A/N: Hey everybody! This is a little experimental for me, but this is an interlude. This, and others like it, will be used for set up and exploring thoughts that don't neatly fit within my chapter structures. I hope you all enjoy.
Lillie laid down in her and cot cuddled up to her pokémon, reflecting on the nice dinner she'd just had. It wasn't like any dinner she'd had when she still lived at Aether Paradise, before or after Father's disappearance. There were usually two or three different forks, and folded napkins, and you certainly never ate with your hands. But the warmth that she'd felt… once upon a time that had been present even in the white, sterile walls of Aether Paradise.
Like Christmas, five years ago. Back then, Christmas had been the only time of year Aether Paradise's walls were allowed to be covered in something besides a bleached white, with green and red garland and twinkling Christmas lights decorating the halls. Of course, it had all been done in an orderly manner and overseen by a professional decorator. Mother's standards didn't change, after all, even during the happiest time of the year.
Even better, Mother and Father had managed to set aside some time for herself and Gladion, and the four of them had gone caroling throughout Aether Paradise, singing Christmas songs to the pokémon they'd been taking care of, along with some of the employees. Her big brother had grumbled about having to sing, but his complaints had been half-hearted at worst, and he'd probably sung the loudest of the four of them.
And then, there'd been Christmas morning with packages wrapped neatly under the tree.
Along with the books that her parents had given her, and the Zorua egg that had been gifted to her brother were the hoodies she and her brother had worn for days afterward.
She smiled sadly at the memory. Gladion was probably still wearing one identical to the one their parents had given him then, black with that weird slash of red across his chest. He'd always been so stubborn, even Mother's attempts to throw it out after Father disappeared didn't make him any more willing to part with it.
The white hoodie she'd always worn though… Father had loved it so much, saying it made her look just as beautiful as Mother. Mother had praised her as well, saying she had an excellent sense of style when she wore it with the skirt that they'd gotten her for her birthday. Their words had made her feel so proud! She'd loved her parents so very much and had wanted nothing more than to grow up to be as wonderful a woman as Mother.
But then… Then Father had disappeared. At first, she'd kept dressing the way he'd liked so much, because it made her feel closer to him even though he was gone. But Mother would cry, seeing her dressed like that on the rare moments they interacted at all. So, Lillie had tucked the hoodie in the back of her closet, because the last thing she'd wanted was to make Mother sadder.
Still, she kept wearing the skirt Mother had liked, hoping that maybe that would be enough to make her smile again. But… it didn't. In fact, the more she saw her in it, the more upset Mother seemed. It-
Bubbly nudged the hat Sun had given her into her hands, interrupting her darkening thoughts. Lillie traced the brim with her fingers, remembering how Sun had called her beautiful the first time she'd put it on. Not "bearable" or "less ugly", but beautiful. And she'd believed him. Team Sun would be headed to Akala Island soon. Maybe it was time to see if she could find clothes like she used to wear. Like Father had loved, and Mother had too before she'd become a stranger. She liked them, maybe Sun would too.
Before she could get too caught up in her musings, Bubbly licked Lillie's face, causing the pale girl to giggle. Bubbly and Nebby nuzzled into her sides, and Buzzy used Sweet Scent filling the loft with a soothing aroma. What little tension remained left Lillie's body, as the scent of flowers and the warmth of her pokémon enveloped her.
Lillie smiled and her eyes drifted shut, happily thinking of Akala Island and more time with her pokémon and Sun. Aether Paradise and her mother bothered her no further as her last cognizant thought was to remind herself that they had no idea where she was.
Despite Lillie's belief, her mother knew exactly where she was. It was simply that, for the moment, the mad woman that stood at the top of the Aether Foundation didn't care.
After all, what need had she for an ugly girl who'd stolen her property and run away, rejecting her love? It was only at Faba's polite reminder that if their current plans to reunite her with her sweet beasts didn't work out, the Cosmog her daughter had stolen would be necessary to form the Ultra Wormhole.
Frankly unless its power proved necessary, ridding her of that annoying pokémon was one thing that worthless daughter of hers had done right. If not for that pokémon, Mohn… Mohn would still be with her!
It was only thanks to Faba's timely intervention that Mohn's research notes hadn't been sucked into that damned Ultra Wormhole along with her husband. Using those notes, she'd learned more about her sweet beasts, and with them possibly found a way to retrieve Mohn.
Sometimes, she wondered if Mohn had left her on purpose. Ever since that ugly Team Plasma had surfaced in Unova he'd grown concerned that their conservation efforts might go astray, just as that organization's had.
But that was ridiculous, and she'd immediately told him as much… But he'd countered that she hadn't even taken a moment to consider his point. She'd retorted that he was being foolish and Mohn had stormed off, attempting that disastrous experiment.
That argument had been the last time they'd spoken. At first, she'd worried that their fight had led to him making some mistake, which had led to him being sucked away by the wormhole. That it had been her fault.
Now however, after experiencing her sweet beast's embrace, she was even more certain that her husband's concerns had been baseless. Lusamine Aether did not make mistakes. If anyone questioned her decisions, well they simply didn't know what they were talking about that was all there was to it.
She was always right, so why did her family keep leaving her? Keep rejecting her love? Her husband, at least, could be excused. It hadn't been his choice, most likely. It was thanks to that annoying little Cosmog, sucking him away with its insipid Ultra Wormhole.
But her children… They had no such excuse. Hadn't she given them all the love she had? Hadn't she given them the perfect clothes? Clothes that hid their ugliness? Kept Gladion from cutting his hair like her husband's, so that it wouldn't remind any of them of what they'd lost?
And Lillie's outfit! Wasn't styling her outfit after her sweet beasts' appearance an ultimate act of love? It was certainly an excellent replacement for the clothes Mohn had so loved to see her wear, that silly little hoodie and skirt combination. Just thinking of those clothes brought back bad memories! Lusamine hated them, so surely Lillie did too! There was no need for those garments!
But in the end, both of her children had fled Aether Paradise in the dead of night, and both had stolen from her like the dirty little thieves they were. What a wretched way to repay her love!
She didn't need such wretches, but she made sure to keep tabs on them all the same. Who knew if that failed experiment Gladion had stolen, or that annoying little Cosmog would prove useful in the future? Keeping an eye on those wretches let her keep track of her stolen property on the off chance they were ever required.
As she reflected on this, Lusamine looked over her private collection of pokémon one by one. Slowpoke… Pyukumuku… Pikachu… Her sweet babies; all floating in their stasis pods. They would never leave her. She would keep her darlings perfectly safe preserved; forever with her.
Blowing her perfect babies a kiss goodnight, Lusamine slunk back to her bed smiling giddily. Faba's research into Mohn's notes was going well. Soon she'd be reunited with her sweet beasts, and perhaps with them she'd find Mohn again.
Giggling like a little girl, she fell into a dreamless sleep.