The Tale of Team Longshot - A Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Fanfiction

Chapter 25 - Looking Back, Dreaming Forward

The next morning, Indigo's POV

I've once been told that everything happens for a reason.

It took me a while before actually realizing how much weight a saying like that could have. Whatever thinking process I had back in Serene Village was… something, to say the least.

Even now, I feel like there are still some inner traits of mine that are still questionable. Like how I still ponder over that saying I've been told over other important things. One thing's for certain, my talk with Jirachi and Sammy got me… quite concerned on what other mysteries lie behind my identity. Especially considering how everyone else in the Expedition Society knows about it now.

When it comes to searching for answers in my current state… well, sleeping doesn't really leave me with a lot of things to ponder or look out for. Other than… somehow being aware that I'm in this murky subconscious space. All I can really take note of are the dreams I have in hopes that they possess at least some shred of what my mind instinctively held before losing its memories. Anything conveying a thinking habit of some sort that links to my previous life would certainly help. But recently, there hasn't been anything noteworthy other than my sleeping mind just going through the incoherent motions, all forgotten the second my consciousness returns.

That is, all but one dream. The details are still etched in my mind, as if to serve as a vivid reminder of… something. My mind plays the events back. The dream I had the night I became an Expedition Society member. Humans towering me everywhere. My rasp of a bark. The sequence ending with a beam of light taking me back to the darkness of a dreamless state.

W-Wait… I suddenly notice I'm still in the darkness from before, some expanse space of endless emptiness where only I sit. The more I blankly stare, the more it seems like it's a space meant just for me. It's weirdly familiar… but also weirdly comforting… like a weirdly sheltered kind of feeling.

Weird… It even starts to feel like home for a second. Like… a neighbourhood kind of thing where there are other darknesses out there for other Pokémon like me.

Like… me… The thought takes a second to sink in. As soon as it does, it hits me in the head like a harsh drill. It's like the very thought created some sort of paradox that starts tearing me apart.

What does any of this mean? If I could clutch my aching head in whatever space I'm in, I would. In a frantic attempt to get back to whatever familiarity is in my vicinity, I try to bring my gaze back to the sheltered darkness from before, only to find that it's gone. Darkness takes its place, but the kind that's unfamiliar to me. Who brought me here? Why?

The questions of 'who' 'what' 'why' and 'how' continue piling on me, like thoughts long overdue coming back to haunt me. And even then, I have no idea how to respond to any of them. Like a cacophony of panicked voices. It starts getting to a point where I don't know if I'm asking the questions or if I'm being asked them.

Make it stop- I barely hear my own plea before it drowns out in the loop of voices all closing in on me. At this rate any thoughts about who I am, where I am, or anything for that matter starts to wear away to give way to the fear and despair cornering me.

And then in one brief instance, it all gets lifted away. All of it, in one fell swoop, nothing more, nothing less. I'm left in the silent yet peaceful darkness, quiet thoughts muttering to themselves before I realize that they're mine. Once I quiet my own mental voice down, it's then that I notice the darkness around me fading away in a light of sort. I'd be surprised, but at this point I'm just confused more than anything.

A voice suddenly speaks. I don't know whether or not it's speaking to me. All I remember is the whole world around me disappearing in white light before everything slips away.

"Interesting…"

I suddenly regain control of my limbs, being thrust out of my unconsciousness and suddenly feeling the weight of exhaustion spread to my entire body. "Hnngg…" I put a paw to my head, wondering why I feel a sort of faint pain there. All I remember was falling asleep with Fia… did something happen?

With a quick stretch and a yawn, I slowly sit myself onto my straw bed, trying to blink the drowsiness away. I take my time stretching. How… long was I asleep?

"Good morning, Indigo! About time you woke up, silly!" Fia's cheery voice reaches my ears, making me turn to see her sitting by the window, against the wall and directly under a beam of sunlight.

I meekly smile back at her, my uncertainty starting to fade away at the very sight. "Good morning, Fia… what're you doing up so early?"

"Waiting for you to wake up."

I can't help but chuckle. "And… before that?"

She looks up at the sunlight. "Photosynthesizing. Gotta get my Vitamin D sooner or later!" She gives me a sheepish look. "I sometimes start acting weird if I don't get it."

I cock my head. "What's… a vitamin?"

She gives me a confused look back. "You weren't there for that class with Audino?"

"I did join late… so no, I think."

