A/N: My fanfic has an illustrated cover for each chapter, but since FFN doesn't allow inserting images nor does it accept links within the fanfic itself, please head over to my tumblr (carefreejules) if you'd like to see the covers!

Memory Chapter II - Secrets

As a punishment for what happened on the beach, Lee was told to stay at the inn while his mom and brother went to Lilycove City where an amusement park was in town for the next few weeks. The punishment could have been a lot worse, but he couldn't help but feel a little left out from the rides and carnival food. At the same time, he couldn't blame his mom for feeling a bit protective. After all, he was always away from home due to his duties as Champion, so knowing that he would be staying put at the inn, gave his mom peace of mind. Before the trip, his mom made it very clear to him that this was going to be a family vacation, so he wasn't allowed to use his phone either. It saved him the stress of having to be reminded of any appointments or meetings, but not being able to contact his friends back in Galar made the disconnect from technology a bit more lonely.

He wandered through the halls of the inn, slowly beginning to recognize where everything was so he didn't need to call out to Odin for directions to the dining hall. Even though lunch had just started, most of the tables were already taken by other guests of the hotel. He spotted J sitting at a table by the window and hoped she wouldn't mind his company.

"Hey J!"

"Oh! What's up, Lee?" She looked up from her plate of pasta and gave him a cheerful grin.

"Not much. Mind if I sit with you for lunch?"

"I don't mind!"

"Thanks." He quickly went over to the open buffet to grab a burger and a plate full of fries before taking a seat across from her. She looked around the dining hall for any sign of his mom or Hop, but it was just him again.

"Your mom and brother are still giving you the silent treatment?"

"Sort of. I have to stay here for the day while they go to the amusement park in Lilycove City."

He didn't know if he was imagining things, but he swore he saw her hand twitch from what he said – specifically what, he didn't know but he wasn't going to pry into her personal business if she wasn't willing to share.

"Aww. That sucks. I was actually supposed to go too with Courtney and my uncle but I changed my mind."

OK, he would be lying if he wasn't even a little bit curious.

"How come?"

Her eyes dropped to her plate of pasta, poking at the noodles aimlessly as her voice grew soft and distant. "Lilycove City is where I used to live with my parents. I...don't have the best relationship with them anymore, so I live with my auntie and uncle now."

Oh. Now he felt bad for making her bring it up. "...Sorry. You didn't have to bring it up if you didn't want to."

J shot him a reassuring small smile. "If I didn't want to bring it up, I wouldn't have said anything." She resumed eating her food, but with a lot less cheer than when he first greeted her. "But, I don't want to bring you down either."

"Don't worry about me." He shyly scratched the side of his cheek. "Listening is what friends do, don't you think?"

Her smile perked up at that. "Friends?"

"...Am I pushing it?"

"...No. I don't think so. I think we're past acquaintances at this point. But, as your new friend, it's only fair that you unpack some of your own secrets. Ones you're willing to share, obviously."

"Secrets..." His biggest obvious secret was that he was Champion of the Galar region, but based on experience, that was something that influenced people's opinions of him. He already had enough of that back home. But...something about J made him want to trust her. The way she spoke of her family felt genuine, and with family issues of his own, it wasn't easy to disclose such personal history.

"I guess for me, my dad left when my brother was only a few months old. My mum never told me why but, she basically had to raise my brother and I on her own with some help from our grandparents." He closed his eyes and leaned his chin on the palm of his hand. "Once I became old enough to take on more responsibilities, I vowed to do everything I could so my family could rest easy. I wanted to be someone they could rely on."

"Someone to rely on, huh..." J repeated to herself. Though their upbringings were different, the ideals of who they wanted to be were similar. She wanted to be someone that people could believe in, unconditionally. And in return, she wanted to give them hope for their own dreams and aspirations. Despite the bitter taste that was left behind from pursuing a life that she thought would give her that satisfaction, she wanted to believe that she could still make a name for herself in her own way.

"I think I can relate a little. To put it bluntly, I pale in comparison to what my older brother has accomplished."

"You have an older brother?"

"Yeah...There's quite a large age gap between us. 12 years. So, I was never particularly close to him. But, my parents adored him. He was everything they ever wanted. Smart, kind, and successful." She swallowed the large lump that rose in her throat, her voice shaky from sadness. "I wanted my parents to look at me the way they looked at my brother. And they did at one point, but I burned out too quickly. Like a firework."

Arceus, was she really going to spill everything about her emotional baggage to a boy she met two days ago? Perhaps it was a sign of how lonely she really was. No amount of fake smiles she wore could truly cover up the incompetence she felt. Maybe she should give her therapist a call later...

"Hey," Lee softly called out to her. J hesitantly lifted her head, not wanting him to see the pool of tears that were overflowing in her eyes. His smile was warm and friendly, and his golden eyes gazed at her sympathetically.

