Hey, guys! Sorry I've been gone so long! Go ahead and read this chapter, and I'll update you on stuff at the end! Again, I'm so, so sorry I stopped writing! Enjoy!

Rosa gasped at the sight in front of her. Bright lights flashed in multiple colors all around, and game booths were set up surrounding the street. In the distance, two buildings and a giant Ferris Wheel attracted attention. Visitors bustled around, all laughing and smiling.

Hugh had brought them to the Nimbasa City Fair!

The fair was around all year, but both trainers never got a chance to come due to their hometown being so far away. Honestly, Rosa had hoped she could come during her journey, and here she finally was!

"Hugh, this is amazing!" she exclaimed.

Hugh smiled, happy she liked it. "Are you going to stare the whole time or are you actually going to do something?"

She giggled, grabbed his wrist, and they joined the crowd in the festivities. She sang along with street musicians, and even got Hugh to dance with her for a little! Hugh didn't particularly enjoy dancing (and he looked like a Magikarp out of water when he tried), but he wasn't stupid enough to pass up the opportunity to get closer to Rosa. Hugh, after ten tries at the same game, won a Skitty plush at one of the game booths. In a flashy, purple building, there were tons of roller coasters to ride. As "revenge" for making him dance, Hugh made Rosa ride every single one. Even the extremely high ones that brought up her fear of heights, but the male trainer didn't mind it due to the fact she'd hold his hand almost every time.

The sun was close to setting by the time they finished. The two walked along the street together, eating cotton candy, and laughing at each other.

"Oh, Arceus, you should've seen your face when the ride dropped," Hugh laughed at the memory of Rosa on the roller coasters.

"Oh, shut up!" She tried to act annoyed but her giggle gave her away. "You were getting so mad at that game booth that I though steam was going to come out of your ears!"

"Hey, I won you that prize, didn't I?" He gestured to the Skitty plush under her arm.

"After nearly a dozen tries," she chuckled.

"It still counts!"

"Does it?" she joked.

Hugh almost retorted back, but a child in the corner of his eye made him stop to do a double take. A mother was bending over to comfort her crying daughter. The girl looked so much like Harper, his little sister, that it hurt him a little to see her upset.

Rosa stopped, too, and followed his gaze and watched them. Hugh knew she was probably thinking how much she resembled his sister, too. It surprised him, though, when she moved away from him and approached the couple. He followed suit.

Rosa squatted in front of the child, catching her and her mother's attention. "What's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

The girl sniffed. "M-my Pichu! H-he's lost!" Her crying started up again. "I want Sparks back!" Her mother began trying, and failing, to comfort her again.

Rosa looked at her apologetically- she didn't mean to make the child cry again! "Is he here in the park?" she asked the child.

"Y-yes."

"Why don't I look for Sparks?" Rosa volunteered instantly.

Hugh cracked a grin. He knew that was coming from a mile away. Her kindness knew no bounds, especially when it came to children. He, on the other hand, kept his mouth shut. When people lost their pokemon, it usually struck a fuse and angered him. This time, though, he couldn't bring himself to be mad at the child.

The child slowed her crying and stared at Rosa. "R-really?"

"Mmhm," she nodded, moving her gaze to the mother. "If it's okay with your mom, that is."

Her mother grinned. "Yes, we'd be very thankful if you helped us, Miss, um..."

Rosa stood up with a beaming smile. "I'm Rosa, and the guy behind me is Hugh."

Hugh gave a small wave, gaining the attention of the mother and daughter who just noticed him there. The daughter, however, quickly turned her eyes to the Skitty under his arm.

"What's that?" she pointed, tears still streaming slowly down her cheeks.

Rosa glanced back at the toy Skitty, an idea forming in her mind. She gently took it from Hugh and moved her eyes back to the child.

"What's your name?" Rosa asked.

"Stella," she answered shyly.

"Well, Stella," Rosa squatted again and held out the Skitty to her. "Do you mind watching Skitty for us? We don't want her to get lost while we're looking for Sparks."

Stella slowly grabbed the plush and looked closely at it. After a moment, she hugged it tightly. "Thank you," she whispered as her mom led her away, most likely to search the area more.

Rosa smiled sweetly again before rising up again to face Hugh. "Send out Pidove. He can search from the sky."

Hugh gave a knowing smirk before grabbing a Pokeball off his belt and tossing it into the air. The pokemon that came after the flash was not a Pidove, but a Tranquill.

The pig-tailed trainer gasped as the bird pokemon landed on top of her head. "You evolved!"

"Surprise!" His voice rang in her head.

"Hey, buddy, we need you to help up look for a lost Pichu," Hugh explained. "Think you can cover the sky?

"No problem!" he cried out, taking to the sky.

