"Singing one for the memory, two for the pain.

Singing don't love the bottle with a deeper disdain."

Misty's angered shout genuinely frightened me.

As a result, it also frightened my pokēmon and sent them on alert. As all but the newborn Vulpix leapt off of me, I found myself leaning further back into the pillows- staring up at Misty with fearful brown eyes. Ansem growled at the girl, and Blue quickly stood up, moving to hold an arm in front of the startled Misty protectively as he stared down Ansem and Basil and even Belladonna, who were now forming a line of defense between us.

"She's not gonna hurt anyone." Blue said firmly to the pokēmon, narrowing his eyes. "Calm down."

"Eva! Va!" Ansem barked, haunches raised, ready to leap at any moment. "Eva!"

Misty looked at Blue with alarm, then at the pokēmon. "They think I'm gonna do what? Hurt who? El?"

I tried to calm down, to breathe, but doing so was easier said than done. I had scooted so far back into the pillows I was now sitting partially behind Brock, hunched over and shielding Ruby and Sapphire as best as I could as I held their tiny forms to my chest. Brock glanced at me from over his shoulder, and let a small sigh.

He had been just as surprised as the others when my pokémon jumped up, but it didn't take long for a frown to adorn his face as he figured out why I was behaving like this. "El… it's okay."

"I-I know. I know, I just-"

I can't stop shaking. My heart was running rampant in my chest, fear keeping me frozen in place as memories of ceaseless violence came to mind. I shouldn't be freaking out; it wasn't like Misty was part of Team Rocket. She wasn't Velga or Mistress Augusta. It wasn't like she was raised by them either, and trained to hurt me like the other recruits. She was a gym leader.

Gym leaders are like Brock, which means… they're safe.

Right?

Brock was a gym leader and he's safe, so that means she is too.

It's fine.

I'm… fine.

"Vulpi?" A cold nose touching my chin made me jump, and I inhaled sharply as I looked down at the baby pokēmon in my arms. Sapphire was tilting her head at me, big blue eyes full of concern. Ruby mewed from beside her, and I blinked when she began to nuzzle my neck- her warm nose and furry muzzle tickling my skin. "Vulpix!"

"Pixi!"

"Pix!"

"Vul!"

"Eva?" Ansem's ears twitched and he turned to look back at us, shoulders starting to relax. His red eyes were sad. "Eva vee…"

Bounding over, the brown-furred pokēmon nuzzled my leg, before standing and resting his paws against my knees. He whimpered. Though I was still shaking, I shifted my arms so I could hold both Vulpix up with one arm, leaning over to pet Ansem and brush my finger lightly against his cheek and under his chin. "I… I'm… I'm okay. S-Sorry."

I looked up at Basil and Belladonna, then focused my attention on Misty- my expression falling into one of guilt and shame. Feeling my lips start to curl back, the stinging in my eyes worsening, I ducked my head.

"I'm… sorry."

All this time and I really am still just a scared little girl. I can't do anything right.

When I spoke again, my voice was quiet- just barely loud enough to be heard. "B-Basil, Bella… leave her alone."

"Weepin?" Belladonna lowered her leafy arms, her big lips tilted in what could only be seen as a frown. "Weepinbell…"

"Saur!"

"It's fine."

"Ivy! Ivysaur, Ivy!" Basil huffed, not at all convinced. "Ivy, Ivy, Ivysaur!"

"Basil!" My own voice rose in volume as I found myself unintentionally snapping at him, and I flinched. When I opened my eyes again, I could see the hurt on his face. The awful feeling of guilt inside of me worsened. "J-Just… please. Please. Just… leave her alone. She didn't do anything. I-I'm sorry."

He held my gaze for a moment, then looked away- frustrated. "...Saur."

Though grouchy, and reasonably upset, he still made his way over and plopped down next to me. Basil scowled.

"Ivysaur."

With that said and done, the room became quiet.

Choking on my voice, unable to bear the hurt or the awkwardness or the tension, I made to get up- careful not to drop Ruby or Sapphire and avoid disturbing Basil anymore than what he already was. "I-I should- I should r-register Ruby and Sapphire." That way they can't be taken away so easily.

Ansem quickly moved out of the way, and everyone- the pokēmon, Brock, Blue, and Misty- all watched as I slid off the bed and made my way over to my backpack that was on the floor next to the extra bed. I knelt down, shakily setting down two baby Vulpix and taking out two pokēballs from the backpack. Ruby and Sapphire sniffed them curiously, and I observed them for a few seconds- wondering if it was truly alright for someone like me to take care of them.

I can't… even take care of myself.

"You guys… a-are okay staying with me, right?" The baby pokēmon blinked at me, tilting their heads and gazing ever so cutely at me. The silence in the room was deafening. I may have directed the question towards these two, but it remained hanging in the air- the nervousness and anxiety that Brock and Blue may want to leave. That Misty might hate me. "It's… really dangerous a-and…"

There's no denying it anymore.

