Pokémon Radiant Sun
Why am I the only one who appreciates how good the Saints Row series is?
Sorry, that's my current rant for this week. Anyways, I've managed to not only beat the rest of Horizon Zero Dawn, but also the South Park TFBW DLC that came out and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (and the Risky Boots DLC as well). All fun games that I totally recommend.
Also...Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Pokémon Let's Go Eevee were announced this past week. A very interesting move and something that people are either excited as hell for or are actively condemning like its a remaster of Ride to Hell: Retribution.
My thoughts? I'm pretty excited for it. Kinda sucks the battling mechanics for wild Pokémon are just the Pokémon GO catching mechanics, but there's standard battling for Trainer Battles and if the main game is relatively the same, except with all of the shiny new innovations and the fact that your Pokémon follow you around and can be actively seen and encountered in the overworld, then I say this is a positive step forward for the series. A way to get the Pokémon GO crowd into the main games, much like how the Alolan Regional variants were created to do just that in Sun and Moon.
Seriously, if the battling mechanics for wild Pokémon are the only thing stripped away from the core game, I think I'll still enjoy the hell out of it. It looks fantastic and colorful and fun. And yeah, you can just trade your Pokémon from Pokémon GO to the Switch and catch 'em all that way but...Would anyone who really cares about the game actually do that? No. So calm down about all that, and just enjoy the fact that the series is continuing to take some risks and evolve. No pun intended.
Hell, my own father is seriously considering getting a Nintendo Switch just to play those games since he's such a huge Pokémon GO fan. And yes, that's absolutely something I'm not kidding about. His favorite Pokémon is Pikachu and he's insanely good at Pokémon GO.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about the two new games though. If you feel like it, shoot me a PM or let me know your thoughts in the review section below.
#TeamEevee
I know I'll be wanting to think positively about Pokémon...Especially since I finally started my Pokémon Moon Nuzlocke. My current team? I don't have one, since I've Game Over'd twice. Once because a level 5 Pikipek knocked out Oliver and the second was because Ilima wrecked my entire team.
Moving on...Shoutout to those who have reviewed since the last update, which includes MoonlightButterfree, Cottonmouth25, Madame Rodoshe, BraviaryScout, Angelfir3, operettaoceanic, SonicIKE, GeekyGamer314, a Guest reviewers, Okamiden14, Ways, Gokan123, and Sai Og Sus. Thanks to all of you who support this story with your feedback!
Anyways, this was a really difficult chapter to write. Mainly because I'm trying to have certain things happen before another thing happens, and that requires a bit of cramming. But I'm managing.
Also, just a disclaimer. I am not in any way an expert on psychology. I have my own experiences, what I remember from AP Psych in high school and my Abnormal Psychology class in college, and the internet to draw from for this chapter. Keep that in mind while reading this one, because I know I'll have something misinterpreted or not be accurate in some way.
Now that that's out of the way…
Enjoy.
Chapter 63: The Stains of Time
"So...I guess it all began when my father disappeared."
Gladion and Demi sat in one of the storage rooms within the Shady House, illuminated only by a single flickering light bulb above them. Demi sat cross-legged on a crate with Torch napping in her lap. Meanwhile Gladion leaned against the wall, with Type: Null sitting beside him with Golbat watching the hallway for anyone coming this way.
"Your father...disappeared?" Demi asked, taken aback. Gladion's green eyes were half-shut, his expression solemn has he looked at her for a moment before nodding. He continued speaking with his voice low, though Demi could almost hear how hard it was for him to talk about this.
"Yes, my father. You see, I lived at the Aether Paradise for most of my life, except for some of the early years when we lived in Kalos. My mother is Lusamine Jardin, former Kalos Champion and President of the Aether Foundation. My father is Professor Mohn Jardin, co-founder of the Aether Foundation and publisher of several leading theories regarding the dimensional passage and subset of dimensions referred to as the Ultra Space." Gladion explained to the girl, who was even more confused.
"Ultra Space? What's that?" Demi asked, with Gladion sighing in aggravation. Clearly he didn't like being interrupted.
"Long story short, its an inter-dimensional realm that links to many worlds, universes, and dimensions. In Alola, there are distortions within the region and there have been scattered reports of strange wormholes appearing and odd radiation coming from Trial Sites. My father was the most prominent scientist researching the Ultra Space, and he helped many create the bedrock of studying in the first place...But then he disappeared one day."
"As to what happened exactly, I'm unsure. My mother never stated outright what was left behind, but I do know that it involved a creature known as a Nihilego and a Pokémon that was left behind in the lab my father vanished from. Something he called Cosmog." Gladion explained, looking upwards at the ceiling and not able to see Demi's look of surprise.
"That's Lillie's Pokémon! But...does that mean Cosmog has something to do with the Ultra Space? Is that where it came from?" Demi thought, but she was ripped out of her thoughts as Gladion continued.
"My Mother's grief was...overwhelming. Our family was torn to pieces as she slowly began to lose her mind, whether that be from the pain of losing our father or something else we're unsure of. My...friend, never told me. Over the years, Lusamine Jardin began slowly transforming from a loving, dating mother to a controlling, cruel sociopath. Mine and Lillie's every move was monitored every moment of the day and controlled by Lusamine. My mother gained much amusement out of making us her puppets, dressing us up and doing every little thing she wanted. Poor Lillie...She idolized Mother. They were so close before the accident happened...I can't imagine what this is doing to her." Gladion said quietly, shaking his head, sorrow thick in his voice.
"Anyway, things continued in that fashion for a long time. We were prisoners in that gilded cage, reminded every day that we were nothing without our loving mother. We were beautiful, but only if we followed in her footsteps and continued being perfect children. Without her, we were weak. Helpless. Unlovable. She drilled it into our heads that we didn't matter to anyone else but her. And we believed her, for so long."
"Our every move was ordained by her. We couldn't leave the island, we couldn't explore and play on our own. We stuck to our schedules and acted like robots, performing whatever our mother wanted...And we hated it. We had no say in anything we did. Eventually, however, things came to a head when I…No."
"No?" Demi asked, confused.
