Sorry this one is coming out late. My day was... busy and this is the first chance I have at posting this. I'm exhausted from everything that happened. I took the car into the shop, went to work and ended the day with a family party. Sadly, it was the side of the family I live closest to, but don't feel welcome with. Isn't that just sad? Still, I try and be happy for what I have because I know there are people who have less then I do. Depression doesn't leave me alone though so yay! Anyway, you're not here to read this, you're here for the chapter! So, read and enjoy!

Warnings: Flashbacks from previous chapter. Talk about abuser. Some talk of what he's done. Effects of what he's done. Running away.

Note: If they're out of character then I am so sorry. I did my best to keep them in character.

Disclaimer: Pokemon wouldn't exist if I owned it. Autumn's mine.

-Autumn's P.O.V.-

Everyone's worried about me because I haven't spoken, with my voice or sign language. All I ever do is nod or shake my head, or shrug. They stopped asking me questions that should have gotten a longer explanation out of me after Monday, but kept watching me. Kiawe was able to come back to class Wednesday, but still couldn't use his right arm and I still didn't say anything. I couldn't even look at him because the sling was so prominent that my eyes immediately went to it and remembered what happened, "He's injured because of you. If you weren't friends, none of this would have happened."

I remembered what he told me every time I even thought about what happened and looking at Kiawe's arm in a sling just made it worse. When I saw the sling and bandages, I could see Milan's smirk and feel Hypno holding me against the tree, "I just wanted to thank you Autumn," Sima's voice echoed in my head, "For saving Kiawe's life," Every time I remembered that after Milan's words and it drove the knife deeper in my heart.

My bangs were no longer clipped to show both my eyes and I barely ever looked up anymore. If I did, everyone would see the bags under my eyes from getting no sleep except for the night it happened and the utter hopelessness in my eyes. Ash, Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet knew a bit of what was affected, since I barely ate anything anymore. Just a bite a day was all I needed and I would be fine. No one knew what to do, especially since they knew what happened from Kiawe (well, most of what happened. They don't know what happened in between the time he passed out and the time Ash and Hobbes arrived), "Autumn," Kiawe told me after school on Friday, when I couldn't get away fast enough, "This isn't your fault."

He said it with so much confidence that I nearly believed him, but Milan telling me it was, came back right after. So, I just nodded and ran off, going to the house for some time alone. I didn't see the despair in his eyes as I ran off, not saying a word or how he nearly followed me. No one knew what I was actually thinking, not even my Pokemon since they wouldn't let me do it. That night, when everyone was asleep, I left. Of course, I left a note telling them what I was doing (sort of) and why (sort of), but the most important thing was that I asked them to take care of my Pokemon.

I wasn't going to let anyone else get hurt because of me ever again.

-Kiawe's P.O.V.-

The phone rang early Saturday morning with a frantic Ash on the line. Dad answered and reported once he hung up, "Autumn's missing," He answered.

Mom instantly stood up, "We'll go help look," And started getting ready to help.

None of us argued as we all went to Melemele Island, "Riolu!" Riolu quickly looked outside once we knocked on the door as Sylveon opened the door.

"She even left her Pokemon?" Mimo asked, knowing that Riolu went with Autumn everywhere.

Ash nodded as we came in, seeing everyone there, worried, "Is there any clue about where she went?" I asked.

Everyone shook their head, "Nothing," Ash frowned, "We just woke up and she was gone!"

"She's not at her house either," Burnet answered, "We already looked there."

"How about we look in the forest?" Lillie asked standing up, "But have someone stay here in case she comes back."

"I'll stay," I offered, wanting to look for any clues before I join.

"Let's go!" Mimo cheered, leading everyone out of the house.

No one found anything that day or the next. On Monday, I was finally out of the sling, but still stayed at the Professor's house. That's when I finally found something. A letter.

Everyone,

By the time you read this, I'll be gone and hopefully you'll never see me again. Don't look for me, please, just forget about me. I'm not going to let any of you get hurt because of me and you should all live your lives happily and not worrying about Milan coming after you. Or worrying about if I'm alright or not.

If you want to know what happened when I was alone, there wasn't much. I was able to break out of Hypno's Psychic hold and knock Milan out. I healed Kiawe as best as I could, but Milan woke back up and told me the truth.

If we weren't friends, Kiawe wouldn't have gotten hurt.

Just please take care of my Pokemon. I don't want them to worry about me anymore. They need to live their lives happily and not worry about me.

~Autumn

I stared at it for a moment, then threw it onto the counter, "Riolu," I told her, "I'm going to go look for Autumn," Riolu followed me out of the house as I called out Charizard, "If Autumn comes back, then tell everyone," And I was gone.

We flew around for a while with no luck until I decided to look at the one place I showed her. Charizard landed a bit aways from the pond so I could look around, "Charizard," Charizard told me and I understood him perfectly at that moment.

"Don't worry Charizard," I told him, petting his snout, "I'll find Autumn and bring her home," Then I called him back. I found her sitting next to the pond, curled up in a ball, "Autumn!" I cried out, running and giving her a quick hug, "I'm so glad you're alright!"

She looked at me in pure shock, then turned the other way, "Why?" She whispered.

"Because you're my friend," I answered honestly, "We're all worried about you and Autumn," I moved so she was looking at me, "Anything he does, doesn't mean it's your fault."

She broke down, "But it is!" She curled up tighter in a ball as tears streamed from her eyes, "He went after you because you're my friend! He's done it to Riolu, but she never let me leave her! I can't have anyone else be hurt because of me! I just can't! He's going to keep coming after you guys to get to me and I don't want anyone hurt! So I have to be alone," Her voice broke from many days of non use and she quickly became quieter, "I have to be alone."

