Alola readers, back with another chapter. We're closing in on the climax and the end of the story. One chapter at a time. Right?

Elio would have hope for a more inconspicuous ride to Aether Paradise, but at this rate anything was better than nothing. Even if the ride had a big black and white Team Skull logo haphazardly painted on the side that made an otherwise decent vessel look neglected. Yet it was seaworthy and having to go across that much water needed something. He'd probably swim to Lillie if it meant rescuing her, but seeing the distance between the island and Aether Paradise, it would take days and he'd exhaust himself within minutes.

Of course such a thing was far easier to say than do.

After the trio were done fitting on bright yellow life jackets; Gladion showed Elio and Hau how to undo the ropes that moored the boat to the dock and they worked quickly to shove off. He eased on the throttle and the motor coughed a couple of times before it caught and purred softly.

He glanced at the control panels on the helm. "Nav's good, fuel's full. We're good to go."

The sun was finally beginning to settle over the horizon, casting a dusky purple that was beginning to overtake the signature Alolan orange sunset. Elio wasn't sure if being out this late was a good thing for boating, but he also didn't know maritime laws so perhaps they were an exception. Aside from just learning a crash course on how to untie the ropes, he knew next to nothing about seamanship.

When they were out of Malie Harbor after getting permission from the harbormaster, Gladion sped up, moving at an angle as the waters began to grow more choppy. While facing larger rolling waves head on was ill-advised for a boat their size, angling minimized the momentum lost and helped prevent their boat's engine from being bogged down. The teens had to brace themselves on the railings and they could get unpredictable when it was going to be dark in a matter of hours.

Eventually as they moved even further away from shore, Elio glanced back to see the large island of Ula'ula shrink to the size of his palm as they continued headed on a southern vector. The sea grew calmer, reducing the initial uneasiness of shaking to a gentle rock that probably would've lulled him to sleep if it weren't for the motor's high pitched whining.

Gladion stepped down from the pilothouse and looked at Elio and Hau who had taken a seat at the back. Though he would've already made some remark about both of them looking uncomfortable on a boat, he kept it to himself.

No sense in that, especially when I'm needing their help.

"It's going to be almost an hour before we reach ho-the Paradise." He said. "I suggest you get some sleep. I'll wake you both when we're close."

"I think I'll take you up on that." Hau blinked and shook his head. "I'm actually quite tired from all of today."

"Don't snore." Elio told him as he walked towards the front. Hau slipped off his backpack and put it on the seat as a makeshift pillow before lying down on the cushion.

"He snores?"

"Yeah. I've managed to tune it out."

Gladion muttered something on his breath and continued to drive.

At least ten minutes of silence passed between the two. The Skull enforcer stared ahead at the glowing sight at the boat's bow and traded gazes with the screen. He saw a red needle pointed directly at an established waypoint of a one nine five heading. Gladion kept it within a small variance so as to not deviate too far from their course. As visibility got worse, he flipped on a light over the charts and the powerful beams close to the bow snapped on, illuminating nearly fifty feet in front and sides.

Dusk would be replaced by the night in a matter of minutes and Elio hoped that this wasn't some wild chase that would leave them stranded in the middle of the ocean.

At least the boat seemed to have power and a connection to satellites in case they had to make a call to the Alolan Coast Guard and Piracy QRF. Elio noticed that the pilothouse had a case of a flare gun with six charges.

Pirates? Here?

There had to be.

"What you told Hau before we left." Gladion abruptly broke the silence and continued to stare ahead. "It wasn't his fault. But it was. And he knew it."

Elio's face was barely visible in the dim glow of the pilothouse lights. "I know."

The scornful glare was back. "So why did you say that?"

He was about to say something that might've been able to justify it, but thinking about it a second time showed that any response would've been rather piss poor. He had no excuse. Hau might've been strong enough to take on the grunts, but them plus Plumeria? He figured it was a tall order even for him.

"Was it because you didn't want him to feel bad?"

Gladion was right. Hau had known it too.

"Yes."

"So then why hide it?"

Elio paused.

"Because he doesn't need to know he came up short."

"What's the point in that? Don't you think Hau would resent you for it?"

"Hau doesn't resent anyone. The fact he's still chill trying to reach out and be your friend proves it."

Gladion rolled his eyes. "Then why would you sugarcoat it? Aren't friends supposed to support one another?"

He didn't like where this conversation was going, but still hesitated. The subject was touchy and the last thing he needed to occupy his mind while rescuing Lillie and Nebby was to engage in yet another pointless argument that didn't gain anything.

"You're not doing him any favors by giving him a pat on the back. He didn't take things seriously, with him all aloof and carefree. So he falls behind on the island challenge with no regard of how people expect him to be."

"Hau didn't lose." Elio growled back. "He stopped the fight because Lille gave herself up to them. She didn't want them to keep fighting and potentially hurting everyone else despite him raring to keep going. Don't you dare pin this on him."

"He made a choice." Gladion told him. "And it was the wrong one."

"Was it wrong to endanger a bunch of kids and pokemon? I'm not even in Team Skull and I know for a fact that hurting a bunch of orphans is something they would probably not have thought twice about."

Elio glanced at the navigation board again, seeing they remained on course. The night was finally falling and aside from the high beam lights on the pilothouse and the twinkling stars; it was nearly pitch black.

"Hau wanted to fight back and drive them out. Had I been in his shoes, my response would not have been any different." He glared at the other boy. "If you want to say he's annoying, just say it already."

"That kid is living up to expectations like I did and completely ignoring them."

"And what's wrong with that? In fact, I almost applaud him for doing that. Everyone wants him to grow up in the shadow of an island kahuna and become or act a certain way. Instead, he chose to be easygoing and enjoy life as it was meant to be lived, expectations be damned."

