And the record for the longest chapter I've ever written goes to...
Seriously this one took forever to come out, and I do apologize for that. There was just so much I wanted to cram into this chapter, considering it is basically the beginning of the climax. I'll try and crank out the other chapters quicker now that my Pokemon hype is coming back, I think this one mostly took forever due to everything that had to happen in this chapter.
Thanks to pokemonking0924 for reviewing Chapter 24, as well as a special thank you to everyone that reads this story! Additionally, thanks as always to TimTheVocalist for being my beta reader and lending me his characters for this story! Enjoy!
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:
Eva the 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)
Salazzle (Luxury Ball)
"To think that we would be back here", Wes couldn't help but mutter, as the black boat that Gladion was piloting slowly coasted its way into the docks below the gigantic metal structure floating in the middle of the ocean. An eerie feeling filled them all as the boat made contact with the metal, causing a small cling to echo across the halls. Praying silently at the sound would be ignored, Jason and Juan caught the side, while Selene and Rose dropped anchor and caused the boat to remain still just before the metal flooring, where they could safely hop to shore.
"Aether Paradise harbor…" Gladion muttered, a small tone of annoyance in his voice. "We made it this far without running into trouble. But I don't like how quiet it is, we need to stay alert."
"I agree", Jason muttered, looking around. "This seems way too easy so far. They must know we are coming, but I don't see the welcoming party."
"Tell that to them!" Selene suddenly gasped, as five Aether foundation employees suddenly ran up to them out of nowhere, throwing PokeBalls into the air.
"Includer Alert!" and other various forms of the phrase were shouted, as five Pokemon appeared out of the thrown balls. An Alolan Dugtrio, Herdier, Primape, Trumbeak and Parasect all stood in formation before launching forward, charging at the group. Wasting no time, Gladion called forth Silvally, while Wes sent out Zero. The two Type: Null charged into battle and caused the five Pokemon facing them to fall to the ground unconscious in the blink of an eye, stunning the five employees.
"This isn't over yet!" one of them shouted, throwing another PokeBall. "Go, Vibrava!"
"Eva, use Dragon Claw!" Rose commanded, throwing her Great Ball into the air. From the Aether employee's ball came a green dragonfly Pokemon, though it did not last long as Eva emerged and made quick work of the Ground and Dragon type Pokemon, sending it to the ground with a single shot. Appalled that they could be defeated so easily, the trainers recalled their Pokemon and fled, screaming for Faba and Lusamine all the way.
"Well, so much for stealth", Juan muttered, sweat dropping.
"We weren't going to be getting away with that anyway", Nayru stated, looking around. "I sensed they were ready for us from the moment we docked here."
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Gladion asked, flabbergasted.
"Because us getting through here without alerting somebody was about as likely as a Poison type Pokemon that eats poison and emits purified air", Wes interjected. This caused Rose to suddenly let out a cough, which was caught by Jason, who made a mental note to ask her later if such a Pokemon existed in the Galar region.
Gladion shook his head, "Whatever. Either way, let's head to the basement and split up."
"Huh, there's a level lower than this one?" Selene asked, following after Gladion as he began to walk off with the group in tow.
"You'd be surprised how this place is laid out", Gladion simply said, leading the group to the triangle shaped elevator and pressing a few buttons before letting out a sigh. "Just like I thought… Looks like outsiders can't use the main elevator to reach the lower levels. I was afraid this might happen, but still… we have no choice, we have to go up." After a few more button presses, the elevator railings appeared and the triangle began to rise into the air, carrying the group the rise towards the lobby, but it stopped just before reaching the Pokemon resort at the top floor. Before Wes could ask if this was intentional, however, a snarky voice that caused them all to cringe up filled their ears.
"I, Faba, am the Aether Branch Chief", the man in question boldly claimed, facing away from them. "The only one in the world, I'm irreplaceable. And here you come back… uninvited?"
Did he really need to hype himself up before accusing us of trespassing? Rose thought to herself.
"Like you don't know why", Gladion snarled. "You of all people should know everything that happens in the Aether Foundation. Isn't that right, high-and-mighty Branch Chief?"
Faba snickered, stepping forward. "Look at you… living out in the world hasn't been kind, has it? But I am still not telling you anything, and you of all people should understand why, Gladion. Hypno, to my side!" The self-proclaimed irreplaceable man threw an Ultra Ball into the air, sending out a yellow furred Pokemon with a white mane, hooked nose, and carrying a pendulum in its left hand.