"You might… g-get really hurt."

Blue propped his elbow up on his thigh, leaning over and resting his chin in the palm of his hand. Brock's face was hard to read, even as he gingerly ran his fingers through the fur of the baby Vulpix he was holding. Misty looked close to tears, quietly sitting at the foot of the bed.

"B-But if you're really okay with me, then…"

I tapped the buttons in the middle of the pokēballs, enlarging them and holding them out to Ruby and Sapphire. Feeling myself choke up again, I couldn't fight the tears- and so I forced a smile as I leaned closer to them.

"I-I'll do the best I can."

Ruby and Sapphire stared. After a few tense seconds, they looked at each other. I wasn't sure if they knew what it was I was saying or not; a part of me worried if my messed up and confusing emotions were too much for their little bodies to process. But the next thing I knew, Sapphire was letting out a tiny squeal and leaning forward- bumping her nose against the pokēball. Ruby did the same, mewing softly, and the two were soon enveloped in a red light.

The pokēballs in my hands flashed- once, twice, and then… click!

Ruby and Sapphire had officially become my pokēmon.

A wave washed over me at that. I'm not quite sure what the emotions were that accompanied it, but it was suffocating and painful and full of so much fear and concern and hope that all I could do was cradle the pokēballs to my chest as I hunched over completely, the tears falling unabashedly down my cheeks as I began to hiccup and sob, repeatedly apologizing and thanking them for putting their trust in me, despite my being such a pathetic excuse of a trainer and human being.

Suddenly, the mattress behind me creaked.

A hand bopped itself lightly against the top of my head, startling me and making me up look up with wide eyes. Blue had knelt down on the floor beside me. Before I could say anything, he grabbed the back of my head and pulled me forward into his chest, bumping my forehead against his shoulder. Blue sounded exasperated when he spoke. "When are you going to learn, squirt? Brock ain't goin' nowhere, and neither am I. I said I'd look out for ya, didn't I?"

When I gave no answer, Blue let out a heavy sigh.

"Come on, face it. You're stuck with us, El."

"...Wh-What?" The boy pulling his hand away, I was able to look up at him. Confusion was etched all across my features. "B-But I- you saw what just happened, I-I can't-"

"What?" He demanded. "Are you not allowed to freak out when scared or somethin'? Says who? Team Rocket? You just aren't used to people. We've been over this."

I faltered at that. Blue held a finger up, pointedly poking the spot between my furrowed brows. His gaze was stern.

"You spent so long pretending to be a robot and tryin' to survive in that hellhole-"

"Language!" Brock called out.

Blue sent the former gym leader a glare. Shaking his head in irritation, Blue faced me again. He grabbed my shoulders. "You spent so long just surviving that you don't know how to deal with people anymore. All you know is Team Rocket. So, yeah, there's… a lot to unpack there. I can't tell you how many issues I had to unpack before I became the great trainer and researcher I am today."

Misty snorted at that, and held a hand over her mouth to hide a cheek grin. "What- you mean you don't still have issues?"

Blue whirled his head around. "Can the peanut gallery shut their traps already!?"

"I'm just saying-"

"Why are you still here, anyway?" Blue demanded, sending her a cold stare. "You got the backstory, now get out! In case you haven't noticed, there's only enough space for three trainers in this room!"

"Ha! These beds are big enough for all of us. I can share with El."

"Like hell I'm sleeping with Brock. And like hell you're sleeping in here at all! Get your own room!"

"Hmph." Misty pouted stubbornly and folded her arms over her chest, not moving an inch from her spot. "I still have questions."

Blue groaned dramatically, dragging a hand down his face irritably. "What are they?"

"I'll ask when you're done talking." She said, waving a hand dismissively at him. "Go on. Finish what you were saying."

Grinding his teeth together, Blue jumped up onto his feet and roared, pointing at Misty angrily. "Like I can, now that you ruined it! El!"

I flinched, sitting up straight, very much alarmed. "Y-Yes!?"

The boy placed a hand on his hip, frowning as he looked down at me. Finally, he let out a sigh. "Brock and I aren't going anywhere. Not until you and all the other kids Team Rocket took are safe. You can freak out and cry all you want; be as awkward a human being as you can be. Because you know what, kid?"

He smirked. With his free hand, he pointed at me.

"It shows you're healing. And… healing doesn't always come pain-free. It can hurt. It can hurt a lot. There are things that might scare you that you might not wanna face, and that's fine. But don't look down on yourself for not being able to fully embrace the pain. Because there is no cure-all and there is no complete recovery. You know what there is, though?"

I… have no idea.

