Our Arbitrary Moments - A Pokémon Violet Story

by SqueakyToy136

"Oh heck yeah, to the academy I go! It begins, perils and Pokémon adventures await! Look out, because now I'm ready for Momo's big moment! I love... adventure!" Gym Badges, Star shenanigans, and Titan Pokémon, oh my! Nothing got Momo excited more than the idea of setting out in Paldea to finally make a name for herself. But what was up with Arven, that grumpy sandwich guy...?

10. Big Moment

Momo was late. Or at least, she felt like she was. She spent a good while pacing around the outskirts of Medali, biding her time, biting her thumbnail, staring at the wide open metal gate by the off beaten path. It wasn't supposed to be open… but it was.

Area Zero was supposed to be off limits, wasn't it? The professor did ask, but it wouldn't be that big a deal if she bowed out, right? Maybe Penny, Nemona, and Arven would take care of whatever it was the professor needed. After all, Arven had the book and family ties, Nemona had more adventuring and battling experience, Penny had the tech smarts, why would she need to be here?

Momo shook her head with a huff. She had trekked through and bested everything Paldea threw at her. Everything was going to be okay. Her friends were waiting for her, weren't they? After spending a whole day hyping up this dangerous but probably very exciting trip, she wasn't going to just dip. She wasn't going to be afraid of… the consequences of her actions. Nope. Her friends were waiting for her. Friends. Because that's what they were.

So it turned out that the gate was open because Area Zero was off limits except to specially ranked trainers, like champions. Probably explained how Nemona got here first alongside everyone else. The tunnel to the supposed Great Crater entrance was cave-like, and emerging on the other side greeted her with the view of some shuttle-looking base perched by the edge of a vast blanket of clouds. The image of a thick, swirling cloud vortex was one Momo knew very well from studying maps. It was the center of Paldea, the Great Crater, the plunge down into Area Zero.

Momo gulped as she approached the metal door of the large shuttle ahead of her. She could've sworn she heard her friends' voices on the other side. Meekly shuffling up to an entrance like this almost had her mustering up the urge to knock, but she shook those memories away when the door opened on its own. In the room that was filled with computer tech straight out of a sci-fi setting, it was Nemona's rapidly waving arm that caught her attention first.

"Hola, Moma! We were just waiting for you!" Nemona grinned her way, eyes wondrous as always. "It's nice to meet your friends! We were talking about stuff! Is it time to set forth yet?"

Arven sighed next to her. "Student council girl's been clamoring for battles and strong Pokémon ever since she beat us here. Of course, we couldn't start this thing without you, y'know. I brought some snacks for the occasion and everything."

"Too healthy for my taste." Penny walked out from the corner she was leaning against. "These two were bumbling in the dark when I arrived so I just turned off this facility's power saving mode. Good to see you again, Mondie."

Penny offered her a fist bump. She returned the gesture with a smile and a faint chuckle.

Momo couldn't help but lay her eyes on the scene before her. She wasn't sure what was more surreal, this advanced hull of a base she only heard about in history class, or the sight of all three of her friends being present at once. At least they weren't fighting over her this time.

"So…" Momo rubbed at her sleeve. "You guys were really waiting for me?"

"Well, yeah." Penny nodded with a faint smile. "I owe you and all that. That's what friends are for, right?"

"Right." Momo's smile grew, her nerves easing away with the sweet sensation of warmth. "Friends. So… did you all introduce yourselves to each other yet?"

"Oh! I can go first!" Nemona raised her hand before pumping her braced fist. "Name's Nemona! Student council prez at Uva Academy, class 1-A! I live in a house right by Cabo Poco, and I have my own backyard beach where I like to train! Oh, and I love Pokémon, battling, and Pokémon battling!"

"I can attest to that, me and Mabosstiff have the decade old memories to show for it…" Arven stepped forward, clearing his throat as he crossed his arms proudly. "Anyways, everyone knows me by now! Hopefully! I'm Arven, and my loves include my Mabosstiff and cooking and…" He trailed off after that.

"And I thought Mondie was loud…" Penny spoke bluntly, giving a small wave while Arven was clearing his throat again. "Don't worry, I'm used to dealing with loud people. I'm Penny, though I'm not really around much, so you don't need to know a whole lot about me."

Momo found herself sheepishly giggling. Nemona was watching expectantly, Arven was looking off somewhere, and Penny was rocking on her heels next to her. "Hi guys. You already know who I am. Since I called you here and all that. The Momo."

"... huh." Penny gave her a perplexed stare. "It's not like you to pass the chance to speak up."

"Maybe the adventure is too scary to think about!" Nemona spoke up. "Don't worry, Momo! With our strength, there's nothing to be afraid of!"

There was a hint of worry on Arven's face. "Are you still sick, little buddy? Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

But Momo was not afraid, or unwell, or anything. Seeing them gathered here like this, now all worried for her sake, only helped her tender heart soften further, and her lip quivered slightly.

"Guys, really, I'm alright." Momo assured them with a smile, hiking up her bag and mustering her confidence. "I'm just… really grateful that you're all here."

They all smiled at that, and Momo felt all the more emotion swell within her. Now that they were all here, it was about time to press onward to wherever Area Zero was, but before that, Momo couldn't help but show her gratitude some more.

"Hey, Nemone." Momo stopped by her first, matching her ever so excited smile. "Thank you, for always helping me get better so I could be as cool and capable with my Pokémon as you are."

She met her with a hug, and as she did, Nemona returned it as eagerly as always, sharing a laugh as they did.

"Hey, Penny." Momo knew she wasn't the best at speaking sincerely, which made her feel all the more grateful in what they had in common. "Thank you, for coming around and being my friend, introducing me to your cool friends, and giving me a chance to be a hero in my own way."

From the way Penny reacted, it was clear she wasn't used to such a gesture. But at the same time, from the way she returned the hug, it was also clear she treasured it all the same.

"Hey, Arven." She looked up at him. It was easy for her to meet the eyes of the others, but this time…

There was lots she wanted to thank him for. Saving her. Comforting her. Teaching her how to make sandwiches. Wiping the crumbs off her face. Keeping an eye out for her safety. Letting her hug him. Hugging her back. Saying things that kept her warm when she had trouble sleeping. Actually being there to keep her warm and sleeping soundly when she was cold.

But even still, even after everything, she didn't want to come off as overbearing.

"Thank you, for being a cool guy."

It was less of a hug and more of a pat on the back, and despite her awkward smile, she hoped her gratitude came through. Even if she still felt that yearning for more closeness.

"Little buddy, I…"

"Biometric identification complete."

Guess their heart-to-heart wasn't meant to last. Whatever intercom this place seemed to have, it buzzed to life as the professor's voice echoed around them.

"Momo, Arven, Nemona, and Penny. I thank you for coming."

"That's pretty freaky…" Penny gulped. "That's the professor's voice…"

"That's my dad." Arven sighed, unimpressed.

"That's his dad." Momo repeated after him.

"Right…" Penny continued slowly. "That's the professor's voice, and he knows who we are, somehow…"

"Wait, that's Professor Turo?!" Nemona didn't mind, hands clasped and eyes widened as she looked around. "Oh my gosh, it's such an honor to meet you in person! I mean, maybe not 'in person' exactly..."

"Worry not, being affiliated with the academy, it is only natural I know who you are. Your ID numbers are in my database," The professor's voice continued. "I take it you know why you are here. You may have more questions about the situation, but all will be answered in due time. To begin, you will first need to make your way down into Area Zero proper. Momo, I trust you have brought Miraidon with you?"

Momo looked up at… wherever his voice was. "Yes, I've brought Mirage."

A metal door opened nearby.

"Access has been granted to the lower level. Using Miraidon's gliding capabilities, you should be able to descend into the depths of Area Zero. To reach me in the Zero Lab, you will need to reach the deepest levels of the Great Crater, undoing locks in the research stations as you do so."

"Alright, no biggie." Momo steeled herself as she repeated the instructions to herself. "Soar down, open locks, get into the Zero Lab, got it."

Even if the new ground she was sure to tread seemed unfamiliar, Momo found the thought of it exciting. She carried that excitement all the way to where the next room led, though she had to back up her pace when she saw the pit outside that awaited them.

All of a sudden, the outdoor ramp they were all standing on seemed very steep. "That's… quite the drop." Just seeing that thick cloud barrier up close left Momo tempted to reach for her phone. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I've had my fair share of sick landings from drops like these." She hadn't.

Nemona wasn't deterred in the slightest, and the thin platform they were on rocked as she bounded to the edge. "Whoa, look everyone! This is even higher up than looking down from the top of a lighthouse!"

"Hey, Mondie…" Penny quietly shuffled to her side. "Nemona, was it? Is she, like, incapable of fear or what?"

Momo shrugged, and as she did, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Arven gulped. "I guess we'd better get on with it… Don't worry, it's not as bad a drop as it looks. I think." With a decisive breath, he hardened his stare and gave her a nod. "Alright, are you ready for the worst?"

Momo nodded back, Mirage's Pokéball clutched. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Her Miraidon emerged, shaking himself off with a yawn, though his calm demeanor ended up singing a different tune when he peered down and buckled at the sight. Momo saw his trembling eyes and gave his head a pat.

"I know Mirage, it looks pretty scary, but I'm sure it'll just be a simple glide down." Her Miraidon's stare still held a hint of pleading. She was about to get on, but seeing Mirage's hesitation left her second guessing. "Actually, gimme a momo, I'll just check if I'm really packed for this…" Have to be ready for the worst, after all.

She took a few steps away from the edge and took her backpack off to start rummaging through it. Mirage still stared down, hesitant and crouched.

"Hey… Mirage." Arven stopped by the Pokémon's side. "Think you can bring us all down there?"

The Miraidon could only blink back at him.

"What's the matter with him?" Nemona joined in the stare. "He wasn't this antsy last I saw."

"If I had to say, maybe scared of heights." Arven carefully climbed onto Mirage's back, reaching over to his head. "There, there… This is where you like being touched, right? I saw Momo do it sometimes…"

"Uh, guys…" Penny peeked at them with a cautious tone. The platform was wobbling beneath them. "I don't think it's a heights thing-"

"Well, no wonder he's so scared!" Nemona was quick to hop on behind Arven. Her excited hands rapped at Mirage's metal. "You got this, Mirage-don! No need to be scared if we all go together!"

"I-I don't see how that logic is supposed to work…" Penny croaked as the floor creaked with the added weight by the ramp's edge. She scrambled to climb onto Mirage as well, who was starting to skitter forward.

All the while, Momo still stood where she was, thoroughly looking through her inventory. "Potions, special pouch, extra supplies, secret secret weapon… All check!" With a satisfied smile, she zipped her bag up, just in time to turn around and notice just how steeper the ground felt. "Uh… guys?"

Arven was the first to notice Mirage's skidding on leaning creaking metal. "Uh oh."

It took Nemona a second. "Uh oh?"

Penny was already gripping onto the lower half of Mirage's back for dear life. "Just… hold on!"

They were doing just that, all except for Arven. With a hand gripping one of Mirage's reins, he turned around, looking back at Momo as she tried to follow after them.

Momo was trying her best not to lose her footing on the unsteady platform. She saw Arven looking back at her, reaching out, and that spurred her on. With a deep breath fueled by that familiar worry, she willed herself forward, taking those steps of faith like the world was at stake. Another creak, and the incline steepened even further.

"Arvie!"

"Momo!"

Mirage reared back, the ground shook once more, and just as it gave, Momo reached out to Arven's waiting hand. At that moment, time seemed to stop as she felt her wrist being grabbed. And then came the rushing wind that came with the plunge.

"Yeee-aaauuuggghhhhhh!"

For Momo, it felt like she was flying. The sight of the world below her, her body feeling weightless like a rag in the rushing wind. There was a thrill in the screams she shared with her friends, becoming echoes that fell to the vast world around her. Yet, there was also the fear that came with a rapid descent into the great unknown.

But she was not alone. Even as the world seemed to zoom all around and away from her, her eyes were open and her heart was still racing for a plethora of reasons. Mirage's screen-like wings sprouted from the sides of his head. Her only tether from the endless plunge below was her very familiar source of comfort, that firm concern that kept her grounded and was now pulling her by the wrist back to safety. And he was still pulling her closer.

"Eep!"

It never occurred to Momo how strong Arven was.

"I got you!"

It was like he scooped her up in one fell swoop. His protective hold moved to her waist, placing her down on her rightful seat by Mirage's reins, staying there as if to keep her there. Overtaken by such sudden excitement, her hands found themselves taking control over their soaring steed, but her eyes often found themselves glancing back at her… surprisingly strong savior. Her memories told tales of times he had picked her up or whisked her away before, but at just such a moment…

Were there some Butterfree flying alongside them, or was she just seeing things?

Whatever the case, Momo kept her eyes forward, putting things back on track. She steered Mirage out of the way of the crater's outer edge before guiding him towards an opening down the cloud vortex. All the while, she joined the thrilling chorus of screams her friends had along the ride, wanting to lean back into the gentle hold that kept her stable.

