She'd reached the point where there was little else to do but wait. She was waiting for Kukui to get back to her about the internship, as he was still trying to juggle some things with the Pokémon League. And she was waiting for Hala's training mission with Guzma to come to a close so she could speak to the elderly man. Every day, she took a jog up to Iki Town hoping to catch a glimpse of Plumeria, who was her only other lead, and on that front she was waiting as well. She wouldn't go far from home in case she missed the girl when she came for her battle with the kahuna. All of that left her hanging around uselessly.

Her mother by this point was not unaware of the strange behavior. This particular afternoon, her daughter had remained in her room for hours. She finally could stand it no more and knocked on the bedroom door. "Alondra sweetie, can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure."

The door opened, and her mother entered with her arms folded across her chest. "Alondra, is everything all right?"

Alondra, who was idly scrolling down a web page paused her actions to look at her mother, expression puzzled. "What are you talking about? Everything is fine."

"You've been hanging out around the house a lot lately, especially this last week. It's not like you."

"What do you mean? It's like how I used to be." She shrugged and continued scrolling through cute Pokémon pictures.

"That's just it, dear. You became like a whole new person when you arrived here and started the Island Challenge. For a whole year I rarely ever saw you, you were out having adventures. It seems strange that you've returned." When this got no response, she approached her daughter from behind and smoothed the stray strands of hair into place. "It feels like you've lost whatever purpose you had, and it does worry me."

Alondra sighed, again removing her hand from the mouse. She couldn't tell her mother she was hanging around trying to catch Plumeria because this was the only sure way to find her according to Nanu. Then again, since when was trying to interview Plumeria her life's only purpose? Honestly, why was figuring out Guzma her life's newest purpose? Sure, it was probably important to some degree given recent events, but the single-minded focus she'd been devoting to this task was unusual at best. What had she been doing lately for herself and her own ambitions? She chewed the inside of her cheek thoughtfully. "I just don't know where I'm going, mom. Now that the Trials are done, I'm…lost." Her voice was quiet and her shoulders slumped. "I'm 18 and a half and I just don't know what I should do with my life."

Her mother's hands moved down to massage her shoulders. "You had talked to Kukui, right?"

"Yeah. I'm just waiting now for him to come back with an answer. I don't know what to do until then." Besides gather information about Guzma.

"Are you excited about the apprenticeship?"

"Of course." There was silence for a moment, as if both were trying to decide how true that answer was. Alondra was the first to break. "I mean, I think so. As much as I've ever been passionate about something I guess. I really do love Pokémon. It seems like a logical thing to do."

"Ah, the logical thing. And what does your heart tell you?"

"Moooom," the girl groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Don't get all sappy! My heart hasn't told me much of anything as long as I can remember. I'm not normal! I don't get crazy about anything. This is the best I can do."

"I know dear, I know." The hands stopped their motions, and she could suddenly feel the weight of her mother's chin resting on her head. "I still get this nagging feeling, like if we'd just let you leave home with all your friends back when you were 11, maybe things wouldn't be like this. Maybe you'd have discovered your true passion…"

Alondra shifted, causing her mother to lift her head, and she swiveled in her chair so she could look at her. "I don't think that would have changed how I am, mom. I got the chance to do and see all kinds of amazing things here in Alola. If I couldn't find that one special thing that makes me super pumped, it just can't happen for me."

There was silence for a moment. "It's still out there, I know it. But you won't find it by sticking around here. Do me a favor, at least go somewhere besides Iki Town while you wait for Kukui to get back to you? I'm glad you and Carlos enjoy going for those morning jogs, but you need to vary it up a bit, get yourself out of this funk. Is there anything I can do?"

Alondra thought. "You and me and Toño hitting up the Hau'oli Beachfront, then getting some malasadas for everyone. Can we?"

