The past three weeks have been one of the busiest that Professor Burnet has ever been. She could barely remember what it was like to be drowning in different types of research materials and cups of coffee. Her office in the Dimensional Research Lab has turned into a fire hazard - a rare phenomenon last witnessed in the height of the invasion of the Ultra Beasts six years ago. Her receiver beeped, and she struggled to find it among a pile of data maps and scribbled notes. A voice crackled at the other end after the professor pressed a button.
"Professor Burnet? The Kahuna of Poni Island has come to see you."
Hapu? She was dimly aware that the Kahuna had called her in the morning for a brief meeting. She glanced at the wall clock above the row of bookshelves and let out a surprised gasp. Has it been that late? She abruptly stood up and scrambled for the receiver, knocking over an empty mug at the process. "Tell her to come in."
A minute ticked by, and the door opened. The Kahuna of Poni Island invited herself in, taking note of the mess inside the office. The professor herself was stacking in some journals, mumbling something about the time. The Ground-type Trainer coughed politely, letting her presence known.
"Oh! Hapu! I didn't see you there." Burnet put away the journals in her arms and stepped away from her desk. She smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry I forgot about our meeting today. I've been busy as of the late."
Hapu nodded. "Don't worry, Professor Burnet. I understand." She crossed the room, carefully maneuvering past some kind of equipment. "Things have been hectic on our end as well."
"Ah, yes. The League Championship." Burnet said. When her husband told her about the League's plan on making the eighth Championship public, she was genuinely surprised. It was not like the first open competition was a mess; no, it was actually a success. So much so that the people of Alola were looking forward to the next one. That is…until the Champion of that time left her position.
She gingerly touched her wedding ring. She remembered the day when Acerola came running to Aether Paradise. At that time, she was helping Wicke and Faba with the weekly health examination of the Corsola in the conservatory. Acerola had asked them if they had seen Moon or even spoken with her that day. She was clutching what seemed to be a crumpled envelope in her hands. They told her that they had yet to see the cheery Champion that day. Just then, Gladion and Lillie arrived in the conservatory, having heard from an Aether employee that the Elite Four member had come to the floating island. When Lillie asked what happened, Acerola broke down in tears. Her words strumbled over one another as she sobbed and thrust the envelope into Lillie's hands.
She could still remember it vividly - the apprehension in the younger Aether sibling's expression morphing into despair as she read the paper enclosed in the envelope, the shock and disbelief in Gladion's face before anger and hurt flashed in his chartreuse green eyes, and the stunned silence she, Wicke, and Faba could only offer as Gladion stormed out of the conservatory.
Her heart broke into million pieces when the news finally reached Kukui. The young girl was like a daughter to both of them. An optimistic, young Trainer that braved many challenges that they could never overcome without that kind heart of hers. A heart that touched and changed so many. They searched, looked into her travel record, and even asked her mother, who shockingly does not know her own daughter's sudden departure from the region. They learned that she took a flight to Hoenn and, upon landing, chartered a private flight from unknown contact. After that, she disappeared as if she did not exist at all. As if she did not want to exist at all. The only assurance they have that she is still alive was a short phone call to her mother…and that was four years ago. Moon did not call after that.
"Professor?"
Burnet was startled back to where she was and who she was with. She must have zoned out for a few minutes that she did not notice Hapu was already standing in front of her. The Kahuna did not call her out about it because she knew why. Her eyes conveyed understanding and showed the need to approach a different subject at the time.
Burnet cleared her throat. "Sorry." She returned behind her desk and busied herself in folding the data maps scattered on her desk. "So, what brought you here, Hapu? You didn't tell me over the phone."
Hapu decided to take a seat on one of the chairs in front of the professor's desk. "It's about that Pokémon. The one we managed to capture on the island. Is there any news about it?"
Burnet looked up from her work with a frown. "No, I'm afraid not. But the Aether Foundation is currently looking into it together with the same case in Melemele." She tapped her chin. "From what I heard from Nanu, it does not have any Trainer. A wild Pokémon, per se."
"Indeed," Hapu confirmed. "But even so, it attacked Seafolk Village, and from what I gathered, it did so without any provocations. Pokémon, wild or not, do not attack without something or someone pushing it to."
There was a beat of silence. Hapu eyed the professor critically. "I heard that it attacked an Aether employee."
