A/N: Fallout from her first serious run-in with the Rockets, and 1-2 more "chapters" before we move to Johto! :)
The days passed by in a somber haze as Abrielle struggled to come to terms with what she felt was her greatest failure – her inability to defeat the Team Rocket boss, Giovanni.
While she had by no means anticipated an easy fight, Brie had thought that she could, at the very least, weaken him or slow him down in some way. Her mind seemed fixated on replaying the battle she had initiated and would have certainly lost if the opportunity to continue hadn't been stripped from her. Despite the fact that her pokémon made for quite the formidable opponents for most challengers, their attacks had barely scratched the surface of Giovanni's onix, which had retaliated with crippling moves that had worn down her team considerably.
It had been rash on her part, even irresponsible she realized, to push forward in her pursuit – they were clearly not strong enough to take him down, and would only end up hurt, or perhaps worse.
The apology had left her lips immediately following the episode, and every day since. Dedicating time to training more seriously had helped a bit, but she knew that this disciplined regimen wasn't enough on its own. Battling trainers and wild pokémon would only offer so much of a challenge. She knew she had to resume taking on the remaining gyms and continue aiming higher.
Every fight, whether a win or a loss, would give her more experience, and more opportunities to strategize and learn new techniques.
Brie was grateful for her partners, who seemed to empathize with her and support her desire to keep going and push onward. One looking in from the outside may have thought she was training them too hard, but that was hardly the case. Each pokémon was mesmerized by Abrielle's tenacity and spirit, her passionate feelings, and newfound purpose.
The Rockets were an enemy to all, and the sentiment Abrielle embodied of seeking retribution was contagious. Evolution was something her team sought on their own, and Growlithe had become preoccupied with the fire stone to the point where it was practically trying to steal the yellow and orange hued rock out of Brie's satchel. On top of this, Cubone and Pidgeotto had evolved into their respective forms, yielding even more power to her lineup. Scyther seemed restless, as if it wished to follow suit, but felt incapable of doing so. Little did Brie know how correct the dual bug- and flying-type was in its assumption, and that its quest for evolution would need to wait a bit longer.
A few months passed by before she set her sights on Fuchsia City. As the historic village came into view, Abrielle felt genuinely torn between checking in on her adoptive father, Hotaru and keeping her distance. While she was eager to see him, and perhaps even give him a hug, catch up on things, and maybe even confide to him about everything that had happened over the course of almost a year, she was also painfully aware of the precarious position she had willingly thrown herself into by setting her sights on the Rockets. Brie had already lost so much to those monsters, and she refused to invite danger into anyone else's lives, let alone her family. The target that had been painted on her back felt heavy, and she knew that it would remain there, continuing to grow bigger, until her goal was accomplished.
Abrielle knew it was best to play it safe, despite the gnawing sadness that had settled deep inside of her. As stealthily as possible she peered into the window of her second childhood home, and was relieved to see Hotaru sitting quietly in his recliner, reading the newspaper, a mug of coffee within reach.
Everything looked just as she remembered, and she reasoned that he had probably been hoping for the best, but expecting her to return home, where he would be waiting with open arms. She prayed he wasn't worried about her too much. How could she show him that she was fine without putting him at risk? Maybe she could ask someone to relay messages? Send anonymous letters? Call from a restricted number?
As her mind continued deliberating on her options she lingered a moment more before finally resigning herself to turning her back on her home and the only living parent she had left.
"Take care, dad." Brie exhaled deeply while wiping the wetness off her cheeks before proceeding on her way.
As she neared the Fuchsia City Gym she felt the presence of someone or something lurking in the trees. Bracing herself, she threw a pokéball in the direction of the onlooker. Marowak released a battle cry as it readied its bone club and launched it at the tree, causing it to shake and tremble momentarily. A surprised outburst was soon followed by a girl falling out of the tree, landing awkwardly on her feet.
"AH! I've been compromised!" She exclaimed, panicking slightly while releasing a smoke ball and attempting to escape, but ultimately colliding into Abrielle, sending both girls to the ground.
"What the hell?" Brie uttered between coughing, the air thick and hazy. As she felt the stranger attempting to stand up and make a getaway, she grasped a hold of her by the shoulders. "Who sent you?"
