Pokémon Radiant Sun
Howdy.
This one is out a bit later than anticipated, but hey, what can you do? I've been having to work on my transition from the US to...well, somewhere overseas, so I've been really busy!
After all this time, I'll be moving to my first operational base for the Air Force later on this week! Meaning I'm moving onto bigger and better things, and as long as I keep my head held high and stay focused, I'll be doing well.
However, I also have fun stuff planned writing-wise. You all still have a long ways to go before this story is done, so let's get onto this very long awaited chapter! Yes, I say that a lot, but I do genuinely look forward to a lot of my updates. I always put something in each one that I've been looking forward to, and this one is no exception. It's how I beat writer's block and writer's fatigue, you know?
Anyways, shoutout to those who have reviewed since the last update, which includes Sai Og Sus, Gokan123, Madame Rodoshe, Cottonmouth25, SonicIKE, GeekyGamer314, DarkestShade73, sceptilezeno, Angelfir3, hafizsyaraf5, BraviaryScout, a new guest reviewer known as Lil Stevie, as well as three new reviewers known as OmegaStar327, RC-DA, and Nakaru Uzumaki. Thank you all so much for the support and love!
A quick note. Lillie, Lusamine, and Gladion's last name reveal from last chapter is indeed the first time I've mentioned it. I'll explain more in depth later. But, as someone pointed out in the review section, it is indeed French (and Spanish) for "Garden", which I felt was appropriate given their name origins, as well as other things I have planned.
Enjoy!
Chapter 52: Atop the Crooked Throne
"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Jardin." Aria replied, earning a flinch from Wicke and a frown from Faba. Lusamine herself just allowed her smile to slip away to a somber frown.
"Just call me Lusamine. As much as I enjoy formalities, it's just better that way. And after the incident...Well, it's just Miss Lusamine nowadays. Usually just President." Lusamine explained to Aria, who also frowned in alarm.
"S-sorry, I didn't mean to assume." Aria apologized, but Lusamine broke their handshake and waved her hand dismissively.
"Think nothing of it. Now, shall we get down to business?" Lusamine said to the assembled group, putting a hand on her hip. Burnet and Kukui exchanged a brief glance before Kukui nodded to his wife, who stepped forward.
"Of course. Over here, please." Professor Burnet said, walking over to a cylindrical container. Within it, suspended within was an unconscious Shadow Celebi that was visibly twitching within the green fluid that it was immersed it.
"We've had to keep to keep Celebi sedated ever since we released it from the Master Ball Aria caught it in." Professor Burnet explained to the others. Lusamine eyed Celebi with an awed expression, stepping forward slowly and approaching the container. She placed a delicate hand on it, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
"It's hurting...What have those monsters done to you? Can my love save you? I...I will try, little one. I will save you from your pain, I promise." Lusamine whispered, leaning forward and pressing her forehead against the glass.
"Wow. You truly love Pokémon, don't you?" Vivian asked Lusamine, who stepped away from container and looked at the violinist.
"Of course. As the President of the Aether Foundation, it's my duty to help Pokémon to the best of my ability, rehabilitating them and protecting them from harm. I have spent more than two decades protecting Pokémon all around the world." Lusamine answered, smiling a little. "We get worldwide support and a great deal of help, but it's thanks to the tireless efforts of our employees and my love for Pokémon that we are able to assist as many as we do."
"We actually found out there was a Celebi within Alola some time ago, but we could not pinpoint where. Something was distorting our…" Faba began to say, but a sharp look from Lusamine shut him up. "Anyways, we're glad that Colress contacted us to clear up the mystery and asked for our help. Of course, we couldn't refuse the chance to interact with a renowned Pokémon like Celebi. With some luck and effort, we hope to be able to heal the damage that has been done to it."
"That's really cool." Noah remarked, smiling at the President and Faba. "I know back in Kanto there's a few of your labs out by Fuchsia City, so I'm kind of familiar with the Aether Foundation, but to think you can actually help Celebi return to normal is crazy."
"Of course! I'll, naturally, be leading the project! As the Branch Chief of the Aether Foundation, it's only right for me to assume that position." Faba said smugly, puffing out his chest as confidence oozed from his voice. Professor Burnet, Wicke, Sina, Dexio and Vivian all rolled their eyes at this.
"You? Do we have to entrust Celebi to this clown?" Vivian said, her tone deadpan as everyone looked to her. Faba's eye twitched as he turned to glare at the young woman.
"I mean...Your assessment of Faba isn't too far off." Wicke said with a teasing smile on her face as Faba's gaze attempted to burn a hole through Vivian, who was smirking now at the man's reaction.
"What!? How…I am a scientist! I work with genetics and inter-dimensional instruments all day long! What do you take me for!?" Faba demanded, making Vivian raise an eyebrow.
"What do I take you for? Well, to start with, you look like someone I definitely wouldn't let near small children." Vivian remarked, earning a surprised look from Faba while everyone else snickered. Miss Wicke was straight up started laughing while the most indignant look had now formed on Faba's face. Meanwhile, Aria was thinking about that comment.
"I mean...she's not wrong. We had to send Lillie away from the lab so that these people wouldn't know she was ever here, didn't we?" Aria thought while Faba stomped towards a grinning Vivian.
"How DARE you!? I am the Branch Chief of the Aether Foundation! The last line of defense for the Pokémon and personnel we have there! I am the lead researcher on the Ultra Space at our facility and a world-renowned scientist! I shall not be mocked!" Faba growled at the younger Trainer, who just laughed in response.
"You're really sensitive about that, huh?"
"I am not sensitive!"
"You're the one shouting."
"I am not shouting! I am..erk...perfectly calm."
"About as calm as Aria after someone eats the last Choco Surprise."
"Those are fighting words, bitch!" Aria yelled, joining Faba in glaring down her friend, though she couldn't help a smile a moment later. Vivian was naturally grinning back at the Snagger.
"Right, well...I feel we're getting off track." Professor Burnet said after a moment of awkward silence, earning several nods from the more mature characters in the room.