I just gazed at Blue, awed and confused, and I watched as he stepped to the side and pressed a thumb to his chest, gesturing with his other arm to the bed everyone was sitting on. Brock smiled warmly, his Vulpix mewed, and Basil, Belladonna, and Ansem all stood up- barking and mewing and letting out little squeaks of encouragement. Misty gave a small wave, beaming brightly.

"Us." Blue said. "You have us. We're here with you, and one day- long after Team Rocket is defeated- you won't freak out anymore. You won't flinch. You won't feel guilty over every little thing you say or do. You won't look at every stranger with distrust. And… when that day comes… you'll be able to see just how beautiful the outside world truly is."

I looked down at the pokēballs I was holding.

My expression contorted as I thought about his words, twisting as it fought between showing my emotions and the habitual urge to mask it. Carefully, I set the pokēballs down and reached into my pocket- pulling out the dawn stone I had kept hidden inside. It felt… somehow smaller in my hand now than it did yesterday, despite its presence always being so large.

Ignoring Misty's small gasp of realization, I brushed my numb fingers against the fissures and cracks.

One day… huh.

I hope so.

"...If… I ever find him," I said quietly, Brock and Blue knowing full well who I was talking about, "I don't… want to be… broken. I-I don't… want that person to know I was broken. I-I want to be better."

"Let's be real here," Blue said, holding his arms up in a shrug, "everyone's a bit broken. Look at Brock; he has daddy and mommy issues-"

Brock scowled at that. "Hey!"

"-Misty has a real bad inferiority complex against her sisters-"

"Blue!" The girl stood up on her knees, looking ready to reach over and smack the teen.

"Your mystery guy is probably a bit broken, too." Blue finished. "But getting better is definitely possible. You just have to be willing to take the next step."

I lowered my head, thinking about it. "...What's… the next step?"

"...Honestly? I think you've already taken it."

I snapped my head up at that, startled. "What?"

He just grinned at me. Without answering my question, Blue turned to Brock- blatantly ignoring Misty who was fuming and glaring in his direction. "Anyway, now that you're back, how did it go? I heard you tell the shortie you were checking for room service. Is that a thing we can do?"

"H-Huh? Oh, yeah. We just have to call in with the phone… though there's also plenty of food spread out in the main hall."

"Great! I'm starving. Pretty sure all my pokēmon are, too." Waltzing over to the desk with the phone, he picked it up and listened to what was being said before pressing a button. He made a face, then pressed another button. He brightened. Blue looked at everyone. "How fancy a meal do we want? Because between us four and our pokēmon I think we're gonna need a mountain load."

Misty snorted. "How considerate of you, Mr. Superiority Complex."

"What was that?" Blue asked, raising a brow cheekily. "I'm afraid I couldn't hear you over the sound of my own greatness."

"I said," She began, frustrated, "order as much food as you can! I brought all my water pokēmon with me today! And Brock and El have new mouths to feed, too!"

"Yeah, yeah." Blue pressed a few buttons, and hung up the phone. "They'll be here in a bit. But we might wanna open the door if we're gonna summon all our pokēmon- Brock's Onix and most of my pokēmon are too big for this room. Arcanine and Aerodactyl especially."

Brock chuckled at that. "That's… a good point."

After the food arrived, we summoned all our pokēmon and got to devouring the feast.

During that time, Misty asked a few more questions- most of them pertaining to what Brock meant before when he said I didn't remember my real name until now. That led to the reveal of how the only memory I had before getting kidnapped by Team Rocket was the promise I made to the mystery boy.

She ended up greatly upset when I told her I didn't remember what the person looked like or even their name- although she did cheer up slightly when I mentioned that the only real details I knew were his blue eyes and his hobby of rock collecting.

"Rock collecting, huh…?" She had mused, scrunching up her nose. "I dunno. I know Brock sometimes collects rocks he finds on hikes, but… an avid rock collector? El, are you sure your mystery boy isn't actually a total dork? Or a weirdo like Brock?"

Brock and I stopped eating at the same time, the former gym leader giving her an offended look while I just frowned. "Hey!"

"Brock isn't weird."

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he smiled brightly. Brock gestured to me dramatically. "Thank you! See, Misty? El likes me!"

Misty made a face. "Eh, I'm starting to think she has weird taste in friends..."

She watched as I cautiously poked an egg that was sitting atop a bowl of fried rice. The yolk from within the egg spilled out, coating the rice bowl completely and sinking into the soy sauce and other ingredients. I looked up at Brock and Blue, and then at the bowl, and then back up at them, alarmed. "I-Is it supposed to do that? Shouldn't it be cooked more?"

"Nah, it fine." Blue said, munching on a turkey leg. "A lot of rice bowls are like that. Just mix it in first before you eat it."

"O-Oh…"

"Nevermind." Misty said, sighing. "You're weird, too. You three are perfect for each other."

