Lily's Timeline of Pre-Meeting-Ash

Seven years ago: met Paul

Six years ago: started dating Paul

Four years ago: got into pageants, received bracelet from Paul

Two years ago: met Jacob, started to drift from Paul

One year ago: broke up with Paul

Present: Ash Era

Disclaimer: don't I wish I own Pokémon. Unfortunately, I do not.

Chapter Three: Paul

Memory: One Year, Six Months Ago

"Paul, over here!" I turned around at the sound of my name being called. At the other end of the picnic area, Lily was standing over two other girls, waving to me. I maneuvered around other picnickers to stand by her.

"What?" She pouted lightly, hurt clear in her eyes, at my accidentally unenthusiastic voice. "Lily…." She sniffed and sat on the blanket behind Pikachuett.

"I wanted you to meet my sisters. But if it's too much of an inconvenience…."

"It's not." I sat down next to her.

"Well, this is my baby sister Rose and older by a year sister Daisy. Guys, this is Paul, my boyfriend of four and a half years." We nodded to each other.

The silence that fell around us was stifling. For a month now, Lily has started believing I no longer love her like I used to when we first started dating. I guess it doesn't help that I spend more time training and catching Pokémon than I do trying to prove this belief wrong.

I watched Rose climb into the blonde's lap and murmur something in her ear. My girlfriend laughed and nodded in agreement, the sadness ebbing away.

"So Paul, Lily says you helped her become a stronger trainer," Daisy said. I shook my head.

"She was already strong before I met her. I only helped her see it."

"Don't listen to him. I was pathetic. I had no clue what I was doing," the blond declared humbly, waving her hand dismissively.

"And yet, you were easily able to save me the third night after I started training you." She blushed and looked away.

"I don't like seeing other people get hurt. Especially on my behalf," she whispered.

"And I am grateful for that." I caught her chin and turned her head to make her look me in the eye. "I will always be grateful for you, Lily." She smiled as I touched my lips to hers.

"Ok."

End Memory

"How many siblings does she have?" Ash asked me. Lily was sitting at a separate table from us with her other sisters Daisy and Rose.

"Only four. Those two are closer to her than the others due to the fact that they didn't spend their time hurting her and Pokémon," I answered, watching Rose climb into Lily's lap to hug her.

"I can tell." The three sisters laughed merrily at something Daisy said. "Why wouldn't she mention them to me though?"

"Because of what your friend did to save them. She wanted to keep them hidden."

"Ash." We turned around and saw a guy with light green hair standing there.

"N!" Rose ran to the guy and jumped into his outstretched arms. He hugged her tight, his face buried in her hair.

"I thought you were gone forever when I woke up and you weren't there. I'm so glad you're alright," he said with a smile. Rose's arms tightened around his neck; the two stood there as Daisy and Lily approached us.

"Yep, that's him alright. No mistaking it," Daisy replied. N looked up at her.

"Daisy, how are you?" The dirty blond hesitated before walking closer to N. She wrapped her arms around his waist from the side slowly as if she were afraid he would disappear.

"Better now." Her head rested on his shoulder.

"Why don't we all sit down?" Lily suggested after a moment. I switched sides in the booth so that Lily was sitting between me and Ash. N sat between Daisy and Rose.

"Is this why you called me last night, Ash?" N asked the raven.

"Lily asked me to."

"Daisy told me how you risked your life to save theirs. When I heard you were alive despite the circumstances, I wanted to thank you in person."

"It was nothing. I couldn't let these two get hurt or even killed," he replied.

"He blocked almost ten flame throwers," Rose told us.

"And twenty thunderbolts. Countless slashes, punches, iron tails, bubble beams, and hydrocannons," added Daisy.

"It was all worth it. I saved you two and countless Pokémon."

"Well, thank you. They wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you, N. You have my gratitude."

I was about to say something when the wall beside us exploded. Rose screamed as we were all buried under wall rubble and blocks. I slowly managed to pull out a Pokéball.

"Ursaring, stand by for battle!" My Pokémon came out. "Get us out of this!"

After a few moments, I was able to comfortably wriggle out of the debris. I spent about five minutes helping Ursaring free everyone but… Lily.

"Lily?! Where are you?!" Rose whined. N held her back as Ash and I started digging for her.

"She isn't here anymore," he said suddenly.

"What do you mean, N? She was just…. Wait, you're right," Daisy said.

"Pikachuett is extremely stressed. She's worried about her partner's safety. Not physical health." I thought about it.

"That means she's…."

"Right up here!" We all looked outside. The first thing I noticed was Pikachuett in a bubble. The second was Lily in a cage above her. Then….

"Team Rocket!" Ash yelled in outrage.

"And Raven and Robin too," Daisy said softly.

"What are you two doing?! They're the baddies who want to hurt Lily and her adorable Pokémon! Get away from them!" Rose yelled (naively).

"Sorry to break it to you, baby girl! But we are baddies as well!" Robin informed her.

"We ran into these two yesterday! Isn't Robin the cutest?!" Jessie swooned pressing into his side. "And they're both as bad as us! That equals double trouble for twerps like you!"

"Let Lily go!" I demanded.

"Hm, let me think about….! Nope! Meowth, show them our new machine!" Raven commanded.

"Firing up!" The talking Pokémon pushed a button on a remote.

"Lily!" Rose shrieked as her sister and her Pokémon started screaming. Lily fell to her knees as Pikachuett fell to the side. A laser started powering up.

"Paul, move!" I jumped back as a controlled thunderbolt shot out of the laser and hit the ground where I had been standing.

"Aw, that's no fun! She warned you right before you hot hit! Raven, what would you like for us to do about that?" James asked the sun blond. My heart sank as she smiled cruelly.

"Do it again."