Thanks to pokemonking0924 and Pikminbosyk for reviewing Chapter 23, and thanks as always to TimTheVocalist for being my beta reader and lending me his two characters for this story! There is really nothing that I have to say before this, so enjoy the chapter!

Wes:
Nayru the Gardevoir (Friend Ball, shiny)
Faye the Ribombee (Level Ball)
Zero the Type: Null (Luxury Ball)
Sakura the Milotic (Lure Ball)
Inigo the Blaziken (Permier Ball, shiny)
Blake the Umbreon (Moon Ball, shiny)

Rose:
Shelgon (Great Ball)
Brionne (Poke Ball)
Opal the Lycanroc (Fast Ball, Dusk Form)
Maple the Raichu (Love Ball, Alolan Form)
Reiki the Lucario (Ultra Ball)
Salandit (Luxury Ball)

Rose's shelgon hit the hard ground, unmoving and covered in injuries all over, groaning a bit in pain from her battle. The trainer in question was looking down at the dragon type, shock and horror written on her face as she fell to her knees, gently placing her arms around the creature. Standing a few yards away was Plumeria, a smug look on the face of the Team Skull Admin as she looked over at the redhead, her Toxapex sitting at her feet. "How pathetic… you're supposed to be the top student at the school, and a trial goer? Please, you're nothing compared to me."

Rose grit her teeth, glaring up at the poison type trainer, "Y-you… release Lillie and Chloe right now!"

"Unfortunately, it's a little too late for that", Plumeria explained, gesturing over her shoulder. "While you were distracted with playing hero, my grunts had already taken the two girls away… and defeated your little friend as well." Rose looked over and gasped, sure enough kneeling on the ground was Juan, who was caring for his Totodile and Chikorita, both Pokemon covered in injuries just like Shelgon was. "Your friends have some business to take care of, but I can assure you that once we are done with them, they will be let go."

"What business do you have with them?" Juan demanded, recalling his Johto starters into their PokeBalls, though his question only earned him a knowing smirk from Plumeria, telling him that despite her knowing the answer she was not going to be telling him so easily.

"Plumeria!" a voice suddenly rang out. The girl in question turning to see both Wes and Jason running up to her, Nayru hovering slightly behind them.

"Well, guess that is my cue", Plumeria muttered, recalling her Toxapex into one ball, and sending out a Crobat from the other. The bat Pokemon latched onto her and took off into the air, taking the laughing trainer off the ground and higher into the air. Nayru sent a Psyshock her way, but the purple bat was too fast, dodging the attack and soaring off.

"Dammit", Jason hissed, glaring up at her. "What was she doing here anyway?"

"Wes…" Rose muttered, looking down at her Pokemon. "I'm sorry… me and Eva, we tried our best…"

"Eva?" Wes asked, looking at Rose confused.

"She nicknamed her Shelgon awhile back", Maple explained, looking grim. "I think she took your advice and did it so that she could bond with her better when she would evolve… but that's not the important part right now."

Jason looked around, his face growing darker and more panicked. "Where are Lillie and Chloe?"

"Taken", Juan muttered, clenching his fists. "Team Skull showed up shortly after you two left and demanded that the girls come with them… well, more like Chloe come with them and Lillie had over Nebby, but in the end Lillie wouldn't give Nebby up so Plumeria ended up ordering them both to be captured.

Wes frowned at this, looking down and racking his brain. "That… doesn't make any sense. I can understand them wanting to take the cosmog, but…"

"WHAT!?" a voice suddenly rang out, causing everyone to jump. Wes turned to see Gladion standing there, looking furious, with Selene at his side, looking concerned between the blonde and silver haired teens. "You… you just said Cosmog was taken!? And Lillie had her the entire time!?"

"Gladion, your sister…" Rose muttered, looking away. "I couldn't protect her, I'm sorry…"

But either Gladion didn't hear her or didn't seem to pay her any mind, as his eyes were locked onto Wes, glaring daggers into the boy in question. "I couldn't protect them… then what was the point of me even leaving home in the first place? I can't stand this useless feeling… I'll blow it away with everything I got!"

