Chapter 2: A Dangerous Lie

The next few hours passed in a literal blur for Lillie, as she drifted in and out of consciousness. People telling her she'd be fine, she was going to make it, before darkness claimed her again. The sounds of roaring engines, and howling winds. Flickering open her eyes only to be blinded by sterile white lights, and unfamiliar masked faces. Familiar voices calling her name. And back into darkness again.

It was a dreamless state, barring one sight she could constantly see. The sight of the Kartana floating above her fainted Clefairy. Oh Arceus, was Clefairy alright...? The Ultra Beast tense, and ready to strike, before it ripped forward through the air effortlessly, and... and it became blurry. Sharp pain. Darkness. And then the light at the end of the tunnel revealed itself.

Lillie's eyes fluttered open, adjusting once again to the usual white light. The ceiling above her, the room she was in, seemed very sterile. It reminded her of home almost, but, different. She noticed the sterile white sheets draped over her, and the intravenous needle lodged in the back of her pale white hands. They were no longer caked with dirt. It clicked now. She was in a hospital. She had lived.

And she wasn't alone. Sensing her daughter's movement, Lusamine looked up from the book she was reading as she sat at her daughter's bedside, eyes widening in realisation, before quickly but carefully moving over to embrace her kin. "Oh, Lillie! Thank Arceus you're alright! I'd feared the worst, sweetheart!"

"M... Mother...? How long..." she spoke, realising she was parched, before continuing. "Water..."

Lusamine got up, carefully placing the book aside, as she spoke again. "You were out of it for thirteen hours, dear. You've undergone surgery and the doctors saved your life. I want to know what happened, Lillie." the president said as she walked to the edge of the room to get some water for Lillie, who graciously accepted and drank.

"Things like these don't happen on their own, Lillie."

"I... It was-" Lillie spoke before being interrupted by Lusamine's phone. "Hello? Oh, Dulse. Yes. She's fine." Lusamine turned to her daughter. "I have to take this call dear, we'll talk later."

Lusamine briskly walked out of the room, her workaholic nature taking over as she continued to chat with the Recon Squad. Lillie smiled, it was what she expected now. But curiosity then crossed her mind, as she leaned over the side of the bed to her bag. Spotting three- no. Four Pokéballs. She only recalled having three. Vulpix, Bewear and Clefairy. She thought back to the events of the previous night, and the only sound that greeted her in her memory was the telltale sound of a 'Ding!' signalling a capture.

Is that what happened to the Kartana? Why they found nothing? Did she catch it? Why? The questions were too much for Lillie, and she quickly found herself drowsy, before she leaned back into the soft pillow and dozed off back into the dreamless sleep.

It was the same memory that greeted her again this time, however it was more vivid. She was recalling every last detail. How she found the Ultra Beast cowering behind the outcrop, the fear in it's posture as the ember attack seared it, it... It was scared. She had frightened it? Of course she did. It may have been an Ultra Beast, not from this world, but that didn't mean it was emotionless. Surely not.

Nebby was not from this world either, and yet the small Cosmog come Solgaleo which was now travelling with Sun as he flew over to Unova, cared deeply for her, and vice versa. Even Necrozma, the beast of the light, appeared desperate and upset. Everything had feelings. She knew that. Kartana did too.

Guilt washed over her memories and plunged it back into darkness. But this time she began to dream. Think about what she should do. Should she tell Mother the truth? Surely if she did, then the poor blade-like Pokémon would be even more terrified. The Ultra Recon Squad and Interpol would both be horning in on it. It was timid enough. She had to find an excuse for it.

But for now, it was time to wake up and face the music. She had assumed that it had been a few hours at least, as the light pouring in from the window was now a beautiful amber colour, and by her side she heard chattering again, as well as a new weight on her legs. Not only was Lusamine here again, but Hau had shown up too, obviously worried about his crush.

"Hey Hau, Mother." She spoke, gaining their attention. This also gained the attention of her Vulpix, who were curled up on her legs, and it carefully made its way over to her side to nuzzle her affectionately. Hau was the first to speak up "Oh, Lillie, I'm glad you're good! I brought you some malasadas to help you feel better!" He eagerly said, gesturing over to the paper wrapped goods on her bedside, with his usual grin on his face.

Lillie giggled and smiled as she lightly scratched the cool fur of her Vulpix behind her ear. "Thanks, Hau. It's good to see you too." she said as her face flushed a little. Lusamine smiled warmly, aware of the two children's attraction to each other, listening in on how Hau's latest title defence went against Plumeria, or which malasadas were the best. Mostly the latter.

But it soon became time for Hau to go, and Lillie was left with Lusamine again. "Lillie, are you ready to talk about what happened?" Lillie nodded and nervously gulped. "It, it was a Team Skull hooligan." she carefully spoke. Lusamine's eyes widened in shock, before pulling out her phone, furiously dialing a certain number, and before the voice on the other end could even finish saying "Yo, What up madam prez?", the president began to tear into the phone.

Lillie was tuning it out however. Did she really just pin the blame on a probably innocent trainer to save a dangerous Pokémon's life? Guilt washed up in her, but she was in too deep now. She had to stick with it.

Once again, the next few hours passed in a blur, having to put Vulpix away so she could have her dinner, and routine check-up, before she drifted off to sleep for the night. She was once again greeted by the same vivid memory of the incident, only this time, the Kartana didn't strike back. It merely floated there, still trembling in fear. "Do Kartanas dream?" she thought to herself, as she walked forward in the dream. The Kartana was looking at her with what she assumed was a face, judging her movement.

Trembling slightly, she reached out to try and touch it, but before she could, a very large and familiar Golisopod did the Team Skull walk into the cave, and the dream fell apart. And then her eyes shot open.

The first thing she noticed was the same Golisopod in her dream rifling through her bags, gurgling as if looking for something, before it vanished into a red light, revealing Guzma, who walked up to Lillie and took a seat down by the bed, after putting away the gluttonous bug type's pokéball.

"Yo. I heard that some of my boys roughed ya up. Y'alright?" he started. Lillie nervously nodded, intimidated by the fact that Guzma had come to speak with her. "Y-yeah. I'll live." she meekly responded. Guzma grinned. "Just so ya know, I'm keepin' an eye out for the numbskull who dunnit, He's gonna get the beatdown when I find him." he maliciously grinned again. Lillie forced a smile. She respected Mister Guzma but he was too much sometimes.

Guzma promptly got up, muttering a brief "Stay safe, Kid" before stalking out of the hospital room. As far as she was aware, she was going to be discharged later.

And later couldn't come sooner. She had fallout to deal with, regarding her abrupt new team member. Lusamine had come to pick her up, and she returned to the foundation with her. She could sort this out in secrecy here. It was time to make amends.

A/N: Feel free to leave questions in reviews, i'll happily answer them.