"We'll handle this", Wes stepped forward with Nayru, who faced the Hypnosis Pokemon with a smirk on her face.
"A mere child cannot defeat me!" Faba claimed, pointing at Nayru. "Use Hypnosis!" The pendulum in Hypno's hand began to rock back and forth, swaying in a memorizing rhythm, however Nayru only blinked in confusion, the move not affecting her at all.
"Really? I thought you had better than cheap tricks, Faba!"
"Nayru, Shadow Ball!" Wes commanded. Nayru held her hands in front of her and formed a shadowed orb of dark energy, launching it at Hypno and sending the psychic type flying backwards before it hit the ground, unable to move.
"H-h-how can this be?" Faba gasped, recalling Hypno into the Ultra Ball. "How could this child…"
"As I said, Faba", Gladion repeated, glaring at the shaking man. "You of all people know what I'm here for."
"Indeed", Faba muttered, regaining himself and shaking off his loss rather quickly. "Look how hard the world made you, Gladion. If you're looking for Cosmog, I suppose it might be downstairs."
"Downstairs?" Juan asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm still shocked at how there could be another level to this place, what do you guys do down there?"
Faba merely shrugged at that, as if it was no big deal. "Experiments to reach a world different from Alola… "
"We're in a bit of a hurry, Faba", Gladion growled, gesturing at the elevator. "A lift would be nice."
"Hold on", Jason suddenly said, stepping forward. "This might be a trap. How do we know for sure that you're telling us the truth and that what we are after really is down there?"
At that, Faba chucked. "Come now, I am helpless now that Wes has defeated me. What kind of man would I be if I double crossed you now? Besides, this is an act of kindness I can do for you thanks to my position as branch chief."
"I still don't trust it", Jason muttered.
"I don't sense any hostility from him", Nayru muttered, as Faba walked up to the control panel and began to enter his exclusive code to unlock the lower floors.
"Still, that doesn't mean he couldn't be trained to resist psychic probing", Wes reminded her, watching him as well as he stepped away from the machine, just as the railing went up and began to lower them back into the floor below, causing them to end up in the lowest levels of the foundation. Gladion signed as he looked around, nostalgia overtaking him.
"Everything looks the same. I guess it's only been two years though… Anyway, there are two labs up ahead, so let's split up and investigate. I'll check Secret Lab A with Wes… everyone else, check Secret Lab B. It's the second lab, down the hall."
"Hold on", Jason pipped up, looking straight at Gladion. "I'm not leaving Wes alone with you. No offense, but this little rivalry you two have because of the Null makes me think you're up to something."
Gladion huffed at that. "Fine, come with… but I do not intend on doing anything bad with Wes… in fact, it will help him with Sil- sorry, Zero."
Realizing that Gladion had opted to call Zero by his nickname, Wes gave a nod and began to follow Gladion towards the first secret lab, though he couldn't help but notice that the boy paused to let Rose, Juan and Selene go past before he cracked open the door and peered inside.
"Me and Null… we're most alike then we look. We're both what we were made to be." Gladion muttered, opening the room fully and stepping inside, with Wes and Jason following after him. Once inside, Wes could see that the room contained several documents lined up, as well as a few computers and three pod looking structures, two of them damaged severely as if broken somehow, and the third containing a sleeping creature that Wes recognized as the third Type Null. Gladion stepped up to the third pod and sighed, looking at the sleeping creature. "I was like an ornament to my mother, wearing whatever she told me to wear, acting how she wanted me to act… the Null were created just as carefully, they was made to battle the Ultra Beasts… in this very room."
"Touching, but why are we in here?" Jason asked, looking around. "I don't think Nebby would be in here."
"I wanted to be sure the third one was still safe", Gladion explained. "If I am going to be honest, I don't completely trust Faba. I think he's already told half the foundation we are here."
"Lovely", Wes sighed. "So why are we wasting time in here?"
"…I wanted to give you this", Gladion said, pulling out what looked like a silver mechanical booklet, and opening it, revealing 17 CDs organized in the case. "These are Memory Drives. Silvally was created to be a replica of a Legendary Pokemon known as Arceus, who could change into any type imaginable. If Silvally was to awaken the RKS System again, these are what would cause it to transform into any type it wishes."
"…why are you giving this to me?" Wes asked, looking confused as he took the booklet.
"Because if you and I are going to work together against mother and the Ultra Beasts, you're going to need this", Gladion explained. "Now, you should go and meet up with Selene and your friends, and once you're done come and get me."
