We were all back at the Pokemon Center. It was now 3pm, and the dance started at 6pm. Which meant I had three hours in total to get ready, though I didn't think it would take me that long. I was excited to have a little fun and let loose a bit, but my mom was still stuck in my mind like a sore thumb. Deep down inside, I was stressing. But I tried my hardest not to focus too hard on it.

I was in the room by myself. Lana, Lillie, and Mallow went to go do something. I wasn't entirely sure what, but they told me they'd be back soon, so I had the room to myself. I had gotten Froslass and Haunter out of the Pokemon Center's Spa, and they both seemed pampered and happy.

I looked at the two of them sadly. I wanted to see mom more than anything, and I knew Froslass would too, if she understood. My heart was so set on seeing her. I was sure it was going to happen; I just didn't know when.

My mind started filling up with everything that had happened that night. The texts, how angry I was.. I unlocked my phone to see my mother's face looking back at me. Tears began to well in my eyes, as I stared back at her face. The face I told that I was beginning to hate, all because of a temporary situation. My heart rate picked up, as the tears began to fall from my face like a water gun. I sobbed deeply, as I wiped my eyes.

"Mom, I just want to see you one more time..." I said, as I looked at my phone. "Just one more time... I would give anything." I sobbed, as I rested my phone up against my chest. I fell down to my knees.

Knock knock knock!

I quickly dried my tears, for my back was towards the door. "Come in." I said, my voice cracking.

I was expecting it to be Lana, Lillie, and Mallow, but instead I was met with my Dad's voice. Great. I thought.

"Hey, just figured I'd come check on you all. We almost got the venue ready." My dad said behind me. I assumed he looked around, and noticed I was the only one here. "Where's everyone else?" He asked.

I wiped my eyes with my fingers. "That's great, Dad." My voice cracked. "And they went somewhere. I forget where." I said, the tears kept falling.

"Are you okay? You don't sound so good." He said, behind me. I refused to look at him.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said sadly, my phone still pressed up against my chest. This was the closest I'll ever be to my mom again. I looked down at the hardwood floor underneath me, and closed my eyes painfully. I knew I had put myself in this position, but my heart was broken.

"Emethyst, look at me." My dad said in that familiar somewhat stern tone.

I rolled my eyes. I knew I would have to face him sooner or later, so I stood up and turned around to look at him. I didn't feel like standing up, so I walked over to the couch and sat down. He walked over and sat down next to me.

"You've been crying," He said. "Why?"

I looked off to the side; tears welling in my eyes at him calling me out for crying. I then turned back to face him, and set my face in my palm, my elbow propped up on the arm of the couch. "I'm sad." I said, not really knowing what else to say.

"Well, why are you sad?" My dad asked, scooting closer to me.

"I just miss mom." I said, as I finally cracked. Tears began falling down my face like a waterfall. I couldn't hold it in anymore. "I told her on the night that she died that I hated her, and now I can't even say I'm sorry!" I wailed, as I covered my face with my hands.

"Come here." My dad said, as I felt his arms wrap around me. He pulled me close to him, and hugged me tight. This just made my crying worse. I was one of those people who cried harder every time they got consoled. "Shh. It's okay, Emethyst." He said softly, as he stroked part of my exposed face with his thumb. "Ugh, I knew this dance was a bad idea so soon." He said, as he hugged me tighter. "Are you sure you still want to go? Me and you can stay in and do something together." He asked, trying to convince me.

I uncovered my face and looked up at his green framed eyes. "Dad, I already bought my outfit and I already told everyone I was going. I can't back out now." The dance wasn't the issue; It was the fact that I was dying to see my mother again. I knew I had the chance to do that here, not like I could exactly tell him that.

My dad sighed. "Emethyst, you are in literal tears. Are you sure you're going to be okay?" He asked, as he looked me straight in my eyes.

"Yes dad, I'll be fine. I'm gonna be spending most of my time with the girls anyway. I'm not gonna have time to think about mom. I just had a small slip up is all." I explained, my voice a little swollen from crying.

My dad continued looking straight at me, and then took a deep breath. "Okay, if you're sure." He said. "I just worry about you, Emethyst."

I allowed a small smile. "Dad, you don't have to. I'm fine, I promise." I then checked the time on my phone, and saw it was close to 4pm. "Actually, I need to start getting ready." I said. I wasn't sure how long it would take, but I knew it was better to be early than late.

"Alright, I'll leave you to it." My dad said. I then stood up to get off of him, so he could get up. "I love you, Emethyst. You know I'm here for you." He said, as he hugged me. "I don't want you to feel anymore negative emotions, like I said before."

I smiled at his response. "Thanks Dad, I love you too." I said, as I hugged him back.

"Alright. I'll see you at the dance then." He said, as he let go of me and walked to the door.

"Okay, dad." I said, as I waved at him.

He opened the door, and stepped out. He closed it softly behind him.

I took a deep breath, and headed to the bathroom. It was time to find that strong, fierce girl inside of me, and bring her out.

***

Little does Emethyst and Professor Kukui know; they're being watched very closely.

Professor Kukui walked out of the Pokemon Center and back to the dance venue, which was a dance hall not too far away. He was genuinely concerned for Emethyst, but he knew he couldn't get in the way of her trying to have fun.

