"GRAAAHHHHHH!"
The Bloodmoon Ursaluna growled with tenacity as he swiped his huge claw to slash at Juliana's Araquanid. Fortunately, thanks to a combination of the thousand-year-old beast's lethargic state and Araquanid's vitamin-boosted defenses, the attack did very little besides causing a brief leak from the giant bug's water bubble.
"Brrrble brrl!" Araquanid cried out defiantly, quickly patching itself up.
"You're doing great, Araquanid!" Juliana cheerfully encouraged her partner.
"And so are you, partner!" Snap, snap! Perrin cheered Juliana on as she took every opportunity to snap pictures with her trusty camera. "I'm getting some great shots thanks to you!" Snap, snap!
The perky photographer was feeling very confident in the amount of exposure this great lumbering beast was giving her, and the girl she had recruited to help her in drawing out the Bloodmoon Beast was demonstrating a sparkling new confidence of her own.
Juliana smiled brightly, sporting a brand new look that made her feel fresh and radiant. She was wearing her brunette hair completely down to her shoulders now, having finally decided to experiment away from her signature braid.
She also traded in her old duds for the brand new Uva Academy uniforms that the school was rolling out to select students like Team Star. Juliana now wore a purple blazer over a peach-colored polo shirt with a black collar. She sported black shorts with tights underneath and a pair of white school shoes.
For outdoor battling adventures, she also had on her new school gloves and a purple hat with a peach brim. However, Juliana still sported her most iconic accessory of all: her bright and confident smile.
"I thought this Bloodmoon Beast was gonna give us a much gnarlier battle!" she declared. "But we've totally got this in the bag!"
"Hee-hee! Love that cocky energy!" Perrin grinned. Though she warned, "Just don't get too careless! Legends say that this beast has been alive for thousands of years, and has spent much of that lifetime honing special powers from the moon itself—"
"ROOOOOOAAAARRRRR…"
Just then, Ursaluna began concentrating energy through the moon-shaped mark on its head. Before Araquanid could even react, dark clouds formed above Ursaluna's head and it fired a blood red blast of energy that rocked the giant water spider, and sent it down in one fell swoop.
"…like that," Perrin finished.
"Geez… It can't do much with its body, but I guess it made its mind a lot sharper instead!" Juliana observed, recalling her Araquanid. "But that's alright! I'll just have to rely on a partner that I know can take whatever dirt this huge mud monster dishes out! Go, Mienshao!"
"Mien… mien."
Juliana's Mienshao immediately sensed the native air of its homeland surrounding it, and felt quite serene.
"GRRRRR…"
"…SHAO!?"
That is, until it was forced to react in sight at the mud-caked bear that stood opposed to it.
"Wa-gahhhhhh?" Ursaluna tilted its head, watching the ferret Pokémon's swaying arms almost in a trance.
But Mienshao quicky sharpened its focus into a ball of energy. Feeling hyper energized from breathing in the Kitakamite air that it used to train in, Mienshao let out a huge Focus Blast that crippled the giant Pokémon greatly.
"Wa-groooaarrr…" it growled weakly in a rumble.
"MIEN-MIEN!"
Juliana closed her fist with a bright, beaming gaze in her eyes. "Time to raise the curtains on the Bloodmoon Beast!"
With her new clothes, hairstyle, and a much bubblier smile on her face, this Juliana barely resembled the ill somber girl who was lying in the nurse's office of her school a couple weeks ago.
But how had she gotten here?
A few days after her Miriam-mandated week of staying on Uva Academy's grounds had come and passed, Juliana found herself invited to Director Clavell's office out of the blue.
She entered the room, feeling a little nervous. She knew she wasn't in trouble, but it was the first time the Director had requested to speak with her personally since her return to Paldea, and she had no way of guessing what he wanted to see her about.
"Welcome, Miss Juliana!" Clavell greeted her warmly. "Please, have a seat."
His soft smile almost instantly put her at ease. Juliana knew what Director Clavell looked like when he was stern and upset, and he certainly wasn't putting on that visage right now. With a genuine but curious grin of her own, she sat down in front of his desk.
"It's been wonderful to see your bright face livening up our halls again, Miss Juliana. And if you don't mind me saying, I think you look positively glowing today."
Juliana stroked her hair with a modest, blushing face. "Oh. Because of my new clothes and hair, right?"
"Mm, for plenty of reasons beyond that, but how are you finding the new uniform style?"
"Oh, I love it!" she answered, looking down at her new threads. "It's very stylish and comfortable! I just couldn't help taking these new clothes for a spin after seeing how cool all the Team Star bosses look wearing them, and I feel like a whole new person wearing it!"
"The purpose of testing new styles was to inspire confidence and excitement, so that is most excellent to hear," Clavell nodded. "And I'm even more pleased with all I've heard of how much you've done to help our friends in Team Star assimilate into school life over the past week."
The white-haired director pushed up his glasses with a proud smirk.
"Strange as it may seem, given all the one-on-one time I spent with each of them in my clever 'Clive' disguise, I still feel a sense of a… a meaningful bond with those students."
"I don't think that's strange at all, sir," Juliana shook her head. "If there's one thing I've learned during my treasure hunt, it's that friendship doesn't know any boundaries. I feel a really deep bond with all those Team Star guys too. That's why I've been putting in so much time tutoring and helping them out."
"Well, you have my sincere gratitude for it," said Clavell, bowing softly. "Your effort is reflected in how much their grades have risen. But let's get to the root of why I've brought you here today, Miriam's been keeping me updated on your health situation of course, but I'd love to ask you personally how you've been feeling lately."
Juliana sat with her hands on her lap and took a moment to ponder.
"I'm feeling… great, actually," she said, surprising even herself. "I feel really well-rested, well-fed, and I'm not aching anymore!
"That is most relieving to hear," Clavell smiled.
But then Juliana frowned. "I feel… so silly now. I thought all these times my body was hurting, it was just a part of being so active. But all I had to do was eat more, take breaks, and actually remember to sleep…? I just– I feel like such an idiot…"
"Don't put yourself down too hard now!" he shook his head. "I have to admit… on our little excursions together, meeting at each those Team Star bases, I too noticed through my disguise that– on some days, you were dragging your limbs around in ways most concerning."
"Really?"
