By the time Cole and Addison had recovered their strength and set out from the northern side of Alfornada Cavern, the sun was descending rapidly beyond the horizon. Before long, it would be nighttime, and they would have to make some very difficult decisions about where they would sleep and how they would be able to prevent either Fateen or Natalya from finding them. Cole had a sneaking suspicion that both were likely hot on their trails, but was doing his best to avoid letting Addison feel or sense his fears.

The two managed to make their way out of the cavern and found a gorgeous sunset greeting them upon exiting. Two pathways were lined up for them to venture down. One led to the main road, which could help them find their way to Cortondo or Cascarrafa. The other dropped down to a beach on the southern side of the cliff.

"Which way do we go?" he asked his friend.

Addison thought for a moment before answering. "Well, unless either of us has camping equipment on them, I think we'd be better off heading towards a town. Cortondo seems a bit too close to Mesagoza, but we may have little choice since we're out here hoofing it." She smiled to herself. "I had been so prepared my first journey around Arcana. I guess I got caught flat footed this time."

"You mean your journey with Ryan, right?"

She nodded contently. "Those were the days. When the only things we had to worry about were Pokémon Contests and Ryan's quest to be a Pokémon Master."

"He really was something special, was he?" Cole asked, realizing he hadn't asked her much about her deceased boyfriend. The one she seemed eager to break the laws of nature for...again.

Addison blushed. "You have no idea, Cole. He was...uh, I mean is the sweetest, kindest and most loving person you could ever know. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it." The two came to a stop, the evening air beginning to get cooler. Both Addison and Cole took a moment to try and bring some heat to their bodies by moving about, but this did little but only tire them further. Once they realized this, the two elected to keep going. "Man, I wish I had one of his shirts right now. Because it's getting cold."

"Probably because we're so close to the sea" Cole suggested. "We should head inland."

Addison nodded. "Good thinking, partner."

As the two continued walking, Cole figured he could get more out of Addison about Ryan. Perhaps this could help them figure out the many issues they now shared in their mutual foes and mutual goals, in particular finding out when in time Cole came from and if White Island was set to appear soon. He had to admit that a part of him was somewhat jealous of the relationship the two had, but not enough for it to be an issue. After all, Addison was someone he'd never been this close to or had this close of a friendship with, besides Paige of course. So as long as they both could get their happy endings, what mattered who they ended up with? "Was he always like that?"

"That and more" she recalled happily. "When we were young, he was always the one who would stop everything if one of us started crying to make us feel better. Whether it was me, Holly or his brother, it didn't matter. He never liked it when someone felt upset." She smiled sadly. "I used to think it was because he was just a pure kind of person, like our hero Michael. But I soon found out the reason when we went out on our journey. He was afraid. Afraid of being useless to us when we all grew up. I was the smart one, Holly the pretty one and Matt the strong one. He was afraid we'd just leave him behind before long. I knew this would never happen, but like several people I know, sometimes they have to have things proven to them." She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing nothing but peace of mind for Matthew and Holly while they were back in Arcana and Kalos respectively. "Ryan was the heart of our group. Which is why it hurt so much when he died."

"I wish I knew which how far into the future I came from" Cole lamented. "It would help us so much."

Addison shook her head. "There really isn't much you or I could do at the moment. We've got bigger problems on our hands." A rush of wind prompted both teenagers to start shivering. "And first and foremost ought to be finding us some shelter for the night." She glanced back at the cave, as if contemplating returning into the dimly lit chambers they'd spent the last few hours bonding in. "It's getting colder by the minute."

Cole glanced down the pathway and noticed a few campfires being made up. "I think there are some campgrounds up ahead. Do you think we could go there?"

Addison shrugged. "I guess. But I'd rather not impose on someone when we don't have to."

"We may not have a choice in the matter. We need to find warmth. And someplace to continue to lay low in case Fateen or Natalya make their moves. Since I dragged you into this, I may as well become more useful in helping to keep you safe."

Addison blinked, with Cole unable to tell from the sunset nearby if her cheeks were always this same shade of red. "Keep me safe? You're the one they're after, remember?"

Cole sighed. "You're the hero in this story, Addy. I'm just support to whoever needs it. You, Paige, the Professor..." Cole's eyes widened. "OMIGOSH! The Professor! He must be worried sick about me!" He glanced worriedly towards the pathway leading inland and then back at the cave. "I have to get into contact with him. He doesn't know what's going on!"

"Calm down, Cole. I can call him with my Poké Gear." Addison pulled her phone out from her pocket and searched up the various lines for the teachers at Uva Academy. "Let's see, the History Room extension should be...here. 307. Let's call him up." Addison dialed up the number for the Academy and then added Extension 307. Cole came up to her side and hoped for some kind of good news. Addison thumbed in the Video Chat feature so that they could at least assure Sexton that the two were safe and unharmed.

The line connected and the picture was crystal clear, but the person on the other line was not the Professor. Instead, it was a dark-skinned younger woman with long purple hair and a sleek pair of glasses on her eyes, masking the intense curiosity of an explorer and history buff. She eyed the two contacting her curiously before responding. "Hello, young scholars."

Addison and Cole looked to one another and back to the person in question. "Uh, hello. Are you Ms. Raifort?"

She nodded. "Indeed I am. When your little Treasure Hunt is over and done with, I'll be back to filling your minds with the rich and fulfilling knowledge of history from the founding of the world to the first Pokémon Masters of Paldea." She looked to the two and smiled a sincere grin. "But the looks on your faces reveal that you are a bit disappointed in the person who picked up this call."

Cole took a deep breath, but his inner anxiety seemed to already know the answer to his question. "We were actually hoping Professor Sexton was there."

Ms. Raifort shook her head. "I'm afraid Professor Sexton left the Academy earlier this morning."

