Pokémon Radiant Sun
Howdy folks. Happy Veteran's Day weekend, and a grateful thank you goes out from me to all of those who have served and are currently serving right now. I'm so proud to wear the uniform that I do each and every day, and I'll endeavor to continue the legacy you all have fought for.
Now, it's truthfully been a hectic week for me getting settled in at my new tech school, catching up on RWBY, and discovering "Star vs. The Forces of Evil."
Like, holy shit…I found my new obsession. This show is freaking amazing and I ship StarCo like crazy. Farewell, Undertale. It was nice knowing you.
Seriously though, I'm actually quite excited about the future and the next few upcoming chapters. Of course, I've got a few surprises in store for you all, with some development for our favorite kids and Gladion finally appearing officially. I've even seen some clips from the newest episodes that have come out and have some delightful ideas for the future. Interesting how Faba is being played up as such a villain, but then again, it really isn't considering how he acts in the game. Ah well, I suppose we'll see what's to come of that in time.
Shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes Madame Rodoshe, Cottonmouth25, Gokan123, sceptilezeno, DarkestShade73, Consumer of Fantasy, BouncingFish, and BraviaryScout, as well as a new reviewer known as SuOmAlAiNeN92. Thanks for the support, feedback, and awesomeness.
Also. It's about time I officially did this, but here we go.
Spoilers for Pokémon Sun and Moon are in this chapter. But if you've been following this story and haven't played the game at this point, that's your own fault. Because future stuff will be addressed and late game stuff will be mentioned.
NOTE: Sun will be seeing a psychologist upon arrival on his next visit to Heahea City. I did not forget about it, it's just not happening yet. Thanks to those who've remembered and pointed it out. It shows that you all have some damn good memory, which is actually pretty awesome to see.
Here's a long one for you all.
On that note…
Enjoy.
Chapter 38: Reunion
Nimbasa City:
Six Months Ago…
Cold. Cold, all around them. A cold that had nothing to do with the fact that Kyurem had froze the entire city, sentencing everyone who lived there to an icy grave. Forever trapped within the ice that covered the most populated city in Unova. No…It was the bitter chill of defeat that sent a cold to the very bones of the heroes within the city.
It had been three days since the final battle. Three days since they had escaped Cipher's floating fortress. Three days since Ghetsis had unleashed Shadow Kyurem's deadly attack and doomed the city of Nimbasa City, all at the order of the man who had turned on them. Each and every one of them felt the sting of Borlath's betrayal, knowing that it was him who had been the ultimate reason they had lost.
And as for Wes…
Aria watched the Snagger with growing worry. He hadn't say a word since she had found him, kneeling on the ground as Ghetsis cackled ahead of them, with Amber Fontaine admiring the sight from nearby as Kyurem prepared to put Wes out of his misery. Despite having been able to best Amber in a battle, by stacking the odds heavily against her, Aria knew she had to get Wes out of there before they killed him.
Somehow they had managed to escape, but now…
Now they had no plan. No way to fight back. And were running out of time.
They had found shelter within a hotel that seemed not as bad off as some of the other buildings, though considering the entire place was completely frozen over, it wasn't saying much. Aria watched as tall, slim man with pale green hair paced back and forth, looking agitated as his Zoroark watched passively. That man was N, former King of Team Plasma, who had battled alongside them since the beginning.
"They were in so much pain…My friends…can we even save them? In that state…is it even possible?" N asked the others, barely keeping his voice steady.
"Zekrom, Reshiram, and Kyurem…All of them lost to the shadows. I don't know how things can get worse." Hugh said with an angry sigh, flinging his arms down. "If it wasn't for that bastard…I hope no one has a claim on him yet, because I'm going to strangle Borlath myself!"
"Hugh." The teen stiffened as he looked over at Aria, her blue eyes burning with emotion as always. Hugh's expression relaxed and he sighed, running a hand through his hair, before walking over to the side of the room she was on, sitting down beside her.
"Sorry…" Hugh murmured. Aria wrapped on arm around him, pulling him close to her and hugging him tight. Hugh's face reddened, but he sighed with contentment and closed his eyes, relishing the contact. Aria just clung to her friend for support, taking comfort in his presence. He was her rock, and she never appreciated that more than now.
"So…now what?" Aria asked N. The man shook his head, seemingly unable to answer.
"We rebuild. Get our heads on straight and figure this out. We have allies working to assist us. We have to hope that one of them will stumble upon a way for us to strike back. As it is now, trying to fight back against Cipher in Unova is next to impossible. It's…"
"It's NOT hopeless." Aria said to the former King, her expression fierce. N couldn't help a smile, even if it was just for a moment.
"I didn't say that, but…I'll admit the odds are truly against us now. If even Wes couldn't stand up to my father and Shadow Kyurem, then…" N trailed off again, and Aria saw just how tired the man looked. He shook his head once again.
"We managed to save seventeen from the ice today. We'll keep at it tomorrow. The cold is too intense as it is tonight, and even Cipher and Neo Team Plasma wouldn't dare venture into the city yet." N explained as he turned towards the nearest door and walked away from Hugh and Aria, his loyal wolf Pokémon padding behind him. He cast a glance at the haunted figure leaning against the wall, staring into the air with a vacant expression, and knelt down to him.
"I still believe in you, my friend. Come back to us. We need your strength now more than ever." N murmured to the golden-eyed man, who stirred slightly, his gaze flicking to N for a brief moment before the eyes shut. N rose and departed, leaving the three of them alone. Aria and Hugh got up as well, deciding to follow N's lead. However, Wes refused to budge from his position. Aria worried about him, but after three days of prodding, he hadn't spoken. She decided to give him space and retired to a corner of the room that had become her makeshift bed and settled in for the night. She looked at her bag, seeing something glint at her from within it. A small Poké Ball, purple with a massive M on the front.
The Master Ball that should have ended it all…However, it wasn't to be. A simple mistake…A miscalculation and a betrayal ended their battle against Cipher and doomed them all. Aria sighed and shut her eyes, hoping to drift off to sleep and hope that this was all an elaborate nightmare.
Or she would have if Wes hadn't suddenly risen to his feet, surprising her and Hugh. The Snagger wordlessly strode across the room, flinging open the door and leaving the building. Aria scrambled away from the pallet, casting a glance at Hugh, who watched the scene from his chair.
"I'll be right back." Aria told her friend. Hugh looked conflicted, like he wanted to tell her no or to come along with her. Instead he nodded, and Aria bolted from the building, slinging her bag around her shoulder and chased after her teacher. It didn't take long for her to catch up with Wes, and when she did…she almost wish she hadn't.
Wes turned around at the sound of her approaching, and Aria felt a gasp escape her as Wes looked at her. This was her mentor. Her hero. Her best friend. The man who had became the brother she had never had…looking at her with an expression of complete hopelessness. All of the pain he had gone through. All of the bloodshed. All of the suffering he had endured at the hands of Cipher during his endless battles against them had finally taken hold of the Snagger. His eyes had lost their gleam, now appearing dull and lifeless. The golden eyes that always shone with excitement, drive, and determination were now dead. It was like Aria was looking at a completely different person.