Burnet paused. She was not anywhere near the artificial island when it happened. Wicke just happened to tell her about it. "Yes, because of that, they have to transfer it to an isolation chamber." She placed the finished pile at the side. "I haven't had the chance to take a look, but Lusamine has asked Professor Elio for help. These cases might have something to do with what happened in the Orre region years ago. I heard that he and a certain professor in that region were close colleagues. If anything else, he might know a thing or two about the situation."
"I see…" Hapu nodded, but there was a trace of dissatisfaction in her expression. She stood up from her seat. "Thank you for your time, Professor Burnet, despite all of these-" She gestured to the scattered research materials in the office.
Burnet waved it off with a soft chuckle. "I don't mind. A bit of a distraction wouldn't hurt my work." She rounded her desk and escorted the Kahuna to the door. "If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to call me."
"I will." Hapu nodded. She stepped out of the room but was stopped in her tracks as a researcher ran in their direction. He skidded to a stop, panting heavily as he tried to compose himself.
"Professor Burnet!" The researcher exclaimed. His eyes were wild and frantic. "We got a problem!"
The smile on the professor's face faded instantly. "What is it?"
"T-The…The Aether President just called in! Ula'ula Island is under attack!"
"They never rest, do they?"
A lone figure leaned against what seemed to be a stone monument, watching the sky ripple and crackle with purple lightning above Route 14. The wind was picking up, sweeping dust and stirring the waters in its wake. Swimmers swam back to the safety of the blackened shores as onlookers gawked at the changing sky. Seconds ticked by, and the sky began to rip apart. The rift widened and slowly rotated into what seemed to be a hole in the sky — an Ultra Wormhole. Purple lightning hissed, and the Ultra Wormhole flashed. Three figures fell from the rift and disappeared into the waters with an explosive splash.
Slowly, three glowing heads emerged from the surf. Their bundled wire bodies crackled with electricity as they towered over the onlookers. They writhed - bodies flaring up in purple aura - and screeched from their nonexistent mouths. The people on the shores scrambled away in panic as the Ultra Beasts lashed their arms, dragging those unfortunate enough toward them. One latched on a small child and dragged her back to the surf. A blur of yellow slashed at its arm and carried the child to safety. The Ultra Beast lurched back in pain and stumbled against its brethren.
The lone figure looked up from his watch. "Five minutes." He declared as his partner landed down to his side. "Should we wait for them or…?" An annoyed growl answered him. He shook his head and drew back the sleeve of his bomber jacket. "Fine then. Let's make their job easier for them."
Sun tipped his cap and glared at the Ultra Beasts, who had already recovered and were moving in their direction. "Zeraora, use Close Combat."
The Thunderclap Pokémon disappeared from where it was perched and appeared before the Ultra Beast. It launched a rapid-fire assault of punches and kicks, knocking down its opponent back to the water. It kicked off the spiky head of the Ultra Beast and jumped to the second. It dodged one of its sparking arms and slammed its fisted claw on its head, sending it tumbling against the first. The third Ultra Beast used Thunderbolt, but the Mythical Pokémon absorbed the attack. Zeraora landed softly on the shore, its fur sparking with renewed strength.
"Let's finish this. Plasma Fists!"
"GRAWWWR!"
Zeraora placed its claws together and began charging up. Light blue electricity sparked on its claws, and the yellow Pokémon slammed it down on the sand. Lightning exploded into a stream as it rushed toward the three Ultra Beasts. It surrounded them, and they writhed in agony despite the same typing. The sea beneath them amplified the power of the move. The water exploded around them in a tall burst of water and steam, and the Ultra Beasts fell to a heap of writhing bodies.
Zeraora and its human partner watched as the Ultra Wormhole pulsed and reclaimed the Ultra Beasts it expelled before imploding. The Alolan sky slowly cleared as the sun peered from the dissipating dark clouds and purple lightning. Zeraora leapt next to its partner as the human narrowed his eyes to the waves.
"It seems that their plan is still incomplete…those Ultra Beasts…." Sun shook his head and surveyed the immediate area. An annoyed huff escaped his lips. "What a shame." He said. "Tomorrow's the League, yet they are not yet prepared. I guess five minutes is too much of an expectation for them."
"Mrawr…."
Sun tipped his cap. "It can't be helped, then. It seems we'll be doing some babysitting duties for now." He turned on his heel, ignoring the sound of an incoming helicopter. "I hope they will give us enough challenge for this year's League. Otherwise, I will bedisappointed. No...she will really be disappointed."