Realizing that Gladion didn't want them to stay for whatever he was doing, Wes and Jason decided to take their leave and exited the room, seeing two Aether Foundation employees running off in a panic as they did. Rose came up just then, shaking her head as she looked towards them. "Wes… you might want to look at this!"
Wasting no time, Rose ran back towards the lab with Jason and Wes following behind her. Once they got there, they found that Juan and Selene were looking at a computer screen, and upon looking at it too they realized a document was pulled up on the computer and was filled to the brim with text.
Aether Report: Ultra Wormholes and Cosmog
Beyond the Ultra Wormholes that Professor Mohn discovered lies a different dimension. By investigating the changes in mass there, we can predict the existence of Pokemon-like life. We have dubbed them Ultra Beasts for now. Cosmog, a Pokemon we discovered, is hypothesized to be a type of Ultra Beast that hails from another dimension, a dimension that we have named Ultra Space. When placed under sufficient stress, it reveals the power to create and open Ultra Wormholes in order to escape from its suffering. We are now working on a device that will allow us to manipulate the Ultra Wormholes created when Cosmog is subjected to extreme stress.
"Wait, so Nebby might be an Ultra Beast?" Juan gasped, looking stunned at the computer screen.
"It would appear so", Jason replied, staring at the screen. "Seems like we found our answer as to why Lusamine wants Nebby then. If Gladion was right before hand, and that Lusamine wants something within Ultra Space, then that would explain why she recaptured Nebby… but why bring Chloe along for the ride?"
"We can worry about that later!" Selene commented. "Let's go regroup with Gladion!"
"No need, I am here", Gladion's voice suddenly came as he walked though the doorway. "What did you discover."
"Cosmog might be a type of Ultra Beast", Selene explained. "If you stress it, it can create an Ultra Wormhole to attempt to escape!"
"If you stress it… you mean hurt it", Gladion realized, shaking his head. "Is that why she ran away with Cosmog back then? She always was too nice…"
"Either way, we didn't find any sign of Nebby, Lillie or Chloe", Jason commented, clenching his fist. "Faba knew this was a dead end, and we ran right into it."
"Even beaten down, old Faba doesn't change", Gladion snarled, turning and racing off towards the elevator, the others following behind him, realizing that the trap that Faba lead them into left him enough time to alert the foundation that they had arrived, and once the elevator rose up to the entrance, they could see that Faba had gathered a welcoming party to take them all down, as fifteen or so employees stood there with PokeBalls at the ready.
"Hello, children", one of the employees said. "I'm afraid Branch Chief Faba has given us orders regarding you… now that you've learned of the darkness at the heart of Aether Paradise, we'll need you all to conveniently disappear."
Jason huffed at that, stepping forward. "Normally, as Kalos Champion, I am not permitted to interfere within the affairs of Alola… however, I have also determined that you freaks are a threat not just to Alola, but Kalos as well, and thus I can act… you kids go on ahead and scout for Lillie and Chloe. I'll handle this myself."
"You sure, dude?" Selene asked.
"I beat your entire Team Skull with only a single Pokemon, if you recall", Jason explained, smirking a bit. "I think I can handle this."
"Fair point", Selene agreed, following after Wes and the others, who already knew of Jason's skill, and weren't at all surprised to hear the panicked screaming of the employees as they approached a familiar figure standing just off to the side.
"Young Master", Wicke bowed, greeting Gladion as he approached her.
"Do you know where Lillie and Chloe are?" Gladion asked, watching the purple haired women carefully.
"I… imagine they're with the President", Wicke sheepishly stated, the tone in her voice telling them they she was not hostile towards them at all.
"Then that's where we're going", Gladion stated, looking towards the gigantic metal door in the distance and racing off towards it. As they ran, they caught sight of Faba running into the fray of his employee's fighting Jason, only to have his Hypno be blasted back again by Cedric, causing the Branch Chief to yell in dismay. Holding back the urge to laugh, Wes watched as Gladion opened the gigantic metal door and raced ahead, rushing past a familiar group of faces as he headed into the garden area towards a giant, white mansion.
"T-Team Skull!?" Juan gasped.
"I knew it…" Selene muttered, looking around at the grunts surrounding them. "I knew they were going to be here."
"The grunts aren't stopping Gladion though", Rose commented.
"I take it Guzma wants to deal with him himself", Selene stated, watching as Gladion ran right up to Guzma, who was laughing hysterically. "We got more important things to worry about."
