#// i know we don't have a gladion yet so i hope this is okay to post | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

storylocke · 1 year ago

Text

Alolan Dusk 15

[The group finishes up and each heads for the door where they start splitting off to their evening adventures. Gladion catches Colress before he leaves.]

Gladion:

Hey. You still didn't answer my question.

Colress:

[Feigns innocence] And which one was that? My report? Faba was taking so long, I didn't have a chance once Miss Lillie arrived.

Gladion:

[Okay, fair. Still crosses his arms to show his disapproval] We have time now, unless there's something you don't want to tell me. Considering you presented him as your guest, I’m assuming you and Molayne have a plan you're working on. You still haven't mentioned anything to me. And dangerous as the possible confrontation with Necrozma could be, I don't like the idea of you pulling some stunt at the last minute.

Colress:

"Stunt"? I have my projects, and I do love pushing myself and others to their full potential, but everything I do is a calculated risk. [There's a short pause as he seems to be studying the young leader even now.] I'm sure you've heard plenty of stories when you were growing up, but did it ever occur to you that Lusamine might have been the one in the wrong when I originally left?

Gladion:

You mean kicked out? At this point, I'm talking from personal experience.

Colress:

[Appears genuinley hurt by the implication] And in these past few years, have I been anything short of a friend and confidant since your mother has been out of commission?

Gladion:

[Slightly turns away and habitually hides his face] You're trying to change the subject again. No weird gizmos, no complex domino chain, just tell me what's going on before you decide to jump in to show off.

Colress:

[Wry amusement. Now who was the one dodging questions?] I should hope by now you'd realize that if I was going to do something with your involvement, you'd be the first to know. I simply hadn't brought it up to you yet because it's an incomplete study that may not even work. And before I could even start testing, I needed to meet with Mr. Lillie for confirmation on our cooperation since we'll need a special skill set he has. Knowledge and abilities you unfortunately can't assist with this time. Now with the added resources of our other allies at our disposal, we might make some rapid progress! But with only a prototype that hasn't been activated, I wouldn't want to create a sense of false hope here. If all goes well, I will tell you first thing in the morning that we have a viable option.

Gladion:

[Sighs as he eases up] So long story short, you want me to just… trust you on this?

Colress:

[Warmly] A mysterious and difficult concept for the Aethers, I know. [Holds the door for him to encourage him to go] Get some rest, Mr. President. As someone who studies these things, I think it's safe to say you've reached your limit for today.

Gladion:

[Feels more like he's the one getting dismissed now. Yet, as tired as he is, he feels the man might be right.] I'll try. If only so I don't bite someone's head off tomorrow. [Pauses as he passes to affirm they're on the same page] My office, first thing tomorrow. And I want physical notes on this, got it?

Colress:

First thing.

=+=

Guzma:

[As he leaves the mansion alone, he’s surprised to see Quips come outside afterward. Slides his hands in his pockets with wry amusement] Isn’t your place upstairs?

Quips:

Yes, but I thought I might go for a walk to clear my head. Would you mind coming with me?

Guzma:

I don’t mind, but I’m not really in a conversing mood, y’know?

Quips:

Fair enough.

[They make their way back toward the main building, but despite walking together, the pair cross the bridge in silence as each is lost in his own thoughts.]

Quips:

[Glances over at his companion and decides he should say something, but he feels a bit guilty about it.] I found out from Wicke that they genuinely weren't expecting to find you when they arrived.

Guzma:

[Not where he thought the Kahuna’s focus would be after everything they’d talked about at the mansion, but he’s not surprised to hear that. Softly] Lemme guess, that means I don't get a room?

Quips:

[He could say that…] There's plenty of room for everyone if you don't mind sharing one of the staff quarters with the other refugees, we just didn't have one assigned to you. I only mention it because I had them put your stuff from Iki Town in my quarters if you might be looking for anything.

Guzma:

[Stops short] What the hell? You took all my stuff?

Quips:

[Somehow he should have expected he’d be mad, but the reaction is enough to laugh] It was in my house. It's not like you have much anyway.

Guzma:

[Hands on his hips with a frown] Yeah, you're real funny, old man. Who even said I was going?

Quips:

You are, aren't you?

Guzma:

I am now, but until dinner, you didn't know that.

