Lost and Found

Alola, Scottie!

Hey! We've been looking all over for you. Got a favor to ask.

Lillie went and entered us into this family battle competition that's coming up soon...

But we don't really have any experience battling together as a team, you see.

We were hoping you could introduce us to a good instructor who could show us the ropes.

I want us to be able to show our full power in the competition as a family, me, my brother, and our mother, all together!

Will you help us, Scottie?

Fwahahaha! The victory is ours!

Did you see how in sync they were? How could there be that much of a gap between us...

Going from three individuals battling to one cohesive unit is proving rather difficult, isn't it.

Lillie, dear, why don't we try battling with just the two of us first and see how it goes?

OK!

Good battle! Guess that's another victory for us!

I'm sorry, Mother...

No need to apologize, dear. I know you did the best you could.

Gladion, let's try the same thing with you.

All right.

Lusamine and her family continued to fight hard, battle after battle.

But it wasn't enough to defeat the father-daughter combo of Koga and Janine.

... ... ...

Look at them go.

Norman! I thought you couldn't make it today. Did your plans change?

Brendan has some things he has to take care of today, but I gave in to curiosity and decided to come check things out on my own.

How's it going? Has the training worked out well for you?

I wish I could say it was going smoothly.

I assumed that our love for each other as a family would make syncing up in battle a trifle.

It seems I was wrong.

Ah, don't worry.

Brendan and I had a tough time finding our groove together in the beginning, too.

We kept at it, though, and somewhere along the way, it just started to click for us.

That's family, though, eh?

Family...

Don't trouble yourself over it too much, all right? You'll get there in time.

... ... ...

That may have been true for you and your son, but we have very different families.

I have a feeling I know the reason mine hasn't been successful in this...

Lusamine...?

Yes! That was quite good!

Scottie, Gladion, Lillie, you're doing great! You're really starting to move with confidence!

Aw! Thank you, Scottie!

Yeah. I feel like my reaction time's getting quicker.

At the rate you're going, the two of you will be able to sync up in battle without Scottie's help in no time.

I would expect no less from a pair of siblings like yourselves.

Of course! We're giving this our all!

Hmph. We've got this.

Come on, Lillie! Let's finish 'em together!

... ... ...

Several days after the training session with Koga and Janine...

the day of the family competition finally arrived.

Today's the day.

We've got one match to prove ourselves. I hope we do well.

Oh, no, I am excited. It's just...

Y-you're right. I know. It's just...

I wish we'd had a little more time to prepare. That's all.

We did some more training after that first session with Koga...

but the three of us are still struggling to get in sync with each other as a team.

... ... ...

Well, moping around won't fix anything, will it? Come on, let's try to cheer up!

I promise to fight with my full power!

You're right. Our strategy should be more than enough to defeat most of the teams here.

We're gonna win this!

Hey, Gladion! Hey, Lillie!

Brendan? I didn't know you were gonna be competing today.

Yep! I'm here with my dad and Wally.

Have you gone over to check the matchups yet?

What? No, we haven't had a chance yet.

Ha! I'll save you the trip, then!

You're looking at your opponents right here!

What?!

We're matched up with you?!

Haha! Hope you're prepared, 'cause we're in it to win it!

Brendan, Wally.

You should start getting ready for the match soon.

You got it, Dad.

I never would have guessed I'd be fighting against you, Norman.

It came as a surprise to me as well.

Best of luck to both of us. Let's give it our all out there.

... ... ...

Hey... We need to change our strategy.

What?! What are you talking about, Gladion?

Did you see who we're matched up against? There's no way we're gonna win against a powerhouse team from Hoenn like this.

If we wanna win, we've gotta give up trying to get in sync with each other. It's just not working.

Our only chance is to throw everything we've got at them individually!

Gladion, we can't just change our strategy like that right before the match.

If we want our team to win, that's just what we're gonna have to do.

But...

I...I think we should try our best to fight together as a family, even if it means we don't have a chance to win!

Huh?! What's the matter with you? There's no point in competing if you're not trying to win!

All right, you two. Calm down. Talking things out is good, but getting into an argument right before a match isn't going to help anyone.

... ... ...

