I first saw Her when I was bringing back food for Teacher.

Three figures, walking through the jungle - a big, old human, a smaller white haired human and a Ralts. Wary of losing my prize - a fat, juicy berry from the kind lady in town - I snuck behind a tree, waiting for them to pass.

"Hey there!" a voice sprung up behind me, causing me to drop my berry in shock.

"Hsssss!"

My first response to being poke in the back was a fireball to Her face. Without waiting to see the girl's response, I darted off, pausing only to pick up the berry I dropped. It only took me a short while to reach the dilapidated hovel that my Teacher and I called home.

"I'm home!"

My mentor's bark-like cough answered me and I frowned. That sounded worse than he usually did. Silently, I made my way to the sofa that my father figure usually rested on. I was met with a mountain of cream colored fur, his form, which used to ripple with strength, now lay lifelessly on his cushioned perch. Kind, wise eyes met my own as I pushed the berry towards him. He looked at it for a second before biting it in half and pushing the remaining portion towards me.

"You need it more than I do, Teacher!"

He just grunted at me, his breath coming out in short wheezes.

"It is a poor teacher who lets his charge starve to take care of himself."

The coughing fit he suffered just for speaking that much filled my heart with guilt. It must have showed on my face for he simply chuckled at me.

"Come, little one, show me how much your fire has grown."

With visible effort, he rose onto his haunches and started padding towards the door. I sighed, but obediently walked after him, only to bump into his back.

"Teacher, what-"

"Quiet, little one."

He sniffed the air, as though searching for an intruder in our home. I sniffed, trying to find the scent that my mentor was sensing, only to find nothing out of the ordinary.

"Eh, this is an interesting place you have here, Litten, Stoutland."

"Mraaaw!"

I spun in shock, staring at the girl who somehow made it past my Teacher and I, and was now sitting on the couch. Gathering my inner flames as my mentor taught me, I prepared to launch another Ember at the interloper, only to be interrupted when Teacher padded softly towards the girl and barking out a question. I could see the tension in his body as he stood between me and the girl protectively. I snorted. As if such a tiny human could even hurt me.

The girl studied my Teacher closely and I could sense that despite his weakened state, Teacher was fully prepared to pounce if she proved to be a threat.

Then, there was blood.

There was no warning, just a sudden spray of blood as the girl, no the monster, slashed my Teacher in the face. For a second, I stood there, horrified. Then the horror turned to rage and I could feel the flames that have eluded me for so long start to burn within.

"You!"

As I prepared to unleash my wrath on the monster, I found myself unable to move, held in place by some outside force.

"Hehehe~ How lucky, to be touched by the Light in such a way~ Ahhhh, I'm so jealous~"

The psychic type walked into view, its horn glowing showing that my current predicament was its work.

"Are you mad? Let me go! I have to help him! That monster's gonna kill him!"

It turned to me, pity and annoyance in its eyes.

"I shall forgive your words, just this once, but insult the Glorious Light in my presence again," I felt myself floating towards the Ralts until we were nose to nose, "and I will erase you from this world. Now, watch and be amazed at the works of our Lady and Saviour!"

I hung in the air helplessly as the monster girl cut open my Teacher and, closes him back up? What? I stared in increasing amazement as wounds opened and closed on my Teacher's flesh.

"Truly, my Light at work is the most beautiful thing to behold~ To feel Her knives on my flesh as She reknits my body to suit Her purposes, ahhhh, I wish that was me instead."

After what seemed like forever, the girl stopped her bloody work, stared at my Teacher's prone form and nodded to herself.

"Umu! That should do the trick. Try getting up!"

With a grunt of effort, my Teacher stood up on all fours, looking bloody but, somehow, emanating the presence of strength he used to have before his illness struck. It was a miracle, a bloody one, but a miracle nonetheless.

"I see that you too have seen the Glory of Her Light. Come and join me in showing Her gratitude in the way She prefers."

I plopped down on the ground as the Ralts let me go, toddled over to Her and gave Her leg a hug. A strange way to show Her gratitude but, seeing my Teacher looking stronger than ever, I decided not to question it and join the hug. She seemed delighted and pulled my Teacher into our little cuddle pile.

And that was how Teacher and I found our Trainer. Truly, She was mysterious and, at times, terrifying, but if Ralts was to be believed, then Her head must be filled with eldritch wisdom! Teacher taught me to harness my fire, and Ralts taught me of the Glory of Her Light, what might I learn from Her, who cured my Teacher with blessed weapons?

I nodded to myself, sure that our new Trainer was a wise and honorable being.

POMF!

"Lillie! Come join me, he's so warm and fluffy!"

"Eh? B-but, I can't-"

"Aww, come on! You can touch Snowy now can't you?"

"But he's so big!"

"And fluffy! Don't forget fluffy!"

I barked out a laugh. While the procedure was painful, the results spoke for itself. I haven't felt this spry in years. But even then, I mused as I watched my trainer try to pull her friend to my admittedly fluffy fur, it would be an honor to watch this young one grow up as well. Now if only I could convince the two little ones that no, our trainer was not a Goddess who descended to the world to deliver righteous judgment, all would be well.

I glared at Stoutland as he sat there, obviously enjoying his time as Her designated throne. No matter, when I evolve into a Gardevoir, I'm sure that She would prefer to sit on me rather than my fluffy new teammate. Until then, I shall enjoy the fluffy sensation of this temporary throne at my Light's side.