A/N: Team Roster: Jackson (Raboot), Sap (Vikavolt), Hudson (Mudsdale), Rosa (Bellossom), Mateo (Riolu), Dia (Meowstic)

Chapter 13 - Tinge of Pink

Yeah this was getting weird.

Well not that she was weird, or, or that they were weird, or… or something. It was probably normal for her heart to be beating so fast. It was… probably just another Spritzee, or something, that was making it clatter against her chest. Yeah that was it. That was why her heart was beating so hard with Hop holding her hand like that.

Dolly's heart thrummed as they stepped through the forest, the dark shadows and neon turquoise mushrooms speckling their path forward. She wished it weren't beating so hard, honestly, because that would probably make her hand less sweaty. She wondered if Hop noticed.

"I think we're almost there," he said, smiling back at her. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

There was that soft smile again. She wondered how high her blood pressure was at that point. Ever since they woke up that morning, it was like her heart rate sky-rocketed and consistently stayed at one billion beats per minute. She remembered back to the moment it spiked.

It was that morning, three seconds after she opened her eyes. After their eventful evening with the Impidimps and Spritzee, she and Hop fell into quite a peaceful sleep. She wondered if that Spritzee's Sweet Scent helped them sleep so well, but Dolly couldn't think about it at the time because as soon as she woke up, they were both still leaning against Hudson. What was different this time, however, was how she woke up with her arm flung over his torso and her face in the crook of his neck. Her skin tingled where his arms were draped around her waist, hugging her against him, but it was nothing compared to the explosion of Butterfree flapping furiously in her gut.

She had bolted off of him, stumbling into the soot of their old campfire. Apparently, he was already awake and tried to sputter out an explanation.

"Sorry! Sorry Dolls, I-I, uh, I tried to move over, but you just kept… you just kept clinging onto me like that so I kind of gave up. I didn't really want to wake you up, because you and Jackson just seemed so tired and… and um… and comfortable, so I just, I just left you like that. Sorry,"

"Um. Right. Me too. Sorry."

"You both sound like idiots!" Jackson had yelped from his own spot on the ground. She had tossed him off unceremoniously when she bolted away from Hop.

She couldn't say either of them were the most eloquent individuals, but even this was pathetic. Guess that odd flapping feeling hadn't left with the Spritzee either. He was her best mate, always had been, and it's not like they had never hugged before, so why was this suddenly feeling so weird?

Dolly shook the thought out of her head, delicately stepping down the dirt path. It couldn't be much farther to Ballonlea. Half of her wanted to be there in the next twenty seconds so she wouldn't die from a heart attack, but the other half of her really didn't mind it was taking so long, as Hop's hand around hers was kind of comforting.

Though it was becoming increasingly difficult, Dolly tried to think about anything that wasn't Hop. Not about his eyes, not about his lips, not about his smile, but it was certainly challenging when he was holding her hand like that. They had hugged in the past, sat next to each other in the past, but this was the first time in her life that Dolly held hands with him.

At first, she had tried to refuse the whole hand-holding deal, trying to ride on Hudson and let her Mudsdale be her guide while she was glasses-less. Unfortunately for her, her eight-foot, two thousand-pound Mudsdale didn't exactly fit nicely through the tangled brush and branches. Her mind flashed back to that moment.

"Come on, don't be daft," Hop had huffed, looking up to her from the ground. "Hudson's too big to make it through this part of the forest."

"I can't see anything, Hop, and he can. You want me to run into trees or off a cliff?"

"Not sure how many cliffs there are around here," Hudson stated from beneath her.

"You know that would actually be pretty funny," Hop said, scratching his chin.

"You're lucky you're only a fuzzy blob or I'd smack that smirk I know is on your face,"

"Come on, Dolls, get down, I'll help you through,"

"And how do you expect that to happen?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Just hold my sleeve or bag or something, easy."

When Hudson stopped in his steps forward, she grumbled again and swung her leg over. When she started to slide down, Hudson tilted too far to the side and Dolly scrambled to catch herself. She squeezed her eyes shut in expectation of the hard ground, or maybe on a branch or something as was her luck, but instead fell into something much softer. When she opened her eyes, she was met with Hop's face, much closer and in much more detail than he was a second ago. She cleared her throat.

