Pokémon Radiant Sun
So here we are.
This Act has been an absolute rollercoaster. From the explosive conclusion of the Cipher Arc to the main-story Aether Arc and all the excitement that brought us…we're at the final chapter that wraps this Act up in a neat little bow and starts us towards the final 39 chapters of this story, where the pacing of this story goes out the window and we're treated to some of the most wholesome and terrifying content the franchise has ever thrown at us.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Genuinely, I want to thank you all for reaching this milestone of the story. Radiant Sun is over 2 million words. Approaching 500,000 views. And eye-balling 2000 reviews? That's insane. And it wouldn't have been possible without your support, feedback and love of Pokémon.
So thank you for sticking with me, folks. Let's get this show on the road.
"This Life is Mine" was sung by Casey Lee Williams and is composed by Jeff Williams as part of the RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack.
Shoutout to the amazing people who reviewed since the last update, which includes SolanaLeonhart, Oragonking, BraviaryScout and a Guest reviewer. Thanks for the feedback and support, you absolute legends!
Also, Happy Pride Month! Massive shoutout to my LGBTQ+ readers and I wish nothing but good vibes, love and happiness for you all!
Here comes the final chapter of this Act!
Enjoy.
Chapter 160: Sunrise
"I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do." ― Brené Brown.
President's Mansion Depths
"Why!?" Lillie sobbed as she stumbled forward, half-hoping that what had just happened had been some kind of terrible dream. That her mother hadn't just vanished into the unknown like her father had. Guzma had gone in right behind her and left them all behind, and the now the children were stuck in a silent room that had been torn apart.
The showdown between Lusamine and Sun had been a brutal one. Most of Sun's team were hurt badly and completely exhausted, with Tetra being the final one left standing. Even then, the Gabite had two broken arms and was having trouble breathing after surviving the terrible hug of a Bewear, one of the deadliest Pokémon in the Alola region.
Hau and Gladion fared much better, with their teams sporting less injuries as a whole. Gladion carried his Riolu on his shoulder, staring at the spot where the Ultra Wormhole had vanished with a conflicted expression, his hand rubbing Type: Null's helmet.
"We beat them all…but she still got what she wanted. She's gone now." Gladion muttered, sighing as he composed himself again. It was then that he noticed the unmoving form of Fiaro on the ground nearby. The Ninetales that had once been his father's Partner, but had come under the control of Lusamine. Gladion walked over to the Ninetales, and was stunned to discover that he was still breathing faintly despite having his spine broken by Valérie, Lusamine's Bewear.
"You considered turning on her and she broke you because of that. I can't…I won't let anymore of my family suffer like this." Gladion murmured, pulling out an empty Poké Ball and pressing it against the Ninetales head. After all, Lusamine had broken Fiaro's original Poké Ball and severed his link to it. The Ninetales went into the ball in a flash of light and the ball immediately dinged, showing that there was absolutely no resistance to being captured by Gladion. The boy stood up and clipped the ball to his belt, looking at the others again.
"What should we do now?" Hau asked the others, putting his hands behind his head. Gladion frowned and considered that, but was distracted when Lillie broke away from Sun and began to approach the container that Lusamine had left behind. The container that had been used to drain Cosmog of its energy to summon the Ultra Beast.
"Nebby…are you…all right?" Lillie whispered, walking fearfully over to the silent crate on the ground. To their surprise, the crate itself suddenly split apart, revealing a strange floating Pokémon within. "N-Nebby…"
"What is it?" Gladion asked quietly, eyeing new Pokémon with confusion. It resembled Cosmog in some ways, but looked different now. It had a golden ring of sorts around it and had lost its cloud-like form. "It changed forms…and it's not moving…"
"Is he sleeping?" Sun asked as he stepped forward, only for his legs to give out and Hau to catch him right before he hit the floor. Gladion looked at each of them and frowned before turning on his heel and walking towards the teleporter, stopping after walking past Sun and Hau. "Come on. Let's get out of here. Nothing good can happen here and we need to take a rest before we drop."
"You're right, Glady…Come on, Nebby. Into the bag." Lillie said quietly, gently scooping up the floating Pokémon and putting it inside of the gym bag she had managed to recover earlier. Within a minute they had returned to the room Sun had found Lillie and Lusamine in before, with Miss Wicke now standing there alongside Ashton Aupuni.
"Oh, thank goodness…" Wicke whispered, sagging with relief, stepping forward and pulling Lillie into a warm embrace. Ashton ran right past Wicke and did the same thing with Sun, hugging the boy and exhaling a pent up breath. Sun hesitated, but hugged his father back tightly, wincing in pain but still grateful.
"You're safe." Ashton whispered, kneeling down to look over Sun. The boy was in rough shape, but he was alive and that was what mattered the most. "You look like you've been through a lot. What happened?"
"Lusamine didn't appreciate us trying to stop her. I managed to beat her, but she escaped anyway with Guzma." Sun remarked as Ashton nodded, standing up and putting a hand on the boy's head.
"There's not many who can claim to have defeated Lusamine. She's a cunning opponent…I'm proud of you." Ashton said warmly, giving his child a smile that Sun returned with a nod. "I'm glad everyone's alright, even if you're not necessarily unharmed."
"We all did pretty good. Gladion took down that Ultra Beast and Hau kicked Guzma's butt." Sun responded, grinning at his best friend while Gladion turned towards the Assistant Branch Chief as she let go of his sister. Gladion actually laughed softly at Sun's words as he hugged Wicke, who was trying to hold back tears of relief as she held Gladion.
"Yeah, maybe. But there is still a ton we have to do." Gladion said with a sigh as he broke away from Wicke, looking at them. "There's the President and Guzma, who both disappeared into the Ultra Wormhole…Not to mention Cosmog and why it stopped moving like that…"
"Considering the scale of the disaster, we should be lucky there aren't more casualties." Ashton remarked, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
"We'll survive and help as much as possible to make things right here in Alola." Wicke assured them all, though her expression darkened a moment later. "But part of me is still in wonder that Lusamine would do all of this. That she would sink so low and become such a monster."
"Even if she is…like that, Lusamine is still our mother. We can't just leave her in the beast's world." Gladion remarked, sighing softly as he considered a plan of action. "It's a long shot…But we might be able to reach other worlds if we had Alola's Legendary Pokémon on our side. The Pokémon that defeated the Tapu all those years ago and became the Legendary Pokémon of the Alola region."
"Alola's Legendary Pokémon?" Sun asked, thinking back to his time researching with Lillie and Acerola in Malie Library. "You're talking about Solgaleo."
Gladion nodded at Sun. "The people of Alola worship it, but I don't know if it's even real…"
"Of course it is! After all, the beasts are real." Hau whooped, bouncing up and down excitedly. "I'm sure we can find it. We'll find the Legendary Pokémon! We'll get it to help us track down where Miss Lusamine and Guzma went!"
Sun smiled at Hau's excitement, nodding in agreement as he looked to the others. "You're right, Hau. We'll find a way to cross into the Ultra Space…even if everything they've done is terrible, Guzma and Lusamine shouldn't be meddling in other worlds."
Ashton hummed softly in thought. "I remember the daily prayers my father and mother made me do in thanks to both the Tapu and Solgaleo in worship. It's known as the emissary of the sun, with many more stories behind it…The Tapu are telling me that they haven't seen Solgaleo in a very long time, but they're definitely capable of traveling to other worlds. It's as solid a plan as any."
"You can speak to them telepathically?" Gladion asked, with Ashton nodding in answer before looking away and walking off, his brow furrowed in concentration. Meanwhile, Lillie spoke up to address her friends.
"I have to thank you both. Both you, Sun, and you, Hau…" Lillie said softly, her expression apologetic. However Miss Wicke cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Miss Lillie…if you and your friends would like to get some rest first, I have prepared a few beds in the staff's residential quarters." Wicke said to them all, smiling warmly at them. "I must insist beforehand, however, that everyone is given a thorough medical checkup alongside the brave Pokémon who battled alongside you today. I know Master Sun and Miss Lillie in particular will most certainly require some degree of medical attention."
"We'll take you up on that." Gladion remarked, smiling with some relief.
"Yeah, I'm beat!" Hau laughed, finally stopping his hopping and clutching his still-damaged ribs. "I could go for some grub, too."
"I think we could all do with some time to recover from what we went through. Plus there's still the issue of what to do with Faba, Team Skull…as well as myself." Ashton remarked with a small sigh as he walked back over to them, crossing his arms. "Some sleep and food will do everyone a world of good."