"What?!" Cole cried out. "Is he okay?"

"Did something happen?"

"He would not say for certain" their actual History Teacher recalled, "but I suspect that he was called into Area Zero on behalf of Professor Turo."

Cole went white. "Professor Turo?"

She nodded. "Oh yes. The two are colleagues. You needn't worry about Professor Sexton, kids. I'll look after you in his stead."

Cole lowered his head, his head a swirling vortex of terror and apprehension. The Professor has left? And for where Professor Turo was? But weren't he and Professor Sada trapped in the future?! Weren't they seriously injured? Where was Professor Sexton? What was going on? He felt Addison pat his shoulder to try and calm him and he took in a deep breath before responding. "Thank you, Ms. Raifort. If you do hear from him, could you tell him Cole was asking for him?"

Ms. Raifort seemed surprised. "Cole?! You're the one he said to look out for."

"He did?" Addison inquired.

"He left a file for Cole to look over on the computer. I'll transmit it to the phone you all are currently calling from. I imagine it's something personal, so I can assure you I haven't looked at it. Be sure to let me know if you learn something important from him. A man of Sexton's...interesting reputation leaves a lot for me to indulge in, personally. Good luck on your treasure hunt, little scholars." She then ended the call.

"Where could he have gone?" Cole asked nervously.

"Once that file comes through, we can find out" his friend assured him. "But we really need to at least get out of this cold air."

Cole looked around for a place they could lay low for a while and smiled. Just past where the campers were situated stood a series of windmills with large towers beneath them. The perfect place for them to lay low and not draw attention to themselves. "Look over there!'

Addison followed his direction and nodded. "It beats staying out here in the cold."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Cole made to dash down the road, but Addison kept him back.

"Hold on. We don't know what's ahead for us." She thought for a moment but kept her grip on his arm. "I'd like to see through Galatea's eyes, but she's still a bit worn out from warping us to Alfornada before. We should proceed, but we need to be careful. That place could be where Fateen expects us to go." She looked to Cole and smiled earnestly. "But so long as we stick together, we should be okay."

"Okay. Slow and steady."

"Now you're getting it" she replied. The two walked at a much slower pace down the path towards the columns of windmills to the north of their current position. The nighttime air, despite being chillier than either had anticipated, seemed to be slightly warming up the further they got from the coastline. Before long, the two had made it about a quarter mile down the road before they came across a walkover bridge that loomed above a small river. They looked down and spotted a few of the local Pokémon swimming and playing with one another. A few Psyduck, Marrill, Arrokuda and Magikarp occasionally popping out of the water, giving the young duo a curious look, before returning to their normal lives.

Cole took a moment to take stock of their current situation. He and Addison were currently separated from their friends on the other side of Paldea, with no word from Morgan, Tommy or anyone else involved with the group that had come from Arcana. And since his arrival in the past, he'd had no word of Turo or Sada's wellbeing and had yet to even hear anything about Paige. No sign of Jovi or Angie nearby and no idea if Fateen or Natalya knew what they were up to. While that was a bit of good news, Professor Sexton disappearing wasn't. He had reassured Cole that so long as he stuck to his studies and kept out of trouble, he would handle things. But now he was gone and someone else was seemingly making their moves. Was this why he had disappeared? Or had they gotten to him first? Could he handle the fate of the world on his own?

He looked over to Addison and found a similar bit of pain in her eyes as she looked down at the Water Pokémon beneath them. She was now involved in this calamity, yet she also appeared to be struggling. She hadn't heard much about Ryan or whether or not she could even find him. White Island did exist, after all, he'd seen it with Professor Sada and Paige some time ago (or would it be later? God, time travel is so confusing) when making a daring run to the surface. But he knew just abotu that. No idea how to get there, no idea if the time had passed or if it was coming. They were both lost and despite being together, feeling alone.

Yet she was bound and determined to help him stop this darkness from rising and destroying the world. Even in the face of the mounting odds and how much trouble they might end up in, she was going to help him. He could not appreciate Addison more than he already was. She was doing all he would dare ask of her, even more. How could he return the favor?

The idea clicked for him quickly. If she's going to be here for me through all of this, I need to be there for her. She's promising me that she'll be there for me. So why shouldn't I do the same?

With renewed optimism, he turned to face her and suddenly found a lump in his throat. He wanted to tell her he would be there for her and that they could find Ryan and Paige and do all of these things together, but something was stopping him. He couldn't tell if it was his nerves insisting he was only going to get in the way and only cause trouble or if he was how he suddenly saw in Addison something he'd only ever seen once before in his life. She was far more beautiful to him in this moment than anything else in the universe had been. She was so gentle, kind and...almost angelic. Even when she looked sad or tired, she was beauty personified to him.

"Addy?" Cole asked.

"Hmm?" she replied, half-fatigued.

He took a deep breath. Okay. I got this. With confidence and smoothness he wasn't sure he'd ever had in him, he reached for and took her hand in his. This seemed to catch her off guard, but Cole simply blurted it out. "I'm going to help you find him."

Addison shook herself out of her daze. "What? Cole?"

"I'm going to help you bring Ryan home" he assured her. "I don't think you'll ever know what you've done for me ever since we became friends. You've been showing me a world I never would have seen trapped in my little shell. You see things in me that I'd never have found on my own. And as soon as we've figured out how to stop Fateen and Natalya, I'll be helping you find Ryan. You have my word. It may not be much, but its all I have."

The young maiden was so caught off guard by Cole's words that she didn't immediately find the words to say and simply stuttered in astonishment. Before Cole got an answer from her, he glanced down over the bridge and noticed a small Pokémon struggling against the currents of the river. He quickly let Addison go and hurried down to the bank to see what this poor little Pokémon was. It appeared to be a Buizel, but its fur was somewhat brighter than usual. The Pokémon was also much smaller than a normal Buizel was, which likely caused it's struggles in swimming. The Buizel looked up to him and barked earnestly, struggling to keep itself from falling beneath the water.

