"Jolt! Jolt! Jolt!"

All the (remaining) admins were gathered in the meeting room— again— waiting wordlessly for OZone to arrive— again. At least Arc was with them this time... if that could be considered a positive. His presence reinforced the piercing silence. Who would dare speak their concerns when OZone's and Cosmos's most vehement defender was sitting across from them with their mouth at the ready? For the sake of momentary peace, they all stayed silent, ignoring the taunting dread that swung over their heads like a pendulum.

Someone was going to be assigned a mission today, and everyone knew it. Everyone knew someone was going to have to play the role of bandit, and Buzz's fate lingered like a thick fog. Even with the ceaseless silence, it was clear that almost no one wanted to be in that room.

"Jolt! Jolt! Jolt!"

No one except for Jolteon.

Jolteon sat in Rōzu's lap, bouncing up and down as it rested its front paws on the meeting room table. Jolteon's peppy presence put Rōzu at ease; he smiled passively as he toyed with the Pokémon's ears.

Arc, meanwhile, ground his teeth. "Get that mangy thing to shut up. It'll disrupt the meeting."

"Jolteon's not mangy," Rōzu retorted. "And she's perfectly capable of behaving. She won't disrupt—"

"Jolt!" Jolteon barked happily. "Jolt! Jolt!"

Rōzu sighed. He hunched over, reached for his bag below the table, pulled out a chew toy, and tossed it to the ground. "Go play."

Jolteon instantly leaped from his lap and snatched the toy into its jaws. Rōzu scratched its head as it gnawed the toy to its heart's content.

"That's my good girl."

The door screeched as it opened. OZone walked in with a heavy gait and a grim countenance. He nodded in greeting, wasting no time on pleasantries. There was something candid about his demeanor, something transparent and honest. In the same breath, it was adamant and unbending.

Somehow, the room's atmosphere grew even more tense.

He dropped a bundle of files at his end of the long table and turned away, neglecting his seat as he paced to the front of the room until his face was inches away from the wall. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling above as he folded his hands behind his back.

"I have planned out our next move. Something tells me this won't bode well with some of you. But the time for arguments and debates has passed. I must fulfill my role as leader. My word is final."

The admins looked amongst each other, expressions ranging from disbelief to discomfort to confusion to utter blankness. Things had already been changing so fast that it was hard to keep up with, but the words that just came out from OZone's mouth...

OZone didn't sound quite like OZone.

"I'll get straight into it." OZone faced his admins, hands still folded behind his back. "We still need that radioactive serum to act as fuel for our portal. Our opportunity to swipe it in transit has passed. We must take it from where it's currently housed: Melemele's main power plant."

More exchanged glances. More worried faces. OZone looked past them all, keeping his eyes set straight ahead.

"It wouldn't be wise to send someone into that facility alone. After brainstorming, I've developed a plan of action involving a team of three."

Arc sat up in his seat. "Sir, if you so please, I'm more than willing to—"

OZone raised his hand before his chest, stopping Arc mid-sentence. "No. We're not doing volunteers. I have already decided who will undertake this mission."

A heavy pause followed. Arc nodded his head. His soft "yessir" hardly scraped the silence.

"I need you here, Arc. On standby," OZone said. "As for the theft..."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small remote, and switched on the room's projector.

The projector popped to life with a map of the power plant's layout. Three entrance points were circled with a bright yellow: one in the front of the building, one in the back, and one on the left side. OZone gestured to the plant's front entrance as he spoke.

"The serum is held on the far left of the facility, or rather, the most secure part of the facility. Someone will have to enter through the front, head left, and create a distraction to draw all of the security towards them. For that task, we'd need something loud. Explosive. Like Burst."

OZone's gaze fixated on Daichi.

The teen let out a shaky gasp before throwing his hands over his mouth to stifle it. His eyes went wide as his legs began to rapidly bounce up and down.

He shook his head, but by then, OZone's focus had already returned to the map.

"Daichi, you and Burst will serve as that distraction for the security. Once the attention is all on you, you'll also be responsible for sending a signal. I'll elaborate on that in a moment."

Daichi tried to speak, but his voice failed him and squeaked. Beside him, Rōzu sat with his features slack in disbelief. His expression made it clear: he didn't want to believe what he was hearing.

He opened his mouth to say something, but OZone continued before he had the chance.

"We want this to be a silent operation; we do not want the police called. At the far right of the facility, there is an electrical room. We need to get in there and shut everything down permanently. There, with a strong enough electrical current, we can short-circuit and overheat their main source of power. That will cut off their communication lines, their security cameras, their lights, everything."

OZone's gaze shot to Rōzu.

The boy's expression shifted from disbelief to horror. The shine of his champagne-colored eyes wavered as Daichi suddenly grasped his friend's sleeve.

"Rōzu," OZone began. "The electrical room is closest to the back entrance. You will enter through there, wait for Daichi's signal, then have Lightning short-circuit everything with its current. Then you'll slip out before anyone could arrive to check the equipment and move to assist Daichi in the front. You are not to be seen as you make your way through the halls."

Rōzu and Daichi looked at each other, utterly speechless. They didn't need words— the awe and the terror in their faces said everything.

OZone continued on. "Finally, there's the matter of taking the serum. Now, there happens to be a window near the room where it's held. That will become the third point of entrance."

OZone looked to Belle—

For the first time since this meeting began, his stern disposition faltered. Something about Belle's demeanor— maybe it was the way her shoulders hunched, or the way her brow lowered, or the way her jaw visibly clenched, or the way her violet eyes narrowed into slits— caught him off guard.

The look on her face... it almost resembled anger.

OZone cleared his throat. "Belle, I entrust you with the responsibility of retrieving the serum. Once the power goes out, you and Beauty will enter and take what's ours. If there are any workers present, use Beauty to threaten them into submission."

With the click of a button, OZone switched the projector off. It took him a long moment to tear his eyes from Belle's face and her unchanging expression.

"From there, it's only a matter of withdrawing," he said. "If anyone has any questions, now is the time to ask."

Dead silence.

"...OZone." Rōzu spoke up, taking care to speak deliberately slowly. "...What the actual fuck?"

And the previously silent room then erupted into chaos.

Arc shot up from his chair and slammed his palms onto the desk— the sudden burst of rage was enough to send Molly hiding beneath the table.

"Bite your tongue!" he screamed. "It's bad enough you're always questioning OZone's orders, but this?! You do not speak to him in such an impudent manner!"

"What else am I supposed to say to this, Arc?!" Though Rōzu raised his voice, there was little anger or rage in his inflection. Instead, his voice rang with only confusion and incredulity. "OZone— y-you're not even asking anymore! Buzz just got sent to some hell on earth, and you expect us to just go steal shit at the snap of your fingers without question?!"

"Roz... kind of has a point..." Molly said as she poked her head out from beneath the table. One quick glare from Arc was enough to send her back to hiding beneath it.

"What he expects you to do is your damn job," Arc growled. "So I suggest you make yourself useful instead of flapping that useless trap, and do as you're told!"

"Maybe if you stop dismissing him and quit insulting him for no good reason, you'd realize he does have a point!" Daichi suddenly sprouted up from his seat, shouting despite how his voice trembled. "Lay off him, Arc! I know you like to put everything on the line to terrify innocent people, but we're not you! I don't— we don't want to go through... go through..."

Daichi shook his head and bit his lip, unable to finish his statement. From his chair, Rōzu looked up at him with concern.

