I shrank back into Ash, making sure I was as well hidden as possible. I placed my head in the gap between his arm and his side and hid my face, trying to ensure he wouldn't see it was me. I hoped he wouldn't recognise me seeing as I wasn't covered in bruises and cuts.

"Excuse me Nurse Joy, do you think you could heal my pokemon real quick?" He asked, masking the evil tone he usually used for his fake nice one. He knew how to hide what he really was around others. I had always found that voice sickening, pretending to be like any other trainer while he treated his pokemon so horribly.

The nurse didn't know who he was so agreed, pushing herself up and excusing herself. He handed out two poke balls towards the woman who took them. I could see her lips moving but I couldn't make out any words. My ears had stopped working and I had barely managed to peak my head out from between Ash's arm. I could see him smirking when she went to the counter she always stood behind before someone came in. I knew he'd never allow for them to be taken from their poke balls to be healed so she would have to heal them in them.

I couldn't see the balls properly but I was certain one of them was Arcanine. He was his favourite fighter, just because he was strong he cared nothing for his strong will that I had always admired. I looked up towards Ash's face and saw he was looking at me worried.

"Are you alright?" He asked me and before I could answer he continued "you look scared, did you see something?" He finally stopped allowing me to answer.

"I'm not alright Ash; it's him, him with Nurse Joy. He's the one who did this to me." I whispered up to him, despite knowing that he couldn't understand my words. I knew I would be safe speaking normally around him but he caused me so much fear that I couldn't raise my voice above a whisper. His face changed from worry to anger. Pure anger and I felt like shying away from him, he seemed too like him like this.

As though having realised that he was scaring me he took a deep breath and laid a hand on my back, anger still radiated off him but he seemed calmer than before. He took another deep breath and gave my back a reassuring squeeze, not smiling down at me because we both knew it would be a fake one.

"Ash, what's wrong?" Brock asked leaning over to look the boy and me in the eye.

"That guy over there is the one who's abused her. He's the vile thing that hurt her and her family." He spat, his voice sounding venomous. I had never heard that tone from him, not even when I told him I was abused.

"It can't be" Brock answered in shock. But I just nodded my head softly. He had no idea how much I wished for it not to be him. I closed my eyes resting my head against Ash's chest. I needed to try to calm myself down, it wouldn't do any good to get worked up. With my eyes closed I could focus on what he was saying. I unconsciously wanted to know what he was up to.

"Thank you Nurse Joy, I wouldn't have had time to bring them tomorrow so this was a real life saver. I'm heading out tomorrow, we're real busy."

"Oh does that mean you're staying here for the night?" She asked and I silently prayed that the answer would be no.

"Yeah, we haven't taken a proper break in a long time. I figured it'd be nice to have them healed and a warm bed for the night. Make's a change to camping." I felt like cursing to myself. Why? Why the hell did he have to be here? Why did he have to be here with my friends? I wanted to shout out in frustration. This couldn't be fair.

"Oh, that's nice, do you have a place to stay already? Or would you like for me to find you one?"

"We already have one thank you though." I sighed, maybe that meant he wasn't staying close to us. I could only wish.

"Oh, alright then. Well, thank you for coming and I hope we can meet again before you leave."

"Thanks Nurse Joy, maybe I'll be seeing you before we leave for the next town." He turned from the desk and left the centre immediately. I could feel my heart slowing from the panic it had been in as the door closed behind him. He hadn't seen me, I was safe again. But for how long? When would he come back? Today, tomorrow? I didn't know, he was the most unpredictable boy alive. I wanted to get away, to run as far from here as I possibly could, but that wasn't possible. I had to get my friends back, my family.

The nurse came over seating herself back in her chair.

"I'm sorry about that little disturbance." She apologised as she straightened her apron. Brock just waved it away while Ash mumbled a response.

"That's alright Nurse Joy, but I have to tell you something. That boy who you just helped; he's the guy who abused this little Vulpix." I watched as her jaw dropped, her hand trembling slightly. She had just realised that she had helped an abuser. Clasping her hand she stared wide eyed at Ash, not believing her own ears.

