Pokémon Radiant Sun


This week has been weird.

I had most of this chapter done by Monday, but I felt like crap the rest of the week and spent the rest of that time either playing "God of War" or sleeping. Then I had to spend all day writing so I could have the chapter out today.

Anyways, chapter time! I will say that I'm glad the Mallow and Lana bit, followed by the Captain's Chat section, was so well-received. I'll make sure to do more of those chat scenes in the future.

Shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes Zombiesguy115, tguy4001, Doger 32, RC-DA, BraviaryScout, Sai Og Sus, trevhall19, SonicIKE, the totem natu, and Cottonmouth25. It's nice to see so many new and old names reviewing after such a long time away from the site, so big thanks to those who reviewed the last update.

Not much else to say other than that. Here's a super long chapter!

Enjoy.


Chapter 75: Mask of Deceit


Po Town


"Who thought having a poetry slam in Po Town was a good idea?" Gladion asked no one in particular from underneath an awning, a smirking Demi beside him. Type: Null and Torch the Quilava were lying down on the ground with their eyes shut, trying to tune out the awful rapping that was going on.

The teen in black wondered why they also had to stand in the pouring rain, but realized that trying to make sense out of Team Skull was something he'd given up on a long time ago. "I feel like they should be punched in the kidneys until the pee blood, and then be forced to drink that blood." Gladion continued, earning a raised eyebrow from Demi.

"That's disgusting." Type: Null noted, not opening its eyes.

"I think it was Guzma. Figured it'd give the guys something to do since the rest of them are unloading supplies and stuff." Demi remarked with a shrug, adjusting the poncho she had on.

Team Skull's gonna change this place,

Beating up fools, gettin' in their face!

The Zubat's wings flap and race,

Now get ready bitches cuz I'm settin' the paaaaaace!

Axen posed dramatically, dropping the mic and sending a blast of awful sound through the walled off town. Several of the Team Skulls Grunts whooped while others clapped. Plumeria just watched with an amused smile on her face nearby while Kayla subtly pulled her ear plugs out.

"Yeah! That's my boi!" Kevin cheered, grinning underneath his bandanna. Kayla face-palmed with a sigh, but walked onto the makeshift stage they made and grabbed the mic from the ground.

"Alright folks, that's a wrap. I think we got a lot of good stuff out here today!" Kayla said to the other Grunts, who all nodded. Some of them even exchanging fist bumps and laughed a bit. Demi knew that the exchange was incredibly stupid, but it was one of the many things the thugs did to spend time together when they weren't causing trouble elsewhere.

After all, it was just them against the world. All Team Skull had was each other.

"Oh thank god." Gladion sighed with some relief, shaking his head. Suddenly a familiar dark fox poked its head out of Gladion's jacket, letting out a yip of agreement.

"Gladion, you and that Zorua are so adorable, you know that?" Demi reminded the teen, making him scowl in response. Demi reached over and patted the small fox on the head, making the happy infant nuzzle Demi's hand and let out a cry.

"He was cold." Gladion said simply, ignoring the compliment. Type: Null snorted in amusement before a loud thunderclap reverberated through the area, making Demi let out a scream of horror. Gladion and Zorua flinched at the noise and several Team Skull Grunts looked their way in concern, with Plumeria herself walking over to them.

"You alright, Demi?" Plumeria gently asked as she stepped under the awning, unbothered in the slightest that she was soaked to the skin. Gladion figured that she and the majority of Team Skull didn't mind the rain since it rained in Po Town for most of the year.

"I'll...I'll be okay." Demi muttered, shivering a little and looking worriedly at the dark clouds overhead. Gladion noted that even though the girl was wearing a poncho, she had yet to actually step out from the awning and join the rest of Team Skull in the rain. While she had initially said it was to keep him company and to stop him from brooding in silence, the boy suspected it was because of how scared she was becoming of the rain.

Plumeria looked skeptical, but nodded. "Just let me know if you anything, alright?"

"I will. Thanks Plumeria." Demi said gratefully, with the young woman nodding. Plumeria looked at Gladion and nodded to him before walking back into the rain, leaving the two teens alone. Demi sat down on the ground, pulling her Quilava into a tight hug for comfort as Type: Null looked at them.

"Perhaps we should go inside, if being outside causes you so much discomfort?" Type; Null suggested, with Gladion nodding in agreement. Demi shook her head.

"No. I'm not going to let my weakness ruin people's fun." Demi replied shortly, trying to get her shivering under control. Gladion felt a pang of worry, but didn't say anything. The others finally walked over to them, seemingly happy about how their poetry slam...thing had gone. However, they noticed Demi hugging her Quilava and became concerned.

"Still freaking out about rain?" Axen asked. The others were long-used to this being a thing, at this point. Demi nodded, and Axen smirked underneath his bandanna. "Then let's go inside. Tim, help Demi out, would ya?"

Tim rolled his eyes and quickly picked up Demi and brought her indoors, much to her displeasure. Torch let out a cry and chased after him, but he was inside the Shady House before it could do too much. The Quilava rushed forward with a angrily growl and slammed into Tim from behind, making him drop Demi onto the floor.

"Ow!" Demi yelped, slowly getting to her feet as her Quilava glared at the downed Tim.

"There, now you're inside and don't have to worry about the rain. Easy fix, yo." Axen chuckled as he helped Tim to his feet. Demi glared at the two teens but sighed in response.

"If she wanted to go inside, she would have went inside." Gladion stated with narrowed eyes, making the other Grunts glare at him in turn.

"Alright, maybe I can help diffuse the tension here with something really awesome, yo." Kevin chimed in, pulling out a Poké Ball and calling out his new Tirtouga.

"Kev, don't even bother." Kayla muttered, shaking her head, but Kevin shook his head.

"Nah. Trust me, it's dope. Y'all are gonna love it and forget you were ever fighting." Kevin said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rather stylish pair of sunglasses. He knelt down and set them on his new Pokémon's head, giggling excitedly. Oddly enough, they were a perfect fit.

"Boom! Pretty damn awesome, right?" Kevin asked as the others stared at him.

"I mean...The glasses are nice. Not sure why they're on your Tirtouga." Gladion said diplomatically as Type: Null tilted it's head in confusion.

"I like it." Demi said happily, bending down and patting the Prototurtle Pokémon.

"You're an idiot. Why waste money on your new Pokémon like that? It hasn't battled or done anything to warrant you blowing money on it like that!" Kayla admonished the teen, but Kevin shook his head.

"I don't think so. I consider that an investment. Plus she likes them, don't you?" Kevin asked the former fossil, who replied with a smile and a nod of its head.

"I guess that's all that matters, yo. You do you, dude." Axen remarked with a shrug. "Just be careful about that crap. We don't exactly have the money to spend on stuff like that."

"We'd have more money if you guys listened to me more." Demi muttered, drawing the gaze of all four of them. Tim sighed and scratched his head while Kayla and Kevin exchanged a glance.

"It's just a matter of being stubborn. You'd rather make people suffer than actually try to change anything." Gladion shot back, making Axen jerk back in surprise.

"Why shouldn't they suffer?" Kayla growled, stepping forward.

"I think we're all getting distracted from my badass new Pokémon, yo." Kevin remarked, trying to diffuse the situation.

"It's not that impressive." Gladion said tiredly, shaking his head.

"Dude, it's a turtle with sunglasses. It's cool as shit, yo." Kevin said as posed with his Tirtouga, who let out a cry of happiness as it tried to pose as well. Kevin took out his phone and snagged a selfie with his new Pokémon, making the others smile reluctantly. Despite everything, they were at least glad to see the teen happy again.

"I think it's cool, dude." Demi said to the Grunt, who gave Demi a thumbs up as he stood back up.

"What's cool now?" came a new voice, making everyone of the of the Grunts flinch before turning around. Three men sauntered into the room, heavily tattooed and wearing long-sleeved shirts with rips and tears in them. They were large, muscular, and feared all throughout Team Skull.

The Bone Brothers smirked as they zeroed-in on Gladion, who scowled and glared at them. The shortest of the three stepped forward, patting Gladion on the head before the teen swatted away the hand with a snarl.

"Ooh, he's in a nasty mood, ain't he?" the thug remarked with a snicker.

"Damn kid should be grateful. After all, he gets to roll with us while we make Alola suffer. You'll come around someday, Glady. Then you'll be one of us." The tallest of the trio remarked, crossing his arms. The oldest of the three glanced over the younger teens and a hidden grin spread across his face.

