Delcatty guides me back to her quarters in silence. My mind runs a mile a minute, and I don't bother trying to slow it down. She's going to tell me off. Cry. Scream. Tell me how she wishes she never met me. How horrible of a friend I am. Throw us out. Tell us were on our own. Say how she never wants to see me again.

I think about how hard I was on her…how I wouldn't just give her a moment to deal with the situation as it came up…it all leaves my heart feeling heavy.

We cross the threshold. She asks me to have a seat on one of the many cushions and settles on one next to it. We sit in an uncomfortable silence. I'm trying to control my breathing, but I can't quite ignore the building headache or cold sweat.

"Gwen, I…" she starts, the trails off, sounding unsure how to proceed. She thinks for a moment and tries again, "I-I'm sorry, for what I said…for how I acted, through all this." She says, voice wavering. I expected many things from her, but an apology…wasn't actually one of them. "When I first saw you in this world again…well, you were unconscious. But I was so excited that you were back…that we could finally…have the time together that was taken from us last time…" she's choosing her words carefully, "I got so excited…about what we could do…about being with you all again…that I forgot about what being here meant for you. For your family. So…I…I'm sorry, for losing my patience, and for…failing to understand what you're going through."

My chest tightens, and before I can stop myself, I run over and pull her into a tight hug. Her breath catches, then I feel her tears on my head a moment later as she returns the embrace. "Delcatty, I'm sorry. I know I've been a bad friend…that I've been…preoccupied, with everything and that I was unfair to you. You've been so supportive…done so much…" I pull away and look into her eyes, "I count my blessings everyday that I met you, I couldn't ask for a better friend. A better teammate."

We hold each other for a time longer in silence. My breathing slows, the panic passing. Through all of this…I think our friendship has grown stronger, for which I'm incredibly grateful. It would break my heart if I lost her again. We eventually pull apart.

"What did you offer to the pokemon that Serperior and Elliot attacked?" I eventually ask, breaking the silence. "Pfft, what any powerful pokemon wants—money. For the right price, I could buy their silence." She says, waving a paw, "that, and the solemn oath that neither of them would set foot nor tail into that town ever again."

My dear sweet son already has a criminal record. I guess he gets that from me—I upset a few pokemon while here myself, the entirety of the Center included.

"Oh…thank you…I'm sorry we've caused you so much trouble…" I falter, feeling embarrassed. I can't believe this stunt has cost Delcatty and the Center actual money just to spare them from receiving an actual sentence. "Not at all, no matter what, it's always a joy to have you all. Plus, the opportunity to rub not one, but two criminal offenses in Serperior's face? Priceless," she winks.

I laugh weakly, then we sit in silence a couple of beats more. "So…now what? You're all reunited…what's next?" "…I guess I need to figure out why we came here? How to get back? I don't know…I'm still worried about Giratina…what they'll do if—when—they find out I'm here." In the panic of not knowing where Elliot was, then knowing he was locked away in prison, I'd rather forgotten about that legendary problem.

Delcatty looks down, takes a deep breath, and sighs heavily, "I…I don't know…Giratina couldn't have brought you back themself, could they? Maybe as a…reward? For keeping your word?" I consider her theory, then shake my head, "no, I don't think so. If they wanted to do something like that…why not tell me? And it's not much of a reward to scatter us all over the place out of the blue." She thinks for a moment more, then sighs again, "then…I'm out of ideas. I mean, if not Giratina, and not another human-made portal, then how?" She asks, tilting her head.

I don't know, is the truth. And that's absolutely terrifying. Before, after learning about my past, I at least knew how and why we were here, and made the original decision to stay to prevent Dr. Laurel from causing any more harm. But now? Just waking up here for no reason? Having no way back, one way or another? My wife and son being involved? It's just…it's almost too much to bear. And hearing that Delcatty also has no idea, at least off the top of her head, doesn't make me feel much better. If she doesn't know…who could?

"Delcatty…thank you again, for everything. For being here for us. I know you're busy, but I think tomorrow I'll take a look around the Artifacts Wing…see if I can find anything about portals or…travel between dimensions…or something. There must be an answer somewhere." Despite being emotionally exhausted, I feel motivated. If there's an answer anywhere in the Center, it'll be there, it's just a matter of trying to find it.

