Operation: Aether (Aureliashipping Variant)

Chapter 4: Complicated Meetings...!

"Absol, please!", Lillie says, in a pleading tone, "We're battling someone, someone we have to impress!"

Absol then yawns and lies in the snow, taking a nap. Lillie is forced to call Absol back to its Pokéball, ending the match

Lillie looks down, but Ash pets Pikachu and walks up to her

"Hey Lillie...", Ash asks, "are you... feeling any better now?"

Lillie looks up, with a small smile on her face

"Y-yeah! I definitely see what you were talking about now...", Lillie replies, "but... I'm still a little disappointed in myself for failing at mega evolution."

"When Gladion went through mega evolution training, I caught an Absol on some special island we'd gone to for the training", Lillie continues, more saddened than a moment ago, "but even after finding the Absol mega stone, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't mega evolve Absol, or even get it to listen to me..."

"Am... am I just not good enough?", Lillie says, clutching Absol's Pokéball close to her

Ash then puts his hands on Lillie's shoulders

"Lillie, mega evolution or not, you have clearly gotten stronger!", Ash responds, "Your Pokémon are strong and I had a lot of fun battling you!"

"You'll always be good enough, Lillie", Ash continues, as he begins to stroke Lillie's hair, and his thumb wipes a tear off of Lillie's face, "and I know you'll do what you've set out to do! Getting your father back, mastering mega evolution, we both know you can do it, as long as you don't give up!"

Lillie looks up for a moment, and she thanks him for the kind words. As they gaze into each other's eyes, they both begin to lean in, as they close their eyes

"Lillie? Ash? Where are you?", a voice yells in the distance, snapping them both out of it. It was none other than Gladion

"What are you two-", Gladion says, before seeing Lillie in Ash's arms, close to his face

Ash and Lillie, immediately flustered by this, both jump away in embarrassment. They begin to stumble on their words, which would say things to the effect of "it's not what it looks like, I swear!"

Gladion, now realizing what exactly he's interrupted, gives himself a face palm so hard he knocks himself to the ground. He whispered something aloud, sounding something on the lines like "I did it again... I did it again..."

Once everyone has calmed down, and Gladion got back up, there was a moment of awkward silence

"Brother?", Lillie asks, "What are you doing up so late?"

"I was about to ask you both the same question", Gladion asks, "what the heck are you two doing out here so late in the night?"

Ash and Lillie look at each other, where Lillie responds with "we... couldn't sleep"

Gladion pauses for a moment, but then nods in understanding

"Is... that why you're up so late too?", Ash asks

"N-no!", Gladion replies in denial, "It's just kind of hard to sleep with that battle you two were having making a lot of flash!"

Lillie, of course, can tell that's not the case, but didn't wish to persist any further

The three head inside, going back to bed and getting ready for the mourning. This time, everyone manages to stay asleep

The following morning, Mohn fixes everyone breakfast. They all thank him for the kindness, as Mohn goes into town to buy some more living supplies. Once he has left, the family begin their mission

Lusamine, Lillie, and Gladion check the rooms for clues as to what exactly is going on, while Ash and Chloe search the living room for everyone

"Ash... Ash...", the voice in Ash's head appears yet again, but this time it sounds... familiar

"Outside... woods... now...", the voice continues

Ash is confused and unsettled, but decides to check it out, with Pikachu by his side

"Ash, where are you going?", Chloe asks

"Chloe...", Ash asks, "is it weird that I've been hearing voices lately?"

"Well...", Chloe replies, "yeah, kinda!"

"Well, one of them is telling me to go outside and check the woods", Ash continues, "I'll be back in a minute, alright?"

Chloe nods, although reluctantly, as Ash heads out

Ash walks out into the woods, pondering on all the weird stuff that is going on

"New and terrifying forms of legendary Pokémon, Lillie's dad being brainwashed by an ultra beast, and now these weird voices?", Ash says to himself, with Pikachu listening, "What the heck is going on?"

Pikachu jumps onto his shoulder and runs his cheek onto his, lightening Ash's mood a bit. Ash is lucky to have a partner like Pikachu

"Ash...!", the familiar voice returns, causing Ash to look ahead. It's... it's Goh!

"Goh?", Ash says excitedly, "What are you doing here?"

Ash begins to explain to Goh what's going on, but then he noticed some kind of aura surrounding Goh

"I am aware of the tragedy that is going on here", Goh replies, in a voice altered by the aura, as he reveals his blue glowing eyes

Ash is startled by this, but then sees something begin to float above Goh, closing in front of him. It had a big head, almost resembling some kind of crown, with a green and white texture and a blue aura that matches that of Goh

"and I believe I may be of assistance!", the mysterious Pokémon says

Ash is still startled by this, but the mysterious Pokémon, through Goh's voice, tell him not to worry, and that may Ash allow him to explain himself, he will find an ally in him

Ash, after looking at Pikachu and thinking for a moment, reluctantly agrees to hear him out

The episode ends with Ash hearing out the mysterious Pokémon

Who is this mysterious Pokémon, exactly? Are things looking better, or worse? Will Lillie master mega evolution? And what will be the fate of Mohn? And more importantly... could Gladion possibly be worse at interrupting love? Find out next time, as the Journey Continues!

Writer's talking-

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm particularly enjoying the whole mystery element I've incorporated into this part of the story. I'm going to enjoy writing this mysterious Pokémon we've introduced here

Stay tuned for the next chapter, the next couple of episodes are going to be very... interesting... to write, shall we saw