Prologue

A Problem with Deerling

The World of Pokémon, full of mysteries as bountiful as the Pokémon themselves. Following an unknown event quite similar to the appearance of Ultra Wormholes, times have changed. Distortions in time and space appear at random all over the world, and such events have even created billions of Pokédollars in damages in the Galar region due to the nature of their Dynamax-allowing Power Spots. Researchers all over the world took the opportunity to study such Pokémon that would appear, such as ones previously known to be extinct such as the Lost Species of Hisui, but found that these Pokémon out of time were, in a word, savage creatures. Even capable of attacking those who would approach them, these Pokémon and the Distortions that appear worldwide have been made into a growing field of opportunistic study by these researchers, albeit very dangerous ones.

Professor Juniper in Unova, for example, expanded her research Lab into a natural, multi-level preserve known as the Juniper Preserve and Wildlife Park, as well as moving location to Castelia City. Young trainers, with all the newfound danger in the modern world, were no longer allowed to go out on journeys at the tender age of ten, but would now require more schooling to ensure they survived such an event as the appearance of a Distortion. As such, Professor Juniper also made her new lab into a Trainer's School, teaching growing trainers with frequent trips to capture or otherwise study Pokémon in their natural habitats while also giving them the survival knowledge needed to survive an encounter with the savage Distortion Pokémon as well as the new breed of Pokémon: the Alpha Species.

These Alpha Species could be found anywhere in the world, and further emergences suggest that many Pokémon still contain a dormant Alpha gene that- once activated- will make the Pokémon increase in size and stature while making their hostility towards people grow tenfold and even at the level of a beginning evolutionary stage, these Alpha Pokémon can overtake even a hardened Trainer.

With these events, the Pokémon League Association also created a new organization, one to be run through the schooling of new Trainers and their experiences with all Pokémon. This team was named the Global Distortion Research Society, or GDRS.

One such student at the Castelia Pokémon Trainer's School and Research Lab is Nick Celestia, known but distant cousin to the Sinnoh Region Champion, Cynthia. Talented as he is at his studies, a prowess not unlike Cynthia's own present, Nick is not without his challenges during his time in school. None more so challenging than the School Salazzle.

The term School Salazzle is a newer term, one that coincided and became a counterpart to another student-based title known as the School Vespiquen. But, the two Queens of the school, as it were, were anything but the same. The School Vespiquen was kind and helpful, for the most part, while the School Salazzle was the opposite, usually mean-spirited and an overall bully to the rest of the student body. But none more so to Nick, for reasons he had never fully figured out. And, as the last year of schooling before Nick and the rest of his classmates graduate into full-fledged Trainers begins, so too does big changes to the world at large..

Unova Pokémon Trainer Academy and Research Lab, Castelia City..

Seventeen year old Nick Celestia looked up at the somewhat imposing and towering structure that was his school and otherwise home away from home during the eleven-month school year. He straightened the duffel bag on his shoulder, sighing as he walked towards the door. "Just one more year of this, then at least I won't have to deal with her shit again." He said as he entered the school, looking at the keycard gripped in his hand for the number of the dorm room he would be sharing with whoever had been drawn by lottery. He sighed. Room 494 again, huh? Another V for Victini, then I guess.

When Nick was a young child, he had stumbled into an area of Castelia City that he hadn't been in until that point. Crying and rooted to the spot, the young Nick had been approached by a small Pokémon, not much smaller than the child Nick had been at the time. Later, Nick had found out this Pokémon was a Unovan Mythical called Victini, and when it had smiled and patted Nick's head with it's tiny paws- the V-shaped crest on its head glowing- the Victini had blessed Nick, and the boy had found he could never get lost again, and his prowess in school during battles wasn't quite unmatched, but he was close to being top tier in the battle leagues the school held, usually kept in second place to that of the School Salazzle. Ever since, Nick had made it his personal life mission to find the Pokémon of Luck and Victory and thank it for it's help, or even just for being there when Nick had needed help.

One day, Victini, we'll meet again. He thought as he slid the keycard into the reader next to the door of dorm room 494, becoming shocked as he saw he hadn't been the first one to arrive to the room. For in the room, putting her clothes away on one side of the room alongside her Chikorita, was the School Salazzle herself, Sameera Anjali. "Fuck. So much for Victini luck." Nick muttered, Sameera bristling where she stood at the dressers before turning towards him with a smirk.

"Well, well, if it isn't my little Sobble." Sameera had been calling Nick her Sobble since she'd first begun her onslaught of bullying-brand terror on the boy, mostly because when it all started, Nick had been more of a crybaby than most guys were, but he had always been a sensitive soul and since, the amount of crying Sameera had reduced Nick to over the years had diminished until more recently, where he just took the insults and shrugged them off, no matter how much they hurt him.

To most in the school, it seemed odd that Nick- now a tough guy in any other situation- allowed those walls to come down and allow himself to be belittled by Sameera, who had since made it her favorite school pastime. To those select few who knew more about the situation, it was worrying. Not because they saw Sameera acting out more harshly than she had beforehand, her brand of insults and bullying had always been consistently at a single level on the scale. No, what worried them was the Stockholm Syndrome in the mix.

Not even Nick knew when the hate and sadness associated with the volatile girl's bullying of him had turned into something else, but it had and now, Nick was torn. He knew with everything he was that he should hate the bully for her continued attitude towards him, even now when he stood taller than her, but he didn't. He couldn't bring himself to, and so he silently suffered the negatives of their interactions while hoping beyond anything she would realize how stupid her continued attitude was and just fucking apologize. In all reality, Nick would have been happy with just that.

He sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Hello to you too, Meera. Hi, Chikorita." Despite her owner's hostility, Sameera's Pokémon partner was the complete opposite.

"Chika!" Chikorita called, being as adorable as one could be.

Sameera rolled her eyes. "Why can't you ever be menacing?" She said to the dinosaur/plant hybrid.

"Because Chikorita is one of the most friendly Pokémon in the world, you can't force an attitude on her like she's me."

"Force an attitude? And what attitude, pray tell, do I force on you?"

"One of misery, loneliness and despair." Nick said with a heavy sigh as he put his duffel bag down on what would be his bed for the school year. "How was your summer?" He asked, knowing the answer wasn't going to be given in the same neutral tone he had spoken in.

Sameera scoffed. "What do you care, anyway? Only thing you're really good for is being my little punching bag."

"You've never once gotten physical towards me, Sameera. And, I've been taller than you for over a year. Why am I always your fucking target?"

Sameera shrugged. "Because you're an easy one. And also all your stupid talk about finding some fucking myth."

Nick could feel his ears heating up as he scowled towards her. "And what qualifies you as all-knowing to know what I have and haven't seen or done in my life? You don't know me, Sameera."

"And what makes you think I want to know you, Nick? What, just because we're stuck as roommates this year, you think that means I'm just going to drop the attitude? Change my ways towards you? The chances of that are fatter than a Gigantamax Snorlax."

Nick scoffed. "Like I care. Just stay out of my way this year. I'm not going to idly sit and let you screw with me the entire year, not this time. After this year I'll be lucky to never see you again." He said, grabbing clothes from his duffel bag and putting them away, ignoring the pang of displeasure his words caused within him.

Sameera stood at her own dresser, her eyes wide. Did he just.. She thought, shaking her head. Alright, two can play this game, right? "Fine with me. What finally made you decide to grow a pair?" She asked, her voice lower than she'd wanted to convey.