"I think you shine in your own way. So what if you aren't like your brother? Seeing how hard you work around your aunt's inn, and how adventurous you were when you showed me all the Pokemon underwater – you made a unique impact on me that no one else can."

"...Really? I don't think I did anything special..."

"I don't need anything special."

J opened her mouth to retort. But, there was nothing.

I don't need anything special.

Those words echoed in her head over and over, and she felt an unfamiliar feeling stirring in her chest. It wasn't constricting, it wasn't suffocating. Her heart felt...relaxed. Like she could finally recognize that she was enough. Her every day gestures of kindness and generosity were enough.

She took a few shaky breaths before finally looking at him in the eyes and speaking from the bottom of her heart, "Thank you, Lee."

"...That's better." His grin widening.

"Huh? What is?"

"Your smile. Everyone looks better with a genuine smile."

She choked on her laughter, which dispelled the tears from her eyes. "I think so too. Sorry for being so depressing. I swear I'm not always like this."

"We all have our moments. Here, let's talk about something more fun. You also have a Swampert and Flygon, huh? My best friend back home has a Flygon too! He's a big fan of Dragon Pokemon."

"Flygons are great! Tiki in particular is really friendly and doting. Maybe you can take a picture of my uncle's Salamence? As a souvenir for your friend!"

"That'd be awesome! I've always wanted to see one myself but you can't find them in Galar."

"Really? Why's that?"

Time was lost to them, as they chatted on and on about their mutual love for Pokemon through the afternoon and into the evening. Tiffany did her usual rounds to check up on her employees, when she stopped to watch her niece talking fervently to the boy from before. She couldn't hear what they were talking about, but the excited smiles and the twinkling in their eyes was very telling of their chemistry. She couldn't recall the last time she saw her niece looking so alive and upbeat.

The sight warmed her heart and made her eternally grateful for the positive impact he was making on J. However, she couldn't help but feel some bitter sweetness from it all, knowing that he would have to go back home eventually.

Perhaps she could arrange something with Lee's mother to help the two keep in touch.

"Whoa! I've never seen a Rhyperior or Haxorus in person before." J gawked at the two intimidating Pokemon. A Charizard, Aegislash, Rhyperior, Haxorus, and Dragapult. He had one powerhouse of a team that it was clearly evident that he was a serious Pokemon trainer. Dragapult was the only Pokemon she didn't recognize and gulped nervously at the sheer height of it.

She would be lying if she wasn't a tad overwhelmed.

"I have a Pokemon too!" Hop interrupted while tossing his own Pokeball that released a Wooloo. J pursed her lips in awe at the fluffy sheep and bent down to run her hand through its thick wool.

"It's so cute! So, this is a Wooloo? What an adorable name too."

"When we're older, we're going to take on the Pokemon League where I'm gonna beat-" Lee's hand clamped over his brother's mouth to stop him from finishing that sentence. His brother was not going to blurt out his title like this!

"Ha ha! Your Wooloo's so cute, right Hopscotch? Isn't it your nap time? Why don't you take a nap with it in our room?" He hissed hastily.

"I'm not a baby anymore, Lee! I don't need a nap!"

J watched confusingly as the brothers continued to bicker back and forth. Typical sibling stuff, she supposed. If she and her older brother were closer in age, what would their fights have looked like? It made her feeling strangely nostalgic just thinking about it, despite not knowing her brother all that well now that she thought about it. She jolted out of her thoughts when she felt two small Pokemon perch on her shoulders. Looking closely, she recognized them as the Pokemon that were peeking out of Dragapult's horns.

"Hey there, lil' fellas." She cooed, stroking both of their heads with her finger. "Hey Lee, what Pokemon are these?"

Lee pulled himself out of his sibling's spat and turned his attention back to her. "They're called Dreepy! They're Dragapult's babies."

"Babies, huh? Can they fight too?"

"Yeah! Dragapult shoots them from his horns."

"He shoots them?!"

"Relax! They're stronger than they look and if anything, they think it's fun when it happens."

"Is that so..." Pokemon were so strange, but so endearing at the same time. The Dreepys chirped happily around her before playfully burying themselves in the hood of her hoodie. J cautiously looked up at the looming presence of the Dragapult to make sure he was OK with where his children were. He didn't seem to mind, based on his gentle smile and small nod.

"You must take really good care of your Pokemon for them to be so friendly around strangers."

"Thanks, but I think Pokemon in general will trust whoever their trainer is associated with. Besides, you're not a stranger." Lee approached her Swampert and Flygon, who looked at him curiously. Her Pokemon on the other hand, were a bit more on guard, but out of protectiveness towards her. Tiki lowered her head to let Lee cradle and stroke her head while Hajime allowed him to pet his head fins. Odin surprised him from behind, climbing up his back and leaning his body over his shoulder.

"Your Pokemon are pretty friendly as well. Do they participate in Pokemon battles? They look pretty tough and experienced."