Lillie walked over to the nearby bed, her expression wistful. "I think…I'll sleep here. In the bed that I once shared with my Mother when I was small…Just one last time…"
"Are you sure?" Sun asked the girl, who nodded in response. Sun smiled understandingly at her and said, "If you want, I can leave Brago behind to keep you and Nebby company."
Lillie smiled at the boy's thoughtfulness and nodded at the suggestion. "I'd like that. Thank you, Sun."
"Before we go any of that, let's get you kids patched up. Councilman Palena is currently coordinating with Faba and Colress to get an Aether medical team ready to deal with the injured. Once we've done, the adults can assess the damage and start getting things back to normal while you kids rest. You've done more than enough, and…" Ashton hesitated before bowing his head. "I'm sorry that you all are still paying for my mistakes. Rest assured, I'll be doing everything I can to make things right here."
"Are you sure, Dad? From the way Lusamine was talking, it sounded like a lot happened after we left Faba behind." Sun asked his father, who responded with a crooked grin.
"There isn't any rest for the wicked Sun. And there aren't many more wicked than me." Ashton remarked, shrugging helplessly as Hau made a face while Sun looked at his father with a bored expression.
"Dad, you're not a villain anymore. Right?" Sun said to his father, who just shrugged again in response.
"Not a typical villain, anyway. Now let's get you kids patched up. I'll explain everything along the way." Ashton said to the children, with Wicke nodding and leading the children out of the room. Ashton lingered in the room for a moment, rubbing his face and following Sun and Lillie out. As he did so, he noticed something some of the others didn' and Lillie were holding hands.
In fact, the girl was letting Sun lean against her side for support, which made sense considering the beating the boy's body had taken during the showdown with Lusamine. The two were talking very quietly with one another while Hau and Gladion were talking with Miss Wicke, and Ashton allowed himself a soft smile as he walked behind them all in silence, a joyful warmth in his chest at the sight.
"Ashton!"
The former Cipher Leader snapped out of his thoughts and looked towards the other end of the Mansion Path, spotting Jackal standing alongside Colress, Faba and Councilman Palena. Behind them Demi and Bone Unit 71 were addressing the Team Skull members who had come to the Aether Paradise. On the ground were the Bone Brothers, bound and gagged. At the front of the group walking towards them was Jackal, who's expression was one of exhaustion.
"What's the word?" Ashton asked as he sped forward, walking past several surprised children and addressing his friend.
"Total chaos. Comms are back up and the region is a mess. I did make an arrangement with Palena and Faba, but I can go into that later. What happened with Lusamine?" Jackal asked Ashton, who frowned and considered how to answer that extremely complicated question. Thankfully, someone else spoke up that immediately sidetracked that conversation for the time being.
"Commander Jackal?" Lillie whispered in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes as she recognized the man that she had last seen dying alongside his Dusknoir back at the Battle Royal Dome. Sun and Hau were likewise stunned, with Gladion having a more measured reaction to the dead man standing before them in the flesh.
"Yeah. It's me." Jackal said with a rough smile to the girl as a tear rolled down her face. "How are you holding up, kid?"
Lillie slowly walked towards the man who had sacrificed himself to save her from Amber Fontaine. Fresh tears poured down the girl's face as she ran towards Jackal and hugged him fiercely, only then able to actually confirm to herself that what she was seeing was real. Jackal returned the hug as Lillie cried tears of joy and sadness, apologizing through the tears as Jackal reassured her everything was okay and that he had no ill feelings towards her.
"I really think we should get everyone checked out before we answer any kind of questions." Wicke said quietly to everyone present. The adults present took one at the state of the children and unanimously agreed that this was as good a time as any to make sure everyone was actually okay.
Three Hours Later…
Councilman Palena sighed as he hung up from his latest call, stuffing his phone into his pocket and rolling his sore shoulder. "I suppose this is the beginning of my karma coming back to bite me."
Now that communications were up again, Palena was treated to dozens of phone calls from pretty much everyone who knew his personal cell number. Kahunas, Captains, concerned parents, officers and more called him asking for direction. Palena thought he handled it decently enough, but this was mostly due to Alola being in a state of panic rather than complete annihilation like Unova over a year ago.
There had been some casualties, but they were on the low side compared to recent disasters, so Palena was willing to take that as a blessing. Considering he was the final remaining member of the Alolan Regional Council, this was all his responsibility anyway.
And that wasn't even touching the complicated situation that he had literally flown into when he decided on a whim to join his daughter in a hair-brained rescue mission. Thankfully, Demi had been completely right about wanting to help Gladion Jardin and he had arrived just in time to help turn the tides in the battle against Team Skull.
"Sounds like a total mess back home." Demi chimed in from where she was sitting on the ground, leaning against a sleeping Torch under the glow of her Chandelure, with Aou humming softly nearby.
"That's an understatement. But they should leave me alone until the morning. And by that time we'll have a plan and I'll hopefully be well-rested enough to take care of things." Palena responded, rubbing his face before being surprised by a hug from his daughter.
"Seriously, Dad. Thanks for believing in me. You didn't have to come help us yourself." Demi thanked her father, who offered Demi a smile of his own before putting a hand on her head.
"I didn't. But I wanted to. And I'm glad I did. I'm beginning to learn that sometimes you just have to trust in your children, even when logic says otherwise. I followed my gut, and that led me into a fight against Team Skull. Me and Ares need to get back into battling shape." Palena remarked with a small laugh, shrugging his shoulders while Demi smirked. "We should probably check in on the others in the Medical Wing. Commander Jackal did want me to come there once I stopped getting yelled at over the phone."
"Then let's go see them!" Demi said as she returned Aou and Torch before jogging off. Palena snorted in amusement before following his daughter, who stopped some way up the path and fell into step with her father.
Several minutes later, Palena and Demi walked into the Medical Wing of the Aether Paradise and were sitting down in a massive room filled with several large hospital beds, with several Aether personnel ensuring that the injured were properly treated (under the watchful eye of Wicke).
"Alright, everyone's here." Jackal remarked with a tired sigh. "Now, we should probably start from the beginning so that everyone is on the same page. After the stunt that Lusa pulled, the Alola region is in pandemonium and I'll be coordinating with some of my counterparts to make sense of the madness happening."
"You all should definitely have something to tell the press and the world at large once it gets out that there was an attack on the region from both 'Cipher' and alien monsters." Ashton remarked dryly, glancing over at some of the occupied beds in the medical wing. Lillie and Sun were both out cold, having been given painkillers and heavy doses of Colress' Human Heal Pulse treatment. The two of them would have to take it easy for a few days, but would make full recoveries with continued treatment. Hau and Gladion were given additional treatment for the injuries they received on Blush Mountain, but weren't in such a rough state and were awake for the conversation taking place now.
Tetra was currently in surgery for her broken arms, but Sun had been reassured that the Gabite would be fine after about two weeks or so of not battling. The Aether Foundation was good at what they did, and thankfully Tetra had managed to overcome the pain and defeat Lusamine swiftly enough to prevent damage that wasn't able to be fixed.
Fiaro was…another matter. The Mohn's former Partner had a broken spine and was still fighting for his life in surgery. The prognosis for the Ninetales wasn't looking good, but Wicke assured Gladion and Lillie that the doctors would try their best to save him.
"Considering you're an enemy of the entire region and most of the world I think that would probably be a good starting point. Most people will wonder why you're not cuffed in a jail cell." Palena remarked mildly, looking at Ashton as he shrugged from his sitting position at a nearby table.
"Quite frankly, I could have escaped anytime after getting to the main floor of the Aether Paradise." Ashton remarked with a bored look as Damien snored lightly at his feet. The Houndoom had already gotten a thorough dose of Heal Pulse and a checkup and was sleeping off a very long day. The rest of Ashton's team was likewise recuperating, as were most of those involved in the showdown against Pandora. "I understand any modicum of trust regarding me will likely never truly come anytime soon, so let's move on so we can end this truly terrible day."
"I've been talking with some of the other agents we've got in Alola. I think I've been able to work something out, but I'll need a few days to work out something concrete." Jackal said as he sat down, sighing with relief as his Kecleon hopped into his lap. "For now, Ashton's just gonna have to stay here and help Wicke, Faba and Colress get a handle on the Aether Paradise. They'll be instrumental in keeping control of things in the days to come and quite frankly, sending him anywhere else is asking for trouble."
Wicke nodded tiredly as she sat down in a nearby chair. "Speaking of Aether, most personnel have returned completely to normal. Those injured in the Pandora attack are being treated in the ICU portion of the Paradise. Most should make it, with one or two cases being bad enough to warrant emergency surgery. Most of them directly caught within Pandora's wrath were dead almost instantly."
