I didn't sleep well last night, and it wasn't because my spot was uncomfortable or me being seasick! It was because... I was thinking too much. I was thinking way too much - overthinking, if you like. With everything that Pierre's explained last night, I found it hard to wrap my head around anything. I think I might be going insane!

I lazily climbed out of my lounger, and looked ahead. Grand Spectrala Island was in sight at last. Hopefully nothing weird or crazy will happen this time. My entire body still felt tired and sore, but maybe that's because I never took off those bandages. So I took them off and threw them in the trash.

There, much better.

I walked down a corridor with several cabin doors on one side. I got to the third door when suddenly it burst open and slammed me right in the face! "Agh! What the – "

As I was rubbing my bruised face, I looked up to see who opened that door. It was a Snivy - the one that I know of - and she was looking around. Maybe she felt the door hitting something when she opened it. She then looked behind her and saw me laying down on the floor, rubbing my face. "Oh my gosh! Loner, I'm so, so, sorry!"

"It's no big deal, Shelvina." I told her. She didn't look any more assured.

I was going to go alone to the dining room, but she suddenly suggested that she should accompany me there.

"Shelvina, you don't have to – "

"Loner, come on! It's just a short walk!"

I intentionally lost the argument, not wanting to begin my day like this. So we walked down the corridor towards the dining room. I'm not sure why she suggested to do this, but deep down I know that she still feels guilting for slamming the door into my face.

We walked into the dining room, full of people and Pokémon. I saw Shelvina walk over to a nearby couch, where the rest of the group were eating. "Hey, Loner! Over here!"

I walked over to them. They were happily muching down on their food. But then I was surprised when I saw Maverick eating breakfast as well!

"Maverick!?" I spluttered, "I thought that you were in a coma!"

Maverick stared at me. "What? Oh, that! Well, I woke up this morning, so..."

Claire the Buneary let out a small cough. "You see, Loner, after your... encounter, with the ghost last night, me and Jess dragged Maverick to where we were sleeping. And this morning, when we woke up, we were both really suprised to see that Maverick was no longer in a coma!"

I nodded, and Jess offered me a plate of salad. I'm not going to deny it, but it could have at least been something else! But I changed my mind the moment I took a mouthful out of it : It was delicious! And so, all of us continued eating, while also having a good laugh.

A few minutes after we finished, we heard a large, deep, booming, honk from the ferry itself. That must mean that we were going to land in Grand Spectrala Island soon. I looked outside the window. What I often found funny is, that you're supposed to see what's through a window, but sometimes it works as a mirror too! I can even see my own reflection on it along with the approaching island. But then I noticed the reflection of someone else right beside my own. I turned to see who it was, but no one was sitting next to me. All of the others were on the opposite side of the couch. I looked back at the window, and it turns out that the reflection was a Vulpix. Strangely, he wasn't in a misty-grey ghostly color anymore, but a solid beautiful brown, just like what a Vulpix should look like. And yes, I am talking about Pierre the Vulpix.

"Are you ready?" I heard him ask me.

I nodded my head, and he smiled. He then walked to the edge of the window and somehow disappeared into it. It was like the window was a television, and Pierre was a character in a show, walking out of the frame.

...

After the boat arrived, me and my group all walked out of the ferry. I was looking around when I saw Diadora the Purrloin. Suddenly, I remembered something, something that Victini had once told me. What did he say? If I'm not mistaken it sounded like, 'I know Viel's father. I mean, who doesn't know his father? The apprentice of The Cat Burglar herself!'. Yeah, it was something like that. Victini told me that Diadora had once worked with Viel's father. Maybe Diadora knows something else about Viel...

The group went sigheseeing as we walked down the street and stopped to rest at a nearby bench. I decided that this was the perfect time to ask Diadora about her connection to Viel's family.

"Hey, Diadora?" I asked her.

"Yeah?"

"You never told us that you worked with Viel's father."

There was a tense silence. A chilly silence, as me and Diadora stared into each other's eyes, while the group just watched.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Diadora replied strickly.

"Diadora, I know the truth," I said as non-aggresive as I could, "besides, what's the harm in confessing it?"

"Like as if you were to confess your own backstory!" She yelled, giving me a deathly glare.

The group gave a long "Ooh..."

She was right on that. Why am I even trying to make her confess a dark secret when I can't even confess my own backstory! So I just sadly nodded in defeat, told the group that I was going find a bathroom, and left. I thought that the group would ask Diadora a bunch of questions after that but I didn't hear them say a word. Perhaps it was because they all feared Diadora or they were just too afraid to ask after seeing me try.

...

I walked for what felt like forever, until I reached a lake in the middle of the forest. I didn't even realize that I was walking all the way out here. I stared into its clear water, my reflection and the surroundings on the glassy surface. I felt rather... alone out here...

"Loner, what's the point?" I said to my reflection, but it's more like a question to myself. "You came all the way here in your journey , and yet nothing has changed about you! Just some sad, little, lonely, and desperate Lillipup, trying to find a way to run away from your past. But look, that won't happen! What are the chances of you finding the hunter that killed your parents? What are the chances of you getting revenge on him? What are the damn chances, that you'll be able to avenge your dead parents at all!?"

