Above the water, you and your Pokémon surf the waves, the Ride Pager in gripped tightly in your hand. Lapras effortlessly carried you across Melemele Sea, gliding across the waves- much to the delight of Swimmers. Salandit sat on its shell, swiping curiously at the water. Little droplets hit its face, causing it to shrink back toward you, hissing. Luckily for Salandit, Lapras stopped at a cave entrance, seeming to be part of Ten Carat Hill. 

The cave was dark, and smelled of the salty ocean air. The steady drip of water rang throughout the small cavern, dripping, dripping into a small puddle at your feet. 

Looking up ahead, you were startled to see a figure rapidly closing in on you. A pair of eyes gleamed eerily in the darkness. Terrified, you scream, only to have your mouth covered by a pair of hands. 

"Shh, shh! It's okay, Y/N, it's me!" You quit screaming. The being then stepped into the sunlight, revealing itself as Gladion. One of your old friends you thought you'd never see again... you smiled at him. 

"I wasn't expecting you'd be this surprised to see me." 

"Gladion... it's been so much time since I've seen you..." He grins at you. 

"But it hasn't been very long since I've seen you." His grin grows wider, in and almost creepy way. 

Your smile fades slowly. "What do you mean...?" 

"Darling, I've been watching you ever since Lillie left for Kanto. I've watched you wake up in the morning, watched you go to sleep at night. I just can't stay away from you, Y/N. It's because I love you. You're adorable, no matter what you do." Gasping, you touch the crystal heart around your neck-- the one he gave to you. Seeing your movement, he walks closer and smiles even wider. 

"I see you kept the necklace I gave you," Salandit growled at him, preparing a Flame Burst. You shoo him off, and he stops preparing the move, yet still growls at Gladion. Seeing he can now get closer, he touches the heart as well. "This was an expression as my love for you. And you kept it. ... Face it, Y/N. You're mine, and always will be." 

He wraps you in his arms. Unable to escape from his grasp, you wave your hand toward Salandit-- a motion you two learned that's supposed to trigger a Venoshock. Salandit hisses, poison bubbling from its core- and shot the liquid into Gladion's eyes. 

Yelping in pain, he loosens his grasp, offering a chance for you to escape. You jump from the ledge as you call Sharpedo, speeding away into the distance, Salandit clinging to your back. 

---

Wiping the last of the poison from his eyes, he grumbled curses. The dripping of the water still rings out, each drop falling into the puddle resembling another bit of his anger rising. He stares into the sunlight, his olive green eyes gleaming evilly as he shrunk into the shadows. 

May 4th, 2017

Several deaths have been reported in the areas near Hau'oli City, Konikoni City, and Malie City. The victims of these attacks have been left to die a horrible death in one way or another, one victim having a slit throat and their limbs detached from the sockets, supposedly so they could not fight. The attacker has never been caught, and the weapon has never been found. 

Young Gladion stands in the middle of a room, shaking. A grin stretches wide across his face. Blood runs down his cheeks. The knife lays at his feet, red liquid pooling beneath it. Quiet laughter-- his laughter-- is heard faintly. His grin stretches even wider as he whispers just a few words...

"I love you, Y/N."