"I'm not telling you about my first act of defiance. I have a feeling it'd make you upset." Gladion remarked, shaking his head. "I'll say that after several acts of rebellion from me, I began digging. With the help of a friend at the paradise, I began to unravel some of what my father had discovered about the Ultra Space, and learned that my mother's mental state was worse than I had realized. She was driven…driven to complete a goal so terrible that it could spell doom for all of Alola."
"After that, I ran away from home. I stole Type: Null from the laboratories downstairs and left the island, making landfall here on Akala Island, where I spent a few months trying to tame Null. That...didn't happen as soon as I wanted it to, so I was forced to get my motel room and slowly work on getting Null to warm up to me. This all started almost two and a half years ago." Gladion explained, with the monster in question lowering its head.
"After what was done to me, I was...confused. Enraged. Rebellious. My mind was hazy and in pain. Gladion was patient, however. Even when I lashed out at him, he never once returned the favor, unlike those that created me." Type: Null said in a soft voice, with Gladion resting a hand on the Pokémon's helmet.
"Eventually, I fell in with Team Skull to cover my tracks and slowly began to build my strength and resources. Null eventually came around, and we began our partnership. I made it clear that my main goal was to release it from its mental restraint."
"Restraint?" Demi questioned.
"The helmet. That thing definitely isn't natural. It's keeping Null's powers in check. Holding it back. I want to remove it, so that Null has its full strength. It's the best way of becoming stronger. Pokémon usually become stronger and grow with battles, so that's why we emphasize strength and fighting as much as we do. So that we can become strong enough to do what we have to do." Gladion explained to the girl, who nodded in understanding.
"However, thanks to the efforts of my friend, its become clear to me just how hard my task is. According to her, the entirety of the staff at the Aether Foundation have been brainwashed against their will. All it takes is a simple command from my mother, and they become hostile soldiers who obey her every command. The odds are stacked pretty heavily against me. To get to my mother, I have to fend off the entirety of the Aether Foundation, who are composed of mostly-skilled Trainers with years of experience battling. And then my mother herself, who's a former Champion. And then the Ultra Beasts she could no doubt summon any moment she feels like...That is what I am up against. You all wonder why I act so uptight? Why I'm so angry? So upset at the slightest thing? It's because I'm fighting against the woman who raised me to stop her from unleashing Armageddon...And I'm terrified I can't win." Gladion said quietly, but his words were powerful enough to make Demi flinch at his tone.
"And so...here I am. Stuck in the basement of the Shady House, telling you my story. I can't tell you the whole thing, but that was a lot of it. Now you understand why I am the way I am. What I've suffered through. And why I have to get stronger by any means necessary." Gladion said to the Team Skull Grunt, who put her head in her hands.
"Gladion...what is your mother planning on doing?" Demi asked quietly, with the teen sighing deeply before replying.
"My mother's plan...is to unleash the powers of the Ultra Space on Alola, so that she may free the Ultra Beasts within. Those monsters...with them unleashed, who knows what they could do to Alola? The stories tell of fearsome beasts with powers that rival the Tapu. If she could tear open a portal or gateway to the Ultra Space, she could unleash limitless monsters with incredible strength onto Alola. The devastation would be unfathomable. That's why I...why I'm so stressed. Because I'm worried I might not be able to become strong enough to stop her in time. Null is our best shot at taking down the Ultra Beasts. It was designed to combat them directly. A Beast Killer." Gladion said as he lowered his head, with Type: Null sighing quietly. Demi remained quiet, for a time. Her head was down, and her long black hair blocked his view of her face. And then…
"Gladion...Can I hug you?" Demi asked, her face not visible to him. Gladion blinked in surprise, not expecting that to be her reaction to hearing his tale.
"What? Why?" Gladion asked, confused and completely thrown off. Where did this come from?
"Because...Damn it. How do you expect me to react!? No one should have to go through that by themselves!" Demi looked towards him and Gladion was shocked to find the girl was close to tears.
"Why...why is she so upset? Why does she care so much?" Gladion thought, taking a step back at the obviously upset teen in front of him. Instead, he vocalized, "None of this happened to you. You're acting ridiculous."
"God...This just makes me so frustrated. How can something so awful happen to such a good group of people! I've read all about the Aether Paradise! Professor Mohn and President Lusamine did so much for Alola! The Aether Foundation are practically heroes to everyone in the country, but they're being brainwashed and don't even know it! And you and Lillie...it's so messed up! It's so...Is life really just that unfair, Gladion?" Demi whispered, shaking her head.
Gladion was completely speechless. This wasn't pity. This was genuine unhappiness at the suffering his family had gone through. Demi rested her chin on her knees, eyes closed and trying to keep her composure.
"Is doesn't matter if it's fair or not. It's the truth. And that's all I can afford to tell you right now. So...Is that enough to guarantee your silence?" Gladion asked the girl, who nodded.
"More than that. I can't believe all this is going on and you've been trying to do this all on your own. How have you not snapped yet? I couldn't handle the pressure." Demi asked Gladion, who seemed to subconsciously rub his arms for a moment while a strange look crossed his features that vanished a few moments later.
"Who's to say I haven't, yet? This has been...incredibly difficult for me. Doing this all on my own, trying to survive against everything. Making Null understand my intentions for it was the hardest thing I've ever done. And that was only achieved about eight months ago. As soon as I did that, we began the Island Challenge in hopes to find other ways to increase our strength and gain experience working together as a team. However…" Gladion looked towards the hallway, where Golbat was keeping guard. "After the first Trial, I found Golbat, who was just a Zubat then. He was hurt badly, and probably wouldn't have lasted the night. I took him into my care and by the time I had him treated and his wing on the mend, he didn't want to leave me."
"You know, that kind of just proves my point on how you're a good person, you just suck at showing it." Demi remarked, a small smile on her face. Gladion scoffed at that.
"I'm not heartless, Demi. I just...I just want to fix this. But if I tried explaining everything to people, who knows what could happen? If word got back to my mother, I wouldn't be able to survive it. She's insane. She has the full power of the Aether Foundation at her command, and if that's not bad enough...She's harnessed Cosmog's power and has some control over the Ultra Wormholes. She can summon the Ultra Beasts directly to Alola if she wanted to. Who knows how much of that strange power she has in reserve? She could use everything she has to send Ultra Beasts after me, and I'm not ready yet. Null would die, and I'd be…" Gladion shivered, shutting his eyes.
