"Lilly..."<br/>The breathy whisper of her mother sounded out as she entered her room, her steps as graceful as her daughters. Mesmerizing blue eyes carefully observed her daughter in a loving manner as she stepped over to her. her mother then paused for a moment, watching her carefully as memories of her daughters childhood raced through her mind.<br/>She could recall the same day that she had first brought her daughter to this room, and everything that had changed over time. From the small wide eyed baby to this young woman that now stood before her, much had transpired over the years...but now Lilly was going to take her first step out into a very large and dangerous world...and she honestly did not like that idea.<br/>letting a soft sigh pass her lips she sat down on the edge of the bed and paused for a moment before reaching over and petting her daughters head tenderly. "...So much time has passed, and I knew this day would come...but every time I thought it would be later...and yet, here it is." She paused for a moment to study Lilly before smiling softly and reaching into her pocket. "This adventure you will walk on your own...eventually with others, but I can at least get you to that point. Professor Hemlock is waiting for you, and agreed to take you on as an apprentice till your on your feet." Lifting her hand up she held out a small platinum necklace with a vibrant star sapphire shaped like a water drop.<br/>"Here...Its the mystic water your father gave to me when I was still a feebass...It lead to my evolution, and I hope someday it will lead to your own...figuratively of course." she whispered then leaned over and gave her a small kiss before pulling her daughter in for a hug. "be careful out there...okay? Eat well, stay safe...take care of yourself...and remember to call home from time to time."<br/><br/>In the time it had taken her to finally step out her doors, a storm had begun to brew. Dark clouds heavy with water slowly began to roll thier way across the grey sky, making it seem like her journey would begin with soggy clothes and wet shoes.<br/><br/>...or so it might have. A hover bike shaped like a latios was primed and ready for her to outrun the storm.<br/>The bike itself had a lot of kick to it, clearly made with the intent of getting from one location to another with the speed of most flying pokemon. The ride itself took an hour, clearly cutting the normal time it would take to reach Professor Hemlock's personal laboratory by a third.<br/>With the storm hot on her heels and the wind in her hair, finally the tall three story building became visable in the distance. Its perch on a well tended to hill made it stand out all the more, and that was not taking into account the artistic garden that decorated the surrounding grounds of the research building.<br/><br/>When she finally made it to the outside of the facility, turning off the bike caused it to flash and vanish! Using similar technology to a pokeball, she was left with a small portable pad with a single button, little bigger than a phone. Easy to put away and store, as well as very efficient...a good thing as she didn't have long to wait, with the professor himself waiting at the doors outside at the top of a set of marble stairs.<br/><br/>He was a tall man dressed in an inky black lab coat over what looked to be rather dressy attire. He raised a hand to adjust his glasses closer to his pair of flinty grey eyes as he took a moment to asses her before he spoke. "Illyana, you look well. Well done outrunning that rain." He congratulated her before opening the door and letting her inside before following behind and soon taking up the lead to take her deeper into the research building.<br/>The interior of the lab was as much art as it was technologically savvy. A large marble fountain rested in the center of the room, while tile floors made from the same clean material stretched up to the ballroom esque stairs leading deeper into the facility. "Your arrival is timely, if a little unsightly. Your ride here did not agree with your hairstyle." he announced to her before making his way up the stairs, hands clasped behind him thoughtfully. "We have a very Important visitor today...A funder for much of my research, and for the trip we will be taking shortly." He informed her as he exited through the engraved wood doors to the true interior of the lab building.<br/>The next room was far more professional looking and less artsy, with a wide circle of men and women in proper attire typing away on computers. Every step the professor took down the halls seemed to echo within the quiet space and across the marble that surrounded everything. "Most who have heard of me know simply that my field of research is on the phenomenon of "Shiny" pokemon as they are called. For a time it was thought that such pokemon were divine in some way...and the ancients even worshiped them or thought of them as omens. Currently, many think they are a the pokemon equipment of "Albinism"... More commonly known as an "Albino" among humans and other creatures."<br/>Coming to stop by a door at the end of the hall labelled "PROFESSOR LAB ROOM" He glanced over his shoulder to her. "However...my research has begun to say something to argue that supposed "well known" fact...." And with that the professor pushed through the set of doors to his lab.<br/><br/>The inside of this room was filled with high quality testing equipment, many of which were worth more than some houses on their own. A long pathway flanked on either side by different berry trees led to a inky black desk made from black slate and cherry wood. Standing next to it was the tall well dressed figure belonging to none other than Mr.Moon, the Guardian of shadows and fourth member of the elite four.<br/>Examining the custom designed pokeball on the table, the darkly dressed man glanced over to professor and his new arrival. There was a pause as he studied her before a smirk crossed his features and he turned back to examining the pokeball. "Welcome back doctor. Im glad you came back, as I was about to eat one of the mango berries in your desk." "Stay out of my desk, Nocturnus. Its rude to snoop." Dr.Hemlock snapped at him before making his way down towards his desk. "Now...Nocturnus, meet Illyana, a temporary assistant of mine. Illyana, you should know who Nocturnus is...So long as you have not been emulating a Shuckle for the past 30 years."<br/>Reaching his desk the professor approached the nocturnus and the strange pokeball he was holding. It was clearly of custom make, and alot alot of careful detail had been taken in its design. Looking like a luxury ball, the top was a deep midnight black and had Unown pokemon runes decorating the sides in gold. A single crest made of gold decorated the top, its shaping like that of a flame.<br/>Reaching up the Professor was quick to snatch the custom pokeball from Nocturnus's hands. "I said you may look, but do not touch." He stated before turning back to Illyana. "Inside of this pokeball is the proof of my theory on<i>Variants.</i>.. Proof that Pokemon are just as varied...if not more so...than humans. As their first tasks on the job, my new assistant will introduce you to a variant Pokemon I found exploring that island I found." motioning with his head to the sphere held in his hand, he held out his arm for Illyana. "Release the contents, please."