Arc was unphased. "No good reason? I have a million and one different reasons to unleash a verbal onslaught on both of you brats! Which I will if you don't—!"

"Arc!" Serenity grabbed hold of the man's wrist. "Enough, please!"

Arc pulled his arm from Serenity's grasp with force. Serenity lost her balance and nearly fell from her chair, but Mitsuki grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

"Oh Arceus, I knew I should have brought a drink to this meeting..." Tony muttered beneath his breath.

Cypher gave him a judging side glance. "Is that how you deal with everything—?"

Arc's next shout and its sheer volume made everyone in that room— including OZone— shudder.

"You two have troubled OZone enough with your childish antics and your inane behavior! You're the last ones on this earth who should ever question his judgment! So how about you worthless pieces of shit sew your lips shut and—!"

"SHUT UP, ARC!"

An imposing voice rivaled Arc's. The man craned his back to see Belle standing behind him with her arms crossed.

"Belle—"

"No." Belle's tone was low and seething, yet slow and calculated. "You have said more than enough. Everyone in this room knows where you stand. But last I checked, we weren't employed by you. We are employed by that man right there." Belle pointed to OZone, but her glare did not drift from Arc. "So perhaps it's time you let him speak. You haven't given him the chance. That's quite impudent of you, wouldn't you say?"

Arc went to counter, but Belle raised her hand to cut him off.

The silence returned as all heads turned to OZone.

OZone took a deep breath. "Belle is correct. Thank you, Arc, but you are out of line. I'm fully capable of disciplining my own admins."

OZone watched Belle's expression sour further, but that didn't deter his focus. He approached the two teen boys, hands at his side and expression stern.

"Daichi, sit down."

Daichi obliged instantly, dropping back into his seat and folding his hands. He and Rōzu both hung their heads like little children facing a scolding, their lips shut and pressed tightly together.

"First of all, Rōzu. I do not appreciate the blatant disrespect."

Rōzu glanced up at the man. "I just—"

"I am not in the mood for excuses," OZone snapped. "I will tell you this once, and I will not repeat myself. You are to speak to me respectfully. Do you understand?"

"But I—"

"Do you understand, young man?"

Rōzu lowered his head with a soft, defeated sigh. "...Yes, bossman."

"Good. Now, I completely understand why you both would be concerned. However, my orders remain the same. I gave you this position, and you will do what is demanded of it. You don't want all of this to be for naught, yes? You don't want Buzz's efforts to be in vain, do you?"

The boys were silent. They quickly glanced at each other before their eyes darted back to the floor.

OZone's lips stretched into a long frown.

"Your silence is rather concerning. Do you wish for Buzz's efforts to be in vain?"

"O-of course not!" Daichi's head shot up. His cheeks were notably red. "B-but... but I—!"

"But what?" OZone asked. "There shouldn't be any 'buts' in this equation."

Rōzu kept his gaze on his feet. "Bossman... we just... don't want to scare more people. Much less risk our skins doing it. That day... on the island..."

Rōzu hesitated to continue, his eyes flitting to Daichi. Daichi's hands inched towards his ears, fighting the urge to plug them. He winced as if in pain.

Arc clicked his tongue. "Oh, please. Are you unwilling to get your hands a little dirty for the sake of your boss? For the sake of his goal?"

And again, there was silence.

All eyes were on OZone, waiting for him to dismiss Arc's question, to tell Arc to back off, to divert the subject.

But he didn't.

OZone stared at the boys as they grew uneasy. They turned to each other with panic morphing their faces, realizing he was waiting for them to answer Arc's question.

OZone cocked his head to the side and raised a single eyebrow. Daichi knitted his fingers together as Rōzu opened and closed his mouth, searching for the words.

"...Alright. Enough. Move aside."

Belle stepped between the man and the boys with an air of nonchalance— or what should have come across as nonchalance. That strange look was still plastered over her face. Her posture was still stiff and tight. Yet, when she spoke, her voice was masked and docile.

"You both know I'm a woman of my word, yes?"

The boys both offered her tepid nods in response.

"Then take my word for it when I say this." Belle placed a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'm not letting anything happen to you troublemakers. I promise you, Daichi, Rōzu, that I will ensure your safety. You'll come back to this meeting room, free and in one piece. I swear it."

Belle leaned toward the boys and lowered her voice to a whisper, ensuring the other admins couldn't hear.

"Listen, it's absolutely backward that you're essentially being forced to do this. But if you don't agree to it, you're painting targets on your backs. We don't need Arc even more hostile towards you than he already is. For your own sakes, you need to do this. I mean what I say; I promise I won't let anything happen to either of you."

Belle backed away, removing her hands from the pair's shoulders. And waited.

Daichi's folded hands were trembling. Rōzu crossed his arms as he struggled to keep composed. They exchanged one last, long glance...

They looked up at Belle with feeble nods.

* * *

Hours later, OZone was preparing to leave his office. He sat behind his desk as he slipped files into his stuffed drawers, his mind eased and quiet. His Pikachu lay curled up in his lap, making soft, high-pitched noises as he scratched its chin with his fingertips.

The door was thrown open and slammed against the wall.

OZone jumped, nearly knocking Pikachu from his lap. The Pokémon instantly stood up to peer over the desk, feet planted on OZone's legs and front paws flat on the edge of the desk. OZone hardly noticed its movement— his mind was reeling from the sight of a woman charging toward him and slamming her palm down mere inches in front of him.

"Belle...! It's unlike you not to knock." OZone sighed with his hand over his heart. "You startled me. You should be home by now, anyway. Your mission is tomorrow. You should be home resting—"

"Why the boys?"

OZone froze. Belle's eyes dug into him unapologetically, trying to tear something from his skull.

"...What—?"

"It's a self-explanatory question. There are a million different ways you could have gone about this, a million different ways that would've made much more sense. For the life of me, I can't figure out what on earth is going through your head."

Belle lifted her palm from the desk and straightened her posture. Her violet eyes narrow further, their shine and color popping in the dimmed lights.

She scoffed as he gawked at her. "Don't act dumb. Arc would literally bend over backward to complete a task like this, and you assign it to two teenagers? Two teenagers who clearly don't want to undertake it, I might add. Meanwhile, Arc is practically selling you his soul?"

"... I need Arc here on standby. I said as much during the meeting. Belle, I thought this plan through. I've considered multiple options. This is the best course of action—"

"I don't believe you."

"...Excuse me?"

"I said I don't believe you. I think you have ulterior motives."

Belle struck both her hands onto the desk. She loomed over OZone like a spotlight, chipping and chipping away at him until he was made bare and exposed.

"Daichi's clearly terrified by this whole ordeal— you could tell just by looking at him during these meetings. Rōzu has consistently been very outspoken, especially in regards to this... 'turn' Cosmos took. Both have been reluctant. Hesitant. Why would you command them, out of everyone, to carry out another heist? In front of everyone, without any prior warning. Leaving no room for refusal. Just after one of their peers got sent to the Abyss."

Belle leaned slightly forward, maintaining a fair distance between their faces. OZone fought the instinct to lower his head and look down; he forced his eyes to remain locked on hers.

"Perhaps this is supposed to be a test of loyalty. Why not use this mission to test them? After all, this is the perfect timing for such a test. It's your chance to see, even after learning of Buzz's fate, if they're truly loyal to you."

OZone's mind went blank. Involuntary, he slowly shook his head as his wide eyes looked downward. A hollow chuckle escaped Belle's lips.

