The same rhythm filled the infirmary of the Aether Paradise – a beeping sound that seemed to bounce off the wall of white and gold. Five figures surround a lone bed occupied by a four-armed Pokémon. Wires and monitors beeped above its head as the professor-in-charge spoke quietly to a pink-clad nurse at the far end of the room. The door slammed open, and the twenty-year-old heir to the Aether Foundation burst into the room.

"I got Faba's call!" Gladion announced. He was tired and sweaty from his rush to return to the artificial island, but he strode into the room with purpose and focus. "What happened?"

Lusamine regarded her son with an unreadable expression. "A lot happened." She motioned for him to approach, stepping aside to give him a better view. "Another Pokémon went berserk during Melemele's Grand Trial. We already had the Pokémon in one of the isolation chambers, but…."

Gladion stepped forward and followed his mother's gaze. Lying on the bed was Hala's Machamp. Three deep slash wounds ran diagonally from his left shoulder to his right hip. The cuts were unusual themselves, all three glowing in a deep purple. Machamp has his eyes closed, but the pain in his face is more than evident. "What in the -?"

"We're still investigating the incident," Lusamine said. "But according to Hau and Lillie, a trial goer used some kind of black Z-Crystal before his Pokémon ran amok. It severely injured the Kahuna's Machamp and attacked its Trainer. Hau and Decidueye managed to knock it out before calling the Foundation." Lusamine crossed her arms and sighed wearily. "We tried recalling it back to its Pokéball, but for some strange reason, it wouldn't work. We have to transport it here using one of the helicopters."

"Where's the Kahuna?"

"Tutu brought the trial goer to the hospital and entrusted us Machamp." Hau nodded to the ailing Pokémon. A grim look on his face. "Once the Trainer got an all-clear, the authorities will be detaining him throughout the investigation."

Gladion turned to his mother. "You said something about a black Z-Crystal? Where is it?"

"It was missing." Lusamine shook her head. "When the police came in for an initial search in the hospital, the Z-Crystal was not with the trial goer. We also had Iki Town checked but came out empty-handed. They're still searching for it as of the moment."

Lillie cast a worried look. "Do you think…it is connected to the one in Poni Island?"

"We cannot disregard the possibility." Elio has just finished speaking with Nurse Joy. He approached them as Nurse Joy walked to the edge of the bed with bandages at hand and began carefully wrapping around Machamp's wounds. "If that will be the case, we can expect that more will come."

The professor passed Lusamine a clipboard. "The wounds are not something we have seen before. Nurse Joy already ran some tests ahead of time, and results were negative of any infection or poison. Unless we uncover what it is, making a cure would be difficult."

"How about the Alolan Persian that went berserk?" Hau exclaimed. "There's something we could do, right? Pokémon do not attack without reason!"

Gladion could understand Hau's concern. He was right, after all. Pokémon do not attack unprovoked. However, this might not be the case right now. There was an issue with the missing black Z-Crystal that the trial goer used. What is it really? Where did it come from? If it is the cause for Pokémon to lose control, it might as well be the key to reversing the effect.

Professor Elio placed a hand on the Champion's shoulder and smiled kindly. "Do not fret. We will find a way to help these Pokémon, and we will do it with all we have." He squeezed his shoulder firmly. "You should do the same. This region is counting on its Champion. It needs you more than ever."

Hau straightened and nodded. Determination lighting up in his eyes. "I will. I promise."

"We're really grateful for your help, Professor Elio." Lillie said.

Elio scratched the back of his head. A sheepish smile on his face. "I'm just doing my job, that's all. Otherwise, Moon will call me out, and I will never hear the end of it."

He was answered with a suffocating silence. Hau opened his mouth as if to ask something but closed it. Lillie looked down and fidgeted from where she was standing. Gladion was looking away, his bangs covering half his face.

Ah… Elio dropped his arm to his side. It seemed he said something he should not have.

