gonna go have a look around," Hau said to the girls before running off.
"I think I'll look around for a bit too," Kitty said to her sister.
"Alright, I think I'm going to look for Lusamine," Emma replied. Kitty just gave a smile. She knew that Emma had idolized Lusamine for years. With a wave, the sisters split up. As Emma searched, she found herself falling in love with the foundation all over again. All the Pokémon appeared to be happy and cared for, while the workers seemed to love their jobs.
"My sweet Pokémon...I promise I'll keep you safe…" Emma turned down a corner to see a worker, along with who she could only guess was Lusamine and some Pokémon."I'll protect you with my love…" She then noticed Emma walk over, with Hau, Kitty and Wicke right behind her. Wicke then began to explain things to her. "You must be Emma, Kitty, and Hau. Welcome to Aether Paradise. The Aether Foundation's own private island. I am the president of the foundation. But please, just call me Lusamine."
"Oh, we all know all about you," Hau admitted. "Emma never shuts up about you!"
"And she has a giant poster of you on her side of the room!" Kitty chimed in.
"KITTY! HAU!" Emma exclaimed, now horribly embarrassed and red-faced. She buried her hands into her hands. "I am so sorry you had to learn about that…"
Lusamine chuckled. "It is quite alright. I'm so glad we got to meet, especially since one of you is such a big fan of our work here. I'm glad there are people like you, who travel the islands to learn more about Pokémon...but there are also those unfortunate people who harm Pokémon for their own selfish reasons or even profit." She then paused to spread her arms out. "And that is why I am here. I will be like a mother to all those poor Pokémon and shower them with love. Even Pokémon from distant worlds, far from the Alola region, are worthy of my love!"
"So cool…." Emma gushed with a dopey grin on her face.
"Wow, Miss Lusamine!" Hau exclaimed. "I don't know you do all this! You're, like, not even that much older then us!"
Lusamine chuckled again. "Oh, you sweet boy! I'm already over forty!"
"You are?" Hau asked, only to realize exactly what she had just said. "Wait, WHAT!?" Emma and Kitty both burst out laughing.
"Oh you!" Luckily for Hau, Lusamine almost seemed flattered. "The right style does wonders, you know. And, Hau, your style is a bit wanting, hm? I'll have to take you out sometime and help you pick out a smashing outfit."
"L-like what you wear?" Hau asked. Now, Emma just facepalmed. "I don't think anyone else could pull off that kind of look!...Except maybe Lillie."
Lusamine had a brief look of shock which she quickly shrugged off. "Oh, don't you worry. You just leave everything up to me. Trust me-children would all be much happier if they'd only listen to the adults around us."
"Dad doesn't give us enough rules to listen to," Kitty jokingly whispered to her sister, causing her to snort. Suddenly, the room began to shake. Everyone, both people and Pokémon, began to frantically look around for the source of the shaking. Finally, it stopped.
"That tremor...did something happen on the lower floors?" Wicke questioned. No sooner after she said did a wormhole open up in front of the group. Everyone watched in terror as a strange creature came out of it.
"ERROR, ERROR, ERROR!" The Rotom-Dexes were going crazy. They couldn't even tell if this thing was a Pokémon.
"You are-" Lusamine began as she walked towards it. Emma was trying so hard to not have a fangirl attack at that. She was so brave! "Have you come from...a distant world?"
"Veno...meno…"
"Miss Lusamine, stand back!" Hau begged as he tugged on her arm. "That thing's...not right!"
Lusamine merely shook her head and pulled her arm away. "You poor creature.."
"Kitty, I think we're in for a fight," Emma said breathlessly, her hands already on her Pokéballs.
"Together?" Kitty asked, mimicking her sister's actions.
"Together," Emma replied with a nod. They then stepped forward. "We'll try and tame this thing."
"Venomenon!" The creature began to attack, forcing everyone to dodge out of the way. Suddenly, an aura surrounded the creature.
"I thought only Totem Pokémon had those!" Kitty exclaimed.
"This thing already makes no sense!" Emma fired back. "Uh, Mudbray go!"