Fia shrugs. "Well, don't feel too bad. Neither was I." Her excited look returns as she gestures for me to sit next to her. "Get on over here, Indigo! I found this cool picture of us!"

Wait, a picture? I stagger a bit upon getting up on my feet, then make my way over to her.

As I sit down, Fia reaches over to her bag and takes out her Expedition Gadget, pressing on its screen for a bit before handing it to me.

I immediately recognize the setting with the fiery orange rock of Fire Island Volcano's peak alongside the two groups of Pokémon on different sides of the image. Opposite the scarily deadpan stares of the Beheeyem stand me and Fia intensely staring them down. Or rather, our evolved selves.

I find myself meeting my own stare. With Fia, I can understand the determined look on her Serperior face, a look that's true to her thrill-seeking Snivy self with some regal touches that demand authority. But then there's the Lucario who looks almost foreign to me. I know it's me, but when I think me, I don't see a posture this straight or a stare this steadfast. At least, not usually.

All of a sudden, I start staring at my Lucario self in a mix of confusion and admiration. Confused because I'm still in slight disbelief that someone I'm this inclined to look up to is actually me, but slightly admiring because I know this will probably be me sometime in the future. It's like I took a glimpse at future me, everything down to appearance and mindset, only to learn that things actually look bright for me.

"We sure look awesome, do we?" Fia's giggle breaks my stare away. "Can you just imagine, someday that'll be us! When we undergo evolution for real!"

I chuckle. "I already have imagined, actually…" I pause for a second, suddenly processing her words. "Wait… so how are we actually supposed to evolve?"

"Oh! You weren't there for that class, were you?" I notice an excited glint in Fia's eyes. However more excited she can be. "Well, for me, It'll just come in due time when I get older for something, but that's just for the Servine phase! It's a completely different story for you! You're one of those happiness evolving Pokémon, right?"

That… sounds about right… right? I tilt my head ever so slightly. "I think so."

Fia grins at my response. "Guess you get to evolve earlier than me. So what makes you happy?"

"Happy?" I pause. "Well… I'm usually content… so what do you mean by that?"

"Like the super excited kind of happy!" She gets up and starts jumping in place as if to demonstrate. "Whatever makes you feel super giddy, like you're at the top of the world, like nothing else matters!" At this point, if Fia's excitement was tangible, she'd be oozing it with how much she looks like she wants to let it all burst.

Even then, I still can't help but smile up at her. "Is it… really that simple?"

It's then that all her giddiness slips away as she slumps back to a sitting position beside me, shrugging. "Maybe. I just know all this from Miss Audino's class. I dunno how well I was listening for all the other evolution methods that aren't mine. All I heard was happy and started to make it up from there." Fia's not-so-subtle smile returns as she jabs my arm. "Of course, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous that you can just evolve as soon as possible by finding that happiness trigger."

"O-Oh…" I smile a little flattered smile. "Well… to be honest, I was never really sure I'd even last that long…"

Fia's smile fades, her stare immediately becoming concerned. "What are you talking about?"

"W-Well…" My expression drops as I briefly tear my gaze away and rub my arm. "For the most part, all I've really been thinking of is the current stuff we're dealing with… like the stone events, Beheeyem, Expedition Society things… figuring out my past…" I bring myself to glance at her again. "I never really thought about all that long term stuff like growing up, getting to evolve and… well, actually having a future." My voice suddenly cuts off for a second. "I feel lost just thinking about it…"

"Indigo…" Fia's stare slowly treads to the Expedition Gadget still in my paws, picture still displaying. "Tell you what. When it comes to me, having something to look forward to helps. Like this picture here." She takes the device back to stare at it. "Getting to evolve and get stronger and all that was always a goal of mine, and it still is, actually." I catch her with the faintest of smiles directed towards the picture of her Serperior self. And then she directs that warm smile my way. "But you know what else was a really huge goal of mine?"

I almost don't respond, suddenly finding myself quiet in the midst of her gaze, until I become aware of the invisible nudge her expectant stare is giving me. I play along. "Er… what?"

"Joining the Expedition Society, silly!" She puts her Gadget down to give me a playful jab to the arm. "And everyone thought I was out of my mind for aspiring so soon! Well, except for Pops, but he still scolded me sometimes." She quickly shakes her head before her stare can trail off. "Do you remember who helped me get to where I am today?"

Again with the expectant stare. Now I'm really not sure where she's going with this. "Me… right?"

