Chapter One

"The Crystal Pools are always shining. Isn't that strange?" Carmine asks as we peer over the edge. Millie nods, having to agree as she stares over the crystalline waters.

"There's even an odd rumor that states you can meet those here who have passed away."

'Although so bluntly, her words pierce my chest like an arrow. I don't know why they do, but the familiar feeling of longing comes over me as I stare down at the crystal waters. Even if that's not why I was here...no, that's too selfish and unrealistic. Once someone is gone, they're gone, and there's no coming back.' Millie thought.

Millie sighs, placing her head against the windowsill of the plane. The soft engines whirr and rumble, a hum she had grown familiar with since she had moved to Paldea in general. Being a Paldean Champion meant she had to travel from time to time, and traveling to and from Kitakami was no different.

Why did the trip back feel so bittersweet...?

Speaking of bittersweet… She remembered Kieran, the boy who accompanied Carmine with her as they all ventured together to save Ogerpon. She still felt heavy guilt over hiding Ogerpon's secret from him, even if it was only temporary.

"You two knew, didn't you? You knew that the ogre wasn't the real bad guy in the stories…" Kieran's lip quivered, Carmine and Millie stepped back. As Carmine tried to diffuse the situation, failing poorly as she didn't fully understand why he felt so betrayed, Millie put her hands up defensively.

"N-Now now, Kieran. I would have told you sooner. I only kept quiet for—"

"The Loyal Three were the real bad guys, but the ogre's the one that gets treated like an outcast!"

"And you two did the same thing to me!" Kieran stepped forward, his moon-yellow eyes ablaze. It pierced Millie's heart.

She couldn't exactly say why, but she knew WHY he felt this way. It was difficult being the youngest, being shy, being pushed around by your eldest, and then when you finally meet someone you believe to be dear to you, they go behind your back, at least to you, and hurt you in ways you never could imagine. Millie didn't know why, but had it not been for Carmine, she really would have believed she had done something so wrong, even if she knew it was all just a misunderstanding and nothing more.

"You treated ME like an outcast when you went an' met with the ogre!"

Millie and Carmine both froze. That was QUITE the accusation, but Millie knew where it was coming from, considering they had been dodgy and found behind Kitakami Hall since the festival.

"That's not what happened at all!" Carmine snapped, her own eyes ablaze. Millie could sense the tension between the two, which caused her to interject.

"She's right, Kieran. I happened upon the Ogre, thinking it was just some child, and Carmine found me. Then the Ogre dropped its mask and now we are here…I promise I wouldn't lie to you like that." Millie stepped forward, her legs feeling light like gelatin. This only caused fury to bubble within the boy's gaze further.

"So…you STILL met Ogerpon regardless…and didn't think to call me over…?!" His voice darkened as he turned around. Millie reached out.

"Kieran...look... if I'd called you then, it would have run away before I could obtain its mask. I promise you I—"

"Liar! You're a LIAR!!!"

Kieran yelled, his voice echoing across Loyalty Plaza. He slammed his fist against the broken-up shrine that once celebrated the "Loyal Three."

Millie's throat felt dry. Was she? She did hide it when she could have just told Kieran right then and there. Had it not been for Carmine…

Damn it! Had it not been for Carmine keeping her quiet and acting all buddy-buddy, she could have told him everything…maybe then their last moments wouldn't have felt so…bitter.

"Maybe it was my fault," Millie murmured to herself. "I should have said something sooner when Carmine wasn't around, at the very least. I know Kieran is going to be very upset at me." She sighs, closing her eyes for a moment as she replays the trip over and over and over…

There could have been so many things that could have been avoided if Kieran hadn't jumped to conclusions and Carmine…

Where could she even start with that bitch?

"It's all so, so much. At least I have Ogerpon now, and that's what matters, I suppose. I just want to get back to the Academy and sleep." She complains, leaning back in her seat. Maybe someday she could officially apologize to Kieran and give Carmine a stern talking-to. For now…she just needed rest. That is exactly what mattered to her the most right now.