"Like me."

"Like you?"

Gladion turned away but Elio could tell the conversation was wearing away at his edgy persona he often put up. Perhaps he's not always an asshat the whole time. "Yeah. Something like that. I'd rather not talk about it. Not now."

"Understandable. I uh…never had that choice…to have to look or act in a certain manner. But that didn't mean I wasn't held accountable."

This time he found the blond boy's green eyes shift their focus towards him. Through the dark, he could see the striking resemblance to Lillie's own.

"My dad wasn't exactly the greatest person." Elio began, "or rather I take that back. He was a great man. Kindhearted, brave, handsome and always willing to put himself in harm's way for the sake of those younger and weaker. My mom says I'm basically a carbon copy except for my jawline and nose."

He stared out at the water ahead. "Mom and Dad weren't exactly married like what most people say you should do before you have children. I was uh…unplanned, so to speak. But my dad made a choice to remain in our lives. So we settled. A happy family. My parents eventually tied the knot, got married when I was three and for a while they were trying for another, but decided that I was enough."

I do wonder at times what it would've been like to be a big brother. Elio chuckled to himself and he thought he saw the corners of Gladion's mouth tug upwards in a slight smile.

"Then things changed. It's a lot to take in as a kid. Happy moments were fleeting, replaced by disagreements and dissent. He spent more time away from his family than with, always sitting around with some liquor. He even let his partner pokemon free, right when we were the closest of friends."

Gladion was silent.

Wow. And here I thought the kid was an entitled prick.

"I'm at a loss for words. Or rather not really sure where you're going with this."

"Consider it a reckoning when I had kicked your ass to the curb. Now I don't know your specific family problems and it's not my place to prod further, however you must understand there's only one person or thing that's the key to whatever your destiny may lie. You."

He took a deep breath. "You can't control the aspect of how you were brought into this world. What you can control is how you choose to live your life. My time going through the island challenge has taught me so far."

Gladion shook his head. "You say that coming from someone who got dealt a good hand. You might as well be Brendan Maple."

"No I don't. I told you my situation. If I was dealt a good hand, I'd be signing an FBC rookie basketball contract and making millions. I'd have my own yacht and private house."

Elio took off his hat and scratched his head. "And not everything Brendan Maple has done ended up going according to his plan. For one, he was expecting to journey in Johto before his family ended up moving to an entirely different region. Trust me when I say that successful people out there aren't always there because they followed the blueprints to the letter. When my dad was issued an ultimatum to go to rehab or lose his career, he had to make a choice and I did too because of his actions."

"What choice would you have in the matter?"

"Me? I could either sit and sulk around. Blame my dad for all the problems he left me and my mom. There's a laundry list for sure. It's the easier choice, but you and I know that it doesn't complete or improve anything."

"And the second?"

"Step up. Step up to the court when you're called and face it with everything you got. You'll inevitably fall, but you'll only be judged by that if you remain on the ground rather than choosing to get back up. I had to learn a lot of things that a dad would usually teach you when you're older. Lot of it housework, setting up computers, having to fix a leaked toilet. I never got that chance."

By now the night sky was pierced by the glow of white lights in the distance that illuminated the horizon. Elio and Gladion watched as the top of the Aether Foundation's artificial island came into view.

"Because my dad was out of the picture and my mom had to work late nights when I was in school, she signed me up for an after school basketball program. That's where I met Ed; that guy back at the tournament in Royal Avenue. And a lot of people noticed together we were quite talented. I noticed it too and decided that I'd make it a journey to the FBC. My penultimate year in school, one more and I would've been draft eligible. Never happened. I tore my labrum in my shoulder and it took both surgery and months of recovery to get back on track. Yet that freak injury screwed my entire basketball career because I wouldn't have enough playing time in high school to get scouts to even look at me. Everything I worked for. Done and I had to decide on what to do next."

He glanced at Gladion. "So I decided I'd become a trainer. And the rest is history."

I've done it the best I could.

"And you chose the second." Gladion finished for him.

"I did. It wasn't easy. Like you probably did at some point; you wanted to blame your parents' shortcomings for being the reason why you couldn't do this or that. And it's partially right. Some people get bad hands while others couldn't have had it any better. It's all what you do with what you got that makes you who you are."

"Hmph."

Elio raised an eyebrow in amusement, wondering if his own life advice was being rebuffed in his face. "You can say that all you want. Go on about how I know nothing about your struggles and the things you've had to do. You're probably right too. I've got no idea. But I don't think it's particularly fair to think that your pain is greater than anyone else's whether it be mine or Hau's. Especially since you don't know our struggles like we do. Shit, if Hau's only problem is the fact he isn't as strong of a battler and eats too many malasadas, I'd trade for that in a heartbeat. He'd be the lucky one."

But I won't. I'm not going to give my own burdens on someone else.

"What I will do is make the best of what I've got and always move forward. We only have one life and I don't intend to squander it moping around at how better it is for everyone else."

"Then everyone else needs to understand."

"Understand what? Why would anyone put themselves in a shitty mood just because you are? That's like using a pain split move. I wouldn't ask that for anyone and frankly it's kinda demeaning if you want someone to be the same just because you don't want to mope alone."

Gladion stopped, realizing that Elio was right.

I guess I kind of rushed into that one.

"Let me ask you this Gladion. What makes you think that Hau is problem free besides the stuff I mentioned earlier?"

The boy mused for a moment. "He doesn't care."

"What about what you said to me earlier? Growing up in Hala's shadow. You said you couldn't do it with the expectations he has. A kahuna's son who isn't progressing as fast as the island challenge as his peers or grandfather had? I'll tell you right now that Hau has done an amazing job both tempering these expectations and not letting those people who are upholding him to that standard get inside his head. Much more than what I can say of you."