"Takes a weirdo to recognize a weirdo, Misty." Brock teased, grinning at her before proceeding to slurp up some noodles. He held some of the pasta up to his new baby Vulpix, who was sitting on his shoulder, and she mewed happily as she took a tiny bite. "You are just precious, yes you are. Aww, look at you eating those noodles. Make sure you eat a lot so you grow big and strong, okay? I'm so happy you hatched so soon."

"Vulpi!" She smiled as he gently rubbed a finger under her chin. "Vulpix! Vul!"

The rest of dinner continued similarly.

Deciding she had enough of Blue's sass, Misty took off to find a room for herself- and as Blue passed out on his bed Brock finally went to take abath. As he did that, I layed in bed cuddling with Ansem, Sapphire, and Ruby, Basil and Belladonna sleeping around my legs and feet.

I hadn't quite fallen asleep yet when Brock finished his bath, but I definitely did sometime after he climbed under the blankets, his calming presence relaxing me immediately.

The next day, I awoke because of the ship rocking a bit more roughly. It set me on unease immediately, and though I knew I would regret doing so I forced my feet to carry me to the window to look outside- face paling considerably when I saw there was no land in sight. We were in the middle of the ocean now.

Or… sea? One of the two, I'm not really sure.

Either way, I didn't like it. Something about seeing the endless expanse of water was especially disturbing.

After brushing my teeth, I pulled my backpack on- making sure I had all my pokēballs and medicine and whatnot. Paranoia decreed that I must be prepared. The sinking feeling in my gut was worsening second-by-second, and as I sat on the floor, waiting for the boys and the rest of my pokēmon to wake up, I nervously cradled Ruby and Sapphire in my arms.

I just knew something bad was going to happen today.

When everyone finally woke up, I couldn't be more relieved- though the dread pooled even heavier in my stomach when Brock suggested we try eating breakfast in the main hall today.

"It'll be a good experience for you- and all of us!" He said, the older teen as optimistic as ever. "When's the next time any of us are ever gonna be treated to such a fancy cruise? I still can't believe Bill had such expensive tickets- and that he gave them to us!"

"Bill's a pretty famous researcher. I think it makes sense that he'd be invited to a couple of important events." Blue replied. He then raised a brow, seeing me try to pick up both his fanny pack and Brock's backpack. "...What are you doing?"

I paused, both the boys staring at me now. "...J-Just… in case? T-To be safe! You never know."

Brock looked amused. "Nothing's going to happen during breakfast, El."

"B-But what if something does?" I said, gesturing towards the window view of the big blue expanse of looming death. "W-We're in the middle of- of nowhere! What if the ship crashes? What if it's attacked? What if someone's pokēmon goes wild and we start sinking!? W-We need to be ready! It's already starting to look like it's gonna storm!"

Blue rolled his eyes and sighed. A hand on his hip, he walked over and took the fanny pack from me. "Just because I know you aren't gonna stop worrying about it, fine. Brock, grab your bag. If I have to wear mine, you have to wear yours too."

"Okay, okay. I still think we're totally fine, though." Brock grabbed his backpack, slinging it over his shoulders and adjusting it until he was comfortable. He picked up the baby pokēmon that was sitting on his bed. "Well, a little extra exercise never hurt anyone. Isn't that right, Vulpix?"

He cooed at the red pokēmon.

Blue made a face. "You're insufferable."

"Eh, you're stuck with me." Brock responded, not at all phased. "Just as El is stuck with us."

My face warmed and I looked down at my feet, not quite sure how to feel about all this. I had the feeling that no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn't ever be able to make myself worthy enough to deserve them. They were just so nice and… wonderful.

"Also!" Brock suddenly exclaimed. "El, don't forget to take your medicine!"

"Huh? O-Oh, right." Drat.

Blue snorted. "Mama hen strikes again."

"Keep it up and I'll ground you." Brock joked.

"Heh, no thanks. Oi, Misty!"

Up ahead in the hall full of trainers- less than yesterday since some were still sleeping, but still enough to put me on guard and make me move closer to Brock- was Misty, who was munching on some rather delectable looking fish. She beamed and waved when she saw us. "Hey, guys! You're up early. Wanted to get the best bit of breakfast before everyone else woke up, too, huh?"

"You can say that." Brock grinned, "Buuuut it's mostly because we're just used to it at this point. Although I can't say the same for Blue, since we've only really traveled with him for a day or two. He spent the rest cooped up either in Bill's house or the hospital."

"Will you stop reminding me of that, please?" Blue said, sending him an irritable glare. "We get it, you saved me, congrats. The great Blue Oak needed help. My grandfather is forever in your debt- yada yada. Let's focus please. We have to talk to the captain today and figure out how close exactly we are to Celadon City before it's too late and we miss our stop."

Misty swallowed the bite of fish she was chewing and rested a hand against her cheek. She stared at the two boys, then leaned down closer to me as I begrudgingly took a swig of water to help swallow my medicine. I noticed she was also wearing her backpack. "I don't know how you're gonna get anything done with those two bickering all the time. Why do you put up with it?"