She nods eagerly. "That's right! Just goes to show that even if almost everyone didn't believe in me, I still pulled through! With some help, of course." Fia then jumps to her feet in a quick gesture, smiles and all. "So! Just as how you've helped me, I want to help you, too! What do you look forward to into a future?"

I hesitate for a second at the sudden question. "Uh… not dying via turning into stone?"

"That's the spirit!" Fia says with an encouraging tone despite my half-hearted effort. "What else? Anything you want to achieve? Like growing up or anything?"

"You mean like… adult stuff?" I pause for a second to dwell on that point. "I mean… I guess I'd like to grow up to find a mate and start a family… that's what adults do, right?"

Fia stands there for a second before going back to smiling at me. "Whoa! I didn't think you've got this future planning stuff down already! You weren't even there for that 'growing up' class or anything!"

I'm just left confused at how excited she's being. "I thought this was common sense… was I not supposed to know this?"

"You tell me," Fia replies with a subtle smirk. "You're the one with the memory problems."

My eyes widen as I realize what she's getting at. "Wait… wait…"

It's then that I close my eyes in an attempt to fish for something in my head. Something that isn't my name or most common sense things or these growing up topics. Memories pop up, but not the ones I'm looking for. Come on… anything from before I was a Riolu will do…

Nothing too unfamiliar pops up. I sigh.

I'm met with Fia's now-concerned look. "Did you find anything?"

"Not really…" I slowly shake my head. I try to muster a chuckle. "Maybe… another time?"

My attempt earns me a slight smile from Fia. "You know what, we just found something else you can start striving for other than not dying!"

I pause. "You mean… trying to remember stuff?"

She looks at me, smiles and all. "You do want to find out more about your human past, right? And something about what we just talked about gave you the tiniest peek at something you knew! Like how you remembered how Pokémon start families and all that! Sooner or later, when the time is right, you'll start to remember more! Maybe!"

The enthusiasm starts catching on. My smile peeks. "Yeah… you're right, actually."

"You bet I'm right! We're gonna find out more about you, bit by bit!"

I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I still can't help but smile up at her from my sitting position. There's just something about how she said 'we'. "You said 'we're' as in 'we are', right?"

Her smile shifts ever so slightly in such a way that seems more genuine. "Yep! You and me, just as it's always been! We're the Longshot duo, after all!" She extends a hand my way. "Now put 'er there!"

I don't even hesitate to take her hand in my paw. At first I ready myself to shake it, but then find myself surprised when Fia pulls me up to help me onto my feet.

Fia then releases her grip, greeting my look with an amused one. I catch her take a glance at her scarf. "We may have all these mysteries floating around, but we're gonna solve 'em all and have fun while doing it! Even if it takes us one step at a time! Here's to your memories and not dying via turning to stone!"

I nod at her and smile back, raising my paw to the sky as well. "To my memories! And our… well being, too!"

Right as I utter the words, I feel a familiar sense of child-like giddiness coursing through me, not unlike the hopping excitement that's clearly evident in Fia's lingering stare of excitement. A smile of pure bliss coming from both me and her, and for a brief second, I think I catch her directing her stare somewhere else-

The sudden sound of something clicking immediately catches my surprised look as I quickly shift my stare to the sound's source. I must have missed the part where Fia picked up her Expedition Gadget with a vine and held it near us.

"That's a keeper!" She drops the device into her hands with a cheeky giggle on her face. "Managed to get your smile in there, too! Shame you weren't looking at the camera, but the look on your face is still more than enough for me!"

I try to inch closer to her to get a better look at what Fia's gawking at. I get a look at the look in question, an image of my smiling self from just a few seconds ago. And just like Fia said, I'm not even looking at the camera alongside her, but instead staring at her. Even once Fia starts navigating some of the other screens of her Gadget, I still can't help but dwell over how different I look now compared to the Lucario picture. I know it's still me in both scenarios, but the drastic difference in composure still leaves me dumbfounded-

"And that's another picture to be framed!" Fia gives me a nudge, allowing me another look at the photo. "What do you think, Indigo? We got some good smiles, dontcha think?"

I take a second to admire the picture once more, this time focusing on the cheerful smile Fia's aiming at the camera. Still energetic, still worry-free, still all her. I find myself smiling back at the picture, unable to help myself.

"You know… we really do look good here." I utter, not even bothering to hide my little smile.