"I just decided I was done being the one on the receiving end of your shift. Go find someone else to terrorize, because I'm fucking done."

Sameera stayed silent, if only so Nick wouldn't know she was on the verge of tears. Yeah, she was a bully, basically the HBIC, but that didn't mean she didn't possess some level of empathy towards others. Especially when it came to Nick. Yeah, she had practically thrown him down a flight of stairs daily with the amount of insults and other bullying tendencies she threw at Nick, but that was all a cover only one other person in the school even knew about. In reality, Sameera only acted like that because Nick's brain wouldn't fire the right neurons to make him realize the bullying was only an act. At least, concerning him. Unlike Nick, however, Sameera could tell when she had first realized she felt something for the otherwise oblivious teen. So yeah, his words were hurting her more than she would let on, even if only to see how far she'd really have to go to make Nick realize she wasn't bullying him for the selfish satisfaction it brought most schoolyard bullies, and hadn't for a long while already.

There was a pop and shimmering whoosh sound as Nick finally released his own partner Pokémon, a light blue (shiny) Froakie which was followed by the excited call of Sameera's Chikorita, who rushed over and the two started hopping around one another. That was another thing that should have given Nick a hint about Sameera's true feelings, their Pokémon never went to blows with each other. Sameera had further concluded that her Chikorita might in fact have a crush on Nick's special little frog, but that was neither confirmed nor denied. Other than the happy banking of the two Pokémon, their human partners just stayed silent and unpacked their things as the door opened and Professor Juniper stepped inside, smiling at the two Starters.

"Oh, good! You're both already here. That will make this easier. It's a good thing both of your Pokémon get along well together." She said cheerily.

Nick looked at her, voicing his confusion before Sameera could get her own chance to. "What do you mean, Professor?"

The researcher giggled. "Well, this is the final year I have with you guys as students, and as my best two students, this year will be a great opportunity for you both to truly shine."

Now Sameera had figured the researcher was hiding something behind her words. "Um, Professor? Mind cutting to the chase?"

"Hm? Oh, yes of course. This year, we'll be sending students out in mostly permanently set teams of two." Both teens felt something prickle it's way up their spines as the Pokémon researcher continued. "And for that, we've decided that teams are set up by roommates, so you two will be sent out together, and I won't have any of that teenage angst and argumentative bullshit you two constantly throw around at each other. Am I clear?"

Despite her usual happy-go-lucky attitude (as it seemed was a shared trait among Pokémon Professors), Juniper was known to have a mean streak when it came to keeping her students/junior researchers in line. And that meant having to constantly break up verbal fights between Nick and Sameera for the last several years already. And it was with that toughness that both teens turned towards her, sparing a glance at each other as well before nodding in unison. "Crystal clear, Professor." Nick said first, followed closely by Sameera.

"Best behavior." She nodded again as she spoke.

Professor Juniper smiled. "Good. Now, you both know classes don't officially start until tomorrow, but I would like you both to investigate something for me ahead of time. Think of it as some extra credit."

The teens looked at each other again, both masking the actual elation they felt with matching frowns. Sameera sighed dejectedly. "Fine, I guess. Wasn't really planning on doing much else today, anyway."

Nick shrugged. "Screw it. What needs doing, Professor?"

The Professor smiled. "Nothing too difficult. I just want you both to go outside of the city onto Route 4 and investigate claims of an Alpha Pidove left behind by the Distortion that appeared there almost a week ago. As of yet no one has been seriously injured by the creature but I know you both understand the importance of investigating the Alpha Species."

Nick nodded. "Of course, because the Alpha Species is something that doesn't exist in this time period, or didn't before the Distortions started appearing globally. The last time any record of any Alpha Species Pokémon was-" Nick pursed his lips into a frown as Sameera cut him off to finish the statement.

"Back when Sinnoh was still known as Hisui, at least a couple of hundred years ago. Isn't your family from Sinnoh, Nick?"

"Yeah, they are. Although you already know that, since you just love telling me being related to Cynthia herself means nothing."

Sameera flinched mentally, just another point on the long list of things she would eventually clear the air of with Nick. Hopefully. "Maybe, maybe not. So to be clear, Professor, we're just observing this thing if we find it, right?"

"Yes, that's right. Just a recording on your Rotom Phones will do. And no fighting today, if nothing else. Please."

"Yes, Professor."

Later That Night..

Despite the almost comfortable time the teens had spent with each other looking for the admittedly huge Pidove (and find it they did), the hours since they had returned to the school- and their rooms- had descended into nothing but nonsensical arguments. From their beds near the window, Chikorita and Froakie just watched their Trainers, the truth between the humans evident to their partners. "Fire type is the way to go when it comes to Starters." Nick argued.

Sameera laughed sarcastically. "Yeah, right! You picked a Water Starter why, then? Plus, everyone knows Grass is the type to go with to have an advantage for Leagues."

"Most leagues, and Greninja is a badass, hell yes I'd pick Froakie. You're the one whose Starter doesn't reflect yourself." He said, pointing out Chikorita's overly cheery disposition.

"Chikorita is adorable, she doesn't need to be mean, you know."

"Whatever. Everyone knows Pokémon and their attitudes reflect their Trainer's own, so why is is that you are such a bitch when your Pokémon acts like a fucking princess?!"

Sameera stood up from her position sitting on her bed, fuming. "Fuck you, Nick! Who are you to tell me my Chikorita can't be good because I don't act like it? It's better than being a fucking Sobble about it."

"I am not a fucking Sobble to your Salazzle, Sameera! Not anymore! I am not letting you walk all over me for another year. The professor wants us to work together for the year? Fine, but don't expect me to just sit back and ignore your fucking insults like I've always done. You need something of me? Then I expect you to fucking ask, not demand. You show me that Arceus-damned respect, I'll show it right back."

"Whatever. Fucking Sobble." Sameera raged, exiting the room with a forceful slam of the door behind her, leaving Nick to fall backwards onto his bed

He looked over at the two Pokémon across the room. "Sorry, guys. Seems like peace might be a bit hard to come by for the three of us." Chikorita sent him a knowing look. "Alright, alright. Four of us."

Third Floor Balcony..

Sameera didn't want to be on even the same floor as Nick, so she had gone down a floor and now found herself on the small balcony outside, overlooking the finger-like docks that made up Castelia Harbor, the stars and moon out at sea calming her mind slowly. "Funny finding you down here." Came a voice that made Sameera want to roll her eyes.

She turned, leaning back on the railing behind her and faced the Vespiquen herself, Lizzy Lorei. "Great, what do you want?" Sameera asked her.

Lizzy walked over and looked out at the sea as Sameera had. "I was just coming to enjoy the view. Pretty sure you have a better one on your floor. You're on the fourth, right?"

Sameera sighed heavily as she turned back around. "Yeah. Roomed with the damn Sobble."

Lizzy giggled knowingly, shaking her head. "Oh, Professor Juniper struck again, then?" Sameera looked at her dumbly. "Oh, you didn't know? The Professor set the rooms up to stop all the rivalries between us students, or at least the worst of us. I got roomed with Katrina Wash, myself."

"She what? Why? At least you got another girl with you. I have to deal with Nick." She gestured to herself gagging.

"And yet, your tone is most definitely nowhere near sounding disgusted." Sameera leered at her menacingly, making Lizzy just laugh in response. "No need to be Meera the Salazzle here, hun. Or do you not consider us friends anymore?"