"That's why I'm telling you now. Don't help me. It's for your own good. It's better if I do this alone, or with only the bare minimum amount of people and Pokémon involved. Don't you get it?" Gladion asked Demi, who looked back up at him with blazing eyes.
"I don't give a shit! Gladion, I don't care if you want me to or not. I'm going to find some way to get you and Lillie through this." Demi said to the young man, who scoffed at her declaration.
"Even if it means stabbing Team Skull in the back? Because trust me. They don't want me to get stronger. They much prefer me being their errand boy to back them up." Gladion said to Demi, who sighed and thought about it.
"I'm not turning my back on them, just because I want to help you. You're Team Skull's Enforcer, and I'm a member of Team Skull. I'm sure I can work something out. And as much as I like them...They haven't honestly done anything to try and change things in Alola. I don't get them. It's like...I don't know. Like their drive to change things is being directed into making as much noise and pain as possible." Demi said aloud, with Gladion nodding in agreement.
"I agree, it is weird. But that said, I've never put much stock in Team Skull's goals. They pay me just enough to keep me motivated to help them every now and then. Whether or not they succeed anytime soon in their plans to cripple the Island Challenge or rule Alola or...hell, I don't know...Try and get the Masked Royal's autograph is none of my concern."
"Wait, what was that last one?"
"Yeah, a lot of Team Skull are obsessed with the Masked Royal. Though considering I know who the man really is...heh. It's probably one of the few things I can say without a doubt that I love about Team Skull." Gladion said, looking away from Demi so that she couldn't see the very amused smirk on his face. Gladion just couldn't find it in him to tell Guzma that his arch-rival was in fact his favorite celebrity, no matter how much Gladion hated him. Gladion regained his composure and looked back at Demi, who was standing now.
"I'll figure something out. But...Dude, seriously. I want to help you. If this is something that could affect Alola, and my friends, then it can affect Team Skull too. And even if it didn't...How could I just stand back and watch you do this all alone? What kind of person would I be?" Demi asked Gladion, who just shook his head.
"Empathy is one thing, but it still shouldn't matter so much to you."
"Again. You. Saved. My. Life. And you're just trying to save your family, and you've gone through endless amounts of...You know what. Screw it." Demi threw her arms into the air in exasperation, which Gladion took as a sign that he'd finally broken her will to try and help him. She'd let him do this on his own, with no distractions and-
Demi stepped forward and extended her hand to Gladion, an intense glare burning through her eyes. The teen stared at her hand for a moment, nonplussed, but sighed and reached for the offered hand and shook it. She was nearly as stubborn as he was! But if this was what it took...then so be it.
"I'm helping you, one way or another. And if you don't like it...oh well." Demi hissed at Gladion, with the two of them jumping as the sound of rough laughter echoed through the room. Both teens looked at Type: Null, who was hunched over and awkwardly chuckling at them.
"Gladion...You are really funny sometimes. Demi, your help is welcomed. My Partner is too stubborn to realize it now, but in time he'll appreciate you stepping up and assisting him. Now, hug and make up." Type: Null remarked, gesturing with its green claw towards the two teens. Gladion turned towards Demi and was quickly slammed into by the girl, with the her hugging him tightly. Gladion stiffened in response, feeling distinctly uncomfortable, even as the Team Skull Grunt rested her chin on Gladion's shoulder, sighing heavily.
"You're stupid. And frustrating. And...I'm so sorry...Gladion, I really am. And I really hope that someday, you realize that you can trust me." Demi murmured, with Gladion standing still in shock as the girl hugged him tightly. Gladion's first instinct was to shove the girl away, but he repressed that urge. Instead, he just remained still, listening to Demi's heavy breathing and feeling his face burn with embarrassment, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.
Type: Null watched the display for a few moments before allowing itself a smile within its helmet that no one but it knew existed. It knew that Demi's words and intentions were sincere. After all, Type: Null could tell when people were lying, and it saw no deceptions from the girl. And so the beast watched the two teens with a secret smile, knowing that maybe, just maybe…
Its partner was learning.
"I said I'm sorry!"
"See, I hear you apologizing. But what I don't see is you. Scrubbing. Harder!"
"You're such a prissy bird. How are you the strongest on our team again?"
"Through sheer ego, that's how."
Sun grumbled something unkind under his breath as he scrubbed Oliver's feathers for the seventh time. In retrospect, leaving hot sauce to soak into his feathers overnight wasn't the smartest idea, but Sun had forgotten about Oliver's predicament until he had released his team to eat breakfast.
And then Sun promptly got wrecked by his Starter, getting thrown into the nearby dresser by a Leafage before being pecked repeatedly, at least until Laura's Pidgeot stepped in and knocked out the furious owl.
Sun explained the situation to his mother, who couldn't stop laughing at the odd circumstances behind this. Oliver wasn't quick to forgive his Trainer, and had demanded to be cleaned and bathed until the smell of hot sauce had left his plumage.
Which was easier said than done.
After ten baths, Oliver finally deemed himself clean and it took another hour for Sun and Oliver to properly dry and groom the bird to the point where he would consent to be in his Poké Ball. Laura Smiles, of course, didn't lift a finger to help and instead snuck pictures of the whole scenario and sent them to everyone she could.
Lillie was especially amused, considering it was her dare that had caused this situation.
Even longer after that, Sun and his mother made their way to uptown Heahea City, where the psychiatrist worked. The Smiles family entered a rather small office building and were soon waiting in the lobby.
"So, who are we seeing anyway?" Sun asked his mother as she began to read through a newspaper.
"Doctor Thomas Cabela. He's specializes in child-psychology and mental disorders. I've spoken to him already about you and explained some things to him already, but this appointment is for him to get to know you and perhaps help you work out some of the things you've been feeling lately." Laura explained to Sun, who slowly nodded.
"I just...I don't know."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just hope he can figure out what's wrong with me." Sun said quietly, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. Laura put a hand on her child's head, and then pulled him into a one-armed hug.
"Dear, there's…" Laura paused, glancing around with a confused look on her face. "Do you hear something?"
Sun strained his ears and heard a very loud voice in the distance speaking. After a few moments, Sun recognized the voice and promptly leapt to his feet.