"I believe it's time for us to leave." It was Lusamine who broke down the silence. She placed her hands on the shoulders of each of the two young men, who flinched in surprise. "We shouldn't keep the professor too long, and Machamp needs his rest as well. Come along."

She nudged the Gladion and Hau and steered them to the door, both letting themselves out without much resistance. Lillie reluctantly looked back and forth between the professor and her mother before bowing down and excusing herself. Elio bade them goodbye, his smile fading as the door closed behind them.

He hoped his daughter what she is doing.


"You're not okay."

Hau had stated matter-of-factly. The current Champion was lounging on the sofa in the older Aether sibling's office. Lillie came in with a tray of drinks and passed two of them to her older brother and her boyfriend. Hau accepted his gratefully and scooted over to give Lillie more space to sit beside him. He turned to Gladion, who was sitting behind his desk with an irritated look on his face.

"Don't be stupid," Gladion replied. The tip of his pen scritching as he writes. He did not spare Hau a look lest the dark green-haired Champion decides to point out whatever contradictions he could see on his face. "It's been five years, and Professor Elio is her father. It only makes sense for him to mention his daughter once in a while."

Hau threw his arms up in frustration. "That's the point, Glads! It's been five years, and none of us have gotten over it. I can't get over it. Lillie can't get over it. You can't get over it! A little mention of her, and we get all stiff and sad."

"You're overreacting," Gladion remarked through the scratching of his pen has gotten louder and faster, as if he was in a hurry. "And why do you make it sound like we got a thing for her?"

Hau sunk further down the sofa, cradling the condensing glass with his hands. "I admit I did have a little crush on Moon back then." That earned him a surprised look from Lillie that seems to say, Really? "I mean, can you blame me? She's both cute and cool, and she's a natural! She beat Rowlet and me in her first Pokémon battle, and I've been training since I was a kid. Moon is the most powerful Trainer in Alola who defeated the First World League Champion, and I haven't even managed to defeat her once."

He jabbed a finger to Gladion. "Neither did you." He crossed his arms and pouted. "And in my defense, I'm not the only one who had a crush on her. Kiawe did too, and you too, Glads, but you got the shortest end of the deal."

The pen paused abruptly. Gladion scowled at his handwriting and furiously crumpled the paper into a ball. He tossed it, but it bounced off the rim of the trash bin. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Hau sipped his drink with a teasing smile. "Classic Gladion."

Lillie sighed and stood up to pick up the crumpled paper. She deposited it inside the trash bin and turned to Hau. "Hau, don't tease him."

The said Trainer whined but relented, sinking impossibly further down the sofa as he drank his drink in big gulps. Lillie walked to her brother's side and gently patted his shoulder. Gladion ran his hands on his face with a sound of annoyance but did not push Lillie away. "A Pokémon dollar for your thoughts?"

"How about yours?" Gladion deflected.

Lillie shook her head. "I think we already know what's in mine and Hau's."

Gladion leaned his back against his chair. "I'm not mad at Professor Elio." He told her. "It can't be helped, but now's not the time to think about the past. I'm more concerned about what's happening in Alola."

"Professor Elio said that they will do their best," Lillie assured him. "I think we can trust his word."

"That's not what I'm worried about." He clarified. "What was happening…the Pokémon going berserk and UB Assembly attacking…I don't think they're just mere coincidences. I have a bad feeling about all of it."

Lillie blinked at him in confusion. "What do you mean, Big Brother?"

"Do you remember the guy I saw during Akala's festival?"

"You mean the one that the police are looking for?"

"That's the one." Gladion nodded grimly. "I saw him again near Po Town earlier today."

"What?" Hau sprang up from the sofa, nearly spilling the rest of his drink. "If he's near Po Town, shouldn't Kahuna Nanu have him arrested already?"

Gladion massaged his temples. "It's complicated." As complicated as leaving an important task to a lazy Kahuna. "Long story short, he was following orders from his boss, and he seemed to know things. He offered me a deal. If I told the police to lay off him, he would be willing to face me in the League championship. If I win, he's going to spill everything he knows."

