Operation: Aether (Aureliashipping Variant)

Chapter 4: Complicated Meetings...!

"That's why I decided that I wanted to learn more about the power of mega evolution", Gladion continued, "I wanted to make sure that no matter what came to stand in our way, I'd be ready for it!"

Gladion then explains how Korrina offered to train him to learn the power of mega evolution, and how she gifted him his own Lucario as she'd been asked by her grandfather to train and find a worthy trainer for

"The training was ruthless and unforgiving", he said, holding his arm, "but when I was finally able to use mega evolution for the first time, and proved our strength by defeating Korrina in a rematch... it was worth it!"

Ash and Chloe applauded Gladion for the story, though Lillie looked a bit down about it. Ash, having taken a notice to this, wonders why she seems upset

Before Ash can ask Lillie what's wrong, however, Magearna points its laser again. Everyone rushes over to Magearna, looking at where the laser was pointing at. They see the laser point directly at a wooden cabin. Lillie concludes that Mohn must be there

Lillie, having realized how close her father is to her now, rushes towards the cabin as fast as she can go

Before the others can begin to catch up, Ash hears something. "NAAAAYYYYYYYHAYAY", something akin to a... Rapidash, perhaps? Or maybe a Mudsdale? Either way, Ash was unsettled by it

"Guys...", Ash asks, feeling rather unsettled by what he had heard, "did you all hear that?"

"Hear what?", Chloe asked, being the only one near Ash as everyone else was rushing to the house

Before Ash can reply, however, they hear a massive crashing sound. As they look to the right of the wooden cabin, they see a massive avalanche heading in their direction, threatening to destroy everything around them

"G-guys!!!!", Ash yells, pointing at the avalanche

"Let's grab father and get out of here!", Gladion yells

"That isn't going to work", Chloe tells him, in a worried tone, "we aren't fast enough!"

"Well we can't just do nothing!", Lusamine says, with a good deal of stress in her voice

Ash thinks for a moment, but then grabs Gladion's hand and runs into the direction of the avalanche

"Ash, what are you doing???", Gladion asks

"If we combine our Z-Moves, we might be able to stop this avalanche!", Ash replies with conviction, "Are you ready?"

Gladion nods, but then sends out both his Lucario and his Lycanroc

"Ash", Gladion tells him, "I want you to use your Firium Z with my Lucario, can you do that?"

Ash is confused for a moment, but then looks at Gladion's Lucario and ultimately agrees

Gladion and Lycanroc perform the rock type Z-Move, Continental Crush, while Ash has Lucario perform the fire type Z-Move, Inferno Overdrive

As a result, Inferno Overdrive destroys much of the avalanche while Continental Crush prevents the rest from getting too far, although there is much fog after this. Everyone, including Lillie, is knocked over by the sheer impact around them

When the fog finally begins to clear up a bit, Ash can see something in the distance. Some kind of... pointy horse Pokémon? Roaring and running away. Ash had a lot of questions, but l focuses on getting the others up and running over to Mohn's place

Lillie helps her mother up, while Ash helps up Chloe and Gladion. After checking to see if everyone is ok, Lillie immediately blitz's over to her father's house while sayings "Now let's meet father!", causing her family to follow her lead