"That you do, children", a familiar voice said, as Plumaria stepped forward, a single hand on her hip.
At this, Rose growled and stepped forward. "I'll handle this! Go, Eva!"
"Pathetic... you think you can beat me?" Plumaria taunted, tossing her Nest Ball lazily in the air. "I beat you earlier today, what has changed from then till now? Go, Toxapex!" The brutal star Pokemon appeared from the ball, grinning at the chance to defeat Eva again. Plumaria turned to the other grunts and pointed. "You all make sure Wes, the weak kid, and the traitor don't interfere! Leave the redhead to me!"
"Yes, big sis!" all the grunts shouted, sending out tons of Pokemon at once and having them all charge forward. Despite the low power of the Pokemon they were using, the pure number of them were pushing Wes and the others back, as Selene threw out a PokeBall containing a Pokemon that Wes had never seen before. It was a bipetal, feline like Pokemon with a muscular build, red in coloration on his arms and legs, with black stripes, and a gray torso. A flaming belt appeared to be on his waist, which flared up in anticipation for the battle.
"Incineroar, Flare Blitz!" Selene commanded, her Pokemon obeying instantly and cloaking itself in fire before slamming into every single Pokemon it could.
"Nayru!" Wes called out, and Nayru blasted back several Alolan Grimer that were surrounding her, making her way to Incineroar's side to do battle. Meanwhile, Eva was struggling to even scratch Toxapex, who was laughing tauntingly as one of the spines pinched Eva's claw, causing the dragon-type to leap back in pain, suffering from poison damage due to the Baneful Bunker attack.
"How pathetic and weak", Plumaria taunted, glaring down at Rose, who was shaking a bit as she watched Eva sway a little on her feet. "You really didn't think that you could beat me after only three hours? Please, you're just a little girl who left her home to come here and try and make something of herself, a scared little brat who ran away from her region to try and 'broaden her horizons' or whatever… though I guess I can't blame you for leaving… if you're any indication…
"Everyone from back home is just as pathetic as you."
Rose suddenly stopped shaking and glared up as Plumaria. "Don't… you… dare…"
"Pardon?" Plumaria smirked, realizing she struck a nerve. "I couldn't hear you, you brat."
"Don't you dare make fun of Galar!" Rose screamed suddenly, causing Wes and Selene, as well as the Team Skull grunts they were fighting to stop their battle and look over in stunned silence. "You think we're pathetic? Please! Even the young lasses from there can kick a twat like you into the dirt where ya belong! I am a proud Galarian, and if ya want to insult mah lifeblood, then ya better be ready for a world of pain, lady!"
Eva suddenly let out a cry, as if Rose's words were giving her new strength. Suddenly, her body began to glow a blueish color, as the shell around her body began to crack and splinter, suddenly bursting forward. The body of the dragon began to from, giant wings sprouting as her neck extended outwards and formed. When the glow ended, Wes gasped in awe, a fearsome dragon standing where a cocoon once resided, her long, tapering tail swishing in anticipation.
"W-whoa, Eva evolved into Salamence", Rotom pipped up, flying forward and bringing up a picture of the Pokemon. "Salamence, the Dragon Pokemon. By evolving into Salamence, this Pokémon finally realizes its long-held dream of growing wings. When angered, it loses all sense of itself and destroys everything around it. The destruction will continue until Salamence has tired itself out."
"T-that doesn't change a thing!" Plumaria shouted, looking at her Toxapex. "It's just a Salamence, you can handle it!"
"Just a Salamence, huh?" Rose smirked, pulling out what looked like a metallic color, where Wes could see the Salamenceite Jason had given Rose a few weeks ago fastened. Rose threw it into the air, and with a sudden flap of her wings, Eva flew up and let the device latch onto her neck, fitting perfectly around her. Wes could also see Rose pull out a hair clip with the Key Stone attached firmly onto it, clipping it into her hair and tapping it once. "Eva, Mega Evolve!" A sudden light erupted from Rose's keystone, splitting into several beams as Eva's mega stone did the same, the two beams meeting in midair and triggering a transformation. When the light vanished, Eva was hovering in the air, her wings now in a crescent moon shape and her front legs tucked in two steel structures.
"W-what!?" Plumaria gasped, actually taking a step back in fear.
