I tip my hat to the screen of the Pokémon Center's PC. "Eugenio Beccaria. Faller and current traveling companion of Dawn's. Pleased to meet you, Professor Rowan."

"Likewise, young man," the stern-looking man replies, nodding in my direction. He then turns to Nate. "And you are?"

"Oh, s-sorry," Nate frantically replies, doffing his eyeshade as he does so. "I'm honored to meet you, Professor!"

Rowan nods again. "Again, likewise."

Right after saying that, he turns back to the center of the group and addresses his protégé. "Have you already sent those three Pokémon you caught, Dawn?"

"Of course, Professor," the bluenette replies. "They should be arriving any moment now."

Rowan nods again. "Much obliged."

As it turned out, the three Pokémon these two had been after were none other than Pansage, Pansear and Panpour. Three Pokémon that evolve through stones, like many others. Not sure what's so special about them to warrant catching, but I'm not gonna question the Pokémon science guy.

"So according to what you told me, your next stop is the Virbank peninsula?" the Professor then asks, brow furrowed.

Dawn nods solemnly. "Yes, we have two objectives there: protect Rosa and investigate Tabitha."

Rowan purses his lips. "Tabitha," he murmurs. "That's another name I never thought anyone would hear again."

"Was he also supposed to be rotting in jail like Jupiter?" I intervene, drawing everyone's attention to me.

"On the contrary," Dawn replies. "A year after what happened in Hoenn, Maxie and a bunch of his followers were caught and arrested in the Fiore region. His lieutenants have been on the run since."

I frown. "So we could be dealing with the other one too?"

"Possibly."

God-fucking-dammit.

"Should we expect to come across the lieutenants of every criminal organization that was active a decade ago?" I ask, while I massage the bridge of my nose.

"The other three from Team Galactic are confirmed not to be involved with Team Plasma, or to even be in Unova," Dawn replies. "But I don't know about the others."

Splendid…

"In any case," Rowan intervenes. "Do you have a plan about how to protect this girl?"

Dawn and I exchange an embarrassed look. Which causes Rowan to arch an eyebrow.

"Well…" Dawn intervenes. "We were hoping to discuss the matter with the local authorities once we are there."

We were?

"I see," Rowan responds with a low tone. A low tone that manages to send shivers down my spine.

Surprisingly, his next words are not the harsh scolding I was expecting. "In that case, good luck. And be careful."

Dawn suddenly chirps up at hearing that. "We will, Professor. No need to worry."

After that, she and Rowan exchange pleasantries, Nate and I say goodbye to him and we end the call there. Dawn lets out a relieved sigh right after.

"I understand you've known him for a long time,"I intervene, causing Dawn to turn to me. "But are you sure it was a good idea to-?"

Dawn shakes her head. "He won't snitch on us. He knows me and he knows I have you two by my side. He knows we can do this."

I hope you're right.

The day after, we're all off to Castelia's docks, ready to embark on the first available ferry for Virbank. Unfortunately, we immediately come across a couple of issues.

"What do you mean the ferries are still not available? How long is this strike going to be?"

One is that we stumble upon Samantha arguing at the reception.

"It's not a strike, miss. The captain is missing and Virbank's port has been left in disarray."

The other is that.

"So, what, the peninsula is cut off from the rest of the region? Is that what you're saying?"

The silence on the man's part as he chews on his lips is rather telling.

Nonetheless, Dawn decides to step forward to the reception.

"Excuse me," she tells the receptionist, drawing his attention to her. As well as Samantha's. "But my friends and I were also interested in going to the Virbank peninsula. Can you tell us exactly what happened?"

While the receptionist proceeds to tell Dawn how one day the captain responsible for handling the ferry stopped showing up for work and left everyone in shambles, Samantha turns and her eyes land on me and Nate and widen at the sight. That is, before they narrow.

Nate makes an uneasy expression. I decide to return the look.

"And aren't there any other ways to reach the peninsula?" I hear Dawn ask.