Her mother smiled warmly. "That's an easy enough request. You've got yourself a date."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

It wasn't always easy, but at her mother's request, Alondra dragged herself to the far corners of the island after her morning jogs for the next three days. Sometimes she battled wild Pokémon to keep her team competitive. Other times she just snapped pictures of the scenery and wildlife while her companions frolicked. She had gotten so into her digging that she had neglected her Pokémon, a fact that alarmed and embarrassed her. And why had she, given how much they lifted her spirits? As she watched them play, she wondered if she would get this same feeling from caring for other people's Pokémon. Surely she would, right? Or could they ever develop the kind of bond she cherished with hers when they belonged to someone else? The doubts hung around in the back of her mind, but it wasn't as if she had any better ideas for a career, so what right did she have to question?

At any rate, time seemed to move a bit faster. Finally, as if a reward for doing as her mother suggested, there came the day a week later when Plumeria finally arrived. Alondra had done her morning jog as usual, only to find the tall, trim girl tapping her foot outside Hala's door impatiently, sending her long pink and golden pigtails bouncing under her new bandana.

While Guzma had simply slapped a red 'x' over the logo on his jacket and called it better, Plumeria had actually changed up her appearance quite a bit. Her pants were no longer the black and white of team skull, but a washed-out purple with deep pink zig-zags. It reminded Alondra of her prized Salazzle… Her wristband had been replaced with a classy-looking watch, and the chain had disappeared from around her neck. When she heard the girl approach, Plumeria spun around, revealing that the tattoo which had previously covered her stomach was no longer there. It seemed no one in Team Skull had gotten permanent tattoos! Of course, different as she appeared, the look of challenge on her face was the same as it had always been.

"Hey, what do you want?" she frowned, placing a hand on her hip.

Alondra was not prepared for such an attitude. She held up her hands defensively. "Woah, hey, I was just going to tell you that Hala's not back yet. You might be waiting there a while."

An eyebrow shot up. "Not back yet? Where'd the old man go? He's the last thing standing between me and the League!"

So, she didn't know about Guzma. Well, if she'd been traveling around, she wouldn't have had time to check up on him after all. "Hala went off with Guzma for some training. They've been gone nearly two weeks now, and no one knows how long they will be."

"Training with…Guzma?" Her voice softened, and the hand fell to her side. "Is that what he's been up to? I haven't heard from him since he disbanded the team. I've been getting worried that he was in some kind of trouble or got himself arrested or something." It was obvious she was as loyal as any in the organization to its boss, the expression on her face as she talked about him made that clear. But the extent to which she cared for him was still a mystery to Alondra. Surely if there was something between them he wouldn't have taken off like that, right?

"Well, I don't know how long it's been since he broke up Team Skull, but when I stumbled across him he was back at home. Right after that Hala had a talk with him and they left."

"Guzma was back at home? Shit, he must have been desperate," Plumeria scowled. "He'd probably prefer jail!"

There it was, someone else thought the home situation was unhealthy. She decided to try and pursue it. "He doesn't get along with his folks?"

"That's none of your business." Plumeria's yellow eyes flashed a warning as she drew herself to full height. She really did look like her queen Salazzle when agitated…

But Alondra was not backing down. Not now, not after everything. "I disagree. You guys kind of made it my business when you asked me to get him back from Ultraspace. I found him broken and afraid, and I'm supposed to be okay just brushing that off when it seems so out of character?"

The young woman sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead. "Let me rephrase that. I get why you care. In fact, I'm glad someone does, for his sake. But you're not his friend, you're just some chick that he likes to battle because you push him. He wouldn't trust you with personal crap like that, so why should I?"

Wordlessly, Alondra reached into her pocket where the Dawnstone had resided since the day he'd pressed it into her hands on the beach. She pulled out the shiny rock, holding it out for Plumeria to see. The sharp intake of air and annoyed look on Plumeria's face was enough to know this meant something to her. "Where'd you get that?"

"He gave it to me after our last battle, right before he left with Hala. I don't know why, I don't think I did anything special to deserve his lucky charm, but here it is. Maybe I am delusional, but I can't help but feel there was something he saw in me besides just someone to beat down."