"Of course. Since we're going to be studying Celebi in-depth today, I'd recommend everyone call out at least one Pokémon for protection, yeah?" Kukui said to the others, releasing his Magnezone. Everyone else released a Pokémon of their own, including Miss Wicke, who called out a Togetic.
Lusamine was the last to send out a Pokémon. Despite there being five Poké Balls at her waist, she instead chose to do something else. The woman reached up to her chest and pressed down on the large gem in the center of her dress. The gem clicked and moved outwards, revealing a battered old Poké Ball hidden on the other side of it.
"Wow. You have a false compartment in your dress?" Sina asked, amazed.
"It's a secret. I only bring this Pokémon out if I absolutely must." Lusamine said before she released her Pokémon, revealing a majestic cream-colored fox with nine long tails.
"A regular Ninetales, and not an Alolan Regional Variant? Interesting." Kukui thought, observing the fox with a small smile. The Ninetales looked at them all impassively before regarding Lusamine with a sad look.
"I know, Fiaro. But this is important. Mohn would want you to see this for him. You know how much he loved the stories of Celebi. How much it inspired him." Lusamine said to the fox, receiving a worn sign in response. Lusamine looked to the others in the room, who were understandably confused. Lusamine smiled sadly and gestured to her Pokémon before explaining.
"This is Fiaro. He was my husband's very first Pokémon. I carry him in that compartment so that no matter what, I'll always have a piece of my husband close to my heart, since he is no longer among us." Lusamine explained as she scratched the Ninetales on the head, receiving a content sigh in response. "Much like how Faba calls himself the last line of defense of the Aether Paradise, Fiaro is the same for myself. With him by my side, my husband's strength becomes my own."
"Awww. That's sweet!" Sina cooed, smiling widely.
"Do you battle at all? He looks strong." Aria said as she eyed the Ninetales. It certainly had a sort of confidence about it, like it had seen many battles. Lusamine nodded, smiling a little at the question.
"I haven't battled seriously in decades. None of the Pokémon on what I consider my team have battled since I departed for Alola with Mohn on those years ago and realized the impact battling has on Pokémon. However, just because they're out of practice doesn't mean they're still not strong, and I ensure my Pokémon are fit and healthy." Lusamine explained, though it was obvious her remarks confused some of those in the room.
"How do you mean, ma'am?" Wicke asked the President.
"It's quite simple. Pokémon grow in strength due to battling. Pokémon are reactionary creatures, and defeating opponents and training allow them to grow in strength, speed, and so on because that's simply how they are made. However, as Pokémon grow stronger, their strength can only increase so much. It's harder for a stronger Pokémon to maintain that strength, even harder for it to grow, than it would be for a Pokémon that is weaker." Lusamine explained to her subordinate.
"And in that same vein, a super strong Pokémon that hasn't battled for while or doesn't continue to train at the same or greater level decreases in their own strength level. Some Champions have lost their title thanks to becoming lax. Alder comes to mind there." Lusamine remarked, earning a scowl from the Unovan's in the room.
"And a stuck-up brat grabbed the crown. Don't remind me." Aria growled, surprising Professor Kukui and Burnet.
"You dislike your Champion?" Kukui asked.
"A Champion protects their region. Iris sat on her ass and let Unova crumble, and ran away at the first sign of things getting really bad. She abandoned her people. We did her job for her and paid the price. Yes, I dislike her." Aria grunted, clenching her fists.
"Yes, well...back to my point. Yes, my Fiaro is strong, but not nearly as strong as he once was. It happens to all Pokémon. The strong do not always remain so forever. All Champions know that, including me." Lusamine remarked with a sly smile, shutting her eyes as everyone blinked in surprise as they processed Lusamine's words.
"You were a Champion?" Dexio asked, stunned by this.
"Yes. Many, many years ago I reigned as Kalos' Champion, the very region you and Sina hail from. It was Gregory the Swift who dethroned me several years later. He would later go on to be defeated by Diantha. But yes, once upon a time, I watched over and protected Kalos as its strongest Trainer. And then...Well, I was defeated and found a new path. But that's another story for another day. We have a Shadow Celebi to set free and then study." Lusamine said as she looked to Celebi, admiring the creature.
"Do we have a way to keep it unconscious without keeping it sedated? That would interfere with our studies of how Celebi's body reacts to whatever was done to it." Faba asked Professor Burnet, who shook her head.
"We were hoping you would have the answer, Elias." Burnet replied, receiving a massive scowl from the man.
"I told you the last time we met. No one calls me Elias, Professor." Faba said pointedly, not seeing Miss Wicke snickering behind him.
"Soooo going to call him that as often as possible." Wicke thought as Faba continued to study the Time Travel Pokémon.
"I believe I can come up with something eventually. Now, let's release Shadow Celebi. We have plenty of Pokémon on hand to reign it in should it come to its senses." Faba said to the others. Soon enough the chamber was drained and opened, revealing Celebi. An assistant quickly grabbed the Legendary and placed it on a nearby table, where everyone clustered around to observe it, with all of their Pokémon ready to attack at the slightest hint of trouble.
"It's beautiful...But tainted by what they did to it." Lusamine whispered, reaching forward and placing a hand on the Time Travel Pokémon's cheek. "Mohn would weep if he saw what they have done to you."
"It's sad...Tragic, really." Vivian agreed as she leaned against Noah, who rolled his eyes at the nonchalant way his girlfriend was taking this.
"That little pixie has caused so much trouble. It'll be a relief to finally get it back to normal so we can stop worrying about it." Noah remarked, earning a look from Lusamine. Meanwhile, Faba was examining the Legendary with an awed expression.
"Fascinating...Professor Krane's notes on Shadow Pokémon, as well as their recovered files from Ein, really can't scratch the surface as to what was done this creature." Faba murmured, studying it intensely and paying close attention to the face of Celebi. "I can feel it...The darkness within Celebi. It's intense, almost overpowering."
"However, I believe this is reversible. I'll admit, it'll take time, but I believe that I can create a system that can purge the darkness from Celebi and free it's heart. However, it'll require Celebi to come with us to the Aether Paradise for proper study and rehabilitation." Faba explained to the others, standing up.