"Eva, use Double Edge!" Rose commanded, and almost like a rocket, Eva took off into the air, doing a few fancy tricks before flying directly at Toxapex, sending it flying into the wall and knocking it out instantly, the once steadfast Pokemon crumpling down due to its painful injuries.
"…whoa", Wes gasped in awe, ignoring the grunts around him who were recalling their Pokemon and surrendering to Rose in fear.
"Like I said", Rose smirked, glaring down at Plumaria, who had fallen to her knees and was recalling Toxapex. "Don't you dare make fun of Galar!"
"That was amazing!" Nayru pipped up, guiding up to Rose and Eva, the dragon transforming back to normal.
"Yeah, you two really showed her!" Selene smirked, looking around at the grunts who were looking between Rose and Plumaria in fear. "Now, come on, let's go! I think Gladion needs our help!
Wes looked over and could see Gladion kneeling in front of Guzma, shock and panic on his face. Realizing that he had been defeated, Wes attempted to run forward to provide aid to the boy, but before he could completely get to him, a sudden figure rushed past him.
"GUZMA!" Jason shouted, racing towards the leader of the punk organization. "YOU! ME! FIGHT! NOW!" Guzma only smirked, racing forward as well and sending out his Golisopod. Sweat dropping a bit, Wes continued towards Gladion with Selene, Juan and Rose hot on his heels.
"Are you ok?" Selene asked, kneeling by Gladion's side and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"So, I'm still not strong enough…" Gladion muttered, looking stunned at his hands. "All the days that I struggled alone… it was all for nothing!? Is that it!?"
"That's not true!" Selene cried out, shaking her head. "You aren't alone, you got me! And you are stronger than you think you are, Gladion… Guzma just… got the best of you, that's all."
Gladion huffed at that, looking up at Wes. "Please… save Lillie… I'll be right behind you."
Wes could see the pled in his eyes, and only nodded before turning towards the white mansion. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, Rose and Nayru right behind him, opening the door to the mansion and stepping inside, seeing Lusamine standing there, her eyes looking from Wes to Rose, a stern expression on her face.
"Wes… Rose… it's been awhile since we last saw you…"
"Wha-!?" a voice caught their attention, causing Wes and Rose to look over and see Lillie standing off to the side, the girl looking shocked at them. "Wes! Rose!"
"Lillie!" Rose shouted, running up to the girl and hugging her tightly. Wes only narrowed his eyes, staring right at Lusamine.
"You know them?" Lusamine asked, as if disgusted by what she was seeing. "Two of the most gifted trainers in all of Alola, and they bother with someone like you? How disappointing."
"I don't need your approval, Mother!" Lillie snapped, glaring at her from behind Rose's shoulder. "I will save Cosmog, with my friends!"
"My, you do say such incomprehensible things", Lusamine sighed, shrugging. "Calling me mother? I don't have any children! Certainly not any wretched children who would run off and reject my love! But, please, tell me how you'll save that Pokemon! I already defeated that Vulpix you call your partner, so what can you do, Lillie? You failed to convince me to listen to you. Your strength as a trainer is pathetic!" Lillie looked down in shame, as Lusamine turned away from her and stared at the mirror at the back of the room. "It's so terribly unattractive… but know that my fathomless love will save even someone like you, when I protect this entire world from darkness!"
"What are you planning?" Wes asked, stepping forward. "Is that why you want Nebby? You're going to sacrifice him for that?"
"You're correct, Wes", Lusamine replied, stepping forwards towards the mirror. "I will force Cosmog to use its power, and it may very well die… but if it will save the world for all of my beloved Pokemon, then that is what I will do." Suddenly reaching out, she pressed a single button next to the mirror, causing the glass pane to slide down, revealing a giant back room that Wes couldn't help but gasp at. The room contained several Pokemon which looked like they were frozen in cases, suspended in idle animation, and in the center of the room was a giant computer, and sitting next to it, clenching onto a container was…
"Chloe!" Wes shouted, following after Lusamine as she walked into the room.
"Wes!" Chloe shouted, realizing he was there, though she did not dare move, as if fear of the president was keeping her sitting where she was.
Lusamine gestured around them, grinning from ear to ear. "What do you think? It's my private collection, my precious babies, they will all be preserved for eternity here."
"You're a sick witch!" Rose shouted, clenching her fists.