"Huh?!"
"Answer the question!" She tried once more, her voice doing little to mask her urgency in getting the information out of the somewhat startled girl. "Or I'll force it out of you!"
Upon hearing this Marowak reappeared beside Brie, its eyes narrowing intently as it tapped its bone club against the inside of its other paw.
"No one sent me! I LIVE here!" The young female shrieked. "And you'd better watch the attitude! My dad is the gym leader here, and he's a master of ninjutsu, so he could totally wreck you!"
Her father is the gym leader?
Studying the young female in front of her,, Brie started to wonder if she recognized her from somewhere – the violet hued hair and eyes unwavering as they met her own. Apparently the aspiring ninja had been thinking the same thing, because a few seconds later she gasped.
"Abrie?"
"Janine?"
Hardly a beat passed between both girls before they both exhaled deeply and sunk to the floor to compose themselves.
"I didn't know you had returned!" She chirped happily while fixing her outfit and re-equipping herself with all of her ninja gear. "Wow, dad's going to be ecstatic! Did you stop by to visit Hotaru? I'm sure he'd love to see you."
"Y-Yeah, about that . . ." Brie started softly. "I won't go into detail, but I need to keep a low profile, which means no one can know I'm here, especially Hotaru."
"Why?" Janine inquired brusquely, clearly unhappy with her friend's response. "What have you been up to all this time? Had some run-ins with the cops or something?"
"Of course not." Brie retorted. "I'm actually helping them with something, but I can't go into specifics."
The young ninja seemed unsatisfied with this answer, leading Abrielle to continue. "But it would mean the world to me if you could tell my dad I'm doing okay, just so he doesn't worry, you know? After I'm gone you can check in on him for me. Maybe send me letters every so often."
"I don't like that, Abrie." Janine huffed indignantly. "Not one bit."
"You don't have to like it." She countered. "But we're friends, aren't we?"
The young girl was quiet for a moment, as if considering the question carefully. "Fine. It'll give me more opportunities to refine my ninja techniques anyway."
Is that what she calls it? Brie thought to herself, a small smirk threatening to tug at her lips.
While they weren't the best of friends, the two trainers were more than acquaintances. Hotaru had known Koga for years, and had actually met him while pursuing a cure for his wife's rare degenerative disease. The now heralded poison master and leader of Fuchsia City's gym had spent many years studying medicine and antidotes, and had become a beacon of hope and a last resort to many who were seeking remedies for a variety of illnesses and conditions. Following his wife's untimely passing, Hotaru hadn't keep in touch as much as he used to with Koga, who had transitioned into his roles as gym leader and lead teacher in the village's prestigious school of ninjutsu. There was no bad blood between them, and Janine had often sought to form play groups with the local kids, including Abrielle and Leal. The young, friendly ninja-to-be had been a source of socialization – even on a small scale – to Brie following the passing of her parents. And although she hadn't kept in touch all that much, it seemed that Janine was still the same as ever. Her klutzy, energetic disposition seemed intact and was a welcome sight.
"Thank you." Brie smiled appreciatively. "That means a lot to me. More than you probably realize."
Rubbing her nose a bit as if embarrassed by the praise the young ninja sprang to her feet. "Sheesh, butter me up some more why don't ya?" She teased. "It's not going to get you the Soul Badge though. And don't think for a minute that dad is going to go easy on you. If anything, he'll probably make you work for it even more than other challengers."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." She replied while returning her Marowak. "Are you going to escort me inside?"
"CAN I?" Janine asked excitedly.
"Sure, why not."
"Yay!" Skipping toward the door to the gym the young ninja-to-be winked. "Prepare to be perplexed by the master of mirages, the pinnacle of poison-type perfection, and possibly your worst nightmare."
Gesturing for Brie to head inside she added, "I hope you've got some antidotes with you – you're going to need them."
Janine hadn't been exaggerating – every trainer in the gym was equipped with powerful poison-type pokémon, and each battle left one of Brie's partners in a lingering poisoned state. Thankfully she always carried plenty of potions, antidotes, and heals for various status conditions, so she was able to refresh her team after each fight. Navigating the maze-like layout of the gym added to the challenge considerably as invisible walls were used in its construction. Perseverance finally paid off, and Brie reached the innermost area only to find that it was empty . . . or so she thought.