"Is that absolutely necessary?" Vivian asked, skeptical. "I can't imagine that your tech is that much more sophisticated than what they have here."
"That's where you're wrong. The equipment and personnel we have at the Aether Paradise is second to none. If we are to help Celebi, it'll be from the Paradise. I'll not work on such a task with inferior toys like these!" Faba huffed, his smug grin returning. Wicke remained silent, knowing her thoughts on this situation wouldn't help. Lusamine nodded in agreement, her gaze not leaving Celebi.
"I agree with Mister Faba. Which is why I'll accompany Celebi to the Aether Paradise!"
The trio whirled around in surprise as they saw that a new member had joined the group. Colress stood cheerily behind them, smiling as he crossed his arms. Lusamine smiled a little before saying, "It's a faux pas to be late, Doctor Colress."
"Perhaps, Miss Lusamine. I had other matters to contend with. It was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up. And I don't think I've missed anything terribly important." Colress said as he walked forward, regarding the Pokémon on the table with a calculating look. "Yes, I will accompany you three back to the Paradise so that we can begin to heal Celebi from the darkness in its heart."
"I don't think so, Colress. Faba should be more than capable of sorting this matter out himself." Lusamine said to the scientist, raising an eyebrow as his smile widened. Colress nodded then and turned to Faba.
"Yes, it is necessary. Cipher doesn't usually take risks with their most important assets. I believe it'll take the two of us to accomplish our goal. Besides, it was my invite that led to this encounter. A joint venture between two of the greatest minds of our time to save one of the Legendary Pokémon that travels through time! Doesn't that sound grand?" Colress declared as he swept his arms apart, grinning at them.
Faba chuckled softly at the praise, straightening his jacket and puffing out his chest. "Of course, Doctor Colress. I'd be honored to have such an incredible ally by my side as we save this wonderous Pokémon and help save the world from ruin. After all, Celebi has some truly amazing powers. If used for good, it could help turn the tides of the situation in Unova and Kanto!"
"I wasn't aware you were following the drama there, Faba." Lusamine remarked, earning a rare scowl of anger from the man. Lusamine blinked in surprise as Faba spoke, no trace of smugness or pride, but of one of solemness.
"They...ma'am, despite it being many years since I saw them last, I had friends at the lab in Oore. They worked to help Pokémon that were corrupted by terrible science. Science that even I wouldn't dare delve into. Cipher destroyed that lab, leaving no survivors. All of my colleagues there, gone. They were my friends…" Faba said quietly, a small somber smile gracing his face after a few moments. "I am the only one left to help carry on their legacy, as the only survivor from the Purify Chamber project. Cipher is evil and must be stopped. So, I will assist how I can. And I will do so with honor and grace, as befitting the Aether Paradise Branch Chief."
Lusamine and even Miss Wicke smiled at the small declaration from the self-obsessed scientist. The others did as well, surprised at the heartfelt response to help them with Celebi. Miss Wicke walked forward, smiling at them all.
"Rest assured, we'll be keeping in contact with you all should anything happen regarding Celebi. Between us and Doctor Colress, we should be able to sort out a way to purify Shadow Celebi and bring it to its senses. That I promise." Wicke said to the assembled crew, earning a grin from Aria.
"You wouldn't mind if we swung by from time to time, would you? I've heard of the Paradise from some friends back home, and I kinda always wanted to see it for myself. It's supposed to be really cool." Aria said to the trio, with Lusamine laughing softly.
"It'd be an honor, Aria. We're similar souls, in a way, and I'd love for you to be able to see just what we're doing to help spread our love to the Pokémon of the world." Lusamine said with a bright smile, though Aria was confused.
"We're...similar souls?" Aria asked, and with that Lusamine's smile faded and she looked away.
"We both fight on with our dreams of helping the world, in the name of someone precious to us that is now gone...Not dead. Just gone. We're quite alike, you and I." Lusamine looked ahead and smiled sadly, stepping forward and extending a hand to the Snagger.
"Come by the Paradise whenever you'd like. I'd be happy to show you and your friends around myself." Lusamine offered the younger Trainer, receiving a smile from Aria as she reached out and shook the woman's hand-
And then the world went white, as Aria's eyes glowed green.
Lusamine was curled up on a bed, sobbing as Miss Wicke watched on silently from the doorway. The room they were in was torn apart, and looked like it belonged to a child. Books were thrown around the room while dolls and stuffed animals were ripped in half. Several pieces of paper that looked like it was once a handwritten note was now shredded to oblivion on the floor.
"My baby. My precious flower. How could you do this to me? Why did they all have to leave me? Now I'm all alone...all alone, except for the voices that whisper in my ear." Lusamine sobbed, her voice breaking with misery and anguish.
"Ma'am...You know they did this because they love you." Wicke said quietly, listening to the crying of her longtime friend and employer.
"Love? What do you know of love, Miss Wicke?" Lusamine asked, removing herself from the mattress and glaring at the other woman with leaky red eyes.
"More than you would think, ma'am." Wicke replied smoothly, offering the older woman a kind smile that she didn't return. "Those children want nothing more than to protect Pokémon, just like their wonderful parents. And like most children, yours have rebelled in order to follow their hearts. Just like you, who has strayed from the dream you and Professor Mohn had all those years ago. How is this such a horrible thing?"
Lusamine looked down, considering Wicke's words. Then, Aria noticed the veins on Lusamine's arms stuck out more than they should, and even Wicke was alarmed when the veins began to glow a dark red color. Lusamine visibly twitched and shuddered, inhaling sharply before slowly exhaling deeply, closing her eyes. And then they opened, her expression sharp and cold.
"It's horrible because they're stopping me from saving the Ultra Beasts, Miss Wicke. They're stopping me from finding a way to the Ultra Space and saving my husband. I will not fail because of those brats! Not after how much I've lost! Not after how much I have suffered!" Lusamine growled, rising to her feet as the veins across her entire body glowed a horrific crimson color, with Miss Wicke taking a step back.
"Ma'am...P-please, stay calm." Wicke said quietly, her hand trying to grab the door handle, with her voice beginning to shake with fear.