"I'm afraid not, miss. At least, not with us. If you have a flying Pokémon that can carry you, it should be a short flight from here."

Samantha's head jerks back to the receptionist. "Aha, now we're talking," she says to him. "Have you got a PC here?"

The receptionist shakes his head. "I'm afraid not, miss."

Samantha lets out an annoyed snort and then storms off in the Pokémon Center's general direction. I can't help but feel some amusement at her inconvenience.

"Quite a volatile person, isn't she?" Dawn asks as she walks back to us, all while keeping her eyes on the blonde's trail like the two of us. "Also, is it just me, or was that the same girl with a Galarian Mr. Mime from the station?"

Oh right. We didn't explain that to her.

"You got that right," I tell her. "Her name is Samantha Taylor."

Dawn blinks in surprise. "That Samantha Taylor?"

"Yes," Nate says, nodding. "We talked with her after you left."

"Really?" Dawn replies. "What is she like?"

Nate hesitates. "She's…uhm…"

"She's a bitch." Dawn gives me a scandalized look after that comment. "An attention-seeking bully intent on tearing people down to prove she's hot shit."

Dawn quirks an eyebrow and turns her gaze to Nate. "Is that right?"

"Not the choice of words I would have gone for," Nate gulps. "But yes, that's the sentiment."

Dawn then hums to herself as her gaze drifts into the distance and her lips purse.

"You know," she ultimately says. "That description isn't too different from what another trainer I know was like at the beginning of his journey."

Oh? "And who would that trainer be?"

"Does the name 'Silver' mean anything to you?"

That question takes me aback. "Silver? The Johto trainer and son of Team Rocket's Giovanni? That Silver?"

Nate looks at me perplexedly while Dawn nods. "Precisely. Though he's actually from Kanto, not Johto."

"Okay, but what's he got to do with Samantha?" She's merely a punk from overseas. Silver is an actual criminal.

"As I said, your description of her fits what he was like at the start," she tells me. "Obsessed with strength, verbally aggressive toward weaker trainers, that sort of thing."

"The guy was a thief and an abusive trainer," I retort. "As far as I've seen, Samantha isn't there yet."

"Yes, but that's not the point I'm trying to make," Dawn counters. "What I'm trying to say is that his ways were due to growing up in an unhealthy environment. But nowadays he's...well, he's still not a nice person to be around, but he's grown better. And I think losing time after time to Ethan had a hand in his growth."

I cross my arms and arch an eyebrow. "So basically you're saying she has the potential to become a better person if taken down a peg?"

"Not the words I'd use, but yes."

I sincerely doubt it'll be as easy as that.

"But anyways." Dawn glances at Nate and then back at me. "You've heard the receptionist. Follow me."

We do just that and get to the docks. And when we're at the one where normally the ferry for Virbank would be, Dawn pulls out a Poké Ball and calls out a 'Stary'.

"Staravia," the black, gray and white avian states as it stands up tall and attentive. And judging by the gray spot on its forehead, it should be female.

"Wow," Nate exclaims as he crouches down to look the bird in the eyes. "What is this?"

"She's a Staravia," Dawn answers. "The evolution of Starly - the most common species of Flying-types in Sinnoh."

"I see, nice," Nate says before turning back to Stary and smiling and waving at her. "Hi there."

The Staravia just keeps looking at him impassively. Which makes Nate's smile falter.

"Uhm...you okay? Did I offend you?"

Again, Stary remains impassive.

"Is she deaf?" I ask.

I'm immediately answered when she turns her head to me and briefly narrows her eyes. And after that, she returns her head to looking right in front of her.

Talk about taking herself too seriously.

Dawn clears her throat. "Anyway, since we can't get to Virbank by boat, she is going to take us there."

I widen my eyes at her. Then I look at her Pokémon and find her looking unconcerned by what she just said. And then I turn back to her.

"Are you serious?" I ask. "She's much tinier than any one of us. How is she supposed to carry all three?"