Faba looked down the ground, gritting his teeth in frustration. Wicke continued by saying, "Most have no recollection of anything that's happened within the past 13 hours or so, likely when Lusamine gave the order to lock down the Paradise. After comparing notes with Faba and after Ashton cracked several of Lusamine's computers, I was able to confirm that the former Aether President poisoned most of the staff with venom from the Ultra Beast known as UB-01 Symbiont by the International Police, or the Nihilego as Lusamine has dubbed it within her own personal files."
"So what the hell happened? What made Lusamine this way?" Jackal asked Wicke, his voice shaking a little. "What the hell happened to our friend? She wasn't like this before."
Wicke's expression twisted into one of sorrow. "According to the files Faba and Ashton managed to uncover and Lillie's own testimony, Lusamine was exposed to the venom of the Nihilego several years ago. Tragically, it was during the accident that killed Mohn Jardin. From that point on Lusamine began to slowly change, with each passing year becoming more and more obsessed with the Ultra Space and the concept of a beautiful world where she reigns as queen."
"The poison…the same poison that she fed to most of the Aether Foundation, save for you and Faba." Ashton remarked quietly, crossing his arms. Wicke nodded, her expression troubled.
"Yes. It also caused Sun's Decidueye considerable distress as a Dartrix when he battled the Ultra Beast here at the Paradise. And as it turns out, Lusamine is able to exert some level of control over those who had consumed the poison of the Nihilego, which explains why the Aether Foundation turned into maniacs willing to kill to stop intruders that they should have recognized on-sight as friendly." Wicke continued, sighing softly as she rubbed her forehead. "Most of those affected by the poison are back to normal, though they are experiencing some forms of short-term memory loss. While some recall acting violently, they can't remember why. Some don't even remember that much. The fake Cipher members that were apprehended are all terrified of what they think they may have done and are currently being observed by some of Faba's scientists."
"That's troubling. If anything because it doesn't give us an easy answer for the Alola region when some of them begin connecting the dots. Nanu and the International Police are already aware some weirdness was going on at the Aether Paradise." Palena remarked, frowning as he put a hand to his chin and considered the strange predicament they were in.
"Unfortunately there's not a good scapegoat for all of this mess. We could somehow pin things on Ashton, but that would do nothing but stoke more anger towards someone who's genuinely trying to make up for being a complete murderous bastard." Jackal remarked casually, causing Ashton to flinch.
"Yeah, I deserved that. You know, we could just blame the actual remnants of Cipher for this." Ashton suggested, earning surprised looks from everyone in the room. "That's what most of the world thinks has happened anyway. Why not let them think that Cipher somehow infiltrated Aether Paradise to get access to some secret weapon I had stashed away that went off, creating the wormholes that ravaged the region?"
"You'd be willing to take the blame for this just so that Lusamine doesn't?" Wicke asked surprised at the suggestion. Jackal flashed her a smug smile and responded after Ashton just shrugged.
"Well, Cipher's gonna take the brunt of the blame, not Ash…because Ashton was killed in the ensuing chaos." Jackal responded with a smirk, with everyone staring at him in confusion. Ashton Aupuni was especially confused. "It's something me and my superiors are working on. With Ashton under the thumb of the Tapu, and not a total fucking fruit loop anymore-"
"Okay, that's a new one." Ashton muttered under his breath as Jackal glanced at him, smirking in amusement before continuing.
"He's actually a perfect candidate for the International Police to recruit. He's a Champion-level Pokémon Trainer with access to plenty of resources that can be used to safeguard the region, and can disguise himself well. All we need to do is stage his death and the rest falls into place well." Jackal went on, earning a furious glare from Faba.
"So you want him to escape from his crimes just like that? What about the millions of lives he ended!?" Faba growled at Jackal before the man stopped himself, realizing that the current mess that they were all in was one of his making.
And that the same statement could be applied to himself.
Ashton swore silently under his breath, earning a sharp look from Jackal. "You literally agreed to do whatever it took to sort shit out like an hour ago. Can't be getting cold feet now."
"Oh no, it's not that." Ashton said with a shake of the head. "It's just what I would probably be working with Agent Quill, who's currently dating Laura. It'll be kind of a bit awkward to be working with the guy who's plowing my ex-wife."
All of Bone Unit 71 (including Demi and Gladion) promptly burst into snickers at that rather unexpected statement, with Jackal giving Ashton a profoundly disappointed look before face-palming.
Ashton was unapologetic. "Seriously, I'm already bad at dealing with people. Just keep that in mind before you make me partner up with him or whatever it is you guys actually do. I was never really clear on that"
"Alright. Ash, we're talking more later. But goddamn, I did not need the mental image of Oliver blowing out Laura's back, like…holy fuck." Jackal grumbled before glancing at a certain someone who was lurking in the corner, deep in thought. "Speaking of…Faba, do you have anything to say for yourself? You've been quiet."
"Ah." Faba seemed startled at being addressed, and flinched under the harsh glares of everyone in the room except for Hau and Ashton. Faba moved out of his corner and cleared his throat.
"I…I am so sorry for what I've done to you all. I let my hatred consume me, and I've hurt so many people as a result. I will be resigning from my position as Branch Chief effective immediately, and announce it publicly tomorrow so that Wicke can take command of Aether Foundation in the absence of Lusamine. I'll work with you all without any complaint to help correct my mistakes." Faba's words were quiet, almost in a whisper.
It was then that the proud scientist slowly bowed to them all for several moments before standing up again and returning to his corner.
Ashton nodded at the former Branch Chief of Aether Paradise while Colress glared at Faba with an expression of loathing before leaning back in the chair he was slumped in, closing his eyes and focusing his fury on better things.
"Councilman, what's the word across Alola itself?" Wicke asked Palena, turning away from Faba.
Palena's mouth twitched into a scowl. "Now that the communications network is up, I've been fielding calls left right and center, but I can give you all a brief summary of how messed up things are back home."
"We've got casualties across all three main islands, though thankfully none from Poni Island. Hau'oli City and Melemele Island suffered the most damage, but thankfully the death total was lower than it could have been thanks to the intervention of our friends from Unova." Palena explained to the others, who took that news at face value. "The other islands weren't as lucky."
"Akala Island suffered several casualties within Konikoni and Heahea City, only stopped by the invention of Captain Kiawe for the latter. Captains Lana and Mallow both sustained serious injuries bringing down one of the Ultra Beasts at Brooklet Hill, but they're already out of the hospital and at home recovering." Palena explained, looking at Hau who released a shaking breath of relief. Demi put a comforting hand on Hau's shoulder, knowing how worried he was for his friends. "Totem Wishiwashi was badly injured battling the Ultra Beast and is currently in a medically-induced coma. Its entire school was taken out by the Ultra Beast, and it only survived thanks to simply being a Totem Pokémon and having the capability of taking more punishment than most normal creatures."
"Captain Sophocles and Molayne managed to secure and protect the Hokulani Observatory, with the two of them now working damage control for me on Ula'ula Island while I'm away. However…Captain Acerola is currently in ICU in critical condition." Palena said with a grave expression as Hau gave him a horrified look.
"What happened?!" Hau demanded, nearly getting up, only for Gladion to hold out a hand to stop him.
"He'll tell you. Stay calm." Gladion muttered to the boy, who stared at Gladion for a moment before lying back down on his bed.
Palena nodded at Gladion in thanks and then continued. "Acerola was directly attacked by one of the Ultra Beasts in Malie Garden while protecting some children, and was only saved by the direct intervention of Kahuna Nanu, who managed to drive the monster away through…some means." Palena explained, sighing after a few moments. "He was vague about it, but he was also furious that the original Ultra Beast he was battling managed to escape. Apparently a second Beast arrived and in the chaos, the original monster escaped."
"Thankfully despite the chaos, the death toll was on the lower side of the scale. Communications and power being back are allowing the Kahunas and Captains that evaded injury to take control of things, which is the only reason I'm able to be here and debrief you all." Palena went on, looking at the adults in the room. "We'll have quite a bit of work ahead of us, but things could have been worse if not for everyone's hard work today."
"No kidding. If that Pandora thing got past you guys, then there was no chance we would've been able to stop it from getting to the President's Mansion." Demi chimed in, shuddering as she remembered the damage that the main area of the Aether Paradise had suffered.
