Pokemon Sun: A Ranger's Trials

by ChaosFlash912

When a Pokemon Ranger takes time off from her job to have a nice vacation in the sunny and tropical Alola region, she winds up getting a lot more than what she bargained for. Will it still be the best vacation ever? Probably. A slice of paradise mixed with tales of other worlds, coming up!

20. Day 5 Part 5

(Hey Aether. Nice base of operations. I'll take it.

The Reviews

Megan Romero: I'd rather call the mission 'Operation: Within Light's Shadow', but that works too.

LogBook27062000: Those darned Elgyems buffs will be shown to the world so help me!)

Night had fallen on Alola by the time the group had arrived at the docks of Aether Paradise. The air was tense as the two groups had split off - Jake and Aubrey to the left, and Vanessa, Hau, and Gladion to the right.

"Aether Paradise's harbor...I'm surprised we've made it in without any trouble," Gladion softly remarked. "But I don't like how quiet it is. Stay alert, you two."

"Yeah...no telling what Aether's got in store for us," Hau looked uneasy, but steeled himself for the road ahead.

"I always am," Vanessa assured.

On the other side of the docks, Aubrey and Jake were watching in cover, surprised by the level of tech that Faba had managed to get together in a short time to prepare for their arrival.

"Hoo boy...Faba ain't joking around," She said to Jake.

Jake summoned Byron and hopped onto him like a steed. Byron was aware of the stakes and circumstances and was ready to take Lillie back to freedom. That was what life was about. "Nor are we. Although I noticed there's Dusclops? What's that about?"

"Dusclops are Pokemon that normally send you away if they catch you," Aubrey explained. "But if they're here...well, I imagine if we raise the alarm, we're screwed." She shook her head. "I'm telling ya man, this is a big risk we're taking to have you do this. Are you sure we can pull it off?"

"Aubrey, I can't believe I'm saying this and I know you are shaken by the idea, but we need to throw all caution to the wind and kick their asses and seize the moment. Every region up till now was saved by brave, virtuous, powerful souls even when the world's fate was in jeopardy. We're those saviors now and we can't give up here. So... I trust in our ability to pull it off to the fullest." Jake gave a quiet but empowered speech.

"Bastiodon!" Byron agreed, showing more confidence in the face of adversity.

"I'm more worried about our friends here, but..." Aubrey paused, before smirking. "Ah, what's a vacation if you can't enjoy it, right?"

"Ok then. Whenever you are ready." Jake armed himself with the Great Ball from earlier and the Ultra Ball that was clearly Avenger's. He would join the fray when the moment was right.

Looking over, Gladion would wonder what the heck Jake and Aubrey were planning, "What are they doing?" He shook his head.

"Looks like to me they're gonna do the same thing I imagine you two always do, Van. She draws their attention, and we slip on by," Hau guessed.

"If it only means we have to deal with these Dusclops, then that's fine by me," Gladion remarked.

"Yeah. Stay behind the Dusclops, and if you can, either knock them out with a Dark move or let me Styler Capture them," Vanessa instructed.

Hau nodded in agreement. "You got it, Vanessa."

"We'll move when Jake and Aubrey do," Gladion decided, getting in position behind a wall with Hau and Vanessa.

Once everyone was in position, Aubrey would gladly take the first move. "Alright then...Vatonage? Shadow Ball and get their attention."

"Umbre!" Vatonage cheered in glee, jumping out from cover and launching a Shadow Ball at an employee's feet, causing them to jump back in surprise.

"The ranger's here!" He called. Needless to say, an alarm started blaring as those on the docks moved to the left side to intercept her.

"C'mon Jake! Don't let me have all the fun!" Aubrey called.

"Avenger! Cetrion! Make some mayhem!" As Byron charged forward after Aubrey, Jake tossed his Balls into the completely new faces emerged. First was Avenger who was now big, bulky, imposing, with muscles and a height increase that signified he had reached his final evolution via the Trade. Electvire. With a confident smile, he put on his baseball cap and smiled. He finally could stand on his own two feet and be as strong as those he looked up to. On the other hand, Cetrion, the newcomer from Jake's old Hoenn team, turned out to be an elegant Roserade. Her graceful, dancer-like posture and focused resolve showed she was no slouch to battling even after being at home for a while.

A Dusclops lunged for her but Roserade simply swirled around and gracefully backflipped over Dusclops before generating a mass of shadow energy in her bouquet hands and shooting a Shadow Ball directly from above Dusclops as she flew over them, taking him out in a OHKO. Avenger took a more crowd control approach, sending out a furious Discharge to get employees and enemy Pokemon scattering as more distance was made for Jake and Aubrey.

Electvire proved to be the equivalent of a kaiju in threat level, and Cetrion continued to weave her way in and out of the battle, Byron joined the fray by sending Ancient Power rocks scattering towards the employees, leaving them to have to dodge the attacks and creating an opening for Aubrey.

As this was going on, Aubrey rolled her head around and sized up what kind of additional bits of gear the employees were packing for her.

"Bo staves, shields, and tasers like Van...nothing we can't handle, Vatonage!" Aubrey exclaimed, moving around staff hits to respond in kind with swift kicks to batter them away, a leg sweep to knock a shield bearer to the ground, and Vatonage using Quick Attack on a taser wielder. "Jake, handle their Pokemon! I'll take the guards!" She called.

"Sounds like a job for a Petal Dance special!" Cetrion, hearing Jake's declaration, started twirling around with the same majesty as an ice skater, sending a flurry of powerful and sharp petals colliding into the crowd of Pokemon. Even if they weren't effective against certain Pokemon, the damage was noticeable. Avenger followed up with Thunder Punches of his own to take out those more resistant to the grassy maelstrom.

On the other side, Hau and Gladion were taking advantage of the chaos, staying out of the Dusclops' sight, and Hau's fully evolved starter, Incineroar, would work towards taking them down one at a time with Darkest Lariat! With Hau's help, Vanessa would capture the Dusclops, rolling her eyes at her partner's thrill for a good fight.

"Well, looks like Jake and Aubrey will be fine on their own for a little bit," Hau chuckled.

"Yeah, we can make a break for the elevator," Gladion agreed. "C'mon, before they realize we're here, you two."

"On it!" Vanessa was with them, having dealt with the last Dusclops.

With Jake and Aubrey providing ample distraction, Gladion would lead the way to the elevator. He would try to take them to the lower floors, but was finding he'd be unable to get access.

"Hmph, just like I thought," The blonde boy frowned. "Outsiders don't have access to the lower floors..."

"What do we do now?" Hau asked, glancing over at the chaos.

"What a pain...we'll have to go up." With all three of them on the elevator, the guardrails would pop up and take them up to the reception area. Who else was there other than Faba?

"I, Faba, am the Aether Foundation's branch chief. The only one in the world, I am irreplaceable." His confidence wasn't shaken...until he turned around. "And yet you come back heeeeee- there's two of them!?"

"Hello! We just missed each other on Route 16. I'm Vanessa Parker, Aubrey's partner." Vanessa gave a cheeky wave and knowing smile as she introduced herself.

"...Lovely..." Faba grimaced.

"Like you don't know why we're here. You of all people should know everything that happens here," Gladion glared. "Isn't that right, high and mighty branch chief?"

"Hee hee hee! Look at you! Living in the outside world hasn't been kind, has it?" Faba got his confidence back to throw that barb at Gladion. But I'm still not telling you anything! You of all people should understand why...Gladion."

"You know this guy, Gladion?" Hau asked.

"Yeah. I wish I didn't, but I do," Gladion answered, throwing a barb of his own back. He'd look to Vanessa. "Hey, Vanessa. We need to get access to the labs, and I'm not sure Hau and I could be enough to 'convince' him. Think you can get us in there?"

"Oh sure, I can handle that." Vanessa tossed out a Poke Ball. "Let's go, Gyarados!"

"Oh ho, is that right? Is that what you think?" Faba got a confident expression. "You might've surprised me with your appearance here, ranger, but I will show you why I'm Aether's last line of defense!" He'd toss out a Poke Ball of his own. "Hypno!"

"Oooh a Hypno. Very nice Pokemon you got there. But tell me. Have you ever seen this before?" Vanessa readied her Styler. "Capture! ON!"

Vanessa starts to loop her own Gyarados but Instead of the normal whitish blue lines of a regular capture, the lines are a bright pink color. The Capture Disc starts to loop around faster and faster until it looks like Gyrados is in a large pink cocoon.

"This is a power only those who share strong bonds with their Pokemon can achieve! A power beyond normal evolution!" Vanessa proclaimed.

The Capture Disc would soon return to the Styler, a DNA like symbol floating above the Cocoon and it starts to shatter, revealing the awe inspiring Mega Gryados who let out a mighty roar loud enough to shake the room.

"What in the-!?" Hau covered his ears.

Gladion flinched back. "Oh my..."

Faba meanwhile, realized just how much trouble he was in. Mega Evolution? Here in Alola? Inconceivable...but he had to stand his ground. "Hypno, Thunder Wave!"

Gyarados would get hit by that, but Vanessa would step in with a Full Heal.

"Riiiight like that would work. Meet Mega Gyarados. He lost Intimidate, but he now had Mold Breaker. Oh and his Type changed." Vanessa folded her arms, smirking.

"Really? What'd it change to?" Hau asked out of curiosity.

"Water/Dark. And Faba here is using Psychic types," Vanessa answered. "Oh did I mention he has Crunch? Because he has Crunch." Vanessa mentioned this as Hypno was getting dominated by Crunch. "Just like that."

"H-H-How can this be...how does this ranger have the power of Mega Evolution!?" Faba fretted.

"Aue, look at you, Van! Mega Evolution sure is something!" Hau smiled.

"Less talking, more doing," Gladion ordered. "As I said, you of all people should know why I'm here."

"Indeed..." Faba took a breath. "The world truly hasn't been kind to you, has it? Look at how hard it's made you. If you're looking for Cosmog, I suppose it might be downstairs." He'd brush Gladion aside to give them access to the labs in the lower levels.

"Well if you must know," Vanessa elaborated while Faba worked. "I was solving a crisis in Kanto and was given this Mega Stone and the Keystone by the legendary trainer Blue, grandson of Professor Oak himself. Working with one of the legends of Pallet Town like that was a high honor in my opinion."

"Wow..." Hau was amazed.

"Vanessa. Hau. If you two are ready, we'll head back to the docks and grab the other two. Then we'll go to the labs," Gladion spoke.

"So that's what all the noise down in the docks was?" Faba wondered. "Hmph. No doubt your friends down there are in quite the predicament. So many fires to fight, so little time. Ta ta."

Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Riiight…" She looked over the elevator controls. "Okay, take us down. I'm going to see if I can get full control of this myself." The ranger plugged a USB into her Styler and elevator controls. Gladion would take them down to the docks, and they'd see the damage that Aubrey and Jake had caused, having gotten the alarm shut off.

"Nothing to it! We're just getting warmed up!" Avenger and Cetrion seemed to be enjoying each other's company, bragging and talking about their most famous battles with each other before turning their attention to the others who just showed up on the scene. This directed Jake's attention. "Ah good! You got in the scene!"

"Hiii!" Vanessa waved.

Any of the employees that faced them had been beaten up by Aubrey, either unconscious or incapacitated. Their Pokemon were KO'd, and Aubrey was wiping some sweat off her brow. Save for some bruises, she looked totally fine.

Byron looked ready to carry on, as did Jake. "So what did you find out? What's our next option here?"

"Well I'm getting full control of this elevator in case they try to be smart and lock us off from it. Hope not though. Gyarados here gave Faba quiiiite the scare," Vanessa reported.

"Yeah! I even got to see Mega Evolution for the first time!" Hau added. That last part certainly would get Jake's attention as the young lad described what he had witnessed upstairs.

Jake smiled at both the glorious sight of Mega Gyarados and Hau's words. "Like what you saw? This sight always takes my breath away."

"It's...certainly something, that's for sure," Gladion commented. Better with him than against him, he thought.

"So now where are we going?" Aubrey asked, heading to the elevator.

"Down to the labs. There's two of them down there. Hau, you go with Aubrey and Jake to Secret Lab B. Vanessa, I want you with me at Secret Lab A," Gladion would instruct.

"Well if you say so, sure," Hau agreed with a smile.

"Sounds good to me." Vanessa looked at her progress on the elevator with a smile. "Oh good. I got a copy of Faba's codes just in case."

"I got a Mega Evolution of my own for you to enjoy Hau, so let's keep the momentum going!" Jake pointed forward as Byron, Avenger, and Cetrion followed his lead.

With everyone gathered on the elevator, Gladion would send them down to the lower floor, the labs.

"Everything looks the same. Guess it's only been two years," The blonde boy said to himself.

"...What're the chances that Faba's setting a trap for us?" Aubrey wondered, twirling a little bit of her hair. "I imagine there's gonna be security down here...Gladion, where are the labs?"

"That way." He'd gesture to the right. "Why do you ask?"

"Van, think we should clear the way first? If there is any trap there, we should deal with it," The older ranger suggested.

"Aww, thanks!" Hau smiled. "We'll be right behind you!"

"We might as well. Come on Gyarados!" Vanessa went on ahead with Aubrey.

"Man I didn't realize how much fun this all was. Saving the day and beating into the bad guys' lair! Still...I'm remaining cautious." Jake, after letting loose some excitement, recomposed himself.

As the two rangers went on ahead, Hau would ask Gladion, "How do you know all this? And why do you and Van get the first lab?"

"Just focus, Hau. I'll tell you when things aren't so tense," Gladion responded. "Every second counts. I don't want to waste it on talk like this. Right now I'm pretty sure Faba's told half the foundation we're here. Especially with that chaotic mess Aubrey and Jake caused at the docks." He then smirked. "Not that it was completely bad - it did get us down here without much resistance."

"Alright. But you better tell us everything when this is all over," Hau folded his arms.

Sure enough, there were scientists in white labcoats and weird headwear covering their faces.

"Intruders spotted! We'll protect our secret labs!" They would send out an Alolan Muk, a Probopass, and a Porygon2 to attack.

"It'll be faster if we tame their Pokemon with the Stylers, right?" Aubrey asked her partner. "Have you ever done that before?"

"As I do not have a Styler, we both know the answer to that." Jake chuckled.

"Oook. Yes that works." With Vanessa's confirmation, the two of them would launch their Capture Discs, Vatonage going to work at keeping Aubrey safe from harm as she focused on the Probopass. Vanessa would focus on the Porygon2 while Gryados was fighting Muk. With their combined teamwork, the three Pokemon would be tamed, forcing the scientists away.

"Part of me feels like this defies logic somehow...but I'm not gonna complain," Aubrey chuckled.

"Eh. Just roll with it." The younger ranger shrugged.

"Alright. We know where we're going. Let's move." Gladion would go with Vanessa to Secret Lab A, leaving the other three to head down to Secret Lab B.

Aubrey and Hau would be first to enter Secret Lab B, Hau completely ignoring the two employees that were in there.

"H-Hey! Don't go touching things with your grimy hands!" One of them yelled at Hau.

"This research is our life! I don't care if you're a kid, a ranger, or what have you!" The other added, hands on her hips. "I'll send you flying if you threaten it!"

"Don't even bother, you are not worth our time." Jake commented. Suddenly, another employee spoke out from behind them, apparently having followed them inside, sounding offended and charged with adrenaline.

"This is the first time Aether has been besieged...although I have an inkling why." Everyone turned around to see a young woman with a red bob, glasses, an Aether-logo baseball cap, the same coats as the other Aether employees but with a more casual outfit of a blue turtleneck, grey slacks, and mocassins. Her brown eyes seemed a mixture of anger, fear, and bravery. "Yet you are using violent methods and even Mega Evolution! That's not normal or fair for Pokemon!"

Jake gave a startled reaction but it was Avenger who looked the most surprised and shocked. It was clear as day he recognized this woman.

Aubrey recognized her too. "So, you're this Gilda Lockon character I've heard so much about. I wish we could've met under different circumstances. Aubrey Bradford. Top Ranger with the Union."

The woman looked surprised. "Wait, you know me...? You read some of my works and papers...?! Huh. I'm rather flattered actually. I rarely am complimented anymore, only judged. For my opinions and my occupation." She pushed up her glasses while the other workers took the opportunity to make space away from the group.

"Gee, I wonder why." Aubrey stepped back, looking at Jake.

"A ranger you say though? So you know and respect Pokemon more than most supposedly." The woman didn't get much else to say as Jake took Aubrey's cue to speak.

"Nothing personal or against your disposition, but you contributed a lot to Alola's biases against certain Pokemon battling aspects and facts about Pokemon. You demonized Mega Evolution most of all, Gilda! No other region has shown the same level of disinterest and even fear-mongering towards it as you. Like you don't even understand what it means for the Pokemon!" Jake hissed.

Gilda frowned in annoyance. "I do know what it means. Death, pain, physical and emotional stress. Pokemon go berserk if allowed to run amok during their Mega Evolutions. The very first and most noticeable instances of Mega Evolution, Primal Reversion, led Pokemon to become harbingers of pain and suffering for the world at large. Back then it was a creation methodology for this world, but now, idiots think tampering with such dangerous powers is a good, progressive idea. Hoenn and Kalos have both shown fallacies and disasters taking place because of people using or trying to evoke Mega Evolution."

"And that Primal Reversion is what caused you to view Mega Evolution in this negative light, correct?" Aubrey decided to get to the heart of the matter, or at least, what she thought was the heart of the matter.

"...Among other things like research studies and behavior analysis, yes. Mega Tyranitar. Due to the colossal power poured into it, this Pokémon's back split right open. Its destructive instincts are the only thing keeping it moving. Mega Glalie. The excess energy from Mega Evolution spilled over from its mouth, breaking its jaw. It spews endless blizzards...Mega Gyarados. Mega Evolution also affects its brain, leaving no other function except its destructive instinct to burn everything to cinders. Sure sounds like something that'd be against your Ranger morals, eh? Why use it then?" Gilda eyed Aubrey with a 'what are you thinking' expression. She clearly heard about the Mega Gyrados rampage that happened earlier.

Aubrey folded her arms. "Right well, first of all. That Gyarados isn't mine, it's my partner's, so you can take it up with her. Second off...I wouldn't know what I'd use the power of Mega Evolution for. I've never had the chance to use it before, so I don't know how I'd use it. But what I do know, or at least what I've theorized, is that you've had a bad run-in with Mega Evolution before. Were you a Hoenn native before coming to Alola?"

Gilda folded her arms and leaned against the entryway. "Yes. I lived in Mossdeep which was one of the biggest sites of science and research in the region. My family's house was flooded and the water damage was so great we had to leave when the mold settled in. I had to leave a promising internship at the Space Center because of it. We ultimately decided to move out of the region because we didn't have faith in people talking about Mega Evolution like it was the savior when really it was what caused the whole mess to begin with. Alola was the capitol region for undiscovered information and incredible mystery. I came here and established myself, I researched all the horrors of Mega Evolution, and found out just how harming it is to Pokemon and people. Among other things that I loved beyond studying and research, it was Pokemon's capacity to be on the same level as us. Beings cared for, protected, bound by laws that would safeguard them from being exploited like Legendaries or traded shamelessly like Teams in Kanto and Johto tried to do. Joined Aether because they were on the right path." She then looked very upset for a moment, "Lo and behold, enter Team Skull and Aether's stupid alliance with them."

"Wait, so you know about what we uncovered trying to protect Alola didn't you?" The Hoenn trainer looked surprised.

"Mmm...I don't know if that's completely true, but that's what we're here to find out," Aubrey told Gilda, Hau having chased out the other two employees in the meantime. He was frantically searching for anything that could help them as the other three conversed. "Look, I don't know about this whole...Mega Evolution business myself. I only started looking into you because my guy friend here Jake was greatly upset by what you had written, Gilda. Originally I thought you were just super butthurt losing a battle to Mega Evolution, but after reading your part in that book, it became clear to me it wasn't just petty bitterness. Nah...you've got a real reason to be against it."

"The power supposedly found in nature through the Stones is more of a forbidden curse. I wonder if Arceus made them...or a more twisted Legendary. Those things HURT others and enable terrible people. Aether doesn't use Mega Evolution thanks to my strides and contributions but they still do terrible things like allow Pokemon to be traded and treated poorly by Team Skull! Frankly I don't know if you came here to kill us or disband us but I accept whatever fate you have upon me. Just know that my-" Gilda would get cut off by Jake.

"Ok you are WAY too melodramatic just like some of your writing styles." Jake interrupted calmly. "We're just here to save a kidnapped girl and her Ultra Beast companion. Aether's true endgame is Ultra Beasts and we know it's not doing Alola or Team Skull or you, or anyone any good."

"Yeah, and I haven't killed anyone. Beat 'em up, yeah, but I haven't killed them," Aubrey clarified. "So unless you want to get clobbered, which I'm sure you don't...just...I dunno, lady. There's more to life than just living in fear of something. If I was scared of things out there in the world, I wouldn't be where I am today."