Now that I think about it, this does look a lot like…

With that thought, I cut myself off to look towards the shelf above the only stool and desk our room has, standing right against one of the room's sides. And on that shelf sits one photo, frame of green and blue, with the very first photo Fia took of us. I'd observe her smile from back then, but it quickly hits me that Fia's also admiring the framed picture, maybe for the same reasons I am.

I smile at the wholesome thought. I can always look at the real thing…

"Hey, Indigo…" Fia turns to face me, suddenly catching me off guard with how she looks at me with an expression that's… suddenly drained. "There's something I've started to wonder about."

I quickly drop my smile in an attempt to make sure my dwellings from before wouldn't send the wrong message. "Y-Yeah?"

She glances back at the shelf. "We still haven't gotten our Wailord photo. You remember that one, right?"

It comes back to me. "We were watching the night sky… I had bits of Apple on my face…"

Her expression doesn't shift. "I thought it would've been delivered to us by now. You think something's going on at that Pelipper delivery place?"

"Er…" I try to think of a response, briefly letting my eyes trail away as if I could try stalling with that. While it quickly hits me that I'd just make things more awkward, a box by the back of the room catches my attention in the process. "Well, we did get those letters from Serene Village." I slowly shrug. "Maybe we just have to wait a bit longer?"

Fia cracks a little smile. "Those are letters, and I'm talking about photos. I'd say they're different enough." It's then that her smile starts to waver. "Still can't help but worry about the letters Pops sends me. Do you ever wonder if your parents would've done the same with all this letter sending?"

"My… my parents?" I hesitate. "Well… I have always wondered why I haven't gotten a single letter from Nuzleaf… and I still am wondering, actually…"

"No, no, no, not that," Fia replies, tone still unchanging. Only somewhat serious, but still more than what I normally expect of her. "I was talking about if you think your real parents would've sent you letters regularly. You know, your birth parents and stuff. The ones you had before you turned into a Riolu and lost all your memories."

"O-Oh…" I blink, suddenly feeling the weight of what I've just been asked. "I really don't remember anything about them… but I've never started wondering about them… well, until now…"

I immediately start pondering. If I did have parents… well, I definitely do… but what were they like? How did they raise me? Did I… have siblings?

More possible pieces start coming to me, question by question. I suddenly find myself absorbed in the sheer abundance of my thoughts. More possibilities arise one after another, leaving me astonishingly overwhelmed about all these thought avenues I never explored. Yet, it's not as if any of these avenues feel particularly familiar… it's just that I didn't expect thoughts about parents to branch into more questions about siblings and relatives and family ties and-

"Indigo?"

It's only after I hear Fia's voice do I suddenly become aware of her concerned stare and my bated breath. I take a second to sigh.

I glance at her level stare. "S-Sorry… I never really thought about my past family in all this detail…"

The worry in Fia's stare becomes more evident with the slight purse of her frown. "Did you remember anything?"

My stare trails off for a brief second as I attempt to look back into my thought pile. "No… but now I really wish I did… My family might be out there just… looking for me while I never questioned if they existed at all…"

When I look back at Fia, she still looks worried, but this time looking like her stare and her mind are directed elsewhere. She's unusually quiet.

I already know it's not because she didn't happen to hear me. I try to return the concern. "Was it… something I said?"

Fia hesitates, then looks at me with a downed look that catches me off guard. "I was thinking about stuff like that, too… well, but a bit different from that." The unfamiliar look of worried recollection makes me silently gulp in anticipation. "I think I was too young to remember what my parents were like, but I still wondered about them too. I don't even know who they are or… more importantly, why they left me in the fields. Did something… happen to my real parents or did they just not want to have to-"

I catch on. The faint indication that she's starting to choke up. I suddenly throw the possibility for a second thought aside as I step closer to bring my arms around her. With her in my embrace, I pull her closer into my own kind of protective hug. At first, my spontaneous initiative catches me off guard, but as soon as Fia slowly leans her head towards my shoulder and hugs me back, I recall my objective to comfort.

The sound of an ever-so-faint sniffle instinctively urges me to continue holding her close, my paws gently caressing her back. "They… really couldn't have just not wanted you…" My tone remains soft, but still certain. "You're a great Pokémon. And if your parents couldn't see that… well, it's their loss."

Fia's too busy trying to bury her face into my fur to allow me a full look at her expression, but from the faint smile on the corner on her face and the subtle return of her energy, I said the right words.

