The next morning, before the duo left the H.Q

Elio used the T.M for Return to teach Dodrio the new move in place of drill peck. As the T.M showed the video, the three heads argued over what they were looking at.

Elio shouted to get the three heads to stop bickering. "You three knock it off, this is for all of you. Pay attention!"

Lillie planned the schedule for the day. "We arrive at the Stand at around 4 P.M, if any of them ask for more detail about Parkas we should tell them."

The Rotom Dex flared up. "BZZT! An email from Nett looks like getting messages across Orre is still a go BZZT! Elio, Lillie, we have more information about the shadow pokemon at Parkas's stronghold. Swampert, Kingler and Kingdra all belong to the Admin; while a Honchkrow, Carnivine, Absol and Toxicroak belong to the peons. BZZT!"

Elio felt disappointment as he let his Incineroar out to apologize "Sorry to tell you this, But it seemed that this Parkas guy is going to focus mainly on a water team, you might have to sit in the back for the main boss. If you are let out it is either as a last man standing or it is against a mook."

The Incineroar nodded as it understood. Elio asked Lillie. "Think your team for this region is complete?"

Lillie looked back and remembered. "With how things are going with the machine and how we both have finally have a full team of six. All you need is a pokemon capable of mega evolution and we should be good."

Elio rolled his eyes. "I might have to swap Odon for a brief moment after this, but I need a fast special attacker over a strong physical hitter."

At the Stand, they met Haley and Sheryl standing out of the bar, waiting for Luke to finish business inside. Haley was in casual clothes waving at the approaching.

Elio asked in surprise. "You were here early."

Haley groaned. "We had enough information regarding what the wild pokemon do at the spots and we were going to send a report back to Miss Wicke after Miss Lillie made her call. Then connections went dead and we have not gotten back sense."

Elio frowned sharply and explained that they were not the only ones with the issue.

Sheryl posed while trying to motivate. "Hey long as this Cipher group is taken down with beating Parkas, my girl can get back to work."

Lillie frowned back as Luke came out with the same casual clothes as before. "The terrible people we are going after is but a part of Cipher. While stopping them would give the Orre region some peace, Parkas is but an Admin."

Haley's eyes widened "Wait, he is not our big bad? Are you serious?"

Lillie nodded. "I wish he was, but we would still have much more to do. Scoire and Gough serves under Parkas, who in turn is working with Frankas and I do not want to know how many other horrible people."

Haley thought over how big of a mess they are in and how deeper they are going. "We already made one theory, this Cipher activity and the communications being cut out are no coincidence. If we take out Parkas we might be able to reestablish connections back to Alola."

Elio and Lillie looked at each other before they heard a rough sounding voice. "So these are the others of your group? No wonder you were looking for more people."

Elio took a deep breath as he saw the the head of Team Snagem approach with his right hand man. "Haley, Luke, Sheryl. This is Gonzap, the man next to him with the glasses is Wakin. They agreed to help us in taking down Cipher."

The three looked at the group with Haley speaking out. "No wonder Lillie was so crossed with you the other day."

Elio sighed. "They are trust worthy enough to keep their end. Other than the most subtle of actions, they won't be much of a problem when this is all over. Now that everyone is gathered, lets talk about a plan."

Elio drew a below average make shift map on the ground regarding how each of the groups are going to operate. "Gonzap, what your goons lack in strength you make up for in using sleep powder. If it looks like they are guarding something important, like an alarm, I want those guards snoozing. We already have an idea of what kinds of shadow pokemon are in there but if your goons encounter any of them, you are to alert me and Lillie. Should they experience more difficulty than usual, have them fall back from the place then come back when they try to focus on our heavy weights."

Gonzap nodded at the plan. "I have Wakin do most of the delicate work, still you at least have the idea."

Elio nodded as he talked to the employees and their assistant. "Luke, Haley and Sheryl. You three are the heavy weight's of our team, you are to accompany Lillie and me as we fight our way to the main building. Keep any Cipher goons off of us and if you find any suspicious looking pokemon, you are to alert us."

