Lillie, the Aether Foundation's young heiress, had secretly taken Cosmog (Nebby) from Aether Paradise after her mother, Lusamine, began using it for research.
Determined to uncover Cosmog's true identity, Lillie had bravely set out alone to explore the ancient ruins scattered across Alola's islands...
After swiftly neutralizing the Team Rocket and Team Skull grunts, Caleb turned to face the heroine of the seventh generation, his expression unreadable.
His gaze drifted from her face down to her waist.
At that, Lillie bit her lip and gripped the strap of her satchel even tighter.
Mewtwo's voice echoed gently in Caleb's mind: >..You're scaring her..<
Caleb: "…"
Though sorry, he really wasn't in the mood to smile right now.
Understanding this, Mewtwo said nothing more.
Caleb forced a soft expression and said reassuringly, "Don't worry. I'm not a bad person. That Pokémon in your bag… that's Cosmog, right?"
Lillie grew even more tense.
Caleb continued calmly, "I know who you are, though you probably don't know me. Your name is Lillie. You're the daughter of Aether Foundation's president, Lusamine, and you have an older brother named Gladion."
Seeing Lillie's eyes widen slightly, he went on, "Your father disappeared while investigating Ultra Space. And your mother… she plans to use Cosmog's power to open a gateway into that realm."
This was the game's storyline. In canon, Lusamine was obsessively devoted to Pokémon, so much so that her love had twisted into a desire to collect them all.
Whether opening Ultra Space was to collect rare Ultra Beasts or to search for her lost husband, only she knew the full truth.
Lillie knew this too. As a child, she had been taken by Lusamine to live in another mansion for a time. After that, the girl who once loved Pokémon became terrified of touching them and lost all memory of that period.
It was that buried trauma that had subconsciously driven her to protect Cosmog by fleeing Aether Paradise with it.
Judging by her expression, Caleb knew he was right.
He paused, then added, "Right now, you want to travel across Alola's islands to study ancient ruins, all in hopes of uncovering Cosmog's true identity... Am I right?"
Perhaps from running too fast, Lillie's pale face showed signs of exhaustion. Now that the panic was fading, the physical pain hit her.
"Oww…" she whimpered.
The scrape on her knee stung sharply in the breeze, making her flinch.
Caleb finally noticed. Apologetically, he pulled a small folding stool from his inventory and set it down. Then, he gestured for her to sit.
Lillie hesitated, glancing nervously at Dragonite and Mewtwo standing behind Caleb.
After a moment, she sat down gently.
Her grip on the bag loosened, and Cosmog seized the chance to float out, circling curiously around Mewtwo.
"Nebby!" Lillie gasped, about to stand, but Caleb gently held her back.
"Relax," he said, a little exasperated. "We're not after the little fella."
Mewtwo reached out and poked Cosmog lightly. Cosmog let out a happy little chirp.
Watching this, Lillie's worry eased just a little.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Caleb took out some antiseptic ointment, cleaned her wound, and applied a medicinal plaster.
He then withdrew his hand immediately, careful not to overstep. After all, Lillie was just a ten-year-old girl. He wasn't a creep.
Holding her now-empty bag, Lillie finally felt a flicker of safety. She hesitated, then looked up at Caleb, but could only see his chin.
"How… how do you know all that?" she asked.
Caleb watched Cosmog playing with Mewtwo and said, "Would you believe me if I said I'm from another world?"
Lillie blinked, then gave a small nod.
Caleb smiled softly. He liked Lillie. Not in that way, he just found her adorable.
She was strong and courageous.
Thinking of her journey in Sun and Moon, Caleb said gently, "Can we talk properly now?"
Lillie nodded.
"Have you seen those guys before?" Caleb gestured to the unconscious grunts. He strongly suspected Team Rocket was working with Lusamine.
Lillie hummed in affirmation, "I've seen them at Aether Paradise."
'Just as I thought...' Caleb took a quiet breath, then asked, "I'm heading to Aether Paradise now. Want to come with me?"
Lillie hesitated, then shook her head lightly, "I still have something I need to finish. I can't go back yet…"
"Is it about Cosmog's true identity?" Caleb asked.
Lillie nodded nervously.
"It's the legendary Pokémon of Alola, Solgaleo," Caleb said.
Of course, it could also evolve into Lunala. This was the real world, after all, not a split of Sun or Moon versions.
But to trigger Cosmog's evolution, she would need either the Sun Flute or Moon Flute.
Lillie was visibly stunned. She stared at Cosmog, murmuring, "Nebby is Solgaleo?"
"Yes. And there's something else you should know," Caleb said, "Your father isn't dead. He lost his memories, and might be building a resort somewhere right now."
Lillie froze.
Caleb didn't push. He stood, gazing at the sky, and said softly, "Actually... maybe it's better if you don't come. Aether Paradise isn't safe anymore."
He turned, calling to Dragonite and Mewtwo, "Let's head to Hau'oli City and relax."
The Alola arc had begun.
Maybe he'd run into the Gen 7 protagonists there, Elio or Selene.
"No." Lillie stood up decisively, "I'm going back. I have to stop her! She doesn't know Dad's still alive!"
Caleb looked at her.
Lillie pleaded, "Please, take me with you!"
She'd been away for a long time.
She knew who was really behind her pursuers. It was her own mother.
Lillie lowered her head, hiding her emotions.
Caleb wasn't good with comforting words. He could only say, "Everything will be okay."
After all, in both the games and anime, mother and daughter reconciled in the end.
Lillie nodded. Caleb helped her onto Dragonite's back.
The chonky dragon was large enough to carry two people easily.
"Thank you," Lillie said gratefully, "Can I know your name?"
Caleb replied softly, "Just call me Caleb."