She pulls her face away, wiping one of her eyes for a bit, then looks up at me with a genuine, soft smile. "You know… I don't even think I was even given time to show how 'great a Pokémon' I was since they left me when I was still super young." Her look suddenly becomes cheeky. "I was just a baby when I was in the fields with Pops."

I blink, stare widening, suddenly realizing what she means and how off I was with my attempt of encouragement. "E-Er, well… in that case… if you parents did abandon you, then I guess they don't know just how much they're missing out?" A bit of awkward uncertainty suddenly slips into my tone at the last second, leaving me feeling embarrassed.

Thankfully, she doesn't take it the wrong way and responds with an amused giggle as she withdraws. And a jab to the arm. "That actually makes me feel much better, Indigo." She then starts to rub the spot on my arm she punched, like she's trying to comfort it even though her jabs don't hurt. "Never change, okay?"

I'm not sure what she means, but something about the way she smiles makes the message feel much warmer to me. Now I'm the one feeling comforted even though I don't feel like I need it right now.

"You know, Indigo, even though I grew up in Serene Village for a long time, I always felt like something was off…" She withdraws her arm, but still smiles at me. "Like, it's not like anyone treated me like an outcast, at least sometimes, but even after all those years I felt like there was more to my life than the village. We didn't get many visitors around there, so everything just started feeling stale eventually. Still, I tried to make the most out of what was there and all that stuff."

I take a second to process her words, briefly trying to imagine Fia trying to introduce herself to the other kids like Pancham and Deerling and where that went from there.

"Hey! What're you smiling on about? You're not supposed to smile! I wasn't done yet!" Fia punches my arm, playfully smiling back at me. "So I've actually been bored for a bit, but then you came around! A new face for the first time in forever!" The excited glint in her eyes intensifies, as if she's trying to re-enact her reaction. "A new friend to make some new memories with and to show around all the… well, not exactly new places, but still places!" It's then that she blinks, her stare directing from nothing in particular to directly at me, looking slightly calmed down with a little grin still on her face. "You know, Indigo… ever since you came around, it felt like something clicked. Like the big break I needed to see what's really out there for me. And I don't know how, but I was actually right." Brief giggle and a jab to my arm. "There you go, silly. Now you can smile."

I already was. The feeling of slight embarrassment reaches me at just how much I'm smiling, leaving me feeling warm and flustered, but regardless I still smile. "W-Well… thank you…" I sheepishly try to stare away, but… "You actually really mean a lot to me too…" And now she's smiling back at what I said-

"You know what, Indigo…" Fia giggles. "... I'll just say it. At this point, I consider you more than just my best friend."

M-More than… w-what? Her words suddenly strike my warm emotional swelling and intensify it tenfold. What they mean, well… I'm not sure what she's getting at. "What… well, what do you mean?"

She giggles again, like she's confident about what's on her mind, which just makes me even more… excited? Whatever this sudden good trembling is, it's-

There comes to punch to the arm, earning her the attention of my stare once more. "After all we've been through, Indigo… I've actually started seeing you kinda like a brother, you know?"

I blink, my stare suddenly frozen for a brief but significant second.

A… a… a what? Her words continue to echo, meaning suddenly sinking in. Why… why did it feel like I was expecting something… more? And what kind of more?

It suddenly dawns on me that Fia's still smiling at me, eagerly awaiting what I have to say. I sheepishly reach for the back of my head as I speak, trying to act what natural act I can muster. "I-"

The door suddenly swings open, its sudden sound immediately stealing our attention. Mac gives us a quick look from the doorway, stare serious.

"Good, you're awake." He quickly pushes up his glasses, stare unwavering. "I'd remark on your moment of intimacy, but a sudden emergency delayed our morning briefing while also increasing the urgency for a gathering. It's why I'm here at your doorstep instead of ringing you up."

Fia cocks her head, already ready to react. "What kind of weird emergency would be able to delay something while also making it more urgent?"

Mac shrugs, letting a brief smirk show. "It's best if the Chief explained it to you since the rest of us are there as well. Get your bags."

All the while, I'm still here, my mind still boggled up in a mess of events I've yet to fully process. Or… accept, really. Emergency? Morning briefing? Delay? I'm still occupied trying to get my thinking straight and piece it all together.

Brother… I can do brother… I can make brother work… right?

Wait, what was it Mac said again?

