"Psst Rei can you see what's going on?"
"Afraid not there are too many Team Cosmo Grunts watching the area," answered Rei.
"Can you hear what they're saying?"
"Sorry Mrs. Cadence but I'm afraid all the machinery is making too much noise," answered Rei.
Rei was a member of the Aether Foundation who had been sent to Equestria to investigate the sudden appearances of the Ultra Wormholes not just in Alola but in Equestria as well. He had to find evidence to take back to paradise that would help expose the true intentions of Team Cosmos. In order to keep the residents of Equestria safe, he had volunteered to go alone. But in the end Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, Thorax, Trixie, and Discord had decided to tag along. Now breaking into Cosmic Corporations research facility was hard enough due to the large amount of Team Cosmos Grunts and surprisingly Changelings who were guarding the area and several security cameras watching their every movement, the real problem was be extra cautious so that they don't accidentally trip the alarm. Once inside the group had snuck past several grunts and changelings while endlessly wandering the facility. In the end they found themselves inside one of the labs on the higher levels of the facility secretly watching a group of scientists experiment on two Ultra Beasts held inside two lab tanks filled with blue liquid.
"I don't like this how long are we gonna be here?" asked Trixie.
"Until I can find something to expose Team Cosmos intentions," answered Rei.
"What's the point everyone already knows that Team Cosmos is evil," said Discord.
"That's not enough," said Rei. "The Aether Foundation wants me to expose the experiments Team Cosmos is doing on these Ultra Beasts," added Rei.
"Mr Rei," Thorax called out.
"What is it?" asked Thorax.
"Someone is coming," said Thorax with a panicked look.
"Shoot everyone hide!" Rei whispered.
Rei ran over to a nearby locker and closed the door, Cadence quickly found a box big enough and jumped in, Trixie panicked and hid under the table, Thorax quickly jumped on top of a desk and changed into a test tube, Discord ran and hid behind a book shelf. The five stopped all signs of movement as they heard the door to the lab open.
"Man this is so exhausting," said a voice.
"Oh shut up," hissed another voice. "Nebula directly told us to find those stupid papers on the damn beasts," "We don't have choice unless you want your ass kicked by Nebula himself,"
"I know," said the first voice. "But still we've been at this the entire day,"
Rei quickly but silently took out his recorder and pressed the record button.
"Would you shut up already," hissed the second voice. "If we find those stupid reports we'll be over with this as soon as possible,"
"And then what?" asked the first voice.
"Then we can get our break you idiot," growled the second voice. "Now just shut up and find those reports,"
The first voice groaned as the footsteps began walking around the lab. The sound of file cabinets and rustling of paper could be heard. All the while nobody moved. Just then Cadence could hear one set of footsteps approach the box she was hiding in. She had to put her hooves over her mouth to cover her breathing. The footsteps eventually came to a halt in front of her box. She heard the sound of the box opening. Sweating she held her breath when the first voice distracted the figure.
"Seriously aren't the Ultra Beasts strong enough already?" groaned the first voice. "If that's the case then there shouldn't be a point to creating Cosmic Beasts,"
That was obviously the last straw. Cadence heard the figure stomp their feet on the ground as he started screaming, "OH MY GOD WILL YOU SHUT UP ALREADY!?" "Look I don't want to do this either ok?"
"Then why are we still doing this?" whined the first voice.
Cadence heard the figure facepalm himself, Because Nebula thinks that Cosmic Beasts are better than the Ultra Beasts," growled the second voice.
"That makes no sense!" screamed the first voice.
"I KNOW IT DOESN'T!!!!!" the second voice yelled back.
"Then we should just quit," groaned the first voice.
"OH MY GOD I SWEAR TO GOD THIS IS WHY WE NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE!!!!!!" the second voice screamed.
"Well it's not my fault," complained the first voice.
The second figure could be heard throwing a piece of glass object at something causing Cadence to flinch.
"I swear I don't know why Nebula hasn't given me the right to murder your ass," growled the second voice.
"Geez why you gotta be mean Krater?" asked the first voice.
"Because you're always complaining and it gets annoying after a while Io," hissed Krater.
"But it doesn't mean you have to be mean," sniffled Io.
"Oh now what your gonna cry?" asked Krater.
"Why wouldn't I?" asked Io. "You were always treating me like this," Io sniffled.
"Oh for god sake at least you aren't named after a giant hole in planets," scoffed Krater.
"That doesn't change anything," sobbed Io.