"Yeah...the gang's all here. Bone Unit 71. AKA the weaklings who got kicked out of Melemele Island, got thrashed by some hick on Akala, and came crying back here." The man said with a note of disgust in his voice, glowering at the teens.

"And they also took down a criminal that was an Island Challenge Champion and saved your asses from getting arrested by the cops way back." Gladion shot back, earning looks of surprise from Kayla, Axen, Tim and Kevin. They obviously didn't think Gladion of all people would be sticking up for them, given how badly they got along, but here he was standing up to the Bone Brothers.

"True, they did. But since then y'all haven't done shit." One of the brothers replied, reaching forward and flicking Gladion on the nose, making him yelp in pain. Gladion stepped forward with a snarl, but Tim and Kevin grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back.

"Don't do it, man. They're trying to get a rise out of you." Kevin hissed, with the Brothers laughing in response.

"Maybe they haven't done much since beating that criminal...But I have." Gladion said with narrowed eyes. "Every day, me and my team get stronger. Soon enough, even you three won't be able to stand in our way." The Bone Brothers all seemed to grin at the remark, hiding wide smiles beneath their bandannas.

"Prove it then. Hey runt. Battle him." One of the three brothers said to Kayla, who nodded hastily. Kayla moved to the other side of the room while the rest of Bone Unit 71 exchanged nervous glances, though the Bone Brothers didn't move, instead staring down Gladion who glared fearlessly back at him. Type: Null growled softly beside him, sensing the aggression in the air.

"Let's see how much better you've gotten. Talk doesn't mean shit if you can't back it up." One of them simply said before they turned away to go to the side of the room, taking positions on the nearby staircase. Gladion made a disgusted noise before looking down at Type: Null.

"Just using you for this. Kayla's gotten a little better, but so have we. We'll beat her easily." Gladion said tersely as he recalled his Zorua into its Poké Ball and clipped it to his belt.

"Dude, take it easy. They don't mean nothing by it." Axen said nervously to Gladion, who shot him a glare.

"Those idiots mean everything they say. I refuse to let them bully me around like they do you morons. I stand up for myself." Gladion growled, earning annoyed looks from the other three guys.

"Don't call us morons, yo!" Axen snarled, shoving Gladion backwards. The teen stumbled, but only glared back at Axen before him and Tim turned their back on Gladion and walked off to the side.

"You've gotta calm down man. Axen's trying to keep you from getting hurt. No one crosses the Bone Brothers, you know? Even if you're not well-liked here, no one should have to get hurt for no reason, yo." Kevin said calmly, picking up his Tirtouga with a grunt and walking away, leaving just Demi behind.

"Are you going to patronize me too?" Gladion asked, with Demi shrugging.

"Not really. I don't know the Bone Brothers all that well, to be honest." Demi admitted, earning a surprised look from Gladion before his expression softened.

"I keep forgetting you're still new to Team Skull." Gladion remarked but he sighed. "Simply put, the Bone Brothers are the strongest members of Team Skull. When Guzma formed Team Skull years ago, he started out with just three misfit trainers. They became the Bone Brothers, and with their help shape Team Skull into what it is today. They're strong. Very strong. They're also bullies who don't care who they screw with to get their kicks, even if it's a fellow Team Skull member." Gladion explained quietly as Kayla took her position on the battlefield, looking nervous.

"And someday, I'll be strong enough to take them down." Gladion said with some venom, clenching his fists. "If I can't deal with people like them on my own, then I can't achieve my other goals...I can't save my family if I'm too weak to stand up for myself." Gladion said softly, glancing back at the older thugs as they chatted amongst themselves, ignoring Bone Unit 71 as they occasionally glanced at them anxiously.

"I get what you're saying, Gladion, but...There's more to life than just strength, you know?" Demi simply said as she joined the rest of Bone Unit 71 to the side. Gladion scoffed as he looked forward, eyeing Kayla as she glared him down.

"I need to get stronger. That's all that matters. I have to protect those precious to me at all costs." Gladion hissed as Type: Null crouched low, prepared to attack.

Kayla called out her Fearow, which flapped its powerful wings and let out a piercing screech. The two Pokémon rushed at each other, with the Bone Brothers watching from the sidelines with veiled interest and sneering smirks.

"You think Glady will ever figure things out?" the tallest brother muttered.

"Not a chance. Poor little kid doesn't get it, and probably won't ever. Neither will all the other runts. He's right where Guzma wants him to be, and that's where he'll stay. Right under our boots. And we can keep messin' with him all the while." The oldest of the trio responded, hiding a shark-like grin of malice beneath his bandanna.


"As you can see, Konikoni City is a pretty sizable locale. It's an excellent place for us to have a base of operations on Akala Island, even if our group is rather small." Looker said as he and Anabel made their way through the street, with their newest addition in tow.

Oliver Étincelles grinned in response, carrying two suitcases with some effort. The sniper remarked, "We'll see about that. I'm definitely hoping to kickstart a recruitment drive soon. Maybe see about recruiting some ex-Island Challenge Champions or something. But it'll have to wait until after I'm settled in. After the crap in Kanto, I seriously need some time off. I've got a lot of vacation days saved up and I plan on using them."

"Take as long as you need, Ollie." Anabel said quietly, glancing at the man with a smile. "We understand the past few weeks have been trying. Me and Looker have been working on our own here in Alola for some time, so we're used to it. Take your time settling in."

"I'll do that. And-" Oliver was cut off by a yell from down the road behind them.

"Mister Oliver!" Sun shouted, running forward, much to Lillie and Hau's surprise. The International Police Captain whirled around at hearing his name, but allowed himself a grin at seeing the boy running his way.

"Oh, hey! Sun! How's-OOF!" Oliver was tackled around the middle in a fierce hug from the overjoyed youth, but managed to stay standing thanks to Looker bracing him. Oliver awkwardly hugged Sun back, and the boy separated from him with a wide smile.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were back in Kanto helping fight Cipher?" Sun asked, making Anabel and Looker exchange looks of worry. Oliver caught that and waved a hand at them.

"He's a friend, don't worry." Oliver said to the two other IP members before looking back at Sun. "You look like you're doing well. Having fun on your Island Challenge?"

Sun grinned at him, though the appearance of Laura Smiles and the rest of Sun's friends made Oliver completely tune out Sun's response. The International Police Captain's eyes widened as Laura offered him a smirk, putting a hand on her hips as they stopped a short distance away.

"Hot damn…" Oliver thought, not even trying to be subtle.

"He's totally checking out Sun's Mom." Hau commented, smirking as he put his hands behind his head.

"I know. It's kind of weird, honestly." Lillie admitted, shifting her bag on her shoulder.

"Oh come on, Lillie. I ship it."

"No comment."

"I challenge you to a battle, Oliver!" Laura declared as she walked forward, jabbing a finger into Ollie's chest and making the man's eyes widen like saucers.

"W-wait, what!? That's the worst greeting ever!" Ollie yelped, taking a step back and dropping his luggage. "I'm jet-lagged as hell and haven't even had a chance to drop off my bags, and you're wanting to battle me!? We can't even discuss this over coffee first?"

"Absolutely not! I've been practicing and I'm not going to pass this chance up, Ollie!" Laura proclaimed cheerily, living up to her last name as her smile grew larger.

"I think it'd be nice to see your skills in action, Quill. I was distracted during the last time we fought together." Looker responded with an interested look on his face. Anabel made a playful shooing motion to Oliver, who hung his head and slowly looked at Laura.

"Fiiiiine. But if I win, then you have to make me dinner tonight." Oliver said to Laura, who giggled with triumph.

"And if I win, then you have to take me out to dinner, since you suck at cooking." Laura replied, making Ollie scowl.

"Let's just battle, damn it." Oliver muttered before he looked around. "Where would we even battle?"

"There's a really convenient field just a few blocks away!" Mallow proclaimed happily, appearing suddenly from behind Lillie and making the white-clad girl scream loudly in surprise. "Whoops. Sorry Lillie. Didn't mean to spook you."

"I...I...Y-you're good." Lillie panted, putting a hand over her heart and breathing calmly to try and steady her heartbeat. Sun was tempted to give her a hug, but considering they were out in public in front of everyone, he decided against it.

"You could have started off with a simple hi, you know." Lana said with a sigh as she walked over to them, with Bubbles the Popplio perched atop her head.

