Children can be Cruel Sometimes : Chapter 3

9 year old Ayla finally went back to school after a month missing it. Her eldest brother Ingo has helped her to catch up on her lessons. Ayla was smart so she didn't really fell that much behind from her peers.

A week after she went back there's a new student moving to her class.

"Hello, my name is Ntonio! Nice to meet you all!" the new boy with dark black blue hair and golden hazel eyes, spoke with confident and cheery smile. There was something amiss from that smile though, was what Ayla thought, but what?

Two weeks after that Ayla found out why.

Ayla was never good with making friends with her peers, they deemed her quite different when they saw her holds one way conversation with a pokemon. But really, it was two ways conversation, they just didn't hear them the way she did. Even then she never felt lonely since she has two older brothers who were always around to care and love her.

But this is just cruel.

Ntonio the new student, was just opening the door to get inside when the bucket of water fell on top of his head, soaking him from head to toe. Ayla was a little way behind him when he opened the door then she heard the boys inside her class laughed at his misfortune.

"Look at where you're going ay' Orphan Boy!" one of the boys, leader of the gang yelled loudly for everyone to hear before laughing with his gang. Ntonio only look down. The cheerful boy from the past two weeks suddenly vanished within a blink of an eye.

Ayla can barely control her anger when she pushed past Ntonio and confront the leader boy, Argus, "What did you do?! You soaked him!"

Argus just snorted, "He's an orphan. No one wants him. A misplaced person like him should've just disappear. It's not like anyone's going to miss him anyway."

"You are wrong." Ayla spat out while her sharp silver grey eyes were only a little way from Argus', "I've seen his foster parents. They want him. His pokemon want him. You have no right to judge him like that."

Argus just scowled before leaning closer to Ayla, challenging her sharp bright silver grey eyes with his mocking brown ones, "You don't know anything," he drop down his tone to a whisper to bait her, she fell for it, "You're just like him anyway. The ones important are your brothers, not you. You're an orphan as well because your parents left you to the death. If not for your brothers you would be just like him right now."

Ayla just saw red and pushed him hard to the edge of one table, tackling him down. Some students yelled, some cheering, while some were getting the teachers. Ntonio was shocked still while still soaked. One big mistake from Ayla though, no one heard what Argus had whispered to her so everyone would think that Ayla started the fight.

Ayla just want to regret it and not regret it at the same time.


Ingo saw Emmet was answering the land phone from the Administration Room. He didn't know who called but Emmet's usual grin dropped down to a worried frown when he answered the phone. Emmet nodded and answered quietly to the person on the other side of the phone, leaving Ingo clueless for a few minutes before Emmet quickly thanked the person on the other side and closed the phone. The already 17 year old younger twin looked at his older twin with a deep frown that doesn't suit him and he looks so worried making Ingo worried as well, even before he heard the news.

"Who was it, Emmet?" Ingo asked, the phone was for either of them, Emmet had answered first.

Emmet lowered his gaze for a while before answering his brother, "It was the School Headmaster. She said.. She said Ayla got into a fight with one of her classmates. She asked for one of us to come and take Ayla home for today. And also.. she was hoping one of us could coax Ayla to tell the full story of the fight.. the Headmaster said she only heard what Argus and her other classmates had said but Ayla refused to say anything. Brother, I-"

"I'll go. You stay here and keep calm, Emmet. I'll make sure she's okay and take her home." Ingo quickly said patting his brother's shoulder to calm him down a little before running out of the Station and went to Ayla's school.

What happened?


When Ingo arrived at the Headmaster's office, he saw a furious father behind a boy who sported a bruised cheek, nose, and was rubbing his back, a couple who looked worried behind a dark black blue hair boy whose hair was still a little wet but almost dry, and.. Ayla.

Ayla sported a black eye, a bruised chin that trails to her lower jaw, and was rubbing her left arm gingerly.

Ingo didn't know who wins the fight, because none of them looked like they won.

"Headmaster." Ingo greeted first before going to Ayla, "Ayla.."

Ayla refused to see him and look to her other side.

The Headmaster nodded gravely before starting, "Mister Ingo. I'm sorry we can't meet in better circumstances but for now I'll give you the brief story of what has happened earlier today. For the full story.. I'm hoping you can ask Ayla about it since we haven't heard her side of the story yet."

"Isn't it obvious?" the furious father growled out, "She attacked my son first! She started the fight that orphan."