"This isn't the time for that, Gladion!" Wes shot back at him, looking serious. "If you really want to protect your sister, you can start by joining up with me, and helping to get her back from Team Skull."

"Maybe we should, Gladion", Selene commented, looking a bit nervous. "I mean, Wes did defeat Guzma twice! If anyone can stop them it's-"

But Gladion did not care, as he suddenly pulled out a Premire Ball and unleashed Type: Null from it, shouting into the sky as he did. "Silvally, Crush Claw!" The chimeric helmeted Pokemon charged forward, heading right in Wes' direction with his claws held high, and Wes reacted with pure instinct alone, pulling the Luxury Ball he received from Gladion out of nowhere and sending out Zero, who blocked the attack with his head, glaring at the other Type: Null in question.

"X-Scissor!" Wes commanded, and to the surprise of all there, Zero not only listed to Wes, but knocked the Type: Null named Silvally away. Before anyone else could say anything, however, a sudden shadow appeared between the two Nulls. Cedric the Decidueye had both of his wings outstretched, each one pointing at a Null and preventing them from getting a clear shot at their brother.

"Enough!" Jason shouted, his hand catching Cedric's ball. "You two need to put your differences aside right now, this childish rivalry between you two can wait until after we rescue Lillie, Nebby and Chloe… understand?"

Gladion huffed, but his face began to soften as he looked down, shaking his head. "Sorry… that was wrong of me… but Cosmog would bring disaster to all of Alola! We have to get it back from them!"

"Why?" Wes asked, stepping forward. "Why would Nebby do that? He seems kinda weak if you ask me."

"Appearances can be deceiving", Gladion stated, looking at Wes. "You seem like nothing more then a punk brat who doesn't respect authority ("He's not wrong", Jason muttered under his breath), but you're a powerful trainer if you can defeat Guzma… I have to respect that… either way, you're coming with me whether you like it or not. We'll leave from the ferry terminal in Malie City."

"Then I am coming, too", Jason commented, stepping forward as well. "I am not going to put my students in harms way. And besides, as their teacher I am responsible for their wellbeing."

"You're coming too, right?" Selene asked, stepping up to Rose. "Here, I can heal your shelgon for you!"

"Thanks… err", Rose looked nervously at the girl. "You're-"

"She's a Team Skull spy that helped me get past the grunts in Po Town", Wes explained, looking over at where Rose and Selene were. "You can trust her… Selene, didn't you say before that Guzma was working with the Present of the Aether Foundation? If that is the case, then Nebby might have a connection to the Ultra Beasts if Team Skull targeted him just now."

"Most likely", Selene said, standing up from healing Eva. "Honestly, if that is the case then that's all the more reason for you two to team up! Your Silvally can make quick work of them!"

"…Silvally?" Wes asked, turning to Gladion.

"The name I decided to give to Type: Null once he can remove his helmet and unleash his full power", Gladion explained, shaking his head. "Enough chit-chat. We need to get to Malie City on the double. You three can wait for us at the pier, we will go and grab a boat for us to head to Aether Foundation"

"Four", Juan stated, looking determined. "I'm coming as well!"

Gladion only huffed at this, "Do what you want, but don't get in our way."

XxXxXxX

The sun was beginning to set as the four made their way to the pier in Maile City, casting an orange glow that seemed to light up the entire sea, turning it into a bed of orange light. Jason was looking out at the sea, anxiously tapping his foot as he waited for Gladion and Selene to show up in whatever boat they were grabbing. Juan, meanwhile, was nursing his own Pokemon back to full health, concern etched on his face as he did so. Wes and Rose, meanwhile, had opted to sit down at the docks, looking out into the ocean as well, though while Wes had a calm deminer on his face, Rose's face showed signs of stress and sorrow.

"Don't let her get to you", Maple stated, hovering next to Rose and patting her arm. "You did all you could… and trust me that Toxapex hits like a truck… I think I still feel it's venom running through me."

Rose sighed at that, looking into the water. "I know… but, she's only supposed to be the admin of Team Skull… if I couldn't even defeat her, then what am I even doing here?"

