The New Adventures of Raptor Trainer

Trouble in Paradise

When we first arrived at the marina, we were horrified to discover that all of the ferries on route to Aether Paradise had been abruptly canceled just before our arrival. Fortunately, Professor Kukui still had his old boat on hand, so we opted to take that instead.

"Looks like they're one step ahead of us," Gladion remarked as we boarded. "...As much as I don't really trust this thing to float, it's our best bet for getting in there."

Once me, Hau and Gladion were all aboard, the professor revved up the engine and put on the gas, sending us into the open water as fast as the boat could go...No one said much of anything for the first few minutes we were out on the water. We were all too preoccupied with our own thoughts...many of which were shared between us.

Finally, Hau spoke up.

"Um...Gladion?"

"Hm."

"Would you care to tell us what exactly Lillie would be doing at Aether Paradise if Team Skull were the ones that took her?"

"I..."

He trailed off.

"...I don't like telling other people things like this. I'm not even sure you'll believe me, considering I'm...supposed to be on their side."

"Whatever it is, I'll believe it."

"...I guess that doesn't surprise me. You really want to know?"

"Of course I do! This is LILLIE we're talking about, man!"

"Hau's right, Gladion," the professor chimed in from behind the wheel. "We need to know what's happening so we can plan our next move."

"Fine...But you're not gonna like this," Gladion replied, taking in a deep breath. "...Team Skull and the Aether Foundation are in kahoots with each other."

{WHAT!?!}

I thought for a moment that I'd misheard him. But the look on his face, as well as Hau's and Professor Kukui's, I realized that yes, that was what he had said...Questions swarmed my brain. When? For how long? And...WHY??

"I know...I wouldn't want to believe it either if I were you. But that's the truth."

"But their ideals are completely polarized from one another," the professor acknowledged. "Why would they...?"

"I'll tell you why," Gladion answered him. "It's Cosmog."

"Cosmog? You...you mean Nebby?"

"Whatever you guys want to call it...Hau. Echo. I'm hoping you remember what I said would happen if anyone got their hands on it, right?"

Hau and I exchanged glances, then nodded at him.

"You said it could spell doom for Alola...if not the whole world, right?"

"So you did manage to remember...I hope you guys understand that since YOU were the ones who failed to follow my warning and keep it safe, YOU'RE gonna have to help me stop this whole thing. So you better look like being up to the task."

"Whoa, whoa, WAIT. Hold up just a minute," Hau interrupted him. "...If this was so important and we're so 'weak', then why didn't YOU keep Nebby safe?"

"I couldn't have been seen with Lillie when they knew she had Cosmog! If I did, then I'd have been just as screwed over as she was. Team Skull would have done to me what they tried to do to you, Echo. Probably TWICE over, since they'd consider me a traitor in that case."

I looked down at my bruised, bandaged arms...They would have tried to kill him, too?

"...Well, one thing's for sure," the professor stated. "All of what's going on here can't be kept low anymore. Once we handle whatever's going on in the Paradise, we're gonna have to share this information with...everyone. The Kahunas, the police force...No one knew the Team Skull situation was really this bad. Let alone what's going on at the Aether Foundation."