I understand why you two are upset.

Mother...

We're running out of time. Come on, we need to start preparing.

That won't be necessary.

There's only one solution that can solve our problem.

I'm removing myself from this team.

What...?

What do you mean you're removing yourself from the team?!

Where's this coming from, Mother?

The two of you should understand how I came to this conclusion. It's simple.

There's an obstacle preventing our team from bonding together as a cohesive unit... Me.

That's not true!

It's all right, Lillie. I know this is my fault. I have to face the consequences of the mistakes I made in the past.

I opened up Ultra Wormholes across Alola, subjected our beautiful islands to so much chaos...

And my selfish behavior tore our family apart.

It's no wonder our efforts to unite as a team have been a struggle.

I'm the one to blame.

Mother...

... ... ...

Scottie... Please take my place in the competition and fight with Lillie and Gladion.

I'm sure.

Please.

With you by their side...

I'm sure this team will be able to fight as one cohesive unit.

With me out of the picture, this team may even stand a chance to win.

How can you be so selfish, Mother?!

The whole reason I entered us into this competition was so that the three of us could fight together!

And at the first turn, you want to leave us?

Without you, there isn't even a reason to take part anymore!

Lillie...

Did you forget why we started practicing for this in the first place?

This is a FAMILY competition. We wanted to win it together as family!

If you won't even be on the team, I'd rather just withdraw altogether!

Gladion...

Lusamine, I don't claim to be a perfect parent either, but let me say this.

Just as parents love their children and want what's best for them...

children love their parents, too, and want what's best for us. It's not a one-way street.

I really am a poor excuse for a mother, aren't I.

Once again, I tried to force my decision on them without stopping to consider how they might feel.

This time will be different.

Lillie, Gladion...

I was so focused on doing what I thought was best for you, I never even stopped to ask if that was what you wanted.

The two of you are already so strong. And not only that, you're also incredibly kind and caring.

As your mother, I could learn a thing or two from you when it comes to that.

So come on! Let's join together and show the competition the full extent of our power!

We're going to win this as a family!

We did it. We defeated Brendan's team.

We did it, Mother!

Aw, man! I can't believe we lost to them!

Congratulations, Lusamine. That was a good battle.

The evidence should be as clear as day after a victory like that. The three of you make a good team.

And you make a good family.

...Thank you, Norman.

When I heard our family would be fighting as a team, I had no idea how things would turn out.

But I'm glad we did it.

Me too! It turned out to be so much fun!

Mother...

Gladion...

Promise we'll do this together again sometime?

I promise.

Hmph.

(Honey...)

(I will continue to love our children and strengthen the bond of our family.)

(I'll protect these wonderful smiles of theirs in the hope that one day, they'll be as bright as yours.)

Oh, Scottie!

Clefairy seems to have gotten lost. Would you mind coming with me to look for her?

I was just about to go up the mountain to look at the moon with Clefairy.

Would you like to come with us once we find her, Scottie?

What about this Pokémon?

Isn't my Jigglypuff cute? We're practicing singing right now!

Here we go!

I'm feeling...kind of...sleepy...

What about this Pokémon?

My Blissey's eggs are the best in the world!

They say that Blissey's eggs are chock-full of happiness, and that anyone who eats them will be happy, too!

That's like something out of a fairy tale! How wonderful!

In fact, since I eat them every day...

you could say that my belly is chock-full of happiness!

Hmm...I wonder where my little Clefairy could have run off to.

Did you hear that? That was Clefairy's cry!

Clefairy had just about given up on waiting for you.

What?

Unbelievable... I see your sense of direction is as bad as ever.

Heeey! Scottie!

Heeey! Scottie!

Oh, look!

The moon's so pretty!

Hey, Scottie.

Do you know any Pokémon that can make string?

My clothes got ripped while I was training. Some string should suffice for a quick fix.

Let me know if you see any.

Let me know if you see any.

Oh, great! If we could just get a little string...

Uh-oh! Let's get out of here!

While they were making their escape, Scottie's clothes got caught on a branch and ripped.

Phew. Looks like we got away safely.

Oh, come on...

You can't get your own clothes ripped trying to help fix mine. That defeats the purpose!

