Freezer - Alolan Sandslash Leviathan - Primarina Harpuia - Toxtricity (Amped Form) (Leader of team) Fefnir - Emboar Lilly - Sprigatito (shiny) Sample - Noivern (With Guzma)

***AT***

"Here you go sir! Two Ultra refreshing Sandwiches."

Guzma took the food from the vendor, handing one over to Sample the Noivern; who didn't hesitate to SNATCH the sandwich from his trainer's brother and completely snarf it down.
The Team Skull leader scoffed and scowled at the Noivern. "Really? REALLY? You didn't even bother to CHEW the darn thing?!"

Sample licked his lips, letting off a snort towards Guzma, before turning and looking back towards the road, indicating he was ready to get back in the air.

"Excuse me sir…"

Guzma paused and glanced towards the vendor. "Did I not pay you enough or somethin'?"

"No no, it's not that." The vendor made a motion with his hand. "I was just wondering…if you were apart of Team Star…your outfit is very…loud."

This question caught the attention of a young girl who was eating a ramen bowl with an Umbreon.

"Nah, Not Team Star." Guzma replied, taking a bite of his sandwich. "I'm from Alola. 'Scuse me." The gang leader turned and continued to eat his sandwich, motioning Sample to follow. "Come on, loud ears."

"Krrr…" Sample rolled his eyes and made a mocking face towards Guzma, before following.

"Let me have a few bites before we take off. There is no WAY I'll be able to properly chew with you flapping your big and large wings." Guzma gave the Noivern a side eye. "Those same stupid wings that kept taking out my Golisopod."

Sample smirked at Guzma.

"...sir?"

Guzma took another bite of his sandwich and glanced over his shoulder, seeing a girl approaching him with an Umbreon and a Sylveon.

"Not from Team Star, kid." Guzma replied. "Apparently I have a weird fashion choice for you people."

"Oh-...n-no…I know you're not apart of Team Star." The girl replied softly. "I…heard you're from Alola."

"Yeah?" Guzma took another bite of his sandwich. "Hope that ain't a problem."
"No…I know the Alolan Champion." the girl replied slowly. "...She's very nice…"

This caught Guzma's attention and he turned to face her. "You've seen her? Happen to know which way she went?"
"...I'm not sure if she'd want me to reveal that…" The girl replied.

"You've got common sense kid…I like that." Guzma put his free hand to his hip. "I'm her brother, Guzma…I'm here to get her back to Alola." He frowned. "Let's just say…she's in trouble…and I want to get her back home where it's safe."

"You're her brother?" The girl seemed to relax, but studied him. "You look…much different than her…"
"...yeah well…I got involved, kid. She didn't. She stayed a good girl, while I became the bad boy." Guzma didn't feel his sandwich slooowly being taken away by Sample. "Long story short, I saw the light…but she's still hurting."

"...I see…" The girl gave a remorseful look. "That explains a few things."

"Either way, I have to get her home. I think she's here trying to find some guy named 'Atticus'." Guzma made a motion with his hand. "Can ya help me or not, kid?"

"Please call me 'Penny'...not kid."
"Sorry ki-...ahem…sorry Pen."

Penny nodded slowly. "...You're only here for your sister then?"
"Yeah? I got no qualms with Paldea." Guzma frowned. "And really…There's something going on that I'm not going to discuss…I just need to find her and FAST."

"...She'll be headed for the Tagtree Thicket then." Penny made a motion in a specific direction. "I wouldn't be surprised if she's there already."

"Hey! Check this out!"
"Now it's after Team Star as well?!"

Both Guzma and Penny paused and looked over towards some of the town's people of Artazon were huddled by the Pokemon center, that was showing news pictures. The screens were showing the outside of the Ruchbah Squad, with a headline that read 'Fidough killed as yet another Pokemon victim is taken by serial genocidist.'

"What? Another one?" Penny put her hands over her mouth. "At Ortega's Squad!?"

"CRAP he IS here!" Guzma sneered, quickly turning and pointing towards Sample. "FLY! NOW!"

Sample snarled and let Guzma board him, before taking to the sky, letting off a roar.

***PL***

Kitty pressed her back against the wall of one of the many pits she had found in the East Province. She had run for so long…she hadn't even noticed that she had exited the Tagtree Thicket until she had tripped over a Rollycolly and landed in the sand.

Now she had herself hidden in the lowest area of a pit…sitting on the ground and legs tucked up against her chest. She couldn't stop crying…the pain of that declaration from Atticus was too great.