"Aria…I can't. Not after that. Not after this…I let them all down. Millions are gone because I wasn't strong enough. I didn't think far enough ahead and…And now…" Wes broke off, shaking his head as he rolled up his sleeve, revealing the gleaming Snag Machine that had become synonymous with his name. Aria watched in horror as Wes unclasped the device from his arm and allowed it to fall onto the ice on the ground with a metallic clatter, the sound deafening in the silent and frozen street.
"I'm done. Let someone else save Unova. Ghetsis and Borlath took the last bit of fight I had…I can't carry the weight of this thing anymore." Wes said as he gave her one last glance, his eyes showing something else. Something awful and terrible. A pain of the deepest kind, that had finally broken the person she had looked up to for so long. Before this, she had seen glimpses of the sea of misery that raged behind the gleaming eyes of Wes, but now it was almost too intense for her to fathom.
Without another word Wes turned around and continued down the icy road, past the frozen bodies of those he had failed to save, sinking deeper into the darkness of his mind.
Aria stood there for a few moments, shivering at what had happened. She looked down at the ground, staring down at the device that Wes had left behind. With a deep sigh, Aria bent down and picked up the Snag Machine. Aria stared at it for a moment before shrugging off her jacket, rolling up her sleeve and clasping on the device to her own left arm. She pulled her hand into the attached glove and flexed it. Oddly enough, it conformed to her hand, making it feel comfortable. Aria rolled her sleeve back down, zipping her jacket back up as she began to chase after the man who was walking away from everyone and everything, unable to withstand the burden he had been tasked with any longer.
Aria pounded down the icy road, determined to bring her friend back to her senses. She was cut off, however, when a black ball of energy suddenly smashed into the road in front of her, throwing her skyward and making her land painfully on the ice.
"Hehehe…How sad. Wes has officially left the building!"
Aria whirled around and saw a familiar floating green Pokémon sitting on a streetlamp, smiling at her. Aria felt a stab of fury, clenching her fists as Shadow Celebi floated down to her level, laughing quietly.
"For a Pokémon tortured into being evil…I really don't feel any pity for you anymore." Aria admitted, shivering in the cold as she rolled to her feet. She really needed to get out of this and find Wes. A glance behind her told her that he was off the street.
"I don't need pity. I'm just a weapon, anyway. No point in feeling bad for something like me." Celebi said quietly, its smile widening as it held out a hand shuddering with darkness.
"And you really believe that. You know what? It doesn't matter-" Aria was cut off when a series of icy rocks exploded out from the street beneath her, sending her to the ground.
"Die." Celebi intoned, grinning as it unleashed Ancient Power at the woman. Aria darted away, sliding on the ice and barely avoiding the barrage of rocks and grabbing a Poké Ball from her belt. She spun around, drawing back her hand to throw it, before she was frozen in place by the blue aura engulfing her. Aria felt horror grip her as she realized she had been hit by Psychic.
"That's enough, Celebi."
Aria felt a stab of fury boil through her as the calm voice spoke up from nearby. Celebi's smile became Cheshire as a man in a white suit slowly walked into Aria's line of sight, giving her a sad smile. His long black hair was tied into a ponytail and his eyes were mismatched, blood red and bright green.
Borlath.
"You…have some serious balls." Aria hissed at the man who had sold them out to Cipher and Neo Team Plasma. He had pretended to be their friend, an invaluable ally against their forces. But it had all been a ruse. A trick. He had played them all for fools.
"Not really. I actually quite hate that I had to do this. Killing people, innocents mind you, doesn't give me a sick thrill like it does Greevil. What I did to Nimbasa is admittedly…hauntingly beautiful, in a way, but no. This was necessary, as awful as it was. And sadly, you won't be allowed to see how the end of the story plays out, my friend." Borlath said with a deep sigh. If Aria hadn't known the man had commanded the attack from Ghetsis and Shadow Kyurem to freeze Nimbasa City solid, she would have asked the man if he was okay. He seemed exhausted and it was obvious he was not used to the cold, as he shivered violently in the icy city. Yet his resolve was steel.
"Wes has officially been broken. It's incredible how one final tragedy made him finally lose the will to live. I'll be dealing with him after we deal with you." Borlath said as he snapped his fingers. Aria let out a scream of pain as Celebi's eyes glowed a harsher color of blue, putting intense pressure on Aria and sending agony through every inch of her body.
"I wracked my brain for a fitting way to kill you. Leaving a corpse behind would make you a martyr. Embolden the others to keep fighting…So I won't leave a body. You're going on a trip through the Passage of Time. An unguided one, at that." Borlath said as he slowly walked closer to Aria, his eyes changing to two golden orbs. Aria spit in the man's face, but he didn't even flinch. If anything, he seemed amused.
"I've always wondered what staring into the infinite is like. The endless abyss of the time-stream…However, I know the consequences of what such an experience are. This is the end of line, Arianna Cooper. Farewell." Borlath flicked his hand in a careless gesture. Celebi's entire body flashed white as the blue glow around its eyes grew weaker.
"You'll waste away as you gaze into the endless expanse of time, your mind slowly unraveling…A fitting end." Shadow Celebi whispered as its eyes burned with a harsh white glow. Aria could feel the space behind her distort and warp as Celebi invoked its powers, ripping through the fabric of reality to summon something she had only seen once. The Passage of Time. The portal that allowed Celebi to leap through long stretches of time…
And from what she knew, anyone who went through their unguided by the Time Travel Pokémon itself would be subjected to the wrath of time. Aria felt horror and rage burn through her, knowing that this would probably be the end of her. She only wished she had managed to say goodbye to the others before this…
"~Goodbye!~" Shadow Celebi sang as Aria went flying backwards, into the vortex…Borlath walked away without a backwards glance, down the frozen road of the city he had condemned to an icy hell.
Tumbling through the Passage of Time was like being inside of a tornado. Millions upon millions of thoughts, sights, and emotions pressed down upon her at every angle, tearing at her mind and her body. A multitude of dazzling colors assaulted her vision, creating a startling visage that couldn't be described. It was beyond overwhelming, gazing into countless moments within the time stream, every single one of them burning into her brain. She was barely aware of Shadow Celebi brushing past her, a cruel smile on its face before it vanished somewhere ahead of her…
Leaving Aria falling through time…
Falling…
Falling…
Falling…
Forever…
"The next thing I know, the Passage of Time suddenly narrowed and I saw a light. I was thrown out of the portal and was in Alola. I'm…still catching up on everything. It seemed to go on forever, but…it couldn't have been more than a second? I just don't…I can't wrap my head around it." Aria finished, shutting her eyes and sighing.
"I am so tired, right now. I feel like I'll never get enough sleep." Aria laughed weakly, clutching her chest with a groan. Just then her eyes flew open, and instead of blue they glowed bright green. Aria shivered violently for a few moments before her eyes stopped glowing, leaving the woman hissing in pain.
"What on earth was that?" Dexio asked, sounding concerned.
"No…idea…I was back in the time-stream again. No I'm back here…Agh…This really does hurt, heh." Aria remarked with a wince and a smile, sounding painfully amused.
"That's what happens when your entire body was stressed in the manner yours was. The doctors had no idea what was wrong with you when they first got you here. They've never dealt with injuries like yours." Dexio said with no small amount of horror. "Unguided travel through space and time, according to Professor Burnet, can leave a person adrift within the time-stream forever. Or, if they manage to escape, completely insane. Most of the time it just kills them…The fact that you're alive, conscious and speaking is nothing short of amazing. There've only been a few documented instances of humans travelling through time, and almost none of them are pleasant."
