Rewriting the Aether Arc

The Aether Arc was a mess in the Sun and Moon anime.

Yes, I said it. Yes, I'm going to be attacked for this by rabid fans that can't see how it failed on a narrative level. Do I have my justifications for it, though? Absolutely.

I could probably spend quite a bit of time going over all the places it ultimately failed, but I'll save that for what will ultimately be my comprehensive and liberally scathing review of that portion of the series (no, I still haven't re-watched for Part 2. Busy, thanks). So, instead, what this will dive into is how to rewrite the entire arc, within parameters of course. Hopefully I can make it at least a little better. Though, do be warned, it's all text.

So, let's begin.

Setting Parameters

The first thing to start off with here are the parameters and boundaries we'll be working with in this rewrite.

It's very easy for someone to just say "well, let's follow the games!" Sure, the games, for the most part, have a superior plot that's, to me, more emotionally engaging as a character arc for Lillie, in particular, and just a good plot overall. However, that can't really fly. Not only is it not SM's style as a serious (too dark, obviously), but it's a huge copout. Instead, the first parameter that needs to be set is that we take the elements that were already given to us in the series: a more heroic Lusamine, a more villainous Faba, the Z-Power Ring, Gladion and Ash, Lillie's fears. These are things we'll keep.

The other thing we'll keep is the ability to try and keep this within the realm of the same length and structure. It's difficult to try and spread this all out over numerous breaks like other "villain" arcs because its structure does not lend to that. So, we'll keep that intact.

So, with these parameters set for us, let's dive in people!

Enter Aether

Like SM 44 began, Ash has a dream of the Altar of the Sunne, as well as Solgaleo and Lunala. This is a really damn strong opening to the arc, and I find there's actually very little I'd change about it. Perhaps a bit more of Silvally reacting to what's going on, but that's it. In fact, the biggest thing for this moment is that as Ash wakes up, he finds his Z-Ring is freaking crazy. See, he left the Electrium-Z on his wrist last night, and it's flaring brightly, like Tapu Koko senses something. It doesn't last long, though, and it's over before he even starts thinking about it.

It's sort of on his mind, as is the dream, and then there's a news report about the Aether Foundation, where Kukui mentions the professor with them, Burnet, being an old friend of his. He's even acting weird about it, but Ash being Ash just heads to school. And here is where the episode continues on largely the same: Ash finds Cosmog, takes it to school, weird shenanigans with the creature, and Lillie names it Nebby...but she still can't touch it. Lillie's still very interested though, and Kukui suggests bringing Nebby back to his place so the two academically-inclined can study it together. Lillie agrees and Ash goes with her...seeing the helicopter on the way that Lillie identifies, but is unhappy about.

When they get there, they meet Professor Burnet, who blushes around Kukui, and he's just as weird, but Ash is as oblivious as ever. He's more interested in Lusamine, Lillie's mother, who gushes over her daughter able to touch Shiron as in the show. It's Faba who takes more interest in Nebby, wanting to get his grubby claws all over it. As Lillie and Lusamine argue about Clefable, Lusamine eventually sees Nebby and gushes there, asking Burnet if it might be an Ultra Beast, which makes Ash and Lillie curious, enough to make Lillie forget about anger towards her mother, but she snaps back to cold indifference. After a bit of discussion regarding all this, Faba suggests taking it back to the Paradise, but Lusamine agrees to keep it with Ash, which Lillie is surprised by, given her mother can be a bit controlling. She feels a bit bad but says nothing to her mother.

So, like I said, largely the same content as SM 44 itself with just a few minor changes to build upon for the future.

Time with Nebby

So, with things established, Ash and the others decide to look after Nebby. Burnet's stuck around, too, under "further research" and Kukui brings her in as a guest lecture. Naturally, while at school, Nebby decides to troll everyone by revealing his teleportation powers. However, he does this a bit differently, taking them in pairs. And, on top of this, Nebby takes Lillie to the Aether Foundation and the source of her missing memories. Something is triggered in Lillie's head when she sees Clefable there, unable to touch her, but she's whisked back before anything else. Faba sees her, though, and decides to look for Gladion, fearing the return of Lillie's memories.

Of course, Lillie obviously isn't the only victim. Ash is teleported by Nebby, too...right into the clutches of Team Rocket. Usual shenanigans ensue, and TRio decides they want more information on Nebby, following the trail to the Aether Foundation. Of course, what really happens in this moment is that Ash, Nebby and Pikachu all bond together with Ash's team, especially when Nebby was nearly hurt by TRio and Pikachu saved him, causing the Z-Ring to shine once again briefly. In any case, all's well that ends well.