What had she done to deserve this?! Why had Atticus thrown her away like trash!? What had she done wrong? Was…Was she just not worth ANYONE'S time? First her own brother…now someone she had so foolishly fallen for…

"Ra…"

Kitty flinched when she felt fins wrapping themselves around her…but she didn't bother looking up. She knew that touch anywhere and it was somewhat soothing…somewhat…

Beside her, Leviathan cradled her trainer to herself, resting her head on top of Kitty's and letting off a slow sigh. She had heard everything from her ball, and couldn't stand it anymore when she heard Kitty crying. The Primarina nuzzled her head against her trainer's and glanced to the side when Fefnir and Lilly let themselves out of their balls as well.

Lilly hesitantly approached the other side of Kitty, nuzzling the human's arm. The Floragato couldn't get her trainer to do anything other than cry…
"...nya?" 'Kitty?...it's ok…we love you!'

Leviathan glanced at Lilly, but didn't make an effort to stop her from trying to comfort the heartbroken trainer.

'THAT BASTARD!'

Both Primarina and Floragato quickly looked over towards Emboar, who was seething.

'Tell MY trainer he 'doesn't want her here' HUH?! I'll march over there and FLAME HIS ENTIRE-' Fefnir snarled.
'DONT!' Leviathan pointed a fin at the Emboar. 'If you strike Atticus in any way, you'll JUST make things WORSE!'
'LOOK AT HER!' Fefnir pointed towards Kitty, who was too focused on her grief to try and break up the argument. 'NO ONE messes with our trainer! NO! ONE!'

'Fefnir! Enough!'

The Pokemon all looked up as Harpuia and Freezer finally found the group and started climbing down the pit to reunite with them. The Toxtricity glared at Fefnir as he made his way for Kitty. 'She's hurting.'

'EXACTLY! SHE'S HURTING! SHE-MPPPHH!' Fefnir ended up getting sprayed in the face by a torrent of water from Leviathan.

'I'm on Fefnir's side this time, as much as I HATE to admit it!' Freezer snarled. 'We're not going to just SIT here and watch our trainer SUFFER while that slagger completely DISMISSES her!'
'I told you, Freezer! He's not worth it!' Harpuia knelt down and put a hand on his trainer's arm. '...Kitty…'

There was a long moment of silence, the group having to wait for their trainer to calm down enough to look at them. Finally, after a few more minutes, Kitty finally lifted her head and wiped her eyes.
"...I'm sorry…" she mumbled quietly. "I'm sorry…I-...Shouldn't have ever made the trip here." She tried to dry her eyes again. "If I would have known…that I meant nothing to him…wh-"

She found herself embraced by Harpuia…and Leviathan…and Lilly…

…Fefnir and Freezer kinda hung back, not wanting to be sappy.

Kitty closed her eyes and allowed herself to be smothered by this 'group hug'. The love from her Pokemon…she desperately needed it…
"...I love you too…" she mumbled softly. After a few more moments of absorbing all the loving embraces, Kitty finally sat up, rubbing her eyes.

Slowly, Freezer made his way to Kitty, softly pressing his snout against her cheek.

At the touch, Kitty tried to wipe her eyes more. "I'm fine….I'm…." she swallowed lightly, trying to compose herself.

The Alolan Sandslash frowned…and softly pressed his nose against hers. Kitty smiled slightly…and gently rubbed her nose against his…

"...we should head back to Zapapico…and see if we can try to ask someone to help us page a taxi to the port." She let off a shaky sigh and got up with some help from Harpuia. "...let's go home…"

Her Pokemon chorused an agreement.

They slowly managed to find a way to climb out of the pit that they had been hiding in and started slowly making the trip back to Zapapico. Kitty rubbed her eyes and started reaching for her Pokeballs, glancing towards the group. Wow…ALL of them were out of their balls…wait…

"Freezer…are you too hot? I know it's almost winter…but…I can't tell if it's comfortable for you or not…" Kitty held up a great ball. "You need to get back in?"

Freezer shook his head. He needed to be outside right now…She needed them…she needed all of them…she-

"OH! LOOK OUT!"

Kitty paused and turned- only to get run over by a muscular running girl. The two trainers fell to the ground with a series of yelps and grunts. After a moment, the muscular girl gasped and quickly tried to get off of Kitty.

"Oh! Oh I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm just in a rush and I wasn't looking!" The girl started helping Kitty to her feet. "You're not hurt are you?!"

"I think I'm ok…" Kitty managed to stand to her feet with help from the girl before looking up at her.

