Pokémon Radiant Sun


Howdy folks. Welcome to a new year!

Despite some scary shit happening in the news, which may or may not be directly effecting me, I'm gonna keep rolling forward with updates! And my Ultra Moon Nuzlocke, because I've just defeated Ultra Necrozma and I'm barreling right towards the Elite Four!

Spoiler Alert: My Zoroark made Ultra Necrozma his bitch, and that strategy totally works.

Shoutout to those who reviewed since the last update, which includes Oragonking, a Guest reviewer, fatwhiteguy, another Guest reviewer, BraviaryScout, Anasazi Darkmoon, and What Lies Beyond. Thanks for the fantastic feedback and support!

Enjoy.


Chapter 102: Indomitable


Malie City

23 Years Ago


Lusamine awoke from her nap with a stifled yawn, taking that moment to shut her eyes at the sun that was far too bright for her liking. She had a slight headache and didn't feel particularly great, but it was a massive improvement compared to the wreck she was a few hours ago, in the morning.

Last night had been mostly a blur for her as well. There was a large party to celebrate the arrival of the Kalos Champion, and Lusamine had sampled some of the local drink. And, finding that she liked it, sampled quite a bit more. Mohn excused the two of them so that they could retire early for the evening, and the Kahunas laughed and bid them goodnight. When she had woken up that morning, she promptly rushed to the bathroom and threw up. Mohn, the godsend that we was, carried her back to bed, got her several bottles of water to drink and even cuddled with her until she fell back asleep.

Which begged the question, where was Mohn now?

"Darling? Where are you?" Lusamine muttered, throwing aside her comforter and walking around the room. A sleeping Delphox stirred from the nearby couch, where she was currently curled up beside Fiaro.

"Adele, have you seen Mohn?" Lusamine asked, making both of the Fox Pokémon flinch and look up her with bleary eyes.

"I...I don't know. He left some time ago, I think?" Adele responded before lying her head onto Fiaro's chest. "Five more minutes, Trainer. I need sleep."

Fiaro grunted in agreement, and with that the two foxes fell back asleep. If Lusamine wasn't preoccupied with Mohn, she would have snapped a picture of how adorable the two of them were. Just as Fiaro was Mohn's Partner, Adele was Lusamine's very first Pokémon. She had been instrumental in helping Lusamine dethrone the previous Champion and cement her place in history.

Just then, the door opened and Lusamine quickly whirled around, covering herself before dropping her hands and scowling at Mohn, who was carrying several boxes of what smelled like food.

"Hey, don't cover yourself up on my account." Mohn said as he brushed past his girlfriend, winking at her as he passed by. Lusamine sighed and walked over to her suitcase, deciding now was a good time as any to throw some clothes on.

"How are you? Any better?" Mohn asked as he set aside the boxes of food, taking care to pet both of the foxes on the couch.

"Mostly. I think some food and fresh air would do me good. What'd you get, anyway?" Lusamine asked as she slipped one of her sundresses over her head. The Champion walked over to Mohn, hugging him around the shoulders and kissing him lightly on the cheek. Mohn chuckled lightly as Lusamine sat down at the table with him.

"Some local dishes, mostly. Found this nice little restaurant in the city, so I grabbed some food for us. Figured you'd want something on your stomach after last night." Mohn remarked as Lusamine opened her tray. True to his word, Lusamine recognized nothing inside of the container as food.

It didn't stop her from clearing it out.

While they ate, the couple had the radio tuned to the local news station. It was around the time the two had finished eating that their ears caught a report on the radio.

"We've received reports of an attack in Po Town. There are at least two confirmed deaths in this latest attack by the Ruby Raiders, who set fire to the Pokémon Center. We've also received confirmation that at least twelve different Pokémon were killed in the blaze as a result. Police Commander Jackson condemned the attack and has promised swift action against the Ruby Raiders, and has stationed several officers within the town as a precautionary measure against new attacks. There are also several missing person reports coming from the town as well, including several children." The man on the radio spoke, his tone grave. Lusamine and Mohn exchanged a look, with Lusamine's eyes narrowed.

"Kahuna Roran has spoken on the attack as well, declaring it a terrible crime against the proud people of Alola. And has openly challenged any member of the Ruby Raiders who feels compelled to attack any Alolan to come find him." The man on the radio actually chuckled, despite himself, and added, "Needless to say no one would be fool enough to challenge our Kahuna. On behalf of Oceanside News, we thank you for your hard work protecting us, Mister Rubinara."

"That's terrible…" Mohn sighed, shaking his head at the thought of such a horrible act. He looked towards his girlfriend and found that Lusamine had an unreadable expression on her face.

"Lusa? You alright?" Mohn asked as Lusamine got to her feet.

"We shouldn't be relaxing. There are problems here and people I could be helping." Lusamine said quietly, her green eyes blazing with intensity. "We're here to represent the strength of Kalos and show them the benefits of having a League. I can't remain idle like this."

"Then how about a nice little romp through the nearest route?" Mohn replied to Lusamine, who looked at him in confusion. Mohn elaborated with, "That way we can enjoy some time together and also get some training in, in case something else happens. We're not needed for the rest of the week, since we're supposed to be recovering from the trip over." Mohn asked Lusamine, earning a wide grin from her.

"You don't mind not relaxing at the hotel?" Lusamine asked as Mohn pulled her into a hug.

"Of course not. You're proactive. You're a go-getter and that's what I like about you! Though we should probably get our affairs in order before we leave…" Mohn trailed off, glancing around at their open suitcases.

"I'll organize some of our stuff if you get some supplies from the store. Including some Poké Balls. I left most of my supplies at home, since I didn't think I'd need them." Lusamine said to Mohn, who gave her a thumbs up. His smile turned mischievous however.

"Should I get some...you know." Mohn raised an eyebrow suggestively, but Lusamine tilted her head in confusion.

"Some what?"

"You know...protection."

"Protection from what? We're both more than strong enough to fight anything in the wilds, what could we...Oh!" Lusamine's face went bright pink as she realized what Mohn was saying. Considering her rather conservative upbringing, Lusamine had been rather chaste until she met Mohn. This was still something relatively new for her.

"Um, y-yeah I think that'd be a good idea." Lusamine said as she looked away shyly from Mohn, which made the man squeeze her in his arms and nuzzle her cheek with his own.

"Very well, my queen. I shall return posthaste!" Mohn separated from Lusamine, kissing her on the lips before dashing out of the room. Lusamine took a few moments to compose herself, ignoring the fact that both Adele and Fiaro were snickering at her, and began to pack for the both of them. Internally, she was preparing herself to venture into the Wilds once more and in new territory no less. A Champion couldn't afford to take chances. Especially not when there was trouble afoot.


Alola Route 8

Present


"Torch, use Swift!" Demi commanded as two Trumbeak screeched at them angrily, swooping past Demi as she jumped back with a grunt.

"Laaaaava!" Torch shouted as he swung his body around, sending out a wave of stars that pelted both of the birds from behind. Both Trumbeak went limp and crashed onto the ground, letting out weak chirps as Torch's body flared.

Demi fist-pumped, grinning widely. She had donned one of her sundresses, rather than her Team Skull outfit for today. No need to stick out while training on the Route, after all. It was a shame her teammates didn't think the same way she did. "Hell yeah, yo! You're getting better with every battle, Torchy!"

The Quilava let out a happy cry, walking over to his Trainer and willing away his flames before rubbing against her leg. Demi reached down and stroked the Quilava, taking a moment to sit down in the grass.

It had been a few days since Gladion had agreed to help train Bone Unit 71. With them being taken under Gladion's reluctant wing, Demi had more people than ever to battle, meaning that she could use that as an opportunity to make Torch stronger. At first, it seemed like things were going rather well.

And then Gladion began to grow more distant than usual. More moody, less responsive. Today he had asked her to not come back until it was dark out, as he needed a day to himself. Demi understood that, but she was still worried.

That being said, she didn't mind being out on her own. It gave her some peace and quiet, and she knew that Bone Unit 71 would always get her if Guzma needed anything.

