Hello again everyone! This chapter will be the final chapter of this arc, so I hope you'll all enjoy it. I'll see you all at the end to share what comes next. Aiight, enjoy!

*Earlier*

Vulpix was standing her ground, determined to protect her mama at all costs. The Ninetails, while still struggling to get up, was in awe at seeing her child act so brave. Faba was still recovering from Vulpix's attack on his stomach, he held it as he grunted.

"Insignificant brat! How dare you attack me!"

Vulpix remained unfazed. She narrowed her eyes as she scowled at him.

"I'll do much worse if you don't leave me and mama alone!" She said boldly. Of course Faba couldn't understand what she said but had a feeling she was threatening him.

"If you're threatening me, you'll regret it" he said as he slowly reached for another Poke Ball. He held it out. "Last chance. Come with me, or die here with your mother."

Vulpix closed her eyes, only to open them a second later. She fired another Ice Beam, this one hitting Faba in the groin. He wailed in pain. He looked up to see Vulpix sticking her center toe up at him. This made Faba go over the edge.

"THAT'S IT!!!! YOU AND YOUR MOTHER ARE DEAD!!!"

He threw the ball in the air. In a flash, a Claydol appeared.

"Use Ancient Power!" Faba yelled in anger.

Claydol summoned a few big rocks and launched them towards Vulpix. Vulpix responded by jumping out of the way and began to run around Claydol. Faba simply laughed.

"Looking for a blind spot? Don't bother, Claydol has 360 vision, so a blind spot is impossible!"

Vulpix fired off another Ice Beam, which Claydol dodged. Vulpix decided to run around again. She tried an Ice Beam again, but Claydol dodged once again. Ninetails had been watching her child battle. She had to find a way to help her. She scanned the room for anything. Her eyes eventually landed on the sprinklers attached to the ceiling. She quickly turned to see a box directly beneath one of the sprinklers, cords coming out of it.

Knowing what she needed to do, she began to concentrate. Her eyes suddenly glowed as she focused on the box. After some struggling, sparks started to appear. As more and more appeared, smoke started to rise. It eventually reached the ceiling.

'Please...let this work' She said to herself.

A moment later the sprinklers went off and the whole room was starting to get wet.

"What the?! What's going on?!"

"Now's your chance sweetheart!" Ninetails yelled to her child.

Vulpix was confused but it became clear once she saw Claydol. Said Pokémon was starting to melt, or at least it seemed like it. Vulpix ran forward, and shot a Shadow Ball directly into Claydol. Claydol was blown backwards. While struggling to get back up, it failed to notice Vulpix coming straight towards it.

"Uncle Pikachu...lend me your strength!"

She jumped into the air. With all her resolve, her tail started to glow.

"Take this!!"

She swung her tail right into Claydol, knocking it back even further. Claydol laid still on the ground. Vulpix landed on her feet, slightly out of breath. Faba looked shocked.

"Now then, unless you want me to do that to your ugly face, I suggest you leave us alone!"

Ninetails was in utter shock at her child's display of bravery. 'Sweetheart...who helped you become so brave...?' This question made her realize something. 'She must've been found by someone who helped her, a human most likely, and seeing how determined she was to protect me, it's most likely a female.' That's when she finally connected all the pieces. 'It seems I'm not her only mother...'

All of a sudden, Faba started to grin. The sprinklers suddenly stopped raining.

"I must say I'm impressed. However, I'm finished playing this game. Claydol...Grass Knot."

Green vines suddenly grew out of nowhere and wrapped themselves around Vulpix. The mother and daughter looked to see Claydol had secretly placed both of its arms on the ground. Vulpix started to struggle but the vines kept her in place. Faba let out an evil laugh.