"Indeed." He adjusted his glasses again with an embarrassed face. "I realize now I should've spoken up about my worries far sooner. When I learned about what happened to you, I… I began to feel immense regret that I had never done so…"
"My friends all said the exact same thing. But…" Juliana sighed. "I don't know how well I would've listened even if you all did say something. It– it took me almost killing myself to realize what a fool I was…"
Juliana bowed in shame.
"Unfortunately, it's a part of human nature that we occasionally need to put ourselves in harrowing situations to learn the harshest lessons. However, the right thing to do isn't to let those errors define us, but to figure out how to become better people as a result of them. I know our dear Miriam must've given you your fair share of scolding already, and I have little doubt you've embraced the past couple of weeks as personal a journey of self-atonement. Am I correct?"
She lifted her head up slightly, and nodded softly. A light grin grew on Clavell's face.
"Then… if you think you're ready to cast away those doubts and put yourself back into the world Miss Juliana, I may have an enticing incentive for you."
Now she looked up with ravenously curious eyes. "What is it?"
"Hold out your hands… and close your eyes."
Juliana eagerly did so. She couldn't help but smile as she felt something being slipped into her hands.
Two somethings. They both felt very thin and paper-like.
"You may open your eyes now."
Juliana opened her eyes… and looked down to see two laminated slips, both bearing the name of an international airline company. One of them was teal-colored with markings that looked like the faces of the Loyal Three. The other was indigo-colored, bearing the emblem of Blueberry Academy on it.
"What are these?" she asked.
"Those are airline passes, Miss Juliana. Specifically, these passes grant you a year's membership to the airline that flies you to Kitakami and Blueberry Academy."
"And what does that mean, being part of this membership?"
"It means that, for the next 12 months, so long as you choose one of those two destinations, you can go to the airport with unlimited flights to Kitakami as well as Blueberry Academy!"
Juliana's eyes widened. "U-u-unlimited flights!? You mean I can fly to both those places whenever I want!? For… for FREE?!"
Clavell raised his eyes a bit. "Well– I wouldn't simplify it like that, but yes, in a manner of speaking, all your worries about paying fare would be taken care of. That certainly isn't an invitation to abuse such a privilege by saying, flying in and out every single day, I hope you understand."
Juliana stared down at these two passes, like golden tickets in her hands. On the one hand, she was extremely shocked and enamored, a part of her mind already running through all the possibilities open to her now. But she also looked up at Director Clavell again with a humble expression.
"I'd been discussing this with the rest of the school board, including Ms. Geeta, for a little while now," Clavell explained. "We know getting to spend a lot of time in both those places was a very unique opportunity for you Miss Juliana, and that you've no doubt built plenty of connections and met plenty of amazing Pokémon. Ms. Geeta believes it would be enriching to keep those gates open and let you use those opportunities to expand your horizons, not to mention help strengthen the bond between our schools even further!"
Clavell cleared his throat a bit, taking on a more cautious tone with her.
"Just to be clear, by giving you these passes now, on this day… I'm doing this without final approval from Geeta herself. She was actually supposed to meet me here today to discuss this, but— Ms. Rika just called me an hour ago to inform me that Geeta has been unexpectedly tied up in matters."
"Oh… Is everything okay?"
"Rika did sound a bit frantic over the phone, but all she would inform me is Geeta had taken on a…. very sudden engagement with one of our region's Gym Leaders, evidently."
The Director paused for a brief moment, hoping that whatever was occurring at the Pokémon League building today wasn't too calamitous an episode.
"That being said, I'm doing this gesture of kindness under the table because…" A soft smirk came upon Clavell's face. "I still feel that I owe you for everything you did to help get me get closer with Team Star and resolve their mass truancy dilemma. So consider this, me finally repaying my gratitude."
Juliana smiled a bit, touched at the Director's sentimental gesture, but still trying to understand her situation.
"It's so confusing… My friends were telling me I stretched myself too thin. But… between you, Ms. Miriam, Nemona, and so many others, I keep getting rewarded for helping a bunch of people, even though I was never asking you all to repay me. I just wanted to help people. Is that… really such a bad thing?"
"On the contrary, seeking to help others without any expectation of reward is a true sign of noble character, Miss Juliana," Clavell reassured her. "However, one musn't neglect one's own needs as well. The key is to know when to focus on altruism and when to allow ourselves to seek personal satisfaction. If we can't be the best person for ourselves, how can we perform most optimally for others?"
Juliana gazed at her flight passes.
"I guess that is a good point."
"Consider this a wonderful chance to exercise these new principles and chart a path for yourself, Miss Juliana. Those passes are yours to see as you fit." Then he remembered something. "Actually… not to push you in a specific direction, but Director Cyrano wanted me to relay a message. If you were to decide to use that Unova pass there to return to Blueberry Academy, he would see to it that you would be allowed to resume your exchange studentship from the point you left off on, all your credits and accommodations intact!"
Juliana's eyes lit up at the sound of this. "Wow, really? That's so nice of him!"
"It's a very high honor. I've never known my longtime acquaintence to extend such a generous courtesy to exchange students before. You've certainly made quite an impression on him. A very strong impression…"
Clavell recalled the day Cyrano rang him up personally to tell him that Juliana had quit the Blueberry program and was coming back to his academy. In all the years he had known the eccentric director, Clavell didn't know if he had ever heard him crying that much.
"I don't know if I will ever be ready to go back to Blueberry Academy again…" a pensive Juliana admitted, gazing at her Blueberry Pass. "I umm, I kinda had my own reasons for leaving."
"I assumed as much," the Director nodded in understanding. "Like I said, it's an offer that's open to you, but one you needn't feel pressured to take. Perhaps a return to the land of Kitakami would be in order instead? It's a very relaxing tourist destination during this time of year, and I hear they're even starting up their local festival again soon."
Juliana flipped around to the Kitakami Pass and stared at it thoughtfully.
"Hmmm… I did really like Kitakami last time I went there. There was lots of fresh air, the people were really nice, and so many cool new Pokémon to meet!"
"Jacq mentioned to me that you had caught several exotic Pokémon there that aided in his Pokédex research, and even offered to help a friend of his with some field work that you never got around to?"