Sameera sighed, visibly deflating. "You're my best friend, Lizzy. I'm just.. I don't know."

"Alright, so let's see what I can probably gather. Your eyes are puffy, so you've been crying. Or you suddenly became allergic to the city." She dodged the half-hearted punch thrown her way. "You and Nick went out of the city and came back both looking like normal teenagers for a change, so obviously whatever happened was after you both came back. And Professor Juniper, probably knowing exactly how you feel about him, is playing matchmaker in her own weird way. Hell, maybe she knows how both of you feel. Like I do." She smirked at Sameera, who eyed her suspiciously.

"The hell do you mean? How would you know how Nick feels about me?"

Lizzy smiled innocently. "I'm the Vespiquen of the school, Meera. I'm supposed to be compassionate towards most of if not everyone else like you pride yourself on being the Salazzle."

"I really fucking hate that title." Sameera muttered, looking away.

"I know you do, Sameera but you chose it by being such a bitch to that poor boy when we all started school. I know at first it was just teasing but it kept escalating throughout these past years we've all grown together. Knowing how you feel about him, you couldn't snap yourself out of Salazzle Mode to be an actual person to Nick during any of that?"

"I didn't.. Maybe I just.. What's the use? You'd see through some half-cocked lie anyway. Of course I could have, but I stupidly kept thinking he'd just notice me, maybe just act right towards me despite the shit I always gave him. Eventually the act just became our life, I guess."

"So go and do the right thing and apologize to the boy. You two are always at each other's throats." Sameera went to retort but was silenced by Lizzy. "Every catching contest, every research trip, every school Battle League. You two don't stop to just have fun anymore, you're both too busy proving yourself to the other in some weird, backwards plan to stop the hostilities, thinking one of you will just finally concede defeat to the other. But it'll never come because you didn't stop when you had the chance."

"I never had the chance to stop it. What, you think I could just go up to him and ask to talk in private? What about my reputation?"

"If you fucking care for Nick as deeply as you told me two years ago, you would have done so then when I told you to! Everyone hates seeing you two fighting day in and day out."

"Whatever, Lizzy, alright? I'm not trying to fight, it's just stressful. I'm trying but almighty Arceus it's harder than I thought to just be nice to him when we're in the same room. I hate it. I want to tell him how I feel, how sorry I am for everything I have said and may still say to him. I want Nick to look at me and not want to leave the town we were both in at that moment."

"I know, Sameera. And I'm sure Nick wants exactly that as well." Lizzy smiled knowingly, looking the other way. "But, with the level of drama between you both? Be prepared for it to take a while. Possibly even longer than the time we'll all have together this year."

"I really don't want that, absolutely not. Would it be bad if I just went back to the room and kissed him?"

"Ignoring everything to try and convey a point? Knowing Nick, I'd say that's a horrible idea. He's only going to think you're setting him up. No, you need to work it slowly."

"Alright, I guess." Sameera sighed. "By the way, you never really answered my question. How do you know what Nick thinks of me?"

"I've talked to him. You call him a Sobble, but that boy hit Intelleon years ago, now. He's actually really charming when he wants to be."

"Don't tell me you're still harping on for him, too?" Sameera groaned. She didn't need her best friend in competition with her over a boy, most of all Nick. "You can have anyone in school, Liz. Why fight me over Nick?"

"Because, your wants and your actions tell different stories, and I'm not the only one who thinks Nick is a good-looking guy. You want me to stop teasing, maybe even pushing you over the fact I like him, too? Fine, but I need to see improvement on your part. Has Nick said anything to you that may have been a hint of what he wanted?"

"From me? Respect was the only thing I heard him bring up.." The moon disappeared behind a cloud, darkening the land and making her sigh. "I'm such a bitch. Nick was right.."

"Stop the pity party, Sameera. You know what you need to do to fix things now, right?" Sameera nodded. "So reiterate it to me again. You're gonna go back to your room and.." Lizzy motioned with her hand for Sameera to continue her sentence.

"Apologize to him for being a bitch. I can add that my body and mind are still a bit tired from travelling from home to here so I was grumpy.. Wait. What if things do work out? Nick is a Unovan local, and I'm from all the way in Alola. I doubt we'll see much of each other for a while after graduation." She frowned, looking down towards the streets below, where a couple strolled happily along, gently pulled by a pair of Furfrou.

"Oh, ye of little faith. Meera, go apologize and get some rest. Starting tomorrow, you have two personal missions." Sameera looked at her quizzically. "One, actually befriend the boy you've been crushing on in a completely hypocritical way for years and eventually confess your feelings to him. Who knows, he might just surprise you. And two, actually be yourself, drop the fucking Salazzle title, you've grown out of it but you're too damn scared to let it show. Let some young bitch take the mantle, just let them know you're still Alpha until we graduate." Lizzy snapped her fingers suddenly. "Oh, and absolutely do not call him a Sobble anymore. Seriously."

"I won't. I.. I shouldn't have called him one before I left. Arceus, I have a lot of apologizing to do."

"Then you better get started before he decides to just call it a night. It is starting to get a little late and you know Juniper likes us up early the first few days of school."

Sameera looked at her Rotom Phone, gasping at the time. She had been out on this balcony nearly all evening and night so far, as it was almost midnight. "Shit, you're right. Chances are he's already snoring away."

"He doesn't snore." Lizzy said, her cheeks reddening as she realized her tongue had slipped. "I mean, I don't think he does."

Sameera looked at her suspiciously again. "Is there something you aren't telling me, Liz?"

Lizzy shook her head, mimicking a Hitmontop with the speed of the action. "No, of course not. Just an assumption." She giggled the slip off, sweat dripping down her neck from nervousness.

"Hm. Whatever you say. Thanks, Lizzy. I think maybe I just needed someone to talk about it with." She gave the other girl a small smile. "I'll see you in class, unless the Professor starts sending us out right out the gate."

"See you, Meera. Good luck." Lizzy said, waving her friend off before turning back to the sea. Those two.. How is she still so clueless that he wants her just as badly as she wants him? She asked herself, laughing into the night sky.

Sameera entered the room to find it dark, but Chikorita and Froakie we're still awake, and they both made their way over to her. "Hey, guys. Yeah, I'm alright. Sorry to worry either of you. Froakie, where's.. Oh." She said, scanning the room and finding a Nick-sized lump fully covered in his bed. "Damn, guess that's out the window. The morning then. Definitely the morning." She said, lowering her voice so as not to wake Nick as she got pajamas out of her dresser, going over to the bathroom off to one side of the room to change for bed.

Early the Next Morning..

Sameera woke up before Nick, and looking at the still-sleeping boy she smiled as she quietly left the room, a plan formulating in her head. As she was out, Nick opened his eyes and shot up in bed, another strange nightmare engulfing his otherwise alright dreams. These nightmares are getting out of hand. What could be causing them? He thought as he looked at his hand, thankfully still attached after the nightmare of having it ripped off his body by a savage Raticate, one of many horrors that had presented themselves in the nightmare. Maybe it's related to a Pokémon. Darkrai could be around.. Or maybe just an extra mischievous Gengar.. His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened again and Sameera came in, back flat against the door as she held a bag and two cups in her hands, closing the door again with a kick that would probably excite a Scorbunny. She turned towards him and froze momentarily before shaking her head.

"Oh, morning, Nick. Breakfast?" She asked, lifting the bag up slightly.