Why do I… put up with it?

That's a weird question. I don't think I'm putting up with anything. To be honest, I think they're the ones putting up with me. Picking up a skewer of meat and fish and mushrooms, I observed it and then looked up at Misty, expression as blank as my words blunt. "They're my friends."

"W-Well, yeah, but…" She looked a bit lost as to how to respond.

I turned back to the skewer, holding it close and letting Ruby and Sapphire take a few nibbles out of it. "I like them. They're… They're good people. I… trust them."

Misty stared, then glanced at Blue and Brock who were currently fighting over their food, nudging each other with their elbows before snickering at something that was said. Brock ruffled Blue's hair, and Blue retorted by punching him in the arm. Brock just laughed again. Seeing this, the ten-year-old girl hummed, a small smile spreading across Misty's lips. "Yeah. I guess they are, huh? You're lucky, El. To have them with you, I mean."

I said nothing in response to that, knowing full well it was true. I was lucky to have them beside me. "...Hey, Misty?"

"Yeah?"

"...What is it like? Having siblings, I mean. Is it nice?"

"Ha!" She barked a laugh, then snatched up an omelette plate. "As if. My sisters are egotistical jerks. All they care about is how good they look and who their next boyfriend will be; they could care less about actually performing their gym duties. That's why I'm the gym leader now, because I'm the only one who actually cares about the reputation of our gym! Even though they're older than me by several years, they're all bunch of brats."

She bit into her food angrily.

"Honeshtry, one of theth dayth I'm gonna teach them a letthon! Hmph!"

Oh. That's a lot different than Brock's family. I'm not sure what I was expecting.

"Just because I'm younger than them, they treat me like a total kid!"

You are a kid, though. You're even younger than me.

I chose not to say that aloud.

"And so what if I'm not as pretty as them? I'm still growing! Give it a few years and I'll be just as "sensational" as them!"

I watched as she passionately finished her omelette, the girl soon moving on to the next best looking plate food. Meanwhile, I munched on some pieces of cinnamon-sugar ham. It was incredibly juicy and delicious, and for reasons I couldn't quite explain the flavor left something to twist in my chest, something painful and… almost melancholic gripping my heart. The taste was so heartbreakingly familiar to me, even though… I know I've never had it before.

Not from what I can remember, anyway.

Thankfully, Misty reached over the table and snatched something, handing it out to me and snapping me out of my thoughts. "Oh, El, try these buttered rolls!"

I did so. I also fed my pokēmon some bits and pieces, and set down some plates and bowls for them to eat out of. Brock and Blue and Misty had done the same, and slowly but surely the hall began to be filled with unfamiliar trainers and their pokēmon.

Nervously, I called my pokēmon to me and moved to stand next to Blue and Brock, keeping firm hold of Ruby and Sapphire as I did so, Ansem perched on my shoulders with his chin atop my head like always. I didn't know these people, I didn't trust them, and I was very much uncomfortable near crowds. There were just… so many people.

More than I could ever possibly get used to.

As time passed, the strange and unfamiliar trainers began to test their pokēmon against each other, battling other trainers for fun. Though I didn't like it or the cries of the pokēmon as they got hurt, I followed Brock, Blue, and Misty through the crowd- refusing to be separated from them. I found myself munching nervously on another skewer, discovering that now that I could taste food eating it was becoming a comfort.

It also served as a distraction from the dread in my stomach.

"Hey, they have pokēcenter technology here!" Blue exclaimed, noticing some trainers trading pokēmon in a corner. "Since we're on a boat… yeah, okay. El, I'll do you a favor- follow me."

"Huh?" I watched as he walked over to the machine, deciding to do as told since Brock was standing next to Misty. It was safer in groups of two, so as long as they stayed together I can follow Blue and not worry. Hopefully. "What're you doing?"

"You'll see." He said, grinning as he pressed a few buttons on the machine once the other people were done. Blue pulled out a pokēball, setting it in a see-through cylinder. He pressed a couple more buttons. "This machine has a type of system that allows it to recognize a pokēmon's trainer by their pokēballs. This lets you either trade the pokēmon, send them to a professor you trust to look after them, or…"

I recoiled when the pokēball in the cylinder vanished, only to blink when a different one appeared. Blue snatched it up, holding it up with an large smirk.

"You can swap out one of your current pokēmon for a different one. You're freaking out about the water, right? So, here we are-" He tossed the pokēball in the air and caught it in his other hand. "-my very own, carefully raised, Gyarados! Now you won't have to worry. If anything happens, I can get us out trouble easy."

"Oooh."

He laughed at the look on my face, and reached out- ruffling my hair. "Yup. Between me and Misty, you ain't got nothin' to worry about."

