The new Vol 1 is coming to a close. Going forward only one chapter a day.
Don't forget to drop some power stones!
*****
"Mew?", Mew questioned, taking a moment to observe the platinum-haired man, who was still situated behind the lab.
The man currently watched on in shock, right back at Mew. He didn't like to make many public appearances and mostly kept to himself, unless he was paying his family a visit from time to time. He also assisted matters at the foundation, but only when he was in person to do so.
This man also assisted Ricky on ongoing projects he was working at, so in a way, the two had a budding friendship. He went by the name Gladion, and was in fact, Lillie's older brother, and the son of Lusamine. It would seem he sent off Lillie his own way.
He felt greeting the trio was unnecessary. He just watched on as the Flying Taxi departed the lab.
The only thing Gladion didn't expect was for space to distort above his view. Let alone a Mew popping out of existence shortly after!
"Mew?", Mew questioned again. Mew stayed floating in the air, and kept its distance from Gladion.
Gladion quickly shook out of his daze, and his eyes regained clarity. He just stared at Mew for a moment, but was quick to realize what was going on.
"You're watching over him, aren't you?", Gladion decided to ask Mew.
"Mew Mew!", Mew excitedly responded, answering Gladion. No longer hovering in the air, Mew swerved downward, and started to glide around Gladion. Mew was fast, and Gladion had a hard time trying to keep his eye on Mew.
"You're a cheerful one, aren't you?", Gladion mused.
"Mew?", Mew tilted its head as it stood hovering over Gladion. Mew then looked at the Pokemon beside Gladion.
"Grr.", THe Pokemon said, bemused at the happy and cheerful Mew, who was now floating around it.
This Pokemon was a unique Pokemon. A one of a kind in fact. It could not be located anywhere else. After all, unlike natural Pokemon found in vast wilds, this Pokemon was crafted and molded, coming into existence via a lab tube. It was created through similar methods to Mewtwo.
But unlike Mewtwo, this Pokemon didn't serve the purpose of becoming the strongest Pokemon in the entire world. It had a much more targeted existence. This Pokemon was meant to finish off Ultra Beasts, or at the very least, send them back to the places they came from.
The one who made this Pokemon went by the name Faba. Unlike the games, Faba was his anime counterpart. He was actually one of the good guys, despite his misleading appearance.
Compared to the anime, on the other hand, some events had already taken place in this World of Pokemon. The incident that brought Nihilego's rampage took place several years ago. Faba turned over a new leaf, and Type: Null was created in the process to ward off any future Ultra Beasts. It wound up becoming Gladion's Partner Pokemon.
The very same Pokemon currently standing beside Gladion. It still had its mask, meaning that it wasn't a Silvally It did temporarily shed its mask saving Lillie back then, but its evolution wasn't a permanent one. That was one thing that had changed from the anime. Type: Null reverted to what it used to be. And after spending several years with Gladion, it hadn't evolved since then.
But to Gladion's surprise, he had now come across Mew just as Ricky and Lillie were heading to the airport. He felt something stir inside his heart seeing Mew happily swerve around Type: Null.
Before Gladion could do anything, Mew suddenly approached Type: Null. It was floating only one or two feet away from Type: Null at most now.
"Grr?", Type: Null tried calling out to Mew, not expecting Mew to get that close to it.
"Mew!", Mew said. Mew suddenly extended one of its cute arms out, and placed its hand on Type: Null's mask.
"W-Wait, Mew, what are you trying to do?", Gladion asked. A serious look appeared in his eyes. Mew touched Type: Null, and started releasing some of its psychic energy.
"Mew!", Mew happily responded. Type: Null started reacting to this energy. It felt no oppression whatsoever. A calm and soothing energy started sweeping all around Type Null's body.
"What the...", Gladion uttered, seeing this sudden energy wrap around his Type: Null. To his surprise yet again, he heard a crack.
The energy dissipated, and the mask surrounding Type: Null's head began to crack away. Slowly, but surely. Its mane was forming a new shape.