J twiddled her thumbs anxiously. He could tell just from looking at them? He was a more seasoned trainer than she gave him credit for. She bit her lip, wondering what kind of excuse she could use that wouldn't give away her past Champion status. Regardless of what excuse she came up with, she had a feeling he was going to ask for a Pokemon battle.

"...I used to be a Pokemon trainer but, I'm repaying my aunt for taking me in by helping out around the inn so I haven't really battled in awhile."

"Do you miss it? Battling, I mean."

That...was a hard question. Or rather, she never really thought about it. She gave up on being a Pokemon trainer to escape the ugliness that came from being under the competitive spotlight. But...she never really thought about her feelings towards battling itself. Breathing steadily, she tried to recall what she felt during Pokemon battles.

Don't think about who was watching.

Don't think about who was judging.

Think only about your Pokemon and yourself.

The look of trust her Pokemon gave her for each command, the look of pride that danced in their eyes from defeating a Pokemon and being praised.

That feeling of power in her hands that she could take on the whole world. It was so...gratifying and accomplishing, like she was finally capable of something in her life. The strength she displayed was wholly hers,

And yet...

"...A little. And I think my Pokemon miss it too."

"Then," Lee beckoned his Charizard to his side and affectionately stroked his snout. His golden eyes flared up with fierce determination. "Let's have a battle!"

She wanted to shrink away from his intense gaze, but it was hard to look away from how confident and proud he looked. How was she supposed to respond to a fiery invitation like that? Could she even hold a candle to him? Did he already forget that she wasn't a Pokemon trainer anymore?

"I know you said you aren't a Pokemon trainer anymore, but what's the harm in a little fun?" He extended his hand out to her, the fire in his eyes softening enough so his passion didn't overwhelm her. "Will you battle me?"

J stared at his hand and then at her own. Just for fun...Yeah, she could do that. She wasn't battling for a title or reward.

She wanted to battle for herself. For her Pokemon.

The confidence from back then that she thought had long faded away, came back. Like it was there all along. Taking a bold step forward, she grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Flashing a proud smile, she levelled his competitive fire with her own.

"You're on."

It was down to the wire. Despite being at a type advantage, Lee's Charizard was fast and had the aerial advantage against her Swampert, who wasn't nearly as agile but made up for it with his special defense.

"You're really putting up a fight, J, but I'm going to wrap this up. Charizard, use Air Slash!"

"Cut through it with Ice Beam!" J commanded. Her Swampert cut through the attack with a beam of ice that narrowly missed Charizard's wing. Damnit.

"Charge up Solar Beam!"

"Protect!" But she had already used Protect too many times that her Swampert didn't have the energy or speed to put up the barrier to protect itself. Charizard unleashed Solar Beam straight at the Swampert, who tried to protect itself with it's thick arms but couldn't withstand the force and blasted back from the super effective move.

"Hajime is unable to battle! The winner is Lee!" Hop cheered, running up to his brother and barrelling into his chest for a big hug. Lee laughed merrily at his brother's enthusiasm and swung him around in victory. J watched with a small smile, shoulders sagging in defeat. She went over to her ace and tended to his wounds with a Hyper Potion. Hajime looked up at her apologetically but she wrapped her arms around him affectionately. He fought proudly and with all of his might and she was so proud of him.

"Don't be sad, Hajime. You were awesome out there! Did it feel good to battle again?" She asked. Hajime beamed at his trainer in response and nudged her adoringly. Even after all this time, he was still as tough as ever, and clearly shone his brightest on the battlefield. Tiki and Odin gathered around them, cooing and happily cheering for their trainer, despite the loss. She wondered if they could sense her small change of heart towards battling.

All this time she spent moping and wallowing in self-pity, her Pokemon's talents and skills were going to waste. The realization made her heart ache, but it only drove her to pick herself up and rise once again. Whether that was towards competitive battling, or something else – she would figure it out.

There was no rush. She'll find her way, one step at a time.

"J!" Lee jogged over to her. He beamed at her just as brightly as her Pokemon were. "I...I had no idea you could battle like that! I'll be honest, I may have underestimated you a bit."

"Aha...Well, you've helped reignite my fire that I thought was gone. I'm a little surprised myself." She replied, bashfully rubbing her arm.

"I'm glad. The way you carried yourself and your Pokemon...Are you sure you don't want to go back to being a Pokemon trainer? I think it suits you a lot more. Don't get me wrong, I think helping with your aunt's inn is really nice of you but...I think you can go far with that kind of strength."

"You think so?"

"For sure! Hell, I think I'm already a fan."

"Ahaha...Thank you, Lee. I don't know if I'll battle professionally but, I don't want to dull my Pokemon's skills anymore than I already have." J looked up to the bright blue sky, eyes brimming with hope and optimism. "I'm going to start believing in myself again."

"That's the spirit! I can't wait to see where you go from here. And until then, promise you'll battle me again?" Lee held up a closed fist out to her. J knocked her fist against his with no hesitation.

"You bet!"