Chapter Text
Lillie rapidly looked back and forth, scouting the hallway. This was it. She’d been planning this for the past couple months. Tonight, she would do what she should’ve done years ago: leave Aether Paradise. It’s scary, she reflected, leaving the only home I’ve ever known, but then, this hasn’t been home in such a long time. Not since Father vanished… And then Mother… If Gladion had just offered to take her with him… But he hadn’t, he’d stolen one of Mother’s experiments, and left everything behind. Even her; his own sister. The resentment she tried to keep buried briefly burned in her guts.
Lillie lightly slapped her face. She was getting distracted, and she would need a clear head for this, even with all the assistance Wicke had given her. “I can make sure the Cosmog isn’t guarded,” the young scientist had promised. “After that, head for the docks. Your mother’s boat can take you to Melemele Island. Look for Professor Kukui, he’ll help you.”
Lillie typed in the access code and swiped the key card Wicke had gotten for her. As the mechanical doors slowly slid open, she idly wondered if Wicke had helped Gladion when he’d stolen a Type: Null, and fled Aether Paradise two years ago. Now, it was Lillie’s turn to free a pokémon used in experiments and flee the sterile white halls of Aether. As the containment chamber opened with a hiss, Lillie’s heart pounded in her chest.
How would the Cosmog be feeling after the strenuous experimentation her mother and her lead scientist had put it through? The last time had just been too much for Lillie. The poor thing had its energy forcibly and painfully withdrawn from it. Lillie had begged her mother to stop the experiment, even grabbing onto her mother’s clothing after being ignored, but then… Lillie unconsciously touched her cheek where her mother had slapped her.
The containment fully opened with a rush of frigid air. The Nebula Pokémon inside opened its eyes with a sleepy yawn. Lillie breathed a gentle sigh of relief. Despite how rough the experiments had been, it seemed the little nebula cloud was okay. “Oh, praise the Tapu…” Lillie whispered.
“Pew!” the little pokémon squeaked in greeting. It smiled at her sleepily.
“Hi, Nebby,” Lillie whispered to the pokémon she’d nicknamed. She was holding the duffle bag where she’d packed what few possessions that she deemed worth taking, along with whatever money her mother remembered to give her as an allowance. “Get in the bag, okay? We need to go.”
“Pew,” the little creature cooed, and, though with some reluctance, did as it was told.
“ALERT! ALERT!” shrieked the alarm system. “SUBJECT COSMOG HAS ESCAPED! ALL AETHER PERSONNEL ARE ORDERED TO APPREHEND IT!”
Lillie bolted for the elevator, planning to enter the input for going down to the docks but no sooner had she stepped on, then it zipped rapidly upwards to the conservation floor. … Right in front of her mother’s waiting employees. Silently, she cursed her lack of foresight. Of course, Mother implemented further security after Gladion got out with one of her Type: Null. Why wouldn’t she?
Nebby stared out of the bag, taking in the world around it with curious eyes. The little pokémon had only known the white walls of Aether’s labs and the cold of the cryostorage chamber for the past five years, so anything and everything, even the carefully cultivated environment in the conservation room, was a new wonder to it.
“Stop!” snarled one of the employees, his uniform bearing the green badge that marked him as one of Faba’s direct subordinates. Faba and his ilk were the worst employees of the Aether Foundation. Plenty of people joined up fully intending to serve in the conservation of pokémon, and some just needed a job. Either of those groups, Lillie might have been able to convince to help her – if they hadn’t fully bought into her mother’s mask of benevolence – but not any of Faba’s minions. So, Lillie simply ignored the uniformed subordinate and fled in the opposite direction. There were other elevators on this floor, if she hurried, she could make it to the docks without getting caught.
Lily didn’t have a fully fleshed out plan; her goals were simple. Escape the white halls of Aether, of this place that had been home, but wasn’t anymore. Find a new place, a better place. A place where fathers didn’t disappear, brothers didn’t abandon their siblings, and mothers didn’t go crazy and run cruel experiments, or slap their children. To escape to somewhere, anywhere, that wasn’t this place. She was so lost in her thoughts, and in her running, that she failed to see another of Faba’s men moving to intercept her path. She didn’t notice that soon, there’d be nowhere left to run.
