Song: "Obsidian Fieldlands" (Pokémon: Legends Arceus) - Gamefreak

Somewhere in Unova region

One week ago

- - -

Missing.

That was the only word running through her head for a moment.

The feeling of something missing in her life.

Gazing up at the ceiling while she laid in bed, sighing heavily for a moment, silence filled the bedroom's atmosphere.

"Mother...Why haven't you still shown up after all these past 5 years? You promised you'd come and see me again."

While the staring continued, a familiar voice broke the silence.

"Sara, I'm back! And I have some news for you too!! Come see me downstairs!!!" Her uncle, Mao's voice was heard, as the sound of the front door opening and being closed shut echoed within the house.

"Coming!" Sara called out as she sat up on the bed and stood to her feet, hurrying out of her bedroom and downstairs once she did.

While she did, Mao in the other room, walked over to the kitchen before setting a few bags down on the counter and began to put his things away.

In amidst of all that, a small box of Sara's favorite treats since childhood, sat on the nearby counter behind him, awaiting for her.

Just as he was finished, the sound of hurried footsteps came in the room, indicating Sara's now at the kitchen and is making her way over to grab the box.

"Welcome back, uncle Mao..." She greets him, before taking the box, shortly once she re-adjusted her black, horn-rimmed glasses that became a little crooked while she was hurrying downstairs a few minutes ago.

"So, what's the news?"

"Ah, yes! About that...I just got a call from the director recently. He wanted me to inform you that you'll be returning back to Naranja Academy soon within a week, since your overseas study sessions will be ending soon." He explains.

As soon as he told her, there was another thing coming in Sara's head.

Going back to Naranja Academy means...Returning to her home region.

Paldea.

Her, her mother and her uncle's home region since they were born.

While her great grandmother was born and had lived here in Unova a long time ago.

Now that Sara thinks about it, it's been awhile since she's last been there in person.

Especially at the Academy itself as well.

And maybe...

Just a possible maybe...

She might be able to see her mother, who had been missing from the picture in her life, since Sara was ten years old.

"Ain't that gonna be nice? You get to see your classmates and your favorite teachers again!" She heard her uncle say next.

"Yeah!" Sara responds as she smiles at her uncle, pushing her thoughts away for now.

"At the same time, to be honest, it's gonna be a little sad since that means I'll have to say goodbye to my friends that I've made during my school lessons in Unova...But, we'll still stay in touch! Both through social media and handwritten letters too!"

During her spare times while she was studying abroad in Unova, Sara had been battling Ingo and Emmet in the subway train on some occasions to kill the time while she explored around the region a bit to see what's in store and what the region itself has to offer for her, as she learns more about her great grandmother's life here when she was her age.

During the process of it all, she participated the  Unova Pokémon League (UPL) gym challenge and managed to become friends and rivals with some of her classmates in the region at the same time.

But, now that it's that time to go back to Paldea, her home region soon, that means she'll have to tell her friends the news and try to make more memories while she still can, by taking goodbye photos together while exchanging contact info & mailing addresses, so she'll always remember and write letters to them whenever she gets the chance.

"True...Even though it isn't goodbye forever." Mao nods.

"You'll still get to see them again someday."

Nodding in return, Sara looks around for a moment before an old photo suddenly caught her eye.

"Hm?" She went before walking over to it and picking the photo up.

"What is it, Sa - Oh..." Mao began to ask for a moment until he noticed the old photo too.

In it is a picture of Sara's mother, but a little bit younger.

Standing right next to and side hugging her in the photo, was a young dirty blonde haired girl, who appears to be the same age as her in it, that Sara didn't recognize at all.

Much to her surprise, the dirty blonde haired girl looked similar as Sara.

But the attire and accessories were different.

Instead, the dirty blonde haired girl wore a orange tank top and shorts. And for her footwear, they were brown sandals.

The only thing that stood out about the girl's clothes and accessories, is the fact they're ancient past themed of some sorts. Something you'd probably see from the age with cavemen.

Even the buttons on her lab coat were a dead giveaway.