"I'm guessing these are all your friends, Sun?" Oliver said with a grin. "Good to see, kiddo. I know you didn't have much in the way of friends back in Kanto, so I'm glad you're making loads of them here. Why don't you introduce me?"

"Sure! This is Hau, Lillie, Lana and Mallow. Everyone, this is Mister Oliver! He's a friend of my Mom's from back in Kanto! He's awesome!" Sun said excitedly, with Oliver waving to the group of children.

"Hey there. Sorry if I'm a bit subdued, jet-lag and all that." Oliver said with a laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Come on then, show me this field. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can go to sleep."

"Okay, okay, we get it, you flew all the way here. I have no idea why they didn't just teleport you here." Laura said, glancing at Looker and Anabel, though she noticed the duo were gone.

"Looks like your friends bailed." Mallow noted, cocking her head.

"Oh no, they're around, don't you worry. Now come on, everyone." Laura said cheerily, leading the way down a side road. Oliver rolled his eyes but followed, though he had to make some effort to make sure his eyes didn't drift anywhere...inappropriate. Thankfully, Sun keeping up a chatter as he walked alongside them both with a big smile on his face was a welcome distraction.

"Sun looks really excited." Hau said quietly, smirking slightly.

"I'll say. Oliver, huh? Isn't that the name of his Sun's Dartrix? Did Sun name his Starter after that guy?" Mallow asked Hau, with Lillie nodding in confirmation. "Guess he's important to Sun."

"Very much so. Sun hasn't told me all of the details, but I know that man helped him a lot after his father showed his true colors. Aside from the fact that he was the inspiration behind Oliver's naming, I couldn't tell you what he's like." Lillie said quietly, seeing Sun talking to Ollie and Laura, his eyes shining with excitement. Lillie couldn't help a soft smile, her own heart happy at seeing her crush's happiness.

They arrived at the battlefield soon enough. It was a large grassy field near the lighthouse towards the western portion of the city. Oliver stored his luggage away in Item Capsules, taking care to clip four Poké Balls to his belt. Laura was grinning widely, crossing her arms as the children moved behind her.

Sun pulled out his Poké Balls and called out his team. "We're watching my Mom battle, everyone. Keep an eye on what's going on. You might learn something."

"This will be the first time we've seen Miss Smiles battle. This is gonna be awesome!" Hau cheered, bouncing up and down on his feet. Lillie shook her heard at her friend's silliness, but was likewise interested in Laura's skills as a Trainer. From what Sun had told her, Miss Smiles had been quite a force to be reckoned with back when she stormed through the Kanto Gym Circuit.

"Alright, Laura. Three-on-three work for you?" Oliver called to his friend, who nodded. Oliver then turned towards the teens and children assembled. "One of you feel like playing referee?"

"Ooh! Me!" Hau yelled, running off to the side of the field while Mallow and Lillie rolled their eyes in sync. Lana and Sun chuckled, but said nothing.

"The battle between Laura Smiles and the Oliver guy with the suave accent who's last name I didn't catch!" Hau declared, making Lillie face-palm. "Each side will use three Pokémon each and substitutions are allowed! Go for it!"

"Alright! I'll start this off. Swellow, prepare for battle!" Ollie said with a grin as he unclipped a Poké Ball and tossed it forward, calling forth a large blue bird that let out a powerful cry as it took to the air.

"Blastoise, you're up!" Laura said as she pulled out Poké Ball and throwing it forward. In a burst of light, a massive Blastoise emerged. It's shoulder-mounted cannons shuddered for a moment before the Pokémon got into a fighting stance.

"Whoa, your Mom has a Blastoise?" Mallow asked Sun, who grinned proudly.

"A very strong water-type Pokémon. Blastoise is considered to be the strongest of the Kanto Starter Pokémon by some." Lana said with a small smile.

"My Mom's team is awesome. Plus she's been doing a lot of battles with Professor Kukui while I've been doing the Island Challenge." Sun explained before he heard a beep from his shoulder.

"Zzzt! Time for me to do my thing!" Rotom declared as it flew in front of Sun, flipping around with a happy buzz.

"Blastoise. The Shellfish Pokémon and the evolved form of Wartortle. Blastoise has water spouts that protrude from its shell. The water spouts are very accurate. They can shoot bullets of water with enough accuracy to strike empty cans from a distance of over 160 feet." Rotom explained as the beast in question let out a small snort.

"And the other one?" Sun asked the device, who giggled and swapped screens.

"Swellow. The Swallow Pokémon and the evolved form of Taillow. Swellow flies high above our heads, making graceful arcs in the sky. This Pokémon dives at a steep angle as soon as it spots its prey. The hapless prey is tightly grasped by Swellow's clawed feet, preventing escape." Rotom continued as the bird fluttered into the air, flapping its wings as it narrowed it's eyes.

"Alright then, let's get this thing started. Aerial Ace!" Ollie barked, a small smile coming to his face. The blue bird became a blue blur, dashing forwards with a near-blinding speed and slamming into the massive turtle with a crash, sending the Kanto Starter skidding backwards for a moment before soaring away with a chirp.

"Blastoise, Iron Defense!" Laura said calmly, her smile widening slightly. Blastoise nodded and crouched lower to the ground, its body glowing bright blue before shining white. "Now, use Rock Slide!"

"Double Team! Scatter!" Oliver yelled as his Swellow let out a screech, with a series of portals opening up above them and dropping massive boulders down upon the Hoenn-native bird. It let out a chirp and created several after-images, desperately trying to avoid the large rocks and unknowingly getting into perfect position for a worse attack.

"Waterfall!" Laura called, with Blastoise grunting an affirmative before a torrent of water engulfed it and it charged forward, slamming into the Swellow and sending it tumbling through the air.

"Swellow! Air Slash!" Ollie barked, smiling widely as his bird flared its wings with a glare as the Blastoise crashed onto the ground, grinning up at it.

"Hit it back with Ice Beam!" Laura commanded, with the massive turtle aiming both cannons at the bird and firing off two beams of icy energy. Swellow expertly dodged the attack and sent several waves of disc-like energy down at the Blastoise, who grunted in pain as the attack smashed into it.

"Agility! Then get close!" Oliver called out, with Swellow nodding as it began to glow a faint white color before vanishing in a burst of speed, soaring towards Blastoise. The bird was moving so quickly now that it was a faintly appearing blur that appeared and reappeared occasionally.

"Get ready! He's trying something! Use Hydro Pump!" Laura commanded as the bird approached, though it was already within range before Blastoise could react.

"Reversal!" Oliver yelled, a wicked grin on his face. Laura's smile vanished as the Swallow Pokémon glowed a harsh red color and slammed into her Blastoise, sending it tumbling across the field with a roar of pain.

"Man...this is intense." Mallow muttered, glancing at the others. Lillie had a worried look on her face, likely because of the Pokémon being hurt, but everyone else looked enthralled. Sun in particular was transfixed on the showdown.

"Blastoise!" Laura called out, but the Shellfish Pokémon managed to stop rolling and staggered to its feet, panting heavily. Laura sighed, smiling ruefully. "Hard and fast, just like always. But I think we're done here, Blastoise. Charge up and wait for Swellow to come to us."

Blastoise nodded and shut its eyes, gathering energy before crouching slightly, withdrawing its head into its shell.

Oliver grinned, knowing he had Laura's Blastoise on its last legs. It would be a simple matter to hit it with a fast attack and bring it down, so that's what he would do. The man pointed at Blastoise and said, "Knock it out quickly! Aerial Ace, before they have a chance to counterattack!"

The Swellow nodded and shot forward, white energy trailing in its wake. The children on the sidelines watched in anticipation, sensing the battle was coming to a close.

"Skull Bash!" Laura yelled triumphantly, with her Blastoise grinning evilly even as Swellow dashed at it, a white shine surrounding its body as it built up more and more speed. Oliver's eyes widened in horror.

"Swellow, dodge it! Cancel the attack!" Ollie bellowed, but the bird was moving far too quick to undo the attack, even as the turtle suddenly shot forward with enough force to leave a massive indent on the ground as he leapt off of it. The bird screeched in horror and the two collided, with Swellow getting sent hurtling backwards before crashing into the dirt multiple times, coming to a stop while lying on its back.

Hau waited a few moments for Swellow to rise, but when it became clear it wouldn't, he raised a hand. "Swellow is unable to battle! The winner is Blastoise!"