He walked down the sidewalk, and begin to notice there was barely anyone around. "That's odd... Where did everyone go?" He asked himself. He shrugged it off, and continued walking. He began to get the feeling that he was being watched.

Then, it happened. A form of fog began to build up around him. "What the-" He said, as he began looking around. The side walk was gone, and he was now in a forest of sorts. The fog began to build up even thicker. It was then he realized what was happening.

"No.." he said, as he backed away. "No no no, I can't do this!! Tapu Fini!!! I can't face her!!!!" He exclaimed, up at the sky. Tears welled in his eyes. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" He called out, angrily.

He then looked straight ahead, and saw a familiar figure. He couldn't fully see, so he squinted his eyes.

A young woman in a white glittery dress appeared. Long black hair, and green eyes. She walked through the fog, becoming more visible to Kukui.

"Hello, Kukui." She said sweetly, a warm smile on her face.

Kukui froze in space, and shivered at the sound of her voice. "Crystal..." He whispered. His feet forcing him to walk towards her.

"It's okay," she said. "It's just me." She smiled beautifully. She moved closer to Kukui, where she was a foot away and looked up at him.

Kukui stayed frozen in space, not exactly knowing what to do or say. It was finally happening. The moment he cowered away from, yet dreamt of for the past month. He stared down at her. "I-I thought I'd have a hundred things to say if I ever saw you again...." He whispered.

Crystal continued smiling. "Well, here I am." She said.

"Oh Crystal, I'm so sorry." He said, as he began to cry. "I'm so sorry for leaving our little girl, and for leaving you. If I could take it all back and start over, I would." He wailed. Kukui took off his glasses, and shoved them into his lab coat pocket.

"Kukui, it's okay," Crystal replied, warmly. "We were both practically kids when Emethyst was born. But, I need you to understand something. I had to be a mother and do what was better for Emethyst. She didn't deserve a father like that many years ago, so I made that heartbreaking decision to move." She explained. "I didn't want to, but I knew I had to leave Alola to keep Emethyst safe. Not because of you, but because of Gu-"

"Crystal, you don't have to explain yourself. I know I was the problem back then, and there isn't a day that goes by where I regret that now. Emethyst has taught me alot about myself that not even I knew." He said, tears still falling.

Crystal smiled warmly. "Kukui.. I'm so proud of you. You've changed so much. The Kukui I knew years ago was nothing like this." She said. "You're the Kukui now that I prayed and hoped for then." She smiled.

Kukui finally broke completely. He pulled Crystal into a tight hug, as he recalled those times where he was in complete love with her. The time when he met her, the time when she told him she was pregnant, everything just came rushing back to him. He cried like a baby. Crystal hugged him back. "I miss you so much." Kukui sobbed deeply, hardly able to talk.

"Hey, I'm still here." Crystal said. "I'm just a ghost type now. Emethyst would be proud." She giggled jokingly.

Kukui let go of her, and looked at her lovingly. "You always did know how to stay so positive..." He said, as he smiled down at her. Tears still falling down his face. "Oh Crystal, if you were still physically here, I'd ask you to marry me right now." He said, as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "My beautiful angel." He kissed her forehead.

"You always called me that." Crystal smiled. "Oh Kukui, I dreamt of that day for years." She said, as she looked up at him. "But, my time in this world is done. Please don't dwell on this. I want you to find love again and move on." She smiled. Crystal then looked behind him. "In fact, she's closer than you think."

Kukui then looked down at her, confused. "What do you mean she's close?" He asked her.

Crystal smiled up at him. "Well, let me put it this way.. she'll be dancing with Emethyst tonight at the dance." She winked.

"Okay.. interesting.." Kukui chuckled.

"Oh yeah, just a couple of things though," Crystal said. "Don't eavesdrop every time Emethyst gets a text or a phone call. Malasadas are not a breakfast food," Crystal said, strictly. "Oh, and there's no need to check on her every fifteen minutes, Kukui. I of all people know Emethyst is capable of taking care of herself."

Kukui smiled. "I know, I just worry about her..." He said, as he looked off to the side.

"A good father always worries about his daughter," Crystal said. "But, there's a difference between being a good father and a suffocating one."

"Noted." Kukui chuckled. "I'll back off a little." He said. It was then that he thought about the text messages. "Oh, Crystal?"

"Yes, Kukui?" She asked.

"Emethyst is sorry about the texts she sent you... She's been a wreck since it happened." He said.

Crystal smiled. "I knew she never meant any of that." She said. "But no worries... I'll see her soon." She continued smiling.

"Oh Crystal, please be gentle with Emethyst. She's still in a fragile state." Kukui plead. "I've been scared to come here for this reason." He said.

"Don't worry Kukui. Everything will be fine." Crystal said, as she began backing away. "Besides, I think this is what Emethyst needs, wouldn't you agree with me?"

Kukui nodded, as he remembered what happened earlier with her crying. "Yeah.. you're right." He smiled. "Wait.. where are you going?" Kukui asked, as he watched her back away.

"Where I can watch over you both until we're together again." Crystal said. "Goodbye, Kukui." Her voice echoed.

Crystal's white dressed figured faded away, and so did the mist. Kukui was back on the sidewalk, and everything was back to normal as if nothing had ever happened. He put his hand on his chest, and sighed.