"Oh god, Mom, hide me!" Sun yelled to his mother, who without hesitation pointed Sun to a nearby potted plant. Sun ducked behind it while Laura stood in front of it, arms crossed and ready to deal with whatever threat had scared her son-
"Do you know who I am?! I am the Fossil Man! And I thank you for this prescription!" the voice boomed before a man in dirty overalls and wild blond hair, carrying what looked like a large rock in one hand while holding a note in the other, burst into the lobby. Sun remembered the insane man from before his Grass Trial, having encountered him with Gladion. He had no desire to repeat the experience.
"Sir, I ask you once again. Please consider getting serious mental help-"
"Lolnope! I'm off to Dream Park! After all, I've got Fossils to breathe life back into! My dreams will help save the world and all of my hopes will come true!" the Fossil Man proclaimed to the baffled worker that stepped out of the door the Fossil Man had just left from.
"Right...Well, if that's the case then please leave. You're scaring my other patients." The man stated, with the Fossil Man shrugging.
"They just don't understand my brilliance." Fossil Man remarked, shaking his head.
"Sir, I respectfully disagree. No please leave." The worker insisted, with the Fossil Man letting out a booming laugh.
"Fossil Man don't care! Fossil Man don't give a shit!" the man proclaimed before he suddenly slumped down, sounding a lot more calm. "I need this though. So much. Thanks Doctor Cabela."
"Anytime. I'm on call if you need anything, Fossil Man." Doctor Cabela responded before pointing to the door. "Now out."
The Fossil Man shook hands with Doctor Cabela and whirled around, marching towards the front door. He stopped to look at Laura Smiles, who was glaring at the man and inwardly preparing to give him an ass-kicking he wouldn't forget.
"Greetings! I am the Fossil Man! And-" The man was cut off when Laura held up her hand.
"Get out of this building. You're scaring my child. If you refuse, I'm going to rip your arm off and beat you senseless with it." Laura said in a low voice, with the Fossil Man blinking twice in response.
"And...um, threat acknowledged. Farewell, Scary Lady." Fossil Man said, bowing slightly to Laura before leaving the building. Miss Smiles saw the man begin speaking to a nearby lamp post before suddenly punching it and then sprint down the street.
"That man has some problems." Scary Lady stated, taking her seat again. Sun slowly got out from behind the plant and sat next to his mother.
"So how do you know that guy?" Laura asked Sun.
"Me and my...uh, associate Gladion ran into him while on our way to the Grass Trial. We barely escaped him that time. Is it bad that I'm really reluctant to go to this appointment now, considering the Fossil Man goes here for treatment?" Sun asked his mother, who chuckled.
"Not really. But still, you should give it a chance." Laura said with a small laugh to Sun, who sighed. A few minutes later, the same man who had spoken to the insane Fossil Man stepped out into the lobby, wearing a small smile. He was dressed in brown slacks and a white dress shirt and had tanned skin, with a small black mustache on his face.
"Sunshine Smiles?" the man said, with Sun flinching at his name and standing up. The man shook Sun's hand as he approached, grinning at him.
"My name is Doctor Thomas Cabela. Please, follow me." Doctor Cabela said to the mother and son before leading them through a hallway and into a cozy room decorated with nick-nacks and motivational posters. Sun and Laura sat down on a rather comfortable leather couch that sunk in slightly while Doctor Cabela sat down in his high-backed chair that resembled something of a throne.
"Um...Nice to meet you, sir." Sun said awkwardly, unsure of how to start this. Doctor Cabela chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Now Sun. I don't want you to think of me as a psychiatrist. I want to think of me as a mental patient who killed a psychiatrist before you got here." Doctor Cabela said cheerily to the boy, who's face went pale.
Sun rose to his feet and walked out of the room. Doctor Cabela chuckled while Laura rolled her eyes and went after her child, who didn't appreciate such humor at such a stressful time.
Aether Paradise:
"That's insane and I don't believe you."
"I mean, it's true. And frankly, at this point, I don't care if you believe me Faba."
"You both are nerds."
Miss Wicke watched the two men as they squabbled, privately thinking the entire thing was hilarious. Poor Faba couldn't quite handle the fact that while Colress wasn't as famous as he was quite yet, he was far more prolific. Colress was a genius in every sense of the word. And he was smarter than Faba, which the Branch Chief couldn't accept.
Colress grinned at Miss Wicke and said, "Nerd I may be, but I'm also a scientist and a man who hasn't had a good morning if he isn't halfway through creating some sort of fantastic invention or major discovery."
"And I'm just all around amazing and am single-handedly keeping this entire Foundation from falling into the ocean." Faba proclaimed, placing a hand on his chest.
"You two are awfully chipper considering that Totem Araquanid died this morning." Wicke remarked tiredly, shifting in her seat as she dainty sipped her tea.
"It was a shame, but there was nothing we could do for it. The Z-Power that was constantly in effect around the creature couldn't be snuffed out, no matter how hard we tried. It's fate was inevitable." Faba said with a frown, shaking his head. "We tried our best."
"We'll have to send the body to Kahuna Olivia. She'll ensure it gets a proper burial, like all the Totems of the past have." Colress remarked as he leaned against the table, shutting his eyes.
"Could the energies of the Ultra Space truly be that potent? The Trial Sites...are they the key we seek? Or is it something else?" Colress muttered, shaking his head. Too much, too little time. He couldn't focus on all of this happening at once, or we would go mad. Well, madder.
"You're stretching yourself thin, trying to dwell on that, Colress." Wicke said to the man, who chuckled at the remark.
"Hardly. That said, it's a relief to have the Purification Chamber nearly done. I haven't had a task this intriguing since the whole thing with Tapu Lele." Colress said with a small grin, making Faba grit his teeth.
"And we're back at this! I just...Why would you go out of your way to assist it in that manner?" Faba demanded of Colress, who just shrugged.
"It's not every day a Guardian Deity seeks you out, strikes up a friendly conversation with you, and then asks for you to help it stay entertained. It's the most fun I've had on a project in a while!" Colress admitted, with Miss Wicke silently agreeing with him. The Tapu of Alola were all very secretive beings, with some of them being more so than others.