"...Oh yeah!" Juliana realized, suddenly remembering her interactions with that photographer lady Perrin. "I was going to catch enough Pokémon that she would let me help her out with something, but then– all that crazy stuff with Ogerpon and the Masks happened, and I completely forgot about it!"
"Perhaps some quiet time in that land doing field work and cataloging Pokémon would be just the ripe vacation plan for a troubled mind!"
Director Clavell's suggestion enticed Juliana quite a lot, and before the next day was out she had already alerted Jacq and all her friends of her decision to return to her old sidequest and help Jacq complete his Kitakami Pokédex. And then just a couple days after that, she was on a plane to Kitakami.
Luckily, Perrin was still stationed there with her very unique Growlithe, having stayed in Mossui Town to help out the town elders who were still in the process of retooling the Festival of Masks.
Perrin was of course, very enthusiastic that Juliana had come back and it was there that Juliana learned more about the woman's desire to capture photos of a mysterious Bloodmoon Beast that lurked in the remote Timeless Woods. It sounded like the perfect mission to Juliana, who was not only excited to help a friend but even more excited get a relaxing camping experience out of it!
Of course, there was no way Juliana or even Perrin could've predicted they'd come up against such a fearsome Pokémon as Bloodmoon Ursaluna, but with her mind rejuvenated after a night of camping and sharper than ever, Juliana and her Pokémon were able to outwit the ancient beast and, rather aptly, catch it inside a Timer Ball.
With Ursaluna captured, and Perrin having plenty of new photos to develop, she and Juliana returned to their campsite at the outskirts of the woods to pack everything up. The two of them were dismantling Perrin's giant tent, while Perrin's Growlithe ran around them, energized by their adventure.
"Grow-wow!" he barked.
"Packing up the ol' tent and calling it a day feels a bit sad…" said Perrin. "Like the end of an adventure."
"Hmmm. It's only the end of today's adventure, though," Juliana replied. "Life is an adventure that never ends!"
Perrin giggled. "That's some very deep philosophizing, kiddo! You get that out of a book or something?"
"No, from my mom, actually. She said it's… something my dad used to say a lot."
"Well, it sure is true. No matter how well you have everything planned out, tomorrow is almost always full of surprises. But I like it that way! Keeps me on my toes. And no matter what happens, there's always a moment waiting to be captured."
Juliana chuckled again. Spending the past couple of days camping with Perrin and catching Pokémon all over Kitakami for her to snap photos of had been a really fun and unique experience for her.
Perrin was like a free spirit, more so than most of the other adults Juliana met. She had a cheerful, optimistic way of looking at the world, and some fascinating things to say about time and the things we do with it. Spending this time as her friend and helpful assistant was refreshing to Juliana in ways she really believed she'd needed.
"But the important thing is, I finally crossed off a long-time item off my bucket list and for the first time in forever, I feel like I've really accomplished something!" Perrin said proudly.
As they finished unfastening all the rods and the tent came down, she turned to Juliana earnestly.
"I couldn't have done this without you, partner. Because of you, I finally feel like I have some photos here that I want to keep forever…"
"That's great, Perrin!" Juliana beamed. "I was happy to help! And camping out here was so much fun! I wish I had done something like this a lot sooner, but just being able to slow down like this for a couple days has made me feel like a whole different person!"
"Aww, that's great, Juliana! I'm glad you're having as much fun as I am. You really looked like you were in your element, hunting down all those Pokémon, and taking on the Bloodmoon Beast like a real pro! You're really every bit the real deal Jacq said you are!"
"Thanks, Perrin," she blushed. "Did this help you with your slump?"
"Oh, more than you can imagine! It's been ages since I've felt this way." Perrin smiled fondly at their picnic table, where her camera sat. "Seriously. I think I'm even feeling a bit of that spark that I thought I'd lost."
Juliana grinned and decided to help by packing up their foldable chairs. "When did you first realize you wanted to be a photographer?"
"Oh, gosh…" Perrin closed her eyes and thought back. "I don't know that I ever realized it more than it was just… always something in my blood. I still remember the first camera my dad gave me. It was one of those little disposable cameras you could only take a few pictures on at a time. But it meant the world to me. I must've spent hours as a kid taking pictures of all sorts of stuff in that old town of mine. Plants, people, Pokémon, you name it."
All this talk reminded her that she'd better get to sorting the photos from her camera together so she could work to get them developed.
"So there really wasn't ever a time that I didn't love snapping pictures. And the minute I found out that people enter competitions and even make a living off of it, well… the rest is history, really!"
"Wow! That's so cool that you were able to find something you love doing and make it work out that early in your life!" Juliana complimented her.
"Yeah…" Perrin gazed up at her with a thoughtful smile. "What about you, Juliana? Do you know what you dream is?"
Juliana stopped for a moment to really think about it. Even though she had allowed herself to believe she had found a "purpose" for herself in helping people find their treasures, such assertions were faint but largely dormant in her mind now, and she was even beginning to wonder if she had been focusing too hard on thinking she needed to figure out her purpose in life so quickly.
"...Not really, no. Y'know, I've spent so long just kind of going with the flow and letting other people guide me that, I guess I've never really stopped to think about what I actually want for myself."
"Ahh. Well… that's the beauty of being young, my friend. You've got plenty of time to work all that out."
"I suppose." Juliana remembered something. "What about that thing you said the other say, though? Time wasted is lost?"
Perrin giggled. "That's just an old saying from my family, Juliana, and it's not that deep. Frankly, as long as you're enjoying the moment, and always working towards what you want to some degree, then… how is that time wasted, right?"
"I guess that… makes a lot of sense." Juliana found herself grinning widely. This piece of advice soothed a lot of the insecurity she felt in her mind. "Thanks, Perrin. You've really… done a lot to help me feel better about where I'm going."
"See? What a fruitful partnership this has been! You inspire me, I inspire you… we could make a really great team, you and I!"
"Bow-wow!" Perrin's Growlithe seemed to agree, raising his paws excitedly in the air.
"Actually…" Perrin started to remember some things as she clutched her camera in her hands. "I was talking to Jacq not too long ago, and your name came up. Apparently you're taking classes all the way over at Blueberry Academy now?"
Juliana's smile quickly became a frown.
"Umm…" She rubbed the back of her head. "Well, I uhh… I was."
"Oh." Perrin's eyebrows raised a bit. "Did something happen, or… did that whole program just end for you?"