"And if you guys didn't hold the line and Councilman Palena didn't show up, then we would've been overrun inside the President's Mansion by Team Skull and the Bone Brothers." Gladion said to Demi before looking at Bone Unit 71. "You guys didn't have to do any of that…So thanks. Thanks for helping Demi and Hau and protecting us all from Team Skull."
"Don't sweat it, Glady. We were just glad to finally show the Bone Brothers who's boss. Those guys were Grade-A douchebags." Kevin said with a grin as he walked over and held out his fist, which Gladion tapped with his own while smiling at the other teen.
"What he said. Besides, maybe we can turn Team Skull around." Axen chimed in, shrugging his shoulders. Kayla took that moment to point something out.
"If Guzma vanished after the President into one of those Ultra Wormhole things…then what's gonna happen to Team Skull?" Kayla asked the group, who remained silent as they considered that. There wasn't an easy answer.
"I'll reach out to Plumeria." Gladion said after considering it. "Explain what happened and see if there's any kind of backup plan for Team Skull."
Palena nodded in agreement. "I'm sure we can figure something out. However, the Bone Brothers will be arrested for their more violent crimes and will likely spend some time in prison. I'm willing to work out some sort of deal for the bulk of Team Skull, but the Bone Brothers have committed serious crimes that can't be ignored."
"Considering the Bone Brother's admitted to being hitmen for Guzma that even he wasn't aware of, I say let the bastards rot." Gladion replied, earning a chorus of agreements from Axen, Kevin, Kayla and Demi. Before the conversation went any further, Miss Wicke stepped in.
"That's probably as far as we can go for right now." Wicke said to everyone, clapping her hands together. "It's been an extremely long day for everyone, and we can continue discussions about this in the morning. I've instructed the cooks to prepare a large dinner for all of you for your efforts today, as well as having rooms made for everyone to stay in tonight. The coming days will be difficult, so it's important that we recover properly from this hard-fought victory."
Wicke then stood and bowed to all of them. "On behalf of the Aether Foundation, I want to thank all of you for your bravery today. You all have helped stop a terrible calamity from unraveling into a series of even worse tragedies. While the outcome may not have been what we wished, it's still enough that we helped stop even more innocents from being harmed. And I sincerely appreciate what you've done."
The room was silent as everyone processed Wicke's statement, but were surprised when a groan came from Sun as he shifted on the bed, wincing in pain for a moment before his eyes flickered open.
"Sun! How are you feeling?" Ashton asked his child, who groaned as he weakly sat up and flinched in pain.
"Sore and tired. Using Radiance sucks." Sun muttered as Ashton, Wicke and Colress walked over to the boy. "Where am I?"
"The Medical Wing of the Aether Paradise. Honestly, the fact that you're awake at all is impressive. We should probably wake Lillie up and get you kids some dinner before we all get some sleep like Wicke suggested. I know I certainly would appreciate sleeping in an actual bed after being tortured by an imbecile all day." Colress remarked with a strained smile, glancing over at Faba who sighed again at the dig.
Disaster may have been avoided, but there would be scars that would linger. There were no clean solutions to any of the mess that had presented itself, but for now all they could do was their best.
One Hour Later
Presidential Mansion Dining Room
"So, I guess I should be the one to ask. Did you actually kiss Sun during that fight?"
Gladion had asked the question rather bluntly, causing Sun to choke on his food and require Hau to thump him hard on the back before he could answer with a pained rasp. "I was hoping you didn't notice that."
"Lusamine was literally shrieking about it twenty feet away from me. How the hell could I have missed it?" Gladion deadpanned, slowly looking to his completely unapologetic sister.
"I kissed Sun and it was lovely." Lillie sniffed, sipping her water daintily while Gladion scowled in annoyance. "Besides, my little trick worked. I told Penny to knock out Luna while I kissed Sun and Mother was so angry she didn't even notice she had an unconscious Pokémon until a little while later."
Gladion growled in irritation while Sun was blushing up a storm in embarrassment, but this escalated further when Ashton chimed in.
"Wait, wait, wait…Lillie, you told Sun's Pokémon to attack while you distracted Lusamine by kissing Sun?" Ashton asked the girl incredulously, who blushed furiously but nodded. Ashton burst into laughter, throwing back his head while Damien laughed quietly from his position on the floor. When Ashton opened his eyes again, they were golden.
"That's absolutely hilarious. And ingenious." Ashton snickered before wiping his eyes and taking another drink of wine. "Well, I already gave you kids my blessing for what it's worth. Just don't give me grandkids until you're of legal age. That's all I ask."
"Dad!" Sun yelled out, his eyes sheer white and his face bright red with embarrassment. Lillie matched Sun's face, burying her face in her hands while Gladion looked ready to throw hands. And then Hau decided to make things worse.
"Yeah, it's not like these two have kissed multiple times already. Or gone on a date before." Hau remarked casually, ignoring the horrified looks from Sun and Lillie. The two children were frantically shaking their heads, pleading silently with Hau to shut the hell up. "Oh wait, they totally have. Wait, no, I forgot something. They shared a bed back at the Aether House. Can't forget about that bit of craziness-OOF!"
Hau was promptly shoved out of his chair by Sun, who was blushing scarlet and giving Hau a death glare. Hau looked up at his friend with a confused expression as the Kanto-native walked back to his chair and continued eating his food while Gladion stared at Sun with an expression of absolute horror.
"You're not allowed to come near Lillie again!" Gladion barked at Sun, who looked up at Gladion and smirked at him.
"I think that's up to Lillie to decide. Besides, what are you gonna do? I've beaten you the past three times we battled." Sun shot back, with Gladion gritting his teeth in fury. Gladion turned his attention to Lillie and tried asking her to confirm or deny the fact that she and Sun had shared a bed before.
"Gladion, if you want to be angry at anyone here, you should probably aim your frustrations at me." Ashton remarked, causing everyone to look at him. "I sheltered Sun heavily as he was growing up and as a result, he doesn't quite know that some things are somewhat out of the ordinary for friends to do with one another. No matter how close they are."
Gladion growled audibly as Lillie stuck her tongue out at her brother. He continued to try and pry into what else Sun and Lillie had done while Hau and Demi tried hard not to totally lose their composure.
"So you genuinely have that much faith in Sun's chivalry?" Wicke remarked with an amused smile as the adults watched the children squabble with one another.
"Of course I do. I may not be a very good father, but I know my child well. Sun sacrificed himself time and time again for Lillie's sake. He cares about her so much that he'd cut off a limb before even thinking of taking advantage of Lillie in any way. They've developed a very healthy and strong relationship, and I can't wait to see how they grow alongside one another." Ashton remarked with a warm smile, raising his glass in the direction of the children. "I'm happy for them."
"Truly? After everything you've done to hurt that boy and control his life?" Colress asked Ashton, who leaned back in his chair and nodded as his smile faded somewhat.
"I can't understate how much the Tapu healing my mind did for my sense of clarity. The damage I've done to Sun and everyone else took away my right to have any say in his life. If he wants my support, then he has it. But if he doesn't want it, then I'll respect that." Ashton responded quietly, his eyes flickering to gray. "I love my boy. But he's proven he doesn't need my protection. He stared into the void of darkness time and time again and didn't waver. If anyone can unlock the secrets to the Ultra Space and bring Lusamine to heel, it's my son."
"I don't give a damn! It's my sister!" Gladion barked at Sun, who rolled his eyes as Lillie continued to eat her dinner. Hau was snickering under his breath while Demi finished her food and wiped her mouth with a napkin before giving Gladion a disappointed look and sighed deeply.
The former Team Skull Grunt then promptly got up from her chair and calmly walked over to Gladion as he tried to get more answers out of Sun and his sister, who were both steadfastly ignoring the other boy now. Demi tapped Gladion twice on the shoulder, drawing his attention.
"Demi, I'm trying to-" Gladion tried to say, only to be cut off by Demi pressing her lips against his own rather intensely for several long seconds before pulling away. Gladion's face was now wearing a shocked expression with a deep red blush on his face while Demi smirked at him in triumph.
Lillie, Sun and Hau all began clapping, much to the mortification of Gladion while Ashton and Jackal snickered. Wicke was just grateful she had the presence of mind to pull out her phone and snap a quick picture of the teens kissing, inwardly so proud of the Jardin children for how far they had come in just two years.
Meanwhile, Councilman Palena was on the floor and coughing loudly, partly because he had choked on his wine at the sudden PDA from his daughter to her friend.
"...Alright, I'll drop it for now." Gladion grumbled, completely embarrassed as Demi moved back into her seat with a blush as bright as Gladion's but wearing an unapologetic smirk on her face.
