Chapter 23 – Truth

"To reiterate, we are the Ultra Recon Squad, and we bid you welcome to Ultra Megalopolis," the strange, pale-eyed man stated. "I am Dulse, and my assistant here is Zossie. Our purpose is the research of Ultra Wormholes and the worlds beyond. Alola is especially interesting to us, and we have studied it extensively in preparation for an eventual meeting. That is why we are fluent in your language."

Lillie kept her wide eyes on Dulse as he spoke, her academically-inclined mind catching every word from his mouth and filing it away. Dimly, she was aware of Snowy and Brionne wandering off to join Poipole and Rotom, as Lunala and the one called Naganadel landed gently on the street to greet their guests. She didn't pay them any heed, however; it took all she had to just focus on what Dulse was saying in the moment, and not drown in the questions that swirled in her brain like a maelstrom. If she did, she would lose herself in her own curiosity, too overwhelmed by the bombardment of questions to surface and get answers.

Still, though, she couldn't help but let a few slip through as she studied Dulse's stern, pinched face. They were studying Alola? For how long? They have the means to create Ultra Wormholes, so did they ever visit? Their skin color and eyes are so unusual – are they natural adaptations to the darkness of this world? They could even be a completely different species from us…

The sound of Lusamine's voice brought Lillie's pondering to a temporary halt – her mother, at least, was doing a better job of resisting distractions, despite no doubt harboring a curiosity even more insatiable than her daughter's. "I am Lusamine, President of the Aether Foundation," she greeted the duo. "We, too, have an interest in studying the Ultra Wormholes, and have come to your world in search of people that have accidentally journeyed through one. We hoped to enlist the aid of Solgaleo, but…"

"What you saw was something for which we have been attempting to prepare for millennia," Dulse answered. "Necrozma has broken free at last and claimed Solgaleo to sate its own desires. Though, I suppose you Alolans would better know it by the name your ancestors gave it – the so-called 'Blinding One'."

"Wait… this Necrozma is the Blinding One?" Lana asked, fear tinging her voice. "Then that means… Solgaleo is in terrible danger! It'll be destroyed!"

Zossie approached the blue-haired girl and gave her a brisk pat on the shoulder. "I'm sorry," she said sympathetically. "Our plan was to eventually recruit Pokemon Trainers with those… what're they called? Z-Bangles?"

"Z-Rings," Dulse corrected her, patiently.

"I was close," she brushed him off. "Well, whatever they are, we hoped people from your world could help us subdue Necrozma when it broke out. We weren't expecting it to happen so soon!"

Dulse also took interest in Lana, his needle-like stare causing her to flinch back a little. "Yes, the Z-Crystals, such as the one you wield, are the primary reason why we are so fascinated by Alola. May I examine yours, Z-Ring wearer?"

With no reason to refuse, Lana slipped off the band with shaking fingers and placed it in his waiting hand. He turned it over without so much as a thank-you, his visor sliding over his eyes as he studied it. His frown indicated that he was concentrating intensely.

"What brought you to the conclusion that Z-Crystals could defeat this… Necrozma?" Lusamine asked. "Was it your research into them? Do they possess some property that Necrozma is especially vulnerable to?"

"In a way," Dulse told her, cracking the tiniest of sardonic smiles as he passed Lana's Z-Ring back to her. "After all, the Z-Crystals were once a part of Necrozma's own body."

"Wait, what?!" Lillie blurted, expressing her shock on impulse. It was a rare case of her mouth being faster than her brain, as only a split second later, a revelation occurred to her, an unexpected connection snapping together like pieces from a jigsaw. "The legend… it said that Z-Crystals were created by the clash between Solgaleo and the Blinding One… because Solgaleo was destroyed, we logically assumed they were its shattered remnants. But… no, it wasn't the only one injured, was it? Necrozma also took damage during the battle! But then… how is that possible? Z-Crystals produce light and energy, and Necrozma absorbs it!"

"Nope!" Zossie answered, giggling as though Lillie's reasoning was the most hilarious thing ever. "Z-Crystals don't produce energy at all! They absorb it from everything around them – that's why they come in so many types! And when you Pokemon Trainers use them up in battle, they replenish their supply by taking energy from them!"