Wes frowned as he glanced in her direction, wanting to say something but feeling like nothing he could say in this situation would help at all, after all he too had fought Plumeria, and while he didn't directly win against her, he had since gone on to defeat Guzma not once but twice. Just as he was attempting to figure out something, anything, that he could say that would help Rose get out of the funk she was in, footsteps sounded out from behind them, and Wes turned to see Nanu walking over to them, looking at each of them in turn.

"Officer Nanu", Jason greeted him with a nod upon seeing them approach. "Or should I say… Island Kahuna Nanu."

Island Kahuna? Wes thought, looking over at the man that he had insulted earlier that day, suddenly getting an idea in his head.

"If only Team Skull could've just kept themselves and their troublemaking to Po Town", the now revealed Island Kahuna muttered, shaking his head. "Why'd they have to make all this fuss, huh? You there, boy… you were right, I was a coward. I didn't see the bigger picture or what Team Skull could really do. By turning a blind eye to the situation as a whole, I feel as though I am partly responsible for this entire mess."

Wes looked at him for a moment before standing up, turning to face him. "You can make it up to me by challenging us to a battle, right here, right now."

"W-Wes", Juan said flabbergasted, looking at Wes as if he had grown a second head. "This isn't the time for that! We gotta go to Aether Foundation!"

Jason, however, stepped to Juan's side and put a hand on his shoulder. "No, Wes is right. This is the perfect time to do their Grand Trial." As Juan looked at him with a confused look, Jason lowered his voice so that only Juan could hear him. "Just trust me, ok? This would be beneficial for everyone, especially Rose, who needs a confidence booster right now."

Wes turned to the girl in question, holding out his hand in a silent offering for her to join him in battle. Rose looked at his hand for a few moments, before taking it and standing up right along side him, the two trainers turning to Nanu, who was walking to the far end of the pier. "Very well, I accept your challenge. It'll be a good experience for you if you're really hoping to master the island challenge… plus it'll show me if you two are really ready to take on Team Skull and the Aether Foundation."

"This'll be a traditional Grand Trial match then", Jason nodded, looking between Nanu, Wes and Rose. "That means four on four, Wes and Rose are allowed two Pokemon each while Nanu is allowed four in a double battle format."

"I'm sure the kids know that by now", Nanu muttered, earning a small glare from the teacher. "Don't take it too serious now… Sableye, Absol, to my side!" Nanu threw two Ultra Balls into the air, and from them emerged two Pokemon that were very familiar to Wes. The first was a bipedal Pokemon with a dark purple body, pale blue, gemstone-like eyes, and a red gemstone on its chest. It also had sharp teeth and claws, and its back had a blue and green gemstone as well as another red one. The second Pokemon was a quadruped Pokemon with a dark blue body covered in white fur, a mane like ruff around its neck and chest and a tuft on the top of its head adorned with a single blue oval that matched the color of the rest of its body. It had a feline face with almond-shaped, red eyes, a scythe-like tail, and a crescent shaped horn on the side of its head.

"Rotom, care to do the honors?" Wes asked.

"Certainly!" the orange device chimed in, a picture of the purple Pokemon appearing instantly. "Sableye, the Darkness Pokemon. Sableye lead quiet lives deep inside caverns. They are feared, however, because these Pokémon are thought to steal the spirits of people when their eyes burn with a sinister glow in the darkness." The picture on the dex screen changed to the white furred Pokemon next. "Absol, the Disaster Pokemon. Every time Absol appears before people, it is followed by a disaster such as an earthquake or a tidal wave. As a result, it came to be known as the disaster Pokemon."

"They're both dark type Pokemon, so logically Wes is at a huge advantage here", Juan thought out loud. "Nayru and Faye are both Fairy-types, while Inigo is a Fighting-type, so Wes should be able to easily defeat either one of them."

"I'll follow your lead", Wes stated, turning to Rose.

"A-are you sure?" Rose asked, looking confused at him. "Your Pokemon are the ones with the clear advantage here, so perhaps I should just back you up."

"Nah, I think it would be better if you took the helm this time", Wes suggested, winking at her. "After all, last Grand Trial battle I sorta dragged us down, remember?"