---

It took a while for the excitement to settle down, but even when it did, Momo was still in the air with Mirage and the others. She never expected a flying joyride with her friends, and the more she thought about it, the more she wondered if they'd be up for another one of those sometime. Preferably with less 'holding on like her life depended on it' vibes. Maybe.

The thought didn't cross Momo's mind for long before their smooth sailing turned rough. Past the thick cloud passage, she only got to see the great green for a second before Mirage suddenly started faltering. It was almost like he was trying to turn around, but Momo kept her grip as she braced for impact.

One unsteady landing later, Momo was tumbling against the ground for a disorienting moment. It was like Mirage disappeared back into his Pokéball the second he landed, which explained the other surprised yells and grunts as she lifted herself back up. Good thing none of her things fell off. Stuff? Check. Other stuff? Check. All good.

At least Arven seemed like he wasn't hurt. "And now I'm back here again. Is everyone okay?"

Momo dusted herself off with a thumbs up. "Never… never better…" She adjusted her glasses, smoothing out her frazzled bangs before blowing out a sigh. "I just need to catch my breath…"

"Hah… hah…" Penny was similarly winded. "I think I might've died once or twice back there… Good thing I was holding on to my phone…"

"Everyone! Area Zero is amazing!" Nemona was waving and crying out from where she was, alerting everyone further down the path. "Come on already, you have to see this!"

Nemona took off with a blink, and the others scrambled to catch up. Momo didn't have much time to question anything before it was back to running. Arven and Penny clearly haven't had much experience keeping up with Nemona, but at this point, Momo was used to trying not to be left in the dust. Or rather, left in whatever bizarre sparkling specks of not-dirt this place was made of.

Even if they were left stumbling through the weird cliffside terrain of Area Zero, Momo had to admit Nemona wasn't wrong about the amazing part. While the clouds prominently blocked out most of the sky, it was as if the mysterious nature of the place manifested its own natural sunlight. And they were so high up, too. Considering the wild Pokémon they ended up running into along the way, Momo would've thought this place was some sort of private nature reserve. She couldn't remember the last time she saw a Corviknight out in the wild.

As mystical as the place just felt to be in, seeing some odd peculiarities here and there almost felt natural. It was clear that this place had been excavated and tread before, what with the roped fencing by the edges and what looked to be small bases in the distance below. While Momo could, she decided to take a closer look at one of the trees around, noticing the shine it held.

"What's this…?" There was a twinkling crystal-like surface seeping out from the ground, covering the roots and the base of the tree's trunk. There was more shiny dust on the ground by it. "Kinda looks like… Stardust…"

Treasure being in a place like this was a no-brainer at this point, but Momo didn't have time to get gathering when Nemona was off wandering without her.

"Pick up the pace, pipsqueak!"

"How are you not already winded lugging around all that, you big lunk?!"

At least Arven and Penny seemed to be getting along decently well. Figuratively speaking.

It took a bit, but they were all able to catch up to Nemona, stumble down an uneven cliffside, and fight off a wild Glimmora that didn't seem too happy to see them there. Well, Momo and the others were still recovering after that short tumble, it was Nemona who sent that hostile wild Pokémon packing in an instant.

"Yaaaaa—oh." Momo had just finished dusting herself off. She didn't even have time to pull out a Pokéball before the fight was over. "Thanks for wrapping that up for us, Nemone."

"Yeah, no problem, whew…" Nemona had just recalled her Lycanroc, though she was panting really badly. "Did you see that Glimmora, though? That's… that's a Pokémon La Primera uses! Oh, and there's a building here, too…"

"You seem a little worse for wear for someone who just bolted ahead of us." Arven had gotten up, putting his hands on his hips. "I thought you'd have a bit more stamina, student council girl."

"Heh heh… Hoo…" Despite her state, Nemona straightened her posture with a proud grin. "I'm just full of surprises!"

"That wasn't a compliment, you know…" Arven scratched at his head, then looked to the building nearby. "At least your excitement led us to one of those… what were they called? Radish rations?"

Penny shot him a look. "... Research stations."

Nemona perked up with her praising smile. "Wow, you have such great memory, Penny!"

Penny sighed. "What's great is my common sense compared to you lot, apparently…"

"Hey guys, look." Momo had already walked up to door of the base-looking building. The doors seemed to open automatically. "Guess this must be where one of those lock things are. Maybe we can catch our breaths here."

Momo wasn't as surprised to see a facility like this here, she remembered Miss Raifort talking about Great Crater adventurers who took to exploring the place and all. That expedition supposedly took place many decades ago, so the musty, run down remains of where they set up camp was pretty much to be expected. But what she didn't expect was for this abandoned site to still have light in it.

"Ahhh…" Didn't stop Nemona from strolling on in and making herself at home on the nearest bed. "Good thing I spotted this place! We could rest up at these spots if we need to!" With a blink, her eyes looked to the ceiling. "Although it's kinda… mildewy in here…" That part seemed obvious enough. Scientists probably used that bed.

Arven was quiet. His expression was unreadable as he looked to an unlit circular pad on the floor, and he picked up a dusty book from it that stood out. "I wonder if my dad ever worked here…"

"I've heard that a couple of adventurers came to Area Zero a while ago," Momo spoke up. "So… that could explain it, but even then…"

Penny shared Momo's bewildered look. "That's weird… For a place in the middle of nowhere, it still has… power? Electricity?"

"I know, right?" Momo's widened eyes looked back at her and towards the surprisingly well-lit room. "I didn't see any cables or anything, so I thought I was the only one who thought it was odd."

"Guess Area Zero really is a mystery… Wonder what kind of power supply this place has that's kept it functional…" Penny shrugged, already taking to searching the room some more. There was a dull clanging noise as she knocked her fist against the wall. "Seems like the other doors here are busted, though it looks like the warp pad here is functional. If this place is anything like the entrance, guess it's up to me to figure out where these 'research station locks' are."

While Penny shuffled off to go snooping, Momo took to a nearby squeaky stool to rest her legs. She didn't even know what a 'warp pad' is, was that something buildings were supposed to have? As if being here didn't already leave her with enough wonder.

Momo took that curiosity and couldn't help but wonder how her friends were doing compared to her. They all seemed occupied doing their own thing. Penny had crouched herself behind the room's desk, Nemona was splayed out on the nearby bed in a happy nap, and Arven was leaning against a wall, reading that dusty blue journal he picked up earlier. He looked deep in thought, his expression as subtle and rigid as usual, but Momo caught on to the uneasiniess in his stare. Whatever he was reading, he didn't like it.

"'That woman walked out not long after the boy was born…'?"

An awkward screech creaked around the room as Momo picked up her stool to move it. She didn't mind. Arven seemed too deep into his reading to mind.

Momo scooted over to his side and eventually piped up. "So… whatcha reading, Arven?"

"O-Oh, Momo." Startled, Arven shut the book, tucking it under his arm. "Just some… journal logs left by whoever was working here. Not that I'd know. Figured I'd pass my time somehow." He cleared his throat, gingerly giving her a pat on the head. "Did you need something, little buddy? A snack, perhaps?"

She was more interested in him than she was in a snack. Momo pursed her lip, recognizing the faint unease in Arven's eye. Even if he was trying to hide it, she could tell there was something about this place that was getting to him. So instead of pressing him about it, she figured she'd speak about something else.

"Was just thinking about thanking you for earlier. For the ride down here, I mean." Momo batted at her hair at the thought of those heights. "It was crazy high up, I almost fell, but you still… held on to me." And he held onto her waist the entire descent down. She put her flustered memories aside to give him an earnest smile. "So thanks, Arven."

There was his easy smile. "Anytime, Momo. I wasn't going to let you get hurt, after all. I know you would've done the same for me."

Momo giggled, glanced at those same arms that had the strength to save her life, then looked at her own which weren't nearly as impressive in comparison. "Would I, though?"

Arven narrowed his stare with a slight pout. "You better. Little buddy."

"Grumpy worrywart."

Lightening the mood got a chuckle out of him, at least. It was nice to be on the receiving end of his headpats and being there to give him a nudge, but Momo still couldn't shake the thought that there was something on his mind. She knew him long enough to know what he looked like when something was bothering him.

Of course, she was still stewing over something as well, so she knew what it was like to have that hesitation in her voice because of stuff she desperately wanted to get off her chest. The research station was dark, roomy even, and that faint but limited source of light above reminded her of certain dream-like memories that still stuck.

It seemed quiet enough, so a part of her thought she might as well address the Copperajah in the room. Smoochum in the cave sounded more accurate. "Hey, Arven…"

Any initiative she had in her words was overtaken when mechanical hums whirred to life around the room. The lights flickered on to illuminate the place, taking her out of the atmosphere of her thoughts, and bringing her attention to the glow of a green monitor by the room's desk.

"That's that done with." Penny was dusting off her hands with a proud little smirk. "Wasn't that much different from HUDs I'm familiar with, so I figured it out quick."

"Great!" Momo squeaked, sending a thumbs up her way as she threw herself off her stool. "Looks like there's no time like the present! Can't keep the professor waiting!"

"Er, little buddy?" Arven stood surprised by her sudden energy. "It sounded like you were going to tell me something there. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Better never!" Momo flubbed, screaming on the inside. "I was just… wondering when we should wake up Nemona! Yep!"

She looked to the bed so she could march right on to it, but it looked like the whir of the lights turning on already did her job for her. Nemona was quick to leap to her feet and eagerly scan the newly lit room, landing with a dull thump that petrified Momo.

"Whoa, talk about a power nap! This room was taking one too! Well, time to get moving!"

As Nemona walked past her in her carefree stride, Momo was still squealing on the inside, but not in the good way. Well, it could've been worse. She was just awkward with awkward situations. Still, she couldn't remain frozen in place and contemplating her decisions forever. No time like the present, better focus on that.

---

Area Zero truly was a wondrous place. It was back to the hike down, looking out for dangerous Pokémon along the way, and with her eyes peeled, there was a lot for Momo to see. The mountainous terrain they were trekking stretched far below, and as Momo spied just how far those distant waterfalls fell, she allowed herself to ponder just how deep this crater went. She was grateful as always that her friends allowed her to slow down for some breathing room while still sticking close by.

"One slip and we can kiss our short lives goodbye…"

Momo gulped as she directed her attention away from the railing to the head of red and blue beside her. "That's… dark."

"Well…" Penny shrugged, looking similarly short of breath. She was still clutching her phone close. "Just speaking my mind and all. You were kinda looking like you wanted to do the same."

Momo pretended not to hear that last part and kept walking with her. "I thought you were talking with the others about stuff." She glanced ahead to see that they were still at it.

"Oh, I was." Penny looked ahead with a snicker. "Decided to hang back after that big lunk started trying to flex how cool his friendship with you is. Nemona's still trying to one-up him on that."

Momo couldn't help but overhear the tones of banter ahead. It did sound like something they'd do.

"He said that?" She perked up, looking back at Penny with growing intrigue. "Did he say it was epic?"

"He did say it was 'on another level'." Penny's stare quickly narrowed into a sneer. "And Mondie, I've been wondering just where that level is. What was that I heard you call him earlier? A recreational vehicle?"

Of course she heard that. "Pennyyyyy…" Momo tore her eyes away from the green backpack ahead, as if doing so would've somehow eased her blush. "C-Come on. You can't expect me to actually act on what's probably just a… crush." Just saying the word made her feel like tumbling jelly.

"Alright, alright. That's all I'm gonna say about it." Penny brought her stare ahead, matching Momo's pace. After a while, she reached to give her a pat on the back. "I've also been wondering how long of a hike it's gonna be considering we have to meet the Prof at the bottom of this place. You sure you can't use your big purple lizard to give us another ride?"

"I think he's out of commission." Momo always did keep his Pokéball close, but even in her hold, she could sense the reserved feelings within. "Reluctant to come out of his Pokéball, like he always is when he's scared." She looked around at the wondrous atmosphere of Area Zero and kept wondering. "But it doesn't seem like there's any sign of the usual things he's afraid of, hmm…"

"Being afraid of the outside world, wanting to stay cooped up in a safe space, yeah…" Penny glanced ahead before leaning closer with a whisper. "I had a feeling there was something with your Pokémon being awfully nervous. Between you and me, I don't think it's a heights thing."

Momo wasn't sure why, but it seemed like there was something Penny knew that she didn't. Still, all she could tell was that there was something about this place that Mirage was really antsy about. Hopefully something she could figure out and deal with soon.

The commotion ahead suddenly grew louder. That didn't sound like bickering. The sounds of icy blasts being fired out should've been telling. Momo hotfooted it to where it was colder, noticing where Arven and Nemona were being swarmed by Delibird. Or at least, they looked like Delibird…

"Brawn!" Momo quickly spun her Pokéball at the ready. Whatever they were, they were going down. "Rock Slide!"

On that steadfast command, her Klawf emerged, digging up a rain of rubble upon the icy blasting threats. With Delibird's typing, they should fall easily, but yet…

It was was strange enough to see Delibird being unusually aggressive. It came as even more of a shock when they still stood standing after that attack, shaking off the rubble from their pristine, metallic bodies.

Momo gulped as she saw all the digital eyes that were now looking at her. "Those… are definitely not Delibird."

