"I'm not ready for this..." Breccia complained, doing so in her empty bedroom as she finished packing her bags. Turning to the dress hanging in the closet, she sighed.

Luckily, she and Maddie were the same size (roughly). This made things a little easier, as Breccia didn't have to spend any money on an outfit.

Zipping her bag closed, she let it drop on the floor before turning around and sitting on the bed. In the last couple weeks, things had been strenuous at best. So much so, in fact, that she made time to go back to her father's grave.

She had to go by boat, (since the helicopter was still out of commission). When she arrived, she asked that the grunts who followed her to stay aboard. She feared them following and bumping into Ethan. Turns out she had every right to worry because he was out walking Rusty when she arrived. He invited her back to his place for tea and she almost declined. Considering how stressed she had been as of late, she went against her instincts and took him up on the offer. She only stayed for half an hour or so. In that time, Nibs started to warm up to her new friend and spent less time glued to her shoulder.

"I never did ask-" Their conversation eventually turned to personal matters. "So you work inland? You came in by boat, that must've been quite the journey."

"I..." Breccia formulated a half truth on the fly. "I'm doing research on Pokemon behavior...I've been traveling the islands as of late." She prayed Ethan wouldn't pry further. Fortunately, he didn't.

They spoke of simplistic things, the weather, weekend plans and the like.

"They usually don't like the sunlight." Breccia said, continuing a conversation referring to Nibs. "But I egg hatched him so he got use to it young." It made her sad knowing the cave Nibs came from had been closed off in the last attack. He wasn't the only egg in that nest. She wondered if the other hatchlings would've looked like him. (Or had been as strong)

"That reminds me, before you go." When Breccia rose to leave, Ethan turned to a small basket by his chair, retrieving a Pokeball. "I found her when I went out for a walk the other day. I've been trying to care for her but I don't have the resources." Handing it over, Breccia was surprised to find a Sunkern, slightly bruised with one of the leaves missing atop her tiny head. "I'm not sure how she got here, as it's too cold for her to survive. I found a bunch of Wingulls poking at her. I've done the best I can, but I can barely feed myself right now."

Now, in the present, Breccia heard a commotion from the living room. She didn't need to ask what was going on, she already knew. "Nibs, you better not be messing with her." The moment Nibbles saw Breccia coddling another Pokemon, his jealousy knew no bounds. He never had an issue with Koffing, but the moment he was no longer the 'baby', all bets were off. "Stop it!" She came in to find Flora on her pillow, letting out a frail cry as Nibs flapped around her. He never hurt her, but that didn't stop him from hissing and sneering whenever he had the chance. "You poor baby." Breccia scooped her Sunkern up, cuddling her close.

It wasn't that she minded taking care of another Pokemon, as it reminded Breccia of her time in her father's clinic. What she DID mind was the constant heckling from her peers. When she re boarded the ship with Flora in hand, the grunts that followed immediately started taunting her, taunting the 'cute little vet' for her constant need to nurture any Pokemon foisted on her.

She put up with their teasing until they touched back down on Aurora. Morice poked fun at her too, but he retaliated on the morons who had been giving her hell the moment he found out about it. When she and Ethan were chatting, he told her a few stories of his adventures when he was younger. They were fun to listen to, since they were far better than the mess that was Breccia's life. However, it was inevitable that he would bring up his run ins with the very Organization Breccia worked for. It was awkward, having to pretend she knew nothing about the people she affiliated with.

"Nibs, you're two seconds away from being put back in your ball." Breccia's threat worked. Nibbles huffed, fluttering down and balancing on her shoulder. Scratching him under his chin, his owner exhaled, shaking her head. "What am I going to do with you?" He ignored her affection, turning away. "Stop being a jerk." Breccia secured him by the scruff on the back of his neck, guiding him so he was facing her. "You'll always be my buddy, but she needs a home. You're just going to have to deal with that." When her Pokemon began to sulk, she kissed the top of his head. "Who's my little nibbler?" Nibs answered by shaking his backside, cuddling into the side of her neck.

Checking the time on her Transceiver, Breccia was about to head back into the bedroom and get her bags when there was a knock at the door. "Hang on."

As to be expected from his end, Morice sighed when his friend greeted him, her Sunkern in one arm and her clingy 'little buddy' crawling around in the pocket of her flannel shirt. "Did I come at a bad time?"

Breccia scoffed. "Please, you should be use to this by now." Going inside to gather her things, she put Flora back on her pillow. "Let me get my bag. Remind me, I have to talk to Neil before we go, to make sure the Lab is covered..."