A spark of realization lit Lana's eyes. "I see… that's why Z-Moves are so difficult to use," she concluded. "And the more you train, the less you and your Pokemon will be affected by them."

It was like something out of an old tale, a staggering concept – the dead fragments of an ancient god cast into the earth, the pieces of its power meant to help aspiring Trainers protect the integrity of Alola. But Lillie didn't allow herself to get caught up in the romance of it all; she clenched her fist, a buzzing anticipation inside her. She knew that that was far from everything this Ultra Recon Squad were intending to reveal.

"Your Z-Crystals behave in the exact manner Necrozma in its whole – or nearly whole – state does," Dulse built upon Zossie's explanation. "Its body naturally absorbs all forms of radiation, including the visible light spectrum, for sustenance. In this form, Solgaleo and Lunala are its natural prey, as they are the greatest sources of energy for it to consume."

"It wasn't always like this, though!" Zossie added, her pep contrasting greatly with her comrade's stoicism. "You might have noticed our planet doesn't have any light – that's because our sun died out long ago. But Necrozma, in its complete state, kept us alive by sharing its own limitless energy! Our civilization would have never even begun if it weren't for its power!"

Dulse nodded, and pressed a button on his helmet, causing a thin beam to shoot forth. It expanded into a multitude of holographic screens, their contents causing Lillie to gasp. Before her eyes, video footage of the four tapus, the Kantonian Legendary birds, and many other Pokemon she'd never seen before – some she'd never imagined – played in front of them. Even Lusamine could be heard taking a startled breath. Whoever these people were, their knowledge of Alola… no, the whole world of Pokemon far eclipsed their expectations.

"At the dawn of our civilization, we regarded Necrozma in much the same way as you still view your 'Legendary Pokemon' – as a benevolent god, the source of all life in our world," Dulse sighed, the hint of dejection made blatant with no other emotions to disguise it. "As we continued to prosper and learn the mysteries of the universe, that foolish notion was abandoned. Our ancestors coveted Necrozma's power, wished to contain and harness it for our own profit. Though they succeeded in weakening it, it ultimately fled to another world via an Ultra Wormhole, darkening our planet for the first time."

"I'm sorry…" Lusamine said, no longer meeting Dulse's gaze. Lillie goggled at her, guilt piercing her at her mother's downcast expression. No doubt she was recalling her own ambitions, and the disaster it ended up causing.

This time, Zossie spoke, her smile absent and voice tinged with a similar regret. "Necrozma returned shortly after that, all beaten up and broken, and angrier than it had ever been. We think that whatever had happened to wreck its body had driven it mad with pain and hunger for light. It ended up chasing after a Solgaleo that used a Wormhole to escape, and it followed it to…"

"Alola," Lillie finished for her, another piece of the puzzle clicking neatly into place. "That would have been the incident that ended up becoming one of our legends. Solgaleo wasn't attacking Alola – it was trying to run away from Necrozma."

"So…" Lana began, brow furrowed with thought. It looked like it was taking all her concentration to follow along. "If Solgaleo and the tapus drove Necrozma out of Alola, damaging it further in the process… was that when you… I mean, your ancestors… were able to finally capture it?"

Dulse nodded. "Clever girl. Necrozma indeed returned here, and this time it was captured and contained inside Megalo Tower."

He pointed up at the great pillar of light, its lower half still belching smoke. "My forefathers formed the Ultra Recon Squad shortly afterward. They knew it was only a temporary solution, and that Necrozma's power would grow as it recovered. That is why we sought to study your world and its Z-Crystals, in hopes of finding a more permanent solution, or perhaps to restore Necrozma to its original form."

"We gave up on that, by the way," Zossie piped up. "The last thing, I mean. In order to return to its former glory, we figured that Necrozma would need to absorb all of Alola's light. We didn't want to sacrifice your world for the benefit of ours… that kind of thinking was what nearly destroyed us."

"Hold on a moment," Lusamine spoke up. "If Necrozma is the source of Z-Power, then it is indeed able to open Ultra Wormholes under its own power, correct?"