"She used a different signal to have Blastoise charge-up Skull Bash." Lillie noted, smiling a bit. Mallow, Lana and Sun turned to their friend, who laughed quietly. "Most Trainers call out for their Pokémon to charge up attacks, such as Solar Beam or Sky Attack, by name. However, Laura just told Blastoise to wait and charge up for Skull Bash, not telegraphing what she had planned. It was really smart."

"She's crafty...She baited him in too, and struck." Oliver the Dartrix said with a small chuckle, preening his feathers as he did so.

"That's a trick we should think about for the future." Penny noted, amused. Brago nodded while Finn hopped a bit excitedly.

"You haven't lost a step." Oliver conceded, grinning widely at Laura. The woman chuckled, scratching the back of her head.

"I would say the same with you, but you're always battling and stuff. Now come on! The sooner we're done here, and sooner I get my dinner. I was thinking steak at Konikoni's most expensive restaurant…" Laura teased the man, who scoffed.

Mallow grinned, leaning subtly towards Lana, and whispered, "Miss Smiles totally wants him. The feeling seems to be mutual too."

"You want to make any other deductions, Captain Obvious?"

"Well, I can tell you that the sky is blue. Sun and Lillie have a mutual crush on each other. Kiawe is scared of Caterpie. Oh yeah, and Hau has a nice butt."

"Back off bitch, he's mine."

"I don't see you refuting any of my points, Lana."

Lillie and Sun slowly turned around with raised eyebrows, making the two teens laugh awkwardly before the two children turned back around, trying to decide whether or not they should laugh or face-palm.

"Dodrio, let's show Laura our strength, shall we?" Oliver said with a smirk as he called out a large three-headed bird. The strange Pokémon chirped several times before all three heads looked at Laura.

"Hello there, Dodrio! Good to see you again!" Laura called, with all three heads chirping happily and nodding in reply. Rotom floated from Sun's shoulder and did its thing.

"Dodrio. The Triple Bird Pokémon and the evolved form of Doduo. Watch out if Dodrio's three heads are looking in three separate directions. It's a sure sign that it is on its guard. Don't go near this Pokémon if it's being wary—it may decide to peck you. Apparently, the heads aren't the only parts of the body that Dodrio has three of. It has three sets of hearts and lungs as well, so it is capable of running long distances without rest." Rotom explained to the children.

"What an odd Pokémon." Lana commented, with Sun nodding.

"They're mostly found in Kanto, though I think you can find them in Kalos and Hoenn." Sun explained, earning a surprised look from Lillie. Sun laughed at her reaction, saying, "Hey, I know Flying-type Pokémon like the back of my hand. It's also why Mister Oliver's team is so awesome. It's mostly birds!"

"Dodrio has been my partner since the beginning, as you know. He's one of my strongest Pokémon, so I hope you're ready!" Oliver said as Dodrio's three heads let out loud chirps.

"I'm more than ready. Blastoise, Ice Beam!" Laura called out, with the Shellfish Pokémon nodded and firing two beams of icy energy at the three-headed bird.

"Get into the air and get close!" Oliver ordered. The Dodrio rushed forward before leaping into the sky. Laura ordered her Blastoise to use Ice Beam again, firing off another attack. Oliver just smirked as the bird Pokémon somehow somersaulted in midair, dodging the attack and drawing close to the massive turtle.

"Jump Kick!" Oliver commanded as the bird shot towards Blastoise with it's foot outstretched.

"Duck!" Laura shouted. Blastoise dropped to all fours and Dodrio soared over it, crashing onto the ground with a pained cry. "Now, use Hydro Pump!"

"Dodge and get close!" Oliver ordered. The Dodrio barely managed to leap backwards to avoid getting blast with the powerful blast of water and sprinted towards Blastoise, chirping erratically.

"Return!" Oliver shouted with a wide grin as Dodrio neared the massive turtle. The bird Pokémon glowed a bright white color and let out a several yells before slamming into Blastoise hard, sending the Water-type soaring backwards and crashing heavily onto the ground, where it was clearly knocked out.

"Blastoise is unable to battle! The winner is Dodrio!" Hau declared.

"Man, this is intense." Mallow said quietly, grinning to herself. "It looks like they're having fun though."

Sun noticed this. Both Oliver and Laura wore happy smiles, even if the battle itself was all tied up. It made him happy, in turn. Sun privately hoped that the International Police Captain would be staying here for at least a while.

"Tangrowth, let's go!" Laura called out, tossing a Poké Ball forward and releasing a large blue-colored mess of vines. Rotom beeped happily and swooped forward.

"Tangrowth. The Vine Pokémon and the evolved form of Tangela. It ensnares prey by extending arms made of vines. Losing arms to predators does not trouble it. It's vines grow so profusely that, in the warm season, you can't even see its eyes." Rotom explained as the strange creature flexed it's vines.

"Interesting choice. I forgot you had one of those. Aerial Ace!" Oliver commanded, with his Dodrio darting forward with a cry.

"Poison Powder!" Laura commanded, with Tangrowth quickly releasing a cloud of powder that Dodrio charged through before slamming into the Grass-type. Tangrowth squealed in pain while Dodrio coughed and stumbled around as the poison began to course through its body.

"Now, use Slam!" Laura commanded, with Tangrowth lurching forward and smashing into Dodrio, sending it hurtling backwards.

"Tri Attack!" Oliver shouted as Dodrio caught itself and landed on the ground, its sharp talons easily bringing its backwards momentum to a halt. All three heads unleashed a powerful blast of ice, lightning and fire at the Vine Pokémon.

"Launch yourself into the air and then use Sludge Bomb!" Laura shouted, with Tangrowth obeying, using its many vines to slam down onto the ground and shoot high into the air and unleash a bombardment of purple globules down on Dodrio, who began to leap and jump around on the ground with screeches of panic.

"Aerial Ace to get close, then follow up with Drill Peck as it lands!" Oliver barked, crossing his arms. The Dodrio shot forward with a screech, wincing in pain as the poison sapped away its strength.

"Poison Jab!" Laura commanded, with the Tangrowth's vines glowing purple as it landed on the ground. Dodrio smashed into Tangrowth with incredible force, knocking the beast back with a screech of pain. All three heads proceeded to deliver a barrage of Drill Pecks, only stopping when two vines smashed into their chest and sent them soaring away, though at that point the damage had been done. Tangrowth only managed to take a single step forward before collapsing.

"Tangrowth is unable to battle. The winner...huh?" Hau was about to say, but he spotted Dodrio swaying on its feet. The Triple Bird Pokémon let out a soft cry before dropping to the ground, unconscious.

"Both Pokémon are unable to battle! Double knockout!" Hau declared, throwing up his hands.

"They knocked each other out so quickly. That was brutal..." Lille muttered, awed by the display.

"Gotta admit, I didn't think you could overcome the type-disadvantage." Oliver said with a chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Kinda embarrassed, now."

"Don't be. I knew Tangrowth wouldn't last a long time, so I just tried to get the most out of poisoning your Dodrio that I could. I just got lucky with the timing." Laura explained, drawing her final Poké Ball.

Oliver did the same, but before either of them could call out a Pokémon, the shadows around Oliver swirled and distorted, and two large hands erupted from the ground and dragged Oliver into his own shadow.

"Ollie!" Laura shouted, running forward.

"Uh, was that supposed to happen?" Hau asked, confused. Sun and co. ran forward as well, looking around the battlefield. Suddenly there was a small explosion of darkness ahead of them and Oliver leapt out of the shadows of a nearby tree, a strange Pokémon that resembled a sword and shield hovering behind him. Nearby, a large bald man covered in scars appeared from the shadow behind a pole, with a Dusknoir floating happily behind them.

"What just happened?" Sun asked, worried as the two men exchanged glares.

"So what, you try and catch me off guard with Shadow Sneak and drag me off somewhere?" Oliver growled as the shield and sword Pokémon shivered behind him, shifting into what seemed like a more natural stance for it. The Dusknoir opposite flexed its hands, giggling softly.

"New Pokémon detected! Wheee!" Rotom buzzed, floating ahead of the group.

"Dusknoir. The Gripper Pokémon and the evolved form of Dusclops. The antenna on its head captures radio waves from the world of spirits that command it to take people there. It is said to take lost spirits into its pliant body and guide them home."

"Creepy." Mallow muttered, shivering slightly as Rotom flicked to another screen.

