I sat in shocked silence as Father turned off the news. The story about the gang fight had just ended, leaving me with a sick feeling in my stomach and a dry mouth.

"See what I meant, Lola? Skulls Grimm is bad news, and now he's either dead or arrested because of it." After delivering that cruel final word, Father left the lounge room, just as tears started streaming down my face.

He was gone. The last time I'd spoken to him, those brief words, would be the last words I'd ever hear him speak.

I ran to my room, going purely by memory of the corridors, blinded by the salty waterfall coursing down my cheeks.

*Four Hours Earlier*

The doorbell rang, echoing through the house. I ran down the stairs, praying that it would be Skulls, despite all the logic that said it wouldn't be. Sure enough, when I opened the door, it wasn't Skulls, but the people standing there were just as unexpected.

"Lola, sister! It's been so long!" I stood frozen in the doorway as my two sisters swept in and kissed me on the cheek. They looked stunning as usual, Gretel wearing a long cream dress and Dana in a dusty blue and steel coloured one. I stepped out of the doorway to let them in, still somewhat frozen in shock. Dana and Gretel hadn't visited home for a few years, and I'd expected that when they did, it'd at least be at different times to each other. Now, at the worst possible time, they'd chosen to come back and stick their noses into my life again.

I walked into the hall and saw Father hugging both the girls, his face lit up in the first smile I'd seen in a week.

"Gretel, Dana, I wasn't expecting you to be in town. How are you?" Dana disentangled herself with a small smile, and Gretel followed suit.

"Well, I was in town for a business trip - my company in Opelucid are working with another company in Castelia about a new design for Pokeballs, and they sent me as a representative - and Gretel was staying with me for a bit, so she decided to tag along, and then we decided that we should really come visit. After all, it's been so long since we've seen you and Lola." Father missed the small change in Dana's voice when she said my name, as he usually did.

"Well, it's a pleasure to see you again. I'll have one of the servants get you a room. Lola, please show your sisters to the lounge room." Great, I was demoted to servant the moment Gretel and Dana stepped in the door, as per usual. I stifled a groan and walked towards the lounge room, only to be stopped by a tug of my hair. I winced and turned around, seeing Gretel's hand on my hair.

"Stay here, sister." Gretel's voice was sickeningly sweet, but laced with ice. She, along with Dana, had been doing things like that for my entire life, and since they were two and three years older respectively, they got away with the pinching, the names, and everything else. I gritted my teeth and forced myself to stay calm.

"Yes, Gretel?" Gretel smiled wickedly, like a sadistic Cheshire Cat, and grabbed my arm. Dana grabbed the other one, and physically dragged me to the lounge room. They both sprawled out on a couch each, leaving me either the floor or Father's recliner. I chose the floor, sitting awkwardly and as far away from my sisters as I could.

"So, Lola, got any cute guys around here? Any you particularly like?" I glared at Dana, but that told her all that either of them needed to know. Gretel pounced immediately.

"Oh, you do! Good. Who is it? Is it Val? Or Jacob? Last time I was in town, when they came over, they both seemed very interested in you. Especially Val." Yes, last time that Gretel was over - the night I met Skulls and carried him out a window.

"It's not Jacob or Val." Dana arched a dark eyebrow, her steely eyes glimmering dully.

"Ooh, a mystery guy. Don't tell me - someone from Lower Castelia?" I stiffened, and Dana made a sound of triumph.

"Now we're getting somewhere. Is it a poison type? Steel?" Gretel giggled conspiratorially.

"Maybe it's a Scrafty, a gang kid!" I froze, eyes widening instinctually. Gretel and Dana both stared at me, quickly figuring out why I'd reacted like that.

"You actually like some grungy street kid? Arceus, Lola, seriously? That is so below you." Anger sparked up inside me, something that only shaming Skulls could do, and I launched up like a spring. I landed on Dana's chest, snarling.

"Never talk about Skulls like that again. You got it?" Dana flinched away from me, and looked just above my shoulder. She quickly adopted a grimace, and Gretel also changed her expression, to one of fear. I looked behind me and saw Father, who had a look of anger on his face.

"Lola, go to your room." I swallowed, trying to think up an excuse.

"Father, I-"

"Go to your room!" I choked midsentence, scrambling to my feet. I walked away slowly, trying to hold in the tears that were threatening to cascade down my face. As I reached the stairs, the first trickled down my face, and I started running, not bothering to fight the tears. I flung open the door, slamming it behind me, and pressed my face into the pillow.

Two hours later, I re-emerged from my room, the tear tracks washed off. I wandered down to the kitchen, where Father, Gretel and Dana were having dinner. Father barely glanced up at me and jerked his head at the pot on the stove.

"Serve yourself. It's carbonara." I walked over to the stove, serving myself a small bowl, and sat at the table, which was ridiculously large for in a kitchen. I sat opposite Gretel and next to Father, who was ignoring me. I was fine with that, as I didn't want to fight with him again. I tucked into the carbonara, which was amazing, as was every meal cooked by the servants. It was gone before I knew it, and I was left with a full stomach and an empty bowl. One of the younger servants, a Bidoof girl named Casey, picked up the bowl and took it to the sink, where she began washing it. I stood up awkwardly, and was motioned to sit down by Father. He gave me a stern look.

"Lola, Dana has told me what happened today. I know that you don't like your sisters, but please refrain from attacking them." I resisted the urge to glare at Dana, knowing full well she hadn't told the entire story. Dana gave me a mockingly sweet smile, then directed a genuine one towards Father.

