CB: Alix just checked in. They've finished with the last of the megas.
AC: good job. were en route to shalour
CB: You're moving already?
CB: And Shalour? When are you coming home?
AC: theres still some stuff we need to wrap up here, but well be there soon I promise
CB: What could possibly be more important than bringing Adrien home?
AC: a few things. adris on board anyway
CB: I was prying. That was a pry. Tell me what's going on.
AC: lucas and karen the adults who helped us out while we were here have a problem of their own
AC: were repaying the favor in a way i guess
CB: Oh, this is about the Hideaway.
AC: we need to figure out what to do about it
CB: How much do you trust them?
AC: lucas and karen? idk mostly i guess
AC: havent let us down yet
CB: Then let them handle it.
AC: …really?
AC: ngl i kinda expected you to just say report the place and be done w it
CB: Do you think Adrien doesn't talk to me? I know about Ross.
CB: And I know about his thing with Ross. I don't know where that's going, but I know that Ross is a step too close to being a pokémon than a lot of people will be comfortable with. Not to mention he's a boy.
CB: You need to take a stand about what's important, and I support that.
CB: But not now. Adrien needs to be home with us. And no, I don't care that he says he's fine to stay in Shalour.
AC: lol girl r u sure you dont just want adrien in reach so you can stop his thing with ross and keep him 4 urself
CB: That's part of it.
CB: But we've sat back long enough. We want our friends home.
AC: i get that but we have an obligation here
AC: its just a little longer
CB: I don't get it. Why do you insist on worrying about this? It's beneath you.
AC: its not just me
AC: lucas and karen are super invested in the hideaway
AC: its important to a lot of people
CB: It's important to people who frequent a brothel.
CB: Is that the kind of company you want to keep?
AC: honestly? kinda
AC: i prefer it over prickly noble types who cant hear the word sex without clutching their pearls
AC: its less about that itself though and more about the defiance of it all
AC: its such an impressive operation all set up right under peoples noses
AC: and they do believe in their principles at least most of them
AC: its kind of a shame to lose a place like that
CB: I can't believe my friend is an anarchist.
AC: am i too punk for you
AC: too counterculture
CB: Quite frankly, yes.
CB: I understand sympathizing with them but you're taking it too far.
AC: maybe
AC: but again thats just my own reason
AC: lucas and karen care about the place and we kinda started caring about them
AC: some more than others but nonetheless
CB: Adrien did mention them more than a few times.
AC: they like to parent us
AC: act like the Responsible Adults
AC: let him have that for a while
AC: yeah?
CB: I suppose I can't argue with that.
CB: Even if they are commoners, he needs someone to fill that role.
CB: And that's not something he'd get here.
AC: hoped u were past the whole "theyre commoners" thing but ok
AC: obviously it cant last forever but he just lost his dad
AC: and in a way i think he kinda feels like he just lost his mom too
AC: i feel that way anyway
AC: so i think its good for him to have those two trying to parent him for a while
AC: he did seem to like it while we were searching for ross anyway
AC: him jules and weirdly enough nino all seem pretty attached to them
CB: Leaving Ross, Marinette, and you as the sane ones.
CB: Or, comparatively sane in this specific instance.
AC: lol i guess
AC: even i wouldnt feel right leaving without addressing the hideaway tho
CB: You do realize that completely reorganizing a company takes time, right?
CB: I'll begrudgingly grant you staying for a while but at that rate you'd never come home.
AC: we know
AC: we wont stay in shalour for all of it
AC: were just gonna go and observe the planning itll be up to them to get everything right in practice
AC: then when we can
AC: or i at least
AC: ill come back and check on them sometime
CB: And you're satisfied with that?
AC: of course not but whats the other option
AC: stay in shalour indefinitely
AC: usurp the acting director of the hideaway and take power into my own hands
AC: run the place under my iron fist
AC: actually…
CB: No.
AC: joking
AC: but girl were just about in shalour ill have to text u l8r
CB: Don't do anything stupid.
AC: would i do anything stupid
CB: Yes.
AC: thats fair l8r bee

Alya pocketed her phone and sat straighter in her seat, trying to get a better view out the windshield. "Well?" Marinette asked.

"Well she's not happy about it." Alya chuckled. "But I think she understands. More importantly," she leaned forward to address the people in the front seat, "are you guys ready for this?"

"As we'll ever be." Karen answered.

Alya looked down at the carpet flooring of the van and then shared a look with Juleka. We could leave it. It's not like the Hideaway is completely broken.