"Aegislash. The Royal Sword Pokémon and the evolved form of Doublade. Generations of kings were attended by these Pokémon, which used their spectral power to manipulate and control people and Pokémon. Apparently, it can detect the innate qualities of leadership. According to legend, whoever it recognizes is destined to become king." Rotom explained as the children and teens looked back and forth between the two powerful Ghost-type Pokémon.

"The sword one looks badass. I've never seen anything like that before. I wonder how it'd be able to fight that guy and ghost over there." Mallow admitted as Ollie glared down the man and his Dusknoir.

"It's found only in Kalos, and is extremely rare elsewhere. Though I have heard some rumors of them being found on Akala Island." Laura explained, though she was glancing back and forth worriedly between the two men. "I wonder who that other guy is though. Why did he interrupt our match and try to take Oliver with him?"

"That's Commander Jack and Gretel." Lillie noted, curiosity etched on her face. The others looked at her and Lillie flushed slightly. "I met them both at Royal Avenue. They saved me from Team Skull."

"I remember that!" Sun exclaimed before looking over to the two men. "Wonder what they want?"

"Can I help you?" Oliver asked Jack as Gretel the Dusknoir hovered nearby, giggling softly. Jack smirked at the annoyance in Ollie's voice, but nodded slightly.

"I was originally trying to find Looker and Anabel, but now that I see they're too busy watching from the shadows, I'll tell you instead since you're the new guy around here. We found a new lead in Heahea City. Nanu is looking into it for now, but in the meantime I'm laying low. I don't exactly blend in." Jack said with a scowl, making Oliver frown.

"I'm assuming you're the extra help Looker and Nanu convinced to help us, considering our low numbers here in Alola." The IP Captain said, offering the man a small smile. Commander Jack gave him a stiff nod and Ollie extended his hand. "Quill. Pleased to meet you."

"Jackal." The men both shook hands, whereupon Gretel swooped forward and shook Ollie's hand, giggling softly.

"And I'm Gretel! Pleased to meet you!" the Dusknoir said cheerily before she floated backwards.

"Likewise. I have no idea why Anabel and Looker decided to bail and spy on my battle, but whatever. I'll let them know when I see them. I'm not jumping straight into the thick of things, though. I'm taking some time off to adjust and get a feel for Alola, you know?" Ollie said to the larger man, who nodded in response.

"Understandable. Just don't take too long. Between Team Skull, Cipher, and...other parties, things are getting dangerous. I'll keep my ear to the ground, but for now, you should get properly debriefed by Maiden. Then you can spend time with your girlfriend and the kids." Jack said to the man, smirking again.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Oliver scowled, heat rising to his face. He then muttered, "Not yet, anyway."

"I heard that!" Laura called, with Ollie flinching harshly in response. Jack coughed a few times, laughing quietly while shaking his head.

"I needed that laugh. Yeah, you'll do fine. Maiden and Looker can give you my info if you need to get ahold of me. You know how it goes." Jackal said as he took a step back.

"I'll start looking into things shortly, don't you worry." Ollie said as his Aegislash sank into his shadow. Gretel did the same, and Jackal beckoned the group forward.

"Mister Jack! What's going on?" Lillie asked as they bounded forward.

"I was trying to get this guy alone so I could tell him some important info. But either I'm getting rusty, or he's quicker on the draw than I thought, because he stopped Gretel's Shadow Sneak and escaped back to this plane without much trouble." Jack explained. The Dusknoir in question rose up from behind them all and hugged Lillie, picking the girl up in her arms.

"It's good to see you again, Miss Lillie! Have you been well?" Gretel asked, with Lillie laughing after getting over her initial surprise.

"Very well! How about you and Mister Jack?" Lillie asked as the ghost set her down on the ground and patted Lillie on the head.

"About as good as I can get, all things considered. The IP branch over here consists of three people, so they reached out to me and Nanu to help out. Speaking of Nanu, I'm needed elsewhere." Jack said, looking back at Oliver. "Keep an eye out while you're resting up. I've got a bad feeling, and we'll need all hands on deck if we're going to get a handle on things over here."

"Noted." Ollie said in reply, nodding to the man. Jackal nodded in return before he looked at all of the children and teens present, his gaze landing on Lillie last.

"Be good, alright?" Jack said to Lillie, who nodded in reply. Without another word, Gretel waved to the group before pulling Jack into his shadow, vanishing from sight.

"Sorry Laura. We'll have continue this match another time." Oliver said, scratching the back of his head. "Looks like I've got some business to take care of before I can officially start my vacation."

"No worries." Laura said with a grin. "You can always take me out to eat some other time. You definitely need to visit us on Melemele Island, though."

"I'll do that. So, what are you all planning on doing now, since we're about wrapped up here?" Oliver asked the group.

"Going home. I promised the twins I'd take them fishing tonight, so I'll see you all later!" Lana said with a smile as she headed off.

"I coooould hang for a while, but I should probably get going myself. Let me know when you decide to battle Olivia again, Sun. I want to see your Grand Trial in person!" Mallow said cheerily before she pranced off after Lana, leaving the group down two.

"Sun, how about you? You mentioned wanting to take some time off." Lillie asked her best friend and crush, who nodded.

"I figured going back home and training is probably my best call. I can train Finn up and come up with some new strategies to take on Olivia so next time I'm able to win no problem. And after all the stress with Dad showing up again and doing what he did, I need a break from the Island Challenge for a bit. Plus there's that big tournament coming up...Yeah, I definitely want to check that out." Sun said with a smile.

"The Alola Grand Royal Tournament, you mean?" Ollie remarked, smirking. "The amount of publicity that thing is getting back in Kanto in unreal. A current Champion, Gym Leaders from all over the world, a regional professor and several other celebrities? It'll definitely be a fun time."

"Professor Kukui has been organizing the entire thing." Lillie chimed in, drawing everyone's attention. The girl balked for a moment, but continued. "He's going to make a huge announcement after the tournaments end, and the winner will have the chance to make history."

"Make history? How so, Lillie?" Sun asked the girl.

Lillie smiled shyly and looked away. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Aw, your Princess is playing hard to get, Sun." Laura chuckled, with both children blushing in response.

"Oh? Did you get yourself a girlfriend since moving here?" Ollie asked with a teasing smile, with both children turning dark red at that and yelling out, "No!"

"Alright, lay off Ollie. Poor kids don't need to get riled up. How about you, Hau?" Laura asked the Kahuna's grandson, who just shrugged.

"I don't want to continue on this thing without Sunny Delight, so I think I'll just bum around on Akala for a while, maybe hang out with Lana and Mallow. And Kiawe when he's not working." Hau said with a smirk, looking over at Lillie. "I'm guessing you're going back to the Dimensional Research Lab?"

"Actually, Professor Burnet is taking time off as well. She and Professor Kukui are taking me back to Professor Kukui's lab. Apparently he's had a breakthrough regarding his Z-Power studies, and wants the both of us to help him look into it." Lillie explained, smiling at her friends.

"Meaning we can hang out in our downtime." Sun said with a hopeful grin, with Lillie nodding happily in response.

"Fine. Leave poor Hau out...I see how it is." Hau muttered audibly, with Rotom Dex floating over to the boy and patting him on the shoulder.

"Zzzt! Ouch, buddy. Gonna need a Ice Heal for the cold shoulder you just got."

"You both know it's not like that. Hau, you're perfectly welcome to come hang out at the Professor's lab with us." Lillie said to Hau, who's face broke into a grin.

"No worries. I'm just gonna bug Lana instead." Hau said dismissively, waving a hand. "You'll both be back in time for the tournament though, yeah?" Hau got two nods in reply, so he broke out into a wide grin. "Then I'll see you both then!"

"I guess in the meantime I'll see about getting a hotel and take care of this debrief real quick. My apartment won't be sorted out for at least another two weeks, and I'd rather not bum around at Pokémon Centers, you know?" Oliver remarked, shrugging with a small smile.

"You can stay with us!" Sun said with a grin, though both adults exchanged a glance and flushed before looking away. Lillie and Hau both smirked while Sun's grin widened. Meanwhile, Ollie and Laura were jabbering away excuses.

"I-I mean...Getting a hotel squared away wouldn't be that big of a deal..."

"Sun, we still have moving boxes set up. We haven't finished unpacking still."