But Nebby did. The little psychic type could also feel her desires for a new, safe place emanating off of Lillie. She wanted safety. For herself, but for the little pokémon as well. And as the Aether employees closed in, Nebby drew on every ounce of power it could. It would send them somewhere safe. Somewhere safe and warm, where they could be happy. Blue energy slowly began to shine from Nebby’s body and it rapidly became brighter and brighter until, with a sudden flash, both pokémon and girl vanished.
When Lillie’s consciousness stirred, she heard the sound of gently lapping water. She didn’t see much of anything, except black. But that’s because her eyes were closed. She opened her eyes and saw the night sky, full of far more stars than she had ever seen living on Aether Paradise. She tried to stand up, but her legs felt weak. Nebby squeaked weakly from within her bag.
There was the sound of footsteps through the water, and then a gasp of shock. “Hey,” an unfamiliar woman’s voice said urgently, “are you okay?”
Lillie groaned and shook her head. She wasn’t sure if she was okay or not. Right now, she felt dizzy… and wet. “Where…?” the blonde mumbled blearily.
The voice sounded closer now. “Are you alright?” the woman asked again, and Lillie turned to see an unfamiliar woman in a lab coat with white hair. “Here, take my hand.”
Lillie took the outstretched hand and was pulled to her feet. “Where… Where am I?” she wondered dizzily.
“You’re on Melemele Island,” the woman said. “Do you remember your name? How you got here?
“I-I’m Lillie, Lillie A–” she started to introduce herself, before realizing she wasn’t sure if she could trust this stranger she’d just met. There was no way to know that this woman wouldn’t just send her back if she knew who she was or, what she’d do if she knew about the Cosmog in Lillie’s pack. “Er, just Lillie. I’m… I’m not sure how I got here.”
It was an obvious lie, but the woman didn’t challenge her; instead, she merely hummed thoughtfully. “Well, Lillie,” she said, “my name is Professor Burnet. Why don’t I help you get dried off and warmed up? My husband’s lab is just a short walk from here.”
If she was on Melemele, then Professor Kukui couldn’t be too far away. For now, with no better options, it was probably best she just did what this woman wanted. So, she just nodded quietly and followed her away from the shore.
Professor Kukui watched with amusement as his young son Lei clambered all over his Incineroar. While his partner was a fearsome fighter in battle, when it came to little ones – human or pokémon – the Heel Pokémon was as gentle as a little Wooloo. That being said, the fire and dark type didn’t seem to know how to react to the happily babbling toddler as he was scaled like Mount Lanakila.
Lei squealed with delight when he got to the top of Incineroar, the happy toddler looking out at the world from atop the tall pokémon. Lei wasn’t even talking yet, but there was only one other person that the professor had ever seen with such a natural ability to bond with pokémon, and that was Ash Ketchum. It had been a while since Ash had visited, but the professor was proud of his former protégé and how well he was doing.
It was well past Lei’s bedtime, but Professor Kukui could never bring himself to interrupt his son when Lei was interacting with one of his many pokémon. He had intended to do some research on pokémon moves after putting Lei to bed, but a fun night like this was… “BANG” suddenly the screen door opened with a slam, interrupting his happy thoughts. Burnet stepped in, which was slightly surprising as he wasn’t expecting her back just yet. Much more surprising was the young woman accompanying her; soaking wet and with the distinctive pale blonde hair and pale green eyes of a member of the Aether family.
He looked to his wife for guidance.
“Kukui, this is Lillie, she needs our assistance. Please get her some dry clothes, a towel, and a blanket,” Burnet requested. Her tone softened. “I’ll get you something warm to drink, Lillie, okay?” she asked the girl.
Lillie nodded thankfully, still looking disoriented.
After the couple had gotten the young woman the appropriate items, they all sat down on the couch in the living room of the lab, Lei on Burnet’s knee and looking at Lillie with curious eyes. “So…” Professor Kukui started. “What brings you to Melemele, and how can we help you?”
Lillie opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, a weak “Pew…” came from her bag, and a pokémon unfamiliar to the professor floated out of her duffle bag. The closest thing he could compare it to was a nebula cloud, but it was more… solid. It was cute, but its eyes looked far more exhausted than would be healthy in any pokémon; let alone one as young as this unfamiliar one appeared.
Lillie seemed to agree because tears welled in her eyes. “O-Oh Nebby, what’s wrong?” she asked, her voice heavy with guilt and concern. “Did… Did you hurt yourself, bringing us here? Oh no, it’s… It’s all my fault.”