"You didn't take your serum, Miss Wicke. Neither did Faba. I know. They told me." Lusamine said coldly to the other woman, her words powerful and radiating a darker meaning. "Don't stand in my way, like those evil little creatures that left me all alone. I won't be stopped now." Lusamine hissed, stepping closer to Wicke as her eyes narrowed down to slits.
"Ma'am...these are your children!" Wicke said to Lusamine, her tone pleading. Aria heard Lusamine sigh deeply, her expression becoming one of deep sorrow before becoming replaced with something truly awful...
"I have no children, Miss Wicke. If they wish to stand against me, then they too will be scattered like ashes in the wind. I won't stop my love from being spread, and I'll destroy anyone who opposes me. That I promise!" Lusamine breathed, her eyes gleaming with a very familiar glow of madness as the President swept out of the room, leaving a horrified Miss Wicke behind.
The Snagger staggered backwards and returned to reality, her eyes widened in horror as Lusamine took a step back, looking startled.
"You…" Aria tried to say, but couldn't. What could you say to that? What the hell was going on with this woman!?
"Yes, I am me. I often get accused of that daily. Now, can someone explain what that was exactly?" Lusamine asked the others, none of whom responded.
"Sorry about that. I...originally came to Alola about seven months from the past thanks to Celebi, and the experience left me a bit scarred. Sometimes that shows in times like that…" Aria carefully sat down on the floor, taking slow breaths.
"Damn, that crap still winds me." Aria hissed as she closed her eyes.
"Right...of course. Well, Faba, I'll leave the details to you and Miss Wicke. I need to stop out for a moment. Talking about the past always throws off my composure and I trust you'll arrange things to my liking, as always." Lusamine said to the pair, receiving two nods in response. Faba turned to speak to Dexio and with that, Lusamine walked over to the elevator and was soon out of the building, deep in thought as Fiaro padded alongside her.
"Gaaah!"
"Aaaah!"
"Eep!"
The group of Pokémon watched on in amusement as Hau and Lillie helped apply cream to Sun's charred legs. Despite the boy's best efforts, he was struggling to walk without feeling intense pain from the burns in his legs and feet. While not severe, they were bad enough to where the boy had to take several breaks during their trek down the volcano. Eventually Sun called upon a Charizard to take them down to the beach, where the boy sank into the sand with a worn out sign. Lillie had suggested a burn cream given to her by Professor Kukui, and well…
"S-sorry guys. That stuff is cold!" Sun hissed, fighting back another violent shiver.
"Wuss." Hau sniggered from a safe distance away.
"Hau, don't make me dunk you under the water!" Sun yelled to his friend, who smirked.
"Alright then. Get up and do it then." Hau dared Sun, who scowled and hopped to his feet before stumbling forward and yelling out in pain. Hua giggled and said, "Whelp, since Sunshine here is grounded, I'm gonna have some fun in the water. I'll see you dorks in a bit."
Hau ran into the water, carrying Kaha in his arms while Duke and Cassy bounded past him. Meanwhile, Sun and his team sulked on the beach, with Brago hanging his head in shame.
After all, it had been the Growlithe's idea to set Sun on fire to free him from the control of Totem Salazzle. However, just because it was effective and allowed them to win the battle didn't mean that the move had come without consequences. Sun could travel, but he was definitely in some pain from the Totem Battle and it'd take a little while for them to heal. Sun had consulted his mother, who told him these types of burns usually took three weeks to heal or so, and that traveling would likely be a bit painful for a while, but nothing he couldn't tough out.
When Sun asked how she knew that offhand, his mother laughed and waved off his concern, telling him she'd tell him that story when he was older. Or whenever Mister Oliver decided that he felt like divulging top-secret League info again.
Sun decided that he was better off not knowing.
Regardless, Sun decided to just relax on the beach and rest. He sent Penny and Oliver out to play over the water while Brago was content to keep Sun company, mostly out of obligation. Lillie and Nebby decided to spend time with Sun, and had a relaxing time in the refreshing shallows on the beach as they chatted, with time flying by as they enjoyed this short reprieve from their journey. Oliver and Penny returned to rest on the shore with them, and for a time things were peaceful.
However…all good things must end. And end it did, several hours after the trio arrived at the beach.
"Brooo!"
"Cassy, stop worrying. I don't think anyone's gonna be mad."
"Pika pika!"
"Duke, seriously. Everyone's gotta pee sometime! Who would be mad about me peeing in the water out here on this island?" Hau asked his Pikachu and Brionne, who were both watching a napping Eevee curled up on the ground. Hau had spent the entire day playing with his Pokémon and battling Trainers on the water. Needless to say, after a while, the boy had to answer nature's calling. Hau went about his business while both Duke and Cassy face-pawed, knowing what came next would be bad.
Needless to say, no one was surprised when Hau turned around and opened his mouth to speak to his team, but was cut off by a furious roar from below. Hau scrambled forward, picking up Kaha as the Eevee began to cry. Hau turned around and watched as a massive Gyarados emerged from the water, giving Hau a look of the utmost hatred.
"Looks like Hau just made a Gyarados mad. Fantastic." Sun muttered, attempting to get up. He quickly sat back down with a groan while Lillie gave her friend a concerned look.
"Why would a Gyarados be mad at Hau? He wouldn't purposely pick a fight with one of those brutes, would he?" Lillie asked, bewildered as Nebby let out a cry and began floating towards the water. Lillie dove at her Cosmog, grabbing it in her arms, but fell into the water as a result. The soaked blonde emerged from the water, sputtering adorably as she rose to her feet and staggered back to Sun, who was smiling at his friend.
"You two never stop being great. Seriously." Sun said to Lillie, who smiled as her cheeks went bright pink, with the girl hugging Nebby close to her chest. Nebby waved happy, cooing as he flailed in Lillie's arms.
"But to answer your question...Well, my guess is he probably peed on another Pokémon and made it mad." Sun replied, earning a horrified look from the girl.
"Hau...urinated on a Pokémon!?" Lillie asked, dumbfounded.
"Yeah. He has a bad habit of finding really bad places to use the bathroom in the wilds. Sometimes wild Pokémon will attack him once he's done doing his business. I tell you, nothing is worse than being chased by an Alolan Raticate in the dead of night because Hau peed on its favorite tree." Sun explained to an increasingly disturbed Lillie.