Sun shook his head. "Nope! I insist! After everything you've done for us, it'd be pretty bad to make you pay for a hotel while you could just stay with us. Now come on, let's go!"

Both adults sighed and shook their heads before they began to make their way back to the city proper. Sun and Hau exchanged a fist-bump while Lillie giggled.

"Dude, they like each other. You don't feel weird about that?" Hau asked Sun, who shook his head.

"No way. Mister Oliver is awesome. Plus he's an old family friend and has a whole bunch of birds, and he saved Mom from Dad back in Kanto. If she likes him and he makes her happy, why wouldn't I be supportive of them?" Sun asked, laughing quietly as he crossed his arms. "Plus, this means I can mess with them about it."

"I figured that's where all of that was going. You're mean, Sun." Lillie said with approval, giggling after a moment.

"Yeah. Remember all the times Mom teased us? Consider this payback." Sun said, his grin becoming mischievous. Nebby let out a cry of approval (maybe?) while Lillie laughed and the group followed the two adults, who were still awkwardly going back and forth about Ollie crashing at their place until he got his own apartment set up.

Anabel and Looker stepped out from the shadows, grinning to each other before teleporting away.


Celadon City


Amber had to admit, she enjoyed the changing of leadership in Cipher a bit too much.

Greevil had always come off as obnoxious to her. He was proud, arrogant, and an old fool. He had no idea how much he had been twisted and manipulated until his very last moments.

If Amber was able to feel anything, she would have able to feel an incredible amount of joy telling Greevil how it had been her and Borlath who had arranged for the death of Eldes and Ardos, his two sons, as he died on that stage back at the Kanto Superdome. After all, Eldes and Ardos asked questions and were rightfully suspicious of Borlath from the get-go, so they naturally had to die.

But aside from that, Amber enjoyed Borlath leading the charge because it meant that Borlath's dreams would come closer to becoming reality. A better world. A just world. Even with her impairments, it was something Amber wanted to see out of the sake of sheer curiosity more than anything else now, even if she wasn't fiercely loyal to Borlath. Plus, he had promised to help her become whole again, no matter what it took.

Cipher's Angel of Death walked through the hallway with Dawson and the Masked Admin in tow, heading into a meeting with the new Grand Master of Cipher himself. Amber knew that this wasn't just a meeting, but a shakedown. None of them trusted the Masked Admin that Greevil had entrusted with the Alola operation, and they would get some answers out of him.

The trio entered the room and the door was shut, with the three of them sitting down at the large table and looking over at Borlath as he regarded them from the window. Borlath smiled and snapped his fingers.

The Masked Admin let out a yell as a shadow from the corner suddenly lunged at him, knocking him out of the chair he was in and sending him crashing to the ground. The man looked up from the ground and yelled out again as two massive paws pinned his arms to the ground, with a huge hellhound growling in his face with his teeth bared.

"What is the meaning of this!?" the Masked Admin demanded, a note of fear and anger in his voice.

"Oh don't you worry. I'm just taking the advice of a friend and trusting my Partner a little more." Borlath said with a cruel smile as Damien increased the pressure he was putting on the Masked Admin.

"And I just don't like you." Damien added, grinning nastily.

"Now, I operate on some level of trust with my Admins. Greevil did as well, obviously, but with him gone that leaves me in a weird bind...I know nothing about you. None of us know anything about you, and Greevil took whatever he knew with him to his grave. So you're going to answer some questions, and we'll go from there." Borlath said politely, getting up from his chair while Amber and Dawson simply watched from nearby. Borlath pulled out a silver revolver from his suit pocket and aimed it at the downed man.

"First off, what is your name? Considering how long you've hung around, I find it ridiculous that we don't know what to even call you." Borlath said to the man, who to his credit, didn't seem phased.

"Heh, wouldn't you like to know? I wear a mask for a reason, boy. If anyone knew who I really was, then I'd lose my main use to you as the leader of Cipher. If you must call me by something...then call me Mask." the Masked Admin said with a little laugh. "After all, we mostly go by code-names anyway, don't we?"

"Me and Amber don't." Dawson reminded the man, who barked out a laugh.

"What do you have to hide? You're a mercenary...and she's a psychopath. The rest of us have connections outside of Cipher. Lives that would be ruined should who we truly are get out to the common masses." Mask stated as Borlath scowled. "Besides, I'm a dead man if people knew who I was. It isn't important to you all, so just allow an old man the comfort of becoming a nameless shadow.

"You've got a point. But then again, you're not in a position to bargain, Mask. We'll return to this topic later." Borlath said to the man as Damien growled again. "Now, another question. Why did Greevil chose you to lead the Alola campaign?"

"I know how the region works. I have friends in low places there, as well as friends in power that owe me. Setting up a base on Ula'ula Island was child's play. Besides...Me and Greevil were old friends, once upon a time. We met over business and he trusted me like he trusted few others. It took awhile for him to convince me to join Cipher." Mask explained, his voice remaining steady.

"What do you have planned for the region?" Dawson asked, mainly out of curiosity. The Masked Admin let out a cackle of delight, shaking his head.

"I only wish for the region to suffer. Overthrowing the gods and claiming Z-Power for a criminal syndicate is the best way to spit in their faces, so naturally I'm going to do the best I can to make sure we succeed." Mask said with a laugh, making Damien glance at Borlath.

"Does everyone who leaves Alola grow up to be a bitter adult?" Damien asked his Trainer, who smiled ruefully at his Partner.

"You and I both know that's not true. The toxic culture and the adherence to a centuries-old tradition that isolates people and casts out the rejects is why people hate it so. What makes me curious though is to who you actually are. I think we should take off that mask and see what you're hiding." Borlath said, grinning in triumph.

Mask visibly stiffened at that and tried to move Damien off of him, but the Houndoom was too strong. Borlath approached the older man, who let out a nervous laugh.

"You really should be a bit more kind to a defenseless old man...Especially when he could tell you exactly where your son is." Mask breathed, somewhat annoyed that he had been threatened into pulling out his trump card.

Borlath's reaction was immediate. His eyes turned gray before becoming jet-black. He took a step back in surprise while Damien snarled angrily, baring his teeth.

"If you hurt Sun, I'll tear your throat out!" Damien growled, flames flickering at the back of his throat. Amber and Dawson exchanged a look before looking at Borlath, whose face was a mixture of emotions. Mask stared at Borlath, and the leader's eyes were gray again.

"I wouldn't hurt the poor boy. I just happen to know where he is. It would be an easy matter for you to collect him, my little monarch. Now...I can easily provide a location, but this will require you to get off of me, and begin trusting me to do my job." Mask said smoothly, with Damien growling softly in anger. "No more questions about who I am. If I am to remain useful, I must stay anonymous."

"...Very well. Damien, get off of him. Amber, if he moves to run away, break his legs. I've had enough subterfuge." Borlath said quietly, stowing his gun away. The Houndoom hopped off of the man and moved over to his Trainer. Mask shakily got to his feet, bracing himself against the table for support.

"Even with everything I've done to myself to remain strong, I still can't shake off old age." Mask sighed as he fell into a chair. Borlath glowered at the man impatiently, with Mask chuckling in reply.

"He's on Akala Island, likely residing in Konikoni City. From what I've gathered, he recently battled the Kahuna there." Mask breathed, panting slightly.

"Keep talking."

"He seemed to have three Poké Balls on his belt and a Z-Ring on his wrist when we last spotted him, entering Diglett's Tunnel. Our efforts to find him again were waylaid by the efforts of the International Police within the region, as they've become more nosy than I'd like." Mask said before rattling off a description of the boy in question. Borlath grit his teeth, as it matched his child perfectly.

"She actually brought him to Alola...She exposed our child to that awful place. Just when I thought you couldn't hurt me further, you go and do this." Borlath thought to himself, running a hand down his face. "After everything I told you about the region, you still took him there and let him become a Trainer. How could you, Laura?"

"So...what's the plan, Boss?" Dawson asked Borlath, who took a moment to reply. After composing himself, he turned to the trio ahead of him.

"The plan remains the same. We're not going to entirely derail my plans just so I can find Sun." Borlath said before looking at Mask. "Tell me more about him. What was he doing? Who was Sun with...Is he safe?"

Mask seemed to grin, chuckling softly under his breath. "Ah, ah, ah...I want a promise that none of the Admins or Cipher personnel will lay a hand on me in the future, no matter what. I've proven to be an effective and loyal member of Cipher, and even if I have to keep some secrets close to my chest, I want your word that I won't be harmed in the future."

