I'll be honest this chapter is shorter than I first planned it. Oh well. Hope you guys enjoy!

Everyone was in a solemn mood that lasted the night and carried into the next morning. Nobody really spoke much as they packed up everything and got ready to move on.

Many times Sora stopped every once in a while just to stare at Gen's Poké Ball. Once he and Mia were back on the road he finally asked one of the thoughts that had been on his mind since Gen left.

"Hey, yesterday when you were talking to Gen before it left," Sora began, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

"What about it?" Mia asked, her voice flat as she kept walking, not even to turn to look at him.

The brunet flinched and cleared his throat.

"Well, it's just that…the way you acted made it seem like you went through something like that before. So I was wondering what the deal was. If you don't mind talking about it that is."

For a second Sora was afraid he had somehow offended Mia when she stopped walking and glared at the ground. She took a deep breath before finally looking up at him.

"Yeah," she murmured. "I've uh, had to say goodbye to a few friends in the past just like last night."

"Um, ok." Sora scratched the back of his head. "But Gen's going to come back eventually. So it's only like 'goodbye for now' really."

Mia sighed, sticking her hands in her pockets as she kicked a pebble off the dirt road.

"Yeah, I know that but I'm worried. I mean, considering the reason it left and all."

Sora nodded with a wince.

"But anyway," Mia said. "I uh, I'm not really good dealing with goodbyes is all. Plus, Gen leaving made me remember something that I don't really wanna think about."

The brunet boy tilted his head in confusion.

"What's that?"

Mia glanced away as she bit her lip before looking at him through her blonde bangs.

"Assuming everything works out, we're going to have to say goodbye once we find Palkia to send you home," she murmured.

Sora chewed the inside of his cheek at her words. Truthfully he still didn't want to think about it. There were a few times when he wished that he had simply arrived in this world via Gummi ship like so many worlds before. That way he could leave when he wanted and if possible even come back. Of course, he would need access to a Gummi ship period in order to do that…

"I mean, sometimes I forget that you're not even from this world. Like, you're so much of a natural with Pokémon and Aura it's like you've always lived here," Mia said. "Usually I just deal with goodbyes knowing that there's at least a chance I'll see them again."

"You're talking about like with Vida and Greiger?"

Mia nodded.

"But when you leave and go home." Mia shook her head. "That's it. You leave and I'm probably never going to see you again. I'm not sure if I can handle that just yet."

For a while the two just stood there in awkward silence, neither one really knowing what to say to the other. Though Sora knew he couldn't really let the conversation just end like that and soon smiled when he remembered Leon's words that helped put his own uneasiness at the thought of his eventual departure from this world or any world in the past.

"You know, a long time ago," he said, looking at Mia. "I went through the same thing when I had to say goodbye to some dear friends of mine. I didn't think I would see them again but one of them said something that's stuck by me since then."

Mia raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"He said that even though we may never see again, we'd never forget each other. And I don't know about you but I doubt I could ever forget you or the others. Not with all the stuff we've already been through and probably will go through until we have to say goodbye."

Mia looked at him as if he grew a second head before she started to laugh so hard that she clutched her stomach.

"I-is that right?" she asked through her laughs. "I'll admit you've got a point there. I don't know how anyone could forget someone like you."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Sora smirked, giving his nose a flick with pride. Though he didn't want to admit that Leon and the others actually did forget him during their year apart.

Mia soon finally stopped laughing, wiping away some leftover tears from her laughing fit. She looked at him and smiled.

"Thanks, I really needed that. Now then, shall we continue to be on our way?"

Sora grinned and nodded.

"Let's."

After their talk, the two teens remained in good spirits all the way until they finally reached Foxfield. Once there they planned to check into the Pokémon Center, intending to get their Pokémon looked at and to switch out Gen's Poké Ball since it was still listed as being in Sora's party. On the way there Sora asked if he should have just released Gen when it left instead but Mia reassured him that it would be fine. She mentioned it was a way to ensure that no one else could capture it since it was still technically his Pokémon.

Though when they located the Pokémon Center, they stopped when they noticed the Trainer who was leaning against the building next to the front doors. He just stood there, hands in his pockets with his one visible eye closed, looking as if he was waiting for something while his Elgyem sat on his shoulder.

"Eh? Ved? What are you doing here?" Sora blinked.

The teen looked up and glanced over at them. He still had the same flat expression on his face as he did the last time they briefly met.

"Waiting for you two actually," he said, clicking his tongue. "Had some questions for you."

Mia narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms.

"Okay, and just how long have you been waiting? Or more importantly, how did you know we'd even be here?"

Ved merely shrugged.

"I have my ways of knowing," he said.

"Is that supposed to mean you've been spying on us somehow?" Mia accused. "Not very inclined to answer any of your questions if that's the case so—"

"What do you know about the Neos Unit?"