Lillie nodded at Elio's plan and joined in. "Once we get into the building, Elio and I are going in alone. Before you ask, Parkas has two commanders to worry about. Baring the boss, these two are the most dangerous we would face. Gough is a very brutal trainer in himself but if Alphonse is as bad as his commander."

Lillie was worried about what Alphonse would try to do to them. "Just let us handle these two. If they have any shadow pokemon they will aim them at you!"

Sheryl posed in defense. "Hey, kid, I got my main bug ready since that match in the Colosseum. This Venomoth I have will do miles better than a Wormadam would."

The Skull girl glared at Elio, knowing of his Volcarona.

Elio took out Rotom dex to show the stronghold's location. "We will gather around the outer edge here with the cover of night, so bring a pokemon that is good at seeing in the dark. We have a ghost type that is good at that but more eyes are needed. We walk the rest of the way until we reach the area. Afterwards we execute the plan. Any suggestions that might improve this?"

Nearly everyone agreed though the employee's speak out that the tactical talk seemed unnecessary.

At the dusk of night, the group converged near the stronghold, a large crag like camp with a brown looking dome resembling a small mountain. It took much longer walk towards the camp area, but because of the moon and stars the pathway is mostly lit. The entrance way was blocked by three thuggish guards, one standing furthest away. Gonzap's Vileplume and Shiftry made quick work of the thug's pokemon while the grunts used sleep powder to put the three thugs to sleep. Everyone else sneaked in. Cipher peons were seen in an inconvenient location for the powder so Lillie and Elio walked in.

"Intruders!" The peons duo sent a Croagunk and Noctowl, the boy and girl made quick work with the Hypno and Raichu. The former stopped the grunts before they ran with a couple swipes of its pendulum, the peons were fast asleep.

Lillie spotted more guards coming en mass "Two peons to the left, five to the right. You three, handle the larger bunch!"

The employee's and their assistant sent out the combination of Venomoth, Oricorio and Snorlax to dispatch five. The main duo sent out a combination of Yanma and Gardevoir. The Gardevoir did the most damage of the two with hyper voice and psychic. Most of the sections of the stronghold was a rinse and repeat save for Gonzap making the entrance and instead was commanding his underlings where to go. The group made their way to the main dome.

Elio said toward the group. "Well done everyone, spread out around the building. Make sure no one tries to surprise us."

Elio turned toward Lillie and asked. "Are you ready for this?"

Lillie gave the boy a kiss on the cheek. "Yes, lets finish this!"

In the center room, two familiar faces awaited them. A red armored commander shouted. "So you two have finally arrived. Olaf, warn master Parkas. I will hold them off!"

Gough prepared for battle as his right hand man protested. "But Gough, if you face them alone, you will most certainly fall. This is our last chance to redeem ourselves to Parkas, I will hold the line."

The commander looked at his underling in concern. "If I have lost to this Lillie, what chance do you have against both. No, we will face them together." Commander and peon shout in unison. "In Parkas's name. You shall not pass!"

Vs Cipher Commander Gough and Cipher Peon Olaf

Gough sent out a large mole with metallic claws known as Excadrill, Olaf sent out Meinfoo.

"GO MAC!"

"Go Swoops!"

As Elio and Lillie sent out their pokemon.

Olaf shouted "Meinfoo, use fake out on that Hitmonchan! Keep it away from Excadrill!"

The Meinfoo clapped in front of the Hitmonchan before it got to punch, the Excadrill rammed its iron head at the Pidgeot. The Pidgeot used Air cutter knocking out the Meinfoo.

Olaf sent out a large two headed gas creature. "Go Weezing."

Elio smiled at his Hitmonchan. "MAC USE MACH PUNCH ON THAT EXCADRILL, TAKE IT OUT BEFORE IT GETS TO DO MORE DAMAGE!"

Lillie joined in "Swoops, help finish off that Excadrill with air cutter!"

As the Hitmonchan and and Pidgeot finished the Excadrill, the Weezing huffed an odd flame into the Hitmonchan, burning him.

Gough sent out his Machamp.

Elio anticipated the Machamp to go finish the Hitmonchan off. "MAC COME BACK, GO MAKUTA!"