Gilda gave a softer expression and even seemed insecure for a moment. "I wanted to leave this organization once I realized how messed up it got but I knew I was in too deep. I also didn't want to use any of my prestige or chances to do more studies...and you have a point Aubrey. I am still scared of Mega Evolution, but I try to cope by warning others against it."

"I think you are half-right and half-wrong about Mega Evolution. Maybe you have seen Mega Pokemon in turmoil on their own devices but when they are with a Trainer, they are in unison and empowered. They give their essence to unlock that power to help them win a battle, defend a region, stop evil. There's purpose to Mega Evolution beyond them just being some strange and twisted power, Gilda." Jake rationalized. "Plus, when Hoenn shortly after the Kyogre incident was threatened by a meteor, it took the current Champion's love and trust in Rayquaza saving the world and protecting many lives and homes for its own Mega Evolution to be able to succeed."

"...That is an alternate hypothesis I admit." Gilda said gently.

Aubrey would be more simple and terse in her response. "Power fades, but the journey is forever." She'd turn her attention to Hau, leaving Jake to do whatever.

Suddenly though, Avenger stepped forward and addressed Gilda. "Electvireee..."

"Wait...that's my old…" She gasped. "Kid?" Gilda looked entirely disarmed and walked over to Avenger. The two held each other's arms as memories and thoughts surged between them about the past. "Ahh... It really is you. The one I took in. Arceus I remember the day you left... The first sign that Aether was corrupt. I asked Lusamine what happened to you and she simply said 'he wasn't cute enough to stay'. I knew she must've thought that...that me having a Pokemon as a research partner was not within her own philosophy." Gilda lamented.

"Well, I found him over at a power plant by the Ghost-Type Trial. I named him Avenger. Is that a satisfactory name for your Kid?" Jake grinned.

"Hmm. An apt name for someone working to bring down a corrupt organization that sent him away from me." Gilda said, tearing up.

"Electvire!" 'I missed you!' Gently because of his sheer strength, Avenger hugged Gilda who returned the hug graciously.

"...I'll have to write a new paper with that quote Aubrey. It makes sense for a Ranger to be able to enlighten even the most thickheaded of Pokemon specialists. And you...Jake. I sense that you see the light in Mega Evolution that Kalos and Hoenn stress about it that I struggle to make amends with it. It's not a flawed way of thinking at all and I admire you standing by your beliefs. And taking in and protecting Kid." Gilda thanked them encouragingly.

"You're welcome, Gilda. That's your alias name, I take it? Lockon seems a bit too good to be true as a last name," Jake said, feeling so relieved. He finally found and met the Gilda who had bashed Mega Evolution so terribly and realized she was human. A person. And had incredibly admirable willpower and selflessness.

"I'd share my real name when I'm not under surveillance." Gilda admitted.

"Pretty short and to the point, yeah." Aubrey was busy reading over something on Ultra Wormholes that Hau dug up. "Let's see what we got here..."

The document would read, "'Beyond the Ultra Wormholes that Professor Mohn discovered lies a different dimension. By investigating the changes in mass there, we can predict the existence of Pokemon-like life. We have dubbed them Ultra Beasts for now.'"

"Ultra Beasts hmm...I can tell you what I know although Lusamine herself is most tight-lipped about the overall research Aether produces about them." Gilda offered after pulling away from Electvire. "The main reason Aether studied so hard into them was because Lusamine's husband disappeared into one and she longs to rescue him from that other dimension. She confided that within me shortly before Team Skull entered the picture."

"So you and Lusamine are friends? Do you know Lillie?" Jake asked.

"...Not as close of friends as I thought. I never knew about her or exactly how Lusamine was studying Ultra Beasts herself. I do know that Nihilego showed up here recently and never have I been so glad to take a morning shift before," The researcher answered.

"Oh yeah, we knew that much. I was the one who helped tame that Nihilego," Aubrey mused.

"Do you know where Lillie is? Is she safe?" Hau would suddenly ask Gilda.

"Well as far as today's events, I know that the Skull associates came by and dropped off an Ultra Beast that Lusamine has been seeking and a hostage to dissuade anyone important like the Trial Captains from intervening. I know that they took her down to a special chamber below these Labs and..." Gilda flinched and looked pale for a moment. "A very, VERY terrible place."

"I...want to doubt that, but I'll take your word for it..." Aubrey frowned. She looked at the computer in the lab. "Ah! Here we go. A report on Cosmog!"

This report read, "'Cosmog is hypothesized to be a type of Ultra Beast that hails from another dimension. A dimension that we have named Ultra Space. When placed under sufficient stress, it reveals the power to create and open Ultra Wormholes in order to escape from its suffering. We are now working on a device that will allow us to manipulate the Ultra Wormholes when Cosmog is subject to extreme stress...'" Aubrey paused, the realization hitting her. "So Lusamine thinks that Cosmog is her ticket to rescuing her husband...no wonder she was so grumpy hearing Lillie's name again."

"Makes sense. A portal-creator is the best way to secure something like that. Then why does she have Nihilego on a leash? What's special about that?" Jake questioned.

"Well whatever it is, we should tell Gladion about this!" Hau would rush out of the lab to go see Gladion.

"Alright Gilda...we better go after him. We've got a doomsday to stop. Well, it's doomsday for these boys. For me, it's like a Tuesday," Aubrey chuckled.

"It was one of the first ones discovered and thus drew Lusamine closer and closer to the rabbit hole she ended up on. There's some property about it I've noticed that alters moods, likely in it's secretions but we've yet to find an opportunity to get a proper sample." Gilda explained. "Either way, be careful around it and Lusamine. She's a twisted, dangerous woman and clearly an abusive mother to Lillie if she's got her here in a time like now. Otherwise...enjoy your Tuesday. And take Avenger to a baseball game every now and then. He likes them as much as I do." Gilda winked and matched Aubrey's sardonic tone.

"We will! We have plot armor!" Jake grinned and after Avenger saluted his Aether caretaker, the whole crew went off to pursue this chamber in question.

As they walked out, Aubrey couldn't help but wonder, "Wait, did she just say mother?"

"Maybe she thinks that Lillie is Lusamine's daughter because she'd believe Lusamine wouldn't just pick up any ol' hostage. And they know each other at least so it's a safe line of reasoning..." Jake commented. Avenger had a sentimental smile before steeling up with determination, renewed by the reunion to keep going.

Meanwhile, In Secret Lab A, Gladion and Vanessa just got done dealing with a pair of employees who were quite adept at battling.

"Good...thanks for being here. No idea if Null and I could take them ourselves," Gladion thanked the ranger.

"No problem. Nothing me and Gastrodon here cannot handle." Gastrodon nodded in agreement with Vanessa. "Now then, let's see what we can find here." Vanessa would gravitate towards the computer in the lab, where there was something already loaded onto the screen. It looked like some sort of blog. "A blog? What's this…" She'd start with the introduction.

The first post read, "'This is the blog of F, a branch chief working in the Alola region. Are you interested in success, dear readers? Then allow me to introduce myself. My name is F, and I am an elite, self-made man. Here on my blog, I will show you the way to succeed.'"

"...Oh Arceus, please spare my sanity…" Vanessa groaned. Gladion was looking through deleted files in the meanwhile, as Vanessa continued on through the cringe that was this blog.

The next post, titled multitasking, read, "'Currently I am working on the development of a special sort of ball, which I took over from my predecessor, in parallel with another project. Seeing how well I multitask impresses my subordinates and increases their motivation. Showing how skillful you are is a king of on-the-job training for your underlings.'"

The blonde boy shook his head hearing what was being read. "I apologize in advance you have to read that ego stroking blog. No points guessing who it belongs to."

"Yeah he called himself F...I mean really what nutjob refers to themselves only as a letter…" Vanessa paused upon realizing what she just said. "N from Unova being the one exception."

"Branch chief, starts with the letter F, completely full of themselves...yup, that's Faba alright," Gladion confirmed. "I imagine your partner would want to reach through the screen and hit him. That wouldn't solve anything, just break a monitor."

"Yeah, she probably would…" Vanessa chuckled. After Gladion finished getting what was needed, he'd walk over to the monitor to see, much to Vanessa's horror, things were about to get much worse in this blog.

The third post, this one titled 'Hedging risks', read, "'I once ventured to undertake a project without notifying my superior. I developed a device to restrain a dangerous life form, in case it became necessary to do so. I had it made for hedging risks to protect myself, but for better or worse, it was made public. It is always essential to consider the risks before one takes action.'"

"...Well it looks like we're getting into the juicy stuff at least…" Vanessa noted.

The last post, and perhaps the most damning, was titled 'Massaging the truth'. It read, "'My superior's family stole the results of our research and ran off. However, I have chosen to never blow this issue out of proportion. I will only be reprimanded for my own mistakes, and surely my superior is also displeased with the actions of her family as well. When necessary, one must always be prepared to massage the truth to protect one's own position. It is not an exaggeration to say that this skill is vital for success.'"

Gladion's fist clenched at the part when family was mentioned. "Yeah, sure you didn't..." He muttered under his breath.

The last bit caused Vanessa to pause, turning to Gladion. "...What is he talking about? This seems really big, and I can tell you know about it."

Gladion sighed. "Me and Null...we're more alike than we look. Both of us were made with a purpose. I was like an ornament to my mother. Wore whatever she wanted me to wear, acting how she wanted me to act...Null was crafted just as carefully. It was made to battle the beasts. In this room, right here..." He paused, silently handing the files he dug up for Vanessa over to her. It was something about a BKP Development Record. "I'll tell you what it is when we meet up with the other three."

After looking over the files Gladion found, she looked at Null with shock. "...Oh no." Vanessa would then look Gladion in the eye. "I'm going to hold you to that."

"Won't have to hold for long. Cosmog's not here, let's move." He'd recall Null and head out of the lab with Vanessa, just in time for the other three to run into them.

"Did ya find anything?" Hau asked.

"No, nothing about Lillie or Cosmog's whereabouts." Gladion shook his head.

"Oi, Van. Why do you look like you've been hit with a truck?" Aubrey asked.

"Well...it regards this." Vanessa would pull out the files the blonde boy had recovered. "Gladion here said he is going to tell us the full story."

"Let's make this snappy, we have a lead on where Lusamine and Lillie probably are." Jake said. Cetrion folded her arms and looked intent on listening.

"Alright. I might as well already tell you what you probably figured out by now," Gladion began. "...The reason I know as much as I do about this place...I used to live here with my sister. I don't think I have to say who it is, do I?"

Hau was the first to react to this. "Lillie's your...then that means-!"

"It was so obvious," Jake whispered to Aubrey with a coy grin.