I couldn't take it any more and wrapped her in a hug, "Autumn, no matter the danger," I told her, "I'm still going to be here for you and keep being your friend. No matter how many times you push me away, no matter how many times I get hurt, I'm still going to be here for you. I know the risks and will gladly accept them if only to see you smile just one more time. To have you keep doing what you love and inspire hundreds of people!" Her tears seemed to be getting stronger, but I didn't know if they were happy or sad, "Autumn, you're one of the best people I've ever met. You're as passionate about things and helping others as Wella Volcano that you forget to take care of yourself sometimes. So, please, come back and let us help you."

She cried for a while, then slowly nodded when her tears slowed down, "Please," She pleaded, sounding broken, "I don't want to be alone."

I held her a bit tighter, "As long as I'm alive, you never will be," I answered.

We stayed there for a while, leaving just before the sun started to set. She was asleep by then and everyone was most likely back at the Professor's house reporting what they saw. So, I called out Charizard and flew as smoothly as I could back to the Professor's house, "Kiawe!" Ash asked just before I landed, "Did you find Autumn?!"

I shushed him and carried Autumn past him and into her room, where she relaxed a lot more when her Pokemon surrounded her. I closed the door behind me after drawing the blinds, "I found her," I finally answered.

Ash just opened the door and watched, most likely making sure that Autumn was here and not leaving, "Where was she?" Kukui asked.

"She was at a pond I showed her," I joined Ash in watching, just making sure that it wasn't all in my mind, "She left because she thought that it was her fault for me getting hurt."

"But it wasn't," Mom stated, "It was Milan's."

"Why did she think that?" Gladion asked, curious.

He still didn't know who Milan really was, but so did most of the parents here as well, "Milan is Autumn's father," Ash answered, finally moving from the door and closing it, "He wants her back and will do anything to make sure he gets her. Even go after us."

Mallow's father was confused, "If he's her father, how come she's not staying with him?"

Lana, Mallow, Sophocles, Lillie, my parents, the professors and I gained sad looks, "He abused her," I answered, "And killed her mom right in front of her."

The ones who didn't know gasped in shock, "He's on every region's most wanted list," Ash continued, "So if anyone sees him, they call the cops, but he keeps avoiding capture."

We had to stop some of them going out there and finding him themselves since it wouldn't do any good, "Right now, let's help Autumn," Lillie calmed them down.

Although we had to leave soon after that since we all couldn't stay here the night. When I woke up the next day, I quickly finished my chores and went to visit Autumn to see how she was doing. She was sitting on a chair next to Ash who was training, "Alola Kiawe!" Ash waved

"Alola," I waved back, "How're you doing today?"

"Tired," Autumn answered, "But feeling a bit better."

"That's understandable," I nodded as Ash went back to training, but kept an eye on us, "My mom asked me to thank you again for what you did for me. And to stop blaming yourself since it wasn't your fault."

She deflated a bit at that, "Yeah, that's what everyone's been trying to tell me ever since I woke up an hour ago. They're also trying to get me to eat," Which was shown when her Pokemon came towards us with lunch for both Ash and Autumn no doubt (probably me as well since the Professors were watching us from the porch), "But I'm not hungry."

I smiled, "That's alright. Just work up to it again. One bite at a time."

She chuckled and ate a small berry, but nothing more, "I don't think anyone is going to leave me alone for a while," She admitted.

I nodded, "Riolu's coming with us wherever we go on a date."

She blinked, surprised, "Y-you still want to go out with me?"

"Of course," I faced her, confused, "Why wouldn't I?" The look she gave me made it clear, "I don't care that Milan is your father. I like you, and you're ten times better than he'll ever be."

"Thank you," She told me, giving me another hug.

Eventually, we joined Ash with training, but made sure Autumn wasn't over doing it. She didn't have a lot of energy and took multiple 10-30 minute naps throughout the day, "It's because she doesn't eat enough," Ash answered when I asked about it, concerned, "She'll be able to stay up all day when she eats a whole meal."

"Has this happened before?" I asked quietly, making sure we didn't wake her up.

Ash nodded, "When we first met. She wasn't able to stay awake all day and when we figured out why, we sort of made a schedule."

I left an hour before sunset and was excited for school the next day. Ash and Autumn arrived last, "Autumn!" Everyone was relieved that she didn't run away again.

"Alola," She waved a little as she sat at her desk, "Sorry I worried you all."

"Are you alright?" Mallow asked, "You seem tired."

"I'm sure Professor Kukui won't mind if you sleep in class today," Lana smiled.

"If you want I can make it look like you're fully awake the entire time," Sophocles suggested.

"I'm fine, promise," She smiled, but I could tell she didn't like everyone worrying about her, "Just had a rough night."

"Don't worry," Lillie smiled, "Professor Kukui told us that today's lesson would be easy."

"Alola," Professor Kukui came in.

"Alola!" We all called back.

Autumn was nervous almost all day, looking at the door or out the balcony constantly, like something was going to come or happen at any moment, "Autumn," Mallow asked, "Are you alright? You seem more stressed than usual."

None of us wanted to admit it, but she was most likely worried that her father would appear at any moment to hurt us. We all knew it, which is why we were already prepared, "I'll be fine," Autumn smiled, but it was strained, "Just still tense."

"Alright class," Professor Kukui came back in, "Who's ready to learn some martial arts?"

Autumn instantly knew what was going on as everyone agreed, "First," Ash took charge since Autumn didn't know about it until just now, "Let's review what we already know."

That was the first real smile we saw on Autumn, and it didn't dim once for the rest of the day.