The extraterrestrials both nodded. "Yes. You saw it with your own eyes when it escaped!" Zossie said. "Solgaleo, Lunala, and Necrozma are all able to open Wormholes at will!"

"I'm afraid we have not yet discovered how their energies are capable of manipulating spacetime," Dulse added.

Lillie didn't like the look on her mother's face when she next spoke – creased with worry and pale with dread as though something deeply disturbing was on her mind. "Approximately how long ago did Necrozma first exhibit signs of awakening? You must have had it under constant surveillance."

"We did," Dulse confirmed. "I'm afraid I do not have the exact figures, but its energy readings began spiking several weeks ago."

"That would be around the same time as the first Ultra Wormhole opening on Melemele," Lusamine murmured. "Is it possible that Necrozma's influence is causing the Wormholes to appear, even unintentionally?"

Dulse and Zossie both took a step back, teeth bared in painful grimaces. From their reaction, it was obvious that they hadn't expected Lusamine to come to that conclusion, and that the answer was a resounding "yes". Lillie drew a shuddering breath, suddenly aware that she'd been holding it in the midst of all this startling new information. Another piece had fallen into place in the puzzle that was… all of this. At this point, though, her curiosity had fallen to the wayside, overtaken by nervousness as the picture being revealed took a more defined shape, and not one she wanted to see in its entirety.

What have we stumbled into? Lillie asked herself, clutching her fist tight to her chest.

"Yes… we were aware of the Ultra Wormhole incursion in Alola," Dulse attempted to compose himself, coming off as awkward in the process. "Given their periodic appearance and the low threat level of the incidents, I-I am… afraid we allowed them to go overlooked, convinced that we still had time to quell Necrozma. We… I… massively underestimated the danger."

Grief twisted Zossie's expression until it looked like she was going to cry. "And now Necrozma is probably on its way to Alola," she sighed. "Once it's done with Solgaleo, it's gonna consume all the Z-Crystals and then your sun to try and satisfy itself. I-I'm so sorry… we didn't do near enough, and now what happened to our world will happen to yours…"

She really did start weeping then, burying her face in her hands while Dulse attempted to console her. His kind gesture was contrasted by the broken, unfocused look in his eyes that made Lillie's chest ache. It was haunting to see: the look someone who'd lost hope, consumed by catastrophic failure. She couldn't begin to comprehend what pain him and his comrade were going through, and it sickened her.

Suddenly, Lana stepped forward, causing Lillie to double-take, eyes widening at her friend's boldness. Surely, after everything they'd been told, she shouldn't have such confidence?

"Okay," Lana stated, immediately proving Lillie wrong. "What do we do now? You wanted Z-Move users, right? Brionne and I will help however we can."

"Brio bree!" the Water-type agreed as she and the other Pokemon approached.

The visor retracted from Dulse's face again, showing off a blank, vexed expression. "You cannot be serious?" he half-asked, half-stated. "Necrozma is already consuming Solgaleo, and has likely already reached Alola, attracted by the shards of its body that remain. Your home is probably in chaos at this very moment."

"All the more reason to follow it there!" Lana argued, and Brionne added her cries in support of her Trainer. "Ever since the Hau'oli incident, Brionne and I have trained as hard as we could to be able to use our Z-Move properly and make a difference. If we don't use it to help now, then our work will have been for nothing! Ash and the others wouldn't think twice if they were in our position – they wouldn't give up when a friend's life is on the line!"

A miraculous thought jumped to the forefront of Lillie's mind, hope and possibility radiating from it to flood her with warmth, like rays from the rising sun. "Actually, there's a chance it might not have gone to Alola at all!" she claimed, fists pumping with excitement. Inspired not just by Lana's passion, but a statement Dulse himself had given earlier, she hurried on, "You said that when your people first tried to capture Necrozma, it escaped and then returned wounded. But you only confirmed it had gone to Alola, specifically, the second time it fled! That leads me to conclude that there must be another world out there touched by Necrozma's Z-Power!"

"Kooooon!" Snowy yipped her support, tail wagging.

"Two worlds influenced by Necrozma. That means a fifty percent chance of it traveling to either one!" Rotom beeped confidently.