Gladion seemed to glower, evidently displeased that someone compared him as being worse than Hau.

Any further confrontation was stowed when the lights began to shimmer in the distance. The Aether Paradise was a monstrous tower that glowed brightly in demanding attention. Each beam that held parts of the structure up already looked incredibly enormous and monolithic as they approached. This time the structure gave off an imposing fortress vibe that made him feel a bit uneasy.

"We're here."

Elio didn't say anything else. This wasn't the time to argue and keep them divided. They were here, probably not invited to rescue Lillie and bring her home.

Hang on Lillie and Nebby. We're coming.

Gladion slowed their speed significantly when they approached the front decks of the Paradise. Even more so at this close, the buildings looked forebearing and ominous.

Sound like it too. Sun felt uneasy at the grating noise of the ocean's waves lashing against the thick metal support columns that supported it on top of its massive foundation. The smell of sea and rust permeated his nose.

Hau groggily had woken up and remained surprisingly quiet in contrast to his normal bubbly self. Perhaps he understood now the direness of the situation. But yet his ability to subvert the expectations that had been placed on him like Elio said still hadn't deterred him. Especially when he hadn't had the chance to tell him that he had defeated Kahuna Nanu in a grand trial battle. In a way both Elio and Gladion envied him for that resilience.

Their arrival seemed uneventful. Aside from a light freighter moored in the next dock over, there were no searchlights that trained on them, no alarms raised. Not even one of the Skydrop drones to greet them. He remembered Faba gushing about their capabilities that seemed rather dangerous.

"None of the security patrol craft came to greet us like I feared or those drones. Odd." Gladion glanced back at the waters behind them, likely thinking the same thing. Elio too noticed that the natural rocking by the waves had now subsided. There was a breaker barrier that prevented those that were too strong and significantly reduced their power so that smaller boats swamped by such things would have no issues provided they didn't sail too far away.

All too much a reminder that the ocean was the complete mix of beauty and lethality, sometimes within moments of one another. The best he could do was give it the respect it commanded.

Gladion ran the boat alongside one of the extended docks and nodded to Hau. The other boy stepped on the gunwale and jumped off as soon as he was able to find a part on the platform that was level. They threw him ropes and he quickly set them on a pair of bollards as they quickly tied the vessel down.

Though it was only eight forty five in the evening, Elio saw that the harbor inside the Paradise was well-lit, just like his first visit several weeks back. The ceiling stretched incredibly high, more than enough to accommodate a small cruise ship if needed. All of the sterile white floor that was almost scrubbed completely free of salt, dirt and grime that was usually befitting of a shipyard reminded him of being in a hospital.

"We made it this far without running into trouble." Gladion said and glanced up. Strangely there was not another soul in the room either and Elio felt even more creeped out. Not even any carts powered by repulsorlifts were seen in action.

Were they being watched?

"I don't like how quiet it is. Stay alert."

"Gladion you didn't answer my question," Hau said. "Why would Lillie be here at Aether Paradise?"

The other two shot a knowing glance.

"She just will be. You have to take my word for it."

Hau opened his mouth and Elio took that advantage to butt in before another altercation could happen.

"Look, debating on why she's here isn't going to help save her skin. But honestly, I don't know much about this place other than our tour when I first came here. What's the play?"

Gladion cupped his chin in thought, "I guess we take the elevator."

"Guess?!"

"Do you have a better idea?"

Not really.

"Let's take the elevator."

The three of them kept low profiles, using various objects for cover on their approach to the open faced elevator shaft at the marina's center. Elio was wondering why since there was nobody else besides them.

The only thing worse than other people around in this situation…is no people at all.

"I've never seen it like this before." Gladion muttered to himself. "It's like a ghost town."

Hau looked back at Elio trailing the group.

"How does he know all of this?"

He only got a shrug in return. Though he was being vague, Sun knew that Hau was eventually going to find out.

Eventually, they made their way over to the control terminal next to the open faced elevator. Gladion glanced over the controls and scowled.

"Shit, elevator's locked. We'll need access."

"Access? Like an employee?"

He nodded. "Employees have key cards that give them clearance through restricted areas and can use the elevator."

"How do you suggest we get one?" Hau asked. "I don't know if these people are gonna be nice enough to let us through. There wasn't anyone to greet us."

"Then we take one." Gladion suggested. "Steal it off an employee."

So we're stealing now?

Probably our only option. We weren't exactly invited here and I'm starting to see this place isn't quite the fanfare people make it out to be.

It wasn't until a half hour later of waiting and looking when they did see anyone else.

Elio was kind of put off on the fact that the elevator remained the only solid option to traverse between decks of the Paradise. There were service ladders and stairs situated in certain spots, but doubling back to take those would end up taking even more time and outweigh the convenience.

Since no employee was likely to just hand their badge, they were going to have to take one by force.

Which meant forced incapacitation.

Sun knew that he was likely the best of the three to do it. While he had fought off that would-be rapist outside the Aether House, he figured his muscled frame was probably going to fare better than the scrawny Gladion. The blond may be taller, but Elio easily had thirty pounds over. And he wasn't sure if Hau had it in him to physically attack someone like this.

A handful of employees disembarked from the elevator as it descended and began to spread out. Each with the pristine white and gold uniform of the Foundation, all carrying poke balls which they held their hands close to.

They were looking for them and itching for a fight.

The trio peered at the spreading group from behind a set of empty shipping containers. The employees eyes swept around in a surveying pattern and some of the ones in the lead began to look around crates to see if anyone was hiding.

That told Elio a couple of things; they didn't know where they were at yet and that either their security cameras were down or they didn't have any.

Or is the Foundation screwing with us by pretending they don't know where we are?

Hau was about to say something when Gladion sharply put a finger to his own lips. Someone was approaching.

