Notes:

Uhhhh, It's taken some time, but here it is, the next part :D

back to the regular scheduele

Reader20448, if you read this, It's a joy to see you always

—START—

-3rd Person POV-

"In, fer fernape" Honey was panting on the ground, over his body there were some bruises recently made all from blunt impacts. "INFER!"

Once more the starter concentrated into a Mach Punch, accelerating in the direction of his current opponent, the Cinccino known as Scarlett, who stood without any concern in the world, watching.

The moment Honey was ready to impact the white Pokemon disappeared from view, completely outpacing the fire type, and landing one singular Tail Slap into his stomach, forcing the Pokemon to his knees and dispelling his attack.

"…" The whole group watched in silence as the Infernape got up again, attempting another go against the normal type, all with the same outcome.

"Are you really going to let them keep this up?" Melia asked concerned, the one sided slaughter wasn't fun to watch for any of them but seeing the Pokemon in action had been enough to deter her from saying this the first few rounds.

She wanted to grasp how far their levels had grown apart ever since she heard the story. (Honey is slightly stronger than Hapi, if he is having trouble like this then we wouldn't fare any better)

Once again Star had completely surpassed them without a doubt.

Star nodded. "Honey wanted to see how he compared, and Scarlett is a good opponent for him as she too is a fast heavy hitter" It was also a good way to get a feeling on how strong her past team was right now.

Venam whistled as another Tail Slap put Honey's face in the dirt. "If she's a good opponent for him I don't want to see how a bad matchup would go" even with moves that sped up the user the Infernape was unable to catch up to the Cinccino at all, her movement was simply too fast for him to keep up.

As the bout continued the audience was slowly dissociating with it, the repeated beating becoming more of a background noise.

Venam then asked something while stroking Seviper's head. "What are your plans for the rest of the day?" it was nothing grandiose, but a fair question at the same time.

Star herself had thought this whole fixing the bridge with her Pokemon would have taken longer, but with them at least on talking terms her day was mostly freed. "I have nothing"

"I had planned to spend some time in Gearen, this is my home and I want to experience how much it's changed" Unlike her, Melia did think on what to do, and her mixed sorrowful yet happy face told them how she felt on that.

Not wanting her to keep that up Venam acted. "How about we make a day out of it, just us…and maybe Ren if I can get him to come" Melia considered it, spending time with her friends would always be a welcomed thing for her and it would be nicer to see the city with them by her side.

"I'll go" Star didn't have anything against the idea, in fact there was something she needed to take care of there too with Zumi if it was possible. "It sounds like a good time"

Melia agreed as well, there was no motive for her to refuse after all.

"Shit, Robo-Ren's under repair today" After texting in her PokeGear for a while the purple haired girl received confirmation that Ren would be joining them. "It's only us today ladies"

Star acknowledged that as a sign of them leaving. "Let me stop these two before we leave then" it didn't take long for the trainer to calm the group of Pokemon, promising them to get some proper training done after tomorrow.

With that matter handled and all of their partners recalled the group began their walk towards the train station.

"To East Gearan then and enjoy all it has in store for us now!"

"NOOOOO!" Venam dropped to her knees, tears falling down her eyes when her eyes landed on their surroundings, pure desperation in her voice.

Hope shattering in her eyes as the familiar place was no more.

Melia and Star stood behind her, watching the scene.

"It's ruined!" she cried to the ceiling once more. "The poison type Pokemon around, the horrid smell that drove the normies away" the lament continued under the watch of her friends.

And some unfortunate employees who were trying to do their job around them.

"Come on Venam, it's not that bad" Another attempt to console the girl was done, and just like the last one, it was fruitless. "They just…cleaned up the place"

The group had gone to Gearen under Venam's request, it had been some time since the girl had seen her mother, the events of Terajuma and forwards making it impossible for the girl to return back home.

Well, not impossible, but she would not abandon her friends when they needed so much help.

After Veronica was almost crushed by her mother over having just left her behind in the tropical region of Aevium the trio enjoyed some time catching up with the woman, enjoying some tea as they told her of some of their exploits.

Keeping the important information close to their chest as to not worry the mother.

There Both Venam and Melia learnt of the current management of the gym in the city, as some leaders from Reborn had come take care of matters here and help the city not long ago with one filling in for Venam.