As Rosa and Hugh searched through the crowd on the ground, they saw no sign of the small electric-type. After about fifteen minutes, they stopped at a fountain past the game booths. Hugh hoped they found the pokemon soon because the sun was close to setting, and there was still one thing he wanted Rosa to do. Plus, Rosa was already yawning, the past days' events catching up to her.

As Hugh was about to ask if her injuries were hurting her again, Tranquill screeched above them.

The trainer shot their heads up. "Find anything?" Rosa called.

"Yes! Follow me!"

"He found Sparks!" Rosa confirmed. "Follow him!"

As Tranquill flew off, both trainer realized they were being led to the building in the far back of the carnival, past even the Ferris Wheel. The crowd around them thinned out, but loud music was heard from the building. Tranquill landed in front of the building where a woman was kneeling next to something small and yellow. The woman turned, revealing the Pichu that was next to her on the ground.

"Sparks, there you are!" Rosa exclaimed. Pichu cocked his head, obviously confused at who the trainer was. "Stella's been looking all over for you!"

At the mention of the girl's name, Sparks exclaimed, "Where's Stella?"

"Ah, so you're here to return little Pichu," the woman said as she stood. She had black pigtails that were longer than even Rosa's, and she wore a dazzling blue and yellow outfit with a big, thick yellow jacket over it. She looked stunning. "I'm glad you help him! I was hoping to look for his owner after my show?"

"Show?" Hugh asked. He had a hard time trusting people he just met, and something seemed strange about this woman.

"Yes, my name is Elesa," she replied. "I'm a model in the shows put on in this building, but I'm also the Gym Leader of Nimbasa City."

Hugh noticed something flashed in Rosa's eyes, but it dissapeared as quickly as it came. "Thank you, Elesa, for watching Sparks. We'll make sure he gets to his owner." Hugh said.

"I'll see you too it," she smiled as she turned and entered the building.

Tranquill hunted down Stella and her mother next to the fountain. Pichu had run up to her and nuzzled the girl while her mother thanked the two trainers for their help. When Stella tried to give the Skitty plush back, Rosa let her keep it. Even though Hugh won it for her, the little girl seemed to love it more than she ever would.

Rosa yawned as they watched the mother, daughter, and pokemon walk to the front of the carnival to leave. The sun was setting now, turning the sky to a beautiful pink and orange hue, and the day was beginning to catch up with the girl.

"Are you ready to go, Hugh?" she yawned again.

"Not yet," he replied. "I know you're tired, but there's one place we have to see before we go."

She almost complained, even turning to him, but his eyes locked onto her stopped her words. He had a gentle look in his eyes, which was rare sight to see. She sighed, giving in.

Sensing her surrender, he put a hand on her lower back and began leading her through the crowd. There was still tons people in the park, but many were headed toward the entrance to go home for the day. Hugh, however, was headed for something different.

Lucky for him, the line for the Ferris Wheel was short enough for them to get on without waiting long. Rosa blinked up at the giant wheel, her eyes revealing many emotions. Hugh could read excitement and awe in her, but also something else he couldn't describe. Something almost like sadness.

The way the carts of the wheel were set up with a single, long seat on one side, and glass from the chest up to see the view on the sides, behind, and on top. The trainers took a seat, Rosa on the left and Hugh on the right, and sat silently as the worker closed up their carrier. When the ride began moving, beginning its journey to the top, Rosa broke the silence.

"This place was very special to them," she murmured. "To my parents."

Hugh blinked. He hadn't known that. Does that mean she's not happy to be here? Was that why she looked a little upset getting on? Did he screw up?

As if she read his mind, she chuckled and looked out the window. "It's kind of weird, isn't it? That they saw the same view we're seeing now so many years ago. Now their daughter is seeing it all, too."

Hugh knew she'd start getting upset if she kept thinking about the father she wanted know. He needed to change the subject, and fast. Didn't matter what it was, as long as it distracted her present thoughts.

"Who's Nate?"

"What?"

"Who's Nate?" he repeated, mentally cursing at himself for choosing that subject. "The guy who brought you to Nimbasa's Center?"

She blinked. "Nate brought me to the Center?"

Hugh almost growled, his jealously already burning. "Yes, now who is he?"

Rosa raised an eyebrow. "If it's the Nate with brown, wild hair, that's my cousin."

In a flash, his jealously vanished. "You're cousin?"

"Yes," she said. "But I don't remember seeing Nate. Then again, I don't really remember anything after Team Plasma attacked me and left me."

Hugh clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. "Thank you for bringing that up. Now I can ask a very important question: WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU GO AFTER TEAM PLASMA ALONE?"

Instead of retorting, she hung her head low, almost in shame. "I wasn't thinking," she murmured. "I'm sorry, Hugh. I probably gave you and Curtis a heart attack."

A heart attack doesn't even begin to describe it, Hugh thought, but held his tongue. Silence surrounded them, and Hugh sighed. It was hard to be angry with her, especially when admitted to her mistakes. He scooted closer to her and hugged her. "I'm just glad you're okay," he whispered.