"Uh, nice catch."

"Reflexes like a Liepard," he grinned, setting her on her feet. "Now come on, our adoring fans are waiting on us,"

Dolly returned Hudson to his Poké Ball and took another step forward. A branch appeared out of the ground beneath her and her shoe caught on it, catapulting her forward again straight into Hop. He caught her fluidly, bracing her with ease.

Yep okay his stomach was firm too and Dolly made a mental note to forget that.

"Bit clumsy today, huh? You really must have a terrible prescription," Hop said, lifting her to her feet again.

The heat burned in her cheeks and she could only bring herself to nod and look at anything that wasn't her mate in front of her. Then, she saw a flash of pink Pokémon fur rustling back into the bushes and her eyes widened. Is that where that branch came from...?

It did not take long for him to switch her from holding his sleeve to holding his hand. 'Since you can't seem to take two steps without falling,' he had defended himself at the time.

And so, there they were, hand-in-hand, stepping through the glow of the Glimwood Tangle. She wished she could ignore how her hand fit in his with their fingers interlocked like that. Specks of light were fluttering down from the tree canopy, cascading around them like an odd summer snow. Their path was highlighted by a trail of mushrooms, each giving off a bright neon glow. The air was sweet again as she glanced up at Hop.

He had the ghost of a smile on his lips as he was walking forward, his cheekbones highlighted by the alternating yellows, blues, and pinks of the forest. When he met her eyes, she looked away.

They continued, leaves and twigs crunching under their feet as they traveled to Ballonlea. She stepped on a few leaves and they offered a satisfying crunch. The sweet smell was wafting around them again, and Dolly breathed in the scent of vanilla. After a few more minutes of walking, their path had divulged into two, one leading left, and one leading right.

"Hmm," Hop hummed, unconsciously brushing his thumb back and forth on her skin. The motion made her nerves tingle.

Yep, time to ignore that too.

"Right or left?" he asked, turning to her.

Dolly squinted her eyes. The path on the left was a fuzzy dark green, and the path on the right was a fuzzy dark green.

"I don't know why you keep asking me this," she sighed.

"It's funny."

"You're a twit. Maybe Mateo can help us decide, he has excellent intuition," she said, releasing her hand from his. She reached into her bag, pulled out Mateo's Poké Ball, and her Riolu appeared before them, a small spot of blue against the dark brown of the ground.

"Hey buddy," she smiled, squatting down to pet him on the head. "My glasses broke last night, and I can't see anything, and Hop is as good as useless. Can you help us decide which path to take to get to Ballonlea?"

Mateo grinned and his head bobbed up and down. Immediately he started towards the right, guiding the pair down the path. Hop nonchalantly slipped his hand into hers again, and their fingers wove together. He was so casual, so natural, and that confidence in his movements made her cheeks heat up again.

As soon as she blushed, Mateo looked back. He glanced from his Trainer, down to their hands, and although he was awfully blurry, Dolly thought she saw the hint of a smile.

"At least you match now," he said, pulling a branch from Dolly's path.

"What?"

"Oh, nothin'," he grinned, skipping ahead of them to move more brush off the path.

Dolly swallowed again, trying her best to be inconspicuous when glancing at Hop. Why did he seem different now? What was it about this forest that made her best friend somehow seem… new?

"Dolly, can Jackson come out and play?" Mateo asked, tearing her from her thoughts.

"Um, no, sorry Mateo," she said, glancing away guiltily. "He's... sleeping."

Sweat pricked on her brow as Mateo eyed her. He could probably see right through her lie. In all reality, she didn't want Jackson out because he kept asking her about why she lied about what the Spritzee said and kept asking why she kept looking at Hop. Then he asked why he was hugging her when they woke up and then he asked why she freaked out and then he asked why her cheeks were so pink and then he asked for some fruit snacks and then he asked why Hop's cheeks were so pink and then he asked why Hop kept looking at her and then she returned him to his Poké Ball. She did give him some fruit snacks, though.

"Is it because you don't want him to talk about you holding hands with Hop?"