Quips:

[Grows sad as he realizes the old Skull Boss is being serious. Straightens up] You think I would have given you a choice?

Guzma:

[Simply lets out all his pent up steam as his eyes narrow.]

Quips:

[Stares back with the deepest concern] You're a grown man, you don't have to tell me. But with your history and your reasons, I cannot in good faith let you make that decision. We're all leaving, whether we like it or not, and I’m making sure we’re not leaving without you.

Guzma:

…Look, I just had this talk with Gladion today, I don't need another lecture from you. What's it matter now when I already said I'd go? [Crosses his arms] Just mad you didn't ask, is all.

Quips:

[That he can understand.] Forgive me then. Next time I will, that way I can give you the "what and for" beforehand. [See, that got Guzma to lighten up a bit. They go back to walking at a more casual stroll now, and Quips finds himself gazing at the stars overhead.] Guzma. I know we've all been worried about Burnet, but you've been in quite a mood this evening. Are you sure you're alright?

Guzma:

[Confused] Me? I'm fine. I'm perfect. Just look at me.

Quips:

I am. Where is your jacket?

Guzma:

[Flustered] First Mo, now you- [Ruffles his hair] Ya’ll act like you've never seen me without it!

Quips:

[A bit smug as clearly the man is not "fine" but he patiently waits for an answer]

Guzma:

I left it at Burnet's place. We were in a hurry and I'll go back in the morning.

Quips:

You mean you lost it while dealing with Kukui.

[They reach the large entryway but don't go inside just yet. Instead, Quips steps into the side area so they won't be in the pathway.]

Guzma:

So what if I did? [Confused where the old man is going and follows him to the wall.] It's not that big a deal.

Quips:

It's not about the jacket, Guzma, it's about you. [Thinks for a moment how to express his concern] I’ve known you and Kukui your whole lives, and it warmed my heart to see you two attempting to rekindle that friendship once you got away from Team Skull. And even with both of you having such wild adventures on your separate paths, there are just some people you can never imagine would have their luck run out. People who brought so much light to the world, it feels like there’s a hole there without them. I’ve lost a few like that… You've been acting strange since we first got the news, and I understand it hits harder when it's someone you're close to-

Guzma:

It ain't just that... [Realizing they could be here a while, he leans up against the wall to address him.] It's not like it's never crossed my mind before. Given how many we’ve lost in the past five years, we knew we were playing with fire. And I've made peace with the fact that my time might come at any point. What then? What do I care if I get taken? Like facing death. I thought about it so many times, ever since I was a kid… If nothing else, what can hurt me then? And if instead I become a Shadow, so what? I won't know much at that point. Just darkness and aimlessness. But… Gladion tried to paint a picture for me of how bad it would be for the rest of ya if I did. I can be a royal pain on my own time. I wouldn't want to cause you guys any trouble.

Quips:

And then Kukui?

Guzma:

[Softly] Yeah. Not just him, but seeing how distraught Burnie was today, it just really sunk in, y'know?

Quips:

[Nods] I'm happy Gladion was able to talk some sense into you then.

Guzma:

Only after he tried to knock it into me first. [Readjusts himself against the wall as he gazes back across the bridge at the mansion all lit up. Shakes his head.] Sitting through dinner tonight with all of these high class, educated folks… I don't think I belong here. Next to me was an empty seat. You know who SHOULD have been there tonight?

Quips:

I know. Since Kukui had been after this monster for years, it felt weird for us to finally meet in person to discuss everything we know, and have the one leading the charge to not be in the room. Of course, I’m not sure if he’d be proud of us, or angry to hear us planning to go after it directly. Especially with Burnet getting involved-

Guzma:

IT’S NOT FAIR! [He doesn't mean to yell at the Kahuna but he just can't hold it back. The anger reaches a boiling point as he grabs his hair in both hands, trying to shake the memory of it] I haven't felt like this since I was a kid! Just, just… Angry! And scared! And useless! And after all this time, we STILL can't do anything about it! [Snaps his focus on Quips as he clenches his fist.] And I don't care what Burnet said, I swear to Skull, the only reason Kukui didn't get attacked sooner for all his meddling is because Roark cared about him and Necrozma knows it! It knows, and will choose who and where and when because all those touched by the light of Alola are part of its turf now! I mean, am I crazy?! [He takes a moment to breathe but he can see Quips is about to say something. Points at him accusingly] Don't answer that! [starts to cool down] Just… [slams his fist on the wall in a light rapid punch.] I got destroyed the last time I faced Necrozma. Okay? I've seen first hand what this thing does to people when they become Shadows. I know what'll happen if I lose this time, but even after today-- after the stuff with Gladion and Burnet, and that freak proving it could get me if it wanted to by breaking into my home--[adds quickly] after seeing what it did to Kukui at the Pokemon Lab!-- and I still… All I can think about is how I wanna crush that Outsider's shiny prism face into the dust when I know I CAN'T! How stupid is that?!

Quips:

[It's been a while since he's had to deal with one of these little meltdowns, but the outpouring is still so much more than he was expecting. Keeps his voice level as he tries to calm him down] I don't think that's stupid at all. In a way, we all wish we could do the same after everyone Necrozma has taken from us. You'll get your chance.

Guzma:

What? To fail again?!

Quips:

Only if we all do. [Gentle smile] If we do this right, then next time you'll have all of us there at your side. But for now, the best thing you can do to help our friends is to do all that we can. [He can see the man is thinking, but he looks doubtful. There’s a long silence between them again, as he places a hand on his back and just lets him breathe until he seems calm again.] Are we good?

Guzma:

I guess… Why, you wanna leave?

Quips:

I’m in no hurry on a night like this. [Again, he turns his gaze to the stars. It really was a beautiful night, despite the dampened mood of the evening. He half thought he would have recieved some sarcastic retort, but he glances back to see Guzma is also stargazing with a look of uneasiness. The old man turns to him with a warm, paternal tone] You know… I understand they wanted to be nice because I'm a Kahuna, but they really gave me too much space for one person. It’s practically a small apartment. Why don't you stay at my place tonight? I'm sure they'll have a room for you by the time we get sailing.

Guzma:

[Sourly] Might as well when you've got all my stuff. Ya sure you're not just saying that to keep an eye on me?

Quips:

[Soft chuckle] Maybe that too. Come on. If it's alright with you, I'd like to hear what else happened today.

=+=

[Molayne enters his designated quarters, but it will definitely take some time to make it feel like home. Gazing over the bare white walls lined with boxes from the move, he notices that several of them had already been opened. A strange little chime draws his focus away from the mess as a little Beldum flies over to start circling him. At least some things never change. A little squeak nearby reveals a Stuffle running over to investigate.]

Molayne:

[Kneels down to pet her.] Hello there~ Are the other two asleep?

Olivia:

At least one of us is. How'd everything go?

Molayne:

Ah. [Rises up to meet her as she comes over.] I'd like to say you didn't miss much, but I've definitely got some news to share with you.

Olivia:

Not good news, I'd think, or you would have said so. [Bends down to pick up the tiny bear and cradles her like a cat in her arms. Gently strokes her]

Molayne:

I hope Ana didn't give you too much grief. I thought if she and I could have worked on settling in together, it would make the transition easier.

Olivia:

[Waves him off] Oh, don’t be silly. She's an absolute gem. Honestly, I think the kids are handling this better than the adults are. Maybe because for her it's all new and exciting. In fact, the first thing we did when we got here was check out every corner of the place to see what all features it had. Then when I told her which room was going to be hers, she immediately wanted to find a place for her toys. [Gestures at the open boxes] You can see we've been busy looking for all of the ones labeled as her stuff, but we had fun. Got to decorate a little, but most of the evening was spent getting distracted by her dolls.

Molayne:

[Soft laugh] That doesn't surprise me. Mind if I check on her?

[He slips by and gently opens the door to peer into his daughter's bedroom and make sure she's actually asleep. No bed found yet from the looks of it, but for Anabel, that didn't seem to matter. All of her bedding is laid out on the floor like a cushioned mat and a Jirachi doll has become a pillow. Other toys littered the floor around her as the nearby lamp cast the room in a shade of pink. Poor thing must have wore herself out. It makes him smile to see her sleeping so soundly as one of his biggest concerns had been that she might be overwhelmed after being brought to such a big and strange place like the Aether Paradise. He had hoped to tell her where he was going, but for Olivia's sake, it seemed better to not disturb the girl as long as possible.]