Now Dulse was staring at them as though they had all started speaking gibberish. "P-Perhaps…" he stammered. "But that still means a world is in danger of being destroyed, regardless."

"And didn't you guys say that you were here to save some friends of yours?" Zossie inquired, frowning in bewilderment. "Are you really okay with just dropping that? I get that your whole planet might be at risk here, but…"

"She has a point," Lusamine said, caution slowing her words. "Girls, do you not think you are being a bit… impulsive? Shouldn't Ash and the others take priority?"

The frustration that boiled inside of Lillie wasn't the same kind that used to when Lusamine argued with – or worse, ignored – her decisions in the past. What her mother was saying was logical, and she agreed with it to an extent. But… wasn't Solgaleo a friend, too? Didn't it need their help as much as their fellow students? And, speaking of which…

"Mother, we came here in the hope that Solgaleo would know where Ash was," she corrected. "We have no other leads on where they might be. Solgaleo is our best chance of finding them, and now it's been possessed by Necrozma! Logically, we must first rescue it before we can rescue them!"

"That's true…" Lusamine hummed, but she was noncommittal.

Annoyance spiking at her mother's unwillingness to support her, Lillie whirled on Dulse, hoping that at least one of the adults would see the logic in her plan. However, she stopped, surprised by what she saw – the commander of the Ultra Recon Squad was staring at her and Lana, unblinking, in open awe, the first notable emotion he'd shown in the short time they'd known him.

"Incredible," he breathed. "It's as if you and the Z-Ring wearer are shining with your own aura. It's not Z-Power, but…"

"It's more like… your devotion and belief in the bond you share with your friends is its own light," Zossie whispered, her wonder matching Dulse's.

Poipole shrilled a happy note and danced around the two girls, as enthusiastic as it tended to be when Pikachu let off a Thunderbolt. Naganadel, too, seemed to share in its younger relative's revelry, tipping its head back with an excited shriek.

"Does not compute," Rotom reported, baffled. "I detect no sign of this 'aura' you claim is present."

"Just as Necrozma's power brings life," Dulse concluded, ignoring the Pokedex, "your passion and love for those around you keep your bonds with them alive. I still do not entirely believe you alone can stop Necrozma, but I'm beginning to feel… as though you may stand a chance. Your light is… inspiring."

He spoke that word as if he had never understood its meaning until now. Lillie swelled, feeling proud and honored to have the trust of this stranger, somebody with much more experience and knowledge of Necrozma than she. He had little reason to trust her – which was fair, given the sheer magnitude of the task they were taking on – and wasn't entirely convinced she could do it. Yet, despite his common sense telling him otherwise, a part of him still wanted to believe… perhaps because he felt he had no other choice. Even so, Lillie looked over at Lana and pumped her fists, focusing on the fiery passion in the other girl's eyes to hype herself up.

Lana and Brionne are strong, and Lunala is stronger still! she told herself. Much stronger than Snowy and I, certainly… but we will still assist them however we can!

"But… how will they follow Necrozma through the Ultra Wormhole?" Lusamine asked after a beat, the note of trepidation in her words somehow familiar to Lillie – familiar enough to be oddly irksome.

"With the aid of Lunala, of course!" Zossie laughed. Lunala itself let out a scream as if to remind them it was there. "She can find Solgaleo's familiar energy signature, especially since Necrozma is forcing its emission of energy into overdrive. All the girls need are some suits like ours to handle the trip, and they're good to go!"

"R-Right, of course," Lusamine attempted to smile in response, but her discomfort was obvious. Now Lillie understood what about her mother's behavior was rousing her prickly side: she was, badly, trying to hide the fact she wanted to stop her from going, to hold her back. That was aggravating, especially after their discussion on Ula'Ula.

"And, naturally, you'll have me there, too!" Zossie turned to Lana and Lillie and grinned at them, as though she hadn't said anything unusual at all.

Of course, Dulse was shocked by his comrade's out-of-nowhere decision. "What?! Zossie, think about what you're saying! These two know nothing of Necrozma, so their naivete in wanting to take action is understandable… but you…! You should know better!"