Yeah, he saw right through her. That didn't take long.

"Uh-"

"Don't worry," Mateo smiled. "I'll tell him not to. I'm glad you're holding hands with Hop, your aura is really happy. Can he hold my hand too? I want my aura to be that happy."

Dolly paused, processed, then let out a laugh as affection for her little Riolu blossomed in her heart. She squeezed Hop's hand and he looked back at her.

"Hop, Mateo wants to know if you'll hold his hand too,"

Hop paused as well. A grin spread onto his face as his eyebrows pulled together.

"Aw, of course, little guy!"

Her Riolu beamed and grabbed Hop's hand, swinging it forward as they walked.

She wondered what time it was. Neither of their phones worked in the forest, nor did any other bit of technology they had, and the canopy of trees was thick. There was no way to tell if it was day or night, and Dolly decided that the Glimwood Tangle certainly was an odd place.

They traveled through the forest, battling a few Fairy-types. Mateo was growing stronger, and Dolly was sure he was bound to evolve soon. He was going to be their main Pokémon for her battle with the Fairy Gym, and perhaps after that he would become a Lucario. She was surprised Jackson hadn't evolved yet either, he was probably due soon as well.

"Can Jackson come out and play now, Dolly? Pleeeaassee?" Mateo asked, releasing Hop's hand and grabbing onto hers. She looked down to his big orange eyes as his lower lip stuck out.

Well how on earth was she supposed to say no with those big, sweet eyes looking up at her like that? She rolled her eyes and tossed out Jackson's Poké Ball.

"Why are you holding hands?!" Jackson yelled the second he appeared before them.

"Stop, Jackson, don't talk about it!" Mateo protested, shoving his friend.

The Raboot and Riolu bounded around Dolly and Hop as they walked through the forest. Hop cheered on her Pokémon as they raced to specific trees, and Mateo continuously won, even after a dozen races. When Jackson kicked at the ground in frustration, Hop knelt down to give him a pep-talk about being excited for his friend and how ace it was that he had a rival to challenge him. After that, Jackson hugged Mateo and thanked him for being an 'ace rival,' and Mateo said 'I'm an ace rival? You're an ace rival!'

Dolly bit back a smile, affection blooming in her heart for the three before her.

"You're amazing," Dolly told Hop as he stood and wove his hand around hers again.

It was Hop's turn to blush as he scratched at the back of his neck.

"I mean it," she smiled, curling her other hand around his arm. "You're so good at encouraging everyone you're around. You're attentive and always know just what to say."

"Dolls," he grumbled, his cheeks flaring a deep red.

"I think you're strong in the best ways," she continued. "I hope you don't believe what Bede said, and I really hope you don't think you're rubbish."

He stopped, turning to her as his brows pulled together. Dolly tried to look at him as sincerely and as earnestly as he had for her so many times. Leaves fluttered around them, flickering in the light of the glowing mushrooms and she set her hands on his arms.

"You're not useless, Hop, far from it. It broke my heart when I heard you say that. I can't even tell you how much you have helped me throughout this whole journey - throughout my whole life. Leon is Leon, and you are you. He may be your older brother, but I hope that you will one day understand how amazing you are."

She beamed at him. He watched her, his brow furrowed and his mouth hanging open. She wondered what he was thinking. Instead of asking, she pulled him into a hug, and his arms paused, then wound around her.

"Thank you," he said, breathing out half a laugh.

"Just returning the favor," she smiled, stepping back.

His hands hovered over her waist as he stood, still gazing at her with that odd expression. She couldn't wonder about it long, however, as suddenly something snaked across her ankles.

She glanced down and was met with glowing red eyes. Their light pulsed in the air, hellish and ethereal. She screamed and scrambled back, trying to put as much distance between her and the wild Phantump as possible. Jackson and Mateo bolted to her, but Hop already called dibs and he caught it enthusiastically, excited to add another member to his ever-growing team. Dolly was still trying to catch her breath when he tossed his new team member out of the Poké Ball again.