Elio watched the woman as she neared, eyes watching her gait as she put one foot in front of the other and sized her up. She was about his height, but slimmer and he definitely had the advantage in weight.

On the other side, Gladion had found a wooden pallet that seemed sturdy enough for their plan. At his command, he'd slide it over, tripping their victim so that ideally he'd take advantage of the surprise attack to incapacitate her, hence giving them access to a badge to fulfill their purposes.

Luckily for them, the woman seemed distracted as she spoke through an earpiece and appeared rather oblivious for the trap laid out in front. Though he couldn't make out any words, she was somewhat distracted with whoever was on the other end of the line.

Would that mean whoever's listening is gonna find out what's up?

He watched her cadence of steps, seeing that it was at a relaxed pace. Perfect for him to signal Gladion who watched Elio from the other side of an across container.

His fist opened up into three fingers and he saw the blond nod, sliding his foot at the edge of the pallet.

She neared closer and he took one finger away. Two.

One.

The associate finally stepped into view, fully capable of looking either direction to see the trap ready to be spring.

Elio's hand balled into a fist once more and Gladion used his own foot to kick the pallet swiftly. Timing was everything. The idea was that the pallet sliding would hit the woman's foot as she was beginning to put weight down in her stride, similar to a wrestling basic that involved sweeping the leg. Too early and it would simply be a stepping block. Too late and,

The pallet hit her ankle, staggering her slightly but she kept her balance.

Elio saw the color drain from Gladion's face, he was just off on his own timing.

He saw the woman turn and made another snap decision.

Fuck me.

Gladion was about to resort to anything when the associate was barreled into from behind. Elio made a running charge, arms out and dove low like he had watched football defensive lineman go after a quarterback.

His sack was dead on and the two of them tumbled to the floor. The woman was still surprised at the whole thing happening in a matter of seconds, Elio used that to his advantage in straddling her from behind, using the bulk of his weight to keep her pinned to the floor. His arm snaked out, wrapping around her windpipe and squeezing as hard as he could. His other free hand clamped firmly on her mouth, preventing her from shouting for help.

The woman resisted, squirming underneath and forcing him to rear his head back to avoid a retaliating elbow that probably would've given him a broken nose. He tried to anticipate her movements, using his heavy frame and gravity to his advantage. All he had to do was outlast and wait until her struggle drained.

Her free hand went to her belt and he quickly used his free leg to kick the poke ball she was about to summon free. It rolled out of her reach as Gladion had one of his own in hand ready to try and quell things.

Fuck. She's strong. Elio thought to himself as she continued to squirm and grunt, nearly losing his grip. Despite their similar sizes, he was still trying to incapacitate a fully grown adult.

He tightened his hold, setting her throat in the vise of the crook in his elbow, having to stay firmly on her back in case she decided to throw him overhead. The gamble was working as the associate's movements started to become more sluggish, her body demanding oxygen and her consciousness dropping at an alarming rate.

Just go to sleep already!

The woman tried to jam her chin down in order to force it in between his arm to give her windpipe some room to breathe, but he tightened his elbow, using his free hand to brace it and add more strength.

Elio had no experience wrestling and attacked impulsively. He had no idea if this was going to end up working.

He hadn't intended to hurt anyone, but he was here to rescue Lillie and Nebby. This woman stood in his way.

It felt like an eternity until the associate's movements slackened out and her eyelids slid closed as she lapsed into unconsciousness. Slowly, he relaxed his own grip, gently laying her facedown on the floor and rolling her over. He nearly collapsed himself, body already drained and arms feeling as if they had been laid on hot coals.

Shit. Damn.

The boy inhaled lungfuls of air, wheezing as if he had run a half-marathon when he heard more footsteps. To his relief, it was Gladion.

He grabbed his outstretched hand and was pulled to his feet, still a little out of breath.

"You alright?"

Elio nodded. He didn't want to do that again.

They stepped over to the now-inert woman's side. Elio reaching down and plucking an access badge from the collar of her uniform. Gladion and Hau returned, moving a handful of pallets and crates to block view in case someone else wandered nearby.

That can't fool them indefinitely. No way we're gonna stay undetected for long.

He turned back to them. "It's only a matter of time before we're discovered. Let's make the most of it."

Gladion glanced at the badge. "Cool it's a blue one. It has the most access, including where we need to go."

The three boys went for the elevator, walking briskly in case they were spotted.

"Hey!"

Welp, our cover's blown.

Elio, Hau and Gladion reached the elevator as they whirled around to see several Aether associates rushing to their position, poke balls in hand.

"Please keep all limbs inside the confines of the elevator safety barriers while it is in operation," A smooth female voice came from the panel. "Failure to do so can result in serious injury or death."

"Yeah yeah," Gladion muttered. They were interrupted by a blast of purplish energy that exploded just in front of them. One of the Aether employees had summoned a large lilac slug-like creature that seemed to be summoning another.

"Get the elevator working, I'll cover us." Gladion summoned his golbat. "Haze!"

The purple and blue bat pokemon flapped its wings furiously and puffed out rapidly growing clouds that began to obscure their position.

"Don't let them get away!" They heard one of the associates shout.

Another sound of a poke ball did little to distract Elio as he clicked the badge into the elevator terminal slot. The controls changed color to a solid blue as it awaited his command.

"Execute shield mask Auwana!" Hau shouted. Behind him, Elio turned to see his decidueye cast something that looked like feathers before drawing one of the green strings on the side. The arrow quill had a broadhead and brimmed with dark violet energy. The owl fired into the smoke and he heard a hissing noise and the yelp of the sliggoo that he had hit.

Elio hit the button and the elevator began its quick ascent, taking them above the haze smokescreen Gladion had set up. They could see the others converging on the elevator and glancing up, glaring at them and their inability to stop.