"About damn time. Kayla, you owe me dinner." Kevin remarked with a shit-eating grin as Kayla gave her friend a bored look.
"I owe you a punch to the balls, you dork. Now eat." Kayla grumbled back as she dug into her eggplant parmesan with a breadstick, devouring it hungrily. "Are you guys hiring? If this is the kind of food you Aether guys get every day, I'd sell my soul in a heartbeat."
"This is only because we have Mother's personal chefs on hand for dinner. The usual Aether staff don't get this kind of treatment, but the dining hall for the main Paradise is pretty good." Lillie supplied brightly to Kayla, who gave the girl a thumbs up.
"I'd just like to say we only hire those who are eighteen and older. But I'm sure I could see if we can have some intern spots opened up for anyone who's interested in learning about Pokémon conservation." Wicke chimed in, earning the attention of the Team Skull Grunts.
"Are these positions paid?" Axen asked.
"Normally under Faba, they wouldn't be. Under me, yes." Wicke said with a nod, earning a thoughtful look from Kayla. She was spared from giving an answer when Jackal walked into the room with Colress, who had finally gotten a proper shower and medical treatment himself and looked far less like death. Wicke helped the scientist into a seat as more personnel doled out food and poured drinks for the two new arrivals.
"Angel, if this is poisoned, I'll be upset." Jackal said with chuckle as he bit into the eggplant parmesan, and after a moment of chewing he nodded in approval. "This was a ol' Mohn recipe, I think. It's great."
"My father did like to experiment in the kitchen from what I remember. He wasn't always successful though." Lillie said with a sad smile, remembering on several occasions where he started fires while attempting to bake Lillie and Gladion cakes and other treats.
That was when Palena finally got back to his feet, coughing several times before turning to address the two teens who had caused him to choke on his wine in the first place.
"Alright, now that I can breathe again. Demi and Gladion, can you join me outside? I think we should talk about…that." Palena said before walking out of the room, still dabbing at his suit with a napkin despite the fact that it was already ruined from the events of today.
"Well, I should've seen this coming. Let's go, Glady." Demi said with a bright smile as she hopped up from the table, walking over to her father as Gladion sighed, wiping his face with a napkin.
"Love is in the air and it's wonderful." Wicke chuckled softly, finally sitting down herself once everyone was all settled. Gladion shrugged his shoulders, looking over at Sun.
"If there's going to be a big dramatic scene, please wait until I get back. I'm not done arguing with you and I want to slam something out of rage." Gladion said to Sun as he got up out of his chair and pushed it in.
"Of course. I can't flip this table by myself." Sun agreed sarcastically as Gladion left to go have a very awkward conversation with Palena. The Kanto-native glanced over at Wicke, who was now the one choking on her wine while Hau continued to inhale his food at a record pace. Sun smirked as he took a bite of eggplant, taking delight in the giggle coming out of Lillie sitting nearby.
The Next Morning…
Lillie quickly sat up out of the bed, panting hard as she woke up in a dark but familiar room. The girl's heart beat wildly before she realized where she was and that she was safe. A familiar Arcanine was dozing on the floor right beside Lillie's bed, a protector and source of comfort that the girl appreciated in the moment as she let out a deep sigh. The young Jardin glanced beside her and saw Nebby in his new form gently floating on a pillow nearby, still inert. He seemed to be sleeping, but Lillie wondered if that was true.
Lillie turned on the bedside lamp and exhaled, silently slipping out of bed and grabbing her Pokémon. Lillie walked over to the nearby mirror that hid the Teleporter and simply stared at the pale girl with blond hair that stared back at her, her bright green eyes full of confusion.
"Is everything alright?" Lillie turned and saw that Brago was looking at her with concern, causing the girl to laugh weakly.
"Y-yeah, just…Wondering what's next. Saving Nebby and stopping Mother was always my big plan, but now everything's all messed up. I genuinely don't know what to do with myself right now." Lillie explained as she walked back over to her Lusamine's bed, sitting down and crossing her legs as the Arcanine yawned loudly. "Sorry for waking you, Brago. I know you've had a really long day."
"The road ahead is a muddled one." Brago agreed tiredly, offering Lillie a toothy grin. Lillie grabbed one of the extra pillows and placed it beneath the Arcanine's head, which he promptly plopped down on the soft pillow. "Thank you. Anyways, just know that no matter what, we all stand by you."
"I appreciate that. You and everyone else on Sun's team fought so hard to save me and Nebby. I'm very grateful." Lillie nodded at the canine, but her expression was still troubled. "I suppose I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to do now. For the first time since my Father vanished, I no longer have to be scared of what my Mother may do. I'm free from her influence. But…I don't know what that really means."
"Hmmm. I wouldn't know either. I've never had that problem." Brago admitted with a soft growl, closing his eyes. "But there's also no point in worrying about it. What will be, will be. You are cared for. You are safe. And you are free to grow at your own pace."
"True." Lillie considered the Arcanine's words for a few moments before she hopped out of bed. "Maybe a walk will help clear my head. I can't sleep anyway."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Brago asked Lillie, who considered it but shook her head.
"I'm going to leave Nebby here. Feel free to go back to sleep, but also if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on him I'd really appreciate it." Lillie said to the large hound, who nodded and closed his eyes, returning to sleep. Lillie quickly changed into her usual dress, but as she stared at herself in the mirror to do her usual braids she frowned with distaste.
"This was the dress Mother loved to see me wear." Lillie muttered, shivering at her own reflection. It was only after finally seeing the object of her Mother's obsession that a horrifying truth came to her.
Wearing the dress that she had always been forced to wear by Lusamine, Lillie realized that in a strange sort of light…she resembled the Nihilego.
"Did she dress me like this…because it made me look like those monsters?" Lillie whispered as her eyes widened at the terrifying realization. Lillie stared at her own scared reflection for several more moments before tearing her gaze away, practically fleeing from the bedroom as a concerned Brago watched the girl depart.
Lillie ran out of the house, panting hard as she put as much distance between her and the mansion as possible. Finally she stopped near the entrance to the Aether Paradise proper, and she took several minutes to catch her breath and wipe her sweaty forehead.
"Ugh, I'm a mess. I've got to get it together. Running from your own reflection? Stop being such a coward, Lillie." The girl chided herself, shaking her head and walking forward a few steps.
However, she stopped once again when she saw someone standing off to the side of the main platform, and it was someone she recognized. Lillie found herself walking towards them, bewildered as to why Ashton Aupuni, who mere weeks ago nearly annihilated the world as they knew it, was up and about at this time of night by himself.
"Mister Aupuni? What are you doing out…here?" Lillie trailed off, her eyes wide as she realized that four shadows were floating in the air beside the former Cipher Master. Four figures she recognized immediately as the four Guardian Deities of Alola. The Tapu all stared at Lillie, which made the girl fight the urge to shiver in terror.
Ashton smiled at Lillie and half-turned towards the Tapu. "We were having a discussion about what happens from here. The Tapu have been recovering from the recent battles and we were comparing notes. Turns out that some of the Ultra Beasts got away, and there's a chance that the Ultra Wormholes may return."
Lillie's blood went cold at that revelation. Ashton nodded slowly, crossing his arms and leaning against the railing. "Lusamine's actions last night have weakened the dimensional walls of this world and the Tapu are worried Lusamine and Guzma may aggravate the Ultra Beasts into pouring into this world again. We're not entirely sure how Ultra Wormholes are generated by the Beasts."
"Your father was one of the few experts on the Ultra Space that existed. Professor Burnet is another, but I can't exactly reach out to ask her myself." Ashton went on, sighing softly before shrugging his shoulders. "Tapu Lele will reach out to Kahuna Olivia and have her ask some questions to hopefully make sense of just how imminent the danger of the Beasts returning to Alola is."
"I already knew my father was studying the Ultra Space…I wonder if Mother used his notes for her schemes." Lillie said quietly, with Ashton again shrugging.
"Best not to think about that right now. Especially considering what you've been through these past few days. Now then, what has you out and about at this hour?" Ashton asked the girl, who hesitated to answer. Ashton smiled knowingly and said, "You don't have to tell me. I can count on one hand the amount of people who actually trust me not to revert to my old ways. Just a matter of weeks ago, I was about to burn this world to the ground. I should be grateful anyone is willing to speak to me after what I did as Borlath."
"I'm just…unsure of what I should do or feel right now." Lillie admitted, sighing as she crossed her arms. "I was hoping a walk would help me figure things out."
