Lusamine stood on a raised platform, her white dress and golden hair a shining beacon to all those below. The Aether Foundation's many employees had gathered below to hear her.
"Faithful Aether Foundation employees, our research into the UBs and Ultra Wormholes has been immensely fruitful thus far, but our plans do not stop there!"
In the crowd, Lusamine's daughter Lillie stood towards the far end of the room, a sea of AF employees between her and her mother. If not for the enormous jumbotron behind her, Lillie would not even be able to see her mother at all.
"Energy is being harnessed from the Ultra Wormholes as we speak, along with new technologies that will benefit the people and pokemon of Alola in ways no one has dared to dream of!"
A raucous cheer shook the room. Enough to make Lillie's white skirt sway in the windless room.
"And of our new projects in the works, I would like to formally announce the first, N.O.R.Z.A.! This new branch of Aether Foundation will study the interaction between Ultra Wormhole energy and our own people and pokemon! Applications for this energy will be studied and refined, and brought to bear for the good residents of Alola!"
Another wild cheer rose up among the many bodies in attendance.
"This Nascent Observation and Research Zone for Advancement will be headed up by none other than my own wonderful daughter, Lillie!"
Lillie stared at the huge screen behind her mother. A familiar smirk appeared on her youthful face. Lillie doubted anyone else in the room understood what it meant aside from her. Ever since their ordeal with Nihilego, Lusamine had developed a renewed focus on being close to her children, but it bordered on the same mania that her previous obsessions had. Still, Lillie couldn't help but smile back at her mother's beautiful face. They enjoyed a closeness she never could have dreamed of before, so if her mother wanted to ask this of her, of course she would agree to it.
"The new building will be completed tomorrow, and I urge you all to await the wonders our new research initiative will bring to the Aether Foundation with all the excitement that I have. Thank you all for coming!"
With that, and a dramatic bow from the charismatic president, the room shook with applause and cheers a third and final time. The platform descended and after a few moments the employees had all made their ways back to their regular posts and offices on the vast AF grounds.
Lillie waited a moment before rushing up to her mother, who was walking towards her in the now empty auditorium.
"Well dearest? What do you say? Will you do this for your loving mother?"
Lillie rushed into her mother's waiting arms. The warmth of her mother's body radiated through the embrace. Lillie buried her face into her mother's chest and beamed.
"I can't as well say no now," Lillie laughed. "Of course mother, for you… anything."
"Promises, promises, little one."
"Mother," Lillie stammered, blushing. She looked around, even knowing full well the auditorium was empty, she wanted to be sure.
"Relax, dearest, we're all by ourselves now."
Lusamine's hands wandered down the small of Lillie's back, straight down to her perky bottom.
Lillie blushed and sighed into her mother's chest. "M-mother… not here."
Lusamine released her hands after a playful squeeze.
"Oh, I suppose you are right, dearest. We do have many details to go over before tomorrow after all. I will see you tonight though."
Lusamine stepped back and kissed her daughter on the forehead before walking out of the auditorium.
Lillie, still blushing, followed loosely behind. Yes, their relationship had most certainly grown recently, and while unorthodox, she definitely felt closer to her mother than she ever had before. Gladion was the only one who knew, that she knew of at least, but he was involved too. She had no idea what other people might think if they found out, but she hoped she would never have to find out.
Lillie had no idea she was about to find out.