Speaking of Bone Unit 71…

"Yo, Demi Dems. You awake?" came the familiar voice of Kayla.

"Where have you guys been?" Demi asked, surprised to see Bone Unit 71 again. Axen and Kevin in both shrugged in unison while Kayla lowered her bandanna, grinning toothily at her friend.

"Dream Park, the Fossil Man's place. He's been teaching us some battling tricks he used to use way back when he was less about drugs and more about battling. When he's sober, he really knows what he's doing." Kayla replied, sitting down on a nearby rock. "We figured we'd let you and Gladion get in some personal time to train. Guess he stood you up, huh?"

"No, that's not it. He told me this morning that he wasn't feeling well and that he wanted to rest up today. So I've just been training on my own. I'm actually kind of worried...Gladion's been really moody lately." Demi said quietly, looking down at the ground.

"Pffft. Big deal. He's probably crying himself to sleep because no one likes him." Axen chuckled, earning a glare from Kevin and Demi.

"You mean like you did last month on your birthday?" Kevin countered, making Axen jerk back in surprise. "Yo, you can't talk shit if you're doing the same thing your throwing shade for. Cut the homie some slack, man. You don't know his story."

"Kevin's right, Axen. Besides, Gladion's helping you guys get stronger just like me. He doesn't have to do that. And even you guys have to admit it's helping you a lot." Demi said to the older boy, who frowned. It was hard to argue with the facts.

After just after a week of getting trained by Gladion, Bone Unit 71 began to see clear results of training with someone as opposed to just screwing around on their own. And before taking Gladion's help they would hardly ever dedicate any time to making their Pokémon stronger.

Not only were Bone Unit 71 getting a bit more confident in their battling, and feeling more comfortable with it, they were able to use a few strategies Demi and Gladion came up with to help them win a few battles! They had scored several victories against other Island Challenge Trainers, which was the ultimate victory for any member of Team Skull. All of them could brag to have at least one victory each under their belt, which was pretty rare amongst Team Skull.

"You're right Dems. I...I'll lay off him. A little. Alright?" Axen relented finally, making Kevin and Demi exchange a fistbump.

"So, why'd you leave Dream Park?" Demi asked, leaning back against a tree. The remainder of Bone Unit 71 shrugged collectively.

"We would've stayed longer, but the Fossil Man had to leave. Something about a business opportunity elsewhere. He locked up his trailer and gave us some money so we'd keep quiet about him leaving." Axen said, pulling out a stack of bills from his backpack. Demi's jaw dropped as she saw the money. "Yeah. I like the guy, so keep quiet about it Dems."

"I'm gonna deposit the money into my Trainer account when we get to another city. It feels like the smart thing to do, yo." Kayla remarked lightly as Demi nodded in response.

"It's a good idea. That's what I do with whatever money I don't give to Gladion for rent. He doesn't make me pay him or anything, but he's letting me stay with him so I feel like I kinda have to." Demi remarked as Kevin and Tim gave her a look of confusion. "So, why have you been hanging out with the Fossil Man?"

"Well...we're low-key trying to steal some Fossils from him or something else of value to be totally honest. You feel me?" Axen remarked, chuckling at the question. Kevin gave him a look of annoyance before turning to Demi.

"I hope it doesn't come to that, yo. Fossil Man kicks ass. Not only has he been giving us battling tips, but he's also shown me other fossils he's brought back to life!" Kevin said excitedly, throwing up his hands in the air. "Yo, apparently in Galar, there's mix-and-match Fossil Pokémon!"

"Wait, what?"

"Yeah! Apparently the Fossil Man has a protege or student or something doing work for him in Galar. She's helping restore Fossils just like him, except combining Fossils and...dude, it's some freaky shit! It's awesome though!" Axen replied, throwing his hands apart.

"That's bizarre. Kinda cool though." Demi admitted, leaning against a tree. She was glad that her friends were here to distract her. She was really worried about Gladion, but brooding over him wasn't helping any of them right now.

"Yeah. It's a good way to kill time while we're waiting for orders from the Boss. Plus it's staying productive and shit. The Fossil Man ain't a bad dude, yo. Plus I owe him for hooking me up with my Tirtouga!" Kevin said happily, crossing his arms as Demi chuckled at her friend's joy. Kevin losing his Zubat was something that really brought down the group as a whole. Sun giving her friend a Fossil, and thereby helping him get a strong and unique Pokémon, had definitely changed Kevin's outlook on Trainers doing the Island Challenge.

"Just...be careful with that guy. I don't know what I'd do if you guys got hurt by some weirdo." Demi said quietly, looking away. The girl was promptly tackled to the ground and dog-piled on by the other Team Skull Grunts, with Tim and Kayla laughing as they hugged Demi tightly. It was such an odd just change of pace. She felt more comfortable and accepted by these gangsters than she had with her own family. How could that be? Why was that?

Another thought came to her mind, making her smile fade away. She thought of Gladion, and how it was a shame he couldn't have moments like this. That he had to forsake friends and family just for the sake of trying to stop his mother from bringing doom to Alola. The more she thought about it, and more worried she became about her friend.

Demi could only hope that Gladion felt better soon.


"Ho...My heart's still kinda racing, you know?"

"Huh?"

"The Ultra Wormhole is real...And Ultra Beasts are real, too!...The world is just way too big…"

Sun looked over at Hau, who had drawn the attention of several other passengers of the ferry with his loud voice and excessive stretching. Sun smiled at the boy's cheer, putting down his phone. He had just been texting Aria, who was apparently back in Unova helping out the efforts there with Hugh. They'd be back tomorrow, thankfully, and would meet with them on Ula'ula Island to discuss further plans regarding Zygarde.

Sun shook his head head slightly, shaking himself out of his thoughts. "It's definitely been an interesting experience. Even if Oliver ended up getting hurt there, I am glad we went to Aether Paradise. Meeting President Lusamine and even Miss Wicke was worth it. And that weird Pokémon, the Ultra Beast, was something like insanely rare from the sound of it. My question is…what makes those Wormholes appear? Why just in Alola? There's so much we don't know, and so much to discover."

"I bet we'll discover even more new things on the next island, too!" Hau remarked excitedly, with Sun grinning at him in reply. A loud rumbling sound followed this, making Hau giggle sheepishly.

"We're gonna need all the energy we can get. Time to dig in!" Hau called out as he pulled out his one of the Big Malasadas Wicke had given him. Hau began to chomp away on the dessert, an expression of sheer joy on his face as Sun watched his friend with a small smile. Hau stopped himself after a moment, as if realizing something.

"What's up? Wrong flavor?" Sun asked Hau as he looked the Kanto-native.

"Nah. I just realized something. I've got two of these things! You want a malasada?" Hau asked Sun, reaching into his backpack and pulling out another one of his favorite treats. Sun reached out and grabbed it, joining his friend as the two of them enjoyed their treats and watched as Ula'ula Island grew closer and closer, the sun high above them in the sky.

"Ahhh! So goooooooood!"

"Yeah, they definitely make really good malasadas at Aether Paradise, that's for sure."

"Shoot, I already ate the whole thing!"

"Wait, already? Dude, did you remember to breathe? Or taste the food?"

"Har har har."

It wasn't much longer until the ferry arrived at their destination. As the other passengers filed out, Hau and Sun grabbed their bags, threw away the wrappers to their snacks, and exited the boat after giving the driver a thank you and a tip for the smooth ride to shore.

"Land ahoy!" Hau declared as he hopped off of the ferry, grinning widely as Sun slowly shook his head from behind the other boy. "All right! Terra firma under foot again!"

"You're telling me." Sun said quietly, glancing around. Sun was sensing a more laid-back and calm atmosphere to the city that they were in now. Large shoots of what Sun recognized as bamboo rose high into the air from various points ahead of them, making the city seem partly like a forest. Smooth roadways stretched ahead of them, with the Johto-based architecture rising high into the air all around them. Golden towers stood tall, with Pellipper and even a Skarmory nesting at the top of the towers.

"Zzzt! Welcome to Malie City, fellas!" Rotom Dex called out, floating out of Sun's backpack. It buzzed excitedly, spinning around Sun before settling down on the boy's head.