"Morning.. You didn't poison it did you?"

Sameera frowned before sighing. "I should feel hurt at that, but I guess I deserve it. No, it's not poisoned. I wouldn't do that to you, that's just plain murder. Here, along with coffee, just how you like it."

"Extra sweet, creamer with no sugar?" He looked at her suspiciously as he slipped at the nice Kalosian Vanilla taste. "How do you even know that?"

Sameera reddened, making her already dark skin appear to darken even more. "Does it really matter? Here I am getting breakfast and you have to critique the situation?" Her temper flared despite Sameera telling herself not to let it get to her, everything nasty Nick could think of to say to her was warranted and backed up by years of prior abuse, after all.

Nick held his hands up. "It's fine, Sameera. Thank you, I appreciate it, especially because it's.. Arceus, only five-thirty? Wait, where did you find someplace open for breakfast at this hour?"

"This is Castelia City, Nick. Plenty of places are open around the clock, and those of which that serve breakfast start at five." She explained, looking at Nick's odd face. "What? Surely you would know that, being a local boy and all."

"How do you know so much about the city? You used to rarely go outside the school at all."

Sameera looked away, not trying to let loose the fact she used to follow him out of the school when he would go wandering through Castelia, and therefore she had read various business signs and committed that knowledge to memory subconsciously. "I.. I don't sleep too much anymore. Haven't for years, actually. Not since.."

"Oh, no I got you. I always forget you're from Alola. You used to live in that village that got destroyed by that rogue Totem Pokémon, right? Back when we were kids."

Sameera nodded. "Yeah, the.. the Rage of Marowak, we call it." Flashes of the ghostly purple flames blazing all over buildings and even the corpses that littered the street. She shook her head to clear the bad memories. "I lost my father that day, and wound up living with my mother on Melemele Island since. I'll be glad to never have to go anywhere near Wela Volcano again."

Nick nodded, unwrapping the bagel Sameera had handed him, sipping his coffee again. Sameera was looking anywhere but towards him, and it was beginning to bother Nick. Especially because after another ten minutes (and eating at a pace considered slower than a Snom) of otherwise total silence, he had become quite concerned about the lack of insults or otherwise harsh words said towards him. "Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?" He asked once the silence had become too much to him.

Now awake, Chikorita and Froakie both turned their heads to face Sameera, who looked at Nick like she hadn't heard the entire question. "Hm? Oh, uh.. I.. I'm trying to.. ugh!" She threw her hands up in distress before sighing and clearing her throat, trying to explain it again. I can do this! Sameera Anjali is no coward! "I'm changing myself, even if the final year of school may not be the best time for that. I don't want to be the fucking Salazzle anymore, alright? I'm tired of being someone I've spent too long being when I'm not really like that. And my list of things to do for that starts with you. More specifically, the years of apologies I owe you in particular."

Nick was taken aback by that, which was most definitely not what he expected the girl to say. "Really? So you started with.. breakfast?"

Sameera's cheeks darkened again. "I was up early, and I thought you'd want something to start the day off with. It's not much, but I wasn't expecting to be any bit forgiven just for bringing you coffee and a damn bagel."

Nick just smiled. "I'm not teasing you over it, Sameera. Thank you, really. It does mean a lot. Maybe not in the grand scheme of just how much you really owe me, but it's a start." Sameera gave him a small smile, still avoiding making any form of eye contact with him. "Do I have something on my face? Like seriously, if there's like a Caterpie resting on me, please say so. Otherwise, you not actually looking at me is somewhat unnerving."

Her eyes locked with his then, and Sameera sighed. "Sorry, sorry. This, really talking to you and doing everything not to turn this into an argument? It's just hard right now."

"I can tell. What made you decide you didn't want the title for your last year?"

"I'm just not that kind of girl, in reality. I only adopted that persona for.. personal reasons that are probably much better off kept a secret. For now. I'll tell you, I will, but right now I think it's neither the time or with good reason to. You can understand that, right? Plus, you're not making an argument out of any of this, either."

Nick smirked. "Because I've never tried making the argument, it just goes to that point. Maybe I'll tell you my reasons about it sometime." He winked at her as he practically stuffed the last quarter of bagel into his mouth.

Sameera watched him, part intrigued, part disgusted and also part aroused. Damn hormones! I shouldn't be turned on by Nick eating like a bottomless pit. "That's gross."

"Well excuse me, princess. I like to eat, is that a crime?"

Sameera giggled despite herself. "No, I guess it isn't. Damn, that time already?" She asked, looking at the clock which now said it was just past six.

Nick looked as well, frowning which intrigued Sameera more. "Yeah, guess it is. Why do you seem sad about that? It's not like you're stuck with me for most if not the entire school year." He said, smiling at her playfully.

Sameera rolled her eyes but smiled back. "True, but we don't know how much of that time can be like this. This was nice.. and a lot easier than I thought it would be."

Nick chuckled, standing up from his bed and going to grab clothes for himself. "It was pretty nice, seeing you so flustered. You're definitely not the same Sameera from last year. I can get used to you being like this." He winked at her as he went to change.

Sameera felt like she had sunburn from the intensity of the blush on her face as she looked at the bathroom door as it closed, eyes wide. Did.. is he.. no, he wouldn't just go to that. Would he? I'm sure he's not that stupid.. She started biting her thumb as Nick came back out incredibly quickly, fully dressed in his casual outfit of a pair of cargo shorts and a light blue t-shirt with the design of an Electrode under a purple travel vest. He really looks good in that outfit.. She had trouble taking her eye off of him as he grabbed his shoulder bag and slid it on his shoulder, looking back at the still otherwise unprepared girl. "You gonna get ready?"

The reforming bully cursed herself for getting caught staring. At least it's only the first time he's caught me.. She giggled to herself as she nodded. "Yeah, I just got lost in my head really quick. Let's go. Froakie, Chikorita, you too."

The teens held their Poké Balls up and their partners were brought back into the containment devices. Clipping them to their belts, the teens looked at each other as Nick opened the door. "After you, Salazzle." He said, his tone completely joking.

Sameera couldn't help but giggle. "Thanks, Sobble." She laughed louder as Nick lunged after her as he closed the door, stopping their faux chase halfway down the hallway from the elevator. As Nick walked just ahead of her, Sameera grabbed his arm suddenly and pulled him back. She probably meant it to be gentle, but Nick being caught off guard made Nick lose his footing and trip into her, Sameera's back crashing into the wall with Nick pinning her, their faces inches away from each other both tinted red. Sameera panicked and pushed him away to arms length. "Sorry. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for calling you a Sobble all these years. I can tell that these days you're nothing like that crybaby I knew when we were ten. You haven't been for a long time."

Nick, in an action that actually shocked both teens, gingerly grabbed Sameera's chin, bringing her head up to look at him- not whatever seemed so fascinating to her on the floor- and smiled. "It's fine. Truth be told, it hasn't actually bothered me for a while. Seems more like a pet name, really." He laughed at her sudden wide-eyed stare as he let her go, and her him. "Come on, we're gonna be late at this rate." He started off towards the elevator, Sameera having to find the strength to move again.

Nick.. Just what is it about you.. She picked up her pace. "Hey, wait up!"

Downstairs in the classroom area of Juniper's main lab, the rest of their schoolmates were already present, the usual bully/bullied pair being the only ones still absent. Juniper tapped her foot. "It's not like either of those two to be late.."