"It was an experience. My mind is coming and going at times. Sometimes I'm completely aware, others…not so much. Borlath sure knows how to put people through the wringer. I wish Wes or Hugh was here…I could really use them right about now." Aria said with a small sigh, a note of wistfulness in her voice.
"Wes is still missing from what I can tell, but Colress texted me a few minutes ago. Hugh and his friends just landed on the island, so they'll be here soon." Sun chimed in, making the time-traveler perk up slightly.
"Have they changed much in six months?" Aria asked.
"From what I can tell, not really." Sun replied with a smirk.
"Figured. Even after what we went through, six months won't really change anyone." Aria muttered, smiling despite herself. Sina and Dexio smiled at the remark.
"They used the Heal Pulse Treatment with positive results, but you won't be cleared to leave until tomorrow, and even then they suggest taking things easy. Plenty of rest, water, and taking the medicine they provide." Sina explained as she picked up Aria's chart.
"Though given that it's you, I'd imagine you'll be on your feet and about by tomorrow." All of the occupants turned around to see Colress enter the room, smiling widely at them all. He stepped over to Aria, his smile fading somewhat. He seemed almost unable to understand that his friend from Unova had returned, as he slowly walked forward, his expression becoming rather somber.
"I suspected…I hoped…But never seriously considered that you'd return to us." Colress laughed quietly, shakily, before extending a hand towards the woman. Aria clasped it firmly, grinning at the Doctor.
"Good to see you, Doc." Aria replied softly, and with that they separated.
"It's good to have you back, Aria. And with the Snag Machine and Shadow Celebi in tow? Wes would be so proud." Colress said to Aria, who flinched but didn't reply. "I'd imagine you'd like to be out and about, but for now I ask that you take it easy. We should be able to properly treat the rest of your injuries by tomorrow, but we have no idea what the extent of the mental damage was. I trust that you're okay with that?" Colress asked Aria, who nodded.
"Sounds good…Even if I don't like hospitals, maybe some peace will do me some good. Getting thrown into this furnace after spending a few days in Nimbasa was…a shock. Going from sheer cold to pure heat was a bit of a change for me." Aria admitted with a small sigh.
"Sucks, doesn't it?" Sun asked the woman.
"Sun moved here a few months ago. He's…still adjusting to the heat, himself." Lillie explained to the older Trainer.
"Right…What's your name? I got Sun's, but you were with him down there too, right?" Aria asked the small girl.
"I'm Lillie. It's a pleasure to meet you." Lillie said with a smile.
"Likewise. And…Thanks for helping me capture Shadow Celebi. All of you. I don't know what's gone on since I vanished, but I know that catching that thing is gonna help us out immensely. Especially if we can figure out how to purify it." Aria explained, giving them a painful grin. Sun started as his phone beeped. He checked it, texted a reply and sent it, before looking back up.
"Hugh's at the hospital. He'll be here in five." Sun said to everyone. Aria, to their surprise, flung off her blanket and moved off of the bed, wincing as she tried to stand on her own. She swayed for a moment, but held firm.
"Careful. You're still hurt." Colress warned the woman, who ignored him.
"You good?" Sun asked the woman. Aria nodded stiffly, exhaling deeply before inhaling. It didn't take long for a certain Unovan Trainer to burst into the room, taking in the sight of all of them before his crimson eyes fell upon Aria. Hugh's expression turned to one of absolute shock, the young man taking a step back. His face drained of color, leaving him ghost-white as one hand clutched the frame of the door for support.
Sun and Lillie exchanged a brief glance, unsure of what to make of Hugh's reaction. But after a moment of thought it didn't surprise them. Hugh had thought the friend that he had admitted he loved was dead and gone. To have her suddenly show up out of nowhere would be a shock to anyone.
Hugh's face suddenly worked itself into a deep frown. Aria was jarred out of the silence between them, her face breaking out into a massive and relieved smile. At this, Hugh looked down at the ground, his frown growing.
"Hugh…You…You have no idea how much I have missed-" Aria began to say before she caught onto the look of absolute fury that was spreading across Hugh's face as he looked back up. Sun moved in front of Lillie in concern, seeing Hugh grit his teeth, his face set in a scowl of rage as he stepped towards Aria, who seemed confused…
And then Hugh punched Aria in the face.
"Hugh!" Sun yelled at the young man, with Lillie letting out a horrified gasp. The young man lowered his fist as Aria tumbled backward, falling onto her bed with a grunt, barely catching herself.
"Stay. Out of this." Hugh hissed, eyeing Aria with blinding, seething fury. Aria looked up, a trail of blood running down her mouth with a worried look on her face.
"The hell was that for!?" Aria demanded, staggering to her feet in time for Hugh to stride forward. This question, hearing his friend's voice again, made what little control he had left break.
"How dare you come back! Like nothing has changed! How DARE you!" Hugh roared at the time-traveler, who blinked in confusion. Sun and Lillie were likewise befuddled. This was one of his closest friends. Shouldn't he have been happy she was back? Why was he so angry?
"Sorry, I didn't know I should've stayed gone. Not like I had a choice in getting tortured in the time-stream." Aria replied coolly, setting her expression into a determined frown.
"We thought you were dead! Everyone did! Do you have any idea what we've gone through?! What I went through?! Every. Single. Day…I had to deal with the fact that you were g-gone!" Hugh's voice broke on the final word, with the young man taking a shuddering breath. Sun could see the raw pain in his eyes, the frustration and anger and relief swirling within the crimson eyes of Hugh. The young man looked down at the ground, inhaling and exhaling and desperately trying to reign in his emotions.
"But I'm back now…I'm okay." Aria said quietly, but apparently those were the wrong words to say to her friend, because he drew closer to her with fire in his eyes.
"I MOURNED YOU!" Hugh screamed at Aria, whose gaze finally broke as she looked away. Lillie shook in terror at the force of the sheer rage in the young man's voice. Sun too backed away, worried at how much Hugh had lost control. Sophie landed on the ground in front of Aria, growling as her fur sparked furiously, but he ignored the Jolteon as he glared down Aria. The time-traveler looked back at him, her dark blue eyes glistening with tears.
The time-traveler watched Hugh with a guilty expression on her face. She bit her lip, trying to say something but was unable to get the words out. She finally sighed, taking a deep breath before speaking a full minute later.
"I didn't have much of a choice, like I said...I ran after Wes when he disappeared, and Shadow Celebi got me. Borlath instructed it to kill me, and it threw me into something called the Passage of Time, and I went forward in time about six months. I…I floated adrift, within time. Sometimes I was fully aware, other times it was like I was in a haze. I saw millions upon millions of glimpses into the future and past that threatened to drive me insane…maybe it did. Maybe I'm still floating in time, but considering that punch hurt pretty bad, I think I'm safe for now…I had a glimpse of forever. I saw the infinite…Hugh…I don't know how I survived, but I'm here." Aria said quietly, a sad smile on her face.
"And I'm so sorry…I'm sorry you're hurting so much. I can't even begin to think of what it's been like for you, not knowing where I've been or if I was even alive. Thank you for getting here so quickly…it tells me even if this is agonizing for you, you're still there for me after all this time." Aria whispered as Hugh's expression softened ever so slightly.