Olivia:

[A sofa had been discovered and set up in the main area at least. She waits for him to close the door so she can keep her voice low.] You look pretty serious tonight. Plan to tell me what's up?

=+=

[Now that they're in the privacy of his cramped quarters, Faba quickly shuts the door and locks it.]

Faba:

[Glaring daggers at Dexio's back] I hope you have a good reason for exposing me like that.

Dexio:

[Almost amused] Only if you can explain how you can work at a company for over fifteen years and never tell your co-workers you have a family. And I wouldn’t say I exposed you to anything since most of them were asking questions about me.

Faba:

You know what I mean. You see what I have to put up with, and instead of painting me in a better light, you joined them in mocking me!

Dexio:

[Hops up on a barstool and leans back against the counter] How can you call it mocking when I told them the honest truth. At least from where I stand with you. Don't get me wrong, when I saw you on Poni Island, I was happy to see you. And I do want to rebuild my relationships with the family, but that doesn't mean I have to trust any of you while trying to uncover what's real about you all and what's just been rumors and reports I've found over the years. Heck, after what you did here, you're lucky Colress didn't ship you off with your friends to some terrible other reality instead of Aether just downgrading your position.

Faba:

[Still fuming, but takes this into consideration] Is this stark distrust because of my reputation or should I blame Augustine for that too?

Dexio:

[Pauses to think about it. A bit saddened] A little of both, I think. I know everyone in my group that I've talked to has had some serious second-guessings when it comes to trusting people outside of the DoK. Between our parents, for those who had them, the Gym Leaders being part of this greater conspiracy with Team Flare, and my personal idol being the professor, could you blame me for being a little hesitant with my alliances now?

Faba:

[Frowns] You never mentioned in your letters you were so unhappy.

Dexio:

Because I wasn't. Confused and mystified, maybe, but I had no idea I was just another pawn in the game. My friend, Sina, was another recruit, but she grew suspicious of things first. I didn’t really believe her at first, and only started to realize how wrong everything felt when the plan was being put into action. We didn't even know who among the other students we could trust, so Sina and I started going in disguise to investigate things on our own. If it turned out we were wrong, and Team Flare traced us back to the professor… Well, I guess none of that matters now since it turned out she was right. [Ahem] But even if I had been unhappy at my apprenticeship, I wouldn't expect you to do anything about it. I was alone out there. At most, would you have just pulled me out of there? Sent me to stay with another of your devious colleagues?

Faba:

[Listening to all this, but appears pleased as he placed a hand under his chin. Intrigued.] You said you used a disguise?

Dexio:

[Irritated] Dad, please. If you would just listen-

Faba:

[Grins] I am. I'm just appreciating how clever you are. [More serious as he debates how to answer him] You may call them my "friends", but the truth is I have many connections with many, sometimes dangerous people. It's not that I don't tell anyone about you, but personal relationships can be used as collateral when dealing with such people. Especially when things don't go as promised. Putting some distance between us was always a matter of safety, if we should want our line to continue.

Dexio:

And Mom?

Faba:

[Impish smirk] How do you think we met? I wasn't lying when I said we tend to be on the move, it just happens that in our business, it's very rarely with each other.

Dexio:

[Somehow all this isn't what he had hoped to find in coming here, but at the same time, it made a lot of things in his life start to make sense. Still, he had come this far, and wasn't going to walk away now] Then I hope you don't mind if I "distance" myself from you for a while.

Faba:

Wha-? You mean after going out of my way to secure you a place, you plan on leaving? I'm offering you a chance to put all of that past behind you so we can work together-

Dexio:

And we will work together. But, like I said, the others have every reason to distrust you, and now that they're aware of our relationship, it might give them reason not to trust me. If I come off as cold with you, it's only because you and I have nothing in common.

Faba:

[Following the train of thought, he guesses] And disassociating from me might make you more favorable in the eyes of someone like the young master?

Dexio:

They come to trust me on my own actions, I could work my way up, maybe put in a good word for how the times have changed everyone… including you.

Faba:

[Beaming with pride] See, now you're thinking like me~!

