Sleepy Charlotte walked back to our room, scratching her head and twinkling her eyes. There, she met Zeal who appeared to be hanging out with timid Alice, except Zeal was the one who did all the talking while Alice just listened and nodded.
"Have you seen Luna and Virgo?" said Charlotte.
"Not quite. I thought they were with you," replied Zeal, stretching her hands.
"With me? What time is it?" Charlotte looked to the clock. "It's eight in the morning. Luna wakes up at ten, Virgo an hour prior. Strange. Have you heard Virgo walking out of her room yesterday? I feel like she did."
"Felt not a single thing," said Zeal.
"I searched everywhere from them. Madam Iris wants to confront Virgo after some shenanigans with the volts, I think." Charlotte yawned. "I was too sleepy to comprehend what she said. She was also looking for Luna for some reason. I forgot."
"What did those two did this time?"
As the two chattered about our whereabouts, Alice paid attention to the desk which appeared to be glowing. She rushed to it, opening one of its drawers only to find a glowing black stone. Frightened, she called their names.
"Z-Z-Zeal, C-C-Charlotte, is this stone supposed to do that?" she asked.
"Huh, I don't even know where that came from," said Zeal.
"Wait, remember the museum? Luna must've taken it! Ah! Madam Boss said not to take anything except for the Meteonite."
"Is it a bomb?" asked Alice.
"Highly unlikely. It's too small to be one, or if it was, it's range wouldn't last an inch."
"How do you know all about these stuff, Zeal?" asked Charlotte.
"Thought I was all play no gain, eh? I study too, of course!"
***
Location: Driftveil City
Under the heat of the sun, Virgo and I chose to return to the laboratory only to figure it was already a crime scene. Their chief inspector, Emma, was somehow not there. Maybe busy with other agendas.
"So many officers. Impossible. Team Plasma would've not returned."
"I'm quite aware of that."
"What now?! I'm sure Madam Boss is looking for the Meteonite already! I'm dead, I'm done for! Where will I go next? I don't want to return to Celadon City! I don't want to become a janitor again!"
"Relax, no one's getting kicked out or demoted. We'll just think of a believable excuse."
"Madam Boss knows if we lie or not. She's an utter genius! She outsmarts people, and I don't think you're clever enough to withstand her psychology tricks."
"We'll just outsmart the outsmarter."
"That's not how psychology works!"
"And when did you become a psychologist?"
"I happen to be a professor too!"
"We can make a decoy, a fake one!"
"Not gonna work. She'll find out sooner or later."
"It's better to get punished later than now, right?"
"No! No! I don't want any punishments at all. I know! We'll just have to beat this toilsome task. No matter how hard it is, we must clear our names."
"The third task is in four days time."
"That's not enough time for us to find Team Plasma. Hell do they want to do with that anyway?"
"Conquer Unova?"
We were approached by an unexpected visitor, Dawn. Unlike yesterday where she appeared angry, she was now more of a child who endlessly sought for fun.
"I never expected to see the two of you again!" said Dawn.
"What are you doing here?" asked Virgo.
"I'm up for questioning."
"You obviously lied didn't you?"
"It's not called obvious for nothin'" she winked.
"Why are you here in Unova? Are there contests here too?" asked I.
"Unlike other regions, Unova's main contest hall is Nimbasa. I'd lose against Elesa no doubt. That woman's an absolute queen of competitions! A dazzling prima donna. I'm here to do something of my own accord."
"As long Team Rocket's not involved, then I'm fine," I said.
"Of course."
"How's Team Galactic?" asked Virgo.
"Oh them? Haven't heard of Jupiter and Saturn for like centuries. Inspector Looker is leading the investigation and also studying some unusual sightings of portals, or something to do with the Alola Region kind of thingies. Ah! Are you two on your day-off?"
"No, we're busy finding Team Plasma after yesterday's events. That Meteonite is ours, and they're robbers!" angered Virgo.
"Technically, we're the robbers." I said.
"I can help out! If I remember correctly, me and Togekiss spotted a hideout in Mistralton City. It must be under Team Plasma."
"Really? That's much help, Dawn!" shrieked Virgo.
"I've got the time to kick grunt guts for a while, but there's something I must do in Driftveil City first."
"Huh? What is it?" I asked.
"Wanna know? Why not join? You won't regret it, especially you, Luna!" Dawn winked again.
"H-h-how long is it? We were planning to head to Mistralton right now."
"An hour will do."
"Well, it's still eight. We've got plenty of time to join in."
"Great! Follow me!"
***
Professor Sophie dashed into our room. She panted and leaned across our door. Charlotte, Zeal, and Alice, who were staring at the black glowing stone, turned to her.
"Virgo, the Mega Stone, it... It's..."
"Er, mom, about that. She's not here."
"And Luna too." continued Charlotte.
"What? Sigh, anyway, I'll keep this for now until they return. What are you three doing?"
"Just observing this stone, mom." Alice passed the stone from her hand to her mother's.
"This looks utterly familiar. Ah?! Where on Earth did you three find this?"
"Er... Luna got it, not us." backed Zeal.
"This stone, it's not just a stone."
"A bomb?"
"No, Alice. Had the three of you heard about the heroes of Unova?"
"That's a myth, if I recall."
"It's not! It's real alright. Unfortunately, Luna brought a curse to Unova, and if this stone, egg rather, hatches, then we're done for."
"No way... You're serious, mom?"
"Not really a curse. I don't think Luna's got the capability to handle what's inside this. No matters, as long as she doesn't know how to summon it, then we're fine."
"Summon who exactly?"
"Zekrom."