So yeah...about that break huh? I kinda got the inspiration last night and I couldn't let it say in me so here you go! Okay so this event is gonna be split into two parts since there is a lot to digest. I'm pretty sure after these two chapters, it will be smooth sailing for a while. Enjoy the chapters!
Chapter 21-Trouble in Paradise (Part 1)
It was night time by the time Gladion's boat docked under Aether Paradise. Due to it's colour and it being a moonless night, it wasn't spotted by any Aether Grunts. Everyone got out of the boat and were greeted by a female grunt.
"Master Gladion, good to see you." said the grunt.
"Good to see you too Janet." said Gladion, shaking her hand. "What's the situation?"
"Not good sir. The whole place is on lock down and employees are everywhere. It looks like your plan of sneaking around might have been shot."
"Damn. Thanks Janet, stay here by the boat in case we need to escape." Janet nodded and resumed her post while Gladion, Hau and Collin walked up against a wall. Gladion took a peak behind it and like Janet said, the place was crawling with grunts. "Ugh, this would have been so much easier if we could sneak."
"Why? I mean we aren't Team Skull so surely we can get past fine." said Hau, still clueless to what is going on.
"We can just go on the attack. They are gonna find out that we are here anyway so it's best we go large and charge." said Collin. Gladion turned around to face Collin with a look that said 'are you fucking stupid?'
"So instead of getting caught when we sneak about, we get caught by throwing ourselves out to them. Yeah that sounds like a great fucking plan."
"This isn't my first time doing this." said Collin and spiriting out from the wall.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" shouted Gladion before running after him. followed by Hau. As expected, two grunts spotted Collin right away.
"INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!" shouted one of the grunts over the radio. All the grunts in the docking area were now on high alert. The two in front of Collin got their Poke Balls out and threw out their Pokemon. "Try getting past these!" said the same grunt.
"With pleasure! GO MIMIKYU AND SALAZZLE!" Collin threw his Pokemon out and within less than a minute, the grunts were dealt with and Collin ran passed them. Gladion managed to catch up to Collin, with Hau lagging behind, just after dealing with another pair of grunts.
"You're insane! Do you honestly think this is gonna work the whole time?!" asked Gladion, confused.
"Again, this isn't my first time doing this and it's always worked. I'd be more worried about how you are gonna get your sister back."
"H-H-How did you-"
"Come on, same hair colour as Lillie and your mom, the fact that Janet knows you, not to mention knowing of Cosmog. The signs are all there mate." said Collin, interrupting him.
"Tch, lucky guess. Fine, do it your way." Just as Gladion was finished talking, Hau caught up to them.
"Okay is anyone gonna fill me in on this? Or am I just gonna be in the dark for the rest of this trip?" he asked. Collin and Gladion looked at each other and shrugged.
"Okay Lusamine is a crazy bitch that wants Cosmog, aka Nebby, to possibly open up an Ultra Wormhole. My guess is so that she can catch that Ultra Beast we saw a few days ago when we came here. Remember?" said Collin.
"Yeah...I guess you were right Collin. Sorry about doubting you."
"No worries. Let's go and find out where Lillie and Nebby are, then we'll worry about Lusamine." said Collin. After battling more grunts, with Hau and Gladion helping out this time, they finally got to the elevator. "...anyone know how to work this thing?"
"Give it to me." said Gladion, typing away at the control pad. Seconds later, the elevator began to move up. "We should be prepared at any moment now that they know we are here."
"It feels like I'm in an action movie! Like Durant-Man!" Collin couldn't help but chuckle at the way Hau stayed innocent throughout this. It even made Gladion laugh. "I think that's the first time I've seen you smile. You should do it more Glad."
"Glad?"
"Yeah, like a nick name." said Hau, smiling at him. Somehow, someway, this made Gladion blush.
"Whatever, let's get back to focusing on the mission at hand." he said, trying to calm himself. When the elevator reached the second floor, they were about to get out before they saw someone walk towards them.
"I, Faba, am the Aether Branch Chief. The only one in the world, I am irreplaceable." said Faba, standing proudly in front of the three males.
"Someone thinks highly of themselves." muttered Collin. This pissed Faba off, to say the least.
"HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT ME! YOU COME BACK UNINVITED AND THINK YOU CAN TAKE ON MY EMPLOYEES?!" he shouted.
"I think you mean Lusamine's employees." said Gladion in a deadpan vouce.
"Oh how the days haven't been kind to you Gladion. So cold, so alone, so worthless to our business. If I had my way I'd thrown you out before you could walk." he threatened, getting up close to the boys. Collin wasn't having any of it and stood tall in front of Gladion and Hau.
"I couldn't care if they are Lusamine's employees or your employees. What I do care is that you kidnapped someone and are harming an innocent Pokemon. Now I suggest that you tell us where Lillie and Cosmog are or so help me I will BRAIN you against the wall!" Collin's face was completely red with anger, enough to intimidate Faba. Strangely, he seemed to keep his cool.
"Hmph, I supposed I could tell you. I hear they are in the labs. There are experiments going on down there that could shake the fabric of the world. Surely you'll find them down there." he said, sounding genuine. With caution, Collin got back on the elevator and Gladion pressed the control pad to send them down, not before Collin noticed the smirk across Faba's face.
"We've been tricked." he said bluntly.
"Obviously we've been tricked. But I needed to come down here anyway. Play along for now." said Gladion. Collin kept silent as the elevator went past the docks and went deep down into the Aether Labs.
When they reached the labs, they were surrounded by some scientist wearing strange clothes and their faces covered by a mask.
"Halt intruders. You shall not pass here or face the consequences of your actions!" said one of the scientists. Collin rolled his eyes and threw out Decidueye and Empoleon.
"Can I get one evil base that doesn't have over the top scientists?" he asked before taking out their Pokemon, along side Hau and Gladion. "Okay Gladion, what is it that you need?"
"Nothing that matters to you." he said as they walked into a hall full of rooms. "I'm gonna check this lab over here." said Gladion, pointing at a room beside him. "You two have a look at the other lab down there and see if you can find any information on Cosmog." Before Hau or Collin could say a word, he ran into the lab.
"Yeesh. You'd think he'd explain what's going on." said Hau.
"Doesn't matter. Let get to the lab to see what Cosmog is." The two friends walked to the lab, keeping their eyes opened for anyone that could attack them. Thankfully there was no one and they entered the lab, only to be spotted by two Aether Grunts.
"Okay, you have two choices. One, shut up and let us do what we need to do. Or two, get a beat down like you wouldn't believe. Which is it going to be?" said Collin. However, the two grunts didn't look phased.
"You're with Gladion right?" said the male grunt.
"Y-Y-Yeah. What of it?" asked Hau.
"Heh, guess he forgot we were down here. We are helping him. I assume you are hear for information on Cosmog." said the female grunt.
"Yeah, mind giving us the info?" asked Collin.
"Sure." The male grunt walked over to the computer and typed away. "There you go, all the information we could gather." he said, getting off from the chair.
"Thanks. And sorry about the threat, you can't really tell who's on which side here."
"No problem. We need to get going though, we might cause suspicion if we get caught. Good luck you two." said the female grunt and they left the lab. Collin sat down on the chair and began to look through the files. One of them in particular caught his eye.
The Pokemon dubbed Cosmog is an Ultra Beasts that has the amazing power to summon Ultra Wormholes. Unfortunately this power is unstable due to how young the Ultra Beast is. Further testing should be met with extreme caution, as tampering with Cosmog could cause more than one Ultra Wormhole to open up in random locations.
Collin fell into a slump on the chair. Once again he's thrown in another potental world ending plot. He let out a loud groan that caught the attention of Hau.
"Did you find out something about Nebby?" asked Hau.
"Yes and it's not good. We need to find Lillie and Nebby fast, or who knows what could happen if that crazy bitch gets a hold of it." The two exited the lab just as Gladion exited the lab he went in.
"You're in a hurry. Find out anything?" he asked.
"I'm not repeating myself. Let's just say it's bad and leave it at that. Let's get to the main floor now and find out what to do next." The three walked back to the elevator and Gladion pushed the control pad to go up.