Borlath scowled, but allowed himself a small smile. "Greevil hinted that you were a businessman like him and myself. I bet you've known for some time where Sun has been, but you've kept it to yourself so you could use the information when it was most beneficial to you, didn't you?"

Mask inclined his head, but remarked. "It's just a matter of looking out for my own skin. Considering what just happened, I was justified. You're properly paranoid about me, but keep in mind I am no threat to you. You lead us, and despite my skill and knowledge I'm no match for the three of you when the chips fall."

"Very well, I'll accept your conditions. No Cipher personnel will harm you in any way from this point forward. You have my word. And after all, you know that when I give my word it is absolute." Borlath said, even as Damien snarled beside him.

"I can't believe you're doing this." Damien muttered, though Borlath put a hand on the head of his Partner.

"Relax. For now, we can remain civil. So...what's my boy been up to?" Borlath asked Mask, who crossed his arms.

"He's been undergoing the Island Challenge, and is on Akala Island. My sources tell me that he's traveling in the company of the grandson of the Melemele Island Kahuna, Hau Pakelaai. Both are acquaintances of Aria and her ragtag group of misfits. My men have tried to keep an eye on him, but we've had to step back our efforts thanks to the Kahuna of Ula'ula Island stepping in where he definitely isn't needed." Mask recounted, a hidden scowl forming. "I attempted to capture Sun to bring to you, but we had to retreat when Tapu Lele interfered. As good as I am, I can't hope to match a Guardian Deity. Not yet, anyway."

"Yes...Tapu Lele, for all of its powers, can be cruel and sadistic when it wants to be. So, you're assuming Sun is still on the Akala Island?" Borlath asked, with Mask nodding.

"My men are still keeping an eye out, but given our next task, they are understandably busy with other things." Mask remarked, with Borlath scoffing.

"At least Sun's safe. After all of the horror stories you've told us about Alola, I was a bit worried myself." Dawson remarked, earning a glance of interest from Amber.

"You've met Borlath's son?" Amber asked, with Dawson nodding.

"A few times, back before I was officially with Cipher. I hung around Celadon for a while and I ended up meeting Sun as a result, since I had business with Borlath. He's a good kid." Dawson said with a smile. "Hell, I even got a picture with him and my old bird before she passed away. See?" Dawson pulled out a smartphone and tapped a few screens before showing Amber a picture of Sun, Damien, Dawson and a visibly old Pelipper.

"I forget that you two met a few times." Borlath remarked, chuckling softly. "You two did seem to hit it off fairly well."

"He's a good kid, and...uh, Amber? You good?" Dawson asked, seeing the confused expression on her face.

"I've met this kid before." Amber stated, with Borlath frowning at that.

"Really? How?" Borlath asked, confused. Due to Amber's reputation and skill-set, he had made sure that the two of them would never cross paths. Though the assassin had met Laura, she had never met Sun because she was too busy operating within Cipher.

"Back in Alola a few months back. I was on my little killing spree and ran into some Trainers while trying to kill a Growlithe. One of the boys in that group looked just like the boy in this picture." Amber explained, shrugging. "He had some serious skill for a little kid. That said, if that idiot in the coat hadn't shown up they would've all died-AGH!"

Everyone in the room winced as Amber's skull suddenly slammed into the wooden table with a crash, with Borlath holding Amber's head as he rammed her into the table several more times, each time with more force.

"You almost killed him!? You...you…" Borlath snarled as he dragged Amber's dazed and confused form towards the window before he slammed her body against the window, cracking it visibly.

"Am I the only person here who thinks anymore?! I told you to keep it to just Pokémon! And you nearly killed my son!" Borlath roared, smashing Amber's head into the glass as crimson streamed down her face. None of the others in the room dared to move, as they had never seen Borlath so furious before. The man took a step back and hurled Amber at the window, shattering it and making her plummet through the dark night, leaving a panting Borlath standing there.

"You just threw her out the window! Wha...what the hell!?" Dawson yelled, with Borlath shaking his head as he visibly tried to calm himself down.

"She'll teleport up in a minute." Borlath hissed, running his hands through his hair. "I can't believe that...No, I can believe it. I should've known better than to try and have anything to do with Alola."

"Maybe, but you're stuck with it now." Mask remarked, chuckling at Borlath's fury. Borlath glared down at the man, his mouth twisting into a darker smile.

"You're lucky you don't follow Amber. I know you're not nearly quick enough on the draw to teleport yourself to safety." Borlath said as Amber reappeared in the room, with a furious Xatu holding her in her wings.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Avis chirped furiously, with Borlath glaring at the bird, making her shrink back.

"See to it your Trainer never lays a hand on my son again. That goes for any member of Cipher. If he gets harmed, I will personally see to it that whoever is involved dies a slow and painful death." Borlath said with a tone easing towards calm, with the Xatu flaring her wings threateningly. However, a growl from Damien made the bird step back and lower her wings.

"That hurt. A lot. I didn't think you had rage like that in you, Borlath." Amber remarked, still sounding dazed but at least coherent.

"She should probably get looked at. As psycho as she is, I think a check for a concussion is in order." Dawson remarked, looking visibly worried as he stowed his phone away.

"Alright...Alright. The three of you, leave. I need to think." Borlath commanded, with Mask, Amber and Dawson nodding. Avis glared at Borlath before following her Trainer out the door, leaving the businessman behind with his canine companion. Borlath let out a loud exhale of air before he collapsed into his chair.

"I lose control so rarely...How could I have made such an oversight? If it wasn't for luck, Sun would be dead. And it'd be all my fault." Borlath sighed, rubbing his temples.

"He's safe, and that's what matters." Damien replied, sitting down and looking at Borlath.

"That said, I am troubled...Who is that masked man, really? Why does he seem familiar to me? How is Sun doing, really? Is he alright? Has Alola corrupted him already, or is there time to take him away from that place before he becomes intertwined in their hateful culture? How could Laura bring him there, even after everything I've told her about that damn place...And that's not even taking into account everything with Lusamine. What is she thinking?" Borlath rambled, shaking his head.

"It is a lot to keep track of...It isn't too late, Ash. We can stop. We can end all of this. No one else has to get hurt." Damien said quietly, though Borlath responded with a hollow laugh.

"No, my friend. We're far past the point of no return. At this point, we either succeed or we will die. And rest assured, we will succeed. I will save everyone from the darkest parts of ourselves, Damien. Cipher alone will rise above as the greatest of shadows and become the sword that defends this world from evil. But for that to happen...The old regime must be destroyed. The world as we know it needs to change. We need a revolution." Borlath stated, determination burning with his eyes as he looked down at his partner.

"It better. Otherwise betraying everything you loved and turning evil would have been for nothing." Damien replied, with Borlath scowling in reply.

"I didn't want to do that. If Laura hadn't found those records, things wouldn't have had to happen the way that they did." Borlath responded, with Damien scoffing and shaking his head. "Part of me dreads having to deal with Alola again. But another part of me is looking forward to having Cipher tear the region apart."

"What about Sun and Laura?" Damien asked, with Borlath's face contorting into a twisted visage of fury. Whether it was at her for leaving him or for himself for being the cause of all of his problems, Damien didn't know.

"I haven't decided what I'm going to do about them. I don't want Mask to be keeping tabs on Sun, but on the other hand I want to make sure he's alright." Borlath growled, punching the table.

Damien's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't want to try and capture him?"

"I want nothing more than to have my son back at my side. Sun's loyalty has never wavered. However...I don't trust that masked bastard for a moment. It seems like he's lost track of Sun for the time being, so I'll ensure that Mask is kept busy. "

"Can't you just order him to stay away from Sun?"

"I could. Will he? No. Worse yet, he could capture Sun against my orders and threaten me with holding Sun captive. And if that happens...I have to keep him focused on our mission and hope that Sun is strong enough to evade capture." Borlath said, putting a finger on his forehead.

"And while we're on that topic...Lillie and Gladion are running around unchecked in Alola. I hope they have the sense to keep away from our battles until everything clears up. I hope Lusamine and the Aether Foundation don't get caught in the crossfire too." Borlath sighed as his eyes flashed a dark blue color before creeping into their usual gray. "Lusamine...Just what are you planning?" Borlath asked as he pressed his face against the window, looking out upon the ruined city that he himself had condemned. Damien sat down beside his Trainer, growling softly.