"Wait, how many times has this happened!? Why am I just now hearing of this!?" Lillie demanded. Sun looked away, unsure if he wanted to actually answer this question. Rotom Dex popped out of Sun's backpack with a wide smile, giggling softly. Lillie turned to the device, and asked, "Rotom, do you know?"
"Zzzt. Mizz Lillie, let'zz just say this. Umm...Hau'zz been attacked after using the bathroom in the wrong spot about twelve timezz now. Az for why you're just now learning about thizz, it'z because the first eleven timezz were hairy enough that a T-rating for thizz story wouldn't be able to cover it!" Rotom explained as the group watched the Gyarados rear back and fire off a blast of energy at the small island Hau was on. A yell filled the air and the two children heard their friend yelling out commands to his Pokémon.
"I'm calling him." Lillie said as she pulled out her phone and called Hau. The boy quickly picked up and Lillie put the phone on speaker.
"Guys, I messed up again!" Hau yelled into the phone.
"Bro, I can't walk too well and Lillie isn't a great swimmer. It'll take a while to get a Poké Ride out to you." Sun admitted, scratching his head. "I guess you'll have to take out that beast yourself man. But don't worry!"
"Wait, what!? This is nuts, dude! Help!" Hau pleaded as another roar filled the air.
"And pick a fight with a monster serpent because you won't stop peeing on the wildlife? Hell no."
"Sun, as much as Hau deserves this, maybe you should send Oliver and Penny to help him." Lillie suggested to the boy, who waved his hand dismissively.
"He's totally got this."
"I don't totally got this!"
"Hau will be fine. I believe in him. Power of friendship, Lillie. Power of friendship."
"Friendship means much less if Hau gets eaten, Sun." Lillie pointed out to her friend, who was just grinning at her.
"Lillie, I respectfully disagree."
"Well screw you too, Sunshine! Duke, Electro Ball! Cassy, use Toxic! Kaha, use Charm!" Hau yelled as the Gyarados roared in fury, lashing its tail through the water. Both Duke and Cassy unleashed their attacks, making the beast snarl in pain as poison and electricity rushed through its veins. It lunged forward to attack, only to see an adorable Eevee looking up at it. The move made the beast falter for a moment before a second Electro Ball hit the beast in the face, knocking it backwards into the water.
"Hehehe...Nice one, little buddy!" Hau said as he looked down at Kaha, who happily barked out in response. The Gyarados emerged from the water with a cry, opening its mouth and releasing a blast of energy that rushed towards Hau and his team.
"Duke, use Thundershock! Cassy, use Icy Wind!" Hau commanded his two Pokémon, who released their attacks to meet the Dragon Rage rushing towards them. The two attacks met and exploded in midair. Hau repeated the command quickly, and his Pikachu and Brionne obeyed and sent their attacks back through the smoke that filled the air now.
"I keep forgetting that despite him being ridiculous most of the time, Hau's a great Trainer." Lillie remarked as Hau and his team continued to battle the Gyarados, who screeched as the two attacks combined into one, ensnaring the beast and making it collapse into the water, knocking out.
"Boosh! Aww, yeah! Who's the best? We are!" Hau said with a laugh as he began dancing on the shore, with Cassy quickly joining him. Duke and Kaha watched on, bemused, until several roars echoed out across the water. Hau and his Pokémon slowly turned around to see five Gyarados slowly emerging from the water, looking at their downed brother with fury.
"Well...poopie." Hau sighed, hanging his head while Cassy and Duke exchanged a glance.
"This is not good," Sun muttered, hopping to his feet and yelling out in pain. Lillie got up as well, holding Nebby in her arms. However...none of this was necessary, as both children noticed a swarm of small figures darting through the water towards the horde of Gyarados, with one glowing speck in the middle of the swarm of fish.
"Brace yourself, gang!" Hau said as he took a step back, fear chilling him as several of the beasts charged up Dragon Rage.
And then, a massive roar that easily dwarfed those of the Gyarados' bellowed out from the water, and the fear that showed on Hau's face now showed on each of the blue serpent's faces. Each one of them let out a roar before quickly diving into the water, fleeing to parts unknown.
"Okay...weird, but I'll take it." Hau said with a happy laugh before he spotted the massive whirling shape in the water that had made the Gyarados flee in terror. However, Hau recognized the shape the creature had formed to be.
"That's a Wishiwashi in it's School Form." Hau stated as he crossed his arms. As he spoke, the horde of Pokémon suddenly dispersed, leaving a single Wishiwashi behind. The lone fish swam to the top of the water and greeted Hau with a happy cry. Hau blinked in surprise before smiling at the Pokémon, noticing that it was much larger than a normal Wishiwashi.
"Wait...aren't you Washua? Lana's Totem Pokémon?" Hau asked quietly, his smile widening slightly. In response, the fish's entire body became immersed in an aura of energy that Hau knew very well, and made him grin.
"Well, it's good to know you Totems get to have some fun every now and then! Thanks for the backup, buddy!" Hau said to the Totem Pokémon, who nodded in response. Cassy, Duke and even Kaha all greeted the Totem happily, thankful for his help in repelling the group of Gyarados. Washua then turned around, watching the several large clusters of smaller Wishiwashi swimming around a short distance away.
"Your friends are waiting for you, huh? Well...Don't let me keep you waiting! You all have fun!" Hau said to the Totem, receiving yet another nod in response.
"Oh, and tell Lana I said hi! Even though I have her number...Eh, tell her I said hi anyway. Why not?" Hau remarked with a shrug, making the Totem smile before Washua dove into the water and departed. Hau recalled Kaha and Duke and swam back to shore with Cassy, giving Sun and Lillie an annoyed look.
"In my defense, I wanted to help you." Lillie said sheepishly while Sun just grinned at his friend.
"You enjoy your swim?" Sun asked his friend, earning a smirk in response.
"Yeah, actually. It was invigorating, and we got some awesome combat experience. So win-win!" Hau said with a chuckle, calling his Pokémon back out onto the beach.