"I-I guess…" Rose muttered, pulling out her own Ultra Ball. "Alright, Reiki, come out!" The blue canine Pokemon leapt from his ball, letting out a bark as he faced down his opponents.

"Alright, then I'll go with Sakura!" Wes shouted, throwing his Lure Ball into the air and releasing the serpentine Pokemon.

"W-wait, why Sakura?" Juan asked in shock. "I mean, sure he can use Scald to inflict burns onto his opponent and weaken their attack power, but wouldn't an all-out offense with Nayru have been better?"

"Yeah, but that would be too easy", Nayru yawned, looking out at the battlefield. "One Hyper Voice from my Mega Evolved self would clear that field in an instant. This makes it more interesting."

Before Juan could speak again, however, Jason intervened. "Just trust him, Wes knows what he is doing."

"Alright, Sakura use Scald on Absol!" Wes commanded, the serpentine Pokemon unleashing a torrent of boiling water at Absol, who was soaked by the torrent, and emerged with his fur completely flatted, and small, red mark present on his side. Perfect.

"Reiki, use Brick Break on Absol!" the canine charged forward at the order, slamming his palm into the wolf-like Pokemon, who went flying back a bit.

So she already knows that Sableye is part Ghost type, Nanu thought, realizing that Rose didn't attempt to attack the Pokemon that Wes had not. "Sableye, Shadow Claw on the Milotic. Absol, Psycho Cut on the Lucario!" Both of Nanu's Pokemon charged forward, Sableye slashing at Sakura with claws coated in a dark purple aura, and Absol's horn glowing a light purple and slamming into the canine, sending him flying back.

"Reiki, Meteor Mash on Sableye!" Rose commanded.

"Will-o-wisp on Lucario!" Nanu suddenly said, snapping his fingers. Before Reiki could even move, Sableye shot a blue fireball from his hands right at Reiki, the speed of the attack was unreal and slammed into Reiki. Although it didn't seem to hurt him, a red marking appeared right on his chest where the fireball made contact. Reiki then snarled, before shooting forward and unleashing his attack, though because of the burn it did much less damage then it normally would've.

"W-what?" Rose gasped, looking confused. "But I ordered my move first, and Reiki is faster than Sableye! How did he get that move off so quickly?"

"That was Sableye's hidden ability, Prankster", Rotom stated, hovering just behind them. "Prankster makes it so that non-damaging moves go first whenever they are ordered by the trainer."

"So, in other words, moves like Will-o-Wisp, Recover and Toxic will always move first", Wes commented, clenching is fist. "That Sableye is dangerous, we need to take it out first! Sakura, Ice Beam!" Sakura breathed in before shooting out a beam of light blue energy, which slammed into Sableye and sent it flying back.

"Payback, Absol!" Nanu ordered. The wolf Pokemon charged forward, surrounded by dark energy and collided with Sakura, who hissed in pain from the assault. "Now, Salbeye, Toxic!" Sableye sent out an orb of dark purple and launched it at Sakura, who took the assault and hissed in pain as poison coursed though her body, damaging her slowly.

"Sakura!" Wes shouted, clenching his fist. He had to choose now between healing her and taking Sableye out, and in a split second he knew what to do. "Sakura, Scald on Sableye!"

"Megahorn, Absol!" Nanu commanded. Sakura shot forth a torrent of water which slammed into Sablee and knocked it out, but shortly after Absol slammed into Sakura with a glowing green horn, and the damage was too great for Sakura to handle, who fell shortly after this attack. Wes recalled Sakura into her Lure Ball, while Nanu did the same for his Sableye into his Ultra Ball.

"Not bad, kid", Nanu stated. "You recognized that my Sableye was a threat and decided to take him out, while at the same time realizing that the toxic poison would only make healing Sakura not that effective. You're pretty smart on the battlefield… alright then, I'll choose Krokorok!" From the third Ultra Ball emerged a reptilian Pokemon with a tan and black stripped body, pink stomach, and long tail.

"Krokorok, the Desert Croc Pokemon", Rotom analyzed. "The special membrane covering its eyes can sense the heat of objects, so it can see its surroundings, even in darkness. They live in groups of a few individuals."

