Authors note

For those of you hating on Gladion for hating on Ark/Ash. I hear your complaints, but remember this is a kid who just watched his mother get pulled into another dimension. Gladion's entire family has been hurt by Ultra Wormholes now. Mohn disappeared through one years ago, Lillie was hurt by a creature from one, and now Lusamine has been lost to one too. And from what they know Ark/Ash came from one. Gladion believes that Ark is the main cause of this all starting, and the reason Ark isn't defending himself is because he doesn't have an argument, Gladion's point in universe is valid. None of this happened before Ark showed up, and he could have chosen to save Lusamine.

"Okay, I think I'm ready now." Lillie said, packing a small bag.

"Sand." Sandshrew said worriedly.

"I know Snowy, I want Ark to come with us, but him and Gladion are set in this style." Lillie sighed, setting down a notebook.

"Ready to go?" Gladion asked.

"Yeah, do you have what you needed?" Lillie asked.

"Right here." Gladion said, holding an orange flute. "If legends are true, this should allow us to summon Solgaleo, at the far end of Poni Island."

"And then, we can get mother?" Lillie asked.

"In theory, yes." Gladion said. "We should get going, the longer we wait, the smaller a chance we have of finding mother."

A few hours larger at the far side of Poni Island

"Stay close, this place is dangerous even for me." Gladion warned.

"Then maybe we should have asked Ark for his help." Lillie tried offering.

"No, it's his fault she's gone in the first place." Gladion said. "If he had saved her, we wouldn't be in this mess."

"You mean you wouldn't." Lillie pointed out. "If Ark had saved mother, we might have lost Nebby, and then the rest of us would be working to find him." Lillie argued.

"Just keep close." Gladion said, dropping the argument.

"So what are we heading towards?" Lillie asked, as the two crossed a bridge.

"The Altar of the Moone." Gladion said. "I've read about Solgaleo and Lunala appearing there."

"I've read those too, but those are just legends and childrens books." Lillie commented.

"All stories start from somewhere." Gladion pointed out.

"Mo-o."

"Gladion, did you say something?" Lillie asked.

"Relax, this canyon is full of Pokemon." Gladion assured. "Hold on, end of the road."

Lillie looked to see there was no bridge going across the gap to another cave.

"I know! Snowy use Icy Wind!"

Sandshrew toddled forward, sending out a cold breeze but not creating any pathway.

"Good try Lil." Gladion said. "But maybe let me handle this one. Silvally come out!"

Silvally came out of his Pokeball letting out a roar that shook some pebbles.

"Ladies first." Gladion said, as Silvally knelt down to let them on.

"Is this safe?" Lillie asked.

"Silvally will take you and Snowy across, and then come back for me." Gladion said.

"Okay, be careful." Lillie said, climbing onto Silvally careful not to drop Snowy or Nebby.

"Noi!" A cry echoed, it was coming closer.

"Silvally go! I'll handle this!" Gladion said. "Golbat use Cross Poison!"

Golbat flew into the canyon, colliding their attack with a wild Noivern.

"Gladion!" Lillie called out worridley.

"Silvally stay with Lillie until it's safe!" Gladion commanded. "Golbat use Air Cutter!"

Golbat easily outmaneuvered the with Noivern, slashing razor sharp wind at the dragon type, knocking it about.

"Noi!" Noivern shouted, sending a shock wave of sound at Golbat sending it blasting back.

"Golbat!" Gladion shouted, running over to his Pokemon.

"Gol!" Golbat said, getting back up slowly as it began to glow.

"It's evolving!" Lillie exclaimed, as Golbat flew back at the Noivern, striking it with another, more powerful Cross Poison!

"Crobat use Zen Headbutt!" Gladion called out.

Crobat shot forward, striking into the Noivern, sending it crashing to the cavern floor below.

"Now trade places with Silvally." Gladion said.

Moments later Gladion had rejoined Lillie on the other side of the cliff.

"That was amazing Gladion!" Lillie cheered.

"Yes, but Crobat took more damage than I would have liked, we will be struggling more as a result." Gladion said, recalling the Poison Type. "And don't say I should have accepted help, this is a family matter, no one else."

"I'm not saying anything about it." Lillie said with a hmpf. "You made your decision clear, but never asked for mine."