"Ugh, pains me to say this, but thanks for helping me with this. I don't think I'd be able to do this on my own." he said, showing a genuine smile. Collin couldn't help but pat him on the back
"Look, I know we got on the wrong foot, but just so you know I got your back now. I understand why you're so tense now."
"Yeah! I mean that's what friends do right? Help each other out when they are in need." said Hau.
"Friends...heh, guess I could consider you two that." The elevator continued it's path up to the main floor with still no idea where Lillie and Nebby where.
When the elevator landed back on the main floor, they were surrounded by a bunch of Aether Grunts.
"HA! Cornered you now intruders. Wished you never messed with Aether now huh?!" said one of the grunts. Collin couldn't help but laugh at them.
"Oh please fuck off, we've beaten...what...twenty of you already?" he said turning to Gladion who just gave him a shrug. "Wasn't counting anyway. But the point is, if you think a group of you can take us on at once, you will regret it!" The grunts seemed to stagger back, but they continued to stand in there way.
"Doesn't matter! For Aether!" shouted the grunts and they threw out their Pokemon.
"This is what happens when you try to be reasonable. Hau, you with me?"
"Always!" said Hau, getting his Pokemon out and fought along side Collin, which of course they won. They helped Gladion with his side of grunts and took them down no time flat.
"Retreat! Retreat!" shouted the grunts and they ran off in multiple directions. The group's Pokemon were getting very tired, when they heard the footsteps of someone walking towards them.
"Oh no not you Wicke." said Collin, fearing that the nicest one out of Aether was gonna try and stop them.
"Actually Mister Collin, you are mistaking. I'm not here to stop you, I'm here to help you." she said. Collin and Hau breath a sigh of relief.
"Thank Arceus for that!" said Hau.
"Hehe, glad to see your worries are gone. And I should say welcome back Master Gladion." she said turning to the blond hair boy. Hau turned and looked confused.
"M-Master?!" he cried.
"I suppose you are looking of Madam Lusamine and Lillie." said Wicke, ignoring Hau's comment.
"Yeah. Any idea where they are?" asked Gladion.
"I do, they are in the Presidents mansion, at the back of the Paradise. Unfortunately there is only one key that allows you to get to the back." she said, looking rather sad.
"And let me guess, Faba has it." said Collin, with Wicke giving a nod in response. "Okay lads, I see Faba behind us by what I assume is the door. Let's take the fight to him and see how he likes it." The three nodded and were just about to leave before Wicke stopped them.
"Wait! Let me heal your Pokemon first. They've been through a lot so I hate to see them in an even more terrible state." she said. The three boys handed their Poke Balls over to Wicke and she healed them in less than a few minutes. "There you go. I wish you three the best of luck." They nodded and walked all the way to the back of the main floor, where they were greeted by Faba and three other grunts.
"My my my, what naughty children." said Faba, sounding really creepy to the point even the two grunts beside him cringed. "You should all lay your heads down."
"You really are a creep aren't you?" said Collin.
"Bah! Doesn't matter what you think. But I knew you'd continue to struggle on. I knew you would try to reach the President. Which is why I sent you down to the labs! That level of ingeniousness allowed me to gather some of the strongest staff in Aether to block your way from ever reaching her! Truly the mark of brilliance from the Great Branch Chief Faba!" he said, posing like a super hero. Collin and Gladion weren't impressed at all, while Hau was thinking about something.
"Say Mister Faba, you have the key to the door behind us right?" he asked.
"Yeah! I have it right here!" said Faba, holding out the key in his hand. Hau began to laugh out loud, so much that the whole of Aether could hear him.
"You could have just hid the key and we'd never find it!" he said falling to the ground laughing.
"...WHAT?!" shouted Faba. Now even Collin and Gladion were laughing.
"Oh Arceus how could you be that stupid!?" shouted Gladion, holding his stomach.
"You're a fucking idiot Faba!...Oh shit I can't breathe!" shouted Collin, falling flat on his face, crying with laughter. Faba looked completely red. Even the Aether grunts were laughing.
"ENOUGH!" he shouted. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN MAKING FUN OF ME! YOU TWO!" he shouted at the two grunts. "HELP ME TAKE THESE ANNOYANCES OUT OR YOU'LL BE THROWN OUT TO THE STREET!" Collin finally got off from the ground and smirked.