Lizzy hummed. "I'll go make sure they haven't killed each other." She volunteered, Juniper nodding.

As Lizzy started towards the door, however, it opened by Nick's hand as Sameera entered first, the two laughing. The brunette Lizzy started at the sight. This is.. Faster than I expected.. "Finally, you two. What the hell kept you?"

"We were talking, Lizzy. Shouldn't that be obvious?" Sameera said, her personality going back to Salazzle Mode against the other School Queen.

"Hey, she was probably just worried, knowing us. She's your best friend, right?" Nick said, his words instantly allowing Sameera to regain control of herself, walking silently off towards the hilariously only open desks in the room with Nick in tow.

As they sat down, smiling and nodding at Professor Juniper, she leaned towards him. "How did you know me and Lizzy are friends?" She whispered.

"She told me, last year after the Walrein Debacle. I asked her why she was so dead set on running off to try and free you without even thinking." Sameera's eye twitches at the mere mention of that day, her attitude included.

The Walrein Debacle was considered one of the worst days their class had ever had in all their seven currently completed years. It had started off fine, it had just been a group project investigating why Pokémon and people had been frozen outside of Icirrus City, honestly fitting the town itself. Sameera and Nick had been sent along with Lizzy and two others, Kai Palmer and Mark Webb, to see what exactly was going on. The teens hadn't expected to find a rampaging Walrein living in the lake just outside the town, stopping travelers from going in or coming out of Icirrus from that direction. Lizzy had been frozen solid first, followed by Sameera who had tried to go save her- desperately so, in Nick's opinion at the time. Then, the three boys were left to fend for themselves, which proved too difficult a task for Kai and Mark. Nick had been the last one standing, and somehow him and Froakie had managed to calm the beast down, keeping an eye on it until someone came from the lab to pick up the new research specimen. As it turned out, the Walrein had come to be at Icirrus by way of a Distortion, and it had probably been confused and irritated at not being in it's home anymore. These days the Walrein played happily with other Water Pokémon, but the teenagers involved stayed far from the large 'mon, except Nick of course.

"Fucking Walrein.." Sameera huffed as she turned back forward to see what the Professor was saying. It never looked good to be caught not paying attention in class on the first day.

"Now, some of you already know that this year, being your final year, will be a bit different than those in the past for multiple reasons. Firstly, as far as research pairs will be made this year. Your roommates for this final year are in fact going to be your primary partners in your trips out of Unova. If some of you guys want to group up into fours, that's fine. Just know that you all are still being graded on your work. Which brings me to the next item to discuss. How you all will be graded for the year. Now, you all have passed well enough in past years, but this year the United Leagues wants you to adhere to a more.. thorough research process. You will need to pay attention and document everything you discover about your research targets, and if needed any new Pokemon you may stumble across. The occasional Hisuian Pokemon has been known to appear via the Distortions, but there are also rare reports of other more recently-extinct species popping up across the globe.

"You will receive feedback on your reports both individually and as a pair, because some of your report must be written by both partners." She leveled her gaze at Nick and Sameera, Nick putting a hand behind his head and chuckling sheepishly. "It's nice to see you two not at each other's throats for once." She noticed the matching cups of coffee on their desks and smirked. "Sameera, dear, mind if I have a word with you before I send you all on a review assignment?" She asked, the girl looking at her wide-eyed as she followed the Professor back out of the classroom.

Once outside, Sameera leaned on the wall. "What's this about, Professor? I haven't started any-"

"I know, don't worry. This isn't a teacher talk, alright?" Sameera relaxed and nodded. "Good. Now, why did I see you sneaking out of an otherwise empty lab so early?"

Sameera looked at her in surprise, not expecting that particular question. But, thanks to what Lizzy had hinted to her the night before, Sameera thought she knew where the Professor was going with it. "I um.. I went to get breakfast from that place down Hootcourt Avenue."

"The place that sells the best sunkern seed bagels in the city?" Sameera nodded slowly. "Did you get there early enough.."

"Nick and I both had one. But, I think you already suspected that, right Professor?"

Juniper smiled. "You are correct, Meera. And it's nice to see you making an effort."

"Well according to Lizzy, you know why I'm even making said effort."

"Yeah, because you've been in love with that boy for at least two years, and through all of that time you have done nothing but treat Nick poorly and put him down repeatedly. I'm actually somewhat shocked at the sudden turn around. Getting coffee seems a bit forward."

Sameera felt her cheeks burn. "It wasn't like it was a date or anything. I got him breakfast as an apology, at least to offer as a start. But we have talked a bit, but I'm a bit confused.."

"Why? If something is bothering you-"

"No, no! Nothing like that. It's just, we've been so good with each other since then, and I'm afraid of that breaking down. And, also he has been doing the most ignorantly romantic things to me. I don't want it to stop but I know I can shift back to my damn Salazzle attitude at any time when it comes to Nick but I don't want that."

"Hey, calm down, Sameera. You have to remember to take things slow, with Nick but also yourself. I don't think Nick fully understands what his actions are doing to you, but that's beside the point. You need to really keep your temper out of control. It's bad enough the League doctors want to diagnose you with Dissociative Identity when that really isn't the case. You created a role and now the attributes of that role are controlling most of your actions, but it's changing. You need to let yourself breathe and know that if he wants to be friends with you at the very least, you need to treat him like any other student here. Do you understand?"

"Of course, Professor. I'm sorry I've caused you so much trouble over the years."

Juniper laughed. "Oh, don't be sorry. Honestly, the fact that you tried so hard to get him to notice you that you became a totally different person to who you really are is entertaining. Irritating to an extreme, but entertaining. So you're gonna be on your best behavior out there, right?"

"Yes, Professor." Sameera rolled her eyes as they went back into the classroom, Nick nudging Sameera's foot under their desks, making her look at him, startled.

"You good?" He mouthed, Sameera nodding in response.

"Everything's fine." She mouthed back, smiling at him before turning back to the Professor, who smirked as she acted like she hadn't seen the silent exchange.

"Now, any other changes in how your schooling will go this year will be brought up accordingly, but for now you're all more than qualified to go back out in the field for now. So, I have everyone's assignments for today up here on my desk. Please, will each pair of you all take your own assignments- I'm talking to you, Rowan- and go prep yourselves for your trips. If anyone needs, you can always grab some extra supplies from the storage room. Alright, guys, chop chop. Those Pokémon aren't going to research themselves, now are they?"

Sameera and Nick looked at each other, Nick shrugging as he got out of his seat to grab their assignment, Sameera picking up both of their bags as she followed him up to Professor Juniper's desk. Handing him his shoulder bag, she looked at the sheet of paper Nick handed her. "Fuck. Seriously? She wants us to go after a.. severely savage Deerling?! You don't think it could be an Alpha, do you?"

Nick shrugged again. "Maybe. Just means we need to be more careful if it is. We'll be fine. So, what was with the Professor before?"

Sameera smiled. "Nothing you need to care about, Nick. Just something personal I brought up to her last year." It was a lie, but Sameera did have something important to ask Professor Juniper. When we come back to report. She decided, leading the way for them to exit the lab.

Not long after leaving the lab and Castelia City behind as the two teenagers moved north towards Route 4, which wasn't usually known for its Deerling sightings during the current Fall season, usually found there in the months where Unova was experiencing it's Spring, so another two months from now would have been the appropriate time to find them. But the lack of Deerling in general irritated Sameera. "Why is it so hard to find a goddamn deer?"

