A/N: A sort-of love letter to Pokémon Moon, which had so much potential and so many poignant characters. If you haven't played the game, major spoilers ahead. This story will have extremely random updates, be warned.

PROLOGUE

Moonlight Escape

The heat of her breath, the tap of her shoes on the harsh, squeaky-clean tiles, even the thump-thump race of her heart as it kept up with her heaving lungs - it was all too loud, somehow wrong for a place that should have been safe. She shoved it aside reluctantly and kept running. She was woefully unequipped; her skirt was far too difficult to run in and her mini-heels far too unwieldy for a daring dash to the exit. She could feel the workers, friends and acquaintances, staring with the eyes of predators, bearing down on her - tearing open her secrets until there was nothing she could hide.

No, she thought, patting her mission absently, as a tinkle of a tired, fairy-like voice floated out of the bag. You won't have this one, Mother. Not this time.

Determination renewed, she hopped into the triangular elevator, and reluctantly said goodbye to her life. The white walls, the ocean below, even the faces of her friends and family disappeared as the pristine white faded into a shadowy, comforting, endless black.

Her brief respite was all over too soon. The elevator creaked to a stop at the exhibit, the face of her Mother's project - a place where she kept her 'children' carefully hidden underground, while the glass roof of the exhibit showed the world a story so full of lies that it was a surprise none suspected. She felt an unsettling desire to apologize to the moon, riding high, looking in at her and her mission through the glass roof.

She ran. There was no time to adjust. Her feet were beginning to ache, the flat floors suddenly like rocky terrain. She wouldn't be surprised if her Mother rigged it to do so, but for once, she would push aside her pessimistic, royal nature and ignore the terrain. That would piss off her pursuers for sure.

She could hear synced footsteps behind her - ah, the twins. They were always ready to appease Mother, like twin Rockruffs at the lap of an abusive trainer. Disgusting. She felt a pout settle on her lips and pushed forward, turning a corner to throw them off.

They may work here, but she grew up here. She knew this place like it was the back of her hand… though obviously, she didn't know her Mother as well as she thought.

A dainty skip, and she was off in another direction. She sped up, leaning leaves grappling at her silky sunhat, trying to trip her over her own feet. Just as she thought she might be getting there, she saw movement and forced herself to stop. There, just ahead, another employee, waving at her… She spun around to meet the eyes of her pursuers, a defiant gleam in her eyes marking her desire to escape.

"Come on, Flower, just come back," one stepped forward - she could never tell them apart. Not that it mattered.

"Your Mother needs Cosmog, Flower," the other insisted. "How else will she achieve her dream? Would you take that from her?"

"No," she hissed. "Don't you see what she wants to do? How selfish she's being?" A deep breath. Honestly, why was she still talking? The loyal idiots wouldn't dare step out of line from mere words. If only she could sway them.

"She needs to grow up and stop chasing beauty." she spat instead. Despite her strong words, fear leaked into her voice, and she could hear calm steps behind her. She couldn't fight. Just couldn't. A lump in her throat was swallowed down.

She checked Nebby, just to be safe. He was the only reason she bothered to do any of this. He deserves to be free, she thought, her eyes softening in concern at Nebby's vacant expression.

"Please be safe," she whispered, pulling the duffel bag closer.

Nebby's eyes flew open, and the world was abruptly filled with light.

A/N2: A better explanation for this.

I bought Pokémon Moon expecting a new Pokémon game which would mostly follow the formula from before, despite the news articles suggesting otherwise. As with any series, and honestly any game I play, I met the new installment as if it were completely separate from any other ties. I didn't want my love for past games to cloud my judgement.

I was suitably impressed.

While I can honestly say that I prefer the gameplay in ORAS much more - between the shiny hunting methods and competitive play options, among other things - I can't say I remember the story so vividly as I do the storyline of Pokemon Moon. The characters were among the most poignant I'd ever come across - and I honestly couldn't pass up the opportunity.

No, this won't be a word-for-word, follow-the-game, to-the-letter story. It will have its own detail that I've poured into the story after hours of effort.

The updates will be, at best, sporadic, and at worst, once-a-year type things. I simply don't have the drive any more. But I'd like to try.

Darkford