"Ula'ula Island is, like, another totally different place than Melemele Island or Akala, huh!" Hau remarked as he sauntered ahead of them. Sun followed, taking a moment to snap a selfie with Rotom Dex as the two of them followed Hau. The trio continued walking for a few minutes before Hau snapped his fingers and turned around, grinning widely.

"I've got an idea, Sun! Let's have a battle!" Hau declared, pointing a finger at a surprised Sun.

"Uh...Why? Shouldn't we check into a Pokémon Center and talk with Professor Kukui?" Sun asked his friend, who waved a hand dismissively.

"Nah, it'll be fine! Besides, I want my Pokémon to get a deep breath of this fresh new air!" Hau declared, punching forward with a small laugh. Sun sighed in response, but agreed to battle his friend.

After asking for directions from a nearby local, the two boys found themselves in an empty parking lot a few minutes away from the main road. Soon enough the two boys were standing across from one another, with Rotom Dex standing in between them as a referee.

"The following izzz a three-on-three battle! Both sidezz can allow for substitutionzz and the battle we end when either Trainer runs out of useable Pokémon. Bzzzzzzt!" Rotom shouted as both Trainers grinned at each other, feeling the thrill of battle begin to flow through them.

"Finn, come on out!" Sun said as he tossed forward his Poké Ball, sending out his Poliwhirl. The Tadpole Pokémon flexed with a small chuckle before striking a pose.

"Awww yeah! Let's do this!" Finn boomed, laughing eagerly as he shadow-boxed ahead of him, with Hau smirking at the confidence and excitement of the Poliwhirl.

"Alright. Duke, let's roll!" Hau called out, tossing his first Poké Ball into the air and snatching it before hurling it forward. Sun winced internally, knowing that Finn was at a major disadvantage.

"Finn, use Scald!" Sun commanded the Poliwhirl, who released the pressurized cannon of boiling hot water.

"Duke, block it with Psychic! Then power through and smash it!" Hau countered, smirking as his Alolan Raichu's eyes glowed a harsh blue before a blast of force smashed into the approaching jet of water, make it fall apart. The attack continued, colliding with Finn and sending him flying backwards with a cry of pain.

"Counter with Body Slam!" Sun yelled out as Finn flipped in midair, landing lightly on the ground. Finn charged forward, dodging a Thunderbolt that Hau sent his way before throwing himself at the Electric/Psychic-type, knocking it to the ground.

"Follow up with Scald!" Sun called to the Poliwhirl, who blasted Duke with the boiling hot water and was promptly thrown back by a surprise Thunderbolt. Finn screamed in pain and crashed hard onto the ground, twitching in pain. Regardless of this, Finn got to his feet with a huff and flexed again, going into a fighting stance once more. Sun smiled faintly at his Pokémon's ability to shake off what had been a nasty surprise attack, and then focused on this uphill battle.

"Use Electro Ball!" Hau said with a chuckle, a smirk on his face. After losing to Sun so many times, it was nice to have the upper hand on him for once.

"Get in close and hit him with Hypnosis!" Sun shot back, with Finn sprinting forward and firing off a Bubble Beam to destroy the Electro Ball, which actually managed to work. Finn dove through the mist formed by the collision of attacks and his stomach glowed blue, though he was surprised when he was suddenly blasted by a Psychic attack and sent hurtling backwards. Sun then noticed that Duke was shutting his eyes, wearing a smirk.

"You think I don't watch your battles, man? Come on, give me some credit!" Hau remarked before he began to strike a series of poses. Sun's eyes widened in surprise as his eyes went to the clearly beaten down Finn, who was struggling to his feet.

"Duke! Channel Thunderbolt...and use Stoked Sparksurfer!" Hau shouted as the Z-Power flowed from him into his trusty Alolan Raichu, who shot towards with a wide grin amidst a whirlwind of electricity and smashed into Finn. The Polwhirl's electrified form tumbled through the air before landing hard on the ground, passing out from the sheer damage he had taken.

"Finn is unable to battle! Duke is the winner!" Rotom Dex declared, waving an arm in Hau's direction as he high-fived Duke.

Meanwhile…

"Well, sometimes you can't get around a bad match-up."

"I guess."

Unbeknownst to Hau, Rotom Dex, and Sun, they had a rather unlikely duo watching them from a nearby wall, shrouded by several bamboo shoots. Captain Ollie and Kahuna Nanu observed the young Trainers, lounging on the wall with interest in their eyes. Or rather, Ollie's eyes. Nanu looked as bored as he usually was.

"Hmm. Should have brought popcorn." Nanu grumbled, crossing his arms with a sigh. From beside him, Ollie smirked in response.

"Is that because you're enjoying the battle?" Ollie asked cheekily.

"No. I shouldn't need a reason to eat popcorn."

"Come on, Kahuna. Crack a smile. You're killing the mood." Oliver asked the man, grinning widely at him. Nanu promptly flipped him the bird.

"I cordially invite you to, as the kids say nowadays, go suck a fat one."

"No wonder Acerola pranks people in her spare time. You're about as fun as a gunshot wound to the foot."

"I've got plenty of aloe vera at home, if you need any." Nanu replied with a shrug, which served to confuse the hell out of Ollie.

"...What?"

"Nothing. Shut your hole and focus on watching the match, rookie."

"No seriously, what was that about aloe vera? How the hell would that help a gunshot wound to the foot? Is that some kind of reference, or…?"

"I said shut your hole."

"That was just a bad match-up. Sorry Finn. You did great though." Sun said to the fallen Poliwhirl, returning him. With that Sun sent out Brago, who hit all fours and snarled at Duke. The Alolan Raichu shuddered and floated a few inches further away from the massive Arcanine, with Intimidate hitting it hard.

"Brago, use Bite!" Sun shouted as the Arcanine shot forward with a great burst of speed. Hau reacted quickly, calling for an Electro Ball. Unfortunately for the boy, Brago easily dodged the incoming attack and snatched Duke by the tail with his teeth, slinging him around like a dog toy before hurling him into a nearby wall. The Arcanine smirked as the stunned Raichu floated into the air, clearly dazed.

"Hit 'em with Thunderbolt!" Hau commanded his Alola Raichu. Duke let out a loud cry before releasing a massive bolt of lightning towards Brago, who ended up taking the attack head-on. Sun grinned all the while.

"Hit him with Flame Wheel!" Sun shouted as Brago leapt forward, becoming a burning sphere that spun wildly towards the Mouse Pokémon. Duke had time to let out a scream before getting smashed out of the air a second time, this time with it knocking him out cold.

"Duke is unable to battle! The winner is Brago! Bzzzt!" Rotom called, raising an arm in Sun's direction. Sun smiled widely as Brago padded back over to him, with the boy running a hand through Brago's fur before petting him. Brago grinned in triumph, as well as the attention. Even as proud as he was, he was still a dog.

"Sit tight, Brago. I want to try something." Sun said as Hau called out Cassy, with the Brionne happily throwing her arms apart with a cry. Brago walked over to Sun and sat down beside him as Sun called out his next Pokémon.

Oliver appeared in flash of light, much to the surprise of everyone. The Dartrix had his eyes shut at first, but he slowly opened them to see a surprised Hau and a rather nervous Cassy standing opposite from him.

Oliver's eyes narrowed.

"Faba said that Oliver was back to full health, so I wanted to test that theory. I figure a friendly battle like this is a good chance to make sure there aren't any problems because of that weird poison." Sun explained to a noticeably concerned Brago.

"Alpha, I don't think that's a good idea. But I suppose that's your call." Brago said slowly, his tail swishing behind him slightly. Sun walked over to Oliver, putting a hand on the bird's head.

"How're you feeling?" Sun asked the Dartrix, who glanced up at him with a small smirk.

"Good enough. My head hurts a little and I truthfully can't seem to recall all that much from the past few days or so. Where was I? Do you know?" Oliver asked Sun, who frowned in response. Surely Oliver wasn't unconscious the whole week, right? Sun wondered if whatever Faba did to him messed his memory over the course of the past few days.