"And if you lose?"

Gladion locked his eyes on his sister's. Chilling dread creeping up her spine. "I will have to give Lunala to him."

Lillie stepped back in shock. Her eyes were wide in horror. "N-No! You can't…you can't just give Nebby up like that!" Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. "Nebby is…Nebby is the only reminder I have of Moon. They trained and fought many battles together. I…I can't…."

Hau walked toward her and pulled her into a tight hug. He rubbed her back and murmured reassurances to her ear. He turned to the former Team Skull enforcer, who was staring absentmindedly at the pen on his hands. Guilt was evident on his face. "You don't want to do this, right?"

"No," Gladion admitted quietly. "I don't."

I do not want to lose anything that was left of her. He seemed to say, and Hau understood. He, too, has something that Moon left behind – her own Z-Power Ring. She left it on the Champion's throne with her letter of resignation and addressed that it should be turned over to his hands. Her collection of Z-Crystals was left at home - the case and the Z-Crystals were cleaned and polished by her mother. Hau made sure to do the same with Moon's Z-Power Ring and often carried it around with him inside the same cloak his grandfather wears.

He looked between the Aether siblings. What should he do? What would Moon do? He has always admired the girl's tenacity and decisiveness in these situations. She never panics, always keeps her focus and calm when everyone else cannot. She is the epitome of what a Champion should be – deserving to be the first and the role model of the Alolan Champions that will come after her. Should they refuse the offer or risk it? They could learn a lot should Gladion win, but if he loses…no! Gladion will win no matter what!

He squeezed Lillie's shoulders and offered a gentle smile. A smile that Lillie understood well - Hau is the current Champion, and he must put Alola first before himself. His word carries power and authority, and she and his brother share the same duty to listen to him. She knows what he will say and that he knows it will hurt her, but he cannot be selfish. Hau let her go, and Lillie reached for the familiar Pokéball inside her pocket. It wriggled slightly under her touch.

"Do it."

Gladion snapped in his direction. "What? Are you nuts?" He stood up and faced against the Champion. Anger slowly simmered on the surface. "Are you telling me to gamble a Legendary Pokémon for unverified information?"

"Yes," Hau affirmed as he stood his ground. "If that 'bad feeling' of yours is on point, we will need that information. Whatever that is. That is, assuming that guy is not a fraud."

"And if he is?"

"He loses either way," Hau answered. "If we don't accept the deal, he gains nothing, and the police will continue to hound him. If we accept and he loses, we get the information, and Nebby remains safe." He narrowed his eyes at him. "Unless you are not up to the challenge, Gladion?"

It was not a suggestion; it was a challenge. That Gladion knows well. The person standing before him is not just Hau, the grandson of the Kahuna of Melemele Island, but the current Champion, the most powerful Trainer in all of Alola. The Hau he knows is laid-back and carefree, but this Hau…this is Hau, the second Alolan Champion. He is a serious figure of power and authority whose word can sway the masses with just a snap of his fingers.

Refuse or win. Those are the only options he has. Losing is never an option.

Gladion looked at his younger sister. Lillie looked torn, but her eyes were lit with a small flame of determination. He hated to admit it, but Hau is right. It is an opportunity…an opportunity they should not miss. With a heavy heart, he reached out for his phone and dialed a number. The call rang twice before it connected — the other line filling with the familiar drawl of the Kahuna of Ula'ula Island.

"Alola. This is Gladion. About that search request…."


There are no official character birthdays, so I just did some headcanon estimation on my own. Gladion is the oldest among the four, with a two-year gap from the rest of the squad. He just recently celebrated his twentieth birthday by this time in the story. Next is Hau, who is eighteen and then, Moon, who is most likely approaching eighteen in the timeline (in which the first open League championship was held to honor the First Alolan Champion). Lillie would be the youngest among the four at seventeen years old and would not celebrate until a few months later.