***PL***

"So! You said you're here in Paldea to visit a friend huh?" The team star member asked as he lead Kitty and Harpuia down the path. "Must be a really close friend if you'd travel all the way from ALOLA just to visit!"

Kitty glanced to the side for a moment, pondering over the star member's words. "...I wouldn't call him a CLOSE friend…but he is extremely important to me." She let off a small sigh. "We talked to each other for a year…getting to know each other…telling our desires and dreams. He mentioned that he walked a path of humility…which is something that I find admirable."

She let off a small chuckle. "It really made me admire him…I…may or may not have a small crush on him."

"Aww that's cute!" The star member put his hands on his hips as he walked. "Well hey! You become a member of Team Star, you bet your flare that the team will help you find this guy!"

"...You're taking me to your base to try to convince me to become a team star member aren't you?"

The star member paused…and SMACKED himself in the head. "gah…I have the biggest mouth." He stopped walking and turned to face Kitty. "Well yeah, honestly. The bosses saw a video of you defending two of our members and….well let's just say the bosses took a shine to you."

"The…bosses?" Kitty looked stunned at this news. Wait so the top members of Team Star were wanting her to join? SHE HAD GOTTEN THE ATTENTION OF THE TOP TEAM STAR MEMBERS?! Groaning, Kitty rubbed her face. This made her reaction to this 'Cassiopeia' person all the more damning.

*** Flashback ***

"...That's not a threat against Atticus, I hope? 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. Please….just hear me out."
"...fine…what do you have to say?"

"I know you feel strongly for Atticus…but Team Star is a group of troublemakers." Cassiopeia replied slowly. "They cause headaches for the school and try to bring other students to their level."

"That is a load of Rapidash slag." Kitty growled, crossing her arms and sneering at her Rotom Phone. "Atticus always wrote about honor and humility in his letters."

"Yet you clearly saw what happened recently…when Team Start tried to recruit you and another student, and did not want to take 'No' for an answer." Cassiopeia replied calmly.

Kitty paused at the statement and scoffed. The caller…had a point. The Star members had even gone out of their way to insult her and Penny when they were resistant. That wasn't very 'honorable' in her eyes.

"Truely, Kitty…Team star is not evil…but they have forgotten what they used to stand for and have become what they claim to fight against. I refuse to stand by and do nothing." There was a pause on the other line. "So I've come up with a plan to bring down Team Star and force them to disband for good. I call it 'Operation Starfall'."

"...you're asking me to become Atticus' enemy." Kitty narrowed her eyes. "...my answer is No."

"Please listen! The gang mentality is beginning to weigh on them! They claim to be a group dedicated to family and friendship; but they cause trouble for others who are not apart of their group!" Cassiopeia pleaded. "I'm sure Atticus wrote to you concerning the bullies that he had to face; in his quest to protect others from bullies, he BECAME one!"

"SHUT UP!" Kitty snarled, pointing at her phone. "I'm not going to let you THREATEN Atticus! You're literally telling me how you want to bring him DOWN! I'm NOT going to let you TOUCH him! I'm not going to let you hurt ANY of his friends! I'll stand AGAINST Operation Starfall! I'll put myself in between your attacks and Atticus!"

There was a long moment of tense silence between the call.

"...I see…you love him don't you?" Cassiopeia mumbled quietly over the line.

Kitty paused and put her hands to her cheeks to try and hide a DARK blush coming to her face. "I-...That's….He-..."
For a moment, there was only silence…before Kitty reached for her Rotom Phone and quickly hung up on Cassiopeia.

*** Present ***

Kitty put a hand to herself, glaring at the ground.
"...I'm…flattered….but…"

"Hey we don't need an answer now! Let's just go meet everyone and we'll see where that takes us!" The star member turned and kept walking down the road.

Kitty stood still for a while…and slowly started following him again, weighing the conversation she had with Cassiopeia. So far she had only had one bad encounter with Team Star…
This member had been EXTREMELY nice to her…a little pushy, but he hadn't been anything bad…

She felt a hand being placed on her back, and she glanced over towards her Toxtricity. He seemed concerned about her. Trying to give him a reassuring smile, Kitty patted his hand gently. "I'll be fine, Harpuia…I'll be-"

Thwip!

Kitty suddenly stopped walking when she noticed movement behind Harpuia. She turned around to try to get a better look, causing Harpuia to also turn and look.

…there was nothing there.

"Hey! You still coming?" The Star member called out. "The base is just past this hill!"

Kitty looked back towards the member. "I can't help but think we're being shadowed."

"You think?" the Star member looked around the area, before motioning Kitty to keep following. "If we're being followed it might be the Tarous around here. We REALLY don't wanna mess with those suckers, trust me."

Kitty scanned the area again…before turning and walking quickly to catch up with the Star Member, Harpuia behind her.

As they walked further, the Charcadet and Ceruledge peeked out from the bushes.

Ceruledge stepped out from the cover and glanced towards his travel partner, almost scornfully.
You know, if we get discovered, I'm not going to stick around. I have no qualms with team Star, but I also don't want to be apart of it.

Charlos also stepped out of the bushes, looking irritated.
Listen. I want to see Mela again, ok? I'm sorry i'm not 'quiet' enough for you.

Ceruledge looked back down the path and glanced upwards towards the flying flags that were proudly perched on the hills.
I suppose this is where we are meant to part then…Do you wish for me to stick around until you reunite with the one you love?

…Please.
Charlos looked down for a moment, before looking towards Ceruledge.
But thank you brother. You have no idea how much this means to me.

The Charcadet turned and rushed after the humans, while Ceruledge watched. Letting off a breath, Ceruledge jumped upwards to perch himself on the cliffs and watch over the scene to ensure everything would be alright.