Oddly though, she was getting a dejá vu feeling from the picture.

Like she's seen that dirty blonde headed girl from before, even though she's never met her in person, for once in her life.

From what she could recall at least.

"Hey, unc? Who is she?" Sara asked as she turned to face, before showing Mao, while pointing at the dirty blonde headed girl in the picture.

"Oh, her? That's Professor Sada. She's the one who made the Tera Orb back in Paldea a while back and attended the same school your mother went to." He answered, knowing how Sara is when it comes to her asking questions.

"She was also a gifted student there and heavily invested in researching, such as the Terastal phenomenon, very much like your mother."

"Huh...I think I've heard about her before, through the gossip on the school grounds." She went.

"Well, that's the one you're looking at...And believe it or not, I actually got to meet her when I was still an academy student like you."

"Really? What was she like?"

"She's really kind and nice. She sometimes had the habit of playfully teasing your mother a lot, like she did to Turo."

"Wow...She sounds a lot like me. Only I don't really see myself as a positive, yet a bit of an outgoing, spitfire type."

"Actually, I can, since I know what you were like when you were little."

"Unc! That was a long time ago! I'm not a baby anymore!"

In return, Mao just started laughing a little as he ruffled her hair, while Sara made a slightly angry pout at him.

"You know I'm right about that..." He chuckled.

"Yeah-yeah...I know." She sighed in defeat before moving Mao's hand away from her head with her right hand.

Gazing back at the picture, Sara stared at it for a few seconds, before looking back at her uncle.

"Hey, unc?"

"What's up?"

"Do you think mom and Sada were close? Like, as really tight friends or something?" Sara asks, tilting her head a little to the side.

"I would only guess strongly that they both are...But, I was never told much, from them, about it." Mao shrugs.

"Okay. Then, I have one more question..."

"What would that be?"

"Have they dated?"

For a moment, silence filled the air, as Mao looked at Sara in surprise while he lightly blushed a little, until Mao cleared this throat and spoke up.

"I don't really know, to be honest." He replies as he chuckles lightly, not expecting the question.

But at the same time, part of him knew Sara was bound to ask him that question at some point.

"Awh..." Sara groaned a little, feeling a bit disappointed that her uncle didn't know either.

"It's okay. You'll get your answer soon, so, don't worry about it." Mao chuckles again, before lightly patting Sara's back to reassure her.

"True. But, I still would've loved to know, given my curiosity." Sara pouted as she folded her arms and looked at him.

Knowing how she is, Mao sweat dropped a little as he looked back at his niece.

"It'll be alright. For now, we can discuss it later another time..." He smirks amusingly.

Then realization suddenly came across him, as he happened to remember something.

"Oh! Speaking of Sada, I heard her son attends the same academy in Paldea that you'll be returning and attending to again...What was his name? Ari?? Alec???" Mao mentions before he started to struggle, trying to remember for a moment.

"Wait, I remember it now! His name's Arven!"

"So, there's a classmate at Naranja who's the son of Professor Sada, huh? Nice to know...I'll try asking him about her, when I return over there." Sara smiled a little, before unfolding her arms.

"About that...Unfortunately, it seems like he's on the same boat as you are, both childhood related wise. He doesn't know much about her either, and she hasn't been in the picture with him since he was little." Mao says as he shook his head in disappointment.

Hearing this, Sara cursed in spanish a little under her breath.

"And just when I thought I was finally gonna learn more about her..." She sighs.

"Sorry kiddo...But, hey, you could try asking the staff or the director over there when you're free.

Maybe they'll know and tell you more about the professor and possibly even your mother too." Mao suggested while giving her a light pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks. I'll take note of that...Also, if you're alright with it, mind if you send me a digital copy of the picture to my Rotom phone?" Sara asks.

"Sure." Mao nods, before he pulled out his Rotom phone and sent a copy to Sara.

"Thanks! This'll help out a lot!" Sara says happily.

"No problem, kiddo." Mao smiles before ruffling Sara's hair again.