"Excellent! Now that I've got both of you incapacitated, my plan will finally come to fruition! Once I harness the child's unique Ice Aura, I'll use it to freeze every major settlement in Alola! The people of Alola will have no choice but to bow down to me in fear! And Lusamine will have no choice but to make me the next President of the company, which I'll use to mass produce the Ice Aura and freeze other settlements until they submit as well! And then I won't just be the President of the Aether Foundation, I'll be President of the entire world!!"

Faba let out another loud evil laugh. He turned to look at Ninetails.

"Since I've already extracted all of the Ice Aura from you...your existence is no longer required."

He reached behind his back and grabbed the handle of something. But before he could reveal it, a pillar of rocks struck Claydol. Everyone turned to see a Red Lycanroc standing next to a boy. He had blonde hair, and was wearing a black hoodie and black pants with red shoes. Faba scowled.

"Oh great...it's you."

The boy scowled back at him.

"Still as psychopathic as ever, Faba."

Faba scoffed. "Psychopathic? Hardly. You not a very good judge of character, Gladion."

"Am I now? So your plan to freeze everything is just some sick joke then?" Gladion said angrily.

Faba grinned. "Oh no dear boy, it's quite real. In fact, thanks to you and your family of freaks, it will finally happen."

Gladion gritted his teeth. "I had nothing to do with this! And Team Skull is no family of mine!"

"But you work for them don't you? So you're still as responsible for this no matter how much you were involved" Faba mocked.

Gladion grunted in anger. "Lycanroc! Stone Edge!"

Lycanroc slammed its fist into the ground, a line of rock pillars shooting out one by one. Claydol was hit and fell over, now out for good. Faba recalled it. He then took out another ball.

"Brat! Let's see you handle this!"

After throwing it and a flash, an Alolan Raichu appeared. It had a smug grin on its face. Gladion reached for another ball. He threw it and in a flash an Umbreon appeared.

"Dark Pulse!"

Umbreon shot a beam of dark energy out of its mouth.

"Thunderbolt!" Faba countered.

Raichu shot it's Thunderbolt, colliding with Dark Pulse, causing an explosion to happen soon after.

"Lycanroc Swords Dance! Umbreon Dark Pulse!"

"Electro Ball!"

As the battle raged on between the two, Vulpix was still struggling to get out of the Grass Knot. It had weakened due to Claydol being gone, but due to all the battling Vulpix has done up until now, she was too tired to break out of it. Ninetails was still struggling to get up herself. All of the experiments done to her have left her with little remaining stamina. She watched as Vulpix kept struggling to get out, despite her tired state.

"Gotta...protect...mama...!" She said as she kept trying to move.

Ninetails was on the verge of tears.

'Sweetheart...'

Back to the battle between Gladion and Faba, Lycanroc and Umbreon were starting to get tired. Faba laughed.

"Is that really the best you can do? I can't say I'm surprised though, you are the son of that incompetent bitch of President."

This struck a nerve for Gladion. "What did you just call my mother you bastard?!"

"Oops, did I strike a nerve?" Faba smirked.

Before Gladion could respond, another Pokémon made its presence known. The group looked to see a Hypno walking up.

"Hypno?! Where did you—?!" Faba asked in disbelief. This soon turned into a creepy smile. "Well then Gladion, I think it's time we end this."

Gladion grunted again.

"Now then Hypno, use Psychic!"

Faba was suddenly confused when he saw Hypno standing still.

"What's wrong with you! Use Psychic dammit!"

Gladion suddenly smirked. "For once I agree with you. It is time to end this." Hypno turned to face Raichu and Faba. "Night Daze!"

Hypno powered up dark energy in its fist and slammed it into the ground, causing an explosion of dark energy to erupt. Raichu and Faba were blown back. Once he recovered, he looked to see Raichu motionless and had swirls for eyes.

"Impossible! How the hell did you—?!"

When he looked back, he saw that Hypno was gone, and a Zoroark was there instead.

"Bastard! You tricked me!" Faba yelled.

"No. I simply put you in your place. It's over Faba, you've lost" Gladion declared.