Before she knew it, they were all preparing to fire upon her and her Klawf. From the way Brawn skittishly backed away to her side, Momo had a feeling it wasn't an ice attack they were going to use.

"Umbreon! It's battle time!"

Blasts of water shot out from the robotic Pokémon's tails, and it was a dart of darkness that soaked up the hits on Momo's behalf. Momo looked in Penny's direction, nodded a thanks her way, and spurred Brawn forward to keep the fight up. This was the first time Momo got to battle alongside her friend Penny, alongside the esteemed big boss of Team Star at that, so she made sure to bring out her impressive flair for just such a moment.

Another round of rocks, and they were able to send those robot Delibird packing. Or… skating?

"Those darn Delibird scared me half to death…" Penny seemed a bit worse and wet for wear as she recalled her Umbreon. "Good battling, Mondie."

"Always a pleasure." Momo saluted. "It's been an honor to claim victory by your side, Cassiopeia."

She was met with an eye roll before they caught up with Arven and Nemona.

"Aww…" Nemona was gazing in the direction of the fleeing Pokémon. "I was so close to catching one of those Delibird! They were strong! Looked pretty mechanical-looking compared to the usual, though."

"No kidding…" Arven had crossed his arms with a sigh, looking elsewhere.

The uneasiness lingered with Momo as she thought about it some more. "Least I wasn't just seeing things…"

It was a good thing the next research station was right close by. Not just because it'd mean another step closer to the professor, but also because it'd be good shelter if any more of those not-Delibird come back. From the conversation Penny and Nemona were having on the way in, it was clear she wasn't the only one still thinking about it.

"A Delibird-lookalike that's actually a robot Pokémon…" The very idea ticked some familiar boxes for Momo as she mulled it over. "I have a Pokémon that's like that, actually. I have a not-Donphan that's called an Iron Treads, according to the professor."

Nemona's excited look perked up. "Wait, that was what your Pokémon was?! Whoa, no wonder it was so strong!"

"I'm starting to think it's like you to just have Pokémon we've never seen before." Penny looked back at her from the desk. "How'd you come across it, anyhow?"

Expecting an answer, Momo looked to the corner where Arven was. He had tucked himself away, still flipping through that same journal, as busy and bothered as he was before. Guess he hadn't heard them.

"He was out in the wild, somewhere in the desert," Momo replied after her quick glance. "Come to think of it, I never saw anyone like Donny after that. Him being one of a kind always had me wondering how the professor knew who he was…"

"I suppose the time has come for an explanation."

The room's power flickered back to life while Momo was spoke, and as if on cue, the professor's voice was heard from around the room.

"Some of the lifeforms you see around Area Zero are future Pokémon that lived in a distant day we have yet to see. They were brought here by a time machine in the Zero Lab, where I am located."

A time machine? The very mention of it got some surprised murmurs from Momo and the other two girls. However, out of everyone there, it was Arven who had the most to say in disbelief.

He had shut his book and he was looking towards wherever the speakers were. "So the thing you spent forever researching down here, you actually got it working?"

"Indeed. Though the cost was catastrophic."

The shock of it all amazed Momo more than anything. So much so that she didn't really pay attention to what the professor said after that. A time machine, right there, at this part of the region, waiting for them at the bottom of Area Zero? This super special secret mission started to feel a lot more super, special, and secret.

"So that's where Donny is from?!"

"I got to battle Pokémon from a different era?!"

"Feels like we stumbled into a sci-fi anime or something…"

With that in mind, it was time to get back on the move. The hike down to the third research station certainly felt more lively, with Nemona's amazement, Penny being gobsmacked, and Arven's… apparent lack of enthusiasm.

He looked back at them all with a raised eyebrow as they kept walking down. "You guys are really stoked to meet my dad, huh? Let me tell you, he may be a super famous and great professor, but he's not so much as a parent."

"Oh, right." Penny tucked her hands in her pockets with a snarky look. "I kinda forgot you're supposed to be related to that guy. I was wondering where all that genius pooled into. Could've fooled me." Momo glared and bumped into her.

Nemona was quick to direct her eager eyes towards Arven. "But he was a great battler, right? Ooh, what about your mother?"

"... Didn't know 'em much." Arven's shoulders drooped as he sighed. "Anyways. I'm sure you guys have much… better stories to tell about your parents than I do."

Nemona's eyes trailed elsewhere as she started twirling at her hair. "Oh, my mother and father? Pretty normal, in charge of some famous company that my big sister is probably going to take over. Rotom Phones, I think. Not my kinda thing. So if I had to say anything, my parents are kinda hands-off but in a good way?"

Penny huffed as she lowered her head. "Mine are… unbelievably annoying. My dad's real loud and clingy and comes up with all these… weird nicknames for me like 'Pen-pen'... He's… ultra-mega annoying…"

Momo rubbed at her sleeve at the thought. "I had a pretty fun upbringing for a while. My parents don't really stop by anymore, but I know that they're real busy, one of my dads being a Gym Leader and my other dad being a professor and all that. I just live with my grandma now, who's technically my great grandma because of a long story, or maybe she'd be my great great grandma, but she just likes being called grandma because it makes her feel young." She had a lot to say.

"Wow." Arven blinked at them all one by one. "I'm genuinely surprised. I'm not the only one here with a famous dad."

"Surprised me plenty. I did not expect that to be something we'd all have in common." Penny added, her wide eyes headed Momo's way. "I didn't know your dad was a Gym Leader too, Mondie." She looked towards Nemona next. "Didn't expect you to be the little sibling of your family. Guess we're a bit alike too in that aspect."

"That's so amazing, Penny!" Nemona's sweeping gaze lit up with excitement. "But what about Momo?! Did you just say one of your dads is a Gym Leader?! What?!"

"And the other's a professor! They're both great!" Momo crossed her arms, reciting that almost proudly. "Well, my professor dad probably didn't make a whole time machine like Arven's, so…"

"Of course it circles back to that…" Arven rolled his eyes.

"Okay, everyone!" Nemona proclaimed with her hands on her hips. "Million marble question! If all our dads were to battle each other, who would win?!"

"Hmph." Penny pushed her glasses up with a finger. "I don't mean to brag or anything, but my dad was a Champion for a little bit. Though he kinda gave that up for adventuring or something like that."

"Well!" Momo pushed her glasses up with two fingers. "My dad was also a Champion! Until he lost it to my other dad. Who lost it to my dad again. They kinda like fighting over it."

Arven sighed. "I hope mine loses…"

Momo gladly kept up this back and forth all the way down the mountain. She never expected to be singing her parents all the praise she could remember in a squabble with Nemona and Penny, but the idea of them all facing off was too epic not to indulge in. Maybe having two dads made this competition a bit unfair.

Just a shame Arven seemed a bit too out of it to join in on the fun. Would've been nice to have him pitch in on this, but it was back to reading that journal for him. While Nemona and Penny were going on about about whose dad could pick up the other and break him like a toothpick, Momo figured now was a good time as any to catch up with her grumpy worrywart.

"Hey, big guy." She gently bumped her shoulder against his. "Don't worry. You're better than any time machine or some neglectful super scientist."

His stare lightened up at that. "Super professor, but I really appreciate it, Momo. I know you'd never abandon me like he would."

"Ehehehe… Got that right." Momo hoped her blush was subtle, though she got a pat on the head, which was a good sign. His hand seemed to stay there when she tried to peek over his shoulder. "So… enjoying those… journal logs? Those are journal logs, right?"

"They're… logs, alright." There was a faint smile as he said that, though his eyes spoke otherwise. "Enjoying is a bit of an overstatement. Let's just say there might be more to this place than just a time machine…" He had shut the journal and tucked it under his arm, though Momo wasn't sure why couldn't take a peek.

Momo cleared her throat as she tugged at her backpack straps. "I remember you saying something about that time machine back in the research station. Does this mean you knew about it all this time?"

"Got me there…" Arven rubbed at the back of his head. "To be fair, I know my dad was able to bring Pokémon from somewhere, I just never knew how. Guess it must've taken a while for that full blown time machine to start working or something."

Momo blinked. "And you knew about futuristic Pokémon being real all this time, too? You mean about Donny, right?"

Arven raised an eyebrow. "I thought you would've connected the dots by now, little buddy."

There was an idea on Momo's mind, one that should've been blaringly obvious, but she didn't have much time to think about it. They were just about to approach the next research station, and the thought of beds and stools and being indoors had them all picking up the pace.

"All right! Another research station!" Even Arven was pumped up.

"Nice!" Nemona continued, running ahead. "We get to chill for a minute!"

Momo still needed to catch her breath. "I still really need to work on my cardio…"

"Something's gonna jump out at us again…" Penny ran similarly. "One hundred percent guaranteed…"

"Ha!" Nemona whooped. "Oh, Penny. Such a worrywart!"

"Heh!" Arven smirked alongside her. "Being the grumpy worrywart is my thing, pipsqueak!" Nemona reached out to him for a high five after that.

Momo would've returned the high five he was giving her, but… "Uh, guys…"

A trumpeting cry, heavy metal stomps, and the skidding treads of a formidable Pokémon awaited them. An Iron Treads rolled by and stood in their way, and from the fierce look it was giving them, it didn't intend to go down without a fight.

Momo was about to ready a Pokéball, but almost as if acting on his own, one of her Pokémon was quick to take the field. "Donny?"

Her own Iron Treads buckled, and the other one's fearsome stare intensified, almost as if they recognized each other. Momo recognized that instinct to flee in Donny's posture, but he glanced back, almost as if reassured by her presence.

Momo nodded back at him, immediately understanding. "It's okay, Donny. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, I'm with you every step of the way! Let's show this foe just how much stronger you've become since joining Team Momo!"

"And Team Arven!" He was quick to join her side. "The two of us are old pros when it comes to this, so let's get it done! I've taken on one of these with you before, so it's only right that we take this one together again!"

Momo felt all the more pumped at that. "You and me!"

"Together!"

This wild Iron Treads stood no chance against Team Momo and Team Arven, Donny rolling in with Mabosstiff backing him up. It may have been a battle of Iron Treads against Iron Treads, but the difference between them was like night and day. Both Iron Treads collided against each other and shook the ground they stood on with mighty strength, but Donny's attacks were more coordinated, dodges well timed, and it helped that Mabosstiff pitched in with a pouncing Fire Fang often. They met with another rolling clash, and in the end, it was Momo spurring Donny on that won the day.

"Yeah, you better run!" Arven yelled out as the other Iron Treads rolled away. "See that? Victory's ours!"

Momo was giving Donny some well deserved caresses before recalling him. "Heck yeah! Give it here!" She finally returned Arven's high five and whooped alongside him.

"You didn't tell me you fought some super cool never before seen Pokémon without me! Jealous!" Nemona's hands were clasped in delight as she stared at the two of them. "The two of you fought like you're a pair made in heaven!"

Momo mustered a giggle through her flustered grin. "Mmmmmm, sure." She had no idea whether or not Nemona meant what she said, but Penny seemed to be getting some real snickers out of it.

"You can say that again." Real smug, that Penny.

"L-Let's just get a move on, everybody." Arven cleared his throat and pushed onwards. See, even he didn't want to linger around these implications, for whatever reason.

While Momo stepped into the research station with a bit more prodding from Penny than she would've liked, Nemona had some other things on her mind that she didn't hesitate to start asking about. All for Arven to answer while Momo watched with an amused smirk.

"Whoa, hey, easy there," Arven spoke up. "You're asking me a lot of questions about futuristic Pokémon considering Momo has two of 'em on her right now." Two?

Before Nemona could look at her, something in Momo's head clicked. She gave Arven a glare. "Y'know, I had a hunch for a while now! Mirage is one of those future robot Pokémon too, isn't he?"

"Wait a sec—I totally forgot!" Nemona shared her look of realization and pointed a finger at Arven. "You had Miraidon's Pokéball! And you told us about his forms in the first place! That means he was yours, right?!"

Arven brought his hands up defensively. "Actually, it was my dad's Pokémon, not mine. And this was the first time I ever considered the idea of it being one of those future Pokémon." He took a deep breath. "Truth be told… I thought the Miraidon was just some weird Pokémon my dad brought home one day when I was little. We all lived in the lighthouse lab for a bit, even. And then some things happened, they both went back to Area Zero, and I just… never saw them again."

There was a sigh at that last part, and Momo's stare fell. "Arven… I never knew…"

"Hey, it's alright." Arven lit up a little after she pat his sleeve. The room lit up too. "I'm sorry for not telling you what I knew sooner, Momo…"

"You should be sorry!" Nemona exclaimed with clenched fists. "Shoot—that Miraidon's, like, the coolest thing ever, and you didn't tell any of us!"

That did leave Momo with another question. "So if Mirage is a futuristic species, does that mean…"

"I believe it would be best for me to take over the explanations at this point."

There was Professor Turo's voice again. Momo was still a bit freaked out at just how well he was hearing in on their conversations, but she looked up with the others and listened.