"Guzma…" the young woman growled, her eyebrows furrowing in anger.

"Ummm, is something wrong?" Alondra asked timidly. Plumeria was apparently a very volatile person.

"Yeah. It's…not you. I understand that. I'm just frustrated with him."

"Why?" She stopped. "Never mind, I probably shouldn't know that either, should I?"

"He never learns, that stupid moron. You remember what I said about Lusamine and why we joined up with Aether, right?"

"Yeah. She told Guzma how strong he was and it was something he was desperate to hear, so he did whatever she wanted." It had seemed crazy at the time that he could require that sort of validation given how forceful and dominant he came across, but the more she'd gotten to understand him, the more realistic the situation became.

"Guzma is easy to manipulate. He's so starved for acknowledgement, you show him one little sign and he's wrapped around your finger whether he realizes it or not. In fact, he'd deny it, that's how blind he is to it. I'd hoped he'd have learned his lesson after Lusamine and how much deep shit he got everyone into. Apparently he still can't see it if he's handing you his lucky Dawnstonejust because you had the courtesy to haul his butt out of Ultraspace. It was kind of you, and thanks for that by the way, but this does not mean you are someone he should trust. It's too fast."

"Oh. I see." She exhaled. "It makes sense, especially after how he was turned down as trial captain when he was younger, and with how his dad treats him. Of course he'd want someone to care even if they have ulterior motives."

"Where'd you hear all that?" she demanded.

"Well, Molayne was telling me about how he got to be trial captain, and that involved Guzma. And I'd been to his house and met his dad, who gives me some seriously bad vibes."

"Hmph. So you just happen to be good at fitting things together."

"I know you are looking out for him, but I'm not Lusamine. I don't want to hurt him or use him. I want to help him," Alondra continued, urgently.

Plumeria gave a fixed stare. "I've been watching you since you started interfering with our guys. You've never liked getting involved in trouble, but you always step in to help when people really need it. I don't think you would ever hurt him on purpose."

"On purpose?"

"I think you might hurt him on accident, and that it would be unavoidable just because of who you are."

Her face fell, and her shoulders slumped. "So you think I should stay away."

Plumeria thought for a moment. "Don't stay away. That would hurt him worse now. Just…don't get too close either."

The ex-admin was protective to the max. All this talk about keeping him from getting hurt… She just had to know. She summoned courage she didn't even know she possessed to finally ask. "Are you and Guzma…I mean, is there something between you, or…"

Plumeria stared, and it felt like time stopped. Oh, she was going to go off on her for asking such a personal question. Alondra could just feel her throat going dry. However, much to her surprise, she started to laugh. "God no. Guz is like a brother to me. In fact, he's more like family than my actual family. He's goofy and tends to do stupid shit, but he gets me. And I get him." The smile disappeared. "There's a lot there, but I've got it mostly figured out. He's told me himself what I need to know." She made the final words very pointed, as if hoping the younger girl would take a hint.

Alondra nodded quickly. "Okay. Can I ask you just one more question?" Actually, she'd had several, but it was clear Plumeria was not going to have much patience for an interview, especially after their previous exchange.

"That depends," was all Plumeria would give for an answer.

"Why Team Skull?" That was the heart of it, after all. How did these people who weren't essentially bad end up coming together to be a destructive force? Why did Guzma end up there? Why did Plumeria? They were kindred spirits after all.

"Buy me lunch and I might talk." At first, Alondra thought she was joking, but she didn't waiver.

"I'd be more than happy to. It's not like you've got anything pressing until Hala gets back, after all. And we've been nothing but enemies this whole time, it would be nice to actually have a conversation. Meet you up on Ten Karat Hill at noon?"