Dexio:

[Coldly] Oh, but I didn't learn that from you. [Leans forward on the seat to rest his elbows on his knees and folds his hands as he hesitates on telling him the truth.] Dad, I do appreciate you trying to help me, even if I still feel that underneath it all, you only contacted me for your own benefit. But, even as a bargaining chip, I don't have very many opportunities right now. And with the state of the world that I've been seeing, the options aren't looking too good elsewhere. And… I have my own family to look after now. I need to secure a place for myself so I can hopefully bring them in once we've let some of the others off.

Faba:

[Clearly caught off guard by this, his voice comes soft] Family? You mean…?

Dexio:

[Wry grin] I have a daughter back in Orre. And unlike you and Mom, I want to be there for her. Maybe… Maybe give her a chance to know the rest of her family, for better or worse, but just be there.

Faba:

[Shakes his head] You're setting yourself up for trouble, you know.

Dexio:

As the Kahuna said, it tends to follow me around. I'll take my chances.

Faba:

[Can't argue with that.] You also said you've been studying the Shadows? [Curious] I suppose Ein showed you around while you were visiting him. How is he doing, anyway?

=+=

[Olivia held the large, ornate book in her lap and turned the blank pages to see the beautiful runes as Molayne explained.]

Olivia:

[Just shakes her head at the story.] Poor Roark… The kid has already had everything taken from him, and now you plan to lock him up with that monster?

Molayne:

It might be the only way to save him. If Necrozma is using him for a shield, we can't separate them until we have them both physically held somewhere we can pull the boy out of its clutches. [Shifts awkwardly] Legends still being legends, it's possible that the last person Necrozma made a puppet of was sealed along with it, and obviously hasn't been seen since. We don't want it to get to that point.

Olivia:

And now you and the others are planning to hunt down this thing to seal it. [Holds out the book for him to take it back] Relying on… magic?

Molayne:

I wish there was a way to make it sound less crazy, but I thought the same thing. Right now we just want to spend the night learning as much as we can about this book and the capture method since the odds of an attack may have increased. Otherwise, the plan is just for me to keep the book on hand and Burnet keeps the mirror while we continue with the evacuation as normal. Maybe, if nothing happens, we can come back for Roark once we get everyone else safe.

Olivia:

[Sighs] I don’t know, Mo, I’ve just got a bad feeling about all this. Besides, we've barely gotten moved in and you're already burning yourself out.

Molayne:

[Wry grin] And? I'm always burnt out. [He pulls the Item Capsule back out and recalls the book in a white light.] I'll be back before morning, I just wondered if you mind staying a bit longer. I don't want to risk Ana waking up alone if she gets up in the middle of the night.

Olivia:

[Looks over at the clock by the kitchenette] I don't mind, but are you sure about that? It's already getting close to midnight and you still need to get over there. I don't see how you can get anything done tonight.

Molayne:

[Nervously rubs at the back of his neck] The same way I get everything else done. You know this is nothing new for me.

Olivia:

[Softly] Yeah. Which reminds me, have you gotten a chance to see Anabel since you arrived?

Molayne:

We spent most of the day together. She met Mr. Colress while we were bringing in our stuff.

Olivia:

Not the little one.

Molayne:

… … … [Glances away]

Olivia:

It's fine, I'm sorry. I just wondered since we always told little Ana that her mother had left with Aether, and she did, but the girl needs to find out sooner or later if they're both on board. She needs to meet her mother.

Molayne:

Of course she should. And she will, in time, it's just… Maybe I'm the one not ready yet. But knowing the risks, there's something I need to ask you. [Reaches across to take Olivia's hand gently in both of his] If… [He hesitates as he can already see the deep concern in her eyes] IF anything should happen to me… Can I entrust my daughter to you? You know she means everything to me.

Olivia:

[Harsh whisper] Then don't do this! You're an amazing Trainer, but if that thing gets in one good swipe, you'll be-

Molayne:

Which is why I want to do this. For Anabel. [He waits to hear her response, but she just goes quiet. Rising to his feet, he gazes over the still room until his eyes land on the bedroom door] Olivia… I've spent most of my life studying the stars, and my daughter is afraid of the night. She's young enough that all she's ever known is not to make friends, because they might disappear. That sometimes we can't even trust the Pokemon to not to suddenly turn on us. To never be caught in the dark. I don't want that for her. I considered leaving Alola for that exact reason, but how could I?