"Miraidon was the first Pokémon that was successfully retrieved from the future by the time machine. Just as you have encountered futuristic forms for Delibird and Donphan, Miraidon is the futuristic form of Cyclizar. Many other Pokémon also came to this place from across the boundaries of time, but Miraidon was noticeably stronger and more dominant than any of them. However, I was only able to bring over two specimens of Miraidon."

Penny huffed from her spot by the control panel monitor. "Explains why that question mark of a Pokémon is so one of a kind. I don't need more than one of those slobbering me around."

That last part got Momo's eyes to widen. "So two specimens, does that mean-"

"There's another one around here somewhere?" Arven continued.

"That's great!" Nemona clapped her hands. "What if they're family?! The other one could still be somewhere in Area Zero, waiting to finally be reunited with our Miraidon!"

"H-Huh?" Momo blinked at her sudden shift in suggestion. "You mean… you think we could make a family reunion happen?"

"Exactly!" Nemona giddily continued. "Imagine how thrilled they'll be if we can get the family back together after all this time!"

"Well…" Momo had to admit, the idea kinda came out of nowhere, but it didn't… not make sense. "Mirage did make quick friends with Donny. I don't know why he's afraid of this place, but maybe finding other another robot Pokémon like him would help." Plus, she knew what it was like to miss family. Maybe it was something like that.

"Family, huh… Yeah… That sounds nice. If that other Pokémon really is the only family it has left in the world... It must want to be together again, right?"

"A heartwarming family reunion…? But…"

At least Arven seemed to agree, though Penny seemed to be mulling over something else. Momo expected the professor to say something about it, though.

"... If we could proceed. Only one lock remains now. Please continue on to the final research station."

That was all he left them with before going silent. Whatever the professor was up to, he seemed a bit too much in a hurry to entertain them further, as always. Better not keep him waiting.

Outside the research station, the maw of the next plunge to the bottom greeted them all. To Momo and the others, the grand cave mouth stood before them, carrying both the darkness of the unknown, but alongside the faint glittering particles of the mystery that seemed to await deeper.

Momo felt herself reaching for Mirage's Pokéball, which still trembled in her hold. Possibly shaking in fear, but hopefully looking forward to the family reunion that awaited them in the plunge below.

And while they journeyed on, as Momo kept her eyes forward, she still found herself glancing at the shifting expressions of the grumpy worrywart who had gone silent. Something was still bothering him.

Come to think of it, Mirage wasn't the only one with family waiting down here. Steeling her heart with another goal, Momo reminded herself that this family reunion was going to happen one way or another.

---

One more research station to go. Then it'd be time to finally face the professor with… whatever it was he needed. Which may or may not have involved the time machine Momo was still thinking of. She had a lot of questions, and there was more for her to wonder about the further they trekked.

This grand cavern they all stepped into was just as otherworldly as the rest of Area Zero. Massive crystal structures seemed to creep through the ground, with a shine that was very similar to the kind seen in terastilization. More uncommon Pokémon like Glimmora dwelled by the dozen, and with some other unrecognizable futuristic Pokémon hovering about, they often found themselves ducking for cover.

"Seriously?!" Penny cried out as they all kept a fleeing pace. "Why did you have to approach that Hydreigon-looking thing?!"

"It looked strong!" Nemona called out in long strides, sounding like she was having more fun than she had any right to be. "I wanted to get some action, maybe even catch it!"

"Gah!" Arven ducked from an incoming blast. "Nemona, you're kind of… unbelievable. In a mostly good way, but still!"

"There!" Though nigh out of breath, Momo pointed ahead. Amidst the gleaming crystal structures that sprouted ahead, she recognized a building. "We… we can hide in that research station!"

The building almost shone in its presence, almost like a beacon of hope, but with the amount of running Momo had to do, she was fading fast. She was about to fall behind, almost stumbling over something, but a grip on her wrist caught her.

"Not leaving you behind!"

That same grip reached around her shoulder and hoisted her up, and Momo found herself very surprised with how she was being picked up and held under Arven's arm. Like she was just a bunch of flimsy twigs, easily carried by him while he was running for his life.

What was even more surprising was when she saw Nemona speeding ahead, practically cradling Penny in her arms as she ran. Not a sight she ever expected to see, but the sight helped her feel not as embarrassed in comparison.

"I need to up my game…" Arven panted out.

Even suspended, Momo found the strength to smirk as she pointed ahead. "Almost there, Arvie! You can do it!"

"A-Aye aye, Momo!" He even tried to salute.

Now he was running for both of their lives, which was somehow twice as effective as before. Even if there was a scary robot Pokémon chasing them, it wasn't as scary like this. With Momo doing her best impression of sentient lumber, they all made it to those open research station doors safe and sound.

Penny was glaring daggers at Nemona as she was set down. "Never… never do that again."

"Y-Yeah, you too." Momo suddenly felt very flustered when Arven gently set her on the flooring. She was prodding at his vest. "You better not do that again. Or else."

Arven just shrugged. "Okay. Whatever you say, little buddy." He gave her a careful pat on the head before stepping away.

Even when she was protesting, he was still gentle about it. She couldn't say no to that easy smile. "Okay, okay, I was just kidding, grumpy worrywart. Thanks for that." She didn't mind the idea of that protective hold again, as blushy mushy as it made her feel.

The moment could only last so long, however. As soon as Momo looked to the research station itself, it became immediately obvious that this place wasn't going to be another safe area.

Penny gulped as she crept away. "The state of this place… it's like being here is some sort of bad omen. I'm going to see if I can disable that research station lock so we can get out of here."

"I'm with you there, Penny…" Momo added. This place was just as abandoned and decrepit as the other stations, but with the usual containers and stools that were knocked over, it was clear something happened here. Recently, maybe? There were claw gashes, large dents in the wall, stains of… something on the floor. A broken coffee machine, hopefully.

The research station wasn't as dim as the others, but that was only because of the crystalline structures that seem to have broken in from outside, growing through the flooring as if making the area its own. With how damaged everything looked, it was a bit bizarre to see the control panel by Penny flicker to life, somehow fully functional despite everything.

"Could this be…" Arven seemed stricken by the sight. "No…" He had backed away into a destroyed corner, pulling out that journal again.

"Looking at the damage, I have a feeling… maybe some ferocious Pokémon battled here… Well, it's not all bad!" Nemona still kept up that peppy smile as she scanned the place. "Look! Even if everything in here is all busted up, at least the bed is still intact!"

There was a whir, but the room didn't grow any brighter. Instead, from the clattered remains of the room's desk, the green light of the control panel monitor shone. Momo could swear she saw the crystals around them flickering.

"So is this place's power supply, somehow…" Penny carefully backed away from the activated control panel.

As if to add to her point, whatever sound system the place had, it booted up as well. Here came the professor's obligatory transmission. Though it took a bit of fuzz before his message came through.

"Hello children."

And that was all he said. Back to static and fuzz. The silence left everyone on edge.

Momo gulped and dared, mustering a wave back at whoever was watching. "Hi… professor?"

"I'm sorry."

Silence again. An apology? What for? The professor's normally rigid tone almost made it sound hollow in the offput, enclosed space they were in. It came as no surprise that a place as ruined as this would have some damaged-sounding tech, but-

"Gah!"

Everyone's surprised cries were drowned out as a screech filled the room. Momo tried covering her ears, but the sound crept through, kept droning, like something was trying to scream its way into their heads.

"I'm s-s-s-s-s-sorry. Sorry. S-s-s-s-s-sorry. I-I-I I-I-I'm sssssssssorrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrrry-eeeeee—"

The fuzz boomed to a crackle, and Momo almost keeled over at the sudden volume. The voice echoed and stuttered and bounced off of every inch of the place, growing louder and louder to the point where she felt the need to shut her eyes. It didn't do her any good. In the midst of unfamiliarity, things felt very very unsafe. Her senses felt shaky with the noise, like something was about to give, to break, to collapse.

"Hello, children. Hello. Hello. Hello, child. Childrenen. Childnen. Childeren. Children."

And it just kept going. Every repeat. Every error. Every second of screeching. It was as if the metallic casing of the floor and walls absorbed the shock of every resounding echo and spread it forth tenfold across the entire room. Children. Children. Children. Children. Children children children children children-

"... Initiating restart."

And then it stopped.

The silence almost didn't feel real. The ringing in her ears sure did, though. Momo rubbed her head, looked to see how the others were doing, and heard the professor speaking again.

"Ah, ah, ah. Hellllllo. Can you hear me now? P-l-e-a-s-e ffffforgivve m-y precious transmission. There seems to be some signal interference."

"Is everyone alright?" Arven's voice broke through the ringing.

"Yeah, sure…" Momo mustered a thumbs up. Something was definitely still off, interference or not, but at least the noise was gone.

At least she wasn't the only one who heard that. It took a bit for her vision to clear through teary eyes, though. Penny had ducked for cover, the commotion left Nemona of all people speechless, and Arven…

He was visibly shaken. Maybe not by the sudden malfunction, but by something else. Throughout all this, he was still scanning through that journal, up until he stopped on a specific page.

"'If only there were two of me…'?" He looked up defiantly with clenched fists. "Signal problems? That's not what that was."

And then the professor fell silent. Momo flinched, expecting something to burst forth from the lingering electric fuzz, but then…

"... The locks have all been disabled at last. Please make your way now to the Zero Lab—which lies at the very bottom of Area Zero."

And that was all he said, and all he acknowledged. As if Arven's call fell on deaf ears, and as if the professor didn't almost leave exactly that in his wake.

Arven sighed, tucked the journal away, and made for the door with an unusual insistence in his step.

"Come on, everyone." He waved for the others. "You heard him. We're almost at the end now."

Without so much as another word, he was already off. Momo didn't think it was a good idea to go storming off in a place like this, but it was probably better than staying cooped up in a research station that looked like it was falling apart. Nemona and Penny probably thought similarly too. They all seemed similarly puzzled, but they didn't want to get left behind.

"So… was I the only one freaked out by what happened back there?" Penny eventually spoke up. "Are we not gonna talk about that? There was definitely something off about the professor just now, right?"

Arven was quiet.

Nemona was still grinning ear to ear. "I thought it was really cool! Maybe it was just a little dramatic flair to get us all jazzed for more adventuring!"

Momo could only stare at her in surprise. She wouldn't say she was shaken up that easily, but compared to Nemona… "You enjoyed that? I don't know, it was so loud, I think I almost cried…"

"Well, I'm still jazzed!" Nemona pumped a fist. "Maybe even big-time jazzed!"

"Guess you really are afraid of nothing…" Penny sighed. "I've still got goosebumps."

At least having her friends around made things easier to process for Momo. It helped that the three of them seemed to have the same questions on their mind, even if none of them had any answers. Well, Momo still had some thoughts.

Once again, she found herself glancing Arven's way next to her. It didn't seem like he was interested in much else other than making it to that lab for… something. What was it that he knew that she didn't?

Definitely had something to do with that book. Momo had some suspicions, but it was nothing she could say for sure, so she was only left mulling over ideas. All she knew was that there was a lot she was unsure about, so the best she could do was stick by his side.

She let her finger brush against his, hoping just a little nudge of a touch would be enough. For just a moment, while his forward gaze stayed, the tension in his stare seemed to ease up just a little. And so Momo kept herself there, all the way to wherever he intended to go.

---

It was colder at the bottom. Less populated, too. Remnants of distantly skyward waterfalls pooled on the very floor, rippling reflections spreading with every step forward. Yet, for being the deepest, most desolate part of the cavern, it was far from the darkest.

Momo had a feeling this place had a pretty prominent crystal problem that only grew more evident the deeper they went. Thick, cylindrical constructs of them had burst forth from the cave floor, towering wherever they looked, glittering wherever eyes landed, shining back in all their opaque being. Momo could see her reflection in them, maybe a bit too well, because she could've sworn she saw her familiar traits flickering. But as she looked closer at the building-sized crystal, trying to look through it, she saw… a building?

It didn't take long for their wondering questions to turn into gasps of realization. At the center of it all, the grand reinforced metal structure of the lab loomed, though it looked to be in a similar state to the prior research station. Semblances of those crystals were growing around it, looking to engulf it like it did the rest of this place. Before them all stood a ramp, though the only gate forward was shut. Good thing there seemed to be one more control panel where they were.

Arven crossed his arms amidst the silence. "This door is taking a while to open…"

"I'm doing my best." Penny glared back as she did her thing.

Least there was a lot to wonder about while they were down here. Nemona was thinking out loud about what kind of treasured experience awaited them here, though Momo was curious about something else. She couldn't help but look around, the gigantic yet vague crystalline scene before her leaving her on edge for some reason. Like there was a… formidable presence she couldn't catch. She could've sworn she was being watched.

Now was as good a time as any, Momo figured. She took out a Pokéball. If anyone were to recognize this place, maybe tell her something about it, it'd be him.

In a flash, Mirage emerged. He stretched to yawn, shaking off his limbs one by one. He blinked, and all at once, it was like he woke up in a nightmare.

"Mirage…?" Momo carefully approached him. "Do you know this place?"

His ears fell back, staring at her with flickering eyes of fear, but he nodded. "Momo, I shouldn't-"

"I thought I told you not to come back."