After that conversation and some questioning looks from her friends Star led the two around the changes she remembers the most from the city.

The new changes to the flora of the city, the library's improvements, the new residential areas and lastly where they currently found themselves.

The water treatment plant.

A place where Veronica had spent the last ten minutes wailing over the fact it was now a clean and useful place, apart from being mostly restricted to the common populace.

"WHYYYY!" It was not a day the workers there would enjoy very much.

Melia sighed at the display but smiled at it too. "It's nice to see her act like this"

"Hmm" Star absently agreed, not very sure she remembered the difference with this behavior from Venam and her usual attitude. (There's something I'm forgetting about this)

It was probably a sensitive topic if Melia was happy it wasn't showing so a simple agreement would suffice for now.

The girl felt somewhat disappointed in herself from not being able to remember something that was important to a friend. "we should probably leave before she continues to any the people working here" A change of scenery would help her get rid of such thoughts.

"Yeah, I can feel their eyes on us" Most notably on herself as Venam and Melia didn't have the permission to enter down here and it was her who authorized their trip here.

While Melia attempted to get their friend to come along with them the pink haired girl chose to wait for them outside, she had a feeling it was for the better.

(It's not like I've gotten killed for following my instincts like this) The sun was still shining and there were little to no clouds in the sky, it was a very pretty day.

Still, Star's mind would often still wander for the things to be done. (I should buy some potions for tomorrow, I've been low on those for a while now) There hadn't been any need to use them ever since her last bout with Lyn and it wasn't as if it had been long since.

Thus her supplies weren't up to her usual standard.

From the entrance to the water treatment plant and the closest mart there was a bit of a walk so it wouldn't take the girl a long time to reach there and she could probably be back before they leave the building.

As Star travelled through the street there were many building and people she could somewhat make up in her memory from her time here, places where she may have had a street battle with alongside Honey more than a year ago.

This was the first place she's lived in after all.

Those few days spent around Ren, Venam and Melia as she prepared for her gym battle, helping the traveler find information about the Garufan, the time after they thought their friend had died.

Gearen was the first place Star made memories in, where she met some of the best people in her life, and where everything started.

Without counting the SS Oceana, but everything about that boat ride was a mess these days, one she didn't have the answers off.

In all of her reminiscence the trainer eventually arrived at the mart without noticing, accidentally bumping into someone who was leaving the store.

"Ah, Sorry I wasn't paying attention where I was going" the collision had been enough to knock the person down and their things almost falling to the ground if it wasn't for Star catching those.

With her free hand Star offered the woman a hand to get up. "Ugrh, it's fine, I wasn't looking either" the person on the ground took a second to recover before accepting the help.

After pulling the woman up their eyes met and instantly they recognized each other.

"This is a nice coincidence" Aya joked as she recomposed herself, seeing one of the most recent themes of discussion with her colleagues. "It's been a while kid"

"Ah, hello Miss Aya" Star however could not be farther from calm right now. (My luck has never changed hasn't it)

She was well aware the chances of meeting either Adrienn or Aya in the city were high, but with the size of the city and their duties there was some form of hope of not coming across the two.

Coupling that with the attire she was wearing and it's similarities to what she used to wear and the two very recognizable accessories she also wore meant the chances of being identified were high.

Star had made it a conscious decision to dress like this when coming anyways, knowing full well she'd be recognized in a moment, all so she could cut off her own escape route from the inevitable reunion with 'old' friends.

"You know, your timing is really good" Yet, If she had noted any of their similarities, the poison trainer said nothing, opting for talking about a completely different subject. "We've had a bit of a problem recently and since you know the region better than us your help would be appreciated"

The interceptor stood frozen for a moment before talking, unable to understand why Aya hadn't suspected anything . "Sure…I'm always willing to help out"

(hmmm, The more I look at her the more familiar she looks…) It had been a nagging feeling ever since the woman met this trainer, but now, as she looked at the moment, it was like 'she' was standing in front of her. (And that Mega-stone…does she have something to do with our Star? I'll have to check with Adrienn later)

However she wasn't about to be rude and ask the kid about that out of nowhere. "Thanks, we've been kinda stressing about this last two days" Maybe by inquiring about the disappearance of the Pokemon she could get some insight onto the relationship this kid might have with Star. "From what Adrienn told me, you have a contact in the Talia Resort right? We need to investigate something there and thought you could help us with that"

It hasn't been long and yet her actions were already being tracked, it was natural that a ranch full of legendary Pokemon would be monitored. "Of course, I'll ask Tesla about any suspicious individuals" There was no way her voice would slip up now, not when she hadn't been recognized.