As soon as she took a few steps closer to the field a bright flash of light obscured her vision. When she could see again, there were two figures standing on the opposite side of the arena.
"You've done well to reach me, Abrielle."
Koga's voice still sounded as low and soft as she remembered, and the slight twinge of nostalgia hit her.
"Janine informed me that you were coming. You can imagine how excited I was to hear that. One of Fuchsia City's own, returning to take a shot at winning the Soul Badge." As he nodded approvingly he eyed her curiously. "You've grown into a formidable young lady, it would seem. I'm sure Hotaru will be pleased to learn of your arrival."
"Dad . . ." Janine piped up suddenly. "Remember what I said?"
"I know, but I need to speak with her about the matter myself before reaching my final decision regarding whether or not to allow you to be the medium of communication." He offered before returning his attention to Abrielle. "We have some catching up to do after our battle, but for now let's focus on your challenge." Stepping forward and revealing a pokéball in his hand he smirked. "Are you ready to test your skills against a true ninja master?"
Truthfully, she wasn't sure, but she was determined to prove her worth and continue to grow as a trainer. With a brief nod she proceeded to release her first partner. Pidgeot screeched eagerly as it emerged from inside of the pokéball.
Wow, so cool! Janine thought suddenly.
"Ah, quite a powerful adversary." Koga mused. "But can it withstand the poisonous overflow of my partner? Let's find out – now!"
A koffing emerged from the bright red light of the pokéball and immediately began spewing smog from its mouth, obscuring Brie's line of sight.
"Pidgeot, use gust to blow the smog away!"
"Koffing, use sludge!"
Just as the haze started to clear a large amount of gooey, sticky sludge was shot directly at the bird pokémon's face, causing it to release a shrill outcry and beat it wings more harshly. The winds generated from its mighty strokes caused the poison-type to be launched backward into the wall, leading it to collapse promptly afterward.
"Mm, your partner seems to be as steadfast as you to take victory." Koga acknowledged her with a smile. "That is a true testament to your bonds. Let's see how you do with my next pokémon – prepare yourself!"
And prepared she was.
Each opponent was knocked down by a plethora of powerful moves, and despite the Fuchsia City Gym leader having an arsenal of attacks at the ready that would inflict staggering status conditions, Brie's team managed to take out each successive opponent presented to it. The ninja master's muk and venomoth had been excellent at evading most attacks, but the ones that landed successfully resulted in massive blows to their weak points. Pidgeot and Scyther combined efforts to take down his weezing. Marowak made a mess out of muk with its bonemerang and earthquake attacks while Arcanine's fire type moves vexed Koga's venomoth, trapping it inside of raging flames while the canine pokémon made quick work of landing additional super-effective moves.
When the battle was over Koga stood speechless for a moment – partly in shock, but more than that, he was in awe at how much this once timid girl had commanded her pokémon in battle. Abrielle had remained calm and focused. It was clear to the ninja master that victory had clearly been in her direct line of sight from the moment she stepped foot into the gym.
"I can't believe it . . ." Janine thought aloud. "Dad, how could you lose to Abrie? You've been a trainer for so much longer than her."
Chuckling heartily, Koga placed a firm hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Age in and of itself is of no consequence in regards to someone's potential." Turning his attention to Abrielle he smiled knowingly. "You have immense potential, Abrielle – I'm sure you have been told this by others, yes?"
Brie hesitated before nodding.
"Mm-hm, I definitely see it as well." He agreed, his dark eyes twinkling zealously. "To think you're already this strong . . .
But it's still not enough.
Her mind echoed, images of Archer, the Rockets, and their leader still emblazoned in her mind like a scar that ceased to fade.
The sound of Janine clearing her throat brought Brie's train of thought back to the present.
"Hmph, don't let it go to your head though." She quipped. "That's when you get sloppy and start slacking off."
"I hardly think Abrielle would 'slack off,' Janine." He corrected her. "Especially not now when she's only three badges away from being eligible to challenge the Pokémon League." Noticing the way she didn't acknowledge his comment, Koga quirked an eyebrow. "You are planning to enter . . .?"
