Gladion's Change of Heart

The next day, Ash and Lillie are sitting at the bench near the courtyard with Teacher Irena standing beside them, they are watching a girl that is two years younger training a Midday Lycanroc.

"Now use Stone Edge!" The girl yells as Lycanroc crushes the ground, causing the stones to pop up.

"Now jump and end the performance with Accelrock!"

Lycanroc charges at the rocks and creating sparkles to finish the performance. Ash and Lillie clap their hands and Irena takes out the paper and says, "Nice job, Emily. With this, you can get into the Performance Club with no problem."

"Thank you, Professor Irena. I really want to be the Sevestar Queen like you did." Emily says as she receives the paper of the teacher's comments.

Ash says, "You do know that I am not that easy to beat. You will have to work much harder if you want to have a shot with me."

Emily says with determination, "And that time will come eventually."

Irena says, "And Ash, Lillie. Thank you for staying with me to watch her performance even though it is Sunday."

Lillie says, "No problem, we also have nothing to do after all."

Ash says, "Besides, she is our cousin, it is vital that Mother will let me look after her."

Irena nods and says, "Now you guys can be dismissed. I hope I can see your performance tomorrow, Ash."

Ash nods as Irena leaves the place. Meanwhile, Emily is petting her Lycanroc, she takes out a comb and says, "Here, Lycanroc, let me comb you."

Lycanroc kneels as Emily starts to brush the Pokemon. But the relaxing time isn't going well as a Skarmory comes and snatches the comb away.

"Hey! That is my favorite Comb! Give that back!" Emily cries to the Skarmory, but the Skarmory just mocks her as it flies higher and then spins around with circles. Ash sees it and says, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt to stop that Skarmory!"

Pikachu fires the electricity on the bird, causing the bird to get shocked as he drops the comb and flies away. But the group watch in horror as the brush is falling into the woods.

"My Comb!" Emily says in horror as she and Lycanroc chase the comb.

"Wait! Emily, that place is the forest!" Lillie yells, but she doesn't hear them.

Ash says, "Let's go after her..." Lillie nods as they run after them.

Meanwhile, Gladion is training his Silvally, due to the recent events regarding Lillie, Gladion feels depressed day after day. Silvally looks at Gladion with the same sadness and Gladion says, "I am fine, let's continue our training. Use Multi Attack."

Gladion inserts the Fire Memory inside, and then Silvally growls as he hits the tree, causing it to fall with fire on it.

"Good work, Silvally." Gladion says as he pets him. Silvally gives a nod, but then the comb hits its head as it looks around. Gladion notices the comb and he picks it up. He says, "I wonder whose comb is it?"

"Excuse me! That is my comb!" Emily rushes to the scene as she sees him picking her favorite comb.

As Gladion turns around and faces her, both of them look at each other. Suddenly, their cheeks are a little pink as Gladion walks closer. "Uh...here is your comb..."

Emily grabs it, but she is trembling, not because of fear, her heart is pounding fast. "Thanks..." She doesn't know why, she is nervous around him.

Then Gladion says, "My name is Gladion...I am a third-grade student..."

Emily says, "I am Emily, a first-grade student. It is nice to meet you..."

Then as Emily wants to walk backward, she suddenly trips from a tree root, Gladion notices her going to fall, so he rushes and grabs her, holding her in his arms. Realizing what they are doing, the two of them are having red faces. Gladion asks, "Are you okay?"

Emily says, "I am fine..." She quickly gets off his arms, and both of them are now thinking about what they should talk about. Gladion wants to know the girl more, while Emily shares the same thing as she wants to know the boy more as well.

Ash and Lillie arrive at the scene, they are glad that they find Emily, but they notice that Gladion is also there as well.

"What is he doing over there?" Lillie says, "I should go before he is going to hurt her."

Lillie tries to go and break them apart since she knows how bad Gladion is all those years ago.

"Wait, Lillie." Ash grabs her arm, "Let's see what will happen before jumping to conclusions."

Lillie reluctantly agrees to the plan as they decide to hide themselves to see what will happen.

"So what are you doing here?" Emily asks after they find a long and sit down.

Gladion sighs and says, "I am just training my Pokemon, that is all..."

Emily asks, "Why don't you train in the gym? You can just book a place for the student council. And I am sure the president and the vice president will agree."

Gladion says, "It is not that easy."

"Why? The council is supposed to satisfy the needs of every student." Emily says.

Gladion turns around and says, "I know, but I just don't have the right to face them anymore. It is my fault that they have some grudge on me..."

"Wait, Gladion realizes his mistake? That has never happened before..." Lillie says with shock. Ash is being curious, wanting to know about the truth behind it.

Emily asks, "How come? What did you just do?"