"Look how cute he is!" Hop beamed, holding his Phantump up to Dolly. "I've never had a Ghost-type before,"

She took a startled step backwards, eyeing the Ghost Pokémon and how its tail faded into the air. The Phantump's glowing red eyes bore into her and he let out a small cry. The sound was just like a child's, yet it carried a strange, paranormal undertone. The hair on her neck stood on end, and she couldn't swallow past the knot in her throat as her breathing quickened.

"You can't seriously be scared of this little guy?" Hop asked incredulously. He smirked as he stepped towards her, wiggling the Phantump in front of her face.

"H-Hop, don't!" Dolly stuttered, her eyebrows pulling together.

"Come on, he's so small!"

Dolly tripped and backed against a tree. When the Phantump cried again, she shoved her hands up to cover her ears and her blood felt like it was turning cold as the sound reverberated around her skull. When Hop took another mischievous step toward her, Mateo and Jackson bounded up and shoved themselves between Dolly and Hop and his Phantump.

Realization dawned on his face when he watched her two Pokémon staring at him, poised for action. He pulled his Phantump back, patted him on the head, then returned him to his Poké Ball. Dolly tried to discreetly wipe the tears from her eyes as she shoved past Hop and back onto the path.

"I thought Sonia was joking about you being scared of Ghost Pokémon."

"Yeah, well, she wasn't," Dolly retorted, stomping away.

Hop heaved out a sigh as he watched Dolly trudge back down the path. Well, attempt to trudge. She had to step slowly and lightly as to not trip over the woven roots that littered the path. Jackson and Mateo were both working at guiding her through. Hop trotted up beside her.

"Dolls…"

She glared at the ground, arms fiercely crossed over her chest. He looked to Mateo and Jackson, whose eyes were still watching Hop's movements. Their muscles were tense, still ready to pounce if their Trainer needed. Hop reached towards Dolly's arm, only for her to yank it away.

"I was only joking,"

"I don't care."

"He was just a baby one, though,"

Dolly whirled around and glared at him.

"I can't help that I'm scared of them, Hop. I wish I wasn't, and now your Phantump might feel bad about himself."

She turned again, storming off.

"It's embarrassing," she continued. "Eighteen years old and still scared of ghosts."

Hop's shoulders slumped as he watched her walk away. He glanced down to Mateo and Jackson, who were staring up at him, arms crossed.

"So much for being encouraging. I'm a proper arse, huh guys?"

"Yup."

"Yeah, you are."

They walked in silence, Dolly squinting as she tried to make out the ridges of roots on the path. Even when she tripped, she pulled her hand away whenever Hop reached for her. After a few tense minutes and a few times of Dolly angrily scuffing at the ground whenever she tripped, Hop ushered Jackson and Mateo to fall into step with him.

"So, gentlemen, how do you think I can make Dolls know that I'm sorry?"

Dolly continued to trudge forward, glaring at the ground in front of her.

"Should I… give her all of my money?" he asked her two Pokémon, holding his hands behind his back.

"I'm sure twenty bucks wouldn't hurt," Jackson said.

"No that's shallow," Mateo said. "Dolly would want something more thoughtful."

"Should I… sing her a song?"

"Not that either. When you sang in your Skitty and Wailord story you weren't very good."

Hop scratched his chin, still trotting a few feet behind Dolly.

"Should I… put a Riolu on my head?"

"Oh, yeah, do that!" Mateo beamed. He clambered over to Hop, who then lifted him up. Mateo's stomach laid on the top of Hop's head, and his arms and legs draped over his ears. The Riolu tried to hold back his laugh as Hop continued forward.

"Hm… I think she's still upset. What else should I do to show her I'm sorry?"

Dolly had to glare forward and vehemently resist looking back at the two of them.

"Should I… cook her some curry?"

"No," Jackson laughed, watching Mateo up on Hop's head. "You almost burned ours yesterday."

"Should I… give her a kiss?"

"Ew!"

"Gross!"

"Should I… also put a Raboot on my head?"

"Yes! Me too, me too!" Jackson said, bouncing up and down.

Jackson laughed as Hop scooped him up, setting him on top of Mateo on top of his head. He held their legs as he tried to balance the two giggling Pokémon as he walked behind Dolly. He sped up a tad, matching her pace. He slowly turned his head, and Dolly had to purse her lips to force back the smile that was threatening to escape.