"Your heart is troubled, child." Tapu Lele remarked, drawing attention to itself. "Sorrow. Anger. Regret. Joy. But most of all…fear. You have been caged for so long, you are scared to step through the door and be free."
"I think there's more on her mind than just that." Ashton remarked knowingly, smirking at the girl who looked away from the man before sighing and coming clean.
"I'm also concerned about my relationship with Sun. All this time, we've gotten so close. But the person he knows is…someone who wasn't ever allowed to be who she wanted to be. A scared, helpless person who was too scared to let people get close out of fear of her friends getting hurt. Sun cares for that person…But is that person still me? I'm so confused."
"My son would walk through the gates of hell for you, Lillie. You are so, so loved." Ashton said gently to the girl, offering her a patient smile. It reminded her very much of the boy she was so fond of, and she realized that some of Sun's better qualities did in-fact come from his father. "But what you have to do is learn to learn how to love yourself for who you are. Take it from someone who has hated who they were for a very long time…It's never too late to change. To become the person you always wanted to be."
"What if…what if I don't know who that is?" Lillie asked haltingly, earning a sigh from the man as he considered that option.
Ashton was slow to respond. "That's the question, isn't it? It's why I left Alola in the first place. I wanted to get away from the painful memories of my childhood and focus on who I wanted to become away from it all. And I flourished in Kanto…before I let that pain transform me into a monster."
"Pain can do terrible things to a person…Wicke and Faba explained to me that Mother was exposed to the Nihilego venom years ago, and that's what started her downward spiral into madness." Lillie said quietly, walking over to the railing and leaning against it. Tapu Bulu hummed softly, moving away from the girl and shifting off to the side. "But I think the loss of Father was mixed into that."
The former Cipher Master looked at Lillie with a somber expression and said, "You've been through a lot these past few years. When Mohn vanished, me and Jackal should have been more active in yours and Gladion's lives, but we both had our demons and didn't want to drag Lusamine and you kids through more hardship. I'm sorry we weren't there for you then…So I'll be here for you and Gladion now, however I am able to be. Let me give you some advice, if you're willing to accept it."
"I am." Lillie said after a mere second's hesitation. "I'm free for the first time in my life to be my own person, and it's terrifying. I don't know who or what to become. If Sun can trust you after everything that's happened, then I can as well."
Ashton smiled at that and nodded. "Become whoever and whatever you want. Take inspiration from others and let that guide you. Music or literature can also inspire you. Fiction helps a lot. You can even use the people you see every day to model yourself around…but don't rely on them."
"What do you mean?" Lillie asked Sun's father, who continued.
"I mean don't mimic someone just because they embody attributes you want to have. Growth and self-discovery won't come if you just pretend to be something you're not. Or someone you're not." Ashton warned Lillie, who considered that fact.
"I guess wanting to model myself after Sun is out of the question. He's so confident and kind and selfless…I admire him a lot. I wish I could be like him, but from what you're saying, that is a bad way of thinking." Lillie said to the father of her best friend, who nodded. "How so?"
"Sun's the light of my life and I couldn't be more proud of him, but you should also seek to become your own person. Living for the sake of or modeling your life off another is understandable and it happens a lot, but that isn't what you're looking for. Use the good people in your life as inspirations for the kind of person you want to be, but not who you should be. You want to discover who Lillie Jardin is. That's not Sun or Hau or anyone else. Lillie is simply Lillie. Does that make sense?" Ashton asked the girl, who slowly nodded as she considered his words.
"I want to be…Selflessly kind. Confident and able to smile in the face of danger. I want to be the person I was always too scared to be when Mother was there." Lillie finally said to Ashton, who nodded in approval. "But what if I'm not strong enough to become that person?"
"Who says that you aren't?" Ashton countered, smirking at Lillie. "Lusamine isn't here and you've done things that most people would never have the courage to do. You were battling alongside your mother and brother against Cipher, despite not being a Trainer. You helped Sun put a stop to one of the worst villains this world has ever seen…me. Lillie, you are strong. You simply need to understand that fact and accept it. You're no longer your Mother's subservient puppet. You're a girl with her entire life ahead of her, surrounded by people who care about you. The world is yours. You just have to reach out and take it."
"I understand that I have no reason to be scared anymore, but I don't feel strong." Lillie admitted to the man, who actually laughed.
"Then consider this. If you hadn't been backing Sun up against Lusamine, he would have lost. You helped him defeat not one, but two Champions in the span of a month." Ashton said to the girl, who's eyes widened in surprise at that very true statement. It was certainly proof that her doubts weren't correct, and that she had indeed accomplished a lot in the past year.
"Thank you, Mister Aupuni." Lillie said gratefully, bowing slightly to the man. "I wish all of the Cipher drama didn't make this situation so…weird. I'd honestly like to ask you a lot more questions, but I think I'll need to ask Sun if it's okay."
"It isn't your fault. I chose to do the terrible things that I did and I intend on atoning for those sins. Whether that's in the form of jail time, my own life repeatedly or simply in service to the world is up for debate. The future is…murky." Ashton admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "Either way, my mind is clear for the first time in…I don't know how long. The scars of my past were healed, and I can finally focus on the good in the here and now rather than what is to come."
"But…what if some big threat comes that threatens the world?" Lillie asked the man, who considered that question. It was one of the biggest motivators for Ashton becoming Borlath and ravaging the world with Cipher's fury. While countless innocent lives were taken in his gambit, Borlath had ultimately succeeded in destroying every single criminal organization that was known to the International Police today. Team Rocket, Neo Team Plasma, Team Galactic, Team Snagem and Cipher itself were all gone.
"I'll have to trust that the children of today can become the leaders who truly change this world for the better." Ashton said with a small smile, looking out towards the ocean. "And should that evil come to Alola…I'll protect this region alongside the Tapu. I'll safeguard the future that you kids have worked so hard to ensure. And that's a promise I can find comfort in, despite everything."
"And you're okay with that? After everything the Tapu did to anger you?" Lillie asked, earning four looks from the Tapu, causing Lillie to shrink back and flush with embarrassment.
"I'm not the only one who's done some thinking about the mistakes of the past." Ashton said to the girl, gesturing to the four Guardian Deities. "The Ultra Beasts were repelled thanks to the actions of the Kahunas and Captains, but also the Tapu intervening and driving them back. They're working on overcoming some of their bad habits and truly being protectors to Alola in this modern day and age. Remember, once upon a time the Tapu were human. They were all chiefs and warlords among ancient Alola, and commanded their followers to be executed as part of a blood sacrifice to give them eternal life and power."
"It's slightly more complicated than that, but Ashton has made his point." Tapu Lele huffed in an offended tone, despite Lillie knowing full-well that it was the truth. "We have indeed begun making efforts to have closer ties to the humans we protect. Too long have we kept our distance. We may have had our reasons, but we must do better."
"Wow. That's, um, pretty incredible." Lillie admitted sheepishly, amazed that even ancient Legendaries like the Tapu were capable of developing and growing.
"For the record, the Tapu have been incessantly talking in my head for the past ten minutes because they want to leave now. But do you have any more questions?" Ashton asked Lillie, who looked away as she bit her lip. She did have one particular question, one that she had been saving for Professor Burnet or Kukui. But maybe…this would work too.
"I'm…I've been thinking a lot about my feelings for Sun. We both like one another and care about each other, but I don't know if those feelings are something more." Lillie admitted quietly, looking out towards the ocean with a forlorn expression. "Mother and Father never really had a conversation with me about what love really was. And I can't ask Gladion about it. I could confide in Wicke, but I feel like maybe you could help me. What does it mean to…love someone?"
Lillie's cheeks flushed as the words escaped her mouth and she didn't meet the eyes of Ashton Aupuni, simply because of the awkwardness of admitting that such a thing was possible to the father of her crush. However after several seconds of silence, Lillie chanced a glance at the man and saw that his eyes were closed and he was in deep thought.
"Love is a complicated thing, Lillie. It can start out as something pure and be distorted over time. It can be something powerful but wither in the face of hardship and strife." Ashton recounted, thinking of his own experiences. "Or it can flourish and be the greatest feeling in the world. To love and be loved is something everyone strives for. And you and Sun share such a close bond it may very well be love."
"Is it?…I don't know." Lillie muttered to herself, looking down at the ground. "There's interest there, of course. We both know that we like each other. But I'm just confused. Uncertain. Me and Sun are both so young, and we're each other's first…romantic interest. What is love?" Lillie asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
Tapu Lele giggled at the girl's plight, earning three annoyed looks from the other Tapu and a bored glance from Ashton who returned to placating the obviously distressed girl. It was then that an old memory came to Ashton, and man realized that he may have an answer to Lillie's plight.