"That's a relief, we can't exactly move away from Gearen these days, so it takes some load of our shoulders if you can do this for us" The woman then took a step back to think on how they bumped into each other. "Oh, sorry, I ended up asking you this when you probably wanted to go buy something"

"Mhm, I've been lacking potions recently" Answered the girl with honesty.

"Then let me buy you those as thanks, taking advantage of other's kindness isn't exactly our style"

…

"Star quickly, could you do me a favor"

"Take this, you need to deliver it to the Obsidian ward"

"Just do this for me yeah? Thanks cutie~"

"A small favor please!"

"Old reliable Star always there when you need her"

…

The interceptor ignore those memories, it's been long since her mind on them had changed. "I shouldn't impose, there is quite a lot I need to buy" There was no way Star would accept payment to investigate something she already had the answer too.

"Nonsense, just let me, take it as a compensation for everything if you think helping with this is not enough" The woman knew not to wait for an answer, walking right back into the store she just exited.

Star followed suit, failing spectacularly in convincing the gym leader to let her pay for her own potions .

At the end of the little supply run the Interceptor ended up with 20 hyperpotions and 10 full heals courtesy of the poison type trainer.

By the time the shopping was done Melia and Venam had left the installations and encountered the two leaving the mart.

Venam was quick to approach them once they were spotted. "Girl there you are! Don't disappear on us like that" Enough kidnapping to people of their group had happened so that leaving for a few seconds was a concern.

"Sorry, sorry I was just running by the mart to get some things" Her words stumbled on themselves as the purple haired girl shook Star while she tried to explain.

Luckily, Melia arrived to save her from the agitation. "Venam, stop that, She's alright and that is all that matters" there was a moment of reluctance before she accepted that.

Relieving the poor Star who was seeing stars by the time the grip loosened up.

"Are these friends of yours?" From the sideline Aya finally drew attention to herself, the two young girls hadn't noticed her in their worry so she chose to remain in silence. (But that level of care…how bad did these kids have it so they responded like this?)

"Oh, yeah" As soon as Star was out of her daze she was quick to introduce the three to one another. "Guys meet Miss Aya, a gym leader from Reborn, Miss Aya, meet my friends Venam and Melia"

"Sup, I'm Venam"

"And I'm Melia nice to meet you"

The contrast between greetings was like the sun a moon, Melia was polite but somewhat distant with how she introduced herself while Veronica was much more casual but had a warmer approach, extending a hand.

"The name's Aya, it's nice to meet you" The woman didn't hesitate to shake her fellow poison type trainer's hand with a smile. "I don't think I've seen you kids around the city before, did you come to see the reforms?

Both of them glanced at one another and nodded, the two of them felt no hostility from the woman in front of them so they could lower their guards for a bit.

"We did, the two of us grew up here so when we heard things were nicer now there was no doubt we had to visit" Venam blabbed on, telling of her smaller adventures she had around the places of the city that had been renewed while Melia added her own two experienced.

Aya watched their interaction, a certain air of familiarity to their conversation. "I think I've mentioned this before, but you kind of remind me of an old friend" They had been hearing the other two talking about their life as careless kids, sometimes with a longing expression that they were quick to hide. "This kinda seems like something out of the time all of our friends grouped up"

(Huh?! Why is she talking about that?) Star was perplexed by what it seemed to have come out of nowhere, telling her something out of a past she was also privy to.

"We gathered and journeyed together, sometimes separated, laughed together, fought together" However what surprised the girl was the somewhat bitter tone her words took as she continued. "And she, much like you are doing now, always kept us at arm's length"

Star left her mouth hang like an idiot for a moment, she had her approach looked like this to them.