"But I'm back…And Hugh…I really, really need you right now. I'm in a lot of pain, and I can't seem to stay grounded…please." Aria said to her friend, a note of pleading in her voice. Hugh looked back into his friend's eyes to see a faint green glow within the blue. It faded a moment later, with Aria uttering a small groan as she put a hand to her head.
"Please forgive me, Hugh…I know I don't deserve a friend like you, but just…please…" Aria said quietly as she leaned back, bracing herself against her bed, her breathing becoming strained again. Hugh watched her for a time, his expression unreadable. His fists clenched and unclenched, as if they were trying to make up their mind about something.
"Every day after you vanished, I left you voice messages on your phone. I poured my heart out to you, trying to explain everything I ever felt about you. Good and bad. Every little thought…And now…I don't really have much more to say other than this." Hugh spoke softly, closing his eyes and exhaling through his nose. He then held his arms out, taking a step forward. Aria stumbled forward and embraced her friend with a gasp of relief.
Lillie smiled as the two hugged each other tightly, the two dear friends finally reuniting after so much hardship. Hugh began to shake, whispering apologies to Aria while the woman ran her fingers through the man's spiky hair, a joyfully sad smile on her face. The two of them fell to their knees, still holding each other. Sun could see tears running down Hugh's face, and couldn't help but feel that they were tears of relief.
"I think we should leave those two alone for a little while." Sun whispered to Lillie. The girl nodded and the two of them quickly excused themselves as Aria held Hugh in her arms, her own tears flowing freely now. Lillie noticed that Sina and Dexio had likewise vacated the room, departing down another hallway. Colress remained behind, giving them a small wave as the children left.
"It's…sweet, to see them together. I would've rather not see someone get punched, but…This is a turn for the better. Don't you think?" Lillie asked Sun quietly. The boy nodded slowly, a small smile on his face.
"Yeah…We might've had a big scare today, but think about this. Colress and Hugh's little team have Aria back. One of their best Trainers. Plus the Snag Machine, and she managed to Snag one of Cipher's biggest assets. If they can heal Celebi, there's no telling what good it can do! And now they can steal back the Shadow Pokémon, just like Wes used to. This is a huge step in the right direction, Lillie. It's…things are looking up." Sun said with a wide smile on his face, looking happier than Lillie had seen him since her little breakdown earlier. Lillie couldn't help herself, beaming with happiness as she saw a small ember of what seemed to be hope burn in Sun's eyes.
With that, the duo continued their walk down the corridor to kill the time, the two of them smiling at the recent turn of events. Eventually they ran into Professor Kukui, who had come to take Lillie to his wife's lab while Sun returned to the Pokémon Center. After a quick text to Hugh telling him where they went, Sun slipped out into the dark as they exited the hospital, waving Kukui and Lillie goodnight as they stood outside.
Lillie turned to the Professor as Sun walked out of sight. She seemed nervous, and was about to open her mouth to speak when Kukui cut her off.
"I've already spoken to the doctors. Your visit here has been completely scrubbed from all records. Even the videos from the security cameras has been deleted. No one will ever know you were here." Kukui said quietly, smiling down at Lillie, who sagged with relief.
"It's a relief…I'm still amazed you can do that. You managed to do that at the Hau'oli Hospital as well…Thank you so much, Professor." Lillie thanked the man, receiving a playful ruffle of the hair from Kukui as he laughed.
"Think nothing of it. If those creeps are gonna try and find you, I'll make them work for it. They have volunteers and members just about everywhere in Alola, but even they can't beat my influence. It's thrown them off so far. Let's keep on hoping it'll continue to do so, liʻiliʻi." Kukui said as he began walking down the road. Lillie opened her bag slightly, seeing the slumbering Cosmog within, before she zipped the bag back up and hurried after the Professor, feeling gratitude and relief that she was still safe despite everything.
Sun had decided that today was a lazy morning.
Unfortunately, that idea was ruined by a pretty girl in white knocking on his door. Sun crawled out of bed, threw on a shirt, and opened the door blearily. Lillie smiled at him, making him smile tiredly at her as well.
"Good morning, Sun. Did you sleep well?" Lillie asked her friend as he let her into the room. Brago barked a greeting at Lillie as she walked over to where Penny and Oliver were sitting, with Oliver shutting his eyes and falling asleep, his dutiful overnight watch over Sun being complete.
"About as well as usual. I'll manage." Sun replied as he carefully made the bed and slipped some shoes on. Lillie felt a pang of worry, knowing Sun was likely being plagued by nightmares again, but didn't say anything. He knew she would help if he needed it.
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to meet up with Mallow and a friend of hers at a café later today. I believe it's another Captain." Lillie remarked, piquing Sun's interest as he ducked into the bathroom.
"Sure, why not?"
"Good. I may have to leave early, though. My…friend is meeting with me at the Tide Song Hotel at noon, and I can't miss this meeting because she's supposed to be leaving the island soon." Lillie explained as Sun exited the bathroom, ready to face the day. He returned his Pokémon and left the room, with Lillie following him. The duo exited the Pokémon Center and ventured to the south side of the city, where Sun eventually spotted Mallow sitting in a chair reading a book at an outside table.
"Mallow!" Lillie called to her friend. Mallow looked up and beamed at Lillie and Sun.
"Hey you two! How's it going?" Mallow called to them, waving to them happily as they sat down with the Captain.
"Pretty good. Fought an evil legendary, found a lost hero and went to the hospital. You know, nothing new." Sun said casually, causing Mallow to blink several times before her smile vanished.
"Wait, what?" Mallow asked. Sun and Lillie filled in the Captain on what had happened the past day, leaving the Captain bewildered.
"So…an evil time-travelling Pokémon attacked the city and it took me this long to hear about it!?" Mallow demanded.
"Yep. Kind weird, huh?" Sun replied, giving the green-haired girl a grin.
"Freaking bizarre."
"You're telling me. This is the second time I've gone to the hospital this month." Sun said with a small sigh, with Rotom Dex popping out of his bag with a laugh.
"Bzzt! It's almost azz if a sadistic author is tormenting his characterzz again!"
"Rotom, I thought you were sleeping?"
"Not a chance! I'm always watching, always waiting to be of use!" Rotom declared, zooming around the group.
"Oh, well…Cool."
"The coolest. Zzt!"
"Sorry I'm late!"
Sun, Lillie and Mallow looked to their right to see a girl jogging their way, panting heavily. She had pure blue hair and blue eyes, and was dressed in a white sleeveless shirt, blue pants with a wave-like design on them as well as a dark blue undershirt with a little blue cape on her back.
"Lana! You made it!" Mallow cheered, hopping out of her chair and hugging her friend. Lana tiredly hugged the girl back, smiling weakly. The two girls sat down, and Mallow properly introduced her friend.
"Sun, Lillie, this is Lana. She's the Captain of the Trial of Brooket Hill, where the first Trial of the island is." Mallow explained, with Lana giving them a shy wave.
"It's nice to meet you all. I've heard a bit about you from the other day." Lana said as the waiter swooped down to take orders. Each of them ordered the sweet tea, at Mallow's suggestion, as well as some assorted sandwiches.