“A Cosmog…” Burnet said quietly, eyes trained on the unfamiliar pokémon. Perhaps she recognized it through her studies into parallel dimensions, and dimensional travel. “Miss Lillie, why don’t you start at the beginning, and then we’ll help you however we can.”
The young woman seemed a little hesitant, but she looked at them – a quick look at Lei bouncing on Burnet’s knee, a more searching look at both professors – and took a deep breath. “My name is Lillie Aether,” she began, “and it’s something of a long story.”
She told them her story anyway, or most of it, at least. Kukui suspected that she was still holding some things back, but that was her right. She’d only just arrived after all, and her business was her own. However, when she said she had nowhere to go…
“Well…” Kukui said, exchanging a look with his wife, “I think it’s clear what we need to do.”
Burnet nodded, and Kukui noted with concern that worry flashed across Lillie’s face. He recognized that look. He’d seen it on Guzma too many times when he had been too young to understand what it meant. Back then Kukui hadn’t managed to convince his best friend that he wasn’t in any danger of being abandoned, or cast aside. He had failed Guzma. He would not fail this time.
“There’s a loft in the lab, Lillie,” Burnet told the blonde. “We’ll get a bed up there for you, but for now there’s only a futon. I know it’ll probably be… cozier than you’re used to. Lei’s room is close by, and I’ll warn you that he can get cranky when he doesn’t get enough sleep, but–”
“You’ll let me stay here?!” Lillie exclaimed in surprise, and if the situation hadn’t been so serious, Kukui would have laughed. Another child in this house would be no trouble. Lillie would have been far from the first traveler to end up on Melemele’s shores that they took in, if the one probably most in need of them doing so.
“If you don’t want–” Burnet started, but Kukui knew that wasn’t it. Someone who was used to isolation, and a lack of kindness, was surprised when they found it. It was a sad thing, but it wasn’t a new concept to him.
Sure enough, Lillie exclaimed “No!” before she blushed in embarrassment. “I… I mean I’d be most grateful to you for letting me stay here,” the blonde attempted to clarify. “If there’s anything I can do in return, I’d be happy to repay you however I can.”
While Kukui and Burnet both would have been more than happy to let her stay as long as she needed with nothing in return, that wasn’t what Lillie needed to hear right now. She needed a reason to allow herself to accept their kindness. And as such Kukui offered, “If you want to help out, I’ve been looking for an assistant, yeah. The pokémon research institute hasn’t assigned me an aide yet, so I could use a Helping Hand caring for the lab and such, oh yeah!”
That wasn’t entirely true, he was in talks to get an official aide at present, and the man’s study of Regional Variants and Delta Pokémon would be excellent assets in Kukui’s study of pokémon moves, but Lillie didn’t need to know all of that.
“I’d be happy too!” Lillie exclaimed, grateful for the opportunity to do something to repay their kindness.
In the time they’d been distracted by their conversation with Lillie, Lei had slipped off Burnet’s lap and toddled over to Lillie and Nebby. “Pew,” the Cosmog squeaked in greeting and was responded to with Lei’s delighted babbling as he tried to catch the Nebula Pokémon with both hands.
Two important things happened right then. The first thing was that Lei missed entirely as the Cosmog simply floated higher toward the ceiling just out of the toddler’s reach, and Lei stumbled forward into Lillie’s arms. There was a moment where they were both surprised by the contact and unsure of what to do next. Lillie froze. Then, Lei being Lei, sealed the deal by throwing both arms around Lillie and burying his face in her hair, hugging her tightly. Lillie melted. It was the first time Kukui or Burnet had seen her relax since meeting her. She hugged the little toddler back fiercely, and she smiled happily. The two professors faced each other with a knowing look and a nod of approval. The second thing that happened was Nebby, seeing that Lei was no threat, descended from above and within reach. Lei wasted no time and reached an outstretched hand to caress the nebula pokémon. Despite having playfully avoided the toddler before, this time it nuzzled in to share in the affection.
Professor Kukui smiled. He didn’t know if it was the shared childlike innocence of Nebby and Lei or the one thing he had never understood about his son, but the two were instant friends; he somehow just knew. Lei had a way with pokémon that he had rarely seen, and even then, only with trainers who’d spent long hours bonding with their pokémon through battling and traveling. But not Lei. His son formed that bond instantly somehow; Pokémon trusted him at the first contact. He’d seen it many times and still it astounded him.