"Still, creating a device that allows a Pokémon to take the form of a human whenever it wants is pretty interesting. And giving it a translator on top of that? You're really endearing yourself to the Tapu, aren't you?" Wicke asked Colress, receiving a soft chuckle from the man.
"Well, it wanted to get some kind of amusement and caught wind of my exploits through the minds of the Pokémon on the island. How it did this, I'm uncertain, but it just reminds me that overpowered Psychic-types continue to surprise me. I just gave it what it wanted, and as far as I know that's been the end of it. Tapu Lele has come by my lab once to thank me and to inform me it started a travelling antiques and book shop." Colress explained to Wicke, earning another angry sigh from Faba.
"It has no practical use though! Why would any Pokémon besides an incredibly bored god want to be able to blend in with humans like that?" Faba demanded, growing increasingly agitated.
"I don't know. Why do we need to build a Purification Chamber that not everyone will benefit directly from? Why do I have to make very expensive translator collars not everyone can buy? Why is creating a literal invisibility cloak so awesome?" Colress asked Faba, who clutched his head and growled furiously in response.
"But...No one needs invisibility!" Faba yelled, stamping his feet. To Colress' credit, the man got up from his seat and began to make himself coffee, not paying Faba any mind, which was honestly the best policy when it came to the man. Miss Wicke decided to take a sip of her tea, which proved to be a mistake.
"No one needs invisibility? Well…no one needs a whiny stuck-up little bitch either, and yet here you are." Colress responded coolly without looking over his shoulder, making Faba throw his arms up into the air and walk out of the room while Miss Wicke choked on her tea.
"Alright, now that we're all nice and comfortable again." Doctor Cabela said with a smirk, earning a small glare from Laura and a weak smile from Sun. "What seems to be the problem?"
"The problem? The...the problem is that I can't seem to escape the past, no matter what much I want to." Sun said to the man, who's smile went away. Before Doctor Cabela could say anything else, Sun continued.
"The problem is that my Dad is a monster who tore our family apart. The problem is that I was nothing more than a tool for him. The problem is that Cipher's in Alola right now and it's only a matter of time before they find me. The problem is that they're here! They're here and they're going to hurt people I care about and-" Sun was stopped mid-rant by Doctor Cabela raising a hand. Sun looked down, realizing he had completely lost control of his emotions. He was nearly yelling just a moment ago. Was he really this upset, just by talking about the thoughts that plagued him every day?
"Calm down, Sun. Please." Cabela said to Sun before slowly cocking his head. "Odd. Your eyes are much darker, now. Keloliʻana Heterochromia Iridum? No, this is with both eyes. I'm mistaken." Cabela muttered, shaking his head.
"What is that? That thing you just said." Sun asked, with the Doctor waving a hand dismissively.
"It's nothing, my boy. Now, let's get down to business. I've already talked with your mother regarding some of your...history. How and why you came to Alola. The circumstances regarding your father. Some of the events that took place back in Kanto. And the reason you're here with me. You think there's something wrong with you." Cabela said quietly, with Sun slowly nodding.
"It's just...too much. I feel this crushing sadness, but I don't know what to do about it. I hate thinking about what my Dad has done, but there's no escaping it. I'm scared. I'm angry. It...hurts, Doctor Cabela. I'm so lost right now." Sun admitted softly, looking down at the ground.
"Well...I'll be the judge of that. I will say before we begin, Sun, that I thank you for taking time to come see me today. It's hard to get treatment for problems like these, and it takes a great deal of bravery to confront your inner demons, so to speak." Cabela said to Sun, smiling at him. "Now...tell me about yourself, and what you think about what you've gone through. What you've been feeling. Leave nothing out."
And so...Sun talked. And talked. And talked. He explained his life before Alola. Being groomed as the next COO of his father's rapidly expanding company, even as a young child. Being constantly reminded that he had to follow his father's dreams, and not chase his own. What happened with Nova-
No. That didn't happen.
His mother learning the truth after the fall of Nimbasa City. Laura filing for divorce and his father being kicked out of their estate in Celadon City. Ashton returning with a squad of Cipher Grunts, murdering Laura's Persian and attacking them with Damien, only for Mister Oliver to arrive in the nick of time to save them both.
Sun's arrival in Alola and encountering Lillie, Nebby, and Tapu Koko that fateful day on the bridge. His strange partnership with Oliver the Rowlet and befriending Hau and Vivian, and embarking on his journey, and everything since then. The emotions he felt, all of the things he did, Sun waxed on about his quest in Alola for the better part of two hours, stopping right after Lillie's birthday party and their walk over here. Doctor Cabela didn't stop the entire time, though he did give Sun an odd look when Sun admitted he gave Hau his Eevee Egg because of...reasons. When pressed for those reasons, Sun refused to give an answer.
Sun explained everything he knew. How he felt his fears and pain every single day, weighing him down and threatening to blot out his happiness. How he felt like it was all building and building, and that he could never quite get the moment of his father's ultimate betrayal from his head. It was where all of the hurt had built upon. The sight of his hero, his idol, his father...tearing down their family with a simple command with that awful look of fury on his face.
Yet despite what he told the man and his own mother, he refused point-blank to tell them everything. There were some hurts he refused to acknowledge, and other feelings he didn't want to discuss with some stranger and his mother, who already suffered through things just as bad as he had. He refused to explain things such as the beginning of his sadness, just after his father's betrayal and the guilt that burned within him, knowing that there was something he could have done to prevent all of the pain and suffering that had happened to the world since they departed Alola.
Sun finished his story and felt rather...empty. Not better. Just oddly tired and irritated. He had explained some things, but not the worst of it. The blackest, darkest bits of pain, suffering, and something else Sun couldn't recognize that clung desperately to his heart. Sun crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes while Doctor Cabela continued to jot down notes on what Sun had said.
"So...am I crazy? Depressed? Both? Or just overreacting?" Sun asked the psychiatrist.
"Sun, you're not crazy, and it's not wrong to feel the way you do. As for what's wrong with you, I believe that you're simply suffering from a blend of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Situational Depression." Cabela explained to Sun and Laura, the latter of whom hugged her child after a moment had passed.
"Situational Depression, while not a technical term for someone in my field, still applies to what you're going through. You are depressed, Sun. It's common to have feelings of sadness and hopelessness and of frustration. This is a form of depression just caused by a stressful event. Your father revealing his true intentions and attacking you and your mother. The events that have happened since all compound into this stress, making it so much worse." Cabela explained to a silent Sun, who simply nodded.