"You...", Gladion uttered, sucking in a cold breath. Type: Null's mask completely swept away, and turned into tiny bits. It fell onto the sand beneath them!
"Mew. Mew Mew.", Mew tried responding to Gladion, happily swerving around the two. Whatever Mew did, it looked like it was a success.
"Are you trying to say Type: Null was ready all this time...?", Gladion said to himself.
"Grrrr.", Type: Null happily responded, only to reach its head down, and nuzzled Gladion's hand. No, calling it Type: Null was in the past. Gladion's Pokemon had evolved into a Silvally!
Reaching his hand out, Gladion gave his new Silvally a pat on the head.
"Or maybe, I just couldn't let things end. With this, Lillie will be on her own. She can take her own steps forward now. I don't need to intervene from the shadows anymore.", Gladion said to himself. A new look of determination appeared in his eyes.
Gladion looked at Mew again.
"Thank you for opening my eyes, Mew.", Gladion happily said to Mew.
"Mew!", Mew happily responded back at Gladion. Mew took another moment, swerving around him. After Mew had its fill, Gladion saw Mew fly back up into the skies. Mew's head turned toward the same direction the Flying Taxi vanished off to, and then teleported away.
Mew was no longer there, leaving Gladion and his new Silvally alone again.
"Grr?", Silvally tried to ask Gladion. Gladion could likely guess what Silvally asked him.
"I am not sure either. Mother should have notified Ricky of his promotion. There haven't been any ultra readings recently, so I guess I have enough free time to head to another region. Perhaps I should start with Sinnoh, and after those two begin their journey, I could take Kanto's gym challenge?", Gladion wondered to himself.
It was as if a whole new path had opened up for him. He was unsure how to proceed with it.
"Lillie was able to show such determination, so I should meet her expectations. If she plans to enter the Indigo League, then so will I. I will see how strong she will become.", Gladion said, coming to a decision. "I will need to report this new finding to Mother.", Gladion continued.
"Grrr!", Silvally happily growled at Gladion. Silvally was happy Gladion decided on what to do from here on.
Seeing that Mew had left without a trace, Gladion reached into one of his pockets, and pulled out the same smartphone Pokedex the two had in the lab. It looked like Gladion also had one!
Going to his call app, Gladion tapped a certain contact to initiate a video call. On it, the same beautiful and platinum-blonde haired woman appeared on it. Gladion didn't say anything right off the bat. The woman only raised her eyes, not expecting to see such resolution in Gladion's eyes.
"You rarely take the initiative to call me like this, Gladion. I wonder if something happened?", Lusamine said. She glanced around, and saw the new mane Silvally had. It was no longer hidden behind its mask.
"Yes. In a way, I have found my path forward. I will enter the Indigo League this year. Will you permit me to take some time off, mother?", Gladion asked Lusamine.
"Ufufu, that wasn't a decision I was expecting to come out of your mouth, Gladion. I will allow it. It is because of Lillie's newfound determination, is it not?", Lusamine replied with a gentle laugh.
"That's part of it. Can you set aside some memory disks for me and Silvally?", Gladion asked Lusamine.
"Silvally? Is that the new name of this cutie?", Lusamine asked, taking a glance at Silvally. She observed it for a good moment.
"It is.", Gladion nodded.
"Grr!", Silvally also exclaimed in response.
"Very well. You will have to work with Faba to develop more memory disks for Silvally. I'll expect to hear good things from you two. I will also try to block off some time for when the Indigo League happens.", Lusamine said to Gladion.
"Understood. Thank you, Mother.", Gladion said. He proceeded to end the call, and now he was left alone again.
But this time, Gladion had a new partner.
"You ready, Silvally? I won't go easy on you.", Gladion asked Silvally, patting its head again.
"Grr!", Silvally happily responded, ready to meet Gladion's new expectations.
Just like that, the two wandered out of the sandy beach, entering Route One and back into Hau'oli Outskirts...