I've plead my case, and now I wait.

I've tried. I've tried so hard. I thought I had grown up enough to…to carry on. I am the Master of the Exploration Center, for goodness' sake! But…seeing her letters…reading her words…

I pored over the letters once, twice, a hundred times, taking in every detail. As she started remembering more about her life before, she shared every detail. She also shared everything she's been up to since. I learned how she met the rest of her team, about her friends, her career, how she met a woman, Stephanie, and got married, had a son, everything.

A whole life she lived and has been living…without me.

Not to say I haven't been living too; I have a fabulous team in Cradily and Ampharos, we rose through the ranks, and when Master Lurantis retired, she appointed me as her replacement. It's been a fulfilling career in exploration: we've made remarkable discoveries, the crowning achievement of which being finding Giratina's hidden temple, which was how I managed to get ahold of Gwen's letters in the first place. I had held a grudge against the legendary for so long, but they weren't such a bad pokemon in the end (despite not allowing her or the others to return to this world).

But…it wasn't enough. I want to be with her—with all of them!—again. I want to be an explorer with Gwen, to tease Serperior, to get to know Rotom and Dragalge better, to see how Noivern's adjusting to his new life. I just want so much…more than we were given. None of what happened was even remotely fair.

Which is why I'm here, in the basement floor of the mystery dungeon at the Shimmering Sands Desert, making an incredibly calculated risk.

"Hmm, I see your predicament," the small horned pokemon floating before me says in response to my story, their devilish grin replaced with a thoughtful look. "So that Giratina sent your family home, never to return, even though they did nothing wrong? That's a pretty rotten move if you ask me!"

I feel the burn of their words, but fight to keep my composure. I need to show this pokemon that I'm cool, calm, and collected; I don't need this deal to happen, and there is a limit to what I will offer in return.

That, of course, is a massive lie. I have to get them here again…and if this doesn't work…

"Your story touches my heart. I will help you; I will bring your family here. Now, what will you offer me in return?" "I am the Master of the Exploration Center. Any artifact, treasure, or knowledge we have that you would like is yours." I say, holding my head high. I've done a significant amount of research on this pokemon; I know they're not one to pass up a good bargain.

"A generous offer indeed, but not things that take my fancy," they say, waving their hand dismissively. I panic for a moment, if not the wonders of the Center, then what can I offer? I don't have anything else… "What I want from you in return is nothing more than your friendship," they say with a small, innocent smile. I regard them skeptically. After all, if an offer sounds too good to be true…it probably is.

"Hahaha! Quite shrewd, you are," they say, laughing at my questioning expression, "alright, I shall be more clear with you. I want your friendship, yes, but what does this mean? In my time of need, I will contact you for…a friendly favor. There is a special bottle, locked away deep in a dungeon. I know the place, and will give you all the details as needed, but I am incapable of reaching it myself—you shall be the one to retrieve it. That, my friend, is what I would like as payment."

I consider their words, think of any hidden meanings behind their simple request. "This bottle…what is it to you? Why can't you get it yourself?" They smirk, "excellent questions indeed! But alas, those answers are not things I can divulge freely. Let's just say it was something very dear to me that was stolen away, much like your family, hmm?" They say, floating towards me. "So, Master Delcatty, do we have a deal?" They say, extending a hand.

My one chance…if I ever want to see them again…

I've done the research, looked for other solutions, and each time came up empty. It's now or never.

I extend a paw and shake their outstretched hand. "Hoopa, we have a deal."