Calem's Alola Adventure

Chapter 14

By: Gandire

Nanu's boat pulls into the Aether Paradise docks without any trouble. Everyone looks around as they disembark. Crates are scattered everywhere and the machines used to move them abandoned. Some sit turned-off in mid transport. Hau says, "We got in pretty easy. Honestly, I thought it was gonna be harder."

Acerola flinches and says, "Don't say things like that!"

Calem looks around for cameras as he says, "No, Hau's right; this should have been harder." He finds one and stares into it, "We're walking into a trap."

Gladion says, "Doesn't matter, this would have been their response to anyone showing up. Don't let your guard down. There's no telling where they'll attack from."

Calem says, "So, where to first? You know the layout better than any of us."

Gladion gives Calem a spiteful glare at the remark, but says, "We need to get to the elevator."

Mahina says, "Huh? Not the stairs? I mean, wouldn't that be the first thing they shut down?"

Gladion says as they begin walking, "Aether Paradise doesn't have stairs as a safety precaution. If anyone gets in, security can trap them by shutting off the power."

Mahina says, "What if there's a fire? How will everyone escape?"

Gladion says, "They operate on the assumption that they will be able to contain any fires that occur."

Upon leaving the docks for the central elevator, they come across 20-30 Aether Foundation employees. Serena steps forward with a pokeball, but Lana and Acerola hurry past her and cut her off by extending their arms.

Lana says, "Save your strength. We'll take care this," while calling out Araquanid, "Liquidation!"

Acerola says, "She's right. No need for you to waste your time on cannon fodder," while calling out Palossand, "Earth power!

Hau runs forward and calls out Decidueye, "I can't let two ladies fight all on their own. Spirit shackle!"

Muk, Primape, Porygon, Parasect, Magnaton and various other Aether Foundation pokemon fall underneath their onslaught. The employees call back their pokemon upon being defeated and run away. Lana defeats the final pokemon, Sliggoo, and says, "All clear, let's get going!"

Everyone steps onto the elevator, but Gladion slams the controls with his fist. "Darn, they cut the power! I was afraid of this."

Hau says, "Then, what do we do? Lillie must be scared right now… We can't just sit here doing nothing."

Serena says, "Gladion, are we trying to go up or down?"

Gladion says, "The labs are downstairs, but we won't be able to access them without Faba's security clearance. Faba himself is probably on one of the upper floors."

Acerola says, "If it's a door… Can't we smash through with our pokemon?" Her comment gets everyone to stare at her. Nothing about her character would ever suggest her coming up with such an idea. She looks down and speaks with a bashful voice, "Calem did that at Po Town and worked out alright for him…"

Gladion shakes his head, "That's no good. This place was made strong enough to resist a barrage of draco meteor from 100 Rayquaza."

Serena calls out Alteria while saying, "Either way, this is not a problem." She climbs onto the dragon pokemon's back while saying, "Even if we cannot go down right now, up is easy."

Calem calls out Ponyta. He pats the fire pokemon's neck, "She's right. Are you guy so dependent on ride pokemon that you forget other pokemon can also help you get places?"

Everyone else looks to one another before calling out their own pokemon. Hau has Decidueye, Acerola Drifblim, and Mahina Aerodactyl. Serena offers Gladion a space on Alteria's back and Calem helps Lana atop of Ponyta.

Calem reaches the next level expecting to undertake a long search throughout the complex. He anticipates spending hours searching rooms and facilities, facing constant delay from the unending battles against Aether Foundation employees the same way he did inside of Team Flare's base. Instead, Faba is at the entrance waiting for them behind a wall of employees. "How stupid…"

Faba, despite taking shelter behind others, assumes a high and mighty tone. "I, Faba, am the Aether Branch Chief. The only one in the whole world, I'm irreplaceable."

Calem motions to have Ponyta used ember on Faba, but Lana stops him. She speaks in a hushed tone, "He might say something important."

Faba continues, unaware to what almost happened. He faces Gladion and says, "And here you come back… uninvited?"

Gladion says, "You of all people should know everything that happens in the Aether Foundation. Isn't that right, high-and-mighty Branch Chief?"

Faba sneers, but keeps his distance. "Look at you… Living out in the world hasn't been kind, has it? But I'm not giving you anything! And you of all people should understand why… Gladion."