"I'm not sure." Brie replied.
"Well, I won't pressure you, but I would encourage you to give it a try." Outstretching his hand, the small pink heart-shaped badge resting inside his palm, he smiled. "At the very least, you must claim what is rightfully yours – this Soul Badge! Take it and display it with pride."
"Thank you, Koga." Brie offered while taking the badge from him and placing it inside of the small box she was using to hold them all. "It was a great battle, and I learned a lot."
"I'm pleased to hear that." He nodded. "Before you continue on your way, I would that I could speak with you about the other matter the needs addressing."
At hearing this her eyes narrowed and she averted his gaze slightly.
"You're not in trouble, Abrielle." Koga informed her while gesturing for her to follow him. "Let's go somewhere more private to talk. Janine, would you mind steeping some tea?"
"Of course not! I'll be right back." She said cheerfully before bounding off.
The Fuchsia City Gym leader smiled warmly and gestured for Brie to follow him through the remainder of the building, which also served as a school for his students.
Sliding open the back door revealed a quaint and peaceful zen garden, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and focus. It seemed very fitting for someone training to be a ninja, and in direct contrast with the loud exclamation from Janine as she appeared a moment later, the tea tray balanced in her hands and a smile beaming on her face. Setting it down onto the table, she seated herself onto a pillow on the floor while gesturing for Abrielle to do the same. She complied and watched the young aspiring ninja pour a generous cup of tea as her father lowered himself to the floor as well.
"Janine told me you need to 'keep a low profile.'" He started, hardly missing a beat as he took a sip of his tea. "That's a rather unusual situation for someone like yourself. Would you mind elaborating a bit?"
Brie averted his gaze and looked down into her ceramic cup. The smell of the green tea was very subtle, and she could tell it was Sencha based on the coloration. A brief taste proved that she was correct, and this simple reminder of how things used to be – how life in this historic village seemed mostly unchanged, its traditions preserved even as the rest of the world seemed to be modernizing made her pause and feel a bit melancholy.
"I've had run-ins with some . . . shady people that ended up being members of Team Rocket." She said softly, making sure to be as vague as possible without having to lie too much.
Koga said nothing, but Abrielle knew better – he was very perceptive, and she assumed he would be able to tell if she attempted to create falsehoods – the subtle, often unconscious signs of insincerity evident to trained eyes like his. After all, deception through illusion and evasive maneuvers through stealth were the hallmarks of those who had learned the ninja way.
"Apparently the police have been searching for their leader for years. I agreed to help them out by relaying any information I learn about them." Tapping her fingers against the yunomi, tracing the grooves in the ceramic, she added, "But obviously I know that puts me in a more precarious position. If they learn that I am actively cooperating with law enforcement then they might seek me out."
Janine's eyes widened, though she didn't offer any kind of verbal acknowledgment other than a loud sip of tea. Her mind was now overflowing with questions, but she restrained herself, sensing that her father was taking in all of this information with more than a hint of scrutiny.
"So you fear that those around you may become targets as well." The poison-type gym leader finally offered, at which Brie nodded. "I suppose that's plausible, though I'm curious to hear the degree to which your involvement is more personal rather than objective in nature."
Abrielle's eyes finally met his own and she mustered as much resolve as she could in spite of how acutely aware Koga was in his assumption.
"I can't imagine your decision to help wasn't influenced by the role the Rockets played in the loss of your parents." With a much softer expression, his voice doing to little to hide the empathy as he spoke, he added. "And then I wasn't able to save Etsuko . . ."
"You did the best you could, Dad! No one blames you for what happened." Janine chimed in suddenly before turning her attention to Brie. "Right Abrie?"
"Of course not." She replied, though her heart sunk as the memory of her passing came into focus.
"It still haunts me, you know." He grimaced, his head turning toward the direction of the zen garden. "I keep asking myself what else I could have done. You and Leal had already lost so much . . . I wish I could have done more to spare you that additional heartache."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but your apology is unnecessary."Abrielle reminded him once more. "However, what would mean the world to me . . . is if you or Janine wouldn't mind keeping an eye on Hotaru. I really want to see him, but . . ."
"Say no more." Koga interrupted with a nod. "I understand and respect your decision. Rest assured we will continue to watch over him, along with everyone else in this village."
