Yes, in the real world, 6 orphans won't be able to live by themselves, but hey. This is the Pokemon world where Misty and her teenage sisters were without their parents. Plus, you rarely see parents in the show. And I like it better like this. :P

Chapter 22

Vermillion City Gym

The next day, the group trained their pokemon in the morning before challenging the gym that afternoon. Dillon managed to defeat the gym since Coal's flamethrower took down the Magnetons and Magnemites quickly. Pika got his fair share of action by fighting against Lt. Surge's Raichu. It was an intense and close match, but Pika pulled through.

Aurora was able to defeat the trainers in the gym, but she is now having trouble with Lt. Surge. He has already knocked out Venus with his Magneton since poison doesn't affect steel. Pachirisu can't seem to damage Magneton's hard exterior.

"You can do it sis!" cheer Laker and Blaze.

"Let's go Pachirisu!" Trunks shouts.

"C'mon, Aurora!" Duke joins his brothers.

"Rora!" LayLay yells.

Dillon and Granite focus on the battle knowing it's not looking too good. "Let's go, Lightfield!" Dillon shouts. He can fight with Aurora later, but Pachirisu needs the support now.

"Yay Aurora!" Granite includes his cheers.

Aurora can't help but smile at all the support she has. "Pachirisu, mudslap!" Pachirisu sweeps her large tail hard into the ground and the dirt hits Magneton hard. He is blinded long enough for Pachirisu to land an irontail on him.

"Magneton is unable to battle! Leader Surge is down to his last pokemon." The offiator announces.

Normally, Lt. Surge would've used Raichu, but the pokemon was resting from its recent battle with Dillon. Thus, Leader Surge throws out, "Go Electabuzz!"

"Buzz!" Electabuzz sparks its horns.

"Brick break!" Lt. Surge orders.

"Dodge and use sand attack!" Aurora commands, but Pachirisu is too tired from the damage she had taken from Magneton. She doesn't dodge in time and the attack is enough to knock her out of the battle.

"Pachirisu is unable to battle. Challenger Aurora is out of pokemon. Leader Surge wins!" The offiator announces. Aurora drops her head and walks slowly to Pachirisu as the crowd is quiet. She picks up her white mouse.

"Come back when you're stronger, kid." Lt. Surge laughs arrogantly. Aurora runs out of the gym with Pachirisu in her arms.

"Take them back home." Duke tells Dillon while dropping LayLay in the older boy's lap and sprinting off after his sister.

Dillon looks at the kids confused and then at Granite. "Time to go home." He tells them. The group gets up and heads out.

Duke's POV

I run towards the Pokemon Center knowing that is most likely where Aurora has gone. Sure enough, I see her running through the front doors once I'm a block away. Since when has my sister gotten so fast? I get inside as she checks in her pokemon. She then turns around and sits on one of the chairs with her face in her hands. Oh no. I walk over to her and sit next to her.

"Hey sis." I smile. She flinches. I guess she didn't notice me sitting down. "That was a good battle back there." I tell her.

"I lost. I spent all this time bragging to you guys about my Boulder Badge and beating Dillon in Pewter City, but all I've done here is lose. I really am just Vermillion City scum." she sobs into her hands. Gosh.

"No you're not. That's just Braxton's dumb opinion, Aurora! And you beat him the other day too!" I tell her. "Me and the boys are so proud of you! Even LayLay! Who would've thought our big sister is out here winning gym badges and defeating Team Rocket." I smile.

Aurora keeps her head down, but her crying slows down. I put an arm around her shoulder. I haven't seen her cry in years. She's always been trying to be the strong one for us. It's good that she's letting it all out. We sit there in silence for a long time as she sobs into my shoulder before I feel someone tap my other shoulder.

"Mind if I interrupt?" the voice asks. I look over and see Dillon. What's he doing here? He doesn't look like he plans to rub the loss in Aurora's face. I guess I'll let him talk to her, but he best believe I'll be watching closely. I nod and release my hold on Aurora who looks at me curiously. She then sees Dillon who offers her a weak smile before sitting down once I get up.

"I'll be close by." I tell them and sit a couple chairs away.

No POV

Dillon doesn't put his arm around Aurora like Duke had. Instead, he just sits next to her as she tries to stifle her sobs. He had come to the Pokemon Center after dropping off Granite with the Lightfield siblings at their home. Dillon needed to heal Coal and Pika. He hadn't expected to see Duke and Aurora sitting in the lobby still.

"I thought I told you weak people don't cry." he mumbles not knowing how to cheer people up.

Aurora smiles through her tears and rubs her eyes on her sleeves. "So I'm guessing you're leaving me now?" She asks him.

"I still owe you a bike. I keep my word." he responds in a monotone voice while keeping his gaze ahead of him.

"But your part of the deal was for me not to hold you back. And here you are winning a gym badge while I didn't." Aurora can't help but choke up at this.

"And your part of the deal was I pay you back for your bike." Dillon says nonchalantly. He pulls out a wad of PokeYen and sets it on the table in front of them. "I've had the money since we got out of Viridian Forest. Apparently, Bug Catchers have a lot of money."

Aurora looks at the money and then back at Dillon. "Why are you giving this to me now?" She asks him, surprised.

Dillon sighs and takes his cap off to run his hand through his jet black hair. He looks away from the girl. "Because you seem ready to get rid of me."

Aurora gasps and then grabs Dillon's arm. "No! I thought you want to leave me?" she exclaims.

"I did. But after you beat me in Pewter, I couldn't let you just win and get away with it."

"But you beat me yesterday."

"Barely." Dillon sighs again uncomfortably. "Do you want the money or not?" He asks impatiently.

Aurora smiles, "Can you train with me tomorrow morning, Dilly Boy?" Dillon smiles back and nods while ignoring the childish nickname. Aurora gets up and walks over to Duke. Dillon looks at the untouched money on the table and puts it back in his wallet before walking to his room in the Pokemon Center.