For Elio “Sun” Ray, today was a big day. If he won this battle, he’d earn the right to call the pokémon he’d been working with for the last year his own. He would have preferred to be working with a Meowth, a pokémon he’d grown up surrounded by, or one of the pokémon his idols had raised – such as Pikachu or Charmander – but he could handle working with the Rhyhorn. He had trained with Ground types when he was younger. A solid two years and some of that had been with the Rhyhorn line specifically. Even if the Spikes Pokémon had been assigned to him as another of the many subtle jabs he’d dealt with in the last decade, Sun had decided to make the most of it. It wasn’t Rhyhorn’s fault, and Sun had decided they would make the best of the situation together.
Silver had been helping him train. While his older cousin was a busy man, the red-haired trainer had been more than willing to make video calls if it meant helping Sun get out of Lavender Town. Silver had left as soon as he could too, escaping the harsh whispers and judgmental stares that followed them wherever they went within Kanto.
Now, it was Sun’s turn to escape by leaving on his journey. Maybe he’d go to Johto, like Silver had. It would be nice to be able to visit his cousin more easily, and if he was in Johto long term, maybe Silver’s partners would have enough of a break from their careers that he’d actually get to meet them. Plus, the Radio Tower his mother worked at had a partner in the other region, so it was possible he could get a league sponsorship. That had worked out pretty well for Silver. Mom’s connections had gotten him in touch with Professor Elm, and he’d received the pokémon that ultimately became his team’s leader from Elm.
Or maybe he’d go to Hoenn. Uncle’s misdeeds had pretty much never darkened that particular doorstep, even compared to Johto, which had mostly dealt with rogue agents. For the most part, people didn’t judge Silver for Giovanni’s sins in Johto, but his status as the partner of their champion might’ve been the reason they held their tongues. Plus, he didn’t want to run the risk of living somewhere gloomy ever again after Lavender, and Hoenn was bright and warm almost year-round.
Or maybe he’d go north to the ever-wintery region of Sinnoh… Or across the sea to Galar, to visit his dad at the laboratory the Pokémon Research Institute had assigned him…
The point was, once he got through this last hurdle the world would really open up for him. Sure, Sun could’ve just had his mom catch him a pokémon, and left earlier, but he hadn’t wanted that. Despite the harsh stares and the whispered nasty comments, he wanted to become a trainer properly. If Sun just kept his head down, and played by the rules, maybe he’d finally be free of the cold stares and harsh whispers, like his mother was. And once that happened, he’d find a way to shine like his mom had. He’d shine so brightly that his uncle’s shadow would never darken his life again.
But then the battle evaluator spoke up, and Sun snapped his attention to the man holding the flags.
Focus, Sun told himself. The battle that’ll set you free is about to begin.
“The test battle between Elio Ray and Florian Tangle is about to begin,” the battle evaluator said. “The winner will be formally partnered with the pokémon they’ve been entrusted with. The loser will need to try again in another six months.”
“Bring it, Rocketeer,” the boy opposite Sun challenged. “I’ll make sure you never pass.”
Sun didn’t dignify that with a response, just kept a smile fixed on his face. He’d been called worse before and probably would be again. This guy, and whatever pokémon he threw out, were just obstacles to be overcome. After today, he’d never have to think about them, or this town, again.
At the call of “Battle, begin!” both young men unleashed their pokémon from their pokéballs. The Rhyhorn unleashed a triumphant bellow, and the young man opposing them unleashed a Gloom. Sun’s eyes narrowed, evaluating the opponent and the situation. A type advantage, and already evolved… If he let them fight this on their terms, he would have already lost.
But that didn’t matter, he’d never give them the chance. “Rhyhorn, use Magnitude,” Sun directed.
With a rumbling low, the Rhyhorn shook the arena causing the floor to stick up at jagged angles. The Gloom hopped to avoid the worst of the damage, but it was still caught in the seismic waves and the terrain was no longer even and flat; instead it was craggy and rocky, perfect for a pokémon like Rhyhorn.
Their opponent tried getting at them with Gloom’s Grass type attacks – mostly energy draining moves like Mega Drain – but Sun was far more in-sync with the pokémon he’d been assigned, and he knew exactly how to play to its strengths. The battle was a one-sided beatdown. And it could’ve been over sooner if Sun had tapped into the techniques he’d learned from– No, it was better if he didn’t even think about those skills. The teacher of those particular techniques was the reason Sun was so desperate to escape.