"Silence!" Lusmaine shouted, glaring at her. "If the light is stolen from this world, then I will not be able to love my babies any longer, so I will open the Ultra Wormhole and take on the Pokemon that will steal our light! I will defeat Necrozma!" Lusamine suddenly looked behind them, and sighed. "Guzma couldn't even stop you from entering this place… what a pathetic man…"
Wes blinked and turned to see Gladion and Selene had appeared in the room, with Gladion glaring at Lusmaine with rage. "Listen to us please! Don't open the Ultra Wormhole! We can't lose anyone else… not like we lost Father!"
"Do you think I've forgotten?!" Lusamine snapped, stepping forward and eyeing Gladion. "As if I could forget what happened that day… I hate the Ultra Wormholes from the depths of my being, but that is why I will be the one to go! I will not let anyone stop me, not even my own daughter and son!" Lusamine sighed, stepping back and looking down at Chloe as she clenched the cage that contained Nebby. "I was able to open the Ultra Wormhole using just the gases we extracted from Cosmog when it was in Aether Paradise, wasn't I? If I use its entire body, I should be able to control the Ultra Wormhole… but sadly, I overlooked one important thing. Nebby only randomly opens Ultra Wormholes, in an attempt to save itself. What I need it to do is go to where Ultra Space is… the place that Necromza is currently… and where the fallers come from."
"Fallers?" Wes asked, suddenly confused. Up till now he had understood everything that Lusamine had been saying, but now he was thrown off. "What is a faller?"
"I could tell you, Wes, as it does pertain to you as well… but why not let a faller herself tell you… Chloe? Care to do the honors?" Lusamine turned to look at the blue haired girl, but she only clenched Nebby's cage, as if attempting to comfort the creature and stop it from creating an Ultra Wormhole. Lusamine only scoffed at this, turning to Wes. "Fine, I will tell you. Fallers are humans that have passed through Ultra Wormholes, and in our research, we found that a strange energy resonates within them. To our surprise, we found that this energy could be mistaken for another Ultra Wormhole, and because of that, they could be mistaken for one by an Ultra Beast… or rather, used as a guide to possibly open a Wormhole. That day, when we used Cosmog's gases to create a wormhole, we did it using the energy signature of a faller within Aether Paradise."
"So that day we were here, you used Chloe's signature to open the wormhole?" Rose asked, looking at Chloe. "But… if she's a faller, does that mean she's from a different dimension like Nebby is?"
"Your half right", Lusamine explained. "Yes, Chloe is from another dimension. We confirmed this when she stepped into Aether Paradise the day of the field trip. I was contacted by my scientists that were researching Ultra Wormholes that they were detecting the same energy we generated the day my husband vanished, and we confirmed that it was coming from two sources… Chloe, and Wes."
"M-me?" Wes asked, started, staring at Lusamine as if she had become a Pokemon. "I-I'm a faller? But that's impossible! I've lived in Hoenn all my life! I can't-"
"Can't you?" Lusamine asked, turning and suddenly typing on her computer, pulling up what looked like an old article from a Hoenn newspaper. "A woman and her infant child were found washed up just outside Petalberg City, on the beaches of Route 104. Upon regaining consciousness, the woman claims to have no memory of most of her life or how she ended up on the beach in the first place. The only thing she could confirm was her name, the baby she was carrying was her son, and that she had lived in Petalburg City. However, no one in the city could confirm the women as someone they knew." Lusamine stopped reading the article and turned to Wes. "Strange, isn't it? How a mysterious woman could appear from nowhere and claim to be someone that lived in the city all her life, yet no one there knows her? That is because she was from Petalburg, but a Petalburg from a different dimension! She came to this dimension through one of those wormholes and exists here because of that! It is common for Fallers to have memory loss, as she isn't the only case that we have confirmed, thanks to us obtaining some of the International Police's secret files… Chloe, found at age 5, with no memory of where she came from or how she ended up in Alola, with just her name to go by… yet no one knew who she was, even when she claimed to be from Johto and people there were contacted."
Wes was staring at the ground in shock, and suddenly what Lusamine was saying seemed to be causing pieces of a puzzle he didn't even know existed to fit into place. His father didn't abandon them, he was probably still alive in a separate dimension! Type: Null was created to fight the Ultra Beasts, and that must be the reason that he was drawn to Wes in the first place, because he could sense the Ultra Wormhole energy on him! Nebby's attraction to him and Chloe also suddenly made sense, as the beast must sense home within them, and felt safer with those that came from Ultra Space just like he did. Clenching his fists, Wes looked back up at the insane woman, the blonde smirking as she realized that Wes was beginning to accept the truth.
