"It was unreal! It was like the girl had her own version of terastalization!" the voice from the rotom phone came, while pictures of the fight were being presented to him. "But it wasn't terastalization at ALL!"
Atticus studied the footage as it replayed over and over again, though none of the sounds could be heard from the battle, due to the team star members talking on the other side.
"No Kidding?" Giacomo's voice came from over the phone. "Was it Mega Evolution?"
"Highly doubtful." Atticus chimed in, his arms crossed as he continued to watch the pictures being played to him. "The phenomenon of Mega Evolution tends to only grace fully evolved Pokemon. I speaketh naught only of the fact that the victorious Sprigatito is also incapable of such."
"Atticus has a point." Eri's voice came over the line. "If Sprigatito could Mega Evolve, it wouldn't be able to do so until it evolved into Meowscarada."
Ortega's voice suddenly chimed in. "You said this kid just up and fought for you guys?"
"Well yeah!" The team star member over the line replied. "That student council girl was going to have her new friend practice terastalization on us. But this other girl said that would be unfair and battled her instead."
"HA! Someone who actually challenges Nemona!" Mele's voice came over the phone in a loud laugh. "I LIKE this girl! It's about time someone actually made Nemona speechless for once! Did you get her to sign up? I want her over here!"
"...Uh-...well…" The team star member fumbled. "We kinda lost her."
"Eh?! Why? That girl would be awesome Team Star material!" Mele groaned.
"Well we WERE going to catch up with her, but after she beat Nemona's friend, Nemona started talking about battling US if we kept hanging around." The member replied.
"...more's the pity." Atticus mused, watching the footage replay again. "Still…I can't help but speculate that this form of battling is…hauntingly familiar. And yet I harketh not to ever seeing this spectacle."
"How can it be familiar if you've never SEEN it, Atticus?" Ortega grumbled sarcastically. "That makes NO sense."
"...tis but a speculation…" Atticus replied. "It matches the descriptions of a fighting style that my dearest penpal wrote to me about…"
"HEY I KNOW THAT GIRL!" Giacomo suddenly pipped up over the phone. "I saw her just a couple of days ago over by our base!"
"You've met her?" Mele suddenly pipped. "Did you get her NAME?"
"...uh-...no…actually." Giacomo said slowly. "She mentioned she was looking for Zapapico."
"Zapapico huh?" Mele sounded like she was grinning on her side of the line. "Since she just passed through Mesagoza, sounds like she'll be near my area soon. I GOT FIRST DIBS!"
"...I can't help but think I've seen that girl too." Eri pipped up, before she was interrupted by Mele.
"I'm going to tell my passe to keep watch for her so you noobs don't snag her first!" Mele called out before hanging up.
"Geeze! She's so pushy!" Ortega grumbled, before he also hung up.
Atticus smiled very lightly at the interaction and hung up his own Rotom Phone…
…he seemed to ponder to himself for a while, before walking over to his cot. Kneeling down, he reached under his cot and took out a small box. Opening it, there were a few trinkets inside, along with a small stack of letters.
"...Mayhapes this phenomenon…is in fact a Z move?...I must uncover this…"
***SW***
"EMBOAR!"
"KRR!"
The sounds of battling filled the nighttime sky, disturbing surrounding Pokemon that were either trying to sleep, or faithfully roamed the night.
Fefnir and Freezer scuffled across the dirt as each of them tried to be victorious for the last cupcake. As they scuffled, Leviathan and Harpuia watched the scuffle with sarcastic looks on their faces.
On Harpuia's shoulder, Lilly was perched, also watching the all out brawl in amazement. The young Sprigatito looked absolutely baffled that such a war was going on over a CUPCAKE!
She glanced over towards the other side of the picnic blanket, seeing their trainer sitting on the ground, doodling in her sketchbook. Kitty had found some odd looking Pokemon that were shaped like mushrooms…but apparently were rock-type.
So? She had to sketch them.
Lilly blinked…and looked towards the Toxtricity and Primarina.
Uh…is she going to stop them from fighting?
The young Sprigatito looked spooked.
She…DOES know they're fighting…right?
Oh she knows.
Harpuia glanced towards the young Sprigatito and smiled.
She's just used to those two acting like idiots.
Fefnir and Freezer have NEVER gotten along.
Leviathan confirmed, the Primarina leaning against one of her fins like she was bored.
When Fefnir came along, he just was a battle-hungry idiot who kept destroying stuff for fun. Freezer…isn't the most patient Pokemon in the world.
I can't say I blame him.
Harpuia rolled his eyes.
Fefnir is an aggressive little-
RING!
The three Pokemon that were not fighting glanced over towards Kitty's bag as her Rotom Phone quickly hovered out and made its way to Kitty.