Mia's mouth flew open in shock while Sora's eyes widened at Ved's tone of voice. It was the first time Ved actually didn't speak in a monotone voice. He sounded angry which matched the way he squared his shoulders and had his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"We know they're bad news and that we don't like them in the slightest," Sora said in a low tone.

"So you're against them then?" Ved relaxed his shoulders as he looked at the two of them. "Them and the things they do?"

"They've done terrible things to people and Pokémon alike." Mia sneered. "Why wouldn't we? Besides, what's all this matter to you?"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Ved said. "I simply wanted to know which you were."

"You never answered my question," Mia grumbled.

Ved studied her for a moment, his visible eye narrowing as if Mia was a delicate problem that he needed to solve carefully. His Elgyem held up a hand to Ved where it flashed its multi-colored fingers at him. Ved clicked his tongue at the gesture and his eye softened.

"Look," he said softly. "Let's find somewhere private we can talk and we can answer each other's questions better. Sound like a deal?"

Mia looked like she was going to explode, taking long deep breaths as if that would help stop her from shaking with anger. Sora cast a wary glance at Ved, unsure about his intentions.

"Why don't we head inside then?" Sora suggested, looking between the two. "Does that sound fair?"

For a few tense filled moments, there was silence before Mia and Ved both said, "Fair."

And with that, the three entered the Pokémon Center where Mia and Sora checked in before they retreated to one of the many rooms for lodging. Once inside Mia promptly sat down on a bunk bed and crossed her arms and legs, her glare still prominent. Ved causally climbed into the opposite bunk while his Elgyem floated up and nestled itself on the pillow.

Sora leaned up against the closed door and gave a long sigh.

"So…who wants to go first?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Is it true you guys raided a Neos Unit lab?" Ved blurted out, leaning against the wall.

Mia squeaked that reminded Sora of a mouse while he looked at Ved with a sense of awe and shock at his brashness.

"Okay whoa, how the hell do you know something like that?" Mia demanded, getting to her feet as she pointed an accusing finger at the dark-skinned teen.

"Is that your way of admitting to it?" Ved asked, completely unfazed by Mia's outburst.

"You really are something you know that?" Mia said through clenched teeth. "By Arceus, I can't believe you—ugh, forget it. Here's a question for you Snarky, just what is your interest in the Neos Unit?"

Ved let out a low growl and leaned further back into the wall, looking as if he wanted to just melt into the wall and away from everything. He took a long deep breath before sizing up both Sora and Mia.

"I…hate them and what they've been doing and what they have done," Ved murmured. "It's why I keep tabs on their actions as best I can as well as give them as much trouble as I could."

"How much of their activities do you know about?" Mia asked slowly. "Like what they're plans are? I have friends who are Pokémon Rangers who are looking into them along with the Elite Four. If there's anything you can tell us? If you do we can pass it along to them and it can get to the International Police who are working to put a stop to them."

"I know for a fact for whatever reason they're focused on Pokémon mythology and legendary Pokémon." Ved shook his head. "Not only that but I know their main projects are something called Project M and Project Beyond."

"Project M and Beyond huh?" Mia mused. "What could those be…?"

"So just how do you know about the Neos Unit's plans?" Sora asked. "Like are you somehow spying on them or something?"

Ved smirked a bit as a wicked gleam started to shine in his eye.

"I have my informants," he said. "Though they can't really tell me much without being discovered."

"Well, how about this, I can get you in contact with Jasper and Ripley (my Pokémon Ranger friends) so you can talk to them directly," Mia said. "I'm sure they'll gladly welcome any help against the Neos Unit. Plus that way whatever information you gather you can give to them personally."

Ved leaned back as he crossed his arms. Elgyem floated over and nestled itself next to him, its fingers flashing as it curled up. Ved sighed and pet the Psychic-Type on the head.

"Yeah, we can do that," he murmured.

Mia nodded and the two exchanged contact info while she also gave them Jasper and Ripley's info as well. Once they were done, Ved then suggested they get some food. Sora and Mia agreed after a moment of consideration. And with that, the three got up and left the room. As they exited the Pokémon Center, Sora cast a sideways glance at Ved. He felt he could trust the guy but he couldn't deny that something about him bothered Sora.

It'll be okay, he thought. Everything will work out fine.

With that in mind, Sora smiled as they continued walking.

Mia opens up about Sora's eventual depature and Ved returns! And he knooooows thiiiiinnnngsss. But more will be revealed later in the story ;D Until next time!

Current teams:

Sora

Azurite - Lucario

Nicolai - Salamence

Davilla - Purrlion - Shiny

Primrose - Happiny

Forrest - Turtwig

Mia

Neptune - Gyarados

Crimson - Charizard - Shiny

Aquajaws - Feraligatr

Blu - Squirtle

Hawkeye - Staraptor

Menace - Gengar