A/N: Still open to OCs if anyone wants to submit one! Also, thanks to everyone who reviewed!


Twenty Eight – Harm

The next day, after saying goodbye to Delia, Grace offers Ash and Serena a ride through the forest on Rhyhorn. They accepted and made it through safely; then after saying bye to her, they made their way back to Santalune City.

By the time they finally arrived, it was around dinner time- so Serena called Sky on the HoloCaster to meet up at a small restaurant nearby. Ash and Serena were waiting, sitting on one side of their booth for the others- who said they ran into some trouble on the way so they would be a little late.

Serena was nervous, so Ash tried to reassure heer that the others would be okay- that seemed to work well.

That was until Serena saw a familiar figure- Ella, with an older teenage girl and a middle age woman. She assumed it was Ella's sister and mother.

Serena waved, and Ella waved back, smiling. She turned to her mother andasked her something- she nodded in response and Ella came over. "Hi guys! Are you on a date?"

Serena blushed- Ash was too busy to notice what she said as he and Pikachu were looking through the menu. "No, we're waiting on everyone else. How are you doing?"

Ella shrugged, frowning a little. "I'm… Fine. We had to go out to dinner because my s-sister came home, but s-she's mean…" She whispered the last part, as if afraid her sister would hear.

Serena frowned. "Oh… That's not good. I wish I could do something to help…"

Sky, Clemont and Bonnie all came into the restaurant. They all seemed tired except for Bonnie, who was skipping over towards the table with Dedenne on her head. "Hiya, Ella!"

Ella smiled a little. "H-hey, Bonnie…"

Sky approached, beaming. "Hello, Ella. How are you and Azurill doing?"

Ella looked up at her, smiling. "Awesome! Azurill loves playing with me, we like to hang out all the time."

Sky nodded. "That's great. What are you doing here?"

Ella turned- and saw that her mother and sister were coming over to investigate what was going on. Her sister seemed annoyed, and her mother confused.

"Hello." Her mother said simply, studying them all. Ella pointed up at Sky. "she's the awesome girl who gave me Azurill!"

Ella's mother, who happily introduced herself as June, smiled over towards Sky. "Thank you very much for giving my daughter her first Pokémon. I'm afraid I'm always way too busy working here… Oh, I work here as a waitress on my full-time hours, but since today's Sunday I'm off." She explained, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you all-" She looked over at Serena. "Are you that young lady who won the Pokémon Showcase not too long ago?"

As they began to converse about the showcase, Sky turned to Ella's sister. She hadn't introduced herself yet, she just stood there watching with a bored expression and her hands in her ripped jean pockets. She wore a large black hoodie, and had a short, side-shaved hairstyle that was dyed dark purple. She wore black boots as well, and just seemed kind of edgy. Nothing like Ella or June; they dressed casually and wore light colors.

Ella's sister glared at Sky after noticing she was looking her over. "What're you looking at?" She said rudely.

Sky tensed up, stammering: "I- N-nothing… I was just realizing that y-you're pretty different from your mom and sister…"

She blew some hair out of her face, from a bang. "Obviously." She merely said, then looked away.

They talked some more until June thought it would be a nice idea for them all to sit at a large table together- so they did so, and continued chatting as they ate their food.


After everyone was filled up on food, they all went outside the restaurant to say goodbye. Ella was hugging Sky in gratitude when literally out of nowhere a black cube fell from the sky and landed on Pikachu- encasing it in a cage.

Everyone turned to look where it came from- except for Ash, who was trying to release Pikachu. Of course, it was Team Rocket in their Meowth hot air balloon, sneering downwards as they said their motto.

Sylveon stood forward and growled- yet it didn't sound intimidating whatsoever, it just sounded cute. But its facial expression showed otherwise, showing anger. "Team Rocket!" Ash yelled. "Let Pikachu go!"

James frowned. "Why in the world would we do that? Meowth, get Pikachu!"

Meowth grumbled and ran over towards the trapped Pikachu- but Sylveon blocked it.

Sky turned towards the others. "Ella, June, Bonnie, whatever your name is… Get out of here, now!"

Ella and June understood and went back inside to restaurant- Bonnie and Dedenne following disappointedly, as if they wanted to help. Ella's sister just shrugged and leaned against an electricity pole, watching as Clemont, Ash and Serena battled against Gourgeist, Inkay and Wobbuffet.

Whenever Meowth tried to side step around Sylveon, she pushed it away with her ribbons. But Meowth was starting to get angry- its claws grew as it prepared to use Fury Swipes.

Sky ignored Ella's sister for now and commanded Sylveon to use Attract, and Meowth expression changed from anger to inexplicable happiness- it swooned over how pretty Sylveon was.

"Moonblast on Meowth!" Sky called out, and then turned to Ella's sister- whose name she still didn't know. "Do you have any Pokémon?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

Sky frowned. "Then help us out!"

Ella's sister rolled her eyes. "No thanks. I'd rather not."