The trainer paused her sketch, looking confused as to WHO could be calling her at this time. She was actually about to put her sketches down and go to BED! Setting her sketchbook down, Kitty glanced at the screen and winced at the caller ID.
"...Oh for-" She groaned, putting a hand to her face and groaning lowly. After a moment she huffed and answered the phone.
"Hi Guzma. How's Scizor?" she deadpanned.
"When are you getting back to Alola?" came the blunt reply.
Kitty's eye twitched and she scoffed. "Why, I'm FINE, Guzma, thank you for ASKING. Scizor's doing good? That's GREAT to know. And your little First Impression wimpout? I'm sure HE'S doing JUST FINE too, isn't he?"
"...is it really necessary to get smart with me?" Guzma asked.
"Guz. I'M not the one who left home and became the leader of a troublemaking group just because he couldn't become a trial Captain." Kitty snided, crossing her arms as her Rotom phone hovered over her. "But I get it. You had something to prove and you wanted others to look up to you…even though you had a younger sister who absolutely ADORED you…but that wasn't enough was it?"
There was a long pause, followed by an exasperated sigh.
"...Look kid, just tell me if you're coming back to Alola or not." Guzma grumbled.
"Of course I'm coming back." Kitty replied, glancing towards Harpuia who had quietly walked over to check on her. "I have obligations in Alola…I'm not going to try Tapu Koko's patience any more that I already have." She looked back towards the phone. "But Atticus means the world to me. I want to find him."
"Why would you travel all the way to Paldea? Just for a pen pal? Tch. You have family here in Alola, just come home." Guzma countered.
"...You know, Guzma, I WOULDN'T have had the need to start a penpal program if a certain BROTHER of mine hadn't decided to desert me just because he needed to prove something." Kitty scowled. "But no, you had to go off and play rebellious jerk and be the leader of a team that I had to stand against. THANK you Guzma. I had to fight against my own BROTHER!"
There was silence on the other side of the line, which only made Kitty continue.
"It's hilarious. I was asked to join a TEAM today. It was tempting. It was SO tempting." Kitty huffed. "Maybe it would actually get your attention."
"...you're a member of team Skull, kid…you know that right?" Guzma grumbled. "One of the most important members…"
"Do I Guzma? Do I really? A shirt and a hat automatically makes me a part of Team Skull? You know what I REALLY want? I want my brother back!" Kitty huffed. "Listen, just LET me find Atticus and I'll be back home."
"...You need to get back to Alola NOW. There's this creep who's-"
"I'm done talking to you Guzma." Kitty shot back. "You'll see me once I'm done."
She hung up the phone and put her face in her hands, groaning. Tucking in her knees she rested her face on her legs…
…it wasn't fair…
"...trix…" Harpuia knelt down and gently put his hand on Kitty's back in an attempt to comfort his trainer.
"...Sorry…" Kitty muttered, rubbing her eyes slightly. "I'm sorry…let's…let's just rest for the night and-"
RING!
"OH FOR CRYING-!" Kitty shot up and snatched her Rotom Phone, activating it. "I TOLD you Guzma! I'm done talking to you right now!"
"...um…is this Katrina of Alola?" a new voice came over the line.
Kitty paused and put her hand over her mouth. She just snapped at an innocent party…
…oops…
"O-oh!..Uh- I'm sorry…I thought…I thought you were my brother calling." Kitty paused and now looked spooked. "Wait…who is this? How did you get my Rotom number?"
"...my name is Cassiopeia and I used my skills to hack into your Rotom phone." The voice came over the line.
Kitty blinked and she gawked. "You…HACKED my phone?" she looked over her Rotom phone for a moment, before scowling. "Why the heck would you-"
"I heard from a reliable source that you have ties with team Star." Cassiopeia stated over the line. "I wanted to possibly recruit you."
Kitty was silent, glancing towards Harpuia, who narrowed his eyes at her. Both of them looked back towards the phone.
"...I'm sorry but…I don't have ties to Team Star." Kitty replied slowly. "What could you possibly recruit me for?"
"You're friends with the Navi Squad's boss Atticus." The voice replied simply. "I would assume you'd want the best for him."
A sharp gasp left Kitty and her eyes widened. HOW!? HOW did this person know she knew Atticus? And what the heck was this person trying to 'recruit' her for? Wait…maybe this was actually Team Star trying to get her to sign up again…
….well if that was the case, why would this person use words like 'want what's best for Atticus'?
"...That's not a threat against Atticus, I hope?" Kitty growled lowly. "Listen whoever you are…I'm very bitter with Atticus right now…but that doesn't mean I'm going to let anyone hurt him."
"...so you care deeply about Atticus…that's precisely why I need your help." Cassiopeia replied. "Please….just hear me out."
Kitty frowned and crossed her arms.
"...fine…what do you have to say?"