"Oh, she's not. At least, not at the same time. If the fly from here to Virbank is as short as the receptionist made it sound, she'll take us one at a time."

Oookay, but what about…?

"As for the matter of her being smaller than us..." she turns to the Staravia. "Stary, use Fly."

Uh?

As soon as her trainer gives that order, the bird spreads her wings and a cyan aura engulfs her whole body. It then expands until it's taken a generic form with wings attached to the sides. One large enough to safely transport a person.

"There we go."

Huh, okay. Although there's another matter we need to adress.

"And flying there is absolutely the only option?"

Dawn looks at me confusedly. "Yes. You heard the receptionist, didn't you?"

"I mean, couldn't we just get a Water-type to carry us?"

The bluenette shakes her head. "Too risky. We'd be going through waters usually traversed by boats. And besides, I doubt any of us has a swimsuit on hand or wants to get there with their clothes drenched."

...Dawn in a swimsuit- NO, NO, NO, WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING, BRAIN?!

Putting...whatever that thought was aside, I turn back to the glowing projection and let down a gulp. "Can we at least plug Stary's ears, then?"

Nate pales when I say that. Dawn frowns. "Why?"

"WE'RE GONNA DIE, WE'RE GONNA DIE, WE'RE GONNA-!"

I manage to stop shouting only when Stary finally lands on the docks of Virbank City's port. And even then, it takes me a bit before I feel safe enough to let her projected form go. After doing that, I start taking deep breaths to recover my voice, while she shrinks down back to her true form.

And she looks at me with half-lidded eyes after that.

"Sorry," I tell her.

The bird huffs out a 'Star' before she turns back in Castelia's direction and takes off again. Hope her ears are okay.

While I wait for her to bring Nate and then Dawn, I have a look around. As it would appear, the port rests at the end of a stairway that leads up to the city proper. And from where I am, I can only spot the tips of the buildings.

To the right of the stairway, though, I notice a drainage ditch spouting out water into the ocean. Pristine water from the looks of it.

And to the left, farther from the city but still on the shoreline, I also notice the structures of an industrial complex standing amongst the vegetation. Was that one in the games? I can't remember right now.

But either way, shortly after my brief examination, Stary returns, this time with Nate on her back. After she's dropped him and shrunk down again, he thanks her. She again doesn't acknowledge him and takes off toward Castelia almost immediately.

She's really fun to be around, isn't she?

After the Staravia's left, Nate turns to where the tips of the buildings are and a pleased smile spreads on his face. "Virbank City," he murmurs. "It has been some time."

I arch an eyebrow. "You've been here before?"

Nate nods. "Years ago. My parents and I came here during the winter holidays to visit the PokéStar Studios. I remember it fondly."

Is that so? "What can you tell me about it?"

"Well, I…" he clears his throat. "Not so much, actually. I know it's mostly a port city and that it sees a lot of traffic during the holidays, but…"

When he's not able to continue, I try to reassure him by saying. "It's still more than I do. Thank you."

Nate smiles and nods to me. "You're welcome."

It isn't long after that exchange that we see Stary arrive for the third time, this time with her trainer on her back. Unfortunately, though, the two aren't alone, as another indigo projection flies right next to them. And this one has Samantha on its back.

"Oh, goddammit…" I mutter. Couldn't we just get here without having to deal with her?

Just like it was for me and Nate before, the two projections land and their trainers dismount, followed by the two projections retreating. But unlike Dawn's, Samantha's bird turns out to be a black vulture with a waist made out of bones.

"A Mandibuzz?" I ask, confused. "Aren't you supposed to be using only Galarian variants of Pokémon?"

"Oh, I am," Samantha nonchalantly replies as she caresses her Pokémon's head, all while Dawn recalls hers. "Crossbones here used to be part of a team I had before my current sponsorship. Unfortunately, nowadays she can only provide transportation." I know I'm about to get irritated the moment she smirks. "But hey, at least I have my own Pokémon to rely on for that. Unlike a pair of someones, am I right?"