Suddenly, the lights on the ship flickered. His hand, which was still on my head, went still and I looked around in alarm. Scanning, searching- only to stop and watch as the ship curtains all drew closed, the doors around us slamming shut. No sooner than Blue had said what he did, did the waiters and waitresses start ripping off their uniforms- showing that underneath it all they were wearing something much more sinister.

With black clothes and white gloves, and a single large trademark R colored red sitting across their chest… it was easy to figure out who they were.

From the second story, the Team Rocket goons tossed down some strange equipment- which the goons down below easily caught and quickly strapped onto their backs. They leapt onto the tables, pushing aside anyone and everyone who got in their way. The lights on the ship soon went out completely, leaving the cruise ship in total darkness, until a spotlight flashed on a table near the front of the hall.

And on that table… were standing two people I wasn't quite ready to see yet.

Rich and Velga looked as cruel as ever, posing side-by-side with the exact same sort of equipment strapped to their backs as the rest of the goons. They didn't look any different from when I last saw them on Mount Moon… although, if I looked closely, Rich did look angrier than normal.

Golden eyes flashing, the silver-haired man threw a hand out towards the crowd. "To infect the world with devastation!"

"To blight all people in every nation!" Velga continued, smiling haughtily, a hand resting under her chin.

"To denounce the goodness of truth and love-"

"-to extend our wrath to the stars above!"

Together, they spun- the spotlight in this darkness only making their appearance more ominous- and pointed up at the sky. "We are Team Rocket, circling the earth day and night!"

"Richard!"

"Velga!"

"And you're pokēmon…" The two of them turned their pointed fingers to face the crowd. They grinned in unison, malicious and cruel. "...will now belong to Team Rocket!"

The lights on the cruise ship all flickered back on. Everyone, trainers ranging from children to adults, were whispering and shouting among themselves, demanding what was going on and what they were talking about. The ship's movement got a bit rougher, sending several people off balance, and the Team Rocket goons laughed loudly as they dashed forward and clicked the buttons on the machines they had strapped to them- a huge wind suctioning multiple trainers' pokēballs towards the large vacuums, swallowing them and carefully depositing them into the bags on their backs.

Richard and Velga laughed. Once all the easy-to-get pokēballs were collected, the goons started to attack. They started to grab the trainers, yanking their bags and purses away from them- using force to get what they wanted- and Blue hurriedly stood in front of me when one of the Team Rocket goons tried to approach us. "Give us your pokēmon!"

Blue scoffed. "Ha, as if! Ansem!"

"Eeeeva!" The Eevee roared, leaping of me and biting down hard on the Team Rocket goon's shoulder. Ansem's size and momentum caused the goon to stumble back and fall off balance, and Basil and Belladonna quickly took that chance to team up and use Vine Whip to trip him up. Ansem barked, now sitting proudly on the goon's chest, and glanced back at Blue with a grin. "Eva!"

"Good job." Blue looked down at me. "You okay, kid?"

"Uh… y-yeah." I frantically shook my head, snapping myself out of my daze. "Sorry. Basil, Bella- Stun Spore and Sleeping Powder! Quick!"

"Weeepin!"

"Saur!"

As they let loose their attacks, other trainers began to follow suit. "We can't let them just take our pokēmon!"

"Let's fight, everyone!"

"Bring it!"

So many pokēmon began to be summoned, and the ones that were already out of their pokēballs teamed up. Butterfree, Ratata, Bellsprout, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Geodude and Graveler, Oddish, Tangela, Squirtle, Charmander, Charmeleon, Pidgeot. All the pokemon were combining their attacks and taking down Team Rocket- breaking through their ranks and their machines to get back the pokēballs they had stolen.

"Arcanine!" Blue shouted, summoning his own pokēmon. "Use Flamethrower! Umbreon, Shadowball!"

"Umbreee~!"

"Raaaawr!"

Multiple Team Rocket goons screamed as they were sent flying by Umbreon's Shadow Ball, while others ran away to avoid getting scorched by Arcanine's intense fire breath. Basil whipped his vines around fiercely, smacking any Team Rocket member that tried to get close, while Belladonna jumped up and let loose a fierce wave of Razor Leaf.

"W-We need to find Brock and Misty!" I said, holding Ruby and Sapphire protectively, stepping forward nervously and glancing around the room. The rocking of the ship was starting to get worse, threatening to knock everyone off balance. "Where are they!?

There's so much chaos and fighting. Wait, in the back, is that-?

"Onix!" I could see him above all the other pokēmon, large and domineering, smacking several goons with his tail and crushing them. "Blue, over there!"

He nodded. "Arcanine, Umbreon, let's go!"

"Umbree!"

"Basil, Bella, Ansem!" I called out as we started to move. "This way!"

"Evaaa!"

"Saur!"