Gladion says, "You know, the thing about pokemon battles is that everyone can join in regardless of their status. Everyone becomes equal in battle!"

Faba says, "Oh ho… Is that right? Is that what you think? So you wish to battle me? Branch Chief Faba? I am Aether Paradise's last line of defense. Get past everyone else and then I'll battle mere children like you."

Lana and Acerola step forward. Lana says, "Fine then, we accept." Like before, the Aether Foundation employees don't last long. Gladion pulls out a pokeball to battle Faba, but Mahina cuts him off.

Mahina says, "Sorry, but it's my turn. This guy… the way he looks at us… he's making me so angry right now. Come on, Snorlax!"

Faba rubs his hands together as Snorlax appears. With a half-hearted lob, he brings out Hypno from a pokeball. "As you will, hypnosis!"

Snorlax slumps onto his side with a floor shaking thud, but Mahina grins. "Sleep talk!" As Snorlax gets up and uses body slam, Mahina says, "Snorlax spends 18 hours a day sleeping. Did you really thing we wouldn't be able to counter a small trick like that?"

Hypno avoids being flattened by Snorlax and uses psychic. Snorlax, who hasn't moved from where he tried to crush Hypno, scratches his belly upon taking the attack.

Mahina says, "Sleep talk!" This time, as Snorlax rises, she presses the Z-ring on her wrist. As she does the Z-dance and makes a Z with her arms, a flaming aura surround Snorlax. He dashes forward and leaps towards Hypno.

Hypno, shocked by Snorlax's burst of speed, has his reactions delayed.

Mahina says, "Pulverizing pancake!" as Snorlax crushes the psychic pokemon. She then pounds her fist within her hand, "Ok, Faba, now talk. Tell us what we want to know!"

Faba's eyes bulge open as he shakes his head. "H-h-how can this be? How could a child…"

Hau says, "Aue, look at you, Mahina! Faba was no pushover, but you showed him."

Gladion says, "So, as I said Faba. You of all people know what I'm here for."

"Indeed… The world truly hasn't been kind to you, has it? Look how hard it has made you. Cosmog may be downstairs."

Hau says, "What do you guys do down in those labs, anyway?"

Faba shrugs, "Well… if you must… I've heard experiments are held down there. Experiments aiming to tear the very boundaries of the world apart."

Gladion says, "We're in a bit of a hurry, Faba. Your key card."

Mahina places her hands on her hips as she says, "That's right, give it."

Faba says, "Why not? This is an act of kindness I can do for you thanks to my position as branch chief." He gives Mahina the card in his front pocket and walks off.

Mahina hurries to the elevator and inserts the card into a slot on the panel. Some lights blink and the machine hums to life. It rises up to them a few moments later and everyone rides it to the lower levels. Everyone braces for an ambush, but there is no one to greet them upon reaching the undersea labs.

Gladion looks around, "Everything looks the same…"

Hau says, "This place is like a secret hideout!"

Serena says, "This is a secret hideout! Were you not paying attention? They are clearly planning a trap for us."

Gladion shrugs, "Being excited is probably better than freezing from fear and nerves."

Acerola looks at the three paths before them and says, "Which way do we go now? Should we split up?"

Calem says, "Too dangerous. We all need to come back from this together."

Serena glances towards Calem. He is staying composed, but she knows that the time she and him split up inside Team Flare's hideout must be going through his mind. "Mizzy is right. There is no telling what defenses they might have prepared. This rescue will be pointless if a single one of us or our pokemon is lost."

Gladion says, "There's a pair of labs all the way in the back. If Cosmog and Lillie are down here, that's where they'll be."

Mahina says, "Then, let's go! Lead the way, Gladion."

They walk through one of the doors and continue in silence. After a while, Lana turns her head towards a wall. She puts her hand against it and concentrates. "How- how deep did we go?"

Gladion says, "You noticed? We're on the ocean floor. This is all to keep Aether Foundation secrets away from prying eyes."

Calem says, "Well… if they try to escape, we'll know which way they'll go."

Acerola says, "What bothers me is that we haven't met a single guard down here. I was really expecting to run into someone by now."

Mahina says, "I figured they're all gathering in the lab to make a final stand. You know, that whole strength in numbers sort of thing."

Calem says, "Better that than them detaching the lab and jettison us into the sea once we get there… Actually, they could just open a valve and fill this tunnel with water…"

Hau pales at the thought. "That's… you don't really think they'd do that? Do you?"