"Stufful, let's move!" Kitty called out. "Now, Brick Break!"
"Mudbray, Bulldoze!" Emma ordered. The two Pokémon surged forwards, attacking the creature. They managed to not only push it back, but both began to glow. When the glows died down, a Mudsdale and a Beware stood their places.
"Mudsdale, the Draft Horse Pokémon: It can trudge mountain roads without rest for three days and three nights, all the while dragging a 10-ton load," Emma's Rotom-Dex announced.
"Beware, the Strong Arm Pokémon: It boasts tremendous physical strength. Many people call it the most dangerous Pokémon in the Alola region." Kitty's Rotom-Dex said at the same time.
"Alright! Looks like we've got some better odds!" Kitty cheered. "Beware, Hammer Arm!"
"Mudsdale, use High Horsepower!" Emma called out, a smile on her face. The onslaught of attacks caused the creature to retreat to wherever it came from. Emma collapsed against a nearby railing, while Kitty struggled to catch her breath.
"That was awesome!" Hau cheered as he walked over to Kitty. "You okay?"
"Fine," Kitty replied.
"So, it is true...I still need that Pokémon," Lusamine mumbled under her breath. "I need to get it back."
"Are you okay?" Emma asked once she could stand on her own again. Lusamine just nodded.
"That Ultra Beast just now…" Emma and Kitty turned around and to their shock, they saw Dulse and Zossie. Neither had their visors on. "It came from the other end of an Ultra Wormhole. A world that you know as Ultra Space."
"Who the-!? Seriously, what's with that getup!?" Hau wondered.
"We'd tell you if we knew," Emma deadpanned.
"These are my guests. The Ultra Recon Squad!" Lusamine exclaimed. "They have been giving the foundation advice about the Ultra Beasts." She then turned back to them. "Why don't you introduce yourselves?"
"..Dulse."
"And I'm Zossie!"
"So, the Ultra Beasts are what comes out of the wormholes?" Emma asked.
"Our world is a world without light…" Dulse began. "The light was stolen from use by a creature known to us as Necorozma. A creature almost like an Ultra Beast. And someday it will come to steal the light of Alola as well...like an eclipse that never passes."
"See, this Necrozma is, like, unbelievably strong!" Zossie chimed in. "It can wield light however it likes, and sure, it does run wild sometimes, but it also shares this mysterious light it has with others, too!"
"But everything will be fine," Lusamine assured the kids. "If this Necrozma, or even an Ultra Beast like the one we just saw, should come to this world from another, the Aether Foundation will be prepared to fight for the light of Alola. Rest easy...you will not need to worry about a thing." With that, Dulse and Zossie walked off, while Lusamine led the kids back to the elevator.
"Hey Emma?" Kitty asked. Emma looked down and noticed that she looked nervous. "Do you really think this Necrozma thing will show up?"
"I don't know…" Emma admitted. "But I trust Lusamine and even if she fails, there are plenty of strong trainers to stop it. Like us!"
"Like us…" Kitty trailed off and smiled. "Like us!"
"Wicke. These three are still in the middle of their island challenge, aren't they?" Lusamine asked. "Please deliver them to their next island."
"O-oh! At once, ma'am!" Wicke replied.
"I will go check that none of our poor resident Pokémon came to any harm." Lusamine explained. And I need to speak with Mr. Faba about exactly what happened downstairs. It may be that our experiments to open an Ultra Wormhole are not going as well as we'd hoped."
Wicke bowed and then turned to face the kids. "I'll see the three of you to Ula'ula Island, then." The kids all hopped onto the elevator, with Hau waving to Lusamine as they went back to the boat. Emma, however, was deep in thought. Why would the Aether Foundation want to open up an Ultra Wormhole? Why was the Ultra Recon Squad here? And why was Lusamine so shocked to hear about Lillie? Emma had a feeling something was up. But she couldn't focus on that. Two islands down, two islands to go!
And our kids meet Emma's idols!...and of course, Emma is the one to notice something is up. But next time, we meet up with Kukui in Malie Garden! See you all then!