He tipped his hat to them before they disappeared into the shaft at the marina's roof.

"That was close." Hau gasped as his decidueye returned to their side, scanning the area for more threats. "But I think our cover's blown."

"No shit." Gladion did the same to his golbat. "I guess this means we'll have to fight our way in. I hope you guys stocked up on medicine for your pokemon."

Elio glanced at the bag on his back. It had less than he wanted to admit, but hopefully he could use teamwork to make the most of what he had.

He whipped his head around to Hau, who was kneeling down and praising his decidueye. The owl pokemon's rather serious demeanor was a stark contrast to Hau, but he gave an affirmed nod that seemed rather excited at his trainer's words.

"That technique worked like a charm." He said.

"What was that?"

"Eh, just a little bit of improvising." The boy gave an indifferent shrug. "It's really great for distractions."

"I saw featherdance," Gladion surprisingly added, but he kept his eyes up above as they continued to ascend. "And I'm guessing that's a special move just for decidueye?"

"Yup. Spirit shackle. Sticks to the shadow and pins them down like a heleuma."

Elio was impressed at the ingenuity.

Now that Strongside is fully evolved too, we'll have to make some combos or moves like that.

"Yeah I call it the Shield Mask." Hau scratched the back of his head. "Yeah I know it's probably not the most epic name, but when I say it, Auwana knows what I'm talking about and that's all that matters."

"I'm sure it's not the first someone had come up with that. People have been using combos and variants of moves with their pokemon since the time before time."

Gladion saw the atrium level quickly approaching and the three boys tensed.

I bet there's a full on welcome party upstairs ready for us.

The room was just like Elio had remembered, more sterile white and blue trim and a spotless floor. Not even a gum wrapper in sight.

To their relief, there wasn't an entire armada of Aether staff waiting to confront them.

That was where the good news ended.

Elio's gaze centered on a figure just midway at the atrium. He stood tall and erect, but he recognized the graying haircut and green tinted goggles. As Leon Faba turned around to face them, his expression was far less pleasant…even slightly unsettling.

"I, Branch Chief Faba of the Aether Foundation. The only one in the world. I'm completely irreplaceable!"

A bit of a weird monologue. But it confirms that he's basically a massive prick.

His brow furrowed and he strode forward, putting a hand on his hip to continue looking important. His eyes narrowed at the trio.

"And yet you return here uninvited?! My my, children such as yourselves have no respect for authority or their figures these days."

Gladion scoffed at his arrogance. "Like you don't know why. You of all people know what happens here at the Foundation behind closed doors. The things that you don't show trainers. Isn't that right? High and almighty Branch Chief?"

Faba's eyebrow twitched at the scornful jab. Elio actually thought he was going to snap.

"Hmph, I see living in the outside world Gladion after all these years. It has made you anything but someone better."

Hau shook his head in surprise, not believing how the two knew one another already. Come on man. Elio looked at Gladion, who started to clench his fists. He's trying to get into your head.

"Maybe I've been calloused by the world. Maybe I've had to learn a thing or two by having to survive on the streets." He looked up at Faba, who seemed rather disinterested at his heartfelt admission. "But I'm still me. I'm only going to get stronger and better."

Especially since I kicked your ass to the curb…what is it now? Twice?

It took Faba almost everything not to roll his eyes. "If you think that petulant act of defiance is going to intimidate me into telling you anything; you are gravely mistaken. After all, you of all people would know why."

Elio wanted to punch that smug look off his face. Like he had done in the past, he used the same words Gladion did and threw it right back. So that was the way to get him triggered.

But to his own surprise; Gladion turned to look at him. "Hey Elio."

"Yeah?"

"You know why being a pokemon trainer is so great?"

That's kinda…odd hearing this from him.

He didn't wait for an answer and Elio was kind of glad because he really didn't have one that wouldn't have sounded corny. "Because everyone is equal in a battle. Boy or girl. Young or old. Rich or poor. We're all on equal footing and our skills in combat show our status."

Faba made the same exasperated expression. "This bores me. Do you really think that?"

"Not only that. I know it. Why you battle and how…it's not just that…it shows your character and that of your pokemon."

"The last line of defense of Aether Paradise. Battling a mere child?" Faba sighed and flung a poke ball from his lab coat. A bipedal gold furred creature emerged with a white tuft around its neck and a small pendulum in its hand.

A hypno. Despite his old fear of tentacruel, he would inwardly admit that hypno was the pokemon native to Kanto that creeped him out the most. Deemed incredibly dangerous; they often lived in the densely forested backcountry and away from urban areas, hypno often ambushed unsuspecting travelers by lulling them to sleep and eating their dreams. One was reported to have kidnapped a child.

It didn't matter whether it was a tamed one with a trainer or in the wilds, this wasn't a particular pokemon he felt comfortable around and he felt the hair on the back of his neck raise slightly.

Still, Elio felt a little bit emboldened and stepped forward. He flipped Strongside's pokeball and summoned the incineroar, who stretched his arms. Not only was a dark type pokemon useful, but he figured this was another way to conquer a fear.

Nothing better than overcoming it by knocking it the fuck out.

"One on one."

"What's the meaning of skill when you have such an obvious type advantage?" Faba sneered. Strongside flashed a menacing grin, unfazed by the hypno's pendulum that was casually swinging.

"Oh boy we gotz a new pokemon! Bzzt!" Rotom popped out of Elio's backpack in a jiffy. "Time to introduce myzzelf!"

"And your talking cell phone has no place here!" Faba demanded.

The haunted dex crossed its small stubby arms. "And you're ztill typing numberzzz on a pad for your own phone that flipzzz! Bzzt! Get outta the ztone agezzz!"