"That day, we confirmed out theory and used the very energy you radiate to open that Wormhole that you saw, the one that you pushed that creature back through. You radiate such strong wormhole energy, Wes, because you were exposed to it earlier then anyone we've ever met! Chloe couldn't cause Cosmog to open the hole… her energy might not be strong enough… but your presence might cause Cosmog to use your signature, focus on it… he will-" As if on cue, a sudden flash shined from behind Lusamine. She turned in anticipation, but the small light that appeared was gone, as if it never existed at all. "You're trying to resist, aren't you?" She turned to Chloe and the caged Nebby, glaring. "How gallant you are… you know exactly what is going on. You love them so much, don't you? But it's too bad… I will have you open the Ultra Wormhole… no matter what!" She suddenly snatched the cage from Chloe, who let out a startled scream of terror. Just then, Guzma suddenly ran into the room, panting heavily and covered in blood and bruises. Wes blinked in surprise and saw that Jason was right behind Guzma, panting as well and covered in similar wounds.
"Mother, if you disappear to-" Gladion shouted at her.
"Now you worry for me?" Lusamine snarled, holding the cage high. "Perhaps I have made you uneasy about my ability to handle this task? I'll be fine, as I won't be alone. Guzma, with me!"
"Yes ma'am!" Guzma shouted, though he did so through bloody teeth.
"What is going on?" Jason shouted, looking at Lusamine with shock. "What are you doing?"
"What I must", Lusamine replied. "I am off to defeat Necrozma!"
In desperation, Gladion raced forward, his tough façade fading as he stared at his mother. "Let me go! My partner Null was born to be a beast killer!"
"You're a sweet boy", Lusamine muttered, holding Nebby higher. "But do not worry, you can leave it all in my hands. Children really would all be much happier… if they'd only listen to the adults around them."
Nebby finally began to panic so much that radiant energy flooded from the cage, shooting out and creating a giant wormhole in front of them all. Lusamine dropped the cage, leaping forward and disappearing into the vortex. Before anyone else could even move, Guzma charged forward, knocking them all to the ground as he too leapt forward and vanished into the vortex of pure energy, the portal closing just as the last lock of hair vanished out of sight.
"Mother!" Lillie shouted, holding her hand out as she got up from the ground, but her cries were in vain, the women she called family unable to hear her. Lillie sighed, stepping forward and gasping. Floating above the now damaged cage was a creature that Wes had not seen before, but since it had risen from the cage, he knew it was Nebby. Instead of a gassy form resembling a nebula, Nebby was now shape of a translucent, dark blue orb with a starshaped pattern set in a golden shell-like structure, with tightly shut eyes.
"He changed forms… and is not moving…" Lillie whispered in fear, her eyes locked on Nebby.
"What happened?" Jason demanded, looking at each of them in turn. "What went on while I was fighting Guzma?"
Rose, now realizing that Jason was there, gasped as soon as she saw him. "W-what!? Did you two get into a fist fight or something!?"
"Never mind that!" Jason snapped, causing them all to jump. "Tell me what happened." Wes recovered first, and began to explain what Lusamine had told them, about her plan to save Alola, and what he and Chloe were. When he was done, Jason remained silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Well… that explains quite a bit… though I am shocked to hear that you and Chloe are from an alternate dimension to this one, and somewhat don't want to believe what she said… I cannot deny that the possibility is there… let's go, we need to talk, and I'd rather not do it surrounded by frozen Pokemon…"
Taking their leave from the secret room, they stepped back into the main room to be meet with Wicke, who bowed to them and breathed a sigh of relief as they appeared. "You're all okay! Oh, thank goodness…"
"Maybe… but there is still a ton we have to do", Gladion stated. "There's the president and Guzma, who both disappeared into the Ultra Wormhole… not to mention Cosmog and why it stopped moving like that. Lusamine is still our mother, we can't just leave her in some unknown world on her own, even if it is to defeat Necrozma."
"What is this?" a familiar voice suddenly said. Wes turned to see the Ultra Recon Squad and appeared, and did not look too happy to hear what they just heard. "She is not defeating Necrozma for our sake, but her own satisfaction?!"
"Miss President… why would she do this?" Zossie asked, shaking her head.
"We gave her a machine…", Dulse stated. "The machine that would restrain Necrozma… we were going to send it back to our world with someone strong enough to safely use it, but she's going to use it for herself?"
"What was that you just said!?" Gladion suddenly shouted, glaring at the figure. "You said you were going to send someone back to your world? Do you know some other way to open an Ultra Wormhole!?"
