Author's Note: So... (looks away awkwardly) I've only put off finishing this for three months. Read some of the reviews and knew I had to do this thing justice, so yeah! Let's do it!

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

They always said time healed all wounds, but time couldn't heal everything by itself. Guzma and Alondra had reached an understanding in that short span, but that didn't make things normal between them. It also didn't make everything right between everyone else in their lives.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Hala insisted Guzma stay with him for a week to keep an eye on him before sending him to Nanu, and even that led to questions Guzma didn't know how to answer.

"Guzma, I can tell Nanu about…you know…right?"

Guzma frowned and looked up from his computer screen. He'd taken up residence in one of Hala's spare bedrooms and spent many hours holed up with his computer. Hala figured it was a way to deal with all his feelings and left him be as long as the door was open. "Why does that geezer need to know?"

"Nanu is essentially your parole officer. It would certainly give him more ammo in your defense."

"I don't want an excuse. That's too much like pity," Guzma growled, snapping his laptop shut with a loud click. If he had fur, it would have bristled.

Hala was learning slowly how to read his student's nonverbal cues in the last day or so. The older man released all the tension in his body so Guzma would draw none into himself. "Because Guzma, it would also give Nanu ammo in his own defense. It's not hard for you to imagine, I'm sure, that some people are not happy with him for how he decided to handle Team Skull. Even if only for his own benefit, knowing your circumstances would certainly strengthen his resolve to stay the course and know he did what was best."

Guzma's shoulders slumped. "So basically he needs to know because it helps him. And if I don't tell him I'm being selfish."

Hala walked over and sat on the bed so he was level with the seated Guzma. "That's your secret to dispense as you see fit. I won't say anything if you truly don't want me to. And if you do want Nanu to know, I will tell him for you and see that he never mentions it to you. That's is why I'm asking."

The room was silent for a long moment. Finally, Guzma shifted uncomfortably. "He won't look at me the same. What if he starts tryin' to be all nice to me like he's sorry for me? God, I couldn't stand that."

Even though the question was serious, Hala had to chuckle. "Do you really think Nanu is going to baby you?" Slowly, the young man shook his head. It was impossible to envision the stoic cop suddenly holding his hand. It wasn't that he was heartless, it just wasn't his style. "He'll use it to protect you, but he'll also use it to protect your team who followed your orders. I won't decide for you, but I highly advise you allow me to explain the situation."

For a second, the dominating form in front of him seemed to shrink down. Hala caught a glimpse of the boy Guzma used to be, suddenly unsure. Just as soon as he saw it, the moment passed. "Fine. But make him promise he won't ask me about it." Guzma flipped the computer back open to continue what he'd been doing. Conversation over. Hala rose and exited the room, pausing for one last look. Guzma raised his eyes to look at his mentor in annoyed confusion, prompting him to continue his progress out of the room. Part of him worried he'd pushed too hard and Guzma was upset. The other part knew annoyance was part of Guzma's personality and he wouldn't have agreed to something if he didn't actually agree. But in the end, what did he know? Not as much as he thought where Guzma was concerned.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Alondra sat across from her mother as they ate their breakfast silence. A day had gone by since the highly awkward convergence of people at their residence, and while her mom knew the basics of what had happened, Alondra had yet to speak of it to her. Her daughter had come out of hiding, began eating and drinking again, and spent time grooming her Pokémon lost in thought, but other than a few words of response, there had been no conversation between them. It was more than a mother could bear.

She set her spoon down with a clink, causing the girl to jump in surprise. "Alondra sweetie, I know you need your space, but I've been really worried and I need you to talk to me. I can't stand the waiting anymore."

Alondra looked down into her bowl. "I'm sorry for worrying you, mom." Her voice was low, still thick with regret. She always hated making her mom worry, which in turn fueled her depression in a vicious cycle.

Her mom reached across the table and took her hands, squeezing. "I'm not upset with you, dear. I just want you to tell me what's been going on. Then I might know how to help you."

"Kukui and Hala told you, right? There's probably not much more to say."

"There is. There is your side of things. Please, Alondra, what has been eating away at you lately?"

She didn't want to talk about it. It wasn't so much that she was embarrassed as much as the fact that she didn't like burdening other people with her problems. But then she recalled telling Guzma how lucky she was that she had someone to go to. Her mom deserved to know.

Sighing deeply, she began. "There was a guy I ran into a couple of times when I was on my island challenge. He was a bad guy. He led a group of people that stole Pokémon and helped Aether open a hole to other dimensions. He scared me, because he was a very angry guy. But the more I saw him, the more I noticed there were things there besides anger. There was mistrust, desperation, and the most jarring thing was the anguish. He was a bad guy, but I saw something I recognized from myself in him."

"That fellow that went to talk to you. Guzma," her mother concluded, looking contemplative. "I thought there was something threatening about him, but Hala and Kukui seemed to trust him. HE was the leader of that gang?"

"Yeah. But each time I saw him he showed me there was more to him than just that. I don't know why I wanted to figure him out so badly, I just…" The girl bit her lip. "I saw that he was hurting and I wanted to find out why so I could make it stop."

Her mother exhaled. "Alondra, you have always been such a sweet girl, full of empathy for others. It is your best trait and your worst. You help people, but at the cost of your own emotional well-being. And getting involved with a guy like that, even if he was apparently given a second chance…"

"I knew people would disapprove. People only saw him one way, and that was as a bad guy. If they knew what I was doing, they'd make me stop. I didn't want to stop, I wanted to learn how he ended up the way he was."