"Lillie, I'm not arguing this again right now." Gladion sighed. "Once we get back then maybe I'll apologize to him."

"Thank you Gladion." Lillie stated. "That means a lot."

"This is it, just past here is the temple." Gladion said, as they rounded a corner into a large cavern.

"Mo!"

"Gladion there I heard something again." Lillie said worridley.

"Yeah, I heard it this time too." Gladion said.

"Jangmo-o!"

"Hakamo-o!"

"Lillie look out!" Gladion shouted. "Silvally use Crush Claw!"

"Snowy use Ice Ball!"

Silvally rushed forward, tackling the Hakamo-o to the ground, as Snowy shot off a few ice balls striking into the three Jangmo-o.

"Gladion there's too many!" Lillie said as more Jangmo-o and Hakamo-o crawled out from the walls.

"This is their cave, we're intruders right now." Gladion said. "Silvally use Crush Claw! Umbreon come out and use Dark Pulse!"

"Snowy use Ice Ball again." Lillie said.

Silvally leapt off the one Hakamo-o he was on, to tackle another two to the ground. While Umbreon and Snowy worked together to thin the heard of Jangmo-o.

"Lillie, we're still missing one." Gladion said.

"What do you mean?" Lillie asked.

"Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o, where is their leader?" Gladion asked, digging into his bag.

"Kommo-o!" A large Kommo-o shouted charging straight for Silvally.

"Silvally dodge it! Umbreon use Psychic!"

Silvally leapt out of the way of the Kommo-o just in time as Umbreon was able to blast the two formerly pinned Hakamo-o into it.

"Silvally, take this and become the slayer of dragons!" Gladion exclaimed tossing a pink disc at Silvally.

"Scizzor!" A new Pokemon shouted, knocking the disk away, and into the crowd of Pokemon.

"That's a Scizor, what is it doing here?" Lillie exclaimed.

"Probably drawn in from the sound of all the fighting. We need that disc. Lycanroc! Crobat! Let's go!"

Crobat shot forward into the crowd of dragons only to be knocked away by yet another new entry.

"Really, don't you know when to quit!" Gladion shouted seeing the Noivern from earlier back again. "Lillie stay behind me, I'm going to even the odds." Gladion said, switching in a brown Z Crystal. "Lycanroc with the strength off the full moon, use Continental Crush!"

Lycanroc slammed his front claws into the ground, causing stones to jut out, sending Jangmo-o and Hakamo-o flying, some even fleeing, the rest too weak to even manage that.

"Gladion they're still here!" Lillie said, pointing at the Scizor, Noivern, and Kommo-o.

"Working on it Lillie, have you seen that disc?" Gladion asked.

"Over there!" Lillie shouted, seeing the shimmer of pink, behind the three large Pokemon, and an army of smaller Pokemon.

"Can't believe I'm regretting not bringing Ark.". Gladion groaned.

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Earlier that Day

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"I just don't get it Professors, I tried my best, mother could have ran away, Nebby couldn't." Ark sighed, sitting in Professor Kukui's room after Professor Burnett had brought him there.

"Ark, there's no use beating yourself up over this, you did what you thought was best at the time, we can't change that." Professor Kukui said.

"No, but Gladion doesn't even want my help in finding her." Ark sighed.

"Well what about Lillie?" Professor Burnett asked.

"What do you mean?" Ark asked.

"Gladion might not want your help, but Lusamine is Lillie's mother too, what does she want?" Professor Burnett asked.

"You're right, she'd probably want me there!" Ark said. "I'm going to go see if I can catch them!" Ark said, rushing out the door with Pikachu hot on his heels.

"Where are you going Kukui?" Professor Burnett asked.

"To make some calls, feel free to make yourself comfortable, Professor Burnett." Professor Kukui said.

At the Aether Mansion

"Lillie?" Ark asked, knocking on her open door. "Don't tell me I missed them leaving already."

"Pi?" Pikachu said, jumping onto Lillie's desk.

"What did you find Pikachu?" Ark asked.

'Ark, if you're reading this, I don't blame you for what happened, if it's not too late, I'd still like your help, and despite what Gladion says, it will take all of us to save mother. Give this drive to Rotom, he'll know what to do with it.