Nick chuckled. "Because this is Unova, where the month dictates the weather and that weather then dictates the Pokémon found in the area. This route only has Deerling during the Spring months, the next of which is two months away. So, in reality, we shouldn't find any Deerling at all, making me wonder why Juniper sent us on a seemingly wild Ducklett chase?"

"Who cares, I just don't want this assignment to be a bust. Not like the last time.."

"I tried to apologize to you about that. I had no idea that Pikioek was your research subject. I just wanted to catch it. It's technically still mine but I know it's local to your home so if you want it.."

Sameera's frustration ebbed away somewhat from the offer, and she offered him a smile in return. "No, it's alright, Nick. You caught it fair and square. The Professor didn't lower my grade for it or anything, it just frustrates me when the work isn't as simple as it should be."

"Well, to be fair, things being that easy would them harder for us in the long run. Like, what if a Snorlax goes nuts and destroys a town for all it's food? Destroying another when it's needs weren't met then. Then we'd have a real issue on our hands. There's a reason Snorlax eating sprees are considered a disaster in rural areas."

"Alright, fair point. But then, wouldn't being able to find said rampaging Snorlax be the better option?"

Nick nodded. "It would, definitely but that's never as easy as things go. They haven't gone easy for any of us since the first couple years when all we had to do is stay inside the Juniper Reserve."

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that. So, where exactly was this thing seen?"

"About where we are, actually.. Look for some tracks, we'll probably find some since it rained during the night." He said, pointing out that some of the trees bordering the path of the Route still showed signs of leaves drooping from excess moisture.

"Okay. Hey, doesn't Froakie know how to track other Pokémon?"

"Yeah, but I don't like using him all the time. It's better to figure it out ourselves, let's us practice and hone our own skills. Arceus forbid one day we don't have our Pokémon on a research trip."

"Yeah, guess you're right. I mean, even the Galaxy Expedition Team started out with no Pokémon by their side. Oh, I found a Deerling print! But, this isn't ordinary.." Sameera said, pointing to the ground where a still-visible footprint was seen.

Nick looked at it as he knelt down. "Definitely a Deerling, not that there's much difference between most hooved Pokémon. The size is huge for a regular Deerling, but the tracks look like it was simply grazing, not rampaging.. Oh." Nick brought his eyes up to the treeline where the tracks were leading and saw trees further into the brush toppled as if a Bewear had been present and in a rage. "Nevermind, rampage confirmed. So that would mean this Deerling must be further into the woods here."

Sameera nodded, looking at the devastation. "So much damage, and for what? Just being unfamiliar in its surroundings?"

"Probably. Most Distortion-based Pokémon that appear are displaced through time, at least more often than the Space aspect. So, it could have lived here when this was all still frontier, but now there are people who pass through what it considers its territory too often for it's liking, and being most likely less familiar with humans than our own Pokémon are, it would act like a Pokémon from say Hisui, with extreme prejudice."

"Well, I don't like it. Those Distortions are what caused my town's destruction years ago, sending the Totem Pokémon on such a rampage that the Alolan authorities had to make the entire area around Wela Volcano a no-man's land until they could figure out how to properly deal with it. Which, as it happened, was with Balms, like what the Galaxy Team had to do when Giratina was sending the Noble Pokémon into their frenzies back then." Nick nodded. "Also, that reminds me. Do we even know why Sinnoh got a name change? As far as Sinnoh-specific forms of 'mons go, calling them Hisuian variants instead of Sinnoan honestly sounds better to me. Plus, wasn't Sinnoh the name of what the Hisuian people called Arceus? Seems pretty over religious if you ask me."

Nick shook his head in amusement as they walked through the woods, following the destruction. "It does, I'll give you that. Weirdly, history about the Region and it's change in name isn't very widely available, if at all. Not even Cynthia knows, and she's one of only a few people in the world that can say they're descended from the ancient Celestica people who founded Hisui, at least with evidence. You ever seen a picture of that Hisuian woman Cogita? She looks too much like Cynthia to be a coincidence, hundreds of years between their births be damned. And, me and Cynthia share a common hobby."

"I know. You're too into archaeology and myths. I mean, what's so special about this damn Victini you're searching for? Seems like an odd choice, cuz most people would want to seek out Ho-Oh or Lugia or even Hoops, the mischievous little devil."

Nick laughed. "Yeah, most people would go after something more substantial than a simple tiny Mythical, but Victini is special to me. Without the blessing the little guy gave me when I was a kid and lost way in the middle of the woods, I probably could have died in those woods. I don't have to tell you what Victini is known for, right?" Sameera shook her head, she knew all about the blessings of Luck that Victini was storied to give. "And that luck has persisted ever since, and because of that I know I'll see the little guy again one day. I just want to thank him, although catching it would be awesome. It was a shiny variant when I saw it."

Sameera looked at him, surprised. "You've never told anyone it was a shiny Victini."

"Of course not. Shiny 'mon are rare enough, but a shiny Mythical? That would bring every poacher who caught wind of it to Unova and beyond looking for it, and I'd rather die than let a Pokémon like Victini get captured by poachers. Or worse, someone like-"

"Team Rocket.." Sameera looked down, her hand running through her red hair absentmindedly. Should I tell him?

"At the least." Nick said, nodding.

"You know, Nick, sometimes I think you're too good. I mean, we're all learning to study and otherwise help Pokemon, but you dying for a single 'mon, even if it's a rarity like Victini? That's a bit much, isn't it?"

"Maybe, but against people who steal other people's Pokémon, I would risk my life again and again."

"Hopefully not, though." I don't want to see you get hurt..

"Yeah, hopefully not. Arceus willing."

"Arkoos." Sameera giggled, making Nick look at her. "What?"

"How do you.."

"I heard you say it when we were younger, and it's always stuck with me. I thought it was cute, despite everything else."

Nick chuckled as their walk became silent once again, the trees lying on the ground becoming more broken as they continued on.

Eventually, the pair reached a clearing, the trees both destroyed and moved to form the eerily perfect, circular field. "This doesn't feel right." Nick whispered, looking around at the field bereft of anything living within its circumference.

Sameera nodded, her hand subconsciously latching onto Nick's, although neither seemed to notice or otherwise draw attention to their hands as they listened, the forest around them otherwise silent but for their breathing. Then, they heard it, faintly but growing steadily louder as the teens looked around, trying to gauge where the footfalls were originating from. Out of nowhere, and even more unexpected than the pair had thought, the Deerling appeared. But, it was vastly different than any Nick had ever seen. The pattern on the Deer Pokémon looked like that of the Winter variety, but instead of a flower on its head, there was none and the tiny indiscernible horns were much longer than a modern Deerling, being at least three times longer. Then there were its eyes as it charged through the forest towards Nick and Sameera, the red glow making it obvious this wasn't a regular Deerling at all, but one of the Alpha Species.

Nick pulled Sameera out of the way as the Deerling charged just past them, the girl landing in Nick's arms as Nick gasped. "It's not a Grass type." He said as Sameera looked, seeing the now present flower glowing on the Deer's forehead, purple and pulsing like a flame.

"It's a.. Ghost type? That would also help explain why it's been so vicious, right?"

Nick took his Room Phone out and began recording the Pokemon as it attempted to skewer the teens once again, this time Sameera pulling Nick out of harm's way. "The Professor isn't going to believe this." Sameera said as she got Chikorita's Poké Ball ready.