"Blake, I choose you!" Wes called, throwing the Moon Ball, sending out the Moonlight Pokemon. This caused Rose, Nanu and Juan to all look flabbergasted at Wes, shocked that he would call Blake out against Nanu.

"W-what is Wes thinking?" Juan asked. "He cannot be serious right now, can he? Blake isn't exactly an attacker, and worst off he is a Dark type which means that he wouldn't be that effective at dealing with Nanu's Pokemon anyway! Plus that Absol has Megahorn so-"

"Juan!" Jason snapped, glaring at him. "No offense, but as someone who isn't the best battler, you cannot possibly understand what Wes is thinking right now."

"And you do?" Juan shot back. "I don't think someone at smart as you would use an Umbreon against an Absol!"

"I appreciate the complement to my intelligence, and you're right", Jason replied. "Normally I wouldn't do that… however, I am sure that Wes has a reason for using Blake. Just watch."

Wes turned to Rose with a grin on his face. "Can I count on you to take out that Absol?"

"Y-yeah, sure… but Wes, why Blake?" Rose asked.

"Just trust me, ok?" Wes winked at her, which made the redhead blush a bit. "Just do what you do best."

"R-right", Rose nodded, turning back to the battlefield. "Reiki, Close Combat!" Reiki charged forward and began to unleash a series of punches and kicks at Absol, who dodged a few of them for awhile but eventually couldn't keep up with the assault, getting hit quite a few times and falling over, unable to battle.

"Well, that was pretty good", Nanu complemented, recalling his Absol into it's Ultra Ball. "However, this is far from over… go, Persian!" From the final ball emerged a feline with blue-gray fur, a large, rounded face with noticeable jowls, and a blue gem in the center of his forehead. The cat yawned a bit before stretching out, staring down at his opponents without a care in the world.

"Persian, Alolan-form", Rotom stated, analyzing the creature. "The Classy Cat Pokemon. Its round face is a symbol of wealth. Persian that have bigger, plumper faces are considered more beautiful. It looks down on everyone other than itself. Its preferred tactics are sucker punches and blindside attacks. "

"Doesn't seem like the best pet to have", Wes muttered, looking at the Persian.

"Now, to take out that Lucario", Nanu sleepily said, pointing at the canine. "Krokorok, use Dig!"

Rose gasped as Krokorok disappeared into a hole he dug, realizing that the ground-type move would do super effective damage against the steel type. "Reiki, avoid it!" However, the call came a bit too late, as the croc emerged and slammed into Reiki, sending him flying back and instantly knocked out.

"Thanks, Reiki", Rose said, recalling him into his ball. "You did great… alright, now I will use-" However, before Rose could make another move, a light emerged from her bag and a Pokemon emerged from the bag and onto the ground. Salandit was standing there, clicking her jaws in anticipation, eyeing both of her opponents. "Uh… can I get a do-over?"

"Well, that's unexpected", Jason muttered, looking over at Salandit and sweat dropping. "Guess she really wants in on the action, though her timing could've been a bit better."

Nanu shrugged at that, "Hey, if you wanna send out something different, that's fine with me. But seems like your lizard friend really wants in on the action… though my Krokorok is a ground type, so keep that in mind."

Rose thought for a moment, as Salandit stated at her, practically begging her to keep her in. Finally, Rose sighed. "Maybe it isn't the best choice, but I think I will listen to my gut this time! Go, Salandit!"

"Well, that's two times they both have baffled me with their actions", Juan muttered, looking at Rose with a deadpan expression.

"Salandit, Flamethrower!" Rose commanded, the lizard Pokemon breathing in and unleashing a torrent of fire that slammed into Persian, the cat Pokemon hissing in agony.

"Persian, Power Gem!" Nanu commanded.

"Intercept it, Blake!" Wes ordered. "And use Curse!" A beam of light shot forth from Persian's gem, but before it could hit Salandit, Blake intercepted and stared to glow with red light. The attack collided with the feline looking Pokemon, but he didn't seem too bothered by the assault.

"Curse?" Juan asked, looking confused. "I know it's a ghost type move, so why would Wes have Blake use it?"