"Mister Faba and his team helped heal you. You got hurt after battling an Ultra Beast at the Aether Paradise. Are you...are you sure you're okay?" Sun asked the owl, who frowned at the boy's words. "I can use Penny instead, Oliver. I want to make sure you're okay, but I won't push you if you're not alright."

Oliver shook his head at that, facing forward and flaring his wings. "That won't be necessary, Sun. I'm more than capable of taking out that prissy little Brionne."

"I heard that!" Cassy shouted at Oliver, charging up at Ice Beam in her mouth. Sun sighed, but stood up once again and pointed forward.

"Protect Charge, and then follow up with Razor Leaf!" Sun instructed Oliver, who shot forward with a smirk on his face as he flew as fast as he could at Penny.

"This is weird...flying is much easier than it usually is." Oliver thought as he threw open his wings, creating a barrier that protected himself from the Ice Beam. Cassy let out a scream as the ice surrounded the barrier and became a massive ball that hurtled towards her, smashing onto the ground and sending her flying through the air.

"All the better to tear apart that stupid idiot once and for all!" Oliver thought darkly, a grin coming to him as he hurled a massive wave of Razor Leaf towards the Brionne as she landed harshly on the ground.

"Cassy, dodge!" Hau shouted frantically, seeing the onslaught of Razor Leaf heading towards his Brionne. Cassy slowly rose to her feet and launched herself to the side with an Aqua Jet, barely dodging the attack. When she landed, she looked back at her where had been with wide eyes, seeing a few dozen leaves embedded into the concrete.

"Stop trying to kill me, you moron!" Cassy shouted to Oliver before she fired an Ice Beam at the bird. Oliver dove past it, laughing at the Brionne now.

"Oh, I wasn't trying to kill you. No matter how much I want to pummel you senseless for being a rude, immature and pompous Pokémon that I wish I had never met." Oliver admitted, flaring his wings with an intense look in his eyes. Cassy shrank back at the stare Oliver was giving her now. It was almost predatory, as if he was barely holding himself back from tearing her to bloody pieces.

"Oliver?" Sun asked as the bird hovered overhead.

"But if you want me to start trying...I can do just that." Oliver finished, his grin widening as he flapped his wings several times to gain altitude.

Cassy screamed as Oliver dove down at her with an incredible burst of speed, a manic look of glee on his face all the while, before he slammed violently into Cassy. The Brionne tumbled along the ground as Oliver cackled with delight, hitting her several times in rapid succession with Peck when she finally stopped rolling. Cassy didn't even bother trying to defend herself, instead screaming incoherently.

"Oliver! Back off!" Sun shouted to the owl. The Dartrix paused for a moment, torn between indulging in a desire he had held himself back from doing for so long...And listening to the one who mattered most in his life so far.

While Oliver had been debating on what to do, Cassy saw her opening to get some payback and blasted Oliver from point-blank range with an Ice Beam. Oliver screamed in agony, flying off of the Pop Star Pokémon and landing on the ground as he writhed on the ground. Cassy's eyes narrowed in sheer anger, pumping as much energy as she could into the attack.

Hau managed a small, relieved smile at this. "Thank goodness. That guy is such a menace. Keep up the pressure and don't let up with that Ice Beam."

"He's not a menace! Something isn't right here…" Sun muttered before he drew out Oliver's Poké Ball. "Oliver, come back!"

Oliver's eyes shot open at that and he threw apart his wings to summon Protect once again, which served to block Sun's attempt to return the owl and Cassy's Ice Beam at the same time.

"Oliver, what are you doing?" Sun asked the bird as he slowly rose to his feet. Oliver's head turned towards Sun, a sinister smile on his face.

"It's about time I put this one in her place for good." Oliver said before rotating his head back around, just in time for Cassy to stop using her Ice Beam, with the Brionne panting heavily from the effort of the attack. Oliver released his shield and soared forward with a harsh laugh, releasing another wave of Razor Leaf that promptly slashed through Cassy, making her drop to the ground in a senseless heap as she fainted. Oliver flapped into the air, laughing softly as he did so.

"Whelp...That was about the best we could hope for." Hau sighed as he grabbed Cassy's Poké Ball. He was surprised when he was suddenly knocked to the ground by a green blur.

"OLIVER!" Sun shouted as the bird stood on Hau's chest, glaring at him with fury in his gaze.

"You're the one that puts her up to it. Acting like she's better than everyone else! Better than me, even though I've beaten her time and time again! Well...I wonder how long that'll be true after I finally rip that idiot apart." Oliver hissed at Hau, turning his head towards Cassy's unmoving form. Hau's eyes widened in horror as Oliver kicked off of his chest and flew at Cassy, his beak glowing and elongating as he prepared himself to-

A red beam suddenly hit Oliver, making him freeze in surprise and return to the Poké Ball that Sun had outstretched in his hand. The boy stared down at the device in his hand in worry.

"I'll get him checked over by Nurse Joy. But I won't use him again until I know he's better." Sun said to himself, sighing softly.

"He's never acted like that before." Brago noted, tilting his head in confusion. "He may hate Cascade, but he usually just stops at battling. What could have made him act like that?"

"That owl is a psychopath!" Hau panted as he slowly got up off of the ground, panting slightly.

"Are you alright, Hau?" Sun asked his friend, who scowled in anger. A rare occurrence for the boy. Hau didn't answer Sun, instead walking over to Cassy and examining her. After taking a minute to make sure she would be alright, including using a Revive and a Super Potion to treat her injuries, Hau finally returned her.

"Don't use Oliver again." Hau said firmly to Sun, who nodded as he clipped the Dartrix's ball to his belt. He wouldn't be using Oliver again until he questioned him heavily. He usually had so much better control than that.

"I'll finish this. I've had a nice rest and should be able to finish off that Eevee of his." Brago said as he padded onto the field, crouching low. Hau smirked at that, snatching Kaha's Poké Ball before throwing it forward. To Sun's surprise, it wasn't an Eevee that came out, but a flaming fox-like Pokémon that he recognized. A Flareon.

"Plot twist! I evolved Kaha this morning!" Hau bragged, pointing forward with a grin. Kaha let out a happy cry, bounding over to Hau and nuzzling him for a few moments, prompting Hau to hug the newly evolved Flareon with a gleeful expression. "He's growing up so fast! I'm such a proud papa!"

"What a dork." Sun said with a smile on his face, happy to see that Hay was happy. "Rotom, do you mind giving me the entry on Flareon?"

"With pleasure, my friend! Anything to get my mind off of Oliver finally losing control and beating Cassy senseless like he's always wanted to. Bzzzzt!" Rotom remarked, floating in front of Sun before flipping to the appropriate entry.

"Flareon. The Flame Pokémon and the evolved form of Eevee. When it catches prey or finds berries, it breathes fire on them until they're well done, and then it gobbles them up. Its average body temperature is between 1,300 and 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. In its internal flame sac, temperatures reach 3,000 degrees." Rotom Dex explained as Kaha let out a soft cry, beaming at them.

"Alright…Fire attacks won't do much to him. So let's do anything but that. Use Thief, Brago!" Sun commanded his canine, who dashed forward as a dark aura surrounded his front two paws and swiped at Kaha, who was battered back by the larger and more experienced Pokémon. Kaha skidded backwards across the concrete, letting out a bark of defiance at the Brago,

"You've got spirit. Come at me, pup!" Brago barked, padding forward as Kaha crouched lower to the ground.

"Shadow Ball, Kaha!" Hau shouted, punching forward as Kaha charged up a sphere of darkness within his mouth and fired it. Brago snarled as it exploded against his side as he tried to dodge, sending him crashing to the ground, though he was quick to rise back to his feet.

"Hit him with Bite!"

"Fire Fang, Kaha!"

Brago and Kaha launched themselves at each other, with Kaha sinking a set of burning fangs into Brago's neck. The larger Pokémon snarled in response, but managed to bite down on Kaha's head and rip him off of his body, slamming him into the ground a few times before releasing him.

"Kaha, use Sand Attack!" Hau shouted to his newly evolved Flareon.

