They of the Sun
Chapter Twenty-Seven:  Thoughts

omni

      "You have them in quite the predicament," Giovanni raised his eyebrows. Everything about him was sophisticated. From all the perfectly placed hairs on his head to the shine of his shoes. Lusamine couldn't help but be in awe.

      Meanwhile, Guzma couldn't help but be annoyed.

     Giovanni this.

     Giovanni that.

     He sat backwards in a chair further away from the two in the lily-white, sterile laboratory. It took him a while to adjust to the dramatic lights and barren feel of the place. The man got the creeps from the Slowpoke's dead stare in its state of suspension. There were several Pokémon like that throughout Lusamine's hideout. But the Slowpoke seemed to stare into his soul. 

     Something about the way Giovanni's suit absorbed all light into the blackest of black didn't agree with the Team Skull leader. Nor the sleek, lilac-grey and violet Pokemon floating by the man. It's gaze was controlled and cold like the energy it radiated. He liked the Slowpoke better. 

     "It wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have Guzma," Lusamine let out a girly giggle, "Isn't that right?"

     "Right," he grunted, averting his eyes to the ground. "The kid's not like the others. She doesn't want shit to do with any of this. Guess I gave her a way out." 

     "And us a way in," Giovanni's smile gave an odd sense of foreboding that Guzma didn't quite like. This was the kind of 'boss' he wanted to be... And, like usual, wasn't. Guess, I'm still the failure everyone thinks of me. 

     "What a better way to tire these islands' defenses than drawing out the Tapu by this girl. But what about Cosmog?"

     He could see Lusamine tense, a nervous smile breaking her fantasy. Giovanni was not one to be trifled with. Anyone could see that much. Still, she feigned her cool confidence, "That is... under control."

     "molto buona," the mob boss gave a Liepard-like grin, "With it's energy we can open the portal to Megalo Tower and awaken the Blinding One. Everyone will be washed away by the light. Aether's Light. Team Rainbow Rocket's Light. I have been to many worlds. All fantastic. All mine for the taking. All valuing one thing above all else: Light." 

     Conveniently, we're under the bus, huh?  Guzma thought with a snort. His dark eyes trained on the 'worldly' man pacing around the lab. Cyra's a rash kid... but no way is she that dumb or desperate to escape. The Tapu chose her for a reason? As outdated as the Trials and the whole Guardians of the Islands myth were, there was still something about it that tugged his attention.  Something just wasn't right. 

      "Comunque," Almost challenging, Giovanni turned to meet Guzma's eyes for the first time since his arrival, "I have ways to keep things in check if she strays. She has no choice, she never has. What do you think?"

      "I think-"

      "I think it's magnificent!" Lusamine clapped her hands together, interrupting her partner. "Ultra Beasts and humans in a new light! A light different than that of our sun, a stronger light! A blinding, radiant light!"

      I think you're asking for a mess. 

      "Yeah," he said, nonchalantly. He grit his teeth at the tension in his throat, the Pokemon accompanying the mob boss side-eyeing him. It was a threat he didn't care to answer. Or maybe, it was in his head and he wasn't as cool as he believed himself to be. Guzma laughed internally, Yeah, right. 

      Lusamine spun towards her supposed-be partner once her dreamboat was gone. "You have Lillie, right?"

     "Something like that."

     And as if Arceus had planned a joke in a sitcom, there was Wicke ringing Lusamine in. "Madame, Lady Lillie is here." 

      Lusamine's green eyes narrowed; she was like a hungry Carvanha the way her mouth twisted. Before anyone would ever notice, her composure was regained as her heels clicked closer and closer to Guzma. A delicate finger ran down his cheek and along his jaw. Her skin was the softest thing on the planet- he was sure of it- as it went along his stubbly jawline before landing underneath his chin, where Lusamine applied pressure to lift his face. Nose to nose. Guzma gulped, his heart picking up speed. Arceus, how he wanted to just keep his cool. She always made it impossible when her true colors shined through. He had always thought Lusamine was unnerving in her pristine, white light. 

