Aether Foundation
- If you were looking for the Trainer class, see Aether Foundation (Trainer class).
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 Artwork of Aether Foundation employees from Pokémon Sun and Moon | ||||||||||||
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The Aether Foundation (Japanese: エーテル財団 Aether Foundation) is a major organization based in the Alola region whose goal is to treat injured and sick Pokémon. The organization shelters Pokémon to keep them safe from threats like Team Skull. Their main headquarters is Aether Paradise, an artificial island they constructed, while Aether House is their largest base on Alola's main islands.
Lusamine, the president of the organization, is ultimately revealed to be the true antagonist of Pokémon Sun and Moon, having been driven to mass obsession over the Ultra Beasts. A handful of employees, including second-in-command Faba, are followers of her true motives. Lusamine's plans are different in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon; while still obsessed with Ultra Beasts, she plans to stop Necrozma from stealing the region's light source.
In the core series games
Leadership
The Aether Foundation's president is Lusamine, who wants to share her love with all of the rescued Pokémon. She is assisted by Faba, the Aether Foundation's second-in-command and Aether Foundation branch chief, and Wicke, the assistant branch chief of Aether Paradise. In Pokémon Sun and Moon, Gladion acts as president in the post-game while his sister and mother are away in Kanto. The Pokémon Sun and Moon website states that there are multiple divisions of the Aether Foundation, and the employees' uniforms change depending on the division,[1] which can be seen in-game. In the English version of the games, Anabel identifies Wicke specifically as being of the "Alolan branch of the Aether Foundation", implying the Aether Foundation may have branches in other regions as well.
The Aether Foundation had originally been developed by Lusamine's father.[2]
The foundation also employs other people, who go out into the field to protect and rescue Pokémon in trouble.
Research
The foundation's main purpose is the research and treatment of hurt Pokémon of all kinds. This includes Pokémon from alternate dimensions, Ultra Beasts. Professor Mohn, who previously worked at the foundation, had previously done research on Ultra Wormholes, naming this new dimension Ultra Space. He had found life beyond it in the form of the Ultra Beast Nihilego. Professor Mohn had also researched the mysterious Cosmog, a Legendary Pokémon said to hail from Ultra Space. With his research, it is also revealed that Cosmog can create Ultra Wormholes through use of its gases and while under extreme life-threatening stress. Professor Mohn was the one who named the Pokémon "Cosmog".
The Aether Foundation has also conducted experiments with genetics creating an artificial Pokémon by the name of Type: Full. Using several genetic samples from all 18 types, they created Type: Full as a beast killer, a weapon used to fight against Ultra Beasts. All three Type: Full rejected their RKS System and went berserk. Faba built a helmet to inhibit the Pokémon, who were then put in cryogenic stasis and renamed to Type: Null.
The Beast Ball, made for catching Ultra Beasts, was designed and created by Faba.
Facilities
Aether Paradise is a privately owned artificial island that was built in the middle of the Alola region by the Aether Foundation. The foundation uses it both as a sanctuary and a research facility. Aether House located on Route 15 functions partly as an orphanage for both human children and Pokémon. In addition, the Aether Foundation hosts outposts at Route 8, Route 16, and Heahea City.
In the spin-off games
Pokémon Masters EX
Lusamine and Faba appear in Pokémon Masters EX
The Aether Foundation appears in the Alola chapter of the Villain Arc. Two factions of the foundation arrived on Pasio, along with Team Skull, both of which had plans participating in a festival centered around Alola's culture. The two factions were split: ones who agreed with the foundation's goals and ideals, following what president Lusamine had set, and another group of individuals influenced by Team Rocket who had planned to steal the foundation's resources and assets in order to summon Ultra Beasts.
| Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #101 | 
|
Lusamine | #0795 | 
|
Pheromosa |
Bug
|
Fire
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Sync Pair Scout | |
| #101 |
|
Lusamine | #0549 | 
|
Lilligant♀ |
Grass
|
Bug
|
|
★★★★☆☆EX | Battle Points | |
| #101 | 
|
Sygna Suit Lusamine |
#0800 | 
|
Necrozma  Dusk Mane → Ultra Necrozma |
Psychic
|
Ghost
|
|
|
★★★★★☆EX | Master Fair Sync Pair Scout |
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
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This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: More details on its role in SM episodes |
The Aether Foundation's president, Lusamine, was introduced as Lillie's mother in a picture in Lillie's Egg-xhilarating Challenge!. The foundation itself and its employees debuted in A Dream Encounter!.
In A Mission of Ultra Urgency!, Ash and his classmates became the founding members of a task force called the Ultra Guardians, which is a sub-group of the Aether Foundation. Their goal is to catch Ultra Beasts that have strayed into the Pokémon world and release them back into Ultra Space to maintain Alola's safety.
In League Offenders and Defenders!, Lillie revealed that every single person at the Aether Foundation helped construct the Manalo Stadium.
Unlike in the games, the Aether Foundation is not affiliated with Team Skull.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon arc
The Aether Foundation first appeared on a television commercial in Homecoming and the Brilliant Professional Golfer, where two employees advertised their organization.
In the TCG
Trivia
- The Aether Foundation gets its name from the fifth alchemic element, Aether.
- The Aether Foundation are the first major antagonistic group in a core series game without the word "Team" (Japanese: 団 -dan) in their name.
- The Japanese names of all major members of the Aether Foundation and the members of Lusamine's family are based on German words for plants.
In other languages
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Related articles
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| Aether Bases (Heahea City • Route 8 • Route 16) • Aether Paradise • Aether House | |||||
| President | Branch Chiefs | ||||
| Lusamine (Masters • anime) |
Wicke | Faba (anime) | |||
| Other members | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aether Foundation Employees | |||||
| Related | |||||
| Mohn • Lillie (Masters • anime) • Gladion (Masters • anime) | |||||
| In Pokémon the Series | |||||
| Former members: Jessie • James • Meowth Ultra Guardians: Ash • Lana • Kiawe • Lillie • Sophocles • Mallow • Gladion | |||||
See also: Team Skull • Ultra Recon Squad
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References
- ↑ | Aether Foundation on the Pokémon Sun and Moon Website
- ↑ Scientist on Aether Paradise, Sun and Moon: "The current president's father was a very, very wealthy man and a great lover of Pokémon. He built the Aether Foundation to protect them."