"You know what? I lied. I think I can figure out what's going through your head. But none of it makes you look good." Belle leaned closer, the tip of her nose nearly touching his forehead. "If this isn't some test of loyalty, this is you prioritizing your more valuable assets. Why won't you send Arc on this mission? Because you need him more than you need either of those boys. Arc's too loyal, too devoted to your cause. Too willing to do everything and anything you ask. Why would you risk him when you could risk two teenagers with clear reservations?"

OZone's fingers curled into his palm. Belle's words swirled in his head, became concrete, but he didn't want to accept them. He didn't want to accept that she was accusing him of—

Her words kept replaying in his head.

Her past words joined the chorus.

"The more time I spend with you... the more I see how you genuinely care for every one of us... I can no longer go down that line of thinking."

OZone lifted his head and met her glare. "Do you honestly think that little of me?"

Belle stared at him for a long, long moment. A softer expression flashed across her face, an expression hurt and vulnerable—

It was gone in an instant.

Her features hardened. She huffed, stepping back as she pulled her hands from the desk.

"...I don't know. You're on a dark path, OZone."

OZone wiped the sweat that was building on his forehead. He glanced to the side, then back at Belle as he tried to make sense of her statement.

He couldn't.

He cleared his throat, though there was nothing to clear. "Belle... I'm not sure what you want me to tell you. But Daichi and Rōzu are both able-bodied admins who are as equally obligated to undertake these missions as the rest of you. I shall treat them as such. My decision... is based on nothing but that fact and what I believe to be the best plan."

Belle scoffed. Her eyes wandered from the man's face to one of his many shelves. "I'll pretend I'm oblivious enough to believe you."

OZone followed her line of sight— she was staring intently at the forgotten book sitting alone. A gift from Mitsuki: Dr. Scott's esteemed book titled "The Age of Rebellion: Dr. Scott's guide for dealing with your out of control teenager."

Yet again, OZone's mind became static.

"I shouldn't have bothered coming here." Belle turned her back to him with a sway of her hips. "You're set on this path. I'm set on obedience due to what I owe you. Nothing will change from this conversation."

She walked toward the door, but OZone raised his hand as if to reach for her. "Wait..."

Belle looked back as her fingers clenched the doorknob.

"What?"

"... Are you angry with me?"

Belle paused and let stillness settle. The coldness that had come to dominate her face— the coldness that perfectly suited her stern features— did not fade.

Those violet irises seemed to glow. The room felt dimmer... as if her eyes were sucking the light away.

"... Rather than that, I'd say I am disappointed. I can only hope that this doesn't become a trend." Belle opened the door and took a step out into the hall. "Though I'm not holding my breath."

She pulled the door shut behind her. The sound rang with an odd sense of finality.

* * *

"You remember the plan step by step, yes?"

The three admins leaned against the railing, watching the sunlight glisten atop the waves from the ferry deck. The distant Melemele Island, along with the mission tied to it, inched closer and closer. Belle watched the two boys in the corner of her vision— they nodded half-heartedly before continuing to stare blankly at the blue horizon.

Her heart was uneasy. This was tragic.

"God. It's like I'm standing beside two strangers," she said. "I miss your energy."

Daichi and Rōzu, for the first time since they boarded the ferry, turned their heads to Belle. Their brows shot up and their mouths went slightly ajar.

Daichi stepped back from the railing, though his fingers remained latched onto it. "...You ...miss our energy?"

"Never expected to hear you say that." Rōzu looked back out to the horizon. "For a while, I thought you couldn't stand us."

"I can't blame you for thinking that. I was always quick to scold." A warm feeling edged into Belle's chest. "But it was never out of malice. Even at your most annoying, I didn't think of you anything worse than rascals."

"Even after the bad 80s music incident?" Daichi asked.

A smile threatened to emerge on Belle's face. "Yes, even after that. How did you get that music on the intercom, anyway? Took a good half hour to figure out how to shut it off."

"Well..." Daichi folded his hands behind his back. "It's improper for a magician to share their methods."

Rōzu glanced at Daichi with a hint of a grin. "I'm no magician. Does that mean I could tell her how we did it?"

The tension that clutched Daichi's shoulders loosened. With a slight grin of his own, he butted his elbow into Rōzu's side.

"C'mon man, you're my number one assistant. That means you follow the same code."

Rōzu butted his elbow into Daichi's side in return. "Okay, but when do I get my promotion, 'The Great Daichi?'"

"Maybe I'll begin to consider it once you finally learn the code."

"So unfair. How could I work under these conditions?"

"Silly Roz, it's in the contract. You have no choice but to work under these conditions."

"Crap, I knew I should've read the terms and conditions!"

"Yeah, you should have. By the way, you're going to need to sacrifice your firstborn."

"Damn it this is the second time this has happened to me!"

As she listened to the boys and their banter, Belle couldn't help herself. She stifled a laugh.

The boys turned to her once again. This time, however, their faces morphed in what looked like awe rather than shock or skepticism.

"What's with the stares?" She asked with a smile still on her face. "Never seen a woman chuckle before?"

"No, it's just that... uh." Daichi scratched the back of his head with the most nervous of laughs. He peered back at Rōzu for help, but his friend could only offer a short shrug. "I'm not used to seeing you like this. You're... uh... different."

"...Different." Belle sighed as her smile faded. "Okay. Let me confess something to you boys."

She turned away from the water and let her back lay on the railing. Her eyes were downcast, but her voice remained firm.

"I seem different because there is no reason to put up a stern front. Not anymore. Yes, I was hard on you. But I'm not Arc. It was never sheer anger or anything of the sort that drove me to act abrasively. I wanted to push you in the right direction. Make proper adults out of you. I know you two weren't raised in ideal circumstances... I wanted to help you rise above your roots. I was under the impression that Cosmos could help you rise above your roots. Turns out I was very, very wrong."

Belle sucked at her teeth— it was all she could do to keep the frustration from seeping through. She peered back over her shoulder to spot Melemele looming closer and closer...

It felt almost like the endpoint of the Styx.

"...You really care," Daichi muttered. His voice raised in pitch, almost to indicate a question... but Belle knew it wasn't. "You really care, Belle."

Daichi's hand grasped her sleeve. When she made eye contact, Daichi's eyes darted to the ocean. Then to the ground. Then to the skies.

"U-um! Thank you, Belle! You know... for uh... being nice! I mean, your lectures sucked and sometimes you seemed super mad, but like, you know! You're actually really nice and stuff, and you obviously really care! And, I mean, like, like—"

"Daichi, Daichi, I think I understand what you're trying to say." Belle, again, found herself stifling a laugh. "Take a breath."

Daichi took a large gasp of air before he became blue in the face.

Rōzu returned his gaze to the horizon before he hesitantly spoke.

"...I guess I should thank you too, Belle." Though he tried to keep a straight expression, Belle noticed how his cheeks began to burn bright red. "Not often people bother to care. I mean, like, really care. And your promise at that meeting... it means a lot. More than you know. So, thank you."

Belle laid a hand on Rōzu's back as she looked out to the same bright, blue scene. She placed her other hand on Daichi's shoulder.

"Don't mention it," she said. "Just make sure to look after yourselves. This mess is likely going to get much worse before it gets better."

"Yeah... um. Do you at least think, if we get this right, we'll make OZone proud?" Daichi asked.

Belle felt her heart break apart with a snap. Even after everything that had just happened, this kid still only wants—

"It has to." Daichi crossed his arms as his wary eyes shifted to Melemele. It closed in on them without mercy. "This has to be good for something."