Aubrey meanwhile, was quiet for a moment before asking, "...What the heck kind of family drama did I get wrapped up in?"

Gladion frowned. "I don't know how much Lillie has told you, but long before this whole 'family drama' started, our father was investigating the Ultra Beasts. He went missing, and the only three things he left behind were his research papers on the whole thing, and Cosmog, who you all know as Nebby."

"Okay...what was the third?" Vanessa asked.

"To be more specific, the research was on the Ultra Beast Nihilego, and a theory on wormholes. Our mother was obsessed with getting our father back by any means necessary. She poured her heart into this research to try and save him, but over time...I noticed she changed," Gladion continued. "I realized that if she continued down this road, Ultra Beasts would flood in and destroy the region. Null was created to be a weapon against the Ultra Beasts, but as you can tell by these files...the plan fell through. I only told Wicke about what I was doing, but before I left, I took my partner Null out of cryosleep and fled this place."

Aubrey and Hau stayed quiet as Gladion explained, for they couldn't believe what they were hearing. Jake also stayed silent out of respect for Gladion, though he looked angered at this. As though he was more than ready to do something about it.

"Yeah…" Vanessa was looking through the files while Gladion was talking. "It seems that Type: Null was originally called Type: Full and known by the code name, BEast Killer." Her skin started to crawl as she kept reading. "They...they hodge-podged it together with cells taken from every known type of Pokemon to allow it to use something called the RKS System...RKS... Arceus..." Her eyes went wide. "THEY TRIED TO MAKE GOD!?"

"They what!?" Aubrey cried out.

"I only had two goals after leaving this place - to stop my mother from her destructive path, and free Null from this restrictive helmet of his. I don't know what happened after I found my way into Team Skull as their enforcer...my only regret is not taking Lillie with me." Gladion looked down, shaking his head. "I don't know what happened while I was away. All I know is that I asked Wicke to do everything in her power to keep her safe for me."

"Begrudgingly, I can respect them slightly for taking a cue from the other Teams and realizing trying to use Legendaries never works out so they tried to make their own win condition..." Jake scoffed. "You and Wicke were on the right path."

"Ugh...okay hold on...we have more here…" The younger ranger kept on reading. "Ah, it says there are three Type: Nulls created...and that the masks they have on were put in place after they could not control their own power and went berserk. The project was then deemed a failure and they were locked up."

"There's...there's gotta be some reason that the president changed," Hau then spoke up. "She seemed like such a nice lady..."

"Yeah, she is. If you don't mean anything to her," Gladion responded.

"Okay, like...real quick Gladion, before we go back up. Why are you telling us this now?" Aubrey then asked.

Gladion was quiet for a moment. "Jake, you...you were right. Had I just been honest with you from the start, maybe this wouldn't be happening. But considering who I was working with, I had my doubts you would've believed me. Not only that, but there's no doubt that Faba has something prepared for us above. He's probably already told half the staff about us...or all of them, if that alarm was any indication. We might not all get out of here unscathed, so...I figured I'd just get it over with and let you all in the know." He would look at Aubrey in particular. "I know what you're thinking, but you have to be careful. Our mother is incredibly strong, both in and out of Pokemon battling. You're only going to get yourself hurt if you blindly charge in there."

Aubrey was quiet at first, but then nodded in understanding. "Thank you."

"Glad we can help and that you finally understand our perspective. People aren't going to usually have their own agendas when it comes to doing something that'd help protect the region. Also implying that we might have fatalities? Heh heh...we dance with death enough times to know our survival rate is very high! It'll be Aether that'll have to worry about their lives." Jake grinned. As opposed to cowering about the idea of Ultra Beasts, he was finally and firmly ready to push that aside and take the fight to them.

"What Jake said,'' Vanessa agreed. "As it stands we are going to have to bring the Union in force here after this is all over. It is obvious at this point a very large portion of Aether has been corrupted by Faba. He is looking at a lot of criminal charges right now for what he did to the Pokemon used to create Type: Null."

"And what about Lusamine?" Aubrey asked her partner.

"Her as well but I suspect we are going to be finding more as we go through here," The younger ranger responded.

"On that note. We need to get to the lower floors of this place. Gilda warned us about a chamber that Lusamine would be in and some really audacious place," Jake asserted.

"We can worry about that later, Jake, we have to save Lillie and Nebby now!" Hau exclaimed, surprisingly being the first to rush to the elevator. "It doesn't matter to me how much of the staff Faba or whoever throws at us...I've been having this awesome adventure with all of you, and I don't want it to end. Not for me, not for Lillie, not for anyone in Alola! As grandson to Melemele's Kahuna, I have to do something!"

"...Uh, that's where Lillie and Nebby probably are though, Hau," Jake laughed nervously. "You are right though! We're going to resolve this with our hands and our Pokemon!"

"Well said, both of you! We got a mission to clear and we have not failed that yet, right Brey?" Vanessa asked as she was next on the elevator. Jake returned Avenger and Cetrion to their Balls, as he boarded the elevator himself.

"Not even close," Aubrey mused. "Y'know, I only came here for R&R, didn't expect to get wrapped up in this whole business. But when duty calls, a ranger's gotta pick up the phone. But still, something seems off about this whole story...I don't believe that Lusamine's desire to save her husband from Ultra Space turned into something malicious on her own free will." She'd be the penultimate member of the group to get on the elevator. "Regardless, I'm gonna handle this like I always do - take it by the horns, with no hesitation!"

Gladion cracked a smile. "You're all willing to risk your lives for this...just like me. I have to make this right, and for that...let's go!" He'd be the last one on the elevator, taking them up to the reception area.

When they returned to the reception area, they found a couple staff waiting for them there, along with a large metal gate blocking off access to the mansion like home they could only assume Lusamine lived in.

"Hello there," One of the employees greeted, brandishing a taser gun of his own. "I'm afraid Branch Chief Faba has given us orders regarding you all..."

"Now that you know of the darkness at Aether's heart, we'll just have to make you all conveniently disappear!" A second one, having some sort of powder at hand, declared.

Aubrey paused...before laughing. "Really? You still think you can take us after the beatdown we gave your buddies at the dock? Alright, you're welcome to try!" She'd be the first to slug one of them with a right handed punch, starting a wild brawl of people and Pokemon.

"The only convenience will be you giving us money after we beat you!" Jake summoned Dew who sniped their Pokemon with focused Bubble Beams.

"Yeah, get with the program. We are taking you down." Vanessa would join in with her Capture Styler.

One battle later, the group would be standing over defeated employees, Aubrey dusting her hands off. "So...two rangers, two very talented trainers, and the enforcer of Team Skull. Do you regret your life choices now?"

Jake didn't bother letting the employees respond, walking over their limp bodies to move forward. "Let's not keep Lady Lillie waiting." Dew appeared to snicker and teabag the losers as he followed his trainer.

"...That is a very odd spider…" Vanessa noted with a sweatdrop. Vatonage merely trotted alongside Aubrey, oblivious to what kind of bad manners Dew had picked up along their road together.

Up ahead, Faba was standing with a few shield bearers, unnerved but not enough to stand down. "My, my...what naughty boys and girls you all are. You should just lay your heavy heads down." He'd rub his hands together. "But I knew that you would struggle onwards - I could see that with every predictable action you took. So I knew you would try and reach the president. And that is why, I knew I would be able to ambush you here and remedy my previous failure!"

"Yeah, a lot of good that ambush did ya," Aubrey snarked to herself.

"The only reason I let you down into the lower floors was to buy time and gather more staff to stop you," Faba continued.

Hau shook his head. "So uh...Mr. Faba, do you have the key to the president's rooms?"

Faba nodded in arrogance. "Indeed! I have it right here."

Hau was the one to start laughing. "Ah! So if you just stayed hidden, we never would've gotten past this locked gate!"

The branch chief's heart sank as the realization kicked in. "...Hueh!?"

Aubrey already started to approach him, the staff doing what they could to try and swat her aside.

"I'd wet my pants and beg for mercy if I were you, Faba," Jake said confidently. Dew also looked very eager for Aubrey to give the beatdown to this insidious man. Vatonage was already doing everything in his power to get the shield bearers out of Aubrey's way, Faba backing up against the gate in question.

"Think we should get them out of the way, Jake?" Hau suggested.

"Right! Dew, use Spider Web!" Dew sent a stream of spider webbing on the employees in the way, tangling them up and immobilizing them for Hau to use his tactics on. The young lad didn't have to do anything as Aubrey grabbed Faba by the scruff of his neck, pushing him against the gate. Her voice went low as she glared into his eyes.

"Listen to me, pal...we're staring down the destruction of the Alola region, and to prevent that, we need that key. If you don't hand it over, I'm going to need to do a Target Clear, and I am not picky about how I go about it. What'll it be, branch chief?" She laid out her demands crystal clear.

"Yeah, and it will probably hurt very much," Vanessa chimed in.

After seeing that Aubrey was serious about her threat, Faba relinquished the key to the older ranger. She'd release him from the hold, and go to open the gate. "Oh, and for the record, I would've just had Roark bust it down instead."

"Thank you for cooperating." Jake sarcastically stated to Faba. Dew hissed angrily at Faba to scare him as the comrades followed after Aubrey.

When outside, they'd find that there was another obstacle - Team Skull grunts, causing Gladion to rush ahead upon seeing who was leading them. None other than Guzma himself.

"W-Woah! There's like, uku billion Team Skull grunts here!" Hau exclaimed in shock. "I...expected some, but not this many!"

"It's nothing you and Jake can't handle, Hau. We're going on ahead. Keep 'em off us! Van, with me!" Aubrey requested, rushing after Gladion.

"On it, Brey!" Vanessa would rush in with her.

"Guzma...I have a bone to pick with you. You may have tackled the Rangers on but you're about to find out how deadly I am as a Trainer and beg for mercy. Why are you condoning the kidnapping of an innocent little girl?!" Jake, instantly steeling himself upon hearing Aubrey's order, called out Guzma. His callout would fall on deaf ears however, as he was busy battling Gladion.

"I don't know why...I wish I knew," Hau told Jake as he called out his Incineroar and Alolan Raichu.

"Yeah Hau. We'll beat the truth out of him before the day's done." Jake called forth Avenger again as the battle was on with the Team Skull forces. Dew sent an Infestation cloud to scatter and hinder the opposing Pokemon before Avenger followed up with ruthless and quick Thunder Punches while they were distracted.

By the time the rangers got through the crowd, Guzma had already beaten Gladion. He looked crestfallen as Guzma stood there, hands on his hips. "The hated boss who beats you down, and beats you down, and never lets up...oh yeah, big bad Guzma is here!" He'd fold his arms with a look at Gladion. "I did that little brat a favor and crushed his team. Yup, that was me. Y'know Gladion, I kinda liked you. Leaving home like that, wanting to get stronger. Going so far as joining Team Skull and rejecting your own mother? That takes some guts."

