"I'm sorry dear, but the last time that student was on this campus was over a year and a half ago."
"A yeah and a half?!" Kitty looked stunned. "...but…I kept sending him letters…and they never came back! That…That has to mean that he got my letters here!"

"I'm sorry dear." The school secretary gave Kitty an empathetic look. "DonAtticus has not checked his mail since he and team Star had their…incident…He has an entire stack of letters waiting for him here." She made a motion towards the back. "And until he is officially expelled, I can't return any of them."

"Expelled?" Kitty looked pained. "Atticus…would never do anything deserving expulsion…" she put a hand to her head, looking spooked. To her side, Freezer looked up at his trainer, worried that she would be upset by this news…

"Excuse me young lady."

Kitty blinked and glanced behind her, seeing an older gentleman approaching her and the secretary. The girl gave off a strange look towards the older man and turned to face him, folding her hands.

"...yes sir?" she asked slowly.

"Ah, I apologize for the interruption." The man put his hand to his glasses. "I am Director Clavell. I am in charge of Uva Academy. I understand you're looking for a former student who is now apart of Team Star?"

Kitty was silent for a moment and glanced towards Freezer, who didn't look impressed. Looking back towards the older gentleman, she kept her hands folded. "...I don't know anything about Team Star." she lied, putting a hand to her chest. "I just want to locate Don Atticus to straighten a few things out between us."

"Is that so?" The gentleman tilted his head. "If I may, what business do you have with Don Atticus?"

Kitty was silent for a long time, sizing the gentleman up. If this guy was the Director of the Academy…anything she said whether good or bad could affect Atticus.
…she didn't want to take that chance.

"Oh. Just some lost letters that never got to him is all." Kitty put up a hand, before motioning towards her Alolan Sandslash. "Please excuse me, my Sandslash is really hungry. I'll worry about those lost letters later." She turned and made a motion with her hand. "Come on Freezer."

"Krr.." Freezer turned and followed Kitty towards the exit, glancing back to make sure the older man didn't follow his trainer. It looked like the Director was studying them closely while they made their exit.

Once they made it outside and down the megaplex of stairs, Kitty let off a dejected sigh, crossing her arms. "Looks like we're just going to have to get a map of Paldea or something." She muttered. "...maybe if I ask the Pokemon Center for a download of the map for my Rotom…"

"Hey! Heeeey!"

Kitty paused when she heard the voice of a little kid calling after her. Turning, she and Freezer noticed a darker skinned young boy running down the stairs and rushing towards them. The young boy panted and slowed his run when he finally caught up with Kitty and Freezer.

"You! You said you know Don Atticus?" The boy asked quickly, pointing to her almost accusingly.

Kitty and Freezer glanced towards each other, before Kitty took a few steps up. "Not…personally, truthfully." she replied slowly. "I never got the pleasure of meeting him in person. I only ever wrote to him for the past two years…or…more accurately, for a year before he just…stopped."

The boy looked confused for a moment, but put his hand down. "Oh…then that means you're neither one of his enemies, or one of his members…" He looked down, as though he was disappointed. "I see…I apologize. I thought you might either be able to help me, or I could get vengeance for my dear compadre."

Kitty looked curious and approached the boy, kneeling down to get more eye-level with him. "You know Don Atticus? Is he alright? Do you know where he is?"

"Well…yes actually." The boy looked up towards her, looking skeptical. "...but what does that mean to you? You said you stopped talking to him."
"No, I said he stopped writing me." Kitty replied patiently. "The last letter I ever got from Atticus mentioned that he and some of his friends were being ruthlessly bullied." She sighed and looked away slightly. "...that was a year and a half ago…I came…to try and find Atticus to see if there was anything I could do to fight these enemies of his."

"Really?" The boy looked at her with admiration. "That's so kind of you! But I'm afraid that's no longer possible."

Kitty looked up towards the boy, now confused. "What…do you mean?"

"The kids that ruthlessly bullied Don Atticus no longer live in Paldea" The boy reported.

Kitty…was stunned. She felt the universe slow to a stop.
Wait…Atticus…NO LONGER had any bullies to worry about?

I swear to you on my honor, that I will resume my communication with you one day. As soon as the right time comes, I will personally make things right.

Kitty gritted her teeth and looked away, a weight pressing down on her. If Atticus had already dealt with his enemies…then…WHY-

"You mentioned that you used to write to Don Atticus?" The kid took a step up looking hopeful. "Then…Perhaps you are Lady Katrina? Of Alola?"

The question hit her like a ton of bricks and Kitty looked stunned. "You- You know my name?"
"Yes!" The boy suddenly looked ecstatic. "Don Atticus spoke of you all the time! He never stopped talking about your letters or your art…well…that was until the incident." The boy paused and folded his hands up at her. "If you're here in Paldea, that must mean you know about what's being threatened against Team Star!"

"Threatened?" Kitty looked spooked. "Someone's threatening Atticus?"

"Don Atticus and the rest of Team Star have not been to the Academy since the incident. The new director issued a warning that if they continue to miss classes and cause trouble…they'll be expelled." The young boy put a hand to himself. "I want to talk to Don Atticus myself…but I can't go until initiation classes are over. But you…you're not a Paldean student…"

The boy folded his hands and bowed his head towards the Alolan. "Please Lady Katrina! Will you help me? I want to warn Don Atticus about the Director's rules…and bring him back to the Academy since he no longer has any enemies here!"

Kitty was silent listening to the young boy's request…and she smiled softly. "...Of course I'll help you. Atticus means the world to me. And please…you're now my friend if you're Atticus' friend…call me Kitty."

The boy smiled brightly at her. "Of course, Lady Kitty! I'm Youssef!"