We started to push our way through the crowd. In the distance I could see him- Brock standing back-to-back with Misty, their water-type and rock-type pokēmon fighting to protect them. We were halfway there when a large and slender hand suddenly snatched me by the hair and yanked me away from Blue. My eyes went wide and I hurriedly grit my teeth, refusing to let out any sound of pain as my back crashed into a familiar chest before I was knocked down quite rudely onto my knees.

A heeled boot planted itself on the back of my leg, and fighting the tears I sent a cold, venomous glare up at the pink-haired woman smirking down at me. "I thought that was you in the crowd! Hah, what are the odds?" She yanked my hair again, and Ruby and Sapphire cried out worriedly. "Oh?"

Using her strength to pull me onto my feet by the braid, she eyed the baby pokēmon in my arms. Her green eyes flashed. I couldn't move. My breath had caught in my throat, and I tried to hide the Vulpix from her view as best as I could with my skinny arms.

"My, my- who'd have thought! An Alolan Vulpix? We could make great money off its fur after we evolve it with an ice stone. What do you think, Grunt?" Her lips curled into a sadistic grin. "I know plenty of customers that would pay a hefty sum for such a pristine white coat. And to think, you were the one who brought it to us."

A shiver went down my spine at those words and it took all I had not to visibly shudder. I felt sick. Suddenly, Velga's expression twisted into one of displeasure, and I flinched when she dug her heel deeper into my leg. Any harder and she would start to draw blood.

"Damn brat. Did you forgetyour manners already? When asked a question, you're supposed to answer!"

No. I refuse. You can hurt me all you want, but I won't ever give you what you want.

"You really are just a weed." She spat. "A disgusting little dandelion that refuses to die. Should I just go ahead and break your leg then? If you can't escape… you'll lose all hope. It's a shame; I know the Mistress would love to be the one to break you, but… well… how can I pass up such a sweet opportunity?"

Licking her lips with a sickening smile, Velga raised her leg up, ready to follow through on her threat.

"Oi, Velga! Damn it, where is that bitch hiding?"

Her face lit up with fury at Richard's insult and she whirled her head around. "What did you just call me!? Do you want me to sick Arbok on your ass again!?"

Taking advantage of the distraction and rolling onto my side, I leapt up onto my feet and made a bolt for it. I could hear Velga yelling angrily after me as I gasped and wheezed- struggling to recover from the panic and fear that she had instilled me during that short encounter. I stumbled and collapsed near a wall, hurriedly returning Ruby and Sapphire into their pokēballs and tucking them safely into my backpack.

"El!?" Blue. He was shouting.

Brock, too. "El, where are you!?"

"El!" Misty.

My pokēmon. I need to call back all my pokēmon. Keep them safe. Keep them guarded. Make sure Richard and Velga can't touch them. Trying to stand up again I flinched, the leg Velga had stepped on aching quite badly. I searched the crowd for a moment, then dove through it- taking care to avoid Velga this time.

Unfortunately, I couldn't see Richard anywhere- but other goons had seen the little spat take place and knew who I was as a result.

I had been about ten feet away from Brock, Blue, and Misty, and all of our pokēmon, when a gloved hand wrapped around my mouth from behind, an arm coiling around my waist and lifting me up, dragging me away. Panicked, I frantically kicked my legs- aiming for the goon's knees- and I had just barely gotten him to release me when another goon appeared and rammed their fist into the side of my face.

I crashed hard onto the ground, the force of the blow leaving me dazed and causing my ears to ring. When I finally regained awareness, my left eye was stinging like all hell and a hand had gripped the front of my shirt, lifting me up. Richard. "I'm going to ask you again." He hissed. "Why did you betray us, Grunt?"

"M-My name…" I choked out. "...is El."

His golden eyes flashed, and it took a few seconds to register the pain in my right cheek after he had backhanded me. With his free hand he gripped my jaw roughly, forcing me to look up at him. "You don't have a name." He growled. "You are Grunt. My Grunt. I raised you. You are mine. Now answer my fucking question.Why did you betray us? I kept you safe from the Mistress! Why would you do this!?"

He kept me safe?

Now that's "Rich".

Mistress Augusta tormented me all my life. He may have kept some of the recruits off my back, but I still suffered from that woman's abuse. Richard didn't do squat to help me. "Y-You… d-didn't do… anything." He just pushed his job onto me. He forced me through hellish training and obstacle courses. When I snapped the bone in my wrist, he didn't bother giving me medicine or proper treatment to heal.

As a result, my left arm is numb up to my elbow- my hand and wrist forever crooked. It's through sheer determination and practice that I'm able to use it as well as I can.

Gathering up as much of the hatred and bitterness and anger that's been buried inside of me all these years, welling up until they finally reached their breaking point, I let it all rise up to the surface, molding it into the darkest, most spiteful glare I could manage, cursing this man for all he's done and failed to do as someone who seemed so caught up on the idea that he had "raised" me as his own.