"We know that already, big guy," Aubrey repeated the armfold as Vatonage growled, trying to look intimidating...but came across as adorable.

"And now you're back for more. Well...it's what I would be saying if Plumeria and I didn't have a conversation a little bit ago," Guzma told the rangers.

"This better be an apology, Guzma." Jake spat with a hand on his hip.

"Oh yes. Tell us what you talked about." Vanessa was listening.

"First off, she told me you were coming. How the rangers who started off as antagonistic towards me and my Team Skull now want to become Rockruff hugging paragons of kindness, were on their way here," Guzma began. "Second off, and this has nothing to do with that conversation, but I'm only here because the president asked me to. All she wanted was the Cosmog. Said she wouldn't harm a hair on Lillie's head if it was handed back to her. It's only natural she'd ask the baddest guy around to help with the Ultra Beasts!"

"Stop this - just tell us where Lillie is!" Aubrey demanded.

"Hmph. Fine. I don't know what all she wants, but we're all gonna find out real soon." Guzma, in a surprising display of generosity, decided to step aside this once. "If you want to go in and save Lillie, go right ahead. Lillie promised to hand over Cosmog in exchange for your buddies not getting beaten to the curb. We've even made sure to treat her well."

"Nothing about this place is a sign of treating Lillie well. She hates this Aether Island as it's where her bad memories lie. Though, I can acknowledge you've grown and understand our side of the story better now Guzma. We will save her and try to save you later down the line but never play along with some evil team's ploy like this again or we WILL beat you to the curb." Jake threatened Guzma with resolve.

"Hah! And here I was being charitable to you, just like you two were to me!" Guzma laughed. "Well, if you want to take me on, Jake, it's high time you take your turn! Lemme see if I can't put that fire out at the source!"

"We better hurry inside, guys," Aubrey whispered. "We'll let Jake keep Guzma busy."

"Sorry to disappoint you Guzma but you are facing someone who actually became a Champion once upon a time. It's time you realize how wrong your way of trying to move up in the world in Alola was." Jake returned his Pokemon before summoning Belle to the fray.

Guzma summoned Ariados to begin things off, the red spider looking significantly focused to face Belle. Jake noticed it slipped into the shadows right away just like Forrest would do in his pre-evolutionary forms. "Tsk! It knows Shadow Sneak. Ok Belle, brace yourself and get ready to dodge and retaliate."

Belle nodded with a composed smile. She wasn't afraid at all. "So you used to be a Champion eh? What made you leave?" Guzma asked, as though genuinely interested in this.

"I can't be a Champion forever when so many people dream of being Pokemon Champions themselves. Passing the torch and all that. You are after that kind of glory yourself aren't you? That's why you remain so driven and interested in battling even when basically banned from doing them..." Jake commented.

Ariados emerged from above Belle and attempted to bite her but she swiftly dodged and from one of the candle flames on her limbs, sent a powerful Inferno blasting Ariados, and managing to one-hit KO them. A testament to how Belle's full potential from such a long time and effort had been reached and was to be envied.

"Tsk! Obviously. I see myself as the strongest here in Alola and I was more than ready for everyone to respect big bad Guzma. Shame it never panned out that way but I know I was wronged by this crooked region!" Guzma summoned his next Pokemon, a large and feisty-looking Golisopod.

"And for that I apologize." Jake said softly. He and Belle braced themselves as the Golisopod flew forth at impressive speed and swung a Razor Shell towards Belle. Belle was able to fly up in time to avoid it and sent a Shadow Ball spiraling into the Golisopod but it endured the blow.

"Tell me why then you wanted to become a Champion here and now in Alola? Apparently you've disliked this region as much as I have and wanted it to change!" Guzma called out to Jake as Golispod swung another Razor Shell at Belle, leaping upwards dramatically, and this time made contact with her, knocking her up into the ceiling where she crashed and passed out.

"Belle...! Grrr...yeah I had a problem with Alola. The Ultra Beasts, the creepiness, the Mega Evolution bashing, the way Island Challenges dictated people's fate, but I've grown up from my journey with Aubrey and met a lot of people and friends! Having true companionship can really elevate your outlook no matter where you are!" Jake returned Belle and summoned Avenger.

"Heh, something we can agree on. Team Skull will always remain my eternal gang. We know so much about each other now that we'll never throw each other away!" Guzma decreed.

Golisopod did a Swords Dance to buff up their power, ready to enact a vicious strike on Avenger but Avenger was ready to make a change as well. With a sharp Screech, it unnerved Golisopod and lowered their defense. Anyone who was watching this clash could tell that their Pokemon were so in sync with their Trainers that they knew instinctively what had to be done and what would be the most optimal way of battling. It was a true fight between individuals who were convinced they were the strongest.

"I also know that a first impression isn't everything! Except in your case. Being carried by the Rangers this far tells me that you don't have the guts to fight alone!" Guzma suddenly showed off a Z-Crystal of his very own, a Bug-Type one which likely was the one he treasured and valued most. Jake flinched, however it was not of fear but of anger. Anger that Guzma would attempt such a low insult like that. Guzma performed a set of praying mantis-esque moves and suddenly Golisopod felt a surge of power and unleashed his Z-Move. Savage Spin Out. It sent forth a volley of sticky threads shooting out at Avenger, catching the Electric Pokemon by his arm and making him growl angrily. Then Golisopod pulled upward aggressively and angrily, lifting Avenger up into the air before slamming them to the ground. Then, dragging Avenger along the ground it sent Avenger spiraling up into the sky before tackling it in a flash of emerald light.

"Being carried eh...? Joke's on you Guzma, I wanted Aubrey to help me out because I didn't think a journey alone could measure up to having a new companion. She reminded me of the bravery and passion I had in my first journey." Jake smirked as Avenger, heavily wounded but not out, fell downward... towards Golisopod. Avenger swung forward and with a voltic-charged fist, smashed Golisopod with a heavily powered Thunderpunch. Guzma winced as he saw his ace cry out in an anguished fashion and the ace fell to the ground unconscious. Biting his lip angrily, he faced Jake. "So why have you been carried by your ego and your bitter vengeance? You got so much further to go than where you are now and you're holding yourself back, Guzma!" Jake snapped with a pointed statement.

Guzma winced and considered everything Jake was saying, everything that Jake and his Ranger friends had been doing. As prideful as he was, as desperate he was to lift himself and Team Skull up from the wreckage, there was so much he realized he regretted. He liked what he had and also the fact that the Rangers had helped him and his Team back at the Paradise. The loyalty his brothers and sisters showed to him just as they had been showing to him the very first moment he took the steps to creating Team Skull.

Yet...this was not what he ever envisioned for his Team. They were to be the kings of the region and redefine Alola but right now all it felt like they were stagnant and not doing what really needed to be done for Alola. Maybe this was what Aubrey and Vanessa was trying to get at in their previous spars.

"Tch...I hate to admit when I've been wrong and have to back out of a fight y'know. So, you really think that Lady Lusamine is trying to do something that'll destroy or harm Alola for the better?" Guzma, with a weaker resolve but more open tone, asked Jake a statement as Jake and Avenger stared Team Skull's leader down.

"What do you think?" Jake asked absolutely seriously in spite of the sarcastic nature of his question.

"...I think that there wouldn't be any Alola or any home for my family anymore if that comes to pass." Guzma looked away in shame.

Jake sensed a change in Guzma's demeanor and tried again openly to relate to him. "I have a lover and family at home in Hoenn so maybe you can never imagine me having the same stakes as you to being a player in this game. I don't want this region to be the region that actually falls into ruin and suffers a great tragedy, though. Especially now that I know the people and the places in a way I have so much more respect for having been on this journey. That includes you Guzma. So please, for Alola's sake and for the families here...step down." Jake said calmly.

"Electivire." Avenger got on his knees and bowed humbly in respect to Guzma to match his trainer's plea.

"...Ok, I was wrong all along. I'll admit to that. Kukui's still a stuck-up suck-up but he and I both value family and friends more than anyone would ever know. I just wish we could see eye to eye again. Still, I don't have any more reason to doubt either you or the rangers' intentions. You are here to help Team Skull and the region. It's not because of pity or brownie points." Guzma rubbed his head awkwardly as he walked over to Jake and offered to heal his Pokemon.

Jake giggled at this. "It only took a bunch of Trials and a siege to get you to realize it. Yes, we're protecting this region and we can only succeed if we work together. Not as opposing forces. Though can you please tell Plumeria to not punch me anymore? That seriously hurt..." Jake asked sincerely as he let Guzma heal up all those who participated in the battle.

"Heh, you should be so lucky to have been hit by her in the first place. That means she saw you as someone she had to take out quickly or else face a bigger obstacle. Though if we're going to get through to Lusamine, we'll need to make haste. I know where she and Lillie are...and a faint idea of what the heck she's trying to pull." Guzma said ominously.

"Never a reassuring sigh but we're on the same page. Let's get going!" Jake nodded affirmatively as the two men made haste.

With those inside the mansion, they were greeted with another set of double doors in the foyer, and two barred off stairwells.

"No place to go but forward. Permission to Target Clear the door, partner?" Aubrey asked.

"Granted, if only because of how…lacking in taste it is," Vanessa responded.

Aubrey did a quick stretch of her legs, smirking. She reared up and bellowed, "Target...CLEAR!"

The door would be kicked in, finding themselves inside a bedroom where Lillie and Lusamine were. Both were surprised at the brutish way they entered.

"Ah...Aubrey. It's been a while since we last saw you..." Lusamine greeted. She frowned upon seeing Gladion. "And I see you've brought friends."

"Aubrey!?" Lillie gasped out in surprise.

"Lillie!" Both Gladion and Hau rushed forward, hugging her, grateful to be back together.

"You...you came...you all came to help me..." Lillie sounded relieved at her rescuers.

"It's our job as rangers, Lillie! Of course we were coming to save you," Aubrey smiled, then cast her gaze at Lusamine.

"Hmm. So you know one another. She's told me all about you, Aubrey," Lusamine began. "You've kept her safe this whole time...truly, I must give thanks where it is due. But still...a 'valorous' ranger like Aubrey...and she bothers with the likes of you two? How disappointing."

"We don't need your approval, Mother! Or your permission! We will save Cosmog!" Lillie shouted.

"It's our job, after all. Good words Lillie," Vanessa complimented.

