She stood before the lab in her hometown of Nuvema Town, 18 years old, the breeze lifting her hair and the sun catching in her eyes, Hilbert by her side. She wiped a few stray tears from her eyes, hoping they weren't too red. Hilda had just reunited with her mother, and the feeling alone was enough to make her never want to leave Unova again. She took a breath to steady herself, smiled at Hilbert as he brushed a last tear from her face, and entered the lab.

A young woman looked up as Hilda and Hilbert walked into the room. The lab was just like she remembers, only Bianca stood in front of her now while Professor Juniper stood off to the side with her father.

"Hilda?" Bianca said with wide eyes. She brought her hands to her mouth in surprise. "Hilda! Hilda, it's you!" She rushed forward to embrace her friend, and it was like two years hadn't changed anything. "And Hilbert! It's great to see you again!"

"Oh, Bianca," Hilda said. "Bianca, I missed you so much! How are you?"

"Wonderful, and even more wonderful now that you're back," answered Bianca. "And you? Did you find everything you hoped to in Sinnoh?"

Hilda's grin widened. "I did."

"Great! Oh, just wait until Cheren hears you're back," said Bianca with a wink and a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Hilda rolled her eyes. "You, my friend, have hardly changed a bit. How is Cheren?"

Bianca's smile wavered. "I… I haven't talked to him in a while." She looked down at the tile floor.

"Why not? Is he okay?" Hilda asked, concern in her tone.

"Yes, yes," said Bianca. "I'm sure of it. It's just… we seemed to have grown apart, somehow. I heard he became Gym Leader of Aspertia only a while back. I've been really busy helping out Professor Juniper, and Cheren's been doing his Gym Leader duties, and we haven't really spent much time together. I suppose you're our common ground."

"Oh." Hilda was silent. Her shock was soon replaced by guilt. If she had stayed, would her friends be closer? Hilbert slung an arm around her, while Bianca peered at Hilda cautiously.

"Oh no," she said seriously. "No, Hilda. It's not your fault, not one bit. Cheren and me should have worked this out ourselves, okay? You hear me?"

Hilda nodded, her smile slowly appearing on her face. "Thanks," she told Bianca. "I'll go visit him, then. It'll be-" Her voice broke despite her best efforts to keep it intact and calm. "It'll be good for all of us to meet."

Bianca smiled sympathetically. "You're right. You tell Cheren that I miss him."

"Will do," promised Hilda. She nodded to Juniper and Cedric as they watched the conversation.

"Good to see you, professors," she said as she raised a hand in greeting. "How are you?"

"Just fine," said Juniper as Cedric smiled in agreement. "You look all grown up, Hilda! And you, Hilbert. Like seasoned trainers."

Hilda smiled and ducked her head. "Thanks, Professor Juniper." Hilbet echoed her thanks and grinned.

"Hilda, I'll hang here while you catch up with Cheren. See you in a bit, okay?" he said with a knowing smile.

"Got it," Hilda said, choosing to ignore his smirk. She turned and left the lab. She rummaged in her bag and pulled out Unfezant's Poke Ball.

"Use Fly, please," she told her trusty Pokémon. She had caught the Pokémon she had been seeking, and some new additions to her International Pokedex, but had decided to keep her original team with her. It felt right, natural. Soaring in the Unova sky once again, Hilda let out a sigh. She was home at last.

"There's Aspertia City," she said loudly through the wind.

Soon she was on the ground and running to the Gym. She was stopped at the entrance by a young boy in a school uniform. "Aren't you too old to do the Gym challenge?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

With a laugh, Hilda replied to the school boy. "I'm not challenging this Gym," she told him. "I'm looking for the Gym Leader."

"Oh." The boy scratched his head and grinned sheepishly at her. "He's probably at the Trainer's School."

Hilda thanked the boy and located the school. It seemed to be recess, for a small mob of children were running around in the yard. Leaning against the building was Cheren. He stood in the shade and chatted with another teacher. Hilda felt her pulse quicken and her heart race. She approached them, stepping through the gate.