"This is not a major form of depression, thankfully. It can be treated without medication and through therapy, as well as healthy coping mechanisms. However, it is the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder bit I mentioned earlier that worries me." Cabela said to the pair of them, with Laura jumping in.
"You think he's suffering from PTSD?" Laura asked Doctor Cabela, who looked at the woman.
"Weren't you, after what your husband did?" Cabela asked Laura, with the mother slowly nodding in reply. Sun looked at his mother.
"Mom...Why didn't you talk to me about that? You were...you were hurting just as bad as I was." Sun said quietly, with his mother sighing softly in reply, though she was smiling at her son.
"Because you needed me to be strong. You were so upset, after your father attacked the house. You refused to eat, to leave your room, to even see me. I was so worried about you that I didn't have time to think about how bad I was until Oliver calmed you down and then had a discussion with me. I...recovered, in time. Not completely, but enough to regain control of my life." Laura said to Sun, who slowly nodded in understanding.
"As you may know, Sun, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a very serious thing and there is no concrete cure for it. It all comes down to how severe the trauma was and how deeply it ingrained itself in you. Repeated instances of trauma make the situation worse." Cabela said, with Sun thinking back on that-
"D-dad, stop it! Stop! You're hurting her!"
"It's for your own good, Sun. I...I'm not letting this ruin you like it did me!"
Sun instinctively flinched, catching his mother's attention. "Sun? Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah...Just thought about something. It's fine though. It didn't happen. It doesn't matter anymore." Sun said to his mother, who still seemed worried. She turned towards Doctor Cabela, who surprisingly shook his head.
"Another thing I'd like to bring up, in our limited time today, is something a bit off-topic but still related to our topic in a way. It's a noted trend that those who suffer from some sort of depression oftentimes have parents who suffered from it. Laura's already explained to me that she was fine until Ashton came along. However, that still leaves Ashton himself. Did Sun's father suffer from depression?" Cabela asked Laura, who nodded in reply.
"Ashton had many problems growing up, and for most of his time in Alola he suffered from what he later had diagnosed as major depression. He attempted suicide twice during his time in Alola, I believe, before I managed to convince him to get help after we starting dating in Kanto years later. He spent a year away from his growing business to spend time with Sun and me and get treatment. He got a clean bill of health and seemed a lot better after that." Laura explained to Doctor Cabela and a shocked Sun.
"Was Alola really that bad to him?" Sun asked incredulously, amazed that such a colorful island filled with such kind and friendly people could turn his Dad to attempting something as awful as suicide.
"Your father had a very difficult upbringing, Sun. He was forced to become a Trainer against his wishes, and was kicked out of his home and went through the Island Challenge against his will. The day he left Alola was the happiest day of his life." Laura explained to a downcast Sun.
"But if he hated being a Trainer so much...then why did he spend so much time training? Why is he such a strong Trainer? Doesn't that make him a hypocrite?" Sun asked his mother, who shook her head.
"He recognized the need for him and his team to be strong, in a world that was so dangerous. Ashton trained so that he could protect those precious to him. Protect me and you. That I've never doubted." Laura said to Sun, who looked away.
"Maybe. But he wasn't shy of using that strength to hurt us." Sun said very quietly, looking at Doctor Cabela. "So what do we do now?"
"Now...That's a good question. There's several ways we could go about dealing with this. Obviously, waiting it out simply won't do, considering Cipher has a presence on this island and continues to threaten world peace. You'll be stressed for a long while yet if we go down that road. Medication, even light doses, is of course a viable option, but not one I'd like to explore quite yet. I believe that you should continue working on opening up about your feelings, Sun. Talking about past hurts is a proven way to help get through them. Sharing the burden and allowing someone else to carry it with you does so much good. But most importantly...Learning to let go will be the key here." Doctor Cabela said to Sun, who slowly leaned back in his chair.
"Let go?" Sun said quietly.
"Letting go of the past... Of your suffering. Focusing not on the sorrow, but the joy of life and the comfort of others. Wallowing in your pain, intentionally or not, will only result in your suffering breaking you until there's nothing left to break. It will continue to eat away at you until you make peace with it. As of right now, you are struggling to keep your emotions in check. You're hurting, and until you learn to begin letting go of that pent up emotion and pain you hold in your heart, you'll continue to feel pain, Sun." Cabela said gently, a smile on his face despite the words he was speaking. "But I've heard many good things about you, and talking with you reminds me of several other patients of mine. Patients who overcame their problems and rose above them. You will too, in time. Just learn to let go."
"Okay...If you think that's best. It might take a while though." Sun admitted, with Cabela laughing reply.
"That's what repeated sessions are for. We're just about out of time, now. So we'll meet again in two weeks, on Saturdays from here on out. I'll admit this is the most interesting situation I've encountered in some time. But I look forward to seeing the two of you again." Cabela rose to his feet and walked over to Sun, who had also stood. Cabela extended a hand to Sun, which Sun shook.
"If you'll wait in the lobby for a few moments, Sun. I need to have a discussion with your mother in private." Cabela said to Sun, who nodded and opened the door, exiting the room. The two adults waited a few moments before Doctor Cabela spoke.
"I believe something else is at work here, Laura." Cabela said to Miss Smiles, sitting back down in his chair. "I think Sun is repressing memories of trauma as a coping mechanism. That incident with the Eevee Egg...Something isn't quite right there. Sun seems to have convinced himself that the events didn't happen and that they don't matter, despite the fact that these events still upset him. All of these blows to his psyche, Laura. These incidents that chip away at his hope and his drive to keep going despite the horrors he's been subjected to...One of these days, he's going to hit a breaking point. And it's urgent we get him to open up about these experiences and come to some sort of closure with them. Otherwise, he will get far, far worse before he ever gets better." Cabela said quietly, crossing his arms.
"What should I do?" Laura asked, hands over her heart.
"Make it clear to Sun that he can tell you anything. There's just a chance, however, that he may not tell you because he doesn't believe the problem is worth bringing to your attention. He believes that his own concerns aren't worth adding on to other people's stress-loads, which is common with those who are burdened with depression and anxiety. Find a way to get through to him, whether it be you or someone else he is close to." Cabela said to Laura, who slowly nodded.
