Obvious disclaimers are obvious: I don't own Pokémon.

Rosa let out a sigh of relief. She was nearly at the end of the final challenge that was Victory Road. Having been travelling through the ruins for several days now, she was absolutely exhausted - her hair was a mess from her lack of care, and her feet and legs were pained. But she was so keen and enthusiastic about reaching her final battle with the Champion, Iris, that she probably wouldn't wait at the Pokémon League Center longer than it took for her team to recover. She was just that enthusiastic - new shoes could wait.

Her Serperior was slithering elegantly next to her, dirtied slightly from the many battles it had triumphed in. She had just walked away from a boy with a particularly strong Zweilous. It had snapped and fought fiercely, but Serperior's speed and agility had dealt with it soon enough.

But Rosa couldn't purely credit herself for this achievement; instead she had to thank her Pokémon, that had fought so bravely for her. Her Serperior, Delcatty, Braviary, Ampharos, Arcanine, and Lucario had all worked so hard... She was proud of her journey, and the power that she and her Pokémon brought out in each other. They had given her confidence (or at least the opportunity to help her) and she had given them an different look at life. Together they had became famous through musicals and movies, and in turn, they all became more confident.

Rosa had not one regret about starting her journey. Sure, she hadn't spoken to Hugh or her mother in a while (apart from slightly hurried conversations through the Xtransceiver) but they hadn't forgotten her anyway, and her Pokémon were growing so much stronger...

She walked up the final set of steps to see a silhouette standing next to the exit of the cave. The person was standing against the wall with their head down, but his spiky, Qwilfish hair gave him away immediately.

"Hugh, is that you?" Rosa asked, a smile on her face, "it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Hugh looked up, his expression unreadable through the darkness.

"It has..." He quietly muttered.

"Rosa, I haven't seen you since the Plasma Frigate... Not even properly. I haven't even seen you for more than an hour since we lived in Aspertia..."I

"Nice to see you, too," Rosa retorted, slightly sarcastically.

"Don't act like that Rosa, I've missed youy. You're becoming too absorbed in your training. I know I've always told you to back me up, but I feel as if... As if..."

"As if what?"

"As if we've all lost you. Do you know why you haven't heard from your mother in the last few weeks?" He said, anger and sadness cracking through his voice.

Rosa opened her mouth to speak, but silenced herself after thinking that she really hadn't spoken properly to her mother in weeks.

"It's because you never picked up- she was calling everyday for three weeks, but NO. You were training. So guess what? She started calling ME, so that she could make sure that YOU weren't dead. She couldn't get to you, so she had to speak to me to make sure you were okay! But guess what I always had to say: I had to say that you were training, and that I hadn't heard from you either. And that broke her heart, and I could see it right in her eyes. You broke her heart."

Rosa was speechless. She had no idea what she could say.

"...sorry, Hugh..." She whispered. She felt her lip quivering.

"If you're sorry, then please, Rosa, come home," Hugh pleaded. "I'm sorry for being so harsh, but I knew that was the only way to get to you..."

He headed towards the exit, his Unfezant's pokéball already enlarged in his hand.

"I'm going home, Rosa. When you've won your League Championship, come and tell us ALL about it." His voice was so sarcastic, it left Rosa feel a pang of shame and self hatred in her stomach. Hugh had lately been trying to dull down his anger by speaking more sarcastically (as opposed to killing somebody). Feeling numb, Rosa walked out of the cave and into the Center.

She could hear the distant flapping of wings as Hugh flew away.

"Welcome to our Pokemon Center. Would you like me to heal your Pokémon?" Joy asked, cheerful as ever.

"Yes, please," Rosa replied, rubbing her eyes in feigned tiredness. "May I please rent a room for the night? I'm soo tired..."

"Of course," Joy said, handing over a key and taking Rosa's pokéballs, "sleep well."

Rosa hurried up the stairs and into her room. She instantly sat onto the bed and pulled off her Xtransceiver, already selecting who to call.