There was another voice. That formidable presence was approaching, and approaching fast. With a burst of speed, with the shining sheen of purple thrusters, a Miraidon emerged from the shadows before them. Momo kept close to Mirage, keeping her eye on this other Miraidon that looked so much like him, but wasn't. The battle form was familiar, but not the commanding voice, the bloodlusted stare, the furious approach.

"Don't think I didn't hear you speaking before," The Miraidon huffed. "Do I need to remind you who's in charge here? I've beaten you mute before, I'll do it again! This time, I'll make sure to finish the job to keep you off my territory!"

Momo recognized that cowering instinct in Mirage's eyes. He had lowered himself to a trembling crouch, inferior in his form, but Momo still stood by his side.

"I won't let you hurt him! You don't scare me!" She held her fist in defiance, even if she was scared.

The Miraidon's eyes narrowed, thrusters flaring. "Then you will meet the same fate as the last human who tried that."

Mirage braced himself. Momo braced herself. Like lightning, the other Miraidon darted forward with deadly intent, air rushing, until it stopped. All fell silent as the heavy noise of an opening metal door echoed around the clearing.

The Miraidon beast halted its advance. "My master calls." It hovered up the ramp, towards the newly opened gateway, and looked back at them. "But we will finish this."

Momo felt a bit too breathless as she leaned back onto her Pokémon. She couldn't believe she still had all her body parts after that. She was too stricken by the moment to pull out a Pokéball or come up with a plan or do anything in time. But somehow she was safe, Mirage was safe, and her friends were glad she was safe too. She wanted to collapse into all of their worrying arms.

"I was about to fight that Miraidon myself if that escalated further!" Nemona huffed angrily, giving Mirage a pat on the head. "Shame about the family reunion, though. I was ready for something heartwarming, but you lost me at the part where Miraidon can talk!"

"Yeah, he talks." Arven quietly sighed, though somewhat in relief.

"There was nothing heartwarming about that. We were this close to getting caught up in a nasty brawl!" Penny was more riled up for Mirage's sake than expected. "That other one isn't exactly his pal. Must be a bully, or… something worse than that."

Momo nodded at them all, then looked back to Mirage. He was still covering his eyes, crouched in fear behind her to the point where Donny had come out to try nudging him.

"Mirage, I'm sorry, I didn't know…" Momo tried reaching out to him. "Do you want to go back into your ball?"

"... No." Mirage mustered his strength, looking back at her. "You protected me, Momo. And dear Donny here has also offered to protect me. I'm not looking forward to encountering that murderer again, but whatever happens, I'll be here. If… if things worked out for Donny, it could work out for me too."

Mirage's eyes stopped flickering. That's how Momo knew his strength was resolute. As his trainer, hers would be too. But what was that part he said about a murderer…?

A sudden rumbling brought everyone's eyes to the lab's entrance. Something was coming. Not just approaching footsteps, but metallic cries that were far from friendly. An onslaught of robotic Pokémon stomped, hovered, and flew out the opening, quickly surrounding the group.

"Looks like we've got trouble incoming." Momo steeled herself, her own two robotic Pokémon by her side.

"And it's pretty obvious they're not here to roll out a friendly welcome mat." Arven prepared himself similarly.

Penny seemed more determined than usual. "I don't usually try to stand up for myself, but if these Pokémon are more bullies, I might have to make an exception!"

Nemona was already tossing a Pokéball between her hands. "All of us battling together like this, I've been waiting for this to happen!"

It was a scary fight, being surrounded by robotic Pokémon they never saw before and the idea of having to fight their way out of it. But with everything on the line, maybe Nemona's optimism was the right way to go about it. Momo willed her courage, sent Donny into action, and faced the threats alongside all of her friends.

Sparks flew, steel clashed, a fight for their lives in the belly of the beast, but Momo lived for it. Having her friends together for something like this was something she could only dream of, but here they were, braving the unknown together, sending their best Pokémon against the best this place had to offer, competing against the crystals against who gets to shine the brightest here.

Donny was holding his own against another Iron Treads, and he carried that steamrolling courage to the other Pokémon that dared come closer. Momo would've liked to bring out all of her other Pokémon, but she didn't need to, for the most part. With Arven and Nemona and Penny, everyone seemed to have this under control.

Even if Mirage was still too shaken up to fight, he took one look at Momo and Donny and managed to stand up. He let out a roar, one that echoed all around, and briefly stopped the attacking Pokémon in their tracks before they turned tail.

"Oh no! They're running away!" Nemona was the first to notice the stragglers. "If those Pokémon get out and call for more help, we're gonna have a gigantic mess on our hands! Let's go after 'em, Penny!"

"Why me?! Gah!" Penny couldn't get much more out before she was whisked away. "Hold on, Nemona—and why do I get the feeling you're enjoying all this?!"

The number of foes may have thinned, but so have their own fighting force. Things were starting to look dire, but Momo kept going, even if it was just Arven left with her now. Here came another one of those not-Hariyama things, she wasn't sure what type it was, but Diego was handling it well enough. Another one down. She saw a not-Hydreigon hovering by Mabosstiff, and had Diego blast that away too.

"Momo!" Arven called out to her. "Head into the lab! I'll finish things off here!"

"W-Wait, huh?" Momo almost cried out in surprise when he tossed something her way. It was the book. "Why are you giving me this?"

"The professor wanted you to take care of business, so I'm trusting you!" Arven glanced back at her with a nod. "And trust us too! These stragglers should be nothing! Me and Mabosstiff here can take them!"

The very idea of leaving him behind felt like utter sin, but before Momo could say anything, she felt the rushing wind as crystallized energy focused towards one spot. Arven hurled his shining Tera Orb forward, leaving Mabosstiff covered in the hardened sheen as he proudly bore the mighty smirk of the Dark type emblem. Mabosstiff withstood the blows of the Pokémon ahead, then leapt forward at them to get his comeuppance.

"Come on, little buddy." Arven had looked back, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You've always been there to take the hardest fights, so lemme take on some of the burden. If you're not even gonna rely on your closest friends, then who are you going to rely on? Leave this to us. Maybe even give my dad what for, in my stead. Well, if you want to."

He stepped to Mirage next. Arven caught his shaken state and steadied his stare.

"We've been through a lot, you brute. But it's not like seeing you cowering and scared outta your wits makes me feel any better about it. You've got amazing powers, if you just use 'em! And you've got us, too! So... So... So be brave—stand up and fight, Mirage! And whatever you do, you better protect Momo!"

Momo looked at Arven, at that undeniable courage in his eyes, and held the book close. "Okay. But you better take care of yourself. And Mabosstiff, too! You better take care of each other! Because whatever happens, I'll finish this and come back for you guys!"

One more nod, one more look of reassurance, and they were off. Arven to continue the fight, and Momo to take the trip up that ramp to see the professor. She had everything she needed, her Pokémon, the book, everything. Yet, the finality of it all almost didn't sit right in her heart. Being so detached in such a climactic thrill didn't feel right yet. She took a few steps, wavered in her breaths, and turned around.

"Arven!" Her heart was practically screaming. "In… in case we don't make it out of this, I just… I just want you to know-"

"What's that talk for? Of course we're going to make it out of this!" He called back. "We'll all see this through safe and sound, and then you can tell me after!"

She wanted to run back to him, to see this through with him, just to make sure he and Mabosstiff and everyone else were going to be safe and sound by the end of this. But he was in the thick of battle now, and it felt like taking that withdrawal would mean going back on all he said, all he fought for. It was all up to her now, and she saw him off with one more wave before setting her sights to the lab.

They all had faith in her to finish this. And so she was going to have faith in them too. All the way up, and all the way to the end.

---

This was a dangerous trip. Momo wasn't the type to shy away from danger, but for once, she was really, really nervous. She got to see and hear and almost taste the full force of just how dangerous Area Zero was, and now she was nearing the heart of it. Alone. Even in this compact, pipe-like passageway, the long reaching echoes of her footsteps still convinced her this place was anything but safe.

Still, she clutched the Violet Book close and remembered what she was here for. Everyone was going to be okay. All of her friends. She formed these bonds, and she wasn't going to lose them. They were all going to come back safe and sound, make it out of here in an epic finale, and maybe hang out some more. Since that's what friends do. Momo hoped that's what friends do.

In such a dark place, Momo was tempted to start humming to herself to keep her pace. Thankfully, she didn't have to consider the idea before a broken opening to the side revealed a room. A quiet room, filled with whiteboards and scattered notes and everything else a lab was supposed to have.

"Looks like it's up to me to clean up some more messes you've left…" Momo was almost tempted to pick up the crumpled papers or even kick aside some of the fallen ceiling.

"Human presence detected within the Zero Lab. Deactivating sleep mode."

There was that monotone, rigid voice again. Momo was about to chew him a new one with all she went through to get here, but then she turned a corner and saw where he was. Hunched over on a stool was Professor Turo, up until that robotic voice of his uttered those words and righted himself instantly.

As the professor faced her, that glint in his eye almost didn't seem human, but even then… "Hello, Momo. Thank you for coming."

The room reverberated with a growl. The Miraidon was by the professor too. It snarled, glowered towards Momo, and-

"No." The professor stared at it, holding out his palm. "Back to your ball."

The Miraidon huffed, turned away, and disappeared into the Pokéball the professor held. As it happened, Momo widened her eyes when she recognized the purple shine. A Master Ball.

"I imagine you might have some questions." Professor Turo slowly turned to her, tucking his hands into his lab coat. "This Miraidon is far less tractable and far more aggressive than the one you've traveled with. Your Miraidon fled and flew away from Area Zero because it lost to the other one in a territorial struggle. It is likely you've witnessed the aftermath of such damage yourself. It is fortunate you were able to bring your Miraidon from the brink and restore the functions damaged."

Momo thought back to that fateful day, all the way back to the shore by the cliff. "So that's why Mirage was…" And the professor had already turned away. "Hey, wait! I have a lot more questions to ask you, you know! About everything!"

"Any questions can be addressed as we make our descent." The professor's methodical footsteps echoed as he led her to a set of doors. "Follow me."

Momo cautiously followed. The walls must've been thick, because it was deathly quiet in here compared to how loud it probably was outside. "There better be a good reason for all of this."

There was a lot of rubble in this quiet place. Momo would've expected someone as meticulous as the legendary Professor Turo to be more tidy about things. If she's even talking to the actual professor. She wouldn't be surprised if this call for help was for a cleanup job or something.

Past the charred notes, broken pipes, and incomprehensible diagrams, Momo's eye spotted a few noteworthy things hung up. Ones that were noticeably less dusty and well kept than everything else. Framed photos. A young boy and his Maschiff.

Momo let herself look at them for a sentimental second. "Do you think you could let me take these?"

The professor seemed to smile at that. "Gladly. Please preserve what you can."

Not sure why he put it like that, but Momo wasn't going to complain. Carefully, she tucked the Violet Book and the pictures into a safe part of her backpack before following the professor past those elevator doors. The white walls felt bright in the chamber that thrummed, and the long descent began.

There were a lot of questions Momo had, and for once, the professor lingered to listen and answer them all. She got to learn about the time machine that was invented, sending Pokéballs into the future and back, that was still doing so at that very moment. She got to learn that it was created for Professor Turo's fascination, his goal of a paradise where Pokémon from different time periods could live in harmony. She got to learn that it was an ordeal for the professor to work on after some family problems, though something about the mystical power of the crystals in Area Zero made the impossible possible.

Momo would've expected something as far out as this to be difficult to understand or process, but the professor actually explained it in extensive detail and she was still able to follow. It could've been her overactive imagination or something like that, but with how concisely the professor explained it all and easily answered any question she had, it was as if this entire conversation was calculated. Maybe a bit too calculated.

"Another thing." Momo looked the professor right in those eyes that hardly blinked. Her thinking cogs were sure of this. "You're not really Professor Turo, are you?"

The professor's expression shifted slightly, and he nodded. "Your thinking cogs would be correct. I figured you would have connected the dots by now, Momo. I am not the true Professor Turo. I am an artificial intelligence the professor created, imbued with his memories and knowledge. I must apologize for keeping this secret from you all."

Momo pursed her lip. She took a second to really look at how human the professor looked. "I had a feeling something was off, but… an AI-powered robot? Is that what you've been this whole time? Some AI Turo?"

The AI professor paused. Sure enough, Momo could see a hint of metallic sheen over his very being as the elevator lights passed. "The original Professor Turo created me to be his very double, to assist with his studies here. Humanity does not, in fact, possess the knowledge to develop such a sophisticated AI at present. But the crystals that make up the Zero Lab have made such a thing possible here, as it did with the time machine. However, being bound by the power of the crystals, they are also why I cannot leave this place."

He looked to her with a solemn gaze.

"From the time I first reached out to Director Clavell and asked to be put in contact with you… you were speaking to an AI, Momo. The reason I asked you to come to me is because I have one last thing to do here at the Zero Lab, and I desire your help."

"So all this time…" Momo remembered that moment at the academy. That was the first time she ever met him. And it would explain all the phone calls, and… "What happened to the real Professor Turo, then? Where's he been all this time?"