"As you can see, I was from the Kalos High." Emily is stunned as she knows from Ash that his life in Kalos High is miserable, which means the one she is talking to is one of his bullies. Gladion adds, "But it is forced to shut down."

As he pets his Silvally, he says, "My sister and I were from Alola, we aren't much close like what siblings are... and it gets worse day after day. When we enter Kalos High, I made some friends which turn out to be bullies as well."

Emily seems to understand and then she asks, "So does that mean you are a bully, too?"

Gladion says, "Yeah, but recently I don't feel like being one again...my sister isn't a person who likes to see others suffer, so she gets along with the one who gets bullied. I was afraid that she would become bullied like that boy, so I always wanted to break them up before they can become boyfriend and girlfriend..."

Lillie whispers, "So Gladion didn't think you are a loser...But he should have told me, and the way he acted towards me before, how did I know he wanted to protect me?"

Ash says, "Maybe he acts harsh towards you, but the sibling love won't fade away."

Then he grabs his pants tightly and says, "I also asked help from my mother, lying to her so that they can break up...but I didn't know that it would cause her to disown my sister...forcing her to leave our family..."

Emily says, "Wow...you seem to have a rough past...but you shouldn't do that to your own sister...that is really mean..."

Gladion says, "I know. A year later, I was here, and we met again, and she still remembers everything and she tends to ignore me because of the past...she still dates the boy, but until now I realized that he is not a loser...he has become successful and I am proud of her to date him... And then after the school shuts down, I realized how bad my friends could be...this is why I am here alone..."

Much to their shock, Gladion is now crying with his hands covering his face, Emily quickly hugs him. "Please don't cry, you realized your mistakes right? Then just do what is right."

"I can't...my sister and her boyfriend have already hated me... when I was approaching them, the other bullies will also be there, I couldn't tell how sorry I am and kept lying to myself... And my mom also hates me now..."

Emily says, "Don't be sad, I know that they will be willing to forgive you..."

"Why do you think so?" Gladion asks, also managing to stop his tears from coming out of his eyes.

"I believe that good people won't hold grudges against their family, even though the problem is serious. If you tell the truth to them, then they will understand." Emily says.

Ash looks at Lillie, who sighs as they decide to have an act right now, pretending that they are still looking for Emily.

"Emily, where are you?" Ash calls out as he is coming from their hiding spot.

"Ah, my cousin and his girlfriend are looking for me...I can't forget how much time we have taken..." Emily says as she walks to Ash and Lillie.

"Ash! Lillie!" Emily says as she rushes towards them, while Gladion is stunned to see the two there.

"There you are, Emily. We have been looking around for you." Ash says as he hugs her.

"I am sorry, but I found my comb." Emily shows them, but then she sees Lillie trembling once she sees Gladion.

"Brother..." Lillie says in anger. Emily says, "Wait, don't tell me your sister is Lillie..."

Gladion doesn't reply as he walks up to her, then Lillie says, "If you want to break up me and Ash, then forget it! He has treated me better than you and Mother did, I am not going to let you ruin it."

Gladion says, "I know..." This causes the two to get stunned. Emily says, "Ash, Lillie. Gladion is guilty of what he has done for you...can't you forgive him?"

Lillie sees some tears at the seat, she says, "Is it true?"

Gladion says, "I am sorry...I just don't want you to be bullied, too. I never think of driving you away from home..."

Just then, Lillie walks closer, as Gladion knows that he is going to be slapped, he closes his eyes, but he never feels the pain. Instead, Lillie hugs him, causing him to be shocked.

"I forgive you, brother. But don't you ever do this to us again!" Lillie yells, "Do you know every time I feel like I am a disgrace to the family because of your actions in the past, and I am glad that you didn't think of that."

Gladion is shocked...he turns and asks, "Why do you forgive me so easily..."

Lillie says, "I am still hurt that you will hang around with those bullies, but I also don't want to break a family apart."

Then Ash and Emily walk closer, then Gladion says, "Ash, I am also sorry for treating you as a loser. I am afraid you will also hurt Lillie..."

Ash says, "It is okay, I know you want to protect your family."

Emily smiles at him, "See, I told you that they would forgive you."

Gladion smiles at her, "You are right. Thank you."

Emily is now blushing after hearing this, and both Ash and Lillie notice it.

Ash says to Lillie. "It seems like we have another ship that we need to set sail."

Lillie says, "Yeah..."

Ash says, "Gladion, why don't you hang around with us instead of those guys? They will be willing to know you more."

Gladion says, "Fine by me, I already hate them for making me do the unforgivable, but I couldn't find a chance to leave them."

Then the group all head back to the school grounds for fear that Aurora is worried for them.

Here is the new chapter. The OC is requested from KiryuFanGirl. And now Gladion also leaves the bully gang, what will happen next? Please find out in the next chapter.