"It's— hard to explain."
"I see. Well, as it happens, I got an interesting offer from Blueberry Academy not too long ago. They want me to come visit their artificial Terrarium and capture photos of the Pokémon living there. If you were still enrolled or, perhaps interested in visiting there again, it would really encourage me to take them up on that offer!"
Juliana stood with her feet planted and looked down at the dark, windswept grass as she stewed on her experiences at Blueberry, which were a large source of guilt for her.
How abruptly she had thrown away her education at Blueberry and left all her friends high and dry was yet another decision that made sense in Juliana's head at the time, but had her questioning everything now. Why she gave up on everything that quickly, and what her old clubmates must surely think of her now.
And of course… Kieran. The two of them had just finally repaired their friendship after months of guilt and anger were finally released—and then it got ruined by such an innocent accident. Juliana also wondered what Kieran thought of her leaving him behind after he got hurt. Did that… that horrible wall of hatred reflect what Kieran thought of her now…?
But then, thinking too much about Kieran inevitably brought—her, the person Juliana had hurt more than anyone else—crawling back into her mind like an unwanted parasite of unbearable regret.
Juliana closed her eyes and winced to stop her train of thought from going there. Perrin observed her troubled expression.
"Yikes. You got some… bad memories of that place, don't ya? Stuff you… probably don't want to think about?"
Juliana nodded solemnly. "Yeah… I'm sorry. I don't… I don't think I'd be up for going back there right now. There's some classmates there that I'd rather not meet up with right now…"
Perrin gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, no sweat. I was just thinking out loud. Chasing this high, you know? Don't worry about it!"
"Okay."
Juliana did her best to try to bury all those memories that threatened to bubble up, and smiled for her newfound friend, determined to stay happy and positive for her sake. In no time at all, all the camping stuff had been packed up into Perrin's large duffel bag, which she hoisted over her shoulder like it wasn't heavy. Juliana was surprised how much strength the girl had despite her slim figure.
"So what now?" asked Juliana.
"Well! Now that I'm all motivated, I think it's time to ride this feeling and seize the day!"
She took a quick gander at her beloved camera before wrapping it around her neck.
"I'm heading right back to the village this instant to get these photos developed! How about let's meet back in Mossui Town once they're done?"
"Cool!" Juliana looked at her surroundings. "Kitakami's a big place. I'm sure I'll find something to do in the meantime."
Then Perrin recalled something. "Oh! Hey, if you're looking for something to do, I just remembered some juicy intel. Apparently, you've met the legendary Pokémon that reside here in Kitakami? The 'Loyal Three' or something like that?"
"Oh, yeah! The Lou–" Juliana stopped and frowned. "I mean umm, yeah. The Loyal Three. We…" Another frown. "Uhhh, I defeated them last time I was here."
"Well, according to all the gossip I've heard around town, the local folks are still spotting them around here occasionally!"
"No way?" Juliana's eyes lit up. "I've gotten a lot stronger since the last time I faced them… I bet I could defeat them even harder and actually catch them this time!"
"There you go! A certified awesome idea planted into your head by yours truly!" Perrin beamed. "Just don't get into too much trouble, alright? Say goodbye, Growlithe!"
"Row-row!"
Juliana waved goodbye as Perrin and her Hisuian partner raced off to get back to town.
The wind picked up around her, billowing her free-flowing hair pleasantly around Juliana's face while also forcing her to grab at her hat. Juliana took a whiff of that crisp Kitakami air and realized that for once, the world really was her Cloyster right now.
Although, there was a downside to smelling this land's air again, and being reminded of her previous adventures here with…
…
Juliana put a hand to her head. "I really need to forget about her."
She hoisted her backpack over her shoulders with a defiant breath, determined not to let her regrets consume her today.
At least I can run around this place all I want knowing she's not here.
…But little did Juliana know, her ghosts were haunting much closer than she realized.
For just on the other side of Kitakami, much closer to civilization, a certain tall black-and-red haired girl stood amongst the trees of the Apple Hills, looking up in admiration at her brother's tall syrupy serpent.
"Hydra-droooooo!"
Hydrapple's cry, or more accurately cries from its multiple heads, somehow sounded very squeaky but also very booming at the same time, perhaps appropriate for the huge Pokémon's cute and offbeat yet intimidating appearance.
"I'm still so impressed you were finally able to evolve your Dipplin into a Hydrapple, Kiki. I know that was your dream for so long!" Carmine smiled sweetly at her brother standing next to her. "As your sister, I couldn't be prouder."
"Ha-ha! Thanks, sis!" said Kieran. "Yeah, I'm real happy to finally have my best partner become a big, strong Hydrapple!"
A few of the apple farmers nearby were gazing at Kieran's Pokémon too, having seen many an Applin and a Dipplin in their lifetimes but almost never a fully-evolved Hydrapple.
"Awww, that thing's your best partner?" Carmine gushed exceptionally over this. "That's gotta be the sweetest thing I've ever heard!"
"Sweet like syrup, right?" Kieran chuckled.
Carmine glared at him, which made Kieran chuckle harder… which made her glare even harder with her yellow irises. Which made him gulp and immediately cease.
"Umm… anyway, I'm still a little sad I was too angry with you guys to appreciate when I finally evolved my Dipplin, but…" One of Hyrdrapple's heads bent down and licked Kieran in the face, much to his delight. "At least we're finally spending time together now, and I can finally get to know you all over again!"
Another one of its "syrpent" heads lowered towards Carmine and sniffed at her, making her face scrunch.
"I think they're a little weird looking up close…" Then the head cried jubilantly as it sunk itself into its apple hole, causing red syrup to splash. Carmine flinched. "And maybe it should watch where it's flinging all that syrup! I don't want any of that stuff on my clothes!"
"Heh-heh, guess I've got a real knack for catching Pokémon that make a mess or don't always listen to me…" Kieran admitted, awkwardly scratching his head. "I'm still not quite as good as getting my Pokémon under control the way you and Juliana do."
"Huh? Oh…" Carmine shrouded in herself a bit. "Y-yeah."
Kieran instantly realized his mistake; for as much as he missed Juliana, he was usually good about not bringing her up around Carmine.
"You know, you're just…" She spoke with a low voice. "You're still just learning how to be a strong Trainer. Even though you're a Champion, you still rushed through a lot of the important lessons and all that."