Despite the fact his opponent had been rude to him at the start, Sun offered his hand to shake. As long as he kept a cool head, this would all be over soon.
But his opponent wasn’t interested in being respectful; he slapped the offered hand away. “You cheated! There’s no way you could beat Gloom with a Rhyhorn, they’re super weak to grass moves!” his opponent said. “But I guess I shouldn’t have expected any better from a scion of the Rockets!”
“I didn’t cheat!” Sun protested, offended and trying his best not to get angry. He looked to the battle evaluator, but the man didn’t even give him a glance. It was nothing new, the only people who had ever been on Sun’s side were his family, and sometimes that just wasn’t enough. “I just played to Rhyhorn’s strengths!”
The Rhyhorn let out an appreciative rumble, gently nudging Sun’s side.
“Oh, so you’re saying I didn’t play to Gloom’s strengths?” his opponent asked harshly. “Is that it?”
“I never said you didn’t,” Sun protested. His protests fell on deaf ears, because the opponent he’d defeated stalked away to fetch a teacher. Sun’s heart dropped into his stomach; it was their battle instructor, Mr. Fletch. There wasn’t a single teacher in this school who would believe Sun over an accuser, but this man was probably the least likely. His family had lost everything in thefts by the Rockets, and he took it out on Sun whenever he could. Sun felt bad for him – really, he did – but the way the teacher treated him still wasn’t fair.
Mr. Fletch looked at Sun like he was less than the dirt on his shoes. It was a familiar gaze. Sun had been living with it for nearly a decade. They weren’t glaring at him, not really. When people looked at Sun, it wasn’t really him that they saw. He’d been living in the shadow of his uncle, Giovanni, since the day he was born. Once, that wouldn’t have been so bad when Giovanni was the respected leader of Viridian Gym. But when everyone had found out he was also the leader of Team Rocket, anything Sun ever did was seen in the worst possible light. It didn’t matter that Sun’s mother was famous in her own right.
“Mr. Ray,” their teacher said coldly, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to confiscate that Rhyhorn. We can’t have someone who’s so disrespectful to their opponents that they would resort to cheating to win enrolled in our League sponsored course. Let alone give them one of the pokémon bred for League sponsored trainers.”
“But I–!” Sun tried to protest. His partner, the Rhyhorn, stomped forward between him and Mr. Fletch. Head lowered, it rumbled its own protest to being separated from the boy. This wasn’t fair! Sun had played by their rules. He had stayed in this stupid town and gone to school with people who talked behind his back, just to prove he wasn’t like his uncle!
“We overlooked your uncle’s history when we let you attend this school since your mother is exemplary,” the teacher said with all the finality of the grave, steamrolling over any protests Sun tried to give. “But your classmates’ complaints of your actions and attitude have forced our hand. You are no longer welcome in this trainer school.”
And Sun cried, hugging the Rhyhorn one last time. The Spikes Pokémon cried too, but there was nothing for it since it didn’t actually belong to Sun, and it would only have been entrusted to him if he’d completed the course.
Andrea Ray waited at home with a cake to celebrate her son’s completion of his course. She had been preparing this for the last month. A cake, her husband on video call, and tickets for a one-way trip to Alola.
His father was on standby for video call, and they were prepared to break the good news that their family was going to reunite in Alola. While Sun would be free to start his journey wherever he chose, she had a feeling that she could win him over on the idea rather easily.
All thoughts of winning him over in a fun way fled her mind when her baby came through the door hours earlier than she had expected, head bowed low in defeat, and without the Rhyhorn at his side.
It took him a moment to notice her, and she saw his brown eyes were red from crying. He had left the house today ready to conquer the world, and he came home broken in two. “Mama…” he managed to croak out. “They… kicked me out… I’m not getting to keep Rhyhorn.”
Righteous fury burned inside her, and part of her wanted to go to the school and give everyone there a piece of her mind. But her little Sun was in front of her, having cried so many tears he didn’t have any left, so she took him into her arms.
On a different day, he might fuss a little, pretending to be too big to enjoy the affection, or at least embarrassed by it. Not today, though. He embraced her like melting ice cream; sliding into her hug, and he was as tall as her now, nearly as tall as his father, but right now he seemed so small.