Cole looked around curiously for the small creature's mother or family, but soon came to the conclusion that it, like he, had been abandoned by those who were supposed to be protecting it. He bent down into the water and let the small water otter Pokémon swim up to him and cling to his arm tenderly. Upon pulling the Pokémon out of the water, the Buizel let out a soft chirping noise before curling into a ball as Cole comforted it.

"Aw, you poor little fella." He gently pet the Pokémon's head, prompting the Pokémon to lick his fingers. Once the Pokémon made itself comfortable in his arms, Cole rose to his feet and slowly made his way back up the bank to where Addison was. She looked him over curiously, until she noticed the Buizel in his hands. Her eyes became wide, prompting Cole to worry. "Is something wrong?"

Addison let out a laugh. "That's...isn't that a Shiny Buizel?"

"Shiny?!" Cole asked curiously.

"A Pokémon with different colorings than an ordinary one" she explained. "It's not more powerful or anything, but a Pokémon with different colorings is very rare." She pet the small Buizel in her friend's arms and it barked happily. "Maybe it's a sign of our luck beginning to turn around." She looked back towards the windmill, which was just over a hill in the distance. "Let's hope we can get warm inside there."

Cole frowned. "But what about Buizel here? We can't just leave her out here."

Addison eyed him in confusion? "Why not catch her?"

"Catch her?" Cole made an attempt to check for a Poké Ball, but sighed and shook his head. "What did I expect? I don't have a Poké Ball. Haven't had one since-"

"Just ask for one, silly." Addison reached into her bag and pulled out a Poké Ball and offered it to him. "Here. This one should do. The little lady in your arms doesn't seem like she'd resist."

Cole looked from his friend to the ball and frowned. "I don't think I can take this, Addy. You've already done so much for me, and-"

"Friendship isn't about who's done more for someone. It's about being there when someone needs to and not taking stock on who's better. I've done plenty for my friends without expecting compensation. And some of my friends have done more for me than I could ever repay. So, Cole, think of this as me taking care of someone who means a lot to me." She offered the ball again. "Take it, okay?"

Cole nodded and took the sphere from her hand. He opened the ball and the Buizel happily accepted being captured without so much as a wiggle of resistance. This made four Pokémon for his team, joining his Petilil, Pawmot and Fletchling. Once he secured his Buizel's Poké Ball to his belt, he looked to Addison and tried to give her a cheerful smile. "Thanks, Addy. You really are the best."

"Don't mention it" she replied. "Just return the favor by making sure we get to that windmill sooner rather than later. We could catch a cold in this weather."

"As you wish."

The two began to make their way back up onto the path, the windmill barely two hundred yards in front of them. Cole was about to rush towards it to find a way in, when Addison stopped him. "Hey, Cole?"

He skidded to a stop and turned around. "What's up, Addy?"

She looked away, almost a bit nervously for a moment, before returning to address him. "Not for nothing, but the more you and I hang out and the more I get to know you, I see a bit of Ryan in you."

Cole was flabbergasted. "Really?"

"Yep. It's not all him, but in bits and pieces. You may not think of yourself as a hero in all of this, but I think there's more to you than even you might know."

Cole was at a loss for words. No one, not even Paige, had said something like this to him before. Turo, Sada and even Professor Sexton had spent so much time trying to look after him, unintentionally making him feel like he wasn't important or couldn't be more than a bystander in events down in Area Zero. He'd been so coddled and carried by them that he genuinely felt he was worthless and weak and could only get in the way. But here was someone who said the exact opposite. He was someone who could be brave, strong, loyal and caring. If Addison was comparing him to a boy whom she was emphatically in love with, surely this meant he had to be useful to some degree, right?

"Omigosh, it's getting super windy out here!" Addison exclaimed before Cole could get another word in. "Let's hurry!" She then raced off towards the windmill without a second thought. Cole watched from afar as his friend sprinted to find a way out of the cold. He couldn't help but smile as his admiration for Addison only grew. He was shaken out of his stupor by Addison calling out to him. "You coming, Cole?"

He waved to her. "I'll be right there, Addy." He lowered his hand to his heart, smiled brightly and raced down after her.

{}

What was originally supposed to be an elongated training session in which Amanda was supposed to prepare for her battle with Geeta became a day of Billy and Amanda sightseeing around the eastern and southern half of Paldea, including the rich sprawling fields outside of Artazon, the exquisite art exhibits created by the Gym Leader Brassius and the high cliffs that would lead back to Mesagoza, which for some reason was partially blocked off due to a massive rock slide. Nevertheless, the couple took their time very slowly making it back to Mesagoza, thanks to the injuries Billy had sustained in the Tauros stampede that Amanda had caused in her frustration.

Unlike the last few weeks, when Amanda had been so engrossed in her studies and seemed completely uninterested in him, his girlfriend was obsessed with coddling him, checking on him, giving him hugs, kisses and constantly making sure he was capable of going. It was a relief to him that Amanda's anger and jealousy of Geeta had only been a phase for her, but it also made him feel bad that this was the first time since he'd bought the ring that he didn't have it on his person. He'd opted to leave it locked in their hotel room's safe to avoid losing it, expecting Amanda to be engrossed in her studies of the new region. And thanks to his injuries and the pain he was in from being nearly trampled by Tauros, he didn't have the energy or gumption to rush to their hotel and grab the ring, despite his desire to do so. He wanted to do it now, before anything else might try to come between them. Geeta's fondness for him had done enough damage. What else could this region throw at them?