Morice hinted at the weariness in her voice. "You alright?"

Turning the lights off as she went, Breccia walked passed him, talking as she headed to the bedroom. "Yeah...just tired. I'm not looking forward to the trip. It makes me wish we had another copter laying around." It was going to be a couple hours by boat before she, Morice and Riker would reach land. After, it was another grueling four hours by van. It didn't help that they had to travel through the Naturra mountains, a range that cut Birtan in half. A part of her wanted to be happy that they were heading into the tropics. Warmer weather was appetizing.

Then again, a decent nights sleep sounded good too.

"I don't blame you." Morice called from the living area. "I had to see to it the Vans were loaded onto the ferry."

"Vans?"

"I have to ride with a couple of the grunts. We'll be lagging behind once we hit land."

Breccia adjusted her bag strap, pulling her gown from the closet. "Oh, I forgot. I'll be riding with Riker."

She could hear the contempt in her friend's response. "Yeah. Joy." Wondering around in wait, Morice was busy contemplating the upcoming trip (and dreading it) when he heard Flora cry from where she lay. "Uh...Breccia, your little seed pod is crying..."

"Give me a minute, I can't find my shoes."

A minute passed, filled with a the shrill, melodious screeching from the abandoned Sunkern. As Breccia traversed the hall, all her things in hand, she took notice of when the noise stopped. "Did she cry herself out?" Contrary to her original thought, she came in to see Morice holding Flora, rocking her as one would a tired child. It was working, as the Pokemon was silent and starting to doze off.

Breccia didn't speak, choosing to lean against the wall and watch without making herself known. It wasn't until Morice put the sleeping Sunkern back on her pillow that she responded: "You're a natural."

He jumped, startled. "Don't do that." He put a hand to his chest, talking down his pulse. "I about pissed myself..."

Breccia smiled. "I've never been able to get her to sleep that quickly. She's taken a shine to you."

Morice rolled his eyes. "Was I supposed to stand around and listen to her scream?"

"No." Pulling Nibs from her pocket, Breccia let him fly across the room. As she expected, he went from her shoulder to Morice's, headbutting him in the side of his cheek. At this point, Morice had grown use to Nibs' brand of affection, so he did nothing. "A lot of Pokemon are good judges of character."

Buttoning the top of his coat, Morice scowled. "You're pleasantries aren't going to work today."

"Long shift last night?"

"No." Morice finally swatted at Nibbles when the bat chomped on his ear. "Ever try to be an alcoholic on a ramen budget? You'd be annoyed too."

Breccia brushed a strand of his hair from his forehead. He was usually good about keeping himself clean cut. As of late though, he'd been looking ragged. "You should really let me cut your hair, it's a bit shaggy." She retrieved Nibs from her friend and put him in his ball. "You don't want to get nabbed for dress code again."

"What are you, my mother?" Morice cleared his throat, trying to distract from the blush that appeared when Breccia kissed him on the cheek. "Stop hugging on me, we're gonna be late to the docks."

"Alright Mr. Cranky britches. Let me get the lights." Shutting and locking the door, Breccia checked to make sure she had all of her Pokemon on her before heading out of the apartment complex.

Out near the Ferry, Riker was overseeing any last minute preparations, all the while coping with Ms. Morre's constant hounding.

"I packed enough food for the next couple of days." She handed him a plastic shopping bag with multiple tupperware containers within. "Make sure Arlia eats hers-"

"Donna, I'm a little busy." Riker received a glare.

"Don't you tell me what to do boy. I've been feeding your happy butt for the last twenty five years and I'll keep doing so." When her nephew tried to step away, she snagged his ear. "I'm asking that friend of yours to let me know if you actually eat while you're away."

Riker grumbled. "You are aware she answers to me first right?"

"Aunty giving you grief?" Breccia saw her opportunity upon approaching the scene and took it. "I'd be more than happy to nark if the mood takes me."

Her Boss sighed. "I'd complain about how no one listens, but I'm too damn tired." He took the bag, cursing to himself and making his way onto the boat.

Ms. Morre, who's Meowth was rubbing itself against her legs, reached down and pet her Pokemon on the head. "I really shouldn't be giving him grief." She shook her head. "Its dangerous having him off the island. We have more guard but there's always a chance of another attack."

"Are you staying behind?" Breccia asked.

"I'd only get in the way." Donna said. "Besides, he has Arlia, so he should be safe. They've been close as kin since she hatched."

"So I've been told."