"Thank you, so much." Brie bowed, lowering herself to the floor as best she could. "Really, thank you."
"But I would advise you to steer clear of the Rockets, Abrielle." He said curtly, allowing no room for arguments. "The police have the equipment and the resources needed to track them down, and I believe they will one day in the near future. I implore you not to seek out those criminals or otherwise invite conflict with them into your life."
"Just because you defeated my dad doesn't mean you're strong enough to take them on!" Janine noted. "You gotta promise to stay away from the Rockets, okay?"
Brie swallowed hard as she rose up from the floor, both sets of eyes watching her with unwavering focus. She hated to indulge them with a fabricated promise, but what else could she do? She was in too deep to turn back now, and her mind wouldn't rest until she had taken the syndicate down with her own hands.
"Okay, I'll do my best to avoid them."
Koga nodded, clearly pleased by the answer while his daughter reached across the table and snatched Abrielle's hands in her own.
"Before you go, would you like to learn a few ninja techniques?" She asked with a wink.
Staring blankly back at the young aspiring ninja, Brie was speechless.
"I'll take that as a 'Yes.'" Janine said with a smile. "Alright then, let's go!"
Though she was small in stature, the daughter of the Fuchsia City Gym leader was rather strong, and easily yanked Brie off the floor and pulled her along behind her as they made their way outside to the zen garden.
The remainder of the afternoon was filled with meditation, some light training, and idle conversation. Brie was hopeful that perhaps some of these moves would prove useful in her pursuit of the Rockets, as well as self-defense. She hated to rely on her pokémon more than she needed to, though she had to admit they were exceptionally protective and well-equipped to keep most, if not all threats at bay or eradicate them altogether.
As day turned to dusk, Abrielle thanked Koga and Janine before heading out and continuing her journey, giving one last glance over her shoulder at her home.
The next stop was Saffron City, which brought back painful memories of a shattered childhood that made her throat close and breathing seem difficult. The skyscrapers loomed over her in a foreboding manner, despite how they lit up the sky with their warm light in place of the stars, which seemed almost hidden from view. The golden-hued city was the largest in Kanto, and consequently the busiest. Despite being nighttime, the streets were still filled with people, commuters and locals alike. She thought she might suffocate as she kept her eyes focused on the group of people ahead of her, stepping hastily past the Silph Co. building.
The Saffron City Gym leader had been a rather curious individual, in Brie's humble opinion. She had always imagined that psychics were merely magicians, able to convince people that they could perform miraculous feats, from bending spoons with their minds to seeing into the future. It seemed implausible for humans to be capable of such actions, and Abrielle assumed that what she bore witness to were well-crafted illusions devised by people of higher aptitude and sharp minds.
She began to question this as she battled against the trainers in the gym and Sabrina herself, who seemed to truly possess some sort of clairvoyance or psychic link with her team. Her Alakazam had proven especially challenging, Sabrina touting her supposed "telepathy" as the main means of communication between herself and the impressively strong pokémon. Still, Brie was victorious, her own collective group having continued to push the boundaries and limitations placed upon them.
"I'm speechless." She acknowledged Abrielle with a look of surprise. While generally composed and inexpressive, the shock in her eyes was unmistakable. "I cannot believe that my prediction was wrong. You're quite interesting."
"Thanks . . ." Brie replied awkwardly, not sure if the psychic-type gym leader had intended for it to be a compliment or merely an observation.
"It is unusual," She continued while combing her fingers through her long raven strands. "I'm seldom wrong about things, but I felt this profound sense of ambiguity when you arrived. You're quite a wild card, you know."
A wild card . . .?
"Oh, I've digressed, haven't I?" Sabrina mused, shaking her head a bit. "Apologies."
Retrieving a small, circular badge and outstretching her hand she started anew. "The Marsh Badge is a symbol of the bonds between you and your pokémon besting my psychic connection with my own. Take it and remember the strength of your relationship. May it continue to grow even stronger."
"Thank you." Brie offered a small smile while taking the rich golden-yellow badge and placing it inside of her small box used for storing them. "I'll definitely keep that in mind."