Elio held up a hand despite wanting to laugh at the diss. "Rotom, I appreciate if you maybe take a step back. This really isn't the time."

"Why not? Bzzt! Even whoever writezzz theze dex entriezzz enjoyzzzz it."

"All the same." He grabbed the device before it could react and powered it to a standby mode. "Sorry bud, I hope you understand."

With the extrovert function disabled, Elio took note of hypno's data, a bit surprised that some worked alongside doctors in hospitals helping to put people to sleep or sedate them.

"There's no need for that," Faba gave a shrug and slid a keycard from his side. "Sigmund has far better things to do than, battle just a mere child who."

Elio saw Faba's expression changed in a flash and knew what was about to happen. He hadn't let his guard down just yet, even though Faba had verbally said he was relenting.

Like hell you're gonna catch me off guard like that.

"Use focus b-"

"Darkest lariat."

Faba hadn't even finished his own verbal command when Strongside lunged forward, moving faster in the blink of an eye. With the dark typing, a psychic telekinesis would do little good and he was pretty sure that a hypno was a poor physical battler.

With a roar, Strongside hammered its arms from above as it leapt up, presenting itself as a meteor and further adding to its intimidation factor. Sigmund blinked and then the next moment, it was sent careening into the floor, rolling to a stop at Faba's feet.

"What?" His eyes grew practically to the size of those ridiculous green glasses he wore. "How is this? The last line of defense defeated by a mere child?"

He glanced over at Strongside, who seemed again rather uninterested. When he caught the Aether Branch Chief staring at him, he put a paw to his mouth and made a rather noticeable yawn.

This seemed to infuriate him as he clenched his fists and snarled under his breath.

"What?! How can you say that I'm such a pushover! I handed you the win!"

Geez, he's more thin-skinned than Gladion ever was.

"You tried to do a sneak attack behind my back." Elio couldn't resist the taunting smirk he threw at him. "If anything, I just beat you at your own game."

"So Faba, where were we?" Gladion added. "Ah yes, you know what I'm here for. So why don't you fuck off to wherever? Or do you need to call more pokemon for Elio and his own party to knock six ways to Sunday?"

"Indeed I do know," Faba seemed to regain a bit of his composure, but he was still clearly seething over his own ego getting bruised by a flippant Strongside. He returned his hypno. "It's astounding to see how unkind the world has been to you Gladion. So blunt and short-sighted. No regard for respect for those older and wiser. Look at how hard it has made you."

He cupped his bearded chin, "Though I imagine if you're here for Cosmog, I imagine it would be downstairs."

"Downstairs," Hau's face lit up. "Oh yeah, Miss Wicke did say that there was another level! What do you guys do down there?"

Faba gave another bored shrug. "Well if you must know, I hear experiments are held down there. Experiments that could tear the very fabric of space of this world apart."

"We're in a bit of a hurry Faba," Gladion growled. "A lift would be nice."

"Why not?" He slid the key into the terminal and it chimed as the controls turned a pleasant green at the recognition of his particular clearance. "I guess it's the least I could do after getting humbled."

"Wait what about the bad-"

"Let's go." Elio hadn't said anything for the past couple of minutes, but he had a hunch just by watching him. If Faba was sly enough to try and get a cheap shot on his pokemon, there was no telling what else he might do.

"Please keep all limbs inside the confines of the elevator safety barriers while it is in operation. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or death."

"I swear I'm going to blow that thing up one of these days." Gladion muttered under his breath. Moments later, the rails slid into place and the elevator dropped from sight, taking them down to the basement level beneath even the shipping wharf.

Faba watched them disappear down the shaft before he pocketed the key and instead grabbed his phone. Like the Rotom Dex had implied, it was an old flip phone that was probably on its second user by the time the three boys confronting him were being potty trained. He painstakingly punched in numbers on the archaic numpad and flipped it open to his ear. He had a call to make to lock the labs down as well as prepare them for the arrival of the uninvited guests.

"Insane that I don't get paid enough to afford something better."

Elio breathed a sigh of relief as the elevator passed the shipping level and continued further down. Instead of brightly lit floors, it was replaced by dimmer blue lighting and windows that showed nothing except for the black abyss of the sea.

"Hey how come you didn't tell about the badge?" Hau asked.

The other boy turned back. "Sometimes it's a little better to sit and listen or observe than to speak."

"I second that," Gladion muttered.

"But, I can't place what it is. Faba's still hiding something and I have a feeling we're walking into a trap."

Whatever it is, I'm ready for it. Lillie and Nebby are in trouble and I've come to bring them home.

"Of course."

Lusamine's voice purred from behind Lillie as she spoke on her phone.

"Yes, we'll hamper their efforts as much as they can. Watch them struggle. But if they want an audience…to see me summon my beautiful beasts. By all means, we can indulge them."

Lillie considered her options, still a bit anxious at her brazen actions in just a matter of hours. In that timespan, she had gone from surrendering herself and Nebby to Team Skull and whisked onto a boat that ended up in the same…the exact same place she tried to run away from.

It was like deja vu all over again.

She tried struggling, but there was no easy way to break through the plastic zip ties that had strapped her to the chair, one of the same that she had shared meals with her family for countless nights. Now it was her prison.

Somehow Nebby had slept through almost the entire trip. She was grateful, knowing that it had one final moment to itself before it was to be subjected to the numerous horrors at the Paradise again. As they set off for a quick castoff on a boat close to the Tapu Village, Lillie considered making a break for it. She still had Kalua, her in possession of her own pokemon was something neither her mother was going to expect nor Team Skull.

But even she could see the telltale odds were incredibly slim. If she were to catch them by surprise, there was no telling how long she'd last. She was no trainer like Elio, didn't know how to throw a poke ball, issue commands or even battle on her own. She didn't even know if her own pokemon was going to listen to her.