"Yeah," he nodded.
Kieran felt bad. He hadn't intended to bring down Carmine's mood like this, and in fact a strange part of him actually wanted to see the more confident, show-offy side to his sister. Then he had an idea for something that might excite the both of them.
"Hey, Sis!"
"Hmm?"
"Why don't we have a battle? Just you and me? Then you can see how well I've trained my Hydrapple for yourself!"
"Drooohhhh!" Hydrapple cried, its syrpent heads ready for battle.
"Oh-ho-ho! You want a battle with moi? Your sister, who's never lost a fight?" Carmine replied boastfully. Kieran actually smiled to see that spark return in her yellow eyes. "And here I thought you wanted to come back home to feel better about yourself!"
"Hmph! You'll see!" Kieran said determinedly. "Like Miss Geeta herself said, just because I don't hold the Champion title anymore, doesn't mean I still ain't one!"
"Well, then bring it on, pipsqueak. Or did you already forget I beat you once as Champion already?"
Carmine drew one of her Poké Balls and flashed it with an excited look in her eyes.
"My team and I will totally crush that smug little smile right off your face, Kiki! And then you'll be crying so hard that you'll… you'll…"
Carmine's words trailed off as she became conscious at the amount of… venom she was suddenly spewing. In an instant, her mind suddenly became hit with the thoughts of what would happen if she beat Kieran… and he really did cry?
She pictured him, his spirits completely crushed, a sobbing wreck.
"Not again!" he would cry, surrounding by his all fallen partners. "You always beat me, Sis! I'm such a big loser and it's all YOUR FAULT!"
Then he would look at her all angry and bitter again, like he was before. The old Kiki would be dead once more. All because of her.
"I hate you, Sis! I HATE YOU! Juliana was RIGHT about you! You're the WORST!"
"Sis? Sis!?"
Carmine gasped, as Kieran's worried shouts brought her back to reality.
"Are you… okay?"
From Kieran's perspective, his sister had gone from confidently trash talking him to staring off into the distance with wide eyes that were now… glossy for some reason.
"I– Uhh, yeah! Yeah, of course I'm fine! I'm always fine! I just…" Carmine bunched her arms up and huffed sadly. "I uhh– I change my mind. I don't think I'm actually in the mood for a battle right now…"
"Oh. Are you sure?" Kieran could tell something was wrong with his sis. She had never acted all insecure like this before.
She nodded solemnly. "...'m sorry," she muttered.
"It's okay, Sis."
Kieran was a bit flustered. He just wanted to lift his sister's spirits up, but instead she only seemed to become more depressed, and he wasn't really sure what to do about it. It was usually Carmine looking after him, not the other way around.
He looked ahead of him, where the sun was peeking over the top of the Apple Hills.
"Would you like to go on a walk instead?" Kieran gently took her arm. "Like a big hike through the Wistful Fields, and up the mountain? Like we used to do when we were kids?"
Carmine's mouth opened a bit, and she sniffled.
"Umm, yeah. Actually, that– that would be nice. Thanks, Kiki," she smiled at him. "Let's go."
"Yeah. Let's."
Recalling his Hydrapple, the pair walked down the orchard path together. Carmine was still frowning and looking distracted, and Kieran kept noticing that.
"Mmkay…"
Munkidori felt its psychic powers drain completely, that last Dark Pulse completely destroying its focus as it stumbled around on its legs.
Juliana tossed out an Ultra Ball.
Wiggle.
Wiggle.
Wiggle.
…
Click.
"YES!" Juliana excitedly ran over and picked up the Ball. "I caught the last one!"
"Chee-wooooahhhh!" Chi-Yu bellowed triumphantly, its cursed beads glowing with fire.
Standing in front of the Wisteria Pond, Juliana took out the other two Ultra Balls containing Okidogi and Fezandipiti and cradled the three of them together.
"I can't believe I caught all of the Loyal Three in one afternoon!" she raved. "I really have gotten a lot stronger since the beginning of my adventures! Mr. Jacq is going to be so happy with me! Come on, Chi-Yu! Return!"
"Chooo…"
Juliana recalled her Treasure of Ruin into its Ball and smiled.
What a fantastic day this has been. I've accomplished so much! I don't think anything can spoil my…
She turned around.
…good mood.
Because what Juliana saw immediately upon turning around was… the spot.
That fateful spot in the meadows of Wysteria Pond, among all the purple thistles, where Juliana had defeated Munkidori the first time.
With her.
They had cheered victory for their win together against the last of the Lousy Three, celebrated getting the last mask back with Ogerpon, and then they had a picnic date right there in the middle of the field.
That's right, we even called it a date… Juliana remembered. She folded her arms together, feeling a tinge of guilt. It probably felt like a real date to her if she was in love with me this soon… Maybe this was how that started. When I pushed too hard to be her friend…
Juliana's face cringed as she remembered how non-seriously she joked about it being her first date with Carmine, and even blurting out that she wanted to be Carmine's sister! The words that would eventually damn their friendship forever.
The other thing Juliana realized was that at the time she enjoyed that date so much that, whether she was in Paldea or Blueberry, she could recall the entire conversation she and Carmine had that day. Word for word.
…Now at this moment, she was struggling to recall a single thing they talked about.
As she stepped forward, Juliana spied a strange spot on the ground. Kneeling down, she realized it was a splotch of dried yogurt.
Okay, that triggered something. Juliana remembered getting yogurt on her nose… Carmine did it as a joke or something?
We laughed so much that day…
Juliana gazed up at the super tall trees, where Carmine and Ogerpon had worked together to pick those red Umeboshi plums that tasted so good, so unlike anything she had tasted before.
The plums were completely gone now.
I guess they really do only grow at a certain time of year.
Juliana could feel her whole jawline quivering. There were emotions underneath the surface that wanted to come out, raw feelings that she had been pushing to the back of her conscience. Juliana was defiant, and she pushed them back once more. Including the tear that threatened to fall from her face.
"Why did I come here…?" she wondered out loud. "To this pond? … To this land? Why didn't I think about all the– the memories it was going to bring back?"
Gritting her teeth, the troubled girl hoisted her backpack and shook her head.
"I should just get back to town, and find Perrin. Maybe after that, I'll just… go home."