Putting them though this is just another trial, but it's one we've made ourselves. We don't need to do it. We could turn around and forget about it. We could burn our membership cards, go back to Lumiose, and let those two go back to their lives.

We could, but we shouldn't. Not after all that's happened. I really do believe in the place. I think as far as regular guests go it really does work. But… the higher levels are all sorts of messed up. We can't ignore that. I'm not sure exactly how deep it runs but it's clear it needs a cleanse.

Still, I wish it didn't mean basically uprooting the basis of their lives here in Shalour.

She looked at Adrien, who returned her gaze, then shifted it to the front where the adults sat. "Hey." He said. "Are you… upset?"

"Upset?" Karen asked. She turned in her chair to look at him. "Why would I be upset? We won."

He shook his head. "Not about that. I meant about what we're going to do with the Hideaway."

Karen's expression was calculated. Warm, steady, devoid of anything that might alarm them. "Adrien, listen." She smiled. "Over the time we've been working together, you guys have earned a great deal of respect from us. Do you know why?" He shook his head. "Because you're so strong in what you believe in. And you even take it a step further and fight for it." She paused a moment. "With what we've discovered about the Hideaway, I wouldn't expect you to act any differently."

"Oh. Okay." Adrien nodded, but Alya had to hold back a frown. A look at Marinette told her that her friend caught the same thing.

She didn't answer the question, though. I guess I'd expect her to be upset to some extent. But she couldn't say that. Not to Adrien. And I think even though it's hard for her to do, it is something she knows is necessary.

Still, that was good of her. He shouldn't be thinking about that. Not now. If he knew how hard it was for them, he'd just feel bad, and we need to stand our ground.

But her… she'd make a good mom. I'm glad she's here. Lucas, too. I just hope we really can help make things better and don't end up just tearing it apart.

After everything they'd done to seek out and bring to justice unethical acts within the Hideaway, the director was more than pleased to answer their request for a meeting.

"Ah, Lucas!" She exclaimed when they entered the room. "It's so lovely to see you well." She took Lucas' face in her hands and grinned at him. "When I heard what you were getting into I was so very worried."

"Director…" Lucas said.

"And the famous heroes of Lumiose! In my very office! I would have never imagined I'd be seeing you all here, yet here you are!"

Alya cleared her throat. "Director." She said. "Excuse the bluntness, but I would rather get to business, if you don't mind. We have a lot to do and would like to get home soon."

"Of course! Please, sit. Tell me why you've asked to see me."

There wasn't quite enough seating in the small office for all of them. Marinette, Adrien, and Ross took the little sofa, and Nino the armchair. Lucas and Karen remained standing behind them, while Alya chose to perch herself on the arm of Nino's chair. "First I need to ask you something, Director."

"What can I do for you?"

"Did you know?"

"Did I… what exactly are you asking if I knew?"

Alya crossed her arms. "Talbot. The other platinum members we caught. The Muldooneys and Lailah."

The director blinked in surprise and frowned. "Of course not. I thought the Hideaway's position on those actions was clear."

"Oh, it is. But not yours." She narrowed her eyes, looking for a response from the director that would give away what she wanted to know. "I have no doubt that you didn't know, absolutely, beyond a reasonable doubt, precisely what your guests were doing. In fact, I even doubt you knew about Lailah. But did you truly know nothing about what was going down on the gold and platinum floors? Nothing at all?"

She felt Karen's hand on her shoulder, but Alya chose to continue staring down the director. "Alya, what do you mean?" Karen asked. "Why would you suspect that?"

"Madam Director." Alya said.

The director shook her head with a kind smile. "Please, call me Alice."

"You know why we're here." She continued. "You're aware of everything we've found while we were searching for our friends."

"Indeed. I helped arrange those guests' arrest."

"Naturally. On the way here we were discussing the best course of action. We knew something had to change, there was simply too much gone wrong here to ignore, but what exactly that change is was something we had to talk over."

"And your conclusion? Why would that make me suspect?"

"Our conclusion was total and complete transparency within the walls of the Hideaway. The silver level is beyond anything I would have expected. It works there, but somehow the upper levels are corrupt. Why is that?"

The director laced her fingers together. "You think it is because of the added privacy of the exclusive areas."

"They have much fewer people to hold them accountable. But personally, I think it's more than that. That's what leads me to you."

"Please, explain."

"Even with the membership areas, the Hideaway has rather exacting security. So, I'm forced to assume that either that kind of security is not in place for higher levels whatsoever, or there's a severe security flaw that allowed the trafficking of pokémon within this place.