"He is…" For once, the AI hesitated. "He is dead. The real Professor Turo passed away during the incident that destroyed Research Station No. 4. During the destruction of the research station, his physical body received grievous injuries that left it unable to sustain life. It was during that very territorial struggle your Miraidon lost and fled from."

"H-Huh?" There were a lot of ideas that caught Momo off guard. The busted research station. The fight that left Mirage defeated near the lighthouse site and in need of her help. Mirage may have escaped Area Zero with his life, but… "That other Miraidon killed Professor Turo?" All this time, from the moment she started her journey, Professor Turo was…

"I am sorry," Turo's AI continued. Momo felt almost speechless knowing she was looking at a dead man walking, still using his voice somehow. "The Pokémon was not to be blamed. It was the original professor who failed to accurately judge its full power. I believe the professor wanted nothing more than for the Miraidon to survive and thrive. That is why he threw himself in front of your Miraidon in an attempt to protect it. I am just afraid that this may be difficult for his son to accept."

Momo couldn't imagine what Arven would be thinking if he knew about all this. A dead parent, torn apart by the very Pokémon he had a rough history with… If the AI really was created with Turo's own ideas and sentiments in mind, she hoped his words and apologies about the matter were sincere. There was a part of her that wanted to hide the truth from him, if only so he could cling onto certain beliefs a little while longer.

Momo mustered her voice. "Way back then, when you saw I had Mirage at the academy, you were planning to ask me to come here from the very start, weren't you? What's this 'one last thing' you need me here for?"

"The original professor built the time machine to in hopes of creating a paradise of future Pokémon, but you've seen the destructive prowess and territorial temperament most of them hold. Their very existence brings destruction to the ecological balance of this current age. The original professor would say that such destruction is a natural part of life. At present, the barrier around Area Zero is still working to keep the future Pokémon from escaping into the rest of Paldea."

Momo let out a sigh as a Pokémon came to mind. "Or so you thought, right?"

"Yes." AI Turo nodded with a frown. "It was fortunate just one Iron Treads broke through the barrier, and that you were able to befriend it. Eventually, if more of these Pokémon continue to be brought here, they will break free of this walled garden known as Area Zero and run rampant across the Paldea region, trampling it beneath them." AI Turo shook his head. "I may have been created as a copy of the professor, and yet… I cannot seem to find the logic in allowing such a tragedy to occur. But any hope of preventing it would require overcoming the greatest AI that the original professor ever devised."

Momo gulped. The stakes suddenly seemed a lot higher right now. "And that's where I come in, right?"

"That is indeed what I have called you here for. In short, I wish for you to put a stop to the time machine the original professor created." AI Turo nodded, his smile carrying a hint of reassurance. "Momo. You have become a formidable trainer. One worthy of restoring your Miraidon's strength. Now use that strength you have gained to destroy the dream Turo once cherished."

Their descent stopped there. The elevator doors opened, and Momo stepped out into a massive glittering dome of a room. The only tilings composed of dark metal flooring led to a sort of mechanical pedestal at the very center. Every other inch of this place was covered in those familiar crystals, but with how they were composed, it gave the room an entirely different feel. This room wasn't invaded by crystal, it was made of it.

"Behold. This is the time machine we perfected using the power of the crystal phenomenon." AI Turo's voice echoed around the place as he led Momo forward. "To stop the time machine, you will need to use the professor's ID, which has been embedded within the Violet Book. It was very like the professor to put the final key we would need in that book, of all places. He loved that volume since childhood."

Directly above the pedestal, attached to the ceiling, loomed what was probably the time machine itself. A massive bundle of metal parts that were closed up, like a flower bud hanging off the ceiling just waiting to be opened. The more Momo stared as she approached the pedestal, the more she thought the great machine kinda resembled how Glimmora looked when they were perched in cave walls.

With only her footsteps echoing amidst the distant hums of machinery, Momo took the Violet Book out as she approached the pedestal. She eyed the depiction on the cover that resembled Mirage. "So if I just place it into this slot, it'll shut the time machine down, right?"

"It will initiate the shutdown process. However, there is just one issue." AI Turo nodded, with a narrowing stare. "If you try to stop the machine, I will most likely attack you. Artificial being that I am, my own desires can still be overridden by the system programming. Once that happens, I am afraid I will become no more than a battle machine, bound to defeat anyone identified as an obstacle by my code. My battle abilities are peerless, built upon analysis of all the battles carried out by the various champions of the Paldea region. You must defeat me to complete the shutdown process."

Momo figured there was a catch. This was what she was here for. The very mention of the AI's prowess left her struggling to meet the professor's eyes, knowing very well the calm wouldn't last. All for one last fight. What would be the highest stakes battle she would ever have. She readied herself with a breath, and felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand if this seems too sudden for you to process. I understand if the idea of coming up against the time machine's defense system intimidates you." At that moment, Turo's stare was calm, his voice surprisingly gentle. "However, having seen the bonds you formed between you and your friends, human and Pokémon alike, I believe you can prevail."

It was odd. Momo was sure she was speaking to an AI, his movements and appearance said as much. Yet, for a moment, she recognized the caring reassurance of a father in his eyes and voice. She couldn't remember the last time she felt that. Either way, such praise from such an advanced AI surely had to be the highest form of encouragement she could ask for, so if she needed any more reason to keep going, it was this.

"For all my friends, and for all of Paldea." Momo wore a smirk, tactfully producing the book from her bag as she gave the AI professor a dutiful salute. "I'll see it done!"

She had everything she needed for a final fight like this. Momo slid the book into its designated slot, and after a click, the sounds of scanning rocked the pedestal as the floor shook. With a thrumming noise, a voice spoke from the machine above.

"ID confirmed: Professor Turo. Access granted. Please wait…"

Momo backed away as the white crystalline sheen in the room faded, shifting into a darker gold. The metal flooring seemed to weave and bob around her, almost moving like waves.

"It is up to you now, Momo." AI Turo solemnly stood by the pedestal, slowly slumping over. "Please. Defeat me."

"Shutdown command overridden. AI Turo switching to sleep mode. Activating offensive protocols…"

From the unsteady metal flooring around Momo, pillars of shining black metal stood, looming around her. The vague collective shape of a massive crystal led to its center, the pillar carrying the pedestal and AI Turo, to reach the apex of the room's height. Farthest from the earth below, closer to the heavens above, right where the time machine's blooming shape twisted and opened. The bright white crystalline sheen of the room spread throughout as the machine opened to reveal the equally blinding portal within.

From Momo's spot far below, all she could feel was the shaking ground as the machine above spun like a blade as it violently thrummed to life. As she tried to keep her grasp on everything, all she could see were the crystal walls that contained her, confounded her, blinded her. And as she caught a glimpse the grand machine dispensing yet another Master Ball into the waiting hands of the one far above, all she could think was…

"What am I up against…?"

"At last…"

The tone AI Turo had carried less pleasant intentions now. With a Master Ball in hand, he had met Momo's eye, a powerful glare intensified by his elevated position. What emotion left in his eyes had been taken over by the glow of a robotic blue.

"At last my dream is within reach…" There was no gentility or compassion left in his voice. Professor Turo's humanity was long gone. "... and you're not getting in the way!"

From far above, from Professor Turo's hand, a Master Ball fell through the air. While she was almost mesmerized by its descent, Momo quickly reached for her bag as it drew closer, anticipating the danger within. She scrambled to take a Pokéball out, calling forth her Bombirdier, and-

Winds rushed, flashes of fire and poison lit up the room, and both their winged Pokémon had already taken to darting around the massive dome. Both Pokéball flashes lasted for only a second before the fighting started. Momo didn't have time to say a word before she was bewildered by the unfamiliar form of the Pokémon she was up against, and poor Alti was left to be pursued by it. Their speedy flying forms were but small specks as they swerved around the dome and every pillar that rose and fell.

Professor Turo's voice called to her from high above, echoing around every inch of crystal lining the walls. "I don't know how you think you are, but I'm not about to let anyone get in the way of my goals."

Fiery attacks and a bug-like face were what Momo recognized, this definitely had to be a futuristic Volcarona of sorts. Maybe an Acrobatics would work…?

On her call, Alti swerved around, beak and talons sharp, ready to close in on the foe that darted towards her. Vortexes of fire and bubbling poison were sent her way, but she was able to use her agility as Momo commanded her to, dodging most of the blows before speeding towards her target. The futuristic Volcarona looked like it was charging up another attack, Momo kept her eyes peeled for where the fire or poison would come from, but it didn't come. Instead, an electrical shockwave discharged itself from the Volcarona's body, immobilizing Alti at the faintest touch and sending the Bombirdier careening back with the blast.

"Alti!" Momo watched it all go wrong before her very eyes, but she didn't buckle. She kept up the urgency in her step, following her Bombirdier as she fell from the skies, ready to catch her on the way down.

She caught her fallen Bombirdier in her arms, but the impact knocked her over and left her reeling against the wall. After all that, she was still breathing, Alti was still breathing, though the Volcarona shadow that hovered nearby wasn't reassuring. Although winded, Momo brought herself to her feet, looking through her bag for a healing item.

"This is the power the distant future holds. Splendid, isn't it?" Professor Turo's voice echoed, almost as if being channeled through the futuristic Volcarona staring them down. "Do you imagine you can best the wealth of data at my disposal with your human brain? It'd take a miracle to match the strength of such superior Pokémon!"

There was a lot Momo didn't understand, and still couldn't comprehend. She was unsure of her chances, being truly alone like this. But she wasn't truly alone.

"A miracle? Good." Momo smirked her devilish smirk. It was finally time. "I just so happened to have the power of miracles with me all along!"

Momo looked to her Bombirdier, who was tired, but still ready to fight. From her bag she pulled out a wrapped up sandwich, leftovers fresh from the minifridge, this one labeled 'bitter'.

The Volcarona seemed to waver as Momo pulled it out. "That power… No… You don't have…"

But Momo did have it. She wasn't sure if this was going to work, it was something she had never tried before, but she'd be darned if she wasn't going to give it her all regardless. This was a plan she had cooking up for a while now, ever since she heard those words, the same words that were resurfacing as she set this plan into motion.

"Eat herb, get better. Eat too much, get bigger."

Alti didn't hesitate to swallow the Herba Mystica sandwich Momo tossed her way. As that familiar boost of power flared through her Bombirdier's growing body, she looked past the futuristic Volcarona, towards Professor Turo's watchful eyes, and defiantly laughed in the face of his shock.

"That champion prowess may be in your algorithm, but I have it in my blood, sweat, and tears! You look to the future, but my time is now, Professor Turo! I hope you're ready, because right now, it's time for Momo's big moment!"

Right before her very eyes, as if manifesting dreams come true, the titanic form of her Bombirdier flapped with massive wings, Alti's sheer presence blowing the futuristic Volcarona away. The room shook, but this time, the ruckus was of Momo's doing, and she couldn't be any prouder for it.

"Don't think you've won with such forbidden strength!" The Volcarona quickly reoriented itself. "This was an unforeseen outcome in my records, but utterly crushing you will be valuable experience! The crystals call for your data and digitalization! I hope you're ready to become my newest test subject!"

Momo stepped forward, her larger than life Titan Alti ready to advance on her call. With the playing field evened, she felt more confident, and she could feel her allies itching to get a piece of the action from within their Pokéballs. Sticking by her side were the Pokémon friends she made along the way throughout this whole journey, all because she stayed true to her goals and stuck to this epic adventure to make a name for herself. Even if the odds might still turn against her, she was going to face it the best way she knew how.

"We all have dreams! We all have our fantasies, ambitions we work for, things we aspire to even if it's impossible!" Every desire, every chance to prove herself, it all came to mind. "Still, you're delusional, professor! But guess what, so am I!"

"If you truly think we're not so different, what makes you so sure you can surpass me right now?"

"Let me show you!"

Alti's massive form shot forth, keen eyes honing in on the Volcarona that swerved. Momo's sandwich idea may have left Alti a bigger target, but Momo wanted her Bombirdier to feel at her best for a fight like this. To reclaim her true status as the Open Sky Titan. The payload may have been rocky with their first impressions, but Momo learned to trust Alti, and Alti grew to trust Momo, taking those righteous bitter emotions and going far with them in battle.

Even with her feathers flapping away the blasts of fire and poison that stained her, Alti found difficulty landing blows on a foe that darted around her form so easily. But Momo knew well where her precise aim would truly shine. Taking to the room's utmost highest, Alti set her aim as she hurled her stockpile down. A bombardment of massive boulders were sent the Volcarona's way, ones that it attempted to blast away, but struggled against with the addition of the titan's raging winds. The Rock Slide overwhelmed any fire, poison, or electric attacks it had and sent it crashing down. When the Volcarona rose up from the rubble, it was weakened enough to allow Alti a free hit in, but there was still speed to spare from its end when they collided in the air.

The resulting clash culminated in Alti's beak striking true, but not before the Volcarona manifested more flames from its wings, engulfing them both on the way down. Momo watched from her spot away from the falling rubble, watching Alti lose strength and shrink down. With the Volcarona knocked away, left downed in the distance, Alti weakly flapped back to Momo's side, giving her a gentle peck to the head before she was recalled to rest.