Ayla involuntary flinched at that while Ingo scowled at the man. The dark black blue hair boy also looked down at that, but the couple behind him grabbed each one of his shoulders and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Please, Mister Evans. I suggest to refrain on using such way of wordings to my students. Now, I heard about what the other children had said as well, but I'm still missing some pieces here." The Headmaster said sternly before looking back to Ingo, "Earlier today, Argus and his friends played a prank on Ntonio and made him soaking wet after he opened the class door and the bucket of water fell on him." The Headmaster glared at Argus at this whom lowered his head before continuing, "Ayla was said to be behind Ntonio when Argus said some awful words to Ntonio. Ayla confront him about it and defend Ntonio but after that.. other students said that Ayla pushed Argus hard to a table and tackled him which started the full fight. Now, what I'm missing here is, some other students told me that Argus had whispered something to Ayla before Ayla pushed him down. No one knew what was said and it was one important thing before I lay out the punishments for the two."

Ingo looked at Ayla who still refused to meet his eyes, "..Ayla?"

Ayla looked away more. She felt so guilty for pulling him out from his work. This is not that important. She could handle it on her own. She could handle her punishment.

Then why she felt like crying when she remembered what Argus had said?

He was right. If it's not for her brothers, she probably would've been gone by now to who knows where.

Ayla felt a warm gloved hand touched her shoulder before she flinched back in surprise and pain.

Ingo felt extremely concerned when he realized that her injury was not only what he had observed and seen.

"Ayla.. what hurt?" Ingo instead asked. Ayla looked at him with surprise while Argus' father looked impatient but hold his tongue.

Ayla didn't surprise for that long before she revert to herself even more, "..It doesn't matter."

Ingo can't hold it, his little sister was clearly hurt more than what she let on, "Ayla, it matters. Now where-"

"It doesn't matter! He was right, I can't do anything without bothering you or Emmet. I just-" Ayla shut down even more. Ingo had never saw Ayla lashed out like that before, especially not to him or Emmet.

Before anyone can say anything, a Dragapult went through the walls and went to the Headmaster side, cooing and making noises only the Headmaster and few others like Ingo and Ayla understand, "You have found out what cause it?" The Headmaster gently asked her pokemon who nodded and making more noises and gesturing. Ayla clearly caught on her meanings when she flinched back and lowered her head more. A Shiny Dragapult then came through the wall and used the same gestures and noises as the normal Dragapult, so they know he was telling the same story like the first Dragapult.

"I see.." The Headmaster nodded slowly before looking at Ayla with a saddened look, "Oh Ayla.. why don't you say anything?"

Ayla only lowered her eyes more with sadness and shame in it.

The Headmaster turned to look at Argus with stern eyes and said, "It seems you have verbally assault Ayla first and that led to Ayla pushing you. It was clear that you had deliberately pushing her buttons and unfortunately for Ayla, you pushed the right ones." Ayla flinched again, "It is not our teachings to use someone's insecurities as a weapon against them. I want you to think about it and learn from your mistake while you stay suspended from school for 3 days Argus." Argus flinched at that. Everyone, even his father who was a former student here, knew that the Headmaster's Dragapults from generation to generations of headmasters have never tell lies and knew everything that happened and hidden behind the close walls in the school grounds. They respect the students' privacy, but will tell when they deemed it's not safe or dangerous for the students.

Their school was known for their guardians Dragapult after all.

Argus' father stays silent but his glare was now directed to his son, "We will talk more later." He promised his son who solemnly nodded, "Is there anything else Headmaster Novia?"

Headmaster motioned for Argus' father to came closer and whispered the details of what Argus had said to Ayla. Argus' father nodded and then led his son home. Argus didn't even dare to glare at Ayla and Ayla didn't want to look at him at all.

Headmaster Novia also dismissed Ntonio's family with assurance that Argus and his gang of friends won't do that again to Ntonio. Ntonio's foster parents were slightly assured before they led their foster son home. Ntonio tried to meet Ayla's eyes, but Ayla refused to look at anyone.

The only ones left were Ingo, Ayla, Headmaster Novia, and her Dragapults and their Dreepys.

Headmaster Novia cut to the chase, "I would not tell Mister Ingo other than what I and Dragapults already told him, but I want you to tell him Ayla, more than just what happened. He's your brother." Headmaster let her words sink in first before continuing, "You were also not honest about your injuries to the school nurse." At that even the two Dragapults looked sternly at Ayla. But the normal Dragapult look's was more soften since her maternal instinct kicked in to the small child in front of her.

"..It doesn't-"

"It matters, Ayla. Very matters, especially to your family." The Headmaster cut Ayla and the child didn't dare to continue her words. Headmaster Novia sighed and said, "Even though Argus started the verbal fight first, you started the physical fight and I can't let that go easily. Your punishment will also served suspension from school for 2 days, and I want you to use those days to recover and talk to your brothers." Ayla didn't nod or anything, even when her normal Dragapult cooed at the small child, "This is very important Ayla. If anything, please trust your brothers." Ayla still didn't offer any response so the Headmaster just sighed and allowed the both of them to leave but she asked Ingo to brought Ayla to the hospital if she refused to cooperate with her brothers.