Luckily her bag minus Nebby were hardly searched, missing over Kalua as she was whisked back to the Paradise. As they took them towards those horrible labs in the underwater floors, Lillie made one of the bravest things she had done in her life.

Or rather foolish.

She had seen the small black and purple cage, imbued with synaptic spikes on the inside to keep the small pokemon uncomfortable. As she was guided to shove it in, she opened the bag up with a flick of the zippers and yelled at Nebby to run free.

The small pokemon wasn't used to being told that, after a lifetime of having to hide in her duffel bag. It had stared confused before jumping out, much to the surprise of the scientists surrounding her. One made a dive to try and keep it contained, but Nebby merely laughed and bounced out of the way, causing the man to take a rather embarrassing faceplant into the lab's floor. Another threw a poke ball to no effect, forgetting that the jamming signal rendered empty devices inert. Nebby giggled at their misfortunes before using teleport and disappearing somewhere in the Paradise.

Which led to her own mother being much more unpleasant and the reason she was held against her will inside her own house, bound with plastic zip ties to an armchair.

Lusamine hung up her cell phone and spun to face Lillie. She wasn't sure of the look in her eyes, but she strode forward towards her, the long gilded heels making that clicking noise on the hard floor that constantly made her wince.

She wasn't prepared for the vicious backhanded slap that stung her jaw. Despite the tears that welled in her eyes, she wasn't going to cry out. Not here. Not now.

Lusamine wasn't happy not getting a reaction.

"So you're telling me you've toughened up? As if."

Lillie said nothing, staring up at her mother.

"I am losing my patience with you daughter. You've become less and less of it by the day."

"Mother I-"

"You lost the right to call me mother when you ran off with the cosmog." Lusamine's eyes practically pierced her skin with the intensity of its glare. "Now WHERE IS IT?"

Everything nagged at her to relent, give in and stop this madness. Her heart pounded in her chest. She really didn't know where Nebby had run off to. The consequences were going to be severe if she told her mother that.

No way out.

Her thoughts turned to Elio. The boy seemed to scoff at times to adversity and she admired that maturity and confidence he often carried…sometimes he wasn't even inherently aware of it.

What would Elio do? Like when he confronted Team Skull?

Probably give a sarcastic answer.

Lusamine was about to say something else when Lillie shook her head.

"I don't know. Nebby's definitely safe from you."

"Not for long." Lusamine spun on her heel. "It may hide, but we will find it eventually. I have every camera and every associate that reports to me scouring the Paradise. We will rip it apart if we have to."

Lillie felt a lump form in her throat. Her mother was sincere and she knew she'd do it.

"Please Mother, there's no need to do this anymore. Nebby just wants to go back home."

"Nebby? Is that what you named it?" Lusamine sneered. "What a lovely pathetic little name. Well that's fine. After I get what I want from it, it's free to go as it pleases. If it survives."

No. Please.

"Besides, it's the only reason I decided to grant you an audience with me. Be grateful that experiment was of value."

"Then I will save it."

Lusamine almost laughed out loud. "You? Save it? You can barely save yourself! Are you expecting it from someone else?"

Lillie shook her head. "No."

"Then why the sudden defiance or indifference?" Somehow her mother's hair was still incredibly neat despite her apparent meltdown. "This is not the daughter I raised! I raised! This is someone else who has stolen her from me along with everything else! This beast will be here! I cannot stop! I will not stop! Are you possibly waiting for sweet Hau?"

I'm waiting for anyone.

"You are nothing but a wailing princess who should be rendered out to spare us your melodrama."

Lillie felt her own walls breaking down. Lusamine was getting to her.

All that time running away from home and I'm still a worthless spoiled rich girl. I thought what I did was right. It was! Why can't Mother see what she's doing here is wrong?!

"The fact that Hau mentioned you tells me that his dear grandfather is likely aware. That boy cannot keep his mouth shut. Which means that the kahunas had known the whereabouts of you and that creature before me. This is not good." Lusamine stopped her tirade and stared at the wall. "I will see to it that our funding to prospective trainers is severed immediately! See how they like it when their biggest form of support dries up. What other secrets are they hiding?"

She gave an indifferent shrug. "It matters not. Soon they will have their hands tied as I surround myself with my beautiful beasts. If they cannot accept it, they will fight it and they will lose. A fair retribution for keeping secrets and lying to me."

Lillie was about to say something else. Her own mother was incredibly meticulous and no detail was left to chance.

"It can't be Hau. Gladion…perhaps."

Lusamine stopped and looked directly at her daughter, who froze.

"What about the other child that accompanied Hau to visit the Paradise?" It wasn't for a second that Lillie realized the question had been directed at her.

Elio.

"Elio Northstar." Lusamine repeating the name made Lillie gasp in realization that she had just spoken it out loud. "My my, what an enigma…and he is not like the other trainers I've encountered."

Her heart skipped a beat. Somehow she hoped he remained as a positive image with her mother.

"I…I've never heard of him."

Lusamine's expression darkened and she pursed her lips. She was caught dead to rights in the water.

"You of all people should know that I hate lying. And what I do to liars."

Her own confidence shattered when the tall blonde stood up, a hand reared back for another slap.

"Okay! Stop!" Lillie cried, a fresh batch of tears dripping from her eyelids. "Stop it! Elio's a friend!"

"That's what I thought," She thought there was an ounce of smugness flash past Lusamine's otherwise bland expression. "Don't lie to me again." The intel report of Kaiser knowing their whereabouts on Ula'ula proved to be incredibly valuable, even more so when Faba had a chance encounter with the boy as he headed north in Team Skull's own distraction to draw him away from her.