More hugs were exchanged, and more tears were shed, but once it felt like they had a handle on their emotions she pulled apart from Sun enough to look her little boy in the eye. She opened her mouth to speak, but then her laptop began to chime with the sound of a video call. She hesitated for only a moment before picking up the call. Bruce would want to be part of this conversation. Fortunately, her husband was good at reading the mood.
“What’s wrong?” her husband asked.
Bruce was a gentle soul. It was one of the reasons she loved him, and it was one of the reasons they balanced each other out. She had a wild passion for life that their son had inherited whereas Bruce had a calming presence to him. In their almost twenty years of marriage, Andrea could count the number of times she’d seen him genuinely angry on one hand. The man on the other side of the screen looked apoplectic. His face turned red, then purple, and then… He took a deep breath. He took another. It took a few more moments, but he finally spoke. “I’m sorry, son,” he started. “I know how hard you’ve been training, and how much you cared for the Rhyhorn.” Their son nodded sullenly. “But…” he started, and his eyes flicked to her. “Maybe… Maybe once you hear the news your mother and I have to share – even if it won’t fix it – we can have a new beginning, together.”
Sun looked at them both with curious eyes. “What do you mean, ‘a new beginning’?” their son asked.
“I have an opportunity for a permanent position,” Bruce started, “with a professor in Alola. Your mother has wanted to visit Alola for years, but it’s never quite worked out.”
“We had been planning to surprise you with a trip when you got home today,” Andrea explained to her son. “This isn’t how we planned to tell you, in more ways than one, but we were already planning to move there.”
Sun looked completely lost, poor thing.
“The professor I’m going to be working with is in charge of a pokémon school there,” Bruce said. “You’d probably have to take classes for a few months, but if completing a curriculum still matters to you, I’m sure you’ll have a better time there.”
In more ways than one, Andrea thought, but didn’t say. She had known about the school Professor Kukui ran, but hadn’t thought about it in context of the move until now. “If you don’t want to do part of this or any of it, we’ll understand,” she promised. “Your father and I will get you any pokémon as your partner that we reasonably can, and we’ll get you a ticket to anywhere you want to go. But I think this could be good for us, my little Sun. I think this could be good for you.”
Unfortunately, their poor boy seemed to have become overwhelmed. “I… I…” Sun stammered. “I need some time to myself!” he blurted, and fled their living room for his own.
They watched him go, and neither wife nor husband spoke for a few moments. “Do you think he’ll be okay?” Bruce finally asked from the other side of the screen.
Andrea nodded. “He will,” she said with certainty. “He just needs some time to think.” She noticed the time. “But it’s time for my broadcast.” She smirked. “Since this is my last time on air here… Should I cut loose a bit?”
A tiny bit of the anger she’d seen in him earlier returned to Bruce’s eyes. “Give ‘em hell, honey!” he told her before logging off the computer. And she would. It was time to remind everyone the Scratch Cat Girl still had claws.
Sun stared up at the posters that decorated his walls. Pictures of his idols; Red Tajiri and Ash Ketchum. Posters of them with their pokémon… of Red holding up the champion’s cup for Kanto when he’d won it all those years ago… of Ash and his team as they claimed the crown in the Orange Islands, Kanto’s Battle Frontier, and Kalos. There was a picture or two with Ash and his partners after they earned their own accolades. Serena Gabena flanked by Ash and Goh Robinson holding up the trophy that marked her position as Kanto’s Top Coordinator for the season. Goh in the spotlight with Ash and Serena on each side as he was recognized with an honorary professorship for his contributions to pokémon research.
And, below all of that, a much smaller photograph. A young woman and her six Meowth bowing for the camera as a spotlight shone down on them. The first tournament Sun had ever seen, with his greatest hero taking the winning position: the Cat Scratch Girl of Kanto, his own mom. It was the first time he’d watched a tournament in person, and he could still hear the cheers and applause of the crowd. He’d decided back then that he would shine just as brightly as his mom did.
And then when he was six, he’d learned about the heroes standing against Team Rocket. Red had even calmed the restless spirits of Lavender Town! Sun had been too shy to approach him to get an autograph back then, and it was high on his list of regrets in life. Ash Ketchum was a trainer who’d left Pallet Town at only ten, and throughout his journeys, he was foiling Team Rocket’s schemes what seemed like once a day! They’d made Sun think about becoming a strong trainer for more than just glory, because maybe, with the right pokémon and enough experience, he could be a hero like they were!