"I remember something I asked Lusamine many years ago, when I was maybe a little older than you. I asked what made love…love?" Ashton said quietly, looking out towards the sea with a wistful expression, his eyes a dark blue. "She told me that love is complicated. True and genuine love is patience. Kindness. It is a pure thing that does not boast, envy or be filled with pride. It's not self-seeking. It always protects. It always trusts. It always hopes…And it will always persevere."
"That…does sound a lot like Sun and I. We always build each other up and support each other. Even in the beginning, I comforted Sun and he protected me. Oftentimes from my own self-loathing." Lillie responded softly, looking astonished as she considered the possibility that her feelings for Sun went beyond a crush. "Do I…love him?"
"That's up to you to decide. Either way, he'll always be your friend." Ashton responded as he pushed himself off of the railing, stretching his limbs for a moment before sighing deeply.
"On that note, I'm going to get some sleep. I suggest you do the same. I have a feeling the coming days will be pretty eventful." Ashton said as he walked past the girl, patting her head before heading back towards the mansion. Lillie frowned as she considered the words of the former villain and looked towards the four Tapu who were staring at her.
"Um…have a good night?" Lillie ventured before slowly walking away, only for Tapu Fini to drift towards the girl, mist flowing outwards from the Tapu. Lillie gasped as the form of Sun appeared from the mist, smiling at her.
"You and the Champion of Conflict will come to visit me soon to chase the sun." Tapu Fini intoned in Sun's voice, with the boy crossing his arms. "Be sure to prepare yourselves well. The Wilds of my home are the harshest in all of Alola, which is why you humans haven't settled there save for the village on the coast."
"How did you know we were going to try and find Solgaleo?" Lillie asked after several moments of processing that statement.
"Ashton told us. Our decision to cleanse him of the darkness that had stained his soul since the days of his childhood have proved wise. He is determined to do right now. You and the others have nothing to fear from him. Especially because we hold his leash, but even if we didn't, he has no ill will towards the people of this world. Only a desire to protect it from more harm." Tapu Lele said to the girl, who nodded as she glanced back at the man formerly known as Borlath as he departed.
"Pain is a very powerful motivator, my child." Tapu Fini said in Sun's voice, with the boy's expression one of sorrow. "It can transform you. Twist you and break you into something unrecognizable. Lusamine Jardin is an example of this. Her loss and suffering turned her into a monster, much like Ashton's trauma and anger created Borlath. Borlath is no more, but Lusamine has ventured to the Ultra Space, and the damage she could wreck upon the borders of dimensions is immense…What now?"
"What now? I don't know. I want to speak to my Mother again. Try to convince her to see reason."
"And if you can't? Will you fight her?" Tapu Lele asked.
"I don't know if I can. She nearly killed Sun and I back in her sanctum. And even so, does she really deserve to be saved? After everything she's done and all of the people she hurt? Does she…even want to be saved?" Lillie asked in a fearful whisper.
"That we do not know. But she is not herself. She has been poisoned by the Ultra Beasts and is not entirely culpable for her actions. Your path to the Ultra Space has already been laid out before you. How you confront your Mother in the end is up to you." Tapu Fini responded in Sun's voice, his expression being one of amusement. "Sun chose to spare Borlath and allow Ashton to survive, despite having more reason to want his father dead than anyone else. What does Lillie Jardin really want?"
"I suppose we'll have to wait and see. For now, we must depart and rest. You should do the same and think of both our words and that of Ashton Aupuni." Tapu Lele intoned to the girl, but not before sending a pink scale directly at Lillie's stomach. The girl gasped as pink light erupted through her body, healing it completely of the damage Lusamine had done to her. "Farewell, my child."
The apparition of Sun vanished as the mist did, and the four Tapu shined brightly before soaring off towards their respective islands to recover. Meanwhile Lillie stood there, thinking about what had been said to her and what they truly meant.
"I'm me…No one else." Lillie whispered, looking out into the inky depths of night and sighing deeply. Without another word she walked towards the mansion and was soon back in her room, where Nebby and Brago were waiting for her. The former was still asleep and inert, but the latter was awake and lifted his head up when Lillie entered.
"You seem troubled." Brago remarked as Lillie walked over to Nebby and picked up the floating creature, unsure if he was even a Cosmog anymore. Lillie sat down and leaned against the warm and furry side of Brago, sighing deeply as she closed her eyes.
"I am troubled. But you should be asleep. You fought really hard today against Mother." Lillie said tiredly, causing Brago to snort in amusement.
"I got off easy compared to Oliver, Penny and Tetra. Besides, my Alpha chose me to safeguard you. What is wrong?" the Arcanine asked Lillie, who recounted most of what Ashton and the Tapu had told her.
"I understand what they're saying, but I have no idea how to actually do anything about it. How do I just let go of everything? How do I just be myself now?" Lillie asked Brago, opening her eyes and staring up at the ceiling.
"Hmmm. I am unsure as well. I've never had such an issue. But I do think that you're overthinking things." Brago said to Lillie, who made a soft noise of frustration.
"How am I supposed to not overthink things!? Today's been nuts!" Lillie grumbled, hugging Nebby to her chest and sighing. "My mind is a mess."
"You should do something to relax. I know Sun likes to read those book things or play his flute. Try doing that." Brago suggested, and Lillie blinked at the very good suggestion. She hopped up from the floor and set Nebby down on the bed, quickly pulling out the headphones that Aria had gifted to her for her birthday and quickly connecting them to her phone.
Lillie sat against Brago as she listened to the music of Zoey Cairdelly, one of her favorite musicians. The sound of rock music was something only recently introduced to her by Mallow, but it was something that simply spoke to Lillie. She found it liberating.
The fact that the musician in question had been fighting against Cipher alongside Wes and Aria had been somewhat recent news to Lillie, but that made her admire Zoey even more. Soon Lillie was humming quietly to the music, finally letting the tension within her stomach release.
Eventually one of Lillie's favorite songs came up on her playlist, and she was unable to stop herself from singing long with the words. It was the same song she remembered singing months ago on Alola Route 4. She remembered talking to Aria about small rebellions, and Lillie realized her fondness of rock was in-fact an example of that concept. Eventually the chorus came up, and unbeknownst to Lillie her volume rose just a little bit.
I've been afraid,
never standing on my own.
I let you be the keeper of my pride.
Believed you when you told me
I was nothing on my own.
Listen when I say,
I swear it here today.
I will not surrender,
this life is mine!
Lillie's eyes widened and her thumb tapped the phone and she leaned back, letting out a harsh exhale. Somehow, someway the words she had just sung let her…express herself in a way that she couldn't describe. A way to explain how she felt.
"This life is mine to decide. And I won't give up…I can't give up." Lillie whispered, her green eyes shining with tears as she finally began to process everything that she had been told today. From Lusamine's poisonous words to Sun's declarations of protection, to the comforting words of Ashton and the advice of the Tapu. Finally everything aligned and clicked within her, and Lillie understood what she needed to do.
"I am Lillie. And it's my turn…to decide my fate." The girl felt a smile crawl across her face, as well as a small burst of energy that leapt into her. Before she knew it Lillie was standing up, smiling as she continued to sing the song that now resonated with her very soul.
Amazing how you conquered me,
Chained me in servility,
and made me see.
The world the way you told me to.
But I was young, and didn't have a way to know the truth.
"You sounded different just then." Brago noted as Lillie removed her headphones and stopped the song, looking down at Nebby and letting out a small exhale.
"I think…I think I'm realizing something, Brago." Lillie said quietly as she got up, setting Nebby and her headphones on her bed. She walked over to her gym bag and began sorting through it, eventually finding an item capsule and activating it. In a small puff of smoke, a large shopping bag appeared and Lillie began to rifle through it. She pulled out a stylish pink backpack that was designed for Pokémon Trainers, and Lillie quickly transferred the contents of her gym bag to the new backpack before gently putting Nebby inside of it.
"If I'm going to work on becoming my own person. I have to do things that the Lillie under Mother's control would have been too scared to do. I want to be bold. Brave and kind. I want to be the kind of person people can rely on when there's trouble. And that kind of person doesn't wear a dress that her Mother picked out!" Lillie said as she yanked off her dress and threw it on the ground with a shout.