As the Cofagrigus arrived on the battle, the commander glared and shouted. "I was not aiming for you, Machamp, dynamic punch!"

Lillie shouted back. "Swoops, use air cutter one more time!" The Pidgeot slashed to injure the Machamp and Weezing; the punch sent the Pidgeot flying across the room for a knock out.

Lillie called back the Pidgeot and prepared to toss a dusk ball. "Onua! Take out that Machamp!"

Olaf looked at the Cofagrigus. "Hahaha! Weezing, use toxic on that Cofagrigus. Whittle it away!" The Weezing spit out toxic sludge on the Cofagrigus badly poisoning him.

The commander shouted. "Machamp! Use stone edge on that Cofagrigus. Every wall must break!"

The Machamp impaled the Cofagrigus with no guarded rocks. Elio shouted back. "MAKUTA USE SHADOW BALL ON THAT MACHAMP!"

Lillie followed. "Onua, follow with a shadow punch!"

Both ghost types were able to knocked out the Machamp.

Olaf gritted his teeth "Weezing, leave a memento on that Golett. Let us see how well she can swap for what is to come!"

The Weezing fainted, the Golett felt uncontrollable dread.

Olaf looked to his commander. "I regret using these things, but we must hold!"

The commander looked back. "Indeed" The Cipher duo sent out a floating venus fly trap known as Carnivine and a poison dart frog with a spike in each hand known as Toxicroak.

Both Elio and Lillies Aura Readers activated. "That Carnivine and Toxicroak are shadow pokemon."

Lillie swapped her Golett. "Shockums, let's finish this!"

Elio looked at his Cofagrigus. "USE REFRESH, GET THAT POISON OUT!"

The Carnivine used shadow bite on the Cofagrigus; it missed as the Cofagrigus lowered itself in a crawl and refreshed itself of the toxins. The Toxicroak shadow rushed the Raichu.

Lillie pointed in fierce determination. "Shockums, use thunder wave on that Toxicroak!"

Elio shouted at his Cofagrigus. "USE WILLO WISP ON THAT CARNIVINE!"

The Cofagrigus, burned the Carnivine.

Elio placed the dusk ball into the machine to use on the Carnivine. "GO SNAG BALL!"

Shake... shake... shake... click.

Olaf slumped down. "I have failed you Gough."

The commander patted his peon at the shoulder. "No worry, we will fight to the bitter end. Now Lillie, use that snag ball to end this fight."

Lillie looked at the two trainers as she placed another dusk ball into the machine to use on the Toxicroak. "If this is what you actually want. Go snag ball!"

Shake... shake... shake... click!

The Cipher commander slumped at the defeat. "We have failed to hold."

A Cipher commander in a red uniform approached, with a bola gun aimed at Lillie. "Of course you have, your bull headed tactics would only lead you this far."

Lillie noticed the bola that was shot at her, it wrapped itself around her.

ZAP!

The girl fell down twitching. Raichu was in panic as it removed the bola and was pressing herself on Lillies chest. Elio was in fear and glared at Alphonse with teeth gritting.

Alphonse wondered. "Why haven't we thought of just shooting you before hand?"

The commander prepared the bola launcher again.

Gough shouted. "Alphonse, what are you doing they earned the right to..." Before Gough finished, the crimson armored commander shot at him and his right hand man. Both of the Cipher goons took the shock just as well as Lillie.

Alphonse aimed the last shot at Elio before a rough voice was heard.

"Shiftry use fake out!" A large wooden creature slapped the gun off target and hit nothing, with the Snagem head running in.

Alphonse cringed under his helmet. "Gah! No matter, even as we speak, Parkas is on his way here. You have no hope."

Gonzap saw what happened in the dome and recognized the weapon. "A stun bola launcher, I have no idea how high that was set. Listen kid you have to hurry and beat this guy. I will go ahead and hold off the Admin."

Gonzap rushed ahead of everyone, Alphonse sneered and laughed. "Hahahaha! You fool, you only run to your doom!"

Elio got up and prepared the balls containing his Incineroar and Hypno. "Makuta, guard Lillie."