Olivia:

[Soft smile] You and Kukui both, I swear. I know you do a lot for us, but believe it or not, Alola can survive without you.

Molayne:

It's not surviving very well right now either way. And what happens if we leave this beast on the loose? Will it just move on to another region when the food runs out? I understand we all want to put the thought of possibly being the next target far from our minds, but it's something I should have asked you ages ago. [Awkwardly glances back at her] Please. Will you take care of her?

Olivia:

[Still clearly doesn't like the sounds of this, but eases in her stance.] I'll be more than happy to look after her for you. Even now, whenever you need me to, as long as I’m able. But she needs you, and I can't replace that.

Molayne:

Of course not. Thank you. [Warmly] It may be a big place, but once we leave, my role here is looking to be much smaller than at home. I already told Anabel that when we set sail, we'll be spending a lot more time together. But just in case…

Olivia:

Don’t worry, I will.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: I couldn't decide if this would be considered important to the plot or not since some of these are just characters taking the already established information to other characters, and others are touching on future plot points. But this did seem to be the best place to put these even if some drabbles are better organized than others. I just like to show things from a different perspective for some of these guys and it's something of a transition to the next night.

Archive

#alolan dusk #twitch plays pokemon #horror #mystery #story #gladion aether #colress #skull boss guzma #Hau “quips” Hala #molayne lillie #Kahuna Olivia #dexio pokemon #faba pokemon

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sage-nebula · 7 years ago

Note

If you don't mind I would love to hear about the dark idea you had for Lillie and Alan.

Oh man, okay. Well, buckle up, because this will take some explaining.

So, as I said in those tags, this is in reference to my fic To Devour the Sun, which is an Alola AU that was started before the games released and the anime premiered. As a result, I had to come up with my own characterization for the Alola characters, based on what we had seen of them from official art and little tidbits about their personalities and backgrounds. This is most apparent with both Lusamine and Gladion (especially Gladion; not only did I assume he’d get along fine with Team Skull, but I made him a little spitfire to boot), but it would have become apparent with Lillie, who in her official art appears very closed off and is frowning. For the purposes of this fic, Lillie is characterized much as she is in my write-up of how I would have written the Gen VII games, which is to say that she is quite closed off, quite cold, very intelligent and resourceful (and can be a bit impatient with others who aren’t on her level), and is faithfully helping Lusamine along with her plans, albeit with a lot of despair over it. She’s doing what she’s doing because she feels she has no other choice. She doesn’t have hope that things could be different, and she and Gladion are currently in the midst of a two year long fight because he ran away from home in order to try and make a difference, when she didn’t believe that was possible and felt the right thing to do was to stay.

So with all of this being said, the Lillie in this fic is quite different from the Lillie we see in canon, and though she hasn’t been introduced in the fic proper yet (she’d be getting her introduction in the next chapter, when Manon, Clemont, and Bonnie to go the school), the plot necessitates that she keep the characterization I originally conceived for her. Like, it could be argued that since she hasn’t been introduced yet I could still go with her canon characterization (whereas it is too late for Lusamine, and especially too late for Gladion given his numerous appearances), but the plot really would not work if she had her canon characterization. I can tweak it some, but not enough to make her canon compliant. It sucks, but it is what it is. It’s my punishment for starting a fic before the canon released.

As a final note, also because this fic was started before the games released (and because the plot hinges on it, et cetera), the Aether family are Ultra Beasts in this fic. Lusamine is UB-02 Beauty, Lillie is UB-01, and Gladion is UB-04 Blade (i.e. kartana). And it’s important to note that, because it comes into play with this idea.

The idea is:

Lillie and Alan encounter each other once before the actual idea takes place. I don’t want to spoil too much about it, but essentially, at the end of chapter five Alan and Lizardon both had a very, very bad time battling a giant chimera deep within the basement of Aether Paradise (in an arena). It’s enough so that the cliffhanger I left that fic off on makes it look like Alan died (he certainly thinks he’s going to, given what happened to him, but he managed to save Lizardon, so he’s okay with it). In honesty, he would and should have died, but Lusamine saw the bond between him and Lizardon, and realized that they could be suitable candidates for sacrifice as per her plan. So she has Aether Foundation employees use medicinal alchemy (far more advanced than what this dimension should have as far as medical science goes) to save his life so that she can run him and Lizardon through tests to see if they are indeed the sacrifices she needs (or at least one pair of sacrifices—she needs three pairs).

