What People do for Family (Ash x Gladion)

-1-

"Look Lusamene! It's an Ultra Wormhole!"

"Shut it off Faba!" Lillie trembled in her mother's arms as the painful memories of four years before came flooding back. 

Gladion glared at Faba, hate in his eyes.

"Something's coming out!"

They stared up at the Ultra Wormhole as a jellyfish-like creature came through. Lillie screamed and buried her face in her mother's chest.

Lusamene's eyes widened in awe but she quickly shook it off. "SHUT IT OFF FABA!"

"But look Lusamene! It's an Ultra Beast..."

"I DONT CARE FABA! SHUT IT DOWN!"

The Beast came down towards Lillie but Gladion stepped in front.

"If you want her, you're going to have to go through me!"

"Gladion! What are you doing?!"

He stared back at them with tears in his eyes.

"...protecting the people I love..."

He opened his arms wide and the beast came closer.

"No!" Lusamene tried to push him out of the way but it was too late. The beast grabbed him and lifted him up towards the Ultra Wormhole.

"Gladion! No!" Ash ran, trying to reach the blonde boy's hand. But he couldn't reach him.

The Ultra Beast pulled him through the Wormhole and it disappeared.

"Gladion! GLADION?! GLADION!!!" Lusamene fell to her knees, sobbing. "Gladion..."

Ash stared up at where the Wormhole had been a few moments before. 

If only he could have reached Gladion's hand...

-The next day-  

Lillie held Snowy close, burying her face in her soft fur. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her big brother, stranded in an unknown place... 

"Lillie..."

She looked around the room and her friends stared at her.

"Lillie? What's wrong?"

"Lillie!"

"Gladion...?"

"Lillie...Gladion isn't here..."

"LILLIE!!"

They all looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. Lusamene stood up.

"Gladion? Is...is that you...?"

"Mother, I-aaaaaaghhh!"

"Gladion?! What's wrong?"

"I-I..."

"I think the Ultra Beast is hurting him!"

Faba entered the room and everyone stood up, protecting Lillie.

"Don't hurt me! I'm innocent!"

"Innocent?! Thanks to you, my son is STUCK IN AN UNKNOWN WORLD THAT WE CAN'T GET TO AND HE'S ALL ALONE!!! YOU ARE NOT INNOCENT!!!"

Lusamene grabbed him by the collar and held him against the wall.

"My s-son..." She let him go and fell to her knees crying. "Oh, Gladion..."

Lillie came over to her and they hugged, crying together.

Ash was unusually quiet. Mallow came over to him.

"Ash? You okay?"

"No!" 

He started crying and Lillie came over and hugged him.

"If only I had been able to reach him! Then he might not be in this mess! It's my fault!"

"Ash, no! If it's anyone's fault...it's Faba's." Lusamene assured him.

"No...it is my fault! I-I..."

Lillie stood up with a determined face. Everyone stared at her.

"I'm going to save him."

"Lillie, what?"

"I'm going to save Gladion!"

"Lillie, no! It's too dangerous!"

"I don't care Mother! You never let me help! Let...let me help. Just this once..."

"Lillie..."

"NO! YOU TREAT ME LIKE A BABY! I WANT TO HELP! I WANT TO SAVE MY BIG BROTHER, WHO'S FACING WHO KNOWS WHAT! SO LET ME HELP, MOTHER!"

"Lillie...I..."

Lillie glared at her mother and stormed out of the room. Everyone stared after her in awe. They had never seen this side of Lillie. 

"Did I do something wrong...?"

Burnet walked over and hugged Lusamene.

"No! She's just...upset about Gladion..."

-Later that Day-

Lillie pulled her hair up into a ponytail and stared out her window. 

"I'm going to save you, Big Brother."

A knock on the door startled her and she grabbed Snowy's Pokéball.

Ash opened the door and poked his head in.

"Ash? W-what?"

"I'm coming with you..."

"Why...?"

"Gladion's my friend and I'm not going to abandon a friend!"

Lillie nodded. "Thanks Ash..." He smiled.

"Anything for a friend!"

They stared out at the Alolan Moon, determination in their eyes.

"Let's go save my brother..."