"Not that I blame her…always just going off with the people we felt comfortable with carelessly, always getting into trouble" Melia and Venam had gained some distance with the two of them, walking more energetically than the two of them. "It was always her who got us out of that trouble, only for us to just go on again with no regard…Honestly it's not a surprise she disappeared all we did was make her solve our problems"

(…) Star walked in silence, looking at the woman while she talked. (I'd be a lie to say I disliked most of them on first instance…with how kind and grateful when helped people had tended to be here, finding Reborn's approach on kindness was somewhat of an awakener)

(And saying I was mad each time they just left me behind would be selling it short, but I'd never leave someone behind because of that)

Aya caught herself before she spoke anything else, realizing what had come out of her mouth. (Shit…what the hell am I talking about? God what's my problem, saying this to a child…Just because she would have listened…I guess I got too familiar with this kid)

"Sorry about that, I let myself get carried away" Aya brought a hand to her template and began massaging them, questioning herself for just dumping that on a stranger.

There were many things Star would have liked to say at that moment, so many explanations and excuses that she could give to her, regardless of that, explaining things didn't matter at this moment. "Don't apologize, this just shows how much you miss that friend of yours right?"

Once again Aya went quiet and Star couldn't tell what was going through her head at that moment. "Maybe, still it doesn't justify just spouting shit like this on you"

"Again, its fine" The two then continued to walk in silence, Aya didn't really know how to approach the girl after what had just happened and Star simply didn't want to put herself in a more compromised position.

That and there was something in Aya's words that ticked her. (Do they think I left because I got tired of helping them?) Sure Reborn hadn't actually been her problem at first, if one ignores the time loop, but she still chose to do something about it. (I couldn't have appeared to be frustrated with them because of that right?)

Maybe it was because they knew of the future she had visited once that this was the idea formed in their minds. (ugrh, what a pain) thinking about this wouldn't change anything now, one day she may explain everything to them. "I can't really say anything because I don't know, but with how you talk about that person, do you really think they'd leave because you asked her for help?"

"…no, she wasn't that kind of person…" The idiot that fought a Garchomp over a volcano for a friend, the idiot that basically went running all around the region, beat two gyms and get surf and waterfall just to save someone that made it clearly didn't like them in the record time of a week. (But then why?! Did anything we told her when she came from the past matter at all?)

Why would a friend who'd basically do anything for them just leave one day without any warning, the woman didn't know. "I just hope I get to see her again, and at the very least apologize to her, even if she may not blame us"

(One day Aya, one day I'll tell you all, but I have other things to do right now) They had already survived one world ending apocalypse, there was no need for her to drag them into another.

"Oi, are you two coming or not?!" The moment was interrupted by Venam, having noticed the distance that had grown between the two groups.

Aya didn't take more than a second to pull herself together, moving faster to reach the now standing teens. "Sorry, the two of us got distracted by our conversation" It wasn't a lie, but it didn't actually explain what had been said. "We'll have time to finish it another time, for now let me guide you for some of the newer things we've done around here"

Star watched as she approached the group how the woman managed to deflect the attention of the two, the words previously said still ringing on her mind.

(My disappearance may have had more consequences than I thought…Maybe I didn't think much about it since I had seen them do well in the future, but I never did ask myself what went on to reach that)

There were things she needed to reconsider now, and also figure out how to properly reveal things…just letting herself be caught clearly would be a bad option.

(I deal with Xen first, then this)

It was nighttime when Aya finally returned to her temporary residence.

Short of a few minutes ago she had sent the three kids off, all going to Grand Dream City for a concert. (Maybe I ought to invite them to one of mine one day) Aya liked those three.

Most of her afternoon had been spent taking those three around, she had seen Melia's and Veronica's expressions change and lighten up ever so slightly whenever something they knew of was changed.

It was somewhat similar to her own face when Byxbision had been cleaned so much to the point it couldn't even be called a wasteland anymore.

Feeling familiar things, that was one hell of a way to describe how today had gone for her. (Seriously, that kid…not only was she so similar to her, the Keystone she had and how she looks) It wasn't a coincidence, there was absolutely no way.

She had kept herself from saying anything in front of her not to be rude or make her uncomfortable, but just accounting for today Aya had some theories on who that kid was.

"THIS WORLD SHALL BURRRRRNNNN~~" in that moment ringtone began to sound, the person who being revealed just by having a different one assigned than anyone else.

(Maybe I should tell Hardy, he always has some sort of idea) Quickly she picked up the phone.