"Odd weather we're having, don't you think Dolls? I've heard about it raining cats and dogs, but never Riolus and Raboots."

"Good one."

He hummed as he walked next to her, the two Pokémon still trying not to laugh as they lay atop his head.

"The Glimwood Tangle sure is Raboot-iful, don't you think?"

She couldn't stop the snort that escaped.

"I hope you will… uh… no wait. I hope Riolu… Rio-you'll… I hope Riolu'll forgive me."

"What?"

"Yeah that was a stretch, I couldn't think of a good one for Riolu."

Dolly shook her head, allowing the corner of her lips to twitch up. Hop grazed her arm with his hand, and she finally stopped.

"I really am sorry, Dolls."

She set her hands on her hips, her smile twitching up even more.

"Can you take them off your head? I can't take you seriously with four furry limbs dangling around your face."

"Are you sure? I think they like it up there."

"I feel tall!" Jackson beamed.

Hop smiled as he tilted his head down, catching the two giggling Pokémon as they dropped into his arms. He set them on the ground, giving them each a knuckle bump.

"Thanks for your help, boys."

He stood tall again as the two Pokémon bounded off. He took another step towards Dolly, who was still crossing her arms, smirking up at him.

"Can you forgive me?" he asked, batting his eyelashes. She rolled her eyes again and heaved out a breath.

"Fine, yes, I forgive you. Stop looking at me like that. Can we go now, please?"

He nodded, flashed his megawatt grin, and they started forward again. Dolly was still stepping slowly, careful to make out the grooves and roots beneath her feet. The forest swayed around them, leaves and pink flecks fluttering down from the tops of the trees. Cool air breezed through her hair, across her face, as she delicately stepped over the dark roots beneath her feet. Pink, yellow, and turquoise glows highlighted her face and speckled across the ground, and although she liked the colors, it wasn't helping her depth perception.

"...Dolls?"

"Hm?"

"C-can I… um…"

Dolly turned, watching as a warm pink highlighted his cheeks.

"What?"

Hop was glancing at the ground, scuffing at a leaf with his shoe. Her eyebrows pulled together as he cleared his throat, then glanced up at her again.

"Can I hold your hand again?"

Her heart thrummed again, beating her blood through her body and into her cheeks. Why'd he have to look at her like that? He had never looked at her like that before. It was so tender and… embarrassing. Ugh.

"F-fine. Just don't… do anything stupid again," she muttered, sticking her hand out for him.

Her heart kicked harder when he smiled at her, that odd fluttering making its way back into her gut. He wove his fingers around hers with ease.

"That's a lot to ask of me, Dolls," he said, bumping her shoulder with his.

"Tell me about it, you twit."

Jackson and Mateo vowed to protect them from any more Phantumps and they bravely led the charge through the rest of the Glimwood Tangle. It didn't take long for the trees to start to thin as they finally made it into Ballonlea.

The fuzzy colors burst around them, and when her Pokémon gasped and called out in excitement, Dolly couldn't help but grow frustrated that she couldn't see what they were talking about. Hop tore through the town, came back and grabbed her, and they finally found Dolly some new glasses. Hop kept them from her, however, until they made it back to the entrance.

"I thought I told you not to do anything else stupid," Dolly huffed, pulling his hand away from her eyes.

"Yeah well I want you to see it how we got to see it when we first came in," he said, finally handing her her glasses.

She frowned at him, set her glasses on her face, blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted, then gasped.

The village of Ballonlea was dynamic, with bold neon glows to compliment the deep purple hues that adorned the city. Tall trees framed the town, protecting each resident and Pokémon with dark green leaves and woven bark. She grinned as she watched Inkays, Morelulls, and Chinchous floating through the air above her head. They swam around her, pulling up a few strands of her hair, and the platinum strands shimmered in the flickering lights of the lanterns scattered through the town.