"So you did some investigating. Or at least that's what Kukui mentioned. Was that what you were doing when you told me you were going out training?"

Alondra looked guilty. "I DID go training. I just also made some stops along the way to talk with people. And I started figuring the situation out. But then I got caught."

"He heard you talking behind his back and was upset, and when he was upset it caused you to go into an attack."

So that was what she had been told. Alondra didn't find it her place to give any more details about Guzma's past, or his own breakdown, so she simply nodded at that summary. "But we talked things over and now it's fine. Or, well, it's better anyway. He told me he's not mad at me after he had some time to think things over. I just wish I knew what would happen from now on." Alondra fidgeted with her hands at the thought. "I still feel he won't want anything to do with me even though he says it's fine."

"Do you want him to stick around?"

And that was the million dollar question. If her fascination with the Team Skull leader had been the mystery of his background, that was no longer a thing. But now that she had her answers, was she repelled from him or drawn to him? Could they perhaps be friends? Or maybe…" She reached into her pocket, where his Dawnstone resided for the past month. She recalled the feeling of his large warm hands wrapping her own around it with a bizarre sensation of intimacy. "I want get to know him. But without asking everybody else, by actually talking to him."

"Do you think he can be redeemed for what he's done?"

This question was much easier to answer. "I do."

Mrs. Santos paused for a moment. "I feel wary, as a mother. But if Hala and Kukui believe he can change, and even Officer Nanu… And if he's anything like that Plumeria girl that was staying here…it seems there are things you won't tell me about him, but that is fine. I think you know enough to make the right decision."

Tears prickled at the corner of her eyes, but this time they were happy. "Thank you for understanding, mom. About everything."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Plumeria barged into the room unannounced and flopped on the bed next to where Guzma was sitting. This got him to raise his eyes from the computer screen. "Yo, Plumes, whatcha doin' here?"

"What does it look like, Guz? I'm resting! I've been training hard so I can beat Hala. With everything going on, I've gotten off my training regimen."

Guzma suddenly snapped the laptop shut and focused on his friend. "You've really gotten serious about yer battling, Plumes. I knew there was a reason you were my number two. I bet you've been kicking asses and takin' names."

"Heh, been cleaning up pretty good. I told you, already beat six trials of the seven."

In the silence that followed, she could see there was something Guzma wanted to articulate but was trying to figure out how to. She was patient, had to be to live with all those grunts. She could wait for him. "It kinda pisses me off thinking that I could have done something with myself sooner."

That was the inspiration he needed. "Plumes, I'm really glad it wasn't too late for ya. You're finally gettin' the life ya always deserved." He wore the strangest melancholy smile as he spoke, a look she'd never seen on his face as long as she'd known him.

"You know, it's not too late for you either…"

He shrugged with a grunt. "I'll be the one that takes the fall so that the rest of ya can start over. I'll do whatever it takes. I even let Hala tell Nanu about all my shit. It's not like I'll ever have anything goin' for me after what I've done."

"You can't know that!" she chided sharply, golden eyes flashing.

"All I see comin' is the work of rebuilding Po Town under Nanu's watch. After that, I'll be lucky if anybody hires a thug like me. They sure as hell won't want me battling at the Battle Tree…"

Plumeria held out a single finger, staring him down intensely. "One day at a time. You're okay right now. You've got Hala, and Kukui, and me, not to mention a bunch of devoted though admittedly dense teenagers. You don't have to go back home, you'll always have a place to stay. You'll figure it out, one step at a time."

"You forgot Golisopod. And Pinsir, Masquerain, Ariados and Scissor."

Her lip curved upward into a smile. "Heaven forbid I forget your precious bugs. But that's good, keep adding to the list. Anything else you've got to mention?"

Guzma rolled his eyes at her positivity. "Not much else. Except maybe…" He trailed off, squeezing his good hand closed as if grasping something.

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe…Alondra…" When Plumeria's expression turned sour, he straightened up. "I dunno. I don't know her that well. I don't know what she'll do now."

"Hopefully stay away," the young woman muttered darkly.

Guzma shot her a look. "Plumes, you gotta ease up on her. If I can let it go, you sure can."

"For such a tough guy, you sure go easy on her."

"For such a tough girl, ya sure go easy on me!"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Because we could crack under the pressure. We're the same that way." Guzma hung his head, resting it in his hand. "You and her were hangin' out not too long ago, right? Have ya even said anything to her since, ya know…?"

"No. Nothing I say would be very nice."

Finally, Guzma had to chuckle. "You are so protective, Plumes. Have any of the grunts ever called you a Mamma Ursaring?"

"No. Because they all know I'm much more like a Mareanie; I can be really toxic when provoked." Finally, she lost her serious countenance.

"True. Either way, and I don't know why I'm askin' this of ya, please figure things out with her. For my sake, and yours, and hers."

Plumeria folded her arms. "I'm not even thinking about it until this battle with Hala is done. I can't have any stupid distractions."

"Fair enough. When are ya gonna have yer challenge?"

"Tomorrow morning." She looked thoughtful. "You'll be there watching me, right?"

"Like I'd miss the chance to see my girl Plumeria take out the old man!" Guzma flashed a rare grin. "I know you'll clean up!"

"Good." Plumeria wouldn't say it, not even to her best friend, but having him there cheering her on would mean the world. Things may have gone to hell for a little bit there, but they were also coming back better than ever.