Belle didn't say another word as they neared the end of the River Styx.

* * *

It was a slow day at the Power Plant.

The atmosphere was notably laid-back. Chatter and laughter, alongside the constant buzzing of machinery, echoed throughout the gray and white halls. The clock ticked slowly as if to mock the workers, but they enjoyed their lazy day as if just to spite it.

Then there was a loud bang.

Followed by another bang.

And then another.

And another.

The ground shook beneath everyone's feet. People raced in a million different directions— the security guards, however, all ran towards the front of the building. Their ears told them that the sudden noise originated near the entrance, so they formed a herd and sought the source as a herd of predators would hunt prey.

They all froze like deer in headlights when they saw it. A white sphere coated in pink and blue polka-dots for a head. A colorful, striped, thin torso. Ruffles on its wrists and neck.

It looked absolutely ridiculous, but something instinctual shook the security guards' at their cores. Perhaps it was the large, black marks on the floor that resembled ash and soot. Perhaps it was the gray smoke that lingered in the air.

It certainly wasn't the boy who stood beside it. Fluffy red-orange hair, freckled, baby-faced— he couldn't look more out of place if he tried. But he was there, fumbling with his phone as he typed up a message.

"Aaaand... there. Signal sent."

The boy slipped his phone into his back pocket. He looked up at the security guards with transparent apprehension.

"I'm... sorry about this." He brought his fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. "But... for our first trick... Burst and I... are going to blow your minds!"

The boy pointed forward. The bizarre creature swept him up into one of its arms and, with its free hand, popped its own head off its shoulders and chucked it forward.

* * *

Rōzu never pictured himself dragging an unconscious man through a dark hall during a heist for nuclear serum, but there he was.

He didn't have any trouble sneaking his way into the electrical room— that was simple enough. What he didn't account for was walking into that room to find an electrician packing his tools back into his bag. The man had looked at him, quite curious, and began to say, "You don't look like you belong here—"

Then the electrician noticed the twelve-foot sentient bundle of cords that stood behind Rōzu. The man's jaw dropped— he looked ready to scream— and Rōzu panicked and told Lightning to use Hypnosis.

Just as the electrician fell to the floor, Rōzu felt his phone vibrate. He pulled out his phone to see a message from Daichi that read:

Poptart.

They never did decide on a signal— Belle only told Daichi to send a message that was inconspicuous. "Poptart" probably wasn't the best option. Then again, Rōzu had no room to judge. If he were in Daichi's shoes, he probably would have just sent the word "inconspicuous" for the sake of some dry humor in this shitty situation.

Regardless, Rōzu knew what he had to do. He had Lightning short-circuit everything in that room. The entire building went black and silent.

The next step should have been clear. He was supposed to sneak out of the electrical room before anyone came to investigate the power outage, then make his way to Daichi and offer him backup.

But Rōzu did not account for having an unconscious electrician in the equation.

He knew he couldn't leave him in the electrical room. Hypnosis was the most temporary of fixes; it notoriously lasted an incredibly short time. That meant if Rōzu left the man behind, he would wake up and explain to everyone that some kid broke in with a giant electrical cord monster. And OZone made it very, very clear that he didn't want the police called. The people who rushed to this room had to remain confused and none-the-wiser. This had to remain silent and low-key.

Thus, Rōzu was forced to throw the man's work bag over his shoulder and drag him out by the back of his collar.

Now he had no clue what to do.

Hypnosis could wear off any second now. Rōzu couldn't just let this man run off and call the police— but he couldn't exactly sit here and babysit him, either. Daichi was depending on his backup, and he was not about to leave Daichi to get overwhelmed by security.

Rōzu couldn't afford to waste any more time. He needed to think of something fast.

He spotted a small storage room in the corner of his eye. It was right next to the railing of a staircase.

...There were several cords in the electrician's bag.

Suddenly there was relief. And suddenly there was dread. They mixed into an ugly, disconcerting feeling.

Rōzu would have questioned if he was really about to lock a man in a room, but there was no time for hesitation. No matter how sudden and hard the queasiness hit, there was no time for hesitation.

He made his way to the storage room and set the bag beside it. He pushed the unconscious man into the room, allowing him to slump upright on one of the shelves. He patted the pockets of his jacket and pants— he felt the outline of a cell phone.

As Rōzu slipped the phone out of the electrician's pocket, his eyes and nose began to twitch. Rōzu became paralyzed as he watched the man stir in his sleep—

Until his eyes fluttered open.

"My head..." The electrician put his fingers to his temple. He looked at Rōzu, utterly puzzled. "...You... you are..."

Rōzu jumped onto his feet, leaped out of the room, and slammed the door shut. He clung to the handle as he reached for the electrician's bag and grabbed the longest cord he saw.

The man, now conscious of what was happening, tried his damndest to pull the door open. Rōzu kept his grasp on the handle, holding it closed with all his strength as he tied the cord around the doorknob and the railing. He heard shouting, but between the door muffling his voice and the adrenaline heightening his focus, he couldn't discern the man's words. Rōzu's whole world was centered on how fast and well he could tie this knot.

Eventually, the cord was tight and secure, permitting Rōzu to release the doorknob. On the other side of the door, the electrician kept pulling and shouting. Even when he resorted to banging on the door with his fists, the cord wouldn't give way.

After a short time, he gave up. The pulling, the shouting, the banging, it all stopped.

Rōzu didn't know if that was any better or any worse than the following silence.

Rōzu backed away from the door until his back hit the wall. He needed to get moving— he needed to go assist Daichi now— but his body wouldn't listen to his mind. He slid to the floor and held his head in his hands.

"...That just happened. I just did that." He dragged his hands down his face, tugging at his skin. "Arceus... what am I doing? What did I do?"

As if to respond, there was a sudden clicking. A hand of copper poked at his head. Rōzu looked up to see Lightning, tall and imposing as ever, staring back at him.

"Skippy..." he murmured.

Lightning straightened its posture and proceeded to perform a twirl. Then it hopped its way throughout the hall— a brisé, then a cabriolé, then some glissades, and some emboités, capped off with a finishing tour en l'air. Then, and only then, like a proper danseur, did it stand before Rōzu and bow.

Rōzu gawked at the Ultra Beast for a long moment...

Then found himself laughing.

"You're a sweetheart, Skippy," he said, wiping a tear from his eye. "Are you trying to cheer me up? You're amazing— and I taught you so well. You're on your way to the professional ballet stage."

Rōzu stood up and stroked Lightning's side. He took a breath... and decided to give himself something to look forward to.

"... Let's dance together some more tonight, okay? Let's forget everything that's happened here and just dance some more."

Rōzu looked to the door of the storage room, held closed by a cord. A cool shiver runs down his spine.

"...But for now, we've got to go help Daichi. I've wasted enough time here; let's get to him ASAP."

* * *

When OZone told Belle he wanted her to break in through a window, he never mentioned how high up it was. She'd have to add that to her ever-expanding list of grievances.

Faced with a problem, Belle only did what any normal person would do. She hot-wired a motorcycle, built a makeshift ramp, drove her way up the ramp, and sent herself crashing through the window.

Glass shattered and scattered across the floor like raindrops. Belle clutched the front brake, slammed her heel on the rear brake, and came to a complete and sudden stop before she flew down the hall and crashed headfirst into a wall. Several employees came rushing in her direction to investigate the commotion, but before they could utter a word, Belle threw her Beast Ball into the air and released UB Beauty.

A threat was all it took. Matters were quick and easy from there.

