Chapter 31-The Mansion

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I stand before Guzma glaring at him. Sun and Hau start making their way towards me...I hope. I throw Null from his ball as Guzma tosses one of his pokeballs towards me smugly. He's taken to his, what he calls, normal battle pose; squatting down and looking like he's casually have a dump in public. I need to be strong enough to beat Guzma. I glance to the side as his Golisopod stretches out from its ball. Lying on the top step is a hat...Y/n's hat. Splotched scorches deface it but Null whines stealing my attention from the hat to this battle.

Sun P.O.V ------

Hau and I finally finish dealing with all the pesky grunts who litter the path. I wasn't expecting much but to find Gladion stood before Guzma looking distraught with himself and the world.
"Ngh! So I'm still not strong enough. All the days that I struggled alone and lonely...It was all for nothing? Is that it?" Guzma smirks at Gladion looking incredibly pleased at how upset he is.
"The hated boss who beats you down and beats you down and never lets up-" Guzma starts monologuing while he leans down towards us.
"We don't care. Get over yourself." I snap as I stride closer. However I get ignored.
"Y'know, I kinda liked you, kid. Leaving home like that and wanting to get stronger and stronger. You had some real guts. Going so far as coming over to Team Skull. And rejecting your own mother?! That was impressive"

Gladion stares down at his hands and refuses to meet anyone's gaze. Guzma watches, smirking as he looks between us all. He revels in the mischief and frustration his bomb-shelf confession causes. Hau remains oddly quiet, staring at the floor like a lost lamb.
"Now it's your turn!" Guzma cackles. "You little misfits keep getting up in my grill, like a cloud of smoke I can't brush away. It's time I put your fire out at it's source!"

Gladion p.o.v----

I can't bring myself to watch Sun battling Guzma. Sun's stronger than me but so is Guzma. I'm so sorry Y/n. I'm weak. All my training was worthless. Not enough. I wince feeling the blowback from some move, the force sending me skidding back a few feet while Sun nearly topples over. Cosmog's in mothers clutches along with Lillie and  Y/n. I ran away. We can't win...I'm not strong enough to beat Guzma at a battle. Never mind mother's manipulation.

*     *     *     *

Another huge gust of wind almost steals my balance from me. I can't bring myself to watch the battle but slivers of light blind me for a few seconds. I don't know how long Sun has been battling but the hairs on the back of neck keep standing up until I hear Guzma growl in frustration.
"Hey, what's up with you? How come I can't smash you?!" He screams, tugging his hair.

I finally stand up straight and glare at Guzma as he sighs. Hau shuffles closer towards me so I don't look as alone. Guzma scratches his head like a monkey and causally rests on hand on his hip like a diva. Abruptly he starts yelling at himself and tugging his hair more viciously. He stops just as abruptly and sulks to the side out the way,
"Tch...Looks like I got no choice. Go on...Go though."

We all take a moment to heal our pokemon. I tap my foot while waiting for Sun to finish although he seemed to be deliberately dragging out cleaning the debris off his pokemon. I release Lei from his ball and check him over for injuries while Sun faffs. Lei whines quietly and gently butts his head against my chest. I smile sadly at him, itching behind his ears, while his spines poke me uncomfortably but its reassuring. Rika is just as strong. She's with Y/n. He'll be protected...hopefully. 

"Finished fussing over the mutt yet?" Sun snide at Lei grants him my attention. I stare unamused at him then glance at Lei. Lei growls, nudging me to the side to stand between me and Sun like a guard.
"He's not a mutt. If you cant tell he's a midday Lycanroc. More akin to wolves than mutts." I snap and scratch Lei's head absentmindedly. Just how stupid is he.

Sun p.o.v----

I push open the doors to the aether house, Gladion following with the mutt who picks the hat up in it's jaws and parades along with it like its a trophy. and pass through another set if doors into a huge ornate bedroom. Lillie and Lusimine standing in the middle of the room. Oversized golden lanterns dangle delicately from the ceiling, illuminating the stark white walls and theme. Plain but shimmering light, a full length mirror stands against the back wall with decorative panels that look like sleek style buttons.

Lusamine's eyes look empty, like an algae filled lake frozen over. "Ah Sun. It's been a while since we last saw you..." Lillie spins on her heels as I am addressed, face slightly lighting up. She stares, questioning if I'm really stood there. she stammers out "You...You came? You actually came to help me, Sun?" while fidgeting with her bag strap. I simply grin. " Thank you...Thank you!"

Lusamine hums, "So you know one another." Her arm rests on her hip, visibility unhappy. The repetitive tapping of her fingers on her hip showing the irritation my presence brings. "A gifted young Trainer like Sun.. And he bothers with someone like you? How disappointing." Her head shakes as a sigh escapes from her. Her poisonous words jabbing at Lillie for unknown reasons.

Lillie whirls around and leans forward as if to scream although her voice only erupts as a shout, "I don't need your approval, Mother! Or your permission! I will save Cosmog!" Her clutch on her bag tightening. I daren't interject; this seems way to personal and Lillie's chance to have the confidence to stand up for herself finally.
"My... You do say such incomprehensible things. Calling me mother?" Her gaze sends a chill down my spine, the room seeming to fall several degrees colder. An icy tone clips her voice as she snarls. " I don't have any children! Certainly not any wretched children who would run off and reject my love!" She starts laughing, it sounds like a horrible fizzing and hissing noise. Her laugh is so intense her whole ribcage rattles and vibrates but not in a jolly way.
"So tell me how you'll save that Pokémon. What can you do, Lillie? You failed to convince me to listen to you. You don't even have the strength of a Trainer. The only thing that you've ever done on your own is steal someone else's research material!"

Lillie's gaze slips to the floor and even from behind I can see that she's devastated. Shoulders hunched, attempting to become as small as possible. Scoffing, Lusamine turns her back to her seeming disgusted with the idea of looking at Lillie for a second longer. "You're not beautiful enough for my world... but fine. Since you're here anyway, you can watch me summon my sweet beast. And then...you can leave."

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