I shoot her a glare. One that deepens when her vulture cranes her neck forward and smirks as well.

"Ok, let's not start this!" Dawn interrupts as she steps in between the two of us, hands raised. Then she turns to me. "We have somewhere else to be, remember?"

...yeah, she's right. We're on a tight schedule.

Although, while we're having that exchange, Samantha narrows her eyes at Dawn and tilts her head.

"Yes?" the bluenette asks when she notices that. "Is something the matter?"

"Now that I've got a proper look at you, you seem familiar," Samantha responds. "Although I'm pretty sure I've never met you before the other day in Castelia. Are you some famous trainer?"

Oh, here we go again.

"Yes," Dawn sighs. "Dawn Hikari, formerly Sinnoh's Champion."

Samantha widens her eyes. "That Dawn Hikari?" She points at me and Nate. "And you're accompanying these guys? Wow, way to fall down the ladder."

Bitch.

Dawn looks at her with half-lidded eyes after that jab. But somehow, she's able to keep whatever she's feeling out of her voice. "Yes, well...if that is all, we'll be going."

Yeah, the sooner the better.

"I'm afraid that's not all."

Oh, no.

"What is it?" Dawn asks her.

Samantha smirks. "If you really are Dawn Hikari, I've got a challenge for you." She grabs a Poké Ball. "Your Empoleon against my Obstagoon."

"Man," the vulture squawks excitedly.

I, on the other hand, stiffen my posture at hearing that request as unease spreads through me. Looking at Dawn I see her jaw has clenched, her body is slightly shaking and her hands have tightened into fists, knuckles almost white. But her face is doing its best to remain serene.

Nate and I exchange an uncomfortable look at that sight.

"I have to decline," Dawn tells her, voice eerily serene.

"Is that so?" Samantha replies derisively. "I can understand a newbie and a Faller being cowardly about Pokémon fights, but the famous Dawn Hikari? Really?"

The corners of Dawn's mouth twitch downward as some ice enters her voice. "I'm not being a coward. Normally, I would take you up on that offer, but Pip - my Empoleon - is not with me."

"So what?" the blonde retorts. "Just pick him up and we can get to it."

Dawn has to turn her back to her at that, hiding the grimace now on her face.

Ok, time to intervene.

I step next to Dawn and wrap an arm around her shoulder comfortingly, all while gently pushing her into walking away.

"She can't do that," I tell Samantha. "And we've got more important stuff to attend to."

"Yeah, right," Samantha scoffs. "I bet she's just a lookalike of the real Dawn Hikari and doesn't actually have an Empoleon."

...is she for real?

"I mean, I know the real Dawn Hikari couldn't hold the pressure of being the Champion for more than a year, but that she made it to that position speaks volumes of her skill."

A shiver goes down my spine as I feel Dawn shaking more evidently under my arm.

"Why would the real Dawn Hikari want to accompany a pair of-?"

"Enough!" Dawn snaps as she shrugs my arm off and abruptly turns back to Samantha. Her face is now a mask of rage unlike anything I've seen from her thus far.

"Listen here, Taylor!" she yells, an admonishing finger raised toward the blonde in question. Samantha doesn't seem fazed by the outburst. "I am the real Dawn Hikari! What I have done and am doing is my business alone and you are in no position to judge it!"

A smirk spreads across Samantha's face. "In that case, you can pick up your Empoleon, can't you?"

"No I can't! Not after Team Plasma took him away from me!"

I bite my lip as those words escape her mouth.

Meanwhile, Samantha's smirk drops. "What?"

"The trainers that stumbled upon them at Relic Castle? I was one of them! They had taken one of the others hostage! And to stop their leader from choking him to death I had to surrender him to them! And not just him, but the rest of my team too!"

I glance back to Nate as Dawn goes on. I find him shivering on the spot with his gaze focused on nothing in particular while a hand massages his throat.