The two stared at each other for a brief moment. Kitty was stunned to see a girl who looked oddly similar to the Masked Royal…
The muscular girl on the other hand-

"Oh my gosh, You're Kitty! Kitty of Alola!" she exclaimed, looking spooked. "Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?! Has he done anything to you?!"

Kitty took a step back, looking spooked. She understood someone recognizing her for her status…but who was this 'he' this girl was prattling on about? "I- I'm sorry- what are you talking about?"

The girl paused and quickly shook her head, taking a step up and putting a hand to her chest. "Hey, I know you probably don't remember me…but my name is Eri. We…We met about a year and a half ago. You…you told off a few students of Uva who were bullying me…"

Kitty had to let this sink in for a moment…before she paused, her pupils shrinking upon recalling one of the statements that Atticus had mentioned in his last letter.

'Let it be known to you, my dear dear friend; that I indeed witnessed your kind gesture of protection to my friend Eri. Had I known that it was you, I would have properly given you my sincerest thanks in person.'

I DON'T WANT YOU HERE!

"...You're Atticus' friend." Kitty muttered, taking a step back and scowling slightly. She had to stop herself…this girl was innocent. She couldn't take out her frustrations on her. Eri wasn't at fault for what Atticus just did.

"Yes! Yes I am!" Eri smiled warmly towards Kitty and reached for her- only for the girl to take two steps away from her. This shocked Eri and made her remind herself that Kitty wasn't used to team Star greetings…

…but wait…she had just become a Star Member. Well she was probably still getting used to everything.
Still, she needed to get to Atticus and make sure he was ok.

"Hey, I know we JUST met, but there's something that's been going on in the Paldea region recently." Eri put a hand to herself. "Let me get you to Atticus' base for protection."

"I'm going back to Alola." Kitty replied sternly, clenching her fists. "I want nothing to do with Atticus."

The statement stunned Eri, the girl looking spooked. "Wh-...What?" She paused, noticing Kitty's demeanor…the girl looked like she had been crying for an hour…and her Pokemon surrounding her looked on-edge.
Eri breathed out and took a step up. "But why? Atticus….Atticus absolutely adores you…He'd want to keep you safe from this-"

"Oh he ADORES me, does he?" Kitty scoffed. "Right. That's why he completely spat in my face when I tried to meet him just now!"
Eri looked stunned. "What? Atticus would never-"
"I arrived at his gate and he told me to go AWAY!" Kitty pointed towards the Tagtree Thicket, her eyes once again beginning to well up with tears. "He said he didn't want me there! That he didn't want my involvement at all!"

Kitty pointed to herself. "Do you have ANY idea how that feels? I thought Atticus and I were friends! Then he just SHADOWS me and stops talking to me because he has problems! Problems that I wanted to help with!"

Eri paused as she realized what Kitty was talking about…Atticus HAD stopped writing to Kitty…in an attempt to keep the girl from worrying or becoming bitter about his situation.
…but it looked like his efforts to keep Kitty safe…had the complete opposite effect than he had tried to go for.

"Kitty-" Eri tried to interject.

"If Atticus had any enemies, I wanted to give him my support! I wanted to give him resources and advice!" Kitty panted. "But no! He and Guzma thought I wasn't good enough to help!"

"Guzma?"

"What did I do wrong?! Why couldn't I be apart of it!?" Kitty put her hands to her head, flashes of Guzma fighting with Kukui running through her memories…Guzma turning his back on Kitty when she begged him not to leave.
…Team Skull…
"I could have been helpful! I would have done anything for him! I loved him!...I really loved him!" Kitty sank to her knees and cried softly.

Eri felt herself break for the Alolan girl and quickly got to her own knees, putting her hands on Kitty's shoulders. "No!...Don't talk like that…It wasn't your fault! I swear all of this is a misunderstanding! I promise you, Atticus treasures you so much! He wouldn't stop talking about you before the incident…and even recently he was saying how much he missed your letters."

"Right." Kitty scoffed, wiping her face. "Then WHY did he stop writing me? WHY did he just tell me to leave when I tried to meet him?"

"I don't know why he told you to leave I swear." Eri looked stressed. "I thought for sure he would want to protect you from this guy."

"What guy?" Kitty huffed, scowling. "There was no guy. Just Atticus, and him saying he didn't want me there!"
"He told you he didn't want you there?! That's…that's not like Atticus at ALL!" Eri paused and now looked spooked. "Wait…if he wanted you AWAY from the Navi Squad instead of quickly taking you in…then-"

"Hi there."

Both girls quickly turned as a man in a leather jacket made his way to them, a smirk on his face.

"Sorry to break up this cute little girl talk moment…but I need to have a word with the Alolan Champion."