Authors Note: Hello lo everyone! Welcome to my first fanfiction…well, my first as of posting one on this site. I actually spend plenty of my time writing since…well I'm good at it! But now my nervousness sets in as you viewers come in and read it.

This story is in Cilan's point of view through the entire thing. Who knows how long it will be with what I have going in my head. I hope you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, nor do I own Cilan, Cress, or Chili sadly. But this story is mine! Don't forget that.

-Flashback-

I promised that I would protect them a while back. We were still just kids, and our mother had been admitted to the hospital when her illness took a turn for the worse. For years our mother had suffered from the pains she got in her head, a tumor growing upon her brain. Doctors suggested treatment, but she didn't want to be put through that, and several times she declined. Her body deteriorated bit by bit until she was finally on the verge of death. My brothers had been at our grandmother's house, spending the night there since they couldn't be at home without supervision. I, meanwhile, stayed at the hospital with my mother.

I can remember clearly what it was like sitting up there, watching her wither away, but I endured the pain of knowing she would die soon. My brothers and I would be on our own, even though our grandparents could take care of us for a couple years until they too died. I sat there in the bright room of white, listening to the steady beeping of her heart machine, watching her chest rise and fall…the only way I could possibly describe the situation was peaceful. She looked peaceful, almost happy.

"Why do you have to die?"

I remember asking that quite a lot in the time she was in that hospital bed. I was always met with a smile as her hand closed around mine.

"It's my time to go."

I didn't believe her, but that was a normal reaction. No kid should be able to cope with their mother's death that easily. I wasn't ready to let go, but I had to. I had to take care of my younger brothers. Both my mother and I knew that. She didn't abuse the need to tell me either.

"I want you to take care of your brothers, alright Cilan? You're the oldest, so I expect you to act that way too. Can you promise me that, Cilan? Will you take care of your brothers?" she asked me one morning.

I nodded, a bit surprised at the sudden questions. I knew I was the oldest. I knew I had to act my age all the time. It was an older brother's job to take care of his younger siblings, but for some reason I was a bit hesitant. I knew my mother would die soon. She wouldn't have asked me that if she wasn't going to die. "I'll keep them safe, I promise."

Another smile was directed towards me before she reached out and pulled me into a hug. I could hear her soft sobs as she held me close, rubbing my back. I wanted to be strong, but in the end I found tears had escaped and were streaming down my face. I sobbed into her shoulder for a long time before we finally broke apart and I tried to recompose myself. "I love you, Mom," I told her, rubbing her arm slightly as I used my other hand to wipe the tears from my face.

My mother smiled one last time before closing her eyes and falling asleep. She never woke back up.