"Reversal! End it, Brago!" Sun called to the Legendary Pokémon. Brago's body was enveloped in a red light, but as he charged forward he was hit in the eye by a cloud of sand and dirt from the little Flareon. Brago faltered slightly, which was more than enough for Kaha to dodge the attack and pelt him with a Shadow Ball. Unfortunately, Kaha didn't get far enough away from the Arcanine to be safe from what came next.

"Behind you! Reversal!" Sun commanded Brago, who unquestioningly obeyed the instruction and lashed out blindly with Reversal, smashing his head into the Flareon and sending him hurtling away. Kaha slammed onto the ground hard, twitching a few times before fainting.

"Gah...That little pup has some fire in him." Brago panted, shaking his head a few times. Sun walked forward, petting Brago's back.

"And yet you still won. Good work, Brago. You even made a good pun, too!" Sun said to the canine. Brago grinned at his Trainer before getting sucked into the device.

"Bwah! I had my breath held that whole battle!" Hau laughed as he returned Kaha, scratching the back of his head. Sun walked over to him, ready to apologize again for how Oliver acted earlier, when Hau stuffed a wad of bills into the boy's hand.

"Don't worry about it. Just get that dude sorted out." Hau said to Sun seriously before cracking another one of his smiles. "Bwah! That battle took my breath away! I can't breathe the fresh air that way!"

"Sounds like you need an inhaler." Sun joked, with Hau giggling in response.

"We're supposed to meet up with the Professor, right? Where was it? Malie Garden?" Hau asked Sun, earning a nod in response. However, Hau looked at the sun as it was setting and frowned at that.

"I doubt he'll even be there, now. Wanna just chill at the PMC for the night and meet up with him the morning?" Hau asked Sun, who simply shrugged.

"Sure. We can probably try and meet up with Lillie as well. She said she's going shopping with Acerola today and tomorrow, I think." Sun remarked, with Hau nodding in response.

"Yeah, that sounds good. Though I really am curious about what Professor Kukui wanted. I mean, why'd he want us to go to a garden? Guess we'll find out when we get there. Right?" Hau asked Sun as he put his hands behind his head. Sun shrugged yet again, a smirk on his face.

"Who knows? The Professor, if you haven't realized by now, is kind of weird." Sun replied, making Hau burst into giggles. With that, the two boys began to walk through the city. After some brief discussion, they decided to check out the city a little before checking into the Pokémon Center for the night.

"Well, you've made it to Ula'ula now, big boy! This means a whole new Island Pokédex, zz-zzt!" Rotom Dex proclaimed, flying around the boy excitedly. Sun snatched Rotom Dex out of the air, grinning at the device. Rotom laughed and buzzed, trying to free itself from Sun's grasp.

"I might have to pick up a new teammate or two while we're here. I can't let my butt keep getting kicked by you, Sun." Hau remarked as they continued their trek through the serene city, with Hau cracking a massive grin as a thought occurred to him. "I mean, what else will Lana sneak peeks at whenever we hang out?"


Meanwhile…

Brooklet Hill


Lana shuddered, a faint blush creeping into her cheeks before she cast out her line.

Mallow and Kiawe noticed this, though it was the former who smirked knowingly as she glanced at her bob to ensure a possible catch didn't get away.

"Ooh, look at that blush. You thinking about someone, Lana?" Mallow asked teasingly.

"N-no…" Lana replied quietly, looking away from her best friend.

"Oh come on, I know you were thinking about Hau. You two need to go on another date!" Mallow said to her blue-haired friend, which made the girl's expression become thoughtful for a moment before she shook her head.

"I'm giving him time, Mallow. He's not sure what his feelings are. And I respect that. You know how Sun and Lillie are taking things slow? Same concept." Lana retorted before casting out her line expertly, with Mallow crossing her arms.

"If I get married and have kids, I have to make sure they know how to handle liking a guy. Even if things for me have gotten complicated lately, at least I know how to make sure there's no weirdness going on between me and my ex-boyfriends!" Mallow pouted, putting fresh bait on her hook before casting it out once more.

"Mallow, if you get married with someone, you and that person should be added to a list of people who are legally banned from reproducing. The world can't handle more of your bullshit in any form." Kiawe remarked dryly, reeling in a rather sizable Magikarp and tossing it into their bucket. Mallow stared at Kiawe, a fierce blush on her face while Lana simply stared at her friend in surprise.

Mallow shoved Kiawe in the water while Lana fell onto the ground, laughing so hard tears rolled down her face. Meanwhile a confused Popplio (that was riding atop a massive Wishiwashi) let out a small bark from the water, wondering what was going on.


"I might have to get a new teammate as well. I think I've officially given up on having a team with birds and Flying-types, so I'm just looking for balance more than anything else." Sun said to Hau, frowning now. "Rotom, what kind of Pokémon can we find in the local area?"

"All sorts! Bzzzt! Rock, Electric, Steel, Bug, Dark, Water, and so many otherzzz! You'd be hard-pressed to find a Pokémon that wouldn't work well with the team you have already!" Rotom Dex replied cheerily, with Sun humming in thought.

Hau was about to reply when he caught the scent of something he loved very much. The tan-skinned boy turned his head and saw the familiar logo of a malasada shop ahead of them. Hau turned to Sun, smiling at his friend as he put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm gonna grab some snacks for tonight. I'll be right back." Hau said to Sun before dashing off, not even giving Sun a chance to respond. With a roll of the eyes, Sun leaned against the nearest building and began to think about recent events, considering that this was one of the few times he had been alone this past week.

To say that Sun was worried about his Starter would be an understatement. Oliver acted out sometimes, yes, but he had calmed down quite a bit since he evolved. He had come a long way from the Rowlet that constantly attacked him at the beginning of his journey. So why was he acting out now? it made Sun worry. Oliver was supposed to be back to normal. If the Aether Foundation couldn't help rid him of the poison's effects, what was he supposed to do?

"Sun!"

The Kanto-native turned around, surprised to hear his name, and found himself watching Lillie walk towards him with a joyful smile on her face. Sun felt his cheeks burn slightly, but grinned back at his crush he walked towards her. Sun felt some of the worry in him dissipate as he approached his best friend.

"It's been a while since I last saw you around." Lillie said brightly, her eyes shining with excitement. "But weren't you supposed to meet with the Professor in Malie Garden?"

Sun opened his mouth to speak when suddenly Hau burst out from around the corner, holding a paper bag full of malasadas. The boy stopped by Sun's side, giving Lillie a friendly wave.

"Heya, Lillie! You doing alright?" Hau said to his white-wearing friend. Lillie smiled at Hau and stepped forward to give the boy a hug, which he returned happily.

"Pretty well! Acerola has been showing me the sights and explaining the history of the city to me. We're even going to be checking out the Malie library tomorrow to see if there's anything useful there that can help me help Nebby." Lillie explained as Nebby let out a soft cry from inside of his bag, peering through the gap in the zipper.

"Have you talked to the Professor lately?" Sun asked Lillie, earning a weary nod as her smile faded.

"He's staying at the Hokulani Observatory for the night. He's very good friends with one of the people who runs the facility. I believe he and Kukui used to be rivals back in the day." Lillie explained to a curious Sun.

"If that's the case, then we'll definitely push the meeting with him to tomorrow. It's been a long day and I'd rather explore the town we're in a little before tackling the next Trial." Sun said to Lillie before turning to Hau. "If that's cool with you."

"I'll probably train in the local area to be honest, so you can go ahead with out me. After that battle...yeah, I need to train a bit before tackling my next challenge. And I should catch a new Pokémon." Hau said to Sun before turning to Lillie. "Where are you staying, Lillie?"

"We were traveling back and forth between the Dimensional Research lab. Professor Kukui was supposed to be back by now, but the plans changed. So here I am. I guess he figured Acerola would take care of me since she's been keeping me safe lately." Lillie explained, shrugging slightly.

"So what you're saying is that, once again, he's abandoned a child that he was supposed to be taking care of?" Sun asked Lillie, crossing his arms in annoyance.

"Yes, that's basically the gist of it." Lillie sighed, shaking her head. "I was about to head to the Pokémon Center and book a room. I was just waiting for Acerola to catch up."