"Deal."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

At first it was awkward, Plumeria and Alondra sitting on the hillside while their Pokémon sniffed each other curiously. They were usually engaged in serious battle, after all. Alondra did her best to break the ice, asking her questions about her Island Challenge. No mentions of the past; that seemed nervy to do until she got to know the Plumeria of the present. For her part, Plumeria answered all the questions easily between bites of her sandwich. Then the tables were turned and Alondra got to explain what she was thinking about doing for the future. If she thought the poison-type trainer would ridicule her thoughts, she was surprised to earn admiration from her instead. Apparently she found blazing one's own path to be a worthy goal.

Finally, when all the food had disappeared, both knew it was time. "So, why Team Skull? You're a super strong trainer, very smart, a good leader that everyone looks up to… How did you end up there?" Hearing the praise, Plumeria frowned and blushed.

"Nobody joins Team Skull because it sounds like fun. They join because they are desperate, and there is nowhere else for them to belong."

"You were alone?" Alondra asked quietly, looking concerned.

Plumeria shook her head. "No, I had parents, but the money was always so tight. I heard all the time how they wished I wasn't around because of how they couldn't afford to take care of me. I couldn't go off on my island challenge because they didn't have the money to supply me. Both of 'em were supposed to get jobs at the Mega Thrifty Mart, but then the Tapu totally destroyed it. We lived in a trailer park just south of the desert, and when the town suffered damages, well…I couldn't stay and be a burden. At first I didn't know where to go, but then I heard there was a group waging war against the Tapu. He screwed my family over, so I figured, why not?"

"That wasn't Team Skull, was it?"

"Team Skull was basically the leftovers from this group. Once the Kahuna in charge bailed and took all his high-ranking people with him, he left a run-down city and a group of kids with no idea how they would fend for themselves."

"Ugh, that guy sounds like a real jerk. I can't believe he didn't get in trouble for what he did to the people of the island!" Alondra exclaimed angrily. "Nanu is still trying to clean up his mess!"

"Anyhow, I was part of Team Skull almost as long as it was a thing. Guzma was there before I was."

"Right when he didn't make trial captain?"

"I think so," she nodded. "That guy had been the only kahuna who voted in favor of him, so he of course went to join him in his rebellion. That kahuna thought highly of him, could see his talent. But again, when he knew he'd lost the fight, he left Guzma behind. You can imagine how that made him feel."

Alondra sighed. "Betrayed yet again."

"And naturally he was the strongest of those left, so he became the default leader. That suited him fine, made him feel important even if life was tough. We eked out a living in that decaying city. At first, we could survive on the battles Guzma and I fought and won, but soon we were drawing in all kinds of kids from all over Alola. All kids with nowhere else to go. We started going the route of petty thievery to keep food on the table. And three years ago…"

"Aether."

"Aether." Plumeria stated the name with considerable contempt. "I will not elaborate on how that went downhill."

"No need. I can fill in those blanks sufficiently."

"Suffice it to say, kid, you don't run to Team Skull, you run from something. Every one of those kids was running from something. And now that it's gone…" she sighed, this time a sigh filled with weariness. "I hope none of those little punks gets in over their head. But just hearing that Guzma ended up back home, I don't have a lot of hope."

Running from something. Running from home? How much would you have to hate your family to feel there were no better choices than to hole up in an abandoned city where the rain never stops and the electricity works only in three areas? When you wouldn't go back even after the kahuna who led you abandoned you? There must be something dark lurking in the shadows of that house… Plumeria constantly made it sound like the ultimate move of desperation to go back. "Hey, look at you. You've been able to make something for yourself, something you've always deserved to have. The other grunts probably look at you and feel that there is hope for them too. I heard some of them went back home, but some are staying in Po Town until they figure things out. I'd like to help."

"Of course you would," she snorted, but her expression showed no signs of malice. "Well, we'll see once Nanu gets a plan put together."

"I'll be there."

Plumeria shook her head in shock. "You can't be serious."

"It's a promise." Alondra stuck out her hand, and grudgingly, Plumeria took it.

"We'll see if you keep your promises better than everybody else."