The employees, all sweaty and white in the face, led her to one of the main workrooms. There, neatly packed into a shiny, silver suitcase, they handed her the nuclear serum that had gotten Buzz arrested. This serum, so tidily crammed into such a small container, had caused such monumental trouble and grief...

Belle slid it beneath her shoulder and turned to leave. This disaster was nowhere near over, but at least this particular serum won't be the cause of any more problems.

She opened the door of the workroom to exit, but stopped in her tracks when her ears picked up a soft whispering. She looked back— all of the employees raised their hands into the air frantically, their wide eyes locked on her and her every move. She paid them no mind as she cupped a hand around her ear, trying to focus on the whispering's source.

"Beast— soon— please!— come soon!"

Belle approached one of the tables and peeked beneath. A man was curled up in a ball, his shaky hands clinging to a phone that he held up to his ear. The instant he noticed Belle, he gasped and let the phone slip from his hands.

"Sir—!" A woman on the other end of the line— likely an emergency dispatcher— called out. "Sir, are you still there—?"

Belle picked up the phone and ended the call. "This is quite the terrible hiding spot, you realize."

The man swallowed. His teeth chattered.

"Could you do me a favor and tell me who you called?" Belle asked. "This isn't exactly convenient for me. I'm sure you understand."

The man didn't answer; his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"...Please just cooperate with me," Belle said. "I don't have time for this."

The man stayed silent... until Belle glanced up at Beauty, who hovered over her with a curious look in its violet eyes.

"The police!" The man spat out. He tried to sound somewhat composed, but his voice shook along with his entire body. "I called the police! And you know what they said? Fifteen minutes! You have fifteen minutes until a task force shows up! So if I were you, I'd get to running!"

Fifteen minutes?

A task force?

Shit.

"Shit," Belle cursed beneath her breath. She stood up and returned UB Beauty to its Beast Ball. She darted out the door and through the halls, not looking back at all the terrified people she left behind.

Fifteen minutes.

It wasn't enough time for her and the boys to all flee the area.

But it was enough time to keep her promise.

* * *

Belle arrived at the plant's entrance to find a massive group of guards, all spread out across the ground, sitting with their legs crossed. They all seemed nervous and jittery— natural, since their teams were likely just decimated by a pair of aliens.

In the center of the cluster of defeated security, Daichi and Rōzu stood with crossed arms and downcast eyes. Their Ultra Beasts weren't with them— they were likely stored within their Beast Balls after the battle was done. Somehow, they looked more jittery than the guards. Daichi kept fidgeting with his sleeves while Rōzu kept shifting his position from side to side.

No one, not the boys nor the security guards, made a sound.

Belle stepped through the sea of guards without glancing down at them. Daichi and Rōzu lifted their heads; their wary expressions perked up slightly.

"Belle...!"

Daichi ran up to her. Rōzu followed shortly behind.

"Are you okay?" Daichi's eyes flitted to the suitcase tucked beneath her arm. "Is that...?"

"Yes. The serum." Belle took a sigh before extending the suitcase out towards the boys. "One of you, take this from me."

Rōzu took the suitcase from her hands. "...Alright. Are we ready to—?"

"You, take this."

Belle reached into the inner pocket of her jacket and retrieved her Pyukumuku. She gave the beady-eyed Pokémon a quick kiss on the crown of its head and shoved it into Daichi's hands.

"O-oh!" Daichi held the Pyukumuku to his chest. "U-uh, Belle...?"

"You both need to leave. Now."

The boys both stiffened. They stared at her vacantly as she stood firm.

"Yeah... we need to leave," Rōzu said, shaking his head. "We all need to leave."

"No. There is an incoming task force that will be here within minutes. If we all leave, they will start a search."

"A what?!" Daichi stepped toward her, his free hand slowly reaching out for her. "Y-you mean like, police?! I-if police are coming, we can't just leave you here!"

"You can, and you will." Belle stepped back, maintaining her distance. "I promised you that I'd keep you safe, and this is my way of seeing it through. I will serve as your distraction as you two make your escape. So quickly, get going."

"Wait...!" Rōzu shook his head again, this time with much more vigor. "You can't just...! W-we can figure something else out! We can't just leave you to get arrested!"

"Oh, please. I don't plan on going down that easy." For a moment, Belle smiled. That smile left as quickly as it came. "Look, I'm not arguing about this. I'm telling you: you two are leaving, and I am staying."

"B-but shouldn't we stick together?!" Daichi sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "T-this task force... shouldn't we be able to take them down together?!"

"Y-yeah! We should! Belle..." Rōzu, likewise, sounded shaken. "You don't have to do this alone..."

There was a desperate shimmer in both of their eyes. It only made Belle's heart harden further; her mind was set.

She put a hand on each of their shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

"Don't worry about me. I don't intend to get arrested... but even if I do, I'm more equipped to handle whatever awaits me in the abyss. You two... you are just kids. You are two kids who shouldn't even be here. And I'm a grown woman who made a promise. I made a promise to keep you safe, and I'm not about to risk your well-being when we don't even know what we're up against. So go..."

Belle released their shoulders with a nod.

The boys still didn't move. They kept staring at her, misty-eyed and trembling.

Belle shut her eyes with a huff. She sucked in a lung full of air before releasing a scream with such booming and raucous intensity that it put Arc to shame.

"Are you two deaf!? I told you to go! Leave! Now get your asses moving before I knock your teeth out! I'm not repeating myself!"

Belle pushed them back with full force, causing them to nearly fall over. Daichi froze in place, muscles tight and mind suddenly glazed. He didn't— he couldn't move until Rōzu grabbed his wrist. As Rōzu began to run away, Daichi was dragged alongside him.

Even as Daichi was pulled forward, he couldn't keep himself from peering back at Belle.

Soon enough, they were gone from sight. Belle exhaled with relief. Her lips curled into a small smile.

And without a word to the defeated security guards that surrounded her, who looked up at her and watched her like a performer, she turned around and walked in the opposite direction.

* * *

It happened so quickly, it was almost disorienting.

Not even a half-hour ago, everyone was going about their days as normal. Then their communicators buzzed violently and rang loudly, demanding their attention. They answered the call to receive a voice recording from Anabel:

"There's a break-in currently underway at Melmele's main power plant. This specific power plant happens to house the nuclear serum that our last detainee attempted to steal. We've also received a report of an unusual 'beast' being present on the premises alongside the intruders. We're sending you all the coordinates now. Get your equipment and make your way to the nearest police station to receive a ride Pokémon. And move quickly— you must arrive at the power plant before the suspects can escape."

From there, everyone sprung into action. It wasn't long until all thirteen children met in the skies on different breeds of flying Pokémon, merging into a herd just as cars merge into a highway. Together, they neared their destination, unaware of what could await them.

"Wow, Lillie!" Mallow chirped as the wind brushed past her face and tossed her pigtails. "I can't believe it! You're riding that Altaria like you were born to!"

"Ah, well..." Lillie's cheeks reddened as she brushed back a strand of her hair. "Everything was so urgent, I didn't have time to be afraid. Besides... this Altaria seems to be really sweet. Don't you?"

"Riaaaaa!" Altaria cried as it flapped its wings.

"Speaking of these ride Pokémon... am I the only one shocked that Dragonair could fly?" Hau asked, peering at Lana's ride Pokémon. "I mean, how is it doing it? It has no wings!"

Lana only shrugged in response. "...Well, I guess 'air' is in the name."