"That young man who just came in? That sweet boy?" She asked, not believing him. But I simply nodded, gaining her attention.

"Yes Nurse Joy it was, he did abuse me. You just helped him. But he tricks everyone like that, with that fake kindness" I knew she couldn't understand me but Ash could translate for me. I stared at the boy holding me and he seemed to understand what I was asking and began to recite my words. Word for word he told the stunned woman exactly what I had said.

"Oh my, I had no idea. I'm so sorry, I should have kept him behind. Called the police or something. I'm sure if I call Officer Jenny she'll be able to arrest him and free his pokemon." I stared at her feeling a smile come to my face. She wanted to help, I had never even thought of the police. But, I didn't want her to take his pokemon off him by force. I wanted to make him hand them ever with his own free will. I wanted to save them.

With the police it would just feel empty, like he didn't even care. I know that he doesn't but still I would like him to try to understand what he did and still does is wrong.

"Ash, can you do me a favour?" I asked him, looking up into his eyes

"Yeah course"

"Can you have a battle against him and beat him, make him lose and see what he does is wrong?" I asked him, I could see the shock in his eyes. To be honest I had never really thought anyone could beat him in a battle, but now I was sure Ash could win.

I had been told of countless different people when I was younger. All of them from stories I had thought to be fairy tales. They were sweet and the good guy always won. I had never thought good could beat evil but now I was thinking that perhaps good could win.

"Y-you want me to fight your trainer?" He asked, slightly shocked by what I was asking.

"Yes, if you don't mind that is, I don't think he'll learn anything from the police taking his pokemon from him. But he might from someone who cares about his pokemon beating him in a battle. Maybe then he'll see that treating his pokemon right will be better for him than hurting them." I smiled up at him slightly sheepishly. I didn't know if what I was saying made any sense or if it sounded like a child's wishful thinking but I had to hope, right?

"Of course I don't mind, you really want us to get your friends back for you?" He asked me and I nodded, he smiled at me looking touched. He turned to the nurse and to Brock before smiling and telling them with obvious pride. "She wants me to fight her ex-trainer and to beat him. Hopefully this means that we can save her family."

"Really? That'd be great if it worked but where is he? How can we find him, and who can say if he'd even accept the challenge? He might turn us down" Brock answered, less than enthusiastically.

"I doubt that, he isn't one to turn down from a fight." I answered a smile coming to my face as I realised just how likely it was for him to accept. I had known him my whole life and I had never seen him turn down a fight. He had always taken any challenge thrown his way and had always won. But not this time, this time against Ash he'd lose.

"If that's true then we have to find him challenge him and beat him" Ash answered me as he turned to the nurse. "Can you try and find him for us?"

"Of course, but I would recommend that even if I find him today you challenge him tomorrow. That way all your pokemon will be rested and the chances for both sides will be even." She told him and I nodded in agreement. It did seem best. Even though I wanted my family back I also wanted for the fight to be even. He wouldn't possibly learn anything from losing an unfair fight.

"Alright Nurse Joy, that makes sense. Whenever you get the chance can you try and find him?" He asked and she nodded at him.

"Yes, now I'm going to suggest you get some rest. Do you have anywhere to stay? I can always arrange for you both to stay here. We do have a few rooms for travellers who need to rest." I looked up at Ash waiting for his answer. I didn't care where we stayed as long as we were safe.

"Can we stay here?"

"Of course, I'll arrange for a room to be put aside for you all. But it'll have to been on my break as I have to get back to the pokemon in intensive care" with a small nod to the nurse they watched her walk away, I was too transfixed in my own thoughts to even notice them thanking her.

I couldn't help thinking about what would happen tomorrow. Ash would battle him and there was no doubt in my mind that he'd win. He would beat that horrible boy and my friends would be free. I would never have to fear being hurt again, and neither would they. We'd be alright. I just knew it.

Nestling into Ash's side I closed my eyes. If I could just sleep then tomorrow would be here sooner. My friends would be free sooner.

With a small smile on my face I felt myself drifting off. The sound of the other trainer's in the background talking and laughing with one another not disturbing me in the slightest. If anything it only served as a lullaby, sending me to sleep faster.

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