Ignoring the taste of iron my tongue, I reached a hand up and dug my nails into his wrist, my young face shadowed with complete and utter loathing. "I… was the one… who survived. I was the one… who made myself keep going. V-Velga a-and… the M-Mistress…? You didn't stop them from doing anything."

They beat me until I bled and scarred.

Until I could no longer withstand the pain. Until I was on the verge of losing consciousness.

"I. Am. No. Grunt. I am not yours."

Lips curling back, I spit in his face.

"My name… is El!"

Leaning my head back, I rammed my skull into his as hard as I possibly could- taking a page out of my partner pokēmon's book and using one of his favorite moves. Richard let out a shout and let go, bringing a hand up to his now bleeding nose, and I fell back hard onto my rear. The world was starting to spin again.

Still, even as the ship rocked and shook, I pushed myself up onto my feet- letting out a small yelp as I stumbled sideways. I ended up crashing hard into a wall near a window, and through the curtains I could see it was starting to storm like crazy outside. Seeing how hard it was pouring down made my heart start bodyslamming against my ribcage, the sight of it and the sensation of the ship rocking back-and-forth so violently all too familiar to me.

"No…" I choked, looking out the window in horror. I pressed my hands against the glass. "No, no, no…"

The nightmares.

Visions of red and blue and green and black.

Screaming.

Violence.

Blazing sun and pouring rain.

A creature shooting down from the sky, out of a seemingly endless black void.

"Th-This isn't real…"

The storm was all too similar. All it was missing was the monsters and the corpses.

"Grunt!" Too horrified by the storm outside, I could not react to Richard as he charged at me. All I could do was turn to stare at him, eyes wide as terrified tears fell down my cheeks. "I'll bring you back to Team Rocket, if it's the last thing I do!"

His hand lunged towards my face.

"El!"

Blue's voice rang out, and there was the screech of an Aerodactyl as it grabbed Rich by the shoulders and carried him away, the pokēmon bursting through a hole in the ceiling that had been made by several pokēmon and tossing him out of the ship. Most of the Team Rocket goons seemed to have been given similar treatment by various other pokēmon, and Velga herself was nowhere to be seen now either. Shaken, I had fallen to my knees, breathing shallow and labored as I choked and tried to make sense of what was happening.

I could hear the thunder in the background. The lightning crackling in the sky.

The rain only pouring down harder, the rocking ship getting more out-of-control.

Blue rushed over to my side and grabbed my arm. "Come on, we need to go! The ship is going to sink!"

I couldn't speak. I could barely even stand.

I felt… unlike myself.

Clink, clink, clink!

I blinked, the sound catching my attention, and I turned to see a dawn stone rolling several feet away. Blue looked over too, and his brown eyes grew wide. I could make out several large cracks across the stone's surface, gaze zeroing in on the stone's details instantly. My hand smacking my pocket, I realized it was empty. Blue looked back at me. "El, don't-"

He didn't get to finish. I had already taken off running.

When the ship moved again, trainers scrambling to call back their pokēmon and retrieve those that were stolen, the captain of the S.S Anne yelled something about hurrying to the lifeboats, and I scrambled to chase after the stone as it rolled away again.

"El! Just-" Blue hurriedly called back his pokēmon. "Just leave it! It's too dangerous!"

"No!" I was becoming desperate. I pushed through the crowd of people, ducking and swerving and making my way through them. That stone was all I had of that person. There's no way I can let go of it now. Not after all I've been through with it, or how hard I've worked to safeguard it. "I-I can't-!"

"So you better not lose it, okay?"

"I-I won't!" Tears welled up in my eyes. "I promised!"

The ship moved again. The stone slid down a hallway and I went tumbling after.

I had just managed to snatch hold of it when a body crashed into mine from behind, a pair of arms wrapping around me protectively. "Are you crazy!? Wh-Whoa!" Blue yelped as we crashed hard into a wall, the ship turning on its side as the waves overpowered it. "D-Damn it… ugh. W-We need to get back to Brock and Misty! Ansem and the others are with them! We'll drown at this rate!"

Okay. Okay.

I tightened my grip on the broken dawn stone, exhaling shakily.

It's safe.

Blue, keeping an arm wrapped around my shoulders, carefully got us both onto our feet. He looked down both sides of the now sideways hall, furrowing his brows. "I think we came from this way. Come on!"

No sooner had he said that did the ship turn again, rocking upside down and sending us flying through the air screaming. Our bodies crashed hard into a random door in the hall, and as the ship sunk deeper into the expansive blue body of water we landed hard against the steel ceiling. Newly injured and still recovering from our previous wounds, neither of us were able to remain conscious… and without Brock or Misty or any of my pokēmon to be seen…

Blue and I ended up trapped within the ship as it sank down into the very depths of sea.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Let me know what you all think in the comments, and have a wonderful day/night wherever you are! Stay safe! 💕