So as the two finally made it through the gates that led to Mesagoza, Billy looked towards the row of restaurants that greeted them upon entering the city. "How about we get a bite to eat?"

Amanda thought for a moment, but shook her head. "No. I'd rather get the humiliation over with before we do."

"You sure? I imagine an apology is all Geeta is looking for."

Amanda eyed him and giggled. "It's a good thing you're cute. Otherwise, I'd laugh at your naivete." The two continued to walk past the restaurants, slowly snaking their way through the city's streets to make it to the Battle Court in the heart of the city. "She's obviously after more than that, Billy. And thanks to me being distracted, it's clear she thinks she can get what she's dying for. A slice of the Billy pie."

"The Billy pie?" Billy laughed. "Come on, Amanda. Let's be real."

"Real?" she responded, seemingly surprised he'd take such a nonchalant approach. "The realness of things had her within seconds of trying to lock lips with a man who's happily spoken for. She wouldn't have accepted my challenge if she wasn't sure she could humiliate me for all of the Academy to see and then try to take you for her own."

"Well, good thing humans have free will" he assured her. "And even if she asks me to go out with her afterwards, I'll turn her down. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, you are the only girl for me, Amanda."

"Your loyalty I will never question. Hers I always will."

Knowing he couldn't do much to convince Amanda of a more peaceful solution, Billy simply led her up towards the central plaza for what he knew was going to be a brutal battle for his girlfriend. Upon arriving at their predetermined location, he was surprised when there was no crowd waiting for them. He had expected, thanks to the rivalry between the two proud women, that Geeta would have wanted to utterly annihilate Amanda in front of droves of people. Anything to make the point that she would be much more suited for Billy than Amanda could ever hope to be, an argument for which the man in question had little to no say in. And yet the Battle Square in the heart of Mesagoza was empty. Not a person in sight. No fans, none of Geeta's entourage and no Uva Academy officials anywhere.

Billy folded his arms at the empty sight in front of them. "Hm. I figured there'd be a bit more of an audience for a match like this."

"Or the other side of the competition" Amanda gloated. "She's not here."

Billy blinked and realized the same thing. "She's not." He looked around for a sign of the bewitching would-be Queen of Paldea, but Geeta was nowhere to be found. Had she forgotten about their impending confrontation? Was she taking extra time to prepare herself? Or was something else going on? "I've got a bad feeling about this, Amanda."

"Worried about her, are you?" she inquired, her eyebrow rising in his direction.

"Worried in general" he corrected. "Why would someone who takes herself and her position so seriously neglect her obligations?"

"Maybe she's not as flawless and perfect as she thinks."

"I'm serious, Amanda. Something doesn't feel right, to me. Why haven't we heard from any of the kids?! I expected Tommy to be neglectful, but not Addison and Morgan. And what about Justin and Bridgette?! And Lizzie for that matter. Why haven't we heard from anyone?" He frowned deeply, his worry beginning to show on his face.

"We've all been busy doing our own things" Amanda assured him.

Billy clenched his fists in frustration. "Michael entrusted me with this mission. He could have given it to anyone. Could have even waited for Chris to come back to lead this or talk Mark into it. But he chose me. I can't let him down. Once we know for sure what's going on, we need to get into contact with Bridgette and Lizzie and remind these kids that they've got to keep in contact with us."

Amanda came to his side and rested her head on his shoulder. "You expect too much of yourself. Kids can be a handful, you know. I should know, since once we get back home, I'm gonna have to educate the next several generations of them. That's why the kids are out on their own. We know Addy and Morgan can handle themselves. And Justin's no kid. He can look after himself. If you're that concerned about Tommy, we can go look for him after this, but I think he's in good hands so long as him and his little girlfriend keep hanging out together."

Billy nodded, only slightly calming at her words. "Maybe, but I just want to be sure we're not-" He would have kept going, but his attention was caught by Geeta approaching them from the staircase that led to the Academy. Her arms were held behind her back and she seemed to be walking normally towards them, but Billy was put off by something he couldn't quite figure out. Her eyes seemed less...feeling. Dulled to the point that he couldn't even remember what color they had been initially. He made over to properly address her with a polite bow, but she seemed completely uninterested in him. She walked right past him and approached Amanda.

"La Primera?"

"There has been an unexpected development" Geeta explained to Amanda. "One that requires my immediate attention. Therefore, Miss Fouritz, I will have to postpone our match to another time."

Amanda was surprised. "Oh. Okay."

"I trust you will be prepared." Without another word, Geeta turned back towards the Academy. Billy couldn't figure out what to make of this situation and was even more confused when Geeta finally gave him her undivided attention. "Lord Kingston, if I may speak candidly to you, I suggest you keep your charges in line. It came to my attention earlier today that Miss Augustine and Miss Tenton were involved in a scuffle of sorts in the Academy Library. Two of the girls involved were placed in the care of Nurse Miriam."

Billy was shocked. "Morgan and Addison? Are you sure you aren't mistaken?"

"I would not be mistaken about something with serious regards to the Academy" Geeta affirmed. "Miss Augustine has been disciplined and will serve a punishment here at the Academy. I can only ask that you compel Miss Tenton and her young friend Cole to return to the Academy to explain their own roles in this event. Further attempts to avoid punishment will only increase what they will face from the schoolboard."

"I'll be sure to-"

"Expulsion is not off the table, Lord Kingston" she snapped before walking briskly back towards the staircase, leaving Billy even more bewildered and confused.

"What was that all about?" Amanda inquired as she returned to Billy's side. "She was so...business-like."

Billy watched as Geeta began to climb the tall staircase leading back to Uva Academy. "William."

"William?"

Billy nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Geeta never called me William. Didn't you notice?"

