Aether Paradise.
A massive floating structure on the sea, housing the Aether Foundation's core research facilities. It was an artificial island located in the central region of Alola.
"Rooooar!"
With a resonant dragon cry, the white dragon Reshiram landed heavily on the dock of Aether Paradise.
"Young Miss."
As Dylan, Lillie, and Leaf dismounted from Reshiram, a woman with fluffy, deep-purple short hair approached them, greeting Lillie with a warm smile.
"Wicke…"
Lillie pursed her lips slightly at the sight of the full-figured woman—this was Wicke, one of the Aether Foundation's top executives and Deputy Director.
Compared to Faba, Lillie had a much better impression of Wicke, who had always been gentle and kind.
"No need to say anything, Young Miss. I can tell you've changed a lot."
Wicke's smile remained warm. It was clear that, compared to the day Lillie fled, her eyes now held much more resolve.
"You two must be Miss Lillie's friends. Thank you so much for looking after her."
"No need for thanks. Please take us to see President Lusamine."
Dylan replied with a polite smile.
"Right this way, please."
Wicke gave Dylan a glance before turning and motioning for them to follow her into Aether Paradise, toward Lusamine's residence.
"Ever since the Young Miss left, the President has never stopped looking for her. But we've had no leads until now."
As she led the way, Wicke spoke gently.
"I'm sure she'll be very happy to see you again today."
But Lillie's delicate face showed no joy at reuniting with her mother—only unease.
Leaf, meanwhile, was curiously looking around. Aether Paradise was fascinating to her. And it confirmed without a doubt: Lillie really was a "young miss."
At first, she had heard Lillie was adopted by Dylan's family. She'd thought Lillie was lucky—after all, no one in Dylan's family was ordinary.
His father was a major shareholder of Silph Co., his mother was from the Draconid tribe, and Dylan himself… well, he was a monster.
But now it seemed Lillie wasn't so simple either. As the daughter of Aether Foundation's president, she was undeniably from one of the top families in Alola.
Still…
Leaf glanced at Lillie. The closer they got to the residence, the more tense Lillie seemed—her slender frame visibly stiffened.
"You may go in now, Young Miss. The President is waiting for you."
They stopped at the door to Lusamine's estate. Wicke spoke softly.
Lillie stared at the lavish mansion, taking silent, deep breaths. Ever since her father had disappeared years ago…
Her mother's "love" had grown increasingly twisted, and so had her fear of Lusamine. She had tried to run away with Nebby, only to be discovered. Had Nebby not used Teleport that day, she wouldn't have escaped.
And after that, her fear only deepened. She knew just how angry Lusamine must be.
Lillie reached out to push open the door, but her hand trembled noticeably.
Then a warm hand gently wrapped around hers.
"Brother…"
Lillie froze and looked to her side.
"Don't be afraid," Dylan said with a gentle smile. "I told you, no matter what happens, I'll always be behind you—even if it's your mother."
"You know who your brother is. There's no one in this world who can stand against me. No one."
"Stand tall, Lillie. Only by facing your fear can you overcome it. Besides… you are mother and daughter. This confrontation was inevitable."
He gently ruffled her hair.
Lillie bit her lip. Warmth flooded her chest. The comforting grip of his hand gave her a deep sense of safety.
"…Mm!"
She nodded firmly, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
Yes. There was nothing to be afraid of. She wasn't alone anymore—she had a brother she could rely on.
Inside the lavish mansion, a spacious lounge came into view. Sitting on the sofa, a blonde woman was calmly sipping tea.
Leaf's eyes lit up with surprise when she saw Lusamine.
The president of the Aether Foundation had the same radiant golden hair as Lillie. Her skin was porcelain white, and she wore a sleek platinum-colored dress with black-and-white leggings.
She exuded grace and nobility—not surprising for the woman who had elevated the Aether Foundation to prominence in under ten years.
What did surprise Leaf, however, was how young Lusamine looked.
If she didn't know Lusamine was Lillie's mother, she might've thought the woman was in her twenties.
"Mother…"
"Brought friends too? Sit."
Lusamine spoke calmly.
Even though she had steeled herself, Lillie was still visibly nervous in her mother's presence. She clutched Dylan's hand tightly.
The three of them sat across from Lusamine.
"Would you like some tea?"
Lusamine's expression remained neutral. Her gaze swept over Dylan and Leaf before settling on Lillie—and particularly, her hand in Dylan's.
Lillie shook her head.
"Then let's get to the point. My daughter, who betrayed me, what brings you back today?"
Lusamine crossed her legs and stared coldly at Lillie. The chill in her voice made Lillie tremble.
"I didn't betray you…"
"Oh?"
A cold smirk touched Lusamine's lips.
"How heartless of you. You know how important Cosmog is to me, and yet you took it."
The light in Lusamine's eyes dimmed, becoming hollow and terrifying.