"~You raaaaaang?~ Lillie suddenly yelped as a purple-haired girl suddenly threw her arms around her shoulders, making Lillie jump in surprise before Acerola suddenly let go and moved around her to face the two Trainers that Lillie called her closest friends.

"Ohhai!" Acerola chirped, giving the boys a cheerful wave in response.

"Oh yeah, you're the ghost girl, right?" Hau asked the Captain, earning a nod in response as she jerked a thumb at her chest.

"The name's Acerola! Senpai in the streets, and hentai in the sheets!" Acerola proclaimed, earning a confused look from everyone. And judging from the several stunned looks from those nearby in the street, they were just as surprised. Acerola continued to grin at them expectantly, though she was surprised when a gray-haired man wearing black suddenly appeared out of nowhere and lightly smacked her in the back of the head.

"Owwww! What was that for, Uncle?" Acerola whined as the man crossed his arms with an annoyed expression.

"No one appreciated that joke. The world is less funnier for it." Nanu responded before suddenly dropping into his shadow again, with everyone exchanging bewildered looks of confusion.

"So...Who wants to check in at the Pokémon Center?" Hau asked slowly, completely unsure of what to do now. Acerola sighed and began walking down the road, a rather adorable pout on her face. Hau followed her, shrugging in confusion.

Sun and Lillie exchanged a glance at each other before smiling at one another. Sun walked forward and briefly hugged the girl, who happily wrapped her arms around Sun and squeezed him tightly.

"I missed you." Lillie said quietly, making Sun laugh lightly.

"Same. Even if it was only for a little while." Sun separated from his crush, grinning happily at the blonde as Nebby wriggled in his bag. With that, the two children made their way towards the Pokémon Center...unaware that they were being watched by two men.

"Huh...So Sun's here as well. Interesting. I hope he stays out of trouble."

"Isn't trouble the whole reason you're here? I really don't like this idea."

"You know why I can't just stay put anymore, old man. Even if I'm not ready, I just...I have to do something."

"Wes."

The original Snagger looked away from the retreating forms of Sun and Lillie and turned towards Mohn, who was watching him with a worried expression. Wes grinned at Mohn, putting a hand on his head as he threw up his black hood over his face.

"I'll be fine." Wes reassured his friend, his smile fading. "Consider this testing the waters. I look for some information, see what's lurking around in the shadows, and see how my friends are doing. That's it."

Mohn sighed, but nodded after a moment. "Very well...I have to meet with Mister Molayne anyway. With his help, the Poké Pelago could expand greatly."

"Exactly. And I'll be back in time for your meeting, don't worry. I just want to scout a little." Wes said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Besides, don't begrudge me a little fun. This is the best I've felt in almost a year."

"Wes...are you sure you want to do this?" Mohn asked Wes, making the Snagger sigh softly as he crossed his arms.

"No. But I have to. Besides...I've got this feeling, Mohn. Something bad is about to happen. And I have to make sure no one else gets hurt. This is my mess, no matter which way you slice it. I've got to save as many as I can." Wes breathed before he turned away from his friend and began to move quickly down the darkening streets, earning a few looks from the passerby, including an eagle-eyed Nanu who narrowed his bright red eyes at the strange figure moving through the city. The Kahuna vanished into the shadows once again as Wes moved from sight.

"Ah, to be young again." Mohn said fondly before he began to walk down the street, whistling a merry tune. The overseer of the Poké Pelago strolled down the road with his head held high, intent on seeing a bit of the town before meeting with Molayne. Perhaps he could sample one of those malasadas Hau talked to him about! That'd be a treat!


Meanwhile…

Kanto Region, Mt. Moon


"Sir, it's almost time."

"Thank you, Archer. I'll be out soon."

Giovanni finished combing his hair, making sure everything was perfect. Nothing was out of place, and his figure was as immaculate and pristine as ever. As soon as he had gathered his thoughts, Giovanni walked out of the small office and made his way into the massive auditorium that the facility they were in housed.

It was quite the impressive marvel. The multi-storied compound would be the future base of operations for Team Rocket within the Kanto region, nestled safely away within Mt Moon. Borlath had funded the construction of the massive base, a gesture that Giovanni took full advantage of. While it was currently rather bare bones, the building would serve as an excellent base of operations for now.

On top of this, Team Rocket's recruitment efforts had bolstered the ranks of the organization. At Borlath's urging and with his support, Giovanni had worked to ensure every single member of Team Rocket from all around the world was here in this building tonight. It would be a show of strength to the world, as Borlath said, and Giovanni agreed with the man. Weapons had been carefully stowed outside of the main auditorium, with Cipher personnel solely providing security for the event. And the conference that was about to take place would be broadcast to the entire world.

"It's so strange how I never feel nervous for these things." Giovanni remarked with a smirk as he approached two figures that were standing by the podium. One of them was covered in a black cloak and a body suit of sorts, with a hood over his head and a black metallic mask covering his face. Giovanni wondered about the man, and what sort of secrets he hid.

The other man was less of a secret. Borlath, or rather Ashton Aupuni as he had once been known. A ruthlessly powerful Pokémon Trainer and head of one of the most successful businesses in the world, responsible for kick-starting many fields of development that would carry this world into the future given a few more years. Now the leader of Cipher, Borlath had earned his respect for being able to take down an entire region and terrify others with the power he commanded.

Mask and Borlath turned to Giovanni as he approached, with Borlath nodding at the man. Mask shuddered slightly, an exhale of air escaping the man's mask that came out oddly distorted thanks to the mask disguising his voice, but Borlath and Giovanni ignored it.

"Borlath. Mask. Is everything ready?" Giovanni asked the two men, his voice curt.

"Naturally. Feel free to take the stage. They're waiting on you." Mask said, gesturing to the podium set up in front of them all.

"Don't crash and burn out there, champ." Borlath remarked lightly as Giovanni scoffed, brushing past the men as he walked to the podium, eyeing the cameras that were set up in the building around them.

Tonight would be the official return of Giovanni. The world would know that once again, the leader of Team Rocket was at the helm of the infamous criminal organization. And Giovanni would stop at nothing to ensure that the Kanto feared Team Rocket once again.

"You're loving these puns a bit too much." Mask noted, laughing after a moment. "Good. Then you won't look away from the carnage that's about to come."

"Hardly. I've been waiting for this moment for too long to miss it." Borlath replied quietly, crossing his arms as a smirk crossed his features. The two men watched as Giovanni stepped onto the podium, with Team Rocket letting out a roar of applause as their leader took his place.

With that the cameras began to roll, cutting through the televisions across the entire Kanto region. Within moments, that broadcast managed to go worldwide. Billions of people were now staring into the menacing eyes of Giovanni, a man who commanded fear and respect even ten years after his fall from glory.

Giovanni's gaze narrowed as he stared into the camera, with the man remaining silent for a few moments as his eyes remained fixes on the camera head of him. The cold, calculating eyes of a man who had once held the Kanto region in the palm of his hands, only to have those ambitions crushed by a mere child. Now…

Now the world would know fear.

"Greetings. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Giovanni began, his voice cutting through the cheers that went silent at once. "For those watching that do not know who I am, allow me to correct your ignorance. My name is Giovanni. The Leader of Team Rocket." The man spoke with a voice full of authority. The camera continued roll, with the footage of Giovanni standing in front of a massive red R emblazoned in the background.

"Tonight is a time to rejoice, people of the world. Because at long last, I have returned to you. Team Rocket, with the aid of Cipher, has returned to its full power. Every single member of Team Rocket, from all around the world, has joined here tonight for a single purpose tonight." Giovanni said with a smirk, reaching into his pockets.

"To proclaim our intentions. Last time we operated in the shadows, making many bend their knee to serve our will. We were kinder then…" Giovanni's smile widened, becoming something more twisted and darker. "This time, there won't be any subtlety. Team Rocket has become whole once more. And with the backing of Cipher, we shall destroy Kanto."

The crowd burst into cheers and applause, with several members stomping their feet in support of their leader. Proton and Archer exchanged grins of amusement while Ariana wiped a tear from her eyes. Years of effort on their part had culminated in this night. Team Rocket was together and strong once again. Cipher had helped them return to their old glory. Now it was time for them to take to the stars and rule this world.