"What difference does it make what she calls-"

"It makes all the difference. We've been in Paldea for two months and not once has she called me anything but William. Not Billy, not Will, not Bill, and especially not Lord Kingston. Which means either Morgan and Addison did something so awful that Geeta completely lost interest in me or there's something screwy going on here." He folded his arms and tried to get his brain moving. He wasn't as sharp as Michael or Chris when it came to trying to discern a situation, but he liked to think he was a quick learner. "Why would Morgan and Addison, of all the kids, do something reckless enough to potentially face expulsion or banishment? And even if they did it, those two would easily be the ones who would have a good reason for doing so."

"They're not the ones I thought we'd have to look after, that's for sure" his girlfriend agreed. "I thought Tommy would be the problem child."

"It makes no sense. And what was that about Morgan being disciplined already? You're her chaperone. There's not supposed to be any punishments given out to the kids without us being notified." Billy's frown turned into one of anger. "Something is going on here and I'm going to find out what."

"Don't do anything that would get us in trouble."

He looked to Amanda. "See if you can get into contact with Bridgette and then Morgan. I'll head out and search for Addison and Tommy. May as well lump Lizzie into that search too, now that I think of it. We need to have a meeting about what's going on, why we're not notified and what this Cole kid has to do with all of this." He pecked Amanda on the cheek and reached onto his belt to call out his Skarmory.

"But Billy" Amanda cried out.

He smiled back at her. "Head back to our Hotel Room. I've got something to ask you once we're there." In a flash of light, his Skarmory appeared and let out a low squawk. Billy climbed onto her back and sent her into the skies above Mesagoza. He looked longingly at Amanda as she departed for the hotel and then focused on his mission. "Alright. Which of you will be the easiest to find?" He wondered if any of the three would answer calls from him, but suspected they would think they were in trouble and try to avoid it as much as possible. Undaunted, Billy decided it was best to begin with Lizzie and then move from there. Hopefully, her head wasn't too far into the clouds to help him weed through this.

He stroked his Pokémon's neck. "Alright, girl. Let's find Lizzie!" The Skarmory shrieked in approval before darting into the night sky like a bullet.

{}

Even though Penny's generous gift of an energy drink did enough to stimulate him for his battle with Katy, Tommy could not help but feel the fatigue of his first adventurous day of wandering Paldea on his own. He'd been roped into a Gym Challenge by Nemona, taking on the bosses of Team Star by Cassiopeia and was also going to help Cole and Addison stop some kind of impossible evil that was causing problems for not only Paldea, but the entire world. Even if he was a kid, he was still feeling drained of energy to do much else.

Everything was becoming so complicated for him. Not only were there things he couldn't be too sure about from an adult perspective, but his own comprehension of the girls around him was confounding him completely. Addison was determined to find Ryan, wherever he'd disappeared to after Mirage Island vanished, but now she was spending exclusive time with another guy. He knew Addy needed to gauge what they would be up against, but surely he and Morgan could help as well. Why did it need to be the two of them alone? And what about Morgan? She was supposed to have stood by and watch his match with Katy and give him support. But she'd just vanished. No messages or calls to explain, either. He was both hurt that she didn't stay and concerned for her wellbeing. If she was safe, he could chew her out another day. If she wasn't...things might become more problematic for all of them, including his friend.

Then there were Nemona and Penny. He believed he was beginning to understand them, but now knew even less about them than he thought he did. Nemona was not too difficult to grasp, but still showed no signs of understanding how he felt towards her. She was exceptionally beautiful, an immeasurably talented Pokémon Trainer, a daughter of a very prestigious family and was the Class President. The kind of girl he could bring home to his parents and make them realize that Holly wasn't the only child to be proud of. She wanted to spend time with him and seemed to genuinely care about him in some instances, but in others she regarded him as little more than a rival. Obviously, he wanted to be more than that to her, but the more she simply teased him, flirted with him and then flat out turned him down, the more he was beginning to wonder if all girls were like this.

Penny was Nemona's total and complete opposite. She wasn't the kind of girl who anyone would give a second thought to. Quiet, incredibly introverted and far from the stalwart the Class President was. In fact, Tommy wasn't sure Penny had even attended any classes with him since they arrived in Paldea for the new school year. But Penny was also showing signs of being someone Tommy could trust with his feelings, someone who took him and what he had to say seriously and someone he might be able to feel more for in the future. If only he could get her to open up to him. If he could know both of them better and what made them tic, he might be able to Nemona and Penny what Ryan had been to his sister and Addison. A best friend/confidant to one and a true love to the other.

But despite wanting so much from them, the only thing he actually wanted at this precise moment was to crawl into bed, wake up the next morning and set off at it again. His love life could wait another overnight session of peaceful slumber.

Upon walking through the Western Gate of Mesagoza, Tommy stretched out his arms and let out a loud yawn. "Oh man. I'm sleepy. Guess I could use a bit more sleep."

"Excuse me" someone called from nearby.

Tommy looked around and saw two young women approaching him. The two were identical twins, dressed in uniforms similar to those that the Academy Security wore, plain white and purple uniforms with ties. They both had oddly welcoming smiles to him and approached him casually. He stopped his progression towards the Academy and eyed them curiously. "Uh, yes?"

"Would you happen to be Tommy Queensbury?" the light-haired twin inquired.

He nodded. "I am."

"We heard about your victory over that ruffian from Team Star" the dark-haired twin interjected. "And your stellar win against Katy in Cortondo."

"News travels fast" Tommy grinned, putting his hands behind his head and acting confident in himself.

"And on behalf of Paldean Pokémon League, we have been instructed to escort you to a private event exclusively for you, Mr. Queensbury." The twins stepped closer to him and smiled at him. "Would you like us to escort you?" At those words, the twin women each offered Tommy a hand.