"So Lana, what kind of Pokémon do you specialize in as a Captain?" Sun asked the new arrival.
"I don't know. Take a guess." Lana said with a small smile. Sun eyed the blue hair and wave designs on her pants.
"Dragon. Totally a Dragon-type specialist." Sun said with a snarky grin, making Lillie giggle while Lana's smile turned to a smirk.
"There hasn't been a Captain for the Dragon Trial in years." Lana remarked with a chuckle, meanwhile Mallow was snorting with amusement. Sun caught onto that info with interest, and was about to remark on it when yet another arrival made themselves known.
"Well, hello there, my lovely Captains. You didn't forget about our interview, did you?"
Sun and Lillie both jumped as a man suddenly stepped to the table, dressed smartly in a blue tuxedo. His jet-black hair gleamed in the Alolan Sun as the man's handsome face gave them a brilliant grin.
"Who's he?" Sun asked in a loud whisper.
"Adrian Laser Battlestorm, at your service!" the man said with a chuckle, reaching into a pocket on his coat and pulling out a business card. Sun took it, reading it over before nodding.
"Cool. I met a celebrity today. Suck it, Hau. I'm having a better day than you." Sun remarked with a wide smile, making Lillie hit him lightly on the arm.
"Aren't you the man who got smacked the other night on the news?" Lillie asked, looking back to Mister Battlestorm. The man chuckled at the remark, seemingly happy that Lillie had known that.
"Ah, a fan! Always nice to meet my wonderful supporters in the flesh! I hope you've found my broadcasts informative and entertaining!" Adrian Battlestorm said with a dazzling smile, making Lillie blink. Lana flushed bright pink, looking away from the man, but Mallow simply grinned at him.
"We don't mind still giving an interview! Island Trial Tuesday is always fun. Lana, stop being socially awkward and help a friend out, eh?" Mallow said to Lana, who nodded shakily, not trusting herself to speak. Adrian then seemed to realize something, smacking a hand to his forehead.
"Oh…wait. Are these your friends? I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" Adrian asked the two young Captains.
"Uh…kinda? We were just catching up, but we did agree to the interview last week…But then again, my friend just made her way back into town and Sun here is going to be leaving to go to his Trial…" Mallow trailed off awkwardly.
"I was planning on leaving today, if at all possible." Sun admitted as he scratched the back of his head. He had discussed this with Lillie while on their while to the café, and knew he had dwelled too long in Heahea City. He was however promised by Hugh that the teen would keep him updated on anything that happened in regards to Aria and Shadow Celebi.
"Well, that's fantastic! It's always fun to interview up-and-coming Trainers. Where are you from, little guy?" Adrian asked Sun, who's cheerful expression fell somewhat.
"Celadon City." Sun replied, catching Adrian off-guard.
"Ah…" Mister Battlestorm's eyes closed, a sad expression crossing his exuberant features. "I'm…I'm so, so sorry for your loss. No one should have to endure what you did."
Sun didn't have anything to say to that. Lillie leaned forward, putting a hand on Sun's shoulders. Mallow and Lana exchanged a look, confused. Adrian allowed a few moments of silence before he smiled again, though not nearly as wide as before.
"That said, I hate to interrupt a friendly gathering. I think me and Kelly will grab a snack and wait inside for you all to finish. That way I can get some material for today and I can try that delicious looking strawberry shortcake." Adrian said to the group, giving them a small wave before he walked off.
"He's…actually pretty nice." Lillie remarked, surprised. He seemed like such a buffoon on TV. Mallow and Lana nodded in agreement as their drinks were dropped off at the table.
"He's a character, but he's fun and can brighten up people's day with just one silly report. I admire him, truthfully. It's hard to be that positive and energetic all the time, especially in times of hardship and tragedy." Lana remarked, smiling a little.
"You and Hau would get along then." Sun replied, chuckling quietly at the thought.
"Hau? Another friend of yours?" Lana asked.
"Yeah. He and our other friend, Demi, are on their way to a Trial now, actually. They should be there in a few days." Sun explained to the Captain, who gave him a small nod.
"I see. It's likely mine, then. Well, I'm sure it'll be fun for the both of them. Though…" Lana trailed off, appearing nervous.
"What's wrong?" Lillie asked.
"The Totem Pokémon of Brooklet Hill has been very agitated lately. Something is bothering it, but I don't know what. Its last battle almost turned out badly for the Trial-Goer and it…" Lana seemed worried now, but Mallow interjected.
"Hey, our Totem Pokémon sometimes get a bit antsy. It's hard to hold that much power and only be able to use it every now and then. They're meaner and tougher than other Pokémon of their species. I'm not surprised yours is acting up a bit. I'm sure you'll be able to sort it out, Lana. You're a whiz when it comes to that beast." Mallow said with a reassuring smile.
"I…Thank you, Mallow." Lana murmured, smiling slightly. The waiter returned to them with their food, and the group chowed down. As Lillie was finishing her meal, a beep from her phone made her jump. She pulled out the device and checked it, and smiled at what she read.
Room 103. Ensure you're not followed. Be safe, and I'll talk to you soon.
"I have to go. Thank you for meeting up with us, you two. I know you're swamped." Lillie said to her friends before she hopped out of her chair and walked away from them.
"Wonder what that's about?" Mallow murmured, closing her eyes in thought.
"Lillie's got a lot going on. If she needs something, she knows we're here for her." Sun replied, earning looks from the two girls.
"True…SO! Sun! I hear you're a really good friend of Lillie's!" Mallow said conspiratorially, her smile becoming rather sinister and sending a shiver down Sun's spine.
This wasn't going to be good.
Lillie hurried along as quickly as she could, knowing that her 'friend' was waiting for her. She knew it likely wasn't a good idea for her to venture around the city alone, but she didn't want to have to drag Sun along with her everywhere. He would be leaving the city later today and she didn't want to be a burden to him. Besides, she could see the hotel already!
A few minutes later and Lillie was inside, catching her breath for a minute, before she began walking to the appropriate room. She raised a shaking hand and knocked three times.
The door flew open and a woman appeared, with soft yellow eyes and voluminous purple hair. She wore a pink and white uniform of sorts, with yellow decorations here and there and with a pink pair of glasses covering her face slightly. Her face broke out into a happy smile upon seeing the little girl in white.
"Miss Lillie!" the woman cried out, hugging the girl tightly. Lillie returned the embrace, happy to see a familiar and friendly face from her old home.
"I missed you, Miss Wicke. How are you?" Lillie asked as she walked into the woman's room. Wicke closed and locked the door behind her, sighing quietly.
"Well enough. The work at the Paradise is rewarding yet taxing at the same time, as always. But enough of that, how are you?" Wicke asked Lillie, looking over the girl.
"Still going strong. I think. Nebby is safe and I'm still a free girl. That's more than I could ever wish before, right?" Lillie said as Miss Wicke walked over to a set of chairs and sat down in one, with Lillie sitting opposite her.
"Quite true." Wicke replied, her smile faltering somewhat.
"How…how is she?" Lillie asked, getting straight to the point.
"Your mother is managing her facade as well as ever, though the insanity slips through every now and then. Her obsession will run the entire Foundation into the ground, I fear. Diverting more and more funds into the studies of the Ultra Beasts instead of protecting Pokémon. Thank goodness for the donations we're getting from Kanto or we'd be in serious trouble." Miss Wicke explained, sighing a little and showing the stress she had been under. Lillie felt her pain. There was a reason she had fled, after all.