"The altar on Poni…" Dulse said, raising his arm robotically. "The Pokemon that appears there is called the beast that devours the sun."
"We rode on the back of a Pokemon like that!" Rossie interjected, smiling suddenly. "That is how we got here to Alola!"
"Lusamine and Guzma", Dulse muttered. "Do they not understand how strong Necrozma truly is, or do they go to fight it, even knowing that?"
"If Necrozma awakens, it will come to steal the light from Alola", Zossie grimly stated. "You must protect your world's light! Alola is so brilliant and nice!"
"If you'll excuse us…" Dulse said, nodding at them all.
"Hold on", Jason suddenly said, raising his hand. "The Pokemon that devours the sun… you're talking about one of the legendary Pokemon of Alola, aren't you?"
"That is correct, Mister Champion of Kalos", Zossie nodded to him, smiling. "But as you said before, you cannot-"
"Actually, I can", Jason stated sternly. "Per the limitations of a League Champion, I am not allowed to meddle in the affairs of other regions… UNLESS two very specific regulations are met. The first is if said threat were to interfere with my region, be it the region I am a citizen of or the region I am champion in. The second is if the threat contains a Legendary Pokemon, and it just so happens that, oh lookie, this one does! So, if you don't mind… I will relieve my students of this terrible ordeal and step in as a champion."
"Wait, what!?" Rose shouted, causing Jason to look surprised at her. He had not expected her to object like that, rather he expected Wes to, though he was even more startled to see the silver haired teen was only staring at him. Rose, however, was fuming. "We went through all that to save our friends! We're just involved in this as you are, and now you're telling us to just step aside!?"
"Stopping Lusamine from opening a world ending wormhole is one thing", Jason explained. "After Wes defeated Guzma not just once, but twice, I knew that you all would be able to handle that… However, getting the help of a Legendary Pokemon to stop a Pokemon that is probably ALSO a Legendary Pokemon, and is on top of that a dangerous light eating Ultra Beast, is another. As Champion of Kalos, only I have the power to stop it."
"But what about-" Gladion began to say.
"I am not going to deny that Type: Null is powerful", Jason interrupted, shooting down Gladion's suggestion before he could even fully form it. "But unless you can unleash its power from those helmets within the next 30 seconds, then we are wasting time. Necrozma isn't going to wait for that, and I'd rather not chance your little secret weapon not being powerful enough to stop it. I am aware of how strong Type: Null seems, but if Necrozma is as powerful as Dulse says it is, he might not even be able to stop this threat."
"But…" Rose muttered, turning to Wes and pleading silently with him to step in and say something, but Wes only continued to look at Jason.
"Listen to me", Jason stated, looking directly into Wes' eyes. "You are to return to Professor Kukui at the school. You will stay there and attend classes like normal. You will not set foot on Poni island until the school is to go there. Do you understand me, Wes?" The two trainers stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity, and Rose couldn't help but feel the same feeling that she got when she fished up Sakura as a Feebas, and Wes was looking into Jason's eyes back then. An unspoken language was being communicated between the two, as if a psychic link was formed between them.
"Yeah, I understand", Wes nodded, shocking everyone in the room that wasn't Wes or Jason.
"Good", Jason nodded, turning to Dulse and Zossie. "I'm going with you to Poni Island. I need to stop by the Pokemon Center once we get there and get a few things, but don't worry… we will stop Necrozma. Count on it."
"We shall count on you, Professor Champion Jason", Dulse said, following the trainer as he began to walk out of the room, Zossie happily joining them.
"W-who are you and what have you done with Wes!?" Rose asked, flabbergasted.
"Hey, he's got a point!" Juan muttered for the first time in a while, finally finding the courage to speak again. "I personally don't want to be involved in this; it seems to dangerous!"
"I'm kinda done with the whole thing, myself!" Chloe agreed, shaking her head and shivering. "I really just wanna sleep after finding out that I am from another dimension!"
"I can set you children up in the staff residential quarters", Wicke offered, smiling at them all. "It is very late, and we can arrange transport for you children in the morning back to the school."
"Make sure you prepare another boat", Wes suddenly said.
Rose gasped, and Nayru gained a sly look on her face, grinning. "I knew it… Master, you sly dog! So, we're heading to Poni Island then?"
"You better believe it!" Wes smirked with determination. "We're going to save Nebby, defeat Necrozma, and make sure Alola never loses its light!"