So, with the Nebby shenanigans over, Kukui announces that they'll be taking a field trip to the Aether Foundation. Burnet chooses to stay behind, conveniently enough, and we see them do some field research together where Burnet teases him about taking care of Ash, with the man stating the boy's a handful on his own. Burnet suggests he just needs some help.

At the Aether Foundation, however, the class, accompanied by Samson Oak, meets with Lusamine, while Faba schemes to steal Nebby. There they learn why Lusamine is so interested in the Ultra Beasts, even if she keeps getting interrupted, to Lillie's anger. She snaps that they're going to leave, though once they're out of Lusamine's presence, Lana and Sophocles tell her that her mother may not always be around, but she tries her best. Lillie feels ashamed, but upholds her dignity. Instead, she takes them on a tour with Wicke, meeting Clefable along the way. Ash and the others see that Lillie has a lot of fond memories, especially while chasing a Ditto to other parts of the Paradise. This worries Faba more, because it's clear that her memories are resurfacing; all while Mallow wants a way to help Lillie get them all back so she can touch Pokémon again.

During all this, TRio gets information on Type: Null and Poni Island. They begin to scheme to get rare Pokémon there, but are held back by Faba, who puts them to work.

Gladion, Null and Lillie's Lost Past

So, with their return from Aether, things settle into a lull, and Kukui goes out for the day with Burnet, leaving Ash and his Pokémon to do their thing. Thinking about Lillie's relationship with her mother, he wonders how Gladion is with Lusamine. Like in SM 47, this line of thought causes Nebby to teleport him straight to Gladion's location with Lycanroc, Nebby and Pikachu in tow. Gladion's surprised by this, but the two have a chat.

It pretty much proceeds exactly the way it did, with Gladion revealing a bit about Null. He wants to make sure to protect his family and find a way to help Lillie get better, but he's not strong enough, yet. Gladion then demands to know, as in the episode, why he's so special. Especially what his mother sees in Ash. Naturally, a battle ensues. However, Lycanroc can't get a hit in on Silvally and this makes him angrier and angrier, believing that now that he's evolved, he should be stronger, but he's not. This leads to him going berserk. Ash tries to calm him down, and Nebby's crying from it only makes things worse. Gladion uses Breakneck Blitz, and Ash tries to counter with Continental Crush, but fails. Gladion states that he still doesn't see why Ash is special and chooses to protect his family on his own.

This brings Ash down, though his subsequent bonding with Lycanroc, Nebby and Pikachu make him feel a little better. They vow to help Gladion see whatever he's looking for by training, all while thinking about what he told them regarding Lillie.

Ash isn't the only one with Lillie's past on their mind going into SM 48. Mallow is worried about her friend, too, and plans a sleepover for everyone to unwind. Burnet and Kukui agree to chaperone, on request of Lusamine, who Lillie remains angry at. She does see that her mother is earnestly trying, though, even if she's resistant. Ash and Kiawe have a battle at the sleepover, with the latter remarking that Ash seems more fired up than usual. Ash agrees, Gladion having driven him forward, which Kiawe says is a good thing. In particular, Ash and Lycanroc try to use Continental Crush better. Even Nebby wants to try and battle, leading to a bonding moment that only Ash could have. Mallow, Lana and Sophocles also speak with Lillie about mothers, making Lillie feel a bit better, but also realizing she doesn't treat her mother the best. Burnet confirms this at night (complete with Kukui telling her she'd be a good mother), and as Lillie heads inside, she pets an awakened Nebby...

...and like in the episode, it teleports her to Gladion. The memory, distorted and frightening, activates with Silvally, leaving Lillie a quivering mess. She hasn't lost her ability to touch Pokémon, but barely reacts to what's going on around her.

This sets a number of events spiraling out of control. For one, Gladion is furious at Ash for not even doing the one thing he should have done. Ash argues back that it's not his fault, but Gladion is set: he needs to protect his family on his own, for sure. Of course, soon after, he's attacked by Faba and Silvally is stolen. Back at school, though, everyone's worried for Lillie, who hasn't left home. Mallow, therefore, comes up with a plan to bring Lillie to happy places from the past, including those with her family. With Nebby's help, each of the classmates do this for Lillie, slowly bringing her back out of her shell...at least, until the final stop is the basement of the Paradise, where Faba is.

