Author's notes: Just in case you either didn't notice/ignored the fact that I reuploaded Chapter 21 or thought it was some kind of bug, I made a small but important change to it that I recommend checking out before reading this chapter. That being said, it doesn't change the actual nature of the events, it was just an edit to make things make a bit more sense, so you can ignore it if you really want to.

blazenight01: I'm assuming you meant that you didn't expect the parents plot line to happen. As for Bass, I can't reveal the answer to that just yet, for obvious reasons.

I also found it kind of weird how few Navis there were in Star Force compared to Battle Network, but I never really thought too deep into it. That being said, I looked up what the Carrington Effect is, and I don't quite think it was that, as there are still a few Navis in Star Force 1, as well as something else in that game that I won't bring up yet, but I'm no expert in that kind of stuff, so who knows?

Star Force Ark, Chapter 22: Changing Plans

As the sun rose the next morning, Luna stared at her ceiling with a somber look on her face. Even after her Transer's alarm went off, it took her a few moments before she could bring herself to get up and do her usual morning routine. After changing into her usual attire and putting on her Transer and the Visualizer, she walked over to her bedroom's door and reached for the handle, but stopped just as she was about to grab it. Giving a sigh, she brought her hand to her chest.

"Thinking about last night, kid?", Omega-Xis asked, catching Luna by surprise. Hesitating for a moment, she opened her Transer, showing Omega-Xis on its screen.

"You were listening, Mega?", she asked.

"Yeah.", Omega-Xis said, "They'll probably reconsider if you just keep being a 'model student'."

"No...", Luna began, shaking her head, "My parents are... they're really strict, to the point that if they think something's 'wrong', they'll try to 'fix' it, if they can. I've always tried to live up to their expectations, but..."

"But you're changing in a way they don't like?", Omega-Xis asked. In response, Luna grit her teeth as she clenched her right hand into a fist.

"I just...", Luna began. "I just don't get it!", she shouted, shutting her eyes as she slammed the side of her fist into the door, tears beginning to roll down her face, "I don't get it at all..."

After a few moments, Omega-Xis spoke up. "You should probably get going.", he said, "Isn't school about to start soon?"

"Right...", Luna said, opening her eyes and closing her Transer before opening her bedroom door.

Walking out of the condo she lived in, she began to make her way to the school, but stopped after the first few steps. "Is...", she began, catching Omega-Xis' attention, "Is there even any point...?"

"Didn't you say that school was important to humans?", Omega-Xis asked, prompting Luna to open her Transer, "I believe you said it was place to learn and make friends."

"But in just a few days, I'll be...", Luna began. After a few moments, Luna looked over to where Geo's house stood. "If I'm going to be transferred anyway, then..." Closing her Transer, Luna began to walk away as the school gates began to close.

Leaving Luna's Transer, Omega-Xis watched as Luna walked toward Geo's house. "What's the kid doing...?", he asked.

As Luna walked up to Geo's house, she found her heart beating faster and faster. "(I-I can't believe I'm actually doing this...)", she thought to herself as she tried to calm herself down before ringing the doorbell. After a few moments, the door opened, showing Geo on the other side.

"L-Luna?!", Geo asked, surprised, "Why are you here? What about school?"

"W-Well...", Luna began, giving a fake smile, "I-It got canceled for some reason. I'm not really sure of the details myself." She then gave a nervous laugh.

"(Canceled...?)", Geo thought to himself, "(Was it really...? But for what reason...?)"

"A-Anyway, I know this is kinda sudden, but I was wondering if you'd be alright with hanging out for a bit?", Luna asked, "J-Just as friends, of course."

"W-Wait, huh?", Geo asked, surprised, "Wh-Why are you asking me? Wouldn't you rather hang out with Bud and Zack?"

"I-I, um...", Luna began as she grabbed the back of her neck, "I tried to invite them, but they were busy, so..."

"I-I see...", Geo said, scratching his head as he thought things over for a moment, "But... why me? When we first met, you were annoyed because I wasn't showing up to school..."

"Th-That's...", Luna began, "I-I mean, I k-kind of understand your situation now, and I kind of felt like we were starting to form a bond yesterday at AMAKEN..."

"(A bond...?)", Geo thought to himself, caught off guard by Luna's answer.

"I'm... not really used to doing things with just one other person.", Geo said, "Especially not with a girl..."

"Oh... I-It's alright...", Luna said, dejected, "I guess I'll be fine on my own."

"N-No, that's not what I meant!", Geo said, surprising Luna, "I-I'm fine with hanging out for a bit. U-Um... was there any place in particular you wanted to go?"

Taking her hand off of her neck, Luna thought for a moment. "H-How about Nacys, in Time Square? W-We could check out the shops there and see what they have."

"O-Oh, um, sure.", Geo said, "I'm fine with that."

"Th-Thanks.", Luna said. Geo gave a nervous chuckle in response as he scratched the back of his head. After a few moments, the two began walking over to the bus stop.

*To Be Continued*