Sometimes at work, I'll be the one to supervise the petting zoo. I love the goats – they're my buddies. I like it when it's not just kids that come in to pet the animals – adults should have fun with them too. And one day, a group of teenagers came in. One of them caught my eye. He was wearing a black jacket with white zigzags across the sleeves. He also had fluffy white hair with black roots. I normally wouldn't have noticed, but I had just been looking up some characters in reference for this chapter. As I was talking to their group, I asked the guy, "is that a Guzma jacket?" He promptly got embarrassed and asked me to keep it a secret.

You go, guy. Wearing Pokémon outfits while you're out and about is awesome. (I sometimes wear weird stuff for fun. Then I forget why I'm wearing it, and wonder why people are staring at me).

Polaris-Ponyta, Mia-Alolan Marowak, Marin-Primarina, Lunick-Midnight Lycanroc, Twine-Lurantis, Hachi-Mimikyu, Zetty-Rotom Dex

Chapter 16: Imprisoned

Gladion shoved me in the back. I stumbled, and ropes tightened around my wrists, chafing the skin. I winced. Beside me, Julio held my backpack, which held my Pokéballs. When I regained my balance, I looked around the unfamiliar courtyard of the Aether Foundation. People in Team Skull uniforms lounged along the path, watching us. A couple of them straightened up, apparently recognizing me. Gladion pushed me again, nearly knocking me over. Some of Team Skull snickered.

A huge mansion towered ahead of us. Gladion stopped at the front doors where Team Skull was standing guard. One of them was a girl with long pink and yellow ponytails.

"Plumeria," Gladion said. "I've got a present for Guzma. Is he inside? This is the girl that's been causing trouble for Team Skull."

Plumeria leaned over, examining my dirt-smeared face. I was no longer in my pajamas, but my cut knee had still smeared blood across my pants. I looked away as her nose drew nearer to mine. "So, you're the one who's been messing with my guys? Well, looks like you got what was coming." She straightened up. "Impressive, Gladion. Yeah, big bro Guzma's inside with the lady." She stepped to the side and held out an arm, inviting us to enter. Julio grabbed the front of my shirt and dragged me along. I grimaced as I tried to stay upright. Gladion followed close behind, tugging his hood down over his head.

We passed through the mansion foyer and to the room beyond. There were three people inside. One of them had a skull tattoo and medallion, black jacket and pants, and dyed white hair. He was talking to Lusamine. Lillie was sitting in a chair, staring at the ground. All three of them looked up as we entered.

Guzma spotted Julio leading the way. "Yo, What's up bro?" Gladion remained behind me, hood down.

Julio stepped forward. "Guzma! This is that girl who's been fighting us. She tried to stop us from taking the girl. After you got away, we managed to catch her too. I thought you could thank her for everything she's done."

Lillie gasped and jumped to her feet. I grit my teeth and looked away from her.

Lusamine approached, raising an eyebrow. "Is that the foreign champion? It is! What do you know." She looked at Julio. "You caught her? That's impressive. So, she was with dear little Lillie."

"She didn't know!" Lillie blurted. "She didn't know I was with you."

Lusamine didn't even look at her, though her expression grew colder. "So, champion, where are your friends?"

"You freaks put them in the hospital," I spat. I didn't want anyone trying to go after them. But I regretted saying that the moment I saw Lillie's face. She bit her lip and her eyes filled with tears.

"Well, that happens when you mess with Team Skull," Guzma said.

I lunged at him. Julio grabbed my shoulder and I nearly dragged him to the ground from my momentum.

Guzma narrowed his eyes and strode toward me. He raised his arm and swung it to backhand me across the face. I was still tangled up with Julio and couldn't dodge. But Gladion grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me away. Guzma's knuckle just barely grazed the scar on my cheek, but Gladion's yank knocked me to the ground. Lusamine could see his face for the first time. A cruel smile curved her lips.

"Well, well. Gladion. Back again. To what do I owe the honor? Or is this little family reunion only because you want to see Lillie?"

Lusamine's reaction distracted Guzma. From my heap on the ground, I got to work. The ropes around my wrist easily slipped off. I grabbed Hachi's Pokéball from my pocket. and my Mimikyu slipped into the shadows of the staircase.

"Let Lillie go," Gladion said, clenching his fists and narrowing his eyes.

Lusamine laughed, the sound ringing through the room. "Both of you have forgotten your place."

"Mother, you have to let Cosmog go!" Lillie cried, jumping to her feet.

"How dare you address me that way!" Lusamine's voice grew cold and dangerous. "I have no children anymore. Certainly not any that are wretched enough to run off and reject my love."

Lillie looked to the ground again.

"All I need," Lusamine continued, "Is Cosmog to open the wormholes. To let me see the beloved Ultra Beasts from other worlds. But also to protect Alola from what's coming. So now that I have Cosmog, the rest of you are unimportant. Guzma, would you take care of them for me? I have work to do."

Lusamine turned and strode into the depths of the mansion.

"Wait," Lillie called. "What's going to happen to Alola?

But Lusamine was gone.

Guzma looked back and forth between Gladion and Julio. "So, I'm missing something. The two of you captured some champion? I don't think you're strong enough for that, even together. Gladion, you can't even beat me."

Gladion growled.

"I suppose you could have won by trickery," Guzma continued. "But your prisoner looks awfully calm. Especially since you protected her from that punch. The lady didn't notice because she was too interested in you, Gladion. I knew you ran away from some fancy family, but from Lusamine? You've got guts, kid. I liked you for that. So why don't you tell me what the secret is?" He stepped toward us, a manic gleam in his eye. He raised a Pokéball.