"It's an attack that differs in effect depending on the Pokemon that uses it", Jason explained to him. "For ghost types, it sacrifices their health to slowly drain the targets health overtime. For all other types, it sacrifices speed to increase attack and defense."

Juan suddenly seemed to realize something there, and smirked. "So since Blake is naturally slow, Wes is focusing on buffing his attack and defense." However, that is when he frowned. "But wait… Power Gem is a special move, so why did Wes use Curse then?"

"Now use Payback!" Wes commanded. Blake charged forward incased in a red aura, slamming into Krokorok and sending it flying backwards into the water. Nanu gasped as the croc Pokemon emerged from the sea, knocked out and unable to battle.

"If hit by a move, Payback deals double the damage", Jason explained. "Wes used Curse to increase Blake's attack power, before dealing with the threat of Krokorok."

"Alright, let's bring it home, Salandit!" Rose shouted, pointing at Persian. "Use Sludge Bomb!" An orb of purple goo emerged from Salandit's mouth and was shot at the Persian, who hissed and attempted to retaliate, however the attack had caused poison to be inflicted on the cat, and he fell over after the damage of getting poisoned took its initial toll.

"Well, that's that", Nanu sighed, recalling his Persian into his Ultra Ball. "Congratulations, you two. This means that you officially cleared the Ula'ula Island trials." Wes and Rose both smiled with glee, before a glowing light caught their attention, causing them both to gasp. Salandit suddenly began to grow under the blue glow, and when it disappeared, she had grown larger, and resembled a Pokemon that Wes and Rose remember facing some time ago.

"Salandit evolved into Salazzle", Rotom cheered, flying around her. "Amazing, she seems friendlier then that Totem Salazzle we faced so long ago! It's a sign that you raised her properly as a trainer, Rose!"

"Y-yeah, I guess I did", Rose blushed, scratching her cheek before turning to Wes. "Thank you."

"Huh?" Wes asked, looking at her. "For what?"

"You know for what", Rose sighed, but she still smiled all the same. "This Grand Trial could've been a breeze if you just used Nayru and Mega Evolved her, but you purposefully used different Pokemon so that I could shine in this battle. You did that to help boost my confidence back up… so, thanks!"

Wes grinned, putting his hands behind his head in sheepish embarrassment. "Ah, it was nothin!"

"So that's why Wes held himself back", Juan muttered, thinking. "Interesting."

Nanu chucked and stepped forward. "Anyway, here you kids go… the Darkium Z… I knew you were something special, with storming Team Skull's stronghold, but I didn't think you were this good… you ever think about joining the International Police?"

Wes blinked at that, his smile fading a bit. "The International Police? They're the global police force that work to protect all regions from evil organizations, right?"

"Yeah", Nanu stated, looking seriously at Wes. "You got the strength and the heart, plus a strong sense of justice, what with telling me that Team Skull must be stopped and all… just think about it, kid." With that, he waved and walked off, leaving everyone to stare after him in wonder.

"Wow… could you imagine Wes as a cop?" Maple asked Nayru.

"Honestly, no", Nayru answered, looking after Nanu. "Though it is a path we never even considered talking."

Wes stared after Nanu for a little longer before looking down at the Darkum Z, letting the thought of him protecting the entire world as an International Police agent fill his head. He had never dreamed of doing anything else but becoming a Pokemon League Champion before, but the second he started the Island Trial Challenge, so much had happened that had changed him, that the idea of doing something other then becoming a Pokemon League Champion actually appealed to him a little bit.

"Yo!" a sudden voice snapped Wes out of his thoughts, causing him to turn and see a black ship approaching the docks, with Selene standing at the bow, no longer wearing her Team Skull uniform. She now wore an orange shirt with a red flower pattern on it, complete with white shorts and green shoes. She also carried a tan handbag which matched the straw hat she wore, complete with a hibiscus flower on the right side of the hat.

"Well, it's refreshing to see her in a different outfit", Rose muttered to herself as the ship docked next to the pier. Gladion came out from the steering wheel and looked at them all seriously, nodding towards them.

"Let's go… mother dearest is probably expecting us."