She took off in a frustrated strut down the hill and through the path that cut towards the Wistful Fields and Apple Hills, determined to get back to Mossui Town without any other negative memories triggering.
"I guess it could be worse," she huffed to herself. "I don't know what I'd do if I was here on a different day and ended up running into– Huh?"
Juliana peered ahead and could spot two figures walking the other way from Apple Hills. Juliana was about to run up and greet them, figuring they might be locals.
…Then she got a closer look at them, and her face went pale.
It—it can't be!
She involuntarily gasped out loud.
"…!?"
Carmine had been listening to Kieran talking, but when she suddenly heard a familiar gasp, her eyes went wide as she sharply looked ahead.
"Did—did you hear that?"
She put a hand over Kieran to stop him walking.
"Huh? Hear what?"
Juliana had instantly ducked behind a rock the moment she recognized Carmine and Kieran walking right towards where she was.
She gripped her chest really hard, fearing that her heart was about to burst right out of it. Her head shook around frantically in disbelief and panic.
That was-! That's Kieran and, and…! What are they doing HERE!? Why are they back home instead of school!? Di—did they both drop out or something!? I NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS I'D BUMP INTO THEM HERE!
She was then horrified to hear footsteps approaching from the other side of the rock.
"No, no, no, no, NO!" Juliana whispered. She clutched her head in fear, feeling trapped in a horrible nightmare. Please—please don't let them find me here! Especially not HER!
Carmine's eyes glowered as she approached the nearby rock with a suspicious gaze. She was sure she just saw somebody jump behind it, and as she got closer, she swore she could hear someone breathing, and whispering.
Whispering in a very, very familiar voice…
Once she got close enough, Carmine instantly leapt behind that rock.
"HEY!"
But to her surprise and confusion… there was no one there.
"…Huh?"
Kieran ran up to her.
"Sis, what's going on?"
"I—N—nothing. I just—" Carmine stammered as her face scrunched up. "That voice… I could've sworn I heard…"
Carmine huffed and grasped her temples through her locks, immensely troubled.
"What's wrong with me—!?" she fretted. "This air must be doing something to me, causing me to hallucinate!"
"Hallcuinate…?" Kieran tilted his head, confused. "Sis, what are you talking about?"
"Grrrr!" Carmine fiercely whipped her hair around a few times and clenched her fists. "Sorry, Kiki, but I'm not in the mood to hike anymore."
She then ran a hand through her shaken-up hair and took a big sigh to regain her composure.
"I'm going out to the edge of town and so some recon."
"Recon…?" Kieran repeated, confused. "You mean like… reconnaissance?"
Carmine started hustling away, back towards town.
"That's right! I'm gonna—I'm gonna go home, get my binoculars…" She huffed as she spoke, her feet planting hard with each step. "And keep a sharp eye out!"
"A sharp eye out for what?" Kieran tried to follow her movements, struggling to understand her actions.
"What do you THINK!?" Carmine sharply turned around and snapped at him. "Pests! Tourists! Unwanted scum! OUTSIDERS!"
"Outsiders? What are you talking about? There's not even any tour groups happening here today! The only person around here who's not from Kitakami is that funny lady with the camera we talked to! Sis, you're not making any sense!"
Much to his frustration, Kieran couldn't seem to get through to Carmine in this sudden, erratic state she was in. But he still did his best to run up alongside her and keep with her pace.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"N-no!" She turned her head away from him. "I just… really need to be alone right now."
"Seriously? You used to drag me to this reconnaissance thing all the time, Sis, and now that I'm offering to help you, you're turning me away?" He started grabbing for her arm. "Can't you please tell me what's wro—"
"NO!"
Carmine shouted vigorously, and aggressively shoved his arm back. She turned around with red cheeks and gritted teeth.
"I SAID I WANT TO BE ALONE!"
Kieran clutched his arm, wincing. "Okay Sis, but—Oww! That's the arm that got hurt. Please be careful with it!"
"Oh my goodness! No, no, no, no, NO! I'm sorry, I—" Carmine grasped her head and grunted in agitation. "Not again! I gotta get out of here!"
Then she took off sprinting. Now Kieran was really flabbergasted.
"Wha-!? Sis, where are you going!?"
"DON'T FOLLOW ME!" was the only thing she shouted as she disappeared down the path.
"SIS, WAIT!" Kieran shouted fruitlessly.
But he was left alone in the middle of the Wistful Fields, utterly confused and exasperated.
It was usually Carmine who worried over him, but now the tables had harshly been turned and Kieran was fraught with worry over his sister and her incredibly bizarre behavior.
"Seriously, what's gotten into you, sis…? I wanted her to stop hovering over me all the time, but—but, not like this."
Carmine for her part clutched her stomach in deep anxiety as her legs took her far away from the perceived site of disaster. She was panting for breath, her hair was a mess, and her eyes were wide with frenzied distress.
"Why am I still so broken!?" she was asking herself. "I thought coming back home was going to fix me! But instead, it's just gotten so much worse! I can't stop thinking about Juliana… I can't hang out with Kiki at all without either hurting him or threatening to…!"
Carmine squeezed her eyes shut as pained tears began to escape them.
"Is there really nowhere in this world that I belong anymore!?"
Meanwhile, up high on a nearby cliff, in a part of Oni Mountain overlooking the fields down below, Pokémon like Geodude and Noibat drifted around the rocky mountain in harmony.
Until a bright flash suddenly sparked in the middle of the mountain path, and two beings emerged from a burst of light, causing the floating Pokémon to all flock away.
Gardevoir floated gently down onto the ground, humming serenely. Juliana on the other hand, hit the ground awkwardly and was struck with such intense vertigo that she stumbled to the edge of the cliff and retched over the side of the mountain.
"Gardevoiiir?" the Embrace Pokémon cried in concern, watching its partner throw up.
Juliana sat back on the ground and coughed up the rest of the phlegm in her throat before catching her breath.
"Whoo… Thank goodness I haven't sent you to Jacq yet, and thought to use your Teleport move in the nick of time, but…" She huffed. "I don't think I'm ever doing that again."
Juliana recalled Gardevoir and sat there for a while, trying to calm herself down. She didn't feel nauseous anymore, and the anxiety coursing through her veins seemed to have subsided too.