"You did amazing, Alti. It was scary at first, but I'm so glad we're friends now." Momo planted a kiss on her Great Ball. "We got one down. It's a good thing I have sandwiches to spare, because Max Momo mode is not slowing down anytime soon!"

From another Master Ball high above, the futuristic form of a Hariyama emerged. Against another powerful brawny beast, Momo knew there was no one better than the Stony Cliff Titan to take it on. Her Klawf emerged with her call, accepting the Herba Mystica sandwich Momo took out and growing to a massive bellowing size. Even with the size advantage, the futuristic Hariyama was strong, shaking the arena with its palm strikes, but Titan Brawn stuck to the walls and hurled her rocks from there.

Sweet was a trait befitting of a Klawf that was as affectionate as she was strong. Brawn was one of the meeker ones of the team, but that didn't mean she was weak. Momo recognized her strength, recognized that being sweet wasn't a weakness. She knew of all the times Brawn was weakened or defenseless, but never thought of her as weak for any of it. Being openly vulnerable and kind despite it all was a strength. When Brawn pounced on the Hariyama, digging against it with her claws, it fought back with overwhelming strength, grabbing them. Yet, when Momo saw Brawn's claws snap off again, she still didn't lose any faith in her strength. There was still power in that angry shell, and before the Hariyama could throw her away, Brawn used her massive legs to stomp down on it with the last of her strength. The High Horsepower shook the area, taking both of them down in the quake.

"That's my big Brawny girl." Momo smiled as her normal sized, clawless Klawf scuttled back to her. "No matter how many times you slip up, I'll never think of you as weak. Get some rest."

A futuristic Tyranitar came next, and against it came the colossal form of the Lurking Steel Titan. Titan Orthon let out a war cry of a bellow before circling the foe. Momo saw him as the hardy type, always wanting to fight, but she admired that tenacity and toughness that came with the attitude. The Orthworm didn't let anything stop his coily advance, not anything the Tyranitar could throw, electrocute, anything. He was still taking damage, but he never let that stop him, he just continued to laugh and get into position as he closed in. The Tyranitar may have resorted to Earthquake attacks to try and get a hit in, but Orthon gladly just ate those earthen shockwaves up with a crude burp to match.

Momo could always rely on Orthon's toughness, the kind she aspired to be. To rampage on for what she believed in without a care in the world, being able to take on nigh anything with an unstoppable temper to match. His salty temperament may have left him hiding his weaknesses, but that made victory all the more fulfilling when his massive body started coiling around the Tyranitar. The cornered foe had taken to super effective hits, punching Orthon in the face with critical blows, but the Orthworm used that fading strength to his advantage. Even while he shrunk, he didn't let up, crushing the Tyranitar with his Body Press, still being strong no matter what.

Momo saw how at peace he looked when he was unconscious, perhaps dreaming of a battle well fought. "I can always rely on you to get the job done, Orthon. I hope you learn to take it easy, for all our sakes."

There was no time to take it easy when it was a futuristic Hydreigon took the field next. An iron against iron matchup was sure to be even, but with her Iron Treads growing to a size worthy of the Quaking Earth Titan, the advantage of their bond was sure to shine through. Titan Donny's eyes pinpointed the Hydreigon's position, and he engaged in fearless pursuit, an advance Momo and Mirage would be proud of.

It was a shame that Donny appeared in this world with such a sour impression of it. He never got to live his life normally like the other Pokémon around, and how different he was compared to everyone else left Momo wondering about how much of a mystery he was. Both he and Momo had a lot to learn about the world, a lot to be afraid of, but they were never alone in their struggles. Through flaming blasts, slashes of air, and harsh pulses, Donny endured the blows amidst his rolling pursuit, his quarks driven by thoughts of the company he still got to make in this unfamiliar world. Encasing himself in ice, allowing himself to be vulnerable against the Hydreigon's burning retaliation, he pushed onward without uncertainty, letting his resolve speak for itself as they both collided into the wall. The scared little Iron Treads may have overexerted himself with that ram of an Ice Spinner attack, but in the end, he was proud of where he was.

Although Momo only saw the flickering eyes of the Iron Treads that had returned to her, she could feel the courage in his heart and hugged him for it. "Even if I know what you are and where you're from, you'll always be our friend, Donny. Always."

The air grew colder as a futuristic Delibird skated onto the field, and knowing well how powerful those water strikes were, Momo sent the False Dragon Titan to take the stage. While Sami gladly ate the Herba Mystica sandwich and took the power boost, the change in size was barely evident, but that was okay. Momo knew well about how small Tatsugiri are, sometimes being so small that it looked like they disappear into the ground, but she knew that his size came from the heart. A heart that fought back against the world, fought on despite the disadvantages, and sometimes even used that smallness to his advantage, embracing the fact of it.

Despite his unassuming appearance, Sami was cunning, had an eye for spice, and was ready to show the world just how commanding he could really be at times. While he usually got by with some aid, right now he knew he was strong for who he really was, slipping and sliding away from the Delibird's icy attacks. Even then, his very being was a sign that it was okay to ask for help, because being by Momo's side, he got to be even more powerful than he ever could've dreamed of. Emerging from a pile of snow from the Delibird's blind spot, he unleashed the full nastiness of his plot with a surprise attack right as the Delbird turned around to retaliate. Titan Sami's strength shone as bright as the twinkling stars above, harnessing all his hopes into the apocalyptic force of the Draco Meteors that crushed the Delbird right as it fired back out of its tail. Ice clashed against dragon, and the lingering snow fell over them both in the aftermath.

Even as Sami was left shivering and flopping back to Momo, he still mustered that proud sneer of his. "Thank you, Sami. Colossal sized titan or not, you helped me learn a lot about what it means to be strong."

"Even now, everything is still proceeding within my expectations." Professor Turo's voice still echoed. "I'm afraid the probability of you winning is zero."

One last Master Ball. One last foe. As Momo called Diego to her side, she came face to face with the dark stare of a robotic Gallade. It had the same futuristic metal figure and sharp blades to be expected of such a Pokémon, but something about this Gallade still seemed… different.

"Gghh!" Not that Momo had much time to think. The Gallade was furious in its approach, forming a spear with its blades and shooting blades of energy from it. Even with Diego taking most of the attacks, Momo still felt the sting of cuts on her skin. She only had five Herba Mystica sandwiches, and now she was out.

Even when Momo tried to stand, she felt the pain that left her buckling. Even when Momo tried to shield her eyes, her arms felt the sting of attacks that grazed them. Even if the Gallade's strength was overwhelming, Diego stayed where he was, loyally protecting her all the same. Momo still found the strength to look up at her Skeledirge. His warmth had comforted her plenty of times. Now it was time to turn up the heat.

Even amidst the struggle, the danger, the hurt, Momo stood up and held her proud crystal beacon of hope to the skies. With her Tera Orb charged, Momo sent her terastilized Diego forward, attacks now bouncing off his crystalline hide. She was out of Herba Mystica, but she didn't need it anymore. She had seen the power of miracles in action, made use of it even, but now she was ready to make miracles happen with her own power.

With a single Shadow Ball, the Gallade's Psycho Cut barrage was silenced, stunning the Gallade for a second in the process. Then, the robot warrior rushed at Diego with its bladed weapon, metal circuits glowing pink as it slashed away at the Skeledirge. Diego got up on his hind legs, staring the Gallade in the eye, unfazed by the repeated attacks that bounced off of him.

Momo clenched her fist, feeling the burning, roaring fury that Diego held. "You won't break our spirit that easily! Diego, Tera Supercharged Torch Song!"

In Diego's hand, the fiery manifestation of a microphone stand appeared, which he held to knock the futuristic Gallade's weapon away. With a huff of fire, Diego slammed his mic stand down with a burst of flames, sharing Momo's determined cries as they both screamed out to the world, restoring each other's' strength. Wings of flame manifested from every inch of the Skeledirge's crystallized being, forming a rushing blast that engulfed the Gallade, knocking it back into the tallest black pillar as it did. The fire's embrace burned away at the Gallade's energy, burning brighter than all, melody louder than all, all until the warrior shut down.

"I-Impossible!"

On that impact, crystalline dust seemed to melt away as the heat dissipated, and the Gallade was downed. There was a slowing whir, the distant sounds of something short circuiting, and the ground shook once more. Momo gave her exhausted Skeledirge a well-deserved hug before letting him rest like the others. She was just about ready to keel over after all that.

Still, she lifted her head, watching as the pillars lowered themselves, the room quieting down to its flat, silent state. The crystalline whites faded as the sheen dimmed. By the pedestal, the figure of AI Turo seemed to recover from the shock, standing back up.

"Is… is it over?" Momo breathed out.

The vivid robotic blues had left AI Turo's body. His quivering form clutched at his shoulder as his weak eyes met hers. "It is over… Th-Thank you, for everything…" The damage had been dealt, but his voice was back to that caring gentility. AI Turo's smile was genuine. "The time machine has… He has finally… been stopped…"

They both looked worse for wear after a fight like that, but even then, Momo was glad to see AI Turo again. In the relief she felt, she was just about ready to go to him for a hug. But then…

"Momo!"

At just such a moment, the elevator doors behind opened, and out came her friends. Arven, Penny, Nemona, all safe and sound, now by her side. In such overwhelming relief, she was glad to have three pairs of arms to embrace. As to be expected, they had questions about what exactly this place was, if Momo already beat all the baddies without them, among other things.

"You should've seen me back there, you guys." Momo chuckled at them with the grin she mustered. It still took some effort to stand. "There was a battle and everything, and… I was really cool."

"I'd bet you were, little buddy." There was Arven's smile again, though the concern he had as he looked over her was evident. "You got all sorts of scratched up during all that, though…" His intense stare shot ahead. "Hey! You! Did you do this to her?!"

AI Turo remained silent, though his eyes lingered on the scene. "Oh… look… how big you've grown…"

Arven's fists were clenched. "Don't try this with me! I read the journal logs! I know you're not actually my dad! Out with it, who are you, really?"

"So… p-proud of you… my…" AI Turo could only tremble where he was. "... sorry… you were alone… for s-so… long… Arve-"

"You're not…" Arven could only stop and stare. His voice was wavering. "Are you…?"

Realizations didn't have time to click. Technological whirs echoed around the room once more, the crystal walls powering on with a foreboding, all engulfing violet. Every dent, every impact against the dome Momo caused, it all seemed to immediately repair itself as if nothing happened. The ground shook again, and Momo could only look to her friends to make sure they were still with her.

"Security system failure!" Words blared with every pulse of the crystal's color. "Threat to time machine detected! An obstacle is preventing the time machine from performing as intended. Activating Paradise Protection Protocol to remove the offending obstacle…"

The very sound of it, the blaring alarms and the shaking of the ground, it all indicated that there was more danger. Momo looked to the shock on Nemona, Arven, and Penny's faces, but out of everyone's horror, it was AI Turo who looked like he had the most to fear.

"It… cannot be—! Was keeping the time machıne running truly all the professor cared about?!" In his weakened state, his cries felt futile against the blaring above.

Nemona was quick to act. She pulled out a Pokéball, but it wouldn't open. Penny pulled out her phone, but it wouldn't function.

"Locking all Pokéballs except those registered to Turo's ID."

Momo tried pulling out Diego's Pokéball, but somehow, digital chains manifested around it. Their Pokémon were effectively trapped in their Pokéballs, and no amount of pulling could do anything about it.

"Gyah!" Penny cried out. "Some crazy electrical signal is jamming our Pokéballs! Even I can't get them open!"

"Program initializing… Gathering terastilization energy…"

AI Turo tried his best to stay standing, but even his voice was fading away to the volume of the machine. "I'm sorry, children… This is too much for you… You must run!"

His voice fizzled out after that. Creeping crystals quickly grew around his feet, spreading deathly quickly as his movements grew more rigid. The voice beyond the crystals took over, the human emotion in AI Turo's eyes faded, and all he was left with was a crystallized stare.

The pillars rose again. Momo, Arven, Nemona, and Penny were left to stare at the grand structure that towered over them. With the defense system taking over, with no Pokémon on them left to fight, all they could do was stare helplessly at the rising pillar as Professor Turo's distant figure pulled out a Master Ball from his coat.

"AI Turo has no intention of fighting. AI Turo disabled. Paradise Protection Protocol initialized."

Momo felt a tugging on her wrist. Penny and the others were already looking back at the elevator doors.

"Mondie, I think it's time we start booking it!"

"The pipsqueak's right!"

But Momo didn't budge. After all they crossed to get here, all they fought for, she wasn't going to run. She was called down here to shut down the time machine, to stop the defense system, and to keep Paldea safe. That was her calling from the very start of this journey, and she was going to see it through.

"You wıll fall here, within this garden paradise—and achieve nothing in the end."

Momo watched as the lone Master Ball sailed down, and she already had an idea for what fearsome Pokémon awaited within. She was scared, no doubt about that, but being scared never left her backing out from anything. Steep fear never stopped her from confronting her Miraidon on the shores that day, it wasn't going to stop her from confronting this one, either.

"You will not be allowed to destroy my paradise. Obstacles to my goals will be eliminated."