Serena takes Calem's hand and squeezes. Him coming up with such scenarios does not surprise her; something similar happened inside of Kalos's aquarium's undersea tub. Convincing him to enter it was almost impossible and then she had to hold his hand to keep him from running away. Then Team Flare showed up and damaged the glass during the ensuing chaos. Luckily, the tube was not very deep. Still, for him to be walking without a shred of hesitation makes her smile.

Her smile falters as she realizes that the change is nature considering everything that happened… Priorities change with time and experience. "I agree with Mizzy. We cannot deny such a development as possible."

Lana notices Serena's actions and says, "Has something similar happened before?"

Calem says, "I get paranoid when it comes to being underwater. That's probably why I didn't catch a water pokemon…"

Mahina turns to Gladion, "You're familiar with this place. Can they do that?"

Gladion says, "It's been two years since I've last been here. It isn't likely, but it is possible."

Hau says, "Hey, hey… that isn't very reassuring."

Calem shrugs, "The local pokemon will help us out."

Hau says, "You really think so?"

Calem says, "Probably?"

Lana notices Serena about to reassure him and hurries to cut her off. "You have nothing to worry about. Or did you forget? Water pokemon are my specialty. If anything happens, I'll definitely get us all to safety."

Gladion says, "Enough chatter, we're here. I'll check lab A, the rest of you check lab B."

Hau says, "Alone? What part of everyone going back together didn't you understand?"

Serena and Calem exchange glances. They nod to one another and she says, "Gladion has his reason, Hau. Come on, we cannot afford to waste time here." She leads everyone to the next lab while Calem stays behind.

Gladion turns to Calem, "What about you?"

Calem leans against the wall. "Look, I get it. You and Null probably have some sort of connection with this lab. I'll wait out here. If anything happens, then I'll come in."

Gladion smiles for once and says, "Thanks… You know, Null and I are more alike than we look. We're both what we were made to be. I was nothing more than an ornament to my mother. Wearing whatever she told me to wear, acting how she wanted me to act… Null was crafted with the same meticulousness. It was made just to battle ultra beasts in this very lab here…"

As Gladion enters the lab, Lana returns down the hall. She walks with a silent determination and also leans against the wall. A moment of silence passes between he and Calem before she gazes towards him and says, "Aren't you getting somewhat ahead of yourself? If anything does happen, are you really certain the two of you alone will be enough?"

Calem looks Lana over and chuckles to her annoyance. Before she can complain, he says, "Thanks."

She makes a face, but says, "…You're welcome." Another spell of silence falls over them. Lana fidgets against the wall and then says, "So, what are you planning to do once this is over? Not this here, but I mean your island challenge. Sure, the Pokemon League is coming, but what about after that?"

Calem breathes in at Lana's question. That's a topic he's been pondering for a while now and one thing stands above everything else. Once everything is over, "Racing… I want to get back to racing."

Lana giggles and says, "Grandfather will go around telling everyone you stayed at our house the second he sees you on T.V."

Before Calem can comment, rapid footsteps interrupt. Mahina runs up to them where Lana says, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Mahina says, "N-no… Everything's fine. It's just, what we just learned… I thought you'd need to know as soon as possible."

Calem says, "What is it?"

"We found a report about Cosmog- I mean Nebby. Nebby can open ultra wormholes when under stress. It does so to escape. Not only that, they also have a device that can control the ultra wormholes Nebby makes… And, one more thing, Nebby… Nebby too! Nebby is an ultra beast too."

Lana says, "An ultra beast…"

Calem says, "No wonder he isn't afraid of the Tapu…"

Lana says, "That's it? It being an ultra beast doesn't bother you?"

Calem says, "Nebby is Nebby, a blue fluffball cloud that goes "Pew, pew," and goes wherever it pleases without a single care in the world."

Lana purses her lips, "Well… when you put it like that… No, you're right. If Nebby was bad, Lillie wouldn't have done so much for it. We have to make sure we rescue Nebby and Lillie!"

The door to the lab opens as Gladion steps out. "Under stress … you mean cause it pain. That must be why she ran away with it. Did you find anything?"

Mahina says, "Everyone else is still searching, but no. I guess no dice on your end either?"