"Wait…donations from Kanto?" Lillie asked.
"Yes. We've had monthly donations from a large cooperation out of Kanto. Aupini Industries. It's suspicious, but I can't determine if it is truly out of place. Not with Faba and the President as suspicious of me as they are. For now I have to assume it's for charitable reasons and not the research the Foundation does." Wicke explained to the young girl.
"I see…I'll keep that in mind. We just have to hope for the best." Lillie said with a small nod.
"Indeed. Aside from that, everything is business as usual." Miss Wicke said wearily, smiling a little despite everything. There was a silence that hung before the two of them as Lillie considered this bit of information. She tended to linger over any bit of information she could get about the Foundation, and wondered as to what this latest bit of data meant. After a moment Lillie decided to just consider it later, not wanting to waste this chance to speak with Miss Wicke.
"How's my brother?" Lillie asked softly.
"I haven't spoken to him since his birthday two months ago. He's…not doing well, sadly. I believe all of this has made him quite miserable as of late. He's driven, though, to help stop your mother however possible. I believe in his strength." Wicke said to Lillie, making the girl smile.
"Glady was always the brave one. I know he can do it." Lillie said with a small fist pump, making Wicke laugh.
"Well, you both still have time. The President can do little without Cosmog. I'm trying to divert her attention to other projects and back to our main efforts, with some success." Wicke replied, making Lillie nod in response.
"So please, tell me about what's happened with you the past few months." Wicke said to Lillie, who obliged. The two talked for the next two hours, with Lillie waxing on about the small details of her life. Her experiences with Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet. Travelling to Melemele Island and meeting Hau, her first friend ever. Sun saving Nebby at Mahalo Trail and becoming one of her closest friends. Lillie spent an inordinate amount of time speaking about the boy from Kanto, not realizing that Wicke wore a knowing and amused smile on her face.
The smile faded when Lillie described the tragedy of Celadon City and the effect it had on Sun. Wicke felt a rush of pride for Lillie when she described how she ventured into the raging storm and comforted her friend, forming their friendship out of understanding each other's suffering. Lillie described some of the struggles of their friends from Unova and doing field work with Kukui. Their confrontation with Amber, which made Wicke gasp in horror. She was relieved when she heard of Kukui and Tapu Koko's battle against the assassin and everyone being okay. Wicke smiled again at the detailed description of Sun and Hau's battles against Hala and their decision to go to Akala Island to continue their efforts. Lillie described her first ever battle with Sun, detailing the emotions and struggles she felt and again Wicke felt pride in the brave little girl sitting beside her. Wicke was horrified to learn that the incident yesterday, which she had only heard rumors about, was centered around the arrival of a monstrous Shadow Celebi. She thanked the powers above that the girl had again escaped danger.
"And now…here we are. Professor Kukui told me that they're all sorting out the details of what's going on at the hospital. I think things are looking up, though." Lillie said cheerfully, ending her narration.
"You've been through so much in so little time. I can't tell you how proud of you I am. You have grown up so much since you left the Paradise. It heartens me to see you not giving up, and seeing you surrounded by such wonderful friends." Wicke said to Lillie, who nodded.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. Hau and Sun especially…I can't ever thank them enough for being my friends." Lillie said quietly, feeling herself tear up. Hau had been her rock since the beginning, always there for her no matter what. Sun had shown understanding to her pain and inspired her to do better, as well as being someone she…admired quite a bit.
"Miss Wicke, I have to ask you something."
"Yes?"
"What…ahem. What do you do when you realize you have a crush on one of your friends?" Lillie asked quietly, a flush coming to her cheeks.
"Let me guess. Sun?" Wicke guessed shrewdly, making Lillie nod slowly, her blush burning darker.
"That's sweet. So, you have a crush on a very close friend of yours and have no idea what to do about that?" Lillie nodded as Wicke looked upward, her gaze thoughtful.
"Truthfully, the best way to proceed is to figure out what you want, Lillie. Do you wish to pursue a romantic relationship with your friend Sun? Or do you simply wish to be friends? Is what you feel just a passing interest? Or do you think something deeper is developing? Do you love him?" Wicke asked Lillie, who frowned. She considered Wicke's questions, and didn't have an answer to any of them. She felt warm and comfortable around Sun. Safe. She felt special, in a way. As long as he was with her, she felt as if everything would be okay. But…did she feel more than that? Was there something more there than a crush?
"I...don't know. I don't even know what love feels like, Miss Wicke." Lillie admitted quietly, looking down.
"Lillie, you're a very smart young lady, but you're only twelve. You're still learning about the world outside of the small island you lived on for most of your life. Give it time. Consider your feelings and decide on what you feel. And if you should feel love for your friend…well, that you'll have to figure out for yourself. Trying to navigate the path to a man's heart is tricky at the best of times." Wicke said patiently to Lillie, who frowned at the words, but was jolted out of her thoughts by her phone beeping. Lillie pulled out her phone and was surprised by the text notification she had received.
Gonna have you escort Sun to his next Trial. Increased Team Skull activity near Diglett's Tunnel. City not safe for you and Nebby. Get to the Route 4 entrance ASAP. We're all gathered there and I had Sun get extra supplies for you. – Kukui.
Lillie sighed, knowing that her reunion had just been cut short. She wished that those she had set herself against would just stop for a single day.
"I have to go." Lillie said quietly, rising to her feet. Miss Wicke gave her an understanding smile as she rose to her feet and Lillie stepped forward, hugging the woman tightly.
"Stay strong, Miss Lillie. I believe in you and your brother. Together you'll right the wrongs of our Foundation. I know it." Wicke said as she hugged the girl, making Lillie tear up slightly. The words of faith in her meant so much at times like this.
"T-thank you…for everything." Lillie whispered as the two separated. Lillie wiped her eyes, smiling at Miss Wicke. The woman nodded with a smile as Nebby suddenly popped out of its bag, letting out a happy cry.
"It's good to see you too, Cosmog. Please be good for Lillie." Wicke said to the small Pokémon as it soared towards her. Wicke gave the small Pokémon a pat on the head, receiving an affectionate nuzzle from Nebby.
"It remembers you." Lillie said quietly as Nebby floated around the room.
"He remembers me," Wicke corrected, surprising Lillie.
"He?"
"Yes, after extensive study over the information we had gathered on Cosmog, we concluded that Nebby is indeed male. The President determined this just last week, after reviewing some of the tapes we have in stock on its behavior and data based on its body composition. Unfortunately, we haven't made much more headway to understanding Cosmog besides this small breakthrough." Wicke said apologetically, though Lillie was beaming.
"No, this is great news! Anything that helps me understand Nebby better is good! Though I suppose Nebby being a boy does makes sense...He's such a handful." Lillie giggled, making Miss Wicke laugh as well. Nebby cooed in response, floating over to Lillie and nuzzling her cheek. Lillie opened her bag and Nebby soared into it.
"I suppose this is goodbye." Lillie said quietly, zipping up the bag.