Each house was adorned with purple roofs and lush green foliage, the vines and flowers weaving up and over the siding, along the windowsills, framing the cozy houses. Dozens of different colors of mushrooms speckled the earth, the trees, the houses, casting colors across her shoes as Dolly walked along the path. They passed over a dark river as it bubbled underneath a charming wooden bridge, sloshing up on the banks around it. Her neck arched as her eyes followed the rugged tree trunk that cascaded over them, creating a magnanimous archway as they passed over the river. They started looping back and Dolly noticed the tall turquoise mushrooms of the forest, again highlighting the familiar dark trees. A young girl was playing a pan flute, the wooden and airy sound gliding through the village.

Dolly had wrapped her hand around Hop's arm again, holding it against her as she gazed up at the canopy of trees. He helped her balance, as she couldn't tear her eyes away from the spectacular view above and around her. They stepped through the town, Dolly's jaw hanging open the entire time.

"Wow," she finally breathed. "This place is so beautiful."

She was watching the Chinchous and Inkays swimming in the air above her head, so she didn't catch how Hop smiled at her, how his eyes darted about her face, or how he never looked away from her as he responded.

"Yeah. Absolutely beautiful."

She also didn't notice how her Raboot and Riolu were glancing between the two Trainers, then at each other, or how Jackson pretended to gag.

She tore her eyes away from the village and back to Hop, who was standing closer than anticipated. She stepped back and apologetically moved her hand from his arm and into her pocket. He still curled his fingers around hers, however, as his eyes flit about her face.

He was still standing too close, and her stupid heart was still beating too stupid fast. It didn't help that this place was so odd, so charming. It also didn't help that the little Pokémon that floated around her head each took a strand of hair and pulled her closer to Hop. When she stood only a foot away, they finally let go, flickered a few sparkles into the air, then floated off.

"What?" she finally asked, her cheeks heating up as she watched him watch her.

"What?" Hop repeated. When he didn't continue or add any other semblance of explanation, Dolly cleared her throat and pushed her glasses higher on her nose.

"W-well…" Dolly started. "Um, thanks… for your help."

"Yeah, anytime," Hop said. "I'm glad we're together."

Then, his eyes widened.

"I-I mean, together in the forest. Like. Traveling together. That was, um, that was… cool. I liked you. It. Uh. Traveling. With you. It was… cool."

Dolly nodded her head.

"Right, so I - um. I think I'm going to train a spot more. Actually. In the forest." Hop said.

"Right."

"..."

"..."

"S-so, um. Bye Dolls."

"Bye."

Hop was still pausing, and Jackson and Mateo glanced at each other again.

"Good luck with the Gym," Hop said, brushing his thumb over hers.

Her nerves tingled. When she stepped back, an Inkay pushed her closer.

"Thanks, um, you too. Once you're done training."

"Yeah…"

Hop was still staring at her, still holding her hand.

"I'll see you later then," he said.

"Yeah."

"Um. Bye."

"Bye Hop."

"..."

"..."

"Do you want me to come to your match?" Hop asked.

"That's okay, you can train."

"Oh. Okay."

Dolly watched him swallow, watched his eyes flit about her face.

"You said you needed to train, and it's not like you can't watch it later," she said.

"Right. Yeah. You're right."

Dolly watched his eyes flick down to their hands, fingers still intertwined.

"Hop?"

His eyes shot back up to hers expectantly.

"Yeah?"

"I've got my glasses now, I can see."

"I know,"

"So… um…" she trailed off, again looking at their hands still woven together.

He followed her gaze, then his hand shot back.

"Right. Sorry."

"It's okay," Dolly said, her cheeks heating up. "So, um… I should probably…"

"Y-yeah, me too."

Dolly glanced up at him. He was scratching behind his neck, and Dolly wasn't sure if it was the glow of the mushrooms in the village or if it was a blush that was creeping up on his cheeks.

"Bye Dolls."

"Bye Hop."

He paused, slowly turned, then he left, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jacket. She didn't know she was holding her breath until she let out a deep sigh, her own hand feeling strangely empty without his around it. Her Raboot and Riolu stepped up beside her.

"Well that was awkward." Jackson said.

"Yep," Mateo agreed.

"Yeah," Dolly sighed.

That was uncharacteristically awkward. As her heart thrummed, as her skin tingled, she couldn't help but think that the Glimwood Tangle certainly was an odd place.