Hachi shot his long tendrily arm out from the shadows and struck Guzma with an uppercut. As Guzma stumbled, I stood and faced him. I held my backpack, along with all of my Pokéballs. Hachi scurried out to stand beside me.

Guzma smirked, rubbing his cheek where he'd been struck. "What did I tell you?" He turned to Gladion and Julio. "So, the two of you turned traitor? After Team Skull took you in?" Neither of them responded. "So, you chose some frilly champion, huh? I guess I'll just have to pound her into the ground."

I held up a Pokéball. "Look. I'm in a hurry. I need to save a Pokémon that's in danger. And I think you'd like to hurry up and pound me into the ground. So why don't we just battle one-on-one? We each pick out strongest." Plus I wanted to keep most of my team fresh, just in case.

Guzma snorted. "Fast and furious? Sure. Why not. Let's see if you're as tough as you think you are." In unison, we each sent our Pokéballs out. Him with Golisopod, and me with Polaris. Unsurprisingly, Guzma snorted at my choice of Pokémon. That was good. If he underestimated her, it would only work in our favor.

Golisopod launched forward with Liquidation. Polaris dodged, whirling around to kick with her back hooves. She rammed Golisopod into the wall. I saw Guzma's expression change. He realized that this Ponyta was no pushover. Golisopod turned on her, his many arms clicking in anger. He whipped up a Swords Dance, and Polaris used Agility. Golispood struck with Rock Smash over and over, but Polaris zipped around, dodging. Until an attack hit, knocking Polaris off balance. Golisopod closed in on her and raised his claws for Slash. Polaris leapt between his pincers, nearly touching the high ceiling as she used Bounce. She crashed down on him with her powerful hooves.

Golisopod staggered, then hurled out Razor Shell. Polaris didn't have time to dodge. The attacks hit her, knocking her off her feet. Guzma let out a bellow of triumph, and Golispopd charged forward with Liquidation once more. But just as he was about to strike, Polaris raised her head and blasted him with a point-blank Fire Blast. The fire evaporated through Golisopod's wall of water and struck him.

The Fire Blast had so much power that even after passing through water, it knocked Golisopod off his feet, I stepped forward and began shifting my arms through the forms of a Z-move. I waved my hands toward the ceiling, mimicking the motions of flickering fire. Guzma saw what I was doing and began his own form. But I had the head start, and his Golisopod was still wincing from the boiling steam. My Z-ring blazed to life. Polaris's Firium Z ignited, and she leaped into Inferno Overdrive. Golisopod's Z-crystal lit up just as a column of fire engulfed him. The paint on the walls bubbled and peeled from the blazing heat. The sprinkler system in the building activated and began raining down on us. Polaris backed away, wincing from the droplets. She was battered and tired, but still standing. As the fire dissipated, Golisopod came into view, unconscious.

Guzma threw back his head and roared in fury. I took a step back, alarmed. He turned on me and I braced myself. Polaris and Hachi moved in front of me, but Guzma didn't seem to notice. "That little puff ball of a Pokémon may not last much longer. They used Cosmog's gas to open a wormhole before. Taking gas from Cosmog isn't good for it. You'd better hurry."

Taken aback, I took a few seconds to process his words. They must have stored some of Nebby's gas before Lillie rescued her. They were using it when that weird alien jellyfish appeared. It didn't seem like they had much control over where the wormholes opened. If they used more of Nebby's gas, would that give them more control? Or would it open even more holes? Could Nebby survive if they took too much gas?

I nodded to Lillie, Julio, and Gladion. Lillie took the lead, taking us deeper into the mansion. I returned Polaris to protect her from the sprinklers, which luckily stopped after a minute. Hachi ran with us, moving surprisingly fast for a little guy.

"Are Ben and Hari going to be okay?" Lillie asked.

"Ben's okay. Hari's hurt. He'll recover, but it will take a while."

"Oh, no! I'm so sorry!"

I shuddered. "Well, Hari is sturdy. It will be rough on him, but he'll pull through."

Lillie stopped in front of a heavy metal door. "This room has always been kapu. I think this is where they are."

"No problem." I nodded to Hachi, who reached a shadow arm under the door and up to the inner handle. After several seconds, there was a click and the door swung open.

"Thank you, Hachi," I whispered, rubbing his head. He squeaked, looking pleased. We pushed the door open and found a big open room. Lusamine was standing before a display of computer panels. At her side was a sturdy metal box with electrical blue panels. Nebby was locked inside. I could sense her panic and helplessness emanating from within.

"In the box," I whispered.

Lusamine saw our reflection in one of the computer screens. She turned to face us, then gave a sickly smile. She lifted Nebby's box and raised it up over her head.

"No!" Lillie cried, stepping forward. Hachi stretched out a shadowy arm to grab Nebby away, but he was too late.

Blue light exploded out of the box, radiating like flames. Nebby's muffled squeals echoed from her prison. The expanded like a fishing net, which sank in on itself until it formed a hole. Eerie cracks spread until it looked like a gaping wound in the air. My body reacted as I felt the familiar, intense aura approaching. The shivers started again, and ice and electricity crackled through me. It didn't hit me as hard as it did last time, but I put out a hand to keep my balance. Julio grabbed my arm to steady me.

Swaying tentacles lowered themselves out of the wormhole, and the jellyfish beast appeared before us. Still leaning on Julio, I reached out with my free arm and dragged Lillie away from the beast.

We'd been too late.