A bag of purple leaves suddenly hits me in the face. It takes me a second after it falls into my paws to realize that it's mine. I blink, snapping out of my thoughts to see Fia beckoning for me to follow her, her own bag slung over her shoulder and all.

"E-Er…" I try to utter something amidst my sudden silence. "Is it already time to go?"

"Mac already left and everything! Come on, there's an emergency we need to be there to hear about!"

I quickly fumble with my bag as I try to sling it over my shoulder, still finding my paws to be a bit shaky. It suddenly slips from my grip.

"O-Oh, sorry-" I quickly cut my hushed self off to reach for my bag, still finding myself quivering as the flustered embarrassment comes back in full force.

It's then that my paw is interrupted when a vine tugs my bag away, bringing it to Fia's grip. She carefully hands it to me, slowly, as if she's seeing through how I'm trying to hide my trembling. Either that, or I'm doing a very bad job at hiding it.

Fia's even giving me a concerned look as she helps me put my bag's strap over my shoulder. "Hey, Indigo. Was it… something I said?"

Her sudden change of tone leaves me with a surprised gasp for a second. "Was it… was it what?"

She maintains her stare. "You're nervous, right?"

"I…" A sigh escapes my mouth, desperate to escape the tension of my whole being. "Yeah…" Now comes my paw reaching for the back of my head as I quickly come up with something. "All this…" … brother… "... stuff about family is starting to get to me again…"

Fia lets out a breath as well, smiling at me with a look of subtle relief. "Still think you can go out for exploring or whatever that emergency's all about?"

"Well…" I double check my bag's strap to make sure it's adjusted right. "... I think so."

"Actually, tell you what." Her tone livens up ever so slightly, smile and all. She leans closer to my side and jabs my arm. "If this family stuff is making you feel awkward, then we can go back to being best friends."

I find myself surprised once again, some unfamiliar feeling inside me sparking back to life. "But wait, what about-"

"Oh, that whole brother thing?" Her playful smirk comes back full force, dismissive wrist flick and all. "I'll admit, it was a bit silly of me to bring it up. Besides, I like being an only child." She puts her hands on her hips and slightly lifts her gaze. "It makes me feel special! No non-adult to boss me around or call me a 'lil sis or anything like that!"

I find myself chuckling, catching onto her enthusiasm. Fia giggles, as if my amusement was the reaction she desired.

"So now do you feel up and ready to take on the world?" Fia briefly glances at our still-open door.

My certainty comes back as I muster it into my tone as I nod. "You bet."

She snickers. "That's what I like to hear! So whaddaya say, partner? You and me?" She brings her hand my way.

I follow along and grab her hand, giving it a triumphant shake. "You and me."

"Yeah!" She withdraws and pumps her fist. "Let's go, Team Longshot! Go us!" Right as she says that, she giggles. "You know, I like that. I should use that more." Now the playful smirk is aimed right back at me. "With that being said, race ya to the briefing area!"

I hurriedly blink. "W-Wait!" But she's already off.

Before I take a step, I take a brief look around myself to make sure everything is neat enough to be left alone. The beds could use a bit of work, but-

Wait… Right on the floor in front of me lies Fia's Expedition Gadget, its screen still displaying the photo she just took of me smiling at her instead of at the camera. As I pick it up, I can't help but smile again, feeling the warm heartfelt emotions come back to me as I recall the moment. Now with the instinct to reminisce, I swipe the screen so it shows our evolved selves. My smile still remains.

Realization strikes me in my brief second of continuing to stare at us. Even if Fia and I both lack memories regarding our families, we both reacted differently to this picture. I used to be surprised seeing my Lucario face, but now I find myself excited like Fia.

Even if we both want to learn more about our parents and our origins, it's not all about who we were. It's about who we can become. And… who can I become?

The presence of an inquiry snaps me back to reality as my stare becomes wide, suddenly recalling the urgency of an emergency to be attended. My paws fumble with the Expedition Gadget for a bit, but I manage to catch it and make a break for the doorway, quickly stepping back for a second to close the door.

"F-Fia, wait up!"

NOTE: Salutations, it's been a while. It took me seven months, but I'm back. Apologies for the wait, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Done a lot of thinking and decided I'd try some more shots in the dark with how I write chapters, like only having one POV in this one. I've done more dwelling over how to structure my plot and whatnot, so after two hiatuses, I'm here to stay. At least, I hope so. That's really all I have to say from my end, so thanks for reading, and I really do hope you have a good day. :)

-flareon71