The years he’d spent trapped under his uncle’s shadow hadn’t changed that. It just made the desire to follow in the footsteps of all three of his heroes even stronger; made Sun hunger to shine even brighter.
Today was the first time he’d ever really considered giving that up. The comments he’d dealt with these past ten years had hurt and so had the judgmental stares. But until today, as long as he’d kept his head down, things had always been… livable. Sun supposed that was the best word. Because until today, there had always been a clear goal to shoot for. A clear way out. But today, that option had been cut off. It didn’t actually change very much, true. There were easier ways to get pokémon, and plenty of kids didn’t try to finish their education first. But–
His radio clock chimed like it did whenever his mom’s broadcast was about to start. There was the telltale crackle of static. “Helllooo, Kanto Region,” Mama said in the voice she always used while in front of an audience, “this is your DJ the Scratch Cat Girl comin’ at you live!” A slight hint of menace crept into her voice. “Please, enjoy this broadcast, because this will be my last broadcast here from the Lavender Radio Tower.”
Sun suspected that, all around Kanto, people’s faces were falling flat. The people who ran Lavender Radio definitely were. Mama was the only reason that anyone even tuned into the station after the connection with Johto’s station became available.
“Now, while I pick out some music for the afternoon, I’m sure you all have questions,” the DJ Scratch Cat Girl said. “So, I’ll be opening up the lines to callers. You all know the digits, so call in while you can.” That slight hint of menace still hadn’t left Mama’s tone.
The first caller came within a few seconds. “Hello?” someone said on the other line. “Am I speaking to the Scratch Cat Girl?”
“This is her speaking,” Mama confirmed, voice sweet and venomous as poisoned honey, “and I think I recognize that voice! For those at home, this is the Director of Lavender Radio. Mr. Director, what a surprise!” Her tone contained none whatsoever. “How can I help you tonight?”
“I just wanted to reassure your listeners that you are in fact not quitting, and this was all some kind of joke, right?” the elderly man on the other line said with a hint of desperation. “A publicity stunt, perhaps?”
“Not at all,” Sun’s mother said with faux politeness. “You see, listeners, while I love the Kanto Region, it certainly does not love my family.”
Sun almost laughed. That was understating it. Uncle Giovanni might have been the one who started everything, but Kanto had no love for Silver nor Sun, and most of them had never even heard of his father.
“My nephew, Silver, has already forged his own path, outside of this region. But my son has his whole future ahead of him,” she continued. “And listeners, I’m here today not just as your DJ, but also as a mother. It’s a parent’s duty to protect their children’s futures, especially from a place that is supposed to be unbiased, such as an institute of education. So, that’s what I’m doing. Mr. Director, I’m going to have to end our call because it’s time to play I’ve Got a Secret, a song about an equally protective mother.”
“His whole life lies ahead, so much training to be done. And as his mother, I'll protect the future for my son,” the lady singer crooned, before the song shifted to another voice.
“Each end's a new beginning, every darkness has its dawn,” the new, masculine, voice sang. “Tears can't fall forever so now I must move on. My hopes are still the same for the man I'd like to be, and I will make those dreams come true, just you wait and see!”
Sun blinked. Was… Was Mama trying to reach him through the music after he’d run from the room? He’d been touched by her speaking out on his behalf in her final broadcast, but now…
The song finally came to an end, and DJ Scratch Cat Girl reappeared. “For the people who understand what I’m trying to say, thank you,” she said, voice more serious. “If anyone has a problem with what I’m saying, however, please feel free to change the station. If you’re not willing to rethink your feelings or actions towards my family, I don’t want you as a listener. But, it seems we have another caller!”
“Hello, Mrs. Ray,” the voice on the other line said solemnly. Sun fought the urge to doubletake. He knew that voice. Everyone knew that voice; all over the world.
“Professor Oak?” Mama said in shock. “This is a surprise.” And unlike her tone when Lavender’s Radio Director came on the line, her surprise was entirely genuine.
“It’s been a long time,” the elderly professor said. “How long has it been, since your husband was one of my aides-in-training? Almost a decade now, I believe.”
“It’ll be ten years in the summer,” she agreed, and she seemed so genuinely shocked that she still didn’t slip into the voice of a performer, tinged with malice or not.
“I just want it to be clear for the world to hear,” he said. “Your family has, and has always had, my support. To judge a child for the sins of their family is unconscionable. No, to judge anyone for the sins of their family is unconscionable. That it has come to the point of your family leaving this region…” There was a moment of silence. “If there’s anything I can do…”
“Reach out to my husband,” Mama said, “I’m sure between the two of you, there are things you could arrange in Alola. Thank you, Professor Oak. For everything.”
