Author's Note: Since it didn't come up in the main fic, here's Team Shadow's reactions to Claire's disappearance. I figure it'd go at least slightly different from the in-game scenes, if only because they have other official members.

Disappearance

The trip back to Treasure Town passed in a blur.

Lapras had congratulated them on pacifying Dialga and putting the Time Gears in their rightful place. Then, he'd asked where Claire and Leaf were. Felix hadn't been able to answer, and he'd burst into tears again. Even Iris wasn't sure what to say. Finally, Rin spoke up and quietly told him what had happened.

Claire and Leaf were gone. Claire. His team leader, one of his best friends, the whole reason Felix had even managed to join the guild. She was gone, and she wasn't coming back.

Maybe it was selfish. Felix knew Rin and Iris would miss her, too. To say nothing of Bruce—Claire had said that she didn't even get to say goodbye to him. He'd be upset, too. So would the other guild members. But…Felix thought it was worse for him.

Sure, he'd gotten a little more self-confidence over the past few months. He wasn't so timid and self-defeating anymore. But…without Claire, what was he supposed to do? She was the reason why Felix had changed.

He curled up into a ball and sniffled once they were all on Lapras's back. Iris remained silent, a stony look on her face, as she glanced out at nothing in particular. Rin quietly put a hand on Felix's back, trying to comfort him but not saying anything herself.

And, as they descended from the Hidden Land, Felix continued to cry, unable to focus on the trip itself or what he'd do once they got back.

They were met with cheers and congratulations once they arrived back at the guild. Everyone ushered them inside—though Felix noticed the confusion on the other recruits' faces—and brought them down to the meeting room. They gathered in a circle, everyone's eyes fixed on them, and they sat quietly until someone finally spoke up.

"So, uh…where's Claire?" Bruce asked, tilting his head to the side curiously. "And Grovyle; he went with you, too, right? I mean…not that I'm not happy to see you guys, but…"

"Yeah!" Heliona nodded. "They should've come back with you, right?"

The corners of Felix's eyes started prickling again. "They…they…they're gone. They're not coming back."

"WHAT?" everyone shouted.

"It's true," Rin mumbled. "We changed the future, so…"

"If it's gone, then they are, too," Iris finished, her mouth pulling into a hard line as she spoke.

There was silence for a few seconds. All of the guild recruits simply stared at each other in shock. It seemed like such an obvious thing now, but Felix hadn't thought of it sooner, either. He closed his eyes and gripped the strap of his treasure bag, trying not to cry again. That didn't last very long—tears began streaming down his cheeks, and his sniffling was embarrassingly loud.

"But—but—she said she was coming back!" Bruce protested. "You told me all of you were coming back! Why would Claire say that if she was going to…"

"I don't think she knew, either." Iris sighed. "She didn't remember. Leaf knew, but…I guess he thought it'd just upset us if he said something, or…"

"Of course it would have!" Bruce shouted. "But I…I still wish I could've known! Then I could've said something to Claire, and…and…!"

The Glameow turned around and fled down the residential hallway, probably off to Team Shadow's room. Everyone else stared at him in shock. That was the first time anyone had heard Bruce raise his voice. Soon, however, Loudred spoke up—and while the recruits were used to him shouting, the obviously hurt look on his face was something new.

"YEAH! That's not FAIR!" he agreed. "How come WE don't get to see her again? And THEY helped save the world! So why don't THEY get to SEE IT like everyone else does?"

And the last statement was truly set everyone off. The sheer unfairness of it all—Claire and Leaf risking their lives and getting nothing in return—was lost on no one. Everyone (even Sydney and even Chatot, Felix noted once he could see straight) had all started crying as well.

No one really had the energy to go off to their rooms. The recruits all slept in a heap out in the meeting room, but Felix vaguely noted that Bruce never came out to join them. He thought it was a bit too cruel to leave Bruce off by himself, but perhaps he didn't want to speak to them right now, anyway.

Team Shadow was at a loss for what to do for the next few weeks.

Of course, they spent a lot of time telling the residents of Treasure Town what had happened. They had to spread the story—everyone needed to know about it. Their world was safe; they had hope for the future again. And, Felix silently added, it was the only way to honor Claire's memory.

Eventually, he could do it without getting choked up. He could tell more and more of the story without needing Rin and Iris to step in and finish it. But there was still that lingering throb of pain in his chest nonetheless.

When it came to exploring, though…that took a little more effort. No one felt right doing it without Claire; she'd been listed as their team's leader, after all. They could go without her, but…it just felt wrong.

"Well," Bruce said bitterly, "I guess we don't have to decide who's staying back at the guild now. All of us can go together."

The bitterness wasn't directed at anyone specifically—not anymore. Bruce had mostly gotten over the hurt from being 'left out' at the Hidden Land. There was still some irony in the situation, though. No one had minded occasionally staying home to help out with other tasks, but it was true that they didn't have to worry about that anymore. And that felt wrong in its own way; it was something they'd gotten used to doing.

"Yeah," Felix muttered. "I guess…that's what we'll do from now on. The four of us, together. But…who should lead us?"

"I'd say Rin makes the most sense, but…" Iris sighed. "I think you should. I think that's what Claire would want."

There was another sting in his chest, but Felix nodded. "Yeah, I…I think you're right. I'll…I'll do it. From here on out, I'll…lead us on explorations."

Maybe it would help him, too. Felix knew he couldn't take Claire's place. There was too much of a void to fill. But maybe he didn't need to replace her. Maybe Felix just needed to keep trying, and…maybe his confidence would improve even more if he did well enough.

The next day, Team Shadow took their first job since coming back from the Hidden Land, and, slowly, day by day, things almost started to feel normal again.