"I…" Samantha hesitates, for what is probably the first time since I've met her. "I didn't know…"

"Exactly!" Dawn cuts her off. "So don't presume to know others!"

Dawn storms away from the docks after that. Nate chases after her right after.

I, on the other hand, linger here as I watch Samantha blink her eyes in shock.

When she turns to me, her words lack their usual bite. "You three were the ones at Relic Castle?"

I nod.

"And Junior- Nate...was he...?"

Again, I nod.

"I...I…"

There are a ton of things I'd like to tell her right now. A lot of things I could call her too. But I think Dawn made a much better point than I could ever hope to.

"Back in Castelia, you made that little speech about diamonds being made under strong pressures," I still decide to add. "After today, ask yourself this: what of those that fail to become diamonds?"

To that, Samantha has no reply.

With that said, I leave her to her thoughts and go after Dawn and Nate.

[Samantha]

I look down at Crasher's Poké Ball as the gravity of my actions dawns on me. I met Dawn Hikari, once one of the most renown Pokémon trainers in the world. I found out she lost her Pokémon, just like I almost did that day in Wyndon. And unlike me, it was not for something outside her control, but to save someone's life.

And I made fun of it.

I...this isn't what was supposed to happen. I only meant to stir her into fighting me and Crasher. I only wanted to test ourselves against her. Not...not this.

"Well, well," a new voice intervenes, shaking me out of my thoughts. "That's quite a mess you caused there."

I turn to the new voice. The one talking is a man, probably in his thirties, dark skinned with a white tatoo crossing his face from cheekbone to cheekbone. He wears a blue cloak that covers his black jumpsuit, with matching boots and gloves and a metallic visor resting over his beige unkempt hair.

Crossbones comes to my side and hisses threateningly at the men as his scowling orange eyes stare down at me. I raise a hand to calm her down when I see he remains impassive.

"You were eavesdropping on our conversation?" I ask, frowning at the man.

"Not intentionally," the man replies. "My contact in the International Police requested I keep an eye on those three when they arrived here. That I listened in was merely an accident."

That declaration takes me aback. The International Police? Keep an eye on those three? What?

"Who are you and what do you want from them?"

The man smirks. "Not even asking why I am approaching you?"

"Buddy, I used to be a contender for the Champion Cup in Galar," I say as I raise Crasher's Poké Ball to him. "I know how to protect myself from some thug."

The man clicks his tongue. "Let's not be hasty here. You really don't want to get in trouble with the law again, Samantha Taylor."

I wince. "How do you know my name?"

"The name Hikari called you by? Your admission to have participated in the Champion League?" he answers cheekily. "I read the news when your little accident happened. Truly scandalous stuff for the proud Galarian League."

"Enough!" I hiss at him. "Answer my questions!"

"Suit yourself," he replies. "What they claimed about Relic Castle? It's only the tip of the iceberg of trouble they're in. I'm here to get them out of said trouble, but first I need a skilled trainer - like I hear you are - to meet with Gym Leader Cheren and an assistant of Professor Aurea Juniper's in Aspertia City. They can give you the details."

I frown. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

"A private investigator working with an agent of the International Police on the Team Plasma case. If you need a name, you may call me Wes."

Hi guys. Been a while, hasnit it? Sorry about that, but when you're writing three fics means your focus goes to whatever you feel more inspired to write. Hope this compensates for the wait :)

And also yes, Wes. That Wes. You can thank Spiderc and his fic "Shadows and Darkness" for inspiring me to do this and a few more things that will happen in the next chapters.

Thanks to Softandhappy for betareading. You can find us at the Fanfiction Treehouse discord server at: 9XG3U7a

And while we're at it, shout-out to a few of the fics you can find there, besides "Shadows and Darkness", of course:

"They Mostly Live in Minnesota" by Spiderc

"Throne of Mud" by Howling Armadillo

"An Adventurous Path" by Krosrodes

"Bro, Do You Even Lift?" by Stormtide Leviathan

See you all next time!