Thankfully it wouldn't be long before the plane would arrive over the skies of Paldea, Millie silently marveling at the large crater that sat in the middle of it from above.

"Even though I have traversed its every crevice, I can't help but feel in awe of its beauty. I see why mom wanted to move here."

It was true; she wasn't exactly full-blooded Paldean. Despite her pale skin and Unovan accent, the move from her home country to Paldea had been stressful at the very start but had turned out to be decent. The beaches of Paldea, mixed with its cheerful and charming atmosphere…it was no wonder why her mother insisted here if they couldn't move to Alola.

"Besides, Ma wanted me to chase my dreams, and I can't thank her enough for that." Millie smiled to herself as she looked down, her eyes pinpointing Mesagoza out of the tiny cities that say upon the land. Her home…well, where she stayed as she studied. Her real home was not too far off on Poco Path.

Of course, this plane wouldn't exactly be landing for Paldea, as she would have to take a flying taxi the rest of the way to get into the actual region…something about Tinkaton mistaking the hulking machines for shiny Corviknight, for whatever reason?

Whatever the reason, Millie began to feel the aching of homesickness swell in her chest. Even if she technically hadn't been gone that long, she still missed her friends and family that resided there.

"Ma…Axl…Penny…Nemona...Arven…" She said the last name breathlessly as she remembered she had not wished him of all people a farewell. He had called and texted her throughout her trip to Kitakami, but due to time zones and bad cellular data, she couldn't give him a clear answer…

There was no telling what lecture awaited her from him once she stepped foot in Uva Academy. Hell, even if she was near the premises of Mesagoza, he might even be able to spot her!

As she began to think about Arven, her heart fluttered just a little. It had been not so long ago that the two had confessed to each other after the events of Area Zero, and everyone had had time to recover—including her. Arven took the double whammy of grief he had received pretty hard, but just like in the beginning, Millie had taken care of him every step of the way.

This was nice, but resulted in Millie forgetting to care for herself. Arven soon noticed this and quickly took action as best as he could. He had never been one for emotional comfort, nor had the others, but Millie had indirectly taught him so much during their journey together….

How could he NOT return the favor?

And now, the two had become even closer, most certainly being the talk in all of Paldea— or at least the Academy in some way or another. It isn't every day that the most well-known researcher's son gets with the Paldean Champion, of all people.

It was almost as if it were destiny.

As Millie kept her head in the clouds, the plane soon landed at the airport not too far from Paldea. The lowering altitude had made her dizzy at first, but she quickly grew accustomed to it as the plane finally came to a gentle stop at the ramp.

"Finally…I felt like I was on that plane forever," Millie grunted as she got up, stretching.

"Now I just need to find the Flying Taxi and get home."

With that in mind, Millie hopped off the plane and made her way to the airport. Upon exiting the airport's building, she found the exact booth she was looking for, excitement rushing in her veins. The homesick feeling was starting to come back a little stronger now, making her carry herself a little bit quicker.

"¡Hola, Chica! You seem to be on your toes today~!" The vendor was an older man, but a very kind one. He dipped his head to her, to which she returned the gesture.

"Yes! May I buy a ticket to Paldea, please?" Millie asks, panting softly. Maybe her excitement had caused her to tire herself out a bit too early.

…Or maybe the whole trip just made her realize just how tired she had been.

"Si. That will be… 100!"

Without a second thought, Millie paid the money via her Rotom-Phone app. Ding!

"Gracias mi querida amiga, hop in!" The vendor exclaims, opening the door to the taxi for Millie. She steps in, thanking him before sitting down. The Flying Taxi, powered by a bunch of colorful Squawkabillies, takes off!

It seemed like now she was finally headed home after all that mess...even if she needed to take a little detour, first...

A/N: Hi everyone! I know chapter one was a little bit of unnecessary rambling from a far-off perspective, but it was actually getting into the meat-and-potatoes of some backstory! Also yes, Millie didn't go to Kitakami until later, as messed-up as that logic may sound—

Anyway, hoping there will be some character-development and gee-hawing in the next chapter! Stay tuned!