Tommy was confused, whether due to his fatigue or the oddity of two random women he wasn't sure he had seen before or not were offering to take him to some special event. He chose to play his situation delicately. "Uh, the Pokémon League knows about me?"

The light-haired twin laughed. "Oh, honey. You're all anyone will talk about. The making of the next Paldean Legend, and you're not even from here."

"They do?"

"Of course" the sister answered. "And they want to get to know how talented this soon to be Champion is personally." She offered her hand again to Tommy. "We can show you there if you'd like. Everyone is waiting for you, including La Primera herself."

This definitely didn't sound right. He was just a kid who beat his first Gym. Why would the Pokémon League be interested in him? He tried to think things through, but his exhaustion from the day had taken its toll on him physically and mentally. Initially, he feared they had discovered his past competing in the Pokémon Master Cup. But that would have meant everyone else from Arcana would be susceptible to this as well. Why was he being singled out? And why, in the back of his head, were these two ringing bells of familiarity to him?

"Uh, I'd like to, but I've got somewhere I've got to be" Tommy said nervously. "A friend of mine."

"We can find this friend for you" the dark-haired twin assured him. "Once we've brought you to the party, we can bring her along as well."

Tommy's nerves jumped at this. "Who said it was a 'her'?"

The twins blinked and looked to one another nervously, the lighter haired one speaking first. "What? Who said it was a girl? Pals before gals, am I right?"

The darker haired twin smiled a fake smile his way and gently patted his arms. "Would you excuse me for a minute? I need to remind my sister of proper etiquette when speaking to star students." She then violently grabbed her sister and dragged her away. Tommy could only cock his head in confusion as the two fought in hushed tones with one another. He could only imagine they did this often.

"Hmmm..." Tommy thought aloud. "Twins...constantly fighting...light haired and dark haired...why does that sound so familiar?" He had no answer, nor the time to figure it out, as his Poké Gear quickly began to buzz. This startled him initially, but when he moved to grab at it thinking it might be Morgan or Addy, it automatically accepted the call and prompted Tommy to realize his hacker ally had once again sought reason to contact him.

"Hello Tommy" Cassiopeia spoke, the usual warped voice cancelling out the caller's true identity. "Late night for you tonight?"

"Well, remember, I have a lot of friends I want to help. And I was just helping Nemona-"

"The Class President? I got it. Hope you're getting all your friends the help they need."

"I meant to ask, Cassiopeia. Is Operation Starfall your Treasure?"

Cassiopeia took a long moment to respond. "...in a way. Making the school safe for all kids and staff is a reward in of itself."

"Then why operate in the shadows?"

"Everyone has skeletons in their closets" his ally warned. "And not all of them need to be unearthed so rigidly."

"Fair enough. I just want to make sure everyone I consider a friend gets their Treasure to find."

"That's...oddly reassuring, Tommy. Thank you. As it happens, you can help me right now, if you're feeling up to it."

While his body and mind were begging him to say no, he knew in his heart that was not what he could do. If I act more like Ryan, maybe everyone will come around to me. "You kidding? I was born ready. Who's causing you problems?!"

"There's a late-night rave at one of the Team Star Bases. A big one. Dozens of Team Star operatives at a raging party. It's said that Giacomo was supposed to DJ the party, but with him having surrendered, I'm afraid it's going to be a more violent type of party. You know, mosh pits and all that. This Team Star Boss can be a bit of a hothead. Coincidentally, she uses Fire Type Pokémon."

Tommy grinned to himself. His Donphan was more than capable of putting out a few flames and this could be a golden opportunity for him to get some training for his newer Pokemon, including his Barboach he was calling Belcher. "Let her think she burns strong. I'll snuff out any light she's cooking with. Where is this base of hers?"

"The Schedar Squad is located in a canyon just to the north of Artazon" Cassiopeia answered. "I will warn you. Mela is going to be a much harder opponent to face than Giacomo was. She takes fighting very seriously and will not back down as easily. Hence why I said only if you're up for it. Are you sure you can handle this?"

"What better chance at taking down Team Star will I get?"

"Very well, Tommy. I'll contact you as soon as you get close to the Schedar Base."

"Wait" Tommy called. "Have you seen my friend Morgan?"

"Despite my knowledge of a lot of things, I'm afraid I haven't seen your friend. Did something happen to her?"

He nodded sadly. "She was supposed to watch my Gym Leader battle, but something must have happened."

"Well, I haven't heard anything going on, if that helps you."

"Would you be able to keep an eye out for her? Please? I'm asking you as a friend. We are friends...right?"

Cassiopeia was again silent for a moment before responding. "We are. And we help one another. So I'll keep an eye out for Morgan while you head off to Mela's. Good luck."

As the call ended, Tommy looked over to the girls he had been entertaining but a moment prior. The two went from whisper fighting to outright screaming at one another. Before they could get into a violent fight with one another, Tommy waved over to them to get their attention, but neither even gave him a sideways glance. "Uh, I guess I'll see you girls later." He then dashed away before he could be considered a witness to a physical altercation. He had friends that needed his help. Any praise and celebrations could come later.

{}

"Well, if you weren't such a big-mouthed idiot!" Lena snapped at her twin sister, "the kid wouldn't be so skeptical! I told you to stick to the story, you clueless ditz!"

"You're the one who keeps changing the stories constantly!" Lily fired back. "Besides, how were we supposed to know he'd ask about that Morgan girl?!"

"Leave the thinking to me, Lily! You're clearly not smart enough to think up coherent sentences, much less understand-" Lena stopped and looked around. They were on their own once more, their prey having wandered off on his own. She felt her insides ready to explode in anger. "YOU STUPID LITTLE MILTANK! YOU LET HIM GO! NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TELL BRICK?!"