      "Did you see the Mewtwo with him?" She said, gazing into her eyes. "That's his creation. His work. He's what we need to follow if we have any hope to succeed. And you've done exceedingly well so far. Don't mess this up for yourself."

      He could only taste sourness in his mouth. Why?

     "I think you're insane," he murmured. The enamoring woman let out a small "hmph" before lowering her hand. 

     "I think, you're right there with me if you dare stand in my way." 

     Guzma said nothing as he followed her out of the haunting lab. The distance between Aether Paradise and Po Town left him with a lot of time to think. 

•••

     Lillie was nothing short of embarrassed with herself. She felt the tears prick at her eyes at the distant sound of heels clicking in the hall. How could she have been so stupid and naive? Acerola had done all the work in trying to protect her and all she could do was nothing. Completely useless. The more she thought about it, the lower she sunk.

     The girl didn't have to look at the room she was in; it was one she was one she had grown up for so many years in. Even when Gladion had been around, it was lonely. And after he was gone, it truly left an emptiness. She hated that feeling of being alone. The duvet covers were fluffier than an a Swablu's downy feathers, but it brought her no comfort like they had when she was younger. 

     At the sight of Nebby's empty duffel bag, she let out a sob. She didn't even have the means to protect the one thing she swore to. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. 

     This time there wasn't a Cyra to save them from the fall. 

     Cyra. The last person she wanted to think about. She had thought they were making progress. She would finally let them in. Lillie had begun to feel confidence the longer she was around. That had gotten ripped away, too.

    Lillie covered her mouth in an attempt to muffle her cry as the door opened, the room seemed to brighten in her mother's presence. A filthy light. She was hoping she could have avoided the woman for longer. The girl ignored the pain she felt as she bit down on her tongue. Lusamine hated her crybaby tears. 

    "Oh, please," Lusamine laughed, taking in her daughter's pitiful appearance. "Is this any way to greet your mother?" 

     Her breathing was her sole focus. Lusamine's presence alone was daunting, no one in Aether ever dared to go against her. And that's exactly what Lillie had done. She closed her eyes knowing what came next. Familiar hands fell on her shoulders. Anywhere they touched made Lillie want to rip her skin off. 

     "Then again, I think stealing is not a way to thank your mother," the Aether president firmly grabbed her daughter's chin. The green of their eyes mirrored one another; one held absolute certainty. Lusamine had a disdain towards her daughter's wide, innocent eyes. It was something she had long tried to be rid of. Those Totodile tears had gotten the best of her when the girl was young, now they were only a nuisance. A sign of weakness. There was still a twinge in her heart. But nothing could stop her from her desires anymore. Not Giovanni. Not Guzma. Not her missing husband. Not her children. 

      She left a kiss on Lillie's forehead- causing the girl to tense- with a chortle. 

     "Don't you worry. Nebby is safe and taken care of, but keep in mind, it never belonged to you,' the woman made her way to the door, casting a glance at the younger version of herself, "Now all we have left is that damned brother of yours. But he's not too far out of reach either. It's a shame that this is what it's come to. He would have been a fantastic leader for Aether once I left this pitiful world. Cunning, strength, and pride. All things you lack, but no worries. It can be worked around. Brighter days are ahead of us."

     Lusamine shut the door, leaving Lillie trapped and alone in her dimmed room. She didn't know what to think. Her mother was further off the edge than when she had ran away with Nebby... If she had left when Gladion had, would things have been different? Would she and Nebby be safe? Or would the two have been caught sooner? 

     Not bothering to kick her shoes off or pull the blankets over herself, Lillie curled up into her bed as cries hiccuped their way back up her throat. The thoughts of what were to come spiraled from her head into tears. Terrifying blinding lights filled her nightmares that night as she ran away over and over. And there was nothing she could do.