Unknowingly making a pun, Abrielle gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. She hoped she hadn't offended Sabrina. The small smirk threatening to discourage the blank expression on the psychic-type gym leader's face proved otherwise, and Brie laughed nervously as she exited the gym.
With only two badges left to go, Abrielle knew she needed to invest time into more serious training. Based on what she had read, the seventh badge was on Cinnabar Island, which would require her to travel by boat or sea-faring pokémon, or possibly by air. She supposed she could fly there on her Pidgeot, but decided to take ample breaks along the way to her next gym battle. There were many swimmers and fishermen along the way eager to put the kebash on her winning streak, and she made sure to battle each one, claiming the spoils like a true victor and building up her team's levels even further. She even captured a horsea throughout her travels and decided it would be especially useful for both remaining gym leaders. It quickly evolved and proved to be more useful ally than she initially imagined, able to learn dragon type attacks like twister as well as other status inflicting moves.
About a month later, upon thoroughly exploring the Sea Foam islands and such Abrielle set foot on Cinnabar Island. The gigantic volcano was the first thing that caught her eye, and she wondered if it was still active. The sudden grumble she heard and tremors she felt answered her question for her, and she questioned if it was safe enough to stay there just long enough to get her Volcano Badge before hightailing it back to Viridian City. She certainly hoped so, but as the massive structure loomed over the entire island, she couldn't deny the foreboding aura emanating from it.
This initial impression seemed in direct contrast to what immediately followed – a soft, familiar voice acknowledging her from a distance. Turning on her heel, Brie's eyes widened as she caught sight of the speaker.
"It is you – I thought so!" Steven's warm smile lit up his entire face as he approached her, and Abrielle felt her heart flutter a bit in her chest at the way he looked at her. It had been months since they had last spoken to each other, his presence in her immediate sphere of influence waning in light of her new focus on destroying Team Rocket. A delicate flush she couldn't comprehend tinged her cheeks and she felt at a loss for words. Rather than being pleasantly surprised to see him, there was this gnawing sense of anxiety that Brie couldn't place.
It wasn't as if they were bonafide friends – having only had two prior interactions. Yet those run-ins had involved easygoing, lighthearted conversation and genuine socialization for Abrielle, who had starved herself of forming meaningful connections to others out of reluctance. And now . . .
She was a different person, with a newfound, incredibly dangerous objective, and she refused to put anyone in a precarious position because of her choices. Steven had slipped her mind in that regard, but seeing him now reminded her of the need to keep her distance and maintain a less friendly disposition. It was easier said than done, however, as his steely blue eyes twinkled while taking in her face, which she assumed wore a mixture of emotions.
"It's been so long . . . how are you, Abrielle?" He started anew, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Have you been successful in collecting the Kanto gym badges? I imagine so to make it all the way here. . ."
"Steven . . ." Brie didn't know how to proceed. She couldn't exactly shun him outright, and she genuinely enjoyed his company.
I don't want to hurt him, but . . .
"Are you all right?" Steven asked pointedly, though his face was empathetic rather than scrutinizing.
"Y-Yeah, why do you ask?"
"Well, you seem a bit off . . ." Cupping his chin with his hand he studied her a bit. "Are you feeling stressed about something? Or maybe a bit fatigued from your journey?"
Abrielle bit her bottom lip as she considered her words carefully. It was troubling how astute Steven was, especially since he didn't really know her too well.
Am I really that transparent?
"I've just . . . had a lot of things on my mind." She answered finally, trying her best to brush it off as nothing, though she could tell from the now softened expression on his face that he was waiting for her to elaborate. "I guess I'm feeling a bit tired."
"Why don't we grab some lunch at the Pokémon Center? My treat." Steven offered. "It'll give us an opportunity to catch up. I'd love to hear about your journey."
"Maybe another time." Brie countered, wishing she could ignore the tiny shred of disappointment that flickered across his face, and wondering why it bothered her so much to begin with.
"Oh, all right." He sighed a bit, clearly wanting to keep her engaged in the conversation for as long as possible without irritating her. "Maybe tomorrow? I was planning to head home within a day or so, but I wouldn't mind putting it off if you feel up to chatting after some rest."
Upon hearing his words Abrielle felt her chest tighten and her mind feel fuzzy. Steven clearly wasn't receptive to her nonverbal cues and word choice, her efforts to disengage from him only leading him to try harder to keep her there with him.