"For now. Until next time, please stay safe. And if you need anything, let me know." Wicke said to Lillie, extending a hand to the young girl, showing her respect for her. Lillie smiled at Miss Wicke and shook the older woman's hand, and she departed the room after Wicke made sure the coast was clear. Lillie left the building and moved quickly, not wanting to be caught by anyone. To her relief, she managed to make it to the entrance to Route 4 without any issues, spotting a cluster of people ahead of her. Lillie approached the group, surprised at the large gathering.
Lillie took note that Sun was blushing slightly, looking rather annoyed. Lillie wondered inwardly what sort of teasing Mallow had subjected him to. Everyone else seemed to be in a pretty good mood, though.
"I guess we've come to some kind of consensus on what's going on here?" Lillie asked them all.
"I think so," Hugh remarked with a shrug.
"So, what's the verdict?" Sun asked them.
"Well to start off, Celebi accidentally gave me superpowers." Aria remarked dryly, shrugging casually as if she had just suggested that the sky was blue. Lillie and Sun exchanged a glance, unsure if this was a joke.
"Prove it." Sun and Lillie both said to the woman, who grinned at them as her eyes flashed green. She put a hand on Sun's head and let out a sigh, her eyes glowing slightly before she gasped and yanked her hand away.
"Shit, that's freaky…Your Mom's first Pokémon was a Meowth, but it evolved into a Persian. You liked to sleep next to it when you were four years old." Aria said with a shiver as Sun blushed furiously. Lillie giggled, thinking of a very small Sun curled up with a big cat. It was adorable.
"Alright, I'm convinced. So you can see the future now? That's cool." Sun said as he regained his composure. And then lost it again as he just realized what he had just said.
"Wait, that's crazy. How did that happen?" Sun asked the time-traveler.
"Side-effect of going through time, I think. If my eyes are glowing and I'm in physical contact with someone I can see flashes of their past or future. It's horrifying, actually…I'm hoping this fades like it did with Wes. He used to have episodes like this too, but they went away after a while." Aria explained with a tired sigh.
"Anyways, we've decided on several things. One, is that Aria should not be in the hospital. She's recovered from most of her physical injuries and we're concerned that if she's in one place to too long, it may draw Cipher to Alola." Sina explained, waving a hand.
"How?" Lillie asked, confused.
"Cipher tends to have spies and plants in just about every region of the world. Even if Alola doesn't seem to be on their radar, I wouldn't be surprised if they did have some operatives here," Colress responded.
"I doubt it. This place doesn't even have a League. They have no reason to come here." Aria remarked, crossing her arms. "But I'm not going to complain about being out of the hospital..."
"Of course not." Hugh chuckled, making Aria punch him in the shoulder. Hugh winced and rubbed the spot where he had been punched, but still smiled. He looked so much happier, in Sun and Lillie's eyes. Having Aria back seemed to have brought some true fire back to him.
"Two is that there's a lot we don't know about concerning what Shadow Celebi did to me. Wes wore gloves most of the time when he went through the Passage of Time and so he didn't deal with having future flashes about people, so I have no real basis as to what to expect. He did suffer from some of the problems I'm having, so the common consensus is that I should get out of the public area for a bit. Get my head on straight, and hope this future-seeing nonsense fades away and that me spazzing out stops." Aria said to them before she suddenly swayed on her feet, catching herself on Hugh as her eyes glowed green again. They faded to blue a moment later.
"I'm okay…seriously, I'm fine." Aria grunted, pushing herself off of Hugh.
"She's also stubborn as hell and refuses to remain at the hospital on top of all of this. So, I wanted to ask you a favor Sun." Hugh said to the young child, who looked confused.
"There's a chance Cipher might try and track down Aria now that she's active again, like we mentioned before. Sun, I want you to let Aria tag along with you while you're on your way to the next Trial. Just for a few days until I can take care of some business here and catch up to you guys. It'll help her clear her mind and let us make sure Cipher isn't aware that Celebi and Aria have returned from the past. Plus, she's a really good Trainer. You could learn a lot from her." Hugh said to Sun, who seemed surprised at the request. It was odd, having stronger and older Trainers asking him any kind of favor. Still, Sun was used to others tagging along with him. After all, Hugh had done the same with them back on Melemele Island and he very much enjoyed travelling with Hau and Lillie.
"How do you feel about this?" Sun asked Aria, who grinned.
"Exploring sounds fun. And you seem like a really good kid. A little trip may be just what I need to get my head back in the game. So…if you've got my back, I've got yours." Aria said simply, extending a hand to Sun. Sun grinned at the woman and shook her hand, thinking that he would definitely get along with Aria.
"Three, and this banked a little bit on your decision there Sun…We'd like to ask you another favor. This having much larger implications." Dexio remarked as he and Sina both stepped forward.
"You see…Me and Sina may have mentioned that we're on an expedition of sorts." Sina began, offering Sun a small smile.
"And while that is true, and we've been playing the part of tourists for a little while, we were tasked with a more important task than that." Dexio continued, though Sun interrupted.
"Is that why you were following us? It seems weird that you two just show up randomly, dressed like superheroes." Sun asked the duo, who flinched, but both of them nodded.
"Yes, we followed you both. But it was for a special reason. You see, we have acquired a powerful device that allows a person to reform one of the legendary Pokémon of Kalos. A Pokémon that is said to govern the fabric of nature and serves as the overseer of the ecosystems of our world. Zygarde." Sina explained, smiling slightly. She looked to Colress, who nodded slightly.
"I worked in Kalos many years ago, searching for answers to my questions. I stumbled upon the legends of the trio that governed the powers of nature, especially the one that would intervene should the balance ever be upset. During that time I learned of Mega Evolution, which strayed me away from my studies of the legendary trio of that region, but not enough to put it out of my mind for later." Colress explained, a small smile on his face.
"Soon after I disbanded Neo Team Plasma, I went soul-searching and began to right the many wrongs I committed in the name of science by helping others and learning more about myself. When I discovered that my disbanded group had formed an alliance with an even worse group, I returned to help fight them off. Our efforts failed, and we retreated to Alola. I…However, made use of my contacts and began to orchestrate a plan."
"You see, while Kyurem is a mighty foe and is at this point, nigh undefeatable…There are still Pokémon in this world that can stand against it. Zygarde is one of them, possessing immense strength once its true potential has been unleashed. I ventured to Kalos to attempt to find the Order Pokémon and convince it to help us, with Sina and Dexio assisting me at Professor Sycamore's instruction. However…we only found a few Cells and scale fragments." Colress continued, but Lillie chimed in, confused.
"Cells?" Lillie asked.
"Yes. It seems as if Zygarde is able to split its body apart, when necessary. It can separate its body into Cells and Cores, with each small piece of Zygarde able to survive on its own. I believe it does this to allow it to be in multiple places at once and survey the land with its power. I tracked Zygarde to Alola…But in many, many pieces. Cells scattered throughout the land…So, I began the task of creating something to put it back together, so that we may properly request the aide of Zygarde in our future battles against Cipher." Colress held out a hand, and Dexio pulled a black and green device that he handed to Colress.
"This is the Zygarde Cube. A device I created with the help of Professor Sycamore to put Zygarde back together. Sina and Dexio followed you, Sun, because they believed you were a worthy Trainer to assist us in our quest to put Zygarde together. And I believe they are correct. So, I ask you this, Sun…Will you help us collect the scattered pieces of Zygarde and reform the Order Pokémon?" Colress asked Sun.