Once Lusamine had gotten word that Lillie had been spotted on Ula'ula Island more frequently, she had been at a standstill to get her isolated. While her associates could swoop in and grab both her and the test subject, she was going to face a lot of resistance from both Elio and Hau, who were both seen accompanying her on more than one occasion. No matter the amount of explanation, it was clear that Lillie had become close with them after spending quite a bit of time together that they would believe her more. Lusamine additionally held off due to the fact it would perceive the Foundation as something far more shady than its original purpose and she wanted to avoid a PR disaster at all costs.

Lillie was friends with both Elio and Hau, but her connection to the former was far more intricate. He was also much more of a prodigal trainer, despite Hau's developing skill.

Lure him away and she'd be nearly defenseless.

And that's what she did. Lusamine smiled to herself, knowing that her masterminded plan worked all without a hitch. She asked Guzma to carry it out, all not knowing the details of how he was going to pull it off; it wasn't her business.

Her musings were proven correct even more so now.

"Tell me, your friendship with these boys." Lusamine faced her daughter again. "Was it worth it to lie, drag them down for the sake of hiding?"

Lillie bit her lip. "I…I….no. No it wasn't."

Her mother stood up again, "I considered letting them know where you were. Watch as everything they believed about you was a little lie so that you could simply get into their good graces. That your friendship with them was as fake as you withholding them the cosmog's true purpose."

"It wasn't fake!" Lillie yelled, her voice surprising herself more than Lusamine. "They are my friends and there's nothing you can do to undo that!"

"But what if the spoiled little girl they've been traveling with has been lying to them this whole time? Will they see you the same? A friend like that is worthless and they'll turn their backs on you. And you'll be alone. Again."

No. No! I can't be alone again! Please!

Her thoughts went to that. As much as she wanted it not to be true, there was a real chance that Elio and Hau would be upset and angry that she deceived them. It had been for Nebby's own protection as well as her own, but she used them as a means to escort through danger, whether it was by wild pokemon or away from Team Skull.

She could save Nebby, but she'd lose the only other real friends she had made.

I'm going to lose something. Why?! Why does it have to be this way?

"Worthless." Lusamine hissed venomously. "My world doesn't need a reject like you. Perhaps your friends are right in that you belong together with them. Two peas in a pod."

"Elio isn't worthless!" Lillie felt her own anger spike. The burst of defiance this time burned stronger, but she surprised herself less with it. "He's been the one person who showed me that I'm not alone in this world! That I can still achieve my goals and desires!"

Lusamine seemed rather unfazed by that though. "I can tell. He's also fiercely loyal, seeing how he has lied to me."

Lillie gasped. Her mother's own words echoed in her head. She hated lying.

"I asked him in the aftermath of the incident on Ula'ula Island about cosmog. Its wherabouts. If he had seen it or anyone associating with it. He was about to answer, but stopped. For a long time, I wondered why. And then I realized it. He was protecting you."

She had nothing to say. Her mother had digressed the entire time that Elio stuck to her side, always watching out for threats and making sure she and Nebby were secure.

"I also wonder why with all the bounties I had put out, promises of glory and other riches, why he decided not to turn you in with cosmog. Had he done so, I'd have given him enough money and resources that he'd never have to train his pokemon again."

Would he take that offer?

"But it is perhaps I underestimated how strong bonds can be formed in such a short time. They are frail nonetheless and something I can break with enough pressure."

"What do you mean?"

"It seems that them and your dear brother are compassionate to come here and rescue you." Lusamine opened her cell phone, swiping on the screen for a couple seconds and showing Lillie a feed off the bottom level.

Lillie gasped, recognizing it as the three boys filed off towards the door that led to the secret laboratories. Gladion was in the lead, his blond hair grown long on the side of his head and his build was a bit skinnier than she saw him. Through the ragged red and black jacket, ear piercings, she still saw her brother. She had to keep herself from getting a sliver of hope that she and Nebby might make it out of this.

Hau was next, clearly nervous, but he held his poke ball with grim determination.

Then there was Elio. Though all of them were on screen, her eyes drifted to him automatically. Gladion seemed to be in charge, but Elio carried the most weight and by that, appeared as the biggest threat. He was the strongest of the three trainers.

"Teenagers don't have the respect for authority like they used to." Lusamine sighed. "In moments, my associates will swarm and overwhelm them. They will be lucky to escape if they try. But they cannot stop me. They cannot stop my beautiful beast."

"That's not going to stop Elio from trying."

Lusamine again was caught off guard by her own daughter's defiance. So used to her being timid, she had started to grow tired of her as if a clingy spinarak that refused to let go and be swept away. Her determination and confidence in her friends was something new. Especially Elio. The fact that he was mentioned by her several times already, conceded under duress and quickly defensive about his capabilities…

With a shudder, Lusamine realized that to her daughter, Elio was more than just a friend.

"I'd turn back if I were him. Even if he were to reach this place, he has no idea what he's up against."

The Aether President believed that would be enough to crush what remained of her daughter's suddenly fiery spirit, which seemed to be fueled by the trainer prodigy she grew close to. She fingered the poke balls at her hip, each one carefully maintained and groomed, but also like her, ruthless in battle. They anticipated a fight like their own trainer.

Once my beast is here, they're going to get one.

However Lillie's defiant behavior had set in once again. This time, the three words that were uttered out shocked both mother and daughter in completely different ways. Lillie never broke lock on her gaze from her mother's eyes, both pairs the same color, only hers were shining in determination that held that same panache.

"Neither do you."

Oh man, the epic climax of the story is upon us! Things are about to get good. I do hope this was worth the long errant gap between updates, but I aim to keep on going. One chapter at a time.

Translations

Heleuma - Anchor

As always, mahalo for reading and reviewing. You give my writing purpose.

Brav