Lily pushed her sister back. "Why do we have to tell him anything? You're the one who got us involved with this Tri Drago to begin with! If we'd just stuck to our usual cons and tricks, we wouldn't have the rap sheets we already do!"

"If it weren't for me, you and I would still be trying to keep a consistent flow of money and roof on our heads back home!" She made to slap her sister, but restrained herself. "We're not going to solve anything bickering like this. We need to find out where that kid ran off to. Otherwise, Brick is going to brand our rear ends and string us up by our hair."

Lily shuddered as she gently stroked her hair. "I do not want that."

"Then let's not leave it up to that" her sister assured her. "We're gonna figure out where that kid went and we'll catch him. This kid isn't a sneaky trickster like Ryan was. He's a little brat, but one we can snatch at our leisure. Just let me handle the talking from now on. You handle the bagging and tagging. Once we hand this kid off to Brick, we get our pay and can high tail it someplace no one will ever find us. Maybe buy that private island we've always wanted?"

Lily nodded. "You handle the sweet talking and I grab him. But what if anyone interferes?"

"We'll move quick enough so no one can. And if anyone tries, we've got a few tricks up our sleeves. And if it comes down to someone else getting involved when they shouldn't, surely they'll give us a bigger bonus if we bring a few extras in, right?" Once Lena gave her sister a sly grin of confidence in herself, the two sisters nodded to one another and prepared to find and apprehend their next prized target: Tommy Queensbury.

{}

The universe seemed to be giving Bridgette the telltale signs that this night would be one she could never possibly forget. Whether it was due to the events of the day so far or how Kofu had set the mood during their dinner date, it was becoming clear to Bridgette that she and Justin clearly had some things to discuss regarding their feelings for one another. She did not want to overstep herself or cause problems, but their last date had clearly resonated with the two, especially given how they acted with one another. There were sparks in the air and soon, it might get out of their ability to control.

Throughout the evening, while Kofu led the duo around the city and gave elaborate explanations about eateries, shops and homes that dotted the three-storied aquatic jewel of Paldea, Bridgette and Justin found themselves being drawn closer and closer to one another. Justin had originally been completely nervous and unable to even look her in the eyes most of the time they talked, but now he was opening up to her and engaging with her. Asking questions about her preferences, her tastes in food, her performing talent, and other things. Meanwhile, Bridgette, who had been a nervous accomplice to Justin's Vlog since the day started, was now openly talking to the people through comments and cheeky short videos they'd post together. Things were steaming up and for the first time since she'd met the young man and she was seemingly open to seeing where things went.

Kofu brought them to a stop at a luxurious seafood restaurant which he ran and insisted the two have not only his best table, but a full 5 course meal, expenses paid for entirely by himself. Neither Bridgette nor Justin found it reasonable to turn down such a generous gift and thus sat down for what the surfer knew could no longer be called a study date. This was a full-fledged one, with all the pomp and circumstance one could imagine young couples embark on while trying to court a partner. Candlelight illuminating their faces in an otherwise calm and serene environment, a peaceful classical piece playing over the loudspeakers and the mood at their table being a mixture of awkward tension and a strange sense of romantic familiarity.

As course after course was brought to them, on occasion, Justin would pull out his Poké Gear to check on a video's current reception on his Vlog, but on this most recent time, he received a phone call and took it outside for a moment, allowing Bridgette a moment to relax.

This is getting both extremely uncomfortable and very welcoming simultaneously, she admitted to herself. She could not deny her feelings anymore, but she couldn't bring herself to say directly if she was able to admit these feelings. She was a bundle of nerves, expecting to explode at any moment the slightest bit of pressure was applied onto her chest.

She glanced towards the chandelier that hung over them and sighed. "What am I going to do, Aunt Jane? What can I tell him? What can I do to not make the same mistakes I made in the past?" There were so many stories she could tell, but not a single lie she could formulate felt right to her. She considered everything from her having a fling with a teacher at the Academy to being the lover of the King, but none would hold any water with someone who was as surprisingly smart as Justin was. He may be a bit of a novice when it came to romance, but not when it came to seeing who was who they said they were.

In truth, she was horrified they'd end up the same way she and Malcolm had years ago. All of the plans in the world, only for something indivisible to come between them and destroy them. She felt unlovable due to her past, but knew of so many who'd have given her the time of day and probably would if they weren't involved with people. Mark for one and Michael the other. Malcolm had been gone for so long, she'd forgotten to ensure she was free to love again. Or if the same things that had destroyed her most precious relationship would destroy any future ones.

She couldn't waste any more time worrying as Justin returned from his phone call, a bit flustered and frustrated. "Sorry about that."

"What happened?" she asked, hoping to break the fear and ice enveloping her heart.

"My mother was trying to be helpful" he explained. "But I don't think she's doing anything but intruding."

"I'm sure she's just trying to look out for you."

"She's meddling. Now that I'm set to inherit my uncle's fortune, she's trying to set up my future with investment portfolios, stock options, and all sorts of numbers. And then, she...ugh. She had to mention her own fee for her 'generosity'." He frowned deeply as if the very thought of whatever his mother had asked for horrified him to no end.

"What did she ask for?" Bridgette inquired, though a very faint part of her heart no doubt had an idea.

"She asked for what any mother would in her situation: grandchildren." He sighed. "I knew the talk would come someday, but I didn't think it'd come so soon."

Bridgette smiled nervously. "Oh Justin. You just need to let your mother know you're not ready for-"

"I am ready" Justin insisted. "I mean, not for the whole 'being a father' thing. That still horrifies me. How can someone like me be a father? I barely know a thing about looking after myself, much less a baby. And I don't think I could ever be the kind of parent any child could need. But ever since I came to Arcana, I've gotten better at talking and asserting myself. I'm much more of a...well...a man than I was before I left my family." He eyed her with a peculiar seriousness. "But my mother still wants to, what others would call, 'set me up' with someone herself."