That last line echoed in Faba's mind. It was slowly dawning on him that this was true. Everything Faba had done, was now becoming undone. All his plans, his desires, everything, was beginning to crumble. Something suddenly snapped in Faba's mind.

"Nooooo!!! I refuse to accept this!!!" He screamed.

He then reached behind his back again, gripping the same handle and this time pulling it out. In his hand was a gun. In his insanity, he aimed it straight at Vulpix.

"DIE!!!!"

He pulled the trigger, a bullet flying out. Gladion and his Pokémon tried to stop it, but weren't fast enough. Vulpix was beyond terrified. Then out of nowhere, Ninetails appeared right in front of Vulpix. She was then struck by the bullet and blood started to come out. Vulpix watched in utter shock, as did Gladion and his Pokémon. Ninetails started to fall over.

"MAMA!!!!!"

Gladion and his Pokémon rushed over to Ninetails. Gladion inspected the wound as Lycanroc freed Vulpix from the vines. Gladion felt rage inside him.

"Faba, you bastard!!! How dare you—" he looked behind him, only to see Faba missing. He grunted in anger. "Dammit!"

Vulpix slowly walked up to her mother. She nudged her, producing a sigh from her mother's mouth.

"Mama..." she whispered as tears began to fall.

Ninetails looked up at her child. "Don't cry sweetie...it's just a scratch ok?" She whispered.

"I'm sorry mama...I...I'm sorry...I tried to protect you...but I..." Vulpix said, now crying even more.

"Shh...it's okay sweetie...you did protect me...and I'm so proud of you for that..."

"But I didn't!! You're hurt because I didn't protect you! Why would you be proud of me after that?!"

Ninetails smiled. "Because you were so brave...you didn't back down, and never gave up...I bet your mother taught you that..."

Vulpix was confused. "B-But...you're my—"

"No sweetie...I mean your real mother...the one who was there for you, gave you hugs and kisses, loved you dearly, and treated you as their own...I know you have one like that now..."

"Mama..."

Ninetails suddenly coughed. Gladion rushed over. He looked at the wound again, and saw more blood coming out. He was about to rush out to get help but was snagged by Ninetails' tail. He looked at her and saw her looking at him. He understood. Ninetails looked back at her child.

"Sweetheart...will you promise me something...?"

"Anything mama!" Vulpix said as she got closer.

"Live happily...and with...your mother...and never let her go..."

Vulpix was a little surprised by this. She placed her head against her mother's.

"I p-promise mama..."

Ninetails smiled. "Thank you sweetie..."

Something then dropped from the fur bellow Ninetails' neck. Everyone looked at it. It was a stone that was made of Ice.

"That's an Ice Stone. That's how Alolan Vulpix evolve" Gladion said.

Vulpix looked at her mother again. She looked at the stone again. She suddenly heard Serena's words echo in her mind, followed by memories the two have had. With her decision made, she touched the stone. Vulpix's body started to glow and grow bigger. Once the light faded, Vulpix was gone, an Alolan Ninetails taking her place. The mother Ninetails smiled.

"You've certainly grown..." she jokingly whispered.

The daughter Ninetails lowered her head and rubbed it against her mother's.

"I'll keep my promise mother...I swear I will!"

The mother's eyes started to grow heavy.

"I know...you will...sweetheart..." as her eyes were about to close, she got one last thing out. ".....Thank you...."

Her eyes closed, but didn't open again. After one last sigh, the mother became motionless. Everyone knew.

She was dead.

Gladion and his Pokémon looked away. The daughter silently cried. She rubbed her head against her mother's. After a brief moment, the daughter slightly lifted her head up. She kissed her mother one last time before speaking.

"No matter where I go, no matter what my life brings me...you'll always be my mother..."

She rose up. Explosions suddenly erupted in the distance.

"It seems your friends are fighting Team Skull. And I have no doubt Guzma will do something stupid when it's over" Gladion said.