"Yeah she will, I got the thing on video." Sameera rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you got this?"

Sameera nodded. "Yeah, Chikorita has a trick up her sleeve for the occasional Ghost-type encounter. Chikorita, Go!" She tossed the Poké Ball, Chikorita exploding out of her container in a flash of light.

"Chika!" The small Pokémon cried out, determination in her eyes as she stared down the Deerling that was well over five times Chikorita's size. Snorting, the Alpha Deerling grunted as it's longer than normal horns glowed purple, a ball of dark energy forming between them.

Sameera knew what a Shadow Ball attack looked like and smirked. Quick Attack to dodge it, Chikorita, then use Draining Kiss."

The small plant dinosaur shot around the Shadow Ball, the opposing attack fizzling out on the ground as it tried to hone in on Chikorita. Then, the small Pokémon jumped up high, landing a kiss on the Deerling before jumping back to the ground, wisps of energy extending from the Alpha to the smaller Pokémon, refreshing Chikorita while leaving the Ghost-type Deerling visibly weakened. Nick just watched in shock. There was only one possible way that Chikorita would learn Draining Kiss, and it wasn't a normally natural move for the species to learn. "You never told me Chikorita came from a Distortion."

Sameera smirked. "Well, you aren't the only one with a special Pokémon, Mister shiny Froakie."

Nick just chuckled as the Deerling shook its head back and forth, a ghostly aura coming off it's horns as it did so. "Watch out, it's about to attack again." He warned Sameera as another Shadow Ball appeared between the Deerling's horns.

"I see it. Chikorita, dodge it again and use Vine Whip." Chikorita nodded at her Trainer and jumped out of the way of the new Shadow Ball, vines extending from the tiny buds that circled the Grass type's neck.

The vines hit their mark, slapping hard against the Deerling's side and making it bray out as it tried to bite at the vines, managing to grab one and making Chikorita cry out in pain. "No, Chikorita! Damn you. Use Sunny Day to blind it, then Solarbeam the crap out of it!" Nick looked at Sameera like she was nuts, but her plan worked out well enough as Chikorita glowed, a large artificial sun rising into the sky above the clearing as a large beam of green energy exploded from the leaf atop Chikorita's head, engulfing the deer Pokémon in light.

As the light faded, the Deerling was seen on the knees of it's front legs, kneeling and panting. Sameera smiled as she grabbed an Ultra Ball out of Nick's bag, knowing he had probably overstocked on whatever Poké Balls he had grabbed from the storage room back at the lab. "Sorry, Nick, but you caught that damned Walrein, this one's mine."

"Go for it. I don't think even Professor Juniper knows that variant existed. You'll be the originator of a whole new Pokédex entry." Sameera nodded proudly at that as she threw the containment device at the large Pokémon, grabbing another just in case it escaped.

The Alpha Deerling disappeared into the Ultra Ball, the ball shaking more violently than normal. Come on. Sameera a thought as the ball began to slow down, finally resting with the ever-satisfying ding. She went to pick the ball up, smiling widely. "I caught an Alpha Deerling!"

Nick gave her a thumbs up. "Nice work. Now, we can really research it back at the lab. I mean, if you want. We can stick around and investigate a bit more, see what we can deduce about it's species from the surroundings."

Sameera shrugged. "I think the Park will be easier to help it trust me more, plus don't you want to see the look on Professor Juniper's face when she sees this beauty?"

Nick laughed. "No, I guess you're right. I'll report in." Sameera nodded as Nick placed a call to the Professor.

The Professor answered, surprisingly calm despite her assistants running around frantically behind her. "Nick? What's going on? Are you both okay?"

"We're fine, Professor, slow down. What's going on back there?"

"Huh? Oh, you mean the mess behind me? Nothing to worry about, just Professor Conference business." The Professor Conference was an event where the Regional Professors gathered in one place and discussed their latest discoveries in full with their colleagues. "Why did you call then? How's the assignment going?"

"Great. Sameera caught the Deerling, and we're going to start heading back to the lab now. You'll be excited to see it, I guarantee it." Nick gave a glance to his side where he could see Sameera giggling.

"Wow, you two are a really good team, you know. I'll see you when you get back, and send me any other research you may have so far."

"Yes, Professor." He said, hanging up and putting his Room Phone away in his pocket. "I'll send her the video of the battle after we show her the Deerling. Let her go nuts waiting for the initial proof we found what we were looking for."

"You're bad." Sameera said between giggles.

"Only sometimes. I like to think you bring it out, or at least when it's a rebellious action of mine."

Sameera rolled her eyes as they hit the path of the Route once again, turning towards the cityscape not far on the horizon. It took them just less time to make it back to the lab then it had taken to first leave Castelia, and when they did they found out what the commotion was about, as one of Juniper's research assistants, Kylie, groaned as they entered the lab. "Unova will look foolish with nothing new to show the Professor Committee."

"Good thing we brought something new home, then." Nick said, startling Kylie as she and Juniper- standing off to Kylie's side- turned towards them.

"New? You mean?" Juniper looked hopeful, it had been quite a while since the last new discovery made in Unova.

"Yup. Show 'em, Meera." Sameera nodded and released the Alpha Deerling in the middle of the lab, Professor Juniper, Kylie and the other assistants present all backing up a couple steps as the large Pokémon appeared in the room.

"Wow, so it was an Alpha.." The Professor marveled at the find. "But what is this pattern? No Deerling has such a pattern." The Deerling snorted, it's antlers as well as the opaque flower on its forehead glowing purple. Juniper gasped as her eyes lit up in realization. "And it's a Ghost type?!"

That Night..

Froakie and Chikorita we're already sleeping, and Nick was on his way to unconsciousness himself as he smiled, laying on his bed. Today was good. Hopefully, Sameera and I don't devolve back to how we were before.. I don't want to see her lose that smile I saw all morning.. He thought, Sameera's smiling face flashing through his mind as sleep claimed him.

Sameera, meanwhile, was drying her hair in the outside air on the balcony downstairs. She heard the door going back into the lab complex open and looked, nodding at Lizzy. "Hey, Liz."

"Hey, yourself. You and Nick just always have to beat the rest of us when it comes to discovering things about Pokémon, don't you?"

Sameera smirked playfully as Lizzy came and stood next to her. "We can't all be that lucky, you know. Plus, we had no idea we'd find an Alpha, let alone a previously-unknown form."

"That's true enough. Still, it's pretty big. You may have discovered a whole new set of Deerling variants just by finding it. What did the Professor decide to name the form again? It's simple, I know that much."

"She's calling it a Frontier form. It makes sense since this whole area used to be forests and frontiersman land. Just a new page in history."

"And breeding. These Distortion Pokémon are great because even though they can be extinct now, the ones who wind up here are able to breed again, so your Deerling, once it's a Sawsbuck, can create more Ghost type deer Pokémon and Trainers in fifty years can catch those forms as well as the more modern variants."

Sameera nodded, laughing. "You are right about that. What was your assignment today?"

"Katrina and I had to go study Magikarp fighting each other until they evolved. It was disrupting Nuvema Town residents from fishing because they'd constantly see Gyarados appearing in the lake and they'd attack out of that post-evolution rage Gyarados are prone to. Katrina and I captured every Magikarp and Gyarados in the entire lake, at least until we found the reason why they were all fighting."

"Which was?"