"I will forgive Lola this time, Father. After all, someone has to be mature, right?" Father nodded, in completely agreement with Dana as always.

"Well, shall we go watch some television? I think that new show about the Espeon Pokemorph in a town full of Umbreons is on." I nodded, and stood, as did Gretel and Dana. I flicked on the television, launching myself into a couch, while Gretel and Dana sat on the other. Father lay down on his recliner, closing his eyes.

We watched the show in silence for a few hours - I didn't really pay attention that much, it wasn't that good a show - until the news came up. I groaned and stood up.

"I'm going to go to bed. Night guys." As I turned around, the newscaster started talking. I turned back to see a picture of Nimbasa City and two gang symbols.

"...in from Nimbasa City," the News Anchor stated, frowning, "a large gang fight has started in Nimbasa City. From what our on-sight reporters can tell us, the fight is between the Drago Gang of Nimbasa City, alongside the Black Infinity gang of our own Castelia City, against the Evos Gang of Castelia City." I gasped under my breath, and Gretel and Dana gave me an odd look. Father's jaw tightened as he continued listening. I sat back down again, swallowing down my fear.

"The Evos Gang, lead by Shadow Evoran, began the firefight at around 3:24 PM, wiping out the entire Drago Gang. Scar the Salamence, leader of the Drago Gang, is claimed to be the first victim, followed closely by the rest of his gang. Currently, two members of the Evos Gang have been killed, as well as five of the Black Infinity Gang members. The Nimbasa Police Force are closing in on the warring gangs as we speak, and in a matter of moments, they will be subdued!" I made a choked noise, and Gretel looked at me again. I saw the lightbulb go on in her head.

"Wait...Skulls was in that gang?" I nodded slightly, eyes watering. Gretel gave me a sympathetic look. Father just glared at me.

After that, I went to my room. I sat on my bed, sobbing to myself, and eventually crawled up and tried to go to sleep. After a while, I heard the door open, and a weight settle on my bed. I looked over to see Gretel there, with a strange look on her face.

"Hey, Lola." I groaned and rolled over again.

"Here to mock me some more?" Gretel stood up and walked around to my side, kneeling on the ground.

"No, I'm not. Look, losing someone you like is tough. Believe me, I know." I rolled over to the other side of my bed, determined to keep ignoring her.

"How would you know? And why are you being so nice?" Gretel jumped over to the other side again, the strange look back on her face.

"Well...can you keep a secret?" I sat up, frowning.

"What kind of secret?" Gretel sighed, looking down at the bed sheets.

"Well, first of all, I'm being nice because...well, I try to impress Dana, you know? I really look up to her, and I thought, maybe acting like her would make her like me. But it hasn't worked. I don't want to look like a weakling, so I keep doing it. I'm really sorry." I scoffed, lying back down again.

"Yeah, right."

"No, seriously! And just to prove it, I'm going to tell you something I haven't even told Dana." I sat up again, thoughts flitting through my head rapidly.

"Well...what is it?" Gretel cleared her throat, and brushed back a bit of hair.

"Before I went to Dana's, I was in a relationship. It was pretty committed. Then, the person I was with left town. Disappeared, in fact. I never got a message about them leaving, and I never found out what happened to them." I blinked in shock as Gretel wiped her eyes. A telltale glimmer of moisture was shining on her lower lids. I rubbed her back soothingly.

"What was he like?" Gretel bit her lip.

"...It wasn't a he." I sat up even more, shocked and confused.

"Wait, you're lesbian?" Gretel shushed me, panic flitting in her eyes.

"Yeah, I am, but keep it down! Nobody knows yet. I figured, you're the nicest one, the most accepting, I'd tell you." I looked at her eyes, and didn't see a single trace of falsehood - or malice, for that matter.

"Wow. That's a little shocking." Gretel raised an eyebrow.

"Why is it shocking?" I opened my mouth to reply, and closed it again.

"You're right. I have no right to be shocked. So, tell me about this girl. What was she like?" Gretel blushed, and leaned over conspiratorially.

"Well...she was an Absol." I shoved her shoulder, getting angry now.

"So you were mocking me for liking a dark type and you were in a relationship with one?" Gretel sighed again, swallowing hard.

"Yeah, I know, I'm a filthy hypocritical piece of shit, and I'm really sorry. And I get it if you don't want to forgive me. I've made your life hell for the last sixteen years. I just...I just want you to trust me." My face pulled up in a grin despite myself.

"Damn right I shouldn't forgive you, but...you're my sister. And I do love you, even if you're a royal bitch sometimes. So, yeah. It might take a while...but I think I can learn to trust you." Gretel smiled and stood up.

"Well, I better let you sleep. I'll see you in the morning, little sister." I snuggled into bed, smiling slightly.

She called me little sister without any trace of mockery or disdain.

And Skulls was gone.

My smile faded away, and I went to sleep with a troubled mind.

And, for a change, I dreamed.

I dreamed of dancing, the Castelia Businessmen Gala that was happening in a month, to be precise. It was a grand affair, organised each year for all the businessmen, old and new. It was also a good place to introduce yourself, get some contacts if you were beginning. I was dancing with someone, but I couldn't see who.

"You're a good dancer, mystery man." The person cracked a smile, his eyes still in shadow. He leaned forward until his mouth was at my ear.

"Who'd have thought that the no-good dark type would be a good dancer?" I jerked my head back and saw that my mystery man was Skulls. I woke with a gasp, sitting up in bed. A tear sprang to my eye, and I wiped it away with a small tremor.

With that, I went back to sleep, and didn't dream again.