Alphonse looked at Elio and replied. "What is the matter boy, no violent outburst? That is what you normally do when something you care about is hurt. Matters not, I will end you all the same."

Vs Cipher Commander Alphonse

Elio hurled the two balls out. "BRIMMY, REMMER LETS MESS THIS BASTARD UP!"

Alphonse sent out Magneton and a white feline with a scythe like growth known as Absol.

Aura Reader activated. "That Absol is a shadow pokemon."

The Incineroar saw what happened and was fuming flames in his mouth.

Elio was not calming down. "BRIMMY FIRE FANG THAT MAGNETON, REMMER FOLLOW HIM WITH A PSYBEAM!"

The Incineroar leaped at the Magneton that tried to hit him with a thunderbolt, it missed. The Absol rushed into the Incineroar in an attempt to end him. The Incineroar took the intense blow and took the Magneton to the ground with Hypno finishing it off.

Alphonse sent out a Venusaur, Elio shouted toward his pokemon. "REMMER HYPNOSIS THAT VENUSAUR! BRIMMY SAME MOVE INTO THAT ABSOL!"

The Absol glowed as it attempted use shadow end on the Incineroar a second time, it missed. The Venusaur fell into a deep sleep from the Hypno's pendulum. The Absol was bit into with flames by the Incineroar before being tossed aside.

Elio put the dusk ball into the machine. "GO SNAG BALL!"

Shake...shake...shake... click.

The Hypno feasted on the Venusaur's dreams of a better life. Alphonse sent out a Honchkrow.

Aura Reader activated. "That Honchkrow is a shadow pokemon."

"BRIMMY! FIRE FANG THAT VENUSAUR!"

Elio placed a dusk into the machine without really thinking.

Alphonse taunted. "You honestly think using that now will save you?"

Elio ignored the taunt. "GO SNAG BALL!"

A whistle was heard from the throw.

Shake... click!

The commander gasp in shock as the Honchcrow was caught and the Incineroar finished off the Venusaur.

Not even caring about Alphonse, Elio rushed over to Lillie. "Shockum's good work, let me try!"

He pushed the Raichu aside and rapidly pressed on Lillies chest. He checked for breath as Lillie came through, she saw Elio placing his head over her chest and blushed. "Wha... what are you."

Elio embraced Lillie with tears flowing as he heard her voice. "Lillie are you alright?!"

Lillie spent the rest of the moment trying to catch her breath, she returned the hug. "Yes, I am."

Crash!

Gonzap was hurled across the room by what look like an even larger armored man. The helmet having a face that looks that of an angry Tauros. The Admin glared at the two holding each other, then back at the commander who was surrounded by two angry pokemon.

Alphonse pleaded. "They continue to resist my lord, the pokemon I have are not strong enough."

Parkas bellowed not wanting to hear the excuse. "It is a poor shepherd who blames his flock, commander! This failure is yours and yours alone!"

He prepared a sinister looking orange crab; the Kingler glowed a shadow hold for Alphonse as he struggled to move. "No, no! I will not go back to Citadark!"

The watching duo healed their pokemon as they heard the word. "Citadark?"

The Kingler glowed a black aura and prepared its large pincer as Parkas continued. "Fear not! Citadark is reserved for those who may redeem themselves!"

The Kingler was about to swing its pincer, Alphonse was terrified. "No... no!"

Parkas finished his dismissal as the Kinglers pincer swung. "You will have no such chance!"

Alphonse was slammed through a wall, leaving behind a large hole.

Elio whispered as he tried to help Lillie up. "Hey Lillie, can you still stand up?"

Lillie was breathing normally. "I think so, no I know so."

The Admin focused his glare at the unconscious Gough and his lackey. "You at least had enough dignity to admit your failings, I will deal with you last. As for you two!"

Parkas turned toward the duo and yelled in unimaginable fury. "You dared to raid my camps, dispatched my generals and now go up against me?!"

The warlord laughed at himself. "I have been terrorizing this region for some time and forged this army from the ground up. We were to make the people of this region submit to Cipher. Blocking all outside contact was a start... but presenting the people with your broken bodies would cement our rule!"