Well, this being a story, they are, so she keeps them for a while. At some point during their unwilling stay, Lillie goes to Aether Paradise for her own reasons. While she’s going through, she comes across Alan. She remembers Manon telling her about Alan (she recognizes him from the description she was given), and she decides to help him escape. However, due to a series of circumstances that I won’t go into right now (because it would be #spoilers and I still want to write this fic someday), it doesn’t end up working. Lillie gets out of there, but Alan is trapped behind, wherein the bad times continue. (It’s a series of bad times. The little snippets I’ve written are very tame in comparison to what’s in store for him and Lizardon both, but you can still see that Lusamine is not at all nice to him. And trust me, Wicke and Faba aren’t either.)

Some time long after that, when things are revealed and other things happen, there’s some big climactic battle. I haven’t figured out the entirety of how it happens yet, but I do know that obviously Alan and Lizardon are involved, and Lillie is there as well. For the first time in years she has come to have at least a sliver of hope that things could, perhaps, be different—that maybe her mother’s plan to reduce this dimension to an empty husk for the sake of Ultra Space can be stopped. And she feels, due to all the circumstances and things that have happened, that Alan and Lizardon are perhaps the best bet to making that happen, that if anyone can defeat her mother (and more importantly, her mother’s creations), they can. But the thing is, well …

Here’s the thing:

It’s my belief that pokémon do not use 100% of their power in battle—that pokémon naturally restrain themselves to a degree in battles so that their attacks aren’t lethal. It’s the only explanation, isn’t it? We know that a charizard’s flames are hot enough to melt boulders, and that ‘Zard X has blue flames, which are the hottest flames in existence, and can potentially rival the sun in heat. Yet you can have a charizard battle a caterpie, and while the caterpie will faint in short order, it won’t die. Even if it’s hit by flames, it won’t die. And I have to believe this is because pokémon, like the dragons in the Dreamworks Dragons franchise, can control the strength of their attacks. Just like how Toothless didn’t kill that terrible terror when he shot fire into its mouth in the first movie (but then later killed the Red Death by doing the same, meaning he was intentionally holding back when he shot fire into the mouth of the terrible terror), pokémon can make it so that their attacks aren’t lethal. It does’t mean they’re not trying their best when they battle, because of course they are, but it does mean there’s a certain degree of restraint involved. They can regulate their attacks, and they do so, at least in battles against other trained pokémon (so in the wild, it may very well be that there are no holds barred; anything goes in fights between wild pokémon).

When it comes to mega evolution, part of this restraint is given to the trainer. Not just anyone can mega evolve their pokémon; outside of legendary pokémon, who can mega evolve without a trainer nearby (hi, Rayquaza), regular pokémon need an incredibly strong, nigh telepathic bond with a trainer in order to be able to mega evolve. The link that is established between human and pokémon when mega evolution occurs ties their souls and strength together; the restraint that the pokémon normally places on themselves when battling is shared with the trainer, so that the trainer’s feelings can influence the pokémon, and vice versa. It’s a shared spirit, in other words. The pokémon mega evolves because of the bond they have with their trainer, and in turn the trainer fights with their pokémon in a sense, their emotions melding with their pokémon partner’s in order to create a whole new experience.

I bring all of this up because by the time the final battle occurs, Alan and Lizardon have been through … a lot. Even setting aside all the testing, due to the events at the end of chapter five, Alan firmly believes that he should have died, that it’s unnatural and wrong that he didn’t, and that … that alone has messed him up. Everything else Lusamine did to him (and honestly, this is a woman who sees humans as the lowest life form, and who commissioned Faba to create the chimeras and has allowed him to do whatever with them, so the tests she ran Alan and Lizardon through are … pretty inhumane) just made it worse. Nonetheless, he’s still Alan, he still has limits …

… but that’s where Lillie comes in.