"My, you all do say such incomprehensible things," Lusamine shrugged. "Calling me mother? I don't have any children! Certainly not ant wretches who would run off and reject my love!"

"Think about what you're doing!" Gladion exclaimed. "Do you really think that our father would want you to bring ruin to this region? If you bring the Ultra Beasts into Alola, it will not end well for anyone involved!"

"..." Lusamine glared coldly at Gladion, taking a container behind the mirror, revealing a warp tile, and going through.

"Mother! Stop!" Lillie exclaimed.

"Are...are we too late?" Hau asked, frowning.

"Um...where's Jake?" Lillie asked.

"He's outside dealing with Guzma. But it can't wait, we need to move, NOW." Aubrey would be leading the way for the group, going through this secret passage first.

"Oh great, Warp Tiles. I thought I was done with these. Joooooy." Vanessa sarcastically remarked as she went through next. What greeted the group on the other side was Aubrey standing in front of a large room, but the most standout part about it was the blocks of ice that were seen inside. Inside those ice blocks were various Pokemon, and the older ranger was staring in absolute horror.

"Wha...wha...what!?" She was struggling to verbally convey how she was feeling about this, but Vanessa would know that there was nothing to describe how screwed up she viewed this.

"So, tell me Lillie...how are you planning on saving Cosmog? Having your ranger friends here do it all for you?" Lusamine asked. "You don't even have the strength of a trainer. And you're right. Cosmog may die...but I don't care. You can all watch me summon my sweet beast...and then leave."

Vanessa had a look of pure fury. "Leave? You want us to LEAVE?!" Lillie meanwhile, didn't have an answer for the president. She gripped her bag's strap tighter.

"Did I stutter? No. I wish to summon my sweet beast, and be left alone. That is all," Lusamine answered. "But maybe, just maybe, sweet little Hau can save you, Lillie. Sweet little Hau, who's been trailing behind his two friends, can save Cosmog. Or maybe that wretch you call a brother, stealing our research and defying his own mother. Or perhaps, if he feels so bold, Jake, the Hoenn trainer who viewed these dears as demons could do something." She then turned to face Vanessa. "Or, of course, you could. Riding with a brute you call a partner, could perhaps do something to stop what I've worked my life for."

Aubrey, while still unnerved, could tell something was wrong with Lusamine. The way she was speaking, the look in her eyes...it's almost as if she was being controlled by something.

"...You're not in your right mind. I can see it in your eyes. All the reports we have gotten about your love of Pokemon. But this?" She waved her hand to indicate the entire room. "What could even be justified for doing this to these innocent Pokemon?"

"Hmph. What do you think? It's my private collection. My precious babies..." Lusamine hummed. "But this beast...I don't think it can be confined in one of these. No...it needs to express itself. I think it should express itself over the whole region."

Gladion clenched his hands into fists as Hau joined Aubrey in being unnerved. "And you think we'll let you have the Ultra Beasts run roughshod over Alola like it's a sandbox? You cannot let the beasts run wild! If you do, there'll be no Alola region for them to 'express' themselves! Not just for them, but for all of us!"

At this point, Lusamine was done with the formalities. "The daughter who stole Cosmog from me, and the son who took my Type: Null! All I ever did was give you every ounce of my love and you stabbed me in the back! You have no right to ask for my attention now!"

"No kidding she's not in her right mind, Vanessa...she's talking crazy!" Hau exclaimed.

Aubrey snapped out of it with a sobering slap from her partner, shaking her head. "Love? You call this love?" She was referring to the 'private collection' as well. "Love isn't leaving a living being in stasis like this!"

"No it's not. But you're going to have plenty of time to think about how you have messed up in jail. It's the end of the road, and you have no way out." Vanessa got ready to activate her Styler.

Then Lusamine would have a Poke Ball in hand. "You break into my home, assault my staff, and claim the moral high ground? I will summon my sweet, dear beast...and I will not let you pesky rangers stop me!"

Aubrey would say to Vanessa, "Hey, I think if she's gonna do what I think she's gonna do, she's just gonna use her Pokemon to buy time to summon the Ultra Beast..."

Gladion nodded. "Right. Vanessa, take on Lusamine's Pokemon. Aubrey, take on Lusamine herself. If we can stall long enough, we can stop this and save Cosmog right now."

"Yes...that would be wise," Lillie agreed.

"Hau, stay by Lillie. No telling what she's going to do," Gladion added.

"And you?" Hau would then ask.

"If she does manage to summon the Ultra Beast...I'll take it on. My partner and I were born to be beast killers," Was his response.

"I'll be a corpse in the ground before I let you harm my sweet beast," Lusamine threatened as she assumed a very graceful yet threatening martial arts pose. Her first Pokemon out would be a Lilligant upon seeing Gastrodon.

"I'm only doing this for your own good, ma'am...I will not let you destroy Alola over this!" Aubrey got in her own fighting stance, moving forward.

"C-Careful Aubrey!" Lillie shouted. "Mother is really strong..."

"They'll be fine," Hau assured. "Aubrey's come back from worse!"

"...Oh joy. A Lilligant...Gastrodon. Ice Beam," Vanessa ordered.

"Oh, has she now Hau? Then surely she must know there's a limit. Now's that time!" Lusamine seemed to skip forward and shoot out a scarily quick and formidable kick at Aubrey. Her Lilligant would elegantly avoid the Ice Beam, comboing it's avoid with Petal Dance! Aubrey was narrowly able to intercept the kick, surprised by Lusamine's speed - in heels, no less!

Gastrodon would end up hitting the petals hilariously enough, and freeze them in their tracks, causing them to fall on the floor and shatter.

"Interesting. Hmm...better pull back. Gastrodon, come on back buddy!" Vanessa recalled the Sea Slug Pokemon and sent out her Gyarados. "Let's go, Gyarados! Bounce!"

Lusamine then performed a quick turn into another stunningly fast kick sent Aubrey's way. The president landed the first clean strike of the fight, the kick finding a home in Aubrey's side.

"Nngh!" She grunted, standing firm and going to grab onto Lusamine's leg to gain control of the situation. Lilligant was ready for Gyarados' attack, following up with another turn of Petal Dance away from the landing point. Unfortunately for the Lilligant, Gyarados Bounced up into the air again, and would then proceed to land on it with a much needed critical hit.

Lusamine leaps back and sends forth a thrusting palm to dissuade Aubrey from pursuing, treating the thing much like a true demonstration of combat. As opposed to the rough and tumble styles of Guzma or Plumeria, it seemed Lusamine had a more precise and calculated precision in her combat. As Lusamine lands she laughed in the manner of an ojou and taunted, "I'm willing to let you rangers depart from Aether foundation with a warning if you simply leave well enough alone. Otherwise, it's going to become only more insurmountable for you from here on out."

Aubrey had stumbled back, the palm strike hitting her in the stomach, but stood her ground. "Tsk...that's the best you got, lady? If you're a mountain to overcome, I'm shooting straight for the top!" Next out to face Vanessa was a Lopunny.

"Huh...a Lopunny...okay." She recalled Gyaarados and sent Gastrodon back out. "Scald!"

Lusamine seethed, her eye twitching and a small sheen of an unnatural color emerging through her eye. She clearly would love nothing more than these two intruders trampling on her Paradise to surrender. Like so much of what she had been able to accomplish with Aether so far. Lusamine sent forth another quick and efficient chop towards Aubrey. Her Lopunny jumped over the Scald, coming down on Gastrodon with Dizzy Punch. Unfortunately for Lopunny, it decided that punching something incredibly soft was a good idea. In return it got a point blank Scald to the face.

Aubrey blocked the chop with one arm, swinging a rear hook at the president's face. Lusamine blocked the rear hook with her arms before instantaneously retaliating with a sudden crouch into a low kick to Aubrey's shin. The shin kick wouldn't deter Aubrey too much, as it didn't prevent her from swinging a roundhouse kick to Lusamine's head with grit teeth.

Lusamine surprisingly took the hit but didn't seem too bothered, even if it did force her to take a few steps back and lower her head. She quickly looked up at Aubrey with a look full of menace before elegantly lifting her leg up in a poised and deceptive maneuver that made Aubrey think the kick would be coming from the side, before she instead lifted it high and did an overhead kick from the stance to Aubrey's own head.

The kick landed clean, snapping Aubrey's head back and causing her to stumble back. "Gnngh!"

"Aubrey!" Hau shouted.

"H-Hau, no...please don't. I don't want you getting hurt too..." Lillie softly told him, gripping his shoulder.

Lusamine giggled to herself, as though the sounds of the frantic kids fulfilled her and then went even more aggressive. She leapt forward and delivered two sweeping roundhouses towards Aubrey before she landed. Meanwhile, her Lopunny had finally gone down, but not before doing a decent number on Vanessa's Gastrodon.

"Gastrodon, take a good long rest." Vanessa would recall her partner and send Gyarados out again. "It's time for the big guns!" She would Mega Gyarados.

As Aubrey scrambled to recover from the hits, next to come out from the president was a Clefable.

"Aww crap…" Vanessa grimaced. "Waterfall!"

Lusamine didn't let up on her pressure, doing a low stomp to Aubrey's feet with the same poise of a jazz dancer doing a move. "I think you two have bitten off more than you can chew..."

Unfortunately for Lusamine, she'd find that Aubrey wouldn't get hurt from the stomp. "Steel toes, baby." She'd pop Lusamine square in the face with a right handed straight. As for Lusamine's Clefable, it would go to intercept Vanessa's Gyarados with Moonblast. Gyarados would twist out of the way of the Moonblast, and land full throttle to the Clefable.

Lusamine smiled and even seemed to nod in agreement with that as she flicked her hair back as if to show off that she wasn't too phased by the blow. "I'll keep that in mind." Suddenly, with the same speed and force of her first attack, she shot out a rapid kick towards Aubrey's head.

Ducking under the kick, Aubrey would spring forward and take Lusamine to the ground. It was only when this happened did the older ranger really realize that maybe the president was right. Clefable would surprisingly hang on, going for another shot of Moonblast at Gyarados. This one would hit, but while it hurt, it was not enough to stop Gyarados from landing another Waterfall to knock out Clefable.

Lusamine showed deceptive flexibility and elegance as she completely overcame Aubrey's attempts to constrict her and instead used her legs and posture to get a formidable triangle choke in on her. A cruel pyramid forced by her legs left Aubrey's neck and right arm in a painful lock.

"Submission technique? Painfully obvious from what Team Skull has told me. If you are going to harass me with your alliance of troublemakers, I'd expect you to try something I haven't heard about yet. Now are we through here or do I need to send you to a Pokemon Center so I can get to what's truly important?" Lusamine, with scorn and also little concern for Aubrey's well-being, sent the ranger an ultimatum.