"Heh, I've been wanting to kick your ass since I laid eyes on you. Hau, Gladion, take out the grunts and leave Faba to me. You're gonna wish you never fucked with me."
"Go Slowbro!" shouted Faba. Out came the dopey looking Pokemon, looking off in the distance.
"Go Decidueye!" Decidueye stood proud in front of Collin as it began to flex it's wings out. "Let's give this guy a world of pain! Use Spirit Shackle!" Decidueye pulled back his bow and shot an arrow straight at the Slowbro, hitting it directly.
"Ugh you insect Use Yawn!" shouted Faba.
"Dodge the Yawn!" Decidueye tried his best to do so, but it caught him just at the right time and made Decidueye yawn. "Damn! Finish it off with a Leaf Blade!" shouted Collin. Decidueye's wing sharpened as hard as a sword and managed to cut down Slowbro. Faba began to stamp the ground hard.
"No! Ugh return." The dopey Pokemon returned to it's ball just as Decidueye fell asleep.
"Heh, you need a rest anyway, enjoy it." said Collin, returning the sleeping Pokemon to his ball.
"Go Hypno!" shouted Faba. The Pokemon came out and already Collin was freaked out.
"Ugh I always hated these things. Go Empoleon!" Empoleon came out and even it was freaked out by the Hypno. "Come on buddy stay with me. Set up a Swords Dance!" A row of swords surrounded Empoleon and danced around him, powering up his moves.
"Disable Swords Dance!" shouted Faba. Hypno used it's psychic abilities to disable the Swords Dance, making Faba pretty smug looking. However, Collin wasn't phased at all.
"Heh, I don't need another one. AQUA JET!" Empoleon was surrounded by water and rushed towards the Hypno, launching it clean in the air, much to the shock of Faba.
"W-W-What?! H-H-How?!" he cried, making Collin laugh.
"Seems like someone thinks I couldn't battle. Return Empoleon." said Collin and his Pokemon. Faba was even more furious now.
"UGH YOU ASKED FOR IT! GO BRUXISH!" Out came a weird looking fish Pokemon with massive lips. Collin began to think carefully of who he should send out next. Hmm...both Hypno and Slowbro are Psychic types...Bruxish must be one too. Heh, too easy.
"GO MIMIKYU!" The little Ghost Pokemon came out and scurried along the floor. Faba couldn't help but laugh at the size of the Pokemon.
"HA! You slipped up now! CRUNCH IT BRUXISH!" shouted Faba. The Pokemon opened it's massive mouth and bit down into Mimikyu. But Mimikyu didn't look phased at all. "WHAT?!"
"Man you really are an idiot! Shake it off you Mimikyu!" Mimikyu used its shadow like hands to grab Bruxish and throw it into the air. "NOW, UNLEASH Z-MOVE!" shouted Collin, twisting the Ghostium Z and preforming the dance Acerola showed him and powered up Mimikyu. "USE NEVER-ENDING NIGHTMARE!" The battle ground was covered in darkness when suddenly, large hands came out from the ground and dragged Bruxish down into the ground, causing a massive explosion. When the light came back, Bruxish was defeated.
"NO! YOU INSOLENT WORTHLESS CHILD! HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME!?" shout Faba, bouncing up and down. Little did he know, a key fell out of his lab coat pocket and before he could notice Gladion, who has just defeated one of the grunts, swooped down and grabbed the keys.
"Got them!" he shouted and went to unlock the door. With a few clicks, the massive door began to lift from the ground and the way to the Aether Mansion was opened. "Come on, let's get going!" said Gladion, running through the opening.
"Gladly, you ready Hau?" asked Collin just as he finished his fight with the grunt he was fighting.
"Sure!" said Hau, smiling. Collin and Hau walked to the door, before Hau turned around and waved at Faba. "Thank you Mister Faba!" he said, making both him and Collin laugh as they walked forward through the door, ready to face what was in store for them.
"Ugh...this...this is why I can't like kids." said Faba to the beaten down grunts.
Woo boy! I hope this comes out well. Next time, we will see if Collin can save Lillie and take down Lusamine. Reviews and comments of any nature are welcomed and as always, I'll see you in the next chapter. Cheerio!