She didn't know what to do.
Hurting him was literally the last resort, but it seemed like she would have no other choice if he continued backing her into a corner.
"There really isn't that much to say." She lied. "Certainly nothing worth delaying your trip home to hear about."
Steven's smile faded as he saw her turn on her heel a bit. While she tried to seem interested in the trainers talking a few feet away, Steven could sense her deliberately disengaging from the conversation.
"Abrielle . . ."
Something's clearly wrong . . . you're acting so strange.
His voice was barely a whisper as he closed the distance between them and looked directly into her eyes, unwavering focus as he tried to read her and, much to her disappointment, seemed perfectly capable of doing so despite her attempts to nullify his efforts.
"Did something happen?"
Those three words reverberated through her harshly, evoking flashbacks of her confrontations with Archer and the Rockets in Lavender Town and Celadon City.
The rescue mission.
Being poisoned.
Investigating the Game Corner.
Being captured by the Rockets – her bruised ribs still harboring a dull ache, despite being mostly healed at this point.
The conversation with Archer.
The grotesque smile that had warped his face as he drew a parallel between her and her father.
The sense of pride he felt as he confessed to having killed her parents.
It hurts . . . so much.
"You can tell me, Abrielle." Steven said placing his hands firmly atop her shoulders which she hadn't realized had been shaking involuntarily. "I'm happy to listen."
"I-I . . ." Brie shook his hands off of her and took a few steps back. "There's nothing to tell."
"But you're clearly upset about something." He countered while attempting to reach for her once more. "And you might feel better if you-"
"No!" This time the firm rejection was vocalized, and she gasped, placing her hands in front of her mouth and feeling disgust with herself as Steven visibly flinched in response.
". . . I'm sorry." He breathed the words while taking a few steps back. "I was only trying to help, but I can see I crossed a line." Scratching the back of his head while he searched for the words, Brie felt the need to backpedal.
"Please don't do that . . ." Seeing the pained look on his face bothered her too much.
"Do what?" Steven quirked an eyebrow.
"Apologize. You didn't do anything wrong." Brie felt bile rising up into her throat and she shuddered. "It's me, Steven. I'm the problem . . . not you."
"I don't understand." He said while tilting his head a bit. "But even so, I want to help you, Abrielle. I'm sure if I don't have the answer I can point you in the direction of someone who does."
When she remained unresponsive he extended his hand out to her and waited. "Let's get some lunch, at the very least. You need to keep your energy up if you're going to take on the Cinnabar Island Gym leader. From what I've heard he's quite challenging, and he likes riddles and puns, surprisingly."
Brie didn't have the heart to do or say anything that would drive a wedge between them any further. Without saying a word she nodded and finally took his hand. Steven didn't comment on how it was trembling, opting to merely tighten his hold on her, squeezing her hand ever so slightly. He was surprised when he felt her return the gesture and his brows furrowed in concern, sensing her trepidation.
Abrielle . . .
She had been so upbeat and hopeful before, excited even at the prospect of earning more badges and growing stronger.
Something significant must have transpired for her to close herself off so drastically and push him away, but what?
While he wasn't naive - they hadn't known each other for all that long - the way she seemed to be holding back and trying to make a clean getaway was throwing up red flags everywhere.
Let me help you. His mind echoed as he continued to hold fast to her hand, fearing that if he let go of her, it would be the last time he saw her.
He recalled feeling uneasy about watching her disappear into the darkness of Rock Tunnel. Steven couldn't quite place the reasoning behind the apprehension he felt at the time, but seeing Brie like this now made him wonder if that moment had been some type of foreshadowing for things to come. While he had never identified as a clairvoyant, it seemed that his concerns had not been misplaced.
Steven was slightly taken aback, though, by how much seeing her in this state of mind bothered him. Unable to place his finger on the reasoning behind why her crestfallen disposition elicited this strong of a reaction from him, he resigned himself to maintaing his hold on her as he pulled her along after him toward the Pokémon Center.
Against my better judgment, I let you wander off into the darkness once before. Steven thought to himself regretfully as his own stomach twisted into a knot. I won't make that same mistake again.