There, his true colors are revealed as in the anime and events follow mostly the same, the mad scientist claiming that Lillie regaining her memories would ruin his chances of seeing Lusamine's childhood dream fulfilled. Enter Gladion and Silvally, Lillie gets her memories back, TRio quits working for Faba and moves on to Poni because of their info, and...wait, nope. She still can't touch Pokémon. However, with a little bit of coaxing on her mother's part, Lillie is able to hug Silvally as he approaches her, showing her that she can if she works at it, which she promises to, the family beginning to repair itself.

Disaster In Motion

With Lillie having regained her memories of what happened, she sets about deciding to touch Pokémon. While it's easy for some Pokémon that she knows, those that she don't at the mansion...it's a bit harder. It doesn't help that Faba is scheming the entire time (having already been fired), going so far as to hire some of the Skull grunts on the island to kidnap a lot of Pokémon at Lillie's mansion. They do so, and with Ash and the others otherwise indisposed, Lillie is forced to take action, doing so without thinking. The other Pokémon help her do so, and she starts earning her ability to touch other Pokémon again. Team Skull is defeated, claiming to head back home to the "boss" (setup for whenever Guzma shows up...if he shows up). In the confusion, though, Faba makes off with Nebby again, making Ash realize that Gladion was right.

He and Lillie vow to rescue Nebby from Faba, along with Gladion, who was visiting with his sister. They also tell Lusamine, and they go to confront Faba, who still manages to open the Ultra Wormhole, with a Nihilego coming through. Lillie is frozen with fear, all of her efforts and courage lost in the face of the creature, and Lusamine protects her as in the anime, only to be stolen away. Nebby is saved but left comatose, and Nihilego escapes, even tanking Z-Moves from Ash and Gladion.

The event leaves Lillie shaken and Ash feels useless, though he comes up with the decision to save Lusamine. Gladion tells him to stay out as he's already done enough. The classmates are also privy to this, themselves feeling useless for not having come along. Gladion, however, convinces Lillie to get up. Lillie, realizing that she's been skating by with the good graces of everyone saving her, decides she can't do this anymore. She needs to be better. No amount of touching Pokémon will help her if she doesn't make it happen herself. Changing her clothes, she declares that she will save her mother and departs with Gladion for Poni.

Now, for the most part, the remainder of SM 51 is largely unchanged. Gladion and Lillie go to Poni, though Lillie is more involved, solving some puzzles and traps, and in battle not only creating the ice rink, but also choosing to freeze Totem Kommo-o's feet for the final blow. Shiron also learns a new move. Doesn't matter what. Likewise, the classmates decide that this is as much their fault given they let Nebby be stolen and track over to Poni with Kukui and Burnet, all of them arriving to the Altar of the Sunne...just as TRio does as well.

Here's where some major changes come in. So, instead of just sitting around for a whole episode, the Tapus arrive and show the whole thing with Nebby being born...because there's an extradimensional threat in the form of the Ultra Beasts. Ash was chosen by Tapu Koko, believing he had the strength to stop the threat, which they further stress by turning his Z-Ring into the Z-Power Ring, which Ash feels strength from in his bond with Pikachu and Nebby. Elsewhere in the ruins, Kukui and Burnet find the Sun and Moon Flutes, having a rather shippy moment of Kukui saving Burnet.

Back on the Altar, they all prepare to enter the Ultra Space, but Nebby remains unresponsive. Waiting for a time, TRio attacks, hoping to capture the Tapus, but are predictably defeated only for Bewear to catch them. However, before they're gone, James realizes he's found something: a Sparkling Stone! Though they have no idea what to do with it. Regardless, it killed the time for Kukui and Burnet to arrive with the flutes and Lillie realizes, with her knowledge, what they're for. They restore Nebby and get ready to enter the Ultra Space.

No "greatest team".

No overly emotional scene with Lillie.

Just a moment with Ash and Nebby, making his Z-Ring burn even brighter, especially with a new Z-Move. Lillie and the others board Solgaleo, Lillie taking charge with wanting to save her mother leading to her able to touch Solgaleo. This triggers something in her mind, but it's not fully formed as they leap into the Ultra Space, with Kukui and Burnet staying behind.

The Climax

And so we enter the space where Lusamine is, not fused together. Lillie and Gladion run forward towards her, but her Pokémon all emerge, and Nihilego is there. Lusamine tells them to stay away, as she has her precious Nihilego. As if sensing this desire, Nihilego fuses with Lusamine (only we actually get to see it) and a battle ensues.