Giovanni basked in the adulation, chuckling to himself before he held up a hand to halt the applause. The crowd fell silent, and Giovanni continued.

"With my return, I make several promises to the people of the world. Team Rocket will not stop at Kanto. This I promise you. We will dominate this region, and then move on to Johto. And then one by one, every region will fall under our power. Much like our allies, Cipher, have done as of late, Team Rocket will strike fear into the hearts of everyone. Our exploits of the past will be mere footnotes compared to what we will unleash upon this world!" Giovanni boomed, expression becoming fierce. "That is my promise to you. It is not a threat. It's simply a promise."

"HAIL GIOVANNI!" the crowd boomed, with cheers of approval and adoration pounding through the room.

Giovanni began to laugh once again, though soon it became a maniacal cackle as the crowd chanted the infamous line again and again. The Boss of Team Rocket knew that the Pokémon Leagues were scrambling in sheer terror right now. Millions upon millions wouldn't be able to sleep tonight knowing that Kanto's most infamous criminal had returned.

Yes...All was as it should be.

And then suddenly, a massive wall of glass suddenly sprang up from the stage. Giovanni stepped back in surprise as the glass extended up and connected to the ceiling, quickly cutting off the stage from the rest of the room. Several Grunts in the audience gasped, with the Executives exchanging confused looks. Borlath and Mask stepped forward as the camera shifted, showing the scene on-stage.

"What on earth?" Giovanni muttered, stepping away from the podium and examining the glass with confusion on his face. At a glance, it seemed like it was just glass. But Giovanni made note of the fact that it was incredibly thick, and seemed to shimmer somewhat.

"Sorry for the interruption, Giovanni. But I know how you tend to monologue when you get into your stride, and I think we all have better things to be getting on with." Borlath apologized, though it was hardly sincere. Giovanni's eyes narrowed in anger, acutely aware that this was all being broadcast to the world.

"Borlath...Is this your doing? What is the meaning of this?" Giovanni asked, trying to ignore the confused mutterings and occasional shouts from the main body of Team Rocket.

"Correct. It'll make what comes next really easy. It's something I've been waiting to do for over 12 years." Borlath spoke softly as Giovanni whirled around back around, hearing some of the shouts from those in the audience. Several of the Grunts tried to open the doors, but failed to open them. Several of the Grunts tried to call out their Pokémon, but for some reason could not. Many were quickly realizing that they were trapped.

"What are you doing? This...was this a setup from the beginning!?" Giovanni snarled, his eyes flicking to the camera that was still rolling. Borlath's smile widened, enjoying the look of indignation on the other man's face. The Master of Cipher's eyes slowly began to become a bright red color, his smile darkening.

"You didn't really think I'd let you amass that much power, did you?" Borlath asked Giovanni, slowly drawing a silver magnum from within his jacket and casually firing off a shot towards where Archer, Proton and Ariana were running towards their leader. The shot stopped them in their tracks, with the trio frozen in fear.

"What's the point in all of this? Why help Team Rocket rise from the depths, encourage us to bring every single member of Team Rocket into Kanto and fund our efforts to expand...Only to stab us in the back?" Giovanni asked quietly, clenching his fists in fury. "And do you really think we'll crumble so easily?"

Giovanni then grinned, his bravado returning easily. "Actually, I take it back. Once I kill you and take over Cipher for myself, it'll be a cakewalk to destroy Kanto. Team Rocket will rule the world with a fist of iron with the assets you've generously gathered with Cipher!"

Mask stepped forward, clapping his hands emphatically. "Well done, genius! You've finally caught up with the rest of the class. Though...That won't last long, considering you're pretty much screwed."

"And what makes you say that? Every single member of Team Rocket is here tonight. Myself and my three Executives are more than a match for you two. What makes you think you can stand up to our power?" Giovanni asked, taking a step forward.

Borlath turned the attention back to him with a slight cough. "It's fairly simple, Giovanni. I want a world of peace, and will do anything to get it. Even sink myself into the very darkness I despise so much. And what better way to get rid of one of the most infamous criminal syndicates in the world is offering them a helping hand, only to stab them in the back? It's the Cipher way, after all. And at the end of the day, a simple belief in something can be a very powerful thing. And I've used that belief to change the world. And now you all will die, and Team Rocket will be no more. This building will be your tomb. That I promise." Borlath said quietly, his smile becoming practically Cheshire.

Giovanni grit his teeth in fury, realizing what Borlath had done. He also realized why Borlath had supported his efforts to recruit more Team Rocket members and bring them all here, in one place, for his comeback announcement to the world. It was an elaborate trap that despite his intelligence, he had fallen into.

Borlath wanted to kill every single member of Team Rocket at once. Clear the slate. And leave nothing left but ashes. There would be no comeback this time, if Borlath succeeded.

"I think you're just starting to realize how deep this goes. By the end of the night, Team Rocket will be a memory. And Cipher will begin it's conquest. The world will know Cipher's true intentions as I rid everyone of the blight that is Team Rocket. Now...onto the show." Borlath said as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small switch.

Click.

Giovanni turned around in time to see the fire sprinklers in the room suddenly go off on the other side of the glass, spraying the entire crowd with water from above. The crowd screamed in surprise, with several people trying to rush the doors or break through the glass wall to get onstage. It was proved futile, as the water poured down on them from above...though after a few moments, Giovanni began to smell something odd.

"That smell...Is that gasoline?" Giovanni muttered, eyeing the liquid as it continued to spray from the ceiling. At the sound of Mask chuckling from behind him, Giovanni glared at Borlath and drew a Poké Ball from his belt, preparing to fight the two men opposite of him, despite the gun gripped in Borlath's hand. Borlath then gestured towards the audience, with Mask still laughing behind him.

The Cipher Master gave the command, and then Giovanni's world crumbled before his eyes.

"Damien...Kill."

Giovanni's eyes widened and he turned around in time to see a massive Houndoom suddenly drop from the ceiling on the other side of the glass wall, with Damien landing in the middle of the panicking mass. Giovanni felt a shiver go down his spine as he locked eyes with the Houndoom, who returned his gaze with a massive grin before opening his mouth and releasing a massive blast of flames from his mouth at the ceiling.

Borlath began laughing louder and louder as the entire side of the room that housed Team Rocket became consumed in flames within seconds, with every single member of Team Rocket quickly being caught in an inferno they couldn't escape from thanks to the fuel spreading the flames that Damien was spreading. The Dark Pokémon swung his head around the room, the flames spewing from his mouth catching everything they could touch on fire thanks to the gasoline. The only reason that those onstage hadn't been incinerated too was because of the wall of glass that held the flames at bay. Giovanni figured at this rate, the entire building would be consumed by fire in a matter of minutes.

The leader of Team Rocket felt something twist inside of him. Was it fear? No. It was disgust. Disgust at seeing so much work, so much effort go down the drain. It was the disgust, Giovanni realized, that Ashton's pathetic goal of righteousness was the reason he had done this.

It was a truly pathetic notion, to him.

Giovanni turned away from the hellfire that had consumed the thousands of Team Rocket members to the Cipher Master, with a look of abject fury on his face. He knew there was no saving them. With such a simple move, Cipher had all but destroyed Team Rocket.

"Borlath! You're going to regret crossing Team Rocket! We will rise and become stronger than ever before! But not before killing you!" Giovanni bellowed as his three Executives called out their Pokémon. Soon a Houndoom, Vileplume and a Crobat joined them onstage, prepared to do battle. Giovanni called out his Rhyperior, who let out a bellow of fury and glared down Borlath, who continued to laugh.

"If you want to make a last stand, then so be it. I'll give you that honor!" Borlath shouted as the glass separating them from the inferno suddenly lowered, making the heat on their side of the stage suddenly skyrocket as the flames began to spread. This startled the Executives, though not as much as when a burning figure leapt onto the stage beside Borlath, grinning evilly at them. The glass rose beside them once more, separating them from the inferno that was quickly destroying Team Rocket where they stood.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long, long time…" came a harsh voice, flames licking off of Damien's body as the Houndoom stood loyally in front of his Partner. Borlath grinned as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a gleaming gemstone before inserting it into the crown on his head, with the stone clicking into place. The Executives eyes widened at the sight of the jewel they all recognized, as well as the strange jewel attached to the black armored vest Damien wore across his chest.