"Well, you kids look like you're having fun!"
The trio of children and their Pokémon looked up to see a familiar woman and man standing beside each other, watching them with amused expressions.
"Kahuna Olivia!"
"Commander Jack!"
The pair made their way into the sand, with the Kahuna offering the children a bright grin. Jack regarded them with a neutral expression, nodding to them as Olivia declared, "Alola, my young friends! Looks like you're having a blast out here."
"We are, ma'am. After dealing with Kiawe's Trial, we figured spending time at the beach would be a good way to recover from the heat. How does Kiawe deal with it?" Sun asked the Kahuna, who chuckled softly in reply.
"He wasn't a fan at first, but he's used to it. Next to Acerola, Kiawe is our oldest Captain and has been doing this for a while." Olivia answered, waving a hand.
"Acerola?" Sun questioned.
"Another Captain. You'll meet her eventually." Olivia replied, smiling mischievously.
"I've met her! She's really, really nice actually!" Lillie said with a smile, looking to Sun. "She came by the lab one day just to meet with me, after Doctor Colress contacted her. Acerola's looking into some stuff about the Tapu for me. She also promised me that if I came to her island she'd keep an eye out for me and would give me a tour of Malie City."
"Considering her background, I imagine that she dug into her family's trove of books. There's a lot of history in those ancient tomes. She might have even roped old Nanu into helping her." Jack remarked, smirking slightly.
"Commander Jack, what are you doing here? Do you two know each other?" Lillie asked the man, receiving a shrug in response, though the man's smirk faded.
"In a way. We've met a few times before. I was at her official Kahuna coronation as a guest, actually, but truthfully I'm just helping her with something. The police force can't look into this without drawing the wrong kind of attention, so I'm assisting Olivia how I can. It helps distract me from..well. Everything." Jack replied, his expression darkening. The children could hear the pain, clear as day in the man's voice. Regardless, he continued with, "Anyways, I'm helping out. At least until Nanu gets off his lazy ass and tells me what the hell is going on with these disappearances."
"Disappearances?" Hau asked.
"It's nothing you kids should be worried abou-" Olivia began to say, but the Commander cut her off.
"Yep. A few prominent figures have gone missing across all four islands, only to be found later brutally murdered a few days later. Odd noises being heard in the dead of night with no sources in sight. There's other things too, but Olivia wouldn't be pleased if I went into the gruesome details. Nanu recommended me to help and here I am." Jack explained to the three children, glancing over at the glaring Kahuna.
"You're going to scare them. And there's no reason for them to know about something like that. We're keeping it on the down low for a reason." Olivia huffed, crossing her arms. Jack shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Maybe. But I believe in being prepared. Whether that's scoping out a site beforehand or buying a few extra Max Potions for a job. Besides, these three know what I'm talking about. Don't you?" Jack asked the trio, earning a nod from Sun. The Commander saw clearly in the eyes of the gray-eyed child. He had seen hell before, and wouldn't cower should it come for them.
"This is going to be a long day. You're going to make me hit the sake quicker than I'd like." Olivia grumbled, just audibly enough for Hau to giggle. Jack offered the Kahuna a lopsided smirk.
"Shit, you want to get a few drinks before we start questioning people? That sounds retarded...I'm in." Jack replied, making the children burst into giggles while Olivia smiled grudgingly. Jack shrugged as Gretel slipped out of his shadow, a cackling gleefully.
"It wouldn't be the first time he's done that!" Gretel chimed in, covering her face as she laughed. Jack offered his partner an amused look.
"No, it wouldn't be. But considering how a few of those nights went, I think dropping the matter might be best. They're not old enough to hear those kinds of stories." Jack replied to Gretel, who giggled in response.
"I'm almost thirteen. There are those my age who've challenged Champions by now!" Lillie replied, huffing slightly while Hau giggled. Sun, however, was surprised.
"Almost? When's your birthday?" Sun asked Lillie, who blushed slightly. How had this never come up in conversation? It was almost like it took the author until now to come up with concrete dates for these things or something…
"Two weeks from today. On April 22nd I'll be thirteen years old." Lillie replied to Sun, who mutely nodded.
"Meaning me and Sunshine here will be gift-searching when we're done with the next Trial. I'm pretty sure the path we take to the battle Miss Olivia after that goes right through Heahea City!" Hau remarked cheerily as Kaha yipped from Hau's head. Olivia nodded to confirm this.
"N-no, that's fine. You don't have to get me anything." Lillie said quickly, waving her hands back and forth. Sun and Hau exchanged a glance, smirking at each other before looking at Lillie.
"Alright. If you say so." Sun said with a smile, making Lillie sigh in relief. The girl hated the fact that people always went out of their way and inconvenienced themselves just for her. She wasn't worth the bother.
"Jack, we really should get going." Olivia said to the Commander, who nodded in reply.
"You three be careful out there. Keep each other safe. And be good, alright?" Jack said to the children, offering them a small smile before he turned to Gretel. "Ready?"
"Of course. Goodbye you three!" Gretel said happily to the trio, waving to them. Olivia giggled at the Dusknoir's antics, but regarded the three children warmly.
"You three are just too adorable. Like Jack said, be careful out there. But have fun too. Life's too short to be constantly worrying about the future. Regard it, but focus on enjoying the present. Okay?" Olivia said to them, receiving three nods in reply. The children said farewell to the two adults and began packing their things up, so that they could cover some ground today. Jack and Olivia vanished into the shadows, and our trio of heroes continued on their way to tackle the next Trial, unaware of events unfolding elsewhere…
Lusamine stood outside the Dimensional Research Lab and looked up at the sky, wincing at the brightness. She quickly reached into a pocket and slipped on stylish yellow sunglasses before she set out, leaving Faba and Wicke to handle the matter of Shadow Celebi. Fiaro was watching her worriedly, but Lusamine was enthralled by other matters.
She still couldn't believe it. An actual Celebi! Here in Alola!
"Mohn...Darling, you'd be so excited if you were here with us. The very being that inspired us to spread our love to all of the Pokémon of the world will be coming to the Paradise." Lusamine thought to herself, smiling sadly at the thought of her husband.