And yet, for some reason, her heart was still beating out like a drum. Juliana didn't know why it was so overactive. She shut her eyes and tried to relax, to think of something to distract herself.
But when Juliana closed her eyes, there was only one image etched deep into her brain. That very split second, back down on the plains when she saw it.
Carmine's face.
And picturing Carmine's face in her head was only making her heartbeat rise even more.
Juliana slowly realized that in fact, she would often feel her heart beating faster like this when she was attending classes at Blueberry. And probably on the Kitakami trip too.
…It would happen every time she was around Carmine. Just like the heat that was also rising in her body right now.
This wasn't a comforting realization. Instead, it filled Juliana with great distress.
"What does this all mean…?" she was asking herself. "Do I—Do I really have feelings for…?"
Juliana shook her head and tried stubbornly to deny it. But that only made the image in her mind worse. She imagined Carmine's yellow eyes as glistening when she turned Juliana's way. Sparkles all around her face. Her hair flowing and free. An innocent look on her lips that—
Juliana grunted in frustration. That girl's face was like a parasite drilling holes into Juliana's brain. It was occupying every single space of her thoughts and Juliana wanted nothing more than for it to go away.
"This would be the worst thing ever if it's actually true!" she quaked. "Why couldn't I have felt this way earlier instead of—instead of when I broke her heart?"
Carmine's innocent, serene look transformed into a more frightening visage, almost by Juliana's own will, in her mind as the last words she ever spoke to Juliana stung deep like a Vespiquen sting.
"GO AWAY, YOU LOUSY HOMEWRECKER! JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE BOTH OF US! FOREVER!"
Juliana huddled her knees close to her and wrapped her arms around them, the negative emotions threatening to boil over.
"I don't want to feel this way… I don't want to keep hurting like this, thinking about what I screwed up… I just want to forget all of it."
She whimpered loudly, feeling her limbs beginning to shake.
"Maybe… maybe that Berry will help me feel better…"
Juliana reached into her pocket, where she was still carrying that Pecha Berry Kieran had gifted her. For a while, it had become a habit of hers to pull it out and whiff its scents whenever she felt anxiety or other troubled feelings about to breach the surface of her mind.
For some reason, smelling the deliciously sweet scent that wafted from this strange Berry seemed to calm her nerves and help her bury those feelings so she could focus on the important things.
However, for even stranger reasons, she hadn't felt drawn to it in the same way she had been, ever since she collapsed in the bamboo thicket. Perhaps it was because her friends had been providing her the comfort she usually needed from her charm. But now she was alone. And she needed to feel happy again.
The Berry wasn't releasing any intoxicating scents at the moment, but Juliana kept her nostrils open, desperate for anything to banish these awful thoughts in her head.
Finally, she felt something. Slowly, she picked up on a smell. That sweet, heavenly smell was starting to emanate. And that voice in her head was starting to become clear again…
"…PECHA…"
She closed her eyes, ready to accept the sweet embrace of her charm, when—
"YO! Kid!"
"Huh?"
Juliana was snapped out of her daze and hurriedly put the Berry back in her pocket when she heard a voice calling to her from above.
"There you are!" Her photographer buddy was flying in over Juliana's head on the talons of her Braviary.
Perrin had a very unusual Braviary to the ones Juliana had seen in Paldea. Unlike the crimson wings and headdress-like feathers of those native birds, Perrin's Braviary had pure white feathers over its gray plumage, including a fluffy white crest above its head. Above its eyes, it sported glowing blue markings with flames of pink trailing off it, giving this Braviary the appearance of wearing some mystical eye mask.
And Perrin herself held on from a hanging bar frame made of bamboo, riding the wind under Braviary like a hang glider. The huge bird flapped its wings with a caw as Perrin motioned for it to descend to the ground and let her dismount.
Perrin ran up to Juliana excitedly, while Juliana did her best to stand up to greet her.
"Where have you been, partner? I thought we agreed to meet up in town! I was looking all over for ya!"
"Oh! Hi, Perrin!" Juliana cleared her throat. "Sorry! I didn't forget. I just got really caught up in catching those Lousy Three Pokémon—"
Perrin giggled. "Lousy Three? That's not what you called 'em before. They give you a lot of trouble or something?"
"Oh, heh-heh! No, that's just…" She adopted a solemn frown. "That's just a name that a girl I know coined for them…"
"Hey, uh… everything okay up in that noggin?" Perrin asked with a tone of concern. "I know we don't really know each other and it's probably not my place to pry, but if you need a shoulder to cry on, then… I'm right here."
Juliana shook her head. "No… I'm fine. Really. What about you, though?" she said, putting on more of a smile. "Were you able to get those pictures of Ursaluna developed?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah! Sure did."
"How'd they turn out?"
Perrin picked up the camera wrapped around her neck and put it up to her face with a crisscrossed expression.
"Well… fact is, once I got them all printed out, I could see that the photos I managed to get are all blurry or cut off or out of focus..."
"Really?" Juliana replied, disappointed. "They can't all be like that!"
"I dunno if the fog messed up my lens or maybe I screwed something up in the lab…" Perrin grimaced. "They really aren't good enough to show anyone—not even you, partner."
Her Braviary cawed sadly behind her.
"I'm so sorry, Perrin…"
"Ehhh. You know what? I'm actually not that upset about it."
"You're not?"
"Yeah…" Perrin started to look at her camera with a fond smile. "Because out of all the photos I've ever taken, I think these may be my favorites."
"Really?"
Perrin nodded. "I think I'd gotten too caught up in my own head, making up all the worst scenarios in my head.
Juliana looked at her pointedly.
"I—know what you mean, actually."
"You do?"
"Yeah… I was going through a problem like that too. I kept being so worried about the future and finding out what my goal in life should be that I—I stopped paying attention to everything that was right in front of me." She cracked a bit of a smirk. "That was time wasted, I think."
Perrin chuckled. "Yeah. I think I'm starting to understand what my ancestors meant by that now. I've spent so much time worrying about framing or what judges might say, always thinking about what I ought to capture. But just capturing your subjects as they are—that's what photos should be! All this time I spent with you, you taught me something important, partner. So… thanks for that."
Juliana blushed shyly.
"Gosh… thank you, Perrin. This past month, I felt like I've done nothing but be a screwup so… it's really nice to have finally helped someone for real again."