She started rummaging through her back as she stepped closer. Even if she couldn't use her team, it wasn't as if she could weaponize their Pokéballs. She knew very well how chucking Pokéballs against a Miraidon wouldn't bother it all that much. So if that didn't bother a Miraidon, what would…?

"You are not getting in my way!" Professor Turo's voice screamed. The Miraidon screamed. The voice manifested beyond the AI that resembled him, taking over every inch of crystal in the room.

The aggressive Miraidon glared down right before Momo's eyes. It was going for her first. Thinking quickly, she found a pouch from inside her bag. She waited for the Miraidon to zoom closer, braving the lightning, and then she heaved her all and kicked the pouch its way. Specks of Stardust glittered, stunning the Miraidon's stance and leaving it crying out in its blinded state before it could touch her.

Momo smirked. Seizing the moment, she took out a Pokéball from her bag. The only Pokéball that wasn't restrained. A Pokéball she was waiting for the chance to use like this.

"Let's make an entrance!" Momo's voice called out through the Stardust cloud. "Are you ready, Mirage?"

Her Miraidon emerged, her very own, still in his unassuming quadruped state amidst the fading glitter. He nodded back at her, she nodded back at him, sharing their fear while sharing all their courage as well. Although the other Miraidon roared at them, they stayed where they were, and in that growing strength, Mirage reared back.

"Thank you for everything, Momo."

The air almost seemed to swirl as a glowing blue engulfed Mirage's body. Momo saw this sight before, long ago, but now it felt all the more fulfilling seeing the transformation in action. The lights on Mirage's head powered to life, his thrusters took over his hovering stance, and crackling blues lit up in his eyes as electricity flowed through him.

Momo's eyes lit up at the sight, and she could hear the cheers of her friends behind her. Mirage, her very own, assumed his proud battle form and roared back at his foe. As if beckoned by his voice, the quark drive within Mirage revved to life in full force, his sheer electrical manifestation strong enough to generate an all-encompassing terrain of electricity.

"No time to rest! Be brave, stand up and fight!"

With another roar, Mirage waited for Momo's call, all while the other Miraidon taunted them to follow through. Momo was determined to show the other Miraidon, to show Professor Turo, to show all her friends just how much stronger Mirage has gotten through all of her efforts.

Powerful blasts of light burst forth as they both shone with the glimmer of gems. Both iron serpents clashed against each other with roars and strikes that lit up the room with every blow. When the other Miraidon tried charging up with the surrounding electricity, Mirage unleashed it all in his furious Electro Drift. There was that rushing lightning strike technique Momo saw. With the way the dome flickered with all shades of purple, Mirage deftly manuevered like Momo was steering him herself. Every retaliating blow had him dashing and swerving away, and his advance had him gliding and leaping with force and agility alike.

"The data say I am the superior!" Professor Turo's collective voice still boomed. "Fall, and become the foundation upon which my dream may be built! Hyper Beam!"

"Mirage, Endure!"

Waiting for the right moment to truly show off, that was something Momo and Mirage had in common. Their hearts beat in tandem with this fight, and while the Miraidon's Hyper Beam struck true, Mirage didn't waver. Even with how tense the battle had gotten, how blinding the entire spectacle was, Momo stood strong, knowing very well she couldn't lose with her friends by her side.

"Heal up, little buddy!"

"Hang tough, Mondie!"

"Go all out, Momo!"

About time those cheering lessons from battle studies class paid off. While the other Miraidon looked to have expended itself in that attack, Momo and Mirage were as good as new, ready to fight, prepared to unleash it all for just a moment like this. The shining Tera Orb Momo held had quickly recharged itself, and she held it to the skies as if she took the favorite colored shine of the crystals around her and made it her own. That very powerful energy had Mirage shining fittingly brighter, carrying the proud and powerful symbol of a dragon.

"Time to break through the illusion of paradise and show 'em we're the real deal, Mirage!" Momo's hands were pointed ahead, with one elbow pulled back and her other arm swept forward. "Techno Bursting Thundering Brute's Tera Blast!"

Mustering the power of the crystals, fighting back against the beginning of it all, forces that brought life, ambition, as well as loss and destruction alike, Momo and Mirage's resolve were one and the same. The blast had manifested as the essence of a devastating drake, rushing winds only a wyrm could master, pure draconic essence that surged forth, engulfing the enemy Miraidon and sending it flying back. With a fading cry, it joined the rest of the futuristic Pokémon Momo conquered, left beaten, strewn about, and soon to be recalled back to their master far above.

Momo let out a breath, and after the crystalline sheen dissipated from Mirage's body, all fell silent. Every resounding echo, every contained crystal, all of it. It was finally, finally, over.

"Momo, you did it!"

Nemona was the first to start barreling Momo's way in a congratulatory embrace. Then Penny, then Arven. That was a lot of action, maybe a bit of the overwhelming kind, but Momo found herself laughing alongside her friends as they all stared at her and her epic Miraidon's victory.

"How… how astounding!"

They all looked to the tallest pillar. Although his coat still carried lingering traces of those crystals, AI Turo's gentle expression had returned.

"To think that you would manage to defy even the original professor's final protections!"

Arven still carried a cautious eye. "Are you back to normal now?"

"Yes... A completely unforeseen outcome, even for an AI possessing the most sophisticated technology ever conceived." AI Turo sounded surprised, impressed even. "Even on the brink of despair, you children did not give in and instead proved your worthiness: showing the wisdom to think for yourselves, the courage to hold faith in your friends, and the fortitude to do what had to be done." He looked down upon them all, eyes shining with pride. "With your own strength, you made the impossible possible."

The very thought of it felt miraculous in nature. Momo didn't think much of it, but after all she managed to surpass, all she accomplished to get here, she really did defy the impossible odds. Making friends, healing Mirage, overcoming the toughest of battles. She continued to laugh with her friends, tears of joy welling up with how far she had come with all of her Pokémon.

Though, as much as Momo wanted to celebrate, seeing through this journey with everyone, there had to be a catch.

Arven's distraught eyes lingered skywards as the news dropped. "You're… you're leaving?"

"I am sorry." AI Turo's gaze lowered. "I now realize the original professor was quite thorough when he made the time machine's defense system. It appears I myself am part of the system that ensures the machine reboots when stopped. As long as I am here, I am afraid the time machine cannot be put to a complete stop."

"Wait…" Momo blinked as she wiped at her eyes. "So the only way to stop the time machine is for you to…"

"Do not worry, I have come up with a better solution. I will use the time machine to journey to the world of the future that I have dreamed of." AI Turo slowly looked up to the grand machine. "By taking the professor's Violet Book with me, I will also be making sure the time machine cannot be reactivated. With the crystals that have now embedded themselves in me, I will remain functional wherever I go. I am not going only so that the time machine can be stopped. I also cannot deny my desire to see that future world for myself, to honor the vision of paradise the original Professor Turo desired. Is this what it feels like to have your heart race with the thrill of adventure...?"

Alongside Nemona and Penny, Momo was still in disbelief of it all. Especially for Arven's sake. They finally come face-to-face with what was left of the professor, and still, something like this had to happen. Even as AI Turo congratulated them all for all they achieved in their adventures, she couldn't deny the sorrow of goodbyes. Goodbye to a father. Even as Arven cried out, Momo put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from stumbling.

There was a bittersweet sorrow in AI Turo's voice as well. "Arven. I am sorry that I kept the truth from you for so long. I inherited all the thoughts and wishes of the professor, and so I understand better than any… your parents truly loved you."

"You… you can't…" Arven's head was lowered. His fists were clenched, and his lip quivered. "You can't just go and say a thing like that now…"

"I suppose you are right." AI Turo turned away, stepping towards the pedestal. "Arven. Mirage. Momo. It is a little sad, but I am afraid this is goodbye."

After those final footsteps, the machine whirred to life, the distant portal above opening once more. Looking up, Momo, Arven, Nemona, Penny, and Mirage all saw as AI Turo was slowly lifted off the ground, book in hand as he gazed down proudly at them all. The wind that came with the intensifying power of crystals surrounded them all one last time.

"Farewell, my free adventurers! No matter how challenging of a future may await you… I believe you will be capable of walking whatever paths you choose for yourselves now! With pride!" As he floated towards the great beyond, he gave them a salute, then a wave. "I thank you, all of you children! And I bid you adieu!"

The machine spun and twisted once more, the final spectacle momentous and grandiose, and as the professor vanished, it all came to a stop. The life of the machine flickered one last time, and as it shut down, it closed back into its budding form, the crystalline dome losing power and dimming back to an eternally quiet state.

"Dad…" What broke through the resting silence were the sounds of sniffling and tears. "How could you just… go?"

"Arvie…" Momo muttered. She wanted to go to his side, to reassure his hope, anything.

Nemona had looked to him too. "You okay?"

"Yeah… I already had a feeling my dad was long gone…" Arven took a deep breath, wiping his face with a sleeve. "But when he… said my name with his voice and his face, even if that wasn't my dad, it still felt… real, you know?"

Penny shuffled up to him. "You know, um… Arven, even if the professor's gone… I bet he's finally having a real fun adventure of his own in the future. And I bet he's real proud of you, too." She gingerly gave him a pat on his backpack. "Um… yeah. Sorry."

"It's okay." Although he still sniffled, Arven looked to them all with a smile. "Thanks, you guys."

I'm proud of you too, Momo wanted to tell him.

It didn't take long for Nemona to start gushing about how awesome Mirage looked now. Momo couldn't deny the triumph she felt with it, and she couldn't help but giggle when Penny said she would probably die if Mirage tried jumping her again. Though, Arven was still quiet as they all made their way back.

Whatever the case, it was time to go home.

---

It was back out the lab, back to the nearest warp pad, then back to the surface of Paldea, finally out of Area Zero, though with the trek it took, Mirage had to go back to his ride form for the walk. After all they talked about on the way up, by the time the conversation fizzled back into silence, all Momo could do was glance at her friends as they took to a brisk pace onto familiar grassy paths. Her, Mirage, Nemona, Penny, and Arven.

Everyone made it out in one piece, so she had every right to feel triumphant. Granted, her jacket was close to being torn open, sleeves at the seams, but regardless, her friends were safe and sound like she hoped. Still, all throughout this, she couldn't help but notice how downtrodden Arven was with his silence during the way back up. She knew he tagged along to keep her safe, but it was like somewhere deep down, maybe, just maybe, he was hoping for something more out of this trip. Something that was now gone.

"Okay, everyone! Listen up!" It was Nemona who peppily spoke up among them.

"What is it?" Penny spoke up.

Nemona stood in front of them all, pointing towards the vast landscape ahead of them. "Let's take the long road home… and get a little more fun out of this adventure!"

Momo blinked, still catching on to that enthusiasm. "Might be fun to go sightseeing, even."

Arven was grumbling next to her. "I don't really…"

"Sounds great!" Penny had jogged ahead to Nemona's side. "If we can load up on snacks first, I'm in. You coming, Mondie?"

Momo saw her friends waving for her and picked up the pace, but not before looking back. "Come on, Arvie!"

Arven had lifted his eyes, and was reaching out to her in a moment of surprise. "Hey, Momo! Not you, too!"

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, though it didn't last when he felt something pushing him from behind. Mirage snickered as he nudged Arven ahead, much to his chagrin.

"H-Hey, what do you think you're doing, you brute?!" Arven glanced back at the Miraidon.

"You were under the misunderstanding that I was pulling your family away from you," Mirage responded with a calm smile. "Now I'm remedying that by pushing you towards your new one."

Although reluctant, Arven brought his eyes to the group of friends waiting and waving for him. Ones that stuck with him throughout this whole trip. Ones that would hopefully keep sticking.

"Oh, all right, fine! I guess we're doing this…"

The girls all laughed as Arven skidded and shuffled their way, and it was Momo who Mirage pushed him to. Momo looked back at him with a soft smile, and as Arven hiked his backpack up, he seemed to ease up too.

Arven slowly stepped closer as he faced her, giving her a pat on the shoulder. His touch was gentle, almost hesitant, careful around the spots where her jacket was torn open. "Not bad, little buddy… you… you did good."

Momo giggled quietly, feeling grateful and flustered at the gesture. "You did good too, you grumpy worrywart… We all did, of course."

While Nemona and Penny were discussing all of the exploits they've been up to, Mirage walked alongside them, and it almost seemed like Momo and Arven had more space to themselves than the others. Still, they joined in the talks about adventures and battles and camping and everything in between. Momo wanted to lean closer, and so she did, and all throughout, Arven didn't object. His hand was still on her shoulder, and as it started to trail down her arm, he drifted away by her wrist. Momo still held on to him, first with the brush of her finger, and then her hand. Arven didn't object either.

"Y'know Arvie, if it makes you feel any better… I definitely think your dad would win the dad royale. Er, the good one, I mean."

"... Sure, why not, whatever you say."

The journey to Area Zero was over. With all the professor orchestrated, it led to them all being railroaded down the same path, like friends walking down railroad tracks. It was a treacherous discovery for Arven, and as the four of them walked back through the paths they made for themselves, Momo stayed by his side. She knew that more than anything, right now, he needed someone to stand by him.