Your Sister

Lillie'

"What is this Lillie?" Ark asked.

A short while later at Professor Kukui's house

"Ark, did you run all the way home and back?" Professor Kukui asked.

"Yes, drive, give, Rotom, Lillie." Ark said, catching his breath.

"Okay, come inside first." Professor Kukui said, helping the boy inside.

"Incredible, it's a tracking software!" Rotomdex exclaimed, after analyzing the drive.

"How does that help us?" Ark asked.

"Because I think its tracking Lillie!" Rotomdex called out.

"That's Poni Island!" Ark exclaimed, grabbing Rotomdex.

"Not only Poni, but the Vast Poni Canyon." Professor Kukui commented.

"Of course, they must be heading for the Temple of the Moone!" Professor Burnett exclaimed. "We can take my boat, I know a shortcut."

"Great, let's go!" Ark said.

"Wait Ark,". Professor Kukui paused.

"What is it Professor?" Ark asked.

"I need you to promise me that you'll be careful." Professor Kukui said. "I know that in the heat of things you tend to act irrationally."

"I'll be fine, now come on Professors." Ark said.

"Both of us?" Professor Kukui asked in shock.

"Well yeah, I can't do it alone." Ark commented.

"Then it's a good thing the Professor called us." Kiawe said from the doorway.

"We got the short version, Lillie needs us, and we're here to help." Mallow said.

"Wherever she is, we can get there." Lana assured.

"And you can fill us in along the way." Sophocles said.

"Guys." Ark said, wiping tears from his face. "Alright, let's do this!"

Later at Poni Island

"This is as far as we can get via a boat." Professor Burnett said. "Take that path and it will lead you right to the Temple of the Moone."

"What about you guys?" Ark asked.

"I have some more equipment that we could use for this problem. Professor Kukui and I will unload and bring what we need once we're ready." Professor Burnett assured. "You kids go help Lillie."

"Copy that Professor." Ark said.

A short trip into the canyon later

"Anyone else hear that?" Ark asked.

"Hear what?" Sophocles asked.

"It sounds like wings flapping." Kiawe commented, looking around.

"But where are they coming from?" Lana asked.

"Guys! Look out!" Mallow shouted, ducking down as a Pokemon flew overhead.

"What is that thing?!" Ark asked.

"That's a Noivern, a Flying and Dragon type." Rotomdex explained.

"Great, now how do we deal with it?" Mallow asked.

"Well, traditionally, dragon, ice, and fairy type attacks…". Rotomdex began explaining.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!" Ark called out.

Pikachu leapt off of his shoulder, right at the Noivern unleashing a burst of electricity at the dragon.

"Charizard send it packing with Dragon Tail!"

Charizard sped past Pikachu, spinning around and striking Noivern sending it flying off elsewhere.

"Strange." Rotomdex said in response.

"What was strange about that? That's Ark and Kiawe for you." Lana said.

"Thats not the strange part, that Noivern was roughly one and a half times the size of a normal Noivern, I was sure it would have been a totem Pokemon." Rotomdex said in confusion.

"Ahh, I wouldn't worry about it too much." Sophocles said. "They probably just were an outlier, I mean why would a Totem Pokemon just randomly be flying around a canyon."

"Coming from the guy who launched my Pikipek into the nest of a Totem Ariados?" Ark questioned.

"Fair enough." Sophocles responded.

"Let's just keep an eye out for any other possible problems." Kiawe said, relieved that Dragon Tail worked as expected.

"Professor Burnett said that this path was the shortest way to the Temple, right?" Lana asked.

"Of course, why?" Ark asked.

"Well, there's a fork in the road." Lana said, holding Rotomdex up against his will.

"Rotom, you have a map of this place, which direction should we take?" Ark asked.

"The temple is at the top of the canyon, at the farthest northern point of the island." Rotomdex said. "So we should head left!"

"Alright, let's get moving!" Ark said, rushing ahead.

"Ark, wait up! We need to stick together!" Mallow shouted as the rest of the group rushed after him.

Kiawe's Current Team and their Moves

Turtonator: Flamethrower - Flash Cannon - Shell Trap - Dragon Pulse

Charizard: Air Slash - Rock Smash - Dragon Tail - Flamethrower

Totem Alolan Marowak: Head Smash - Bonemerang