"Alright...Damien. It's time we begin our true work. First Team Rocket...And then the others shall fall. All for the sake of a better tomorrow." Borlath intoned as his eyes narrowed into a harsh crimson-colored glare. Damien's expression mirrored his Trainer, prepared to finally sink his teeth into people who deserved to be torn apart. The villains that had helped set all of this in motion. Now they would be crushed under the heel of Cipher.

"Destroy them!" Giovanni bellowed, throwing out a hand as his Executives launched a wave of attacks at Borlath. The man cracked a grin before a masked-figure wearing armor and an Xatu teleported in front of them, blocking the attacks with a Protect.

"How's everything outside?" Borlath asked Amber, who shrugged in response.

"All entrances are being watched, as planned. No one has escaped so far, and any who do will be gunned down on sight. I think your plan worked to perfection this time." Amber replied coolly as Avis calmly kept the attacks at bay.

"Well done, little monarch. I love the smell of burning flesh in the morning." Mask remarked, letting out an exhale of sorts before chuckling.

"Mask, stay here just in case. Amber, ensure no one escapes alive. This won't take long." Borlath said before stepping beside Damien, raising a hand as if in benediction. Amber nodded and the two of them vanished, leaving Mask and Borlath behind. The Cipher Master lowered his hand, pointing a figure at Giovanni. "Damien! Mega Evolve!"

The entire building shook as a pulse of light shot out of the Mega Crown fixed atop Borlath's head, the man's smile becoming maniacal as the energy synced with the Houndoomite Damien wore on his chest. Both Trainer and Pokémon felt the power of their bond manifest in the power of Mega Evolution, with ribbons of pink energy flowing between trainer and Pokémon. Damien quickly become encased in a sphere of raw power, which quickly cracked and exploded outward, revealing the Houndoom's new form.

The first thing everyone noticed was the immense heat radiating off of the Pokémon. It made them feel like they were standing in the inferno that had consumed Team Rocket, despite them being protected from the fire by the glass. Damien's body was now covered in bone-like armor, with it covering his chest almost entirely. His horns now rose upward rather than how they curved back before, with his tail now with split down the middle. His claws were now a blood-red color, glowing from the sheer amount of heat they were giving off.

Borlath let out a weary sigh, shaking his head as a brief dizzy spell hit him. This was their first attempt at Mega Evolution, and he was surprised it took so much out of him. Still, he was glad that their bond was strong enough to allow the Mega Evolution to take place.

"I'm amazed you pulled that off. I suppose the two of you hate Team Rocket enough for it to work in the end, but don't expect that to keep working for future use." Mask warned Borlath, who nodded after a moment before addressing Damien.

"How does it feel, Damien?" Borlath asked his Partner as the Houndoom rolled its neck and examined his new body.

"So much power...Heh. It actually hurts. But this will do nicely." Damien breathed as a tongue of fire escaped his mouth. He directed his gaze towards the leaders of Team Rocket, all of whom except Giovanni had taken a step back.

"I'll hang back. Feel free to stain your hands in red for once, little monarch. It's so much more satisfying doing it yourself, and I want to see if you really have it in you." Mask said with a laugh to Borlath, who chose to ignore his taunts. He simply tightened his grip on the magnum in his hand and exhaled softly.

"Damien...If you would?" Borlath asked politely, stepping forward and placing a hand on the Houndoom's back, despite the heat.

"My pleasure, Ash. You don't even need to ask me to kill them." Damien responded eagerly before letting out a howl of fury, the room shaking from the sheer force of power radiating from the Mega Houndoom. The leaders of Team Rocket, the only remaining members left now, prepared themselves for a showdown against the Master of Cipher who had led them all to their doom.

Damien lunged at them as the cameras continued to roll, with everyone in the world watching as Borlath stood against the criminals who had terrorized Kanto for years, now ready to give them a proper fight before reducing their ambitions to ash. Borlath thrust a hand toward, his eyes gleaming with malice as the battle between Giovanni and himself began, with Team Rocket burning away before the world's eyes.


And so Borlath has finally shown his hand.

Stay tuned! Because next chapter is gonna be FUN.

Q & A

From: Guest

Have you ever considered a Black/White or Black2/White2 novelization, in a separate (or same) continuity to this one? Generation 5 had some really mature themes to it (especially where N, Ghetsis, and Team Plasma are concerned) like the whole thing about pokemon basically being superpowered dogfighting, actual eco-terrorism, a villain tries to kill the protagonist, etc. You write Pokemon stories in a way that reminds me of the Adventures manga, which tends to be rather serious and a little dark at times. I imagine a lot of us appreciate a grittier Pokemon that meshes the fantasy of pokemon battling with more realistic struggles like politics, crime, and telling your crush you like them.

It's funny you ask that. Most of the Cipher storyline from this story is, as Dizz has remarked on more than one occasion, from a story I've never actually told. A story called "Second Chances" that takes place post Black 2/White 2 where Cipher teams with Neo Team Plasma and Wes must take the fight to them in Unova.

However...I realized that my own ambition with a story like that is almost impossible to tell properly. Hence why I decided to have Radiant Sun take place in the same universe, so that I can sort-of tell that story while at the same time not have to write a 5 million word story that wouldn't get nearly as much traction. I realized the problems I had with Sun and Moon could be solved in I added a conflict into the story, at least for the first half of the game, so it all ended up working out in the end.

But to answer the question more specifically, yes. I'm genuinely tempted to work on a side story to this one, albeit much shorter. A Pokemon Nuzlocke Novelization in one of the other regions, in the same universe as this one. However three things have to happen for me to even consider writing it.

I have to beat my Pokemon Ultra Moon Nuzlocke. I've actually been pouring everything I've got into beating this thing, since I've been very lucky so far in this run and it's the closest I've come to beating it so far. Once I'm done with this run, I'll be able to focus on doing another one for another game.

I want to finish the Cipher Arc on this story. Once the Cipher Arc is done, things will be much easier to write and a lot less convoluted. I expect the chapters to be a lot shorter as well, thank god. So it might be possible to juggle two stories at once, especially if I write the other one while I'm working on a Nuzlocke story.

If the interest is there for a Nuzlocke story. Based on declining amounts of feedback as of late, I'm hesitant to work on another story if there isn't an audience who genuinely wants to read it. I'm leaning towards a Pokemon Shield/Sword Novelization, since the story is simple and I'm a big fan of Gen 8. But I'll seriously consider doing another story if people want to read another story from me about Pokemon.

From: Guest

I have always been a fan of Dark and Ghost types... which makes me wonder... could you have (Sun's) Oliver use Destiny Bond on a Pokemon already about to die, linking it to either Avis or Amber? Or perhaps use Shadow Claw to decapitate Avis BEFORE she teleports.

Or if jump scares are your thing, just have Oliver use Double Team into Phantom Force for some spooky shenanigans.

I would totally buy a rated M Pokemon game... the options for creatively ending a match…

I don't think it'd work with an actual death, but it's a neat concept if anything else.

That's the fun of doing a story like this. If you really think about it, some of the moves Pokemon can do are absolutely ridiculous. A Hyper Beam can level a city block with ease, or that Teleport and Shadow Sneak are pretty broken in general, since you can warp and stuff. I like the idea of Pokemon Moves being practical outside of battle as well.

That's all for now, everyone. The next few chapters will keep coming at you hot and fast, so keep your eyes peeled for another chapter coming soon!

That being the case, I hope you'll drop a review in the section below to show your support and to give me that ever-so-important feedback. Also, favorites and/or follows are greatly appreciated! If you've got questions, please drop them in the review section below and I'll get back to you soon. Feel free to join the Discord I've got set up as well, just PM me for the link.

Take care and stay awesome!

Until next time, FlygonNick out!