"I do! And it's because I know better that I need to come along!" Zossie sniped back, sticking her tongue out sassily. "I'm a part of the Ultra Recon Squad and know Lunala better than anyone else! Besides, Poipole will look out for me!"

The Ultra Beast flew over on cue to hover at her side loyally, giving the dismayed Dulse an affirmative chirp.

"You…!" he said again, momentarily unable to express his annoyance before letting it all evaporate with a loud sigh. In his usual dispassionate way, he droned, "Very well. You and Poipole will accompany these two to ensure there are no complications with Lunala. Just… be sure not to let harm befall you, Zossie. Get along with your new comrades, and… ah…"

Lillie found herself breaking into a soft smile at the man's newfound awkwardness. It was funny and sweet to see his robotic mannerisms crack and show how obviously he cared for his teammate. She didn't know the relationship those two had – father and daughter, brother and sister, or simply two friends – but Dulse's floundering attempt at well-wishing and the tight hug Zossie pulled him into spoke to a great degree of faith and love.

Now if only my mother and I could come to an agreement so easily… she thought, only for the clacking of heels to draw her attention toward Lusamine. Her mother approached with a stony expression and a gaze left carefully blank, and Lillie had to stop herself from bristling as her foot slid backwards warily, her walls instinctively rising. She knew what Lusamine was going to do – plead with her or protest her going, or otherwise express displeasure in that selfish way of hers. They had just begun to rebuild their relationship, even gaining mutual respect for each other's wishes. Was that progress about to be undone? Please don't turn this into another fight. Please don't make this complicated…

A tense moment passed, neither mother nor daughter breaking eye contact even as the air between them prickled, invisible friction threatening to spark a fire. Then, Lusamine closed her eyes and let her shoulders sag with a steadying exhale.

"This goes against my every instinct as an adult, a president, and a parent," she murmured. Her gaze was back on Lillie, a tumult of sadness and reluctance and… pride? "Although I can't say I was any good at it, everything I did was in the hope of keeping you and your brother safe and happy. It took my own life being put at risk for me to see that I needed to do better. You proved yourself an excellent student and promising Trainer, and so I made you a part of the Ultra Guardians to show I was willing to trust you. We have had some hiccups since then, still, but… you agree that we have made progress, yes?"

"Y-Yes…" Lillie answered, unsure where she was going.

Lusamine knelt in front of her, eye-to-eye, her hands reaching out to clamp firmly onto Lillie's shoulders. "When we talked in Malie City, you were correct in stating that you had grown strong on your own, and that I needed to put more faith in you," she stated, her serious expression never wavering. "So, even though I still wish with all my heart I could hold you close and keep you away from all of this… I will give you a chance to prove yourself to be the Ultra Guardian I have begun to grow so proud of."

"M-Mother!" The tension clenching Lillie's neck and shoulders loosened, relief and excitement lifting the weight as one. She believed in her! A little reluctantly, the logical part of her noticed – but it made sense, and it didn't frustrate her one bit because the important thing was that she had a chance! A chance to show her mother what she was made of, that she deserved to be treated like a proper Trainer!

"But you must be extremely careful. Do you hear me?" Lusamine warned. "Assist Lana and Zossie however you can, but do not put yourself at risk needlessly. Am I clear?"

She balled her fists and pumped them in front of her, only encouraged further by the strict expectations set upon her. There was a powerful, boiling determination swirling up from her core and spreading throughout her body, its fearsome blaze energizing her. "I promise, Mother!" she vowed. "As an Ultra Guardian, I will do everything in my power to save Solgaleo and protect Alola! We will come back unharmed and successful; you have my word!"

"Ro!" Snowy barked. The Vulpix's eyes were narrowed and clear, ready for whatever action awaited them.

"Don't worry, Miss Lusamine," Lana said, stepping forward to grab Lillie's hand in a firm grip. Her voice was quiet, yet firm, and her passion still burned bright in her glare. "Lillie and I can do this. I know we can."

Nodding, Lusamine finally released Lillie and stood up again, regarding them with a slightly softer expression. "I will hold you to that as well, Lana."