"And one more thing…" Cabela added, a sad smile on his face. "Sun may be a very mature and capable child. But he's still just a kid. And as we all know, children have very interesting minds that make connections rational adults don't. I also think that Sun may blame himself for the events that have befallen his friends and you over the course of the past year or so." Cabela explained to Laura, who blinked in surprise.
"How could that be? There's nothing he could have done about what Ashton did to me and him. Or what Amber did to Erika or any of the other stuff!" Laura said, baffled by this.
"No, there isn't. But children tend to blame themselves for things that happen beyond their control. Divorces are hard, and in your case it was especially difficult. Sun was very close to his father, and may believe that he could have done something to stop him from going so far. Maybe even convince him to leave Cipher and run away from them with you. Who knows for sure. But I do know that Sun is sure to harbor some guilt at what's happening in the world, because he felt like he knew his father best." Cabela said to Laura, who took a few moments to consider his words.
"I'll work on it with him. All of this. I will get him through this." Laura promised herself more than Doctor Cabela. "I think we'll be fine for a while, anyway. Sun's about to face Olivia, and knowing him he'll manage to overcome the odds yet again. He's happy on his Island Challenge." Laura said with a smile, making Cabela laugh.
"I hope so. Again, let me know if anything comes up. You have my card." Cabela said with a small nod. The two adults shook hands and Laura found Sun sitting in the lobby. With a tap on the shoulder, the two walked out of the building and began walking down the sidewalk, a silence between the two of them. Laura in deep thought about what she could do to help her child, while Sun was in thought as to what to do about it all.
"I went there so that I could feel better. But I don't. If anything I feel worse because I didn't tell them everything." Sun thought, sighing internally. Sun and Laura stopped outside of the Dimensional Research Lab, where Laura pulled Sun into a hug. Sun was confused at this sudden act, until he heard his mother speak.
"You're going to get through this. You're going to be okay, Sunshine." Laura said quietly, nearly crushing Sun in her embrace. Sun sighed inwardly, but returned the hug regardless. Laura let go of Sun and the boy took a step back, offering his mother a smile.
"I know I will. I just...have to figure that part out." Sun said in reply before thinking about something. "If my next appointment is in two weeks, then that means we'll be on Akala Island for a little while."
"Well...You'll be. My last day off of work was today, so I'll be heading back to the hotel to pack and head home." Laura said to her child, who sighed in response.
"That...sucks. I was hoping you'd get a chance to watch me battle the Kahuna." Sun said to his mother, with Laura giving Sun a sad smile.
"I'm not going to be there for you every step of your journey, Sun. I'm not going to be there for you for a lot of things in your life. But you don't need me to be. Because I'll always be there, rooting you on, in spirit. I truly believe you'll make a difference out there, my son." Laura said to her child, putting a hand on his head and ruffling his hair, a proud smile on her face.
"You've gone above and beyond what anyone would have thought you could. You're taking a terrible situation and making the best of it. You're standing on your own and living your dreams, and becoming a very strong young man. You're becoming a role model to Lillie and a good friend to Hau, as well as a reliable Trainer to those who need you. I couldn't be more proud of you than I am now, and you'll continue to make me proud as you go through your Island Challenge." Laura said to Sun, who grinned at his mother.
"Then that's what I'll keep doing. It doesn't matter if its Team Skull or Cipher, or even Dad! I'll keep on winning and getting stronger so I can become the best Island Challenge Champion of them all!" Sun said with a laugh, Laura giggling as well.
"Just don't go mad with power. We need someone to keep Hau in check." Laura said jokingly, with Sun laughing at the jab at his best friend. Sun stepped forward and hugged his mother, who hugged him in turn.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too dear. Don't ever forget that."
Sun made good time to the Dimensional Research Lab, where he found his friends sitting around chatting with each other. Lillie was in deep talk with Aria about something, so Sun walked over to Professor Burnet and Professor Kukui, who were staring at the screen.
"Dimensional shifts are strong today. Strongest they've been in a while. We might even see a rift." Burnet muttered, a curious smile on her face. "Mohn would be proud of us, I think. The fact that we can detect shifts like this are the very thing he worked so hard for."
"He would be ecstatic. And he'd also demand we go out to eat to celebrate the occasion." Kukui joked quietly, earning a slap upside the head from Burnet.
"Who's Mohn?" Sun asked the couple, who both exchanged looks before glancing at Lillie in the corner. The girl had looked up at the mention of the name, and was watching them with an unreadable expression on her face. Sun looked back at the two Professors, who exchanged a look before answering.
"Professor Mohn was one of the leading authorities on the study of the Ultra Space, and was the co-founder of the Aether Foundation. On top of that, he's heralded as a hero alongside his wife for helping stop the Ruby Raiders over twenty years ago, ending their reign of terror on Alola." Kukui said with a fond smile. "He was also a friend of ours. Well, Burnet's mostly, but I liked the guy well enough. He was a big fan of the Masked Royal in his early days, you know!"
"But...you act like he's gone now. Did he...die?" Sun asked the pair, who both looked away at that. Kukui looked back at Sun and put a hand on his shoulder.
"He didn't die. But no one knows what happened to him, exactly. And we'll probably never know, either. All that we can do is keep working as hard as we can to understand the mysteries of the Ultra Space in his memory." Kukui responded rather strangely, to which Sun just shrugged. If they didn't want to talk about it, then he wouldn't pry.
"How'd your visit to the shrink go?" Hau asked, bounding forward from behind him, scaring Sun badly and making him jump. Sun recovered after a moment and responded.
"It's a work in progress. I'll tell you more on the road. I'm really not feeling it right now." Sun said to his friend, who nodded in reply. Sun saw the look of worry on Lillie's face out of the corner of his eye, and looked away. He was in no mood to worry her more than he had already. He vaguely remembered his decision yesterday to explain his feelings to her, but…
"No. Not today. Not after talking to that man and bringing back up all those memories and pain. When I'm in a better spot, and we're alone, I'll tell her." Sun promised himself, knowing that he was procrastinating yet again and making excuses. But he didn't care.