I stared into my reflection's eyes. "This is hopeless," I said. "Forget my life. I'd rather just drown myself in this lake and leave everyone and everything. I mean, who would remember me?"

"I would."

I turned around in shock, and I saw someone who I did not expect to see : Jess.

"Jess?" I asked her, pretending that nothing ever happened. "What are you doing here?"

"I came here looking for you!" Jess replied worryingly, "You were gone for nearly half an hour, so I decided to look for you. But then I heard you talking to... yourself? So, here I am!"

"I wasn't talking to anyone!"

"You're denying? Just like when Diadora denied the statement that she had once worked together with Viel's father?"

I just stared at her in silence.

"Loner, I know psychology, thanks to Claire." she said calmly. "And I think that you're lying!"

"You don't have any proof!"

" 'What are the chances of you finding the hunter that killed your parents?'. Sound familiar?"

I could not deny it anymore. I'm cornered like an accused being shown critical evidence in a case that I'm involved in. She really does know psychology.

"Fine," I said. "what do you want me to say?"

"Come back. Just come back with us."

I shook my head. "No, I'm afraid not. I'm going on my own."

"Oh? And I thought you said that you're not sure that you'll be able to find or even get revenge on that hunter at all!"

Note to self : Do not mess with psychologists because they can play mind games with you. This is what cops always say to the people they arrested, 'Anything that you say or do can and will be used against you!'.

"Well, Loner?"

I sighed. "Fine, you win."

"And I'm glad I did!" She smiled, and walked me back to the group.

...

"Come on Loner, just a few more minutes!"

We were walking down the streets, several yellow cabs passing us. The wind blew lightly and leaves were rustling. The atmosphere was friendly and people were everywhere, greeting each other and having fun. Well, I wasn't having fun. My mind can't stop thinking. She knows now. She knows my secret.

"Jess?" I looked at her.

"Yeah?" She looked back at me.

"Y-you're not going to t-tell anyone, are you?"

Jess thought for a moment. "That would depend, Loner." She said. "A therapist or a psychologist would normally keep their patient's info a secret. But I don't have it as a profession, so we'll just have to see whether the time will be appropriate or not..."

Wow, how thoughtful of her. Although she used several words that I couldn't understand, I'm glad that she decided not to outright tell everyone. That cheered me up a little.

Not long later, we saw the group in the shade of a lovely oak tree near some shops. Jess called out to them, and they all turned and saw us. Pike and Claire were pretty happy to see me. Shelvina and Maverick simply ignored me and continued chatting, while Diadora just frowned. "Loner, where have you been!?" Pike asked worryingly, "We were so worried!"

Diadora just let out a small chuckle. "Define 'we'."

"Shut up."

"Whatever," she grumbled, rolling her eyes.

"I-I got carried away, and instead I went sightseeing..." I explained to them.

Claire just glared suspiciously at me – which was rather intense-looking – but the Jess whispered something into her ear, and she her face just changed immediately. "Okay then, I believe you!"

I'm pretty sure that was just a lie, but then again maybe Jess told her something and also to lie so I wouldn't get uncomfortable. If that was true, then that would be very kind of her.

"Well?" Diadora asked me. "The accusation was wrong, wasn't it?"

I did not answer her. She just sneered at me. "I knew it."

Diadora then started walking away, along with Shelvina and Maverick. Pike walked up to me. "This group is like splitting into two now." He said, "I don't know how much longer this group will hold!"

"It's all Diadora's fault," Claire muttered. "she's been really mean."

"Yeah, but I mean, that's just the way Diadora is. You can't change that!"

"By the way, Loner?" Pike looked at me, "Are you ever going to tell your backstory?"

There was silence. Only the noises from Pidoves flying over the town can be heard.

I sighed. I always knew that this day would come. "Alright. When I was little – "

"Loner!"

"What is it, Jess?" I quickly asked, because she said it in a panicking tone.

"M-maybe y-you should talk about D-Diadora first. You've been with her longer. Maybe we could learn about her more so we don't have to fight all the time!"

"Jess, I don't really think – "

"Loner. Just do it." I've never seen Jess like this before.

Pike and Claire just stared at the both of us. "Jess?" Claire nudged her Minccino friend, "Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong..." Jess mumbled. "I-it's just... I've already heard Loner's story..."

Claire and Pike just stared at her in surprise. "Wait, WHAT!?"

"Yeah. A-and... I don't think that Loner should talk about that..."

"Why not, Jess?"

"I-it's sensitive. He's been through a lot more than all of us."

Pike and Claire seemed to understand the meaning of that, and nodded. I just stared at Jess in amazement.

"J-Jess... I can't believe that you would do that for me..."

"Trust me, Loner. Everyone's got their secrets, even I do! And besides, I understand that you don't want to talk about all that. It's hurts opening a stitched wound. You can tell it when the time has come."