"I'm more taken aback by Metang," Kiawe said, glancing at Sophocles's ride Pokémon. "I knew it could levitate, but I didn't realize it could soar through the air like a Charizard."

"I know, right?!" Sophocles patted the top of Metang's head. "Isn't it awesome?!"

"Um..." Len spoke up as he pointed forward. "Don't mean to interrupt, but I think I see our target."

"What do you—?" Gladion, or rather, "Iridio's" eyes went wide. "Yup. That's our target alright."

The power plant was in their sight— as well as the giant insect that stood on the power plant's roof. The insect was the antithesis of the beast they had come to know as Buzzwole: it was tall, lean, lithe, and feminine. It held its head up high with pride as its violet irises shimmered and its blue pupils shrank. It let out a sharp cry as if to acknowledge the children and dare them to approach further.

Beside the insect stood a woman. She was dressed completely in black— which made sense, considering she was in the middle of a heist. She wore a calm countenance as she tugged at the tightly wound bun on the top of her head, pulling her long hair loose and allowing it to fall and graze her hips.

"Well, that was an easy find! Now let's go kick some Ultra Beast butt!" Acerola cheered as she pumped a fist into the air.

Saki glared at Acerola from the corner of her vision. "Um, I think we're supposed to try and talk that lady down first."

"We'll figure it out. Now come on, we've got no time to lose!"

Ash took the lead, having his ride Pokémon zoom in toward the power plant. The rest followed suit.

The thirteen children all landed on the roof of the power plant only a couple of feet away from the woman and her Ultra Beast. They dismounted their ride Pokémon and readied themselves, standing tall with their hands on their utility belt. The ride Pokémon flew back and out of sight, removing themselves from the scene and the potential crossfire.

The children stared at Belle. Belle stared at the children. The children were all quiet, waiting for Belle to say something, anything. But she just stared at them with her eyes wide and her jaw hanging open.

"Crap, this is awkward." Saki crossed her arms. "Why didn't Anabel or Looker give us some kind of script? Someone, please, say something."

"I think I got this." Bob adjusted his cap and cleared his throat. He straightened his posture and threw his hands onto his hips. "Alright, criminal scum! Surrender now, and maybe we'll consider loosening your handcuffs on your way to the slammer!"

There was a pause.

"I regret ever opening my big mouth," Saki said as she facepalmed.

"Bob... are you trying to impersonate that cop from that detective show Rotom and Rose always watch?" Ash asked.

"Wait, you mean Alolan Detective Laki?" Acerola asked. "Shoot, I love that show! Always watch it with my ghosts! And... yeah actually I'm pretty sure Officer Gorg said that exact line one episode."

"Of all cops to impersonate, why Officer Gorg?" Scales raised a brow. "Isn't he, like, a dirty cop?"

"Oh yeah! That was the big plot twist of season three." Acerola tilted her head up towards the sky as she got lost in thought. "Laki was all like, 'you're the one who tampered with the evidence!' Then Gorg was all like 'Laki if you keep digging into this you'll end up like Detective Gumoshoot. Six feet under in the middle of the desert.'"

"... I think we're getting way off focus," Iridio said.

There was a sudden flash of light, cutting the children's conversation short. The group all looked at Belle to see her holding out a cell phone.

"...Did you just take our photo?" Lana asked.

Belle didn't answer. She brought the phone closer to her chest and hastily typed something. Then, without hesitation, she chucked the cell phone into the air.

"Beauty."

The Ultra Beast jumped up, and with elegant form, it kicked the phone with all the power in its leg. The cell phone was sent flying like a shooting star, zooming through the skies and vanishing into the horizon.

The children were rendered speechless.

"Oh, Arceus. Oh my Arceus." Belle let out a strained laugh. "What am I looking at?"

"...The International Junior Patrol," Kiawe answered.

"It's... a little unconventional," Len added. "But it is our job to arrest you."

"Wow..." Again, the woman laughed. "Really? This is actually happening? You... kids are going to arrest me?"

"Hey, don't belittle us!" Bob reached for his belt and whipped out his badge. "We're with the international police, you know!"

"Bib's right!" Lana stood beside Bob and puffed out her chest. "Don't underestimate us just because we're kids!"

Belle scoffed. "So this is what the world has come to. We're sending children to do our dirty work and fight our battles. How backwards— but do not worry. I will not underestimate you. So... come at us." She opened her arms. "Do I walk away or do you cuff me? Let's get on with deciding that, shall we?"

Several of the kids hesitated. Ash was the first one to step forward.

"Let's. Pikachu, go!"

"Pika!"

Pikachu ran onto what was becoming their battlefield. Soon after, multiple Pokéballs were thrown into the air like graduation caps.

"Marowak!" Kiawe shouted.

"Corsola!" Lana shouted.

"Togedemaru!" Sophocles shouted.

"Hakamo-o!" Scales shouted.

"Banette!" Acerola shouted.

"Houndoom!" Bob shouted.

These seven Pokémon formed the front lines. Behind them:

"Lycanroc!" Len shouted as his Midday Lycanroc emerged from its ball.

Iridio gave Len a quick side glance. "You have good taste. Lycanroc!"

His Midnight Lycanroc joined Len's, standing side by side.

"Torracat!"

"Torra!"

Hau and Saki both sent out their Torracats. Alongside the Lycanrocs, the two Torracats stood as backup.

"We're here if you need us!" Lillie called from the rear of the crowd. She and Mallow were removed from the action, waiting on standby in case any Pokémon were injured. Lillie's vest held plenty of potions and full restores, ensuring she was prepped for the task.

Belle ran her hand through her hair. "Alright then. Beauty..."

She pointed at Togedemaru. Before Sophocles could react, the beast zoomed to the round Pokémon at an insane speed, threw its leg back, and kicked it like a soccer ball. Togedemaru was sent flying.

"Togeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"Togedemaru, no!"

Sophocles pivoted and chased after his airborne Pokémon. As Togedemaru lost altitude, Mallow leaped up and caught it in mid-air. She lowered it to the ground to find it was unconscious.

"My goodness, that was fast!"

"I'll say!" Lillie said as she frantically reached for a potion to spray.

The Ultra Beast looked back at its handler, who gave it a smile and a nod.

"You're doing wonderful, Beauty. Now, stay alert and be ready to dodge."

"Try dodging this!" Bob shouted. "Houndoom! Flamethrower!"

The large dog opened its maw and shot a pillar of flame at the insect. Without breaking a sweat, the beast sidestepped the attack.

"Oh..." Bob deflated.

"Don't give up that easy!" Ash called out to him, shaking his head. "Pikachu! Electro Ball!"

"Pikapikapika—!"

Pikachu charged up an Electro Ball and flung it at the beast with its tail. The beast, again, sidestepped the attack with ease before charging at Pikachu.

"High Jump Kick!" Belle called out.

The beast leaped up into the air at Belle's command. It then came crashing back down foot-first, striking Pikachu with an incredibly powerful attack. Pikachu was thrown back into Ash's arms, unconscious.

"Ah, no! A one-hit KO!" Ash shrieked.

"Ash!" Mallow called for him, waving her arm to grab his attention. "Over here!"

Ash fled to the back lines to have Pikachu healed. Meanwhile, attack after attack was flung at the tall insect.

"Bone Rush, Marowak!"

"Corsola! Bubble Beam!"

"Hakamo-o! Dragon Claw!"

"Banette! Shadow Ball!"

Time after time, the beast avoided the incoming attacks with its incredible speed. Several of the children were growing red in the face.

"Oh, this is totally unfair!" Acerola shouted with a pout.

