Loc stumbled backwards, his legs giving out, he fell to the ground and simply sat there. Nothing made sense. What was happening? He never imagined that here in David's orchard the peaceful life he'd built would come crashing down.

The trees surrounding the orchard flourished with leaves of bright green. The forest was thick and lush. Sun coating the land with warmth, the air was still. Amongst this land he knew, Loc discovered chaos and it appeared to him in the form of a Luxio.

"Loc and I are from the future," Hope said, "We're partners there. We were chasing that villain, Braixen, when she escaped to the past. We chased her here but there was an accident during the time travel. Loc and I got separated and came out in different time periods. Seems we both experienced some sort of temporary memory loss because of that accident."

Soul frowned. "Time travel? Surely Dialga and Celebi wouldn't have helped a villain escape like that."

Hope was shaking her head before Soul finished talking. "Dialga and Celebi had no part in it," said Hope.

Soul's arms had been folded but now they dropped to her side. Snivy regarded the Luxio with caution. "Then how?"

"There's a mystery dungeon, unlike any other. It is a special place which exists outside of time." Hope answered, glancing distastefully at Soul.

Soul opened her mouth to speak again but Hope growled at her, "Will you shut up and let me explain?" The Luxio demanded angrily.

Soul was clearly unhappy about it, but she folded her arms and remained quiet.

"I don't know everything," Hope began, "But what I do know is this. The dungeon is called Temporal Tower. It is a sacred place, thought to be the birthplace of time itself. At the tower's peak are five time gears. Objects that maintain the flow of time. You can use them to send the tower to whenever you want."

Hope paused a moment to think before continuing. "Loc and I were hunting Braixen when she snuck into that dungeon and escaped through time. We were in the dungeon and got pulled in with her. We fought with Braixen and got blasted out of the dungeon before it could finish time-travelling. That's why we came out at different times, I think."

"Think?" Soul asked, raising her brows.

Hope rolled her eyes, this Snivy couldn't keep her trap shut. "Like I said, I don't know everything."

Soul sighed. "Then, why would Braixen come to this time?"

"I don't know!" Hope yelled. "How many times do I have to say it?" That last part was dripping with sarcasm and Soul didn't like it, but before she could say anything, Grace chimed in.

"It doesn't matter," Grace said, "Hope's back and we know the truth about Loc. Sooner or later, you will catch that Braixen. So, what're we fighting for? We should be celebrating!"

Hope's demeanour changed in an instant and she cheered. The two left for Jasper, chatting happily. Ty rolled his eyes but grinned despite himself and followed after the Luxio and Chikorita. Soon, only Soul and Loc were left standing in the orchard.

Loc eyed Soul and considered her interaction with Hope. "You don't trust her?" He asked.

Soul sighed and tapped her foot impatiently. "No. She shows up from nowhere after disappearing years ago and says she's from the future? What's she been doing all this time? What proof does she have? Honestly, she sounds crazy."

Soul waited for a response, but none came. Her eyes settled on Loc and she noticed his gaze set on the direction Hope had left in. A stoic look rested upon the Totodile's face.

"You don't believe her, do you?" Soul asked, surprised at the ever-logical Totodile.

Loc shook his head. "No, I don't, but it's no coincidence."

"What's that?"

Loc shook his head. "I've definitely met her before, but I can't quite remember. Besides that, the Braixen that was here... she told me something like what Hope said."

"What?" Soul asked, eyes widening.

"Except," Loc paused before continuing, "Braixen claimed to be my partner; and said I should beware the Luxio."

Soul's eyes drifted to the ground, then shifted to the path Hope had left by. She didn't know what to think anymore, but it was clear that something big could be about to go down. A thought clicked in her mind and she shuffled her feet before speaking.

"Where's the post office?" Soul asked quietly.

Loc blinked in confusion. "Why?"

Thinking of them, Soul couldn't help but smile. "It's about time I wrote home."

******

The darkness was thick and dreary, but it was a good companion. Silent and still, it didn't interrupt Loc's thinking. Lying in his cot he stared into the blackness, events of the day replaying in his mind. David had practically collapsed when he saw Hope. His daughter had returned, and the fossil could not have been happier. Tears had spilled down his cheeks and he'd prepared a feast. It was almost strange to see David show emotion.

After the celebrations it was decided Hope would sleep in Grace's room, allowing Loc to continue living with David. Grace had been ecstatic at the return of her friend. Ty, oblivious to Loc and Soul's worries, simply partied the night away.

Loc truly wished Hope could be trusted but he had so many questions and that Braixen, Autumn, danced at the edges of his mind, refusing to reveal any truths.

Both Hope and Autumn claimed to be from the future and the two were clearly enemies. Yet, they both declared him their partner. Loc wanted to know so badly how much of their stories were true, but he could hardly think about it. Instead, one thought racked his brain. Who's good, and who's bad? Will Autumn betray him or could Hope damn them all?

--------

A/N

Team Eve: Chapter 49 - Return of The Author's Note

And we're back. I don't really know what to say.

Loc: Nor do I, what is happening?

I'm not sure. One person asked for this (I think) so I brought it back

Grace: That makes sense, but what do we do?

Shamelessly promote my own stuff.

Soul: Why?

I don't know. I ain't proud of my stuff.

Ty: And so you shouldn't be. Have you actually read the first team eve? That plot was weird.

If you don't like it, read something else.

Soul: I can do that?

Don't see why not. One condition, if you see any of my readers, tell them to have a good day, and thanks for reading.

Ty: You can't force people to have a good day. I'll have a good day if I want to have a good day.

You can't see it but I'm deadpanning. Haha, I'm so alone. Byeeeeeee.

Thanks for reading, have a good day.