Aubrey was struggling to try and get free. "Gngh...help!" She cried out to her partner. Things were looking grim, and Gladion himself was about to rush in and do something, when Jake burst into the scene through the warp tile.

Jake looked intense and serious, even angry. It was clear he had just been as startled and horrified by what he'd seen of the Pokemon in stasis as the Rangers were. Without even a moment to think about what to do, he instinctively acted on what he had to do. He summoned Cetrion and with the most authoritative voice either Vanessa or Aubrey or anyone else had heard from him, "Van, leave the goon squad to me. You take on that wicked witch of Alola and melt her for good!" The younger ranger's Gyarados had taken down Lusamine's Mismagius when Jake stepped in to take over the battling front for Vanessa.

"On it!" Vanessa rushed over, looking to get Lusamine off of Aubrey with a sleeper hold of her own.

Lusamine found herself with a firm grip on her neck, forcing her to kick Aubrey off of her and making her tug on Vanessa's hair painfully to release the Aether president! "Cowardly tactic! Relying on your fat friend to step in so you can double team me!"

"Really? And you're the one hair pulling here!" Vanessa pushed her off. "I would not exactly call that fair play."

Aubrey would scramble back, taking in gasps of air as she held her shoulder. She'd then look up and see that the device Lusamine had for activating the Ultra Wormhole was already fired up. "Crap...I really walked into that one...Gladion! Above us!" She called.

"On it!" Gladion called out Null as they got ready for what would come out of the Wormhole.

"Considering I find myself alone and having to fulfill the desires of Aether entirely on my own... AGAIN... and I've simply run out of cares to give to you Rangers! My sweet, precious beast is waiting for me and you-" Lusamine notices that her Ultra Wormhole is ready and suddenly turns to it transfixed. "Ahhhh...! At last...! This is my time...!" She rushed towards the Ultra Wormhole in the same childish manner a kid would pursue an ice cream truck.

Vanessa at this point would run over to Aubrey. "You alright, partner?"

"Yeah...I'm fine now, thanks..." Aubrey got out. She'd glance over to see Cetrion putting on a clinic against Lusamine's last two Pokemon, a Milotic and a Bewear.

Lusamine's Milotic shot out a fierce Hydro Pump at Cetrion but the Roserade was perfectly ready to no-sell the attack. She dodged it with utmost effortlessness as Jake got the Grassium-Z out and was all but ready to style on this Pokemon. Entering the Tree pose and sending out his innermost spirit energy into the world, Z-power enthused into Cetrion and she unleashed her full force Z-Move. Bloom Doom. Striking an ethereal pose, a light of purest green shone forth from Cetrion and a flower meadow beckoned all upon the Aether floors. Nature overpowering the artificial grimness of the building. Then that same purest green light collapsed onto the Milotic in a divine blast and knocked the Pokemon out in one hit leaving a golden flower insignia in its place.

"Phew...I think he's got this," Vanessa sighed with relief. "Gastrodon and Gyarados are too tuckered out to be much help anymore."

Gladion would be doing his best to try and keep Lusamine away from the Ultra Wormhole meanwhile, Null fighting against the Nihilego that came out from it. He would glance over and see that there were Ultra Wormholes opening up on the other islands, but they didn't have time to deal with it. He could only hope the Tapus could do something.

"Yeah...he really saved us, huh?" Aubrey then looked at what Gladion was looking at. "But...this is really my fault...if I didn't try for that takedown, I wouldn't have given Lusamine the chance to fire up the Ultra Wormhole thingy..."

"Don't beat yourself up..I think we were both focused on that when we saw this room," Vanessa assured. Finally, the Bewear growled and went for a severe Take Down on Cetrion, managing to knock the Roserade to the ground but not before Cetrion's Poison Point left the Bewear poisoned. Jake smirked and returned Cetrion.

"That's not the only show I have on this road! Come through, Morality!" Jake pulled out the awe inspiring Cherish Ball and out of it emerged Jake's other Hoenn recruit. A beautiful Diancie, looking serene yet ready to fight as it cried in a mystical echo "Diancie!"

"Is that...a Diancie?" Aubrey asked. "Woah..."

Lusamine growled as she saw Gladion engage with the Nihilego. "BACK. AWAY. From my beloved pet! You never understood how much they meant to me!" She looked about ready to strike him down yet was not quite committed yet to kicking what may really have been her son in her eyes. Though it was clear her patience was running out.

The blonde boy's response to his mother would be swift. "Vanessa, a little help here!" He exclaimed, as he couldn't be focused on keeping Nihilego and his mother at bay.

"Coming!" She'd run over and register the Diancie. "...Holy crap...wait, no, focus Vanessa." She landed a kick on Lusamine's back.

Jake then pulled out something even more surprising, his very own Mega Ring and a Diancite to match. "This was my birthday present once upon a time. Now it's what helps end the madness on Alola! Come forth, Mega Evolution!" Jake harnessed the power of Mega Evolution at long last, turning on the Mega Ring and harnessing it's Stone to surround Morality in a mystical light.

The light soon summoned forth the Mega Evolution insignia as the sphere of light then collapsed dramatically and Diancie emerged into an incredibly heavenly form. Wearing what appeared to be a gown of sorts with a dramatic headdress, radiant pink crystals like a chandelier, a pink heart gem on its forehead, and small arms. A true deity in presence. The Bewear, poisoned and bewitched, seemed almost regretful of having to fight for Lusamine now. Having to stand up against something like this seemed far too daunting.

"Now...Moonblast that Menace!" Jake's cry was resonant as Mega Diancie channeled supreme lunar energy and in a formidable display of fey fierceness, sent forth a giant pink sphere hurtling towards Bewear. Bewear took the fierce hit head-on and was one hit KO'd just as Milotic had, meaning Lusamine's team was down for the count.

Lusamine hissed as she not only took the hit from the kick but saw her last Pokemon go down. "B-blast it...! That Evolution is a travesty! How dare he use it in Aether's hallowed halls?! And how dare all of you..." Suddenly Lusamine seemed to calm herself down and smirk, as if she had an idea come to her mind.

"Oh, I do not like the look on her face right now…" Vanessa said to herself, readying her stun gun. Aubrey would go over to Jake, wrapping an arm around him.

"You have no idea how happy I am that you came in just now..." She got out. Jake would see a bit of blood dripping from her nostrils as a result of her scuffle with the president.

Jake remained steadfast in the sight of Aubrey's wound, knowing she probably had some merit in taking this injury. He smiled. "No worries Aub! Guzma finally understood our intent and let the battle go so we could step in. She's not going to get away with her sick museum for much longer." Jake said this last part knowing he too, even without being a ranger, found this act against Pokemon unforgivable.

Lusamine hissed, "You are the sick ones!" She swung forth viciously quick kicks once more at Vanessa this time.

Jake sneered, "Don't make me use my absolutely valid Mega Diancie on your heeled butt!"

"Van, be careful! Lusamine isn't screwing around!" Aubrey called.

"Yeah!" Vanessa ducked one kick. "I noticed!" She ducked another one, only to get hit with a third. "Oof!" Lusamine then followed up with a crouch into an upward palm thrust towards Vanessa's waist to dodge a potential counterattack. Vanessa took that one and was knocked down. "Ughh…" She groaned.

Lusamine smirked and followed up with a high leg lift into a vicious stomp on Vanessa's leg and twisting, making Vanessa cry out in pain. "Not much more versatile than your partner huh?" Lusamine, sounding even more insane by the minute, mocked her.

"I dunno," Vanessa snapped back through the pain. "I think I distracted you well enough."

Aubrey, feeling reinvigorated by this, would rush forward. "Oh no you won't!" She'd get Lusamine off Vanessa with a running overhand right! Lusamine took the hit and grunted, feeling the breath knocked out as she took longer to recompose herself than before. She rubbed her chin which now felt rather sore and she glared icily before going for two thrusting palms one after the other. This time Aubrey would be ready for her, catching Lusamine's palm and shoving it away before hitting her with another punch, this time shoveling an uppercut into her gut.

By this time, Gladion had done his part. Guzma had come into the scene, seeing the Wormhole. Deciding it'd be for the president's own good to stick to the plan, called, "Oi! Madame Prez! The experiment was a success, yeah?"

"Oh come on what is this timing?" Vanessa openly complained.

Lusamine's eyes widened as she saw Guzma and she recovered her confidence, slapping Aubrey away callously before stepping forward towards Guzma. "Mostly successful...I see you let the Mega Pariah get through but I'm willing to forgive and forget. My darlings are nearly in reach and soon I can enact what I've strived for years towards!" Morality just rolled their beautiful eyes at this. They'd been fine all this time in the past Mega Evolving and nothing had changed.

With no time to waste, Lusamine and Guzma would follow after the Nihilego as it retreated, the Ultra Wormhole fading away.

"Mother!" Lillie cried.

"Guzma!" Aubrey shouted, but then slowly fell on her hands and knees, the adrenaline starting to wear off. "Ugh..." Vanessa rushed back over to Aubrey.

"Easy does it, Brey. They are gone," She looked at where the Wormhole was and grimaced.

Jake frowned, noticing that this time it seemed like Aubrey had been overwhelmed by Lusamine. "Well all that's left is a matter of bringing them back eh? We just gotta open a new one. We're starting off the right way, that's for sure."

When all the chaos had died down, Lillie, Gladion, and Hau all approached the device that Nebby was in, noting it had taken on a new form, but wasn't moving.

"Nebby...are...are you all right?" Lillie asked with a worried tone of voice.

"It changed forms...and it's not moving..." Gladion put a hand to his chin, before turning back to the warp tile. "Come on. Let's get out of here. Nothing good is going to happen if we stay here. Aubrey's hurt, so is Vanessa from the looks of things." He said, walking out of the room to the warp tile, as Lillie put the now non-moving Nebby in her bag. She looked downtrodden as Hau tried to comfort her.

"I'm not too hurt," Vanessa said. "The only thing she really did was that leg stomp."

Jake took the moment to hug Lillie. "Arceus, I was worried for you! So glad you are safe Lillie! I brought my best Hoenn recruits to save you. Do you like 'em? They were only proud to come rescue you." Jake clearly was working to lift her spirits. Morality curtsied elegantly to make their presence known to Lillie.

Lillie would wrap her arms around both guys. "Thank you...thank you for everything..." She got out, tears in her eyes. "But...even if she became that, she...Mother..."

Aubrey would get helped up by Vanessa. "She busted my nose...and Arceus knows what else."

"Yeah. You're lucky I can fix this up pretty well," Vanessa responded. "As it stands, I think we're going to need the rest of the day to get back up to full strength."

