Author's note: I really never update, do I? :c Uh… sorry again about that. I guess I ought to work on that… well, thanks for sticking with me. Anyways, um, for those of you who celebrate it, have a wonderful thanksgiving! And (since we all know I won't update until then, no matter how much I say or think I will) have a wonderful Winter holiday(s)!

Disclaimer: I don't know if I have to do one every chapter, but it's fun. I don't own Pokémon… do you?

Chapter 17: One Chapter Too Many (For Poor Kate)

(Keith's P.O.V., two days after Kate's… disappearance.)

My face turned pale as the winter snow. I couldn't believe their words. They had to be crazy, this couldn't happen, not to Kate! And especially not before I could tell her how I really felt.

Seriously, they should've searched harder. So, she supposedly drowned in the ocean, they couldn't find a body, but all her air had run out about thirty feet under! I couldn't believe them…

'If Kate was gone, what would become of everything?'

Angrily, I stormed off in search of Barlow, the idiot whom'd forced Kate to go underwater!

(Kate's P.O.V., present)

My head felt so foggy. Who was I? What am I?

Are you okay, Ma'am? We's worried for you. Glad ter' see you're up.

Ma'am? I… who am I? What am I?

Ma'am, Lady of t' Light, ye fell. Ya ran out of air. Alomomola is my name. Yer' a human, and a pokémon. Not one, not both, not neither. Is possibly a little too complicated for ya, being that you are part human.

Um… where am I, then? And what am I?

Ma'am, youse' sure ask a ton a' questions. I guess you're in what humans would call, 'a cave'. It's underwater, but, air breathes through. Barely. As fer' who ya' are… I know not of yer' human name, but, I thinks' you are Cresselia as ya' pokémon form.

Alomomola shrugged, well, the best a fish-pokémon can. Which, honestly, is not well. Have you ever wondered why people and pokémon attempt things they clearly have no ability to do? I dunno, I have. Hey, but don't ask me the answer. I don't know that, either.

I got up very slowly, testing my wobbly legs on the glasslike floor of the cave. It seemed to be made of some kind of crystal, shining like, well, the moon.

The moon, that word… it sounds so familiar, like it's where I am from. Though I strained my head, I felt nothing but a headache, even worse than before. Well, I guess that failed. Sitting back down, I looked to the small pond Alomomola was pacing, swimming, whatever, in. She looked up at me questioningly.

I have to go, Alomomola, I just do. I sense… there is somewhere I need to be.

Alomomola paused and looked before continuing: then you must go through this cave.

I nodded, finally taking a good look at my surroundings. It felt so familiar. Perhaps this was my home. So, started walking. With every step on the slippery cave floor, I felt both a renewed sense of purpose and an ever-deepening feeling of despair.

Glittering silver moons lined the walls, and – being as curious a person as I (think) I am – I decided to go over to one. Brushing my fingers against it, I felt so… hurt. Not physically, but my emotions ached as I looked around.

The Temple of the Moon.

My heart jumped at the voice. It sounded like someone I knew. Someone I loved. Someone who had meant everything to me. I felt a sudden pulse of dizziness, and the usual sensation of slowly sinking to the ground to faint.

(Keith's P.O.V., present)

I sighed. It had been almost five days, no change or sign of Kate.

"Barlow, please come out!" Luana was still pleading with Barlow to come out of his room. Barlow felt it was all his fault – and I can't say I feel to differently.

"Just let him mope. He should be," I muttered just loud enough for Barlow and Luana to hear.

Luana pulled me aside. "Listen, Keith. I know you want Kate back. I know you blame Barlow, but I think he blames himself enough already. Besides, you and I both now he wasn't really at fault, Kate—"

I sighed and stormed off, not in the mood for such a conversation. Of course, I knew Luana was right, but loathe was I to admit it. Still, little was I (or any of us) ready for what I saw outside.

(Kate's P.O.V., present)

I woke again, my head perhaps a little less clear than before. Getting up slowly, I felt a form-fitting purple and pink dress squeeze around my athletic physique. 'That wasn't there before." I thought.

A yellow scarf dressed my shoulders, tangling my arms as I tried to use them to stand. Finally getting up, I realized what I was again: I was in my true form. I was Cresselia.

A slight panic flooded my eyes, knowing all sorts of people who would try to use my power to their advantage. I needed to go to the shrine. Wasn't that where I last was? No, it was deeper in there. I need to find it. I have to.

"Kate!" A voice whirled me out of my reverie, as a human boy came running towards me. He stopped at me, pulling me into a… hug?

"Kate! I was so worried, I mean, we all thought you were dead, and—"

"What are you talking about? Who's Kate?"

His eyes looked at me in confusion. "Kate… what kinda' joke is this?"

"Who are you?" I asked.

(Keith's P.O.V., Present)

"I'm Keith… remember? Kate, you can stop the gag now."

She paused, and I wondered for a second if she had started to remember me again.

Deciding it was taking too long, I grabbed her arm and dragged her inside.

"Barlow, Barlow!" I cried, "I found Kate!"

"Go away, Keith… I'm tired of your jokes. You don't think I'm hurting enough already?"

"He's not joking, Barlow… c'mon out and see for yourself." Luana emerged from behind a closed door, and (being as clumsy as she is) dropped the pile of clean-looking laundry she was holding.

(Kate's P.O.V., Present)

There were so many people… and they were all staring at me. Instinctively, I clung a little closer to the boy, Keith. He didn't seem so awful, my intuition told me so.

But who was he that seemed so familiar?

"It's okay, Kate." He smiled.

"I'm not Kate," I said, though in a defeated voice. I was beginning to wonder about who this Kate person was. "I'm Cress-" I quickly bit my lip. I forgot not to reveal who I am.

Keith looked at me, alarmed.

"Kate… come with me for a minute. We need to talk."

Haha! This wasn't a full cliffhanger... okay, yeah, it kinda was... ;-; Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading! It was a fun write... :)