Sky wanted to ask what her problem was, but knew her friends needed help. Meowth had gone swirly eyed, but Gourgeist and Inkay were moving in towards Frogadier and Chespin.

"Moonblast on Inkay!" Sky said, and a large pink orb sailed towards the Water and Dark type- causing it to faint from the super effective damage.

James yelled in frustration, then returned Inkay. Chespin, Braixen and Frogadier finished Gourgeist and Wobbuffet off together.

"Get ready…" Sky mumbled- then said: "Now!"

The four trainers all simultaneously told their Pokémon to launch ranged attacks, and Team Rocket were blasting off again. Just like good old times.

Sky turned to Ella's sister. "What's your problem? Wh-why wouldn't you help us?"

She didn't answer that question. "Name's Meg, in case you were wondering."

Clemont stood next to Sky, backing her up. "Team Rocket are mean people who steal other people's Pokémon. Why don't you want to stop them?"

Meg shrugged lazily, still leaning. "I can easily mess 'em up if I wanted to. But I didn't want to."

Sky fumed. "Don't you care for the safety of other Pokémon?!"

Meg frowned as well. "Not really. My Pokémon are all that really matter, because they'll help me become Champion."

Sky walked over closer to her. Anger burned through her veins, but she restrained herself a little. "You're selfish. I can't even believe you're related to Ella."

Meg laughed. "Related? I'm adopted! Why would I even want to be related to the little runt?"

That was it. Sky just completely lost control and slapped Meg across the face. Once she realized what she did, her eyes widened and she backed away.

Ash, Serena and Clemont just stared at Sky in awe. Clemont was the most shocked. 'Did Sky just… Do that?! That's so unlike her, even for someone as rude and uncaring as Meg…'

Meg clasped her hand over her red cheek, scowling. "You just made the wrong enemy, idiot." She stormed back into the restaurant.

Sky just stood still, unmoving. She was staring at her palm.

Clemont approached her. "Sky… Are you okay?"

At first, she didn't answer. Then she looked up at him with tearful eyes. "I-I… I don't… Why…" she mumbled, as if she couldn't decide what to say.

Ash and Serena slowly went inside to check up on the others, a released Pikachu on Ash's shoulder. Meg was nowhere to be seen indoors.

Sky's eyes filled with tears. "I just… I c-couldn't control myself, Clemont…"

Clemont frowned. "It's okay, Sky… Meg was horrible…" He reassured, but was still surprised.

Sky suddenly wrapped her arms around Clemont, slowly crying. 'I-I know I'm acting like a baby, but I've never hurt anyone like that before…'

Clemont rubbed her back slowly to try and calm down- yet he needed to calm down himself, too. His face was red as a tomato.


After Sky apologized to Meg, who didn't seem to care, they group went back to the hotel they stayed in not too long ago for their final night in Santalune City before heading to Cyllage City- where sky would challenge Grant.

Once again, after everyone had settled into bed, Sky and Clemont stayed awake under the stars. Like they did almost every night, they made normal conversation about the day's events.

That was until Sky went eerily silent and began to worry Clemont again. She had a habit of doing that.

"It's okay, Sky. No one's mad at you for doing what you did." Clemont reassured.

"I'm sure M-Meg is." Sky grumbled, frowning.

"Well… She's not a good person. So it doesn't matter, since she thinks negatively."

Sky blinked. "I guess so… Even if it doesn't make a tone of sense."

Clemont shrugged. "Like you said, I'm good at giving advice."

Sky took off her glasses, laying them down on her right side- not in between her and Clemont. She then looked up at the stars.

A memory from not long ago resurfaced-


Just take off your glasses and try." He noticed that she never even had hers on in the first place- they were laid at her side.

Clemont nodded and did so. They were really blurry, yet it almost seemed better than looking through his glasses.

"See what I mean? L-looking at them naturally, with your real eyes and not through some glass- that's experiencing it for real." She explained, watching him.

"You're right. It is better." He admitted.


Clemont returned his thoughts to the present, then followed her example and did the same thing. Everything around him was blurry, but the bright and shining stars weren't bothersome to look at without his glasses. Like Sky said, it was more real.

Sky smiled. "I guess this is our thing now. S-Sitting outside every night, looking at the stars- without these." She picked up her glasses, pointing at them.

Clemont nodded. "I guess so…" He turned to look at her, but then found he would rather have his glasses for looking at Sky. He wanted to see what she looked like clearly, to see her without having to squint. It kind of ruined that moment, but he put them back on and studied her.

"Thanks again, C-Clemont." She said lightly, putting her black glasses on as well. "Without you… W-well, I'd be dead…"

He blushed. That was true. Clemont had saved her life. "As always, you're welcome, Sky."

Clemont studied her expression as Sky turned to look at the constellations again- whenever they were outside she always switched between either looking at him or the night sky. 'I really feel like I want to tell her!' He thought. 'But I know she won't return how I feel…'