"As long as it wasn't busting the windows out of your car then I think it's safe to say we're still up and running. More importantly, Guzma should be keeping an eye on her in that Ultra Space so what's really important is yeah, getting that momentum back so we can find and bring her to justice." Jake agreed with Vanessa's assertion.

"Yeah, Jake's right. The main thing is that you're safe, Lillie," Hau tried to smile. "I'm sorry we couldn't-"

"Hau, don't beat yourself up over it, please," Lillie assured. "I willingly went with them so you wouldn't get beat up. That's why this all happened...but for now, let's get out of here, so that Aubrey can get her wounds treated."

"Yeah. Where would be the safest place around?" Vanessa would act as a support for Aubrey as they started to leave.

"Wicke can help us with that," Lillie answered. "Faba might've tried to stop you, but you don't have to worry about her."

When they left, they'd see Gladion with Wicke.

"You're all okay...that's a relief," She had a warm smile, though frowned seeing Aubrey's injuries.

"Yeah, maybe. But there's still a lot we have to do tomorrow," Gladion spoke. "There's the president and Guzma, who both left through the Ultra Wormhole...not to mention Cosmog and why it stopped moving like that, and there's also the matter of the Union." He'd turn to Vanessa. "Allow me to help in cleaning up this place. I want a full pardon from any criminal actions I'd be charged with while working with Team Skull."

"Oh I think we can take care of that," Vanessa responded. "We just need to get in touch with the Union. Also I am probably going to need a bit of help with getting Brey patched back up." She'd turn her attention to Wicke. "Do you have a medical area? Any Pokemon that know healing moves like Heal Pulse and Aromatherapy?"

"I imagine they would since they specialize in treating Pokemon here," Jake pointed out.

"Of course. I can take you there, miss," Wicke answered. "I've also taken the liberty of setting you up with accommodations for the night if the staff quarters."

"You guys can do that...I'll stay here." Lillie would be looking at the bed in the room. "I...I wish to sleep here tonight. This is where Mother and I slept when I was younger. Just once more..."

"That's fine, Lillie...Jake, could you and the guys stay here with her for now? At least until I'm fixed up," Aubrey requested.

"Well obviously! I'll tell her my most famous stories of Hoenn glory to entertain her and sing her a lullaby." Jake winked. Gladion could only respond to Jake's offer with a shake of his head.

"If you rangers would follow me..." Wicke would guide them to the infirmary so Vanessa could fix up Aubrey.

"Once I get her rest we need to talk about where you got that Mythical Pokemon, Jake!" Vanessa called out to him before they left for the infirmary. The Hoenn trainer giggled at that.

"Gladly. Play nice ok?" Jake waved goodbye to them as they went to the infirmary.

Once at the infirmary, Aubrey would sit down on a bed, shaking her head. "Ugh...when Gladion said his mom was crazy strong, he wasn't kidding..."

"Oh yeah, she only hit me twice...that leg stomp was not necessary…" Vanessa said. "But I'll walk that off. You on the other hand. You need a good night's sleep. Also getting that nose fixed."

"Please." Aubrey would stop talking, letting Vanessa work her magic. She still felt torn up about letting Lusamine open the Wormhole like that. If only she didn't try for the takedown, they wouldn't be in this mess. The older ranger closed her eyes and thought about this.

"Don't beat yourself up, Aubrey. I think I would have gone for the takedown there myself," Vanessa tried to cheer her partner up.

"No, no...only I would do something like that between us without thinking," Aubrey frowned. "Maybe I really am that reckless."

"And that's a bad thing?" Vanessa paused at realizing what she said there. "...OK usually it is, but you Aubrey? You make it work. And I'm here to make sure it keeps working."

"Clearly you weren't here when everyone was being tight lipped..." Aubrey added. "We were trying to do our job, but no...Lillie even told me she didn't know how I'd react if she told me the truth from the start. Like she was afraid I'd do something stupid."

"I think at this point it is obvious she was worried you would fight her mother and looking at how she fights…" She had finished fixing Aubrey's nose. "Yeah, her concerns were valid. But, we know what we have to do now, don't we?"

With her nose fixed up, Aubrey would rub the back of her head. "Yeah...sorry if I feel like crap right now, after the whole, y'know..."

"I've been keeping an eye on the news, and heard about what happened over the skies of Alola," Wicke spoke up. "If it makes either of you feel any better, the Kahunas had teamed up with the Tapus and fought off the Ultra Beasts. Even your friend Key from what I heard faced one with Nanu and Tapu Bulu."

Vanessa let out a sigh of relief. "Well, that is a load off our minds."

"Yeah...you said it," Aubrey mustered up a soft smile. "I don't know where Vatonage scampered off to..."

On cue, Vatonage would trot on in the infirmary, hopping up at Aubrey's side. "Umbre..." It was clear that time he was more worried about the frozen Pokemon rather than what was going on, his head lowered.

"Aw, buddy..." She'd rub his head, bringing the Umbreon in for a hug. "Must not have noticed...you didn't do anything wrong, okay?"

"I think I'll go get the boys settled in," Wicke said. "Will you two be fine on your own?"

"Yeah...If Van doesn't mind sleeping here with me tonight. In case I need anything," Aubrey answered. Vatonage nuzzled against his partner, hopping down to the floor and finding a bed for himself.

"Of course!" Vanessa agreed. "I'll go check in with Jake, and then get word out to the Union to start sending over people in force to get this place fixed up."

"You do that...I'm gonna get ready for bed." Aubrey would walk off to go change into something more comfortable for sleeping, remarking to herself that today's been long, but tomorrow is going to be real hectic.

With the others, Lillie was sitting on her bed for the evening, Gladion by her side, and Hau and Jake were opting to stand.

"So, to put it bluntly, even if she is...like that, she's still out mother," Gladion said. "She wasn't always like this, though, I've already said that earlier."

"Yeah...I...I might not have had the strength to do anything, but...no longer," Lillie looked up.

"Lillie?" Hau seemed surprised by this development.

"I've stood back and let all of you handle things for me, but seeing what we're dealing with, I...I need to be strong. For mother, for you boys, for Aubrey...and most importantly, for Nebby," The president's daughter responded, getting misty eyed.

"As long as it is your will manifested and not feeling obligated to do so, then there's no stopping you Lillie. We'd be happy to have you at our side," Jake smiled softly.

"Why of course we would!" Vanessa stated, walking in.

"Is Aubrey going to be okay?" Lillie asked as she held Gladion's hand. "Please tell me she's not too badly hurt."

"She will be fine. A Pokemon helped me with fixing her nose up. She will be sore in the morning but will be fine otherwise," Vanessa reported.

"That's a relief..." Hau sighed.

"And the Wormholes on the other islands? What happened to those?" Gladion asked.

"The Kahunas and the Tapu took care of anything that came out of them," The younger ranger answered. "Even Key helped out."

"Wait...so that wasn't the only Wormhole that was summoned? Geez...good thing our endeavors in Alola have rallied the people." Jake grimaced as he couldn't imagine a bunch of crazy Beasts out on Alola at once.

"Correct...now. Question...Where the heck did you find a Pokemon people would kill for?" Vanessa asked Jake.

"Diancie? Oh well, shortly after becoming a Pokemon Champion of Hoenn, my birthday was coming up. So I told my relatives I REALLY wanted a Diancie because I thought it was just such a BEAUTIFUL Pokemon. Apparently, a Pokemon Center in Kalos was having a special promotion offering Diancies to those who had a strong foundation to get them like either being a Coordinator or a Gym Leader or a Champion etc. My family took me over there and we were able to get a Diancie after waiting in a 1-hour line." Jake beamed proudly.

The heck." Vanessa tilted her head. "Who...HUH!?" Her mind crashed briefly. "...that is...so messed up. Also I am surprised there has not been a massive influx of diamonds on the market."

"It wasn't really that messed up. They took good care of the Diancies and promised to return the Diancies who weren't picked up to the wild. It was a special event of sorts," Jake defended. Hau, Lillie, and Gladion were all puzzled by this explanation.

"That's...interesting," Hau commented.

"So, um...who's your friend Key?" Lillie asked. "I don't think I've met her before..."

OK...I hope the people know what they are doing then…" Vanessa responded. "Diancie can make diamonds out of the carbon in the air sooo...I am slightly worried for you there...As for Key. Uh...I think Jake would be better to tell you about her."

"Well that's usually why I don't take Morality out to battle, I tend to keep it at home as a pet and to take care of the other Pokemon. Obviously, I have trained them as a last resort for intense battles though." Jake said cheerfully. "As for Key, she's the merchant extraordinaire who works from Celadon City. She's who helped evolve Belle and Avenger for me and she's all sorts of resourceful and cool."

"Not only that, but from what Wicke told me, is the reason you guys were able to figure things out about Aether in the first place," Gladion mentioned.

"What do you mean?" Lillie asked her brother.

"You remember coming here yesterday, don't you Jake? How Key was able to get you in through Wicke? It's because of that you were able to figure out that something was wrong with our mother," The blonde boy explained.

"Woah..." Hau smiled. "I guess you could say that she was Key to making things right here, huh?"

"...Arceus dang it, Hau," Vanessa facepalmed.

"Bad pun aside, absolutely. She's a great ally and friend!" Jake smiled.

Hau would let out a yawn. "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm beat. Let's all get some sleep, and tomorrow...well, I've got trials to catch up on, sadly. But I know I can trust you guys to take care of things from here, right?"

"I've got my own work to do here at Aether, but..." Gladion had a soft smile. "I can trust you two and Aubrey with my sister. You've taken good care of her since you got here. You can keep it up, right?"

"Of course," Vanessa confirmed. "You will be getting some help on that front, Gladion."

"You can call me her Fairy Godfather!" Jake saluted.

With their spirits reignited, the group would finish up what they needed to finish up, and retire for the night.

Tomorrow felt like a day of reckoning for them, after everything they've been through. Numerous trials, numerous fights, and meeting all sorts of people along the way. After everything they've learned, they had a good feeling that Lusamine wasn't a complete monster - crazy, yes. But was she truly under the influence of some greater power, or was this twisted darkness coming from her own heart? They'd find out all these answers soon, but for now, they needed to rest. They were going to need it for the challenges ahead.

(Holy crap this chapter took a lot longer than I thought it would. So after all this chaos had subsided, I know, it's a lot to take in, but the main thing is we need to go save Lusamine and Guzma from Ultra Space. Can our heroes do it? Find out, because next time, we head to the last island in Alola to bring this journey to a close, Poni Island! It's gonna be crazy as we get to the sixth day of the adventure. Bye for now!)