Hurray! It finally evolved!

H-huh?

Ahhh!

Hmph. Looks like he still has a long way to go in his training.

Hm? Are you hungry or something?

Hmph. Guess I have no choice. This is Silvally's, but I'll share some with you.

What? I'm not giving away all of it! I'll save some for you!

This is shaping up to be a tough search.

Hey! Isn't that...

All right. This should be enough.

I'll fix your ripped clothes. Come here.

OK. All done.

Hmph. It was no big deal.

Hmph. My clothes can wait.

I'm used to having a few rips in my outfit.

Hapu, who's this guy you want me to meet up with? Just spill it already!

Don't be impatient, Gladion. You'll see for yourself soon enough.

Ah! Here he is now!

This must be Gladion.

I see what you meant, Hapu. He does have a sharp look in his eyes.

And you are...?

Hmph.

I'm Grimsley, one of the Unova Elite Four.

Hmph.

Hmph.

Wait, that's it?!

I had a feeling the two of you would see eye to eye. It seems I was correct.

"Two men clad in all black stood before one another..."

"In naught but a moment, a new friendship was born."

I could learn a thing or two from someone like you, Grimsley.

You can teach me things that'll take me to even greater heights as a Trainer! I'll be stronger than ever!

And I'll be waiting to battle you myself once you get there.

That's great, Gladion! I've never seen you look so excited before.

Indeed! I can feel a new strength starting to rise within him already...

I've got it!

Gladion, who fights with all of his might to rise to greater heights...

We should call him Gladion the Gladiator! Haha!

G-Gladiator?! Not exactly the nickname I had in mind...

Hmph. Give it your best shot, Gladion the Gladiator.

We'll make quite a formidable pair, won't we! Never-lily-livered Lillie and Gladion the Gladiator!

Sure... Yeah...

"The young man in black had earned a new name for himself..."

"Yet with this new name came new troubles as well."

That was splendid, Lillie.

I really enjoyed battling together.

Thank you! I had a lot of fun, too!

Excellent battle, Miss Lillie.

I could tell you were giving it your absolute best. Well done indeed!

Lillie used to be so shy and reserved, always taking things slowly at her own pace...

Hmph. Now she's like a totally different person.

I don't have time to take things slowly anymore.

I became a Pokémon Trainer much later than you and Hau did.

I want to catch up to your level as fast as I can, so I need to train extra hard.

That's why I try to do my very best every single day! Like Hapu says, no one can call me lily-livered!

Hmph. Right.

I think it's wonderful that you're working so hard to improve yourself.

Wouldn't you agree, Lady Caitlin?

Oh my gosh! Are you two feeling all right?!

Hoho, it seems your hardworking spirit must have rubbed off on the two of them, Miss Lillie. They look perfectly exhausted.

(These two sleepyheads seem to have grown pretty powerful, slow pace or not... Could that actually be the secret to their strength?!)

(I guess it would've been possible for Lillie to grow stronger in a similar way, even if she'd continued to take things slow...)

(But as her brother, I kind of like this new Lillie... It's good to see her working hard and doing her best.)

This is bad news.

Ultra Beasts like this are a threat to people and Pokémon alike.

For one to appear here on Pasio...

Well, we can't just ignore something like this.

Wait! Don't!

That Pheromosa isn't a danger to anyone!

It appeared before me out of the blue one day, and it's been with me ever since.

We've formed a sync pair together. It's been a very friendly companion to me.

You formed a sync pair with an Ultra Beast?!

Your track record with those hasn't exactly been the cleanest, ma'am...

Whoa! Is that what I think it is?!

A Pheromosa! Wow! This is amazing! It's so beautiful!

Look at how long and graceful its body is, and that gorgeous white coloration!

Yes! These shots are going to be fantastic!

Wait, don't go near it! That Pokémon is...

... ... ...

Aw, crud. This isn't like me... I must be gettin' tired in my old age.

Right. I'm gonna go take a load off somewhere.

Nanu?!

The only threats I see around here are my own preconceptions.

Nothing to worry about, right, missy?

No, sir!

Ultra Beasts are Pokémon, too, after all!

You take care of that partner of yours, Miss President.