"I... I... I don't know wh-what to say..." I was so deeply touched by Jess' actions, that I started crying. "S-sorry... I-I-I can't stop cr-crying..." Then I felt something wrap around me and warmth covering my body. Through my tears I could see Jess hugging me, her tail wrapping around me.

"There, there, Loner..." She whispered comfortingly into my ear, "It's no big deal, and it's okay to cry! Crying isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of humanity, of emotion."

This is what you would call... a true friend.

I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her back. "Thank you, Jess..." She just smiled at me.

But then the moment was interrupted when we heard a cough from behind us. We turned around, and we saw that the other half of the group had returned. "What now?" Diadora groaned, "You two have become lovers while we were gone?"

Pike and Claire started walking backwards, probably so they wouldn't be involved in another argument, especially if the topic is this. I saw Maverick and Shelvina back off too. "No, Diadora. We aren't lovers."

"Oh, really?" She smirked. "Then what are you?"

"Good friends," Jess said to her, "something that you wouldn't know of."

Diadora glared silently at her. "What did you just say!?" She said, her voice getting dangerous.

"I said that you don't know what are 'good friends'." Jess calmly spoke to her, unshaken by her anger. "Because you never had any."

"Wh-why, y-you little..."

"It's the truth, and you know it. Or was Viel's father your friend?" Wait, was Jess supporting my theory about Diadora having worked together with Viel's father?

You could literally feel the heat and intensity right now. "Oh, great, now you too!" Diadora yelled, "But still, you don't have any proof that I worked with Viel's father!"

"Then prove that you didn't."

"For starters, I don't even know his father!"

There it was. Diadora had won. Neither me, or Jess, could prove that was true or wrong. Diadora was just laughing at our loss now, with the others just watching uncomfortably. The only one who could prove it is Victini, but who knows where he is now.

"Hey Loner, tell me that you have proof or something, please?"

"Unfortunately, I don't Jess. The only who would be able to prove it is Victini, but what are the chances that he'd be here?"

"Well, it's a 'speak of the devil' situation now, eh?"

Me and Jess turned around in shock, and it really was a 'speak of the devil', for Victini was right there! "Victini! How are you even here!?"

He just smiled. "I wanted to check up on the girls while I was at Scalchop Island, and it turns out that you're having an argument about Viel's father, eh?"

"How would you even know that?" Jess asked him, "And we just had that conversation! There's no way that you could fly that fast!"

"Okay, one, I'm a part Psychic-Type, get it? And two, I didn't fly here, I teleported."

"Okay then, that would make a lot more sense."

"Well?" Diadora asked from behind us, "Do you have any proof?"

"Here's some!" Victini cried, throwing a piece of paper at Diadora like a frisbee. "Enjoy it!" And then he was gone in a flash, literally.

Diadora jumped up and caught the paper, and looked at it. Her eyes widened, and she dropped the paper in shock. It was all silent, only the wind was making noise, blowing through our fur. The breeze picked up the paper and carried it all the way to underneath my feet. Jess picked it up, and I peeked to see what it was.

It was a picture, dated years ago. It shows a jewelry store, with a broken front showcase window, everything on the showcase stands missing. On the bottom left corner, there were several different species of Pokémon. Among them, was a Purrloin, a bag full of jewelry in its mouth. And beside the Purrloin, was a Zorua, grinning cheekily at the angry mob chasing after them.

"Well, Diadora?" Jess smiled at the defeated Purrloin, "Do you have any explanations for this photo!"

"Th-that photo i-is fake!"

"And what's the proof that it's fake?"

She sighed. "Fine, I admit. I do know Viel's father, and I did work with him."

"About time!" Jess cried, a bit of triumph in her voice, "Now, enlighten us!" The rest of the group weren't so fearful now, and started to come towards us, eager to listen.

Diadora just sighed. "Fine. He was an accomplice. The best among all the others. A right-hand man, basically. He would create distractions and illusions for us so we could do our stealing. I got along with him well, but then came that fateful day when the group had to part ways. We would still meet sometimes though. The last time I met him was several years ago, at a park. He told me that his wife, Nessie, had died. He also told me that he was struggling to raise his son, Viel. I was rather surprised that he had a wife and a son!"

"And you never met him since then?"

Diadora shook her head. "No, we lost all contact since then."

There was silence again. But thankfully, Maverick decided to lighten up the mood by suggesting that we go and explore town. And so we did, and it was fun and joy all the way until nightfall. But a rather unpleasant surprise was waiting for us...

...

It was late at night, the moon was bright, and we were all snuggling and sleeping comfortably in the grass. The only ones who haven't slept yet are just me and Pike. I was getting ready to sleep when suddenly my ears twitched hearing something. It sounded like... violin music!

That can only mean one thing : Viel

I stood up, and I was about to walk away when Pike called me. "Why the hell is that violinist here!?"

I looked back at him. "Because that's Viel."

He looked both shocked and confused. "Wait, WHAT!?"

"I'll explain later. Right now, I need to go there."

He sighed. "Alright, but you better not end up dead!"

"Promise."

And so, I walked into the forest, to confront Viel, determined to fix him. Tonight.