Gladion says, "No wonder Faba was so cooperative. This was a dead end. Darn… Looks like we'll have to back track."

They gather and return to the elevator. On the way, Gladion says underneath his breath, "They played us… All this was to stall us…"

Serena says, "Gladion, we will get Lillie and Nebby back."

Serena pulls Calem to the side as they walk and thrusts a starry, blue pokeball into his hands. "According to their notes, this is a beast ball."

Calem stores the ball along with his other pokeballs. Serena's few words are enough for him to understand. A pokeball designed to capture ultra beasts…

They reach the elevator and ride it past the docks up to the entrance lobby. A squad of Aether Foundation employees surround them once the elevator comes to a stop. One says, "Director Faba has given us directions regarding all of you. Now that you've learned of the darkness at the heart of Aether Paradise, we'll need you all to conveniently disappear!"

Calem and Serena look to each other and nod. Serena grabs her champion's mantel and throws it outward where it flutters back down. Altaria appears by her side as she says, "Well then, looks like our turn has finally arrived." She grins, "This takes me back to the Pokeball Factory… What about you, Mizzy?"

A grin plays on Calem's face as he calls out, "Ponyta." Blue flames blaze from the fire pokemon's back as he says, "Do you think they'll fall to their knees screaming "Aether"?"

"Flare blitz!" "Dragon pulse!" "Low kick!" "Dragon breath!" "Flame wheel!" "Steel wing!" "Hypnosis!" "Dream eater!"

Lana says, "A-amazing, they're in perfect sync with one another."

Acerola says, "Every attack they make builds off the previous one. Nothing's wasted."

Mahina says, "Serena's the champion, but Calem isn't falling behind one bit…"

Ponyta glows white during the midst of battle. His flames grow hotter and a horn shoots out from his forehead. Lana gasps, "He's evolving!"

Calem says, "Rapidash, wild charge!" The final enemy pokemon, Nidoking, falls over upon being rammed into. An employee calls it back and says, "Ridiculous… These two kids… they're not normal!"

Gladion says, "Now that you understand our strength… how about you get out of our way?"

Hau says, "Amazing… When did he get so… Is this how- is this how trainers become in battles they can't afford to lose? Just what have I been… Is this what it means to become serious?"

Gladion places a hand on Hau's shoulder. "I know we aren't friends… but I'm glad you're all here. I remember what you said at the Battle Royal Dome. About how people can achieve more if they do something together." He cracks a smile and says, "Looks like maybe you were right."

Wicke steps out from around a corner, "Young master." While Hau becomes confused, everyone else turns to Gladion. Gladion gives her a heavy glare, but Wicke approaches with a smile on her face, "I has been a long time… And hello to you as well, Calem, Lana, Hau, everyone."

Gladion says, "What happened to Lillie? Do you know anything?"

Wicke says, "I… imagine that she is with the president."

"Then that's where I'm going. That's all I need to know."

Hau says, "You mean Miss Lusamine, right? She's a nice person, or… I think she is. She'll listen to us if we explain everything, right?"

Gladion says, "Yeah, she nice… but only as long as you mean nothing to her."

Wicke shakes her head, "I'm afraid the doors have been locked."

Gladion turns to leave, "That's not stopping me!"

Wicke says to everyone else as they follow Gladion, "Please look after young Master Gladion. When he is worked up about something, he doesn't consider the consequences. Even going so far as stealing pokemon… Really, those two truly are very much alike…"

Hau says as they walk away, "Those two?"

Mahina says, "She means Lillie."

Hau says, "How does Lillie play into all of this?"

Everyone reacts to Hau's comment; Calem and Serena facepalm, Lana shakes her head, Acerola's jaw drops, Mahina rolls his eyes, and Gladion stares at him in disbelief.

Hau says, "What?"

A/N: These guys are dominating! They're storming Aether Paradise like they're in an action movie. I've mentioned before that I'm tweeking Hau's personality to give him more life, but I'm a bit worried about what developed. Do you guys like him? Or is the character gamefreak gave us unsalvageable? But moving on from how, how'd you like this chapter? Anyone else think that it feels like a prologue for the next chapter? There were some touching moments, bouts of jealousy, revelations of back ground, and some action. All we need now is a nice conclusion. Yeah, like that's gonna happen.

Thanks for reading, leave a review (Really, I like reading them),

-Gandire