Now, for the most part, I see no major reason to change much about the ensuing battle from SM 53 except for removing Teeter Dance and Sweet Scent (this is serious, after all). However, the big moments that are changing directly result from this: for one, Ash is determined to prove Gladion wrong, he and Lycanroc working together to show themselves stronger and successfully using Continental Crush, but being defeated in the end to show he's not as strong as hoped, and with Lillie approaching Clefable, she tries to snap it out...eventually coming to touch it. Having not been able to touch all Pokémon before, this act of courage, hurting herself in the process, Clefable snaps out of it.

This moves it into the final phases of the battle, with the Motherbeast attempting to keep them all away. Lillie's smarts help them, while the other classmates defeat their opponents and help to build a bridge across the poison with Turtonator setting it alight, Popplio cooling it down, etc. Lillie attempts to appeal to Lusamine, saying she hated her, but in the end realizes it was both their faults and that Lillie was rather unkind as a daughter. This admission halts Lusamine, still inside, just long enough for Solgaleo to land a blow on the Motherbeast, only to be wounded heavily. Ash reacts with upsetness, as Lusamine and Nihilego separate. This causes Ash's Z-Ring to shine, the Electrium-Z turning into the Pikashunium-Z. Ash and Pikachu make their big attack, but it's not enough, until Silvally comes in and finishes the job, Ash and Gladion working together. The Pikashunium goes away, and leaves Ash and Pikachu exhausted; they weren't quite as good as they thought.

With Nihilego defeated, they bring Lusamine out of the Ultra Space and back to their world!

Largely a glossed over section here, but certainly with enough changes to make a more emotional impact that was actually built up to, and helps lead into the next, and final section.

Wrap-Up

So, with the incident in the Ultra Space resolved, everything is happier again. Faba's arrested, as he rightly deserves, though he does ask for forgiveness, realizing how out of line he was. They give it, of course, but he still goes to prison. Lusamine and Burnet record the emergence of Ultra Beasts to their world, establishing (yes, I know) the Ultra Guardians. This gives Ash something he feels he needs to get stronger for, so he and Pikachu can pull off that Z-Move again. Even Lycanroc agrees, wanting to get more powerful. This is spurred on by Gladion saying he'll take on the trials. Ash promises to put more effort towards them so they can meet again and battle.

However, the big change from these is Solgaleo. He was heavily damaged in the battle, and thus needs to heal. To this, he gives his farewell to Ash, the two living through their memories together (as short a time as it was), and Ash promises to find him when they've mastered the Pikashunium-Z: not only because it's his and Pikachu's move, but because he feels it also represents their own time together, born out of the desire to protect Nebby. After a final hug, Nebby disappears.

Everything else plays out the exact same, and the arc comes to a close.

Conclusion

And so, we've reached the end of this rewrite.

Now, you might not see anything major as I tried to hit all the major plot beats along the way so it didn't seem like I was saying "this completely sucks, throw it all out". Instead, I added changes that give more to the characters, don't hand them something for nothing, and furthers the plot. I'll summarize below:

-Hints at the Pikashunium-Z showing up and being used, rather than coming out of nowhere.
-Burnet and Kukui developing more so their marriage doesn't just come out of nowhere. Yes, they're married in the games, but instead of shoehorning it, it would have been better to just have them married in the first place.
-Team Skull gets involved. They haven't shown up for over 30 episodes...
-Lillie doesn't get the ability to touch Pokémon just for remembering things. It's a copout and a handout. This way, she still has to work for it, and it makes the Clefable moment more emotional because she has to work for touching it.
-Speaking of, more with Clefable, so it has some oomph.
-The classmates are more invested in what's going on with Lillie.
-Gladion doesn't just consider Ash special, and it's seen as something that needs to be earned, and brings the Continental Crush plot point in. Ash is more driven as a result.
-Trimming of excess filler that was unneeded for the actual plot.
-TRio progresses by getting a Sparkling Stone.
-Lillie is actually called out for the treatment of her mother, preventing her from looking like a Mary Sue.
-Oh, and Lycanroc doesn't go berserk because it's dirty but for a legit reason that's in line with its personality.

That said, it's far from perfect, but I think it works, and it's a far cry from the non-foreshadowed, out of nowhere arc we were given in the first place. Hopefully, you believe so, too! If you don't...well, you can keep thinking otherwise. I don't really care.

Dare to Be Silly,
Epicocity