"Ugh whatever," Krater scoffed. "Oh look there they are," said Krater. Cadence heart seemed to calm down as she heard the footsteps move away. "Look here we found the papers now lets go," said Krater. "What omg are you seriously gonna make me drag you," asked Krater. But instead of answering Io continued to sob. Rei heard Krater groan as the sound of someone being dragged out of the room screeched throughout the lab. Once the group knew the cost was clear everyone came out of hiding.
"Well that was certainly harsh," said Discord.
"Poor Io," said Thorax.
"It certainly is upsetting to hear someone treated like that," said Rei. "But right now we need to get this evidence back to Aether," said Rei holding up his recorder. The four followed Rei as he walked out the lab. And now it was back to sneaking around again. However the group was once again getting lost in the lab. "Damn where the hell are we?" Rei asked himself.
"We are so lost," said Trixie trembling.
"Don't worry we'll find our way out just keep going and-," But Rei's statement was cut short when he ran into something and was knocked backwards.
The four ran to his side, "Rei are you ok?" asked Cadence.
"Yeah I'm fine," said Rei.
Just then a familiar voice spoke up, "Owie my head," the group froze and looked towards the voice to see a Team Cosmo Grunt on the ground rubbing his head. Rei had to cover Cadence's mouth to keep her from gasping. The grunt got to his feet and looked at the five, "Hey sorry bout-" He froze once he saw who he was talking to.
"Hey your from Aether," he said.
Rei tried to talk but he couldn't form any words.
"Hey Io whats going on?" a voice called out.
Io looked at the five and back. Rei pulled out his Pokeball just in case while Cadence, Trixie, Thorax, and Discord hid behind Rei. "Um nothing," Io called out. "I just hit my head against the wall," he answered. The five were surprised to hear Io stand up for them.
"Clumsy as always aren't ya?" responded the voice before disappearing deeper into the facility.
Io let out a sigh of relief as he turned back towards the five. The group just stared at him in awe. "What?" Io asked.
"Um nothing," said Rei.
"Actually yes something," said Cadence. "Aren't you a Team Cosmo Grunt?" she asked walking up to Io.
"Uh yeah," said Io with a nervous look.
"Then why did you stand up for us?" asked Cadence.
Io shuffled his feet looking kind of nervous, "I don't know," he answered.
"You don't know?" asked Cadence. Io shook his head. Now Cadence was really confused.
"Um hey are you guys lost or something?" Io asked. The group nodded. "Um hey listen if I were to take you to the exit and not tell anyone about you can you not tell anyone about me either?" he asked.
"What?" asked Thorax.
"I mean it's perfect we don't tell anyone about each other and so nobody has to get in trouble," Io added.
" I don't know," said Rei.
"Please," pleaded Io in a sad voice. Rei scratched his chin thinking. Once Io realized that the answer was probably a no, his smile disappeared.
"Actually," said Rei. Io looked up. "How about you come with us?" Rei asked. The four including Io looked at him in shock. "I mean yes nobody really trusts you but it could be helpful," said Rei. "You could tell us everything you know about Team Cosmos and their intentions while in return we give you hospitality," Rei suggested.
Io's eyes widened, "I'd love that,"
"Then it's a deal," said Rei. "Oh by the way I'm Rei," he said. "And these are not EXACTLY my friends more like companions," he said pointing to the four. "Meet Princess Mi Amore Cadenza aka Cadence, Discord, King Thorax, and Trixie Lulamoon," said Rei. The four waved at Io with a nervous look.
"I'm Io," said Io.
Suddenly a voice called out from behind the five, "Hey stop who are you!?"
"Oh shoot," said Rei.
"Wait a minute your from Aether!" screamed the voice.
"Guys follow me," said Io running down the hall. The five didn't need to be told twice, they ran after Io as the figure called out.
"Halt Intruder!"
Rei and his companions continue to follow Io through the halls even after the alarm went off.
"How much longer?" asked Trixie.
"Just up ahead," said Io pointing to an exit sign. Just then two grunts appeared in front of them to block their path. "Rei here," said Io holding out a bunch of keys. "Take them," said Io. Rei quickly snatched the keys as they ran. Io without hesitation tackled the two grunts to the ground while Rei and his companions ran towards the exit.
"Io!" Cadence called out.
"Don't worry about me just unlock the door!" Io called out.
"Got it!" said Rei opening the door.
Cadence quickly grabbed Io's sleeve with her mouth and pulled him over to their side. As the grunts started getting up and the horde continued running towards them, Rei quickly slammed the door in their face and back away.
"Cadence quick get us outta here!" said Rei. Cadence's horn begin to glow in a light blue aura that surrounded the group and within a flash they were gone.