"We need to think of a plan—" Kiawe began.

"Beauty," Belle said. "Triple Kick."

Again, the beast lunged at its opponents. This time, it zeroed in on Corsola and delivered three swift, hard-hitting kicks. The Pokémon collapsed instantly. Lana rushed to it, scooped it up, and hurried her way to Mallow and Lillie for healing.

"Might I take my leave yet?" Belle peered up at her Ultra Beast with pride sparkling in her eyes. "Beauty and I could keep this up all day. I'm sure of it. Bounce."

The beast sprung back into the air as if to launch itself into the sun. It came down with force and hurdled itself into Hakamo-o. The super-effective flying-type move left Hakamo-o, like the others, knocked out in one hit.

"Oh no! Hakamo-o! I got you, buddy!" Scales lifted the dragon into his arms before trailing after Lana.

The two Lycanrocs ran up toward the beast as Iridio and Len both joined the front lines.

"This thing is incredible..." Len murmured. "Fast, strong..."

"It had to be trained to utilize those traits..." Iridio said with a nod.

"...You think it's because of its defenses?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well..." Len nervously looked away from the other boy. "It looks kind of frail is what I mean."

"...You have a point." Iridio narrowed his eyes as he looked the beast up and down. "It likely relies on speed and strength because it can't take a real hit."

Kiawe craned his head back to peek at the two. "You're... probably right. Both of you... you're probably right! If we can find a workaround—"

"Togedemaru! Go!"

There was a sudden shrill shout. The tall insect flinched. It turned slightly to reveal that Togedemaru was now clinging to its shoulders and riding its back.

"Yeah! Sweet revenge is ours, baby!" Sophocles threw both his fists into the air. "Nuzzle it!"

"Toge!" As if to show affection, Togedemaru rubbed its cheek against the beast's skin.

Panic dawned Belle's face. "Oh no..."

Togedemaru kept nuzzling and nuzzling, activating the electric pouches on its cheeks. A shock ran through the beast's body, leaving behind paralysis in its wake.

As Togedemaru released the beast's shoulders and fell back to the ground, the beast's body twitched and convulsed. Kiawe's face lit up.

"That works. Hau, Saki! This thing oughta be another bug-type! Heat things up!"

"You got it!" Saki grabbed Hau's hand and ran up alongside him. "Ready?"

Hau nodded eagerly. "As ever! Torracat—!"

"Torra—!"

"Flamethrower!" The two called in sync.

The two cats inhaled a deep gulp of air before spewing pillars of fire from their mouths. Their streams of fire joined together to strike the beast who was too paralyzed to move. Even after the super-effective attacks, the beast managed to stay upright. However, it swayed side to side, struggling to maintain its balance.

Iridio looked to Len. "Should we end this?"

"Anytime," Len answered.

"Lycanroc!" The two shouted simultaneously. "Rock Slide!"

The two wolves charged forward with one final joined attack—

And it was over.

The beast collapsed onto its stomach. It tried, again and again, to push itself up with its thin arms, but they failed, again and again, sending it collapsing back onto the ground. It let out a whimper as it kept struggling against inevitably.

"It's over now..." Iridio said, looking straight at Belle. "You should return it."

"I'm aware of that."

Belle approached her downed Ultra Beast. Her composure and expression were oddly calm, considering the situation. She even smiled when she kneeled beside the insect and cupped its cheek with her hand.

"Thank you, Beauty. You fought well. I'm certain we won't have the chance to meet again, so I must tell you this now. It was an honor meeting you, getting to know you, and being able to fight by your side. You were a wonderful partner, and I will never forget you. Ever."

"Phiii..."

The beast laid its golden claws over Belle's hand and shut its eyes.

"Goodbye, Beauty."

With those parting words, Belle tapped the Beast Ball against the beast's head. It was sucked back into the ball that rested in the woman's hands.

* * *

Belle couldn't help but think there was an irony to all this. A sweet, rich irony.

She waited in the back of a cop car, her hands cuffed behind her back. The window was rolled half down, allowing her to eavesdrop on the chatter of the police and the children who had just apprehended her.

The children seemed surprised to hear that there were allegedly two other suspects who managed to escape from the crime scene. Even after hearing the police and their constant praise for the children, hearing the children's alarm at the fact that two thieves remain loose with the nuclear serum in hand brought her a sense of satisfaction.

At least this wasn't a complete waste.

But that satisfaction couldn't drown out the cruel irony that has become her existence. She originally joined Cosmos to become something better than she was. It was her fresh start, her clean slate, her second chance. Her troubled, criminal self could be left to wilt in the past as she became someone proud and respectable.

And now, because of Cosmos and its expectations, she was sitting in the back of a cop car.

Because of Cosmos, she had become a threat to Alolan national security.

She closed her eyes and chuckled. It's a little funny, when you actually think about it.

She accepted this. She accepted this the moment she pushed those boys back. Her decisions lead to this point, and she reached this point on her terms. She put herself on the line to protect those she felt should be protected, and she is content with that.

Now, she could only hope and pray that OZone took her arrest and incarceration as a warning for what will come of his ambition.

* * *

Hours passed.

Cosmos's meeting room was completely empty. Almost.

Daichi and Rōzu waited, forgoing chairs as Rōzu leaned against the table and Daichi paced back and forth. Belle's beloved Pyukumuku stared at them from the tabletop, its beady pink eyes unblinking.

Daichi's heart pounded against his chest as if it were trying to break free of his ribcage.

"Oh my god... it's taking too long, it's taking too long," Daichi muttered to himself, his entire face a rosy pink. "Too long, too long, too long—"

"Daichi..." Rōzu slowly approached him while reaching his hand out for his shoulder. "I think you should sit down for a minute—"

"Why?!" Daichi snapped his head back with a shout. "Why would you pull me out of there?!"

Rōzu flinched and stumbled back. "I..."

"W-we shouldn't have left her! I shouldn't have left her! I should have done something! I should have done something but instead I just—!"

Daichi stopped as soon as he saw the clear hurt on Rōzu's face. Rōzu looked down and rubbed his arm as he turned away.

"I was just... trying to do what I thought was best. I'm sorry..."

Daichi's heart sank. He wanted to smack himself aside the head— he just couldn't do anything right today. All he managed was cowardice and to hurt his friend— he felt himself plunge further into his building frustration.

But he bit that frustration back. It was quickly swallowed by his desperation to somehow fix what he messed up.

"N-no, Rōzu." Daichi reached for his arm. "I didn't mean—"

The door swung open. The other admins, one by one, poured in.

"You guys are alright!" Molly ran up to the boys and grabbed their hands. "You guys are alright!... Right? Why do you both look like you're going to cry?"

The boys glanced at each other, then to the floor. Serenity grabbed Molly's shoulders and gently tugged her back.

"OZone told us that Belle instructed you to flee while she stayed behind," Serenity said softly. "I'm sure that was hard to do..."

"Any word on Belle...?" Daichi asked, a bit of hope inching into his voice.

"Nada," Tony said from behind the green-haired woman. "OZone just said to gather here. He'd get into details then."

Daichi's stomach twisted into knots. "T-that... that cannot be good..."

The door swung open again. OZone stood out in the hall, his face dark and grim. He didn't even bother to step into the room.

"Thank you all for gathering here. I... suppose there is nothing to do but get to the point." OZone took a long sigh. "Belle has been apprehended. UB-Beauty has been confiscated. There's little we could do but continue on. I'll keep you all posted on our next move. Until then... as you were."