“Of course,” the old professor said, “anything for one of my favorite students.” He hung up the call, and Sun was left with a great many questions. He’d have to ask his parents about them eventually, but for now… He’d enjoy his mama’s last performance.
“Sorry for that long break from the music, listeners,” Mama said, voice back to that of a performer. “But now that the Meowth’s out of the bag about where I’m heading, let’s play some music to celebrate one of the most beautiful regions of all, eh~?”
“I could get used to this heat on my skin,” played on the radio. “I can feel every day, I'm a little bit stronger. I only wish each day was longer. Yeah, we're having fun in the sun. The Alolan sun!”
The song, and each one that followed it, seemed to settle under Sun’s skin. Even if they weren’t written by his mom, she’d clearly chosen each one as support for him. A caller or two tried to insult their family, but there was more support for Andrea Ray than heckling. Lavender Town clearly loved their famous Cat Scratch Girl which made their treatment of Sun and Silver so much more perplexing. Was it because she was a female? Or was it because she had shined so brightly that it was impossible to see Giovanni’s shadow when you looked at her.
He had never called into his mother’s show before, but Sun found himself punching in the numbers to call her broadcast.
“Another caller!” Mama said gleefully. “Welcome to the final broadcast of the Scratch Cat Girl in Kanto!”
“Hi Mama,” Sun said. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
All that came out from the other end of the phone was a hesitant, “Baby?”
If Professor Oak joining the broadcast had taken Sun’s mom off-guard, this seemed to freeze her in place, so Sun continued, “I hope you don’t mind if I borrow this moment to speak.”
Sun took a deep breath. Once he said what he wanted to say, there would be no going back. There’d be no more bowing his head and trying to play by the rules of people that hated him. Trying to appeal the expulsion wouldn’t be an option, but then it never really had been. “My name is Elio Ray,” he said. “I’m the son of the Scratch Cat Girl, Andrea Ray. The nephew of Giovanni, leader of Team Rocket. Earlier today I was expelled Lavender Pokémon School for winning a fight, fair and square. The Rhyhorn I spent the last six months training and raising was taken from me. A teacher took the word of a student who was a liar and a sore loser instead of consulting the battle evaluator. Right now, no one here really knows me, outside of who my family is, and that’s not who ‘I’ am. But … I’ll make you all this promise: One day, the world is going to know my name.” Sun paused.
“And…” Sun had to unclench his teeth as he brought to mind the names of the people who had screwed him over. “…Florian Tangle and Jonas Fletch. The guy I beat, and the teacher who believed his lies. I know you two think you ruined things for me. Stopped me in my tracks. Well, you’re wrong. Someday, I’ll look back on today, and I won’t even remember your names. Today will just be the day I took the first step towards freeing myself from Lavender Town.”
“I’m so proud of you, my little Sun,” Mama said before putting her performer’s voice back on, “and with this, I think we’ve just about reached the end of our last broadcast. But I think we’ve all earned one more song for the road, right~? So listeners, if you’re out there feeling trapped where you are now, this song is dedicated to you and the bright future ahead~”
“Discover whole new different worlds, ready, set, here we go. Together to the farthest places,” the radio sang. “There's a magical adventure ahead if we go wherever our destiny takes us. You don't have to be afraid anymore. Spread your wings, believe, you'll rise up and soar.”
And Sun let himself believe it. Despite everything, he fell asleep that night with that song in his ears and a smile on his lips.
In another place, a young man with close-cropped brown hair in a black suit stepped into a dark room. The only light in the room came from the cylindrical tank filled with brown liquid and a single feline pokémon. Fury that was distinct from – and yet kindred to – his own burned in the young man’s mind as he approached. Good. That was good. Even after all this time, heir feelings were the same.
“Hello, old friend,” the young man said, raising a hand to touch the glass. The creature inside raised a three-fingered hand to mirror his. “I know you’ve been waiting a long time, but the time for our vengeance is almost at hand.”
Feelings of joy at the reunion, displeasure that their vengeance wasn’t coming now, and the rage that never quite left blurred through their link like a storm. “I know, we have spent far too much time here in this dark underground,” the young man in the suit promised. “But soon, very, very soon, we will strike back.”