"Don't forget about me!" Zossie suddenly pushed her way between the two girls, prompting a yelp from Lillie as she flung her arms around them both like they were old friends. She laughed at them, then went on, "We just gotta get you all suited up for travel, then Lunala will do the rest!"

Soon, Dulse and Zossie were handing Lillie and Lana similar uniforms to what they wore: grey-white jumpsuits with sturdy boots and thick elbow-length gloves, which were fortunately big enough to put on over their clothes. Once Lillie had pulled the last of the fabric over her hands, swinging her arms experimentally and hoping that the interior wouldn't become too stifling over time, she was handed a matching helmet that turned out to be lighter than it looked. She removed her sunhat and fit it over her head, the padded interior hugging her temples snugly.

It's warm and easy to move in, and the helmet is comfortable while not obstructing vision – though the visor blocks much of the light. Designed to live in a world with no sun, Lillie observed as she studied the spacesuit-like garments. When Dulse bent down and removed the visor entirely, claiming that she wouldn't need it with eyes much less sensitive than his, she caught a glimpse of Lusamine fighting to keep herself from geeking out. Of course, Mother would find something like this "cool".

"Alright!" Zossie cheered and hopped on one leg once Lillie and Lana stood ready. "Lunala, you're up! Poipole, let's help them aboard!"

Just as she had done at the Altar of the Sunne, Lunala descended to nearly ground level, lowering her wings to allow her passengers access. As Lillie climbed on, moving gingerly in her new uniform, Poipole darted about, tugging and pushing her in the right places whenever she hesitated. The little alien was so quick and confident in its movements that she was sure it must have done this many times.

"Is Poipole your partner, Zossie?" she asked once she was seated securely behind Lana, Snowy in her lap.

"Yep!" Zossie confirmed as she scrambled onto Lunala without effort, sitting down in front of them both. "It's been with me ever since I joined the Recon Squad! I was so worried about it when it disappeared, but you guys have been caring for it, right? Thanks so much for that!"

Poipole cooed in agreement, and Lillie smiled as Zossie hugged it close like a living plush toy. They must not use Poke Balls, or else Ash could never have caught it, she thought.

"Okay, everybody good to go? Remember to keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times," Zossie shot a mirthful grin back at the girls. They took her advice and adjusted themselves, and Lillie felt Lana tense… only to find that she, too, was wound tight with anticipation. She could already feel a drop of sweat glide down her neck, her breaths coming out shaky, her muscles trembling.

PEEEAAAAAAAA! Lunala screeched, rising into the air in preparation for true takeoff. Lillie dipped her head for one last look at Dulse, Lusamine, and Rotom, who gazed up at them forlornly as they strode forward to give a final farewell.

"Please take care," Dulse said. "Ensure that the ultimate fate of our world does not befall another."

"Save Solgaleo, and the other Ultra Guardians," Lusamine added. "And come back safe."

Lillie nodded to both adults, swallowing the painful lump in her throat, and Zossie raised her arm in salute. Lana didn't make any such gestures, however, as her attention was elsewhere.

"You're not coming with us, Rotom?" she inquired, surprised.

"Negative – I will remain here and investigate Ultra Megalopolis! Surely there is much data here for me to collect!" Rotom replied with a cheery spin. Before Lillie could wish it well too, however, it lowered its arms and grew still, an expressionless emoji displayed on its screen. When it spoke again, it was with a strange, gloomy timbre that Lillie had never heard from it before – "I want you to bring Ash back safely. I am his designated Rotom Pokedex, and cannot continue serving him if he is no longer with us."

Its sombre request caused Lillie's eyes to well up with tears, and her heart went out to the machine as she blinked back the tide that threatened to spill. It cared as much as they did, she was certain, in its own unique way.

Lunala began to float upwards, ascending with nary a flap from its wings, and then shot into the sky without warning, wind whistling around Lillie's helmet as they climbed. Higher and higher they went, to a point where the sprawling Ultra Megalopolis was a mere dome of light amidst the pitch black – and then a secondary light source appeared before them, an Ultra Wormhole of Lunala's creation yawning wide to welcome them.

Lillie braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut, and an instant later, the portal swallowed them whole.