Breccia continued to chat with Donna until everything was loaded. Still nervous about the whole situation, she piled on board behind Morice. Instead of staying up top, she went down below. Riker was already below deck, giving orders to a couple of grunts before dismissing them up top.

When he saw her, he said: "Here to spy on me for Donna?"

Breccia chuckled. "I won't if you're good boy and eat your vegetables."

The trip by boat was uneventful, or so Breccia figured. She slept though most of it. When they reached the shore, the vans were unloaded and she and Morice went their separate ways.

"We're driving there now...wait at the drop off point." Riker and Breccia were both sitting in the back, with Arlia driving upfront. Riker offered to drive at first, but it was obvious he was too tired.

Hanging up, he leaned back in his seat. Breccia was going to ask how the conversation with, but the look on his face said it all.

When those Executives showed up at the lab, (and Breccia had calmed from her blow up), the tension between the four of them was noticeable. She passed it off as stress from the on going issues. Riker kept trying to comment on their decisions, adding his own opinions on certain points, only to be passed off and shoved aside. They were in Riker's lab, acting like nothing he said had any relevance.

"Friend of yours?" Breccia asked, stirring up conversation to fill the silence.

"Kelly." The answer was quick and bitten. "She's so sure about her plans with Dixon..." Closing his eyes, Riker did a count down in his head of all they had left to do. The Boss had been relocated, so there was one thing out of the way.

They were all meeting in Travessia, a city that, not while as big as the capital, was still rather large. The Gala itself was taking place at a mansion on the outskirts, but everyone had to regroup before hand. They were also meeting the police there, something Riker still had qualms with. "No matter what I say, they won't listen. Dixon has given us so much trouble in the past. All the money we've wasted, having to bust our men out of prison...but she gets so sure of herself, she refuses to see past her own presumed genius."

"They all seemed to be that way." Breccia said.

Riker was peering out the window, staring out along the road at the vast planes of white going in both directions. "Stotler isn't too bad, if not too passive. Sanchez...he's known me since I was a kid. And I guess that's how they all still see me..." Quiet for a moment, he listened to the faint static playing on the radio. It was going to be a while before they reached the mountains dividing the region. After that, it'd be another two before they made it to their destination. "Sometimes I wonder if they think I had all this handed to me. Like some twisted form of nepotism." He framed his head in his hands for a moment, wondering if his headache was from stress or lack of sleep (or both). "The Boss refused to promote me until we could beat him in a battle...It only took us fifteen years or so."

Breccia tried to picture a massive Kangaskan bunting a tiny Torchic around like a deflated soccer ball. "Just a drop in the bucket." She joked.

She heard Arlia scoff from the front seat.

"From the day she hatched..." Riker continued. "I waltzed into the kitchen with an egg in hand and Donna had no idea what to do."

He and Ms. Morre had moved into Jhoto after his mother's death, and that day in particular, he was sitting in his room with his newly absconded egg, waiting in anticipation for it to hatch. He heard Donna and a friend of hers (A woman named Marie they'd since lost contact with), chattering among themselves:

'Do we punish him?'

He recalled a pause, an obvious sign of conflict, before Donna answered. 'Look, lets just get the egg from him. We'll slip it back into the lab before the Professor notices...'

As they discussed what to do, they were too late to act on it. Arlia hatched while they bickered. Riker, at only six years old, watched in amazement when the top of the egg popped off and a tiny Torchic's head poked through. While he didn't know WHAT Pokemon to expect, he'd seen many of Arlia's kind in the picture books his mother would read to him. Unlike the ones in those stories, her color pallet was reversed with bright orange head plumage and golden body feathers.

When Marie came into the room with the intention of taking the 'egg', Arlia was already shaking away the remnants of her shell. In a moment of stupidity, Marie tried to pick her up, receiving a peck to the hand and a fervor of squawking.

Upon being dropped, Arlia scampered back to Riker, crawling up in his lap and refusing to leave. It was then that Donna realized the battle was done.

When his grandfather learned of his ill gotten gains, he was angry with Donna for ever thinking of punishment. He picked Arlia up by one of her claws, looking her over for a moment before tossing her back to Riker like a stuffed animal. 'Let him keep it. It's about time he had one anyway.'

"She can take a hit." Riker said, referring to the Pokemon driving in the front seat.

"Tends to happen when you get your ass kicked from birth." Breccia muttered.

"And all the way through the awkward teenage years." Riker glanced forward, snickering when he saw Arlia peer over her shoulder. "Her's were more awkward than mine though." No sooner had he said it, an empty paper cup that'd been sitting in the front seat cupholder flew back and smacked him in the face.