"Wherever you are, I hope you're happy. Perhaps with Celebi's help...we can see each other again." Lusamine thought, her smile widening into something a bit darker.
"But what of Cosmog…?"
Lusamine stiffened, stopping in her tracks. The woman placed a hand on her head, trembling as a shiver ran down her spine. She shut her eyes tightly, thinking hard.
"A means to an end...First we heal Celebi. And then we find my husband and save him from his fate. And then together we help you." Lusamine thought in reply, regaining her composure. After a few moments, the fit passed and all was well. The woman coughed and shook her head, calming herself with a few steady breaths.
The President of the Aether Foundation continued striding down the sidewalk, her shoes clicking as she elegantly made her way through the city, thinking about her next course of action.
"I'll have to have Guzma keep Team Skull busy here. I need as much attention away from me while we work on this. Perhaps they can track down my dear daughter in the meantime." Lusamine thought as she pulled a cell phone out of one of the small pockets within her dress.
"Yes. That's what we'll do. Now…" Lusamine trailed off as she punched in a number and held the phone to her ears. Two rings later and the phone picked up, a cheerful voice answering her.
"Thank you for calling Aupuni Industries, Kanto Branch! This is Ana, how may I direct your call?" The woman said to Lusamine, who inhaled softly before exhaling, calming herself.
"Atop the crooked throne the monarch weeps." Lusamine replied to the woman's question, receiving a solid ten seconds of silence. Then the woman spoke again, none of the earlier cheer present and a businesslike tone replacing it.
"I'll patch you through, ma'am. Please stay on the line."
Lusamine hummed softly to herself as she continued her stroll down the sidewalk, Fiaro walking alongside her. She received a few waves and smiles from the locals passing by who recognized her, and she returned their greetings with a smile of happiness. And then the other line picked up.
"I don't recognize this number. Who is this?" The smooth, deep voice on the other end of the line spoke. Lusamine closed her eyes for a moment, considering her actions one final time. Was it right of her to bring them here? Was it right for her to involve them in this mess?
"Do it...with them involved, you can hunt for Cosmog without scrutiny…"
Lusamine exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. They were right. Of course they were right! Clearing her throat, she spoke to the man on the other end of the phone.
"For someone so powerful, you really do miss the little things, my friend." Lusamine replied lightly, sitting down on a bench in park. Ironically the very one that two certain children had shared more than a month ago.
"...Lusamine? I wasn't expecting a call from you again. After that donation to help with your conservation efforts, I figured that was all you needed." The man answered, his tone confused but not hostile. If anything he was a little thrown off, which made Lusamine chuckle softly.
"It is, truthfully. However, I'm calling to return the favor. I have a lot of information that your group would find very useful. And I mean your group, not the facade your group hides behind." Lusamine replied to the man as she looked up to gaze at the beautiful Alolan skies.
"Aupuni Industries and all its subsidiaries have no comments to make on the recent allegations that-" the man began to say, his tone almost mocking, but Lusamine cut him off.
"It's about that Snag Machine you've been searching for, Scowlbutt. I know where it is, who has it, and what they plan on doing with it. Now, can we cut the formalities, old friend?"
"...You have my attention." The man said on the other end of the line, his tone devoid of mirth. Lusamine smiled thinly as he added in a bit of a lighter tone, "I'll set aside my meeting with Venus for now. I think catching up with a friend with some information like this is far more important. I forgot about that old nickname. 'Scowlbutt'...man, that takes me back. Mohn would be laughing so hard right now."
"Mohn always did go on about how important friends are. I think he did it just so he could give everyone a nickname though." Lusamine giggled softly, earning a snicker from the other end of the line.
"That he did...I miss him."
"As do I...no matter how much time passes, my love for him never fades." Lusamine whispered, shutting her eyes for a few moments, willing back the emotions that came forward when speaking of her husband.
"So...changing the topic, how are the kids? Last I heard, little Lillie just had done her first live performance for the Foundation and Gladion was looking into taking advanced guitar lessons, I believe." The man asked, his tone lighter now. Lusamine recalled her friend being fond of her children, though it had been many years since he had last seen them. They had stopped vacationing to other regions after Mohn had vanished and the echoes of laughter and singing in their home had ceased.
"They're currently missing, actually. I've yet to find them." Lusamine admitted, frowning at the thought, even as the rage bubbled in her chest.
"Missing!? I...Damn it. I'm so sorry, I've been distracted lately. I can help look for them, if you need me to. Just say the word, and I'll have a dozen teams out to search for them in the morning."
"Don't bother. I'd rather keep this in-house. I'll find them one way or another on my own. Besides, you have other things to concern yourself with. They're not that important. But what they stole is." Lusamine replied carelessly, shrugging. The man she was speaking to was silent for a few moments, and then his voice boomed forth.
"These are your children! And...agh, why didn't you tell me sooner, Lusamine? How can you be so casual about something like that!?" The man demanded, anger surging through his voice.
"Because they stole some very important assets, and that doesn't concern you or Cipher. Your contributions to the Aether Foundation didn't even go towards our special projects. Though truthfully, they've helped quite a bit with our conservation and protection efforts." Lusamine remarked, earning a sigh from the other end of the line.
"Anything for a friend. Especially after what you've done for me. And I have no idea what you mean by 'special projects', but I can guess that it's nothing that the public would approve of. I only have to say that if you need help, I will assist however I can, though it may admittedly not be much."
"So humble...so what name do you even go by now, hmm? I don't even know what to call you, anymore." Lusamine asked lightly, earning a deep laugh from the man on the other end of the phone.
"Fair enough. I have so many false names, titles and the like that I'm sometimes unsure of the same thing myself. You, however, can just call me Borlath." The Cipher Admin replied to the President, whose smile faded somewhat. She knew that what she was doing was wrong. She knew that it would lead to pain and suffering for the innocent. And she knew that many Pokémon would get hurt because of this. But at the same time, she had priorities, and if Alola had to burn in order for her to achieve her goals...
Then so be it. It was a gesture of love, after all.