"She isn't well, that much is certain. Something is not right." Damien stated, with Borlath shutting his eyes for a moment in thought. "Not just with her mind. The red veins on her body don't make sense either."

"Red veins?" Borlath asked Damien before thinking back to the last conversation he had with Lusamine. He had been so distracted by the words she was speaking that he barely paid attention to the odd sight of the glowing vein on the woman's neck. Borlath opened his eyes again, narrowing them. "That's right...You think that has something to do with her behavior?"

"Yes. Creatures don't just fluctuate in behavior like that. And the Lusamine we both know wouldn't do that to her children, and wouldn't treat a friend like she treated you. Even if she's completely right. Something is wrong." Damien said to Borlath, who's expression hardened when Damien mentioned that Lusamine's words were correct. He didn't argue, though.

"More and more trouble...We'll just have to make sure to keep Lusamine placated then. I'll see about investigating the Aether Foundation and seeing what exactly is going on. Her plans seemed to be centered around Cosmog…" Borlath mused, his eyes flickering to purple and blue.

"Then perhaps finding Cosmog before she does and obtaining some answers would be best. Lillie may be able to offer a less...biased account of what is happening." Damien remarked, with Borlath nodding in agreement.

"Her or Gladion. That said, it could draw attention to them, and if they're running from her it's probably for a reason. Teenage rebellion doesn't make two very obedient children commit grand theft and flee a floating compound in the middle of the ocean." Borlath reasoned, with Damien growling softly before nodding.

"I need to understand just what Lusa is planning, Damien. However, I can't just drop all of my plans just because I'm concerned about Lusamine, just like I can't drop my plans to find Sun. We have a job to do...And I refuse to allow myself to be dissuaded because my child is there now. Alola is just a stepping stone to bigger targets anyway, even if it is the root of my hate." Borlath admitted, his eyes becoming a shade darker.

"You never did learn to let go." Damien remarked, a note of pity in his voice.

"Why? That pain and hate from my time in Alola is what fuels my ambitions. I refuse to allow others to fall prey to the same evil I saw that our kind are capable of. Even if it means becoming a monster myself, I will become the hero that saves this world from itself. Unova has fallen, and once Kanto is under our feet the other regions will fall in line." Borlath replied, looking away from his Houndoom. Damien shivered as Borlath's smile widened, becoming almost demonic as his eyes slowly turned to the color of blood.

"As for Alola...I've decided. I'm going to burn it to the ground. And I will get my family back. It's as simple as that, my Partner. No one will stand in the way of my better tomorrow…No one."


Mmmm...Interesting. Next chapter, more stuff happens!

Q and A

From: Zombiesguy115

what inspired you to write pokemon stories. just a question because i lost interest at age 10 and just recently got back into it because i have to be able to understand your story.

I've always been a huge fan of Pokemon since I was a kid. Hell, Yellow Version was the first game I ever played. However, what inspired me to write Pokemon stories was the simple fact that I found a story I wanted to tell. That was what inspired me to do RS, as well as PMD: GLD.

From: Doger 32

Also i have to ask, which evo will finn become? I honestly would love to see politoed get some rep but im not the author lol

With everyone changing their names so often, I'm really starting to lose track of who's who. For those who message me about it in advance, thank you.

As for the question, that's kinda spoilerish. Honestly, I haven't decided myself. I'm a big fan of Politoed, especially since it was my ace during a HeartGold Nuzlocke I did once. On the other head, Poliwrath works very well for the character that Finn will become.

So we'll have to wait and see. But I'm equally fond of both, so it's 50/50.

From: RC-DA

So Greevil was interested in Z-moves, hm does this mean we may see some kin of typless overpowered z-move in the future?

I actually plan on expanding a bit of Z-Power in general, but I'll be taking a few liberties with Z-Moves and the like. A bit like they do in the anime. I can't quite answer the question though, due to spoilers, but...not quite? At least not in the way you're saying.

From: trevhall19

1. I was able to recognize the captains by their usernames, which were very spot on with their personality. I do have one question though about Kiawe's username. Why is it SpittinHawtFiya?

2. The Aesther Foundation is trying to build the purification chamber from XD Gale of Darkness. When you mention that Umbral Pokemon are created using the venom from Nihilego, do you think this will actually restore the Umbral Pokemon back to their original selves, despite the fact that Lusamine is secretly working with Cipher?

3. Lusamine keeps calling Borlath 'Ash'. I am fully aware that he is not Ash Ketchum and he's Ashton. This forces me to ask why did you make Borlath's real name 'Ashton'?

4. About this big tournament, will it happened after Sun's rematch with Olivia or later on when his Pokemon are fully evolved and he has a full party?

5. Both Sun and Borlath's eyes change color depending on their mood. This reminds me of Kingdom Hearts when a character succumbs to the darkness, their eye color changes to a golden yellow color. Will that color make an appearance in their eyes at some point?

6. The Legendary Pokemon, who Borlath has Giovanni searching for, it's Mewtwo, isn't it?

7. Will Sun ever tell his mom about him and Lillie being boyfriend and girlfriend?

8. Other than this story, what is your favorite Pokemom Fan Fiction and which inspired you to write this story?

Final Question

9. For this Alolan Grand Royale, will the player characters from all the other games, except the one from Black and White who is now dead, make an appearance there?

thank you for answering most of my questions that I asked last time. I enjoy reading your story and asking questions. Keep up the amazing work you are doing man!

1. That was really just me being stupid with the name. I wish I could remember what the reference was from, but I don't remember.

2. Nihilego venom doesn't create Umbral Pokémon, it just makes creating them actually viable. Normally the process is so traumatic and painful that every single Pokémon that's undergone the procedure to be transformed into one has died, save for one psychotic Hypno. The venom is a neurotoxin that stabilizes the test subject and increases their odds of living through the ordeal.

Also, Lusamine isn't actually working with Cipher. The entire relationship between the Aether Foundation and Cipher is that the leaders of both groups are old friends helping each other out, as friends. Borlath has been donating money to the Aether Foundation for years now, mainly because he believes in the cause, while Lusamine offered the Nihilego venom to Borlath because she was compelled to by the Nihilego influencing her. After all...What better way to draw attention away from herself than to have another criminal cause a ruckus?

3. I've actually been wanting to explain this for a while, after the big reveal. The main reason I did this was because of the Greninja you get in the Sun and Moon Demo released way back. The OT for that Greninja was Ash, and it was a gift from the character's father. That was my main inspiration behind the name. Obviously that's supposed to be Ash Ketchum, but I tweaked it a bit so it worked for my purposes. That way its still cannon in a way.

4. As explained earlier, Sun will have a rematch with Olivia after the Alola Grand Royale Tournament.

5. Borlath's eyes have changed to a golden color, actually. He usually does that to mess with friend's of Wes, since that's his eye color. Will Sun do that? Probably not. I'm associating with anger with the color red. Hate is associated with crimson, in particular.

6. To be explained later.

7. They're not boyfriend and girlfriend. They've acknowledged each other's feelings and are trying to figure that out. At the most, they've agreed to go on a date with each other and see where it goes. Will Sun plan on talking to his mother about this development? Most likely, given that he and Lillie mentioned doing so in Chapter 72.

9. That's easy. "Pedestal" by Digital Skitty. It showed me that you can have a realistic and dark story but have it be touching and teach important lessons as well, on top of having a wonderful cast of characters. It's a masterpiece of a story and easily one of the best I've ever read in any section of Fanfiction . Net. If you're a fan of this story and haven't read "Pedestal", I STRONGLY urge you to read it.

I'm glad you're enjoying the story and thank you for asking questions. Seeing people actively take interest in the story like this makes me pretty happy, so I'm more than happy to keep this kind of thing going.

9. As of now, no. There will be plenty of other cameos and appearances, though. One in particular...hehehehe. Let's just say that I've got a stupid grin on my face just thinking about their introduction to the story.

From: the totem natu

Do you plan to give sun a shiny pokemon? And just for fun, if you were a captain, what type would you use and what would your blog name be?

As of now, no Shiny Pokemon are planned for Sun. And if I was a Captain, I'd use Dragon-types and probably use a Skyrim reference as my blog name, like "DaDragonborn" or something.

That's all for now, everyone! Please show your support with a review in the section below and favoriting/following the story if you haven't already. Also questions, if you have them.

Stay safe and stay awesome.

Until next time, FlygonNick out!