"Talbot brought Ross here. Can you explain to me how he managed to get inside?" The director stayed silent, so Alya continued. "He's obviously exchanged pokémon here before, can you explain how something like that goes unnoticed?" Again, her question was met with silence. "So, Alice, let me tell you my working theory. I think you turn a blind eye to your paying customers. I don't necessarily believe that you do it willingly – these are people who hold the Hideaway's finances on a leash. If you look too hard into what they're doing, they could cut you off. And running a place like this costs money.

"I'm not condemning you. Not yet. But I need to know where we stand. Otherwise we'll never fix the problem. So, tell me, am I close?"

The director closed her eyes. "Yes." She said. "I didn't know what they were doing. If I had, I would have stopped it. But you're right. I didn't look close enough because I was afraid that without them, I would not be able to support this place."

"Alice!" Lucas exclaimed. "You can't be serious!"

"I'm sorry, Lucas."

"I don't believe you. That's exactly the kind of thing we fought against!"

"Lucas." Karen touched his shoulder to hold him back. "Not now." She looked to Alya, then to the director. "Thank you for being honest, Madam Director. We hope you agree with us that change is necessary for the future of the Hideaway."

The director bowed her head. "In truth, I've been considering this for a while. Ever since you all uncovered the Muldooneys." She stood and circled her desk, walked around the couch to Lucas. "I've failed this place. When I heard what the Muldooneys had done, I doubted, but when I heard about Talbot I knew for sure. I've failed."

"Alice?"

"I will not just change the Hideaway. I will hand it over."

"What?"

"Under my leadership, the Hideaway failed. The corruption went deeper than I could have imagined. You all brought that to light. I only makes sense for change to come under a new director."

Karen watched carefully. "So, you already knew."

"Of course, I did. No one who has seen what you all have could possibly endorse the Hideaway in it's current state. I think we made an admirable start, but it's time for me to step down. Let someone else finish what I've started. Would you all find that acceptable? Would you be willing to give a new director the chance to fix things?"

Alya scanned the eyes of her friends and answered for all of them. "Maybe. We'd like to."

"Would you trust Lucas in the position?"

"Wait, what? Me? You're joking, right?"

Alya shrugged. "I would."

Lucas protested. "No, I can't be director. I'm just an architect! I don't know anything about running a place like this! Isn't there a chain of command? Let the assistant director have the job. I never even wanted upgraded membership much less something like this."

"I know it's a lot to put on your shoulders, my old friend." The director smiled at him and grabbed his shoulders. "But there's no one I would trust more to right this place. You above everyone else would stay true to your convictions. Much more than me."

"She's right." Nino said. "One of the first things you said to me was a rant against corrupt government."

Alya snickered. I knew he was a revolutionary, but that just makes me like him so much more. "I agree." She said. "You could keep this place on track."

"It's not about that!" Lucas said. "I wouldn't sell out, yeah, but I don't know how to run something like this! I don't have any experience."

"You know a lot more about how the Hideaway works than most." Karen said with a sly smile. "I believe in you."

"And you wouldn't be alone." The director said. "If you'd have me, I would rather not simply disappear. I'd help, and the staff would as well."

Lucas ran a hand through his hair. "I… I don't know what to say."

"Just work on it." Alya said. "You take charge here, start fixing it. Let things go from there. If you're doing this, then I think I'd be okay heading home. What about you guys?"

"Absolutely." Adrien said. "I wouldn't be worried at all if it's you."

"Kids…" Lucas said. "Alright. I'll do my best." He shook his head. "I won't let you kids down."

"You haven't yet."

Something warm and loving appeared in Lucas' eyes. A pride. He'll be fine. And he'll have Karen to watch over him, too.

"Oh!" The director said. "I nearly forgot. Adrien, I have something I believe belongs to you."

"To me?" He asked.

"It… may be a bit of a shock." She reached into her desk and pulled out a pokéball. "But this one was clearly one of Lailah's later experiments. As far as we can tell, they have retained their intelligence. And they at least seem to recognize your picture."

"No." He said. "It couldn't…" He leapt from the sofa to take the pokéball from her. "Thank you. Thank you so much. Where were they?"

"As we conducted our own investigation into Lailah, we found them in a storage room, along with several other more recent experiments. We suspect they were slated to be given away or sold but she was interrupted before she got the chance. I apologize for not giving them to you earlier, but with the fusions it was difficult to identify every pokémon, and then we had to determine what they themselves wanted."