She had loved Lillie and Gladion deeply. Even now, she did. But she hadn't expected both of them to turn against her.
She needed Cosmog to open the Ultra Wormhole—and Lillie stole it.
She needed the Ultra Beast killer, Type: Null, to fight the beasts—and Gladion took it.
To Lusamine, this was betrayal. And the ones who betrayed her were her beloved children.
"But that was wrong!" Lillie couldn't hold back anymore. She looked up and raised her voice.
"I told you so many times! Father disappeared because of this research. Why must you continue with this plan?"
"Don't you see? You've changed! The mother I knew wasn't like this. Why can't you respect our feelings? What if opening Ultra Space causes chaos in Alola?!"
Her words came out in a rush, as if she were finally releasing years of bottled-up emotion.
Lusamine's eyes regained their light. She stared hard at Lillie, her chest heaving.
But Lillie didn't flinch. She met her mother's gaze head-on.
"Well, it seems my once weak and timid daughter has changed a lot. Is it because of you two?"
Lusamine's gaze turned to Dylan. Lillie had never dared speak to her like this before.
Lusamine's emotions were mixed. A part of her was proud that Lillie could finally speak her mind—but another part was furious at her "disobedience."
In Lusamine's mind, children should just listen to their parents.
"I'm Dylan. From the Kanto region," he said gently.
"I think I understand what you're after, President Lusamine. You want to open Ultra Space?"
"That's right. I've prepared everything. Cosmog is essential."
Lusamine spoke flatly.
"Ultra Space is incredibly dangerous. With all due respect… you're really planning to go in there at just Elite Four level?" Dylan raised an eyebrow.
To be fair, Lusamine was strong. An Elite Four-level trainer in this world was no pushover.
But Ultra Space belonged to the Ultra Beasts. In this world, they were rare—but in Ultra Space, they were the norm.
Every Ultra Beast was extremely powerful. Not even Champions could guarantee survival.
"What are you implying?" Lusamine's expression changed.
"Entering is easy. Making it back alive is another story."
Dylan sighed lightly.
Lusamine's face darkened. Was this brat looking down on her?
"How about this, President Lusamine—on Lillie's behalf, I'll take you to Ultra Space."
Dylan had thought it over. Unless he helped Lusamine resolve this obsession, she'd never stop. And she was, after all, Lillie's mother.
"You?" Lusamine blinked, frowning slightly.
He didn't look much older than Lillie, but there was definitely something different about him.
"Mother, my brother is a very strong Champion-level trainer," Lillie said softly.
"…Champion-level?"
Lusamine's expression flickered. In all of Alola, only Kukui had reached Champion level. That said a lot.
And she knew Lillie well enough—despite her timid nature, Lillie never lied.
"Entering Ultra Space requires Cosmog's power."
Still, having a Champion as an escort was better than her original plan—bringing Guzma.
"Not necessary. Nebby's still young and its power is unstable," Dylan shook his head.
Cosmog could open wormholes, but it was immature and couldn't control the ability well.
"If you're ready, we can leave anytime."
With Necrozma or Lunala, opening Ultra Space was trivial for Dylan.
"You're really going to help me?"
Lusamine's pupils dimmed again—a telltale sign of her obsessive tendencies.
"Lillie is my sister. This whole thing is weighing on her. So why not take you there?"
Dylan shrugged. Lusamine's obsession with Ultra Beasts was the root of her twisted behavior.
If he could help her let go, she might return to normal.
And once she did, Lillie could finally find peace.
"Give me a moment."
Lusamine paused, cast a complicated glance at Lillie, then stood and left to prepare.
"Thank you, Brother."
As soon as Lusamine was gone, Lillie bit her lip and looked at Dylan with gratitude.
"No need for thanks between family. When we get back, have a proper talk with her. Be brave, tell her how you feel."
"I can tell—she really does care about you."
Dylan smiled. The good news was, Lusamine truly loved Lillie.
That love had become warped by obsession, but it was real.
If he could help her release that obsession and let mother and daughter reconnect, everything would be fine.
In Dylan's eyes, this "family issue" wasn't anything complicated. The solution was easy.
"We'll deal with it when we return."
He glanced deeper into the mansion. Once they came back from Ultra Space, he'd pay a visit to Lusamine's collection room.
Ultra Space.
A pitch-black world.
A green-haired man in luxurious robes was walking across the barren landscape.
"What a miserable world. You can't even see the sun."
He stopped and looked up at the dark sky. This was about as bad as it could get.
It should be daytime… He was sure it was daytime when he left his world.
"Why was I the one sent here first? That bastard…"
His face darkened at the thought of the buzz-cut man who had sent him here.
But that was fine. Pretending and manipulating was his specialty.
Compared to heartless monsters, humans were far easier to control—especially the naive ones. Or so he believed.