Lillie then pulled out the outfit that she had bought when shopping with Acerola in Malie City and laid it down on the bed. The shirt was white, resembling the kind shirt a sailor would wear with two pale blue ribbons. Below it was a short white skirt with a pale blue line running across the wavy bottom. Lillie quickly put on the outfit and slipped on a pair of white ankle socks and matching white penny loafers that she bought as well.
Lillie shivered at the strange sensation of wearing something different. So used to the dresses that she had worn for most of her life, wearing something so radically different was alien to Lillie. But it was also exciting. Liberating in a way.
The young Jardin hummed as she walked back to her Mother's mirror and admired herself with a calculating eye. She truly did like the outfit, but the look was incomplete. For one thing, it was far too…revealing.
After a moment of thought, she added a pair of white shorts to her outfit before walking over to her Mother's mirror for a second time. She stared at the person looking back at her with a little smile.
"Better…but I think I need to do something with my hair." Lillie muttered as she swayed her long blonde hair back and forth for a moment before grinning as an idea came to her. She quickly pulled her hair into a ponytail with a simple braid. "There we go. It's different…but I like it. I actually really like this look."
"You look like someone who's ready to take on anything." Brago said with a nod, and Lillie hopped up and down before spinning around, giving the Arcanine and thumbs up before walking over to Brago and patting him on the head. Lillie pulled on her backpack with a giggle, a newfound sense of excitement welling up within her.
"I'm going for a walk around the Paradise. Don't wait up for me!" Lillie said to the Arcanine as she put her headphones back on.
"Sing the song of your heart, Lillie. Let the world hear your roar." Brago murmured as Lillie bolted out of the room, her eyes shining in a way that he had only ever seen them shine around his Alpha. They were bright and fierce and alive, and Brago smiled proudly at the girl who had finally dared to spread her wings.
Lillie had resumed playing the song that had become her motivation. Her battle cry to the world and the terrifying Ultra Space that awaited her and Sun. She would not falter. She would not be afraid any longer. Lillie walked down the hallways, the song of her heart echoing down the empty hallways of her childhood.
Born to live your legacy,
Existing just to fill your needs,
A casualty…of this so-called "family",
That you have turned into a travesty.
But I don't intend to suffer any longer.
Here's where your dominion falls apart.
I'm shattering the mirror,
that kept me split in pieces.
That stood between my mind and my heart.
This is where I'll start…
Lillie's steps pounded along through the hallways of her nightmares as her pace turned from a walk to a jog. Within the mansion that had been her prison. A gilded cage that had once been a heaven, turned into hell. Within the mansion, several of these sleeping within started awake at the song that now filled the alabaster castle of Lusamine. It was a song of righteous fury and a promise for the future.
I'm not your pet!
Not another thing you own!
I was not born guilty of your crimes!
Your riches and your influence,
can't hold me anymore!
I won't be possessed,
burdened by your royal test!
I will not surrender,
this life is mine!
The girl burst out of the front doors of the President's Mansion, flinging them aside with a laugh. Lillie glanced around, trying to decide what her path was. She then got an idea and smirked before charging down the path that had been a battlefield mere hours ago. The pace of the song quickened, as did Lillie's pace as she bolted down the mansion path in an all-out sprint, her smile radiant with sheer joy.
Shame that it took so long,
to rescue me.
From the guilt you used
To tie me to your family tree!
I guess your training failed,
you're not in charge, I'm free!
Your matriarchal prison won't hold me!
Now this conversation's finally over,
Mirror Mirror, now we're done.
I've pulled myself together now.
My mind and heart are one…
Finally one.
Lillie reached the railing of the place she had met Ashton and the Tapu earlier, seeing the colors of the rising sun splash a canvas of gorgeous orange, blue and pink across the sky. As light poured into Alola, Lillie threw apart her arms and sang with all of her heart.
I'm not your pet!
Not another thing you own!
I was not born guilty of your crimes!
Your riches and your influence
can't hold me anymore!
I won't be possessed!
Burdened by your royal test!
I will not surrender!
THIS LIFE IS MINE!
The girl's song of defiance echoed across the Aether Paradise, the prison that had kept her true self locked away and shackled. Despite the darkness that lay ahead in her path, the girl's heart was determined and full of newfound joy. No more hiding under the shadow of her mother. No more fear of hurting others. Now that Lusamine had entered the Ultra Space, Lillie was now able to be whoever she wanted to be.
So Lillie Jardin looked across the ocean with a bright smile as the rising sun basked the girl in its warmth…and for the first time in her entire life, Lillie truly felt free.
End of Act IV
Return
And there we are…I can't believe we've reached this point.
So much has happened within this Act. The conclusion of the Cipher Arc and the Aether Arc. And we've still got a lot of fun and craziness to go! I really hope you enjoyed this conclusion to the Aether Arc, and that it provided a good transition to what is to come later.
The quote about love that Ashton quotes is paraphrased from a passage from 1 Corinthians 13:4–8. I'm not particularly religious myself, but that quote has always stood out to me and I think it was fitting for the kind of upbringing Ashton had.
Also, "This Life is Mine" was sung by Casey Lee Williams and is composed by Jeff Williams as part of the RWBY Volume 4 Soundtrack. And it's one of the main songs that has motivated me throughout this entire story and been the inspiration for Lillie's character arc. Seriously, just change "patriarchal" to "matriarchal" and it's a song practically tailor-made for Lillie.
Q & A
From: SolanaLeonhart
I also especially like that Hau beat Guzma and Riolu stepping up to the plate was sweet. It hit me while reading this chapter that Geoff mentioned a Gible before so, did he and Tetra actually know each other?
So that particular question was supposed to be addressed in this chapter, but sadly I have to push it to the beginning of the next Act. But it will be addressed, I promise! It's in my notes to cover that in 161. As of now, I won't say for sure if they do or not!
So that's all for now, folks. I'm officially going on a break for two months while I prepare for the next big phase of my life and get some exciting other things in motion. So that brings me to some announcements.
One, is that starting with the next upload of Radiant Sun, I will begin cross-posting on Archive of Our Own. I'll be re-uploading Radiant Sun from the beginning on that site and depending on how that goes, possibly do even more with a potential exciting new project happening later this year.
Two, I hope you all like Nuzlockes.
Three, Chapter 161 will update on August 22th, where we'll begin the final Act and approach the end of a story more than six years in the making. Make sure to show your support with a review, and Favorite and/or Follow the story if you're not doing so already. I also have a RS Discord that you can get a link to if you PM me. Feel free to ask questions as well, I'm usually good about getting back to them.
But before that, I have a big question for you. What was the highlight of Act IV for you?
Ashton's showdown with Sun? The battle against Amber Fontaine? Sun's battles against Guzma and Lusamine? Tetra finding her courage to battle? Or the fight to the death against Pandora? Let me know what stood out to you and what you hope to see in the future!
Take care and stay awesome!
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
A glimpse of what is to come…
Lusamine Jardin hummed softly as she walked through the strange chasm. It resembled what she thought the bottom of the ocean would look like, except so much stranger. Of course, that made the visage of the Ultra Deep Sea all the more alluring to the Aether President. And so she continued her forward stride, only to hear an agonized scream from somewhere behind her. This made Lusamine stop in surprise for a few moments, but after a short pause the woman chuckled softly and continued walking.
"Poor, deluded Guzma. You can't fight it. You have to simply embrace the love of the Ultra Beasts." Lusamine sang softly to herself, grinning sadistically and not even looking back as Guzma howled in pain, begging for a mercy that would not come.
So determined was the Aether President to continue further into the Ultra Space that she didn't notice other alarming things that were strewn along the path she walked. Scorch marks, splashes of red liquid against the stones and what looked like the decaying corpses of three Pokémon that (if she had looked closer) would have been recognized as belonging to her own home-world.
But still, Lusamine didn't care. Because the objects of her obsession were soon before her, in all of their beauty.
Dozens of jellyfish-like Pokémon drifted around a clearing where a thin sliver of light drifted downwards. Lusamine gasped in shock, her body shivering as she beheld the incredible sight of dozens of Ultra Beasts drifting around her. She slowly walked into the grotto, beaming joyously at the sight as the Ultra Beasts slowly drifted downwards, chittering softly.
Lusamine wiped away a tear of joy before she sat down on a small rock that was positioned in the center of the clearing. She let out a shaky breath, looking upwards and allowing herself to grin from ear-to-ear as the Beasts descended upon the Aether President. To Lusamine, she was a queen sitting upon a throne as her beloved children surrounded her. Lusamine closed her eyes, her heart so full of love.
"Hello, darlings…Mother's home at last."
Pokémon Radiant Sun will conclude in the Final Act…
Rebirth