As I mentioned before, Lillie has spent the last few years feeling despaired over everything, because she doesn’t want this dimension to be destroyed (it’s the only home she has ever known), but she hasn’t had hope that anyone could stop her mother. Now she feels like maybe there’s a chance, but it’s a slim one. That giant chimera is still in existence and still on the field, and there are all the other chimeras as well. In addition, Lusamine has Ultra Beast auras protecting them, and as if all of that wasn’t enough … well, remember that Lusamine is actually UB-02 Beauty, and according to the official SM website:

So even if others try to battle her, good fucking luck; their pokémon lose the will to fight her, once she employs her own ability. (Which, yes, was sadly not put into the game itself, just—Game Freak, why do you live to disappoint? Oh well, if they won’t take advantage of this, I will. Just see if I don’t.) There is still a chance she can be stopped, but it’s extremely slim. The situation doesn’t look good, and Lillie feels that the longer the battle draws out, the slimmer their chance at victory (a chance which is perhaps granted by Lusamine trying to employ that effect on Lizardon, and it seems as if it’s almost working … only for it to ultimately fail, because Lizardon’s bond with Alan—platonic soulmates that they are—is just that strong) becomes.

But while Lusamine may have a special ability … she’s not the only one.

Lillie is, in actuality, UB-01. UB-01, as we know, has the ability to lower people’s inhibitions through physical contact. Lillie doesn’t usually employ this; she doesn’t want to control others, and in truth has doubts about how much she can given that she has felt, for years now, like she is in a minecart going along a predetermined track with no power over how far or fast it goes. But the situation is desperate right now, and Alan has been through a lot. She knows this, even if she doesn’t know all the exact details. She knows what her mother is like. She knows what the tests are like. She doesn’t need the specifics to know how much torment both Alan and Lizardon underwent as her mother’s test subjects.

But that makes her think that … maybe there’s a chance.

So in this idea—that, again, I likely won’t use, for a few reasons—Lillie … takes advantage of that, and her own ability. She has an idea of how strong Lizardon is, and knows that a pokémon’s power is amplified post-mega evolution. She knows about the restraint that trainers and pokémon employ when battling. She knows that if Alan and Lizardon are strong when employing that legal restraint (and they are), that if that restraint wasn’t there—if they didn’t adhere to any limitations …

In the midst of everything, she takes him by the hand. She focuses on the neurological altering ability she was born with as she holds his hand in both her own, and looks him in the eye, and talks to him. He has been through so much. Even before coming to Alola—Lillie doesn’t know these details, but this Alolan “vacation” (it was supposed to be a vacation) occurred only six months after the Flare crisis. Six months ago was the Flare crisis, and two years before that he was in Lysandre’s service, at the lowest point in his life. All of that, plus everything Lusamine did, plus a little urging and, honestly, toxic influence from Lillie to take those metaphorical gloves off and fight with everything they have, no restraint …

It’s just … a little push. A little push on someone who, after having been through so much, was honestly already on the edge, but was holding himself back through simple virtue of his own honor.

(“But haven’t you always wondered what would happen if neither of you did hold back? What you could accomplish? She isn’t holding anything back. She never has. Even now, everyone here—they could die, because she isn’t sparing them any mercy. That giant chimera can and will kill them. Everyone—your family, my brother, Ash and the rest of our classmates, they’ll all die because there isn’t enough strength here to prevent it, except … if unrestrained, and fully tapped into … what you and Lizardon are able to do … the strength you have …”

“… The strength to protect …”

“Yes, exactly.”)

If Alan, in that mindset—that unstable, unrestrained mindset—used mega evolution just then … if he said, respond to my heart while activating his Key Stone … if Lizardon’s mega evolution had so much fury backing it, fury that came from both of them … the results would be devastating, probably, and that’s where Gladion’s horror would come in (and not just his, I’m sure, but still), because, “Lillie, the bastard is strong enough without you pushing him to this point, what the hell have you done?!”

All of that said, no one would die and I’m sure it would all work out in the end, but … I feel like releasing restraint like that would be cause enough for someone to lose their Trainer’s License, although in this case it could probably be argued that it was some form of psychological break (not to mention Lillie would admit to what she did), therefore he could probably keep his if he went through something like six months dedicated therapy (which after all this, he could probably use). All the same, I doubt I’m going to use this idea because I have other ideas in mind for the climax, but it’s interesting to think about nonetheless, because … well, employing restraint, Alan and Lizardon are strong enough as it is. But can you imagine … what would happen … if they stopped holding back?

I can, and I usually imagine it to this music.

#fic: to devour the sun #t-chan

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