Lusamine watched Lunala rocket into the sky with her lips clamped firmly shut, the only way she could keep the desperate cry locked in her throat. Her pulse raced with apprehension that eclipsed what she would have felt if she had been the one flying to face Necrozma. A large part of her wanted to beg Lillie to come back, to put her foot down and insist she leave the rescue of Solgaleo – and possibly Alola – to Lana and Zossie.

But a slightly larger part of her remembered that it was this coddling behavior that had caused the rift to widen between her and her daughter. It was for Lillie's sake, and the continuation of their mending relationship, that she had given her blessing. So she remained stubbornly silent and felt the panic slowly die down as she watched Lunala vanish through an Ultra Wormhole, taking her daughter with her. She'd made her decision – the only thing she could do now was wait to see the consequences.

"If another world has to lose its light, I pray it will not be yours," Dulse spoke without looking at her, his head still tipped toward where the Legendary Pokemon had disappeared. "For such a prosperous world to pay for our mistakes… it would be our greatest failure."

Lusamine swallowed thickly before answering, trying to sound reassuring and not betray her own [worry]. "But if Necrozma has gone to Alola, L-Lillie, Lana, and Zossie will not be alone. The region is full of talented Trainers that will gladly bring their Z-Power to bear against the threat. P-Perhaps it would be for the better, in fact."

She couldn't keep the tremulous, wistful note out of her voice at such wishful thinking, which finally drew Dulse's interest. "Your worry is not for Alola, but for your daughter," he remarked, the emotionless façade returning.

"Of course," she answered, burying swiftly the twinge of irritation at such an obvious, unnecessary statement. "Surely you also feel some reservations at sending your teammate on this mission."

There was a brief pause before the extraterrestrial answered. "Zossie is young, but she was deemed worthy of joining the Ultra Recon Squad and has been well-trained. Instead of wasting energy worrying about her, I will proceed under the assumption that she can handle herself."

Yes, Lusamine thought, the man's steady, certain tone bringing some semblance of relief to her fraying nerves. I must stand by my words and keep faith in Lillie and Lana. That is the key.

"If it is any consolation, they will be stronger together," Dulse added, and Lusamine found herself nodding slowly.

Her mind floated back to Malie City, Lillie's words echoing out to her: If you really do trust me enough to be an equal part of the team, then you must trust me to take the risks associated with the duty. And I am willing to take any risk I must if it means a better chance of saving my friends.

She glanced toward Dulse, who was walking off to pull Rotom away from Naganadel, and then returned her eyes to the pitch-black heavens. She clenched her fists and, with a swift surge of determination, did her best to quash her worries.

I promise you, Lillie, Lusamine silently swore. If you can succeed and return to me unharmed, then I will never doubt you again.

AN:

I… struggled with this chapter, even though I've been looking forward to it for a long time. How could I justify three children – backed by a Legendary or not – going after a potentially world-ending threat? I did my best with Dulse's desperate sense of hope and Lusamine's reluctant acceptance of Lillie's independence. For the latter, I tried to make clear that Lusamine is testing Lillie to see if she truly is made of the same grit as the rest of the Guardians. (Well, "grit" is kind of a strong word…)

Ultimately, though, this chapter still feels like I had to grasp at straws to move the plot forward. I should have planned it out better. At least the exposition was good, right? I've been foreshadowing Necrozma's involvement in the plot for a while. Speaking of…

I mentioned before that the Necrozma-related stuff would be my only retcon of anime canon. Why, do you ask? First of all, because I needed a way to connect Alola and the Monster Hunter world in a logical way, and the canonically dimension-jumping, Z-Crystal-dropping god of light was a perfect fit.

The second reason… MISSED. OPPORTUNITY. It's bizarre and stupid that the same writers who copy-pasted the games' plot into the Aether arc where it didn't make sense completely replaced Ultra Megalopolis and four actual people perfectly capable of exposition-dumping in favor of – man, it still boggles my mind – a talking Naganadel with a psychic movie theatre.

Alright, that's enough from me. Feedback is always, always helpful and is especially appreciated for these chapters where I feel my skills have faltered. So please review, and I hope you continue to read and enjoy!

Next time: Rematch