"Well, how about that! This really was a mutual partnership," she grinned.
Juliana grinned back. She was already feeling immensely better now, being able to talk to someone positively to help her get her mind all sorted again, and she found that interesting.
Maybe I don't need that good luck charm anymore. I could just… talk to people. Perrin was open about telling me all the things she was struggling with, with her slump and everything. Should I stop feeling so ashamed of my own problems and hide them from everyone?
…But, I don't want people to get upset by seeing me upset…
Perrin noticed her ruminations. "Deep in thought again, kiddo?"
"Oh, just thinking about some things…" said Juliana, hoisting her bag up. "So… what are you going to do now, Perrin?"
"Funny you ask that, actually. I was thinking that over myself while I was looking for you. I'm still feeling really good about this trip and what it's done for my confidence, and I want to seize that! You remember that offer from Blueberry Academy I told you about?"
"Yeah?"
"I've decided… I'm gonna take it. I think it's about high time I put myself out there in the world again and really remind myself of all the reasons I love being a photographer!"
"That's great, Perrin!" she beamed.
"It sure is! And they even responded quickly too! I can actually head on over to Unova and start my work taking pictures for them as early as tomorrow!"
"Wow!" Juliana's eyebrows raised. "That's… that's really fast!"
"Yeah! In fact, now that I think about it, should probably get to packing." She gave Juliana a somber smile. "So… I guess this is the end of the road for you and I. For now at least! I don't believe in saying goodbye, just a rousing 'See ya later' because there's always a chance we'll meet again!"
Juliana felt really assured in seeking out Perrin for her first post-recovery quest. Her boundless optimism really had done wonders in helping Juliana's outlook, and she was always going to appreciate that.
"Yeah… see ya later."
"Anyone you want me to say hi to over at your old stomping grounds?"
Juliana put her hands in her pockets and thought about it. She might want Lacey and Amarys and even Drayton to know that she's doing a lot better for herself now…
But that was the strange thing. The main reason Juliana didn't want to think about going back to Blueberry was her fear of running into the Kitakamite siblings again, and reopening old wounds.
A bitter irony considering that just happened here instead!
"Actually…" she started to muse out loud. "Was… your offer for an assistant still open?"
"Uhh, yeah! The position's well open!" Perrin replied, genuinely surprised. "Why, you want to come to Blueberry too? I thought you said there were some folks at that school you were nervous about runnin' into again."
"There are, but," Juliana scratched his head. "Turns out there are… actually some of them here too. I almost walked right into them and—and—" She pulled her hat over her head. "I really just want to get away right now."
Perrin tilted her head, delightfully bemused.
"Heh! You didn't want to be seen there, now you don't want anyone to see you here. Are you like, on a wanted list or something that I should know about, kiddo? Because I might have some strong feelings about harboring a fugitive!" she chuckled.
Juliana laughed, thankful for the levity.
"No, it's just… It's all so very complicated. I had a good rest at Kitakami. Now I think I could use a fresh start somewhere else. I just…" She ran her fingers through her straight hair. "I hope I look different enough that nobody recognizes me…"
She was startled then, when a huge dark piece of clothing was suddenly tossed into her arms.
"Here! You can borrow this coat if you want! It'll keep you nice and cozy in any weather, and probably work very efficiently as a disguise with how small you'll be in it!"
Juliana examined the thick coat in her hands. It was a dark blue hooded jacket that looked like a very traditional old-style coat. It had lighter blue markings on it, and an interesting trapezoid-shaped insignia in the center. On one of the sleeves was a stylized rendition of a Pokémon.
"Gosh, thanks Perrin! It feels very snuggly."
Perrin however, looked at the sleeve of the coat closely and realized something.
"Hey… this Pokémon on the jacket! It looks a lot like the Bloodmoon Beast we just fought! Huh, I guess it really is an Ursaluna!"
"Wow… that's a funny coincidence," said Juliana.
"Yeah, it really belongs to my cousin Marley. That thing's been in our family for… many years now, I think. Probably back to the ancient times of Sinnoh. It's suited every generation of us pretty well, but I never get cold for some reason, so I hardly ever wear it even when she lets me borrow it."
Perrin fixed her gaze out into the horizon, where she could see the sun was starting to set.
"How's about I use my charms to get you a room at the inn I'm staying at, and then we can head off first thing tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that sounds great!" Juliana was fitting the big blue coat over herself, and testing out the thick hood, which was capped with light-blue lines and red arrows. "If we're going to Mossui Town again, I should… probably start wearing this thing now."
Perrin's Braviary cawed confidently, and Juliana took notice of the bamboo handles the Hisuian Pokémon was still gripping onto.
"Hey… maybe you could teach me how to ride your cool Braviary through the air!"
"Eh-heh-heh-heh…" Perrin laughed awkwardly. "Love the eagerness there sport, but I don't exactly want to be held liable if you get yourself hurt doing that. I gotta step in and be the responsible adult somewhere!"
"Fair enough," Juliana replied sheepishly.
So instead, they decided on a calm hike down the mountain and back into town, with Juliana pulling the strings up to bury her face in her hood as much as she could on the off-chance the siblings were around town.
She stole one last glance downward at the Wistful Fields where she almost met danger… and sighed morosely.
Carmine probably would've loved to hear me going on a secret mission… if she didn't hate me. Maybe going back to Blueberry will help me forget about her…
Panyu opened up fresh boxes containing the latest shipments of imported medicines, beverages, and Poké Balls from the nearby Johto region for Peachy's stand to sell.
She was inside the stall, just in the middle of sorting the Potions together on one counter and preparing to unwrap each bulk set when…
"…PECHA…"
"Hmm?"
Panyu walked over to the front counter of the stall and looked out.
"…Hello? Is someone there?"
But despite hearing a voice, she didn't see anyone gathered outside Peachy's. Just the same chimes from her handmade Chimecho decoration, and the Never-Rotting Peach sitting on the counter as always.
"…Hmm." With a puzzled face, Panyu concluded she must've been imagining things and returned to what she was doing.
Meanwhile, it sat there.
It could sense the Berry. Here again. In Kitakami.
It could faintly detect its own long-dormant scents, the source of its power… being activated.
"…"
For the first time in over a thousand years, it was beginning to awaken.