Rosa froze in shock for a moment before returning his embrace. They sat like that for a long time before they both thought of something that needed to the the other. Secrets they never told each other.

They pulled back at the same time and both exclaimed, "I need to tell you something!" They blinked in shock before laughing sheepishly.

"Ladies first," Hugh chuckled.

"Okay, well," she stammered over her words. She didn't want her best friend to think she'd lost her mind. "Um, Hugh? This is kind of difficult to explain, but I'm telling the truth. It's just going to sound kinda, well, insane."

He raised an eyebrow, curious to what she was about to say.

"I can understand pokemon."

Hugh blinked a few times. "Wait, what?"

"I can understand pokemon," she repeated again. "I can understand what they say, and they understand what I say. Not like commands in battle. I mean like the way we're talking right now. I can talk to pokemon.

He still was having a hard time understand what exactly she was trying to say, but he got the summary of it. It was just, well, hard to believe. "Not saying I don't believe you," he murmured, choosing his words carefully. "But how can you do it?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. My mom always said my father had a unique bond with all pokemon, so maybe I got it from him?"

Hugh leaned back. Honestly, as crazy as it was, it made sense when he thought back. When they were looking for Herdier back at Floccesy Ranch, to the Basculin in the stream earlier today, and even when they were looking for Pichu; he had just suspected she was just naturally loved by pokemon, but now it sort of made sense in a crazy way. Plus, did he have any reason to not believe his rival?

"Alright," Hugh sighed, ready to tell his part. "My turn." He paused, not sure how to start. He'd never told anyone about this. "Back at Castelia, you knew I hadn't actually done any research on Team Plasma. You were right. I already knew all that before we even started our journey. I'd already looked into them years ago after I had a run in with them."

Rosa was surprised. She thought she and Hugh told each other almost everything (then again, she didn't tell him about her "ability"), but this was the first she'd ever heard of Hugh encountering the criminal group.

"They took Harper's Purrloin. Our grandpa gave her to Harper before he passed away a few days later. She was his only pokemon, and Team Plasma stole her from us." He clenched his fists. "And I couldn't do a damn thing about it. I was ten, but I hadn't gotten a pokemon of my own yet. Harper was only four, but she loved Purrloin, and still hopes she'll come back. That's why she didn't tell Mom when I left- I promised to find Purrloin. And I will keep my promise."

The pig-tailed trainer placed her hand on his fist, hoping to comfort him. In response, he uncurled his hand and intertwined their fingers. Rosa blushed slightly at the action. Glancing up, she saw Hugh was already staring at her, which caused her face to get even warmer. With the sunset behind him, she couldn't deny that her rival was kind of cute.

Exhaustion crashed into the girl in an instant. She yawned and laid her head on Hugh's shoulder, silently hoping he didn't mind.

Instead he chuckled softly and squeezed her hand. "Tired?"

"Shut up," she murmured.

In what felt like only a few seconds, the two were at the bottom of the ride. Rosa was already asleep, so Hugh carried her bridal style through the few people left in the area, past in entrance, and to the Pokemon Center on the other side of the city. When they walked into the building, Audino was already on her night shift. Seeing Hugh come in, she pulled a key card out of the drawer and placed it in his hand, which went right back to supporting Rosa as soon as he got it. He moved to the right of the healing counter and passed through the doors that led to the rooms the center offered all trainers.

He waved the card in front of their door, and quickly threw it open. The room looked like any normal hotel room they'd been to, but, luckily, there were two beds instead of one. Plus, Rosa's stuff from Castelia City's hotel was already here, thanks to Curtis sending it over.

Hugh pulled the sheets back on the bed closest to the window and laid Rosa down. Pulling the sheets back over her, he bent down he kissed her head softly. She was already asleep, right? She wouldn't know he did it.

Not even bothering to change his own clothes, Hugh collapsed onto the other bed. In less than a minute, he was dead asleep.

I hoped y'all enjoyed this (very, very, very late) chapter! Now, as promised, time to update everyone on a few things!

1) I will be changing my username AGAIN! I know this is the third time, but the reason for this is because a few people I know in my personal life have been trying to find my writing, but I really want to keep it all anonymous to all except a few friends.

2) I'm going to try my best to upload a new chapter every two weeks, give or take! I'm about to get really busy soon, so two weeks is a good amount of time for me to get an outline, write, and revise the chapter. So hope for biweekly chapters!

3) I remember the major parts of this story thanks to my outlines, but the games Black2 and White2 are kind of a blur to me, so I have to play the games again some to get it back in my memory. Hopefully this doesn't push some chapters back and make them late, but I figured I should tell y'all just in case.

Okay, I think that's all! Again, I'm sooooooo sorry for the late chapter! Please review! I love hearing from my readers!