Kitty felt hot tears stinging at her eyes as she could only stare at the small box in her lap. Inside was a chain with a small crystal carved from an Alolan Sandslash spike…Freezer's spike…
She trailed her fingers over the necklace, tears running down her face.
…Freezer…
Freezer had died trying to protect her…trying to save her from a foe that she had never encountered…why?
WHY?!
All she had wanted was to reconcile with Atticus! All she wanted was to tell him how much he meant to her!
THAT'S ALL SHE HAD WANTED!
WHY HAD HER DESIRE TO RECONNECT WITH ATTICUS TAKEN FREEZER AWAY FROM HER?!
Kitty shut her eyes and clutched the necklace to herself, sobbing softly.
To her left, Harpuia sat next to his trainer, only able to gaze at the ground and listen to the grief-stricken sobs of his trainer. The Toxtricity closed his own eyes and let out a slow breath, looking upwards to check his surroundings.
The streets of Mezagoza were bustling…it was a wonder no one had taken notice of them…How long was Guzma going to take?
Harpuia huffed and glanced over towards Kitty, who's whole world was only focusing on her necklace made from one of Freezer's spikes…
The Toxtricity scooted closer to Kitty and leaned his head to rest on top of hers. It took a moment…but Kitty responded by resting her head on his shoulder and crying a little harder.
After Guzma had rescued Kitty from Spector's wrath; and had unleashed his own rage upon two members of Team Star, effectively making Team Star enemies with Team Skull; Guzma had quickly taken Kitty to Zapapico.
That small hospital had quickly flown her to Mezagoza…and it took a week for her to recover.
In that week, Guzma had to deal with explaining what had happened to Kukui…as well as transport the deceased Freezer to the Alola region, via a special device that only Pokemon centers had. Just yesterday, Kukui had sent the necklace, indicating that one of the tapus had made it…
…Kitty had not let it out of her sight upon receiving it…
"Kitty? Is that you?"
Harpuia was dragged out of his deep thoughts and looked up, seeing a young girl approaching them, with a LARGE…THING next to her!
Kitty didn't respond, however, Harpuia recognized the girl to be the girl known as 'Juliana'…the same girl Kitty had battled on Team Star's behalf. But what the HECK was that large purple thing with Juliana!? Frowning very lightly, Harpuia stood up in challenge, glaring threateningly towards the large purple Pokemon.
Juliana paused when she saw Harpuia's expression, however she glanced towards Miraidon, who seemed perplexed and interested in the pair at the same time. Juliana looked back towards Kitty and took a closer step towards her.
"Kitty?...Are you alright?" Juliana asked gently.
There was a long moment of silence, before Kitty closed her eyes…and the grip on her necklace tightened…before she stood up, glancing towards Juliana.
"…I swear if Nemona sent you to try and battle me…"
"No no…Nemona and Arven already left for the treasure hunt." Juliana put a hand to herself. "I was just about to head out myself when I saw you here…are…are you ok?"
Kitty frowned very slightly, loosely crossing her arms and frowning. "….do I LOOK ok?"
"…" Juliana winced and took another step up. "Is…there anything I can do?"
Kitty was silent for a long time, before she glanced towards the large purple Pokemon beside Juliana. "…What is that?"
"Oh! This is Miraidon!" Juliana motioned towards the large Pokemon beside her, who was focused on Kitty and the necklace she clutched in her hand. "I encountered it sometime right before classes started."
She looked towards Kitty and nodded. "Since the safety and basic classes are over, the treasure hunt is beginning…"
"…Right…The treasure hunt…" Kitty narrowed her eyes, a scowl on her face. "…Atticus told me about that in his letters…"
"Atticus?"
"What are you going to do for your hunt?" Kitty asked, completely ignoring Juliana's inquiry.
"Oh—well….I'm not quite sure honestly." Juliana put a hand in the air. "I have two people wanting my help with something…while Nemona…well…wants me to take on the gym challenge."
"Tch." Kitty scoffed and looked away. "Battle-hungry moron…"
"Agias…" Miraidon shook its head and glanced towards Juliana, a concerned look etched on its features.
"Are you…Ok, Kitty?" Juliana took another step up, however Harpuia moved to stand in between them, his eyes narrowing towards the girl in an unspoken warning. "I can't help but notice that…you're significantly less reasonable that when I first met you."
"Tch….'reasonable'…" Kitty shook her head and frowned. "…Your other two friends…what do they want you to help them with?"
"Well Arven wants me to help him find something called 'Herba Mystica'…while the other…" She paused and looked to the side for a moment. "…well…it involves your Team Star…"
Kitty was silent for a long time, scowling at Juliana.
"I am NOT affiliated with Team Star."
Juliana paused and looked towards Kitty, looking confused. "Oh-? I had been under the impression that you had joined them after you defended them from Nemona's sudden battle lust." She motioned towards Kitty's head. "I mean…You're wearing star sunglasses on your head…"
Kitty paused and scowled, reaching for her head and taking off her sunglasses.
"…then let me make this perfectly clear."
She proceeded to drop the sunglasses on the ground, and SLAMMED her foot on them, causing them to shatter into pieces.
"Team Star and I have NOTHING. They're nothing but fakes. Imposters. HEARTBREAKERS."
Juliana took a step back from Kitty's raised tone, her expression looking devastated.
"….Kitty…"
"Agias…"
Kitty allowed hot tears to roll down her cheeks and seethed.