"A female Gyarados had appeared in the lake, migrating from another lake or river and deciding to settle down. The males were all fighting for spawning rights, the evolution was just a step in the process. But, now that female and the biggest male Gyarados we caught are now in the waterfall cave in the Park."

"At least we both solved our respective issues." Sameera said, shaking her head.

"Yeah. So, how's things going with you and Nick? What was with you two being late this morning? Seriously, this time. There's no way you two were just talking to be almost ten minutes late for class."

Sameera blushed, but still frowned at her best friend. "Nothing that your mind has probably conjured up. We really were just talking. But, there was a moment.."

"Spill. You know I always need to know the T."

"I hate you sometimes." Sameera groaned. "On our way to the elevators to get to class, I wanted to apologize to him for calling him a Sobble for so long. I pulled him a bit too hard I guess, and we crashed together against the wall. I started to apologize but Nick.. he just grabbed my chin and lifted my head up so I could look at him, let him know I was being sincere. But, oh Arceus, our faces were this close, Lizzy!" She mimed the distance with her hands. "I thought he was going to kiss me.. I wanted him to.."

"Would have been counterproductive though, wouldn't it? It's been a day, Sameera. Chances are, you two are going to be fighting tomorrow, at least for some of the day. But, it did look like you two made progress about things, judging by the way he was looking at you as you explained the situation to the Professor. I walked in during your little monologue and Nick was practically worshipping you as you spoke."

Sameera shook her head, a small smile on her face anyway. "No, he wasn't. He just likes the science of everything we do here. It is kinda cute, really, the enthusiasm he has. Even with his damn search for Victini."

Lizzy laughed. "He's still on that little life mission, huh? What makes Victini so important to him, anyway?"

"Victini helped him get home from being lost in the middle of the woods when he was little. He says he just wants to thank the little guy, but I wouldn't be surprised if the damn thing let him catch it."

"Neither would I. Nick has a strange affinity for Pokémon. Remember that Garchomp Ben brought in a few years ago? Wouldn't let anyone near it with how savage it acted."

"Yeah, until Nick brought it a snack none of us realized it might like and it just bonded to him. He frustrates me sometimes, but Nick is actually pretty amazing." Sameera sighed, head in her hand. "He told me it was a shiny Victini, too."

Lizzy scoffed. "Of course it was. That also fits, with Nick having the only shiny Starter 'mon out of any of us." Sameera nodded. "He's an exemplary guy, that Nick. You better make sure you don't fuck up with him, Meera. I'd hate to see you upset or- dare I say it- jealous of another girl who moves in and sees the true worth of Nick Celestia."

Sameera scoffed. "Like any of the other girls would actively go against me for his affections." Lizzy stayed quiet as Sameera sighed. "Why is it you want him, then? Or better yet, what are you hiding from me?"

"Nothing, Meera, honest." The lie detector determined that was a lie. Lizzy thought as she continued. "I can't help but feel attracted to a good-looking guy. In your defense, looking at Nick now, could you even blame me or any other girl for being interested?"

Sameera glared at her, frowning. "No, I can't. But that doesn't mean I have to like it, either. Ugh, this is all so hard. I just want to tell him how I feel. I'd even shout it from the top of the lab if I had to."

"Well, don't do that. As cute as the idea is, it would seem a bit too forward, with how fragile this new friendship you and Nick seem to have formed is. Just take it easy, ease into being nicer with him a bit more. You can probably tell he acted somewhat guarded during your travels today, right?"

"Actually, no. He was fine out there today, in fact. There was no malicious verbalizing between us whatsoever. It was like we had never made ourselves enemies in the first place, although I guess Nick probably just wants to give me the benefit of the doubt."

"Either way, Sameera, you're doing fine. Yeah, there may be a few arguments, and they may be bad ones, but you need to remember that you caused things to be that way in the first place. If you want it to change, start showing him that he can trust you, prior years of verbal abuse left forgotten."

"I will, Lizzy. I'm not giving up on this. I just have to keep reminding myself that I need to make the change. I should probably get back to the room. No doubt Nick is already sleeping, anyway." Sameera said, turning to leave the balcony.

"Just don't jump into his bed with him." Sameera turned to her, a shocked expression on her face. "Just kidding. Try to sleep well, Meera. Who knows what Juniper has in store for us all tomorrow." Nodding with a wave, Sameera left the balcony and minutes later was in bed, eyes closing as she fell asleep faster than she usually would.

Elsewhere..

Deep inside Turnback Cave in the Sinnoh Region, a wall inside the inner chamber where Giratina was known to rest crumbled to the ground, revealing a seemingly ordinary statue. The statue was of a man, dressed in ancient clothes that looked out of place even if he had walked around while the Region was still known as Hisui. The ground around the statue rumbled as a menacing voice sounded. My weaker half no longer slumbers. It is time to wreak our havoc upon this world again, my loyal servant.. As the rumbling continued, pieces of the statue chipped away, revealing a human form under the shallow layer of rock that entombed him.

As the blonde-haired man steadied himself, he flexed one hand with a chuckle, grabbing one of the old-school Poké Balls from the leather belt around his waist that held his ancient tunic onto his body. "Yes, Lord of the Shadows." He said, laughing just as menacingly as the voice had sounded before he started making his way out of the cave.

Within her villa in the Resort Area of the Battle Park, the Sinnoan Champion Cynthia shot up in her bed, sweat on her brow and an awful feeling running down her spine. "What.. is this feeling?" She asked herself, her eyes shifting to look in the very same direction Turnback Cave was located, as many miles away from her as it was.

On Iron Island, a young man dressed in dark blue stopped what he and his Lucario were doing, both looking in the direction of Turnback Cave. "This feels like.. existential dread.." Riley said, his Lucario nodding.

In the kingdom of Rota, a certain Lucario felt the disturbance as well, gasping and standing up quickly, looking towards whatever he was feeling. As he did, the crystal-topped staff in his lap dropped to the floor as the current Queen of Rota, Ellen, entered. "What's wrong, Lucario?"

The ancient guardian of the kingdom shook his head as it spoke to Ellen using his telepathy. I do not know, but whatever it is, it gives off a powerful dark aura.

In the current main Team Rocket hideout, Giovanni looked over at his second-in-command, who was looking off into the distance as if entranced. "What is it, Ginny?"

"There's a massive disturbance to the balance of the world occurring. I fear things are going to become harsher in our modern world."

Giovanni nodded. "Good, then send a team out to investigate this disturbance. And get those rejects on a mission to Unova. I feel there are rare Pokemon making themselves known that Team Rocket would benefit from greatly with them in our possession." He smirked.

"Yes, boss." Ginny said, relaying the message across the hideout to those involved, including a certain pair of Rocket operatives, one with long red hair and the other with shorter blue hair.

Like with Team Rocket, the Bosses of the other various Criminal teams worldwide were becoming aware of whatever was stirring in Sinnoh, and teams were sent to investigate.

Back in Castelia City, a Lucario climbed up the side of the lab, an egg tucked under one arm as the Aura Pokémon honed in on the Aura signature of the one she was entrusting her egg to. Lucario didn't know why, but she knew the baby within the egg she carried was important, and meant to be with whoever the Aura signature belonged to. She stopped outside an open window, slipping her head inside to find the two human occupants as well as their two Pokémon, a light blue Froakie and a Chikorita, all asleep. She placed the egg gingerly on the ground near the sleeping Pokemon, recognizing the Aura of the one human male present in the room as the one she was searching for. Without another sound, the Lucario disappeared from the wall and the city itself.