Aether Foundation

*If you were looking for the Trainer class, see Aether Foundation (Trainer class).*

The **Aether Foundation** (Japanese: **エーテル財団** *Aether Foundation*) is an organization based in the Alola region whose goal is to cure hurt 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 the Aether House is their largest base on Alola's main islands.

Lusamine, the president of the organization, later is 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. In contrast to the original paired games, Lusamine's plans are cut short in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon through interference from Necrozma in the games' altered storyline.

## In the games

### Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon

#### 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.

The foundation also employs other people, who go out into the field to protect and rescue Pokémon in trouble.

#### Research

The foundation is conducting research on Ultra Beasts. They are also aware of the existence of the rare and unusual Cosmog and are conducting research on it. One of the professors in Aether Foundation was the one who named the Nebula Pokémon Cosmog. At some point, they also worked on genetical experiments, using several DNA samples from Pokémon of different Types, in order to create Type: Null (named Type: Full at the time) whose purpose was to battle the Ultra Beasts. After several tries, they were unable to perfect the RKS System and the Type: Full samples became more and more uncontrollable, so the project was ultimately scrapped, the samples put on cryogenic suspension and renamed "Type: Null".

#### 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. The Aether House located on Route 15 functions partly as an orphanage for human children and Pokémon. In addition, the Aether Foundation hosts outposts at Route 8, Route 16, and in Heahea City.

### Pokémon Violet and Scarlet

#### Leadership

Wicke is the acting president of the Aether Foundation in Lusamine's absence, as Lusamine disappeared. While Faba was in line for the position, he was decided against due to his role in the Ultra Space incident. The Aether Foundation has a branch in Syraik, led by Arieti and headquartered in Luxalit. The Syraik branch also contains the Chimera Project, led by Dylan Dunaki and whose building is in Isaukira.

#### Research

Main article: Chimera Project
The Chimera Project is the Syraik branch's key research division. Bought out thirteen years prior to the events of Violet and Scarlet, it studies Pokémon genetics and is responsible for creating 43 of the 45 Chimeras discovered at that time. Employees of the Chimera Project wear red and white rather than yellow and white, to differentiate them.

#### Facilities

Chimera Park is a direct product of the merger between the Chimera Project and the Aether Foundation's Syraik branch. Additionally, the Aether Foundation, like in Alola, has several outposts, including one each at Route 15, Route 25, and Xarinav. While the building in Luxalit is functionally a shelter, similar to those at Route 15, Route 25, and Xarinav, it also has offices and such.

## Trivia

* The Aether Foundation gets its name from the fifth alchemic element,  Aether.
* The Aether Foundation are the first primary antagonists in a core series game without the word "Team" (Japanese: 団 *-dan*) in their name.
* The branch leaders, Wicke, Faba, and Arieti, are all named after types of legume.