Mmm...Interesting development. Just as Team Skull has their supporters, the Aether Foundation has their own.
What will Lusamine's betrayal of Alola mean for the region itself? Stay tuned!
Q&A:
From Sai Og Sus:
I really like how you tease the relationship between Brago and Winter. Do you have a name for it yet?
Actually, I don't have a name for it! And I'm absolutely taking suggestions.
This has been a ship I've been hinting towards for a while with every interaction with Brago and Winter so far, so it's nice to kind of make it official. Looking forward to seeing how this one develops, especially since one of the best scenes I've ever thought of for this story involve the two of them.
From OmegaStar327:
Though, I've been wondering. Is the Aether Foundation somehow connected to Cipher? Because Lusamine seemed pretty interested in Shadow Celebi from what I could tell.
I think that question may have been answered by this chapter, but to summarize information mentioned so far...
Borlath, who is connected to Aupuni Industries, has been making large donations to the Aether Foundation to help with their conservation efforts, mainly because he and Lusamine (and Mohn) are old friends. However, he is only just now learning that the Aether Foundation is doing...less savory things as well. This'll be explored later when Sun visits the Aether Paradise. However this is not the last we've seen of Lusamine, as she'll feature regularly in scenes from here on in just like with Gladion and others.
From Cottonmouth25:
So... why would Dusknoir only talk to what it wants to eat? That seems like kind of a useless ability. It's not like it'll ever get to talk to them again... did you perhaps mean it only talks to those it wishes to help on their way to the spirit world?
It was an idea I had gotten from "Pedestal", which I'll state once again is one of the best stories I've ever read on this site. Dusknoir and Dusclops were able to speak to the main character because of this reason, though I'll admit searching for the scene where this was explained has eluded me. It makes sense to me and made sense for those Pokémon, and that's why I included it in the story.
From RC-DA:
I also don't get the last name reveal, was there supposed to be something big or surprising about it?
I've always felt that names are very important in stories. As stated in the Inheritance Cycle (one of my favorite book series), names have power. And meaning. Most of the names in this story have a bit of deeper meaning to them. Even some of the incredibly minor ones. Everything I do in this story has a purpose or motivation behind it.
Most of Hugh's team have names that consist of names I've used in Nuzlocke runs. Hugh's last name is also "justice" in Latin. Sun's name, Sunshine Smiles is the name of one of my favorite supporting characters in "Diaries of a Madman." Also, the joke was hilarious. Penny was named after a character from RWBY. Brago was named after my favorite character from the anime Zatch Bell. See, things like that.
Since these (Hau, Lillie, Sun, Gladion, Lusamine, ect.) are the main stars of the story, I feel that their last names should hold a bit of weight and meaning since it's been deliberately not mentioned as of yet. So yeah, it was supposed to be a grand reveal. It seemed to have worked out that way.
From SonicIKE:
Wait, the Trumbeak's Hidden Power was a rock type attack? Couldn't it have been a ground type or is that another colour?
Yep, Penny's Hidden Power is a Rock-type move. I've actually had that revealed for a while now on my profile page, where all of the current stats for Sun's team are displayed. A lot of people seem to forget I'm doing an actual playthrough of the game with the team that Sun has. Penny's Hidden Power ended up being Rock, weirdly enough. And as for it being Ground, no, I associate Ground-type attacks with a lighter shade of brown. Rock-type is just regular brown, which is what was described in the chapter.
From DarkestShade73:
Gladion meets Colress. Now, how much does Colress know? Read that in a dramatic tone.
Quite a bit, but not everything. He knows what Lillie knows at this point in the story. Nothing about the Nihelgo, but he is aware of what Lusamine is capable of doing, but not exactly what she plans to do.
From sceptilezeno:
Did Gretal really want to eat Lillie..?
No. Gretel likes Lillie. But since Dusknoir can eat just about any kind of meat, which includes humans, she can speak to just about any human. Dusknoir are able to communicate with anything they wish to eat. They're mostly carnivorous.
From hafizsyaraf5:
Does the next chapter has Sun and Lillie moments? xD. I'm just asking cause it's been a long time I've seen those two being together ;).
I mean...the chapter before the Trial, Chapter 49, had a Sun/Lillie moment. I don't think that's too long of a time period between fluff bits, right? As for this chapter and some of the few that follow, there will be moments between the two but they're not going to take precedence over other things happening. Save for one scene in particular. They may have feelings for one another, but they're also friends on a journey. Not every chapter is going to be fluffy, because that'd make the real sweet moments not as special, you know?
From BraviaryScout:
I see he and Lillie read up on the move attract. Did she happen to use that on him whilst they read?
Nah, they were just looking up Status Conditions. But I could absolutely make that a scene, because that's hilarious.
From Lil Stevie:
I was just wondering when you'll be at the point when the Pokémon games ended not like a specific chapter, but like how many months or even years until we see that happen?
As of now, the official story ends at Chapter 194. There will be a few chapters dedicated to the post-game (Meeting with the International Police, the Battle Tree, Guzma's redemption, Gladion's work at the Aether Paradise, ect). Chapter 199 will be the Finale of the story and Chapter 200 will be the Epilogue. And depending on what happens in the second half of the story regarding reader/reviewer input, decides what happens after the story.
As for time...God, that's scary. This is definitely going to be the longest story I've ever done (and possibly my last), but considering the scope of it, that's understandable. At my current rate, it'll take about another three years for this story to be properly concluded. Roughly four years altogether.
That's all for now folks. I've got to work on packing for my trip overseas for the Air Force. It'll be a hectic week for sure, so next chapter might be a bit difficult to post since I'm unsure of what my internet situation will be.
That said, feel free to add me on XBox and PSN. For those interested in adding me, leave your info in the section below or PM me.
But while we're waiting for me to crank out the next chapter, please leave your thoughts and feelings down as a review in the section below, and show your support with a favorite and/or follow if you haven't done so already. Seriously, that stuff means a lot to me.
Also, please feel free to ask questions in the review section (feedback on the chapter is required). They'll be answered with the next update! And if you feel like I didn't answer your question properly, feel free to PM me and I'll answer it the best I can.
Stay safe and stay awesome.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