"She does, eh?" Inside, Bridgette felt a bit relieved that some other woman might be the one Justin called his wife one day. But deep down, she had a feeling a part of her would be deeply jealous of whichever woman was lucky enough to call themselves, Lady Jacques. It was an inevitable part of their future they would have to figure out after this night.

"She asked the King about matching me with Lady Caitlin. You know, Addison's aunt, but I think she has a boyfriend now so that was not happening. The King apparently mentioned to her about his cousin Madeline, but..." He shuddered at how extremely clingy she had been to him. "No, thank you."

"Well, I'm sure if you talked to your mother, she'd back off. She's just looking out for you."

"I don't feel like I need her for that." He looked towards his glass of wine and held it in his hand. She noticed it was shaking in his hand, as if he was trying to build up some inner courage for something. "I...I feel like I've got that part figured out."

"Do you, Justin?"

He stared blankly at the glass in his hand, swirling and swishing it around in a circle. As if summoning the strength to speak his piece, Justin swallowed his glass of wine in one shot and took a deep breath before continuing. "I think I've had that part figured out for a long time. Longer...than I previously thought."

"Have you?"

He nodded. "I...I wanted to...I wanted to say it in a different way. But...you know I'm not the best with words."

Bridgette gulped. Oh Arceus...here it comes...

"Bridgette...you're...there isn't a single moment of my day where you're not in my thoughts. You're the first thought I have when I wake up and the final thought I have before I fall asleep." He eyed her with a sincerity Bridgette knew deep down she had been falling hard for the last few months. "I can't get you out of my head. I can't even edit my videos because I always stop and see you in the footage."

"I see..."

"I've never felt this way about anyone..." he continued. "In my whole life."

Bridgette tried to collect her thoughts. "Justin...I..."

"I know I'm not perfect. I could never be good enough for anyone, least of all someone like you. I'm not anything like Malcolm. I'm not...normal. And I honestly don't know what I'm doing even saying this to you." He looked as if he were about to have a breakdown.

Bridgette looked around nervously and stood up and made it to his side, gently pulling at his arm. "Come with me, Justin." She looked around worriedly, fearful onlookers were going to turn towards them at any moment. She hauled Justin up to his feet and escorted him back to the balcony. Once they were out of sight, she led him over to outer walls that overlooked the rest of Cascarrafa beneath them.

"I understand that I'm not good enough for you" he lamented, "but if you give me a chance, I think I can-"

Bridgette gently shushed him before he had a breakdown. "Justin...I...really, I..." She found no words coming out of her mouth that could convey how she truly felt. Realizing there was only one way to get the young lord to calm down, she took his face into her hands and pulled him into their second kiss. Though she was the one instigating it this time, it still felt as if fireworks were going off inside of her. Once they came apart, she kept her hands on the cheek of the young man who was now too flustered to even speak.

Justin simply stared at her in sheer awe of the woman who now all but completely held his heart.

"Justin, clearly you and I have a lot we need to talk about. And I do mean a lot. And in the future, you and I will be able to discuss anything and everything we feel and think." She closed her eyes as thoughts finally returned to her. "But we have obligations to attend to first."

"Obligations?"

"To our friends and to our King" she explained. "We're expected to help reopen Paldea to the rest of the world, remember? To be proper and professional diplomats so that we can keep our world united against any more dangers." She still felt immense guilt for allowing all that had transpired in Arcana to occur. The friends she would never see again. The loved ones who were long gone. The death of Cameron in particular would haunt her for the remainder of her life. She had so much life left to live. And she couldn't even be bothered to fight alongside her or her brothers. She could have lost all three of them that day, if Addison's tale of the Time Flute was true. And she'd have lost her mind if her family was gone. "We have far too many things to take care of before we can even think about each other."

Justin seemed to be taking her words in, but he remained wide-eyed and above all else starry eyed by her admission. "I...I think you're right..."

She smiled. "See? You get it. You need to study hard and become a skilled diplomat. That way you can help restore your family's legacy back in Arcana. As for me, I owe Michael and Chris too much to let them down again. I need to help you bridge the divide between our regions. And I promised Addison I'd help her achieve her dream. We half hearts stick together, and all that."

"So we should...we should just..."

"We need to focus on our duties before our..." Her face went red at the idea of what could be in their future. "...our devotion."

"So...you actually...you do actually like me?!" Justin whispered excitedly.

"I think us kissing twice should make that obvious" she giggled. "But like I said, we need to focus on our-" She paused when she felt her pants vibrating. She plucked out her Poké Gear and sighed. "Well, this was bound to happen. Here's Amanda." She stepped back and took the call. "Amanda? Is everything alright?"

"Not really, Bridge" Amanda explained on the other line. "Have you heard from Addison or Morgan today?"

"Nope. Last I heard, they were doing research in the library. Did something change?"

Amanda was silent on the other end for a moment. "A lot of things, actually. We need you guys to come back to Mesagoza. Something happened and apparently both the girls are in a lot of trouble. I tried to get in contact with Morgan, but she's not answering her Poké Gear. Could you try to reach out to Addison and figure out where she is? Billy's already out going to grab Tommy and Lizzie."

Bridgette frowned. "Yes. I will. The last thing we need is for trouble to come for us here. Make sure you get through to Morgan though, Amanda. We need to have all eight of us on the same page." She then ended the call and looked worriedly to Justin. "Well, I hope we enjoyed our brief day away from it all, because duty calls. And it's calling in a panic."

"What's going on?" he asked worriedly.

Bridgette smiled and gently took his hand, leading him back into the restaurant. "You have no idea."