"Aya!" The deep voice of Hardy was what she first heard once she picked up the call. "How's my favorite band member doing?"

Unlike him however, this was not a day where she could answer with the same kind of energy as him. "Today has been…something I guess, how are things going over there?" her voice was tired just not in the physical way.

And Hardy did not miss it. "Did something happen?" Just before she could say anything the door was opened, the creaking sound alerting the woman of the new arrivals.

"Hm? I see you have arrived before us" Luna had used the key given to her, entering with Adrienn, both looked somewhat drained but the regular amount of drained after a day of work.

"Yeah" Aya acknowledged them before turning to the phone. "Gimme a sec Hardy, I gotta put you on speaker" And that she did, allowing him to hear the three of them. "Luna and Adrienn are here too, they just arrived"

"Hello you two, how's been Aevium treating you?" The ginger didn't waste a second in greeting them.

"It is quite the joyous fate which brings you to call when we've returned" Responded the blonde in her usual manner. "Not only that, but we've come bearing news"

The pair was now curious as to what she might be referring too, but Aya also had her own things to say. "Me too girl, today must be full of surprises"

"Really? I guess it is" Adrienn asked while pulling out their own PokeGear, they had saved this site to explain. "We'll tell ours and you can go next"

After turning it on a news report sire online they turned the screen to face Aya. "Look at this" It was an image of a man riding on a Dragonite, the blur on it made it difficult to make up who was the rider, and yet there was only one person that came to mind with that image.

"Uh, Adrienn, this is a call" Hardy on the other hand had no idea what they were referring to as for him there wasn't a line of sight. "I can't exactly see that"

"That's…!?"

"Elias's dragonite, yes" Luna completed what Aya wanted to say, recognizing the Pokemon due to the very clear scar on the creature's abdomen and the white robe that flew on it, which finally gave Hardy some context on what they were looking for. "While investigating the more profound corners laid on this city an agent sent to negotiate with the West was kind enough to inform us of such a development, apparently he was seen leaving the city and he could only capture this image"

"Shit, this is huge…maybe we have an actual lead on those two now!" For the first time in ten years they actually had tangible evidence on their location, that meant the sudden disappearance of Star's team wasn't a coincidence. "Does this mean they have been here the whole time?!"

"That is inconclusive, maybe they've simply been on the move" Adrienn shot down that idea immediately. "Beside we've conducted searches here, there was no way we've missed them"

Luna agreed with those deductions. "More over the reacquiring of her partners does indicate that something changed from the days prior to this, fate may be cruel in putting once more a grueling task on her"

"Maybe" And she wasn't the only one who could agree on that. "But this actually plays into what I found today" Aya had some thing to say herself and this might be the best time to bring them up, as seeing Elias was more confirmation. "Hardy what do you think about having kids?"

It was a question mostly coming from nowhere in this scenario. "Aya, Honey, I'm pretty sure we agreed to leave the kid's idea for when we're thirty"

The woman clearly didn't get the answer she was expecting., then again, she should have seen this coming. "I was not talking about us, I meant Star…look today I encountered the pink haired girl, she came with two friends and was showing them the reforms"

"What got my attention were the hairpin with a key stone she had and her belt" She too pulled out her PokeGear, a photo the four of them had taken to remember that day now on display for most.

"I gifted such a holder for her, I'd recognize it anywhere…that girl's features too" Luna saw it almost immediately, the similarity's were so striking that even over the phone they were evident.

"I never really noticed those…nor did I see her wear that" Adrienn too found himself stumped by this, as the one who spent the most time with the girl. "Are you saying she may be Star's daughter?! That'd be impossible!"

"WHAT!?" Once more the redhead was left out of the loop, not seeing what the others were seeing until they explicitly said it out loud. "Didn't you say that kid was sixteen?! How could it be possible?"

"I don't exactly know, but I'm sure that kid isn't her, I would be even more ridiculous, beside, wouldn't she have recognized us when we met if it was her?" Her explanations weren't that good, with no actual argument over what she thought, but at the same time, it was a possibility.

Adrienn agreed, there was a little chance of them being wrong and the attitude both displayed were very different from one another. "She didn't know of Reborn until we told her, so it cant be her…beside Star did have Celebi with her, maybe there's something we're missing"

This mystery was much deeper than they had initially expected.

—END—

-Mystic-