OZone retreated, shutting the door behind him. He left the news of Belle's arrest to fester in the silent meeting room.

Daichi's breathing goes shallow. He feels the color drain from his face.

Tony was the first to utter a word. "Shit..."

Then Mitsuki broke out into tears. Serenity quickly swept her into her arms, holding Mitsuki close as she sobbed.

"Unfortunate," Arc said as he pressed his palm to his temple. "It's an incredible shame it was her instead of one of the brats. I thought she was intelligent. To allow herself to get arrested for the sake of—"

"Shut. Up."

Rōzu's head snapped up as tears dripped from the corner of his eyes. Arc opened his mouth to retort, but Rōzu was quick to interject.

"If you had any amount of respect for her ever, then you'd just shut up! This was her choice!"

"She made a horrible choice," Arc said. "I will call a spade a spade."

"You—!"

Before the argument could escalate, everyone's attention was caught by the sound of Daichi's increasing hyperventilation. He clutched his hands over his heart as cold sweat ran down his face and the back of his neck.

Suddenly, people were gathering around him. Calling out to him. He felt a pair of hands grip his shoulder. He looked up to see Rōzu's face, telling him to breathe in and out, in and out, in and out, in and—

"I-I'm sorry!" Daichi cried.

Daichi tore himself away and ran straight out of the room. He was grateful when no one chased after him.

* * *

After twenty minutes of searching, Rōzu found Daichi sitting in the dark, empty break room. He was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, curled up in the fetal position. His face was buried in his knees and his arms were wrapped tightly around his legs. Even as Rōzu switched on the room's lights, Daichi didn't stir. He kept his face hidden away.

Rōzu hated seeing Daichi like this, but hadn't the slightest clue in the world what to do or say. Things spiraled out of control faster than he could ever imagine.

For a long moment, he felt a bitter taste fill his mouth. For a long moment, he felt a seething hatred for Cosmos as an entity. He hated that Buzz and Belle had their lives taken from them, he hated that he and Daichi were being forced into acting like thugs, he hated that Daichi had been reduced to solemnly huddling up in a corner, he hated seeing how much Daichi was hurting, he hated seeing how much everyone was hurting, he hated how much he was hurting. And above all else, he hated that despite all the hurting that surrounded them, this disaster of a mission was still ongoing. He hated that they were stuck in this mess with nowhere else to go.

But despite all of that, despite everything, he couldn't bring himself to direct that anger and hatred at OZone. There was still this need to do right by him— the last thing Rōzu wanted was to let him down and disappoint him. This comfortable life he has been living up to this point was all thanks to OZone, so...

Rōzu pushed it all far into the back of his mind. It's not important right now. He has to deal with the situation at hand.

"Daichi..." he said. "It's getting late. It's time to go home."

Daichi didn't respond. His face retreated further into his knees.

Rōzu sighed— standing in the doorway wasn't going to get him anywhere. He walked inside, shutting the door behind him, and sat down on the floor beside Daichi. He crossed his legs and stared up at the ceiling, trying to keep his mind from sinking back into a bitter train of thought.

Eventually, Daichi turned his head to peer at his friend. His peach-colored eyes were swelling with tears.

"Roz... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. It was crappy of me."

Rōzu shook his head. "It's alright—"

"No, it's not. I'm just mad at myself for having frozen up like an idiot. I shouldn't take that out on you, especially since you're dealing with the exact same things I am. So I owe you an apology..."

Rōzu's gaze lowered to the floor. "... I appreciate that." His eyes flitted back to Daichi. "But I'm not holding anything against you. Believe me, I get it. I hate this. I hate all of this. I... I regret leaving Belle behind. I didn't want to... but she was adamant... and I just— I was just—"

"You don't need to justify yourself to me, Roz. I understand. You... did what you had to. I just wish... I just wish I didn't freeze up. I always freeze up when it matters, Roz. I hate it."

Daichi lifted his hand and clenched a fist full of his own fluffy hair. For the first time since that dreaded night that haunted them both like a lingering nightmare, he spoke of it.

Daichi spoke of that dreaded night he had absolutely refused to talk about. He spoke of the night that he tried to forget and ignore like an ever-present scar. He spoke of the Unnamed Island.

"It's just like what happened on that island... Arc started his tirade and I just froze up and let it happen. A-and when he pushed you, I just froze up and did nothing. I still feel horrible about that, all of that... b-but I still did the same exact thing today. I froze up when Belle told us to leave, and I did nothing. I probably would've just stood there like an idiot, practically asking to get arrested, if you hadn't dragged me out of there. If I hadn't froze up like that, then maybe I could have done something instead of being useless... m-maybe then, Belle wouldn't be in prison right now."

Daichi pressed his hands against his face as if that would block the tears from spilling. Rōzu could hardly stand the sight, and for once, he found himself nearly speechless. He hated seeing this, and he wanted nothing more than to fix this, but he knew that was nothing short of impossible. He tried to take deep, slow breaths to process the thoughts rushing to find the proper words to say.

"Daichi..." he said with a heavy exhale. "You're way too hard on yourself. I get it, though, I really do. But we have no way of knowing what would've happened. For all we know, we could've all ended up in the Abyss. I really do get the guilt, though... I know there's little I could do or say to make you feel better about any of this. But I do need to tell you that I don't blame you for a single thing that's happened— not for anything that happened on the island, and not for what happened at the plant. And I know for a fact that Belle doesn't blame you, either."

Daichi stared at him with wide, skeptical eyes. Rōzu continued regardless.

"Belle knew exactly what she was doing. She knew what she was getting into when she told us to run. I'm sure the absolute last thing she wants is for you to sit around beating yourself up for the choice she made. I... think we both owe it to her to continue on with our lives with our heads high. I think that's what she wants us to do... so... please, don't be so hard on yourself. I know that's hard to do... but please give it a shot."

As unnatural and painful as it felt, Rōzu forced his lips to curl into a soft smile. Daichi lifted his head and lowered his knees, making direct eye contact with his friend.

"...Yeah." Daichi nodded slowly. "You're probably right. She'd want that."

Despite all odds, despite the tears that ran down his freckled face, Daichi smiled.

It lasted the entirety of two seconds before the tears overwhelmed him.

He desperately tried to wipe away his tears with his sleeve, sniffling while holding back sobs.

"Daichi..."

Rōzu reached out to place his hand on Daichi's shoulder.

Daichi responded to the touch by leaning forward and practically tackling Rōzu in a hug. Rōzu tightly wrapped his arms around him in return while rubbing circles on his back, letting Daichi cry into his shoulder.

Rōzu held his breath, using every ounce of his will not to break down and start sobbing himself. Now wasn't the time for him to break down— Daichi was already under enough stress, he didn't need to add to it.

"I'm so sorry. About all this. But it'll be okay," he said, though his voice wavered. He could feel tears of his own threaten to leak from his eyes. "It'll all work out in the end. We'll all be fine. I promise."

Rōzu was lying to both Daichi and himself, and they both knew it.

* * *

OZone had yet to show his admins the picture Belle had sent him.

He didn't know what to make of it. A bunch of children dressed in police uniforms— what was he supposed to make of it?

Were these really the ones responsible for apprehending Belle?

OZone sighed as he laid back in his desk chair. It didn't matter who it was, really. OZone knew that whoever it was who took both Buzz and Belle down, he wouldn't let them stop him.

Belle had told OZone that he is on a dark path...

That was fine by him. If it lead him to Cyrus, that was fine by him.