Operation: Aether (Aureliashipping Variant)

Chapter 4: Complicated Meetings...!

"Wow, really?", Ash replies, "That's awesome! You're so smart, Lillie."

Lillie blushes to this compliment, as she forms a something of a smile on her face

"Thanks!", Lillie replies, "I wonder if Nebby's watching us from here... watching over us..."

They then see a shooting star. Lillie and Ash took this as a confirmation that, be they Nebby or not, somebody is up there watch over them

"Lillie...", Ash tells her, "you'll get your father back, even if we haven't figured it out yet!"

"How do you know that, Ash?", Lillie asks, in a frantic voice, "How do you know we can do this? Father doesn't seem to remember anything and we have no clue where to start!"

Lillie begins to break down, grabbing her face with her hands

"I-I want to save him, but I-I c-can't, I'm not strong enough to do any of this...", by this point Lillie can't even muster up the right words

"Lillie!", Ash says, as he puts his hands on Lillie's shoulders and shakes her, snapping her out of it. She gave him a troubled look, but Ash gazed back at her with a soft smile, which put Lillie at ease

"Well, to answer your question...", Ash replies, "because we already did this before!"

Lillie is confused, though curious in what Ash is about to say

"I mean, think about it! Nihilego has your parent under some sort of spell? You have no idea how you're going to save them, but won't give up until you do?", Ash continues, "We already saved your mom from this ultra beast, I know we'll find a way to do it for your father too!"

"But... but that's not the same thing", Lillie says

"Sure it is!", Ash replies, "Because you didn't give up on your mother when she got taken, and I know you're not going to give up here either, you're too strong for that!"

"Y... yeah, maybe you're right!", Lillie says, while she blushes and smiles, though her smile quickly fades, "But... I still don't know how we're going to get father back this time. I still feel so lost..."

Ash thinks to himself, wondering how he can help Lillie. But then, Ash has an idea

"Lillie...", Ash says, standing up and pointing right at her, "I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!"

There comes a moment of silence, until Lillie reacts

"W-what???", Lillie asks, with a surprised voice, "A battle this late at night? With you???"

"You said you were feeling lost?", Ash replies, "Well, a Pokémon battle is just the way to fix that!"

"Part of why I like battling is because when your opponent pushes you to your absolute limits, and you're backed into a corner, everything just comes together!", Ash continues, with a visible fire in his voice, "When you're deep enough in a battle, you know exactly where you are, because where you are is in the moment!"

Lillie is surprised by this view on battling, she also blushes as it reminds her of how he'd inspire her back in Alola, a feeling she has long missed...

"I... never thought of it like that.", Lillie replies, with a hint of fondness in her voice

"So how about it?", Ash asks, "Care to show me how much stronger you've gotten?"

Lillie thinks for a moment, then she looks at Snowy, who is staring her back. In the end, she agrees to battle. They both distance themselves from the house so they don't wake anyone up, and now the battle commences. It's Ash vs Lillie