"I…" He cradled the pokéball close to his chest. "Who was she fused with?"

"A host who used the name Ricken. A Raichu."

"I see." He didn't appear capable of tearing his eyes from the pokéball. "Thank you. I never thought I'd see her – them."

Allie. We had assumed she was fused, but… I guess I'm glad we at least have an answer. I suppose they'll need a new name. If Ross isn't Josh or Rocco anymore, they're probably not Allie.

"Of course."

Karen put her hand on Adrien's shoulder but addressed Lucas. "So, you're ready to take over this place?"

"I wouldn't say ready, but if everyone's relying on me, I can't exactly just give up."

"That's the way. Thank you, Director, I think this went better than most of us were hoping for."

"I'm not your director anymore, Karen. Not truly. Alice is fine." She looked over them all. "What will you do from here?"

Marinette smiled at Adrien and answered her. "We're going to go home. With Lucas here, we can trust that this place will be looked after. That just leaves getting everything back in order. Trying to catch back up with our lives. There's still a lot to sort out."

"Yeah." Adrien said. "We still have a whole list of loose ends to tie up." Alya couldn't resist snickering.

"Adrien." Karen said, as they exited the Hideaway. "I can't believe it just occurred to me, but when you go back to Lumiose, where will you live?"

He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. "I guess I'll go home. There'll be a lot of stuff to arrange but I'll figure it out." He shrugged. "Or maybe I should just get an apartment. Start living on my own. Don't really know, yet."

"Can you afford that?"

"Yeah, Dad already gave me access to the fortune, so that's not a problem, and if I can get my agent to forgive me, I'll hopefully have a job. If nothing else, I do make some money from my performances online. It's not a lot, but it's enough and the fortune will cover the rest until I can get a better source of income."

Karen and Lucas shared a look. "I know you want to go back to Lumiose." Karen said. "But just know you can live with us if you need to."

Adrien chuckled. "I appreciate that, but no. I'll be fine."

Karen smiled. "Okay. And… about your mother. Did you have anything specific in mind? I'll help arrange her funeral but it's all up to you, ultimately."

"I'll… I'll think about it. Is that alright?"

"Of course."

Lucas frowned. "So, what else are y'all going to get up to?"

Alya laughed. "Well that wrapped up quite a few loose ends, actually. Now we just need to deal with Ross, get our schooling back in order, and figure out where the Mega Stones came from."

Marinette shook her head. "That's mostly just out of curiosity. We are not getting into another whole adventure because of it."

"Aw, but Mari wasn't this so much fun?"

"No."

Alya cackled.

Ross tapped her shoulder. "What about me?" He signed.

Alya stifled her laughter to answer. "Well, first of all, does that bother you?" She gestured casually to the family across the street that was staring at him. "The ears kind of stand out."

"Nah." He signed. "And I can hide it if it does. See?"

In a moment, his ears returned to normal human appearance. "Illusion." Alya said. "Good. Well, either way, if it does ever bother you, just know that our places are safehouses for you. You're always welcome, got it?"

"Thanks."

"Otherwise, there's clothes."

Marinette intervened there. "Once we're back home I can alter some of Josh's old clothes for you. It should be simple to let you have your tail out. After that, just talk to me if you need new pants. I won't even charge you extra." She said with a wink.

"The benefits of being friends with a fashion designer." Ross signed. "Thanks, Marinette."

Alya nodded. "And then, of course, there's your home and school. I assume you'll live with your dad? And Josh was homeschooled, so I guess there's no problem if you pick up from there."

"I'd rather go to school with you guys, but it works for now."

"Alright then. It sounds like we've got it together."

Juleka giggled. "A rare moment indeed."

Nino laughed along with her. "Yeah. Mark your calendars, everyone."

Karen and Lucas shook their heads. "I'm going to miss you guys." Lucas said.

"I'll miss you, too." Nino said.

"We all will." Added Adrien.

"When's your train?" Karen asked.

Alya checked her phone's clock. "About five hours. We've still got time."

Lucas bit his lip. "Have you guys put any more thought into what I asked? Back before we left to catch Gabriel. About joining the movement. Especially you two." He smiled at Alya and Ross. "You could change everything."

Alya looked to Ross to see his response first. "No." He signed. "I honestly forgot you asked." With a chuckle, he added, "I don't really care, but I'll cooperate. If you want to interview me for my unique perspective as a fusion or whatever I'm not going to say no." Alya smiled and translated for him. "I'm not going in the streets to protest, though."