"If I EVER see Atticus again, IT WILL BE TOO SOON!"
"Kitten!"
Kitty paused and she panted, glancing behind her, where Guzma was approaching her with a bag slung over his shoulder. Guzma frowned and glared towards Juliana and Miraidon.
"This kid giving you problems, Kitten?"
Kitty was silent for a while…before she shook her head.
"No Guzma…We're just talking." She turned away from Juliana and approached Guzma, Harpuia following her closely.
"…good luck on your treasure hunt, Juliana." Kitty muttered in a monotone voice. "If you DO get mixed up with Team Star, do NOT let them win…they can't be trusted."
"…Kitty…"
Juliana watched Kitty walk off with Guzma and Harpuia, a troubled look in her eyes. Reaching over, Juliana gently petted Miraidon's nose as she watched the group leave, inwardly trying to decide her next step.
Cassiopea had mentioned that Team Star weren't BAD guys…but they had lost their reason for BEING Team Star…
…it looked like they had inadvertently hurt someone in the process…
…If that was the case…maybe going along with Operation Starfall…WAS necessary…
***PM***
"LADY KITTY!"
Both Guzma and Kitty paused as they were in the process of boarding the ship that would take them to Alola. Looking behind them, Guzma scowled upon seeing a familiar poison-clad ninja rushing through the port, running as fast as his feet would allow him to.
"Keep going Kitten." Guzma growled, turning to face the oncoming Atticus. "I'll knock this guy's head off his shoulders so fast he's gonna SEE stars!"
"…Guzma, don't touch him…" Kitty muttered, looking towards the ship and away from the approaching ninja.
Guzma scoffed and glanced at his sister. "What? You still love this guy?"
Kitty didn't answer…but she did begin climbing the stairs for the ship.
Atticus' heart sunk as he saw Kitty beginning to board the ship, attempting to run faster. Perhaps she hadn't heard him. Perhaps she was too overwhelmed and overcome with grief.
"MY LADY—GEH!" Atticus suddenly came to a screeching halt when a large menacing Golisopod materialized in front of him. The Team Star Boss panted and took a few steps back, gritting his teeth behind his mask at Guzma.
"Please! I beg of you! Permit me to have words with Lady Kitty!"
"Absolutely NOT!" Guzma snarled, storming over closer to Atticus. "You honestly think after all of THIS that I would allow you anywhere NEAR my sister?!"
Atticus clenched his fists and took out a repeat ball. "If you will not stand aside, nave; I will have no other choice but to claim my right to speak with Lady Kitty through means of battle!"
Guzma scoffed and laughed, patting Golisopod's back. "PAH! You wanna go up against Big Bad Guzma? HAVE AT YOU—"
"Atticus!"
Both Guzma and Atticus looked up where Kitty had stopped climbing the stairs and was gritting her teeth at him.
"Go BACK to your precious Navi Squad! You have a whole GROUP of friends right?! You don't need me here anyways!"
Atticus' heart sunk at the bitterness in his beloved penpal's voice and took a step up, reaching upwards.
"Tis a false statement, My Lady! You—You have naught an awareness of how precious you are to me—"
"OH HO! I'm 'PRECIOUS' to you, am I!?"
Kitty seethed and her grip on the stair rail tightened.
"RIGHT! I'm so PRECIOUS to you, that you stopped writing to me! You cut contact with me! You threw me out of your group of 'friends' and shunned me in your time of hardship!"
"My Lady—" Atticus trembled.
Kitty wasn't finished. With heat in her voice, she put a hand to herself and her voice broke. "I'm so PRECIOUS, that when I come here to see you, you tell me up front that you don't WANT me here!"
Atticus shuddered and he put a hand to his chest. "Lady Kitty please—"
"I'm so PRECIOUS, that you CAST ME OUT! AND IN DOING SO, YOU ALLOWED FREEZER TO DIE!" Kitty screamed.
The entire port was silent at this point, watching the incident in shock. Several people muttered amongst themselves, wondering if someone should step in, or if they should contact the authorities.
Atticus felt his eyes stinging…and his chest felt like every shard of glass in the world was embedding into his chest…sinking the poison of heartbreak, loss, and grief into his very soul.
"….Kitty…."
"I HATE you Atticus! I wish I NEVER met you!"
Those final words struck a chord in Atticus' heart…that he had never felt before…not even while he was being bullied relentlessly back in Uva Academy…
…I hate you…
Those three words were like the poison of a Seviper…sinking deep into his very core…
Kitty panted and gritted her teeth…before she turned and ran up the stairs, disappearing into the ship and not looking back.
Atticus fell to his knees and watched his penpal disappearing into the corridors of the ship, his world coming to a standstill as he felt the bitter chill of loss hit him…
…his precious friend..
…his precious Kitty…was now his enemy…
Guzma frowned at the sight of the crumbling Ninja before him…before he returned Golisopod back to his ball and turned, beginning his own trek up the stairs.
"Tch…for what it's worth…she never means anything when she's upset." He grumbled as he made his way up the stairs.
Atticus trembled and found himself only able to watch as Guzma boarded the ship…and within minutes…the final boarding call…and ultimately the ship began its departure.
The Navi Squad Leader helplessly watched as the ship made it's way from the port…and began setting sail…farther…and farther away…
"…Lady Kitty…I will never hate you…nay…my punishment is my own…" He closed his eyes and bowed his head, tears running down his face. "…I beg of thee, Arecus…grant me mercy…grant me a second chance to regain my friend's heart…."