"Not feeling it? Sun, you should be hyped!" Kukui boomed, reaching forward and pulling both boys into a crippling hug. Lillie and Hugh stepped forward, amused at the Professor's antics, while Aria hung back with a small smile.
"You've finished all three of Akala Island's Trials! You know what that means! Woo! Here comes the big match against Olivia - the island Kahuna! It's the biggest and baddest Trial of them all here on Akala - the Grand Trial!" Kukui yelled as Hau and Sun exchanged grins.
"That really makes me want to get on the road." Hau admitted, to which Sun nodded.
"I'm already stocked up and ready to go. How about you?" Sun asked Hau, receiving a thumbs up in reply.
"Thanks to me. Hau wouldn't stop trying to buy food. Kaha is finally old enough to eat solids now, so Hau's having to buy different stuff now." Lillie chimed in, giving Hau a look that made the boy laugh nervously.
"Well, I guess that means you two are heading out then. So, good luck! Olivia's house is past Diglett's Tunnel. It's in Konikoni City! But watch out for Team Skull!" Burnet said to the two boys, earning a nod from both.
"We'll be there to cheer you on. Thanks to Kukui, it'll be just a teleport away. He's even got a hotel booked for us all to hang out for a while." Hugh remarked cheerily, grinning at the Professor.
"It helps when you're as fantastic as me." Kukui boasted as everyone but himself sweat-dropped.
"I still have some things I want to talk to Professor Burnet about, so I'll stay here for a few more days." Lillie said quietly, glancing at Sun worriedly as the boy nodded, accepting of the fact that Lillie still had her own life as an assistant, as well as her goal of helping get Nebby home. Part of him wanted to tell her about what was discussed at Doctor Cabela's office, but on the other hand it was...well, very personal. He wasn't ready to talk about it, just like he wasn't ready for a lot of things. Sun may be struggling, but he'd find a way to get through it.
"You're still going to watch us battle the Kahuna, right?" Sun asked Lillie as he snapped out of his thoughts. The blonde-haired girl smiled and nodded, earning a grin from Sun.
"I'm off to check out Diglett's Tunnel next then! It's a whole cave made by Pokemon, right?" Hau yelled out, grinning excitedly. "Sun, you're coming with, right?"
"Duh. We're both heading the same way." Sun remarked with a small laugh, with Hau grinning widely and putting his hands behind his head. Rotom Dex took that moment to pop out of Sun's backpack and buzz excitedly around his head.
"Zz! Digglet Tunnel? Man, I'd sure like there to be a place named after me!" Rotom cried out, landing on Sun's head. The boy shrugged in response while the others laughed.
"Maybe you'll get your own award named after you, Rotom. After all, you are the latest innovation in Pokédex technology, helping bring Pokémon and humans together." Professor Kukui said to the device, who buzzed happily in response but didn't reply verbally.
Sun turned back to the others and said, "You all take care. I'll see you soon."
Lillie ran forward and hugged both of her best friends, who returned the embrace happily. After a few moments the trio separated and they parted ways, with Sun and Hau making their way out of the building. Hau began his trek down the sidewalk, but something in the sky caught Sun's eye.
A rift.
Sun's jaw slowly dropped as a strange shimmering vortex, not unlike the one Shadow Celebi arrived to their time in, was opening up in the sky above. Waves of energy began to pour out from the line of light in the sky, causing the air itself to shiver and then…
It was gone.
"Freaky…" Sun thought, curious as to what he just saw. It had appeared and was gone in the span of less than a few seconds, and left Sun bewildered.
"Oi! You coming?" Hau called to his friend from the street, oblivious to what had just happened. Sun looked at his best friend and nodded, jogging over to him. With that, the two friends made their way to the tunnel about half an hour's walk from the lab.
"I wonder what else besides Diglett are in there?" Sun wondered aloud, with Hau shrugging.
"Who knows? I just know I'm excited to get to the next city! Lana and Mallow both live there and it's supposed to be really cool!" Hau said excitedly, hopping up and down on his feet. Sun couldn't help the smile that came as a result of Hau's eagerness, and followed his friend into the cave itself the moment they arrived at the entrance…
Unaware that a very surprised man dressed as a local tourist was watching him and Hau go into Diglett's Tunnel. The man quickly pulled out a silver cell phone and tapped in a few keys before pressing it to his ear. Two rings later, the Cipher Grunt quickly spoke.
"Sir? This is Scout 6 reporting in. We have a Code Nova on Akala Island, heading into Diglett's Tunnel. The Prince has been sighted. I repeat, we have a Code Nova. The Prince has been sighted."
It couldn't last forever, now could it?
Q & A
From: Madame Rodoshe
lso I like part where Demi figured out that Gladion is Lillie's older brother, but man Gladion sure was furious! Hau is in love with his sister. Wonder how Gladion react if Sun likes Lillie?
Honestly, he reacts worse in this stance because he doesn't find out until it's too late to do anything about it, hehehe.
From: operattaoceanic
My questionBased on Aria's vision about Sun, did he just killed someone? I mean, he did mentioned it just now.
Give it some time, and all will be clear.
From: Guest
Enjoyable chapter to read, honestly, especially when Sun broke Kukui's pride lol. By the way, if Aria lied about her future vision of Sina and Dexio, how didn't Rotom detect the lie?
...Well shit. Kinda forgot about that, didn't I? I'll come up with something next chapter.
From: Okamiden14
200 chapters?! Thats... a lot. I wish you the best of luck with it. Also do you have plans to implement the battle tree into this story? It'd be pretty cool to see sun go against some of the greats like red/blue, wally, cynthia, etc.
That was honestly one of my biggest challenges with the Cipher storyline, is finding an excuse for certain characters to be in Alola while things are happening all around the world. However, I figured something out and it works now.
As for the question itself, yes. The Battle Tree will be featured in the post-game to an extent, and we'll even see a bit more of it before that. There's definitely going to be a twist on it.
Alright folks, that's all for now. The next couple chapters are the biggest yet for the story, with back-to-back shockers and some really fun twists! Plus a Kahuna battle, which I promise will be interesting indeed!
Until then, please let me know what you thought of the chapter in the section below. Also, please support the story via favorite and/or following the story, as well as leaving questions (with feedback) in the section below.
Take care, stay awesome, and I'll see you all later.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