He drew out a pokeball as the the duo prepared.

Vs Cipher Admin Parkas

Parkas sent out a Gyarados to accompany the approaching shadow Kingler. Elio tossed a dusk ball as Lillie shouted at her Raichu.

"GO Mac!"

"Go Shockums!"

Elio shouted in a much more calm manner. "Mac, fake out that Kingler!"

As the Hitmonchan startled the Kingler, Lillie posed for the Raichu to do her Z move. "Shockums. Gigavolt havoc on that Gyarados!"

The Raichu hurled the large bolt of electricity at the Gyarados; knocking it out despite Gyrarados eating a lightbulb like berry.

The admin sent out Politoed, he gritted his teeth that his turn backfired save for setting up rain.

Elio shouted. "MAC, USE MACH PUNCH ON THAT KINGLER."

Lillie shouted with him as the Kingler was pushed back. "Shockums, use thunder wave on that Kingler!"

The Kingler was paralyzed, it cannot move. Politoed shot out hot water at the Hitmonchan, nothing of note happened save for damage.

Lillie placed in a net ball into the machine. "GO SNAG BALL!"

The Kingler was yanked in.

Shake... shake... shake... click!

Parkas growled as he sent out his Kingdra.

Aura Reader activated again. "Kingdra is a shadow pokemon."

Kingdra used shadow end to knock the Raichu out. The Kingdra was paralyzed from the static.

The Hitmonchan muttered something. "Hit!"

The Dex translated "BZZT! Boss, I might learn a move that could turn this battle. BZZT!"

Elio smiled at the Hitmonchan. "If it is the elemental punches then learn thunder punch."

The Hitmonchan nodded. "Hit!"

Dex translated. "BZZT! Not like I ever used refresh anyways. BZZT!"

The Hitmonchan charged his iron fist in electricity and critically punched the Politoed out. The admin sent out his next pokemon, a Pelipper.

Lillie switched and shouted. "Maiden, we got to keep pushing!"

Lillie sent out Gardevoir, Elio smiled at them determination. "Me and Mac will have the Pelipper handled, that Kingdra is all yours."

Lillie charged up the net ball. "GO SNAG BALL!"

Shake... shake... shake... click!

Elio shouted in determination. "MAC USE THUNDER PUNCH TO GET THAT PELLIPER OUT OF THIS FIGHT!"

The Hitmonchan charged up its fist, dodged a hydro pump,

POW!

The Pelipper was k.o'd

Parkas hurled out his last pokemon. A Swampert that wore a crown with a stone in the middle. Elio and Lillie stared in horror as their Aura Reader activated to reveal the shadow pokemon.

Parkas bellowed as he activated his gauntlet. "Swampert, Mega evolve! Use shadow quake to annihilate them all!"

Gardevoir used her psychic powers to lift Lillie, Elio, Gonzap and even the two Cipher goons off the ground as the Swampert roared; its upper body swelled, its back fins transformed into jets. The Swampert in a fit of fueled rage, slammed its fists to the ground. Everything around it erupted in a seismic blast. Gardevoir and Hitmonchan were knocked out from the devastating attack. Parkas's armor took the blunt as he stood his ground.

Lillie sent out Leafeon after she and Elio landed. "Cain lets finish this!"

Elio shouted. "ODON GET OUT HERE AND USE SIGNAL BEAM!"

Parkas shouted. "Shadow guard! Lets see how easy this is for your grass type!"

The Swampert set out a dark barrier to reduce the damage of signal beam to but a scratch.

Lillie still ordered. "Cain use razor leaf!" The leaves tore into the Swamper with a critical hit. It fell on its knee's.

Parkas barked out. "Swampert shadow end that Yanma!"

The Swampert was about to lunge at the Yanma, Elio placed another net ball into the machine.

"GO SNAG BALL!"

Shake... shake... shake... click!