Alya couldn't resist chuckling. "You realize if you cooperate with us that much you're going to become a big figure whether you like it or not."

He shrugged. "Again, I don't really care."

"Pfft. Well, for my part, I'll do that." She looked at Lucas. "I'll interview Ross later. That should shake things up. And if you ever need something, just ask. I do believe the Hideaway will be best when it's not in hiding. Ironically."

"Hah." Lucas grinned. "Thanks."

Adrien threw his hands up in a shrug. "And I guess I can't avoid getting involved. Not with Ross. Moment he says he's a pokémon on camera, I'm with you by default."

"Which will shake things up even more." Alya said. "I hope you're ready, Lucas."

"I was born ready. Looking forward to it."

Marinette hummed and looked to Nino and Juleka. "If you ever need the voice of Ladybug, I'm here, but otherwise I think I'd prefer to actually get some peace for a while."

Alya nodded. "Well, we'll get to work on that once we get everything settled at home. I'll be keeping in touch. The Hideaway is the largest group I've seen for that community, so knowing what they're thinking would help."

"Naturally." Lucas said. "I hope you all keep in touch anyway."

"In the meantime." Karen said. "What are you guys going to do in your last hours in Shalour?"

Alya had an idea. And a look with Marinette told her that they were thinking the same thing as they so often were. "The Tower of Mastery." Marinette said.

Karen just shook her head. "Of course."

Their brief visit to the Tower of Mastery wasn't entirely pointless. They were lucky the tide was low at the time, so they could get out to it, and the old man who greeted them was kind and informative, but in the end, they didn't really learn too much about mega evolution. Everything they heard were things they had already figured out.

The old man smiled knowingly at Marinette and Adrien. "Mega evolution is a precious thing." He told them. "It strengthens our connection to our pokémon and allows you to fight as one. But I hardly need to be telling you that, do I?"

Adrien chuckled. "I actually disagree. It doesn't strengthen our connection with our pokémon. It only works because the connection is already there."

"Oho, is that so?" The old man seemed delighted by Adrien's observation. "And what is mega evolution to you, young man?"

"To me?" He looked at his Key Stone thoughtfully. "To me, it's just a tool. Everything else comes from me and from Plagg. All it does is give us the means to fight beyond our limits. To protect people we otherwise couldn't have. That's all."

"And you?" He looked at Marinette.

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. "It's a responsibility. Adrien's right, it gives us the means to fight beyond our limits. It creates a new limit, and with that comes a new responsibility. Mega evolution lets us do things other people can't. That's something we can't take lightly." She sighed. "But as far as the connection? I think I'm on Adrien's side here. It's not important to how we feel about our pokémon, or how they feel about us."

The old man nodded sagely. "You two really have become exemplary mega evolution trainers. Your master must be proud."

"Our master?" Marinette asked, arching her brow. "We don't even know where the stones came from."

The old man just laughed and continued the tour.

They learned nothing more from him, or from their tour of the tower, only a cryptic mention of some master none of them had ever heard of. Still, it was a lead, and a lead promised a path and Alya was eager to walk it.

Soon enough, though, they were at the train station, hugging Karen and Lucas goodbye. And then they were in Lumiose, in a huge pile when all their classmates jumped them.

"Adrien! You're finally back!"

"Woah, Ross. I'd heard, but damn."

"I'm so glad you guys are okay. That must have been scary."

All manner of comments came from all directions as they were hugged until they were threatened with suffocation. Alya just laughed through it all, happy to finally see the rest of the crew once more.

Juleka and Rose kissed, a frantic, we've-been-apart-for-six-months kiss. Ross grinned and turned Adrien around to kiss him as well, a soft, congratulatory, relieved kiss. Alya shook her head when the rest of the class burst into a cacophony of reactions to it.

She leaned in closer to Nino. "Now I feel like we need someone to kiss, too."

Nino shook his head. "Pfft. Gross."

Once the kids had all calmed down, it was the adult's turn. Marinette's folks came in to hold her close, and Alya's parents did the same, the little twins pulling on her hands and begging her to tell them all about her adventure. So much of that story is so inappropriate for you girls.

Juleka's mother and brother were there, too, welcoming her back, as well as Rose's family. Arthur Keaton took Ross and Adrien both into his arms. Nino's dad flicked his cap playfully before giving him a real hug.

Alya smiled. It wasn't the end of their story by a long shot. They were too young and too them for it to be. But it was the end of that chapter, and she was satisfied. We're home. She thought. It's good to be back.