Ninetails started to walk towards the door. She stopped when she was right next to Gladion. The two were looking in the opposite direction.

"...I'm sorry..." was all Gladion said.

Ninetails turned her head and licked the side of Gladion's head. Gladion looked at her with surprise, and even more when he saw her smiling at him. This caused Gladion to smile. Ninetails turned her head forward again, now with a serious expression. She started to run out the door and back towards the garden.

Gladion faced the doorway. He then took out a couple Poke Balls and returned Lycanroc and Zoroark. Umbreon looked up at him and asked if he was ok. Gladion looked down at his partner and patted its head.

"Let's go" was all he said.

Umbreon reluctantly nodded. The two left the room and started to make their way out.

*Present*

Guzma continued to struggle but was unable to escape. This gave the Aether employees enough time to bound Guzma. Once he was secure, Ninetails released him. Guzma kept shouting profanity as he was hauled away.

Before he could process anything, Ash was suddenly tackled to the ground. Before he could even speak, his lips were connected with Serena's, tears falling down onto Ash's face. After a while Ash and Serena parted lips, however Serena refused to let go of him.

"Thank god you're alright...!" Serena whimpered.

Ash placed a hand on her back as she continued to cry. After a little bit Serena finally let Ash get up, the latter immediately being engulfed in a bone crushing hug, courtesy of Burnet, who was also crying. Kukui joined in soon after. Once finished, Ash received hugs, albeit less painful, from all his Pokémon. Once that was all done, Ninetails slowly walked up to the group.

Serena walked up to her. She placed a hand on the side of the Pokémon's head. Ninetails leaned into it.

"My baby is so big now" Serena said with a smile.

Ninetails licked her and rubbed her head against Serena's, the latter laughing. Everyone watched the two with a smile.

It didn't take too long to discover the mother's body. Ninetails explained what happened to Greninja and Delphox, who explained it to Ash and Serena, who explained it to everyone else. Lusamine organized a funeral for the mother. After everything was said and done, Kukui started up the boat. Lusamine once again thanked Ash and Serena for what they did and said they would always be welcomed back anytime.

Ninetails was looking at the man made island as it got further away. Pancham came up and sat on a surface to match her height.

"You gonna be okay?" He asked.

"Maybe" was all she said, still looking at the island.

"I'm sorry about what happened..."

"Don't be, it's all my fault anyway."

Pancham looked at her with surprise.

"No it's not, why would you say that?"

"I failed to protect her...she died, protecting me. And Faba escaped right from under me. All I wanted to do was protect her...I wanted to rescue her from that place...but in the end...I failed that too..."

Pancham was silent. He looked up at her again.

"Well...you still have Serena right?"

This got Ninetails' attention.

"I mean...she's your mom too right?" Pancham said.

Her mother's dying words echoed in her mind again. She looked back at Serena, who was leaning over the bow railing with a pale face and a weird ghost shaped thing coming out of her mouth. Ninetails softly smiled. She looked back at the island once more, which was almost out of sight.

'Mother...i may have failed to protect you. But...I will not fail Serena. I will keep my promise to you. And...I will never give up...not till it's over.'

She looked at Pancham again and smiled.

"Thank you...Uncle Pancham."

Pancham lightly blushed at that name. He gave her a thumbs up. The two started to leave the stern of the ship.

"Maybe you can comfort Delphox with her motion sickness now" Pancham joked.

Ninetails laughed as the two made their way towards the bow, Aether Paradise fading away from view.

And that's it! The Icy Rescue Arc is now over! What did you all think? This was super fun to write and I'm happy with how it turned out. Well, as I said at the top, here's what I've got planned next: I'll write 2 or 3 more chapters and then the Ula Ula Island Challenge will start. After that, well, I'll just save that for later. So thank you all for reading and I'll see you next time. Power to the Readers!

JohtoAmour64 out!!