The Admin glared at the two in pure hate. He roared ready to charge in himself when a two spooned creature appeared behind him to put him in a psychic hold and teleport him away. The duo entered the room past a sturdy hall way, in it was a rather simple office save for a device and the signs that Gonzap tried to fight this madman. On the table is a strange device with a button. On a computer screen was a satellite.

Lillie looked at the device and asked. "Rotom, could you check what this thing is?"

The floating Dex looked at the button in dumbfound curiosity. "BZZT! Ooooh what does this button do? BZZT!" He pressed a button and the satellite self destructed. Elio was about to yell at the Dex until he saw what happened.

Elio sighed. "Excuse me, I would like to check on something!"

He tried to call someone.

A bored yet cheerful sound came from the phone.

Yawn! "Hey, Elio how is your trip?"

Elio answered. "Had a bad beginning but it looked like things are starting to improve. How are things back home Hau?"

The voice on the phone laughed. "Other than grand father getting upset over a man insulting Alola, not so much."

Elio's eyes widened. "What did Hala do?"

Hau answered. "No idea, he asked me to go get myself something to snack on. When I left the house, I heard something smashed. I came back afterwards to find the T.V missing."

Elio sighed in relief. "I see, I have been trying to call you yesterday over something important but did not get a good signal. I forgotten what it was now."

Hau laughed over the phone. "Couldn't be that important if you forgot."

Elio laughed with him. "True, talk to you later Hau, bye click."

Elio turned over to Lillie with a smile. "Good news, looks like we are able to make some contact back home. You want to call home after we are done checking on everyone else?"

Lillie nodded as they exited the room. They found their "group" and some Snagem grunts back in the main room checking on their boss.

The Snagem boss looked beaten up but got up boisterous and proud. "Gwahahaha! we showed Cipher out!"

Lillie was the first to ask the grunts. "Any of you hurt?"

One of the grunts answered to the Lillie. "We did exactly as Gonzap ordered, soon as we felt the quake we ran out before this base erupted, nearly caught a straggler but otherwise no one was hurt on our end."

Elio asked the three heavy weights. "Report on the damage?"

Luke started. "If it makes you stop talking like that. I do not want to know what happened in this building, but the force was enough to knock several of us off our feet. Everything around the camp was shattered, those two goons near the exit are trapped in, since we have an active volcano nearby we expect the thing to have erupted. The quake will cause trouble for anyone wanting a boat to Orre, due to this being enough of a magnitude to trigger a tsunami. We called the closest thing to law enforcement to help clean up the remaining mess as well as pick up those two over there."

The employee pointed toward Gough and Olaf.

Elio smiled. "Good news, we took out the main source of our communication blockage. We should be able to have full contact with the outside world with in a week. Tested it out not to long ago and we might be able to call back home. Everything else you said beside the law enforcement is nothing but bad news but still good to know. Lillie and I dealt with mega evolved shadow pokemon before, but that was an Audino and a Heracross. This time around it was a Mega Swampert."

The employee backed away. "Wait, these guys have mega versions of these things now? No wonder that quake was strong."

Elio turned toward the group in a grin. "If we did not lose anyone, I call this raid an overall success. So when we get these two hauled away to jail, who wants to go to the Outskirt Stand for drinks on me?"

Everyone cheered as Lillie approached. "Elio, now that this group has disbanded. What is our next move?"

The Snagem boss overheard and answered. "If Cipher is acting up again, then there is this old lab between Agate and Pyrite town. This was where they started making those shadow pokemon a long time ago. There might still be something to find, like more of Cipher to mess up."

Lillie giggled nervously. "Thank you Mr Gonzap for that info."

She whispered to the Elio. "I would like to see, if I can call home again after we are done celebrating."

After the remaining Cipher goons were taken away, the group went to Outskirt Stand. The news reported of a bunch of disasters that have happened; Gateon port had to evacuate due to signs of a tsunami and everyone who was on Mount Battle had to get out because the volcano was erupting. Most of the bar either cheered that the group finally done something about the terrorist attacks; others were angry at them for the inconvenience they gave to the people they knew near those areas and left. Minus some of the Snagem grunts, it was not much of a celebration save for everyone mentally preparing themselves for the next day as well as the two kids holding onto each other.