"Absolutely." Sun said without hesitation. If it would help end Cipher's horrible efforts, then he'd help out however he could.
"Wonderful. Now…This is too large of task for me to ask of a child. You're a talented boy, Sun, but recent events have taught me to be cautious. So…I believe splitting the task is necessary." Colress said as he held the cube in his hands. The scientist placed a palm on the device, making it shudder and flash green before it suddenly split apart, with one section of the cube remaining intact, but a large outer ring portion of it breaking off from the device.
"In order to cover more ground and allow the process to go more quickly, we've decided that Aria will assist you in this task. It'll allow us to make progress and sort out what to do now that we have both the Snag Machine and Shadow Celebi here in Alola." Colress explained as he handed the Zygarde Cube centerpiece to Sun, and handed the ring to Aria.
"I feel like there's a lot more to this than what you're telling me." Sun said to the group. Sina and Dexio grinned at the boy.
"There is, but that's not relevant now. If you can find some of Zygarde and collect some Cells and Cores, we'll be able to explain some more of this to you. Most of its guesswork that can't really be confirmed until we have something to work with." Dexio explained with a shrug.
"Alright…Wait, I have another question. What's going to happen to Celebi?" Sun asked the group. Professor Kukui spoke up, giving Sun a grin.
"That's where me and my wife come in. We're working on getting a special containment unit to hold Shadow Celebi so that we can study it. We believe that between Colress, myself, and my wife we can figure out how to purify it. Celebi is…likely going to be uncooperative in its current state, so that is our first step. Until the time comes to where we can study Shadow Celebi, Aria will hold onto its Poké Ball until we're ready to begin." Kukui explained, with Aria pulling out the Master Ball containing the Shadow Pokémon and flashing it to them.
"Once we get Celebi purified, any Shadow Pokémon we encounter can be purified once we get them away from their Trainer. It'll become invaluable once we figure out how to do it." Aria said to them, putting the ball away.
"And…why did you want me to come along?" Lillie asked Professor Kukui.
"The city isn't safe for you at the moment. Team Skull is causing trouble near the lab. I think they're up to something, but I can't be sure of what. So go along with Sun for a little while until we're sure it's okay for you to be at the lab and this city again. That way we can study Nebby a bit more when the coast is clear and hopefully find some new information to help us get it home." Kukui explained, with Lillie nodding slightly. Sun grinned at his friend, who smiled a little at the grin she was getting.
"I'll try not to hold you both back." Lillie said lightly to Aria and Sun.
"Nah, you'll be fine! The more the merrier." Aria said cheerfully, walking over to Lillie and clapping her roughly on the shoulder. Aria let out a gasp as her eyes glowed green-
"I'm sorry, Lillie. I…This is the last time you'll see me for a long time."
"Brother, please! Don't…don't leave me alone with her. She's crazy…"
"I know, and that's why I have to do this. Alone. Just try and cover for me for as long as possible. Can you do that? It'll help keep her off my trail and help me get away."
"I…Yes. If it'll help keep you safe…I…I'll do what I can. Miss Wicke may even be able to help me."
"Thank you, Lillie. Stay strong, okay?...I love you."
"I love you too, Glady. G-goodbye…"
"Don't cry….Be strong for me. Okay?"
"…okay…"
Aria clutched her head, wincing in pain as everyone stared at her. Aria stood back up, brushing her hair out of her face.
"Ignore that…Come on, Sun. Let's get you going to that Trial." Aria said before turning to the others.
"Just give me a few days to sort things out…Trust me, I'll be fine." Aria said before walking up to Hugh, who raised an eyebrow at his friend. "You'll be only a day or two, right? Then you're meeting up with us?" Aria asked Hugh. The young man nodded and Aria smiled widely before pulling him into a tight hug.
"Don't keep me waiting." They all heard Aria whisper loudly before she pulled Hugh closer towards her and kissed him full on the lips, making Hugh's eyes widen in surprise as a fierce blush crept onto his face, with a pink one coloring Aria's cheeks.
"Awww!" Lillie and Sina squealed as the two friends from Unova kissed. Hugh shut his eyes, pulling Aria closer into him. Sun coughed awkwardly and looked away from them, instead looking at Lillie, who caught his gaze. Both Sun and Lillie stared at each other for a moment before they both blushed, looking away from each other.
"I'm NOT thinking of what it'd be like to kiss Sun right now!"
"I am NOT thinking of what it'd be like to kiss Lillie right now!"
It doesn't take a genius to figure out who thought what.
Aria separated from Hugh with a gasp, panting slightly. The new Snagger grinned at her best friend from Unova and said, "And that...Well, I figured some things out. So hurry up and catch up so we can talk more about us, alright?"
Hugh stammered something incoherent in response, and Aria hugged him one more time before walking over to Sun and Lillie, wiping her mouth. Hugh fell to the ground behind them, wearing the widest smile on his face. Sun was surprised at how silly he looked, but then realized Hugh just got kissed by a woman he loved, who apparently returned the feelings he had towards her. Sun smiled at that, even as the group slowly splintered apart, with Kukui giving Lillie a hug and promising to inform her when it was safe for them to return. Sun put the Zygarde Cube into his backpack while Aria did the same.
"Alright, fearless leader. Lead the way." Aria said with a smirk as they watched the group around them depart. Sun grinned at the two girls he was traveling with and marched ahead, releasing his Pokémon to travel alongside them. Soon enough, Brago was padding beside him while Penny and Oliver flew overhead. Lillie couldn't help a smile as Nebby let out a cry from within her bag. Aria just watched the clouds, lost in her wandering mind as she struggled to grasp her gaze into the infinite reaches of time...
Their trek towards the first Trial of Akala Island had begun.
"Ma'am, I'm sorry to report that our pilot was ordered to return to the Paradise. There's been a change in plans."
Miss Wicke frowned slightly as she walked down the sidewalk, surprised at this. She had been expecting a helicopter to pick her up from a nearby clearing and then to be back at the Aether Paradise before sundown. This was quite odd.
"How do you mean?" Miss Wicke asked the man on the other end of the phone.
"I believe there's someone else that can explain better, ma'am." Miss Wicke heard a small beep on the other end of the line, and was surprised to hear the melodious yet firm voice of the President of the Aether Foundation begin speaking to her.
"Miss Wicke, I'll need you to stay in the city for a little while longer. One of our volunteers at the Pokédex Registry Center picked up on…something that just cannot be ignored. As much as I loathe to divert time away from our studies of the Ultra Beasts, this is a matter that must be looked into."
"Ma'am, what are you talking about? I thought nothing was more important than tracking down Cosmog?" Miss Wicke asked the woman on the other end of the phone.
"All of my leads have turned up nothing…" the President practically snarled with frustration. "So I will bide my time. Soon my little flower will make a mistake, and then both of them will be mine once more. But until that wondrous time, do tell me…Have you ever heard of the Legendary Pokémon that can travel through time?" the President asked, with Miss Wicke feeling a small thrill of horror roll through her. Her mind raced as she considered the implications of what was just asked and what it might mean for the precious little girl in white that had just departed the safety of Heahea City. One thought burned in her mind, and made her heart sink with worry.
"Lillie…please be safe."
