Don't forget to drop some power stones!
*****
"Good. I hate to keep things short but I have high expectations of you.", Lusamine said to Ricky.
"Oh, and before I forget. Effective immediately, you have been promoted to an Aether Foundation Admin. I won't assign you work right off the bat. Your primary task is still making sure no harm comes to my daughter.", Lusamine said to Ricky.
"I understand. Should I call you Boss now?", Ricky mused. There were sure a lot of things happening today, huh?
"Address me however you wish. Anyways, I have to take care now. Mother loves you lots!", Lusamine said, shifting her eyes back at Lillie. The video call ended as abruptly as it began. She waved her hand at Lillie as the call turned off.
"Hehe, I guess mother has high hopes for you, Ricky.", Lillie giggled, seeing what had just happened.
"No kidding.", Ricky nodded. He felt a hidden pressure rise up. All of a sudden, he was promoted to be an Aether Foundation Admin. If one is to talk about other organizations of the Pokemon World, it was equivalent to being a Team Rocket Executive!
There was definitely a lot of pressure placed on him, but thankfully Lusamine won't be tasking Ricky with a lot of foundation work. His new adventure will be his number one priority, and making sure Lillie is safe.
"Guess you got your work cut out for you, 'Cuz. Good thing you aren't in the middle of a project. You'll still hold lectures though, right?", Professor Kukui wondered how that would go.
"I will. We'll be on the move a lot but there will be downtimes where I sure can hold some lectures with students. It can either be with students at your school, or at Indigo Academy. We'll see.", Ricky nodded.
"Still, I'll hold a proper conversation in Lusamine later.", Professor Kukui continued.
"You want to get a reading on Popplio too, right, Ricky? I'll do my Pokedex readings later. Why don't you use yours for now?", Lillie suggested.
"Can do.", Ricky responded. Ricky shifted his arm around, and called Rowlet back into his Pokeball. Considering they were short on time, Ricky couldn't leave Rowlett out for longer. Once the flight business is taken care of, he'll bring out Rowlet again.
Proceeding to do his next reading, Ricky now had his Pokedex over Popplio. It automatically triggered a new image to appear on his index list. Despite not having a shiny Popplio himself, it still registered on the Pokedex! As long as he could see one, it will display the shiny image of that Pokemon. Thinking that was a nice touch, Ricky and the other two turned silent as they started to listen to what the Pokedex had to say about Popplio.
"Popplio, the Sea Lion Pokemon. This Pokemon can easily form water balloons by blowing the liquid out through its nose. Once it reaches a certain size, Popplio will smash these balloons into its foe. On top of that, Popplio can control water bubbles. As Popplio spends time practicing growing these bubbles and water balloons, it is a sign that it will evolve soon.", The Pokedex read.
[Popplio]
Shiny Variant
Nature: Calm
Gender: Female
Ability: Liquid Voice
Known Moves: Water Pulse, Disarming Voice, Growl, Chilling Water, Rain Dance, Hyper Voice, Misty Terrain, Life Dew, Aqua Ring, Flip Turn
"Wow...", Lillie uttered. For some reason, she felt this Popplio was even more amazing than what Ricky's Rowlet started with!
"So many supportive moves and water-type attacks. Life Dew is especially strong in double battles.", Ricky mused, marveling at the moves Popplio had.
"Sure is an interesting one too. Both of yours have their hidden abilities. Long Reach and Liquid Voice. Long Reach will make it so your contact moves don't make contact. Meaning Rowlet can dodge abilities like Flame Body. Liquid Voice is especially interesting. It turns any sound-based attacks into the Fairy type!", Professor Kukui explained.
"Turning sound-based moves into Fairy? I see Popplio has Growl and Hyper Voice. Normally two Normal moves, which can't hit Ghost Pokemon. But now, thanks to Popplio's hidden ability, Ghost Pokemon can be hit by these moves?", Lillie wondered.
"You catch on quick, Lillie. Moves can be affected by a variety of effects. That includes a Pokemon's ability!", Professor Kukui continued.
'I almost forgot Lillie is excellent at Pokemon theory...', Ricky thought to himself.
Buzz buzz buzz.
All of a sudden, the three heard an alarm sound off from Ricky's Pokedex.
"Haha, I wish we could talk more about what our new Pokemon can do, but we'll have to discover that for ourselves. We got a flight to catch.", Ricky declared.