"You knew the details Mister Ingo. I know you understand what Dragapults had said. And please, refrain from killing or hurting Argus. He's still the student of my school after all and he's a child. Children can be cruel sometimes." Headmaster Novia said before dismissed both siblings.

Ingo had led Ayla out while holding gently to her right arm where he knew she didn't hurt. Novia sighed after both siblings were out and looked at her Dragapults, "I need either one of you or the training Drakloaks to monitor both Argus and Ayla when they come back to school. Think of it as part of their consequences and protection because I don't think this is the end of it. At least for Ayla."

Both Dragapults nodded determinedly and went through the walls to do their other duties in the school. Novia sighed heavily, "You left too early my friends.." she whispered to the sky sadly.


Ingo led Ayla back to their home. It was a two storey house with a backyard and it accommodates their needs, so they have never move out even after their parents' death.

Ingo led Ayla gently to the family sofa before letting out Chandelure to keep an eye on her while he went to the house land line to call Emmet that he won't be going back to work today. Emmet had assured him quickly that he can handle the station by himself before saying that Ayla is more important right now before he ended the call. After the call, Ingo went to get the first aid from the kitchen and went back to the living room.

What he saw broke his heart.

Sitting there, curled up with her knees hiding her face Ayla was crying softly trying not to make a sound. Chandelure was there by her side, cooing worriedly trying to comfort the child to no avail. Ayla was always considered the youngest even by the twins' pokemon, but this time Chandelure can't get the child to open up to her.

Ingo kneel down quietly in front of Ayla before calling softly, "Ayla.. May I?"

With a sniff, Ayla's teary silver grey eyes looked up to meet Ingo's own. The assurance and warmth in his eyes let Ayla feel safe before she slowly uncurled herself from her position to let Ingo treated her wounds.

Ingo quickly but gently started to work on the visible bruises first before asking softly, "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Ingo kept working on his task, leaving Ayla to think about it. It wasn't fair for Ayla to keep him in the dark after she pulled him from work like that, so she complied with a heavy void voice,

"He.. you know what happened.. It's just like what the Dragapults said- he-he called me an orphan." Ayla can't continue. She can't. Her tears were already hard to keep on bay as it is.

But Ingo knew how to make his younger siblings opened up to him. It was his gift as the eldest of the three.

"He told you that we better off without you?" he summarised what Argus had said to the point and correctly. His tone was calm and collected for the sake of his sister, but it was clearly betraying what Ingo thought about the boy.

Ayla's silver grey eyes that was so much like his own were soon filled with fresh tears. It slid down one by one while Ayla trying her best to keep them on bay, "But it's true- it's-"

"It's not true. If anything, you are the one who keeps both of us grounded and help us to keep going forward with life." Ingo said firmly but not without the warmth she knew well genuinely from him.

Ayla sniffed, "I'm not-"

"You are. Let me tell you a secret of mine and Emmet's. We maybe look important and strong for others, but the truth? We're just as scared as you are. We are even more scared if anything happens to you, and if it did… I don't think either me or Emmet will want to keep going on with life."

Ayla looked shocked at the implication in the end, "No! Please don't! You- you can't give up just because of me. You-"

"Promised." Ingo said gently, "We promise you we won't give up and we'll always be together even if we fight with tooth and nails for it. You promised us too Ayla. You promise you won't give up." He looked at her straight in the eye with warmth, firm, and determination in his eyes, "Please don't give up on us. Ever. Because you are the reason why Emmet and I keep fighting and moving forward. You are precious to us Ayla. You are our little sister. So don't think for a second that you're not important or dragging both of us down because that's not true. Argus wasn't right and both of us will assure you until you believe it and until you bore out of your mind from hearing the same thing over and over again. You want us to do that? Emmet and I will be more than happy to-"

"No, no. Please no. I get it, Argus is wrong. Please don't let Emmet do that. My mind is going to go crazy with his continuous voice." Ayla pleaded, but she was finally half-joking and a hint of smile was on her face. Ingo took that as a win.

He reached forward to her face with gloved hand to wiped the lingering tears away and caressed her cheek. Ayla leaned to the affection and sighed in relief.

It wasn't the last Ingo and Emmet saw Ayla's insecurities, but they will always remind her no matter what. She's their light in the dark, when the tunnels were too dark to keep going, she was there to be their light, and they won't let anyone snuffed their light out. Ayla thought the same about them and will do the same to assure both of her brothers safe and sound.

They are three siblings, and they will protect and love each other until the end of time.

A.N : Sylvern received many traits from her mother if you noticed :)) Hope you enjoy it, see you in the next chapter!