Delcatty's wearing a strange expression—almost a mix of confusion and…disappointment? A moment later it's gone, so brief I'm wondering if I imagined it. She's had several fleeting expressions lately, I realize a second later…I wonder what's on her mind? I guess it's all pretty weird for her too, us just reappearing in her life out of nowhere. It must be opening up all kinds of old wounds and feelings she had dealt with—I know it has for me. "Of course. I'll help you look, if there are any answers to be found…we'll find them, together," she smiles. I touch her paw. "Thank you."

We make some idle chatter about how to attack the Artifacts Wing, and I get ready to take my leave. "So I'll be at your dorm, bright and early with smuggling sacks for everyone!" She grins, calling to mind our disastrous heist the last time we went to the Artifacts Wing. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!" A smile, "see you tomorrow!" "Have a good night, Gwen," she says while waving goodbye.

A plan. It's not much, but it's something to work with. It feels good to finally take some agency in this whole mess.

I head back to our dorm feeling better than I have in days. When I get there, Elliot and Serperior are among the crowd. "Oooh hi white eevee!" Elliot waves excitedly. A moment later Serperior is hugging me so tightly I might pass out. "No Sperpy, bad! Let go!" Elliot says, whacking him. I hug him back, "it's ok Elliot, don't worry. I'm glad to see you too," I say to Serperior, "thank you again, for taking care of him." "Not a problem, and now we're all together again, I'm more than ready to pass the baton to the next volunteer," he laughs while releasing me.

I look around the room. My team—my family—we're all finally where we should be—together.

—

I was already wiped from my emotional outburst and back and forth letters with Gallade about the terms and conditions of Serperior and Elliot's release, not to mention the other million daily jobs being Master of this dang place entails. And now I have to retrace my steps in the Artifacts Wing's library and remove every book about Hoopa.

Not how I wanted to spend my night.

They were right, of course. Now Gwen's got her family back together, she can't wait to go home. Why can't she just lighten up and enjoy being here with me, huh? She knows they're all safe now, so what's the problem? Honestly, it makes my fur stand on end!

And I'm aware of the hole I'm digging myself into. She's so worried about being here, about how or why they got here…about what Giratina will do to her…but in all honesty, I think if the legendary really cared so much, they'd have done something already. If I come clean now and tell her I'm the reason they're all here? What's she going to do then?

"She'll never forgive you, that's what!" Hoopa says, popping up into the middle of the chaos I've created in the library. I didn't realize I was muttering my frustrations out loud. I level a nasty look their way before continuing the hunt. I know I got one of the books about them from this shelf. "Whatcha doing anyway, buddy?" "Well, buddy," I say pointedly, "if you must know, I'm looking for the books that talk about you and your powers…I can't let Gwen and the others find them." "Oh, I see! Because she'll never forgive you!" They reiterate, floating around my head, grinning.

"You just gonna float there, or do you wanna help?" I snap. I'm already exhausted, and this…creature hanging around isn't helping matters. "No, no, I'm quite comfortable watching you, thanks," they wink.

I have to find all the books I learned about portals and Hoopa in and get them out of here before Gwen and co. start looking for answers. If they learn about Hoopa, and manage to find them for themselves…if those parties ever met…

I'm certain the little blabbermouth will be all too eager to tell them we've already been acquainted.

"I'm flattered that you want all the books about me, been missing me during the days, huh?" They make a kissy face. "Not likely. I don't owe you an explanation," I huff. "Certainly not, just that—" "favor! Yes! I know I owe you a favor! Whenever you ask! You don't need to keep popping up whenever I'm in a crisis to remind me!" I yell, surprising myself with my anger. I hope the guards at the entrance can't hear me—it won't do well for the Center to have a Master that has massive arguments with herself. "I simply wanted to be with my friend in her time of need, that's all," they say, sadly. Is it possible I've…hurt their feelings?

Do they even have feelings?

I take a deep breath. "Hoopa…I'm sorry for yelling, that was uncalled for. I'm just a little in over my head right now, and I need the peace and clarity of mind to finish my work for the night, alright?" "Not a problem, my friend! I'm happy to oblige! I'll be taking me leave now, best of luck with your sabotage!" "That's not—" they disappear in the middle of my response. Typical.

Sabotage…is that what I'm doing? I look at the mess of books around me, in the scuffle, one has opened to a page about Hoopa, complete with a beautiful illustration of them creating portals to other dimensions.

I'm not sabotaging anything…it took a lot of time, effort, and risk to get Gwen and everyone else here, and if they go home almost as quickly as they came…then all that will have been for nothing.

I pick up the book and snap it shut. This one is coming with me, along with all the others about that creepy little pokemon.

I'm not ready to say goodbye again. Not yet.