"Fair enough. You two got a schedule to keep. It's 845AM now, so let's head on back. Before that, are you two satisfied with what Lusamine presented?", Professor Kukui asked Ricky and Lillie.
"Yes. I haven't paid much attention to what Pokemon are raised at the Aether Foundation, but I should start paying attention to what Mother does.", Lillie happily nodded.
"I too am satisfied.", Ricky nodded.
"Good. Make sure you don't forget your Pokedex. I'd advise you to call back your Pokemon for now. I'll take you two out back!", Professor Kukui.
The two nodded, and recalled Popplio, Amber and Snowy. The cabin wasn't big where they could ride with their person and their Pokemon. Once they're at the airport, they'll be able to do that.
"Shall we do a commemorative photo?", Ricky suggested to the three.
"Sure!", Lillie happily nodded.
"Fine by me.", Professor Kukui said.
The three were able to squeeze together. Using Ricky's Pokedex, they waited for a good moment, then snapped the photo. Even Rockruff wasn't left out.
Ricky wanted their other Pokemon in the photo, but they were really tight on time now. Once they can relax again, they'll be able to take more. And more that included Serena.
Taking a nice photo of them being in front of Professor Kukui's Lab on a sunny and bright Monday morning, all of their business thus far has come to a close. They had nothing else left on the table.
As Professor Kukui brought the two out back and walked along the sand again, they spotted the two Skarmory who were still roosting. Seeing Professor Kukui with them this time, the Skarmory cocked their heads.
Before Professor Kukui was able to approach the cabin door though, Ricky was once again hit with a wave of nostalgia. This time, Ricky had Professor Kukui and Lillie with him. Lillie tilted her head seeing Ricky suddenly stop. Professor Kukui reacted differently. A smug look appeared in his eyes as he turned around to observe the tan black and spiky-haired man before him. To Professor Kukui, it was clear what was going on in Ricky's mind.
"You gonna miss this place, 'Cuz?"
"Yeah. I can't believe a full five years have passed."
"Heh heh. The door's always open for you. But hopefully, you two will return to Alola as island challengers!"
"I'm sure Ricky and I will, Professor."
"Now that's the confidence I like to see! And you used to be such a scaredy-cat. Anyways, go hop in. I'll get you two to the airport in a jiffy!"
"Skar!"
"Skarmory!"
"You first, Lillie.", Ricky said, inviting Lillie by the hand. Her cheeks turned slightly rosy but didn't deny his advance. She climbed on in, and Ricky followed.
"To Hau'oli Airport!", Professor Kukui declared.
""Skar!""
The two Skarmory acknowledged Professor Kukui. They flapped their metal wings in a fervor. Feeling a sudden jolt, Lillie and Ricky saw their cabin take to the skies. Before they realized it, the lab was now out of sight, and a huge city grew closer and closer!
They had officially left Hau'oli Outskirts, quickly making their way to Hau'oli city!
Back at the lab, a certain movement began to stir. If one had a close look, at the very back of the lab, two figures could be seen. One of them was presently leaning against the wall with their back. A smile was present on their lips. Keeping to themselves for a moment, their eyelids cracked open. The figure soon turned toward the same direction the Flying Taxi departed.
"Looks like I don't need to worry about Lillie anymore for the time being. She has grown.", The person said. They appeared to be a man, perhaps a few years older than the people who had just left the lab. If one had a close look, this man sported the same platinum-blonde hair as Lillie did!
The second figure next to the man was even more interesting. It appeared to be a Pokemon, but had a pretty crazy appearance. Its body was as if it was meshed into existence from other Pokemon. It looked pretty creepy and weird, but the man didn't seem bothered by the Pokemon's appearance one bit.
"Grr?", The Pokemon asked the man.
"It's nothing. Seeing as HE will be with her, I guess I can leave it to him. That'll free up a lot of my schedule. Perhaps I should go to a region I haven't gone to yet?", The man wondered.
"Grrrrr.", The Pokemon responded, trying to say something to him.
Yet, before the man could think of his next steps to take, his gaze was suddenly drawn toward a certain direction again. This time, it remained in the air. His eyes turned wide seeing space twist and distort further up in the skies.
After the distortion ended, a cute and pink-looking Pokemon suddenly appeared, floating in the middle of the air. Normally, this particular Pokemon had the special ability of not allowing people to see it no matter who it was, but it allowed the platinum-blonde haired man to see it from the ground below. His eyes turned wide seeing the Pokemon now in the air.
"Mew?", The Pokemon questioned, observing the man before him...